Namgung Cheon reaches the capital tea house as the courtyard gate shudders behind him. Beyond it, a caravan lies scattered across the road, while masked attackers hammer at the barred entrance.
Inside, a young adult woman in a plain gray traveler’s robe, a slender woman with an oval face and straight black hair tucked beneath her hood, braces a table against the doors. Her concealed finery shows at one cuff, and a jade hairpin glints beneath her hood.
The Hooded Traveler
Stay back. They are not here for the tea house. They want the courier.
Behind the counter, a wounded young adult man in a torn blue courier’s jacket, a lean man with a square face, cropped dark hair, and a narrow scar at his chin, presses one hand to his side. A toppled brazier spills embers across the floor, and fire crawls toward his folded map.
The Wounded Courier
The map is burning. If it is lost, no one will find the mountain pass or the kidnapped princess.
The hooded traveler kicks a stool toward the nearest gap, but the doors split with a sharp crack. Cold wind drives smoke through the tea house as several masked attackers force their way inside.
The Hooded Traveler
Then choose quickly, swordsman. Save the route, or hold the door.
Masked Attackers
Give us the courier, and this place remains standing.
✓ Quest Accepted
Save the courier
✓ Quest Accepted
Find the kidnapped princess
“I would pick up the map so it doesn't burn and help defend the two people from the attackers.”
SUCCESS (Great Weapon Mastery, rolled +2)
Namgung Cheon crosses the smoke in a single burst. His sleeve cuts the heat as he snatches the folded map from the embers and rolls clear.
He tucks the map safely inside his robe and draws the Namgung jian. Steel flashes between the broken doors and the two imperiled travelers.
The Hooded Traveler
You chose well. Keep them from the courier, and I will get him moving.
The first masked attacker lunges over the splintered threshold. Namgung Cheon turns the blade aside, redirects the raider into a table, and seals the gap with his stance.
Masked Attackers
Break through him! The courier cannot leave this house!
Behind him, the wounded courier gathers the map case while the hooded traveler shoulders the barred side door open. Cold mountain air clears the smoke around them.
The Wounded Courier
The route is safe. If you can hold them for three breaths, swordsman, we can reach the alley.
+ New Item Acquired
Folded map
“I would cut down the attackers as I buy time for the girl and the courier to escape.”
SUCCESS (Great Weapon Mastery, rolled +0)
Namgung Cheon’s jian sweeps in a silver arc. He cuts through the attackers’ formation with precise, final strokes, and the masked raiders collapse across the threshold, their assault ended.
The last attacker forces past his guard before falling, but the exchange tears a shallow line across Namgung Cheon’s forearm. His footing slips on the broken floor, then steadies.
The Hooded Traveler
Move, courier. The way is clear.
The Wounded Courier
I am moving. Swordsman, that was more than three breaths.
The hooded traveler pulls the wounded courier through the side door into the cold alley. Their footsteps retreat while smoke unwinds beneath the shattered lintel.
Silence settles over the tea house, broken only by the brazier’s hiss and the measured drip of blood from Namgung Cheon’s forearm onto the floorboards.
Quest Complete
Save the courier
Skill Upgrade: Weapon Mastery Great→Superb