Graded [Carbon Town] Ryke Adventurers Guild - Dirty Work

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

Rios
Voider

Rios didn't find anything useful despite his best attempts. All he could do was wonder if maybe his plans so far had been for naught. He then realized he was next to the door the bandits currently were not using in contrast to the other one they were. No doubt there were bandits behind this door that lay before him. Rios contemplated what sort of plan he could even accomplish given his limited skillset. He was then joined by the Kobold whose gunslinging had been getting them pretty far in this fight that Rios himself had not been contributing to. The Kobold was correct in his questioning of Rios's competence with a sword. He did only find this thing lying around but an hour or so ago. Darin, whose name Rios only now remembered; had a plan of his own. A surprise attack on whoever was on the other side of this door. Rios had no better path forward so he readily agreed. Picking up his sword and taking a deep breath. Rios burst through the door to find a bandit who was totally not expecting him. Lacking some sort of cool move to bust out on him. He trusted in Darin to provide him cover fire while he moved in. Hoping his [Lucky D] streak would continue. Rios flailed into some sort of thrust kick in order to kick the bandit back into the fireplace he saw behind the guy. He hoped some kind of embers would be there to harm the bandit if only a little.

---

Movement: Entered Backroom = 3 Squares East
Action: Sick Kick

 

[Trystan1295]

Model ST3-LL4
Location: Cave Team
Mentions: Cave Squad ( Uasal , Valkan , Perdict )
​

Stella hadn't realized how strong her attack was until she realized she couldn't even make out her former target's face anymore. The man had been completely reduced to a pile of guts on the floor. Stella lacked many of the organs that would involuntarily invoke a visceral, chilling reaction from Stella that would render her shocked and unable to move out of fear, but that didn't stop her very real soul from feeling fear itself, as well as a deep sorrow for the life she'd just taken. Lamenting the death of the sleeping bandit, she muttered, "I just wish it hadn't gone through so easily... If you'd just fought back, that'd have done wonders for my conscience."

With that said, Stella bowed her head, clasped her blood-soaked hands, and quietly prayed for the eternal rest of the man whose life she'd just cut short. That's when it caught her "eye". Just on the edge of her peripheral vision, Stella noticed a set of peculiar markings on the ground that she wasn't expecting to see. They resembled tracks, and they were big ones. Whatever had made them, they did not match the shape of a human's footwear at all. She didn't want to jump to conclusions, but she thought it was worth letting her teammates know regardless. If Ryan's Tremorsense was to be trusted--and she had no reason not to--this was new information that no one else in her party should be privy to. Speaking of Ryan, maybe she could have him run another one later, just in case.

Her tasks for the moment were set. She peeked her head out the corner of the passage and turned her head to either side, detecting no enemy presence as far as her visual processors would allow her to "see". That being said, she knew they were still sneaking around enemy territory, so she tried keeping her subtlety as much as possible as she made her way back down the passage in the direction she'd just arrived from. As soon as Ryan came within eyeshot, she raised her open left hand, which was still dripping with the old man's fresh blood. Her intention was not to wave at the man, though: she wanted to subtly let him know the deed had been done. She took a few steps closer so she could drop somber whispers in his ear. "I noticed a set of tracks at the site. Big ones, confirmed nonhuman. The coast looks clear as long as we remain on this side of the building, but judging from the light peeking in from the other end, we might run into trouble if we try rounding the corner up ahead. I'm leaving the call to you."

Combat Actions:
1. Scout the passageway she'd just arrived from in both directions (North and South).
2. Move 1 NW (Such that she shares the same space with Ryan and can whisper in his ear).
3. Engage in conversation with Ryan, then passing without engaging in combat.​

 

[Valkan]

Ryan Kylieth
​

Ryan gulped in shock, sensing how the prone man was obliterated. He made a mental note to not provoke Stella. Ryan nodded once she came within his actual sight, bloodied hands showing how what he sensed was no lie. He took the news with a tad of worry, but when he left the comfort of the Barony he called home now, he knew he wouldn't have an easy time.

"Non human footprints, huh? If my previous scan is anything to go by, the most likely answer is that one or more of these thugs can transform... Regardless, well done. Now follow me." Ryan whispered back, taking Stella from the forearm, picking a rock while at it. He took her back to the alcove. Where he gestured to her to hide from the very entrance. He then threw the rock, causing a faint echo to spread on the hall.

Actions

1 & 2(?). Moving to the alcove with Stella in tow.
3. Throwing a rock

 

[Ian Temero]

Morrígan Durnin​

Character Grade - F
HP: 1/1

Actions:

1. Movement - 22.5 ft - 2 Diagonally South East, 8 East, 1 South
2. Take cover behind corner

Cooldowns:
E - 0/1

Morrigan gritted her teeth as she shielded her eyes from the sudden flash, the burst of light tearing her crafted shadows to shreds. Once she could see again she gave Jack a pat on the head before moving around the tables and walking towards the pair of doors the bandit had ran through. The door was locked obviously so she wasn't even going to try to open them. Besides John seemed to be on top of that. Noticing him preparing another attack, Morrigan stopped short of the doors and slipped around the corner, using it as cover against wooden shrapnel and any counter attacks.

