Shadowrun: Seattle – Campaign Conclusion

SHADOWRUN: SEATTLE – CAMPAIGN CONCLUSION

PREVIOUS: Mission 26: Checkmate

NEXT: Shadowrun: Seattle – Home

That’s the end of season two of our Shadowrun campaign. It ran a lot longer than I expected it to, with nearly twice as many sessions and runs completed than in the first season in Denver. Our adventures together spanned an additional three years, representing five years in total with the characters our new group started with in Denver. That alone is incredible to me and we have been very fortunate to have such a stable and regular group to build this story together.

Though things have gotten a lot busier for me in my regular life, I continually look forward to our game nights. The players have each come a long way as a group and I have gathered a lot of experience as a GM. I still have a little bit more in store for this ongoing campaign, the players and the characters, but more on that later.

Denver was really a street level campaign. Though the team got involved in higher level things as time went on, it was largely the street level that captured the look and feel of the Shadowrun world. With this campaign, they already had a lot of experience and consequently, things escalated quickly into world spanning events and conflicts. More of fantasy heroes type genre conventions.

On one hand, this was fun in its own rights, but a number of players did point out that it got away from some of the core draw of the Shadowrun universe. Going forward, we’ll be trying to address some of that, though we do find ourselves in an interesting situation where the characters can outgrow their world.

By the end of this campaign, each of the players had grown powerful enough and obtained enough gear that, short of intentionally stripping them of their assets in a Metroid-sequal event, they were incredibly resilient. Gangers, even in mass, were no problem. Knight Errant, unless equipped to the gills and throwing hundreds of thousands of nuyen of equipment at them, were similarly outgunned. The military started having sufficient assets to deal with them and certainly dragons and other high power, high stat characters like Father Antenor could go toe-to-toe with them, but most common foes were no longer a threat.

This did force an emphasis on role-playing and made me come up with interesting situations and moral questions to try and throw at the players rather than being combat focused. Often I would threaten their contacts more-so than them, such as capturing Detrius and placing him in a precarious situation. The danger was in losing something else they cared about, not their own safety.

But when things did devolve to combat, which is really part of the fun, it was difficult to ever make the players really feel like they were threatened. Consequently, that made street level play unattainable while constantly throwing military grade enemies against them felt out of touch with the setting.

This is a power-creep issue faced by a number of games and I won’t solve it here, but it makes for a compelling argument for shorter campaigns with characters of limited scope. In an ongoing campaign, those characters and their choices can continue to have effects on the world, even becoming NPCs encountered in follow up campaigns or even make occasional appearances for high level play. This is what we will be doing in season three of our campaign.

When I first started sketching out this season during the Denver campaign, my writing was a lot more linear and less open ended. While I tried not to railroad the players, I felt pretty confident about the choices they would make and where things would end up. This campaign taught me to open up those expectations as the players frequently bucked those plans.

Over time the end opened up to the point that I didn’t even exactly know what direction this campaign would go or what would be in store for the next season. Though it did end up where I expected, with the defeat of Father Antenor, it didn’t get their as I thought it would. That they even considered his offer and went with him had me making plans in case they decided to end the campaign in support of him instead of defeating him.

While that is definitely no longer the case, I did end up putting together a lot of ideas of where that might go. Whatever their altruistic intents, they were siding with evil and I intended to manipulate them as much as possible with the corrupting influence it brings. Whether they succumbed to temptation or resisted and rebelled would have formed the basis of the next season.

For Marius, he intended to take over Ares and to make it a more wholesome, accountable company, pushing to eliminate extraterritoriality laws, shady business practices and use of Shadowrunners. I planned to manipulate those intents by creating a little side game for him where he managed the company’s practices. Over time, he would face numerous decisions and difficulties, corporate assets being absorbed by other companies, attacks from rival companies and shadow teams, declining profits, a work force that didn’t feel safe, etc. My goal, if he couldn’t resist my tempting, would be to try and twist the player into making some of the same decisions as a businessman that he had detested as a Shadowrunner, becoming the evil he resented so much.

For Bear, I did fully intend on reuniting him with his family, as Father Antenor would have that unholy power. But he would suffer for it. Such a ritual would not come cheap, requiring Bear to gather all sorts of artifacts and materials  as well as, eventually, sacrifices. Little by little, my intent was to manipulate him into blood magic. Finally, whether the family he wanted would be whole after such an experience was still in question.

Those two were the most thought out, though I was beginning to lay the groundwork for the others as well, trying to find equally tempting and corrupting elements to include. With Wheeler, encouraging his decent into uncaring violence as a Vampire. With Cho, embracing some of her pyschotic tendencies that had begun to manifest, particularly with the knives she took from Levi. Which Chekhov, perhaps convincing him to destroy the Druidic orders he loved so much. Finally Jade, who might be convinced to attract and raise displaced youth to become effective pawns in Father Antenor’s machinations.

In the end, the intent was to see if they would march themselves into damnation and the fate of the world along with them, or if they would finally see the error of their ways and find some way to stop Father Antenor and his increasing power base.

Sadly, we’ll never get to see how that would have turned out, as they did decide to turn on him in the end. But there is plenty more to look forward to!

We’re on a slight hiatus right now while I get things ready for season three. We’re taking a break by having each of the players take a turn behind the GM screen to run a session or two for the group. When that is done, we’ll explore a new campaign arc that will get back to the street level roots, explore the upside down world the team left of in and even visit some rarely explored Shadowrun settings.

Next up, is ???!

– Geoff

PREVIOUS: Mission 26: Checkmate

NEXT: Shadowrun: Seattle – Home

Seattle Mission 26: Checkmate

SEATTLE MISSION 26: CHECKMATE Written by: ???           Played on: 26 Apr 2014

PREVIOUS: Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 2

NEXT: Shadowrun: Denver – Campaign Conclusion

The six, Father Antenor’s creations such as they may be, trained for over a month in our care in Tir Tairngire, preparing for what was to come. In the grand scheme of time, a month is nothing and woefully inadequate time to prepare for what must be done, but such is the speed this Sixth Age acts in that we must move swiftly to capitalize on the situation.

My days have been spent coordinating the states and corporations who saw to the success of our plan, though at a great cost to all. Lofwyr’s fleet, provided by Saeder-Krupp, made the long voyage from Europe under absolute secrecy. Haulpa’s resistance fighters massed in the jungles south of Aztlan. It would be too much to hope that Father Antenor missed all of the signs, only enough to keep him guessing as to our true plan.

It was a desperate gamble to place all of our hopes in the arms of mortals, though it is so often from their ranks that the great changes of the ages are born. Indeed, even Antenor was once mortal, a shamen of a remote, mountain tribe of no consequence in the Fourth Age. Still we risked much to achieve our ends and we will pay for our actions one way or another.

We met them aboard the SKS Lowfyr, the newest super carrier and crowning jewel of the Saeder-Krupp fleet as the battle group moved into position with the small Tir Tairngire fleet and troop carriers. Lowfyr joined us in the bottom decks along with Lona Shalandalan and Zutal Meraerth.

Lona and Zutal have served as the stewards of Gwynedd’s Shield for the last thousand years and have served the order for nearly an Age. They have grown to become powerful mages and Dunkelzahn felt they were worthy of our greatest secrets, though the others disagreed. I am uncertain. They have served this world faithfully and know some of the darkest threats that face it, but they do not know all of them and I am afraid that none ever should.

Overhead, the assault on Aztlan began while the four of us spun magic, tracing the lines of magic leading back to Father Antenor’s hold. It took time to unweave the layers of magic intertwined with Astral space, but we were born from its threads and none are better suited to the work than we.

The Marahal team, as the elf Marius occasionally referred to the group, along with an assault team of a dozen Tir Tairngire Black Dagger Ghosts left immediately with the artifacts and our last prayers while we took to the fight to the Aztlan forces, keeping them occupied and unable to respond to Antenor’s orders or requests for assistance.

Captain Jorel reported that the insertion, a HALO jump through withering anti-aircraft fire, went off smoothly, though the tilt wing cargo plane they were aboard succumbed to enemy fire and crashed in the desert. Artillery bombardments from the coast and several bombing runs had weakened the base and left its defenses in shambles. The Marahal team was able to use the Ghosts as a decoy, infiltrating through another part of the facility and flanking the defenders. Together they were able to breach to the center of the stronghold.

The Captain was unable to tell me more as his team covered their retreat while the Marahal team entered to face Father Antenor. His apologies were most unnecessary as our connection with the Scrolls of Ak’lear and the Jewel of Memory are entwined with their creation. All of the five Great Dragons were well aware of the events that transpired in that room and all too familiar with the same events that occurred in the Fifth Age.

When the artifacts were created and invoked against Xiuhcoatl, an army a million strong was rallied against his forces in order to reach the great beast. Even with seven great dragons, the battle was very nearly lost and dark things were encountered within the great rift.

Xiuhcoatl’s power was great and though only a fraction of it was conferred to Father Antenor, it is enough that none us would face him alone or on his own terms, so he has kept us at a safe distance all these millennia. Even with the artifacts stripping him of the chaotic powers of Xiuhcoatl, we fear what we might find within the great rift even more. The conflux of energy between the rift and our own energies might be enough to let the terrible Horrors of the deep metaplanes into this world.

