SDMB Shadowrun campaign, New World Orders - players only!

The Game Room
1

This thread is for players in the Shadowrun campaign, which is titled “New World Orders”

The players and characters are:
Hoopy Frood - Goethe (alias) ork combat Shadowrunner
Mahaloth - Seneth Keluszon, human mage
Jules Andre - Donovan “Donny” Kane, human Company Man
Omi no Kami - Kirsikka “Kirk” Orvokki, elf technomancer Shadowrunner
Autolycas - human physical Adept Shadowrunner, to be introduced soon
Mosier - game master

If you are not a player in the game, please post in the OOC and comments thread. This thread is for in-character posts only.

Many players are still missing their Agendas. I’m still hard at work on them, but you’ll definitely have them before the end of the day tomorrow. The first few days of the campaign will be mostly “settling in” and getting players comfortable.

If you’re familiar with Shadowrun, you may be frustrated at some of the liberties I will be taking to streamline the game for play-by-post. If a familiar aspect of the game seems to be missing, send me a PM and I’ll do my best to implement it.

There are only two rules for players:

  1. Cooperate with other players and the DM. This means nobody can attempt to force another player to do something with skills like Intimidation. Every player is the master of their own character. It also means that we’re all working together to create a compelling story. Some of your characters may end up with an adversarial relationship to each other, but don’t take it personally with that character’s player!

  2. Use your character’s name every time you post. It’s the easiest way for us to reference who is speaking or doing something, without having to look up who is playing which character. Instead of starting your post with the character’s speech, use your character’s name and who is intended to hear you, for example;

Kirk, to Goethe “Are you related to that troll?”
Or
Donny, to the group “I think this dwarf needs some street justice.”

As unfamiliar terms pop up, I’ll try to attach a footnote explaining them. If you have questions about something unfamiliar, ask in the OOC thread, or send me a PM. Italicized text will be limited to stuff that breaks the fourth wall, like game concept information or suggestions to the players.

Have fun, and Happy Running! The next post will start the campaign.

2

“You know our reputation, and we know yours. You may not be the best, but you can keep your mouth shut. That’s the quality Synthcorp values most.” Even though the man is sitting at the same level as your group, he manages to look down at you. He hasn’t even introduced himself, but you know who he is. Or what he is, at least, which might as well be the same thing. The man is a caricature of Synthcorp culture. Organized. Professional. Young. Superior. Mysterious. Synthcorp fits him even better than his tailored Italian suit.

“I don’t know your names, and don’t care to. You’re here because McManus recommended you. If you do this job adequately, while keeping Synthcorp out of the news, it could be the start of a beautiful relationship.”

He hands each of you a photograph of a middle-aged man with tribal facial tattoos and close-cropped orange dyed hair.

“This man may look like a thug, or a Runner, but he’s not. His tribe named him Arrow-is-Drawn, but you call him Arry. He’s a Native, and a genius. One of our best. You’ll be retrieving him from his captors. They have demanded a large ransom for his return, but we at Synthcorp don’t want to develop a reputation for being a victim. Get him back, kill the men holding him, and we’ll pay you the ransom instead.”

The man leans back in his chair. “If you take the job, our man will accompany you, to oversee your progress.” He gestures to the other Synthcorp representative sitting next to him, a wiry and street-hardened man who looks slightly out of place in a Synthcorp suit. “Meet Donovan Kane, your new boss. Talk it over, if you must. The offer is fifty thousand. That‘s non negotiable.”

*The group members (minus Donovan) may discuss Synthcorp’s offer among themselves. At the beginning of the campaign, I will provide support and suggestions to help the group get used to the game. As the campaign progresses, that support will diminish, until you’re on your own making decisions.

Some things your group might want to do:
-A single character can attempt to negotiate a higher price
-All characters can attempt to press the man for more information about the job, by asking specific questions
-A single character can attempt to negotiate Donovan’s role
-All characters can attempt to determine the man’s truthfulness, state of mind, or intent*

3

At the mention of the words “beautiful relationship”, Goethe let’s out a sarcastic “Hah!”

