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Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

The white-haired elf in the tasteful, yet surprisingly protective suit has been quiet up until this point, scanning the drink menu. An impressive range for an airport bar, actually, but it had more breadth than class. He keys in an order for a mid-range gaikkaiken sake, warm.

"Stormcrow," he says. "Not my real name, but my real name causes trouble for me these days. I'm your magic... spirits, thunderbolts, explosions... things like that. I'm a fair hand at covert ops as well. Memory wipes are something of a specialty, actually."

pre:
== Info == 
Street Name: Stormcrow
Name: Ryu Naganashi
Movement: 10/25, Swim: 6
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 2
Public Awareness: 0
Elf Male Age 24
Height 5'10 Weight 170
Composure: 12
Judge Intentions: 10
Lift/Carry: 3 (15 kg/10 kg) 
Memory: 7
Nuyen: 0

== Attributes == 
BOD: 2
AGI: 3
REA: 2
STR: 1
CHA: 7
INT: 3
LOG: 2
WIL: 5
EDG: 2
MAG: 6

== Derived Attributes == 
Essence:                   6
Initiative:                5
IP:                        1
Astral Initiative:         6
Astral IP:                 3
Matrix Initiative:         6
Matrix IP:                 2
Physical Damage Track:     9
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Active Skills == 
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 2
Animal Training            : 0                      Pool: 2
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Armorer                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Artisan                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Assensing                  : 2                      Pool: 5
Automatics                 : 0                      Pool: 2
Banishing                  : 4                      Pool: 10
Binding                    : 4                      Pool: 10
Blades                     : 0                      Pool: 2
Clubs                      : 0                      Pool: 2
Computer                   : 1                      Pool: 3
Con                        : 2                      Pool: 9
Counterspelling            : 1                      Pool: 7
Cybercombat                : 0                      Pool: 1
Data Search                : 1                      Pool: 3
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 1
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 1
Dodge                      : 4 [Ranged Combat]      Pool: 6 (8)
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 2
Etiquette                  : 2                      Pool: 9
First Aid                  : 0                      Pool: 1
Forgery                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Gunnery                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Gymnastics                 : 0                      Pool: 2
Hacking                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 2
Infiltration               : 0                      Pool: 2
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 6
Intimidation               : 0                      Pool: 6
Leadership                 : 2                      Pool: 9
Locksmith                  : 0                      Pool: 2
Longarms                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Navigation                 : 0                      Pool: 2
Negotiation                : 2                      Pool: 9
Palming                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Parachuting                : 0                      Pool: 1
Perception                 : 2                      Pool: 5
Pilot Ground Craft         : 0                      Pool: 1
Pilot Watercraft           : 0                      Pool: 1
Pistols                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Riding                     : 0                      Pool: 1
Ritual Spellcasting        : 1                      Pool: 7
Shadowing                  : 0                      Pool: 2
Spellcasting               : 5 [Manipulation]       Pool: 11 (13)
Summoning                  : 4                      Pool: 10
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 2
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Unarmed Combat             : 0                      Pool: 2

== Knowledge Skills == 
Art                        : 2                      Pool: 5
Combat Tactics             : 3                      Pool: 5
English                    : 2                      Pool: 5
Japanese                   : N                      Pool: 0
Literature                 : 1                      Pool: 4
Magical Theory             : 2                      Pool: 4
Mitsuhama                  : 2                      Pool: 4
Security Tactics           : 2                      Pool: 4
Tagolog                    : 1                      Pool: 4

== Contacts == 
MCT Research Unit 13 (5 (14), 1) 

== Qualities == 
Geas (Must perfom purification ritual each morning)
Gremlins (Rating 1)
Low-Light Vision
Magician
Mentor Spirit (Dragonslayer)

