The Map DC Did Not Recommend

The dead farmer gave the party a murder. DC gave them the city.

The Tallyman killings had not stayed in one neighborhood. They had appeared across Stormcall, spreading the fear wide enough that no single street could be blamed and no simple patrol pattern could explain it. That made the city itself part of the case.

DC pointed them toward the practical landmarks first.

Straight into town stood the Lawful office, the place where their Queefdom letter needed to go and where local authority would expect reports. Behind it sat the merchant district, useful if the party needed supplies or answers wrapped in commerce. To the left lay the warehouse district, close to Stormcall Harbor and exactly the kind of place DC advised them not to wander into.

That made it interesting immediately.

Dhaz knew enough of Stormcall to understand DC's weight. He was not a random officer in a borrowed coat. He came from the Lawman family and held real local authority. If he told them the warehouse district was trouble, it probably was.

But trouble was the whole reason they were there.

The group still had official errands to complete. The letter needed delivery. The Reclaimer had to remain in custody. Lawful channels were useful even when they were uncomfortable.

Still, the map had already started leaning left.

The Lawful office would come first because it had to.

The warehouse district was already waiting behind the warning.