Right now just overkill. When he's nearby, she'll go talk to the guy who can sell her some Fire.

Meanwhile, she'll just alternate between keeping an eye out in the physical plane, the astral, and her commlink.

So some Poll responses to start the day.

1) For only a couple weeks in I know I have learned ALOT about Denver; I find it to be even more compelling than Seattle, right up there with Berlin for favorite SR city. I will try to think of some more suggestions soon, (If there was one thing I was good at as a GM it was world-building), there is always a little more you can do working on a city like this. Looking forward to future editions of the Denver Tribune, I have found news services like that invaluable for passing clues and adding color to a campaign.

2)Your IC post are good, you can be amazingly descriptive (You described Overkill's persona as well as I ever could). But some responses just need to be short and sweet, you have seemed to find a good balance between the 2.

3)Pacing has been going great imho; the story is moving along well. I like some combat in a game, but I would rather have less frequent combat that MEANS more than more frequent fights just to fill a "gap" in the action. My Tuesday Night gaming group, that has been going for over 13 years, is a very RP oriented group of players. We can go whole sessions and barely break out the dice at all. So I can appreciate the great RP we have going between us and not miss dodging bullets.

4) Developing the supporting cast, (Chapel, Chomsky, Ramirez, etc.) which has of course begun already. But having an ensemble of NPCs (Protagonist and Antagonist) for the Warrens would help give it a strong, at home, feel; even in the middle of the Slums community is everything. Also curious to learn more about the groups that were involved with the Denver Data Haven.

Thank you for the replies

Ok - here is what I think we need to sync everything up.

1) Amy - you've got about 10 minutes in game before Overkill gets to the LM territory (which would be around 11:30). Are you just going to hide until he gets there - or do something else.

2) Overkill - once you've gotten there, what are you going to do with your bike? Not exactly a garage you can park it in - and while Sable is ok to drive on since they don't want to disrupt flow of non-Warrens residents for the drug trade, inside LM territory is something else. Also think about your plan to get inside the territory - you aren't exactly dressed like a junkie.

3) Jack and Grease. Figure if you catch the 11:30 shuttle, you will be landing around 11:40. Then you have a 20 minute drive to get to the Warrens. Grease gets his text at 11:45, which is probably when you are clearing customs - so I guess you can play it from there.

If anyone needs me to post something IC putting you all where you need to be, don't hesitate to ask.

I'll place Jack and Grease at Customs. Grease has his car, but doesn't sound like he is all that likely to want to head to LM territory. To be honest, Jack isn't really armed for it either if something serious goes down.

But, he wouldn't leave Amy hanging if he could help it. With that said, if Overkill isn't dressed for the area, Jack and Grease most certainly are not. I'm going to suggest that Jack and Grease hang out in Grease's car outside Los Mags territory unless something goes down, then they can try to speed onto the scene. Grease is a rigger after all, he should be a bit more proficient with his car than Overkill is with his bike.

Is their a well-lit shop (Stuffer Shack, 7-Eleven, etc.) anywhere nearby; and is there a bum anywhere nearby, preferably one with a ragged coat?

Yes, you can find a convenience store. Well lit? Probably not.

Also, no one is wearing a coat - remember it was 95 today although it has "cooled off" to a balmy 75.

But there are bums, anyone have an old flannel shirt?

My plan is to park it there and lock in whatever fancy way they do these days ( & I suppose some good ole fashion cable lock.), grab a Bum, give him my coat (and I just need to get an overshirt of some kind from him for it), pay him to watch the bike (more when I return and its), plus I will buy my coat back from him. He could be making 100 Nuyen total for his trouble.

Ok, that works for the bike. We'll say for argument's sake you find someone with all his worldly possessions in a cart wandering along the street - where he will have a flannel shirt/coat.

Will you be writing up the IC or me - either way is totally fine

Hey I missed the poll call because I posted almost at the same time. Here's what I think:

1) I really get a good feel for Denver and especially the Warrens so far. You did a good job of fleshing out what needed to be and of showing that there was depth to the setting. Especially for an online game in a new city, I find it excellent so far.

2) I personally prefer to have the story going faster than to have you worry about every single post. When clarifications are needed, I think most people ask and we're not afraid even of going back and edit stuff in. So I wouldn't change a thing, personally, because keeping the posts short while in the middle of the action really keeps things going.

3) Obviously, the pace is amazing. The group I've played with irl has always been low-combat oriented. We've cleared a few runs entirely with no injuries caused or taken. So I don't mind it at all. PbP has less combat to begin with, because well, it can last for over a month irl to do 15 seconds of action. So better choose your moment well This being said, put all the fights that you think are warranted, as after all, they are fun.