== Spells == 
(Tradition: Shinto, Resist Drain with WIL + CHA (12)) 
Alter Memory               DV: (F÷2)+2
Critter Form [Critter] (Crow) DV: (F÷2)+1
Heal                       DV: (Damage Value)-2
Increase [Attribute] (CHA) DV: (F÷2)-2
Increase Reflexes          DV: (F÷2)+2
Influence                  DV: (F÷2)+1
Levitate                   DV: (F÷2)+1
Lightning Bolt             DV: (F÷2)+3
Mind Probe                 DV: (F÷2)+2
Physical Mask              DV: (F÷2)+1

== Lifestyles == 
 1 months 

== Armor == 
Actioneer Business Clothes5/3
   +YNT SoftWeave

== Weapons == 
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 2   DV: 1S   AP: -   RC: 0

== Commlink == 
Novatech Airware (3, 0, 0, 3) 

== Gear == 
Fake License (Sustaining Focus (Health)) Rating 2
Fake SIN Rating 2
FTL Matrixware Power Suite
   +Analyze Rating 3 [Copy Protection 3; Registration] 
   +Browse Rating 4 [Copy Protection 4; Registration] 
   +Command Rating 2 [Copy Protection 2; Registration] 
   +Edit Rating 4 [Copy Protection 4; Registration] 
   +Purge Rating 4 [Copy Protection 4; Registration] 
   +Scan Rating 2 [Copy Protection 2; Registration] 
Magical Lodge Materials Rating 4
Mangadyne Deva
Sim Module (Cold)
Subvocal Microphone
Sustaining Focus (Health) (Bonded Foci) Rating 2
Trodes
AR Gloves

Baby Babbeh fucked around with this message at 01:14 on Apr 6, 2013

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Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Good. I think this will work out well. A lot of corp security jobs have you babysitting amateurs, but you lot seem solid enough. I was worried."

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Close," Stormcrow said. "A better translation would be land of the dead. Its not a hell, not a punishment for anything. It just is."

"No matter. As long as the credits keep flowing I'll make a heaven of a hell or a hell of a heaven. Are there any splinter groups in particular that are a danger to our operations? Sometimes the best security is proactive security."

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Inwardly, Stormcrow winced a bit at the other elf's rough approach, but long training kept it from showing on his face. It was an act, he knew. Intimidation was just another tool.

Still, it went a bit deeper. You could tell a lot about a person by the tool they went for first. Here, he thought, was a man who was used to getting his way through fear. To be successful enough at that for it to be like the well-worn handle of a spanner in the hands of a craftsman, you had to be the sort of person who was capable of fearful acts. Stormcrow filed that bit of information away for later.

"Wouldn't be necessary. Memory magic works both ways. If they knew anything I could just tear it whole from their minds," he said. "It's workable, as long as I can find a kami that has encountered the Huk... they are no good for searching for things they've never encountered before, even if certain kinds can see a man once and then find him, always."

"The trouble, it would seem, is to find the specific individuals that have knowledge of the higher ups. If they follow the tactics of other revolutionary groups I may or may not have encountered while... providing security consultation... they likely operate in semi-autonomous cells with only sporadic contact with each other or the command structure. The average foot soldier, in that case, would almost assuredly not know anything of use to us."

"I'm assuming the Huk separatists have some sort of leader? One neck to throttle, as the saying goes?"

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

The elf bares the mussing of his hair without comment, and returns a smile of his own.

"Of course. I'm sure you're all quite charming."

"I think it probably best if we get some guidance from our employer before we start winning hearts and minds through violence. Learn where Newport wants us focusing our efforts? Else, with an enemy as diffused as this seems to be, we end up crushing heads all over the jungle while leaving the heart intact."

"Plus, I have magic stuff to unpack."

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow's hands flow gracefully over an imaginary keyboard. His response comes in an instant.

Of course. No need to tar the rest of us while he's making an rear end of himself. Still, there's no need for our first mission to be bailing Coll out of some Filipino jail. I'm going to see what I can do behind the scenes.

