[Desolation] Chapter 2: Hard-held

Graves


Don't forget you read Roark.


You still have hold 1.


You can ask me any of those listed questions:

  • is your character telling the truth?
  • what’s your character really feeling?
  • what does your character intend to do?
  • what does your character wish I’d do?
  • how could I get your character to __?

Roark keeps his hands up.


He has a very worried on his face.


"You're fucking pointing a gun at me, damn it.


I think you've already passed the 'friendship' part.


If you need me to fucking say it, I didn't rape some eighteen-year-old girl.


All right?


There, I said it."


What do you do?


Ryoma, Hooper


She forces your hand and sucks it up.


You bash her skull in with your sheathed saber.


She slams against the wall of the hallway and slumps down, dropping her assault rifle.


Blood is seeping from the gaping crack in her head.


She's still moving ... barely.


She pulls a pistol and lifts it, her hand shaking the entire time.


That's about when you're on her, Hooper.


We'll keep your seize roll of 9, but do you still want:

  • Suffer little harm
  • frighten enemy


Red Bean


As you speak, you can see the anger rising in his eyes.


Old Lumpy lunges at you, reaching for your throat.


What do you do?


Claire


So, let's talk.


You're a skinner.


What's that like in Graves' holding?


Where do you sleep?


Where do you perform you services?


Who is your best client?


Who's your worst?
 
Hooper


I'll take Frighten and take definite hold instead.


Ryoma cracks the assassin hard across the face. It is a loud sharp THWAP. I like my SCHULNK of the machete cutting through flesh and bone better but I think I should take her alive for now.


I step up as Ryoma is rebounding. The woman is going for the pistol.


I lean in and place my face in front of hers. My eyes looking into hers. Uncaring, vacant, living death. The cold metal of my face is soon coated with her sweat and blood. Some drips into my eye. I wouldn't blink if I could.


"You can shoot it. And I'll drag you to a new room. You can not shoot it. And I'll drag you to Graves first." I wheeze after I tell her the simple truth. "Shoot me if you want. I don't care. I'll just let you linger more for each bullet you put in me"


My hand goes out, palm upturned as I wait for the gun. My other hand waits on her neck.
 
Ryoma, Hooper


Hooper, with a seize by force you're still going to be doing harm to her, which will outright kill her.


What you're doing now sounds to me like a seduce/manipulate.


If you'd like we can nix the seize by force and you can roll seduce/manipulate.


What are your thoughts?
 
Red Bean


Lay Clothes on the Bed. It was part of her mornings of Tai Chi. Of course, in old form it was called Part Wild Horses Mane, but since few of her students had ever seen a horse, she changed the name. It was still the same motion.


Lumpy was proving to be irrational. Normally, she could talk them into telling her what she wanted, she could manipulate them just enough. But not Lumpy. Something burned in him, and she would be forced to put out the fire with her boot now.


Going Aggro - Roll Hard+1 (9 + 1 = 10) & marking XP


As he lunged she took his arm, pulled him across her before tossing him behind her. Part Wild Horses Mane, or Lay Clothes on the Bed. Lumpy crashed into the metal table that the dead woman now lay upon. He rose again this time coming up swinging. She worked through Cloud Hands, softening his attacks and pushing them aside. Then a single whip before Snake Crawls Through Grass took his legs out from under him.


Her foot came down, Needle at the Bottom of the Sea, into his midsection, driving the air out of his lungs. "Your head out of the storm yet? You ready to talk, or do I tear you apart?" Until this point she had hoped that she had read something wrong - she was never wrong,
 
Yes? I am indeed. It's nice in Penitence, Graves doesn't hold with disorder and it's safer than in some other holds where people think a performer is nothing but an expensive prostitute. People here can afford to pay me, since Graves takes good care of his people. He was brilliant in making his holding coin-based. Those stamps are much easier to transport than livestock or what other forms of payment people choose to barter for my services.


Generally, when I visit Graves' holding I can barter for one of the more private cells, otherwise my charge for some of my well-off clients is a room for as long as I need. Failing either of those, I am willing to sleep in the common cells, although Joyeuse and my harp never leave my side.


When I first arrive at the hold, if it's early enough I'll often sit in the marketplace or the canteen and tell stories or play music for a few hours. It's a great way to let people know I'm back and whet people's appetite for more. If I don't have any private engagements afterwards, I'll continue to set up like that. If I do, they'll be in my room--if I have one--or the client's if I don't since most of the time the ones who can afford a private engagement with me can afford their own room, even if it is only for an hour or two.


My best client would have to be this sweet lady who goes by Amber. She seems to genuinely enjoy my music and stories. I've been able to teach her a few basic chords on the harp and some notes on the flute. She's almost able to recite her favorite story from memory, although her inflection needs work.


My worst client? Danny. By far. A trader who thinks all his stamps can pay for anything. You remember how I said that in some holdings I'm nothing more than an 'expensive whore'? That's Danny, verbatim. I try to avoid taking jobs with him, but sometimes beggars can't be choosers. (I can, however, make sure he pays first and doesn't get everything he wants.)
 
