Beyond the passage mouth, pale daylight spills across a steep descent of wet stone. Dusk lowers himself across the threshold, placing his broad body between Kara and the drop.
Braska
No farther yet, partner. Rest before we take that descent.
His injured leg trembles beneath him, but his grip on the long-hafted axe stays firm. He angles the haft across the first ledge, making his refusal a barrier rather than a challenge.
Braska
The mountain has settled, not healed. I can hold this place, but I will not pretend the next slope is safe.
Embria’s ember-glow hovers between them, warm enough to illuminate the broken stair without touching either companion. She watches Dusk, then turns her light toward Kara.
Embria
He is right to guard the threshold, little flame. I can steady either of you, but the choice of when to move remains yours.
The open passage breathes cold mountain air around them. Behind, Vorrak remains beyond the severed ward; ahead, the descent waits while Dusk holds his ground and leaves Kara room to answer.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach an honest agreement with Braska about the journey
“I nod, slumping down into a seated position, letting the magic finally fade from my eyes. Looking down at my hand, I sigh heavily, before looking to Embria. "Seems we'll have a new guest along for the ride once he and I get settled with one another, least for a little while."”
FAILURE (Good Willpower, rolled -3)
Kara nods and lowers herself onto the wet stone, letting the magic fade from her eyes. The Ancient Curse leaves silver afterimages across her hand, but Steady Under Fire keeps her breathing measured.
Kara
Seems we'll have a new guest along for the ride once he and I get settled with one another, least for a little while.
The fragment answers before Kara can fully relax. Dark warmth tightens through her injured hand, and the false silver edges flare until she must hold it open rather than let it curl against her palm.
Embria
The Curse is obscuring the fragment’s boundary, little flame. Your calm is containing it, but not enough for sleep or easy travel yet.
Braska
Then we stay here. I can guard the threshold while you learn whether that guest understands restraint.
Dusk lowers the axe within reach and braces himself beside her. The fragment’s warmth steadies when Kara keeps her hand exposed, but each attempt to close her fingers makes the silver distortions return.
Embria
Rest with your hand open, little flame. Let the guest remain quiet. This is not settled, but it is no longer pulling you toward the passage.
“I nod slightly. "It would have been nice to know exactly what kind of Dragon Vorrak actually is, before absorbing his spirit and power into myself. As I said, I am sorry Embria, it was the only way I could see us succeeding.”
SUCCESS (Good Willpower, rolled +0)
Kara
It would have been nice to know exactly what kind of Dragon Vorrak is before absorbing his spirit and power. As I said, I am sorry, Embria. It was the only way I could see us succeeding.
Kara keeps her injured hand open and fixes her attention on the fragment’s boundary. The Ancient Curse smears its edges into silver falsehoods, but Steady Under Fire holds her breathing and brings the true limit back into focus.
The dark warmth contracts beneath her skin without resisting. Kara’s control settles it into a quiet, contained knot, no longer reaching toward the passage or answering every stir of her fear.
Embria
You succeeded in holding him, little flame. But the Curse made you doubt every boundary, and your spirit is worn from forcing certainty through that distortion.
The cost arrives as a hollow weariness behind Kara’s thoughts. Her composure falters visibly, and for several breaths she cannot distinguish the fragment’s silence from the mountain’s own hush.
Braska
Then keep resting, partner. You have contained the guest. You need not prove the choice again tonight.
Kara remains seated with her palm open. The fragment stays quiet and wholly contained, while Dusk guards the threshold and Embria’s warmth marks the boundary she has successfully made.
“I nod slightly, rubbing at my eyes slightly. "Everything outside is still too bright, maybe sleep would be for the best." I say, closing my eyes and finding myself a comfortable position, trying to find a state of calm to let my curse finally settle.”
SUCCESS (Good Willpower, rolled +0)
Kara
Everything outside is still too bright. Maybe sleep would be for the best.
Kara nods slightly and rubs at her eyes before settling into a comfortable position. She closes them, keeping her injured hand open as she searches for calm.
The Ancient Curse drags silver falsehoods across her fading awareness, turning every quiet breath into a question. Steady Under Fire holds her attention to the simple rhythm until the distortions lose their sharpness.
Embria
Let the dark come gently, little flame. You have found the boundary. Do not spend yourself defending it now.
Kara’s composure gives way in a brief, visible hesitation. The effort leaves her spirit hollow and worn, but the curse settles at last, quiet within its boundary, and sleep takes her.
