Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Play-by-Post => Topic started by: Kot on <01-11-11/1500:20>
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Day One
Marco was worried. For the first time in his days as a Fixer having doubts about the job wasn't connected to the usual - low pay, funny target, lack of details, or outright screwing his employees over. He had no problem with that, as many young street kids inevitably found out. That's why his family name - Morales - was a joke among the Seattle's finest Fixers. He still had the vibe of a fiery preacher coupled with a used car salesman from pre-crash flicks. That's what kept him above the drek he dealt with... But he still had doubts.
Because the job offer came in brought by someone appearing to be a junkie with no real brain left. At night. During a storm. In a frakkin' real paper envelope. Calligraphic writings in blue ink covering the whole page with cryptic limericks describing the job, the right people for it, and the location where he should send them. And how. That mostly bothered him...
Until he found a goldish-hued metal disc inside, etched with incomprehensible, glyph-like markings.
"Orichalcum. Worth a lot on the market, and with those monkey-scratches it's probably double the price." He thought. "And that's only an advance pay, if i read this yeats crap right. God, I hate magicians. Goddamn loons." He threw a glance at the letter again, smiling to himself with a dreamy face. And he gets to mess with those poor shadowrunners lives. Oh, how he loved that game - all those pawns and figures at his disposal.
His feet itched, when he walked to the antique chessboard, and moved the white Rook with his left, artificial hand, placing it with a satisfying *THUNK* of wood.
Three Weeks Later
The Rook
Vabka shuddered. He spent five long years in a prison, and went independent after that, but he still felt like a kid when confronted with Matviej. The orc, even though his head was over half a meter lower than Vabka's, was still scary as the hell itself. Even if half the rumors that others were spreading is true, he was looking in the calm, icy eye of a devil, as the second one was a twitchy old russian military implant. That was the thing that unnerved most of his people more. Not the bulky cybereye itself, but it's age. Matviej was old, when most of his human soldiers still wore diapers. And he still lived, without any signs of weakening his grip around the syndicate. It was his order, that sent Vabka to prison. One that he couldn't refuse to carry, or even think about it. You can't cheat Old Man Death. Vabka's cyberspur shifted under stress, and he cursed awfully under his breath.
"Vabka, my boy. You know I love you like my own." As his boss started the usual talk, Vabka noticed something. Matviej did. The troll's own father threw him into the pit, without any second thought. It was one of the most fucked-up things in his life, but Matviej taught him how to win, not only survive. Like a real father would. "But we cannot let you stay. This time it's not the star we're worried about. The errants want you badly, and there's nothing we can do. We don't know why. That's why i told you to lay low." Great. He was skulking for three weeks straight, as a Priority One arrest warrant wrecked his social live. He had to kill two friends, who apparently weren't 'good' enough to keep their greed from trying to set him up. The ork stared at him for a while. "You need to leave." Maviej was calm, as usual, but Vabka could swear there was a slight ring of worry in his voice. "We can't send you to the Motherland, as ares dogs have a strong presence there. There is one other place though. A place where we are hunted like the wolves we are. You will do fine there." Matviej motioned to him, sending a stream of data. A job offer. Seek&Snatch, in... Poland? No, a Polish Free Corporate Zone. That could be... interesting. "Oh, and i almost forgot" His old mentor's face proved otherwise, but he got used to that trick. He used it when he sent him to prison. "She will be there. I already notified Yuri, and he sent a small welcome package from Mariya." Vabka smiled, as Matviej patted him on the elbow. The data package contained maps, loresofts, and even a Polish linguasoft. She was always a classy lady when it came to gifts. And she needed him, that was obvious. "Enjoy your vacation, my boy."
Two Weeks Later
The Bishop
"As you can see, mr. Fialonne, we are in a bind here." The Knight Errant officer looked him deeply in the eyes, grinning like a mad dog. "We have five cases of severe cardiac muscle damage, and noone to blame." He leaned back, putting his dirty boots on the table, and smiling shyly at the elf's disgust. "Oh i am so sorry. You know how it is. You walk the streets of your city, protecting it's Citizens from harm. There's no time for such luxury, as cleaning one's boots." He reached into his pocket, to pick up a small holoprojector, and place it on the desk. It flickered a globe of pixels, that turned into a surveillance trid. Yani did recognize himself. It was as bad as hearing his own name being used by the detective. He already managed to get a lot of dirt on his interrogator, with a little help from his friends. But none of it could be used without reassuring the cop in his suspicions of Yani's true talent. That would be really bad, because those five hospital cases were Humanis youths. Good homes, influencial parents, slumming kids, beating any defenseless metahuman vagrant they could get their hands on. The usual stuff under Brackhaven regime. "All of your permits seem to be in order. You appear, to be a model citizen." The emphasis in his voice couldn't be more obvious. "But we still need to know who hurt those boys. And i couldn't help but wonder, how can a model citizen smile, while seeing five young men wrecked with pain, and almost dying." Yani knew. That could have been an easy trick, as all five of those bastards were equipped with illegaly modified commlinks, slotting a BTL personafix called 'The Great White Hunter'. And the officer knew as well - that chip was all the rage among humanis-wannabes for months now. Yani could've just reached out into the Resonance with his Digital Mind, and ask a sprite to mess with their heads.
But he didn't. He was just hanging out, waiting for one of his friends to pick him up for a League of the Silver Thorn meeting. He wouldn't be that stupid, and try something like that out in the public, by a mall. Yes, he did smile. Just like a dozen of people who were watching the scene. None of them helped, even though most were 'model citizens'. And now a retarded human-supremacist corporate beat cop was up to something. And he knew.
Yani didn't break. Neither on the first interrogation, nor on many others. He endured the constant surveilance, KE spooks and confidents following him around, spiders with their clunky nets trying to catch him tripping on one of their silly traps. And his own people going distant. Friends rejecting calls. Clubs barring him from meetings. Strange messages appearing in his mail...
Two week after the first visit in the he was ready to do anything to get out of this mess. So when the offer came, he didn't hestitate. Even though he knew that whole thing was a setup. The only part Yani wasn't sure of was the job offer.
The Knight
"You know, Whisper, this wouldn't be a bad time to get some R'n'R, yes?." Pauline's AR image was flickering, and her next sentence was lost in a loud, crackling and beeping wave of static. She must have noticed that, because her mouth stopped moving, and she shook her head impatiently. Waiting it out took almost an eternity - or two minutes - but out in the distance a lone blimp returned to it's post over an abandoned mall, devoured by hungry sands of the Barrens. "Do you always have to run away into no-signal zones? How the hell am i going to warn you next time. That job you've pulled, it was a success, yes?" You nod, and smile slightly. Getting a whole team of shadowrunners through the Barrens, and into a restricted government area was tough. But who else would pull that off? Probably no one they could hire. "And that's the problem here. Whisper, you're good. Very good. And you saved my ass more than twice. That's why I'm not going to let some MCT hitman blow your head off." MCT. So that's whose facility it was. "It's a shame they burned it to the ground... Otherwise you wouldn't be mister-scapegoat now. Your fame betrays you. And they want your head. So..." Your AR flickers with data, folders opening in a standard job offer display. Far away, in a urban/wilderness terrain, the pay is good, and there is definitely something wrong with the job. It's not a setup, but your gut feeling tells you, that you should be wary. But it's a good opportunity to get out of MCT's scope. They won't waste money on targets they can't reach. "Just be careful. They guy who sent me this is a snake. He'll try to screw you over the moment you get the job done. I'll try to dig a bit, but there's not enough data to do a full sweep. Oh, and tell your Russian girl i said 'Hi'." You nod again, and Pauline reads it as she should - as a 'Thank you, Over and Out'. Your target comes slowly out of it's hiding place, as the sky darkens, and the orange light of a sunset. Muscles flex, carbon-fiber and flex-steel sings it's song, as a deadly messenger starts it's journey. He reaches the peak, and falls down like a hawk. The ghoul stumbles and falls under the force of an arrow between his shoulder. You notice his last movements were like an feral beast's, so there was no mistake on your side. The countdown on your AR screen reaches zero, and the arrowhead buried deep inside the flesh-eater's hear explodes, tearing his chest apart. Another hunt, another kill. You start to dissemble your trusty bow, thinking of all those places you've never been to. It's time to walk under a foreign sky again.
The Queen
There are times, when you really cannot help but hate all the attention you get. Between the Yaks shadowing your every move recently, the Triad double-numbers trying to get you, that crazy Horizon reporter, and that botched job from last week you couldn't help but feel that it's time for a change of scenery. Things were bad already a month ago, and from there everything went downhill. You were already used to your momens of misfortune, but that wasn't a moment. It was six straight weeks of fate kicking you in the face. Most people wouldn't handle that much punishment, but for you the worst part was not the danger, that followed you everywhere. It was the mud, and smell of bad luck - which usually smelled like sewers after a stormy day. And now it got even worse. One of those shady guys appeared, and tried to lure you into a trap. You found that out a bit too late, but your skills and augumentations proved reliable. Six bodies, and a huge electrified net are all that's left in that warehouse. From those six two weren't human anymore. Ghouls. Neatly dressed ghouls, sporting a mobile transplant van. After you. That could mean only one thing. Someone dug out your greatest secret. And sold you to the Tanamous... Risking a lot you open a line to Martin, who answers immediately. "Good evening, Dear." His personal software mod turns Seattle accent into a aristocratic British high-speak. "It seems that you have drawn a lot of attention lately. Even the news ramble about 'the shadowrunner known as Bat'Oni' all the time. Horizon seems to like you a lot." You ignore his sneer attitude, trying to clean your sleeve of ghoul-blood. "And that's not all. I've had a guest from Yakuza lately, who wanted to buy information on you. It's a good thing that we're friends, and I don't sell friends out, right?" You don't even bother to answer, letting him drift into monologue for a while. "Well, there were also rumours of some really nasty guys asking about you. I hope that's their blood you're trying to get out. It's hopeless by the way, those coats have to be cleaned by a licensed business, or by nano's. That's how they widen their profit margins. Anyway, there is this guy who paid me a hefty consulting fee for getting in touch with you. He's a snake, and an oiled one. But i know you, you like those dangerous jobs. And this one - surprisingly on time, isn't it - is far away from home. In Europe. Where Yaks and Triads don't have much authority. What do you say?" What could you say? He knows it, you don't really have better choices now. At least in Europe you won't get that dirty all the time...
The Pawn
It was raining. It always was, when you were working, for as long as you remember. It might have something to do with the local weather, or your luck. Probably both, because most British immigrants felt at home in this humid, cold city, flayed by winds from the bay. Now it was even a good thing, because the downpour should stop tinheads from noticing anything. Tinheads. Tin-cans. It took you better part of a year on the streets to start calling your former colleagues that. But they earned it with their corrupt, violent ways, that most of the city knew and hated. You just had to walk the streets as one of them, and not a 'cop'. This city doesn't need more violence and corruption - the whole free zone was built on them, but it was building layer on layer for hundreds of years... You can sometimes feel it in places all over the metroplex. Like stains of pain, greed and fear.
That's why you like being here, in the ruins of the old harbor. It's just desolation and salty, cold winds. No hate, no suffering, no nuyen chase that lets people trampled and bleeding. And you know why the Kapers love this place. Between the gyro-mines, destroyed piers and ruins of the old breakwater trying to pass as reefs, this place is a nightmare for any ship pilot. Except they know these dead waters like their own bodies... And the traces of magic you pick out of the background haze of astral shades obviously points at Water spirits involved.
You watch from the shadows as the crane picks up containers one by one, and places them on a prepared spot with fluid movements of an expert rigger at work. You see everything around, and the ragged auras of smugglers shine brightly in the night, as do these five auras you can't recognize, hazed by something akin to a web of barbed wire... Trouble. That was not in the job description...
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As the containers starts to move one by one most of you notice the trip is over. Four days in a seriously confined space with only a chemical toilet, dry rations, a small supply of water, a handful of sea-sickness drugs, and a sim module loaded with the latest TriCity street crap was enough. Especially since nothing worked as it should - light, heating, the obsolete, bulky sim box - all of them acted like there were real gremlins messing with them. And the ship changing course and losing stability more than a few times for no reason wasn't helping either. Most of you didn't expect that kind of conditions with the amount of nuyen they cost. Now you can only wait and hope you'll be free to go soon. Free to find a decent place, with decent food and a shower...
It takes ages, but the hatches finally click, signaling you're free at last. You see the rest of the container, loaded with assorted soy products. The smell of 'Kentucky Turkey Flavored SoySnacks, made by AZT' will haunt you for weeks. You dig through the boxes, eager to get out...
Bat'Oni manages to do that first, and as the doors open, she swiftly catches balance, and surfs the soy-product wave on top of a steel case that was under the boxes... Just to end between five obviously cybered gangers with X's shaved and tattooed on their heads. Their cheap Russian cybereyes click and whirl as they focus on her, confused and surprised.
"Koza, nie mówiłeś nic o żadnej kochanej kitajce? Co to urwał jest, premia?"*
A loud * WHAM! * signals Uncle Vabka managed to finally break open the container doors, which - torn out of their hinges - fly a good six meters, before slamming into a graffiti-covered pickup truck. The impact is strong enough to break all of it's windows, and turn on the car horn, which adds to the chaos. He hears the gangers yelling, and he doesn't like what his linguasoft tells him. No one likes to be called an 'ass-fucked trog mutant'...
As the gangers panic, desperately trying to get their weapons out, Whisper manages to use the situation to distract onlookers from the fact that he just cut through the locks, and silently get to cover - a bunch of moldy plastic crates piled together just a few meters from the container. He quickly assesses the situation, and notices a figure in a long coat hiding under an old open container about ten meters behind the ganger's car.
Something loud wakes Yani up. He doesn't know if it's just in his head - as a part of the terrible headache that plagued him for the whole time, and the sea sickness that no pill could cure. If it's outside though, it sounds like trouble. And despite the containers interference, he could see nodes swirling around... Just not enough to make something out of the situation...
CW doesn't believe his eyes as the gangers - known as Marked - start unloading the containers. They shouldn't be here. Kapers don't mix people smuggling with goods smuggling. That's bad for business. This means the crew was doing some smuggling on the side. And that could burn the whole extraction. And get some people killed. Things don't look good at all, and get worse, as the Asian woman and the Troll, manage to get out...
* As noone who doesn't know Polish heard that, i posted it in original. The words in italics are obviously insults, but used casually as most gangers do. I was just replacing them with, well, not bad words. I just don't like swearing.
And as a clarification - you might know each other, have worked together once or twice, but you've definitely either met others, heard about them, or seen their work. And you've received their profiles as team-mates, to recognize them on arrival. You've also been notified there will be a guide available on the spot.
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((OOC Yani is usually using Augmented Reality. I will probably make a big deal about it if he switches it off, or goes VR.))
Yani, quickly re-gains his bearings. He draws the conclusion that they have arrived at their destination, and angry folks are shouting things in a foreign tongue. The first priority in such a situation would be to establish an understanding with the input he is receiving via verbal communication. He calls his Tutor Sprite off standby, and asks it stay in his biological node and assist with foreign language communication via AR, using it's proficiency power.
((OOC Subtracting 1 task from the Tutor Sprite, and Yani now possess the equivalent of a skill rating 3 in Polish and Russian language skills as long as he as AR active, and the Sprite is not Decompiled, or runs out of tasks. Speech is slow, though, and may require more than a free action to speak or comprehend in combat. It's up to Kot.))
He then opens the container, blinking wildly like a child waking up in the morning, and tries to take in the scene around him.
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(OOC: Whisper kept most of his gear in his backpack so when it was time to go, he could do so quickly, but he's wearing his chameleon suit, and has access to some of his weapons.)
