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In difference to a new, harrowing way of doing things, long desperate cries have persuaded the old scribe to try something . . . different.

>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K9lcYnZSULKKQoWbbnTvlbbdhtTvEPsRchdaFDb-yWs/edit?usp=sharing

So now instead of hammering you with the artistic design sensibilities of a blind stoat, we're trying [I]plainer text[/I]. Personally I think it's a fad that won't catch on, but who am I to say but the universal clockwork mechanism?

So peruse the information up and over, and as usual, expect half to be lies and half to be misinterpretation of lies. You should ask questions. It builds character.

But for now, exist. Tell us a little about yourself, maskmate. We have to ask these questions, see.

#Marketmoniker
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
>roll 2d3 and pick 1 to use as your Guard
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
>bump 1 by +1
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 10
>bump 2 by +2 or 1 by +3
==Style==
1x of Brawling 14, Shatterhands 12, Knot-tying 12, Vanadian Boxing 12, Legionlock 10, Taking Arts 12
>You're going to want to read the rules for these, but if you're not that interested, simply consider them different ways of introducing faces to fists.
==Mask==
1 out of
Plain
Hawkmask (+Glory)
Red Droplet (+Violence)
Wrackwood (+Weird)
Legion Fullhelmet (+Honour)

>There's a discord for skirmishy stuff
> https://discord.gg/aqs46KGZ

>There's some other threads, if you're interested. Though they aren't required reading
>http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=art%3F

Rolled 3, 2 = 5 (2d3)

>>5841470
“Ah…are you the right people?

I’ve lost and lost and lost my way in the winding streets and narrow visions… all is wished to do is take my place. You… you are the ones who need the fighters?’

> Rolling for Guard.
Health 2 Psyche 3 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
Sense 12 Understand 12 Influence 10 Move 10
Taking Arts (12)
Plain Mask

>>5841470
>>5841483

#Fourth Dusk
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 3 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
>bump 1 by +1
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
Taking Arts 12
Plain Mask

‘Yes.. yes! I have found it, I have found you!’

‘…now.. what will you seize of me? What will we seize of others?’

(Eager, over-young, susurrus at a hundred strides a second).

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d3)

>>5841470
#Riv
==Core==
Guard 10+?
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
> Plain

>>5841514
#Riv
==Core==
Guard 10+2
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
> [Health 2] :: [Psyche 2] :: [Grit 2]
> [Reaction 10] :: [Focus 12]
==Skills==
> [Sense 12] :: [Understand 10] :: [Influence 10] :: [Move 12]
==Style==
> [Brawling 14]
==Mask==
> [Plain]

*Finger guns*

Rolled 2, 3 = 5 (2d3)

>>5841470
I am...
>Guard roll

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>>5841470
>>5841516
AN EMISSARY OF HELL SPIDER-MAN
>Here's the resume

==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
Plain

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Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d3)

>>5841470
#Abnegation
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
>roll 2d3 and pick 1 to use as your Guard
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 13
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
==Mask==
Plain

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d3)

>>5841470
Another contract already? Slip need help getting his “precious item” or is this something else?

Ah, well, if it isn't a sea of plain faces in plainer masks. That's alright - sometimes all good stories start with a blank protagonist to project yourself unto, yes?

>>5841487
>Discard 2, 1st

>Gain an Outlander Contact - 8
she talks less, she smiles more, and she always seems to know a little too much about who somewhere is willing to buy what for which price, which, frankly is disconcerting in someone who considers bathing a decadent marker of too much civilization

>>5841515
>Discard 2, 2nd

>Gain an Legion Quartermaster Contact - 8
A thousand boots, model 33-2
A thousand swords, model Fidelis-2-3
A thousand scrips, class b ration, extra salt
you need a crate of chainmail dropped off of a wagon? Okay. Well. There's a processing fee.

>>5841518
>discard 2, 3rd

>Gain a Vanadian Trade Correspondent Contact - 8
[I]From distant shore to distan shore, the trading houses shall provide - berth, barrack or bribe. And what's all that got to do with the price of lumber in the Reiklands, friend? Only everything and any thing - price of lumber sets the cost of infrastructure, which is how we get a kickback, and that's how you get a leg up on the competition, and ain't it just just so?

---

Fine gaggle of fierce fighters here, or, at least, one of the prior words probably applies. Listen, Slip here has a problem and your job is to provide the solution to this sad state of affairs. You see...

>>5841556
#Sal
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d3)

>>5841470
> we're allowed to pick, so I pick the lowest

#The Hook Alley Butcher
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 13
==Style==
Vanadian Boxing 12
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)

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Ah, now we're getting somewhere.

>>5841553
>Discard 1, 4th

>Gain an Animist Associate - 8
Just a dash of courage and all the twitchy anxiety of someone who died too young, a little touch of will, and you too can slice away parts of your soul for the gift that will keep on giving. But just. . . Don't ask where he goes the bodies from, okay? Trade secret.

>>5841561
>Old Hand - Set guard to 14.

---

Well, now that we're all mostly motley gathered let's wag tongues for a minute. Here's what Slip requires:

Arson, accidents and a little luck along the way.

You know the Slicerats, I presume? They infest the city. Ever since they outed Otis Steeleye some ways back and clawed their way out of the streets to the high reaches of the alleys and rooftops they've been a sore in the city.

Used to be a local street gang had a sense of decency. Some sliver of sheer sense, not to go mucking about with knifework or the more blatant kinds of assault, but the Slicerats don't play by the old rulebook. Gets them a certain credit, with a certain kind of soul - and so they get a certain kind of recruit, but, friend, you can guess what sort of street-scum is apt to like calling themselves rats and see about slicing parts of other people up for their own gain.

Well. The Watchers aren't wont to do anything about it, the Legion is busy with all its little wars and prayer hasn't helped anyone in this city in decades or more.

So we're going to have to solve this rat infestation ourselves.

Here in Razorwind the alleys are long and you can hear the wind scream, but it's also the first staging points for many a little import business. Legal or . . . Not so much. Word on the street is the Slicerats have a shipment lying about in the basement of an old building somewhere around here.

You can put two and three together and five, can't you, maskmate?

We're going to pay them a visit.
We're going to make them pay the tariff for importing drugs and what might be worse into our fair city.
And we're going to make their merchandise the cloud's business.

Watchers might too bribed, too careless or too ignorant to take note of the rats chewing in the wood, but they're still duty bound to respond a fire in the slums.

So, really, in a sense, we're just making sure the Watchers get a message about where the crooks of the city might be, aren't we? It's practically our civic duty!

Any questions?

>>5841574
We don't mind if we acquire some of their stuff for ourselves do we? Take it as a bonus. Finders keepers. Also, how are we lighting it up today? Liquid Courage, Flashfire or the more manual approach?

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>>5841564
Ah, of course they'd send a boxer. You know that's not a fighting style, right? It's an addiction to concussions is what it is. Two men enter, two men leave, but one of them has to be dragged out because he's leaking teeth everywhere. It's not a fighting art, it's BARELY fighting! Icons and Eyes, fella!

Well you're as welcome as anyone I suppose; the density of your skull might have taken a sharp habituation from the sheer weight of fists flowing your way.

>Discard 2, 5th

>Gain an Wrackwaster Contact - 8
[I]They say the Wrack blows in like dust and dreams from the spot on the maps where Sareth used to be, a city all scooped out of the earth like Vanadians scoop their iced-cream. Wouldn't believe it myself, but you hear the rumours. And imagine the kind of character who goes seeking for such distant city streets, somewhere beyond the sand and the sun. They're the kind of people apt to be able to find anything, at any price, and stuff you didn't even imagine could exist too.

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Now, Razorwind is old territory. Some say older than the city. The alleys here go on forever. But we've narrowed it down a step and a dance - have a look at your map... Remember what they about X.

Here's tonight's issue: The Slicerats have this part of town tossed up good, little ratking despots and what's worse. If we stick around too long before we light the fuse, they'll rally around.

Most of the big boys and slick ladies and other deadlier stranger things are off, being entertained by tonight's games. There's some special celebratory event the Luperni is paying for, so it's an all expenses paid fanfare for the city. Finish up here quick and we can catch the races.

But still, if they send a runner, someone's going to figure getting into a fight is more fun than watching one, and come a-sprinting. Better not be too tawdy, alright?

So, make your way to the warehouse, check it's the right basement so we don't go causing spots of arson, and then see about finding some way to light it up. Get creative, I know you have it in you. Slip might be able to give a hand too if she's around.

>>5841581
What falls off a wagon isn't for me to say - just keep in the brain bank that most of the stuff you want to put in the bank has to be carried there, which means either holding it in your hands, stuffing it in your belt or having a likely pocket. Too much sheer splendor in the spoils department and you've weighed yourself down too much for any daring rooftop escapade.

That's all to say yes: grab it if you want it, but you're responsible for it too!

[Loading...]

>>5841574
"Step 1) Walk in."
"Step 2) Flatten rats."
"Step 3) Draw in the Watcher's."
"Step 4) Leave before they arrive."
"As easy as sin."

Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d3)

>>5841591
Taking the higher on guard.

#Waxworm
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
Wrackwood (+Weird)

>>5841611
You know what? Those 1s are a good sign. I don't want either, you can have them both.

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Turn 1-1

Alright, gotten your bearings? Found your footwork? It doesn't look like there's any Slicerats roused and ready just yet, so this should all be fine time to remind yourselves of the basics. Spread out a little, saunter and recon, mingle, such as it is.

Alright, let's recap:

You have Agility, Action Points (AP) and Reaction Pool/Points/Powers/Prowess/Proficiency. Take your pick, it hardly matters.

Your Agility is spent on moving. Usually 1 tile per 1 Agility. You can also spend it on moving, which is 1 Agility for a roll against your Move in an attempt to do some fanciful gymnastics. Thats sometimes better than going all the way around, over, under and through. If you spend more Agility on this, your skill increases - you don't make multiple rolls. IF you've got a habitual hankering for fancy footwork, you can also try to combine this grace with fighting. Some kicks are just more dramatic when done with a high jump. What that means is that you can try to combine this agile movement with your more normal actions, but obviously, if you flop the footwork, it's going to be a right pain.

Otherwise, spend agility to add +1 to a physical action.

That brings us to ACTION POINTS. You have 6. To do a small minor action is 1. That includes movement, so you can spend both AP and Agility to move. Otherwise its any tiny thing. Pick something up, do a skill roll, talk with game mechanical intent, open a door, push a lever, grab something from your belt, stow something in your belt, so on and so forth.

For 3 AP you're doing a Major Action - that's something that matters to you. Principally, that means throwing down, using your Style. You can also try to do other things, but you don't much know how yet, so it's not so important.

There's a universal truth, which is that MORE AP on the SAME ACTION is BETTER - it raises your target numbers a chunk, 1:1. If you're a practiced Shatterhand, you'll start salivating at how that means your margin bonus plays in when you deliver that 6 AP+3 Agility High Kick and strike out at 12+6 skill. Yes. But of course that's then all you're doing.

This is a matter generally of personal opinion, and there's no best way about it. Sometimes you want to attack twice (3 AP then 3 AP), sometimes you want to attack once really well (3 AP + 3AP as skill boost).

You have skills base wise, because you do know how to fight - 12 is roughly 75%, 14 is roughly 90%. But you do also take penalties, problems and issues. And techniques especially can eat a lot of your skill, so that's where AP comes in handy.

Finally, there's REACTION. Pick one, it's what you do when the world reaches out to punch you.

Dodge rolls your Reaction, +3 if you can retreat.
Parry rolls your Style, easier with a free hand.
>Shatterhands can retreat when parrying, +3 skill
Block rolls your Style and gives you sheer absorption factor.

There's a bunch of peculiarities here that you'll learn with time and training.

Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d3)

>>5841470
(Rolling before I post the rest.)

>>5841470
#Mock
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 3 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Mothmask Or, is it Hawkmask...?

Rolled 3, 2 = 5 (2d3)

>>5841574
I was here too! The whole time!

Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d3)

>>5841470

>>5841601
Frankly couldn't be half a step easier, could it.

>>5841611
>>5841613
Oh, I can have both can I? That is remarkably generous - and you're tonights first perceptive soul.

>Discard Both, 6th
>Gain a Kalcimiri Glass Knight contact - 8

[I]One blade. One suit of armor. Good hair. Fine look. Excellent dress sense. Horse optional. Quests done, maidens and lads rescued, leviathans slain, windmills toppled, tyrannies fought at negotiable prices. Daring rescue missions in the dead of night against nefarious forces never extra and if you can write a song about it, you get 10% off. But fella? Watch the armor. That stuff is expensive.[/i]

>Discard 2nd, 1st
>Gain Technique. Taking Arts, 12...

!Shadowtheft: [1 AP and Dodge Reaction]
Dodge *behind* someone instead of *away* from them - and steal 1 of their Guard, while you're at.

>This pairs well with overwatching a standard Taking to rifle through their pockets, as it is fundamentally easier to steal something when you're behind someone.

Feel free to ACT from ANY KNOWN MASK.

>>5841629
>>5841620
HONK
#Klaunn
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)

>>5841470
>>5841621
>>5841625
(Probably should've linked the rolling post along with the actual sheet post, oops.)

>>5841625
Mothhawkmask. Hawkmothmask. Howmuchmask?

Questions, questions, friend.

>Discard 1, 7th
>Gain a Outlander Contact - 8
she talks less, she smiles more, and she always seems to know a little too much about who somewhere is willing to buy what for which price, which, frankly is disconcerting in someone who considers bathing a decadent marker of too much civilization. Sometimes horse thieves do make excellent friends, and certainly if you need to find a supply of arrows, a good drink or know a fine place to lay low for a year or three if you've gotten yourself in a spat with the authorities. [/I]

Feel free to act from any known Mask.

