The service door hangs open behind Slaan, and cold air knifes across the chapel yard. The temple wall looms to one side, the main gates to the other, and the records press heavy under her robe.
Bram ducks low beside her, one hand on the hidden papers at his chest. The Paladin steps into the open first, shield raised, scanning the yard for movement.
A horn cuts through the stone court. From the outer arch, three High Chapel scouts fan out, cloaks snapping, spears leveled toward the service exit.
The Paladin
Go. I hold them here.
He surges forward to meet the first scout, forcing the line to slow. Bram grabs Slaan's sleeve and points toward the broken side wall where the temple grounds drop into scrub and rock.
Bram
That way. If they take the yard, we lose the road.
Slaan slips from the doorway into the shadow of the wall as the scouts close in. The escape route opens, but only if she gets the records and the Paladin clear before the Chapel seals the yard.
✓ Quest Accepted
Escape the temple yard
“"there was cleaner ways to deal with that" I turn and cast spectral bonds on the scouts to root them in place. To the paladin"rusty get your ass over here!"”
SUCCESS (Superb Arcana, rolled +1)
Slaan
There were cleaner ways to deal with that.
Slaan turns on the spot and snaps her hands out. Pale spectral cords burst from the air around the scouts, coiling their boots and spears to the stone.
The front rank jerks to a halt, pinned hard in place. Cloaks whip in the wind, but their charge dies before it reaches the doorway.
Slaan
Rusty, get your ass over here!
The Paladin
I'm moving!
The Paladin breaks from the clash and backs toward Slaan's side, shield still up. Bram darts at the broken wall, eyes fixed on the opening in the yard.
One scout twists against the bonds and sees the tucked bulge under Slaan's robe. The others stare, suddenly less certain, while the trapped line strains and the yard holds its breath.
“I stop at the broken wall, and leave once bram and the paladin are through”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +2)
Slaan holds at the broken wall, half in the yard and half in the temple shadow. Bram slips through first, then the Paladin, boots scraping stone as they clear the opening.
The spectral cords still bite the scouts to the courtyard stones, leaving the front rank snarling and stuck where they stand.
The Paladin
Move, Slaan. I have the gap.
Slaan waits one beat longer, eyes on the yard, until both men are safely through. The records stay hidden against her side.
Then she turns and slides out after them, the broken wall swallowing her silhouette.
Behind her, one scout strains against the cords and finally gets a clear look at the temple door, the yard, and the fleeing line.
The Chapel Scouts
She has the records! After them!
Quest Complete
Escape the temple yard
Skill Upgrade: Arcana Superb→Legendary