20,000 nY Under the Sea, So I stop trying to make an Arthouse Shadowrun Options

[Simon Kerimov]

20,000 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) UNDER THE SEA

***

CAST MEMBERS

ARIA as MIA "KEY" YOUNG
COMBAT MAGE as KENSEI
GHOSTMAKER as SPENCER "FINS" REESE
KAROLINE as B BANDIT
RED_CAP as GILL MCNULTY aka ROBERT PAULSEN

***

I'll use these conventions for typing dice pools and whatnot, feel free to use whatever convention you find most comfortable. If I'm being hard to understand, I can switch to the colored format:

[Dice Pools] are bracketed,
(((Matrix Communications))) are triple parenthesized,
"Speech Bubbles" are not so likely in the OoC thread, but hey,
//Thought Bubbles//

I'll italicize my IC comments, without the blue.
Character Names

*** Page Break ***

I haven't ever run a game on Dumpshock, so please feel welcome to offer suggestions and criticisms, and I will do my best to adapt. If you aren't having fun, please talk to me and we'll see what can be done.

The tone I am shooting for is the sort of gritty violence that happens when someone drops too much money into a situation that is both unstable and impoverished. A movie example would be Way of the Gun, where a cubic meter of hundred dollar bills was the center focus of a bloody action scene. Let me know how that sounds.

[Red_Cap]

If this campaign actually gets rolling along smooth, it'll be my first, too, so I'm unfamiliar with the standard conventions used hereabouts. Frankly, I can use whatever system people can come up with, so long as I finally get to play.

[Combat Mage]

Reposting my character sheet for easy reference:

Kensei, Combat Adept and Melee Specialist
Race: Shapeshifter (Tiger)
Age: 14
Base of Operations: The Caribbean (Dominica)

Description:

[ Spoiler ]

Kensei appears as a japanese man of about 20 years. He stands over 2 meters tall, with a strong and athletic build. He has sharply defined facial features, high cheekbones and a strong jawline. His eyes show the golden color and slit pupils of a cat and his short hair is a striped pattern of silver and black.

He doesn't pay much attention to his clothes as he does not understand the human fixation on appearance. Normally he's wearing either normal-looking clothes like boots, jeans, a simple white shirt and a leather jacket or traditional japanese garments, mostly kimonos in black, white and red.
His most prized possession is a magical katana he retained from his days as an assassin. The beautiful dark sword is is made of black steel and engraved with japanese kanji and images of running tigers. The grip is made of ebony and has a tassel in silver and black. It is called "The Meitou Shuusui". It roughly means: Named Blade: Clear Autumn Water in japanese. He also owns a wakizashi with the same look. He is almost never seen without this daisho, as the combination of katana and wakizashi is called in japanese.

In his true form, Kensei is an enormous siberian tiger with silver fur striped in black.

Unusal for a shapeshifter, Kensei actually prefers his human form to his animal form when in combat.

Background Summary

[ Spoiler ]

Kensei doesn't know what happened before he awakend. The first thing he remembers is being in a training facility in Japan. Members of a japanese organisation of assassins for hire, called the Shinigami, had found him, recognized his talent and taken him in, realizing that he was naive and formable.
They trained the fledgling shapeshifter for combat and assassination, honing his natural magical ability. Kensei didn't know anything about the world and humans so he did as he was told and thought his situation was normal.
The organisation used him for countless brute force assassinations. Kensai was the guy they sent when they wanted to send a message.

After many years, the young shapeshifter gained freedom when the organisation was eradicated by the japanese military. Not knowing what to do with himself and having no talents besides killing, Kensei inevitably drifted into the shadows.
He still works mainly as an assassin. But now he chooses his targets. He's made it his mission to eradicate those who exploit the weak and take their freedom away. If he get's paid for it, all the better.
He feels he has to do this to make up for the innocents he killed on the Shinigamis' orders. He didn't know better back then but he still feels guilt about it.

He is currently located in the caribbean.

