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Earth Bet: House of the Sun (Cultist Simulator/Worm)

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des-pair-2 said:
If her health reaches 0 we will have a vote on what to do with her, so making different plans to kill and capture her is irrelevant since they do the same thing.
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Good point.

I wish we'd found the time to get Heart 2, since we're going to end up face-tanking whatever contingency she's set up. Or perhaps this reckless honey badger assault is so out of character for us that she'll be caught off guard.
 
If killing and capturing is the same process of removing health to 0, then the fact that my plan mentioned capture as the primary goal won't matter. But if we get her to 0 health but don't bring rope or other tools to capture her, our options will be limited, and even if we try to take her to a secondary location at that point, it will be harder without restraints.
 
OatmealOatmeal said:
If killing and capturing is the same process of removing health to 0, then the fact that my plan mentioned capture as the primary goal won't matter. But if we get her to 0 health but don't bring rope or other tools to capture her, our options will be limited, and even if we try to take her to a secondary location at that point, it will be harder without restraints.
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I believe that anything we can get in mundane ways, cheaply, and without suspicion counts under the vague "expedition supplies".
 
OatmealOatmeal said:
If killing and capturing is the same process of removing health to 0, then the fact that my plan mentioned capture as the primary goal won't matter. But if we get her to 0 health but don't bring rope or other tools to capture her, our options will be limited, and even if we try to take her to a secondary location at that point, it will be harder without restraints.
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I will note that minor things like bringing the supplies for mundane restraints will be handwaved under expedition supplies.
 
[X] Assault an opponent (Alicja)
-[X] 2 Children of Silence Combatants
-[X] Take Combat Gear and Barbed Quills for yourself.
-[X] The primary goal is to kill Alicja, the secondary goal is to destroy all the evidence that she could have left against us.
-[X] Warn Ai what you are going to do and ask her to divert the attention of the authorities to something else to reduce the likelihood that they will find your tracks.
-[X] Let everyone carry masks that will be used during the attack.
-[X] Let the Combatants cover the escape routes, preventing Alicja from escaping.
 
[X] Assault an opponent (Alicja)
-[X] 2 Children of Silence Combatants
-[X] Take Combat Gear and Barbed Quills for yourself.
-[X] The primary goal is to kill Alicja, the secondary goal is to destroy all the evidence that she could have left against us.
-[X] Warn Ai what you are going to do and ask her to divert the attention of the authorities to something else to reduce the likelihood that they will find your tracks.
-[X] Let everyone carry masks that will be used during the attack.
-[X] Let the Combatants cover the escape routes, preventing Alicja from escaping.
 
Who are the Children of Silence? I only know of the Children of Endings.
It is also worth considering having the combatants join in on the fighting rather than just covering the escape route. Outnumbered bonuses/penalties are useful.

@Witherbrine26 , is Edge's bonus to combat an application bonus?
 
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[X] Plan Leveraging Numbers
-[X] Assault an opponent (Alicja)
--[X] 2 Children of Silence Combatants
--[X] Take Combat Gear and Barbed Quills for yourself.
--[X] The primary goal is to defeat Alicja, the secondary goal is to destroy all the evidence that she could have left against us.
--[X] Warn Ai what you are going to do and ask her to divert the attention of the authorities to something else to reduce the likelihood that they will find your tracks.
--[X] Let everyone carry masks that will be used during the attack.
--[X] Let one Combatant cover the escape routes, preventing Alicja from escaping; the other will be aiding you directly.

Behold! A proper plan!
 