 

[SoftSmile]

Jack Hayfield
[Beast] [Child] [Cuddly] [Helpless]
Uasal Ian Temero Ice Ice Ice
​

Jack was holding his head down, his hands over his ears as the light shone throughout the room–Not even noticing it. Only when Morrigan gave his head a reassuring pat did he look up. “T-Thank you, Miss Morrigan.” He says as he gets up on his shaky four legs. He takes a second to fix his hair before taking note of the situation.

“I’ll stay here so I don’t get in the way.” Jack, being a [Helpless] creature, had a high possibility of not being able to contribute to the battle. He smiles as Morrigan leaves him to his devices to go help out the team and he can't help but look over to his side and see a door. Jack looks to John, who looks to be occupied with the fight, making sure he wasn’t looking at him as he quietly moves towards the door closest to him. He knows he should probably just stay put, but it was so hard when there were so many things to explore! He could never resist the call of curiosity.

He sheepishly grabs the knob to see if it’s unlocked or not. He knows there could be a quiet bad guy or something behind this door–But that’s a risk he was willing to take. Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction will surely bring it back to life. That was his motto.

Action 1: Move 1 South
Action 2: Open up that sweet door baby

 

[Uasal]

Town Team
Voider Gaius Danius Griinia SoftSmile Ice Ice Ice Ian Temero

Rios' attempt to surprise his enemy actually paid off, I mean honestly who would expect a sword-wielding maniac to bust through a door? Let alone a sword-wielding maniac who had no intention of using said sword. Luckily for Rios, the bandit he aimed for certainly didn't and would receive the full force of Rios' blow, knocking him to the floor where he'd hit his head and die. A perfect execution and distraction.

With Rios having taken down his opponent and also having caused quite the commotion, Darin would be able to slip in right after and take aim at the only bandit remaining with a weapon in hand. He too had a rifle but Darin was that bit faster and in a flash of smoke he dispatched the rifle-wielding bandit with ease. Though not all was in Darin's favor, though unarmed the last remaining bandit would charge him and strike him with a heavy blow straight to the gullet. A blow that would be felt right down to the lizard's core. A devastating blow to be sure but not quite enough to finish the marksman.

Just then John's attack would destroy the locked door, sending shrapnel flying in all directions, Morgana was safe thanks to her strategic positioning. One bandit remained, how would the crew handle him and investigate the store room? Probably very straightforwardly, you know unless they got distracted by the toilets. A fate that had befallen Jack, who was now face to face with a rabid Rat. A rat that didn't look all too happy to be interrupted.

Rios vs Bandit?
Str C + 0 + 0 = 4 Base CE
A surprise attack on Bandit = 0 Base CE
Result: Death of Bandit

Darin vs Bandit?
Precision D + 2 + 2 = 7 Base CE = 7 FCE
?+?+0= 5 BCE - 1 from accurate = 4 FCE
Result: Death of Bandit

Bandit? vs Darin
? + 0 + 0 = 3 Base CE
2+0+0= 2 Base CE
Result: 1 damage to Darin's 2 hp​

---

Cave Team
Perdict Valkan Trystan1295

Ryan and Stella's bait attempt would end up working a charm, drawing away one of the two men that Stella had previously overheard speaking to one another. One of course remained to guard the prisoners but the other. Well he fell for it hook line and sinker. Turning the corner the man would find the discarded rock and lean down to inspect it before his eyes would fall on the alcove entrance. Edging closer with each step being more careful than the last the man would soon be within striking range of Stella, she'd have to act quickly to take him out but would only benefit from half a stealth attack advantage given the man was somewhat alert. (You will only need to overcome his base armor Stat.)

On the other hand, the one-man army that was Shere would continue his nonlethal assault. Indeed his opponent would go down easily, so easily in fact it was almost as if the man had been unconscious the whole time. One could only dread to think what kind of actual damage Shere might have dealt had he meant to. Alas, all his opponents remained breathing, barely but breathing.

With his opponent down and out Shere would hear the door to the building he had just been eavesdropping on open and shut. The sound of a single man's footsteps approaching. Based on the conversation beforehand, Shere would know this man intended to travel toward the entrance, in other words right his way. Would he take on this opponent right away or rely on Sasha's trap to secure a more certain victory?

Just for fun here's Shere's combat calculation-

Shere vs Bandit?
Str F + 1 + 1 = 3 Base CE + 1 from blight = 4 FCE
Result: 4 damage to bandit x2 from hot shot + 1 from linked = 9 nonlethal damage
(the bandit has 1 hp, you could have killed him 9 times)​

---

'Delta'



Alternate identity F in effect -
Sasha Leonard - [Adventurer] [Scout] [Kind] - A common Adventurer
Sixth Sense F - Vital/weak-point sense (Weak/Vital points glow in Delta's vision.)

With Shere moving forward, Delta decided to swing back and gain some much-needed freedom. She was here for a mission of her own after all and that would take priority over all else. She had more or less confirmed the prisoner's location earlier and had a fairly good idea as to where her target would be thanks to Ryan and how the bandits had positioned themselves. Indeed, if she was quick enough she might be able to reach him before Shere. Might be, but it was worth a shot so long as she remained out of sight.

