The Kingdom's gate groans shut behind Seth, sealing out the fog. Inside, lantern light flickers over muddy boots, stacked lumber, and tired faces moving like shadows. The air smells of wet straw, sweat, and wood smoke.
Kaley
You made it back. The depot is still holding, but just barely.
A runner hurries in from the yard, breathless, pointing toward the western wall. Somewhere beyond the stone, metal clangs once, hard and sharp. Seth catches a glimpse of fresh mud on the floor, tracking toward the armory steps.
Seth
Fresh tracks. Someone was here recently.
Miller
Seth, we got a problem. If that noise keeps up, it is going to pull walkers straight to us.
From the far end of the courtyard, the King's scouts start pointing and shouting. A second figure appears at the gate, hood up, hands raised, asking for Seth by name. The Kingdom tightens around the sound of trouble.
+ Story Quest Added
Find out who asked for Seth by name
+ Scene Quest Added
Investigate the fresh tracks leading to the armory
“I rip the robe off and say who are you and what the fuck do you want”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled -1)
Seth grabs the hooded stranger by the front and yanks the robe open. Fabric tears free, snapping back in his metal hand.
The face underneath is not hidden for long, a gaunt courier with a split lip and mud on his cheeks. A folded strip of cloth falls from the robe sleeve, marked with the Kingdom seal and Seth's name.
Hooded Figure
Easy. I was told to find you. They said you would want this first.
Miller steps in from the side, one hand up, eyes hard on the stranger. Kaley looks past them toward the armory steps, where the metal clang echoes again, sharper this time.
Kaley
Seth, the depot warning is still bad. If that sound is from the wall, we need to know now.
Miller
And if he's lying, say the word. We can lock him down.
The courier does not struggle. He only stares at Seth's hand, then at the name on the cloth, waiting for the question he came to answer.
“Kayley shut the fuck up alright can't you see I got more important shit to deal with miller go deal with the depot with her if you want I'm dealing with this "Seth says"”
SUCCESS (Superb Willpower, rolled +4)
Seth
Kayley, shut up. Miller, go deal with the depot with her if you want. I am handling this.
The courtyard snaps quiet for half a second. Kaley stops mid-turn, jaw tight. Miller cuts a look toward the armory steps, then back at Seth.
Kaley
Fine. Then tell me you heard that noise too.
Seth jerks the courier closer instead. The man swallows and nods once, eyes flicking to the cloth in Seth's hand.
Hooded Figure
I know who sent the message. Not by name. By seal. I was told to bring it to you alone.
The courier tips his chin toward the strip of cloth. The Kingdom seal is clean, but the edge is smeared with fresh mud, the same track-marked mud leading toward the armory steps.
Miller
Seth, say the word and I stay here. Or I move on the wall with Kaley.
The clang from the armory side rings again, louder now, and a second smear of boot mud is visible on the stone by the step.
“Go assist Kayley man I need to deal with this then I proceed to ask the man who he is what he wants and where he's from”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Seth barks for Miller to cover Kaley, then breaks away from the courier. The armory steps call harder than the courtyard noise, and the mud smear catches his eye like a trail marker.
Miller
Got it. Kaley, with me. Seth, I’ll watch your back.
Kaley moves with Miller, both angling toward the armory side. Seth closes the distance to the hooded man before he can slip into the gate shadows.
Seth
Who are you, what do you want, and where are you from?
Hooded Figure
Just a rider. I come from the outer road. They told me to bring the seal and speak to you by name.
He says it fast, then jerks his chin toward the cloth in Seth’s hand. The seal matches, but the knotwork tie is Kingdom work, not road scavenger work.
Kaley
That tie is from our side. Seth, the armory noise is not nothing.
The man’s eyes flick once toward the armory steps. Another hard clang echoes from there, close enough to rattle the courtyard stones.
Quest Complete
Find out who asked for Seth by name
New Gift: Underground Networker
“Then fucking deal with it damnit I got shit to do miller help her so she'll shut the fuck up”
SUCCESS (Good Intimidation, rolled +0)
Seth
Then deal with it. I have shit to do. Miller, help her, so she shuts up.
Seth's words crack across the courtyard. The hooded man flinches and freezes in place.
Miller
On it. Kaley, stay with me.
Miller shifts in front of Kaley, blocking the lane to the armory while Seth turns away from the courier.
Kaley
He heard it too. Good.
Seth moves straight to the mud smear on the stone step and the strip of cloth tied near it. The fresh tracks line up with the step, then angle toward the armory door.
Hooded Figure
Wait. That message was meant for you, Seth. If you leave now, you might be too late.
From inside the armory, another hard clang rings out, followed by a scraping drag against metal. All three of them go still, listening.
Quest Complete
Investigate the fresh tracks leading to the armory
New Gift: Armory Logistics Expert