[Chrona]

Post Downtime summaries here, once all 7 are done I'll make [IC] and [OOC] anew

This may take time, Silk especially

[Kouryuu]

so that means one new and upgrading one old, right? or two old
two new ones would be outside RAW?
buying them would be out of question?

I've no idea, tbh, check anniversary for me? lol sorry

Players use Karma between adventures to improve attributes and skills,
as well as to initiate/submerse and buy spells or complex forms.
Advancement takes place in the interim game time between sessions,
sometimes called down time. Characters may not spend Karma
to improve skills, attributes, or abilities in the middle of an adventure.
Additionally, some advancements may be limited to occurring only
once per down time; if the character wants to advance again, she will
have to wait until after the end of the next adventure.
Learning Time: It is recommended that a character only be allowed
to learn one new skill (or specialization, spell, or complex form)
between adventures; the character cannot simultaneously improve any
existing skills, attributes, etc. during this time. A character can be allowed
to improve as many skills, attributes, etc. between adventures
as she has Karma, assuming the gamemaster feels the improvement is
warranted (a character who hasn’t touched a gun in months should
be made to practice a bit before improving Pistols skill)—but each
can only be improved once. If the time frame between adventures is
longer than one month, gamemasters may increase these allowances
as appropriate.

Improving Existing Skills
Characters may also improve an existing Active skill or skill group by 1.
The cost for improving a skill is the character’s next skill rating x 2. For
example, if a character wants to improve her Pistols from 4 to 5, the
cost is 5 x 2, or 10 Karma. The cost for improving a skill group is the
improved rating x 5. For example, improving the Firearms skill group
from 4 to 5 is 5 x 5, or 25 Karma.
Improving a Knowledge or Language skill is half the cost of improving
an Active skill: the Karma cost equals the improved skill rating.
Characters can only improve skills or skill groups to a maximum
of 6, unless they already possess the Aptitude quality for a skill. (Sorry,
you can’t acquire Aptitude at the same time you try to improve above
the maximum.) If a character raises a skill above 6 through Aptitude,
the Karma cost doubles.
Skill Groups: If a character improves any skill in a skill group
individually instead of improving the group, the remaining skills are
treated as individual skills with individual levels from that point—in
other words, the skill group no longer exists.

[Xzylvador]

I think what Kontact was referring to (when asking about RAW rules) was:

To learn or improve a skill or skill group, the character must succeed in an Extended Intuition + skill Test, with a threshold equal to the new skill rating x 2 and an interval of 1 week (1 month for skill groups). A teacher can add bonus dice to this test (see Using Instruction, p. 134).

Which means that, since we've only got one week in before next run, we could only do one roll of the extended test for a week (new or improving skill) and don't have time to increase a skill group (monthly interval).
I kind of like not having to wait 5 months in between runs. But if going by RAW, we'll have lots of karma we just don't have time to spend.

Kontact, how was LJ's initiation handled last time? Spend karma and it's good?

[Kouryuu]

I think what Kontact was referring to (when asking about RAW rules) was:

To learn or improve a skill or skill group, the character must succeed in an Extended Intuition + skill Test, with a threshold equal to the new skill rating x 2 and an interval of 1 week (1 month for skill groups). A teacher can add bonus dice to this test (see Using Instruction, p. 134).

Which means that, since we've only got one week in before next run, we could only do one roll of the extended test for a week (new or improving skill) and don't have time to increase a skill group (monthly interval).
I kind of like not having to wait 5 months in between runs. But if going by RAW, we'll have lots of karma we just don't have time to spend.

Kontact, how was LJ's initiation handled last time? Spend karma and it's good?

Yeah but rushing an extendet test you migt cut the time in half, with the glitch numbers 1 and 2
so you might get 2 skills, but can you buy the hits in this tests when rushing?

[Chrona]

I'll go by RAW
But any hits will carry over, so you practise shooting for a week  trying to used to pistols but only get 1 hit when you need 2
next down time you get your 1 hit in the first week, and gain Pistols 1, sound fair?

Or rush the job

Unless you're doing an ordeal i think initiation is instantaneous like attributes?