Father Antenor has already hastened their time in this age with the deaths of Dunkelzahn, Ghostwalker and the orchestration of the Great Ghost Dance, hastening the influx of mana back into the world and setting the stage for the greatest of Xiuhcoatl’s minions.

The Marahal team successfully engaged the artifact before Father Antenor and his followers could stop them. As they discovered, the completion of the ritual resulted in a surge of Astral energy, collapsing the layers of the physical world into the overlapping metaplanes, all fallen into a singularity of twisting and tearing energy. There they faced an ever changing, twisting labyrinth of corridors through Astral space and the dangers of the ever changing planes surrounding them. Trapped with them within the singularity, somewhere amongst the flux and surge of energy, was Father Antenor and his men.

Antenor likely held the advantage still, given his age, experience with the deep metaplanes and with Xiuhcoatl’s magic. Even so, the twisting energies of the singularity disrupted the other worldly power of Xiuhcoatl, just as it did to the beast when we faced him. Just like that last battle, Antenor was no doubt still dangerous, containing plenty of his own, innate magical ability.

Miraculously, through it all, the Marahal team was able to find and engage Father Antenor and eventually eked out victory. As the artifact’s connection to the embodiment of Xiuhcoatl’s power was severed, the conflux of Astral planes began to collapse. The team was able to find their way free and flee the facility as the rift grew into a stable vortex, marking the site of their great battle like the one atop the council chambers in Denver and the rift in Washington D.C. marking the deaths of two other incredible powers.

They returned, expecting I suppose to be greeted by trumpets and universal good tidings, but that is not the way this world works. Perhaps not the way it has ever worked. Even in death, Father Antenor’s machinations continue to be felt and there are penalties to be paid for our actions, however just.

News agencies, powerful in ways only Dunkelzahn truly appreciated, have condemned the combined surprise attack on Aztlan, gathering public opinion against us. Even in Tir Tairngire, the citizens have already begun to rise up, protesting their government’s actions even though they do not understand their importance.

The forces of Amazonia continue to invade north into Aztlan, though the country has counterattacked into the PCC where Tir forces were granted safe passage. Aztechnology has been lending their corporate backing to near global backing from the population. The CAS felt the time was right to reopen old wounds and attacked Tir Tairngire, claiming much of the southern territory while troops were occupied abroad.

Our intelligence assets are still investigating, but a series of explosions and attacks were perpetrated in Seattle, Moscow, London, Sydney and numerous other capitals and major cities around the world hours after the war began. Public blame has been levied at EarthFirst! following the release of a number of videos, purporting to be members of the organization acting with the support of Tir Tairngire. Gwynedd’s Shield has already begun to cover up and sever our connection with the organization, but it is only a matter of time before the news outlets uncover some missed detail connecting us with them and circumstantially proving we were the source of the attacks. Likely they were teams activated by Father Antenor in a last ditch bid to distract our attention and discredit our cause. He has been more than successful, even if it did not prevent his death.

Even Saeder-Krupp is not beyond reproach. With their involvement in the condemned attacks on Aztlan. The Corporate Court is arranging a vote and it is expected that, but this time tomorrow, it will strip the court seat and AAA status from Saeder-Krupp and name another representative. As one of the few organizations not controlled by Father Antenor’s pawns, this is a terrible loss that will allow the corporations to expand their power unchecked and without our influence.

In the end, we are weaker than we have been in a long time and suffered great setbacks, but not without great victories. If nothing else can be said of today’s actions, it is this:

The last great pawn of Xiuhcoatl in this world, Father Antenor, is dead. Though his plans and machinations live on and must be chased down, a great blow has been dealt against the forces of Chaos. Mortals have once again proven that they are capable of the most extraordinary feats and well suited to protect this world of theirs. We owe the Marahal team for everything we have earned today.

I place this message and the full contents of my memories of today’s events within the Jewel of Memory, hoping that it may never be required again. But if it should, may the events and hardships encountered be both a warning and encouragement to those who wield this power in the future in defense of this world against the Entity of Chaos.

In addition to the events described above of the characters’ struggles, they were also notified, upon their return, that a great number of friends had been caught up in the last month. As Father Antenor scoured the world trying to find them, a number of the contacts they networked with most often and most recently were swept up and ultimately killed. Most painful among them was the death of their former employer and friend, Raven in Denver.

PREVIOUS: Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 2

NEXT: Shadowrun: Denver – Campaign Conclusion

Seattle Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 2

SEATTLE MISSION 25: THE JEWEL OF MEMORY – PART 2 Written by: Marius           Played on: 12 Apr 2014

PREVIOUS: Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 1

NEXT: Mission 26: Checkmate

After taking the drones apart, we explore the facility. The bottom floor is deserted. We find the stairwell and ascend. The second floor is a barracks facility, bunks, showers. The second floor shows signs of recent use, but is empty.

We move to the third floor, but three men with lasers take out the spy fly drone we send ahead. Cho, her drones, and I get in the elevator and press the button for floor three. We hold the doors until after Wheeler has thrown a grenade up the stairs, trying to exit while they are distracted. He takes laser fire in response.

This is the first time I’ve thrown a heavy contingent of Deckers against the party. Generally, I refrain from too many hacking related enemies, even though it is a staple of the genre, as we specifically chose to ignore 4th Editions complicated hacking rules when we first began.

It would be unfair to punish them with Matrix attacks if they had no defense against it, so I was originally planning to use the Decker’s defensively. Shutting down the elevator, managing building security, etc. It was only when Cho began trying to hack directly against them and their security that I had them take direct action against the team.

In the elevator, Cho and I are trapped between floors when the elevator is suddenly shut down externally. I shoot out the camera and begin prying open the doors. Wheeler’s grenade goes off and we hear sporadic gunfire. “One down,” Wheeler says. More gunfire.

“Wheeler’s down!” Chekov yells. “Might as well drop that invisibility spell.” I continue to try and open the elevators. Cho squeezes out and draws her sniper rifle and fires, I don’t know who she was shooting at, or what the result was. Continuing to try and pry the doors open I am working up quite the sweat.

“You are going to die in here,” Jackie says. “You are running out of air.”

“That’s ludicrous, the door is ajar.” The elf replies.

“Yeah, but your armor is blocking your air. And you can’t bandage your wounds without taking it off. you are not under fire, you should take it off.”

“Perhaps you are right, Jackie.” the elf says. “If I can take care of some of the fatigue with stim patches, I could probably pry the door open.” Marius begins stripping off his armor.

“Better take off everything to check for other wounds.” Jackie recommends.

“Good idea, buddy.” The elf replies. Unbenkownst to Marius at the time, Wheeler drained the remaining two deckers of essence while they were in VR. The elevator doors finally open after the team calls the elevator up to the floor. They are quire surprised to find a naked elf inside.

We spend a few minutes bandaging each other. Bear performs magical healing on the party as well. I put my armor back on and Chekov covers the lobby while we head up to the next floor.

On the fifth floor we find a space where the command staff would occupy. Double doors separate us from the unsearched space. “Something big happened recently, we are going to be facing one powerful blood mage.” Bear informs us.

The room is opulently appointed. The nicest stuff has been ripped off, but the room is still nice. The room is smokey with thick pillars. Nothing is immediately seen until a man in full Azatlan combat armor greets us from the head of the room. “Father said to expect you.”

“It’s no use, you are outnumbered by a superior force. Surrender.” Marius says

“Yeah that’s going to work…” Jackie says. The blood mage just laughs.

“Have it your way,” Marius says, taking aim at the man’s head he opens fire, missing. The mage erects a physical barrier and summons two blood spirits. The rest of us make attacks, having no effect. I duplicate that same attack again, missing again. Chekov calls spirits fourth to fight the blood spirits. Another armored guy bursts out of one of the offices wielding a gun. Bear loses an arrow striking the blood mage on the edge of his neck as the barrier finally drops. He goes down in a hurry.

Use of Edge and a lucky roll can sometimes take all the teeth out of an encounter.

“Drop your weapons!” I say to the two guys who burst out of the offices.

“Just shoot them!” Jackie yells. “They are not going to drop their weapons”

“Fine, have it your way,” I say back to Jackie, as I open fire on one of the guys. Two three round burst strike center mass but fail to drop the street samurai. A second guard comes running out with a sword, but the blow bounces off my armor.

Chekhov runs to the fallen mage Itztli while Jade defends him from nearby attackers. Chekov delivers a massive axe blow to the fallen mage, his skull is split in twain. At that moment, the cranial bomb the man had implanted goes off, covering Chekov and Jade in gore, and pain.

Of course, some encounters have teeth whether the enemy is up or down. It is apparently common practice and specifically mentioned in Itztli’s character bio in Dawn of the Artifacts that Aztlan blood mages are equipped with cranial bombs set to go off when their biomonitor flat lines, preventing recovery of their bodies. This makes for a sticky situation when the killing blow comes from an up close and personal axe strike to the head.

I light up the man with the sword with the under-barrel flamethrower. He attacks Bear while in full flame. I get shot with a laser rifle from elsewhere, but Wheeler quickly kills the guy. Bear kills the guy with the sword that I set on fire. Cho fires a burst at one of the other guys, missing. Jade fights off one of the blood spirits. Chekov, miraculously still on his feet despite an explosion to his face, casts a mana bolt at a guy. Soon, all is quiet.

