Duplicity

Bastion is a city full of neon signs, layered among levels and there is a huge purple beam pointing towards the star from a central spire.

A valet asks if they have papers and if they're staying permanently. Flea smiles and says it is a permanent stay. The guard rattles off a script and hands them papers and tells them to be at the designated place in four hours.

They look around and see well-kept vehicles, the road has signs in lit up neon. Houses are made of brick and corrugated steel. People are wandering around minding their own business. Road is a mix of dirt and stone and smells of cigar and smoke.

Sakiran asks what this place is as Flea motions for Jaxon to answer her. Jaxon tells her that this is Bastion and Flea says this is the place where Nyra wanted to meet them. Sakiran expresses her desire to take a bath and Leoric goes to ask a guard for directions. He asks where the local bath house is. The guard tells them to look for the hookers and go down the street. He then shoos them away.

They see people hawking goods and sitting under cover selling junk. Then come to the red sign. Sakiran bolts in relieved and the receptionist. Sakiran turns to the party and asks what a rand is. Jaxon comps her and she is handed a key with 21 on it. The rest of the party take baths and they walk out having cleansed themselves.

The street has a lot of shuttered buildings. Jaxon is able to recall where they are so he leads the party over to Market Street. It smells of a mix of smoke, fried food and incense. There are criers handing out samples and flyers, with people taking them and walking off.

Guards are spaced out every so often in groups of two. They look relaxed and talking with locals. They see a shop called Bigg Jane's Imports and another called Colton's Arms and Armour. Flea summoned Pog but in his deceitful form. They walk into Colton's shop and he is a half elf. He is dressed in cowboy gear. He greets them with a howdy. Flea greets him and places a flamethrower on the counter to sell. He offers to buy it for 50. Flea tells him for 80. He haggles up to 65. Flea asks what he has and Colton invites him to look around. He has many modern weapons. Flea sees the exact same model of shotgun he has selling for 100 rands. Colton invites him to the shooting range so he can try it. Flea fires it and says it is now used. Colton laughs and says he likes him. He negotiates a deal. Flea asks where the normal clothes shop is. Colton tells him that Bigg Jane's has clothes.

Leoric goes in to see Colton after him and they greet each other with a howdy. Leoric tells him he has supplies and blades. He asks what he reckons. Colton directs him to Iron Heart or Tiny Jim's since he only deals with guns and armour.

Sakiran is greeted by a boy with a box full of cereal balls and a tray giving out free samples. She takes one and he says it's five rands a box. She tells him she doesn't have any money and he moves cheerfully on to the next person.

Inside Bigg Jane's, they see it is garishly decorated in various shades of pinks and unclean drapes. Jane highlights her assets with a tight corset and she is generously sized, with powdered makeup and overdone curls. Flea sends Pog to her and she gives him a sugar ball. Flea has a look around. She has potions, clothes, artifacts from the tribes. Jaxon and Sakiran enter and are assaulted by the scent. Sakiran sees artifacts from the tribes. They are from Birlik, Khemisa and Sakti.

Flea asks if she has a sombrero and describes it. She brings out three different ones, one of which is a sombrero. Flea picks up the cowboy hat and places it on Pog. Jane smiles and says he treats his son very well. In lieu of payment, he offers her perfume from his home town that will make anyone fall for her.

She beckons the pair over. Sakiran asks where she got the tribal things from. She said they came in about four years ago. There was someone who came in with a big sword and swagger. Sakiran asks if he gave his name. She said no, and offered her some jobs after she said she wanted to earn some rands since she was better with sword than words.

Leoric goes to Iron Hearts. It is a dimly lit workshop with racks of prosthetics. It is hot and stifling. There is a hulking figure and a slender one inside. Leoric asks who is in charge. The hulking one responds. Almost his entire body is augmentic with black skin that has been grafted on. Leoric says he has some machine parts. The hulking one inspects it and offer 50 rands for all of it. Leoric asks if he's seen anything like it before. The hulking figure says it's part of the old machinery, that they get them all the time. Leoric pulls out the dimly lit power cell. THe hulking figure lights up and says that's more like it. He offers 150. Leoric asks for 200 then pushes him to 180. He agrees. He says if he ever loses a limb. He offers the power cell to the slim figure, Rahani, and they walk away and start talking. Leoric pivots on his heel and walks back in again after realising he forgot something. He is talking with the slender woman, not really moving but wearing a black jumpsuit. He turns around again and acknowledges Leoric. He says he's in the market for optics. The hulking man produces a drawer of many optics, from 100 to 5000 rands. Leoric passes and heads back out.

Sakiran is handing papers to Jaxon and asking what each says. Jaxon puts his foot down and says Sakiran must learn to read after he is done. She decides to head to Tiny Jim's store. He is chasing four humans out of his store with a giant wrench.

