Death Valley: A Shadowrun RP (Game Thread)

[hiei82]

"Name's Jade, by the way." her compatriot said, holding out her hand. "Folks around town call me Crazy Jade sometimes."

Moonlighter couldn't help but wonder how she'd earned a title like "crazy" - it took a lot to be called 'crazy' on the always crazy streets and in the even less sane shadows. None the less, she grabbed Jade's hand and shook; surprised by the woman's hand strength. "Moonlighter; pleasure to meet you." she said quietly; with dozens of rich businessmen around she opted to not announce her thieving name to everyone in the room - the last thing she needed was to give her potential and past "clients" a face to go with her calling card.

When Jade let go of her hand, she turned, intending to address their thus far silent third member, only to come fact to face with several more runners. "Five..." she thought, looking at the newly apparent cowboy; "Six..." she added staring at the robe adorned person with the aforementioned "ratty-coat" man. "Seven..." she continued seeing a man in a blue gi and "Eight" she concluded staring into the face of a loudly dressed elven man. "Guess this is going to be one heck of a job."

The man in the gi spoke first, saying "Greetings everyone. Pleasure to meet you". Offering her hand for a shake, she responded; saying "Likewise." She would have continued were it not for the loudly dressed man speaking up. "As for you, what are two fellow elves like you doing in a place like this?" he said, presumably addressing the pair of elven woman. "Probably the same reason most of you are here." she said, letting the statement sit for a second, before adding, "The challenge and the pay."

No reason not to be honest.

The conversation would have continued had she had her way; she mostly worked alone, so it was nice to work with people with similar... professions. Alas, as the doors opened and the guests were ushered in, the small group of runners was greeted by another suit, who guided them toward "Wakagashira-hosa". Though she wasn't quiet sure what it meant, she had a few guesses "Some sort of crime boss no doubt."

They were led to a private room, filled with people more then happy to gamble and ignore her existence. It was however easy to see who was in charge; who the Tanaka-san (Read: Mr. Johnson) was. Who wouldn't differ to man who looked more draconian then meta-human. There was a reason companies like S-K were led by dragons; who was stupid enough to stand up to a dragon AND live to tell about it.

A few seconds later, Moonlighter remembered her manners and bowed before the Tanaka; no sense angering a half-lizard Johnson.

 

[3quency]

Jade nods to Moonlighter, acknowledging her. She'd say more but at this point an elf in true party attire interrupts.

"What are two fellow elves like you doing in a place like this?"

Jade snorts.
"The hell kind of a question's that? We in a fuckin' blind date chat-room or somethin'?"
Of course, at this point the Yaks start to lead the group off. Start spitting out words, half of which Jade catches, most of which she doesn't. Sure, you pick up a little Japanese as a matter of course these days but put her amongst native speakers and they may as well be talking jibberish.

When they're lead into the Tanaka's room her eyes widen. Jade's never been good with not staring and just this once she's glad she's still got the goggles on. With any luck he's either not going to notice her shock or not care. But seriously, this does not look like a guy to fuck with.

She sees Moonlighter take a little bow and wonders if she should do the same. Then again, she really doesn't give a shit about Japanese culture and she'll be damned if she's going to conform to it now. Instead she just jams her hands in her pockets nonchalantly, waiting for the 'Gator man to speak.

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

"Might want a touch up there, sister," Said a loudly dressed man, who after seemingly forgetting about the casual insult carried on to address to the other elves in the room.

She stayed there against the wall, counting the 'runners that came into the party hall. She silently cursed The Spider, he knew she preferred solo jobs, or those with a couple other 'runners, but never as many as eight. Why would the Yaks need some many of them for one job? It only confirmed what she had been thinking the entire time, this was something big.

Not being one for letting bygones be bygones, she shuffled over to the elf who had insulted her as they where being lead to the room where the Johnson was probably in and whispered.

"I'd rather be scarred, then look reject from some glam-rock band." And drifted back toward the rear of the group.

