Morning light strips through the blinds, laying pale bars across the bed. Thadeus Jovanović wakes to warmth at his side and the steady buzz of a phone cutting through the quiet.
The blanket has drifted farther aside, and the pillows are still compressed from the night. Elizabeth stirs beside him, blinking toward the sound with a tired, alert calm.
From somewhere downstairs, the house stays silent. The phone keeps buzzing, patient and insistent, like the day refusing to wait.
Elizabeth Bathory
Not now, world.
Elizabeth Bathory
If that phone keeps going, I am going to start resenting it.
She shifts onto one elbow, hair falling over one shoulder, and studies Thadeus with a small, knowing look that softens at the edges.
Elizabeth Bathory
We do not have to sprint into the day. We can get dressed slowly, and decide together how much of ourselves we hand over to that club.
Thadeus Jovanović
The phone is the only thing moving.
The room holds steady around them, warm and quiet, waiting for whichever of them speaks first.
✓ Quest Accepted
Prepare for the meeting at the club
Assess the threat level of the organization
“Thadeus looks over Elizabeth, her soft form causing him to stir, "I couldn't agree with you more, Elizabeth." He embraces her and begins kissing her again. Before either of them knows it, it's now noon.”
Thadeus Jovanović
I couldn't agree more, Elizabeth.
Thadeus pulls her in, and the phone is left to buzz itself quiet somewhere in the room. Their kiss lingers, unhurried, while the morning thins and the light shifts from pale to bright.
By noon, the bed is a little messier, the sheets warmer, and the day has settled around them instead of pushing in.
“Thadeus forces himself out of bed and answers the phone. Marla is on the other end, teasing Thadeus, "Sorry, did I interrupt something?" Thadeus chuckles, "I take you found out some important information about this Knight's End club I should know?" She affirms, starting to explain what she discovered. Meanwhile, Elizabeth sits up and gets dressed.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +0)
Thadeus swings his legs over the side of the bed and takes the buzzing phone in hand, the mattress still warm behind him.
Marla Brewer
Sorry, did I interrupt something?
Thadeus Jovanović
I take you found out something important about this Knight's End club I should know?
Marla Brewer
Yeah, and it is weird. I found a name, a cover charge trail, and a pattern that does not look random.
Across the room, Elizabeth sits up and starts dressing with calm efficiency, the sheets slipping away as she reaches for her clothes.
Marla Brewer
Give me a second and I will walk you through it, because this place ties back to the security guy.
Thadeus listens with the phone to his ear while the morning fully settles in, and the question of whether they go in as partners or targets hangs in the air.
“Thadeus listens to Marla's intel. Meanwhile, he looks over and mouths, "Have you seen Peacebringer?" Elizabeth looks back, "That's your weapon, I have no idea where you put it." Thadeus rolls his eyes, realizing he missed half of Marla's conversation. "Marla, I'm sorry, how about we get caught up back at The Hideout?" Marla laughs, "Yeah, we can do that. Hurry up you two, I can't be the only one working." Thadeus laughs and hangs up the phone.”
SUCCESS (Fair Perception, rolled -1)
Marla’s voice crackles through the phone with clipped urgency, and Thadeus catches the useful part, a clean tie between Knight’s End and the security man’s trail.
He glances toward Elizabeth and mouths a question about Peacebringer.
Elizabeth Bathory
That’s your weapon. I have no idea where you put it.
Thadeus blinks, then gives the room a brief, tired eye-roll as Marla keeps talking.
Thadeus Jovanović
Marla, sorry. Catch me up back at The Hideout?
Marla Brewer
Yeah, we can do that. Hurry up, you two, I cannot be the only one working.
Thadeus laughs, and the sound softens the edge in the room. He hangs up, and the call becomes a plan instead of a pressure.
“Thadeus digs through his closet, and finds what he's looking for. The weapon called Peacebringer. In the conflict with Revenant, the cult wanted the weapon to cause mass destruction. Instead, Thadeus was able to wield its power to bring balance to the world. Over time, Thadeus learned he could make the weapon change shape to what was needed in the situation. Thadeus picks up Peacebringer in its sword form and attaches it to his belt.”
SUCCESS (Fair Perception, rolled +1)
Thadeus crosses to the closet and swings the door open. Shirts rustle, hangers shift, and his hand finds the familiar weight tucked behind folded clothes.
He pulls Peacebringer free in its sword form, the blade plain in the morning light, more tool than trophy now.
Thadeus checks the room once, then slides the weapon to his belt with practiced care.
Elizabeth Bathory
There it is.
Thadeus Jovanović
It was where it needed to be.
Elizabeth steps closer, watching him fasten it. The phone call is gone, but its weight still hangs between them.
Elizabeth Bathory
Then let’s go in together.
Thadeus finishes the belt clasp, and the room settles on that choice, two people armed and aligned for what waits in the club.
Quest Complete
Prepare for the meeting at the club
Attribute Upgrade: Perception Fair→Good
+ New Item Acquired
Peacebringer