 Infiltration Challenge, Examining situation variables |
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 Nov 20 2003, 07:43 AM
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#151
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Runner  Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253  |
If you need to switch computers while in the middle of the post, you can try mailing the post to yourself, so that you can just re-open notepad, or whatever, and then keep on writing.
Let's hope the target hasn't become dogmeat or a pile of dust by now. I'm not gonna run DNA tests on a big pile of dog crap to find out 'which bits' to bring back to the Johnson. |
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Nov 20 2003, 11:41 PM
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#152
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Been doing quite a bit of exactly such e-mailing, Crusher Bob. Works great when the computer hasn't already crashed. (Still have two e-mails with Dumpshock links I keep meaning to get back to.) Just the usual equipment and software bitching, is all ;) All right, where were we?
I'm repeating these, because for simplicity's sake ("too late") I'll assume somewhere in there Ghost has something like a radiation detector (at least, in retrospect I can't see why it wouldn't be close to standard shadowrunning monitoring equipment). Obviously it wouldn't work on clicks when she's in stealth mode ;) But she picks up only standard background radiation. Straight down the hall, then, and past the (closed) door leading to the kennel. I'm assuming she's not going to explore there, but through the drone/Advent she'll know that the elf there is still going to be busy for a few minutes feeding the dogs. (The hellhounds are still edgy about your drone in the ceiling, but after that initial puzzlement, the elf seems to be singularly uncurious.) After he's done, of course, there's only two directions he can take away from the kennel: toward the elevator, or away from it. Other doors ahead to left and to right, all closed. She can hear the rumble of ventilation equipment behind one of the closed doors she passes (where the fan had reversed earlier, but is now stopped). To visual examination, all doors seem to be sealed. No other people nearby. I'll assume Trogdor quickly sticks his head in each door since they're not warded - in an appropriately stealthy way ;) - they're most of them temp-shelved (the kind that aren't built in) and otherwise empty. Two, however, have multiple floor-to-ceiling panels running on parallel tracks, each panel divided into about a hundred or so small hardware-style drawer-slots: think small-item storage on a large scale - the tracks allow the panels to move behind each other, increasing the effective storage space. From a quick glimpse some of the items appear to be astrally active, but unless someone suggests otherwise, I'll assume he's not sticking around to examine them in detail. (Trogdor is really having trouble with the current now - it's beginning to affect his perception as well.) One other room has very new tracks of the same kind built into the floor and ceiling, and a couple of the panels to go in them are resting on an angle against a side wall. Finally, one of the rooms looks as though it might be a kind of infirmary, it's got that sterile stainless steel look that's really washing out against the astral gray, and he can identify refrigeration and heating units ... and a cage. Those and the kennels are the only rooms which are exceptional in any way along this hall. No other people and no active sign of people besides the one in the kennels and the one in a small pile on the other side of the lifts ... yet. The hall opens up into a large central room. From Ghost's still-safe distance, it looks as though other hallways may star out from that room. She thinks she hears footsteps somewhere ahead, but they could still be some distance away: this place alternately echoes and deadens sound. The second gang is due to arrive in maybe 5-10 minutes. The first wants action!, and seems to have found wire cutters for the fence. Security hasn't made an exterior appearance yet, but the security cameras are pointed in that direction and recording - or would be, if Solitaire hadn't twinged the system. The security guard at the kitty corner building is pacing nervously (but not stepping out into the open again), glancing at his watch every now and then. Time check: 2045 (five minutes after the last full update - p.4 - and maybe two or three after the "dusting", depending upon how much time Trogdor and Ghost took about that). |
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Nov 21 2003, 05:55 AM
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#153
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Sadly, radiation is the least of my worries.
Gear that isn't disposed of after this mission gets scrubbed down something fierce. -Siege |
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Nov 21 2003, 07:54 AM
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#154
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Sounds like we're gonna get caught in one of those scenes where we're stuck in between two people at either end of a long hallway, both headed towards us. Let's keep an eye open for good hiding spots. Someplace that's not likely to be a destination of either our feeder or the unknown up ahead. Also, who's taking bets on the contents of those little bin thingys on the shelves? My money's on metahuman parts. Probably the physical manifestations of their magic. ie: a seer's eyes, etc... But with the opportunity to expand their storage and such a methodical system for filing these items, one has to wonder how big a scale this project is. </Captain Obvious> |
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Nov 21 2003, 09:10 AM
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#155
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Dunno, what the parts are. It may have something to do with the Ley line or whatever they are doing down here.
