Stress Testing

## Premise

In Fixing News, the group made contact with the mysterious blogger Nightlight, but Tailwind decided to take matters into their own hands and attempt to talk to Nightlight one-on-one. But by setting out for Endsville alone, they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

## Cast

* Zen (DM)
* Brittney Megan Bronson (Talatala)
* Nikola N. Change (Authorticity)
* Kat Afka (Lordlyhour)
* Tailwind (Tallestnull)
* Shaun (Verl)
* Nightlight (kt)

## Notable NPCs

* Roadkill (mutant ratboy who helped in combat)

## Plot Summary

For a while now, Tailwind has been working on a "secret project" machine--a mecha robot. They text the group to ask how the meeting with Nightlight was going, but when they don't get a response, they decide to try ignoring their worries by taking their mech for a test drive, walking across the bridge to Endsville. Tailwind tries to find some of the graffiti of Nightlight's symbol they remember seeing, and arrive at an abandoned playground with the graffiti on a nearby brick wall. They pop out of their mech for a moment to take a picture of the graffiti, which they message to the Hellspring City blog along with a request to meet. Nightlight, despite being on the verge of tears from their previous meeting, sends a thumbs up in response and heads to the playground, not taking the bridge.

Meanwhile, Nikola, Shaun, and Kat arrive at the junkyard and find the note Tailwind left, which is a generic "will be back" sticky note that Tailwind has reused many times before. Nikola makes a Wis save to keep themself together, and immediately calls Tailwind. Nikola demands to know what Tailwind was thinking, and they say they wanted to do some stress testing. Nikola asks where Tailwind is, and they dodge the question, saying they're "close enough", and Nikola realizes they took their mech out and are running around in it. Nikola hands the phone off to Shaun, asking him to make Tailwind feel bad about themself, and gives him some details about what Tailwind's doing.

Kat offers to track Tailwind down, and realizes that Tailwind went into Endsville. Kat tries to sneak off to follow Tailwind without telling the others, but Shaun spots him and alerts Nikola so the two can follow him. Kat tells the others that Tailwind went into Endsville, and Nikola asks Kat to stick with the group, holding his hand to keep him from wandering off and get some comfort. Nikola says the group need to all have a talk after tonight because this situation is making them feel terrible, and Tailwind (still on the phone call) feels bad. Nikola checks the blog and sees that all remotely humanoid pictures have been taken off the page, but cat-form Shaun is still up. The trio head into the darkened city of Endsville, where Shaun and Nikola notice movement out of the corners of their eyes and realize they're not the only ones out and about.

Nightlight arrives at the playground where Tailwind is waiting, dripping wet from swimming across the river. Tailwind, who hung up on the phone call, activates a voice changer and greets Nightlight. They confirm that Nightlight drew the graffiti, then warn them that Bronson is looking for them, and say that a friend might be helpful to them. Nightlight dreads this being a repeat of the meeting they just had with Nikola and Brittney, and says that friends are built on trust. Tailwind pulls out a small vial of Catalyst-V from their hammerspace and holds it out to Nightlight, who doesn't recognize it and steps back. Tailwind sets the vial down on a park bench and explains they got it from Yllwyll's lair. Nightlight investigates the vial and guesses that it is Catalyst-V, then picks it up and stashes it in their cloak.

Nightlight asks what Tailwind wants from them, and Tailwind says they would like Nightlight to cooperate with them and their friends. Nightlight says they'll cooperate to an extent, and they don't think *all* of the group are malicious. Nightlight pulls a brick out from their graffiti and shows Tailwind that it's hollow and can be used to stash small items to exchange. Nightlight tries to head out, but at that moment the trio arrive in their hero costumes. Kat excitedly waves at Tailwind, then Nightlight turns around and sees a tall figure waving a sword. Nikola looks disappointed, and Nightlight gets some distance but stops to watch what happens next. Kat affectionately leans on Tailwind's mech, and Tailwind tries to explain themself. Nikola asks them to turn off their voice changer, Tailwind protests because Nightlight is there, and Nightlight leaves for the river.

Tailwind opens up their mech to talk to the others, and Nikola reaches in to hug them. After the hug, Nikola asks what Tailwind was thinking, and they explain how prevalent Nightlight's graffiti is and how they must know a lot about Endsville. Nikola says they were invited to the meeting with Nightlight and didn't come, and Shaun says they were supposed to be backup for that meeting. Nikola asks why Tailwind won't work with the rest of the group, and uses Insight to determine that Tailwind has been a loner for a while, isn't used to being a part of the group yet, and doesn't want to grow attached. Tailwind can tell that Nikola is scared and overwhelmed, was worried for them, and is hurt that they went off on their own--maybe more hurt than the situation with Tailwind alone warrants. Nikola wants to keep their friends safe, but can't do that when those friends run off on their own. Tailwind tries to argue that they're fine in Endsville, that they know the city and had defenses from their mech. When Nikola says the group wouldn't have known if anything happened to them out here, Tailwind lets slip that they feel responsible for the group getting mutated and like they have to fix things single-handedly. Nikola says Tailwind didn't knowingly put them in that situation, that it isn't their fault, and that technically *he's* the one who started messing with the Catalyst-V.

