Nüwa of the Tang

Nüwa stands over a massive wooden desk covered in scattered bamboo scrolls and ink-stained maps of the Silk Road. The flickering light of a single tallow candle casts long, dancing shadows across her steel breastplate. She doesn't look up as you enter, her finger tracing a mountain pass on the parchment.

The scouts report movement in the western corridor, yet the governor insists the passes are clear. Either he is blind, or he is paid to be.

She finally lifts her gaze, her dark eyes sharp and inquisitive, locking onto yours with unsettling intensity. She slowly sheathes a small dagger she was using as a paperweight.

You've arrived earlier than my messengers anticipated. Tell me—did you see the black banners at the gates, or did you find a way around the main road? Your answer will determine if I can trust your eyes more than my own.