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Vote Closed
  • Voting
    • Winning Vote:
    [X] Plan Leveraging Numbers
    -[X] Assault an opponent (Alicja)
    --[X] 2 Children of Silence Combatants
    --[X] Take Combat Gear and Barbed Quills for yourself.
    --[X] The primary goal is to defeat Alicja, the secondary goal is to destroy all the evidence that she could have left against us.
    --[X] Warn Ai what you are going to do and ask her to divert the attention of the authorities to something else to reduce the likelihood that they will find your tracks.
    --[X] Let everyone carry masks that will be used during the attack.
    --[X] Let one Combatant cover the escape routes, preventing Alicja from escaping; the other will be aiding you directly.
    Scheduled vote count started by Witherbrine26 on Nov 26, 2024 at 3:13 PM, finished with 33 posts and 11 votes.
    • [X] Plan Leveraging Numbers
      -[X] Assault an opponent (Alicja)
      --[X] 2 Children of Silence Combatants
      --[X] Take Combat Gear and Barbed Quills for yourself.
      --[X] The primary goal is to defeat Alicja, the secondary goal is to destroy all the evidence that she could have left against us.
      --[X] Warn Ai what you are going to do and ask her to divert the attention of the authorities to something else to reduce the likelihood that they will find your tracks.
      --[X] Let everyone carry masks that will be used during the attack.
      --[X] Let one Combatant cover the escape routes, preventing Alicja from escaping; the other will be aiding you directly.
      [X] Assault an opponent (Alicja)
      -[X] 2 Children of Silence Combatants
      -[X] Take Combat Gear and Barbed Quills for yourself.
      -[X] The primary goal is to kill Alicja, the secondary goal is to destroy all the evidence that she could have left against us.
      -[X] Warn Ai what you are going to do and ask her to divert the attention of the authorities to something else to reduce the likelihood that they will find your tracks.
      -[X] Let everyone carry masks that will be used during the attack.
      -[X] Let the Combatants cover the escape routes, preventing Alicja from escaping.
      [X] Assault an opponent (Alicja)
      [X] Assault an opponent (Alicja): CAPTURE VARIANT
      -[X] 2 Children of Silence Combatants
      -[X] Take Combat Gear and Barbed Quills for yourself.
      -[X] The primary goal is to subdue and capture Alicja. If that is not possible, it is preferable to kill her rather than letting her get away. The secondary goal is to destroy all the evidence at the crime scene, or anything else that she could have left against us.
      -[X] Warn Ai what you are going to do and ask her to divert the attention of the authorities to something else to reduce the likelihood that they will find your tracks.
      -[X] Let everyone carry masks that will be used during the attack.
      -[X] Bring rope and a gag, as well as other materials if necessary to be prepared to capture Alicja.
      -[X] Let the Combatants cover the escape routes, preventing Alicja from escaping. They can also help restrain Alicja one she has been subdued.
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    Another History: Turn 7 - Results, Part 3
  • Sidestory
    • [X] Plan: Steady Development
    -[X] On work and the challenges it entails.
    --[X] You'll work your hours and no more (Gain no extra actions, default)
    -[X] On your Foe, and the danger she wields
    --[X] Attack her, finish this (This is Assaulting an Opponent Expedition)
    ---[X] Take the combatants trained in Edge with us.
    -[X] On furthering the cause.
    --[X] Search out the talented, teach them Edge
    --[X] Assist somebody else in their task (Ai Hayashi)
    -[X] On learning the Lores.
    --[X] The cult's library has a few texts, go read up on them
    ---[X] The manuscript on Lantern (You will gain 1 scrap of Lantern)
    -[X] On Rites, Rituals and the things inbetween
    --[X] You'll cast The Attention of the Laws (EDGE)
    [X] Plan Leveraging Numbers
    -[X] Assault an opponent (Alicja)
    --[X] 2 Children of Silence Combatants
    --[X] Take Combat Gear and Barbed Quills for yourself.
    --[X] The primary goal is to defeat Alicja, the secondary goal is to destroy all the evidence that she could have left against us.
    --[X] Warn Ai what you are going to do and ask her to divert the attention of the authorities to something else to reduce the likelihood that they will find your tracks.
    --[X] Let everyone carry masks that will be used during the attack.
    --[X] Let one Combatant cover the escape routes, preventing Alicja from escaping; the other will be aiding you directly.


    You didn't want anybody interfering with your attack today. This was too important to let something like the police or curious bystanders throw a wrench in your plans. While you didn't think the cops had caught on to anything from your previous operations, it was still a risk, and you weren't about to push your luck. The stakes were too high. You needed a way to keep them distracted, which meant calling on someone reliable—someone you knew could handle this with discretion. Ai was the obvious choice.

