The Found Arcana - Chapter 9 [OOC] Options

[Gilga]

Here’s what we currently know about our neighborhood: https://stormy-waters-2075.obsidianportal.c...is/touristville

Here’s our shared lifestyle: https://stormy-waters-2075.obsidianportal.c...gative-services

Chapter 1: Sunday, September 18, 2078
Chapter 2: Monday, September 26, 2078
First Interlude: Saturday, October 1, 2078
Chapter 3: Monday, October 10, 2078
Second Interlude: Sunday, October 16, 2078
Chapter 4: Sunday, November 6, 2078
Third Interlude: Wednesday, November 23, 2078
Chapter 5: Thursday, November 24, 2078
Fourth Interlude: Sunday, November 27, 2078
Chapter 6: Thursday, December 22, 2078
Fifth Interlude: Sunday, January 1, 2079
Chapter 7: Friday, January 20, 2079
Sixth Interlude: Wednesday, February 1, 2079
Chapter 8: Sunday, February 5, 2079
Seventh Interlude: Wednesday, February 8, 2079
Eighth Interlude: Tuesday, February 14, 2079
Chapter 9: Thursday, March 2, 2079

[Tecumseh]

Mato's sheet is here: https://stormy-waters-2075.obsidianportal.c...characters/mato

(Still being updated with upgrades)

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby's sheet is here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/107f...wr2Q/edit#gid=0

[Beta]

And Tamarind's is here: https://brexbasicbackups.obsidianportal.com...acters/tamarind

[Thanee]

Raven

Real Name Rachel Moore
Archetype Urban Witch
Metatype Human
Gender female
Age 26
Height 1.60 m (5' 3")
Weight 54 kg (120 lbs.)
Hair dark brown
Eyes green
Skin fair

Picture of Raven

Character Sheet

[ Spoiler ]

Attributes

Body 2
Agility 3
Reaction 3
Strength 1
Willpower 5
Logic 3
Intuition 5
Charisma 6

Edge 4
Essence 6

Initiate Grade 3
Magic 8

Initiative 1d6+8
Astral Initiative 2d6+10

Physical Damage Track 9
Stun Damage Track 11

Limits

Physical 3 ( [S+S+B+R] / 3 )
Mental 6 ( [L+L+I+W] / 3 )
Social 8 ( [C+C+W+E] / 3 )
Astral 8 ( = Mental or Social )

Qualities

Magician (Urban Witch; * this is from the german Street Grimoire, similar to Shamanism or Wicca)
Mentor Spirit (Seductress; +2 Con, +2 Illusion Spells/Rituals/Preparations)
Chosen Follower (Equinox/Solstice; March 2079: Learn Spells)
Spirit Affinity (Spirits of Air; +1 Service, +1 Binding)
Spirit Whisperer (Spirits resist Summoning with +1 die, but gain +1 Force)
Focused Concentration 6
Illusionist 1 (Physical)
Archivist (+1 Magic to determine whether Drain is physical or stun per two Academic Knowledge skills 4+ related to magical studies)
Durable Preparations (Preparations last Potency x3 hours)
Practiced Alchemist (Preparations last twice as long, and receive a (1+Initiate Grade) dice pool bonus)
Practice, Practice, Practice (Alchemy) (+1 Limit)
Catlike (+2 Sneaking)
First Impression (+2 Social Tests during first meeting)
Solid Rep (Redmond Barrens Residents)

SINner (Rachel Moore, Sioux Nation; 15% Taxes)
Pacifist (Self-Defense only)
Creature of Comfort (Middle)

Metamagic

Centering
Masking
Extended Masking

Active Skills

Spellcasting (Illusion, Manipulation) 6
Summoning (Spirits of Air) 6
Binding (Spirits of Air) 6
Alchemy (Contact Trigger) 6
Artificing 1
Assensing (Aura Reading) 6
Perception (Visual) 3
Gymnastics (Dance) 1
Stealth 5
- Sneaking 5
- Disguise 5
- Palming 5
Etiquette 2
Negotiation 2
Con (Seduction) 6
Impersonation (Human) 2
Computer 1
Pilot Ground Craft (Wheeled) 1

Knowledge Skills

Arcana 6
Artisan 2
Awakened Threats (Astral Rifts) 4
Astral Phenomena 4
Magic Theory 4
Spirits 4
Area Knowledge (Redmond) 3
Area Knowledge (Bellevue) 2
Area Knowledge (Downtown) 2
Fashion (Fashion Consulting, Fashion Design) 6
Night Clubs 4
Bellevue Shopping Spots 2
Seattle Street Gangs 3
Street Drugs 1
Cocktail Mixing 3
Cooking 3
Golfing 3

Languages

English N
Sperethiel 3
Lakota 3
Japanese 3
Mandarin 3
Spanish 3
Sioux Sign Language 3

