Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Play-by-Post => Topic started by: inca1980 on <03-04-15/1143:15>
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Cast:
Rat - Hydroraven: ork, adept, tortured by AAA, cut-throat, budding street sam.
Werner - Gradivus: Ogre, Austrian, budding adept martial artist w/ sensei.
Chaim - rednblack: elf, face, budding adept, has a protective jewish mom.
Xem - Poindexter: elf, budding mage. Loner, wannabe runner.
"Hey Rat, you in there? Wake up."
Junior's thick city-speak is almost drowned out by the rain-patter on the tarp covering the little lean-to a few of you call home on bad-weather days. When it rains like that you can count on everybody holing up together for the night. Pez, Itty-bitty, and even Gundan are still asleep right next to you but Xem woke up too. Chaim and Werner live upstairs in the once abandoned Isle-of-View apartments and ever since you started hustlin' with them here and there, they started letting a few of you roof-less kids stay in the alley outside. They'll even bring you down the occasional loaf of buttered bread or smokey-treat when they can. Aside from a few run-ins with the Cutters or Chaim's mom kicking you off the corner for being a "bad influence" on her boy, for the most part you and the kids can squat in peace. Everyone in the Plastic Jungle is squatting in the technical sense of the word, just some squatters have to squat a lot lower than others.
Junior lifts the tarp up and bends down to peek through the entrance, his hooded poncho completely soaked.
"Kubiak wants to know if any of you did the heist on Sarafin's. Four kids pepper-sprayed the fool and grabbed what they could. You know I wouldn't be here unless I knew Kubiak was gonna go easy on you. He always does, just wants you to return the goods and say you're sorry. I already spoke with Chaim and Werner upstairs and they didn't have anything to do with it, so I assume you p-p-p-p-probably didn't either, but it doesn't hurt to check. If you didn't do it, you at least got a lead?"
Ever since Junior, the one-eyed stutterer, left the corner to work for Kubiak you haven't seen much of him. Sarafin, the cranky old bastard who owns the Kiosk on the southern edge of the Jungle, wants an apology? Somehow that doesn't fit. You've stolen the occasional trid-chip from the Kiosk, but not this time. For christ's sake, you been holed up with Xem and the other kids since the rain started. You'd have found out quick if Werner or Chaim knew anything about it too. Leads? Fuck, it could've been anyone. If there is one thing you know about Sarafin though, he'd have shot dead any kid caught stealing from him. Kubiak's justice was fair, but Sarafin wouldn't want fair, he'd want payback.
Sun's still down.
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"it's no problem, ma" Chaim said dismissively as he tossed on his ratty tennis shoes, the laces of which had practically rotted apart. He went room to room, looking for his book bag, with Binah close on his heels.
"I just don't see why you need to go out with those boys. They are not nice boys, Chaim. Your place is not with them. Your place is at school. I talked with Mr. Monroe yesterday, and you know what he told me?"
Having finally found his bag, Chaim extracts a few 20th century textbooks, Biology, Trig, and leaves his copy of The Complete Nietzsche on top. He was aware of the irony, but loved how it bothered his mom. Today, though, she was on a roll, and even old walrus mustache wasn't going to dissuade her from how many absences Chaim had racked up this week alone.
"Yeah, but what about my grades, ma? You worry too much. Monroe's all talk. 'Sides, he needs me on the roster cause I keep his percentages up. Imma go out with the boys, and I'll swing by the school after lunch, null sheen."
"You're not listening to me, Chaim," she replies. "These street rats are nothing but trouble. They don't love you like a mother, Chaim. They will not rest until you're locked up like David."
"You know they can hear you right?" Chaim asks, pressing his finger into the paper-thin wall and leaving a divot where his thumb sat. He's halfway out the door when he stops, turns around, and gives Binah a quick kiss on the cheek. "Everything's fine. I'm just gonna see what's what."
On his way out the door, Chaim kisses two fingers and touches the mezuzah he'd made for their "house" in primary school, and hears his mom call after him, "You're breaking your mother's heart, Chaim. You'll never know the pain of a mother." After a short pause, she adds, "And see if you can find Micah. I haven't heard from him in days. Be a good boy, Chaim."
Chaim tents the book bag over his head as he runs downstairs to see what's up with Rat.
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It has been a foul morning for Xem. He doesn't really like the company of others and sleeping in such close proximity to them bothers him endlessly. But is IS raining and the food is good, so he tolerates it, but just barely. Then Junior comes to bother them.
"Kubiak wants to know if any of you did the heist on Sarafin's. Four kids pepper-sprayed the fool and grabbed what they could. You know I wouldn't be here unless I knew Kubiak was gonna go easy on you. He always does, just wants you to return the goods and say you're sorry. I already spoke with Chaim and Werner upstairs and they didn't have anything to do with it, so I assume you p-p-p-p-probably didn't either, but it doesn't hurt to check. If you didn't do it, you at least got a lead?"
Xem had been sitting cross-legged facing the corner, but he turns his head full of wild raggedy hair that shoots out in all directions to face him. He wears an expression of disgust as he speaks. "I have robbed no one in the last week. I have no leads." He then turns his head back to the corner, listening to the rain pounding outside, and imagining each little thump is one of his enemies' lifeless bodies, hitting the floor.
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Junior just stares at the back of Xem's head with his single eye that sits quite unsettlingly in the center of his brow.
"Listen Chummer, I don't like being out here any more than you do, but at least you're dry. Kubiak could help you out man. He helped me. Maybe if you fixed your attitude someone might give you a shot one of these days!"
He looks back over at Rat.
"Help me out a little Rat, if I do a good job finding some info they'll start giving me more work."
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"Listen Chummer, I don't like being out here any more than you do, but at least you're dry. Kubiak could help you out man. He helped me. Maybe if you fixed your attitude someone might give you a shot one of these days!"
Still staring into the corner, the strange little elf boys thoughts run cold as the rain outside.
No one helps anyone but themselves in this world, you fool. Opportunity, like all things, is not given but taken.
Sadly, the man behind him continues speaking, much to Xems irritation.
"Help me out a little Rat, if I do a good job finding some info they'll start giving me more work."
OH! It's help this one needs. Hadn't Sydney said that "Helping people can sometimes make them your pawns, and for minimal effort"? Yes, she had said that..
"Well..." he says to the corner, trying to force himself to look friendly for a change, and instead looking more than a bit manic. He uncrosses his legs and lays back down on the floor, crossing his fingers below his head before looking up at Junior with the best smile he can muster. "If I were to help you find your little muggers, would that make you..." The filthy, scrawny little elf rolls over on his elbows before continuing. "My friend?" Junior inhales to respond, but before he can, Xem has popped up to a crouch, then up to both feet, speaking quickly. "Cause if so, then count me in."
I wonder if I know anything about Sarafin? Have we met?
Do I know a Sarafin? (Area knowledge:Jungle 4 + Int 5) (http://orokos.com/roll/261097): 9d6t5 2
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@Xem:
You know Sarafin, but only from his store. He is a cunning dwarf that has one of the most successful businesses in the Jungle selling mostly groceries but he always has a lot of other knickknacks. The Jungle produces most of its own food since it was originally built to be an agricultural bio-environment and that is why it is one of the few places in all of Seattle where poor people can eat natural food. Due to the pollution of the ground soil though it still is quite contaminated and the yield is still too low to feed everyone.
Sarafin's opens at 6:00am and their fresh bread usually goes very fast. They close around 8:00pm.
(http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/338/0/5/dwarf_by_belovp-d6wq83n.jpg)
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Werner pretended he couldn't hear Chaim's mother through the thin walls. It's the only way way to stay sane around here. You don't know anyone's business at the same time you know everyone's business.
I wonder what father would say if he was around to see me sharing a domicile with a Jew. Heck, a Jew who probably doesn't know the definition of the word 'domicile'. He would have been appalled no doubt. A stupid hangup that. Who cares which version of the uncaring invisible almighty thingamajig someone worships. As far as I can tell, they all ignore their worshipers equally. My mother goes to Church as often as she can, and it didn't help father and it most certainly isn't getting us out of this hellhole. Wish I could take back every time I said i was bored when we were living at the arcology. F this drek. Let me go make sure Junior isn't bother Rat and Xem.
Werner walks downstairs and joins Chaim, Junior, Rat and Xem.
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Rat was used to waking up at a moment's notice, but he didn't like to be woken up by someone like Junior. Especially when Junior was asking for a favour, with nothing in return for Rat.
"Sarafin got robbed? I've been here all this time!" answered Rat, trying to get his bearings straight. The news angered the squatter, but he didn't want it to show. He was furious someone else had hit Serafin and gotten away. Missed opportunities like these were doubly hurtful; he didn't get any of the loot, but, more importantly, he wasn't the one who had done it, who had had the guts to think of a plan like that. His street rep would certainly take a hit, but not if he downplayed it. "Besides, Sarafin's junk ain't worth much anyways. I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole!" said the young ork, giggling and looking at his peers for support.
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Werner just caught the tail end of what Rat was saying.
"Junior- I already told you, it wasn't us. Why don't you go ask the Red Skulls. Of course, if it was them and they figure out you want to snitch them out to old man Sarafin, well, they'll probably cut off what little thingie you got in your pants and turn you into a girl. A fugly girl, but a girl nonetheless."
Werner does the front lat spread to accentuate his already impressive muscles while giving Junior his toothiest grin.
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Chaim slides in past Junior, and tosses his bag to the side. "Sorry 'bout my moms," he says, "but she's got her eye on you." He kneels down in a squat, so he'll be closer to the level of Xem and Rat, and notes that Xem is uncharacteristically eager to do a "favor" for Kubiak's new errand boy. Rat, of course, is more interested in his rep than actually making any money, and where the hell's Werner anyway? He's got to be around . . . oh there he is, Chaim thinks as the Austrian squeezes in for the powwow. Chaim gives him a slightly embarrassed look and shrugs his shoulders while looking up, to where his mom is undoubtedly tidying up Chaim's corner at just this moment, but then Werner does his little dance and starts flexing. Chaim rolls his eyes, but can't fully suppress a smile and cough-like chuckle.
"Chip, rat, but something tells me this wasn't all radio-fruit and trolly girl porno AROs that got nabbed. Meet me eye-to-eye, Junior. what'd they make off with? And when was this dastardly caper committed? If ol' Xem here is willing to risk life and limb for the gift of you friendship you can count me in too, only I don't come so cheap. You figure this out, you get more work for Kubiak, and that's great for you, but what about your best good chummers, the apples of your eye, down at the Isle of View? You know the Jungle way, what's in it for us, Junior?"
Negotiation v. Junior (http://orokos.com/roll/261174): 8d6t5 1
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Chaim had always had a way with words, and Rat respected that about him. Part of being a hustler was knowing how to talk your mark into giving you the goods. Rat simply sat up and said "Now we're talking! I'm sure your new owner has mountains of creds he could give us. If we have our stomachs full, we might spend less time looking after ourselves and more time looking into who did what." Rat liked the idea of being paid to do something he would have done anyways. If someone had pulled something this big on Sarafin, he had to know who it was and how they had done it.
Besides, getting paid made it sound like he was a shadowrunner, something Rat loved to fantasize about...
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OOC: Junior negotiate 8d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4793806/)
Junior leans down and and enters the lean-to to get out of the rain letting the tarp fall back down behind him. He pats down his poncho as if to emphasize that his pockets are empty and turns to Chaim.
"If I had something on me I'd pay you, but all they give me right now is food. Listen, if you get me some info, I"ll make sure you get to speak with Kubiak in person and then maybe you can ask him for some kind of help. "
He pulls out two soy-bars and starts splitting it into little equal pieces for everyone there. No matter who you roll with, no matter how much of a backstabbing motherfucker you may be, when it comes to food, Redmond street etiquette always says, "where one eats, two can eat." If you have food and are in a group, if you're going to pull it out, it has to be evenly shared. Maybe it's the influence of ork family structure, or maybe it's just that little difference that characterizes the SINless and sets the wretched of the streets apart from the wretched of the corporate boardrooms and wage-slave enclaves.
Itty-bitty, an 8 year old dwarven kid eagerly takes his share and starts scarfing down his breakfast.
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Chaim's stomach grumbles at the sight of the soybar, and he starts to salivate. Junior is an ok chummer, really. Hell, he didn't even seem pissed with all the cyclops jokes Chaim had been throwing his way. The young elf waited for Itty-Bitty to take his chunk, and then he picks up a smaller piece and gulps it down, gives Junior an appreciative slap on the back.
"alright, Junior. Wiz. Don't know about these other degenerates, but I wouldn't mind a sit-down with Kubiak. I'm down, but we still need to know what they made off wit. We can't get all Nancy Drew up in this piece without knowing what we're looking for."
Outside, Chaim could see the first lights of a grayish dawn splashing through the streets on the backs of the steady rain. Would still be at least an hour before the Jungle went into full swing. Plenty of time for the boys and him to come up with some sort of plan. Too much time really. Hell, they may even be able to grab a soykaf or NERPs Limon before the streets started humming. That was Chaim, already making plans for the money before he'd pocketed it.
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Rat immediately jumped on his piece of soy-bar and wolfed it down. "If anything, this story was good for a meal" thought the young ork.
Although he was a little disappointed about payment, Junior hadn't come empty-handed. The young delinquent wasn't interested in being associated with Kubiak, but he knew what an opportunity looked like when he saw one. A sit-down with Kubiak could be worth something, so Rat continued to listen to the conversation between Chaim and Junior. He did turn over to Xem, however, and asked him "What's a Nancy Drew?"
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Chaim's insinuations do seem indeed to fall on deaf ears, and Junior's face lightens up when you say you all might help him. Many of the Jungle's street kids, especially the little ones, already have a feeling that something is different about the four of you but they just can't quite put their finger on it. You can tell by the way they treat you. Often coming to you with their little squabbles hoping you can help resolve it for them, deferring to your opinions or even just staying clear of you. Junior as well seems to feel that you four are more than meets the eye.
Junior rattles off: "Sarafin said that they made off with 3 boxes of Soreo cookies, a box of the latest shipment of new sim-chip movies and a few boxes of Gillette Mach 5 shaving razors. I think that's it. On top of that they smashed up the Kiosk pretty good."
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Junior seems to be getting a little anxious to be on his way to keep on looking for info on who hit Sarafin. "Is there anything else you wanna know? I really better get movin'"
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"Null sheen, chummer. Handle your biz. We gotta get a move on too, if we're gonna be any help. Watch your hoop, if we get anything we'll come see ya down at the spot, dig? And hey, man, thanks for the bites."
After Junior ducks out, Chaim sits down with the boys to come up with a game plan.
"Alright, whaddya guys think? Anybody got any chummers they can tap for this sorta thing? I got my girl Liga who hooks down off Easton, I can see if anybody's been using the razors or anything to pay in trade, but her day don't start for a bit. Other than that, I'm just talking shots in the dark. I don't really have drek planned for today, so I'm all for putting this on the front burner. I mean, fuck Serafin, but I'm ready to take a step up, wiz?"
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"Shouldn't be difficult, really" said Rat. "All we have to do is follow the Sereo trail and we'll find the chummers who did this. And with any luck they will still have some of those sim-chips." Confident in his fool-proof plan, Rat reclined, a smile on his face.
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"Follow the Sereo trail, gotcha. So, Rat, who we asking to see where that trail begins?"
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"Alright, whaddya guys think? Anybody got any chummers they can tap for this sorta thing? I got my girl Liga who hooks down off Easton, I can see if anybody's been using the razors or anything to pay in trade, but her day don't start for a bit. Other than that, I'm just talking shots in the dark. I don't really have drek planned for today, so I'm all for putting this on the front burner. I mean, fuck Serafin, but I'm ready to take a step up, wiz?"
"Shouldn't be difficult, really" said Rat. "All we have to do is follow the Sereo trail and we'll find the chummers who did this. And with any luck they will still have some of those sim-chips."