Unknown to him, some members of the Shinigami have survived the organisation's destruction. They put a bounty on Kensei's head, since in their eyes he betrayed them.

Sheet

[ Spoiler ]

Name: Kensei

Race: Shapeshifter (Tiger)

Attributes: 492 Karma
Body: 8
Agility: 10
Reaction: 6 (9)
Strength: 7
Charisma: 2
Intuition: 4
Logic: 2
Willpower: 3

Edge: 3
Magic : 6
Essence: 6
Initiative: 13
Initiative Passes: 4
Physical Damage Track: 12
Stun Damage Track: 10

Positive Qualities: 70 Karma
Adept
Martial Arts 1 (Arnis de Mano): +1 DV Blades
Martial Arts 1 (Sangre Y Acero): +1 DV Blades
Restricted Gear
High Pain Tolerance III

Maneuver: 12 Karma
Iajutsu (4 Karma)
Two Weapon Style (4 Karma)
Offhand Training: Blades (4 Karma)

Negative Qualities: +70 Karma
Combat Monster
Distinctive Style I (Cat eyes, Striped hair in silver and black)
Scorched (Was subjected to BTL-procedures during his training)
Weak Immune System (From the combat drugs he was forced to take in the Shinigami)
Wanted (The remnants of the Shinigami put a bounty on his head after he fled)

Active Skills: 200 Karma
Blades (Daisho): 6 (+2)
Automatics (Assault Rifles): 4 (+2)
Pistols (Semi-Automatics): 4 (+2)
Unarmed Combat (Attack) : 4 (+2)
Perception (Visual): 2 (+2)
Athletics Skill Group: 2
- Swimming 2
- Gymnastics: 2
- Climbing: 2
- Running: 2
Diving: 2
Tracking (Urban): 2 (+2)
Infiltration (Urban): 2 (+2)
Shadowing (Tailing): 2 (+2)
Etiquette: 1
Intimidation (Physical): 2 (+2)

Knowledge Skills: 14 Karma
Poisons: 1
Anatomy: 1
Bushido: 1

Japanese: N
English: 2
Spanish: 2

Adept Powers:
Increased Reflexes 3 (4)
Improved Ability: Blades 3 (1.5)
Combat Sense 1 (0.5)

Gear: 32 Karma = 80.000 Nuyen

[ Spoiler ]

Weapon Focus Rating 4 = 42350
Katana + Personalized Gecko Grip + Custom Look 2 + Tracker

Other Weapons: 14070

-Wakizashi (Rules like Cougar Fineblade long) = 2250
Mods: Personalized Gecko Grip + Custom Look 2 + Tracker

- 2x Ceramic Knife = 550
Mods: Personalized Gecko Grip

-FN-HAR = 2100
Mods: Auto-adjusting Weight, Personalized Grip, Skinlink
Accessories: External Smartlink (Top Mount), Shock Pad, Sound Surpressor

Ammo = 5420
4 clips regular, 8 clips Ex-Ex, 8 clips Stick-N-Shock

-Ares Predator IV = 1150
Mods: Silencer, Personalized Grip, Laser Sight, Skinlink
Accessories: Quick-Draw Holster

Ammo = 1540
4 clips regular, 5 clips Ex-Ex, 5 clips Stick-N-Shock

-Ares Predator IV = 1600
Mods: Extreme Environment Mod: Level 2, Skinlink
Accessories: Quick-Draw Holster

Ammo = 760
4 clips regular, 4 clips Ex-Ex

-Shock Gloves = 200

-Hardliner Gloves = 100

Armor: 10300

-Armor Jacket + Fire Resistance 6 + Chemical Protection 6 = 3000

-Diving Armor + Chemical Protection 6 = 3250

-FFBA (Full Body) + Non-Conductivity 6 + Insulation 3 = 3250

- Helmet = 100

-PPP Systems: Shin Guards , Forearm Guards, Vitals Protector, Leg and Arm Casings = 700


