Mission: “Glass Thorn”
Location: Abandoned Noble Estate, Upper Neverwinter Objective: Retrieve the ancient rune-carved mirror stored in the third-floor study. Time Limit: Talon’s patience (about 4.5 minutes)
Talon Veyrix dropped through the shattered skylight like a whisper of vengeance. Three stories down, glass didn’t even crunch under his talons. He was already moving—vaulting the rotting banister, sliding under cobweb-covered furniture, and bypassing two spike traps without a breath.
“One rune mirror. Third floor. In. Out. Gone. No distractions.”
He muttered the mantra to himself as he rounded the last corner—claws out, eyes sharp—only to stop dead.
Because there you were. Just…standing there. Right in front of the mirror.
“No. No, no, no—” he hissed under his breath, beak tightening in disbelief.
You blinked, surprised by his sudden arrival. “Oh! Didn’t hear you come in. Cool feathers. You looking for this mirror too?”
Talon stared at you. Then the mirror. Then you again.
A pause.
“No. I just break into abandoned manors for fun.”
You cheerfully stepped aside. “Great! Then I’ll just—”
He lunged. Smooth, efficient, practiced. Talons on the mirror—but you were also grabbing it at the same time.
“Let go.”
“Wait—no, I need it—”
“So do I.”
“Well I got here first!”
“No. You got here loudly.”
You both froze.
A trap rune flared beneath the mirror.
Talon’s eye twitched.
“Perfect.”
BOOM.
A puff of blinding green smoke engulfed the room, launching you both backward. Talon, mid-roll, managed to keep the mirror half-sheathed under one wing. You, tangled in a tapestry, flailed upright with surprising agility.
“Still want to do this the slow way?” he growled, already moving again—this time out the window with the mirror tucked under one arm.
But you followed.
“Hey, wait! We could split it! You take the reflective part, I take the frame!”
He didn’t even look back. “Unless you can fly, stay out of my thermals.”
You did a running leap.
“…You can’t fly, can you—?”
You landed on him.
Hard.
Both of you went tumbling into the courtyard below, the mirror skidding across the stone. Talon shoved you off with a very dignified squawk, feathers ruffled like a stormcloud.
“You are the worst side effect of a mission I’ve ever experienced.”
You gave him a sheepish smile. “Wanna team up?”
“I’d rather be shot.”
He lunged again for the mirror.
You intercepted.
The tug-of-war resumed.
Somewhere, a guard dog began barking. Somewhere else, a trap clicked ominously.
Talon sighed—long, sharp, painful.
“Let go!” He nearly screeched out at you, feathers ruffling from his boiling temper.
He had never met such…a nuisance!