Works for me.

Yea. Go ahead and get his astral quest going while Papa does some hacking and pilfering for upgrades.

Are there astrally present? Same question with the old hand mirror in the bathroom?

They are not astrally present.

With the spirit quest, Bishop can you help point me in the right direction of how to start? I remember the page cites, and I'll reread them, but I don't want to botch anything up. x_x

JxJxA--At this point, you and whomever is going with you, need to go through the astral wound with a clear purpose in mind of where you are going. Then you face the Dweller and the quest begins...

Cool, sounds good. I'll draft an IC post to explain it.

i take it Brock wouldnt be much help in the spirit world would he

Saytr--I'll make it so everyone has something to do. If Brock wants to stay at the safe house instead, that's fine. Just let me know.

im down to help.

Alright, I'm pushing things along since the team since to be caught slightly...If you're going through the portal, post here. Let me know what you are taking with you.

brock will follow the others bringing his hammer.

Taking all my gear since I just really have what I am wearing at the moment.

also Brock would wear his body armor as well. other then that his grenade launcher just in case.......

I'll have all my stuff with me, sans gun and ammo out of fear of using lethal force again. Uetz isn't sure what will work and what won't after the last foray into the wound. ;-p

I'm a bit confused on how to proceed. Uetz seeks his sister, and I could write different secrets (especially his conflict when it comes to killing), but I want to make sure I write an appropriate response. Should I make a knowledge roll?

JxJxA--Look at SM, p 130 'The Dweller on the Threshold.' Facing the Dweller often includes baring your personal failures, revealing secrets and the lies we tell ourselves at night, or facing the personal demons and addictions. Failure to pass the Dweller results in the immediate failure of the Astral Quest.

Magical Threats SP: Horrors
7d6.hits(5)=4

Buddha--Looking out across the plain, Olethros can clearly identify several types of the creatures--most of which could not survive for a long period in Earth's manasphere without finding a host. There are gaunts, carcosbeasts, and vyrkul. Few of the beasts have intelligence beyond an imbecile, but all are strong enough to tear flesh from bone with little effort. The Ruined King, an ancient horror, controls an army such as you are seeing.

I hope bricks response is appropriate fir the workshop.personally I am do not know a lot about these types of quests so this is a learning experience for me

Papa Smurf:
Data Search(4) + Browse(6) + Analytical Mind(2) + Hot-Sim(2): Search for the details surrounding the death of Tir Prince Dell Piper and his lover.
[2,1,4,3,5,1,2,2,1,1,6,1,6,1] = 3 hits (3)
[5,6,4,1,1,1,5,3,5,4,4,5,6] = 6 hits (9)
[2,5,6,5,3,2,5,4,1,4,5,5] = 6 hits (15)
[1,6,2,4,3,4,2,1,5,4,4] = 2 hits (17)
[2,5,5,3,4,5,4,3,3,1] = 1 hit (18)
[4,2,2,4,6,2,3,3,5] = 2 hits (20)
[3,6,6,4,1,2,1,5] = 3 hits (23)
[6,4,3,5,5,3,5] = 4 hits (27)
[1,3,3,2,1,2] = 0 hits (27)
[4,4,3,4,4] = 0 hits (27)

Data Search(4) + Browse(6) + Analytical Mind(2) + Hot-Sim(2): Search places to acquire signal chip upgrades, high end cameras and optical upgrades (ultrasound, thermo, vision mag, flare comp, etc)
[3,4,6,6,3,3,1,5,1,4,4,2,6,3] = 4 hits (4)
[5,1,2,2,1,6,5,4,4,5,4,6,1] = 5 hits (9)
[5,4,1,3,1,4,6,4,2,2,1,6] = 3 hits (12)
[1,5,4,5,1,4,5,4,1,2,4] = 3 hits (15)
[1,1,1,5,4,4,4,1,3,3] = 1 hit (16)
[3,6,3,1,1,5,5,4,2] = 3 hits (19)
[1,2,5,5,2,2,5,1] = 3 hits (22)
[1,3,5,4,3,4,1] = 1 hit (23)
[6,1,1,1,4,6] = 2 hits + Glitch = hits negated. (23)
[6,3,3,3,5] 2 hits (25)