"Follow the Sereo trail, gotcha. So, Rat, who we asking to see where that trail begins?"
Xem sits back down on the floor and listens to the group. "I dont know about Sereo or a trail, but I have some tongues that might wag for me. We should speak with Serafin first. Hear what happened from the horses mouth, so to speak, before we pound pavement."
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"We better catch him early then, while he's still recovering from the attack" said Rat at Xem's comment, getting up and stretching. Everyone present knew Serafin and Rat had had a few altercations in the past, so anyone could see the young delinquent wasn't going to do this as an act of altruism. The ork made sure his knife was still with him before setting out with the rest of the gang.
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Xem sits back down on the floor and listens to the group. "I dont know about Sereo or a trail, but I have some tongues that might wag for me. We should speak with Serafin first. Hear what happened from the horses mouth, so to speak, before we pound pavement."
"We better catch him early then, while he's still recovering from the attack" said Rat at Xem's comment,
"Wiz," Chaim says pulling a knife from his backpack and stowing it in his hoodie, now more brown than green. He grabs another blade and slides it down his sock. He wishes that the rain would let up, but it doesn't look like they're going to get off easy. "Let's hop to it, then. If we hurry we might be able to catch 'im 'fore the morning rush."
With that Chaim pulls back the tarp and heads out into the morning air.
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Werner, as he follows Chaim into the rain, thinks to himself, Great-just what I need, rain and no umbrella. Of course, I'm probably just soft- these guys probably never seen an umbrella.
"Rat, Xem: you guys coming?"
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"Let's hop to it, then. If we hurry we might be able to catch 'im 'fore the morning rush."
"Indeed." Putting his rickety legs beneath him once more, Xem pops up to his feet with a snap and crackle from protesting joints. He waits for everyone and follows behind a few feet, keeping an eye out for danger in all directions; ESPECIALLY for cops.
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*Doesn't look like the weather's going to get better anytime soon* thought the ork as he looked outside. "Alright, let's get this drek over with" said Rat as he set out in the rain with the rest of his companions, headed for Serafin's shop.
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Ever since the Cutters put up the cement blocks on the ground level entrances and started shooting down KE drones on sight, the police have pretty much stuck to an unspoken agreement with the Jungle. They limit their entrances into that convoluted patchwork of urban sprawl and wild-life preserve to the occasional raid or when pursuing a high-value target. The rain's died down to an annoying drizzle and the four of you make your way south along the Valley, a meandering roughly north-south walk-way which forms the main thoroughfare of the Jungle.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66568711/SR%20shares/slum_b10.jpg)
It's almost 8:00am and the street is bustling with mostly female orks, dwarves and humans all haggling vendors for the days food. Ladies clutch their bags a little closer and vendors give you extra side-ways glances to make sure you don't swipe anything. They aren't dumb. They know that on most days, seeing you kids in the Valley this early means only one thing, you're hungry. All it takes is one quick shove and well placed snatch while you all scatter in every direction for you to relieve someone of their morning purchases. Like little piranhas, what you lack in strength you kids make up for in numbers.
OOC: Everyone make a visual perception test.
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[spoiler]Visual perception (Int 5 + Per 3) (http://orokos.com/roll/263310): 8d6t5 3[/spoiler]
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Chaim weaves his way through the jungle, internally pleased with the group's reception. First they clutch at their purses, then they will open their arms.
[spoiler]Visual Perception 5 (INT) + 4 (Perception) + 2 (Spec) +1 (Hawk Eye) (http://orokos.com/roll/263320): 12d6t5 2
[/spoiler]
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The Valley made Rat feel at home. He was used to such a cold reception; people's reactions weren't unfounded after all. Except that this time, the gang wasn't looking for their next meal. At least not unless it was too obvious someone wanted to be relieved of their belongings...
[spoiler] It's the first time for me using orokos.com, so I might have messed the settings a bit. If I disregard the repetitions, it should still give me 6 hits, no glitches. Intuition 5 + Perception 4 + SPecialization 2 + Hawk Eye 1 (http://orokos.com/roll/263389): 12d6h5 6 [/spoiler]
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[spoiler] It's the first time for me using orokos.com, so I might have messed the settings a bit. If I disregard the repetitions, it should still give me 6 hits, no glitches. Intuition 5 + Perception 4 + SPecialization 2 + Hawk Eye 1 (http://orokos.com/roll/263389): 12d6h5 6 [/spoiler]
use 12d6t5 instead of 12d6h5.
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[spoiler]Perception Test
Shadowrun (http://orokos.com/roll/263469): 9d6t5 3[/spoiler]
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As soon as you make it south of the market stretch of the Valley the crowd disappears and the only Jungle denizens hanging around are mostly chip-heads passed out on various levels of scaffolding. Despite all the trash lying around, the scent of lilacs wafts through the air and thick clusters of purple flowers cover many of the buildings.
@Xem&Rat:
Aside from the chip-heads you notice the stray dogs around here all have black bandannas tied around their necks. K9H must be close by. They're not big enough to be a gang, but they're definitely the most formidable posse around these parts, mostly cuz of their vicious little pets. Glancing around, you finally spot Donovan, their 15 year-old current leader and 6 other boys sitting on a second floor landing petting two barghests. Donovan's a moody motherfucker with a sadistic streak, but so far you haven't ever had a dog sic'ed on you. They haven't seen you four yet and the two of you wonder whether you should keep on going and potentially exchange a few words with them or turn off the Valley and take another route to Serafin's.
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*Aww drek!* thought Rat as he noticed the K9Hers. "Hounds on over watch, make yourself small" whispered the ork to his companions, subtly pointing towards Donovan with his eyes and chin. The last thing he wanted was to deal with THAT psycho, so he tried his best to be as invisible as possible in the crowd.
[spoiler]Sneaking - Agility 6 + Stealth 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/263671): 9d6t5 3 no glitches.[/spoiler]
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As the group of kids make their way through the dreary crowd in the slight drizzle, Xem makes no attempt to shield himself from it. He keeps Chaims heels in front of him and just sort of follows where they go, lost in thought of how to proceed after the crew was finished talking to Serafin. One thing he knows for sure is that whatever actions they take, for whatever gains promised, will also benefit Sarafin. There's no reason not to gain favor or reward from him as well in so doing. He speaks quietly to his friends as they move through the throng.
"When we speak to the man, play it like we just heard about the mugging through the grapevine and want to know how we can help. See if we can gain something from the victim as well as from the unveiling of his attackers, yes?"
Staying silent and thinking of all the people he knows who may be of service here, beyond the ones with him anyway, the strange waifish elf boy weaves his way through the streets. Hamm? No. If he's involved or calls those who are, friend, he won't receive the inquiry well. I can't lose my hookup. Mario doesn't concern himself with petty childrens muggings like this, but if worse comes to worse, I could visit him for general advice on the matter. Fuck Pharley. That piece of crap will be of no help today. Crunk is a longshot, but worth a try. He's one of those people who might know something about anything. Sydney... Now that old crow might know something, or at least be able to point me toward someone who does. I'd hate to owe that viper a favor though, and owe her I would, as i have nothing else to pay her with. Hmmmm... Schemes run through his head, leaving him giving even less of a shit about some kids with nasty dogs than he normally would, despite how clean they kept their bandanas. Secure in the knowledge that he and the crew he travels with have utterly nothing of value, he pays no heed to the potential danger. Rat seems to be paying heed though.
"Hounds on over watch, make yourself small"
With a grim face of determination, Xem speaks without looking Rat in the face. "I shall do no such thing."
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Werner sneaks a peek at where Rat indicated and finally noticed Donovan and his crew.
Damn, how'd I miss that but Rat didn't?
"I admire your courage Xem- but there's more of them then us and that ain't counting the mutts. If we cut across the other street we lose what? 2 minutes-tops."
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Rat and Werner try to coax Xem into exercising more caution with the K9Her's but he looks pretty determined to keep going forward down the Valley. Suddenly the growl of Barghet's alerts Donovan and brings him to his feet. The 2 awakened demonic beasts lean up against the balcony veranda and start barking and Donovan leans over to take a look, making eye contact with the four of you. Those two critters have never taken a liking to you and you have a gut feeling it's because the four of you are "different" and even if no-one knows it yet, these two awakened canines seem to smell it.
Donoven grabs them both by the chain an pushes them back down into a sitting position and they immediately obey. Turning back to you, the small-time posse leader hails you.
"What'chu doin' in these parts so early chummers? Your squat's up north."
(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRRvEKCoI4yjRbzqYJD0R1PQ0QStIG21UvVyEg5n357oDTEqI-Trg)
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Xem continues walking, neither looking at, nor speaking to the man up on the balcony.
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"W're just heading through, Donovan- looking for some food. We're hungry is all. No disrespect intended."
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Donovan looks down from the balcony and follows Xem with his gaze as he walks past without even acknowledging him.
"No offense taken from you Wern, but what's up with your other chummer? I hear a few people are looking for some boys this morning and word is Sarafin doesn't really care which ones....as long as four boys get the shaft real good. Some Cutters offered me a good price for any 4 kids I could provide. You and the others can go, but since Xem here is feeling so tough this morning, maybe he could make me some money if I hand him over?...."
The whole time he speaks at Werner his eyes are on Xem. The 5 other K9's start chuckling and the Barghests start getting feistier.
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Rat knew better than to come in between Wern and Donovan while they were talking. He did, however, wonder why Xem was acting so proud. *What the drek got into him today?*
Still, his instincts told the ork that they would be better off with the stubborn elf than without. "He's been sleeping out in the rain again Donovan, he's been acting stranger than a chiphead in need of a fix. Don't mind him, we'll just get him something to eat and he'll be back to normal, knowing where he stands" said Rat, turning to Xem and putting emphasis on the last part of his sentence.
[spoiler] Defaulting on negotiations: Negotiation: Cha 2 - Defaulting 1 (http://orokos.com/roll/264662): 1d6t5 1 lucky day for Rat I guess![/spoiler]
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"You and the others can go, but since Xem here is feeling so tough this morning, maybe he could make me some money if I hand him over?...."
With a manic grin that leaves him biting his own lower lip a bit, Xem stops walking and turns his head to face Donovan. He speaks slowly and happily, almost sing songey. The tone is rather unsettling.
"Maybe I could. But then I'm all used up, aren't I? And unable to make you any more money in the future. Just one tiny little sum and the skull goes SPLAT and then no more jing from little Xem. Such a shame." Xem has the strong suspicion that Hamm has been getting his supply of Jazz through Donovans people and that killing Xem would indeed cost him more money in the long game. However, his suspicion is equally strong that Donovan is not playing the long game. He leans his head to the side a bit, and blinks a few times waiting for a response. He knows full well the response may be a swift ass-kicking/biting/mauling/etc, but he knows it will not be the last on the path he walks. If black, blue, and red are to be my colors, I suppose I ought learn to wear them well.
-
Werner thinks to himself, Can Xem F-en count? There's Donovan plus 5, 2 huge (as in really huge) mastiffs, and who knows how many mutts down here. That's some serious can of whoop-ass. What's gotten into that boy. He's stranger than normal. Maybe I should speak to Rat later and find out if Xem has been using chips or drugs or something. Where he'd get the money for that drek, who knows.
"Look Donovan, you know we ain't gonna give you Xem- even if he is acting like a chip-head. In the end, you could kick our butts but me and Chaim are bigger than any one of you guys and you'll know you've been in a fight if it comes to that. Do you really want to go that route? Just go nab 4 kids from another neighborhood."
-
What kind of a jam is Xem trying to get our hoops in here? Always knew he was the craziest of us, but does he have to go and prove it all time on top of that creepy sitting in the corner thing he's always doing? Slot! Chaim cracks a smile, and tries to slow his heart. It's not working well. Regardless, he picks up his pace to try to catch up with Xem.
"Hoi, Donovan. You know this kid. He gets in his moods. No cause for bloodshed here. I'll sic my mom on 'im, wiz? Be just as cruel and a hellaofalot slower than anything you got planned, knowhatamsayin? We got nothing but respect for you. Nietzsche talks about just this thing. Fraggin' ressentimentis what we're looking at here. Ol' Xem here thinks he's acting the ubermensch, but if we really break it down on the Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomy, it's fraggin' obvious he's trying to be old Apollo, and the jungle here, this place is all wine and orgies, ya know? It's fucking will to power, and the kid may have the will, but he sure as drek don't have the power. Deep down, he knows that shit, Donavan. We know it too. I ain't askin' you to give him a pass, just, you know, let us take care of it the northside way, alright?"
Chaim isn't really sure what the hell he's talking about, but usually getting all philosophical on the street gangs gets them so fed up with hearing Chaim flap his gums that they give him a pass. He eyes Donavan with a smile and a shrug, hoping it'll take this time too.
[spoiler]Negotiation V. Donovan (http://orokos.com/roll/264700): 8d6t5 0
Well, that doesn't look good.[/spoiler]
-
Donovan looks to be weighing a few different aspects of the situation and remains silent for good 5 seconds. He looks at Chaim and knocks himself on the head as if to shake off some confusion.
"Wait...so what you're saying is that he's built a value system around himself designed to justify his own weaknesses by identifying the source of his frustration as objectively inferior?! Fuck. Poor guy. I really don't give a devil-rat's ass. That's what Jazz is for so make sure to dose him up real good, real soon."
Turning to Werner,
"Listen, I agree with ya buddy. I hate to do that to some poor kid who's just trying to get his feet off the ground in this fucked-up place. That's why I thought to myself, hey, we got plenty of addicts and chip-heads who are just taking up space here, maybe we kill two bird with one stone. Sarafin gets his payback while we help clean-up the Jungle."
It's almost amusing how Donovan talks. He's definitely latched on to some of the mannerisms he's seen real gangers or maybe even a couple of Yaks he runs errands for use and he juices them for everything he can while he speaks.
"So I gave Hamm a ping earlier this morning, seeing if he knew any addict kid-meat I could throw at the Cutters. From what I remember Xem, your name definitely came up."
He pauses and stares Xem down once more.
"Some friend your buddy Hamm is....but seeing as you really do have some people here that would actually miss you, I'll figure something else out."
Looking back at the rest of the group.
"Be careful out there this morning. Looks like you're not the only ones out there who are hungry."
He sits back down and starts petting one of his Barghests. You are free to proceed.
-
After another half a block, Xem finally speaks up again in a level, almost bored tone.
"While I have nothing but appreciation for your loyalty, I can speak for myself. None of your words dissuaded the man back there, only made him more likely to seek vengeance for the slight in private. It will be unfortunate if I'm forced to kill him over something as minor as walking down his street without sucking his cock in thanks for the privilege."
A few more steps and he adds, "And the Xem you see before you today is not an aberration. It is the true soul of the man, indeed. Fools like Donovan and the rest of his ilk will kneel before me in time."
The wheels in his head start slowly and silently turning again. Hmmmmmm... How can Hamm be made to pay for his disloyalty?
-
Werner gives Chaim a quick look and rolls his eyes.
He thinks to himself, At least it didn't break out into a brawl. Fraggin Xem- master of the universe.
-
"Whatever you say, chum" answers Rat to Xem. He didn't think anymore of it than that, as things always moved quickly in the Jungle and dwelling on the past was the best way to miss present opportunities. Still, he was relieved things hadn't turned for the worse. *Now, let's deal with Sarafin and see if we can't find those trid chips* thought the ork as they made their way to the stubborn man's shop.
-
The four of you head two more blocks south down the Valley until it becomes Ibleaf square. The massive Ibleaf tree in the center of the square juts majestically out of ground over 40m towards the sky and is one of the highest structures propping up the massive bio-plastic tarp covering the Jungle. More than 15m in diameter, a branchless trunk pushes up out of the ground turning half-ton cracked slabs of concrete on their side. How did it get there? Most people in the Jungle will rattle off:
"Ea'van the Bountiful blessed the Jungle with the Ibleaf tree and taught us how to make even the cracks in the sprawl streets flourish. She lives at the top and watches over us."
