Vigilance | Ep. 5 | Close Enemies

Summary

Dark Dice: Vigilance | Ep. 5 | Close Enemies Release Date: December 2, 2024
Host/Author: Fool and Scholar Productions

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Introduction

In the fifth installment of Dark Dice's season titled "Close Enemies," the podcast continues to plunge listeners into a harrowing fantasy world filled with dragons, monsters, and treacherous allies. Hosted by Fool and Scholar Productions, this episode follows a team of adventurers navigating the perilous fringes of their realm, where every decision could mean the difference between survival and doom.

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Journey Through Indigo [01:36 - 02:18]

The episode opens with the team—Sylvanas, Horatius, Azad, and Diana—traversing a desolate road labeled Indigo. The absence of fire lamps and the eerie purple glow of the surroundings set a foreboding tone.

• Azad describes the environment:
  "No fire lamps are seen on this road labeled Indigo, which seems to favor light bulbs of a purple glow."
  (01:36)

As they proceed, the team observes makeshift traps being set by lurking enemies, indicating that danger is imminent for any travelers daring to pass through.

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Encountering the Guards [02:18 - 04:26]

Approaching a grotesque entrance marked by a large anthropomorphic symbol, the team faces two scantily clad sentinels armed with firearms. Their mission is clear: find Hobbs, a key figure they believe to be within.

• Sylvanas questions the process:
  "Hobbs owns this place? Yeah, he's inside somewhere. You can't just talk to him directly though. You gotta speak with Byard, his bestie first."
  (04:31)

The team realizes they must navigate the social dynamics of this territory to gain access, setting the stage for tense negotiations.

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Negotiating with Bayard [05:00 - 11:27]

Bayard, one of the guards, demands that the team disarms themselves to gain entry. Tensions rise as Sylvanas attempts to reason with him, but Bayard remains skeptical.

• Diana attempts persuasion:
  "I'm sorry. I don't want any trouble. I am armed. Here. Please take it and step in front of Diana."
  (05:32)

Despite their best efforts, the team faces resistance, highlighting the fragile nature of alliances in this dark world.

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Entering the Poke and Meeting Pep [07:24 - 14:40]

After surrendering their weapons, the team enters a vibrant yet sinister establishment known as the Poke. Inside, they meet Pep, an eccentric individual managing the place.

• Sylvanas addresses Pep:
  "Welcome to the poke. What's your business here?"
  (06:43)

Pep outlines their problem: rival gang members known as the Lucky Eights have been causing trouble, threatening their operations by harming slaves and customers alike. In exchange for assistance, Pep offers the team a hefty reward.

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Hiring Mercenaries [14:40 - 25:00]

To bolster their ranks for the impending conflict, the team seeks additional mercenaries. They engage with several potential allies:

1. Silver McBride:
   A tough, tattooed woman willing to watch Diana's child in exchange for payment.

   • Sylvanas remarks:
     "If you come back and bring some extra pulses, I'll get you some special one-on-one time with our best servers."
     (16:10)

2. Corners:
   A blonde mercenary with a concealed machine gun, showcasing reliable firepower.

3. Pep:
   Although initially hesitant, Pep agrees to join after being offered meal credits.

Discussions reveal internal conflicts about involving a baby in their mission, adding emotional complexity to their quest.

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Forming the Team and Preparing for the Raid [26:00 - 43:49]

With their new allies, the team strategizes their attack on the Lucky Eights:

• Horatius asserts:
  "We might outfire them with what we've got. No need to take a man to man."
  (25:00)

• Diana addresses the logistics of rescuing hostages:
  "We need to make sure nobody else gets hurt and we'll deal with the aftermath after the math."
  (51:37)

The plan involves breaching the gang's compound located at 8th and Indigo, aiming to rescue four captives by sunrise. The team grapples with the moral implications of their mission, especially concerning the baby entrusted to Silver.

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Finalizing Alliances and Setting the Stage for Conflict [43:50 - 56:18]

As preparations conclude, the team solidifies their alliances:

• Flick, a trusted fringer, joins the mission, bringing additional skills and connections.

• The team finalizes their group, balancing the strengths and weaknesses of each member.

• Sylvanas encourages unity:
  "We're all Fringers here. We nice."
  (50:58)

With their combined forces, the team is ready to confront the Lucky Eights, setting the stage for an intense showdown.

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Conclusion

Episode 5, "Close Enemies," masterfully blends character development with high-stakes action, immersing listeners in a world where trust is scarce, and every ally is a potential threat. The team's journey through Indigo, their strategic negotiations, and the formation of a multifaceted group underscore the complexities of navigating a hostile environment. As they stand on the brink of their raid against the Lucky Eights, the tension mounts, leaving listeners eager for the ensuing conflict and the fates of both the rescuers and the captured.

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Notable Quotes

• Diana on Team's Purpose:
  "We need to make sure nobody else gets hurt and we'll deal with the aftermath after the math."
  (51:37)

• Sylvanas on Unity:
  "We're all Fringers here. We nice."
  (50:58)

• Horatius on Strategy:
  "We might outfire them with what we've got. No need to take a man to man."
  (25:00)

• Diana on Moral Responsibility:
  "One of my core motivations is protecting everyone."
  (51:20)

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Key Characters Introduced

• Sylvanas: The team's strategist, often navigating negotiations and internal conflicts.
• Horatius: The pragmatic fighter, concerned with firepower and tactical advantages.
• Azad: The observant member, adept at perception and recognizing hidden threats.
• Diana: The empathetic healer, balancing the team's needs with moral considerations.
• Pep: The eccentric proprietor of the Poke, providing critical information and resources.
• Silver McBride: A tough mercenary willing to assist in exchange for meal credits.
• Corners: A reliable mercenary with hidden weapons, enhancing the team's combat capabilities.
• Flick: A trusted fringer partner, adding loyalty and additional skills to the mission.

---

Dark Dice continues to deliver engaging and suspenseful narratives, blending horror elements with intricate character dynamics. Episode 5, "Close Enemies," exemplifies the show's ability to create a rich, immersive experience that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats.

Transcript

[Horatius]

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[Sylvanas]

I take your silence as a yes.

[Horatius]

Want new games on day one like.

[Sylvanas]

Call of Duty, Black Ops 6 or S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

[Horatius]

2? I thought so. How about unlocking all the League of Legends champions when you link your Riot Games account? All for one low monthly price? Well, guess what? We got you learn [e-mail] PCGame Pass or click the banner STALKER2. Available November 20, 2024. Game catalog varies by region and over time. And that's the end of the script welcome citizens, to the fifth episode of Liberty Vigilance. Our team has finally reached the fringe and we're very excited to get right into the action this week. Thank you for being a listener and remember, Atreus endures.

[Azad]

Liberty Vigilance Episode 5 Close Enemies no fire lamps are seen on this road labeled Indigo, which seems to favor light bulbs of a purple glow. The team also passes a bottleneck between two makeshift shacks on the road. They notice four figures quickly move in behind them to set up traps to ambush the next group of Trav killers who will undoubtedly pass through. Ahead is the large anthropomorphic erect penis marking the entrance of the whole poke. Two scantily clad sentinels pose outside the doorway, armed with compact firearms and eyeing the team.

[Diana]

I look back at the trap that's been set up and see what I can ascertain. I should probably stop using that word in the fringe.

[Sylvanas]

I wouldn't say thank you.

[Diana]

Thank you for that advice. I will take it.

