Never Deal with a Shoggoth: A CthulhuPunk Shadowrun Story

Game Master Loup Blanc

Conserve your sanity, run when you need to, and never, EVER pick up the strange book.


551 to 579 of 579 << first < prev | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | next > last >>

As a note, nice touch on the review ratings, Geezer. I'm fine with little things like that most of the time; if I ever feel it's important to correct or clarify something I will, but I don't think it'd ever be a problem.

Once it's clear the team is on board for the job, Johnson stands awkwardly and nods. "Great. I'll, uh, I'll be in touch, yeah? Through him." He gestures toward Tilt, stands for a moment more, and then turns and hurries off, clearly happy that he can leave the tea house now.

As the team begins planning things out, Tilt looks at Sarge and shakes his head. "I'd say that's all bad business, chummer. Not that I have any grand ideas about honor among thieves. Anybody worth the pay has very few qualms about stabbing someone in the back if they deserve it. But when you go around with a knife out all the time, well, people stop letting you near their backs. You follow?" He takes a sip of tea and crosses his legs. "So yeah, digging around in the Johnson's business is usually a no-go, at least while you're on the job. If something smells like it belongs in the bay, I'd say go for it, but that's usually corp territory, not gangers. A little research isn't a bad idea, though, as long as it's all legal. Matrix searches, yes, B&E, not so much. And betraying a Johnson is a one-way ticket to unemployment, or worse. Newton was almost right when it came to the shadows, omae. Everything comes back to bite your ass harder if you're not careful."

He muses for a moment and shrugs. "That said, if the Johnson betrays you, you're well within your rights to shoot back. It's a two-way street. That's why most folks don't go around trying to hustle the dangerous criminals they've hired."

Geezer: You do indeed know basically nothing about this gang, but calling Pam up isn't a bad plan. I'll make the roll for what she knows/can find out, and she'll get back to you this evening, game time.
Paladin: Just trolling the Shadowlands and looking up public info on the building would be Data Search tests--call it a separate extended test for each, with the Shadowlands search going more into potential underworld info, and the public records showing stuff more like ownership. Getting detailed information on tickets, ledgers, and all that would definitely call for Hacking, yes.

If anyone else has anything they want to do, let me know. It's currently Friday afternoon, and the run is set for Sunday, so you have some prep time.


Female Human

Victoria shrugs. "Don't care about the Johnson's business unless it seems like he's actually trying to kill us. He doesn't seem malicious enough for that. And it doesn't even seem like he really knows what hiring runners is like." She sits back for a few moments. "I can help Paladin. Nothing to do until the job and I have some training in Matrix work."


Male Elf Shadowrunner
Spoiler:
Physical Damage: 0/11 | Stun Damage: 0/10 | Melee Defense: 10 | Ranged Defense: 6 | Initiative: 9 (2), Matrix Initiative: 9/10 (2/3) | Perception: 9

"Most people," Nathaniel repeats. "You never can be too careful, though. Sometimes people take 'disposable asets' a little too literally." If it seems like the team is done preparing, Nathaniel stands up to take his leave. "I'll get cracking at Matrix records. Nix, if you wanna help, feel free. I'll be heading to my apartment. I'll keep you all updated when I learn something. Well, if I learned something." He excuses himself from the table, and waits at the door for Nix if she chooses to come along. []b'I'm going to work from my apartment. Once we start digging into their records, the proxies on my home network will make it harder for them to try and trace us."[/b]

Data Search: 15d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 4, 4, 4, 6, 3, 5, 6, 3, 4, 3, 1, 4) = 62
Data Search: 15d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 5, 1, 3, 6, 3, 2, 5, 5, 2, 2, 3, 6, 3) = 55
Total of 11 hits.

I'll roll each separately back at his apartment, since they're Extended Tests. Once one is done, I'll go to the next. This set of rolls is for looking up public information on the building, seeing if I can't find any indication of ownership to fuel my later searching. If this gets me what I want, I'll move onto Shadowlands and then going in for the hack.


