>>28581489
Archives: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Clade%20Quest
Character Sheet: http://pastebin.com/YaqYTJm1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Clade_Quest

>THE COUNT
>63 Days Until Midterm Elections
>6 Senators Short
>Public Opinion 67% Against

>>28581489
>>So are we going to talk about this?
Christ these people give up quickly. Where are their GUTS?!

>>28581489
>Go to sleep.
Can always discuss it in the morning.

>>28581489
>Talk about it.

>>28581538
They are politicians.

What were you expecting? Having your spine surgically removed is a requirement of the position.

>>28581538
>>28581703

You cross your arms and plant yourself firmly in the doorway. "You can't seriously be giving up after that. We barely talked to her! We're going to go back in the morning and-"

"We're doing no such thing. It was a mistake to come here. I didn't think Cassie would happy to see us but... if anything her temper has gotten worse. Even if she did want to join us we couldn't use her now."

"Which is what I told you in the first place," Novena says through a cigarette she's finally managed to find. "She never got it together after the riots."

Caleb gives her a withering look before turning back to you. "You don't know Cassie. She's as good as they come as far as rallying her people but she's always been emotional. After what happened last time no amount of reasonable discussion is going to make her come around. I'm sorry kid, but if you're going to work in this business you've got to realize not everything has a fairy tale ending. Cassie never did. And go do that shit outside Nov, you know I hate it."

She shrugs and goes out the front door.

>He's right. Go to sleep.
>Keep Arguing.
>Go back.
>Other?

>>28581726
Muh trip.

>>28581726
>Go back.
What, not giving up at first sign of resistance is 'believing in fairytale endings' now? If she's a good person we have nothing to fear by talking to her anyway.

>>28581714
Technically, they're aides (or similar), aren't they? Novena at least.

>>28581762
You leave the room in silence and march down the hallway. The hell if you're going to leave it at that. You gave up a perfectly good day for this, one of the few you had in between classes. You have no idea where their spines suddenly went but if this is going to get done it's clearly going to have to be done by you. The car keys are still in your jacket pocket and you remember the route back to the town. There's nothing stopping you from....."

Shit. Just outside the front (and only, goddamn fire hazard) door to the building is Novena, clearly in no hurry to finish her smoke and see Caleb.

>Try to sneak by her. (FLEXIBILITY, CHALLENGING)
>We're not afraid of her. We're leaving.

>>28581784
They work for a 501(c)4. Their job titles are... fluid..

>>28581931
>Talk to her about Cassie before leaving, can't hurt to get as much context as possible.

>>28581951
Where did people go, I didn't even samefag the first vote so at least 2 others (or one dedicated person) were here for that...

>>28582145
I hate to say it man but the we might be SOL. This was always a limited appeal premise and we've lost a few people. I'll be happy to wait a bit though.

>>28581951
Seems reasonable

Assuming we aren't going to get mobbed by mutants or anything.

>>28582228
Might as well see if it picks up for this thread at least, before canning it.

>>28582228
Well, for what it's worth your writing is pretty good.

>>28582228
Shouldn't've dissed scorpion girl quest then.

>>28582292
That was me anon, and I'll stand by it.
Also activity has only gone up since that post, so...

>>28581951
>>28582232
You step out of the door and walk confidently towards Novena. You've got nothing to hide and you're certainly not afraid of her. This is just business.

"You lost kiddo? Your room is back there. Or did you just come out for the fresh air?" She stares at you unblinkingly, lamplight reflecting in her eyes. You really wish she'd stop doing that.

"My name's Felicia, not kiddo. And I'm going to talk to Cassie."

She huffs. "Just going to wander into town and talk it out with her huh? Show her the error of her ways?" She gesticulates dramatically. "Is that it?"

"It's more than either of you have tried. You've done nothing but bicker and complain since we got here."

"Do you- I mean are you really this dense?" She cocks her head as if waiting for an answer. "This isn't about job, or the cause. Caleb has a history with her. That's why we're here. That's why we drove out to the end of the fucking earth. We're chasing his old girlfriend. And now he's FINALLY maybe realized that isn't going to happen and you're going to jump head first into it? Just leave it be."

