Thumm’s vast stone steps rise from a bowl of gold sand, jungle pressing close beyond it. Soldiers hold the terraces while the rival runner climbs alone, a lean young adult man in red-and-black wraps, bronze bracers, and a sealed letter clenched in one hand.
Heat shimmers over the pyramid’s lower stones. The watching soldiers keep their spears grounded, but every face turns toward Thixx and the stranger beneath his towering nemes.
Kharad
I am Kharad, claimant of the rank you wear. By old desert law, I bring this sealed challenge and demand the right to settle it by melee.
Kharad, a young adult man with dark skin, close-cropped black hair, and a narrow scar through one eyebrow raises the letter overhead without breaking its wax. A murmur passes through the soldiers, then dies as quickly as it began.
Kharad
Open it before your troops, first one. If you refuse the duel, let them witness that refusal beside your own pyramid.
The soldiers remain motionless along the steps, their attention fixed on the sealed challenge. Kharad stands below Thixx, waiting with the letter extended.
✓ Quest Accepted
Answer Kharad's challenge and defend Thixx's rank
“" When and where? A 1 on 1 with melee weapons? "”
SUCCESS (Great Reasoning, rolled +1)
Thixx
When and where? One on one with melee weapons?
Kharad
At sunset, in Thumm’s eastern court. One against one, blade against blade, with no sorcery and no allies within the marked stones.
Kharad lowers the sealed letter and points toward the pyramid’s eastern flank, where a broad court lies between weathered pillars. Soldiers watch the exchange in rigid silence.
Kharad
The first blood that marks the sand ends the contest. If either claimant yields, the old law recognizes the victor without dispute.
He extends the letter again, this time offering it for acceptance rather than demanding its opening. The wax seal bears a split sun over crossed bronze blades.
Thumm's soldiers
The eastern court at sunset. One challenger, one claimant.
The soldiers’ chorus settles the terms before the watching terraces. Kharad holds his ground below Thixx, awaiting the sealed challenge’s acceptance and the appointed hour.
“"tell him, i accept and my rank is the highest, a melee challenge of rank should be to the death, as it is written in our history"”
SUCCESS (Great Reasoning, rolled +1)
Thixx
I accept. My rank is the highest. A melee challenge for such a rank must be to the death, as written in our history.
Thixx takes the sealed challenge, its wax cool against his fingers. The split sun and crossed blades face the watching terraces as the acceptance becomes public.
Kharad
Then the letter’s silence is broken by your judgment. I accept the older law, first one. At sunset, the eastern court decides which rank survives.
Kharad bows once, not deeply, and draws a bronze knife to cut the wax. He unfolds the challenge beneath the hard white glare.
Thumm's soldiers
By the first history, the highest rank is staked in blood. At sunset, the eastern court bears witness.
Kharad
Let every stone remember it. I will come armed for the final measure, and I will not call your rank lesser when the sand is marked.
He folds the opened letter against his chest and descends toward the jungle path. Above, the soldiers remain still while sunset gathers beyond Thumm’s eastern pillars.