Graves


Well ... no, not EXACTLY telling the truth.


But, there is a sliver of truth to what he's saying.


You can see it in his eyes and face.


Ryoma, Hooper


Going aggro is a fantastic option because you're not garunteed to do harm to her then.


It's using threat of force or force to change someone's behavior.


But, you do so by rolling hard.


So, we'll keep the roll which will put you at a 10.


Also, you should have cool and sharp highlighted, so no XP. :)


She chooses to cave and hands you the gun.


Blood still trickles from her open skull.


She's not doing so hot.


Ryoma, Hooper, what do you do?


Red Bean


He forces your hand [0-harm] and goes crashing through the examination table and supplies.


You beat on his chest.


Lumpy grabs an old broom that had fallen over when you tossed him and swings it at you from the floor.


What do you do?


Claire


Fantastic.


Let's start this off slow.


I'd like to see a bit of "a day in the life".


It's about midday, Claire.


There's been commotion here and there in the Holding, today.


Nothing too out of the ordinary.


So, where are you and what are you doing?
 
Graves


"Eighteen, Roark? And here you told me you knew nothing. So if you tell me what you did do, Roark, I'll put the gun down. But I have to admit, you bein' so cagey with me implies this ain't ending well. Why is she accusin' you, Roark?"
 
Graves


Roark looks at you long and hard.


He shakes his head.


"Look ... She's a whore, Graves."


His eyes widen when he realizes what he's just said.


"And I'm not calling her a name! She's literally a hooker. I payed her stamps."


He looks down.


"A lot and often. One night I payed her and she ran off."


He gets quiet and a long pregnant moment hangs between you.


"I had to chase her. By the time I caught up to her, I was pissed. I'd been drinking ... I just ... I just took what I payed for. That's all."


His brow furrows.


"Bitch deserved it anyway, stealing my stamps like that. I never went back to her since. That's all. That's it. All right? I'm sorry for lying. Okay?"


What do you do?
 
"Now... I'd like to ask some questions," says Ryoma, pleasantly, sitting down on the nearest available surface to rest her wounded leg; seems not to have hit anything too important. "You obviously have it in for my good friend and associate Hooper, here. See? She seems positively hurt that you would leave a dead body and rig it to explode. I mean, first she needs to pick it out from all the other corpses... quite inconvenient. But surely you must realize this would not faze her... or perhaps you did not. So... who are you, precisely, and what do you want?"
 
Ryoma, Hooper


This sounds like a manipulate.


Do you want to make it so by putting up leverage?


Keep in mind, leverage can be a threat, too.


Alternately, you could threaten her with force by going aggro.


If you go aggro, you don't have a choice on the violence if she forces your hand.
 
Ryoma hisses at a twinge in your leg. "Because if you tell us everything... Graves might make you an offer. He could, just could, give you a chance to walk a new path in life... and he's not one to throw you into the path of this. But if you didn't tell me what I want to know..." Ryoma glances down at a stretch of her thigh; the bullet went straight through the maw of a demon. "...well, it's straight to Hooper. You'll never see Graves."


Rolling hot: 9.
 
"Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets


Looking for soul food and a place to eat


Went to the Apollo


You should have them go go go


They said 'Hey, Sugar


Take a walk on the wild side.'


I said, 'Hey Babe,


Take a walk on the wild side."


Sister Red pulled the knife from the dead woman's chest. More blood spilled out from the open wound.


People thought she would be a soft snack, but she had been burned at the stake and spent a year in constant agony as her skin grew back. It came back thick and hard. She wasn't the bundle of touchy nerves people took her for.


"I asked once, nicely. I asked again, telling you what would happen if you didn't tell me. I asked again before I had to tear you to pieces. You refused all three times. Now, I am going to start taking off limbs."


Go aggro Roll +1Hard (6 + 1 = 7) Tell me what I want to know. Marking XP


Sister Red just moved in to close with Lumpy. Swing as he might, she could best him if needed. For now, she was just going to remove a hand.
 
Hooper


She takes the gun, emptying it and snapping whatever vital parts she can before backing off and letting Ryoma handle the talking. Whatever happened, happened.


The useable bullets to into a pocket some place in her armor. The assassin would die though. Hooper would kill her no matter what. You don't try and kill someone these days and get away with it.
 
A typical day? People use that word so often, and yet there is so very little in life that qualifies as 'typi-- well, don't let me go off on another rambling spree. Let's see, I had just gotten back to the hold rather late the night before, and travelling always exhausts me. So midday is just after I had woken up (thank goodness I managed to get a room to myself) and straighten myself up a bit. My hair was absolutely horrible, and the braids were nearly impossi- There I go again.