[Chrona]

For  new skill i guess you roll straight Intuition

[Chrona]

anyone wanting positive qualities can try to convince me and let me know if you want to get rid of a negative.

In debt only requires you pay the nuyen

[Kontact]

Kontact, how was LJ's initiation handled last time? Spend karma and it's good?

She came into the game initiated using the 15 karma to start.

[farothel]

Time between:

Kitten was back home.  It had been a strange, but productive evening.  Now she only had to investigate whatthe strange thing was she had felt.  The aura that felt like Jean-Jacques.  First of all she had asked her talismonger if he had seen him, or any other talismonger in the city.  While she was waiting for that to yield results, she would go back to the location where her watcher had been banished.  Sitting in her magical lodge, so he body would be protected by wards, she projected her consciousness on the astral and flew off.

Arriving at the location, she started looking around, for wards, spirits and magically active people, in that order.  She also went into the houses next to the street to see if he might be living there.  She thought not, but she had to find out what was going on and if there was one thing Jean-Jacques had taught her, it was to be thorough.  It had been too long since the watcher had been banished, so she wouldn't find that trace anymore, but maybe she could find something else that would give her a lead.

One of the following days she went back to her talismonger, a guy named McCallahan, who had a shop in Tacoma, not far from where she lived.
"Say, I have a question," she said after the customary introductions, "do you know of any mages following the Egyptian tradition like myself."
"Not like that," Jack McCallahan said, "I follow the hermitic tradition myself, but I can ask around. Why?"
"I would like to initiate, but I've heard it's easier in group, so I would like to find either a group I can join, or other people who are willing to join me in creating one."
"I'll check with some people," he promised, "and I'll let you know as soon as I know more."
"Thanks," Kitten said, "I owe you one.  Anything from the photo I showed you?"
"Not yet," Jack said, "but I've got some feelers out."
"Okay, see you around," she said before leaving the shop.  Now she had to wait for the results and in the mean time reading those issues of the magical journal she had subscribed to.

OOC: I'm not going to spend the karma but wait for initiation.  Either with a group or if I don't find any, I'll write something with my mentor spirit as soon as I have the karma to spend.
For the rest she's not going to do a lot that week, unless there's a lead on any of the questions she has asked, in which case I'm going to follow up on those.  So Chrona: if there's anything, let me know and I'll add to this.  Normally she will either send in a watcher or do astral recon before going in in the meat.

[Chrona]

It was my first SR GM's birthday yesterday, BBQ started at 4pm. It's now 8am the next day. Will post/reply when recovered.

[GrimWulf]

+1 for debauchery Chrona!

[Kontact]

Blank was in his hallway, strolling comfortably toward the new doors at the end.  He had The Girl with him so that he could show her all the newest occupants.  He always felt rejuvenated here in his place of power, but he still needed to keep The Girl occupied even as he eliminated her.  As he walked, he spoke to her.  "This is just one of the men hired to kill us tonight.  It's hard to tell what he might have been thinking.  He'd possibly had his mind taken from him.  Still his position in life as a thug and killer is indisputable."  The Girl cowered at his heels like a sick and beaten animal as he opened the first door.  In it was a human man in his early thirties with two gaping wounds in his chest.  He looked at the two figures in the doorway for a moment and then dropped his head.  "He and his friends were corrupt ex-police, so used to abusing their authority that they couldn't imagine a life without it.  Now they don't have to."  Blank shut the door and turned to The Girl.  "The ghouls are up ahead if you'd like to see them," he continued, urging her along, but she paused.  "You were talking to a man earlier.  A man like the last one."  Blank turned to The Girl, surprised to hear her express interest.  Had she been listening to that?  That was unusual.  "Yes.  Mr. Salt.  I did not kill him.  Did his position disturb you?"  Perhaps she had identified with his situation - helpless and bound in a room, at the mercy of monsters?  "What was the question?  The question he should have asked?"  This was very abnormal.  Blank lowered his shadowy form to The Girl and gave her an easy smile.  "The only question that matters to someone in his position.  'What can I do to stay alive?'"  The Girl started to shake.  Her solid white eyes shut tight against the force of the seizure as she collapsed to the ground.  Blank looked back down the hallway.  It's doors seemed to stretch on forever.

