My adventures in Shadowrun the Fifth

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 11:35 am

Greetings, fellow denizens. Tonight I will be provide entertainment by regaling you all with a tale of Shadowrun 5E. This is the short start to the game, what with one player being absent, but I feel it should shed some light onto how the game has changed, and possibly provide some of what I believe the kids these days refer to as "lulz".

(I will be playing the role of Terry the street-sam in this game)

[17:57] <@PurpleXVI> In that case...
[17:59] <@PurpleXVI> A dramatic opening shot pans over Seattle full of huge, garish neon advertisements, corporate monoliths and pyramids stretching towards the dark clouds above. The year is 2070, and this is where you live and occasionally where you kill people or steal their property for money.
[18:00] <@PurpleXVI> You're Shadowrunners, and not just any bunch of newbie runners, you've got a proud history of killing people stylishly, stealing stuff audaciously, and getting loaded in the process.
[18:01] <@PurpleXVI> Today, though, you're taking a break. You just pulled off a huge score several months back(Two? Three? Four? It gets blurry), making off with some high-priced Aztechnology property, embarrassing your longtime rival Hellfire Bill and scoring enough money to get off the streets for a while.
[18:02] <@PurpleXVI> You also happen to share a high-priced, extreme-luxury penthouse apartment, full of everything shadowrunners of your caliber need. Right now you're waking up because of a barrage of knocks on the front door that sound more like artillery than fists.
06[18:03] * Terry manages to sit up without falling off the bed. "Ugh, who sends trolls on door-knocking jobs?"
06[18:04] * Wu_Cong groans, and mutters something in Chinese.
[18:05] <@PurpleXVI> WHAM, WHAM, WHAM. The knocking continues, if anything it seems to be getting angrier, and you think you can hear the door hinges rattling. What were you even up to last night?
01[18:05] <Terry> "Okay okay..." He presses a button on the console, switching the screen from "the camera above the bed" to "the camera outside the door".
06[18:07] * Wu_Cong gets up a bit from the chair he slumped in. "Trolls can't be that strong against that door unless they're auged."
[18:08] <@PurpleXVI> Terry discovers that is, in fact, a troll knocking on their door, and it's the worst troll it could possibly be... their landlord. He's trooped all the way up there from his basement wearing nothing but a wifebeater and a pair of threadbare jeans. WHAM WHAM WHAM. He also looks incredibly pissed.
01[18:09] <Terry> Even as he slips on his dressing gown, which the dealer promised was legit one of a kind silk woven by blind monks, Terry groans. What does that guy want? Sighing, he rubs some polish onto his teeth and makes his way to the door. "All right, keep it down!" he calls out, finally opening it.
01[18:09] <Terry> "Dude, what's your problem?"
06[18:10] * Wu_Cong stands up once he sees who it is, instantly straightening his posture.
[18:12] <@PurpleXVI> He stops halfway through another knock, his huge fist pausing just an inch in front of Terry's face and pulls back, though it looks like he would have dearly loved to carry through, "My problem," he growls, and trolls are excellent at growling, "Is that you bastards haven't paid your rent in three months!"
[18:12] <@PurpleXVI> This does, at least, solve the problem of how long it was since that big job.
06[18:12] * Wu_Cong blinks. "Hmm? I was certain we paid in advance."
[18:15] <@PurpleXVI> The landlord snarls, "You owe me thirty grand, and I'm giving you one month to get it, or someone else gets your penthouse. They already put down the deposit."
01[18:16] <Terry> "Sure thing, we'll get it right to you."
[18:17] <@PurpleXVI> The landlord crosses his arms across his chest and straightens up, "Yeah? When?"
06[18:18] * Wu_Cong bows slightly to the landlord. "Within 28 days at the latest."
01[18:19] <Terry> "Don't worry about it, give us like a week or two. Just need to dig that credstick up, I'm sure we pulled a huge haul in the other day... week..."
[18:20] <@PurpleXVI> He gives you a dubious look and then leaves, stomping off towards the elevator.
01[18:24] <Terry> "Man, he's spreading the bad mood... all right, thirty grand is some serious cash, let's see how much we have lying around, shore the rest up with a job or two, kay?"
[18:25] <@PurpleXVI> That was a pretty rude awakening, it's not even noon and you're already threatened with being homeless! What would you really miss about the apartment, though? What's the most personal, hedonistic or handy thing you've paid some of your hard-earned cash(or stolen cash) on it, over the years?
06[18:26] * Wu_Cong glances over at the magical lodge he set up. "Well. That would be a bitch to move. Thirty grand. At least I'm paid up with the Docwagons.
[18:28] <@PurpleXVI> (feel free to detail the magical lodge setup, if you want. Does it have bubbling cauldrons? Star-and-moon curtains and a matching carpet? Is the ceiling a mural of yourself as Merlin?)
06[18:28] * Terry sighs at the thought of having to give the house up - specifically, the entertainment unit, what with the screen being a full 360 degree surround system, and rigged up to run oldschool DVDs - he has over a hundred hours of snooker tournaments there!
01[18:29] <Terry> And the drinks cabinet as well, it's such good access! There's no way that can be given up!
06[18:31] * Wu_Cong looks at the lodge, more a shrine to Zhuge Liang, really, his spirit mentor. Incense holders and shrines to other ancestors, some represented only by their names.
[18:32] <@PurpleXVI> And who knows what the third member of the team has that he values so greatly? He's your technical expert, and he must be involved in something serious if he didn't even react to the landlord's knocking. Judging by the cadence of his hurried keyboard typing behind the closed door to his room, you suspect he's engaged in a debate about anime with some uninformed casual. It would probably be
[18:32] <@PurpleXVI> best not to disturb him right away.
[18:32] <@PurpleXVI> (Della's not going to be here today, but is still in)
06[18:35] * Terry sends a wireless signal to the wall, where a pair of robotic hands start playing the guitar. A nice soothing... hard rock piece. "So we need more work. I bet we have like twenty stored, but we need to make the rest up."
06[18:37] * Wu_Cong sighs. "I had to spend most of my take covering with certain people."
01[18:41] <Terry> "I don't know how much I have left, I mean, I had to fix the truck, get more ammo, get new ears... oh and there was a special on synth-malt, just like twenty year aged stuff... but I have an ebony credstick around here somewhere, that's gotta be loaded with cash. Those ones always have heaps of money."
[18:43] <Wu_Cong> "Assuming you haven't spent it all. I'm the bastard who's actually got an SIN, and I know I'm tapped out."
[18:46] <@PurpleXVI> A quiet "Ding!" echoes from Terry's room, informing him that he's just received an email.
01[18:50] <Terry> "Oh score!" He hurries on to his room, to check the PC.
[18:51] <@PurpleXVI> It's a mail from Hellfire Bill. He is a huge jackass, the team met him the first time they were ever on a job together, back when he was a Lone Star officer, wrecked his mission so bad he got fired, and ever since then he took to Shadowrunning himself, taking every job that could put him into the team's opposition, or trying to get to their targets first and take them for himself.
[18:51] <@PurpleXVI> Sometimes the team's won, sometimes Bill's won, but they've stayed ahead, and he's just gotten angrier and angrier about it.
[18:52] <@PurpleXVI> The mail is short and concise: "Hey assholes, guess who just put down a deposit for that nice apartment of yours? Hellfire Bill. The landlord says that when he kicks you out, he's not giving you a chance to pack, so look forward to BIll rubbing his taint on all your favourite things!"
01[18:53] <Terry> "MOTHERFUCKING COCKGOBBLER!"
06[18:54] * Wu_Cong glances at Terry's room. "Good news, I take it?"
01[18:55] <Terry> "Hellfire Bill is trying to take our place - and all the stuff in it. We need to put the cash down fast."
[18:55] <Wu_Cong> "I see."
01[18:58] <Terry> "Ha! Found it! The credstick, all my money's on this - and it can't all be spent, stupid, it's ebony! It wouldn't be if it didn't have heaps of money, would it?"
[18:59] <Wu_Cong> "You do realize that just refers to the maximum amount, yes?"
01[19:02] <Terry> "...what?"
[19:02] <Wu_Cong> "They don't magically change color when they're out of nuyen."
01[19:05] <Terry> "But I'm sure we're fine. I mean, I had loads of money on there, made heaps of payments. We're probably fine and everything's okay..." He suddenly looks a bit worried though.
[19:07] <Wu_Cong> "We should look for work. About thirty grand worth.
01[19:11] <Terry> "Yeah I think you might be right. Crap, that's going to be a major job though."
06[19:12] * Wu_Cong grins. "Well, if we can come up with one as big as our last one, we should be set for the next year."
[19:12] <@PurpleXVI> Usually for work you'd either ask around with fellow Shadowrunners, or one of the Johnsons you know, not like how the plebes work, browsing the job boards and submitting written applications and resumés. Good thing you're above that mess.
01[19:20] <Terry> "Well yeah, but that was a great one... let's I dunno, see what the word is for other big stuff?"
06[19:23] * Wu_Cong nods. "I'll talk to a Johnson I know.
01[19:27] <Terry> "I'll see what I can do. I'm not really cozy with anyone but you never know what you can find out, too."
01[19:30] <Terry> (Yes, Terry is basically going to talk to prior employers and go "hey remember me? We were awesome, right? So want us to be awesome again?")
[19:31] <Wu_Cong> (Meanwhile, Wu Cong has some useful contacts)
[19:32] <@PurpleXVI> (Alrighty, so. What social skills do you have that'd be relevant, Terry? And Wu, what contacts are you hitting up?)
[19:33] <Wu_Cong> (My contact in Wuxing)
