Norm thought about it. He could just let the time pass. He couldn’t hear the crowd outside, and wouldn’t know when the coast was clear unless he crawled out and looked again. Ultimately, he knew that if he waited too long the mill’s machinery would turn on as production resumed again, and he sure as hell didn’t want to be in there when that happened. Norm decided to just wait for a few hours. Every once in a while, he peaked below the machinery, trying to see if any torches and lanterns had become extinguished.
Eventually darkness had befallen the factory, and Norm decided that it was safe to come out. Leaving the factory would likely be another ordeal. Norm wrestled with the egress route. Front door? Employee entrance? There was just barely enough moonlight coming in from the windowpanes of the skylight to illuminate the floor. Norm saw that there was a ladder that led up to the roof, and decided that this might be the best way for him to determine the safest route.
Norm climbed and soon found himself on the rooftop, overlooking the wide-open field in front of the factory where delivery wagons usually staged. Instead he saw a makeshift guard post set up where the paddy wagons were full of people no doubt waiting to be taken to the jail.
“Best find a different route than the front.” Norm thought, just as he spotted something interesting. Below, Tristandrew was shaking the metal hand of one of the Copper Hands that he had seen before, watching the fight. Norm watched as Tristandrew plopped a heavy sack of something, probably money, right into the gang member’s hand.
“Caused a shakeup, I did. Denim Road is out, so now he resorts to using Copper Hands. Worthless lot, they can’t get anything done on their own so they use those gauntlets to put a hurting on people. Seems like my efforts do pay off.”
REACH A MILESTONE
2 Progress ticks marked in No Loose Threads in Rockhome.
Norm contemplated his options. He knew that he needed to make it to Stanley’s office on the complete opposite side of the city from where he was. He knew that he would have to deal with Copper Hands and guardsmen, who were no doubt looking for him by now. The city streets were a treacherous snake waiting to devour him at every corner. But first, he needed to get down from the roof of this factory.
Norm crept over to the far side of the roof and realized that he may be able to simply climb down, hand over hand, using the pipes and architectural oddities. He lowered himself down and started to climb, knowing that if he fell he may end up dead, or worse.
“One hand in front of the other. Strong and slow, slow is smooth and smooth is fast.”
FACE DANGER
Roll 1d6+iron(3) = 7 versus 10 / 2, Weak Hit.
You succeed but face a troublesome cost. -1 momentum
As Norm made his way down, he realized that nearly all of his strength had been sapped by the fight and subsequent brawl. He didn’t think that he could make it all the way down in one go, instead opting to take a seat on the narrow windowsill of one of the large factory windows. Norm hoped that he wasn’t silhouetting himself, praying that nobody would look up and see him fixed like a beat up gargoyle on the wall.
Unfortunately, with his hearing still out, Norm was forced to sit alone on the ledge with nothing but his own thoughts. The events of the past two days played out over and over again in his mind, along with the numerous events of Drezz that had flashed through. Norm had no doubt that these snippets of a different point of view were meant to help him in his perils, but it was still a mystery to him exactly where they were coming from. Was this something like reincarnation? Were these really past lives, or were they sendings from somewhere else, or someone else who was looking out for him.
Although nobody else could hear it, Norm spoke softly to himself, “Whoever you are, while I really appreciate the times that my life has been saved, I really think that these visions would stop. I don’t need your help. Thanks.”
With that, Norm retreated back into his own mind, doing his best to stop thinking about his situation but utterly failing. That’s when the thought struck him, “If these visions are happening inside of my mind, it’s likely that whoever is giving them to me, or whatever is triggering them, can read my thoughts. I don’t think I can make this stop, so it’s pointless to try, not until I get some more answers. Maybe I can test it. Put myself into more danger and see what I can find out through experimenting. You hear that? You better come through, or I’m going to doubt that you’re there, god or past lives, or whoever it is that’s watching!”
Norm felt that his arms were strong enough to continue down, and so he started down. When at last he reached the bottom, he hopped down and hoped that he had been quiet enough. Now came the perilous trek through the city on high alert for him.
UNDERTAKE A JOURNEY
Set difficulty to Troublesome: 3 Progress per waypoint
Roll 1d6+wits(2) = 8 versus 6 / 1, Strong Hit. +3 Progress and you reach a waypoint
Norm set off through the city, as alert as he could be for still not being able to hear anything. He did his best to look casual, but at the sign of torchlights moving down the streets, he would duck into nearby alleyways or seek other hiding places, just as Drezz and Aleko had done in their one vision. One particularly stacked patrol consisted of a dozen or more guards, led by someone on a horse that Norm could see in the confines of their own torchlight. To evade this patrol, Norm did something that he never thought he would have to, and seriously hoped that he would never have to again: Norm climbed down into the sewers.
At first thought, it was perfect. The sewers of Rockhome probably ran underneath the roadways, and it was unlikely that Norm would run into any such trouble down here. The stench was positively unbearable though. Norm wished that Hirsham had ripped into his nose instead.
But still, he needed to make it to Stanley, and preferably before the sun rose.
UNDERTAKE A JOURNEY
Roll 1d6+wits(2) = 6 versus 1 / 5, Strong Hit. +3 Progress and you reach a waypoint.
Norm kept going, thinking that he was doing his best to navigate under the streets as best as he could. When he was unsure of where he was, Norm’s frustration began to grow, as anyone’s would when navigating a maze of waste that smelled as badly as this. Norm found a ladder with a trapdoor on it and decided to check to see if it would open. To his surprise, it did, and Norm found himself inside of a dark building, perhaps a shop of some kind. An outside streetlight bled in through the window, bathing the establishment in a pale light. It looked like some sort of antique store, and judging by the amount of cobwebs on top of the merchandise it had been some time since they had been tended to.