He accosts them and realises they won't make fun of him. Sakiran asks if he needs protection and he said no. She asks how else she can make money. He ushers them in and asks if they want to kill someone. She asks what he did. He stole from him. Sakiran agrees. Tiny Jim tells him that the guy is called Alan S. "something" and he tried to rob him last night. Not the first time he did it and he wants him dead. Sakiran asks what he looks like. Long scraggly hair, black moustache, rags, looks like he's on the juice. He draws a picture of a very long haired man and hands it to her. He says he'll pay 250 rands. Jaxon takes issue with the fact Sakiran so readily agreed to kill a man for stealing. Sakiran said it was a fair punishment and if it was in the tribes he would have been killed the first time. Jaxon begrudgingly agrees. Flea agrees also. Jaxon, however, wanted once more to scrutinise him. He asked him again and wanted to see if he was telling the truth. He is passionate about it and he can't really tell. Tiny Jim said he'll be there until midnight. If they kill him, they are to show him where the body is - if he just disappears, no one will miss him. Leoric asks if he talks to all of his customers like that.

They walk out and see the humans looking shifty. One comes over to them. He says Tiny Jim is a psycho and says he went off on them. They walk off. The closest alley is behind his shop. They try to track his movements. Flea notices tracks that trail off and follows them. They see a dumpster that has been opened up with a roof. THere is a guy in there that matches the description given. Sakiran asks if his name is Alan and if he has been stealing. He looks like an alcoholic. Flea puts him to sleep. He does have bolts and nick nacks, but can't tell if he stole any. Leoric checks for an ID card, but he doesn't have any - he was born without it since he was signed into society.

Sakiran noted that killing him would be doing him a favour. Jaxon and Leoric are horrified at the suggestion. After a discussion on the merits of killing him, Flea tells Pog to kill. He stabs viciously and starts eating the remains.

Flea whispers a few words and he takes the form of the homeless man. He wanders back to Tiny Jim's. The party hang back and watch from afar. Tiny Jim looks up and greets him and asks what he wants this time. Flea hovers his hand over something. He throws a bolt at him and tells him what has he told him about stealing. Jaxon asks how it went. Flea confirmed they had killed the right person. They wait and go to see Tiny Jim. He takes something from the body and throws rands at them. Jaxon tells Sakiran that this is not a good way to make money as Tiny Jim heads back to the shop.

Leoric leads the way to the Citizen Service Centre. They see a massive line of people queuing to get in. After an hour and a half they finally get to the front of the queue. The troopers tell complainers to shut up and they will be quick once they are in. They are asked for their papers. Leoric hands them the papers. The trooper tells them to go to section 4 and to follow the blue line. They get to the counter and they fill their applications out. They gain provisional IDs in two days, then are told that the elf will get hers in five days. Sakiran makes a fuss and storms out when she is called not normal.

Jaxon tells the party that they need to look for Nyra. Sakiran remembers that they were told to head to a bar with a sign with a pig on it. She ushers the party into the bar. They head down into it. They see in the middle with a large arena, someone with a harness and they are fighting a man made of light. The bar is grimy with different taps and the walls are corrugated steel. Sakiran is relieved to see the arena and wanders to get a better look.

Flea asks the bartender for a redhead who wants Elvish bitter. The bartender bangs on the door behind him. He tells Flea to go into the back.

Sakiran sees someone put a vest on and get onto the arena. There seems to be a connection there but the program gets him with an uppercut. She turns to the person next to her and asks how to compete. She is told to put 5 rands into the pot and try. She does. Leoric bets 50 rands on her. Sakiran picks up the weapon and dons the vest. It is tight and sweaty. Sakiran selects Very High as three holograms materialise.

Flea and Jaxon walk in and see Nyra with a huge, hulking man with augmented arms. She greets them warmly. Flea told him they took so long because they were taking care of the half-orc. Nyra lays down the ground rules. If anyone tells anyone, they will kill them. Jaxon looks over at Flea when she asks about explosives. Nyra tells them they are going to storm the capital and kill everyone inside. She wants them to infiltrate the Gratus Police Armoury and grab explosives. She wants to bring the central pillar down. She warns them that if they get caught, she can't help them. Nyra tells them the password is changing to skull whiskey.

Leoric cheers for her, saying he has 50 rands on her. With a flourish, she downs two of the programs instantly. The third dodges and goes for a lunge. It completely misses. She swipes on its back and it is down. The crowd erupts into cheers and glasses are smashed. A guy next to Leoric says it was rigged. The moneytaker cries it is rigged. Sakiran takes the vest off. Sakiran pays another 5 rands to try the new realism difficulty. They have an edge to them. Sakiran slashes three of them in quick succession. The fourth she misses completely. The blade whistles through the air. She retaliates and slashes down as it is again vanquished.

