Boots strike the banquet hall above. The sound descends the stairwell, fast and deliberate, while the sealed door gives one heavy knock behind Livia Bladedust.
A woman in a blood-stained captain's cloak appears on the upper steps. She carries a wax-sealed writ in one hand, and keeps the other near her sword.
Mara Venn
I am Mara Venn, former captain of the baron's guard. The nobles have placed Brynn Calder under arrest and ordered Livia Bladedust taken alive.
Brynn Calder
On whose authority? The baron's seal is below, and the hall above is full of frightened liars.
Mara Venn
Their authority is fear. The writ is genuine, but I do not trust the hands that pressed the wax.
Before anyone can answer, blood seeps from the stair joints and joins the circle below. It begins climbing toward them, each red segment crawling against gravity. Mara stares at it, then lowers the writ.
Mara Venn
I came to deliver the order, not enforce it. If that thing reaches us, I would rather stand beside people who know what it is.
✓ Quest Accepted
Keep Brynn from being taken into custody
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn who ordered Brynn's arrest
“Can Mara help us reach the sealed door before the blood does?”
NO, AND WORSE (Likely, rolled 96)
No. Mara cannot get you to the sealed door before the crawling blood reaches it. Worse, the blood has already spread across the landing between you and the threshold, cutting off the direct route.
Mara Venn
The way is gone. I cannot lead you through that.
“I shield Brynn from the crawling blood”
SUCCESS (Good Strength, rolled +1)
Livia Bladedust steps between Brynn and the crawling blood, planting her feet at the landing's edge.
The red surge strikes her guard and spreads around her boots, but her strength holds the living slick away from Brynn.
Brynn Calder
Livia, I am behind you. The witness still stands.
Mara lowers the writ and moves to Brynn's side, making the public choice plain. She faces the blood instead of the woman it was meant to isolate.
Mara Venn
No custody while she shields a witness from this. If authority wants them, authority can show its face.
Beyond the barrier, the sealed door answers with three heavy knocks. Black moisture beads beneath the baron's crest, and a voice from the other side says, "Bring the marked one, and name the exile."
Edric Vale
It knows the mark. It is asking for me.
Quest Complete
Keep Brynn from being taken into custody