Female Human

Nix finishes her tea in one quick gulp and nods to Tilt. "You have my contact information if anything comes up before the run. Send me the meet up location when you get it. We'll make sure not to dig up anything inappropriate unless the Johnson decides to send a hit squad after us." She straightens her jacket and pockets her generator before following Paladin out to help with the information search.

Data Search: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 1, 6, 6, 4, 6, 4, 6) = 42
Data Search: 10d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 1, 3, 6, 1, 1, 5, 6) = 30 Total: 8 successes

I'm not entirely sure how aiding someone else with a check works in Shadowrun, but I'll assume I have to roll the same check in some capacity


As the group breaks up and sets a time to get together for the "caper", Rune decides to head over to the place and give it a quick once over in astral space.

Not sure if anyone was coming along with him, but please feel free to join in

Sovereign Court

As Rune (which is as good a handle for a mage as I've ever heard) talks about heading over and 'scanning it, Anya shrugs, mumbles something about having nothing better to do, and being fine guarding the meat while the spirit takes a walk, and joins him on his scout-scout.


Rune smiles at the pretty woman and thanks her for coming.

"I was worried I might have to hide in a dumpster or some-such while my astral body scouted the place. I appreciate you coming along. Does your boyfriend not wishing to join us as well? I would not wish to deprive him of your presence unnecessarily."

Dark Archive

Human

Nick tags along Rune and Wraith. He trusted Wraith being able to save Rune's bacon if need be, but he trusted himself better to make sure no one -specially not anyone augmented and/or a bit hot-headed- used the mage's body as a canvass for a marker graffiti.

Sovereign Court

Anya walks along, chatting amicably, apparently much pleased to be out and doing something, even if it's just guarding a manatosser while they take a spirit walk to case the next job.

When Hugo asks his question, though, she looks like a duck that's been hit on the head. "My boyfriend--?" she says, reacting as if he'd asked her the average rainfall in the amazon basin.

She looks around furtively, as if checking for a tail. "Derrick...?" she breathes quietly, before turning her eyes ahead.


Rune moves along the route to the restaurant with Wraith and Sarge with him. Wraiths sudden concern of his questions about her boyfriend pique Rune's interest.
"Yeah, him. Would not want to get on the wrong side of that fella! You guys been a thing for some time, or is this a 'new' romance?"

Not knowing much about the dynamics of this group, Rune hopes to gain some insight into at least 2 of his comrades...love can make you do some really fraked up stuff!

Sovereign Court

Not entirely unlike her reaction from before, Anya's gun leaps to her hand and she starts scanning the street, the weapon's barrel acting as a third eye as she checks likely avenues of attack, including nearby rooftops. She backs up to the nearest wall.

"You know Derrick? You've seen Derrick?? Where! Where is he?!" she cries at Rune, her breathing becoming quick and ragged, her chest heaving and falling with the staccato of a hunted animal, her face flushed with the heat of a thousand mixed emotions lined up for battle and attacking each other, vying for dominance in the loud chaos of her mixed-up head.

Instincts to both fight AND fornicate at once cloud her vision and set her chrome, unable to see a clear path to homeostasis, to sputtering.


Rune looks startled at Wraith's reaction.

"Derrick...who is Derrick? I was referring to Nick"

Ok, so I screwed up and thought Derrick was Nick. I think if we leave it as is, then it will showcase Anya's being haunted by her personal ghosts..

Sovereign Court

*chuckle* Now I just need someone to offer me an all-wheat sandwich to hit all of my Negatives. =p

Wraith's breathing starts to slow down, her chest stops it's rapid rising and slows to deep, even breaths. Only after a few more moments pass and her wide eyes don't see anything for her to shoot does she carefully, hesitantly, holster her weapon.