>Agree to leave it.
>Go to town.
>Ask something else?

>>28582381
Well, I guess that explains a lot. And he dragged us all this way for this? Why did we even need to be here?

>>28582381
>Well, getting her help will still benefit us, right?
Fuck whatever Caleb wants or doesn't want, if we're here, we're not fucking giving up already.

>>28582419
You think about it. You've never been able to get much of a read on Caleb but it makes sense. He's been acting strange the entire trip, and since the town he's done nothing but mope around the apartment.

"What about me then? Why bring me, or you for that matter? Hardly a good way to endear yourself to an old girlfriend."

"If you'll recall he wasn't the one who stuck up for me in that meeting, you were. And he probably actually believed he could hire Cassie back on." She sighs and stamps out the cigarette. "You gotta understand, Caleb's a sweet guy but he lives in his books. He doesn't understand people if they're not part of one of his polling groups. Just please leave this?" She gives you a pleading look.

You shake your head. "Sorry. Whatever problems you all have had with her in the past, Caleb's right. We need the mutants. I'm going to talk with her whether either of you like it or not."

You walk straight past Novena towards the car. She doesn't make a move to stop you. You make your way down the tree lined highway back to the town. Winding your way through the streets you can still make out the plant in the darkness. The looming behemoth sits idle now. Lights are on but it's clear the workers have long since gone home. Cruising the streets you eventually identify the one open bar in town. Parking the car in a dirt lot you slowly make your way in and look around. The place is filled with mutants of every stripe and color, literally. One of them, far more deformed than anything you say at the plant, sees you and smiles a wide toothless smile. Others quickly take note and look over at the new curiosity. All except one. You see Cassie alone, at the bar, nursing a glass whiskey.

>Sidle up and talk to her.
>Order a drink and wait.

>>28582715
>Order a drink and wait.
We've got time. And a burning need for alcohol after everything that's happened since running into the clade way back when.

>>28582715
>Order a drink and wait.

Give the place a half hour to acclimatise to our presence.

>>28582715
>Sidle up and talk to her.
Get our smooth on.

File: 1385847597687.png-(425 KB, 853x480, 455078-balalaikacrazysmile.png)

425 KB PNG

>>28582795
You briefly intruding on the woman's space but quickly reconsider. Better to ease into this. Besides, with everything that's happened in the last few days you need a drink. You climb up on a stool and wave down the bartender.

"Vodka cranberry on the rocks." The bartender nods and prepares to leave when a thick, accented voice, breaks in from your right.

"Ha, just where do you think you are little mouse? She'll have a whiskey on the rocks, on me." Cassie gets off her stool and re-seats herself next to you. "If you're going to stay here you need to learn to drink like us."

>Accept
>Decline

>Also how are you going to play this?

>>28582977
>Accept
Well, basically I figure Felicia wants to leave the big topic alone for now. See where Cassie takes the conversation first. When the opportunity arises, tell her about how we ended up in this place, and complain about how Caleb seems entirely helpless and Novena actively sabotaging, and express the feeling that we get being jaded after working in politics so long, but there's a difference between that and basically acting seemingly on whims, while wasting everyone's time in the process. We just really needed a drink.

>>28582977
>Accept
Just play it straight. You want her help, but you're gonna need her to meet you halfway.

>>28582977
Accept

Play it straight. We don't really know much, and we didn't give much of a fuck about politics before right now, but it's still the right thing to do. Being bitter helps nobody, even if it does feel good for a while.

>>28583173
This.

>>28583173
You want her help and you want to help her*
That makes more sense with the second half of the statement.

To add on, be totally honest. You got forced into this business after saving a clade girl from some thugs and you're doing everything you can just trying to not drown in the political mire.

>>28583122
>>28583173
>>28583256
>>28583272
>>28583349


Nothing for it. You hate whiskey but it wouldn't do to insult her. She toasts your glass and before emptying her own and motioning to the bartender for another. You sip at yours slowly.

