Under the stone archway, the armory noise falls away to a distant grind of voices and carts. Butch and Sable set the new mail on the floor, the links dull in the lantern light.
The Armorer kneels beside them, turning the shield boss in his iron hand. He taps the steel, listens, and gives a slow nod.
The Armorer
Good steel. Heavy, honest work. It will hold.
Sable
That is a relief. We have had enough things that only look sturdy.
Sable runs her fingers over the mail rings, then glances toward Butch. The city’s low roar seeps through the arch, far enough away to feel harmless for once.
The Armorer
If you mean to leave by dusk, take the west road. It is less watched than the market gate.
Butch the Wereboar
The west road is quieter.
Sable
Then we take the west road. We can breathe after we clear the last wall.
✓ Quest Accepted
Leave the city by the west road
“Butch gently wraps an arm around Sable's shoulders and asks her, "ready to start our journey, my love?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -2)
Butch wraps an arm around Sable’s shoulders, and the gesture pulls her closer at once. The armory feels smaller for a heartbeat, all lantern glow and soft metal shine.
Butch the Wereboar
Ready to start our journey, my love?
Sable
Her shoulders ease under his arm, and a faint smile slips through the tiredness. Yes, this is the step she wanted.
Sable
With you, yes. It feels calmer when we choose the road together.
The Armorer keeps his gaze on the gear, giving them a little privacy. His iron hand rests on the shield boss, steady and plain.
The Armorer
If you leave by the west road, do it before the market bells. Dawn watchers pay less attention, and the city folk are still half asleep.
Sable turns her head against Butch’s arm and looks toward the archway, where the city murmur waits beyond stone and soot. The alliance holds, warm and quiet, while the road beyond sits ready.
“I thank the armorer and then me and Sable leave for the west gate”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled -2)
Butch gives the Armorer a respectful nod, and the man answers with a curt little dip of his iron hand. The thanks lands cleanly, like a coin on a bench.
The Armorer
Safe road to you both. West gate, before the bells.
Sable gathers the last of the gear against her shield, and Butch takes up the lead. The armory door opens onto the street, spilling cool morning air over soot and brass.
They step out together and start through the waking city, keeping to the quieter lanes.
The market is still half-asleep, shutters down, carts silent. Butch and Sable move past the last baker's smoke and toward the western arches.
Above them, a shape shifts on a rooftop, just long enough for Sable to glance up and tighten her grip on the shield.
“Butch turns and immediately fires a shot from his gun at the rooftop figure”
SUCCESS (Legendary Ranged Combat, rolled +2)
Butch whips around at the rooftop line and fires. The shot cracks across the waking street, and the dark figure jerks out of view in a burst of tiles and dust.
A loose shape tumbles from the eaves, slamming hard onto the cobbles below the roofline. It lands badly, then lies still in the shadow of a chimney.
Sable
There was someone up there.
Sable drops her chin from the roofline and snaps her shield tighter against her side, already moving to Butch's flank.
The Armorer
That is why I said the west gate early.
From the armory threshold, the open door frames the empty lane and the fallen shape beyond. The city feels suddenly awake around the edges.
Sable
We move now, before anyone else looks up.
“Butch nods and ge and sabke begin running for the city's exit”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +0)