We are able to find the artifact after some searching, the same artifact we stole so long ago and, coincidentally, encountered by Wheeler’s great-great-great-grandfather so long ago.

In addition to stealing the artifact for the Triad, Wheeler recognized a sketch of the artifact after finishing the WWII journal passed down to him from his father.

We grab some guns on the way out and make it back to the SSC without incident. We stow our gear in bags and head south to Tir Tangier. We head to the border of the nation where we are the most wanted people in the country. Unsurprisingly, we are immediately taken into custody. Mage cuffs are placed on the mages, headware jammers are placed on us and we spend a significant amount  of time face down on the asphalt.

People keep coming in and pulling rank. We have been passed through custody of about six different officers by the end. We are black bagged and shoved into a vehicle which travels for several hours. We walk a few miles at one point to another vehicle. Finally, we are placed in a building and made to wait several hours.

The bags are removed and we find we are in a luxurious mansion. Zutal is entering the room and immediately has us uncuffed. He asks us to follow him so we can meet some others. They are very interested in our remaining tatoo, indicating they may be able to back track to Father Antenor via the tattoos using a ritual. Among them are a few members of the Council of Princes and the High Prince of Tir Tairngire.

The Scrolls of Ak’Le’Ar that Father Antenor originally sent us to obtain are brought out. One of the women named Lona, identified as the leader of an organization known as Gwynedd’s Shield, takes the scrolls.

The other woman speaks briefly, “We must not combine the artifacts until it is time, it will give away our purpose. I will return to Amazonia to prepare our forces to aid the Tir in war on Azatlan.” She walks out to the balcony, transforming into a feathered dragon and leaps off. That was Haulpa, the leader of Amazonia.

Zutal turns to us. “You will train with Lona. Together, we will take this fight to Father Antenor.”

The end of the log got a little rushed and sparse on details. After turning themselves in, the team met the leaders of the organization known as Gwynedd’s Shield and the answers to a lot of questions.

Gwynedd’s Shield has stood against Father Antenor, his forces and the forces of his master since the Third Age. Their own name, Father Antenor’s name, the name of his organization and the name of the great evil he represents have changed multiple time throughout the ages. Sometimes as part of the evolution of language throughout the ages and other times deliberately when they were forced to hide

Most recently, the great evil Father Antenor was aligned with was that known as Xiuhcoatl, the Aztec fire deity. By this point, especially with the revelation of Haulpa before, the players had put together that our small side game of D&D between Denver and Seattle was actually a part of the same story-line, introducing the dragons and the evil they sought to stop.

In that game, the players worked with Haulpa and the other great dragons to stop Malak Al-Maut in his bid to return and drive the world into chaos. Their actions would end up severing the world from its Divine Chord and ultimately cause the end of the First Age of magic, implying the source of the cycle of magic that continued through the modern era.

Ultimately, the remains of Malak Al-Maut was defeated and banished in the Third Age by the combined forces of the dragons and the metahumans of the world at great cost. His power persisted, however, and his greatest general, Father Antenor, lived on throughout the ages, gathering power, resources and knowledge, working tireless to unravel the secrets to resurrecting his defeated master and end the dragon’s ability to defeat him again.

To that end, he organized the death of two great dragons, Dunkelzahn who died years prior in Shadowrun lore and Ghostwalker whom the team delivered to his end, ensured the original seven dragons would never again be able to fabricate the tools of Malak Al-Maut’s destruction. His attempts to destroy the remaining artifacts would have ensured their victory could never be achieved again.

Due to the team’s choices, the artifacts were reunited and could instead be used to strip Father Antenor of the considerable power granted to him by his master. Though he would still be a dangerous, powerful mage, the team would at least have a chance at defeating him. Organizing with the Tir Tairngire government and the forces of Amazonia, a war was in the works that would create the opening the team needed to reach him in Azatlan.

PREVIOUS: Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 1

NEXT: Mission 26: Checkmate

Seattle Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 1

SEATTLE MISSION 25: THE JEWEL OF MEMORY – PART 1 Written by: Marius           Played on: 12 Apr 2014

PREVIOUS: Mission 24: The Viper That Stings

NEXT: Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 2

We get hooked up with a guy named “Streets” through Raven. We secure a place for a week, and decide we are going to move every week. The place is in the SSC. We spend our second week in a new location before finally getting the call we’re waiting for.

“Good evening,” Zutal greets us. “As we discussed the last time we met, you have expressed an interest in proving you are no friend to Father Antenor. We lost a very important artifact known as the Jewel of Memory. It was on it’s way from Loftwyr when it was intercepted. I will send you a copy of the footage of the team that stole it.”

We review the footage for all of 30 seconds before we realize the team was us, and Zutal knows it. It was transferred into their custody through the Triad after we stole it for Hui Cheng Shun. “We have been exhausting every avenue of intelligence trying to locate it. Every time we find it they move it. This time, however, we are close. We know Father Antenor has to wait for certain astrological phenomena to line up before his ritual will work. With two of the seven great dragons that created it dead, we could not re-create the magic that built the artifact. We need to get the artifact back. We know the artifact is in a barrens warehouse, guarded by a bloodmage named Itztli.”

Itztli is the same Azatlan blood-mage who foiled the team and Frosty when they tried to recover the Sextant of Worlds.

Zutal gives us a contact with the Ancients Elf biker gang. I speak with a woman named Sting who agrees to get us some gear, a coyote, and help with an extraction.

We meet the ancients at a clubhouse in the barrens. They have a group of a dozen on standby for our extraction. “Zutal specifically asked me to keep an eye on you. I have a gift for you of sorts. This is a trophy taken from a long time ago. She hands over the Kingpin Rifle.

This was another custom weapon I had created for the team. I was really trying to push weapons and styles that the players didn’t frequently use, in this case an exotic under-barrel weapon and full auto machine gun, to provoke the occasional new play style. The stat sheet can be downloaded here.

We roll up on an Ares warehouse, it features thick, heavy plasticrete construction. It looks like the place could withstand an explosion. The facility is surrounded by a ten foot plasticrete wall. There is an aluminum gate blocking the opening. There are plasticrete pillars that are in place to block vehicles. The building has some window slits in the corners, it was clearly designed with defense in mind. It has a military vibe. None of the windows open, or are blown out. There are probably firing ports present. Floating above the roofline there are six, light aerial drones keeping a lookout.

“Hey chummer,” It’s Jackie, he has called me and my commlink has auto answered for some reason.

Though his player knows, Marius hasn’t quite put together that he’s a crackpot yet. It makes for hilarity.

“Not now Jackie, I’m on a job.”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about. You need to ditch those stun grenades sir. I happen to know the team inside that warehouse will be shooting to kill, they know you are coming and they have been instructed to use APDS and blood magic against you.”

“How do you know about any of this?”

“I have a man in Father Antenor’s crew. Trust me, go in heavy.”

“Ok, Jackie… Thanks for the heads up. Look about last time…”

“Don’t worry about it. Friends don’t let things like that come between each other. Remember, I’m the only one you can trust.”

Marius turns his attention back to the team channel as Wheeler goes over the wall and begins to speak. “Looks like this facility used to be a Knight Errant barracks and training ground.  Yeah, this looks reaaal military. Looks like it has not been used for that in quite some time however.” There is a long pause before he continues. “We got three hostiles. Military grade armor and laser rifles. One of them has an assault cannon. We have a few vans outside, a few armored SUVs too. One of the SUVs is blocking the gate, we will not be able to get our bikes through. I’m at the front door. It does not look real fortified, but I’m going to plant demo anyway.”

I notice Bear is freaking out, I go over and try to console him.

Bear has succumbed to his PTSD roll and is just beginning to lose it.

“Marius,” It’s Jackie. “I’m going to try and hack the door for you. Be ready.”

“Jackie, don’t fuck around. We have a plan.”

“Your plan probably sucks, besides, you do things the pussy way. And I already have access to the node, odd, there is someone else here… whatever. I’m gonna send a few data spikes his way. Shit, this not working. I got booted by a spider. Sorry bro”

“No worries, Cho opened it.” At that moment, Cho drops her commlink as it sparks to pieces. Her icon drops from the group chat. I no longer have awareness of her location on my AR compass.

Cho decided to try to use her commlink for some light hacking, despite not having much in the way of skills and be grossly under equipped on the hardware side. With some generous use of Edge, she was able to get in, but not before alerting hackers who made quick work of her light equipment.

“Frag out,” Wheeler whispers over comms. “Shit they heard it.” The three men dive for cover inside the complex while I drop the first drone with two three round burst of fire. Cho grabs Chekov’s commlink and begins going to work trying to hack into her own drones that she lost control of along with her commlink. Chekov casts a spell, I feel even more armored than before as a bluish glow surrounds me.

“Marius, you look like a giant tank, you need to get in there and help out your friend. He is going to get killed.”

“How do you know? Are you here somewhere?” The elf asks in return.

“I hacked back onto the node, I have grabbed the security feed. Your vampire friend is in major trouble.He is being fired at by an assault cannon.”