"Oh, yeah, totes," she says, automatically, taking one last look around before continuing on. "Um, what? Derrick? Like, he's nobody. Ancient history. Certainly nobody important and SO not a devastatingly handsome effective and efficient runner, a natural leader of men who was last seen bravely standing up to Lord Borak as I--um, what are we talking about? Shut up.

Hm? Nick? Oh, he's not my boyfriend," she says casually as she walks on.

Dark Archive

Human

"You boyos remember I'm not deaf and standing right here, do ya?" comments Nick with a half chuckle "Gotta agree with Anya, though, boyfriend is a large word. We are Partners in Booze, am I right sweetie?"

The ex-PI stops to look around just in case Wraith's instincts actually activated because of a present threat instead of a ghost from the past, but once he is clear continues walking.

Sovereign Court

Anya giggles. "You know it, boyo!" she as she sidles next to him, grabbing his butt and licking his cheek.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Alright everybody, my apologies again for an extended and unexpected delay. There were a lot of reasons that went into it, including my own mental state and life getting hectic as I started at a new job, which was draining on several levels. That said, I definitely want to get this back on track and I'm very hopeful that I'll have a more reasonable and stable posting schedule from here on, at least for a while. Thank you for bearing with me, and now back to our regularly scheduled program.

...That said, I'll give you what updates I can here, but it won't be a ton at the moment. Looking at where things are, it seems that the team is split in three groups. Nix and Paladin are heading to Paladin's apartment, where they'll do some Matrix research on this place; Rune is heading to a (presumably inconspicuous) spot near the dine-in theater to do some Astral scoping; and Geezer is hanging out (in the Green Rhythm? or maybe at his and Pam's) until he hears what she's able to find out about your employers. If anything is wrong there, or you want to specify something, please let me know in Discussion; for now, I'm posting assuming that's all at least mostly correct.

Finally, it's worth noting that right now, and probably for future jobs, time may get a little hazy during any "setup" periods like this one, where you're getting ready for the run but the specific order of events/timing of things isn't super important. If we need to iron out when things are happening relative to one another, we can, but until it matters I'm happy to handwave things and say you share information as you find it. Of course, you're always free to actually RP how you tell the others what you've discovered!

Geezer and his Girl:
Hope you don't mind me writing for Pam, and I also hope I do a decent job of it. I think your story sample in the profile and what you've written so far has given me a decent idea. Also, if you want to do anything specific during the day before Pam gets back to you, let me know.
Pam's Street Knowledge: 7d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 4, 4, 6, 1) = 28 3 hits. This is calculated assuming Pam has roughly average Intuition (3), but plenty of knowledge of Boston's gangs (and who to ask) thanks to her upbringing and occupation (4), and I'm sharing it with you so you can mark it down for future reference if you like.

Later that evening, you're back at your apartment flat when Pam finally comes in. She looks pretty usual, a little worn out from a busy day but still with plenty of piss and vinegar to keep her running. There's some small talk, a short shouting match over what brands and varieties of alcohol are kept in the place, and once things have calmed down again (relatively speaking) she speaks as to your earlier question.

"First off, I don't know how the hell you meet half the people you do, but I'm not sure I want to. Just don't bring 'em round here unless they're looking to help or to buy." Her Boston-Irish accent is as hard as always, but you can sense the slightest hint of concern--some might say it approaches caring, even. She lights a cigarette and savors it before continuing. "Anyway, I asked around a little, talked to Mark down Dorchester and all?

"Sounds like the Baby B's. Kinda funny, since that used to be what they called the Bruins' minors, not the Sox..." She pauses and glances at you, realizing that you probably either don't know or don't care about the minutiae of old Boston sports. "Anyway, I'm surprised you asked about 'em. From what I heard, they ain't exactly big players these days. Used to be pretty popular, all about city pride and that, a lot of the locals liked them. Mark said he even drank with some of 'em a couple times down at a pub, watching a game or something. But I guess a year or two ago, something happened, suddenly they ain't doin' so hot."