[Azad]

The men appear to be setting up a wire. The wire is intended to trigger a sort of single directional explosive device aimed low so that the explosion cripples the legs of those passing by.

[Sylvanas]

We're lucky to have passed through there. We need to be more careful.

[Azad]

Other individuals move into hiding places above the trap so they can easily descend upon their prey.

[Diana]

Sylvanas is looking very puzzled at it and leans over to the others. Agent Tong says he was gonna follow us, or was he already out here?

[Sylvanas]

He is going to be at a station at 7th street and 15th Avenue.

[Diana]

Guess you need to have no reason to come this way.

[Sylvanas]

15Th Avenue is quite a ways away. Yeah, it's in one of the southeastern sectors.

[Diana]

It's an awful lot of trouble for the next person to come by. But we definitely don't want to give ourselves away.

[Sylvanas]

I don't think we have to concern ourselves with that. Fringers do to other fringers.

[Diana]

Let's definitely not make our hasty escape back down that street though.

[Sylvanas]

True.

[Horatius]

Fair point.

[Sylvanas]

Mark it on the map, Zalanis.

[Horatius]

Well, let's keep moving. Onward and upward, I guess. I'm glad my sister isn't here to see any of this.

[Sylvanas]

Let's just find Hobbs and get out of here.

[Azad]

As the team gets closer, the air grows heavily scented and the temperature becomes more comfortable than cold. The lead guard is a well muscled man, not much older than 22. Though his gaze has a certain sadness that cannot be easily discerned. He's shirtless, showing an abundance of reddish skin, blonde hair, a burn scar, and the sock tattoo on his left cheek.

[Sylvanas]

Is it the fleur de lis?

[Azad]

Yes. He is also holding a slim compact auto pistol painted with a small heart symbol, dancing in a tangle of colorful veins.

[Horatius]

Hey, friends.

[Sylvanas]

Coming in?

[Horatius]

We're looking for Hobbs. Someone told us he'd be here.

[Sylvanas]

Hobbs owns this place? Yeah, he's inside somewheres. You can't just talk to him directly though. You gotta speak with Byard, his bestie first.

[Diana]

Follow me. Oh, any you got guns on you here?

[Sylvanas]

I handed my rifle that concealed my GNK and I roll 17. It's hidden.

[Horatius]

Not me.

[Diana]

Not me. And do I have to roll for that?

[Azad]

The guard rolls very well to detect hidden weapons.

[Diana]

Ouch. Can I counter roll?

[Azad]

Go for it.

[Diana]

Since I do have a plus five in that particular skill, I kind of want.

[Azad]

So close, so close, very close. But the guard gives you a knowing.

[Diana]

Look and I feel shameless.

[Azad]

He then looks at Assad.

[Sylvanas]

Diana has said nothing so far. She has not lied nor spoken. This is Sark territory. If you want in, you gotta give us your guns.

[Horatius]

You know, just to get out.

[Sylvanas]

You're gonna back. No problems.

[Horatius]

We just don't want trouble.

[Diana]

I'm going to try and spin this to my advantage by using a persuasion check to give him my gun and protect Diana's. I'm sorry. I don't want any trouble. I am armed. Here. Please take it and step in front of Diana.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, so Sylvanas, can we just ask when Hobbes goes back to work? Because we can still meet him and when he goes to the Place we originally established as being where we should be going. I'm not sure going in here and giving up weapons is really the best idea. We don't know what we're walking into.

[Diana]

Good point.

[Horatius]

I don't really see what alternative we have. Unless you want to shoot your way inside.

[Sylvanas]

I'm gonna look up at the guard and say something along the lines of. Is this a place where you guys try and make meal? Yeah, that's the idea here. You come in, you spend some meal, you have a nice time, you get your whole poke and you leave. Whole poke? Got guys down the alley setting up traps for future meal givers. Those bastards. Okay, tell you what, again, if you're.

[Horatius]

Friends of Hobbs, that's.

[Sylvanas]

That's great. That's great. This is his joint. This is his. You know that if you're his old friends, right?

[Diana]

Yeah, we got that.

[Sylvanas]

Then he'd like to know they're taken away. That's what I'm saying. But you can't just. As nice as you are, you can't just go directly to him because people are gunning for him. So you talk to his bestie, you get in nice with his bestie, I'll mention this thing, I'll introduce you right now as well. And then you'll earn up the rep of being able to talk to him. I'll will tell him you're here. In the meantime, of course, I think. I mean, I guess that's up to Bayard. I guess. Follow me. Just follow me.

[Azad]

He hands the guns to the other guard.

[Sylvanas]

And don't forget it on your way out.

[Diana]

I won't.

[Azad]

As the team steps through the doors, they emerge into an objectively large room lit by multicolored neon, complete with a bar, small lit stages with poles and a dozen half occupied tables. The patrons represent a diverse spectrum of fashion choices. And in addition to practically naked men and women tending to the patrons, perhaps eight socks like the ones seen outside are visible. One of the Sarks is particularly eccentric, sporting a loud miniskirt, striped leggings, a soft looking vest like garment made from an unidentifiable fabric, possibly hair, and a small child attached by a spiked leash.

[Diana]

Wait here.

[Sylvanas]

A B.

[Azad]

Guards whisper something to the eccentric woman who glances briefly at the group, clearly pleased. She smiles slightly and nods before sending a guard back the team's way.

[Sylvanas]

Fire. It's fine to speak with you, just chat on with her.

[Azad]

The guard walks outside.

[Sylvanas]

I didn't understand anything that came out of that person's mouth.

[Horatius]

We gotta go talk to her. Before we can see the guy we want to see.

[Sylvanas]

All right, then. Somebody want to go talk to her?

[Horatius]

Horatius takes a step forward. Horatius steps forward until he steps up to Bayard.

[Sylvanas]

Mystery of silly walks.

[Diana]

Can I investigate her before we do this?

[Azad]

That would require a perception check as Clairehout is reasonably sure that she'll have no inner city record on file.

[Horatius]

Right.

[Diana]

Ah, never mind.

[Horatius]

You should still get some stuff.

[Sylvanas]

You joined our ranks, our low rolling ranks.

[Azad]

Clarehart guesses the woman to be in her mid-20s and for the connected child to be between 2 and 5 years old. She has fair skin, surprisingly intricate makeup, and stripes of vivid yellow mixed with naturally black hair.

[Horatius]

Well, Horatius also looks. Gives her an appraising look and discovers nothing. He's just.

[Azad]

He's attractive.

[Horatius]

He's so distracted by her hair coat that he doesn't get any info.

[Sylvanas]

I got a 2 and a 4. I don't even want to try, but I'm gonna. I guess not gonna work, guys. All right, so I'm looking at like perceiving both her and the room around me and just looking for anything that would aggravate or be interesting to Diana. Yes, Mom. You've been looking for all of us.

[Azad]

At Azad believes that the room was perhaps converted from an industrial storage space. She's impressed with what they've done with the room, given her familiarity with the original modular layout.

[Sylvanas]

If it's a modular style, does that mean that there are sealable doors between multiple sections?

[Azad]

Azad knows where the sectional dividers should be, though she can already see that some of the doors that should be present have been removed. She also notices a fashionable curved knife sitting on Bayard's hip amidst jewelry fashioned from a mix of gold, bone and various other metals.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, welcome to the poke. What's your business here? Nudge, nudge.

[Horatius]

We're looking for Hobbs. Told you were the one we had to talk to to find him or to get to. To talk to him.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah. Javi don't like strangers. And we're not friendly yet. If you want to meet with him, you gotta make friendly with me. Anything you can say to Javi, you can say with me, though, because I carry his voice when I speak.

