Steam gathers beneath the bathhouse rafters as Coco settles into the warm water. Veyra, his belongings, and his folded clothes remain within easy reach beside the screened washing area.
Vael is reduced to a dark horned mark along Coco’s arm, quiet against his skin while village sounds drift through the wooden walls.
Talla Reedstep
Natsuki? I have finished with the healer. May I enter the adjoining washing area, or would you prefer privacy?
The young adult foxfolk woman waits beyond the open screen, her shoulder freshly bandaged beneath a clean wrap. Her russet ears angle forward, curious but respectful.
Talla Reedstep
I noticed the mark on your arm. Is it a Beastfolk bond, an elven ward, or something more dangerous?
Talla Reedstep
He carries an elven token, an unusual blade, and a guardian hidden beneath his skin. I should understand what kind of guest Reedwhisker has welcomed.
She keeps one hand resting on the screen rather than crossing the threshold. Warm water ripples softly around Coco, leaving her question and permission request unanswered.
“She asks if she can share the bath I explain Vael’s mark without revealing my past”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Coco
You can share the adjoining bath. The mark is Vael, my guardian. He is bound to me, watches for danger, and answers when I call.
The foxfolk woman nods and steps into the adjoining washing area, keeping the screen partly between them. She sets her clean clothes within reach before easing into the warm water.
Talla Reedstep
A guardian bond, then. That explains the horned shape, though not how an entire being fits beneath your skin.
Steam softens the wooden walls, carrying the scent of herbs from the healer’s stores. The dark mark on Coco’s arm remains still, its edges faintly visible above the water.
Talla Reedstep
I will not press for secrets you choose to keep. Reedwhisker has welcomed strangers before, and trust grows better when it is not dragged into daylight.
Talla Reedstep
Does Vael guard only you, or does his bond extend to those you travel beside? I ask because my village has little experience with such magic.
“What's your name?”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +2)
Coco
What's your name?
The foxfolk woman’s russet ears lift above the steam. She studies Coco briefly, then offers a small, approving smile through the partly drawn screen.
Talla Reedstep
I am Talla Reedstep. My family has tended Reedwhisker’s eastern paths for generations.
She settles deeper into the warm water, keeping the bandaged shoulder above the surface. Herb-scented steam curls between them, and Vael’s mark remains quiet.
Talla Reedstep
You may call me Talla, Natsuki. I would rather know the name of a guest before asking him to trust my village.
Talla Reedstep
And Vael? Is that the guardian’s true name, or only the name you chose for the bond?
Outside, village voices pass beneath the bathhouse window, followed by the clatter of dishes. The quiet room leaves Talla’s question hanging without urgency.
✓ Quest Accepted
Keep Vael’s true nature hidden from Talla
“I call him Veal Veal can be anything they want but rn heals current form is male looking”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Coco
His name is Vael. That is the name I chose for our bond, and he currently presents as male.
The dark mark along Coco’s arm stirs. A faint horned silhouette forms above his skin, visible through the steam as a quiet male figure before settling again.
Talla Reedstep
Vael, then. A chosen name can carry as much truth as an inherited one.
Talla studies the mark without reaching toward it. Her russet ears angle forward, curiosity tempered by the same careful respect she has shown throughout the bath.
Vael
The name is accepted. My present form is male, though the bond is not limited by shape.
Talla Reedstep
That distinction matters here. Reedwhisker has many kinds of bonds, and we do not mistake appearance for the whole of a person.
Outside, dishes clatter and village voices rise around the communal hall. Inside, the steam settles, leaving Vael’s name understood and Talla’s question answered.
“I ask Talla about ordinary village guardian bonds And if there's special bonds that can be found In the beast territory”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Coco
What are ordinary guardian bonds like here? And are there special bonds people can find across the Beastfolk Territories?
Talla rests her bandaged shoulder against the bathhouse wall, considering the question while steam curls around the divided washing area.
Talla Reedstep
Most village bonds are practical and mutual. A guardian may watch a home, guide travelers, protect a family, or share senses with a trusted companion. Neither side owns the other.
Talla Reedstep
Some are formed through clan rites, some through shared danger, and some simply grow from years of keeping faith. The bond’s shape depends on the people involved, not on rank or blood.
Her ears tilt toward Vael’s quiet mark, then return to Coco. Outside, village voices drift past the window as evening settles over Reedwhisker.
Talla Reedstep
Special bonds do exist. The river clans speak of current-bonds with water spirits, while the highland folk seek storm, ancestor, or beast companions. Old roads also lead to shrine bonds, though each territory guards its customs.
Talla Reedstep
If you travel farther, ask before touching a clan shrine or accepting an offered mark. A bond freely chosen can become sacred, and every people names that promise differently.
“I heard there are beast bonds here. Powerful magical. Animals that can be tamed. I found my interest in this territory through that.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -2)
Coco
I heard the Territories have powerful beast bonds, with animals that can be tamed. That is what first drew my interest here.
Talla’s ears lift sharply. The bathhouse remains peaceful, but her attention settles on Coco with renewed caution and interest.
Talla Reedstep
Then you heard a truth wrapped in dangerous wording. Some animals choose bonds with people, but taming is not the same as owning.
Talla Reedstep
Reedwhisker keeps path-hounds and marsh runners, while the river clans seek current-stags and serpent companions. The strongest bonds are invitations, not purchases.
Talla reaches for the soap dish, but pain catches her injured shoulder. The movement pulls her bandage loose, and a thin red stain spreads through the clean wrap.
Talla Reedstep
If that is your interest, I can take you to the village’s bond-keeper after supper. She knows which creatures may be approached, and which must be left wild.
Talla Reedstep
But tell her plainly that you seek a willing bond. If she hears you call a living partner something to tame, she will refuse you before you reach the shrine.
Form a willing bond with a beast companion
Quest Complete
Keep Vael’s true nature hidden from Talla
Skill Upgrade: Stealth Superb→Legendary