Elizabeth stumbles back into the garden, pale and shaken, one hand clamped over a wound that should not be there. She stares at the pedestal and the glowing Talisman like she is seeing a verdict.
Elizabeth Bathory
I was never the architect. I was the first prisoner. He was always behind this.
The words hit harder than the silence. The ‘mastermind’ is not Elizabeth at all, but something deeper in the Corridor, something that used her and waited for the debt to come due.
Chaos
There you are. I was wondering when the real owner would arrive.
Chaos turns with a sharp, predatory grin toward the doorway, then toward the injured woman. His scythe hangs loose, like he has already decided how this ends.
Chaos
The final sacrifice was always going to be honest in the end.
The pedestal hums beneath the Talisman as the garden holds still, waiting for Thadeus to finish what was promised.
✓ Quest Accepted
Protect Elizabeth Bathory from the Corridor's controller
✓ Quest Accepted
Finalize the seal
“Thadeus rushes over to Elizabeth, who has now collapsed to the floor, the injuries to both of her legs still severe. Chaos throws his scythe towards Elizabeth, who can only watch as it quickly flies towards. In desperation, Thadeus whips Peacebringer towards the scythe, and manages to wrap the whip around the jagged edges of the scythe mere inches from Elizabeth. Thadeus whips the scythe back towards himself and catches it.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -1)
Thadeus lunges to Elizabeth’s side as she drops hard to the garden floor. Chaos whips the scythe free in a dark arc, aiming it at her exposed legs.
Peacebringer snaps out in a blue blur. The chain bites around the scythe’s jagged edge, stopping it cold inches from Elizabeth’s body.
Thadeus yanks back. The scythe tears away from Chaos’s grip and skids into Thadeus’s hand instead, its weight suddenly his to control.
Elizabeth Bathory
Do not let him take me. He does not forgive failure.
Chaos
Interesting. You catch even his blade.
The garden goes taut around them, with Elizabeth sheltered at Thadeus’s side, the scythe now in his grasp, and Chaos measuring the new distance between them.
+ New Item Acquired
Scythe
“Thadeus quickly looks to Elizabeth, "If I carry you, do you still have enough power to defend us while we run?”
NO, BUT (Likely, rolled 68)
Elizabeth Bathory
My strength is spent, Thadeus. I am a hollow vessel now, and I cannot conjure even a spark to shield us.
Thadeus Jovanović
She is telling the truth, but her eyes still hold the weight of everything she has built.
“As Thadeus and Elizabeth share in an exchange, their conversation is interrupted by another popping noise. They look over to the Chain Block. It's power is roaring back to life, causing the garden grounds to shift. Thadeus decides he has to takes his chances, and picks up Elizabeth. Thadeus races to the entrance of the garden back into the building's reception area, while the ground him is rumbling in response to power of the Chain Block.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +0)
A sharp pop cracks through the garden, and the floor answers with a low shudder. Thadeus looks up toward the Chain Block as its hum swells back into a hard, rising roar.
Thadeus Jovanović
The mechanism is waking up again.
He slips an arm under Elizabeth, lifts her cleanly, and turns toward the lobby entrance before the stones can shift under them.
The garden tilts and grinds behind him. Pebbles skitter, roots buck under the paving, and the pedestal throws broken blue light across the trees.
Thadeus drives forward with Elizabeth held tight against his chest, the Peacebringer clenched in his other hand as he threads the opening path.
He reaches the reception threshold as the last safe strip of floor heaves behind him, leaving the garden to rumble and reset beyond the glass.
Chaos
Well done. Now tell me, Thadeus, do you mean to lock this place down, or open it wider?
Quest Complete
Protect Elizabeth Bathory from the Corridor's controller
New Gift: Corridor Guardian