[Group: QJ] Stealth up, activating [Red Player] token.
QJ has activated a [Red Player] token targeting Risi Valley in Iron Mount.
An instant later, the group disappeared from Ravenwood and reappeared in the Risi Valley.
[Red Player] Notice: You have 90 minutes to complete your mission on behalf of the Maelstrom Monarchy.
[Wu] The city of Basalt is 15 minutes directly north of your position.
[Group: QJ] Jetpacks on, stay tight.
QJ flew north, scanning for movement while keeping their flight path close to the ground.
[Wu] Highlighting a path through the mountain pass will allow you to avoid anyone who might see through stealth or hear your jetpacks.
Within minutes, the group flew single-file through a narrow pass, with only rocks and mountain goats as scenery. The pass exited high over the city, allowing the team to study the layout before proceeding.
[Wu] In the city's northeast area, there is a courtyard with the portal; that platform is currently active. According to the Yucatan timetable, the Consort will spawn in eleven minutes.
[Group: QJ] I see it. Ringo and I will move in above and maintain a high altitude until it's time to go.
[Wu] East of the portal courtyard is the entrance to the vault. There are currently two guards standing outside and four more patrolling the interior.
[Group: Breeze] I see them. We'll move close and maintain stealth until it empties.
QJ watched as Enju, Breeze, and Sato flew downward toward their target. Breeze held the [Box of Everything], and all members carried four flashbangs.
[Group: Ringo] How do you want to play this?
[Group: QJ] When the princess shows up, hit them with a flashbang before they can disarm her.
[Group: Ringo] Won't she aggro us?
[Group: QJ] As long as we don't inflict damage, she'll calm down as soon as we exit the city.
[Wu] In theory... Warriors have been able to stun her without being aggroed. Flashbangs work the same way and come with the added bonus of blinding.
[Group: Sato] If nothing else, it will be a learning experience.
QJ shared a grin with Ringo. "If we screw this up, it's liable to get ugly."
Ringo nodded in agreement. "I love this kind of thing."
[Wu] The raid MT is a Dwarf named Toliver. You should recognize him.
[Group: QJ] Is he one of the three who appeared in Junebug?
[Wu] Yes. He's also one of three Vice Leaders of Yucatan.
[Group: Ringo] Who's the Guild Leader?
[Wu] It's a secret. Only a handful of people know.
[Group: QJ] Predictable...
[Wu] What do you mean?
[Group: QJ] Who is Yucatan's biggest sponsor?
[Wu] Ingles Electronics out of the UK.
[Group: QJ] Cross-check the last names of Ingles board members with the public listing of anyone holding an Iron Mount account.
[Wu] Three names come up. However, there are also six unlisted accounts where the owner is listed as Ingles Corp.
[Group: QJ] The six are probably guest accounts that they let VIPs use to show them around. Do you have any pictures for the three names?
[Wu] Not from the Exodus listing but it should be pretty straightforward.
QJ glanced at the timer as it approached two minutes.
[Wu] Sending three pictures. Two are middle-aged men, and the third is a younger female.
[Group: QJ] How young?
[Wu] Twenty.
[Group: QJ] It's probably one of the two guys.
[Group: Ringo] It could even be one of the Vice Leaders posing as a subordinate while really being in charge.
[Group: QJ] That's a great guess. Hiding in front of everyone.
Ringo studied the group of three near the active portal.
[Group: Ringo] We have an Enchanter and two melee medium armor wearers. One is a rogue, but I'm not sure about the other.
[Group: QJ] Dual-wielding Swordsman. I'll hit them with the flashbang and take the Enchanter first, then the Rogue. You swoop in and grab the Consort.
[Group: Ringo] Swooping has a nice ring. Which way are we retreating?
QJ chuckled and glanced at the timer; it was just passing 90 seconds.
[Group: QJ] Right at the front gate.
[Wu] That's one of three vantage points from which they are streaming.
[Group: QJ] I'm aware... How's my hair?
[Group: Sato] The elves will reward us when you leave the city with Consort?
[Group: QJ] Yes. You can ask for just about anything, within reason. The top three guilds in Iron Mount monopolize this raid.
