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>>5666638

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpFAPIGQwlU

> “Y’know something, Bobo? For being one of the smartest folks I know, you sure can be an idiot when the mood strikes.”

For an infinitesimally brief moment, a look of genuine hurt crosses his face before it’s schooled back into his customary half-frown.

Bobo goes to interrupt, likely with an equally cutting remark, but you just plow through and continue speaking.

> “Did it ever occur to you that you could’ve just asked somebody for help? I’m not trying to be an asshole here, but this seems like a problem that could be handled by a pal with the right connections.”

There’s a moment of terse silence as Bobo visibly struggles to maintain his composure before ultimately failing miserably.

In that moment of supreme weakness, the look of shame plastered across look tells you everything that you need to know.

Bobo suffers from a flaw you can understand all too well; pride.

In his mind, if he can’t succeed on his own merits, then he doesn’t deserve to succeed at all. Asking anyone, especially a friend, to bail him out of a jam is practically unthinkable; a train of thought that’s come close to consuming you more than a few times.

Back before you knew better, you would’ve preferred to sink quietly rather than risk the humiliation of making a splash and getting help.

Now that you’ve got a better handle on the delicate issues at play, your tone eases up a bit, but is still tinged with iron.

> “Look, I get it. Opening up, especially about past failures, can be a bitch and a half. But if I can take the plunge, I’m sure you can pull it off too. You’re not alone in this, not if you don’t want to be. I mean, there’s gotta be a precedent or loophole on the books somewhere that we could use to get you citizenship. And even if that doesn’t work, all you would need to do is find somebody trustworthy to sign the papers and “own” the detective agency while you do the actual work. That way, you’d be able to neatly sidestep that debt collection issue.”

Your mind is awash with possibilities.

> “Hell, it can’t be that hard to find somebody willing to organize the proceedings and get the paperwork set up; lawyers’ll do anything for a quick buck. And sure, there’s a chance that you’ll just crash and burn again. So what? You’ll never know for certain unless you get back in the saddle and give it another try. You’re a damned good detective, you’ll be able to find your sea legs again. Besides, the worst case scenario would be that you end up in the same position that you started from. And at least then, you’d be able to know deep down that there’s nothing more you could’ve done. Otherwise, you’ll spend every waking moment wondering about things could’ve been different. And that’ll eat you alive.”

Another point that needs to be addressed is Bobo’s issue with the sauce.

By his own admission, he's spent an inordinate amount of time drinking his sorrows away; something that needs to stop if he ever hopes to accomplish his goals.

> “I’ve been in the same hole too, Bobo. Maybe not for as long as you, but I know that the first thing you need to do is stop digging. I’m not asking you to quit cold turkey, but you need to cut back on the drinking. It’ll be hard; but that’s one of the things that makes it worth doing.”

As soon as you dare target such a familiar source of comfort, Bobo immediately begins to pull back.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Sean, I…”

Your tone becomes coarse in its rough honesty.

> “Crawling into the bottle has never solved a goddamned thing for anybody! You can either get a handle on it, or let it make the big decisions for you. Then you really will be the sum of your greatest fears.”

After your outburst, you sigh and reach into your shirt pocket; lighting up a cigarette and slowly blowing smoke out of the Set-Mobile’s window.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4mFg0JJNdE

> “And I know that you mean well, but ’normal’ just isn’t in the cards for guys like me. Even if I do find something on the straight and narrow, it’ll still probably be the kind of work that offers hazard pay. That’s just how I’m wired, all that I’m really good for. And besides…”

Bitterness begins to silently envelop your voice as you take a twisted walk down memory lane.

> “Growing up, I knew plenty of folks that did everything they were supposed to. Followed every rule, checked every box, jumped through every single hoop. They trusted their futures and fates to something infinitesimally larger and more powerful than themselves. And in thanks, it squeezed them for all they were worth. Every time I’ve tried to work within the confines of normality, I’ve been inevitably fucked over by somebody higher up the chain. So between the choice of workin’ a soulless 9-to-5 where I’m beholden to some pencil-pusher with a fancy title, or getting shot at…..well, I’ll take the prospect of some honest bloodshed every day of the week.”

You flash a brittle grin in an attempt to take as much sting out of your response as possible.

> “Besides, you ought to know better by now at how shit I am at taking orders. What kind of lunatic would hire me for a legit job, anyhow?”

Bobo has an uncertain look on his face that you quickly move to assuage.

> “I’m not going to strong-arm you into any of this; that’s a decision that can and should only be made on your own. All that I’m asking is that you think it over and give it a fair shake.”

>>5666645

There’s a long pause of silence as Bobo mulls over your words.

“And here I was thinking that I was supposed to be the one doling out the pearls of wisdom here.”

> “Well, I'm known for having my moments."

On reflex, Bobo goes to take a long drink from his beer. But he stops himself and restricts it to a quick slug before crushing the can and tossing it into a neat pile in the

You turn away and fail to suppress the urge to smile widely.

It’s a start.

--------------------
Now, how would you like to to spend your time in Vladivostok? (Choose 2)

> Learn how to make a traditional Russian pierogi. Might as well pick up some of the local customs while you’re here.

> Investigate some street crimes with Bobo. He could use the confidence boost from doing some objectively good deeds.

> Forge some reliable connections with the local criminal element. If there isn’t a mountain of hardware falling off the truck around here, you’ll eat your hat.

> Go hunting in the Siberian taiga. It’ll be a good way to bond, get a little shooting in, and earn a bit of pocket money.

> Sign the gang up for a Sambo class. Could be a good team-building opportunity that blows off a bit of steam.

> Bribe the local military garrison for a chance to play with their toys. A soldier’s vices are many and always in short supply; just need to make the right pitch.

> Other?

>>5666648
> Investigate some street crimes with Bobo. He could use the confidence boost from doing some objectively good deeds.
> Sign the gang up for a Sambo class. Could be a good team-building opportunity that blows off a bit of steam.

>>5666648
> Investigate some street crimes with Bobo. He could use the confidence boost from doing some objectively good deeds.
> Go hunting in the Siberian taiga. It’ll be a good way to bond, get a little shooting in, and earn a bit of pocket money.
Ayy! You're back! Anyway, I want Sean to wear a bear as a hat.

>>5666648
> Investigate some street crimes with Bobo. He could use the confidence boost from doing some objectively good deeds.
> Go hunting in the Siberian taiga. It’ll be a good way to bond, get a little shooting in, and earn a bit of pocket money.

AXIS LIVES!
Sadly I cannot stick around so have a good one!

>>5666648
> Investigate some street crimes with Bobo. He could use the confidence boost from doing some objectively good deeds.

Should we do this one as Thema or do you guys think that we'd be tracked this way?

> Sign the gang up for a Sambo class. Could be a good team-building opportunity that blows off a bit of steam.

I'll leave the vote open for another 20 minutes or so; that way the stragglers can float on in.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5666664
>>5666669
>>5666671
>>5666679

Alright, looks like we'll be handling some street crimes, rolling a tiebreaker for your other activity.

1 = Sambo

2 = Hunting

As an aside, I'm very proud that I managed to find such a fitting song for Bobo.

>>5666701

Hunting it is.

Speaking of which, what kind of crime would you like to focus your impromptu patrol on?

> Go on the prowl for muggers, thieves, and pickpockets. The classic variety of street scum.

> Give the local drug pushers a solid kick in the teeth. Might not push them off their territory entirely, but a bit of fear is good for the soul.

> Hunt for any potential Mafiya hangouts and kick in the door. A chance to do some good, and fill your pockets.

> Locate and trash the local FSB field office. If there’s anyone who deserves to get their shit pushed in, it’s the wannabe Chekists.

> Other?

>>5666712
> Hunt for any potential Mafiya hangouts and kick in the door. A chance to do some good, and fill your pockets.
Though fucking with feds is always nice.

>>5666712
>> Locate and trash the local FSB field office. If there’s anyone who deserves to get their shit pushed in, it’s the wannabe Chekists.

>>5666712
> Hunt for any potential Mafiya hangouts and kick in the door. A chance to do some good, and fill your pockets.

>>5666712
>Hunt for any potential Mafiya hangouts and kick in the door. A chance to do some good, and fill your pockets

>>5666716
>>5666726
>>5666729

Alright, looks like we're taking it to the mattresses.

Go ahead and pick out your gear.

