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Xahn Borealis
Running Food Fight for a friend of mine, she's new to RPGs and I'm new to GMing. This will be the start of something beautiful, I think. biggrin.gif

Characters:
[ Spoiler ]
[ Spoiler ]
Introduction:
[ Spoiler ]


Posting structure to follow, once I figure out what exactly I'm doing. All comments kept to PMs, please.

~
Xahn Borealis
Church is a German doctor, born in Essen, the throne of Saeder-Krupp with every aspect of his life taking place under the wings of Lofwyr. At first it was enough for him to make a living as a healer and surgeon, running a little street clinic for German runners. Then one of his patients exploded while under the knife. Church's reputation took a nasty hit, it was rumoured that he went berserk during the operation and tore the man apart. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a Bear shaman, Church does everything he can to protect his charges. He couldn't help the fact that this particular runner had a cortex bomb. He fled. He came to Seattle. He found an up-and-coming gillette who called herself Strife. They got to work.
Berry Punch
The story of Keira Stark isn't one of happiness. She was an Ares child born in Detroit who often chose to interpret that as Ares the god of war, not the megacorp, getting into fights with other children, older ones. Often defending others from bullies. As she grew up her father urged her to go into security for Ares to better channel her aggression. As the years went by she found the job rewarding not to mention the implants that came with it. After finding out her father had betrayed company secrets to the Yakuza out of pure greed things took a turn for the worse. After a deal had gone badly they had decided to take vengeance upon her family, brutally torturing her mother as her father watched. As Keira happened upon the scene of her dead mother, murdered by the Yakuza thugs she went into a rage, slaughtering all of them including her father whom she knew was to blame for it all. She found herself in Seattle months later looking to rebuild her shattered life. But as it turns out nothing is ever easy. The Yakuza tracked her down and tortured her mercilessly, seeking retribution for what she had done in Detroit. As her life started to fade she was miraculously saved by a troll named Church. They have been runners together ever since.
Xahn Borealis
=IC Posting Rules=

Speech to be "cyan colour and in speech marks", text messages to be in [yellow and in square brackets], subvocal comms to be "violet in speech marks" while actions are simply described. Scene descriptions will be in italics, and dice rolls are to be spoilered. All names to be bolded.

It’s the great equalizer. It’ll stop a troll the size of car as easily as the smallest dwarf or the thinnest elf. It ain’t a weapon, spell or even a dragon—it’s hunger. When it’s time to eat, you just gotta get the stuffers into your stomach before you go berserk. What are stuffers? They used to be called junk food or munchies. They’re probably just as good for you as nutrisoy and krill-filler, regardless of those ads from the Nutrition Council. When the pangs hit, there’s only one place to go (especially when the sun rises in about an hour) to find that kind of chow. It’s the place everyone loves to hate: Stuffer Shack.

Church arrives with Strife at the Stuffer Shack, hungry for frankfurter hot dogs, his favourite.
Berry Punch
Stark turns to Church with a look of slight disgust on her face, obviously annoyed that she was dragged to such a place.

"Ben, i'm getting tired of these trips to this god awful hole in the wall. I don't know why you always insist on coming here to eat when there are plenty of other places nearby that don't cause people to hurl 30 minutes after leaving..."
Xahn Borealis
The place isn't really that bad. It's just not that good either. If convenience stores could roll off assembly lines (and with the rate of advances in nanotechnology, that point isn't really all that far off), then this place did. The only thing to identify it as a Stuffer Shack in Seattle, as opposed to, say, Tenochtitlán, is the ever-present dim murk hanging overhead, threatening to pour acid rain over you like a 5th Grader with a wooden stick. There's better options. But not for you. And certainly not at 0300.

"Keira. I'm hungry. Can we argue later?" He heads straight for the door, eyes already searching the aisles for his prize.
Berry Punch
Stark rolls her eyes in annoyance, following closely behind her much larger friend before parting ways once inside. She tries in vain to find something she'd consider to be even remotely edible before heading back to the aisle she knows he will be at.

"Find your dog food yet?"
Xahn Borealis
Church gives a low growl, lumbering on through the aisles, grinning to himself when he finds what he's looking for. Processed soymeat tubes. He just can't help himself, and starts piling them into his arms.
Berry Punch
Stark smirks, having annoyed Church with her comment. She raises an eyebrow at the sight of him taking so many of the disgusting "food" tubes.

"I seriously hope you don't expect any help from me in paying for all of that junk. Now hurry up, Ben, I have other things to do. Like, you know climbing out from this debt i'm in."
Xahn Borealis
"Ja, don't worry, Keira. I'm sure we'll find some more werk soon. Bear is a very good hunter in the wild, you know." Church takes his catch over to the counter, giving the cashier a big toothy grin before--

An explosion rips through the front of the store, shattering the windows and scattering shards through the first few aisles. The cheesy muzak is cut off, and the lights flicker. The whole front side of the Stuffer Shack now has a new front door, spanning 15 metres long. There's no telling what caused the explosion, or even if the store will stay standing.

