Peacebringer’s blue light steadies the ancient stairwell as the steps shift beneath Thadeus’s boots. Dust sifts from the ceiling, veiling the darkness below.
The adrenaline ebbs with every careful descent. Pain returns to his claw wound and torn palm, while his shoulder tightens beneath the improvised dressing.
Thadeus Jovanović
The stairwell is still passable, but my balance is worsening.
He keeps one hand against the wall and Peacebringer in the other, testing each uneven step before shifting his weight. The castle groans without attacking.
Far below, muffled voices carry through the stone, then fade beneath a long shudder. Elias, Marcus, Sally, and Elizabeth should be beyond this route by now.
The stair finally opens onto the ruined ballroom. Moonlight spills across the marble, revealing the path toward the clock tower and the scattered evidence of their escape.
For a moment, the ballroom is empty and still. Then a faint voice echoes from the passage ahead, too distant to identify, inviting Thadeus onward.
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify the voice calling from the passage
“Thadeus sheathes Peacebringer back onto his belt, and starts moving slowly across the ballroom. As he does, another heavy shudder runs across the floor, causing large cracks to form across the floor. "The room is crumbling," Thadeus thinks. He barely makes to the entrance leading to the clock tower before half of the ballroom falls away to the foundation below.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -2)
Thadeus secures Peacebringer on his belt and starts across the ruined ballroom, placing each boot carefully among fractured marble and drifting dust.
Thadeus Jovanović
The room is crumbling.
A heavy shudder rolls through the floor. Cracks race outward beneath Thadeus, and his injured palm strikes the wall for balance, reopening the cut.
He keeps moving despite the fresh blood, crossing the ballroom toward the clock-tower entrance as stone breaks loose behind him.
Thadeus reaches the clock-tower entrance and plants himself beyond its threshold. The route stands before him, while the ballroom gives a thunderous groan.
Half the ballroom collapses into the foundation below. Marble, timber, and ancient furnishings vanish through the widening chasm, sending a brutal wave of dust through the entrance.
The clock-tower passage remains intact beneath the settling haze. Thadeus has crossed safely, but blood runs from his palm and the castle continues to fail around him.
“Thadeus carefully starts walking down the metal stairwell in the clock tower, when he feels his stomach drop. He looks below to see both the lower exit from the tower and the opening he took from the balcony are both gone, covered by rubble. "Oh great, trapped," Thadeus thinks. Thadeus starts to hear the voice more clearly. It's a male voice, familiar. Passing through one of the rubble covered doorways floats William Thorne. He flies up to Thadeus, saying, "I was able to get your friends out of the castle." William observes all of Thadeus's injuries, adding, "I see you...did what you had to do." Thadeus nods somberly, "I did. I can talk with you more about it, but I'd like to do it on the side of the living. Is there a way out of here?" William also nods, replying, "There's another hidden door near the base of the tower here. Follow me."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Thadeus carefully descends the clock-tower’s metal stairwell. His stomach drops when he looks below: rubble seals both the lower exit and the balcony opening.
Thadeus Jovanović
Oh great, trapped.
The familiar male voice grows clearer through the settling dust. William Thorne floats through a rubble-covered doorway and rises to the stair beside Thadeus.
William Thorne
I was able to get your friends out of the castle. I see you did what you had to do.
Thadeus Jovanović
I did. I can talk with you more about it, but I’d like to do it on the side of the living. Is there a way out of here?
William’s gaze passes over Thadeus’s reopened palm, torn wound, and tightened shoulder. He nods, then gestures toward the tower’s rubble-choked base.
William Thorne
There’s another hidden door near the base of the tower here. Follow me.
Quest Complete
Identify the voice calling from the passage
Skill Upgrade: Security Good→Great
“Thadeus follows William to the base of the tower, carefully avoiding newly forming cracks along the floor. William waves his hands across what appears to be an uninteresting wall, when a metal door materializes in its place. William shares, "This door was a magical creation of Erzsebet's. If you follow the tunnel inside, there will be another door that will open out to a guard post at the old entrance to Castle Proserpina. I, unfortunately, cannot use it, not being living. But you have to go quickly. The doors will disappear when the structure completely collapses, and you don't want to be stuck in between." Thadeus thanks William profusely, and promises to see him on the outside. William smiles, watching as Thadeus opens the door, revealing a dark tunnel, and runs head first through the opening.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -1)
Thadeus follows William to the tower’s base, carefully stepping around fresh cracks as the metal stairs shudder overhead and dust drifts through the air.
William waves both hands across an unremarkable section of wall. The stone ripples, then gives way to a newly formed metal door set into the tower.
William Thorne
Erzsebet created this door through magic. The tunnel leads to another door opening at a guard post near Castle Proserpina’s old entrance.
William Thorne
I cannot use it, being no longer living. Go quickly. Both doors will disappear when the castle fully collapses, and you must not be caught between them.
Thadeus Jovanović
Thank you, William. I’ll see you outside.
William smiles and watches as Thadeus opens the door. A dark tunnel stretches beyond it, carrying cold air from somewhere outside the collapsing castle.
Thadeus grips Peacebringer, then runs headfirst through the opening. Behind him, William remains at the threshold while the tower groans and the metal door begins to fade.
✓ Quest Accepted
Cross the collapsing tunnel alive
“Thadeus exerts himself, every step he takes causing a surge of pain to shoot from his hands and shoulder. In the distance, Thadeus can see another metal door. The ground around him is shaking more violently, causing him to stumble, but he manages to stay on his feet, as he gets closer to the exit.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +1)
Thadeus runs through the narrow tunnel as every footfall sends pain through his wounded hands and shoulder. Dust pours from the ceiling while the ground shakes harder beneath him.
The metal door ahead grows clearer through the drifting haze. Thadeus stumbles when the tunnel bucks, catches himself against the wall, and keeps moving without falling.
A fresh surge of pain shoots through his torn palm and shoulder. He braces Peacebringer against his belt, freeing one hand to steady himself against the trembling stone.
Behind him, the tunnel groans as the castle collapses. The doorway William opened flickers in the darkness, shrinking while fragments of masonry tumble across the floor.
Thadeus reaches the second metal door and grips its handle. The ground heaves violently, but he pulls it open before the passage can seal.
Cold night air rushes over him. Thadeus steps through into a ruined guard post near Castle Proserpina’s old entrance as the hidden tunnel vanishes behind him.
Beyond the broken post, distant voices call through the storm. Elizabeth and the others are outside, alive and waiting, while Castle Proserpina collapses into the darkness behind him.
Quest Complete
Escape Castle Proserpina
Skill Upgrade: Security Great→Superb
Quest Complete
Cross the collapsing tunnel alive