"That would be great. I can manage that, I am always up early. I just need to know where to go to collect it?", Guardok replies.

(OOC: Does he know who Urzmaktok is? If not he will ask.)

(OOC: From what I can tell, none of you have met Urzmktok thus far! I will presume Guardok asked!)

Professor Lang says, "Urzmktok is a second-year Witherbloom student.  He has helped me on a number of projects. And he is quite involved with the Fantastical Horticulture Club." You might possibly remember a half-orc at orientation that was associated with that extracurricular activity.  

Guardok gives the Professor the thumbs up.

(OOC: Does the Professor answer about where to go as well? Happy for it to be assumed, as long as he knows where to be at 5am)

(OOC: Yes, there is a storehouse at the edge of the main campus she directs you to go to.)

Kira stands and heads out of the office. (As presumably Guardok does as well once his questions are answered.)

Professor Lang now turns her leafy head to Mei. "There is still the matter of the exam. I have a few more questions. Allowing you to retake the exam can only be done in very specific circumstances.  Now, I think you have already established that you did not have the information in advance, so you did not have the opportunity to notify me before the exam."

She looks for confirmation then continues. "I need to know though whether the teachings of your religion required you to attend to this matter that Kira brought to you? Or is Kira a religious leader or figure you'd be expected to generally obey?"

Mei turns completely round in her seat to watch Guardok leave. Watching, still, even as the door closes. 

She jumps as Professor Lang addresses her again. Mei nods in confirmation that she did not know in advance.

Her words come slowly as she tries to explain best she can. "Kira is... my guide. Spiritual guide as pertains to Disyn, I would say. When she showed up, it seemed an emergency. She, herself, was close to collapse from travel here. I would not say it is a matter of... obeying, per se, but the feeling of a, well... a family emergency. If my father or sister had shown up suddenly, looking as worried and exhausted as she had, I would have have likewise felt it a crisis significant enough to need immediate attention. Especially given the Dream I had which was its own warning that something was wrong. When Kira said she'd been sent to fetch me by Disyn--the goddess herself--it became another matter entirely. And Disyn I do feel I have a... a d-duty to." 

((Would a persuasion check be applicable here?))

(Yes, a Persuasion check would be in order. I will continue with RP but throw in the roll as you see fit!) 

The dryad continues with more questions, having given little reaction to your initial statements.  "You say then that the dream you had was not sufficient in your mind to create a duty?  When and where then did you receive word from Kira that Disyn herself had asked that you be fetched?"  

(Persuasion: 19+1+4 (bardic) 24)

Mei's leg bobs up and down as she wrings her hands together. "It did, ma'am. But I had no way of getting back to Silkmeadow. And it was a difficult Dream to interpret--something I'm still learning as a student of divination. It was Kira's arrival that confirmed its meaning. She told me outside the classroom, just as I was headed in for the exam. W-Which my floormates can confirm." 

Professor Lang seems to relax a little as Mei speaks. "Do you mean you knew you would miss the exam, because of the warning in the dream, before the time of the test? Or you only became aware you would miss it immediately before it started?"

“Right before it started, ma’am,” Mei confirms.

Taking a deep breath, Professor Lang nods. "This is highly unusual, but I believe you are eligible to be allowed another opportunity to take the exam. I will schedule it for next Friday. Meet me here an hour after class ends next week." She stands. "Be aware, it will have to be a completely different test for you. Is there anything else?"  

In contrast, Mei lets out the breath she'd been holding and stands as well. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am," Mei rushes with a bow, nearly smacking her head on the professor's desk. "An hour after class next Friday. Thank you so much for your help a-and understanding."

Mei shakes her head as she asks if there's anything else. "No, ma'am." 

If Professor Lang releases her, Mei will do her level best not to sprint from the office and take measured steps to exit. She'll turn to bow one last time before leaving. As soon as the door closes behind her, she rushes out of the building. 

The professor has nothing else, other than to wish Mei good luck on her journey to Silkmeadow. 

Once outside, she rushes to leave with Kira speaking up from behind her. She'd been sitting just outside the door. "Hey, wait for me."  Once she catches up, she gives Mei a concerned look. "How did the conversation go? You aren't in too much trouble with your schoolwork?" 

(OOC - I presume Guardok is still waiting as well.) 

(If Guardok went ahead to the shed, just assume all this is said to Kira only lol!!)

Once outside, Mei catches her breath and waits for Guardok too. "Ah sorry!! That was--oh, that was so nerve-wracking. I think I was more scared of that meeting than I was the steam creatures in the kitchen."

She smiles and nods while taking a deep pull of air. "She's letting me retake the exam. It'll be different a-and it's on Friday so I'm not sure how much time I'll have to study, but... phew!" Her smile widens as she looks to Guardok. "Thank you."

"That's great", Guardok replies, as he catches up to hear the good news.

"Friday, hey. Let's hope our excursion is done before then. And you already studied, so you shouldn't need too much more time", he says being optimistic. "And it was nothing", he adds waving away the thanks.

"I have to get to that storehouse for 5am tomorrow, so I guess I need an early night", he then says.

"I think we could all use one," Mei says as she looks to Kira too. "And I'll go with you tomorrow, of course. I've got an extra pair of invisible hands, after all."

After another deep, steadying breath, she says, "Let's head back and get some sleep, huh? I'll write a note to Malvyn and Mae in case they get back late." 

The group of Mei, Guardok, and Kira get back to Dresar Hall while it is still relatively early in the evening. Mae has returned already to her room.  Meanwhile, Malvyn still seems to be out.  

Guardok will do as he suggested, getting packed ready for the trip and then having an early night ready to be up in time to get to the storehouse for 5am. Not that he has much to pack in truth.

As Mei offered to write notes to Mal and Mae, he leaves that with her.

Mei will knock quietly on Mae's door. If she answers, she'll fill her in on their plan for tomorrow and what Professor Lang said. After, she'll slide a note with a similar explanation under Malvyn's door. 

Leaving her Unseen Servant to pack, she lets Kira sleep in her bed and sets up a little space beside it on the floor for herself. Though sleep doesn't come easy as her nerves from the day and about their journey whittle at her mind, she does her best to get an early night. 

Mae is there but already ready for bed and looking tired. She thanks Mei for letting her know and wishes her well on her trip and catch her up on it all when she gets back.