Spells

Astral Window, Extended (F-1(3), fetish)
Low-Light Cryptesthesia, Extended (F-1(3), fetish)
Detect Life, Extended (F-1(3), fetish)
Heal (F-4)
Increase Agility (F-3)
Increase Charisma (F-3)
Nauseate (F-2(4), fetish)
Improved Invisibility (F-1(3), fetish)
Incubus (F-3)
Manascape (F-2(4), fetish)
Physical Mask (F-1)
Trid Phantasm (F(-2), fetish)
Control Thoughts (F-1(3), fetish)
Fashion (F-1(3), fetish)
Glue (F-3(5), fetish)
Influence (F-1(3), fetish)
Magic Fingers (F-2(4), fetish)
Makeover (F-3)

Alchemical Spells

Combat Sense (F(-2), fetish)
Increase Agility (F-3)
Increase Charisma (F-3)
Increase Reflexes (F(-2), fetish)
Nauseate (F-2(4), fetish)
Improved Invisibility (F-1(3), fetish)
Gecko Crawl (F-3)

Spirits

Guidance Spirits
Spirits of Air
Spirits of Man

Magical Group

SIS Paranormal Division (Strictures: Attendance, Belief, Dues, Service)

Contacts

Captain Razak, Sioux Defense Force (Connection 4, Loyalty 3)
Jake ‘JJ’ Johnson, Bartender at The Roadhouse (Connection 3, Loyalty 3)
Adrian, Bouncer at The Alabaster Maiden (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Jackson Cooper, Beat Cop (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Cassandra, Ork Talismonger (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Melpomene, Free Spirit (Muse) (Connection 5, Loyalty 2)
Johnson, Goldberg and Associates, Law Firm (Connection 6, Loyalty 1)
Crimson Crush, Street Gang (Connection 4, Loyalty 1)
Tony Finnigan, Chief of Security at Gates Casino (Connection 6, Loyalty 1)
Xavier Tien III, Art and Artifact Collector (Connection 7, Loyalty 2)
Gladius, Ex-Firewatch Psionic Mercenary (Connection 4, Loyalty 2)
Bobby Ray, Weapons Dealer, Texas (Connection 5, Loyalty 1)
Stan, University Student (Connection 1, Loyalty 3)
Yao ‘Bao’, Wage Slave (Finance) (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)

Gear

Zoé Executive Suite
Trés Chic Coat
Trés Chic Dress
- Electrochromic Modification
Golfing Outfit
Transys Avalon Commlink
Meta Link Commlink
Sim Module
AR Gloves
Trodes
Micro-Transceiver
Electronic Paper
Holo Bracelet
Mapsoft (Seattle)
Mapsoft (Sioux Nation)
Glasses 4
- Flare Compensation
- Vision Enhancement 3
Contacts 3
- Image Link
- Low-Light Vision
- Vision Magnification
Ear Buds 1
Concealable Surveillance Gear (Ring; Omni-Directional Microphone 2)
Concealable Surveillance Gear (Pin; Camera 2)
Optical Binoculars
Flashlight
Survival Kit
Medkit 6
Jazz (3)
Psyche (2)
Standard Credstick
Silver Credstick
Gold Credstick
Fake SIN 6 (Kimberly McKenzie; Fashion Designer & Fashion Consultant; Seattle, UCAS)

Magical Gear

Power Focus 6
Centering Focus 6
Fetish (Silver Bracelet)
Magical Lodge 9
Vault of Ages 6
Atomizer (2)
- Cartridge (20)
Shaman Tuxedo (Spirits of Air; +1 Hit on Summoning to determine Services)
Shaman Tuxedo (Spirits of Man; +1 Hit on Summoning to determine Services)
Reagents (50 drams; Binding: 25 drams per Force)

Karma & Resources

Good Karma (Knowledge) 0 (1)
Total Karma (Knowledge) 368 (89)

Low Lifestyle up to February 2079
Medium Lifestyle up to April 2079 (SIS Group Lifestyle: Bellevue; settled with monthly SIS earnings)

Credstick Balance 7,758¥ + 4,250¥?

Priorities

A - Magic (Magician)
B - Attributes (20)
B - Skills (36/5)
E - Metatype (Human (1))
E - Resources (6,000¥)

Advancement

[ Spoiler ]

February 2079 (Interlude 8; Karma 18 (9); Nuyen 0¥)
Gymnastics 1 [2 Karma]
Nauseate Spell [5 Karma]
Guidance Spirits [5 Karma]
Spirits of Man [5 Karma]
Area Knowledge (Redmond) 3 [3 Knowledge]
Area Knowledge (Bellevue) 1+2 [3 Knowledge]
Area Knowledge (Downtown) 1 [1 Knowledge]
Sioux Sign Language 1 [1 Knowledge]
Cooking 1 [1 Knowledge]

