I made a turn two days after Flintus posted, on 23rd, but, as it turns out, forgot to actually post it. Ah well, hope it's nothing that can't be fixed.
[Turn 2: You Scream Like A Mortal]
Necromancer:Two-Face: [3] vs. [3] Two-Face tries to prepare another shot, but the Hammerman gets in melee range even before Two-Face can even pull back the string.
Hammerman: [1-1] vs. [1] While doing so, Hammerman forgets completely about balance and slips, falling face-first into the dirt. Fortunately for Hammerman, Two-Face isn't fast enough to finish him before the zombies' attack distracts everyone on the battlefield...
Zombies: [6-1] vs. [2+1], [Damage: 18] The zombies howl in unison and descend upon the Maceman like an avalanche of rotting, roaring meat. He doesn't react fast enough... and undead don't give second chances. His screams and pleads for mercy are ignored as the zombies twist his limbs off with sickening crunches, and shortly after even these screams go silent. The air is thick with the smell of blood now, and you can sense your enemies' will to fight slowly draining from them.
Every enemy on the field has to Roll Against Terror!Imigo: [Roll against Terror: 2] He doesn't have the willpower to fight after seeing the undead's unthinking cruelty. He panics and runs back into the forest. [Imigo's Luck: 4] He might just make it back to town, since he had the wisdom to pick a road your caravans used over any other direction. This bog is a death trap, filled with mists and husks and thralls and giant mosquitoes, and that enchanted trail was the only safe way out.
Skeletons: [2+1] vs. [5]; [5+1] vs. [4], [Damage: 1] The first skeleton runs at Hammerman and misses him, while the second manages to land a glancing blow. Nothing serious, though. Hammerman: -1 HP.
Antora: [4] vs. [1], [Damage: 5] Since Imigo has left already, you decide to shoot at the Hammerman instead. Your arrow lands in his back, tearing muscles something fierce before fracturing his rib. [Hammerman's Roll Against Terror: 1] The Hammerman doesn't react, only curls into a ball and lets out a pained cough, clearly paralyzed by fear. Capturing him alive would be a piece of cake right now.
Two-Face scoffs at the Hammerman's pitiful whimpering, walks over to the Maceman's corp... er, the pile of flesh that was the Maceman some time ago, and equips the man's grime-covered mace and shield. He then points the mace in the direction of Imigo's flight and looks at you questioningly.
Spin Doctor:Once you have averted the brute's strike, you started screaming in pain like any normal human would when stabbed with a white-hot blade - a high, eardrum-shreddingly loud shriek that carried with it the primal terror of a cornered animal. It was your oldest and most trusty trick to throw vampire-hunters off track... and those who saw through it never lived to tell the tale anyway.
[6+1] vs. [2], [Critical success!] The brute's eyes widen in horror and he takes a step back. "
What... what have I done with this innocent man?! OH SUNS, WHAT HAVE I DONE?! I'VE STAINED YOUR NAMES WITH A MURDER! I DON'T DESERVE TO SEE THE NEW ORDER!!!" he cries, tearing his mask away, and plunges both his shortswords deep into his chest. You notice a tatoo of intertwined suns on his forehead, covered by his short bangs of oily black hair. His brows are nearly inexistent under a thick covering of scar tissue, and his cheeks have quite a lot of burn marks on them.
The guards finally reach the top of the stairs and see your wound; they get ready to finish the brute, but you dismiss them with a gesture and address the brute while he's still alive. "
Even I haven't expected you to take such rash action... but I guess I just got that good at screaming over the years of practice. I'll have to let bleed to death here, as even the finest doctors in this city can't cure torn lungs. Unless... but you don't want to live at the cost of becoming like me, do you? Nod if you do!"
The assassin nods ever so slightly. You ponder for a moment whether to convert the brute or leave him to die - his creative approach to killing combined with that abnormal strength would make him a wonderful addition to your henchmen... but his religious devotion might just be strong enough to overpower a vampire's innate urge to obey those who turned them.
Speedster:[5-1+2] vs. [2+1] [Damage: 4+2-2] In a perfect, sleek movement, you rush by the Axeman and knock him down on his face with the blunt side of your spear. While he's trying to roll away, you nail his shield arm to the floor and ask if he reconsidered his accusations.
Axeman: -4 HP, lost the Shield[Surrender: 1] "
Go to hell, bloodsucker! Your head's worth a fortune!" [6-1] vs. [3], [Damage: 2+2-1] The Axeman reveals amazing reserves of inner strength by cutting off your spear at the tip and pulling himself back to his feet. While doing so, he strikes at your legs; the hit is softened by your armor, but it came dangerously close to cutting through your bones.
Xil: -3 HP, -1 to speed until the end of combat. Iron Spear trimmed down to Quarterstaff(-1 to hit, +1 to damage, debilitating status effects on critical hits)Tavern:Axeman: 11/15 HP, wielding Axe(-1 to attack, +2 to damage)
Assassin:You decide to leave through the front doors. You didn't want to get stuck in the middle of your mark's burning house, after all, and leaving as soon as possible had priority no matter the risk.
You reach the front doors in a few minutes. Sure enough, there were only two guards posted at the front doors. [Sneak Attack: Critical Auto-Success] [Roll Against Instant Death: 4] [Critical Damage: 6*2] Your strike against the first guard is so strong and precise that he falls to the ground limply like a doll. It seems he's still breathing, however.
Guard 1: -12 HP, Unconscious(Critical Auto-Success on any action against him)[Reflex: 2] The second guard didn't notice you or what you did to his colleague. Were you that fast, or was the guard just that slow? [Sneak Attack: Critical Auto-Success] [Damage: 1*2] You try the same attack on this guard as well, but it doesn't seem to land quite as well as the first strike. That guard is merely
Dazed(-1 to the next action).