"So what brings you down here little mouse? Come to tell me why I'm making a terrible mistake?"

"No I just... needed a drink. Been a long day. My coworkers are... well you know."

"Idiots, yes. Why is a fine young thing like you taking up with them anyways?"

You're not quite sure yourself really. You mull the question over, staring at your glass as you turn the ice over. "Just kind of fell into it really. A... friend of mine, got into some trouble and they helped her out." You look over at her. "They're good people you know? And Caleb feels real bad about how things went down with you."

Cassie suddenly looks very old and very tired. You didn't notice it before at the plant but she must be well into 30s, if not older. "There's a lot to be sorry about, but sorry doesn't help us. We need power. Not dreams and speeches, real power."

>We have power. (Acuity + Presence, Challenging)
>You'll never get it here.
>Other?

>>28583505
>And does she have a plan for getting said power?

>>28583505
>>We have power. (Acuity + Presence, Challenging)
>>You'll never get it here.
A little bit of both of these, along with >>28583582

>>28583623
Roll for that'un if you would. And/or explain your reasoning.

>>28583505
>You'll never get it here.

It's not gonna just up and fall into your hands

Rolled 63, 6 = 69

>>28583667
Not >>28583623 so feel free to disregard if they reply. Just figured we should get some rolls on the table if people vote for that.

>>28583842
So a bad roll and an amazing roll...interesting.

>>28583667
2d100?

As for reasoning, point out that most of the voting populace don't care about the mutant enclaves. Out of mind, out of sight, after all. So unless she sets in with a group that has actual political power, she is just damning herself to irrelevance. Even worse, by refusing to get her people a spotlight, she is not only harming them, but also hurting all the clades who will be forced to suffer the same fate as her. By siding with us, she can not only save clades, but maybe one day save mutants as well. It will take time, but by refusing to help us she is only guaranteeing that public opinion will be that much harder and take that much longer to turn around. Rome wasn't built in a day, neither will mutants be accepted in one.

>>28583582
>>28583623
>>28583680
"And you have a plan to get it? No offense but Mount Iron isn't exactly the political nerve center of the country." You gaze at her, doing your best not to look away. You need to play this carefully.

"The union is still strong here. We have our deals. We have the plant. I can protect my own here. That's all I ever wanted." The words come out, but you can tell her heart isn't with them. She doesn't even believe what she's saying.

"This city is dying Cassie. The taconite, it's not going to last forever. How long do you think you can hold on here?"

"As long as we need to." She gets a fresh drink and motions to yours. "You're falling behind."

You down your drink and steel yourself. She's not nearly as certain as she wanted you to believe. It's time to push on her. But what's the right thing to say?

>You're running out of rope. (FORCE + PRESENCE, ?? Difficulty)
>We're powerful enough to help your people. (FLEXIBILITY + PRESENCE, ??? Difficulty)
>Caleb still cares about you (Presence, ??? Difficulty)
>Other?

Rolled 5, 2 = 7

>>28583930
Damn, its been a while since I rolled dice.

>>28583951
Amazing rolls, sorry that didn't come in as the consensus result! Also as a reminder to people you do have 1 FP to spend as per your character sheet.

>>28583951
If only that roll actually counted for anything.

Rolled 30, 5 = 35

>>28583975
Well, a lot of what I typed up at >>28583930 can apply to
>We're powerful enough to help your people.
So I guess I'm gonna roll for that. Just make to sure she understands she wont be seeing instant results.

>>28584052
I, for one, forgive you anon.
And sure, I'll support it.

>>28584052
Man, I'd figure the other option might have a lower DC, but with that roll...

>>28584139
Also keep in mind Flexibility and Presence are our two best stats.

Still here Abhuman?

>>28584052
>>28584075
30 = 2 degrees of success
5 = 4 degrees of success.

She's scared. She's been scared for a long time. And now she's ready to break.

"Cassie it was was a good game, but it's over now. The plant, the town. If you don't do something soon all of them are going to be out on the streets."

