You can see the crowd ahead is attired in construction worker overalls with hard hats, ear protection, respirators, goggles and fluorescent orange jackets etc. The group is somewhat indistinct in the dim light but they do not appear immediately hostile and threatening, though there is something that makes you feel ill-at-ease when looking at them.
QM: If you have a feeling you know what the Great Wyrm of the MAGUS actually is, write-in and perhaps it will be revealed to you...
Otherwise, you can (optional)
>Call now for the Gift Of Insight from The Red Lord Of Ruin, which you purchased with +39 PUNISH / Trauma here>>5154149>>5154325(Using it now will reveal the nature of the crowd of construction workers ahead, what they may want etc.)
>Save the Red Lord's Gift - you may need the knowledge later>Open fire without warning on the group ahead. You will automatically kill at least two of them before you need to reload the sawnoff shotgunQM: In group combat, the Blood of your followers is added to your own. They can endure injuries and will die in your place, provided that you do not suffer massive damage,
ie Marcus +6 Blood, Erica +9 Blood.
Your current status is thus
Blood: 23/37 ie (8+6+9) / (22+15)
Trauma: 84/100
IMPORTANT: the bonus is only received provided the morale of your followers or your command over them holds. You are unsure how your followers will react to the sight of injuries or battle. Marcus and Erica are currently both unarmed. They do possess camera flash guns which trigger at full power on a roll of 6 that can be used once in a battle to blind an opponent.
This effectively acts as the Ancient Rite:
Bright Birth Of Oblivion
A blinding rite that stuns opponents over a wide area.
To use this rite, roll 2d6 (one d6 for Marcus and Erica each). The spell activates instantaneously and blinds all opponents in the area, allowing you to each to deal as much free damage as you can for one round (ie you can attack, and each of your followers). You can attempt to activate the rite Bright Birth Of Oblivion as many times as you wish, but after the first time it works, enemies will no longer be affected.
(optional:)
>share and give Marcus and Erica some of your weapons (which ones?)>Sawnoff shotgun, 2/2 +2 shells>Switchblade>Barbed Wire Baseball Bat>Attempt to avoid antagonising the construction workers ahead, try to negotiate your way past them with dialogue etc (ie greentext options from section here)>>5155423 