The cart reaches a small healer’s house beside the forest road, its white charms stirring beneath the eaves and a bundle of dried herbs swinging above the door. Patter stays close to Octavius while Tessa brings the cart to a guarded halt.
A middle-aged woman steps out, broad-shouldered and weathered, with brown skin, a cropped gray braid, and a russet wool dress beneath a pale healer’s apron. She examines Savin without touching him.
Neris
Bring him inside. I am Neris. But hear me first: strangers came yesterday asking about travelers carrying sealed papers.
Tessa secures the cart and watches the road. Mara and Edrin carry the satchel into the herb shed, hiding it beneath folded blankets while Neris and Savin disappear into the house.
Guard Tessa
No one approaches the cart without my seeing them. Octavius, choose carefully what evidence we expose here.
Neris returns with a small pale scar beside her left eye long enough to leave the door ajar, her expression grave. Inside, Savin’s strained breathing settles into the healer’s measured instructions, while the satchel waits under the blankets.
The sealed letters and iron seal remain concealed, close enough to examine and dangerous enough to announce the party’s presence. Tessa holds the road; Mara and Edrin wait by the shed for Octavius’s decision.
✓ Quest Accepted
Ensure Savin survives the healer’s treatment
✓ Quest Accepted
Determine whether the strangers threaten the party
“Lady Neris, we appreciate the warning. May we confer a moment so I can answer you knowing I speak for the group? We have someone with dire wounds who needs aid immediately, but I don't wish to speak for anyone falsely.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Octavius
Lady Neris, we appreciate the warning. May we confer briefly, so I can answer for the group without speaking falsely for anyone? We have someone direly wounded who needs aid immediately.
Neris
Confer, then. A healer needs truth, but a wounded man needs treatment sooner than a frightened rumor needs answers.
Octavius draws Tessa, Mara, and Edrin close beside the herb shed. The satchel remains hidden beneath blankets, while Neris waits at the open door without pressing them.
Guard Tessa
Tell her Savin was attacked and carries letters we have not opened. I will keep the road watched, and I will answer for our security.
Mara Venn
Say no name or history beyond what protects him. I agree to treatment, and to keeping the satchel concealed until we understand this place.
Edrin Vale
Aye. Speak for us on the immediate need, Octavius. The rest can wait until Savin is safe and we have judged the warning properly.
The group’s answer settles into shared purpose. Tessa resumes her watch, Mara remains by the hidden satchel, and Edrin turns toward the house as Octavius faces Neris with their agreement behind him.
“"I carry a sealed message from the Reeve. It would not be a lie to say so and let myself be the target of anyone who asks later, since I am rarely in the same view as the rest of you." I say in a low whisper, barely audible over our own breathing. "No matter which of us these people are looking for, I can make it sound like I am the target instead of you or him.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -1)
Octavius
I carry a sealed message from the Reeve. It would not be a lie to say so and let myself be the target of anyone who asks later, since I am rarely in the same view as the rest of you. No matter which of us these people are looking for, I can make it sound like I am the target instead of you or him.
The whisper stays within the party’s close circle, beneath the house’s breathing boards and the cart’s quiet creaks. Neris remains beyond their chosen privacy, tending Savin without hearing the proposal.
Guard Tessa
That gives pursuers a truthful trail, and it keeps Mara’s name out of their reach. I will let you draw their questions, but you remain within our protection.
Mara Venn
I agree. Let them believe the sealed message leads to you. I will stay hidden from their notice, and I will not mistake your offer for permission to face danger alone.
Edrin Vale
Aye. Your account will be honest without making us its center. We will stand close enough to help, while letting your words carry the first attention.
Tessa accepts the plan with a guarded nod. Mara returns to the concealed satchel, Edrin watches the road, and Octavius becomes the party’s deliberate, truthful point of attention while Neris continues Savin’s treatment inside.
“Lady Neris," I speak up, heading back towards where she is helping Savin, wanting to avoid startling her if she is doing any delicate stitching or measuring medicinal portions. "I apologize, but I needed to confer with these travelers to confirm my suspicions. I may be the person those other people were asking about, as I carry a sealed missive from lady Reeve Anja. They likely were looking for me. I apologize now if I have brought trouble to your door.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -1)
Octavius
Lady Neris, I apologize. I needed to confer with these travelers before speaking. I may be the person those strangers sought, carrying a sealed missive from Reeve Anja Vey. They likely followed me, and I am sorry if I have brought trouble to your door.
Octavius approaches the open doorway slowly, keeping his hands visible. Inside, Neris pauses with a folded cloth beside Savin, then sets it down before turning fully toward him.
Neris
You have not brought trouble by telling me plainly. If those strangers seek the bearer of Anja’s missive, then your warning gives my household a choice rather than a surprise.
Neris closes the door halfway, leaving the road visible through the gap. Her voice remains calm, and her attention returns briefly to Savin’s bandage before settling on Octavius.
Neris
Your companions may remain concealed, and the satchel may stay hidden. I will finish treating Savin. Afterward, we will decide together whether this house is safer with you here or with you gone.
Behind Octavius, Tessa keeps the road covered while Mara and Edrin remain by the herb shed. No one challenges his account; the healer has accepted responsibility as a shared concern.