Pam shrugs and takes another long drag of her cigarette. "You run into one of 'em or something? Hope you didn't hit him too hard."

Nix and Paladin, Cyber Hackers:
In Shadowrun, aiding someone else does indeed call for rolling the same test (I'd allow a different one that seems fitting in some cases); each hit you get adds 1 die to the primary actor's dice pool, up to a limit of your own Skill rating. In this case, you'd add 2 dice apiece to Paladin's tests; defaulting those dice would get a total of 12, which is enough to find basic info on the restaurant that isn't purely public knowledge.

The trip to Paladin's apartment is uneventful, and when you arrive, the place is locked and empty. Paladin glances almost automatically at one wall where messages are usually written in AR, and sees a note from Cuervo that he's out walking the dog. He also knows that usually means that a big dog and a bigger ork are running in one of the sprawl's indoor "parks," possibly caught up in an AR game of some kind, and won't be back for some time. With that in mind, the two of you set up, connect through the neighbors' access, and get to work.

The Classic is located in Dorchester, in a fairly decent section of the city, although not far from a more run-down area. It's been operating as a restaurant-theater for decades; the public node proclaims it's been family-run since 2014, and that the current owners are merely the latest chapter in "a proud history with roots in a great city." Although the exterior looks to be standard older-looking materials worn by the years, the inside has been renovated and kept up quite nicely, with trid-viewing facilities that are only a few years behind the cutting edge, and more than enough for a theater-going experience--for those who still do that sort of thing. You quickly get the sense that the Classic is still open mostly by the virtue of novelty, since the very concept of a restaurant-theater is so different from the typical in today's world. It's very much the kind of place that attracts (and caters to) middle-class wageslaves who want to live it up for an evening.

A brief search into the owner himself reveals nothing of interest; he doesn't appear to have any connections or scandals, or anything of note about him at all. You do discover the Matrix address of the establishment's private node, however, if you care to do less legal digging.

If there was public information of this sort that you'd like, but I didn't already offer, just ask. Anything deeper than the surface, though, is going to call for some hacking.

Weekend at Runie's (with Sarge and Wraith):
[ooc]I'm not positive on how you're planning to scope the place out, but I'm getting that Rune is going to use Astral space to do it, and he wants to be somewhere relatively secure while doing so. I'm assuming you just find an inconspicuous spot nearby, but if you'd prefer something more specific just let me know.

After some awkward history is brought up, and then smoothed over with some only slightly less awkward displays of affection, the three of you make for the Classic, finding its location easily enough with a quick Matrix search. Of course you don't just walk right in; instead, you find a nice empty lot nearby, with a little alley off the side where Rune can take a seat before going astral. Wraith and Sarge take up a position on either side of the elf, and his body relaxes and slumps back as his consciousness is projected into another space.

Rune, this isn't your first time perceiving and moving purely in the astral plane, and it doesn't take a great deal of effort to quickly get your bearings and move to the Classic. You can't move as fast as is possible in the astral if you want to take a look around, but it's still quicker than walking, and it has the added benefit of allowing you to move unsensed and mostly unhindered. The building itself has no magical defenses or barriers, so you're able to move inside with ease. The decor is much more pleasant than the building's worn exterior, and it almost immediately presents the feeling of a place designed and marketed toward middle-class customers who want to feel richer for an outing. As it's still fairly early in the day for a trid theater, there aren't many people inside--just a few employees making sure things are clean and orderly, a pair in the kitchen likely preparing the space for tonight's cooking. No one seems to notice your astral projection.

Rune, let me know what you're looking for in terms of anything specific, like layout, employee auras, anything like that; otherwise, I can just give you some basics. If you feel you should make a roll for anything, go ahead. Wraith and Sarge, I'd like a Perception test from each of you.

