IC New Beginnings DAWN Options

[farothel]

"Studied what, indoor plumbing," Sammy said, "I've seen what passes for cooking here. But sure, we can go there. Do know that I will keep an eye on you?"

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor was rather suprised at the quality of the food. He was curious what the meat was, but it was probably better not to ask. He spent the duration of the meal asking Lil' Homie about how he taking to his first shadowrun. He wanted to make sure the guide was holding up okay, and check to see if he wanted out. While Lil' Homie was no doubt used to danger living in this city, that was different than actively working with a team of runners seeking out that danger.

[Crossbow]

"Studied what, indoor plumbing," Sammy said, "I've seen what passes for cooking here. But sure, we can go there. Do know that I will keep an eye on you?"

"You know, my magic generally keeps people from doing that very thing, but in your case I will make an exception." Silence teased flirtatiously. The meal was actually very nice, obviously not up to par with some of the upscale places Starlet was used to, but there was some effort put in that did surprise her. Silence was an able meal companion, keeping conversation light, but still was definitely throwing some flirtation in there. Also, he seemed not the least bit surprised at the end of the meal when the manager asked for a pic and an autograph with their famous visitor.

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

O'Connor was rather suprised at the quality of the food. He was curious what the meat was, but it was probably better not to ask. He spent the duration of the meal asking Lil' Homie about how he taking to his first shadowrun. He wanted to make sure the guide was holding up okay, and check to see if he wanted out. While Lil' Homie was no doubt used to danger living in this city, that was different than actively working with a team of runners seeking out that danger.

Lil Homie is a mass of feelings, all of them good at the moment. He is amazed and honored at being considered O'Connor teammate. He is amazed and embarrassed that the runner keeps asking him for advice and confirmation. He feels indebted to the team in general, for being ridiculously overpaid for his services, well fed for probably the first time in his life and for the experiences and adventures he has had in the last several days.

He almost looks hurt and upset when he realizes that O'Connor might be sending him on his way, but covers it quickly and stands up where they are sitting and offers O'Connor his hand as professionally as a kid whose heart is visibly breaking can. "If this is goodbye, I will miss you drekheads."

[Necrogigas]

It took O'Connor a moment to realize Lil' Homie had misinterpreted this as a dismissal. He was caught off guard by how upset it made Lil' Homie, and how guilty it made him feel for inadvertently causing the kid's distress. He hadn't realized how attached Lil' Homie had become to him, nor how attached he'd gotten in turn.

Until this moment, O'Connor believed that his friendship with Darrell was the last remnant of his humanity that hadn't been burned away by his rage and need for vengeance. To learn otherwise was a complete shock, and he wasn't quite sure what to do with the revelation. Introspection was down there with social grace when it came to his proficiencies.

To cover for his discomfort, he gave Lil' Homie an exasperated look, "I'm not sending you on your way. Becoming, basically, a shadowrunner-in-training wasn't what you signed up for. I didn't intend for that either, but you just took to it like a fish to water. I just wanted you to know that you're not trapped, in case you wanted out. Clearly you don't, so stop being overly dramatic."

He rose from the table and ordered them dessert to-go. He checked the time and saw they had a fair bit before having to meet up with the others. The clothes he'd brought were ruined by this point, even by his standards, and wasn't about to ruin the overpriced suits he'd bought. He asked the, hopefully, mollified Lil' Homie, "Anywhere nearby to get some new threads? My clothes are fragged, and Lord only knows how your's are still holding togather."

[farothel]

Sammy would go along with the flirtation, but it wouldn't go any further. She wouldn't mind given autographs, but will try to hold off on the pictures. She'd rather stay a bit more in the shadows if possible.

[pbangarth]

The boli from that last street vendor was amazing. Torley makes a mental note of where the man sets up.

[Crossbow]

As Torley returns to the hotel enjoying his lunch, he takes a moment and pats himself on the back. Few white men could have so easily walked among the true slums of Lagos, alone and practically unarmed, and lived to tell the tale. Certainly not unbloodied with his bankroll intact. He not only did that, but he also scored valuable intel for his running crew. Sometimes, just sometimes, he even impresses himself with his high standards.

Among the useful data he acquired, confirmation of everything Silence had told them about the totem he stole. The item was there in the compound, in an ancient mechanical safe in Uzochi Oluleye's personal office, warded by the dibias (Awakened priests) that will conduct the ritual to destroy the totem tomorrow at midnight. Oluleye's grandfather confided in a lovely little washer woman that he is terrified that his grandson's hubris will see their home destroyed by Ife's curses or, more likely, Yoruba soldiers. He wants it gone.

Physical security of the site is definitely an issue, Each of the two entrances to the compound are guarded by a pair of heavily armed and armored orks. The first is a public lobby in the main building and the other is the back gate that is usually kept open during the day. There are no outward facing windows on the first floor of any building in the compound. There seems to be steady bit of visitors to the main building, conducting business with the family. There are also several locations on each side of the compound that could be options for close support points with plenty of good views.

Area Boys do work the area, seemingly at random, but they don't come within a block or so of the compound, they are scared of the orks. This allows the area immediately around the front entrance to a be a bit more commercial, though not to any great degree.