Umbrento's Mansion:Guard 1: 3/15 HP, Unconscious
Guard 2: 13/15 HP, Dazed
Survivalist:"
I'm not among the Twin Suns; I'm of them. The Twin Suns are Adolat and Harok, the lords of Fire and Order, the true gods of this world. They are the ones who cursed you, creature of the night... and they want to take it back, as you're working against the installment of the New Order."
"
Hold on. What's the New Order?"
The Archer snorts at your question in disdain, but elaborates: "
The just rule of the Twin Suns. They'll purge the evil that plagues this land - beginning with vampires... then the werebeasts... then the criminals that dare taint this world with their presence... until none but the faithful remain in this world. We know it is possible, for the Twin Suns have spoken to us again after centuries of silence."
"
Right. Another bunch of zealots... And my assitant? She's neither a vampire nor a werewolf. Not a criminal, either. Why did you take her?"
"
Killing every vampire in this realm would take too long. The Twin Suns have created a ritual to undo the curse, and it would require only two captures: a master vampire - the original target of the curse - and a person naive enough to see anything human in your kind. Our people are already capturing the master, and your assistant seems to believe you actually care for her."
"
But wouldn't it be easier to wait until the ritual is done, then kill me? And why did you decide to tell me all of that just now?"
"
It was revealed that you and two other vampires... mutants, freaks even among your kind... have developed a different strain of the curse. You wouldn't be touched by the ritual, and would be free to keep spreading it, so we decided to strike fast and hard before you even realize your potential. And we almost succeeded. If I wasn't so fast to sound victory... we'd all be alive now, wouldn't we."
"
As for why I didn't just tell you to go drink a goat... As I said before, the Twin Suns know what happened here already." Suddenly, you hear what seems like a big and angry crowd searching for someone, their footsteps approaching the alley. "
Oh, here's the backup they sent. This time you'll die for sure. THE VAMPIRE IS IN THE ALLEY! GET HERE AND FINISH HIM OFF! HE HAS NOWHERE TO RUN!"
A crowd of peasants floods the street outside the alley... there's more of them than you can count, all wielding torches with their ends sharpened into stakes. They seem unusually organized, almost as if someone's coordinating their actions from an unseen position, and block out the alley's exits in the first few seconds.
Just as they start advancing, you remember the balcony that you hit your head on so recently. You wonder... maybe you could climb it and get to the rooftops?
Ancient:[Luck: 2] The guards lead you through the secret passage as if everything is as usual, but you notice the wooden stakes on their hips. Stakes were bad news. When they landed anywhere in a vampire's body, the vampire went into coma immediately - and couldn't wake up until the stake was removed. And when they touched a vampire's heart, he burst into flames on the spot - usually burning to death if the stake wasn't removed.
After what seems like a whole day of walking through these endless corridors you finally reach what must be the execution grounds. The guards lead you into a dead end and draw their stakes. [Reflex: 6] You dominate the weak-willed guard in an instant, and even have enough time to try breaking the naive one. [3] vs. [6] However, his mind seemed to be cut off from your influence. That boy will make a good guardsman one day... if he lives.
Dominated Guard: [1+1] vs. [4+1] He fumbles for his sword, and loses the precious time he needed to intercept the other guard's attack.
Idealist Guard: [4] vs. [1] [Damage: 6] His stake strikes you precisely in the abdomen, and you feel the heavy shroud of a coma falling onto you... your body goes catatonic, and your mind will soon follow suit.
You feel that your grip on the weak-willed guard has started to fall apart. You won't be able to control him for long - maybe ten more seconds if you're lucky.
Samuel Bel: -6HP, Comatose
Player: Flintus
Name: Samuel Bel
HP: 14/20
Status: Comatose
Abilities:Eternal Leader: +1 to all leadership
Dominate Will: can put mortals under your control
Inventory:Punctured Noble's Dress
Advisor's Wig
Heavy Pouch of BlingPlayer: antlion12
Name: Augustine Volkar
HP: 13/20
Status: Full(3 turns left)
Abilities:Spin Doctor: +1 to persuasion and changing people's opinions. Can persuade other people even when under attack.
Inventory:Bank Account: 1200 gold.
PouchHandkerchief
Torn and Burnt Expensive Clothing
Player: IronyOwl
Name: Kal
HP: 20/20 HP
Status: Full(5 turns left)
Abilities:Regenerator: restores 2 HP every turn. Restores full HP in Adrenaline Rush and when feeding.
Inventory:Torn and Bloodstained Performer's Suit
Heavy ShortswordPouchPlayer: Xardalas
Name: Xil Valcenti
HP: 17/20
Status: Full(4 turns left)
Abilities:Blinding Speed: gets +2 to attack and all actions relying on speed.
Cut Legs: -1 to speed until healed.
Inventory:QuarterstaffAdventurer's Leather ArmorPouchPlayer: empfan
Name: Antora Darklance
HP: 19/20
Status: Full(3 turns left)
Abilities:Necromancer: Can raise dead.
Inventory:A Bottle of Dwarven Wine
CrossbowSecrets of Life and Death: The Book(authored by Antora Darklance)
Player: Tiruin
Name: Eldrin Faenir
HP: 20/20
Status: Full(6 turns left)
Abilities:Sneaky: +1 to stealth, stealing and lockpicking
Assassin: Stealth attacks always hit.
Inventory:2 DaggersDwarven Crossbow2 Poison VialsChain of KeysGem of Anratha