He leans back in his chair, eyes closing, brow knitting. There, deep down at the base of his spine, the entrance to Susanno-o's realm. Nobody here could see into the astral, as far as he knew, but if they could they'd see an aura shining like pale fire and a belly full of thunder. All of the hairs on his arms stand up, and there's the almost imperceptible smell of ozone, like the aftermath of thunder weather.

Stormcrow reached out and lightly brushed Coll's pantleg. Reality thrummed, and rearranged itself slightly.

Going to boost Coll's Charisma to help him negotiate/cow onlookers. Force 6 spell, 5 successes, which brings his charisma to 10. I'll hold that for however long it takes for him to talk his way out of it. Rolled 12 dice to resist drain and got a 6, rolled one dice for drain. Considering drain is 1 for that spell it doesn't even phase me.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

The Japanese mage relaxes, and the threads of power around Coll loosen and dissipate into the surrounding ether. There is a release of pressure, like 8 million kami stopped holding their breath. The world is as it was.

"Well, that went well," he said, to no one in particular.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow sighs, reaching into his pocket for a pack of Benson and Hedges. He pulls out a cigarette without offering one to the others and lights it with a tiny arc of electricity from his fingertip.

"Don't worry," he said. "As long as I have Susanoo I'm never unarmed."

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

::I suppose it's time I earned my keep, then.:: Stormcrow subvocalizes back, as he walks a short way from the trucks. He hadn't been running in the shadows long, but hostage situations were something in which he had practice, they being one of the situations serious enough for Research Unit 13 to be called in. He is back on familiar ground.

He kneels, and in a low, droning voice begins chanting a prayer to the 8 million kami in Japanese, extolling the virtue of their mission and the spiritual purity of his actions and begging them to send him aid. The prayer was just a formality, of course, but the words calmed the local ether and eased the way for the spirit's journey. Plus, the kami were old-fashioned. They usually appreciated the attention to form.

Perhaps that was a good thing, as he has several false starts and has to strain a bit more than he was expecting. It is as though the island itself is resisting.

But at last, the call gets through. A chill breeze blows, whipping up dust from the ground, cool and crisp like a night wind on a mountaintop. When it settles, a seven foot bird man stands by the road, eyeing Stormcrow quizzically.

It is a daitengu, a variety of spirit the Huk probably know well, given that the Japancorps were fond of using them for frontline assault troops.

"You call, and I come, Kannushi," it said in Japanese. "I do hope you've a good reason to bring me to a forsaken place like this."

"Patience, honored kami," Stormcrow answered. "I promise this won't take long."

::The spirit can hide us as we make our approach on the building. Once inside the rebels should go down quickly. It's that bomb that concerns me. Noise, is there anyway you can spoof the signal from his biomonitor to keep it from triggering the explosives? Otherwise this could get tricky, as we'll need to figure out who the leader is and knock him out first.::

Failed my initial summoning roll, but didn't take any drain from it. On my second roll I rolled a 4 and the spirit rolled a 2, so I have two services. I'm going to use the first to get it to use its Conceal power to cover our approach, which gives a -6 to perception rolls to notice us. The second I'll hold in reserve but will probably use to get it to kill some rebels. I'm also going to cast a Force 2 Enhance Reflexes spell on myself, sustained through my Focus. Rolled a 5 but since it's only Force 2 I get two hits, enough for +1 initiative and +1 initiative passes.

Daitengu's stat block:


pre:
Daitengu (Rank 6 Spirit of Air)

Daitengu appear as winged men with bird features, generally wearing medieval
Japanese clothing, and carrying katana. They are surrounded by an aura of
preternatural cold that causes frost to condense on nearby objects. 