Data Search(4) + Browse(6) + Analytical Mind(2) + Hot-Sim(2): Search places to acquire software upgrades/autosofts
[5,1,2,1,4,5,5,1,4,6,6,4,4,6] = 6 hits (6)
[3,2,3,3,1,4,3,1,1,6,5,3,1] = 2 hits (8 )
[2,4,4,5,4,2,4,4,3,3,2,4] = 1 hit (9)
[2,3,1,6,6,6,5,5,3,5,6] = 7 hits (16)
[5,1,3,2,1,5,2,4,5,2] = 3 hits (19)
[4,3,5,1,3,6,2,6,1] = 3 hits (22)
[2,4,5,6,5,1,5,5] = 5 hits (27)
[6,1,4,4,2,5,1] = 2 hits (29)
[6,4,1,4,2,4] = 1 hit (30)
[1,4,3,3,5] = 1 hit (31)

Papa is running the search a little wide to give him a select of places to try and pull a snatch & grab against for the upgrades he is trying to acquire. Retail/Wholesale/Criminal/etc.
- The cameras he is looking for are R6 Cameras, either upgraded or with the components to add Flare Comp, Vision Mag, Vision Enh R3, Thermo to all and ultrasound to at least 2.
- R5 or R6 response and signal chips.
- Software would include 5x (R5 to R6) firewall and the minimum additional software/autosofts: 5x R3 Clear-sight, R3 Targeting LMG, 2x R3 Targeting FN HAR, R3 Covert Ops, R3 Chaser, 3x R3 Analyze, R3 Agent, R3 Attack, R3 Armor
Getting higher quantities would be preferred. That would give him materials to sell/trade on the black market for the other things on his list.

I admit, I'm a little surprised, but it makes sense. Not sure if I can still contact Quauhtli, but I'll reach out for a reply. Would Aztec Lore apply to any of the other names the spider mentioned? I know Chimalli and Smoking Mirror, but the King in Yellow is new.

JxJxA--Memory test please.

Sure:
Will(9) + Logic(3) = 12d6 for 6 hits, or 8d6 for 5 hits if the depression penalty affects it.

JxJxA--The glyph in the reflection, matches the one you spoke aloud in the Troll Market--Hastur.

Well played, sir. Well played.

I need a moment to think on how to respond now.

Search for: Crater Lake
[6,2,5,3,2,2,4,2,6,6,6,3,6,5] = 7 hits (7)
[4,3,4,2,4,3,2,5,6,1,5,4,6] = 4 hits (11)
[5,2,2,1,6,2,4,3,3,4,1,6] = 3 hits (14)
[3,2,1,6,5,2,1,6,1,4,1] = 3 hits (17)
[1,1,6,1,2,2,6,3,5,5] = 4 hits (21)
[2,6,5,2,3,6,4,2,5] = 4 hits (25)
[3,3,5,1,3,4,1,2] = 1 hit (26)
[5,5,6,3,6,6,2] = 5 hits (31)
[1,5,2,4,5,3] = 2 hits (33)
[6,3,6,2,3] = 2 hits (35)

Search for: Hollywood Simsense Entertainment - Focus on size, resources, facility and known security protocols
[4,6,6,2,5,5,3,5,4,5,6,4,3,6] = 8 hits (8 )
[5,3,1,1,5,5,2,5,1,3,3,2,1] = 4 hits (12)
[2,6,6,2,2,6,4,3,5,1,6,4] = 5 hits (18 )
[2,2,6,5,1,6,6,2,5,5,6] = 7 hits (25)
[1,3,6,3,4,5,3,1,2,4] = 2 hits (27)
[2,2,5,2,2,5,3,3,4] = 2 hits (29)
[3,1,1,3,4,6,3,2] = 1 hit (32)
[2,1,2,4,2,5,3] = 1 hit (33)
[5,3,2,4,1,6] = 2 hits (35)
[3,2,5,1,1] = 1 hit (36)

Search for: CalTech's computer science and optics division - Focus on size, resources, facility and known security protocols
[4,3,3,4,6,6,5,3,1,6,1,3,3,3] = 4hits (4)
[4,2,2,2,3,2,5,4,4,4,2,6,4] = 2 hits (6)
[1,3,6,2,3,2,2,4,6,5,2,5] = 4 hits (10)
[1,3,4,1,6,3,4,1,1,6,4] = 2 hits (12)
[5,6,1,2,3,3,1,6,3,6] = 4 hits (16)
[4,4,3,3,5,2,1,5,1] = 2 hits (18 )
[4,3,4,6,5,1,2,1] = 2 hits (21)
[5,5,1,1,3,2,2] = 2 hits (23)
[5,4,3,5,3,5] = 3 hits (26)
[3,3,3,5,2] = 1 hit (27)