After the man finishes:

"Kill them? Really? I don’t know how much experience you have in this sort of business, but killing folks tends to bring a lot of heat down afterwards, as well as making people more apt to not only investigate the events, but also do so for a longer period of time.

“So why do you fear these men so much that you want them dead?”

4

Mentioned before Mr. Johnson began speaking, Sorry, I won’t be making a habit out of going back in time like this. I just didn’t have time to make my post before.

“Boy, you all sure talk a lot,” a tall-ish young man opines lazily, his body reclined lazily on the black leather sofa in the room. Straightening slightly, he utters: “So, Mr. Johnson,” he rolls his chin slightly towards Goethe, “how may we help you today?”

Nail listens patiently. He rolls a cigarette through his fingers, looking a bit bored, but not so much as to seem rude or impatient. After Mr. Johnson’s spiel and Goethe’s fast question, he addresses Mr. Johnson,

“Sounds risky. . Not that that’s a bad thing.” A wry smile escapes his lips as he pauses briefly, flicking a coin through the knuckles on one fingers and a cigarette in the other. “Although, how do we know you won’t pin the kidnapping on us? You know, make your shiny corp look the hero, tie up loose threads.” He lights his cig with a flick motion of his zippo, but instead of putting the zippo back in his pocket, it seemingly vanishes in his hand. He smiles briefly, as if amused at himself. Narrowing his gaze while simultaneously releasing a single, lazy puff, “After we bring back your wigwam of course.”

Nail is a runner. Tall, a bit too thin to be called athletic, but certainly no couch potato, he could be best described as somewhat lanky. Lackadaisical , he can move with a swiftness that betrays his lazy tendencies. A close inspection would reveal that one of his eyes is a different color than the other, one blue and one grey. His brown hair is wavy and carefully unkempt. He is currently dressed casually, in a blazer, jeans, and a t-shirt. At his side is a holster. There’s plenty more to know of course, but he’s not sure if you need to know it, and he doesn’t mind it that way. Talking too much has a way of making one stick out, and, as his mom always said, the Nail that sticks up will inevitably get hammered down."

5

The Synthcorp man’s gaze narrows as he sizes you up.

“Fear? Hardly. Your mission is about sending a message. Synthcorp will not be a target for lowlifes to make an easy score.” The man leans forward in his chair, his stare unflinching on Goethe. “We are the ones to be feared, Runner.”

To be clear, you are not speaking with Mr. Johnson, but a representative of the Synthcorp CEO, several layers below him on the corporate chain. He has not given his name and probably won’t, without good roleplaying and social skills tests by the players.

The Synthcorp man shrugs in response to Nail’s comment. “The same way we know you won’t take the money and leave town. Mutual benefit. We want Runners, and you want money. Besides, we at Synthcorp certainly don’t want to look like anything in this case, let alone a ‘hero’. We’re hiring you to avoid scrutiny, not compound it.”

*Two skill tests were performed for this post. Both Goethe and Nail failed social skills rolls against the Synthcorp man. He is unwilling to offer additional information to either of you, and you are unable to determine whether he is withholding information or trying to mislead you. Synthcorp has very competent agents!

As the game progresses, these types of notifications will become less frequent, and you’ll have to use narrative cues to determine how successful your rolls were.*

6

Goethe to the resident wageslave:

Well we seem to have come to some sort of impasse here. I won’t play the patsy for some nameless corporate drone. You don’t want to tell us any more about the job, but I don’t want to go on some wetwork mission without even knowing who it is I’m supposed to bag n’ tag and who they work for.

7

Master Keluszon to the group:

"Let me handle all the negotiations and discussions with our, let’s be honest, pathetic servant they have sent to report to us. I know he said payment is non-negotiable, but I rather think I can make some headway there.

What do you want me to learn from him? Tell me what you want to learn, leave me with him for 20 minutes, and I will find out everything that is possible…and possibly raise our financial gain at the same time."

Seneth Keluszon pauses, and continues to the group:

"You see, I have…extensive experience with these kinds of folks in my years. I have dealt with more ‘men’ like this in my lifetime than the total amount of pepole you have ever even been casually introduced too.

I have ways of getting information and being persuasive that work and, equally importantly, will not send him running back to his boss crying.

