Squad Games [Squad Building LitRPG] [Book One Complete]

Mercs:

Wynter Blair | Rosalind De Cheney | The Baron | Odafe 'Smoke' Negedu | Henning 'Tree' Teller | Alfie 'The Guvnah' Goodfellow | Chinara 'Vixen' Makinde | Oripione | Murder

The Baron and Smoke were investigating the Sargassian palace.

The rest of them waited, hoping the stand of trees provided enough cover to avoid detection. If not, Tree was ready to sink a few arrows into anyone who discovered them.

Chinara had the jitters. This was almost the exact spot where Eyota had captured her. Wynter and Alfie seemed to share her discomfort. At least they escaped last time they were here. Left me, in fact, she reminded herself.

Eyota isn't here, she told herself. Amotken and Stricken aren't here. It helped a little.

De Cheney sat on the ground, exhausted by the effort of transporting them all. She had not had time to properly recover from her efforts at the Harris's farm. Vixen was developing a grudging respect for the woman. Murder stood by the witch's side. He was Alinko, like Chinara. But she'd struggled to get much conversation out of him. Stiff had told him to stick to Rosalind, and the big man seemed determined to do just that.

The final member of their strange little group was Oripione, the tiefling. She stood alone, stiff and guarded amongst people who were strangers to her. Chinara could only begin to guess how much those horns and that tail kept her isolated from other people. But she was too worn-down herself to attempt to break down those barriers.

The Baron and Smoke returned, as if from nowhere. Both men had the same kind of inner confidence which Chinara, feeling more lost than usual these days, was happy to feed off. Now, though, they shared the same discontented expression.

"Rather unfortunate," The Baron began, in his plummy Durnost accent. "There's no easy way to get inside undetected. Every entrance is guarded by these Silent Warriors."

"We shouldn't be surprised," Smoke added. "They are protecting their emperor, after all. Good news is, there aren't so many of them. I reckon once we're inside, our mission will get easier."

"So it's getting inside that's the issue?" Alfie asked.

"Precisely," said The Baron. "We could do with a little distraction. I was thinking some long-range fire might do the job?"

"Meaning me and Henning?" Chinara asked.

"They'll need support," The Guvnah said.

"We shouldn't need you in the palace, chommie," Smoke told him. "Going undetected is the name of the game there."

"But better safe than sorry," Rosalind suggested.

"True," the Alinko thief conceded.

"How about The Guvnah and Wynter supporting our missile troops?" said The Baron. "The rest of us go in and out."

Everyone seemed content with the plan.

Chinara had one final question. "Rosalind, you can gather us all up at the end?"

"I should be able to, so long as I have enough energy left. Let's all hope nothing complicates things once we're inside."

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"Mada," Murder agreed.

ACTION ROUND

There were a score of Silent Warriors gathered at the entrance to the marble palace of the Sargassians. The Baron was right. No attack here could go unnoticed.

Chinara and Henning positioned themselves a long distance from the enemy. It guaranteed they weren't seen and gave them a safe space when it was time to retreat. On the other hand, it put their attacks at a disadvantage.

Tree aimed with care, scoring three hits. None of them were quite powerful enough for outright kills, but left their victims badly wounded, on only one action point.

Vixen achieved two hits, with damage of 9 & 7.

It was certainly enough to grab the attention of the guards. The fifteen uninjured warriors set off as a unit, intent on running them down. Then more appeared, from inside the palace, and from spots around its exterior.

It was rather disconcerting to see so many, even if they had Alfie and Wynter to engage them if necessary.

"Move now," Tree said. "We need to keep this distance."

The four of them used three action points each to withdraw from the oncoming enemy.

It reduced Tree to two attack actions, and Chinara only the one. They weren't going to inflict much damage like this. But if they could keep the Silent Warriors at a distance, maybe that didn't matter.

The abduction party waited as The Silent Warriors ran in the direction of their crewmates. More of them emerged from inside the palace, and from guard posts set along its walls. When they were gone, five warriors remained at the entrance. But they were the five already badly wounded by missile fire.

Smoke rushed them from one side. Five of his knife stabs were hits, each causing enough damage to leave five dead warriors at the entrance.

The others didn't waste time, moving past and over bodies to get inside the palace.

The Baron took the lead, guiding them down a corridor towards the parts of the palace that might contain imperial chambers.

Oripione strode next to him, nearly as light footed. There was an instant contrast from daylight to windowless corridor. But the tiefling brandished Goldblade, and its warm glow permeated the space, providing sufficient light for their purposes.

There was a gap before Rosalind followed with Murder in tow. They were wise enough to know they would be more hindrance than help at the front. That left Smoke to bring up the rear, ready to react if they were followed.

The two warriors who came at them were probably alerted by the sword's glare.

Even so, The Baron managed to get in the first strikes. One knife stab, for 7 damage, wasn't a particularly good return.

Oripione struck accurately with her second action, not even needing her sword's bonus to kill her opponent outright. Her fourth action accounted for the wounded warrior.

The Baron wasted no time in pressing on, taking them through an archway the two warriors had emerged from.

They stalked through richly furnished rooms, encouraging them to believe they were in the right place.

In a dining room capable of seating at least a dozen, a man and a woman sat down to breakfast.

Despite the incongruity of the scene before them, it was obvious they had stumbled upon the emperor completely undefended. With a muscular frame and a thick beard, Sahale had the look of an ancient emperor. But despite reacting quickly—getting to his feet and shouting for help—there was little he could do as the five Apples swarmed into the room.

A firm right hook, and Sahale connected with The Baron, sending him back into the table and upending it. Food and drink flew everywhere.

Oripione—knowing that she couldn't kill the emperor, nor was she supposed to—smacked him on the side of the head with Goldblade's hilt.

The emperor sagged to the floor. Jumping over the table, Smoke helped the tiefling pin him down. Meanwhile, Rosalind side kicked the empress. Still seated in her chair, she tumbled to the floor.

The Baron gagged Sahale, and the panic in the room subsided. Murder, displaying the skill of someone who had done this kind of thing before, bound the emperor's hands and feet. He then effortlessly picked him up and hefted him over his shoulder.

Oripione moved towards the entrance to the dining room, reacting to the sound of running feet getting closer.

But Rosalind was already building her portal. "This way," she said, as the colours and lights shifted, revealing a forest scene on the other side.

The Silent Warriors were getting closer. Chinara and Henning had felled a half dozen—but not enough to win the imminent combat.

Behind them, there was the sound of someone politely clearing their throat.

Chinara turned.

Smoke grinned next to The Baron. Even the tiefling looked a little smug. Murder staggered as a figure on his shoulder struggled. Oripione clattered their captive around the head, and the struggling subsided.

Behind them, De Cheney was using the Staff of Hither-Thither to create an escape route.

MISSION COMPLETE

SUCCESS: Emperor Sahale was captured

Some of your mercs improved their stats:

Smoke:

Might +1

Hit Points +1

Murder:

Grit +1

Hit Points +1

No mercs levelled up