Joe and I played out a 25SS game between Lady Justice and McMourning this evening. Joe had the “Destroy the Evidence” strategy and I had “Deliver a Message”. We’re both still learning the game and we had to consult the rules a fair bit, but it was great fun! Here’s an attempt at a narrative battle report…
The heat was almost unbearable. No air moved in these old deserted warehouses. Lady Justice could taste the sweat on her lips. She had a message for McMourning and as her crew quietly closed on the master of the morgue she was going to deliver it and then end him. His indiscretions in this patch of industrial wasteland had not gone unnoticed and the ambush was almost set.
McMourning knew they were on to him and that the evidence must be disposed of. The Flesh Construct towering before him lurched forward as the incriminating pieces of the puzzle came into view. As it plodded forward shots rang out and slammed into its reconstituted form. The distinctive report of Peacemakers could not be mistaken. They were on to him alright… they were here.
Lady Justice holstered her pistols and drew her Greatsword, it sang as she removed it from its scabbard. She glimpsed her quarry, through holes in the decaying concrete. He moved forward without caution, but she could sense the hidden others of his crew nearby. Sebastian, McMourning’s vile assistant, would most likely be scavenging for any body pieces he could find. A twisted nurse in his employ would no doubt be strutting along close behind.
A Witchling Stalker moved forward and blasted wildly at McMourning – the shot clipping him in the shoulder. Samael moved forward and managed to miss the master with his Colt .45. That was disconcerting; he rarely missed. McMourning must be packing a lot of Soulstones and was using them to thwart their efforts. The Death Marshal to her right unloaded into the Flesh Construct and felled it.
“Where the hell was Sebastian?” he thought. A coarse half-bark sounded from behind him as if answering his question. “Damn it Sebastian, there are more important things to attend to than making new pets!” As McMourning turned to look at the canine a shot from another Guild weapon blasted it to the ground. He knew he’d have to finish this himself. He moved swiftly to the remains of the Flesh Construct and began greedily snatching up the pieces when he saw her. With the agility of an arachnid construct he lunged towards her, his surgical tools flickering through his fingers.
Before Lady Justice could react McMourning was standing toe-to-toe with her. His precision tools began to cut into her flesh. She could feel her cache of Soulstones dissolve to prevent the worst of the damage, but still she flinched from the blows. Recomposing herself she grabbed him by the lapel, leaned in and whispered her message. His eyes widened and for a moment he dropped his guard. She sliced the Greatsword across his gut.
“How could she have found out?”, a thought flashed through his mind. He clutched at his side and recomposed himself to deal with Lady Justice. He focussed his energy and drove the surgical tools towards her throat. Justice stumbled aside and the weapons narrowly missed their mark (Ed: Black Joker). It seems like Lady Luck had betrayed him too! His quarry swung back in riposte, but almost unbelievably did not connect (Ed: Another Black Joker!). His mind slipped into a most comfortable mode – that of a master dissector! His hands worked feverishly and Lady Justice fell to the ground in a bloody mess. He looked up from where she lay, an uncontrollable grin spreading across his face. The grin disappeared under the combined blows of Justice’s minions. The world went black.
Owen