The Cake Is A Lie, My God Have Mercy On My Soul Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Switch to: Outline Switch to: Standard Linear+

[Mister Book]

Not every Shadowrun has to deal with AAA corporations, sometimes not even A corps. Yes, sometimes when you're starting out you have to take what you can get.

The Cake Is Truth
Tell It To Them Straight:
You're contacted through a friend of a friend about work. Cred is running a little low and even a runner's got to eat. Your contact tells you to dress nice, the meet isn't in a typical dive. Grabbing your gear you make your way across town to the location and as it turns out your meet is in a pastry shop downtown. You walk up to the door and head inside only to find that the shop is empty save a rotund looking ork sitting in the back. Seeing your group walk in he gives a wide smile and motions to some seats at his table.

"Oh good, good, I am glad you arrived," says the ork as he stuffs a cupcake into his mouth. After he finishes the small pastry he looks at it and passes the remainder of the plate over after dobbing his mouth with a napkin. "It has come to my attention that you are the kind of people that get things done," the wide smile shows as he says, "So I have a offer for you, I'd like you to get an item for me." If the runners accept the job, and they should, this is intended to be a first run the ork continues. "Very good, very good indeed. There is a chef that works for the Bittersweet bakehouse, I have heard he has had inspiration and has developed the most delicious recipe for cake ever invented. I would like for you to get this recipe for me, and make sure that no one else gets a copy." His blase expression hardens as he adds to his statement, "See to it this cake is never made after you have gotten the recipe."

Behind The Scenes
Xavier Powell is a gourmand and his sweet tooth happens to be ork sized. Through contacts in bake houses across the country he has found out that the head chef in the Bittersweet bakehouse has been saying that he has come up with the most delicious cake ever made. Xavier just has to be one of the first to try this new treat. What's more, he wants to be the only person ever to enjoy it. Thus he's hired the team. The team is offered 5,000 nuyen per runner to both get the recipe and to kill the chef so that no one, but Xavier can enjoy the results of his baking genius.

Markus Donaldson is the target, he is the head chef at the Bittersweet Bakehouse. His address is provided, he lives in the Fayette a middle class apartment building room 404. The apartment building is downtown in the Lower Queen Anne district. If asked for more information on Markus, Xavier passes a file to the group's leader which details the chefs accomplishments. A new employee to the Bittersweet Bakehouse Markus quickly moved up to the head chef with several of his innovative creations. Viewed as a rising star in the cooking world. Markus Donaldson is a middle aged human, not registered as a magician, no cybernetics on his SIN and no criminal record. Savvy players should ask about the schedule that Markus keeps, working in an active bakehouse has the head chef leaving before dawn and coming home in the afternoon. If they do not think to ask, Xavier should point this out, "I'm sure you're not planning to leave without at LEAST knowing when you can find Chef Donaldson and where."

The Bittersweet Bakehouse is located in Everett, security there is light but a high number of bakers and staff are there during working hours.

[Mister Book]

Deleted! ZOMG!

[Mister Book]

Reserved For More Later

[Mister Book]

Reserved For More Later

[Ravor]

Promising start, I assume that the mission is wetwork as well as delivery of said cake? Assuming of course that it isn't all a wild goose chase... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

[Fezig]

I am equal parts disturbed and intrigued...

['Sconnie]

We know that there will be cake at the end of this run, but will there also be grief counseling?

[Mister Book]

We know that there will be cake at the end of this run, but will there also be grief counseling?

Maybe so, I am working this out as I go along, so I will add little bits here and there.

I always follow where the muse takes me when writing so I'll find out at the end if there is cake or grief counseling.

[Kliko]

There was something about a cake (not a fruit cake btw) and recipe in Dunky's will if memory serves me right...

[crash2029]

I hope the Cake Run is not going to be a cakewalk.

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)

[Stahlseele]

There was something about a cake (not a fruit cake btw) and recipe in Dunky's will if memory serves me right...

