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IP

The android nods and follows, eyes up and weapon at the ready.

IP is following Brynn and Mira.

Group 1: Ehto

As the prisoners are being put into processing, Ehto listens in to the two Barons. The others are too busy with their own work to even notice Ehto.

The woman Imiko's speaking to - a Baron wearing some kind of chest plate - talks in a calm, steady voice. "What about the status of the workers who were near Warehouses C and D?"

"One of the surveillance teams spotted a grifter and two workers returning to the shantytown just a few minutes ago. One of them was Veep - the worker who got abducted in the Spree attack."

"I see. Send a pair of Barons - I want to know if any of them overheard something useful. Their increased activity is making me think they're planning something bigger than random raids. I'd also like to know how that grifter got in here without passing by the gate guards. What about the other grifters who came in earlier today?"

With that, Imiko turns around, spotting Ehto - who flips her ears down just in time. "Well, you're back. And it looks like you brought in the Boggers."

The Shroke woman Imiko was speaking too also turns to Ehto, and nods at the captured Boggers. "Acting Regional Manager Arint. Good to hear you took them alive. We'll have the Boggers put into cells for further interrogation. What have they told you?"

---

Group 5: Rory

Gnak nods, understanding what Rory means. "Y-yes, thank you."

Upon returning, the Spark Baron Regional Headquarters looks the same as ever - though Ehto, Sal, and Hibiki have come back with some captives in tow. As Rory approaches, Imiko waves him over - and the Shroke woman who's at his side turns to Rory.

The first thing he spots is the cannon installed in her chest. The Baron takes two steps forward...

Then nods politely.

"Acting Regional Manager Arint. Imiko's told me about you. I've got another job that needs doing soon - we'll discuss it once the rest of you have returned here." As she turns back to Ehto, awaiting her answer, Imiko turns his attention to Rory. "The situation at the Caffy. Has it been resolved?"

---

Group 4: Carlito

Brill and Veep glance at each other. "Well, not really much here besides..." Brill gestures a hand at the shanties - heaps of scrap metal, junk, and detritus. "Really, you should be heading to the Last Stand or the Grout Bog Regional Headquarters. The Last Stand's this bar - lots of folk like to go there and get drunk, offer work, that sort of thing. Don't make a mess and you should be okay. The Regional Headquarters is where all the Barons are going. Been a lot of folks heading there in the past few days 'cause of the Regional Manager disappearing. Besides that are the worksites - but it isn't really safe there at the moment, what with the Flead Queen and other monsters out there... And, uh... then there's the Deep Bog."

Veep shakes his head. "Woah woah no, don't... don't go into the Deep Bog..."

"Yeah, don't. I'd go see what's up with the Barons, myself. Heard they and a bunch of other grifters are forming up to take out that Flead Queen. Dangerous and all, but they could always use an extra pair of hands."

Mirka

Mirka nodded. There was absolutely something off about this. Surely someone who wanted to pass through their enemy's ranks would pretend to move with them, rather than simply donning their uniform and walking alone. Why was this trick - if it was a trick - being so poorly performed? Or was this some kind of misdirection?

Group 1: Ehto

Prevus seems to brighten up a bit as Ehto gives him the pep talk. "I-is that so? Well... All right. I'm sure Imiko will let me switch roles - especially if your buddies were as successful as I was..."

The rest of the trip back to the Regional Headquarters is uneventful - but when they arrive, Imiko seems to be speaking to someone else - and they don't appear to have noticed Ehto or the others yet.

[] Wait for the two to finish speaking
[] Try to listen in
[] Try to get someone's attention

---

Group 2: Sal, Hibiki

Hibiki and Sal return to Imiko, unconscious Assassin in tow - though their burden is quickly relieved by a number of Barons who drag away the Assassin, putting him in restraints and hauling him away.

They see Ehto and her team returning, with their own prisoners, but Imiko is occupied with someone else at the moment...

[] Wait for the two to finish speaking
[] Try to listen in
[] Try to get someone's attention

---

Group 3: Utzi, Friedhold and Nessa, Tsubasa, and Shel

The team of hunters, accompanied by a pair of Baron guards, make the trek to the site where the Erchinlord was spotted.

Just like Imiko warned, the smell is the first thing that hits the team. It seems to seep through even the strongest forms of protection that the party can muster, and those of weaker constitutions have to keep from vomiting.

