Andras and Kesh enter the victor’s feast beneath garlands and painted shields, carrying the awakened golden sword together. Household healers guide them toward cushioned chairs near the organizer and herald.
An elderly woman with silver braids and a young adult man in green linen clean Andras’s forearm and bind Kesh’s bruised arm, while platters of roasted roots and spiced grain arrive.
The Tournament Organizer
Eat first, champions. Lord Veyr is expected shortly, and he insists on greeting those who awakened his oath-blade before the musicians begin.
The sword rests between Andras and Kesh, its golden hilt held by both hands. One warmth gathers beneath each palm, then shifts toward the other whenever either bearer adjusts their grip.
Kesh
It seems to prefer agreement before movement. We should learn its reach gently, before pride makes one hand pull against the other.
The Herald
Lord Veyr honors the tourney’s victors, though his household has never seen the blade answer two bearers. Speak plainly when he asks what you intend.
The feast doors open. Lord Veyr, a large, burly male leonin with a tawny mane, dark vestments, and a gold-ringed ear, approaches beneath the hall’s moonlit banners.
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn Lord Veyr's terms
“*The lord looks to you fondly before regarding Kesh with a cold look. clearly knowing his past as a former solder under Veyr*”
Lord Veyr’s broad face softens as he looks upon Andras, his tawny mane catching the candlelight. Then his gaze shifts to Kesh, and the warmth vanishes.
The leonin lord stops beside the table. His dark vestments settle around his heavy frame, while his gold-ringed ear gives one sharp twitch toward the former soldier.
Lord Veyr
Andras. You have carried my oath-blade with honor, and awakened a power my house could not command.
Lord Veyr
But you return to my hall beside a soldier who abandoned his post. Kesh, I know exactly which oath you broke.
Kesh keeps both hands upon the golden hilt. He does not lower his head, though the sword’s warmth shifts between his palm and Andras’s.
Kesh
I abandoned your command, Lord Veyr. I did not abandon the people your command placed beneath it.
Lord Veyr
We will speak of that before the musicians play. For now, eat. The blade has chosen its bearers, and even I must hear why.
“"What do you wish to hear Lord Veyr." *you ask hesitantly. balancing the formal tone without acting too obedient*”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +0)
Andras
What do you wish to hear, Lord Veyr?
Andras keeps his tone formal without bowing into obedience. Beneath their joined hands, the golden sword warms sharply, drawing the attention of nearby feast guests.
Lord Veyr
I wish to hear why you accepted Kesh beside you, knowing he deserted my service. I want your judgment, not a polished answer.
The organizer’s quill pauses above his ledger. Lord Veyr’s suspicion settles visibly on Andras, while Kesh remains still, leaving the question entirely to his companion.
Kesh
Answer for yourself, Andras. If the blade chose cooperation, it should not make your voice obedient to mine.
Lord Veyr
Precisely. Tell me what you saw in him, and what you believe his freedom cost my people.
The sword’s warmth steadies beneath both palms, but its glow draws a wary silence from the musicians. Every nearby noble now listens for Andras’s reply.
“"though I have not had the time to know Kesh there are a few things I have learned from our fight and conversation. First that the cat is a noble soul. opinionated, outspoken and a little reckless. but he has a strong will. a role in the guard simply doesn't suit him."”
FAILURE (Good Persuasion, rolled -2)
Andras
I have not known Kesh long, Lord Veyr. But our fight and our words showed me a noble soul: opinionated, outspoken, and somewhat reckless, yet possessed of a strong will.
Andras
A role in your guard does not suit him. He will not quietly obey a command he believes harms those beneath it, even when obedience would be easier.
Andras’s explanation settles over the feast, honest but incomplete. He has described Kesh’s nature, not yet proven what his desertion cost Lord Veyr’s people.
Lord Veyr
You speak of character as though character excuses consequence. It does not. Still, you have identified the fracture plainly: Kesh cannot serve where conscience must kneel.
Kesh
That is more generous than I expected, dragonborn. Reckless, perhaps. But not false.
The golden sword cools beneath their joined hands, then gives a faint answering pulse toward a sealed petition chest beside Lord Veyr’s chair.
Lord Veyr
If you would judge whether his freedom cost my people dearly, read the reports in that chest. They may show you a duty better suited to his will than a guard’s post.
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn what Kesh's desertion cost Lord Veyr's people
− Scene Quest Removed
Learn Lord Veyr's terms
“*you pick of the piece of paper. the one about Kesh's past. wondering what a simple guard leaving could have cost his people.*”
SUCCESS (Superb Reasoning, rolled -2)
Andras rises and crosses to the sealed petition chest. Its iron clasp yields beneath his fingers, though the lid scrapes loudly enough to hush the nearest conversations.
Inside, folded reports lie beneath wax-marked petitions. Andras selects the one bearing Kesh’s name and lifts it free, tearing the corner where it caught beneath the stack.
Andras
The report is older than the oath-blade’s awakening, but its seal remains unbroken.
Lord Veyr
That paper records the village of Brackenford. Read it completely before deciding what Kesh’s departure cost.