>>5841629
>>5841632
I hardly need to tell either of you two the same, do I? I'm apt to go hoarse repeating myself if I have to keep saying you can act from any known Mask, and how will I ever talk about tonight's narrative if I do?

Rolled 2, 2, 3 = 7 (3d6)

>>5841620
>1Agi: Move to 5
>1Agi+4ap: Climb up to the roof
>1Agi+2AP: Sneak atop the roof and move 4-4

"Let us move with haste!"

Spider-Man
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
Plain
==Contacts==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent - 8
The Red Markets - 7

Rolled 6, 4, 2, 3, 2, 1, 3, 4, 4, 6, 3, 2, 5, 4, 4, 2 = 55 (16d6)

>>5841620

> MOVE: Sprint x4. East, around the far side of the hedge maze (?) and down
> ACT: Keep eyes out for lurking gangsters. Sense-12+2?
> REACT: Stop if I spot anyone

#The Hook Alley Butcher
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 13
==Style==
Vanadian Boxing 12
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)

Rolled 4, 4, 1 = 9 (3d6)

>>5841620
#Riv
==Core==
Guard 10+2
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
> [Health 2] :: [Psyche 2] :: [Grit 2]
> [Reaction 10] :: [Focus 12]
==Skills==
> [Sense 12] :: [Understand 10] :: [Influence 10] :: [Move 12]
==Style==
> [Brawling 14]
==Mask==
> [Plain]
==Contacts==
> Legion Quartermaster Contact - 8

(6AP) : Riv rolls his shoulders and sinks into a runner stance. Inhales once, twice, then explodes into a bolt of motion - sprinting at the wall to [4]x2. At the last moment the brawler kicks off the ground and bounds onto the wall. Exploiting his forward momentum he scrambles up the sheer surface, hooks a leg over the roof ledge then hauls himself over. [Move12+3AP](?)

>>5841632
I choose the Lower

>>5841470
#Pugiliste (Red Droplet)
==Core==
Guard 11
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
!Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
!Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
!Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
Self Control 12
==Contacts==
Red Market 7

>>5841620
>Gain stuff
>Act from Mav
>Move 2SE S
>Crawl into the bush
>Skulk

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Hang a breath

I got so excited smiling at the new soon-to-be-broken-faces I forgot to tell you all how to run about the whole place.

Listen, you see this COMPASS?

You're presume to be in the middle of it, at the dot. And you can tell the direction you want to move by telling the number.

So 1 is up and 4 is down and 33 is 2xSE.

The compass never reorients with your facing (imagine how horrible that would be), but instead refers to the world itself. So 1 is always 1.

If you're inclined to it, you can also write NE or SE or SW or whatnot, but the sheer issue that the following happens sometimes

>NENNENENNNE

And you might think that's easy to understand because you wrote the damn thing, but the universe is apt to steer your meat carcass into a pit if they have to check 10 of these things in the time limit we allot ourselves to find out where you are. Now something like

>212 212

Same thing, less digits, easier to parse. Oh, and for good decorums sake, if you are moving, please do split your movement blocks up into chunks of 3, as demonstrated. Thing is we have to check a lot of these and we hate to make you fall off of a cliff because we had to debug 12132231421232 and forgot to carry a crucial 1 somewhere.

Finally, if you have to move VERY FAR, you can - optionally - opt to instead give references in terms of someone else.

Eg

>2 of Slip (9 spaces)

is the same as

>222 333 444

But might be easier to write, if you're moving further, and less prone to minor scribal mistakes.

Facing
Yes. It's going to matter.

The line on a unit indicates where they're facing. Attacks from the back are harder to defend against. And prepared actions have to give a facing. If you're clever, put your back to a wall.

You can set your facing after any large action by just noting it

>Haymaker the Slicerat 2, then face 5 and taunt him by inviting him to punch me in the back of the head

That might not be so clever but this:

>1 Agility: Gymnastically vault over the countertop and face 1
>RP: BLOCK

Is going to save your life if a lot of mean thugs are squaring of to the north of you and you want to make sure your Block is in the right direction.

>As a quality of life feature, sometimes the universe will give you the best available facing if you forget to specify but this is ENTIRELY up to the whims of remembering to do so, and if you haven't been clear about it, you might just take a shoe to the back of the head too. Sorry.

Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d3)

>>5841462
#Tier
==Core==
Guard 10+?
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Hawkmask

Let's see that guard now. Is this the sort of build that gets one killed in the streets? I won't know until tomorrow, when I properly read up on the rules, so there's no use fretting about that now, is there?

>>5841671
Discard 1

#Tier
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Hawkmask

They tell me it's not Mav, it's *man. I like his naming sense!

>>5841671
I wouldn't worry either way, because getting killed in the streets is how everyone is going to end up one day or another. There's a certain kind of inevitability to every Mask Story, you know? You can only punch the odds so long...

>>5841625
Discard 1, 8th
A thousand boots, model 33-2
A thousand swords, model Fidelis-2-3
A thousand scrips, class b ration, extra salt
you need a crate of chainmail dropped off of a wagon? Okay. Well. There's a processing fee.

A thousand Flashfires in a crate down by the pier, delivery by midnight? Well, fine, but you owe me a whiskey.

Wonderful how the State can find a way to reward those among us blessed with a fascinating with columns of numbers. If you ever need something tabulated and tallied, this man is your man.



>>5841675
Discard 1, 9th
>Gain a Vanadian Expeditionary Veteran - 8
Field Marshal Aranski's expedition to the deeper deserts is a feat so cloaked in hearsay and half made, half mad rumor that sieving the truth from the trash is the favorite pastime of every pub-goer in six countries. This woman doesn't cheer when they come up with another outrageous theory. This woman shrugs, smiles or shudders.

This woman *was there*, and some things, you just don't forget.

If you ask nice, maybe she'll tell you.
If you ask nicer, maybe she'll spare you the more harrowing kind of detail.

>>5841643
Discard 2, 10th
From distant shore to distan shore, the trading houses shall provide - berth, barrack or bribe. And what's all that got to do with the price of lumber in the Reiklands, friend? Only everything and any thing - price of lumber sets the cost of infrastructure, which is how we get a kickback, and that's how you get a leg up on the competition, and ain't it just just so?

Listen, we don't own the press and we certainly don't own the papers that the press presses - but let's just say we have an equitable relationship with the paper pushers and an appreciation for the Truth. No, no, don't call it a business conspiracy or a cartel - it's a working relationship. You need eight men in an untraceable carriage and eight crossbows and sixty-four type seven bolts? Well, I need a little something too. You and I, friend? You and I will *go places*

Rolled 3, 2, 3, 3, 8, 10 = 29 (6d10)

>>5841553
#Abnegation
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 13
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
==Mask==
Plain
===Contacts===
The Red Markets - 7
Animist Associate - 8

Abnegation seems to be barely listening, just wrapping up... her hands? His? They've hardly made a sound ever since arriving, and while they're of slight build that doesn't necessarily mean much. Their clothing is a little too shapeless to gauge them that way, either.

The grunt that issues forth as they hurl themselves up a wall is fairly feminine though.

>>5841620

>2 AP: Move 54
>1 Agility + 2 AP: Scramble up the wall onto the roof. (Move 12 + 2)
>2 Agility + 1 AP: Move 555
>2 AP: I wonder if there's a skylight or high-up window or opening of some kind I could leap down into the marked building from. That would be convenient for everyone but the Rats, and they don't really deserve convenience. (Spot 10 + 1)

Rolled 5, 3, 4, 1, 6, 4 = 23 (6d6)

>>5841704
Excuse me, it's come to my attention that this system is 3d6 and I went for d10s out of sheer reflex. Let's try that again.

Rolled 3, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4 = 25 (6d6)

>>5841620
Surely such a menagerie of streetwise bravos as ours will fare well here. Could that be blood already staining our fair streets?

>Deploy from Spiderman
>3Agi, Move 311
>3AP, Understand, Slicerats - who runs this show and how many should we expect at this sort of operation? What kind of armaments?
>3AP, Sense, scan the stall. Grab me something that could be useful in a pinch.
>Face 1.
>1RP Dodge

#Waxworm
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
!Shadowtheft: [1 AP and Dodge Reaction] - Dodge behind, steal 1 guard
==Mask==
Wrackwood (+Weird)
==Contact==
Kalcimiri Glass Knight - 8

>>5841706
344, not 311. Stupid number directionals.

>>5841620
>-Spawning on 4th Dusk
>-Stance: Aggress (i have no idea if this is how stances are supposed to work, i don't think it's really mentioned in the rules doc how you're meant to "activate" them)
>{1RP} Reaction: Parry
>{3 Agility, 2AP} Move 333 244
>{3AP, Brawling 14} Overwatch 3-ways: Uppercut the first fool to come around the corner [-2ACC, +1DMG (Uppercut), +1DMG (Aggression)]

#Mock
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: 1 Aggression
-Status: Alive
==Array==
Health 3 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Mothmask
==Contacts==
Outlander Contact 8

>>5841714
(Movement should be {3 Agility, 3AP} since i'm moving 6 tiles, oops. Remember to proofread when you make big changes to your planned actions, kids.)

>>5841620
>3 Agil, 4 AP: Move 232 344 4
>2 AP: Act Natural. Just some other sauntering masked rat.

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You know the issue with boxers are? Beyond their lack of style they have no patience. Good at taking a punch - which is an asset when you sprint face first into a wall, as Butcher here demonstrates - but there's deplorable lack of style about the whole affair. You slug it out and the one who stays standing is the one who wins. Where's the panache?

--

With new eyes up high we get a good overview of the alleys and twisting streets. Looks like the Slicerats are gathering in front of their building down south a-ways. Looks like we've got the right one, as far as it matters. But there's rather a few more of them than expected and they don't all look like they've studied footwork by seeing how long they can stay standing while drunk. Hm. Let's. . . hold a sec, get a lay of the land.

---

Abgnetation demonstrates roof scaling technique with grace and winsome mystery - Spiders, Man! just climbs. Somewhat like his namesake. Listen, buddy, you know when you pick a mask name it's meant to have panache? Charm? Grace? A little touch of laugh about it, for the sake of the story? The Butcher instills fear! Abnegation? A little monk-like, but what client wouldn't WANT to hire they who put themselves last and thus by implicit implication the job first? Mock? Well, mock your enemies! Slip? Well, hard to catch. And so it goes. When you call yourself Spiders, Man, you give all of us a collective bad rep. Okay? I'm just letting you. They're laughing at you out there. In the vast rumor web of the city oh I see what you did there. Okay maybe it's not as bad as all that.

--

Klaunn gets first hand acquainted with scratchy thorn thistle, more weed than good park plant material, but luckily they have the Grit to resist the annoying thorn-pricks.

--

Everyone take a second, let's just go through the footwork...

[ WORLD PHASE, please hold ]

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>>5841768
(How'd I end up there?)

>>5841768
I'll kill the bastard that left that fruit peel there.

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Have a look at this here Slice-Rat squaring off with Abnegation and the other rooftop ravagers.

They're AWARE of us, and so, they've taken a Fighting Stance. That activates their guard. If you compare to the Rats over by the park that Butcher spotted, you can see their names and some of their stats, but they don't have a guard number. That's because they're not ready for a fight just yet. If you can get the drop on your foes, taking them first-punch is miles easier.

Those looking to throw down generally have 4 states:

UNAWARE - they're just lounging about. These guys need to spend 3 AP to take a fighting stance and get their head in the game - and they don't really defend.
SUSPICIOUS - Their guard is up, but they don't know where you are or quite what's going on. Their guard is usually half its value, they won't defend against back attacks, and they won't respond because they still need to spend 3 AP to take a fighting stance.

AWARE - they're ready for a fight and their Guard is up and they know they're in a fight.

MOTIVATED - That's if they're aware of us, and there's a leader nearby to inspire them. MOTIVATED foes are . . . So much worse in every imaginable way. Preferably, don't engage with them at all, if you can avoid. They're apt to be all kinds of tricky.

--

Well, what else do we Understand from seeing this rat with their feet planted to fight us?

We see their GUARD - it's in white by.
We see their HEALTH - it's the red circles
We see their GRIT - it's the purple squares.

Guard is what you need to deplete to beat them proper. When attacked, people roll their guard to defend - if successful, the attack does 1 damage. So you can figure out right quick that getting into a 4 on 1 fight is rough, even if you're skilled.

Their Health is 2 here - they take about 2 wounds before they turn into mewling messes on the floor. Remember that every multiple of health is 1 wound, so you'll need to do 2 damage to inflict 1 wound on this Slicerat. That might not seem so much, but if their guard is up and every successful guard sets damage to 1... You can see how if they're keeping their guard up, they're a hard nut to crack.

You might take a moment to glean that you will be too !

GRIT is sort of like wounds, but for all the other stuff than direct death avoidance. If you grapple someone, they take penalties if you get way more than their grit, if you shove them, you get better effect, if you push them around.

Finally, these rats appear to be DODGING. That's the little arrow. It looks like everyone FAILED THEIR UNDERSTAND CHECKS and so we don't know what precise level these Slicerats are dodging at, but at least you know they're about to try some footwork if you don't trip them up somehow.

You don't *ALWAYS* know *EVERYTHING* but Understanding does help rather a lot.

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>>5841779
Probably a rat. Bet he was a right awful clown too. Imagine it. Assault, battery, theft, drug smuggling, being a public menace AND littering. Is there nothing sacred?