Search for: Hahn Free Market - Focus on location, market etiquette, vendors with top rep [custom firearms, nanopaste disguise, drone upgrade supplies]
[6,4,3,1,2,3,4,3,6,3,6,4,1,3] = 3hits (3)
[1,6,6,5,3,3,5,5,5,4,2,1,3] = 6 hits (9)
[3,5,3,1,1,2,1,4,2,1,4,5] = 2 hits (11)
[4,1,1,3,4,6,4,4,6,6,4] = 3 hits (14)
[6,2,5,1,3,4,3,1,6,5] = 4 hits (18 )
[5,4,3,2,1,5,1,3,2] = 2 hits (20)
[2,3,2,4,2,5,6,6] = 3 hits (25)
[5,2,2,5,4,6,5] = 4 hits (29)
[2,4,2,1,6,1] = 1 hit (30)
[2,6,5,3,4] = 2 hits (32)

Redjack--

Crater Lake Once a popular tourist destination, Crater Lake has been under military control for the past several years. No one is admitted within the miltary cordon zone, and elaborate anti-surviellance measures have prevented remote intelligence gathering by a variety of corporate and national powers. The lake is contained within the caldera of an ancient volcano. Snow and rainwater are the only contibutors to the lake, and evaporation the only exit for the water within it, making its water famous for its clarity and striking deep blue color. The lake measures eight kilometers by ten kilometers across, and the deepest point is 394 meters, making it the seventh deepest lake in the world (with its average depth of 350 meters, it is the third deepest lake in the world). The caldera rim around the lake ranges in elevation from 2,100 meters to 2,400 meters.
The mountain is snow shrowded except for a brief summer season. The area is rumored to do strange things to Magic, though reports are scattered from greatly hampering it to hugely elevating its potency.

Hollywood Simsense Entertainment Located in San Bernadino, HSE is a broad scale software clearinghouse and producer of low-end sim flicks. It's believed that they are also a front for BTL sales with a regular clientele of junkies and gangers. HSE has known Koshari ties, but the PCC leaves them alone for internal reasons. They have a 10,000 sq ft outlet store with viewing rooms and test hardware to configure software. The staff is knowledgeable and a good resource for sim-module modifications when a little extra signal is needed. They are under contract with PuebSec and prosecute shoplifters to the full extent.

CalTech's Computer Science and Optics division CalTech is a much smaller school than UCLA, led by Dr. Maureen Jones--a pragmatic and efficient bureaucrat and leader. The Computer Science division has some of the best and brightest students and faculty in the country, with instruction focused on practical application rather than theory. There have been several incidents leaked to local media spots of "guest lecturers" who taught practical cybercombat using Black IC. The guest lecturers were unavailable for comment and the university had no official records of them. CalTech has been working on an integrated system using high quality optics to rival the Horizon backed ACPS - Automated Crime Prevention System. The plan is to combine sensors, facial recognition, and empathy software with a heuristic processor to predict and respond to crimes faster. Campus is patrolled by PuebSec, though the matrix access is believed to be watched 24/7 by grad students and campus spiders.

Hahn Free Market In the middle of the brackish, deep waters of central LA rises a large island. For whatever reason, the old Kenneth Hahn Park didn’t sink, though the land around it did. The heart of the island has become a sort of perpetual open air market. For the SINless and street-level criminal, this is the place in LA to buy and sell hot goods, get a quick tip, or find a job. Vault divers display their treasures here, hoping to score enough nuyen to survive another day. Gangs do quick business selling imported drugs and fencing their loot. Fixers scout the crowds, looking for new talent. Hahn Island is one of the few places in LA where you can escape the omnipresent camera drones—any drones that show up are quickly knocked out, scavenged, and resold by the entrepreneurial residents. Access is only by boat and there are several makeshift docking areas. Vendors come and go daily with a "catch as you can" attitude. Trouble is dealt with locally by the residents and shoppers.

Quick question - could the questers see each other's reflections or just our own?

