As the car pulled up, the bartender swore. There was a large black truck parked out front with soldiers lingering around.

"Looks like we missed the start!"

"Let's give them a problem to solve, then," said Tim.  He raised his sword and shield, and looked to the others.  Best to strike as a team.

The rest nodded and charged in.

(OOC: You are now fighting four soldiers and the party goes first, thanks to a preemptive attack)

The soldiers who had conquered his people, who oppressed them to this day-- oh, yes, Timoteu could fight them, and eagerly.  He raised his sickle-blade high, striking in a pattern that drew on the darkness of his heritage...

Spellblade (Drain) with my weapon.
19:59, Today: Timoteu El Segador rolled 15 using 1d10+1d8+2 ((9,4)).  That's a hit for 24 Dark damage.  Tim's not hurt, but it's better damage than the blade by itself.

Sunam stepped up, hitting the soldier you drained with a powerful uppercut that sent the man flying and a hard landing.

"Shame you boys are so slow!" Tremal said as he drew his gun and began unloading it quickly into one of the soldiers, badly wounding him.

Says sighed as she drew her own gun and fire at the wounded soldier, finishing him off.

"Who the hell are you people?" one of the soldiers demanded as he shot, wounding Saya.

The other guard nervously shot at Sunam, missing wildly.

"No one of consequence," said Tim, bitterly.  "...Well, not to you, at least."

Darkness sang in his blade again, striking at the most-injured foe.

20:38, Today: Timoteu El Segador rolled 13 using d8+d10+2 ((6,5)).  21 Dark damage.

You strike another of the soldiers hard, who Samara then kicks in the head, knocking the man down and out.

"Next verse same as the first!" Tremal said. pumping the last soldier full of bullets.

Saya followed up, the last soldier was badly hurt and began to hobble away in terror the best he could.

Tim chose to let the last soldier go.  There would be witnesses anyway-- better to let the Corp know that there was resistance to them, perhaps.

Besides, as a member of his family, he could hardly back down.

"Well done!" he said.  "Back, then?"

"Maybe we should question him. Find out why they were here?" Saya asked.

"...an excellent suggestion," said Tim, and he went and put the curve of his blade around the soldier's neck.

"Pardon," he said.  "We have questions, if you don't mind."

"Please, whatever you want, just don't kill me!" the soldier said.

"What were you after here?" Tim asked.

"One of the dancers. Boss said she was an ancient. I don't know what  that means," the soldier said.

"How were you to recognize her?" Tim asked.

"A gem on her forehead," the soldier said. "She ran out the back once we went in, but we had guys there waiting."

"...but you clearly didn't catch her," said Tim.  "Thank you."

He left the soldier and headed for the rest of the group, telling them what he'd learned.

"Interesting," Saya said. "I've never heard anything but unsubstantiated claims about them."

"People say that about my family," said Timoteu.  "The world is full of many mysteries; I'm willing to believe in this one."

"There's got to be something if the corp is interested in them," Saya said.

"...agreed," said Tim.  "But what?  They tried in vain to take the power of my family; might they try that again?"

"They can steal power?" Sunam asked. "Like with a machine or something? Damn!"

"They tried, but it wasn't successful," said Tim.  "I'm not sure of the exact process, but there was at least some physical instrumentality.  As I said, it went badly for them."

He didn't mention that he himself might be safer for such a thing-- but he also didn't have much power.

"It's great information and all, but we probably should be gettin' out of here," Tremal said.

"Agreed," said Tim, going into the car.

The others piled in and soon you were back on the road.