Armor:
> Apokoliptian Armor (Can tank all kinds of damage, but the distinct profile is memorable)
> Conventional Armor (Less protection, but may raise fewer red flags)

Primary Weapon:
> Apokoliptian Carbine (Volatile Intergang tech, capable of putting a hole through damn near anything)
> MP5 SMG (Well-suited for ambush tactics and stealthily engagements) (Silenced)
> M4 Carbine (All-around performer, includes grenade launcher)
> Dragunov Sniper Rifle (Excellent at long-range, poorly suited for close-quarter engagements)
> Benelli Shotgun (Excellent at close-quarter engagements, suffers at range)

Secondary Weapon:
> Colt 1911 (Reliable and hardy) (Silenced)
> .44 Magnum (Hits hard)
> Beretta M9 (Easy to conceal) (Silenced)

Melee Weapon: (Not including the Blade of Flame)
> Spatha (Great for brawling, poor for stealth)
> Fairbairn-Sykes knife (Good for stealth)
> KABAR (Decent for both stealth / brawling)
> Knuckle trench knife (Good for brawling)

Explosives: (4 maximum)
> Fragmentation
> Smoke
> Flashbang
> Incendiary
> Thermite

>>5666736
> Conventional Armor (Less protection, but may raise fewer red flags)
> M4 Carbine (All-around performer, includes grenade launcher)
> Colt 1911 (Reliable and hardy) (Silenced)
> KABAR (Decent for both stealth / brawling)
> Smoke
> Flashbang
> Incendiary 2

>>5666736
This >>5666737

>>5666737
+1

Rolled 2, 58 + 80 = 140 (2d100 + 80)

>>5666737
>>5666738
>>5666740

Might be a little premature, but I'll go ahead and call it here for these options.

Go ahead and give me some 1d100+40 to do a bit of rapid detective work.

Bobo will also be rolling as well.

DC: 95 / 125

Rolled 76 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5666744

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>5666744

Rolled 10 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>5666744

>>5666745
>>5666746
>>5666749

Looks like you do pretty well on your lonesome, but Bobo has a blazing spark of insight that trumps it.

Writing.

File: Vladivostok.jpg (553 KB, 1600x741)

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>>5666750

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXk8QXhr7Fk

It doesn’t take much prodding to get Bobo in the mood for a spot of gangbusting.

There’s a variety of local fauna to select from, but you’ve always been partial to big game in particular.

And in this neck of the woods, that’d be the mafiosos who carved up the post-Soviet state into their own personal petty fiefdoms.

The biggest fly in the ointment is that you’ve got no fucking clue where to even start; the city is huge and you don’t know a damned person here. Luckily, a font of information soon presents itself.

After night begins to fall, it doesn’t take long for the freaks and thugs to emerge from their dens and begin to prowl the streets.

It’s almost uncanny in its resemblance to Gotham. And you happen to be quite well-versed at the art of the intel shakedown.

After parting with the crew in the Set-Mobile, you and Bobo quickly work your way up the criminal food chain, aided by a liberal helping of judiciously applied violence.

After a few broken limbs and hasty interrogations of smaller fry, you’ve got a solid base of knowledge regarding the local power players. More importantly, you know exactly where they’re going to be for a while.

On of the intrepid squealers unfortunate enough to cross your path spilled the address of some seedy apartment block that’s been repurposed into a mafiya hotspot.

Its enterprising landlords have their sticky fingers in every pie you can think of, and a few that turn your stomach.

Either way, they deserve every second of what’s about to come raining down on their heads.

It’s rather telling when you voice as much to Bobo and he doesn’t contradict or argue with you.

Anyhow, what you can gather from the local scuttlebutt paints an interesting picture.

Supposedly, things are pretty tense between the local syndicates. Some stupid escalation of a petty slight that’s threatening to turn into something larger and nastier. To settle things before it can spiral out of control, the more level-headed ones are holding a sit-down at that apartment block to hash out a solution before it can jeopardize business any further.

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>>5666776

To you, it sounds like the perfect opportunity to cut the head off the snake.

The address checks out, as does your tipoff; there’s a sizable pack of bodyguards at the main entrance to the apartments, maybe a dozen or so. No idea how many are inside.

No visible weapons, but they’re all packing pistols or SMGs at the very least. There’s gotta be somebody important here, no other reason for so many shaved gorillas to be sitting on it otherwise.

You’ve got your gear broken down and stowed securely in your pack; for all intents and purposes, you look like every other civvie. At least until you crack open your bag of tricks and unleash hell.

While relaying these insights to Bobo, you let him process it all and cook up a plan of attack.

He idly scratches his head before coming to a confident conclusion.

“Shock and awe, counter-terror tactics. Storm the front door, blind and deafen them with smoke and sonics, then take it room by room.”

You decide to…

> Go with Bobo’s plan. Nothing quite like a bit of search and destroy to get the blood pumping.

> Split up and nail them from different directions. You’ve got the experience and firepower to make a push through the front door, while Bobo is clever enough to find another way in to flank them.

> Find an overwatch position and stake them out. If the meeting finishes and they all trickle out at about the same time, it’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel.

> Attempt to poison the well by “warning” the guards at the front that there’s about to be an ambush. If that gets relayed inside, somebody is bound to jump the gun out of paranoia.

> Sneak around back and set the whole building on fire. If anybody manages to flee, they’ll stumble right into your killzone.

> Other?

>>5666778
>> Go with Bobo’s plan. Nothing quite like a bit of search and destroy to get the blood pumping.

>>5666778
> Go with Bobo’s plan. Nothing quite like a bit of search and destroy to get the blood pumping.

As we go in can we yell FSB and some random russian phrases

>>5666778
> Go with Bobo’s plan. Nothing quite like a bit of search and destroy to get the blood pumping.
More for the fun of it than anything.

>>5666778
> Go with Bobo’s plan. Nothing quite like a bit of search and destroy to get the blood pumping.
FBI OPEN UP

Rolled 1 + 5 (1d15 + 5)

>>5666780
>>5666783
>>5666789
>>5666791

Well, that was quite unanimous. Go ahead and give me some 1d100+20.

DC: 65 / 85 / 105

(Rolling for Luck Drain)

Rolled 25 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5666793
>6
well, maybe we wont need it...

Rolled 10 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5666793

Rolled 38 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5666793

>>5666793
>>5666795
>>5666798
>>5666798
Wow

>>5666800
>literally one off
Damn it.

>>5666795
>>5666798
>>5666800

Well, looks like that'll be a failure.

Would you like to use Roll the Die for a second chance?

> Yes, use the re-roll.

> No, take the failure.

>>5666804
>> Yes, use the re-roll.

>>5666804
> Yes, use the re-roll.
I think such shit rolls warrant it

>>5666804
> No, take the failure.
I'm sure we'll be fine

>>5666804
> Yes, use the re-roll.

>>5666806
>>5666808
>>5666815

Alright, give me another set of 1d100+20.

Same DC as before.

Rolled 8 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5666818

Rolled 89 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5666818

Rolled 54 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5666818

Rolled 12 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5666818
Please don't suck.

>>5666820
>>5666822
>>5666823

That's an excellent success, writing.

This feels like a reasonable stopping point and I've gotta get dinner going, so we'll call it here for tonight.

We'll pick things back up again on Friday at 5:00 PM EST, same as usual.

As always, thanks for playing! Apologies for my unanticipated (but thankfully brief) hiatus.

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>>5666682
>8 and a half hours later

Hey guys did I miss the meeting?

>>5666825

Before we get things going, it's time to decide how messy you're willing to let things get.

In other words, what degree of force do you plan on bringing to bear in terms of weapons and tactics?

> You're packing rubber bullets. They'll sting like a bitch, but it probably won't kill em.

> You're packing live rounds. Anybody that makes a wrong move is getting their ticket punched for good.

> Other?

>>5668143
> You're packing live rounds. Anybody that makes a wrong move is getting their ticket punched for good.
I thought this went without saying. All criminals are fair game.

>>5668143
>> You're packing rubber bullets. They'll sting like a bitch, but it probably won't kill em.

>>5668143
> You're packing live rounds. Anybody that makes a wrong move is getting their ticket punched for good.
Don't really see a valid reason not to

>>5668146
>>5668153

Alright, lethal as ever.

I figured as much, but I wanted to pose the option in case there was any opposing viewpoints.

Writing.

>>5668143
>> You're packing rubber bullets. They'll sting like a bitch, but it probably won't kill em.
Bodies leave a trail

Rolled 80, 97 + 10 = 187 (2d100 + 10)

>>5668156

Now that the course of action has been decided upon, you shrug on your body armor, assemble and double-check your gear, and slide a balaclava over your face. There probably won’t be many survivors, but it’s best to be safe.

In contrast to your own arsenal, Bobo is packing a pair of revolvers like he’s in some kind of arthouse John Woo movie. To be fair though, he’s definitely strong enough to handle the recoil.

You check your watch.

Shit, you've been dallying for long enough. It’s time to clean up the neighborhood.

From your brief recon efforts, you identified a narrow side alley as the most viable staging point for your attack; the less warning your opposition gets, the better the chances of not getting blown away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7lETRq8-28

You take a deep breath and charge around the corner with your M4, opening fire without missing a beat the second you get a clear line of sight.