Who knows if that's true or not. Kubiak will ascend for days at a time to the top of the Ibleaf, but no one that you know has ever seen the peak for it is shrouded in foliage so dense that it is said not even microwave scanners have penetrated its depths.
From Ibleaf square you turn east and two blocks are soon standing in front of Sarafin's. The squat, smug little dwarf is in the middle of haggling with a middle-aged Amerind ork customer, Mrs. Kimimela, in front of his many tables filled with produce. When he sees you coming he just sells her what she wants for the price she asks and hurries her along and quickly calls over to where you are about 15m away.
"Hey kids, come over here, I got a question for ya!"
-
Chaim wills himself to keep his eyes off the tables full of goods, and approaches the dwarf dutifully. ""Hoi, Sarafin. What's biz?"
-
Staying near the rear of the group, and staying silent, the bony little elf with the crazy eyes tries to size up Sarafin before he gets too close.
[spoiler]What's he got on his mind? (Judge intentions. Cha 4 + Int 5) (http://orokos.com/roll/265492): 9d6t5 2[/spoiler]
-
Rat was a little startled by Sarafin's behaviour. The dwarf usually shooed the gang away, either with a broom or sometimes with something sharper. This made the ork wary of his position, fearful he was walking into a trap of some sort and looked for the signs of anything that was out of place.
[spoiler] Rat is looking around for anything that would indicate things are not as they seem. Perception 〜 Intuition 5 + Perception 4 + Specialization 2 + Hawk Eye 1 + Actively Looking 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/265648): 15d6t5 4 no glitches.[/spoiler]
-
Werner is just as confused by Sarafin's behavior as are the others. He hangs back a few feet just in case Sarafin whips out a weapon or something.
-
@Xem:
It's hard to read Sarafin's tense smile. His default mode is shady.
@Rat:
You look around and you only see a few other customers looking for the bananas that have the least number of brown spots. You do notice Sarafin quickly tap briefly on an ARO that you can't see.
@Everyone:
"You kids hungry? I got some day old bread and some fresh cheese that would sure hit the spot right now."
He reaches inside his vest and pulls out a metal flask.
"A little something to warm the spirits as well on this dreary day!"
His mouth broadens into a wide smile as he offers it to Chaim. Old Sarafin had more than enough cred and sported very visibly some decent dental work. Over half of his teeth had to be of gold or mercury filling.
"You kids heard anything about who might have run off with my hard earned merchandise? Kubiak's looking into it and I want to know if maybe you kids know something?"
[spoiler]OOC: If you haven't eaten this morning yet make a Body + Willpower (2) test to see if you have to eat or not. [/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]Hungry? (bod 2 + will 7) (http://orokos.com/roll/267155): 9d6t5 5
Not hungry, but Xem will take the food anyway.[/spoiler]
"You kids hungry? I got some day old bread and some fresh cheese that would sure hit the spot right now."
With a smile that attempts to be sincere, Xem says, "Thank you, Sarafin." before reaching out to take the bread and cheese from him. He then wraps them up in a piece of torn cloth hanging from his back pocket and places the small package in the small brown purse he carries with him. More than a few people have tried to correct him on the term "purse", Xem being a man and all, but he never cared much. It's a purse, and he's not so terrified of people thinking he's gay to do any mental gymnastics about it.
"A little something to warm the spirits as well on this dreary day!"
Again, Xem smiles, but this time shakes his head and raises one hand. "No thanks, not right now. Come nightfall, I may be back to take you up on your offer though, if it still stands?"
"You kids heard anything about who might have run off with my hard earned merchandise? Kubiak's looking into it and I want to know if maybe you kids know something?"
A thoughtful frown crosses his face as he speaks. "Unfortunately, no. I could be persuaded to look into it, though." His face changes suddenly to a hopeful and friendly smile as he glances back and forth at Rat, Chaim, and Werner briefly, then back to Sarafin, speaking sweetly. "I don't think any of us have any particular plans for today. Is the food and drink a down payment for the help or is it the full payment?"
-
The young ork wasn't one to refuse eating, but seeing as he noticed Sarafin had set off something before offering them the food made him suspicious. On the one hand he was hungry, but on the other, a piece of bread wasn't worth a beating or worse.
In the end, even though his stomach was telling him to take the food, Rat was too spooked to put it in his mouth and decided to pocket it for later, passing on the drink as well. The young delinquent listened to Xem make his offer and nodded at him when the elf looked back for approval.
[spoiler]Hunger 〜 Will 3 + Body 5 (http://orokos.com/roll/267272): 8d6t5 2 no glitches [/spoiler]
-
Sarafin keeps smiling but glances around a little impatiently before responding to Xem.
"I don't even care about who did it anymore. I really just want my merchandise back. Those trid-chips were a special delivery from a contact I have all the way in Touristville. If you could get the trid-chips for me by tonight I'll give you 20¥ each. How does that sound?"
-
"I don't even care about who did it anymore. I really just want my merchandise back. Those trid-chips were a special delivery from a contact I have all the way in Touristville. If you could get the trid-chips for me by tonight I'll give you 20¥ each. How does that sound?"
Thinking that Sarafin's pockets might be loosened a little bit more if he didn't actually have to take any money out of them, Xem responds to Sarafin. "How about fifty, but store credit?"
-
Seeing no one else getting zapped and pulled under one of the tables Chaim reaches out his hand and tears off a small piece of bread and cheese. The flask was risky, but with Sarafin seeming more interested in the merch than in the satisfaction of beating a street rat to a pulp, he figures it might be bad form to not take drink. He grabs the flask about the time Xem asks about store credit -- sharp guy, Xem could be when his pride wasn't on the line.
Chaim tips the flask slightly toward Sarafin, and raises his eyebrows, giving his best adult, do-we-have-a-deal? face.
-
Sarafin keeps looking around and then his eyes seem to fall on something not too far behind you and his nervous smile grows into a genuine one as he gives the flask to Chaim and shakes Xem's hand.
"Fifty....ok why not. We have a deal......"
You suddenly hear behind you the scraping sound of aluminum against concrete and Sarafin squeezes Xem's hand even tighter as the boy tries to pull away. Grimacing through clenched teeth the skeevy dwarf growls so that even the few customers turn around.
"More like the fifty swings with that baseball bat I'm gonna get in when my friends over there get done wiping the street with you. You fraggin kids wanna steal from me??!! Looks like you'll wind up paying for that merchandise after all!!"
Turning around you see Oakley, one of the most senior members of the Cutters and leader of their Clean-up Crew.
(http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/293/7/f/shadowrun__ork_portrait_by_obidancer-d83m59q.jpg)
He approaches with 4 other tattooed orks swinging more bats, chains and lead pipes and they're about 15m away. Oakley's bat grates along the floor as he drags it playfully, smiling in anticipation.
"Look what the cat just dragged in. I think we found our boys. Hoi lucky chummers. Hoi Sarafin. You mind holding that skinny one for me while I hit a home-run with his head?"
[spoiler]OOC: Roll initiative everyone.[/spoiler]
-
As soon as the dwarf grabs his right hand, Xem's knife is in his left. Seeing the armed men approach from the rear, he thinks about the only cover he has here. He pushes himself in close to Sarafin, which isn't difficult, already being held by him. With a crackling voice full of fury and madness, he whispers to the man, knife pressed against tender bits. "Release me this fucking instant and I shall allow you to keep your testicles!"
[spoiler]
Intimidate (Cha 4 + Skill 4 + Spec 2) (http://orokos.com/roll/268280): 10d6t5 2
What do I know about oakley? (Int 5 + Jungle knowledge 4) (http://orokos.com/roll/268270): 9d6t5 5
Still well under my mental limit.
EDIT: Actually, I guess this should have been an info: gangs roll, but with my spec in cutters, it's the same amount of dice either way.[/spoiler]
No matter what happens in the next few moments, this man's shop BURNS.
[spoiler]Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/268267): 1d6+10 11[/spoiler]
-
Rat, half-expecting something like this to happen, moves close to Sarafin, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
[spoiler] Initiative ~ 11 + 1d6 (http://orokos.com/roll/268321): 1d6+11 16
Also seeing if he knows anything about Oakley. Underworld Politics 3 + Int 3 (http://orokos.com/roll/268323): 6d6t5 2 no glitches.[/spoiler]
-
No sooner had Chaim taken a swig of what was in Sarafin's flask, than the dwarf's expression turned insidious. With a mouth full of liquor, Chaim's hands darted to the dagger tucked into his waist band.
[spoiler]Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/268989): 10+2d6 18
Info on Oakley (Gangs +Cutters Specialization) (http://orokos.com/roll/268990): 11d6t5 5
Mental limit is 6, so Chaim gets all 5 hits.
[/spoiler]
-
Werner reaches into his back pocket and pulls out the 4 shuriken the old china-man had given him to practice with. He hopes he doesn't have to use it but he knew full well the price of not defending yourself. It's how his father ended up six feet under- figuratively of course. Who knew where the body actually ended up.
[Spoiler]See what I know about the Cutters Know-Street: Gangs (Redmond Barrens Gang) 4(+2)
<a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4810172/">6d6.hits(5)=2</a> [/Spoiler]
-
[spoiler]OOC: Oakley's initiative: 7 + 1d6: 2 [1d6=2] = 9, other cutters initiative: 6+ 1d6: 1 [1d6=1] = 7. Rolling initiative for Werner: 9 + 2d6: 4 [2d6=2, 2] = 13[/spoiler]
@Chaim, Xem and Rat:
Rat's heard of Oakley but Chaim and Xem have actually seen Oakley go to work before. What he lacks in training he makes up for in brawn and cruelty. Oakley and his men don't usually employ the standard blades most Cutters wield because their job is more to punish than actual execution. Oakley especially hates insubordination and has a penchant for dwarven females.
@Werner:
The Cleanup Crew is a group of hard-ass ork Cutters who dedicate themsevles to debt collection and intimidation of civilians so that the warriors who are doing battle with other gangs can focus on what they do best.
@Xem:
Sarafin looks surprised at the crazy look that comes over your face and lets go.
@Everyone:
Oakley and the Cleanup Crew quicken the pace of their charge and are 5m away now.
[spoiler]OOC: the four or you can act first in the order that you're able to post.[/spoiler]
IP1, CT1: Chaim-18, Rat-16, Werner-13, Xem-11, Oakley-9, Cutters-7
Wounds:
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-3/3, Rat-1/1
-
Chaim momentarily ponders spitting Sarafin's liquor back at him, but decides that amid the chaos the chance for failure is too high for so little prospective reward. Instead, he draws two blades, snaps his head back to track Oakley's approach, and fires off a knife at the Cutter before circling around Sarafin with the hopes of flanking him, or maybe even pressing his knife to the poor bastard's throat if he's given the opportunity.
[spoiler]
Rat Disadvantage (CHA) + (WIL) (3) (http://orokos.com/roll/271960): 8d6t5 4
So Chaim is not forced to flee.
Simple: Ready Weapon (2 Knives)
Simple: Throw knife at Oakley
Throwing Knife V. Oakley (http://orokos.com/roll/271969): 11d6t5 3
Free: Move away from Oakley and to the other side of Sarafin
Chaim will use Riposte if he's attacked this pass.[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]OOC: Oakley's defense roll 8d6t5: 5 [8d6t5=5, 4, 5, 5, 1, 5, 6, 4]. The knife goes wide. Also forgot Sarafin's init: 7 + 1d6: 3 [1d6=3] = 10.
Keep posting.
[/spoiler]
Oakley's expression flashes from a grin to a look of utter surprise as he halts and ducks and Chaim's knife whirls over his head in an arc that is a little too perfect!
IP1, CT1: Chaim-18, Rat-16, Werner-13, Xem-11, Sarafin-10, Oakley-9, Cutters-7,
Wounds:
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-3/3, Rat-1/1
-
The young ork moved in closer to Sarafin, deciding to tie his faith to the dwarf's. If anybody was going to hit him, thought Rat, they might as well risk hitting their employer as well.
[spoiler]Rat will move close to Sarafin and try to subdue him, so as to give his companions an easier target and also to dissuade the Cutters from hitting him. Subduing 〜 Agility 6 + Close Combat 4 (http://orokos.com/roll/272142): 10d6t5 3 no glitches [/spoiler]
-
What the hell are these fools doing?!
Wisely, Sarafin releases his grip on the skinny little elf boy before he's forced to re-examine his sexuality. Not a flash of a second later, a knife flies through the air, which Oakley deftly avoids. Bad move. Then, Rat collides with the angry dwarf, trying to hold him and use him as a shield against Oakley and his boys. A better move, but still not a good one. Fearing this case of mistaken identity may spiral out of control VERY quickly, Xem shouts to the rest of the kids with him. "What the hell are you doing?! They think WE'RE the kids that robbed him! Run for it, guys!!!
Xem backs up about 10-15 feet, trying to put a little distance between himself and the group of combatants, but doesn't turn tail and sprint just yet. The deranged little jr wizard is not terribly adverse to physical pain and he really doesn't want to leave his allies behind, but he'll be damned if he sticks around to get someone else's assbeating.
[spoiler]Xem will use his move action to run (not sprint) up the street, away from the fight, a free action to speak, and hold the rest of his actions.[/spoiler]
-
[spoiler]OOC: Sarafin will go full D. 14d6t5: 5 [14d6t5=5, 1, 2, 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 5, 1, 1, 6, 6, 1]. Just Werner left to act.
[/spoiler]
Rat tries to reach around Sarafin's neck and restrain him but his small size allows him to duck down and twist away.
IP1, CT1: Chaim-18, Rat-16, Werner-13, Xem-11, Oakley-9, Cutters-7, Sarafin-0
Wounds:
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-3/3, Rat-1/1
-
[spoiler]OOC: Werner attacks: 12d6t5: 3 [12d6t5=4, 5, 4, 2, 2, 6, 6, 2, 1, 1, 4, 1]. Cutter defense:6d6t5: 1 [6d6t5=4, 3, 4, 1, 3, 5]. 10S incoming. Soak: 17d6t5: 4 [17d6t5=2, 3, 6, 1, 4, 4, 2, 5, 4, 6, 4, 2, 6, 4, 2, 1, 1]. Takes 6S.
Cutters attack. C1 attacks Rat, 8d6t5: 3 [8d6t5=6, 4, 4, 6, 6, 3, 2, 3]. C2 attacks Chaim: 8d6t5: 2 [8d6t5=5, 3, 3, 3, 1, 5, 1, 3]. C3 attacks Werner: 8d6t5: 5 [8d6t5=4, 3, 6, 6, 6, 5, 4, 5], kill 2 dice for wound, making it 4 hits . C4 attacks Xem: 8d6t5: 5 [8d6t5=5, 4, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 3], accuracy makes it 4 hits. Oakley attacks Werner: 8d6t5: 1 [8d6t5=3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3]. Everybody roll and IC defense.
Werner defends: 12d6t5: 4 [12d6t5=1, 6, 4, 1, 4, 3, 6, 2, 6, 5, 3, 1]. C3 misses, 11d6t5: 2 [11d6t5=6, 4, 1, 4, 4, 1, 4, 1, 5, 3, 3], C4 misses.
[/spoiler]
Werner is the closest of you to the swinging weapons and you all flinch at the beating the mama's boy is gonna get. As soon as the first Cutter comes within striking distance Werner suddenly focuses and you hear him utter a few words of chinese under his breath. You've heard that he's been training with Mr. Wong who lives on a 2nd floor flat, but you didn't expect what comes next. The young ogre is the size of a human 14 year old but he's a lot thicker and the explosive bicycle kick he lets loose with amazing dexterity startles you, but the Cutter on the receiving end of it just looks dumbfounded right before his head whiplashes back and his eyes get that punch drunk look. The woozy Cutter swings his chain desperately at Werner but the bicycle kicks was landed close to the ground and the it goes over his head. Oakley, seeing Werner's impressive kung fu, charges with his bat and brings it down hard on top of Werner head, but hits nothing but concrete as Werner is no longer in the same spot.
