>>490499
Yes. Of death, not being able to protect Nessie, and of failure.

We don't want to die like a dog abandoned in some ditch.
In the regular line of duty's fine.
In the bed from a heart attack is fine.
A crash is fine.
Even stabbed in the back is fine.

When your just waiting for it in a fucking box? Fucking not fine.

Well if death comes for to everone at some point then I don't see a reasion to rush toward it. One shouldn't fear death but only a fool inbraces it, that being said is there a way our out.

Brom 2013/02/05(Tue)22:47 No. 490776 ID: c00388
File 136013323750.png - (247.17KB , 800x600 , 2.png )

"Yeah." A low, lizard shiver goes down Oren's spine. "I'm scared of failure, and of what's going to happen to Nessie, and I'm real scared of dying down here, Grandpa. I don't want to go waiting in some tiny dark sinkhole. Let some con axe me or a car smash me or a heart attack get me, preferably."
"'Swhat got me." Grandpa chuckles. "Well those ain't quite like being afraid of spiders, Oren. It's worth being scared for yourself and for the folks you love. It just means you got your priorities straight."
"That make me a man?"
"Shoot, Oren, you always was," says Grandpa. "If the only way to achieve masculinity is dropping down a big ol sewer hole I'm buyin a tutu."

Oren
"You say something?" asks Grandpa.
"I think it's the Undertaker."
"The Underwho?"

The hazy outline of the Undertaker takes form and detaches itself from the gathering twilight.
Oren, Spirits. You're so hidden away I could barely find you and I'm inside your head. What are we going to do?
"Wake up in a few and try to get out of here, 'smy vote." Grandpa rummages in his bag. "Peanut?"
No, thank you. Shit, Oren, we're in trouble.
"I know."
What can someone with no tangible body do? Is there anyone I can go to for help?

>>490776
Not a lot of people we know that could hear him. Wait, don't we have a recently-reincarnated thaumaturge friend? We could send the Undertaker to him and disclose our location.

Brom 2013/02/06(Wed)01:12 No. 490792 ID: c00388
File 136014192480.png - (111.62KB , 800x600 , 3.png )

"Get to Allen," says Oren. "Allen Arbock. Maybe he'll hear you. He's a mage."
He's a thaumaturge, they don't deal in dreams. We'd need an illusionist or-
"I don't know," snaps Oren. "I can't think of anything else for you to do.

Sorry, Undertaker."
Don't worry about me. Worry about you. I'll be back, Oren.
"Hope I'll still be around."
I WILL be back.

"Strange friends you make there, Oren." Grandpa stands up and stretches his leg out.
"Undertaker's a weird fella, but he's always meant well," says Oren. "I don't know how much help he can be."
"The best person to help you out of this mess is you, Oren." Grandpa helps Oren to his feet. "I wish I'd known you, boy. You've grown up well. Maybe well enough to get out of this."
"I'm still scared."
"Everything has to end, Oren." Grandpa puts his hand on Oren's shoulder. "And one way or the other, it's all going to end tonight.

"Wake up, boy."

Brom 2013/02/06(Wed)01:22 No. 490793 ID: c00388
File 136014255014.png - (278.66KB , 800x600 , 4.png )

Oren wakes up from his first sleep in 30 or so hours as a half-mired chunk of wood pushes up against his leg.

It's wet and disgusting and the only door in is barred and locked.
Oren is cold and achingly hungry. His throat is dry. He hasn't dared drink any of the water. It smells like death.

His eyes have vaguely adjusted to the darkness by now. All there is to see is the cylindrical hole he's been dumped in. There is one door and down below the water Oren can feel some kind of current at his feet. The water's draining somewhere.

A rat sits on the ledge next to him, nibbling at something. He's been listening to it scamper around for a long time.

>>490793
You forgot about Dio, bro.

>>490795
Excuse me, Dahlia. And Orpheus.

You could try eating the rat.

Or talking to it.

Neither is going to do much good, and I don't think dropping below and trying to swim through the drain will help overmuch.

I bet the wood of that door isn't in great condition after being out in this dark, humid atmosphere for years.

Brom 2013/02/06(Wed)23:32 No. 491053 ID: c00388
File 136022236340.png - (176.64KB , 800x600 , 5.png )

>>490797
"Morning, rat," says Oren. It chitters and rubs one ear. "Or evening, maybe. I don't know."

>>490857
The door itself is rotten and softening, especially along the bottom, but the iron bars holding it in place are another story. Oren slogs over to the door anyway and gives it a solid, jarring kick. The rat squeaks and scurries away as Oren slams the door again and again, making an involuntary, guttural grunt as he does so.
It feels good to hit something, at least.

Oren's efforts are rewarded with one stubby iron bar coming loose from the upper area of the doorway. He sees that where it was a chunk of the door has long since splintered away. It's still in the ground somehow, but Oren can't see through the godawful water.
None of the other bars budge.

Oren's stomach loudly protests. He feels woozy.

>>491053
Grab that bar and wiggle it.

Brom 2013/02/07(Thu)00:04 No. 491058 ID: c00388
File 136022424439.png - (197.26KB , 800x600 , 6.png )

>>491055
Oren grabs the bar and wiggles it. He feels it grinding and scraping against the ground and gives its base a couple solid kicks. "Come on, you piece of shit," he whispers through his cracked lips. "Come on."

He pushes all his weight on the bar, and it finally breaks free of the door.

Oren now possesses an old iron bar about six feet in length.

Get a closer look at whether there might be enough space between the remaining bars to fit through. The wooden door would still be in the way behind them, but that won't be such a big problem with its water damage and our new bludgeon.

>>491058
More like badass blunt weapon! Begin stabbing the shit out of the door with it, with the goal of clearing out and squeezing through the gap left by the bar.

>>491058
If the door can't seem to be broken, try poking the ground with it around where the current is. Get a better idea of what's down there without putting your hands in sewage.

Brom 2013/02/07(Thu)00:56 No. 491070 ID: c00388
File 136022737144.png - (176.18KB , 800x600 , 7.png )

After a few tries with his new weapon yield nothing but shallow, wet dents in the door's surface, Oren probes around the bottom of the doorway with the tip of the bar. There's about a 3 inch gap between the door and the ground, and the water is steadily flowing out the cracks. Beyond the door Oren can hear it speeding up into a faint roar.

Above that and with a jolt Oren hears voices, and splashing footsteps approaching the door.

The bar may have a good heft to it, but if any of those guys have crossbows and he tries something that ain't going to be enough. If there's anything he wants to do before they show up he'd best do it quick.

>>491070
You could try jamming the bar under the door and using it like a crowbar. If we get out before they get here, and there's another direction we can run, we could escape.

...we could also try looking for where the rat came in. Maybe one of the walls is weak, and would be easier to knock through than the door.

Brom 2013/02/08(Fri)00:18 No. 491333 ID: 551cf1
File 136031152436.png - (295.39KB , 800x600 , 8.png )

Oren desperately jams the bar under the crack in the door and tries using it like a crowbar. His arms submerge in the filthy water and come out leaden with murk.

This gets some results. The door begins to slide upward into the ceiling, although the effort makes Oren's hands burn and chafe against the rusty bar.
He barely has any time to move it, however, before a heavy rumble starts and the door starts to rise on its own. Oren stumbles back and hides the bar half below the surface as the water begins to run quick and threatening below his feet.
Above the rising rush Oren hears someone say, "Hey, Sheriff. We found you a buddy."

A bloody, tattered figure is pushed into the room, stumbling against the current. Ferdinand Blejwas' bloody, swollen face looks up at Oren's.

"Spirits. Oren Fuckin' Loper."

>>491333
THE FUCK?!

Tell him you thought he might've been behind this. Now that we know he isn't I think it is time to get MORE worried about our survival. I mean, this means that the criminals took over the city, basically?

I can't think of a reason for this to be a trick. There's nothing Blejwas could possibly want from you other than your death.

>>491333
Ask your ol' pal Blejwas what the hell he's doing here.

I would say to ask whether his criminal friends finally got tired of him, but this really isn't the time to pick a fight. Instead just say something like >>491335

Brom 2013/02/10(Sun)20:44 No. 491957 ID: 551cf1
File 136055786955.png - (310.18KB , 800x600 , 9.png )

"Blejwas?" Oren nearly fumbles his new weapon. "I thought you were behind this."

"Do I look like I was behind this?" Blejwas sloshes forward.

"You boys got some catching up to do, apparently," calls someone from the next room. "We'll be back here and y'all can just go ahead and sort your troubles out 'till there's just one of you." A small chorus of laughter.

Blejwas starts slowly circling around Oren. The current is increasingly treacherous. If Oren stumbles now he'll be pulled off his feet.

As he moves closer, Blejwas whispers over the rushing water: "You got a plan, Loper?"

>>491957
"We can get out of here. If you show me I can trust you not to stab me in the back."

>>491957
How many are in the next room? How many crossbows? We could use Blejwas as a shield, or just have him rush first. ...no, maybe not. We wouldn't be able to get within range of the crossbow guy fast enough. Worth noting is that if the current is strong here in this wide room, it's stronger in the narrow corridor. ...is that a corridor? Circle around a bit to get a better look at things.

Maybe we should participate in a mock fight off to the side to lure the guy with the crossbow closer (because he wants to see and the doorframe blocks his view), then smack him with the pole to either knock him off his feet or make him drop the crossbow. Once we have the crossbow we can stage a counter-offensive or at least get them to close the door again.

If we can get them to close the door and run off, we can pry it back open and escape while they're gone.

Another option is to refuse to fight Blejwas. They will likely just lock us in in response and we can execute plan prybar.

Hmmm. I'm leaning towards refusing to fight him. In this current, we're sure to stumble and reveal the pole in a mock fight before we can hide it under the water or around the side of the door.

Brom 2013/02/11(Mon)00:09 No. 491984 ID: 551cf1
File 136057017533.png - (324.87KB , 800x600 , 10.png )

"We can get out of here," whispers Oren, "as soon as I can trust you not to stab me in the back."
"We can have this conversation later, sheriff," hisses Blejwas. "I need your help to get out of this and you sure as shit need mine."

They continue circling, the current whipping Oren's trenchcoat.

He looks into the hallway beyond. Out there it's nearly waist deep as the water rushes past the guards. Two of them Oren can see, maybe more in the dark past them. He can't see where the hallway leads but the water echoes up to a boom along its length, and the dark seems cavernous.

>>491984
Yes, let's cooperate.

Not sure which plan to take at the moment, still.

Lest do this! Hold the bar sideways and Charge Blejwas possibly shouting something about bashing his head in.
Then start pushing him towards the crossbow guard, when you are close enough whisper to Blejwas to fall backwards and swing over him trying to hit the crossbow in the guys hand.

>>491992
Better, let's have Blejwas shove us into the guard so we can whip around and smash him over the head with our weapon.

the guards still haven't seen our weapon. lets not spoil that surprise by even pretending to go after Blewjas with it.

Ask him how many are out there. If the water is treacherous in here, its got to be awful out there. Not gonna take much to knock them over in the corridor. Probably why they have crossbows. We need a crossbow. And something big, preferably body sized, rushing down that corridor under the water knocking their legs out from under them.

Brom 2013/02/11(Mon)12:11 No. 492033 ID: 551cf1
File 136061350582.png - (296.24KB , 800x600 , 11.png )

"Arright, Blejwas." Oren shifts his footing carefully. "Follow my lead and when we get to the crossbowman you duck for cover."
"Follow your what?" asks Blejwas, but Oren is already bullrushing him toward the door. His squawk of surprise is genuine. The dark, puissant flow whips them toward the crossbowman.