“Who? I don’t know any vampires.” I stammer, drying to bluff Jackie.

“Whatever, you can tell by looking at him. He just shot a guy, but he needs your help. Put Kingpin to use! KILL! KILL!”

Marius is sprinting towards the sounds of gunfire, “Shut the frag up! I’m on my dreking way, Wheeler.” Marius runs up and throws his rifle over the van’s hood. Checkov leans up against the wall nearby. Wheeler pops up and takes a few shots, dropping the man with the cannon. He takes some fire from a laser rifle. Marius unleashes a ten round burst dropping one of the riflemen.

Wheeler drops the last rifleman, drops a grenade at the corner of the building and runs away. The two guards round the corner, one drops to a knee and takes aim. I open the armored SUV, it has a concealed weapon mount. “Jackie, can you crack into this vehicle and control it?” Jackie says he cannot. “Alright, I’m going to disable it.” About that time I see outside the window that a grenade has gone off, shredding the guy kneeling over it.

I exit the SUV into the courtyard, and ready my grenade launcher to take out the SUV and it’s rigger controlled gun. As I am lining up the shot, I see Bear charge past the van and leap at Jade slashing with both blades. Spirit combat and gunfire are erupting behind me. “Bear, watch the friendly fire buddy, that’s Jade.”

“Clearly he has gone mad, he is going to kill you next. You better take him out while you can.” Jackie laughs.

“Shut the fuck up, Jackie.” I say, as I grenade the fuck out of the van. Turrets burst forth from three other SUVs. ”Frag me to death,” Marius says aloud. The elf is sprayed down with a full auto burst from one of the gunnery rigs. Walking casually forward through the hail of automatic gunfire, I let fly two grenades at the offending van. They detonate, but the target remains. Gunfire erupts inside the building, grenades are going off outside, turrets are belching fire, laser fire rains down from the 4th floor windows, pandemonium reigns. Those of us outside sprint for the lobby, figuring the drones will be more forgiving than the turrets and lasers. The turrets outside continue to pulverize the doorway.

PREVIOUS: Mission 24: The Viper That Stings

NEXT: Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 2

Seattle Mission 24: The Viper That Stings

SEATTLE MISSION 24: THE VIPER THAT STINGS Written by: Marius           Played on: 25 Mar 2014

PREVIOUS: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 4

NEXT: Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 1

Yet to be written…

Eventually this placeholder post will be replaced with a final log entry (once a player writes it). The major plot points were:

Having decided to accompany Father Antenor, they are taken to a secret facility somewhere in the Aztlan dessert. After some time, they are finally called upon to complete their first mission as a demonstration of their commitment. 

They must capture one of the leaders of the forces opposing them, who ordered the attacks on the team and Father Antenor in Seattle. By any means necessary, they must interrogate him and discover the location of an artifact known as the Scrolls of Ak’Le’Ar. Once the location has been discovered, they must kill him and return with the information to Father Antenor.

The only problem is that he is hiding out in the capital building of the Tir Tairngire and their target turns out to be none other than Zutal mage, the elf they met on their very first day in Seattle.

The team finds a coyote who will run the Tir border with their gear and makes it into Portland. After several days of reconnaissance, they eventually determine a plan to get in with limited gear that can pass through the MAD detectors. Wheeler, unfortunately, is detected as an unregistered Vampire and is taken into custody.

The others get through security into the restricted areas and are eventually able to track down and rescue Wheeler, but not before an alarm is raised. They disguise themselves as security, procuring their weapons, and head off to find Zutal.

They find him hidden away in one of the High Princes’ chambers, but are discovered, ending in a firefight between a small team of security and his personal bodyguard. They kill the others and manage to sedate Zutal. Through luck and creative thinking, they are able to escape, but have to leave their van and a large supply of their gear behind.

They get back out of the Tir the same way they got in, but rouse and drug Zutal for the interrogation enroute. Eventually, under the influence of drugs, reveals the location of the scrolls with Haulpa, the great dragon who rules over Amazonia. They also decide they would rather be on Zutal’s side and help to take down Father Antenor. Despite just attacking him, the team manages to convince Zutal to at least trust them a little bit.

He is released and they go into hiding while he plans a test of their true loyalty.

PREVIOUS: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 4

NEXT: Mission 25: The Jewel of Memory – Part 1

Seattle Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 4

SEATTLE MISSION 23: EVERY MAN’S DEVIL – PART 4 Written by: Bear           Played on: 01 Mar 2014

PREVIOUS: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 4

NEXT: Mission 24: The Viper That Stings

As we walked the short distance Mr. Johnson again speaks, “I’ve been pleased with your performance. I would like to offer you all a more permanent position. You see, we are a group that is dedicated to changing the status quo.”

It was at that moment when a robed man stepped from the chopper, he walked with an ornate staff and a large medallion hung around his neck, both ordained with a dragon. The staff had a golden dragon coiled along the shaft beneath a headpiece. The headpiece was unmistakable. The house, earth, sea and sky seemed to revolve around the winged beast in the medallion. The very image that has been burned into my new family, and I; the malevolence that has haunted my dreams, more so since it is the last that remains.

The other shoe! It is dropping! The robed man was recognized by a few of them as one they had met before in Denver.

The recognition hits each of us in turn as the man bows his head and offers the staff to Mr. Johnson. Dumb-founded, we all fail to react as Mr. Johnson nods to the robed man and turns to face us, “You see, the six of you have been on my mind for a while now. You have left many holes within my organization over the last few years, and even though you consistently evade our wishes, you have proven yourselves useful. I believe that each of you will be able to fill those jobs.”

He glanced across us, “The head of national security, a new general, leaders and protectors of those who rule the streets, and even those who watch over the wilds. You may think that you have cleared my side of my pawns, my knights, my bishops, my rooks, and even my queen. But there are more pieces to put into play. Those fools that you have cleared were just that, fools; stuck in their ways of thinking. All they wanted was power. They were driven by the sins of man, lusting for power and glory. But not you, no, the six of you are different. Together we can usher in a new age upon this planet. I would have you work for me, give you control where those who have fallen failed me, failed all of us. Don’t you see? Together we can help protect and defend the lives of countless people. You have proven yourselves time, and again to be survivors, each of you understands what is most important in this world. Even more so, you continue to surprise and prove your usefulness.”

He paused and is met with stark silence. For years we have fought, struggled, each of us has been moments from death. We’ve done regrettable deeds, lost friends and family, we’ve left a path of destruction in our wake and all he can say is that we’re ‘useful’? Why can’t we speak? Each of us was frozen in a moment of shock to not only be face-to-face, but to have just protected and shared our lives, with the conductor of our misfortunate lives.

“Ah. It seems, that quite reasonably, you are looking for a sign of faith. I assure you, that I mean you no harm, my name, is Father Antenor. I can assure you that there is great knowledge that comes with age, and I have seen this world… turn, a time, or two.” He picks his words carefully, but with practiced grace.

That was when the realization struck. We regained our ground and told the ‘father’ that we would not work for him. But I couldn’t help but see the glint in Wheeler and Marius’ eyes. They could be a UCAS General and Ares CEO respectively, if only they signed the dotted line.

Antenor’s eyes locked on to mine and in my head I told him that there was nothing he could offer me. To which he replied, “I could even bring back those who have been lost,” and images of my family and tribe flooded my mind.

Father Antenor made tempting offers for each of them. For Marius, it was the chance to take control of and institute the changes he desired so much in a AAA corp. For Bear, it was the possibility of reuniting with his family, though he could not be sure that such a miracle would be possible.

From there, things got very tense, although the voices of my family drowned-out much of what was said.

Where Wheeler and Marius were interested to see what Antenor had in mind, Cho and Jade refused. I was unsure of what to do until Antenor made it clear. “Very well, I would hate to lose the two of you, but it is your choice to stay here.” With that about a dozen men with heavy weaponry trained their guns on the two un-armed women while other guards offered rifles to Wheeler, Marius and myself, “Or you can come with us.”

The standoff was tense but the two outcomes were clear. Either, get in the chopper with Antenor, or gun down each other here in the hills.

“I need to know more” Cho said, her eyes staring fiercely at Antenor.

With a sigh, the Father began, “A long time ago, before dragons, it was people who ruled over this planet, men and women who ruled themselves. Then the dragons descended on this world and sought to seize power and take rule. Those times were dark, the masses rose up and were slain, but then there rose a power, strong enough to defeat the dragons. But before it could be used, the dragons sent that power out of the world. Our goal is simple, my organization and I seek to recover that power.”

Total bullshit. “How are we to trust you?” I asked, “You are responsible for so much of the darkness that looms inside each of us.”

Father Antenor looked to his open palms “Yes, this is…somewhat true, and I cannot undo what has been done. But you must agree. The years have made each of you strong. Your skills have been forged in the crucible of these struggles. It has made you useful. I can see that you, young dwarf, cannot be bought with money or status. But I could put you in a position to sway the way things are. My organization will leave the native tribes alone, and you could stop all other interference as well. Be both Bear and Eagle, watching over your kin and stopping those who wish them harm; maintaining their old ways, and traditions in peace. Can you do that on your own? Can you save them all?”