IP2, CT1: Chaim-8, Rat-6, Werner-3, Xem-1, Oakley-0, Cutters-0, Sarafin-0
Wounds: C3{6S}
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-3/3, Rat-1/1
-
[spoiler]OOC: C4 attacks Xem: 8d6t5: 5 [8d6t5=5, 4, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 3], accuracy makes it 4 hits.
[/spoiler]
[spoiler]
Jump back, away from the cutter (Rea 5 + Int 5) (http://orokos.com/roll/275968): 10d6t5 4
So Xem is hit with a glancing blow for no dmg, but I'm gonna roleplay it like he took a SERIOUS hit and just aint bothered by it, stats wise. I've always kinda imagined Xem being rather beat up most of the time) He'll also use the his held actions to attack the ork with his knife.
Cut the ganger with the bat. (Agi 6 + Blades 2) (http://orokos.com/roll/275970): 8d6t5 2
[/spoiler]
Oakley's clean-up crew is well trained. Fuck Fuck FUCK! is all the weedy little elf has time to think as the tall, thin ork with the nose ring and the blue mohawk comes charging at him. All it took to set him upon Xem was a nod in the right direction from Oakley. The scrappy little elf manages to blurt out "We aint the kids you're lookin for, FUCKER, BACK OFF!" before the aluminum bat at the end of that long, muscled, orkish arm raises up into the air, ready to cave skull. In the milisecond it takes to get into batting range, Xem can sees the look on the face of his assailant, and knows that this fucker enjoys his work too much to care who's who anymore.
BINK!!!
The pain from his face reminds Xem of learning to cast lightning. There had been a few miscasts while he was getting it right and the pain from some of the worse ones was not only intense, but unlike any kind of pain he'd ever felt before. An aluminum bat to the side of the head will also do that, as it turns out. Things go blurry and hazy for a moment, but the sight of the large ganger towering above him and raising that weapon to strike again is clear enough. Clear enough to propel the little elf forward, hoping to slip inside his attacker's guard and cut him somewhere where it will hurt for longer than his own face does.
-
Sarafin was used to these kinds of street brawls, but that didn't deter Rat from trying to get a hold of the dwarf once more. The ork was bent on catching the dwarf and making him change his mind. After all, if he could get him to call off the hired help without actually hitting him, Rat thought it would go a long way towards getting the street kids the task (and rewards) of finding the real culprits.
[spoiler] Going for another subduing. Subduing 〜 Agility 6 + Close Combat 4 (http://orokos.com/roll/276022): 10d6t5 3 no glitches.[/spoiler]
-
@Rat:
[spoiler]OOC: 13d6t5: 2 [13d6t5=4, 1, 3, 2, 1, 6, 2, 1, 6, 4, 2, 2, 3]. You got 1 net hit. Your Str is 7 so 8 beats his physical limit. [/spoiler]
As the Cutters enter the fray, Sarafin takes advantage of the chaos to slip between several of the orks and position himself 10m outside the scuffle. You break away from the fray and dive for Sarafin, tackling him and positioning yourself to get behind him in a choke-hold. He squirms like a little piggy but you have him fast.
@Xem:
[spoiler]6d6t5: 1 [6d6t5=1, 2, 1, 5, 3, 1]. Incoming is 4P, -1 AP. Soak: 16d6t5: 5 [16d6t5=6, 5, 2, 5, 2, 3, 2, 4, 6, 3, 2, 4, 1, 6, 2, 4]. No dam. You can try again next CT but that could initiate an intercept attack.
[/spoiler]
Your head still reeling you move in close to shank him and you poke him right in the ribs but something hard deflects your crude blade and you feel cold grow in the pit of your stomach. Cutters come to fights a little better prepared than chipheads and it's not so much the fear of how you kids will end up at the end of this fight that has you worried, but more a question of whether you'll come out of this fight with your secret still intact.
@Everyone:
[spoiler]OOC: Werner and Chaim act. [/spoiler]
Oakley and the Cutters seem to be quite taken aback by how viciously you fight back but they press on!
IP2, CT1: Chaim-8, Rat-6, Werner-3, Xem-1, Oakley-0, Cutters-0, Sarafin-0
Wounds: C3{6S}
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-3/3, Rat-1/1
-
Mr Wong always says to kill a snake you need to remove its head. Well here goes...
[spoiler] aim simple action followed by throw shuriken at Oakley... agi 6 + throw 4 + aim 1 = 11d6
http://orokos.com/roll/277322# 11d6h5: 1 [11d6h5=4, 3, 1, 1, 4, 2, 1, 2, 5, 1, 4] glitch [/spoiler]
Werner thinks to himself, Wow! Can't get any worse than that.
-
@Werner:
[spoiler]OOC: Since you're considered in melee with Oakley, ranged attacks take a -3. I'll take out 3 dice so that is 0 hits, but you didn't glitch. [/spoiler]
Oakley's in a bit to close for comfort and your shuriken whizzes right over his bald head.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66568711/SR%20shares/The%20Jungle/The_Jungle_Sarafin.jpg)
[spoiler]OOC: Chaim's turn.[/spoiler]
IP2, CT1: Chaim-8, Rat-6, Werner-3, Xem-1, Oakley-0, Cutters-0, Sarafin-0
Wounds: C3{6S}, Sarafin{subdued}
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-3/3, Rat-1/1
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[spoiler]Riposte (Blade ) 4 + (Specialization) 2 + (REA) 5 = 11 (http://orokos.com/roll/277860): 11d6t5 4
V. 2 hits from C2, that's 7P coming his way.
Chaim's Initiative drops to 1, but he still gets a second pass. Assuming it's ok to take that pass now, since only PCs get it.
Worried that another attack will kill this guy so Chaim will circle to the right, and head up so that he's closer to Oakley.
Free: Walk
Free: Con*
Free: Con*
Con v. Oakley (http://orokos.com/roll/277869): 11d6t5 3
This is maybe important enough to edge a re-roll
Con edge re-roll (http://orokos.com/roll/277870): 8d6t5 3
So 6 hits total.
I did not include the following modifiers, as I'm not sure how you want to play it, so adjust as you see fit.
NPC Hostile: -3, PC's desired result is desirable to NPC (Oakley has got to know that he's going to lose somebody here if fighting continues): +1, Subject is distracted: +1, PC has plausible evidence: +1 or +2. That would make for either a 0 overall dice pool mod, or a +1 depending.
*Con is defined in SR5 as both trying to "fool"and "manipulate" an NPC. Chaim is not lying, but he is trying to manipulate Oakley's way of thinking, so I thought that was more appropriate than Etiquette.
[/spoiler]
One of the Cutters approaches Chaim with a crude knife, and makes an even more crude thrust with it. Chaim waits for the ork to get closer, arms at his side and his palms outward, one holding his own crude knife. At the last moment, he steps to the right, and hooks the edge of his hand just behind the thumb of the charging ork, pulling him off balance so Chaim can bury his own blade in the ork's armpit. When the Cutter pulls back, Chaim circles around him toward Oakley, brandishing his now bloody knife in the big man's face as he says, "We look like the kinda mugs that'd gas a motherfucker? You think if we crossed Sarafin we'd settle for less than the whole haul? Wrong chummers, chummer."
-
[spoiler]OOC: C2 soaks 17d6t5: 6 [17d6t5=1, 5, 4, 5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5, 4, 4, 4, 1, 5, 5, 2, 5]. Takes 1S.
I'll use a held free action to have Oakley speak. Opposed con test:11d6t5: 2 [11d6t5=1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 3, 5, 1, 1, 2, 2]. You can still use free actions to talk, so even though he's started a conversation with you we'll stay in initiative.
Oakley's init: 1d6: 6 [1d6=6] comes out to 13. Cutters init: 1d6: 3 [1d6=3] comes out to 9. Sarafin's init: 1d6: 3 [1d6=3] comes out to 11. Everyone else roll init.
[/spoiler]
You draw a bit of blood from the Cutter but you also felt the resistance from the jacket and think to yourself that it must be armored. Nonetheless you try to bluff your way to convincing Oakley that the four of you are a real threat.
Oakley hesitates for a moment when he hears Werner's words and sees Rat tackle Sarafin. "Well that's just too bad then chummers. I'm sorry y' gotta take a beatin' for someone else, but the old dwarf is slottin us cred for any 4 kids and we're gonna deliver. That's the way of the Jungle, it's an ugly place, but someone has to bring order. Now let the dwarf go, take your licks, and then run-along and show your other little street-rats what happens when ya cross Cutter allies."
IP1, CT2: Chaim-?, Rat-?, Werner-?, Xem-?, Oakley-13, Cutters-9, Sarafin-11
Wounds: C2{1S}, C3{6S}, Sarafin{subdued}
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-2/3, Rat-1/1
-
Rat was even more determined to convince Sarafin to let them go now that he had heard what Oakley had said. The young ork said to the old dwarf "You got the wrong kids, old man. Call them off and we will help you find the ones that robbed you."
Not one to take chances anyways, Rat tried to tighten his grip on Sarafin, trying to lock him and make him see that he had the drop on him but he was going easy on him.
[spoiler] Initiative 〜 11 + 1d6 (http://orokos.com/roll/278392): 1d6+11 15 so since he's higher than anyone in the opposing party, I decided to go ahead and play his action anyways.
Subduing 〜 Agility 6 + Close Combat 4 (http://orokos.com/roll/278397): 10d6t5 1 not much of a roll, but at least no glitches. And I forgot the extra 2 die for the superior position. Superior position (http://orokos.com/roll/278398): 2d6t5 0 Didn't make much of a difference really :(
So Sarafin gets to oppose that attack, and any net hits he gets will break the hold really. All he needs to do is score 2 or more hits and he breaks free.[/spoiler]
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@Rat:
[spoiler]OOC: 8d6t5: 4 [8d6t5=6, 3, 6, 1, 3, 1, 5, 6]. Sarafin breaks free.[/spoiler]
The squirming dwarf gets dirty and bites your hand, you flinch and try to hold on but it's enough time for him to slip out and he starts running towards Oakley.
IP1, CT2: Chaim-?, Rat-15, Werner-?, Xem-?, Oakley-13, Cutters-9, Sarafin-11
Wounds: C2{1S}, C3{6S}
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-2/3, Rat-1/1
-
"Well Oak-chum...you picked on the wrong 4 kids."
[spoiler] initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/278558): 9+2d6 14
Btw, I'll delay to let Oakley swing at me first and use my counterstrike maneuver. [/spoiler]
-
"Now let the dwarf go, take your licks, and then run-along and show your other little street-rats what happens when ya cross Cutter allies."
Xem is bringing his arm back to stab at his foe again, hoping for a cleaner strike this time, but fearful the armor, plus the size of the ork, minus how tiny and weak Xem himself is will equal another failure. He hears Oakley responding to Werner and he's too enraged to think clearly so he just keeps on stabbing, blind with rage to the fact that his weak blows will likely amount to nothing. Doesn't matter much though. If he WERE thinking rationally, he'd quickly see the futility in fighting, but insist on going down swinging anyway. He screams in rage as he tries to slip his blade between two plates of his opponent's armor jack.
[spoiler]Rage stab!!! (Agi 6 + Blades 2) (http://orokos.com/roll/278565): 8d6t5 2
heh, same as last time.
Initiative rnd 2 (http://orokos.com/roll/278566): 1d6+10 12[/spoiler]
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[spoiler]Initiative (http://orokos.com/roll/278487): 10+2d6 15
Free: Speak
Complex: Charge attack Oakley
Charge Attack V. Oakley (http://orokos.com/roll/278490): 16d6t5 2
Awful roll.
[/spoiler]
"We haven't crossed the Cutter's allies yet, chummer. Speaking of which, we'd be worth a lot more to ya that way, than whatever Sarafin's slotting,"
To emphasize his point, Chaim rushes forward, but nicks his toe against an errant glob of pavement. His balance is thrown off, but Chaim aims as well as he can for Oakley's arm.
-
[spoiler]OOC: C4 defense against Xem's stab: 6d6t5: 3 [6d6t5=5, 5, 1, 4, 5, 2]. Misses. Oakley's defense against Chaim 8d6t5: 3 [8d6t5=4, 6, 4, 5, 6, 1, 4, 4]. Misses.
C3 is going to spend -5 init in order to do an intercept action against Chaim: 9d6t5: 2 [9d6t5=5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 6, 2]. Damage base for baseball bat hit is 9P. C2 will also take a -5 init to make an intercept since you're leaving melee from him: 9d6t5: 4 [9d6t5=4, 5, 5, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 1]. Same 9P base damage.
Oakley takes a swing at Werner: 9d6t5: 3 [9d6t5=3, 6, 3, 1, 3, 1, 6, 1, 5].
Werner do Counterstrike, that will place you after the Cutters this IP. Xem's turn now.
[/spoiler]
As Chaim charges Oakley, two of the Cutters take advantage of his distraction and swing at him. This causes him to miss his attack and Oakley swings back hard at his torso.
IP1, CT2: Chaim-15, Rat-15, Oakley-13, Xem-12, Sarafin-11, Cutters-9, Werner-7, C2-4, C3-4.
Wounds: C2{1S}, C3{6S}
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-2/3, Rat-1/1
-
[spoiler]
Original intention was for Chaim to circle around far enough to the right to avoid getting swung at twice. If there was not enough movement at his disposal, fair enough.
Defense Test C3 (http://orokos.com/roll/279019): 10d6t5 2
Glancing hit.
4 hits v. C2 is nasty. Gonna pre-edge.
Defense Test C2 -1 with pre-edge (http://orokos.com/roll/279021): 12d6h5 2
2 net hits.
Soak (http://orokos.com/roll/279023): 3d6t5 0
Chaim takes 11P and is dying.
[/spoiler]
As Chaim rushes toward Oakley, two of the leader's allies step in to head him off. The first telegraphs his swing just enough that Chaim can turn his shoulder away from the blow and it whiffles by him. The ork Chaim had just just cut, on the other hand, approaches from the rear and cracks him hard on the base of his skull. The young elf collapses in a heap at Oakley's feet.
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[spoiler] http://orokos.com/roll/279391# 12d6h5: 5 [12d6h5=[6, 2], 4, [6, 6, 5], 3, 3, 5, 4, 4, 2, 1, 2, 4] Base Damage 8S [/spoiler]
Seeing Chaim collapse, Werner swings with all his might at Oakley.
-
@Werner:
[spoiler]OOC: Oakley defense: 6d6t5: 1 [6d6t5=2, 5, 1, 3, 4, 3]. 12S incoming. Soak: 18d6t5: 3 [18d6t5=3, 5, 3, 3, 2, 2, 4, 6, 4, 1, 2, 4, 2, 5, 1, 1, 3, 4]. He takes 9S. It's enough to knock him down. I"ll roll to see if he can hold on to his weapon. Reaction + Agility (3) test: 9d6t5: 2 [9d6t5=4, 1, 6, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1]. He drops it. Xem's turn. [/spoiler]
The THUNK sound Oakley's baseball bat makes when it connects with Chaim's head is sickening and the little spatter of blood which you feel sprinkle on your face is even worse. The widening, tusk-bearing smile which starts to widen over the leader of the Cleanup Crew as the elf crumples to the ground causes the hairs on your neck to stand on end. The "kiaaaay" starts in your belly and pushes itself out as you leap into the air and knee Oakley right in the face. The knee upper cut literally lifts him almost a foot off the ground and his bat flies from his hands as he lands on his back with the wind knocked out of him.
