[adamu]

Everything about this place turned Al's stomach.

These were the sorts that hippies would call hippies.

But they had a fresh line on some of their old co-workers now, and he wasn't going to mess that up.

No doing crimes, no doing violence in Nightside. Except that really meant no being seen doing either in Nightside. So if someone needed hurting, it just meant he'd have the pleasure of using his hands.

So he re-assumed his cunning disguise, which consisted entirely of secreting his Remington once more in Alyce's cello case.

And that was it.

Because he was the roadie.

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn takes in the smells and sounds of Nightside and smiles.  There are few places that she is more comfortable in.  Already, her mouth is watering at the aromas wafting through the air and a multitude of AROs are advertising wares found no where else and others that can be found in the Overworld but gain a certain something extra for being sold Below.  She messages the team, >>Alright.  Remember that this is Level 3 and most of the shops are fairly general in nature, but there are hundreds of them.  Here is an overlay of the map of the Market.  The red stripe is our route unless we want to stray from it.  I would recommend staying together unless you are experienced down here, as it would be easy to get confused.  Any questions?<<

[Csjarrat]

nope, just give me a sec
He quick released the cocoon and grabbed the tarp sheets from his bike's storage, clambering up the lynx and covering the weapons that couldn't be retracted. He'd still draw attention but the act of sheathing the weapons showed he wasn't out to make an obvious statement of intent.
Besides, the tarp could soon be shot through if he needed to.
Jumping back into the cocoon, he slipped back into VR and sent the noizquito swarm on ahead, scouting the red route for obvious trouble

[Jack_Spade]

<<Let's keep on the golden brick road then. Please, no shopping excursions for now.
Robyn, please activate the AR overlay you created for our band and make sure the demo-song is freely available.
Otherwise, let's get a move on before we meet someone interesting.>>

Isaint's rifle had folded up neatly on itself and now rested again behind the secret panel. His coat showed the band logo, while he brought up the rear with his drone walking beside him.

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn nods and brings up the ARO for Dead Men Walking, which includes a partial list of "International Concert Dates" and a short copy of her demo tape of their music that plays on a loop for those interested.  The loop is just a teaser and there is a note that the band is for hire and anyone interested should seek out the manager.  She responds to the message from ISaint.  >>Got it.  Stay with the group.  Great idea.  But there is this really neat shop a few rows over that carries the best steampunk frocks.  Just saying.  LOL<<

[Jack_Spade]

<<Yeah, sure. But business first and pleasure later. Damn it. I'm sounding like my own father now.>>

Isaint looked around a bit more - some people had stopped to watch them walk by - no real surprise considering the impressive AR display. Not for the first time he wished they'd found a more subtle disguise, but there was nothing to it now. So instead he opened a coat pocket and gave Al a packet of cards.
"Here, got them printed just two hours ago: Autogramm cards with the bands likeness - just subtly altered enough that image recognition won't connect us to our real identities. Hand them out if we run into any hipsters that insist that they know our obscure little band."
With a lowered voice he said:
"And watch out for those kids over there - the little blond girl just lifted a credstick from this fat guys pocket - we really should avoid heavy crowds down here..."

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Nightside Market, London Below]
 
Nightside is a sort of madcap version of the Seattle Crime Mall, with anything and everything for sale or barter.  You thread your way through the crowds avoiding the more obvious cons and pick pockets.  You are aware of the vaunted security but they seem content to leave you alone and it is only the hawkers that try and engage you in any real conversation…
 
As you are making your way down to where, reportedly, Nightside dips underneath the Underplex, you pass through a triple height space that is alive with music and applause.  Above you, vaulting impossibly across the eight meter void, you catch a fleeting glimpse of the Harlequinade as they perform one of their vaguely comprehensible sagas to the denizens of Below.
 
With a twisting leap one of them detaches herself from the dance and springs down to land on one foot balanced on the balustrade on the edge of the drop, the other leg tucked up like some demented stork.  The masked figure cocks her head and sketches you all a mocking bow before stepping down gently in front of Halfpint’s drone tank…
 
Expressive gestures trace glowing AROs in the air before you
 
<Welcome travellers, Hecate has requested that you join your music with our own above>
 
and she nods at the floor above you where the show is proceeding more and more frenetically…   
 
***
 
#14
 

[Jack_Spade]

'Shit and just now our starlet is missing.'
<<Robyn, seems like it's time to test the disguise. Team, for those who don't know them, those are friendlies - at least they were the last time we met. So keep your cool even if they behave funnily.>>
Isaint stepped forward:
"Greetings, thanks for the invitation. Where would you have us deploy our instruments safely? And what may we call you?"

