IC New Beginnings DAWN Options

[farothel]

<'As soon as we're out of the area and I don't need it to conceal us,'> Sammy replied back.

[Crossbow]

The adept currently hopping painfully between the runners manages a question in English through gritted teeth. "What is it you are seeking?"

[pbangarth]

Uncharacteristically, Torley decides not to put any kind of spin, or prevarication into the pitch.

"You stole an idol from the King. An impressive act, I might add. He wants it back and has sent his own people plus some other teams, all vying to get it back. The King has an auction about to go on. Our benefactor wants to be invited. The King will invite our benefactor if we bring the idol back to him. We have no attachment to the political reasons for the theft, nor do we have any emotional attachment to punishing the thief. All we want is to get our hands on the idol, and return it to the King. As far as I can see, we are the only group that doesn't want to hurt you. Present experience notwithstanding." A bit of a wry grin accompanies that.

"We would like to negotiate. We can heal you. If the idol gets back to the King, there is no reason for any of the other teams to go after you, except the guards, who have a personal reason to restore their cred with the King. Your friends the Area Boys are currently in a gunfight with the King's guards. Once it becomes clear what the fight is about, the Area Boys will likely want a word with you about bringing professionals to fight them. We have means to get you out of the public eye for a while, long enough for the heat to die down, both from the guards and from your friends.

"If any of the others gets possession of the idol, we lose out, and have no reason to negotiate, help, or hide you. Working with us is the path of least damage and pain for you. Your near future, and possibly your life, is in your hands."

[ Spoiler ]

I figure Negotiation fits better here than Con, so here's a roll if you want it:

Negotiation 4+2 + CHA 6 = 12 dice: 4 hits

I think Torley has 1 Edge left. If not, ignore the following. This seems like the time to use it: 8 dice: 3 hits

So Torley has 4 hits, or 7 if he had an Edge left.

[Crossbow]

Silence mumbled something in Igbo, then switched back to English "I was hired to steal the idol, if you heal my knees and let me go on my way, I will tell you who has it now."

[pbangarth]

Torley considers that for a moment. "Once we are in a safe location we can do the healing." He glances at Sammy who may not be as ready to do so right away.

"Giving a name is not enough, though. We need some more info to help us believe you are not just feeding us false lead to get away. Location. Why this party has it. How they would secure it. That kind of information is valuable."

[Crossbow]

"Yes, yes." he replies, "I understand" He winces as he takes a harder hop.

[pbangarth]

"Alright," Torley says. "A teammate of ours is near the gunfight going on between the Area Boys and the King's guards. If the idol is not in the Area Boys compound, tell that much to me now. Our friend shouldn't stay near the compound if there is no need to be there."

[Crossbow]

"No, it's not there."

[pbangarth]

< O'connor, the idol is not there, according to our informant. Get yourself to safety.>

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor acknowledged Torley and made his way out of the vicinity of the firefight. He gave Lil' Homie instructions to link back up with the team, it was time to leave.

[Crossbow]

Lil Homie is waiting for you at an assigned location with the van and driver you used earlier, in spite of the growing calamity in the neighborhood you left behind, though you can see as you pile in that the driver is not happy to have not asked for a larger retainer.

As you arrive back at your hotel, you all notice a lack of Area Boy looky-loos, but the slab of beef that was connected to Mr. Englebrecht is still on hand, though he has moved to take up residence inside the courtyard instead of on the street, and is enjoying the manager's beer.

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor pulled Torley aside as they exited the cab at the hotel. He motioned towards the goon, "Your fanboy is still hanging around. I'll deal with him. You square things with the cabbie. We don't need him snitching." He approached the muscle head, "What's up omae?" His body language belied his greeting. He was a predator taking the measure of another predator.

[pbangarth]

Torley slipped the driver triple the expected fare. "Good driver," he said. "A driver who keeps quiet about his passengers can expect more work. Give me your contact info."

Then, as O'Connor occupied the slab of beef, Torley helped the injured man into the hotel.

[Crossbow]

The driver is very happy to give Torley his info after the naira is passed over (600), he will even promise to wait an hour if they need further service.

---------------------

"Cool you jets and have a dap, OOOH-MAE." his accent makes the slang sound foreign before his mocking tone makes it ridiculous, he taps the side of his skull as he drinks beer from a clean glass. "Real time surveillance link to Mr. Englebrecht, audio and video, he already knows you have a wounded local at your hotel, he might even already know who it is. No reason to get your ass beat just yet, besides fighting in the compound means immediate eviction." He points to a chair at the table in easy reach of the beer.

[Necrogigas]

Without Snow, there was nothing to be done about the surveillance. O'Connor gave a small nod, conceading the point, "Suppose a fight would be pointless. Damage already done." He took the seat while trying to remember if Snow, or maybe Jane, gave the team a run down on this Englebrecht guy. All O'Connor could dredge up off hand was that the guy's kid was a grade-a prick.

[Crossbow]

The Muscle looked fairly impressed and even handed Con a beer, "That went much better than expected, word from Seattle is that you are the hothead of your crew, that the chink tusker is the only professional. Glad see that was wrong."

------------------

Upstairs Peaceful seems quite starstruck at Silence's arrival, he helps the team get him comfortable and even offers him some of his liquor, which is accepted gratefully.

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor took the beer. Before he could enjoy it however, the goon started spouting off racist bulldrek. O'Connor regretted having to take a nonviolent approach, "The term you're looking for is nip. She's Japanese, not Chinese. You should really use the right slurs. Otherwise, you'll just come off as an ignorant jackass."

[Crossbow]

The bodyguard seems unperturbed. "Does it really matter which drekpile she crawled from? She is animal either way." He sips from his glass. "It is no wonder you feel they are your equals, with the cesspool you grew up in, but you should really consider better companions in the future."

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor placed the beer on the table untouched. He was rather unimpressed with the goon's worldview, "You have something important to say? Or is the Humanis recruiter pitch all that's happening here?"

[Crossbow]

"Humanis is a fine organization, but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for an invitation from them, wasn't that your crew that slaughtered the chapter on that car racing field? No, I would just suggest that should you or your friend Torley come into possession of something Mr. Englebrecht wants, you would find him a much more generous employer than some dandelion eating duiwel."

[Necrogigas]

It actually took O'Connor a moment to remember the fight being referenced. The fact they'd even been connected to that little speedbump on The Mountain Run meant Englebrecht might know damn near everything. Hell, he might even know what they actually did in the Tir. The team still didn't know what they did. He mentally groaned, *Who in the fragging hell did you get us tangled up with here Torley?* O'Connor looked at the goon skeptically when he made his pitch, "And should Torley and I expect you and a few buddies dogging our steps to ensure we make the right choice?"

[farothel]

Sammy helped to bring the guy up and took position at the door where she could keep an eye out on things and hopefully also hear stuff if it happened in the hallway.

[Crossbow]

The big Afrikaner waved off that concern, "No, just be assured that should you pass on the opportunity that Mr. Engelbrecht does not offer second chances, and he is a dangerous enemy to have."

---------------

Upstairs, Silence is looking at his two saviors expectantly. "So, is someone going to do something about my knees?"

[Necrogigas]

"Noted." O'Connor rose from the table, "Thanks for the beer." He left it on the table untouched. He headed upstairs to the team's room.

[pbangarth]

Seeing Sam's body language, Torley assured the man, "Yes. We just had to make sure an incident didn't happen down the hall. Things seem to be settling now."