[Horatius]

If you say so. Look, how do we. Got it. How. How. How do we. How should we get friendly with you so we can see him? What do you want?

[Sylvanas]

I don't know your gang from piss, and you don't know much about us, Sarks.

[Horatius]

It seems you haven't heard of the blood skulls McBride.

[Azad]

Must now roll a deception check.

[Horatius]

Oh, Archon.

[Sylvanas]

That's okay. Follow it up with we're new and small.

[Horatius]

What is my deception? Oh, hey, I have a deception point.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, so it's. It's Sylvanas who's supposed to be the charismatic one, right?

[Horatius]

Right.

[Azad]

Really?

[Horatius]

Horatius is just talking because nobody else is talking. And he's the kind of guy who would just talk in this situation. Hey, if we need to intimidate someone.

[Diana]

I'm the guy just giving McBride a chance to shine.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, I ain't heard of you, but you need to impress us if you want to talk to our big boss in person. It just so happens, though, that you can impress me or Hobby by proving your worth as a gang by doing something for us tonight. We're having something of a dispute.

[Diana]

What sort of dispute?

[Sylvanas]

Some puke eaters nearby roughed up some of our slaves and started threatening our customers. This can't tolerate. Speaking of threats to customers, did Stark Guard tell you about Trap down the alley? She's trying very hard and it actually comes out sounding like she has some type of brain problem. She's trying to sound like she's not using really big words. What the fuck's wrong with you? You special? Is there something wrong with this one?

[Diana]

Let's get back to these puke eaters. Do you know where they're hiding out?

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, a bit up the ways. And if you fix this for Hobby and me, you'll be considered friendlies and be allowed to speak with him. How about it?

[Diana]

Well, we sure would like to be friendly.

[Sylvanas]

Well, you need to go up the block, bust in their heads and bring back anyone still alive in the end. That's what I want from you. They're called Lucky Eights. Just a bunch of tin lickers. Maybe 12 of them. Just up the block on the left. Their place is marked with a giant bleeding eye. You'll see it. And most importantly, we want our girls back. We'll also pay extra for theirs. I'll pay very much extra. How many girls they got? 4 Rs. And don't mean to be rude, but didn't catch your name. Well, my refuge generally preheats me, but I'm Bayard, Queen Killer of the Eastern Sarks. Queen Killer? Yeah, I killed one of the Connors. Big bosses. Ripped out her starving throat in front of her warriors. Ate all the dangly bits and torched a body right there. Connors are palacular when they're dead. So what? I did hurt him bad. They ain't crossed Me since. And now I'm one job away from running my own club. What about the kid? This one's mine. Had him a few moons ago and he's grown quick enough. You interested? We'll pass. For now. Any of you guys got names?

[Horatius]

Sadly, I hadn't considered that until now.

[Sylvanas]

You don't got a name? What kind of shit is this? Any of you guys got names? Blood? Skulls? No, no, no. What is the fucking name of you? You the fucking walking ditter. Me in front of me or you weird scrappy bitch? And what the fuck is up with those fucking masks? Hey. You got a problem talking with someone face to face?

[Horatius]

The only problem I've got is with people touching me without my permission. Now are we gonna do this job for you or what?

[Sylvanas]

Hey, ease up. You're here to be friendly, right? Give me a fucking name or I'll fucking have you killed right now.

[Horatius]

Call me Head Smash.

[Sylvanas]

Nice. I like you, Head Smash. You're gonna do the talking, cuz. I don't like these other fucks. I also kind of like when you speak because you got a nice voice and speak clean. Cute too. He's not the charismatic one. So just make sure none of these fucks talk to me and we're nice. And you know what? If you come back and bring some extra pulses, I'll get you some special one on one time with our best servers. Free drinks, drugs and strippers for the rest. Plus 240 meal as a reward. And 32 for each extra girl after the first four. But I want at least four girls by the time the sun rises. Alive and undamaged.

[Horatius]

Sounds good to me. Blood skulls roll out.

[Sylvanas]

One last thing. The eights might be witless, but they're fucking lucky. And numbers can outdo luck. Sometime I recommend picking a few mercs up for the job. And just to show that I ain't gilding you into a suicide mission, I'll up and send my brother coroners with you. Sound nice?

[Horatius]

Sure. Where do we find him?

[Azad]

She motions to a shirtless man flirting with mercenaries at a table nearby.

[Sylvanas]

Take nice care of him. Okay? See ya.

[Azad]

With her role of a natural 20, Hazard can see a number of groups who possibly appear as quality candidates for hire. The one named Corners, who is flirting with a party of three. A group of thuggish half masked men dining on a leg. Two men wearing heavy armor enjoying salacious entertainment. And two poorly dressed figures smoking chems out of a hookah. The other patrons are either socks, servers, merchants or guards. For the merchants though, one of them might be a medical practitioner of sorts.

[Horatius]

Well, I wasn't too keen on going in there and busting some skulls, but if they've got hostages that can't stand.

[Sylvanas]

Agreed.

[Diana]

So which one of these mercenaries do you think we should hire?

[Horatius]

Well, I figure we gotta go over there and talk to corners anyway. Might as well talk to the mercenaries he's talking to. Make a nice trip out of it.

[Diana]

May as well.

[Sylvanas]

Why don't we alternate who talks to these guys?

[Horatius]

Yeah, it sounds good. I'm getting tired of talking Sylvanas.

[Sylvanas]

Why don't you take this one?

[Diana]

Absolutely, I will.

[Azad]

Clearhout approaches corners a blonde young man who has some resemblance to his sister. He's laughing with two men who are dressed almost as eccentrically while a tough looking woman sitting at the table breastfeeds an infant.

[Diana]

Let me do a quick pass here. Or not.

[Horatius]

Yikes.

[Azad]

Her clear hat cannot see anything more. Perhaps distracted by corners nipples which are exposed.

[Horatius]

Putting it mildly.

[Diana]

Are you Corners? Excuse us. France. I don't think we've seen each other yet. I'm cornice. Business or pleasure? This is business, I'm afraid. Baird sent us over. That's a shame.

[Azad]

You're a pretty bunch.

[Diana]

I know. We are, aren't we?

[Sylvanas]

Yeah.

[Diana]

What can I do for you? We trying to put a team together. Wondering if your friends here might be able to help us out. Yeah, what kind of team? Want Tank? Hoping not to run into too much trouble, but things might get combative.

[Sylvanas]

Oh, you. You're helping me, sis.

[Diana]

Yes, we are. Yeah, I saw this one coming.

[Horatius]

You help them, assist us. Sure.

[Diana]

I'll watch the corners for you.

[Azad]

Qorners lovingly taps a previously unnoticed machine gun that's strapped to him via a three point harness. It's a large and well maintained gun, notably so out here beyond the wall.

[Diana]

I don't think they'll join us though, the manics. They got to deal with the eight so they can't play with us. It's not this time that might join us at the office fair.

[Azad]

The woman with the child perks up at the mention of her name.

[Sylvanas]

I'm just looking for a few scant meal to feed myself while my kiddo here is feeding. How about five meal? I don't care. Flavor. Just. I just need something worth the risk.

[Diana]

I see. Basically infant. We need to feed here, but would you take four meal?

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, yeah. Fortnite you pay now or later?

[Diana]

Let me talk with my friends first. Thank you for your time here. Give me just one second, okay? There's another thank you.

