The patrol boat bumps the dock, and a weary constable steps down with one hand near his holster. His eyes go from Caelan to the harpoon by the seat, and the whole lesson tightens like a pulled line.
The Teenager jolts. The fish slips from his hands and splashes back into the lake, forgotten in an instant.
The Constable
Sir, I need you to keep that weapon still. What exactly is that thing?
Caelan Thorne
He sees the harpoon before he sees anything else.
The constable’s gaze flicks to the rusted shard on the gunwale, then back to Caelan, careful and suspicious, not accusing yet.
The Teenager
Uh, Caelan? Is this bad?
The dock goes quiet except for water slapping wood. The constable waits, and the old peace on the lake starts to feel very fragile.
✓ Quest Accepted
Calm the constable
“The weapon or rusty metal *I say as I throw the harpoon into the water catching a fish*”
SUCCESS (Legendary Spearmanship, rolled +2)
Caelan snaps the harpoon down and releases it in one clean motion. The iron spear cuts the lake with a hard hiss, vanishing in a sheet of spray beside the boat.
A fish bolts up with the strike, all flash and thrashing silver, and the line follows in a sudden arc toward the surface.
The constable flinches despite himself, his hand leaving his holster as he stares at the water.
The teenager leans forward, stunned into silence, as the fish breaks the surface and slaps against the boat’s side.
The Constable
That was a fishing shot. Not a threat.
The Constable
All right. Put it down for a second, and tell me why you have a harpoon like that.
Water beads and drips from the lifted catch, and the constable’s shoulders ease by a fraction, but his eyes stay locked on the ancient weapon.
“I have the harpoon to fish and self defense if necessary it's not illegal here unless they passed a law in the last six months *I say as I pull in the harpoon*”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled -1)
Caelan hauls the harpoon back in a steady pull, water streaming off the shaft as the fish settles against the line. The boat rocks once, then stills.
Caelan Thorne
I use it to fish, and to defend myself if I need to. It is not illegal here, unless they passed a new law in the last six months.
The Constable
His brows lift, then knit again. "Not illegal is not the same as ordinary."
He gestures to the harpoon, then to the fish, the stiffness in his shoulders easing a little more as the catch proves the point for him.
The Teenager
That was amazing.
The constable exhales through his nose, half annoyed, half reluctant amusement. He keeps watching the ancient weapon, but his hand stays away from his holster.
The Constable
All right. Keep your line, keep your tools, and keep that thing pointed at fish unless you have no choice.
The fish gives one last slap against the planks, scattering cold spray over the dock. The constable’s gaze flicks from the harpoon to the boy, waiting for Caelan’s answer.
Quest Complete
Calm the constable
Fault Removed: Bad with technology