The tide climbs around Hadrik’s knees, swirling with violet fragments from the broken seal. Danna braces herself at the western arch, holding the route open while black water presses against her boots.
Bren
The ledger-carrier comes with us, and no record leaves this chamber without witnesses. Veyra, your offer needs a path that does not place another hand above theirs.
Bren keeps the shaken young woman, a young adult woman with a slight build, dark curly hair, and a torn ochre dress, behind her, one arm shielding her from Hadrik and the basin. Serik gathers the active slates against his chest as the dry passage narrows.
Veyra Ashhand
Then take the packet and the names to Daggerford’s provisional council. Councilor Merrow can publish the evidence, protect the witnesses, and appoint no keeper over them.
Hadrik Voss
A council can become another Gray Glove if it hides the names and calls secrecy protection. The records must show every alteration, including Veyra’s.
Veyra’s image turns toward Hadrik. The basin’s light strips the receiving seal from his coat and leaves the packet floating open between them, its pages naming routes, payments, and three living witnesses.
Danna
The tide will judge us sooner than any council. Choose what travels now, and leave the rest where every hand can see it.
✓ Quest Accepted
Protect the three living witnesses’ freedom of choice
“I secure the packet and names and secure them into my pocket dimension. Then lead everyone out.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Arcana, rolled -1)
Kynes gathers the sealed packet and the three living witness names from the open pages. Shadow folds around them, drawing packet and records safely into his pocket dimension.
The violet fragments settle as the evidence vanishes from the chamber. Veyra’s stripped seal remains visible on the basin, while Hadrik stands silent beneath the rising tide.
Veyra Ashhand
The records are secured, then. Take them where my office cannot touch them, and let the witnesses speak without any keeper between them and judgment.
Kynes turns toward the western arch and leads the retreat. Bren guides the ledger-carrier first, keeping her shielded, while Serik carries the copied slates.
Danna
The route is holding. Keep moving, and the tide will not separate us.
Danna maintains the opening as the group passes through. Black water surges behind them, but the dry passage remains clear until the last of them crosses.
Hadrik Voss
You have taken the evidence beyond my reach. Whatever judgment follows, the chain cannot erase what you carry.
Quest Complete
Protect the three living witnesses’ freedom of choice