[Sylvanas]

Stop saying thank you. Don't say that word.

[Diana]

Anybody?

[Sylvanas]

I'm not sure they know that word.

[Diana]

Anybody think she can help us out here? Worth four meal.

[Sylvanas]

Does she look armed? Like he has a. An automatic? Does she have anything on her?

[Diana]

I'm much too distracted by his nipples. Still, I could not tell you.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, I'll roll.

[Diana]

I mean, look at them. They're so perky.

[Sylvanas]

I. I think the winning move here is not to play so much look at are none of it important.

[Azad]

The woman looks generally tough. Her skin has a half dozen tattoos, and prominent ritualistic scarring can be found adorning her chest, neck, and face. Part of her left ear is also missing, as if bitten off. She's armed with a knife and a strange club with a trigger on it, indicating that it also might be capable of shooting bullets.

[Horatius]

Look, why don't we give her half the meal now? Half the meal when the job is done. That way, if she turns out to be useless, we could just cut our losses.

[Sylvanas]

We don't really have a reason to earn meal off of this. So we could offer her any of the meal we get from rescuing additional slaves past the original four. That sounds agreeable.

[Diana]

As long as we can phrase that payment plan simply, I think we'll be good.

[Horatius]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking about.

[Sylvanas]

I'm not doing well with the speaking thing.

[Horatius]

There's also the concern that she might want some kind of incentive for coming along in the first place.

[Sylvanas]

You can give her some now, but we weren't given any additional meal when we left, so I don't know how much meal you guys have on you right now, but I'm not very happy at the prospects of what we would be eating if we get rid of all of our meal.

[Horatius]

Well, why don't we try your offer, and if that doesn't work, we'll improvise.

[Sylvanas]

We can still offer her something up front, but we could just say that on the back end, anything she earns from the additional slaves would be hers.

[Diana]

Before I decide on that, is there anything additional I can find out about the two raggedy looking individuals with the.

[Sylvanas]

Hookah while you investigate that group? I need to find a bathroom. Don't leave without me.

[Diana]

I wouldn't dream of it.

[Azad]

That's actually a pretty nice role. Clarehout can see two figures in the corner sharing a hookah with one of the servers. One is bald with tattoos over his eyes and forehead, and the other is a blonde woman with dozens of pockets sewn into her clothing. Neither appears to Be armed. But padding suggests that they might be concealing weapons.

[Diana]

Okay.

[Sylvanas]

Do they have sark marks?

[Azad]

While the figures have a bounty of tattoos, they both appear to lack the sark mark.

[Diana]

So he said there were maybe eight individuals we're after, right? How many additional mercenaries do you think we're going to need?

[Sylvanas]

Run that by. Correct. He knows more about this gang we're going after than we do.

[Diana]

I'm thinking we should take the woman with the baby. We'll have corners either way. With his machine gun.

[Horatius]

I like that idea.

[Diana]

Yeah. Let me just turn back around. I'm gonna take two meal out if I can. We turn back around to the table and put them in front of the woman.

[Azad]

The woman grins, revealing a set of eroded gray teeth.

[Diana]

A little something to get you interested. Does it sound okay to give you the other two once the job is done?

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, yeah, totally.

[Diana]

Totally.

[Sylvanas]

We're great. I'm Pep, by the way.

[Diana]

Scar. I'd like to shake her hand.

[Sylvanas]

Well met. Well, well, well, well met, Scar. And friends. Yeah, you got me. Just let me know when you're ready. Just say and I'll be with you. Should I meet you somewhere or just wait here for a bit or wait here for now.

[Diana]

We'll let you know when we're ready to head out.

[Sylvanas]

Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

[Azad]

Pep opens one of the meal and immediately starts consuming it. She appears malnourished.

[Diana]

Corners. We're gonna be heading down the block here to that bleeding eye. How many people do you think are gonna be down there for us? Lucky are tough.

[Sylvanas]

Maybe looking at a couple. Probably a dozen.

[Diana]

Maybe.

[Sylvanas]

Maybe a little less.

[Diana]

And how many do you think you can handle by yourself with that machine gun of yours? Well, see, I handle a direction. That's my thing.

[Sylvanas]

I don't handle numbers.

[Diana]

I just handle every number in one direction. So I got the name.

[Sylvanas]

Corners. I typically got a corner.

[Diana]

It's what I do.

[Sylvanas]

This would be easier if they just wanted us to blow up the place. But we have to rescue people.

[Diana]

Yeah, yeah, we want our strippers back.

[Horatius]

Prostatuts. What kind of weapons do you figure these people are gonna be having on them? Corners.

[Diana]

Ah, lucky eights. Most of them probably got single shots, but they'll be reluctant to use it.

[Sylvanas]

They don't like spending shells and socks.

[Diana]

We got plenty of bullets. But gangs like those users don't like the idea of shooting a wiggle meal. If they could kill you of the.

[Sylvanas]

Club just the same.

[Horatius]

Horatius turns back to comrades. Well, I figure even if they have superior Numbers. We can probably out fire them with what we've got. And what Corners has. No need to take a man to man.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah. The woman that we're taking, does she have sark marks?

[Azad]

Pep doesn't have a sock mark on her.

[Sylvanas]

All right, so they wouldn't give her guns.

[Diana]

It probably wouldn't hurt to take an extra body or two with us. You know, spare pulses are nice to have. So somebody's got a bleed out.

[Horatius]

It's not us.

[Sylvanas]

What about that guard that stopped us on the way in?

[Horatius]

Oh, Bliss.

[Diana]

Nah, he's got guard here tonight. He's on shift.

[Horatius]

Maybe we should talk to the doctor.

[Diana]

I don't suppose I could be of service to any of you guys in the meantime, hmm?

[Azad]

Cornus winks at Azad.

[Sylvanas]

She does not notice because at this point, she's looking in any other direction. Because as Sylvanas and I found out earlier, do not stare directly at his nipples.

[Horatius]

You know, I think we're gonna be fine.

[Sylvanas]

Corners.

[Horatius]

Why don't you stick to your namesake?

[Diana]

Well, you can always join me in a corner for the red purse, if you understand me. I think we'll have to pass this time. Aight.

[Sylvanas]

Aight.

[Diana]

I'm here.

[Sylvanas]

Just let me know when you're ready.

[Diana]

And we'll get up and go. Got it? We'll let you know.

[Sylvanas]

So what are. What are. Okay, so we're taking this person and that person with us. He's armed, she is not. And we're going after possibly a dozen Fringers in their own compound.

[Horatius]

Well, that's the plan so far.

[Sylvanas]

This sounds like a horrible plan.

[Diana]

Also, do we count the baby as one of our party or.

[Sylvanas]

She better not be bringing the baby. Just tactically speaking, they make a lot of noise.

[Diana]

We should have figured that out before I gave her that meal.

[Sylvanas]

All right, so we need to find out, first of all, if we're taking the baby into battle. Second of all, some information on this compound we're going to. More than possibly a dozen, and anything else we're missing before we head out in this horrible direction.

[Horatius]

Well, we already know there's going to be a dozen people we're going to be fighting, that they're going to be lightly armed and reluctant to shoot. I don't know exactly how many people we need to take, but probably not as many as they have, since it seems like at the very least, Corners is going to have some superior firepower. Maybe some of these other people we're talking to will, too. Speaking of firepower, don't forget to get your Gun on the way out.

[Diana]

Thank you for the reminder. I mean, fuck off for the reminder.

