"The conclave is just south of here, sirs," Ara says. "The main training yard is inside the city wall, but there is an office outside the wall. The smallfolk prefer to inquire in that office rather than entering the city. There are says that even the rangers are planning to relocate outside the city wall. It's this new tightening of security. There are says that the mayor will be instituting a magical brand for anyone entering the city to enforce the anti-arms law in the coming year. We smallfolk already have to deal with a body check every time we enter the city, but a magical brand is just a step too far."

"A magical brand, who would have believed such a thing?!", Drexon says in mock disbelief.

"The office sounds like a good place to start then", he adds, looking around the table to see if the others had made their decisions on their plans for the day.

Cob finishes his coffee, picks up his small pack and nods to Drexon.

”Well, I’m no bigger than the smallfolk so the office sounds good to me too. Ready to go.”

He nods a farewell to Ara and heads to the door, pausing long enough for any of the others to join before heading to the ranger office.

Dvark nods to Ara, rises, and gestures to Karm to head out. As Cob and Drexon stroll out Dvark calls after them "if I see smoke I'll assume it's you two again and head your way." Dvark leaves hai gear in his room and goes in to town with just his wallet, his holy symbol, and his clothes.

Once they exit the tavern Dvark says to Karm "Well I guess we should ask around and see what study halls we can find."

The archive has some representatives and associates spread all over. We might find someone that can help us. On the other side i have yet to make a connection with the archive, so im not sure how that would work out. What are you trying to find out specifically?

You exit from the tavern and head south toward the eastern city gate. The sight of the wall of Erdelun is just as grand but lacks the strange glow and sense of power that you have felt before in the future. Several guards clad in plate armor stand in front of the gate. You can see that whoever is trying to enter the city is being checked thoroughly by emptying their pockets or bags and having their body checked.

Drexon, Cob, and Eremoz, you split with the others and make your way out of the tavern and south toward Vort's End. There, jutting out from the wall is a broad buttress with an archway. Standing in front of the archway is a pair of guards that lacks the heavy plate the city guards are wearing. Instead, they are wearing half plates or hardened leather. They are probably the rangers

"Lo!" One of the rangers calls. "You here for the volunteer call?" 

Karm and Dvark, from your memories, you remember that the Archive has an Annex in Erdelun located south of the Old Town district of the city. With that in mind, you continue your way into the city, following the sizable queue in front of the gate. You are taken slightly to the side by a pair of guards when you reached the gate properly. 

"State your name and business," the guard says. "Are you carrying any weapons? Your weapons will have to be registered if you want to carry it inside. We will take imprints and impressions so we can cross-check in case a crime occurs during your stay in the city. Else, you can drop it here and we will put it into our vault until you exit the city. Step slightly this way and we'll begin a body check to ensure you are not carrying any other hidden weapons." 

This would be the only thing that could be considered a weapon says karm and pats the hook dangling on his hip. Register or keep it, whatever means less effort for both of us. My name is Karm Zona, this is my friend Dvark Ekorin. We planned on visiting the Archive's Annex.

Drexon wanders up to the guards at the archway.

"Volunteer call? Perhaps", he says looking to Cob and Eremoz with a shrug.

"If that is the best way to help in the case of the missing children. Whose in charge of that then, and where do we find them?", he adds.

Karm and Dvark

{{If you are not resisting, the guard will log the hook and keep it in the vault until you exit the city.}}

The guard takes the hook and registers it before handing it to another guard. He gives you a card as the other guard walks away with your hook into one of the gate's towers. He continues your pat down for quite some time before nodding and ushering you into the city. 

"Keep the card with you and give it back when you exit the city," the guard explains. "The Annex is south of the Old Town district right in front of the lone flanking tower of the south wall. Just follow the road and turn left before you reach the Mayor's Office."

Seeing the city proper, you are quite baffled by the difference between what you are seeing and what you have seen. Most of the buildings in front of you don't look as weathered as you have seen. The Old Town district is especially different as there are no signs of the partially built theater that is being built when you last saw Erdelun. It only shows the disparity between the time you are currently in and the time you came from. 

Following the instruction of the city guard, you easily find the Erdelun's Annex of the Archive of Ages. It is a cathedral constructed with white marble and blue roof tiles standing right in front of a flat-topped flanking tower. The Annex's door is closed and you cannot see anyone around. If you don't see the bright light from the windows of the cathedral, you will surmise that the place has been abandoned from how quiet the surrounding is.

Entering the Annex, you are greeted with an empty front desk and complete silence. 

Drexon, Cob, and Eremoz

"Aye," the ranger says, "we have been calling for volunteers for the better part of 2 weeks now since the third child went missing. Some of the smallfolk answered the call, but they don't have a good sense for tracking a trail. The First Ranger is inside. He's preparing today's briefing for the volunteers and rangers that will range out to follow the trail of that fifth kid. You might as well come in and ask him yourself."

Entering the archway, you are greeted with the sight of a small public hall with benches and a podium in the middle. Standing near the podium is a roguish-looking halfling wearing a moss-green cloak. His eyes are transfixed on the papers in his hands. You can see him tensing slightly when you enter. He looks up in your direction with piercing and judging bright blue eyes. 