"We'll find something new. There's always work for us." She turns her glass nervously.

"You had a deal here, a union deal. Do you know how many unions are left these days? And in this economy? No. This is only going to get worse for you. Unless you stand with the clades now to stop it."

The clades aren't reliable. Once they get what they want they'll sweep us back into the gutters. But if the law passes-"

"-then you'll all be weak enough to crush together." You lean in closer. "You think this is about numbers? You're less than 5% of the population Cassie. Once the political support is gone what do you suppose they'll do with you?"

She looks at you, anger and fear wrestling in her eyes. "And what are you going to do? Plan a rally? Paint signs and sing songs?"

"We have support. I don't know who backs us or why but it's considerable. Money, lawyers, politicians. We just need the people behind us Cassie. We need you."

Cassie grips her glass so hard you're afraid it will shatter.

"I can't do shit with that. I want promises. The new stadium deal, they make it with local steel. From our plants. That's my price."

>Promise it to her... we'll see what we can do later.
>Only the truth.

Haha sorry internet a shit

>>28584578
That's okay.

>Only the truth.
We're essentially a mook. Felicia can't promise shit. If she wants, maybe you can discuss it with the other two back at the hotel?

>>28584578
>Only the truth.
We kind of told her we're low on the totem-pole already, so...

>>28584578
>only the truth
I'm in agreement that we can't actually promise anything, but maybe we could bring it up to Caleb or Novena?

>>28584578
>Only the truth.
We personally cant promise her that, but I'm sure our higher ups will find it more than acceptable.

>>28584578
Guess mutants have it hard.

File: 1385853924615.jpg-(22 KB, 481x274, bar1.jpg)

22 KB JPG

>>28584675
>>28584794
>>28584842
>>28584881
>>28584975
You shake your head slowly. "You know I'm not in a position to promise you anything, but I'll run it up to the higher ups and see."

Cassie's face melts back in a smile. "Good, that's.... good. I'll be waiting for your reply. You know where to find me." She upends her last drink and stands up to leave. "Glad to see Caleb has started surrounding himself with competent people."

After your drinks you decide to leave the car at the bar. Not that there's anything up here to hit except cows, but you've already taken enough chances tonight. Cassie introduces you a nice man with one ear and half a nose who gives you a ride home in his pickup. By the time you get back to the hotel everybody else is asleep. You'll bring Cassie's offer up in the morning. For now you need to work on getting the floor to stop moving.

As you collapse into your bed the dreams overtake you immediately. Back at the bar again. You and Cassie, except nobody else is there this time. You're trying to make her see reason. How did you do it before?

>Persistence, success is about putting in the time.
>Insight, Persuasion is simply a matter of applying pressure to the right area.
>Fear, sometimes people need a kick before they'll jump.
>Other?

>>28585090
>Insight, Persuasion is simply a matter of applying pressure to the right area.
Gotta have insight, maaaan.

>>28585090
Insight, we looked for the heart of the matter and hit home.

>>28585090
>Insight, Persuasion is simply a matter of applying pressure to the right area

>>28585090
>Insight, Persuasion is simply a matter of applying pressure to the right area.
Goes with the Soft Touch, nigga.

>>28585292
Soft yet confident, the best touch.

>>28585149
>>28585135
>>28585237
>>28585292
>+5 Acuity
>[Uncanny Intuition, 1FP, Active] You can spend one fate point to try to glean useful information about a person or situation.
>+1 FP

You wake up the morning with a splitting hangover. Jesus Christ, were you drinking paint thinner last night? You haul yourself out of bed, dress, and make your way to Caleb's room. Both of them turn and glare at you.

"So I take it Novena already told you then?" You go over to the coffee maker in anticipation of a long, tiresome conversation.

"I'm not angry that you went," Caleb sighs. "But I wish you'd told me first. I take it Cassie was less than accommodating?"

"Actually, she's willing to sign on with us. But she wants a favor."

Caleb narrows his eyes. "What kind of favor."

"Shteel," You say while stuffing a donut into your mouth. "Sourced from her plants, for some new stadium they're making."