[Horatius]

You're fucking welcome or whatever.

[Diana]

Yeah.

[Sylvanas]

Bravo. You're doing very well. Starting to sound like Fringers already.

[Diana]

Well, I think we need one more.

[Horatius]

Horatius seems non, non sarcastically proud of that compliment. Like. Well, I never considered myself an actor.

[Sylvanas]

But did anybody else notice that Sylvanas typed the Battle Baby into our.

[Diana]

Oh, yeah.

[Horatius]

Well, I kind of want to take him now.

[Diana]

Forging this baby armor all week.

[Sylvanas]

Plus two armor on the Battle Baby.

[Azad]

No, no, no, no. What about it gives her plus two armor.

[Diana]

For at least two shots.

[Sylvanas]

That is tough, man. What about the two men wearing heavy armor being entertained by. I'm assuming the strippers perceive.

[Diana]

And I will.

[Horatius]

May as well. Right.

[Diana]

And I won't.

[Azad]

Azad and Clerhard approach two heavily armored men, each with a club resting beside them. They have short hair, simple tattoos, and they are flirting with three attractive servers. Both men are wearing homemade armor fashioned from pieces of what Clearhout suspects was at one point Atrian armor mixed in with scrap fabric and heavy stitching. Imagery of terrifying monsters with four legs and flaming hair is etched and painted onto the armor. Two bulky metal helmets and two sets of heavy gloves nearby confirm that they each have a full bodysuit of extremely durable armor, though they noticeably lack firepower. As Clearhout approaches, the older of the two frowns at him.

[Horatius]

Yo, we got a job we could use a couple of fellas like you. Lots of meal in it for you. Interested? We're for hire. Good. And so you coming or what?

[Sylvanas]

What? You paying?

[Diana]

What are you bringing to the table?

[Azad]

Well, we hit it. Die.

[Diana]

How hard?

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, yeah, you're all right. Pair tab and we're with you.

[Horatius]

What's your tab?

[Sylvanas]

Between the hookers, the blow, the drinks this week, maybe 12.

[Azad]

Meal all up front, no haggling.

[Horatius]

It's actually less expensive than I thought.

[Sylvanas]

What? No, that was far more expensive than I thought it would be. Sorry.

[Horatius]

Hmm. Well, actually, that is. I was gonna say I've got a lot of meal, but really, I've got a lot of credits.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, like, we don't have a lot of meal on us. If we give away all of our food, we're gonna be eating not food.

[Diana]

Well, we have the baby. I don't know what you're worried about.

[Sylvanas]

Right, The Battle Baby, it's not for eating.

[Diana]

Gentlemen, let us think about it. We'll get back to you, okay? I'd like to go over to the doctor, if I may.

[Azad]

The man Clearhout assumes To be a doctor appears generally distressed as he approaches. The doctor snaps quickly at a nearby man wearing a gas mask who appears to be a bodyguard. The half masked doctor puffs smoke in Klarhout's face before taking a puff from an inhaler in his other hand.

[Sylvanas]

What do you want?

[Diana]

I'd like to hold up my hands peacefully as possible. Hello, friend. I'm trying to put together a team.

[Sylvanas]

Okay.

[Diana]

Expecting a little trouble. I'm not sure. If you're of the medical persuasion, I figured I would come and ask.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, I'm a doctor. What's the mission? I'm gonna tap on Silvana his shoulder and pull him back.

[Diana]

One moment.

[Sylvanas]

I have medical training and I think that I'm probably a little bit better off than adding in an additional wild fringer factor to this.

[Diana]

Understood? Absolutely. Just gathering a little information.

[Sylvanas]

I don't think he can hear us.

[Horatius]

Guess he's not an ear doctor.

[Diana]

Actually, I was curious if you had any additional supplies you might be willing to part with.

[Sylvanas]

Anything in particular? Looking for?

[Horatius]

Got some stitches, ointments for burns, got some drugs.

[Sylvanas]

Can't sell them to you here though. Get me in trouble.

[Diana]

Anything we're missing?

[Sylvanas]

I don't think we want anything he has to offer.

[Horatius]

I tell you what, doctor, we're gonna go. We're gonna go do this thing and we'll come back. If any of us gets hurt and we need something from you, fuck off then.

[Sylvanas]

Just like everybody else. Go bother somebody else next time. I got booze to drink.

[Horatius]

Oh, booze to drink. I heard boobs to drink and I was wondering if he was calling over a. Oh, poor doctor can't afford boobs.

[Diana]

You want to do the diligence here or should we go with what we have?

[Sylvanas]

Well, let's see. Corners is on the team already. Heavy armor wearing men are too expensive doctors. Just weird.

[Horatius]

I don't particularly feel like talking to the guys eating a leg.

[Sylvanas]

I agree. And then there's two poorly dressed figures smoking out of a hookah. So whether or not I believe they would be in condition to join us currently.

[Diana]

I did take a look at them earlier.

[Horatius]

We already. We already disastrously hired a baby, so I don't know about talking to. Maybe we should hire them to take care of the baby.

[Sylvanas]

Sure, go ahead. See how this ends up. Oh, let's put the baby with the poorly dressed figure smoking out of the hookah in the strip club slash brothel.

[Horatius]

Well, that's better than taking the baby into a line of fire, isn't it?

[Sylvanas]

Oh, this is such A horrible idea.

[Diana]

Let's approach the group at the hookah.

[Azad]

The bald man stops himself from taking a hit and silently stares at Clareha. While everyone can see that the bald man is covered in a mix of reinforced armor and cloth with a bong gas mask hybrid built into his shoulder pad. Only Azad is able to notice the outline of a concealed firearm of some sort under his cloak. The bandolier he's wearing suggests that whatever it is, it probably fires shotgun rounds. The accompanying woman appears to have various pieces of scrap in her numerous pockets. She also appears to be armed with short scrap blades and an ancient GNK pistol mounted on a wrist brace just beneath her sleeve.

[Horatius]

Nice Eve.

[Sylvanas]

Heya.

[Diana]

Oi. What's the smoke?

[Sylvanas]

Whatever it is, it's not strong.

[Diana]

It'll do. We're actually looking to put together a team here. Wondering if you two might have any skills to contribute. Well, I happen to be a gun.

[Sylvanas]

For hire, working for the most trusted.

[Diana]

For hire gang in all the fringe. Death bribers. The most glorious assassins. You get me and my gun for the night. 20 meal, no questions asked. Except the most important one.

[Horatius]

What's the most important?

[Diana]

Who we killing?

[Azad]

He grins, notably missing a few teeth.

[Diana]

And you? A nod to the woman.

[Sylvanas]

I'm for hire too. Or for trade if you need stuff. Traded. What you doing? I need to know a little more. You know.

[Diana]

Rescue mission of sorts. Might get sticky.

[Sylvanas]

Eight Meal. That'll set me up nice for the week. Give me time to work on art.

[Diana]

And just to be clear, your for higher end of it.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, yeah, we're just smoking together for a bit.

[Diana]

Excellent. Let us think about it. We'll get back to you.

[Sylvanas]

Okay.

[Diana]

So who we killing? Going after a gang just down the block. Maybe a dozen or so. They don't have to die, but might come to it.

[Azad]

The man smiles and leans back, seemingly indifferent as Hawk perks up.

[Sylvanas]

What's the name of the group? I know a lot in this area. I do lots of trade, so I know lots of people.