01[19:33] <Terry> (We're probably talking Negotiation, but I also have Con and Performance depending on how much I should ham it up.)
[19:35] <@PurpleXVI> (Alright, Terry, roll me Negotiation. Meanwhile, Wu contacts his brother. Does he let him know exactly how hard up for cash he is?)
[19:36] <Wu_Cong> (Nah, just lets him know he's looking for a big run, the bigger the better)
01[19:36] <Terry> 6#1d6 Limit 3
[19:36] <DiceMaid-9001> Terry, Limit 3: 1 [1d6=1], 1 [1d6=1], 1 [1d6=1], 2 [1d6=2], 3 [1d6=3], 3 [1d6=3]
01[19:36] <Terry> Hahahahaha
[19:37] <@PurpleXVI> (Wow, a critfail on the first roll of the game. That's goddamn amazing.)
01[19:37] <Terry> So apparently I call up Bill to ask for a job
01[19:38] <Terry> This is the kind of thing where people are supposed to spend Edge, but let's face it: this is too funny for that.
[19:38] <@PurpleXVI> Wu's brother isn't exactly a hardened 'Runner, but he'd know if Wuxing has need of anyone... unfortunately, at the moment, his department has already blown their annual budget for kidnappings, "acquisitions" and corporate sabotage. However, one of his old friends from work has skipped out to join a small startup corp, Blackforge Division, they call themselves... and they're apparently looking
[19:38] <@PurpleXVI> for Shadowrunners right now.
[19:39] <@PurpleXVI> He doesn't know what for, or even if they're paying well, apparently they're on the brink of bankruptcy as it is, but they seem pretty damn interested in getting a hold of someone.
[19:40] <@PurpleXVI> Terry, meanwhile, calls every damn Johnson he knows, and even a couple he doesn't, when he manages to type in the wrong number: All of them but one tell him to get bent. See, it turns out that during a particularly spectacular booze-fest, about a month ago, he called every single number in his phone's registry and informed whoever answered that they could perform a bunch of lewd acts upon his
[19:40] <@PurpleXVI> balls, because he was rich and didn't give a fuck.
[19:41] <@PurpleXVI> One of them, however, gives Terry the time of day, and even a job lead! Another small-time corp, barely even a corp, really, more like a business, called the Klean Krew, is looking for some tough customers. Ideally people who don't mind dirty work(for some reason he snickers as he says it) and the recruitment process is highly informal, you just have to be at a given place, at a given time,
[19:41] <@PurpleXVI> and you're in.
[19:41] <@PurpleXVI> To Terry's surprise, the address provided is actually in a rather upscale part of Seattle.
[19:41] <@PurpleXVI> And the day is tomorrow.
[19:44] <Wu_Cong> "Well, I got a lead on a corp that is desperate for talent, not sure how good the pay will be."
01[19:46] <Terry> "Nice one! I managed to get us a job too - dirty work, so we might have to whack someone. They need tough people, and we just have to be at the place tomorrow. Not really a big corp though, so... probably not great pay either. What's the news on yours?"
[19:47] <Wu_Cong> "Former Wuxing employee made a startup called Blackforge. They're looking for shadowrunners right now. Yours?"
[19:49] <@PurpleXVI> (Wu's brother has, of course, also provided contact information for Blackforge HR)
01[19:49] <Terry> Just a guy I called from the address book. Klean Krew. So... Blackforge sounds like we should contact them and get an interview? We might be able to balance out two jobs depending on the timeframe, and the more money the better, because I saw a sweet bike the other day..."
06[19:49] * Wu_Cong frowns. "Klean Krew? Where's the job?"
01[19:51] <Terry> "Oh, up in the posh district. Pretty classy place, no wonder they want the job done by a third party."
[19:52] <Wu_Cong> (Mind if I roll Sprawl Life to see if this is what I suspect it is OOCly?)
[19:54] <@PurpleXVI> ('sec, where's that in the book?)
[19:54] <Wu_Cong> (Street-based knowledge)
[19:55] <Wu_Cong> (149)
[19:55] <@PurpleXVI> (Oh, sure, go right ahead)
[19:55] <Wu_Cong> 5#1d6 Limit 5
[19:55] <DiceMaid-9001> Wu_Cong, Limit 5: 4 [1d6=4], 2 [1d6=2], 2 [1d6=2], 6 [1d6=6], 1 [1d6=1]
[19:56] <Wu_Cong> (Is this essentially an actual cleaning job?)
[19:57] <@PurpleXVI> Wu's memory of the Klean Krew is fuzzy, but he's sure he's seen the name before, occasionally stencilled on a wall, and he's also seen it a passing truck from time to time, always some huge, lumbering thing. That's about all he recalls.
[20:00] <Wu_Cong> "Hmm. I've seen their trucks. You've got some skill with the net, why not check out both companies, so we know more when we go in?"
01[20:08] <Terry> "Sure, we can to that. Actually that's not a bad idea." Terry says, wondering when it was he managed to convince everyone he was good with the net.
06[20:09] * Wu_Cong grins. "Besides, our actual net expert is busy arguing about some damned Nipponese cartoons. Probably hasn't even noticed what's going on."
[20:11] <@PurpleXVI> (If you don't have a better idea, that'd probably be Computer+Logic, or if you don't have it, Logic)
01[20:11] <Terry> (Straight Logic then, so two dice. Suckers.)
01[20:11] <Terry> 2#1d6 Limit 2 hahaha
[20:11] <DiceMaid-9001> Terry, Limit 2 hahaha: 1 [1d6=1], 1 [1d6=1]
01[20:12] <Terry> ahahahaha
[20:12] <Wu_Cong> (Well, shit, I'm actually better)
[20:12] <Wu_Cong> (I'd have 3 dice)
[20:13] <Wu_Cong> (Just doesn't consider himself texh savvy)
01[20:13] <Terry> (But apparently Terry convinced everyone "I'm full of robot parts, I'm totally awesome with computers!")
[20:13] <Wu_Cong> (Eh, it's just the magic guy's assumption)
[20:14] <@PurpleXVI> Terry finds several fascinating videos related to the Blackforge Division, showing heavy combat scenarios. One of them appears to be an assault on an Ares manufacturing plant, another shows a troll punching an elf so hard he explodes(something' a bit off about them, but Terry can't exactly pin down what and is distracted by the action besides).
[20:15] <@PurpleXVI> The Klean Krew, meanwhile, tend to mostly provide boring articles with famous people(either actual rich and powerful people, or meme-celebrities) quoted on how they've "gone over the line this time" or "they've clearly abused their authority." While Lone Star responds by saying that they've stayed within contract and that no one's being held responsible for the resulting damage to people or
[20:15] <@PurpleXVI> property.
01[20:17] <Terry> "Woah, Blackforge has some great stuff going... if we can't get big money, then we might be able to get some high-value favours or gear. Huh, looks like Klean Krew deal with celebrities and rich folk. Look at this article here..."
01[20:17] <Terry> (This might allow Wu Cong a chance to go "hang on, this is a fucking cleaning company" rather than leaving it in Terry's hands)
[20:18] <Wu_Cong> (Time to roll my dice dice!)
[20:18] <Wu_Cong> 3#1d6 limit 5 lol
[20:18] <DiceMaid-9001> Wu_Cong, limit 5 lol: 4 [1d6=4], 1 [1d6=1], 4 [1d6=4]
[20:18] <Wu_Cong> NOPE
[20:18] <Wu_Cong> LOOKS LEGIT
[20:18] <@PurpleXVI> (Holy shit Dicemaid.)
[20:18] <@PurpleXVI> (What the fuck is your problem?)
[20:20] <@PurpleXVI> It just so happens that Wu looks over Terry's shoulder while he's reading literally the only article that doesn't provide any real hints. It does, however, detail the fates of said "civilian casualties" in descriptive terms like "mangled beyond recognition" and "couldn't find the head." Also the Klean Krew is praised by an Aztechnology spokesperson as having excellent customer service.
01[20:24] <Terry> "So, looks like we're onto a couple of winners. So what say we talk to Blackforge about arranging the job, then tomorrow we rock up for the Klean Krew one, then bam-bam both jobs down and we're probably halfway there in like a week tops."
[20:25] <Wu_Cong> "Sounds like a plan."
[20:27] <Wu_Cong> "I'll go contact Blackforge, then."
[20:29] <Wu_Cong> (Calling them up with my brother's info to set up a meeting)
[20:31] <@PurpleXVI> Wu almost loses hearing in his right ear as the call goes through, there's a shattering explosion on the other end, followed by machinegun fire and the engine of what sounds like an Ares Roadmaster, before it's silenced by the thundering noise of a Panther XXL cannon. During a brief lull in the noise, there's a voice on the other end, shouting to be heard, "BLACKFORGE HR, THIS IS SANDRA, HOW
[20:31] <@PurpleXVI> MAY I HELP YOU?" You think it's an elf.
[20:33] <Wu_Cong> "Ah, yes. I heard through channels that you were seeking shadowrunners?
[20:37] <@PurpleXVI> A door slams in the background, and suddenly the battle is a lot more muted, though you can still hear the occasional rattle of walls and furniture as a particularly heavy artillery barrage goes through. The elf continues speaking, at a more normal volume, "Sorry about the noise, sir! Things get a bit hectic here! And you heard right, we need some Shadowrunners for, um," she pauses, apparently
[20:37] <@PurpleXVI> searching for the right term, "Consulting positions, if you understand me."
[20:38] <Wu_Cong> "Of course. When would you like to meet?"
[20:41] <@PurpleXVI> "Um," it sounds like she's pinning her phone between shoulder and ear while rapidly checking something on her computer, "Could you get here today? Our project's on the final stretch and we don't have any time to lose. And if you have any friends, bring them too! We could use more than one Shadowrunner!"
[20:41] <Wu_Cong> "Of course. What location?"
[20:42] <@PurpleXVI> She gives you an address, it's only about an hour away and in one of the less dangerous parts of town, but still somewhere you wouldn't want to be on the streets after nightfall without a gun or blunt object under your coat.
[20:46] <Wu_Cong> "We will be there as soon as we can. I hope there is enough time to discuss payment."
[20:49] <@PurpleXVI> "Of course, sir, once we've introduced you to the project, we'll negotiate pay."
[20:53] <Wu_Cong> "Indeed. We will see you."
[20:54] <@PurpleXVI> (aaaand how about we hold it here so we don't get too far ahead for next session where Della will hopefully be with us?)
[20:54] <Wu_Cong> (Sure)
[20:55] <@PurpleXVI> Thanks for showing up, I appreciate you giving me a chance.
[20:55] <Wu_Cong> (Then maybe Della can go 'It's a housecleaning agency.'

