The lower door opens before Maelin can finish speaking. A young adult woman steps inside in rain-darkened charcoal clothes, her pale braid tucked beneath a hood and a black seal held between gloved fingers.
the black-sealed woman
I am seeking Maelin Tern. I bring a warning about the eastern road, and about the travelers who arrived through the lower gate.
She presents the wax seal. A split sun marks it clearly, matching Hadrik’s account. Maelin’s hand moves toward the knife at her belt as recognition tightens her face.
Maelin Tern
You. You were the woman questioning me earlier. I told you nothing useful, and I will not start now.
Tavia goes utterly still beside Medica, her earlier brightness gone. She does not reach for her staff, but her gaze fixes on the visitor’s hands and the sealed message.
the black-sealed woman
Your arrival was expected before dusk, Medica Valkyrie. You entered through the old watercourse, lost a warming tincture on the trail, and brought Tavia Reed with you.
the black-sealed woman
If you take the eastern road at dawn, you will meet more than quarry guards. Hear my warning before you decide whether I am your enemy.
✓ Quest Accepted
Determine what threatens travelers on the eastern road
“"That seal...you must be Sella Vane." I raise my hands slowly in the air, indicating I mean no threat and am concealing no weapons. "I am willing to hear your warning if you are willing to humor me, just one question."”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +0)
Medica Valkyrie
That seal... you must be Sella Vane. I mean no threat. I am willing to hear your warning, if you will humor me with one question.
Medica raises both hands slowly, keeping them open and visibly empty. The movement draws every gaze in the room, and Maelin’s knife remains half-drawn at her belt.
Sella Vane
I am Sella Vane. You have identified me correctly, and you have my attention. Ask your question.
Tavia Reed
Careful, Medica. She has been tracking us since before the lower gate, and she knew details no stranger should know.
Sella lowers the black-sealed message but does not break it. Her eyes remain on Medica’s raised hands, and suspicion settles over the room like a drawn curtain.
Sella Vane
One question, then the warning. After that, you may decide whether the eastern road carries danger, or whether I do.
✓ Quest Accepted
Verify Tavia’s account of the pursuit
“I think carefully, using my super reasoning. "What is your intent?" I keep the question vague on purpose, allowing Sella to interpret the question however she wishes, hoping she will inadvertantly reveal more information than she means to.”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled -2)
Medica Valkyrie
Her answer will reveal what she fears protecting, if I leave the question open.
Medica Valkyrie
What is your intent?
The vague question hangs between the hearth and the bolted door. Medica offers Sella no accusation to rebut, only silence in which an answer must choose its own shape.
Sella Vane
My intent is to keep the king alive long enough for the poison’s makers to expose themselves. The blood salts, sunstone, and ghostmint were only the first layer.
Sella Vane
I serve no faction seeking the throne. I took the palace orders because the chief thaumaturge is using the court’s authority to feed a working beneath Dawnspear.
Maelin’s knife slips fully free with a quiet scrape. Tavia shifts nearer Medica, and Sella’s gaze sharpens, recognizing the question’s trap after answering it.
Sella Vane
There. You wanted my purpose, and I gave you its dangerous part. Now hear the warning: do not let Orven Pell see the royal evidence, or he will know exactly how much you have learned.
“Then you and I are not enemies. Please, sheath your weapon and let us speak freely. I also serve no faction, I only wish to help the king for the kingdom's sake, and consequentially the sake of its people. I started this investigation because I too want to expose the poison's creator. We are aligned in this goal. Please, help me.”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +1)
Medica Valkyrie
Then you and I are not enemies. Please sheath your weapon and let us speak freely. I serve no faction. I seek only to help the king and his people.
Medica Valkyrie
I began this investigation to expose the poison’s creator. We are aligned in that goal. Please, help me.
The room holds still around Medica’s appeal. Maelin’s knife remains visible, while Sella studies her open hands and the unguarded sincerity of her request.
Sella Vane
Maelin, sheath the knife. She has offered alignment, not submission, and I will answer that plainly.
Maelin hesitates, then returns the blade to its sheath. The sharp tension in the inn loosens, though Tavia continues watching Sella’s sealed message.
Sella Vane
Very well, Medica Valkyrie. We are not enemies. I will cooperate, share what I know, and help you reach the poison’s source.
Sella Vane
The working beneath Dawnspear requires Orven Pell’s records and a living conduit. I can get you past the Consortium’s outer clerks, but we must move before the next bell.
Director's note
I'm trying to Verify Tavia's account of the pursuit
“First, I need you to tell me, for my companion's sake if nothing else, how long you've been tailing us and how much you know already.”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +1)
Medica Valkyrie
First, for Tavia’s sake, tell me how long you have been following us and how much you already know.
Sella’s gloved thumb presses against the black seal, but she does not break it. Tavia remains beside Medica, alert and silent, while Maelin watches the door.
Sella Vane
I began watching your trail yesterday, when you left the riverside tavern. I learned you hired no paid guard, chose the lower ridge road, and carried Hadrik’s sealed introduction.
Sella Vane
At the springhouse, I saw you meet Pellan Rusk. I watched Tavia examine the summons, heard enough of your discussion to understand the seal was altered, and followed your watercourse route.
Tavia Reed
That matches what I noticed. She was not merely waiting at the gate. Someone had been tracking our route before the courier found us.
Sella Vane
I also know the evidence remains sealed, that you identified blood salts, Dawnspear sunstone, and ghostmint, and that you seek Orven Pell’s records. I do not know your exact tests or every conclusion.
Sella Vane
I kept my distance because the chief thaumaturge has watchers among the quarry guards. If they learn precisely what you carry, the working beneath Dawnspear will be moved before we reach it.
