Brutal Hymn I

Brutal Hymn I is an Arachne standard combat contract in Marathon that channels the faction's violent philosophy through close-range shotgun warfare. The contract rewards progress for defeating any hostile with a shotgun, but kills against opposing enemy Runners specifically grant substantially higher efficiency toward completion. The title evokes Arachne's aesthetic of violence as ceremony: every shotgun blast against a fellow Runner is a note in the brutal hymn the faction composes through the bodies of the fallen. Arachne views the shotgun's close-quarters intimacy as particularly aligned with its ethos, demanding that Runners get close enough to look their enemies in the eye.

Brutal Hymn I pairs with Technologies of Violence I and Fatal Instrument I as part of Arachne's weapon-type progression contracts, collectively pushing Runners toward diverse but consistently violent playstyles. Shotgun combat in Marathon's extraction format is high-risk, high-reward: it demands proximity to dangerous opponents and the confidence to close distance under fire. Completion earns 100 faction reputation and 500 Credits, rewarding players who embrace Arachne's confrontational combat philosophy.