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 5:25 pm

If it turns out the PCs get dragged into a brutal turf war between rival cleaning agencies, that'd be pretty gnarly. The real Secret War.

Or maybe the Klean Krew crew genuinely needed shadowrunners, but no fixers took them seriously. When the PCs show up, their employers reveal that they need consultants with criminal contacts and experience. See, the celebrity who owns the house has... unsavory habits, and the Klean Krew needs several dozen bodies disposed of in a way that doesn't come back to haunt them figuratively or otherwise.

If you wanted to go hyper-grimderp, make it a dungeon full of brutalized children, some still living. But it would probably be better to do something less in-your-face. Maybe a drug party where the host gave a bunch of guests to insect spirits in exchange for unknown magical favors.

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:18 am

I'm pretty sure we're getting contracted to do cleaning, and that's pretty hilarious. After all, the assumption was that at some point we're going to end up getting desk jobs and such. As Shadowrunners.

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:39 am

True. Even if everyone's already called the twist, that doesn't mean you have to change things further.

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 11:48 am

So here's the second session, where we meet the third player:

[18:16] <Riyu> we all know each other, right? if so, i'll give you a bit of backstory
[18:16] <PurpleXVI> (You do, you're roommates)
[18:16] <PurpleXVI> (Or apartmentmates, rather)
[18:16] <Wu_Cong> So, I'm at a mile elevation and dealing with shit seeing. Like 'two arcseconds' of shit seeing.
[18:17] <PurpleXVI> What does that mean to us laymen, Vettir?
[18:18] <PurpleXVI> MEANWHILE, IN SHADOWRUN
[18:19] <Wu_Cong> Basically, our telescope is acting like it has 80/20 vision
[18:19] <Riyu> then you know that that roomie is a obnoxious little girl that thinks she's some kind of super pop idol
[18:20] <PurpleXVI> Wu Cong and Terry have just finished their first round of frantic hunting for sources of income, which has left them with two leads on jobs. Not proper runs as such, but potential sources of income that don't involve selling their own organs or souls. This, plus what prompted them into this frenzy, has gone completely missed by Riyu since she was shut up in her room busy listening to loud
[18:20] <PurpleXVI> music and/or getting into internet arguments.
[18:20] <Riyu> even though all she goes is just put videos on youtube and utterly fail to get noticed by any major publishing house and can at best get a few nuyen from Matrix gigs
[18:20] <PurpleXVI> She's just finished up, and is probably in for a rude surprise when she either leaves her room or her roommates force the door to recruit her.
[18:21] <Wu_Cong> Wu Cong is a Chinese shaman who is a bit more along the lines of ancestor worship. Also a strange obsession with Hong Kong Martial Arts movies.
[18:22] <Riyu> (basically Riyu is a vocaloid, only real)
[18:22] <Riyu> (except she's not real because this is a fantasy game)
[18:22] <Riyu> (which is like deep bro)
[18:23] <Riyu> Yeah, so she steps outside of her room, clearly sleep-deprived, hair in a tangled mess, in a blue pajama, and immediately walks to the coffee machine, ignoring anything else.
[18:24] <PurpleXVI> Riyu's roommates should go ahead and describe themselves, just in case she's got a sudden case of amnesia, and Riyu should possibly meditate on what she really loves about the penthouse, perhaps some absurd techie setup or workshop she's got going. Something that she would really hate to lose to the group's long-time nemesis: Hellfire Bill.
[18:25] <Riyu> (when she's in her top shape - and that means she's recording a video, because otherwise she's kind of a slob - she looks kinda like this: http://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/1449879)
[18:25] <Riyu> yeah her room is basically a litle recording/editing studio.
06[18:26] * Wu_Cong is a Chinese albino with a few high tech gadgets, and a large spirit shrine in the penthouse.
[18:28] <Riyu> Well, she's there making coffee, and she's making a lot of it. "So what was tha noise I heard earlier? Someone came to visit?"
01[18:29] <Terry> (Terry is a bit of an egomaniac and a bit of a moron. With supreme self-confidence. Sometimes he actually manages to put his money where his mouth is.)
01[18:30] <Terry> "Hey, hey, hey Riyu! Finally you're out here, look, we got a problem, but it's already fixed, we have TWO jobs! And you're coming too!"
06[18:31] * Wu_Cong nods. "Two jobs, not really runs in either case, but, well, we apparently need to come up with 30k nuyen in a month, or we get kicked out."
01[18:31] <Terry> (Specifically he's a street-sam, and a human.)
[18:32] <Riyu> (yeah, Riyu's human too)
[18:32] <Riyu> "...what jobs." She asks, going through her second cup of espresso.
[18:32] <Wu_Cong> (Also human. Just Chinese albino, which looks weird even for albino)
[18:33] <Wu_Cong> "Well, I think one is experimental weapons testing, either that or they're under siege. The other is something called the Klean Krewe. I've seen their vans around, but no idea what they are, other than we just show up, and the place is in the nicer part of town."
[18:34] <Riyu> "Wait wait wait." *sip*
[18:34] <Riyu> "back up a bit."
[18:34] <Riyu> "What do you mean we're getting kicked out?"
[18:34] <Wu_Cong> "We owe... I think 3 months of rent?"
[18:35] <Riyu> "..."
[18:35] <Riyu> "...alright." She nods thoughtfully, probably quietly admiting to herself that it makes sense.
01[18:36] <Terry> "I thought paying that was someone else's job"
[18:36] <Riyu> "...No wonder we're getting kicked out, with that attitude."
[18:36] <Wu_Cong> "I was certain we'd paid up a few months in advance after that Aztechnology job."
[18:38] <Riyu> "...that was months ago."
[18:39] <Riyu> "...alright." She tries to brush aside her tangled mess of hair, sits down on a chair with her third cup, and twitches a bit. "...now, back to the jobs."
01[18:39] <Terry> "So we've found a couple, yeah."
[18:42] <Wu_Cong> "The one that's today, and we should probably head over there soon, is Blackforge division. They appear to require 'consultants'. Also, if the trids we saw are to be believed, they set things up so trolls explode things after punching them. It might have been CG, I'm not exactly a specialist."
01[18:42] <Terry> "Yeah, they have rad videos of their tech demonstrations, they're going to be big. So I think we should totes rock up and impress them."
[18:43] <Riyu> "...That sounds confusing and I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about." She replies.
[18:43] <Riyu> She's likely still half-asleep.
[18:44] <Wu_Cong> "Well, if you want to look them up, cool. But apparently they're willing to pay for Shadowrunner consultants."
01[18:45] <Terry> "And given we need money fast, we should get onto it. So I think we all need to get all dressed up for this one."
[18:45] <Riyu> "...So it's just consulting."
[18:45] <Riyu> "No shooting anybody. Mostly, no getting shot."
06[18:46] * Wu_Cong shrugs. "I heard what sounded like heavy weapons fire in the background."
[18:46] <Riyu> She thinks about it. It's not very clear if she considers that a plus or a minus.
[18:47] <Riyu> "I'm not sure I want my music to be associated with a weapons research company, but if it's just consulting, I think it's alright."
[18:51] <Riyu> (guys?)
01[18:52] <Terry> "Excellent. We should definitely get it all sorted. Our interview with Klean Krew is tomorrow, so we can leave that until then - but it's big stuff, they have lots of famous clients."
06[18:53] * Wu_Cong shrugs. "Also, didn't you say there was no interview, just show up?"
[18:53] <Riyu> "Wait, who's this Klean Krew again?"
01[18:54] <Terry> "Oh yeah, that's right, we basically have the job, because they know how awesome we are. So, I'm going to go have a shower and get suited up so we can talk to Blackforge. You look at my PC, the window is still open there so you can read up on Klean Krew."
06[18:54] * Wu_Cong shrugs. "Beats me. I've seen their stuff around town."
01[18:55] <Terry> (For the record, it's the result of a couple of critfails in a row, so it seems totally legit but... it's a cleaning company)
[18:55] <Riyu> "...What's a PC?"
[18:56] <Wu_Cong> (Yeah, PCs don't exist.
[18:56] <Wu_Cong> (As a term)
[18:57] <Riyu> (i mean, you could have one of them old PCs)
[18:57] <Riyu> (and Riyu wouldn't know what one is :D)
[18:58] <Riyu> "...Anyway, I don't know. this Klean Krew is, like... well... cleaning."
[18:58] <Wu_Cong> "Huh?"
[18:59] <Riyu> "Isn't it? Well, i mean."
[18:59] <Riyu> "the name."
[18:59] <Riyu> "Isn't it a cleaning crew?"
06[18:59] * Wu_Cong looks at Terry. "Who did you get this from?"
[18:59] <Riyu> "I don't think a pop star like myself should be seen doing such a menial job. My fans would be sad."
[19:00] <Riyu> "...It's the name. Switch the Ks for Cs. Clean Crew."
[19:00] <Riyu> "...am I wrong?"
06[19:00] * Wu_Cong shrugs. "I couldn't find anything about them."
03[19:00] * DiceMaid-9001 is now known as RichterBelmont
03[19:00] * RichterBelmont is now known as DiceMaid-9001
[19:03] <Riyu> 9d6
[19:03] <DiceMaid-9001> Riyu, 9d6: 38 [9d6=5,5,2,6,3,6,6,4,1]
01[19:04] <Terry> (And I return from dinner)
[19:04] <Wu_Cong> (5 suxx)
[19:04] <Wu_Cong> (WE HAB A WINRAR)
[19:06] <PurpleXVI> Riyu is just a bit more skilled at navigating the Matrix than the others present and rapidly finds a hoard of information about the Klean Krew. They are, indeed, a cleaning operation. They clean streets, apartments homes and just about anything else that can get dirty. Though in some cases this includes neighbours that are considered to be "lowering property values," including the homeless,
[19:06] <PurpleXVI> who usually aren't found again after being picked off the streets by the Klean Krew.
[19:06] <Riyu> That's pretty much the info i give them.
06[19:06] * Terry didn't take long getting sprayed down and heat-ray dried. Getting dressed didn't take long either, and he's now all kitted up as though for an actual run.
[19:07] <Riyu> 9d6
[19:07] <DiceMaid-9001> Riyu, 9d6: 38 [9d6=4,5,5,6,1,3,6,6,2]
06[19:07] * Wu_Cong nods. "So, Terry. The guy who gave you this lead. What's the possible fallout if we kill him?"
01[19:07] <Terry> "I dunno, I just called everyone we've ever worked for. I can't even remember who it was, why?"
[19:08] <Wu_Cong> "Well. They're a cleaning company. Mostly use homeless people who are never seen again.
06[19:08] * Wu_Cong thinks a moment. "Although if we can use it to stage a robbery..."
[19:09] <Riyu> "Guys."
[19:09] <PurpleXVI> Blackforge Division... they make games. Videogames. Apparently the stuff that Wu found online was gameplay footage. Pretty small company, because every time they've just about had a breakout hit, some bigger company's stolen away their talent, blackmailed their developers or otherwise sabotaged them. They're just about tapped out for funds... but they've got one last gasp, a top secret,
[19:09] <PurpleXVI> super-hyped project. And this time they've been completely resistant to sabotage, at least so far.
[19:09] <Riyu> "These people are SO obviously organ harvesters."
[19:10] <Riyu> "But these Blackforge guys sound cool. They've been through a lot and really need our help. We should check them."
[19:12] <Wu_Cong> "Albinism has few perks. One of them is that few people want your organs. Hmm. Consultants for a video game company. Better than nothing."
[19:12] <Wu_Cong> "Also, Xing has yet to really steer me wrong."
[19:13] <Riyu> (by the way, guys. do we have a car or something?)
01[19:13] <Terry> (Not in the conventional sense of a *car*)
01[19:13] <Terry> (I have an Ares Roadmaster though)
[19:14] <Wu_Cong> (I've got a HD Scorpion with a forward mounted gun)
[19:14] <Wu_Cong> (And a whopping 1 Pilot Ground Craft)
[19:15] <Riyu> (then i'm riding with one of you)+
01[19:15] <Terry> "What? Fucking cleaning? We don't clean, we're the rich and famous people that others clean up after! Admittedly we're not rich at the moment. So... yeah, video games! Think they'll be impressed enough to make a game about us? Big fame in that deal."
[19:16] <Riyu> "They're already working on a project."
06[19:16] * Wu_Cong shrugs. "We'll find out once we get there."
[19:16] <Riyu> (christ, a roadmaster?)
[19:17] <Riyu> (you bought a civilian APC.)
[19:17] <Wu_Cong> (Yup, he did.)
[19:19] <PurpleXVI> (If you're gonna ride, ride in style)
[19:20] <Riyu> "Did you schedule an appointment with these guys?"