The audacious attack takes your opposition completely by surprise, looks like they weren’t expecting to see any actual action tonight.

A few of the more sharp-witted bodyguards manage to draw their weapons before the muzzle of your weapon swivels their way; a particularly lucky one even manages to let a shot off while you’re busy carving through the remainder of his comrades.

His shot goes wide, over your shoulder. Still, it’s too close for comfort.

You reward your would-be assailant for his diligence by drilling him directly in the chest and carving a bloody stitchwork through his cheap black suit.

Normally you’d worry more about policing your brass, but not tonight. If the cops here are anything like the ones back home, they’ll be happy to look the other way in silent gratitude that the victims actually deserved their fate for once.

Go ahead and give me some 1d100+20 to breach and clear.

(I’ll be rolling for Bobo on this one)

> DC: 70

Rolled 39 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5668164

Rolled 38 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5668164
Bobo is locked the fuck in goddamn.

Rolled 27 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>5668164
Damn Bobo's popping off

>>5668165
>>5668169
>>5668171
And we're jobbing...

Rolled 12, 90 + 35 = 137 (2d100 + 35)

>>5668165
>>5668169
>>5668171

Looks like a failure for you, but Bobo manages to pick up the slack.

Go ahead and give me some 1d100+50 to avoid getting pinned down.

> DC to be determined.

Rolled 82 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5668174
goddamn

Rolled 63 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5668174

Rolled 47 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5668174
Still no rolls? Feel free to either take this one or keep waiting.

>>5668186

I'll give it a little while longer, anon.

Rolled 22 + 50 (1d100 + 50)

>>5668174

>>5668186
I didn't want to roll since I did last time, but fine, have this critfail.

>>5668176
>>5668177
>>5668189

That's a success, looks like you pull through without any issues.

Once you manage to reach the meeting room, how would you like to handle the bosses / shot-callers present?

> Pump em all full of lead. It’s the safest and quickest option, and it’s not like they deserve any better.

> Kidnap anybody wiling to come quietly, the rest get a dirt nap. Maybe you can put the squeeze on one or more of them for additional resources.

> Kick the shit out of everybody in the room, tie em up, and anonymously let the local cops know. There won't be any wriggling out of this one, not even here.

> Other?

>>5668196
>> Kidnap anybody wiling to come quietly, the rest get a dirt nap. Maybe you can put the squeeze on one or more of them for additional resources.

>>5668196
> Kidnap anybody wiling to come quietly, the rest get a dirt nap. Maybe you can put the squeeze on one or more of them for additional resources.
We can rob them of their ill-gotten gains then give them to the cops. Or kill them if they do something stupid.

>>5668196
>> Kidnap anybody wiling to come quietly, the rest get a dirt nap. Maybe you can put the squeeze on one or more of them for additional resources.
Surely they will know where the Muffin Man lives.

>>5668198
>>5668200
>>5668202

Alright, looks like you'll be going for a bit of a shakedown.

Roll me some 1d100+25 to find some takers.

> DC: 75 / 100 / 125

Rolled 97 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5668204
Big money big money

>>5668204
>>5668207
Ayyyy, with luck drain, that's an excellent success!

pls no crit fail

Rolled 98 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5668204

I'll give it another 5 or so minutes and then allow re-rolling.

Been a bit slow tonight.

Rolled 71 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5668204
Wouldn't it be funny if I got a 1 to ruin this luck? No. It wouldn't.

>>5668207
>>5668210
>>5668217

As always, it would appear that negotiations at gunpoint are your forte.

That's an excellent success, writing.

>>5668218

After taking a moment to ensure that all of the guards are dead, you take a position at the front door; passing Bobo one of your flashbang grenades.

No sense in worrying about waking up the neighbors, the automatic weapons fire will have alerted anyone with a working set of ears that trouble is on the way.

Still, you might as well plant another seed of panic in their minds when you’ve got the chance.

> “FSB, otkryvay! Nadeyus', vy, ublyudki, gotovy umeret’!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFfybn_W8Ak

With that, you put your boot into the door and send it off its hinges, with Bobo tossing the grenade in right after.

Seconds after it detonates, you take point and begin to clear the adjoining rooms, putting down every hostile that gets in your way. Bobo watches your back, and kicks a fair amount of ass himself. Compared to the bush-leaguers outside, these guards offer a stiffer fight. Probably former military of some stripe.

Due to the threat you pose, the majority of the incoming fire is directed your way and you inevitably find yourself pinned down in a perilous crossfire. With the aid of a smoke grenade and your well-honed agility, you manage to stymie the opposition long enough for salvation to arrive in the guise of your primate partner.

In a dizzying display of prowess, Bobo leaps from cover and empties his revolvers, landing kill shots with each bullet fired.

Looks like he’s managed to tap into some of his old mojo.

After that, the few remaining guards lose their nerves and make a run for it.

With all the on-site security dead, critically injured, or running, it’s simple enough to locate where the meeting is being held.

When you storm into the room, the various scumbags are given quick come-to-Jesus talk that pretty much boils down to “cooperate, or be executed on the spot.”

>>5668249

The bulk of them refuse, either out a sense of fear of retaliation, loyalty, or just plain idiotic pride.

However, you do get three takers willing to surrender.

The first of the bunch to throw themselves upon your mercy is a middle-aged man in shabby clothes and an oily smile. Judging from the deference paid to him by some of the others in the room, you’re guessing that he’s a mid-level player that’s been on the downswing. You mentally christen him as the Boss.

The second is practically a teenager, but has all the signs of your prototypical leg-breaker and general muscle. Gaudy clothes, plenty of tattoos, irritating attitude, etc.. You mentally christen him as the Enforcer.

The third is a quiet, college-age man in a business suit. He looks out-of-place here, like he’d be better suited at a bank or financial institution. You mentally christen him as the Accountant.

When the others remain steadfast in their refusal to surrender into your custody, you respect their wishes and gun them down where they stand.

As for your prisoners, you black-bag em, zip-tie their hands, and haul them out of the building before any reinforcements can arrive.

The slums offer numerous places to hide and interrogate your prisoners, but who would you like to start with? It’d be best to do things separately, just in case somebody tries anything funny.

To that end, you’ll work on…

> The Boss. If he can name other persons of interest, you could potentially help to roll up the regional players.

> The Enforcer. These guys always know where the bodies are buried, the weapons are stored, and if anything big is cooking.

> The Accountant. Money is the lifeblood of any illegal operation, if you can stymie it or siphon it off for yourself, that could be the most critical blow of all.

> Other?

>>5668250
>> The Boss. If he can name other persons of interest, you could potentially help to roll up the regional players.

>>5668250
> The Boss. If he can name other persons of interest, you could potentially help to roll up the regional players.
Seems like a good idea

>>5668250
> The Boss. If he can name other persons of interest, you could potentially help to roll up the regional players.
Accountant was my first choice but this is good too.

>>5668250
> The Enforcer. These guys always know where the bodies are buried, the weapons are stored, and if anything big is cooking.

Break this one, the other two fall in line.

>>5668251
>>5668252
>>5668253

Alright, in what manner would you like to conduct your interrogation?

> Maintain an oppressive presence. Make it clear that you’ll make it slow and painful if he lies or refuses to answer your questions.

> Do a few subtle magical tricks to put the fear of God in him. Nothing gets people to freak out more than the idea that you could damage him in a way that’ll carry on after death.

> Crack a few jokes, try to get him to lower his guard. You tend to catch more flies with honey than vinegar after all.

> Keep things polite and transactional. You get your questions answered, he gets to walk out the door a free man with a vastly reduced competition.

> Other?

>>5668257
>> Do a few subtle magical tricks to put the fear of God in him. Nothing gets people to freak out more than the idea that you could damage him in a way that’ll carry on after death.

>>5668257
> Maintain an oppressive presence. Make it clear that you’ll make it slow and painful if he lies or refuses to answer your questions
We don't have to use magic, it'll be easy. Besides, if we let him live he could tell someone about it.

>>5668257
> Keep things polite and transactional. You get your questions answered, he gets to walk out the door a free man with a vastly reduced competition.
You may refer to me as FSB
I will ask questions and you will answer them
If i am pleased, you will be released without harm

>>5668257
> Maintain an oppressive presence. Make it clear that you’ll make it slow and painful if he lies or refuses to answer your questions
Give him The Sean Stare™

It left a big impact on Madcap

>>5668257
Actually, I think this is better
> Maintain an opressive presence keeping things polite and transactional. You get your questions answered, he gets to walk out the door a free man with a vastly reduced competition.
The stare is more subtle than threatening the target.

Rolled 98, 94 + 45 = 237 (2d100 + 45)

>>5668271
>>5668268
>>5668261

Looks like we're going for a mix of polite, yet with an undercurrent of danger.

