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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 9131152" data-attributes="member: 2012">Falen looks towards the Palace looming in the distance. The commander went that way with the body of Captain Camburn.Handshakes are exchanged between the two. One, now a full member of the Exemplars and the other a new friend and ally to Bluffside's hereoes.The guards tell Falen that the items will be stored in the palace for the time being. "A full accounting will be done to make sure nothing is missed. Once everything is sorted and stored, a messenger will send word to... where are you staying?""He's probably going to be at Stormgrove with the other Exemplars," Petronille says.The man nods. He's not one of the guards who fought with the PCs. He seems to be in charge of gathering the dead off the street. "Yes, word will be sent from the palace that everything is in order. The magic will be secured.""We'll make sure of that," Petronille says to Falen. She looks to the other guards who fought in the street battle. "It is important to us."The other guards nod.Zenpher thanks Falen for his help.Falen heads towards the Palace of the Ancients. He comes up behind the citizens trailing the commander and Custodio just as they are about to reach a side entrance leading into the palace from the north. Falen had heard rumours of an entrance being located around here, but he is surprised when a secret door opens up in the wall. The commander takes Captain Camburn's body inside. Burchard and Emelia attend him and the two Elites are carrying the only parts of Unglar that could be recovered.The crowd is forced to stay outside the palace. As Falen approaches, candles are lit and place in an alcove near the open doorway. It seems the entrance isn't a true secret, just not left open for people to come and go. Once he is closer, he finds that the door is more obvious up close. Custodio sees him while saying goodbye to Sir Breva. Custodio waves Falen forward to come inside the palace. The guards with the dead are close behind the unseen seer.The crowd parts and, luckily for Falen, the people are more focused on the dead Loyalists and mercenaries. The crowd begins to murmur. "So many." "The Exemplars truly are heroes." "Old City is lucky to have them as its protectors." "What is that?" "A fiend." Absolutely horrible."Falen notes that the people step back even more when they see the dead body of The Butcher. Once inside, the large door is sealed shut behind them. There is a strange device on the wall just inside. Falen has never seen anything like it. This is magic or technology that is beyond his studies. Lord Max will be very interested in learning about it and more about the palace.Falen looks around. The room he is in is huge and opens up into another room that is even more mid boggling. The construction is well beyond the normal, even if was constructed with magic. The rumours about the skills of the Ancients is true, it seems. Could this be what Ph-... Waldo is after?Custodio clears his throat and them smiles at Falen. "It is an impressive building. And, it hasn't given up all its secrets yet.""Custodio," Commander Oakfirst says firmly.The Vanquisher cleric and Elite turns towards his commander. The man is shaking his head. Custodio sighs and motions for Falen to follow. "I can't say more," he whispers. "Stay close and don't... touch... anything."Oakfirst leads the way to a central room that looks like it has been converted into a large shrine. Falen notices that there are statues for the Twelve Gods of Bluffside arrayed in a circle around the room's perimeter. A dais sit in the centre of the room. The commander places Captain Camburn on the dais. The few remains of Unglar are placed in a wooden box near the statue of the Purifier.The dead Loyalists and mercenaries are taken elsewhere to have any remaining items stripped from them. The captured 'loot' goes with them into a special storage room.The commander turns to look at his Elites and at Falen. "The captain will be returning to us. His life is to important to lose right now. I don't know if Unglar's soul can come back. There is so little of him left and doubt The Five will pay for a true resurrection for him." The commander looks at Falen. "I thank you for what you and the other Exemplars have done this day. The city owes you a debt of gratitude. Now, I ask you to give your friends a message. I need you all to come here just after supper. No later than a hour, at most. There are things we must discuss."He looks at Custodio. "I'll need you here too.""Then, I should go right away. I must rest and pray for my spells," the cleric says. "I hope that the Purifier will hear my prayers at such an odd time of day." He nods to Falen. "I'll see you later."Custodio leaves Falen alone with the lord commander. Oakfirst stares at Falen for what feels like an eternity. "I haven't been able to find out anything else about Casca's plans or the death of Avitus. If I do, I will let you know. Now, if you don't mind, I'll a moment with my old friend. I must pray for his forgiveness in what I must do next. He will not be happy that I must bring him back, but he is too popular with the people to lose right now."The commander kneels in front of the dais and begins to pray. He says nothing more to Falen. His personal Elites escort the unseen seer from the palace's chapel."You should probably get some rest," Burchard suggests. He yawns. "We're all going to need it."Elsewhere:The Lantern Ward is a wreck. It will likely take months to rebuild everything The Beast destroyed... even with magical aid. Vitus helps the wounded as much as he can, especially among the people. If anyone notices his sash, they don't say anything. They are just glad for the help.Vitus gets caught up in Sobla's revelation to the Exemplars. It all seems so fantastical. The Exemplars are soon on the move again through Old City's streets. Akos and Tuck are asking Sobla many questions about her and Mutt's experience. The big dog walks next to Tuck but gets distracted by the people in the streets.The cleric of Tyche walks alongside Sir Tymbeck and the Sectarian. Vitus and Vincenzo swap stories. Rockhorn rides alongside on Spritewing.Once Akos has asked everything he can about the fey goddess, the well, and the Shadowstar Sea, Sobla comes over to listen to Vitus' stories about his past. She listen intently. Like him, she is very young for one of her people, but she is taller than Tuck already.The group walks through Moons' Arch and Beacon Arch to arrive in the Lilal Ward, which is named for the rarely used Lilal Gate. Most heading east out of Old City leave through the East Gate. Stormgrove Manor, the home of Terger Alela (in absentia), soon comes into sight, and all of you are glad to see it. Tim leads the ways, as Terger left Stormgrove to him to attend to and protect. Not that Tim has to worry about protecting the place. Several Dark Lanterns appear out of the manor's garden hedges to greet the Exemplars. The manor's estate is being better tended to but still needs work.Normally, Gerey would be present to greet them but, it seems, he's the guest of a fey goddess. The dragori druid too. In the warden's absence, young Puck is taking up the mantle it seems, as are the manor's maids. Huverel, Sylemis' young druidic protégé, greets them at the door."I'm glad your back, and with Miss Sobla," the half-elf says to Tim. "She told us that Gerey and Sylemis are safe, but didn't have time to tell us more."Sobla begins to tell her tale once more and the staff of Stormgrove listen in rapt silence.Falen Returns to Stormgrove:By the time Falen has returned to Stormgrove, the others have either gone to bed already or have gone to see someone named Spindle. He finds that a room has been set aside and cleaned for him. It is cozy.[HR][/HR]Later in the Early Evening:Vitus has lost all sense of time. Many of the Exemplars have already slept or gone to seek advice elsewhere and come back again. Day has turned into early evening.No one objects to him heading back to his embassy. It is the closest thing he has to a home, after all. He makes his way there through two of Old City's inner gates. He arrives at the delegacy just in time for the changing of the guard shift. The guards make him show his Ticinum papers and let him inside without another word.He finds Vel Faunus Amphion hard at work at his desk just beyond the foyer. The half-satyr scribe is lost in thought, as usual. It takes near five minutes for him to look up at Vitus."I see you're finally back," Amphion says. "We hear you've been busy... making interesting friends." The scribe smiles at him. It is a bit unnerving. "Well, when I say we, I mean 'me'," he adds. "I haven't told the praefectus about your little adventurers. I leave that up to you."Amphion waves Vitus away. "Now, you better get some sleep. Lord Casca will be back later tonight. He is attending a party at Old City's museum. He'll likely be back just before midnight. You will be ready to greet him and let him know everything you have learned about these Exemplars, especially Mr. Falen."</blockquote>

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