[19:20] <Wu_Cong> "It was along the lines of 'please show up soon.'"
01[19:21] <Terry> (Hey, there's a reason why I bought a civillian APC. 1,1I wasn't allowed to buy a military one. )
[19:23] <Riyu> "Then let's go, no sense wasting time." She heads back to her room and brings her micro camera along.
[19:24] <PurpleXVI> (still wearing her pajamas?)
06[19:24] * Wu_Cong nods. He tends to be very well dressed normally, in advanced clothing that has a few extras tossed in.
[19:25] <Riyu> (she's forgetful)
[19:25] <Riyu> (someone point it out)
[19:25] <PurpleXVI> (Or don't.)
06[19:25] * Wu_Cong looks at Riyu. "You do realize most consultants wear something more formal, yes?"
[19:27] <Riyu> "What do you mean, this is my outfit aaaaaand yeah you're right i'll go get changed."
[19:27] <Riyu> she turns around at the speed of light and runs into her room.
[19:28] <Riyu> she emerges wearing a suit with necktie and black formal trousers. And shades. all she needs now is a black fedora and she can just sing blues.
[19:29] <Wu_Cong> (She doesn't sing the blues, does she?)
[19:30] <Riyu> (she doesn't. well, you never asked. maybe she can. she usually just sings really hyper pop music that is biabeetes-inducing cheerful and might be good in small doses but you hear it all the time in background)
[19:30] <Riyu> *diabeetes
[19:31] <Wu_Cong> (DIABEETUS)
[19:31] <PurpleXVI> (Anything else you need to sort, or are you setting out?)
01[19:32] <Terry> Heading out!
01[19:32] <Terry> "I'll drive."
[19:33] <PurpleXVI> (Is Terry actually any good at driving? Or does he have a Roadmaster because he can't drive for shit?)
01[19:33] <Terry> (It's actually one of the things he can do reasonably well)
[19:35] <Riyu> then yeah, Riyu rides with you. It's weird seeing her dressed up like that. She's usually either in her pajamas or in that absurd pop idol costume with all the trid lights and special effects dragging along, jumping and dancing and singing in front of a camera.
[19:35] <PurpleXVI> (Does Wu Cong pile into the Roadmaster or take his own ride?)
01[19:36] <Terry> "Oh, you'll need to provide directions..." Vroom vroom!
06[19:36] * Wu_Cong makes sure Terry has the address, then grabs his Scorpion.
[19:37] <PurpleXVI> After a swift descent in the elevator, the Roadmaster rumbles out of the garage and unto the city's streets, crushing an unfortunate civilian car as Terry makes a high-speed right turn that raises half the Roadmaster off the asphalt. After that, everyone else nearby knows to give the APC a wide berth, and Wu can follow in its wake without having to watch out for other traffic.
[19:38] <Riyu> She sighs. "Does this thing have a rig, by the way?"
[19:39] <Riyu> "Or you're driving it old style?"
[19:39] <PurpleXVI> It's eerie, passing up-town without it being a daring, midnight excursion to raid a corporate office. There are people on the streets who aren't in body armor, who don't even have guns, and there are Lone Star officers not busy harassing anyone or pushing them for bribes. You can even see the sidewalks without needing to go through an inch of trash first.
[19:40] <Riyu> (wow)
06[19:41] * Wu_Cong subvocalizes over his comlink, "This brings back memories."
[19:42] <PurpleXVI> Thankfully you don't have to pass too far into this alien realm, as the Blackforge offices are in a low concrete building close to the worse-off parts of Seattle. It's slightly reminiscent of a bunker with a neon-lit corporate logo on top. The front doors look made to resist a tank assault, and every single window has bars in front of it.
[19:42] <Riyu> "Man, this place is nice."
01[19:43] <Terry> "Oh it has a rig all right. I like control."
[19:44] <Riyu> "Then I'll feed the address straight to there."
02[19:44] * @Vettir (Vettir@not.a.FBI.NSA.or.CIA.spy.gov) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
03[19:44] * Vettir (Vettir@not.a.FBI.NSA.or.CIA.spy.gov) has joined #Shadows
[19:44] <Riyu> "...Mhh."
[19:44] <Riyu> "If it's ust a software house, why is it so..."
[19:44] <Riyu> "...secure-looking?"
01[19:44] <Terry> This makes it even easier, so soon enough, he pulls over at the place. "...I guess we're here?"
06[19:45] * Wu_Cong chuckles as they pull up. "I think we might be security consultants."
[19:47] <Riyu> She drops down and combs her hair up to make it cover a bit that absurd, cat-ear-like thing she has on top of her head. (yeah, she didn't take that off. she never does)
[19:47] <Riyu> "Let's ring then." She says, approaching the building.
06[19:47] * Wu_Cong nods, taking the lead since he's the one that called them earlier.
06[19:48] * Wu_Cong heads on up and looks for a doorbell equivalent to ring.
[19:50] <PurpleXVI> There's one of those buzzer-and-radio setups that let people interrogate you from the inside before deciding whether to unlock the door for you.
06[19:51] * Wu_Cong presses the button. "This is Wu Cong. I spoke on the phone with you, and we got here quickly."
06[19:53] * Terry makes sure the roadmaster is locked and follows, smoothing back what little hair he has.
[19:53] <PurpleXVI> "Oh! Of course! I'll let you in right away!" It sounds like it's the secretary, Sandra, that he spoke with earlier. There's a buzzing noise as the door unlocks for Wu and the others.
[19:53] <PurpleXVI> (I imagine Terry smoothing back his mohawk, which instantly springs back into full pointiness again, cartoonishly.)
[19:54] <Riyu> Riyu follows in. She looks like she's trying to not get recognized, which means she really wants someone to recognize her.
[19:54] <Riyu> (short AFK, i'll leave Riyu on autopilot)
06[19:55] * Wu_Cong enters, moving through quickly, but attempting to see what other obvious security devices have been placed.
[19:57] <PurpleXVI> The most obvious security measure immediately beyond the doors is the machinegun emplacement behind the sandbags. It appears to have been dropped into the middle of an otherwise-nice carpeted lobby complete with a lot of fake(but nice-looking) potted plants. The security guards crouched behind the sandbags are a bit of a contrast to the smiling, suited elven secretary extending her hand to Wu
[19:57] <PurpleXVI> Cong for a shake, "I'm glad you could make it so quickly!"
06[19:58] * Wu_Cong shakes the hand firmly and quickly. "So, I am curious as to what form of consultancy you are seeking. Security for the breaches you've had, or something for your current project?"
[20:00] <PurpleXVI> Sandra, the secretary, speaks while moving on to shake with Terry and Riyu, she seems captivated by Terry's mohawk. "It's for the project," she confirms, "But before I can tell you any more, you'll have to sign this." She presents the party with a non-disclosure agreement, "We've got rivals who'd love to see us go down, so we can't take any risks."
06[20:02] * Wu_Cong glances at the NDA. "Hmm. Any rivals in particular?"
[20:03] <PurpleXVI> (Is Wu checking it for anything particularly out of place or just idly glancing at it while talking?)
[20:04] <Wu_Cong> (He's going to look at it more closely, tbh, because he has an actual legitimate SIN, so they might be able to actually tag him with breach of contract fines)
[20:04] <PurpleXVI> (Does he have any legal knowledge or skills?)
[20:04] <Riyu> (sorry, back)
[20:05] <Wu_Cong> (He has Business knowledge)
[20:05] <PurpleXVI> "Oh, mostly Ares and Aztech, back when we were first setting up, we poached a few Ares programmers, they never forgave us that, and Aztech thinks we might be competition." She smiles, "I suppose we should take that as a good sign."
[20:05] <Riyu> "Wow. A honest-to-goodness NDA?"
06[20:06] * Terry goes right ahead and signs, showing the kind of mental prowess that got them into this mess to begin with.
06[20:06] * Wu_Cong nods. "And of course, fortify for the apocalypse."
[20:06] <PurpleXVI> As far as Wu can tell, the NDA is relatively toothless. It just ensures that anyone who breaches it will be instantly fired with no pay, severance package or invitation to the company picnic.
[20:06] <Riyu> You notice that Riyu signs the NDA as one Milly Smith. Thinking of it, you never asked her real name.
06[20:07] * Wu_Cong glances at the NDA, then up. "Is this the same NDA you gave out on your previous projects?"
02[20:07] * Vettir (Vettir@not.a.FBI.NSA.or.CIA.spy.gov) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
03[20:07] * Vettir (Vettir@not.a.FBI.NSA.or.CIA.spy.gov) has joined #Shadows
[20:07] <PurpleXVI> Sandra looks pained and worried instantly, "...it's too harsh, isn't it? I should have known! We can negotiate!"
[20:09] <Riyu> "Nah, it's alright for me. I can keep my mouth shut." She winks at her, though it can't be seen under the mirrorshades
[20:11] <PurpleXVI> (By the way, did anyone bring any non-hidden weapons, either too large to hide or not bothering to hide them?)
[20:12] <Wu_Cong> (Well, I have some nice knucks on, but they simply look like really hard gloves)
[20:12] <Riyu> Riyu left her Ares Predator on the car, other than that nothing visible.
06[20:13] * Wu_Cong shakes his head. "It is, honestly, too lenient. No incentive not to take a lucrative bribe." He grins. "Of course, there's no love lost between us and Aztechnology." He signs it as Wu Cong. "But in the future, I would recommend breach of contract fees at a minimum. At the very least, you would bleed your 'competitors' a bit more."
01[20:15] <Terry> (I'm only packing my pistol in my jacket, the bigger stuff is in the "car")
[20:16] <Riyu> "So, what did you need help with? Do we get to speak with the project director?"
[20:16] <PurpleXVI> Sandra frowns and looks over the contracts as she's handed them back, "Too lenient," she mumbles to herself, seeming to turn the idea over in her head, "I'll bring it up with legal." Then she waves at the security guards that the visitors are all clear before leading everyone deeper into the building. It turns out to mostly be a maze of cubicles, water coolers and the occasional dimly-lit dead
[20:16] <PurpleXVI> end with ancient printers displaying the eerie runes of 4PC Load Letter.
[20:17] <Riyu> "Man, this place feels like a museum at times."
[20:18] <Wu_Cong> (gotta go briefly, moving location IRL, should be back in 10-15)
[20:18] <PurpleXVI> "We're making a game, you see, about Shadowrunners," Sandra explains, "And who better to tell us if we're getting it right... than Shadowrunners? We just need you to play our game for a week, the latest beta, give feedback, and we'll pay you five thousand NuYen. Each."
06[20:19] * Wu_Cong mutters in Chinese, "I've been shot for less."
[20:19] <Wu_Cong> (okay, bbiab)
01[20:19] <Terry> "Really? Wow, that seems pretty reasonable, we can manage that easy. We won't need to provide commentary of realism like showing you actual floorplans of places will we?"
[20:19] <Riyu> Riyu is depressed at tne news. "So... we're just beta testers?"
[20:22] <PurpleXVI> "No no," Sandra assures Terry, "You just have to tell us if we're getting it right, if it feels like, um, Shadowrunning." She also nods at Riyu, completely missing her deflated enthusiasm, "You are! You'd be surprised how many applicants we have for it, every kid wants to be a beta tester. But you're the lucky ones who get to do it! Did you expect we'd need you for security? Or corporate
[20:22] <PurpleXVI> sabotage?"
02[20:22] * Wu_Cong (Vettir@sux-9836920.hpwren.ucsd.edu) Quit (Ping timeout)
[20:24] <Riyu> "How about music?" She suggests.
03[20:25] * Wu_Cong (Vettir@sux-9836920.hpwren.ucsd.edu) has joined #Shadows
[20:25] <PurpleXVI> "Well of course you can listen to music while you work!" Sandra seems baffled at the question, "And you can decorate your cubicles like any other employee, but no playing anything too loud."
[20:26] <Wu_Cong> !dm9001 lastlines 20
[20:26] <Wu_Cong> !dm9001 lastlines #20
[20:26] <Riyu> "No, I mean." and she TAKES OF HER MIRORSHADES like this is supposed to be some titanic reveal. You can HEAR the orchestra sting in her head.
[20:26] <Riyu> and then she just waggles her eyebrows suggestively at the elven secretary.
[20:28] <PurpleXVI> "...I'll have you known we have a policy against sexual harassment," she warns Riyu.
[20:29] <Riyu> "...What? No! I mean... you mean you don't know me?" And she brushes her hair back to reveal that weird thing she has on her head.
[20:29] <PurpleXVI> (Is Riyu famous enough that someone might be a weird niché fan of hers or is she literally completely unknown?)
[20:29] <PurpleXVI> (And what was her last gig/job/attempt at fame?)
06[20:30] * Wu_Cong laughs quietly. "You might still consider us for other forms of consulting. Because honestly, I'm fairly certain if we'd been hired to break into your place, we could have. But Xing is an old friend of mine, and he spoke... somewhat well of you." And, if he did his math right, that'll be half of their outstanding rent.