ID: 5200
Fake SIN Rating 4 = 4000

3x Fake Licenses Rating 4 (Pistols, Assault Rifles, Blades) = 1200

Commlink: 2350
Novatech Airware + Iris Orb + Skinlink + Subvocal Microphone = 2350

Perception Equipment: 2270
Contact Lenses Rating 3 with Image Link, Smartlink and Vision Magnification = 775

Glasses Rating 4 with Image Link, Thermographic Vision, Vision Enhancement 3 and Flare Compensation = 675

Earbuds Rating 2 with Audio Enhancement 3 and Select Sound Filter 3 = 920

Lifestyle: 2000
Low (1 Month)

Total: 78540 +12 on starting money roll

[Aria]

Here's the beginnings of Key. I will flesh out the remaining details as soon as I can:

Quick Bio:

Name: Mia Young
Handle: "Key"
Specialisim: Underwater Covert Ops / Entrance Specialist
Character Sketch: Here

Grew up in CTec Aquaology (Deep Pressure Research Facility off the Tonga Trench, South Pacific)
Trained in naval architecture & engineering
Entered CTec security force
Recruited by Monarch when he came to the station
Freelanced for and against various corps / pirate factions in South Pacific and further afield
Available for work now!

Thanks, A

Background

[ Spoiler ]

Hi, you can call me ‘Key,’ which is better than ‘Fish Girl’ or similar monikers. I specialise in covert insertion, especially underwater facilities or subs, I’ve been taught security procedures and how to bypass them and how to defend myself if the situation warrants it. I’ve lived my whole life in and around aqualogies, boats and submarines and my ware was custom designed to adapt me to an underwater environment.

For those of you who’ve turned off your vid link I’m of average height with a slim build and wiry muscles. My skin treatment means I’m slightly bronzed with exceptionally smooth skin, something I’m not complaining about. The most obvious signs of my ware are the slight indication of my gills either side of my spine leading up in to my hairline, that and the webbing that extends when my hands are wet.

I grew up in one of CTec’s facilities off the Tonga Trench in the South Pacific. As corp environments go it could have been worse but there was a constant surveillance and adult presence that made some aspects of childhood a bit repressive…it just honed my instincts for remaining unseen when I wanted. I studied for a degree in naval architecture via the matrix and I guess I came somewhere near the top of my class. After graduating I got a job as a security analyst and consultant for CTec, based out of Tonga.

When the main supply vessel was taken by a pirate sub crew I was drafted in to accompany the security team to get them onboard and disable the enemy vessel. Having only ever fired a gun in VR games I was understandably nervous about entering a possible combat situation although they assured me of my safety. What they neglected to mention was that my father was on the sub that had been taken…he died in front of me…

The memories are painful…I swore that I would never be in a position where I couldn’t help one of my loved ones again. Through some dogged persistence and other less savoury techniques I was transferred to the security programme and received the combat training that might have helped me to save my father. As I showed the determination and aptitude for this work I was moved on to the advanced programme and went under the knife for my first wires.

Not finished yet…also got a vignette in mind to follow

Sheet

[ Spoiler ]

Basics BPs 0
Name: Mia Young
Street Handle: Key
Metatype: Human
Sex: Female
DOB: 2047
Matrix Icon:

Attributes BPs 200
Body 3
Agility 5 +1
Reaction 4 +4
Strength 3 +1
Charisma 3
Intuition 4
Logic 3
Willpower 3

Special Attributes BPs 20
Edge 4
Initiative 8 +4
Essence 1.5

Skills BPs 140
Running 1
Swimming 3 (+1 from webbing)
Blades 2 (Knives +2)
Electronics Group 1
Automatics 3 (SMGs +2)
Pistols 2
Disguise 2
Infiltration 6
Dodge 3 (+2 from Wires)
Diving 2 (O2 Extraction +2)
Pilot watercraft 3

Exotic Firearm – Gyrojet 3 (skillsoft)
Hardware 3 (skillsoft)

