[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  0113  Gong Xin's Shop  Chinatown Barrens  Seattle


You consider the girl and it is your opinion that she appears to be deferential to the old man, not afraid of him.  Her aura indicates that she is awakened, but that her power is far weaker than Gong Xin's.  Or yours.  You can see two young toughs looking back at you through the window and recognize the face of one as having been following you for a couple of blocks.  He grins and turns away.  The grin did not seem particularly friendly to you.  Gong Xin frowns and says, "You speak of Ni Ni Xiaolu as if you are on intimate terms and that is not a show of respect.  But then, what would you know of the old ways?  Too many of the young people today have no respect for the things that got them where they are."  He sweeps his hand toward the window.  "But then, I look at the world and have no wonder.  Too much death and misery out there."

"Your companions may wait here as you are in no danger in this shop."  He motions for you to follow him and goes back through the beads.  " A summoning focus?  Yes, I can provide you with one.  I will need some information from you about the desired strength, form, and tradition.  After that, it is just the crafting.  What sort of reagents are you looking for?  I have many raw and some refined, but no radical on the premises.  I have the skill to distill them, but there is really so very little use of the radical reagents down here that I do not keep them on hand for any except my personal use."  He steps through another beaded curtain into a large room.  The crates, boxes, and shelves would seem to indicate that this is a storage room of some kind.  Gong Xin waves his hands.  "I have many lodge materials.  The power of your lodge will dictate the sort of materials you want and the cost."  He turns to look at you.   "I warn you that all of this will be expensive."

[VegasRigged]

I follow him into the back of the shop, leaving ling sho and the girl to worry about the gangers.

"I need a force six focus, as strong as I can handle, the tradition is Buddhist and the spirit type is air. I will also need the material for a force six lodge delivered to this address and a mixed bad of reagents enough to last for weeks of regular use. Say 3000 nuyen worth?"

I paruse as I speak, taking note of the shops many wares and oddities, assensing and appraising as a Mage and a decorator.

[Mercy Merchant]

Gong Xin does not reveal if he is surprised or not   "That is a fair amount of reagents, Miss Coulter.  I can have them delivered as requested, but it will take three days.  They can be delivered with the lodge materials, but I would like you to select the materials while you are here.  These things work so much better if you have personal involvement.  Unless, of course, you are one of the new mages that does not believe such drivel."  He walks with you to a shelf containing a number of small items.  "I can use any of these for your focus, if you like.  Or do you perhaps have something else in mind.......something more personal?"

[VegasRigged]

For a moment I hesitate, his mention of a personal item sending me back to thinking about my life before, I had a choker I'd purchased to be my power focus, and would now never see again.

I review the items on display and pick up a simple titanium band meant to be worn on the bicep. I turn it over in my hand and conclude that it was fit comfortably under my suit.

I turn and give the same care to the items presented. I settle on the eight pointed flower in gold and a yin and yang in marble and obsidian. These two will form the focal points, allowing me to create a mans loop between them. Everything else is just a matter of positioning to conduct the mana. Once I get a lay line flowing into my lodge I will have power to spare.

I also send a message to my secretary, informing her that a number of boxes will be arriving in a few days and could she please have someone ready to move then at my request. I have no intention of giving this fine gentleman my home address.

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  0247  Gong Xin's Shop  Chinatown Barrens  Seattle


While you are looking through the items to use as your lodge materials, you receive a text.  >>Hey there.  Sylvia here.  Just checking to see if you are alright or do you need assistance?<<

Gong Xin notes your selections with no change of expression and no comments of approval or disapproval.  After all, this is your lodge you are planning on, not his, and he realizes that.  When you are finished, he asks if you have completed your look.

[VegasRigged]

I Nod to Gong Xin that I'm done as I send a reply to Sylvia <<Thank you for asking but no, I haven't gotten into any more barfights. Are you doing anything? I'm about to wrap up some business and then I was thinking of going shopping.>>

Now I'm thinking about leaving, and seeing what those men wanted. I turn back towards ling Sho and ask if he knows who runs that gang, or who was leading that band.

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  0328  Gong Xin's Shop  Chinatown Barrens  Seattle


Sylvia's response is quick.  >>I won't even ask what you are shopping for at three-thirty in the morning in the Chinatown Barrens.  You can certainly find it there if you have the money and the protection to get back out with your purchases. There are odd rumors from that area, so watch your back.  As for me, I am just laying in my big, almost empty bed.  Thinking of you and what we could be doing for each other.  Have fun shopping and try your best to not get killed.  Some organlegger would have you cut up and your 'link taken before I could get a good fix on you.<<

Ling Sho nods.  "Four are with the Xu Qui, which is a smallish gang loosely affiliated with the 88s, which means that they are even less friendly that normal to us.  The other man is wearing the colors of the Gorgon, also affiliated with the 88s, but more dangerous.  I do not recognize any of them by name.  I could call for assistance, but that might make things worse, as Ni Ni Xiaolu has influence down here, but no real control.  We should not have taken so long to get here.  Going off with that freak might have gotten us killed."