Angela awoke refreshed in her coffin room in western Auburn.  She smiled deeply, and the nanites still on her face shifted to fill in the cracks.  Despite sleeping so late, she still had several hours left with this face.  Might as well use it to buy the next one.  She called up Jimmy to see if she could get some work, new gear, or, at the very least, hand him some money toward what she already owed him. 

"Hello Jim.  Are you free to meet up and talk business?"
"Oh, Angela today, is it?  Would it upset you if I thanked my lucky stars?"
"Would it upset you if I said I was feeling all brand new and thought a change of identity would go with it?"
"You've never seemed to care much about upsetting me before, so I'll consider this change a positive one."
"Goody gum drops.  I'd like to have two new IDs if you can arrange that.  Additionally I have 10,000¥ for you."
"Any preferences?"
"A well-off Japanese child from Shiawase, any gender, and one for that child's mother.  I've got a picture of the woman who is to act as the mother.  I also have some hair for the DNA sample."
"So, the second ID isn't for you?  Did you actually make a friend?"
"A colleague."
"Slash hostage?"
"You're in a funny mood today."
"Come by the club.  I'll tell you about it."

Angela got up and hailed an autocab over her link.  Thirty minutes later, she was Downtown.  Walking in, there were a few patrons off to one side trying to talk over the music while the bartender stood around scanning the room.  Angela signaled to him as she made her way to the back.  In the back office, she found Jimmy "Sweets" O'Brien, lieutenant for the Finnigan family, and the only man alive who knew anything about her past.

"So this Tamanous play is working out for you, eh?"
"Corey told you about that, hmm?"
"Yeah, I kind of have to worry about you, beside that marker you're paying me back for, you've also got a habit of killing people you find fault with.  I can't imagine that working along side kidnappers is easy for you.."
"I've been alright.  There have been a lot of nasty people for me to take my frustrations out on.  Besides the individuals I'm working with haven't proved to be completely useless."
"Oh, has Angela got a crush?"
The way she looked at him made him cough and change the subject.
"So, the problems at that Equilibruim club should turn out to be a bit of a boon for the Ciarniellos.  Nothing drives down prices like a good old fashioned bloodbath.  And the locals will probably be happier about their presence in the neighborhood when they start running protection.."
"You implied that there was something funny you wanted to talk with me about."
"Well, there sort of is.  As a goodwill gesture to the people of that area, Mr. Ciarniello wants to make an example of the folks responsible for the massacre at Equilibrium, and I know you were in that area.  I thought maybe..."
"You need a scapegoat?  It was a Humanis thing.  Political.  I don't know that kicking that hive will be any use.  The leader of the mercs is still alive, probably.  If you want me to arrange for him to be handed over to Caesar's goon squad, I could make a call.  He's even ex-Lonestar.  Works well to discredit the authorities."
"That could work out alright, thank you.  People just need to get the message that this kind of shit doesn't happen in our neighborhoods without us stepping in and handling it.  Is there anything I can do for you in return, besides the IDs you wanted to buy?"
"I've got a couple of grenades I need filled up with breathtaker gas..."
"I'll see what I can do.  Keep working your way up that chain over there and I'm sure you'll find who you're looking for."
"I'm not looking for anyone."
"Sure you're not, sweet girl.  Surely."
Jimmy stood up and walked her to the office door.
"Keep in touch, eh?  Just try and wear the big girl pants like today.  Wouldn't want anyone misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding like that which led you to save my life?"
"Something which I pay for every day, Jesus knows." 
"I'll have to have a word with this Jesus fellow if he knows so much.. Right after I talk with Corey.."
"Oh, leave Corey be!  He knows I've got your best interests at heart.  Do just try to be good for poor Jimmy's sake, will ya?"
"For your sake, I'll be perfect."
"Oh, lord!  Just clear out of here you mad witch!"
"Bye Jim.  I'll call you later about the guy."
"You do that.  Helps people feel safe."

With that, Angela walked out of the office and out of the club.  She arranged for Ron Salt's butchered body to be sewn back up and sent to the Ciarniello family instead of the ghoul-feed lot.  Creepy Joe made a tidy sum on the deal, and the Ciarniellos helped their reputation as a family interested in serving justice for the community.  Knight Errant was not too happy.

