Run #1: Trial by Fire

Post by **GM Nick** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 2:38 am

The warehouse door is a sturdy plas-steel affair with protruding hexagonal bolts and large hinges. The surface has been oxidized by the chemical miasma that haunts Seattle like a psychopathic ex-girlfriend. Someone has lovingly spray-painted a crudely depicted hand extending a middle finger near the center. Loki grins drunkenly and reaches out, striking the door three times with his knuckles.

Despite the orchestra of weather effects all around him, the punk rocker can discern noises from inside the warehouse. There's a shuffling, followed by a hushed argument between two baritone voices. Inevitably, one wins out and the tell-tale slide of a shotgun pump rings out. If Loki weren't currently the most interesting man in the world, this might give him pause for concern. The door shakes slightly as a heavy manual lock is released. It swings open with a resisting groan.

On the other end of the threshold, a wild looking orc stares with a quizzical expression. His hair is twisted into matted dreads of oranges and blacks, threaded with tiny mammalian bones. A blemished face is turned up in a sneer, complimented with an over-sized septum ring and cracked lips. The Halloweener wears a heavy leather jacket over a grungy vest and torn tactical pants tucked into steel-toed boots. He stands--easily--a foot above the beaming Loki. Bloodshot eyes meander up and down the drenched visitor in a mixture of irritation, hostility, intrigue, and distrust.

"...th' fraggin' hell are you?"

Conway · Post by **Conway** » Sun Jun 15, 2014 10:42 am

"Hey, pal. Name's Reggie..." Loki says, extending his hand for a shake which the ork pointedly ignores. "Reggie Blackburn. I ah, hope I came the right spot. I was directed down this way by a friend of mine. We're in the ah, entertainment business, been told you guys might know how to fix up a good time?

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jun 15, 2014 11:27 am

The Halloweener's eyes narrow slowly and you can practically hear the drug-addled gears grinding as he contemplates Loki's deception.

Loki - Con Skill Test

The orc leans past Loki, giving the punk rocker a nice full whiff of body-odor, malt liquor, and cordite. He cranes his neck as he scans either side of the door. He withdraws back into the doorway and his posture eases. He shakes his head and slurrs conspiratorially.

"Frag me, word gets around. I don't know how ya heard, but here you are. You must be one 'o Snakebite's crew, huh?"

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jun 15, 2014 11:47 am

Aremys skirts the building, hugging close to the exterior walls to avoid being spotted by the security cameras. Settling down by a filthy plasti-glass window, he uses the edge of his sopping wet sleeve to smear a corner clear. Edging ever so slightly toward the window, the orc's cyber-eyes scan the inside of the warehouse.

The interior is mostly a large, ferro-crete floored rectangle. The warehouse appears to be barren except for a stack of plastic crates arranged haphazardly in the center. There are a handful of gangers (Aremys counts 4 more) lounging around the crates. Their attention is directed at the door, where something appears to be happening. Two of the Halloweeners are armed with Ceska Black Scorpions, the other two appear to have a machete and a sledgehammer, respectively.

Conway · Post by **Conway** » Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:29 pm

"Yeah, thats right. See, the boss' got this VIP in town, guy likes to go really big, ya know? Having this major party uptown and, well, I kinda fragged up and forgot to get some of the items on his rider. Anyways..I'm in a pinch. Is Bonebreaker around?"

Loki edges a little closer to the tall ork, peering around and behind him to eye the area just inside the door. He smiles patiently, maintaining what he hopes is a confident air for a legitimate reason to be here.

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 4:01 am

The Halloweener grins, displaying a mouth full of gold teeth. "Yeah, chummer. I think we can help you out. Bonebreaker's upstairs. Come in outta' da fraggin' rain."
He motions for Loki to follow him inside.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 2:53 pm

Watching with outward casual disinterest, Anon spots the Halloweener beckoning Loki inside. A moment of panic grips him, and he fumbles for his commlink. Tapping at the keypad, he hurriedly pieces together a message, and sends it to Loki's commlink.

{{ Can't cover if inside. Mojo will die. }}

Conway · Post by **Conway** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:22 pm

"Hey, thanks pal. What a relief.... I really owe ya one, chum. The Snake's been really bitin' at my ass about this, ya know?" Loki says, stalling for time. "He's a bit strung up about this client, some heavy from down Portland, got 'im in a sweat."

