Bren remains beside Kynes in the records passage, watching Sereth and Pellan while the register, Ilyd’s page, and foreman’s ledger stay bundled against his side.
Footsteps approach from the quarry gallery. Maelin Vey stops beyond the open passage, keeping the custody vault behind Kynes and Bren’s threshold unentered.
Maelin Vey
Kynes. I am requesting a private accounting of the register and Ilyd’s page. No demands, no agents, and no attempt to cross your threshold.
Bren shifts half a step, placing herself between Maelin and the prisoners. Slaan and Nhal remain farther up the gallery with Odran, the watchers, and the laborer.
Maelin Vey
Those records concern a succession dispute that has already endangered this quarry. If you keep them concealed, every claimant will invent the truth.
Bren
You may ask questions from there. The records remain with Kynes, and no private accounting becomes custody, surrender, or permission to enter.
Maelin Vey
Then let him answer plainly. What does the register say, and what did Ilyd Domini preserve by severing the witness from inheritance?
“I walk up to her while I let sea of shadows flow around me slowly moving up my body. “Interesting question, lass. You knew Ilyd severed the witness from inheritance before I told you. So we're going to do this differently. You tell me what you believe he preserved, and then I'll decide what you need corrected. Savvy? " I stop in front of her " we can do this the easy way or the hard way. " I say”
SUCCESS (Superb Intimidation, rolled +2)
Kynes
Interesting question, lass. You knew Ilyd severed the witness from inheritance before I told you. You tell me what you believe he preserved, and I will decide what needs correcting. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Savvy?
Kynes walks up to Maelin as shadows flow slowly over his boots, legs, and torso. He stops directly before her, leaving the records passage and vault behind him undisturbed.
Maelin Vey
He preserved refusal. Ilyd severed the witness from bloodline, title, and succession so no house could claim a living person as an inherited key.
Maelin holds her ground, but her eyes track the rising darkness and then return to Kynes. Bren remains behind him, guarding the bundled records without entering the vault.
Maelin Vey
He also preserved the right to close the chain entirely. Acceptance was never the only lawful choice, and a refusal could not be overturned by a later claimant.
Maelin Vey
That is what I believe he preserved: consent as the final authority, and a record strong enough to expose anyone who forged inheritance into ownership.
The shadows settle around Kynes without spreading farther. Maelin has answered plainly, and the register’s meaning now stands exposed for his judgment.
Quest Complete
Meet Maelin Vey
Skill Upgrade: Intimidation Superb→Legendary
“"Good. Then we understand one another. Now tell me why your people have behaved as though the opposite were true.” I ask her in Sil'thalis's cold speaking cadence. While I read her surface thoughts.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Arcana, rolled +0)
Kynes
Good. Then we understand one another. Now tell me why your people have behaved as though the opposite were true.
Kynes asks in Sil’thalis’s cold cadence while reading Maelin’s surface thoughts. Her practiced certainty parts beneath his attention, exposing fear, calculation, and a buried admission.
Maelin Vey
Because refusal threatens every arrangement built around the Gray Glove. If witnesses may close the chain, our authority is only borrowed confidence.
Maelin Vey
Because my people mistook control for custody. The Gray Glove made witnesses useful, then called usefulness consent. Maelin Vey included.
The thought carries no immediate deception. Maelin’s fear sharpens around the names of her agents, revealing that she expected obedience to preserve the network, not merely conceal it.
Maelin Vey
We behaved as though refusal were impossible because admitting otherwise would collapse the reports, claims, and bargains that made us powerful. I knew that, and still helped sustain it.
Maelin Vey
Ilyd’s record preserved a law we treated as an inconvenience. Your register proves the lie. If you expose it, every surviving claimant must answer for what they took.
“I give a cruel smirk " and ..." I pause as my eyes seem to burn through her. " Now say the quiet part out loud, lass."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intimidation, rolled -3)
Kynes
Now say the quiet part out loud, lass.
Kynes’s cruel smirk tightens as his burning gaze holds Maelin in place. The shadows around his boots remain still, leaving the records passage otherwise untouched.
Maelin Vey
We treated refusal as impossible because obedience kept the Gray Glove powerful. We called coercion consent, forged inheritance into authority, and used witnesses as living keys.
Her admission carries farther than intended, reaching the quarry gallery. Slaan’s voice cuts off mid-command, and every restrained watcher turns toward the passage.
Maelin Vey
I knew the chain was unlawful when we enforced it. I helped preserve the lie because admitting the truth would destroy our reports, bargains, and claims.
The confession leaves Maelin visibly exposed. Bren’s hand settles near her weapon, while the prisoners listen in sudden silence. Kynes remains the only person within the vault.
Bren
That is a useful beginning. Now we have her admission, witnesses to it, and no excuse for anyone to call the register ambiguous.
“I turn to Bren, in my own cadence " come love,you walk beside me love," I turn slightly and face Maelin" what you want to view will be at the hall of welcome" as me and Bren head back to slaan and nhal, i call back. " Anything else lass?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +2)
Kynes
Come, love. Walk beside me.
Kynes turns from Maelin and leaves the custody vault, keeping the register, Ilyd’s page, and ledger secured. Bren falls into step beside him without hesitation.
Kynes
What you want to view will be at the Hall of Welcome.
Maelin Vey
Then I will come there under your terms. The records will be viewed, not seized, and your custody will remain yours.
Kynes and Bren rejoin Slaan and Nhal in the gallery. The confession still hangs in the quarry air, but no one moves to challenge their departure.
Bren
The Hall can hold the discussion safely. We will bring the evidence, and Maelin can answer for what she admitted.
Kynes
Anything else, lass?
“To both girl's " you two done tormenting people?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -2)
Kynes
You two done tormenting people?
Slaan glances from the prisoners to Maelin, then back to Kynes. Nhal folds her arms, her expression unreadable as the gallery absorbs the question.
Slaan
For the moment. They were being difficult, and I dislike leaving useful lies unexamined.
Nhal
I am finished with them. Maelin has spoken plainly, and the others have little left worth extracting.
A thin nosebleed returns beneath Kynes’s nostril, the concrete cost of his earlier phasing and mind-reading. Bren notices, but does not interrupt the exchange.
Slaan
Though if you mean tormenting people in general, I make no promises. The road remains long.
Nhal
The Hall is a better place for judgment than this quarry. Let us take the records there and leave these people to their consequences.
✓ Quest Accepted
Expose the Gray Glove's unlawful treatment of witnesses
“" we walking or port home?"”
Kynes
Are we walking, or are we taking a portal home?
Bren
A portal, if it remains the safe route. We have the records, Maelin’s admission, and no reason to spend weeks on the road.
Bren checks the bundled register and ledger, then looks toward the quarry exit. The custody vault remains sealed behind Kynes, untouched and empty of everyone but him.
Slaan
Portal. I have had enough quarry dust for one lifetime, and I would rather reach the Hall before these people invent new lies.
Nhal
The Hall is prepared for judgment and shelter. Walking offers no advantage except tired feet.
Maelin Vey
I will travel under your terms. The portal is preferable, provided my custody and the records remain exactly as agreed.
The party gathers near the old service stair while the prisoners remain under watch. Kynes has the choice before him: open the known passage home, or lead everyone out by road.
Quest Complete
Expose the Gray Glove's unlawful treatment of witnesses