--

Let's take a second to use this boxer as an instruction in something rather crucial.

Butcher is pretty fast, good legwork, and he did manage to recover himself after he dinged off of a wall.

Still, he took some damage. Because his guard was up, it was only guard damage though - you'll notice his guard is down by 3.

It takes 1 Agility to restore 1 Guard, up to your maximum. If you're right dead cunning, you'll see how there's a *bit* of a tension between restoring your guard mid-fight and *escaping a fight* that's going poorly.

Sometimes, you want to just go all out and catch your breath later. Sometimes, you want to trust in your dodging, parrying, friends, or other smart tricks. Sometimes, you want to re-centre yourself and bring your posture and poise back in line.

This is where PAIN comes in. No one's suffering any right now, but PAIN makes it harder to restore your GUARD. More on that... when it comes up.

Ahem, anyway.
--

Waxworm
The SLICERATS are numerous as their namesake and as can be inferred, they have a preference for knives. Cutters, cleavers, stabbers, slashers, slicers, you name it, they've got it. They're apt to try and pull one and shank a man, if they feel they can get away with it. Right unsporting. No honor in putting steel in someone's lung.

If they're not equipped for a raid though, they might not draw steel - so they'll make do with fists and what lays about the environment.

They're BRAWLERS, by intuition and by inclination. You rarely have to worry about FANCY FOOTWORK or anything but the old dodge-dodge-punch.

If they're MOTIVATED they do sometimes throw out the elbow drops or the more violent type of haymaker.

One unfortunate tendency of the Slicerats is that they're seldom alone. They GROUP UP, moving in packs. When GROUPED, they move as one entity, act as one entity, but each member of the group will add +1 skill to their one particular action. More about that if it comes up - although word to the wise, maskmate? Don't let them form into a rat pack.

---
Mock
You're wearing a Mothmask, Mock. You don't have to use a stance or think about or not think about it. Aggression just. . . Happens. Your Status is always aggression 1, and if it'd be any lower, it's aggression 1 the moment your turn starts. So you can try cooling your heels but there's a certain energy to the championship contenders that can't be contained.

Now as for what aggression does, it means your attacks always inflict that much guard damage, at minimum, if successful - and that much damage, at minimum, if it'd damage at all. Since succesful Guards set damage to 1, that means aggression pays massive dividends quickly. You'll hit, they'll Guard, your damage becomes 1.. and then aggression bumps it up by its value because you're JUST THAT AGGRESSIVE

File: Razorwind 2-1.jpg (2.05 MB, 3760x3407)

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Abnegation spots a convenient alley window. Looks like we can get in that way, if we can clear the rooftops.

A few of the Rats seem ... somewhat confused by Butcher head-planting into a wall. Listen, okay, if that's some kind of advanced boxer technique then I don't want to hear it. You can't tell me you lot skulls so dense you can headbutt buildings and somehow come out the victor.

--

You're doing excellent. And remember, we're on the clock here, so better get on with it !

Keep in mind those rats on the rooftop know we're coming and have their Guards up; they're a little harder than their UNAWARE fellows everywhere else!

Muck 'em, maskmates!

>MASK TURN

>>5841675
>>5841671
>>5841663
Alright you two - pick a Mask and act from there. You know the drill!

As for you, Pugiliste

>Gain an Animist Associate - 8
Just a dash of courage and all the twitchy anxiety of someone who died too young, a little touch of will, and you too can slice away parts of your soul for the gift that will keep on giving. But just. . . Don't ask where he goes the bodies from, okay? Trade secret.

The House of the Bonded pay you for the bones you bring to them, dense with memories and other, odder things. The Bonejackers need money. The economic incentives of this particular arrangement are hard to understate. There IS such a thing as crimes no one should commit, and this friend of yours swear he'd never do such a thing - but if you happen to have a body lying about the Red Rats haven't gotten to, and you have no need for . . . well. . .

>>5841776
The universe is mocking you. I wouldn't take it personal, personally.

Rolled 6, 6, 2, 6, 2, 4 = 26 (6d6)

>>5841811
Your banana? YOUR BANANA?!

> Sheer Bloody Determination
> MOVE: 54
> ACT: 5AP 2 Focus Wind up x3, punch (skill+1)
> Move 44
> ACT: 4AP: Punch (skill+1)
> Check Violence

#The Hook Alley Butcher
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 13
==Style==
Vanadian Boxing 12
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)

Rolled 4, 3, 1, 4, 4, 2 = 18 (6d6)

>>5841811
You have made a powerful enemy today, thistle!
>Crawl through thistle 1NE
>3AP: Grab whoever's in that hex by the legs and drag into the bush
>3AP: Beat them up in the bush
>-Kicking boots, Knuckledancer
>Stance: Aggress
>Block

#Klaunn
==Core==
Guard 13/13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
==Contact==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent

My brain is going to sleep. Command me while I slumber, voices!
(This is a botting request)

Rolled 2, 1, 4, 6, 2, 5 = 20 (6d6)

>>5841811
A small donation, friend? It'll go to a worthy cause.

>3Agi, Move 44 and leap off the stall to reach the Rat('s pockets)
>3AP, Run his pockets while I'm airborne.
>3AP, on the way down hit him with the ol' Vulpes Toetwister to apply disorient.
>RP, Dodge on landing

>>5841837
The stats. Those are needed, I'm sure.

#Waxworm
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
!Shadowtheft: [1 AP and Dodge Reaction] - Dodge behind, steal 1 guard
==Mask==
Wrackwood (+Weird)
==Contact==
Kalcimiri Glass Knight - 8

Rolled 3, 6, 5, 3, 5, 5, 1, 2, 3 = 33 (9d6)

>>5841811
>{1RP} Reaction: Parry
>{1 Agility, Move 12} Clamber over the stall 4
>{2? Agility} Move up to the rat that's 33 of the stall
>{3AP, Brawling 14} Kick him right in the ribs [-2ACC, +2DMG (Kick), +1DMG (Aggression)] (Total: 12)
>-Knuckledancer: +1 Aggression
>{3AP, Brawling 14} If he still stands, kick him again. [-2ACC, +2DMG (Kick), +2DMG (Aggression)] (Total: 12)
>-Knuckledancer: +1 Aggression

#Mock
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: 1 Aggression
-Status: Alive
==Array==
Health 3 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Mothmask
==Contacts==
The Red Markets 7
Outlander Contact 8

>>5841840
They help ! If they’re not clear, sometimes it’s harder to figure out what happens.

>>5841844
Ack, market stalls !

Rolled 3, 1, 5, 3, 5, 6 = 23 (6d6)

>>5841811
>2 Agil, 2 AP: Run up the wall at 4
>1 Agil, 4 AP: Grab the rat by the leg and bring him down with me, giving him an unpleasant reorientation with solid ground while I attempt to land on my feet.

#Sal
==Core==
Guard 14
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet

>>5841856
Also
>1 RP: Parry

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Rolled 3, 6, 1 = 10 (3d6)

>>5841768
"Do take note that I don't like spiders. If you know someone who does tell him he's being stupid."

>>5841811
"Now let's get to work..."
>3Agi+2ap: Move 5-6-5-5-5
>4ap: !Mine now: Take the dodge away from Rat direction 4. Its mine and always was mine
>1RP: Parry

Spider-Man
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
Plain
==Contacts==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent - 8
The Red Markets - 7

Rolled 4, 2, 5, 2, 6, 5, 1, 2, 2 = 29 (9d6)

>>5841811
>Spawn on Abnegation
>1 RP: Block
>3 Agi: Move 544
>1 AP: Offhander Rat at 3 with Grit
>2 AP: Attack Rat at 3
>3 AP: Attack Rat at 4

"I have been here all along."

#Amicus
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
>I choose not to roll
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
-Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
-Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
-Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Legion Fullhelmet (+Honour)
==Contacts==
The Red Markets - 7

>>5841858
"I take it someone's never seen a real spider. If you'd ever seen a Rikovol Hunting Malichnid you would know they are some of the most majestic and beautiful creatures out there. Friend of mine finally came into possession of one himself recently, and he's never been happier, I tell you what. Hired fighter's best friend, you'll never go hungry again - and not just because the charmer catches all your food for you!"

Rolled 2, 3, 5, 1, 3, 6 = 20 (6d6)

>>5841811
#Pugiliste (Red Droplet)
==Core==
Guard 11
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
!Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
!Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
!Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
!Red Rivers: Dmg rolls of 1 are rerolled.
Self Control 12
==Contacts==
Red Market 7
Animist Associate 8

>Deploy on Abnegation
>React: Parry
>1 AP: Move 544
>3 AP: Shove Slicerat 4 of me.
>2 AP: Grapple Slicerat 3 of me.

Oh my vast and baleful starts you mettlesome meddlesome masked men and whatnot, that was passably fast and no two bones about it. Let's see how we get on, shall we?

[ Turn updating... ]

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>>5841822
Alright soft soul that was a good hit, that was some real bareknuckle brawling, dare I even say bareknuckle boxing. It might not have style but even I can't crimp comment or cringe when it cracks someone's jaw that hard - but be a mite bit careful there, you're letting your MASK get AWAY with you!

Self Control
Sometimes, you get caught up in a mood. Or a story. Or a mythology.

Self control rolls keep you grounded - and if not, well, then rather not.

You can opt to fail a self control if you have a mask that imparts such a roll, as Butcher just did, but failing voluntarily means surrendering to the little voices we all have on the inside. . .

And then Interesting Things Happen during World Updates.

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>>5841833
Klaunn, do be aware that while you're a hardcore hardcase hardheaded hell raiser, there's such a thing as casual disregard for the stinging nettles of nature. We'd have to hose you down post-brawl if you got yourself too stuck up with the thorn thistles, even when you're as gritty as you are.

Try not to ... dive into the those bushes.

They shouldn't even be this big. It's actually a public danger. I think the Grey Committee hasn't been sending the gardeners out here as often as the public infrastructure tax spending should buy the public, these thornthistles can put a child to bed for hours crying. Okay, okay, you... muscle your way right through them. That's... that's pretty badass, no lie, no slight, if anyone had seen it they'd be right proper shocked but the only witness is a bunch of masked brawlers who might not admit that you're so very hard and one very unconcious slice-rat.

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>>5841844
no one saw this.
I promise.
No one's mocking you.
NO REALLY, YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

Rolled 1, 9, 5 = 15 (3d10)

>>5841811
#Abnegation
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 13
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
!One Against: All parry penalties are halved. You can retreat with a parry as well, +3 if so.
!Legwork: Harsh penalties in a grapple or when off balance, dangerous techniques, kicking has less consequences
!Serpent’s Precept: -2 to skill, roll damage twice or make it Piercing (which really hurts)
==Mask==
Plain
===Contacts===
The Red Markets - 7
Animist Associate - 8

Not in the least bit fazed by having two Legion men emerge from under their robes, Abnegation springs forward

>1 Agility: Move 4
>2 Agility, 6 AP: Leaping spinning flying bicycle kick. Or some other ludicrous combination of words that puts boot to skull. (Shatterhands 12 + 5)

Rolled 3, 4, 4 = 11 (3d6)

>>5841880
I have once again rolled d10s. I really need to get out of the habit of doing that. Fucking muscle memory, man.

>>5841866
Nice joke. Odds are your friend was already eaten by those "exotic spiders" and whoever as been contacting you is the guy who watched it happen and feels guilty about it. Very funny, almost got me laughing behind this mask.

Rolled 1, 3 = 4 (2d3)

#Lagomorpheus
==Core==
Guard 10+2d3k1
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 12 (2) Psyche 12 (2) Grit 12 (2)
Reaction 9+1 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10+2, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 10+2
==Style==
Vulpes Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
The story of you. See these long ears? See these big teeth? No, I'm not a wolf and I'm not a fox. Whatever made you think that? [Plain] I guess.

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>>5841858
Hold on to that. The market for intangible defined footwork and the ability to dodge responsibility is booming, you can make good Bits selling this to hucksters who'd rather not do an honest days work in their lives

(You stole 2 of his Dodge, but unfortunately your Parry then overrides a Dodge attempt because you only have 1 RP)

>>5841880
I should probably also specify a Parry reaction. And that I'm attacking the Rat 44 of me. Sorry, still getting used to this.

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>>5841883
"Oh, I assure you, it is no joke. They even got to meet the esteemed Professor Makoti! No one except clueless dockhands really get eaten by their own Malichnids nowadays. My friend knows what he's doing, I have no worries."

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>>5841860
No. Nope. Nooooo. Dial it down, Amicus. Dial it down about 66% solid bloody percent. This is NOT the River Wars! There's rules, goodness gracious.

>>5841897
"Oops?"

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>>5841867
Ah, a pugilist who knows how to clinch. Pay attention here, this will be very relevant very soon.

I'll repeat it when I get there, and I'll update the technique manual now you've had the guts to try - but let's briefly tell you what's happening here.

You Grappled
The Rat Guarded
But your grab still works - damage just sets to 1.
Green is an on-going grapple.

The Rat is grappled - and to break free, it has to either spend AP equal to your grapple value, try to roll its way out using some sort of Style, or tough it out.

Grappling counts AS A PENALTY too, so do note that little Unfair Fighter feature of the Legionlock system. Stacking a grapple and then bringing on the hurt is how you take them to town (And then outside town, in the cementery, if you're feeling Impolite).

If you knew a FOLLOWUP or other move, you could use the Grapple for interesting things, but at least you're assured that your enemy is unlikely to dash away as quickly. If your hold as *better*, they'd take penalties (because their Grit is 2, and your Grapple is 1, they're not taking penalties yet).