"So which one you betting on?" he's asking his friend. "I say Loper, he's one tough

Brom 2013/02/11(Mon)12:14 No. 492034 ID: 551cf1
File 136061365354.png - (261.78KB , 800x600 , 12.png )

faaaaghgh"

Oren's bar slams into the crossbowman's head. He topples instantly as Blejwas slams into him and both men lose their footing. They start careening down the hallway, as does the crossbow the guy dropped. Down the corridor Oren hears a commotion start up.

Try to get the crossbow if it is nearby, then get the unconscious guy as a meat shield if you can carry his weight.
(It is sure a good thing that crossbows shoot bolts instead of tiny metal lumps known for going straight through corpses, isn't it?)

>>492037
Arrows penetrate far better than you think.
Also, bullets are designed to lose as much energy as possible inside the target. If a bullet overpenetrates it means you were probably using the wrong bullet for the job.

Drag the body out of sight while the conscious jerk grabs the weapon. See if you can set-up an ambush.

>>492034
Tell Blejwas to get the crossbow, and try to grab him to pull him back on his feet after he gets it.

There should be another guard nearby so be ready to bash faces.

Get Blejwas up on his feet first, make sure crossbow guy is down, then deal with his buddy.

Brom 2013/02/11(Mon)23:21 No. 492166 ID: 551cf1
File 136065366338.png - (182.09KB , 800x600 , 13.png )

"Crossbow!" Oren yells. "Blejwas! Crossbow!"

Blejwas thrashes toward it but its previous owner has fallen on top of him. He struggles. "I can't-"

"Fucking hell," says Oren as the red shirted guy charges him against the current with a cleaver. He sprints to the crossbow and pulls it up and out of the water.

Red locks eyes with the business end of the crossbow. He has enough time to yelp "Don't-" before the bolt thunks into his gut. He drops the cleaver and stares with an expression of glassy incomprehension at the expanding stain of blood flowering onto his shirt.

Blejwas is blasted further down the hallway by the collapsing thug and the water flow. He shoots right past a bowman who has come running to investigate. Oren can hear his loud, concussive expletives receding down the tunnel.

>>492166
Keep moving! Follow Blejwas. Also, I'll note that the crossbow has no bolts, they're with the unconscious guy being swept away with Blejwas. Available weapons are the sword or the 6-foot pole, and your fists. Or you could use the crossbow as a bludgeon. Use whatever is the easiest weapon to obtain, and use it to knock down/out the bowman.

>>492166
You gotta take care of the bowman. Try to knock him on the head with the 6 foot pole, that way you won't have to get as close before you can hit him. He might try to shoot you, so do it quick! And if you can, try to catch his body so you can take his weaponry.

And keep an eye on red while you do so. Even though he dropped his weapon there's no telling how he'll react. Hopefully he'll just fall down and won't cause a problem.

Oh yeah, we might even be able to use the swordsman for cover, or knock down the swordsman to sweep the bowman off his feet. There are a lot of options here.

Brom 2013/02/12(Tue)22:37 No. 492412 ID: 6d54c3
File 136073747730.png - (393.22KB , 800x600 , 14.png )

Oren grabs Red in a bearhug and charges forward at the archer, who strains to find a shot past his wounded comrade.

But by the time Oren drops Red it's too late, and he connects with a reverberating thwack directly into Yellow's gut.
He grunts with surprise and pain as the wind is knocked clean out of him.

Behind Oren Red is going "aw shit aw shit aw shit" as he grows increasingly gore-spattered.

Oren can no longer hear Blejwas over the roaring water.

>>492412
Take his weapon, and ammo. Kick him away, shoot him in the face(or just watch him get carried away by the current), then we'll be in business. Or, wait. Just stab him with an arrow, that will save time.

Don't stop moving forwards. We gotta catch up with our temporary ally and maybe save him from getting swept over a drop or something.

>>492412
Tell Red to stop fucking moving if he wants his insides intact. We'll send a fucking ambulance when we can. If "Blehwas" doesn't get in the way.

Brom 2013/02/17(Sun)17:12 No. 493920 ID: a2d9b1
File 136114992165.png - (220.13KB , 800x600 , 15.png )

Oren pulls the arrow out of Yellow's hands and stabs him in the gut with it. Warm blood pulses onto his hand. He feels Yellow's wrist go limp and grabs the bow before it hits the water.

He grabs Yellow's quiver before sprinting onward.
It has three arrows inside.

Brom 2013/02/17(Sun)17:12 No. 493921 ID: a2d9b1
File 136114992889.png - (254.11KB , 800x600 , 16.png )

"Blejwas?" Oren splashes desperately down the tunnel. "Blejwas! Hey!"

He comes to the forking end of the tunnel and finds Blejwas pinned beneath Red against a low ledge. He's splashing, but with a feebleness that suggests his lungs are filling with water.

Oren feels the adrenaline of his sudden and violent escape pushing against the back of his eyes.

If he just stands here, and doesn't do anything at all, and doesn't even do anything wrong, not really, Ferdinand Blejwas will drown.

>>493921
Being able to easily save someone and choosing not to is the same as murder, Oren. This man should go to jail. Heck, all the people you just inflicted various lethal wounds on should go to jail, but you didn't have much choice in the matter with them. Here, you have a choice. He wants to cooperate with you to escape. Plus, he'll owe you for this.

Kick Red off him and pull him out of the water.

He was willing to kill people he didn't like without bothering with due process. Are you?

Your enemies want him dead. Do you want them to win?

>>493928
Also: Do you want to spend the rest of your life wondering if he really deserved it?

I don't care about the fact that the lack of assistance is considered murder in this case, making you sink as low as him (heh pun).
I don't care that saving him is the right fucking thing to do.
I don't care if it would make you fall.

All I care about is fucking over Joseph. Save him. We need to know more anyway and I'm sure he has decent connections in the city to get up to speed. Who knows, he may be grateful. He's a son of a bitch corrupt cop, but even I'm not sure how low the man really is.

Even aside from the issue of whether you would be able to live with offing him in the long run, letting him live has more tactical pros than cons. He has information we need, and I don't think he is crazy enough to attack us when our common enemies are in such a strong position.

>>493940

I also don't think he's stupid enough to try and attack Oren, after all, Oren just killed / wounded several people in mere moments and Blejwas isn't strong enough to get one off of him and not drown.

Save him.

You let him die, and you'll be just like him. That is what he does, he takes the easy and violent solution and doesn't worry about the morality or consequences of it.

Save him, but remember that you can NOT trust him. You cannot turn your back on him for even a second.

Brom 2013/02/19(Tue)00:27 No. 494407 ID: a2d9b1
File 136126243955.png - (342.80KB , 800x600 , 17.png )

Oren shakes his head violently and pushes the comatose Red off Blejwas.

"Come on, boy. Up you come." He pulls Blejwas roughly up onto the ledge.
As Blejwas hacks and coughs and shakes, gagging black, unspeakable water, Oren sits himself down next to him and puts his head in his hands. He breathes for the first time in what feels like five minutes.

Oren hasn't ever fought so quick and so savege. He has no compunctions about killing those men and no fears that what he did was wrong, but his hands are shaking. He takes a moment to clear his head. Blejwas shivers and convulses next to him, thoroughly unhappy but very much alive.

Brom 2013/02/19(Tue)00:37 No. 494410 ID: a2d9b1
File 136126306727.png - (193.65KB , 800x600 , 18.png )

Miles away but not too many, Deputy Nessie Squires flexes her fingers against the jagged hunk of ceramic mug she cracked off the meal these people gave her and tries to psych herself up to kill the guard.

He's not making it particularly hard.

"I said I gotta pee," she says.
"And I said you do it in your cell," says the guard. "Fucking, if you're worried about me looking just go in the corner I can't see."
"What, like a friggin dog?"
"Well you're being a fucking bitch right now, so yes, like a friggin dog." The guard raps against the locked door. "Don't make me come in there."
"You wouldn't dare," she hisses, and he probably wouldn't, is the problem. A few hours ago some big furlesian put his paw on her chest and she bit a thumb sized chunk of his ear off. They haven't entered the room since, only given her crusts and mugs of brackish water through the slot in the door.

>>494410
So what happened to Vesta?

Threaten to piss right at the door so it leaks out if he doesn't at least escort you to an unused cell or something.

Start scraping the mug remains against the wall, maybe it will create strange enough sound for the guard to come investigate.
If he asks what the hell are you doing just stay quiet.

Brom 2013/02/23(Sat)23:34 No. 495624 ID: a2d9b1
File 136169126717.png - (222.77KB , 800x600 , 19.png )

"I will pee on this door," says Nessie.

No response.

She starts scraping her makeshift shiv against the wall.

"What was that?" says the guard. Nessie quickly pockets the mug chunk as the door clicks unlocked and opens. She backs away as the guard enters.

Vesta darts into the room behind him, with a mean-looking blackjack in her hand. She puts a finger to her lips.

"The fuck is going on in here?" says the guard.

>>495624
Oh, so that's what happened to Vesta.

Be stubborn and evasive. Say that you didn't hear anything. Getting him to search you is a good distraction, just try not to provoke him into injuring you.

>>495625
Seems like a good plan. Ask what he is asking about.

"Peeing on this door, what do you think?"

Brom 2013/02/24(Sun)20:15 No. 495835 ID: a2d9b1
File 136176572437.png - (261.52KB , 800x600 , 20.png )

"I've been peeing on the door, what do you think?" says Nessie.
"What was that sound?" asks the guard.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," says Nessie.
"That's it, bitch," says the guard. "Take off that coat and turn out your pockets. I'm going to ahhhgnhh"

"Hello, Ms. Squires," says Vesta, shaking her arm out. "Let's blow this popsicle stand."
"Vesta!" Nessie steps gingerly back from the comatose guard. "Did you find Oren?"
"Not yet." Vesta wipes her blackjack. "I found you first in the old processing plant."
"That explains why everything smells like fish."
"And I figured springing you out, we could both find him." Vesta catches sight of Nessie's impromptu weapon. "Impressive poker there. Are we going fully lethal? Because I could go grab my crossbow if we are."
"Would you have a problem with that?"
"Not at all. Elvin was pronounced dead five hours ago."

Grab his sword to replace your dinky shard.

I would like to go nonlethal if it's feasible. Our situation isn't bad enough that we'd want to kill every motherfucker on the way out- if Vesta managed to get in without much issue then we should be able to get out, right? No hesitation if a nonlethal takedown isn't doable though.

I wonder where your breastplate is at.

Actually, first. Give condolences for her loss. It shouldn't have gone down that way.

Brom 2013/02/25(Mon)20:51 No. 496163 ID: 57319f
File 136185430732.png - (235.61KB , 800x600 , 21.png )

"I'm sorry, Vesta," says Nessie, as she pries the sword from the guard's hand. "It shouldn't have gone down like that."

"Wasn't your fault." Vesta beckons Nessie out the door and around the corner, where her crossbow is propped against a wall. "They could have saved him if he hadn't been left in the dust a couple hours first. I won't pretend he was a good man, but no one should go like that. Now then." She picks up her mean little repeater and racks a bolt. "There's about a half dozen men between us and freedom. Most of them are in the next room. Now I took a vent in, but I'm, uh, small. Not to put you down or anything."
"Hey, don't worry about it."
"You have a very nice figure."
"Thanks."
"Oren's a lucky man."
"Put-ups after we get out of the den of psychos, sweetie."
"Right. So we can try the vents again, but those go right past a few populated rooms and if we make too much noise we'll be in a pretty terrible position to fight back. What do you think?"

>>496163
I say we fight. We're well armed enough to stand a chance so long as we take out the most dangerous ones first, and the more men we take out, the less who will come chasing us after they learn we've escaped.