    You took out your phone and punched in her number, listening as the dial tone rang a few times. As you waited, you couldn't help but wonder how she would react to this particular favor. After all, you were asking her to clear the way for something outside the bounds of the cult.

    "Good morning, Ai," you said when the call finally connected. There was a faint hum of conversation in the background, but it was quickly drowned out as her voice cut through, calm and composed.

    "Good morning, Mr. Donovan. How can I assist you today?" she asked, and for a second, you hesitated. The words felt heavier than they should have. You were biting off a lot with this plan, and bringing her into it meant taking on another layer of obligation, another favor owed. But you couldn't do it alone. After a moment's pause, you decided to bite the bullet.

    "I need some help," you said, keeping your voice steady. "I'm planning to do something... potentially illegal, and I'd like the cops to be occupied elsewhere."

    There was a brief silence on the other end. You could hear a soft inhale, maybe a cigarette—was she smoking? The thought seemed so casual compared to the situation you were discussing. Then she spoke again, her tone just as measured as before.

    "I see. What time do you plan for this to happen?" she asked, her voice betraying no emotion.

    You frowned slightly, realizing you didn't have an exact time pinned down yet. Finding Alicja was going to be a task in itself, and the timing would depend on how quickly you could locate her. A city the size of Houston wouldn't give up its secrets easily.

    "Within the next few days," you replied, trying to sound more confident than you felt. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to move."

    There was a longer pause this time, the sound of silence stretching between you before she finally spoke again.

    "Very well. And you will owe me, Mr. Donovan." Her words were cool, but you could tell she would want some repayment. You had already helped her before, and she wasn't likely to press too hard on this, though. It was more performance than anything else.

    You nodded, even though she couldn't see it. "Understood," you replied, leaving a moment of silence to see if she had anything more to say. When she didn't, you hung up the phone and set it back down.

    You stood up, tugging on your disguise—something plain, nothing too attention-grabbing—and grabbed a handful of the ski masks you had purchased earlier. Your next step was to meet up with your allies and get everyone ready. You had a plan, and it was time to set things in motion.

    Heading outside, you climbed into the car you'd be using for this search and drove deeper into the city, navigating the familiar streets as you made your way to the rendezvous point. You were picking your men up near a bar, though not directly out front—that would've been far too obvious. Instead, you chose a parking lot a few blocks down, somewhere quiet enough to gather without drawing unnecessary attention.

    As you pulled up, two of your men approached. They weren't the kind to waste time, and you appreciated that.
    "Afternoon, boss," one of them said, pulling himself into the backseat.

    "What's the plan?" the second man asked as he climbed in next to him. You tossed each of them a ski mask, which they fumbled with for a moment before grabbing hold.

    "We're searching for someone first. The fighting comes after we find her," you explained. Both men nodded, no further questions asked. They understood the job and trusted you to lead them to the right place.


    [Day 1]

    [Searching for the base DC: 70]

    [Roll: 26+8(Micheal, leader)+1(SECRET HISTORY) = 35]

    The first day didn't go too well. Houston was a sprawling beast of a city, holding over two million souls within its concrete arteries and endless neighborhoods. Trying to find Alicja within that chaos was proving to be as difficult as you had feared. The city's sheer size, coupled with your limited understanding of the Lores that would help with this, left you grasping at straws. You were skilled, but not enough to make up for the fact that finding one person in a city this vast was like looking for a needle in a haystack—especially when that person didn't want to be found.

    The sun had already started dipping toward the horizon by the time you and your men regrouped for the day. Weariness clung to your bones and the frustration of a wasted day gnawed at the edges of your patience.

    "So, we've crossed out this half of the city," one of your soldiers said, glancing up from the large map of Houston spread across the hood of your car. His finger traced over a few key districts, marking the areas you had scouted today. He looked over to the other man, who nodded in silent agreement as he tapped at another spot on the map, his expression unreadable.

    You glanced at him—your quieter soldier. He wasn't mute. You knew that much. But in the entire time he'd been with you, he'd only spoken a few words here and there, mostly during your first meeting when you picked him up. Since then, he kept his silence, only breaking it if something urgent demanded his voice. It didn't bother you much. He was reliable, and that was what mattered. He listened well, followed orders without question, and got the job done. Still, it was something you mentally filed away for future consideration. People who rarely spoke tended to have their own reasons for it.

