Hoi Chummers IC

[SlyJohnny]

Saito's eyes flick around, assessing what the others are doing, before committing to an action...

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Rolling for initiative, seeing what I get before I post actions: (7d6)[3][5][6][6][2][1][1](24) +7

[SlyJohnny]

Saito carefully watches the man's gun and trigger finger, for any sign he's about to give up and execute the hostage. He reaches out with his intellect, coils of thought snaking outwards and wrapping around the gunman's psyche like the tendrils of a deep sea predator.

There's no subtlety in his manipulations, he doesn't try to carefully insert a single idea in between the sparking, flowing river of the man's neurons; he simply seizes control of his thoughts and clamps down hard, squeezing, exerting his will over that of the gunman.

After the spell is cast, he sends to his Watcher Spirit, ::Have any of the other spirits taken an interest?:: He has a hunch that the security spirits will be ordered to respond only to combat spells, rather than potentially innocent Illusions, Healing or Manipulations, but he can't be sure...

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Delaying until after gunman's action, so I can take three initiative passes against him before he can react again. Unless he looks like he's going to shoot, in which case I'll fire off a Control Thoughts now and hope for the best.

Control Thoughts, Force 5 on the gunman, given orders and further actions to follow once I know if I've succeeded on the first try or not.

(11d6)[2][1][1][3][1][2][3][1][4][5][1](24) (-2 dice sustained spell, +2 dice from Mentor Spirit cancel each other out.)

(7d6)[4][2][1][2][3][4][3](19) vs 4 drain, counting the -2 for sustaining spell.

(5d6)[17] assensing, on the off-chance I pick up more information this time around.

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Current health: 11/11 phys, 12/12 stun
Commlink Status: Public, broadcasting "Shadowrunner" SIN (Jun Saito, freelance mage)
Armor: 5/3
Status Effects: Watcher spirit summoned, ~two hours remaining.
Increased Reflexes: +3 Initiative, +3 Initiative Passes
Sustaining Increased Reflexes: –2 dice penalty on all other tests.
Counterspell 4 on everyone who seems to be an ally, including the elf and security men.

[SlyJohnny]

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Ooof. That's awful.

Rerolling the botched Assessning roll code: (5d6)[5][4][5][1][4](19)

[Psymple]

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Pit-Stop rolls initiative:
(9d10)[10][8][8][2][6][7][5][7][5](58)+9 =

Actions:
(Simple)Draw weapon: Beer Bottle.
(Simple)Change weapon mode: Broken Beer Bottle! :D

Well I spose I cant be seen to sit around not helping whilst these boys attempt to get 'emselves killed...

She grabs a nearby bottle from the table and smashes it on the edge.

Ain't done this in a while...

[Space Lawyer]

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Initiative Order
Pass 1
Hiro
Spirit 1
Penelope
Saito
Nathan
Neimand
Gunman
Spirit 2
Pass 2
Hiro
Spirit 1
Saito
Spirit 2
Pass 3
Saito

Saito
Saito's vision blurs a bit and he feels a headache coming on as the drain hits him. The watcher spirit reports another spirit turning its attention toward Saito, but this becomes rather obvious as the spirit manifests in front in front of the reeling man.

Penelope
Pit-stop has a beer bottle in her hand and is ready to go.

[kind_of_a_ROBOT]

Having inched as close as he dares for a moment, Hiro grabs a bottle barely gripped by an on looker. The female ork gives him a dirty look, he responds by pressing his finger to his lips and shrugging.

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End first pass.

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Current health: 12/12
Commlink Status: Passive, broadcasting SIN: "Hiro Musahi-Kroner"
Armor: 10/8
Status Effects: Novacoke (+1 Reaction, Perception, Charisma, High Pain Tolerance 1; 3.5 hours)

[Hyooz]

Nathan

Ignoring his first instinct to just ram the glass shard into the man's spine (killing a man, even one holding a gun, in the middle of a crowded club is more attention than any sensible shadowrunner really wants) Nathan instead focused on the gun in his hand. One good slash down the back should do it without any risk of the man setting it off accidentally, severed tendons have a habit of doing that.

Crossing his fingers mentally, he got as close behind the man as he dared before lashing out.

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Called shot to get the guy to drop the gun. He might be surprised? I forget how that works in SR. Spending Edge, though, gotta make sure this sticks.