But that baby really needs to stop crying.
Berry Punch
"Whatever you say, Ben, I just think we need t-"

Stark is cut off by the the explosion. She tries to shield her face from any debris. As the smoke settles she looks around the now destroyed Stuffer Shack. Immediately snapping into action she activates her arm blades and looks around for Church.

"And I thought this was just going to be another boring trip that ends in you stuffing your face. You still with me, Ben?"


Xahn Borealis
The Bear is woken. "What was that?! Scheisse!" Church picks his way through the toppled aisles, donning his Matrix-capable shades and opening his senses to the Astral. He casts his Sight around, looking for survivors.

[ Spoiler ]


Church's spirit... falters. Unable to stop himself, he inadvertently astrally projects, his body falling limp on the debris-strewn floor of the Shack, crushing his sausages.
Berry Punch
Searching the debris filled store Stark ever the cautious one searches for the source of the explosion, making her way towards the front of the store.

"Ben, talk to me, you see anything? Whoever made this new door definitely isn't here to buy some of your dog food."

Stark looks back and notices Church lying limp on the ground. With a look of sheer horror she retracts her blades and rushes over to him.

"Ben!!! Ben!! Are you alright?! Come on, talk to me!"

Fearing the worst, she draws her Berretta 101T Light Pistol and prepares to slaughter whoever did this to her friend.
Xahn Borealis
Church wanders the astral plane, cut off from his meat body. Dazed, he looks down at his talo-- talons? No, I have paws. I am Bear. Paws. Hands. Hands. Yes. He sees his body and makes his way over, touching his astral form and re entering the big hulk of meat on the floor with a breathy gasp.

"Keira! Keira, they're coming! Gangers!"

As if on cue, three offensively attired creatures supposedly known as people saunter in, brandishing weapons. One has a grubby cyberarm clutching an Ares Predator IV in an equal state of disrepair. The next holds an AK-97 Carbine, resting it against his hip like some smug sheriff. The third has yet to draw the small pistol at his hip and glances around the store like a fidgety rat. The cybered one speaks up in a cigarette-scoured voice, "'Ey! Brandeen! Come on out, or we bring the whole place down on yer!" He slaps the ratty man on the shoulder with his chrome limb, jolting him with a quiet yelp. From where you are, the 'gangers' cannot see you.
Berry Punch
Stark surprised to see that Church is up and moving again lets out a sigh of relief before putting her index finger to her lips as the thugs enter the building, whispering to him.

"Shhh...they haven't noticed us yet. We might be able to flank them so keep quiet, Tiny.....and don't do that again, I thought you were dead."

She holsters her pistol and once again activates her blades, slowly making her way around the store trying to keep quiet as to get the jump on the thugs.
Xahn Borealis
Church nods his assent and whispers back. "Jawohl." Mentally, he searches within himself for the link to his bound spirits. Earth and Man. He asks of the Spirit of Man that it watch over him and Strife and keep them Hidden.

The Spirit of Man uses its Powers of Guard and Concealment on Church and Strife.

"The spirits watch over us, Keira. Do what you will now."
Berry Punch
[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
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Xahn Borealis
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Xahn Borealis
Strife ambushes the Goons, Surprising them completely. They are all unable to react to her, but they do notice Church and are able to react to him. Church is Surprised by everyone and cannot act at all during this Turn.
Berry Punch
Stark charges the goon with the AK-97, using the blade on her right arm she attempts to cut him down in a single swift strike.

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
Strife's spur slashes straight through Crank's arm, severing it at the elbow. He drops the AK and begins shrieking in agony, blood spurting over the floor.

[ Spoiler ]
Berry Punch
Strife grins as she takes the would be thug's arm clean off. Her new AK might fetch a nice price. Clearly these idiots don't know what they've gotten themselves into. This is going to be fun.
Xahn Borealis
[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
It's all happening too fast for the remaining two to even react. Light glints off metal, blood splatters on the floor, cries of pain and shock seem to come from all around. Stooby throws himself to the ground, while Fornis decides he's not taking any chances, focusing his concentration on the formula for the Armour spell, mid power level. The glimmering energy field surrounds him, reassuring him as he takes his Fichetti pistol from his holster.

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
Just for this moment, Church doesn't see an opening to make his move.
[ Spoiler ]
Berry Punch
With her lightning fast reflexes, Stark turns to Fornis as the first goon falls to the ground now short one arm. Still grinning as blood sprays the floor confident that this idiot's shield isn't going to help him she quickly slashes upward, removing his gun hand. As Fornis' eyes shoot open in surprise his head is quickly removed from his body by another slash of her blade. Two down, one more to go.

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
[b]Church is shocked still by the carnage Strife wreaks in the Stuffer Shack. One man loses his arm, the other has been horribly decapitated![/b] "Keira, stop this! Stop at once!" He considers healing the man who has lost his arm, or even trying to stop Strife, but he knows it would be for naught. Walking towards her, he tries to catch her attention, even as blood fountains from her victims. "We should leave, before more people die!"