    "That means we need to narrow down our search," you said, shifting your gaze back to the map. You could see the paths you'd taken, the places you'd scouted, and all the dead ends you'd run into. It was frustrating, but at least now you knew where she wasn't, which was a small victory in itself. "Tomorrow, we'll cover more ground. We'll find her eventually."

    Your quieter soldier had been meticulously taking notes as instructed, jotting down important details that would help you retrace your steps or look for patterns. From what he'd recorded, it was clear Alicja hadn't been on the move. If she was hiding out somewhere, she wasn't changing locations frequently, which gave you a slim advantage.

    "Now, get some sleep," you ordered, folding up the map and stuffing it into the backseat of your car. "We'll be leaving bright and early tomorrow. No mistakes."

    The men nodded in unison, and you could tell they were just as exhausted as you were. It had been a long, fruitless day, but that didn't mean tomorrow would be the same.

    [Day 2]

    [Searching for the base DC: 70]

    [Roll: 67+8(Micheal, leader)+1(SECRET HISTORIES) = 76]

    The second day went much better. You woke up feeling more refreshed, and breakfast at the hotel was surprisingly decent—a small but much-needed morale boost after the previous day's struggles. The sun was shining, not a single cloud hanging in the sky, and there was a sense of renewed purpose in the air as you gathered your men and hit the road again.

    Today was about covering more ground and being smarter about your search. You had already crossed out significant portions of the city, which allowed you to focus on other areas that had seemed less likely but were still within reach. The key was patience, and while Houston's vastness was still an obstacle, you were narrowing the field bit by bit.

    As you drove through the streets, winding your way through neighborhoods and industrial districts, you tried to keep your mind sharp. Alicja wasn't the type to be careless. Wherever she was holed up, it would be somewhere inconspicuous, somewhere that wouldn't draw unnecessary attention. She wasn't on the move, which gave you some hope. If she was stationary, it meant she was likely planning something or preparing for something big. That meant you had to find her fast before she struck first.

    Hours passed with little to show for it, but as the afternoon began to wane, one of your soldiers—your quieter one—suddenly pointed to a spot on the map. You glanced over and saw that it was a rundown section of the city, close to the outskirts but still within range of major thoroughfares. It was the kind of place where someone could disappear, where no one would ask too many questions if a warehouse or two suddenly went off the grid.

    You made your way there, following his lead. A flicker of recognition hit you as you approached—this place felt right. The warehouse he'd marked seemed like the kind of place Alicja would use as a base, something you'd caught her in before. It was dilapidated, grimy, and tucked away just enough that it could easily be overlooked by anyone not actively searching for it.

    "Is this it?" the louder of your two soldiers asked from the backseat, leaning forward as he peered through the windshield at the looming structure ahead.

    You hummed in response, your eyes narrowing as you scanned the building. It was hard to be sure, but something about this place felt off. You weren't sure how she would've gotten her hands on a warehouse, but given the location and the state of the building, it was likely cheap enough to go unnoticed. And then, as if confirming your suspicions, you spotted movement. A figure slipping inside—a figure that looked an awful lot like Alicja.

    Your pulse quickened. This was it.

    "Put these on," you said, tossing the ski masks toward the backseat. "And follow my lead."

    The men quickly complied, slipping the masks over their heads as you did the same. Your heart pounded in your chest, but your mind remained sharp and focused. The time for searching was over. Now came the hard part—the confrontation.

    You stepped out of the car, your soldiers following close behind as you made your way toward the warehouse, each step bringing you closer to the endgame. This was the moment you'd been preparing for—the chance to end Alicja once and for all. And if all went according to plan, today would be the last day you'd have to worry about her.


    [Breaking and entering DC: 50/80]

    [Roll: 58+8(Micheal, leader)+5(KNOCK) = 71]

    The door provided no challenge at all; you managed to jimmy it open with ease. For a moment, it seemed like the infiltration would go off without a hitch, but as soon as you stepped inside, the shrill ring of a bell echoed through the space, making you swear under your breath. Your eyes darted around the warehouse, taking in the layout in an instant. It looked like some sort of abandoned packing plant, with conveyor belts, stacks of crates, and rows of machinery creating a labyrinth of potential hiding spots. There were plenty of places for Alicja to flee or set up an ambush.

