vault backup: 2026-01-05 16:57:27

.gitignore

@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@
 .trash
 
 /.obsidian/workspace.json
+/.obsidian/workspace.json

.obsidian/workspace.json

@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@
   },
   "active": "eca46ba0bc8fd74a",
   "lastOpenFiles": [
+    "Avalon/03_NPCs_Students/Fouadriel “Fouad” Al-Mir.md",
     "Avalon/02_Sessions/session 7.md",
     "Avalon/02_Sessions/session 6.md",
     "Avalon/05_Locations/Avalon Locations.md",
@@ -218,7 +219,6 @@
     "Avalon/10_Canon/Leyline Crisis.md",
     "Avalon/02_Sessions/session 4.md",
     "Avalon/05_Locations/Campus Locations.md",
-    "Avalon/03_NPCs_Students/Fouadriel “Fouad” Al-Mir.md",
     "Avalon/10_Canon/The Coherence.md",
     "Avalon/04_NPCs_Faculty/Kalen D'Serris.md",
     "Avalon/04_NPCs_Faculty/Pappy Football.md",

Avalon/02_Sessions/session 7.md

@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ Let them explore the house for some time. When they're satisfied:
 > “The level of damage and the magical residue mean we may never have a perfect picture of exactly how it was triggered. But whoever did this knew what they were doing, and we *will* find them.”
 
 > [!quote] Anchor (voiceover)
-> “Chief Marquez confirmed that while no arrests have been made, investigators are pursuing several leads, including possible gang-related activity.”
+> “Chief Nolan confirmed that while no arrests have been made, investigators are pursuing several leads, including possible gang-related activity.”
 
 ### Cut to Pip Interview (Hospital)
 
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ Let them explore the house for some time. When they're satisfied:
 > 
 > He gives the tiniest, bitter laugh.
 > 
-> “Funny thing about circles, though. You walk ’em long enough… you always end up right back where you started.”
+> “You ever notice oil always finds the low point?  
+**People do too.”**
 
 > [!quote] Narration
 > 
@@ -237,33 +238,598 @@ Let Ben argue. Call for checks. Ultimately, he will choose to stay above ground,
 >[!quote] Ben's Dad
 >“At least stay with a friend, and don’t leave the house dark. Dark houses get tested.”
 
-> [!quote] Narration
+## Operation: Canyon View Party (Ben’s Bad Idea / Best Idea)
-> Ben’s dad disappears into the hallway, already tapping at his comm-stone like he’s moving money around.
-> 
-> The house is quiet again.
-> 
-> Outside the big living room windows, the canyon is a black cutout against the sky.
-> 
-> The news anchor keeps talking about “suspected foul play” and “ongoing investigation.”
-> 
-> Then Joe notices something:
-> 
-> A pair of headlights, far down the street, kill their beams.
-> 
-> The car doesn’t leave.
-> 
-> It just… sits there.
 
-Call for a Perception check.
+> [!quote] Narration
-- On success: they see someone watching / phone glow / cigarette.
+> The news segment loops again in the corner of the TV.
-- On fail: they get the creeping sense of being observed.
+> Pip’s bandaged face.
+> The ruined Circle.
+> The words **“professionally conceived device”** and **“magical accelerants.”**
+>
+> And then your dad says it, half to himself, half to the room:
+>
+> “Dark houses get tested.”
 
 > [!question] Table Prompt
-> “You can do three things right now:
+> Ben: What do you do with that sentence?
-> – Ignore it and go to bed.
-> – Confront whoever’s out there.
-> – Or use the fact that this house is the obvious target.
-> 
-> What do you do?”
 