From cover Whisper can see that of the group already here only two of them match the Trid's of the others he was to be meeting here... Whisper slip's his shock glove on, takes hold of his mono blade, and trigger's his chameleon suit, then takes in the scene from cover, To figure out the intentions of the gangers on this dock are. (6d6.hits(5)=4) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2847343/) +(6d6.hits(5)=3) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2847391/) then prepares to attack or slip away as required.
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Ban'Oni spreads her hands just slightly, "I don't suppose any of you speak any English do you?" *giving the impression of not being a threat*
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The cloaked figure approached silently, and quietly in soothing voice full of soft swirles of polish languge.
"Spokojnie panowie, wszystko jest w porządku, rozładowujcie dalej."
(OOC: Influence Spell at Force (2): on the first ganger
Magic (4) + Spellcasting (4): 8d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2849874/)
Drain Value: 2
Resist Drain: Willpower (4) + Logic (5): 2 automatic hits: Resisted
Opposed Test Spellcasting (4) + Magic (4): 8d6.hits(5)=4 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2849877/) vs Willpower))
"Nie dzieje się nic niezwykłego. Zaraz sobie pójdziemy."
(OOC: Influence Spell at Force (2) on the second ganger.
Magic (4) + Spellcasting (4): 8d6.hits(5)=4 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2849889/)
Drain Value: 2 Resist Drain: Willpower (4) + Logic (5): 2 automatic hits: Resisted
Opposed Test Spellcasting (4) + Magic (4): 8d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2849890/) vs Willpower))
"I do, and I am your guide here, you can call me CW, hopefully we can go now but we should be quick about that."
I am standing so the gangers are between me and my guests.
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((OOC: perhaps a little equipment management is in order. Yani is wearing street clothes over his armored body suit. His gun is up his right sleeve in his hidden gun arm slide, and he is wearing his comlink and accessories. His incriminating objects, like his tag eraser, maglock passkeys, key sequencer, medkit, and extra ammo, are in his bag.))
Quickly checking his bag to make sure it didn't open and no equipment fell out during the trip, Yani clambers out of the container a little awkwardly, but straitens up when he's out. Adjusting his glasses, ((OOC: ultrasound is not activated at this time)) Yani walks towards CW looking around, taking in the sights of this Tri-City dock. As the distance between himself and the gangers inevitably decreases, he nods at them and says in a strong English accent, "Dobry dzień, panowie," and attempts to walk past them to follow CW.
((OOC: btw, I am using this site (http://translation.babylon.com/polish/to-english/) to read and type polish. My polish is going to be a little odd, because I'm using an internet translater, but I think that's fitting for my character.))
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Bat'Oni nods, "It is good to see you, shall we leave your friends here?"
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Vabka glares at the gangers gives a grin, pops his cyber-spurs and growls, using his Polish linguasoft, "arse fucked huh? cut that shit out or I will fuck yours with these, got it?" ((Intimidation + Physical Specialisation + Charisma = 8 dice + modifiers as applicable))
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This time it worked. Between the spells cast by CW, Vabka's intimidating posture, Bat'Oni managing to keep a straight face, Whisper's casual attitude, and Yani looking like he's had better days, the gangers finally bundle together, guns and blades pointed all around, but not blazing. They slowly calm down, regain their cool, and let you go.
CW leads the whole team away from the scene, but none of you dares to turn their back on the gangers. They don't look friendly, and it doesn't seem they like looking like startled rabbits in their business-partner's eyes. A good thing none of them noticed what you all do now. There's a multi-barreled monster gun mounted on the ship, that was obviously just waiting for any signs of hostility. Now it just moves with you, still keeping on target, just in case. Whatever that deal was, it wasn't entirely without professional support. So it was a good thing that you all managed to contain the situation.
CW snarls, noting to look into the matter. Kapers doing side-jobs with BTL isn't something common. He leads the group through a ruined neighbourhood, half-drowned with dead waters of the Baltic sea, and showing signs of heavy artillery fire. Someone obviously had a full-scaled bombardment here, because buildings with more than one floor left are a rare sight.
You notice locals scurrying around, but they look just scavengers. One of them suddenly lunges out of his hiding places seconds after you pass, and you notice him picking something from the ground, where a print of Bat'Oni's boot marks the mud. He moves with an eerie speed, just like a rat, or some other rodent. His rags seem to be well-designed for urban survival... It's like Barrens, only worse. No obvious signs of habitation, except for the few scavenger figures in the rain.
And then you see a change in scenery. The buildings look more industrial, and recognizable. Warehouses mostly. Half-ruined only, and there's a sign of people living there. The fires in old, rusted oil barrels make you feel almost like home.
In a few minutes CW leads you through a passage between two fully lit warehouses, patched with various materials to make them habitable. People are living there, and by the sounds and smells you can easily judge their numbers. Many. Just on the verge of being hopeless, trying to survive in a place like this.
And then, suddenly you notice a huge skyscraper in the distance, and then anotherone, and another one. They don't look like any different than the ones in Seattle, or any other sprawl you've been two. Generic corporate buildings of importance. Monuments to their power over the daily lives of people whom they own, one way or another. The huge, holographic logo of Evo manages even to reach your commlinks as soon as you exit the narrow path. It projects itself menacingly over your AR display, before your 'links manage to deal with it's ad-attack. You see TriCity, lying on the coast of a dead sea, wallowing in it's old-gone glory, and plaugued by poverty, but still there's a corporate Otherworld there. And it's an alien place, with people around you silently dissapearing to avoid your presence. CW turns around, and says.
"Welcome to Tricity."
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"What a lovely place." *a trace of sarcasm seems to drip from every word*
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((OOC: btw, Kot, if you want me to roll for any of these actions, let me know. I'll just assume that if I can buy the hits and it's pertinent to the storyline, you'll let me know.))
As the group leaves the shipyard, Yani takes a quick look at the ship again to make sure he remembers the name of the ship and any other identifying features. It would be interesting to find out who owns that particular piece of floating machinery, but not right now. For now, it looks like the group is about to trudge through some particularly unpleasant territory.
Yani follows CW with his nose chronically crinkled. He doesn't hide his distaste for the slums one bit, but he does manage to keep his mouth shut... it would not be good to upset the locals with snide comments.
If Yani happens to notice the rodent-like male, he makes at least a three second attempt at figuring out what it was he was picking up off the ground, and what the male looks like along with any identifiable features (like tattoos or scars).
When The Evo logo hogs up Yani's AR, he decides it would be a good time to review some quick information in the matrix on Evo's recent activities and press-releases. He figures such a search in the middle of being overwhelmingly exposed to the megacorp's logo would not rise any suspicions. It would also take his mind off of how little he likes the city so-far...
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Checking that the pair of Predators are loose in their shoulder rigs beneath his armoured jacket, Vabka then lights a foul smelling cigar, hefts his duffel bags one handed over his left shoulder, and follows the other runners on their way further into the city, chuckling slightly at the memory of the gangers shitting themselves when he popped his blades.
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The visit in port and Evo spam reminded me of theri recent terrorist catching game.
I browse through the press subscription in the commlink looking for any news on the investigation progress (OOC: no tests, its just a memory refresh activity) maybe, there were something on the street level. Just in case I send few texts to a couple of friends (to Stefan and Hutch) if they heard anything. Oh and I send a note to Grzegorz that I'll have an original single malt older than two of us together, so if he could dig up something of equal value, we could make taste evening.
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As for CW, he quickly goes through his notes on the subject, and it's definitely a witch hunt. Three shadowrunner groups vanished from the radar recently, but you don't know enough for now to decide who did this. The blame on - no surprises here - awakened eco-terrorists that don't want to see the Baltic poluted even more is bullshit. None of them gives a damn about this dead pool. Your guess would be corporate sabotage on a bigger scale, with shadowrunners caught in the middle. But Evo managed to get through this smelling of roses and generous reparations for something that isn't even it's fault. Feints in feints, as usual.
Both Stefan and Hutch send you a "I'm busy, but I'll check it out in a while." messages. They are working, but you expect to hear from them soon. Grzegorz on the other hand gives you a call.
"You have what? Where, and why the hell didn't those cheap bastards tell me they are smuggling treasures again? Get your ass over here, and we'll talk business. It's slow, so you can bring your people over. I'd say they need a drink after getting here, and catching first sights of the dump." He obviously knows you're working, and that means it was his recommendation that got you the job. Heh. Figures. He wouldn't like your tab to run dry, you bet.
The others follow CW looking around with a feeling of unease. Even though you've just left something worse than Barrens, the neighbourhood turs into a mixture of old houses, and condos, that mostly aren't even twenty years old, even if they look like dumps. The city is alive here.
Vabka catches a glance of a Vory-style nanotat on a hookers chest, before she whimpers, and steps back into the alley, scared. That wasn't something cheap, so she probably was a hooker under Vory protection. The boys that jumped out of the alley looked sharp, but they softened their gun grips as they saw the procession, and Vabka closing it. Nobody messes with runners on a whores whim.
Yani sifts through the corrupt noise of a borderzone, riddled with spam, BTL dealer offers, sleazy 'establishments', and such. Some lucky agent manages even to slip you an offer in bad english: "Forbidden fruits, beauties of ork and troll blood, will do your bidding." Just as you trash the spam, and adjust your filters something darts along the nodes down the street, and matrix lights in your head flicker as it passes.
Bat'Oni recieves a reserved bow from a sarariman-looking middle aged japanese leaving a nearby car, before he enters a seedy bar. His bodyguards - two asian orks - both give you an intimidating glare, but you see fear and respect in their eyes. After they both decide your group is not a threat, they both bow too - just by nudging their heads at Bat'Oni.
Whisper goes along with the group, but he walks like a city spirit, without trace and without even being noticed. People of all kinds come and go, and he even enjoys watching six kids looking around in search for something - or someone - looking like they can handle themselves, even if they're still kids. Nobody pays attention, and his eyes are sharp, so in the ancient-looking neon lights he manages to notice an opaque black sliver on Bat'Oni's sole.
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Thats it guys, I don't know how about you but it's late enough for a drink. And I know the place that you should like. Unless of course you are nogood bastard with no appreciation for a good whisky. Whisky Barrel is a good trip from here, but you'll have a litlle sightseeing tour along the way.
I'm calling for a cab, no need to walk, and while waiting I am checking yesterday urban brawl result, just in case we roll into some 'fans'.
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Bat'Oni looks at the two Orks, nodding, but responds, "partaking in a drink doesn't sound bad, I am partial to wine or Cognzc, but I am flexible."
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Not one to waste an opportunity to see The city Whisper replies "After being in that container, a good drink would be most welcome, thanks. " Whisper then turns to Bat'Oni, and with a grin "If you want the kids around here to stop staring at you, you should let me get that silver piece off your boot... just a suggestion."
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Yani Raises an eyebrow at CW, and looks around at the faces of the group. He's been "out to drink" with groups like this before... It usually ends in a brawl or a shootout and with him hiding under a table hoping everyone else is too drunk to notice him. It doesn't look like he will be doing any drinking tonight... no sir... Probably best to ease the boredom with matrix research, and keep a clear head in case someone starts trouble.
Looking over the top of his glasses at CW, Yani nods with a crooked smile on his face. He decides keeping his mouth shut is best. CW doesn't look like the type to be easily fooled, and Yani doesn't particularly feel like spending the energy needed to pull of a good lie like, "A drink would be nice."
Instead, Yani plays the silent agreeable type, and meanwhile he decides to digest a few things popping up in his subconscious. First of all, he's in Tri-City, which is like being in three cities at once. Second, he was brought there by a ship named after a three headed god. Thirdly, in Yani's mind, there are three players in this game, Evo, terrorists, and his group. Something is smelling a little like too much like conspiracy theory, and while Yani isn't a paranoid conspiracy theorist, he knows well enough that at least doing research on things he has gut feelings about can lengthen his life-span.
The first thing Yani does is check the access logs of the nearby nodes to figure out who might have been the cause of that flicker in his biological node and the surrounding ones... He thinks it may have something to do with a certain angered Code Sprite...
-
Bat'Oni looks at Whisper, "Just like a typical Gaijin, not recognizing respect when it's given." *gives an air of coolness as she heads into the bar*
-
Whisper shakes his head and laughs. (in Japanese. ) "Whatever you say blind one. But maybe you should check your boots before you speak without thought. Whisper thinks to himself, if this is even a sample of how this vacation is going to go, he can't wait to go back to work, MCT or not. He then looks at CW (in English) "How bout that drink? I've got plenty of questions after you're done with your associate."
-
Fire your questions right away I am taking the front seat of the cab I'm paid working and talking. he continues.
Whiskey Barrel Pub - downtown, near the Golden Gate. He pointed the destination on AR screen.
You see the Tricity's old downtowns have small patches of historical buildings, that never got demolished to give space for sky scrappers. This case is different, Golden Gate was moved and reconstructed as a stylish entrance to the office tower housing lots of smaller companies. In the entrance there are side doors leading to the underground cellar. That's the place.
-
On the cab ride over, Yani was the lucky one that got to sit next to Uncle Vabka. This troll scares the crap out of Yani, and he is obviously uncomfortable sitting next to him. Vabka unwittingly (or perhaps wittingly) does not give Yani much room to relax in the seat, and Yani is too scared to ask for more room, so the young elf sits there crammed in the cab praying the ride is over soon.
Luckily, it is, and as they walk towards the Whiskey Barrel, Yani says to CW, "I have some questions for you as well, but perhaps the questions are best asked when we have our drinks." Yani's voice when speaking English definitely reveals his young age. Despite the fact that he is being serious, he just can't wipe the sarcastic half grin off his face that plagues the young and the ingenious.
-
The ride was smooth, but the cab was big, fully automated and expensive. Though Vabka's presence didn't add any special payments, but you've noticed in the cab's ARO's a few positions like 'high risk passenger fare'.
As you enter the building, you see something really weird. There's a huge lobby, taking most of the first six floors, or even more. And there's an old looking building, reminding you of old churches. The ARO's identify it, as... The executioner's house. With a scrolling slideshow of fully reconstructed cells and torture suites from the middle ages... And a very pricey invite-only club for corporate bigwigs.
But besides that, there's a lot of medieval-styled shops and bars in the lobby, and a full-fledged mall taking most of three basement levels, visible through multiple AR feeds. They look... Different, and the same.
The whole city seems older. Like there's an air of ages weighting down on it. It looks like it's fighting entropy for a long time, but loosing.
The security guards here obviously don't want to scan any of you, even if their equipment looks elaborate. They instead mug a bunch of low-level wageslaves, that wanted to taste the high life. It's obvious Shadowrunners do business here. There's an ork woman in a leather jacket and skirt barely covering her armored jacket, playing with her duffel bag just outside one of the electronics shops. She obviously notices you, and winks at CW.
Vabka also gets an elaborate smiley from her, with a pirate patch and golden tusks. Plus a message: "Get rid of your tags, if you want to enter any of the shops. And have a nice day. ~Bara"
-
Vabka shoots the ork a thanks emoticon, then looks around the place, scoping out the bouncers, sec goons, local thugs and bar staff, evaluating them as a threat. He lights another noxious cigar, wonders over to the bar, drops his duffels on the floor with a clank of metal and equipment and send an order for vodka to the barman, grinning grotesquely and showing his chipped tusks to anyone who meets his eye. "Lets Drink then.
-
Yani takes a seat 2 seats down from Vabka. While he is not very eager to drink with this group, he is eager to get them relaxed and ready to talk about the job. He is beginning to get uncomfortable with this whole situation. There are too many missing pieces of the puzzle. Perhaps if more information was obtained at the docks and he didn't have to put so much trust in this CW character, he would feel more at ease. Meanwhile, Yani decides nursing a drink to fit in with the group would be best, and places a simple drink order in Polish to the bartender, "Wino, proszę."