He checks up before the doorway, scratching at his head as though a thought had just struck him. "Say.." He begins, "has Bonebraker got his bike here? Heard it's a real bitchin' machine. Real menacing, man, like truly fraggin' evil! I'd love to see it, omae...think you could show it to me before we head up?"

Post by **GM Nick** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 8:52 am

An idiotic grin spreads across the Halloweener's face. "Like bikes, huh? Yeah, the boss's bike is pretty flash, but nothin' compared to mine. Hey, Grim, Razorface, you guys watch the door, I'm gonna go show this little glitch what a real bike looks like."

The orc pushes past Loki and stands dangerously close to Bradbury's hiding place. "Hope you brought a clean pair of underwear, chum. I've got the cleanest ride in the city."

Conway · Post by **Conway** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:02 pm

"Lead the way, omae." Loki smiles, extending an arm into the gloom.

Just keep talking, Loki...

John · Post by **John** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:12 pm

Having overheard the conversation, Bradbury remains lost in the rain and the shadows and uses his comm to type out to the team, {{ Can we hotwir bonbrkrs bike? Remot cntrl take it 4 ride? Maybe lead them on goose chase }} His message sent, the ork returns his attention to the punker and the ganger and prepares to follow them from out of sight.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:54 pm

Beads of sweat form on Anon's brow as he works to continue making Loki the most charming human in Seattle. He furrows his brow at the malformed message ticking across his commlink screen, looking much like the text version of offspring produced by irradiated parents. But the meaning comes through well enough. He raises an eyebrow at Little Hawk.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 6:21 pm

Perhaps it's an effect of the magical link currently shared between Anon and Loki, but a mischievous feeling steadily comes over Anon, and the corner of his mouth twitches ever so slightly upward. He partitions off a part of his mind from the spell, and searches his brain for any clues as to which gangs the 'Weeners usually tangle with or otherwise have rivalries with.

(( Knowledge test: Seattle Gangs. Looking for their enemies, and what they look like. ))

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 6:22 pm

Barely breathing, Little-Hawk watches intently as the 'Weener turns to guide Loki toward the garage. Tianwe racks his brain for a suitable distraction in the event that it's needed. Huddled in the shadows, he drops into VR. Thinking quickly, Little-Hawk scans the array of nodes closest to the garage. Selecting a bike he thinks must be close to the garage door, he attempts to gently inject some of his own code into the device.

(( Deck Config: A(3), S(4), D(1), F(3). Running: Signal Scrub ))

(( Hack on the Fly: 1 Mark ))

Post by **GM Nick** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 10:29 am

Anon - Seattle Gangs Knowledge Test

(( PM'd. ))

The Halloweener steps away from Max, to the collective relief of the team, and guides Loki around the opposite end of the warehouse. The orc starts rattling off specifications and facts about aftermarket motorcycle parts as he walks.

John · Post by **John** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 10:30 am

Bradbury, sticking to the shadows and edges of the warehouse so as not to cross into the camera's path, slinks out after the fellow ork and the punker.

Post by **GM Nick** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 10:37 am

Little-Hawk - Hack On The Fly Test

The ghostly, floating device icon for a Pathfinder motorbike nearest to the edge of the warehouse flips over, revealing a shimmering golden icon of a tomahawk as Little-Hawk acquires a mark on the vehicle.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:05 pm

An image coalesces in Anon's head, layer by layer and slowly increasing in detail and resolution. He pieces together bits and pieces of his imaginary subject from members of a gang that he'd seen from time to time in his short stay as a squatter in the barrens.