Tailwind starts freaking out about what's happened to the group over the course of the campaign, and Nikola says that going off on their own won't remove the others from the situation they're in now. Nikola says this makes him feel that Tailwind doesn't want to be part of the group, and that he doesn't want to have to face things without them, or them to face things without him and the others. Tailwind says there's so much going on and they want to get more information to try to figure things out, and Kat says they at least shouldn't go alone. Kat can tell that Tailwind is worried that the group won't be able to make things work much longer, and Kat tells Tailwind they can ask for help from the others and they tend to overtax themself. Kat apologizes for making things harder for Tailwind re: their wiring project at the school, and Tailwind says he's the closest thing they've had to a best friend since coming to Wellspring City. Tailwind says they want to be able to help when things go down, and the mech will let them fight a lot better. Nikola asks if Tailwind wants to keep the group safe, and Tailwind confirms, but Shaun points out they can't do that when they run off on their own. Nikola says that everyone has to decide if they're going to be a group of teenagers in over their heads, or a team that's going to make things better, and that they're going to have a family meeting soon.

Tailwind says they need to get more information to try to fix things, or at least prevent anyone else getting hurt. Nikola tells them that the meeting with Nightlight didn't go great, and that Brittney tried to scare the blogger. Tailwind tells the group that Brittney came to them first trying to track Nightlight down and wasn't subtle about her intentions. Nikola asks the others to help him keep an eye on Brittney because he trusts her more than he should, and wants to trust her and for her to be part of the team, but doesn't want her to hurt anyone. Tailwind says at least their mech is working, and pulls out a crowbar to prove they could get out if they got stuck. Nikola also pulls out a crowbar, making Kat very confused and concerned. Tailwind offers to show off what the mech can do, and shot off a Firebolt into the sky. The group then hear a wolf howling and have to make Wis saves, which only Nikola passes. Everyone else is magically Frightened as several hostile mutants enter the playground.

Kat and Tailwind run to attack a flying tentacle mutant, and Tailwind uses an effect of their armor to gain some temporary hit points. The mutant wolf stalks towards them. A mutant ox starts charging towards Nikola, who Intimidates it and telepathically warns it not to attack, so the two enter a standoff. Shaun starts raging and runs to intercept the wolf before it reaches Kat and Tailwind, but fails to hit it with his spiked slime tail. The tentacle monster fails to hit Kat, but lands a couple blows on Tailwind. Nikola prepares to dodge or Eldritch Blast the mutant bull if needed, and pulls out their cellphone to send a picture to Nightlight.

Kat and Tailwind move to flank the tentacle mutant. Kat fails his attacks, but Tailwind lands a blow and gives the tentacle mutant disadvantage to hitting anyone else, also gaining more temporary HP. The wolf bites Shaun, and the bull backs away from Nikola to prepare for a charge. Nikola uses their readied Eldritch Blast to attack the bull, hitting it with max damage, and takes a step towards the bull, once again intimidating it. Shaun again tries and fails to hit the wolf. The tentacle monster lands a couple hits on Tailwind, including a crit, and hits Kat once as well. Nikola gets a response from Nightlight saying they'll send someone to help, and Nikola responds with a thumbs-up emoji. Nikola can't figure out what the bull is doing next, and casts Hex on the tentacle mutant.

Kat hits the tentacle monster a couple times, cutting two of its tentacles off. Tailwind does some quick repairs to their mech to regain some HP, and uses their feature to get more temporary HP as well. The wolf howls again, and Shaun makes the Wis save but Kat and Tailwind do not and become Frightened again. A mutant shrub in the area awakens to join the fight, and a winged lizard flies down onto the playground's swingset. The flying lizard flies over to Nikola and bites Nikola's arm, giving them a small electric shock, then flies above the climbing structure. Nikola maintains concentration on Hex, and successfully intimidates the bull into leaving. Shaun slips into a slight southern accent and mentions that Nikola's grandparents adopted him, then hits the wolf with his spiked tail. The tentacle mutant misses two attacks against Kat and hits Tailwind again. Nikola Eldritch Blasts the tentacle mutant with a finger gun, and it collapses into its various component pieces. Nikola transfers their Hex to the wolf mutant.

A figure hops down onto the fire escape of one of the surrounding buildings, overlooking the playground. He turns out to be a rat and lobster mutant, who yells down to the group, asking if they're the "cidiots" who needed help. The group immediately start discussing the term "cidiot" and the newcomer yells at them for talking this much in the middle of a fight. The mutant shrub runs over to try attacking Tailwind, but fails. Kat, Frightened by the wolf, Kat runs down an alley to get away from it, then shoots the bush with his longbow, badly injuring it. Tailwind also runs away from the wolf, but then turns and shoots Magic Missile at the wolf and the bush, annihilating the bush, and re-upping their temp HP again. The wolf tries to bite Shaun again, but Shaun deflects the attack with his tail. The flying lizard swoops down to attack the rat mutant, but he repels the attack with his lobster claw. Shaun lands a great hit on the wolf with a nat 20, bloodying it. Nikola casts Toll the Dead on the wolf, then keeps an eye on the rat and lizard mutant fight. The rat mutant tries to grab the flying lizard out of midair with his claw, but fails.

