The road lies gray beneath the falling dusk, its ruts softened by old rain. Rowan moves with a handful of refugees, all strangers, keeping their pace quiet and their eyes on the darkening fields.
A woman near the rear stumbles once, catches herself against a crooked milestone, then collapses beside the road. Her bundle spills straw and a cracked wooden cup.
the refugees
Stop. Do not leave her there.
The group freezes. A gray-bearded man crouches without touching the fallen woman, while two others stare toward the western hedgerow.
Tomas Vale
Is she breathing? Someone look, but keep low. We cannot draw attention.
Beyond the fields, a dull clatter rises and fades, followed by another sound: many uneven footfalls somewhere along the road behind them.
Tomas Vale
They are coming closer. If she can walk, we carry her. If not, we must choose before the light is gone.
✓ Quest Accepted
Hold the refugees together around a shared plan
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach Ironvale
“Is the woman still breathing?”
YES, BUT (Likely, rolled 65)
The gray-bearded refugee bends close enough to see the woman’s shallow breath. Her fingers twitch against the wet road, but a sharp cough breaks the silence.
Tomas Vale
Alive. Gods be thanked. But that cough will carry.
The sound travels across the fields. Behind them, the uneven marching pauses, then resumes with heavier purpose. The refugees gather around the fallen woman without lifting her.
the refugees
Quiet her bundle. Cover her mouth, gently. We cannot have the road hear us twice.
The woman’s eyes flutter open, unfocused. Her cracked cup rolls into a rut and taps once against a stone before the gray-bearded refugee catches it.
Tomas Vale
She can be moved, perhaps. But not quickly, and not without someone carrying her.
“I step forward and crouch down beside the woman. "I will carry her," I say, voice quiet and gruff. "Grab her things. We need to get off the road, quickly."”
SUCCESS (Superb Strength, rolled +1)
Rowan Silverhand
I will carry her. Grab her things. We need to get off the road, quickly.
Rowan steps forward and crouches beside the woman. With careful strength, he gathers her against the bear-hide cloak and lifts her from the wet road.
Tomas Vale
Easy now. Keep her head supported. There is a hollow beyond those reeds, out of sight from the road.
The refugees move at once. One snatches up the cracked cup, another stuffs the spilled straw into its bundle, and a third scans the hedgerow.
the refugees
The path is clear. Go, go. We will follow close and leave nothing behind.
Rowan carries the woman off the road toward the reeds, his steps deliberate despite the growing clatter behind them. The group slips after him into cover.
woman
Warm... someone is carrying me.
Quest Complete
Hold the refugees together around a shared plan