    "Cover the exits, make sure she can't leave!" you snapped at the louder soldier. His voice was what you needed if things went south, and if she tried to run, you'd want someone who could keep her in sight. With a sharp nod, he scurried to obey, leaving you to push deeper into the plant. Your grip tightened around the rifle in your hand, and the quills slung over your shoulder shifted slightly as you adjusted your stance.

    You knew that Alicja would be expecting trouble, especially after that damn bell gave you away. But if anything, that just meant you needed to move faster, hit harder. You turned a corner, the dull echo of your footsteps swallowed by the vastness of the warehouse. Then you froze.

    There she was—Alicja, standing at the far end of the room. Her eyes met yours, and for a split second, time seemed to stretch. She was flanked by three people, all of them looking rough around the edges. They were thugs, no doubt hired muscle, probably plucked right off the street. You had expected resistance, but this close-quarters fight was going to be messy.

    The tension broke in an instant. You raised your rifle, finger twitching towards the trigger—

    [Michael Donovan has invoked Attention of the Laws]

    [Michael Donovan's current health: 4/4]

    [Alicja's current health: 3/3]

    [Guard 1's current health: 3/3]

    [Guard 2's current health: 3/3]

    [Multi-combatant fight. Michael will only "compete" to wound the nearest enemy, but may be wounded by all other combatants]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Michael – 0, Alicja – 0, Guards - 0, 0]

    [Michael:15+48(Personal Combat)+10(Attention of the Laws)-10(Outnumbered) = 63]

    [Alicja:74+25(Personal Combat) = 99]

    Guard 1: 72+9(Personal Combat) = 81

    Guard 2: 74+9(Personal Combat) = 83

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Michael – 0, Alicja – 36, Guards - 18, 20]

    [Michael: 89+48(Personal Combat)+10(Attention of the Laws)-10(Outnumbered) = 137]

    [Alicja: 52+25(Personal Combat) = 77]

    [Guard 1: 35+9(Personal Combat) = 44]

    [Guard 2: 81+9(Personal Combat) = 90]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Michael – 47, Alicja – 36, Guards - 18, 20]

    [Nobody wishes to do anything]

    [Combat continues as normal]

    [Ally 1's current health: 3/3]

    [Guard 3's current health: 3/3]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Ally 1 – 0, Guard 3 – 0]

    [Ally 1: 2+14(Personal Combat) = 16]

    [Guard 3: 52+9(Personal Combat) = 61]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Ally 1 – 0, Guard 3 – 45]

    [Ally 1: 58+14(Personal Combat) = 72]

    [Guard 3: 35+9(Personal Combat) = 44]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Ally 1 – 28, Guard 3 – 45]

    [Nobody wishes to do anything]

    [Combat continues as normal]

    BANG!

    The deafening roar of Alicja's shotgun cut through the air, forcing you to throw yourself behind the nearest cover. Pellets sprayed the area where you had been standing moments before, tearing through the metal of the packing machine you had ducked behind. You swore again, gritting your teeth as you crouched lower, your heart hammering in your chest.

    Glancing to the side, you caught sight of your quieter soldier taking cover behind a stack of crates, his face pale but determined. You had to get a handle on the situation and fast. You knew that one of your men was nearby and the other should join you soon, that would still leave you at a numbers disadvantage albeit not a skill one.

    "You take—" you started to say, but your words were cut off as a shadow passed overhead. Reflex kicked in, and you rolled to the side just as a bat came slamming down on the crate you had used as cover, splintering the wood. You spun around, coming face-to-face with two of the goons Alicja had hired, both wearing ugly sneers. They were big, rough men, the kind who probably enjoyed this kind of work a little too much. The third thug was already bearing down on your ally, meaning you were on your own for this two-on-one.