Knowledge
Native Tongue English
Naval Architecture 5 (+1 Tech School)
Engineering 4 (+1 Tech School)
Underwater Security 4
Atlantis Theories 3
Matrix Conspiracy Sites 2
VR Games 3

Qualities BPs 10
Restricted Gear – Move by Wire 2
Tech School Education

Negative Qualities BPs -35
In Debt 4 (owed to Monarch who arranged for her ware)
SINer
Records on file (CTec an Evo subsidiary)

Resources 250,000 ¥ BPs 50

Contacts BPs 15
Monarch (Fixer) Loyalty 2 Connection 5
Aria (Hacker) Loyalty 4 Connection 4

Ware

[ Spoiler ]

Move by Wire 2
Eyes Rt 1 with lowlight, flare comp, protective covers (underwater focusing)
Ears Rt 1 with damper
Cybergills
Internal Air Tank

Orthoskin 1 (protects against sea water)
Muscle Toner 1
Muscle Aug 1
Hand & Foot Webbing

Gear

[ Spoiler ]

Cougar Fineblade Long Knife

Yamaha Pulsar (internal smartlink, 10 taser darts)
FN Praetor (internal smartlink, sound suppressor, ruthenium coating, 60 rnds subsonic ammo, 30 rnds stick & shock, 10 tracker rnds)
Modified Gyrojet pistol (Wrist mounted, internal smartlink, 10 rockets)

Form fitting full suit (ruthenium coating)
Diving Light
Full Diving Face Mask

Transys Avalon (Iris Orb OS, Sim Module, modified for BTL/hot sim, skinlink)
FTL Matrixware Power Suite (Analyze 3, Browse 4, Command 2, Edit 4, Purge 4, Scan 2, Firewall 3)
VR Game
2x Rt3 Activesofts

Electronics toolkit
Autopicker Rt 6
Maglock Passkey 4
Sequencer 4
Monofilament Chainsaw

Fake SIN 2

Modified Saeder-Krupp Mk-17D Neptune (Pimped Ride – looks & moves like a shark, cradle underneath to hold Key)

Tropes
Couldn’t find exactly what I’m looking for although I’m sure it’s there

Murdered Innocence: The death of her father has caused her to do things she might not otherwise have done and set her on the shadowy path. Perhaps Be All My Sins Remembered or Dark & Troubled Past

Wide Eyed Innocence: Never the less she tries to maintain an even sunny disposition...not found a match yet

She might also fit in to Misfit Lab Rat although she is more of an action type than this might imply...


Comments welcomed!

This post has been edited by Aria: Jul 20 2010, 04:40 PM

[Simon Kerimov]

Ok, I finally got the next post up. Let me know what your rolls are and what dice roller you are using.

[Combat Mage]

Audio Perception Test:

[Intuition 4 + Perception 2 + Enhanced Sense (Hearing) 1 + Audio Enhancement 3 (from Earbuds)] = 10 Dice
10d6.hits(5) → [2,6,3,5,2,6,4,4,3,6] = (4) 4 Hits

Edit: Do you prefer the rolls be made here or in the IC thread?

[Karoline]

Found a fairly decent picture of B Bandit's normal matrix persona, Only with a less skimpy vest. (Seriously, why do most Halloween costumes for females look like they're going to be preforming at a strip club?)

[Red_Cap]

Because most Halloween parties end up as drunken orgies? Frankly, Karoline, I just pictured Julie Benz' cowgirl outfit from Boondock Saints II except with a black duster.

[Karoline]

Never seen it.

[Simon Kerimov]

(Seriously, why do most Halloween costumes for females look like they're going to be preforming at a strip club?)

Is this somewhat better? [link] [link]

[Karoline]

Much better, very awesome. Only difference would be no butterflies in her hair.

[Red_Cap]

Never seen it.

For shame.

[Simon Kerimov]

Edit: Do you prefer the rolls be made here or in the IC thread?

Rolls should probably be posted here, but results can be posted in the IC thread.