Half a dozen against you two? Not to knock your combat skills, but Vesta won't be any good unless she can really let loose quickly and accurately with that crossbow. And trying to fight off 3 attackers at once in a melee fight is near-impossible. I say we try to go through the vents.

>>496180
She said most, so 4 probably. Take out one immediately with a crossbow bolt and it's 3 left, and we can probably take out a second one quick since it's a repeater.

The situation can be especially favorable or not, depending on the terrain. Tables and whatnot.

Brom 2013/02/26(Tue)21:08 No. 496479 ID: cf5290
File 136194168231.png - (68.78KB , 800x600 , 22.png )

Nessie busts the door open and charges. Without a shield a quick closing of the distance is all she has.

There's about 15 feet between the door and a pool table, around which are 4 stunned guards. One's got a big old tankard of booze in his hand and a sword on his hip. He says, "Wh".
One's sitting at the table with a spear propped up next to him. The two guys in back are not visibly armed, but there's an unloaded crossbow sitting on the pool table.

Vesta has a split second to line up a shot on one before Nessie gets in the way and they start moving; the ones in front will be easier to hit.

Shoot the one with the spear. If the crossbow's unloaded, it will be useless in a fight this close.

>>496479
Uh

Well okay, this is kindof a bad situation. I think Vesta should just unload on the group of 3, firing as fast as possible since even if she misses one guy she'll probably hit someone else.

Nessie should of course get out of her way and dash towards the weapons, maybe slash that brown guy.

I don't think we can do a lot about the crossbow JUST YET, but it's unloaded so whoever picks it up will have to waste time loading it. At that point we might be close enough to flip the table and use it as cover or something.

Brom 2013/02/26(Tue)23:17 No. 496497 ID: cf5290
File 136194944383.png - (276.96KB , 800x600 , 23.png )

Vesta shoots the spearman in the chest as he rises. He stumbles backward with a shocked grunt.

She works the lever on her crossbow with the steely precision of a professional and fires several more bolts off at the men on the other side of the table.
One of the men kicks a smaller table over to use as cover while a guy in a stupid looking trenchcoat goes for the crossbow. The swordsman is cowed back a step as a bolt whinges by his face. He looks torn between charging Nessie down and ducking for cover.

Vesta has 3 bolts left in the crossbow.

>>496497
Nessie, grab the big table and flip it over onto the guy who got shot. That'll make the crossbow on the table quite unreachable for the remaining combatants. Or just kick the underside to effectively kick the guy's arm, depending on how light it looks. Don't take your eye off the guy with the sword, he's a high threat now. If trenchcoat grabs the crossbow, we'll want to deal with that threat soon.

Vesta should probably take careful aim and shoot the only armed thug.

>>496497
vesta, save your ammo. shoot trenchcoat guy if he becomes crossbow guy, but other than that just shout at them to drop their weapons. Bessie can deal with one swordsman and an unarmed coward.

Bessie, see if you can flip the table, either side - either to give you cover from the crossbow or to make it unreachable. of course don't try it if it'll leave an opening with swordsguy or if it looks too heavy. stay out of vesta's line of fire and try to take out swords guy, otherwise

Brom 2013/02/27(Wed)23:40 No. 496752 ID: cf5290
File 136203721098.png - (221.73KB , 800x600 , 24.png )

Nessie flips the table over.
It's heavy but she doesn't care. The corner bites into her arm and she registers the pain of slamming it sideways and doesn't care about that either.
Cards fly everywhere. The spearman screams. He's pinned to the floor.

The man who was going for the crossbow shrinks back as the swordsman jumps from the bang as the wooden table lands heavily on his wounded friend.

"Drop the weapons!" yells Vesta. "Hands up! Drop them!"

The swordsman ignores her.

Killing off that swordsman is definitely the top priority now (whether by shooting or swording). After he is done that should be the last of the armed and uninjured guards, though they might still have knives hidden with them or something.

>>496752
Welp, we can expect reinforcements shortly. Just made a lot of noise.

Hmm. The swordsman seems to be carrying something in his off hand. Be wary of that.

...hmm. Attack trenchcoat guy, and use him as a human shield to fight the swordsman.

>>496752
kill him, Bessie. kill the swordsman. Vesta, keep an eye on the other two and for reinforcements, Bessie can deal with the one guy.

>>496759
...
Bessie?

>>496817
I think that might be an ethnic slur about her Guernsey cow coloration

Brom 2013/03/01(Fri)01:20 No. 497005 ID: a00bdb
File 136212964875.png - (441.23KB , 800x600 , 25.png )

Nessie has always liked her skin, and now is not the time to worry about it.

She dodges a swat from the scabbard in the swordsman's off hand and cuts his throat open.

Brom 2013/03/01(Fri)01:35 No. 497006 ID: a00bdb
File 136213053019.png - (141.67KB , 800x600 , 26.png )

As Vesta takes down the retreating man in the trenchcoat, the guy from behind the table comes up with a compact hand crossbow and shoots Nessie in the back left shoulder.

Nessie, get behind the table, turning it to face him. If you're still able to fight, start shoving it towards him to close distance safely.

Vesta, you've still got two bolts. You know what to do.

>>497006
Ow, fuck. If you're HARD enough, just turn around and glare at the fucker before getting over there to kick his shit in. I can't imagine that thing is quick to reload, since it's not cranked. Might only have one shot for it anyway.

>>497006
OH SHI-
Undertaker: tell Oren Nessie's been shot and how to get to her.

Brom 2013/03/06(Wed)01:27 No. 498231 ID: 975f80
File 136256202119.png - (356.75KB , 800x600 , 27.png )

Vesta slots the man in the forehead, killing him instantly.

Brom 2013/03/06(Wed)01:28 No. 498232 ID: 975f80
File 136256212017.png - (95.66KB , 800x600 , 28.png )

His little parting gift, however, has hurt Nessie pretty badly. She feels blood dripping down her arm and into her armpit.

This is the first time she's been shot. It ain't fantastic.

Alright, that's four men down. About a half dozen in here, right? So there's 2 or 3 men in the next room. Unfortunately now we don't have the element of surprise, and Vesta has one bolt left. She should probably see if she can get an ammo refill from whoever owned that crossbow, and you should uh...

You'll want to do something about that wound, as leaving the bolt in and moving around a lot will hurt you a lot worse. We don't have a whole lot of time though so... pull it out. It's a small bolt, right? The wound should close up on its own. You'll want to get a bandage on it after you've handled the last of these fucks though.

Get to the door and ambush the next fucker to come through. Maybe you can use the small table as a shield.

>>498236
NO! no pulling out bolts!
there's a huge artery near the armpit, if the arrow is pressing on it or even landed near it, when you pull it out you can kill her!

don't even break it off! wrap some cloth tightly around the bolt to keep it stable and to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. i know it'll be hard but try not to let the bolt move too much.

Is the bolt a bodkin tip? Check the dead guy's ammo reserves and see if it is. If it's a broadhead or barbed don't pull it out, but if it's just a bodkin get something to staunch the bleeding and plug the wound up when you pull it out. If it's just a straight tip it won't tear anything on the way out, so you should be fine pulling it out.

>>498304
I think, even if it is a bodkin, we ought to leave that bolt in there.

>>498319
If we don't remove it and try to fight, we'll just end up hurting ourselves even more than if we'd removed it. We can't expect Vesta to fight the remaining guards alone. Once we get out of here, we can find medical help, but we need to focus on escape right now.

You snap the shaft short to prevent or minimize it getting in the way and movement making the injury worse, bind to prevent or limit bleeding, and don't attempt to remove the arrowhead for fear of doing further injury. Classic battlefield medicine- proper extraction of the arrowhead and cleaning and closing of wound happens later. If you live.

If there's time, ask if Vesta has any experience treating wounds like that. There isn't much Nessie can do herself with the bolt at that angle that won't make things worse. If there isn't time, don't let any of the remaining goons see that injury. Keep them on their toes and away from Vesta.

>>498232
look at the bright side, nessie. you're still standing and the air wasn't knocked out of you. that means it's a tiny crossbow and didn't pack much punch. a normal crossbow would have gone through the bone and fucked your arm up for a few months of recovery.

>>498232
bessie, try hard to not freak out about there being a peice of wood with a metal tip inside your shoulder. there are more people coming, bessie, you can't afford to get freaked out right now over the fact that had the bolt hit you a little to the right you would have been left dead or paralyzed. or about the fact that the bolt might have clipped a tendon or a cluster of nerves and that you might not get full functionality from your arm ever again and that you can't possably know if it did long lasting harm right now. you can't allow yourself to freak out over the fact that you might never be able to use a shield again. would you be able to stay a deputy without your shield arm? would oren still love you if you can't fight?

Brom 2013/03/13(Wed)23:27 No. 499924 ID: 8c2b1a
File 136324245888.png - (262.85KB , 800x600 , 29.png )

"Oh, Spirits." Vesta runs over to Nessie, who leans against the overturned table with her intact shoulder. "Are you all right?"

"Not exactly," says Nessie. "I got shot."
"I can tell," says Vesta.
"Can you, uh, pull it out?"
"No. Very bad idea. I'm gonna break the shaft off and wrap it up to keep the bleeding down but we need to get you to a hospital if we want to get that arrowhead out of you safely."
"Do we have time for that?" asks Nessie as Vesta hurries over to the dead man pinned beneath the poker table.
"You're no good to Oren or anyone else bled out," says Vesta, returning with shredded cloth from the man's shirt. "Hold still."
"Are you good at field medicine?"
"I'm no MD or Elvin might be in the emergency room instead of the morgue." Vesta starts wrapping Nessie's shoulder. "But I can do this for you, at least. How's it feeling?"
"Bad."
"No surprises there. Ignore the blood, by the way. Most of it is the late Mr. Goon's."
"That's something."

The door beyond, Vesta tells her, is a processing room. She didn't see the two remaining guards in there when she was crawling in but if any migrated in there they almost certainly heard that boom and are waiting for them. "If you're not feeling up to fight I can try to take them on myself, but with that shoulder going through the vents now is absolutely out of the question."

You can fight. Your sword arm didn't get injured.

Take stock of our resources here. Any spare bolts?

By the time you'll be done fighting is when your a punk rocker at a concert, probably getting carried by the crowd.

Motherfucker, let's roll. Every arrow in our flesh is five stabs in theirs! Or five pairs of cuffs on their hands, we are police after all.

>>499924
dammit Bessie stop being so hardboiled! i want to see past that tough outer layer. would it kill you to let your defenses down for one moment? you just got shot for spirits sake!

>>499957
When your hardboiled, you don't have a soft-inner core. It's just hollow. It's where you cut the egg in half and put that gooey spicy whipped cream stuff in.

You take the hard layer off your just going to find spicy cream filling inside Nessie.

>>499970
i'm not sure about that. i'm pretty positive nessie really does love oren and that means there's something in there. seeing how she ticks would be nice, though trolling probably wouldn't work for this particular hardboiled specimen.

>>499991
Oren is who puts the spicy cream inside the deviled egg known as Nessie!

Brom 2013/03/14(Thu)23:57 No. 500107 ID: 74941a
File 136333063532.png - (272.43KB , 800x600 , 30.png )

>>499957
Nessie's love for Oren and Nessie's love for continued survival are the only two things that currently concern her.
That being said, this arrow wound is one of the most painful things she can remember.
She blinks back tears and checks for spare ammo with Vesta.
The hand crossbow has 3 bolts. Nessie takes it, since the kick on the bigger one could just about finish her off.
Vesta has more than enough ammunition for her repeater. She reloads and has 6 shots again.

Nessie sucks in a deep breath of dry, pallid air and kicks the door open. She emerges onto a balcony overlooking a factory floor. Abandoned machinery and the stench of rot and dead meat hang low.
"Well." Vesta looks out the doorway. "Perhaps they didn't hear us. Thank goodness for small miracles."