Blades (-4 for called shot, +4 from edge, 6s explode): (9d6)[4][5][5][4][4][2][5][6][4](39)

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Current health: 10/10
Commlink Status: Public, broadcasting SIN: "Nathan Cowden"
Armor: 6/4
Edge: 3/4
Status Effects:

[Space Lawyer]

Initiative Order
Pass 1
Hiro
Spirit 1
Penelope
Saito
Nathan
Neimand
Gunman
Spirit 2
Pass 2
Hiro
Spirit 1
Saito
Spirit 2
Pass 3
Saito[/SPOILER]

Saito feels the power of his spell claw into the man's mind. His mind is dull, drunk, and angry. It is unlikely the spirits are his.

A bright lance of pain shoots through his mind as Nathan leaps forward through the crowd and slashes into the man's wrist. The man drops the gun, and screams, clutching at his bleeding extremity. The girl he was holding onto wrenches herself away, lashes out with a kick to the man's face, then runs into the crowd, extremely distraught.

The spirits coming after Neimand and Saito do not dissipate.

End of IP1, on to IP2

[SlyJohnny]

Saito instructs the man to spin around, facing his assailant, and briefly explain who he is, why he shot the other man in the crowd, and whatever he knows about the spirits attacking the two mages.

The man then abruptly turns, and lunges for the spirit attacking Saito. He aims to grapple with it and prevent it from moving forward to attack Saito, wrapping his arms about its neck and the rest of his body around it's torso, but will settle for simply putting himself in between it and Saito.

The ork turns away from the spirit and the gunman both, and starts pushing through the crowd towards the downed victim. The man only went down a scant few seconds ago, and maybe he can be saved.

As soon as the gunman is entangled with the spirit, he releases his mental control of the man, and attempts to seize control of the spirit, instead.

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(11d6)[1][2][1][5][5][2][4][5][3][6][6](40) Control Thoughts on spirit accosting me, Force 3. Instructions to follow if I succeed, but initially its orders are to pretend to its summoner that it has the situation under control and doesn't need backup.

(7d6)[5][5][1][2][6][3][4](26) vs Drain 3.

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Current health: 11/11 phys, 8/12 stun (4 drain)
Commlink Status: Public, broadcasting "Shadowrunner" SIN (Jun Saito, freelance mage)
Armor: 5/3
Status Effects: Watcher spirit summoned, ~two hours remaining.
Increased Reflexes: +3 Initiative, +3 Initiative Passes
Sustaining Increased Reflexes: –2 dice penalty on all other tests.
Counterspell 4 on everyone who seems to be an ally.

[kind_of_a_ROBOT]

Hiro gets ready to take a swing at the gunman, but stops short as he watches Nathan do it first. The gun hits the floor, and Hiro instead made a move for it. Grabbing it and leveling it at the previous owner.

"Game over, you piece of drek."

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Current health: 12/12
Commlink Status: Passive, broadcasting SIN: "Hiro Musahi-Kroner"
Armor: 10/8
Status Effects: Novacoke (+1 Reaction, Perception, Charisma, High Pain Tolerance 1; 3.5 hours)

[Space Lawyer]

Initiative Order

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Pass 1
Hiro
Spirit 1
Penelope
Saito
Nathan
Neimand
Gunman
Spirit 2
Pass 2
Hiro
Spirit 1
Saito
Spirit 2
Pass 3
Saito

Hiro grabs the gun and levels it at the drunk, bleeding man. He stares up the barrel. Roll perception (tactile).

The man begins to speak. "Nammmes...Mark Duggan. They just all looooked so *hic* HAPPY! They all getta be happy, my wife, that bitch, she gets to be happy, all of them happy, not me though!...Dunno nothing bout spirts, don't have anything to do with that sorta stuff *hic*."The man suddenly bolts, lunging at the spirit going for Saito. The spirit easily defends itself from the man, but Mark determidely stands between it and Saito. The spirit starts to move forward, but stops as Saito's spell hits it. The watcher spirits reports the magical security in the place going into an almost frenzied state. More guardian spirits appear, all staring angrily at Saito.

The spirit attacking Neimand lets out a bloodcurdling roar. Roll willpower.

[Space Lawyer]

Neimand

Neimand feels fear strike deep into his soul. He flees for the exit, though being so hampered by the crowd also heading the same way, he makes little progress.

[SlyJohnny]

Saito looks around, his calm, utterly unruffled exterior slipping a little bit as his eyes go wide at the opposition before him.

