The rescued merchants disappear behind the guild hall doors, while Sir Meredin and Caelen remain on the harbor road. Black roots writhe across broken paving, scraping toward the shelter.
Caelen’s reopened wound stains the bandage beneath his coat. Evethal places a soft hand on his arm, brows furrowed as he tilts his head up in concern.
Sir Meredin Vale
Do not let it draw you westward. Hold here until we understand what we face.
Near the shattered stones, one severed tendril pulses like a searching finger. Dark sap beads along its length, then drips in a thin trail leading west.
Caelen
That piece is still alive. The sap marks a direction, and whatever lies beyond the road may be guiding the rest.
Caelen leans toward the trail, attention fixed on the glistening marks. Evethal pauses, then gently tugs his forearm, drawing him back from the broken paving.
Caelen
Yes. I see the danger in following it wounded. But Sir Meredin may need to know where these roots are coming from.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure the harbor road from the living roots
Director's notewhole tale
Evethal closes his eyes, focusing all of his attention on his medical training to permanently heal Caelen.
“"Caelen, please- I need you to stay safe. Let me tend to your wounds again with my medicine. Maybe... I can pray to my gods for your health as well. Please, Great Mother- grant me the power to cure my friend from this pain. Guide my hands with your grace to bring him vitality."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Medicine, rolled -3)
Evethal
Caelen, please, I need you to stay safe. Let me tend to your wounds again with my medicine. Maybe I can pray to my gods for your health as well.
Evethal keeps one soft hand around Caelen’s arm and guides him back from the pulsing tendril. With furrowed brows, he looks up at the scout, then kneels beside him.
Caelen
All right, Evethal. I will stay. I trust your hands, and I will not turn from your care.
Evethal cleans the reopened wound and presses fresh medicine into it. Then he closes his eyes, focusing all his attention on his training as warm light gathers beneath his palm.
Evethal
Please, Great Mother, grant me the power to cure my friend from this pain. Guide my hands with your grace and bring him vitality.
The prayer answers in a deep, gentle radiance. The torn flesh closes completely, the pain leaves Caelen’s side, and the glowing tattoo lines fade as Evethal’s last restorative supplies are spent.
Sir Meredin Vale
Well done, healer. Your friend stands whole again. Rest if you can, both of you, while I hold this road.
Director's notewhole tale
Evethal wipes sweat from his brow as he regains his breath. He turns to Caelen with a smile, endlessly pleased to see his friend completely healed. He makes a mental note to buy more medicine while in town. He sighs, before turning to Sir Meredin.
“"No, we can come with you now. Caelen is healed, and I will recover quickly. Let us go before they spread much further."”
SUCCESS (Fair Agility, rolled +2)
Evethal
No, we can come with you now. Caelen is healed, and I will recover quickly. Let us go before they spread much further.
Evethal wipes sweat from his brow and regains his breath. Still holding Caelen’s arm, he turns with a grateful smile toward Sir Meredin.
Sir Meredin Vale
Then stay close and keep your strength. We move together, and we protect every soul behind those doors.
Caelen rolls his shoulders, testing the healed side, then fastens his coat. He takes position beside Evethal, his sword ready and his breathing steady.
Caelen
The pain is gone completely. I will guard Evethal while you lead us to the source.
Sir Meredin advances west along the harbor road. Caelen and Evethal follow at his side, Evethal’s small hand reassuringly wrapped around Caelen’s forearm.
Behind them, the guild doors hold firm. Ahead, black roots crawl between the paving stones and vanish toward the western streets, their spreading trail clear in the salt-bright air.