Moving to the other side of the building, Delta would stealthily and swiftly make her way over the log pile before preparing her wires for an attack. Eyes locked on the guardsman securing the prison door, Delta's eyes would flash orange as she took in all his weak points at once. With her target set and his weak points now highlighted in her vision. Delta would swiftly vault the log pile with a graceful handstand and flip, severing the man's head with the flick of her wrist. Her feet touched the ground having landed around the same time as the man's head would. Truly a fluid and unpredictable attack.

Looking down at the man's head Delta would let out a soft sigh. How pathetic. Looking at the jail door, Delta would shake her head. This was progressing too slowly, Shere would certainly reach the boss before her. Perhaps she could slay the man after he had been dealt with. Yes, that would be much less of a risk to her cover after all. She'd just have to kill him after he'd been captured. But for what reason would she do such a thing? "Slaves... Prisoners... Oh that might work".

Looking to the door Delta's black expression changed to that of a grin. "That would work nicely". Crouching down to the beheaded corpse, Delta would rummage for the keys.

Actions: 3/3
1. Movement - 1 NE - 2 E - 1 N - 1 E (Cost 2 actions and 15ft movement)
1. Specialized Fighting Style [Deaths Embrace] [Razor Wire] F - 'Severance' - Flexible, Penetrating - Manipulating her Razor Wire Delta is able to twist and turn it using minute finger movements thus making for an unpredictable and fluid attack pattern - F Grade - 1 Actions- 0 Post Cooldown​

 

[Ice Ice Ice]

John Doe [Reading Music - Combat]
After successfully bringing down the door in front of him, John was surprised that nothing else came after. He liked to believe that his humble display of magical might warded off any other naysayers who had the slightest inkling to facing they band of merry men. Yeah, that was it. Things were going smoothly, and subsequently, it did wonders for his stomach. No longer was it gurgling and churning due to anxiety.

"Are you alright?" John then turned to Morrigan briefly. She was obviously okay given her strategic positioning, but there was nothing wrong with making sure. A little bit of compassion went a long way. Well, that's what John heard. While waiting for a response, he continued to keep his eyes on the doorless path in the event one of the Back Street Boys decided to foolishly take them on.

Realizing he hadn't heard any screams or cries for help from the rest of their group, John assumed they had things all under control. Darin and Rios were probably busy in the back room. Hence, John was left with Jack.

"Hey Jack?" He curiously asked. "Are you okay back there?"

---

Action 1: Asked Morrigan if she was alright.
Action 2: Kept his eye on the door.
Action 3: Asked Jack if he was okay.

Spoiler: Abilities Used

• None

 

[Trystan1295]

Model ST3-LL4
[Construct], [Android]
Location: Cave Team
Mentions: Cave Squad ( Uasal , Perdict , Valkan )
​

The bait Ryan had proposed was a smashing success, if Stella could say so herself. Much to her relief, it seemed like only one person's attention was caught by the sound. "That's good," she thought. "Things would probably get really ugly if any more people got involved. As long as we can trickle their numbers down one by one, we should be okay..." She figured someone with [Natural Armor (Iron Skin) E] like hers would probably take a bonk or two before things got ugly, but her priority here was being inconspicuous and a team player, not a one-woman army. She was aware she needed to do this mission out of necessity--oil doesn't pay for itself, after all--but it felt nice to be a part of the action, even if said action was being an oversized hole-puncher for lowly criminals. This actually exceeded her expectations, since she'd signed up to this mission expecting to be a thick hunk of trap bait. Look at her now! She's playing the bona fide role of a melee tank! How exciting! All she had to do was to keep quiet and follow orders--nothing she hadn't done before--and if things went south, she had to keep Ryan from dyin'.

Shit, she almost caught herself laughing at that.

Speaking of Ryan, she turned to the man and nodded before rearing up her left fist again, albeit without charging it pre-emptively this time. She'd already made the mistake of looking at the face the person she was about to kill before... and not to mention, judging by the way their shadow approached slowly and cautiously (as well as the fact that they were acting in response to bait), they were probably on high alert. Just the crackling of Stella's own bio-electricity could be enough to make this person turn tail and scream bloody murder. If she wanted to do this right, she needed to handle things with surgical Precision. The "surge-ical" part, she had down pat, but as for Precision, she had to pray and hope an E-rank could cut it. She watched from the shadows as the man's silhouette approached within arm's reach, and only when she could make out a clear outline of the man's body did she begin charging her attack. A soft whirring noise echoed throughout the area as the generators on her knuckles fired off on all cylinders, trying to generate enough voltage for the attack on such short notice. Her fist lit up with power, illuminating the small distance between her target's face and her own for a split-second before she swung, attempting to drive her attack into his ribcage.

Should she have gone for the head?

Combat Actions:

1. Wait for Backstreet Boy to approach from the North as per the GM post.
2. Attack target 1 square North-West with Taser Fist - Fighting Style [Incapacitate] F, Superstrength F - Stella cloaks her fists in the bio-electricity that powers her and swings at the target. If her fist makes contact, she delivers a jolt of electricity that may stun the target. Grade F, 0 post cooldown.