-
Bat'Oni moves upwind of Uncle Vabka, after scanning the bar, looking for the familiar pecking order. Who are the Johnsons, the slummers, and finally, they other Shadowrunners.
Looking to Whisper, "I apologize, I am still in a foul mood from being in that container."
-
The people who look like frequent clients don't mind your presence. Vabka gets a few cautious smiles back, since nobody wants to give a troll any reasons to get angry. But nobody seems to get really scared. There's an ork with filed tusks sitting in the corner, that gives him a wide smile, and raises his glass. His looks are decieving, but he's obviously a bodyguard, or bar security. As you order your drinks, the bartender frowns and looks at Yani angrily.
"You, elf. What the hell do you think this is? Are you f*ing with me?" He plants a glass of something transparent. "This is what you get, and you'd better pay for it, or else..." He points at the ork, who grins happily, and stands up... He's a lot taller than he appeared, and he's looking forward to the beating he'd have to administer.
-
The people who look like frequent clients don't mind your presence. Vabka gets a few cautious smiles back, since nobody wants to give a troll any reasons to get angry. But nobody seems to get really scared. There's an ork with filed tusks sitting in the corner, that gives him a wide smile, and raises his glass. His looks are decieving, but he's obviously a bodyguard, or bar security. As you order your drinks, the bartender frowns and looks at Yani angrily.
"You, elf. What the hell do you think this is? Are you f*ing with me?" He plants a glass of something transparent. "This is what you get, and you'd better pay for it, or else..." He points at the ork, who grins happily, and stands up... He's a lot taller than he appeared, and he's looking forward to the beating he'd have to administer.
Easy pal, he's with me.
Vabka shoots the ork a thanks emoticon, then looks around the place, scoping out the bouncers, sec goons, local thugs and bar staff, evaluating them as a threat. He lights another noxious cigar, wonders over to the bar, drops his duffels on the floor with a clank of metal and equipment and send an order for vodka to the barman, grinning grotesquely and showing his chipped tusks to anyone who meets his eye. "Lets Drink then.
Good, I'd prefer the whisky, but lets start with vodka, you're in vodka's homeland anyway. Did you know that Tricity was once producing goldwasser - Vodka mixed with tiny gold flakes that you drink along? turning to bartender give us a flask, and some bites, oh and don't forget the synth-rapsberry and tobasco. hushing to Bat'Oni you don't want pay for the genuine rapsberry here and returning to the bartender Is Grzegorz on bar on this floor or some the other? Let him know please that I've came already.
As for him pointing back on Yani let me make something for him... or better no, you mix - squize a lime over brown sugar with a muddler, fill the glass with crushed ice, add a shot of synth-whisky and fill the glass with lemon soda mix, no tumbling. Enjoy Yani, all my girlfriends love this one.
-
Grzegorz isn't here, but you know he will in a few minutes. Knowing him, it's business related - he has a few secure backrooms, and negotiates or serves as a middleman in deals made here. The bartender - Maciej - is a craftsman. He knows his stuff very well, and he even shot down a few corporate transfer offers. He just hates wise-ass 'connoiseurs'. The stuff he poured was "Czysta" - clear vodka. Tough, and expensive (because it's semi-legal, and really rare), especially with the 'Pissing of the bartender' payment...
Which he transfers to the drink you've ordered for him, and points at the glass. The ork walks toward the bar, downs the glass and returns to his post, looking at Yani and smiling like a madman. He's obviously new here - the old muscle was a troll with both horns covered in gold rings, but Grzegorz must've kicked him out. He made a habbit of 'suggesting' tips to patrons.
-
Whisper slides into the seat between Vabka and Oni and nods, "As am I apparently. It'll be good to stretch my legs again." and orders a whiskey on the rocks, hoping to talk business soon.
-
Yani frowns inwardly and outwardly. He is a quite disappointed at the apparent breach of etiquette he just achieved. Perhaps he should have read up a little bit more on Polish culture before he tried to lay low in a big city like this... or perhaps someone... or someTHING... is messing with him... Drawing attention to himself was the last thing he wanted to do. Thankfully, he at least has a reason not to drink, since the orc downed his. Hopefully paying for the drink will get the focus off him, and on to more pressing matters.
Yani tries to look a like he learned his lesson as he settles his tab, then turns his attention to CW.
Yani sends a text to Whisper, "What were you planning on asking CW? I would like to know if he knows about the competition for our job, you know? I don't think we are the only players in this game."
-
Whisper nurses his drink before sending at text back. I share your thoughts about not being the only people in play on this run. But I want to know why we're here, and why all of this is just a little too well planned out. Hell, didn't you read our files on the way here? if you take the skills of all the people on this team we're a good match for just about anything, out of all the runners out there who knew that? And how did they get us all take this job? What is the job anyway? Look I might just be paranoid, but something about all of this stinks of coincidence, and you know what they say about coincidences? They take a lot of planning. the sooner we know why we're here and what for the better I'll feel." Whisper takes another sip before going back to staring at the ice in his glass.
-
Yani sends a quick text back to Whisper, "I agree completely. I'll let you initiate the questions. I'll back you up if it looks like answers are being avoided."
-
Bat'Oni orders a vodka as well "CW, do you might know where our contact is?"
-
Yani's full attention is now on CW. He is not trying to be intimidating or incriminating, just very interested in his answer to Bat'Oni's question.
-
Bat'Oni orders a vodka as well "CW, do you might know where our contact is?"
In all honesty I do not. I was asked to be your guide around, and judging by the advance, I might be included in whatever is in store. You've read some invitations to Tricity or you wouldn't be here, I did not received any, so you actually know more than I.
Having no specific direction, I though it would be good to kill some time over something fluid.
And by chance the bartender of the place I like to frequent most, seems to be sponsoring me on your job. Since I usually have been somewhere else when the luck shines on anybody, that does not necessarily means anything good, at least not for me.
If you ask me there is too much coincidence, we might already be targetted by snipers, or some squad team might be readying themselves on us. Still I hope not, I am going to enjoy few MadDogs, grab some bite and wait, counting that I'll get the warning before the bullets start to fly. If that would be the case, spread but stay close to me, I've taken you here, so I'll try to get you out.
Anyway I am gettig paid working and drinking, so "Wasze zdrowie".
During the entire speach, I was pouring vodka in four small shots, then adding some synth-rapsberry be the glass so it hadn't mix with vodka, and the added several drops of Tobasco sauce.
You drink that one in one gulp. And I prefer to have some meat afterward, pickles kill the taste.
If there were any left after the toast, he gladly grabs them for himself.
-
Vabka nocks back his Czstya and whistles in appreciation... Fuck me man, that is smooth and nods in approval of the booze to Maciej...Good shit Omae...
Looking a little askew at the raspberry and vodka combo that CW poured...Looks like Dandelion Eater fancy shit to me, but what the hell, Vabka never lets free booze go by, and drinking with a guy means less chance of opening his liver, so cheers and thanks... Vabka downs the concotion and makes a face... Jesus thats just wierd man... barkeep, pour me more some of that good shit to wash my mouth...
He looks at the others Just calm down... we just got here, no ones bleeding yet, and until this guy's handler *nods at CW* turns up, we are just hanging our dicks in the wind seeing which way it blows. Until then *downs another Czstya and gestures for a third* I say we kick back, get some feed, have a smoke and a drink, and enjoy the fact that we aren't in those fucking coffins anymore.
Vabka takes a sip of his new shot instead of downing it, lights another cigar, and turns his back to the bar, leans up against it making it flex under his considerable weight and begins looking around the room after a friendly nod - between men of like mind - with the resident ork muscle boy. Any ork or troll women, relatively attractive or not, gets a wink and a broad tusky grin.
((OOC: Just saying, unless otherwise noted, everything I am saying is in Polish due to the sloted Linguasoft))
-
There is a slight commotion at one of the doors as you get your second round. A man who obviously is the owner of the fine place you're in - waves at CW, and waits by the door as five guys leave the room. They look...
Well, one of them is Yakuza for sure. He even wears his traditional tats on naked shoulders. Weird. There's also an elf couple, obviously keeping inside their shared comfort zone. They looks are an obvious corporate job, and not a cheap off-the-streets one. The last two are trolls. One of them is female, and Vabka freezes for a second. No, it's not her. Not in a business suit like that. But she's laughing merrily, while she chats with the last troll in native russian - also a businessman, but of the street-working kind. The elves almost run out, stressed and uneasy. The yak sits by the bar, and the bartender has a traditional drink of sake ready for him.
The two trolls on the other hand walk straight after the owner, who is obviously going to join you by the table - there's enough room there.
"Welcome to TriCity." He manages to put an emphasis on the middle 'C'. "And to my humble establishment. I hope you didn't have any problems along the way. You have your guide, who will accompany you in everything. Don't worry, CW is an experienced specialist, and a skillful mage. I wanted to introduce you to those two fine horned business-people." He points at the two trolls, who both smile in unison at the mention of horns. "They will help you with your job. This is Mariana Notkova, our resident Vory councilwoman. She is here on behalf of her boss, who has a certain interest in your mission - or it's members. And this gentelman here is Uncle Good Advice, one of our finest TriCity fixers. He was the the person who got the job, and he will answer your questions. And now if you excuse me - and enjoy your drinks on the house this evening - i have other matters to attend to." As he waves his hand, your accounts return to their previous state, as the payment for drinks is returned. The owner bows slightly, and turns to his other guest - the Yakuza spokesperson.
Both trolls sit down - the female, Mariana, winks at Vabka, and sends him actual contact data with a snap of her perfectly manicured fingers.
"Now, any questions?" Uncle Good Advice asks in his amazing silvery voice, that surprisingly fits the middle-aged troll perfectly.
-
enjoy your drinks on the house this evening
If that's the case, I am switching to single malt, no ice.
since everyone loosed their buttocks a little,I am going to make some assensing. I am especially interested in any breaches in their auras suggesting implants, location microstransmitters, cortex bombs etc..
(OOC:
Intuition(5) + Assensing (4): 9d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2857518/), single roll would be enough or roll for everyone around?
and to make it more detailed compare it with visual,
Intuition(5) + Perception (6): 11d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2857520/)
is everthing matching? like cyber in astral and cyber on normal? maybe there some piece that looks like cyber, but it isn't really working, and makes for a decoy, or maybe there is someone looking perfetly unagmented only to be cyber zombie unders the synth skin.
Greeting Uncle, this had to be you. The level of familiarity betweeen me and him is certainly lower than Greg's. Which makes me wonder... (mental note, check on Greg's latest achievements; mental note2: Uncle is fixing, no need for him to go on meeting with Mr. Johnson, it must be closer to him then, mental note3: three trolls on a run? they won't to blow up Sopot? I need to buy better armour).
Miss & MR Johnsons I assume, how may I help you ? turning to elves. But sits so to have the yakuza in sight.
-
Bat'Oni nods towards the Trolls, along with a slight bow towards the Yazuka gentleman, "It is good to meet you, sir and madam. If I might inquire on what it is you wish us to...acquire for you? And one a more personal level, is there being some sort of domicile provided, being smuggled in does have it's disadvantages."
-
Yani is looking a bit more comfortable, now that the spotlight is off him and conversation has turned towards work. He thinks about pressing the matter further about snipers and conspiracies, but he doesn't want to look like a scared rat in front of the new guests. He also wants to hear what these newcomers say, so he turns to the bartender and simply holds his finger up signaling for a drink. He will take whatever the bartender gives him, since he plans to nurse it anyway. He doesn't give a verbal order because he has yet to rectify the little problem he is having with a certain something....
Yani takes a good look at the bar's public access node to see who is currently accessing it:
Computer 5 + Analyze 6 + Technomancer Bonus 2 = 13 dice, 13d6.hits(5) → [1,1,2,2,2,5,3,6,5,2,3,4,1] = 3 hits (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2857559/).
-
The 'Johnsons' left the building before Grzegorz and his two guests even managed to approach you. Either they were late for the daily coprorate anthem singing competition, or the negotiations didn't go as they planned.
Uncle Good Advice pulls out a small, but clean rag, and polishes his horns, as he answers your questions.
"Well, this is a job I've got through unusual channels. Somebody pulled a lot of strings to get me on this. And I don't really know who's the original employer. I've managed to find out the first middleman. He's a scum. But we can screw him over. I have my contacts overseas, and between you and me, I'm sure we'll find the buyer." He pauses, and lets his female companion squeze through, as she prepares to leave. "Mariana was here because of the negotiations. She would know all about the job anyway, because of her ties, and she had a present for your comrade here." He points at Vabka. "Though the Vory don't have much respect here, for obvious reasons, she and her boss have a new way of doing business. New for the Vory, that is. We have a mutual understanding, but she won't interfere with your job." He pauses fo a moment, to finish cleaning his horns, and recieve a goodbye peck on the cheek from Mariana, who nods, and gives you a quick "До свидания", and blows Vabka a kiss, as she leaves the bar. "What a woman. Ekhm... Were was I? Oh. The job. So, a while ago I've hired a bunch of kids to find something that was lost since the first war. It was part of a stolen archeological museum display. An urn, or something like that. And they did find it, but their mage told me it was magical. I figured as much, but I've been paid, so I pay those kids, with a hefty bonus for being honets, and turn the thing over to Mr. Johnson. He downs another shot of Vodka, this time a Russian brand. "Somebody made a mess, slaughtered the Johnson, and his two bodyguards - standard corporate goons, so no trouble here. And the thing vanished. We managed to pull some strings, and hire a good expert on things magical, and he told us that vase is still here, in TriCity. And then the offer came. Somebody wants to pay you over 25 thousand nuyen each to get it, and kill the mastermind behind the heist. If you don't find him, you still get the whole sum. But if you do, there will be a nice material bonus included. You can make a wish - that's what the employer said." He stops, and looks at you, smiling half to himself...
Side note: As soon as the troll Fixer started talking, all of your commlinks displayed a 'NO SIGNAL' warning. And Yani experienced a sudden impulse Jammer burst, that with his ECCM didn't even startled him. All he managed to find out before was there are signs of Resonance tampering that look almost like a sprite's, except there's no trace of any owner signature.
-
Bat'Oni blinks, "A wish? Just what is this Urn and it's history? It will also give us a idea of our opposition, as our employer is likely not the only interested party."
-
Whisper takes notice his comm is jammed while he takes in the brief being provided by the fixer, waiting until he seems done talking and in Russian says in a calm voice, "As it stands this job already sounds too good, 25K for a retrieval of a magic item and "a wish" if we kill the mastermind? whats the catch? How many other teams are in play for this Uncle? A deal this sweet wouldn't be offered to just us, or theres a reason no one else would take the job."
-
As Yani turns to look at Uncle Good Advice, he gives an approving glance to Bat'Oni and Whisper. It's too bad he doesn't get to work with elves on this job, but so far this team is looking fully capable, despite their ethnicity. Speaking of fully capable, he might as well get to work on his part of the job...
-
I am in, obviously. I love good mysteries. any starting point suggestions?
waiting for more details:
mental note: history of the urn and what it does, things aren't magical for the sake of it
mental note2: who was the late and unlamented Johnson
mental note3: what the hell Vory wants in this
-
And of course let us revisit a little the nuyen aspect. You know that I hate talking about the money, but on the other hand You always have something in store just in case and you wouldn't risk quits from the team that has been imported oversea. If I judge correctly the urn to attract such attention can possibly be worth millions. It is only fair to double the cash offer to 50 thou per person plus wishes.