With those last words I heard the echoes of my broken promises. I knew what I had to fight for, I had no choice, I needed to know more.

“That’s all well and good,” thumped Jade. “But I do not trust you. Tell us more about this organization. You cause so much hurt, but you know the breadth of my wrath if you cross us.”

“The details of the power we seek and our organization will be revealed as necessary. But you know this. My offer is not given lightly. And it should not be accepted lightly either. There is no room for weakness, fear, or failure.” All signs of the lighthearted man we drove with were gone; this was a man of darkness who was, very clearly no ordinary man.

We agree and say that we will come, for now. Wheeler, Marius and I reluctantly remove our armor, disarm, and head to the helicopter. But Jade and Cho stand defiant. “Ladies?” inquired Father Antenor, “You must realize that there are many details that I’ve shared with you, if you do not come, there is only one other option.”

Realizing that it was worth dying for, but bullheaded to the end, Cho asks one final question, “What is the name of your organization?”

After a deep breath, Father Antenor obliges, “We have gone by many, but now we are known as The Smoking Mirror.”

With that, through clenched teeth Cho gives-in and Jade follows her lead. Their anger is palpable but they relinquish their equipment and the sense of tension on the look-out point drops, like the sun in the west. All of that was over their shit? Fucking women, that’s all they seem to care about sometimes, and even though Antenor swore our belongings would be returned, I couldn’t help but worry I wouldn’t see Claw or Talon again. But there was something darker in the two ladies, they didn’t like being taken.

Neither did the rest of us, we all get it. This man and his group cannot be trusted. With any luck, we will crumble it just like we’ve done before. But for now, Antenor forced our hand. Personally, I wasn’t about to die for my possessions and it was clear that Father Antenor had bigger things in mind for us and didn’t want to lose his investments. Even though we seemed to be but cogs in the machinery, we had value to him; and him, us. I wanted the information stored in this cruel man’s head. Besides, if push came to shove, we could easily bring down a chopper from the inside without the use of our gear.

We came to a temporary agreement and started toward the chopper. Father Antenor turned and faced the robed man who had handed him the staff, “Bishop Andraste, see that our guests are comfortable.” Once inside the engine kicks on, the blades spin, all electronic transmissions dropped-off and the windows went dark. Noticing our reactions to this, the Bishops assured us, “No worries friends its standard security. Secrecy, after all, is our greatest weapon.”

With that, we began to rise into the crisp spring evening air, to the unknown, to our future.

There was a lot of great role-playing all around in this scene. I was ready for a lot of different ways this scene could have played out, from the team jumping straight to a shootout to accepting his offer wholeheartedly. I didn’t actually have any real idea of how it would play out, but I didn’t actually expect that they would go with him. When confronted with the catalyst of their misfortune, it was hard to know what to expect from this group!

The role-playing went both ways, between the team and Father Antenor and even among themselves. The group was fairly evenly divided on what to do, with Marius and Wheeler being most interested in pursuing these opportunities and Jade and Cho being most set against it. Suggesting to the former two that they might have to kill their compatriots if they could not be convinced really brought it to a head, but also displayed the team’s inherent loyalty to each other… even though Wheeler did seem to be giving it some honest consideration.

Though he started out relegated to a couple of side missions, Mr. Johnson was always intended to be revealed as the source of their troubles.  Originally I hadn’t planned to introduce him until late in the campaign, but during play I realized this wouldn’t make for a very impactful reveal. When I had the opportunity, I instead introduced him during those earlier missions as he took a personal interest in them and setting the stage for this session’s big twist.

PREVIOUS: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 4

NEXT: Mission 24: The Viper That Stings

Seattle Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 3

SEATTLE MISSION 23: EVERY MAN’S DEVIL – PART 3 Written by: Bear           Played on: 01 Mar 2014

PREVIOUS: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 2

NEXT: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 4

“What about you my silent, brooding friend?” Mr Johnson’s eyes stare right through me, I’m not sure what it is, not magic, I would sense it. This man is trust worthy, his clear shining eyes locked on mine.

I hesitated. I’ve been so fueled by hatred and vengeance; I’ve accepted that there is no future in that. My death is unavoidable, however long the spirits have deemed to prolong it. What future do I have?

“I. These people. My friends. My family. They are my future. Maybe, one day I will rejoin with those I have lost, but not until I’m sure that this family of mine is safe, and I can one day be free again.”

All the while the old man grinned, his face slightly creased. He must be older than he looks, but there’s no real way to know.

“It is good to hear that even in the hearts of those deemed the lost shadows of the city; beats the dreams of better days. It is dreams that determine the quality of your life.” Mr. Johnson proclaimed

“Ladno…” breathed out Chekhov.

“Ladno deystvitel’no moy drug,” the man responded.

Marius then got up on his soapbox, “To be honest, I wouldn’t want to stop at running security. If I could have it my way, I’d bring the mega-corps down a peg-or-two, loosen their stranglehold they have on the people of this planet. Maybe, just maybe there could be a better future than, what there is now…”

With a nod, Chekhov turns to Mr. Johnson, “You keep talking about change, vut change do you vant?”

“Me? I just want to make the world better, I’d like to see the balance restored.”

The conversation continued like this for about an hour. That is, until Wheeler broke in, “Uh, guys. Hate to interrupt, but I think we’ve got company.”

With that we all turned around to see two large vans like ours and several motorcycles, tactically fanned-out and gaining on us. They are rocking the same bright green and black of the Ancients, a primarily elf gang known for their presence along the West coast. Without hesitation, we prepared to take these bastards down. Today was not a good day to die; too bad they didn’t know that.

The attacking crew was likely expecting the small arms fire we used back in Seattle. Jade kicked open the back doors of the van unleashing full-auto fire into our pursuers. At the same time, Cho and Marius arm themselves with grenade launchers, lean out the windows and unload hell. The first volley of blasts wreath both vans in flames, but they continue following. One of the cycles tries to pass, but Wheeler cuts him off, activating the exterior security, the shock seizes-up the driver, sending him and his rider tumbling in the street, they would’ve been fine but their allies did not adjust their course and with a slight bump, the two men were stains.

Another cycle pulled right past me, I could see his eyes dimmly through the tinted glass of his helmet, he raised a barrel, and the blood began to drum in my ears as I felt his aura, and his body turned to stone. Unfortunately, his rider didn’t notice until they met with a car that had been abandoned on the shoulder, shattering the driver and sending the rider soaring on fatal wings.

Wheeler, regularly calm behind the could be heard muttering, “Shit-shit-shit-shit…” as one of the vans pulled up on our right, opposite me, and slid open its side door revealing a mounted machine gun, aimed right at us. Our van’s armor absorbs most of the full-auto fire. That was when the second van pulls along our left, its door swings open, with a soldier aiming a missile launcher center mass.

A collective, “HIT THE BREAKS!” echoes in the van, Wheeler responds. Just in time, as the rocket flies right across the windshield, leaving a streak of smoke. Taking the opportunity, Marius fires another grenade, this time inside the van with the mounted gun, his aim is true and the inside of the van fills with smoke and gunfire. It seemed like the gunner was holding down the trigger on the then un-mounted weapon. The vehicle quickly veered into a ditch where it came to a violent rest, engulfed in flames. The remaining cycles open fire on us, luckily no one is hurt, not seriously at least.

Through the gunfire Wheeler, who holds all of our lives in his hands can still be heard, “Oh-shit-oh-fuck-oh-shit-damn-balls-fuck-ass-shit-shit-shit…”

With an unwavering calmness, Mr. Johnson asked Wheeler, “I thought you’d be used to this. Isn’t this what you do?”

“Combat driving? Yes.” Wheeler slams the van into another bike, sending its riders off the road. “Fucking Rockets and heavy machine gun fire? Not so much.”

Jade distributes lead vaccinations to the passengers in the van to our left, it still follows although much less boldly. Cho follows up, launching another grenade, it hits right behind the guy who fired the rocket sending him flying into the street where he is disassembled. Fire breaks out, and it seemed like they had extra rockets in the van, as the small flames, smoke and metal were suddenly replaced with a flash and dark cloud of destruction. I get a bead on another cycle trying to pass on my side; I fired an exploding arrow directly at the handlebars. The blast sent the drivers hands up as the handles were removed from the bike, which promptly spun-out, sending the two gangers sliding along the shoulder, slamming their fists against the pavement as we sped away.

At that moment, the spirit that Chekhov had summoned earlier was released at one of the bikes. Holding the cycle, the spirit was dispelled, but not before dismounting the two gangers and trashing their ride. The last few gangers get off some lucky shots, hitting both Wheeler and myself. With a few final, well-placed shots Marius shredded the front tire of one of the cycles, sending the riders spinning down the road.

Jade’s wild full-auto fire makes an impact and gives the rest of us open shots. Cho, still using her trusted grenade launcher, blasts one of the bikes. The impact of the grenade knocked the driver off the bike right before the explosive released its full destructive force, sending both riders’ remains soaring. With one bike left, I leveled a final explosive arrow right on the fork. Claw guides me and the arrow hits its target, separating the front end from the rest of the bike. There’s no question, both men are no more; at least I saved two lives today.

With no more vehicles following we take a few moments to reload and sound off.