Body 4
Agility 10
Response 10
Strength 3
Charisma 6
Intuition 6
Logic 6
Will 6
Edge 6
Essence 6
Magic 6
Initiative 15
Initiative Passes 2
Movement 15/75 (Flight)

Skills
Assensing 6
Astral Combat 6
Dodge 6
Exotic Ranged Weapon (Elemental Attack)
Flight 6
Perception 6
Unarmed Combat 6

Powers
Accident
Astral Form
Concealment
Confusion
Engulf
Materialization
Movement (Flight)
Sapience 
Search

Optional Powers
Elemental Aura
Fear

Baby Babbeh fucked around with this message at 11:13 on Apr 15, 2013

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

::Right, that's why we hit them hard, we hit them fast, and we hit them by surprise. The fact that he's got a dead man switch means he's probably relying on his dead man switch, and that means he's probably not in there with his finger hovering over a detonator button. If we know who to shoot for we can probably geek the bastard before he can move.::

He turned to the spirit.

"I need you to conceal us from the people in that building, then stick close in the astral," he said. "There's some people I will probably need you to kill."


::Once concealment is up and the cameras are down, I'm going to try to get to the guard in the driveway and heal him. ::

Absently, he touched the side of his head, where his hairline just barely hid a thin scar.

::He doesn't need to die just because these corp assholes think he's expendable.::

Can I reach him before he bleeds out if I sprint? If so I'm going to go over there and use Heal on him.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Fine by me," the elf says. "I can be as overt or as subtle as needed with magic. The chanting and the gesture is mostly formality."

He studies the camera feeds. Amateurish. They should have split the hostages into groups of two or three per gunman and kept them in different rooms. He supposes he should be thankful instead of critical. The guard inside was an interesting case. Perhaps an inside job?

::Sniper. If you can get to the guard in time we will attempt to buy time for everyone to get in place by posing as the reporters.::

I'm assuming I can just drop concealment on Coll and I without using up a service? Because it would be suspicious if the reporters showed up cloaked by magic.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow laughs at the security feed.

::Good. That means they probably don't have anyone who can see into the astral watching, which could gum our reporter schtick. I think these guys are in for a shock. I will work out something more permanent for the guard once every terrorist in the building is dead.::

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow reads minds! I was hoping to capture at least one alive, preferably the leader.

Stormcrow

"Wait, Coll slow down! I want to get some B Roll of you walking toward the complex. It will make a good establishing shot!"

::Looks like we're rolling. I'll do what I can do covertly to pave the way for you guys once the shooting starts. And I'll try to reign Coll in if he starts to bull through things.::

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

The white-haired elf swept the two guards with camera of his commlink, smiling apologetically.

"Sorry. He's a bit of a perfectionist. But if you want your news to spread you need more than a good story these days. It takes craft, you know, production values. We wanna get this right and they'll be talking about your group from here to Seattle, chummer."

"Anyway, it's not all bad, Coll. The location has a certain charm. And those Kalashnikovs! Very authentic-looking."

7 successes on my con roll as well.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"It's pretty simple, you got lucky," Stormcrow said, enduring his patdown. "Have you heard of a multi-spectrum emergency scanner? It scans local feeds from security corps., Docwagon, government contractors, etc. Standard carry for Horizon stringers on assignment in conflict zones. Most civilian ones only pull in unsecured feeds but ours has an agent that can crack low levels of encryption. So when you guys started your raid here, we started hearing chatter on the emergency responders channel that they had to have medical support standing by because of a hostage situation that could go sour. So Coll and I hopped in our Hotspur and high-tailed it out here as fast as we could. We were about 5 minutes out when you made your call for reporters. You got lucky. We're actually on assignment for the head office shooting a piece on Huk separatists. You could have gotten some amateurs from the local affiliate, instead you got a pair of artists who can take this thing global."

::Noise, is that biomonitor down?::

6 successes for Con.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Spending an edge to act first

Stormcrow

"drat!"

Stormcrow dives and neatly rolls to the left, landing a low crouch. They could have given him a little warning before kicking this off! Hopefully everyone was in position.

Priority is saving those hostages, he communicates mentally to his Daitengu, waiting a short ways away in the astral. Protect the innocents upstairs, and my teammates. Kill anything that gets in your way.

As he comes to his feet, Stormcrow brings his hands together into a traditional Shinto mudra, feeling the power flow out from the kami at the center of his being and into his flesh. His eyes begin to glow pale blue, and sparks begin to dance across his skin. Almost tentatively, he reaches for the leader's commlink with fingers of thunder and will.