-If they confront them, they flee before they get close. If they do nothing, a dead crow is on Ben's doorstep the next morning. If they go to the police, they are largely useless- "we'll increase patrols in the area", and nothing beyond that.
+### The Pitch (don’t tell them “throw a party” — let Ben propose it)
+If Ben doesn’t pitch it immediately, give him a layup:
+
+> [!quote] Narration
+> You can’t shake the thought that if someone comes here… you might not even see it coming.
+> Not if you’re alone.
+> Not if the house is quiet.
+
+Then let Ben connect the dots out loud. 
+
+---
+
+## Party Prep Montage (Skill Checks + Stakes)
+
+**Mechanic:** The party gets **Prep Points**.
+- Each PC chooses **2 prep actions** (below).
+- Each success = **+1 Prep Point**.
+- Each failure = **+1 Heat**.
+
+**Prep Point uses (later):**
+- Spend 1 to “have the right thing” (camera set, extra lanterns, someone sober-ish, etc.)
+- Spend 2 to “have the right person in the right place” (NPC ally is nearby when shit starts)
+- Spend 3 to “counter their plan” (spot accelerant, preempt sabotage, seal a door, etc.)
+
+**Heat (later):**
+- At **2 Heat**, someone calls in a noise complaint / ward-ping.
+- At **4 Heat**, a patrol swing-by happens at the worst possible time.
+- At **6 Heat**, an Oversight scry-eye does a drive-by scan of the property.
+
+> [!note] DM Note
+> Prep Points make the party feel “earned.” Heat makes it feel dangerous without punishing the fun.
+
+### Prep Actions (pick 2 each)
+
+**1) Invitations & Social Gravity**
+- **Persuasion** (DC 13): “You should come. It’s important.” (genuine pull)
+- **Deception** (DC 13): “It’s just a party.” (downplay the danger)
+- **Performance** (DC 13): hype it up / make it sound legendary
+
+**On success:** +1 Prep Point, and you get **one “Anchor NPC”** (someone you *want* present).
+**On fail:** +1 Heat, and you get **one “Wild Card NPC”** (someone you *didn’t* want, but shows anyway).
+
+**2) Wards & Cameras**
+- **Arcana** (DC 14): tune the house wards to ping *you* instead of alerting parents/Oversight
+- **Investigation** (DC 12): find blind spots, set up sightlines, move furniture for chokepoints
+- **Sleight of Hand** (DC 13): rig doors/windows with “if opened, it snags/makes noise” nonsense
+
+**On success:** +1 Prep Point (and later you get ADV on the first “spot the intrusion” roll)
+**On fail:** +1 Heat (and later there’s one obvious blind spot the enemies exploit)
+
+**3) Supplies**
+- **Investigation** (DC 12): find dad’s “emergency pantry” / garage stash / panic suite supplies
+- **Stealth** (DC 13): grab “party stuff” without tipping parents off (if they’re still awake)
+- **Survival** (DC 12): make the backyard actually usable (fire pit, seating, lanterns)
+
+**On success:** +1 Prep Point and the party has FOOD/LIGHT/NOISE COVER.
+**On fail:** +1 Heat and someone has to do a risky run mid-party.
+
+**4) The Story**
+- **Insight** (DC 12): what will *actually* convince people to come tonight?
+- **History** or **Religion** (DC 12): “we’re doing a vigil” angle (if your table likes that tone)
+- **Persuasion** (DC 13): get Joe/Soren on-message so nobody says incriminating shit
+
+**On success:** +1 Prep Point and you get ADV on any “keep the party normal” check later.
+**On fail:** +1 Heat and the vibe is off; people ask uncomfortable questions.
+
+---
+
+## Arrival Scene (RP Beats + Micro-checks)
+
+> [!quote] Narration
+> Cars start to arrive in ones and twos. Not a lot—yet. But enough to make the house feel alive.
+> Headlights paint the canyon walls in slow sweeps.
+> Laughter carries weirdly far out here.
+
+> [!question] Table Prompt
+> Who answers the door?