“Damn, then we need to hurry. Sella, you seem well versed in this kind of thing, and well prepared. Will you escort us to Dawnspear? Tavia and I might not be the most experienced adventurers, but we will do our best not to get in the way. Just in case, I have various medicines as well as other useful potions, such as a light potion, that may help on the road even as we travel by night. What say you, Sella? And what of you, Tavia? Can we trust her?”
FAILURE (Good Persuasion, rolled -2)
Medica Valkyrie
Damn, then we need to hurry. Sella, will you escort us to Dawnspear? Tavia and I will do our best not to hinder you.
Medica Valkyrie
I carry medicines and useful potions, including a light potion for travel after dark. What say you, Sella? Tavia, can we trust her?
Sella’s fingers tighten around the sealed message. Beyond the bolted door, quarry bells mark the approaching hour, and Maelin watches the shuttered windows.
Sella Vane
I cannot escort you openly. My face is known to the Consortium’s watchers, and my presence would turn your passage into a pursuit. I can still get you through.
Tavia Reed
Her account matches what I saw. She followed without forcing an encounter, knew details she could only have observed, and has not contradicted herself.
Tavia Reed
That is enough to trust her purpose for now, not enough to trust every secret she keeps. Let her guide us, but keep the evidence concealed.
Sella Vane
Take the old ore-sorting path after midnight. I will mark the safe turns and give you a Consortium cloak-pin. You can reach Orven’s records without my being seen beside you.
Quest Complete
Determine what threatens travelers on the eastern road
Skill Upgrade: Persuasion Great→Superb
“Fine by me. Tavia, you feeling okay? The quarry bell has rung, so we either move now or stay the night and rest up to prepare. Thank you Sella for your advice and understanding. If this is where we part, then I hope we meet on better terms in the near future.”
SUCCESS (Superb Persuasion, rolled +3)
Medica Valkyrie
Tavia, are you feeling well enough to continue? The quarry bell has rung, so we must decide whether to move now or rest until morning.
Medica Valkyrie
Thank you, Sella, for your advice and understanding. If this is where we part, I hope we meet again on better terms.
Tavia checks the rain-darkened passage, then rolls her shoulders and steadies her satchel. Her breathing is even, and her alert gaze shows no sign of exhaustion.
Tavia Reed
I am well enough, Medica. I can travel now, and I would rather verify Sella’s safe turns before the quarry watchers change shifts.
Sella Vane
Then we part in appearance only. Take this cloak-pin, and use the old ore-sorting path when you are ready. I will leave the first marks before the next bell.
Sella breaks the black seal and removes a narrow Consortium cloak-pin from the message’s inner fold. Beneath it lies a charcoal sketch of the entire safe route, including a concealed entrance beneath the records hall.
Sella Vane
The hidden entrance is unguarded during the bell change. With this pin and the route, you can reach Orven Pell’s records without waiting for dawn, while I draw attention elsewhere.
+ New Item Acquired
Consortium cloak-pin
+ New Item Acquired
Charcoal safe-route sketch
“Tavia, you wouldn't happen to have any skills in stealth or survival, would you? My skills are...lacking. I could really use your help.”
SUCCESS (Superb Persuasion, rolled +1)
Medica Valkyrie
Tavia, do you have any skill in stealth or survival? Mine are lacking, and I could really use your help.
Tavia’s guarded expression softens. She glances toward the rain-dark passage, then studies the cloak-pin and charcoal route with the practical attention of someone measuring danger.
Tavia Reed
Yes. Stealth is one of my stronger skills, and I have survived enough roads to know how to read tracks, shelter, and patrol habits. I can guide us quietly.
Tavia Reed
I also know Sella’s account fits what I observed. She kept to our trail without forcing us toward the courier or the gate, and she recognized details from watching, not guessing.
She fastens the Consortium pin beneath her cloak where it will not catch the light, then traces the first turn on Sella’s sketch without touching the ink.
Tavia Reed
Stay behind me at the ore-sorting path. Step where I step, keep the evidence hidden, and let me handle the quiet movement. I will tell you when the route is clear.
Sella Vane
That is precisely the arrangement I intended. Tavia can lead the unseen passage, while I draw the watchers toward the upper galleries before the next bell.
Director's note
Using Medicine or crafting
“Just in case, as extra preparation, I wish my alchemy skill to prepare some potions that will help with our stealthy approach.”
SUCCESS (Superb Crafting, rolled +0)
Medica unpacks a compact travel tray beside the hearth, arranging powdered moonleaf, quieting resin, and a measured vial of distilled shadowmint beneath her lenses.
Her hands work swiftly and precisely. She brews a pair of hush draughts, a dimming tincture for lantern light, and a sharp-scented trail cleanser to confuse tracking hounds.
Medica Valkyrie
The trail cleanser will obscure recent scent without affecting human tracks.
A final test confirms each potion is stable. The hush draughts soften footfalls and fabric noise, while the dimming tincture dulls reflected light without clouding ordinary vision.
Tavia Reed
Those will make the ore-sorting path safer. I can judge the ground and patrols more clearly if we are not announcing every step.
Tavia watches the preparation rather than the ingredients, then compares Sella’s route sketch with the hidden pin beneath her cloak. Her account remains consistent with what the evidence shows.
Tavia Reed
Keep the trail cleanser sealed until we reach the first fork. I will signal when scent matters, and when silence matters more.
Access Orven Pell’s records
Quest Complete
Verify Tavia’s account of the pursuit
+ New Item Acquired
Hush draughts
+ New Item Acquired
Dimming tincture
+ New Item Acquired
Trail cleanser