[Crossbow]

After Con's impromptu shopping trip, and Silence and Starlet's more elegant lunch, all arrive back at the hotel shortly after Torley, It is now the sweltering part of the early afternoon where the air is thick enough to chew. Engelbrecht's guard dog has moved into the lobby and seems engrossed in something on his commlink, though he does note your arrival and throws Bullet Storm a friendly wave.

Upstairs, you get the download from Torley.

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor ignored the goon in lieu of flipping him the bird. It was probably better if Lil' Homie didn't pick up his poorer habits. Back in the room, O'Connor's rather impressed that Torley is still in the same condition as when he left. He nodded to the Face, "What did you find?" As he got the details, he started stringing togather a few ideas. He turned to the group, "How much, and how long, are we thinking it would take to convince/pressure this grandfather to aid us?"

[pbangarth]

Uncharacteristically, Torley keeps his mouth shut. Earlier, it looked like he might be able to avoid going into the compound. Heavily armed orks. Magician struggling to keep everyone invisible. That kind of thing.

But who here is better able to talk the old man into doing what he really wants to do?

Torley waits for the discussion to proceed.

[Crossbow]

"What kind of aid are we looking for? He can't publicly go against his grandson, that won't happen." Silence offers.

[pbangarth]

Torley pipes up after that comment. "Inaction can sometimes be as effective as action."

[Necrogigas]

"Most I'd expect him to be able to do is provide guard shift schedules, and maybe give a few guards some busy work to distract them when we infiltrate."

[farothel]

"Here we might be at an advantage," Sammy said, "if this grandfather doesn't want to go against his grandson publicly, being foreigners can help. We can do things discreetly without being part of one or another faction here in the city and therefore are less of a risk to him for future blackmail. I'm not sure if we can contact him in the timeframe we have, but having, as O'Connor said, someone who can provide us with plans and guard schedules and maybe can provide the distraction as well, could be a huge bonus."

[Crossbow]

"Do any of you know how to crack a safe? I ask because I can, given enough time, I can also shape my face to match on of the guards if need be." Silence asked "I don't know your capabilities, so I cannot plan this, but I want you to know what I can do."

[Necrogigas]

Given Torley's relationship with technology, O'Connor searched the room for more analogue means for him to sketch a map instead of using a drawing app. As he searched, he put forth an idea, "We've got until midnight tomorrow, so it might be worth trying at least to make contact. Lil' Homie is a known quantity there. Maybe he could get inside to deliver a message and get him to meet Torley. From there, Torley uses his snake tongue to get Gramps onboard."

[farothel]

"If he knows someone in the compound to give a message, that could help, yes," Sammy said, "it's always useful to have people on the inside."

[pbangarth]

"I met a nice young woman who seems to have an in with the old man. Li'l Homey, do you know the woman?" Torley describes her. "Maybe you could pass a message to her and even wait for a response."

[Crossbow]

Lil' Homie does know the woman, and agrees to carry any message the team is willing to send, but is confused with Torley calling her young, "The washer lady has to be at least 50! Why would you call her young?"

The closest O'Connor can find with out asking Peaceful is a peel of wall paper and a dried out lizard turd. Putting a turd in Torley's hand may seem like a fun time, but really doesn't seem like a good idea.

[pbangarth]

Torley smiles and laughs. "I guess her spirit overrode her physical age in my mind."

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor gave up on the analogue map. He could act as a middle man for Torley, he supposed. He pulled out his 'link, and opened a drawing app. He asked Torley, and then Starlet, and Silence several question to put togather as complete a map as possible of the area surrounding the compound.

[pbangarth]

Torley bent to the task with O'Connor, adding details such as heights of buildings, distinguishing features, anything he could remember.

[farothel]

Sammy of course adds what she knows based on her astral recon. It might not be much, but knowing where the wards and therefore interesting rooms (as they don't put wards around just anything) are can be useful. And she could confirm spirit guards and stuff like that.

[Necrogigas]

After completing the map, O'Connor marked two buildings, "From this one, Lil' Homie can put eyes on the compound, track enemy movement, and call priority targets. From the other, Torley can watch the perimeter in case the Army or Area Boys start moving in."

In a corner of a map, he began a supply list, starting with binoculars x2. After a moment's thought, he also added thermal smoke grenades and flashbangs to the list. While he might have prefered frag and/or HE, he couldn't risk them given that he wouldn't be able to see Starlet or Silence.

He idly spun his link's stylus between his fingers, "If this goes swimmingly, Starlet and Silence are in and out. No muss, no fuss. That probably won't happen, so it'll be on me to keep the guards occupied. Two dozen or so on one aren't great odds, even with Starlet's spirit causing havoc. I'll need something to increase force projection. Starlet, does enslaving a spirit cause you issues the same way maintaining a spell does? Can you control more than one at a time?"

[farothel]

"I can only summon one spirit at a time," Sammy said, "and as soon as it's summoned, it has no further effect on my abilities. You can control more spirits, but then you have to bind them and that requires the knowledge of the binding rituals and special ingredients, neither of which I currently have. So the extra support will be one spirit and nothing more. Then again, if it's a strong enough spirit, it can do a lot of stuff."