Sava reaches the old western stone circle with Maelis Nightshade and Caelen Thornmere. She carries the recovered records beneath her cloak, following the partial map through rain-dark grass and pale morning mist.
Weathered standing stones rise around the clearing, each bearing a Split-Flame mark softened by moss. At the center, a recently disturbed socket gapes beneath loose chips of stone.
Caelen Thornmere
The socket was opened recently. Whatever rested there was removed carefully, not broken free.
A fresh trail leaves the circle toward the old border road, its boot impressions sharp in the wet earth. Another track bends toward an abandoned ritual shelter hidden among thorn trees.
Maelis Nightshade
The marks are older than the trail, but the missing piece may have completed a route or opened something beneath these stones.
Maelis studies the records while Caelen watches both trails, one hand near his sword. Wind moves through the circle, carrying ash, wet stone, and a faint metallic scent from the shelter’s direction.
Caelen Thornmere
We have two leads and no certainty which one Sav intended us to follow. The choice is yours, Sava.
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify who removed the missing fragment
“I survey the area as Maelis uses her magic to translate the runes on the stone pillars while Caelen stand by Maelis. Caelen noticed some footprints in the mud as it leads to a cave "Sava! I found something!" We fellow the tracks to the cave's entrance, I turned to Maelis and Caelen to behind me as I a muffled and invisible spell as we investigate the cave stealthily.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Stealth, rolled +1)
Sava surveys the stone circle while Maelis lays her fingers against the pillars. Pale magic translates the softened runes into a whispered sequence of routes and warnings.
Caelen stands beside Maelis, guarding her concentration. Keen Senses catch a second pattern in the mud: fresh boot prints leaving the circle toward thorn-covered cliffs.
Caelen Thornmere
Sava! I found something. These tracks lead straight to a cave.
You follow the impressions through wet grass and under bent thorn branches. Predator’s Instinct separates the trail from animal marks, guiding every silent turn toward the dark opening.
At the cave mouth, Sava gestures Maelis and Caelen behind her. Shadow Meld folds her outline into the rock’s darkness, while a muffled spell swallows the scrape of boots and breath.
The three enter unseen. Keen Senses read cold air, old ash, and a faint mineral tang deeper within, while Sava’s stealth carries them beyond the entrance without disturbing the mud.
The passage opens into a low chamber where the footprints continue around a bend. Broken candle stubs and fresh scraped stone confirm the cave is being used, though nothing moves in sight.