Streets of Sorrow, Street level campaign Options

[HobbeGoblin]

Based in Seattle, 2064. The campaign starts with all the players as members of a gang. This is a game for roleplayers but, there will also be combat...life's tough on the streets, neh?

Standard character creation and BP's acceptable (125 points)

no technical, or non-street knowledges above 3
no magical skills above 3
resources are limited to 90,000 unless you can convince me in your discription.

You must also let me know if you are going to be:

Hardcore Member: culturally and criminally enmeshed in gang...the 10%'ers
Associate Member: made a personal commitment to gang and to achieve
recognition as a Hardcore Member.
Fringe Member: Still able to function outside of gang, no real commitment
to gang. Drift in and out.

Special note: Hardcore Members must have a good explaination in their
discription or take the criminal record flaw.

As stated before this will be a roleplaying game with some combat, i'd like to focus on the harsh street life, character development and just to have fun.

Gear is limited to Availability of 5

Due to recent questions/concerns/suggestions, combat will be more of a theme than i had previously thought. I will reward roleplay and driving the storyline though.

[Digital Heroin]

Hmmm... need to think about this one.

[Cydlexia]

[FONT=Courier] Yo! yo! Whats up... Send me some Info on this.. Sounds cool... Any one who reads should join up... And I need the books sent over dude. To make a guy

Later
OoXWraithXoO

[Kiedo]

I'd definately be interested in playing, one question, are the players the upper echelon of the gang or just regular old members?

And what about gear, what's the highest availability?

[HobbeGoblin]

Gear is all at Availability 5 ( unless you have a good story how you got it)

The choice for being upper echelon is up to you.

Hardcore members are infact leaders
Associate Members are working to be Hardcore and leaders
Fringe members just dift inand out

[HobbeGoblin]

Hardcore members have a greater voice in the story. ie.... the hardcore members decide by a vote to go to war or not. The Gangleader at this point is an NPC. Hardcore members decide by vote which Associate members become Hardcore during the campaign. Hardcore members can speak on behalf of the gang and, are in charge of the day to day running of the gang. This great power within the gang comes with a price in character creation ( see first post) or by performing up the level Hardcore members expect during game play to be promoted.

[WinterRat1]

5 questions at this time:

1. Are there any limits on physical adepts?

2. Do we have to pay to be part of the gang (50K as per SRComp) or do we begin play assuming we're in if we choose, at one of the levels mentioned above with the appropriate requirements/restrictions per level?

3. Also, are there any limits on edges and flaws?

4. When and how would you want characters submitted, and what would you want included in the submission?

5. Are there any skill and/or attribute restrictions other than the ones listed? Because with 125 BP, it's very easy to have nearly all your attributes at 5 or 6 as a human, and have a ton of skill points, and 90K

Ex.
Attributes: 30 X 2 = 60 BP
Skills: 50 X 1 = 50 BP
Resources: 90K = 15 BP
Human: 0 BP
Mundane: 0 BP
Total: 125 BP

Not trying to undermine you or anything, just checking if that's ok with you, because that was my initial thought for a potential character.

[HobbeGoblin]

To answer your questions.

1. limits on psyads: I dont at this time have the new SOTA source book...It's on my to get list so, if you use/take powers i'm not familiar with i'll need an explaination on them.

2. Do you need to pay the 50k?: No, I'd prefer money be spent on contacts and a fast street bike. You are automatically in the gang at the level you put yourself in.....that being said if you or any other characters amass enough to pay 50k that is more NPC's in the gang.

3.Edges and flaws: 10 points.....I know that Criminal record (Which makes you a Hardcore member) is 6 points worth of flaws.This may seem like an easy 6 points and a way into leadership, but it will be used as a flaw.....cops have you on file remember.Also, the flaw opens up an area for other contacts( prison/jail) Mafioso's, Yakuza, Triads, other gangs all have people there as guests of the state.

Any education edges are double the cost.

4. When and how should characters be submitted? A short discription is fine on this post but, please message me for character stats and brief history/ discription.
A short discription may draw extra people to play or help someone come up with a character so, i highly encourage anyone to post one.

I want to kick this off by April 5th so, i'd like to have characters submitted by March 31st.

The beauty of this campaign is that new characters can come in later.A gang is always recruiting. The fringe members do have the option of drifting into and out of the campaign but, Associate members will stay in the campaign to gain position within the gang, and Hardcore members should be the most proactive,and devoted to playing as that is the nature of being a Hardcore member.

5. Skill/Attribute restrictions: No other restrictions other than mentioned in above posts. Lets keep it on target though how would a 15 to 20 year old, most likely high school drop out know economic theories.

I am using the Shadowrun Companion rules for this so, see the rules on creating a ganger for some clarity.

Hope this answeres your questions and looking forward to seeing your character and playing.

[WinterRat1]

OK thanks for answering. The main reason I ask on physads is because even a starting physad can have killing hands, really jacked up skills, the equivalent of wired reflexes and numerous other cyber right off the draw and be an extrememly powerful character (especially compared to the money available to other characters and the skill limitations on magical skills).

It seemed like you were shooting for a low-power game emphasizing the role-playing and backdrop of the story rather than power, which was apparent through the use of your various creation restrictions on pretty much every other type of character. So I was wondering if there would be similar restrictions on physads since according to the guidelines thus far they can still run pretty wild, especially considering the low power level of the other characters. Thanks for your response!

[HobbeGoblin]

I do understand the power of psyad's. They are extremely lethal, that is an edge and a flaw....when word reaches that you can kill with a punch, you'll face more than just one opponent at a time. This will not be automatic.....the street wont figure out what a psyad is until after a number of deaths at your hands, could you go a long ways before they figure it out? Yes, but that requires a great effort on the psyads player. There is also the Star to worry about. I am not trying to disuade you from playing a psyad ( or anyone else) Just remember a psyad is like walking around with a 44 Magnum... one, two, maybe six shots in public and then its all over the street you're a bada$$ who isnt afraid to use what you got.

[Digital Heroin]

I'm thinking Psyad too... mainly because I've had some sick Psyads in the past, sans Killing Hands even. I'm almost tempted to ressurect Blitzkreig, but his death is final in my eyes.

[Musashi Forever]

I am definitely interested. I'll shoot a character over to you in a couple days. I'm thinking minotaur muscle with limited cyber, maybe a street shaman, but magicians are quite limited...I dunno. Talk to you soon.

[Kiedo]

Dang I'll have to change my character around I was going for an adept but since there are already two... maybe path of the magician adept. Yeah I'll send in a character for this some time tommorow.

[WinterRat1]

Kiedo, go ahead and take the adept; at this point I was just asking questions for clarification, i still haven't decided if/what I'd be playing, so if you know what you want, go ahead and submit it. Thanks for the consideration though, it's appreciated! :)

[Kiedo]

Thats alright I always play an adept, so maybe I'll try something new, plus the magic aspect wouldn't work well with my concept.

[Kiedo]

by the way, does the gang have a name?

[HobbeGoblin]

Route 7 serpents...AKA 7serpents

Symbol is a 7 with a serpent around it. The serpent may be any serpentine creature to include: Cobras, Rattlesnakes,any type of viper and oriental dragons.

The tattoo that is placed on the hand ( mandatory) has the gang symbol tattooed between the thumb and index finger ( the fleshy part of the hand) Three diamonds are arranged in a pyramid around the symbol. One above the symbol and the other two on either side of the symbol. This has signifigant meaning as it literally means " My crazy life". It's a symbolic mark of your dedication.

You Hardcore members who have done time most likely have some other tat's including: clock faces: shows you did time; Brick or stone walls: same as clock faces; two clown faces, one laughing and one crying: play now pay later.

A special tattoo for the gang is bones tattooed on your fingers ( the skeletal finger bones inked in place) starting with the trigger finger. The signifigence....."You've made your bones" for the gang.....ie you have killed for the gang.This tattoo requires special thought on your thought....if in jail for it previous the amount of time and your age need to match, or there is the dark secret flaw.