As you can easily imagine, this makes landing a good hit on someone and getting a proper hold QUITE useful in melee - the penalties you deliver benefits your entire team.

Of course, if a ... pack of rats... all decide to grapple you... and each does 1... and you get buried in 8 rats. . . and someone brings a knife . . .

Look just don't have that happen.

Once you LAND A GRAPPLE, you can use the first of very, VERY many techniques.

THROW
Rq: Grapple

Your attack tries to deal damage *and* moves your target for every multiple of Grit. Collisions (naturally) cause their own kinds of problems. Grapple Penalties sets minimum damage.

If anyone was a Pytherii Knottier, I'd now be talking about the Ropelash but let's not go there just yet, we've barely begun.

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>Butcher goes wild and knocks out 2 Pups - 8 damage blow through for 5 effective, then 6 damage against an Unaware target. Spent an extra point of Focus to make the first attack hit.
>-3 Focus (9 / 12)
>Self Control Failure, rating 6.
>+1 Aggression... and... oh boy.
--
>Waxwom reaches for a jump and pilfers a bent knife, but sticks the landing.
--
>Klaunn bursts through the thistles and grabs someone's ankles. Then their waist. Then their head. Then the boot come-- oh. wow. moving on.
--
>Mock is full of fury and focus, but stumbles over a stall and consequently flops a kick. They trip, but manage to move check to save themselves from a tumble down the ledge - and the follow-up kick is quite solid indeed!
--
>Spiders, Man dashes across the rooftops and fakes out a Rat. And steals 2 of his dodge, for a passable defense - but then he also Parries, which because of his RP of 1 means the Parry supercedes the dodge. But good footwork, there.
--
>Sal introduces a Rat to a Ledge
--
>Spiders, Man steals someone's dodge (2) but overrides it with their own parry
--
>Amicus introduces someone to the Popper. It does NOT have a fancy name. We do not dignify it with a fancy name. It does not deserve one. It is far, far too unpleasant for that. His target goes down with a critical hit followed by a critical health failure, and can now look forward to 8-12 months of physical recuperation.
--
>Pugliste grabs a man and holds him quite steady, which turns out to be really useful because . . .
--
>Abnegation shouts a KIYAA and performs one of the Seven Kicks that it is said we are not allowed to say out loud, but I've transposed an approximation of its dread name. Abgnegations target WOULD actually guard against this, unbelievably, but rather fortunately, Pugliste gives it a light tug due to the Grab and that penalizes the Rat just enough that the kick lands dead on and Abnegation can somersault to land on their feet.
>Show off.
--
>Lagomorpheous joins us. Hiya.
--

That was a rather impressive amount of force right there, masked menaces. I think we've given the Slicerats a mild incentive to consider their criminal activities.

Unfortunately, now that we've made our presence known and taken our their vanguard they're apt to respond in ratty retaliation - once warned and forewarned, foes tend to get harder to take out.

STICK TOGETHER - it's a right poor time to be ganged up on seven on one, and I hear the faint sense of mild crime in the distance. Sure sign more Rats are going to be flooding in, and our night is about to get hectic right quick. Keep your wits about you, it'd be a shame to ruin such fine footwork by ending the night facedown in an alley, bleeding to death.

[ WORLD PHASE, please hold... ]

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Mock gets a very astute physics teacher who tutors them in the dangers of gravity. Remember, Masks, ledges are not your friend - while it's a devil of a time to punch, kick, stab or hit the properly prepared fighter, most any fool with the guts to try it can do a BODYSHOVE - they're hard to parry, block AND dodge because they're just hurling their entire body right at you. And then most like off the ledge and down the well you go.

--

Wait, hold up a snap second, Mock, what's that they're doing over there...

[2/3]

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I don't believe it. I can't believe it. I refuse to believe it. Nononononono. This isn't happening. The can't be happening.

Okay so I know Slip wants us to burn down their warehouse, which, fine, fine fine fine, we'll do - we'll do - we're professionals, there's such a thing as living up to client specification and it's good community service besides BUT YOU HEAR ME MASKMATES

BLOODY EVERY VOID-LIGHT NIGHTTOUCHED SON OF A GHOUL ONE OF THOSE SONS OF BOXERS.

ALL OF THEM.

AND THROW THEIR CURSED LEATHER MITTENS RIGHT IN THE WAREHOUSE FIRE

I AM NOT HAVING THIS

NOT IN OUR CITY

THERE IS SUCH A THING AS NATIONAL PRIDE.

--

Butcher
Looks like you took out some frustration on that downed Rat - he won't be waking up for anything short of a long, long while. That let you get some Focus back, and the consequences was contained. Clever. Good planning.

Self Control failures won't always work out so well - they're apt to cause chaos in high stress situations, and lead to consequences down the line. But I must say: well handled.

Hey, did you... get some more blood on your mask?

What's that about?

>+1 Maskstain.

Uhh... I... I don't know what that does. You should ... Hm well I guess maybe get some more? Or less? Something's probably going to happen either way.

--

Okay, we have the lay of the land now. Rat-Wind? This place is RAZORWIND, it's a proud old part of town! Look, they even sponsored those statues from the 638 Minor Border Skirmish with that Vanadian Republic, you won't find better people anywhere. The Slicerats are ruining the place.

But hm.

Why.. is it only slice rats? Yeah, I know I said a lot of them are the Luperni Games and they are, but you'd expect a leader or a boss or someone around here. Rinik the Rat Rajah isn't going to just leave his whole crew unsupervised. No, I know what that means, Maskmates.

It means we haven't found their boss yet.

Careful. Means the local Ratking is still around here somewhere. Well, get clever for now. Maybe have a look through that window. Maybe. . . Someone go help Mock a slight? That looks like well above the usual amount of fighters.

>MASK PHASE
>GM to rest for now. Turn in ... 6-8 hours?
>THANKS FOR PLAYING!!

Rolled 2, 1, 4 = 7 (3d6)

>>5841956
>RP: Parry
>3 Agility + 4 AP: Move 3323333
>2 AP + 1 Focus: Push Rat off the ledge, try to aim for the other rat below


#Amicus
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 11/12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
-Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
-Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
-Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Legion Fullhelmet (+Honour)
==Contacts==
The Red Markets - 7

>>5841956
>>5841950
For the architecturally attentive, it should be pointed out that it appears that's a rat-affiliated building serving as a warehouse, then a park down to the southeast and a sort of ... sandy fighting area that they're currently practicing

b o x i n g

in.

That cheeky alley window opens into the the building itself, but unfortunately right at the threshold it's utterly cloaked in darkness and you have no ability to perceive the inside of buildings. It's the Masks, you see. They make you blind to interiors. So you never need to worry about them.

okay you got me maskmate, they don't. You might even have . . . to go inside. But looking INSIDE is hard from the OUTSIDE - there is a shutter there. So unless someone IS brave enough to climb inside, you won't know what's IN THERE.

Rolled 1, 5, 1 = 7 (3d6)

>>5841956
‘!!!!!!’

> 3 Agility, 4 AP: Move 3344443
> 2 AP, 2 Focus: Flying kick! (Targeted 33)
> RP: Parry

#Fourth Dusk
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 3 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
Taking Arts 12
Plain Mask
==Contacts==
Outlander (8)
Red Market (7)

Rolled 3, 1, 6 = 10 (3d6)

>>5841956
>2 Agil: Run 33
>1 Agil, 6 AP: Use my momentum to ram the rat off of the ledge, then face the rat on the roof (roughly 5-6)
>1 RP: Dodge - *away from the ledge*

Rolled 3, 5, 6, 4, 3, 3 = 24 (6d6)

>>5841956
#Pugiliste (Red Droplet)
==Core==
Guard 11
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
!Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
!Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
!Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
!Red Rivers: Dmg rolls of 1 are rerolled.
Self Control 12
==Contacts==
Red Market 7
Animist Associate 8

The Masked Pugilist sees the next mark, across from him. All he needs is a good jump...

>1AGI, 1AP: Move 34
>2AGI: Jump Across the Gap, 44
>5AP: [Sense] Scan the Slicerat South for any easy takedowns.

Rolled 4, 3, 3, 1, 3, 6 = 20 (6d6)

>>5841956
#Abnegation
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 13
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
!One Against: All parry penalties are halved. You can retreat with a parry as well, +3 if so.
!Legwork: Harsh penalties in a grapple or when off balance, dangerous techniques, kicking has less consequences
!Serpent’s Precept: -2 to skill, roll damage twice or make it Piercing (which really hurts)
==Mask==
Plain
===Contacts===
The Red Markets - 7
Animist Associate - 8

Abnegation's eye twitches as they look at the window. Their fists clench tight and start to shake. Then all at once the tension releases with a firm nod. They take a few steps to the left, measure their steps, then... oh... oh no, that can't be a good idea.

>1 Agility: Move 2
>1 Agility, 3 AP: Dropkick through the window (Move 12 + 1)
>1 Agility, 3 AP: Land in a roll, springboard off their hands to kick whoever looks most kickable in the room, assuming there is anyone. If not, whatever object looks most kickable. If it's totally empty, fuck it, Abnegation knows the Wind Shattering Leg Punch, they can just kick the air.
>Reaction: Parry, backstepping if possible

Rolled 2, 5, 2, 3, 3, 2 = 17 (6d6)

>>5841956
Might not be able to chew food proper for the rest of his life, but he'll live, eh? What did he expect, joining the Slicers. At least I didn't push him off a damn building.

> MOVE...quietly?: 33
> ACT: Wait for the rats to pass then hop down
> SHEER DETERMINATION: +3 Guard?

#The Hook Alley Butcher
==Core==
Guard 9/12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12/12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 13
==Style==
Vanadian Boxing 12
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
+1 Maskstain

>>5842012
That's not fighting you're just standing there! You're just STANDING THERE!! Where's the footwork!? Where's the GRACE?! Boxing isn't a style of combat it's volunteer torture! You can't tell me this is ALLOWED

You can't just add to your Guard with AP by being deter-- oh he can. That's . . . That's how that works? That's *intentional*? It *rewards* just *standing*? It directly makes it easier for a Boxer to recover their guard, at a vastly higher rate than any other fighter? While still fighting? That's such rank foolishness - where's the sheer love of the fight if all he's doing is taking a punch and not sitting down?!

Butcher, so help me the vast and caring Icons, you better learn to kick or we're going to have a problem. Vanadian Boxing?! What is this city *coming to* even the RATS are doing it.

Rolled 4, 5, 4, 4, 2, 6, 2, 6, 1 = 34 (9d6)

>>5841956
Can you feel it? The celestial maw yawns, the lidless gaze lingers, the time to act is now! I must not stumble...

>Succumb to the mask. The fantasy. The Icons watch, and so I must perform.
>2Agi, move 34
>1Agi+2FOC, kick off the stand, in my haste buying precious seconds. (Mov14)
>3AP, !Pocketpilfer. Spend those seconds. Look deep, look personal. What pocket holds his heart, his mind, his soul? What can I take from this ill-favored puppet, not long for this world? What can I use NOW? (TakingArts12)
>1FOC, equip bent knife.
>3AP, give the knife a little kiss before boomeranging the weapon into the SE group. A well worn implement, now well loved. (???)
>RP, dodge (away from the damned ledge)

#Waxworm
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 9/12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
!Shadowtheft: [1 AP and Dodge Reaction] - Dodge behind, steal 1 guard
==Mask==
Wrackwood (+Weird)
==Contact==
Kalcimiri Glass Knight - 8

Rolled 1, 6, 5 = 12 (3d6)

>>5841956
>{1RP} Parry
>{2 Agility} Move 66
>{1 Agility, Move 12} Climb up the statue to get up the wall 2
>{6AP, Brawling 14} Overwatch 4: If anyone tries to climb up the wall to follow me, Kick 'em back down. [+3ACC (AP) | -2ACC, +2DMG (Kick) | +1DMG (Aggression)] (Total: 15)
>-Knuckledancer: +1 Aggression (assuming something triggers my kick)

#Mock
==Core==
Guard 4/12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: 1 Aggression
-Status: Alive
==Array==
Health 3 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Mothmask
==Contacts==
The Red Markets 7
Outlander Contact 8

Rolled 2, 4, 2, 3, 5, 1, 3, 1, 2 = 23 (9d6)

>>5841956
>1AG: Hippity-Hop (12) to the 4 over the gap [dice 1-3]
>2AG: Bounce to the 4,3
>1AP: Wall Hang Parkour Hop (12) to leap through the broken window to the 4,4 [dice 4-6]
>2AP: React (10) Move to the nearest lootable inside the room. If I don't need 2AP, roll the extra AP into the next action (the Vulpes Special). I didn't roll the react b/c not sure how that works.
>3AP: Opportunistically tactically acquire whatever is lying around. If whoever's inside hasn't taken up arms yet, acquiring their weapons would work. [dice 7-9]

It's dangerous to go alone. I'll come with you.

#Lagomorpheus
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 12 (2) Psyche 12 (2) Grit 12 (2)
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Vulpes Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
[Plain] w/big ears

Rolled 3, 2 = 5 (2d3)

>>5841956
"I used to be a well-known acrobat, you know. But then they stopped caring. They stopped caring who I was until I put on the mask."

#The Circus
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Knot-tying 12
!Painpoints: Stun Dmg Base
!Jointlock: 2x Grapple effect
!Tie in a Knot: Grapple penalty as +hit on followup
==Mask==
Plain

>>5841956
#Riv
==Core==
Guard 10+2
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
> [Health 2] :: [Psyche 2] :: [Grit 2]
> [Reaction 10] :: [Focus 12]
==Skills==
> [Sense 12] :: [Understand 10] :: [Influence 10] :: [Move 12]
==Style==
> [Brawling 14]
==Mask==
> [Plain]
==Contacts==
> Legion Quartermaster Contact - 8

(4AP) - Get a running start then leap [4]x2 clearing the gap and landing on the other building's roof. (Move-12+1)
(2AP) - Move [3]x2.
(1RP) - Prepare a dodge.

