The small fire burns without smoke, its heat soft against the crisp valley air. Kynes and Bren sit close in the clearing, the new house behind them quiet and still.
Bren tears bread, then offers half to Kynes with an easy, tired smile. For once, her shoulders are not braced for a door to burst open.
Kynes
The valley is quiet enough to hear the fire settle.
Bren
This feels like ours, not borrowed. I could get used to that.
She glances toward the house, then back to him, warm and faintly amused. The gold thread between them gives a steady, peaceful pulse.
Bren
If you want, we can stay by the fire a while longer. No plans, no roads, just this.
The clearing holds its breath in the best way, open sky above and shelter at their backs. Kynes has room to answer, or simply keep sharing the quiet.
✓ Quest Accepted
Investigate the sudden sound from the woods
“Staying seated" it's probably a deer or something"”
Kynes stays seated, half a loaf still in hand, while the valley’s hush holds. Then a faint snap rustles from the woods beyond the clearing, distant enough to be harmless, close enough to notice.
Kynes
Probably a deer, or something.
Bren
Could be. If you want to ignore it, I will.
“" it's been quiet here, it's probably Mara from phandelver saying something feels off" I say jokingly”
Kynes lets the joke hang in the firelight, and Bren’s mouth quirks with a quiet smile. The woods stay distant, the valley hum steady, as she leans a little closer instead of reaching for her blade.
Bren
Maybe. If Mara is haunting us all the way out here, I hope she brought better timing.
Bren
But if it is only the wind, then stay here with me a moment longer.
“" it's the wind, I'm staying"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Kynes
It is the wind. I am staying.
Kynes stays where he is, the bread still in his hand, and lets the fire keep its small circle of light around them.
Bren
Good. I was hoping you would say that.
Bren
Then stay. Tell me what kind of wind you hear.
The valley hum runs under her words, steady and low, while the distant woods give no answer yet.
Kynes
The sound is farther off than the firelight reaches.
Bren shifts closer, shoulder brushing his arm, her teasing warmth easing into something more careful and real.
Bren
If it is nothing, we keep our peace. If it is not, we go together.
“I create a single crow with the same duplicate abilities as the ones I made before. " Go cheak that shit out I'm not moving for a deer or other wild life. That includes goblins and trolls" and I send the crow”
SUCCESS (Legendary Arcana, rolled +0)
Kynes
Go check that out. I am not moving for a deer or other wild life. That includes goblins and trolls.
Kynes lifts his staff and shapes a single crow from the fire’s low shadow. It pulls free, black-feathered and silent, and perches at the edge of his reach.
With a flick of his wrist, he sends it out over the grass and toward the dark woods. The bird leaps away at once, low and swift.
Bren straightens beside him, bread forgotten in her hand, her eyes following the crow into the trees. The valley hum stays even beneath the sudden movement.
Bren
Then we wait for what it finds.
Out past the firelight, the crow vanishes into the black line of the woods, and something there answers with a dry crack, closer than before.
“" could be Venom, once he was free he kind of fucked off." I shrug not caring and taking another bite."I accept Venom over Mara" I say chewing the bread”
Kynes chews and shrugs toward the trees. The fire stays low, the valley hum steady, and the distant crack does not come again. Bren watches him over her bread, calm enough to wait.
Kynes
Could be Venom. Once he was free, he kind of drifted off. I accept Venom over Mara.
Bren’s mouth twitches at that, more thoughtful than amused, and she takes another bite while the woods remain dark and still.