IP1, CT2: Chaim-15, Rat-15, Oakley-13, Xem-12, Sarafin-11, Cutters-9, Werner-7, C2-4, C3-4.
Wounds: C2{1S}, C3{6S}, Oakley{9S}
Edge: Werner-1/1, Xem-1/1, Chaim-1/3, Rat-1/1
-
That fucking fool! We could've outrun them! Seeing Chaim go down had been almost as surprising as seeing just how effective he was in a fight. Xem could only hope the big oaf would survive the day. The thought of turning tail and running still seems like a good idea to Xem, but he's still so tangled up with this armored bat-wielding asshole that he's afraid to stop fighting. He's pretty sure that if he did, he'd end up on the pavement faster than Chaim had. Instead, he continues to let his boundless rage run free and do what it wishes with his body. And what it wants to do is stab and slash and tear at this motherfucker that had the nerve to lay a hand on him, regardless of how ineffective it may be.
[spoiler]Crazed stabbing (Agi 6 + Blades 2) (http://orokos.com/roll/280929): 8d6t5 1[/spoiler]
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@Xem:
[spoiler]OOC: C4 defense: 6d6t5: 3 [6d6t5=5, 2, 6, 2, 5, 4]. [/spoiler]
You keep on slashing desperately at the Cutter with your shank, but you are dealing with a gang that makes their name as masters of blades, which thankfully you see they are not using on you today.
@Everyone:
Oakley props himself up on his elbow his hand clutched around his mouth trying to catch some of the blood. He spits on the concrete trying to speak. "Fuck! *gurrgle*" He spits some more and props himself up higher. "I don't know who you kids are, and we ain't gonna forget what just happened." He raises his hands and the Cutters immediately freeze and stand down. He turns toward Sarafin "But we're done for today, they learned their lesson." Sarafin nods and Oakley turns back towards you. "I'll count to 10 and I want ya'll to scurry back to the little devil-rat hole you came out of. Go bury your friend and we'll call it even for now. 1......2......"
[spoiler]OOC: if you don't get Chaim medical attention soon he'll die. You don't know how much more time he has. We're putting initiative on hold until you decide whether you want to stay and fight, or book it.[/spoiler]
-
Rat wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth, so, without saying anything, he got down on one knee and took Chaim's body in his arms. His friend, limp and warm, unsettled the ork, but he didn't want to let Sarafin nor the Cutters know. All things considered, this was the best time for the young gang to leave the scene and lick their wounds, so Rat simply ran away as fast as he could, as Chaim's life depended on them making their way quickly to some form of medical attention.
-
"...3.....4....5....." Oakley keeps on counting as Rat respectfully picks up Chaim, looks at the team beckoningly, and starts running back towards the Valley.
-
As the massive ganger backs off, Xem is left standing hunched over, weaving back and forth on his feet, blood dripping down the side of his face from the knot that is rapidly growing and turning purple. His chest heaves with labored breath and his knuckles holding the knife are white. He doesn't even glance at Oakley or the ork before him as Oakley counts out his warning. He stares straight at Sarafin with a burning hatred in his eyes. Before he turns to leave, he lets one thought drift through his head as he glares at the dwarf.
From here on out, I steal from no one else but you.
He spits a small mouthful of blood at the street, near mohawk's feet before turning and bringing up the rear of the group, carrying that badly beaten and unresponsive Chaim. Turning his head to look at the dwarf one last time before they go, he sees Sarafin slapping hands with Oakley, a smile on his face. Once the group is a block or so away, he grumbles to the rest of the kids with him, "Sarafin is going to pay. Dearly."
-
Werner backs away while facing the gangers for about ten paces. He then turns and hurries after his friends.
He thinks to himself, Wiz, I hope Chaim makes it.
-
Rat ran as fast as he could, carrying Chaim's body. The ork hoped his friend could hang on long enough for them to make it to his street doc. The busy streets didn't help, but most of the time people got out of the way or were unintentionally shoved to the ground like rag dolls. The ork didn't even bother looking behind to make sure his other companions were following him; he was focused on getting the limp elf he had in his arms to some medical attention and nothing else mattered or even existed at the moment.
Turning the corner, Chaim almost slipped out of Rat's hands. Something warm and slippery was now covering the young ork's hands, making his grip less and less reliable on his friend's body, a small trail of blood left behind indicating where they had been.
-
Even carry the elf didn't seem to slow down Rat. As Werner ran after them, he only slowly made up the distance between them. He didn't bother yelling at Rat as he figured he knew where he was going.
-
Noticing the determined pace Rat was keeping, despite carrying Chaim's broken, twisted, and bleeding body, Xem figures the Ork probably has a destination. No one with that look of purpose is just running aimlessly. Xem picks up his pace a bit to catch up with him. Huffing and puffing a bit from the physical exertion, he pants to Rat, "Where are we going? Do you know a Doc?" Then, after a second or two, he adds, "If you tell me where we're headed, I might know a shortcut."
-
Rat was running as fast as he could and didn't even hear Xem's first question. Once he mentioned a shortcut, the ork simply shouted a "What?" After Xem repeated his question, Rat said between rapid breaths "Yes, a doc... close to the noodle shop... on Boulder street... behind the bunraku place..."
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Doc Robinson is a human low-level street doc that occasionally relies on Rat to procure a few different "harder to get" medications but over time he has taken a liking to the young ork. His typical work day consists mostly of diagnosing STD's and giving out anti-biotics being next to a bunraku parlor and all. Sure he'll patch up the occasional ganger but he's not equipped for serious trauma surgery. That much is apparent when the three of you enter his basement level clinic and place Chaim's broken body on a couch in the waiting room.
"What the fuck Rat? He's bleeding all over the place. " He quickly motions for you to move him over to a slab on the other side of the badly lit room. He turns on an intense over-head lamp that makes Chaim's head injury look far worse than it did outside. You think you even see a bit of grey flesh underneath all the blood.
"Listen, I'll do what I can, but first of all, do you kids even have any cred??"
-
"Listen, I'll do what I can, but first of all, do you kids even have any cred??"
Mercenary as I hoped he'd be.
"Between the four of us, I doubt if we have a hundred." Xem stares, unblinking and crazy eyed at the doctor.
-
Doc Robinson scratches his head. "Ok Rat, I'll do what I can, but you owe me one."
He tells everyone to back up and sit in the waiting room while he opens an overhead cupboard and feels around until he pulls out a dusty medkit.
[spoiler]OOC: Doc Robinson's stabilization roll. 9d6t5: 4 [9d6t5=3, 6, 5, 6, 1, 5, 4, 3, 2]. Succeeds. Now a medicine roll: 7d6t5: 3 [7d6t5=5, 6, 2, 3, 5, 1, 2]. He heals 1 point which leaves him with still a full physical track. Because of the severity of the head wound, I'll rule Chaim can't quite start healing yet until he sees more professional care. [/spoiler]
.....After about a nerve wracking hour Doc Robinson comes through the door wiping sweat from his forehead with a bloody glove.
"I got some good news and I got some bad news kids. Good news is you're elven buddy is stable, the bad news is that aside from that I can't really do anything more for him. His anatomy, it's just different from what I'm used to.....I have no idea what the extent of the damage to his brain is. It could take him hours to wake up, days, or who knows, maybe never if he doesn't receive the proper care. There's only one person in the Jungle who I think can help someone like him......
He clears his throat for a moment and the expression on his face softens...
"...Kubiak."
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Rat's heart sank when Doc mentioned Kubiak. Having his friend on a fine line between life and death was already a lot to shoulder, but to have to turn to Kubiak the "prophet" was the salt on the wound. "Can we keep him here while we work something out with Kubiak?" asked the ork, looking at his friends for moral support if nothing else.
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Doc Robinson looks down at the floor rather flustered. "Listen Rat, I want to keep helping you out and all, but I have no idea who did this to him and ...... well.....he's just not normal. I've seen elves like this and maybe you don't know, but someone's got to tell you. .....He's got all the physical signs I've seen once or twice before of someone who's paranormal." He looks up again trying to be as nice as he can about it.
"That's just too much heat for me to sit on and since you don't have the amount of cred that would make me feel more secure, I'm gonna have to ask you to get him out of here.....sorry man. Let's just call it even, you don't owe me nothin.....but I need you out soon before the wrong people come looking for him."
He motions to the door and speaks as if he's reciting a mantra:
"Take the elf to the foot of the Ibleaf tree and if healing is what he deserves, Ea'van will notice."
-
Xem listens as Rat converses with the doctor. He takes note of the mention that Chaim is awakened and he's not happy about it. A doctor who cares nothing for the privacy of his patients... Noteworthy. I'll have to remember this man.
"That's just too much heat for me to sit on and since you don't have the amount of cred that would make me feel more secure, I'm gonna have to ask you to get him out of here.....sorry man. Let's just call it even, you don't owe me nothin.....but I need you out soon before the wrong people come looking for him."
Butting into the conversation, with a tone of voice reminiscent of the teacher's pet, answering a question before anyone else, he announces happily, "One of Oakley's boys hit him with a bat! From behind, too; sucker punching coward-ass cutters. Not before he laid that motherfragger OUT with some kinda amazing kung fu move though!" He turns to Rat and Werner, "Did you guys know that Chaim knew kung-fu?!" Then, turning his attention back to the doctor, "I didn't know Chaim knew kung-fu." With no bridge between the old and the new whatsoever, Xem's entire manner changes in the blink of an eye. Now, stroking one of his strange, near dred lock bits of hair and speaking slowly like some high educated, pretentious European art-dealer, he says, "You must forgive me, but I don't so much trust in the generosity of others at the moment. You have been kind and noteworthy, but...
If there were some way you could be persuaded to keep him here for just an hour or two while we seek more a permanent place for him to convalesce... "
He can see the doctor inhaling to speak, and he fears the answer will be negative despite his best attempts to sway the man with words. Quickly, before Doc can form the words, Xem offers a second solution. "... Or, if you could be persuaded to use some sort of drug on him, so that he's at least conscious and stands out less in the jungle out there... I'm certain that this awakened and martially trained elf here on your table would be extremely grateful to you for all you've done. He might even feel like he owes you something; alot of these 'kung-fu' types do, you know..."
[spoiler]Whaddayasay? (Cha 4 + Negotiate 2) (http://orokos.com/roll/284463): 6d6t5 4
Holy crap, THAT'S a freakin' ROLL.[/spoiler]
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"You had a run-in with Oakley!? I won't tell anyone about your friend's little secret, but you know the Cutters are looking far and wide for wizkids and others with even an ounce of the talent. I keep my eye on the Jungle's matrix chatter and from the sound of things, they feel quite out-mojo'ed against the power of Ea'van that Kubiak and his followers wield and they won't make a move until they feel confident enough that they can hold their own against it. The peace Kubiak has worked hard to build isn't as stable as most in the Jungle think. I can't afford to get involved."
author=Poindexter link=topic=20003.msg370134#msg370134 date=1430862834]
"... Or, if you could be persuaded to use some sort of drug on him, so that he's at least conscious and stands out less in the jungle out there... I'm certain that this awakened and martially trained elf here on your table would be extremely grateful to you for all you've done. He might even feel like he owes you something; alot of these 'kung-fu' types do, you know..."
[spoiler]OOC: Doc's negotiation roll: 7d6t5: 2 [7d6t5=4, 5, 3, 1, 5, 1, 3]. Chaim is at a full physical meter still so he'll give you a rating 4 stimpatch to use on him to help once he is healed. [/spoiler]
"I'm telling you, if he was a normal elf, maybe I could do more, but I mostly give out antibiotics to gangers who've got the clap." He reaches in his coat and pulls out a flat little square that looks to have some circuitry on one side and adhesive on the other.
"Here take this, it's called a stimpatch. Even if Kubiak can heal him with the power of Ea'van, he's gonna feel like shit for a while and it might help. You might also need it if the Clean-up crew finds you and gives you some more licks. Oh, and don't be giving it away, it's expensive."
-
Great! At least Chaim's not gonna die in the next minute. But man- Kubiak? Geez. Mother is not going to like this if she hears about it.
"I guess we better get going guys... we have a 'prophet' to go see. You want me to take a turn carrying him, Rat or are you ok?"
-
"We need to find Junior right away then" said Rat, as he took Doc's gift, thanking him. "Null sweat, I got him" answered the ork to Werner as he cautiously took Chaim's body in his arms once more and headed back out the makeshift clinic.
-
"You had a run-in with Oakley!? I won't tell anyone about your friend's little secret, but you know the Cutters are looking far and wide for wizkids and others with even an ounce of the talent. I keep my eye on the Jungle's matrix chatter and from the sound of things, they feel quite out-mojo'ed against the power of Ea'van that Kubiak and his followers wield and they won't make a move until they feel confident enough that they can hold their own against it. The peace Kubiak has worked hard to build isn't as stable as most in the Jungle think. I can't afford to get involved."
You mean you fear to get involved. Not only are you free with personal information, but also a coward, but at least you are brave enough to wear them outwardly. Few cowards do. Xem listens to the doctor speak, his crazy, bloodshot eyes never blinking nor breaking their lock with his, despite one of them being nearly closed due to swelling.
"I'm telling you, if he was a normal elf, maybe I could do more, but I mostly give out antibiotics to gangers who've got the clap. Here take this, it's called a stimpatch. Even if Kubiak can heal him with the power of Ea'van, he's gonna feel like shit for a while and it might help. You might also need it if the Clean-up crew finds you and gives you some more licks. Oh, and don't be giving it away, it's expensive."
After giving the moment juuuuust long enough for Rat to reach for it, Xem finally reaches forward in a flash of motion from his bony arm, snatching the patch from the doctor's outstretched hand the way a stray dog would do with a piece of meat from a person it didn't trust yet. Still in one motion, the crazy-eyed little elf turns and walks out the door while pocketing the stim, leaving only a "Bring him along, friends!" to Rat and Werner.
-
For a second there while he was snatching the stimpatch Xem seemed like some sort of feral animal to Werner. And then as he bolts out the door he again appears to be just a skinny little elf child.
Man, the adrenaline surge must be playing tricks with my mind.
Werner motions to Rat and follows after Xem.
-
Keeping to the upper levels of scaffolding in order to avoid the eyes of pedestrians on street-level, the four of you start huffing it again toward Ibleaf square trying to be as gentle as you can with your limp friend. Managing to avoid most eyes you finally descend and reach the majestic foot of the Ibleaf tree.
Looking up into the foliage the sun, filtered through the grey translucent tarp glints iridescent as the leaves slowly sway to and fro on a soft breeze only they seem to feel. Rat called Junior with his survival knife as you left Doc Robinson's street clinic and the young cyclops came through for you. He sits there on a root waiting and as soon as you arrive he runs over and takes a look at Chaim.
"Boy-o-boy chummer, he's in bad shape. Who did this to him? We're gonna have to take him to Kubiak fast."
He places a comm-call and then tells you to follow him. Just before you get underway with him he pauses for a moment.
"Does this have anything to do with Sarafin?"
-
Already annoyed they had to seek help, and had to reach out to Kubiak on top of that, Rat simply decided to let out a "What does it matter?" to Junior's question. He tried to stay as calm as he could, for the sake of their friend, but this question the young Junior had asked grated on Rat's nerves.
-
Werner eyes Junior for a second before replying.
"If you really want to know it was Oakley and the Cutters. Sarafin wanted blood and didn't care if it came from the guilty or the innocent. I'm not to happy at the moment. Rat seeems to be even less happy than I am. I suggest for everyones sanity and well being we just get to Kubiak now."
Werner thought to himself, Feel like bopping Junior over the head. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have gone seen Sarafin in the first place and Chaim wouldn't be in this mess.
-
The urgency of the situation begins to set in for Junior and he almost starts running as he leads you into an old 5 story office building right next to Ibleaf square. Most of the windows are broken and graffiti figures more prominently than any old rusted logos. You follow Junior in the first floor and the inside looks just as dilapidated as out but an elevator at the far end of what once was a lobby seems to looks somewhat cared for but you're still surprised it works as it takes you up to the top floor.