-
"CW, you're a good kid. So I'm not going to just tell you 'no'. I can't. I wasn't paid of in cash, and all I've got for you comes out of my personal account. I've got hard data, that I could turn into a lot more, but it will take time, effort and risks. You want to do my job?." He grins at you, and laughs seeing your expression.
"Isn't that just precious? They've bought us all with whatever we want. I'm just the last middleman. That's all." He waves at the bartender for another round. Bat'Oni, Whisper and Yani feel that this is going to be a long evening, when their glasses are refilled again. "As for the other questions, I'll try to answer them. For starters, this is something more like a bronze pot. Something really important in some religious stuff, and it had a relief on the side. I have a full history at home, and I'll send it to you. The guys who were going after it aren't really an enigma. They call them 'Black Men'. A bunch of mystical commandos. Not adepts, or magicians, but they're a merry brainwashed bunch with a mystical agenda. Ech... Unfortunately they're also well trained and equipped. And that's all I know about them. " He downs another shot of vodka, and makes an elaborate gesture at the bartender.
"There is no competition. That's where the weird stuff starts. I've got far tnough to find out. There was no competition. There won't be any. Whoever hired us all, had you people in mind. Noone else. You were picked for some reason I can't crack. That's probably what those 'wishes' were about - someone knows enough about you to guess. Any other questions?"
-
Bat'Oni nods towards CW, "That seems like a fair number, though if you could also provide us with safe lodgings, as well as some small amount up front, as CW is the only local, we will have to use far more funds to grease wheels than I think many of us are comfortable with."
((OOC: Roll Negotiation 5 + Charisma 8 + First Impression 2 + Empathy Software 3 = 18 dice
18d6.hits(5) → [3,3,3,1,4,2,1,5,1,3,3,3,5,5,2,2,4,6] = (4) ))
-
Whisper doesn't like the idea that someone knew them so well that they were hand picked for this job. His battle records were sealed and he'd worked outside of normal channels for years, but not for people that keep records... he'd think about it later. Back to the business at hand."what can you tell us about these black men and their operations inside of the Tri-city area? Do we have an intel about their numbers, safe houses or resources? Who else might they have hit and for what? And just because i'm curious, what's the Vory's interest in this?
-
The troll smiles at Bat'Oni. His teeth have a pearly white shine. Then he points at the table, and says: "[color]Okay. Nice one. You'll get... Let's say 2k for expenses. And I'll help you find a safehouse. For free - as a welcome gift. I want you to succeed. And if you stumbe upon any intel on 'Black Men', I'll compensate you. There's also a bounty in their head paid by the Kapers, and I'll vouch for you if you want to collect. Is that enough for you?"
Uncle's roll: Charisma(5)+Negotiation(5)+Specialty(2)+Empathy Software(3) (15d6.hits(5)=4) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2858118/)
He turns to Whisper. "Nil. No info whatsoever. That's a tough subject, as they operate in the city for a few months now. Nobody knows who they are, or where they came from. Or what for. As I said - if you find out, I'll pay you for the intel. And ask your big comrade about Vory. I can't talk about my business deals with them. Confidentiality."
Then he turns to CW again. "You my friend on the other hand... You're a wild card. You weren't on the list. You're a mage, and a good sniffer. This whole stuff stinks with magic. Go pay old Teatime a visit, he knows more."
-
Whisper sits back in his chair for a second after the exchange before replying. "Thanks for the assistance. please send me the details after this meeting is over. I'm sure by the end of this we'll have more than a few bounties to collect on and at the very least a little Intel to trade." Whisper finishes his glass and turns it upside down signaling that he's done.
-
Yani takes the drink in his hand that he was nursing and downs it in one gulp, slamming the glass down. Hopefully he has some info to sift through on the way to talk to this Teatime character.
-
Bat'Oni nods, "If that is the extent, that would be acceptable. Any information you can give us will help us track down this item." *swallowing her drink in one slug* "And frankly, the sooner someplace to shower, the better." *gives the Troll a nice pearly white smile*
-
Vabka listens to the negotiations and briefings with one ear, his vodka forgotten.
He sends a text to Mariya
Hoi chummer! Guess who has arrived in your neck of the woods sugar tits. Yep - Uncle Vabka is officially in TriCity. Lock up your daughters! Thanks for the mapsofts and the libguasoft- all good omae. Plan on getting caught up with you in the very near future gorgeous - lots of catching up to do. Just a little biz up front - just met a rather foxy trogette name of Mariana apparently running with you guys in TriCity - whats the low down on her? Smooth talking trog who came with her to the meet organising a squat for me and the others to rest our wearies while here, but also keeps hinting that the Vory can shed some light on the Job. Term by the name of Uncle Good Fortune. You know anything I should be aware of before all these smoothies expect me to pull Vory magic info from my ass? Looking forward to seeing ya soon. Been way too long.
Interjecting into the conversation
The cred is fine by me, bonuses for paydata and bounties all good too. How do we collect on the bounties? These Kapers pay by the ear or what? As to these Black Men, got a few feelers out about em, but as for now, don't know jack shit. When I do, you will be the first to know.
((OOC just to let you know Kot, Mariya is a normal human - at least she was when conceived, but happy to go with another troll if you want))
-
Mariya responds immediately.
"Good to know you're still yourself, Vabka. I have a good time here, just managed to get in a leadership postition. Just in time. Those stupid bastards wanted to wage war on everyone. You've seen the old harbor ruins, I presume? That's their work. They paid off an admiral to get rid of the Kapers during the war. Now I'm trying to work here, and make the Syndykat take our peace offering. A lot of work, but I'll always find some time for you. If you really need to know, Mariana is my official spokesperson. She's sharp. Dam, If she ever gets in bed with Uncle Good Advice, we will have a generation of smooth-talking trolls. Jej Bohu... Just kidding. She's a professional. And she does have a soft spot for loyal boys like you, you big oaf.
What you need to know, is that we're seen as enemies. Some people would shoot you on sight out of hatered. So don't go boasting, like you did back in the old times. But we have your back. I've promised that to both of them - Dad and Matviej. I've let you down once, but never again. See you soon, my Friend."
Uncle Good Advice just laughs cheerfully. "Good, good. You call me. I send a cleaning squad, or a Kaper specialist. They identify the mark, and pay up on the spot in cred, or later in goods or services. And I'll pay you... Let's say half a 'k if you get me some medical scans, or a full magical evaluation of any of those bastards. And check for tats, and such. I have my fears too... They smell like anti-awakened, and humanis dung." He almost spits on the floor. Almost. For a classy Fixer that would be unthinkable. He has to hate humanis a lot...
"CW will lead you to Teatime. He's an expert in magical crap, and he was the one assessing the situation on the spot. Classy british bastard, and an elf on top of that, but he's good. Could teach CW here a few tricks even. Okay... It's my cue, I have a meeting in fifty. Boys, have fun. Good luck. And may you walk on shadowy paths." He moves his massive body with ease, and without any sign of inebriation. Bows to Bat'Oni, shakes Vabka's hand and exchanges goodbye's with the others, and leaves.
OOC: I thought so, Uncle. You guys can still ask the fixer a few questions - I'd say he answered them before leaving.
-
Yani turns in his stool at the mention of humanis and asks, "Why do you think they are humanis, Uncle Good Advice?"
-
"Not humanis itself. Humanis related. C'mon, a human-only, organization with combat training and no awakened members? That's just plain stupid, resources-wise. It just screams 'kill all non-humans'."
-
After Uncle Good Advice leaves, Yani turns to CW to give him what he got, "The only thing I got is that these 'Black Men' have bounties on their head from more than one source. I have nothing on the urn. I don't even know if it ever existed." He shrugs in his seat looking a little more somber(not sober) than usual.
-
I don't know much about Black Man, my guess is they are religious group, but the name appeared only recently.
I am going to make some calls around, you could ask Grzegorz if he has any room here to spare, my flat won't be enough for all of us.
(OOC: I am going to call Mortimer if they had any closups with BlackMans (if they are anit humanis, then Arka fan wouldn't be their exact friends of choice) as well as when is the next match and if he can get us some good spots, call Clarissa if she has any hooks I could use against Teatime (some people that appear classy, can be such a dirty frags under the skins, you wouldn't believe) and she might know him nevertheless from her day job, and if Hutch or Stefan calls back with previous call, I'll ask them about BlackMan as well.
Yani, you're good with Matrix? we could pool resources on a longer Matrix query about BlackMan appearance (when the name started to flow around, with what events this appearance was connected to), crosscheck on following key words: Black Man, Teatime, Uncle Good Advice, Vory, Evo, terrorism, magic, religion, urn all of them together and any combinations.
(OOC: I suspect following combinations to yield something, but there might be surprises
- Black Man, religion
- Black Man, Evo, terrorism
- Uncle Good Advice, Vory
- Teatime, magic
- Uncle Good Advice, Black Man
(OOC: I don't know the roll needed, could probably be extended test, with bonuses for teamwork, I am also spending edge on this - and if there is anything I'll learn form the calls, this will be added to the key words list for query)
While, the commlinks are busy I try to mix myself some drinks. (I pick for the ingredients bottles, that are in unbrokable glass or plastic or almost empty ones)
-
Yani looks at CW with a frown. He is not one bit happy about receiving advice on how to do his job from CW, for some reason... Maybe the mention of humanis made his racist side flare up.
Yani says, "Give me a few seconds, I got a headache," and rests his head on his arm on the bar for about 3 seconds...
((OOC gonna do the rolls in OOC... it's gonna be a lot.)
Switching to VR in his biological node, Yani is tempted to just hang out here for a while. He has his biological node set up like a lush rain-forest complete with wild animal sounds. The whether is warm and dry, unlike a real rain-forest, and there are no insects to bother him. He has several bookshelves set up on the forest floor that are actually links to his favorite research on ancient elven lore.
There is no time to relax, though, he has a job to do. Sitting in a cross-legged meditation pose on the forest floor, Yani calls on the ancient immortal elves for help, and one answers! An old elven male with long white hair appears wearing an ancient style of spectacle and holding a book in his hand with ancient runes etched on the cover. The old wizard looks at Yani with an eyebrow raised, looking rather annoyed. "What do you want, child," the old elf says.
"Honorable ancient, I humbly ask you to search the matrix for information for me. I will communicate via telepathic link the search parameters."
Yani waits patiently as the Old Wizard flips through some pages in his book, obviously searching for something.
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Bat'Oni scans the surroundings while the data searching starts. She turns to the bartender, "Is there a back room we might make use of?" *scans the bars ARO menu for actual food to go with the drinks*
-
The bartender motions at you, and you notice he's wearing VR rings on his hands. There is an extended offer ARO opening, labeled as 'For our Honored and Loyal Guests' - back rooms, food orders, and such. They don't provide food, but there is a menu of five nearby restaurants. They rate from everyday meals, through local cuisine, to traditional japanese food and service. There is also a basic Agent available that will find any other service you'll need.
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Yani says to the old elven wizard, "Thank you for your assistance, honorable ancient," and the wizard turns and walks away fading into the resonance.
Yani picks his head up from his arm on the bar, could he really have fallen asleep that fast? He looks kinda' like he did... "CW, do you have your AR up?"
As he says this, a holographic image of an old book with tattered pages opens up next to Yani on the AR interface. Yani waves his hand in a pushing motion, sending the holographic image over to CW. The page the book is open to reads:
Black Men+Religion: Possible ties to the National Polish Catholic Church, whis is one of the biggest bastions of Humanis in Poland and TriCity. Nothing confirmed, but it's probable they are connected.
Black Men+Evo+Terrorism: They're one of the groups suspected, but most safe bets are on a shadowrun gone south, or someone framing runners for a corporate hit. Evo seems strangely quiet about the Black Men.
Uncle Good Advice+Vory: Confirmed rumors about him taking part in negotiations between the Vory and three factions that want to talk with them. Seems like Yakuza doesn't have any quarrel with them. The Syndykat was hostile, but they seem to consider a truce, as their hostility was war-related, and they don't have much business conflicts.
Teatime+Magic: Adam 'Teatime' Campbell is a magical consultant, and a part-time tutor and talismonger. He's a renowned expert on ancient magics. He emigrated from England, because of some troubles there. He is a classy guy and talented mage, though. Sharp, educated and a great linguist, he doesn't have many friends, but most people in the magic business want to know him. Doesn't seem to have enemies, though most Awakened acquaintances see him as odd.
"That's all I got. I couldn't find anything involving both the "Black Men" and Uncle Good Advice. I'm sending the file to you now."
Yani transmits this file that he saved on his data chip to CW.
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Bat'Oni selects one of the back rooms, and orders from one of the nearby local places, "Gentleman, if I might suggest, there is a back room available til we hear about a safehouse." *looks at the bartender* "Which direction is back room number 2?"
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Yani nods at Bat'Oni and rises to his feet to follow her. He gives CW a good chance to read the info he pulled up on AR, then snaps his fingers to make the book disappear, and the file close.
-
Whisper stands and follows Oni while ordering pork flavored fried rice. "Once I've eaten I need to get my hands on a good mapsoft of the area. After that I need to get outside," Whisper turns to CW "and you need to go see Teatime. Unless you have a reason to wait. in which case I'll wander and meet up with you all later."
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Since there is no real competition, we could call it a day. I don't think wandering alone would do any good but bruises. If you're all so eager to start, then let us, I know where Teatime lives, we go there already.
(OOC: what time is it now?)
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It's 17:30, Friday. The bar starts slowly filling up with people. You see all kinds, but most of them aren't the hard working types. Even those that have corporate looks either display signs of at least partial independence - tatoos, body alterations, non-standard equipment. Like a MCT office worker, who obviously wears a bulletproof business attire, and a wooden commlink case with fluorescent, translucent wires in her hair, where her datajacks are hidden. Or a middle-aged ork, who's currently painting his fingernails and tusks with AR-active paint.
Some of them even take a look at your table, but only to check out new patrons. You feel this is not a place anybody could treat like his. Though it has some problems. Like a trashy, slumming corp teenager couple snorting novacoke through straws from an emptied sake bowl...
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I though it was later by now. let's go then. Anybody want to do something before we go?
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" I'd like to get a meal in. Otherwise I see no reason why we should wait. There is a lot to do. We might as well get it done."
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Yani thinks for a moment, then says, "Well, I think I'd like to go see Teatime, now. Who knows, with a name like 'Teatime' he might have a British snack or two for us..." Yani looks around with his hands in his pocket and a slight smirk on his face. "...and he might be old. Old folks go to bed early."
-
Lets go see this magic fragger then. Then some graze and get to the squat Uncle GT has set up. We can pool our leads in the morning then go out and kick some heads in and see what drops out. Get us some bounties too... and fuck what GT says, I am gonna collect some ears...
-
While discussions about where the group should go next continue, Yani starts to go back to his usual quiet self.... Thankfully... The kid was starting to get annoying... One more smartass remark and someone was likely to get upset and start slapping him around.
Yani doesn't go quiet out of wise self preservation, however, he is actually lost in thought... Thinking about the research that the honorable ancient did for him... Evo is quiet about these "Black Men", and the "Black Men" have possible ties to the National Polish Catholic Church. If someone has set him up to blow a big hole in the operation of a humanis stronghold, he is going to really like this job. He'd better check to see how relations between Evo and the National Polish Catholic Church are going. Yani figures that if there are good relations there, then they probably wouldn't be as quiet about it as they are about the "Black Men."
Yani stays in AR, but calls the the Ancient Elven Wizard (Data Sprite) off standby once again. Yani telepathically communicates the parameters of one last data search: "Evo and National Polish Catholic Church," and the wizard eagerly flips through his book, knowing this is the last task that he owes.
