IC Northern Gateway, well-done accents get extra karma! Options

[pbangarth]

19:52 Randy Beaver

The doorman nods at JD and indicates with his thumb to pass through.

[pbangarth]

19:55 Randy Beaver

The guy at the door is looking at his watch a lot.

[Karoline]

19:56 Randy Beaver

Longshot decided to wait as long as she could before going into the bar, wanting to avoid the crowd and especially all the men that were likely to be inside. Finally she decided she couldn't wait any longer, and so made her way into the bar. She was fairly sure the person she was to be meeting was already there, the bodyguards being dead giveaways.

She enters the bar still dressed as though it is mid winter, not removing her face mask or goggles so as to keep her features completely obscured. She makes her way rather purposefully towards the barman in says in a quiet but not conspiratorial voice "I am 'ere to see Felix." in English, her accent a light mix of French and her native tongue.

She is already looking at the bodyguard she saw outside before the barman points in that direction. She nods her thanks and then approaches the barman. "I am 'ere to see your boss." she informs the man simply, keeping her voice neutral and passive.

[pbangarth]

19:56 Randy Beaver

The man at the door looks Longshot up and down, slowly as if scanning her, waits a moment, and indicates with a thumb to go in.

[Karoline]

19:58 Randy Beaver Back Room

Longshot once again nods her thanks, seemingly not wanting to speak any more than necessary. Without further ado she passes through the door. She isn't late, but she is certainly cutting it a bit fine.

She takes her time to consider the others that have been gathered, being very discreet about it behind her tinted and polarized goggles.

[pbangarth]

19:58 Randy Beaver

The bartender and the man at the back room door both look pointedly at Old Wolf. The bartender says, "The doctor will see you now."

[pbangarth]

20:00 Randy Beaver - back room

You enter the back room individually. Arrayed around the room are a couple of comfortable couches and some matching lounge chairs, and accompanying end tables. beside the door is a table with refreshments: fruit, slices of meat and cheese, bread and a selection of non-alcoholic beverages. The well-dressed man sits in a lounge chair in the back corner, drink in hand. His second assistant stands beside him, at ease but very alert. The seated man rises and addresses each entrant with a shake of hands. He knows your street names. "Welcome. I am Félix Monague. Please, make yourselves comfortable and help yourselves to some refreshments." He must feel very secure here to do away with the 'Mr. Johnson' subterfuge.

The food and drink are excellent... fresh and tasty. This could be good if he pays as well as he feeds you.

A cursory study of the room indicates there is aural masking and good soundproofing. Neutral tones form the basis of the decoration, and typical backwoods scenes are arranged on the walls. No other exit but the door you entered is visible.

[OOC: all PCs make a visual perception test.]

[ravensoracle]

20:01 Randy Beaver - Back Room
Comm Mode- Hidden

JD takes Felix's hand shaking no more firmly than Felix does in return.

"Damn nice to meet you." He then moves out of the way to allow the Felix to address the others. When he hears Felix refer to Longshot he speaks up.

"Figured it was you. Only person I know to stay bundled up like that no matter how nice the weather." Turning to Felix, "With two outdoorsmen, I'm guessin' you're wanting us back country somewhere. So are we huntin' or moving goods?"

{OOC - I'm playing JD a bit rough around the edges. He is defaulting to 2 dice for Social Skills.

Intuition 5 + Perception 3 = 8d6 (8d6.hits(5)=2)}

[Karoline]

"And if you 'are lucky, you will never find out why." she replies to JD with reasonable confidence in her statement.

She doesn't make any pretense of shaking Felix's hand any longer than absolutely required, though not being so rude as to refuse the shake altogether. Her head does turn towards the food for a few moments, but looks away before long. Why are there always others when good food is around?

She doesn't move to any of the comfortable chairs or couches, instead preferring to standing near one of the corners, leaning against it, allowing her to keep her eyes on everyone one else, though where her eyes are actually looking is quite hidden by the tinted goggles.