    Another gunshot rang out. You didn't need to look to know that Alicja was still up there, perched on top of one of the higher crates, using the high ground to take potshots at you. She was crouched low, her shotgun at the ready, her eyes gleaming with pure hatred as she tracked your every move.

    You snapped your gaze back to the two men coming at you. The first swung his bat in a wide arc, and you sidestepped it, grabbing his wrist as it passed. You sent him stumbling into his ally with a sharp twist, their bodies colliding awkwardly. It bought you a second of breathing room, but not much. Your left hand tightened around your gun as you took a quick step back, trying to put some distance between yourself and the advancing thugs.

    You raised your rifle, firing off a shot at Alicja. She ducked behind the crate, returning fire hastily. You were forced to move again as the pellets whizzed past you, the impact of the blast causing you to pivot to the side just as the two men came at you once more.

    You danced around their swings, narrowly avoiding a hit as they pressed you. These guys weren't trained fighters but had enough brute strength and numbers to be a problem. Worse, they were slowly but surely backing you into a corner, limiting your movement. You fired off another shot, but it was rushed and went wide, the sound of the bullet ricocheting off metal doing little to deter them. You were running out of room to maneuver, and you knew it.

    These were the type of thugs who worked for whoever paid them. They weren't loyal to Alicja—just desperate enough to risk their necks for the right price. If you could show them that fighting you was more likely to get them killed, they'd probably turn tail and run. The problem was, with two of them coming at you and Alicja raining down fire from above, you didn't have the luxury of pulling off the kind of decisive move that would scare them off.

    You had to get creative.

    Your feet carried you in a wide arc around a packing machine, dodging another swing from one of the thugs. Sweat dripped down your face as you frantically scanned for an opening, a way to take one of them out without getting yourself cornered. Your gun wasn't as useful in close quarters, but you still had the quills—those might give you an edge if you could get some distance.

    As you rounded the machine, your eyes darted toward Alicja. She had repositioned, standing on a stack of crates further back, her shotgun still trained on you. She was waiting for the perfect moment to take you out, and you knew that one wrong move could mean the end.

    Another gunshot rang out from the far end of the warehouse. Your quieter soldier, it seemed, was holding his own against the third thug. That was something, at least. But you were still in the thick of it, and the two men closing in on you wouldn't give you any more time to think.

    Your muscles burned as you sidestepped another attack, and you could feel the pressure building. You needed a way to turn this around, and fast.

    [Michael Donovan has invoked Attention of the Laws]

    [Michael Donovan's current health: 4/4]

    [Alicja's current health: 3/3]

    [Guard 1's current health: 3/3]

    [Guard 2's current health: 3/3]

    [Multi-combatant fight. Michael will only "compete" to wound the nearest enemy, but may be wounded by all other combatants]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Michael – 47, Alicja – 36, Guards - 18, 20]

    [Michael:32+48(Personal Combat)+10(Attention of the Laws)-10(Outnumbered) = 80]

    [Alicja:32+25(Personal Combat) = 57]

    [Guard 1:41+9(Personal Combat) = 50]

    [Guard 2:44+9(Personal Combat) = 53]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Michael – 74, Alicja – 36, Guards - 18, 20, 0]

    [Guard 2 suffers one wound (-50 to Michael's overflow)]

    [Michael: 7+48(Personal Combat)+10(Attention of the Laws)-10(Outnumbered) = 55]

    [Alicja: 100+25(Personal Combat) = 125]

    [Guard 1: 85+9(Personal Combat) = 90]

    [Guard 2: 29+9(Personal Combat) = 38]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Michael – 41, Alicja – 106, Guards - 53, 20]

    [Michael suffers three wounds (-100 to Alicja's overflow), (-50 to Guard 1's overflow)]

    [Michael attempts to escape...]

    [Michael escapes]

    [Ally 1's current health: 3/3]

    [Guard 3's current health: 3/3]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Ally 1 – 28, Guard 3 – 45]

    [Ally 1: 10+14(Personal Combat) = 24]

    [Guard 3: 51+9(Personal Combat) = 60]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Ally 1 – 28, Guard 3 – 81]

    [Ally 1 suffers one wound (-50 to Guard 3's overflow)]

    [Ally 1: 5+14(Personal Combat) = 19]

    [Guard 3: 26+9(Personal Combat) = 35]

    [Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Ally 1 – 28, Guard 3 – 47]

    [Ally 1 attempts to escape...]