4) I really have no complaints. It's my fault as a player that my character wasn't able to follow along for a part of the mission (I've rarely seen a PC without a fake SIN in my life), and this led her to do stuff on her own. Mea Culpa. But you as a GM is handling it very well, I have to say.

------

Like I posted OOC earlier, Amy will lay low until Overkill reaches a position not too far from her, while looking around in physical/astral space and watching if anything comes in on her comm'. She'll get moving once Overkill tells her to, basically. So I'll wait for an IC post that tells her to do that.

Personally, I think I would rather see Lobo post this interaction. GMs playing curmudgeonly bums is usually RP gold.

I will write it up just to help move it along, Gonna keep it brief with the bum. Then will approach whatever street or alleyway she is held up on and get her over her comm to discuss her plan from there.

Ok - write up everything up to the point where you decide to cross into LM territory.

Are you going to:

A) try to walk past the LM's the same way Amy did? (Bearing in mind you, unlike her, are armed and armored - not like you can hide your expensive armored trenchcoat under a flannel shirt?
B) going to try to sneak in?

ETA - btw - I'm not that busy at work, I'm fine with writing up the approach - I always offer in case the player wants to write it up. If you fee like you are too busy, never be concerned about asking me to do it. If on the other hand you enjoy it, then go crazy

FYI, Amy is wearing her armor jacket as always. It's rather plain with no mod so it probably wouldn't attract a lot of attention, but she is armored.

Not thrilled about leaving his jacket behind; but I am afraid it would just make him stand out WAY to much...

Would you be opposed to having him keep an extra armored t-shirt or vest in the saddlebag on his motorcycle. (No problem either way, he can work around it.)

He is going to wait to cross into LM territory until he hears back from Amy.

Does my character have any knowledge on the Los Mags? (He has Street Knowledge 2, particularly want to know if the LM operate in any of the other zones; in the CAS, NAN, or other zones?)

Ok - so totally not how I pictured you.

Your writeup said:

"She then goes to the back and rummages through a box in which she keeps her clothes, all relatively old and in poor condition. She puts on a pair of sweat pants with a few holes in them, and arranges a scarf around her face to hide her tattoos and elf ears, also covering her mouth. She will look like any other junkie this way, she hopes, as her plan was to go into Los Mag turf and try to find where she can buy Crimson Fire. "

And here is where the disconnect comes in for me. The Armor Jacket is 1,000 nuyen - which is enough money for junkies to live on for 2 months if they have a squatter lifestyle - and significantly more if they are on the street - and think of all the drugs they can buy with that!

As a denizen of the Warrens, it makes perfect sense for you to be walking around wearing it. You'd have to be crazy to NOT be armored.

As a junkie, you would have hocked that a LONG time ago, and so it makes your disguise less convincing.

Now, I don't want to punish you for my misunderstanding, so we'll assume that you are wearing it.

However, for future reference, armor jackets are bulky. They only afford slightly less armor protection than Full Body armor - which is described as "impossible to conceal."

No big deal at all - I'm glad you said something now, so I wasn't shocked later

Nah nah.. the misunderstanding is perfectly understandable. It's definitely partly my fault. The description should totally have mentioned "and then she puts her armor jacket back on". Let's assume she's not wearing it, as it's never mentioned and she would leave it behind to pass for a junkie, as you point out. The whole thing makes more sense that way. In my mind, she's always got it, but it's a mistake. Let's continue as it was, with no armor.

The only thing about the t-shirt or vest is that I don't see one on your character sheet, so you don't have one to bring. If you had bought them already, I would have no problem with you having it in a saddlebag.

Your street knowledge roll

5d6.hits(5)=2

Basically gives you the same information that you've received so far - former gang from the Aztlan sector, moved to the UCAS after Aztech was kicked out.

Just as a suggestion to everyone, when you begin posting in a location, I've found that it's a good idea to create a spoilered Gear section at the start of each scene to note what my character has on them. That way, everyone is on the same page as far as what we're carrying. I probably get more use out of it due to the constantly changing skillsoft that I have to keep track of, but it might help.

Its np, I should have thought of it and picked one up at chargen, but heck, depending on what the plan is Drave when he hears from Amy, he might actually go back to grab it.

With the way the availability rules work, I think the only clothing with protection that you could purchase relatively immediately (although it's pretty late for a clothing store to be open) would be a synthleather coat or suit (which would probably also be kind of hot). I think you're SOL at the moment. Just don't get shot at...

Will do from now on.

@Chrome,

I did the Assensing test for you, since he was Masking his aura - had you failed, I would have just said he was a mundane

That's pretty awesome

This dude is frightening. And also a dick. I want his head.

