The vaulted chamber’s deep pulse gathers around the Brass Farm Token, suspended against Artania’s ward-cloth. Blue-white light threads through the ancient stone, while Al stands alert beside him.
Al
This is the same pressure that guided me toward the mountain route, small one. It is older here, and waiting.
Ahead, a sealed inner door opens without hinges, grinding stone, or drifting dust. Beyond it, shelves crowd the walls, each bearing copper-bound ledgers beneath a faded diplomatic crest.
The first ledger lifts from its shelf. Its cover opens by itself, and brittle pages begin turning in measured rhythm as pale ink gathers across the margins.
Al
The road remembers this place. It remembers many travelers, but none who arrived carrying your mark.
The token gives a stronger tug toward the moving ledger. Far behind them, the mountain passage remains quiet, with Maelin, Brunna, and Odelia left at the guild to await their return.
A final page turns and stops. Upon it, fresh ink sketches the hooked sigil, then draws a second mark beside it, leaving the chamber’s silence open for Artania’s next choice.
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify the organizer behind the attempted provocation of war
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure usable evidence from the diplomatic records
“Alright, I can help my colleagues from the caravan attack if I can find some evidence I slowly approach and inspect the ledger that started moving. Careful not to touch it as it seems very brittle. At the same time I ask Al how we can still hear each other? I did not hold the magic all night, and I do not want to bother him with my thoughts or intrude on his private ones.”
SUCCESS (Great Perception, rolled +0)
Artania approaches the hovering ledger slowly, keeping his burned hand and the ward-cloth clear of its brittle copper bindings. He studies the moving pages without touching them.
Artania Nero Thornson
Al, how can we still hear each other? I did not hold the magic all night, and I do not want to intrude on your private thoughts or bother you.
The ledger’s pages turn beneath his gaze. Ink gathers into lines describing a caravan diverted from the eastern route, its diplomatic cargo marked for seizure by agents bearing the second sigil.
Al
The bridge rested inside us, small one. It does not carry every thought. I hear you when you reach toward me, and my private thoughts remain mine unless I open them.
A margin fills with a faded route and three names, one matching the forged courier page from the Burning Pass. Beside them, the ledger records a warning: the attack was arranged before the caravan departed.
Al
You do not bother me. Your voice feels like a door left unbarred, not a hand searching through my room. I will tell you when I wish for silence.
“You are very well-mannered for a supposed wild wolf. Very intelligent to. I will not try to pry secrets from you as you are my good friend. I may pester you about from time to time though. I look down at him and put a big silly grin on my face.”
SUCCESS (Fair Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Artania Nero Thornson
You are very well-mannered for a supposed wild wolf, and very intelligent too. I will not pry into your secrets, my good friend, though I may pester you about them from time to time.
Artania looks down at Al and gives him a broad, deliberately silly grin. The hovering ledger continues turning its pages, its pale ink quieting around them.
Al
I suspected you might pester me, small one. I will endure it, provided you remember that friendship is not permission to open every door.
Al
His grin is foolish. It is also warm. I would rather hear this voice than face the old silence alone.
The ledger’s fresh warning remains visible: the caravan attack was arranged before departure. Beside it, the second sigil darkens, while the hooked mark gives one measured pulse.
Al
The book wants you to look farther, but it can wait while we understand what it has already shown. I am here, small one.
“Alright, I study the floating ledger some more. Trying to find any new information on the attack and conspiracy. If this one does not hold it, I shall search through the others. Next time I return to town I will buy some paper supplies, so I can copy what I find and not have to memorize everything.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +1)
Artania studies the floating ledger without touching it, following the hooked sigil, the second mark, and every margin connected to the diverted caravan.
Al
The pages are opening where the danger was recorded, small one. I can feel the old road tightening around those names.
The ledger reveals that Quiet Ledger agents altered the route before departure, replacing the authentic courier instructions and ordering the cargo seized alive and intact.
A copied roster names the operation’s architect as the Ashen Clerk, an unidentified bureau official, and identifies the second sigil as the authorization seal.
Further entries connect the forged page, the ambush at Burning Pass, and the brass mark: the mark was intended to identify whoever uncovered the bureau’s interference.
Artania Nero Thornson
The attack was planned before the caravan departed, and the brass mark ties the conspiracy to the Quiet Ledger.
The ledger settles, leaving the findings legible. Around it, the other copper-bound volumes remain suspended in patient rows, holding records Artania can search and copy later.
Quest Complete
Identify the organizer behind the attempted provocation of war
Skill Upgrade: Diplomacy Fair→Good