Ringo was the last to arrive. Dressed in black leather, her dark hair pulled into a low pony, she slid into the seat beside QJ and nodded politely at the three legends across from them.
[OP: Ringo] I am so excited. Thanks for inviting me.
[OP: QJ] OP will do these kinds of [Red Player] raids once we're a bit more experienced. Head on a swivel and listen to everything my dad says.
Quinn finished his drink and pulled up a schematic and the prepared raid brief on the booth HUD.
Raid Brief
[Youngsan Training Facility]
Our target is in the four-story building that houses the elite guard of the Emperor of Itawaon. General Morakawto wields the Dohonza Blade. Mission: kill Morakawto and take his sword.
Roles
Hashtag: Shadow Blade — DPS, Infiltration
Bo Jangles: Rockstar — CC, Buffs, Heals
Q: NPC Assassin — DPS
QJ: Wrangler — DPS
Ringo: Gunslinger — DPS / Lockpicking
We'll access the building once Jangles locks it down. Hashtag will locate the target and we execute. Use [Red Player] tokens to evac to the Exodus gate and ruin the Emperor's day. Questions?
Ringo nodded toward Bo Jangles. "Your crowd control can lock down the building?"
"Yes." Jangles grinned. He'd traded his usual flamboyance for blackened stealth gear. "I'm doing the heavy lifting. If you see anything amiss, call it out in group chat."
QJ glanced at the familiar case leaning against the booth. "You bringing the weapon I made you?"
"I can't." Jangles shook his head. "That one's built for offense. We're going light—Monarch will do." He smirked. "Though I did add a few demon strings. Changed the description a bit."
Monarch
12-stringed MandoGuitar — Legendary
Mass Effect: Mesmerize up to 30 targets.
Additional: Spirit Healing.
Additional: Blood Poison (light DoT; does not break mesmerize).
Q sent invites to the private channel.
[Shadow: Q] Anything else?
[Shadow: Ringo] How are we approaching? GnG characters can't use jetpacks.
[Shadow: Jangles] I'll bring all the non-flyers in.
[Shadow: Ringo] How'd you know I picked up lockpicking?
[Shadow: QJ] I told them.
[Shadow: Q] Time to go.
Q exited the building, leading the procession of TAP legends followed by the OP leaders. The short walk to the Martial Law gate was uneventful; Exodus's lights were dimmed and foot traffic sparse.
On the platform Jangles slung his guitar over one shoulder and activated the gate. Musical notes floated, spun, and a small cloud formed beneath their feet. It lifted them fast enough that Ringo instinctively clutched QJ's arm. They rose until the gate below was little more than a smear of light.
Hashtag accessed his inventory and equipped his jetpack.
[Ba'Avriel][Hunt]
Black wings unfurled on Q's back; his eyes glowed red.
[Shadow: Q] On me…
Q led north, gliding easily; Hashtag followed on jetpack. A dark cloud carrying three more operatives moved at a steadier pace and arrived undetected high above the compound.
A short while later, a figure cloaked in black sat on the ledge of the compound wall, absorbed by the night. His ears twitched; the micro-hair on them translated sound waves into data. The black jewel set in his forehead pulsed, and the building below fleshed into his sonic vision—room by room, occupant by occupant, every patrol path laid clear.
[Shadow: Q] You fall asleep down there, Hash?
[Shadow: Hashtag] No. We'll go in through the roof access. Two guards at the hatch—silenced takedowns.
They moved into position, each breath and heartbeat synchronized with the plan. The raid had begun.
[Shadow: Q] West guard is mine, QJ take the east.
[Shadow: QJ] Got it.
QJ activated stealth and dove off the cloud. Air rushed past as he snapped on his glide suit and shot horizontally; windshear let him bank hard toward the roof. He drew [Roll Credits], straightened his glide, and cut clean lines through the night.
West of him, Q plunged in as well. Long bone spikes slid from his palms as he stooped, a gust ruffling the guard's hair and stealing his attention. Q's hands slammed into the man's face; the spikes found unarmored eyes. The guard went limp.