March 2079 (Chapter 9; Karma 140 (30); Nuyen 18,700¥ + 1,600¥ + Vault of Ages 6)
Edge 4 [20 Karma]
Catlike [14 Karma]
Focused Concentration 6 [48 Karma]
Spirit Whisperer [16 Karma]
Negotiation 2 [4 Karma]
Impersonation 2 [4 Karma]
Pilot Ground Craft 1 [2 Karma]
Low-Light Cryptesthesia, Extended Spell [5 Karma]
Increase Agility Spell [3 Karma]
Increase Charisma Spell [3 Karma]
Influence Spell [5 Karma]
Nauseate Alchemical Spell [3 Karma]
Group Bond [5 Karma]
Night Clubs 4 [4 Knowledge]
Seattle Street Gangs 1+2+3 [6 Knowledge]
Sioux Sign Language 2 [2 Knowledge]
Magical Lodge 7-9 [1,500¥]
Reagents (600 drams) [12,000¥]

March 2079 (Interlude 9)
Fashion (Fashion Consulting) [free]
Fashion (Fashion Design) [free]
Bellevue Shopping Spots 1+2 [3 Knowledge]
Golfing 1+2 [3 Knowledge]
Medkit 6 [1,500¥]

March 2079 (Chapter 10; Karma 92 (20); Nuyen 0¥ + 600¥ + Power Focus 6 + Centering Focus 6)
Binding Power Focus 6 [36 Karma]
Binding Centering Focus 6 [18 Karma]
Initiation Grade 1 (Centering) [11 Karma; with -10% Magical Group]
Initiation Grade 2 (Masking) [14 Karma; with -10% Magical Group]
Chosen Follower [10 Karma]
Artificing 1 [2 Karma]
Computer 1 [2 Karma]
Astral Window, Extended Spell [5 Karma]
Combat Sense Alchemical Spell [Chosen Follower: free]
Increase Reflexes Alchemical Spell [Chosen Follower: free]
Artisan 1+2 [3 Knowledge]
Awakened Threats 1+2+3 [6 Knowledge]
Area Knowledge (Downtown) 2 [2 Knowledge]
Cocktail Mixing 2+3 [5 Knowledge]
Cooking 2+3 [5 Knowledge]
Golfing 3 [3 Knowledge]
Sioux Sign Language 3 [3 Knowledge]

March 2079 (Interlude 10 - San Angelo / Seattle; Nuyen 1,564¥)
Spellcasting (Manipulation) [free]
Gymnastics (Dance) [free]
Awakened Threats (Astral Rifts) [free]
Transys Avalon Commlink [5,000¥]
Concealable Surveillance Gear (Ring; Omni-Directional Microphone 2) [250¥]
Concealable Surveillance Gear (Pin; Camera 2) (2) [500¥]
Holo Bracelet [250¥]
Shaman Tuxedo (Spirits of Air) [1,000¥]
Shaman Tuxedo (Spirits of Man) [1,000¥]

April 2079 (Chapter 11; Karma 118 (30); Nuyen 17,000¥ + 4,250¥? (if Potter wins the election))
Initiation Grade 3 (Extended Masking) [17 Karma; with -10% Magical Group]
Magic 7 [35 Karma]
Magic 8 [40 Karma]
Archivist [10 Karma]
Practice, Practice, Practice (Alchemy) [4 Karma]
Etiquette 2 [4 Karma]
Incubus Spell [5 Karma]
Manascape Spell [5 Karma]
Astral Phenomena 1+2+3+4 [10 Knowledge]
Awakened Threats 4 [4 Knowledge]
Magic Theory 1+2+3+4 [10 Knowledge]
Spirits 1+2+3+4 [10 Knowledge]
Fake SIN 6 (Kimberly McKenzie; Fashion Designer & Fashion Consultant; Seattle, UCAS) [12,000¥]

April 2079 (Interlude 11)
Impersonation (Human) [free]

April 2079 (Prelude to Chapter 12; Nuyen 1,394¥)
Pilot Ground Craft (Wheeled) [free]

Background

[ Spoiler ]

Raven's grandfather was a Sioux shaman that was part of the Great Ghost Dance in 2017.
His son, her father, was of mixed blood, due to his american mother.
Her mother was an elf, but herself of mixed blood with a human father and an elven mother, who was, or still is, a powerful witch.
This makes her something like ¾ human and ¼ elf, as well as ¾ american and ¼ cherokee.
None of this mattered much, anymore, when her parents died in 2064 after the Matrix Crash 2.0.
After that, she has been living on the streets. She always wanted to reconnect with her father's homeland, that she heard so many stories about, when she was younger.
Raven has inherited the magical talents from her grandfather and also from her mother's elven line.
With these talents, it wasn't difficult to stay safe out there, where others struggled.
Raven is always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, and has gained a few contacts over time that way.
Nowadays, she often spends her nights at the various clubs in town, looking for hookups to spend the night in nicer places than in her own shabby apartment.
Through her contacts, Raven got in touch with Captain Razak of the Sioux Defence Force, which might become a turning point in her young life.