Sovereign Court

While Rune goes slack and is, theoretically, doing his thing, Wraith looks around.
'F~#! I'm bored. Bored bored bored. Bordy bordy bordy. Bored. Nuthin' to do but watch over nuthin' happening. Hell I'd rob someone if I thought it would be worth it.'

She looks around. She thinks about drinking, but she's had her fill of late, and doesn't really need something right now. She plays with her comm a bit but puts it away uncomfortably.

"Wanna make out?" she finally asks Sarge, having exhausted all other options.


Male Ork

"What do you mean, where's the McCulloch?", Geezer shouts back as Pam comes home, the expression on his face a mixture of confusion and anger. "Two weeks ago, you were sitting on that very couch, s+@@faced, and said that McCulloch, paraphrasing here, is piss in a bottle and you don't want it in your sight. So I drank the bloody thing! And it did bloody taste like piss in a bottle!", he shouts back. He stares at Pam with a blistering look, the moves next to the sink, putting on a lovely apron with a pattern of ducks and apples, turning on the water and starting to mumble to himself under nose. "Should have something in the emergency drawer. Help yourself while I wrap this up." I'm bloody buying a bloody dishwasher after this job's through.

Friendly Neighborhood Fixer wrote:
"First off, I don't know how the hell you meet half the people you do, but I'm not sure I want to. Just don't bring 'em round here unless they're looking to help or to buy."

Geezer grins, finally shuffling away from the sink as he wipes his hands in his shirt. Reaching over to the packet on the table, he takes a cigarette and lights it up, picking up a half-full beer bottle. "Love, there's one method of meeting folks that's been tried and tested for three bloody centuries." He lights the cigarette. "The pub."

Sitting down on the couch and putting his feet on the table, he gestures towards the window. "Long story short is, I got an offer from your lovely family, and they connected me with some of those "shadowrunners"., he says, his fingers forming quotation marks. "I was expecting the geezers to wear a lot more leather and punk haircuts, to be fair. Too many movies, I guess." He pauses for a moment, waiting to see a reaction. I guess it is dangerous. But we're running a gray business, mafia-owned chopshop.

"So one of those geezers in those colours wants a business hit, we keep the dosh, they get the street cred."He grins thuggishly. "A certain eloquent English gentleman even got them to toss in a grand and a half upfront, though." He takes another long sip, then stares through the window once more at the chopshop below. "That's going to help with the rough patch in the last couple of months, and we can even expand the bloody place, get more machinery, do more...", he shrugs. "stuff." He reaches over, grabbing the elf in an over the shoulder hug. "So. Pizza or Chinese?"

OoC:

Hey, GM! I hope you are feeling better now. I personally have been there, and I completely understand the delay. I was quiet, since I was rather busy and the game was quiet as well, but I was keeping track.

I'll note down Pam's knowledge for the future, and, of course, you can play the character! You seem to have gotten the concept pretty well, and I'll be looking forward for more of that.


Rune gets as comfortable as he can and quickly slips out of his body and into astral space. He floats above the alley where her, Anya and Sarge are hidden, and quickly assesses his two companions.{ooc]Roll?[/ooc]

Soaring over the street he first take a careful look at the building as a whole, noting exit points and anything that seems out of the ordinary. Once that is complete, he slowly lowers himself down and slips into the building itself. He gets a good look at the layout and notes the type and number of people here.

Once he has gathered as much information as he can, he withdraws and returns to his body. About 20 minutes has passed.


Male Elf Shadowrunner
Spoiler:
Physical Damage: 0/11 | Stun Damage: 0/10 | Melee Defense: 10 | Ranged Defense: 6 | Initiative: 9 (2), Matrix Initiative: 9/10 (2/3) | Perception: 9

"Well, that's interesting. This place has been around for a while. It still seems odd a place like this is still open, it could be a front for laundering. That, or something else illegal they don't want anyone knowing about." Nathaniel cracks his knuckles and settles into his chair. "Let's take another look, shall we?" Nathaniel sets in on the private node, poking and prodding in the Matrix to find a weakness in the security.