"Huh, honestly our guys were probably going to push for a "made in America" clause anyways. It's just a matter of rounding up the rest of the votes for it in the state senate. We'd have to call in a few favors though."

Novena stands up. "We aren't seriously considering this are we? If we let her start extorting things out of us now when will it ever stop?"

>Think of it as a gesture of trust.
>We're already offering to help her, we shouldn't be blackmailed into it.
>Other?

>>28585500
"You're right, a fair trade is obviously exactly the same as extortion."

>>28585500
>Extorting? Just a fair trade for their votes I'd say. If she starts demanding more, we can just reassess the situation.

>>28585500
"She scratches our back, we scratch hers. If she starts asking for more than we're giving, then we start questioning it."

>>28585500
Seems more like a fair trade than extortion.

>>28585500
Man, either I really misread Novena during our initial encounters, or she really has a thorn in her side regarding Cassie/mutants, more than I thought.

>>28585500
>We're already offering to help her, we shouldn't be blackmailed into it.

>>28585670
Theres a reason Bossman didnt want her tagging along.

I feel like the sidequest was set up to explain the history of Novena, Cassie, and Caleb to us more fully, but we all know how that went. For what its worth, its kinda fun being in the dark like this.

>>28585524
>>28585570
"It's hardly extortion. Cassie's people have a lot to lose by making waves. It's only right we give them something for the trouble," you look at Caleb, who seems to be working it out in his head.

"She's right Nov. This wouldn't be the first time we've traded a few favors. Besides, Gibbs said to get it done. I'm going to give her a call and hammer this out."

You watch Caleb make his way out of the room, with the thinnest hint of a smile on his face. Novena simply shakes her head in disgust.

"Fucking predictable." Novena throws her hands up and collapses onto a nearby couch. "I hope you're happy kid. That crazy bitch is going to clean us out and then run back home with her new friends."

>Maybe I can make it up to you.
>What is your damage?
>I was out all night, I have a five alarm hangover, and now there's this. Call me kid again. I dare you.
>Other?

>>28585794
That's what happens when rolls go awful!

>>28585831
I kinda want to do all of those. Mostly
>I was out all night, I have a five alarm hangover, and now there's this. Call me kid again. I dare you.
But we really do need to find out what the fuck has her tail in a bunch like this.

>>28585831
>I was out all night, I have a five alarm hangover, and now there's this. Call me kid again. I dare you.
Christ lady. We would be blissfully home sleeping if it wasn't for her, so she should shut it.

>>28585831
"You gave me the damn job, is it too much to ask that you let me do it?"

>>28585831
Mix of
>What is your damage?
and
>I was out all night, I have a five alarm hangover, and now there's this. Call me kid again. I dare you.
combining to make something like

"What the HELL is your problem? Give me a reason not to kick your ass, right now."

>>28586003
Iceburn.

>>28586011
>>28586003
>>28585973
You walk straight up to Novena and stare her down. "Look. I was out all night doing your job, I have a five alarm hangover, I'm in no mood to deal with you. Whatever your problems with Cassie are they sound like just that, your problems. Deal with them."

She shakes her head. "You have no idea do you. No earthy idea what you're doing here. You just floated in and now you think whatever you feel like doing must be a good idea. Do you have any idea how hard we've been working here? The thing's we've done to get here? And now you're going to ruin it by bringing that poisonous bitch in why? Because you talked to her?"

"Don't try to turn this around on me. Cassie's fine with this. Seems like you're the only one with a problem."

"Me? You're clueless, Caleb's love struck, and Cassie is a FUCKING PSYCHOPATH. Did she tell you she was at the '98 labor riots? How she bit a cop's ear off? No? Did she tell you how she had a bunch of her mutie friends jump me when I tried to stop her from leaving? No. You didn't ask about any of that. You don't know anything. You stupid. Fucking. Child." She punctuates the last word by shoving you violently.

>Take off earrings. She gonna learn.
>Let it go.
>Other?