“We’re not done yet.” Cho said calmly raising-up her sniper rifle, “I’ve got two drones closing on our six.”

BAM!… BAM!…

“Scratch that, we’re clear.” The two drones bounce, peppering the road behind us with who knows how much nuyen.

In the silence I can hear the labored breathing of Wheeler. He said he could keep driving, so Marius moves to the back and I ride shotgun. I take a look at his wounds, its strange to see flesh where there was only recently nothing but machinery. I focus on his strange new aura and hear drums, as I feel his wounds, and hear a child laughing I begin to mend Alan’s most recent wound, a deep scratch from a bear. No. That was Keenai, my son doesn’t have to cry, not anymore. His hollow, dead eyes stare into mine. Then he screams. “What the FUCK Bear!?! I thought you were healing me?” Wheeler yelled as his splintered ribs snapped back into place and the three bullets lodged in him bored their way out. That was weird.

“That was pretty rough, but thanks. Hey, you okay buddy?” the sharp-tooth asked.

“I’m fine. Why?”

“Well you know, it’s been a stressful day, you haven’t been around lately, we never chat anymore, and then there’s those holes inside you that are staining the upholstery.”

“Wait. What?” Looking down, he was right. I could feel the warm wash of blood working its way down my left arm and chest. I remove the rounds and close the wounds and do my best to wipe off the blood. It’s truly strange just how accustomed I’ve gotten to getting shot. I wonder if that’s a good or bad thing, as I fiddle with the rounds that tried to take my life.

“Well, that was exciting.” Mr. Johnson said after we were all healed and reloaded.

From there, we continued into the night and the wilds of the Salish-Sidhe, Mr. Johnson striking-up conversations regarding our respective lives, ambitions, and opinions on the world all the while. Eventually Wheeler slowed, as we rounded a bend. By that point we were deep inside the Winache National Forest. We arrived at the overlook where an impressive helicopter waited, suited, rifle wielding guards patrolled the area.

“Ah, we’ve arrived. These are my men. Thank you very much for the pleasant ride, and stimulating conversation. It has been wonderful to get to know each one of you. Will you please escort me to the helicopter?” Although he started pleasant, his tone shifted as he requested this of us. It felt more like an order.

“I’m fine here.” Wheeler responds, sticking to the driver’s seat.

With a sideways glance, Mr. Johnson says, “I insist.”

PREVIOUS: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 2

NEXT: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 4

Seattle Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 2

SEATTLE MISSION 23: EVERY MAN’S DEVIL – PART 2 Written by: Bear           Played on: 01 Mar 2014

PREVIOUS: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 1

NEXT: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 3

The long-and-short of it was this; pick-up a VIP and take him safely out of the city to a designated location. We had met the VIP on a job that took Marius, Jade, and I to Florida, and the pay, a clean 10K, up front. Shiny. We let the fixer know that Mr. Johnson has himself a safe ride. With that done, the professionalism and experience of our team is evident, almost without communicating we suit and gear-up, Wheeler preps the van for both comfort and combat. We call Trixi, our friendly neighborhood armorer, to replenish our stash of explosives and ammo. Jade excitedly poses in front of a mirror with her new gun, the damn thing is nearly as big as I am. Cho preps her new drone while the Ork summons up and binds a spirit. Once we’re set, we head out to the Aztechnology Archology, to pick-up our Mr. Johnson.

We’re waved to an underground parking lot by the on-site security. Once there, we find ourselves face-to-face with at least a dozen other shadowteams. As a courtesy, the lot remains silent, I don’t recognize any of the teams but many seem to be hardened by the Emerald City. Just as the silence was starting to grow to an unbearable cacophony, a light flashed on the elevator at the center of the lot and it’s chime echoed across the concrete. As the doors slid open, many grey-haired men in immaculate suits strutted out. Our Mr. Johnson locked eyes with us straight-away as he bid farewell to a man he called Mr. Lazano, who returns to the elevator. The other executives quietly headed to their respective escorts.

The fixer Marius previously spoke to is revealed to us as a middle aged, Asian woman. She explains that the other executives and teams are decoys, though they don’t know that. Looking around, I suspect the other teams are being told the same line, but given our history with Mr. Johnson I believe we’re actually getting the truth here.

As Mr. Johnson helped himself into the van, our fixer provides our wheelman with the details of our route and destination. We were heading about four hours East out of the city and into the Salish-Sidhe. As the men embark, I take a moment to tap into the astral plane to see if I notice any trace of the marks and magical residue of the Marahal project, but luckily there is no sign of the taint of evil magic.

With nothing left to wait for, we head-out, as the multiple teams convoy conspicuously out of the lot. Behind us, as we pull away, we see a chopper rising off of the building’s heli-pad. But as it began to rise, five white streaks sliced across the sky, the pilot banked and avoided two of the missiles but the other three find their mark and there was nothing but shrapnel raining down on the tower. We all stared wide-eyed and a communal gasp washed over the van, well, almost. Mr Johnson seemed almost entirely un-phased. He didn’t even look he simply scoffed and said,

“Huh, I guess that they are more prepared than we thought.” With that remark, we headed-off on our designated route, Mr. Johnson calmly humming as the rest of us scanned the skies, alleys, and rooftops.

As Wheeler maneuvered us through the city, Mr. Johnson felt like breaking the typical professional, voiceless focus and stoked-up some conversation; apparently to break his boredom of this near-death scenario. Everyone has his or her way of coping I suppose. The conversation starts with introductions and quickly turns to our respective reasons for living in the shadows. The usually secretive team who took years to tell each other about their past, opened in our way and time, all except Cho who was clearly not even listening. As we asked Mr. Johnson what his work was, he began to respond, saying, “What we are all aspiring to. To change the worl…”

“We have incoming,” Cho cut-in, pointing out that a bike with two riders was closing in on our tail. Wheeler and Marius added that two bikes, each with two riders, just pulled in front of us.

“Only three bikes?” The troll asked, “I’m insulted.” She said, raising her shiny new death machine.

Before she was done pouting, I had Claw raised and let fly an exploding arrow, the arrow missed the tire but clearly did some damage. With that, the streets lit-up. As they so often do when we’re on duty.

Cho and Chekhov begin to attack the bike behind us, while Wheeler drives our van with the precision of a sports car. The gunners open fire but Wheeler and I are un-phased. Then there was a thud as Chekhov said “Vut ze fuck?! He iz on ze ruf!”

“Re-e-ealllly?” said Marius, as an automated voice inside the van chimed-on.

“Exterior security activated.” There was a brief hum, then, the all-too-familiar screams of someone getting ripped-apart by electricity. Somehow, he keeps his hold on the deadly surface of the van.

This is a familiar move the team has encountered before. This time, however, they had electro-shock security systems installed that allowed them to electrocute the hull of the vehicle.

The a very different thumping begins as Jade raises her sweet tool of destruction, which cuts through the driver of one of the bikes ahead of us like a blade through tissue paper, sending the passenger and cycle tumbling, cushioned by a mailbox and a café respectively. Glancing back to my target, I knock another blasting arrow, take a deep breath, aim directly for the rear axle, this arrow flies true exploding the back tire, sending both riders head-over heels. They found themselves inside two different parks cars, while their bike bounced wildly, littering the street behind us.

I watch the destruction, hopping that the men were not killed. I hardly noticed that Cho had climbed out onto the roof, to deal with our new passenger; sword in hand. All we hear from inside is, “Ticket please.” Then a scream, as a body slid off the roof, minus an arm, and clinging to a grey brick, as he bounced off the pavement. The lone rider quickly darted into an alley, and out of sight.

“That dick-hole had a fucking bomb! Serves him right…” Cho paused after saying this, clearly expecting some kind of response.  She then produced a forearm from behind her back, a right forearm. “Get it?” With a slight chuckle, she tossed the limb onto the rushing city street. Fuck, my friends freak me out sometimes, but I couldn’t help but smile. What does that say about me?

Instinctively we ready ourselves for the sound of sirens; we did just light-up Mount Baker. But there were none. Without Knight Errant, we were just another statistic.

With weapons reloaded and slung, no one was hurt and we continued out of the city. “So, this is what you do for fun?” The old man’s voice, once again filling the space, “Regardless, well done.” This is no ordinary corporate stuffed shirt.

Before getting on I-90 East, Marius taps into the van computer to change our colors, we pull into a pay-and-spray clean off the blood from the roof, and are on our way. Easy.

Once the city is well out of view and the open highway is in front of us, Mr. Johnson continues, his previous conversation, as if nothing had happened. But instead of asking us about our respective pasts, he asked about our plans for the future. For Shadowrunners, ‘the future’ usually doesn’t go much farther than the next day. Us especially, we’ve been in Seattle for over two years now, each day knowing it could be our last. Urged on by vengeance, or just the sheer defiant will to survive and not to be the pawns we were captured and brought here to be. I’m not sure if the rest of the team thinks about it as often as Marius and I do, but our livers know all too well the inner turmoil the years have put on us. One man can only live with so many regrets.

Again, the usually secretive group shows an unnatural comfort with the smiling, slightly wrinkled, untroubled man that a few of them have only just met.

“So? What is it you all would do if you were free of the shadows?”

