⚔️ Group 1 - 010 - First Contact · Threads of Fate

Anjo Gaul

🔥

18d (edited) • ⚔️ Apocalypse Avengers - Story

⚔️ Group 1 - 010 - First Contact

While the others search the mill, you position yourself at the entrance, eyes scanning the empty streets.

Weapons ready. Senses alert.

Minutes pass.

Then, movement.

A figure emerges from between buildings, moving cautiously toward the mill. Young, male, carrying an empty sack.

You turn your head slightly. "Someone's coming."

Your comrades move to your side, hands on weapons but not drawn.

The young man sees you and freezes.

For a heartbeat, no one moves.

Then he turns to run.

"Wait!" you call out. "Don't run away! We're here to help!"

He stops in his tracks, half-turned, uncertain.

Slowly, he turns back around and walks over, eyes darting between each of you, taking in your weapons, your marks, your travel-worn appearance.

"Who... who are you?" His voice is shaky but not panicked.

"We're here to help," you repeat. "What happened here?"

He exhales, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.

"There are others. I came to get food from the mill.

Thought I saw movement earlier and ran." He glances back toward town. "Come. I'll take you to them."

The Southern House

He leads you through empty streets to a house at the southern edge of town.

A handful of people huddle in the main room.

Two older men, a woman with a child, another younger woman clutching a knife, an older woman tending a small fire in the hearth.

And sitting near the window, bow across his lap, is a ranger in worn leather, watchful eyes studying you as you enter.

They all tense when you appear, but the young man raises his hands.

"It's alright. They say they're here to help."

Their Story

The older of the two men, gray-bearded and weary, speaks first.

"Help? From where? Readingham?"

You nod.

He laughs bitterly.

"About damn time.

We haven't gotten any payment in over a month.

Caravans stopped coming. Messages stopped.

So we stopped sending supplies north."

He gestures around the room.

"Most people left. Packed up, headed to other towns, figured the capital had cut us off.

But some of us stayed. This is our home."

The gray-bearded man continues.

"We don't know if it was Readingham cutting us off, or if someone's been stealing the goods between here and there.

Either way, we need to know."

He looks at each of you.

"If you're really here to help, then help us figure out what's happening.

Where are our shipments going?

Why did the capital abandon us?"

The Ranger's Offer

The ranger stands, slinging his bow over his shoulder.

"I hunted these lands for fifteen years. Know every trail between here and Readingham."

He meets your eyes.

"If you're investigating this, I'm coming with you.

Whatever's taking our goods, whatever's causing this silence... I want answers too."

He crosses his arms.

"And you'll need someone who knows the terrain."

🎯 What Do You Say?

Accept Garrick's offer. An experienced ranger could be invaluable, and he has a stake in this.
Ask more questions first.
Tell them about the dragging sounds.
Suggest they come back to Readingham with you. It's not safe here, and Elara needs to know what's happening.
Other → as discussed

Accept the ranger's offer

Ask more questions first

Tell them about the dragging sounds

Suggest they come back to Readingham with you

Other → as discussed

4 votes

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