She followed the group of 'runner into the room and saw what she could only describe as someone who looked half-crocodile half human, wearing a slightly ill-fitting suit. Remembering that the Japanese favoured those with manners, she walked forward and bowed, then returned to leaning against the wall at the back of the room with her arms crossed.

 

[Terratina.]

The respones were damning, and not in the sense that it was damning with faint praise. Ziggy clearly had his work cut out with this little 'run. Both with his fellow shadowrunners and with the challenges ahead.

"Probably the same reason most of you are here." she said, letting the statement sit for a second, before adding, "The challenge and the pay."

He simply nodded at the neutral responese but at least he walked away unscathed. Miss.

"The hell kind of a question's that? We in a fuckin' blind date chat-room or somethin'?"

Feisty, very feisty. Hit. But Ziggy had his own little retort. He said with a wink, "Well, this is an office party and we are co-workers..."

"I'd rather be scarred, then look like a reject from some glam-rock band."

Ouch, the scarred one knew where to aim. Hit. No retort this time, he was dragged away by the crowd to a small private room before he had the chance.

From the chatter, Ziggy guessed they were about to meet the boss-man, at least the Yakuza cut to the chase, unlike some. The small private room appeared to have its own miniature dragon. The cigar smoke created the illusion that this drake-thing was ready to unleash fiery fury on any person foolish enough to let loose a wisecrack. The suit could use some work though, but then again, how does one fit a suit for such a beast. No wonder Kyou-san said that the Yaks were spooked about something, if this was the Tanaka, someone needed something done, something done discretely and possiblity cheaply. As this Tanaka looked ready to stomp on any negotiations attempts. Dropping the mask of mischef, Ziggy brushed himself down then stroked his mohawk, and bowed. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, lest you want to be the target of something much larger and stronger than you are.

"Hajimemashite, Ziggy desu. Douzo yoroshiku." He said as he bowed.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Once Clint was inside the room, the sounds and smells of the businessmen playing cards made him feel more at ease and less out of place now that all the runners were placed in the same room. The barroom banter rang louder than his boots clinking on the floor as he found a wall to lean on. Now he was able to get a good look at his fellow runners which surprised him quite a bit. The number of elves in the group made him wonder if any of them had any affiliation to the tribes and if they did then he wouldn't exactly be more open to them. The others though were a hodgepodge of people and he liked that. Variation is the redeeming factor to any job as Clint saw it.

After a few seconds he spotted the man that called them in to begin with. The sharply dressed dragon certainly looked the part of being a strong and powerful mobster. While the others bowed, Clint didn't see the need to such a thing because Dragon man wasn't exactly a person Clint wouldn't want to lose sight of. Instead, Clint tipped his hat towards the man.

"Howdy." Clint proclaimed. "Lovely place you got here. Pretty suitable for some kind of clandestine discussions don't you think?"

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

Andrew and Serene wandered in slightly behind the group, then they saw the... SURGE victim? Half Dragon? Something anyway.

Spoiler: Chatlog

>>>>>[We've got something here, I need info, it'll be pretty obvious who when you see it.]<<<<<

- Geist (05-10-52-1)

>>>>>[Eight, what the hell do they need us for?]<<<<<

- Shade (05-10-52-2)

>>>>>[It's gotta be something big.]<<<<<

- Geist (05-10-52-3)

>>>>>[Yeah, but what?]<<<<<

- Shade (05-10-52-4)

>>>>>[Something unclandestine with this many people.]<<<<<

- Geist (05-10-52-5)

After half staring for a moment at it they bowed, and tried their best not to look like they were staring at it or avoiding looking at it for that matter.

 

[FalloutJack]

Yes, as he expected. There was pre-show festivities and gathering for a while, allowing a bit of mingling and getting familiar with their surroundings. And then afterwards...there was an anncouncement in english and an announcement ijn Japanese. Inwardly, onesy cursed. He could go a long way in here if he only knew the Japanese language, but it was markedly different a language from his chosen pool. So, he was left to be led like everyone else into a room - not entirely surpised by the fact that he was in with the other apparent Runners - to face a...