A pair of miserable-looking Barons are standing at a perimeter checkpoint, with flamethrowers and a security robot at the ready. "Are you the folks who're gonna take down that Erchin? If so... good luck."

[] Ask the on-guard Barons for help
[] Decide on what the two Baron guards will do
[] Just enter the worksite and attack the Erchinlord right away

---

Group 4: Carlito

The bandits look to one another for a moment before one of the bandits laughs. "Fine, fine. You lot can go. Nadan'll sort you out-" His colleague gives him a swift kick in the shin. "Go."

Brill takes the offer, making sure to bring along Carlito with her. Once they're safely back at the shantytown, Brill passes Carlito a pouch of coins.

Carlito gains 100 shills!

Brill likes Carlito - helped rescue her friend!

Veep takes a deep breath, finally finding an opportunity to relax. "I... Look, I know it was a job for pay, but... we... No, I owe you, big time. If there's anything you need..."

"That warrants something from what you've got, right?"

Veep nods. "Yeah, I got it. Go ahead, pick one..."

Veep loves Carlito - saved his life!

Veep offers Carlito one of the following items:

Shrapnel Grenade

Healing Vapors

Automech Blaster

[] Accept one of the items
[] Try to convince Veep to give more of the items
[] Refuse Veep's items

IP

The android spent a few seconds in thought, then approached Brynn.

"Greetings. Do you require assistance in the forest? If so, I would be willing to provide."

Group 1: Ehto

Rasma stares at Ehto for several seconds before looking away and stowing her baton. "Fine."

Bludd and his colleagues look instantly relieved. "I... thank you." The three place their weapons on the ground and step away, where Prevus and Rasma confiscate them along with the camp’s supplies and put the three in restraints. Though the worst of it seems to be over, Prevus still seems bothered by something, and has trouble meeting Ehto's eyes.

Bludd, Pock, and Krikith like Ehto - convinced Rasma to capture Bludd rather than killing him.

[] Ask Prevus what the problem is
[] Talk to someone else
[] Just return to Imiko with the Boggers in tow

Group 4: Carlito

The Jarackle nods uneasily. "Uh, okay, if you say so..."

The trip is uneventful, with the shantytown eventually receding to a dirt road and then a path through uninhabited parts of the Bog.

Uninhabited, that is, save for a small assortment of tents around an extinguished campfire.

Brill’s fur stands on end as one, two, three, bandits come out of the tents, weapons in hand. One of the bandits - a Jarackle with an eyepatch - approaches the pair.

“Why are you here?”

“My friend. Veep.”

“Ah, I see. You want him back. How much did you bring? Three hundred shills?”

Brill gasps, and wide eyes flit from one bandit to the next. The bandit leader grins as he seems to understand the laborer’s situation. “Heh. Of course not. You look like you can barely scrape together a hundred-especially since you've hired that grifter.” One of the bandits drags forth a battered human - and Brill quails after seeing the shape he’s in.

The human looks up and whatever was left of his defiance disappears. “B-Brill? Why are you here?”

“Veep, r-relax! I’m gonna-”

The smack of a club against Veep’s face shocks Brill into silence.

“Now, now. I’d have thought that all your servitude to the Barons would’ve taught you not to interfere with a business transaction. Now, here’s my terms. You and your grifter friend there are going to drop your weapons and everything of value. If you can do that, then, maybe then, we’ll start thinking about letting him go.”

[] Give in to the Spree’s demands
[] Negotiate with the bandit leader
[] Attack the bandits
[] Try to flee
   [] Get Brill to flee with you

Lyra tried not to frown too hard at Shaggy's drug use. She was pretty sure investigations went better when the investigators had a clear mind... Then again, a lot of those private eyes had their own vices, so she supposed it was wrong of her to think less of Shaggy for the ones he had. Ignoring the smell of smoke (she'd smelled much worse in her time), Lyra followed up on Martyr's own question. "That reminds me, we never did get much info on who you folks were, or what roles on the team each of you played, exactly. Could you tell us more about that?"

Mainframe Defenders

Turn-based randomized (as in, missions, levels, and what rewards you get are random) tactics game about cyberspace mechs fighting a corrupted computer system, or something to that effect. No hit-chance gripes, just damage ranges and stuff. It's also got destructible terrain and a variety of different enemy types, like some that take much less damage from status effects, or some that can heal others (tip: shoot them first), which encourages varied builds. I'm enjoying it so far.