Coco rides Sable into Blackreed Crossing beneath a sky bruised by dusk. Nara follows close behind, while Vael’s horned-helm mark glows faintly beneath Coco’s sleeve.
Lanterns burn around the riverside buildings, reflecting in black water. The confiscated trade papers point toward the old ferry house, where covered cages wait beneath watchful silhouettes.
Nara
There. The ferry house. Those cages were not on the papers, but I recognize the ironwork. They brought the captives early.
A horned foxwoman steps between the cages, her profile sharp in the lanternlight. Sella checks a sealed ledger, then looks up as hoofbeats reach the muddy yard.
Sella
Visitors, this late? Guards, stop them before they reach the river. The woman behind the rider is part of my merchandise.
Gilded Maw guards turn from the cages, drawing swords and crossbows as they spread across the road. Behind them, frightened faces press against the bars.
Vael
The captives are present, Coco. Sella has identified Nara as property, and the guards are preparing to prevent your passage.
“"Vael kill the guards Nara free the captives use my spare sword and il deal with the girl" *I drop of the horse my sortsword drawn in my right hand and my left fist glowing green as im ready for battle*”
SUCCESS (Great Melee Combat, rolled +1)
Coco
Vael, kill the guards and free the captives. I will deal with the girl.
Coco drops from Sable, landing hard in the mud with his shortsword drawn in his right hand. Green radiance gathers around his clenched left fist.
Vael
Your command is understood.
Vael surges through the yard. Spectral force tears weapons away, and his sweeping strikes kill the Gilded Maw guards before they can reach Nara or the cages.
Green bindings snap the cage locks. The captives spill into the lanternlight as Vael directs them toward safety, while Nara seizes a fallen guard’s keys and frees the remaining prisoners.
Sella lunges for the river with her ledger clutched to her chest. Coco crosses the muddy yard in a blur, sword flashing as his glowing fist drives her back against the ferry house wall.
Sella
You have no idea what you are interrupting, spellblade. The Gilded Maw owns this crossing, and someone powerful owns those captives.
✓ Quest Accepted
Subdue Sella
“*I pin Sella against the wall and punch her in the stomach with my glowing hand and then I grab the ledger.* "Gilded Maw huH! well tell me fox whos this somone? dont be a boring do tell"”
FAILURE (Good Strength, rolled -3)
Coco
Gilded Maw, huh? Well, tell me, fox, who is this someone? Do tell. Don't be boring.
Coco pins Sella against the ferry house wall and drives his glowing fist into her stomach. The impact folds her, but a hidden ward flares beneath her coat and deflects the worst of the blow.
As Coco reaches for the ledger, Sella twists sideways and clamps it against her chest. Green radiance scorches the cover, yet her grip holds while the wall cracks behind her.
Sella
You think pain makes you frightening? The Gilded Maw answers to the Ivory Talon, and you are already marked for its attention.
Sella kicks through the mud between them, trying to create space without releasing the ledger. Its sealed clasp begins to glow, answering the ward beneath her coat.
Sella
Take one more step, spellblade, and this book burns every name, route, and account inside it. Then your rescued captives vanish into the territories.
“"ya burn that book and you DIE!" *I rush her taking her book and kicking her on the ground covering her in mud*”
SUCCESS (Great Melee Combat, rolled -1)
Coco
Burn that book and you die!
Coco rushes through the mud before Sella can trigger the clasp. His glowing fist knocks the ledger free, but the ward beneath her coat scorches his palm.
He catches the ledger against his chest, then drives his boot into Sella’s legs. She crashes onto her back, and Coco kicks her sideways into the mud, pinning her beneath his shadow.
Sella
You think taking the ledger changes anything? The Ivory Talon already knows your face, spellblade.
The sealed ledger remains intact in Coco’s grasp, its clasp still glowing but no longer touching Sella’s ward. Mud streaks her coat and foxlike features as the freed captives hurry behind Nara.
Nara
Coco, the book is safe. Do not let her reach that ward again. The prisoners are clear of the cages.
Vael
The ledger has been secured, Coco. Sella is restrained, but her ward remains active beneath the mud.
+ New Item Acquired
Sealed Ledger
“*I use the rope in my invotory and tie Sella up*”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled -2)
Coco loops the rope from his inventory around Sella’s wrists, keeping her pinned in the mud while the ward beneath her coat spits weak sparks.
He knots her arms tightly behind her, then binds her ankles and secures the rope to a ferry-house post. Sella is fully restrained.
Sella
Careful, spellblade. That rope will not protect you from the Ivory Talon’s reach.
The ward lashes once as Coco cinches the final knot, scorching his palm through the glove. The rope holds, but its fibers smoke where magic touched them.
Nara
She cannot reach the ledger now. The captives are gathered by the river, and none of them have been recaptured.
Vael
Sella is secured, Coco. Her active ward remains beneath her coat, but the rope prevents her from triggering it by hand.
Sella strains against the knots and finds no purchase. Around her, freed captives cluster behind Nara while lanternlight glints across the confiscated ledger in Coco’s grasp.
Bring the freed captives to safety
Quest Complete
Subdue Sella
Attribute Upgrade: Strength Good→Great