Rain lashes the warehouse awning as the nervous harbour factor hurries from the river quarter and stops short beneath it. Relief flashes across his wet, lean face when he sees the one-eyed dock guard captain holding the strongbox.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
Give it to me. At once. The tavern is no longer safe, and every moment we linger puts us all in danger.
The one-eyed dock guard captain angles his sword between the nervous harbour factor and the open door, keeping the strongbox tucked against his broad chest. Behind them, blue charms pulse faintly around the chained alcove.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
You can have it when you explain why your safe tavern sent us to a listening ward with half the truth missing.
The nervous harbour factor’s relief collapses. His gaze fixes on the bell-shaped marks circling the alcove, and fear tightens his mouth as though the symbols have spoken his name.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
Those marks were not meant to wake. The lure was sealed. I was told the bell-bearer would never reach it.
The confession hangs beneath the awning while rain sheets across the threshold. The tavern keeper remains behind at the tavern, and the one-eyed dock guard captain’s blade does not lower; the strongbox stays in his arms.
✓ Quest Accepted
Bring the harbour factor into the escape with the strongbox
“We're not giving you the box, Iven. I don't see the coin I was promised... And if you insist on going somewhere, you'll be coming with us. I think you've got some explaining to do...”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled -1)
Oju
We're not giving you the box, Iven. I don't see the coin you promised. If you insist on going somewhere, you're coming with us. You've got explaining to do.
Oju plants himself between Iven and the strongbox, one hoof near his cutlass. The brown leather belt and gold buckle shift as his stance settles, making the weapon's presence unmistakable.
His keen ears catch hurried footsteps beyond the rain and the factor's breath hitching before he answers. Beneath the wet wool, Oju smells fear, old wax, and river mud, but no approaching reinforcements.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
Very well. Keep the box. The advance was never mine to pay, and the tavern was chosen because its keeper would ask no questions.
The one-eyed dock guard captain tightens his hold on the strongbox and angles his sword toward the open street. Iven sees the cutlass at Oju's belt, then the captain's guarded posture, and stops reaching.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
I was paid to place the lure and bring the bell-bearer to it. I did not know what would wake, only that someone wanted the ward tested.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
Then you walk with us, Iven. You will explain who hired you, and the box stays out of your hands until we hear the whole account.
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn who hired Iven
“"Keep an eye on the lad, Dask... I'm sure he's not telling us the full story." Oju then steps aside to inspect the contents of the heavy purse.”
SUCCESS (Good Perception, rolled +1)
Oju
Keep an eye on the lad, Dask. I’m sure he’s not telling us the full story.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
I have one eye, goat, and it is more than enough for him. He stays where I can see him.
Dask shifts to block the warehouse door, keeping his sword angled toward Iven while the strongbox remains locked against his chest. Iven’s hands rise, empty and irritated.
Oju steps aside beneath the awning and draws the heavy purse from his coat. Its leather is rain-damp, but the tied mouth opens readily beneath his practiced fingers.
Inside lie thirty silver crowns, three gold royals, and a narrow strip of parchment folded beneath the coins. Oju’s keen nose catches fresh sealing wax and bitter blackroot ink.
Oju
The coin is genuine. The parchment is the part I was never meant to find.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
That purse is the advance. Nothing more. Whatever you think you found, it has no bearing on the bargain.
“"Seems to be little more than coin... At least you're not a liar in that respect." Oju states, plainly. Before shifting his attention to Dask, and approaching the warehouse door. "Mind stepping aside for a quick moment? The symbol on it looks familiar, I just want to be sure..." He then says, intending to take advantage of obscured line of sight to inspect the parchment.”
SUCCESS (Good Perception, rolled +1)
Oju
Seems to be little more than coin. At least you're not a liar in that respect.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
I said the advance was honest. I never said the rest of this affair was.
Oju
Dask, mind stepping aside for a quick moment? The symbol on it looks familiar. I just want to be sure.
Dask shifts aside without lowering his sword. Oju slips the parchment from beneath the coins and moves near the warehouse door, where the awning and his body hide it from Iven.
His keen ears catch Iven's breath quickening behind him, while fresh wax and bitter blackroot ink sharpen beneath the rain. Oju unfolds the parchment beside the route, matching their marks.
The parchment bears a faint second impression: the split crown encircling an ear, with a line beneath it reading, “Present the bell-bearer, and the ward will open.” A smaller notation names the strongbox as bait.
Oju
The symbol is not a warning. It is an invitation meant for me.
+ New Item Acquired
Parchment
“Oju carefully folds the parchment and slips it into his pocket, alongside the other. Before closing the purse and returning it to his side. He then turns to exit the warehouse. Once outside, he idly mutters; "Just your typical coin... Nothing unusual about it." he then turns his attention to Iven. "So... Is that all you're willing to share about your mysterious employer?"”
SUCCESS (Fair Persuasion, rolled -1)
Oju folds the parchment along its creases and slips it beside the route, then closes the purse and returns it to his side. His gold bell gives one restrained chime as he turns away.
Dask keeps the strongbox braced against his chest while Oju passes beneath the awning. The cutlass at Oju’s belt shifts with each step, its gold buckle catching the warehouse’s fading blue light.
