[Jack_Spade]

Kynos shrugged and cleared the last bits of pseudo-egg from his plate. He took the flyer and frowned.
"Seems like we are having a matrix conversation - fucking waste of time. Let me check it out."

Kynos went AR and looked for the game host.

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell's morning routine was becoming annoyingly clockwork.  He woke and showered and started playing the mystical game of hide-and-seek.  He met up with Athos and Kynos at Aurora Village.  The whole place was on high-security overwatch, except they somehow didn't do a thing to stop a mage from passing through through unseen.  This implied two things, they are either hilariously incompetent or very understaffed to the point where even minor astral security is impossible.  To him it might as well be both.

Maxwell isn't wearing anything suspicious looking.  He had forgone knife and armor and was merely dressed in simple dark street clothing.  Sadly this was the nicest set of clothes he had, in fact he kinda just wore the same thing everyday in just different sets.  He had been following Athos around the food court and was patiently waiting for Kynos to show up with some flowers.  Doesn't take long before he starts chuckling to himself about how dumb the thought of that is.

To Athos he strikes up a conversation to pass the time.  "So what's new with you?"

Summoning Force 7 Air Spirit: 13d6t5 3
Spirit Resistance: 8d6t5 2
Drain Resistance: 11d6t5 4
Force 8 Air Spirit Summoned.  No Drain
Name and optional powers don't matter because I only got 1 Service from him.
Using my only service to have him conceal me and you know the drill.
Force 5 Improved Invisibility: 11d6t5 0
Drain Resistance: 11d6t5 3
1 Stun Taken.  Let's try this again.
Force 4 Improved Invisibility: 11d6t5 2
Drain Resistance: 11d6t5 5
One more time.
Force 4 Improved Invisibility: 11d6t5 3
Drain Resistance: 11d6t5 4
Finally.

[gilga]

@Kynos there is not such game - there closest match you find is "indiana jones and the temple of doom" playable at the arcade. Toxic temple is a sketchy parody on that game that adds subtitles with sarcastic remarks.

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos sighed and turned the leaflet around to see if there was a message written anywhere. Just in case he also looked around for the teenager.
"Seems like we got a coded message - if that is a test our potential employer already has accumulated a few minus points. Look around if you can spot anyone keeping an eye on us."

[gilga]

@Maxwell indeed you are surprised to notice that the mall has no magical security. There are some sphoradic wards but they clearly were not maintained in a long time. Physical security however would prevent you from actually being carried inside by the spirit.

[gilga]

@Kynos the leaflet was clearly hastily crafted and recently printed - on a closer inspection you are convinced that it is not an actual advertisement the fonts does not seem quite authentic and the images do not quite blend into each other and the fonts do not match. A catch phrase of "Discover the horrors of the toxic, Temple that sees all!" does not seem as if it passed serious editing as the T of temple is capital for no reason." The teenager seem to keep her distance from you and avoids eye contact. She seem to be looking every now and then at the florist.
(Attached is the advertisement she handed you)

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos replies to Sovereign as they are waiting for Kynos.  "Not much, actually.  I hear that your own adventures have been somewhat more interesting, and I am sure that I only know a small part of what you have been doing.  I am still working for the Finnigans and probably will until I die.  Security, you know.  That and they don't take betrayal very well.  I am looking to be able to learn to talk without drooling all over myself.  I have a tutor lined up but just have to find the time, which seems to be in very short supply right now."

"So, any truth to the rumors that you and Strawberry on are on the outs?"

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos turned the flyer around and gave it to his two companions. He had no clue if the "toxic temple that sees all" was a reference to a certain place around Seattle  - and he didn't particularly care for this kind of crap at what was supposed to be a business meeting with a professional.

Instead he called Ryan his fixer: <<Hi, we are at the meet with the Lillies but the Johnson hasn't made an appearance yet. Instead we were delivered a cryptic message in form of a flyer for a fake trid. (Picture attached)
Can you tell me anything about this Johnson? Does he or she usually pull such stunts? I'm here to do business and negotiate a job not to participate in a scavenger hunt. If you have any way of contacting them, please forward this to them. Love Kynos>>

[gilga]

@Kynos December, 29, 2075: 9:03
>>Ryan texts you back it is barely 9:00 she'll be there I spoke to her just half an hour ago.  You are meeting with Julie Page, the one responsible for store composition in Aurora. She should be there and not play riddle games with you.

@The rest:
December, 29 2075, 9:12
Miss Page arrives there are no questions about her 'Jhonsonness' , she is dressed with a very expensive business suit and is accompanied by a bodyguard. She seems to be in some sort of a matrix call - but as she approaches you she hands her comlink to the bodyguard. That accept it silently and seem to be scanning the area for a possible assassin.

She said: "Julie Page customer relation and store composition of Aurora Seattle. It is a pleasure to meet you all, thank you for coming at such a short notice."

[Jack_Spade]

"Happy to make your acquaintance Mrs. Page. This is Athos, Sovereign and I am called Kynos. Our mutual contact gave us to understand that you need a team of contractors to take care of a wayward magician. Should we do this here or is there a more private environment to talk about the details?"
Kynos answered in the same business like manner.