We need to think about what to do if the gangs go totally out of control. As may really push our timetable. The exfiltration route via the glider still looks pretty good, though Diamond might be in a bit of a pinch, especially since he doesn't know invisibility or mask. Though it should keep the opposition confused for a while. If things get heated up and they call in 'the night watch' we may want to try delaying them. Hacking traffic lights along their route, or anything esle we can think of. My other ideas are: Blow some transformers/ power switching stations along the projected approach (should get the traffic light too). Maybe start a rumor that one of the 'night watch' vehicles has some celeb in it, and see if we can get then slowed down by fans/reporters. Not sure what else we could do that does not point directly to runners... also, we mihgt not have time to do anything to them, we mihgt just have to spped up our timetable. And still no sign of the extractee. Best check on a few of the doors (are they unlocked, do they squeak?) in case Ghost has to duck into one to get under cover quickly. If we're lucky, there's a suspended ceiling to climb up in, or some floor grates to hide under. The 'carry a clip board and look like you know what you are doing' is probably not going to pass here. Possible note for future discussion: Physical mask or other illusion over the 'runner suit' to make it look like a business suit? I don't remember the limits of mask off the top of my head. |
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Nov 21 2003, 06:25 PM
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#156
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
I can't remember for sure, did Talia go over the "Night Watch" comings and goings, or was that corp greys and the cleaning crew? If not, are we safe in assuming they come and go by conventional means? I'm rather wary of this "Night Watch," I don't want to underestimate them.
the way this is worded makes me wonder if our Johnson just wants us to be careful about evidence, or if the Johnson works for/is involved with this company as well. especially the line about "If anyone here is harmed... gives me pause.
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Nov 25 2003, 08:45 AM
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#157
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Then again, I suppose it doesn't really matter at the moment. Ours is not to question or wonder why, ours is but to do or die. |
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Nov 26 2003, 12:47 AM
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#158
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Basically, it was everyone except the security details. You had been trying to infiltrate their ranks or at least find out everything you could, and the best that could be done was to get all the information known by the company which had the contract before. (Previous thread.)
Maglocks to open, when and if she's trying it. Her card should work (not the one from the cleaners/previous security company presumably, but the standard breaker). No suspended ceiling or floor grates - the rooms look sealed. We're on the home stretch! Afterwards, I'll open up a "post mortem" thread (no, this doesn't mean Ghost is going to die): since you've brainstormed your way through this, it would be useful to see how things could have been done differently, what additional preparations made, what troubleshooting could have been done - but also what went exactly according to plan. |
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Dec 2 2003, 10:01 AM
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#159
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Still waiting for the pit of snakes :D .
Have a couple of ideas for the AAR too. Will the doors be obviously unlocked if twe unlock one for 'later'? Will we be able to lock it back on the way out (to avoid questions about why the door is unlocked)? If the employees have a bad habit of turning into dust around here, we might be able to get away with killing one or two... and just feeding the bodies to the dogs (or something). |
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Dec 2 2003, 01:03 PM
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#160
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Maybe as an absolute last resort. I'm starting to wonder more about the night shift security... Now I really wanna know how they show up. |
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Dec 2 2003, 06:39 PM
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#161
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
"Obviously" is tricky. Someone actively looking for it might notice that a door was unsealed, but that would also leave the door a bit open. (These kinds of doors would tend to re-lock as they close.) |
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Dec 3 2003, 04:41 AM
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#162
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
What about duct taping the latch down and then shutting the door?
Do we want to try to get out of the building before the night watch arrives? We may have to just not wait for the second gang, since getting the extractee and the drone out of the building is going to take a while. Not to mention that they might get called early due to the gang 'event'. |
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Dec 4 2003, 12:27 AM
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#163
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
He can summon a city spirit though, and use it's concealment power.
