The incense hall exhales its last veil of smoke as the inner court gates swing open. Beyond them, the provincial road lies clear beneath the morning light.
Shrine Keeper wraps the water-damaged ledger, concealed index, and sealing materials in oilcloth, then presses the bundle beneath their arm.
Shrine Keeper
If I carry this to the provincial court, the shrine's records stand behind your evidence. If I remain, the magistrate's men may seize both.
A hooded courier appears at the open gate, dusty from the road. They stop when they see the shrine seal and the bundle.
The Hooded Courier
The magistrate has sent a warrant ahead. It calls the ledger forged and names Nathan The Great a criminal. But the provincial court has not closed its doors.
Shrine Keeper
A warrant means the court will hear this before the magistrate can bury it.
The Hooded Courier
Bring the index openly, under shrine seal. The court will be compelled to register it before judgment. Hide it, and the warrant may swallow the truth.
✓ Quest Accepted
Bring the shrine-sealed evidence to the provincial court
✓ Quest Accepted
Expose the treasonous leader
“The shrine keeper vouches for Nathan meaning that he will not be taken into custody but be allowed to bring the shrine-sealed evidence to the provincial court while having the skilled shrine warriors provide security for him”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled +0)
The Shrine Keeper turns the sealed bundle outward, placing their own body between it and the warrant.
Shrine Keeper
I vouch for Nathan The Great before the shrine and the court. He travels under our seal, not as a prisoner.
Therefore, the warrant's accusation cannot take Nathan The Great into custody at the shrine. The Keeper's testimony makes his passage lawful until the court hears the evidence.
Two shrine warriors step from the side gallery, belts tightened and staffs in hand. Their formation places the oilcloth bundle in the safest center.
Shrine Keeper
Our sworn hands will escort the evidence. The concealed index remains beneath the ledger's binding, sealed and visible only to the court registrar.
The Hooded Courier
Then leave now. The court's morning docket has begun, and its registrar is waiting at the eastern gate.
The Keeper passes the bundle to the lead warrior, while the second warrior opens the road ahead. The shrine's testimony now travels with the evidence, protected and intact.
Beyond the gate, a court bell sounds once. The escort turns toward the provincial road, waiting for Nathan The Great to set the pace.
“Nathan continues while keeping his wits about him. The survivor is now safe but follows Nathan and the group traveling through the forest along the road. He gathered up the explosives as well. He moves with the intention of setting up another diversion in case its needed at the next location”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled +1)
The escort moves onto the forest road, the shrine gate shrinking behind them as morning light cuts through the branches.
Nathan The Great keeps pace beside the guarded bundle, carrying the recovered explosives in a secured field case.
The Wounded Survivor
The road bends toward the old relay station. If the court patrols watch anywhere, it will be there.
Therefore, Nathan The Great studies the road shoulders, culverts, and broken service markers while the escort advances.
His route assessment identifies a concealed drainage cut beside the relay approach, suitable for placing a diversion without endangering the travelers.
Nathan The Great prepares the explosives inside that hidden cut, leaving the diversion ready for use while keeping the firing control in hand.
Second Shrine Warrior
Movement ahead. The relay station is not abandoned, and something large is crossing the road.
+ New Item Acquired
secured explosive case
+ New Item Acquired
firing control