Qui points down at a portion of the rune near your right foot where the etching is a brighter red. "They were working on this recently. It hasn't had time to finish drying."
Kashif shoves his way up to the front of the group. "If I may," the vizier says, "I'd like a moment to study these wards. It may be possible to scatter their energy and allow us safe passage. Or at least determine what entities they target without getting anyone killed."
Qui frowns and cranes his head to look further down the tunnel. "How long?"
"I don't know," Kashif says. "Several minutes for the analysis at the very least. Likely long—"
"Stop where you are!" a rough voice calls out from back the way you came. All heads turn toward one of the mercenaries assigned to watch the flank as a drably dressed woman rushes in the opposite direction. Before she can escape, Bouchard manifests out of the shadows, blocking her way, muscles bulging as he reaches out and grabs her by the neck to haul her into the air. Before the Sewer Rat can slam her to the ground, the woman brings a knife to her wrist and slashes deeply, spilling her own Blood in a forceful arc, spraying Bouchard's arm. He recoils in agony, skin smoking as the fugitive Tremere attempts to flee to safety.
Too late. Qui's mercenaries and your vampire allies moved in while Bouchard delayed her, and now there's nowhere left for her to run.
To The Question