2053 Rachel is born in the Sioux Nation
2063 Rachel's family leaves for a work-related assignment to live in Seattle for a year
2064 The Matrix Crash 2.0 happens, Rachel's parents die in the aftermath, Rachel (11) gets lost in the shuffle; Captain Razak, a friend of her father, learns about the tragedy and sends someone to find her, but they fail to track her down in the chaos
2064 - 2072 Rachel lives on the streets of Seattle, she doesn't use her real name, but instead invents the moniker Raven, and her SIN isn't used either, it is lying dormant in the system
2072 Raven (19) finally has the means to get an apartment, which is when her SIN is reconnected to her and updated, and she also gets marked down as awakened
2073 Razak finds out that she has resurfaced and tracks her down in Seattle, which is a lot easier now, she learns about his connection to her father, he helps her to get on her feet
2073 - 2079 Raven continues her life in Seattle; occasionally, Razak makes use of her abilities for some odd jobs and realizes her potential
2079 Now, looking for a mage, Razak makes Raven an offer

20 Questions

[ Spoiler ]

1. HERITAGE

We are shaped by our heritage. Facial features, skin tone, height, build, metatype, even aptitudes are influenced by the genes passed from parent to child. Attitude, too, is taught by parents, informed by their own lives and their cultural heritage. Where does your character come from, what is her lineage, who were her parents, and what did she inherit from them?

Raven comes from a family with a mixed background. Her father was of mixed blood, amerindian and american, while her mother was an elf with a human and an elven parent. They were typical middle class workers in the Sioux Nation, her father was an engineer, and her mother a teacher. Both mundane. Raven's magical talents come from two of her grandparents, who both wielded powerful magic. Her grandfather on her father's side was a Sioux shaman, who took part in the Great Ghost Dance back then and died during the ritual, while her grandmother on her mother's side was a powerful witch. Still is, actually, but Raven never met her. While Raven is human, she certainly got her good looks and grace from her mother. Both parents died in the aftermath of the second Matrix Crash.

2. PARENTS

Parents can be proud of their children or regret ever bringing them into the world. Some are loving, and some are indifferent. All of them are only metahuman and have their own opinions of their children. Assuming they could speak, what would each of your character’s parents say about her?

Stay true to yourself and don't forget where you come from. Her father, especially, was very proud of his amerindian roots and made sure that she knows some of the languages of the native american tribes.

3. 6TH WORLD HISTORY

Many people remember certain historical events for the rest of their lives. For those alive in the first decade of the 21st century, it could be the assassination of John F. Kennedy, or the Tiananmen Square protests, or the fall of the Berlin Wall, or the attacks of 11 September 2001. People remember where they were, and what they were doing when they first heard of these events. Shadowrun history has significant events as well, such as the assassination of President Dunkelzahn, the Crash 2.0, and the emergence of technomancers and artificial intelligences. Pick a few events from recent Shadowrun history and ask where the character was at the time, what does he remember about the event, and what was he doing at the time?

During the Crash 2.0, Raven was about 11, a young girl. She was staying in Seattle with her parents for about a year. Her stable world was suddenly turned upside down with the death of her parents and the resulting trauma. Since then, she was left to fend for herself.

4. WHY THE SHADOWS

Very few people choose to become shadowrunners. More likely, they are thrown into the life by a chaotic and uncaring world. Even if she made a conscious decision to enter the shadows, her decision is influenced by the world around her. How did your character get into shadowrunning, and why did she take that path?

Raven is no shadowrunner.

But why has she not been looking for a normal job? As a mage, there should be plenty of opportunities. One thing that kept her from being flooded with offers is the fact, that her magic wasn't actually detected until after the Crash happened. She felt something, or maybe had some strange dreams before, but the actual realization came later, when the necessity arose and her mentor stepped out from behind the veil.

5. LIVING CONDITIONS

People have control over their own living arrangements. From the child young enough to use crayons and tape all the way up to the elderly shut-in who plasters her walls with family photos and cat pictures, everyone makes their living spaces more personally pleasing. What is your character’s living space like, and what has he added or changed to make it his own?

After losing her parents and therefore all access to money, Raven was forced to live on the streets. Not exactly a place she enjoyed to be, so she always looked for opportunities to get better sleeping commodities. As a child, there was little she could do, but at least her magic kept her safe. When she was old enough, she took some jobs, like serving as a waitress at a cocktail bar, to earn a bit of money, so she could afford to rent a small apartment, at least. Far from perfect, but a step up. Occasionally, she treated herself to a stay in a nice hotel, but that got expensive real quick. Her good looks also attracted offers of a certain kind, but that isn't something she wants to do, even though she has no real problem with anybody doing that line of work. Once, she couldn't resist the temptation, the guy was handsome and she had a bad day, so she gave in and took the offer to be his escort for the evening (and night). She let him pay for everything, but she did refuse any additional money. Win, win for him, but she got plenty out of it as well. These days, she often visits local clubs, being able to dress and clean up nicely thanks to her spells, where she has no trouble finding someone interested in taking her home for a night or two. She is using the hookups to stay in nicer places than in her own shabby apartment. Obviously, her interest here is not just the nicer environment. She certainly enjoys the company just as much. But it's a bit of a dangerous game, as you never know who you end up with. On the other hand, she's a witch and has the means to escape from situations that others might not be able to.

