Mugen leaves the black arch behind and climbs through the passage Sera used to lead the captives upward. Scuffed footprints and snapped restraints mark the fugitives’ route through ash.
His enchanted pole supports each careful step, but the grip pulls against his split knuckles, making them throb. Fresh blood stains the stones beyond the trail, mixed with gray ash.
Mugen
The blood is fresh, and it leads upward.
The Wounded Survivor
Help me! Please, someone help me!
The cry comes from above, thin but conscious. Before Mugen can see its source, heavy steps descend through the mountain pass, each impact shaking dust from the ceiling.
The Approaching Presence
The fugitives came this way. Search every passage.
The wounded survivor cries again, closer now, while the approaching presence entersthe approaching presence, a broad-shouldered middle-aged man in a soot-darkened iron helm and scale coat, enters the upper passage below. Mugen reaches the next bend, with the blood trail ahead and the pursuer behind.
✓ Quest Accepted
Rescue the wounded survivor from the pursuer
“man i was hoping for a cute princess to reward me. guess i can help. *sneak up whole bandaging knuckles*”
FAILURE (Poor Stealth, rolled +0)
Mugen
I was hoping a cute princess might reward me. Guess I can help.
Mugen crouches and winds a strip of cloth around his split knuckles while edging toward the wounded survivor. He keeps his steps light, but the pole shifts against the stone.
The scrape rings sharply through the passage. Mugen freezes with the bandage half-tied, his hidden approach exposed before he reaches the bend.
The Wounded Survivor
Who is there? Please, do not leave me to them!
The Approaching Presence
You in the passage. Step away from the survivor and show your hands.
The approaching presence rounds the bend below, broad shoulders filling the narrow way. The wounded survivor lies above him in the ash, one hand pressed to his wound, while Mugen stands between them with the unfinished bandage.