[Diana]

Sylvanas is hesitant to tell her and it shows in his forehead with little wrinkles. Yeah, actually we're not quite sure ourselves yet. Just going on some loose information.

[Sylvanas]

Weird. But I can help. I know lots of people, so I know lots of things. And I know lots of secrets. That's my specialty.

[Diana]

I'd like to turn to Horatius.

[Horatius]

Okay.

[Diana]

Perhaps something in her inventory might make us a little more friendly here.

[Sylvanas]

Can we chat for a moment? We did not get to finish our conversation earlier.

[Diana]

Just a chatterbox. I'm sorry.

[Sylvanas]

I'm gonna inform them about what I saw on them while they were discussing the way too high price of 20 meal.

[Horatius]

Right? Yeah. Horatius. Horatius kinda waved the blood skulls back away from the group so they can talk more openly.

[Sylvanas]

So the only people we haven't talked to are the thuggish masked men dining on a leg.

[Horatius]

Yeah, I'm not really, I'm not. I'm not about this leg situation. I'm thinking of anybody. The eight meal girl would be a decent hire.

[Sylvanas]

She is armed.

[Horatius]

That's a sight better than anyone else we could hire.

[Diana]

We could hire one of them and just make sure they don't make it. Send them in first or something. They are fringers after all. It's not like they're people, right?

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, that's not the worry. The worry is if they go in first and die, are we going to get our meal back?

[Diana]

Pay them after, offer them double.

[Sylvanas]

Oh, that's sure. So eight. The woman who was eight meal for hire, she had the pistol or what was it that you said? Should she have? Cause you expect me to remember that word and I did not.

[Diana]

Good night kiss? Concealed pistol, I believe it was.

[Sylvanas]

So it's an Atrian gun?

[Diana]

It's not a standard issue Atrian gun, but it's one that falls under second tier lethality. It's an older model, a GNK12, which unlike the newer GNK16s doesn't have the mark reader.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, so she's armed. What can I see that is in her pockets?

[Azad]

In addition to scrap, Azad feels fairly confident that she also remembers seeing various drugs, blades, strange burnt substances that might have been flesh, clumps of hair and bullet casings.

[Sylvanas]

All right, so things that would be considered profitable in the fringe.

[Diana]

Well, I think we need one more. She seems like the best candidate.

[Horatius]

I was thinking the same thing.

[Diana]

Yeah, Just to be forward with you guys, I have 13 meal left of my own after my little spending spree.

[Sylvanas]

You have 13 meal on you?

[Diana]

I do.

[Sylvanas]

That is a lot of meal.

[Diana]

It's hidden.

[Sylvanas]

You have like over double the amount of meal that I have on me.

[Diana]

Well, you just make it then I take it all from you.

[Horatius]

I'm not gonna say anything about the amount of meal I have, but anyway, I think it's a good idea. Definitely something we should consider.

[Sylvanas]

I need to get a new job because my job is not paying me well and it's sending me into the fringe. I have a really bad job.

[Diana]

Well, technically it's our part time jobs that got us into the fringe.

[Sylvanas]

Right.

[Horatius]

Well, I tell you what. If you're ever interested in getting into the mining trade, I can put in a good word.

[Sylvanas]

I'm not.

[Horatius]

I guess that settles that.

[Diana]

How much does it smell like? Urine in the mines.

[Horatius]

Really? It smells mostly like dirt. It's a mine.

[Diana]

I'm considering it.

[Sylvanas]

Dirt's not bad. Not a bad smell in comparison. All right. You wouldn't believe what some of the stuff they put into meals smells like before they put in all the other stuff.

[Horatius]

I believe it. That's why I get the special where they make it into a sandwich or whatever.

[Sylvanas]

Have to get that artisan food. Geez, you really are paid a lot.

[Diana]

All right, without being indelicate, Horatius, is eight meal a problem for you?

[Horatius]

I can swing it. But I wouldn't mind if the two of you chipped in at least a meal or two.

[Diana]

I'm comfortable with that.

[Sylvanas]

I have five meal on me.

[Horatius]

Okay, well, how about this? I will continue contribute five out of the eight meal we need, and the two of you can hash out however much you can contribute.

[Diana]

I can cover the other three for now. Absolutely. That is if you think we need her.

[Sylvanas]

I can do one.

[Horatius]

I think Horatius plan is basically hire the girl, go to the place and see what happens.

[Sylvanas]

Hire the girl? Do you mean the woman who has the gun?

[Horatius]

Yes.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, so we'll have corners. And the woman with the baby and the woman with the gun.

[Horatius]

Right.

[Sylvanas]

What are we doing about the baby?

[Horatius]

Ah, that's a good question. Actually. Horatius will head back over to the table with the woman with the baby at it.

[Sylvanas]

Hey.

[Horatius]

Hey. Notice you got that baby there. What were you planning on doing with it while you were on this mission?

[Sylvanas]

What you mean it's not for sale? I'm keeping it.

[Horatius]

Well, sure, but you know there's gonna be bullets flying around. Maybe people getting hit. Wouldn't want your baby to get hurt.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, yeah, that's why I put him on my back.

[Horatius]

All right, listen. So you want to take the baby.

[Diana]

With you while we do this?

[Horatius]

Go into a violent situation with a baby?

[Sylvanas]

If I leave him here, these cirques will. As much as I like the circus, I wouldn't feel easy leaving them with anyone. You know he's my blood. Not that you get it, creep. Blood. Gangers. Can we hire a prostitute as a babysitter? Just an idea.

[Horatius]

Look, how would you feel if we talked to one of the ladies here? Maybe gave him a couple of meal to watch over the kid for you? Would you feel safer? With one of them than with one of the sarks.

[Sylvanas]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. They're. They're basically sarks. But if you give them the mail for it. Yeah, you guys are nice. I don't get it. I thought you guys were skull crushing creepers, Right? If the baby cries, it'll tell them that we're there. Oh, you don't cry. Yeah, but if you do that, I'll be happy. That'd be nice.

[Horatius]

All right, let's do that then.

[Sylvanas]

Well, let's find out how much it costs to rent a babysitting prostitute.

[Horatius]

Gracious is going to walk right up to one of the ladies.

[Sylvanas]

What can I do for you?

[Horatius]

Well, I got a job for you. That's probably not the kind of thing you're used to.

[Sylvanas]

I get that a lot.

[Horatius]

Look, that lady over there has a baby. How much would we have to pay you to watch it for an hour or two?

[Sylvanas]

The night, probably the night. Might take the night. I don't know.

[Horatius]

The night, probably the night.

[Diana]

Two meal.

[Horatius]

Okay, I'll make sure no one touches him.

[Sylvanas]

You got my word.

[Horatius]

I think you got yourself a deal.

[Sylvanas]

Name? Silver. I'll be here all night now with this baby. And we'll be in that corner when you return.

[Horatius]

Thank you.

[Azad]

Silver McBride gives silver to meal.

[Horatius]

Horatius leads her over to the baby, makes an introduction, and then assuming she's got the baby, gives her the meal. Pep, this is Silver. Silver, this is Pep.

[Sylvanas]

Hey.

[Horatius]

And that's the baby.

[Sylvanas]

Drop him and I'll rip your tongue out and feed it to you. Okay, whatever. Just be nice for. I'm gone. Hi. Oh, it's okay.

[Diana]

Lost two armor.

[Horatius]

I'm keeping a ledger and I just had to put in babysitting.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, I'm sorry, I thought you said we just lost two armor. Because you were referring to the blessed two for the battle Baby armor.