Oju
Just your typical coin... Nothing unusual about it.
Outside, rain drums on the awning. Oju’s keen ears catch Iven’s breath tighten behind him, while his nose finds fresh wax and blackroot ink clinging to the purse, despite its innocent weight.
Oju
So... Is that all you're willing to share about your mysterious employer?
The Nervous Harbour Factor
No. The employer calls himself Veyr. He paid in advance, used no seal, and ordered me to bring the bell-bearer to the ward. I never saw his face, but he knew your name and promised more coin if the ward opened.
Quest Complete
Learn who hired Iven
Attribute Upgrade: Perception Good→Great
“Oju quietly nods, then speaks up once more. "I think I've gotten what information I need from him. What do you think, Dask? You want to take him for questioning?"”
FAILURE (Fair Persuasion, rolled -2)
Oju
I think I've gotten what information I need from him. What do you think, Dask? You want to take him for questioning?
Oju nods quietly. His keen ears catch Iven’s breath hitch, while his reading of motives finds calculation beneath the factor’s alarm and a harder purpose settling in Dask’s guarded stance.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
I want answers, yes. But I am not taking him anywhere as my prisoner. The box is already trouble enough, and I have no warrant to make a second burden of him.
Dask’s eye stays on Iven, but his sword lowers a fraction. Oju reads the refusal clearly: Dask will question him here, yet will not abandon the strongbox or claim authority he lacks.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
Then ask quickly. Veyr expects word at the old tide chapel before dawn. If I do not report, he will know the ward opened and send someone more dangerous than me.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
There is your opening, goat. We question him here, then choose whether the chapel is safer than waiting for Veyr to come looking.
“"Truth be told, Dask... Whatever the hell this is about doesn't concern me. I had a job to do, coin promised. And this man here has effectively robbed me in broad daylight with this farce." Oju glares at Iven for a moment, as he delivered those words. "But..." he then adds, with a brief silence. Before continuing. "I do owe you, after all."”
SUCCESS (Fair Persuasion, rolled +2)
Oju
Truth be told, Dask, whatever this is about doesn't concern me. I had a job to do, coin promised, and this man has robbed me with his farce.
Oju
But... I do owe you, after all.
Oju glares at Iven, then lets the silence work. His reading of motives catches the factor’s calculation faltering beneath fear; the debt to Dask gives the pressure a credible edge.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
All right. Veyr did not merely want the ward tested. He wanted the box carried to the old tide chapel after it opened.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
The box contains a key, or so Veyr claimed. The chapel has a sealed crypt beneath its altar, and the bell-bearer is meant to open it.
Dask’s grip tightens around the strongbox. Rain hammers the awning, while the blue charms answer with a faint pulse from the chained alcove.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
Then we have a destination, a purpose, and a reason to keep Iven close. He walks with us to the chapel, unless you choose otherwise, goat.
“"Before we go... Dask... You must know this place better than I do, being a local dock guard captain and all... This warehouse, is there any other way someone could have snuck in, or gotten out of it?"”
SUCCESS (Great Perception, rolled +3)
Oju
Before we go, Dask, you know this place better than I do. Is there another way someone could have slipped in, or gotten out?
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
There is an old flood passage beneath the riverside wall. It was sealed years ago, but warehouse owners are fond of calling rotten boards secure.
Oju searches the warehouse’s edges while rain masks the street. His long ears separate water from a faint hollow drip beneath the floor, and his keen nose finds river silt beneath the dust.
Behind stacked timber, he finds a warped section of wall hiding an iron-ringed hatch. The mud around its lower seam is fresh, and narrow scrape marks lead inward from the river.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
That hatch opens into the old tide channel. It bypasses the street entirely, and it was not there when I last inspected this warehouse.
The hatch’s inner bar rests loose in its brackets. Oju has found a usable escape route, and the fresh silt confirms someone used it recently. Beyond it, the channel leads toward the old tide chapel.
“"Well then... Do you think we take this path and send Iven ahead of us, or do you think the street's safer?"”
SUCCESS (Fair Persuasion, rolled +0)
Oju
Well then... Do we take this path and send Iven ahead, or is the street safer?
Oju’s question lands quietly. Reading Dask’s motives, he catches the captain’s preference for concealment; Iven’s stiffening shows the chapel frightens him more than the rain does.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
The channel. Iven goes first, where we can see whether the way is clear. The street gives Veyr too many eyes and too much warning.
The Nervous Harbour Factor
I can lead you to the chapel through the channel. But if I go first, you keep that captain’s blade out of my back.
Dask’s eye narrows, but the decision holds. He lowers the strongbox beside the hatch and points his sword toward the dark opening, assigning Iven the first step.
The One-Eyed Dock Guard Captain
Agreed. Iven leads, we follow, and the box stays with me. If he bolts, goat, you answer for the favor I already called in tonight.
The cost settles between them as a fresh debt. Iven crouches and slips through the hatch into the hollow channel, while Dask follows with the strongbox and Oju has the hidden route secured.
Quest Complete
Bring the harbour factor into the escape with the strongbox
Attribute Upgrade: Perception Great→Superb