Guardok stares at the door for a long moment before starting the exam, hoping to see both Mei and Mal enter before it is too late.

When he does begin, he tries to give it his full attention, despite  at least one missing friend.

Nature: 10+2=12 - Re-roll: 12+2=14
Animal Handling: 10+4=14

Once inside, Malvyn would turn his full focus on the exam on owlbears.

Nature: 14
Survival: 19

"Mr. Darkhold, very nice that you could join us," Professor Lang says in a quiet voice once Malvyn comes into the classroom.  She directs the tiefling to an empty seat, then brings over the exam papers. "LIke the others, you have to the end of class to complete the exam." 

(OOC Malvyn - You only get to re-roll one of the checks. Also, due to being late, you must take a -1 to one check of your choice. Looking at the rolls, I don't think either would have been different without advantage.) 

A handful of students are able to complete their exams well before the class period ends - Rubina, Aurora, and Quentillius among them. There are also a fair number still working even as the bell rings as the hour is up. "All papers must be turned in now," the professor announces.  Students slowly file outside.  As usual, there are many that group together, discussing aspects of the questions and trying to see how friends might have fared. 

As he heads out, Guardok overhears a group talking about some Rose Stage Festival that is coming up. One says, "I heard someone wants to summon and control a real young black dragon on stage. No way will that work!” Another adds, "Yea, no way that will be allowed! I've heard though that the Playactors Drama Guild is working on combining the hide of a bear and an owl head taxidermy to create a weird owlbear prop!"

(OOC - You now have the weekend. One free of other obligations and no exam to study for. Results of the exam are to be posted on Monday.) 

The purple-skinned tiefling seems quite embarrassed over being late but manages to compose himself enough to take on the exam with a good feeling in the end. He would then quickly find Mae and Guardok to tell them that he is heading over to the Biblioplex cafe to meet with Mei and her guest from Silkmeadow and that they both were welcome too. He then hurries to find Aurora to ask if she felt it went okay, praising her if it did and comforting her if it didn't, either way hugging her, then explaining that he should go and meet up with Mei and a guest from Silkmeadow but that he would like to treat her to dinner to celebrate having had their second exam, and most likely passing it too. Then he would hurry on to the Bibliplex cafe, hoping that Mei and Kira was still there.

(Ah, yes, sorry, didn't realize he got that late, but he should be okay with those rolls, thanks :-)

Aurora seems to think she did fine, having completed her exam quickly.  She had been chatting with Rubina outside.  "Mei has a guest from Silkmeadow?" she asks. "Mal, I hadn't heard she met someone there.  She skipped the exam to meet with him?"  

At the offer to dinner and to accompany him to the Biblioplex she nods. "Why don't we meet tonight for dinner? But you go on and find Mei and her friend. I would love to hear more about this later though."  She and Rubina prepare to head back to their dorm. "Oh, what time should I expect you Mal?"  

Malvyn (and perhaps others) head off to the Biblioplex cafe.  As you arrive, you see Mei sitting with the woman with blonde hair strangely accented with black - Kira: 

Mei shakes her head. "You should get some sleep tonight. Oh! You can stay in my dorm room, i-if you'd like? Or there's, um, we have a lounge with sofas on our floor. And a bath! I could take you there to rest and then go speak with my professors?" 

"Sleep?" Kira seems to consider that for a moment. "I do need sleep. But Disyn needs us."  She continues eating what Mei had offered her, the worry not leaving her, nor the fatigue. "Maybe you are right. A night's rest and away in the morning?"  She looks at Mei hopefully. "You will come?"  

Mae isn't in a great mood after the exam, knowing she just couldn't focus well, and lingers outside class debating whether to go to the cafe or not while waiting for Larine to see how she did.

Larine is leaving just as Mae does, coming over and gently bumping into her. There is a faint smile on her face. "Well, what did you think? I kind of think all our studying helped. This exam was a bit better than the last. I hope."  It's only then she really looks over at Mae.  "Oh, well, what did you think?"  Her smile vanishes and she looks concerned. 