Damage Calc: [Natural Weapon (Iron Fists) F] + Strength E + [Taser Fist F] = 4 effective damage



​

 

[Perdict]

Shere
Character Grade F - [Martial Artist]
​

The dandy indeed would not dilly-dally, but he took the time to do things right. He let the bandit down ever so gently as he eased the pressure on the neck and allowed the man's blood to resume its regular flow, guiding the unconscious body to the floor so that he wouldn't even bump his head from the fall. The goon was just taking a little nap on the dirt, was all. In all likelihood, it was more kindness than they deserved. Shere took away what weapon(s) he could find, leaving them just around the corner, and moved on lamenting the lack of time or means to tie his foes up just in case. He just wasn't that good at working restraints.

And then it was back to business. He tiptoed north, hugging the wall, taking care to crouch and peek around the building as to not walk face-first into a problem. There was another guard, but Shere was the problem here. As before he moved with practiced, cold-blooded ease, looking to snatch the man's breath away. Slither to the back, lock the arms around the neck, tighten the hold, keep it steady and ready to adjust, feel for when they go limp. Exactly as he had done just seconds ago and countless times before. He wondered if he could bar those doors from the outside, but first things first was getting clear of them.

He hoped things were going well for the rest of the team, but the lack of any great commotion was encouraging. So far.

ACTIONS:
1) Move two squares north

2) Attack with ability Formless [F] - Accurate F, Blight F (Bludgeoning), Blind Fighter, Contact F, Continuing F (Pain), Flexible, Hot Shot F, Linked F, Multidimensional, Nonlethal F, Penetrating F - 0 post cooldown. Strength E (2), Natural Weapon F (1), Formless F (1) = 4 base combat effectiveness.

3) Move three squares east if the enemy goes down

Interactions (Cave Team): Uasal Trystan1295 Valkan​

 

[Voider]

Darin​

​

---

Darin's eyes went wide for a brief moment as the fist connected, before stumbling back from the blow to his gut. That was sure to be sore for a while.

Narrowing his eyes at the bandit, Darin made sure to quickly put some distance between them with a dash [1], before loading another projectile as swiftly as he could; relying on Rios to hold himself against any immediate blows while Darin prepared another shot. He'd rather have responded with a gunstock to the face, but he wasn't foolish enough to ignore his current lack of any melee proficiency. Something to solve at a later date.

With another ball of lead ready to fly faster than sound, he aimed his musket at the bandit[2]. Though before pulling the trigger, Darin considered his options: killing the man would be quick and simple, but a prisoner could hold valuable information. Besides, all of the others were most certainly dead, and perhaps taking one in alive would be beneficial. "Get your knees on the floor and hands in the air, or I'll repay your loaned fist with a high interest rate!" Darin loudly growled out, deciding the give the man a chance, but making it very clear that being uncooperative wouldn't end well.

(If* the bandit were to make any sudden moves or attacks after the threat, Darin would fire[3].)

---

Action 1: Used [Fast F] to move: 1 space northwest.
Action 2: Aiming
- - - - -
*Action 3: Basic attack with [Smoothbore Musket E].

F Grade Cooldown 0/0
E Grade Cooldown 1/1

Smoothbore Musket E (2) + Precision D (3) = 5 Effectiveness​

 

[Ian Temero]

Morrígan Durnin​

Character Grade - F
HP: 1/1

Actions:

1. Movement - 15 ft - 1 North, 3 East, 2 North East
2. [Chains of Annwyn (II)] - E - [Magic][Range][Indirect][Tangle][Componentless] - Binding Bandit in place for 1 Round. No damage. - 1 Post Cooldown/1 Action - Range 30 - INT D + [Chains of Annwyn (II)] E + Componentless E = 7 Base CE + Indirect + Tangle
3. Open Crate - Using shadow magic to pry the lid off if necessary.

Cooldowns:
E - 1/1

Morrigan covered her ears as the door exploded. Didn't really help though, not without proper ear-protection, so the blast left them ringing. She barely heard John asking if she was alright and flashed him a thumbs up, though she did have to wonder if it meant the same thing in this world. Pushing herself off the wall she slipped around the corner and into the backroom.

Her hearing had retuned by the time she stepped through the shattered door, just in time to hear the lizard threaten the last remaining guy. "Why give him a choice?" She scoffed as she sauntered by. With a snap of her fingers the bandit's shadow lashed out, thorny vines wrapping around his limbs and torso as they attempted to drag him to his knees. Morrigan came to a stop by a stack of crates and peered over, adding the body laying on the other side to her count. "Five Backstreet Boys huh? Numbers add up." She commented, then looked down at the boxes. "The performance sucked, but maybe their gear's to blame. Let's check." She joked, pulling the lid off the top.