Tell me what you want to know and I will find it out."

Master Keluszon looks at his new colleagues expectantly.

8

Goethe to the zombie:

So apparently my new acquaintance here has offered to continue negotiations by himself and see if you’ll be a bit more forthcoming. Suits me. Understand, if I don’t like your answers I’m more than prepared to walk out that door and away from this job. Now if you’ll excuse us, my colleagues and I need to have a bit of a chat.

After we separate ourselves from the wage-slave

To Keluszon:

I think we need to start with who it is we’re supposed to kill, who they work for, and why it’s so important that we kill them on top of freeing the kidnapped guy. 'Cause when you kill a guy, those that find him important to them, tend not to appreciate what you did, even to the point of coming after you in exchange. For all we know, oubr “boss” could already know who we are and could hang us out to dry. And if these targets work for another corp, we’re truly looking to get boned here. Corps don’t like it when their zombies get bagged. They invest too much money into them. They have no problems making an example of wetwork runners to remind the other runners of this fact. I’ve managed to avoid a contract on my head for 8 years now, I don’t plan to change that streak.

And fifty-thousand is a lot, but remember, that’s the ransom money. So if they want us to kill, they will offer us more or we walk. Because they’re obviously willing to pay 50 large to get this guy freed. Whether they pay it to us or the kidnappers, they’re out the same amount of money, but the kidnappers will now not only have money to finance more possible kidnappings, but also know that Synthcorp is willing to negotiate. This puts synthcorp in a bad position. All that is worth 50 large on it’s own.

The killing are extra. You make that clear to him. I think $25 large a head is a good start to negotiate from. Because if I wind up with a contract on my head, I’m going to need that much alone just to somehow get out of it, much less having to split it.

I’m willing to do this job for no less than $70,000. I’d prefer $75,000. If he goes higher than that, excellent. If he just wants a kidnapping, I’m fine doing that for the original $50,000.

Those are my terms. Anything less than that, and I walk. The rest of you are welcome to my share if you choose to stay. But I warn you that a guy asking this much and giving so little is not someone to treat lightly.

Now, for the nice to know, but not crucial, I’d like to know as much as you can find out about the Arry guy. Also, how do we know that he actually is affiliated with Synthcorp in some mutually beneficial manner? We have to consider the possibility that this guy is actually in hiding from Synthcorp, and we are the kidnappers. Which means he’s not going to be happy to see us. I got no issues with kidnapping, but I don’t want to waltz my way into a situation where the person I’m supposed to save would better want me dead.

Understand, I get very wary around jobs when the boss isn’t all that forthcoming. The less he tells you about the job, the more difficult it will be to succeed. If he really wants this to work, he should want to tell us as much as we need to know to do it correctly. I’ve found that the less someone’s upfront about, the less the job is actually what its described as.

To Kirk (either over commlink if she’s not with us or directly if she is): I need you to comb the Matrix to find out everything you can about our Target and any possible links he has to Synthcorp. Report your findings to us on the commlink.

9

To Goethe and Group:

“I think Goethe is quite correct. Leave me for a brief time and I believe I can learn more…and hopefully earn more for all of us.”

10

Kirk, to the zombie:

As charming as watching you idiots scamper about randomly assembling groups from whatever runners you can find, I hope you appreciate how foolish asking me to participate is- I’m a surveillance expert, and not only are you asking me to put my drones in danger to rescue some feckless sack of meat, you’re asking me to do it in a context that will almost guarantee someone starts throwing bullets at them for fun.

Now I’m not saying I’m above wetwork- neutralizing humans leaves the world a more orderly place, and if the price is right I’ll certainly consider it along with the rest of my team, but I want Synthcorp’s guarantee that they will compensate me fairly for any major damage my hardware sustains while executing this so-called rescue: if a single one of my drones is badly damaged in a firefight, the expenses to repair it would eat my entire margin.

11

The Synthcorp agent reluctantly agrees to allow Seneth to use Analyze Truth spell and Mind Probe spell on him.

Seneth’s Analyze Truth spell was cast with only minor success. With this spell, Seneth determines that all of the Synthcorp man’s statements are true, but can not tell whether they are only LITERALLY true with an intent to deceive. Seneth successfully resisted drain for this spell and suffers no ill effects from casting it.

