The silver words settle across the open book, dividing into two branching designs. The black ring rests on Ruouh’s finger, while Tau’s necklace answers with a muted glow beneath his shirt.
Ruouh Falren
One path places the succession under the relics’ authority. The other makes them shields, preserving the crown’s freedom while protecting those the Hidden Council would control.
The page turns by itself. Silver lines form a crown above one passage and an open eye above the other, while the room’s narrow walls hold every whisper close.
Ruouh Falren
If we choose control, we may command the council before it can command us. But the pact was created to restrain a corrupt crown, not replace one.
The ring grows warmer around Ruouh’s finger. Beneath Tau’s collar, the necklace pulses once, neither accepting nor rejecting the decision, waiting for both wielders to choose.
Ruouh Falren
I will not decide this alone. Tau, do we use the relics to seize authority, or do we bind them to protection and keep the succession free?
The silver crown and open eye wait side by side on the page. Ruouh keeps his hand still, leaving the choice before Tau and the awakened relics.
− Story Quest Removed
Learn what testimony the Dark Tablet holds
“I study the riddles again and say, “I think the choice is between taking power, or protecting the relics powers from getting into the wrong hands…” I look at Ruouh. “If we choose power, it will guarantee you as the next King, but it would also leave room for you to be controlled through the pact… if we choose protection, opposing forces would not be able to use the pact against us directly, but they would still be able to influence who is the next successor…” I grab my necklace and look at Ruouhs ring as I think to myself that if Ruouh was ever being controlled while on the throne, I would not have the power to stop whoever was controlling him. I then point to the silver eye on the page. “I vote for protection… but whatever you wish, I will follow.””
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled +1)
Tau Heathsburough
I think the choice is between taking power and protecting the relics' powers from falling into the wrong hands. If we choose power, it guarantees you as king, but leaves room for the pact to control you. Protection keeps the pact from being used against us directly, though others may still influence the succession. I vote for protection. Whatever you choose, I will follow.
Tau studies the Silver-lined Book again. Courtly Insight connects its branching riddles, while the Dark Stone Necklace and Black Stone Ring answer with steady warmth. His phobia constricts the room around him, but the book makes the choice clear.
Tau Heathsburough
If Ruouh were controlled on the throne, I would have no power to stop whoever held him.
Tau Heathsburough
The silver eye is the path I trust.
Tau points to the open eye. The silver design brightens beneath his hand, and the necklace’s glow flows into the page without seizing either relic or either will.
Ruouh Falren
Then protection is our choice. I will accept the crown by my own right, not through a pact that can command me. Together, we will keep its power from those who would misuse it.
The crown design fades, leaving the silver eye engraved beside the completed text. The relics settle into quiet warmth, and Ruouh closes the book with the decision recorded: the succession remains free, while the pact stands as their shield.
The silver eye settled beside the final line. The ring and necklace cooled from warmth to a steady, watchful calm.
Ruouh Falren
Then I will earn the crown without their command. Let the pact guard the choice, not make it.
Tau Heathsburough
A free crown. A faithful shield. That is enough.
The book closed, its clasp whispering like a vow kept. Ruouh rested his hand over its cover, and Tau stood beside him as the chamber fell still.
The succession remained free, and the awakened relics became its shield rather than its master. Ruouh would meet the crown by his own right, while Tau Heathsburough carried the silver-eyed pact into the quiet that followed. The Hidden Council had lost its claim before it could close its hand.