Go ahead and give me some 1d100+25

DC to be determined.

Rolled 42, 98 = 140 (2d100)

>>5668274

Now, let's see if Bobo can help. I'm going to rule that if either of these rolls are greater than or equal to a 45, you get a +20 tacked onto your roll.

Rolled 94 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5668274
Damn, he rolled high

Rolled 61 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5668274
Is that roll possible to beat?

>>5668274
>>5668275
>>5668277
Wait, I think with luck drain and Bobo's assist we just barely squeak out a success.

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>5668274
Damn high rolls

>>5668277
>>5668278
>>5668280

Some narrow margins, but that's a success.

We'll pick back up from here on Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST.

As always, thanks for playing!

>>5668282
Do we speak perfect Russian with no accent? I think we got a boon that lets us speak or read any human language without issue?

>>5668644
No bro. We can't fail at learning any human language.

>>5668644
>>5670323

Polyglot only applies during rolls to learn / practice a language, and only prevents you from failing to pick up anything.

Your current proficiency with Russian is serviceable, but with a notable accent.

Quick update, anons.

I've been forced to take a chunk of my work home with me tonight, so I'll have to postpone our session to Friday at 5:00 PM EST.

In the meantime, are there any specific questions you have for your prisoner? I've already got a general listing in mind, but feel free to toss your own in and I'll incorporate them if possible.

Some good news that'll hopefully cancel out the bad is that I've made a lot of headway with the "Sean home life" interlude and should have it finished over the weekend.

>>5672036
Who do you work for?
Who are the other big players in the area?
Anything you want the FSB to look into?

>>5672036
Where is the best food joint around here?
Where does your family live?
Do you know what happens when you disobey the CIA?

>>5672036
Whereas all the good shit? Caches, hideouts, money laundering fronts, whore houses.

>>5672036

Since Sean is bad at Russian.

What Sean thinks he's saying:

Where's the money? I'm pretty broke here and my friend here also needs a large donation. I don't wanna have to break your fingers, but I will if you don't give me something good.

What Sean is actually saying:
>Гдe eдa? Taк гoлoдeн. Moя жeнa тaкaя тoлcтaя. Hyждaeтcя в eдe или cъeшь мoи пaльцы. Bы дaeтe ceйчac.

>>5672840
>Where is the food? So hungry. My wife is so fat. Live in food or eat my fingers. You give now.
Kek

File: 1454716981471.jpg (27 KB, 480x443)

27 KB JPG

>>5672840
>Guy reveals where they keep the money
>"Leave my mother out of this or I will give your brain more breathing room."

>>5672036
Share your work so we can lead a hand.

>>5673157

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K64GyxUrBXs

The prospect of violence doesn’t work well on hardened criminals, it’d be to keep a delicate balance between transactional politeness and the ever-present option of physical harm. Bobo’s leaving the actual interrogation entirely in your hands, but is keeping an observant eye in the background for any details that you might miss.

After double checking your prisoner for weapons or any other tools, you tie him to a chair and open with the simplest question of all; his name.

The prisoner flashes you a greasy grin and introduces himself as Maxim Sokolov, but gently insists that you just call him Max. Everybody does, supposedly.

As an icebreaker, you ask him about the best place in town for some decent takeout, as well as some softball questions about his family.

He chuckles, and recommends some chain called Teremok, which sounds quite a bit like Russian McDonalds; you make a mental note to find one and grab something hot when all is said and done here. Carving your way through the criminal underworld has a way of working up a monstrous appetite.

As for his family, he doesn’t really have one. He cut contact with them years ago, so that nobody could use them against him as a bargaining chip. Max is obviously uncomfortable discussing the topic, so you shift towards more salient questions like the nature of his criminal enterprises and who he works for. After a bit of cajoling, he’s happy to inform you that with the recent murder of his egomaniacal moron of a boss, he’s now a free-agent of sorts; a series of events that he thanks you profusely for.

>>5673558

Unsurprisingly, your impromptu purge of the local criminal leadership is going to leave one hell of a power vacuum. From the way he puts it, the bulk of the local criminal leadership and their respective lieutenants were at the meeting. As soon as the news hits the ones not-invited or too afraid to show, it’ll turn into a feeding frenzy of trying to carve up the new territory.

Despite his existence as a career scumbag, you can’t help but feel the slightest bit amused to see him weave a yarn or tell a story; almost as if he were the disgraced uncle you never had. In another life, he would’ve been one hell of a used car salesman or armed forces recruitment officer.

When you enquire about the holdings of the recently departed mafia honchos, he’s eager to spill the beans on every single operation that he has any kind of insight in; dead drops, secret caches, fronts, warehouses, safehouses, outposts, every bit of infrastructure you’d need to run a successful criminal enterprise.

Max practically sings like a canary without any prompting on your part. Paradoxically, his exuberant compliance makes you incredibly suspicious; nobody genuinely offers up that level of cooperation without something being it for them.

The pieces fall together neatly when you realize the angle he’s working; one that almost makes you break composure and laugh at the sheer boldness of it.

You’ve kidnapped him for a potential torture session, and he’s gearing himself up to make you some kind of pitch; like you were corporate suits in a boardroom discussing a potential merger.

You decide to…

> Hear out his proposal. Couldn’t hurt to see where this might lead.

> Shut him down immediately and knock him out. You’re not here to make deals, not today.

> Kill him. For his cooperation, you’ll be sure to make it quick and painless.

> Other?

>>5673559
> Hear out his proposal. Couldn’t hurt to see where this might lead
The funny thing is he would help our organization as a recruitment officer

>>5673559
>> Hear out his proposal. Couldn’t hurt to see where this might lead.

>>5673559
> Hear out his proposal. Couldn’t hurt to see where this might lead.

We were looking for recruits

>>5673559
> Hear out his proposal. Couldn’t hurt to see where this might lead
I think telling him that we know what he's doing it and have no problem with it would be funny. Especially if we tell him that two of his interrogator's best friends were in his exact same situation not too long ago.

>>5673565
>>5673572
>>5673574
>>5673576

Seems to be unanimous, so I'll call it here for giving him a chance to speak.

Writing.

File: 7526565675.gif (965 KB, 360x222)

965 KB GIF

>come with bobo to shut down crime
>just prop up a new criminal
Hopefully y'all aren't actually going to let him continue to sell krokodil in the streets here.

>>5673596
Should we find a krokodil dealer or manufacturer and kill him with extreme prejudice in front of him and explain then?
You can have some criminal activity i prefer, as a treat

>>5673596
>>5673599

I'm kinda surprised that nobody has made a Red Hood joke yet.

>5673596
>Hopefully y'all aren't actually going to let him continue to sell krokodil in the streets here.

I was thinking we conscript him as the first recruitment officer for the steel wolves

>>5673596
Shut down crime? What made you get that idea? We came to shut down crime from anyone but us, we're here to beat the game not to destroy it.

>>5673602
I was thinking about putting him in charge of Steel Wolves' cells in Russia. Intergang bout to have some competition.

>>5673605
>I was thinking about putting him in charge of Steel Wolves' cells in Russia. Intergang bout to have some competition.

Sounds like a better idea I fully support it

File: Max.png (1.48 MB, 1024x1024)

1.48 MB PNG

>>5673578

You bite your tongue and let Max say his piece.

As funny as it’d be to tip him off that you haven’t really been taken off-guard by his gambit, people tend to be more forthright when you don’t let them know you’ve caught onto their plans.

Max’s proposal is simple enough; he’s in a bad place financially and strategically after some bad business ventures a campaign of targeted harassment that he was barred from retaliating against. Now that his main oppositions is belly-up, now is the perfect time to loot their empires for all they’ve got.

Unfortunately for Max, even if he gets out of here unscathed, he has nobody reliable enough to call in for a job of this magnitude. Either they’d spread the word or cut him out entirely, leaving him in lurch.

However, you’ve got just the kind of skills he needs; seeing as how you practically waltzed in and bulldozed his superiors.

Therefore in exchange for your assistance in securing the assets of his fallen rivals and thereby consolidating his position, he’ll cut you in a silent partner. Equal split down the middle, 50/50. He’d run the day-to-day, and keep you on speed-dial if things get woefully out of hand.

Max eyes you up and down approvingly, and makes a comment that if you ever need reliable muscle, he’d be happy to oblige once he’s in a powerful enough position. After all, what else are good friends for?

Alternatively, you might be able to give him a bit of a push and persuade him to throw his lot in with the Steel Wolves. Max has a rough charisma to him that could come in handy, and something tells you that he’d be a good quartermaster. Y’know, if you can trust him.

So, what would you like to do?

> Accept his deal to set him up as the local kingpin. Wasn’t expecting this raid to lead to new connections being forged, but opportunity beckons.

> Accept his deal, but encourage him to flee the country and join up with the Steel Wolves. You can always use more men of substance, regardless of their origins.

