Charlie’s injured arm throbs as Thomas slows the utility truck beneath the water tower. Maya opens the medical bag while Evan raises the radio toward the dark platform.
Maya Rodriguez
Hold your arm steady, Charlie. I’m cleaning the cut and wrapping it before we move any closer.
The access road appears quiet, with abandoned cars silvered by weak dawn light. No movement crosses the tower stairs, but the silence feels watchful.
Evan Cole
Franklin water tower, this is Belmont. We have Luis and Mateo. Respond if you are still there.
Static answers first. Evan repeats the call while Maya presses gauze over Charlie’s shallow cut, then secures a clean bandage around his upper arm.
Luis
He said he would stay there. What if something found him after we left?
Thomas Roberts
We do not assume either way. Lamps ready, doors locked, and we check the tower from cover before anyone steps out.
✓ Quest Accepted
Bring the water-tower caller to Belmont
“Once Charlie's arm is secure, he suggests he and Evan climb the water tower stairs and investigate. Maya and Thomas should protect the truck and the boys. He pauses halfway through getting up to say, "hey guys, I keep taking charge and giving out orders, but is everyone cool with that? I've been meaning to ask."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +2)
Once Maya secures the bandage, Charlie checks the tower stairs through the windshield. Thomas locks the truck while Maya positions the UV lamps and keeps Luis and Mateo inside.
Charlie Moore
Evan and I will climb the stairs and investigate from cover. Maya and Thomas, protect the truck and the boys.
Thomas Roberts
Understood, babe. We’ll keep the doors locked, cover the stairs, and call if anything moves.
Charlie and Evan leave the truck with one strong UV lamp and the radio. They climb carefully, pausing at each landing to scan the access road and platform.
Charlie Moore
Hey guys, I keep taking charge and giving out orders, but is everyone cool with that? I’ve been meaning to ask.
Evan Cole
I’m cool with it. You make clear calls, and you listen when someone spots a better option. That’s coordination, not bossing people around.
They reach the platform safely. From behind the railing, Charlie and Evan find the tower unattended, but a fresh blanket, empty water bottle, and radio notes show the caller occupied the shelter recently.
“Charlie looks for signs of a struggle or a trail.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Investigation, rolled +0)
Charlie searches the platform methodically, checking the railing, blanket, bottle, radio notes, and stair landing for disturbed dust, blood, or broken material.
Near the railing, he finds a shallow scrape and several dark blood drops leading toward the far side of the platform. A torn blanket thread clings to a bolt.
Charlie Moore
The caller left under pressure, and the trail goes away from the stairs.
Evan Cole
I see it. The drops continue down the maintenance ladder, then angle toward the drainage ditch behind the tower.
Charlie follows the signs from cover. The trail includes a dragged boot mark, a dropped flashlight with a cracked lens, and blood smeared along the lower ladder.
Evan Cole
No body here, no infected remains, and no signs of a fight on the platform. Whoever he was, he moved away alive or was taken.
At the ditch, the trail disappears among flattened weeds and tire tracks leading toward the service road. Charlie photographs the marks and radios the truck with the findings.
“Charlie asks if Evan saw a radio up on the tower?”
SUCCESS (Great Perception, rolled +0)
Charlie Moore
Did you see a radio up on the tower?
Evan Cole
Yes. The notes were beside the blanket, and the radio was there when the caller made contact. It is gone now.
Evan points to a clean rectangular patch in the dust near the railing, where the radio had rested. The remaining notes are folded beneath the blanket edge.
Evan Cole
He took it with him, or whoever moved him took it. The cracked flashlight and blood trail begin below the maintenance ladder.
Charlie photographs the empty patch and the notes before returning his attention to the ladder. The service road remains quiet beyond the ditch, with no visible movement.
Evan Cole
We should tell Thomas the radio left with him. If he can still transmit, he may answer from the service road.
Evan folds the notes into a waterproof sleeve. Together, he and Charlie descend toward the truck, carrying a confirmed last location and a clear reason to call again.
“When they get back, Charlie let's even fill them in while he tries to reach someone on the radio. "Belmont rescue team to water tower watcher. We are on site. Are you nearby? Over."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Charlie and Evan descend to the truck. Thomas keeps the doors locked while Maya covers the tower stairs, and Luis and Mateo listen from the rear seats.
Evan Cole
The watcher left the platform under pressure. His radio is gone, blood marks lead down the maintenance ladder, and tracks angle toward the service road.
Charlie Moore
Belmont rescue team to water tower watcher. We are on site. Are you nearby? Over.
Charlie holds the radio close and waits. Static crackles loudly enough to draw Maya’s wary glance, while the transmission drains one fresh battery bar.