6. BELIEF

Everyone has beliefs, and many have beliefs strong enough to be convictions. Some are religious, some are political, some are social, and some are just about why people are here. What does your character believe in, what are her convictions (if any), and why does she hold them?

Raven believes in freedom and peace. The young witch gains guidance from her mentor spirit. She is convinced, that the strong should protect the weak, and despite her own tragedies she considers herself one of the strong, so she helps those in need, when she can do so. When she was younger, she has received some help herself, and this is her way of giving back to the world as a whole.

7. PET PEEVE

Everyone has aspects of their personality that grate on someone. Even the best of friends annoy one another from time to time. The flaws in a person’s character are as important as the qualities. What do you dislike most about your character’s personality?

As much as Raven is a child of the streets, she really does not like being in a dirt-stained corner of the city. She prefers a cozy bed, and certainly does not mind company, if it gets her there. And she can come across as fickle and flighty at times, living from one moment to the next without any kind of solid plan for her future.

8. CORPS

The Sixth World is considered by many to be spinning out of control. If anyone could exert control over it, it would be the “Big Ten” triple-A megacorps. These transnationals exert a lot of influence on everyday life in the 2070s. Which of the Big Ten does your character hold in the highest (or least low) regard, which does he like the least, and why?

Raven has little connection to the megacorps. In her sheltered life before the Crash 2.0, she was too young to care, and afterwards, she had other problems than to focus on that.

9. CONTACTS

People make acquaintances and friends; we’re hardwired for it. Humans are social animals. This is especially true in the shadows, where often it is not the power you have, but the power you can borrow, and not who you, are but who you know. There’s a story behind each and every one of these relationships. What is the story with your character and her contacts?

Captain Razak is with the Sioux Defense Force and was a friend of Raven's father. He has been looking out for her, but also using her for her talents in the past.

Jake ‘JJ’ Johnson is a Bartender at The Roadhouse, a small bar/nightclub in Redmond with a western theme. Raven has been working as a waitress there for a while (dressing up as a "sexy cowgirl" like all the mostly female waitstaff). He's a charmer and a bit of a player. They had a short relationship, but realized that they both didn't want anything serious, so they stayed friends (with the occasional benefits).

Adrian works as a Bouncer at The Alabaster Maiden. Raven only knows his first name. He is a pretty lecherous guy who is known for "checking" the female guests "for weapons" a bit too thoroughly. But the club is amazing and he lets her cut the line occasionally, so she has to endure that little ordeal.

Jackson Cooper is a Beat Cop, who has been on patrol in the Redmond area for a while now. He knows Raven from an incident when she was a bit younger still (17) and living on the streets. She was protecting a couple squatters from gang violence. He was a rookie back then and quite impressed about how the girl could handle herself in the situation.

Cassandra is an Ork Talismonger with a little shop in Redmond. Nothing fancy, but there is an air of mystery in there, and she is respected by the residents. Raven is a regular customer there.

10. LAZY DAY

It’s Sunday morning, and your character has no commitments until tomorrow afternoon. What does she do for the day?

Get some sleep, she tends to stay up during the weekend nights. And if she happens to be in a cozy place, getting up can wait.

11. SKILLS

Your character has a specific skill set, a list of Active and Knowledge skills that define what she knows and her areas of expertise. How did she come to learn those skills, and how did she develop them to those levels?

When her parents were still around, Raven learned some of the languages from them. Most of her magical skills are gained from practice with a lot of guidance from her mentor spirit, who was a constant companion in the past decade. Raven loves magic, and with plenty time on her hands, there was little else to focus on. Some things she learned from nice people she met on the streets, most of them sharing similar fates, and some are just born out of necessity, being vigilant and keeping your head down, or even picking the occasional pocket. She has a great interest in fashion and watches the people come and go in the city, in the clubs, and elsewhere, to gain inspiration in designing her own outfits, which range from novahot club chick to gothic witch or fancy business woman.

12. MORAL LINE

Everyone has their limits. People can be dark, but most people’s instinct is to draw the line at certain actions and thoughts, and they keep to their own moral convictions. Is there a moral limit that your character enforces on the jobs she takes, and in what shadow work would she refuse to engage?