He starts with a troll... No a bit shorter, and a slight hunch in the back. And horns, big horns, one of them missing the tip. A torn, frayed, and faded leather jacket should do, as should a pair of dirty green cargo pants. Wait, the pants should be torn in the left leg to reveal an ancient, second-hand cyberleg, the sort of leg that was in style during the Euro Wars. It clearly belonged to someone other than a troll before it found its new home, so the ganger walks with perhaps not a limp, but a kind of asymmetrical lope. The finger nails have grown long, and have dirt and grease beneath them, their surfaces cracked from abuse. A tuft of hair sprouts from between his horns, long wispy, and with a brown sheen that seems more a result of his filthy environment than his natural hair color. Anon goes back to the jacket, tearing off one sleeve to reveal a faded tribal tattoo that had been all the rage during the previous decade. He adds a few patches that he's seen worn by other squatters and gangers, with the place of honor going to a bent Lone Star badge, still with fringes of blue cloth sticking out from under it. The biker boots have rounded soles, and the left sole is starting to separate from the boot itself, probably due to the uneven pressure exerted on it. The image is finished off with a sledgehammer strapped across the troll's back, one head covered in a flaking, brown crust, and the barrel of a Defiance T-250 shotgun poking out from under the waist of the jacket.

Anon holds this image in his head, and waits. All of his attention is on Loki and the ganger.

Post by **GM Nick** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 8:28 am

From his vantage point near the window, Aremys watches as two of the trolls move to stand guard at the door. This leaves one remaining visible troll near the center of the room, who appears to be busy spray-painting the crates.

Elliott · Post by **Elliott** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 8:55 am

Aremys slides down from the window to crouch against the wall. In a horse whisper, he communicates to the team what he has seen inside. Reaching up one gnarled hand, he wipes a combination of sweat and rain from his forehead and takes a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

Whispering again, <"I've got a good vantage here and a strong firing position if shit goes down. I'll hold here for the moment. Get some of these gangers out of here and we can dispose of any remainders easily.">

Aremys then pushes his way slowly up the wall and resumes his clandestine surveillance of the warehouse interior.

Post by **GM Nick** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:55 am

"...turbocharger, 'coz that's what you really want--but one o' the custom ones, not that factory bulldrek."

Having led Loki over to a secluded area at the rear of the warehouse exterior, he throws back a canvas tarp to reveal a heavily-modified Pathfinder. "There she is, omae. Two hundred horsepower of pure sex."

Conway · Post by **Conway** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:26 pm

Keeping up a charade of not entirely feigned interest, Loki grunts appreciatively every so often as he circles the bike, inspecting its thousand tiny details from every possible angle in the age-old, tire kicking ritual of vehicular admiration. Pausing here and there to point out and compliment the wisdom of such-and-such modification, or congratulate a particular aesthetic choice, he keeps his peripheral in hard focus to examine the area in detail, needing in part a confirmation that his friends are nearby, but more practically searching the lot for other parked motorcycles.

At the end of his third walk-around, he stops intentionally to place the nappy ork between himself and his bike, so that any further conversation will necessarily put the motorcycle at his targets back. Pulling a worn leather pouch from inside his jacket, he extracts a pair or wrinkled, somewhat damp, but serviceable hand rolled cigarettes.

"Well..you weren't lying, chum, she's a helluva beaut'. Smoke?" he says, proffering one of the cigarettes.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 8:52 pm

Anon nudges Little-Hawk in the ribs with his elbow.

"I am having idea. These men like bikes, no? If you can get bikes moving, I can provide the rider," he says with a slightly feral grin. "Boss' bike is probably best bike. But more than one is even better."

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:05 pm

Little-Hawk nods slightly, flashing his own grin to Anon in return.

"I can't ride, but real good at crashing. Can maybe send a bike off on joy ride though." Tianwe points out the bike he's hijacked to Anon. "This is one. Make sure his back is turned to this when ready. Need another, though."

Tian scans the array of bikes, looking for one furthest toward the back of the pack. A domino effect would be nice. Very nice indeed. Finding one which looks to be wedged tightly behind the densest concentration of his companions' bikes, Tianwe flicks back to VR and attempts to worm his way into its Pilot program.

(( Deck Config: A(3), S(4), D(1), F(3). Running: Signal Scrub ))

(( Hack on the Fly: 1 Mark ))

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 10:25 pm

Anon nods, satisfied.

"Just don't hit warehouse, or we not be paid." He pauses thoughtfully. "Probably also best not to hit Loki, either."

Post by **GM Nick** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:18 am

Little-Hawk - Hack On the Fly Test

Another motorcycle device icon rotates to display a tomahawk cast in gold as Little-Hawk acquires a mark on an adjacent bike.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:06 pm

Awakening from VR, Tianwe nudges Anon and points out the second decoy he's acquired. "This one will crash into many other bikes. Slow their chase of first bike. I am ready. As soon as ghost rider appears, I will begin."

