In the House of the Rising Sun
| In the House of the Rising Sun | |||||||
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ShadowHaven Lakota Mafia | Major Corp | ||||||
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Artemisia Catharsis Zenith |
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Summary
Catharsis gets the best birthday present ever -- Her mom!
Background
Catharsis and Zenith are sitting in her garden at her Snohomish Estate, the elf trying to process what to do about the appearance of her mother under the alias Talutha Maka. They agree to go to the Sioux nation and investigate, with Catharsis grilling Zenith about the history of Indigenous people and the white settlers, and how Zenith has to be on very good behavior. This is when Zenith presents Catharsis with her birthday gift; a "A polished brass .480 Ruger Super Warhawk bullet that has been machined with a hole just large enough for a wrapped carbon fiber cord to fit through. A sliding lock in the back adjusts the length of the cord for maximal flexibility. On the brass casing is an inlay "The only runner to hit UCAS' #1 Assassin" There is a second hidden inlay that requires a Perception (6) Observe in Detail test to notice machined around the curve of the bullet's head reads "I love you Zitkala" in a thin machined script not unlike Zenith's handwriting". Agreeing they need to stop and see Arti, they invite the vampire along as they head to prep for a road trip into the Sioux Nation.
The Meet
Unable to find a Sioux, or even a NAN SIN maker through only Catharsis’ contacts, Zenith calls Ryan Mercury to put them in contact with Hotah Mahkah. They begin to road trip to meet with Hotah, who refers them to Wapasha Mato to get them to Cheyenne faster.
Meeting Hotah at the Dancing Maid, they are able to successfully negotiate SINs according to their needs, and the group settles into the nearby hotel. Diving into the matrix, Catharsis begins to search for more clues, eventually finding a file on the PCC grid near Las Vegas.The file’s password reads as "the truth is out there", while the contents read as a woman who remembers nothing about herself or how she got where she is, with ware that needs licensed, picked up in the vicinity of the red rocks canyon. About to be processed, the woman was bailed out by a redheaded green eyed elf, a woman who Catharsis thinks is Zenith’s wife. The elf was reminded that Rogue seemed to hold some disdain for her and her family.
There’s a fear that Rogue did something to her mom -- However Zenith is able to get in contact with Rogue, who was able to explain she was able to free her mom from a PAV facility that was near where she was picked up. Tired and emotionally uncertain, Catharsis insists that they need to just go to the Bear Lodge (Devil’s Tower), and that being more prepared may not help them, and that they can go to Vegas afterwards to investigate the facility.
The Plan
Still wanting to make sure they cover their bases with the White Owl, Zenith and Arti ship off to have a ‘bonding’ quick B&E session while Catharsis tries to collect herself. On the drive over, the two begin to discuss how much better Catharsis is than either of them, and how this current predicament is simply unfair to her. Noticing how heavily secured the building is, Catharsis is called back in to deal with the cameras. Finding the cameras being actively watched, she goes for her mother’s file, which is nested in the private files of Wambleeska. Data bombed with the seal of a spirit. She spots Ohanzee (another member) also poking at the file, and he agrees to wait for her to finish opening the file. Opening the file, Cathy finds how her mother has guided deeper into the arms of the cult, even being helped by Tak. She also finds her mother has been dreaming of her, but cannot remember her name, this crushes her.
Ohanzee is looking for the book of Tak, and realizes Wambleeska must only have physical copies. In exchange for the potential to find those physical copies, Ohanzee lets Zenith and Arti into the building. Sneaking into Wambleeska’s office, Artemisia notices that Wambleeska’s tradition is proto-shamanic. A hidden desk drawer is found, with a firewater prep; a hidden safe with a contact prep on it; and a large piece of turquoise with some sort of magically active rock in the center. Inside the drawer are photocopies of an ancient book in proto Uti (a partial printout of the book of Tak, sent to him by Sylvia LaGuardia). As Zenith pops open the safe, Tak takes possession of Ohanzee, making the password’s warning of ‘SHADOWS IN THE FOG, ALWAYS WATCHING’ suddenly make sense as the two physically in the office enter into combat.
With combat finished, Zenith opens the safe and empties it into a duffel bag, grabs the turquoise with the para gem in the center, and begins to drag Ohanzee out. Catharsis runs down to the bar, to ask Zonta Tahcawin for a street doc. As the two who were in the office peel out, Zenith begins to question why the great form shadow spirit knew her name. Arti explains it’s either due to her cult background, or it’s due to the fact that she has made herself an enemy of such entities. Taking Ohanzee to a street doc, and paying for his treatment, the group decide it is probably best to leave town and head for Bear Lodge.