> Accept his deal to set him up as the local kingpin, with some added conditions. (Explain what those conditions are, may require a roll for persuasion.)

> Decline his deal. You’re here to clean up the streets, not to get involved in the intricacies of its politics.

> Other?

>>5673610
I want to make a deal with him but what he's offering has a bad anchor.

It seems that he thinks we're just muscle, extremely dangerous and competent muscle but muscle nonetheless. But that's not what we are.

Im not sure on what the money split should be but what I am sure is that he shouldn't be some vassal of ours with his own little fiefdom. I think that this should be communicated, that he would an outpost of our organization. That we are a different class of criminal and if we wants to work under us then so would he.

Professionals have standards.

>>5673610

> Accept his deal, but encourage him to flee the country and join up with the Steel Wolves. You can always use more men of substance, regardless of their origins.

>>5673610
>> Accept his deal, but encourage him to flee the country and join up with the Steel Wolves. You can always use more men of substance, regardless of their origins.

>>5673610
Yeah I don't think I can agree to the deal under these circumstances. It took Darius and Isaac some time before they transformed from petty criminals to professionals and Max can't go through that process alone in Russia. The establishment of a cell should be done by a proper Steel Wolf.

> Accept his deal, but encourage him to flee the country and join up with the Steel Wolves. You can always use more men of substance, regardless of their origins.

>>5673619
>>5673621
>>5673626

Alright, go ahead and give me some 1d100+25 to see if Max goes along with your counter-offer.

DC: 80

In the event that he goes along with this, I'm assuming that there are no objections to quickly relocating a handful of our vets here to handle the looting and extract Max.

If I'm wrong, just let me know.

Rolled 93 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673636
Do you feel in charge?

Rolled 95 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673636
We ball

Rolled 80 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673636

>>5673638
>>5673646
>>5673656

Damn, looks like your silver tongue makes another appearance when it's needed most.

Which of your prisoners would you like to speak to next?

> The Enforcer. Now that you've got a better understanding of the factors in play, you should be able to pressure him better.

> The Accountant. If you want to learn the truth about the folks pulling the strings, you always follow the money.

>>5673662
> The Accountant. If you want to learn the truth about the folks pulling the strings, you always follow the money.

>>5673662
> The Accountant. If you want to learn the truth about the folks pulling the strings, you always follow the money.

>>5673662
>> The Accountant. If you want to learn the truth about the folks pulling the strings, you always follow the money.

>>5673667
>>5673669
>>5673670

Alright, how would you like to conduct your interrogation of the Accountant?

> Rough him up a bit to loosen his tongue. An egghead like this ought to crack easily if you apply a bit of pressure.

> Present yourself as an intellectual equal and attempt to talk shop. If you can make him comfortable in the presence of a follow professional, he may be more amenable to talk.

> Utilize Max as an example of what to do. He cooperated, and is getting bailed out of this mess for his troubles.

> Offer him a lucrative bribe; if he agrees to roll over on any hidden accounts, he'll get a hefty percentage out of the bargain. Money talks, sometimes even more than violence.

> Other?

>>5673678
> Utilize Max as an example of what to do. He cooperated, and is getting bailed out of this mess for his troubles.

>>5673678
>> Utilize Max as an example of what to do. He cooperated, and is getting bailed out of this mess for his troubles.

Rolled 78, 99 + 20 = 197 (2d100 + 20)

>>5673680
>>5673683

Alright, go ahead and give me some 1d100+25

> DC to be determined.

Rolled 21 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673691

Rolled 27 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673691
Luck drain and Bobo's bonus still apply right?

Rolled 58 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673691

Rolled 24 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673691
Lets do it

>>5673692
>>5673696
>>5673697

If I have my calculations right, even with the bonuses, that's a failure.

99 + 20 - 6 = 113
58 + 25 + 6 + 20 = 109

Roll the Die has already been burned, so we'll proceed forward.

-------------------

Looks like he's not spilling the beans without a bit of encouragement.

How do you proceed? (Keep in mind that Bobo is watching all of this unless you can figure out an excuse to get him out of the room.)

> Beat the tar out of him for a while, see if that loosens his lips. Maybe he’ll learn after losing a few teeth.

> Put the fear of God into him with getting in his face and threatening him. He’s on thin fucking ice if he plans on trying your patience again.

> Use a low-powered Lightning Bolt for some impromptu electroshock therapy. It’s definitely going to sting, that’s for sure.

> Move on to interrogating the Enforcer. This is a lost cause.

> Other?

>>5673706
>> Move on to interrogating the Enforcer. This is a lost cause.

>>5673706
> Move on to interrogating the Enforcer. This is a lost cause
Let him stew on his decision, perhaps the anxiety and dread will change his mind.

>>5673706
> Move on to interrogating the Enforcer. This is a lost cause.

>>5673706
>> Move on to interrogating the Enforcer. This is a lost cause.

>>5673708
>>5673710
>>5673713

Alright, looks like we'll be moving on for now.

Apologies if this is getting a bit repetitive, but how would you like to handle the Enforcer?

> Make it clear that he either plays ball or dies screaming. You’re in no mood for any bullshit, and you need to make that clear.

> Offer him a potential position in your organization if he agrees not to give you any trouble. He’d still need to prove himself afterwards, but it’d be a good stepping stone.

> Point out that Max has defected, and that he’d be best served to do the same. Self-preservation is the always the name of the game for some people.

> Use his ego against him. It’s a generally known that flashy thugs are usually pretty easy to bait into saying incriminating shit if you give them enough rope.

> Other?

>>5673719
>> Use his ego against him. It’s a generally known that flashy thugs are usually pretty easy to bait into saying incriminating shit if you give them enough rope.

>>5673719
> Offer him a potential position in your organization if he agrees not to give you any trouble. He’d still need to prove himself afterwards, but it’d be a good stepping stone.

>>5673719
> Offer him a potential position in your organization if he agrees not to give you any trouble. He’d still need to prove himself afterwards, but it’d be a good stepping stone.
Same pitch we gave to Darius and Isaac
> Point out that Max has defected, and that he’d be best served to do the same. Self-preservation is the always the name of the game for some people.
Social proof.

Rolled 44, 37 + 15 = 96 (2d100 + 15)

>>5673722
>>5673732

Alright, looks like we're offering a job, with Max being touted as an example.

Last roll of the night, go ahead and give me some 1d100+25

> DC to be determined .

inb4 crit

Rolled 51 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673734

Rolled 58 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673734

>>5673697
>>5673737

I see that you value consistency, anon.

Still need one more roll.

Rolled 58 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5673734
Lets do it

lol two 58s

>>5673735
>>5673737
>>5673741

That's a success, we'll pick back up from here on Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST.

As always, thanks for playing and have a good Memorial Day.

As a reminder, I'm going to try and kick it into overdrive to get the interlude done this weekend, ought to be a long one.

>>5673743

Beat me to it, anon.

>>5673744
Have a good one Axis

>>5673744
See ya later aligator.

SOME YEARS AGO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3NY5ZpQZWY

Objectively, you know that you should be happy, but all you can muster up is a quiet indifference.

Today is the day of your high school graduation, the milestone that marks the beginning of your adult life.

What a crock of shit.

Still, you force a small smile for your mother’s sake. God knows why she cares so much about this pointless pageantry, but you’re resolved not to spoil it for her.

You’ve been enough of a burden as-is, and you’d never forgive yourself if you ruined this memory for her.

The ceremony happens quickly, mostly because there aren’t a whole lot of graduating seniors in your class. It was a small enough group to begin with, but with the times being what they are, more than a few folks had to drop out and start working full-time to make ends meet. Ever since the economy went straight down the shitter, everyone’s been scrambling to deal with the aftershocks. Your grandpa’s farm was only the first of many to go belly-up; and he wasn’t the only old-timer who couldn’t handle the shame.

When your name is called and you climb the stage, the principal grudgingly hands over your diploma and gives you hard stare. You return his disdain in equal measure.

Once you descend from the stage, Mom wraps you up in a big hug and congratulates you on your achievement.

When you pointedly ask about the whereabouts of your father, she shifts uneasily and tells you that he had to work overtime and needs the extra sleep. She’s quick to reassure you that he’s still very proud of you and wishes badly that he was able to be here.

You know your father’s proclivities well enough to see the excuse for what it is; he’s probably sleeping off a hangover or something.
A sharp pang of disappointment wells up inside, one that you viciously stomp the moment you recognize it for the weakness it is.

If you weren’t in public, you’d smack yourself hard for being such an idiot.

Despite all that, you can’t help but be a little proud of yourself.

Between your spotty disciplinary record, perpetual tardiness, and consistent inability to “keep your damned trap shut,” it’s a minor miracle that you managed to squeak by. Maybe they were just sick of you making trouble and figured it’d be easier to boot you upwards and out of their jurisdiction.