Cho admits that she is sick of seeing the defenseless children struggling on the streets and, if able, she strives to run a safe-haven for the discarded children of the world. Jade said that she too wants to save those who feel they have to turn to the destructive underworld that too many desperate innocents end-up face down in.

Chekhov, who seems to have never considered the concept of a “career”, simply responded that he wants to work with and humanely study animals and the various para-critters.

“I’m glad to see that there are still those like us. Those who aim to help the world.” Responded Mr. Johnson, “And you Wheeler, where is it you see yourself spending your years?”

The driver explained that he has always loved splatter bars, but there are strangely no mil-spec themed locations. “Get paid to do what you love and life never seems like work. Ya know?” Wheeler finished with an eerie, toothy smile.

Marius nods along and adds, “I like that, but I don’t know. As I am not trained for anything else, I supposed I’d re-embark on my old career. I could see myself running a security office. I’d like to keep those who want to make the world a better place safe. Rather than defending people driven by greed and power.”

PREVIOUS: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 1

NEXT: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 3

Seattle Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 1

SEATTLE MISSION 23: EVERY MAN’S DEVIL – PART 1 Written by: Bear           Played on: 01 Mar 2014

PREVIOUS: Side Mission 23 – On the Fly 2.0

NEXT: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 2

Marius gets a phone call from a female fixer, she contacted us for jobs with Mr Johnson before, sending Marius and us all over from Chicago, to Florida, and even Russia. He’s honest and always pays well. This job is no exception, but not like anything before.

The Mr. Johnson that Bear is referencing is the one they first met in the opera house. Most of the team had met him at one point or another, though he previously only appeared in missions when the whole team couldn’t make it to a run.

This last month has been rocky. It started with our failure in California. I know we still got paid, but the look on Frosty’s face, and knowing that the Sextant is still not where it belongs; hurt. Although, I was not injured, well, not badly, I was still hurt.

This is, of course, referring to their last assignment with Frosty, searching for the Sextant of Worlds, that didn’t end up panning out well for them.

There hasn’t been much work for me since, and as such I was able to spend time meditating in my lodge and training. This was both good and bad. While in California, I found myself, once again in close combat, this time I was blade-to-blade with an Aztec Eagle and some gangers. It was in this fight that I was vindicated in my belief that life is sacred, even the life of a thug who would take mine.

But I was also nearly bested in the fight, I know that in my younger days with the tribe I was well suited with knife and fist and was rarely beaten. So I was determined to think back on the days I spent training with my father, uncle and the other boys of the tribe. But every time I tried, my scars burned and the smiling faces of those I loved burned to ash and theirs screams pierced my mind and tormented my dreams. Then I began to hear the funeral and feasting drums as liquid fire rolled and crashed over everything I ever knew.

The last straw was one day when Chekhov and I were in the middle of a magical sparring match. We were ramping up the spells and working on identifying the incoming spells and counter-spelling them. I was preparing a stunbolt at Chekhov in his hulking bear-form. As I began chanting I heard them; funeral drums. Then, looking down, my arms were gone.

Looking back at the bear, all I saw was a pile of burnt bodies, dozens of them; each one staring with the cold dead eyes of my wife and sons. Drums. Drums. Drums. With more bodies piling on top I screamed but nothing but silence came out. The corpses grew until they blocked out the light plunging me in darkness.

Drums. Drums. Drums.

The darkness of the bodies gave way to burning light of heavy liquid fire washing over them, the bodies all screamed out in a deafening cacophony as the heat covered them. The exploding noise knocked me down and grew into a roar.

Drums. Drums. Drums.

Then when heat was burning the light out of me a bear’s face pierced the flames and it shook my body. The Flames washed away, the drumming and screams ended in a flash. That’s when I saw Marius and Chekhov standing over me; Checkov with blood running down his face from his nose. My ears still ringing, I couldn’t hear them.

This is referencing Bear’s previously mentioned, ongoing issues with PTSD following his dreamland encounter with his family.

But I lied and said that I was okay, even though I could hear nothing but my beating heart in my ears. As my body carried me to my room, I saw the blank stares of Wheeler peering from the garage and Jade and Cho each throwing an arm over the couch looking away from the news. That night my dreams were vivid. I saw back to the days of my youth, training in the art of Wildcat. My father, brother, and a few of the other boys were trained by the men who traveled the lands.

They taught us to look into the ebb and flow of the body. It wasn’t about who was strongest, but rather smartest in battle. To keep a keen eye on the opponent, use their force against them, and strike not only where they are open, but where they are most vulnerable. That is the quickest way to end a fight, and perhaps keep both fighters alive, if possible. But even we Broken Arrows who aim for peace and prosperity in all things are taught to do what is necessary in protection of the land and the tribe.

When I awoke I knew that I had to re-train in the old ways of combat, not only to reconnect with my past or to be more effective in combat, but to ensure the preservation of life, rather than its blind destruction. I will NOT be the killer animal the Marahal Project wanted.

So I called Raven, asking if he knew of any master’s of Wildcat who would accept such an old and hardened student. After a short pause he told me to go to Olympia and find Old Thunder Wolf, he sent me the address and said he would tell the master I was coming. I chug down some soy-caf, chow down a few protein snacks, and toss a few “fruit” leathers in my bag, pack-up some extra clothes, grab my bike and head south.

As I ride through the Emerald City, the impacts of the fall of Knight Errant are still clear, especially outside of downtown proper. Gangs, emboldened by freedom patrol their ‘hoods openly, showing off their SMG’s and other legally questionable hardware. Petty theft and smash-and-grabs are far too frequent and not typically deemed important enough to pull Lonestar out of the downtown area. They are, after all paid big money to keep the big money safe, or at least give the impression of safety. In my opinion, Lonestar is scattered, disorganized and in way too deep. I’m not sure how long it’s going to take to get this city back to even the slight sense of civilized that it once was. With the Spaceneedle at my back and an hour ride ahead me, I feel a weight lifted.

I arrive at the address Raven gave me. Then began one of the best months of my life,. At least since I awoke in that forsaken dumpster so many years ago. The aged master was finishing a lesson when I walked in. It was a relief to hear my native language again and surprising to see a group of young men speaking Sioux as well. After his lesson, the instructor, Old Thunder Wolf met my eyes; I could see the reasonable distrust of an outsider.

The aged instructor has years on him, here he teaches them history, science and math in addition to their Sioux culture and Wildcat training. After an introduction Old Thunder Wolf wants to know why he should teach me, I know Raven wasn’t reason enough. He knows the kind of work Raven is involved in and Thunder Wolf doesn’t train the hot blooded just to kill and die on the streets. He wanted to know how teaching me would help the Sioux teachings live on. How I would give back to the young bloods at the school.

“Wise master, my name is Bear with Mountain Wings and you are right to question my motives I have seen the violence and destruction of the modern world, and experienced firsthand its impact on our proud culture. I too have done awful things, but I have since changed. I’ve seen the error of my ways. I strive to connect to my past life and tribe. I do not wish destroy life, but preserve it, whenever possible. I would use the techniques learned to keep from killing. If you would allow, I would be proud to learn under you. I can pay you; also, I can share with the young bloods the tales and survival skills of tribe. The skills my father taught me, and those I didn’t have time to teach my sons: hunting, how to honor the spirits and lands, and how to avoid corporate stings. I can also train magical skills to any awakened youths, such as invisibility, physical barrier, heal, and combat senses.”

For the rest of that first day we talked, I told him of my time with the Broken Arrows, also of the day I was captured. I admitted to my misdeeds, of the time I was lost and not myself. Also of the friends I have made, my new family. How I would die for their safety. But also, how I have aimed to not be the weapon that the Marahal Project thought they could make. So began my training with Old Thunder Wolf he and I spent days talking, helping me get in touch with my past. We also sparred; he was surprisingly quick and strong for his age. So too I imparted my knowledge and skills to the Sioux youths.

For the month the struggles of my life in Seattle were gone, except for the occasional calls with Marius checking-in, seeing if there was any work to be done. I few things came-up, but I had enough cash, and the jobs weren’t important enough for me to leave my training. For the time, I stayed with the family of one of the boys from the school. But soon, my training, for the time was done, and I headed back to Seattle. Feeling re-awakened, I’ve never felt closer to my heritage, nor those I lost.

The month of training and role-playing was handled offline. Bear spent that time learning the Wildcat martial art.

So there I was again, back in the city of devils by the sea. The stench of home fills my nose through my helmet as the skyline comes into view. Marius fills me in on what the teams been up to, seems to be business as normal, just living, well, laying low-ish, and waiting for work.

It wasn’t a week after returning that Marius called the team into the living room. Jade and Cho watching some classic trid, about some weird doctor or something, Cho methodically cleaning her rifle, the stench of gun oil all too familiar in this place, and Jade sitting spread-eagle taking-up half the couch. As the team gathered, the ever-paler oil-stained Wheeler came from the garage where the lights were off, windows recently boarded and curtains drawn; and Chekhov was nose deep in a book on shamanistic history, a mug of soycaf clearly untouched and cooling by his side. Then there was Marius who had his game face on. His voice let us know that he had been called and we had work.

“An old fixer just called me up with a job for the crew. It’s straight forward enough and the pay is well worth it.”