Using a free action to mentally send an order to the Daitengu. I rolled his initiative of 15 and got 4 hits. Since he's in Astral and can move really fast, I figure he can probably get to the second floor and materialize on this turn, which will hopefully startle the people there so much they don't immediately shoot the hostages.

Then, I'm using a Force 6 Levitate spell to try to take the leader's commlink. I rolled loving lousy on my resist drain check and only got 1 success, so I take 3 stun.

Baby Babbeh fucked around with this message at 09:31 on Apr 20, 2013

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Rolled initiative before I reread the rules and realized I didn't have to. Ignore it
Stormcrow

Stormcrow can feel the power surging through his body now, arcs of electricity making nerves fire randomly and clusters of muscles twitch. There is a dull ache not unlike the strain of a long run. His breath comes labored, and smells of ozone.

"Drop that!" He shouts, point toward [strikeout]the security guard Andy[/strikeout] The leader. Lightning flashes in his eyes.

Another Force 6 Levitate disarm, this time rolled 3 successes, which should still be enough to yank the gun out of his hand since it doesn't weigh much. Rolled a 4 on my resist drain roll so I don't take any drain this turn

Edit: I just realized I'm probably C on the map, so I wouldn't have a line of sight on Andy. In that case I'll go for the leader's gun. Also I realize I neglected the penalty from the stun damage I took on the last round, so I actually should have rolled 12 dice for that disarm rather than 13. You can penalize me one success, although I don't think it matters for this spell.


Baby Babbeh fucked around with this message at 22:59 on Apr 20, 2013

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



I just realized, I'm probably C on this map, right? In that case I don't have line of sight on Andy and can't hit him with that spell, so I'm going for the leader's gun instead.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow looked from the APC currently tearing its way out of garage with a heavy machine gun to the prone form of the downed security guard, laying directly in its path. He curses himself for being so softhearted, as he gestures toward the guard, willing his body into the air and into the bushes (hopefully softly) a short distance away.

He then dives to the ground inside, anticipating the thing turning its gun on them.

::Looks like an APC. Heavy machine gun. Stay away from the windows::


Getting a ton of mileage out of Levitate today.

Yet another Levitate roll to try to move the injured guard to cover: 12d6t5 6

Going to move the guard lying in the driveway to cover so he doesn't get run over by the APC. Rolled pretty well, so I should be able to move him 30 meters or so this tick.

Drain: 12d6t5 4

4 successes soaks the drain this turn.

After that I'm ducking into the doorway and finding cover.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



If one wanted to, say, target the person driving the APC with a thunderbolt, what would the relevant dice modifiers be? Is it the -6 cover modifier?

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

The magic flowing through Stormcrow's body thrums, filling him with a sense of de ja vu as he finds himself moving before his mind has a chance to register the action. He dives and rolls, as the wall where he was standing a half second before explodes in a shower of pebbles and smoke. Smithereens of sheetrock and hot metal streak across his back, making him grunt with mild surprise as he scrambles away from the now all-too-exposed position.

Going on full defense and scrambling away, which will use up my action for the next tick. Hopefully the Tengu can figure out what to do about the APC without me on this turn.

Full Defense! Oh poo poo I hope I don't die: 9d6t5 2

I'm ruling it a grazing hit. Stormcrow's suit will be useless for cocktail parties but he's otherwise unharmed.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow wipes the dust from his pants and stands. Mindful of the burns across his back, he shrugs out of his jacket and... yup, ruined. Long rends of torn and partially melted YNT Softweave fabric mar the jacket's otherwise sleek silhouette. This was a new suit. He sighs.

"Guess I knew there were risks when I took this job," he says under his breath in Japanese. "I don't suppose there's a decent tailor on this island? No, probably not."

