Quickly, but also carefully, you return following the same path that you took down into the secret library. As you distance yourselves from the chaos of the fire, you can once again hear the music echoing down the staircase. With your hearts beating in your chest, and your lungs aching, you reach the top of the secret staircase. The door is still closed, just as Cavasin left it. To Cavasin’s relief, the door opens without any problems, and you find yourselves staring at the illusions of yourselves sitting around the table at the center of the room.
Vors begins snatching up as many of the cards of illusion from under the chairs as quickly as he can. He glances at the secret door to make sure it is closed.
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Tessara takes a look around at the party--spattered with blood, stained with smoke and soot, not to mention sweat--and quickly grips the hilt of her rapier, Athame, connecting mentally into its arcane bond with her. "אתאם, תדבר איתי..."
Eyes closed in concentration, she casts prestidigitation through the sword, and begins hurriedly cleaning everyone's clothes, skin, and hair back to the pristine condition of a group that had simply been reading books for the last 2 hours.
"אני טובלת לתוך הבאר של המסתורין! Cavasin, can you close the secret door behind us?"
From, the other side of the door, you start to hear what sounds like a group of hurried footsteps coming into the library.
Tobius’ voice comes muffled through the door. ”Um. Can I help you?”
As Tobius speaks, the footsteps get louder and louder as if they are approaching the door.
"There’s been an incident. We need…”
The door to the room swings open and standing in front of your are two city guards followed closely behind by Tobius.
The city guards freeze as they realize other people are in the room. One of the guards turns to Tobius and says in a half whisper, ”Who are these people?”
”They are here doing research. They have a letter giving them permission to be here.”
”Have they been here the whole time?”
”Yes. I have been checking in on them. They haven’t left this room.”
The guard stare at Tobius for a moment, then turns back to the group. ”You need to leave. Now.” The guard steps aside so you can get through the door. ”Quickly.” The guard points at Tobius. ”Get them out of here, and make sure no one comes back into the library.”
Vors obeys the guard and moves to follow Tobius.
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Putting on the condescending smile of nobility dealing with commoners, Tessara rises from the desk she'd just sat down in before the door was opened.
As she follows the others out, her satin gown swishing elegantly, she gently pats one of the guards on the shoulder and says half-teasingly, "Keep up the good work, boys. We all feel safer for your vigilance."
The guards stand by and watch as you exit the room. You can feel their eyes staring at you as you move past them. As soon as everyone is out of the room, the guards enter the room and close the door behind them. Tobius studiously guides the group to the exit of the library.
”I apologize for the sudden intrusion. Did you find what you were looking for?”
"Thank you, Tobius. I could spend an eternity in there. It is a shame our time was cut short. Your assistance is greatly appreciated."
Stenne was quite careful to keep her features stoically blank. As an afterthought, she kept her trap shut.
Tobius shows you all to the door and ensures that everyone exits into the hallway before closing the door behind you. You hear a faint click as he locks the door.
You find yourselves in the hallway outside of the library.
"Thank you for the prestidigitation. That was absolutely necessary. Bait and tackle or a ship to anywhere?" Vors glances at each of you
Been a while since I've been been fishing. May as well. Stenne muttered.
You make your way to the same door that you came in. A few times you pass by a few other people hurrying through the halls; luckily they seems to be too preoccupied to take much note of you. It seems that they too are making their way out of the building. As you make it to the door, you notice that the courtyard of the Collegium is filled with people slowly moving towards the gates. The hum of the crowd is lighthearted for the most part and people seem to be casually strolling towards the exit.
You join the crowd in the slow meander towards the gate. Your group makes it to the exit, and everything seems to be going fine until you hear a few screams coming from your right. As you look over, you can see a column of mounted city guardsmen approaching the crowd at a gallop.
The crowd starts to panic. People all through the crowd start to scream and run in every direction.
Vors stays with Tessara. "More like careless guards."
Following Tesara, the party moves quickly to the side of the street to avoid the horsemen. The crowd parts and the column of horsemen charge down the center towards the gate. As you watch them gallop, you realize an old man was not quick enough to make way. In what seems like slow motion, the horses plow into the terrified old man, crushing him beneath their hooves.
A man at the front of the column wearing a more impressive uniform than the rest begins to shout ”Make way for the Zobeck City Guard!” His face remains stoic as the hooves of his horse trample over top of the old man. ”Seal the gates! Quickly!” he barks to the men in the column, ”And stop these people from escaping!”
