Behind the market, the alley narrows into damp stone and broken refuse. Crates wall the way back, and the crowd noise fades to a dull drum beyond the boards. In Mifune's hand, the courier's note gives a faint pulse, its ink-stain tightening toward the city wall.
The Watchful Retainer
Two monks. Roofline, left.
Above the awning, two robed figures move fast and low, cutting across the tiles toward the alley mouth. One of them carries a short blade beneath his sleeve. The other keeps his eyes fixed on the note's path, not on the street.
Miyamoto Mifune
The mark points away from the market. Toward the wall.
The note's pulse answers with a sharper beat, then slackens as if it has found a course. The rear merchant awning sags beside a narrow service lane, and beyond it, a shadowed gap between two storehouses lines up with the wallward street.
The Boy
This way. If they see me, run.
The boy darts out from behind a crate, breathless and pale, clutching the last edge of the route he has been carrying. He points once toward the gap, then flinches as boots strike the alley stones behind him.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach the wall-side gap and lose the monks
“I draw my blade and pivot to intercept the monks before they reach the boy.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Weapons, rolled +2)
Mifune snaps the katana free and turns the blade up into the monks' line of approach. Steel catches the dull lane light as he steps into the gap they mean to claim.
The nearer monk checks his stride, sleeve lifting as his hidden blade starts to clear. His companion hesitates behind him, eyes flicking from the boy to Mifune's point.
The Boy
Right there, move!
The boy darts past Mifune's shoulder, then slaps his sleeve in passing, a deliberate brush that leaves the route scrap tugged free and spinning toward the stones.
The Watchful Retainer stays oddly loose in his stance, but his hand settles nearer his sword as he edges to seal the alley mouth behind Mifune.
The Monks
Too narrow. Box him in.
Mifune's first cut halts their advance, forcing both monks to check back under the awning. The wall-side gap opens in front of him, but the alley beyond is still not clear.
“I feint left and slip past the monks”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -1)
Mifune dips his shoulder left, letting the monks chase the line he shows them.
Their blades hitch on the awning edge, and for a breath their guard opens toward the wrong side.
He slips through the seam they leave behind, sliding past the nearer monk's reach.
The minor cut on his forearm flashes as he clears the press of bodies and the wallward gap takes him.
The Monks
After him, there, he is through!
Behind him, the Watchful Retainer keeps the alley mouth claimed, but the monks have lost the clean line for a rush.
Ahead, the service gap yawns open in the stone, and the boy is already beyond the turn.
Quest Complete
Reach the wall-side gap and lose the monks
New Gift: Monastic Evasion Tactics