 Infiltration Challenge, Examining situation variables |
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 Dec 21 2003, 11:42 PM
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#201
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Dragon  Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916  |
Ask, ask.
I don't think we have anyone on hand with the ability to analyze the dust -- certainly not the time. As for the others, I don't know. -Siege |
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Dec 22 2003, 01:27 AM
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#202
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
I don't follow, but I think it's because I don't know enough about shifters. Couldn't a shifter pose as an elf?
I'm guessing if either, it's the second one. Hence the urgency factor... <edit> I mean the last one.
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Dec 22 2003, 05:21 AM
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#203
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
According to the CC: No. "shapeshifter" is the race. It goes on to say that all cyberware is rejected. Bla, bla, bla, game balance, drekcetera...Its not specific about cosmetic surgery but unless we've uncovered a secret cult Shapeshifter elf posers....So, neither Julianna nor the elf w/ the wheelbarrow are shifters. Alright. One variable eliminated. Re: the dust. I was looking for some supposition from us not an analysis from Ghost. (what? she didn't bring a gas chomatigraph-mass spectrometer w/ her? I saw that list of stuff she's hauling...I guess the days of "a pocket knife, a pack of gum, and a smile" are truly over... :D ) |
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Dec 22 2003, 10:13 AM
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#204
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Maybe I'm missing something here. Why can't/wouldn't a shapeshifter take the form of an elf? Iirc someone said they can mimic the form of a living creature... ??? |
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Dec 22 2003, 12:45 PM
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#205
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Not to mention we don't know about the CC or the "Great RuleBook in the Sky" that controls our lives.
It's a little frustrating -- I'm missing something OOC, but I don't have any better clue IC. She may very well be a free spirit manifesting to check out humanity or a person possessed by a spirit. This from the guy who advanced the shifter theory -- but something is definitely odd. Or something else entirely that we just don't know enough about to speculate -- I'm waiting to find out she's really a Drake in disguise. :grinbig: (Kidding, Talia...relax) -Siege |
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Dec 22 2003, 01:29 PM
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#206
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
Sorry, I've been a bit too busy to post for a few days, and now that I've got the time, there are suddenly loads of new posts to read through. :D As far as searching databases goes, Solitaire has a subscription to Saeder-Krupp's Intel-XS consumer records database. Since it seems that (unless I've missed something) Julianna has a SIN, we could try to compile a better profile of her by tracking her purchases, we might even be able to determine where she went when she vanished with the elf. Another thing we could check out with this database, is to check who made credstick transactions at the Mafia guy's restaurant last time Julianna was there with her elf friend, it's a long shot, but if he paid for the meal we'll be able to ID him, or at least get his false ID. Even a false ID would give Solitaire another thread to follow up.
I don't know of any rituals that exist for this purpose, but there are enough critters with similar powers, so such a ritual must be possible.
AFAIK as long as you have the correct metamagic ability to attune the manaline (I can't remember the correct name), you can then use the manaline's count to boost any magic test. If you don't attune the mana-line, then it's background count would always be a penalty. I'll try to come up with something else when I've had time to re-read all the new posts. |
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Dec 23 2003, 06:51 AM
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#207
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Sigh. I'm not one much for speculation since it tends to take away valuable game time. Admittedly, we don't have any real game time here, but it's a habit I had to get rid of, especially since the planning tended to take so long.
But since we have the ‘time’ here, I’ll throw in: Was the target taken specifically or just ‘hovered up’ in a general kidnapping of some group? If whoever these people are were generally kidnapping some group, would we have heard about it? From the personnel records we got, how many vampires, etc would be supported by munching that many people? If the night shift is something nasty like that we can try to get an idea of how many there are by looking at how many people they eat, though I still dunno about the dusting thing. Of course the question would then be, why bother to import your food? Considering the situation in Seattle, I’d not be too hard to round up a bunch of squatters and homeless to munch on. |
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Dec 23 2003, 02:55 PM
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#208
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
Maybe thye did. Talia said there were no Squatters. even in the other buildings... Also, there were two "tags" on the surronding buildings. One belonged to the Holloweeners (IIRC). The other one we didn't recognise. We should look into that. (Blade, anyone?) |
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Dec 23 2003, 09:44 PM
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#209
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Re SL: thanks, Siege. And no: she's not a drake as far as I know ;)
It was not caught on tape, just seen by every person in the office at that time. (You might be confusing with the flaming bird that was caught on-tape.) You'd have to get a portrait recreation from one or more of the persons who had seen, then cross-reference using image recognition software. I'll rule you weren't given enough time for that approach.