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

Rios
Location: Bar

Rios watched the bandit hit his head and die right in front of him. This was the first person Rios had ever killed. He should be feeling some kind of emotional response. Joy at a victory, disgust at taking a life or even uncertainty in his actions. Simply put, Rios didn't feel anything. The bandit on the floor was dead and he felt nothing about it. Not sure how to feel at his lack of feeling. Rios looked over to see their Kobold comrade attempt to force a surrender from the remaining bandit. Likely so they could extract some information about the current situation or further plans. The Sassy one used those strange powers of hers in an effort to bind the bandit. Rios had no such mystical abilities, only a lucky streak which seemed to have prevented him from getting his face kicked in by people who actually knew how to fight. Holding his sword at the ready just in case the bandit tried anything funny. Rios tightened his grip on the handle. He wondered how the Cave Team were currently handling things on their end. Perhaps they had also just finished up their workload. Once they got in touch, they'd be able to exchange information. Not that Rios had anything interesting to say. He barely did anything except freak out and improvise. The small sheep with them probably did more than he did. "Tell us everything you know about your organization. We have been totally authorized to use non-lethal force to get what we want from you" lied Rios, hoping his terrible lying skills would give him away.

---

Movement: Moved behind Bandit = 1 square East + 1 square South
Action: Worse Lie Ever

 

[SoftSmile]

Jack Hayfield
[Beast] [Child] [Cuddly] [Helpless]
Ice Ice Ice Uasal ​

Jack took a cautious step back, putting his hands up defensively. “I-I’m sorry, Mister–Or or Miss rat! I didn’t mean to disturb you. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.” He apologizes over and over as he slowly closes the door. Wiping the nervous sweat from his brow, he gives a nervous thumbs up to John.

“N-Nothing there! All good! Haha!” Jack laughs, rubbing the back of his head. “Anyway, what’s happening? I heard a lot of hoopla.”

 

[Valkan]

Ryan Kylieth
​

Ryan waited in the dark, trying his best to ignore the mess behind him. If the smell alone was that unpleasant, the view could certainly be worse. Leaving the mess behind him aside, his trick worked as he envisioned it. As the figure creeped in closer and closer, Ryan hugged the wall behind Stella, leaving room for her to do her part of the bargain this street rat was about to pay. That said, Ryan still firmly held his revolver, prepared to start shooting the moment things turned chaotic. Which is never pleasant. His mind did linger on the footprints for an instant, really hoping to be wrong, and these being an elaborate prank.

 

[Uasal]

Cave Team
Trystan1295 Valkan Perdict

Stella's attack was not quite as surgical as she intended but nonetheless it did the job. With the bandit already suspecting something to be amiss, Stella's sudden illumination drew his focus quite quickly toward the incoming fist. With not enough time to dodge but having seen the fist coming the bandit moved his arm to guard his face, a move that would at least save him from becoming paste but not much more.

Stella's fist would contact the man's ulna first but would very quickly crush both it and the man's radius before following through to deliver a deadly blow to the man's temple. It was a gruesome sight to see yet again, but at the very least the man's corpse was much less bloodied than the last. Granted the arm was more like a floppy boomerang now but at least he was all in all together and in one piece.

Shere once again took down his opponent with ease, though out of all the foes he faced thus far, this bandit put up the best struggle. Just not enough to save himself from the warm and calming embrace Shere so kindly gifted. The man went out like a light and though he put up a struggle, it seemed no one had noticed such. Indeed, Shere was proceeding with effortless ease.

The doors to both buildings were very easily blockable, wedging a solid item up against the handles would likely suffice in keeping the doors shut tight. Though how long it would take to brake the door back down was anyone's guess thereafter. It was very likely worth a shot but unfortunately for Shere, the bandit he had just faced was the only one carrying a polearm that looked sturdy enough to be of use.

Meanwhile, Delta would set about freeing the slaves and inspecting their injuries.​

---

Town Team
SoftSmile Ice Ice Ice Gaius Danius Griinia Voider Ian Temero

In the town things had died down. All their opponents had been taken out, all but one. A lone soul wrapped in shadows and incapable of escape. "You won't find anything 'ere! You're too late! The boss and the others will have already made the swap by now. Those wretches are gone and they ain't ever coming back, slaves the lot of 'em!". Though alone and out of options it seemed the bandit was very much willing to battle on. He might have been physically defeated but mentally and spiritually he'd likely be far too much for anyone present to break anytime soon.

That being said, at least he was no longer a threat thanks to Morrigan's tangle.

Though sadly for Rios his intimidation act only ended up getting him a scoff and chuckle.

Though for those who would end up searching the crates, contraband was abundant. In Morrigan's crate alone there were enough gold coins to fill it 3/4 of the way. The gold coins were forged but they were gold-looking coins nonetheless. However, most interestingly a small ring was mixed in among the coins. It at least, looked the part and seemed to be worth quite a pretty penny. Just what else could be hiding in the crates?​

 

[Voider]

Darin​

Interactions: Morrigan ( Ian Temero ), Rios ( Gaius Danius Griinia )​

---

"Hmph, well excuse me for not binding him with a snap of my fingers." Darin retorted to the girl's comment, briefly giving a narrowed glare as she casually walked through the room.