[HobbeGoblin]

The area you'll be playing in is along ........route 7 in Puyallup and in parts of Loveland. You share a border with the Forever Tacoma gang. Of your main gigs your gang runs protection for smugglers ( somtimes you are the smugglers) along route 7. You sideline in hijacking cargo, stealing and stripping cars, BTL and street substances,you also pick up protection money for the Yak's ( of which the gang gets a cut) . And muscle work if it comes along.

Enjoy the crazy life chummers

[Sandoval Smith]

Well, I've been kicking around shapeshifter ideas lately, so I thought I'd try this one out.

History:

[ Spoiler ]

Most people just call him Survivor. He's been with the 7serpents almost as long as there has been a 7serpents. He's an edgy, mean mother-fragger, but you see a lot of that in any gang. It's certainly not enough to earn you a spot in the cadre, no matter how long you hang around. What earned Survivor that kind of respect was the fact that he was tough. He doesn't look like much, especially not compared to to the immense, chrome augmented trolls that other gangs like to use for enforcers, but he's gone toe to toe with those trolls, and walked away, leaving them shredded lumps of meat lying in the street.

In the middle of an all out gang war, a van ran him down, then crashed because his body was caught up in the wheels. He pulled his carcass out from underneath, hauled himself upright (using only his arms, because it looked like both his feet were turned around the wrong way) and then yanked the driver out through the windshield and beat him to a pulp. That actually slowed him down for a while, but it was only a short amount of time until he was prowling 7serpent territory again.

He also has a presence about him that makes others uneasy. He's got a glare that is hard to stand up against, a way of looking at you like he's seriously considering chewing your face off your skull. Fighting beside him can be almost as bad as fighting against him. He growls, he yips, he barks, and if he's going for the kill, don't even think of trying to pull him off. You're going to get bitten. Or worse.

Survivor is one of the only members of the cadre that has never spent time in prison. He seems to have an almost six sense about the 'Star, managing to slip, or fight his way out any time the 'Star has him pinned. They seem to hold a special terror for him, and it is well known amongst the gang that he will fight to the death, no matter what the other consequences, to avoid being taken in by, "The Catchers."

The secret being kept from most of the gang is that Survivor isn't even human at all. He's a wolf 'shifter. He was born somewhere out in the rockies, growing up in NAN territory. From early on, he was fascinated by humans, and by how easy they made his life. Raiding garbage for food, curling up in drainage pipes, or crawlspaces for shelter. His side of the mountains were the domain of very old, very powerful nature spirits, and they disaproved of any within their domain giving up the wild to scavange off of humans. Survivor simply didn't care, turning his back on them, enjoying the easy life. It wasn't until an armed party was on his tail, and he fled back into the mountains that he realized the magnitude of his mistake. Every spirit of the forest was his enemy, hounding him mercilessly until he fled their domain. He ran west for a very long way, bereft of pack, and fearing that hunters, both human and spirit might be close behind him.

Following lines of human habitation, he eventually found his way to the metroplex. He met another wolf 'shifter, living on the fringes of the 'plex, and the old wolf, as eager as the young one to be a member of a pack again, no matter how small. The old wolf taught him many thing about being a wolf, and being a man. One of the things that he didn't teach Survivor about was human laws, and the fate that awaits dangerous animals that do deadly things. The DIPS were after the old wolf, and one day they found him. Survivor was close enough to watch them take down his mentor, incinerating the old wolf on the spot. It branded him with the fear that the 'Star would be coming to do the same to him.

It was not long after that when he fell in with the 7serpents. He was just extra muscle then, but his contributions in those early days, plus his simple refusal to die no matter what he was hit with, earned him the name Survivor. It even got him a halfway decent doss to crash at, a shack, in the middle of a junkyard, the door hidden under a camaflauge net. It kept the rain off and the devil rats out, which was all he really wanted.

The 7serpents are his pack, and he treats them as such. Members have his loyalty, but he doesn't hesitate to put those further down the ladder in their place if they start making noise. Threats to the pack are treated much more brutally.
Stats:Shapeshifter Adept

[ Spoiler ]

Body: 3(4)
Quickness: 4
Strength: 5(6)
Charisma: 2(3)
Intelligence: 3
Willpower: 3
Essence: 8
Reaction: 3(5)
Intiative: 1(2)

Combat Pool: 5

Wolf:
Body: 1(3)
Quickness: 3(4)
Strength: 4(5)

Combat Pool: 5

Edges:
Perceptive
Astral Chameleon
Bonus Attribute: STR
Sense of Direction
(Regeneration)
(Duel Natured)

Flaws:
Illiterate
Phobia (Common/mild): Lonestar
Vindictive
Gremlins 2
Spirit Bane: Forest Spirits
Combat Monster
(Cyberware Rejection)
(Severe Allergy: Silver)

Powers:
Improved Reflexes 1*
Counterstrike 2*
Great Leap 2
Penetrating Strike 1
Low-light vision
Spatial Recognizer
Improved Scent
Improved Taste
Motion Sense
Traceless Walk
Empathic Reading 2

Skills:
Unarmed: 5
Shotguns: 4
Edged: 3
Athletics: 4
Stealth: 4
Intmidation/Physical: 2/4
Bike: 3

Scrounging: 2
Gang Turf: 3
Lone Star Tactics: 3
Paranormal Animals: 1
English: 3

Gear:
Hardliner Gloves
Forearm Snap Blades
Survival Knife
Remington 990
-Sling
-5xRegular
-3xFlechette
Ordinary Clothing
Secure Long coat
Camoflauge Netting (10m2)
Grapple Gun
-Grapple Line (100m)
Metal Restraints

[Kiedo]

Okay heres my concept, he's got some cyber but I forgot to include how he aquired it so I'll revise that.

[ Spoiler ]

The streets of Houston are cold and merciless. Growing up in South Houston (which is much like the Barrens of Seattle) Mitch never really had a childhood. From gang raids and corrupt lonestar cops, to fringe cults, he could never really make time to go play. As a result of this Mitch was forced to grow up early, even being a troll didn’t seem to help. During one of the more violent raids from the Los Padres Mitch’s parents(who were also trolls) gave their lives to protect him. Suddenly orphaned and cast out into a world that didn’t want him the now 13, Mitch joined up with a gang. He didn’t join because he needed protection, or because he needed money, he joined because he was lonely and Nemesis was the sworn enemy of the Los Padres. He brought hell to those that had taken his family from him and had enjoyed it. It seemed at least to Mitch that he was born to kill. Becoming extremely violent towards any none Nemesis member the gang began to fear him, and when a shift in leadership occurred instead of killing just those that were trying to shift the power balance, he went on his first “spree” killing almost all twenty of the gangs core members. With the blood of those he had come to call his family on his hands, he quickly fleed Houston, not for fear of his life but because he was again lonely. On a stolen motorcycle he roared across North America, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake, he had honed his art and wanted nothing more than to continue to produce master pieces. When he stopped off at the grand canyon for a pit stop, he was confronted by a pair of lonestar cops about the stolen bike he rode. He made short work of them and headed out to Seattle, where his travels had suggested his talents would be most appreciated.

Arriving in the sprawl on December 7, 2054 he was immediately approached by a yakuza recruiter, it seemed that he had a fan. The yakuza sent him up in their personnel deconstruction project and Mitch had enjoyed that much. His colleagues had felt uncomfortable around him and rightfully so, Mitch was probably the most dangerous troll employed by the Yakuza, he often liked to think. It was on an assignment where he needed to “deconstruct” the CEO of a small corporation known as Globaltech, that he earned his first nickname. Sneaking in to a building unnoticed was no small feet for a nine and a half foot tall troll, but getting in and out in under ten minutes without so much as sounding an alarm was impossible, the few friends that he had began to call him Ghost, because there was no way he could have done that unless he was one. During one of the many Yakuza purges Mitch was ”fired” from his job, but due to his efficiency his superiors wanted to keep him around, so they pulled some strings and got him in with the 7 serpents. Taking to the gangs mindset quickly, Ghost applied his “technical expertise” to many of the various things the gang did. The leader of the gang liked him, he was ruthless, cunning and brutally efficient. The gang had put him in charge of collecting protection money and money that any one else “owed” the gang. He served his first jail time in March of 2059. His group, which consisted of about five strong gangers hand picked from the ranks, was assigned to collect stolen drug money from some Mafia thug who thought they could just waltz right in and knock off a protected dealer. His mission was to collect the drugs, and kill anyone who even looked like they were involved. He didn’t get busted for killing the mafia thugs, apparently the star thought he did them some kind of favor, but he did get arrested for transport twenty kilos of pure heroin. With the help of some of his yakuza buddies, he managed only to spend about a year in prision, which was enough for him. Since he was a troll, he spent most of his time in solitary, so he wouldn’t kill any of the other prisoners. When he got out the gang had a huge party and made him a lieutenant. With his new position in the gang, and his tenure firm in hand, he swung right back into his routine of being the deadliest troll this side of the barrens(or so he thinks).

