Day 14e

Inside's where I'm running into the real problems. First thing I found inside were some cages, most pretty makeshift. Only one was closed and occupied, one guy inside looking dirty, beaten, and half-starved. He was weak, but begged me for his freedom. As I opened the cage and helped him out, he explained that there were others inside, women and children used for both labor and for the pleasure of the raiders. They had been picked up here and there, others dumped randomly when dead or dying. Yeah, these things happen. Not everywhere, not all the time...but, yeah.

I told him how to get to FestTown, then gave him some cover fire to make his way out, told him to stay low among the barricades and he hopefully wouldn't even be seen. I know neither of the raiders outside seemed to be firing at him. After that, I made my way further inside. Looked like the place was some sort of small office building, bunch of smaller rooms with desks and such. I found the other slaves huddled together in one room with a cookfire, obviously preparing some sort of meal for the gang, all chained together at the ankles. So far, no raiders. I was able to free them from the chain, keeping them quiet, and guided them to the door. I hid them just inside, the two raiders from outside were coming in, figured I'd ambush them as they came in. I readied Disc, but never got a chance to use it. As soon as the raiders were inside, the three woman jumped on them, frenziedly beating and kicking them. I just let 'em, though I kept an eye out for others.

Once they were done, I ushered them out the door, directing them to FestTown. I made my way further inside, looking for the boss and his lackeys. I admit to being a little overconfident, thinking that there could only be a few left. Anger didn't help any, especially since I found the final slave, the woman that had basically given up on life, on the way. And so I readied my shotgun and burst through a doorway into what turned out to be the back room of the place, planning to take them by surprise...

And found ten raiders waiting for me.

Luckily, only two had guns, while the rest were armed with clubs, knives, assorted close-combat weapons. I unloaded the shotgun into them as they came at me, both barrels. Pretty sure I saw one go down, but I was already backing out as fast as I could while they gave chase. Reloaded as I moved, got off another shot as they entered the hallway and I got to that first room. Definitely took out one with that shot, half his head splattered into the faces of the two guys behind him. Those two stumbled, not sure if they were actually hit or just thrown off by the gore. Dropped the shotgun as I went out, in favor of the rifle. Figured I can either pick it back up when this is over...or I'll be dead and won't need it.

Yeah, next time I go anywhere like this, I really need to spend some more time on scouting out any opposition. I think I got a little too cocky.