Thadeus smiles at Elizabeth, relief briefly brightening his battered face. Then his legs give way, and his injured body folds beneath him.
Marcus Thorne
Thadeus!
Sally Burton
Someone catch him!
Elizabeth lunges forward and catches him before he strikes the ground. She swings one of his arms over her shoulder, braces his weight, and lifts him with startling strength.
Sally Burton
I... Elizabeth, how are you doing that?
Elizabeth Bathory
He is not falling again. Elias, check his wounds. Marcus, stay close.
Sally stands speechless as Elias moves in to inspect Thadeus’s torn palm and shoulder. Together, they face the ruins of Castle Proserpina, its towers collapsing into dust beneath the fading night.
Elizabeth Bathory
We found one another again. Now we need to decide where we go before daylight finds us here.
✓ Quest Accepted
Get the reunited group to safety
“Thadeus finds himself going in and out of consciousness, barely being able to move his feet in step with Elizabeth. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is holding him up with little effort, but determination. Elias leads the group back to where he and Thadeus arrived to get into the castle, finding their vehicle intact. Elizabeth carefully loads Thadeus in the back seat of the van, laying him down across the seating. Elias hops in the driver seat, Sally in the passenger seat, while Elizabeth and Marcus jump in the back with Thadeus. Elias starts up the van, roaring to life, and begins the long journey back to Beaconsfield.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +0)
Thadeus’s consciousness flickers with each uneven step. Elizabeth bears most of his weight, guiding his feet forward while the ruined castle disappears behind them in the gray dawn.
Thadeus Jovanović
My feet are moving, but I cannot keep my eyes open.
Elizabeth Bathory
Stay with me. Just keep breathing. I have you.
Elias leads them through the broken guard post and along the rain-dark track to their waiting van. Its windows are intact, and the keys remain where they left them.
Elias
Good. The van survived. Get him inside, and we leave before anyone comes looking.
Elizabeth carefully loads Thadeus across the rear seats, supporting his head and wounded shoulder. Marcus climbs in beside them while Sally takes the passenger seat and Elias starts the engine.
The van roars awake and turns onto the empty road toward Beaconsfield. In the rear, Elizabeth keeps one hand over Thadeus’s, while the first sunlight catches a faint blue glow from Peacebringer at his belt.
“Sally gives Elias directions to her house. After a 30 minute drive, they arrive a large cottage house, located on a large plot of farmland. Sally brings the group inside to the living room, filled with a variety of knick-knacks Sally has collected at various flea markets. Elizabeth brings Thadeus over to the couch. Sally goes to her kitchen, getting some tea for the group. Marcus follows Sally to assist her. Elias also follows Sally into the kitchen, asking for medical supplies, where she directs him to the bathroom. Elizabeth pulls up a wicker chair and sits beside Thadeus, running her hand through his hair. They have escaped Castle Proserpina with their lives.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -1)
Sally Burton
Take the next turn toward the old farm road. My house is about thirty minutes from here.
The van leaves the castle ruins behind. After a long drive through rain-dark countryside, it reaches a large cottage set among quiet fields and open farmland.
Sally unlocks the front door and brings everyone into a warm living room crowded with flea-market treasures, painted boxes, brass figurines, and mismatched lamps.
Elizabeth guides Thadeus to the couch and lowers him carefully onto it. His wounds are battered but stable, and Peacebringer rests quietly at his belt.
Sally Burton
Tea first. Then we deal with everyone’s injuries. Marcus, help me in the kitchen.
Marcus follows Sally with a grateful nod. Elias joins them, asking for medical supplies, and Sally directs him to the bathroom cabinet before returning to the kettle.
Elizabeth pulls a wicker chair beside the couch and sits, slowly running her hand through Thadeus’s hair. Outside, daylight settles over the fields; inside, the survivors begin treating the living.
Treat the group’s injuries
Quest Complete
Get the reunited group to safety
Skill Upgrade: Driving Fair→Good