>>28586183
With all this tension either someone's going to get the shit out of them or some clothes are going off fast. Either way, earrings. Off. Now.

>>28586234
*going to get the shit kicked out of them

>>28586183
>Take off earrings. She gonna learn.
Wow, it's almost like someone could have told us about it at any point during, say, the drive up here, or before we got to the bar yesterday. Besides, the higher-ups gave the clear to recruit Cassie, and we're just following their lead, so Felicia is definitely not to blame for this anyway.

>>28586183
>>Other?
Take off the verbal earrings. Tell her she is right, we have no fucking clue what we are doing here or what Cassie's history is and that if she wasn't so busy having her goddamn little bitchfit (make sure to emphasize bitch to rile her up), maybe she could stop leaving us in the goddamn dark.
>>28586234
Felicia doesn't seem like the type to come to blows so easily. Then again, booze.

>>28586284
While I agree, between the 8 hour drive, the hangover, getting shouted at for doing what we were told to do (and quite well too) from the start, and probably still harboring a bit of mixed feelings from her dragging Felicia into the whole thing in the first place...I'd say it's still probably quite understandable.

>>28586183
"Really? Because the Cassie I met in the bar, drinking whiskey like a fish drinks water, was scared, and tired, and looked like she was carrying the goddamn world around on her shoulders.

Have you considered that maybe she's sick and tired of the fighting and is just putting up a front?"

JUST KISS ALREADY

>>28586391
>JUST KISS ALREADY
No! We want catgirl barista waifu, not doggirl political tsunfu!

>>28586411
PORQUE

NO

LOS

DOS?

>>28586428
We aren't a slut.

>>28586234
>>28586281
>>28586284
>>28586391
You start taking your earrings off. You don't like fighting, but you're not going to be pushed around anymore. You've come too far. Done too much. If you let her push you around now it'll be like the old days all over again.

"Oh that's adorable. Little college girl wants to fight. Better reconsider kid, I didn't just step out of the suburbs."

You look Novena up and down. You're taller than her by far, but she's wiry. Tell built. Clearly no stranger to a fight either by the way she stands. But you can't look weak. You've gone too far. "If I don't know anything, it's because none of you ever bother to tell me. Ever since I met you I've been busting my ass. Running your errands, doing your jobs. And what do I get for it? I get chewed out by some crazy, jealous, bitch." You empathize the last word and shove her back. "Now be a good dog and roll over."

Novena smiles. "Oh sweetheart, you just made the biggest mistake of your life." Before you know what's happening next Novena is blurring towards you, fangs bared.

>>28586512
>(AGILITY + FORCE)

Rolled 58, 9 = 67

>>28586512
Please be good. But not too good, she needs to blow off some steam too.

Rolled 68, 14 = 82

>>28586533
SOMETHING'S COMING OFF

Rolled 14, 89 = 103

>>28586450
Hey, when female cows go into heat, they start humping each other all over the place.

>>28586533
>>28586512
The dice gods are false gods. I am the god of the new world! Bow before me!

>>28586512
On one hand, picking fights with Clades and mutants in general seems unwise.
On the other hand, fuck this bitch!

>>28586556
>>28586570
Man now that I think about it we should've blown a fate point.

OH WELL. We both needed steam blown anyway.

>>28586586
We can only hope

>>28586556
58 = Failure
9 = Success

You try dodge but simply didn't see it coming. Novena bowls into you sending you both rolling across the room. You impact hard against the ground and all the air goes out of your lungs Novena tries to wrap her arm around your neck but you manage to get chin down, throwing a hard elbow into her face as you do. She's behind you now, trying to pry your guard loose.

(FORCE)

Rolled 12

>>28586672
FUCK the dice gods. They aren't real!

Rolled 54

>>28586672

Rolled 75

>>28586672
BLOOD AND THUNDER!

Can we pull her hair? That's always a classic move.

>>28586699
>>28586722
Well, good thing it looks like Abhuman is taking first (or best of X) cause these are shameful.
>>28586697
Good job anon...though we may not be letting her do enough to calm down.

