He Who Fights with Monsters, #1
He Who Fights with Monsters
by Shirtaloon
Contents
81. Crazy Desperation Move
Overview
Sand pirates ambush the convoy with eight skimmers, but Jason, Humphrey, Ernest, and Mose annihilate them using decisive powers and tactics. Humphrey captures four Ustei Tribe raiders, whose defiance hints at larger plans. A colossal sand barge approaches, signaling a second, potentially more dangerous engagement and escalating the threat.
Summary
As multiple passenger-style sand skimmers converge on the convoy, Jason, Humphrey, and Gabrielle assess the threat: eight enemy skimmers with iron-rankers but no bronze. Jason teleports onto a flanking skimmer, unleashes leeches to sow panic, and flips a second skimmer with an explosive dart, then finishes survivors on the sand.
Simultaneously, Humphrey deploys Stash, who crushes a pursuing skimmer by transforming into a massive sand shab. Humphrey then teleports to the front of another skimmer and cleaves it in half with his “unstoppable force” special attack, offering surrender to the thrown passengers. On the opposite flank, Ernest destroys three skimmers, and Mose’s fire vortex bomb shatters the last.
Regrouping, the team confirms all eight attackers are down. Jason grimly collects his leeches from the dead, reflecting on how easily the pirates fell. Humphrey holds four prisoners; he identifies them as Ustei Tribe northerners but they refuse to talk. Phoebe calls the attack a “crazy desperation move,” and Ernest notes the prisoners’ defiance may signal more trouble.
Humphrey scouts from the air and spots a massive, stylized sand barge moving like an enormous skimmer—too large for anything under silver rank. He returns and warns the team to prepare, as a new and likely greater confrontation approaches.
Who Appears
- Jason AsanoTeleports onto enemy skimmer, uses leeches and explosive dart to disable pirates, kills survivors, and retrieves leeches.
- Humphrey GellerDeploys Stash to crush a skimmer, cleaves another with ‘unstoppable force,’ captures four prisoners, spots an approaching sand barge.
- ErnestBronze-rank adventurer who destroys three pirate skimmers and coordinates post-battle assessment.
- MoseUses a fire vortex bomb to obliterate a pirate skimmer.
- GabrielleProtects the convoy skimmer during the fight and supports Humphrey during prisoner handling.
- PhoebeQuestions the pirates’ motives, calling the attack a desperate move; joins post-battle debrief.
- StashHumphrey’s familiar; transforms into a massive sand shab to crush a skimmer.
- ColinJason’s swarm familiar; kills pirates on the leech-stricken skimmer.
- Ustei Tribe raidersNortherner sand pirates; four are captured, defiant and silent, suggesting a larger plan.