Not from what you have so far.
Everything went through your fixer. No picture of the J. You were to drop her off at her apartment - there would be someone waiting there to meet her ("Kay", human female), and you do have her picture and a password/counterpassword - although there was a sense that once she was free, Juliana might want to take this straight to the airwaves (at Seattle Spy). Too bad: she is to go to her apartment first. Once she is in Kay's custody, your job was considered to be complete. You would have to make contact with Kay, however, for the details of the remainder of your payment - the chip with the specific information has been left with her.
Some compromising pictures had come out on the newszines that day. Paparazzi were waiting in ambush for her at the front door of Seattle Spy, she dodged them by coming in the back. She was in a (very audible) fight with her producer (again) roughly half an hour before airtime. She stalked out of the office, went out by the back door - and no one has seen her since. (This was three days ago now - two missed workshifts.) Her producer was found comotose shortly thereafter, and is currently in serious but stable condition at the hospital. There is currently a Lone Star APB out on Juliana as a probable suspect. Re KE files: the two bodyguards listed as assigned to her are notated as "on active investigative duty". In other words, they are looking for her. Their reports more or less follow the chain of events you are already familiar with. KE as a whole is on low-level alert, probably as a consequence of her disappearance. (Makes decking the database a bit more difficult.)
Not me, anyway :)
Nice approach, Raiko! You can indeed track her SIN through Saeder-Krupp files through much of her life (Tir/Lofwyr/Saeder-Krupp association), although personal purchases don't really begin until she's left the Tir for Britain. The blank does however remain blank: so far as official records are concerned, she seems to have dropped out of existence for the duration. Her apartment continued to have been paid for by Seattle Spy, but absolutely no other transactions exist within that database.
She paid for both. Sorry.
She was the only one who went missing in that context. While a couple of other elves also went missing within the same timeframe, they're both teens and suspected runaways. No other missing person reports suggests anything in common. Short form: here, it seems to be just her. |
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Dec 27 2003, 04:11 PM
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#210
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Digging around to see if any of her relatives (does she have any on file?) have also gone missing might be worth a try. Also, trying to track down why she might have decided to investiage this area might be worth a try. Does she have ties with the Holloweeners? or maybe she knew someone who used to live here?
Otherwise it seems likely that she was specifically targeted, which makes getting out un-detected a bit difficult. {Evil Mastermind: Hurry Igor, the olds ones come. Bring for the sacrifice. Igor: Um, the sacrifice seems to have gone missing, master. Evil Mastermind: Doh!} |
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Dec 29 2003, 05:31 PM
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#211
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Her next of kin is listed as Sarah Elderheart (mother). She is also known to share her apartment with her cousin (Kit d'Erethiel) summers. Edit: Kit is an ork.
Not to the best of anyone's knowledge.
:D But it was always understood that her absence would be noticed sooner or later - just that the fact of that absence and how it was accomplished should not be immediately obvious. Edit: From Tails You Lose:
Curious assessment - and not one I'm entirely sure I agree with. |
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Dec 29 2003, 05:47 PM
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#212
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Eh, Alma was making a rookie's mistake. Obviously she hasn't been screwed twice yet. :grinbig:
-Siege |
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Dec 29 2003, 10:33 PM
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#213
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
maybe we're worrying too much. maybe the elf lady herself has somehow managed to hire us through a third party. unless we can come up with some seriously uncommon sense soon, maybe we should continue with the run, provided we pause the action when someone figures out what we missed? |
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Dec 30 2003, 12:31 AM
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#214
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
We can only analyze this so far given our lack of knowledge and inspiration at this point: commence and carry on! Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we roll the die... -Siege |
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Dec 30 2003, 02:04 AM
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#215
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
Agreed, I get more paranoid every time the action pauses for more analysis. And I really, really can't wait to find out whats going on down there. Lets get back to the run. |
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Dec 30 2003, 03:16 PM
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#216
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
Echo what everyone else said. I'm tapped for ideas, anyways.
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Dec 30 2003, 04:03 PM
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#217
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
All right.