He feels very tired all of a sudden, now that the adrenalin of the battle has faded and the power he called forth has receded back into his belly. It was always like that -- the high of using magic was never quite enough to compensate for the crash that followed. Now, he just wanted to lie down, or better yet, take a long bath.

"Yes," he says to Noise as he tends to the leader. "It would seem our Mr. Coll has a different way of disarming someone than I do."

He shrugs, digging around in his jacket pocket for his cigarettes. There we go, He slides one into his mouth and then slings the ruined jacket over his shoulder.

"Get him patched up. He doesn't get to die just yet. I'm assuming we've got DocWagon incoming but I'll take care of the wounded guard outside, just the same. I might have been a bit abrupt when I was moving him out of the way of that tank."

Outside, the guard is lying in the bush where Stormcrow dropped him. He was as gentle has he could be under the circumstances, and that trauma patch should have kept the wounds from reopening, but it paid to be safe

"Hey, sorry about that little ride I took you for," he says. "It was as best I could do, what with the APC looking to run you over. But let's get a look at that gut wound."

Using heal on the guard.

Healing the guard: 12d6t5 5

Drain:

Drain: 12d6t5 4

vs. a DV of 3 so no Drain suffered.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Don't mention it, tomadachi. Corp assholes tend to treat security like they're completely disposable, I know all too well," Stormcrow says, helping the man to his feet.

"Anyway, what the hell happened here? Any reason you can think of why they'd go after a salination plant in the middle of nowhere?"

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Irregulars, huh? I suppose we are," Stormcrow says. "I'd say you're lucky this lot seems to have pissed Newport off. My services are not cheap, and something tells me the others aren't either. He's sparing no expense to bring the rebels to heel."

"So our reputation precedes, then? I'd very much like to know what you've heard about the contractors Newport is hiring. Actually, I'd like to hear anything you've heard about any contractors that are in the area. This island seems to be heating up."

Not that it wasn't hot as balls already, Stormcrow thinks. His sweat is soaking through his ruined shirt.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

The white-haired elf grimaces in Benny's direction before assuming a perfectly blank expression and turning toward the new arrival. He was too tired to deal with this rear end in a top hat.

"Stormcrow. I'm an independent security advisor under contract to provide threat mitigation services to the Newport Group," Stormcrow says, extending his hand to be shaken. "My team and I happened to be the closest responders when the call went out about the situation here. I'd say it's a good thing, because if you guys were the next farthest out, you're arriving just in time for the first hostage to be shot, right about... now."

"Anyway, all four hostages have been recovered, completely unharmed, as well as my new friend Benny here, with some slight wear. We captured three of the terrorists, the ringleader, a hacker, and an insider who helped the Huk take the facility. I believe they are talking to Mr. Coll our... diplomacy expert, right now. Damage to the facility was minimal although..."

He gestured to the ruined APC.

"Mr. Newport will need to purchase a new garage door."

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Vavrek posted:

Snipey

Message to Stormcrow:
::You're the wiz of this wiz-team, right? You got any mind-readin', or are you the type of chum who just sets mundanes on fire? Mr. Coll wants to recruit this guy, but, you know, backup plans are good.::


::Yes. But I'm tired from that fight and I don't find it especially fun to be inside the heads of zealots even after a warm bath and a nap. So we'll see what Coll does and if it doesn't seem like it's working I'll pluck the memories out of their violent little minds.::

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow grins a little at the security guards lack of respect. So it was going to be like that. Okay.

He follows them inside.

::No. The way I was taught to do it is actually extremely unpleasant. There are less invasive spells but we never bothered with those. They're less efficient, and chances are the person who's head your violating isn't a friend anyway. I can probably make them forget it happened after, however. What information are we looking for specifically?::

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Good. I'll take you up on that offer, Kale. Right now I need a hot shower and some time to decompress," Stormcrow says. "Incidentally, I don't suppose you know a tailor that deals in armor clothing? My suit has seen better days."

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"I'm assuming he has some kind of a plan. My plans don't usually start with me zip tied and under armed guard in the back of a humvee with known terrorists. But maybe he likes a handicap."

