Rain remains seated among the fresh shoots, brushing damp soil from their leaves as the villagers depart along the muddy path, relics bundled in cloaks and festival cloth.
The cloaked woman stays behind at the clearing’s edge, watching the trees. The exiled lord approaches alone, his guards absent, carrying only the braided cord marked with his family crest.
Edric Vale
Rain, hear an oath from me. Not for the shrine, nor for the dead beneath it, but for what becomes of this valley now.
He stops beyond the living roots and holds the cord in both hands. The forest quiets around him, while the cloaked woman turns from the trees to listen.
Edric Vale
My house will remove every stone that chokes the living earth. We will guard the valley without claiming it, and answer for every old bargain.
Sera
An oath is easy while the roots are watching. Say what you will surrender when your people demand the old order back.
Edric Vale
Then let Rain judge whether I speak plainly. I offer the cord, the title it carries, and my service to the valley’s renewal.
“*he looks at the exiled lord* "I'm still not sure you understand, Mother doesn't care about cords or titles, it cares about actions, if you want to help this place you don't even have to remove the stone, Mother's already working on that, take off all that heayy armor and your shoes and softly exist here, causing as little damage as possible and just enjoy what Mother provides."”
SUCCESS (Great Reasoning, rolled +2)
Rain
I'm still not sure you understand. Mother does not care about cords or titles. She cares about actions. If you want to help, act gently.
Rain
You do not even have to remove the stone. Mother is already working on that. Take off your heavy armor and shoes, cause as little damage as possible, and enjoy what she provides.
The exiled lord looks from the braided cord to the green shoots, then lowers himself beyond the roots. He sets the cord in the open earth and begins unfastening his armor.
Edric Vale
Then let my first action be surrendering what weighs upon this place. I will learn to stand here without ruling it.
Piece by piece, he removes the heavy plates and lays them together away from the living shoots. At last he pulls off his shoes and places his bare feet in the damp soil.
Sera
That is plainer than any oath. Keep your hands open, my lord, and let the valley teach you what service means.
The roots remain still, but small leaves turn toward him. Water beads on their surfaces, and the clearing settles into a quiet that accepts his unarmed presence.
“"now you're getting it, love and respect for all that Mother gives, she is the womb from which we are all birthed, she takes care of us when we take care of her. Also cloaked woman, let her see you, she loves to look at her children"”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled -2)
Rain
Now you are getting it. Love and respect for all Mother gives. She is the womb that births us, and she cares for us when we care for her.
Rain
And you, cloaked woman, let her see you. She loves to look upon her children.
The cloaked woman goes still. Then she removes her gray hood and unwinds the scarf across her face, revealing a young adult woman with warm brown skin, close-cropped black hair, and a pale scar at her brow. Her travel-worn green tunic and dark cloak hang lightly from her lean frame.
Sera
Then I will stand before her without hiding. No more half-truths, no more borrowed faces.
She steps barefoot into the damp earth beside the lord. The shoots turn toward her, and a ring of tiny white flowers opens around her feet. The effort drains the color from her face, leaving her briefly unsteady.
Edric Vale
The valley receives you as it receives me. I will remember that neither of us stands above it.
Sera
Let the roots know my face, and let their silence judge what I do next.
“"now if we can only get the lord to take his helmet off so he may reveal himself to Mother as well"”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled -2)
Rain
Take off your helmet too. Let Mother see your face, and let your first service be given without anything between you and her.
The exiled lord’s hand rises to the iron helmet. Its clasp has rusted tight, and when he wrenches it free, the metal tears a shallow line across his temple.
Edric Vale
Then let even that small pain be honestly borne. I will not hide behind steel while asking the valley to trust me.
He sets the helmet beside his armor and kneels barefoot in the damp earth. His weathered face, silver-streaked beard, and old brow scar stand open beneath the trees.
Sera
Now the Mother sees the man beneath the house. Remember this face when duty tempts you to become the title again.
The shoots lean toward the exiled lord and the tiny flowers widen around both visitors. A cool green scent rises from the soil, while a thin line of blood darkens his temple.
Edric Vale
I will remember. No crest, armor, or helmet will speak for me here again.
“*Rain looks at the blood on the lord's head* "Can I take care of that for you?" *Rain points toward the man's temple*”
SUCCESS (Great Medicine, rolled -1)
Rain
Can I take care of that for you?
Rain points toward the exiled lord’s temple. The blood is shallow but fresh, threading through his silver-streaked beard as the green scent gathers around them.
Edric Vale
Yes. I accept your care, Rain. Show me how to make amends without causing another wound.
The exiled lord lowers his head and stays still, bare feet rooted in the damp soil. The cloaked woman steps aside, leaving the space between them clear.
Rain
The cut is shallow and clean.
Sera
He is listening now. Tend him gently, and let the first lesson be kindness without ceremony.
Nearby broadleaf herbs glisten beneath the trees, their crushed scent sharp and medicinal. The exiled lord waits quietly, temple turned toward Rain’s offered help.
“*Rain gets up to go collect a couple of the glistening herbs nearby and audibly thanks Mother for the herbs before returning to the lord* "chew and apply to the wound, it will clean and close it, you two look nice by the way, glad you're no longer hiding yourselves. I go by Rain, how about yourselves?"”
SUCCESS (Great Medicine, rolled +0)
Rain rises from the shoots and crosses the damp earth barefoot. He gathers two glistening broadleaf herbs, their sharp medicinal scent brightening beneath his fingers.
Rain
Thank you, Mother, for these gifts.
He returns and crushes the leaves between his fingers, offering them to the exiled lord before gently pressing the green pulp against the shallow cut.
Rain
Chew and apply this to the wound. It will clean and close it. You two look nice by the way. I’m glad you’re no longer hiding yourselves. I go by Rain. How about yourselves?
Edric Vale
I am Edric Vale, though the title has served me longer than my own name. Thank you, Rain. I will chew it and apply it as you say.
Sera
And I am Sera. The name is mine, at least. I am glad to meet you openly, Rain, and grateful for your kindness.
Edric chews the bitter leaves, then presses the softened herbs to his temple. The bleeding soon stills, and the white flowers around Sera’s feet open wider.
✓ Quest Accepted
Help Edric make amends without causing harm
“"Nice to meet you Edric and Sera"”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled -2)
Rain
Nice to meet you, Edric and Sera.
Rain offers each of them an open hand, his greeting plain beneath the sheltering branches. The gesture stirs a hanging thorn vine, which catches his forearm and leaves a thin bright scratch.
Edric Vale
And you, Rain. I would rather be known by that name than by any title I have carried.
Sera
Nice to meet you openly as well. You have a way of making simple words feel like a place to stand.
Rain frees his arm from the vine without tearing it, then lets the tendril settle back among the leaves. The small wound beads red, but the forest’s green scent remains calm.
Edric Vale
You gave us medicine, counsel, and a gentler beginning than we deserved. What service can we offer the valley now?
Sera
We can start by carrying no more than the earth can bear, and by listening when it tells us to stop.
Quest Complete
Help Edric make amends without causing harm