Raven is very bright and cheerful. She is full of life. One would never suspect what kind of hardships she has been through. She just has a very positive attitude. Always had. And she values life too much to be able to kill someone. It's just not her. Maybe, if there was no other way, she could bring herself to do it, but she would rather look for any alternatives first.

13. AWAKENED

If you have an Awakened or technomancer character, consider your character’s tradition and streams. Even within the major established magical traditions and the recently emerged technomantic streams, there is room for personalization. Ask yourself what drew her to that particular paradigm, how does it effect the way she views the world and her magic, how does it translate into choice of mentor spirit or paragon, and how does it affect the appearance of the spirits or sprites you conjure or compile?

Raven is a free spirit (not literally), and the tradition she follows reflects that. As an urban witch, she does not follow many rules, but does what feels right in the moment.

14. AUGMENTATION

While acceptance and bias vary from place to place, augmentations—be they bio-, cyber-, gene-, or nanoware—are increasingly common and available in the Sixth World. However, personal technological enhancement is rarely cheap, and many implants that runners possess are restricted. How did your character come to have the enhancements she has, how were they paid for, and what motivated the choices she made (if she did make the choices)?

Raven has no implants.

15. MUNDANES

Life as a shadowrunner is by definition outside the bounds of “normal” life. Shadowrunners do not truly fit into the lives of ordinary people, whether they live in slums or mansions. What does your character think of ordinary life, mainstream culture, and those who abide by it?

Raven is gifted. She knows it and she certainly sees herself like it. But that does not put her above others. She values life and considers other people her equal, whatever they are.

16. FEAR

Everyone has nightmares. Sometimes, we forget the dream completely on waking. Sometimes, the nightmare haunts us or even recurs. If your character had a lingering nightmare or a deep-rooted fear, what would it be, and why does he find it so terrifying?

The death of her parents was the most traumatic experience in her life, so naturally, reliving that moment pains her deeply.

17. THAT ONE THING

People tend to attach sentimental value to items in their possession or people they are close to. They make an effort to keep these close by and safe. What is your character’s “sacred object” or “close one,” and how did they come to be so important to him?

That changes a lot. She does not really have anything but her memories to remember her parents. And her possessions have changed quite a bit over the years. Right now, it's probably the set of designer clothes, that she has managed to acquire.

18. HOPE

One of metahumanity’s greatest assets is its ability to look toward the future and imagine a better life. Even small children have dreams about what they want to be when they grow up. What did your character want to become when he was a child, and what are his goals now?

As a child, Raven wanted to visit the site of the Great Ghost Dance, that her father told her about, maybe become a shaman herself. Her own magic was just awakening back then, but not quite realized, yet. These days, she mostly wants to make enough money to be able to afford a nicer place to live. Unfortunately, she is not exactly great at saving her Nuyen, living from one day to the next, without a bigger plan. A nice Downtown condo is the biggest thing she is dreaming of currently.

19. FLAIR

A person’s appearance can say volumes about him. From fashion sense, to the colors he prefers, to the way he walks and speaks. Sometimes, his personality determines his appearance, and, sometimes, the appearance he chooses to present the world effects his personality. What does your character look like, and what inspired his choices?

If there is one thing, that Raven tries with her appearance and mannerism, it's to appear higher class than her resources allow her to be. She uses her magic to clean up and look her best. More often than not, and the whispers of her mentor spirit have no small part in this, she wears quite revealing or provocative outfits. When heads turn as she walks by, it always puts a smile on her face. She certainly enjoys the attention and is actively looking for it often enough.

20. MONIKER

Everyone has a name, but a runner’s street name is a representation of his connection to the shadows. Sometimes runners choose their own moniker, but more often it is given to them as a nickname or earned through some (mis)adventure. How did your character come to be known by his street name?

Raven chose her own street name. The name on her SIN is Rachel Moore, but on the streets everyone knows her as Raven. From her father's stories, she remembered that her grandfather was a raven shaman, which inspired her choice. Also, ravens can fly and be free, and their black feathers are great for hiding.

Status

Physical Damage □□□ □□□ □□□
Stun Damage □□□ □□□ □□□ □□

Edge □□□□

Temporary Effects
--

Sustained Spells
--

Preparations
Combat Sense F10 P8 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Combat Sense F10 P8 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Combat Sense F10 P6 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Combat Sense F10 P5 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Increase Reflexes F10 P7 (Contact Trigger, Atomizer, +3 dice when activated)
Increase Reflexes F10 P7 (Contact Trigger, Atomizer, +3 dice when activated)
Improved Invisibility F10 P8 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Improved Invisibility F10 P6 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Improved Invisibility F10 P6 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Improved Invisibility F10 P6 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Gecko Crawl F10 P7 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)
Gecko Crawl F10 P7 (Contact Trigger, +3 dice when activated)

Summoned Spirits
--

Bound Spirits
Spirit of Air F7 (Elemental Attack, Noxious Breath) □□□□□ □□□□□ □□□□
Spirit of Air F6 (Fear, Noxious Breath) □□□□□ □□□□□ □□□

Links

[ Spoiler ]

Strassenhexen Beschreibung
Stressenhexen Tradition

Spirits of Air, Beasts, Earth, and Fire
Spirits of Man and Water
Guardian and Guidance Spirits
Plant and Task Spirits

Assensing Table

House Rules

SIS Stash

Reagents (2,000 drams; hermetic)
Refined Reagents (100 drams; hermetic)
Radical Reagents (40 drams; hermetic)

[Tecumseh]

My IC post was getting very long so I broke it up into two. The first is more for February and the second is for March.