As soon as the elevator stops and the sliding doors creak back open, the four of you feel something you've never quite felt before. The hallway in front of you is dimly lit by soft candle-light and the hair on the back of your neck begins to stand on end. You struggle to keep your thoughts straight but they're rushing by at an unbelievable speed. Each of you has felt the soft caress of mana, some of you in your muscles and senses, others at the command of your fingertips, but this is so much more powerful and makes it a little difficult to concentrate.
As you pass various open doors you see followers dressed similarly to Junior in their simple grey ponchos and facial tattoos with unknown meanings. Many of them are running between rooms and they don't seem to notice you as they tend to various sick people. You even recognize a few of the older Jungle citizens laying on different cots or on mats on the floor. The vibrations of energy at times grow so strong that they even manifest visually as streamers of multicolored light. A double door which at one time may have been the entrance to a board-room stands in front of you and Junior pushes it open and asks you to wait for a moment. He quickly comes back out and motions for you to enter. The scent of incense wafts toward your face and the pulse of music thumps in your chest and inside you see the room is filled with crooked bookshelves and oaken desks and the walls and blackened windows are covered with talismans and crystals. In the center stands a man who looks very concentrated with sunglasses that seem out of place given the dimness of the whole floor. In his arms is cradled a small ape which he treats with much care. He takes his attention away from the streamers of light which he is twisting and molding with his hands and turns towards you.
(http://i65.servimg.com/u/f65/14/55/82/16/lms_ab10.jpg)
"Bring him in and place him on the floor in between those four candles. We'll save the introductions for when he is safe again."
While you lay Chaim in between the candles he puts the ape down and it quickly pounces and climbs its way to a higher perch. He removes his gloves and nods to Junior and the young cyclops goes over to a shelf and retrieves a balm which he begins to rub over Chaim's face and head. The strange man concentrates for a moment with his palms pressed up against your friend's temples. All the streamers of light floating in the room begin to swirl and slowly seep into the wound in Chaim's head and as the last streamer gets sucked in, the elf's eyes pop open. The man lets go of his temples and reaches around his under-arm to help Chaim up who is blinking wildly confused. He smiles and turns back towards you.
"Ea'van has looked favorably on this one today. Perhaps because she has a purpose for him. Maybe she has a purpose for you as well....." He puts his gloves back on, presses a button on his commlink which tops the music and and reaches his hand out to you as he still holds Chaim upright.
"I am Kubiak and it is a great pleasure to meet you. I was told you have a problem with the Cutters and I am curious to see how we could help each other out."
[spoiler]OOC: Chaim is at full health for physical track. Oh, and Background count is 2 aspected towards Ea'Van.[/spoiler]
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[spoiler]What do I know about Ea'van? (Int 5 + Magical threats 4) (http://orokos.com/roll/287916): 9d6t5 3[/spoiler]
"Ea'van has looked favorably on this one today. Perhaps because she has a purpose for him. Maybe she has a purpose for you as well....." He puts his gloves back on, presses a button on his commlink which stops the music and and reaches his hand out to you as he still holds Chaim upright.
The disheveled little elf boy doesn't like the lofty attitude this guy is giving off. Something about the way he talks, or dresses, or carries himself; he doesn't know what it is, but Xem doesn't like this guy. He stays near the rear of the group and only pipes up when the human starts talking about purpose. "Thanks, but I've already got my own purpose," he spits out while chewing on his left thumbnail.
"I am Kubiak and it is a great pleasure to meet you. I was told you have a problem with the Cutters and I am curious to see how we could help each other out."
There's that fucking word again. Xem is getting really tired of help, giving, receiving, and even just hearing about it. There is no true help in this world. If someone does something for you, it's because they believe you'll do something for them. Either that, or they believe you won't do something to them. But these are thoughts best suited for another time. For now, there are matters to set straight. He adopts a tone and mannerism of an old timey preacher, but sort of spastic, like he was on Novacoke. "No sir! The fault in action and deed lies not with the Cutters. No! For they are but a gang of base creatures who do what they do for mere money. No sir, the problem lies firmly in the lap of the merchant named Sarafin. Twas his word that spoke false witness to the gang of brutes! Twas his coin that lines their coffers in exchange for our assault! Twas his very hand that reached for my own under the false guise of trust, only to grasp it in combat! Oh yes in-deedy-DO! If there is a debt to be paid, it shall be paid by that dirty motherfucker, or by none!"
He stops and gasps, realizing he's barely been breathing, his rage growing so fierce in his heart. His gaze stays firmly on Kubiak as he regains his breath though. His grey/white hair has started to clump up from the blood in the ends and it really makes him look like some crazed hobo, twice his actual age.
-
Rat had seen similar setups in his young life, from various hustlers and con men in the Barrens, but he was truly impressed by the results. It had seemed to him that Chaim's wounds had closed themselves, and the elf had come back from the brink of death without any other assistance. The ork went over to Chaim and quickly examined him, looking for any signs of procedure on his body or medical tools around.
Rat was truly amazed; he couldn't explain how his buddy had miraculously recovered except than to say that it was genuinely magic. The young ork had felt a tingling sensation on his neck ever since they had arrived on the floor, but this was something else. He simply muttered a "How did you...", looking at Kubiak in somewhat amazement. Of course he had heard of magic before, but he had never actually seen anything like what had just happened.
Of course this didn't change anything in Rat's eyes. If anything, it made Kubiak even more suspicious than before: why would someone with a genuine gift for magic stay in the Barrens? Why wouldn't he just fly away to any better part of Seattle?
Listening to Xem, Rat had to agree with the scrawny elf. "Yeah, this whole pile of drek rests solely on Sarafin's shoulders. The old bastard will pay for this."
-
Werner thought about it for a second. Maybe it was his earlier experience living in an arcology, or some other instinct, but he figured that you always at least listen to an offer.
"While I agree with you my friends that Sarafin need to be punished as the instigator of this, Oakley knew damn well we weren't the thieves when he attacked us.I say we hear what the man has to say before dismissing it out of hand."
Werner thought to himself, Hopefully Xem wouldn't go all sideways because I didn't fully agree with him. Sometimes I think that boy is schizophrenic or something-there are moments that he seems to hear voices no one else can. And then again, there's moment when he seem too bright for a kid that started in the Barrens and didn't have any corporate or even public education.
Without waiting for a response from his friends, "Well go on sir- how can 'WE' help each other."
-
In one moment Chaim was rushing toward Oakley, knife held at the ready. He remembers an errant piece of concrete catching his toe, throwing him off balance, and then a baseball bat that came swiping against his jacket, and then he was falling. He doesn't remember the sight of the ground coming up to meet him, but he remembers the sensation. He remembers feeling where the ground should have been, but he kept falling, as if he was falling right through it, as if at any moment he would hit, but it never happened, the ground never came. There he was, limbs locked, waiting for his head to knock concrete, so he could stand up again, and finish was Oakley and his boys, but most importantly Sarafin had started. All he needed to do was hit the ground, so he could get back back up, look Oakley in the eyes, and run that fragger through.
And then he's on his back, looking up at . . . Kubiak? Immediately Chaim recognizes that he's not down at Sarafins. He's inside for one. And the air feels different, and Kubiak wouldn't be out at Sarafin's anyway, right? Still, he bolts up, seizes a knife from around his ankle, and sits up to put eyes on Oakley. Instead, he's met with the incredulous eyes of his friends. Their expressions betray residual fear, concern, amazement maybe.
The talking going on around Chaim doesn't make much sense to him. "Sarafin's gotta pay? Pay for what? What pile of drek are you chummers talking about?"
The way that everyone is looking at him makes Chaim very uncomfortable. Quickly he figures that he must have been knocked out, but he feels fine. He's had worse from the punk kids down at school, and they were just swinging fists. "Come on, guys. I was just out for a second. You guys are looking at me like I'm bleeding out my ears or sumin."
-
Rat looks at Chaim with a mix of disbelief and surprise. "That chummer must've hit you hard, omae, because you seem to've forgotten what happened. You were out cold on the street, I think you even pissed yoself back there. Kubiak's magic fingers brought you back from hell" said the ork, wiggling his fingers in Chaim's face, trying to disgust him.
-
"Sarafin's gotta pay? Pay for what? What pile of drek are you chummers talking about?"
With a motherly tone and a gentle and kind manner, the crazy little elf speaks warmly to the risen hero. "Don't worry, Chaim. It will all come back to you." He reaches a hand out to help his friend up. It is good to cultivate to loyalty of a warrior such as this, early on.
"Come on, guys. I was just out for a second. You guys are looking at me like I'm bleeding out my ears or sumin."
Xem chuckles a bit. "You were indeed bleeding from your ears." He beams, showing his crazily uneven teeth as he does. The weird little fucker is clearly enjoying the humor of the situation. "From your mouth as well!"
-
"I think you even pissed yoself back there.
"Nah, chummer, that ain't me," Chaim says standing up, and then looking down. "Ahh fuck, what happened?"
Xem chuckles a bit. "You were indeed bleeding from your ears." He beams, showing his crazily uneven teeth as he does. The weird little fucker is clearly enjoying the humor of the situation. "From your mouth as well!"
Chaim takes a few steps away from whatever business Kubiak is working in and spits, noting the red tinge. He was bleeding indeed. Why couldn't he taste it? Chaim tries to listen patiently as his friends explain the encounter, and when it gets to Kubiak bringing him back, he nearly lunges at the man with his knife. Surely someone who could bring one back so easily, could snuff him out again with just as little effort. It's scary.
When they get to the part of the story about Kubiak offering a mutually beneficial arrangement, Chaim is willing to hear it, and turns to the mystic. "What'd you have in mind, chummer?"
[spoiler]I'm assuming that no one mentions Chaim being awakened around Kubiak, but they may figure he already knows. If someone does say something to that effect, please put it in IC so Chaim can react.[/spoiler]
-
Kubiak motions to his chimp and the little guy hops down from the top of a book case and jumps up onto his shoulder. "Let's go somewhere else to talk, somewhere where we can get some air."
His gate is smooth as if his feet were floating half a millimeter off the floor. You follow him out of the strange and mystical room, back down the hallway and then up the elevator to the top floor where a short stair case leads out to the roof of the abandoned 5 story office building. Towering above you whispers the Ibleaf tree, it's luscious green leaves play games with the light and their iridescence hypnotizes you. The chimp jumps off Kubiak's shoulder and starts swinging on ventilation pipes and old scaffolding happy to be in the fresh air. Kubiak breaths in deeply and exhales. You yourself can't resist yawning as the smooth breeze fills your nostrils with the scent of lilac, a refreshing break from the garbage smell that pervaded most of Sarafin's market.
"Do you smell that? If you live outside of the Jungle and you only smell that while slotting simsense." He turns his back to the Ibleaf tree and faces you.
"I was hoping the four of you would one day find your way here. I didn't think it would be today though....." He removes his sunglasses and his pair of silver irises startle you.
"It is rare to find young ones with the talent. It is even rarer to find four young ones with the talent who for reasons perhaps unbeknownst even to them have found each others' company." Realizing that his gaze is unnerving he puts his sunglasses back on.
"The Jungle is a gift that has been given to us. She's not without her problems but she nonetheless is an island of refuge in infinite sprawl beyond her borders. She is still young and fragile and in my short time here I have sought to use the power of Ea'van to maintain the peace. One would think that the birth of the Ibleaf tree would be reminder enough to all of the Jungle's citizens that we have something special here but apparently people quickly forget. Our methods have worked for the time that they were meant to work for but now I can see that we need to start becoming a little more......creative." He pulls out of his coat a credstick and looks it over as if it fascinated him.
"Up until now we have relied on gaining the people's trust and insisting on not using the same methods that people like Oakley and his handlers, the Cutters, use. If what you tell me is true, people are starting to choose sides and Sarfin won't be the last. Just this morning he contacted me asking for help in finding the thieves who assaulted his market but little did I know that he had contacted the Cutters as well. I can only conclude that he wished to create a spectacle where the followers of Ea'van proved ineffectual and the Cutters appeared efficient at extracting 'justice.' Even if all the sick people downstairs and all the people lined up for food at our pantry feel protected, it's the business owners who are flocking to the Cutters to handle their problems who might just undo the peace that we have built. I suppose all peace is fragile, but that doesn't mean we stop struggling to keep it." He clears his throat.
"The followers of Ea'van don't have their own Clean-up Crew, but that must be remedied. I know you four took quite a licking, especially Chaim. I also know that could have only happened because you held back. You did not own the power that your very DNA yearns to wield. I am loath to send anyone into battle, especially children, but you are no ordinary young-men. I think it is time that the Jungle learn who you really are and who you stand with." He offers the credstick over to Chaim. A quick glance at the small display shows a balance of 2000¥.
"In order to repair the fear and intimidation the Cutters wish to sow, I need you to find them and teach them that the followers of Ea'van will no longer tolerate this. Take this cred, use it to prepare, find Oakley and his boys and get your revenge. I only ask that you spare their lives and no-one who wasn't involved gets hurt. I also ask that you refrain from extracting your revenge on Sarafin. No matter who dispicable he may be, he still serves an important role in this community. The example of what happens to the Clean-up Crew should be enough to make him think twice." He looks into your eyes a little deeper.
"If you decide to take this cred and do what I am proposing, the followers of Ea'van will have your back, especially once the whole Jungle knows you four are special. I am trusting you with this cred and let Ea'van decide whether or not my trust is unfounded. I will let you discuss this among yourselves, come to my study when you have decided." With that Kubiak pockets the credstick and he and his monkey return to the roof-top door and leave you alone.
-
The smell of lilac was definitely something new for Rat. The odour itself was quite pleasant, but all this fresh air was starting to give the young ork a slight headache. He wasn't impressed by Kubiak's speech, but his eyes widened when he saw the credstick. He quickly pocketed the credstick before Xem could get the drop on him once again, giving him the stink eye as the elf reached to try to take it away from him. His mind was racing with the possibilities ¥2,000 could afford him in the Jungle. But after all his fantasies, he did remember that he wanted to eventually be a runner, and that if he was going to make a living out of this he would have to honour whatever commitments he was going to take, and make sure he completed them on time.
Once alone, he turned to his companions and said "See, I told ya our luck would turn! We're practically runners now, chummers!"
-
Chaim has never seen so much jing in one place. Here he was, thinking he was living high on the hog with 44¥ in his backpack, thinking about the nic-sticks and the synthahol he could score, and now he was looking to get outfitted, "prepared" as Kubiak had put it. And Rat had put the right word on it. Runners. As in Shadowrunners, as in the baddest most ubermensch that run the streets. The kind of guys who paid respect around places like this, not because they'll rob you blind, but because they're professionals who have earned it. Fear maybe, but a fear that comes from power and capability, not colors. Hell, four hours ago Chaim would have gladly joined the cutters, but this sounded so much fragging better.
Then another thought crosses his mind. Shadowrunners have gear. He starts making plans: a taser, maybe a pistol, an armored vest and lock-picking kit, maybe some of those contacts that let you see in the dark. Hell chummer, 2Gs'll get you an AK and the explosive rounds to go with it. But that's 2,000. Chaim's cut is 500. "Hold on, hold on, hold on, Rat," reaching out his hand to stay his friend. "Mr. Kubiak, I put my cutter into one of those Cutters, and I came back with a blunted tip. Let me tell you, I hit that guy hard. If you don't want anybody to die, then we're going to have to feel like we can stand toe-to-toe with these guys and not have any of us end up like, well, me. Way I figure it, we can maybe get four armored vests out of the deal, but Xem and I are still working with rusty shanks. I mean, I don't mean to come off bad here. From what my chummers are telling me you took me from fucking geeked to re-spawn, but, man, I don't wanna go back. Ea'van got a line on some armor or anything like that? Maybe a pistol or two? Maybe you get a discount round the way? I dunno, but chummer, I'd like going in better prepared next time."