Nessie notes that those great big vats of disgusting are not flush to the wall. If she were to lie in wait for an ambush, she knows the spot she'd pick.

>>500107
Then stay behind cover while moving, and clear the room methodically before taking that ambush spot for your own. Tell Vesta to do the same.

How do you get down from the balcony?

Brom 2013/03/15(Fri)01:47 No. 500110 ID: 74941a
File 136333724158.png - (234.66KB , 800x600 , 31.png )

Nessie moves cautiously to the end of the balcony. There's a narrow flight of stairs here to move to the floor.

She can also see behind the leftmost vat.

It ain't no ambush, is for sure.

The fuck? Is that a cop? He's been *recently* shot.

Probably nothing you can do for him. Check the other boiler.

Brom 2013/03/15(Fri)13:51 No. 500190 ID: 74941a
File 136338070745.png - (230.59KB , 800x600 , 32.png )

Nessie waves Vesta over. "That a cop?"

Vesta peers at the crumpled body. "That's a cop's body armor, but it's not the uniform. Maybe he was plainclothes."
"That armor didn't do him much good."
"Must have been a pretty big crossbow," says Vesta. "Or a really really strong goon."
"Where did Joseph get these people?"
"They're gangsters, I think. The question is how he managed to get them all to cooperate so easily."
"His easy charm and winning smile, maybe. Check the other vat."

Vesta creeps to the opposite vat and aims down her crossbow at the gap between it and the wall.

"There's nothing on this side," she whispers. "Now do we have an ambush to set up here?"

Yes indeed.

Also go check out what's behind that plywood. A trap door, maybe?

>>500190
wait, am i missing something? aren't we trying to escape and the door labeled EXIT is like an empty room away? why even set up an ambush?

Brom 2013/03/18(Mon)02:30 No. 500798 ID: 74941a
File 136359903420.png - (281.72KB , 800x600 , 33.png )

Nessie and Vesta take cover behind the vats.

Nessie's shoulder brushes the cold metal of her vat and sends a spasm of molten pain up her spine. She bites her tongue to keep a whimper from escaping.

Spirits. There's a fucking arrow in her arm.

She's starting to turn around the thought in her head that maybe she'll never be able to use her left arm again when the door on the far wall opens and two men emerge.

"Stinks in here."
"Well, maybe if we moved the fucking dead body we'd be doing the circulation a little favor, yeah, tough guy?"
"I don't like touchin bodies."
"Spirits, Duke. Just show me where you put him."

>>500798
Not yet... let them get closer before the ambush is sprung.

Brom 2013/03/18(Mon)20:36 No. 501002 ID: 20ac80
File 136366420915.png - (185.58KB , 800x600 , 34.png )

"Look I can't touch bodies. It's against my religion."
"You haven't been in a prayerhouse in years."
"Fuck, dude, and it had to be Dariel too."
"Who else would it be? Dariel doesn't let people shit on him ever. If anyone was gonna backsass that spook it was gonna be him."
"Yeah, but just, wham like that and then she just turns around and leaves like it was nothing."
"She look at you?"
"Yeah."
"Fucked up, right?"
"Right."
"Anyway, we're waiting till Joseph says what we do with him, but for now we stuck him behind this big stirring thing here."

>>501002
Alright, well, Nessie isn't anywhere near them so she's not really gonna be too useful as anything other than a distraction.

Nessie, make a noise to distract them so that Vesta can shoot them while they aren't looking.

Nessie's got a crossbow. Shoot the sword guy.

>>501009
Oh right, I forgot there was an extra.

Personally I say shoot the guy with the crossbow, as the sword guy doesn't have his weapon ready.

Brom 2013/03/18(Mon)23:24 No. 501017 ID: 20ac80
File 136367424666.png - (211.24KB , 800x600 , 35.png )

The bolt slams into the crossbowman's hip with a dull thunk.
He freezes, shocked.

>>501002
some female creepy killer?
foreshadowing!

>>501017
nessie, you are a terrible shot.

Vesta, you should start shooting too.

Charge. Lay waste to them.

>>501085
absolutely not. you'll pop a vain. you're a crossbowlady now, only use your sword if they're getting too close.

vesta, shoot the crossbow guy, he's armed and we don't know if the hip injury will incapacitate him. try to shoot another at sword guy with your repeater, but it's vital that you take down the crossbow. see if you can threaten the swordsguy with the repeater if you miss. tell him you missed on purpose.

Brom 2013/03/20(Wed)23:44 No. 501490 ID: 553ad9
File 136384824392.png - (209.63KB , 800x600 , 36.png )

Nessie will not reload the crossbow in time.
She throws it down, pulls out her sword, and barrels down the factory floor toward the two men. She sees Vesta shoot the crossbowman again, right in the chest.

But the swordsman pulls out his greatsword and charges toward Vesta. Nessie isn't going to make it in time to intercept him.

>>501490
Vesta's got multiple bolts loaded in that fancy repeater of his, doesn't he? He should be smart enough to get off another shot or two and then run and lead him back towards you. If not, call out to him to lead the guy towards you.

>>501490
Distract him, then. Call him out with a horrible racial slur.

Vesta... should be able to shoot again in short order, though, shouldn't she? She shot like three times at once, before. Aim for the head to make sure he goes down immediately before he can even swing that sword. At this range it should be an easy shot.

Vesta reloaded loaded six bolts into her repeater shortly before this fight and has since fired exactly one. If the greatsword thug is feeling lucky I do believe he is quite mistaken.

Brom 2013/03/21(Thu)00:28 No. 501499 ID: 553ad9
File 136385091427.png - (30.34KB , 800x600 , 37.png )

"Hey, Muckface!" yells Nessie.
The swordsman slows down for just long enough.

Vesta plants a bolt between his eyes.

"Fuck." She lowers her crossbow. "There goes the last man who could tell us where Oren was."

What're you talking about? There's more people than this in their operation. They have cars, phones, and phone numbers in their phones.

Search them all for clues. Also one of them might still be hanging onto life.

Surely the crossbowman's not completely dead yet.

Brom 2013/03/21(Thu)01:22 No. 501503 ID: 553ad9
File 136385416764.png - (274.90KB , 800x600 , 38.png )

"What are you talking about?" says Nessie. "They've got phones, cars, clues and things, right?"
"Yeah," Vesta says. "We can probably track him down." She kneels next to the crossbowman and feels for a pulse. "Someone to interrogate would have been a lot faster. My fault for snapshooting, I guess."

"Maybe one of them is alive in the other room," says Nessie.
"Maybe." Vesta nods. "Okay, I'll see if anyone's conscious-slash-alive up there. See what you can find on the bodies."
"Shouldn't we get some cops in here?" asks Nessie.
"Not unless you want to spend the night in a cell," Vesta calls back as she heads for the stairs. "You and Oren are wanted for multiple homicide."

>>501503
say what now?
oh right corrupt police.
we need to find oren, he'll know what to do

>>501503
You can talk to her about the murder accusation after we search these two bodies here. Also, check the third dead guy in here.

Brom 2013/03/21(Thu)02:00 No. 501509 ID: 553ad9
File 136385641096.png - (192.36KB , 800x600 , 39.png )

"Oh, spirits." Nessie's eyes widen. "Oh, fuck. We have to find Oren."
"We do," says Vesta as she climbs the stairs. "And unless you have some way to interrogate the dead, we need to find clues to where he is, quick."
"Will we find him in time?"
Vesta looks back. Nessie hasn't ever seen doubt in the pint-sized detective's eyes before.

"Yes," she says. "We will."

Nessie takes a deep, rattling breath as Vesta goes through the door. She needs to find Oren. Oren will know what to do.
The crippled deputy and the five foot three PI against a giant corrupt police force and an army of gangsters in who knows where.
No. Nessie already knows what to do. She has to save him.
She takes another deep breath against the keen edge of fear in her gut.
She looks back at the dying crossbowman, the blood pooling slowly from his two bolt wounds. It's already the worst day of her life, and it is only going to get worse, but she knows what to do.

Brom 2013/03/21(Thu)02:01 No. 501510 ID: 553ad9
File 136385648030.png - (278.78KB , 800x600 , 40.png )

Blejwas tugs himself to the edge of the precipice, stares into the black sludge of the sewers, and vomits his guts out.

So he's back up, Oren guesses.

>>501510
Ask for a run-down of the situation on the surface.

>>501510
nessie got shot, by the way. vesta patched her up and she'll be fine when she gets medical treatment but they can't go to a hospital because you and nessie are wanted for murder.

ask him what part did he play in all this.

Ask him did he seriously almost get killed by a dead body just now.

>>501510
Hey Blejwas, why did you take us not joining the dark side of the (police) force so personally? All we did was reveal a murder and leave town, maybe insult you a little bit. Nothing really worth caring about. But he does, apparently.

Brom 2013/03/22(Fri)01:04 No. 501682 ID: 98cd65
File 136393948824.png - (218.21KB , 800x600 , 41.png )

"Did you seriously almost get killed by a dead body just now?" asks Oren as Blejwas groans and wipes the scuzz off his mouth.

"That and whatever this is." He looks dismally at the muck rushing past them. "Because it sure as shit ain't water."

"What part did you play in this, Blejwas?" says Oren. "Why does Joseph want you?"
"Why does a criminal hate a cop?" Blejwas sits up and spits a gob of scum out. He gags. "I tried to hunt him down a few times, nearly got him the other day in the wastes."

"Were those thugs you?"
"If I come clean and say yeah, will you really be all that surprised?"
"No."
"And the wanted thing is me too."


"The what?" says Oren.
"The what?" says Blejwas.

Brom 2013/03/22(Fri)01:07 No. 501685 ID: 98cd65
File 136393962862.png - (339.10KB , 800x600 , 42.png )

"Stop! Spirits! Fuck! Loper! Stop!"
"What the FUCK did you do, Blejwas?" Oren pushes his head closer to the rushing torrent. "What the FUCK did you do to me?"

"The bandits! The ones you killed! I finished them off, I made them look like a caravan, I called you in as the suspects! Loper it was just to keep you off the streets until I could get back! Loper please! We have to work together! LOPER!"

"You bent fucking FUCK!" Oren wrenches Blejwas' head back and pushes it down again. "Call it off! Call them off!"
"I can't!"
"Yes you can! Say it was a mistake! Say it was the wrong guys! Say something!"
"I don't have a radio, I don't have a phone, I can't call in, the only way you're getting out of this is if I GET OUT OF THIS TOO!" A wave of sludge slaps Blejwas in the face. "Fucking Spirits! Loper! THINK!"

He's right. But press him to give you some way to be sure he won't go right back to screwing you over as soon as he gets out.

>>501685
Ask him how they took him down here. That way should still be open. Also we gotta find Nessie.

Did the dead crossbow guy have any bolts on him? Is the crossbow... like... around anywhere? Much as I would like to use him as a living shield it would probably be best if he had a weapon.

Also make it clear that if you both get out of this, he owes you big time.

>>501685
i really hope you recorded what he just said because i can't see a way for you to be able to prove it otherwise and nothing's stopping him from locking you up forever over a murder he committed once he's out.
anything you make him sign now he'll claim (rightfuly) that he was forced to sign. your alibi for being somewhere else are nessie, a supposed accomplice and fucking joseph, which might be willing to testify for you if you get to him first but there's nothing stopping HIM from fucking you over once he's locked away. he hates you so much he might fuck you over even if it fucks himself over just to be in the same cell as you.

a brilliant way to get out of murder, really. unless there's someone that witnessed him do the killing himself, say a cop or a surviving bandit, or you can get some verifiable evidence of either you not being there or him doing it or at the very least some dirt on him to force his hand, you're fucked oren.
if we end up going the joseph route that means we must get alive back to our station so blejwas can't get to him. that means escaping the city with a wanted criminal instead of waiting for the courts to decide if you did the deed.

this is going to be a long day and we didn't even get breakfast

>>501685
"We're ALWAYS thinking, you idiot! You think I'm honestly that fucking dumb enough to kill you? No, I'm showing force because it's the only thing a brute neanderthal (or whatever your race's evolutionary equivalent is, the one that would work as an insult) like you would fucking respect! You're a cop dammit, what in the goddamn hell is with all your childish bullshit?"