Norm realized that this was a safe enough place, if only he had more time to spend at his leisure laying low. He knew that Bertrude, the good lad, would be bringing a message to Lucy, who would go looking for him at the publisher. But he also knew that he severely needed a moment to take a breather in a relatively safe place, full of relics of the past.
Norm opened a door that led to a backroom, hoping to find anything in there that might help him on his journey.
SECURE AN ADVANTAGE
Roll 1d6+wits(2) = 3 versus 9 / 4, Miss.
You fail or your assumptions betray you. Pay the Price.
PAY THE PRICE
Envision two negative outcomes. Rate one as likely and Ask the Oracle using the yes/no table.
Likely negative outcome: there is someone or something in here, and they raise a ruckus
Less likely negative outcome: the building is dangerous and poses a safety risk
ASK THE ORACLE
Roll 1d100, 26 or greater = likely. Result = 73
Norm began to root around the backroom, not realizing at all just how much noise that he was making. He also didn’t realize that a shape was moving in the darkness behind him until it was nearly too late. In the reflection of a mirror, propped up next to a shelf of bric-a-brac, Norm saw something swinging towards him, and he reacted.
FACE DANGER
With speed, agility, or precision, +edge
Roll 1d6+edge(1) = 3 versus 9 / 6, Miss. Pay the Price.
PAY THE PRICE
Most obvious outcome: Norm gets hit by whatever this is and an alarm is being raised
Norm was too slow. Thankfully, his attacker was not very strong. Norm realized that he was face to face with an elderly lady who had swung a wooden cane at him. Norm started to laugh, but then realized that her mouth was open wide in a scream. Norm scrambled back into the main room and tried to climb into the trapdoor. He narrowly fit through, falling into a pile of waste as he landed on the floor of the sewer.
“Fuck.” Norm thought, “Now this path will be swarming with guard soon. I’ve got to hurry.”
Norm ran, as fast as he could, hoping that he would guess the correct route, since he hadn’t taken the time to see exactly what street that he was on in the antiques shop.
UNDERTAKE A JOURNEY
Roll 1d6+wits(2) = 6 versus 5 / 8, Weak Hit. Reach a waypoint and mark +3 progress, but suffer -1 supply
Norm ran through the dark sewers, twisting his ankle and falling down more than once. He smelled like shit, and his pants, socks, and boots were soaked through to the core. He couldn’t bear it anymore. He took off his clothes, leaving only his underwear on as he desperately made his way down the tunnels.
After what felt like ages of running, Norm’s lungs ached and his legs felt as if they were going to give out. He needed a break, but he feared that the patrols would be on the lookout at sewer vents and other entrances. Norm cursed, slowing down his pace and hoping that he might find another exit. He stumbled and clutched at the walls, and found a side narrow side passage.
Norm followed this side passage and found a sliver of light at the end of it. On the ground below was a variety of animal bones and other detritus. Norm realized that the walls above him were cylindrical, and that this was a wastewell, where trash that could be washed away was often thrown to be carried out to the harbor by the sewers. Norm took hold of stones that were jutting out and climbed the fifteen feet before he found himself in the courtyard behind a combined business and residence.
The moon shone overhead, and Norm did his best to figure out where he was. If those were animal bones, this might be the butcher that was actually close to Stanley’s publishing office. If it wasn’t, Norm was risking it all, venturing out into the streets looking like a crazed, naked madman, which was fitting since that was exactly what he was tonight. Norm decided to risk it,
REACH YOUR DESTINATION
Progress move, roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress.
Roll 2d10 = 6 / 1 versus 9, Strong Hit.
On a strong hit, the situation at your destination favors you. Choose one.
SOJOURN
When you spend time in a community seeking assistance, roll +heart. If you share a bond, add +1.
Roll 1d6+heart(1)+2 = 6 versus 5 / 2, Strong Hit.
On a strong hit, choose two
I choose: Mend: Clear a wounded debility and take +1 health
And the rules also say: On a hit, you and your allies may each focus on one of your chosen Recover actions and roll +heart again. If you share a bond, add +1. On a strong hit, take +2 more for that action. On a weak hit, take +1 more. On a miss, it goes badly and you lose all benefits for that action.
Roll 1d6+heart(1)+1 = 7 versus 8 / 2, Weak Hit.
I choose: Recuperate: Take +2 health for yourself and any companions. (+1 health),
+4 health gained overall, and Wounded debility cleared.
Norm was right. This was right around the block from Stanley’s publishing company, and Norm knew that Stanley often locked his keys inside, and was prone to leaving a spare underneath a rock out back. Norm unlocked the backdoor and entered the backdoor, into the printing press’ floor. Norm climbed the stairs to the second floor, whispering (or so he thought), “Stanley, Stanley please I need your help. I’m fucked up, man.”
Norm emerged onto the second floor and a door opened up, revealing Stanley wearing a nightgown and holding a candlestick that was lit. The older man’s face was twisted in an expression of either horror, shock, or concern, or perhaps all three. His mouth moved, but Norm couldn’t hear him.
“I can’t - no listen Stanley I can’t hear you. My ears, and Hirsham, I was in a fight and I think he ripped them off - I can’t hear shit, you gotta help me lay low they’re looking for me.”
Norm took a step forward and then collapsed, striking the floor with a solid thump.
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