[Cydlexia]

I have a concept in the works for yah. He's a Natty Dread, Shaman totem of the snake.. Kick it around And I will send you the specs...

[Cydlexia]

D'at is only if ya be' beliv'in Jah môn, d'en de right of the real revolutionary will come t'rough.... Natty Dread ride's again, remember d'at! For de :nuyen: I can tell ya what ya need.......

[HobbeGoblin]

Kiedo...i like it. Just send me the character stats.

Sandoval....would you consider playing a rat shifter? while survivor in the history you provided exhibits some wolf qualities it seems there are some heavy arguments that he is a mean-a$$ rat shifter. Cydll has my companion book ( i've never really looked at shifters) so, i'm not sure if there is a rat shifter. I do like the concept but the history seemed more like rat to me ( mostly the fleeing to an urban area, scrounging an existence there and the doss is basically a cellar)...hope i dont offend.


By the way Kiedo...you have no idea how big an influence the Yak's have on this gang. If you dont still have the bike you can always catch a ride with the Rastafarian in his van. If you dont mind the second-hand " smoke"

[HobbeGoblin]

The gangs offical "colors" are racing leathers ( the jacket anyways) with the symbol on the back, right shoulder/arm and on the left breast above the heart.The colors of the leathers is up to each one individually and often matches the colors/designs on your bike. If you wear a helmet ( which is not made fun of) it is usually airbrushed with designs. Members are often fond of sewing patches on their leathers from parts manufacturers, motorcycle companies..etc.

Bikes are steet bikes...crotch rockets, traditionally. You bigger folks may buy choppers to support your weight (trolls). As no street bike comes with the load to move you.

Cars are acceptable, most are tuners, all are fast......all are fast. Car drivers are afforded alittle less respect as most status other than gang rank is based upon your bike riding skill. This should not stop anyone from having a fast car they prefer to drive in the gang.

[Sandoval Smith]

There are no rat shifters in the Companion. IIRC, Fox is the smallest 'shifter type there is, followed by eagle. Survivor was inspired by anecdotal experiences I've heard from relatives, who lived in areas that still had wolf populations that had become acclimatized to scavenging off of people. I think wolf would be more appropriate than rat because of the strong pack bond he would feel to the gang. It also gives hims reason to be ruthless and vicious against threats to 'the pack' without creating the threat that his behavior will make him too dangerous for other gang members to be around.

*edit*
I forgot to mention that currently Survivor has no bike (5k starting resources rather suck). He used to have one, but a couple weeks ago, it abruptly blew up. While he was riding it. He's very unhappy about that.

[Kiedo]

well until you said I couldn't have a crotch rocket because of the load problem(which I hadn't really thought about) he was going to have one. But I think I'll go with a Blitzen, if I can pay rigger 3 price for it... If not it's a scorpion, even with the 90k I don't have much extra cash to play with. And for the record, Legion enjoys "first hand" smoke, which probably means rasta and he would be friends or at least buisness associates.

[Sandoval Smith]

I think that's one of the things you pay the extra percentage for a troll sized version. That stats are exactly the same, it just so happens that your bike is bigger, and reinforced in the right places.

*edit* For troll or dwarf modified gear, you pay 1.25 times the base cost.

[Kiedo]

[WinterRat1]

I have three more questions (sorry, I know I'm asking a lot of questions without posting much about a potential character. He's coming together in my head, just fyi).

1. Are you planning on making this a one-shot, or a (hopefully) ongoing campaign?

2. To what level will backstory, contacts, enemies, etc, come into play? Is this a plot-driven (GM story) or player driven (character choice) game? I know ideally GMs strive for a mix of both, I just wanted to have a better feel for things, because if the game revolves around whatever story line you have set up for us (which is fine by me) then I'm not going to work on pages and pages of background that will never come into play. Conversely, if it's more of a role-playing and character driven game, then I want to make sure I have all the relevant details of the character's life fleshed out as much as possible.

3. Should we assume that our characters begin play knowing each other, possibly for quite some time?

Sorry again for all the questions, I've been wanting to play a gang campaign for a while and I just want to get as much out of the experience as possible. :)

[HobbeGoblin]

To answer these questions:
1. My intention is to have an on going campaign.That being said it revolves around player interest. There are ways to bring in characters after the campaign begins. New recruits come in, Hardcore members get released from jail/prison.( so, if you like tell a friend)

2. Is this GM or Player driven? It is both. While I as the GM will give out adventures it is through your ( the players) contacts. There are certain set things the players are required to do ie...Deal BTL/other substances if that is what youre assigned to, Pick up protection money if you are assigned that, or any other "hook" I throw into the game ( business deals).A ganger who wants recognition, status or just plain old money will seek out oppurtunities to bring in "jobs". Maybe you know a guy who works a stuffer shack and he lets you know an order for Burn is coming in a week.He wants a cut of the Hijack. See how i'm playing it? The average ganger makes 50 yen aday doing the gangs business...if you bring in a "job" you get a cut from the top.( yes that means a ganger makes roughly 1500 yen a month) Your backstory and contacts/enemies will be a factor in the storyline.......just so you all know, i'm developing individual side or supporting goals for each player to deal with along with the main storyline.

3. Do you all know each other? Unless you have been in jail/prison or the other person in question has been in jail/prison then you will know eachother....in that case, you know of each other. The gang is somewhat tight knit so you all will have a " working" relationship.

[HobbeGoblin]

I have accepted Cydlexia's Rastafarian Snake Shaman concept and, Kiedo's Troll with some minor tweaking will be accepted.

Sandoval i dont have access to my shadowrun companion book right now so, do shifters like vampires, ghouls, and banshee's devour essence? if they do then i will have to decline that concept, if they dont then it is acceptable. Also are shifters animal minded as in bestial intelligence? if so then also not an acceptable concept.

[HobbeGoblin]

I would like to state that combat will be fact of this campaign but, not in and of it totally. If your characters only focus is combat, yes you will get it but, you will quite possibly miss out on something else. Just playing a combat monster is pretty one dimentional. Add some flavor by using contacts, knowledge skills anything that will give you some depth. The world may percieve you Gangers as dispassionate, Homicidal, dregs of society ( Kiedo's Troll is by the way) but, inside your adopted family...the gang, you are not.Your gang family is the only place you feel at home, you drink and shed tears for friends killed or just died, you laugh while drinking and subjecting your body and mind to chemical or electronic drugs; Its the life you have, bad or good and that is where the real story of your character is. A zoned out killer with no interpersonal skills or intentions to be social really isnt that fun.It is fun to run combat but, that isnt the whole of the game or the focus/direction i hope to take this campaign.


I'm off the soapbox now.

[Kiedo]

In my own defense I built the character like that but I had planned to roleplay him a little toned down, and more three dimensional

[HobbeGoblin]

I actually got that from your history Kiedo. I was putting that last post out for future players to consider. Your Troll has lots of Demons i cant wait to exploit...i mean er...explore.