[spoiler]Considering Chaim's life in the sprawl, I think it's worth a test to see if he knows how much weapons/armor cost.
This cat know what gear costs? (Sprawl Life) (http://orokos.com/roll/291034): 8d6t5 4
I would say so. Let's hope the dice gods stay with me.
Also rolling Composure because Chaim might not even take the time to run the math on this one, but assuming a low threshold.
Composure: Look at all this ¥ (http://orokos.com/roll/291038): 8d6t5 2
I'll take it.
Ok, let's see how Negotiation goes.
Negotiation (http://orokos.com/roll/291046): 8d6t5 1
Not great. I didn't take any Social Modifiers as, 1. I don't know if Kubiak is actually friendly toward the PCs and 2. While Chaim's desired result is advantageous to NPC, I'm not sure if that really counted in this instance. In case either of those work here's 3 more dice.
NPC Friendly + Desired Result is Advantageous (http://orokos.com/roll/291047): 3d6t5 0
Doesn't matter anyway.
[/spoiler]
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[spoiler]OOC: Kubiak negotiation roll: 11d6t5: 5 [11d6t5=3, 5, 6, 5, 4, 4, 5, 2, 3, 3, 6].[/spoiler]
When Kubiak hears Rat talk about shadowrunners you see a slight smile curl on his lips. "That's not entirely far from the truth. So I suppose that would make me a Mr. Johnson then..." His smile turns into a full blown chuckle. "Well then I honestly must say it is my first time serving in such capacity. We are not used to violence and the only violence I can condone is violence meant to end violence. This is all that we can spare taking from our crop yields and donations. The power of Ea'van fills us with riches of a different kind. Look inside and let the power you hold within guide you."
-
Easy for him to say, he's not the one that's going to be physically fighting the Cutters. And my father used to make more than that every month without having to do bully-boy work. Of course, he ended up dead anyway.
Werner says, "Seeing as Rat took your money I guess he's clairvoyant and knows the rest of us are going to say yes." as he gives Rat the same stink eye that Rat had just given Xem.
-
"I was hoping the four of you would one day find your way here. I didn't think it would be today though....."
Xem narrows his eyes and scrunches up his swolen face. So... You're either crazy, lying to manipulate us, or near omniscient. Noted.
"It is rare to find young ones with the talent. It is even rarer to find four young ones with the talent who for reasons perhaps unbeknownst even to them have found each others' company."
The elf boy cranes his head to the side, as though trying to hear a far away sound. Did you just say that? He can't keep quiet anymore. "Are you suggesting we have been manipulated into each other's company by an outside force?"
"The followers of Ea'van don't have their own Clean-up Crew, but that must be remedied. I know you four took quite a licking, especially Chaim. I also know that could have only happened because you held back. You did not own the power that your very DNA yearns to wield. I am loath to send anyone into battle, especially children, but you are no ordinary young-men. I think it is time that the Jungle learn who you really are and who you stand with. In order to repair the fear and intimidation the Cutters wish to sow, I need you to find them and teach them that the followers of Ea'van will no longer tolerate this. Take this cred, use it to prepare, find Oakley and his boys and get your revenge. I only ask that you spare their lives and no-one who wasn't involved gets hurt. I also ask that you refrain from extracting your revenge on Sarafin. No matter who dispicable he may be, he still serves an important role in this community. The example of what happens to the Clean-up Crew should be enough to make him think twice."
"Let me get this straight. Correct me on any point I mis-state, please. You wish to hire us four youths to be your cleanup crew. For our first task, you wish us to attack and defeat, but not kill a ruthless and effective squad of armed and combat trained gang members for whom, none of us hold any personal malice. You also wish us to stay our hand in regard to the dwarf against whom, we do hold personal malice. And for this task, you wish to pay us two thousand nuyen." Xem holds an expression of disgust. I'm going to own this man's house one day.
"If you decide to take this cred and do what I am proposing, the followers of Ea'van will have your back, especially once the whole Jungle knows you four are special."
"What if we decide not to? What if we walk outta here like, 'fuck your cred and fuck your pissing contest', hypothetically?"
-
Werner thinks to himself, First Rat presumptuously takes the money sealing the deal. Now, Xem tell the guy to go frag himself. I'm pretty sure that I only saw Chaim get hit over the head but maybe I blinked. This is going to be good- I can see Rat blabbering endlessly how this would be our first real run and so on and so forth. Wiz- not!
-
"What if we decide not to? What if we walk outta here like, 'fuck your cred and fuck your pissing contest', hypothetically?"
"Then we don't get the two Gs, obviously," Chaim cuts in and waits for Xem's glare.
In a way this was perfect. Kubiak may well stay their collective hand against Sarafin now, for this slight, but there would be others. In a place like The Jungle you could very well buy a man's death for much less than 2,000, less than a tenth of that really, but it takes a lot more to buy someone's life, even a skat of a dwarf who ran a little hovel of a shop. That the followers of Ea'van, that their mouthpiece no less, full of talk about peace and the people's will, full to the gills of ressentiment, that they would look to these four to do what they hadn't the guts or the will to do, that filled Chaim with pride.
Bet he aḥarit ha-yamim, Kubiak. Four ubermensch rise. Again, the irony is not lost on Chaim.
[spoiler]Bet he aḥarit ha-yamim means, "In the end of days"[/spoiler]
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Rat turns to Xem, an incredulous look on his face. "And go back to soggy cardboard walls and scraps Junior brings us? Drek no, we're runners now! We'll be going all over Seattle, all the girls will want a piece of us, we'll be sleeping on beds made out of gold!" The ork moved his arms around as he was explaining his dream, a glimmer in his eyes as he imagined himself in all sorts or scenarios, most of them far removed from reality.
-
"Come on, Xem, let's do this thing," Chaim says before turning to Werner. "I mean, you're in, right?"
-
"Then we don't get the two Gs, obviously,"
"And go back to soggy cardboard walls and scraps Junior brings us? Drek no, we're runners now! We'll be going all over Seattle, all the girls will want a piece of us, we'll be sleeping on beds made out of gold!"
"Come on, Xem, let's do this thing," Chaim says before turning to Werner. "I mean, you're in, right?"
The wild haired elf turns to face his friends and holds his arms out wide, as if to embrace them all at once. He wears a soft, warmhearted smile and he tilts his head, lovingly, to the side as he speaks to them in a melodic tone. "My friends, bros, chummers, compadristadors, if you will, No one wants to go back to soggy cardboard walls less than your good friend, Xem. But do we trade freedom in misery for comfort in a cage?
I'm not certain that's what we're being offered, but if it is, I mean to know before I make any binding decisions. Don't you agree?" He turns around once more to face Kubiak, with a happy insanity dancing behind his eyes. "I merely await your response to my querries, Sir Kubiak."
-
Kubiak's attention has been on several ARO's while the four of you discuss your decision. He turns to Xem. "If that is the way you wish to paint it, then so be it. I am asking you to do all those things and this is the remuneration I can offer. If there was anyone as well armed or as capable in combat as the Cutters or their Cleanup Crew they would have been displaced a long time ago. The K9'ers are lazy drug dealers despite their formidable companions, the Royal Riders are get their bread and butter directly from the Cutters, the Red Skulls and the 162's are completely insane and cannot be trusted. So I ask you young elf, who else can we turn to? The four of you have powers that powerful people in the Barrens would kill to possess. I do not want to possess you, I can only humbly ask for your service. I would be in your debt if you were to assist our cause of maintaining peace and balance in the Jungle. If you decide that this is not for you, then your secret is safe with me and we part ways. "
-
Xem crooks his back and arches his eyebrows as he juts his head forward on his boney neck toward Kubiak. A skillful dodge, my friend. But now, I thrust where you cannot hope to avoid! With a sly and quiet voice, he near whispers to the man with the monkey, "One... What of your use of the phrase, 'reasons unbeknownst to us'? Are these reasons beknownst to you?" He leans to the other side like snake, lining up a strike and speaks a bit louder."Two... What of our powers and special whatever-it-is? How can you know of us already?" Dust shakes out of his hair and dances in the light as he darts his lean back the other way to get ready for the finish. He's even louder now, more forceful. "Three... I have no secrets. My foes shall meet a blade in the dark, a hail of gunfire in the street, fire from the pits of hell and lightning from the very sky! Secrets are lies, and lies are for the weak."
He goes still as a corpse and drops all the zeal out of his voice to finish his harangue, looking down at the ground. "And four... I will willingly beat, kill, stab, or burn anyone you so wish, whether it's to death or stopping at any point before or after if you pay me for the act. I have no moral code of any sort that would prohibit me from doing any of the things you ask. I just want to make certain that we are discussing the same things." He slowly lets a wide manic smile waltz across his face as he looks back up to gauge the response.
-
@Xem:
Kubiak nods at Xem with a patience rarely seen in the city. "Only Ea'van knows why the four of you find yourselves in each other's company. She speaks to us all through signs, and the only difference between myself and others perhaps is that I try to listen more carefully than most. I keep no secrets from you either. She merely shares with me a few threads of the glorious tapestry fate weaves. I believe in my heart that there are no accidents and thus our encounter is no accident."
He looks at you rather curiously and thinks for a moment and then reaches behind his neck and unties a bead necklace and hands it to you.
"I think you will know what to do with this. May it keep you safe."
[spoiler]OOC: make Arcana (1) check.[/spoiler]
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[spoiler]OOC: make Arcana (1) check.[/spoiler]
Xem reaches out carefully for the bauble. What is this?
[spoiler]What is this thing? (Logic 5 + Arcana 1) (http://orokos.com/roll/295226): 6d6t5 2[/spoiler]
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@Xem:
You look at the old wooden beads and you see that each one has a separate rune engraved on it. As you clench the necklace in your hands and feel it respond to your chaotic spirit as if beckoning you to get to know it better. You've seen very little magic other than your own abilities but you remember a wandering merchant that occasionally would come through the Jungle calling himself a talismonger. He claimed he sold objects that could teach you how to expand your talents. Maybe if you spent more time with this object in secret by yourself you could unlock its potential.
[spoiler]OOC: It's a spell formula for a Heal spell. Since you're Chaos tradition you can learn magic from a variety of sources.[/spoiler]
-
"Only Ea'van knows why the four of you find yourselves in each other's company. She speaks to us all through signs, and the only difference between myself and others perhaps is that I try to listen more carefully than most. I keep no secrets from you either. She merely shares with me a few threads of the glorious tapestry fate weaves. I believe in my heart that there are no accidents and thus our encounter is no accident."
Xem ties the beaded necklace around his own neck slowly and carefully. All of his questions and concerns having been answered to his satisfaction, he says "Well, I suppose that settles that." Turning to Rat, "You've got our funds, correct?" Then back to Kubiak, "I suppose we'll contact you once our assignment is complete. In the meantime, I suppose we're off to equip ourselves the task." He stiffens up in a military posture and gives a snappy salute. "Captain."
-
Ray rolled his eyes at Xem, thinking *Leave it to him to make such a show of accepting.*
At the young elf's remark towards him, the ork replied "Yup, I got the creds and you got Kubiak's jewelry", turning to his other companions and giggling.
-
Kubiak turns more solemn and bows his head to the four of you. "If you are ever hurt and in need of healing, come to Ibleaf square and our doors will always be open to you. May Ea'van guide you."
With that he turns and sends you off down the elevator and back out into Ibleaf square where the four of you now find yourselves alone save for a few old orks and a massive troll woman praying and leaving offerings at the Ibleaf tree.
-
"I don't know about the rest of you chummers, but I'm gonna get myself something to put between this work of art and bullets" says Rat as he motions for his body. He later takes Xem's credstick and diligently transfers ¥500, making sure 3 times that he hasn't put too much money on the elf's credstick. Once everyone has decided where they want to go, Rat announces that "We'll be meeting back here at 20:30, and then we can go cutter-hunting" with a malicious grin on his face.
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"I don't know about the rest of you chum mets, but I'm gonna get myself something to put between this work of art and bullets"
"I hear that," Chaim responds, and then quickly adds, "I mean, that's what I want to use my share on too. I don't have a credstick, though. Will you put my share on yours, and we can shopping together?"
Rat announces that "We'll be meeting back here at 20:30, and then we can go cutter-hunting" with a malicious grin on his face.
"Wiz. I'll catch you chummers later."
In the next few hours, Chaim makes his way to school just in time for lunch. He grabs his crappy soy bar and looks up to see that the lunch is sponsored by Sarafin. He's a dumb fraggin' dwarf, but maybe Kubiak has a point. He eats quickly by himself, like usual, and daydreams through his math class, making plans and taking notes on how to get back at the Cutters. He skips last period, drops by to see his mom and tell her that he went to school, never mind that he's home early, and then it's off to see Liga.
She's not much older than Chaim, a girl herself really, but as much as Chaim would like to think that growing up in the Jungle meant you grew up knowing a lot of drek, having seen a lot of drek, he knows that he hasn't seen a tenth of what Liga has. He's been relatively lucky with a roof over his head during the daily rains, having his brothers, and his momma, and let's not forget his friends at his side. Things haven't been that way for Liga. She's been hooking for a few years now, finding a bed only when her pimp, a despicable troll who goes by Hemingway, decides she's met her quota, and largely left to navigate what's a safe trick and a dangerous one on her own. Chaim stops on the way to pick up some sugar water for her, and pops the top as he hands it to her. "Hoi, chump. How're things?"
She regards him passively but takes the drink, draining half the contents in one long swig. "Hoi yourself. You haven't been round the way in a bit. Heard you got yourself in a little trouble."
"Nothing me and the boys can't handle," Chaim says with as much bravado as he can muster, which is saying something.
"Not what I heard," she answers.
"Speaking of which, any of those Cutter boys ever make their way round here? Maybe a regular?"
"Could be," she says, "Could be."
Chaim does his best to find out what Liga knows, gives her a farewell tip of his hand, and heads back to the Isle-of-View to kill a little time before the rest of the crew convenes.
-
@Everyone:
You all start heading home after a fruitful day of shopping, Chaim and Rat each having procured an armored vest in anticipation for a potential baseball bat to the ribs and Xem deciding to go for actual fire power. Yes indeed, Xem is now the proud owner of a fine piece of 2070's machinery. A Ceska Black Scorpion machine pistol and enough rounds of ammo to put a few bullets in each of Oakley's lackeys if it finally comes down to it.
@Chaim:
[spoiler]OOC: You do recognize the name of the Clean-up Crew member she is referring too. Your area knowledge roll allows you to know the places Liga is talking about.[/spoiler]
Liga, the cosmological antithesis of your mom Bina. They exist entirely in two different spheres of the many universes which you inhabit to make some sense of your wretched teenage existence. Even though the prostitute isn't what you would consider a friend, now, more than ever, you do get her. You can't make any sense of how she feels about you, but you get the feeling she gets you too. With your new "job" looming in front of you , you both get that you have to do some dirty things in order to keep your head above water. Shoot, after how it almost went for you just a few hours earlier, you might have to do this job just to keep yourself above ground.
As Liga sees you lost in thought in the middle of your conversation, her tone softens. "Mobley comes to see me sometimes when I'm over by the water-works, but you stay away from those Cutter boys ok Chaim. Don't go playing hero and trying to get payback." Now that you think of it, the ork Mobley was one of the guys who assaulted you. You had an inkling you'd seen that guy before. You know that water-works on the north side of the Jungle is a bar that a lot of gangers prefer due to the privacy it provides.
@Xem:
Mario Caldone shrugs. "Sorry Xem, I don't have a spare loaner vest right now, and truth be told, you wouldn't want crappy gear giving you a false sense of security. I'll tell ya what, give me that gun for a second and I'll fix you up a with a brand new spare part I have lying around." He opens a drawer in his work-bench and goes to work attaching a laser sight to the underside of the barrel.