You know, the second you are out of this situation he's gonna be waiting for that moment he can turn on you, and there's no way he's gonna rescind the order to bring you in. It'd be perfectly right to just hold his head under the water till he stopped thrashin. But then, that'd be his kind of solution and you aren't like him.

Brom 2013/03/23(Sat)20:41 No. 502051 ID: 98cd65
File 136409651524.png - (352.62KB , 800x600 , 43.png )

Oren lets out a wordless howl of frustration. He lets Blejwas up and kicks the wall.

He feels something ugly and angry rising up inside him. He takes a deep breath and starts pacing, trying to shake it off.

Blejwas sits up and starts gagging again. "I'd just gotten that fucking taste out of my mouth."
"How do I trust you?" says Oren, pausing in front of him.
"Why would I screw over the one other guy down here who isn't trying to kill me?" says Blejwas.
"What's going to stop you as soon as we reach the surface?"
"I won't."
"What's going to stop you?"
"My word?"
Oren lets out the driest, most humorless laugh his considerably dry and humorless lungs can generate.

"Okay, Loper, listen," says Blejwas. "You and me get out of here, I get you off the hook, immediately, no questions asked. Then you get out of my city and go back to nowhere town. Okay? I don't know what you want me to do to prove it. I don't know what I can do to prove it. Okay?"

There is no sound but the rushing of water and the tapping of the unloaded crossbow against the ledge. So Oren has that.

Its previous owner, dead or not, is nowhere to be seen.

>>502051
Let's stop wasting time. Backtrack to where Blejwas entered the sewers.

Also, wasn't the crossbowman the one whose body almost killed Blejwas? It shouldn't be far off.

until you get some proof or dirt on Blejwas you're his bitch. nessie as well. he can put both of you in jail if he only wants to. in fact he has to put in effort to get you two clean. i don't think you have much choice here. hope for the best. at the very least if you're cleared he can't lord it over you forever.

Brom 2013/03/24(Sun)02:04 No. 502115 ID: 98cd65
File 136411587635.png - (230.50KB , 800x600 , 44.png )

"So do we have a deal, Loper?"
Oren doesn't reply.
"At least for now?"
"Where did you come in here?" says Oren. "That's our way out."

"I don't-"
"You don't know."
"Well-"
"Of course not."
"Well, Loper, they put me in a sack and beat the shit out of me, which don't exactly help with the step-reversing process. Even if I did know where this river of shit took us."
"So what do we do?"
"Way I see it, we either go upstream and try to find an opening to crawl out of or a treatment plant or something, or head downstream and try to find that crossbowman's ammo and where this stuff drains out to."
"So just follow the water one way?"
"Yep."
"Ain't much of a plan."
"You got anything better?"

We could take a nap and see if the Undertaker's managed to contact anyone, and if not, send him to one of the two Illusionists we know, if he's willing to do that.

>>502115
this is a city sewage system, it might look like a maze but they're usually built to prevent people from getting lost. keep walking and eventually you'll find a map or a ladder up.
unless the city is built badly or the enemies took down the maps and rigged the manhole covers that is

Brom 2013/03/29(Fri)01:19 No. 502697 ID: 0eef61
File 136454514076.png - (176.40KB , 800x600 , 45.png )

Oren has no time for naps.
Deputy Squires needs him.
This is the first time this thought has impacted the forefront of his consciousness and he has to fight the sudden swell of panic in his blood. He feels something else in there too, a dark, excited, bloodfed little voice that tells him this:

If they have harmed her, he's going to kill everyone.

The men decide there's nothing else to do but go downstream and look for a map or a ladder upward.
Before they go, they check the little provisions they have.
Oren and Blejwas currently possess:
-A heavy metal bar, improvised and ill-balanced but already used to surprising effect.
-A cutlass, clearly of sub-par make. It's still sharp.
-A bow. Blejwas is hardly proficient with these; Oren's an expert.
-3 arrows. The one Oren used to stab with earlier has a crack along its length now; it's usable, but Oren has misgivings.
-An unloaded crossbow with no bolts.

"We're fucked," says Blejwas.
"Shut up," says Oren. He thinks hard about who is going to carry what, and just how far he's willing to trust Blejwas.

>>502697
Give him whatever melee weapon he wants, and the unloaded crossbow. He goes first, you follow- this both makes sure he can't stab you in the back, and also allows you to put your archery to use.

Brom 2013/04/06(Sat)01:59 No. 504156 ID: 20ac80
File 136523878554.png - (282.55KB , 800x600 , 46a.png )

"Take the sword and the crossbow and get in front of me." Oren nocks an arrow.
"You're giving me an unloaded crossbow."
"If it's dark enough maybe it'll buy us a few seconds. And you can't shoot a man in the back with no bolts."
"You're behind me, Loper."
"I ain't the one with a history of foul play under his belt."
"Yeah, well." Blejwas snorts. "It's easy to stay on the up-and-up when you're out in the boonies. I don't know if you've noticed yet." He raises a boot with a distressing squelch. "But the city's a whole nother kind of animal."
"Don't excuse what you did to me."
"No? That Arbock thing you busted up had hush-up bribes enough to keep a full, shit. Quarter of the Anchorturn force on patrol and armored. After the money stopped coming in we had to go back to singles in some places. A lot easier to jump a cop on his own. A lot of empty desks because of you. Field-stripping a dead blue gets you enough Gilt to feed yourself and your family for four, five months."
"He was a murderer."
"He was done murdering by the time you locked him up," says Blejwas, hotly. "You ever have someone die on you, Loper?"
"Yeah, Blejwas. Anders Mervin. He was just a kid. Don't try and lecture me on this shit."
"You talk to the parents?"
"Of course."
"Try doing that seven or eight times a month, Oren." Blejwas' voice is heavy and deeply fatigued. "Try and do that four or five times a week in the bad times. And those are just the cops' families. Try telling all them parents what happened to their boys and tell me that don't change you."
"It wouldn't."
"You have no way of knowing," snaps Blejwas. "There's four organized gangs in the city. There's six hundred thousand people. There's less than a thousand cops. You overlook some petty bullshit, you let them maybe clear each other out, you do what you have to to make as many people safe as you can with shit-all resources. You don't stick you shiny tin badge right in everyone's faces and fuck everything up without understanding anything. But you did. Don't act like you know what I do, Sheriff. Don't you judge me."

>>504156
And don't you try and kill us. We're in this mess because you couldn't leave us well alone. You want to talk about to a greater good by ignoring some bad? Well you should have ignored Oren Loper, because, well, I already said why. We can't ignore a person who came back to life and said there real body were murdered now, can we? Tell me what's in your city cop techniques for THAT situation? I suppose stuff 'em in a loony bin and hope for the best? Telling a citizen that his own life doesn't matter compared to a few people who swore to fucking protect them is less worse? We took these jobs for a reason. And we did ours. You did yours I suppose, as a leader, but damn if you didn't fuck up hard today.

You judging us for solving that case is what started this. Don't you damn well tell us why we shouldn't judge you.

>>504156
Sounds like what he needed to do was get more funds from the government, not the criminals. Also, what he was doing wasn't even working if he still had to break the news to that many families. Plus, now look what's happened. Look where his path has led him. Dragged into the sewer by criminals he used to make deals with. Does he think that criminals make deals where he comes out on top? It doesn't work that way, dammit. They spend money to make money, to gain power.

Even if he was in the right making deals with criminals, that still doesn't excuse what he did to you. You were "done" messing up his shit by the time he ambushed you, just like Arbock was "done" murdering. You didn't come here to interfere, yet he put a price on your head.

Also, tell him to keep his voice down, and keep his eyes forwards. We can't afford to be taken by surprise.

>>504156
Also, I think I see a speck of light up ahead.

excuses excuses. the police are given power by the people to uphold the law - they can never break it or they lose their trust and with it their integrity and right to exist.
when someone who pays the police less is less safe than someone who pays more the police becomes nothing more than a criminal gang running a protection racket.
you put a price on two cops' heads, how can you still call yourself a cop?

Brom 2013/04/07(Sun)21:51 No. 504512 ID: 20ac80
File 136539667899.png - (283.02KB , 800x600 , 47.png )

"You can say as much as you want to say, Blejwas. It don't change what you did," says Oren. "I didn't come here to interfere and you put a price-"
"Shut up," says Blejwas.
"Excuse me?"
"Shut the fuck up," he hisses. "Movement ahead. You hear that?"

Oren strains his ears.

Up ahead someone's talking, raising their voice over the low tidal roar.

Yeah.

Slow pace, keep quiet and strain your eyes.

Brom 2013/04/07(Sun)23:34 No. 504524 ID: 20ac80
File 136540288118.png - (410.74KB , 800x600 , 48.png )

Oren slows down and strains his eyes to see through the darkness.

That a flashlight?

He hunkers down in the muck and sludge and beckons Blejwas to do the same.

Two men are approaching, with weapons drawn and flashlight in tow. One of them, Oren recognizes.

Oh, its tricky axe man. Normally I would advise you go for the flashlight guy to take our their light source while they aren't dark-adjusted, but axe man seems a lot more skilled than their average goon, so I think we are better off using our opening shot to do away with him before he causes us more trouble. Watch out for a light flash from the remaining guy if he gets it together after you shoot though.

>>504524
That looks like a throwing javelin with a rope attached to it. He seems like the more dangerous opponent at range, so take him out first.

If the axeman's smart, and he is, he'll grab the flashlight next and try to blind you with it so you can't shoot again. So don't bother, just switch to your pole after the first shot and move in with Blejwas to take him out in melee, 2v1.

>>504527
Oh, I didn't quite get what that was. Yeah, when the other guy has a harpoon he should be shot first, tricky axe man or no.

You know, even if you're blinded by a flashlight, you can still shoot in the general direction where the light is coming from and have a fair chance of hitting your target.

>>504566
Honestly, that axeman is deadly, and he's capable of picking up the harpoon, or maybe finding a way of making it look like he's standing his ground with the flashlight while actually running away and getting reinforcements. I'd kill him first.

drop the axeman and have Blejwas rush the javelinmanguy before he can throw it.

>>504566
>>504570
Uh, you guys realize that the javelin guy is like way over there, we only have 3 arrows, and we can't move very fast in this sewer water?

>>504943
if he's far he'll miss. javelins that are tied with ropes are slow, inaccurate and easy to dodge. just reload the crossbow after you take out the axeman.

>>504945
He's not SO far away that the inaccuracy of a weighty thrown weapon would make a difference. Also it's kindof hard to dodge when you're knee deep in sewage!

Lastly, we have a bow, not a crossbow.

bows are fast firing and Oren's the man with a bow. This is what he brags about.

Shoot to kill the guy with the spear. Other dudes not so stupid as to toss his axe and be unarmed when there are two of you. Might be able to get him to surrender even.

Brom 2013/04/16(Tue)00:25 No. 506025 ID: f4ca53
File 136609713661.png - (210.21KB , 800x600 , 49.png )

It's been a long time since Oren's been able to fire himself a bow. He pulls back the string and strokes the cord with his thumb a moment. This one ain't marksman quality, but it'll do.

He exhales.

The arrow jolts out and forward and clean through Turtleneck's forehead.