[HobbeGoblin]

Got your email Kiedo

[Sandoval Smith]

Shapeshifters have no special dietary requirements. They don't _have_ to eat people, if they don't want to.:evil:

They also possess a human intelligence, but a bestial nature. Among other things, this limits the knowledge skills they can have at chargen, and

[HobbeGoblin]

I just read the companion....i like the idea.Youre in Sandoval. I mean hey why not....if you really knew Kiedo's Troll your character is tame compared to his.

[WinterRat1]

OK sorry for the long delay, I ended up making an adept of the Invisible Way. I admit, the character is not exactly what you'd call your 'prototypical ganger', but I thought the story was an interesting take on how someone could end up joining a gang in a way you wouldn't necessarily expect. There's a lack of detail at parts because I have been working a lot so there are points where more elaboration could be called for but isn't there yet. If you want more specific details on any of my background, just ask me Hobbe. Let me know what you think. I'll send you the character sheet if/when I'm approved. Regardless, hope people enjoy reading it!

[ Spoiler ]

20 Questions

Background

1. Where is your character from?
Lee Wu Zhao comes from Kirkland, in Bellevue, Seattle, in a reasonably middle-upper-class neighborhood.

2. Does your character have a family?
Yes. He has a father and mother, (Alex and Sharon), who are happily married as well as three sisters and two brothers. He is the third child, with the remaining siblings in this order:
1. Steven
2. Laura
3. Lee
4. Tiffany
5. Robert
6. Nina

3. Does your character have an ethnic background?
Yes. He is ethnically Chinese, but his family emigrated from Indonesia in the 1990s during the racial and religious purges that rocked the region following a change in power.

Appearance

4. What does your character look like?
He is about 5’6, maybe about 140lbs or so. Toned, lithe and muscular, but not extremely big or built. He has black hair and brown eyes, and he wears his hair cut close cropped in a somewhat military style buzz cut. He is always clean shaven and groomed. He is frankly very bland and does his best not to stand out in a crowd.

5. What does your character dress like?
Typically wears gym shoes or running shoes, and tends to favorite loose, athletic style clothing for his pants such as warm-ups or cargo pants, and favors sweatjackets or sweat shirts for his shirts. Tries to wear clothing that is comfortable and loose and allows freedom of movement, but does not allow others an easy time grabbing him or holding him. He always wears dark colors such as black, blue, and grey, occasionally mixed in with white. A very drab, plain, unassuming individual.

6. Does your character have physical quirks?
He has a tendency to flex his hands and massage his knuckles, trying to keep his fingers and hands loose. He also cracks his neck from side to side lot, especially right before a really intense event, like a fight or race or intimidation staredown or something like that.

Skills, Attributes, Resources

7. Where did your character learn their Active Skills?
Lee learned his active skills from his parents, his teachers at school, the university, and from his friends primarily. His father taught him everything he knew about being a warrior, although Lee would eventually show excellence in the Invisible Way, and his father, recognizing the futility of fighting destiny, adapted his teachings to assist his son’s natural development. In particular, his expertise at Pentjak-Silat is a heritage from his family way back from before they emigrated to America from Indonesia.

8. Where did your character learn their Knowledge Skills?
As a teacher, Sharon Zhao made certain that her children were educated and well rounded, and did not allow Lee’s physical training to dominate his mental and spiritual training. Her influence over her son is showed primarily through this aspect of him.

9. Where did your character get his goodies?
Before he quit his job, Lee staged a car accident so he could collect on the medical insurance benefits that his job (and his parents’ jobs) offered. Afterwards, he arranged to get himself fired from his job so he could collect severance pay, while at the same time stealing proprietary information for use to sell on the streets to stake himself to a start.

10. Where does your character live?
He currently lives in a flophouse in the Loveland district, near the gang headquarters. He lives in the heart of the gang’s turf because he cherishes his anonymity and tries as hard as possible to stay isolated from any random events that may intrude upon him.

11. Who are your character’s contacts?
TBD

12. Who are your character’s enemies?
TBD

13. How did your character learn magic?
Lee grew up as an Awakened, but his father taught him all of his magical abilities under the guise of ‘ancient martial arts techniques’, never realizing that the ease with which he picked up these ‘incredibly advanced’ techniques were really aided and enhanced by his magical abilities. It was not until he left home that his father told him that he was Awakened, so that Lee would be able to develop his abilities without the aid and tutelage of his father.

Personality

14. What are your character’s likes and dislikes?
He dislikes bullies and those who oppress the weak. Lee really hates people who try to throw their weight around thinking that they’re all that and a bag of chips when really they are not. He is an avid learner and loves knowledge for his own sake. He is constantly reading and studying to develop his mind, body, and spirit. Frankly, he’s quite the odd man out in the 7 Serpents. He enjoys watching combat sports but also reading and philosophical discussions. Conversely, he hates stupidity and rampant indulgence for the sake of pleasure alone, and he especially hates selfishness and those who put themselves over others, especially when there is no valid reason.

15. What is your character’s moral code?
Lee’s moral code revolves around his identity. He knows who he is, and he must have that at all costs. Whatever it takes to maintain his sense of self is what he will do, while he will not hesitate to take whatever measures necessary to remove anything that threatens his sense of self. As far as his identity, he believes in loyalty, sticking to one’s word, perseverance, dedication, hard work, and continually striving to be better, and to make those around you better. His means to achieving this however, are through whatever means necessary. Lee is a paradoxical thinker who does not hesitate to use any methods necessary to achieve his goals, one he has established in his own mind that the end in question is a result worth striving for.

16. Does your character have goals?
His immediate goals included survival and cementing his position as a hardcore member. However, he seeks to remain out of the limelight and frankly would prefer as few people as possible know about him. Unlike most gangers, he does not desire fame or recognition, even on the streets. His medium length goal is to work his way up to a position in the gang where he would be free to pursue his long term goals without question. As far as his long term goals, they are simple. He wants out. He wants out of the gang, out of this life in which circumstances have forced him, and back into the life he once had. He views this as a walk in the darkness which he must undergo, but one that he will embrace wholeheartedly until such time as comes for him to leave this path behind. Ideally, one day he’ll have a family, kids, a decent house in a decent neighborhood, a real job back, and he can let his family grow up without worrying about getting shot at or people trying to kill him if he wears the wrong colors on the wrong side of the street.

17. Does your character have personal beliefs?
Lee is a firm adherent to Miyamoto Musahsi’s “The Book of Five Rings” and “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. He studies those texts religiously and uses Musashi’s work as the basis for his personal life, and Sun Tzu’s work as the basis for his interaction with others. In regards to the self (keeping with his identity above), he views it as the goal of life to strive to achieve perfection in each element of one’s life, a never ending cycle of improvement, to come into harmony and balance with the world around him. However, recognizing that inner peace is not something that can be found meditating in an empty room, he attempts to achieve peace by coming to peace with his surroundings, no matter what they are. To find a balance between the demands of self and demands of the world.
He constantly seeks that point of perfection where all is in perfect harmony, and strives to circle closer and closer towards it. However, Lee views the world in which he lives as akin to the feudal days of ancient China and Europe, where there are countless small kingdoms rising up and striving for power. He believes that it is his responsibility to protect and serve his ‘kingdom’ to the best of his ability, for at this point in time, it is what is demanded of him as an individual, member of the Seven Serpents, and a as a part of the community in which he finds himself.
As a gang with turf, he views the gang as having a responsibility to the people which comprise its turf. Yes, he will collect protection money, yes, he will enforce the will of the gang, with an iron fist if necessary, but he also will not let others interfere with the lives of their ‘subjects’, and when possible, he tries to ensure that the members of the gang treat the people with decency and respect, out of efficiency if nothing else.


18. Does your character have personality quirks?
Lee is very mystical individual who keeps to himself and refrains from drawing attention to himself in any way, shape, or form. Additionally, he tries very hard to avoid direct methods of confrontation where possible, preferring instead to call the time and place for his encounters. Interestingly enough, despite all his calm demeanor and insightful personality, when push comes to shove he strikes with the intent to kill. He tries very hard to avoid violence and confrontation, but when pressed, he’ll make the first move and do everything he can to ensure that is all that is needed.