((OOC: Roll for the sprite: Browse 6 + Data Search 6 = 12 dice, 12d6.hits(5) → [4,1,1,5,5,1,2,4,6,6,1,6] = 5 hits (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2861926/).))
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Bat'Oni looks around, and sighs, "Very well then CW if you would guide us to this individual, we can get some basic knowledge right now."
-
I though it was later by now. let's go then. Anybody want to do something before we go?
Let's go then. I'm used to walking and public transport, but I think we should get ourselves a car.
Yani, maybe you could do something about that, I could point you to some rent-a-car matrix node, so you could arrange payment *wink*.
(OOC: if this is far, we'll take cab)
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Teatime lives in the Stary Wrzeszcz, a good neighbourhood, close to the Metropolitan Maglev and the main TransMetroplex Lane. It's a high-security zone with private sec-forces, in this case... Lone Star. It's one of the few places they work in TriCity. With the amount of illegal gear you'd have to sneak in from the north, and that's a human-only neighbourhood, the Morena - a huge cluster of skyscraper-high apartment complexes.
You'd have to stash some of your gear to go there by cab.
{OOC: Roll for local knowledge to get more info, if you want.}
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Yani goes ahead and check's the bar's taxi cab list. He is not calling a cab, yet. He is just curious what kinda of taxis are advertised in this city. In particular he looks for "Elven Owned and Operated." If one pops up that is obviously marketing to Troll customers (Lots of space, plenty of head-room, large seating lounge), he takes note of that as well. He is also looking for taxi cab companies listed as "Humans Only."
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Yani frowns at the decompilation of the old wizard... While he does realize that sprites are used as fodder and expendable tools by most technomancers, that is not his particular practice. He believes that sprites are to be respected, and even protected in some cases. Thankful that he was left untouched by whatever it was that nearly massacred the bar's node, he is still unhappy to see what he believes are echoes of his ancient ancestors mindlessly scrapped in the digital realm.
Yani is going to have to be careful in this city. He doesn't want to see that happen to any more sprites, and he definitely doesn't want to see that happen to him. He mentally transfers the new data he obtained to another data chip.
-
(OOC: I describe the situation to others)
It goes down to this either we move through Humanis bastion (we could use a van to hide non meta-humans on the back, hoping nobody search as through) - but in case of combat it will be a war-condition patrol. Judging from what had just happened to Matrix, I'd say we have been already spotted, so it's a mere note 'check that van to give us a lot of troubles.
On the other side, we might go the other way, trolls aren't exactly illegal, so it is a matter to drop the artillery here, put on some suits, and we're good to go. In case of trouble however we might get seriously underarmed.
The thrid option is to go through the Humanis bastion without troll and elf. Which is probably the worst option we would go without firepower on hostile environement.
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Yani draws his lips thin, listening to CW... looking around at the bags everyone is carrying... He figures it would be expensive to stash it here, but if everyone else feels that it's worth it, he'll fork over the dough. He'll have to buy a suit, though... good thing there's some stores in this place, maybe he can find something passable... but the numbers are adding up.
"I vote for the stash and suit. I agree with avoiding unneeded attention."
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Whisper sits for a while pondering these options. "There has got to be another option. Yani, can you give me access to a map into the area we're trying to reach? along with information about where these checkpoints are and the strength of the security forces at those check points? There are other ways we can avoid such attention."
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Yani kinda' ducks like something just flew at his head, and shrugs his shoulders. He looks a lot more like a clueless college student than a businessman as he half-whispers to Whisper, "I dunno if it's such a good idea for me to do much more work here... I might have already drawn some attention to us just doing some simple research. The map of the area is public information, though. I'm sure you can pick that up on your favorite tourist links." Yani sends Whisper some links to some maps of Tri-city and Stary Wrzeszcz. There are some real estate advertisements that he sends him as well that brag about security and safety in a high-class neighborhood.
"I'd be happy to go to a... more ..." Yani glances at the bartender quickly, then back at Whisper, "...private location to do some more research... I think the natives may be getting restless, here."
His childish nervousness seems to simmer at the end of his last sentence, and he becomes more cool and collected as he looks at Whisper and back at CW.
In the meantime, he sends CW a copy of the new data he picked up on Evo and poor quality materials conspiracy, then sends all the information he has to everyone else in the group.
((OOC I don't wanna clutter up the IC too much with repeating stuff Kot has typed out. Just assume all data Yani finds is shared with the group via e-mail unless expressly specified.))
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Whisper turns from the map he was studying to the team in the private room. "Theres a forth option." He Brings the map up the center of the room highlighting paths and routes through the forest. "We can bypass all the security around the area passing through here. The only danger we should face is a few para-critters, maybe smugglers, but we should be able to get past all of those things, skip out on law enforcement, the humanis assholes, and keep all our gear with us. But it's up to you guys. Reguardless that's the way I'd rather move. Less prying eyes, less chance of getting ambushed." Whisper stands waiting to hear from the team what they'd rather do.
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Yani blinks at Whisper. For a moment he thinks about how his honorable ancients would probably prefer a path through the wilderness, but then shakes his head. This is coming from a human. They know nothing about nature, except what they can harvest from it. Then again, perhaps some humans can serve a purpose...
Yani shrugs slightly and says, "I wouldn't mind a bit of fresh air," trying to sound nonchalant.
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Bat'Oni, "Personally, I would rather not resort to that just yet. One other option not brought up, maybe this investigator could be asked to meet us in a location where we do not have to go to such lengths to meet him."
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Yani shrugs at Bat'Oni, and looks helplessly at CW.
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Vabka growls
You really think a big ugly trog like me is gonna cut it in a suit? *points at his scarred face, chipped horns and a nose smashed into total shapelessness through repeated batterings* Delusional omae. I am happy to try if you terms insist, but my vote would be to keep the bang bang and go the wilderness route. No suit been made that makes hiding these easy *flashes his matched predators in concealed shoulder rigs*And while I am far from unarmed *flexes his spurs in and out in rapid fashion*I would prefer to keep armed if possible. Also, are we really sure that there is a secure location to stash our gear anyways? I reckon that smooth talking troggie was good in his offer of a safe house, but it would be a monumentally dumb move to stash our gear here. No offense *nods in respect at the barman if he is in earshot*Thats my thoughts anyway. But hey, I am not payed the big nuyen to think, I am payed to break shit, so its your call...
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Teatime?, I am calling from CarryWater Investigations. We're having a case related to magical artifact and we're told about your magnificent achievements in the area as well as hinted that your contribution to the case would be most advantegous.
We are having an international guests here that are extremely excited with the possibility to cooperate with you, however due to some formalities not yet completed, their movement is currently slightly restricted. It would be very convenient if we could ask you to meet us Downtown, near the Golden Gate.
Of course we'll cover the costs of your time and transportation.
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Vabka growls
You really think a big ugly trog like me is gonna cut it in a suit? *points at his scarred face, chipped horns and a nose smashed into total shapelessness through repeated batterings* Delusional omae. I am happy to try if you terms insist, but my vote would be to keep the bang bang and go the wilderness route. No suit been made that makes hiding these easy *flashes his matched predators in concealed shoulder rigs*And while I am far from unarmed *flexes his spurs in and out in rapid fashion*I would prefer to keep armed if possible. Also, are we really sure that there is a secure location to stash our gear anyways? I reckon that smooth talking troggie was good in his offer of a safe house, but it would be a monumentally dumb move to stash our gear here. No offense *nods in respect at the barman if he is in earshot*Thats my thoughts anyway. But hey, I am not payed the big nuyen to think, I am payed to break shit, so its your call...
You saw the Uncle, he is troll and he looks good in suit, maybe he'll never look as good as I am (and I am not wearing the suit mind you) but nevertheless if he can so could you. It just take a lot more fabric to do so, and it can easily hide that pipes of yours.
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A slender man with aristocratic looks appears in the AR screen. You see him wearing an apron and a pair of rubber gloves and working with something that looks like... flesh? He raises his head to the AR screen and gives you a quick look. You don't know what to say - a man whose age you cannot define that can look like a gentleman even while he's hacking something that looks like it was alive recently.
"Oh, yes, CW. You can cut the sweet-talk, I've heard of you, and saw your handiwork. Nice job last week, by the way. I think they won't know what hit them for weeks, and by then it will be too late. I admit, i was reluctant to loose nuyen, but we have to stick together, don't we? Uncle Good Advice called me a while ago. He said you have a case with foreigners on it. And that you want to find something from my specialty, that I have dealt with before - oh, don't worry, this line is as secure as it gets." He frowns, and tries to wipe out a trickle of sweat with his elbow. "Unfortunately I'm in the middle of some serious work, you know how it works. Someone brought me this specimen, and it looks promising. I cannot abandon it, it would cost me all the work I've done by now. We can meet tomorrow, though. I bet your companions would enjoy some rest, if they've just arrived. Let's say, tomorrow, 13:30 at the Dragon?"
OOC: Please, don't use quotes. Just write it down. And use either color, or italics, plus quotation marks to separate speech from actions.
-
Cool (OOC: unless it's in another humanis bastion ;) ), we'll be there.
switch off
So, the party goes on, there are still free drinks :D
(OOC: if noone oppose, those who wish to sleep, I can guide them to the nearby hotels (the ones that accept heavily armed trolls and ask no questions) the rest can stay here - I've just reinvented somethin nice - cocos liquor plus green banana liquor plus vodka and milk everything shaken. Surprisingly this one is not very sweet, and while you feel no alcohol find the blood veins very fine.)
There is a dancing floor below, and I know there will be hot there in few hours. I am going to hit that floor later and party a little, and crash at my place. I'll be to pickup them at noon.
-
OOC: Roll for Local Area Knowledge, this will be a success test.
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Yani begins taking a mental inventory again of everything he has in his bag, then begins to wonder what others might have in theirs... Combine that with drinking and bimbos from who knows where, this can turn into a mess... Yani doesn't feel comfortable enough in this town to party, anyway.
That teatime character was interesting... He is the kind of elf that his favorite activist groups use as double agents to spy on Humanis cells. He looks very human, but Yani can tell he's an elf. It's the way he wears his age... Only an elf can wear age that lightly.
Now it is starting to look like he is not done with his research... Wouldn't it be interesting to check Teatime's e-mail, perhaps browse his research files... It is a little annoying that he knows more about us than we know about him.
Yani then begins to think of that jungle treck Whisper was talking about... he bets Whisper would rather go out there alone without having to worry about the rest of the group slowing him down... or perhaps he wants Vabka to join him.
"I think I better turn in for the night, CW. You got a recommendation for lodging?"
A text pops up on Whisper's comlink from Yani, "How badly do you want to scout out this Teatime character?
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Whisper sends a text back."Checking out tea time wasn't my main goal just a bonus. I need to start getting familiar with this new ground. I don't need sleep. I've already eaten, And there is no reason for me to sit around drinking while I can do something more useful. If you want to come with me, come, if not get your sleep, do your hacking, But I've got better things to do than sit here and drink."
Whisper stands and picks up his pack. "CW, when it's time to meet up with Teatime let me know. I'm going to go out and get my bearings, maybe see if I can find an old friend. If we get a secure lodging or something changes let me know." Whisper nods to the others. They all have his comm code.
(OOC: Whisper will wait a about 10 seconds then walk out into the night, anyone who wants to go along can come with. we'll be back by the time we're supposed to meet teatime.)
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Yani decides to send his fixer a text: "Stuck in Tri-City... Poland... without a home-base. Me and a team of 5 are trying to establish a safe-house. One Troll, 3 humans, and me. Do you have any leads?"
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Yani gets an almost-immediate reply. His fixer had to be working in VR.
"Keep cool. Get a guide, and stick to him. It's a corporate zone with barrens, so not much different from Seattle. Only more connected humies. Keep of the grid, and try working other kinds - that troll would come handy. You'd have to lower your expectations, but they make a good meat shield. I'll try to pump my contacts for info and connections, but it will take time. What's the job? What handler do you have? Just the outlines, no specifics. I don't want to know too much. Good luck, Brother."
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Whisper stands and picks up his pack. "CW, when it's time to meet up with Teatime let me know. I'm going to go out and get my bearings, maybe see if I can find an old friend. If we get a secure lodging or something changes let me know." Whisper nods to the others. They all have his comm code.
(OOC: Whisper will wait a about 10 seconds then walk out into the night, anyone who wants to go along can come with. we'll be back by the time we're supposed to meet teatime.)
CW quite suddenly doesn't seem like very joyful anymore. Speaks quietly.
And you exactly going where my friend? Assuming you don't know the city, who might be that 'old friend' of yours? If it's not a secret of course?
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*Vabka Belches thunderoulsy*
Look terms, we are sitting here with our dicks in the wind. As much as I enjoy drinking and chilling, fact is we aint in the UCAS anymore and not having a place to catch up on my beauty sleep is concerning me big time. I got a few calls I can make if you want, but I would rather not burn my cred with them just yet, but I want somewhere to stash the gear, catch a shower and a snooze, then meet up with this slick wizzer sonovabitch in the bright and early. Plenty of time for vodka and poon after we get ourselves sorted. And from what I have seen so far the tourist trail is hardly tempting. You want me to make that call, or we all gonna crash CW's squat until we find something else?
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"I want to scout this route. Whisper says calmly, Pointing at the map route he'd drawn earlier."I want to make sure we have a secondary path to go see tea time and bypass that area's security. If he can't or won't come to us for whatever reason, we can go to him. As for my friend, she's a smuggler with international ties and an ear to the ground. If someone is trying to move this Artifact she might know. I figured it was worth checking into. Don't mistake my intentions, Sir. Nothing I plan on doing is a secret to you nor would it be. I can understand if you don't trust me, but the best use of my time here isn't sucking down a hang over. It's learning my way around this city and looking for clues of any activity into what we're here for I won't make any major moves without you, and I'll meet you and the others either at our new safe house or where ever the meeting takes place. Of all things I figured you wouldn't mind having a second person here who would know their way around this place." With that said Whisper walks out the door and turns down the nearest alley activating his chameleon suit and moving towards the co-ordinates on his map.
(OOC: Whisper spends the next 5 hours moving through the city over the wilds to pick up knowledge about the Tri-city area and surrounding territories. (9d6.hits(5)=4) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2867276/)) Whisper then picks a less traveled space away from water to construct an emergency fall back point and shelter, (OOC: intuition 5 + survival 2 extended test to build the shelter and conceal it (7d6.hits(5)=2, 7d6.hits(5)=3, 7d6.hits(5)=2, 7d6.hits(5)=3) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2867291/) ) and conceals it. then does the same with some of his arrows and gear in his second smart pack in a nearby tree. He then marks the territory to keep the animals in the area away, marks the location on his map and sets back into town around 9am. While on the way back he places a call to Lera leaving a message about being in Poland and needing to talk to her at her convenience. Then checks his messages to see if the location of the team's new safe house or the location for the meeting with teatime. (OOC: If he doesn't have one he will call the team to get a location.)
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Yani watches whisper leave, then looks around the group with a wry smile on his face. He then looks quizzically at CW and asks, "So, you call Uncle Good Advice about that safehouse yet, or are we going to your place? I can call him, if you want."
Yani sends a text back to his fixer, "It's a rare job. There's the regular "take heads for money" kinda thing, but the point of the job is to find some kind of archeological artifact that's somewhere hidden in the city... we think. Heh, it get's complicated. You know the drill. Thanks for the advice, I'm lucky enough to have a guide... of sorts."
@Whisper, Yani texts, "I'll let you know if and when we get to a secure location. I won't be able to give you decent back-up til then. There are things I can do to help from here, though. Let me know if you hit a wall."
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We said we need one, he'll call when/if he'll have one. The reamining options are my place for free, shday but secure hostel at the Wall, 250 NY per head per night. It's up to you really., We can even split if you wish.