+
+### The first wave (pick 2–3 scenes, not all)
+**A) The “holy shit you’re rich” beat**
+- Someone clocks the floor-to-ceiling windows / the canyon view / the “smart-house rune lattice.”
+- **Joe** can roll **Insight** (DC 12): who here is a snitch / who’s watching too hard?
+
+**B) Joe becomes the vibes coordinator**
+- Joe is immediately asked to “run the music” / “be the hype man.”
+- **Performance** (DC 12): on success, the party actually becomes *loud enough* to be cover.
+
+**C) Ben is forced into social leadership**
+- Someone asks “why are you throwing this tonight?”
+- **Deception or Persuasion** (DC 13): on fail, +1 Heat (people start texting rumors).
+
+> [!note] DM Note
+> This is where you let them roleplay and breathe. The party is not “setup for combat” — it’s a scene where their choices generate consequences.
+
+---
+
+## Party Stations (gives them stuff to DO)
+
+Pick 3 “stations” and keep cutting between them like a sitcom:
+
+1) **Kitchen / Snack Raid**
+   - Someone finds *absurdly expensive* snacks.
+   - **Investigation** (DC 12): find “the good stash” (success = +1 Prep Point)
+
+2) **Backyard Firepit**
+   - Someone starts telling a scary story about the Circle explosion.
+   - **Intimidation or Performance** (DC 13): success = the crowd is emotionally hooked (cover)
+
+3) **Living Room / Mageball Highlights**
+   - Joe can “explain the game” to people who don’t care.
+   - **Persuasion** (DC 12): success = Joe gains a “mini-fanclub” who will follow him later
+
+4) **Upstairs “Do Not Enter” Hallway**
+   - People test boundaries.
+   - **Perception** (DC 14): catch someone about to wander into a sensitive room (panic suite door, etc.)
+
+---
+
+## The Ominous Breadcrumb (without saying “Pip is coming”)
+
+Trigger this when the party is at “peak normal.”
+
+> [!quote] Narration
+> The music is loud enough that you stop hearing the canyon.
+> The house feels warm.
+> Alive.
+>
+> And then—just for a second—
+> the backyard motion lights click on.
+>
+> Not in the yard.
+> Out past the fence line.
+> Down the slope where there shouldn’t be anyone.
+
+Call for **Perception** from whoever is most paranoid (or everyone, DC 13).
+- **Success:** they spot a *single ember* drifting upward from below… like someone just flicked a match.
+- **Fail:** they only notice the lights… and the uneasy feeling that the canyon is watching back.
+
+Optional extra breadcrumb:
+- A guest says: “Yo, who parked that old wagon down the hill?”
+- There is no wagon.
+
+---
+
+## “Party Ally” Quick System (so NPCs matter without bookkeeping)
+
+When Ben’s “anchor NPCs” show up, tag them with one of these:
+
+- **Runner:** can deliver a message / fetch someone / lead a distraction
+- **Witness:** will later confirm a timeline (“we were here at X time”)
+- **Hands:** helps barricade / carry / drag someone to safety
+- **Caster:** has ONE useful spell (you decide on the fly)
+- **Chaos:** might start a fight, wander, or do something reckless
+
+> [!note] DM Note
+> You don’t need stat blocks. You need *story leverage.*
+
+---
+---
+## NPC Interactions at the Party
+### Elias Vae’lor (AV club artificer vibes)
+**Scene purpose:** security + “don’t be idiots” + proof later
+
+> [!quote] Entrance Beat
+> Elias shows up with a backpack that clinks like tools.
+> He doesn’t react to the mansion like everyone else — he reacts like he’s already mapping exits.
+> “So… you *live* in a deathtrap made of glass. Cool.”
+
+**Player prompt:** “Elias, what’s the first thing you do when you arrive?”
+
+**If players engage:**  
+- Elias asks for access to the ward tablet / security panel.
+- **Arcana or Investigation (DC 13):** spot two blind spots (success = +1 Prep Point)