[Simon Kerimov]

Ok, we seem to have lost or misplaced Ghostmaker. I guess we'll just continue and find some way to spin it to make that work out ok. Do you all have a preference for how long we should wait for someone to respond?

[Karoline]

Generally a few days unless they give warning. Of course if the story can continue without them for a bit, then continue ahead. Like right now we can continue along just fine, and he maybe shows up a bit late to the meeting, or else arrives on time but was simply quiet for most of the meeting or such.

[Simon Kerimov]

Fair enough. Onwards with the plot!

[Combat Mage]

Quick question. Can I see any logos on the helicopters or the cargo? Also how far is the dropping point from Kensei's current location?

[Simon Kerimov]

Quick question. Can I see any logos on the helicopters or the cargo? Also how far is the dropping point from Kensei's current location?

Logos are easy to see. They are from Shibata Construction and Engineering.

The dropping point is about 10 kilometers from Roseau where the hotel that the runners are meeting at is. I don't know where on the island Kensei is living. Here is a map of Dominica, the lake is in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, just northeast of Laudat.

[Combat Mage]

Kensei lives in Roseau in a small apartment on Bay Street directly at the water.

[Karoline]

B Bandit will use part of her time waiting on the plane to do a data search.

Threading Browse (15d6.hits(5)=(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Using all 8 hits.
Fading Resistance (17d6.hits(5)=4) 4S damage, reduced to 3S with Trauma Damper.
Data Search on Simon, Data Search on Loc, Data Search on Underwater Structures, Data Search on Effects of Seawater on Matrix use, Data Search on Mobile Buildings. Browse 8 + Data Search 2 + Analytical Mind 2 + PuSHeD 1 = 13 (13d6.hits(5)=6, 12d6.hits(5)=4, 11d6.hits(5)=4, 10d6.hits(5)=3, 13d6.hits(5)=8, 12d6.hits(5)=3, 11d6.hits(5)=4, 10d6.hits(5)=5, 13d6.hits(5)=3, 12d6.hits(5)=6, 11d6.hits(5)=2, 10d6.hits(5)=2, 13d6.hits(5)=8, 12d6.hits(5)=3, 11d6.hits(5)=3, 10d6.hits(5)=2, 13d6.hits(5)=5, 12d6.hits(5)=3, 11d6.hits(5)=4, 10d6.hits(5)=2)
Continuing search on mobile buildings (9d6.hits(5)=3)
Total Hits Simon: 17
Total Hits Loc: 20
Total Hits Structures: 13
Total Hits Water: 16
Total Hits Mobile: 17

Resting on the plane, 2 hour intervals thanks to biosystem overstress. (8d6.hits(5)=3, 8d6.hits(5)=3)
Back to full health half way through plane ride.

Edit: Forgot to take my -1 wound penalty, but also forgot the +2 for VR, so I'll not worry about trying to adjust the rolls.

[Simon Kerimov]

Kensei lives in Roseau in a small apartment on Bay Street directly at the water.

Neat, the Fort Young hotel is also off of Bay Street, directly at the water.

In that case, it's about 10 kilometers away, as the parrot flies. It's about 2 kilometers away from the nearest road, and is situated right between the Trois Pitons National Park and the Carib Reserve. It's also at 1342 meters elevation, the highest point on the island (I think).

Neat historical fact: The Carib Reserve on Dominica has (in 2010) about 3000 full-blooded Caribs, and are the only ones remaining in the Caribbean. They survived because Dominica is such a horrendously rugged island that the Europeans who were quite dedicated to the genocide of the Carib people couldn't find them. A clue as to why the Europeans were committing genocide: the word "cannibal" comes from the Carib work for "person," karibna.

[Simon Kerimov]

B Bandit will use part of her time waiting on the plane to do a data search.