>>28586697
Well, alright then

>>28586763
Clearly the righteousness of our rage compared to her petty sulking has granted us divine providence!

>>28586697
Novena might be strong, but she still has the thin, waifish build of a clade. You manage to stagger to your feet, carrying her bodily with you before slamming her against a wall. She loses her grip and staggers backwards.

>Choose Two
>Keep her at a distance. (AGILITY)
>Attack! (FORCE)
>Look for an opening. (ACUITY)

>>28586820
>Keep her at a distance. (AGILITY)
>Look for an opening. (ACUITY)

Rolled 10

Roll is Novena's next attack.

>>28586820
God damn I'm so tired I don't even know what my own stats are. Agility should be Flexibility if you hadn't guessed.

Rolled 39, 9 = 48

>>28586820
>Keep her at a distance.
and
>Attack!
rolled in that order

Rolled 76

>>28586820
Agility isn't listed in the OP pastebin, is it?
Either way
>Attack! (FORCE)
Let's not calm things down, we want to blow off steam not engage in street-fighting here.

Rolled 87, 83 = 170

>>28586851
That's gonna hurt in the morning

>>28586848
Forgot dice

Rolled 55, 46 = 101

>>28586820
>>Keep her at a distance. (AGILITY)
>Look for an opening. (ACUITY)
These two.

Ouch, well I guess that's her requisite stress relief round at least.

>>28586859
39, Failure
9, Success

Novena charges in again, weaving under a well placed defensive jab to catch you right in the stomach with a knee. You manage to catch it after the fact and send her sprawling backwards.

"Ready to give up?" You manage to get out between staggered breaths.

Novena simply gets up shakily and assumes a crouched position. For all her skill, she's clearly taking these hits harder than you are. Then again you don't think you can do this much longer either.

>Choose Two
>Keep her at a distance. (FLEXIBILITY)
>Attack! (FORCE)
>Look for an opening. (ACUITY)

Rolled 13, 23 = 36

>>28587051
Stick to our guns, Attack and Keep her at a distance.

Rolled 100

>>28587078
Alrighty, rolling Nov's last stand against those magnificent dice.

Rolled 28, 26 = 54

>>28587113
WHELP.

Rolled 57, 39 = 96

>>28587113
w e l p

Rolled 28

>>28587051
>Attack! (FORCE)

>>28587078
Starting to feel bad for Novena now, we've had some ridiculous rolls in this thread, polar opposite to the previous.

>>28587051
>>Keep her at a distance. (FLEXIBILITY)

>>Look for an opening. (ACUITY)

These ARE our strong points, and I don't want to seriously hurt her.

...She DID see us take down several muggers at the start of all this, right?

>>28587078
>>28587113
Jesus fuck, don't kill her!

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>>28587113

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>>28587078
>>28587113
>>28587165
>>28587156

>>28587113
Poor Nov.

>>28587260
With a 100 roll she might trip and break her neck on her own.
I hope she doesn't get badly hurt or hates Felicia after this...

>>28587078
>>28587113
This time the attacks come right where you expect. A few jabs that you dodge theatrically, a failed grapple that you quickly duck out of. Each time you give Novena a few body shots for her trouble, and each time she comes back a bit slower.

You smile at her. "Isn't this your job? Maybe it's just one more thing I'll have to take over from you."

The barb has the intended effect. Novena charges at you head on. You deftly slide out of the way leaving only the wall, which she duly impacts against, head first. Collapsing to the ground she writhes weakly and moans.

Shit, you kind of overdid it bit didn't you. Hope she has health insurance with this gig.

>Help her up.
>Gloat.
>Other?

>>28587330
>Help her up
Face it, we both needed to blow off. No hard feelings? Let's get some drinks maybe? Have a civil talk now.

>>28587330
>Help her up.
Shit man, it's just a brawl. I'd even take a sucker-punch at this point.

>>28587296
Oh, and another note from >>28587349
Let's get our earrings back on

>>28587330
Help her up.

Rule 1 of streetfighting: Don't be a dick
Rule 2 of streetfighting: Respect thy opponent.