[Group: Ringo] What are we asking for?
[Group: QJ] A dragon.
[Group: Ringo] Pardon?
[Wu] You can't ask for a dragon.
[Group: QJ] No?
The timer ticked toward zero, and the air shimmered slightly within the portal. Instantly, QJ cut power to his jetpack and stowed it, free-falling for a few seconds before activating his [Glide] ring.
QJ approached the trio at a full dive, throwing the flashbang just as a fourth person appeared on the platform.
In QJ's wake, Ringo's dive was more controlled; she watched as her Vice-Leader completely disregarded gravity, drawing his weapon in one smooth move with one hand while shielding his eyes with the other.
[Flashbang]
Tua Bizar has been stunned.
Orin Sachi has been stunned.
Moyari Jabar has been stunned.
The Dwarf King's Consort has been stunned.
QJ slammed into the Enchanter, driving the [Roll Credits] downward through the top of her hat.
(Mortal Injury: Cranial Impalement)
Moyari Jabar has been slain.
[Death Count 1: One thousand Patriot Points acquired.]
QJ yanked his weapon free, sending a splash of blood and brain matter in all directions. Pulling [Silverlight] while stepping forward, he fired directly into the stunned eyes of the Rogue.
[Point Blank] (Critical Injury/Blindness)
Orin Sachi has been blinded (24 hours)
QJ has hit Orin Sachi for 66,322 damage
Fire scorches your target for 13,264 damage.
[Crippling Strike 1: One hundred Patriot Points acquired.]
QJ swept the Rogue's legs, knocking him from the platform just as the Dwarf King's Consort was grappled into the air by a retreating Ringo.
[System Message] A high-value [Red Player] target has been identified.
QJ: One Problem, Vice Leader
Class: Wrangler
Level: 65
Danger Rating: Extreme
[Wu] What the hell is that?
[Group: Breeze] Abort?
[Group: Ringo] Negative. You okay, QJ?
[Group: QJ] Yep.
QJ sliced laterally at the Swordsman's legs just as both blades stabbed toward him.
(Critical Injury/Lower Limb amputation)
[Crippling Strike 2: One hundred Patriot Points acquired.]
QJ spun onto his target's back, pulling his wrist upward while driving a knee into his shoulder and twisting.
[Critical Injury/Shoulder dislocation]
[Crippling Strike 3: One hundred Patriot Points acquired.]
[System Message] A five-minute countdown has started. All combatants will receive a penalty if high-value target isn't slain within the time limit.
[System Message: Red-Player Quests Available.]
[Red-Player Group/Guild Quests]
Sabotage: Disrupt the group or raid actions
Reward: 5,000 Patriot Points.
Theft: Steal valuable items
Reward: 10 Patriot Points/1,000 credits.
Vandalism: Destroy buildings/equipment and deface landmarks.
Reward:
[Group: Ringo] I call bullshit! You've been identified while wearing [Dark Stranger]?
[Group: Breeze] The alarm just went off! All guards are heading towards you.
QJ slammed the Swordsman onto the ground and then stealthed.
[System Message] High-value targets may not use stealth items.
QJ leaped straight into the air, activating his [Glide] ring at twenty meters before turning into a blur that streaked toward the front gate.
[System Message] You've survived one minute as a High-Value target and are awarded 100 Patriot Points.
QJ grinned suddenly, banking back and forth as projectiles began targeting him.
[Group: QJ] Taking fire from wall-mounted weapons, looks like ballista.
[Group: Enju] We're in the vault... It's silver, a lot of silver.
QJ frowned, cursing his luck, his sharp eyes monitoring the movements around him.
[Group: Breeze] It looks odd... the color is off. It's almost white.
[Group: Ringo] No idea... Clear of the walls, looking for a place to land.
[Wu] That's Mithiril! Take everything.
[Group: Breeze] Get to the entrance, I'm opening the [Box of Everything].
QJ focused on one of the towers, looking to land and cover his team when they were ready to retreat. A figure stood motionless on one of the battlements, observing the chaos below. Noticing the player, QJ flashed overhead, close enough to make them duck for cover.
[Grapple Hook]
QJ has grappled Josena Yates.