+
+> [!quote] Elias Hook Line
+> “If people want you, they’ll try quiet first. Quiet is what kills you.
+> So… where do you want your choke point?”
+
+**If violence starts:** Elias isn’t a combatant; he’s a *systems guy*.  
+- He can spend 1 round to lock/unlock a door, trigger lights, or ping a camera feed.
+
+---
+
+### Chaz Ironwick (jock)
+**Scene purpose:** crowd + muscle + comedy
+
+> [!quote] Entrance Beat
+> Chaz arrives like he’s doing you a favor by being here.
+> He steps inside, sees the view, and goes:
+> “Oh nah. Ben’s rich-rich. Like ‘evil in a movie’ rich.”
+
+**Roll hook (optional):**
+- **Insight (DC 12):** Chaz is insecure; he hates being outclassed socially. He’ll overcompensate.
+
+> [!quote] Chaz vs Joe Beat
+> Chaz immediately tries to size Joe up:
+> “You play? Like actually?”
+> If Joe bites, Chaz becomes loud, friendly, and competitive.
+
+**If violence starts:**  
+Chaz’s instinct is to *grab and throw someone*. He will:
+- tackle a runner
+- body-block a hallway
+- shout “WHO ARE YOU?” and make everyone look
+
+---
+
+### Millie Fairweather (nerd)
+**Scene purpose:** social leverage + Soren pressure valve + future strategist
+
+> [!quote] Arrival Beat
+> Millie shows up like she expects to be mocked for showing up.
+> She freezes for half a second when she sees Soren, then adjusts her grip on her cup like it’s armor.
+
+**If Soren approaches:** keep it *social*, not predator/prey.  
+- **Persuasion (DC 13):** Soren can play “normal.” Success earns 1 Formal Lead. Fail means Millie becomes guarded and stays near others.
+
+> [!quote] Millie Line (if Soren tries to needle her)
+> “If you’re trying to scare me, you’re doing it wrong. You’re just being embarrassing.”
+
+**If Joe talks mageball:**  
+- Millie can drop one “real” insight that makes Joe look smart for listening.
+- **History/Intelligence (DC 12):** Joe can translate her advice into a “football analogy” and win her respect.
+
+**If violence starts:** Millie becomes a witness and a rally point (“everyone inside, NOW”). She’s useful because she *stays coherent*.
+
+---
+
+### Fouadriel Al-Mir (comic relief)
+**Scene purpose:** laughter + accidental clue + future dread seed
+
+> [!quote] Arrival Beat
+> Fouad shows up holding snacks like he’s solving world hunger.
+> He squints at the view and says, dead serious:
+> “I meet new people every day.”
+
+**Use him as seasoning:** 2–3 moments max.
+
+**Accidental clue beat:**
+> [!quote] Fouad (to the group, mid-story)
+> “Circle’s crew always does the same thing. They stand around like NPCs.
+> Like they’re waiting for a quest prompt.”
+
+**Optional roll:**  
+- **Insight (DC 12):** he’s saying something real, but he doesn’t realize it’s useful.
+
+**If violence starts:** Fouad does something stupid that helps (on accident):  
+- knocks over a table to create cover  
+- yells “FIRE!” even if it’s smoke, causing stampede (could be good or bad)
+
+---
+
+### Seb Castillo (conspiracy kid / chaos journalist)
+**Scene purpose:** camera + rumor engine + “spot the wrong guys”
+
+> [!quote] Arrival Beat
+> Seb arrives already recording.
+> “This is gonna be legendary. Rich kid canyon party? The economy is healing.”
+
+**He will push Ben’s class lie.**  
+- **Deception (DC 13):** Ben can keep his cover.  
+- On fail: Seb starts a rumor *immediately* (“Ben’s been cosplaying poor.”)
+
+**Spotting the goons beat:**
+> [!quote] Seb (suddenly quiet)
+> “Those dudes aren’t here to party.”
+> He lowers his phone for the first time all night.
+
+**If violence starts:** Seb films the start of it — which creates consequences later — but also proves “intruders attacked us.”