Rolled 3, 6, 4 = 13 (3d6)

>>5842194

Rolled 4, 2, 6, 4, 5, 3 = 24 (6d6)

>>5841950
BUSH and BASH are almost the same, and as I'm the king of bashes, so am I the almost king of bushes! Obey me, bush!

>>5842095
*Welcoming honk*

>3Ag, Move 3S, Move check to burst through the thistle once more
>6AP Dropkick Rat SE off the wall, taking advantage of reach
>Block
>Aggress

#Klaunn
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
==Contact==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent

Rolled 5, 5, 4, 5, 3, 2 = 24 (6d6)

>>5841950
>Agi3+3ap: Move 433, Hang off the ledge and jump inside the [Cheeky Alley Window] (Landing it proper)
>3ap: Overwatch !Pocket Pilfer direction 4
>1reaction: Parry

Spider-Man
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
Plain
==Contacts==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent - 8
The Red Markets - 7

>>5842428
"Kindred beings, we are."

[ Turn about 33% done - minor reality matters interceding]

Rolled 3, 2 = 5 (2d3)

>>5841956
"Sorry! I am late again Ri...Leone at your service and ready to brawl." Masked woman run to the scene with her silk gauntlets ready at hand.

# Rion 'Leone'
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2, Psyche 2, Grit 2,
Reaction 10, Focus 12

==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
!One Against: All parry penalties are halved. You can retreat with a parry as well, +3 if so.
!Legwork: Harsh penalties in a grapple or when off balance, dangerous techniques, kicking has less consequences
!Serpent’s Precept: -2 to skill, roll damage twice or make it Piercing (which really hurts)

==Mask==
Wrackwood (+Weird)

(Well, bad time to go to sleep I guess. Feel free to bot me.)

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>>5842023
Oh maskmate
Oh

the story has you by its hooks now. Mortal plans is what happens until mythology gets in the way[/I]

When you *GIVE IN*, you should probably pick a right and true time to do so. Right at the VERY START of your turn?

Well.

Certainly gives the Mask a Field Day, doesn't it?

>>5842567
I had ideas, but surely the mask has better! We get to see what the wrack wants.

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>>5842575
>Amicus Shoulderchecks a Rat off of a roof, the poor target automatically fails his Guard as it comes in from an unaware flank. He lands on his buddy below. They both take 4 Stun, so their agility is quite hampered on their coming turn. Amicus also remembers LEGION, ADVANCE applies to the Legionlock System - when Pushing/Shoving, any straight movement directly before sets the minimum damage (in this case, 4).

>4th Dusk performs a high flying kick that sends a rat off and down a ledge and into the blessed land of distant dreams (3dmg vs failed guard, pushed 3, fall)

>Pugiliste tries to dance across a gap. Oh, the Rats haven't been maintaining the building facade- OUCH. Pugiliste takes a tumble and loses some guard along with taking 2 STUN - Which is lost AGILITY on your coming turn! Aw!

>Abnegation crashes through a window in a shower of glass and tiling - but what's inside? Find out . . . SOON!

>The Butcher . . . waits patiently (self control pass)

>Waxworm gives into the voices

>Mock climbs a statue and ... doesn't dive off of it in a glorious elbow drop. (Self control pass)

>Lagomorpheous bunny hops off of the map and into a different scene, joining Abnegation!

>Klaunn bursts through a thistle - and takes 1 Stun from the scratchy thorns and itchy stuff. Good thing you've got so much grit, or that would have been much worse!

>We're joined by a Circus

>Riv performs a sweet jump over an alley

>Spiders, Man exits the scene and joins Lagomorpheus and Abnegation on the INSIDE

>We're joined by Leone - say hi Leone!

>Slip puts on the Ragdancer Mask, sprints to keep up and opts to use Influence to Inspire!

--

The inside of this warehouse is dusty, old and misbegotten - and crates are piled in neat rows in juxtaposition with the state of gentle urban decay. Sharp corners, well-hammered nails and a faint chemical tang to the whole affair. This . . . isn't shimmer grass smuggling, it's not some Vanadian tobacco, this thing is ... odd. The shadows, are they wavering? Hm...

--

Those Rats looks like they're about to practice their USELESS BOXING on LIVE TARGETS, that is, US. Good thing Boxing isn't even a combat art! Let alone a fighting style! Let alone some sort of national past time or sport. Okay so The Butcher did just cold knock out two rats with no effort, but that's because they're a right thinking citydweveller and a patriot besides. Even patriots can do wonderful deeds when using foreign fighting ... tricks.

But I'm still not going to accept the utility of boxing. You just *stand there*. COME ON.

[ WORLD PHASE ]

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waitwaitwaitwoooahmaybe

maybe those Vanadians are ON to something

>>5842608
No they're not and I resent you implying otherwise

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>>5842608
Command what the fuck are you talking about.

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... This warehouse is dark, and the air is dusty. On the table Lagomorpheous spots a pair of blades and a long silk wrap, oddly deep with the shadows, as if the light gently bends away from it. It's hazy in here - I don't mean with the dust, I mean, with your minds eye, your senses, the room seems larger on the inside than it actually is, as if the dimensions are uncertain but that can't be how architecture works. Stone is famously stern stuff, it doesn't shift - you're breathing in some kind of hallucinogenic ! That's what's causing this!

Lagomorpheus reaches for paired blades but stops just short as some SENSE tells them that... tells them what, exactly? That the blades are booby trapped? No. Nothing of the sort. Just that . . . picking those up seems unwise. They appear to be bonded steel. Rare stuff. Artifice of the House of the Bonded, it's steel with a twist of an animists intent wrapped within the steel in the forging. It's steel that knows what its purpose is. Those blades were made for quiet work in quiet hours. Putting them to hand at all would be... some sort of crime. It radiates from them, palpably.

Whatever it is the Rats are importing they have loads of the stuff. Look at the floor. It's scratched and rent with other crates, and older flakes of dried up . . . scales? Dust? Pollen-powder? Hard to tell.

But it means this isn't the first shipment that's passed through here. But I haven't heard rumours of the Slicerats peddling anything particularly new. They're not the types to hold on to a drug of any use on the streets all by themselves, and they aren't really habitual users.

That's a mystery then, isn't it? If they've had multiple shipments, where did they all go? What are they all for?

Well, more rats could be hiding in the shadows. Watch your corners. Find some way to light this place on fire.

[ WORLD PHASE, patience... ]

>>5842608
They are ON to getting their dONgs stomped ON for their cONsiderable wrONgs!
hONk!

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Butcher is spotted and the rats form into a RATPACK, flinging stones and curses his way. This is one of their tricks - they'll act as a single unit, but for every participating member they get +1 to their relevant skills! That's a right stomping. Split them up, intimidate a few of them out, or try to break up their formation somehow, otherwise they'll swarm you with team-work.

Luckily they haven't thought to draw knives yet, or they'd do you their namesake - some rats to grab you and hold you, some rats to slice you. Bad stuff, Maskmate. Bad stuff.

--

A valiant Slicerat spots Amicus and sprints to clock him clean on the helmet, spurred on by an ally shouting Influencing Encouragement - and the hit lands right through the guard. But the Rat regrets it more than Amicus, hard hats hurt.

--

Slip offers words of MOTIVATION - encouragement turns the tide of most conflicts, right? MOTIVATION works as AGILITY that gets spent when you use it. But it increases your grit rating too - how's that for inspiring? You all have 1, this time!

--

The SLUG RATS have formed a veritable battle line of furious fists, slapping their gloves together, glaring, spitting on the ground. One of them scampers to the roof!

--

We're being flanked from behind - that Rat that slunk out earlier has found a fair few friends!

--

One of the more brave ones tries to clamber up the ledge but Mock kicks them right back down and again and that particular Rat doesn't seem like they'll be any sort of trouble soon. Good work, Mock! But note that your AGGRESSIVENESS is also EATING into your GUARD - you Knuckledanced to 2, so while your strikes will hammer someone home, they leave you fairly exposed.

Of course it's a well known fact of life around this city that interesting things happen when certain status effects reach 3. Something to do with six sided dice and probabilities and universal functions, don't ask me, I'm no scholar, but apparently that's when things start to really take effect... So... you could push a little further. . .

--

Square off! We're INSIDE the WAREHOUSE!

--

Waxworm (???) wanders off and plucks some of Butcher's work off of the ground and the sunlight skies high above shine just a little brighter for just a moment. Looks like you've accrued a EMPYREAL BOON, from the fair Icon of our grand city. Used to be the Theurges would chant its name and bring its attention to the high and the low, but we don't hold so much with that sort of thing these days. They tried to burn the city to the ground some years back, and really, that does a number on your appreciation for their civic sensibilities. Still, you'll find the Theurges of the Empyreal Flame most anywhere. They man the charitable orphanages, the soup kitchens, the hospitals, the way stations, the post offices, the tax offices, the harbor offices, the churches, chapels and temples, the government apartment blocks for the homeless, the plague homes...

[ MASK PHASE ]

>>5842650
Waxworm
Anyway, charitable missions aside (which fine, okay, maybe buys them the ONE attempt at burning us all in a giant pyre, it wasn't all of them anyway, apparently it was all to do with some high level theophilosophical discussion about the nature of the soul and the sun, look, your average street Theurge is really just a man or woman in a robe doing their best to make the world a nicer place and we should all appreciate the effort where was I)

oh right

EMPYREAL BOONS.

It wards of Terror.
It holds the Dark at Bay.
It knits your bones together and seals your wounds and fils your spirit

Which is all to say that it provides a lot of Courage and Succour and Motivation. Which would be very convenient if you were presently terrified or wounded, but as neither bit seems to be the case, you might simply want to use the Boon for the other and final thing the grand sun provides.

Snap your fingers.
Make a spark.

Because the Other and Final Thing that the Great Eye will always, ever, provide is FIRE and that some surplus.

Spend a Boon by rolling against Focus to invoke it. That IS an action. That's Courage, Succor, Motivation

... or Fire.

For the Empyreal. The first three quite benefits your friends (or yourself, supposedly) but the latter ... Well. You're not *immune* to fire, now are you.

Fill things with it and they burn. You get your Margin in fire d6, so it's good for causing the odd flare-up. Though it should be said that it's not so much "conjure fire" as it is "command fire", so if find yourself staring down a wildfire and you ask it politely, you control it this way too. But you are no Theurge and will never be one, so most likely trying to do one of their Grand Tricks is going to simply hurt everyone around you.

Stick with the basics.

Rolled 2, 1, 6, 4, 2, 4 = 19 (6d6)

>>5842650
#Riv
==Core==
Guard 10+2
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
[Health 2] :: [Psyche 2] :: [Grit 2]
[Reaction 10] :: [Focus 12]
==Skills==
[Sense 12] :: [Understand 10] :: [Influence 10] :: [Move 12]
==Style==
[Brawling 14]
==Mask==
[Plain]
==Contacts==
Legion Quartermaster Contact - 8

(1AGI) - Move [4]x1.
(3AP) - Square-up and feint a jab at [4] targetting the Slicerat's head (Brawling-14)
(2AGI) - Spryly strafe around Slicerat to [5]x1.
(3AP) - Sweep the priviously targetted Slice-rat off their feet with a low kick. (Brawling-14)
(1RP) - Prepare a dodge.

Rolled 5, 4, 6, 1, 5, 5 = 26 (6d6)

>>5842650
#Abnegation
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 13
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
!One Against: All parry penalties are halved. You can retreat with a parry as well, +3 if so.
!Legwork: Harsh penalties in a grapple or when off balance, dangerous techniques, kicking has less consequences
!Serpent’s Precept: -2 to skill, roll damage twice or make it Piercing (which really hurts)
==Mask==
Plain
===Contacts===
The Red Markets - 7
Animist Associate - 8

>3 Agility: Move 222, face 3
>4 AP: Surely Abnegation knows a guy who knows a guy who could provide something to reliably start a fire that'd burn down a building. A firebomb, maybe, or a tube of alchemical gel that superheats after a few moments' contact with the air. Or something more bog standard and less liable to pose an immense risk if it's on your person while you're leaping across rooftops. Red Markets contact invocation, please and thank you. I'm not using it yet, though. (+1 from the extra AP, not sure if it applies to the reaction roll or the contact skill roll or both.)
>1 AP: Say, what's actually in these crates? Let's crack one open so we can have a looksee.
>Reaction: Parry, backstep if possible

Abnegation freezes in the middle of snapping off a kick at empty air, pulling back as they recognise their own enjoyment. Instead they busy themselves with fishing around in the deep, hidden reaches of their robes for a firestarting knick-knack that they'd picked up earlier in preparation, opening and peering into a crate along the way.

"...We should open up that door before we start any fires, I think. Getting trapped in a burning building isn't part of our civic duty."

Hum. That voice certainly sounded like a woman's. Let's try out calling Abnegation a she and see if she dissents.

...

No complaints so far.

Ah, that's right, she can't hear the narration. Skill issue. Oh well, it's still looking like a safe assumption that Abnegation is a woman. Whatever that's worth.

Rolled 2, 2, 1, 5, 2, 6 = 18 (6d6)

>>5842650
My heart beats true, the flame burns within my very breast! Witness me!

