It's an ordinary, rainy Wednesday in the metroplex known as Seattle. You are all going about your daily routines when at about noon you receive a chirp on your commlinks. The Matrix icon that appears is of the traditional smiley face, colored red with jagged lines (what you can only assume are orc tusks) running up from the mouth.
Upon answering the call, the icon is replaced by a grinning ork face. His hair and beard are sprinkled with grey and a pair of golden datajacks line his left temple. Strangest of all are the wire-rimmed glasses on his face: not tinted mirrorshades to make you look badass, or AR goggles, but real, honest-to-goodness reading glasses, the kind long made rare by ubiquitous laser surgery or cybereyes.
Hoi, chummers! he says, still grinning. I hear tell you might be interested in a bit of biz. If you're interested, head on over to Underworld 39 tonight at 7. There's a small concert going on. Let the doorman know you're there to meet MacCallister, and he'll get you good seats. After the show's over, we'll have a chat and I'll tell you a bit more. Interested?
Signalling a quick affirmative, Miyako closes the connection.
Tapping her bottom lip as she gazes out at the city from her high-rise condo, she sighs. Business has been slow lately and taking a job like this...sets her nerves on edge.
Leaning against the glass window, she contacts her "Mr Johnson", Samuel McIntosh, and asks what he knows about Mr. MacCallister of the jagged ork smiley-face.
Also, queries the matrix for info, layout of the bar.
CHA (3) + Etiquette(5) + Loyalty (2) = 10
= 4 hits
Extended Data Search (3) + Logic (4) = 7
= 3 hits
Jack indicates that he is interested, and once the connection is closed he looks Underworld 39 up on the matrix. Jack id specifically looking for location and dress code, but also anything else that could be of interest.
Grateful that he let Jimmy talk him into buying the more expensive programs for his 'link, Jack sits back to browse through the information he found.
"Send me the location data and I'll see what I can do." Crix replies.
CHA (3) + Etiquette(5) + Loyalty (2) = 10
1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6 = 4 hits
Extended Data Search (3) + Logic (4) = 7
1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6+1d6 = 3 hits
=2 hits
= 2 hits
= 2 hits
= 0 hits
= 1 hit
= 0 hits
For a total of 10 hits.
What kind of music will it be? Skullcrusha mics back to the guy, not expecting an answer back as the IM is disconnected.
Flicking through his icons, SC finds Miyako and Jack and pings them both.
So, what do we know of this MacCallister? And Underworld 39?
Pausing, thinking, SC continues, we all should meet up before the concert. How bout dinner, my place? 430pm? Ill make soy burgers.
I have got a search running on Underworld 39. I will let you all know what I find. Far be it from me to turn down food, 'Crusha, but i will bring something for myself. That soy crap tears me up something fierce. You want me to see if Crix is interested?
What kind of music will it be? Skullcrusha mics back to the guy, not expecting an answer back as the IM is disconnected.
Flicking through his icons, SC finds Miyako and Jack and pings them both.
So, what do we know of this MacCallister? And Underworld 39?Pausing, thinking, SC continues, we all should meet up before the concert. How bout dinner, my place? 430pm? Ill make soy burgers.
"'crusher, your invitation is accepted. It's been some years since we last worked together, some catching up is necessary I think. I also have an info search on the club running, we can compare notes, Jack. Also I'm checking with one of my contacts as to Mr McAllister's bona fides. See you at 4:30."
"Is this a simple solo job?"
"Send me the profile data for the others."
Sam says all he can remember off hand about MacCallister is that he is a retired runner working as a fixer now. He says he can get you some more info with some digging, but it might take most of the day.
Crix, any attempts to reply to MacCallister fail. He obviously is busy and didn't wish to say anymore about the job over the comm', though the list of contacts in the call are those you've either worked with (such as Miyako) or are vaguely familiar with as contacts of Miyako.
Crix will send out a wave to the others from the call and ask if they'd like to meet somewhere beforehand (having not received Crusha's invitation). He then tries to remember if Underworld 39 is associated with any mobs or gangs he's worked with before.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Crix, any attempts to reply to MacCallister fail. He obviously is busy and didn't wish to say anymore about the job over the comm', though the list of contacts in the call are those you've either worked with (such as Miyako) or are vaguely familiar with as contacts of Miyako.
Crix will send out a wave to the others from the call and ask if they'd like to meet somewhere beforehand (having not received Crusha's invitation). He then tries to remember if Underworld 39 is associated with any mobs or gangs he's worked with before.