"In any case, Coll's grandstanding aside, I think we did a pretty good job of it, this time out. We should be in a good place to negotiate for... hazard pay."

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow nods.

"Thanks, but I'm going to need a bunk all to myself. Seeing as Coll has found other lodging arrangements, I'm guessing that shouldn't be a problem. I need the extra space to set up my shrine. I won't be much good to the team without it," he says.

The elf spends the next hour unpacking -- placing various books of spell formula on his rooms two bare shelves, pushing aside one of the cots to make room for the water basin, setting up incense burners and various protective Ofuda, and then, on its own little pedestal at the far corner of the room, his yorishiro, a mirror wrapped in 127 layers of silk. He didn't need it after the death and resurrection bit, of course, but it still was a useful focus during difficult rituals.

That accomplished, he takes a longish shower and retires to his quarters to perform a short, perfunctory water purification before dinner. Cleanliness, both physical and spiritual, has revived him significantly. He feels more alert, more in touch with his power.

When he comes down to dinner, he is wearing a modern interpretation of a traditional shinto kannushi's robes. A thick shimenawa encircles his waist, marking him as a living shintai for those with enough knowledge of the religion to pick it out.


Stormcrow sets up his Mana Lodge in his quarters, although obviously it's not activated yet. Once we have a few days of downtime he will perform the activation ritual, putting a rating 4 magical barrier around his quarters.

Stormcrow is bringing his comlink and accessories, but is otherwise unarmed. He isn't wearing his suit, which is being repaired.

Baby Babbeh fucked around with this message at 08:58 on May 10, 2013

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

It is so easy now, with his body cleansed and his soul singing on the same frequency as the kami. Stormcrow reaches almost lazily for a tendril of divine power and twists it into a shape. The universe twists itself around it. There's a slight popping noise.

Stormcrow practically glows. His teeth are so white it almost hurts to look at them and his hair smells like something that reminds you of a warm summer day from childhood.

He takes a seat at the bar, ordering a warn sake and deliberately building in a 50 Nuyen tip for the bartender.

"I was hoping you could help me," he says. "I'm new in town and don't know anyone. I need a talismonger. Someone who won't cheat me, someone who carries Shinto goods. Preferably one that has, let's say, less formal sources? I'd rather not my nuyen end up in Mitsuhama's coffers, yeah?"

Boosting Charisma to 12 for the inevitable negotiations.

Boosting CHA: 10d6t5 6

Resist Drain: 12d6t5 7

Asking for directions: 12d6t5 3

Baby Babbeh fucked around with this message at 09:16 on May 13, 2013

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Basically I'm the same. I have no problem playing both sides against the middle, as Stormcrow has a grudge against the corps anyway. Given the right motivator, he might even sympathize with the opposition, even if he thinks their stand against progress is a little backward. But he tends to like to work a little less gonzo than Coll -- his training has been in cloak-and-dagger operations, and he values subtlety. He might support you, but he isn't going to approve of your methods.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow smiles his brilliant smile and laughs a surprisingly musical laugh, perfectly pitched to C sharp. Light flashes in his eyes. Were they always so deep and dark? Was his face always this symmetrical?

His effect on the bartender is not lost on him. That was the problem with getting the mojo working like this, it was sort of impossible not to be seen. It was about as subtle as a floodlamp on a moonless night. It makes him a little nervous to be this conspicuous in a runner bar before he really has the lay of the land, but on the other hand, he really needs this contract negotiation to go well.

"I understand," he says to the bartender, taking a small fastidious sip of his sake. "With what some of my countrymen got up to, I can't say I blame the locals for hating us. Believe me when I say there's no love lost between me and the Japancorps. But one doesn't hide what one is."

"Still, I appreciate your advice. I'll be more careful. Are their any places especially that I should avoid? You know, places that are unsafe for my kind."

Trying to get a sense if there are any bars where rebels hangout or the like.