I believe I'm done with updates to my sheet too, which took hours. That's what I get for not spending karma for 9 months.

[Thanee]

Ok, let's try some Alchemy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Raven will prepare a few Increase Charisma Preparations for the evening. Using Command Trigger, so Raven can activate it for Mato.

She will simply use any small things that are at hand, which he can put into his pocket.

Force 4 so DV 4-3+2=3

Alchemy + Magic 4 hits opposed by the Preparation's Force 3 hits = Potency 1
Drain DV 3 3 hits (No Drain, but a lot of 1's)

We can hopefully do better than that...

Alchemy + Magic 6[4] hits opposed by the Preparation's Force 3 hits = Potency 1
Drain DV 3 1 hit (2 Stun)

Or not.

Alchemy + Magic 3 hits opposed by the Preparation's Force 3 hits = Potency 0
Drain DV 3 5 hits (No Drain)

Sure, always rolling 3 hits on 4 dice to oppose. Every single time!

Alchemy + Magic 5[4] hits opposed by the Preparation's Force 1 hit = Potency 3
Drain DV 3 5 hits (No Drain)

There is hope still! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Alchemy + Magic 2 hits opposed by the Preparation's Force 1 hit = Potency 1
Drain DV 3 5 hits (No Drain)

Just one more decent one, please!

Alchemy + Magic 6[4] hits opposed by the Preparation's Force 4 hits = Potency 0
Drain DV 3 4 hits (No Drain)

Almost.

Alchemy + Magic 5[4] hits opposed by the Preparation's Force 3 hits = Potency 1
Drain DV 3 6 hits (No Drain)

La, la, la.

Alchemy + Magic 4 hits opposed by the Preparation's Force 0 hits = Potency 4
Drain DV 3 2 hits (1 Stun)

Finally! At least two useful ones. And a slight headache.

5 out of 8 opposed rolls had 3-4 hits on 4 dice. I want those dice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Recovery (1st hour) 1 hit
Recovery (2nd hour) 1 hit
Recovery (3rd hour) 1 hit

Three-and-a-half hours later...

Increase Charisma 4 Preparation (Potency 3; good for 18h)
Increase Charisma 4 Preparation (Potency 4; good for 24h)

Bye
Thanee

[Thanee]

Both Preparations will go to Mato. My idea is to use the Potency 3 one early for the First Impression, and the Potency 4 one, when the Negotiations begin.

Bye
Thanee

[Beta]

Tamarind would happily take a potency 1 one, if the duration on it is long enough for it to still be good. Her dice pool should be irrelevant, but just for RP/confidence.

++++++++++++++++++++++

ETA: I'm just costing her investments as a 'kit', the basics for fitting into a more white collar/professional sort of role.

[Tecumseh]

Thanee, you have the patience of a saint to do (and post) all that rolling.

Mato is a tough nut for Health spells because of his Essence loss. Health spells are at -5 to affect him, so any Force 4 preparation is going to have a steep hill to climb.

But, hey, if the preparations keep rolling 3 hits on 4 dice then maybe we'll squeeze a few hits out of these yet!

[Thanee]

Haha! I opened the three pages on Orokos and just duplicated them a few times, so I do not have to type all that stuff in there every time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Wasn't entirely sure, if that is for all health spells, or healing only (I see it now, it is specifically listed as Essence-affected). But well, every little bit might help. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Bye
Thanee

[Beta]

matrix search with teamwork from her R3 agent.

On the law firm
agent matrix search (teamwork): 6d6t5 2
matrix search 9+2: 11d6t5 2

On the man himself
agent matrix search (teamwork): 6d6t5 4
matrix search 9+4: 13d6t5 4

2 on the law firm, and 4 on the man himself. Also Tamarind should have just left her agent to do the searching, as it got the same successes as she did from way less dice. Orokos is in a fine mood this week!

[Gilga]

Law firm: The law firm is authentic as far as you can tell. They have been in business for ten years, as they claim. It is relatively small and does not list much expertise but is said to provide 'general legal services, which feels odd. The page suggests them as "problem solvers across multi-domain problems with diverse methods". The online presence contains only the important lawyers leading the firm but no mention of Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith: Looking at Mr. Smith directly, you discover he is a family person with two small children and a wife. They live Bellevue in a gated community, where he has a nicer-looking car than the one outside. They take yearly vacations to a resort in California in the summer. Most of the family pictures are from there. His professional profile states that he has worked for the firm for the last six years, and there are few recommendations for supposed clients that were happy with his services. None of the recommendations explains what these services are, though. Before working at the firm, he was a law student at the local university, where he graduated with honors.