QJ's sword arced through the east guard's helm and skull with a wet, final sound, stopping only when the blade hit reinforced plate. He wrenched the sword free, checked the body, and hurried to the access hatch.
[Shadow: QJ] This guard had a key.
[Shadow: Q] Perfect.
He unlocked the hatch just as Jangles and Ringo landed on the roof. Hashtag waited in the shadows below.
[Shadow: Q] Stealth up. Jangles goes in first.
Jangles nodded and descended the stairs with a casual gait, fingers strumming notes that lingered like mist. The tones threaded through walls, ceilings, and floors. He played for several breaths, waiting on Hashtag's confirmation.
The black jewel in Hashtag's forehead thrummed. Data flowed: room layouts, patrol patterns, sleeping positions.
[Shadow: Hashtag] That's it — everyone's down.
Jangles shifted the rhythm to a slower chorus to sustain the enchantment.
[Shadow: Ringo] How many are mezzed?
[Shadow: Hashtag] Forty… follow me.
Jangles layered a few more chords and the HUD text blinked with buff messages.
Sound Dampening: in effect.
Group Haste: in effect.
Health Regeneration: increased.
[OP: Ringo] Holy crap…
[OP: QJ] Yep. Uncle Jangles is OP.
They threaded the hall single file until the staircase.
[Shadow: Hashtag] Down two flights and then turn left.
Q dropped his Ba'Avriel form as they descended, equipped his halberd, and let his glowing eyes read heat signatures through the masonry.
[Shadow: Ringo] Do we know anything about Morakawto?
[Shadow: Q] No. He's never been killed or even attacked.
[Shadow: Ringo] What? Never?
[Shadow: Q] He's usually green, which means Martial Law players can't target him.
[Shadow: QJ] And if we can't target him either?
[Shadow: Hashtag] Shortest raid ever — your dad buys the drinks.
They halted outside a set of ornate silver double doors, carved with flowing designs.
[Shadow: Q] This door enchanted or trapped?
Hashtag studied the frame for a long beat, then shook his head.
Q tried the handle. It didn't budge.
[Shadow: Q] It's locked. You're up, Ringo.
Ringo's mouth curved into a small, pleased smile. She fed picks into the tumbler and worked with practiced fingers, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the mechanisms. After a few careful seconds — and thanks to Jangles's sound dampening — the lock clicked open without a whisper.
Q entered first, trading his halberd for daggers and moving low. The others followed.
The chamber inside was opulent: carved wood, silk hangings, paintings that watched from shadowed frames. A four-poster bed with red curtains dominated the room; two bronze feline statues crouched, mouths open as if mid-hunt.
Ringo eased the door shut and drew her pistols. QJ's grin sliced the low light.
[Shadow: QJ] He's red. We can target him.
[Shadow: Hashtag] Noted swordsman with a badass blade. If you don't have a sword, avoid direct confrontation.
[Shadow: Jangles] That's me and you, Ringo. If he agros, run like hell.
[Shadow: Ringo] I can do that.
[Shadow: Hashtag] You gun-guys — wake him up for me.
Hashtag extended his hands and let shadow seep into the air, forming a dark blade in each palm. The raid had reached its most dangerous moment.
Q palmed his gnome handguns.
[Thundering Pistoleros]
88,855 damage, 70,533 damage, 61,689 damage, 43,959 damage, 39,110 damage, 48,954 damage.
QJ raised his weapon.
[Aimed Shot]
(Headshot Bonus) (Critical Hit)
QJ has hit the target for 68,878 damage.
Fire scorches your target for 13,375.
[Six-Gun Fan]
Ringo empties her pistols into the target for 18,744 damage, 26,528 damage, and 25,517 damage.
"GUARDS! I'M BEING ATTACKED!"
[General Morakawto's call for aid cannot be heard.]
The four-poster bed exploded, shards of wood and silk whipping through the room.
Ringo takes 23,988 damage and is slowed by silk bindings (-30%).
QJ takes 16,342 damage and is slowed by silk bindings (-30%).
Hashtag unharmed.
Q unharmed.
Bo Jangles unharmed.
Hashtag met Morakawto in the center of the room—blades colliding in a storm of motion.
Hashtag hits for 134,822 damage.