Hacking: 15d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 6, 4, 6, 4, 2, 1, 6, 3, 5, 4, 6, 5) = 61
Total of 6 hits.


Female Human

"We'll see what's what. Maybe it really is just open as a novelty and it gets enough customers to pay the bills. Or maybe the owner is pretty well off on his own and just keeps it open because he likes it." She activates her less than legal programs and comes in behind Nathaniel.

Hacking: 10d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 5, 1, 6, 5, 1, 1, 2) = 34 5 hits, nice

Dark Archive

Human

Sarge, on a surprising gesture of kindness, caresses Wraith's hair "Not the time, kitty, I don't like magical mumbo jumbos and the job still smells fishy. Better not to lower our defenses that much in here."

The ex-PI takes the can't-believe-it's-not-cigarettes package and picks one, offering Anya another.

"You ain't one to talk about past drekk. I know it because I ain't one either, kitty." Nick exhales the smoke slowly, as if playing with it "I already told you, you ain't alone anymore. No need to start with the bulldrekk soppy stories now, but we'll have to soon... I worry you snap at the wrong time and end up full of holes. Don't want to deal with that, Anya."

Ain't you a sweetheart, Nicky Nick? Want a hug now?

Despite his words, Sarge tries to avoid eye contact and suffles his feet a couple times. Either he is uncomfortable speaking that honestly or his bladder is full.

He ain't answering which one is the jackpot.


A Girl and her Geezer:
Pam raises an eyebrow when you mention her family, and the other joins it when you say "shadowrunners." She doesn't say anything, but her lips purse in an expression you've come to recognize as hesitantly concerned. You and Pam are both capable of taking care of yourselves, and you both know it, but running the shadows is a different beast than chopping cars and cooking the books.

When you explain the run, Pam is quiet for a moment, thinking, and then she elbows you in the ribs. "If you know what you're getting into, I ain't gonna stop you. But if you come home full of bullets some night, you'd better not get any drek on the floor. And I call getting to say I f*cking told you it's dangerous." She finishes her cigarette and stubs it out on a coaster used for that purpose. "And your first pay is replacing that spanner you lost." She winks, slaps your thigh, and stands up.

"Now, since you've got a big job and big pay coming in, why not splurge a little? There's that sushi place down on Boylston. You're paying?"

Nix and Paladin--Pentagon Hacked!:
Having found all you can on the public node, the two of you settle into a seat and enter full VR, preparing to probe at the private node kept by the Classic; it's much quicker than working in AR, but still takes a while to ensure you won't trigger too many alarms or be easily found by any IC on-site. Paladin does most of the heavy lifting, but Nix assists, providing some extra hands--all proverbial, of course.

Teamwork Dice: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 5, 4) = 16 1 hit
Analyze/Firewall: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 4, 6, 5, 2) = 24 3 hits, oh boy

The Classic's node looks essentially like an old-fashioned movie theater: a glass-windowed foyer out front, with a booth where you have to "buy a ticket" before entering the lobby. In this case, the ticket serves as your account access: basic, security, or admin. A basic account won't provide any more information than the public node, and you both know that the type of information you want is going to need at least a security account, probably admin status. So the two of you begin prodding at the defenses, looking for a way to trick the "booth" into giving you admin tickets.

Unfortunately, it's just after you've hit the point of getting a security account that you stumble over a bit of code, and it's too late to catch the mistake by the time you realize it. A shrill bell tone rings out, and shutters roll down over the booth's windows, locking it off, at least for the moment. One of the doors to the lobby opens, revealing an androgynous humanoid figure dressed in a downright outdated uniform--although the taser in its hand looks modern enough. INTRUDERS DETECTED, it buzzes, raising the weapon. ENGAGING.

