Two:



Daniel understood that he was in hell.



He lay in a pool of blood. Smoke choked him and spreading fires lit what was in front of him. His relatives and friends had been ripped to pieces and the remains piled up like so many broken dolls. The realization that his parents had gone to the next world did not hurt him as much as the thought that his younger brother, John, was in the hands of Federation kidnappers.



Yes, his village had been visited by demons. Powerful, evil demons that moved faster than the eye could see and left a trail of destruction in their wake.



Daniel clawed the ground in despair.



Everything he knew had been taken from him.



Soon, it would be ashes and ruins.



He’d be ashes.



Burnt alive…



John…

Spoiler: Challenge Challenge: Resolve 500

1d100: 51. Fail!

He couldn’t do it. Daniel couldn’t will himself to get up. He’d die anyway, and he’d never see John’s smiling face again. The thuds in the background were growing louder, closer. They were coming. He unclenched his fingers and closed his eyes. Maybe he’d get to go quickly after all…



The smoke parted with a gust of wind, and an angel stood over him.



Flowing black hair, brilliant green eyes. Her lips set in a firm line. Silver plating glowed red in the fire-light. Daniel drew breath, only to splutter and cough.



The angel watched him nonchalantly. Their eyes met and her expression changed to interest. She bent down and gripped him by the arm to pull him up, first to his feet, then over her shoulders.



Daniel gritted his teeth when she leapt off. The village square rushed away as fresh air filled his lungs. The second leap slammed his head on the metal chestplate, and again the third time. Before he could raise an arm to protect himself, she was skidding to a halt.



The unyielding arm under his shoulder let go and he dropped to his knees in front of her. Tilled, soft earth yielded to his fingers. A cool breeze ruffled his hair. The village looked small from here. A thick column of smoke rose from it.



“Are you injured?” the angel demanded.



Daniel snapped back and gaped.



“ARE YOU INJURED?” she shouted again. It wasn't an angel...



A deeper voice started behind him. Daniel twisted around to look and winced from the pain.



“Be gentle, Sarah.”



It was an armoured soldier, wearing the full silver suit of the Empire’s army. A dark-skinned man with grey hair and a wide nose knelt next to him.



“What’s your name, boy?” the man asked. He spoke a soft baritone that rolled the r’s.



“D-Daniel.”



The man’s gaze wandered to the village. “My name’s Emile. Are you from there?”



Daniel followed his pointed finger and nodded.



“Are you hurt?” Daniel motioned a ‘no’. “Good, that’s great. You’re lucky, Daniel.”



Emile returned to look at Sarah, who was tapping her foot with her arms on her hips. She had saved him?



“Help him up.”



Sarah scowled but reached for him to comply. Daniel managed to get a good look at her face. He turned away sharply when she noticed. She was Latin, and young. No older than he was. Embarrassment coloured his cheeks. He must have looked pathetic.



Emile gripped Daniel’s shoulder firmly to stop him from wobbling.



“Can you stand, Daniel?”



Daniel felt under the weight of his armoured arm, but nodded. He spotted two men behind Emile, sitting quietly, then returned his gaze to the man in front of him.



He tried to speak, but his breath caught. Daniel cleared his throat from the soot. “Who are y-you?”



Emile smiled.



“Us?” he said. He pointed at the girl. “Sarah. She went in to save you.”



Daniel tried not to stare at her again.



“That’s Michael, that’s Miguel.” Emile pointed to the sitting men. “Gepard will arrive shortly. Old Alfred’s back at the station.”



“The station? You mean-” Daniel asked.



“Yes, we’re private. South Combat Services Company, or Si-Si for short.”



Daniel noticed a symbol on their armour: an eye crossed diagonally. Daniel opened his mouth to ask for more details, but was interrupted by a slap on his back.



“You’re coming with us!” Sarah snapped.



Daniel blanched.



“Sarah!” Emile said loudly, then softer. “What did I say about using your manners?”



The dark-skinned man squeezed Daniels’ shoulders. “I’m sorry, but she’s right.”



“What do you mean? W-what are you going to do?” Daniel asked nervously.



“No, no don’t worry. We just need you to answer a few questions from the Army officer, then you’re free to go. You understand?”

Daniel stared. Private military companies. They were paid by the Empire one gold coin per kill. The gears in his head started whirring. They needed proof. He was proof. He shifted his shoulders and Emile let go.



“I’ll talk if you help me.”



Daniel shivered as Emile fell silent. Four hired killers surrounded him, and he was standing in the way of their reward. An uncomfortable silence settled. Emile looked past Daniel at Sarah. Fear froze Daniel and he felt his legs go weak.



Emile’s expression melted into a smile.



“Of course! Anything for the hardworking citizen!” He chuckled. “I’d ask you what you want, but we’ve got to go now. Do you understand why?”



He didn’t wait for an answer.

Spoiler: Challenge Challenge: Resolve 50, Social 50

1d100: 76. Success!

1d100: 36. Fail!

“W-wait!” Daniel shouted. He awkwardly fumbled for his words while Emile stared at him, impassive. Daniel cleared his throat.

“Can we search for any… s-survivors?”