[20:30] <Riyu> (your call. i was thinking she's popular in a niche of people on the matrix but unknown to the public at large.)
[20:31] <Riyu> (she mostly self-publishes videos of her singing and dancing)
[20:32] <Riyu> (sometimes makes an appearance in some club, but never gets top billing or huge recognition and her fans are most likely matrix-addicted shut-ins so few of them go and see her in person)
[20:32] <PurpleXVI> A portly programmer pops around the wall of the nearest cubicle as Riyu complains about her lack of notoriety, and he almost has a heart attack, "That's Riyu!" He exclaims, he grabs Sandra by the shoulder, and by the look in the secretary's eyes, you can tell she's mentally paging through the sexual harassment policies to see if she can use them to wrench herself free, "I told you about her
[20:32] <PurpleXVI> yesterday, for an hour, even, over by the water cooler!"
[20:32] <Riyu> Riyu has the hugest, dumbest grin ever.
[20:33] <PurpleXVI> He keeps talking, not brooking any interruptions, "She does these really cool dancing videos, and her music's pretty good too, but her dancing is something, you should let her do music for the game! I bet she's got thousands of fans! Think of the publicity!"
06[20:33] * Wu_Cong is actually impressed to see a fan of Riyu's who bothers to get dressed and perhaps even shave.
[20:33] <PurpleXVI> (Oh, he's not shaven, he's got a beard)
01[20:33] <Terry> "Hey look, we're happy to playtest this game and give the feedback on how authentic it feels, no probs. Don't worry, we're good for that job, the one you got us in here on. But as you can see, we can maybe bring even more to the table, that's negotiable."
[20:33] <Riyu> (he's a programmer)
[20:33] <PurpleXVI> (also starting to go bald)
[20:33] <Riyu> (of course he does)
[20:34] <Wu_Cong> (well trimmed or 'grooming? What's that?')
[20:34] <PurpleXVI> (There aren't any animals living in it, but anyone more socially aware would probably keep it a bit better-trimmed.)
[20:34] <Riyu> grooming is for people who have to go through job intervews. once you have a job that doesn't require you to have actual human interaction? who the fuck cares.)
[20:34] <Wu_Cong> (I am coming not to expect social awareness here)
[20:35] <Riyu> "As a matrix-famous pop idol AND a shadowrunner I would be honored to work with Blackforge on this game." She says, looking INCREDIBLY smug.
[20:36] <PurpleXVI> Sandra currently has a frozen grin on her face, and she manages a remarkably acrobatic slip out of the programmer's grip, somehow positioning Terry between them, "This is Bill, Bill Hitchert," she introduces him from a safe distance, "One of our lead programmers. I'll talk with financial about additional services, but in the meantime, maybe you should get to know each other!"
[20:36] <Riyu> "Hi Bill."
[20:37] <PurpleXVI> Bill takes a step closer to Riyu, and everyone discovers he's got an unmistakeable aroma of cheap snack foods about him. You can practically hear the chemically enhanced sugars and fats coagulating in his veins, "Hi Riyu," he extends a plump hand for shaking, "Boy, I never expected to meet you! I've been leaving comments on all your videos, but you never respond, but that's okay, you're famous
[20:37] <PurpleXVI> so you can't respond to everyone."
06[20:38] * Wu_Cong merely nods to Bill. He had, on occasion, checked out his teammate's videos. For a number of reasons, he avoided commenting.
[20:39] <Riyu> She DOES hesitate a bit before shaking it. "Um, yeah, you know... only so many hours in a day, and all the time i'd spend answering comments is time taken off making the next video... but I DO read them! I care about each and every one of my fans!"
[20:40] <PurpleXVI> Bill's hand envelops Riyu's like a meaty jellyfish, right down to the clammy feeling and the onset of numbness as he cuts off circulation to her fingers, "But now we're going to be working together!" He grins, "Do you want to see the latest build of the game? I can show you to your workstations!" Sandra has managed to escape during this confrontation.
[20:42] <Riyu> "Uh... sure? I'm actually curious. Since. Uh, well, we're going to have to playtest it.
01[20:42] <Terry> ((why did I get olfactory booster 5? ;_;))
06[20:42] * Wu_Cong subvocalizes on his comlink. "Just remember, this is still preferable to Aztech's sewers."
01[20:43] <Terry> "Yeah, let's check our stations out, settle in for the job! I bet this will be great, and you'll finally be able to release a game without bastards getting in the way."
[20:44] <PurpleXVI> (Terry, just from the smell you can effortlessly pick out that his daily consumption of Ares Macrodoritos(Motto: As big as your head!) should kill a troll just from the salt content.)
[20:44] <Riyu> (MACRODORITOS)
[20:45] <Wu_Cong> (OH GOD
[20:45] <Wu_Cong> (ANDREW WK DID IT)
[20:45] <Wu_Cong> (HE TURNED A CITY INTO NACHOS)
[20:46] <PurpleXVI> "Yeah!" Grumbles Bill, as he leads them deeper into the lair of the developers, most of which at least look more well-adjusted than him, a few are shooting each other with foam-dart versions of weapons you've actually shot people with in the past, "I used to work for Renraku, but eventually their stifling corporate policies got too much. A few extra gigabytes of data on the servers, that's
[20:46] <PurpleXVI> all it was! And they fired me for it!"
[20:47] <Wu_Cong> "Oh? What data?"
06[20:47] * Riyu wisely decides not to ask WHAT data it was, and facepalms when Wu Cong falls in the trap.
[20:47] <PurpleXVI> "Bastards are always getting in the way of good, honest folk like myself," he informs the three shadowrunners, sticking particularly close to Riyu, she starts to notice that his teeth have a faint orange cast to them, "Fiction," he informs Wu, "I'm not a writer on this project, though I offered," he sighed, "But all the positions were filled."
01[20:48] <Terry> "Yeah, the really big ones get a huge stick up their ass about that. Hey, we can eat on the job, right?"
[20:48] <PurpleXVI> "My magnum opus still lies on the Renraku servers, they claim that since I wrote it on company time, it was company property!"
06[20:49] * Wu_Cong has a few good ideas as to what kind of data, but is mildly amused. "Ah. Might I ask the subject matter of your fiction?"
[20:49] <Riyu> Riyu knows something of corps stealing your soul and work and claiming it for themselves, but she keeps facepalming as Wu Cong digs deeper and deeper in the rabbit hole.
[20:51] <PurpleXVI> Bill is eager to expound on his fiction after a brief aside to inform Terry that the company has accounts with several nearby take-out establishments, and every employee gets an hour's paid lunch, then he turns back to Wu, "It was about a programmer," he begins, "Who's in love with an elven maiden, but she doesn't understand how special he is, because she's got a thing for a big, tough troll,
[20:51] <PurpleXVI> then one day-"
[20:52] <Wu_Cong> Only those who have known Wu Cong for a long while are likely to notice how close he is to laughing.
[20:52] <PurpleXVI> He starts going on about how the programmer awakens to his deep magical potential, becoming a decker wizard, or a "deckzard," and begins to win over the elven maiden, who comes to realize that looks and physical prowess aren't everything.
[20:52] <Riyu> Riyu meanwhile is actively trying to keep herself distracted.
03[20:53] * Mokuren (Mokuren@sux-A9CD00D3.retail.telecomitalia.it) has joined #Shadows
[20:53] <PurpleXVI> Riyu, since she's actively attempting NOT to notice Bill, spots that he's been leading them in a circle around the same set of empty cubicles for a while now, probably buying time so he can expound to the group(mostly her) on what a master of literature he is.
[20:54] <Riyu> (like, say, checking how good Matrix security is here)
06[20:54] * Terry keeps a straight face. If only he were too stupid to really understand any of it. He really wishes.
[20:54] <Riyu> (for, uh, no reason in particular)
06[20:55] * Wu_Cong nods. "I am certain it was a masterpiece, and no doubt some horrible editor in Renraku is butchering it. However, my friend, this is not getting your game tested."
[20:55] <PurpleXVI> As far as Riyu can tell, the matrix security is pretty resilient... except that several people have apparently tunneled out from the inside, probably wanting to avoid the local matrix security oversight for some reason.
[20:56] <PurpleXVI> Bill sighs, and comes to a halt, "You're right," he raises his head, and for a brief moment, there's a glimmer in his eyes of a man who is truly fighting The Man with all his heart, "I have a new masterpiece to complete! This game will show them, it'll show them all!" He gestures towards the empty cubicles, "These are yours," he gestures over a nearby partition, "And I'm going to be just
[20:56] <PurpleXVI> over there! So if you ever need any help, you can just call for me!"
[20:56] <Riyu> Mh. She sends a private message to Sandra warning her of this and asking if it's normal procedure.
[20:57] <Riyu> then, she comes back to reality to realize she's being pointed to a cubicle, and, still distracted, walks into it.
06[20:58] * Wu_Cong heads to his cubicle and glances at the computer.
[20:58] <Wu_Cong> (Oh, Purp, did we get any karma for last session?)
[20:59] <PurpleXVI> (I'll hand out Karma at the end of this one)
[21:00] <Riyu> "...Why do we need a cubicle? I have a computer grafted inside my skull anyway." She mutters.
[21:01] <PurpleXVI> The hardware is, in the tradition of office hardware everywhere, a bit behind the times, but servicable. Bill eagerly gets everyone set up with mail accounts, a subscription to his mailing list, a subscription to his other mailing list, a subscription to his Fantasy Urban Brawl league, access to the latest build of the game(Day of the Call of Modern Battlefield X) and his custom animated
[21:01] <PurpleXVI> wallpaper made from one of Riyu's dancing videos.
[21:02] <Riyu> "...That's the WORKING title for the game, right?"
06[21:03] * Wu_Cong looks at the load screen. "Have you considered simplifying the name? Perhaps just calling it, say, Shadowrun?"
[21:03] <PurpleXVI> "Marketing tells us it's good," Bill defends it, "I suggested Call of the Deckzard, but they told me Renraku already trademarked that after I explained what a Deckzard was," he lowers his voice conspiratorially, "But I checked... and I found out they didn't! I think something fishy is going on." He turns over Wu's suggestion a few times, pondering it, "Who would ever play a game just called
[21:03] <PurpleXVI> Shadowrun, though?"
[21:05] <Riyu> "Sometimes simple is best. ...Does the X stand for "ten"? Is this a franchise?"
06[21:05] * Wu_Cong shrugs. "I would've, when I was 15. I grew up in a nicer part of Hong Kong, and a shadowrunner was a romantic figure to us as kids."
[21:07] <PurpleXVI> "The X is mysterious," Bill explains, having endless patience with his idol, "You'll understand when you play the game."
[21:11] <Riyu> She doesn't look convinced AT ALL, but whatever. Let's give this thing a chance. She switches off her internal comlink and links up to the one siting in the cubicle, pulling out some connection wire from her head-thing-earpods and sticking it into the hardware there.
[21:11] <Riyu> "Let's try this."
[21:11] <Riyu> (i gotta go in a bit, however)
[21:11] <PurpleXVI> (it's cool, I was thinking we'd stop around here, I'd hand out a bit of karma and resume next week)
[21:11] <Wu_Cong> (sounds good to me)
[21:11] <PurpleXVI> (After all, Bill is such an awesome supporting character you don't want to overdose on him)
[21:12] <Wu_Cong> (Totes)
[21:12] <Riyu> (right)
01[21:12] <Terry> (Bill is hilarious, we need to keep him)
[21:12] <Riyu> (i still haven't bought contacts)
[21:12] <PurpleXVI> (ALRIGHT, so, let's say... +2 karma for everyone for this session. Seems like the game mostly wants karma to be handed out at the end of entire runs, so I don't want to overdo it too much too fast.)
[21:12] <Riyu> (i'm thinking of him)
06[21:12] * Terry takes a seat, and tries to figure the hardware out. He prefers stuff that's wirelessly linked to his head, after all.
[21:13] <Wu_Cong> (If you just want to wait until our 'run' is over, that's also cool, Purp)
[21:13] <Riyu> right, see ya soon :D
[21:14] <PurpleXVI> (Naw, let's say +2 right now.)
[21:14] <Wu_Cong> (kk. All you people with your cyberware)
[21:14] <PurpleXVI> (And we'll encounter the... wonders of... Day of the Call of Modern Battlefield X, next session!)
01[21:16] <Terry> hahaha