Paladin Matrix Initiative: 8d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 6, 5, 3, 1, 3) = 30 2 hits
Nix Matrix Initiative: 8d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 5, 2, 3, 2, 3, 5) = 26 3 hits
IC Matrix Initiative: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 1, 5, 6) = 25 4 hits

--Round 1, Pass 1: IC, Nix, Paladin--
IC Attack: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 2, 5, 3) = 21
Paladin Defense: 10d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 3, 3, 1, 6, 2, 6, 4) = 35

Surprised by the sudden appearance of the IC, Paladin doesn't respond before it launches its first attack. The taser flickers with electricity, even in the digital world of the Matrix, but Paladin's commlink is well equipped to deal with countermeasures like this, and his icon isn't disrupted by the attack. The IC, emotionless program that it is, doesn't seem fazed by the failure of its first attack.

You guys are up! You didn't specify whether you were running in cold or hot sim--I've assumed cold for your initiative rolls, since there isn't much reason you'd have run hot for something like this. Just bad luck that it caugh you.

Rune's Astral Excursion:
Assensing Sarge and Wraith, you can tell that neither of them are Awakened, and both sport some cyberware. Wraith is still a little on edge from whatever bothered her earlier, but even as you look it fades fast. Sarge is fairly serious, although not overly so. As you move away, you hear Wraith asking about making out.

You move around and through the building, undetected, noting important elements as you see them. The building only has a few ways in and out: the front door, a side door that's probably for maintenance and deliveries, and a small door out back that's likely an emergency exit. Inside, the main floor is set up as a cross betweeen an old-timey theater and restaurant: the lobby has a podium with menus, presumably where the host will greet customers and take them to their seats. A curtained doorway leads to the main room, furnished with comfortable chairs around tables, ranging from two seats to eight; it's all positioned so that everyone can have a view to the large screen and stage where the trid would be projected.

Also in the main room is a desk with equipment where the patrons presumably pay for their tickets and food. It's unfortunate that the desk would be here, and given modern systems it's not really necessary... but it's probably to add to the atmosphere of the place.

As for the people, a pair of them are cleaning the main room; a boy wipes tables while a girl cleans the floor; modern conveniences aren't really designed for a space like this, so it falls to the employees to do the menial labor. They look to be younger, maybe in their late teens, and they trade some small talk and jokes back and forth as they work. Both have auras that suggest they aren't happy to be here, although the boy also has a touch of desire--perhaps a crush on his fellow worker.

In the kitchen, the workers are both men, both older, and both happier in their work. They look to be just straightening things out for now, getting ready for the evening's work. Nothing about them catches your interest; the only thing to note is that the older of them has a datajack implant, but that isn't out of the ordinary.

There's no one else in the building, although a staircase leads to an upper floor that looks like it just has a small office and a room for the trid projector. After taking a second pass to make sure everything's in order, you move to return to your body, having spent less than a half-hour scoping out the site.

Wraith and Sarge Sitting in an Alley:
Wraith Perception: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 6, 5) = 18 3 hits
Sarge Perception: 8d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 4, 2, 3, 6, 3, 3) = 29 2 hits

The two of you stand by after Rune slumps down, and although Wraith presents a suggestion of how to pass the time, Sarge finds it in himself to turn down the offer. That decision pays off, as a few minutes later, Wraith hears some movement from further down the alley. She glances over...
Wraith Visual Perception: 12d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4, 5, 4, 6, 4, 4, 1, 3, 6, 4) = 50 4 hits
...and sees two figures coming down from the other end. They're relaxed in their movements, not on edge or carrying weapons, just a pair of humans wearing synth-leather jackets. As you watch, one of them even turns to the other, walking backwards long enough for you to see a stylized (some might say bastardized) B on the back of the jacket--the same as the Johnson was wearing.

What will you do?

Just a note to you all if you're curious, as I don't mind you reading the spoilers to see what the others are up to: none of the events at the moment are coinciding, which is why there's no interaction between them in my descriptions. Given the timing of things, if we were to put these on a timeline, it would actually go in reverse order of what I posted: Sarge and Wraith's encounter, followed by Rune finishing up his reconnaissance. Nix and Paladin's hacking would take place a while after that, since they spent an hour hacking before the security pinged, and finally Geezer is speaking with Pam late in the evening.