Braska
Rest, partner. I will guard the threshold until morning.
Dusk remains beside her with the axe within reach. Embria’s warmth dims to a soft presence as the mountain hush closes around Kara’s breathing.
“I accept Embria’s shelter and rest until morning”
SUCCESS (Good Health, rolled +0)
Embria gathers her warmth around Kara without touching the injured hand, while Dusk shifts his broad body to block the cold draft. Secures Shelter turns the threshold into a guarded, workable resting place.
Kara settles beneath the broken arch and keeps her palm open. The Ancient Curse drags silver distortions across her sight, making the stone seem to tilt, but steady breathing carries her through the false motion.
Embria
Sleep, little flame. The boundary can rest with you. I will wake you if the fragment reaches beyond it.
Sleep takes Kara slowly. The curse keeps breaking her dreams into silver roads, yet Embria’s warmth returns her to the same quiet breath each time, while Dusk remains motionless at the threshold.
By morning, the dark knot in Kara’s hand is quiet and the injured hand has loosened from its guarded curl. Rest has eased its strain, though a hard ache settles through her shoulder from the cold stone.
Braska
Morning, partner. You kept the guest contained. Move carefully; the mountain is still waiting beyond us.
Pale daylight fills the descent. Kara wakes sheltered, rested enough to stand, with the fragment contained and the way ahead open beneath Dusk’s watchful axe.
“I shake my head slightly, standing and rubbing my temple. "Still too bright... " I say, huffing irritably. "That's not how it works Dusk. Whatever part of Vorrak is within me is resting, and very injured, tearing a part of yourself off is very traumatic. Embria has always been with me, so we may as well be a part of one another, but Vorrak? Well, we'll see how things go once he finally wakes up."”
FAILURE (Good Willpower, rolled -2)
Kara
Still too bright... That's not how it works, Dusk. Whatever part of Vorrak is within me is resting, and very injured. Tearing a part of yourself off is traumatic. Embria has always been with me, so we may as well be part of one another. But Vorrak? We'll see how things go once he finally wakes up.
Kara stands and rubs her temple, but the bright descent pitches sideways beneath the Ancient Curse. Fiery Wrath sharpens her irritation into heat, while Steady Under Fire keeps her feet from giving way.
Braska
You are standing, but you are not steady. Sit before the mountain decides for you.
The dark knot in Kara’s injured hand answers her words with a weak, painful pulse. Silver falsehoods spread across the stone, obscuring the threshold until Embria’s warmth draws a narrow boundary around Kara’s shadow.
Embria
Your explanation reached them, little flame, but not cleanly. The Curse is mixing your voice with the fragment’s pain. Do not force another answer from it.
Braska
Then Vorrak sleeps, and you are done speaking for now. I will guard the way while you learn what waking means for him.
The failure leaves no clear conversation to pursue. Kara’s words have established the fragment’s injury, but the curse has made further discussion unsafe, forcing rest and observation instead of another attempt.
“"I don't need to sit, Dusk... " I say, shaking my head. "I need my eyes to go back to normal and I need water, and something to eat, I am very hungry right now."”
SUCCESS (Good Health, rolled -1)
Kara
I don't need to sit, Dusk. I need my eyes to go back to normal, and I need water and something to eat. I'm very hungry right now.
Kara shakes her head and steadies herself against the wet stone. The Ancient Curse still splinters the daylight into silver edges, but Steady Under Fire keeps her breathing even as she reaches for the Waterskin.
Braska
Then drink first, partner. Slowly. I will keep the descent clear while your sight settles.
The Waterskin gives her cool water. Each swallow eases the hollow weakness in her body, while the curse’s false brightness thins under her measured breaths until stone and daylight regain their proper shapes.
Embria’s ember-glow guides Kara’s hand to the Foraged food tucked among her supplies. She eats steadily, bite by bite, and warmth returns to her limbs as hunger loosens its grip.
Embria
There, little flame. Your eyes are clear again, and the fragment remains quiet. Let strength return before you challenge the mountain.
Kara finishes the food and lowers the Waterskin. The daylight no longer tilts, her vision has returned to normal, and the dark knot in her injured hand rests without a painful pulse.
“I nod slightly. "Thank you, Embria." I say with a weak smile, placing a hand on Dusk's shoulder. "Slowly it is, so long as we get out of this valley, I could use an actual bed."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +0)