Iven Marr
The voices began beyond that fissure. There is a quarry trail hidden behind the fallstone, narrow enough for one, and the scratches were fresh when I fled.
Iven points into the fissure while Brother Caldus gathers his ledger and bandages. Maurice checks the provisions, Elianor secures the lampglass, and Tomas tightens the waterskins.
Maurice Headsman
The sealed door stays behind us. We take the trail before whatever used it returns, and we keep the wounded in the middle.
The black door remains silent behind the travelers. Ahead, the passage slopes through mineral shadow, breathing cold air across fresh scratches that score the stone walls.
Brother Caldus
Those marks were not made by quarry tools. Something dragged a burden outward, toward the hills, and did not bother hiding its trail.
Elianor Vale
Then the voices may have followed it. I will keep the light steady, but the fissure itself offers no promise of safety.
The group reaches the fissure mouth. Beyond the fallen stone, a concealed trail descends into darkness, while a distant pulse answers once from the eastern hills.
“I shield Iven as we enter the hidden trail”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +1)
Celia moves beside Iven as the group enters the concealed trail, raising her sanctified staff between him and the eastern darkness. Pale force gathers around his chest and shoulders.
The shield settles into a thin luminous veil, turning aside the fissure’s cold pulse before it can touch Iven’s breath or seek another mark beneath his skin.
Iven Marr
I feel it pass over me, but it cannot reach me. Your protection holds.
Iven steps into the narrow trail under Celia’s ward. Fresh scratches score both walls, and loose stone grits beneath their boots as the passage bends downward.
Maurice Headsman
Keep close. Celia guards the front, Iven stays within her reach, and no one follows a sound without seeing its source.
Brother Caldus
The trail remembers the burden that passed here, but the mark on Iven is silent now. Whatever lies ahead has lost its guide.
The travelers pass fully beyond the fallstone. Behind them, the fissure mouth fades into mineral shadow; ahead, the eastern pulse beats once, distant and unanswered.
✓ Quest Accepted
Protect Iven from the eastern presence
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach and investigate the eastern source of the undead outbreak
“I advance down the scratched trail, keeping my ward around Iven.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Celia advances down the scratched trail, keeping her sanctified staff raised. The luminous ward remains wrapped around Iven, steady against the cold pulse pressing through the stone.
Iven Marr
The pressure is fading behind your light. I can breathe freely, and the voices are farther away.
The passage descends beneath the hills, narrow walls brushing shoulders and cloak. Fresh drag marks continue ahead, but no new sigil answers Iven’s presence.
Maurice Headsman
The trail holds our weight. Keep moving, and watch the ground where the scratches cross.
Celia’s ward carries the group safely around a broken shelf of stone. Beyond it, the trail opens into a low cavern washed with pale mineral light.
Brother Caldus
This is where the burden stopped. The scratches end at that arch, and the eastern pulse comes through the stone beyond it.
The travelers reach the cavern’s far side. Beneath a natural stone arch, a sealed stair descends eastward, its steps dusted with fresh black residue while Iven remains untouched within the ward.
“I realize Elianor's power may be useful, so I advance down the stair while protecting Iven and keeping Elianor close to me.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Arcana, rolled +2)
Celia leads them beneath the natural arch, sanctified staff raised. The luminous ward remains wrapped around Iven, while Elianor stays close at Celia’s side.
Elianor Vale
The residue responds to the stair. I can strengthen the light where the black dust gathers.
Elianor reaches toward the ward without breaking formation. Her faint golden power threads through Celia’s pale shield, clarifying each step and keeping the residue from rising.
Iven Marr
The pressure cannot find me now. I will follow exactly where you lead.
Celia advances down the sealed stair with Iven within the ward and Elianor close behind her shoulder. Maurice, Tomas, and Brother Caldus follow in a guarded line.
Maurice Headsman
The stairs are sound. Keep the light on the residue, and we will reach whatever lies below together.
The descent ends in a buried antechamber. Elianor’s gold and Celia’s ward hold steady, revealing an eastern passage beyond, untouched by the black dust.
Quest Complete
Protect Iven from the eastern presence
Skill Upgrade: Melee Combat Fair→Good