Running the Shadows

19. Why does your character run the shadows?

Lee Wu Zhao was born into a middle class family in Kirkland, Bellevue as the third of six children in 2042. Alex and Sharon Zhao were loving parents who raised their children to behave as honorable, decent, moral, upstanding citizens in a day and age where virtue had been replaced with vice, and values being subject to expediency. He grew up in a loving, solid family environment, in a nice, good school with teachers who were paid enough to care about the children’s education and kids who were cognizant of the opportunities they had in life as a result of their birth.

As a child, Lee was a bright, thoughtful, and industrious child, constantly seeking to learn and grow through expanding his mind and his horizons by experiencing different things and learning from those who had different perspectives from him. Although he never compromised his beliefs or identity as a result of the things he learned or saw from others, he did incorporate those perceptions into a more solid understanding of himself, and the world around him.

What he did not know was that his parents were a true rarity in the world: shadowrunners who had managed to retire intact and away from all the problems that typically plague runners who try to enter the light. Alex Zhao was originally a physical adept who specialized in wetwork for Fuchi named Wong Zhi Quan, but upon the company’s dissolution, decided that he’d had enough of that life and wanted out. Taking the opportunity to disappear in the midst of the corporate war, he married his longtime lover Sharon, whom he’d already had several children by. For his family’s safety, they kept their relationship secret from everyone, including, perhaps especially, their children.

Sharon Zhao was a company wagemage who worked for a different branch of Fuchi as well as a researcher. She later left the parent company to teach magic to gifted elementary schoolers under the reason of wanting to study magical development in youth. In reality, this was to gradually free her from the company by deliberately tanking her career, but in a way that gradually ‘locked’ her into her current position as opposed to drawing attention to herself by quitting entirely. Thus, when she wanted to retire and start a family elsewhere, the company agreed to allow her to work for one of their corporate sponsored elementary schools, which basically put her as low as one could possibly be on the career chain as a magician. With the total lack of attention paid to her, it was easy to raise a family in relative obscurity, as by that time her superiors could care less what she did as long as was productive and caused no trouble. When the company went under, she married Wong (now renamed Alex) and they moved to Seattle together, where they found new jobs, settled down in Bellevue, and tried to retire peacefully living a happy life with their children.

Growing up, Lee was a pretty isolated individual who always strived to better himself. This constant struggle for self-improvement often came at the expense of his social life, however, in middle school, he would encounter two people who would change the course of his destiny: Cassandra and James Lin. They were twins, (non-identical) children of a successful corporate executive. The three of them became fast friends, and soon did everything together. James was the adventuresome one of the trio, always seeking thrills and excitement, and was often the one who came up with new and exciting things to do. Cassandra was in marked contrast to her brother: quiet, shy, introspective, she had a gentle soul and a kind heart.

Throughout high school they remained close, but eventually a rift began to form between them. The Lin parents’ company was going through some hard times, and it was affecting their family life significantly. Their father was working longer and harder hours trying to keep his job and their mother took a job to help as well. James began hanging out more and more with a ‘thrill-seeking’ crowd, and got involved in partying, drinking, chips, women, and drugs. That wasn’t Lee or Cassandra’s thing, so they grew closer together as James drifted farther apart from them. As is often the case, they developed romantic feelings for one another and eventually began dating. They dated throughout high school and had hopes and dreams of getting married and raising a family together, but it was not to be.

After high school Cassandra stayed in Seattle to go to college at the University of Washington, while Lee traveled across the country to study business at the University of Pennsylvania. Their relationship stayed strong however, and despite Cassandra’s family problems, it looked like their relationship would survive. But it was not to be. James’s sophomore year of college, he abruptly lost contact with Cassandra. Despite numerous calls and emails, she never responded to him. Worried sick, over Christmas break he flew back to visit her house. What he found stunned him. The Lin parents’ company had been taken over, and their father had committed suicide in shame. Already distant and isolated from his family, James left home and went full bore into a new life, eventually joining up with the Seven Serpents as a way to stay alive and feed his addictions and emptiness that now filled his life. Mentally pushed to the brink, their mother just snapped, and had to be committed to a mental institution to be cared for. And Cassandra…had just vanished. Although he looked for her the entire two weeks, he turned up nothing.

When he returned to school in January, Lee was a changed man. Always a driven individual, his sense of humanity had been anchored by his relationship with his family and his two friends. With his friends just…gone, and so tragically ripped away from him, and a family that was 2000 miles away, he threw himself into his personal development with renewed vigor. His physical training released the stress and anger that had built up within him, and his studies consumed his mental time. Although he excelled in school and had numerous profitable internships and impressive credentials rolling in, he gradually became more and more detached, his philosophies becoming almost mechanistic in their application, with no sense of relation to humanity.

Still, when all was said and done, he had impressively mastered his training and his adept powers had become fully developed. Meanwhile, he had been offered a prestigious job with a regional firm working for them as an accountant. He worked as an accountant for about a year or two when he received the shock of his life. A phone call from James. Having not heard from him in almost four years, they were now both around 21 years old, and had been out of touch for a long time. His friend was so different, when he called, Lee couldn’t even recognize him. His hair was wild and unkempt, his eyes were shot red, his clothes were street and worn.

In tears, James told him that when he’d left home and her mother snapped, Cassandra moved in with him. But instead of taking care of her, he ignored her, neglected her, took his frustrations out on her, and basically used her (who was now working a secretarial job to earn money, needing to drop out of college because she couldn’t afford it) to support him and his habits. When she lost her job due to downsizing, in a fit of rage, he had screamed at her that she was worthless and stormed out of the apartment.

When he came back several days later, she was gone. Frantically James searched everywhere for her and had other members of the game searching high and low. Eventually they found her, with one problem. She was working in a bunraku parlor for the Yakuza.

Desperate and jobless, a yakuza ‘recruiter’ had spotter her, and her innocent spirit and pure heart made her the perfect actress for the always popular ‘asian schoolgirl’ bunraku clientele. Knowing she wouldn’t be missed, he simply drugged her and had the surgeries done, and when she finally came to, although she knew what he had done to her, what choices did she have? She couldn’t run, and she had no one to turn to, so she took cold solace in that at least while…’things’ were happening to her, thankfully her mind was not present.

When he found her, James knew there was nothing he could do about the situation, so he tracked down Lee for help, knowing his friend had made it in the corporate world and hoping he could buy his sister out of her ‘contract’. After so many years, Lee was at a loss. So he did the only thing he could do. He flew home to talk to his parents about the situation and get their advice. Alex and Sharon were silent for a long time before they responded to their son’s story, but having walked these roads themselves, they knew they had raised their son to be true to himself and they would have to support whatever he decided to do.

At that point, Alex told him that he was a physical adept, and all his training that had supposedly consisted of ancient martial arts secrets was really the result of his magical abilities enhancing and working on his physical ones. Shaken by this revelation, Lee asked his father what he should do. Simply put, his father responded that he had to choose his own path in life. Between his physical adept abilities and his lifelong education and training, he had the capability to help his friends. Whether he chose to do so or not was up to him.

After much reflection, Lee came to the conclusion that he could not abandon Cassandra. Her loss had scarred him deeply, and he knew if he was ever going to put that part of his life to rest, it would have to be resolved one way or another. With his parents’ help and experience, he was able to arrange for his death by driving a car off a bridge on a dark and stormy night into the Seattle Bay, in waves that ‘no one could possibly’ survive, but not before he had used proprietary information from his company to secretly steal as much money as he could, knowing he’d need to most likely buy Cassnadra’s freedom. It was ruled he had been intoxicated out of his mind and crashed into the Bay, and the case was summarily closed.

Now the only problem he had was what to do about the Yakuza. One of James’s fellow gang members, Mitch, had ties with the Yakuza and would be able to get him a meeting with the bunraku parlor’s owner. However, he refused to do it for someone who wasn’t even part of the gang, and since James was just an associate member, he wasn’t important enough for Mitch to do this favor for. Knowing he’d have to go through the Seven Serpents to get to the Yakuza, Lee offered them a deal. He would enter the gang as a hardcore member by killing seven people for the gang, the symbolism being obvious.