[adamu]

Always having wanted to be a roadie, Al fully embraced his assigned role as tout, handing out cards to anyone that would take them as he vigorously extolled the virtues of their art - which recommendations were no more than a relentless flow of meaningless hyperbole, since he had no real idea what ort of music they played. Well, to be fair he knew it was some sort of folk-chamber bastardization of some of his favorite alternative country tunes - but again, that left him with no idea what it would sound like.

So he worked the crowd around the perimeter of the group, quietly regaling passersby about the band's excellence with the command of a cicus ringmaster's imprimatur but the intimacy of a confidence man's game, his gravel-pit voice pricking the ears of all who would listen, until he was upstaged by his favorite clown act. Annoyed as he was to be in a place where even the stand-up cats acted like a bunch of namby-pamby fops, he figured he owed these freaks enough to shut up and listen to where they needed the gear set up.

Besides, he was almost out of cards anyway.



 

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn sends a new map to the team with a bright path that marks the way to the nearest access to the next floor.  Once up they can follow the music from the Harlequinade, arriving at the stage.  Robyn gracefully removes the cello case from her Mule and takes it to where she is told.  She opens the case and lovingly takes the cello from it, playing a few chords to make sure it is in tune while the roadie and the drummer set up the drums.  She kicks in the synthe link and turns the wireless link to the speakers on.  Robyn calls out to the roadie, asking for some water to be placed behind her chair.  She sends a quick note to the team.  >>We are missing Star Blazer, but my voice is good enough for this and we can still carry on.  Let me know when everyone is ready and we can start.  The music is in the playlist I have attached if you forgot to bring what I sent you earlier.  Basically, though, we are a club grunge band and all of the music does not need to sound perfect.  Try not to let the drums overpower the other instruments and we will be OK.  Confidence.<<

When all the others are ready she opens with the first song on the playlist she has passed out.  She has composed the music to fit the lyrics and knows everything by heart.  This is not your grandmother's cello music, but something far different.  She gets into the music as if she were playing to the London Grand Hall.  The chords roll off the instrument and blare through the speakers, accompanied by what the other players add.  Her voice is not the quality of Iris', but it is good.  It is more than good enough for this sort of music.  She does not know how long the set is supposed to last and it does not matter.  Music is her blood and she thrives on it; she needs it.  She puts her heart into every song, making the cello do things that many would say are impossible.  She is a doctor and decker by trade; but God gave her a rare talent with music and she displays that here.

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Nightside Market, London Below]

At Isaint’s query to the clown’s name she bows her head and her mask ripples and morphs into a sad face, but instead of a tear drop a red crucifix adorns her cheek…she wipes away a tear and sketched another ARO in the air

<I am a mime extraordinaire, backdrop to the great tales…my titles are many, but you may call me Satire>

Leading you aloft she rejoins her companions as they cavort around your preparations…

***

Once you begin playing the mockery stops and all the Harlequinade adopt poses of rapt attention.  This seems to rub off on the locals too and they more or less stop whatever they are doing to listen too.  The applause when you finish is heartfelt and it would seem you have a future as a grunge band if you ever want to give up running!

As the crowd finally begin to disperse Hecate materialises from somewhere, her triple faced mask turning to study you all

“Thank you for your sharing.  We have much to discuss, of lives and lovers lost, of pain and of balance.  Come, there is a chamber near here where we can be private…” and she leads the way…

***

#15

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn's arms are tired, but she feels good.  The music was well received, validating her ability to mix old and new.  She walks over to get her case and carefully puts the cello and bow away before doing what she can to help put things away.  While packing she sends a note out, >>Team.  So is this meeting with the Harlequinade to be only for ISaint, Al, and Jackhammer?<<

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint felt mentally exhausted since he simply did not have the muscle memory to play the drums. So he had been concentrating intensely for this performance.

When Hecate appeared, Isaint inclined his head and replied "Thanks, we'll come."

<<Don't even think about splitting the team - my drone will stay and keep an eye on things.>>
<<Arthur: Equipment guardian protocol - sub lethal>>

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn obeys ISaint's directive and follows him to the meeting, setting Sasha to keep a watch over her equipment.  As they walk, she says, "That felt good.  I think we had the attention of the crowd, and that can be tough in the Market.  I think that we all did a good job."

[Csjarrat]

So far so good... thought Halfpint.
Convincing show, turned a few heads. Cover seems to be working for the moment at least.
Yet another meeting left him wondering when they were going to crack on with the real work though. They hadn't made that much progress but had been sidelined a couple of times already.
Itching to crack on, he sent a wave of 5 of his noizquitos to investigate the route down to below and report back whilst 5 returned to the landing rack to charge.
[spoiler]@ GM could you let me know what the drones report back from their scouting run to the entrance?[/spoiler]