One Shadow Poison counter applied (1).
[Blink]Q appears behind the target.
[Backstab] Critical hit 223,383 + bonus 223,383 damage.
[Return]Q vanishes to his original position.
Jangles shifted chords, layering a harsher harmony.
General Morakawto slowed by 40 percent.
QJ slashed free of the silk, cut Ringo loose, and tossed the shredded bindings aside.
QJ is no longer bound.
Ringo is no longer bound.
Hashtag caught a blade on crossed swords, crouched low.
[Dark Scream] → Target stunned.
[Shadow Strike] → 323,409 damage.
Shadow Poison (2).
Shadow Erosion in effect.
A Special Opportunity has been created.
[Shadow: Jangles] Special op! Hit him!
[Blink]Q reappears behind the general.
[Backstab]Critical 653,344 + bonus 653,344 damage.
[Return]Q withdraws.
[Six-Gun Fan]
Ringo unloads again—48,004 damage, 36,500 damage, 45,337 damage.
QJ leapt, [Roll Credits] poised for a killing blow—
—and froze. Something felt wrong.
Mid-jump, he twisted, driving the blade into the crouched feline statue. Metal split; blood and bone spattered as the creature died halfway through its awakening.
A paralyzing scream erupted behind him.
[Shadow: Hashtag] Switch QJ!
General Morakawto shakes off stun!
Hashtag deflected the general's slash, then pivoted toward the second feline.
QJ slid under Morakawto's counter-strike, swept his legs, and sent the general crashing down. Rolling to his feet, QJ sprinted clear, shotgun already in hand.
[Grappling Shot]
A Denzi feline has been grappled.
Ringo grabbed QJ's waist, bracing them both as the enraged creature fought the pull.
[Shadow: Jangles] Hold it for one second…
The melody changed—low, hypnotic—and the feline's snarl faded to nothing.
A Denzi feline has been mesmerized.
Hashtag turned to parry, but Morakawto ducked and lunged toward the OP leaders, blade flashing in a diagonal arc.
"Shit!" Out of position, QJ shoved Ringo aside and raised his shotgun to block.
Steel met steel—
The blade sheared the weapon in half.
Q blinked in beside them.
Critical Interrupt.
Q caught Morakawto's sword arm mid-swing. His legs slammed into the general's chest as he twisted. A sharp crack of bone echoed, followed by the clang of falling steel and a scream of agony.
(Critical Injury: Broken Ulna/Radius) (Critical Injury: Dislocated Elbow)
Q hit the floor on his back, pinning the broken arm under his legs. Morakawto staggered, still trying to rise—then froze, eyes wide with disbelief.
Ringo has slain General Morakawto.
The OP guild leader stood with the Dohonza Blade in hand, the hilt buried in Morakawto's chest. She blinked at the system message, then stepped back and pulled the sword free, breathing hard.
Q rolled clear, grinning. "Nicely done."
[Shadow: Hashtag] We've got the blade—evac now.
QJ reached for his token, pausing when he saw the mesmerized Denzi statue shrink to a figurine. He scooped it up, then activated the evac.
[Exodus System Message] General Morakawto, wielder of the Dohonza Blade, has been slain.
[Exodus System Message] The Dohonza Blade is no longer contained within the Empire; Emperor Itawaon's authority has been challenged.
[Exodus System Message] Civil war has been declared within Martial Law. All guilds must report to the Samurai over their district.
Q laughed as he stepped off the platform, system text scrolling up his HUD.
[Shadow: Hashtag] You called it, Boss.
[Shadow: QJ] What's going on?
[Shadow: Q] The Dohonza Blade's the Blade of the Empire. There are dozens of Striker raids tied to Morakawto.
[Shadow: Ringo] We started a war?
[Shadow: Q] Yeah. It won't last long, but it'll rock the player guilds.
[Shadow: Hashtag] Southern guilds are the strongest—they'll have to side against the Emperor. When he takes back control, all those alliances and royal favors will turn to ash.
QJ gave a low whistle.
[Exodus System Message] Shadow group has received 200,000 Patriot Points.
[Shadow: Q] Good job, everyone. Split the points. Logging off.