Cadoras had come over, especially when he had heard Malvyn's comments to Mae, Guardok, and Aurora. "Mei skipped the exam to go to the cafe?" he says, sounding confused.  He isn't quite as fast as Malvyn, but he also heads that way. 

Rubina had come over to see Guardok when he came out. "How did your exam go?" But she hesitates at Malvyn's comments about Mei. "Ah, perhaps you should go with him to see about Mei?" 

Guardok was in positive mood as he left the exam, feeling that he had done ok. He was a bit concerned that Mei hadn't made it to the exam though, even though Mal had come in a little late.

But he is soon distracted by the talk of the Rose Stage Festival. It sounded like just his cup of tea, and he desperately wanted to go over to the students talking about and ask for more details. But he needed to find Mal and find out what happened to Mei.

Mal's quick explanation leaves him with more questions than answers, but the tiefling is in such a hurry there is no time to ask.

"I thought it went well", he replies to Rubina. "Not great, but well. You finished early, I assume you found it easy? Oh, and have you heard about the Rose Stage Festival? Apparently us dram guild folk are making a taxidermy prop owlbear for it. Out of a bear hide and owl head!", he says to Rubina, not rushing off immediately to find Mei.

He will go to the biblioplex after a quick chat about the festival. 

Rubina gives the slightest hint of a shrug to Guardok. "I've not been involved with making any props. But I did hear that some of the crew was working on something special for the Rose Stage Festival. I hear they do it every year.  Some sort of performing arts and improvisation thing. It's supposed to be funny." She looks around to see if anyone else wants to add anything. It's Quentillius that does. "It is not real theater. But it does require a sort of talent to do it well. It takes place towards the end of the year. After the last exam."  

Malvyn is happy to hear Aurora thinks she did well and smiles warmly at her. "I'm sorry, she met some people there, should have mentioned that to you, long story which I will share over dinner, but it's a she actually, I think her name is Kira. Anyway, will pick you up at six if that's alright." He says, giving the raven-haired beauty another hug.

"Ah yes, should have told you first, I'm sure she would have wanted you to know, sorry." He says to Cadoras as he comes up to him. "I'd like to say it is nothing to worry about, and I don't think it is for Mei's sake, but her visitor seemed concerned over seomthing I must admit. Join us when you can, I'm sure Mei would appreciate that." He adds, giving the elf a sincere friendly pat on the arm.


"Hey there, sorry for intruding, I'm Malvyn, a friend of Mei's. If I can I would like to help if you have any problems back in Silkmeadow." He offers as he takes a seat at the cafeteria table. He's not sure if he should mention what he already knows about Kira and Disyn so he tries to keep quiet and listen for now. 

"I'll come. Of course I'll come," Mei reassures her, even as nerves about how she could possibly help needle at her. "Do you want to--" 

It's then that she notices Malvyn. He's greeted by her visible relief, though she does look past him for the others as well. She deflates slightly. "Y-You're not intruding at all," she says, scooting over to make room. As soon as he's seated, she immediately takes Malvyn's hand under the table. While outwardly seeming fine, her hand trembles slightly in his before she releases it. "We were just--well, you see, I'll be leaving in the, um.--" Mei looks to Kira for help explaining, then backtracks. "Disyn asked Kira to find and bring me to her grotto in the mountains near Silkmeadow. She said she needs help. I... I'm not sure how long I'll be gone," she looks to Kira again for confirmation, "so I thought I should let you all and my professors know." 

Big, amethyst eyes look up at Malvyn then, worry swimming within. It's clear that she would prefer to have her friends with her, but that she's also not willing to ask that they miss classes to come. She knows how much this all means to him and the others. 

The purple-skinned tiefling is surprised to feel Mei's hand but quickly gives it a light comforting squeeze and gives the petite oracle a warm reassuring smile, suppressing his own worry and concern for what might be troubling his friend. "Well, we will have to go early tomorrow. I'm sure classes will be light just after this exam and we'll simply have to catch up later. I would have to explain to Aorora but I'm sure she will understand that I can't let you go on by yourself." He says with a warm reassuring smile, making clear he assumes he will be going with her. "I hope it would be okay for friends to follow and support Mei?" He then asks Kira.

