The freed captives remain concealed beneath the slag ribs as a man steps into the abandoned cage lane, magical sword drawn but lowered. Ash drifts from his shoulders.
Gonzalo
The Pale Factor purchased the right to pursue Myk. I am Gonzalo, and I offer a bargain: surrender the claim-strip, and take a living contract against one of the broker’s rivals.
Zesh shifts between the lane and the hidden captives, one hand near her weapon. Behind her, Zalise watches the mercenary while Elyra and Eli guard the approaches.
Zesh
Bait. He wants the strip, wants us moving toward his employer’s rival, and expects greed to disguise the hook.
Gonzalo
Call it bait if it helps you sleep. Payment and reputation matter more to me than an easy victory, and both are waiting beyond this lane.
His blade remains lowered, but his boots carry him one measured step closer. The abandoned cages frame him on either side, leaving the claim-strip and the hidden captives equally within reach.
Zalise Zephyr-Ashe
He is close enough to cut the strip from you before anyone reaches him. Choose carefully, Myk. His bargain has teeth.
✓ Quest Accepted
Keep Gonzalo from taking the claim-strip
“I give the stip to zesh while i tell her and the Nightwood sisters to guard it and then I step to Gonzalo my weapon drawn and to My surprise Zalise is by my side ready to help”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Weapons, rolled -1)
Myk
Zesh, take the claim-strip. Elyra and Eli, guard it with her. Do not let anyone separate you from it.
Myk places the riveted strip in Zesh’s hand and steps toward Gonzalo, drawing the blackened sword. His terms are plain, leaving no room for confusion or divided custody.
Marked sorcery multiplies Gonzalo’s blade into phantom arcs, but Reads Pursuers finds the true attack in his shoulders and feet. The blackened sword answers with a dark pull toward the safest counter.
Zalise moves to Myk’s side without waiting, jagged rune-blade raised. Her white-silver hair flashes through the ash as she closes the angle Gonzalo meant to use.
Gonzalo
So the drow joins you. Fine. I collect both your measure before I decide whether this contract deserves blood.
Gonzalo lunges. Myk reads the genuine line through the sorcerous phantoms, turns the blow with the blackened sword, and drives the mercenary back from the captives.
The exchange ends with Gonzalo’s magical sword knocked wide and Myk’s edge poised at his guard. Zalise stands beside him, while Zesh secures the claim-strip behind their protection.
Quest Complete
Keep Gonzalo from taking the claim-strip
The caster loses part of their memories, emotions, or physical senses as the cost of the spell.