Dagg enters Crendo through its wooden gate, favoring his injured knee. Rusk rides beside him, while your border collie pads close behind and locals watch from doorways and yard paths.
The town is small and quiet, enclosed by rough timber fencing. Dagg’s violet-flamed sword rests at his side, and Harl Venn’s recovered list remains secured beneath his coat.
A middle-aged woman with a sturdy build steps from a narrow shop, broad-faced and sun-browned, with gray-streaked hair beneath a russet scarf and flour dusting her dark apron. She points down the lane.
The Shopkeeper
Harl Venn’s house is that one, near the rear fence. The last man on your list entered before dawn, and nobody has come out since.
Rusk Vale
Did you see Harl himself, or only the other man? Names and faces matter more than rumors.
The shopkeeper shakes her head and retreats beneath the shop’s awning. Harl’s house stands quiet ahead, its shutters closed, while fresh boot marks lead from the door toward Crendo’s rear fence.
Rusk Vale
The tracks are fresh. We can ask at the door, or follow them first. Which keeps the town calmest?
“Lets go knock on the door and just see what happens. two of them and two of us, I like our chances.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -2)
Dagg and Rusk cross to Harl Venn’s door. Dagg favors his injured knee, while Steady Under Watch keeps his pace measured and his attention fixed on the shutters, roofline, and rear fence.
Reads Hidden Signs finds no fresh signal in the mud or latch, though Superstitious caution makes Dagg study the dark windows for any sign of an unseen watcher. His sword exhales a thin purple smoke.
The smoke kindles into a restrained violet flame along the blade, giving Dagg’s hand a steady glow. He knocks firmly. The effort costs him a visible hesitation, and Rusk notices it.
Rusk Vale
Two inside, if the tracks mean what they should. You have my crossbow, and I have your back.
A bolt slides behind the door. The latch lifts, and Harl Venn opens it, his light skin showing above a dark neckcloth and a small scar cutting one eyebrow: a lean young adult man in a weathered brown coat, with cropped dark hair and a guarded, sleepless face. Tovin Rusk stands behind him, a young adult man with a wiry build, olive skin, tousled black hair, and a dark green tunic beneath a patched brown vest, gripping a short sword.
Harl Venn
Dagg Nabbitt. You came to my door instead of setting the town against me. State your charge.
Tovin Rusk
Harl, that is the rancher from the list. The sword is already burning.
“{dagg aims his sword at the two and pushes them back into the house following them inside. Rusk enters and then closes the door. Harl's house is too nice for someone as evil as himself, a nice fireplace, warm bed, bear rug on the floor.} Why do you people still follow Arden Pike. He was a criminal who got what was coming to him. {Dagg says still threatening them with his sword.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
Dagg aims the violet-flamed sword between Harl and Tovin, driving both backward over the threshold. His injured knee protests, but Steady Under Watch keeps his advance controlled. Rusk enters behind him and closes the door.
The house is warmer and finer than Pike’s cause deserves: a bright fireplace, a neatly made bed, and a bear rug spread across the polished floor. Reads Hidden Signs finds no second exit in the room.
Dagg Nabbitt
Why do you people still follow Arden Pike? He was a criminal who got what was coming to him.
Questions Witnesses reads the men separately: Harl watches the sword, while Tovin watches Harl. Superstitious caution searches the firelight for hidden signs, but finds only ordinary shadows. Purple smoke coils along the blade.
Harl Venn
Because Pike paid us, and because his network promised protection when the crown would not. I knew he was a criminal. I followed the power behind him.
Tovin Rusk
I followed Harl, not Pike. He said the old organization could keep food in our homes. I stayed after Pike died because leaving felt more dangerous than obedience.
The sword’s violet flame steadies, and the room’s comforts become evidence rather than sanctuary. Harl has admitted deliberate loyalty; Tovin has admitted fear and dependence. Rusk keeps the door secured behind them.
“I want you to name all of the crimes you have committed, how many people who were innocent that you hurt or killed simply for food.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
Dagg Nabbitt
Name every crime you committed, and tell me how many innocent people you hurt or killed simply for food.
Dagg holds the violet-flamed sword between them. His superstitious caution searches the firelit room for hidden signs, while Steady Under Watch keeps his voice and blade unwavering. Questions Witnesses fixes each man separately.
Harl Venn
I falsified Pike’s ledgers, collected illegal levies, threatened witnesses, seized grain, and ordered homes searched. Three families were beaten when they resisted. I did not kill for food, but I took food from eleven innocent households and left two children sick.
Tovin Rusk
I carried threats, guarded stolen records, and helped drag families from their stores. I struck one farmer and helped burn a shed. For food, I hurt four innocents. I killed none, though my threats caused one old man to go hungry for days.
The sword’s purple smoke coils toward Harl’s clenched hands, then settles. No hidden answer survives the questioning. Dagg’s injured knee remains still beneath him as both confessions stand plainly in the warm room.