-
The waifish elf boy with the crazy eyes walks out of the cornerstore, looks back and forth to make sure he isn't being followed, then turns left out onto the street. He keeps one eye on the people walking around near him, and the other one on his hands. He's pulled his small knife from it's hiding place near one of the many holes in his faded jeans, and is working on getting his shiny new Meta-Link out of its clear plastic shell. I should have bought one of these things years ago! Finally, he's got it free and he immediately powers it on and sets it to run silent. Next, he extends the cheap earbuds and places one in his left ear, letting the other one dangle. Finally, he deposits the comm in his front right pocket, running the cord to the earbuds inside his ratty, longsleeve Tshirt. With a bit more confidence in his step, Xem begins the twenty minute walk to Mario's cigar shop. Now, let's see if I remember that commcode he told me last winter...
[spoiler]What was that commcode? Memory (Log 5 + Will 7) (http://orokos.com/roll/299618): 12d6t5 3 I'm gonna treat this like a "win", cool?[/spoiler]
About half a block away from the shop, Xem pauses on a corner for just a moment. He pulls the dull green comm with the woodgrain sticker on it out of his pocket, unplugs the earbuds, and raises it to eyelevel, getting himself in the shot framed up all nicely. He uses a low angle to make himself look more menacing and when he's satisfied he's got it right, he hits <Record>> He speaks as ominously as he can directly into the comm. "The mad one needs to plant some seeds, my good friend. Please have an assortment of your finest, smallest, and fastest gardening implements available for perusal. I shall make it worth your while..." Then a big, crazy, toothy smile, and... <<Stop>> Dropping all hint of emotion from his young, troubled face, he sends the file to Mario's commcode, pockets the comm again, takes a long look back and forth to make certain he isn't being followed, then slowly walks the final block to CDT, Caldone's Discount Tobacconist. Mario is going to shit a brick when he sees that! Then he's gonna shit another one when I come walking on in!
If Mr C is impressed or weirded out in any way by the message or Xem's entrance, he doesn't let on. In fact, he looks and sounds bored. "Heya kid." is all Xem gets for his whole plan. The disappointment must show on his face, cause Mario throws him a bone and at least acknowledges he got the message. "So... Yaneedapiece?" The elf boy surrounded by racks of cheap imitation tobacco filled cigars smiles a bit.
As the two of them walk into the backroom, Mario closes the door behind them, saying, "Figured once you got some money to spend, you'd get a jack first. Figured, y'know? You already got a piece, right?" Xem doesn't answer. His eyes focused on the weapons laid out in front of him, one in particular. A thing of true beauty. There's almost a moment of peace, but it's broken when Mr C asks, "You aint finally pickin up Kournikouva are ya?" Xem only wishes. "No, Mr C..." Mario always hates it when he calls him that. "I'm afraid I'm dealing with rather limited funds right now. Another day, another day." He crunches his brow up as he goes over the weapons within his price range and finally settles on a little machine pistol with a folding stock; A scorpion or some such nonsense. It's nothing like that fabulous Russian weapon he's been eying since Mario first showed him this room, but it's something. It will have to do.
"I'll take this little beauty, an extra clip, and enough standard ammo to fill em both up, wiz?"
A few minutes later, everything is assembled and ready to go. Xem pulls out his credstick to pay the 420 nuyen he owes and comes up 5 short. He gives a sly, goofy smile to his friend Mario and says, "Think you can let a keeb slide for a fiver?" With a disapproving groan and his head tilted to the side, Mario eventually says, "Sure. Whatever," and slides the stick again for 415. Before Mario can even hand it back, the little elf pipes up again. "Y'know, while we're on the subject of lettin me slide and all..." Mario raises his eyebrows, perhaps stunned and impressed by the spine on this little one. "I got some rough riders I'm going up against tonight. Can't say who. Part of the biz, y'know? But... Just in case I aint lay all these hoopfuckers down before they get a few shots back at me, I was wondering if you had maybe, a vest, or a helmet, or like, and armored shirt or somethin layin around I might could borrow for, say, 24 hours. Just a little bitta 'just in case' y'know what I mean?"
"Sorry Xem, I don't have a spare loaner vest right now, and truth be told, you wouldn't want some crappy gear giving you a false sense of security. I'll tell ya what, give me that gun for a second and I'll fix you up a with a brand new spare part I have lying around."
Eh. So be it. Twas worth a mawfukkin try, right? Xem doesn't answer, just nods. As Mario works on attaching the sight, Xem picks up a roll of mechanics tape from his workbench and tapes the two clips for his scorpion together, each facing a different direction. He saw it in a trid once when he was really little. Made it look like you could reload it way faster. He's not sure if that's true, but he's always wanted to try it anyway. At very least, he figures, he won't drop his empty clip, and that'll save him five nuyen. As Mario finishes up, he loads all of his bullets into them, then folds up the box they came in and puts it in his pocket.
--------------------------
It's 10:08pm when the homeless little elf finally makes his way back to the ramshackle little shit-hole he's been sharing with Rat, Chaim, and Werner for the last few weeks. He's got his brand new gun carefully tucked away in his ratty, baggy clothing as he walks across the street to reach the place. It's time to find the others and get down to planning out how this is all gonna go down. He finds himself a dark, shadowy corner to crouch in and waits for the other three to arrive.
[spoiler]Hide the Ceska (Agi 6 + Palming 1) (http://orokos.com/roll/299646): 7d6t5 4
Stay un-noticed in the shadow (Agi 6 + Sneaking 4 + Spec [Urban] 2) (http://orokos.com/roll/299648): 12d6t5 6 Physical limit is 4 though, so I lose 2 hits.[/spoiler]
-
Rat, having spent the day wandering around, trying to find something to spend his ¥500 on, had finally settled on buying a protective vest. As much as he wanted to get one of those big pistols he had seen Joe Tufgai wave around on that trid once, his desire not to get shot again trumped any fantasies he had.
At the arranged time, the young ork arrived at their spot, seeing Xem already waiting. Proud of his purchase, he asked the skinny elf what he had bought.
-
[spoiler]Perception (http://orokos.com/roll/299846): 12d6t5 8
Chaim beats his limit, but he spots Xem[/spoiler]
Chaim descends the stairs from his apartment, having told Binah he and the boys were going to go check out another boy's brand new commlink. He vaults across the second railing, and hits the ground, before giving The Isle-of-View a cursory look to see who's around. He catches sight of Xem, crouching in the shadows, a mischievous look glinting out in the darkness. Not really sure what Xem has planned, Chaim calls across the street, "Hoi, Xem, whatcha doin over there, chummer?"
-
"Hoi, Xem, whatcha doin over there, chummer?"
Standing slowly and taking a smooth step forward from the darkness, Xem responds coldly. "Waiting for you, Rat, and Werner." With a small smile, he adds, "You're the first one to arrive." As if on cue, Rat comes strolling around the corner, headed to meet with the two of them. As Xem turns his head to look, a pair of moths fly from out of his stringy wild hair. Right away, rat wants to talk money, asking the little wizard what he bought. "If you must know, I purchased a weapon. A weapon and a commlink." He pulls the commlink from his front pocket, showing off a bit for the group. Yet, there's no hint of pride or any other emotion in his voice when he says, "I've always wanted one of these."
-
"Nova," Chaim says admirably. "What about the piece?"
-
"What about the piece?"
With a slow blink, he responds only with, "It is adequate and has a high rate of fire."
-
With a slow blink, he responds only with, "It is adequate and has a high rate of fire."
Chaim is a little disappointed that he doesn't get to see the shooter, the heater, the piece. He's always wanted one, and now he wonders if he made the best use of his money to get this vest on that is admittedly much harder to hide from Binah than a nova-hot burner would be. He's about to fly through all the other slang words for gun that he can come up with, when the more pressing business at hand seizes his attention.
"Alright, alright, well glad you have it. Now about putting it to use, word round the way is that Mobley hangs out down by the Water Works. Ya know, it wouldn't be too hard to let him walk in there, get nice and shit-faced, and when he comes out, one-a-us could be posted up on that roof across the street, and throw a bottle full a piss or something at him. You know he'll give chase. As he makes his way up, BAM! we cosh that cosh that fragger.
"Only thing is, he's the only one I'm sure that I remember, sides Oakley. Whatchy'all got?"
[spoiler]
Teamwork Test: Gangs (Cutters) (Extra Dice) (http://orokos.com/roll/302164): 9d6t5 3
If we can do that as a Teamwork Test, that's 7 hits total on recognizing gangers.
Teamwork Test: Area Knowledge (Cutters) (Extra Dice) (http://orokos.com/roll/302165): 8d6t5 2
And that makes 7 total hits on that test as well.
[/spoiler]
-
@Everyone:
As you discuss your next course of action you do notice that Werner hasn't shown up yet. Hopefully nothing bad happened to him.
-
A lightbulb lit up in Rat's head. "Now that you mention it, I think I recognized that drekhead Kromat as well, and I know for certain he hangs out at the Water Works from time to time." The young ork rubbed his hands together, a gleam in his eyes as he could see himself exacting revenge on their previous attackers.
-
The crazy haired elf boy stands out on the darkened street with his two companions, discussing strategies of ambush, violence, and revenge. He adds into the discussion what little tidbits he knows here and there, but for the most part, Xem let's the other two plan the attack, only offering advice where he feels appropriate. He does wonder briefly where Werner went. Surely, he didn't simply run off with his measly five hundred nuyen, now did he? Fool."
-
Apparently Werner took the money and ran, but you can't be bothered with that chummer right now. Maybe he just wasn't cut out for this new line of work.
Water Works is farther north up the Valley and gets its name from old hydroponics unit that houses it. Before the Jungle became an abandoned science project in the 2030's, the building used to run the whole irrigation system that has since been replaced by a piecemeal citizen's project which relies mostly on trapping Seattle's copious amounts of yearly rain-fall with bio-tarp. Now the unit houses the main meeting point for anybody with a little cred, and in the Jungle that means gangers or corrupt small business owners, you know, Sarafin's ilk. There is an unspoken rule that keeps the peace; everybody hangs out with their own crew and don't mix much with anyone else. It's a chance for established gangers to flaunt their hard earned cred and because in the end, what is cred good for anyway? It's also a chance for newer gangers to get established on the social scene once they've proven themselves on the streets. Everyone understands this and hence a surprisingly stable peace exists about the establishment. Another part of maintaining the peace is mutual deterrence, i.e. if someone looks like they're packing, they probably are.
The building is 4 stories and wrought iron stairs connect the different levels. The building is not really enclosed since a whole wall has long since crumbled to the ground and this gives Water-Works an open air feel to it. which does not mean that their aren't nooks and crannies that offer a comfortable level of privacy when you stroll in past the front circular bar.
There is no bouncer since there isn't really an entrance but good luck getting a drink if you look like a kid. Good luck not getting approached as well by people looking for an easy score if you look like a kid as the four of you most definitely do, especially in the presence of others of your respective meta-types.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66568711/SR%20shares/The%20Jungle/future_bar_by_drawingnightmare-d4jpq4f.jpg)
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Those of you near the entrance start looking at a distance through the crowds, at the bar, by the booth and even up to what you can see of other levels. Since the Cutters is such a large gang the individuals you are looking for could be hanging anywhere in the place.
[spoiler]OOC: everyone who's not falling back make a visual perception test with a -2 for crowds and the distances involved. Then IC what you want to do.[/spoiler]
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Rat wandered between a dumpster and a pile of what must have been cardboard at some point before the acid rains turned it into mush. This vantage point allowed him to have a good look at the Water Works bar without attracting too much attention. The young ork already looked the part, but with his new purchase he had put an extra layer of raggedy clothes in order to conceal his armour. Scrounging around, he kept an eye on the bar and tried to spot anybody that he had seen earlier at the fight.
[spoiler]Perception 〜 Intuition 5 + Perception 4 + Visual Specialization 2 + Hawk Eye 1 - Crowded area 2 (http://orokos.com/roll/310243): 10d6t5 4 no glitches[/spoiler]
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Across the street in an alleyway, Xem crouches in the darkness, his eyes flitting from face to face, trying to find one he remembers.
[spoiler]See anyone? (Per 3 + Int 5) (http://orokos.com/roll/310254): 8d6t5 2[/spoiler]
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Across the street and a bit to the south, Chaim watches the team's back, and scouts for the most logical avenues of egress from the Waterworks.
[spoiler]Chaim will be further from the Waterworks, looking for which direction these boys are most likely to take when they drunkenly return home. He's also on the lookout for anyone coming up behind Xem and Rat, so I'm including rolls for both.
Perception: Specifically Looking: watching teammates backs (http://orokos.com/roll/310333): 15d6t5 9
Physical Limit is 6.
Perception: Specifically Looking: paths of egress (http://orokos.com/roll/310334): 15d6t5 4[/spoiler]
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After sitting outside Water Works peering through the fallen wall and examining faces, gang colors and metatypes for what must have been 30 min. looking for the bastards that almost beat the drek out of the four of you. In particular you keep your eyes peeled for Mobley or Kromat but all you see are a few different Cutters leaning against the veranda on several of the 4 levels. The guys you're looking for, if they're inside must be farther in behind crowds bars or over-walks.
@Chaim:
You don't notice anyone approaching or looking threatening. The advantage of being a street kid is that they're about as ubiquitous as devil rats and just as ignorable.
-
Trying to look as inconspicuous as he could possibly be, Rat whispers to his friends "Do you guys see any of them? I can't make out anyone of those drekhead that were there this morning." The ork then tried to shuffle some bags around and cover his position as best he could, setting himself up like he was going to sleep at that spot for the night.
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Chaim approaches Rat under the auspices that he's looking to bum a smoke. "Come on, man. I know you got a smoke. Help a chummer out," he says approaching. When he's a bit closer, he keeps pointing to Rat's pockets, but says quietly, "Up to you guys. I got nowhere to be, so we can give 'em the night to get nice and sauced, but if you want to call it, that's good with me too."
-
Stretching out, the ork replied "I don't mind waiting it out, as long as we're waiting at the right place for the right people" while shaking his head and dismissing his companion, seemingly going along with his story for a bummed smoke.
-
Xem doesn't hear the exchange between Chaim and Rat. He's sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall in an alley across the street, doing his best impression of a passed out drunk. His collar is pulled up as high as he can get it to try and obscure his face a bit. Although he hasn't checked his comm to see the actual time, he figures it's got to have been at least half an hour, they've been here waiting and watching. Xem isn't put off in the least and stays calm as a viper, sitting there in the filth. The nasty little elf had never imagined this would be a quick job in the first place. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised or upset if they didn't actually locate their targets tonight.
Things like this can take a little bit, and since we were given no timeline upon which to complete this job...
Through a strategically placed gap in his matted, wet hair, he keeps one unblinking eye on the establishment, and the people around it.
[spoiler]Keeping hidden in the alley (Agi 6 + Sneaking 4 + Urban Spec 2) (http://orokos.com/roll/312306): 12d6t5 3
Keeping an eye out teamwork test (Int 5 + Perception 3) (http://orokos.com/roll/312307): 8d6t5 2
So, whoever wants to make the actual test may add 2 dice to their roll. Yay![/spoiler]
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Stretching out, the ork replied "I don't mind waiting it out, as long as we're waiting at the right place for the right people" while shaking his head and dismissing his companion, seemingly going along with his story for a bummed smoke.
"Wiz, let's hold tight," Chaim says, and begins walking away from the ork, before turning back and saying, "Well, frag you then, omae."
Fairly certain that the team is safe in their present spotting locations, Chaim scouts the alleyways for a bottle that he could lob from the top of a building. Finding a suitable container, he does a mental check of the most likely way home from the Waterworks, and sees if he can find a way up to the roof of a building sitting along that path.