With the temporary breather, they are finally able to go through the contents of the safe: a dram of orichalcum, suspended in aqua regia, a white eagle feather (faint magical aura), an old traditional-style hatchet (faint magical aura), a formula for a focus, written on sheepskin in blood, a weathered journal with a leather bound cover, a case of datachips containing blackmail material on Lakota tribal council elders, and a collection of what would appear to be material links for White Eagle Lodge members.
Bundled into the van, there is a stop to meet with tribal elders, blackmail in hand if needed. Mato Watakpe (Running Bear), is the only elder left, too old to be able to attend the festivities at Bear Lodge. Unable to be blackmailed, he is able to be convinced, and grants Cathy a pass up onto the lodge. While waiting, Zenith is thinking on how the Sun Dance could be used to empower Tak.
The Run
Finally making it to the Bear Lodge, Catharsis can see the astral rift as the blood moon rises. Making her way to the encampment at the base with Loyell, she begins to search for her mother, hoping she’s not up top. The fear is however, with the formulae, her mother may be amongst those who are dancing, pushing herself further to power Tak. Spotting a jewelry booth selling her mother’s wares, but no sign of her mother. Speaking with the grandmother behind the booth, she finds her mother is atop the mesa, and the bracelets are meant to store the energy. While also being told of the air spirits to lift people to the top, Catharsis decides to, in the spirit of the event, climb to the top.
Loyell looks up to the top, spotting air spirits as white eagles, a bad omen for what may portent across the foreign desert and strange sea of stars. Catharsis fights to climb to the top, exhausted and desperate to find her mother as she manages to make it to the top with Loyell’s assistance, even in the heavy background count.
Dancing around the mesa, she is able to spot the mentor spirits into the stars, and she calls out to Čapa, pleading for the beaver to help her find her mother in the crowd. With a helping of reagents, the mentor spirit sends a guide to assist Catharsis. Finding her mom, there’s a tearful moment as she is recognized, but it doesn’t last long -- They have to leave. Not seeing a ton of other options, Catharsis and her mother Koda hang on tight to Loyell and the spirit begins to fly down the side of the mountain.
Unfortunately as they’re mid-flight, one of the eagles summoned by Wambleeska spots them, and begins to attack Loyell. Meanwhile, Arti and Zenith continue their drive, with Arti rejoicing at the opportunity to eat Wambleeska, in which Zenith points out it would be akin to eating Sweetie Sinful.
Zenith and Artemisia stop outside the concentration camp and hide the van, activating the explosive anti-theft system, deciding that Arti should stay outside the camp to avoid the worsened background count.
Setting up in a tree to get a proper sniping position, Arti cleanses the background as much as possible before spotting a shadow spirit that begins to move towards her, distracting it from the adept walking down the path towards the site of a great tragedy.
Engaging the spirit, Arti turns off many of the spirit's powers, but is unable to get a grasp of it's actions before readying the sword to parry. However the spirit is able to compel Artemisia to take a shot at one of the White Eagle's sentries, taking him out but alerting the camp, much to Zenith's chagrin. Before the spirit is able to disappear and avoid repercussions Arti is able to strike it with a controlled action and make it rip itself apart, disrupting it.
While the guards looking around for Arti and moving away from the camp, Zenith jumps over the fence and manages to sneak inside the main building, melting the barred door with some smart corrosives and kicks the door in, knocking one of the ritual members off their feet while firing at Wambleeska, however a Tak-possessed burnout magician throws themselves in front of Wambleeska and saves the mage from almost certain death.
Artemisia engaged the guards, a shadow spirit and two corrupted awakened, managing to dodge their blows and deliver shots in return, able to score a few hits of her own. Zenith engages the blood mage, reflecting a few spells to avoid the worst of the damage, but still suffering some significant wounds until leaping into the ritual circle and channeling the ill mana through his ruger super warhawk and into the eye of Wambleeska and kills the blood mage, running away from the explosion that was meant to wipe Zenith out after his death. The friendly vampire meanwhile continues to fight off the guards who suddenly find themselves bereft of magical ability since Tak's pact no longer functions with the death of the blood mage. Deciding that there is no need to kill everyone involved, Arti manages to nimbly dodge the assaults and drops a smoke grenade as she forces two of the opfor to fight one another.