Can we decide on some sort of leader among the team to take such decisions? I volunteer of course but do not insist.
-
Yani puts his hands in his pocket and shrugs his shoulders up to his ears, "You've been leading us around... so far... care to continue leading us to a safer spot? Like... your place?"
-
All right, party's over, I lead to my place, but it's a single person place, so five of you including the troll won't be comfortable there like I said form the very begining. Try not to touch anything, I like it the way it is.
(OOC: I supposed this to be place for stashing gear only, but ok, we crash there, fast forward to Teatime. On the way there I browse offers for rent a new place. Single one, I got a feeling I won't be welcome at my current place in a short order, or it will be entirely removed due to our adversaries actions.)
-
When they arrive at CW's, Yani notifies Whisper that they are at CW's to rest and stash equipment. He will be up for the next 6 hours if he needs anything.
When Yani wakes up in the morning at CW's house, he separates his equipment like so:
At CW's house, Yani leaves his Medkit supplies, satellite link, tag eraser, Keycard Copier Rating 6, Maglock Passkey Rating 5, Sequencer Rating 5, Cellular Glove Molder Rating 3, and 14 APDS rounds.
On his person, Yani is wearing everything else. His street clothes are over his bodysuit, and the hood on the body suit is pulled down so it is not covering his head. His Manhunter is loaded with 16 rounds of APDS, and hidden under the right sleeve of his shirt. On his back, he is wearing a backpack with his Medkit Rating 6 inside.
-
*Upon entering CW's place* fuck me! not even room to swing a halfer in here! Appreciate you letting us catch some sack time at your squat CW, but jesus man... we need a proper base. You guys wanna hit up Good Time or you want me to make a call?
-
Bat'Oni looks around, "Don't be rude Vabka, this is only temporary, and likely at expense to CW. If you will excuse me, I am going to take a shower."
-
Well, I won't even fit in the shower here!
*dials up Mariya*
Sorry to bother you again gorgeous, but my colleagues and I are in serious need of a place to stay. Got crash space tonight but it not gonna work long term.. Good Time said he would look into a safehouse for us, any way you can make that happen quicker? Or have any suggestions of your own as to where a devastatingly handsome trog like me can lay his weary horns?
-
*Upon entering CW's place* fuck me! not even room to swing a halfer in here! Appreciate you letting us catch some sack time at your squat CW, but jesus man... we need a proper base. You guys wanna hit up Good Time or you want me to make a call?
That's second time my friend. First you call me Dandelion Eater, now you express your dissatisfaction when I offered you my own bed and appartment so you could sleep under the roof with all that artillery.
I've offered you a place to sleep securely and comfortably at the Wall for a mere 250 NY, which offer you've apparently dismissed, I've offered you place to stash you gear so you could sleep comfortably in hotel. which offer you've dismissed as well. Had I been you I'd arrange a safehouse prior to coming.
It is a common courtesy to accept what you're given if you're unwilling to make expense on your own. It is not so common hospitality to offer people I see for the first time in my life what I think is the best including place in my own house nevermind the costs.
Please don't 'fuck me' anymore in my house, or the next time I'd need to be polite, I'll be sure to choose couple of Manhunter rounds instead, and be spared the trouble.
And it is Uncle Good Advice not Good Time goddamit.
-
*grins hugely*
Good on you! Elfboy with balls as big as a trolls! Meant no disrespect personally term, so dont take it as such. If you do take it personally, best deal without threats... likely to use my sense of humour and sunny disposition... Anyhow, point taken, thanks for the crash space, and dont mind me if I take up half the fucking floor when I stretch out... much appreciated and all that...
-
Bat'Oni will take a shower, and find a place to sleep, after the shower she seems to be in much better spirits after taking one.
-
The Dragon is one of the more fancy restaurants on Długa Street - the center of the Old Town. Once it was the most important place in the whole town, and now it is covered by a huge dome that protects the buildings from smog, acid rain, and other modern weather pleasantries. When you enter it, there is a security checkpoint, but no scanners, or other measures you've expected. That's probably because the whole sector is packed with tourists, travelers, and other colorful people. The crowd is metahuman-heavy, with street performers - jugglers, musicians, minor tricksters, portraitists - sticking out of it everywhere with their fancy arrows. Most of the buildings were converted into shops and malls, but only up to the second floor. And the facades look outright ancient for you - some of them are over half a millenium old, and their arrows state the age clearly, attacking you with history, names and dates as you pass... Even the holo-sky below the dome is littered by both ads and media screens, attacking every available sense...
This area is a -2 spam zone, and even if you enter any of the buildings, the spam leaks in, lowered to -1 level, but still present.
You follow CW, who finds you a way through the crowd, with the help of Vabka's huge and intimidating figure. After about five minutes you finally arrive - and it wasn't more than half a click through the crowd. The Dragon is an old-styled restaurant taking the whole floor and basement of the tenement house. It has a metal signboard of a dragon, and a simple AR window, that let's you sample the menu. The thing that is unusual are two heavily built trolls at the sides of the entrance. They stand like statues, dressed in fine - but obviously ballistic-resistant - fabric suits, with stylish ties, and hard to notice gun holsters. They do not move, but you see clearly that any attempt of entering the restaurant would end badly... It's 13:22, and Teatime is probably inside already, waiting...
-
Yani takes in the spam with open senses, enjoying the over-stimulation that has become his life in big cities. While it does have it's drawbacks, the spam has a comforting, sentimental affect on Yani. The number of metahumans he sees in the streets relaxes him a little. Humanis may have a foothold here, but they don't seem to be the governing force in this area of the populace. He pays special attention to any elven street performers, hoping to find some semblance of the ancient culture or perhaps a song written in Sperethiel.
As the group approaches the restaurant, Yani begins to focus on work. The trolls at the door are a problem only if Teatime has not arranged for them to let us in. Just in case, Yani accesses the restaurant's public node to let the restaurant know that Teatime's guests have arrived. Hopefully he is not using some alternate alias or some such...
Yani also scans the restaurant's public node for access to automatic weapon defense systems or secured nodes. Sure, it's just a restaurant, but it's a foreign restaurant to Yani. He is not sure what kind of security measures are required to maintain a high-profile in this city.
-
Whisper looks at the door men and turns to CW and Oni,"something tells me aren't expected."
-
I'm calling Teatime.
we've arrived. Sorry for being late, you still at the Dragon?
assuming he is, addressing the closer Troll: We're he here to meet a friend, and we have reservation for the name Teatime. Could you call someone to walk us to him?
-
The troll snorts, and chokes on laughter. His partner only smiles, showing metal teeth coating.
"Shadowrunner's. Bah. They'll never learn." He shakes his head in disapproval, but still laughs. "Next time, learn the guy's name. This way you can just say whom do you want to meet. You're lucky he's a regular. Go on, George will see to your weapons inside."
The doors open, and you can see a large hall decorated with antique replicas, and a reception desk, behind which you see two naturally beautiful girls - a human lass, and an elf lady. But just by the door awaits you a tall dwarf in an armored suit.
"Welcome to The Dragon. I am George, and i will attend to any weapons you have on you." He bows slightly, showing you the way to a room on the left. The security office is manned by two humans and an orc, all in the same kind of armored suits, and with their weapons stylishly concealed. There is also a bored human woman in her thirties bearing a badge that CW recognizes as Podolski Magical Security insignia - a security company of hermetic mages. None of them has any significant talent, and they don't treat other Awakened nicely. The woman gives both CW and Whisper a nasty look, but does nothing besides that...
The dwarf shows you a set of wall safes, most of them marked by green ARO's signaling that they're empty.
"Please, leave all weapons, both firearms and melee, and all invasive electronics equipment inside. Full discretion guaranteed, they will be available to you with the key you will find inside the safe. The company policy is no weapons at all, but we make an exception for guests who cannot part with theirs." He turns to Vabka and bows lightly again. "So i would be grateful if you keep your blades sheathed at all times, sir."
He acts with respect, and as far as all of you can tell, it's not faked. Even the security personnel looks at you with a degree of respect... and envy. Maybe being Shadowrunners that manage to get high enough in the food chain to attend places like this isn't this great. But they don't know it.
-
I leave my gun
-
Yani slides his Manhunter slowly out of his sleeve holding it carefully by the barrel. He hands the gun to George with a blank expression on his face, while noting the respect that the security personal give to them. He also puts his medkit in a locker.
Yani finds it rather exciting that the restaurant's comm systems are in hidden mode. One must need a reservation or be a worker to access the ordering system, he thinks.
Yani waits to be lead to Teatime while enjoying the buzz of the city.
-
Whisper gives the scowling woman behind the security glass a sweet smile while returning the respect shown. Then slips out of his backpack, removes his quiver, bow, and all of his Melee weapons placing them in the locker. He takes the key and palms it in his hand, waiting for the others to do the same.
-
Bat'Oni nods, and removes two rather large pistols from her long coat, "A good policy, and one that likely ensures a nice atmosphere in which to dine."
-
*pulls out his pistols with both hands, twirling them around to offer them to George. Grinning hugely he adds*
Look after my "girls". They mean a lot to me, and don't worry, the "boys" will stay hidden.
*looks around the place*
Nice joint. Secmobs know their biz too. Top drawer and no mistake. This should be interesting.
-
George smiles slightly when all of the weapons are deposited, and leads you straight through the main room of the restaurant. You get a lot of curious and unfriendly glances, but that's only until the guests notice you're going into the basement. There's a set of stairs, narrow and dangerously steep... But they're only a holo/AR combo covering the real, moving ones. Expensive...
The basement looks like a trid dungeon, only surgically clean and warm. Bricks and stones are the only decoration, besides the AR dragons leading you to one of the private rooms. The one Teatime waits in is described by the eastern AR dragon as The Five Elemental Dragons room, and decorated with everything eastern with a dragon motif that you can imagine...
Teatime sits behind a small table, sipping traditionally served Japanese tea. He looks the same, only he's wearing a more expensive suit than in the vid-call feed.
"Welcome. Please, sit down and let us enjoy a light lunch, and some tea. You can ask your questions while we do." He motions at the food - also mostly Japanese - and the seats in front of him.
-
Whisper takes a seat close to the door and waits to ask questions till the others are seated and CW kicks things off.
-
Good to see you alive Teatime. CW settles comfortably opposite to Teatime, without taking off his long coat. There is a striking difference in style and class between the two. Nevertheless he waits for the hot bandage-like tissue, that Japanese like to put at the suchi table, then clean his hands and face with it.
Where was I, oh yes. This are our guests. Bat'Oni, Yani, Whisper and THE Troll ;). How he manage to put capital letter is a mystery.
each has it's own specialty, but I won't bore, you, you've probably seen the profiles already.
The weather is so fine this year, but it so uncool that the taxes has been higher again, blah blah blah, you know more than we do about this so ... this was the point when he finished mixing wasabi with soya sauce and grabbed some tuna nigiri ... munch ... munch ... munch ...the urn, so if you'd be so kind as to enlighten us. CW grabbed the next piece ... munch ... munch ... munch ... and poured some tea I can't stand this excuse for drink they put into the sake bottles ya know.
-
*grabs a handful of prawn crackers and munches noisily while waiting for Teatime to speak*
-
Bat'Oni bows slightly at the mention of her name, "You choices are impeccable." *goes and sits down* "As CW has indicated, we seek more information about the piece."
-
Yani sits down and begins sipping tea with a polite slurp, listening intently to the conversation.
-
Teatime finishes his cup of tea, and starts telling you the story as he knows it.
Obviously, the whole thing was weird from the start. They got the object from a bunch of kids playing shadowrunners whom Uncle Good Advice hired. The kids managed to get it from a gang hideout in the hills, which was once a mansion of a wealthy collector and antiquarian, who had the bad luck to goblinize into a troll, and get torched during the Night of Rage. His place was looted and devastated before he even died, indicating a set-up. He didn't dwell on the matter, because the item proved to be a genuine pre-awakening, or even atlantean era artifact. It's magic was weakened substantially, but still present... His appraisal - and he didn't have much time for it, unfortunately - revealed that it was once a highly magical object, made from magical alloys, or compounds, shaped and decorated through the use of magic. Teatime starts to ramble a bit here, talking about almost undetectable traces of artifice and artisan magic, elemental principles, ancient alchemy, and orichalcum flakes used in covering both the inside, and outside of the 'vessel'. You don't stop him, because even if it's not interesting for most of you, getting more info never hurts. And even though the old man is rambling, he stays on subject.
Whe he finally gets back to the stuff that interests you, it's because he ran out of breath, and had to pour himself another cup. Before he did that, though, a silent figure sneaked inside. The whole team froze in the moment you noticed that it's a girl dressed as a geisha - and the make-up hid her obvious slavic features rather well - and acting with the fluid, flawless motions of a wire-doll. She bowed down, and greeted you in perfect Japanese, and then refilled Teatime's cup. He stopped talking for a while, nodded a 'thank you', along with a perfectly accented Japanese phrase. And after she left, and one of the dragons at the entrance coiled around it's metal post in VR, he picked up the story.
The item was a pot. Not just a regular pot, but a highly magical one, and that indicated a special use, or meaning. Probably a ritual vessel of some kind, or even something used in healing rituals, but his money would be on elemental stuff. He noticed traces of ancient magic, and composition of the item usually connected with fire, and to a significantly smaller extent, earth. He digresses for a while about the elemental magic use in the ancient world, which was - in his own opinion - very important, and relatively easy to use. He notices Vabka's bored stare, and Yani's impatient expression, so he gets back to the point...
"And the whole point is, whoever wanted this thing, was ready to kill without even blinking. Uncle couldn't get to the bottom of it, because the people involved don't talk with Awakened. Well, they do, but it's usually a >>Die you filthy trog.<< kind of talk. I can tell you more, but that would be... Well, precious information. One that would cost you a few thousands at the least. But we can make a deal. Uncle won't have anything against it, I assure you - I've asked him." He plays with his commlink for a while, after turning it on, and sends you an encrypted recording. The data that the troll fixer gave you includes a decrypting key, that let's you access it. It does confirm what Teatime said - the troll cut a deal with him, that would be valid only if you agree on it.
"I want that thing. Not for myself, off course - you will still get it to your employer. I just want it for a day, or two, for non-invasive study. I had it in my hands for a few mere minutes, and examined it with a mere street-grade talismonger kit."His face flushes with blood rushing and emotions rising. "Even if it's not a working artifact, I could find the principle behind it. Or at least learn a lot about ancient alchemy, enchanting and magic. Two days, that's all I need. And if you agree, I can answer whatever questions I can. For free." He slumps back down on his seat, turning his attention to the tea and food - or whatever was left of it. He's obviously waiting for your decision, but doesn't push it, giving you time to discuss it.
You can make some rolls, and resolve any actions regarding what he told you. Judge Intentions, Assensing, Knowledge skills - anything. You can also ask any questions regarding what he told you now.
-
Teatime, isn't that a little premature to share the skin on that particular bear?
We could promise you something I am not really comfortable with. This isn't my urn to give it anybody for a day or two mainly because I don't have it.
How about, name your price, we'll pay you? and after (if) we have it we'll return to tis conversation?
-
Yani texts CW, "Suggestion: ask him to consider borrowing the urn for his studies as payment in your negotiation."
As Yani sips his tea while Teatime is talking, suddenly he starts choking on the tea and tea starts coming out his nose. He grabs a napkin and holds the napkin up to his nose. His face is pale, and he looks very embarrassed, and a little ill. Trying to play it cool, he tries to make sure the tea is as cleaned up as possible off his face and the front of his shirt.