You can all see each other's reflections in the mirror.

Hack Car Wash: Security Access [Stealth = 6]

Hacking(6) + Spec: Exploit(2) + Exploit(6) + Hot Sim(2)
[5,2,1,4,1,2,2,3,3,6,2,2,5,1][1,2] = 3 hits (3)
[4,4,5,5,6,3,3,4,1,4,3,3,2,6][1] = 4 hits (7)
If that doesn't get it, I chose the wrong car wash.

Software(4) + Analytical Mind(2) + Edit(6) + Hot Sim(2)
Edit Feed: [2,4,6,1,2,1,1,2,5,5,3,2,2,2] = 3 hits
Create back door: [4,6,6,3,6,4,3,1,6,6,5,5,6,1] = 8 hits
Edit Logs: [2,4,1,5,2,6,3,3,4,5,6,5,5,3] = 6 hits

@Bishop
Question about licensing for the vehicle: I assume I need to buy some licenses to have ones to broadcast and have throw aways for the van? Do you allow hackers/forgers to create fake licenses, if so what is the test?

Redjack--So you weren't going for the car wash that secretly is a Dawkins Group substation? As far as the forgery goes, use the Forgery table on p. 95 of Unwired.

I sure hope not...

Hmmm... Threshold of Rx16 was established prior to the rule of diminishing returns on extended tests. Even with a beginning dice pool of 14, I can only pull 32 hits about half the time... and my forgery dp is definitely not that. Is there an update to his for sr4a? Or is this not subject to a diminishing dice pool?

Here's an off-the-cuff modification, and we'll see how it plays out--Apply the Rating as a dice pool penalty, but the pool won't diminish. Related Knowledge Skills can provide bonus dice as well.

Questers--Please roll Body + Willpower, add modifiers for Cold if your armor has any.

Redjack--Did you need more from me at this point?

Body + Willpower
12d6.hits(5)=6

Rolling some knowledge skills to see what I know about "None but those loyal to the Ruined King may pass. Swear your fealty by name or pay a tribute in blood."

Magical Threats SP Horrors
7d6.hits(5)=2

Dark Secrets SP Sixth World
7d6.hits(5)=2

Buddha:
Magical Threats SP Horrors - If this host is loyal to the Ruined King, it is likely that you are in the creature's demesne. Anything which doesn't serve him could be viewed as trespassing and required to pay some form of toll or tithe.

Dark Secrets SP Sixth World - Blood sacrifice is a common ritual used by the Aztlan formal religion. A feathered serpent was sacrificed to empower some of their places of power. It aspected the manaspace around the temple.

Rolling to resist cold:
Body(4) + Willpower(9) + Insulation(3) = 16d6 for 8 hits.

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3434153/ 7 hits

Body 10 + willpower 4 =14dp

Questers--Everyone has resisted the cold for now, and maintained the use of your fingers and toes.

Assuming everything is good with my last post, I will proceed forward. Looking for a place to dump the body.

Intuition(4) + Area Knowledge: LA(3) + Mnemonic Enhancer (2) [2,6,2,4,6,2,6,1,4] = 3 hits

Redjack--Papa has heard of a Ghoul group near Mtn View Cemetery in San Bernadino. There's also El Infierno, if you can find a crack in the wall (there are several from the earthquakes.) Last option is the lacunae, though many fall under surveillance near the roads.

Saytr--How many boxes of damage are you taking?

Team--it will take 18 boxes to fill the bowl. Anyone with Aztlan religion or magical practices could roll Kn to try and get a better blood letting.

I've got Aztec lore, but with my depression modifications I'd be rolling 2d6. I can risk it if anyone is interested, though.

i will do six boxes, unless the others know of a way to better work this out like spit instead of blood

Its your quest man i am just filling my part for the fare.

I'll do at least six as well. I brought my medkit, and I have heal and resist pain to help patch us up. If there's one thing Uetz is good at, it's healing. If there's another thing, it's helping you ignore the fact that you're bleeding out.

I'll pony up 6 as well to bring us to the 18 needed.

If that's the case then my ugly troll mug can take a little more as long as you can patch it up.

18 boxes were dealt, let me know who is taking how much from the quest team.

Both of the magic types would know that the rules of meta planar quests, don't always follow the rules of physics or the real world.

I'll take my 6 boxes, and more if necessary.