Above the white-and-gold docks, the Vumpreh’s upper passage opens. Azran descends alone, his guarded distance sharpened into open anger as he spots Elion beside Saadia and Lioran.
Azran
You arrived in Aurythia and immediately judged my life. You have no right to condemn Neris and Calyra, or decide what our friendship means.
Neris and Calyra follow several paces behind him, watchful but silent. Azran stops between them and Elion, refusing to yield the space or the argument.
Azran
He speaks as though his legend makes him the authority over everyone he left behind. I will not let him take my choices from me again.
Azran
Do not offer me another explanation for my own relationships. I hear your accusations, and I reject them. They stayed when I was broken, and I will defend them.
Saadia remains close at Elion’s side, while Lioran watches Azran’s tightening fists. Corven and Elara exchange a wary glance, sensing the docks are becoming unsafe for private grievances.
Calyra
Azran has answered you. Stop treating his pain as evidence that we are guilty of something.
“I calm down. Listen Azran, honestly, i do not care. Do what you want to do. We don’t have to call each others friends anymore, remember? So do what you want to do with your life. It seems like i was the only one who truly cared about our friendship either way, i say as i am leaving”
FAILURE (Great Willpower, rolled -4)
Elion Draemnor
Listen, Azran. I do not care anymore. Do what you want with your life. We do not have to call each other friends, remember?
Elion Draemnor
It seems I was the only one who truly cared about our friendship anyway.
Elion turns from Azran and starts toward the dock’s lower stairs. His calm words do not ease the air; they leave the friendship reduced to a final accusation.
Azran
You call that calm? You pass judgment, dismiss everything they did for me, and then walk away pretending you are the one who cared.
Azran’s anger follows across the white stone, but Elion does not turn back. Neris and Calyra remain behind him, visibly shaken, while neither woman answers.
Saadia
Come, my love. You said what you needed to say. Let him choose, but do not let his anger choose your next step.
Saadia falls into step beside Elion, with Lioran, Corven, and Elara following. Behind them, Azran stays between Neris and Calyra, furious and unwilling to yield, while the confrontation ends without reconciliation.
“While we walk, i turn and bow to Elara and Corven. I thank them for their help tell them they don’t have to follow us. I tell them that i refuse to expose them to danger. I also apologize because i did not want to drag them in this mess with Azran. I thank them again”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled +2)
The group descends toward Aurythia’s lower streets, leaving the white-and-gold docks behind. After several steps, Elion turns and bows to Corven and Elara.
Elion Draemnor
Thank you both for helping us. You do not have to follow us any farther. I refuse to expose you to more danger, and I am sorry I dragged you into this mess with Azran. Thank you again.
Corven’s guarded expression eases. Elara lowers her shoulders, and the two exchange a quiet glance before accepting the boundary Elion has set.
Corven
You do not owe us an apology. We chose to help, and we can choose where our road ends. Go with your companions. We will remain clear of this danger.
Elara
He is right. We are grateful you trusted us enough to let us stand beside you, but we do not need to follow. Keep Saadia and Lioran close, and find what you came here to find.
Corven and Elara stop beneath an arched awning, while Elion, Saadia, and Lioran continue down the busy street. The separation is deliberate and peaceful, leaving the pair free from the danger ahead.
✓ Quest Accepted
Meet Amar
Director's note
If an NPC is introduced, they do not know about Elion being a Dragon born. Elion’s draconic heritage is a secret that only Veil, Saadia, Lioran, Oskar, Lydia and the entity that they killed, knew
“as we walk towards the streets, i tell Lioran and Saadia that Amar is from House Lyn and they should be located in Hall Of Mirrors. It’s the cultural Hub of Aurythia. But how are we even gonna meet him? Even though he’s the poorest of the nobles, he’s still a noble, we can’t simply just walk to him..”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -2)
Elion Draemnor
Amar is of House Lyn. He should be found at the Hall of Mirrors, Aurythia’s cultural hub. But how do we meet him? Even the poorest noble is still a noble. We cannot simply walk to him.
The lower streets widen into a grand avenue lined with galleries, theaters, and mirrored public halls. Saadia studies the distant glittering dome while Lioran considers the problem aloud in silence.