Definitely IMO, and also before the guard in the other building panics, or someone else calls the Star using a landline.
Providing Ghost and the girl can escape undetected the drones aren't a worry, as I posted earlier Advent's deck has a long enough range that we can retrieve the drones later in the night from a safe distance using the "transporter" condor.
I'm hoping that this is all we'll need.
About the doors, I had assumed the Solitaire would be able to lock or unlock all the doors if we need to make a run for it. In an emergency I'd say Ghost should try to go straight through the lift, into the car parking area, while Solitaire opens the garage door to let in the Westwind and the rotodrones. Once Ghost is through the lift Solitaire would hopefully be able to send all the lifts up to the top floor, this will partially seal off the car park area and also act as a diversion as it should appear that Ghost is using the lift and making for the roof. Hopefully the rotodrones will be able to keep any bad guys/things pinned down while Ghost and the girl escape in the car. |
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Dec 4 2003, 02:25 AM
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#164
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Don't forget, you may have to subdue the girl if she's unwilling to be extracted for whatever reason.
A medical profile would be useful to know what drugs she may or may not be allergic to, in addition to any necessary patching that may be required if the extraction is hot. -Siege |
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Dec 4 2003, 07:57 AM
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#165
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
Did the Johnson provide a medical profile? |
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Dec 4 2003, 10:16 AM
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#166
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Would it be out of character for lonestar to call back the nervous guard and say something to the effect of "Sir, this is Lonestar dispatch. Unfortunately all of our teams in your area are busy at the moment. It will take longer then we first anticipated to respond to your call. Please be patient and we will attend to your situation in the order in which it was reported. Kthnxbye." Or would that be even more suspicious than nothing happening? I mean, if we were to try it, we'd wait until Nervous Gaurd #1 looked like he'd had enough waiting... you know, to stretch our time... What do you think? Waste of effort?
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Dec 5 2003, 05:56 PM
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#167
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Target Group: Members Posts: 69 Joined: 8-July 02 Member No.: 2,947 |
How much wiggle-room does Solitare have left? Can we get her to write a new superuser account, logoff, then log back in legitly? Seems like it would solve a lot of problems.
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Dec 6 2003, 01:44 AM
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#168
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
That's a good idea, though I think we'd be better off trying for a security level account rather than a superuser account. The control rating would only be modified by +2 trying for a security account, it's +6 for a superuser account. A security level account would probably be good enough for us anyway, as it should give free access to maglocks, elevators, cameras, etc.
I think we need to know from Talia exactly what Solitaire has found out about the systems ratings before trying though, if the control or security rating is low enough we could go for a super user account. I actually think we should have used validate much earlier, ie. during Solitaire's recon run on the host, but that's something to discuss in the wash-up thread. (If we survive). |
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Dec 8 2003, 10:28 AM
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#169
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Hey guys, let's stop and think for a second... are we missing anything? Is there anything we're taking for granted? What assumptions are we running on?
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Dec 9 2003, 04:34 PM
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#170
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
With you on that one, Shanshu Freeman. But I'll at least try to field what questions have been raised and some back ones and implied ones I accidentally overlooked before I get real-life swamped again. For these purposes, Raiko and Salvation122, I'll back-assume Solitaire (like nearly every other decker) has run Validate during the recon run for a superuser or security level account. (We'll bring it up in the wash-up thread anyway ;) ) It's rather less useful than she expected. The building is selectively wired. Once you get out of the elevator core/parking garage/main floor, very little is central-computerised at all. (The ventilation system is centralised.) The system rating is deceptive: she'd guess the base system at around Green 4 or 5, but some parts such as the ventilation system have a much higher level of security, and much of this entire level isn't even computerised, let alone centralised. (The maglocks to the hallway rooms are a case in point: electronics not connected to anything.) It's almost as though a pre-Matrix building were to be renovated piecemeal, without any plan, and then all office areas renovated again to a proper system.
Astrally reading the labels isn't going to happen. Maybe you'll be happy to know that the items aren't source-recognisable on sight. Many of them seem to be more like powders or filings.
