The circular vault shakes violently. Dust floods the air as stones crash down the stair behind Maurice, Celia, and Elianor, sealing the only route they know.
A fresh rupture tears open along the vault’s far wall, spilling gray daylight and cold wind through the chamber. Beyond the tollhouse, horns call, screams rise, and marching dead thunder across the earth.
Maurice Headsman
The stair is gone. We take the breach before the dead reach it. Stay close, Celia.
Maurice shoulders through the broken stone first, shielding his face as rubble continues to fall. His broad silhouette emerges against the torn daylight, where dust rolls over the tollhouse yard.
Celia Graves
Elianor, conserve the fire. It destroyed the source, but it is still burning inside you. Spend it only when the breach gives us no other way.
Celia follows Maurice through the rupture, flail raised beneath the falling dust. The fire in Elianor’s chest answers the distant uproar with a steady, restrained heat.
Maurice Headsman
Move now. The surface is open, but the army is coming.
✓ Quest Accepted
Keep the dead from overrunning the tollhouse
“I exit the breach ready my spear. I tell Celia "I'll try to hold them off long enough for perform a ritual to destroy them." I tell Maurice if you see the person controlling the dead, please take his head."”
SUCCESS (Mediocre Melee Weapons, rolled +2)
Elianor steps through the breach into the tollhouse yard and brings the ashwood spear level. Gray dust whips around her as the marching dead advance across the road.
Elianor Vale
Celia, I’ll try to hold them off long enough for you to perform a ritual to destroy them.
Elianor Vale
Maurice, if you see the person controlling the dead, please take his head.
The first ranks break into a run. Elianor plants her feet beyond the breach, spearhead catching the weak daylight, and meets the charge before it can reach Celia.
Celia Graves
Hold them there. I will find the ground where death has left its mark and turn the rite against them.
Maurice Headsman
The dead move like they have no commander. You guard the right I will guard the left.
Elianor’s spear sweeps across the front rank, forcing the marching dead to recoil and bunch at the breach. Behind her, Celia begins tracing the ritual while Maurice scans the advancing host.
“I use my divine flame to attack the undead on the right, while Maurice attacks the undead on the left with his sword.”
SUCCESS (Superb Willpower, rolled +1)
Elianor turns toward the right flank and opens her hand. Divine flame surges from her chest, casting white-gold light across the dust and the oncoming dead.
The fire sweeps low across the clustered ranks. The undead soldiers collapse into stillness beneath the consecrated blaze, leaving the right side of the road suddenly clear.
On the left, Maurice advances into the press with his sword raised. His heavy stroke breaks the foremost charge and drives the remaining dead away from the breach.
Celia Graves
Hold that ground. The rite is taking hold, and your fire has opened the path.
Celia’s traced signs flare across the dusty yard. The surviving ranks falter as death’s mark spreads through their formation, severing the order that drove them forward.
Maurice Headsman
Right flank is clear. Keep moving toward Celia, Elianor.
The marching dead lose their advance. Maurice holds the left while Celia completes the ritual, and Elianor’s consecrated fire burns steadily along the cleared right.
Quest Complete
Keep the dead from overrunning the tollhouse
Skill Upgrade: Melee Weapons Mediocre→Fair