Adventure of Slaan 1

Wind rakes the dead drop open, flattening the grass and dragging leaves across the pedestal. The temple spires of Saint Morlon stand clear ahead, but fresh sunburst tracks slash the road between Slaan and the gate.

Slaan cuts toward the roadside ditch, keeping low as the wind tears at her robes. Bram follows the line of brush, and the Paladin shifts to shield the exposed road side of the group.

At the bend, a dark-robed riderless scout horse flashes past on the far rise, then vanishes behind the grass. The path to the temple is still open, but not for long.

Slaan leaves the dead drop behind and arrives at Saint Morlon's temple.

The shadow veil drinks the road, turning Slaan, Bram, and the Paladin into three dim shapes under the wind. Saint Morlon's temple rises before them, stone bright against the gray, while the sunburst tracks on the road lose their edge in the darkened wash.

Bram slips closer to the ditch, and the Paladin keeps his body between Slaan and the open stretch. Ahead, the gate guards shift on the steps, looking out over the road but not quite finding the moving shadow below.

A wind gust lifts the grass, and for a heartbeat the false sunburst marks show where the hunters crossed, then break apart under the darkness Slaan lays over them.

The nearest gate watcher turns his head, squinting at the road, but the veil blunts the group into a smear of moving dusk. Slaan gains the temple wall without being fixed in anyone's gaze, and the open gate stands clear ahead.