Grant
Belmont, I hear you. I’m in the drainage ditch east of the tower, injured but conscious. Do not approach from the road.
Thomas Roberts
We have him located, babe. Evan, mark the ditch. Maya, keep the lamps ready, and nobody leaves the truck until we confirm the approach.
Evan marks the watcher’s position on the map. Charlie’s call has established contact and a precise location, though the radio’s depleted battery is added to the mission’s immediate replacement list.
“Charlie asks if he's been bit, and how many infected are following him? Or if he's being chased by another survivor?”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -3)
Charlie Moore
Are you bitten? How many infected are following you, and are you being chased by another survivor?
Grant
No bites that I can find. I’m bleeding from my leg, but the blood is mine. I heard one infected moving above the ditch, then another farther west. No survivor is chasing me.
The radio crackles sharply after his answer, draining another battery bar. Maya immediately lowers the truck’s spare lamp case, while Thomas keeps the doors locked and watches the ditch.
Grant
I crawled beneath the culvert when they passed. I can hear one scraping near the road, but it has not found the ditch entrance.
Grant
Stay concealed and keep the radio quiet. We know you are unbitten, injured, and being tracked by two infected, not another survivor.
Evan Cole
I’ll mark the culvert and the infected’s last direction. We can approach from the opposite bank with the UV lamp, then bring him straight to the truck.
Charlie’s question establishes the watcher’s condition and pursuers, but the radio now needs a replacement battery before further transmissions. Thomas signals the team to prepare a quiet extraction.
“Charlie follows through with Evan's plan. Ready to bring down the infected with his hammer if he needs too.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +1)
Charlie and Evan leave the locked truck with a strong UV lamp. They circle toward the opposite bank, keeping the culvert between themselves and the road while Charlie carries his hammer ready.
Evan Cole
Quiet steps. I’ll hold the lamp on the road side. If it moves, strike only when it enters the light.
A Biter scrapes along the ditch edge, then lurches into the UV beam. Charlie closes the distance and brings the reinforced hammer down, dropping it before it can reach the culvert.
The second infected groans from farther west but turns away from the light. Evan keeps the beam trained on it while Charlie reaches beneath the culvert and finds the injured watcher conscious.
Grant
You came. My leg is cut badly, but I still have the radio. I can crawl if you give me support.
Charlie and Evan pull the watcher out using a loop of cargo strap as a handle. They keep the lamp between them and the western infected, then carry him across the bank to the truck.
Thomas Roberts
Open the rear door, babe. Maya has the medical kit ready, and the boys are staying low. We’ve got him.
“Charlie pulls the injured man into the truck for Maya to treat, and introduces himself.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled -2)
Charlie grips the cargo strap and hauls the injured watcher through the rear doors. Evan keeps the strong UV lamp aimed outward while Thomas holds the truck steady.
Charlie Moore
I’m Charlie. We’re getting you treated. Keep your leg still and tell us if anything changes.
Grant
I’m Grant. Thank you, Charlie. The wound is bad, but I haven’t been bitten.
Maya pulls Grant onto the padded floor and cuts away the damaged trouser leg. Blood has soaked the fabric from a deep slash along his calf.
Maya Rodriguez
Pressure first. Charlie, hold his shoulder steady. I’m checking the wound for debris and bite marks.
Charlie braces Grant as the truck rocks from a distant impact. The movement jolts his bandaged upper arm, reopening a small spot of blood beneath the dressing.
Thomas Roberts
The cost is showing, babe. Keep your arm protected while Maya works. We have the watcher aboard, and the doors are locked.
“Charlie says they should move as soon as Evan is aboard. They still have one more rescue to make.”
SUCCESS (Superb Willpower, rolled +1)
Charlie Moore
Move as soon as Evan is aboard. We still have one more rescue to make.
Evan climbs through the rear doors and pulls the strong UV lamp inside. Thomas seals the truck, then accelerates away from the water tower as Maya maintains pressure on Grant’s calf.
Evan Cole
I’m aboard. The western infected is losing sight of us, and the service road toward the family address is clear for now.
The truck rattles through the service lane. Grant lies across the padded floor with his injured leg elevated, while Luis and Mateo remain secured behind the bench.
Thomas Roberts
We’ll reach my family’s neighborhood, verify the house from cover, and leave immediately if the route turns bad. No splitting up.
Maya Rodriguez
Grant is stable enough for transport, but the bleeding needs continued pressure. The next stop has to be quick and protected.
Evan unfolds the map across the cargo case and points toward Franklin Road. Ahead, the family address lies beyond a blocked intersection, while dawn begins revealing the empty streets.