Scenario 4, Scene 4

Scene 4

Can Verden and Jolene defeat the Vampire?

So this is it, a showdown in the streets. Verden and Jolene find their weapons stored in a corner, tool up, and prepare to go down fighting. Outside all is deceptively quiet, but they know their foe waits in the darkness and this isn’t going to end easily.

The guards are milling in the square outside, while Skitz is once again watching from the roof of a nearby building.

Round 1

As Verden strides through the front door, silver light blazing from his armour and weapons, Jolene slips quietly behind him and merges with the shadows (creating advantage with stealth for 4+2=6 and success with style, creating the advantage hidden in shadows with 2 free invokes).

Verden strides out boldly into the night, taking the fight straight to the guards arrayed before him (rolling -2+3=1 +2 smite = 4 vs -2+3=1, causing 4-1=3+w3-a1=5 stress, wiping out one filler group), moving gracefully from one strike to the next, with each blow dropping a guard unconscious in a flare of purifying fire.

Skitz howls and leaps into the fray, rushing past his minions to strike at Verden (rolling 2+3=5, tagging unreasonable strength for a fate point and the free tag on shallow wound  +4=9. Against -2+3=1, tagging born survivor for a fate point and a reroll getting 0+3=3. Causing 9-3=6+w2-a3=5 shifts. A serious consequence; broken leg with 1 free tag, and a boost). His assault is ferocious and savage, smashing through his guard and barrelling into him. For a moment Verden holds, straining blade to blade, and then he feels the unhealed wound he took in their earlier encounter tear open. His strength wavers as he is thrown off balance and the vampire cackles with glee, whirling its blade for the killing stroke. Verden lets his balance go, dropping backwards to the ground as the vampires blade sails harmlessly overhead. It kicks out as he falls however, trapping his front leg with its own and letting his weight do the hard work as it pops with an audible snap and a wave of pain that threatens his consciousness.

At a motion from their master, the remaining guards swarm the man at his feet (attacking for -3+3=0, against -1+3=2). Verden whirls his halberd towards the vampire as they do so, blocking attacks and forcing enough space to regain his feet.

Round 3

As verden falls, Jolene strikes from the shadows (spending a fate point to use deceive as fight for 1+3=4, +1 for killers weapons =5, tagging the free invokes on hidden in shadows for +4=9. Against -2+3=1. For 9-1=8+w1-a1=8 shifts. Taking the guards out and gaining in close as a boost). Where Verden is loath to harm his countryfolk Jolene has no such compunctions and she strikes methodically, slicing through tendons, stabbing major muscle groups, and severing arteries. She strikes to disable rather than kill, but before they know what hit them every remaining guard is lying bewildered in a pool of blood slowly realising that their limbs are no longer functioning and one of the voices howling in pain is their own.

With the guards down, Verden moves into a defensive stance ready to face down the Vampire (rolling fight for -1+3=2 and creating the advantage ready stance)

Skitz doesn’t let up for a moment (attacking for 2+3=5, tagging the boost as well as the free invoke on broken leg for +4=9 against Verdens  1+3=4, tagging ready stance for a fate point and +2=6. Causing 9-6=3 shifts +w2-a3=2 stress.), rushing Verden as its minions fall away and pummelling him with a barrage of blows. Verden falls into a defensive stance, staggering as his broken leg threatens to give way under him forcing him to all but balance on his one good leg but managing to turn the blows aside with a series of practiced defensive movements.

Round 4

Jolene darts between Verden and the vampire circling it with a series of feints, stabs, and thrown knives intended to disrupt its momentum (creating an advantage with deceive for 1+3=4 against its fight of -1+3=2, creating 4-2=2 shifts for the advantage distracted on Skitz with 1 free invoke) darting in to draw out a low defensive movement then switching high to throw a knife at its face forcing it to duck straight into another thrust which disappears before connecting as Jolene swings to fake an attack from another different direction.

Taking advantage of Jolene’s distraction, Verden darts forwards (attacking for 0+3=3, +2 smite, +2 for tagging distracted =7. Against 2+3=5. Causing 7-5=2 shifts and 2+w3-a2=3 stress) and begins applying pressure with his own attacks, forcing Skitz back onto the defensive.

Skitz reels ducks and parries, holding off both oponents and striking back at Verden whenever the opening presents itself (rolling 1+3=4, against 1+3=4 for 0 shifts and a boost).

Round 5

Jolene continues to put pressure on, darting in and out, harrying Skitz defences (rolling 1+3=4 against -2+3=1 for 4-1=3 shifts and stylishly adding 2 invokes to distracted).

Verden continues to attack (for -1+3=2, +2 smite, +4 free invokes of defenceless =8, against 2+3=5. Causing 8-5=3 shifts for 3+w3-a2= 4 stress and a free punctured armour aspect.) pressing hard against the Vampire, striking a counterpoint to Jolenes attacks and wearing down its guard until he is able to thrust past its blade, tearing free part of its armour.

Skitz (attacks for -2+3=1, tagging broken leg for a fate point and the boost he has for +4=5 against 0+3=3 for 2 shifts, scoring 2+w2-a3=1 stress) continues to fight back, moving to force Verden onto his injured leg and continuing to fend his attackers off.

Round 6

Jolene continues to dance around the vampire, her attacks little more than an annoyance but no less distracting for that (rolling 3+3=6, against 2+3=5, for 1 shift and a free tag on distracted)

Verden attacks again (for -2+3=1, +2 smite, +2 for the free tag on distracted=5 against -1+3=2 for 3 shifts, causing 3+w3-a2=4 stress and a free invocation on punctured armour, thevampires 4 stress is taken forcing it to take a moderate consequence of burned by holy fire ), thrusting just as the vampire is forced to face Jolene and nearly skewering it, burning its flesh with the silver flames that wreath his blade and tearing another hole in its armour as it spins back to face him.

Skitz howls in pain and clutches his side. (lets concede here, as things are nearly over. Skitz escapes but he is forced to flee the compound, allowing Verden to exorcise his minions). He lunges one last time towards Jolene then turns and dashes past Verden on the side of his bad leg. Verden lunges to stop him, but his leg finally gives and he is unable to reach the vampire. Jolene throws one last knife at its fleeing back before putting Verdens arm round her shoulders and hauling him back to his feet. It is a victory of sorts.

With the Vampire intent on fleeing and covering its tracks, its minions are left in disarray and are quickly rounded up for Verden to cleanse with silver fire. Deep wounds mar the community, but it is just one more trial in a long list that they have survived since the day of mourning and they are growing a thick skin.

Verden is given credit for driving the Vampire away, but Jolene is regaled as a hero for the part she played and is welcomed to a victory feast.

This is the end of the scenario.

Jolene will change an aspect to reflect the fact that she is now a hero amongst the refugees. Verden already increased a skill for the previous scenario (and this was kind of an extension to that, so I wont give him another one), but Jolene gains a rank in fight (average).

Verden also gains healing for his consequences, removing his shallow wound and changing his broken leg to leg in a splint.

I also feel like these two have been going long enough to require a check for equipment decay, however both have the required resources so this isn’t a problem.