After hearing this small, unassuming man making such a proclamation, the gang members thought it would a riot to let him try, never believing for a moment that he would succeed, but that it would be fun to watch. In what later became referred to as ‘The Week of Vengeance’ by the 7 Serpents, Lee tracked down and murdered seven chosen enemies of the gang easily; with his mastery of the ‘dim mak’ (killing hands and silent delay damage) no one even knew they’d been attacked until they died suddenly and unexplainably 24 hours later. Carefully keeping his methods a secret and cultivating the mystique that grew with each death, Lee quickly won the respect of the gang, entrance as a hardcore member, and an audience with the yakuza owner.

Using nearly all of the money he’d gained from his life insurance policy, theft of funds, and liquidation of his assets (done by his family after his death), he bought Cassandra’s freedom. Their reunion was loving but bittersweet, as each knew that despite the fact that they had found one another again, before any questions of romance, they had a lot to deal with. For one thing, Cassandra had issues, and understandably so, lots of issues from the trauma that she had been through in the last several years. They both refused to leave James, but he needed therapy and counseling to kick his addictions before he could ever have a normal life. And then there was the small matter of the Seven Serpents. As a new hardcore member who’d made quite an impression on the gang, he couldn’t just walk away so easily. He had to stay and fulfill his obligations to the gang until such time as he could find a way out.

That was one month ago. Now nearly broke trying to pay for Cassandra’s therapy and supporting the two of them, as well as trying to help James kick his addictions (which none of them can afford) and establishing himself as a hardcore member in the Seven Serpents, Lee has his hands full. Destiny called, and he chose his path. It’s been a long hard road to get to this point, and it looks like the road ahead is darker still, with no guarantee of emergence into the light. Still, he chose this path knowingly and gladly, and all who walk their paths must walk it to the end, for such is karma, neh?

20. How does your character view his/her role as a shadowrunner/ganger?
Lee views his responsibility to the Seven Serpents as an obligation to be fulfilled, and will do his best to live up to that obligation and honor the gang. Still, he views it as a means to an end, and became a hardcore member to give himself more influence and power in the gang, and hopefully, in the long run, have more control of his destiny. He knows he made a big impression on everyone with his string of seven kills in seven days, and believes he has the opportunity to provide and care for Cassandra through being a part of the gang. In the end though, fate has called him down this road, and he will follow it to the end, whatever that may be.

[Cydlexia]

Bin' som-time for me môn, on da' rock of dis' road I ride. Read'in your words on da' post, time you spend speak'in of people dat' may be. <<Takes a long pull on his hooka, smoke slowly billows off his lips in soft puffs as he speaks the next part>> If ya' want ta know more 'bout da' dready step into the van môn. I will tell ya all 'bout de' way of Ras Tafari, show you places wakened souls rez'son no more. 'ere pull de' herb an listen to me' tale.
<< Hits the exotic pipe once more, it's strange and sweet scent fills the back of his van. He sits on cushions with sage burning all about, you get the sense that your looking in on some ancient voodoo den in Baton Rouge. Take a pull ( or not ) matters not, sitting down next to the old Dready you now begin to notice the dryed chickens and other foul hanging from the ceiling. There silhouettes vague through all the " second hand smoke" glowing a strange irrodescent blue by the florescence lights placed above. Once you are seated down on a cushion in front of a poster of a large herb leaf he starts in fast with the Rasta. >>
O'n bon' to da' time 'for ya to co'm to me môn. Ras Tafari de' one t' o' learn da' natty' from da' moth'er land, babylon' com' to da' dready an took da' womb from me' people môn. 'ell to live, skell' we walk. <<his words then a very faint and meshed>> Se'toda'nattyoon'deoniwordsay'longtime'sayon'ego

Now be gone wit'ya need'in some ta t'ink ôn will be some rest for me.
Jah watch over ya môn!

OOC:(( thats a little taste of this strange PC better then a long life you will probably know nothing about if I posted it... If you want to know more about his ways read a little on real Natty Dreads, I am using some of their histories from the exodus of Zimbabwe, and the feeling of the "Babylon system" ( there oppression from sect governments like the BABYLONIANS that eventually sacked and enslaved some of ethiopia in acient times. //As well as the fellings of Hell on earth and finding ethiopia in the end.. SR concept on the rastafarian// ) His attitude is the Rasta way now living on the streets in and running with your gang from reasons probably only know to him self.... ))

********************************************************************
Quote
<<singing a lyric>>Yi'ya po yi'yap pa' pyi'p pa, ti' el 'e mm' bop' bop' di' el 'e !! Ah'frica unit, cause wh'ier moving right out ta'v ba'bylon ôn wh'ier goo'ing our fathers land. Yah'e << the profit Bob Marley >>

[Cydlexia]

If any are really interested in the Shaman as far as Game aspect.. Appearance and other I guess nows the time to do a little posting on that.

Appearance:

6'3 height
130lbs ( skinny a sickly looking at times )
Skin: Dark ebony
Hair: Large Nasty Dreadlocks
Eyes: Brown ( sometimes black and serpentine/ depending on the magic he is using )
Apparel: Around his waist he wears a sarong in Black Red Yellow Green it is dingy and unclean. His jacket ( he usually wears this open with out any under shirt/ if he is wearing one it just plain white or black depending on his mood ) has a hint of the same colors, and his serpent is a viper likely near the gaboon species. Many patchs cover it girth as well, anything from the flag of the home land Zimbabwe to herb leaves, and old profits like Marley, Harper, Ziggy and Tosh, tie-die and much much more. Bone and bead neckless's hang to the middle of his chest. And a hand rolled blunt usually sits behind one of his ears.
Cyberware: He is pure in that sense

[WinterRat1]

I have to comment that was an extremely impressive Jamacian writing Cydlexia. It's not too hard to mimic a language or accent, but writing one is a whole different story. Just had to give credit where some credit was due. :)

[Cydlexia]

Thank you... Yeah I lived in west laurderdale, tamarac for some time, and worked with a haitian/jamaican for a bit, he was a cool dude but there where days I couldn't even get a word of what he was saying.. but over time I listened and some became more clear.. still this falls short of what some one who is really from that region would be writing. but I try.. Thanks for the grats :D

[HobbeGoblin]

WinterRat1 ........WOW! That is an impressive story.Just send me your character for revue....You are definately in.

[HobbeGoblin]

So far i am impressed and happy at the depth of the character concepts i've recieved.As cydlexia can tell you from first hand knowledge most of my SR campaigns have degenerated into violent free-for-alls because of characters only being combat orientated. I am seriously impressed with not only the concepts presented, but also the writing, and sheer thought put into these characters. I promise to not let your hard work go for nothing. This is shaping up to be an exciting story campaign.

The richer the detail of your backgrounds gives me more to explore with your characters. This is a great medium as we arent table talking and secret things are just that. I have a main storyline for the campaign and I am developing individual subplots for each character, I am also leaving somethings openended so that you have the oppurtunity to find things on your own. ( being proactive drives the story, and enriches everyones gaming experience) Ask cydlexia, he's played enough PnP campaigns to understand how i work.

[fuhok]

I like the way this is going. I'll have a concept for you soon. bvr mk

[Cydlexia]

True, True.... Hobbe knows his shiza'

( one like this where he was a player )
Whether we where a Jedi hero (me) and an Ex-republic Soldier then turned Smuggler (him) trying to negotiate our way out of a docking bay in an imperial star destoryer that had us caught red handed investigating a recant attack. We role-played like champs... (And nothing was working by the way) in the end it was a blaster pistol to the Deck Officers face via' his PC that turn the RP to action. ( which by the way didn't bode to well for us, little did my PC know that a Sith was in that same docking bay, and thats when the STAR WARS game turned from just RPG to classic George Lucas Action hero movie.. Other PC's lead by Hobb's Smuggler fought there way to our Ship, while I exausted almost all my Vitality, Force powers and Lightsaber Fourm handling this Dark Jedi..)

