Sophie would like it on the record that, when she accepted the job, she didn't know that the Librarian had to do so much bloody politics. She could be out healing the sick, like Natan in his day. She would love to be out healing the sick. Instead, she's in one of the innumerable studies of Hush House, searching for a book for Hokobald, even though she wishes dearly that she could toss him out on his shiny arse. She doesn't mind helping out Yvette, or Arun, or really most of the others. It's just Hokobald in particular who should really go fuck himself. But it is her duty to remain strictly neutral, and she takes that duty seriously. So she'll find his damned book, and watch like a hawk while he reads it. And should he happen to violate that neutrality himself, well, she might have a few things in her pockets to introduce him to. (Swaddled Thunder isn't casual to make, nor the Rubywise Ruin in case of violence. But she's made them enough to feel they're replaceable, at least.)
Sophie is by no means too pretty to carry her weight. She shovels the treasure industriously, whistling a tune while she does so. (A good song is often remarkably useful in the course of physical labor.)
Ridaya moves further into the lair, letting detect magic guide her to the items she seeks. She starts pocketing stuff opportunistically - a few rings, two different pairs of gloves, an amulet, a cloak, what she has to assume is a hand of the mage (augh), a pair of goggles, a cloak...
Luto helps Sophie with the gear retrieval. (...She's worried about Ridaya, but she's not sure if there's much to be done there, at least right now.)
"Do you know what you'll want to do next?" she asks. "If it's something we can help you with - we owe you a great debt, for this."
"I have important work where I am from. But I do not know how to go back. Ridaya's magic brought me. So I should stay with you until I understand."
She nods. "We will help you get home." Ridaya and Uma are both geniuses, they'll figure it out.
Oooh, that looks like a Pearl of Power, and it's bigger than hers!
She picks it up and activates it immediately, hoping she's lucky enough to get one of her good buffs back for it.
Ridaya does in fact want a Teleport back yes please and thanks.
She pockets the Fifth Circle Pearl of Power, grinning like a loon.
Sophie finishes packing up the gear and turns her attention to the piles and piles of treasure.
This ring... it's got a little blossom of white opals, set into a platinum band, a lovely little design. There's a spark of Sky in it, but she thinks there's something more, too.
She is not foolish enough to put it on without a thorough look-over. But she does slip it into her pocket.
Luto takes in a few deep breathes to steel herself, and then starts loading Zan's body into the bag of holding.
"It's going to be okay," she whispers in Tianji, unsure if she's reassuring Zan or herself.
Oooh, a little side room full of scrolls? That seems like a good place for a Ridaya to go check out.
The new arrivals include:
an ageless-looking woman with white hair, wings, and a long scarf which moves like a fifth limb;
a blue-skinned man with two curved blades gripped in his hands;
and two persons too heavily armored to gender, wielding gleaming scythes.
The woman speaks in a commanding, yet slightly bored tone: "You stand charged with taking actions with the potential to cause ruinous harm to the fabric of Pharasma's Creation, and the misappropriation of a soul rightfully Hers. Surrender the Outer Being to us and your charges will be tried fairly. Resist, and you will be killed."
The wizard, an elvish woman with long white hair adorned with purple flowers, is already casting some kind of divination. Next to her, a woman in expensive-looking Mithril armor has her butterfly holy symbol at the ready, eyes focused on Luto and Sophie.
She holds up both her hands and straightens up, inching closer to Sophie while doing her best to seem very nonthreatening.