Darin then looked down at the bandit, who didn't care for Rios' lie. He respected the man who fought with him just earlier, as he would anyone who'd do so, though even if Darin didn't have some [Insight F], the lie wasn't too difficult to see through. As Morrigan revealed the gold, Darin spoke to the now bound bandit. "Oh really? 'Won't find anything here'? I'd say that we've found quite a lot, wouldn't you agree?" He paused, considering his next words. "As for your hostages and boss, you needn't worry about them." He finished with a half-grin.

Looking back up to his allies, Darin pondered their next course of action. "One of us should alert the town guard that we've secured the valuables. We can't exactly haul all of these crates ourselves, and getting all of it back to where it belongs sounds like a job for the locals." He paused to momentarily inspect his musket, before leaning back against the door with the firearm clenched in his right hand, intently staring at their prisoner. "I'll stay here as a [Sentry], and make sure everything remains safe until the guards arrive." There was also the added fact that he'd make sure no one slipped some of the gold off for themselves, though he obviously left that unsaid[1].

---

Action 1: Keep an eye on everyone in the room with [Insight F].

[Sentry]: Darin excels at guard duty and is likely to be tasked with it a lot. Darin inspires a sense of safety and rest-assuredness.​

 

[Perdict]

Shere
Character Grade F - [Martial Artist]
​

Well, everything seemed to be progressing quite smoothly, Shere thought to himself as he stood waiting for further action that never came. Time for a checkup, then, if there was no one that required his immediate attention. But first he went back to the man he had just laid low and took his weapon, using it to jam the door of the building to the north as best and as quietly as he could. Two men there, if he recalled, so keeping them there was just good for numbers. Besides, a frontman without backing and a band without a lead are both equally likely to call it quits when pressed.

And with that done he hurried on over east, strolling still quietly, still on guard as he would be until it was all done with, to where the hostages ought to be. Subduing criminals is all well and good, but if there are people to be rescued then rescued they should be as soon as their safety can be guaranteed. This absolutely had nothing to do with any desire to be seen as part of the rescuers. Besides, the rest of the group was in that direction as well, so it would be good to check up on them and clean up in force. It also now occurred to him that they should've agreed on a sign to identify eachother as they approached.

"Shere's here, coast is clear...", he called out quietly as he reached the building, twice tapping the unlocked door with his knuckles before peering in.

ACTIONS:
1) Move two squares east

2) Bar the door of the northern building with the bandit's polearm

3) Move to the hostages

Interactions (Cave Team): Uasal Trystan1295 Valkan​

 

[Trystan1295]

Model ST3-LL4
[Construct], [Android]
Location: Cave Team
Mentions: Valkan
​

The unexpectedness of the force and effect of her own blow astounded Stella. She had hurled her clenched fist at her adversary, not anticipating in the slightest that it would have the power to knock him unconscious with just one swift hit. Yet, the sight of her knuckles ploughing through her enemy's uplifted arms, as if they were nothing more than brittle parchment, was what truly caught her off guard. Her punch had not only intercepted but utterly decimated his defense, transforming his arms into grotesque, fleshy boomerangs. The very notion of how simple this all seemed was far more disconcerting than the immediate aftermath of her attack itself.

For the second time, she elevated her right hand, now coated in a scarlet layer of fresh blood. Her dark, penetrating eyes observed the warm, sombre liquid as it slowly trickled from her fingertips, dripping onto the hard, cold ground beneath. As she let out a slight, terrified whimper, an unnerving thought emerged in the depths of her consciousness: "Could it truly be this simple for me to extinguish a human life? It's as though I was deliberately engineered for this purpose."

However, over time, this eerie feeling of unease started to gradually fade, giving way to a wave of profound relief and a subtle sense of pride. She had to remind herself that above all, she should feel thankful that her portion of the mission was unfolding without a hitch and that Ryan was unscathed. Her ultimate priorities, after all, were to maintain a low profile and to "keep Ryan from dyin'". Defying her own innate sense of rationality, the corners of her mouth twitched upward into a nervous smile. Her trembling, blood-stained fist tightened as she stifled a soft giggle and whispered an almost inaudible "Yes!" beneath her breath.

After a moment, Stella lowered herself to one knee, extending her fingers towards the fallen bandit. She gently pressed her fingertips against his lifeless neck, checking for any sign of a heartbeat. Upon verifying her opponent's demise, she moved her fingers upwards to close his vacant, staring eyes. Just as she had for the elderly man earlier, she whispered a brief prayer under her breath, imploring that the bandit's soul be granted a fair judgment in the afterlife. She then stood, turning to face Ryan with a determined expression. Her blood-soaked hand rose, giving him a thumbs-up sign. "Target neutralized," she announced, her voice steadier than she felt. "I can't detect any ongoing combat in the immediate vicinity anymore, but I want to ensure the area is completely secure before we move forward. Could you use that sensing technique of yours to survey the battlefield?"

As she voiced this request, the memory of those chilling, inhuman footprints surged back into her mind from its hidden recesses. Ryan's unique sensing ability should undoubtedly enable him to detect anything of such an unusual nature lurking nearby, right?

