The raiders press through the ruined gateway while the defenders remain behind, holding the pass. Kyrie stands near the shattered threshold as snow veils the stones.
A young adult man stumbles from the raiders' path, lean beneath a torn brown cloak. His pale face is blood-streaked, and a silver crescent seals the black-wax letter in his shaking hand.
Mara Venn
Mara Venn. Courier of the Ashen Road. This message is meant for the moon-marked one.
He extends the letter toward Kyrie, keeping his eyes on the fighting behind him. The wax bears no crest beyond its stark silver crescent.
A deep impression appears in the fresh snow behind Mara, then another several paces nearer. Each resembles a heavy bootprint, but no foot, beast, or body makes it.
Mara Venn
Take it quickly. Whatever followed me has crossed the open slope, and it does not fear the raiders.
The defenders' captain shouts orders below, while the barbarian chieftain drives her raiders onward. Between those distant cries, another unseen weight compresses the snow.
✓ Quest Accepted
Bring Mara Venn into defensible shelter
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure the Ashen Road letter
“As I take the letter from him, I pull him towards the shelter away from whatever may be coming. "Well it is me it should fear. Come, before it decides your time is up."”
SUCCESS (Great Strength, rolled -1)
Kyrie
Well, it is me it should fear. Come, before it decides your time is up.
Kyrie seizes the silver-crescent letter from Mara's hand and hooks her armored arm around his cloak, hauling him toward the gate's shadowed breach.
Mara stumbles after her, boots skidding over loose stone. Kyrie's shoulder strikes the jagged threshold, scraping skin beneath her armor, but she keeps her grip and reaches shelter.
Mara Venn
By the Ashen Road, you pull like a siege ram. I thought that thing would catch us in the open.
They cross into the ruined gatehouse, where fallen iron and black stone form a cramped refuge. Outside, the unseen weight stops at the threshold, snow collapsing under its invisible pressure.
Mara Venn
The letter is yours. I was told only this: the crescent must reach the moon-marked smith before the third bell.
Mara bends, catching his breath, while the silver seal remains unbroken in Kyrie's grasp. Beyond the breach, the pursuing prints turn slowly toward the shelter.
Quest Complete
Bring Mara Venn into defensible shelter
Quest Complete
Secure the Ashen Road letter
+ New Item Acquired
Ashen Road letter