+
+---
+
+### Bobby Rapist
+**Scene purpose:** older-kid authority + driver + “I’ve seen this before”
+
+> [!quote] Arrival Beat
+> Bobby shows up like he owns the place.
+> “Oh wow. This is… irresponsible.”
+> He says it like approval.
+
+**Boundary beat (keeps the party from turning into chaos):**
+> [!quote] Bobby
+> “House rule: if someone’s here to start shit, you point them out, you don’t become them.
+> I’m not catching charges for your character development.”
+
+**Optional roll:**  
+- **Persuasion (DC 12):** get Bobby to agree to be “front door + driveway” lookout.
+
+**If violence starts:** Bobby’s job is *crowd control*:
+- shove partygoers inside
+- block a hallway
+- yank Ben away from the extraction line
+
+---
+
+### Jax Hollow (vapes + Subaru)
+**Scene purpose:** getaway logistics + vibe + chase tool
+
+> [!quote] Arrival Beat
+> Jax parks like he’s hiding a body.
+> He walks in exhaling a cloud and goes:
+> “Yo. This place has… *echo*.”
+
+**Roll hook:**  
+- **Perception (DC 13):** Jax is the one who notices a car idling down the slope / lights off.
+- On success he says:
+> “That’s a ‘someone’s waiting’ car.”
+
+**If violence starts:** Jax is your “escape valve” NPC.
+- He can offer: “I can move my car to block the driveway,” or “I can get someone out.”
+
+---
+
+### Nico Drift (Circle kid, not Pip-affiliated)
+**Scene purpose:** intel + identification + “what Pip’s crew does”
+
+> [!quote] Arrival Beat
+> Nico shows up tense.
+> Not excited, not impressed — *alert*.
+> “This is a bad place to be loud,” he says, like he’s stating a fact.
+
+**Intel beat:**
+> [!quote] Nico
+> “Pip doesn’t come himself. He sends kids who want to prove something.
+> They move in threes or fives. One talks. One grabs. One lights.”
+
+**Optional roll:**  
+- **Insight (DC 12):** Nico is scared *of Pip*, not scared *for Pip*.
+
+**If violence starts:** Nico can ID a goon by nickname or jacket patch:
+- “That one’s Latch. Don’t let him touch doors.”
+
+---
+
+### Rina Valecrest (popular / effortlessly cool)
+(Recommend you describe her as “popular and magnetic” rather than race-based shorthand.)
+
+**Scene purpose:** makes party feel real + social leverage + witness
+
+> [!quote] Arrival Beat
+> Rina walks in and the party *re-centers* around her.
+> She clocks the view, clocks Ben, and smiles like she already knows his secret.
+> “So this is where you’ve been hiding.”
+
+**Social pressure beat (Ben’s class lie):**
+> [!quote] Rina (to Ben)
+> “You can stop pretending you’re normal. No one here is normal. That’s the point.”
+
+**Optional roll:**
+- **Deception (DC 14):** Ben keeps the mask.
+- **Persuasion (DC 13):** Ben can pivot and be charming without confessing.
+
+**If violence starts:** Rina becomes a *witness anchor*:
+- “I saw them grab him.”
+- “They weren’t invited.”
+That helps later with police/admin.
+
+---
+
+### Sumri Tord ( rumor Soren humiliated them)
+**Scene purpose:** moral mirror for Soren + keeps tone grounded + quiet competence
+
+> [!quote] Arrival Beat
+> Sumri arrives carefully — not timid, just measured.
+> They glance at Soren and don’t look away.
+> “I heard you were throwing a party,” they say.
+> “I didn’t believe it.”
+
+**Confrontation beat (gives Soren a controlled outlet):**
+> [!quote] Sumri (to Soren, low voice)
+> “You made me small once. You don’t get to do it twice.”
+> “If you want something from me, ask like a person.”
+
+**Optional roll (this is the leash, but it’s fair):**
+- **Insight (DC 12):** Sumri isn’t trying to start drama — they’re setting a boundary.
+- **Persuasion (DC 13) or genuine apology roleplay:**  
+  - Success: Soren earns 1 Formal Lead + Sumri becomes neutral/helpful  