    [Guard 3 successfully intercepts]

    You waited for the right moment, timing it as the first man rounded the corner and swung wildly at you. His aim was reckless, and that played to your advantage. You caught his arm in a tight lock, twisting it as you swept his legs out from under him in one smooth motion. He tumbled to the ground with a grunt, arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance. His friend, following close behind, was caught off guard, stumbling over the first man's body. In that split second of chaos, you lashed out with a fist aimed directly at the second man's throat. Your knuckles connected hard, and he staggered back, gasping as he tried to draw in breath through his now bruised windpipe.

    You didn't stick around to see if he recovered. Without missing a beat, you bolted, your boots pounding against the concrete floor as you made a beeline for where you last saw Alicja. The thought of her still lurking somewhere, possibly lying in wait, gnawed at you. She hadn't fired her gun in some time, and the silence unnerved you. It was never a good sign when the enemy went quiet.

    But it wasn't just Alicja that concerned you. Your soldiers were a major worry. You hadn't heard anything from the louder one—no gunshots, no shouting, nothing to indicate he was still alive. The quieter soldier was still scuffling with the third thug, but the sounds coming from their direction were a mess of grunts and crashes. It didn't give you much comfort. You had to assume they were on their own for now, unable to come to your aid.

    As you rounded another corner, you skidded to a halt and ducked behind a stack of crates. Your chest heaved as you took a second to catch your breath. You needed a moment to think, to regroup. Your mind was racing, running through possible strategies. Where could Alicja be hiding? Would she have laid a trap? You couldn't afford to be reckless, but time wasn't on your side either. You needed to move quickly.

    But then your moment of reprieve was cut short. Alicja appeared from around the bend, her figure materializing out of the shadows like a phantom. For a brief second, neither of you moved. You stared at each other, the tension crackling in the air. Your instincts kicked in, and you raised your rifle, but she was faster, her fingers simply pulling down on the trigger.

    Two shots rang out, the impact of the slugs slamming into your chest like a freight train. The force sent you sprawling onto your back, your rifle slipping from your grasp as you hit the ground hard. The pain was immediate, like a sledgehammer to your ribs, and your breath hitched in your throat. Your ears were ringing from the blast, and your vision blurred as you struggled to regain focus. Even with body armor, the sheer power of the shotgun rounds at that range had knocked the wind out of you. It was a miracle you weren't bleeding out, but it still felt like your chest was on fire.

    You tried to move, but before you could, rough hands grabbed your arms, hauling you to your feet with a brutal yank. You gasped in pain, a wet cough escaping your lips as you tasted the copper tang of blood. Through the haze clouding your vision, you caught sight of Alicja standing before you, that sadistic grin plastered across her face.

    "It's been a while," she sneered, her smile showing too many teeth. Her voice was taunting, laced with a dangerous playfulness that you remembered from so many years ago. "Caught me just as I was about to kill ya." There was venom in her words, but beneath that, you could hear the excitement. She was enjoying this, relishing the moment of having you at her mercy.

    She stepped closer, the butt of her shotgun resting casually in her hand. "Thought I'd show ya a few tricks you gave me," she added, her grin widening as she lifted the weapon. She aimed to slam it into your stomach, no doubt thinking you were too beaten down to resist. The smirk on her face said she thought she'd already won.

    But she should have known better.

    As she moved to strike, you mustered every ounce of strength you had left and wrenched your arm free from the thug's grip. Your muscles screamed in protest, but adrenaline was surging through your veins now, numbing the pain. In one fluid motion, you grabbed Alicja's shotgun by the barrel and twisted it around, driving it into her stomach with as much force as you could manage, pushing her back a single step and no more allowing you to wrench free and move.