Lioran
A noble’s residence would be guarded, but the Hall of Mirrors is public ground. Amar’s work as a painter and cartographer should give us a respectable reason to request an audience.
Saadia
My family signet may open a door, but displaying it could announce who I am before we understand the city. We should approach through the Hall’s curator first, as patrons seeking Amar’s artistic counsel.
Between them, the route becomes clear: reach the Hall of Mirrors, speak with its curator, and request Amar through his public work rather than his title. The cost is time, since the curator’s attendance must be verified before they can proceed.
Lioran
We should go there now, ask for the curator, and present ourselves as travelers seeking a cartographer’s advice. It is slower than forcing an introduction, but far less likely to close the door.
Saadia
Then that is our way in, my love. We will find Amar through the Hall of Mirrors, carefully and without giving Aurythia’s nobles reason to watch us.
“Excellent. We will then meet the Curator as Adventurers seeking a cartographers advice.”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled +1)
Elion, Saadia, and Lioran enter the Hall of Mirrors beneath a vast domed ceiling. Reflections multiply their forms across polished silver panels while artists and visitors move quietly through the galleries.
At the central desk, a middle-aged woman with a sturdy build, dark brown skin, braided black hair, and a green curator’s coat looks up from a ledger. A brass lens hangs at her throat.
Elion Draemnor
We are adventurers seeking a cartographer’s advice. We were told Amar of House Lyn’s work and knowledge might help us understand a difficult route.
the Hall curator
You have come to the right hall, though Amar is not summoned for idle curiosity. What road requires a noble cartographer’s counsel?
Elion Draemnor
A concealed route connected to abandoned storehouses and altered records. We need someone who can read the land as carefully as a map.
the Hall curator
Then I will arrange the meeting. Amar is working in the eastern map gallery. Wait here, and I will bring him to you.
Mariel closes her ledger and disappears through a mirrored arch toward the eastern gallery. The request is accepted, and Amar is now within the Hall, ready to be brought before them.
✓ Quest Accepted
Gain Amar’s cooperation
Director's note
Aurythia has racist values. They value their own supremacy, but since they’re all Originally white, they value white supremacy. It is only since the last 10 years things have started to change, but the changes are so minimal that is barely noticeable.
“Excuse me lady, I’ve heard Aurythia are really racially streak. They have a hard time accepting people of other races, nation or skin colour. How is it for you here? I ask to the Hall Curator i continue and say that even for Amar it must have been hard, im guessing he engaged you knowing the hardships that the land of Aurythia brings no?”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +0)
Elion Draemnor
Excuse me, Mariel. I have heard Aurythia struggles to accept people of other races, nations, and skin colours. What has it been like for you here? Even Amar must have faced those hardships. I imagine he sought your help because you understood them.
Mariel pauses beneath the mirrored arch. Her fingers close around the brass lens at her throat, and the hall’s reflected visitors seem to multiply the weight of the question.
the Hall curator
You have heard correctly, though the city prefers gentler words. Aurythia’s old families still treat whiteness, birthplace, and lineage as measures of worth. The laws have softened in the last decade, but custom changes far more slowly.
the Hall curator
For me, the doors opened only after years of proving that my work could not be dismissed. I learned which patrons would listen, which galleries would tolerate me, and which compliments concealed an insult.
the Hall curator
Amar understands that pressure. His house gives him protection, but it also makes people question whether his compassion is genuine. He came to me because maps expose what titles conceal, and because I would not flatter him.
Mariel opens her ledger again, her expression guarded but more trusting. The answer confirms that Amar’s position may provide access, yet neither his name nor his wealth shields him completely from Aurythia’s prejudice.
Director's note
It is true, Amar is originally from Akav’ren and Akav’ren have a lot of what could consider in real life, black people, asians, latinos and etc. It is the land of the mixed. Many guessed or think that he was he is from Akav’ren but a few have that fact confirmed
“Well i’ve heard that Amar has the same skin colour as us, is it true?”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -1)
Elion Draemnor
Well, I have heard Amar has the same skin colour as us. Is that true?
the Hall curator
Yes. Amar has warm brown skin, much like yours, Saadia’s, and mine. He is originally from Akav’ren, though only a few in Aurythia have confirmed it.
