The southern gate opens to admit a Talonford Guard, a gaunt young adult man with dust-caked blond hair, a torn brown cloak, and a sealed report clutched against his chest. He nearly stumbles across the threshold before the sentries catch his arm.
Talonford Guard
Talonford’s command post is abandoned. The Lord Commander left after signs came from beneath the Keep, and the watch there has broken apart.
The guard extends the sealed report but keeps his fingers locked around it. Dust marks his boots and sleeves, while his breathing remains ragged from the road.
Councilor Brinna Stonebraid
No opening it yet. The ranger hears the warning first, exactly as you received it. Then we decide whether the seal is worth trusting.
Marek
That seal is tied to the altered dispatch. I saw the same council authority carried on the packet sent toward the western ruin.
Marek steps nearer but does not touch the report. Brinna’s guards close the gate behind the messenger, leaving the southern approach quiet and the chamber’s decision focused on Valornor.
Councilor Brinna Stonebraid
Ranger, hear him. What happened beneath the Keep, and why did the Lord Commander abandon Talonford?
Determine why the Lord Commander abandoned Talonford
Establish whether the entity has spread beyond the Keep's ruins