The motel sign shrinks in the rearview mirror until it is nothing more than a flicking pulse of light against the city dark.
Bobby
The Wolf District grid is loud, even from three blocks away.
Bobby pulls his car onto the wide boulevard. The scent of burnt rubber hangs heavy in the humid air, mixed with the sharp tang of overpriced gasoline.
Jax
Hey, cat. You looking to run, or are you just here to watch the paint peel off those rims?
Jax
Grid is forming up near the docks. Ten cars already signed in. Don't be shy.
The wolf leans against a customized sports car, his grin wide and his tail wagging rhythmically against the metal chassis.
+ Scene Quest Added
Run the Wolf District grid
“"Thanks for the tip, and nice ride there," Bobby says with genuine, childlike enthusiasm.”
SUCCESS (Good Diplomacy, rolled +2)
Bobby
Thanks for the tip, and nice ride there.
Jax
Heh, I knew you had an eye for quality. Tell you what, since you have the right attitude, I'll put in a word with the starters. They'll slot you right into the second heat.
He pulls a small, digitized tag from his pocket and tosses it through the open window, landing perfectly on the dashboard.
Jax
That tag will get him past the gate guards without a hassle. The kid seems fast, hope he doesn't fold under pressure.
Bobby
This tag is legit. It looks like it handles the toll for the restricted lane.
The enthusiast winks, then nods toward the darkened turnoff leading to the docks. The roar of tuned engines swells in the distance, inviting Bobby to test his mettle.
+ Scene Quest Added
Get past the gate guards
− Scene Quest Removed
Run the Wolf District grid
+ New Item Acquired
digitized tag
“Bobby drives to the gate”
FAILURE (Fair Driving, rolled -3)
Bobby nudges the throttle, aiming for the gap in the barrier, but the slick asphalt betrays him.
The tires lose their grip, and the car fishtails violently into a row of orange traffic cones.
Bobby
Too much torque for this rain.
Jax
Easy there, kid. You are going to paint the walls before we even get to the start line.
Jax
A little green, but he definitely has guts.
Jax
If you want through the gate, you need to show me you can actually control that machine. Do you have a better line, or is this it?
“"Just a momentary distraction," you laugh nervously as you try again.”
SUCCESS (Fair Driving, rolled +1)
Bobby
Just a momentary distraction.
Bobby
The traction control light is blinking, but I can compensate.
Bobby steadies his foot, balancing the revs against the slick pavement. The wheels stop spinning and bite into the asphalt with a sudden, smooth surge of forward motion.
He threads the car perfectly through the narrow corridor between the remaining cones, his tires humming a low, steady pitch.
Jax
Not bad, kid. You have the touch. Keep that rhythm all the way to the gate.
Jax
Now, pull up to that guard booth and flash your tag. Don't look back.
“Without even so much as acknowledgment, you do exactly that.”
SUCCESS (Fair Driving, rolled +2)
Bobby
The gate sensor is already active.
Bobby slows the car to a crawl as he nears the booth. He holds the digital tag up toward the reader, the screen emitting a soft, synchronized pulse.
The heavy steel gate emits a metallic groan, beginning to slide open smoothly before the car has even fully stopped.
Dog Guard
Clear to enter. Keep your speed steady inside the perimeter.
Bobby
Understood.
Bobby rolls past the threshold, finding himself on a pristine stretch of private asphalt that cuts through the shipyard. The roar of tuned engines from the docks surges forward, louder and more intense than before.
Quest Complete
Get past the gate guards
Skill Upgrade: Driving Fair→Good