You arrive beneath dripping pines as blades burst from the undergrowth. Eight armed thugs spread through the ferns, sealing every clear path through the forest.
Avenging Thugs
Their blood cries out! Their comrades will be avenged!
Steel glints on every side. Beyond the ring, the forest rises into black roots and thorny ravines, while the muddy trail behind you is blocked by two more blades.
A broad-shouldered middle-aged man steps from the brush. His scarred face is framed by iron-gray hair, and a red sash hangs over his dark leather coat.
The Scarred Leader
I am Brannik Voss, and I lead the men you butchered. Lay down your weapon, oaf, and perhaps the trees will hear your last breath cleanly.
The thugs tighten their circle, boots sinking into wet leaves. No one advances yet, but every raised weapon points toward you.
The Scarred Leader
Choose quickly.
Rain ticks softly on the canopy. The ring holds, leaving the next move entirely yours.
✓ Quest Accepted
Escape the ambush
“They don't realize that I'm imbued with magic powder granting me unnatural luck. I don't hesitate to swing my gigantic Legendary sword at the thugs surrounding me.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Weapons, rolled +1)
Flerpy swings the gigantic sword in a single sweeping arc. The blade flashes through the rain, and the surrounding thugs crumple across the ferns, their attack ended at once.
Avenging Thugs
Our vengeance... fails!
The muddy ring falls silent. Eight weapons lie scattered among motionless bodies, while the impossible stroke leaves Flerpy standing untouched beneath the dripping pines.
The Scarred Leader
That was no common swordsman’s stroke.
Brannik retreats one pace, his scarred face losing its certainty. His sword remains raised, but the red sash at his shoulder trembles with the movement.
The Scarred Leader
What are you?
Flerpy Dingflap
The sword feels light in my hands.
“I'm Imbued with magic, tasked with avenging the innocent magic creatures of this land who are being hunted. I have the very of luck on my side. Brannik, I sense there is still good in you. Leave this life of a thug behind and join me. Or face me, the choice is yours.”
SUCCESS (Superb Oratory, rolled +1)
Flerpy Dingflap
I am imbued with magic, and tasked with avenging the innocent magic creatures hunted in this land. Brannik, I sense there is still good in you. Leave this life behind and join me, or face me. The choice is yours.
The rain whispers through the pines. Brannik studies the scattered weapons, then the impossible sword, and finally the small figure who stands untouched among his fallen men.
The Scarred Leader
Good? I buried mine beneath too many orders and too much silver. Yet you speak as though the old fool can still crawl out of that grave.
His sword lowers. Brannik unfastens the red sash from his shoulder and lets it fall into the mud, where it darkens beneath the rain.
The Scarred Leader
I will not raise steel against you, Flerpy Dingflap. If these hunted creatures still have a champion, then I will stand beside him.
Brannik steps away from the motionless thugs and faces the black roots beyond the trail. The forest seems to hold its breath around his choice.
The Scarred Leader
Tell me where the hunters gather. I know the roads, the paymasters, and the men who send them.
Quest Complete
Escape the ambush
Skill Upgrade: Oratory Superb→Legendary
✓ Quest Accepted
Explain the truth to Brannik and imbue him
“Brannik it's not hunters, but 1 evil defiler sorcerer, for now he is to powerful to stop, we must continue on our adventure guided by my magic pouch, until we are ready to face the evil defiler. Let me imbue you with the magic powder from my pouch it will increase your power and luck. Then we must continue on to the next town to regroup and decide where to go from there.”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled +0)