>>28587401
I thought rule 1 was "It doesn't matter how big the fuck is, everyone has eyes and a neck."

>>28587349
>>28587372
>>28587396
>>28587401

You look at Novena. She's lying face down on the floor, making a rather doomed attempt to get back on her feet. Her head is bleeding, and at some point you can't remember you ripped her shirt loose. You can see a loose patchwork of scars on the top of her back back that you're fairly sure you didn't put there, as well as a faded tattoo that reads "1COR1312". For the life of you, you can't even remember why you were mad at her anymore.

"Damnit, let's get you cleaned up before Caleb sees."

You reach out and take her hand, lifting her shakily from the floor and lead her to the bathroom. She seems to have settled down, but she isn't willing to say anything to you as you check her out. The cuts and bruises aren't bad. Mostly superficial stuff. You get her cleaned up and start in on your own scratches when a loud knock on the door makes you jump in your seat.

"What the hell happened in here?"

Caleb.

>Lie.
>Tell the truth.
>Other?

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>>28587113
I got here late, but I want to feel included so have some celebratory catgirls.

>>28587574
>Tell the truth
"We had a bonding conversation. With our fists. I hope you can understand."

>>28587574
>Tell the truth.
I'm sure he'll understand.

>>28587574
>>Tell the truth.

"There was an argument. Stupid things were said. Really, really stupid things."

>>28587692
Yeah, pretty much

>>28587620
"We uh... just had a little girl's spat. Nothing serious."

"Novena attacked you? Are you serious?" The way he says it suggests he's not in the least bit surprised. "Open the door I'm coming in."

"No! No, we're just getting changed in here. It's not a big deal. Nobody's fault. It's just been a stressful day. You know how it is." You look over at Novena, who seems absolutely mortified.

A long silence follows, followed by a sigh. "Well, fine. As long as it's out of the way. Everything's squared away with Cassie, she's going to meet us in Chicago in a couple days. I'm going back to help get her set up with our current team, and YOU'RE going back with Novena to work the Dufrense situation. Gibbs wants it dealt with before it goes stale. Is that going to be a problem?"

You look over across the bathroom. There's blood everywhere, it smells like wet dog, and there is a very unhappy, half naked girl staring at you.

"No problem."
That's all for tonight, thanks for playing. Good to see it picked up a bit.

>>28587851
Aww, we don't even get to see the aftermath? Oh well, thanks for running!

What's your schedule anyway?

>>28587871
I run Saturdays 14:00 to 20:00 normally. Updates via twitter and QTG.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Clade_Quest

>>28587851
Thanks for running man, today was really good. Especially rolling those last two killer dice

>>28587851
I enjoyed it at least!

>>28587851
Today was fun. Its nice to see a quest get into a rhythm.

>>28587909
>Once a week
aaaaaaa

>>28587957
Well, if you wanted it to run more often, where were you when he ran the sidestory?

I know where I was: completely oblivious

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>>28587957
I tried running on Wednesdays but it didn't work out for a number of reasons. If things really get chugging I might expand to twice a week.

For those wondering the side quest was going to be the 98 labor riots and would have covered a lot of the character development we got to today. Well character development and Cassie using her clade-fu on people.

About the rolls system, it's still under development. Don't hate me too much if I change it around on you.

>>28588010
Yeah, I didn't hear about it until I saw it discussed in QTG. If it was run at the usual time or later, I was probably turning in for the day too.

>>28588041
Eh, changing it around is okay.
And really, I just don't think side-stories are a good idea this early in a quest. But if you run one, at least give lots of warning (mentioning it in the previous session and on twitter at least).

>>28588076
Yea it wasn't a great idea. The idea was two fold, bring in new players who didn't want to archive dive through POLITICS POLITICS POLITICS and get some exposition out of the way without resorting to even more massive dialogue dumps.

I was reasonably happy with how things went today though.

>>28588102
Yeah, got a decent number of anons after a couple hours today.

>>28588102
Remember to archive!

>>28588225
Archived. http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=clade+quest