[dice=Int + Kno(gang turf)]8d6
[dice=Int + Kno(mob boss haunts)]8d6
[dice=Int + Kno(Zenblood affairs)]9d6
"Skraa, Crix. 'Crasher's invited us all over for dinner to confab. 4:30."
"I hope he's providing dinner. Send the data to my comm. I'll be there *around* 4:30." Crix says before returning to his dart board.
At around 4:20, Jack will arrive at Crusha's place, having stopped by a grocery to pick up a small amount of real meat for his burger and a 4-pack of real beer.
Ohai, folks! Here Crusha, put this in your fridge if it won't make anything there blow up...
Taking the meat from Jack, SC replies Whoa, real meat! WE got ourselves a big spender here. He says with a chuckle.
wont blow up anything...Hmmmmmm
Putting the food in the fridge, he pulls out a can of something, makes a pulling motion, turns quickly and hurls the item at Jack
SC screams, diving behind the counter.
Miyako embarks on her trip across the city to Skullcrusha's flat. As is her usual practice she does not take a straight line but doubles back many times to ensure she wasn't being trailed.
Shadowing Test
She arrives at Skullcrusha's a few minutes late. Greetings, omae. I hope your burgers are ready 'crusha, I'm famished.
Crix raps on the door loudly at around 5 o'clock. He leans on the doorway fiddling with his helmet until he is shown in.
"Skullcrusha, right? Not sure we've actually met. Name's Zelbourne, but you might as well call me Crix. That's how Jack & Miyako know me." He says, eyeing his surroundings for food & beer.
Instinctively trying to catch the flying object,
Jack instead fumbles it to the ground. Looking at the can laying on the ground he mutters for a moment before picking it up and cracking it open.
Fire in the holes, eh? Thanks 'Crusha, your "fire in the hole" is very refreshing.
skull stands up laughing, tears running down his face
Oh man, you should've seen the look on your face! it was all what the? catch! Remind me to not be near you when you decide to catch a live grenade. HA HA
Still laughing, Skull buzzes the others in.
Hi Miyako, burgers should be done in about 10 minutes. Nice to put a face to the name, Crix. They both have said good things about you and your fighting style. I look forward to seeing it in action. Skull holds out his hand and shakes Crix's.
As for beer, that i have, and plenty of it.
Skull busies himself with making the burgers and chit-chatting with everyone until the table is set and the food is laid out.
Call me old fashioned, since i am the old guy here, i would like to make a toast. We have here, at this moment, is the beginning of a unique relationship. Some of us know each other, having worked together in the past, others we know by word of mouth. At this moment, through this job venture, we are a team. We look out for each other, cover each other, and stick together, no matter what. That said, a toast to all of you, for coming to my humble home and honoring my table with your presence.
Taking a moment to look each person in the eye and nod, Skull drinks his beverage, a glass of water.
Now, time to talk business. We have been invited by MacCallister to this underground39 joint, to listen to whatever band is playing, with good seats, and then a discussion of business. If i was a Johnson wishing to discuss business, then this would be a great place to do it. Lots of noise to hide our voices as we talk, large crowd to get lost in, and home field advantage. Can someone find a layout of the place? Id like to know where all the exits are before going there, in case the excrement hits the oscillating device.
A contact of mine said he was a former runner, turned fixer. He, my contact, is working on getting more info.
"I prefer to hang back and let others do the talking. One of you guys can transmit to me so I can listen while I stay anonymous and watch the crowd. I'll try to get the buzz of the place and see what else might be going on. You know runners, always an angle..." Crix trails off as he swigs his beer.
"A sound precaution Crix." Miyako says, checking the time on her eye's overlay. "It's time we got going. I suggest that we do not arrive together."
When you all arrive at Underworld 39, you are struck by its unassuming appearance: it looks like your typical ferrocrete warehouse, with a simple steel plate hanging over the entrance with the club's name. This is just in the meat world though. It's much more impression through AR, which uses neon lettering for the club's name along with the club's logo, Charon steering a speedboat through the river Styx. The club's geotag informs you that the club was, at one point, the spot for the "who's who" of Seattle. While the fickle tastes of the younger generation have moved on, the club still has a reputation as being a place to see the hottest music of yesterday and today. Jetblack, Shield Wall, CrimeTime, DarkVine, Blitzkrieg, the Psychedelic Phlegm. All have graced the stage at Underworld 39 at one time or another, and now it looks like another big name is hitting the stage tonight.