For now, I'll start with a headshot. Here's a roll to remain unnoticeable and hopefully unnoticed while taking pictures. The spirit will greatly help, mind you.
Agi 3 + Sneaking 2 + Urban specialty 2 = 7 dice
7d6.hits(5)=2

On my phone so i can't post ic now, but presume grease is driving to the area at high speed.

Ok - so that is one service used from the spirit to use it's conceal power on you.

Now, if you are snapping pictures surreptitiously, that is really more of a sleight of hand than sneaking. You can use the Urban specialization to actually get away. Why don't you keep that roll, and give me another roll at 5d6 to take the pictures. (the spirit's Concealment power will help you on both tests.)

Honestly, if they manage to slip out without further incident, they'll finish up before we even land.

One thing to keep in mind - the spirit will have to manifest to do this - it can use its concealment power on itself as well, but it will have to actually come onto the physical plane - would be one more thing people could potentially see.

Also - not sure how much attention you want to draw to yourself and the spirit given that there is someone who can see Astrally.

Absolutely. Although, if they don't really know I'm there, it's harder to see what I'm doing I guess. Let's see how it goes.

5d6.hits(5)=2

Not bad

Also, yes of course I used a service, I hope I had made that obvious enough.

Edit: ACtually the skill we want here would be palming. That would be Agi 3 - 1 for defaulting = 2 dice. Using above dice, 1 success.

Edit2: About the spirit manifesting. I thought it would be a huge problem since he can do it from anywhere with line of sight on me. So like within a building behind a window, stuff like that. Concealment has LOS range. I leave the decision as to how to pull it off without being seen to him, with his mental block at 5's.

Ok - no problems - He could also be 600 meters straight up in the air as well - and unless someone happened to look up, you are good.

I'll have an IC post up in a couple minutes

At this point, taking pictures won't really change anything astrally I would think, no?

Man she's really got to get accessories, like ear pieces, contacts with image link and camera, basic stuff like that.

She should have earbuds with the commlink, just not good earbuds that can have stuff installed in them. I totally forgot that a commlink came with a camera until I checked the book. Of course, then I looked at my cell and figured, why the Hell not?

Yeah considering it's a $1,000 fancy smart phone, it should really come with some basic stuff. Didn't realize that included earplugs, that's my bad. Would have made conversing with Overkill a lot easier. Let's pretend she's lost them

BTW, if it's really too risky, I can just cast Invisibility...

Here's what I see as potential problems - should he look your way - and he won't, because I think this should be a learning experience the same way Overkill had one in the Matrix, and not punitive because we are trying to do this via posting (not the most efficient form of communication).

1) You can't mask, so the fact that you are Awakened makes you stick out (despite there being other Awakened people here)
2) Your aura shows no sign of the normal drug abuse issues - if anything, you'd be manifesting anger/nervousness/fear
3) You are sustaining a spell, which will be visible.

None of these are exactly damning, but they could cause him to pay attention to you - and then if you suddenly just vanish, he's going to notice that.

Just something to keep in mind for next time - no big deal at all.

ETA - casting invisibility is a big problem if he notices that - no reason for a junkie to be invisible and sneaking away from the line to get drugs.

Since you have the Metalink (I think) it was only 100 , what a steal!

Not that I'm playing a spellcaster, but I just want to make sure I understand. All of the above only comes into play if whoever (the Mage or Spirit of Beasts) decided to specifically assense Amy. I'm not entirely sure how her spell is supposed to be handled. Since it's sustained, it's there as an additional aura, right? Or is it just a signature? I get a bit confused between the 2nd item in the 2 Hits row, the 5th item in the 3 Hits row, and the 3rd item in the 4 Hit row.

So... uh... did we ever get confirmation that the pills we have are Crimson Fire? I think Amy needs to go back, LOL.

So - good questions:

Living things in general are not active on the astral
plane but still cast a reflection of themselves there. This
reflection is called an aura; it appears as a shining, vibrant,
colorful luminescence. Any non-living objects
appear as faded semblances of their physical selves;
grey, lifeless, and intangible.
Anything active on the astral plane, including spirits,
active foci, dual-natured beings, etc., has a tangible
astral form. These forms are more colorful and brighter
than auras, as they are astrally “real.” The Earth has an
astral form, and many regard this as proof that the planet
as a whole is a living entity apart from (or made up of)
the creatures that inhabit its surface.

So Amy has an astral form, and her spell has an astral form.

Without attempting to read an aura, you can still get an impression
of what type of aura it is (spell, ritual, spirit, living creature,
foreboding horror from beyond all mortal ken, etc.).

So they can tell what type of aura each is - so they would her form, and know she has a spell cast on her - without testing.