When last we left our heroes ... 1. Diamond was outside the complex, waiting anxiously for the arrival of the second gang while the gang he is with slips increasingly out of control. The building security guards are starting to pay attention to your diversion. So is the guard in the kitty corner building, who has already called Lone Star but (unbeknownst to him) has gotten Advent instead. He has a couple of elementals on tap. 2. Advent is keeping tabs on Lone Star and local activity, and intercepting cellphone calls as needed. There are also still a number of surveillance drones scattered through the air ducts of your building. 3. Solitaire has established superuser clearances within your building, and is trying to Matrix-work the system as required. Unfortunately, not that many systems on this level besides the elevator seem to be centrally controlled, and many are distinctly archaic, even non-electronic (such as the hellhound cages). 4. Ghost is in the "astral current" corridor, trying to decide what to do upon hearing footsteps echoing down the hall from somewhere beyond the (probably) central area ahead. She has independently maglocked doors to either side of her. Most of the rooms along this hall Trogdor has discovered to be empty, but one is a storage place, another seems to hold some kind of back-up ventilation system, and a third (already passed) is the hellhound kennel. The rooms appear to be sealed. 5. Trogdor is pacing Ghost astrally. Since you have since discovered that at least two of the denizens of this level are dual-natured, this could rapidly become a problem. |
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Dec 30 2003, 11:49 PM
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#218
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Is "Calm the F* down" an area effect spell? Any of our people have that? :grinbig:
I vote Ghost tries to open the maglock door on her left ( right hand side of anyone headed her way) with maybe Trogdor peeking in first to make sure it's ok. But that's just my shot in the dark for lack of having a better idea. What do you guys think?
Can Trogy do anything to appear less like a beacon? Any astral stealth business or anything?
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Dec 30 2003, 11:52 PM
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#219
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Yeah, it's the beer I'd be having if I wasn't along on this run. :grinbig:
-Siege |
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Dec 31 2003, 01:19 AM
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#220
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
Astral stealth is stuff like "ducking" through walls / floors and things. I'd say that the risks of Trodgor being detected by the dual-natured guys are much lower than the risk to Ghost if she stays down there without Trodgor for astral overwatch. Especially given the lack of matrix overwatch down here. It's worth keeping Trodgor down here anyway, as if it comes to a fight a dual-natured critter is normally dead-meat against an astrally projecting spellcaster (of course the current situation is far from normal).
Gets my vote. The only doors I wouldn't go for are the kennel (for obvious reasons), the 'infirmary' (because it's far too scary), and the ventilation room (in case the approaching bad-guy is a maintainance man on the way to the fan Solitaire stopped). Use Trodgor to check which room has the best hiding place, in case we pick the room the bad-guy is heading for. Ghost should probably try to relock the door behind her in case this is the 'night watch' starting a roving patrol.
Mob mind? Unfortunately none of us have it. This post has been edited by Raiko: Dec 31 2003, 01:21 AM |
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Dec 31 2003, 08:32 PM
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#221
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
I'd already assumed Trogdor (being reasonably intelligent ;) ) was applying "astral stealth" after having come far too close to running into the one dual natured elf.
Nearly all the other rooms were basically empty. Unless you specify otherwise (!), I'll assume Ghost would be slipping into one of the empty rooms. (I try for common sense defaults where things are not specified otherwise.) It would be no problem relocking the maglock behind her - those kind tend to relock automatically. In fact, I'll say that she's done this, with no problems. Can I assume Trogdor ducks inside with her? but possibly keeping a very careful lookout outside? The door locks and seals behind her. (It can be opened from the inside without having to rewire the maglock - it's just a mechanical release mechanism, and there weren't any alarm wires tied to this door being opened.) Having reasonably good hearing, she can hear the footsteps passing her location and going on. Trogdor might catch enough of a glance to tell that yes, it does seem to be two of the night watch, elves both - and (damn it!) they're dual natured too. The elevator opens and closes, and then there is silence. |
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Dec 31 2003, 11:02 PM
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#222
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Well, at least it wasn't massive screaming with sprays of blood coating the lens of the security cam we're hacked into. :grinbig:
-Siege |
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Jan 1 2004, 01:25 AM
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#223
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
<insert stupid question here> also: I know Trogdor only got a quick look at them, but besides being Dual Natured, was there anything unusual or out of the ordinary about them? |
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Jan 1 2004, 02:05 AM
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#224
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Uniforms :)
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Jan 1 2004, 02:20 AM
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#225
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
*foreheadslap* :D Did Trogdor get a good enough look at them for us to learn anything about them? Do they have the washed out aura business going on, etc? |
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