A sizable crowd is gathered at the crowd, and the line to get in surrounds the building. A pair of intimidating troll bouncers in expensive tailored suits stand guard at the door and ignore the large majority of the crowd like they weren't even there. They only let someone in after consulting an actual paper list on a clipboard. That's one way to make the guest list unhackable: just write it down. An ARO in front of the building explains the crowd: Mercurial is playing an unannounced concert at 7:30 tonight.
"So we just drop MacCallister's name and walk right in?" Crix confirms, pulling up his jacket in a subconscious attempt to remain unidentifiable in a crowd this large.
So the message said. You guys wanna go in all at once or seperately or what?
"I'm guessing it won't matter how we come in if we all use the front door..." Crix says, hoping to spy another means of entrance.
Miyako sub-vocalizes the the group, weaving through traffic on her bike, "As I said earlier, we shouldn't be seen to arrive together, just a precaution. Here's a copy of the information my contact sent me, our MacCallister's an old time hacker, seems legit, well as legit as old-time hackers can be."
Roll an Infiltration + Agility Test to avoid detection (in this case, it is being discreet rather than not being seen at all, due to the crowds all around the building), and a Perception + Intuition Test to see what you can find.
Crix looks around for a way in that's a little less obvious.
Allowing Crix the honour of being the sneak on this meet, Miyako parks her bike in a relatively well-lit location, activated its security systems and walked to the club.
Pausing briefly to take in the scene, a semi-organized queue snaked around the warehouse, groups of people loitering here and there. The occasional self-important party goer approached the imposing doormen at the head of the line. Almost all were casually rebuffed and sent away dissappointed.
Miyako made her was across the street, straight for the doormen. Knowing that most if not all of those in the line-up were now watching her approach, expecting another display of humiliation.
Waiting patiently for the doorman to acknowledge her presence, he turned to her with a mixture of boredom and disdain.
"MacCallister party" Miyako says softly.
Jack waits a few minutes after Miyako goes through to make his way to the doors, attempting to avoid notice on the way.
Just one of the Sheeple. Baaa.
When he gets to the door, he speaks discreetly to the door guard, I am here for the McCallister party.
Sitting upon his bike, Skull pops a cigar into his mouth and smokes, thinking. Looking at the building, he looks at the corners and nods to himself.
Simple concrete. easy to demo he says.
With the cigar hanging from his mouth, a noticible smoke trail flowing behind him, Skull stomps up to the front doors, staring at those that wish they could do what he does.
Looking at the troll, He waves his hand in a dismissive fashion as he walks past the wanna-bes.
McCallister party. I can see my self in, thanks
Your looking around has got you noticed by the guard, who gives you a suspicious look and makes a "move along" gesture to you. While it doesn't look like they deem you any sort of threat--yet--further snooping will definitely get you an unpleasant response.
The bouncer asks for your names, and after they're given, he checks his list and nods. Welcome to Underworld 39. Weapons aren't allowed in the club, so any hardware you might be carrying will need to be checked into the security booth in the foyer there. An escort will be waiting on the other side of the scanners to take you to your booth. Enjoy the show. the troll says dryly.
In the foyer of the club, a large crowd mills around, posing for the press or their me-feeds, or gawking at the signed posters of various bands hanging all around. Two well dressed but dangerous looking bouncers man the MAD scanner.
The security booth is encased in bulletproof glass and guests are handing in their weapons, which are tagged with a number and a paper slip given back.
Miyako's professional eye scans the security arrangements in the foyer. Simplistic but effective. She moves through the crowd, unremarked by anyone except for one man more interested in her Phychosomatic tour T-shirt than her.
Entering the queue at the security kiosk, she notes the general unease most have with relinquishing their weapons. She experiences none of this as she turns over her Hammerli and knife; her expressionless gaze falling on the pallid elf manning the kiosk.
Taking her ticket, she walks though the scanners without a glance at the bouncers.
His guns and knife being just a backup anyway, Jack hands them to the security folks, takes his slip, and proceeds through the scanners.
Crix enters the same way as the others, smiling to himself as he approaches the scanner. His small arsenal would take a while to unload and tag, but the lack of it only made him slightly less dangerous.
Rolling his eyes, skull approaches the caged area.
weapons huh? easy enough. Skull says as he draws out his warhawk.
Taking the chit, he walks through the scanner, knowing full well that the ammo that he has retained will set off the scanners.
Hey, no weapons. Nothing said about carrying your ammo. Besides, not like i have anything on me that i can use it with.
Getting past the MAD goons, Skull swings by the Bar.
1 beer and a dozen lemons, please.
[ooc]GM, is there exposed wiring inside the building?
Once inside, Crix begins gathering a pocket full of random items, such as coins, pens, heavy buttons, shot glasses, etc.