[PROMPT] Bored Games

There are things that Tomoki is used to when running a tabletop session in his spare time. It includes the players asking if they can commit hijinks or to cause in universe damages that would surely make any CEO ache. With this deathmatch game however, is whole other situation with Shibani, Dan, Jackal and Dove. 

For starters, Shibani – the one who chose a social build because “it means I have to do less combat” is the one with the highest body count. Namely, his character has just killed multiple highly trained officers. With a pistol no less. 

“How do you want to do this?” Tomoki offers. “You rolled high enough to take all of them down. All six of them.” 

Six fully trained officers. 

Jackal snickers at his slight misery. This is fine. All of the player characters will have to kill each other at the very end and that’s really the show that he’s waiting for. Hopefully, one of them even gets a rocket launcher to spice things up. 

(Tomoki loves his players, he swears he does.) 

The dice sure likes some buns more than others, he concludes. It’s never rolled in his favour which is why Tomoki is now the DM rather than a player. 

“Can’t I just shoot them? Get it over with,” Shibani replies. And then he deadpans: “And here I thought a social built would mean less work, more opportunities to gaslight.” 

“Don’t you have the highest body count?” Jackal cuts in. “Overall.” 

“If we’re talking about the amount of people Shibani’s character has killed, yes.” 

“What about seduction?” 

“No.” 

He has to reign this session back into order. It’s funny how Dove is seemingly laughing internally about the hijinks that have happened in the span of one session. Sure their characters are off doing their own thing before the end but some of them got off easy. Such as Dan who is simply watching this supposed shitshow go down. 

All the same, Tomoki describes the actions which Shibani’s character takes to get rid of those guards. He’s sure to keep it to the point and short to make it fitting with the character. 

Then there’s still the castle to deal with. 

“Do you want to go in?” he prompts. 

A beat. 

Shibani looks around at the other players, as if they’ll give him a push for what to do. Tomoki thinks he already knows where this is going. 

“I’d like to leave this castle,” Shibani eventually says. “Didn’t I get rid of every guard?” 

“You did. But you could get some good stuff. Find out some more information.” Rather, he has more lore planted in there that he’d like to share. 

Tomoki already knows Shibani’s answer though. That’s not enough to sway him.  

“What if you get a rocket launcher,” Jackal chimes in. “Now that’d be fun.” 

“I’m still leaving.” 

Fair. There’s that bit he has to announce, one that’s always far too eager to do before letting the character off to wait for the grand finale. That’s for the next session though. 

Afterwards, he turns to Jackal. The last party member who chose a challenge. Tomoki hopes that she finally gets that rocket launcher for her character. At least challenges means that it’ll probably be easier and really, if he’s feeling generous, she’ll get one. 

(Rather, Tomoki’s planning on giving her one regardless of how she rolls on the final goodies.) 

It’ll shake up the playing field a bit. 

“Right so, your goal is to get down from the tower as fast as you can. The first one down wins and everyone else is eliminated,” he explains. “How do you want to do this?” 

“I have grenades,” Jackal answers. “And climbing gear.” 

“So–” 

“Hear me out,” she extrapolates. It’s as though she’s been cooking this up for a while. Now everyone gets to watch the show. Maybe she’s always wanted to do something like this in game, Tomoki can’t fault her even. “I drop the grenades at the top of the tower before using my climbing gear to zip down.” 

“Like a ‘superhero’? Like the comics?” Dove chimes in, quiet. 

“Exactly.” 

Tomoki is no longer surprised by the hijinks that his players pick. Rather, he shouldn’t be surprised. 

“Please roll your name dice, occupation – if you think it will help, and that challenge dice. Challenge beast, I think,” he answers. “And you’re also trying to roll over a twelve.” 

A beat. 

There’s the sound of dice hitting the table. 

Then: 

“Eighteen,” Jackal announces. “That’s basically a twenty though.” 

He makes a note internally to not gamble with her anytime soon while rolling for the other non-playable characters. 

None of the other characters make it down from the tower. Tomoki concludes Jackal truly deserves the rocket launcher and the others have what’s coming for them in the next session. 

“So you make it down and you’ll get the following,” he adds quickly. “A pistol, two small luxuries, and…” 

“A rocket launcher,” he announces for more dramatic effect. 

“Fuck yeah–” 

Dan looks at him. “I worry for the next session then.” 

“Don’t worry too much,” Jackal chimes in with a wicked grin on her face. “If my character’s going to die, I’m taking you lot down with me.” 

“And some of us would rather live–” 

“How about I kill you first next session, as a favour.” 

“Jackal no.” 

“I have a rocket launcher, Dan. You can’t say anything about me not using it.” 

“So, that was a fun session,” he concludes as he shuts his notebook. “Shall I see you all next week for the finale?” 

“It’ll be fun!” Dove is sure to say with a smile on her face. Somehow Tomoki thinks that she also has a plan going in next week with her character’s supplies. It’s going to be havoc inducing considering he’s not sure if the other non-playable characters will even be able to share their lore. 

Not that anyone aside from Dan’s character seems to care about it. Oh character motivations. 

Still, Tomoki deems this a successful session. Next week, havoc will ensue and perhaps, perhaps he will get a treat for himself for another successful campaign.