There is a word that hangs upon your lips, even as you see the man who must be Mr. Tanaka. Jonesy knew nothing about Mr. Tanaka, but as soon as he saw him, he had to be either Mr. Tanaka or the man who manages Mr. Tanaka. He was a dragon, a fact which actually confused the shaman for a moment. Didn't the human-form ones usually take...you know...human-form while on business? Sarah had tales of Lofwyr... In which case, Jonesy followed suit with the other guy bowing and spoke.

"Greeting, sir. I understand you have some sort of task to be completed?"

 

[Asclepion]

The other Yakuza immediately take notice and stop talking. The Tanaka spoke.

"Someone else was meant to be leading this night." He said. "My own Wagakashira- underboss, if you wish. I was his hosa- what you would call..." He thinks of the word. "Lieutenant."

One of the bowing associates takes a small device and points it at the shifting holographic artwork. It disappears, replaced by a two dimensional screen. He clicks the device again, and the screen shows pictures of a middle-aged adult with full body tattoos, and a boy of about 12 .

"I have assumed this man's rank, for the time being. I am a boss now. And my first order is to demand vengeance for my former master. He is the father of this boy, and has taken to a shrine, praying to the kami all night."

The man working the hologram hesitates, and the monster meets his gaze. For a split second, the creature's reptilian expression tightened, like someone who was suppressing a berserk rage. He knew exactly what came next. He nodded, and the associate clicked the device once more.

It was a video, from a security camera. It played a scene from what was apparently a school; an exclusive private school. It showed a man walking into the front entrance. He wasn't very big. He was lean, like a swimmer. But his frame was all solid, compact muscle. His face was chiseled and sharp with a tousled thatch of blond hair. He carried a submachine gun in his hand.

What followed lasted less than 2 minutes.

School administrators saw him through the large window of a faculty office. Two teachers ran out to the entrance hall just as he was passing. He didn't use his weapon- he had simply snapped their necks and continued. When he reached the first classroom- occupied by seventh graders- he swept the room with a murderous hail of automatic fire. The alarm sounded and he kept pouring rounds, drawing a sidearm when the clip ran out. When that magazine was depleted as well, he bolted; tearing through guards and leaping over the iron fence. When the first SWAT teams arrived, he was gone. The video ends.

"The boy was able to reach medical help in time. He is currently in a coma."

The next image is a picture of the man, next to members of Yakuza.

"The gunman was an associate of ours. He smuggled equipment, did his part with our operations and was rewarded. We don't know what kind of connections he had, but he had dealings and thus was on the fringes of influence.We are afraid that he was a tool for some enemy within. So we are entrenching ourselves and are forced to go out of family for this contract."

Another bowing Yakuza opens a briefcase to display packed currency- at least 50,000 Nuyen.

"Find the aggressor, bring him here. Alive, if possible. He must be interrogated for everything he knows. And for his crime...
...
"We will teach him the error of his ways."

The screen changes again. The last image is a personnel file.

-- TOBIAS DAWSON --

Background:
-Ex-Yakuza associate [Death warrant has been issued]
-Ex-military/ Gun smuggler.
-Has received cybernetic augmentation.

Contact Info:
Address for mother: (ATTACHED)
Address for ex-wife: (ATTACHED)

 

[3quency]

The vid's pretty fucking harrowing. Jade used to know a guy who got caught up in snuff-sims and even he didn't shoot anything this bad. Not before he got taken down anyhow. She doesn't make a huge show of it but she looks away from the deaths.

There's just some things you can't deal with.

Once it's all over and the Tanaka has stopped talking she looks to the rest of the group. How this job is going to require so many 'runners she'll never know. Why not just contact a PI? There's more than a few in a town and some of 'em are even good at it. But hey, that's a question to level at Gator man, not try and figure for herself. And with that kind of money on the table, you don't waltz in half-cocked.