It's good to know he still has the knack.

Brom 2013/04/16(Tue)00:25 No. 506027 ID: f4ca53
File 136609715864.png - (341.65KB , 800x600 , 50.png )

Oren brings a hand up in front of his eyes at just the right moment. His old friend with the axe yanks the flashlight out of his friend's dying hand and sweeps it into his and Blejwas' faces.

And right then, Oren hears in the back left corner of his brain, [Mr. Loper? Orpheo speaking. I understand from your dreamfolk friend you're in a tight spot.]

>>506027
Say yes, you're in a spot of trouble. Stuck in the sewers, falsely accused of murder, and a large criminal organization is out for your blood. Ask Orpheo what sort of assistance he can give us. Teleporting both you and Blejwas out of the sewers and to a spot where you can get to Nessie safely would be great.

Also ready your pipe to handle the axeman. Check with Blejwas to see if he's in a condition to fight. If he's blinded we'll want to delay the axeman until he can join in.

>>506027
take a step back and away from blejwas, then fire at the center of the light. if he'll get closer you or blejwas will see him clearer because he won't be able to aim the light at both of you.
right now fire the damaged arrow, save the good one for when you know you can hit him.

Oh, dude.

Don't kill the axeman. We need to ask him where Nessie is, if we can't just get teleported there.

>>506037
i don't feel comfortable keeping this particular guy alive, he's smart and dangerous. keep someone else alive, this one will fuck you up, lie to you and get you killed.

Shoulda' killed the axeman. Ah well. Kill him now, if you can. You're about to get help from a MAGE.

Brom 2013/04/18(Thu)01:13 No. 506465 ID: 191e02
File 136627279428.png - (212.25KB , 800x600 , 51.png )

Middle of something, Orpheo. I'm in trouble here. Help.
[What can I do for you, Mr. Loper?]
Oren underestimated Axe here once. It ain't happening again. He blinks the quick flash out of his eyes (Blejwas took the full brunt of the light in the face and is blindly fumbling for his blade) and pulls the pipe out just in time. He yanks back from the charging swing and brings it up to meet the axeman's blade.

>>506465
Twist the pole and pull at the axe towards you and to the side, while using the same movement to try to slam his head with the rising end of the pole.

Let go of the pipe and grapple the axeman so he can't swing at you, then try tripping/throwing him into the sludge.
Also yell at Blejwas to stop being so useless.

Tell Orpheo to turn us invisible or confuse our enemy or something!

Brom 2013/04/19(Fri)23:31 No. 506826 ID: 0a3546
File 136643949155.png - (95.52KB , 800x600 , 52.png )

"Blejwas! Be useful!" Oren yells at his blinking companion. He yanks hard on the bar, trying to pull the ax away and bring one end into his opponent's face.
But he's too quick, and pulls away into a weird, awkward gait Oren remembers all too well.
"I remember you," he says, softly.
Behind him, Blejwas steadies himself and drops into a combat stance, sword out.

Turn me invisible. Or something.
[Mr. Loper, I'm on the other side of the world at the moment, more or less. I can't do that from here.]

Gesture for Blewjas to get closer. Tricky axeman is facing us right now, so Blewjas should be able to either stab him or force him to turn away from us.

>>506826
You've got range. Poke at him. Use the pole like a spear. Also tell Blejwas to watch out for pommel strikes.

Ask Orpeho if he can distract the guy you're fighting, in any way. If not, then uh, can he relay a message to Nessie that you're in the frickin' sewers? Also maybe ask Nessie where she is? Also, what else can he do at a distance?

Okay, we'd love any kind of help you can give us soon. Any mage agents or alienators nearby if you or they can detect our exact location, moving your voice to this axe guys brain to freak him out, and/or synchronize our efforts with Nessie would all be really great.

In fact, if he could possibly play the brown note with his own voice when inside that axeguy's brain, that would also really be great because he might not be adequately distracted by your voice. Or any cool idea Orpheo can do with just his voice. Air horn, "Hello My Baby", or a rambunctious narration of a local play. Mainly because this guy right here is really hard and is about to either kill us or harm one of us significantly.

Brom 2013/04/20(Sat)00:21 No. 506835 ID: 0a3546
File 136644248085.png - (85.28KB , 800x600 , 53.png )

Blejwas moves toward Axe, trying to get at him from behind.

Axe twitches, then with a quicksilver grace steps backward and buries his hatchet in Blejwas' chest. Blejwas gasps and stumbles backward. Maybe his body armor got the worst of that. Oren can't see.

Brom 2013/04/20(Sat)00:21 No. 506836 ID: 0a3546
File 136644249508.png - (90.71KB , 800x600 , 54.png )

He is also distracted by Axe whipping round and hurling his ax right at his head.

>>506836
Endeavor to not have your head be where the axe is going. Or any part of your body, really.

he is probably counting on you dodging, which probably means that it would be more advantageous to do something else
however, you gotta dodge anyway. DODGE OREN

Squat!

Why did that guy throw away his only weapon? Does he have another one hidden or is he planning on running away?

Brom 2013/04/20(Sat)00:56 No. 506840 ID: 0a3546
File 136644459698.png - (87.89KB , 800x600 , 55.png )

Oren ducks and the axe handle slams him right in the face.

He may have chipped a tooth. His head is resounding with a loud, ringing hum. His face is a flaming mask of pain. His eyes are watering.

He sees a painful, swimming picture of what looks like Axe trying to wrestle Blejwas' sword out of his grip.

grab his axe grab his axe
Help Orpheo! Please! Distract his brain with your majestic voice!

The axe is in sewage now. Don't fish for it, go get him while he's distracted and unarmed. Smack his head with your pole, it's right up there like a melon on a stick.

It's just Blejwas, rush in there and start swinging your pipe wildly until they stop moving.

>>506840
he's without weapon for as long as he doesn't take blejwas'. you've suffered worse pain, take him on 2v1

Brom 2013/04/21(Sun)01:48 No. 507021 ID: 0a3546
File 136653408457.png - (222.94KB , 800x600 , 56.png )

You've been through worse. Up, Sheriff. Do your job.
Oren pushes himself up on the pipe. His head is swimming.
Man's man. Do your job.

He grits his teeth and breaks into a clumsy, desperate shambling run toward Axe, breathing loud and belabored.

While Axe is distracted Oren brings the pipe down with every ounce of strength he has to spare. It makes a reverberant bong noise and Axe's arms immediately slacken around Blejwas' neck.

>>507021
Okay! Pin him to the wall and maybe rough him up a bit more, make sure he can't fight back or stab you or something, and demand to know where the fuck Nessie is. Also where is the exit.

Oh and I guess you can ask Blejwas if he's okay.

>>507021
stay on him, he's only dazed! don't kill him though, just disable him.

Brom 2013/04/22(Mon)00:25 No. 507168 ID: 0a3546
File 136661553454.png - (130.19KB , 800x600 , 57.png )

Oren brings his knee up to Axe's face and Axe pulls his leg into the water.

Both men claw at one another as Blejwas stumbles to his feet, coughing violently.

Axe is still feeling the effects of Oren's pipe to the head. He makes little gasping moans every time he takes a breath.

They emerge from the water with Oren wrenching Axe's head painfully up. And the moment they do, Blejwas' blade is at his neck.

"Shit," murmurs their new prisoner.

Well alright! Ask Orpheo to interrogate him for us while we walk.

Tell him that he better start talking now. The way out, where Nessie is, what his buddies are planning, everything. We have ways of making him talk.

>>507168
i wouldn't trust a thing the crafty bastard says unless Orpheo can make sure he's not lying or up to somethig.

"You are far too skilled to be working for a two-bit criminal outfit like this."

Make sure Blejwas doesn't kill him like a fuckin' moron.

Brom 2013/04/23(Tue)23:46 No. 507515 ID: 25fe40
File 136678598473.png - (65.68KB , 800x600 , 58.png )

"Don't kill him," says Oren, staggering back from the grimfaced axeman.
"Well I wasn't planning on it," says Blejwas, testily. "Unless he does any kind of moving that ain't bringing his hands up very slowly."

Axe brings his hands up very slowly. "Couldn't take me on your own, lawman," he says. "You and me one on one next time I'mma split your head like a watermelon."
"Well, I'm not banking on a next time," says Oren. "But I reckon you're just about right on that score. What's a fighter like you doing working for a two-bit con like Joseph?"
"Paid me good and let me kill big britched lawmen like you." Axe starts to wipe the blood from his nose, then remembers the sword at his face and goes stock still again.
Orpheo, can you interrogate him?
[I can only communicate with you at distance because of your unusually strong bond with Dream, Mr. Loper. I can do nothing for him. Wellll, perhaps that's not true. I shall probably be able to tell whether he is lying or not while you question him.]
That'll do just fine.
"Now the way this is going to work is you start talking and you tell me everything I need to know about your buddy Joseph, what he's planning, and any other pertinent information you think I oughta know, and then maybe we let you go with all your throat," says Oren. "We can start with an easy one. Where's Nessie?"
"Nessie?"
"The deputy who was in the building. Joseph took her."
"Oh. Bat ears." Axe sniffs, wetly. "She ain't in the sewers. Think them boys at the processing plant near the South docks have her. Wish we coulda switched you two. She weren't bad looking."
"Any of your boys touched her I'm going to chop off their hands," says Oren. "Okay. What's Joseph doing?"
"Takin this city over," says Axe. "The underside, leastways. Word is he's just gonna kill Blejwas as a warning to whoever comes next."
"What about me?"
Axe shrugs. "Don't know. Didn't ask what he's planning for you."
[That's a lie, Mr. Loper.]
"That's a lie, Ugly. What's he gonna do to me?"
"I told you I don't know," says Axe. "He's gonna... I don't know. You're a gift. He's gonna hand you over to someone."
"What someone?"
"A woman."
"What woman?"
"I don't know," snaps Axe. "Tall. Wore black. I didn't see much of her."
[Mr. Loper, there's something wrong here.]
What's that?
[This man fears very little. Your friend's blade at his throat registers as a discomfort. But this woman he mentioned?]
What about her?
[He is deeply terrified of her, Mr. Loper.]
"I were you I'd just gimme back my axe and let me do you quick," says Axe. "Last I saw her and Bird they were coming down here to collect, lawman."

>>507515
the bitchy oracle? who knows, it's not relevant right now.
how do we get out? what did joseph already do other than putting you two in the sewers? troop numbers in the sewers?

Brom 2013/04/24(Wed)00:41 No. 507518 ID: 25fe40
File 136678928227.png - (101.40KB , 800x600 , 59.png )

"How do we get out of the sewers?"
"You go up the way me and Hector came. But that's where everyone else is and where she is. So." He shrugs.
"What has Joseph already done?"
"Bout a third of the gangs in Anchorturn answer to him, thereabouts, one way or another," says Axe. "Couldn't tell you how he got so many on his side so fast. He's canny."
"How many in the sewers between here and there?"
"Dozen people or so," says Axe. "You could get around some of them if you got the side door open a few hundred meters from here but ain't no way you won't run into most of them, and you ain't gonna outrun them if you go the other way. Not if she's with em. You're done, Sheriff. You been done ever since I beat you the other day."
"I'm satisfied," says Blejwas. "Let's end him quick and get to that door."
"You're just gonna kill him?"
"Well I ain't got no cuffs on me," says Blejwas. "And two chewed-the-hell up cops can afford to watch him about as much as they can afford to let him go free."
"Your little ladyfriend there gonna cut me up she best get around to doin it," sneers Axe. "I got nothing more to say to you, lawman."