Seneth’s Mind Probe spell is much more successful. He is able to determine the following information from the Synthcorp man:
-Arry is indeed a current employee for Synthcorp, working in a capacity unknown to the man. The man’s understanding is that this is a rescue mission, not kidnapping.
-The man is a low-level manager for Synthcorp, and does not have access to Company secrets. He has told you most of what he knows about this mission, except that:
-The people he wants you to kill are led by a Physical Adept, who was formerly employed by Synthcorp, but was discovered as a spy and escaped before Synthcorp could punish him. The Adept is an ork named Chaggo, and the Synthcorp man does not consider him particularly dangerous - more of an embarrassment to the company, or loose end.
-The Synthcorp man believes the ork is in possession of company property. The Synthcorp man only overheard this information, and was not instructed to negotiate its return. The nature of the property is unknown.

Seneth was not able to completely resist the effect of drain from casting the spell. He takes three points of stun damage as a result of casting. It will take an hour of rest for each point of damage to recover. Seneth will suffer a small penalty (-1 wound modifier) to his dice rolls until he recovers.

Seneth may now attempt to negotiate with the man. Armed with this new knowledge, he will stand a better chance to succeed in raising the Synthcorp offer.

12

Seneth desides:

Despite the penalty, I will proceed to raise Synthcorp’s offer, being as intimidating as I can.

13

I am using your negotiation (part of “Influence” skill group) skill for this encounter, as he is unlikely to be intimidated in this situation.

The man seems offended. “So what? The ork is an adept. It doesn’t change anything. He’s scum, and literally not worth a Synthcorp security team’s time. It’s why we’re hiring you, instead.”

He pauses sternly, but sighs as he accepts that he’s lost the upper hand.

"But you do make a good point. Tying up this loose end might be worth more to Synthcorp than I realized. The final price is sixty thousand. Thirty to bring Arry back safely, and thirty to kill Chaggo.

Another thing you should know; Chaggo sold Synthcorp secrets. We believe the money from that transaction is in a credstick* being held on his person. If you find it, keep it."

Seneth was moderately successful in his negotiation roll against the Synthcorp rep. Any further attempts to negotiate will not be successful.

*a credstick can work similarly to a prepaid credit card. This particular stick is not linked to any SIN, and can be used by anyone who finds it. Payment in this way is very popular among runners and hooligans who don’t want their financial transactions to be tracked.

14

Seneth leans toward the Synthcorp man, forcing him to crouch down:

"You should have told us about the Physical adept and his previous history before sending us on our way. I’ve come against many of this kind over my years and these kind of little hiccups always backfire.

Because of this, you must arrange for us to be paid 75,000 instead of the 50,000.

Why are we required to kill the men holding him? What happens if we don’t?

15

We simulposted there, despite the time difference.

16

The man has told you everything he knows, and made his final offer. The credstick Chaggo is carrying will likely be worth at least the difference between your demand and his offer.

The man gestures to Donovan. “If you have any further questions about this job, talk to Donovan. He’ll be your contact with Synthcorp for this…adventure.”

17

Master Keluszon to the group:

“I suggest we take the deal and make it a point to find the credstick.”

18

Agreed. My main concerns were that we were getting into a corp-war here, and accepting a bag-n’-tag contract as part of a corp-war rarely turns out well. But it seems that this adept is a rogue agent, which means no one’s really going to miss him. I’m fine with the payment as is. Tell the man we accept his offer, but we request the standard half payment up front, and the other half due upon completion thing. We’ll get him his man and kill the guys holding him.

19

Master Keluszon conveys acceptance of the “adventure” and demands half the money up front.

20

Nail, to Keluszon when he initially asks to speak to the company agent:

“Sure, knock yourself out.” Nail proceeds to listen quietly. At least, he’s probably listening. You wouldn’t be able to tell at a glance.

After the negotations, to the group: “I’m in.”

Sometime during Keluszon’s conveyance of our acceptance of the “adventure,” Nail speaks again. “A physical Adept huh. Sounds like fun.” He stretches leisurely.