Tovan slides a key into the flat case and opens it across the quay office table. Inside lies a river survey, its ink still dark from recent marking.
Tovan Reeve
The southern channel is finished for now. The north remains deep enough, but this shoal will punish any boat that meets it carelessly.
His finger follows the northern line to a small wayhouse drawn before the shoal. A fresh notation warns that passage must be secured there before nightfall.
Serren Vale
The invitation names the southern archive, not the southern channel. The token promises lodging and mooring, so the north route still honors the journey's terms.
Merrin Holt
The wardens can wait below while you decide. If you take the north passage, we should send word to the wayhouse before dusk.
The blocked route no longer leaves the journey uncertain, only changed. The archive remains reachable by the north channel, if Carciel and Serren accept the shoal's risk and secure passage at the wayhouse.
“"is the marked shoal safe for our boat?"”
Carciel
Is the marked shoal safe for our boat?
Tovan Reeve
Safe if approached from the north, but not without the wayhouse's mark. See here, the authorization line is missing from today's survey.
A blank space beside the wayhouse notation turns the open route into an unconfirmed passage.
“"How secure is it?"”
Carciel
How secure is it?
Tovan Reeve
The water is safe enough. The passage is not. Without the wayhouse mark, wardens may turn your boat away, or mistake it for an unauthorized crossing.
✓ Quest Accepted
Obtain the wayhouse authorization
“"how do we get it?"”
Carciel
How do we get the wayhouse mark?
Tovan Reeve
The wayhouse lies upriver at the north fork. Show them the brass token and survey, and they will stamp the chart before nightfall.
“"I'll just show it when we get there, simple enough."”
Carciel
I'll show it when we get there. Simple enough.
The northbound journey reaches the wayhouse before dusk. The warden checks the brass token and survey, then stamps the authorization line. The chart is cleared for passage, and the shoal-marked route opens ahead.
Quest Complete
Obtain the wayhouse authorization
+ New Item Acquired
Authorized river survey