As the tailor folds Sella’s charcoal coat, the market abruptly empties around the awning. A tall adult elf man in black thorn-woven armor steps through the silence, his ash-pale face hidden beneath a hood.
Ashen Thorn
Valkir’s heir. You have carried his lesson far enough.
Ashen Thorn, a lean elf man in black thorn-woven armor with a hooked sword at his hip corners Verner and Sella beneath the awning. His blade flashes once toward Sella, and she collapses among the folded clothes as the crowd surges back into the lane.
Before Verner can reach her, the black-thorned swordsman vanishes into the moving market, leaving only a fading whisper of steel and stunned silence beneath the awning.
Sella is dead. Among her belongings, beneath the new coat, lies a blood-marked magistrate notice bearing one name: Erin, Valkir’s half-elven daughter, next witness to be found.
Far below, Ordan remains with Maerith, Ilyra, and the two surrendered agents, guarding the tablets and final order. They do not know the market has fallen silent.
Verner
The notice names Erin, and Ashen Thorn will hunt her next.
✓ Quest Accepted
Find Erin, Valkir’s half-elven daughter
“*Verner curses himself for not being able to protect Sella. He must find Erin and train her as a Bladesinger before she suffers the same fate. He looks down at the twin silver handled rapier, Echo, and decides that Erin must wield this blade*”
The market remains frozen around the awning. Verner stands over Sella’s fallen form, one hand clenched at his side while the tailor’s unfinished work lies scattered nearby.
Verner
I could not protect Sella. Erin must not face Ashen Thorn unprepared.
He lowers his gaze to the twin silver-handled rapier, Echo, its polished metal catching the pale morning light beneath the awning.
The blade carries Valkir’s discipline in its balance, a companion to the weapon that already sings at Verner’s side. Its purpose now becomes clear.
Echo will pass to Erin, Valkir’s half-elven daughter. Verner will find her, teach her the Bladesinger art, and prepare her before Ashen Thorn can reach her.
He secures the twin silver-handled rapier and gathers the magistrate notice from beneath Sella’s coat. Erin’s name leads beyond the market, into the next unfinished chapter of Valkir’s legacy.
✓ Quest Accepted
Leave the market
+ New Item Acquired
Magistrate notice
“*Verner waits for the Waterdeep authorities to arrive and explain to them what happened before setting off to find Erin*”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Verner waits beneath the emptied awning until Waterdeep watchmen arrive. Their captain, an elderly woman with iron-grey hair, a scarred cheek, and a dark blue cloak, studies Sella’s body and the scattered garments.
Verner
The attacker was Ashen Thorn, the swordsman who killed Valkir. He struck Sella, fled through the market, and left this notice naming Erin, Valkir’s half-elven daughter.
Verner presents the magistrate notice and recounts the conspiracy, the hidden records, and Ashen Thorn’s pardon. His precise account wins the captain’s belief, though the gathered watch remains wary.
Captain Maelin
I accept your testimony, but your name enters our report beside this death. Leave the notice for copying, and Waterdeep will remember that you walked away.
The cost is public suspicion, and a formal summons if the watch later requires him. They take custody of Sella and record the notice before returning it.
Verner
The notice remains legible. Erin is still within reach.
With the notice secured, Verner leaves the market and sets out to find Erin before Ashen Ashen Thorn reaches her, carrying Echo and Valkir’s unfinished legacy.
Quest Complete
Leave the market