"Coupla questions." she says, raising two fingers on her left hand. She looks around at the rest of the group and brings the first finger down.

"Are those the only leads we got? An ex and 'is mum aren't exactly what you'd call up-to-date sources."
She lowers the second finger, and grins. She's looking at the briefcase.
"That ain't to share is it?"

 

[drmigit2]

Mondaine watched the video, more than a little horrified at what the man was doing. He obviously was not crazy, crazy people don't work that efficiently. Mondaine was sitting, enjoying his food but the video kept running by in his head. He had unleashed monsters like that on people, but they always disappeared after...this monster was still around. He wondered if perhaps the man was less man and more like Mondaine's friends. Not impossible, but the young robed man figured he was wrong. This was a human, and he would have to be stopped.

It was rare that Mondaine would ever resemble a hero. Most people hired him to do horrible things to people who mostly don't deserve it. Every thing he did was for the end goal, all this suffering would add up to something great. The thing attempting to convey the message to them all did not appear in any of Mondaine's books, he figured the lizard had been altered in some way by magic or machinery...or was simply a demon himself. Lots of demons today.

Mondaine raised his hand. "Okay, so you obviously know a lot about him seeing as he worked directly for you. I need to know what he uses, his physical abilities and his mental health." The last one was more to settle Mondaine's morbid curiosity on the unknown man.

He looked down for a moment and contemplated grabbing alcohol, but now was a bad time to lose his focus. Last time he "experimented", half of his conjured broke loose and killed twenty people and that was from a hit of marijuana. Every step Mondaine took had to be planned.

 

[Shadowstar38]

Wolf shook the hand of the woman who had earlier addressed herself as Moonlighter and gave her a smile. It wasnt long after the greeting that the group were lead into the private room to hear the details of the job.

Grey Wolf listened intently to ever detail laid out to the group. When the video began airing, Wolf's eyes locked onto the act with disgust fixed on his face. Cowardice is the only word he could think of to describe what he saw, but even that seemed weak for something this low. Wolf's only regret was that they were asked to bring him in alive. Otherwise, he'd have a special place to put that monster's soul.

Wolf got a good long look at the personnel file and formulated his next course of action. This guy was pretty much in the wind. Any safe houses or hangouts the Yakuza knew about would likely be the last place this guy headed to.

That, and the file only said he had enhancements. It didnt mention what kind he would be up against.

"I'll just need to know to what extent he's been augmented. That, and if he has any ex-military buddies you think might be willing to take a bullet for him."

 

[FalloutJack]

It took Jonesy a moment to grasp the subtleties of what Tanaka wanted until he saw the video. He had been a bit vague up to that point, but then it was all made very clear. His master, praying to the kami - the spirits - for the health of his boy because of this man coming in and shooting up his classroom. This...struck a particularly angry chord in Jonesy's mind. An armed man capable of killing by hand laying waste to children, his target specifically a boy who's only sin was a Yakuza father? Unacceptable. One hears of suffering the sins of the father, but this is clearly an act of extremes. Even as others began to ask questions regarding the man, a certain twinge of anger turned to an all-but-brief bloodlust. However...Jonesy did calm himself. He was still angry, but the voice was kept low, controlled.

"I would also like to know who - or possibly what, if it applies - would protect him, but more importantly, Mr. Tanaka..."

And he faced the dragon-in-humanoid-shape now.

"...do you have anything of his? Anything that he would have had perhaps enough or often-enough contact with? What I mean to say is...what do you have that will retain scent?"

Some of his best work was done in finding someone or something by its trail and dealing with it. Amongst other things...there had been an unsightly Devil Rats' nest, a man hiding in a stretch of sewer going on for miles, and a flaming ganger with a particularly-strong perfume that he had to shadow. Jonesy had the hounds for it, and apparently a great deal of support to work with. If there were enough magic-users, they might conspire to seek him astrally too. And if there was a Decker in the hand...well...it all helps, right?