Neris
Now come inside, Octavius. Tell me only what I need to keep my patients and household safe. The wounded man comes first, and your honesty has earned its place beside him.
“Truthfully my lady," I answer as I enter behind her, balking slightly and rubbing my face sheepishly, taking care with my wording to avoid any overt lies, "I do not know much more about this man beyond his name.. I heard these travelers shout when they found blood on the trail, and found sir Savin gravely wounded. They aided me in getting him to you... but I do not know more than that about his life or directions.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Octavius
Truthfully, my lady, I know little beyond this man's name. I found Savin gravely wounded after these travelers called out at blood on the trail. They helped me bring him here, but I know nothing of his life or direction.
Octavius enters behind Neris, rubbing his face with a sheepish hesitation. He keeps each claim narrow, offering the healer a plain account without exposing the hidden satchel or Mara’s history.
Neris
That is enough for the moment. You found him, your companions helped carry him, and none of you claim knowledge you do not possess. I can treat Savin without making his unknown past my household's burden.
Neris’s suspicion eases into practical caution. She gestures Octavius toward Savin’s bedside, while the wounded man remains pale but conscious beneath the clean dressing.
Neris
You may stay while I finish the examination. Your companions can remain concealed, and the satchel can remain hidden. If strangers come asking, we will answer only what keeps the injured and the household safe.
Savin exhales as Neris checks the bandage, and the room settles around the healer’s measured movements. Outside, Tessa continues watching the road while Mara and Edrin hold their concealment.
“I cannot claim any great knowledge of medicine, beyond basic triage... but I do know the basics well. Can I assist you at all where unskilled hands can be useful?”
FAILURE (Mediocre Medicine, rolled -2)
Octavius
I cannot claim great knowledge of medicine beyond basic triage, but I know those basics. Can I assist where unskilled hands may be useful?
Neris
Yes. Hold the lamp and pass me what I ask. Do not adjust the dressing unless I tell you.
Octavius steadies the lamp and follows Neris’s instructions, then reaches to support Savin’s shoulder as the healer checks the wound. His grip shifts a little too soon.
Savin
Ah. Please, not there.
Savin flinches, and the dressing darkens at one edge. Neris immediately takes over the support, restoring the pressure with calm efficiency while Octavius withdraws his hand.
Neris
Your honesty was useful, but your hands are not ready for this part. Keep the lamp there and let me manage the wound. You can assist by watching his breathing and telling me if it changes.
The task narrows to observation rather than handling. Savin’s breathing steadies under Neris’s care, while Octavius holds the light and watches for any change he can report.
“Yes ma'am" I answer, feeling as clumsy as a child holding the light for his father during late work. I wince visibly myself when Savin flinches and complains, grieved for causing him the unintended pain. "I'm sorry. Tell me where to stand and what to hold, and I will do better than the finest hood lamp or shelf.”
FAILURE (Mediocre Medicine, rolled +1)
“Yes ma'am" I answer, feeling as clumsy as a child holding the light for his father during late work. I wince visibly myself when Savin flinches and complains, grieved for causing him the unintended pain. "I'm sorry.”
SUCCESS (Superb Willpower, rolled +1)
Octavius
Yes, ma'am. I’m sorry, Savin. I’m sorry, Neris. I’ll keep the lamp steady and tell you if his breathing changes.
Octavius winces visibly at Savin’s pain, then fixes his attention on the lamp. He holds it steady, keeping his other hand well away from the dressing.
Neris
Apology accepted. Keep your eyes on his breathing, and let the light do its work. You are helping now.
The lamp’s glow stays level over Savin’s side. Neris works without haste, and the room’s quiet returns as Octavius watches each rise and fall of the wounded man’s chest.
Savin
It was an accident, Octavius. You stayed when you could have left. That matters more than the pain.
Neris
His breathing is steady. Tell me at once if that changes, and keep holding the lamp exactly there.
“Yes Ma'am." I answer again, twice as stout in my resolution to at least not fuck -that- up. But if I'm to monitor his consciousness and breathing, the best way I can do that is to keep his attention on me instead of the stings and pinches of his treatment. "Sir Savin, I appreciate the grace, but you could stand to berate me a little. It would ease my guilt.. Just don't make yourself laugh.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +2)
Octavius
Yes, ma'am. Sir Savin, I appreciate the grace, but you could berate me a little. It might ease my guilt. Just do not make yourself laugh.
Octavius keeps the lamp steady and watches Savin’s face as closely as his breathing, offering conversation without taking his attention from Neris’s hands.
Savin
You are a clumsy helper, Octavius. There, that should satisfy your guilt. I have endured worse company, and your lamp is steady enough.
The rebuke draws Savin’s attention back to Octavius without disturbing his breathing. Neris works on, accepting the exchange as useful so long as it stays calm.
Neris
That is enough berating for one wound. Keep him talking if you can, Octavius, but do not make him laugh or twist beneath my hands.
Savin
I can manage conversation. Tell me, Octavius, have you always apologized this earnestly when your hands get ahead of your judgment?
Savin’s voice remains dry but engaged. His eyes stay on Octavius, his chest rising evenly while Neris finishes securing the dressing beneath the steady lamplight.
Quest Complete
Ensure Savin survives the healer’s treatment
Attribute Upgrade: Willpower Superb→Legendary