Nyra asks how much Jaxon and Flea know about their plans. She understands the half-elf joining them, but why is the human joining them? Jaxon looks down and said he just wound up there. He'd rather not get into how. Nyra leans and shows her SMG. She asks what he is doing there, and did she really think they wouldn't recognise him.

Flea goads him as Jaxon stammers. The massive figure folds his arms as he looks down at him. Jaxon told him it's a long story. Nyra's hand drifts to her SMG. Jaxon says how he got kicked out isn't important. Nyra told him that they can't trust him and he will always be part of the nobility. He's never had to suffer or go hungry. What makes him think that they will let him in, when he is what they're fighting against?

Jaxon recounts that he was arrested, and that's how he met Flea. Flea confirms that. They bring out two chairs and rope. They force Flea and Jaxon onto a chair and tie them both up. Nyra says she wants to know as soon as those two showed up, they were exposed in the trade market and she wants to know now. Flea said it was Jaxon. Nyra picks up a knife and holds it up. Killed someone who wwas key to the operation and sabotaged their entire work. The first thing they did was kill one of their contacts. She pulls the knife on them and Jaxon told her that she told them to  come here. Nyra asked why they thought that waas. It all revolves around you, she said. Wandering around istigating, ruining their plans. Nyra laughs and kicks Flea in the stomach. They ssee a man inn aa  brown apron and tools. He brandishes a hot iron. He asks Flea where he is from. They are more concerned about Flea - thinking he is a Gratus spy.

Sakiran has continued fighting in the arena as Leoric enquires about a gun arena. After Sakiran is finished, Leoric is handed a quick draw pistol. There is a location marked on the floor for Leoric to stand. He quick draws against two and fumbles on the third shot. The third hologram puts a holographic bullet between his eyes. Sakiran pities him.

Flea answered that he was abandoned at birth and raised by an elf who taught him to seduce and sing and dance. The torturer didn't believe him. He jams a hot iron into his leg and holds it there as Flea screams. He turns to Jaxon and asks why he is trying to infiltrate. He says he isn't as the torturer brings the hammer down on his knee. The torturer urged them to tell the truth and he could stop. Flea told him that he was raised in squalor and he joined. He blamed his son, pog. Flea used words of terror on the interrogator. He backed away in fear.

Flea summons joyful Pog after pointing out that he was behind him. He decides to have Pog attack the massive man.

Meanwhile, Sakiran and Leoric are musing how long it took the pair. They decide to go and search for them. The bartender asks what it's worth to her. She asks if she saw how well she fought and if she would have to use those skills to get information out of him. He points to the back and Sakiran and Leoric walk in. They see the door is closed. It is locked. They hear Pog screeching. Sakiran breaks the door down with Finisher. Flea and Jaxon are strapped to chairs. Flea cries for them to help him.

Leoric is first and he opens up with four shots hitting the large figure in the chest. He is severely wounded. Nyra opens fire on Flea with her SMG. Flea is seriously wounded. The hulking figure picks Flea up and launches him. The chair smashes and Flea is knocked unconscious. A guard opens fire on Jaxon. The armour takes the brunt of the damage. Another guard fires upon Leoric and his weapon jams. Sakiran enters rage and becomes bestial as she grabs Finisher and slashes one of the guards with a massive cleave.

Jaxon casts a shield of faith on Sakiran and blesses her and Leoric. Flea coughs up blood. Pog jumps and tries to attack. He fey steps towards Nyra and attempts to charm her. He tells her to calm down and she lowers her weapon slightly. Leoric tries to fire at Nyra. He wounds her. Nyra is stunned and cannot take any action. Gar, the hulking man, attacks Jaxon. He brings a huge fist down that hits him in the jaw, though it merely glances. A guard swings at Sakiran and hits her, but she doesn't feel the pain. The next guard unjams his gun and takes a shot at Jaxon. It pierces into his armour. Sakiran's rage clouds her vision and she misses with Finisher, and flails with a claw as she misses again. Jaxon tries to break free of his binds and fails. Flea coughs up more blood. Pog tries to attack Gar again and he grabs and throws him. Pog fey steps to a guard and charms him. Leoric unloads into Nyra. Part of her cheek is blown out by the shot but she manages to stay standing. Another chunk is taken out of her side. Her SMG drops to the floor as it is destroyed. She pulls out an knife. She finally activates her rage; like Sakiran, pipes beneath her skin light up in red and her wounds stitch back together. She charges forward and slashes at Jaxon. Her eyes are glowing pale blue. Jaxon is knocked onto the floor and starts stabbing viciously. Gar lunges towards Pog and slams him down into the ground.

