"The bells still hum with after-rings. The hills are silent. The townsfolk speak slower, choosing their words carefully — some cannot remember how they got here. Even familiar buildings feel slightly off, as if moved two feet in the night."

The party arrives just after the bells toll, and is stopped by guards who ask for names, proof of origin, and travel history. One party member fails to recall the date. A child points at them later and says, “I saw you last time… when the sky broke.”

Significant NPCs:

• Watchwarden Brys Halden – Sleepless, pragmatic leader of the towers; fears the bells mark a breach.

• Lady Nira Endell – Ambitious noble with a private army — insists this is a sign to reclaim old lands.

• Kesh – Masked wanderer who claims to have heard the bells before… in a life they can’t recall.

Rewards:

• A shard of the seventh bell that wards against psychic intrusion.

• A contract written in true name-script, binding an outsider from another world.

• A charm that lets the bearer “ring” once per day — summoning aid from an echo of the past.

Lore Tie-Ins:

The bells were originally cast to defend against the things that came from the Iron Pass, and the Iron Henge that stands there still.