Int 5 + Per 4 + VE 3 + LNA 3 + HE 1 = 16 (16d6.hits(5)=3)

[Foxx]

Vixen checks out the scene as she enters the room. She was correct to presume that she was not a lone in the bar when three others enter in with her. The girl covered up from head to toe might be a concern. She wasn't too keen on folks that things to hide from the rest of the world. When no-one starts shooting she goes over to Felix when its her turn to shake hands, "A pleasure, Mr. Monague."

While the others do the meet and greet she goes to get herself a drink, bypassing the presented food, and goes to take a seat on one of the couches.

"Thank you, sir, for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us personally." She figures she would start chatting up the client while the others settle in.

Intuition 4 + Perception 3 (7d6.hits(5)=1) (ooc: think I glitch on that roll)

[pbangarth]

Vixen becomes fixated on a particularly juicy piece of fruit and stares at it for a while, before choosing it and relishing the flavour. Then she settles in to chat with Félix. The other two notice small vents in the walls, which likely are for introducing gas into the room. This rustic tavern seems to have interesting trouble response systems.

Your host continues, leaning forward as he speaks, "Please, call me Félix. I believe in professionalism but I don't like formalities.

"You are right, JD, there could be some outdoors work involved. There's a mine up north, by James Bay, that is having some trouble. Middle level managers are disappearing, maybe from the mine, maybe from the mine offices in the town upriver, maybe in between. The corporate security has had no luck, and the community police have done no better. An acquaintance of mine in the company wants the problem to be solved before the corporation calls in some heavies or just leaves. The band police have basically washed their hands of the affair, saying it is a corporate problem.

"I don't know what is causing the disappearances, and would like your team to find out the cause and deal with it. There is 5000 nuyen in it for each of you, 1000 up front, 4000 on successful completion. There could be a bonus if any of the missing executives are returned alive. My acquaintance, your contact in the company if you take the job, was not clear on that point. Something about budget constraints. You know the type. He said he would know more once the team arrived."

He takes a sip of his drink, and sits back.

[Karoline]

Longshot frowns behind her mask "I am no as good in mines." she states simply.

After a moment of thought she asks "They do no know where the managers go missing? Not even if they 'are at office or mine? We will need to find where they go missing and why?" Some nice basic points of clarification on what is actually expected.

"5K is no much if we do no know what threat is. Could be group of Yeti or Wen-de-go. Could be rival company also too. Bonus do us no good if they are eaten."

Longshot goes quiet while these concerns are addressed, and so others may raise their own.

[ravensoracle]

20:03 Randy Beaver- Back Room
Comm Mode- Hidden

JD's been through negotiations before and he really hated them but for 5K it had bettter be an easy job.

Maybe we can add to the offer that we can renegotiate dependin' on what we find. There are some things that are a little tougher than a 5000 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) payday. If it's something simple than I'll be happy with the 5K, If it's something that's gonna put all of us in the ground without breakin' a sweat then I ain't riskin' my neck for that little. I ain't spendin' all month lookin' for it either, I can make better money with a legit hunting party."

[Trigger]

20:03 Randy Beaver - Back Room

Old Wolf had sat quietly through the meeting so far, sipping his beer and listening to the others talk, taking it all in. He wasn't very comfortable in situations like this, being around other people. He might have been, once, but he had been living out in that old hut of his for so long now that just being around a small group of people got his hackles rising.

"As ze oders 'ave said, an unknown threat iz da threat that ya should get paid mo'e fo'."

Perception 1 + Intuition 5 + Audio Enhance 3 (9d6.hits(5)=1)

[pbangarth]

20:03 Randy Beaver - Back Room

Félix smiles. "Excellent. People who know their own value. Alright, then. The 5000 is for the first week. If it goes longer, 500 more per day, each, up to a second week. After that we need to talk whether the job is worth continuing. If unusual hostiles like the kind JD decribes appear, then there will be another 5000 each as extreme danger pay.

"If this is acceptable, then I can give you more details and possible leads. How does that sound?"