-
*assimilates all the high brow magic stuff but it bores him silly, and he finds himself wondering what would happen if he lit up one of his cigars in this poncy place*
-
I switch senses for a moment assenssing Teatime.
if I manage to take a look at the girl, I do so as well.
Intution(5) + Assensing(4): 9d6.hits(5)=4 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2889888/)
-
You see a perfectly mundane human aura, nothing besides that. Weird...
-
"I'm sure we can come to equitable arrangement, of course for you to be able to examine it, is contingent upon us finding it. Of course the more information we can learn from you, the more time we can negotiate for you to be able to look over the vase, of course on the other side holds as well, but this is negiotable."
((OOC: Here's the roll, still a schmuck and don't know how to link directly. *sigh* 18d6.hits(5) → [3,1,6,5,1,3,2,3,3,4,3,5,4,6,3,2,4,1] = (4) ))
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Teatime straightens up, and leans back on the chair. "Good. Then we have something at least. We can go from there. I know my info won't be enough, but I have more. It's just that I do not know what can be of use to you. So, what do you want to know?"
As i wrote before - you can use Teatime as an information source. He'll answer your questions, and I'll roll any of his Knowledge Skills for that. Also, you can use him as a temporary contact until the end of the adventure, but I won't reveal his ratings (or the part available to you).
This is your opportunity to avoid another part of the legwork, and the costs associated with it.[/color]
-
Yani manages to clean up his tea without too much of a disturbance, but the guy looks very ill. Trying to maintain focus on the conversation at hand, Yani sends a text to Bat'Oni and CW: "Ask about Teatime's relationship with Uncle Good Advice."
-
*grabs another handful of crackers and sighs dramatically, obviously ill at ease with the cerebral discussion*
-
With the business matters settled, I am heading the conversation onto lighter topics, like Evo, terrorists, weather, talismans finishes dinner with several balls of greentea flavoured ice and bids farawell.
Vabka, would you be so kind as to settle the safehouse matter with Uncle? You seem to get along allright.
Meanwhile let me push several calls:
- Mortimer, Clarrisa -> "Guys, is everything all right? you don't aneswer calls".
- Mortimer -> "I got a bunch of antimetas looking for trouble, and I may need some help. Are you up to gathering some of your friends? We could meet at the match to talk this out. Just let me know."
- Clarissa -> "Hon. I have another question by the way. There is a masked gang roaming near the old road by the forest, they have a Shaman amidst them. Do you know him perhaps?"
- Hutch -> "I am looking for Masked Gang, who to ask?" (50 yen attached)
- Szafa -> "Good evening Sir. I am looking for Masked Gang and if I recall correctly, they've been working with once or twice. I need some Tricity contact with them and maybe some vouching, for I may need their help/service."
-
Yani, noticing Teatime is being ignored at the table, decides to reward Teatime's patience with some conversation. He attempts to disguise the pain he is feeling and asks Teatime, "You and Uncle Good Advice work together often?" Odd... no snide comment? No sarcastic smirk? Is that respect in Yani's eyes?
-
"No, not really. People tell me I'm an expert, and who am I to argue with that. I did a few consults for Uncle, and i find him a rather reliable and reasonable fellow. He's not the usual double-backstabbing fixer type. He does care about his people, and that works for him. I remember him when he was still a small fry, when he was just a silver-tongued troll, who never broke his word." Teatime stops before his memories start to flow. "He's good. Smart, charming, savvy, and he knows when to admit he doesn't know anything, and hire an expert. I'd hold on to him, if I were you."
-
Sure thing... I will give Uncle a buzz. If he can't come up with something, I might have another contact.
*sends a message to Uncle Good Advice*
Zappening UGA. Vabka here. Team and me just hooked up with the mage and had a chat. Fucking boring, but then I am not here to add to this sort of biz. We crashed at CW's squat last night, but its too small for us all, even if one of us wasnt a strapping example of troll masculinity... You mentioned you might be able to hook us up with a safehouse? Let me know the details and I will let the others know. If you can't, let me know ASAP so I can see if I can find a Vory hole to crawl into to rest my weary tusks. Oh, and for the love of God, make sure the safehouse has a shower big enough for a troll... laters...
-
Yani gets up from the table with a respectful nod to Teatime and then heads back upstairs to the lockers and weapons check-in to retrieve his medkit and weapon.
After going out on the street, the spam is less inviting than it was, since his head is throbbing with pain. Adjusting his glasses, he attempts to catch-up to CW.
-
when CW gets up to leave Whisper follows suit, thanking Tea time for his help and information. Collecting his weapons and other gear from the locker and flashing another smile at the woman who gave him a nasty look on the way in, then heads back out into the streets with the rest of the team. "So, besides getting a safe house... is it time to go hunting yet? I'm get the feeling it isn't just me getting restless, eh Vabka?"
-
Well man, I wouldn't say no to finding one of these "black men" and asking a couple of pointed questions... I know there is a time and place for all this chatter, never catch me stinting on the leg work or begrudging people the chance to let their brains and silver tongues work wonders... but I am beginning to feel the need to break something... or someone...
No reply from that smooth fragger UGA, if he doesnt come through soon we might all be dozing under the Vory's tender and nuturing wings...
-
Bat'Oni stands, and with a slight bow towards Teatime, "Thank you for the answers you did give us, we will be in touch." *on the way out* "I can try a contact for a safehouse, but he is not local."
-
Uncle Good Advice smacks Vabka on the back, at the same time holding his arm to prevent a 'gutting reflex' that most spur users have. He showed out of nowhere, but as you glance at the crowd, and the AR spam, it would be easy for a middle-class styled troll to hide in it.
"Surprise, comrade. I was thinking of catching you at old Teatime's class of artifact hunting, but I was kept busy by CW's chick pumping me for info." Someone not acquainted with trolls would find the scene weird, but it was the troll-sized equivalent of a pat on the arm. "She's good though. A sad thing she's so tiny. Now, I was checking out a few places, and went down to three pads you can easily take over. Here's the info - and your mission funds." Uncle hands the credstick to CW, at the same time sending the team three files. Each of them consists of a short description and map location of a safehouse an Apartment in one of the better parts of TriCity, a Warehouse/Workshop in one of the worse, and a Lone House on the western outskirts...
"Tell me which one you want, and I'll get you a van plus driver that will get you there." He frowns, noticing your reaction. "I had to take care of really delicate business, you know. It had to be done, or I would have to get rid of some really good assets. You know how it is."
The credstick is Platinum, and it has a perfectly legal and taxed 5k NY on it. It's a Malaysian Independent Bank ebony figurine covered with platinum embroidery. The files Uncle sent you are in the OOC thread.
-
Whisper observes Uncle's surprise greeting. As Uncle's hands make contact with Vabka, Whisper see's that his knuckles are bruised up. Whisper quickly shoots a message out to CW, and the others noting this.
-
Guess we'll take the lone fortress. We don't need the driver, but the van would be nice, it's getting tiring to move about with cabs.
-
Uncle motions excessively as he stops to make a short phone call. You don't hear a thing, as it all happens inside his head, but it looks like a business call... Then he turns back to you. "Ah, okay then. I'll call your driver to get her ass to your place. Or did you spend the night somewhere else?"
-
It would be easier if she could just drive here, we're going around the town anyway.
-
Uncle nods, and makes another mental phone call. After that, he asks a few courteous questions, and excuses himself, moving down the street. Just then you notice his bodyguards - an ork, and a human girl, both blending in the crowd, and keeping their distance. They're good, but not professionals... New talents, maybe?
-
Maybe
just a quick astral scan to remember their astral signatures, buying hits for level 2
Not sure yet, but they might be connected with Lechia. Of course this is one of my cases. On the other hand, maybe I can help you with the game somehow?
"Well, there is a little something to be made... I just need a guy to loose a few teeth, break a few bones, and such. He'll have friends with him, though..."
I assume we are texting not speaking. if we do I put him on hold.
Vabka, guys, you up to? I have some minor brash up to be done. Might win as a fave, that we could call upon later. Thinking ahead we might get into storming the BlackMan castle and we might need some distraction to be made that will allow us to do so. I have a bunch of Urban Brawl ultras fans, that could be used for something like that.
Guys, we have at least two options now.
1. we may go and check out the safehouse.
2. we may go to visit Szafa in Little Silesia.
3. we may go on win some favors with local muscles.
Since Szafa hasn't responded yet on the call, I assume he must be dozing by now - hell, I should be too, the sun is blazing right now. Thus I'd go for some bone breaking exercise to warm you up, and by evening let us visit the Szafa. Other ideas?
-
Catching up to the group in time to hear CW present the options, Yani tries to think... His headache is not going away, and a few hours rest in a safehouse would do him good, however finishing up the legwork before they make enemies would be the wise choice. Looking around at the rest of the group, and noticing everyone else looks ready to go, Yani nods and says, "Perhaps we should go make some friends before we make some enemies. I say that making a friendly visit to Szafa would be the wisest next move. Are we able to do that now or do we have a few hours?"
-
*shrugs*
Thanks for the cred and squat UGA. Lucky I didn't gut ya with that move though - you is one brave trog man. As for what we do now, I am not much cared as long as some hours of shut eye are in my near future, before or after making friends and enemies in equal measure.
-
Bat'Oni nods, "Thank you Uncle, a stable place to stay will help a good deal."
-
You all follow CW, with Vabka again having his back, and serving as a crowd-breaker. There are limitless spam messages attacking your commlinks, trying to sell you dozens of the newest, hottest and most hip stuff a tourist would want - and even if not, some of them are hotsimmed enough to make him want. Yani does well, but some of the junk does attack his brain, and after a while he starts to feel a bit dizzy...
Everyone roll Firewall in OOC (plus any suitable programs you might have, like Stealth). As for Yani - you know what to roll better than me, Joe. The stuff here can strain your system, contain something nasty, or even some kind of hot-sim brainbenders.
In the digital floods of ads, newscasts, spammers, scammers, social networking sites, marketing agents, and the occasional matrimonial stuff - Bat'Oni gets half a dozen sleazy messages while she passes a group of japancorp wageslaves, alll with Datajacks boldly presented by their identical, corporate-hip hairstyles - you almost loose the single, plain message repeated a few times. Before you manage to get through the crow to the edge of the dome, your driver is there waiting for you...
"The clock is ticking, get in before i get a ticket."
The message also contains a picture of a plain delivery van and it's immediate vicinity. CW recognizes the place, a logistics station for the whole dome... You get there in a minute, and the side doors open. You notice a glimpse of figure dressed in plain MCT uniform behind the wheel...
-
"Shotgun! 8) lets roll." Whisper shrugs off his ruck and hops into the front seat next across from the driver.
-
Hi. You leave us the car, or you want a lift somewhere? Is there anything about the car I should know about? Like where are conceled cases or vehicle weapons and how to open/activate them? CW collects the ignition RFID stick. Any of you is the exceptional driver? or we are using the autosoft? I can drive for now anyway. He takes the wheel seat, wait for everyone to load up and steer out of the mall to the my place. The point is to collect the gear and drive to the safehouse location to drop it there.
-
As you reach past Whisper to get in the driver seat you notice beside the now-obvious hologram inside - and the display with the same average driver in an MCT uniform on the windshield that matches it - there is none. Just a chunk of machinery that takes half of the cabin behind the holo. Whisper already got in the front passenger seat, and there is enough seats in the back - two of them are troll-sized. A feed opens for you to subscribe to as you enter the van...
"I don't drive in the meat. It's way too slow and too dangerous. You can get in, and we'll go pick up the stuff you need to get comfy, and then we go to the safehouse. Don't expect anything else, I'm not your personal taxi service. That costs extra." The voice sounds almost bleak and emotionless, obviously filtered through proper software that strips it of any patterns. "There is an old car in the garage of the safehouse. That's all." The doors are still open, waiting for all of you to enter...
-
CW sits in the back and put on seat belts
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Tired of the spam in the city and his headache, Yani retreats to the vehicle, not caring who is sitting next to him.
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Bat'Oni slides into what would be the driver side, as there is none and sits back, "Thank you for assisting even this much."
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Vabka squeezes himself into a seat, looking forward to seeing their new disgs.
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The van doors closed, and the ride began. The driver was taking it slow, only cutting in the GridGuide maneuvers when it was necessary. This way you didn't get any attention from the security drones patrolling the TriCity Central Lane. And there was enough time to admire the views...
Which weren't exactly interesting. Besides the occasional old building shoved between the malls and skyscrapers, the 'core' of TriCity didn't seem that different from Seattle. The same corporate logos, the same marketing ads, even the MCT-Goodyear ad on the Zeppelin orbiing around the main towers of the City Center. But it all changed when you finally left the corporate high-security zone, and drove towards CW's place. You saw the neighborhood already, and packing the gear and getting to the safehouse was a bit of concern for you. But after a few treks back and forth you're driving towards the hills, that appear on the horizon... From the road it looks more and more spooky by the minute, and some of you stop paying attention to the rundown parts of the city that you've just entered. Seattle didn't have anything like this... The trees remind you more of an educational trid from the NAN, showing the Awakened woods of Salish-Sidhe. But those were New World trees, and this is the Old Word. It looks more like a 'dark wood' from legends older than the human civilization...
"This isn't the place I'd pick. But I hope you'll find yourself at home. It's not far from here..."
The synthetic voice seems almost amused... And she's right. After a few more blocks you enter an area that was a suburb about thirty years before. Now it's a barrens-like zone, with signs of the usual habitation by SINless and other low-lifes. You notice a few street toughs looking at the van curiously. But they stay on their spot, when you turn, and drive uphill. After a few hundred meters you're there... The van stops, and the doors open.
"End of the trip. Get your junk outta my ride, before the boys downhill call in the cavalry."
The House looks lonely indeed. It's not big, just a two-story building with an attic, looking pretty old, but a lot better that the rest of the neighborhood. You don't see any obvious defects, it's just old. There is an air of... Well, you can't really tell. But there is something not quite right with this place... You get the gear out, and the van just drives away. No 'have a nice day', no nothing...
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Let's take it nice and easy. We have the keys, but the place was supposed to be the fortress, so let's not step on the antitank mine or something. Anybody remember the access procedure, or should we call the Uncle about that? The guy was a mage so there shouldn't be to heavy on the matrix side. But the basic home node is surely up, anyone is willing to take a look on that?
Just in case I'll put up a counterspelling on entire team. 8d6.hits(5)=2 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2925582/). Watchers up and scouting (1hr -> magic(4) + summoning (4) -> buying 2 hits each; drain resist Willpower(4) + Logic(5) -> buying 2 hits; Charisma 4; so 4 watchers and they look like rats). Visual perception (thermographic vision). 11d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2925578/). Astral perception. 9d6.hits(5)=2 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2925580/). Taking a look in AR as well.
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Yani tips his index finger to his glasses, adjusting them a bit and squinting his eyes, "I can detect at least one major problem with the house node. Until it's fixed, I'd suggest using my satellite link to access the matrix."
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Bat'Oni picks up her duffel, and starts up to the front door.
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Whisper picks up his gear and follows a little bit behind. (perception check) scanning the yard and the house for any possible traps. (12d6.hits(5)=4) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2929098/)
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Whisper takes a long look, and notices... This place is a stronghold. The walls are in some weird - probably magical - way reinforced, the windows are obviously bulletproof, and some of them are divided to create a smaller window suitable for firing. The yard is a killzone. You can cover it with fire from most of positions you see in the house. The rest of the house and yard looks almost the same - solid, secure and sculpted by an security expert. There are a few almost-covered remains of an explosion. Half of them look like the effect of land mines, half like grenades, or other kind of fired explosives... And when you look at your left, you notice a dried-out bloodstain, and this part of the yard covered with small metal pellets from a claymore... No trees, no cover, no easy spying or firing positions that would allow any action against the owner... And you get that slight shiver, like there's something - not someone - observing you.