"Volunteers?" He asks. His voice is gruff and deep with a hint of coldness that speaks of a long and hard life lived.

'seems like they don't get many visitors at this office.' Dvark says walking up to the front desk and looking over it to see if there's anything relevant laying around. 'this layout look familiar? think you can navigate us to the archives?'

Perception: 23

Drexon shoots Cob a smile. This was easier than he expected.

"After you", he says and motions Cob inside, following after him.

Dvark, the front desk is a semi-circular table with dozens of books and scrolls stacked on it. They are mostly about history and ethics, but none that catch your interest. Behind the front desk, rows upon rows of bookshelves stand holding thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of books and scrolls. Strangely enough, for a place as large as this, you still haven't seen anyone -- not even the caretaker that must have come to keep the place as clean as this. 

Cob bows slightly to the halfling ranger at the podium.

"Perhaps," Cob says. "We've come to learn more about the children who have disappeared and to help try and find them."

{{ Apologies, it seems my previous post made little sense, I think I missed the second paragraph about the Rangers Conclave }}

Drexon regards the first ranger for a moment before removing his hat and giving him a nod.

"That's right", he says speaking after Cob. "The father of the latest boy to be abducted beseeched us to try and help find his son, Jeoff. We are certain you are doing all in your power, but if we may be of service then we would like to assist. Please, tell us anything you believe pertinent".

Drexon, Cob, Eremoz

"You're not from here, are you?" The First Ranger asks. "Name is Yntar Godsgrief, First Ranger of Erdelun. The briefing will start in a bit, but you look capable enough that perhaps you can start early.

"Here's the cliff notes. Five children have gone missing in the last 3 to 4 weeks. We opened this volunteer call 2 weeks back when the third child went missing. To this day, we have few clues about where and why they have been taken, but we know they were taken. We checked the Magisterium, a circus troupe settling about a mile west of here, as their flyers were found near the location where the third child went missing. We found nothing in the circus, so the City Guards deemed the case a lost cause. When the fourth child went missing, us rangers continued the search. It wasn't until little Jeoff was taken that we found a more concrete clue. Where he went missing, we found a torn breast pocket bearing a burnt sigil of the Magisterium and a scorched horseshoe track leading south.

"This is where it gets complicated. We followed the horse track, but after a while, it splits into seven different directions. We have isolated 4 tracks over the past 3 days and found nothing. Two circles around and return back to Erdelun. One ends in a river where a large alligator has taken residence. Almost lost a ranger there. The other one ends in a bear cave. So, we are heading out today to follow the last 3 tracks. One leads southwest, one west, and the other east."

Eremoz listens carefully as the ranger describes the case. “Any witnesses or strange happenings in the area around the time of any disappearances?”

We could just go take a look, right? On the other hand i don't want to make a bad impression to my future employer. Karm shrugs and slams his fist on the desk top a few times. Not excessively, just enough to grab the attention of anyone in the vicinity. If no one comes to check, we are on our own. Lets give it a moment. He then sits down, legs crossed leaning against the desk, and studies his book for a moment, prepping for a study session

Drexon listens to the ranger and waits for him to answer Eremoz's question before asking his own.

"We have some friends to collect before we head out, but if you can supply a map or drawing of the area, we can take a look at one of those paths. Dealer's choice", he says.

"Also, is it worth another talk with the people at the Magisterium, now there is further evidence of their involvement? We can go and do that as well, if it is not too far away from the search area"

Cob, Drexon, Eremoz

"No one has come to speak up if there are any at all," Yntar says. "The parents always say that one moment they're there and the next they aren't. We did speak to the manager of the circus again, but without something more concrete than a torn-up shirt with their sigil, we can't pin anything. It can be happenstance that some old shirt of theirs ends up there after a long night of party. They do come to Ravenhills once in a while. They drink and sing at the Silver Crow Bar until late at night. The horse trails so far also don't lead anywhere near their area. We'll know more when we complete tracing the trail today. Your group can take one, while the volunteers and my rangers take the other two.

"Just be ready in a couple of hours. Do your morning business and come back here when all the volunteers have gathered. We'll go together to the split in an hour or two, then you and the other volunteers and rangers can pick a trail. The folks here aren't quite the early birds, so the search always starts around eight or nine."

Dvark and Karm

After waiting for quite some time, a large man appears from behind one of the bookshelf. He is larger than even Dvark, towering over both of you by almost a head or a head and a half. He is wearing a blue tunic with the symbol of the Archive of Ages, an open book with a small sapling coming out of the center, the Tree of Knowledge. Muted cyan tattoos have been painted on his skin in an intricate series of arcane runes and patterns stretching from his hairless head, down his neck, and even along his hands, peeking a little from his long sleeves. 

"How can I help the seekers of knowledge?" He asks. His voice is deep and hoarse as if he hasn't spoken for a long time. His eyes glint with wisdom and curiosity.

{{Does Karm know how the procedures of the Archive have changed in the last century? Did the symbol of the archive change during this time? What does he know about the ranks of authority within the archive and what rank would he be? Dunno, this might warrant a pm, because i am also curious about the Enigma, how they work amd how they cooperate with the archive. Also, could he finish the spell?}}