Harl Venn
Those are the crimes I know. Harl’s list contains the names of the households, the stolen amounts, and the men who carried out each order. Tovin can confirm the southern farms.
Tovin Rusk
I confirm it. Four harmed for food by my hand, eleven robbed under Harl’s orders, and no innocent killed by either of us for food. The rest is written in the list.
“So these are the crimes you commited by your own hands huh? good to know. {Dagg takes his sword and cuts off Tovins right hand, leaving him in pain.} And you, Harl, you ordered these tasks to be done with your own mouth, that is also good to know. {Dagg grabs Harl and with the help of Rusk, cuts his tongue from his mouth leaving him unable to talk just mumble noises, blood gushing from his mouth.}”
SUCCESS (Mediocre Melee Weapons, rolled -1)
Dagg Nabbitt
So these are the crimes you committed by your own hands. Good to know. And you, Harl, ordered these tasks yourself. Good to know.
Dagg’s Questions Witnesses fixes each confession in his mind, while Reads Hidden Signs catches Tovin’s reaching hand and Harl’s shifting stance. Superstitious caution searches the firelit room for an unseen threat as the sword exhales purple smoke and ignites violet.
Steady Under Watch gives Dagg a measured opening. The dwarf-forged sword cuts through Tovin’s right hand with the declared result, leaving him conscious, disarmed, and crying out as he falls against the table.
Tovin Rusk
No! My hand! I told you everything!
Rusk steps in to hold Harl steady while Dagg completes the second punishment. Harl’s tongue is cut out, silencing his orders; he can only make muffled sounds and clutch at the table.
The effort jars Dagg’s shoulder and leaves his sword arm trembling, but the cost does not undo either result. Tovin is maimed, Harl is unable to speak, and both men remain alive under Rusk’s watch.
“{Tovins arm has been cut off, he is in pain. Harls tongue has been cut out of his mouth, he can no longer order anyone he can just mumble words.} One of these days, these Pike men will understand that I carry the judgment for the crimes. If you do not disband the following of Pike, the next time we meet, I will take more than just a hand or tongue. are we clear?”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -3)
Dagg Nabbitt
One of these days, these Pike men will understand that I carry the judgment for their crimes. Disband Pike’s following, or next time I take more than a hand or tongue. Are we clear?
Dagg holds the violet-flamed sword level between them. Questions Witnesses fixes Tovin’s fearful stare and Harl’s muffled response, while Steady Under Watch keeps the threat quiet and exact.
Superstitious caution makes Dagg search the firelit corners for an unseen watcher. The sword’s purple smoke coils toward the door, then settles as no ally comes to challenge him.
Tovin Rusk
Clear. I will tell every man whose name is on that list that Pike’s cause is finished. I will disband them, and I will not gather them again.
Tovin cradles his injured arm and nods through the pain. Harl can only mumble, but his eyes drop, and the silence around his failed authority confirms the surrender.
Tovin Rusk
He agrees. Harl’s orders are over. We will send the warning through the network and make certain the remaining men lay down their arms.
The victory costs Dagg a moment of composure: his sword hand trembles, and the effort leaves his spirit hollow. He steadies himself, but both captives see it before the flame fades.
✓ Quest Accepted
Disband Pike’s remaining following
“So Pikes following is now officially done for. I better not see another White Trident symbol anywhere, or I will blame you two personally and I will find you. {Dagg drags tovin holding his arm, Dagg takes his flame lit sword and cauterizes his arm so it no longer bleeds everywhere on Harls nice clean floors.} It will hurt for awhile but you should heal, now both of you leave and no more crimes.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Dagg Nabbitt
Pike’s following is officially done. I had better not see another White Trident symbol, or I will blame you two personally and find you.
Dagg drags Tovin away by the uninjured arm, his injured knee protesting across the clean floor. Relaxed would rather leave the ugly work behind, but Steady Under Watch keeps his grip controlled and his purpose exact.
Questions Witnesses fixes Tovin’s fearful stare and Harl’s muffled agreement as Dagg lowers the sword. The dwarf-forged blade exhales ghastly purple smoke, then kindles into violet flame at Dagg’s will.
Dagg seals Tovin’s wounded arm with the controlled violet flame. The cauterization stops the bleeding without touching Harl’s clean floors, though Tovin cries out and clutches his arm.
Tovin Rusk
It will heal. I understand. No more crimes, no more White Trident, and no more gathering Pike’s men.
Harl nods rapidly, unable to speak, while Tovin helps him toward the door. Dagg keeps the violet sword lowered but ready until both surrendered men step outside into the lane.
Tovin Rusk
We are leaving. The following is disbanded, and I will make certain every surviving man hears it.
Quest Complete
Disband Pike’s remaining following
The sword's violet flame can power the spell Dagg channeled through it.