A sudden yank nearly grounded QJ as the extra weight caused him to plummet toward the street. Switching out his jetpack, the OP Vice-Leader skimmed the cobblestones before shooting back into the air. The person flailing behind him bounced hard before being yanked into the sky.
[Wu] The elves have appeared. The vault team is airborne and heading to the pass.
[Group: Ringo] What am I asking for, QJ?
[Group: QJ] Ask for an Embassy. We'll allow them to place one in OPC, and in return, we'll build one in their capital city.
[Group: Ringo] Is that possible?
[Wu] No... At least not with the old rules.
QJ deliberately buzzed every building and structure he could find, and his passenger no longer cursed at his every move as she bashed against everything in his path.
[System Message:] You have slain a High-Value target and are awarded five thousand Patriot Points.
Josena Yates: Yucatan Guild Leader
Class: Warden
Level: 133
Danger Rating: Substantial
[System Message] You've survived three minutes as a High-Value target and are awarded 300 Patriot Points.
[Group: Ringo] The elves accepted! How is this going to work?
[Group: QJ] Did they give you something?
[Group: Ringo] An Embassy build order to bring back to OPC.
[Group: Breeze] I'm at the rendevous point.
[Group: Ringo] We'll iron it out later; I'm coming.
[Group: QJ] Same.
[Wu] Holy crap, QJ... That was the Yucatan Guild Leader.
QJ chuckled and headed over the city walls.
[System Message] Vice Leader QJ of One Problem has escaped. All participating players will receive a penalty.
QJ was the last one to arrive at their entry point. Without pausing, he activated the [Red-Player] token, and the group disappeared from the Risi Valley. An instant later, they exited Iron Mount and stepped into Exodus Station.
[System Message: Quest Updated]
[Red-Player Group/Guild Quests]
Sabotage: Eternal Doorway Raid wiped.
Reward: 5,000 Patriot Points awarded to One Problem.
Theft: Steal valuable items
Reward: 5,000,000 Patriot Points awarded to One Problem.
Vandalism: Destroy buildings/equipment and deface landmarks.
Reward: 3,000 Patriot Points awarded to One Problem.
Individual Awards
Breeze: 3,000 Patriot Points
Sato: 3,000 Patriot Points
Enju: 3,000 Patriot Points
Ringo: 12,000 Patriot Points.
QJ: 16,000 Patriot Points
[Wu] Let me find out more about these Patriot Points, and then I can properly brief you guys. I hope we didn't break it by getting five million points...
[Group: Ringo] Where are we heading?
[Group: QJ] Maelstrom throne room.
QJ brought up his HUD and buzzed Queen Lilianna. A moment later, Lilly's sparkling green eyes appeared before him. "We are returning from a [Red Player] raid with a substantial haul."
Lilly raised an eyebrow and made a gesture toward someone offscreen. "Normally, I'd ask you to bring it to the vault, but I want to show the House of Lords how much Maelstrom benefits from our OP Alliance."
QJ chuckled dryly. "Are they forgetting?"
Lilly smiled pleasantly. "Sometimes, but I remind them. Anything else?"
"We made a deal with one of the foreign powers to build an embassy for them in OPC," QJ replied.
"Basara?" OP regularly briefed Lilly concerning their diplomatic actions.
"No, the Elven Nation in Iron Mount."
Lilly's smile froze. "OP made an Alliance while on a [Red Player] mission?"
QJ nodded. "Will there be any issues? As the monarch of Maelstrom and our ally, we won't enter into any arrangement that could potentially harm your interests."
"There is no problem. Dixie is going to love this." Lilly grinned suddenly. "See you soon, QJ."
[Group: Sato] I can't believe you can bring up your HUD and talk to the Queen of Maelstrom.
[Group: Ringo] We did save her life and then put her on the throne.
[Wu] I have everyone's feeds; I will start piecing something together. See you at home.
[Group: QJ] Cya in a bit.
[Group: Ringo] Take the GnG gate directly to Maelstrom.
[Welcome to Guns and Gore, the Phoenix Server.]
Location: Maelstrom
Time: 1400 hours
Server Population: 179,007 Your current level is 65.