    [Fleeing]

    [Michael's roll: 52+18(Martial)+5(Well Built) = 75]

    [Alicja's roll: 44+15(Martial) = 59]

    [Guard 1's roll: 5+8(Martial) = 13]

    [Guard 2's roll: 52+8(Martial) = 62]

    A wise tactician knew when to retreat, so you forced yourself to make that painful decision. Your chest screamed in agony with every breath, the deep bruising and internal damage making it feel like your lungs were being carved apart with knives. You had no time to weigh the cost of staying; instinct took over, pushing you to move. You summoned your voice, hoarse and broken but loud enough to be heard over the chaos.

    "Retreat!" The command tore from your throat, each syllable a fresh stab of pain.

    Without wasting a moment, you began your retreat, half-running, half-stumbling toward the exit. Every step sent a fresh wave of agony through your body, and it was becoming harder to keep moving. You were on your last legs, likely suffering from more than just superficial injuries. The two shotgun blasts had probably ruptured something inside, maybe your ribs, maybe worse. Internal bleeding was a real concern, but you didn't have the luxury to think too much about it. You had survived worse—hell, you'd walked away from a gunshot to the head once. There was no way this was going to be the wound that ended you.

    Your vision was swimming as the world tilted and blurred, but then you heard a distant and strained voice cutting through the haze.

    "Here."

    You stumbled into the figure, your blurry eyes barely making out the outline of one of your soldiers—the quiet one. His face was streaked with blood, and his nose was visibly broken, but he was still on his feet, still moving with you. Without a word, he braced your body, supporting you as you both made your way toward the exit. There was no time to exchange pleasantries or even question whether the louder one was still alive. Alicja and her men were chasing you, and survival was the only priority.

    The two of you burst out into the cold, open air, your heart pounding in your ears as the familiar sight of your car came into view. You half-collapsed into the passenger seat, your body heavy with exhaustion and pain. The quieter soldier slid into the driver's seat without hesitation, slamming his foot on the gas. He didn't even need to ask for directions; the keys were already in the ignition, ready for exactly this kind of situation. In case everything went sideways, which, of course, it had.

    "The hospital," you managed to croak, barely able to force the words out through your clenched jaw. Your soldier nodded in silent understanding, his knuckles white as he gripped the wheel. The car sped through the city, weaving in and out of traffic as your vision faded in and out. You tried to keep your mind sharp, but it was a losing battle. Your thoughts drifted, spiraling into a foggy mess of pain and exhaustion.

    You knew you needed to come up with a story—something to explain these wounds. It wasn't like you could walk into an ER and say you'd been shot during a clandestine hunt for a dangerous enemy. But your brain felt sluggish, incapable of piecing together the threads of a coherent plan. All you could do was focus on surviving until you reached the hospital.

    By the time you arrived, you were barely conscious. Everything from the moment you stripped off your armor and weapons to the point of stumbling into the hospital's sterile, white lobby was a blur. You remembered your soldier helping you inside, his arm under your shoulder as you bled over the pristine floor, leaving a trail of red behind you.

    [Explanation Breakpoints: 60/80/100/140]

    [Roll: 93+9(Diplomacy)+10(GRAIL) = 112]

    The nurses moved quickly, reacting to your injuries with practiced efficiency. Your half-slurred explanation spilled out in broken sentences, but it seemed to be enough to convince them of a plausible story. Something about a mugging gone wrong, an unfortunate accident. You weren't sure exactly what you said, but the haze in your mind kept you from caring too much about the details. What mattered was that they bought it.

    As you were wheeled into surgery, the familiar weight of your past injuries seemed to press down on you. You had been through this before—countless times, in fact. Gunshot wounds, lacerations, broken bones… you had the scars to prove it. Your body had learned how to endure this kind of pain, and while the healing process was never easy, it was always inevitable. You knew what to expect as the fog of anesthesia began to creep in, your body already surrendering to the need for rest and recovery.

    These new wounds would heal, just like the others, but they would leave more scars behind. That was certain.

    You managed to explain your wounds away as gang violence, although they will still be logged in the hospital records.


    Your expedition was a failure, you were repelled and dealt heavy wounds. However, you and one of your allies managed to escape. You were forced to leave the other one behind, his fate unknown.

    In addition, you can tell that an engine has started, an arms race fueled by two people attempting to murder the other. Gain 1 Edge scrap

    Something inside of you resonates...
     
    Last edited:
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