>2Agi, move 44
>1Agi2FOC, leap into the Rats, slingshotting off the statue as I fall (Mov14)
>6AP, use my generated momentum to perform the Reikan Twisting Top - disorient the group, turn them against one another! (TakingArts14)
>1FOC,1RP, Activate Shadowtheft and Dodge. No room in this mass of Rats, but certainly room behind them!
>Succumb to the mask. Bask in the warmth. Hold their attention. Worm your way into their favor.

#Waxworm
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 9/12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
!Shadowtheft: [1 AP and Dodge Reaction] - Dodge behind, steal 1 guard
==Mask==
Wrackwood (+Weird)
-1 Empyreal Boon
==Contact==
The Red Markets - 7
Kalcimiri Glass Knight - 8
==Pockets==
-Bent Long Knife

Rolled 5, 5, 4 = 14 (3d6)

>>5842650
It's treason, bush! Your judgement will come soon.

>1Ag: Negate Stun
>2Ag, 3AP: Move 565 55, check to clamber up to the roof
>3AP: overwatch punch facing S
>Aggress, Block.

#Klaunn
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
==Contact==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent

Rolled 4, 5, 3 = 12 (3d6)

>>5842650
>1agi: Move 5
>3ap: Understand and figure out what cloak this is and who's it may be...The blades are bonded but not the cloak right? Surely that means I COULD TAKE IT
>1ap: If I can take the cloak, take it. If not. It'll get it's time to be taken
>2agi+2ap: Slide over in between table and boxes to open the door.
>1rp: parry
Spider-Man
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
Plain
==Contacts==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent - 8
The Red Markets - 7

Rolled 4, 1, 6, 6, 6, 1 = 24 (6d6)

>>5842650
>RP: Parry
>3 Agility: Move 644
>3 AP: Legio Advance! the gloved rat off the roof and on his friends
>1 Motivation (thanks Slip): Move 3
>3 AP: Kidneypunch the rat to my 1

#Amicus
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 11/12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
-Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
-Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
-Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Legion Fullhelmet (+Honour)
==Contacts==
The Red Markets - 7

>>5842650

> 1 Agility: Move 5
> 1 Agility, 1 Focus: Leap 5, 4, Grab the overhanging Ledge.
> 1 Agility, 2 Focus, 3 AP: Swing of, leap 444, soaring punch onto the Boxer! (Aimed downwards, at 4)
> 3 AP: Steal their boxing gloves post impact (Pocketpilfer). Pillage their stance.
RP: Block (Just like they do)

Deep breath, deep breaths, don’t do anything unwise-

‘A A A A A H-‘

#Fourth Dusk
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 3 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 7/12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
Taking Arts 12
Plain Mask
==Contacts==
Outlander (8)
Red Market (7)

>>5842650
(Oh hey I actually managed to wake up before another turn happened. And all it took was about 3 hours of sleep! yaaay.)
>{3 Agility, 1 Motivation} Restore 4 Guard
>{1RP} Reaction: Parry
>{6AP, Brawling 14} Overwatch 4: Get ready to Kick someone down the ledge again. [+3ACC (AP) | -2ACC, +2DMG (Kick) | +2DMG (Aggression)] (Total: 15)
>Knuckledancer: +1 Aggression if Overwatch is triggered (What's the worst that could happen? :))

#Mock
==Core==
Guard 3/12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: 2 Aggression, 1 Motivation
-Status: Alive
==Array==
Health 3 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Mothmask
==Contacts==
The Red Markets 7
Outlander Contact 8

Rolled 2, 6, 6 = 14 (3d6)

>>5842650
#Pugiliste (Red Droplet)
==Core==
Guard 6
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
!Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
!Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
!Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
!Red Rivers: Dmg rolls of 1 are rerolled.
Self Control 12
==Contacts==
Red Market 7
Animist Associate 8

>1 AGI, 1AP: Move 44
>1AP: Open the door
>4AP: [Understand] Look around the room what's the stuff in here?

Rolled 2, 6, 5, 3, 4, 3 = 23 (6d6)

>2 AGI, 1 AP - Move 5,4 and pick the McGuffin up from the table to my SW.
>3 AP - Disassemble the crate to my SE and transform it into a sword holder [10?, dice 1-3]. I'm thinking just two or three slats of wood nailed together with space for the blades. A wooden holster/flower-box if you will.
>2AP - Slot the swords into the sword holder, being careful not to pick up or touch the swords with my hands. [dice 4-6, use if needed]

These big fangs seem dangerous. Better not leave them in the hands of the Mice. Grab the silk strand to form a bandolier ... oops. What about my ears? No, no, they aren't prehensile and these aren't earrings. Too heavy. I'd need ears of steel to adopt so sharp a look.

The Great Denier was busy opening boxes and starting a fire. The Spider Man was looking to wear a shadowy symbiote. Good for them. Every Spider Person ought to engage in symbiotism at least once.

But oh yes, that round thing on the table. That was marked by the X yes? Better pocket that. Now, did I bring the rope or manacles to restrain bad guys? Can't remember. I can be so hare-brained sometimes. But I do see wood right in front of me. Let's just kick off a few of these boards, sandwich them around the very valuable blades, and there we go. A way to hold the blades without them holding on to my soul.

Memory of Uncle Rabbit ~ "Join the Horde they said. See the World they said. Tear the throats out of Rebel Knights they said. But they didn't tell you about the horned wizards. No. They didn't tell you about the Thermal Imaging Matrices. How do you hide from those? They didn't tell you about the hand grenades or the death from the sky or the rainbows in the dark. No kid, don't listen to their siren song. Don't go burrowing into dark holes in the earth to root out evil. Don't go to foreign battlefields to horde on evil wizards. You stay here in the City kid. Get rich and make lots of bunnies. That's the Way". ~ End of Memory

#Lagomorpheus
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 12 (2) Psyche 12 (2) Grit 12 (2)
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Vulpes Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
[Plain] w/big ears

Rolled 3, 4, 6 = 13 (3d6)

>>5842650
"Yeah, this guy's got the right idea! Hey, c'mon! Yeah, you, all bloody and scary! A couple 'a rat pups got you scared?! Let's fucking gooooo!"

>Deploy on Waxworm (for a running start)
>3 Agility + 1 (or 2?) Focus: 44 and jump off the ledge 34
>6 AP, Brawling 14, Improvise: dropkick into the RATPACK after Waxworm with the intent of breaking it up (stomping one of them real good is a bonus)
>Knuckledancer: +1 Aggression from the above
>1 RP: Parry (since I'm about to be neck deep in rats)

Missed out on quite a bit, but I'm finally caught up. Good heavens, would you look at the time! Why, it's time to get killed in the streets.

(I think the only bit that needs a roll here is the dropkick, but I might be wrong. Either way, here goes)

#Tier
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
!Creative Use Encouraged (Unpenalized improvisation)
!Wear My Kicking Boots (Damage gets +GRIT against prone targets)
!Knuckledancer: Build +1 or drop 1 Aggression / Cunning per major attack.
==Mask==
Mothmask
==Contacts==
The Red Markets - 7
Vanadian Expeditionary Veteran - 8

Rolled 6, 1, 6, 6, 4, 4 = 27 (6d6)

>>5842650
>1 Agil: Move 4
>1 Agil: Slide down the slope 4
>2 Agil: Sprint at the Rat in the 5 ish direction that is facing away from me
>6 AP: Use my momentum to kick the rat into his fellows 5, then face nearest rat
>1 RP: Parry

#Sal
==Core==
Guard 14
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet

Rolled 6, 2, 2, 4, 2, 5, 1, 5, 6 = 33 (9d6)

>>5842650
Call me an artless barbarian, huh, when this lot is just kicking them iff rooftops. That's all they're fucking doing. Then when they try to do some fancy shit spin kick shit they MISS.

Waxworm just jumped down into three of them, spun around on one foot and He Didn't Even Hit One.
> MOVE: 2Agi hop down, using the statues head as a handy breakfall (14)
> ACT: Just punch the rats? (12)
> ACT: Just punch again, it's really easy? Hello? (wind up agility, 12, damage+1)
> REACT: Parry

>>5842718
You missed a tooth, but don't worry, I'll make you some more.

File: Skærmbillede 2023-11-25 k(...).png (114 KB, 640x680)

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>>5842749
Unbelievable! He just stood there! And took it! I hate boxing! I hate boxing SO MUCH

( The Slug Rat plants its feet and passes a Guard check, and then a Grit-check to resist being moved )

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>>5842917
>>5842915
Yeah okay fine, I grant that a lot of the high flying triple vault kick off a wall to kick off a man to kick a head is a little extravagant. Maybe your basic focus on proper footwork and a good, resolute guard has SOME merit. I will grudgingly accept that Waxworm just did a BOMBASTIC double flip off of an old war memorial, landed, failed to do any impact what-so-ever on the tightly packed group of rats, spat on the face of the Icon that was looking right at them and asking him to pick up some loose teeth AND is now on fire.

And okay, okay, rated against that, the fact that you're about to one-two punch two human beings right into next week might be a point in favor of boxing. A small one. A point so small I have to concentrate to see it. You guys *don't even kick*. YOU DON'T.
EVEN.
KICK.

What the Void good is taking out 4 people without breaking a sweat if you don't at least, you know... kick a little.

File: Skærmbillede 2023-11-25 k(...).png (207 KB, 890x702)

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>>5842875
Pry a crate apart? With your bare hands? There's NAILS in that, what are you, some sort of Vanadian sapper with a multitool and a disregard for sound engineering principles? Ufh. You consider doing it for a bit but that would just be the worst. And you'd spill moth dream everywhere. And hurt your hands.

Luckily, you can easily improvise a useful carry-all with your belt, some deft finger-work, and a strip of cloth you tear from your shirt. Easy does it, and a Vulpes makes do.

Yeah, get rich and make a lot of bunnies and monies in the big city, and to do that, stay alive and avoid dealing with pyromancers on battlefields, Watcher patrols, *vanadians in general*, don't hold with boxing and - word to the wise - don't put your paws directly on Bonded Steel that isn't bonded to you.

[I]which is why you slide it into this belt, real careful, and let the sheaths prevent them from touching you[/i].

You know, Lago, I think your uncle Rabbit was a smart one. Grand Theft Sword. Wow.

First Spear Aurelius used to run patrols through the streets, hunting for stuff like this, in the brief, bad few weeks after the Pyre. When the City was still racked with smoke and distant screams and no one knew what for or why. The Rebus and the Watchers got their stuff together, the Grey Committee and the Senatorial Commissions in general got their stuff together - for once - and issued an Edict.

Weapons of War go to the Watchers.

It's simple, isn't it? Easy to remember. Rolls right off the tongue. Joke is they acquired so much material in those few weeks that we need never fear running out of plowshares ever again. And these days, it takes a smuggling network and a dream to source a bloody crossbow round these streets. It's why the Slicerats like knives so much.

Even the Senators knew they'd have trouble on their hands if they told people to give up cheese by giving up cheese knives. Some things you just can't make the public accept.

But lookit YOU.

You've got a pair of genuine contraband Bonded Blades strapped to your back. Sword Hunter Lagomorpheus, and ain't that a kind of Title that'll make a Mask worth a story or three?

>MaskMark
>+[Sword Hunter]
Roll Sense to sniff out nearby weaponry.

( A lot of Slice Rats carry knives... and what's worse )

Rolled 3, 4, 5 = 12 (3d6)

>>5842650
"Hi everybody! Oh that's quite a crew time to bolt"

# Rion 'Leone'
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2, Psyche 2, Grit 2,
Reaction 10, Focus 12

==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
!One Against: All parry penalties are halved. You can retreat with a parry as well, +3 if so.
!Legwork: Harsh penalties in a grapple or when off balance, dangerous techniques, kicking has less consequences
!Serpent’s Precept: -2 to skill, roll damage twice or make it Piercing (which really hurts)

==Mask==
Wrackwood (+Weird)

>agi 3 ap1: Move 4444 (check to jump onto roof using this brown thingy as stepping stone)
>ap 2: try to sense if rat pack will try to get up here.
>ap 3 rp1: attack if rats in rear try climbing

>>5842962
Correction

>rp: parry

Rolled 1, 1, 4, 4, 1, 5 = 16 (6d6)

>2AGi: Move 22
>3AP: Influence Mock, get his guard up
>3AP: Influence Leone, provide some punch pointers.
>1AGI: Face 1

File: Razorwind 4-2.jpg (2.24 MB, 3760x3407)

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Now we're having ourselves a real scrap.

Amicus is rebuffed on the roof as the Slugrat refuses to fall, but the kidney punch takes one Rat out cold and colder. He won't get up again, for a while - Riv had swept him off his feet and that provided all the opening Amicus needed for a perfect flank.

4th Dusk fair bounces off of a ledge and roof and lands a suckers punch, and is swiftly followed by Sal in support - one rat is wounded something sore and the Slug Rat facing Dusk is somewhat . . . perplexed by what's going on here, exactly. He just got these gloves. Are they some kind of hot commodity?

Butcher and Tier drop down following Waxworm, who appears to be in some gibbering state on the ground, twitching and rolling, beset by ghostly flames. It's Icon Stuff, you're best better off not worrying about it at all - but the gaggle of rat packs are clobbered, punched and beaten... but they hold strong ! That was some awe-inspiring guard work! Fortunately, your fists were so aggressive their Guard is almost torn asunder and now you just need to do the same to them before they do it to you !