[Mulcarn]

Kynos was giving the heads up about something the moment after Maxwell inquired about Athos.  Before he could reply, the dragon-horned troll said his piece about current events.  With a bit of whiplash, Maxwell turns back to the Mafia enforcer to answer him.  "You know us mages.  Always gambling with genies or upturning primordial graves.  If you make it through today's run, then I might divulge the details about my legendary endeavors.  It's no offense to you in particular it's just that I need to see if you're more than a syndicate lieutenant.  Sorry, but I loathe the Mafia.  Also it's not just them.  Yakuza, Vory and the Triads all rub me the wrong way."  He stops for a second to visually examine the troll before going on.  "That's cool I guess.  Being able to give commands will be a fine trait to master.  The ability to add weight and flair to every word, that might take you awhile."

The mention of Strawberry causes Maxwell to sigh and furrow brow.  He leans back in his chair and rasps out his side of the story like a hearth would breathe sparks.  "Depends on what you heard and which side you're taking.  No doubt she demonized me to be some big bad lunatic.  Listen, and this is the actual fucking truth, I was acting in self-preservation.  After the maze party, I tried to apprehend Venom.  Strawberry didn't like me doing that and tried to posses me with one of her spirits.  When that didn't work she tried to kill me instead.  The destruction of the Joke was my warning to back off.  Again, she didn't like me doing that and this spiraled out into tragedy upon tragedy.  This isn't the whole story.  There's a lot more detail and nuances than what I just told you.  Help me and Kynos with this run, and i'll tell you all about the mad pyromancer Sovereign."

His fervor ends when Kynos shows back up with a pamphlet and a couple of friends.  The cybered-elf introduces the trio and Maxwell greets them back while shifting perception to do some astral recon.  "What's up."

Aura Reading: 8d6t5 2
I'm assuming a Background Count of 1.  If not then i'll re-roll.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos smiles and opens his mouth to answer Sovereign when the Johnson shows up.  He shuts up and listens, knowing that talking is not his strong suit.  He does eye the bodyguard, though, and tries to determine how serious a challenge he might be..

[gilga]

Miss Page say "It is okay - there is no secrecy about this job - given the circumstances what you are going to do is completely legitimate."

 "It is more than that, we had a security mage employed here for many years. Recently I fired him as he begun harassing and scaring off the customers. He was very odd about that, denying it at first and then claiming that the fickle lady has a cruel sense of humor. He did not actually harm anyone before I fired him - but his behavior caused significant economy and reputation damage and got us into a bunch of lawsuits. "
She sighs and continues
"He became dangerous after I fired him, the practical jokes on customers continued but this time they were more dangerous and caused physical harm to people. Yesterday his actions took the life of 2 customers injuring 5 more and it means we are going to have a rough month.

Hver since he was fired his jokes are darker and more lethal. Truth is he made this place dangerous and I need him out of the way. Normally, I would not deal with people of your caliber, but the police is nowhere to be found and the problem need to be solved. I can offer you 30k should the solution be better than the problem.  I want him gone, but I do not want a firefight in the middle of my mall."

@Athos the bodyguard is unarmed, he does not seem to be augmented or especially muscular. Then again  - all humans seem weak to you.

@Maxwell - Miss. Page's aura is in unawakened and in perfect health, you sense no augmentations or other damage to her aura.

[Jack_Spade]

"I see.
What kind of pranks did he play? Was he doing it in person or does he employ spirits.

Also, we need his profile. Since he worked as an official contractor you should have a list of his registered spells and his capabilities in regard to Sorcery, Conjuration and Alchemy.
In addition, we need to know which magical tradition he follows or followed and which spirits or magical constructs he used to employ.

Furthermore, we need to know how he is getting access to this mall - is he disguising himself, does he use invisibility or does he gain come through maintenance entrances.
Also, did he show any signs of pollution or radiation poisoning - that's one of the more common ways how mages turn mad.

I understand that you don't want a fire fight here, but we will have to carry a certain amount of protective gear and our sidearms. One fatal shot at the perp will be infinitely preferable to a dozen harmed innocent bystanders who were hit by a mana ball.
Please see to it that your security staff is aware of our presence and shares whatever relevant information there is. The better we cooperate the faster this whole thing will be resolved.

Finally, I presume you don't have any preference how we get rid of this man as long as it doesn't cause a fuss and your business isn't disrupted? Because from what I've heard so far we probably won't be able to politely convince him to stop."
Kynos ticked of the list he had used on more than one occasion.

[gilga]

Miss Page say "He liked the levitate spell, and would find it funny to enchant small coins, when people picked them up they'd start levitating high in the air - only to be levitated down shortly after.  He also liked to cause illusions, and so forth - his last preparation that went off in here was a fireball preparation."

She adds:  "He is an alchemist and ritual mage, he did wards and provided our guards with some magical preparations so that they can handle magical threats better. I got all the information about him on this chip, his main preparation was a spell blade to provide us with an effective weapon against spirits. He also crafted us small homuncului to assense people that entered. He also provided a watcher overwatch, but the guards respond better to physical objects rather than some invisible spirits.

He suggested at the time a spirit intervention force but we refused as we had some bad experiences with spirits behaving in an unpredictable manner and we are a shopping mall not a military base. The goal of the security is mainly to prevent theft and fraud. "

She hands you a memory chip, and say "Browse at your leisure time, this is anything we knew about the guy the time we hired him. I honestly do not know how he enters this place, I asked my security to figure it out but - well... you are here - so you can assume that it did not yield the results I expected. "