[ Actually, I kind of liked the way you used to do it, write moves a bit "in advance", anticipating the most obvious responses from the NPCs. Oh well. I'll do that, anticipating you to be talking, rather than doing anything unexpected. Insert your actions and comments between paragraphs as you see fit, and I'll respond in the next mail ... or you can do nothing, and things will basically happen this way. Make sure to say what you are doing afterwards, though. ] >> The black Lincoln drives off. Half a block away, it drives past the >> old man from the steps with his cane. Even at his speed he >> should be here soon. > >Cheetax walks up to the "Tiger's Paw" [whichever one she attacked at >first]. She looks him in the eyes and as kindly as she can says, >"I am sorry I attack you. I not understand other men bad. I am >not practiced at this. My training not complete." "Yeah. Right." the black Tiger youth says, curtly. "I'll just go pick up the smack they left lying around. Can't let it get to the kids. You ... just watch the toy soldier here." He wanders east, gathering up the big paper bag and X's gun and equipment. The "Tiger's Head" youth comes over. "Never mind him. I understand. Our 'training' isn't complete either. I'd ask your name, but we shouldn't say anything important around the soldado." The "Tiger's Daughter" looks after the boy who fell out of the tree. "You'll be fine, just bruises and a bad scare. Do you see now that those drug peddlers weren't on your side? They just left you. That stuff they were giving you is bad stuff, even though it's free. They just want to get you hooked, then you'll do anything they want just to get more." The boy stares sullenly, with blank eyes. "Oh, okay. I see I'm not getting anywhere. Go. They won't be back, anyway. Hey! No, you can't have that." The boy runs away through the north park gate, and the girl recovers his ziploc bag of small white rocks, and comes to the rest of the group, as does the last Tiger after gathering the rest of the equipment. "Sssso." The green armored man lets his breath out in a hiss. "What, besssidesss name calling, do you plan to do with me? Obviousssly not kill me, or you wouldn't have tied me up. Sssave me for the polissse? Ussseless, I warn you. Releassse me now, and I will be generousss." [If Cheetax doesn't respond, the "Tiger's Head" will: "No, we won't kill you. My father would... but this is a different place, here, yes, here we let the police handle you - or pretend to. Just learn that you can't come around here again with your poison. Take this as a warning. If you come back, we will beat you again, police or no police." ] Sirens sound far away, but coming closer. The "Tiger's Daughter" looks around, and sees the old man already at the park gate. She taps the "Tiger's Head" youth on the shoulder. "Look, isn't that...?" He looks around. "Yes, that is. I can't let him...I have to go." The youth who obviously considers himself the Tiger's Sons' leader runs off east, vaulting the fence and row of bushes as he gets to them. The two other Tigers stay a bit longer. The "Tiger's Daughter" asks, "Uh... Cheetah? [using a different name if the Felinoid gave one] The police, or maybe the fire department, are coming, and we don't want to answer too many questions to them. We should go, but we need to talk - we want to find out about you, and you probably want to find out about us. Do you want to come with us?" The Felinoid's instincts tell her that these two are unsure of themselves - if she suggests another choice, they will probably follow the suggestion. The old man comes up to the burning tree, clucking his tongue. "Yes, fire and smoke, and battle. Always the stars are right." [ Later actions naturally depend heavily on who is there. Take one experience point for the encounter. :-). You can either add one character point anywhere you see fit, or you can hold on to it, until you get more, to spend them all at once, or when a better occasion comes up.]