Mariel lowers her voice beneath the mirrored dome. Reflections slide across her guarded face as distant visitors pass, careful not to linger near the conversation.
the Hall curator
Most people simply guess that he comes from Akav’ren. Aurythia’s old families notice skin, birthplace, and lineage before they notice a person’s work.
She closes the ledger halfway, her thumb resting against its worn spine. The answer is plain, but the city’s prejudice makes even Amar’s origins a guarded fact.
the Hall curator
So yes, he shares your complexion. That connection may help him understand you, but do not assume it makes Aurythia treat him as one of its own.
Director's notewhole tale
Amar is a black man with short black hair and a thick beard. In real life he would be considered an Haitian. He’s tall, has broad shoulders and grey pupils. He wears Luxurious clothing with subtle but fancy jewellery as A Crystaline purple ring, another white crystaline ring a golden bracelet, a cha
“Well that makes a lot of sense. Thank you, i say as i bow. I turn to Saadia and Lioran, and tell them that we’ll wait for Amar.”
Elion Draemnor
That makes a lot of sense. Thank you.
Elion bows respectfully to Mariel, then turns toward Saadia and Lioran beneath the mirrored dome. Reflected light glides across his scars and the polished floor.
Elion Draemnor
We will wait here for Amar.
Saadia
Of course, my love. The Hall is public ground, and waiting keeps our approach respectful.
Lioran
I agree. We have made our request, and there is no need to press the curator further.
Mariel gives a brief acknowledging nod and returns to the central desk. Elion, Saadia, and Lioran remain together near the mirrored arch, watching the eastern gallery.
A short while later, Amar emerges beside Mariel. He is a tall black man with broad shoulders, short black hair, a thick beard, and striking grey pupils, dressed in luxurious clothing with understated jewelry and crystalline rings.
Quest Complete
Meet Amar
Skill Upgrade: Arcana Superb→Legendary
“Sir Amar, it is our Pleasure to meet you, i say as i bow. Thank you for giving us of your time. Amar tells me to stand up as i don’t have to bow to him, he says smiling. He asks us to follow us into his office where we would talk. When we enter, the office is covered with finished and unfinished paintings of Amar. There’s a few Sculptors hanging around and maps pinned to the wall. Even though there’s all of this everything is perfectly organized. It’s like he’s conquered the chaos. The Office is beautiful. So those are the paintings that are unrealsed made by the famous Amar, i think to myself”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +3)
Elion Draemnor
Sir Amar, it is our pleasure to meet you. Thank you for giving us your time.
Elion bows, then rises at Amar’s inviting gesture. Amar smiles and motions for him, Saadia, and Lioran to follow into the eastern map gallery’s private office.
Amar
Please stand. You do not have to bow to me. Come, let us speak in my office.
The office is beautiful and perfectly ordered. Finished and unfinished paintings of Amar fill the walls, sculptors work quietly nearby, and maps cover the panels without allowing chaos to claim a single corner.
Amar
These are private works, not yet released. You may look freely while we discuss the route that brought you here.
Elion Draemnor
These are the unreleased paintings made by the famous Amar.
As Elion studies the canvases, Amar quietly unlocks a cabinet of restricted maps and leaves it open, granting the company access to his private collection before any request is made.
“Sir Amar, please, i ask politely, Can you tell the people working on the sculptors to go out of the office, what we wish to discuss with you, is something not everyone can hear, i say whispering to Amar”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +0)
Elion Draemnor
Sir Amar, please ask the sculptors to leave the office. What we wish to discuss is not something everyone should hear.
Amar
Of course. Your discretion is respected here. Please leave us for a while, and continue your work in the outer gallery.
The sculptors set aside their tools and quietly file through the mirrored arch. One gives Amar a respectful nod before the office doors close, leaving only Elion, Saadia, Lioran, and Amar within.
The private office settles into silence. Paintings and restricted maps surround the company, while Amar returns to his desk and studies Elion with calm, attentive interest.
Amar
They have gone. Speak freely, Sir Elion. Whatever brought you to my office deserves the privacy you requested.
Amar closes the cabinet of restricted maps but leaves its key upon the desk. Saadia remains close to Elion, and Lioran watches the sealed gallery entrance before giving Amar his full attention.