CW frowns in empathetic pain, as his Watcher manages only to squeal before something bigger and badder devours him. After taking a glance on the Otherside, you notice a huge Earth elemental, made of the remains of old buildings, reinforced concrete blocks, and construction steel. He looks at you, puzzling for a while, before it sends a pulse of thoughts. When they reach you, you feel like slowly being hit by a wall, and the words roar in your mind like collapsing buildings. "Master. Where. Who. You."
Bat'Oni does notice this place was built by a broken mind. Barrens like these are dangerous, but most of these dangers are people, and people can be bought, or reasoned with. This man obviously didn't know that. He was probably one of those mumbling, paranoid spellslingers who lost themselves in their magical world, and forgot how this works... And that the best defense isn't shelling yourself in, but rather trapping your enemies.
Uncle Vabka sees a masterpiece. One that the Vory should take interest in, or at least in it's maker. Whoever did this, was obviously a troll or ork. You see signs of it in the size of the embrasure-turned window tiles, doors, and the house. You could shoot an assault cannon from those... Oh, wait. Somebody already did, by the looks of it.
Yani pokes around the node, but it's well made, and sculpted with a certain non-elven charm. It's firewall is high enough to reach the upper-corporate standard, and the node itself looks like an elaborate rotating puzzle from the outside - without knowing the proper sequence of moves to open it there is no way in. It's not hidden, but even a Sunday matrix surfer would notice a hidden threat of security in it's razor-sharp edges and angles that look like they can burst any moment, to shred the intruder to ribbons.
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Whisper stops in his tracks. "Everyone watch your step, this place has traps everywhere... CW, do you see any magical stuff waiting to bite us? Cause my warning bells are all going off right now..." Whisper takes his bow off his pack to hold in his left hand.
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Well, there is an elemental there. Just in front of Bat'Oni actually. I don't know why it hasn't attacked him yet, but it has killed off my spirits already. I *may* try to dispell it, but if I fail, and the chances are slim at best, we're dead meat.
I do think however there might be some passphrase that will convice the spirit we're allowed to enter, and disable defences of the node.
Nobody has any idea, so CW flips out the commlink. Uncle, I think you forgot to give us keys to the house.
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You get a reply almost immediately: "What the hell are you talking about. The entry ID is right there in the file I've sent you."
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Lets check it then - what is in the files? How to enter the house? How to pass the matrix node and the guardian spirit?
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Yani, use the code from the file to access the node. Disable the defences, register us as owners. I have few tags if you need them. I wouldn't enter the house yet.
While the matrix job is done CW summoned the simpliest of spirits again and a force 1 spirit of man with a single task - to guard. (I can roll if you want, just assuming that I'll pass all of the soaking on buying hits). Their only purpose is to soak the damage, if anythings go awry.
Once the mundane defences go down, CW switches to astral perception and enter the yard. Feeling the spirit perimeter. He sits just outside the line, making sure none of the spirits cross the line also and go onto full astral. He's looking for astral signatures - owner's spells, strength of the binding spell on the spirit, trail from the spirit to the owner.
I am friend. What is your task? May I enter?
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CW summons the spirit, that obeys him without question - he's still just a figment of his own imagination, infused with power and branded with the summoner's mind patterns... It squirmed the very second it was summoned, sending multiple puzzling messages through the empathetic link. All you could read was that the spirit - not much smarter from the average Watcher - is afraid of the guardian, to the point of panic, that was only prevented by your Will and the Order you gave him. The guardian elemental takes a look at the spirit - it creaks and shivers while doing this, like an old building falling apart - and turns his attention to you. You feel the link between you and the guardian open again, but this time you're prepared, and the sensation is a bit more like ground shaking, not like an earthquake...
"Friend? What? Is? Task. Guard. Protect. Not. Enemy. Purpose. Enter. Yes."
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Friend means I am not enemy. The people with me? May they enter? What are you guarding and protecting? Where is your master?
CW materializes, but is not returning to the body yet. Moving astrally he enters the house looking around.
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The house is clean astrally, but you feel the strain of its background count heavily, suppressing your power and cutting your magical reserves in half. You see no living creature inside, except for a few small bright dots in the attic, probably ordinary rats, or other kind of rodents...
You can see the layout is just like in the files, and...
Then you hit a barrier. Strong. Too strong for you in this place, even if you risk straining your whole essence to push through... It surrounds one room only, but a big one, on the second floor.
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CW return to his body and releases the spirit.
All right guys, seems like we can enter, the spirit is kind of slow in replies, so I'll let you know if anything new arise. There is a room in the center of the house that has an additional layer of magical protection. That might be what that elemental is guarding really not the entire house. Let's see it on visual.
Meanwhile, while walking there CW take a sip of vodka and fireup the commlink looking for any information related to the house giving an address, location, mage, also 'strange disappearences' as keywords and browsing through matrix versions of local newspapers.
mental note: need to buy myself a searching agent.
Now let see the room entrance from the inside and in flesh.
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Whisper opens the front door of the house and steps inside. Examining for any indoor tripwires, or other booby traps.(12d6.hits(5)=3) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2935655/)
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Bat'Oni looks around, "The area around this place is dead, are we good to enter, I feel...eyes watching."
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There are no traps. No pitfalls, no rolling balls of death. The house itself is a fortress... But only if it's manned. The Guardian obviously was enough to scare the locals off. You just walk in, after the code from Uncle's data packet unlocks the main door. You can easily change lock codes, pick some Stealth Tags from the small safe in the security room, and set owner privileges for the whole team. There are five bedrooms, a living/dining room, kitchen, a pantry (which contains mostly liofilized soy products and a few cases of German military rations), an open study, and two 'maintenance' rooms - the security room, and the tech room, that contains the house's node, and a few cleaning and surveillance drones. There are no obvious valuables, and the access to both the master study and basement seems to be on different systems, and magically screened. The node itself is a good piece of work, though it has no fireworks, beyond the IC patrolling it, that looks like a vicious cloud of bloodied ice slivers. It's obviously independent(you don't have it's control code), and loaded with a deadly offensive program. It doesn't mind you snooping, as long as you don't try anything. You still only have normal security or user accounts - the Admin seems to be restricted to one ID, that's protected like a dragon's hoard...
There is also a garage, in which you find a small 4x4 car. It seems like it was custom-built, but after a while you find it's manufacturer, a small Ares subsidiary called Tarpan-FSO, that does a lot of prototype testing, and the car seems to be a discarded one. It has a troll-sized seat in the second row, but it's not really comfortable for Vabka - it wasn't built for his particular size.
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Whisper chuckles, "Well that was tense... so what do we want to do now?"
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According to the plan we should be going to Little Silesia to meet Szafa and from then to meet the Masked Gang.
Alternatively we could go to stretch the bones and pull some tooths for my friends. Should make a fine entertainment.
CW is checking out the Lodge. Can I enter there in flesh? If so what is there? I'm lookign for some hints on the original owner. It itches me to the point of pain, when I see a mystery like that (I mean a disappearing mage, leaving his place like he was going on the afternoon jogging).
texting @Teatime. Hi there. I hope I'm not interrupting in anything. Two questions for the silly. How would you give a task to the spirit without having it linked to you? I have an elemental here that seems to be free spirit, yet it isn't yet it says it has a task to guard? And secondary - during our meet, you masked your aura as a human. What's the hook here? I'm used to see through standard masking, so I'm just curious, that I wasn't. I'd know if you had enough juice to block me outright, no offense intended ;).
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The doors are closed, sturdy and secured with a maglock. And it has an autonomous security system. Probably the controls are located inside.
Teatime replies: "It's not Free then. There are other ways to keep a spirit Bound to his duty. It takes more time, effort and resources. It's called Binding usually. If there's no link, then either the owner bought it, or something like that, and the spirit still hasn't worked off his dues, or he's better at covering his links than you are at finding them. A spirit can be also bound to a place instead. Standard security measure in Awakened-sensitive spots. As for my veil, well... It's a shtick of mine. If you ask yourself how, then you've probably forgotten what I deal in..."
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texting @Teatime: Bound to the place? Interesting. Never thought it is possible. How much for this veil to buy or to lease for a day? I don't need it right now, but I might someday. I might also need some kind of astral spyglass if you know what I mean, do you have anything like that?
Meanwhile CW is chatting with the spirit, trying to nail down what exactly it is guarding, who is his master and where to find him and how to release him from his duties and who will it consider enemy. eg. why it has destroyed my watchers, and allowed me to enter.
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Yani wanders about the safehouse, looking for a place to set up camp. Of course a camp in this elf's mind is not a wilderness camp, but a base of operations for communication. Finding a decent area, he begins setting up his satellite link, and hooks his comlink up to it.
Mentally he uses the access ID CW gave him to set up security accounts on the house node for everyone in the team. After he has everything set up, he sends a text to the team, "We got matrix access now. Feel free to log on. My suggestion is to use my satellite link to investigate data that may raise some eyebrows. The satellite link will lead a trace on you back to tri-city, but the house node will lead a trace on you back to this "safehouse," making it an "unsafe-house"."
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The evening crept in slowly, and the sun that wasn't hidden by a haze of smog like in the city center turned bright orange. As the shadows became longer, the team noticed more cautious movement in the background. The locals seemed to avoid the hill house, but you know what they did say about curiosity... At least half a dozen vagrants, scavengers, and SINless squatter kids observed the house from the distance.
Before you decided to do anything about it, CW's commlink buzzed and an AR screen popped out. The Urban Brawl veteran bared his chromed teeth at the investigator.
"CW, man. You told me you have a few guys that can handle themselves just fine. I have a few K's that need a new account, and some info you might like, if you're the one working for Uncle. This shit just got serious, and I have half of the junior team planning to go and handle it. You know how the kids are - good at the Brawl, but not prepared for a bunch of goons armed with hate and bullets. And they won't get the wind if you do the trick... You and your people interested?"
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Hoi bro' haven't I seen you last wek in the match against that team from Kraków? Man, that knockdown in tenth second was awesome. CW pute the mic on mute, and forward them the initial call. Guys? I DO think we might need them later.
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Whisper turns to reply to CW, "I'm in for gathering favors before we need them."
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"Oh, that was nothing. You should have seen what the new kid did today during a derby. Man, this guy has talent. And believe it or not, he's a mundane, and a cherry. We even started calling him 'Lucky', so you'd better think about dropping that particular alias. He grins again, and the scars on his face become apparent this time. It's not a pretty sight... "Anyway, we had some inside info - don't worry, this line is safe, I have Majka on the line here..." An amazingly soft female orc voice cuts in line. "And she says 'Hi!'. Why don't you call me?" Mort bursts into suddenly abrupt laughter, as he cuts the audio for a few seconds. "Okay, girl. Get to work, and don't scare him. We need his help this time... Okay, Boy. I'll send you the data now. This is more trickier than just a beatdown, but you and your new friends can handle it, I can tell. Remember - you don't screw it up, and you not only get paid, but we owe you. The boys count on you..."
The conversation steers into negotiations, as you try to be a good Face and squeeze a few nuyen more. Mortimer drives a hard bargain, and he loves to handle, so it escalates into something borderlining on parody...
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*nod* "A few more local friends could help a great deal."
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Bat'Oni hears CW attempting to negotiate, and slides over, using their network, starts giving pointers on where to take the negotiation, and what to say. "Offer a smaller amount up front, and likely in exchange we can provide services at a reduced rate as well. Also, throw in some cases of vodka."
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if Mort was counting on some kind of heavy hagglinghe was disappointed. After initial offer, CW said: 'Agreed'. and that was over, on the Bat'Oni surprised stare his only response was "what?, you were saing something?".
Anyway guys, we got ourselves a side job. Let's get to it.
CW ponders a little on what kind of gear he should take, and decides to take all. After that he goes into the car in the garage. You comin'?
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Whisper slings his backpack on and pulls his hood up the chameleon suit's urban marpat snaps up over the dominant green and black coloring. "Got everything I should need. Lets go." Whisper grins, it'd been a long trip over, and he could use to get the blood really flowing.
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CW called back to Mortimer. "Mort. I need few more details. When exactly they are expecting the guy to appear at the gym - how much time we have left to go there? Who is this guy, that will make for a decoy? Any special capabilities or will have to nurse him during the shootout? can you send me some pictures, intel on the location and goons there, they have a name or something? and the last thing, if the message has to be delivered that your ultras are the men, they should do so themselves, otherwise as stupid as they are, they might miss the connection. Pick few of them six or eight and let them wait nearby in the van. Once we take care of the major threat, I'll signal them so they could roll into to mop the floor with the remaining ones. They need punching training anyway. I'll keep them out of trouble."
Once some more info was provided CW, summoned three more watchers. "Adam. you will go to the gym, sense if people there have anything magickal on them, or if there is any astral presences nearby. Beate. you will go to the bar nearby look for astral barriers, spirits. Celine, you stay here roam around me let me know in case of troubles. All of you keep out of trouble and return if there is anything wrong around you."
All right heavy stuff: I need a spirit.
summoning level 5 spirit of man
12d6.hits(5)=2 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2992689/)
2d6.hitsopen(5,6)=1 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2992692/)
bad luck 1d6=2 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2992695/)
Drain 5d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2992698/) -> 6P Drain Value
Drain Resistance 9d6.hits(5)=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2992701/) -> 1P damage
so this was an unsuccessful attempt, and an edge burned
I'll try again later
second try Spirit of Man Force 4
summoning 8d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2992774/)
4d6.hits(5)=0 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2992776/)
Drain Value 2
Drain resistance buying hits
Ok. here goes Zbigniew a Spirit of Man force 4 with 3 tasks left and an optional power of Fear.
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Mort gives you a wide grin, and pokes someone off the screen.
"Yeah, I figgerd that you'd find a way to organize this properly. This is not my idea, CW, so as the middleman, I approve those changes. As for the decoy, he's not going to take any action. We know there's likely a snitch among the gym, and the decoy is there to flush him out as well as to fool them. He's just a guy that needs to be checked out, in case he's not cut for the Ultras... I'll send you six of our kids, they should be enough to handle those fuckers. As for the time, check out the files again. I'm sure I've remembered to include info that vital. You have any other stuff that crosses your mind, you call me, okay?"
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Whisper managed to go in and out unseen, except by an old man who smiled at him passing twice. You tried to hide from him, but he always seemed to notice you when you finally thought you evaded is gaze. He was just one of the old folk staring out the window all day, but you were concerned. He was human, and looking at you intensely... But when you were trying to come up with a solution, a young ork girl - from her face you could see the family resemblance - dressed in a security uniform appeared behind the geezer, and the old man and his antediluvian wheelchair disappeared into the apartment. The girl tried to sneak a quick look at what he was staring, but she obviously failed to notice you...
And half an hour later, when you were returning from your recon, you've noticed her and a pugy rent-a-cop strolling down the street. It was obvious that she was fresh and green as a leaf, but nonetheless the 'experienced' security around here seems to be more interested in themselves, and any food they can enforce, than in actually providing any security.
CW at the same time was gathering info, making calls, and sending messages - both via commlink and by his Watchers, even though most of his contacts hated it. Sometimes this was the easier way. After an hour he had quite a dossier. It was a stunning discovery, how obvious and overlooked the humanis-affiliated criminal activity was. Those goons should be serving time, all except those two novices. But instead they roam the streets and beat people who mostly didn't do anything wrong... You remember police wasn't that corrupt in your days. Or maybe it's just that you didn't see it yet? Doesn't matter. You get the info, and start making more calls, to find someone capable of providing you a few boxes of non-lethal solutions, ignoring creepy video messages from the hacker-girl...