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Clint cringed as he watched the man mow down the students like a scythe through a field. He's seen death before but not innocent 7th graders being gunned down. He felt the others react to it in their own ways as well even if not visibly.

The feeling of disgust rose from his stomach and out through his mouth through a whispered swear. It was audible and he frankly didn't care. When the video was over and the screen changed to the man's profile, Clint made sure to stamp the man's face into his brain to make sure he wouldn't forget him.

Clint was rarely an angry man but the video and act committed put him pretty close to the edge. The others began asking their own questions as well and it was in their own right to do so. The man's file mentioned augmentation so possibly the man could have been hacked as outlandish as that may sound. Clint sought for an understanding as to why rather than just plain revenge because at least an explanation might help clear up some misunderstandings. In fact, that's why Clint is trying to find his Old Man to begin with.

"It's not about the money anymore as much as it pains me to say it. Hell, I'll bring in this sunuvabitch for free." Clint said aloud. "Pardon my language."

 

[Terratina.]

The vid wasn't easy viewing and struck Ziggy right down to the core. He covered his face as the vid went on. No wonder the Yakuza were spooked, a death of a child might be commonplace in the Barrens, but a massacre right in the open and the possibility of it being an inside job? That was something out of nightmare. The drake-thing could hardly keep his feelings in and Ziggy didn't blame him, as a solemn wave swept over the room.

As soon as the show ended, Ziggy gave a slight bow and gave his condolences, "Kotoba ga mitsukarimasen."

He rose and watched the other 'runners respond. The cowboy swore vengeance for the mass murder, the man with the tattered coat and the robed man asked some strange questions about the man's scent and about his health, the feisty elf only looked away from the vid, held two fingers up, gave a grin and asked the question that was on his mind apart from the obvious one of the gunman's motives and moral fibre.

"That ain't to share is it?"

He chipped in with his own remark, "So, about 50K-75K for this job or what?"

After all, the time for sentimentallity had passed, it was business time now...

 

[Asclepion]

"Coupla questions." Jade spoke. "Are those the only leads we got? An ex and 'is mum aren't exactly what you'd call up-to-date sources."

"No. But they are sources we have. You must... insist that they talk."

"Okay, so you obviously know a lot about him seeing as he worked directly for you. I need to know what he uses, his physical abilities and his mental health."

The Tanaka stared at him. Men froze, expecting the draconian boss to tell them to gun Mondaine down right there. Quickly,the Yakuza contractor who had brought them here began speaking, with utmost politeness.

"Puh-P Please, Mondaine-san. Tobias was an associate. An independent supplier... You do not mean to suggest that anyone here bears burden. Yes?"

Clint Leone cut him off. "It's not about the money anymore as much as it pains me to say it. Hell, I'll bring in this sunuvabitch for free." Clint said aloud. "Pardon my language."

"As for what he carries: He was an arms dealer. Armaments were being channeled through him. We expect him to have siphoned off some goods from his suppliers, or us while in transit. There could be a garbage bag full of money buried somewhere, or a stash of rocket launchers in his vehicle."

"We have identified the two weapons used in this assault. He carried an SK AP9 Automatic."

"The second was a Pegasus revolver."

"I'll just need to know to what extent he's been augmented. That, and if he has any ex-military buddies you think might be willing to take a bullet for him."

"We were not knowledgable to the extent of his cyberization. We knew he had a datajack, possibly some skillsofts. The rest is extrapolation- clearing a barrier in a bound, and killing with his hands. But it also seems that he had chosen cyberware that could be hidden internally, so that he could pass as an unaltered man. As for the second, we do not know."

"I would also like to know who - or possibly what, if it applies - would protect him, but more importantly, Mr. Tanaka... do you have anything of his? Anything that he would have had perhaps enough or often-enough contact with? What I mean to say is...what do you have that will retain scent?"

"No. But his mother will. And the women he slept with."

"That ain't to share is it?"

The Tanaka drew in his cigar. "Are you not satisfied with our... generosity?"