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
[ Spoiler ]
Berry Punch
Stark turns to Church, annoyed with his reaction. Always frustrated with his pacifist attitude in life.

"Ben they blew a hole in the wall and had weapons! They were clearly out for blood here! I wasn't gonna let them harm innocent people! Besides, two of them will live....maybe. We're going to see why they are here."

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
[ Spoiler ]

Xahn Borealis
Church resolves to heal the wounded man, before he dies of blood loss. Another spell, this one used to save lives.

[ Spoiler ]


Church begins to pour his magic into the man, halting the effects of the deadly wound before he bleeds out.
Berry Punch
Stark turns her attentions to Stooby who is still on the ground. Retracting her blades, pulling out her pistol and pointing it to his head.

"What exactly where you three hoping to accomplish here tonight? Tell me now before I put a hole in you too big for my friend here to fix."

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
Stooby stands fast before Strife's threatening display, but he does try slipping away from her gun, unable to hide his fear at the display she'd just put on.

[ Spoiler ]


"I ain't here for you, girl, so back off! Put that thing away before you really hurt yourself." His voice falters several times, showing he really doesn't believe his own bravado.
Xahn Borealis
Unbeknownst to all, the cause of the explosion, Joeby, has finally plucked up the nerve to join his comrades in the store. Having already seen the bloodshed caused by Strife, he decides to take her down with a shot to the back. Waiting for the opportune moment, he draws his Predator and lines up a bead on her.

[ Spoiler ]
Berry Punch
Stark, her attention still on Stooby, doesn't notice the man aiming at her back, still trying to intimidate the chiphead on the floor.

"Look, you lowlife, i'm going to give you one last chance to tell me what I want to know or you'll be missing a head like your friend over there."

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
[ Spoiler ]
Berry Punch
[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
Stooby tries to speak, letting out an involuntary whimper before continuing. "Th-the woman. With the baby. She knows about the chip." At that point, he notices Joeby coming up behind Strife and smirks. "But I wouldn't worry about that, razorgirl."
Berry Punch
Stark, greatly annoyed by this gang of complete idiots by this point stares straight at Stooby's cheesy smirk with her piercing glowing green cybereyes. "Oh don't worry, chiphead, I wont." And with that, she lets off a shot straight at his head.


[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
Stooby tries desperately to get out of the way, but his tacky jacket gets a ring caught on some debris, immobilising him. The bullet tears his nose apart, punching a hole through the centre of his head, and bursts out the back of his skull, sending blood spraying out against the floor in an explosion of dark crimson, like someone dropped a water balloon filled with red food colouring.


[ Spoiler ]
Berry Punch
Stark looks down at what used to be Stooby, shaking her head before turning to Church and the goon he's healing.

"Ben, get him up and running, I've got some questions for him that his friend here couldn't answer for me."
Xahn Borealis
With his hands on Crank, he finishes stabilising him and releases him, taking a knee. "Keira... why must you keep killing?! The man was at your mercy!"

Crank's stump is sealed by the magic, still dripping excess blood. He lies groaning on the floor, eyes shut tight.
Xahn Borealis
Joeby draws his Ares Predator and fires at Strife, prepared to drop the gun and bug out if she so much as twitches in his direction.

[ Spoiler ]
Berry Punch
Stark, now angry with Church's complaining prepares to turn around and argue with him right as the goon fires. "Listen, Ben, I have had just about enough of yo-"

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
The bullet catches Strife in the side, caught by her armour yet not taking the full brunt, hitting her hard and winding her.

[ Spoiler ]
Xahn Borealis
Church watches Strife with growing horror as the gunman fires at her. Bear rages at the sight.

[ Spoiler ]


Church launches himself at Joeby with the rage of the grizzly searing within him, lashing out with fists that manifest great paws. He lashes out with magic, assaulting the mind of the man.

[ Spoiler ]


The spell slashes through Joeby's consciousness, knocking him straight out as he tumbles lifelessly to the floor. That doesn't stop Church pummeling his unconscious body though.
Berry Punch
Stark staggers forward as the bullet strikes her in the side of her back, falling forward to her knees. "Son of a bitch!" She groans out in pain turning around prepared to kill the motherfucker who shot her in the back just in time to see Church lunge at the man, beating him senseless. "Well then...look who finally decided to take some action." Getting up, she reaches a hand across her body, holding the spot where the bullet struck. "I think he's out cold now, Tiny."
Xahn Borealis
Church roars with rage, driving his fists down on Joeby again and again, battering him half to death. He is almost completely unaware of anything but the blood rushing in his ears, and the vengeful spirit driving his body.

Throughout the store, the other shoppers are starting to poke their heads out of their hiding places, some of them sporting bleeding wounds. One quivering human behind the counter raises a long barreled shotgun and stammers out,
"P-put your hands... up. I've c-called Lone Star, s-so don't go... anywhere..."
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