---


She manages to dust everything off from the hard traveling she had been doing just days before and heads out into the hold's marketplace, coat and dress perfectly arranged. One of her small metallic flutes gleams in her hand. Of course, the marketplace was abuzz with the various rumors of what had been happening during the morning. Especially abundant were those of that psychotic woman with the silver mask and the murders she had committed. Hooper, was the name.


Claire just browses what's there, eying some particular luxe pieces that she'll keep in mind for later and listening to the fast-flying news. It's always a good idea to sound out a hold before you start performances, if nothing else it helps you avoid songs that could touch off a nerve in the local 'leaders'. A small winding melody was making it's way through Claire's head--a light and airy tune to distract people from their troubles and make people want to dance if they remembered what dancing was--that is just perfect for the flute she's carrying. A free performance for those around her is in store--barring unforeseen occurrence.
 
Rollan' harm 2d6+0=8


What if I said I was wearing some Witch King cosplay so I could declare that no man can kill me? Would I be immune to his gun?
 
Ryoma, Hooper


Her head still leaking, the assassin looks up at you, Ryoma.


"I'll spill everything. I'll tell you anything you want to know ... "


She swallows hard.


" ... If you can make Hooper promise not to touch me. Please."


Wet streaks appear on her cheeks.


"She ... she'll do things to me. Please. If she promises not to touch me."


What do you do?


Red Bean


Seeing the knife, and now knowing you're not the push-over he had assumed, Lumpy drops the broom.


"Okay! Okay. Don't ... don't hurt me, Miss. What do you want to know. I'll tell you ... "


Claire


The market is busy and filled with talk today.


Just like you said, rumors and gossip of Hooper's violence seem to be the main topic.


As you move through the market, passing stall after stall, you feel a warm gentle hand on your shoulder.


Turning, you find Amber.


She gives you a warm smile.


"Thought you could hide from me, dearest Claire?"


She gives you a peck on the cheek.


"What are you doing this afternoon?"


Claire, what does Amber look like?


Koch


You take the slug in the shoulder and lose your balance.


Falling back, you land with a heavy THUMP in the dirt.


Jabber runs past you and climbs into the truck bed.


What do you do?
 
What a dick.


Can I get a line of sight on his ass? If so, fuck him with Heckler. I tried being nice, I tried settling this with words but that bashed-in-face-little-shit put a round in me and he's gonna fucking pay for it with interest.
 
Ryoma hopes so; no telling what Hooper might do. "I see. That's as good as you'll get out of her, I'm afraid." If only there was something around Hooper's room she could use to bandage it up... "In that case, tell me what I want to know. Tell me why."
 
Graves


"Ah, fuckin'...." Graves shakes his head. "You coulda said, Roark. The hell do I care if a girl is hookin'? Gotta make your stamps somehow. I ain't about to judge you for it, if you'd just come to me about the theft. She took your stamps and ran - that's a crime, you could've handled this like a fuckin' man, Roark."


He looks at the gun in his hand. At Roark.


"Rape is rape, Roark. You know my rules. There's enough beasts in the wasteland without keepin' any in here."


He levels the shotgun and pulls the trigger.


Do I have to roll to point-blank him?
 
Ryoma, Hooper


The assassin starts shivering, blood still leaking from her cracked skull.


You really look at her for the first time.


Her dirty blonde hair, mostly dirty.


Scarred face.


Wild eyes.


Slim body.


It isn't until you see the lash marks on her back that you realize she was bread for this.


Fitted armor.


Custom pistol that now lays in pieces.


A well-kept knife.


The answer is plain to see.


She struggles to keep her head up, using the wall for friction.


"Slavers ... revenge. Hooper ... escaped. They ... want her head. Turns out she's got value ... alive. They're coming. Now they've ... seen this place. They want more than ... more than her. They want ... it all. Everyone. They're ... "


Her eyes start to close, then shoot open.


She's trying to keep awake.


Koch


You gotta get up, but hell yeah.


Fucker thinks he put you down.


Loot's his.


You've got the drop, his back is to you.


You can go aggro on him.


Graves


That depends.


Do you want simply kill him or is there a scenario you'd let him live in exile or something?


If the former, you don't have to roll.


You'll do 2-harm to him as he's wearing armor.


It will put him down for the count.


You'd have to finish him.
 
Amber looks...hard. I'm not sure what she did before she came to Penitence, a guard or somesuch would be my guess. She's tall and ropy with muscle and her head is practically shaved, although the little stubble left says she's a brunette. I don't know how she managed to get that scar stretching from her temple to her jaw. I'm surprised she managed to keep the eye after such a vicious cut. She can look intimidating, but that just comes from surviving.


Claire returns Amber's smile with a bright smile of her own, grasping the woman's hand. "Not at all. I was just looking for pretty things, and look what I stumbled across!" She gives the hand a playful squeeze before releasing it. A thoughtful look crosses her face at Amber's question, "As for what I'm doing later...so far nothing important." Claire tilts her head slightly to the left, examining Amber gently, "How have you been?"
 
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