Emile winced. He half-turned to Michael and Miguel and made a gesture towards the horizon. The two stood and launched themselves away as Emile returned to Daniel.



“We’ve conducted a search, boy.”



Daniel heard a grunt behind him.



“You’re it.” Sarah commented.



No-one else? He didn’t understand. He saw them run away, didn’t he?



“W-what do you mean?!”



Sarah tutted and walked around in front of him. She muttered something like ‘Witnesses’ before grabbing him, lifting him up under the knees and shoulders and crouching down. He didn’t resist. Mechanically, he held on and tensed as she leapt into the air.

The station was a forward military outpost, owned by the Army but handled and occupied by private military handlers. It was a tent city, spread over an area larger than Breuin Village had. Large fires heated cooking pots fit to feed hundreds. It reminded him of the burning bodies he’d left behind.



As Sarah carried him closer with each bound, Daniel started making out details. The tents had signals and colours: red, white, wolf heads, concentric circles and one had a crossed-out eye painted on its side. He had to close his eyes near the ground, when Sarah accelerated, so all that he saw was from above.



When the South Combat Services Company, or Si-Si landed, Daniel was numb from the cold and dull to the pain of his scratches and bruises. He stumbled to his feet and stared blankly ahead.

Sarah looked him up and down as she dusted off, then gripped him by the arm and pushed him ahead. Daniel made one step in front of the other, his thoughts elsewhere.



How could they? he kept thinking. All these people… going on with their lives as if nothing happened. Streamlined suits of armour, men and women in thick and warm clothes showing off their wealthy, Army officers in silver-embroidered dress uniform bustling about, launching, chatting…



What did you expect? a rational side to him asked. Breuin was a small village at the edge of the Empire. Everyone knew they were being sacrificed for the greater good. The Church of the Holy Goddess promised them redemption in the afterlife, but he knew it was just a ploy to keep the devoted villagers quiet.



Now they’re all gone. His parents were frying on the stone floor of the village square: they’d never get a proper burial. His brother, John, was… was--



A tap on his shoulder snapped him out of it.



He looked up, confused.



The four members of Si-Si were standing in front of him, a look of concern on their faces. Behind them was a large tent in black fabric with silver highlights. The Army.



Daniel stared back at the four of them.



Sarah didn’t look comfortable, Emile seemed concerned while Michael and Miguel were… twins?



“Are you ready, Daniel?” a soft baritone asked.



“What?” Daniel snapped back. He swivelled his head, trying to understand how he got here.



“An army officer will ask you questions inside.” Emile paused before continuing, without a reaction from Daniel. “We need you to tell them that a Federation raiding party attacked your village, that a magician led them, and that he was supported by four warriors and a lancer.”

Daniel frowned. “Four? What’s a Lancer?”



Sarah shook her head and walked away.



“A mage, four warriors and a lancer, can you repeat that?”



Daniel gave him a blank stare. “I saw one man who cast lightning, and two men with swords” he stated.



“No, boy,” Emile insisted. “Repeat what I said-”



Michael or Miguel, he couldn’t tell, stepped between Emile and Daniel and bent down to his level.



“Hey kid, you don’t have to do what the old geezer says.” he said in a reassuring tone. Up close, Daniel noticed he had his black hair tied in a ponytail, handsome features and dazzling white teeth.



“You’re…”



“I’m Miguel.” The man grinned. “That’s Michael,” he said, pointing at his identical brother. “Michael’s going to convince Emile to not pressure kids into getting him bigger rewards by risking execution, isn’t that right?”



Emile stood tight-lipped.



“You’re out of bounds, Santiago.”



Miguel straightened up and turned to face Emile.



“We came into this business to go straight. This isn’t very straight.” He motioned between himself and his brother. “We’ve seen enough young lives ruined by old men with pockets to fill. But you’re not one of them, Emile, are you?”



Emile’s gaze wandered between the brothers before settling on Daniel. He held his tongue as two women in full armoured plating and tattooed foreheads clattered by and entered the Army tent.



“Of course not.” he said, bowing his head. His eyes flashed back up to Daniel. “But remember, boy, if you’re smart, you’ll know there’s something in it for you. If you help us, we’ll help you.”



He waited for Daniel to take in his words, then continued despite the Santiago brothers’ looks of disgust.



“We can go in right now, or I’ll take you to Alfred so you can prepare your… speech.” Emile said, finishing quietly.



Michael started walking away from the tent’s entrance. Miguel took a step, then turned back to face Daniel.



“Turn down the offer, kid, it isn’t worth it. We’ll help you our own way. Come to our tent and we’ll talk; just ask for Si-Si.”



The Santiago shook his head one last time when Daniel hesitated to answer, and left.

Notes:

Character sheet is now available. The Resolve Challenge table is now available in the Quest Rules spoiler.



Plans:

[]: Follow Emile's plan. Speak to Alfred and return later with +1 Resolve.

[]: Take up the Santiago's offer. Ask Emile for the location of the SCSC's tent.

[]: Write-in

Thank you for reading, and congratulations to @Sickul and @Phoenix for keeping the thread alive.