[Foxx]

Vixen listens to the others talk about the job, sipping the diet soda she retrieved from the offered assortment of articles. She cues up her commlink, and brings up a window access Ya-google map. Harmless enough matrix applicaition for people wanting a two year old look of the world. The area around James Bay was what she thought it would be for terrian up north.

"Well not knowing where the mine is, at the moment. The area we're looking at working is extremely rugged terrian; a hike for myself and present company but deadly for anyone else. I'm pretty the area we'll be operating in will be more of the same. And we're investigating missing people, explaing why they are missing.

"Barring any unmention factors prior to our commitment, it would appear someone or something is singling them out. Too many reasons why they would do that other then corperate infighting or another corp trying to muscle in. Do we know what they are mining for?"

Vixen sips her drink before going on.

"JD could be correct that we're dealing with wild creatures. Either way, we're going to be dealing with wild creatures the further into the wilds we go. There isn't much metahuman habitation from what I can tell around James Bay. A lot of things can set up homes there in fobodeing terrians.

"All complications that we'll be facing going in. I guess the bonus for bringing anyone back a live is to say they are helping we rescue them. More complications."

Vixen thinks for a moment, "Must be quite a lot of money on the line for this mine, I suspect. Dealing with this problem is going to cut into our meager resources and its hunting season, this job is going to cut into that. Lots of people to lead around blowing deer with full automatic weapons, if you take my point.

"I think the 5k is a good pay up front to take the job, but the per day fee should cover the whole two weeks at say..." Vixen bounces her head a little from side to side, thinking up of a 'reasonable' sum, "Seven hundread a day. Like you said, we have very talented people here. Working extradianry circumstances with someone wanting particular results in mind."

Negotiations: 13d6.hits(5)=3

[pbangarth]

20:10 Randy Beaver - back room

Félix considers Vixen's points for a moment. He sips his drink, seemingly absent-minded, or distracted. Then he replies, mostly to Vixen directly. "The mine has been in operation for over a hundred and fifty years. It had more or less died out but new technology commonly available has given it some more life. In all that time, there has been no trouble, either sabotage, espionage or labour. The local corporate security in the area reflects the perceived low need for it. The company security section has determined to their satisfaction that no external corporate threat exists. The main regional population centre is about 100 km away, on the shore of James Bay, but scattered settlements of a few families exist all along the river that connects the main town to the mine site.

"The local community constabulary finds no evidence or even leads to suggest that anyone in the community is behind the disappearances. There have been three managers gone missing, from different departments. My contact there, and the one who is financing this mission, is himself a middle manager, and considers himself a potential target. While the mine security has allocated him protection, he doesn't appear to have full confidence in his guards, and wishes to pursue his own investigation, at his own expense. Why he doesn't just leave, I don't know.

"Since investigations have ruled out corporate or labour troubles, and assuming they are not wrong, I think there may be some other source of trouble, which may involve a natural or paranatural problem that has moved in. Though why it seems to focus on managers, I don't know. In any case, I have called you together, hoping your skills will be able to deal with such a problem if it exists.

"Vixen, you are a skilled negotiator, zeroing in on some key points. I can offer the following, and no more. Per person, 3000 nuyen up front, then 500 nuyen per day for up to 2 weeks, after which we talk to determine any further expenses. 5000 nuyen extra if serious hostilities happen. If it turns out to be a disillusioned prospector, then no extra. A dragon, I think we can find the extra funds." He smiles engagingly at that comment. "For the group of you, air transport to and from the region, and river transport should you need it. Other gear and supplies are your responsibility.

"That's the best I can do."

[ravensoracle]

20:11 Randy Beaver - Back Room

JD leans forward, intent on the converstion. He takes a drink of the water he poured as he thinks about the deal.

"I think I can live with those terms. Only question I really have before gettin' inta more of the details is the air transportation. I mean if we're huntin' a critter, having my dogs along will be awful handy. Maybe gettin' some Quads or Falcon's up there wouldn't be a bad idea either. How does the ore get out of there? By road or using the bay?