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:26 am

So here we go for session three:

[19:00] <@PurpleXVI> When we last left behind our brave heroes, they were... testing a game, the brand-new, in production Day of the Call of Modern Battlefield X(working title), in the labyrinthine and glumly-lit cubicles of Blackforge Division, a game developer.
[19:00] <Riyu> so we were playing THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
[19:01] <@PurpleXVI> At first glance it appears to be part RPG, part rhythm game, part dating sim, but as you tap away at it, you discover there's also an adventure game aspect, FPS sections and an amazingly detailed fishing sim. It can also simulate real-time beard growth and dog-ownership.
[19:04] <Wu_Cong> Someone's rolling to get all 1s in their Game Dev Tycoon game
[19:04] <@PurpleXVI> It appears that, having shrugged off Bill for the moment, everyone's trusting you to do your job or whatever you please for the time being.
[19:04] <Riyu> ...how the heck-
[19:05] <Riyu> i can't tell if that's impressive or terrible.
01[19:05] <Terry> "Man, this game is a mess. Too much fucking around with dogs and beards and shit. Where's the bit where you just stealth up to someone and just kick their head in? Oh wait, this bit, DIE DIE DIE!"
[19:06] <Wu_Cong> "Riyu, I must confess, my knowledge of video games is somewhat lacking. Is this normal?"
[19:06] <Riyu> actually, i presume they have an internal message board or mails or such going on here. since we're in the network, i'd presume i wouldn't have to crack too much security to read those. what do the people working on this game think of it? like, it's been their idea, they're on board, or is this management meddling?
06[19:06] * Terry seems to be flipping from one mood to the other while playing this.
[19:06] <Riyu> "I- no, not really. It's... new. VERY new. It's not a normal game."
06[19:07] * Wu_Cong is attempting to understand the magic system, and failing.
[19:07] <Wu_Cong> "Why does my healing skill depend upon the length of my beard?"
[19:08] <@PurpleXVI> Bill has, in fact, already subscribed Riyu to the necessary internal mailing lists. It looks like the whole thing has a very flat structure, no executive meddling, almost no marketing, the entire thing is fuelled by the enthusiasm of the creators and the enthusiasm of the fans, who have suggested many of the more unusual mechanics.
[19:09] <Riyu> Wow. Didn't expect that.
[19:10] <Riyu> But the question is: does this mess of a game actually WORK? is it playable, and actually fun, despite being a clusterfuck? Or, alternatively, is it surreal and funny enough to forgive it for its other misgivings? or is it just a BAD GAME?
06[19:12] * Wu_Cong finally figures that for some reason, magical power is linked to beard growth mechanics.
03[19:12] * Retrieving #Shadows modes...
01[19:12] <Terry> "I just don't really get what all this has to do with shadowrunning. Or the title really."
[19:13] <@PurpleXVI> Despite some... quirks, Terry, Riyu and Wu find that the game actually isn't bad. It's schizophrenic, but surprisingly gripping. The writing certainly helps, it actually conjures up emotions at times. They find themselves shaking their fists with rage when Ghostdevil Darkblack betrays them(a very surprising twist), they find their eyes tearing ever so slightly when Beardlord Grimbeard
[19:13] <@PurpleXVI> sacrifices himself to save their character.
[19:13] <Wu_Cong> "I am hoping the title is a working title. As for shadowrunning... if their magic system is how they think street shamen actually work, this may be what they think shadowrunning is."
[19:13] <Riyu> "It really doesn't. They got sidetracked and overenthusiastic and lost sight of their original concept." Riyu explains, professional as you've never seen her, while she's apparently filling up a report the size of War and Peace.
[19:14] <@PurpleXVI> It also completely fails to represent actual shadowrunning, at all, in any way. But it's REMARKABLY similar to the way shadowrunning is portrayed in all kinds of media.
[19:14] <@PurpleXVI> Anyone whose only experience with 'Runners is the news or movies would swear it's dead-on.
06[19:14] * Wu_Cong thinks a moment. "Hmm. Perhaps it is to our benefit to say this is 'just like the real thing'."
01[19:15] <Terry> "Good point, we don't want to overdo it I guess"
[19:15] <Riyu> well, Riyu will write more or less that. "You did a mess and got REALLY sidetracked. Despite this, the game is fun. Though i don't know if it will have a large success or just become a cult classic for weirdos."
[19:16] <Riyu> "Yeah, I wouldn't want a game with realistic shadowrunning either."
[19:17] <@PurpleXVI> The crew does find a few oddities, though... one of the more satisfying guns to hold in your hands has always been anything made by Ares. Particular attention always seems to have been given to the sounds and the feel of holding an Ares. Even if they're not always the best for actually killing people, they make you feel like they are.
01[19:17] <Terry> "Needs more streamlined combat action and the option to cut dialogue and crap so you can get on with the missions"
[19:18] <@PurpleXVI> In Day of the Call of Modern Battlefield X, however, every single Ares gun feels... weak. Unsatisfying, wimpy recoil, tinny noises. Just the sort of thing that a legal department would use to base a defamation lawsuit on.
[19:18] <Wu_Cong> "I still don't get why magical power requires a specifically styled beard.
[19:19] <@PurpleXVI> Thankfully Wu discovers that having a neckbeard is a -5 to wizardry or spirit summoning.
[19:20] <Riyu> "You're still going on about that? Mhh. I'm wonder if there's any reason the guns have so little recoil and such a weak report." Of course, being the multitasker that she is, she's simultaneously skimming through the documentation to find a reason
01[19:20] <Terry> "And why do they hate Ares so much? They make it lame in this game, but I buy everything Ares for the quality: the gun, the car, the shaving cream, the toe-massager..."
[19:20] <Wu_Cong> "Terry, you realize that is actually a toenail clipper for trolls, right?"
01[19:21] <Terry> "It is? Huh."
[19:22] <@PurpleXVI> Riyu finds nothing in the official documentation about it, if there's any actual reason she might have to ask an employee or poke around the corners of their network. But any member of the crew knows it's the sort of thing a megacorp legal department would love to get tipped off about, it's the sort of thing that could be used to crush a small company like a bug.
[19:22] <Riyu> Well, she kinda likes these guys. Plus they pay her. So she makes a high-priority note about that.
[19:23] <Riyu> and sends it both to the programmers and to legal.
[19:23] <Wu_Cong> "At the very least, we should warn them about that." Wu Cong labors through the bug submitting form.
[19:25] <Riyu> "Man, this is the weirdest game i've ever played. Personally I'm not sure i'd buy it at full retail price. It's not BAD, just... not the type of game i usually play." short pause. "I'm not even sure what type of game this IS."
01[19:26] <Terry> "Yeah, it's like they want to be every game at once."
[19:26] <@PurpleXVI> There's a thunderous crack and Riyu feels something drizzling down on her hair and shoulders from above.
06[19:27] * Wu_Cong looks up at the sound, reflexively jumping out of his chair into some approximation of a combat stance.
[19:27] <Riyu> "...uh-"
[19:28] <Riyu> (what)
[19:28] <@PurpleXVI> It's Bill, standing behind Riyu. The crack was him taking a bite out of an Ares Macrodorito(tm), crumbs raining down on her, "Hey guys," CRUNCH, "How's the testing going? This is the best place to work ever, right?" CRUNCH.
[19:28] <@PurpleXVI> Every crunch compounds the orange rain.
06[19:28] * Riyu tries to move away from under him. "Hey, you're spilling on me."
[19:29] <@PurpleXVI> Bill looks aghast as he realizes the social faux pas he's committed, dropping his macrodorito and stepping back(it misses Riyu by a hair's breadth), and then instantly starts trying to brush the crumbs off of her. His clammy mitten-like hands move with frantic speed.
[19:30] <Riyu> "It- It's okay, I can handle it- Did you read the reports we sent?"
01[19:30] <Terry> "Dude, just settle down. So what's the deal with the dance simulator in this?"
06[19:31] * Wu_Cong sits back down, almost looking about the same as he was before he jumped out of his chair.
[19:33] <@PurpleXVI> Bill keeps brushing Riyu's hair, but now less frantically, "You found the dance simulator? You only get that if you make a female elf, it was my idea," he explains, "You see, depending on how well you score on the dance simulator, you get the option to seduce the end boss. I coded and wrote that entire part myself," he says, proudly.
[19:34] <Riyu> the game is definitely steering into So Bad It's Good territory, Riyu thinks. Better than the alternative at least. "...By the way, what's the deal with the report from Ares weapons? It feels so weird."
[19:34] <@PurpleXVI> "And I don't read the reports, the boss does." He gestures at a troll currently standing by a watercooler and having a conversation with a dwarven programmer. Then he bends down and, with the free hand, picks the macrodorito off of the carpet, wipes it off on his shirt, and continues eating.
[19:35] <Riyu> "Well, you should still check it. Ares is the kind of megacorp who could sue you into oblivion for misrepresenting their products like that."
[19:35] <Riyu> "If i were you, i'd either change the report, or change the brand name."
[19:36] <@PurpleXVI> "We can't change the brand name," Bill protests, "It's supposed to be the most realistic shadowrunning game out there! It can't be realistic without Ares guns, and Gilbert does the sounds," he points at another cubicle, where a pair of exceptionally long pointy ears and a pair of exceptionally large headphones can be seen bobbing over the edge.
[19:37] <Riyu> "...I'll talk to him." She stands up, dusts off the macrodorito crumbs, and walks to the sound guy.
[19:39] <Wu_Cong> "Who does the damage output?"
01[19:40] <Terry> "Yeah, if Ares see the game like this... this makes their guns shit, and Ares make the best."
[19:40] <@PurpleXVI> Gilbert turns out to be an elf with repeatedly-pierced ears who's currently bopping his head along to a sick techno beat he's composing and completely tuning out the outside world, meanwhile, with Riyu gone, Bill focuses on Wu and Terry, "What's your favourite book about dragons?"
[19:40] <Riyu> Riyu waits for a few seconds, then taps on his shoulders.
06[19:41] * Wu_Cong thinks a moment.
06[19:41] * Terry blinks. "Do I look like I read?
[19:42] <@PurpleXVI> Gilbert looks upwards and backwards at Riyu, blinks, then takes off his headphones, "Hey, haven't I seen you somewhere before?" He muses.
[19:43] <@PurpleXVI> Bill, meanwhile, gives Terry a puzzled look, "I thought everyone read books about dragons, but, you should try this series I've been reading lately, it's about this young boy who discovers he's actually a dragon on the inside and then..."
[19:43] <Riyu> "...maybe. I'm one of the shadowrunners here to playtest your game, anyway."
[19:43] <Wu_Cong> "I believe that would be T'ai-Shang Kan-Ying P'ien"
[19:45] <@PurpleXVI> "Oh, 'sup," Gilbert extends a hand for Riyu to shake, "I'm Gilbert, I do the sounds and stuff."
06[19:46] * Riyu shakes. "Yes, I wanted to talk to you just about that. Don't you think the Ares weapon reports sound off?"
[19:48] <@PurpleXVI> Gilbert snorts, "Oh, I bet you're one of those people who like Ares guns. They're super-overrated, you know? And those bastards fired me because of an artistic disagreement, so they can go shove their crappy little popguns."
[19:48] <@PurpleXVI> Bill nods vigorously in response to Wu, then continues on to explain the book's core romance in confusing detail. It seems to involve something called "headmates."
[19:48] <Riyu> "So you're doing some little personal vengeance on them." She replies.
[19:49] <Riyu> "You do realize that Ares could sue your gaming studio into oblivion of they find out you've been misrepresenting their fireams?"
[19:49] <@PurpleXVI> Gilbert crosses his arms over the chest, "Maybe," he replies, sulkily, "It's not my fault they didn't think a sick techno beat would sell their guns. Probably missed out on billions of NuYen."
