Rain beads on Loid Forger's commuter coat as he reaches the apartment. The blackmail file stays concealed beneath it, his pistol hidden beneath the ordinary layers of his disguise.
Inside, dinner is already served. Yor Briar sets down a dish while Anya Forger watches Loid with bright, searching eyes.
Loid Forger keeps his explanation ordinary, guiding the conversation toward work, traffic, and the weather while avoiding the file's weight against his side.
Yor Briar
You look unusually tired tonight. Was the commute difficult?
Anya Forger
Papa has secret paper. The paper is thinking about our house.
Across the street, The Outside Observer remains beneath a dark awning, facing the apartment windows. At the table, Anya's question leaves the room briefly quiet, and the file's connection to the household can no longer be dismissed.
✓ Quest Accepted
Convince Yor and Anya that my evening was ordinary
✓ Quest Accepted
Determine whether the Outside Observer has linked the file to my family
“"What are you talking about Anya?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Loid Forger
What are you talking about, Anya?
Anya Forger
The secret paper. It feels worried. It says our house is part of something bad.
Anya's raised finger lowers to the edge of her plate. Her certainty softens into an appeal for trust.
Yor Briar
Anya, perhaps the paper only concerns Loid's work. But if something is troubling you, you can tell us.
Anya Forger
It was hidden under Papa's coat. Papa looked tired, so Anya did not touch it.
The answer gives the evening a harmless shape: a child's concern, a tired parent, and a family trying to understand one another. Beneath the neighboring table, the concealed transmitter pulses once.
Yor Briar
Is there something from work you want to explain to us, Loid?
“"Oh, just a mental patiant"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -1)
Loid Forger
Oh, just a mental patient.
The casual explanation lands. Yor's concern eases, and Anya accepts the ordinary shape of the evening. As Loid shifts back from the table, his sleeve catches the water glass. It tips, spilling across the tablecloth with a sharp clatter.
Yor Briar
You have been carrying too much, then. Please do not dismiss it as nothing.
Anya Forger
Papa needs rest. Anya can help be quiet tonight.
Yor reaches for a towel while Anya gathers the napkins. Beneath the neighboring table, the concealed transmitter pulses once, lost beneath the small family commotion.
Yor Briar
There. No more work talk during dinner. Afterward, you can tell me what would make tomorrow easier.
Quest Complete
Convince Yor and Anya that my evening was ordinary
Skill Upgrade: Investigation Mediocre
“I look outside and see the guy from earlier. "Anya, Yor, duck, stalker alert!"”
FAILURE (Good Perception, rolled -1)
Loid turns toward the apartment window. Rain and reflected dining-room light fracture the view across the street.
Loid Forger
Anya, Yor, duck, stalker alert!
The warning lands before certainty does. Loid catches a human silhouette near the opposite awning, but glare obscures the face and clothing. He cannot confirm it is the watcher from the café.
Anya Forger
Anya is down!
Anya drops behind the table. Yor pulls low beside her, while the room's sudden silence makes the transmitter's pulse beneath the neighboring table audible.
Yor Briar
Loid, where should I look?
The silhouette slips behind a rain-darkened sign. In the window reflection, the transmitter's faint indicator flashes in the same rhythm as the pulse beneath the table, offering a usable lead without proving who is watching.
“I go outside and show the file to the agent. "Get out of here unless you want an anonomous report of blackmail"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Loid moves through the apartment exit and into the rain, keeping the blackmail file visible beneath his coat as he crosses toward the opposite awning.
Loid Forger
Get out of here unless you want an anonymous report of blackmail.
The watcher steps from behind the sign. Loid opens the file to the marked page, exposing the address concealed among the names and dates.
The Outside Observer
You found the linkage sooner than expected.
The observer lowers the camera. The marked page identifies the Forger apartment as the file's active pressure point, confirming the family has been linked.
The Outside Observer
The report will not be sent tonight. Leave the file exposed again, and that changes.
The observer disappears into the rain, abandoning the stakeout. Behind Loid, the apartment window remains lit, and the transmitter pulses once beneath the neighboring table.
Stop the transmitter's signal from reaching the apartment
Quest Complete
Determine whether the Outside Observer has linked the file to my family
Skill Upgrade: Hacking Mediocre