As each of the cursed prisoners left the room, a guard was assigned to escort them, keep an eye on them, facilitate their preparation, and provide directions if asked.

[@Tricheus]

During Ahelair's return to his clinic, a few healers from the Volunteer Corps solemnly introduced themselves, and ask Ahelair and his nurses some questions to familiarize themselves with the clinic, and the area that it serves.

[@tekkaiwallace]

Mort's escort, who happened to be a human, helps fulfill his requests for equipment, and makes an effort to blunt any potentially abrasive exchanges. Mort's escort assures him that the party will not be traveling alone, and that camping materials and food will be part of the entourage when they leave, which will include several carts and pack animals. The escort also provides Mort with a bottle of the barracks grog, it's not good, but it's strong. The books are harder to acquire, as the city libraries are only willing to relinquish extra copies, and even those they are loathe to part with. In the end, with the escort's coaxing, Mort is given a few maps of the continent, a simple bestiary and horticultural guide, a copy of the Book of Light (compiled scriptures of the Six Gods), and a historical mythology primer intended for fledgling priests. The escort also leads Mort to Administrative Center's alchemy lab, where an apprentice requisitions a small chest of sample vials of various poisons, as requested.

Finally, the escort brings Mort to have an audience with Councillor Sharmukh Isra'fil in the High Priest's office. Sitting at a desk, flanked by guards and clerics, Sharmukh invites Mort to sit, and for the escort to remain outside. [color=39b54a]"I wasn't sure whether to expect you or not, but I suppose what they say is true, 'birds of a feather...' I suppose you have come for information on our homeland? To be fair, I probably know as little about it's current events you, possibly less, as I have been stationed here in the City of Light since long before the calamity. I had more hoped to convince your...fellows...to liberate Lathesa's Roost first, though I doubt I'll need to convince you, as I'm sure you weep for our people and our home as much as the rest of us. Did you come to seek some way we can leverage the others? Or for something else?"[/color] Sharmukh narrows his eyes at Mort, curious of his intentions.

[@Fiya]

The escort that had been assigned to Res happens to be a dwarf. As Res looks through her old pack for money, the escort strongly suggested to Res that if she required her money back, she could make a formal request to Gudrun Harkenstone, the Dwarf Councillor. After Res washed up, the Dwarf escort waiting outside leads Res, as requested, through the halls of the Administrative Center. The escort looks around with shifty eyes as the stroll takes an unusual amount of time, before arriving at the Office of the Treasurer, the Office of Councillor Gudrun Harkenstone. The escort announces Res' intention to be led to the nearest Councillor.

Gudrun silently looks up from her desk at Res, then at the escort. [color=fff200]"You are aware that my office is hardly the closest one to the living quarters?"[/color] The escort remains silent, though is visibly shaken. Gudrun sighs and pulls an empty parchment and begins scratching her quill on it furiously. [color=fff200]"I am suggesting to the Lord Protector that you be flogged for behavior unbefitting of your rank and station, and for allowing your personal bias to interfere with important matters of state."[/color]

"I did it for Thromburg!" the escort retorts.

[color=fff200]"Have some Dwarven Dignity!"[/color] Gudrun shot back. [color=fff200]"Divine Law is...?"[/color]

"...mithril." The escort finished.

[color=fff200]"And Dwarven Law is...?"[/color]

"...iron."

[color=fff200]"Our people did not become great through subterfuge and dishonesty. Go find your replacement escort for this elf,"[/color] as the escort leaves in shame, Gudrun looks at Res again, [color=fff200]"Since it seems, based on your request, that you do not care which Councillor you speak with, I suppose I'm as good a place to start as any. Sit, and let's talk business. I do not much like the idea of 'bribing' you and your party to liberate 'my city' first, but as you can see from the behavior of your ex-escort that we all desperately want this nightmare to end."[/color]