You arrive at the Golden Hare before supper and find the kitchen hazy with smoke. A middle-aged woman crouches beside the range, hurriedly scraping a blackened pan into a bucket.
Maudie
Oh. You’re here early. That’s good. I mean, it’s not good, exactly, but you’re here.
She wears a rumpled brown dress beneath a flour-dusted apron, her dark hair escaping its braid. One trembling hand shields the ruined dinner from view.
Maudie
My little one will be here any minute. I promised a proper meal tonight, and instead I’ve invented charcoal stew.
Maudie
Please don’t let me cry over a pot. Not in front of her. Not after everything else.
Maudie
Can you help me salvage something? Bread, soup, anything. I’ll pay you back after the schoolmaster settles my wages.
Behind her, the range still spits weak orange heat, while the kitchen shelves offer flour, onions, eggs, and yesterday’s loaf. Footsteps sound faintly beyond the tavern door.
✓ Quest Accepted
Help the widowed mother provide a proper meal
“"Oh sure of course" *She said moving to the rack of aprons and taking one off. she tied the straps quickly and moved to the stove.* "We can salvage this don't fret, and don't be upset, You tried and thats what is important okay?" *She reassured the woman, scraping the burnt food and mixing it back in on itself in the pot.*”
SUCCESS (Legendary Cooking, rolled +1)
Alerie
Oh, sure, of course. We can salvage this, so don't fret or get upset. You tried, and that's what matters, okay?
Alerie takes an apron from the rack, ties its straps quickly, and moves to the stove. She scrapes the scorched food together, folding it back into the pot with steady, practiced care.
Maudie
You make that sound so simple. I’ve been staring at it like it personally betrayed me.
The widowed mother watches Alerie stir, shoulders gradually loosening. The smoke thins as the ruined crust is separated from the softer stew beneath.
Maudie
She isn’t judging me. She’s helping. I can breathe again.
Maudie
Thank you. Truly. Tell me what to fetch, and I’ll do it. Onions, eggs, bread, anything you need.
+ New Item Acquired
Apron
“"Just let me know if any mysterious and handsome Mercenaries waltz through that door." *She said playfully, laughing as she worked chopping up carrots and onions. Her hands worked methodically dropping vegetables in at just the right time.* "You're baby will always eat free here, you don't need to secretly make food, I can make sure they have some every night, okay?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Cooking, rolled +0)
Alerie
Just let me know if any mysterious and handsome mercenaries waltz through that door. I’ll need fair warning.
Alerie laughs as she chops carrots and onions, her knife keeping an even rhythm. She drops each handful into the pot at precisely the right moment, brightening the smoky kitchen.
Alerie
And your baby will always eat free here. You don’t need to secretly make food. I can make sure there’s something for her every night, okay?
The widowed mother’s hands pause over the bread. The offer settles more deeply than the cooking, loosening the careful pride she has worn like an apron.
Maudie
Handsome mercenaries, hm? I’ll keep my eyes open, though I suspect they’ll be more trouble than supper is worth.
Maudie
But the rest... Alerie, I can’t simply take charity every night.
The stew softens into a savory meal, onions sweetening the broth while the rescued bread warms beside it. Beyond the door, small footsteps approach, quick and familiar.
✓ Quest Accepted
Help the widowed mother accept Alerie’s help
Quest Complete
Help the widowed mother provide a proper meal
Skill Upgrade: Conversation Fair→Good
“"I have no one to get home to, I have no quarrels with staying late to help someone I know would help me. My mother raised me on her own and I know she struggled. I won't ever let another woman go through that if I can help it." *She said beginning to cut up some venison she'd had dried earlier at the butchers and picked up on her way into work.* "If I thought at all that you would bother me I'd never have hired you. But I wanted to know you and to help you, so you are here." *She said dropping spices into the pot.* "Now Just while this simmers would you mind watching the counter for me?"”
SUCCESS (Good Conversation, rolled +0)
Alerie
I have no one waiting at home, and I have no quarrel with staying late for someone I know would help me. My mother raised me alone. I know what that struggle costs, and I won’t let another woman face it if I can help.
Alerie unwraps the dried venison she bought from the butcher, slices it into thin pieces, and scatters them into the simmering pot. The spices bloom through the broth.
Alerie
If I thought you would bother me, I never would have hired you. I wanted to know you and help you, so you’re here. While this simmers, would you watch the counter for me?
The knife slips against a tough strip and nicks Alerie’s fingertip. It is a small injury, but a bright bead of blood forces her to set the knife down and wrap her finger in a clean cloth.
Maudie
You say that as though helping me is the simplest thing in the world. But I hear you. I’ll watch the counter, and I’ll stop arguing about accepting kindness.
She takes Alerie’s place near the front, smoothing her apron before facing the tavern door. The approaching footsteps pause outside, then the latch lifts.
Maudie
She means every word. I had better learn how to believe her without waiting for the kindness to disappear.
Quest Complete
Help the widowed mother accept Alerie’s help