Sakiran charges towards Nyra and the guard attacks her, but she brushes it off as she jumps and slashes with her sword. It is tough and she is digging in. The blade is partially pushed out by the regeneration.

Jaxon finally breaks himself free. He activates Crimson Rite and cuts his own skin as his blood turns into lightning as he calls forth lightning.

Flea has stopped moving.

Pog cries out in grief and rage as he pulls Nyra's hair and slashes her back.

Leoric's shots both connect but they are deflected off of her skin. He fires again but she doesn't even register the damage.

Nyra slashes Sakiran with her knife and it digs in, though encountered resistance. SHe turns to Jaxon and he falls unconscious as he rips the blade through him.

Gar makes a pass at Sakiran and she feels it as his fist breaks something in her and it sends her staggering back.

The guards take shots at Leoric and bullets pierces.

Sakiran takes a swing at Nyra, cleaving her in two and leaving her two halves on the floor.

Jaxon coughs up blood.

Pog tries to stab into Gar. He fails again. Leoric takes aim and the two bullets enter his body. They are forced out again. He fires at both guards and kills one by blasting his head clean off. The other is very badly wounded.

Gar's lover dying sends him into animalistic rage as the augmetic arms split and break into talons. He becomes hideously deformed and mutated. He charges into Sakiran and she dodges him.

Sakiran takes a swing and carves a bit out of him, but it regrows in metallic form.

Jaxon takes a breath and has stopped coughing blood.

Pog is still clinging onto Gar and doesn't manage to penetrate with his stabs.

Leoric's shots ping off the guard's armour, though when he tries again he is successful. He dispatches the guard cleanly.

The guard grabs Sakiran and he succeeds in grabbing her. She stops his fist before he can.

Sakiran tries to break free but the guard holds her tightly. She tries to flail and punch him but is unsuccessful.

Pog again fails to penetrate with his stabs.

Leoric kills the guard who is holding Sakiran and penetrates Gar's flesh.

Gar tries to crush Sakiran again and then punch her. She feels things crunch in her body.

Sakiran cleaves into him, though he is very weak and barely standing.

Jaxon is stabilised, and is now breathing as if asleep.

Leoric unloads his pistols into Gar once again. He finally kills him by shooting all of limbs clean off. His face explodes outward.

Sakiran's rage cools off and she notices Jaxon and Flea both unconscious. She curses and runs to Flea. Pog places the sombrero on his head, waves bye bye forever and is torn through the rift. Sakiran tries to resuscitate him, though she fails. She kneels over and prays for him in Tasari.

Jaxon snaps awake and is badly injured. He resists the blood around him. Sakiran notices he is awake and is relieved. She tells him that Flea is with Yutmaya.

They notice that the music has stopped. Leoric peeks outside and sees troopers in black armour. He tries to saunter past. He is stopped by a Tiefling wearing a Gratus officer uniform. He thanks him and ushers him over to the bar. He brings Jaxon and Sakiran out. He has a bluish hue to his skin and sweeping goat horns. He is pouring them all drinks and commiserates their loss. He said his sacrifice was for a worthy cause, the safety of the city. Sakiran tells him that she doesn't care about the city and lost a friend. The tiefling, with catlike eyes, tells her that they can arrange a proper state burial. She nods and quietly asks for something stronger. He tells them that they need to have a chat and do some things in return. He asks them to acquire something. Sakiran gets angered and he ignores her anger, bluntly responding that yes, they need them to do it again. They send retrieval squads out to die. Either they can do it that way and get some helpful items, or cull populations entirely. It's a matter of numbers.

The tiefling said he understood why the party didn't like the Gratus but they were trying to save the planet. Jaxon said you sent us to die, and you're sending us again. Tiefling told him that the survival rate is 8.2%. Jaxon told him that they sent petty criminals there. The tiefling informed him that other places refused to be civilised and help, like freedom means anything anymore. Dar Sol say they are free and act like simple raiders. It is barbaric, but you can form your own view. He offers them a way off this place. He told them to think about it. He introduces himself as Pryce and gives them a communicator. Pryce offers to grant them police immunity and a place to live.

The party discuss the offer given to them. Sakiran asks Leoric for his opinion. He admits he doesn't know. Sakiran laments not being able to return to the tribes and wants to go home. She explains that she knows tieflings from the Sakti and they broke away because they are mavericks. Jaxon told him that they can't be trusted since that's the way of the Gratus. They agreed upon making the bar a home base. Sakiran fires up the training program to make herself feel better while Leoric and Jaxon sit at the bar and reflect upon their situation.