The column of horses comes to a halt outside of the gate. Two men run over to the gate and start to close it while a few more try to contain the crowd and stop people from exiting the Collegium. The rest spread out and start using force to try to corral people who have already made their way through the gate.
The crowd continues to scatter. You can see the fear in their eyes as they run past. The sounds of screams mix with the whines of the horses and the crying of children. The street has erupted into complete chaos.
Being uncomfortable with the corral, Vors looks for buildings to enter or another way to exit the area. Even a good hiding spot.
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Tessara also begins to feel something is more seriously wrong here. The hairs on the back of her neck prickling, she looks around for the other members of her group, making sure they stay together--particularly Stenne, her short stature making it easy to lose sight of her in the crowd. Not bothering to lower her voice among the growing madness of the mob, she suggests "I think it best we find our own way out, friends. I don't know what's happening here, but I don't like the look of it one bit."
Looking around for exits as well, she tries to recall Zobeck's street layout to think if there's another way in or out of the Collegium.
Tessara notices an alley way just ahead of the party, and manages to bring it to the rest of the group’s attention.
Vors move into the alley.
Stenne watched the poor frail human crumple beneath the stamping hooves of the armored horse with repellent horror. Dwarves avoided the large equine got that very reason.
The fact the mounted guardsmen plowed onward without pause was most alarming. There was no actually reason to run down the people they were charged with protection.
She held no love for authority. And this merely reinforced her disillusionment for those in such positions.
Callous bastards....Seething, the moonshine evaded hips and elbows as she waded the press of bodies towards the indicated alleyway.
She considering using an ale bomb on the guards...
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"Follow me, everyone! If we keep to the back roads, we should be able to evade the guards. Perhaps if we can lay low at Captain Muesello's shop, we'll have a chance to find out what's going on out here."
Drawing her gleaming, silvery rapier Athame, she hurries along the alleyways with it held outward in an en garde posture, her companions beside her, watching out for guardsmen or worse. "Desna, give us luck..." the elf murmurs.
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Cavasin tosses his cloak over his shoulder, thinking it better to look the part of grizzled man-of-arms rather than harmless priest in this time of action.
He turns his back to the group, hands gripping his shield and morningstar. He scans the alley behind them, looking for anyone who might be following.
Vors, Stenne, Tessara, and Cavasin slip into the alley. The coast ahead is clear, and you can see that the alley opens onto a backstreet a little ways down. Looking around though, you notice that Prince and Cassandra are missing.
Vors moves into the backstreet.
...We're short two heads. Stenne announced.
Looking around, Cassandra and George are nowhere in sight.
The back street that the alleyway leads onto is incredibly quiet. No one is on it and the coast looks clear. Based on your current location, you could probably make it to the Bait and Tackle Shop undetected.
Vors likes what he sees. He motions to the group. "This way." He heads in the direction of the bait shop at brisk pace.
The journey towards the Bait and Tackle feels long. Every sound has you on edge as you make your way through the back streets of Zobeck. The screams of those who are being harassed by the city guard echo through the air until they become muffled by the distance. The further away you get from the incident, the more the city seems to return to normal. The shutters on the widows of the buildings you pass are no longer closed and locked, and people are walking the streets completely unaware of the chaos in the neighboring district. Eventually, the noise of the docks begins to overtake the deafening silence of the streets in the Collegium District; people go about their daily task, loading ships, hawking their wares, and moving goods throughout the city.
Easily enough, you find the Bait and Tackle Shop. The “Gone Fishing” sign still hangs in the window of the door. As you approach the door, it opens, though no one is on the other side.
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Tessara looks back at the Collegium uncertainly, the noise of the brutal riot suppression loud in her elven ears.
What would Uncle Caladrel do? Surely not abandon his friends... but this is a city, not some dungeon! And they're not foolish commoners like that old man, they'll be safe enough... yes... yes. We must continue the mission.
Nodding to herself with her heart (mostly) resolved, she turns to follow Vors and Cavasin, keeping Athame ready at her defense.
But once the sights and sounds of city life return to normal, she sheathes the blade and resumes a more confident walking posture, despite her unsettled feelings. "Whatever was happening back there, I'm beginning to suspect it had to do with us...
Vors pauses as the door opens itself. Tossing caution to the wind he enters the shop.