As the spirit he's co-opted lunges for Mark Duggan, attempting to wrap him in a subdual hold and drag him towards Saito, he hurriedly orders the spirit to telepathically relay the following message to it's controlling conjurer;

::We should desist our attack. This ork is currently tending magical healing to the solitary injured victim, and it would be especially risky to assault him as he does this. He claims that he and the other mage are private security contractors who were asked to assist concert security in apprehending the lone shooter, Mark Duggan. The situation is now resolved, and he asks that you instruct all spirits and their controllers to stand down, as violent intervention will only serve to further panic the crowd.

He emphasizes that neither he nor his people initiated hostilities, and says that he will not perform any further sorcery or make any hostile moves if we hold off on attacking him, so that this can be straightened out. Furthermore, he asks if he can be of any further assistance. I am ready to relay instructions. ::

The spirit also extends it's Counterspelling to bolster Saito's own counterspelling aura, in addition to whoever else it's currently protecting. Saito also requests that as it lunges for the gunman, it subtly points its mace in the direction of it's conjurer.

Saito kneels next to the man with the gunshot wound, picking him up and laying him accross his lap. He lays a hand upon the source of the blood, closing his eyes and channeling his energies into closing the wound and preventing shock and blood loss, hoping to stabilize the man.

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(9d6)[5][6][2][1][3][5][5][4][5](36) Heal, force 5, on the shot man. I know it's bad, but I'm hoping as I got there within seconds of it happening...

Dropping Increased Reflexes as I cast the spell, if I can do that and still act. Otherwise, I guess I keep it and lose the last two dice of both rolls.

(7d6)[2][2][4][3][1][5][4](21) vs drain of however many hits I scored -2, up to 5 (or 3). 2 drain sustained.

Guardian spirit ordered to send the above message and Subdue Mark Duggan as per page 152, plus aid me in counterspelling; after that, it should move to protect me and increase the hold on Mark Duggan.

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Current health: 11/11 phys, 6/12 stun (6 drain)
Commlink Status: Public, broadcasting "Shadowrunner" SIN (Jun Saito, freelance mage)
Armor: 5/3
Status Effects: Watcher spirit summoned, ~two hours remaining.
Increased Reflexes: +3 Initiative, +3 Initiative Passes
Sustaining Control Thoughts: –2 dice penalty on all other tests.
Counterspell 4 on everyone who seems to be an ally, aided by Guardian Spirit.

[Sgt. Cookie]

After a few seconds, 9 finds the correct commlink and begins a brute-force hack.

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Rolling for exploit:
If memory serves, I add my Exploit rating to my die pool.

(15d6)[4][6][6][5][6][3][6][2][5][3][6][5][5][3][1](66)

10 skill, -1 Media Junkie, +6 Rating

Firewall rolls against a Stealth rating of 5

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Health [Max/Current]: 12/12 [Matrix]
Commlink Matrix Stats: Rating: 6 System: 6 Firewall: 5 Response: 7 Signal: 7
Armor Coverage [Matrix]: Rating 5
Status Effects [Sustained Spells, Poisoned, injury effects]: None

[Space Lawyer]

The people controlling the spirits must have heard Saito's message, because the spirits stop their attack, then fade back into the astral.

The man who was shot is grievously wounded, but Saito's quick intervention and the force of the spell have saved his life. It is likely that the club has a contract with DocWagon, and that the man will be able to recuperate in decent medical facilities.

The spirit Saito was controlling is dismissed. Luckily, Mark Duggan is in no shape to even try and make a run for it now that the spirit is no longer holding him. Even over the noise of the crowd, the group can hear the bellows of Knight Errant officers forcing their way through to get to the man.

Hiro notices the gun weighs far too little for what it is. He surmises that it likely contains plasteel or ceramic components, explaining how Duggan got it through security. How such an ordinary man got his hands on such a gun is not so apparent. While such a weapon would be valuable for nefarious purposes, it was just used in a crime with possibly thousands of witnesses.

9 succesfully infiltrates Duggan's commlink. The banality of the man is overwhelming, the sheer level of "average and boring" of the man's life almost infectious. There are children who lead more interesting lives! The only thing of any note are a few screeds and rants about how his wife cheated on him (with his best friend), how he bought the tickets (and a spot on the guest list) for far more than face value, and generally incoherent plans of revenge.

The various service staff quickly rounds up the runners (one having to chase down Neimand outside the club), and escorts them to what must be the only empty booth in the club. Despite the violence, people are still eager to see the show, and the club is ready to give it to them. Besides, this bit of action is just the perfect story for me-feeds.