Combat Actions:

1. Bend over and confirm that her target was killed.
2. Pay her last respects.
3. Converse with Ryan, suggesting he use [Tremorsense C]. Pass without engaging in combat.
​

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

Rios
Location: Bandit Bar
Voider SoftSmile

Rios was dismayed to see his attempt at intimidation had failed so hard. Seems his lucky streak had run out for now. Taking some time to reposition himself around the bandit they had captured. Rios made sure to maintain vigilance despite the fact he was certain the fighting on the Town Teams side was over. All they needed to do was wait on the Cave Team to get back. Darin the Kobold chose to stand guard over the scene until the local authorities came. Rios thought that was a good move on his part. Sheathing his sword but keeping a hand on the pommel. A much calmer Rios kicked a bucket over to sit on. He could have just gone to grab a chair from the front but he had to commit to this choice. Sitting his butt down on the bucket and staring intently at the bandit. Rios thought about what kind of reward he would be getting for this endeavor. Likely a small trickling of gold and a pat on the back. He had no delusions that he'd be given anything resembling decent pay. Plus he didn't do anything worth mentioning. The most amazing thing he did was accidentally cut an arrow while it was on course to pierce the mage. Hopefully the sheep that came with them was alright. Rios had no idea why that guy even came. Do they not teach the sheeps here about the concept of mercenary work?

 

[SoftSmile]

Jack Hayfield
[Beast] [Child] [Cuddly] [Helpless]
Gaius Danius Griinia Voider Ian Temero Ice Ice Ice ​

“I-Is it over? Is everyone alright?” Jack said while walking to the backrooms, a little startled at the grizzly sight. He had tried to keep himself from crying, instead turning his back to their defeated enemies and teammates. Putting his head in his hands, he took a deep breath before steeling his resolve as he began to look through the crates.

Most of them were just full of counterfeit gold, but after he roots around in the third box for a minute, he successfully pulls out a ring. He can practically hear the victory music playing in his head. He leaps out of the box with ease as he holds the ring close to his chest.

“I did it! I did it! I found it!” Jack yells excitedly, his hooves clopping against the floor in happiness. “Thank you guys so so so much.” He says, giving a little nod of appreciation before looking at the ring again and giggling with excitement.

He had just successfully completed his first quest.

 

[Ian Temero]

Morrígan Durnin​

Character Grade - F
HP: 1/1

Actions:

1. Maintain [Chains of Annwyn]

Cooldowns:
E - 0/1

At first Morrigan as in awe at the sight of the gold coins, but as she stared at it the more she felt something was off. A crate this size mostly full of gold would weigh a shit-ton, way to much for people to move by hand. So she reached in and pulled out a handful, then chuckled as she let them fall through her fingers. It was too light to be real. She noticed the ring and was about to pick it up when Jack popped up and excitedly snatched it up. She had been wondering why he was with them. "Good for you kid." She told him, reaching out and ruffling his hair

Morrigan then turned and walked over to the bound man, the vines tightening to ensure a snug fit. "I find it hard to believe that you gave us this much trouble just to protect some counterfeits." She said slinging an arm over his shoulder. "Your boss is toast, the captives freed, your band... sorry, your buddies are dead. There's nothing left to fight for. So, what was it you were trying to destroy? What else are you hiding?"

She glanced over at the lizard keeping an eye on everyone and leaned in closer to the bandit. "The sooner you talk the sooner the pain stops." She whispered before the thorns pressed against his skin very slowly began growing.

 

[Ice Ice Ice]

John Doe

Setting aside the dead bodies, things had finally died down a bit, giving John's constitution some time to recover and clear his mind. Though expecting death as an inevitability in their mission, actually witnessing it was still a new experience from him. While the rest continued to interrogate what was left of their foes, John took this time to take a breather.

He initially took this job for the pay and as a favor to the body he had now occupied. Slavery was indeed a wrong thing, but was it really John's responsibility to do something about it? Did he actually care that much for people he didn't know? The short answer to this was no. So that begs the question, with what they were able to accomplish, was it enough to cash in or did they have more to do? Well, John really didn't know.

"So, what now?" John bluntly spoke out loud. He directed the question to no one in particular. They took out most of them while some got away. Their mission was to eliminate and capture, and they've done both. "Do we just meet back up with the others?" Regrouping and relaying to each other the information they've gathered seemed like the most logical choice, but given that he was a novice in this line of work, John hoped that someone who knew better would speak up.

 

[Uasal]

The Cave Team
Trystan1295 Valkan Perdict

By the time Shere had taken care of the guards, Delta had secured the slaves and provided them with some minimal first aid. Thankfully none of them seemed to be all that injured, there was some bruising and swelling but for the most part, it was nothing serious. At least physically, unfortunately for them mentally, each of the three women had been slave collared. They would be of no use to Delta or her plan now, what a shame. But at least they were well and good if not mentally shackled and bound to the heinous bandit Leader Carter the Nicker!

Speaking of, the man of the hour had finally made his move. Shere's actions in blockading the door were seemingly loud enough to draw him out as a result of sheer curiosity. That was funny. Punny even.

