And to think, The Inventory was supposed to be a game mechanic/plot device, rather than a world proper. You do realize that this place is the closest thing you guys have to a home base, and that pissing off it's inhabitants would probably be a bad idea, right?

Trying to figure out if I want to tell you her response now, or make you wait until the next phase. Part of me wants to move this along, the other wants to stand by the guidelines that have been established prior to now. As it is, this would be like a examine action, but with auto success, leading it to be more story than anything.

Hmmm. Choices.

"I'm going to chat with the Military Man and see if I can learn any military secrets or tactics or anything, really, from him" (Brains)

Well, he does have a brain score of 1. Guess now we know why.

Using some of the books in the library, I'm going to break them down and start to create a replica of a gun out of them. Then, I'm going to tell the Australian that my gun is the best there is, and ask him if he wants to trade his crappy gun for my awesome one. (Brains/Attribute).

I'll ask the australian what his challenge is.

Wade takes a book off the shelf and hurls it at the man in the cowboy hat. While the man may have committed no legal violations that would merit throwing the book at him, it is effective none the less. The heavy tome strikes the man in the temple, felling him. As he falls to the ground, his form shifts into that of a man wearing a blue suit and a ski mask. The man is clearly dead. However, the body soon fades into nothingness, and nearby you hear a loud static noise, followed by mocking laughter. the Australian and the Military man are visibly disturbed by these events.

Mr Stranger begins to craft a gun out of books, and offers to trade his "awesome" gun, for the Australian's "crappy" one. He replies. "Look mate, my gun is my lively hood. That may be a mighty fine gun you are crafting, but until it's complete, and until it has a high powered scope, I'll hold onto what I have. Still, let me know when you put on the finishing touches, and maybe we'll work something out."

Pax takes a seat next to the Military Man at the bar. He attempts to strike up a conversation, but before he can, the Military Man cuts him off. "THERE'S A SPY IN OUR MIDST, AND YOU WANT TO CHITCHAT?!!! NOT ON YOUR LIFE MAGGOT!"

Sky approaches the Australian and asks if he would care for a wager. He replies, "I suppose I could be convinced to play a game of darts. Something to take me mind off the recent troubles."

Jawa walks up to the woman in the orange jumpsuit and asks what her game of choice is. She doesn't reply, but holds up two quarters and points to an arcade game in the corner. Seems she wants to challenge you to Street Fighter 2.

Wade and Mr Stranger get XP. (Stranger succeeded, but I didn't want him having a gun this early, so I left the door open later.)

I'll investigate the mocking laughter. (Brains).

I will accept the challenge of the woman in the orange jumpsuit, use an action to do so in order to improve my chances of winning, and if I can do so with the same action, I shall ask her what her name is. (Shmooze)

Otherwise, I'll just do the first two parts.

I didn't mean you could just spend an action to generically try to improve your odds. I meant if you had a strategy you wanted to spend an action on, I may take it into account when it comes time to learn the results.

Ah. I see.

Ok, then. I will accept the challenge of the woman in the orange jumpsuit, and attempt to engage in friendly conversation with her as we play (mixed with a touch of flirting) in an effort to distract her concentration. (Shmooze)

Jawa clearly isn't familiar with The Orange Box.

He's trying to chat up a silent protagonist.

So my random action ended up being good, seems I found the spy but I don't get a cowboy hat

Well, there was always going to be a spy, but it wasn't always going to be the one you killed. I had such a cool trait planned for that guy. And now you'll never know.

Oh, I'm familiar. But it can't hurt to try, can it?