If they assense your spell (and why wouldn't they, given how rare Awakened creatures are - and certainly you Assense everyone - as well you should), then the results could be:

1) The class of a magical subject (fire elemental, manipulation spell, power focus, curse ritual, and so on).

2) Any astral signatures present on the subject.

3) The general cause of any astral signature (combat spell, alchemical combat spell, air spirit, and so on).


You have Increase body cast on you.

If they assense it, and get 2 hits, they get result 1 above, which would mean they would know it is a Health spell of some type.

If they assense it, and get 3 hits, they get result 2 above, which would mean they would know it is a Health spell of some type AND they would be able to see the Astral Signature, meaning if they saw you cast another spell, and saw the Astral Signature on THAT, they would be able to tell that the two spells were cast by the same person.

If they assense it, and get 4 hits, they get result 3 above, which would mean they would know it is a Health spell of some type AND they would be able to see the Astral Signature, meaning if they saw you cast another spell, and saw the Astral Signature on THAT, they would be able to tell that the two spells were cast by the same person, AND they would know that it is an Increase Body spell (or at least that is how I am interpreting "general cause" as opposed to "class")

OMG - I just spit water all over my desk. ROFLMAO

ETA - Ok, in retrospect, it wasn't that funny - it just caught me by surprise while I was drinking some water

Btw - now that it is 11:45 when Amy meets with Overkill, I think we are almost synched. And unless Amy and Overkill want to go back in, then I think they wait the 20 minutes or so it will take you guys to meet up, and we are all good

I think I get the gist of what you're saying. I guess what is confusing is the specific examples provided on the second item of the 2 Hits row and the third item of the 4 Hits row are pretty much exactly the same. I think the 4 Hits row is supposed to deal with Astral Signatures left behind by magical effects (otherwise it is rolled into the second item of the 2 hits column). It makes sense though, otherwise there doesn't seem to be a way to identify a specific spell, just its general class.

Dang! All right. Duly noted.

She actually has the Renraku Sensei, which costs 1000.

Kevin is apparently quite the technician.

Just want to chime in here. She only has that when she's dual natured, and that only happens when she's astrally perceiving. The spell or a focus would be dead giveaways though.

Agree with the rest.

Oh and this being said, did he have active spells, foci, etc. on?

Given that Chapel's message to Grease is supposed to arrive at 11:45, I'm good with waiting for DrZ to post up when he receives the text. Then we can coordinate meeting somewhere (I am sure Grease knows of some shitty dive bar somewhere in the UCAS sector outside of the Barrens) to see what everyone has turned up and develop a game plan for the rest of the evening or the next morning. I know (in a metagaming sense) Jack and Overkill are going to want to catch some Zs to regenerate their Edge.

ETA: I have a thing tonight, so I will probably be out of pocket from 5:30 to 9:00PM CST this evening.

And at least one hour for Amy who has 2 boxes of stun

Correct - she only has an Astral Form when she is Perceiving, but an Aura when she is not.

Her aura would give away her feelings, whether or not she is a spellcaster, etc to an Assensing roll.

She could not be attacked by something in Astral Space unless she was perceiving though.

To answer your other question, you did not see any spells or foci - although remember that his Masking allows him to mask the astral forms of foci - so he might have none, and you might have just flubbed the roll on them.

Alright, if y'all end up in a posting flurry, here are the items Jack would suggest looking into in addition to whatever y'all are suggesting (Argent, Crimson Fire, etc). There isn't much more that he wants to try to do this evening with two possible exceptions: 1) Meet w/Argent & 2) Go with Grease to meet his drug contact to check out the pills (since he is not letting the pills out of his sight once he gets them back from Amy).

1) Determine what evidence could be collected from the shell casing recovered at the scene of the QXT murder
2) Ask Overkill to conduct a search on Emily Sanders (Mitchell murder) and Mary Jane Kelly (Newton Murder, the most recent after the Mitchell murder)
3) Try to track down the two women tomorrow to speak with them.

Lobo: Do you want us to just run with this party meet?

Sorry - was at my son's science fair, then life, etc.

Anyways - I thought you guys were going to run with it, but I'll get a post up tonight putting you at "The Rusty Bar-rel".

Those of you who want to try to keep your weapons, let me know. Otherwise I'll assume you check them at the door.

As far as I'm concerned this is basically free RP until you ask me something (which I will be happy to answer).

ETA - rearranged the info in the dropbox into folders - deleted the old map of Denver - we'll just use Jack's from here on in. The Lone Star Files are now in the "Adventure 1 Broken Star" folder, and any other files specific to this run will go there as well.

Also updated Campaign locations to include the Bar-rel.