Six days later, Jimmy called back with a drop off for the goods Angela had ordered.  Jun and Oren Fukuyama.  The grenades were also serviced and returned.

Expenditures:  21 karma to raise Magic from 6(5) to 7(6)  1PP spent on Traceless Walk.  10,000¥ paid toward debt.  6,000¥ paid for two R3 SINs - one for LJ and one for Silk.  100¥ for Breathtaker.

[Artighur]

Downtime :

Hank is not fond of living in the past, it reminds him too much of long the past is and how short the future is bound to be. But he was a perfectionist. Calling up Chrona, he asks the Ghoul for the trid footage of the sparring,and then start reviewing the fight taking notes of every failing and every details. After a couple hours, he came to the realization that he did very little mistakes, maybe he should have follow-up when he connected Chrona but no. He lost the fight right at the beginning, his gift was simply not good enough to match Chrona's. He was reaching his limit. An answer he didn't like. At all. So he went to the gym, busted out the punching bag. As he smashed the sand bag, he realized something. Everything used to be "the limit", the cap, the maximum. "What's a limit if not something to be bypassed. One hundred year ago they thought Sky was the limit, a couple minute ago, I thought I reached my limit" Hank thought.

Hank stopped and quickly rushed out of the gym barely taking time to shower. A couple minute later he was parking his Rover in front of Chrona's safehouse.

"Chrona, this is Hank I want to have a word with you"

Depending on how it goes, he might have a little job for Romy. His Rover need some Run Flat Tires and Spoof Chips or some sort of security protection to be a suitable runner wheels

Hank will probably be looking for a way to Initiate, maybe with an Ordeal or something like that, he hopes that Chrona will be able to give him a hand (and not a claw !)

[Chrona]

Time between:

Kitten was back home.  It had been a strange, but productive evening.  Now she only had to investigate whatthe strange thing was she had felt.  The aura that felt like Jean-Jacques.  First of all she had asked her talismonger if he had seen him, or any other talismonger in the city.  While she was waiting for that to yield results, she would go back to the location where her watcher had been banished.  Sitting in her magical lodge, so he body would be protected by wards, she projected her consciousness on the astral and flew off.

Arriving at the location, she started looking around, for wards, spirits and magically active people, in that order.  She also went into the houses next to the street to see if he might be living there.  She thought not, but she had to find out what was going on and if there was one thing Jean-Jacques had taught her, it was to be thorough.  It had been too long since the watcher had been banished, so she wouldn't find that trace anymore, but maybe she could find something else that would give her a lead.

One of the following days she went back to her talismonger, a guy named McCallahan, who had a shop in Tacoma, not far from where she lived.
"Say, I have a question," she said after the customary introductions, "do you know of any mages following the Egyptian tradition like myself."
"Not like that," Jack McCallahan said, "I follow the hermitic tradition myself, but I can ask around. Why?"
"I would like to initiate, but I've heard it's easier in group, so I would like to find either a group I can join, or other people who are willing to join me in creating one."
"I'll check with some people," he promised, "and I'll let you know as soon as I know more."
"Thanks," Kitten said, "I owe you one.  Anything from the photo I showed you?"
"Not yet," Jack said, "but I've got some feelers out."
"Okay, see you around," she said before leaving the shop.  Now she had to wait for the results and in the mean time reading those issues of the magical journal she had subscribed to.

OOC: I'm not going to spend the karma but wait for initiation.  Either with a group or if I don't find any, I'll write something with my mentor spirit as soon as I have the karma to spend.
For the rest she's not going to do a lot that week, unless there's a lead on any of the questions she has asked, in which case I'm going to follow up on those.  So Chrona: if there's anything, let me know and I'll add to this.  Normally she will either send in a watcher or do astral recon before going in in the meat.