[VegasRigged]

I rely that I'm on my way and will be the very image of caution.

I turn to Ling Sho and smile slightly "Your concern is appreciated but we'll walk out of here unharmed. I also plan to grab this Gorgon and have a look at his orders, see why they targeted us."

I turn back towards Gong Xin and thank him for his help, then cast invisibility on myself and Ling Sho, ordering my earth Spotify to conceal us as well. So equipped I take a jaunt into the astral to find my mark in the crowd.

[Mercy Merchant]

As you prepare to cast your spells, Ling Sho chuckles.  "They are after us because they are 88s and we are Octagon, because you are white and not Chinese, and because they are trying to look tough."

Your spirit nods his head and increases the amount of protection you have from being noticed.  The auras of the four men standing outside the shop indicate they are mundanes and unaugmented.  It also shows that a number of the people in the area are awakened or augmented.  Several of these are watching the action unfold at the shop while others are inside buildings or just walking by.

[VegasRigged]

Though he can't see it, I nod to Gong Xin "I'm sure you are correct, but I'd like to be sure all the same, and perhaps teach a lesson in the process."

Once the Gorgan is located I leave the shop and make a quick path through the crowd towards him, casting euphoria as I grow near so he's less resistant when my spirit grabs him and drags him out of sight.

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  0335  Gong Xin's Shop  Chinatown Barrens  Seattle


Gong Xin calls out to you as you leave the shop.  "Do not make the error of believing yourself too powerful for others to take down.  There is always a more powerful sorcerer out there."  He pauses then adds in a softer voice, "Almost always."

You and your spirit converge on the Gorgon ganger, who does not seem to notice that he is in danger.  Someone from the crowd shouts out to him that a spirit is upon him, but the warning comes too late.  The mighty earth spirit manifests in front of the hapless man and wraps massive arms about him, holding him immobile.  The craggy face of the spirit turns to you and asks, "What am I to do with this one"

The other four gangers are caught by surprise and take several steps back, two of them fleeing into the crowd and the others visible shaken.

[VegasRigged]

With that ganger immobilized the spirit has already completed its task. I grasp the sides of the unfortunate toughs head and cast mind probe, diving into his memories, first anything related to me, then seeking everything he knows about he 88s and the other gangs of the area. The spell works in a matter of milliseconds, allowing me to sift through his mind past his defenses weakened by the euphoria. If he was put up to this I will know, if he reports to someone I'll know, if he likes boys I'll know. His mind is an open book and I will take any knowledge I want in the brief span of time we have.

Once satisfied I release him, depart quickly and order the spirit to take him to the most dangerous area it can find and leave him there. I apologize to it for the background count its likely to face, but assure it I have great need for this man to fear for his life in such a place. Then I'm gone, hurrying back towards the road and my lovers arms.

[Mercy Merchant]

From my reading, each thing you probe for takes a complex action, extending the time you are maintaining this and the invisibility spell.  Are you remaining invisible and do you intend to leave Ling Sho behind?

Saturday  9 June 2075  0350  Chinatown Barrens  Seattle


The man knows nothing about you.  He is a liaison between the Xu Qui and the Gorgon and you are apparently a target of opportunity.  His knowledge of the 88s is limited to knowing that they funnel some money to these and other gangs in the Chinatown Barrens in an effort to be larger than the other two main Triads.  He reports directly to a man named Jai Huei. 

[VegasRigged]

I spend an extra few second looking for information on this money, where and when does it change hands, who knows about it and what is security like, then I release him and leave quickly, maintaining the invisibility on both of us until we are well away from the other thugs.

[Mercy Merchant]

The ganger's knowledge about the money is limited to carrying credsticks from the Gorgons to certain members of the Xu Qui. 

The way out is crowded and your invisibility does not allow you to pass through the throng any easier.  In some ways, it is actually harder, as the people are unable to step out of your way.  The Xu Qui gangers are left far behind by the time you near the alley entrance to the Chinatown Barrens.  Ling Sho will escort you back onto the main Chinatown street, where you find that the foot traffic here is much less than what you just left behind.  He walks with you to the exit out to the city, bidding you farewell.