At the edge of the Heroes' Arena, Jilko bursts from the treeline, disheveled and wild-eyed, one hand raised to stop Baseva.
Jilko
Baseva, wait. The chain is compromised. That note, it was meant to mislead you, to test whether you would chase the wrong road.
Jilko
Karr knew the tournament would draw you here. He wanted eyes on the arena, not the village. He wanted the threat pulled wide, away from the Baron.
Karr goes still beside the registration table, the color draining from his face as the clerks and onlookers recoil from the sudden accusation.
Karr
I never lied about the Baron. I steered you because the arena was the only place we could force the leak into the open.
Karr
Tillworth was the next step, yes, but the tournament was the hook. If the assassin was watching, I wanted him watching here.
The rain begins again in a thin hiss over stone and canvas, and the path ahead feels narrower now, but also clearer.
“I confront Karr about the assassin”
SUCCESS (Fair Intimidation, rolled +0)
Baseva plants her shield and lets the silence bite. Karr swallows hard, the rain ticking on his shoulders as the crowd keeps its distance.
Baseva
You lead me to the assassin, now.
Karr
I meant to draw him out, not feed him a paladin. He watches patterns, patrols, seals, who speaks to whom. The Baron is hidden because I made him look ordinary.
Jilko
And the contact in Tillworth?
Karr
A miller with a cracked blue ring. He passed the Baron through the market carts before the search began. If the assassin has a second hand, that is where it moves.
The clerk loosens his grip on the papers, staring from Karr to Baseva as if a trapdoor has opened under the whole ledger.
Karr
If you want the Baron, follow the ring to Tillworth. If you want the killer, stay here and watch who runs when the seal is named.
Rain darkens the ink on the table while Karr holds Baseva's gaze, waiting for her choice.
“I follow the cracked blue ring to Tillworth”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +0)