[Horatius]

Well, that too.

[Sylvanas]

We should try haggling. We should haggle.

[Diana]

What a novel idea.

[Sylvanas]

This is too much money, guys. Because it is insane to be like. Just from the perspective. This is too much money. Haggle. Guys, look.

[Horatius]

One of Horatius's Horatius flaw is I spend far too much money on. So if you want to haggle, you really need to haggle for him. Or he needs to not be the point man for financial transactions because that's what's been happening so far.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, so you will not be the point man for the financial transactions.

[Horatius]

Well, if you say so. I thought I was doing a pretty good job.

[Sylvanas]

Two meal for a prostitute for the Night to watch a baby is way too much money.

[Horatius]

We don't want the baby to get hurt. It's a baby.

[Sylvanas]

She could have done it for a tin and just put it in a basket and had other people pay her for other things the rest of the night. Like, dude, that was way too much money. That was like two days work, two days salary for these people.

[Horatius]

Well, look, I don't. I mean, I don't want the baby to be in a basket. I want to make sure she's watching the baby. I want the baby to.

[Sylvanas]

I've just been watching it happen. I'm like. I feel like that was.

[Azad]

You should probably speak up.

[Sylvanas]

I feel like that was too much.

[Azad]

That's one of your traits. You can't stand people who do stupid things.

[Sylvanas]

I know. I'm telling them now.

[Azad]

On the other side of the whole poke, Special Agent Cassius Sat meets up with an old friend, a fringer by the name of Flick.

[Sylvanas]

Hey, that you, Flick? Oh, hey, Cass. Thought it was you. No one else I know has ink that nice. Thanks. So, you and Ziggs on a job for Dan?

[Horatius]

No.

[Sylvanas]

Why? Perfect. You're working for me and those guys. Unless you got something better y'all can be doing pretend meal. I don't got anything better I could be doing. I always love having you and Ziggs around, Flick. Yeah, don't ask too many questions per the usual. Don't insult my friends and keep what we're up to secret. Welcome to the Blood Skulls.

[Azad]

Agent Sogot approaches the team with a male Fringer. You will now describe his visual appearance.

[Horatius]

In comes a fringer with darkish skin. He's a little lanky, about five'eleven and he looks very athletic. He has dark brown eyes and medium.

[Azad]

Length black hair that's been done into dreads.

[Sylvanas]

Everyone, this is Flick. Flick will be joining us for the duration of our mission. He's trustworthy and he's reliable. Flick, this is the team we're working with. They have many names they go by and it'd be more difficult for me to tell you some of their names, so I'll give you the easiest ones to remember. What was your name again?

[Diana]

Sylvanas.

[Sylvanas]

No.

[Diana]

It'S Scar.

[Sylvanas]

Ah, now Scar makes sense. Sylvanic is a bit fancy for around here.

[Azad]

What does Scar look like?

[Diana]

Scar has darkish skin as well. Dark gray hair with a streak of white along the side. Looks to be a Scar aptly named. Also got an eyebrow gap in the hair there from a scar as well. I apparently don't like my face and don't care to protect it. I'm pretty average in every other way. About six feet, average build. Pretty. Don't remember that he was ever in the room.

[Azad]

She motions to Azov. Next.

[Sylvanas]

Okay. A woman who looks so. Diana usually stands about 5 7, but ever since she put on all of the Fringer garb, she's been kind of hunched over because she doesn't really want to stand out too much. She has very dark eyebrows, but she's currently wearing a really rag tag sort of hood over her head. She has very prominent nose and a black bob haircut. She has brown, dark skin and she just looks very unhappy to be here. Very unhappy to be here. Diana, tell him your name. Zid. Because that was something her little sister. Correct. Incorrectly pronounced last name when they were younger. So she's gonna be Zid. Zid. Scar.

[Horatius]

And the tall guy you see before you, a strapping lad, probably in his early 20s, not super tall. He's 5 8, 135 pounds of muscle. Dark eyes, olive skin and slicked back hair. He's unshaven and kind of gruff, but there's a certain kindness behind his eyes that he doesn't seem able to disguise. And he says, I'm Head Smash and we're the Blood Skulls. Nice to meet you. Or whatever.

[Sylvanas]

Head Smasher is our impromptu boss, but he don't talk so well, so sometimes we talk for him.

[Horatius]

The man in the dreads tries to hide a smirk and doesn't completely succeed.

[Sylvanas]

Well, Scar Zik. Zid. Scar Zid.

[Horatius]

Head Smash.

[Sylvanas]

Nice to meet you.

[Horatius]

My name's Flick.

[Sylvanas]

He waves at you with his right arm and you see a series of.

[Horatius]

Metal plates running down his arm.

[Sylvanas]

Or at least it appears to be.

[Horatius]

A series of metal plates. If you look a little closer, you realize it's just a tattoo sleeve that's been made to look like a robot arm.

[Azad]

It was very expensive.

[Horatius]

Very expensive.

[Sylvanas]

So we're currently grabbing some pulses before we do a raid. A group nearby. We're trying to figure out who we want to run with us. That's our plan.

[Azad]

Flick recognizes a fellow scavenger merchant who he sold things to in the past named Hawk.

[Sylvanas]

So, we hiring anyone or are we going to do this ourselves? What is your recommendation? I mean, what do you think?

[Diana]

Maybe someone should tell Flick what we're up against.

[Horatius]

Yeah, I guess that's fair. We're going up against about a dozen not especially well armed. And they're gonna be scared to shoot because bullets are expensive.

[Sylvanas]

Hmm.

[Diana]

Well, the name of the gang's the Lucky Eight.

[Sylvanas]

The Lucky Eights, huh? Yep. I work with them sometimes. Are you opposed to killing them?

[Horatius]

Well, I was gonna help, but against the Eights? Maybe not.

[Sylvanas]

For 10 meal. I can also take care of some of the date you got. Situation starves a bit, but I'm in.

[Diana]

Something that just occurred to me while we're speaking privately. If Pep should happen not to make it, what is our plan for what we do with the baby?

[Horatius]

Guess Pep had better make it.

[Sylvanas]

Corners knows her. Maybe he knows something I don't. Actually, I really don't care. It's a Fringer.

[Diana]

Fair enough.

[Sylvanas]

Ain't we all fringes though?

[Diana]

We are now.

[Horatius]

Damn right.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, we're all Fringers here. We nice.

[Horatius]

I take it from your silence that.

[Sylvanas]

This extra 12 meal here is for my extra silence? Exactly. Why should anyone care about the small child? It'll be worth something to the Sarks, maybe.

[Diana]

Other than that. One of my core motivations is protecting everyone. No, no, no. No reason.

[Sylvanas]

But in the Atreus mentality, you would not consider Fringers to be human in theory.

[Horatius]

Right.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah.

[Horatius]

I was gonna say, I think Fringer or no, Horatius is looking over at that baby and thinking about what his little sister looked like when she was born.

[Sylvanas]

You're thinking too much into it.

[Horatius]

Stop. Well, listen, how about we go and do this thing? We'll do our best to make sure everybody comes out of it alive and we'll deal with the aftermath after the math.

[Sylvanas]

Works for me.

[Diana]

Yeah.

[Sylvanas]

Okay, so we're hiring anyone else? Are we ready to go? So we're going up against an assumed at. Up against pop? Maybe. Maybe 12. And I think with what we have, we should be okay.

[Diana]

Are we going to pick up the other lady as well? It's eight meal on the table whether we want to or not.