>>507518
you can't do it, oren. you can't kill a prisoner. knock him out and leave him, it'll delay him for a few minutes and he'll be too disoriented to fight when he wakes up anyhow.

as for the way out, are you telling me there are only two ways and both have 6 times our numbers? we can't fight that many, we barely beat ONE GUY. we need backup, and maybe a place to hide until it gets here unless he's not telling us about a better escape route. maybe there's one he doesn't know about

>>507518
I think it's time we told Orpheo about that strange dream we had. Also, ask him what's up with that "strong bond with Dream". Are you a mage or what?

As for this guy, hang on a second. Ask him if he ever saw the lady's eyes. Could be an Arker. Probably is, considering what the last one said to you. Orpheo might be able to send someone to help us directly if there's a mage involved.

wait, something doesn't make sense. there is exactly one way out plus a shortcut that leads to the same place? this section of the sewers is self contained? that can't be right. there must be a long way around, perhaps one with fewer criminals

>>507520
Yes, let's get into drawn out irrelevant conversations when our lives are on the line. That's a great idea!

>>507524
Good call. There must be other exits/paths, even if they're unmaintained. Head in the opposite direction after knocking axeman out. Maybe make like you're going to try to sneak past them before knocking him out so he has bad info when he wakes up.

Break his arms
Those are cuffs enough

I'm sorry for trippleposting but i realized something. when i threw out the bitchy oracle guess i tried to think which females have it in for oren. but there are two, not just her. i just remembered oren's ex.

>>507536
Drawn out? Irrelevant? Are you even- oh, you mean telling Orpheo about the dream, not identifying the dangerous opponent. Yes, that might get us sidetracked, but we can talk and walk.

Oh, I just realized Axe here forgot to mention one exit we know of. The way Oren got in. We just need someone up top to move the dumpster and throw down a rope.

if the punishment for assaulting an officer is death anyhow i say we should kill him.

We cant leave him in any shape to come after us. So its kill him or end up with a knife in your back. This is a fight for your life situation where doing the "right" thing will just end up with us getting killed.

Brom 2013/04/29(Mon)02:06 No. 508126 ID: 8950d8
File 136722637809.png - (131.46KB , 800x600 , 60.png )

"There has to be a way we can avoid them," says Oren. "We could get someone to tug the dumpster from my cell and drop in a rope."
Axe gives a raspy chuckle. "And who would that someone be, lawman? Ain't no way out but downstream, and then they'll catch up to you, or upstream, and that's right into their hands. The next place you can branch is a few hundred meters upstream and that won't throw em off you, if it ain't even too late."
"Speaking of too late," says Blejwas, "We gotta finish this one off quick and go wherever it is we can go. Maybe we can hide somewhere."
"You can try, boy, but she'll find you," says Axe. "She ain't like you and me."
"What does that even mean?" says Blejwas. He looks at Oren. "Let's cut him and be done."
Oren ignores Blejwas. "Did you see her eyes?" he asks quietly. His voice is hollow and tinny in his ears, as if he is speaking from very far away.

"No, sir." Axe swallows. Oren hears the click of his dry throat, wrestling itself. "I did not.

"I saw her eye."

>>508126
to axe: red or blue?

to orpheo: hear that orpheo? this is mage business. a mage trying to kill cops, that can't be right.
also, can you get someone nearby with some rope? or maybe many someones with weapons?

>>508126
...and it was red, wasn't it?

Welp. That tears it, we can't run. We'll fight. But... hey, didn't that place we dropped in have a rather solid door? Maybe we can make a stand there. Plus, if we get any help at all, that's the only exit we can get an evac from, really. The door only opens/closes from the outside though, so we'll need to somehow break the mechanism so the door shuts permanently.

Speaking of help, ask Orpheo if he can send anyone to us now that he knows the redeye mages are involved. Get an address from the axe guy of the dumpster entrance.

Brom 2013/05/01(Wed)02:19 No. 508310 ID: 400dc8
File 136739994655.png - (142.86KB , 800x600 , 61.png )

"Red?" asks Oren.

"As blood," says Axe.

"Oh, no," breathes Oren. "Oh, shit."
You hear that, Orpheo?
[Yes. Please hold. I can't come myself, but I have contacts in the area. I'm getting in touch with them as we speak.]
Can you do anything else for me?
[I wish you were a gullible man so I could give you some false comfort, Mr. Loper. But you are not, and I cannot. You're alone down there. Don't die.]

"We gotta go, Loper," says Blejwas. "We have to hide."
"Ain't no hiding from what's coming for us," says Oren. "We're gonna have to fight."
"You crazy?" says Blejwas. "There's a dozen of them. No way can we take them on."
"They're not the ones you should be worrying about." Oren pulls out his bar and takes Axe by the collar. "And we can't have you causing trouble. But I ain't going to kill you."
"What're you planning, then?" says Axe.
"Put your hand on the embankment here."
"Aw, fuck. Come on, Sheriff. I won't go after you."
"Come on, now. Don't make me force you."
"Fuck." Axe puts his hand on the concrete embankment near the water and averts his eyes. "Shit fuck fuck."

There's a nasty crunching noise as Oren brings the bar down on the back of Axe's hand. He bites his lip and clenches his other fist but he can't stop from screaming.

Oren does the other hand, for good measure.

It's time to get out of here.

You are a hard man, Oren.

Time to advance, same formation as before Blejwas in front with the sword and we follow with the bow. And maybe its time we switch the iron bar to the axe, won't be as heavy to carry.

>>508310
seriously, orpheo, we just need some guy with a rope. anybody at all.

oren, we can't fight this. we need to barricade ourselves in the room we came from, the one with the dumpster and delay them enough until orpheo gets a guy with a rope. maybe set some traps somehow? you'll need more ammo, though. where did you say there was more? do we even have enough time? also check the dead guy's body.

>>508312
we might need the bar to reinforce a door for a barricade. take both.

Brom 2013/05/03(Fri)02:00 No. 508578 ID: 6c20b7
File 136757160581.png - (100.89KB , 800x600 , 62.png )

"We gotta move. Now." Oren grabs the ax and dashes for the room he was trapped in. "Blejwas. Come on. We gotta go."

"What? Loper? Slow down. You sound like the fucking deities are chasing you." Blejwas trots after him.

Oren pulls the door closed behind them as they enter the room, bringing the sliding sluice gate to the floor. He rams the metal bar between the others that remain in place. That will buy them time.
Maybe it will be enough.

"Okay, do you mind telling me what that was all about?" asks Blejwas, perching himself on a ledge. "You all right? You're looking pale as death, Oren. I mean, Loper."

We're going to have to fight a mage you idiot. What's worse is that we don't even know what kind. God forbid it's an illusion one. We won't even be able to see her coming or she'll use our worse fears against us.

The other mages can spam the elements right at us. These one eyed mages are some of the best in the world, and the red-eyed ones are the most psychotic. Jesus Christ, tell him about the house.

>>508578
we're about to fight a weapon of mass destruction. with pointy sticks.

we can't win this. all we can do is try to delay them enough until help arrives. and right now, i honestly don't see help coming in time.

i'm out of plans.

>>508578
Tell him about how you found some red-eyed cyclops asshole torturing people to death in order to create homunculi. Nessie killed him, because he tried to kill both of you and you were paralyzed at the time. He happened to be wearing some armor that deflected your arrows.

Then tell him about how it turns out he was just some other red-eyed cyclops dude's apprentice. Who you later ran into, seemingly randomly in a ruin after the car you stole from the bandits OH THANKS A LOT FOR THE BANDITS BLEJWAS ran out of gas. Then you shot him in the eye, after he reached into your head and pulled out every last fear you had and used it against you all at once. That didn't kill him though. Took some help before he went down.

Now, we can presume that the last guy had a girlfriend who wants revenge. Or a mother, perhaps.

Brom 2013/05/04(Sat)01:25 No. 508634 ID: 48ab4b
File 136765590742.png - (160.23KB , 800x600 , 63.png )

"Mage," says Oren. "One eyed, psychopath mage who wants to kill us."
"I've fought mages before."
"Not fucking like this one." Oren's head is pounding. He is astonishingly hungry and astonishingly tired. He is going to die. "The one eyed ones are the best in the world. The last one I fought took every last fear I've ever had in my head and threw them at me and the one before that strapped a kid to the wall and cut him up for kicks. They can take an arrow through the face and keep going. We are about to fight a weapon of mass destruction with [i]sharp sticks."

"Oh," says Blejwas. He takes a step back. He tries to say something, swallows, and tries again. "The shit you kick up, sheriff. I don't know. Do we have a plan?"

"I'm about out of plans," says Oren.

"How's shoot the first thing that comes in sound?" asks Blejwas. "Because that's about all I've got."

>>508634
Yeah, ambushing whoever breaks the door down is a good idea. Keep in mind though that when that door comes down, it's gonna be violent. Don't be in front of it.

We've got two people in here... How high up is that dumpster hole? Could someone get on the other's shoulders to reach it?

well the first one through would probably be a normal armed criminal. the first twelve, probably. we have two things going for us, they can't all fit in the door at obce and can't fight probably while exactly in it so try to keep their push there, make a bottleneck.

the second is that they couldn't possibly all fit in the room so as long as you can fight three or four people at once you should be ok.... also if none of them have ranged weapons... also if the mage just rushes in with the rest of them because we can't go out after her, and she can maybe turn the roon into fire...


so..orpheo, what's the ETA on that rope?

>>508634
how many arrows do you have? can you set any traps? any way to better barricade that door?

we're not dead yet, oren.

I'd rather double back, maybe set up some traps or corners. There's probably better ambush points around here than the corner. It's about surviving long enough for help to arrive anyway, not killing the mage or trying to escape now because killing or escape is pretty much against all odds at this point.

Depending on the mage, fortifying doors might not help at all, but I would suggest doing that if it's possible. Man, maybe there's some escape no one knows about, these sewers are supposed to be spiraling throughout the city, no doubt there are some secrets no one's discovered yet. This is a mage base too, there's totally secrets.

Brom 2013/05/04(Sat)15:39 No. 508733 ID: ca4661
File 136770716768.png - (150.38KB , 800x600 , 64.png )

"That's something," says Oren. "Any ideas for a trap or something?"
"Uhm." Blejwas looks around. He nervously taps his hips. He shrugs. "None."

Oren has two arrows left. He has an axe. Blejwas has a sword and a crossbow with no bolts.

Orpheo, what's the ETA on that rope?
[A half hour. Twenty minutes at least.]
That's too late. We can't- it won't- We need it sooner.
[I know, Mr. loper.

I'm sorry.]

The door starts to open. There is a low sloshing rumble as the water escapes the chamber.
Then the bar catches and locks, and with a groaning whine the door stops moving.

Brom 2013/05/04(Sat)15:39 No. 508734 ID: ca4661
File 136770718825.png - (281.08KB , 800x600 , 65.png )

There is a loud crashing noise and the door buckles out an inch or so. Dust is shaken from the wall. The bar bends.
Blejwas breathes out hard through his nose. Oren blinks.
He doesn't have enough time. He needs more time.

He nocks an arrow to the bow. His thumb is pressed into it so hard it leaves a groove in his skin.
He feels very brittle, as if he was an inch thick all around and hollow on the inside. A tide of nausea washes over him.

He thinks of Nessie.
He is not going to weep.
He's going to fight.

The door crashes again. The bar bends further.

Can you stuff the cracks where the water is escaping with cloth, so that the water builds up on this side? More pressure on the door to hold it shut, more current hitting them when it does eventually give way.

Talk to them. Ask that you know the name of your killer. And why she wants you dead. Ask what she's going to do with this city once she has control. Get her to monologue, anything to delay her.

Maybe we can use Undertaker to get in their head, if they're not an illusionist? Having some emotional ammo would help to delay them.

