⚔️ Group 1 - 014 - Return to Readingham · Threads of Fate

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⚔️ Group 1 - 014 - Return to Readingham

The ranger gives a small nod of approval at your decision.

"Smart. Five we can see, unknown how many total. Better to come back prepared."

You slowly, carefully, back away from the camp, retracing your steps through the forest. Every sound feels amplified, every snapped twig like a thunderclap.

But the bandits remain oblivious, their laughter and conversation fading as you put distance between yourselves and the hidden camp.

Once you're clear of the immediate area, you pick up the pace.

The Road North

You leave the camp behind, traveling back the road towards Readingham.

The journey takes the rest of the day and into the next morning.

You camp once along the way, the ranger taking first watch with practiced ease.

Readingham

The city walls appear on the horizon, banners snapping in the wind.

The guards at the gate wave you through with barely a glance, though one eyes the ranger with mild curiosity.

You make your way through the familiar streets, past the market now in full morning swing, toward the

Scholar's Quarter.

The tower with the blue door stands tall and silent.

You knock.

The door swings open immediately.

"Enter."

Elara's Tower

The mage is at her desk, surrounded by maps and open books. She looks up as you file in, her sharp eyes taking in your travel-worn appearance, the new member of your group, and the urgency in your postures.

"Back already." She sets down her quill. "Report."

You tell her everything:

Thornhaven is mostly abandoned but a handful of people remain
No corruption, no undead, no shadow creatures
The supplies were stolen by bandits camped in the forest near Widow's Creek
At least five bandits, possibly more, with Thornhaven's goods clearly marked
The survivors stayed behind, waiting for their fishing crews to return

Elara listens without interrupting, her expression unreadable.

When you finish, she leans back in her chair, steepling her fingers.

"Bandits." She sounds almost... disappointed.

"Not corruption. Not the darkness.

Just thieves disrupting the supply line."

She stands, moving to a map on the wall.

"Which means Thornhaven's silence wasn't caused by the spreading evil.

It was a side effect of the chaos it's creating.

Communication breaks down, caravans stop running, and opportunists fill the void."

She traces a line on the map from Readingham to Thornhaven.

"But that doesn't explain why the payments stopped in the first place.

Why the caravans ceased."

She turns back to you.

"Still, you did well.

You gathered the information I needed, confirmed Thornhaven isn't corrupted, and identified the immediate threat."

She moves to her desk and pulls out a sealed letter.

"Take this to the Guard Captain at the castle.

Tell him what you found. He'll dispatch soldiers to deal with the bandits and secure the supply line."

She hands you the letter.

"After that..." She pauses, studying each of you. "Come back here. There's something else I need you to investigate.

Something more relevant to the true threat."

Her expression darkens slightly.

"Because while Thornhaven was a false alarm, the corruption is still spreading. And I think I know where to look next."

🎯 What Do You Do?

Go to the castle immediately. Deliver Elara's letter to the Guard Captain.
Ask Elara what the next investigation is.
Request to join the soldiers going back. You found the camp, you should be there when it's dealt with.
Other → as discussed

Go to the castle

Ask Elara what the next investigation is.

Request to join the soldiers

Other → as discussed

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