Yeah, he and Alamais had a little game going, where once, every year, both tried to have a fruit cake delivered to the others lair by any means possible.

[Kliko]

[ Spoiler ]

'To Jeremy Goldsmith, I leave the recipe to Ms. Grundland’s Peanut Butter Cookies, as well as related trademarks and copyrights. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.'

Not quite the fruitcake for this scenario (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[Khyron]

The runners should be paid both in money and in free pastries coupons.

[Mister Book]

Okay, so tomorrow I will work more on the start. Thank you all for being so patient, if I did this all on a text file I'd never finish. Having it be created in public give me motivation to continue. I need to read Seattle 207* and get an idea of a good Security B neighborhood and a place for the bakehouse. I want to give the players the options of taking the chef at home (okay idea), on his way to work (good idea) or at the bakehouse (bad idea).

[GM Lich]

creepy

[Method]

Interesting idea. You should consider submitting this to the Dumpshock Data Haven as a short adventure framework if you get all the details worked out.

My question is: what insidious ingredients does the chef put in his cake that makes it so good? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

[CanRay]

Yeah, he and Alamais had a little game going, where once, every year, both tried to have a fruit cake delivered to the others lair by any means possible.

Actually, it was "Delivered", period. No matter where they were, or in what form they were in. IIRC, that is.

[The Jake]

For some reason this run reminds me of an old PC game called Pizza Wars...

- J.

[Stahlseele]

Actually, it was "Delivered", period. No matter where they were, or in what form they were in. IIRC, that is.

*shrugs* been some time, since i read about that ^^

[Mister Book]

Okay, so its 05:10 for me and the muse woke me up from a deep sleep.

Sadly I woke up thinking, "Its magically delicious." However, its given me a funny idea how to progress the plot.

[CollateralDynamo]

His address is provided, he lives in the Fayette a middle class apartment building room 404.

I see what you did there....looking forward to the payoff on that one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Mister Book]

I see what you did there....looking forward to the payoff on that one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Snickerdoodle, she's in my head!

For a few moments, I thought of having the technomancer's birthday cake be the cake they're after but I couldn't do that. The idea of some guys kicking in the door of the little girl's apartment and stealing her cake on her birthday would make my inner child cry.



And Snickerdoodle would hurt me...

[Mister Book]

The Truth Behind The Lie.

[ Spoiler ]

Okay, so I need a little help with my idea. What I am thinking for this is that the cake recipe is actually the formula for a Free Spirit. I'm thinking Markus awakened while struggling to top his last creation and then, the formula started to appear in his mind. I was thinking of the free spirit having been a Hearth Spirit (to use old jargon) and thus found the chef to be a nice host to be inside. The chef's awakening has allowed him to tap into the spirit's essence and compile its formula into a delicious cake recipe. Xavier doesn't know any of this, he has just heard that Markus has been talking about making the best cake ever made. I am thinking that the players end up killing Markus before he completes the formula and while they get a great cake recipe it doesn't have the complete formula for binding the free spirit. Thus, the cake is a lie.

[Zaranthan]

Wheels within wheels. Excellent. For a "Pushing the Envelope" segment, have him complete the recipe before the players get there, so now they have to deal with a free spirit trying to defend its spirit formula, as well as a terrified chef.

[Mister Book]

A Free Spirit that acts like Chef Ramsey cracks me up, "You want my F***ing cake? Get out of my F****ing kitchen!"

[Mister Book]

When I add updates should I make a new post? Not sure of how the etiquette of the forums work here.

[Angelone]

I would add as I go prevents people from having to keep checking on the first few posts.

[Wounded Ronin]

So...hardcore...and....awesome.

Makes me want to play SR again.

[Tachi]

My question is: what insidious ingredients does the chef put in his cake that makes it so good? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

Uh, the cake is made of people?

(Sorry, I felt a great need to say it, it just couldn't be helped.)

