The bell snaps through the arena, and Kenn Powers stands dead center, the title belt heavy on one shoulder.
Around the ring, Tempest’s crew locks into a tight wall at the ropes, every one of them watching Kenn’s hands.
The referee, Marisol Vega, edges closer, eyes narrowed, one hand already hovering near her pocket.
Kenn Powers
The knuckles are still hidden.
Marisol Vega
Kenn Powers, keep those hands open. I see one cheap shot, and I call it.
Tempest
Show them what you’re hiding, champ. Unless you’re scared to win fair.
The crowd swells, half booing, half roaring, as one man on Tempest’s side steps onto the apron and points straight at Kenn’s shoulder.
The Man on the Apron
Last warning. Drop the brass, or we make the call ourselves.
✓ Quest Accepted
Keep the referee from stripping the belt
“Are the brass knuckles in my hands?”
NO, AND WORSE (VeryLikely, rolled 97)
The Man on the Apron lunges forward, his hand darting not toward Kenn, but toward the championship belt itself.
With a sharp tug, he rips the leather strap from Kenn's shoulder, and the brass knuckles clatter loudly onto the canvas for the entire arena to see.
Kenn Powers
So much for the easy way out.
“I act completely shocked at the sight of the brass knuckles. "Somebody must have taped them to the belt to frame me."”
FAILURE (Fair Persuasion, rolled -2)
Kenn Powers
Somebody must have taped them to the belt to frame me.
Kenn widens his eyes and lifts his empty hands, but the lie lands thin in the ring. Marisol's gaze drops to the brass knuckles, then to Kenn's face, measuring the distance between the two.
Marisol Vega
Framed you? Kenn, those are yours, and they are on the canvas.
Tempest
He always has an excuse. Check his trunks, check the tape, check everything.
The Man on the Apron keeps the belt raised, but his grin tightens when Marisol does not move to strip it yet. A strip of black athletic tape is visible on the belt strap, half-peeled and sticky at one end.
Kenn Powers
The tape is real. That is what they can see.
Marisol reaches for the belt, then pauses, eyes on the tape. 'Hold on,' she says, and the crowd noise swells as she examines the strap instead of Kenn's hands.
Quest Complete
Keep the referee from stripping the belt
“While the ref examines the belt I punch the man on the apron to knock him down to the floor.”
FAILURE (Good Brawling, rolled -2)
Kenn lunges at the apron before the ref can look up, driving a short punch toward the man’s ribs.
The Man on the Apron jerks back, catches the top rope, and the blow glances hard instead of dropping him.
He stumbles but keeps his footing outside the ropes, one hand snapping down with the belt as he recoils.
Marisol finally looks up, seeing Kenn’s swing, the belt in motion, and the tension across the apron all at once.
Marisol Vega
Hands off the ropes, Kenn.
Tempest
There, he swung first.
A strip of black tape flutters loose from the belt and sticks to the middle rope, plain enough for anyone to grab.
“I grab the tape and loudly declare that this is proof I was framed.”
SUCCESS (Fair Persuasion, rolled +1)
Kenn’s hand snaps to the middle rope, and the black tape comes free in one clean tug.
Kenn Powers
That tape is proof I was framed.
He lifts it high where everyone can see, thumb and forefinger pinching the sticky strip like evidence in court.
Marisol Vega
Hold it. Nobody touches the belt again until I see where that tape came from.
Tempest
Nice try. You plant it, then you point at it. Classic Kenn.
The crowd murmurs, but Marisol bends closer to the belt, eyes narrowing at the matching tape scar.
The Man on the Apron
Ref, check the clasp. He was hiding something before I ever got here.
✓ Quest Accepted
Stop Marisol from stripping the title
“I ask Marisol if she really wants to answer to management for why she stripped the title when the evidence corroborates my story.”
SUCCESS (Good Intimidation, rolled +2)
Kenn lowers his voice just enough to make Marisol lean in, the ring noise around them fading behind the words.
Kenn Powers
You really want to explain to management why you stripped the title when the tape backs me up?
Marisol’s glare flickers. Her hand stops over the belt clasp, then shifts to the black tape scar, thumb rubbing the edge like she is measuring the damage against the rules.
Marisol Vega
...No. I want a clean call, and right now your mess is making that hard.
Tempest
Hard? He’s been lying since he stepped through the curtain.
Marisol cuts a sharp look toward Tempest, then back to the tape in Kenn’s raised hand. The belt hangs motionless in The Man on the Apron’s grip, suddenly less like evidence and more like leverage.
The Man on the Apron
Ref, if that tape matches, you know what that means. Say it.
Marisol draws in a breath and straightens, not stripping anything yet, but not letting the belt go either. Her eyes stay on Kenn as the whole ring waits for her call.
Quest Complete
Stop Marisol from stripping the title