[19:51] <Riyu> "You also realize that the people in this room with you probably don't want to lose their job over your issue with Ares Macrotechnology."
[19:52] <@PurpleXVI> (roll Negotiation)
[19:52] <Riyu> "If they find out that this could lead to that kind of trouble, they might want to get rid of you first before you become trouble."
[19:52] <Riyu> 7d6
[19:52] <DiceMaid-9001> Riyu, 7d6: 26 [7d6=5,1,5,4,6,4,1]
[19:52] <Riyu> 3 hits
[19:54] <@PurpleXVI> Gilbert grinds his teeth, then gives in, "Fine! I'll get them back some other way," folds down his mixing program and gets to work replacing the wimpified sound effects with the proper ones, just as he's about to start he seems to have a realization, though, "Oh, hey, wait! I know where I've seen you before!"
06[19:55] * Terry has now realised you can in fact sleep with your eyes open, while standing.
[19:55] <Riyu> "Uh?"
[19:56] <@PurpleXVI> "That weirdo, Bill Hitchert? He's got like a dozen pictures of you in his cubicle." Gilbert explains to Riyu.
[19:57] <@PurpleXVI> Thankbully Bill eventually reaches the climax of the book and explains it to Terry in excruciating detail, "Isn't it brilliant?" He asks, "A twist like that!"
06[19:57] * Wu_Cong is simply listening while he figures out how beards and magic truly intersect.
[19:58] <Riyu> "Oh, yeah. I do a bit of music on the Matrix and he likes it." Riyu downplays it.
01[19:58] <Terry> "Uh... yeah, that's pretty rad."
01[19:58] <Terry> "So um, that kind of inspired your story input in this game.... right?"
[19:58] <@PurpleXVI> Wu has, by this point, discovered that moustaches and sideburns give the biggest bonuses, neckbeards give penalties, goatees change your elemental affinity and mutton chops improve your ability to summon spirits.
[19:59] <@PurpleXVI> "How could I not be inspired by that amazing a story?" Bill asks Terry. After the detailed explanation, Terry quickly realizes that several entire NPC's have been entirely stolen from the books and transplanted into the game.
06[20:00] * Riyu heads back to her cubicle, if she's let off the hook by the weird elf.
[20:01] <@PurpleXVI> Gilbert promises to check out some of Riyu's stuff online and then seems to lose interest in the Riyu/Bill connection.
[20:01] <Riyu> (thankfully)
[20:01] <Wu_Cong> After studying the magic beard system, Cong knows what he must do. He sculpts a beard to produce the most powerful fireball possible, then goes to test it in dance battles.
[20:02] <Riyu> truly a hero of our times.
[20:02] <Riyu> in b4 windmill beard
[20:03] <@PurpleXVI> While Terry gets the brunt of Bill's dialogue, Wu designs the Fractal Fu Manchu which, almost literally, breaks the game in half. The sheer numbers involved result in a lot of bizarre glitches and broken mechanics.
[20:04] <Riyu> (well, found our first gamebreaking bug)
01[20:07] <Terry> "Dude, what's wrong with your face there? And the game?"
[20:07] <Riyu> Riyu isn't trying that hard to test the game to the limit, mostly just playing normally and seeing what happens. She does play a lot around with the character creator, though, and ends up making dozens and dozens of characters.
[20:07] <Wu_Cong> "Well, I just produced the highest possible fireball output. I also seem to have danced to Tir Na Nog. I wasn't aware that was a location in the game."
[20:10] <Riyu> "Looks more like a placeholder box." She mumbles in response, testing out a Troll Archer.
[20:10] <Wu_Cong> "Also, there seems to be a distinct lack of the ability to turn left. However, I also seem to now be able to automatically defeat everyone by pressing Ctrl+Q
[20:11] <@PurpleXVI> There's a sudden lack of sound as Bill stops eating macrodoritos and packs away the remainder. He watches the three shadowrunners for a moment, then asks: "Why are you guys still working? The lunch break's on."
[20:13] <Riyu> "Oh. I wanted to check if a troll archer could penetrate multiple battle tanks with a perfectly normal bow and arrow. You know, like in real life."
[20:13] <Wu_Cong> "Also, I seem to have broken, everything."
01[20:13] <Terry> "We're still pumped about the game. Give it some time and we'll get bored and look forward to breaks"
[20:16] <@PurpleXVI> "...I thought we could stand by the water cooler and chat, you know, like friends." There's a whine to Bill's voice.
01[20:16] <Terry> "Hey, when the girl talks to you, why is option four always the one she doesn't like? I just went [Show her your cock], and lost 4 relationship points"
[20:16] <Wu_Cong> "And we're not chatting here?"
06[20:17] * Riyu just looks at Terry and quietly facepalms.
06[20:17] * Wu_Cong attempts a 4th option with his fractal Fu Manchu. "I just got 100 points from that."
[20:18] <@PurpleXVI> Bill slinks off to have his lunch break and, for the moment, the three shadowrunners are actually left alone. It probably won't last long, though.
[20:19] <Riyu> "That beard is obviously bugged." Riyu seems to be mildly enjoying this playtesting. Probably because, well, it's not the REAL soul-crushing QA stuff.
[20:20] <Wu_Cong> "I built the maximum fireball beard."
[20:21] <Riyu> "Actually." Now that they're alone... "I'm a bit worried about the sound guy here."
01[20:21] <Terry> "I think that Bill guy is a bit messed in the head, personally. What's wrong with the sound guy?"
[20:21] <Wu_Cong> "Hmm. Like Bill with social competence worried?"
[20:21] <Riyu> "He's one of the guys that were laid off from Ares and seems to be still mad at them. I'm worried that he could do something really stupid."
[20:22] <Riyu> "Like hidden encoded files with his anti-ares rants or something like that. Stuff that could get the whole company sued."
03[20:25] * DiceMaid-9001 is now known as Jessie
03[20:25] * Jessie is now known as Meowth
01[20:25] <Terry> "Just great... and here I was thinking this is some easy money. Still, have to do what we can. Gotta' get the money together."
03[20:25] * Meowth is now known as DiceMaid-9001
[20:26] <Wu_Cong> "We get paid at the end of this, right?"
[20:26] <Riyu> "...We better."
[20:27] <Wu_Cong> "They're not a megacorp, so I feel we can do them a few favors above and beyond."
[20:28] <Riyu> "...What do you mean?"
[20:30] <Wu_Cong> "Well, obviously, if they're attacked, we'll defend, that's just enlightened self-interest. But I have a feeling a number of these people were... removed from the megacorps for not fully understanding how to behave within them. It's as if you had an Elf raised by Orcs attempting to live like other Elves.
[20:30] <@PurpleXVI> While the team talks, they notice a troll winding his way towards them between the cubicles, he's grunting under the weight of three large crates.
[20:31] <Riyu> "Well... yes." Riyu can't help but agree with Wu Cong's observation. Then, her attention gets caught by the three hugebig crates. Curiosity sets in.
[20:33] <Riyu> (gonna check them as casually as possibul)
[20:34] <@PurpleXVI> Each of them's a big cube, large enough to hold a person, and judging by the troll's strain, about as heavy as though they did. There's a logo on the side which appears to be for an Italian restaurant.
[20:34] <Riyu> "...Is this for the lunch break?" She asks tentatively. Seems weird, with everyone else gone.
[20:38] <@PurpleXVI> They recognize the troll as the one Bill had pointed out as his boss, with a grunt he sets down the three crates, "Yeah, looks like some scumsucker ordered a bunch of food on the company account without even signing his damn name on it, so you three can have it, you've been working hard." He stretches his back, which gives off a loud crack.
[20:39] <Wu_Cong> "So... Not to cause offense, but are most of your employees megacorp washouts?"
[20:40] <@PurpleXVI> "Some of 'em," the troll shrugs, folding his arms and leaning on one of the crates, "We had to poach where we could."
[20:41] <Riyu> "Well, free of the constraints of the megacorps they're definitely creating something... original here."
06[20:41] * Wu_Cong nods. "You might wish to talk to your sound guy. He's setting you up for a lawsuit from Ares."
01[20:42] <Terry> "And the damage also isn't very good for Ares weapons, so I think there are a few here who have a problem with it."
[20:42] <@PurpleXVI> The boss frowns, "Gilbert? Dammit, he was doing good work, too... I'll have a word with him." Then he straightens up, "Anyway, eat up before it goes cold. Damned if I know what it is, but there ought to be enough for all of you."
01[20:43] <Terry> "Thanks, boss-man. Awesome, free food. Guess it pays to be productive."
06[20:44] * Wu_Cong nods. "Who here would want this much Italian food?"
[20:45] <Riyu> "I already talked to Gilbert. He's not a bad sound guy, the sound in the game is good. I'm just worried that he might be trying to get back at Ares and that could hurt your studio. You should try and channel that anger he has towards making a good game, and having his revenge that way."
[20:45] <Riyu> "Rather than, you know, stuff that could end in a lawsuit."
[20:47] <@PurpleXVI> The boss nods at the three of them, shrugging at Wu's question, "Might be Bill," then grins and ambles off to his own lunch break.
06[20:48] * Terry already digs into the food - it's free! Besides, he needs about a hundred yotacalories per day to power his ego/bionics
06[20:49] * Riyu tries to suppress a burst of laughter but instead just goes "PFFFBBLLLLT"
[20:50] <@PurpleXVI> That isn't exactly what happens, though.
[20:50] <@PurpleXVI> Terry reaches for the nearest crate and spots that the lid is already starting to bulge as the troll boss turns his back.
[20:50] <Riyu> (oh, right, Terry didn't say that loud)
01[20:51] <Terry> "...huh?"
06[20:52] * Wu_Cong turns around as he was about to look into opening one up, and blinks. "What the..."
[20:52] <Riyu> "Huh?"
[20:53] <@PurpleXVI> The first lid goes flying, bouncing off the ceiling and, by the sound of it, striking down some unfortunate programmer somewhere across the office, as a hulking, hairy shape unfolds from the box. It's taller than a troll, its head almost hits the ceiling, as well as lanky, and ferocious-looking. It's hard to tell whether the fedora makes it look more or less menacing.
01[20:54] <Terry> "What the fuck, are we supposed to eat that?"
06[20:54] * Wu_Cong stands up rather quickly, muttering imprecations against SOMEONE'S ancestors in Chinese.
[20:54] <@PurpleXVI> "'aight youse," the creature rumbles, "There ain't gotta be no trouble, if youse three jus' settle down." With slightly more subdued fury, another two creatures pop out of the other boxes.
[20:55] <Riyu> "...Look, if it's for the pizza, there was a mistake..."
[20:56] <Wu_Cong> "Might I ask which of our employers ill-wishers sent you?"
[20:57] <@PurpleXVI> "Ain't no one sends the 'squatch mafia, right boys?" The other two hairy creatures answer in the affirmative, "We's sends ourselves! Now youse mugs jus' get outta de way, we own dis joint now, 'less you bunch want trouble."
[20:58] <Riyu> "...Wait. Sasquatches? Aren't you an endangered species?"
06[20:58] * Wu_Cong mouths the phrase as if it's something new and not quite sane. "Sasquatch Mafia?"
[20:59] <@PurpleXVI> "Das right," rumbles one of the other sasquatches, "We's dangerous." He sounds even less intelligent than the leader.
[20:59] <Wu_Cong> (I will roll my sprawl knowledge to see if these guys are even a blip on my radar.
[20:59] <@PurpleXVI> (Roll away!)
[20:59] <Wu_Cong> 5d6 SASQUATCH MAFIA?
[20:59] <DiceMaid-9001> Wu_Cong, SASQUATCH MAFIA?: 18 [5d6=4,3,2,5,4]
[21:00] <Wu_Cong> 1 hit
[21:01] <@PurpleXVI> Wu's heard about the Sasquatch Mafia before, a bunch of dangerous hairy freaks from the Old Country. Most people were pretty sure they were just a joke or rumour, though, and it's sort of grown into what you blame when you don't want to admit who really beat you up. "The Sasquatch Mafia broke my legs, not my troll girlfriend. Honest." Seems like some people might have actually meant it, though.
[21:01] <Riyu> "Damnit." She turns around. "We can't kill them, guys. They're an endangered species." She explains to Terry and Wu Cong. Then she pulls an Ares Predator on the closest one's kneecap. "We'll have to go for the legs." She says, very matter-of-factly.
[21:01] <Wu_Cong> "Wait, you guys actually exist?"
[21:02] <Riyu> "OF COURSE they exist. They're right here."
[21:02] <Riyu> and she pulls the trigger.