[Mister Book]

Scan This:
The Fayette is located in a middle class neighborhood downtown known as Lower Queen Ann, as a result the security/local police are on more on the ball than in the lower neighborhoods. Metahumans are expected to broadcast their SINs and not to be operating in hidden mode on their PANs. (Writer's note: So got to get used to this wireless Matrix). If the players insist on carrying their big guns or remaining in hidden mode they can encounter a few LoneStar patrolling the area. It might be as simple as a drone buzzing by and reminding them that they need to be in visible mode on their PAN or you could have a few patrol cops drive by and shake them down. Use the Beat Cop Template in SR4 pg 282.

Getting into the Fayette can be as easy or as difficult as the runners make it. Time is of the essence, Chef Donaldson is due to reveal his new cake and the recipe for making it the next day.

If the players walk in guns at the ready they're in for a surprise, The Fayette has a full staff of security officers that patrol the building and monitor it from a central location.

The best method of entry is to be casual, keep weapons hidden, fake SINs broadcasting and dress for the occasion. If the players just left the meet with Xavier they should be wearing clothes suitable for the occasion. If they went out of their way to dress in their grungy work clothes have security ask them to leave. If they return later, security will already be alert to them and getting in will be more difficult.

Tell It To Them Straight:
You manage to make your way up to room 404, excitement has your nerves hardwired all that remains is to go inside, get the recipe and prevent the chef from ever making the cake. Door 404 itself is a heavy wooden door with a maglock that requires a passkey to open it. You feel the weight of your gear, you can hear your heart beating and you can't shake the feeling you're being watched.

Watched the runners are indeed, Markus has become a well loved member of the community, at least in the eyes of a young technomancer that lives on the floor. Having been delighted to get free cookies and cakes whenever she liked, the young technomancer has set up her best friend Snickerdoodle to watch over Mister Markus' house to make sure no one hurts him. Snickerdoodle is a Rating 4 Machine Sprite that the technomancer has tasked with protecting Markus.

Providing the players have kept things quiet to this point, Snickerdoodle will observe them go into Markus' room and then move inside to monitor the situation. The moment things get hostile, she'll take action. The lights in room 404 flicker rapidly making visibility difficult for anyone not wearing flare protection. Once the lights are set in place she will jump to the fridge and have the ice maker start throwing ice across the floor making movement more difficult all the while broadcasting over the appliance's speakers for Mister Markus to run. If the players have not set up jamming Snickerdoodle's next action is to set off the panic button.

If the players have been fast and loose with violence, Snickerdoodle takes a more active role in defense. Elevators fail, doors refuse to open, lights go out or on depending on what will cause the most trouble and slow the progression. In addition Markus will have gotten warning and will be in the process of getting himself out of the apartment and down the fire escape. If the players are having too much trouble you can cut them a break and have him take time to pack a few belongings.

Tell It To Them Straight:
The apartment is really well kept, not like the dives you'd be used to living in the barrens that's for sure. Synthleather sofa along the wall, a great virtual window that shows downtown Paris and carpet so thick your boots sink into it like cool sludge on a winter's night in Puyallup. As nice as those things are, the kitchen you can see from the doorway has been expanded from its normal boundaries, all custom work. Pots and pans hang from the ceiling along with various assorted utensils that would come in handy for the chef to work his magic.

Working his magic he is, Markus is writing furiously on a large sheet of paper, so intent on his work he doesn't notice the runners enter unless they kick the door in. Next to where he sprawls on the floor is a old style whiteboard with various notations on his latest creation.

Should a magically active character assess the area they will notice a spirit standing over the chef's shoulder. The spirit looks like a older man with blonde hair kept in a wave cut and dressed in black pants with a white chef's coat. Craggy features are set in a perpetual scowl as he points to the recipe on the floor and berating Markus about mistakes. Once the players enter the room, the spirit steps into Markus and merges with him.

Upon noticing your group the chef stands up and for a moment he looks dazed before his expression hardens into an angry look. He barks out, "Just what the **** do you think you're ****ing doing in here?!? Get the **** out before I throw you out!"