[ WORLD PHASE ]

File: Skærmbillede 2023-11-25 k(...).png (951 KB, 1474x874)

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Abgnetation finds a crate full of MOTHDREAM, a hallocinogenic from the far Uthani steppes. That's where the Vulpes roam, but it's not the only Banner on those grasslands. You don't hear a lot about the other in the City, because the Watcher and the Legion both made distant stern effort to keep it that way in ages past. The Uthani Banners were and are and will be again a scourge on civilized men.

Pugiliste ponders as some others steal various bits and sundry and finally. . . yes. . . it does make sense . . .

[I]This is Mothdream. Chemical concoctions by distant shaman-alchemists of the Uthani, that alters how one sees oneself in the world, with the world, by the world. It is used in rituals of Denial.

Abnegation can fair sense it, although perhaps the type of ritual the Uthani prefer is not their particular brand of self denial.

This drug is not recreational. Its brings no joy.

This drug . . . Is a weapon. The Slicerats have brought it by the crate and by the container and they intend to USE IT somehow, on someone, somewhen and we can glean, by some why. The distant Rat Rajah Rinik, who outed Otis Steeleye and became the face and fist of this city's grand underworld, what sort of scheme has he dreamed up that requires an abundance of dust that one breathes in only and purely to forget that one is a persona at all?

The fluttering Moths - that's the Banner so famed for this stuff - they use it in ritualistic practice to forget their sense of self such that they may forget all the ills of the body, and never itch nor blink nor stutter nor feel a pang of hunger or a stubbed toe and so, in the shadows and the half-light hours, remain still as stone and quiet as moonlight. [/i]

We should burn all this, because whatever we have found here is no simple economic scheme. This is . . .

oh snap, Maskmates
This is probably political, of some sort or another.

If Rinik the Rat could make people forget somehow, maybe he could . . . Recruit them better? Bleach their personality from their lived lives? Brainwash his endless ratlings? No. All of that is too crude and too cruel and, make no bones about the competence of the Watchers, they do actually respond to threats of a grand enough nature and they have an institutional habit of the most tremendous sort of overzealous overkill. Any rat in any tavern make a joke about how they're about to poison the city, they'd all be strung up by the gates an hour later.

Say what you want about our city Watchers. But, erhh, maybe say it quietly where they can't hear, because they're frightening folk.

So if not gain and not for some criminal turf war or grand attempt at poisoning half a district, why all this?

We'll figure this out. But now: Torch the damned lot and let the fire help us all forget it was ever here.

[ WORLD PHASE ]

They're on to us in earnest now! Look at those fists. If this wasn't boxing it'd almost be a cool fight, but because it's ... .. they're.. they're SLUG RATS, people, they're SLUGGING IT OUT. They're just --

Look! Look! 4th Dusk is adopting their stance and squalid footwork and they're just STANDING there, trading blows! They get hammered! Then They resist. Adjust their posture a little. Block slug block slug block slug THAT'S NOT FIGHTING THAT'S JUST PUNCHING EACH OTHER REAL HARD. Where's the nobility of spirit!?

>4th Dusk takes a one-two and a one-two and blocks and Guards against all of it.

Amicus up on the roof gets the right side of a haymaker and the left side of a mobile Slug Rat who tic-tacs up a statue to deliver a bellringer to the back of Amicus metal mask - and that one actually gets through

>Amiucs takes 2 Guard damage

Riv rolls right under it and away from it, dodging a second blow besides, but gets lightly tapped by a Rat coming in flank-a-wise - and Riv, your smooth dodged spoiled Klaunn's counter-attack! That happens sometimes, don't worry about it, just get those rats off of the roof!

--

Butcher and Tier end up back to back, the stoic gaze of a Border Skirmish Veteran looking over their shoulder, as the Rat Pack rains blows down on them. But Butcher is a boxer and ... you know the drill by now... he just.. he just kinda.. parries and stands there and... there's not even a one-liner... they're just trading blows, pop pop kapow, didn't do much, shrug it off, and back in the fight.

Backed up like this, footwork is no good, but those parries and Guards kept you well-safe through the storm, and look, the Rats here aggression have left them WIDE open! Remember that damage twice a Guard blows clean through it, they'll never see it coming. Take 'em OUT

--

Waxworm rolls around chanting on the floor, beset by ghostly light and ethereal burns and his own personal sunbeam, and then he seizures out, finally, and is, at last utterly still, fairly beaten out.

>Waxworm takes 2 wounds, fails a Health check, goes unconscious. Someone get him back on his feet by shaking him awake, please. Maybe you brought smelling salts or some such?

>Waxworm's mask does seem to . .. is that a light patina of ash?
>+1 Maskstain

--

From behind, a gaggle of new contenders pour in through the path that Klaunn ripped in the thistles earlier. Leone sees to the first and the others are slowed down by their commanding position, but we're rather flanked by the lot now. They look like they know their business, too. Must be fresh faces from the Luperni games, all inspired by seeing someone else not get taken out in one clean hit.

--

Slip wait.

that's Mothdream.

If we burn it and they put out the fire, all of this will have been wasted pugilism. Start the sparks now, and then we need to stick around to make sure it takes. Whatever Rinik wants those crates for is nothing we want him to be able to carry out.
>MASK PHASE

File: Razorwind 5-1.jpg (2.26 MB, 3760x3407)

2.26 MB JPG

Slip So that means...

We light the crates. Do it now or soon.

And then we're going to need to keep these Slicerats from putting out the sparks somehow. Think of it like a fire brigade, and then flip it over in your head. Plant your feet and hold the street, because we'll be here a little longer than I thought we would.

> Well, that's how it goes sometimes
> Once you get the fire going, expect the rats to come running many and fast.
> Maybe clear out this lot before you light the fire - or get it done early and then hold down for the stampede.

( Oh, and if you all hurry quite a bit, perhaps we can do a second turn today? )

Rolled 5, 1, 5, 2, 4, 4, 5, 1, 6 = 33 (9d6)

>>5843111
Hey kids! Who wants a balloon?
>5AP: grapple Rat SW
>1AP + 7 Focus: tie and twist the Rat like a balloon animal
>1 Focus: Induce coulrophobia in the opposition (Influence)
>Aggress
>Block

#Klaunn
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
==Contact==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent

Rolled 1, 1, 4 = 6 (3d6)

>>5843111
#Riv
==Core==
Guard 10+2
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
[Health 2] :: [Psyche 2] :: [Grit 2]
[Reaction 10] :: [Focus 12]
==Skills==
[Sense 12] :: [Understand 10] :: [Influence 10] :: [Move 12]
==Style==
[Brawling 14]
==Mask==
[Plain]
==Contacts==
Legion Quartermaster Contact - 8

> (1AGI) Recover 1 Guard.
> (2 AGI, 6AP,1FOC) Face splitting in a grin equal parts unhinged and elated, Riv once more drops into a runner's stance - flexes their calves, rolls their shoulders, tempers their nerves - then launches [4]wards at a full pelt sprint. The instant that back of the Rat immediately in front of them subsumes the majority of the brawler's vision they kick off the slick tiles of the roof - catching the unaware thug in a flying, full-body spear tackle which, if the momentum can punch through, is on a magnificent trajectory with the equally unsuspecting rat [4]ward of them, and then beyond that - the promise of dragging his new pals along for a long drop punctuated by a sudden stop. It's all just too perfect, Riv can barely restrain the urge to fire off a witty one-liner - but no, no, nothing will spoil this moment.

Rolled 1, 4, 5, 6, 5, 6 = 27 (6d6)

>>5843105
"Heh, what do you know, you guys ain't half-bad. Watch this! You punks still don't know a thing about *real* fighting!"

>1 Agi: recover 1 Guard
>1 Agi: clamber up the statue
>3 AP + 1 Agi, Brawling 14, Improvise: elbow drop RATPACK from statue
>Knuckledancer: +1 Aggression
>3 AP, Brawling 14: get to swangin' and bangin (just punch rats)
>Knuckledancer: -1 Aggression (I can use this twice per turn, right?)
>1 RP: Parry (just in case I'm still neck deep in rats)

#Tier
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
!Creative Use Encouraged (Unpenalized improvisation)
!Wear My Kicking Boots (Damage gets +GRIT against prone targets)
!Knuckledancer: Build +1 or drop 1 Aggression / Cunning per major attack.
==Mask==
Mothmask
==Contacts==
The Red Markets - 7
Vanadian Expeditionary Veteran - 8

Rolled 5, 5, 1, 1, 1, 5 = 18 (6d6)

>>5843111
"Oh no, you are NOT summoning a rat king little mouseling. YOU - out of my way!"

>1 Agil, 3 AP: Push my way past the rat at 5
>2 Agil, 3 AP, 1 Focus: Run 555 655 (Chasing the fleeing rat)
>5 Focus: Deck the snitching rat, face 2
>1 RP: Parry

#Sal
==Core==
Guard 14
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 6/12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet

>>5843111
>{3 Agility} Restore 3 Guard
>{3AP, 3 FOCUS} Move 23 23 23
>{0AP} Succumb to the story. Let my mask run wild!
>-Do you hear that? GLORY is calling.

#Mock
==Core==
Guard 9/12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: 2 Aggression
-Status: Alive
==Array==
Health 3 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 12/12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Mothmask
==Contacts==
The Red Markets 7
Outlander Contact 8

>>5843155
Good work! I think that shut them up but good.

Rolled 3, 3, 3, 5, 6, 3, 4, 2, 5 = 34 (9d6)

>>5843111
>1ap: Pocket some Mothdream
>3agi+1ap: Move 544-4
>3ap: Attempt to grapple the Rat running away.
>1ap: Attempt to follow up by !Pocketpilfering him
>1rp: ready block?

Spider-Man
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
==Style==
Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
Plain
==Contacts==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent - 8
The Red Markets - 7

>>5843111
>>5843187
>I meant to ready block in the direction of the Boxer wannabe's with the body of the fleeing slicer.

>3AGI, 1AP - Move 2,2,2 // Move 1
>3AP - Slide a crate to block the door to my 2. Grit 12? [didn't roll. Feel free to roll if these are heavy enough to require exertion]
>2AP - Sniff out more weapons along the way. I get that I'm surrounded by weapons grade dust and in a room full of hallucinogenic dust, but I'm also greedy. Use 1 focus if this is a major action. [dice 1-3, base sense 12]

Gotta go fast. Is that a hedgehog thing? No, no. Hedgehogs are slow waddling creatures who stop moving and ball up in the face of danger. Why would they be fast? Well, time to block off this entrance so that no one would be able to break in and stop a fire.

#Lagomorpheus
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 12 (2) Psyche 12 (2) Grit 12 (2)
Reaction 10 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Vulpes Taking Arts 12
==Mask==
[Plain] w/big ears
>+[Sword Hunter]: Roll Sense to sniff out nearby weaponry
Self Control 12?

Rolled 6, 6, 4 = 16 (3d6)

Dice for sniffing out weapons

Rolled 5, 1, 3, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3 = 40 (12d6)

>>5843111
>2 Agility: Restore 2 Guard
>1 AP: Move 5
>1 Agility: Use the statue to get down and end up 43, on the same hex as that Slug Rat that was fighting Sal (1st roll, Move)
>1 AP: Offhander, momentum from above, push that Slug Rat to the ground (2nd roll, Grit)
>2 AP: Hit this Rat (3rd roll)
>2 AP: Hit nearest Rat that is still conscious. (Should be the same one, or the one engaged with 4th) (4th roll)

>0 AP: Let the mask in control. What does the Law say about this? (Restore 1 Focus)

#Amicus
==Core==
Guard 10
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12/12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
-Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
-Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
-Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Legion Fullhelmet (+Honour)
==Contacts==
The Red Markets - 7

Rolled 1, 1, 5 = 7 (3d6)

>>5843111
#Pugiliste (Red Droplet)
==Core==
Guard 6
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 10
==Style==
Legionlock 10
!Unfair Fighter: Adds ½ of any penalty your target is suffering that you’re not also suffering as +hit/+effect.
!Offhander: 1 AP to roll against Grit or Reaction to try a Trick (which penalizes targets)
!Pack Tactics: Get a 1 AP discount on major attack actions if target is fighting an ally of yours.
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
!Red Rivers: Dmg rolls of 1 are rerolled.
Self Control 12
==Contacts==
Red Market 7
Animist Associate 8

>2AGI: Leave the building
>1AGI, 2AP: Move 444
>4AP [Offhander]: Use Grit to try a trick on the Slicerat's head

Rolled 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 1 = 23 (6d6)

>>5843150
That's not how you punch things.
>>5843111
> Sheer Determination
> ACT: 5AP 1Agility Clock the first rat. (+2 damage, +1 hit)
> ACT: 4AP 2Focus Right hook, smack the other. (+2 damage)
> MOVE: 55

#The Hook Alley Butcher
==Core==
Guard 9/12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12/12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 13
==Style==
Vanadian Boxing 12
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
+1 Maskstain

>>5843258
Spend another focus, make that hit! -3 total

Rolled 1, 6, 5, 1, 6, 1 = 20 (6d6)

>>5843111
"Ooooh bad luck but we'll see if you do actually get me." Throw a punch at roof rat. Leone turns at confused rats in hedge maze. "I am right here and soon there!"

