Roxanne steps into the alley’s weak amber light, her red dress and shawls bright against wet brick. A broad-shouldered man in a charcoal coat, a middle-aged man with a square, weathered face, close-cropped brown hair, and a narrow scar through one eyebrow, blocks the street exit, watching her carefully.
The Client
Wait. You heard the number. Nobody walks away from that kind of money without thinking twice.
He lifts one gloved hand, not quite touching her, while the alley funnels every sound toward them. The proposed job hangs between them as an unmistakable boundary.
The Client
It is extreme, yes. But it is private, controlled, and over quickly. You name your price, and I make it worth considering.
Footsteps begin at the far end, several sets striking pavement in an uneven rhythm. Three silhouettes move through the darkness, still too distant for faces or intent.
The Client
Those people are coming this way. Decide now, Roxanne. Take the money, or give me a reason not to keep persuading you.
The client remains between Roxanne and the street, while the approaching footsteps grow louder behind her. The alley offers no comfortable pause for either negotiation or retreat.
✓ Quest Accepted
Escape the alley
“I name a price high enough to make him step aside.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Charm, rolled +1)
Roxanne Fine
Fifty thousand dollars. Paid up front, and you step aside now.
The number lands cleanly in the wet alley. Roxanne holds his gaze while the approaching silhouettes draw nearer, their footsteps sharpening behind her.
The Client
Fifty thousand. You drive a hard bargain.
The client studies her for one taut second, then moves away from the street exit. His broad frame clears a direct path into the amber-lit street.
The Client
Done. Half before we leave this alley, half when the job is finished.
Three figures emerge farther down the alley, still indistinct in the rain. With the client no longer blocking her, the street lies open at Roxanne's side.
“I sprint through the open exit”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +1)
Roxanne sprints through the open exit, red boots striking the wet pavement as her shawls flare behind her. The amber street receives her cleanly, leaving the alley at her back.
The Client
Roxanne, wait. You have a deal, and half the money is ready now.
She gains the sidewalk and clears the alley mouth. Behind her, the client steps into the rain, while the silhouettes at the far end continue toward the opening.
The Client
You wanted payment up front. I can honor that without chasing you.
The client stops beneath the weak streetlamp instead of following. Three approaching figures pass into clearer view behind him, their faces still indistinct beneath the rain.
The Client
Come back when you are ready to collect it, or send someone you trust.
Quest Complete
Escape the alley
Skill Upgrade: Stealth Mediocre