Fae Talh steps into the amphitheater proper. Torchlight gutters over wet stone, and the circular floor gleams like dark glass.
At the center, the Mercenary turns in a slow, wary circle, armor softly clanking as he scans the shadows for the next threat.
Above, the Masked Attendant remains on the high perch, still as a carved saint, watching both entrants and the space between them.
Gate Warden
Once you cross that line, the Cup marks you. Hunters will know you are here.
The Gate Warden gestures toward a ring of pale stone set into the floor, where faint runes stir under the torchlight like embers under ash.
Masked Attendant
The first tracking seal is awake. The hunt begins when it decides you are worth finding.
Fae Talh
So this is how they do it. They do not wait for prey, they make the arena do the searching.
✓ Quest Accepted
Hold your cover in the amphitheater
“I use my magic to turn invisible”
SUCCESS (Legendary Arcana, rolled +0)
Fae Talh lifts a hand and whispers the shape of absence into the air.
Her outline blurs, then thins, until torchlight slips through where she stands.
Fae Talh
The rune light stays on the floor, not on me.
The Mercenary
There. I saw something move.
He snaps toward the arch, armor shifting as he points at empty space, still clutching his search like a blade.
Gate Warden
Careful. You accuse my entrant, you answer to me.
Masked Attendant
Lower your weapon. The seal has her, not you.
The Mercenary hesitates under the Attendant's cold authority, but his stare stays locked on the place where Fae Talh vanished.
Quest Complete
Hold your cover in the amphitheater
“I cast a spell crating a illusion of me close to the glowing rune. The illusion strikes a seductive and mocking pose at the mercenary trying to goad him into attacking the illusion. I am doing this to see if he triggers any traps or magical traps that could be a problem.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Arcana, rolled -1)
Fae Talh flicks her fingers, and a second Fae blooms beside the glowing rune, all silk-smirk and taunting grace.
The false twin leans into a lazy, mocking pose, one hip angled toward the Mercenary, a gesture that dares him to take the bait.
The Mercenary
There you are.
He lunges at the illusion, boots hammering the ring of light, and the floor answers with a sharp pulse under his step.
No blade, no snare, only a cold flare of runes as the seal drinks in his aggression and stains his armor in pale markings.
Gate Warden
Hold. That mark is the seal's answer, not its strike.
Masked Attendant
He is tagged now. One more step, and the arena remembers his shape.
The Mercenary freezes mid-advance, staring at the phantom and then at the brightening runes beneath him, trapped between fury and caution.
✓ Quest Accepted
Force the Mercenary to back down
“I soften my look at the mercenary "I'm sorry guy I think you failed your marked now and you will be hunted you should probly just back down. You don't want to be hurt or injured maby even die do you?”
SUCCESS (Superb Persuasion, rolled +0)
Fae Talh
You soften your expression and tell the Mercenary he is marked now. You say he does not want to be hurt, injured, or killed, and that backing down is the smart choice.
The Mercenary
His gaze flicks from the runes at his boots to the false Fae, and then to the pale mark spreading there. The anger in his jaw tightens into caution.
Gate Warden
He hears you. Good. The seal has his shape, and my authority has his attention. Let him choose pride or survival.
The Mercenary
...I am not here to die for a token.
Masked Attendant
Then step away from the ring and keep your hands visible. The Cup favors candidates, not corpses.
The Mercenary
I came for the wax token, not this damned hunt. If I back off, does the arena let me walk?
Gate Warden
It lets you live. Move carefully, and do not make me spend more of myself on your foolishness.
Quest Complete
Force the Mercenary to back down