[21:02] <@PurpleXVI> "Hey! Youse mugs makin' funna us?" The leader growls, suddenly the mountain of fur sprouts some very sharp-looking fangs. Poorly-brushed ones, too, you might need a tetanus shot if it bites you. It looks like it's about to say something more when Riyu opens fire.
06[21:02] * Terry flips his Ares out of his jacket, catching it by the ammunition slide, and lazily puts one finger behind the trigger guard.
[21:03] <Riyu> 12d6
[21:03] <DiceMaid-9001> Riyu, 12d6: 52 [12d6=6,4,6,4,5,2,6,1,5,3,6,4]
[21:03] <Riyu> wow
[21:03] <Wu_Cong> 6, damn.
[21:03] <Riyu> 6 hits
[21:04] <Riyu> did i mention that it's loaded with explosive rounds?
[21:04] <@PurpleXVI> ...wow.
[21:05] <Wu_Cong> I get to roll the same number of dice for a F7 Stunball once I go.
[21:05] <Riyu> so...
[21:05] <Riyu> unless he scores some dodge it's 9+6=15P damage, piercing 2
[21:05] <@PurpleXVI> He doesn't get any dodge when you just whip out a gun in the middle of a conversation and open fire.
[21:06] <Riyu> they don't look like they wear armor though, so i guess piercing is useless.
[21:06] <@PurpleXVI> Yeah, sorry, their filthy fur doesn't count as a bulletproof vest.
[21:07] <Riyu> (if i remember correctly they should still be tough as hell, they were in 4e atleast)
[21:08] <Riyu> also purp if you need combat help just ask, i'm fresh from a few gunfights in the other game :D
01[21:08] <Terry> "Complaints and hostile takeover attempts are on level two, dickmunchers."
[21:09] <@PurpleXVI> (I was just trying to see whether I was getting this right. Damage isn't rolled, right? The amount of damage you do is determined when your attack hits and by subtracting armor?)
[21:09] <Riyu> damage isn't rolled, soak is rolled.
[21:09] <@PurpleXVI> Ah.
[21:09] <@PurpleXVI> But without any armor he doesn't soak shit and I think you just outright kill him anyway.
[21:09] <Riyu> the randomization on damage happens on soak. it's a bit different from what most games to, so it's hard to wrap your head around it at first.
[21:09] <Riyu> well, he rolls body
[21:10] <@PurpleXVI> Ah, right.
[21:10] <@PurpleXVI> 8d6
[21:10] <DiceMaid-9001> PurpleXVI, 8d6: 29 [8d6=2,5,4,2,6,2,3,5]
[21:10] <Riyu> and trolls and sasquatches usually have a fucking truckload of that
[21:10] <Riyu> every hit is -1 damage
[21:10] <@PurpleXVI> Three successes and... yeah you still ice him.
[21:10] <Wu_Cong> Yeah, 12 damage.
[21:11] <Wu_Cong> With 8 body, that's exactly 12.
[21:11] <Wu_Cong> He's not overflowing yet.
[21:12] <Riyu> yeah, he should be down but not dead
[21:12] <Riyu> death happens with "overflow", that's poorly explained
[21:12] <Riyu> basically
[21:12] <Riyu> damage down to and including 0 is just penalties
[21:13] <Wu_Cong> If they take body damage in overflow, one more hit will kill them.
[21:13] <Riyu> if it goes below 0 it "overflows" and at that point you're dying and bleeding out but can still be saved by a medic or a wizard with healing
[21:13] <Riyu> if the overflow is greater than the Body, it's sudden death
[21:14] <@PurpleXVI> Gilbert, and everyone else in the office, gets an abject lesson in what an Ares firearm sounds like as Riyu almost blows off the sasquatch leader's leg and chews a football-sized chunk out of the floor below him. He goes down with a wail of pain that sounds like a gorilla being crushed in a garbage compactor.
[21:14] <Riyu> also while overflowing you take an extra damage every [body] minutes.
[21:15] <@PurpleXVI> Anyway, as the ones interrupting a conversation with sudden firearms, you three all get to go before the sasquatches. So Wu and, if you're shooting, Terry.
[21:15] <Wu_Cong> YAY
[21:15] <Wu_Cong> 12d6 FORCE 7 STUNBALL BITCHES
[21:15] <DiceMaid-9001> Wu_Cong, FORCE 7 STUNBALL BITCHES: 32 [12d6=2,2,1,3,1,2,6,1,3,6,2,3]
[21:15] <Wu_Cong> >2 hits
[21:15] <Riyu> Riyu's surprisingly calm demeanor while handling a huge smoking firearm, casual attitude to extreme violence, and the fact that she's covered in blood sprays can be a bit disconcerting. Good thing her fans aren't there.
01[21:15] <Terry> Well, it seems rude not to at this point. Terry will simply explain carefull-I'm kidding, he shoots one of them in the shoulder.
01[21:16] <Terry> 13d6 BANG BANG I SHOOT YOU
[21:16] <@PurpleXVI> (Is dodging applicable here, Wu?)
[21:16] <DiceMaid-9001> Terry, BANG BANG I SHOOT YOU: 48 [13d6=4,3,6,5,5,5,5,2,4,1,6,1,1]
[21:16] <@PurpleXVI> (Not too familiar with the wizardry bits.)
[21:16] <Wu_Cong> (Looking now)
[21:16] <@PurpleXVI> (Six hits, not bad, Terry.)
[21:16] <Wu_Cong> (But as it's technically a 7 meter sphere, probably not)
01[21:17] <Terry> (So that's damage 8, plus I assume another 5 from net hits?)
[21:17] <Wu_Cong> Okay, they roll to resist with willpower.
[21:17] <@PurpleXVI> (Sounds like the way I understand it, Terry.)
[21:17] <Wu_Cong> (Foca u dice)
[21:17] <Riyu> there are two kind of spells
[21:17] <Wu_Cong> It's a direct spell, so they just get passive resistance.
[21:17] <Riyu> spell that are projectiles, that can be dodged
[21:18] <@PurpleXVI> 8d6 Body vs Terry
[21:18] <DiceMaid-9001> PurpleXVI, Body vs Terry: 19 [8d6=1,1,6,1,2,1,5,2]
06[21:18] * Terry just flicks the trigger, letting the gun go off in his hand... as the empty casing flies off to the side, almost burning his hand.
[21:18] <Wu_Cong> Indirect spells can be dodged, armor applied, etc.
[21:18] <Riyu> and spells that directly affect you, and can only be resisted
[21:18] <@PurpleXVI> An unlucky temp had just poked his head over the edge of his cubicle to see what was going on as it's Terry's turn to take a chunk out of a sasquatch, a fist-sized piece of shoulder just disappears, painting the unfortunate temp and sending the sasquatch spinning into the wall of his cubicle.
[21:18] <Riyu> (furthermore each of these spells can be physical or mental, and they get resisted by different stats)
[21:19] <Wu_Cong> (Yup. Stunball is direct, mental, which means they roll WP to soak. And I had shitty luck with my dice there)
[21:19] <@PurpleXVI> 3d6 Willpower!
[21:19] <DiceMaid-9001> PurpleXVI, Willpower!: 8 [3d6=5,2,1]
[21:19] <@PurpleXVI> (Good thing Sasquatches are fucking dumb as dirt.)
[21:19] <Wu_Cong> 1 stun on that dude, then. Or on all the dudes.
[21:20] <Wu_Cong> (Note to self: stick to manabolt, less spell drain)
[21:20] <Riyu> (with my other character i hae a wizard and i found out it's a good thing to have physical spells to fure on smart-but-weak-looking guys and mental spells to fire on tough-but-stupid-looking guys)
[21:20] <Wu_Cong> 7d6 SPELL DRAIN RESIST
[21:20] <DiceMaid-9001> Wu_Cong, SPELL DRAIN RESIST: 13 [7d6=1,2,1,3,3,2,1]
[21:20] <Wu_Cong> And 7 stun to me.
[21:21] <Wu_Cong> THIS WAS A GOOD EXCHANGE
[21:21] <Riyu> ...didn't you roll the spellcasting roll?
[21:21] <Wu_Cong> Still get spell drain.
[21:21] <Riyu> no i mean
[21:21] <Riyu> DID you roll it?
[21:21] <@PurpleXVI> (He did, and got two successes.)
[21:21] <Wu_Cong> Yes.
[21:21] <Riyu> oh, missed it
[21:21] <Riyu> that sucks
[21:21] <@PurpleXVI> Wu blasts off a shot of his magic tazer which doesn't manage to drop the last sasquatch, but does make all his fur stand on end, making him look like a huge, ridiculous furball.
[21:22] <Wu_Cong> It's more of a magical concussion grenade inside their heads.
[21:22] <Wu_Cong> But sure.
[21:22] <@PurpleXVI> He looks around at his two moaning collegues, and their plan to sneak into an office full of geeks by disguising themselves as Italian food, push over a few watercoolers and cubicle partitions, and get paid protection money. It appears that the plan is now fucked.
[21:22] <@PurpleXVI> Quickly the last sasquatch raises his hands in surrender before Terry or Riyu can start aiming their guns at him again.
[21:23] <@PurpleXVI> "Uh! We's endangered!" He protests.
01[21:23] <Terry> "Yeah, and we aven't killed you, have we?"
06[21:23] * Wu_Cong shakes his head, suddenly a bit tired and woozy. "That was... Bad luck." He looks at the Sasquatch. "You're a sapient species, if you get yourselves killed through your own stupidity, it's evolution in action."
[21:24] <Riyu> "...Hey, you." She gestures at the shocked temp with one hand, while pointing the gun with the other.
[21:24] <@PurpleXVI> "M-m-me?" The temp whimpers.
[21:24] <Riyu> "Call the police and an ambulance."
[21:24] <Riyu> pause.
[21:25] <Riyu> "...You are covered by Lone Star? or what other sec company?"
[21:25] <Riyu> (gotta AFK a bit, i'll leave Riyu in autopilot, you guys go on)
01[21:25] <Terry> "We'll also need a cleaner, these guys stink"
[21:25] <@PurpleXVI> "I-I-I-I'll get the boss!" The temp stammers, and runs off, as curious on-lookers filter in.
06[21:27] * Wu_Cong sits down in the office chair as the absurdity gets to him. "Sasquatch mafia!" He starts laughing. It's only got an edge of adrenaline to it.
[21:27] <@PurpleXVI> "Youse guys stink!" The wounded sasquatch leader moans, while clutching his leg, "When der big boss finds out, he'll get youse! Argh!"
01[21:27] <Terry> "Wonder if they need to put up with this stuff every week? Maybe it's for the best they hired the real deal like us."
06[21:28] * Wu_Cong laughs. "Look... Your grand master plan has managed to make some of the employees here who appear to be a bit lacking in common sense like Lao Tzu."
[21:29] <Wu_Cong> *look like
06[21:31] * Riyu calmly takes out the magazine from her gun and puts a new bullet in like those players in FPS games who are paranoid about running out of ammo and reload even a 99% full magazine.
[21:31] <Riyu> "Who sent you?"
[21:32] <@PurpleXVI> The troll boss comes stomping along a few moments later, trailing a couple of Lone Star officers and a pair of doctors, "What in the sam hill happened here?!" He looks amazed, "Where'd these jokers come from?" The Lone Star officers, doing their job, brutalize the surrendered sasquatch with batons until he's compliant, and the doctors, doing their jobs, prevent the bleeding sasquatches from
[21:32] <@PurpleXVI> dying.
[21:32] <@PurpleXVI> "No one sends der 'squatch mafia!" The leader growls at Riyu, "Der mafia sends itself!"
[21:33] <Riyu> by the way, when Lone Star arrives, Riyu hides. she hides a lot.
06[21:33] * Riyu is packed full of illegal hardware and software after all.
[21:34] <Riyu> (unfortunately i have to do a longer AFK. assume Riyu stays hidden as long as there's Lone Star around, and then spends her time doing her hacker thing to check in the Sasquatch Mafia and trying to turn out new intel on these clowns.)
[21:35] <Riyu> (sorry, this is independent from my will :()
[21:35] <@PurpleXVI> The troll boss finds Wu and Terry, while the Lone Star officers wait for sasquatch-sized handcuffs to arrive(taking the chance to put the boot in every now and then.), and then looks around, "Weren't there three of you?" He asks, confused.
[21:36] <Wu_Cong> "Riyu had to hit the bathroom."
01[21:36] <Terry> Huh? Oh yeah, she gets squeamish at the sight of blood. Real pain in a job like this."
[21:37] <@PurpleXVI> The boss runs his hands through his hair as he looks around at the mess, "Dammit," he growls, "It was just going smoothly, too. No trouble for once! Good thing we had you guys around, I owe you."
01[21:40] <Terry> "I figured we're here to make sure the game gets finished smoothly, so... you know, had to be done"
[21:43] <@PurpleXVI> "Yeah..." the boss rubs his chin and looks at the sasquatches as they're marched, or hauled, out, depending on how badly they've been shot, and where, "I just hope those bastards won't think of something dumber, like revenge."
01[21:44] <Terry> "Well they talk a good threat, but if their boss actually is smarter than them? He'll cut his losses and try to roll someone else for easy money."
[21:46] <Wu_Cong> "I will say, I've seen a number of things smuggled as an unclaimed food order, but never people."
[21:49] <@PurpleXVI> (Well, if Della's forced to be AFK for the rest of the session, how about a halt here?)

Sir Neil · Post by **Sir Neil** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:05 pm

That was amazing. I can't wait to play Day of the Call of Modern Battlefield X.

Aryxbez · Post by **Aryxbez** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:04 am

First off, my apologies to anyone expecting an actual update to this thread.

Secondly, to Koumei, did this campaign basically die after this session, or were there others that didn't get disclosed for some raisin or another?

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 7:24 am

I'm afraid the game ended there because one of the players was just never here, so the MC called it.