Squad Games — A Mercenary Company Turn-Based/Tactical LitRPG

‘Got the reliquary?’ Wade reluctantly asked, realising Stricken wasn’t going to speak.

‘No. Round there,’ Stricken replied, nodding in another direction.

Then why are you here, hacking at a corpse? Wade wanted to ask. Why didn’t you come tell me you’d found the damned thing? But he didn’t voice such thoughts. Stricken’s demeanour—combined with Stricken’s cleaver—dissuaded him.

Wade had his dagger at his belt and he knew how to use it. But compared to the slashing power of that rectangular chunk of sharpened metal, it felt more like a toothpick.

Wade left him to it, following Stricken’s nodded directions, and came upon the temple’s treasury. The doors of a wooden cabinet were wide open—no doubt Stricken had been here. Wade scanned the area for bodies. He couldn’t see any, but that didn’t mean the psycho hadn’t stashed one somewhere.

Turning to the cabinet, the reliquary immediately caught his eye. It was a life size replica of an arm. Decorated with silver and gems, it had a gilded silver hand at the top; the forefinger and middle finger pointing up.

Wade took it from its shelf and gave it a little shake. The rattling noise reassured him the relics were inside. The arm and hand bones of a saint would make sense, considering the vessel. But any further musings as to the contents were cut short when Wade realised he wasn’t alone. A few feet down the corridor, a young priest was staring at him.

‘Uh. The high priest asked me to fetch it,’ Wade offered. ‘To show our guest.’

Crap. Really shoulda learned a name or two.

‘Who are you?’ the young man asked, clearly suspicious.

‘Look, you take it to him if you want,’ Wade said, holding out the reliquary, and making out that he was offended.

‘I will,’ the priest said, stalking forward.

Wade handed him the reliquary. As soon as the priest took it, he drew his dagger.

ACTION ROUND

Priest

Human

Priest

Action Stats

EXP Level

2

Action Points

3

Hit Points

13

He wasn’t fast enough. The priest, already suspicious, smashed the reliquary into his face. Wade took one hit point of damage, which brought his action points down from five to four. When the priest followed up with another strike, Wade managed to shift out of the way. For his last action, the priest grabbed hold of Wade’s dagger hand.

Wade’s turn. He struggled with the priest, trying to wrest his hand free. In the tussle, both lost their footing, and fell to the floor. Wade felt something sharp enter his side. He’d fallen on the blade, taking a further two points of damage.

‘Stricken!’ he hissed.

Surely the bastard could hear the commotion? Why wasn’t he coming to help?

***

Alone in the room, Mila felt vulnerable. She stared at the door, wondering who would come through next. She had three allies in the church. Her role was as simple as it could be. Just lie here and act injured. Then why is my heart beating so fast? Not sure I’m cut out for this business.

The door swung open. Stricken. Like her, his tunic was soaked red. The difference was, his was real blood.

‘Did you get it?’

He had an unpleasant smirk on his face, and as he sauntered over to the table, his eyes were all over her. Not like Wade, who stole glances despite himself. Stricken’s gaze was hungry and creepy. ‘Got what?’ he asked.

‘The reliquary!’

‘Wade’s on that.’ His hand grabbed at her chest.

‘Get off me!’ Mila was used to men putting their hands where they didn’t belong and pushed his arm away. But Stricken was strong and insistent, placing a hand on her stomach.

She drew her dagger and in the fraction of hesitation it caused, she managed to scrabble off the table. She pointed the blade at him. ‘Touch me again and I’ll slit your throat.’

He looked at her shaking hand and smiled. ‘I like it when a woman fights back.’

The door opened. The Baron bustled in, his gold jewellery clinking. He took in the scene. ‘What is going on in here?’ he demanded, though it was pretty obvious.

‘This creep thought he would take advantage,’ Mila said.

‘Get out,’ The Baron said to Stricken.

‘Or what, fancy man?’ Stricken removed the cleaver from his belt. Like him, it was blood spattered.

The Baron drew his dagger. ‘We can cut each other up here and now, if you insist. I’d rather complete the mission and get paid than take a blade to the guts. Decide what you want, but decide fast.’

Stricken sneered. He made no move towards The Baron, but neither did he put his weapon away.

The door barged open again. Wade staggered in. One hand was pressed to his side, dark with blood. The other held a crooked metal arm.

He stared in disbelief at the sight of all three of them with blades drawn. ‘Now what are you bag of dicks doing?’

‘What happened to the reliquary?’ The Baron asked.

‘It got bent on my face, that’s what happened to it. Why am I the one getting stabbed and lamped in the face, while you three are in here titting about? Are we taking this thing to Stiff, or not?’ He glared at Stricken. ‘Just give me the say so, and I’ll shove this thing up your arsehole.’

Stricken smiled, unperturbed. But he shoved his cleaver back into his belt.

‘Right,’ said The Baron, sheathing his weapon. ‘Follow my lead. Here,’ he said to Wade. He took the reliquary and stuffed it in his hose, covering the top with his tunic. ‘Stricken, with me.’

He led them from the room. A gaggle of priests turned in their direction and began to head over. Mila put her dagger away and put a hand to her stomach. She did her best to shield Wade next to her, so they couldn’t see his wound.

‘Be back soon,’ The Baron called over. ‘Just taking this poor young lady home.’

The priests slowed, and The Baron wasted no time in making for the exit to the church.

Outside, a pink haze twenty feet from the building marked the edge of the mission zone. They half-walked, half-jogged over. Mila felt more than a little relief when they crossed the line to safety.

MISSION COMPLETE

SUCCESS: The reliquary was stolen

Some of your mercs improved their stats:

The Baron:

New skill: Disguise

Stricken:

Might +1

Hit Points +1

Action Points +1

No mercs levelled up