The emberling toddles toward the village outskirts, its golden glow flickering each time the smoking old well appears between the cottages. Calimakal follows with Dame Serilda beside him.
Dame Serilda Vey
I am coming with you. Whatever nests below that well has already marked you, and I will not let you face it unwatched.
Mara Pell hurries after them, clutching her empty clay basin. Behind, Garran remains at the inn with the frightened patrons, guarding the stew, the doors, and the recovering emberling's stone bowl.
Mara Pell
There. See those marks? Ash-dark footprints, circling the well. They were not there yesterday.
The old well squats beneath a leaning ash tree, its stones blackened and damp. The emberling presses close to Calimakal's side, its glow fluttering like a candle in wind.
Dame Serilda Vey
Do not touch the stones yet. Listen. Something below is churning, and the air carries scorched grain.
A muffled grinding rolls up from the shaft, followed by a breath of furnace-dry air. The village warmth seems to draw downward, while the emberling gives a small, frightened chime.
Director's note
I lean down and pick up a pebble and toss it in the well
“Hmm, most peculiar. Wells are supposed to have water in them and not drain the very life from the air! Hmph! I'll have none of that! Ho ho! (I chuckle) Serilda, let us find a length of rope, tie one end on the overhanging tree and descend down to find whatever is down there. But first let's test to see if a small reaction happens.”
SUCCESS (Good Perception, rolled +0)
Calimakal Odinthrund
Most peculiar! Wells should hold water, not drain the life from the air. Serilda, let us test it first, then find rope and descend.
Calimakal leans over the blackened stones, selects a loose pebble, and tosses it into the shaft. The stone vanishes into furnace-dry darkness.
A heartbeat later, the well answers with a deep metallic clank. Ash spirals upward, and a brief blue flame outlines something vast turning beneath the village.
Dame Serilda Vey
There is your reaction. Something below is awake, and it heard the stone strike.
The returning breath scorches Calimakal's bandaged hand through the cloth. His wound flares painfully, while the emberling presses against his boot and answers with a frightened chime.
Mara Pell
Rope, yes. The old ash tree has a coil in the tool shed. But that sound came from deeper than any well should reach.
Dame Serilda Vey
We have proof enough to descend. I will secure the rope, Calimakal. Keep the emberling close, and do not touch the stones.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure the well against the awakened presence
Director's notewhole tale
kneel down to the little elemental creature
“No, wait. Ouch! Bah! My hand was burned right through again! I guess today isn't my hands lucky day! (grins) If we go down there through this way we would surely be cooked! I don't fancy being on the menu however, we must find a way to restore the well and rid this place of unscrupulous fire. Hey little guy, did you come from here? Is your mommy down there?”
SUCCESS (Great Reasoning, rolled +1)
Calimakal Odinthrund
No, wait. Ouch! My hand burned right through again. Bah, today is not my hand's lucky day! If we descend this way, we'll be cooked. We must restore the well and drive out this unscrupulous fire. Little guy, did you come from here? Is your mother down there?
Calimakal kneels beside the emberling, then leans over the blackened stones and tosses another loose pebble into the shaft. Furnace-dry air washes upward, but he keeps the small elemental close.
the emberling
Krii-chime! Down. Mother down.
The emberling points one tiny glowing claw toward the well, then presses its smoky brow against Calimakal's knee. Its gold light steadies, answering the question with unmistakable certainty.
Dame Serilda Vey
It came from below, and its mother remains there. Whatever burns beneath this village has separated them.
Mara Pell
Then the well is not merely poisoned. It is a nest, or a prison, and that little one escaped it.
Dame Serilda Vey
We will restore the well and bring the mother out if she can be saved. The rope can wait while we learn what guards the passage.
✓ Quest Accepted
Rescue the emberling's mother
“Perhaps I could shield us on our descent with my magic? Or do either of you have a better Idea maybe there is a wise village elder or maybe a grotto that leads under the village to the wells bottom? I'm honestly drawing a blank right now, I'm just a simple cook.”
SUCCESS (Great Reasoning, rolled -2)
Calimakal Odinthrund
Perhaps I could shield us with magic on the descent, but do either of you know a safer way? Maybe a village elder, or a grotto beneath the well? I am only a simple cook.
The pebble's clank fades into the shaft. Calimakal remains kneeling beside the emberling as the scorched air curls around his bandaged hand, making the cloth smoke.
Mara Pell
There is a grotto. My grandmother called it the Ashroot Hollow, reached through a sealed springhouse beyond the mill. It joins the old well tunnels below.
Dame Serilda Vey
Better than lowering ourselves into an unknown furnace. We can take the grotto passage, and your magic may shield us if the air turns hostile.
The emberling gives a bright, eager chime and points toward the village mill. The blackened well stones answer with a heavy tremor, and a crack splits one coping stone.
Mara Pell
The old village elder, Oren Vale, keeps the springhouse key. I will fetch him, but the tremor has likely warned whatever guards the lower passage.
Dame Serilda Vey
Then we have our safer way, and a price for haste. We leave together for the springhouse, while the well still holds its secret.