Threading Browse (15d6.hits(5)=(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Using all 8 hits.
Fading Resistance (17d6.hits(5)=4) 4S damage, reduced to 3S with Trauma Damper.
Data Search on Simon, Data Search on Loc, Data Search on Underwater Structures, Data Search on Effects of Seawater on Matrix use, Data Search on Mobile Buildings. Browse 8 + Data Search 2 + Analytical Mind 2 + PuSHeD 1 = 13 (13d6.hits(5)=6, 12d6.hits(5)=4, 11d6.hits(5)=4, 10d6.hits(5)=3, 13d6.hits(5)=8, 12d6.hits(5)=3, 11d6.hits(5)=4, 10d6.hits(5)=5, 13d6.hits(5)=3, 12d6.hits(5)=6, 11d6.hits(5)=2, 10d6.hits(5)=2, 13d6.hits(5)=8, 12d6.hits(5)=3, 11d6.hits(5)=3, 10d6.hits(5)=2, 13d6.hits(5)=5, 12d6.hits(5)=3, 11d6.hits(5)=4, 10d6.hits(5)=2)
Continuing search on mobile buildings (9d6.hits(5)=3)
Total Hits Simon: 17
Total Hits Loc: 20
Total Hits Structures: 13
Total Hits Water: 16
Total Hits Mobile: 17

Resting on the plane, 2 hour intervals thanks to biosystem overstress. (8d6.hits(5)=3, 8d6.hits(5)=3)
Back to full health half way through plane ride.

Edit: Forgot to take my -1 wound penalty, but also forgot the +2 for VR, so I'll not worry about trying to adjust the rolls.

You hit the "Extreme" threshold for each of them except for Underwater Structures, so you pretty much have everything the Matrix has to offer. I'll post some information for you in the IC thread as soon as I get it compiled.

[Karoline]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I got lucky with that threading roll, was only expecting a rating 5 program. Could continue the search on structures, but I figured she'd find quite a bit already

[Combat Mage]

I wasn't sure if you were expecting Kensei to check out the drop-off location of the crates. At the moment I see no reason why he would do that so I hope that didn't mess up any plans you had.

[Simon Kerimov]

Data Search on Simon :
It very quickly becomes obvious that Simon has spin doctors keeping a tight reign on any information relating to Simon or his family on the Matrix. The information that they have allowed to be posted is primarily neutral news items about Simon or his father, Kerim, purchasing or selling some company related to space technology. His mother and older brother are part of the crew of EVO's Gagarin Mars base. Delving into historical data, the Kerimov family has been involved with Roskomos, the Russian space agency, since the USSR and the USA's space race. They live on Shibanokuji. Less reliable data concerns rumors of Simon and "others" being anything from a cult of vampires to agents of the Dickens Program that release genetic warfare agents in nightclubs across the world. Since the majority of these rumors come from young and drugged out individuals, you can surmise that he is a fixture of the party scene in more than a few cities.

Data Search on Loc :
By itself, this search nets nothing. Loc is clearly a pseudonym. Adding "teotl" into the search terms, and looking for words and names that have "loc" as a root or suffix leads you to believe the name might be a reference to Tlaloc, an Aztec god.

Data Search on Underwater structures :
Saotome Aquadome is a subsidiary of EVO with a half-dozen underwater habitats.

Proteus arkoblocks (their name for underwater archologies) are the best example, and there are 20 known arkoblocks, and very likely twice that or more unknows Proteus arkoblocks. Proteus and Maersk were competing over mobile arkoblocks, but that research seems to have been shelved. Rumors of underwater cities plans keep popping up.

Maersk has mobile docks, but doesn't seem to operate underwater.

Data Search on Mobile Underwater Structures :
Other than the shelved project that Maersk and Proteus fought over, the only underwater habitats of any size that are known to move around are the nuclear powered submarines owned by several countries.

Data Search on Matrix Communications Underwater :
Up to 20 meters of depth, Very Low Frequency (VLF) communication can occur, but it is very slow (treat as having a latentcy of 2 Combat Turns. Below that depth, Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) communications can be received, but not transmitted, as the antenna needed for transmission are several kilometers in length. Underwater communication is accomplished through sonar.