Swamped

There are ropes at every corner of the temple, tied to stakes in the ground. As though it's some sort of elaborate tent.

What, do they think it's going to get up and walk away? You don't see anything unusual about the base of the temple, either.

Now, this might make some sense if it were a temple of Brume, the sea god. Ropes are under his domain. But that doesn't make much sense with the statue out front, which most certainly doesn't look like any god you've ever seen.

For one thing, the gods don't look nearly that human.

Nuel kneels in front of the statue, and you do the same; no need to cause trouble here. Even if you find the thing really unsettling for some reason.

You half-wonder if Nuel might explain, but if this is the Master everyone's been babbling about and you're posing as a guest, then as far as they know you already met face-to-face.

But instead, they just sit silently, probably praying. Until, several minutes later, someone in an even fancier robe than Nuel's steps out.

"Guide Nuel," says the new arrival. "Thank you for bringing this honored guest here. I will speak with him."

"Of course, Praetor," Nuel says, standing up only to bow. "However, there is a matter I should bring up regarding that satchel he carries."

Nuel points to it. Well. Now you find out how good your bluff is.

"He asked to deliver it himself, rather than acting through a Silent One. He told me it was blessed already?"

The "Praetor" simply laughs.

"Thank you for your concern, Nuel. But this is not a matter for a Guide to resolve."

"I see. Forgive my ignorance. I will wait while you attend to our guest."

The Praetor nods, and turns to you.

"Follow me."

You don't really see what else to do, so you follow the Praetor up the steps. He stops just before entering.

"Before we proceed, is there anything you would like to show me?"

He must be asking for the mark on the back of the note. All you need to do now is show it to him, hand over the package, and this damn job is done.

Thing is, you've got no idea what happens to you after that. Maybe they decide they have no more use for you, and then they lock you up. Or they'll put you to work with the Silent Ones. Or they just kill you, you can't say you've ruled that out just yet.

On the other hand, as far as you can tell, you've got no actual leverage here. So maybe you should just get this over with. What else could you even do?