Fairly standard distraction-level decker interventions. Solitaire wouldn't have much problem with them, she doesn't think ... only at the moment her attention is on the building system (such as it is).
By way of those assumptions mentioned earlier, I'll be a bit more explicit: you weren't able to find out when they come and go ... or even if they come and go.
I do know the Johnson's personal motivations in this respect. There was a bit more information you could have gotten in the pre-run, but the focus then seemed more technicalities of run than information about either the J or the target (beyond what she looks like). This is a brainstorming session though, so if there's questions you want to back-test (in an alternate reality where they were asked ;) ), go for it. I can't guarantee you'll get answers to all of them though. Some would have been deflected.
She's elvish. She's 23 years old. She's extremely allergic to unalloyed iron. Other than that, she's deplorably healthy, and she's had broad-spectrum immunisation.
Apart from the allergy, not until you asked. The letterhead is that of the trid station Seattle Spy, but some of the information has been copied from somewhere else.
Works to the naked eye. However, if these were connected to a centralised system (which they're not), an interrupted circuit like that would probably set off an alarm.
Uhm, wasn't Diamond a mage? (not a shaman)? But he does have elementals on-call. Doesn't help with the concealment powers, though.
So far, so good.
Understood and re-noted.
The maglocks shouldn't prove difficult to Ghost's tools.
Those areas are all centralised - Solitaire can control them.
I'd say that would probably be even more suspicious. It's a service industry, after all ;) |
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Dec 9 2003, 09:10 PM
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#171
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
Damn, I got mixed up, I was thinking that Diamond was the Dragon Slayer Shaman. |
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Dec 9 2003, 09:53 PM
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#172
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
Ever order a pizza and have the pizza shop call you back and tell you the delivery boy is running behind? No? Me neither.... :D |
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Dec 10 2003, 03:00 AM
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#173
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
:lol: yeah, you're right. Can we keep an eye on him to make sure we attempt to intercept any followup calls on his part if he freaks out? Would that divide our attention too much?
I was nervous even thinking about checking that room out... hmm. Does the powder in storage resemble the powder from our dusted elf?
exactly, that's one of the things at the back of my mind. maybe the night crew is something heinous kept onsite.
I dunno, I just have some feeling like we're missing something. |
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Dec 12 2003, 06:26 PM
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#174
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
Echo that! I'm not contributing much but I've been avidly following and I couldn't agree more. Maybe this weekend I'll pour over the ENTIRE thread and try to piece it together. i'm thinking we/you/everyone has been focusing on the small, intricate steps involved in pulling this thing off--as a good shadowrunner should do. I'm also a fan of parsimony/Occum's Razor so I think its right there, starring back at us. Here's what I got from memory (damn mnemonic enhancer on the fritz): 1) a elf girl held against her will 2) a corp thats in the "import/export" business 3) has its roots in eastern Europe 4) backgroud count in the basement 5) assorted wierd drek going on So, they're doing some digging in the basement and catagorizing the samples. That means they're looking for "something". The something could be the gateway to an acient evil or it could be pottery from the early natives or some combo of the two. There was that whole landbridge thing... And possibly the two aren't related. The corp could run a slavery racket and that might account for the background count. Maybe the elf chica is just some dataslave who "...saw something she shouldn't have" and the J is boyfriend/uncle/dad/whatever or working for that person and happens to work for the corp. Thus, the "don't hurt anybody"/"no traces" clause. I dunno. I do spend a fair amount of time pondering the multiple options. So, what do you think? Maybe me and the other lurkers on this thread could help w/ brainstorming support. Lurkers unite! Be not afraid, for we on the path to knowledge (and glory and :nuyen: and all that jazz...) :) |
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Dec 13 2003, 03:31 AM
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#175
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Thanks for the support! :D I don't think we know if our elf lady is willing or not. She *was* kidnapped which implies at one point she was against it, but all things considered she may be "turned" at this point. @ Talia, as per your offer for background info-> Did we think to ask if she has any important contacts/relatives/etc? Are we upsetting anybody other than her takers by retrieving her? |
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