A man gets up on the stage. Middle-aged, nice but not flashy suit, and a well-trimmed goatee mark him as management, but trying to fit in with the sort of crowd the club attracts. "All right, you collection of mutants, chipheads, burnouts, and worse, settle down! I know why you're here, and why you've been sweating over our nice clean floors all night! Ladie, gentleman, and anything and everything in between and outside, I present to you the one, the only, MARIA MERCURIAL!"

The crowd goes wild as the lights dim, and then everything goes quiet as the first haunting synthesized notes of Mercurial’s hit song “Take It To Mister” swell up from the speakers. A spotlight comes on, illuminating a slender, lovely figure wearing a short dress of midnight blue. Her legs and arms gleam with polished chrome from her trademark cyberarms and legs. Her voice is lovely as ever, and the first lines of the song wash over you.

The group is seated in a deep semi-circle booth on the second level. An AR projector is available for 9.

[SlyJohnny]

The orc mage sits down at the table, tsking over the bloodstains now present on the pants of his immaculate, fashionably neo-Japanese business suit. Ah, well. It is upsetting, but such things are the cost of doing business. He sends a polite, perfunctory message to the comm profile of the man who was shot, stating that he was sorry he could not provide him further medical aid (or prevent him from being shot), and wishing him a speedy recovery. In truth, he doesn't care too much whether the man lives or dies, but the gratitude of strangers is often a useful thing to cultivate. You never know who might be useful.

He nods respectfully to Nathan, Hiro and Niemand. "It seems we may soon be working together. You reacted quickly, gentlemen. It is a good thing, to be in business with men of action." His English is careful and precise, slightly accented. He has sharp, asian features, and his tusks are quite small; if it wasn't for the very vivid shade of green that is his skintone, he could pass for a muscular human.

He looks over his shoulder with mild disdain as the American singer crests the stage. He watches with interest, regardless; their employer clearly meant the free admission as a gesture of respect, and he might enjoy it anyway.

[DaedalusK71]

The hand on his shoulder pulls Neimand's mind from the ragged panic that stole his thoughts. Wiping the sweat from his face, he allows himself to be led back to the booth.

He is only vaguely aware of Saito's comment as the buzzing in his ears threatens to drown out the frenzied crowd below. Man of action... that's me... he says uncomfortably. His rash act had triggered events he should have forseen and been prepared for. He grabs a waitress by the arm "Bourbon... neat." he says and lets her go.

[Psymple]

Pit-Stop just sat listening to the music waiting for whatever this was all about. She didn't particularly know the act but she had heard worse...

So the I am's had already set themselves out as the men of action... She didn't really care much, she much preferred just being a driver.
Besides it looked like one of our men of action was feeling the repercussions of going toe to toe with some security spirits.

[Sgt. Cookie]

Leaving the man's commlink, 9 retreats to the node he wasn and activates the node he was in before. He activates the projector and the image of a sharply dressed human male appears. "Before you ask, I'm an AI. My name's 9. Use the number if you ever have to write it down."

[kind_of_a_ROBOT]

Hiro nods at Saito's comment, and Neimand's response. "That was a fancy bit of wiz yourself, omae." He says to the ork, as he raises his finger and smiles to the waitress indicating that he will have what Saito is having. "Don't have much of a chance to get the real stuff, seems like whoever set this up is pulling out all the stops for us...could be a good job...or it could be trouble."

He eases himself back in the booth as the music starts and the AI appears. He raises an eyebrow, and gives the projection a nod and respectful smile.

[Hyooz]

Nathan

Nathan shuffles agreeably back to the booth to join the others, tossing his glass shard into a bin along the way, happy to be rid of the stupid thing. All things considered, that went very well. The others that had been apparently summonsed by their mysterious benefactor put on a solid showing, he made mental notes of what he'd seen each of them accomplish. Can't hurt to keep such things in mind.

"I'll join in the back-patting. Good show all around. Rare occasion something like that ends without anybody dying."

[SlyJohnny]

Saito requested a glass of hot shochu from the waitress, apparently in a somewhat nostalgic mood this evening. He looks at 9 in confusion for a while. An AI? What is it doing here? He isn't sure of the etiquette in this situation; his first instinct is to ignore it, or chide it for interrupting the real people. A vague memory tugs at him, telling him that some of these programs start acting as if they were real individuals; it is perhaps best to be polite.

"Good evening, 9-san. I am Saito; it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I have never worked with an AI before. I am unaware of your working requirements. I hope you will forgive any lapses of decorum on my part."

He nods at Hiro. "I did not come here to provide free security for a crowd of shrieking children and their idol. We can hope our intervention is taken into account when we negotiate compensation for the job."