PREVIOUS: Side Mission 23 – On the Fly 2.0

NEXT: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 2

Seattle Side Mission 23: On the Fly 2.0 – Part 4

SEATTLE SIDE MISSION 23: ON THE FLY 2.0 – PART 4 Written by: Marius           Played on: 15 Feb 2014

PREVIOUS: Side Mission 23 – On the Fly 2.0 – Part 3

NEXT: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 1

Marius hits the asphalt on the other side of the fence hard, trying to roll like he did on the ice to absorb the impact, but this time he’s seeing stars. The blaring of a horn and squealing of rubber snap him back to attention and he leaps to his feet just in time to back-peddle out of a car’s path. Jackie is already up and grabbing Marius’ arm to drag him across the roadway.

Racing down the neighboring streets, a small contingent of drones are racing after them, most of them airborne but also including a few wheeled vehicles that have raced out of the exits and are gaining fast. At the very least, Marius notes they’re only chasing them, none of them seem to have been sent ahead to cut off their escape, either because the rigger is inept or perhaps he’s too busy to focus on the situation at the moment. Unfortunately, meat security is probably not far behind them and Lone Star just beyond that.

…

“We are going to have to talk about this bull, Jackie. We have to do something to protect that man’s family. Maybe take it back to “Terminator” Bilotkiy like Montana wanted to do. We’ll take a vote on it once we have it.” Marius sighs, looking out the window at the scenery. The truck they rented is blasting down the I-5 towards the address.

“Bull drek, chum. You guys were hired for a job. What happens besides that ain’t your concern. You can’t let that big dumb conscience get in your way. As a Shadowrunner, it’ll get you killed. You got the makings of some good stuff, but you have to let that all go if you want to be great. Like me.” There’s no hint of sympathy in Jackie’s voice.

“That’s not how we roll, Jack. We don’t let innocents suffer for our actions.” Marius’ sense are sharpening as he makes a mental effort to push his throbbing head to the background. The tension in the air is thick enough to strangle with.

“And I said, bull drek, chum. This ain’t a decision that’s up to vote. We are getting that bull. We are selling it. You’ll get your cut. We’ll go on with our lives. Anyone who gets in our way gets dealt with. Its all about you and me, mate. Seeing our ass through this.” Jackie’s not quite yelling, but clearly agitated. “Anyone gets in the way of that. Anyone. They’re dead.”

…

Chekhov and Jade turn back down the hall they came in through. No one is shooting at them, finally, but the black smoke from the fire is so thick they can’t see and both have to lower themselves to the ground to avoid choking and passing out. The heat has been steadily rising and, while there aren’t open flames in this hallway yet, its clear the way they came in is blocked by the fire. Sprinklers are going off everywhere, trying unsuccessfully to contain the inferno.

The heat and fire is interfering with wireless signals, but they can barely make out a crackling message from Marius over their commlinks. “Hey guys, we finally got out of the park, thanks for shutting those drones down. There were a few complications, but I think we’re all set. See you back at the rendezvous.”

“We better get out quick if we don’t want to get toasty, bear-man.” Jade tells Chekhov, who lets out a bemoaning growl in reply.

…

“Is it so hard for you to believe they can’t? You think these people are nice at heart? Are they just playing the role of morally corrupt criminals for fun? You need to face reality. Your own brother almost got you killed once due to pure lack of concern. What do you think the promise of money would do? How much do you think his price is before he would flip?” Jackie spat at the elf next to him. “You don’t think I know, Mercer? I know all about you. I know everything about you. I know you better than you know yourself. I know who you truly are. If you weren’t such a bleeding heart, pacifist, you would make a great runner, chum.”

Marius’ fists coil as his head pounds and his vision goes a little fuzzy. His injuries, combined with the building adrenaline, are starting to get to him but he focuses on Jackie’s face as the man disses on him and his team. “You might be right Jackie, I am slow on the trigger. But, when motivated properly, I can be quite deadly.”

Jackie’s eyes narrow just before Marius acts. “Don’t do this to us, Marius. I’m the only one you can trust.” The quick chop to the man’s throat shuts him up and, acting quickly, Marius throws open the door, unbuckles Jackie and dumps him unceremoniously out of the truck as it speeds down the highway at high speed. The truck swerves only momentarily before he is able to take control and continues down the road, trying to steady his breathing.

Marius cranes his neck around, trying to get an eye on Jackie’s body in the side view mirror almost a mile back now. “When the others ask, ‘Where is Jackie?’ I am going to say, ‘He had to hit the road.’ Classic…” The elf laughs.

The weight of the truck shifts and rattles along the poorly kept section of I-5 a dozen miles north of Tir Tairngire. Marius briefly wonders if he’ll ever end up in that elven land as the truck shudders sharply. In surprise, Marius looks over at Jackie, half crouched in the passenger seat next to him. “Fucking. Hilarious.” The back of Marius’ head cracks off the driver side window as he’s slammed back into it, bringing white stars to even his cybernetic vision. The truck swerves across two lanes before Jackie grabs hold of the steering wheel. “I told you not to do that!” Marius tries to fight him off, but in his dazed state the second blow of his head forward against the window pillar is all it takes. The elf blacks out while Jackie assumes control of the vehicle.

…

Marius jerks awake to the sharp sound of glass hitting a table. His arms jerk up reflexively towards a defensive position as the drone of noise hits him all at once. Breathing sharp and fast, he looks around the inside of the Critical Glitch. Jackie is just sitting down across from him, a pint full of the beer of the week is sitting in front of Marius invitingly. The man looks mildly irritated, but also much more amused than he did before.

“You’ll be happy to know we made our score and the bull is off to a private collector. We weren’t able to net as much profit as I would have liked, given that Bilotkiy is out there looking for his precious bull. I’ve set a sizable portion off to the side for some future expenditures, but the rest has been transferred into you and your friends’ accounts.”

“Jack-…” Marius starts.

“Shut the fuck up, Mercer. I’m disappointed, but we’ll work on it. Like I said, I’m the only one you can trust.” Jackie looks comfortable, confident and smug across the table from Marius.

“Bullshit. You and I are done.”

Jackie laughs a vicious laugh, “It takes a strong man to deny what is right in front of him. Don’t be too hard on yourself though, you can still enjoy your beer. Lucky you.”

That line sounds familiar…

“Где этот мудак? Marius!” Chekhov’s thick Russian accent draws Marius’ attention as the ork stamps up to the table. “Что ебать? You said your contact vas good. Ve get paid dis sheet though! Seven thousand nuyen? You promise double! Я должен отрезать тебе яйца и кормить их в козла.”

Marius’ gaze snaps back across the table to the booth where Jackie had been sitting as Jade falls heavily into the seat and glowers across the table at him. “Seriously, I almost got roasted alive. Smell me! I smell like a BBQ pit… only without any good meat! You know how I like meat… yeah… meat… I forgot where I was going with this…”

“Vat is dealio, свинья ублюдок?” Chekhov scoots into the booth next to Marius without asking, forcing the elf to slide over.

“I gotta go.” Marius says, after a long pause, and leaves.

…

Marius is flipping channels, stopping on a NewsNet broadcast as they begin their top story for the evening.

“A shooting at a corporate park skating rink in Salish-Shidhe Council territory took the lives of local business owner Mike Jackson as well as seven of his employees and an unspecified number of Security’R’Us employees working the park. Over two dozen bystanders were injured in the shoot out, ranging from minor to critical wounds. Officials declined to comment on the seemingly unrelated fire that torched the Security’R’Us headquarters and part of a shopping mall that hampered reinforcement and response efforts, citing an ongoing investigation into the matter.

Details are sparse, but the shooter is said to have acted alone and identified as an elf, though a positive identification has not been released. The shooter is said to have access to military style assault weapons, sparking renewed debate in the ongoing firearms control legislation and employed explosives of some type. Officials state that they believe he was likely a deranged loner, possibly a survivalist or end of the world theorist. While he should be considered armed and extremely dangerous, they do not believe it to be the work of a larger terrorist or criminal offensive.”

The young, new news anchor promises they will continue following the story closely as new information develops. An in depth look at the attack, interviews with witnesses and victims and investigation into current security measures is scheduled as a feature story later in the week.

Marius’ beer is warm in his hand when he finally turns off the trid and leaves the room.

I’ve been hinting at and building to this ending with Marius for a long time, though even the player was surprised at the turn of events. Even Dr. Strughold once warned him, and Detrius confirmed, that those from his genetics program often developed mental conditions later in life. Even his adventures into Russia featured events that might have been hallucinated. There were also a number of references directly in the run, many that might be chocked up to easy mistakes, but were definitely intentional. Jackie often suffered the same injuries Marius did and made use of the exact same weapons that Marius used.

Prior to the start of the game, I spoke with Jade and Chekhov about intentionally not interacting with Jackie. They picked up on the purpose pretty quickly, hence the Fight Club jokes at the beginning of the session and Jackie’s name as a reference to Jack from the movie that they supplied. I look forward to playing with Marius’ psychosis further in future runs.

PREVIOUS: Side Mission 23 – On the Fly 2.0 – Part 3

NEXT: Mission 23: Every Man’s Devil – Part 1