The glowing path leads Kendra and the Aging Knight away from the hollow, winding deep into a grove of gnarled, silver-barked trees. The rhythmic hum of the forest intensifies as they crest a low ridge.
Below them, the stone shrine sits nestled against a hillside, its roof partially collapsed. Weeds with luminescent veins choke the entrance, yet the interior remains sheltered from the rising forest chill.
Aging Knight
This place... it is older than the kings of the West. My strength fades, but we are near the sanctuary.
Kendra
The carvings on the shrine archway match the geometry of the map from the chest.
Aging Knight
Help me to the altar, Kendra. If the path ends here, we must see what the builders left for those who follow the light.
+ Scene Quest Added
Investigate the stone shrine
+ Story Quest Added
Escort the Aging Knight to the altar
“Tend to his wounds and then inspect the shrine”
SUCCESS (Poor Healing, rolled +2)
Kendra moves with practiced focus, her hands working the cloth of the Aging Knight's tunic to bind the worst of his gashes. He hisses at the initial touch, but soon his breathing levels into a rhythmic calm as the bleeding slows to a mere trickle.
Aging Knight
Your touch is steady. Better than a master medic, I would wager. I can manage the final steps myself.
With the knight stabilized, Kendra turns her attention to the overgrown entrance. She clears the luminescent weeds aside, revealing a series of floor tiles etched with concentric circles.
Kendra
The pattern beneath the vines is not merely decorative. It aligns perfectly with the silver map.
As she clears the last of the foliage, a hidden mechanism clicks within the floor. A low, grinding sound emanates from the walls as a concealed compartment slides open near the base of the central altar, revealing a glimmering, intact scroll case.
Aging Knight
The relic. It survived the collapse all these centuries. You have truly guided us to the heart of the mystery.
Quest Complete
Investigate the stone shrine
Skill Upgrade: Healing Poor→Mediocre
Quest Complete
Escort the Aging Knight to the altar
Skill Upgrade: Healing Mediocre→Fair
+ New Item Acquired
Metallic scroll case