An unfortunate reality of life is that conflict is inevitable should you hold any kind of strong beliefs. And if there’s one thing everyone can agree you on, you’re certainly not lacking when it comes to speaking your mind.

Look, if somebody wants to somebody wants to start a bit of trouble and make it your problem, there’s only one reasonable option available. An honest scrap does wonders for keeping folks from making the same mistake again in your presence.

>>5675059

The only downside is when they go crying to the principal’s office after you rough em up a bit for getting in your face.

As you’ve attempted to explain to the guidance counselor for what feels like the thousandth time, that’s just how these things work. You don’t pick the fights, and you (usually) don’t take the first swing.

Granted, it probably doesn’t help your case that you have a knack for infuriating people until they make the first move. Still doesn’t mean that you can’t have a bit of fun punting them ass over teakettle though.

Besides, zero-tolerance policies are a load of idiotic horseshit cooked up so that lazy assholes can sit behind their desks and avoid having to do any actual thinking on their own.

Probably earned another entry in your permanent record when you said as much; close to the ones about your “failure to thrive”, right next to the little handwritten post-script about how you’re probably going end up in the state pen.

A few hours later, you’ve changed back into more practical clothes and set out on another of your nightly excursions into the woods. Alone, as per tradition; the majority of your classmates are celebrating while getting drunk, high, or some combination of the two. Not that you can blame them overmuch, there’s not a whole lot else to do out in the sticks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5IZuuzUa04

The rumor mill is rumbling about an impromptu bonfire party being held for the senior class, but you couldn’t be less interested. As a consequence for your general disregard for the social scene and propensity to run your mouth at inopportune moments, you didn’t receive an invite anyhow.

You’re no pariah, but your reputation ensures that folks generally don’t bother approaching you for a chat unless they need something.

Eh, fuck em; you’ve got more important matters to take care of, namely target practice. If you’re going to be a soldier, you’re gonna be the best damned one you can be. The earlier you start, the farther along you’ll be in the end. You’re never going to measure up against Alvin York, but anyone planning to enter the service without a working understanding of how to competently operate a firearm is a bonafide retard.

Granted, all you’ve got to work with is a simple squirrel rifle, but the ammo is cheap and the principle should roughly the same. Unless they plan on issuing you a belt-fed machine gun, which would be kickass, but a bit outside your wheelhouse.

You put those distractions out of your mind and begin plinking away at a target positioned a respectable distance away.

After a few shots, you abruptly stop and keep your ears open the signs of anybody approaching. The game wardens always get pissy whenever they catch you messing around in the woods, probably think you’re hunting without a license or something.

Fuck em. If they really wanna make something of it, they can get off their lazy asses and make a chase out of it.

>>5675062

Once you’re satisfied that nobody is nearby, you continue practicing until you run dry on ammo.

For the sake of convenience, you keep a small stockpile tucked away in the hollow of a rotting stump; .22 ammo is dirt cheap and easy to acquire, so you’re not worried about anybody filching it or the elements doing too much damage.

After you reload your rifle, you place it securely against a tree while you retrieve your chosen target.

A slight grin stretches across your face when you see that you put all of your shots in the center ring, with a couple in the x-ring.

You hang up a fresh target before reaching into your pants pocket and withdrawing a dirty packet of self-rolled cigarettes.

Mom would absolutely kick your ass if she caught you smoking, but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Besides, she’s in for a much greater shock soon that’ll blow this one out of the park.

As you take idle drags on your homestyle smokes, you let your mind wander.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuLNVtbWtU4

Now that you’re eighteen, it’s definitely a lot easier to get smokes than it used to. No retail zombie has ever bothered to ask for ID anyhow, but it’s always been cheaper to buy tobacco that’s fallen off the back of a truck and roll it yourself.

You relax for a moment and let the sounds of the forest wash over you. As the various animals chatter, the wind whistles through the trees and leaves crinkle under its ministrations.

Your grandfather was the one who showed you this spot, back when you were just a kid. Ever since he died, a part of you went with him.

He was the one to show you how to be a man, and gave you one of the only pieces of advice that you follow resolutely.

“If somebody tries to push you around, you give it back to em with both barrels. Never start a fight you’re not willing to see through, but don’t let people walk all over you, no matter how important they like to think they are. And always do what ya can to do the right thing, no matter what anybody else tells you. Be one of the good ones, ‘cause this world’s got enough of the bad.”

He was the first one to show you how to safely handle and load a gun, even when your parents moaned about it being too dangerous.

He took you on your first hunting trip, and showed you how to stay alive in the wilderness.

When you started getting bullied as a kid, he was the one to show you how to fight.

So in a weird way, whenever you practice out here it’s almost like you can feel him watching over you.

If you close your eyes and concentrate hard enough, you can almost hear him correcting your posture and technique like it were the old days.

You can still remember; back when you first started out, you had a bad tendency to jump a little whenever you pulled the trigger.

Always got spooked by noise and the recoil until you toughened up.

>>5675064

Your thoughts drift to your impending enlistment; namely your chosen branch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRx212PUa4g

The Navy isn’t exactly your first pick for a boatload of reasons. You’ve got nothing against the squids, but ships aren’t exactly your thing.

As for the Air Force, you don’t exactly have the grades or the inclination to serve somewhere where you won’t see any action.

The Army is a solid choice, but it doesn’t have the same prestige. The Army seems willing to take anybody with a pulse and an IQ greater than 65, whereas the Marines are a bit more discerning in their recruits.

Besides, your grandpa was a Marine; following in his footsteps feels like a good way of respecting his memory.

And if you’re being frank, the Marines seem to be the objectively better choice for your talents. Not to knock the others, but the Marines are the only branch that offers a chance to really make something better of yourself.

You’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it, and you need to act soon.

It’s a bit of a surprise that the old man hasn’t already booted your ass out the door and into the cold. Maybe he’s hoping to squeeze bit more free labor out of you first.

Not that you were planning to stick around much longer anyhow. Now that you’ve got a diploma, there’s nothing left for you here.

Leaving Mom alone feels dirty, but you don’t have much of an option.

Your old man can rot for all you care, but she deserves better.

Still, you don’t have the heart to break the news to her directly.

It’s cowardly and underhanded, but you just can’t bring yourself to do it.

You’ve already got your goodbye letters composed and hidden under a loose floorboard in your room.

The letter to your mother reads as follows.

> “By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be long gone. I wish that I had the guts to tell you this in person, but I’m just not strong enough. I know that I was never much of a son, so please don’t blame yourself. Just consider this the latest in a long line of disappointments.”

> “I’m leaving to join the military. I know that you wouldn’t approve, but this is something I’ve gotta do. You’ve always believed in me, but I need to figure things out for myself from now on.”

> “As soon as I get settled in, I’ll start writing letters and call whenever I can. Whatever I can scrape together from my paycheck, I’ll send home. Stash it someplace safe for a rainy day.”

> “I already miss you.”

> “Love, Sean.”


In contrast, the one written for your father is a bit more direct.

> “By the time you get off your drunk ass and find this note, I’ll be long gone. You can ask Mom where I went.”

> ”You better treat her right, because I’ll be back one day. Count on it.”

> And if I ever find out that you’ve hurt her, it’ll be the last mistake you ever make.”

>>5675065

All of your preparations are complete. Tomorrow night, you’ll sneak out and hitchhike a few towns over to the recruiting station. If you can’t find any takers, you’ll just walk there.

At least it’d be a good test of your endurance, something that you’re going to need in the near future.

Despite all of life’s hardships, you can’t help but be optimistic for the future.

There has to be more to life than begging for scraps and making due with the crap hand you’ve been dealt.

And if you’re wrong, then at least you’ll go down for something worth fighting for.

You’ll be back one day, if only to rub your success in everybody’s face.

That’s a promise.

>>5675068

THE END

Let me know how you how you liked it, anons. I had originally intended it to be way shorter, but I can ended up running a bit wild.

Apologies for the veritable wall of text.

Not sure, but I think this might be the longest interlude thus far. Anyhow, hope the wait was worth it.

>>5675068
>You’ll be back one day, if only to rub your success in everybody’s face.
>That’s a promise.
A promise that has yet to be fulfilled. I wonder how it will go when it is, however.

>>5675077
> Apologies for the veritable wall of text.
You have nothing to apologize for. The quantity of text isn't a problem when it is consice.
> Not sure, but I think this might be the longest interlude thus far. Anyhow, hope the wait was worth it.
It was.

>>5675065
> And if I ever find out that you’ve hurt her, it’ll be the last mistake you ever make.”
>>5675077
Its perfect. a good memorial weekend interlude.