( to one like this where he was a GM )
To a Shatterzone game he was running... A wonderfully elaborate detailed depiction of a space station floating over a desolate mining community in the outer Zone. Where I got the pleasure of being a Seedy bar owner on that station. He allowed me freedom to run my bar, and life as I saw it fit. Though every action had it own consequences. Which was fun, because I didn't always make the best ones. :D

For example: When I went to sign the papers to take possession of the bar, it would seem that my identity got mistaken for someone else, by the local Mobster loanshark. And well I took the opportunity and took his money, I mean hey if he though I was some one else well I couldn't get caught right. :D ( Yeah, that lasted about a week until I was just putting the last coat of Paint on my new Bar furnished and Payed for in full by Mob money when the Loanshark and a few of his thugs decided to come in and see how his *misplaced investment was going and collect. Well things got a bit ugly from that point on. But unlike the other scenario it was all RP/ not one gun was fired or one punch thrown. Yet still I think back on it as a cool a$$ encounter. )

So be sure this game will be filled with many encounters alike, some may be full of action some full of RP some a little of both. I can tell you only this WE the players here will run our lives. Though we are all in this for a common goal, the gang and our rise or fall in it. We are all individuals here and Hobbegoblin's going to exploits us as such. We all have past's, and we all have futures its just what path we will be on when they all mesh. And I am sure he will not forget those Skeletons or Saints we leave behind in our closet's either. So be ready for that ugly old red sweater to pop out when you least expect it to wrench up our run, but hey thats what makes life fun. Well at least to me, my favorite part of these games are out running that Lonestar Srgt. and besting him as far as I can until he finally wins or Using that Decker to hack a Unicorp systems to get info on some new CEO of there rival company just to exploit him for nuyen. We will no dought get our chance to do both and much more.

Well thats about enough boost'in his Ego...
So i'll shut up for now... hehehe

Nah like he said before, We have played many PnP games over the years and they were all different and unique in there own right. But fun none the less. So this game I would expect no less excitement and endangerment that keeps RP'ers like us feen'in for more Fantasy Action Adventure..... See yah all Ingame when it starts.

[fuhok]

[Kiedo]

Actually, you can ask hobbegoblin, I've got the "dark side" nitch pretty well filled for this run lol.

[Sandoval Smith]

There is something rather amusing in that it might be the _wolf_ who will be the most personable PC in here. :grinbig:

[Kiedo]

your following me

Legion, is nice once you get to know him, but his thick exterior hinders that "slightly". As I said he is more than likely friends with the rasta, due to his "herbal" inclinations. He probably friends with all the others too, unless they show weakness.

[FlipShow]

Those who show weakness would have their hands full with Kiedo's PC...
I imagine that a homicidal troll with the munchies would be an absolute nightmare to hang with. :wobble:

Hey, how long has everyone been with the 7S?

[Sandoval Smith]

Not quite as long as there's been an 7S, but Survivor been's there pretty much since the begining.

[WinterRat1]

Heh, probably about 1-2 months. He's pretty much a relative unknown quantity in the gang at this point.

[Cydlexia]

Not very long Harald (Hênni) more than likely learn about the gang through Mitch while he was spending a little vacation time in one of Seattle's prison's for a bit of smuggling just out side of Reno. All thought there was a charge of active piracy included and a validated count of passport fraud. ((Well that is only a manner of opinion in his terms. I mean hey if your a register member of the caribbean League and smuggling through a south Florida port wouldn't you falsify you're ID as well. ))
Anyway he got 9years and was sent to a Pin is Seattle for detainment reasons. Why? Still a mystery to him. Once he was released and left with nothing in the big City more than likely he looked up the Troll, who by then was a full member himself. And the rest well that is to be seen.

(( sorry I am new to this forum and would have had this posted but Cannot do the Spoiler thing yet... If any one is will'ing to show me the coding for that little handy tid-bit of info I would appreciate it ))
Thanks Rastaman.....

[ Spoiler ]

Figured it out.. :)

[HobbeGoblin]

We're already interacting, this is great. And yes Kiedo does have the dark side on this one.( talk about skeletons in the closet...wooo). This should be a good campaign the way things are shaping up.And yes it would be ironic for the werewolf ( sorry...wolf shifter) to be the most personal PC. I'm thinking the Rasta will most likely be the social one although Tatsu may actually be a street level face ( i havent seen the character only the concept). Hey Beav...i like the concept, i have a book you need to look in for B&E equipment. Also an active skill of lockpicking...in the area youre at its mostly locks not maglocks due to the cost and that the buildings are old.

[fuhok]

i hoped you would like it. i'll make time this week to check out that book plus i have a few questions. beav.
i also look forward to gettin eiree wit the rasta mon.

[HobbeGoblin]

Hey beav, you got plans Saturday? was thinking of having the parents over and your family for some home-made chicken and dumplins.I'm on springbreak this week so i can meet you to drop off the book.

[HobbeGoblin]

Are any of the characters ( presently) in possession of any gear with an avail above 5? I'll need a good reason from you as to why, and if anyone is taking more than 90,000 in resourses i'll need an explaination as well. if you can reasonably explain these things, then reasonably i can accept them.

Also any flaws that are or should be a common occurance in the game can you give me a heads up( i miss things occassionally)

I like how this is campaign is developing and we have room for more if you know anyone who is interested.

is anyone or collectively are any members donating money to increase the gangs number? it isnt mandatory or even expected so, dont worry about that.

There are 17 NPC gangers presently, not including The gangleader and the War Boss ( Kaze, and Bad-Bones)
* remember the special gang tattoo's for killing for the gang? Bad-Bones's has his entire hand and his arm upto his elbow tattooed, hence the streetname"Bad-Bones". Bad-Bones is getting out of prison the same time the rest of you who are just getting out are. Bad-Bones has been locked up at the infamous Silcox Island Pennitetary.( check page 125 of New Seattle for discription)

I see most of you are playing Hardcore members, you are decision makers and plot shapers. It isnt mandatory to begin as a hardcore, just nice too. You should begin thinking of what niche you want to perform in the gang. Kiedo has already spoken for collections. Cydlexia is performing as a counselor/ advisor( it fits the totem) i've listed in previous posts the various "dealings" the serpents are into...however if you think of a new one, find a way to bring it into the game. A new source of income brings you a cut, and prestige. Remember if a spot opens up for higher leadership it's the "performers" that are looked at to move up a notch.( there is a seed i've just planted there) To sum it up....be proactive, be creative, be the hungry ganger mad at the very streets he prowls to scratch out an existence.( it's a love/hate relationship after-all)

Oh man...i looked around and saw i was on the Soap box again

[Cydlexia]

Yo.. yo.. Beave...

Ya' know môn, Ras Tafari always ha'z de' time ta' share gonga!
we' côn play out da' ryth'em on a zhim-ba, tel'n tales of ole' times rez'son.

[FlipShow]

It seems odd that quite a few of our characters are being released at the same time. How do we explain that?

Could it be that an overcrowded Seattle prison was forced to reduce population and reduce sentences?

[HobbeGoblin]

Actually it is due to certain influences/ pressures ( the Yaks put the fix in). Also it stands that the star would have done a sweep to pick up as many of us as they could....that means release dates are close. Also not everyone is just getting out...Tatsu, kiedo's troll,and Bad-Bones (npc) are the only ones recently released as the game starts.Bad-Bones has been in for 3 years. Those are the only 3 recent releases all the others have been inside but not recently.

[fuhok]

you know beav always got da time to smoke someone elses gonga.

[fuhok]

hobbe sounds good

[fuhok]

hobbe, how about tommorow afternoon

[Cydlexia]

O' yo Hobb? ... ya need you're Shadowrunner Compainion book back I got my Edges and Flaws... When I get home tonight I will post my PC and background for poruzal...
Be kind! it's been some time since I have made a Player in this Games Setting so something's may be a bit rusty. I have forgotten all the details on Seattle for example so if things don't quite match up to locations in the setting (( shugs )) sue me i'll give you my lawerys number. :P LOL just kid'in i'll work out the kinkx....

