Campaign: “The Shrouded Vale”
Episode 19: Helping Hands
April 21, 2025
With a quick nod, Borra draws the darkened form of Tavi Falconheart away from the basin. The corrupted ranger follows with a furious snarl, leaving his past-self alone at the heart of the chamber.
Without hesitation, Tavi lifts the heavy stone once more and slams it down with all his strength. The basin splits open. Another strike—and it ruptures completely. The shimmering fluid spills across the cracked floor, hissing as it touches the ancient stone.
The dungeon trembles as exposed roots snake down the walls, thrashing like wounded serpents. They lash out, grasping anything within reach.
Tavi hacks furiously at the entangling vines. Borra too, slashing with his crude mechanical hands, fights his way back to Tavi’s side. The roots coil tighter, desperate to hold them—but the shimmering begins to ease.
With a final shudder, the dungeon releases them. The roots fall limp. The magic dies.
The battered companions stagger back to their feet, bruised but alive. Across the chamber, the broken reflection of Tavi crumples—lifeless. A vessel of a future-self that can no longer exist.
Tavi stares at what remains of himself, trying to piece together what had happened.
He sacrificed himself...
Heavy breathing echoes through the chamber.
For me,
he whispers.
Borra steps forward, placing a firm wooden hand on Tavi's shoulder. His voice is soft, but certain.
No,
he said, giving Tavi's shoulder a firm, reassuring squeeze. You sacrificed yourself.
He slowly released his grip. For me.
Confusion flickers across Tavi’s face. He wasn’t aware of what Borra meant—no memory of the crushing ceiling trap, the gauntlet, or the unsigned contract. He didn’t know how his actions, trapped in the time loop, had saved Borra’s soul from corruption.
Climbing the rope hand over hand, they emerged from the broken dungeon into the heart of the Shrouded Vale. Yet somehow, the forest that greeted them was not the same as when Tavi had entered it—mere moments ago. It was vibrant now, alive once more. A butterfly danced to the returned chorus of birdsong beneath the canopy of green, a quiet promise that the corruption had truly ended.
For a long moment, they simply stood in the sunlight, breathing in the sweet, wild air.
Maybe it’s time I left the rogue’s path behind,
Borra said, a rare smile touching his lips. There’s still work worth doing. Still wild places worth guarding.
Tavi looked out over the endless green, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
You don't have to become a druid to protect this forest,
he said. We make a pretty good team as we are. What do you say?
Borra chuckled—a real laugh this time, free and unburdened. He patted Tavi on the back with a heavy, wooden hand.
Yeah,
he said, gazing out over the Vale. I think we do.