[Horatius]

That's a good point.

[Sylvanas]

Or you have not attempted to haggle yet. What?

[Horatius]

Me?

[Sylvanas]

No, no, no. We're haggling someone else. Why don't we still scar? Scar. Why don't you haggle her down?

[Diana]

I'll do my best.

[Horatius]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[Diana]

I'll walk back over to her. I'm sorry, I totally forgot the name of the woman. I'm. It's. It's the scavenger, right? With the pockets, isn't it?

[Sylvanas]

Hawk. Hawk.

[Diana]

You said Hawk. Got it. So me and my friend are about ready to go here. You said you needed 8 meal to come with us. That right?

[Sylvanas]

Yeah, that'd be great.

[Diana]

Any chance you take four?

[Azad]

That will require a Successful persuasion check.

[Diana]

Not that likable.

[Sylvanas]

Five, maybe. Five And a tin.

[Diana]

How about just five?

[Sylvanas]

Sure. Done. Four and ten. You can't haggle after haggling and agreeing. No take backs.

[Diana]

Never mind. I will turn around. Horatius, my friend, my pockets are a little light.

[Horatius]

Yeah, yeah. All right. Horatius digs around his pockets for a while. How much you need?

[Sylvanas]

4.

[Horatius]

Okay, I'll spot one.

[Sylvanas]

Oh my God. Don't do that in like public.

[Horatius]

Horatius looks around to make sure that Hawk's the only person watching him. And then he pulls four meal out of his pocket and hands it off to his buddy, whose name I just forgot. I'm sorry, what was your character's name? Sylvanas. Excuse me. Skull.

[Diana]

Scar.

[Sylvanas]

We're gonna die.

[Diana]

I will take before meal. I will add one of my own. And I will hold it knowingly out to her, but not all the way.

[Azad]

She slowly reaches for the meal and.

[Diana]

I reluctantly give it to her.

[Sylvanas]

Cool. When do we leave?

[Diana]

We'll let you know. We got just a few more things to discuss first.

[Sylvanas]

Right. I'm here. I won't smoke too much because I've got a job now.

[Azad]

The other mercenary exhales puffs of smoke indifferently behind her.

[Diana]

I would like to nod at them and then rejoin the group. I'm going to be able to run a lot faster now that I got rid of this meal.

[Horatius]

Well, hopefully we won't have to do too much running. I guess we'll find out. Well, anyway, do we want to go ahead and do this or are we still figuring things out?

[Sylvanas]

Who was the one who said they had done work with the lucky eights? Oh, that was me. What can you tell us about him? Well, I can tell you that they.

[Horatius]

Like luck a lot. Their leader, Teal, is a real pushy gal.

[Azad]

She stole from me once because she.

[Sylvanas]

Didn'T like my work. Are we not going to like your work? I don't know.

[Azad]

You paid 10 meal for it.

[Sylvanas]

He's reliable. We'll like his work.

[Diana]

You said they like luck. Do they go beyond that? Would we be able to potentially resolve this with a coin toss?

[Azad]

Hmm, maybe.

[Horatius]

It's almost like a religion to them.

[Diana]

Interesting.

[Horatius]

Well, I guess that's worth a shot.

[Azad]

First, Flik unconsciously pulls out a flat piece of scrap from his pocket.

[Sylvanas]

Flick.

[Horatius]

Just glides it through his finger nervously and flips it towards Scar.

[Diana]

Do I have to roll to catch it?

[Sylvanas]

Thank you.

[Diana]

Cat like reflexes. Interesting. I'll. I'll hold on to this show. Well, I've Just got to get my gun back. That's the only thing stopping me from leaving. That and the fact that it smells worse outside.

[Sylvanas]

Should I tell everyone to meet us outside then?

[Horatius]

Sounds good to me.

[Sylvanas]

All right. Meet you out there.

[Horatius]

Okay, Skull crushers. Let's do this thing. Wasn't it blood skulls? Oh, yeah. Blood skulls.

[Azad]

As the team exits the whole Poke Bliss, the guard smiles and returns their weapons.

[Sylvanas]

Hey, friends.

[Horatius]

We really appreciate your help here.

[Sylvanas]

Those eights won't know what hit them, eh? Oh, the eights are a block up that road. Not the one you started from. 8th and Indigo.

[Diana]

Stay smart.

[Azad]

The mercenaries that the team hired, Corners, Pep and Hawk join them. After a few moments, corners looks at McBride.

[Sylvanas]

All right. Head smash. Are we doing this?

[Horatius]

I don't see why not. Let's go. Blood skulls. Liberty Vigilance Created and produced by Travis Fengroff with editing and writing assistance from KA Stats. Starring Peter Lewis, Sean Francis, Caitlin Buckley, Kaitlyn Stats and introducing Daniel Thorson as Flick with narration by Wayne June. Guest voices include Ethur Vithyarsson, Sarah Golding, Russell Moore, Heather McLennan, Stephanie Lando, Abby Kindler, Sean St. Pierre, Frank Carino and Paul Meyer.

[Sylvanas]

The music was Created by Ryan McQuinn.

[Horatius]

Stephen Malin and Brandon Strader. Vigilance was mixed and mastered by Brandon Strater with COVID art by Dan Stanek. The original game master was Travis Van Groff with assistance by KA Stats. This episode was brought to you by our Patreon team. If you have enjoyed listening to this episode, please consider supporting us on Patreon or by liking and reviewing our show on itunes. We'd especially like to thank citizens Zach Israel Fallon Gannon, Anton Scalia, Adam Farber, Scott Morrison and Austin Barth. This broadcast is created by fool and Scholar Production.

[Sylvanas]

Thank you for listening and may the.

[Horatius]

Archon watch over you.

[Diana]

You are now entering Springfield. Where's the body?

[Sylvanas]

Off the side of the ditch down there. Hello? You know, surrounded by all this crime scene tape. Hello? Am I dead?

[Diana]

My name is John.

[Horatius]

I'm the new forensic pathologist.

[Diana]

I can see you.

[Horatius]

And that's how we'll figure out how you were murdered.

[Sylvanas]

He took this away from all of us.

[Horatius]

31 year old female pronounced dead on the scene approximately 3am after a 911 call. File number 3367.

[Sylvanas]

Male impaled on a construction site. I'm dead, John. This is about the last amount of fun I'll have. Case number 1 017.

[Diana]

A wife blended her husband in a wet vac.

[Horatius]

Case number 01745-7721.

[Sylvanas]

Dead. I can't be dead.

[Diana]

It's okay.

[Horatius]

It's just you and me now.

[Sylvanas]

Who are you talking to?

[Diana]

Oh, no one. Let's keep this between us, huh?

[Horatius]

Listen to how I died. A full cast police and medical procedural.

[Sylvanas]

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[Horatius]

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[Sylvanas]

You'll be the werewolf then, yeah, Mags.

[Horatius]

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[Sylvanas]

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[Horatius]

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[Diana]

I think the queen doesn't like you very much.

[Horatius]

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[Sylvanas]

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[Diana]

Sludge.

[Sylvanas]

Yeah. I'm the sludge boy. F. Ing love. Sludge boy. No, again, I'm not that sludge boy.

[Horatius]

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[Sylvanas]

Isaac Newton didn't study and f. Putney did he? Whose eyes it.

[Diana]

Oh, my God.

[Horatius]

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[Sylvanas]

There's a magic community.

[Horatius]

There is.

[Sylvanas]

Yay. I'm in a magic community.

[Horatius]

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