You arrive at a ruined shrine beneath a bruised evening sky. Toppled idols choke the courtyard, their stone faces turned toward a village burning with silent blue witchfire.
Beyond the broken sanctuary, villagers stagger through the smoke, moving with unnatural, halting steps as the curse draws them toward the shrine.
the noble in hiding
Please, help us! By every saint still listening, do not let them reach this place.
A noble in hiding kneels among the fallen idols, clutching a bloodstained family seal. Their finery is torn, and ash clings to their hair and trembling hands.
the noble in hiding
This seal bears my house's last warding mark. I was told your kind might command powers strong enough to break the curse.
Ruby & Crystal
The blue flames give off no heat.
A bell deep within the ruined shrine gives one hollow chime. The afflicted villagers emerge from the smoke, their eyes reflecting witchfire, while the noble raises the seal toward you.
✓ Quest Accepted
Halt the curse's advance
“Ruby: "why do you have to be so kind?" Crystal: "Hush, ignore Ruby, tell me noble do you have any hints on how does curse may work or what it does?" Ruby growls at Crystal, but Crystal quickly hushes and snaps at them, gently taking the seal from the noble as they reassure them that they will help with all they can.”
SUCCESS (Great Persuasion, rolled +0)
Ruby & Crystal
Why do you have to be so kind?
Ruby & Crystal
Hush, ignore Ruby. Tell me, noble, do you have any hints about how the curse works, or what it does?
Ruby growls, a low rumble beneath the bell's fading echo. Crystal quickly hushes them, then gently takes the bloodstained seal from the noble.
Ruby & Crystal
We will help with all we can.
the noble in hiding
The curse began when the shrine bell rang without a hand upon its rope. It draws the afflicted here, stealing their names and bending their bodies to the shrine's will.
The seal's warding mark flares cold against Crystal's palm, leaving a pale numbness in their scales. The noble watches, frightened but visibly steadied.
the noble in hiding
The mark answers the bell. Hold it before the altar, and the curse's path should reveal itself. But each chime feeds the witchfire.
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn how the village curse can be halted
+ New Item Acquired
Bloodstained family seal
“Ruby: "So we can make everything worse, be careful, Crystal. I hope you know what you're doing. This is very risky; we are connected to the same body, so if one of our heads go-" Ruby's voice slightly cracks with uncharacteristic concern while turning the face of their other head, Crystal. Crystal: "Yes, I am aware we are a double-headed dragon after all..maybe we should take a glance at the Bell on the altar more closer to see if we can get any clues of a form of studying, almost every little thing in life comes with risk but we cannot avoid taking this chance and not do anything, there maybe there's a way to hold back to curse to get the time we need!" Crystal turns to give ruby a reassuring smile, heeding to the alter to study Ruby's voice breaks in a little bit of a uncharacteristic concern tone to Crystal, the other head turns around and gave the black one a reassuring smile, trying there best to hide there fear, going up to the alter to attempt to expose the curse path.”
SUCCESS (Great Perception, rolled +1)
Ruby & Crystal
So we can make everything worse. Be careful, Crystal. This is risky. We share one body, so if one of our heads goes...
Ruby & Crystal
Yes, I know we are a double-headed dragon. Let us study the altar and bell for clues. Risk cannot excuse doing nothing. There may be a way to hold the curse back.
Ruby turns toward Crystal with a crack of concern in their voice. Crystal answers with a reassuring smile, then both heads guide their shared body toward the altar.
Crystal raises the warding seal before the bell. Its cold light spills across the cracked altar, revealing thin blue lines beneath the stone, all flowing toward the rope and its silent clapper.
Ruby & Crystal
The curse path runs through the altar before it reaches the bell.
Closer study reveals a break in the pattern beneath the bell, an old warding groove meant to interrupt the flow. The seal fits its shape exactly, and the witchfire dims around it.
the noble in hiding
There. Hold the seal in that groove, and the shrine's pull should falter long enough to save the villagers.
Quest Complete
Learn how the village curse can be halted
“Ruby: "Huh...I guess you knew what you were doing, Crystal, heh!" Crystal: "more luck than anything, but I'll take the compliment because I barely get compliments from you, Ruby, now to hold this up to the grove...but before we go, is there any other protection to protect the village that we should know about?" Ruby laughs in a snarky matter towards Crystal as Crystal rolls her eyes, they turn there body around as the two heads looking into the Noble's eyes, waiting for an answer.”
SUCCESS (Great Persuasion, rolled +3)
Ruby & Crystal
Huh... I guess you knew what you were doing, Crystal, heh!
Ruby & Crystal
More luck than anything, but I'll take the compliment. I barely get compliments from you, Ruby. Now, before we go, is there any other protection for the village?
Ruby laughs with sharp, snarky amusement while Crystal rolls their eyes. Their shared body turns from the altar, both heads fixing the noble with an expectant stare.
the noble in hiding
Yes. The shrine's outer stones bear a second ward, older than the bell. Once the seal rests in the groove, speak your names together, and the ward will recognize you as its keepers.
The noble points toward three weathered stones half-buried beside the sanctuary gate. Faint runes awaken across them, forming a protective circle around the village road.
the noble in hiding
That circle will shelter anyone who reaches it, and the witchfire cannot cross its boundary. I had no hope of waking it until the seal answered you.
The noble bows their head, newly encouraged. The revealed ward gives the villagers a safe refuge while Ruby and Crystal carry the seal toward the altar.
“"Thank you!" Crystal thanked the noble with a smile turning to face them for a moment, the two-headed dragons entered the grove, placing the seal into the grove.”
SUCCESS (Fair Agility, rolled +1)
Ruby & Crystal
Thank you!
Crystal turns their white head toward the noble and offers a warm smile. Ruby's gaze lingers on the burning village, but their shared body follows Crystal into the grove.
The grove lies quiet beyond the sanctuary gate, ringed by the three weathered stones. Their awakened runes cast a soft, pale light across roots and fallen leaves.
Together, the two-headed dragon carries the bloodstained seal to the warding groove and presses it into place. The mark settles perfectly, and the protective circle brightens.
the noble in hiding
It is done. The road is sheltered now. Anyone who reaches the circle will be safe from the witchfire.
A clear tone passes through the standing stones. Blue flames recoil from the village road, stopping at the ward's unseen boundary as villagers stumble toward safety.
the noble in hiding
You have given us a chance to live. I will never forget what you have done here.
Quest Complete
Halt the curse's advance
Skill Upgrade: Persuasion Great→Superb