+  - Fail: Sumri avoids Soren and becomes another witness who doesn’t trust her
+
+**If violence starts:** Sumri can do one valuable “support” action:
+- notice a ward glyph failing
+- point out an exit that avoids the choke point
+- stabilize a panicking guest
+They are not a fighter — they’re *the person who keeps someone from getting hurt*.
+
+---
+
+# Quick “cut list” (so you don’t try to run 10 scenes at once)
+Do these in order:
+1) Chaz + “Ben is rich-rich” (group laugh)
+2) Nico warning (plants the threat pattern)
+3) Rina pressure (social stakes)
+4) Sumri boundary (keeps Soren from spiraling)
+5) Seb spots wrong guests (fight trigger)
+
+## Party Combat Kickoff: “Not Here To Party”
+
+### When to Trigger
+Trigger this when the party hits "peak normal" — laughter, music, everyone relaxed.
+(If you want the sitcom-cut feeling, do 2 quick “party station” mini-scenes first, then trigger.)
+
+### Quick State Check (DM)
+- Prep Points available: ____ (spendable as "we planned for this")
+- Heat: ____ (2/4/6 thresholds)
+- Anchor NPCs present: ____ (who matters most in this moment?)
+
+---
+
+## The First Wrong Thing (no checks yet)
+> [!quote] Narration
+> For a few minutes, it almost feels like you pulled it off.
+> Music thumps. People are laughing too loud. Someone found snacks that absolutely cost more than your monthly groceries.
+>
+> And then the backyard motion lights click on.
+>
+> Not in the yard.
+> Out past the fence line.
+> Down the slope where there shouldn’t be anyone.
+
+Let them react. Someone will want to look. Someone will want to ignore it. Either is fine.
+
+---
+
+## The Spotting Roll 
+Call for ONE of the following (player choice):
+- **Perception (DC 13)** from whoever goes to look
+- **Group Perception (DC 12)** if multiple people start scanning windows / stepping outside
+- **Insight (DC 13)** if someone is watching the crowd instead of the yard
+
+**Spend options:**
+- Spend **1 Prep Point**: advantage on the roll (you “put someone on lookout”)
+- Spend **2 Prep Points**: they spot the *pattern* (one talks / one grabs / one lights)
+
+### On Success
+> [!quote] Narration
+> You catch movement where there shouldn’t be any — three silhouettes drifting between boulders.
+> Not stumbling like lost kids.
+> Moving like they already picked their angles.
+>
+> One of them lifts a hand: a quick gesture.
+> The porch light flickers once.
+> Twice.
+> Like a signal.
+
+### On Failure
+> [!quote] Narration
+> You stare into the dark too long and see nothing.
+> Then you blink — and the motion lights click off.
+> Like someone *wanted* you to look.
+>
+> From the living room, you hear the front doorbell.
+> Once.
+> Patient.
+
+## Entry Vectors (pick 1, or roll a d3)
+
+### 1) Front Door: “We’re Invited.”
+The bell rings again. Someone outside is calm. Too calm.
+> [!quote] Narration
+> The camera rune by the door shows three teens. Wrong posture. Hands too still.
+> One has a cheap gift bag like it's a costume.
+
+**Door opener chooses:**
+- Open it
+- Talk through the door
+- Send someone else
+- Ignore it (they will try another vector in 60 seconds)
+
+### 2) Backyard Fence: “The Quiet Cut”
+If they go outside / to the windows first:
+> [!quote] Narration
+> The fence line creaks — not from climbing.
+> From *something being unlatched*.
+
+### 3) Side Gate / Garage: “Service Access”
+If the party is loud and chaotic:
+> [!quote] Narration
+> A soft metallic tap from the garage door.
+> Like someone testing the seam — once, twice — listening for a ward ping.
+
+**DM Note:** Use this if you want them inside the house when it starts.
+## The Talker / Grabber / Lighter (NPC Script)
