Moonlight spills through cracked temple glass onto a ring of broken marble. In its center stands Tarran, no longer a towering terror, but a stunned girl with orange hair, bare feet, and too much empty space around her.
Her own shadow looks wrong, smaller than the memory of her. The air still tastes of old magic and dust.
At the shattered archway, a robed woman freezes mid-step, clutching a lantern of blue witchfire.
The Lantern-Bearer
By the Seven Stars... are you the beast, or the girl it left behind?
Somewhere beyond the temple, bells begin to ring. One note, then another, hurried and afraid.
Tarran
Tarran is small now. The floor is close. The room smells like stone and candle smoke.
The Lantern-Bearer lowers the flame a little, not quite brave enough to approach, not quite willing to flee. Behind her, torchlight trembles in the dark corridor, and footsteps gather fast.
The Lantern-Bearer
Speak, then. Can you understand me, or do I call the guards?
✓ Quest Accepted
Speak with the Lantern-Bearer
“I step toward the woman and whisper that I am just Tarran.”
SUCCESS (Fair Social, rolled +0)
Tarran takes one careful step over the broken marble and leans in, small now, her voice little more than breath.
Tarran
I am just Tarran.
The Lantern-Bearer’s grip tightens, then eases. She studies Tarran’s face, as if matching the name against a rumor she hates.
The Lantern-Bearer
Just Tarran... then the temple was wrong, or the stories were.
Her lantern dips, spilling blue light across Tarran’s hands. The corridor bells keep ringing, closer now, but she does not look away.
The Lantern-Bearer
If that is truly your name, say it again. Slowly.
Quest Complete
Speak with the Lantern-Bearer