Lord Veyr’s eyes follow the torn corner, then return to Andras. The damage is slight, but the chest’s orderly contents now bear unmistakable evidence of his haste.
Kesh
Brackenford. I remember the name. I did not know the report survived.
The parchment unfolds in Andras’s hands, revealing Kesh’s final patrol duty, a missing escort, and a village left waiting when his command ordered him elsewhere.
+ New Item Acquired
Brackenford report
“*you read the report. slightly aware of kesh getting uncomfortable and jumpy behind you.*”
SUCCESS (Superb Reasoning, rolled +1)
Andras smooths the torn parchment and reads by candlelight. The report names Brackenford, a winter hamlet, and records Kesh’s final patrol assignment in precise ink.
Kesh was ordered to escort grain and medicine to the village, then recalled when Lord Veyr’s eastern road came under threat. His replacement never arrived.
The report states that Brackenford waited six days before a merchant caravan brought supplies. Three families fled, and the village reeve petitioned Lord Veyr for protection.
Andras
The report confirms the order, the delay, and the cost to Brackenford.
Behind Andras, Kesh shifts repeatedly, leather creaking beneath his coat. His claws tap once against the sword’s golden hilt, then stop when its warmth turns sharply cold.
Kesh
I was recalled before reaching the village. I followed the order. By the time I understood what that obedience meant, Brackenford had already paid for it.
Lord Veyr
Now you have the whole account, Andras. The order was mine, but the absence was Kesh’s choice to obey it. Judge neither lightly.
Quest Complete
Learn what Kesh's desertion cost Lord Veyr's people
Attribute Upgrade: Reasoning Superb→Legendary
“*you look to Kesh* "So you deserted when you realized your lords order led to a village starving, and then what? currently it sounds as if you were in the right."”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +1)
Andras
So you deserted when you realized your lord’s order led to a village starving, and then what? Currently, it sounds as if you were in the right.
Kesh meets Andras’s gaze across the parchment. The golden sword remains between them, its warmth divided evenly beneath their joined hands.
Kesh
I reached the eastern road, found the threat smaller than reported, and turned back. I arrived at Brackenford after the caravan, too late to undo the harm.
Kesh
I confronted the officer who carried Lord Veyr’s recall. He told me obedience mattered more than one hungry hamlet. I broke ranks that night and returned alone.
Lord Veyr’s mane shifts as nearby nobles exchange uneasy looks. The organizer lowers his quill, while the herald watches Kesh with troubled attention.
Lord Veyr
You were right that Brackenford needed aid. You were wrong to abandon your post without sending word, leaving my eastern road blind to whatever danger followed.
Kesh
Yes. I was right about the village, and wrong about believing one defiance could repair the damage. I chose conscience, but I did not choose well enough.
“"Lord Veyr. Deserting may have been unwise but Kesh has a noble heart. will you let me take him on as my ally?"”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +0)
Andras
Lord Veyr, deserting may have been unwise, but Kesh has a noble heart. Will you let me take him on as my ally?
The golden sword warms beneath both hands. Lord Veyr studies Andras in silence, then glances toward the sealed reports and the listening nobles.
Lord Veyr
I will. Kesh is no longer my soldier, and I will not claim authority over him. But as your ally, his failures become partly your burden.
Kesh
I accept that burden, Andras. I will stand beside you freely, and I will answer plainly when my judgment fails.
Lord Veyr
Your first duty together is Brackenford. The village still lacks lasting protection. Take my writ, learn what it needs, and return with a remedy.
Lord Veyr removes a signet-marked parchment from his vestment and places it on the table. The feast’s quiet suspicion shifts toward wary expectation.
Lord Veyr
The writ grants you passage and authority to investigate, but not command over my people. Spend no soldiers without cause, and let your sword’s oath be tested there.
✓ Quest Accepted
Bring a remedy to Brackenford’s lack of lasting protection
“*a day later you and Kesh are headed to Brackenford. Kesh is happy to be back helping the people he left but is vocal about his dislike of working for Lord Veyr.* "the lord may be selfish but we aren't working for him forever"”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +1)
A day later, Andras and Kesh follow the frost-silvered road toward Brackenford. The golden oath-blade rests between their joined hands, its warmth steady beneath the morning sun.
Kesh
The lord may be selfish, but we are not working for him forever. We help Brackenford, then choose our own road.
Andras
We will help these people without serving Lord Veyr forever.
Kesh’s ears lift, and a broad grin briefly cuts through his wary expression. Ahead, Brackenford’s winter roofs cluster beneath bare hills, smoke rising thinly from only a few chimneys.
Kesh
Good. His writ opens doors, but it does not own our hands. Once we know what the village needs, the remedy belongs to them, not his ledger.
The road descends toward a weathered gate where several villagers, bundled in patched wool coats and scarves, their wind-chapped faces and weary postures visible in the cold wait beside stacked empty grain sacks. The oath-blade gives a quiet pulse, turning its golden edge toward the silent fields beyond.
Kesh
Let this time be different. Let me arrive early enough to matter.