Artania and Al reach the Adventurers’ Guild before dusk. The eastern road closes behind them, while Hessa remains at the pasture with the enchanted hawk and the flock moved safely away.
The sealed fold containing the copper-bound volumes rests undisturbed, but the Brass Farm Token burns faintly beneath its frayed ward-cloth. Al keeps close at Artania’s side.
Maelin Voss
You returned sooner than expected. From the look in Al’s eyes, the mountain gave you more than a route.
Brunna Coppervein
Inside, lad. The guild has been waiting, and two officials arrived asking careful questions about eastern traffic.
Maelin leads them into the records chamber, where Brunna bars the door and Odelia clears a broad table. The guild’s lamps burn low behind drawn curtains.
Maelin Voss
If those volumes prove the Quiet Ledger ordered the Burning Pass ambush, we will make authenticated copies before sending any report beyond trusted hands.
Brunna Coppervein
Set the evidence down when you are ready, Artania. Then we decide whether the Crown receives a warning, a challenge, or both.
“I take out the brass mark, the brass farm token, the copied Easter route map, making a note of the entrance through the field. The forged courier route Volume, and the Authorization Sigil Volume. Everything I have found through my investigation. I hand them over to my trusted guild-mates. I recap everything that happened over the past few days pertaining to the evidence.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +1)
Artania opens the sealed fold on Odelia’s cleared table. He lays out the brass mark, Brass Farm Token, copied eastern route map, and a note marking the field entrance.
The Forged Courier Route Volume and Authorization Sigil Volume follow, beside the Eastern-Farm Contract Notice and Guild Token. Every piece rests in trusted hands.
Artania Nero Thornson
I recap the investigation: the eastern lights led to Hessa’s irrigation ring, the buried lattice, and the mountain passage. The token opened the route, and the chamber revealed these volumes.
Artania Nero Thornson
The forged route redirected the caravan into the Burning Pass ambush. The authorization sigil belongs to the Quiet Ledger, and the Ashen Clerk was named as its architect.
Maelin records each detail while Brunna examines the copied map and Odelia checks the volumes’ bindings. The evidence is preserved without disturbing its original marks.
Maelin Voss
This is enough to authenticate the route, the sigil, and the bureau’s orders. We will make careful copies before any report leaves trusted hands.
Brunna Coppervein
You brought the truth home, lad. Rest now. The guild will guard it, and decide with you how best to place it before the Crown.