He glances around at the others, particularly at Pitstop. "So, you have seen what I can do. I am guessing that you two are soldiers, samurai, as you responded with much focused aggression and no hesitation. But why do you think that you were contacted for this?"

[Psymple]

Pit-Stop sits gazing into the club listening to the group speaking: she takes a brief look at the new AI fella as he pops into artificial reality at the table but her gaze wanders off once again.

She cant help herself smirk a wide grin as one of the men, Saito, makes his discontent known about being asked to assist with the gunman. Turning back to the group to re-familiarize herself with the face of this man she meets his unexpected gaze and nervously smirks even wider.

I wa' thinkin' that m'self to be 'onest, they take us tools from us then ask us to kill armed nutta's...
With a few other faces now looking at her she realizes its probably polite to finally introduce herself.
Pene... Just call me Pit-Stop, i'm a driver.

Deciding to risk it she waves to a waitress...
Can a get a box a smokes ye?. Actually, make it two... Don't worry 'll smoke 'em outside.

[kind_of_a_ROBOT]

Hiro pulls his gaze from the stage and nods to Saito again, his chrome fingers tapping in rhythm to the booming bass from the speakers. Maria Mecurial wasn't a favorite, but she wasn't bad either. Hiro tried to remember if he still had one of her discs in a box somewhere, leftover from an ex.

"Samurai, yeah. I assume I'm here cause this McCallister cat knows talent when he sees it," he says with a grin. "Speaking of our mystery employer, does anyone know anything about him? Cause, I sure don't."

[DaedalusK71]

Neimand holds the cool bourbon glass against his forehead. "Nien... I don't know him personally but I hear he is a straight-shooter and that he is 'old-school'."

[Sgt. Cookie]

Looking at the Ork, "All I need is a Matrix connection and some space. And don't worry about it, I won't take anything personally, as long as you don't call me "it", "he" preferred." Turning to Neminad, at the mention of "old school". "He was forged in the wired age. Guy still has a cyberdeck, "old school" is a bit of an understatement."

[Hyooz]

Nathan smiles to himself. The camaraderie already building was refreshing. Reminded him of his days working security. Bunch of misfits united by a common cause: to make more money and live long enough to spend it. "I say as long as the job's real, the money's good, and I don't end up with a bullet in my head, McCallister could be a gorram winged pegasus and I'd accept at this point." He raised his glass slightly to Saito with a slight nod; he moved quick after the gun was out of the man's hand. Man does good work. "Haven't had to work this hard just to hear the pitch in a while."

[Space Lawyer]

Mercurial plays a two-hour set before wrapping up. Many of the club-goers begin to exit, even though there are a few bands are coming on after her. The crowd has come to see what they wanted to see, and after tonight's excitement, many are eager to get home and rest. For the group though, the night may just be getting started.

As Mercurial leaves the stage, a waitress comes up to the group and escorts them backstage. You can all see MacCallister chatting with Mercurial. As soon as he spots you, he gives her a nod and heads over to the group. He looks the same in meatspace as he did in the Matrix, cyberdeck and reading glasses. He looks a bit more casual now though, wearing faded jeans, a patched leather armor coat, and a Mercurial t-shirt that may have been from her first tour. "Hoi chummers! Good work out there! If you'd follow me, we can get started." He leads you all to a small backroom. As soon as he closes the door, the noise from the outside is cut off.

"So, let me tell it to you straight. This is a missing person biz. Her name's Fiona Craig." A file labelled "Fiona Craig" pops up on everyone's comm, asking for permission to download and open up.

"Shes an archaeologist, got here last night on a flight from Greece. Problem is, she didn't show up to some meetings she really needed to be at today. Her bosses want her found ASAP, so time is of the essence. You need to find her, whatever it is she had with her, and get both back safely wherever she says to go, or at least get the right people to her. Pay is ¥3000 each."

[Sgt. Cookie]

((OOC: I'm going to assume that the AR projector was taken with them ))


"There's more to it than that. Otherwise, I wouldn't be sitting here, being an AI and all that. So? What is it?"

[SlyJohnny]

Saito says nothing for now, allowing the others a chance to voice their concerns and questions before he grills their employer and begins the wheedling dance for more nuyen. He downloads the file and scrutinizes it carefully.

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Current health: 11/11 phys, 10/12 stun (2 drain)
Commlink Status: Public, broadcasting "Shadowrunner" SIN (Jun Saito, freelance mage)
Armor: 5/3
Status Effects: Counterspell 4 on the team.