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

Sonya watched the video silently while others gasped and gaped, she was watching how the man worked. He showed a grim satisfaction in the work he was doing, he had planned this, he was efficient, he made it to his target quickly and took him out. He knew who he was gunning for but shot at the other kids in the schoolroom as well. Sonya would've praised his effectiveness if he hadn't used the other people there as collateral.

He knew who he was gunning for but shot at the other kids in the schoolroom as well. Someone outside the Yaks might say the guy had just snapped, gone postal, maybe some high up from NeoNET paid him to take out the son of the milkman because he had delivered soured milk. However he made sure the Yak's son was down before he left.

The personnel file came up on screen after the video, the info was sparse, just a name and a face. They wanted her to bring this guy in alive for an eighth of 50, 000 nuyen? After expenses it did't come to much. She waited until the others had said their peace before she spoke up.

"I usually do assassinations, if you want me to bring this son've-a-***** in alive make it worth my while."

 

[3quency]

Jade's crossed a line and she knows it. One false move at this point and she'll be painting the wall on the other side of the room. But hey, she was just probing. Keeping as calm as she possibly can, she continues to smile and responds.

"Ah, only joking big man. That there's more Nuyen'n I've seen in a good few months anyhow, split or no'. But still,"

She leans against the wall.

"Somethin' else comes to mind: we know why he did it? Cuz to th' best o' my knowledge fellas don't jus' go gunnin' down schools willy-nilly. He got a psych record? Or any headware that might've malfunctioned?"
This last thought makes her keenly aware of her own clot. Could she do the same thing? This question is beginning to seem like it was more for her own comfort than actual knowledge. She's hoping her shift in body language isn't obvious but Jade always was a performer.

 

[Terratina.]

Another puff of the cigar reinforced the draconic illusion and reminded Ziggy about the dangers that accompanied trying to pull a fast one on a couple of Yaks with guns. The jumpsuit wasn't particularly bullet-proof, nor was the hair. He sighed as the scarred woman demanded more money from the Tanaka. Negotiation was a subtle art, well, not unless you had a pair of troll by your side to hammer into the person that listening to you was a good idea, and this woman was being as a subtle as Ziggy's clothing. The Tanaka had already refused to up the price, now was the time to distract him with talk of other things, such as details.

"Does this guy have any habits or haunts?" Ziggy enquired, "And apart from the shooting, could you give us more detail about Dawson's recent history?"

 

[Asclepion]

"Somethin' else comes to mind: we know why he did it? Cuz to th' best o' my knowledge fellas don't jus' go gunnin' down schools willy-nilly. He got a psych record? Or any headware that might've malfunctioned?"
There was a pause.

"He... "
The Tanaka was about to say something when his answer was cut by another round of laughter from the catering room, and clapping. Officially, all the money exchanged tonight would be given to charity, although the runners rather doubted that. Men passed in and out of the private rooms, and their was Japanese voices at the door. They wanted the host to speak before the crowd. Mix and mingle and all that. The Tanaka tapped the embers out and gazed over the runners, trying to up their compensation. There were more requests for the Tanaka's presence.

"I'll double it. Two of those cases. 100,000 nuyen."
He got up, flanked by suited men.
" Find Tobias Dawson and bring him back. Don't let us down."

 

[3quency]

Jade watches the Tanaka leave. Since the cases are still here it looks like he'll be paying in advance. Interesting.
There's so obviously more to this than meets the eye. She can't quite put her finger on it but Jade's hackles are up. But if she could afford to turn the job down she probably would already have done so.

Once the Tanaka is out of the room she looks to the other 'runners, gesturing at the cases with a thumb.

"Well. I got no idea how he's payin' the rest o' youse..."
But her tone is jovial. It's a shitty joke but Jade happens to like shitty jokes. They kill the tension more than anything else, helps to put everyone on the same level.

She decides she'll wait to see what other people are going to suggest before saying anything else. Smarter that way.