Adventure of Silver 1

The carriage path narrows beneath the collapsed watchtower. Smoke crawls between fallen stones, and the wounded guard staggers as the last of Silver's binding begins to loosen.

A sharp whistle cuts through the smoke. From atop the broken tower, a hooded figure raises a crossbow toward the noble, then lowers it toward Silver.

Behind the figure, a dark seal glows on a fallen stone, its mark matching the old scars of Silver's past. The tower blocks the road, the guard is losing blood, and the hooded figure keeps the noble in their sights.

The noble obeys, dragging the guard behind a slab of fallen stone as Silver steps into the crossbow's line.

The quarrel snaps free. Silver's blades turn it aside, then carry him up the broken slope in a blur of steel.

A heartbeat later, the hooded figure crumples among the stones. Their crossbow clatters below, and the threat to the survivors ends.

The dark seal flares beneath the fallen crossbow, casting its scar-like mark across the smoke. From behind the rocks, the guard makes a strained sound.

Silver hooks an arm beneath the guard and hauls them upright, turning toward the village road.

But the rubble shifts underfoot. Silver's strength falters, and the guard slides heavily against his shoulder before he can gain balance.

Silver lowers the guard onto a broken timber instead of carrying them onward. The loosened linen darkens as the blocked road settles with another grinding lurch.

Behind them, the seal's glow crawls across the stone toward the road. The survivors are alive, but the guard cannot be moved safely until the path is cleared.

From beyond the smoke, a young elf woman in a travel-stained cloak steps into view, staff raised but her gaze fixed on the wounded survivor.

Silver reaches toward the broken timber and gestures toward the safer stretch of road.

Mirelle braces the guard with one arm while Silver draws them away from the glowing stone. Green light gathers in her palm, sealing the loosened bandage and steadying the guard's breathing.

A thin veil of green radiance settles between the survivors and the seal. The glow stops spreading across the road, buying them a guarded moment to choose their escape.

Silver leads the survivors toward the village road, but the first heavy step onto the rubble sends the watchtower stones sliding beneath them.

The Noble catches a jutting beam. Mirelle twists aside, keeping one hand raised as the green veil shudders between the group and the seal.

Silver lowers the guard before the shifting slope can throw them down. The road remains out of reach, and dark seepage stains the binding beneath Mirelle's fading spell.

The survivors are stranded on a narrow shelf beside the ruins. Behind them, the green veil holds, but its edge flickers as the awakened seal presses against it.

Silver leaves Collapsed watchtower on the carriage path behind and arrives at Village.

The village gate receives all four of you beneath a sky washed gray by smoke. Stone paving replaces the treacherous rubble, and The Guard is lowered onto a waiting bench beside the well.

Mirelle's green veil collapses behind you, sealing the ruins from the village road. The dark glow fades beneath the distant stones, leaving the survivors beyond its reach.

The Noble removes a clean strip of cloth from their travel pack and presses it into Mirelle's hand. The Guard's stained binding stays closed beneath the fresh pressure.

A few villagers gather behind the gate, wary but silent. One old wardstone above the arch bears the same dark sigil that flared among the ruins, though its lines now pulse with a faint green light.

Determine whether the village wardstone threatens the survivors