>>5675065
> “As soon as I get settled in, I’ll start writing letters and call whenever I can. Whatever I can scrape together from my paycheck, I’ll send home. Stash it someplace safe for a rainy day.”
> ”You better treat her right, because I’ll be back one day. Count on it.”

>>5675077
Good stuff Axis

>>5675077
> “As soon as I get settled in, I’ll start writing letters and call whenever I can. Whatever I can scrape together from my paycheck, I’ll send home. Stash it someplace safe for a rainy day.”
> ”You better treat her right, because I’ll be back one day. Count on it.”

>>5675113
>>5675300
>>5675418
It's not a vote by the by. Sean's dialogue is greentexted so evidently his writing is too.

>>5675426
Shhh let them have their moment.

>Sean hasn't once mentioned his parents outside of the interludes
>Sean threatened his father if he ever mistreated his mother
G-guys...I don't think this story has a happy ending

>>5675488
he has mentioned them in his inner monologue, he just doesn't want to see them since he's presumed dead and a criminal

>>5675488
What he >>5675491 said.

That's why I said this: "A promise that has yet to be fulfilled. I wonder how it will go when it is, however." here >>5675094

>>5675497
Whats to say we don't hire some goon or have some masked guys to pay him a visit? What if we have a friendly person come and help her divorce and get away from the bastard. What if we arrange for the dead beat to pass away from too much drinking?

>>5675591
We could do any of those things. I'd rather not however, personal conflicts should be resolved personally in my view.

We'll see what has happened since Sean's absence and go from there.

>>5675591
I think it would be better for Sean to visit them alone after Jack finally passes away, to clean up the palate of the last arc so to speak

>>5676050
I think visiting them at all is a terrible idea. It might just make them targets.

>>5676083
Yeah they probably got told that he died already

>>5676083
>>5676107
They are fucked anyways, so going "Because I love you I have to abandon you" retardation like a cape wont help them that much.

Just bring Mom back and take care of her, buy her nice things and enjoy life with her like we couldn't in our childhood.

The whole Ghostdad arc is about having good moments even if the end is death for god sake.

Dad can eat shit tho.

>>5676636
Once ghostdad is gone, we're gonna need to dad for someone. It's only proper.

>>5676685
We have these two and the whole Steel wolfs to dad over.

Hell mom could help us to take care of Darius and Isaac.

>New mission boys, she is my mom.
>You will have to look out for her when I'm not here and be with her when she go out, this is gotham after all.
>As a pay I will give you money and her handmade food.

I wonder if our magic come from her side of the family. It would be cool if we can teach her magic and learn with her, have something in common you know

>>5676636
>>5676685
Mom will be a security risk and will be a way people can attack or blackmail us. Not to mention her presences or lack thereof can be a tip off.

>>5677199
Yeah imagine fighting the bat family and robin just doxxes us mid fight
Your mother's name is martha too?

>>5676083
>>5677199
How? Sean's true identity is unknown to his enemies so how would there be a security risk? If his visit is kept discreet with no witnesses then I don't see the problem.

>>5677199
Why are you linking me bruv? I just want to adopt some poor retard. How come Batman can do it but we can't? Fucking rich privilege.

>>5677201
>robin namedrops mom
>sean immediately breaks his neck
Honestly I feel bad for anyone stupid enough to try and strongarm Sean with that kinda shit. He will 100% kill them afterwards no matter what the outcome is.

But I'm with other anon. Our secret identity should be pretty airtight. And the only people who could feasibly figure it out are either on our side or moral enough not to try and use it. Well, except maybe a couple.

>5677240
Musta click yours by mistake and missed it.

I don't think robin or any of the bats would be dumb enough to name drop without at least already taking her to a safe house prior. Its far more likely Waller or some other villain's would do that and they'd already be in a position to harm here before making threats or blackmail.

>>5677205
>Sean's true identity is unknown to his enemies
Only our current ones. There's still the people who employed us in the army and then threw us under the bus. The only thing protecting us right now is the fact that agencies don't share alot of secret info, and no one has bothered to link or investigate our old paper records in the local county and school.

If you can guarantee there are no witnesses and our relatives aren't under any surveillance and we don't go traipsing down memory lane like to our old hangouts or school and potentially bump into anyone who might have known us growing up, then yeah its possible. It also assumes our family and mom are capable of keeping quite.

Though if we can just put on a very good disguise, like a realistic life like silicon full face mask, and maybe throw in some magic glamour on top, that would probably take care of half the potential risks.

In fact, this might be a good opportunity to practice with disguises and completely different face and body appearances, both magical and non magical.


Perhaps we should make a few phone calls to hire some masters of disguises.....

>>5677252
Man, our Jonah alias is priority enough we could probably do some learning with Zatanna.
That said, she can do some wild shit and for all we know sigil uses have traces she can smell or some shit.

Alright, what sort of questions do you have for the Enforcer?

Write-ins welcome, otherwise we’ll just go with some pretty general stuff, similar to the questions you asked Max. In this case, that’d be:
- Name
- Skillset
- Affiliation
- Anything of interest that he may know of

That sort of thing.

>>5677262
I think that's about all we need from him. Maybe some innocent questions to mix it up a little?

>>5677262
Name, rundown of his history, current thoughts.

The only things that are relevant in my opinion.

>>5677262
Though anon >>5677269 brings up a good point. Some innocent questions could bring levity to the situation.

>>5677262
Tits or ass?

>>5677269
>>5677270
>>5677272
>>5677274

Alright, writing.

If there are any other suggestions, just float em and I'll slot em in as best as I'm able.

File: Igor.png (352 KB, 512x512)

352 KB PNG

>>5677279

>>5677279

While Max begins making a comprehensive listing of the holdings that are to be targeted (with Bobo shadowing his every move), you have a go at sweating something useful out of the Accountant, to no avail.

Guy doesn’t say a single word, no matter what you try. It’s like a scene out of a police procedural where you try every trick in the book to coax an answer out, and he just stares at you the whole time like something foul that he can’t quite scrape off his shoe.

Eh, you’ll let him stew for a while long, maybe getting blackbagged and going back into the isolation booth will convince him to loosen his tongue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBhh23-paLU

Before you being interrogating the Enforcer, you rack your brains for anything of use.

He’s definitely a street-level operator from appearance and overall mannerism.

Crude.

Amateurish.

Sloppy.

Still, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have his uses if molded properly.

Madcap and Bayonet were in similar situations once, and they’ve proven to be well worth your time and investment.

Plus, as a former low-rent thug yourself, you know just how to appeal to the Enforcer; self-interest.

After your cleanup operation becomes public knowledge, Vladivostok will become a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Between the cops smelling blood in the water and every relative in town looking to avenge some dead family, anyone connected publicly with the debacle might as well kiss their ass goodbye.

And while you have the luxury of skipping town with your name and face unknown, the Enforcer is most likely a known quantity.

If you can make him realize that he’s on a sinking ship and you’re the only lifeboat left, he’ll do whatever it takes to get on your good side.

Your first impression of the man is that he’s quite the mouth on himself.

The second you undo his gag, he immediately spits in your direction before calling you a torrent of irrefutably foul things Russian and chuckling to himself. As he does so, he braces himself for a crushing blow at your hands that never comes.

More puzzled than anything else, he looks up with an obvious question in his eyes.

To his growing confusion, you don’t proceed to kick seven shades of shit out of him and instead proceed to outline a similar pitch as the one you gave Max.

So long as he cooperates and answers your questions to the best of his knowledge, you’ll go easy on him.

In fact, if he has anything particularly useful to bargain with, you’ll give him a provisional shot at joining up with your boys.

The offer of employment is what hooks him the most; looks like he hasn’t had many genuine offers for potential advancement come his way.

When it sinks in that his faceless, fingerless corpse isn’t going to end up in a bathtub full of live rodents, he becomes much more amenable to your questions. He’s still not quite deferential, but the worst of his attitude is considerably muted.

>>5677340

At your prompting he introduces himself as Igor the Impaler, and his talents unsurprisingly reflect his nom de guerre. From the way he puts it, he’s killed more men in back-alley knife fights than he’s had hot meals.

When you make the mistake of asking him about his favorite blade, he won’t shut up about his precious NR-40, some hand-me-down from a grandfather that fought in the Great Patriotic War. As you listen to him muse about the nature of knifework and its intricacies, all you can think is that if he was born a bit further eastward, you might be looking at a young Genghis.

When questioned about his loyalties, he proudly swears allegiance to some third-rate street gang that you’ve never heard of. Guessing that one of the guys you gunned down was so desperate for protection that he was willing to shell out for bush-league moonlighters like Ivan.

At least it explains why he wasn’t willing to take a bullet for his erstwhile charges. For what he was probably getting paid, you probably wouldn’t have put it all on the line neither.

Overall, he could use some polishing, but you can see the potential for growth.