Do not give away your position, do not let them know you are that close.
Find a spot, nook, a place in the wall you can take cover in if/when the door comes flying in. You don't want to be blinded by being too close.
Take aim and wait, keep the second arrow ready for a fast reload and fire.
Don't be too hasty to take that shot, take good aim and make it count.

If it's a friend, then you just saved yourself some heartache, if it's the foe you are expecting... well then you better damn well hit him in that eye.

>>508734
the red eyes are megalomaniacal and hate non-mages. it's obvious they want you because you killed two of them. you might be able to use that, i think the best chance right now is to get her to make a twenty minute monologue.

Wait, I've got it!

Challenge her to The Oldest Game! Those always take forever to end.

>>508856
i don't suppose we have a monopoly kit on us?

Brom 2013/05/06(Mon)02:04 No. 508960 ID: ca4661
File 136783105419.png - (135.48KB , 800x600 , 66.png )

"Who's that out there?" Oren calls. "Lemme know the name of the one coming to kill me."

There is another huge bang and then silence.
A woman's voice, high and cold. "You killed my brother. Would you like to know his name?"
"Someone else asked me that once," says Oren.
"Brennan. He was a student in thaumaturgical transference studies. His master was named Uxhall. A scholar, unused to battle and untested, who wanted revenge."
"I ain't asking about Uxhall." Oren shakes out his shoulder. "I'm asking about you."
"Loper," says Blejwas.
"I am Lira." Oren hears the low splashing of the woman on the other side pacing back and forth. "You butchered a boy and then a librarian. You are a coward."
"Loper?" says Blejwas.
"Quiet," says Oren.
"I am a battlemage, Oren Loper. I am not like them. I have spent three decades of my life mastering one art: killing. If you will not face me willingly I will crack down this door and give you a coward's death."
"Loper!" hisses Blejwas.
"FUCK," howls Oren.
"Weeping will not save you," says Lira.
"Not you!" he says. "Fucking what, Blejwas?"

"If you make it out of this somehow and I don't," says Blejwas, slowly and deliberately, "I want you to find an officer named Helman and tell him I said to enact Contingency Opal, okay?"
"What'll that do?"
"A few things," says Blejwas. "One of which is to take the heat off you. You know. Just in case we make it."
"I will have your answer, Loper," calls Lira.
"Just in case," whispers Blejwas.

>>508960
know this one, orpheo? any dirt you can pull? any intimidation or bluff we can use? can you throw your voice and let her know the rest of the mages know about what's going on and that we're under protection? what can we say that'll make her back off? there will be no fair fight, she will finish us in an instant. at least we know it's just her and not the twelve plus her.

>>508960
if nothing else, stall for time. give her the old 'he was committing atrocities'/'it was self defense'/'i was only doing my job protecting innocents' speech that never works. phrase it long enough and it'll buy you a few minutes. more if she actually argues with you.


if she jumps you, have blejwas attack her to maybe get an opening. it's a long shot but maybe you can down her with the one chance he'll give you when he's being killed. don't count on it though, there will probably not even be an opening at all.

>>508960
Give Blejwas a long look. It kinda sounds like he's willing to die to make sure you get out. Maybe we can use that. I mean, if he gets out of here he knows his life is basically over. He'd go out like a bang, here. Certainly more glamorous than getting killed by a corpse.

Tell her that "thaumaturgical transference" is a rather tame way to describe torturing someone to death to use their soul to power the creation of near-mindless homunculi. He was a murderer, and we brought him to justice. It wasn't even easy like she implies. He almost killed you AND your deputy.

Uxhall we fought in self defense. That, also, wasn't easy to survive. What gives her the idea that we're responsible for his death, anyway?

Also ask her what her beef is with Blejwas, and the fate of the city.

Lastly, run along with her attitude towards us. Start arguing with her about morality, and the worth of a life. Doesn't she feel the need to take revenge for all of her buddies lying dead in the sewer, killed by your hand?

>>508960
You're calling us a coward for doing our job, as a policeman? Your brother was butchering people in our town, we had to arrest him. He resisted and we fought and he died. His master then attacked us, which is also a felony. What were supposed to do? Let them both kill Oren? Let your boy go ahead with his monstrous experiments? You're all moral cowards who don't understand the laws of these lands. You instead threaten them with instability and chaos and murder.

Lira, you haven't broken the law yet as far as I can see it? So, like, we don't even have to arrest you. You're just pounding the door violently which isn't a crime. Wait, it is, vandalism of city property but that's Blejwas's jurisdiction so... we can ignore that. You've also terrified some criminals shitless. Also not a crime. We don't have to arrest you. For her own good in the standing of these lands, she should cease and desist taking on the felony of attacking an officer. Just advice. I'm sure she has a nice clean criminal record in the material plane. No need to dirty it up with a big fat felony charge.

"Brennan was suspected of torturing and killing at least two helpless civilians, and resisted arrest too effectively for me to bring in alive. Taking him down was an unfortunate part of our job. I regret that the circumstances made informing his next of kin through normal channels impossible. You have the full condolences of the Office of the Authority."

Formal apologies are better for buying some time than encouraging blind rage, after all.

(In other news, this lady has spent three decades training, her brother was on his alienation. Apparently she is old enough to be his mother.)

>>508960
Orpheo: We've got an Arker named Lira here for revenge over her brother. Anything we could say to buy us some time? Charges he would have been brought up on back at home if he escaped?

Brom 2013/05/07(Tue)00:19 No. 509063 ID: ca4661
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"They were lawbreakers," says Oren. "And your brother, at least, was a murderer as well."
"Murderer!" A high, icy laugh. "Said the two-eyed to the mage! Said the ant to the boot! The serf, with the king's blood on his hands!"
Slam.
"Now I'm sorry I had to resort to ending them to defend myself, and I'm sorry there was no way to inform their next of kin, and you have the Authority's condolences, and you ain't broken the law but for some municipal property damage, and I suppose I done some of that too-"
Slam.
"But if you come in here to kill me," Oren bellows over the crumbling screech of the door, "that is an assault against an officer of the Authority and I swear I will end you too if I have to."
SLAM.

The door explodes outward.

Brom 2013/05/07(Tue)00:20 No. 509064 ID: ca4661
File 136791120868.png - (104.42KB , 800x600 , 68.png )

Oren's immediate arrow catches the first thug through the door direct in the chest. He stops in his tracks and takes a gurgling step backward.

"NO!" howls Lira.

Brom 2013/05/07(Tue)00:21 No. 509066 ID: ca4661
File 136791127227.png - (272.99KB , 800x600 , 69.png )

"NO! He is MINE, SELLSWORD! Call off your vermin!"
"But-" Oren hears Joseph.

And then he sees her red eye.

She strides into the room with the inevitability and darkness of a long, cold twilight.

"He is mine, Bird. You do not know how to make him suffer like I do.

Come, Oren Loper. If you fight with spirit, perhaps I will be forced to kill you early."

Arrow to the face.

You need magical backup right fucking now.

There's only one thing to do and you know what it is. You have a bow, you have an arrow, and she has one eye.

But we know, we know they won't let you just take that shot. We need a momentary distraction. A second of lowered guard.

Either we need to come up with something to say that will take them off guard or we need some magic intervention. We also need Oren to make the perfect shot.

What that really translates into is we need a miracle.

>>509066
She's going to play with you, make you suffer. Let her. Draw things out. Fight defensively, maybe try to get Joseph riled up. You already know what's up with him. He's afraid of living a life without doing anything worth doing.

Call him out on serving this bitch. Tell him he's got no idea what he's doing. These red-eyed freaks don't care about people like us. They treat us like cattle. What does he think will happen to him once she has no more use for him? Does he think she'll leave any evidence she was here? They can get in trouble with their own law enforcement too.

>>509066
this isn't going well. orpheo now would be a very good time to speak up. making her think her actions are being observed by whatever mages consider authority might make her stop. it has to be big enough that she'll think they'll have to act, so maybe make her think her actions are conveyed to a big crowd? several high ranking mages? you need to make her believe that continuing her actions will bring down on her some sort of wrath. from the mages or from the arkers themselves. this fight can only be won through information and misinformation, which is your speciality, master illusionist. better get to work.

fuck off right out of here.

oren, save that arrow. you only have one shot left. use it when she's busy with blejwas. aim for an opening. for that to work she has to be fighting with him, so have him fight her defensively. also, try not to hit him instead, unless you think the arrow will pass through him into her.

to orpheo:
i know no one is going to interfere with this fight, that's not what i'm asking you to do. what you can do is make her believe that following through with killing to officers will create enough heat on her and the arkers that the only politically reasonable thing to do is to excommunicate her and let her fend for herself after the fact. threats are good enough, but it has to be big enough that it can't be ignored/hidden.

It would be nice if we knew what kind of mage she was. You know so we can know what gun is being aimed at us.

That second arrow won't do you much good at the moment, she'll be expecting it. You don't have many options so, time to roll in with your axe at the ready, lets hope her anger blinds her enough to let you get an edge.

Don't be afraid to fight dirty, get water, dirt, muck, in her eye, trip and wrestle, any damn thing you can get, take it.

>>509076
Uh, I don't think Orpheo talking to her like that will turn out well.

The only thing I think we should ask Orpheo is for an update on how much time we have left until his dudes get here. To see how much we need to stall, still.

Also I disagree with Blejwas being cautious. The arker is likely to have tunnel vision right now because she wants to kill Oren so much, and she didn't sound like she knew Blejwas was even in here. If Blejwas can ambush her from the side or something that could give us the opening we need.

Brom 2013/05/07(Tue)01:43 No. 509080 ID: ca4661
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"Go around her," whispers Oren, raising his bow.
"What?" asks Blejwas. "Should I-"

Oren never hears what Blejwas thinks he should do, because the cyclops rockets into the air in a spiraling blast of sludgy water. She bends forward and kicks a leg back.

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODGE

>>509080
Yell "ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GOING TO FIGHT ME WITH SHIT MANIPULATION!?"

Get up on the ledge, and flatten yourself against the wall if she sends that maelstrom forwards. I think she's mostly showing off, here, but that's still plenty dangerous. You might also want to take a deep breath.

>>509080
fucking mages. at least elementalists are predictable.
if she only goes after one of you the other will have an opening. if she just floods the room or attacks both of you then you're fucked, so hope that's not the case. but she's doing something with her leg right now, better get ready.

Brom 2013/05/07(Tue)02:10 No. 509084 ID: ca4661
File 136791785307.png - (192.90KB , 800x600 , 71.png )

"You're gonna kill me with SHITWATER?" yells Oren.

"No." A fire snaps to life in Lyra's fist. "I am going to kill you with FIRE."

And that's a good line, Oren has to admit.
But as Lira rockets herself forward Oren realizes through the sudden slug of adrenaline that her taking the time to say it saved his life and slowed her down, just a little bit.

And now he has a split second to act.

Take cover underwater. Water + fire = steam in her face! Really nasty steam.

Can you make the shot? You already know where it has to go. She's falling through the air, no way to adjust, no way to dodge, but if the arrows not already on the string I don't think you have the time, and when she's on the ground again it's already over. Better make your move.

>>509084
She wants close combat? Use your axe. On her face.

Or if you still have an arrow notched, shoot her eye.

>>509087
her hand is on fire, i don't think she'll care.

shoot her in the face oren and ready your axe because the last mage did go down from that.

Well uh. Tackle her? The water seems to be making a sort of a whirlwind, if you can avoid her, it'd probably catch you and since you're holding on to her catch her as well. You get disoriented, she gets disoriented, but at least it's something more proactive than just trying to avoid the killer who controls what you stand on.

Oh wait I just realized you can stick your bow in her eye. No need to draw an arrow for that. Probably won't cause much damage but the temporary blindness and surprise might give you enough time to get your axe out for some real head trauma.