[FlipShow]

Tatsu (just 'Tats' to some) just spent a couple weeks in San Francisco immediately after his release. He was basically shopped around for a yakuza sponsor in the Bay Area but he has nearly as many bones as BadBones and was decidedly too hot a package to handle when you throw in that police record. He was close to being sent back to the Kansai area in Japan, but was able to convince his advisors that he could still make a difference in the Seattle area with the 7 Serpents. The gumi want some noticable results.

Though he was not stepped up into the syndicate, it was a nice vacation atmosphere to enjoy after the 4 hard years in the can. He has returned to Seattle in time to help prepare the welcome party for Bad-Bones and Kiedo's Troll (Legion?).

[Kiedo]

Legion and Bad-bones both were in silcox together and set up a small outpost of the 7S, with bad-bones as the leader of course. Legion handled the "getting things from people" aspect while the more charasmatic(what is he by the way elf, human what?) Bad-bones handled everything else. Legion's natural ability to get people to do what he wants(he like to think of it as he's just that influencial, but really it's the fact that he has close to as many bones as Bad-bones himself, which ironically is where he got his nickname, for the legions of people he has "sent on"), impressed Bad-bones and thats why he made liutenant, official after the party.

Henni and legion met before he was transfered to silcox for "breaking" a couple prison gaurds who were trying to beat up his new friend(Cydlexia if thats not cool tell me I'll change it).

[FlipShow]

Do they isolate prisoners by Awakened or metahuman status at Silcox?

[Cydlexia]

Sounds kick'in ta' me Kiedo... Theres alot of transferences once your inside so ya go where they tell yeah.

[fuhok]

its lawyer you cydlexic freak

[HobbeGoblin]

They send the mojomen elsewhere...Silcox would keep adepts there. No they don't seperate by Metahuman type ( its unconstitutional...lol)

Bad-Bones appears as a big human, after spending time with him he has some ork'ish features.

Tat's (Flipshow) you need to message me about your "relationship" with the Yaks in Cali ok? ( i see hooks here)

I'm not trying to one up anyone on the body count here. Bad-Bones was created prior to my beginning post and is a vital npc and as such...his tattoos and rep are placed high for that reason. ( ooc...Legion is probably the leader in body count, with Tatsu and Bad-Bones rivaling.) Bad-Bones does lead in killing for the gang, that's where he's made his bones and that affords him respect.

Lets see if i can clarify it some: ( hopefully yall are familiar with some Military)
Bad-Bones is like a mean-a@@ sergeant-major with some serious battle experience and medals to prove it. The young recruits and veterans look up to him he's been there for the gang...he's a step away from being the leader himself for a reason. He has the street cred and the muscle.Not knocking anyones concept he's larger than life as an npc.

[FlipShow]

Unconstitutional? Doing time with a troll in for violent crime as your cellmate is unconstitutional. :dead:

(HobbeGoblin, I sent you a message.)

[fuhok]

so listen up chummers. I'm dane some of you know me, some of you don't.
The ones that do propably haven't seen me since I got out 2 years ago.So if you need some work done on your bike I'm the man to see.I'm also the man to see about other things as well. If I can't scam it I'll sure as drek steal it.

[Cydlexia]

haha... Thank you Fuhok...
I had'nt notice there was a english teacher in the room. ;)
I will send all my posts by message to ya. That way you can prof-read them for me and caught all those pesky little typo's my fat fingers leave in. :D

[HobbeGoblin]

tomorrow...where at and what time beav? also are you free saturday?

[HobbeGoblin]

Cydlexia...you and I know why he can spell Lawyer correctly ..ha

[Cydlexia]

Put a lot of money in there coffers?

[HobbeGoblin]

yeah..why do you think i'm going to law school?

[fuhok]

cyd has been down down too, just not as often.

besides knowing hobbe he's gonna be too expexsive

that proff. fuhok to you cyd

[HobbeGoblin]

expensive but worth it...my fees include my sneakiness and vindictive nature for free. not to mention natural aptitude.

[Cydlexia]

hehe.... Works fer' me

[Cydlexia]

Send me a message on your concept Beav... I am curious to check out this clept 'to you got in the works....

[fuhok]

i will when i get back from getting the kiddo

[HobbeGoblin]

he's changing a dirty diaper...be back in a minute.....ah fatherhood

[HobbeGoblin]

anyone heard from WinterRat or Sandoval?
Hope theyre still interested, i found thir concepts really good

[FlipShow]

They are both around... online as I type this post, according to the main page (active in the last 15 minutes).

What kinda groupies do the 7 Serpents get? I mean who are the typical wannabes, the halfways?

Why do I have all of these questions?

Why?

[Sandoval Smith]

I just haven't had much to say in the sixteen hours since my last post. :D

This is some stuff I was discussing with FlipShow, but is equally relevant to the gang at large.

Any character that can astrally percieve should be able to figure out his true nature pretty quick. However, secrets are always important to keep, especially in a case like this. If it became common knowledge that there was a 'shifter in the gang, enemies will start bringing to bear heavier weaponry to better deal with that kind of threat. That would bode ill for the survival of everyone else too.

Survivor (I really need to find a short name for him) would be an excellent sub lieutenant to bring along for collections (not so good to lead them, since with him in a leading position, aggression, hard resistance, or attempts at 'dominance' from the victims would pretty quickly provoke him to violence). However, when someone else was in the lead, he would be a very reliable member, keeping himself leashed until given the order otherwise.

When he's kicking back, his interests tend to focus on food, sleep, women, and TV, generally in that order.

*edit*
He's also not really keen on all that tatooing that goes around in the gang, since he needs to get all of his redone every few weeks. The 7Serpents sign he'll get redone as needed. The bones, and other tattoos he wants to retain, he'll get drawn in permanent dye. That will at least make them quicker to reapply when they've faded.

[fuhok]

daddy back from the delivery room
cyd i sent you your request

[HobbeGoblin]

are you asking if there are chicks around Flipshow the answer is yes. The serpents like any other gang has its fill of wannabes hanging out, chicks looking for the bad boys etc... you have these questions because you are looking for the ideas that will give you a mental picture of the campaign. ( or to test me)

Glad to see you Sandoval....if you want a sub-role then that's fine.

[HobbeGoblin]

I like the questions...it makes me put in writing what is in my head and it shows interest in the game. I've thought out the campaign and have any answers you want. ( the meaning of life, life is.......)

[FlipShow]

It is good to know the characters get laid but I was curious about the kind of people who want to become Serpents.

What kind of initiation rites did we each endure?

Who are the people that are hounding (Not Survivor) the gangers about joining up? The most junior member NPCs would be of this stock.

[Sandoval Smith]

Heh, nice pun.

Just to clarify, I meant 'sub lieutenant' in terms of he'd probably be a right hand man, but rarely a leader. He doesn't have the temperment to be an alpha male, and so in circumstances other then 'we're going into this gang's territory, and we're going to mess them up' he doesn't do very well in leadership roles.

[FlipShow]

Ha. No, I am not trying to test you at all. I have confidence that you have planned this well. That is why I am asking, because you do have a very rich environment in mind. It is great and it shows. The more background that we all have will only keep up the interest and help us to integrate our charcter's BG more deeply into your vision.

Wow, it kinda sounds like I need to remove my lips from your ass now.
*throws the bird to sorta even things out*

[fuhok]

wanted to see if this works

[ Spoiler ]

type text/spoiler

[fuhok]

i like it

[ Spoiler ]

i realy like it

[FlipShow]

[ Spoiler ]

Like so?

[Sandoval Smith]

[ Spoiler ]

You people are strange.

[Kiedo]

[ Spoiler ]

ditto

[WinterRat1]

I'm here. It just seemed like it was mostly discussion of personal RL stuff, so I didn't have much to say. Flipshade sent me the following questions which I figured I could just answer in public (apologies if it was supposed to be private Flip, hope no ill feelings for the public answer?)

[Sandoval Smith]

After reading all that, I just have to ask: what is a guy like that doing in a street gang? He could well for himself as a regular shadowrunner, or a with a position in an actual organized crime position.

*edit*
I looked back over your character history, and