Little-Hawk cracks his knuckles and keys on the mic at his throat. {{ Doing good, omaes. Get ready. We are about to kick anthill. Loki, play along if you can. }}

Tian taps a few softkeys on his deck and, satisfied with the few preparatory tweaks made to his deck's payload, nods to Anon. "Go."

(( Deck Config: A(3+1), S(4), D(1), F(3). Running: Virtual Machine => Hammer, Decryption ))

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 1:21 am

Anon once again splits his concentration and focuses on new threads of magic, intertwining them with the mental image of the ganger that he has created. Behind the shabby fellow that Loki is chatting with, a troll coalesces and takes life, sitting casually upon the ganger's mechanized pride and joy.

With strained breath, Anon nods back to Little-Hawk and grunts, "done. Do it."

(( Trid Phantasm, F3, and sustain it. ))

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 4:06 pm

Little Hawk - Hack on the Fly Test

Anon - Spellcasting Test

Anon - Resist Drain Test

The device icon flashes and is replaced with Little-Hawk's signature mark. He reaches out and grasps the icon, pulling it out to an exploded-view. Trailing his fingers through the various ignition options, he hovers his digital fingertips over the throttle icon.

A massive troll ganger flickers to life silently atop a large Pathfinder, just behind the gesticulating Halloweener.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 4:34 pm

Upon seeing the rather convincing troll ganger appear atop the bike just behind the oblivious 'Weener, Little-Hawk engages the ignition and gives the bike's pilot program a relatively simple task: Tour of Seattle. Scenic route. Fast.

The engine revs to life with rather a satisfactorily clamorous, ear-pounding rumble. As the bike begins to speed out of the compound, Tian calls up the wireframe of the other bike he's jacked. Hand once again hovering over the ignition softkey, he waits, watching the scene intently. Keep up the charm, Loki, he pleads in his head.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 4:42 pm

Anon's toy Troll twists the throttle as the engine roars. In his left hand is the defiance shotgun, which belts out two loud blasts into the air. A raspy, gravelly voice shouts out, "Grimrazors never die!".

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:39 am

Grinning inwardly at the shock-turning-rage painted on the ganger's face, Tianwe's swipes his finger up the second acceleration slider. The decoy roars to life, barreling directly into the mass of other bikes in the lot.

Rise and shine, pumpkin heads.

Conway · Post by **Conway** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:16 am

Loki's eyes glisten in the momentary chaos, secretly relishing the wide-eyed surprise that replaces the troll gangers tough bravado in an instant. Few things are more exciting than the moment a good trick catalyses, setting like a steel hook in the gaping mouth of a guileless trout. Fish on the line!

"...the frag you think your doin' drek head? Get back here!" Loki shouts. A flick of his wrist triggers a sprung slide hidden beneath his sleeve and an Ares combat pistol appears in his hand.

Firing a few token shots after Anon's fleeing mirage, he turns back to the ork ganger with an angered expression.

"Grimrazors!"

Post by **GM Nick** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:44 pm

The ganger ducks instinctively as he hears the simulated shotgun blasts. His wide eyes track the Pathfinder as it races out of the lot. Words somehow escape his slack jaw, "H-hey! Motherfragger! Boys, get out here!"

A pair of Halloweeners spring from the doorway, casting furtive glances towards the cacophony.

"Some drek-eating Grimrazor just stole the boss's bike!"

John · Post by **John** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 4:00 pm

Bradbury keeps his head down as the orgy of activity erupts all around him. The scraping crumple of the pile of bikes falling off to the side masks his swift movements as he ducks around the dumpster to his left, the acid rain beating down hard on his already soaked beanie. The ork gently lifts the lid to the trash receptacle just enough to slip inside, caring considerably more about what might happen if a dozen Halloweeners pour out of the warehouse and spot him than he does about whatever drek might be awaiting him inside. Safely inside, he props the lid open with a wadded up rag that has most likely-- or at least hopefully-- been used to wipe motor oil off of soiled hands (and not something much, much worse). With the few inches of visibility he's been afforded, Bradbury watches the scene unfold and very mindfully breathes through his mouth.

Run #1: Trial by Fire

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