Morning light reaches the Baroness through a pale frost. Lady Elin and Mara remain within the protected chambers, while Odo Pell keeps the ledger and original evidence behind the inner ward.
At the gate, the courier waits beside a saddled horse, the certified copy sealed inside his leather folio. The inner guard nearest the chamber stands ready in his blue-gray surcoat and chainmail.
the Baroness
Sir Isenborn, escort the courier east and deliver this copy to Lord Veyne. You will speak only to the lawful purpose recorded within it.
The Baroness presses her seal into the final fold, then gives the packet to the courier. Behind her, the Baroness’s gate opens toward the road and the bridge beyond.
Courier
I will deliver it intact, my lady. The eastern road is clear enough for travel, though the old quarry track lies near our course.
The escort passes a cottage below the gate. Fresh boot marks leave its threshold and angle toward the old quarry track, but no one follows, and the bridge road remains open.
Inner Guard 1
The marks are fresh, Sir Isenborn. Shall we keep to the bridge road, or examine them before we continue east?
“"We should not let ourselves get distracted from our mission, guardsman. We will keep to the bridge road but keep alert for signs of ambush coming from the old quarry track"”
SUCCESS (Great Perception, rolled -1)
Isenborn
We should not let ourselves be distracted from our mission, guardsman. We will keep to the bridge road, but stay alert for an ambush from the old quarry track.
Inner Guard 1
As you say, Sir Isenborn. We keep the bridge road and watch the quarry track without leaving our course.
The party continues east along the open bridge road. Isenborn keeps the quarry track in view, reading its brush, broken ground, and shadowed bends as they pass.
Courier
There, beside the alder growth. The ground is disturbed again.
Isenborn spots the signs before the track vanishes behind the rise: fresh boot marks and crushed brush, but no hidden figures, tethered mounts, or movement above them.
Inner Guard 1
No ambush reveals itself, Sir Isenborn. We have seen the likely hiding places, and the bridge road remains clear.
They hold their course without detour, alert to the quarry track while preserving the mission’s purpose. The bridge comes into view ahead, open and unobstructed.
“We continue on our course, alert and determined.”
SUCCESS (Great Perception, rolled -1)
The party advances along the bridge road beneath the pale morning sky. Isenborn keeps the alder growth and quarry track in view while the courier rides close behind him.
Isenborn
The road is clear, but the disturbed ground still needs one careful look.
At the rise before the bridge, Isenborn slows long enough to study the verge. Fresh impressions cross the roadward mud, yet none continue toward the party’s path.
Inner Guard 1
The marks end here, Sir Isenborn. I see no waiting riders, and the bridge approach remains unobstructed.
The inspection costs them several minutes and leaves the quarry track’s watchers uncertain, but it confirms the bridge road is safe to follow. The party continues east.
Courier
Lord Veyne’s road lies open ahead. We should reach his lands before the light begins to fail.
The bridge passes beneath their horses without challenge. Beyond it, the eastern road bends toward Veyne country, while the quarry track falls behind them in the frost.
“We continue on to Lord Veyne's road.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +0)