Female Human

Nix's avatar materializes in front of the ticket booth. She resembles one of the detectives or maybe vigilantes from the serials that were dated even before the Matrix went live. A long dark trench coat settles around her, covering a blouse, slacks, and a tie. Her avatar is still feminine, but her face is nearly featureless, save for her pulled back black hair, making her look disturbingly like a mannequin. A dark fedora is pulled low over her featureless face. Look up the Renee Montoya Question for good idea of what she looks like.

She engages her defense and exploit programs and gets to work, double checking the code as Paladin works his way through it and trying to find anything that might help the more experienced hacker. Unfortunately, that means she misses the same thing he does and she barely reacts fast enough to engage her attack program, manifesting a magnum and opening fire on the security program.

Attack: 12d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 2, 5, 5, 3, 1, 3, 3, 3, 5, 2) = 40 4 hits


Male Elf Shadowrunner
Spoiler:
Physical Damage: 0/11 | Stun Damage: 0/10 | Melee Defense: 10 | Ranged Defense: 6 | Initiative: 9 (2), Matrix Initiative: 9/10 (2/3) | Perception: 9

Nathaniel doesn't notice the security program, but he certainly notices as Nix's avatar spins and blasts it. His own avatar, clad in a red and black suit with a spider sigil inscribed on the front, merely moves forward and drives the digital fist into the security program's manifestation. He digs around for a moment before trying to rip away some vital piece of code and render the program inactive.

Cybercombat: 15d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 6, 3, 5, 4, 3, 5, 4, 1, 3, 1, 3, 5, 2) = 49
Total of 4 hits.

Sovereign Court

"Oh hoi, chummers," Wraith calls out, keeping her posture of relaxed coolness. "You tankin' or spankin'? Joy-time's not for a spell we we're just maxin' an' relaxin', stylin' an profilin'. You on location for happy or cred?"

Ettiquette: 8d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 6, 5, 5, 2, 3, 5) = 31 4 hits

Having spent a lifetime enshrouded in subtle gang-politics, Wraith has learned to carefully craft her neo-lingo to mean just about anything. Or, rather, to mean what the listener wants to hear.
To some people who don't know her or her purpose, she said she's just hanging out and has politely inquired if they're working or on free time. To someone who is already in on the run, she's asking what role they intend to play and why they've been hired.

Dark Archive

Human

Nick remains calm. Or he appears to be.
I knew the gangers were up to something, Nicky Boy

With measured movements the ex-PI removes his hands from the pockets to light another cigarette... And to have his right hand free and close to his hidden holster.

When Anya speaks cryptically he merely look at the gangers, trying to read them faces and intentions.

Negotation:Sense Motive: 8d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 3, 1, 4, 5, 3) = 32


Male Ork

Geezer grins. "Oi, I'm not bleeding on that bloody floor. Bloody wood costs more than the damn place, love!", he shakes his head, standing up. "And I didn't lose the spanner. I just forgot it in that truck leaving for Aztlan!", he laughs out, standing up to take his coat. "I do owe you a dinner, love, so let's motor. At least there I won't have to do the bloody dishes.", he keeps on ranting.

OoC:

Sorry about the lateness in the posts, but I've mentioned I'm trying to move into a new place and paperwork's been pretty insane. I'm still not moved in yet, but I thought I'll post something in Gameplay, just so we can get that back on track!

Liberty's Edge

Male Historian/Curator

As it looks like this might be dead, I am going to remove it from my active games. If it does start up again, please drop me a PM to let me know.

Thanks

551 to 579 of 579 << first < prev | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Play-by-Post / It All Starts in a Stuffer Shack--CthulhuPunk Shadowrun Gameplay All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.