Morning light slips through the blinds in Remedy and Zara's place in Meadowbrook. Downstairs, voices and the scrape of a chair drift up before the smell of coffee does.
Remedy pads down the stairs to the kitchen, badge catching the light, as if the day already knows she is up for it.
Zara
You are awake. Good. We need to lock in supplies before we argue about the route again.
Gerard
And before Remedy decides we can just wing the whole descent into Galgok.
Remedy
The map is already out, and it looks like they have been at this for a while.
On the table, a folded topographic printout, a penciled checklist, and Remedy's medical kit sit beside two mugs and a phone charging off a wall cable.
Zara
I have water, batteries, and rope on my list. Gerard says we need extra headlamps and pitons. Tell me he is being dramatic.
Gerard
I am being cautious. Galgok eats people who skip precautions.
Zara taps the checklist with one finger, Gerard keeps one hand on the map, and both of them look up at Remedy at once, waiting for her call on what goes in the packs next.
✓ Quest Accepted
Stock expedition supplies for the Galgok descent
✓ Quest Accepted
Agree on the route into Galgok
“Have a look morning stretch and grab a water from the fridge.”
SUCCESS (Good Health, rolled -1)
Remedy stretches once, rolling her shoulders loose, then crosses to the fridge while the two of them keep talking over the checklist.
Remedy
The fridge handle is cold.
She opens it, grabs a water, and the plastic bottle beads with condensation in her hand.
Zara
If we are doing this, I want enough supplies to make the climb boring. Safe. Boring is good.
Gerard
Boring is excellent. Boring means we come home.
Zara
Fine, then help me decide what matters more, extra food or extra insulation.
The mug steam curls between them as the list waits, and both of them turn toward Remedy, ready for her opinion.
+ New Item Acquired
Water bottle
“"Well supposedly the Galgok ruins are very deep down in the earth. It should be plenty warm down there as is. What we'll likely need is extra food."”
SUCCESS (Fair Reasoning, rolled +2)
Remedy
If Galgok is deep underground, warmth is probably not the issue. Food is. Let's prioritize that.
Zara
Thank you. I can live with carrying less insulation if that means more meals.
Gerard
Agreed. Calories first, comfort second. We still need enough layers to avoid being idiots.
Zara scratches out insulation and writes food in larger letters, then slides the checklist toward the center of the table.
Gerard taps the page once and starts dividing the supplies into packs, the mugs trembling beside his elbow.
Zara
So, food over extra jackets. Fine. Now tell me how much we are actually taking.
The open fridge hums behind Remedy, while the pen pauses over the blank weight column.
“I help divide the food into packs”
SUCCESS (Good Mechanics, rolled +0)
Remedy takes the pen from Gerard and starts writing pack weights herself, splitting the food into three clean bundles. She pairs dense cans with lighter packets, then slides one pack to Zara and one to Gerard before they can argue over it.
Zara
Okay, that is annoyingly neat. I can work with this.
Gerard
Better distribution, better balance. Good call.
The checkboxes fill fast. Remedy adds a spare snack pouch to the top of Zara’s pack, and nobody objects.
Remedy
The food list is done, and there is a little extra room left.
Zara caps the pencil and taps the blank route line on the checklist. Gerard folds his arms, waiting for the descent path to be settled.
Zara
Food is sorted. Now are we taking the easier line or the faster one?
Quest Complete
Stock expedition supplies for the Galgok descent
Attribute Upgrade: Reasoning Fair→Good