He talks a big-game, but you can read between the lines. He’s a small fish in a much deeper pond, and he’s acutely aware of that fact; something that he tries to overcome with a near suicidal amount of self-confidence. He’s the kind of guy where if you ordered him to charge at a machine-gun nest and handed him a knife to do it with, he’d scoff and insist he could do it barehanded.

To break the ice a little, you ask him a bit about his current thoughts and plans. It’s about what you’d expect of a street tough with his priorities in order. Could use a drink and a girl, preferably at the same time. Wishes that he’d kicked the shit out of some random bum harder. Et cetera.

As a joke, you ask him if he’s got a girl and if there’s anything in particular he likes about her. He takes it completely seriously and begins describing an absolute mountain of a working girl that he visits whenever he can scrape together the money. From the way he’s grinning, you quickly deduce that he’s fucking with you, but you let him have his fun.

Once the pleasantries and stories wind down, you get down to brass tacks.

>>5677342

According to Igor, he’s got friends in low places all over town.

In exchange for his freedom and a shot at joining up with your organization, he’s willing to burn the majority of his favors for whatever you may need. Be it on-the-ground support, drugs, guns, whatever.

Such support may be invaluable for supporting Max’s smash-and-grab; but that’d mean letting him in on the plan. If he runs his mouth, he could put the whole operation and everyone involved at risk.

Or, his connections might be able to smooth any potential local issues and keep things proceeding smoothly.

How do you want to handle it?

> Give him a provisional job offer in exchange for utilizing his connections to support some other end. (Include plan / idea)

> Give him a provisional job offer in exchange for utilizing his connections to support Max’s plan. Favor trading is the name of the game in both crime and politics, and one good turn begets another.

> Give him a provisional job offer with no strings attached. His pals may come in handy at some point in the future, best to save them for a rainy day.

>>5677343
> Give him a provisional job offer in exchange for utilizing his connections to support Max’s plan. Favor trading is the name of the game in both crime and politics, and one good turn begets another.
He could use these contacts later but I don't think the incoming firestorm is good for holding favours.

>>5677343
>> Give him a provisional job offer in exchange for utilizing his connections to support Max’s plan. Favor trading is the name of the game in both crime and politics, and one good turn begets another.

>>5677343
> Give him a provisional job offer in exchange for utilizing his connections to support Max’s plan. Favor trading is the name of the game in both crime and politics, and one good turn begets another.
Seems like this is the best use of his contacts

>>5677343
>> Give him a provisional job offer in exchange for utilizing his connections to support Max’s plan. Favor trading is the name of the game in both crime and politics, and one good turn begets another.

>>5677199
ALL the friend we made this time know who we are AND are a security risk and will be a way people can attack or blackmail us.

>>5677344
>>5677345
>>5677346
>>5677347

Alright, looks like we're calling in Ivan's pals when the time comes.

Now, any final thoughts for dealing with the Accountant? Polite measures didn't seem to work, so you might have to get a little less friendly with it.

To that end, you'll...

> Play a bit of good cop, bad cop with Ivan. You’ll be the (Select bad cop / good cop); should hopefully shake the tree a bit.

> Give him one final ultimatum before you dump his ass at the nearest police station with evidence implicating him for the massacre. Maybe he’d enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Black Dolphin.

> Set up a mock execution to put the fear of God in him. It’s a bit morbid, but it does wonders for getting folks to reevaluate their life choices.

> Point out that both of your other captives played ball and he’s the sole holdout. Needle him with that he gives you something to work with.

> Other?

>>5677354
> Point out that both of your other captives played ball and he’s the sole holdout. Give the others a platform to politely convince him and have one last try yourself. If he doesn't change his mind, shoot him.
I don't remember promising to spare their lives? Did we do that? Because if we did I'll change it to handing him over to the police.

>>5677354
> Point out that both of your other captives played ball and he’s the sole holdout. Needle him with that he gives you something to work with.
Set up the femur breaker

>>5677354
>> Play a bit of good cop, bad cop with Ivan. You’ll be the (Select bad cop / good cop); should hopefully shake the tree a bit.

>Good cop
>"See my friend there? He could take a knife and rip you apart, really nasty stuff
>And THEN use the knife on you.
>So you can decide if you want to end like the guy down there or talk with me."

>>5677362

From what I've gathered, the plan for Max and Igor is recruitment; assuming that all goes well.

>>5677365
No I mean spare their lives if they refuse to be persuaded. Max and Igor don't apply.

>>5677354
> Point out that both of your other captives played ball and he’s the sole holdout. Needle him with that he gives you something to work with.

>>5677366

My bad, if you were asking if there was ever a promise made to not shoot anybody, then no.

Bobo may take it poorly if you don't spin it right though.

>>5677362
>I don't remember promising to spare their lives? Did we do that? Because if we did I'll change it to handing him over to the police.
We are with Bobo. Killing is fine, but there is a silent agreement to not do dark crap with people when we are with him

>>5677368
Why? We killed every single one of those other mob guys. If he didn't complain then, it doesn't make sense to complain now.

>>5677370
See >>5677371. I'd get it if it was torture or something but it's not.

>>5677371
>>5677372

I'd argue that since you gave them a fair shake to come quietly and they turned it down, Bobo was willing to go along with it; especially considering the target and the risks associated.

However, now that they're ostensibly in your custody and no longer a potential threat, a different set of rules apply.

Morality can lead to some weird mental gymnastics sometimes.

>>5677371
One thing is doing it in a hot fight, another is doing so in a cold talk.

Bobo is a light guy so killing some low life that want to kill you is fine, but take the eyes off some dude that surender is bad for him. While we dont do edgy stuff we are fine in his book.

Rolled 61, 30 + 35 = 126 (2d100 + 35)

>>5677362
>>5677363
>>5677367

Anyhow, looks like we're making the point that he is the final holdout.

Go ahead and give me some 1d100+25

> DC to be determined.

Rolled 43 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5677378

Rolled 71 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5677378
roll

Rolled 18, 73 = 91 (2d100)

>>5677378

And here's to see if Bobo can help; needs to be higher than a 45.

Rolled 74 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5677378

>>5677380
>>5677378
91vs91
Lol

>>5677379
>>5677380
>>5677383

That's a success; any other questions you'd like to pose to this guy besides the standard lineup?

>>5677387
Why the resistance? Just that really. The boss and the thug were less stubborn than the accountant, a curious fact.

Rolled 67 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5677378
bigger number better person

>>5677391
probably should have updated page before I rolled lol

>>5677387
>>5677388
The same question the guy on the boat.
>Is money? You wont get to see it even if I have let you free.

>>5677388
>>5677393

Hmm, go ahead and give me another set of 1d100+25

DC: 85

Rolled 2 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5677399

Rolled 83 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5677399
bigger number better person

>>5677403
Too close for comfort.

>>5677405
makes things more exciting

Still need one more roll in case of crits.

Rolled 22 + 25 (1d100 + 25)

>>5677399
>>5677410
Roll again?

>>5677403
>>5677404
>>5677414

I'll allow it since it's been a hot minute.

Either way, that's a success.

We'll pick up from here on Friday at 5:00 PM EST. As always, thanks for playing! Hope to see you all here next time.

As a heads-up, I'm getting shipped off to the boonies next week for some bullshit training, so I probably won't be able to run until I'm back home.

It all depends on whether or not I can get a half-decent connection out there.

>>5677415
fair enough and thanks for the updates Axis

>>5677415

So, based off our last set of rolls, you'll manage to extract some basic intel out of him, but you can clearly tell that he's holding something important back.

Would you like to continue putting the pressure on?

> Yes. If he's attempting to conceal something, then it must be important.

> No. This guy's made of surprisingly stern stuff, and he may try something stupid if you push him too hard.

> Other?

>>5678509
>> No. This guy's made of surprisingly stern stuff, and he may try something stupid if you push him too hard.

>>5678509
> No. This guy's made of surprisingly stern stuff, and he may try something stupid if you push him too hard.
Tell Max and Igor though. We'll also have to revisit this later.

>>5678509
> No. This guy's made of surprisingly stern stuff, and he may try something stupid if you push him too hard.

>>5678512
>>5678516
>>5678524

Got it, best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Now, to shift gears a bit to something a bit more light-hearted.

In terms of your hunting trip into Siberia, what are you looking to chase down?

> Bear. Go big or go home, that’s how you do things.

> Wolf. There’s a certain irony in taking out the apex predator.

> Moose. The horns would make a hell of a showpiece.

> Caribou. You’ve had venison before, wonder if it tastes the same.

> Walrus. Nessie might be able to give you a bit of help with this one.

> Lynx. The closest you’ll get to hunting a mountain lion or a wildcat in these parts.

> Other?

>>5678527
> Bear. Go big or go home, that’s how you do things.

>>5678527
> Bear. Go big or go home, that’s how you do things.
I rememver what I said >>5666669