You find a tiny amount of the aura  at the top of a building, if you go there physically roll visual perception

Blank was in his hallway, strolling comfortably toward the new doors at the end.  He had The Girl with him so that he could show her all the newest occupants.  He always felt rejuvenated here in his place of power, but he still needed to keep the girl occupied even as he eliminated her.  As he walked, he spoke to her.  "This is just one of the men hired to kill us tonight.  It's hard to tell what he might have been thinking, since he'd possibly had his mind taken from him, but his position in life as a thug and killer is indisputable."  The Girl cowered at his heels like a sick and beaten animal as he opened the first door.  In it was a human man in his late thirties with two gaping wounds in his chest.  He looked at the two figures in the doorway for a moment and then dropped his head.  "He and his friends were corrupt ex-police, so used to abusing their authority that they couldn't imagine a life without it.  Now they don't have to."  Blank shut the door and turned to The Girl.  "The ghouls are up ahead if you'd like to see them," he continued, urging her along, but she paused.  "You were talking to a man earlier.  A man like the last one."  Blank turned to The Girl, surprised to hear express interest.  Had she been listening to that?  That was unusual.  "Yes.  Mr. Salt.  I did not kill him.  Did his position disturb you?"  Perhaps she had identified with his situation - helpless and bound in a room, at the mercy of monsters?  "What was the question?  The question he should have asked?"  This was abnormal.  Blank lowered his shadowy form to The Girl and gave her an easy smile.  "The only question that matters to someone in his position.  'What can I do to stay alive?'"  The Girl started to shake.  Her solid white eyes shut tight against the force of the seizure as she collapsed to the ground.  Blank looked back down the hallway.  It's doors seemed to stretch on forever.

Angela awoke refreshed in her coffin room in western Auburn.  She smiled deeply, and the nanites still on her face shifted to fill in the cracks.  Despite sleeping so late, she still had several hours left with this face.  Might as well use it to buy the next one.  She called up Jimmy to see if she could get some work, new gear, or, at the very least, hand him some money toward what she already owed him. 

"Hello Jim.  Are you free to meet up and talk business?"
"Oh, Angela today, is it?  Would it upset you if I thanked my lucky stars?"
"Would it upset you if I said I was feeling all brand new and thought a change of identity would go with it?"
"You've never seemed to care much about upsetting me before, so I'll consider this change a positive one."
"Goody gum drops.  I'd like to have two new IDs if you can arrange that.  Additionally I have 10,000¥ for you."
"Any preferences?"
"A well-off Japanese child from Shiawase, any gender, and one for that child's mother.  I've got a picture of the woman who is to act as the mother.  I also have some hair for the DNA sample."
"So, the second ID isn't for you?  Did you actually make a friend?"
"A colleague."
"Slash hostage?"
"You're in a funny mood today."
"Come by the club.  I'll tell you about it."

Angela got up and hailed an autocab over her link.  Thirty minutes later, she was Downtown.  Walking in, there were a few patrons off to one side trying to talk over the music while the bartender stood around scanning the room.  Angela signaled to him as she made her way to the back.  In the back office, she found Jimmy "Sweets" O'Brien, lieutenant for the Finnigan family, and the only man alive who knew anything about her past.