[Tecumseh]

Mato going to review the NDA. In the present day, NDA law is usually at the State level (rather than the Federal level). Presuming this is true-ish in the future, I'll roll Seattle Metroplex Law instead of UCAS Law:

Logic 4 + Seattle Metroplex Law 2: 6d6t5 1 hit

Just the basics. I'll pencil out some things he's looking for in the IC post.

[Gilga]

As far as Mato can tell, this NDA was professionally edited to handle any corner case its creators thought about. It is very similar to other UCAS (or Seattle) NDAs you can find online, but there are some deviations, mainly in a section describing the memory wipe, which is not a standard feature. As far as Mato can deduce, the NDA is a legally binding document.

[Tecumseh]

Just giving Thanee a chance to respond. Then Mato will sign.

[Gilga]

I Did not want to stir the flow but Mr. Smith would shake hands, and confirm that the office is open during regular business hours. Goldberg is his boss, the one with the name on the door.

[Thanee]

What kind of skill would it be to have some general knowledge about those tarot cards and what they are good for?

Does Arcana cover this?

Bye
Thanee

[Jack_Spade]

Arcana, Artifacts, Sixth World or Magical Theory would work

[Thanee]

Arcana 2 hits to see if Raven has heard anything about these cards before.

Bye
Thanee

[Gilga]

Raven has some recollection about the magic community being obsessed with new cards. Rumor has it that if you collect enough of them you get some sort of reward. Many power players try to acquire them, but few can keep them long enough to study them. So nobody knows exactly what they are, how they work, or even if they work.

[Beta]

Tamarind is actually quite good at magical theory (officially she studies it for "know your possible opposition" but really, like a lot of kids she longed to be magical and started learning about it on her own in hopes of somehow unlocking magic that nobody had recognized in her. After that she found that at least somewhat understanding it made coexisting with magic easier, emotionally )

Magical theory: 12d6t5 4

[Gilga]

For four hits, Tamarind knows about the chatter in magic social media. Within the last months, all the private collectors that studied these cards have met unfortunate events leading to a violent death in the worst case and to the card being stolen in the best case.

There is not much information about what they are, but the cards are unlikely to be magical Artifacts (even though there are some claims). Most magical artifacts are extremely old and very powerful, and no organization claims the ability to create them. Powerful foci or long-lasting alchemy is the best modern theory can explain. The cards are unlikely to be either because they are not difficult to recognize and Tamarind believes that with the level of interest, someone would say that.

The claim that the cards somehow unlock power leaves conjuring as the only field of magic that can explain what they are. They can be part of the calling ritual to some specific spirit; they could be true names of minor spirits or even parts of a true name of a great spirit. These options explain the promise of "power" as they allow commanding or at least having leverage on spirits.

[Beta]

By this time the team knows that Toothless is a "Medicart" (roughly human length tracked emergency response vehicle, capable of ripping open damaged vehicles and applying first aid). And that Tamarind has two "Pellican" delivery drones (aka "the Pelippers"), and a couple of "Condor" long-duration observation drones that are mostly invisible in the sky, but have speed '0' (not immobile, just not enough speed to care about in tactical situations) (Lazybones and Mimic).

In the meantime, she sets up Lazybones and Mimic to watch SIS headquarters, along with one of the The Pellipers, and two each of the spy eyes and Kanmushi (half of each of the rest of the teams so that they can take turns coming in to charge), giving a swarm of +6 (7 drones). The swarm can use the rating of her RCC in place of pilot (5), and on her RCC she'll run clearsight and pilot for the four drone types, using up all five program slots. Clearsight autosoft is R6. The swarm uses the best sensor among the drones (Lazybones & Mimic have sensor 4), but the swarm increases the limit by +6 too, to 10
So pilot 5+Clearsight 6+swarm 6 = 17 dice, limit of 4

drone patrol swarm: 17d6t5 7

If there is someone/something detectable by the drones watching SIS, I suspect that they spot it.

[Beta]

@Jack_Spade we were visited by Mr. Smith on Thursday evening, so presumably we are still later that evening (although maybe Bobby is just showing a sense of humour?)

For reference Toothless is a reasonably chunky drone (body 6, armour 5) but still quite a bit more fragile than most vehicles. Also not slow (ground speed 4, better than an Americar (3) and same as a Harley motorcycle). I assume medium size drones are heavy enough that nobody is going to pick one up and run off with it, and that body and armour should at least take some effort to open up. But it is neither as tough as a safe nor slow when in running condition.