# Rion 'Leone'
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 12, Psyche 12, Grit 2,
Reaction 10, Focus 12

==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 10, Influence 10, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
!One Against: All parry penalties are halved. You can retreat with a parry as well, +3 if so.
!Legwork: Harsh penalties in a grapple or when off balance, dangerous techniques, kicking has less consequences
!Serpent’s Precept: -2 to skill, roll damage twice or make it Piercing (which really hurts)

==Mask==
Wrackwood (+Weird)

>2 ap: Attack roof rat next to me with punch right between eyes
>1 agi 4 ap: Jump and dive kick closest rat in hedge maze entrance (!Serpent’s Precept: -2 to skill, roll damage twice)
>react: parry

Rolled 6, 6, 2, 3, 4, 4 = 25 (6d6)

> 2 Agility: Raise Guard to 13.
> 3 AP: Steal the gloves of the Slugrat in my tile, again.
> 3 AP: Do it again. If I succeed the first time, bewilder them instead.
> 1 Agility: Move 2.
Reaction Point: Block

‘One, two, one, two, shoulders and arms and straight punches… *steal their rhythms*’

#Fourth Dusk
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 3 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 7/12
==Skills==
Sense 12, Understand 12, Influence 10, Move 10
Taking Arts 12
Plain Mask
==Contacts==
Outlander (8)
Red Market (7)

>>5843111
#Abnegation
==Core==
Guard 12
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 2
Reaction 9 Focus 11/13
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Shatterhands 12
!One Against: All parry penalties are halved. You can retreat with a parry as well, +3 if so.
!Legwork: Harsh penalties in a grapple or when off balance, dangerous techniques, kicking has less consequences
!Serpent’s Precept: -2 to skill, roll damage twice or make it Piercing (which really hurts)
==Mask==
Plain
===Contacts===
The Red Markets - 7 - USED THIS OUTING
Animist Associate - 8

Hm. Abnegation's, err, abnegation had been mostly mental techniques and self-discipline so far. Detachment of identity, denial of wants and desires, giving up the material attachments of a lived life. Mothdream was used by the Banners for a somewhat similar practice. Abnegation didn't know their methods of self-denial, but the mind was not a linear pathway. Yes, this was an opportunity for a revelation.

>4 AP, 1 Focus: Scoop up a handful of Mothdream and ingest it in whatever way one does so. View the self from the outside. Seek a new perspective on its desires and its connections, to the world and to itself. This is A Good Idea™. (Understand 10 + 4)
>2 AP, 1 Focus: Carefully reach out with an outsider's hand to those connections, all those little anchors and pathways. Feel for the ones that do not belong, and tug them free. This is Also A Good Idea™. (Influence the other person named Abnegation 12 + 2)
>3 Agility: Move 555 through the haze of a clear mind.

Rolled 3, 6, 3, 6, 3, 5 = 26 (6d6)

>>5843730
Rolls please

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>>5843235
Ah, tricky.

> Technique Manual updated.

Rolled 6, 4, 1, 1, 1, 6 = 19 (6d6)

>>5843111
>3AP Grab the rat(chokehold or something) at 2, moving into his hex (vs 12)
>Drag him 444
>3AP Throw him at the slug rat 5

#The Circus
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Knot-tying 12
!Painpoints: Stun Dmg Base
!Jointlock: 2x Grapple effect
!Tie in a Knot: Grapple penalty as +hit on followup
==Mask==
Plain
==Contacts==
Red Markets-7

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>>5843603
I don't know what kind of crime this is, Fourth Dusk.

I just know it's some kind of crime

Take those leather mittens off. You're going to end up slugging it out street style if you don't, and I don't consider "slugging" a positive thing. No, stop putting your heads up in a perfectly boring guard position that adequately covers your frontals and leaves you in a good position to deliver a cold-right when someone's overexposed. Stop that. Stop that right now! It's so BORINGLY technical! It's all... effective! Do what Mock is about to do, do a triple somersault off of a ledge! Blindfolded! COME ON

>These gloves they... feel so sweaty yet... they fit so well...

>You've Stolen An Item!
>With something to hand, Taking Arts no longer *just* deals Disorient - spend +1Agility on your attacks to *use* the thing you've stolen as you do your stuff.

>In the case of the boxing gloves, it seems they deliver punches pretty well - they up your damage to 1d3 Stun on use and looks like they'd allow some pretty punchy improvisation

File: Razorwind 5-2.jpg (2.52 MB, 3760x3407)

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Rats can't fly - as Circus demonstrates by hacking one off of a roof. But these SLUGRATS are far worse than their peers, something in those cursed leather mittens and overbearing focus on competent footwork coupled with an unerring decision to always, always, always just STAND THERE AND GUARD means they simply just... don't... go down!

RIV body-checks two, but they square off, plant their feet and throw him aside! Amicus lands a blow on one, twice, and he grunts and curses and bears it. Woozy. In pain. Heavily compromised by wounds but somehow still up!

( Then 4th Dusk steals the mittens off of his hands and he sort of takes that as permission to begin keeling over sideways from shock )

--

Good handle Maskmates, that runner was shouting for their local boss. Maybe he's in a cafe nearby, enjoying some vintage wine or some-such, and he hasn't heard the ruckus. If we can KEEP THEM FROM RUNNING OFF like that, shooting and hollering, we have to deal with so much less of them in the long run!

--

Tier and Butcher tag-team a trio and then the shadows above ... darken...

okay fine Butcher that was pretty good but it's .. It's just punching, okay? It's not even stylish. There's nothing about that technically impressive right hook that was actually impressive.

Now you see Leone? He spin-kicked off of a building and unto someone's head then stepped off of it to to move further ! That's marvelous!

[ WORLD PHASE ]

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Abnegation experiences rapid onset ego death and oneness with the universe and a slackening of the slow constant need of their own desires, the endless small bombardments of the physical body's reliance on such trifles as heat and hunger and humidity to keep the humors in check.

Unrestrained, unchained, unbothered, unbound - is this what it's like to experience true freedom? Perhaps

but deny yourself too much, friend, and you'll find you've denied yourself right out of personal autonomy. That's a problem the Moths contend with. It's all good to be no one's slave and nothings plaything, but if you are just no thing at all... well... what are you then, exactly?

>Abnegation wanders a haze, fully aware of every little ping of their own autonomic nervous system but simultaneously able to ignore every insistent reflexive urge
>Abnegation enters TOTAL MANUAL CONTROL MODE

>Lose Agility, Lose Action, Lose Reaction (for now, they're just 0)
>Your Focus is 13 (was it lower? How lucky!)

>You have 13 Focus to spend each turn to ... exist. Move? That's 1 Focus. Act? That's 3 Focus. React? That's 3 Focus. Your Focus is now... all of your Agility and Action and Reaction.
>Remember to Breathe! That's ... important!

>This will hopefully wear off soon, because it's sort of a drag to remember, but simultaneously the ability to have precise control over every facet of your own existence... what a joy!

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Lagomorpheus blocks a door. Nothing else of nothing is sensed, perceived, noticed or sniffed out. Nothing of note at all.

Not one thing at all.

Nothing.


Well.

Okay maybe that was the slow soft slick of a knife being drawn from a sheath SOMEWHERE IN THIS VERY ROOM, but other than that...

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It's quiet in here. Somehow. . . too quiet.

then!! on the other side of a door!! A THUMP! A shout! a voice raised !! RATS! They flee away from the door, now that Lago has blocked it ! in the distant, a window crashes !!

[ WORLD PHASE ]

File: Razorwind 6-1.jpg (2.42 MB, 3760x3407)

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With shouts and hollers, the Rats pour from their warehouse. Blocking that door has forced them to seek alternative means of escaping the building, and look, they're out of breath and confused. Good thinking Lago. And now the building is empty too, so we'll face no more from the direction!

--

The slugs rats slug it out and I refuse to dignify their punching and grunting with florid descriptions, okay? It's just... it's just violence. There's no poetry here. Look, one of them clocks Fourth Dusk and Fourth Dusk reacts with a counter-block and takes a step back and that's that.

Amicus takes a ringsider ringer to helmet and shrugs it off!

Up top, Riv is subject to a fusillade of fierce fist-- no, no *said* no poetry. He gets punched. Okay? Riv gets punched. And it's a hard one too.

Mock jumps off of a ledge, eyes closed, back to the enemy, and performs the MOTHDIVER SUPREME, an elbow drop so dangerous we're not supposed to be as enthused with it as we are (but it does look *glorious*). Unfortunately his target is unconscious on the ground and he slams into the bricks instead of a resisting human, which hurts something fierce.

--

Riv! Mock!
You've been WOUNDED! You took damage in excess of your Health Resistance, and now the pain is coming for you, the bones are bruised, the skin is broken. this kind of stuff is *real* damage - note the X in your Health Circles. You take -1 to every skill you try when you're Wounded because of the sheer *pain*

( boxers can... grit their teeth with 1 AP and ignore all this )

If you take more Wounds, the pain gets worse - and eventually you have to roll to stay on your feet. That's what's knocking out all these RATS, they're taking severe punishment and dropping like flies.

You can take a major 3 ap action to *roll Focus* and *power through*. If you succeed, you can ignore some wound penalties until something sets them off again.

Medical attention is needed to fix your wounds. And that sort of thing simply never happens during a brawl. Sorry Maskmates, those wounds are here to stay, but at least you can power through the pain and they won't penalize you so much.

Some TYPES of wounds change things a little. But since nothing exciting happened, no one but that rat (we all know who) is down an arm. Yet.

Enough wounds... kill you. But you gotta suffer at least enough that it equals your base health score (which for most fierce maskmates is 12), so you've got some ways to go before you'll join the Quiet Choir.

You'll likely tap out long, long before something sends you off to the final place for fierce fighters.

--

While we're on the harrowing subject, that display Klaunn made with the ... bones... of the.. arm... - it made the nearby Rats shudder in FEAR and TERROR - that's the **BLACK** X on their HUD. TERROR, much like Wounds, add -1 to everything someone does. You can see why it's useful to inflict it

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Speaking of tapping out. Waxworm was overcome by his wounds - he's mewling on the ground, after the seizure and the fire. Butcher is right by him. Butcher, you can Tap Him In. The immortal gesture of help-me-out-here is slapping your hands on their hands.

See, Waxworm? He's not dead, but he's going to feel this in the morning.

You can get DOWNED ALLIES *back on their feet* with an action as well, which will get them going.

It doesn't take a roll, you just shake them a little and tell them to refocus. Tap them in.

Unfortunately, those same allies are going to start their turn immediately *but* with AP lost to the wounds. So we can see that Waxworm can rejoin us in the land of the conscious if someone gets him to his feet, but he'd be down 2 AP because he has 2 wounds. And then he'd take -2 to everything on account of the pain.

This - and in many other places - is where FOCUS shines. Because you can spend Focus to get +hit. So you can also see how you can easily spend it to blow right through human limits of pain, endurance and torture. If you get an adrenaline high going - knocking down foes, recovering Focus, spending it to keep going - you can bust heads till we run out of heads.

... and then your pain and problems will catch up to you. But that's FUTURE YOUS problem!

( Also a reminder that spending Focus doesn't deplete your actual Focus attribute, okay, you just have that amount of Focus to spend. Call them Focus Points if it helps )

... oh one last thing.

Some foes can tap in fallen friends of theirs. You'll know who.

And if you try to Tap In a downed ally *right* besides an active enemy, they might opt immediately to take a swing at you. People "protect" their reach against someone spending 50% of their turn getting someone else back on their feet. High-diving into a hostile formation *just* to get someone back up?

Yeah you can do it, Maskhero, but it's dangerous business. Same for you, if you stand guard over a downed gaggle of goons.

NOW TAKE A TURN!

Rolled 6, 4, 2, 1, 5, 5 = 23 (6d6)

>>5843913
"Pssst, interested in learning some high-falutin' acrobatics?"
>3AP+2Agi Grab slug rat 3 (vs 12, +2 Agility)
>3AP+1Agi Throw the slug rat into the slug rat at 4 (vs 12, +1 Agility)

#The Circus
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Knot-tying 12
!Painpoints: Stun Dmg Base
!Jointlock: 2x Grapple effect
!Tie in a Knot: Grapple penalty as +hit on followup
==Mask==
Plain
==Contacts==
Red Markets-7

Rolled 3, 2, 4 = 9 (3d6)

>>5843915
>3AP: improvise to combine grappling and looting by means of picking the Rat up by his feet and shaking him violently until he's out of consciousness and pocket contents
>3AP: drop him off the roof
>3Ag: move 555
>Block
>Knuckledance + Agg

#Klaunn
==Core==
Guard 13
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
Health 2 Psyche 2 Grit 3
Reaction 9 Focus 10/12
==Skills==
Sense 10, Understand 10, Influence 12, Move 12
==Style==
Brawling 14
==Mask==
Red Droplet (+Violence)
==Contact==
Vanadian Trade Correspondent

Rolled 6, 6, 6, 6, 3, 5, 6, 5, 2 = 45 (9d6)

>>5843913
#Riv
==Core==
Guard 10+2
AP 6 Agility 3 RP 1
-Status: All well
-Status: Alive
==Array=
[Health 2] :: [Psyche 2] :: [Grit 2]
[Reaction 10] :: [Focus 12]
==Skills==
[Sense 12] :: [Understand 10] :: [Influence 10] :: [Move 12]
==Style==
[Brawling 14]
==Mask==
[Plain]
==Contacts==
Legion Quartermaster Contact - 8

> (1AGI) Move [3]x1
> (3AP) Throw a feint haymaker at the Slugrat at [4]. (Brawling14 - Wound1).
> (0AP) Knuckdancer: +1 Cunning
> (3AP) Feint a mid-kick towards the slugrat at [3] (Brawling14 - Wound1).
> (0AP) Knuckdancer: +1 Cunning
> (1 AGI) Leap [5]x1
> (3FOC) Feint rushing jab to the ribs against the Slugrat at [3]. (Brawling14 - Wound1).
> (0AP) Knuckdancer: +1 Cunning
> (1AGI) Backstep [6]x1
> (1RP) Prepare a dodge.