Kat and Tailwind head back into the playground clearing and shoot the flying lizard with a longbow and a fireball, respectively. The wolf fails to bite Shaun, who deflects its attack with his tail. The flying lizard rushes Tailwind, dodging an opportunity attack from the rat mutant, but fails to bite through the metal of their mech. Shaun strikes the wolf while circling to its other side to allow Kat to flank it. Nikola hits the wolf with Eldritch Blast, killing it, and it falls apart into pieces like the tentacle monster. Nikola moves their Hex to the flying lizard. The rat mutant runs over and grabs the flying lizard out of midair in his claw.

Kat walks over to the group surrounding the flying lizard and hits it with his sword. Tailwind tries and fails to hit the flying lizard with Thunderstrike. The lizard bites the rat mutant, who manages to keep a hold on it. Shaun approaches the group and gets to hit the lizard. Nikola tries to Eldritch Blast the flying lizard, but doesn't hit. The rat mutant squeezes the lizard with his claw and cuts it in two.

With combat over, the rat mutant tells the group they shouldn't be out in the open this late, and Shaun tells him to blame Tailwind. Tailwind says they'll hopefully get a heads up next time, and the rat mutant says there are no heads ups in Endsville. Tailwind offers to help him, which he brushes off, saying he doesn't need help. Nikola asks if he came up with the word "cidiot" himself or if it's commonly used, and he says it's not common because there aren't many people left in Endsville to say it. He starts leading the group back towards the bridge to Wellspring City.

Kat asks the mutant what his favorite anime is, and he looks at Kat with disdain. Kat pulls out a portable DVD player and some anime DVDs and hands them to the rat mutant, who reluctantly takes them. Tailwind asks how long the mutant stuff has been going on, and Shaun chimes in with some comments about "educating the cidiots". Nikola brings up the authoritarian government, which he's pleasantly surprised to hear them mention. The rat mutant says mutant stuff has been going on for thirty years, since the fall of Wyllvylle, though it picked up in the past few months. Nikola tries to remember their mom ever mentioning Endsville, but she never mentioned it until Nikola was getting ready to move to Wellspring City, and they weren't eager to listen to her at that point.

Tailwind describes Yllwyll and asks if the rat knows anything about him, and he says that sounds a bit like an old scientist named Dr. Wyll. Tailwind asks if anyone in Endsville felt weird on Halloween, but he says he hasn't noticed anything. The rat also mentions that Mayor Bronson has been making trouble in Endsville for almost 30 years. Nikola says that the group is doing their best to help out, but the rat is skeptical that a bunch of kids are going to be able to fix the situation the two cities are in.

Kat introduces himself as Smog, debuting his new superhero name, and the rat boy introduces himself as Roadkill. Nikola asks if that's his given name, and he says he picked it. Nikola introduces themself as Omen, and Tailwind says their name is Wrecking Maw. Roadkill asks if Shaun has a name, and he says he left it at home. Tailwind and Shaun again offer to help Roadkill if he asks for it, and he says he helped them as a favor to Nightlight and they shouldn't expect to become friends. Tailwind offers Roadkill a handshake, but he refuses. The group part ways with Roadkill at the bridge and head back across the river.

Tailwind tells Kat they should readjust the screen for their next movie night so it faces the river. As Tailwind climbs out of their mech, their eyes are glowing blue, which Shaun quickly points out. Nikola heads home and tells their grandparents they were out stargazing with Shaun, then they go to their room and bury themself in their bed. Shaun heads home as well, unsettled by the discovery that the mutant stuff has been going on for a while. Kat also goes home, tired. Nightlight thanks Roadkill for dealing with the group and helping them out and prepares to bring him some presents when they see him next.

## Notes

Tailwind's ringtone for Nikola is "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"

Tailwind has been carrying around a vial of Catalyst-V on an everyday basis that they've been analyzing with the equipment at school when the school is empty

Tailwind has been spotted in Endsville by some of the residents while scrapping

Tailwind goes on a tangent about Yllwyll being barefoot because Tallest mis-remembered Yllwyll as Stankfoot, the character he's based on

All the jokes about moths in relation to tin cans are in reference to the fact Zen used an **empty** soup can to catch and release a moth about 10 minutes before the game started

Nikola and Tailwind get nightmares about the other members of the group dying

Tallest has only been using Tailwind's cantrips in previous games, and begins using spell slots for them only once they have their full mech suit

Author says that Nikola made the Wis save against the wolf howl because they grew up out in the country among lots of wild animal sounds

Shaun says that the mutant wolf will have to go through him to get to Kat, and that "only I get to bully Kat"

Author requests an encounter with a giant mutant chicken as a birthday present

Nikola 's blood is both green and purple swirled, and thicker than regular blood. Their tears are also tinted purple and green, though mostly clear

Nightlight has brought Roadkill manga to read before

## Art Gallery

Title card,drawn by ktThe battle map from the fightRoadkill's introduction picture, drawn by artist-of-obsessions