With the leader now on the move it didn't take long for him to notice Shere and Delta, not to mention the beheaded body laying near their feet. Drawing his blade Carter would call out to the duo "What do we have here? Adventurers? No, that's not the type of guild that would know about this place. You must be with the"

"Shere get him! I'll protect the prisoners. We can't let him escape! Not after what he's done! I won't allow it!" Delta suddenly cut the man off with an outburst of her own. Truth be told she didn't care much for any of the women here, but she needed to come across as angry if her plan was to work. "Please! We can't let this monster walk out of here alive!".

Delta's shouting echoed through the cave, alerting both Ryan and Stella to the impending battle. With the party now assembled, would they triumph over evil? Would Delta complete her mission? You decide! Epic Ra...Battles of history!

Combat has begun

Actions taken
3/3 for Carter​

---

The Town Team
Ian Temero Ice Ice Ice SoftSmile Voider Gaius Danius Griinia

While the Cave Team was starting their battle, The Town Team was still interrogating their prisoner and searching through the contraband. A noble cause indeed.

Morrigans attempt to fish out more information from the bandit was not as successful as she might have hoped but it did provide her with at least a little more info.

"You think just cause I'm bound up in your witchcraft means I'll talk! You're nowhere near as strong as the boss, I'm far more afraid of him than you, I'll never talk! Our boss just managed to reach E grade! You're all dead!"

This was quite the revelation to anyone who had actually paid attention. After all, Delta had suggested the man was E grade. Was the cave team going to be alright?

Regardless of whether they would be or not, it wasn't as if the town team could get to the case on time and even if they could, without Delta to guide them it'd be like finding a needle in a stack. For now, it seemed all they could do was wait and or inform the guard of their exploits. Perhaps turn in the solo remaining survivor.​

 

[Trystan1295]

Model ST3-LL4
[Construct], [Android]
Location: Cave Team
Mentions: Cave Squad ( Uasal , Perdict , Valkan )
​

Stella had just finished turning the corner with Ryan in tow when Sasha's voice echoed. The message conveyed a trio of crucial truths about Stella's situation:

1. The group's cover was blown, allowing them to make as much noise as they wanted.

2. The leader of the Backstreet Boys gang was in the cavern, revealing himself.

3. The situation was dire, and Sasha relied on Shere to defend against the leader.

Based on Sasha's words, Stella interpreted two possibilities, one more concerning than the other. The first implied that Shere had enough strength to face the boss alone. The second suggested that no team member had enough power to confront someone of the boss's caliber one-on-one. Considering the high stakes, Stella decided it was best to approach the situation as if the worst-case scenario were true. However, there was no guarantee that Shere would succeed in a one-on-one encounter against an opponent of unknown strength. Stella didn't know the full extent of either of them—she'd only seen Shere dispatch the entrance guards effortlessly, but he'd been holding back, and he managed to spare their lives...

...unlike anyone unlucky enough to end up on the wrong end of her fist.

Yet, that was acceptable, right? Sasha needed to eliminate this man, and concerns about the repercussions could be addressed later. The priority was achieving the desired outcome; otherwise, she could kiss that bottle of oil goodbye.

By the time Stella finished justifying her rationale internally, she'd found herself assuming a fighting stance and standing a short distance from the bandit boss alongside Shere. Her fists clenched, and her knuckles emitted sparks of bioelectricity. Her body instinctively prepared for battle, responding independently from her CPU, which was disconcerting for someone with a fully robotic body. However, more urgent matters required attention. The question was not about how to eliminate this individual; Stella had a single objective and would brute force through every available option until it was accomplished.

Stella turned to Shere and smiled, conveying her plan of action. Nodding at the martial artist, she alerted him, "I'll rush him. Stay behind me; I'll cover you."

Spoiler: Cue Boss Battle Music!

Combat Actions:
1. Converse with Shere.
2. Move 1 SW.
3. Attack target 1 square West with Taser Fist, Fighting Style [Incapacitate] F, Superstrength Stella cloaks her fists in the bioelectricity that powers her and swings at the target. If her fist makes contact, she delivers a jolt of electricity that may stun the target. Grade F, 0 post-cooldown.

Damage Calc: [Natural Weapon (Iron Fists) F] + Strength E + [Taser Fist F] = 4 effective damage



​

 

[Ice Ice Ice]

John Doe​

Whether it was through fear or admiration, John couldn't deny the bandit's loyalty. Out of all of them, only he survived. Fate must have been trying to tell them something. Maybe he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. An unfortunate innocent who was tangled up in the shady and underhanded business of the foul. Though seemingly unreasonable, John wanted to give the sole bandit the benefit of the doubt. To make him cooperate, there must have been something they were missing. As he got closer, John used Appraisal F, and sadly, he did not like what he learned.

"A bandit and a murderer." John thought to himself, feeling a bit disappointed for the short-lived hope he was holding on to. He no longer cared for his initial plan. Such individuals were a lost cause.

"You heard him." John uttered sternly. "He said he'll never talk. No use for us, if you ask me." It was either his own beliefs or the memories that lingered in his body, but right know, John believed that these types of people were better off dead. "The bounties on their heads." He spoke out loud. "It was either to capture or eliminate." Forming a glowing sphere of magic in his palm, it was obvious what John was suggesting. "Slave traders deserve the latter. Any objections?" His stomach began to retch, but he believed that it had to be done.