The road narrows onto a broken stone causeway above a dark ravine. Maren stops before its first span, one hand tightening around her satchel as the Ebony Catacombs thrum beyond.
Maren
No farther. Not while Ilyan remains ahead of us. If he has reached the catacombs, crossing this causeway would place us exactly where he expects.
Maren draws her bronze half-mask from the satchel and holds it against her face without fastening it. The gesture makes her seem guarded again, prepared to vanish into the dead city’s shadows.
Maren
Ilyan knows precisely how I think. He may not have followed your trail at all. He may have followed mine, waiting for me to lead him to the Scale.
Maren
I preserved those records to keep their knowledge from being weaponized. Now every step toward the Onyx Scale risks proving that I failed.
Wind moves through the ravine, carrying dust from the buried necropolis. Maren lowers the mask but does not return it to the satchel, caught between protecting what she preserved and keeping pace with Bottu’s race toward the relic.
Maren
If we turn back, Ilyan gains the Scale. If we continue, I may guide him to it. I will not choose for you, Bottu, but you deserve to know what follows us.
““I did not collect four of Tiamat’s relics to stop short of the goal. The Onyx Scale works best in the hands of someone with dragon blood anyways. Your friend may not even be able to wield it properly. Regardless they need to be stopped. Even if our reasons for doing so differs.””
FAILURE (Good Reasoning, rolled -4)
Bottu
I did not collect four of Tiamat’s relics to stop short. The Onyx Scale belongs with dragon blood, and Ilyan may not wield it properly. Whatever our reasons, we must stop him.
Maren
You speak as though blood grants rightful mastery. That is precisely the reasoning Ilyan used when he decided some lives were acceptable payment.
Maren’s mask lowers over her face. The argument meant to secure her cooperation instead hardens her suspicion, and she folds the map against her chest.
Maren
I will not lead you across this causeway while you speak of wielders and usefulness. You may pursue Ilyan, but you will do so without my route.
She steps backward from the first span, taking the charcoal map with her. The safe approach to the catacombs disappears into her clenched hand, leaving Bottu before the watched crossing without her guidance.
Maren
If you cross now, I will not follow. If you want my help, show me that stopping Ilyan matters more than claiming the Scale for yourself.
Maren turns toward the ravine’s shadowed edge, preparing to withdraw. The causeway remains ahead, but the alliance that made its dangers legible has fractured.
“*I suck in a breath. Both mattered to me. But it didn’t matter the face of who wanted the relic I had to stop them.* “I will not lie to you. Both goals are important to me. I do not mean to fill you with suspicion, but I believe we both want to stop a man who wishes to use the scale to play with the lives of others.””
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
Bottu
I will not lie to you. Both goals matter to me. I believe we both want to stop a man who would use the Scale to play with lives.
Maren remains still beneath her bronze mask. The wind tugs at her gray cloak, but her clenched hand slowly loosens around the folded map.
Maren
You are not asking me to trust your blood. You are asking me to trust that stopping Ilyan comes first when the moment demands it.
She lowers the mask from her face. Suspicion remains in her eyes, but the hard refusal has left her stance, replaced by a deliberate assessment of Bottu’s words.
Maren
Then we share enough purpose to cross together. I will show you the route, and if Ilyan threatens lives, we stop him before either of us claims the Scale.
Maren unfolds the charcoal map and steps back toward the causeway. She points to a narrow path beneath its broken span, restoring the guidance she had withdrawn.
✓ Quest Accepted
Stop Ilyan before he sacrifices lives
“Time to reach the Ebony catacombs.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +2)