The circled hollow beneath the abandoned aqueduct is no longer empty. The merchant stumbles in alive, flanked by Captain Veyra and two shrine guards bearing hooked spears, their lanterns shaking in the wind.
the merchant
They saved us from the road. Without Captain Veyra and her guards, I would not have reached this place.
Captain Veyra is a broad-shouldered middle-aged woman in a weather-darkened scale coat, with iron-gray hair braided tight and a scar cutting through one eyebrow. She raises one gauntleted hand, halting the guards.
Captain Veyra
Stay where you are, Cassian. The stone and the bronze fragment. Surrender both before anything beneath this aqueduct wakes.
The green stone, warm in Cassian's keeping moments ago, turns abruptly cold. Near it, the bronze fragment begins to hum, and dust trickles from the aqueduct's cracked ribs.
the merchant
Captain, I told you he is only a petty thief. Take the trinkets and leave me out of whatever sleeps below.
Captain Veyra
Quiet. The road did not send us here. Something beneath the stones did, and it has noticed all of us.
✓ Quest Accepted
Escape the aqueduct with the merchant
“"N-now now Captain- I have no clue what’s happening nor did I know this would occur- would you truly rob me of these hard earned items, as a sign of good faith I’ll give you my beads, which I do hope you’ll return to me tomorrow if you’d let this poor merchant and I go?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Bargain, rolled +2)
Cassian
Now, Captain, I have no clue what is happening, nor did I know this would occur. Would you truly rob me of these hard-earned items?
Cassian draws the painted beads from his short hair, their tiny charms clicking softly in the aqueduct’s rising hum. He extends them across his open palm toward Captain Veyra.
Cassian
As a sign of good faith, take my beads. I do hope you will return them tomorrow, if you would let this poor merchant and me go.
Captain Captain Veyra studies the beads, then the merchant’s frightened face. The bronze fragment’s hum deepens, but the dust above them settles instead of falling.
Captain Veyra
A strange pledge, Cassian. Still, it is honestly offered. Give them here, and you and the merchant may leave.
Captain Veyra accepts the beads and closes her gauntleted fingers around them. With a curt gesture, she orders the shrine guards aside, opening the path back toward the road.
Captain Veyra
Return tomorrow at dusk. If the aqueduct remains quiet, you will have your charms back. Take the stone and fragment, but do not use them before then.
✓ Quest Accepted
Recover the painted beads
“"I shall my dear Captain. Now let’s go poor merchant before a beast awakens and eats us all."”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +1)
Cassian
I shall, my dear Captain. Now let us go, poor merchant, before a beast awakens and eats us all.
Captain Veyra
A sensible fear, for once. Move quickly, and keep the stone and fragment covered.
Captain Veyra waves the shrine guards aside. The merchant hurries after Cassian toward the road, clutching his coat while the aqueduct groans behind them.
the merchant
Yes, quickly. I have no wish to become supper for anything buried under those stones.
They pass beyond the aqueduct’s shadow without resistance. The rising hum fades beneath the wind, and the cracked ribs settle into silence as dawn pales the horizon.
Captain Veyra
You are free to go, Cassian. Tomorrow at dusk, you return for your beads. Do not make me hunt you before then.
The merchant turns down the ditch road, glancing back only once. Cassian leaves by the opposite track with the cold green stone and humming bronze fragment hidden beneath his coat.
Quest Complete
Escape the aqueduct with the merchant
Skill Upgrade: Stealth Good→Great