"So this Tamanous play is working out for you, eh?"
"Corey told you about that, hmm?"
"Yeah, I kind of have to worry about you, beside that marker you're paying me back for, you've also got a habit of killing people you find fault with.  I can't imagine that working along side kidnappers is easy for you.."
"I've been alright.  There have been a lot of nasty people for me to take my frustrations out on.  Besides the individuals I'm working with haven't proved to be completely useless."
"Oh, has Angela got a crush?"
The way she looked at him made him cough and change the subject.
"So, the problems at that Equilibruim club should turn out to be a bit of a boon for the Ciarniellos.  Nothing drives down prices like a good old fashioned bloodbath.  And the locals will probably be happier about their presence in the neighborhood when they start running protection.."
"You implied that there was something funny you wanted to talk with me about."
"Well, there sort of is.  As a goodwill gesture to the people of that area, Mr. Ciarniello wants to make an example of the folks responsible for the massacre at Equilibrium, and I know you were in that area.  I thought maybe..."
"You need a scapegoat?  It was a Humanis thing.  Political.  I don't know that kicking that hive will be any use.  The leader of the mercs is still alive, probably.  If you want me to arrange for him to be handed over to Caesar's goon squad, I could make a call.  He's even ex-Lonestar.  Works well to discredit the authorities."
"That could work out alright, thank you.  People just need to get the message that this kind of shit doesn't happen in our neighborhoods without us stepping in and handling it.  Is there anything I can do for you in return, besides the IDs you wanted to buy?"
"I've got a couple of grenades I need filled up with breathtaker gas..."
"I'll see what I can do.  Keep working your way up that chain over there and I'm sure you'll find who you're looking for."
"I'm not looking for anyone."
"Sure you're not, sweet girl.  Surely."
Jimmy stood up and walked her to the office door.
"Keep in touch, eh?  Just try and wear the big girl pants like today.  Wouldn't want anyone misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding like that which led you to save my life?"
"Something which I pay for every day, Jesus knows." 
"I'll have to have a word with this Jesus fellow if he knows so much.. Right after I talk with Corey.."
"Oh, leave Corey be!  He knows I've got your best interests at heart.  Do just try to be good for poor Jimmy's sake, will ya?"
"For your sake, I'll be perfect."
"Oh, lord!  Just clear out of here you mad witch!"
"Bye Jim.  I'll call you later about the guy."
"You do that.  Helps people feel safe."

With that, Angela walked out of the office and out of the club.  She arranged for Ron Salt's butchered body to be sewn back up and sent to the Ciarniello family instead of the ghoul-feed lot.  Creepy Joe made a tidy sum on the deal, and the Ciarniellos helped their reputation as a family interested in serving justice for the community.  Knight Errant was not too happy.

Six days later, Jimmy called back with a drop off for the goods Angela had ordered.  Jun and Oren Fukuyama.  The grenades were also serviced and returned.

Expenditures:  21 karma to raise Magic from 6(5) to 7(6)  1PP spent on Traceless Walk.  10,000¥ paid toward debt.  6,000¥ paid for two R3 SINs - one for LJ and one for Silk.  100¥ for Breathtaker.

"Clinic looks like it'll be around for a while, thanks Jo- Angela."

Downtime :

Hank is not fond of living in the past, it reminds him too much of long the past is and how short the future is bound to be. But he was a perfectionist. Calling up Chrona, he asks the Ghoul for the trid footage of the sparring,and then start reviewing the fight taking notes of every failing and every details. After a couple hours, he came to the realization that he did very little mistakes, maybe he should have follow-up when he connected Chrona but no. He lost the fight right at the beginning, his gift was simply not good enough to match Chrona's. He was reaching his limit. An answer he didn't like. At all. So he went to the gym, busted out the punching bag. As he smashed the sand bag, he realized something. Everything used to be "the limit", the cap, the maximum. "What's a limit if not something to be bypassed. One hundred year ago they thought Sky was the limit, a couple minute ago, I thought I reached my limit" Hank thought.

Hank stopped and quickly rushed out of the gym barely taking time to shower. A couple minute later he was parking his Rover in front of Chrona's safehouse.

"Chrona, this is Hank I want to have a word with you"

Depending on how it goes, he might have a little job for Romy. His Rover need some Run Flat Tires and Spoof Chips or some sort of security protection to be a suitable runner wheels

Hank will probably be looking for a way to Initiate, maybe with an Ordeal or something like that, he hopes that Chrona will be able to give him a hand (and not a claw !)

Chrona can offer you facilities for some Ordeals, depends what you want to try. He also asks why you're so eager.

[Artighur]

"Look, I don't know much about Magic and all that Jazz, all I know is that some people are gifted, other not. I'm quite lucky to get this and been working it out for my whole life. Went pretty good until now. I just can't improve anymore, my body is in perfect shape, my mind is powerful, but I'm not improving. You on the other side did. You became much better than I am, and if I'm not mistaken, you aren't even an adept.

Magic to me is something inherent, like a brain. It just there and wait to be worked out. Training your body and sharpening your mind worked for a bit, I just need a little extra. Unlocking stuff I can't find alone or can't afford to take years to do it. You might have time to make it work on your own, but i don't. I'm living meat and like all others I'm running against the clock. So if you can help me, I'd be grateful. Heck, just pointing me up in the good direction would be good."