+
+There are 3–5 goons. Pip is NOT present.
+
+### The Talker (face)
+> [!quote] Goon (easy smile, dead eyes)
+> “Yo. Party’s sick.”
+> (beat, scanning)
+> “We’re here for Ben. Just need a quick word outside. No drama.”
+
+If pressed:
+> [!quote] Goon
+> “Look, man. This isn’t about you. We can do this clean or loud. Your call.”
+
+### The Grabber (doesn't talk much)
+Stays half a step behind the Talker. Keeps looking at exits and hallways.
+He’s holding a folded strip of ash-paper in his palm (the locator tag).
+
+### The Lighter (problem)
+Smells faintly like alchemical solvent. Keeps touching his pocket like checking for something.
+If things stall, he starts moving toward curtains / the hall / the kitchen.
+
+---
+
+## Micro-checks (pick 1–2, not all)
+- **Insight (DC 12):** They’re stalling for someone to get into position.
+- **Perception (DC 13):** Spot the ash tag / oil rag / accelerant smell.
+- **Intimidation (DC 13):** Make the talker flinch and reveal the plan (“Fine. Grab him.”)
+- **Deception (DC 13):** “Ben isn’t here” / redirect them toward a decoy room.
+- **Persuasion (DC 15):** Buy 30 seconds (“He’ll come out—just chill.”)
+
+**Prep Point spends:**
+- Spend **2 Prep Points:** “The right person is nearby” (an ally NPC is in the room when it pops)
+- Spend **3 Prep Points:** “Counter their plan” (you clock the accelerant BEFORE it gets used)
+## The Exact Moment Initiative Starts
+
+### Option A: The Grab (fast & clean)
+> [!quote] Narration
+> The talker smiles like it’s still polite —
+> and the grabber lunges for Ben’s sleeve with that ash-paper between two fingers.
+
+Roll initiative. Objective becomes “don’t let them tag Ben / don’t let them extract him.”
+
+### Option B: The Fire (chaos button)
+> [!quote] Narration
+> You smell it a half-second before it happens — solvent, oil, alchemy.
+> The lighter flicks something in his hand and the hallway *catches*.
+> Not an explosion.
+> A crawling, hungry flame.
+
+Roll initiative. Objective becomes “stop the fire AND stop the extraction.”
+
+### Option C: The Tell (your NPC calls it)
+If you want a **hard RP punch**:
+> [!quote] Narration
+> Seb goes quiet.
+> Lowers his phone for the first time all night.
+> “Those dudes aren’t here to party.”
+>
+> And in that same moment, the talker’s smile disappears.
+
+Roll initiative.
+
+## Enemy Goals (keep it simple so the fight ends)
+
+Pick ONE primary goal:
+1) **Kidnap Ben** (classic): Grabber tries to tag + drag him to a waiting car.
+2) **Torch the house** (revenge): Lighter spreads accelerant + starts fires while talker stalls.
+3) **Tag-and-Leave** (smart): They only need the ash tag on Ben or the house; once placed, they run.
+
+### “Win Conditions” (for YOU)
+- PCs win if: they prevent extraction AND prevent a tag being placed (or remove it fast).
+- Goons win if: ash tag sticks OR Ben is in their hands for 1 full round.
+
+### If the PCs are stomping
+Have the talker yell:
+> “GREENLIGHT!”
+…and a second vector activates (someone tries a back door / a window).
+(That’s what Heat buys you as a complication.)
+
+## Heat Complications
+
+At **2 Heat** (noise complaint / ward ping):
+> [!quote] Narration
+> A distant siren crystal chirps once somewhere down the canyon road.
+> Not here yet. But *awake*.
+
+At **4 Heat** (patrol at worst time):
+> [!quote] Narration
+> Blue-white lights sweep across the front windows.
+> A patrol carriage slows.
+> Not stopping.
+> Just *looking.*
+
+At **6 Heat** (Oversight scan):
+> [!quote] Narration
+> High above the canyon, a single pale orb drifts past like a lazy star.
+> The wards in the house itch.
+> Something just *looked at you*.