Zenith and Artemisia get back to the van and disable the self-destruct before getting into the van and heading to rendezvous with Catharsis.
Back at the bear lodge, Catharsis, her mother Koda, and Loyell watch as the eagle spirit becomes unbound from its summoner, allowing the three to safely float to the ground and begin to sneak away back towards the car--At least until they are spotted. Cathay instead books it for the car with her mom, making sure Koda is in before they flee, with Loyell having to take the wheel. Assisting Loyell with driving, Catharsis is trying to comfort her mother while getting her changed into more comfortable clothing, Stim patching herself, and avoiding both their pursuers and the Piasma that wants to eat them. It takes them all night, but they are able to regroup. Discussing what to do, Koda reveals that she does remember whoever took her wants to hurt her family--So Zenith chooses to leverage a favor Ryan Mercury owes him in order to make sure that Koda is protected from two ends. Mercury offers the protection and employment of Kiri Nikora for Koda inside of the Tir and leaves him Zenith now square. Etain Darejan is called next, trying to figure out how to best ensure Koda’s security--Etain pointing out certain members of the family like Randoran, or Bridgit and Olwen may not take kindly to the viper’s nest appearing. Etain advocates for Koda to be under her direct care, and Catharsis calls her grandfather directly afterwards. They discuss what to do, and he gives his blessing to put Koda into Etain’s care. Catharsis explains she will give him more information when she can, and calls Etain again to confirm that Koda is to be in her care, and that they can make use of her Snohomish home to stay, and that Jeremiah will come to visit.
They get ice cream, and prepare for the next steps; selling their dear contact with the Lakota mob the blackmail materials in exchange to leave the NAN with no questions asked. There’s the dilemma of what to do with her mom’s identity, if she should get a new UCAS Sin from Ryan Mercury akin to witness protection, or surrender her to the Tir and go through the paperwork hassle and the conservatorship. Catharsis defends her mother’s wishes to remain a free entity, and tries to strike the balance between the wishes of her mother and grandfather, managing to successfully negotiate to keep her mother in the UCAS, but allowing her grandfather to visit freely with whatever medical and magical staff he requires.
Aftermath
In Vegas, they manage to make it to the remnants of the facility, Rogue coming to help them as Catharsis begins to comb through the destroyed remnants of terminals and rebuilding terminals as Zenith and Rogue discuss guilt, Catharsis’ family, and how their plans are impacted. Zenith finds a safe as Cathy slips into the terminal. Spotting a white rabbit, she’s able to track it back to another host run by Applied Memrister Technologies, located in Desperation, Ute Nation, with a password of: Unto the waters I command thy essence. As this is being communicated, Artemisia spots a snake, stabbing it to bits before Zenith comes in. He immediately hears the ticking of the bomb, and Arti turns him into a horse so they can escape--Earning a shot in the leg, which she regenerates.
Rewards
30,000 nuyen (can convert to CDP as you like)
10 karma
20 CDP
-10 Aleph Society reputation
Optional Contact: Hotah Mahkah (C6/L2 Whiteclay Mob Fixer) for 7 RVP or 14 CDP (+1 chip if taken)
Optional Contact: Kiri Nikora (C6/L1 Draco Foundation Artificer) for 6 RVP or 12 CDP
Optional Contact: Wapasha Mato (C5/L1 Whiteclay Mob Smuggler) for 5 RVP or 10 CDP
Optional Contact: Zonta Tahcawin (C4/L1 Dancing Maid Proprietor) for 4 RVP or 8 CDP
For Arti:
+1 rank of A Terrible Fascination (for reading the Book of Tak)
+1 rank of Proto-Mesoamerican Glyphs
+1 rank of The Enemy
Narrative Consequences:
-The White Eagle Lodge's attempts to harness the power of the Sun Dance for blood magic are stymied, Wambleeska is killed, and Tak's attempts to manifest are disrupted.
-"Talutha Maka" (aka. Koda Sano) is rescued from the clutches of the Aleph Society, and given a new identity and job with the Draco Foundation in exchange for her knowledge.
-Cathy's "Mika Chaska" Sioux Nation SIN is flagged as being in the company of a missing person.
Game Quotes
it happens we've all been there -Sleevey, after Zenith comments that he hopes Catharsis’ mother hasn’t been gaslit into a shadow spirit pact like Ohanzee |