As Mei is talking to Malvyn, she notices that Cadoras has come along too. "If something is wrong Mei, you know I would come along too." He remains standing, though when she mentions going immediately, she says, "If you're leaving tomorrow you best talk to professors now. I'm not even sure they'll be around over the weekend." 

Kira looks at Malvyn and he can see how weary she looks. "Sure, I will take any help. I mean, it's Mei we need, but Disyn has always welcomed all."  She pauses, forcing a smile. "You have heard of Disyn? She always loves to find people interested to learn about her." She then frowns, whispering, "She did." 

"Amazing!", Guardok replies to Rubina and Quentillius. "It sounds right up my street. I might just have a word and see if I can get involved".

He looks around to see Malvyn and Cadoras have already made their way towards the Biblioplex. "Oh, sorry. I am meant to be meeting Mei to see why she missed the exam. I will catch up with you both soon, but let me know if you hear more about the Rose Stage Festival. Or even better, put my name down", he says with a smile and wave as he turns and starts to run towards the Biblioplex.

He arrives just as Cadoras is speaking about Mei telling her Professor's she is leaving tomorrow.

"Hey, what's going on?", he says to everyone, and then gives Kira a little wave of greeting. "Where are you going, Mei? You know you missed the exam, right?", he adds, sounding very dubious when Disyn is mentioned. Mei had just started to dream again after all, and now someone was here to stop her again.

Quentillius smiles, "I think you'd do excellent in the Rose Stage Festival."  Rubina adds, "I will certainly make sure you find out more about it Guardok. But go, see what Mei needs. We'll catch up soon I'm sure." 

Kira looks over at Guardok as he too arrives at the cafe. She returns the wave, seeming a little amazed that so many keep popping up to check on Mei. 

"Is it okay to ask why you need Mei specifically. She mentioned Disyn and I know Mei is an extraordinary woman, but still, why her?" The purple-skinned tiefling asks with a concerned tone, prepared to help but first and foremost interested in protecting Mei and her well-being. "You'll forgive me for asking but I don't really know you yet Kira, and I kind of doubt Mei does either."

Kira looks over at Malvyn, pausing a bit before responding. "I do not need Mei specifically. Our goddess Disyn has specifically asked for Mei. That is why."  She ends her statement there, as though that explains everything. 

"I see, and you have no idea why then?" Malvyn goes on, politely but firmly. He might believe what Kira is saying but he is still quite skeptical to let Mei go where peril might lurk.

Insight to affirm that Kira is speaking the truth: 16

Quote from Culuril >>

Larine is leaving just as Mae does, coming over and gently bumping into her. There is a faint smile on her face. "Well, what did you think? I kind of think all our studying helped. This exam was a bit better than the last. I hope."  It's only then she really looks over at Mae.  "Oh, well, what did you think?"  Her smile vanishes and she looks concerned.  

 Mae frowned some and shrugged. "I'm sure you did well, Larine, you're pretty smart. I couldn't keep anything straight today. It was like I hadn't seen any of that information before." She looked at Larine and forced a smile. "It's not your fault at all, I very much enjoyed our study time together. I think I was also distracted by Mei not being there. Sounds like she's run into someone like who she met elsewhere or something. They're at the cafe, but I'm not sure if I feel like going to celebrate."

"Wait, really? Mei skipped the exam?" Larine asked, seeming to have genuinely not noticed the purple-haired girl's absence. She quickly focuses back on Mae though. "It's nice of you to say I'm smart, but I'm not so sure.  But surely, it must have just seemed really tough. I'm sure you did ok Mae. And with everything happening with Mei, perhaps the professor will make some allowances, right?"  

She pauses a moment, sensing Mae's disappointment. "Should I just let you go back to your room?  Uh... I would be glad to just sit with you though. Keep you company.  Mae, are you sure it wasn't my fault? It's hard having me for a study partner."