Gensuik releases a miles-shaking grunt of frustrated turmoil. Across Arteris, birds burst from branches and animals bolt through brush as the cavern trembles.
The great dragon launches toward his distant lair, his lingering hatred pressing through the stone like a storm. Then his sealed doors close, and the pressure fades.
Freed creatures continue upward through the opened tunnels, their footsteps and cries thinning toward the surface. For now, Arteris lies beyond tyrannical dominion.
At the tunnel mouth, Elaris appears: an elegant adult female white dragon with a slender, luminous body, swept horns, and pale blue eyes beneath a crystalline brow.
Elaris
So the cavern has chosen freedom, and Gensuik has chosen retreat.
Elaris steps lightly over fractured stone, her white scales catching the red glow. She regards the Devil with poised interest while the last freed creatures pass beyond them.
Elaris
Tell me, vast stranger, will you remain to witness what Arteris becomes now?
“Your mother an extremely powerful titan white dragon employed me to stop him as he is your brother and her son, but doesnt behave when full grown”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +0)
The Devil
Your mother employed me to stop Gensuik. He is your brother, and he does not behave when he is fully grown.
The words settle beneath the cavern's red vault. Freed creatures vanish beyond the tunnel mouth, leaving only drifting ash and the cooling stone.
Elaris
My mother sent you against her own son?
Elaris's pale blue eyes narrow, though her poised posture remains unbroken. Her crystalline brow catches the last glow of Gensuik's failed dominion.
Elaris
Then she judged his rule a danger even she would not tolerate. That judgment is difficult to dispute.
Elaris
Gensuik has always mistaken maturity for permission. Now another power has forced him to yield.
Elaris
You have fulfilled the commission, vast stranger. What will you do now that my brother's rule has ended?
“There are more things, beings that want to disrupt Arteris, one not far from here, influencing your brother to behave worse. A red devil like ghoul man named Erouno, in the woods miles from here. In a hole den”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -2)
The Devil
There are others seeking to disrupt Arteris. One lies miles from here, in a hole den within the woods. His name is Erouno, a red devil like a ghoul, and he has been influencing your brother to behave worse.
The warning travels through the cooling cavern, and the stone beneath Elaris answers with a faint, uneasy tremor. The Devil's scorched sleeve flares again, drawing a pulse of orange radiance from him.
Elaris
Erouno. I know the name, though I believed him a scavenger of old dens, not a whisper behind Gensuik's cruelty.
Elaris turns her pale head toward the forest beyond the tunnel mouth. Moonlit branches sway there, far beyond the freed creatures' fading tracks.
Elaris
A den miles from here, concealed beneath the woods. You have given me a direction and an enemy, vast stranger.
Elaris
If Erouno fed my brother's arrogance, then Gensuik's retreat may not be the end of Arteris's danger.
The sleeve's ember finally dims, leaving a blackened seam and a thin ribbon of smoke. Elaris lowers her crystalline brow, her poise sharpened into resolve.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure Elaris's agreement to oppose Erouno
“"If we get there in time, he cannot flee, he isnt quick on his feet, nor can he fly as he is smited to be slow for sinning. But, with his old devilish ties he is potent at frenzy, uttering ancient curses from afar and that is why your brother was getting worse"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -1)
The Devil
If we reach him in time, he cannot flee. Erouno is slow on his feet, unable to fly, smitten sluggish for his sins. Yet his old devilish ties make him potent at frenzy, uttering ancient curses from afar, and that is why your brother worsened.
The explanation settles into the cavern's cooling air. Beyond the tunnel mouth, the forest stirs beneath moonlight, while the last smoke leaves the Devil's scorched sleeve.
Elaris
Then Erouno's weakness is his body, but his reach is carried by curses. Distance protects him while madness travels in his place.
Elaris turns fully toward the woods. Her pale blue eyes fix upon the dark branches, and a faint frost gathers along the fractured stones beneath her claws.
Elaris
If he cannot fly, the forest paths will bind him. If he cannot outrun pursuit, we shall deny him time to speak his ancient malice.
Elaris
Gensuik was not alone in his corruption. I should have recognized another will moving behind his pride.
Elaris
Lead me to the den, vast stranger. I will see Erouno's influence ended before another curse reaches my brother.
Quest Complete
Secure Elaris's agreement to oppose Erouno