[Trigger]

Old Wolf leans back in his chair, letting out a light chuckle as he runs a gnarled hand through his gray hair.

"Soonds al'ight by moi. I can carry all I need on mah back, and if you iz sooplyin' da transportation then dat iz all that I am goin' ta need."

[Foxx]

Vixen nods her head to accept the terms. Little less than what she was aiming for but more than what was offered in the beginning. Not a bad start to working in the great north. Transportation up to the site was good too. Now all that is left is for the team to hit the ground, pull together, and pull off a successful run. Two already knew each other, that was good. The third seem gruff to Vixen, but she was use to that from her military days. Over all, everything was covered and nothing came to mind for asking.

"I accept the terms. We'll just need the assorted information about the town, the names of persons disappearing, logistical data; where everything is located and all that. Other then that, I'll be ready to go in a few hours."

[Karoline]

Longshot likewise agrees with the terms "Better than nothing." The terms weren't improved all that much, but it was better than nothing. "My bike should be no trouble to transport? Or I need to repack?"

The meeting seemingly about wrapped up, she pushes herself from the wall to stand up properly before walking slowly towards the table with the food on it, intending to take a few pieces of meat for later.

[pbangarth]

20:20 Randy Beaver - back room

Félix claps his hands and rubs them together. "Excellent. The transportation will leave from the air dock on the lake at 09:00 tomorrow. It's a Toyota TX13 and will be carrying a number of civilian passengers besides yourselves. You should be able to load a quad-worth of cargo each, plus personal baggage. Dogs should be caged unless they can fly without troubling the other passengers. The flight will go to the town first, which will take about an hour, and then to the mine, which will be another 15 minutes or so, so you can choose where you want to offload. Pilot's handle is Chase. He will be notified you are working for me, and he and the plane will be available to you for the duration. He is also a good water pilot and a small craft will be yours to use there.

"Here is a Matrix node," he makes an address available on his PAN. "In an hour all the data I have will be there, including the particulars on the contact in the company who will want to see you as soon as is convenient for you, and names of local authorities. Also, there will be contact information for me and the up front payment. Good hunting."

If no questions follow, he will let himself out, followed by his men.

[Foxx]

Vixen quick reviews the meeting in her minds eye. Drawing up a blank on questions she shakes her head when entreated to ask further questions. Once the rest are done with their Q&A, she looks to them taking in their respect physical characteristics.

"Well, now that we've all agreed to work on this assignment I guess we should get to know each other a little better."

She gets up from her seat on the couch and over tot he table to fix herself another diet drink.

"My street name is Vixen, and I like to specilize in negotiations, among other things. I'm a real people person. I've also served in the military and if your worried about how dainty I will be about roughting; don't. I'm quite use to eating dirt, mud, and other assorted materials in the great wilds."

She dosen't elelaberate on which military she was in. That on a need to know basis and really, no one else needed to know.

[ravensoracle]

20:22 Randy Beaver- Back Room


"My dogs are well trained, no worries there."


Once Felix leaves He turns to the rest after Vixen's intro.


"Names JD. I'm a hunter and a guide. If you don't know how to handle yourself out there, I'll do my best to help you out. And don't worry 'bout the dogs, they may act all tough but they're well trained and only go after what I tell'em to. Those three are some of the best trackers in the area too"

[Karoline]

Longshot hovers near the food, not wanting to take any until she is about to leave, as she won't be able to eat while standing here talking.

I am Longshot. I am good with the rifle, recon, ambush, track, survive. I will do more good outside mine than inside, most good at most long range. Be sure to keep dogs quiet JD, they 'are good at being loud. They scared a man outside before." Having berated JD some, she turns her attention more to Vixen "Good to know you will be okay roughing, I dislike 'aving to.... what is word...dorloter?" She shrugs and continues. "Person who does no know 'ow to keep warm in cold, or cry when food is small."

She shakes her head and gives a small sigh before speaking again "Does something else need to be talk about, or do we wait for tomorrow?"