The challenge is set

The locals are helpful, if very direct. Trying to find one person in a kingdom is tricky, even a well known one, and you're given a few bad leads before you track him down, at the Magus Corps Academy. This definitely doesnt look like any wizard's college you've seen; far more utilitarian and practical. There's also a number of scorch marks along the walls and pillars, with attempts to paint over the evidence of spells gone bad. The Brigadier Archivist appears to be speaking another high level individual, the other being a woman. Both are in ornate robes, with intricate designs along the shoulders and at the wrists.

"Excuse me" you speak up loudly but kindly, to pull their attention to you "Are either of you Vyrmar? I was hoping I could have a moment of your time"

"I'm sorry, who are you?" He asked, seemingly off put by the surprise and arrogance to speak to him.

"I am Fiana Windblossom, and these are my friends, I was hoping I could talk to you about a book in your collection."

"Good luck" the woman said chastisingly "Varmyr wouldnt spare a set of robes to burt his father."

"Dont mind her." He shot back, talking about her, not to her "This isnt Adranna's concern and she doesn't appreciate context."

"And don't mind him." She crossed her arms, staring him down "He doesn't appreciate that combatant commanders like me outrank him. I have students to oversee. Goodday miss Fiana"

With the distance between you and her, Vyrmar spoke quickly and succinctly "No."

"I don't understand" you respond

"The opposite of yes. Decline, refuse, nay, never." He rudely interjected

"You don't"

"Know the book? Oh, of course I do. An elf coming to me about a book that only I have. You're here on behalf of that glorified harlot Stravaria, as if you asking in person will gain a different response from her asking by letter."

"That is how diplomacy works, yes, and Stravaria is a Princess, I'll have you know."

"And I'll have you know that word means nothing here. We have no nobles"

"Be that as it may, I feel like I deserve an explanation. You have the last Holy Book to Veserae, it should be in Elvish hands. If you're going to refuse it, I want to know why."

"Very well, but I hope your retention is better than your manners, cause I will not repeat myself. Firstly, the text is almost certainly a fiction."

"That's rather bold and yet unsurprising, coming from a kingdom where blind reverence is a requirement" Kraig pipes in with his arms crossed.

"You presume much to believe this is solely my judgement of them as heathens. Veserae is of The Lost Age, where we can identify almost nothing as historical and proven fact. That this Goddess has been silent and unseen since than only adds to skepticism."

"Thats still hypocritical coming from a people that are still waiting for the return of the favored sons of their God, centuries later. I hope your other reasoning is more convincing."

"Surely so. If the texts are true, than it is my obligation to see that the religion stays dead. Veserae is dangerous"

"Dangerous? That's absurd. Veserae isn't dangerous!"

"I assure you, she is. She's a seductress that only wants to lie in bed with her followers until the end of time, and for them to lie with each other. Constant orgies will destroy society. The people of the Lost Age were unprepared for The Calamity. We don't live in their idyllic utopia, making it even more dangerous and foolish to surrender everything to base passions."

You feel heat in your face of growing anger, and uncertainty. Bruce speaks up, showing rare clarity of mind and purpose.

"Look, you've no doubt gotten used to having power and authority to control people's lives, but that you can't control everything, or everyone. People need to be able to make their own decisions, and live with those consequences."

"And I make the decisions what to do with my own property, soldier. I will not be commanded to anything, least of all by mercenaries working for the Saint of the Sluts." His anger rose, before a smile rose accross his face "You are a stubborn lot, and passionately so. I refuse to continue this conversation, so I will leave you with this tbought. If you can actually find the book and get it out of the city, you may keep it. Now, I've wasted enough time on you. Begone" he waved his hand at you as he walked away.

The four of you let him walk past, looking at each other curiously.

"Well, what now?" You ask

"This sounds like a trap. Let us get caught looking for the book and he gets to put us away forever."

"I don't know" Bruce replied. "If he wanted to di that, I think he'd have done that. He's cruel and arrogant, but he doesn't seem to be a liar."

"He wouldn't be making this offer if he didnt think we could do it though. He wants to prove his superiority"

"Than lets prove him wrong" James piped in. "We need a plan."