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Stormcrow," the elf says. The air fairly crackles with power as he offers a handshake (just the perfect amount of pressure! Not to hard, not too soft. Heavenly). Nobody is showing him up while the mojo is cranked to 11.

"Its a pleasure to meet face to face at last. No offense, given your line of work, but dealing electronically lacks a certain... charm, yes?"

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow slides into the booth across from Newport, deftly engaging the white noise generator with a fluid motion as he sits.

"I think 7 is a good starting bid," he says. "Your representatives didn't mention the rebels had access to military hardware when we were first discussing this engagement. That APC was an unpleasant surprise. Given the results, no casualties and three potential information sources in hand with only cosmetic damage to the facility, I think you'll agree that this more than fair."

"You can even bill us for the garage door if you want."

Negotiatin' Negotiating: 12d6t5 6

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Yes. While we're on the subject of security, I'd like to make a simple request. Your wards. I want to redo them. Not that I don't trust your corporate mages, but I'm better than they are," Stormcrow said. "I'm likely to need to purchase some ritual materials for aligning the local kami and potentially binding some to serve as guards. It would be in both of our best interests if you covered the cost of these. Of course, I can just ward my own quarters for free, but that would leave the rest of the facility exposed. Given the power of the spirits at least some of the Huk can bring to bear, that would be regretable, no?"

"Oh, and we will need access to your motorpool. Not that I don't appreciate the chauffeur service so far, but our duties will require a degree of personal mobility. We were lucky to be in the area when the desal plant was hit today. We won't always be lucky."

:: Do as you will:: Stormcrow subvocalized. ::If he's gone and done something that will reflect poorly on us, then clean it up, by all means. I'll not be dragged down by his actions. At the same time, I'll not get in the way of the consequences of those actions, either.::

More negotiatin': 12d6t5 4

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Mystic Mongol posted:

If they just sort of bobble back and forth, have an odd falsetto voice, and don't make eye contact, Vincent has killed them and stuck them on a stick to work as a puppet.

Shadowrun: Weekend at Bernie's edition

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

"Hmmm... a Huk backup patrol? It is not inconceivable they could have seen we had the site locked down and waited to rescue their friends until the convoy split off... although that seems a bit beyond their level of planning. Either way, say the word and there will be retribution. It's what I was hired for, after all."


::I agree. Let's figure out what happened and what they know about what happened before we do anything irreversible. If you need my support with the sysadmin, you have it, Noise. I'd feel better about you having some access to those systems even if we don't end up papering over Coll's latest screwup.::

Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Stormcrow

Stormcrow sighed. Well, there went any hope for reconciliation, unless Coll was a shade better at talking his way out of trouble than indicated by the make dumb mistake-> fast talk -> kill something -> repeat flow chart his behavior seemed to follow.

Inwardly, the elf massed his power and poured it all at once into a single spot. A tiny stormcloud lit internally by intermittent lightning puffed into being. A least kami, barely a spirit at all, given some small semblance of autonomy from devouring the power he sent pinging into the astral. He kept it from manifesting in physical space as it formed -- it was best not to overplay one's hand.

"Find Coll," he instructed it, mentally. "Let me know where he is, and what he's doing. Shadow him and keep me updated on where he goes if you find him quick enough. If you encounter any wards, wait around outside and follow him when he comes out. If you lose track of him for more than 5 minutes, let me know."

Summoned a watcher, which will stick around for about 3 hours, hopefully enough for it to find Coll and shadow him for a bit.

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Baby Babbeh
Aug 2, 2005

It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with Turkeys!!



Motivation wise, Stormcrow is your prototypical mercenary with a heart of gold. He's out for himself first and foremost, and he has a hard time trusting people because of the whole being left for dead thing. At the same time he has at least some moral compass. Your best bet for convincing himto go along with you is the idea that the rebels are on the right side of the conflict, and it would be better long term to help them out covertly and take control of the island. As it stands he's all for hearing you out before he summoms a tengu to decapitate you.

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