Surveying the Situation

Surveying the Situation
Date 2085-07-04 GM Sarcarian Location Bear Lodge, Lakota Territory Status Threat Level: High
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	White Eagle Lodge	Paracritters
Saint Neznayka Samael Asuriel	Blood Adept Wambleeska	Jabberwock Piasma

Summary

The runners are contracted to escort a surveyor into Lakota Territory near the Bear Lodge, also known as the Devil's Tower, as quietly as possible.

Background

Travel via cargo truck to get to the Souix nation

Surveyer is named Shep Proudfoot, measuring magical quality of the region. Lakota are doing a Sun Dance which elevates the magical background of the area. Possible connections to what is going on in Yellowstone. Travelling to Bear Lodge AKA Devil's Tower

Standard "if we get caught" disposable asset. Paracritters in the area. Survey will take a few days.

Yellowstone: astral volcanic eruption and metaplanar rift about six years ago. Local shamans baffled as to cause. Not uncommon, lots of places of powers, but still significant

Devil's Tower: When Hailey's comet passed, the mesa grew as did the local mana. During Sun dance ritual lots of magical ebbs and manifsations.

The Meet

The team met with Mr. Johnson at the Friendship Restaurant on Council Island. The Amerindian Johnson contracts the team and offers everyone 12,000 Nuyen. 2k is up front, and a bonus if we can discover what is going on over on the Mesa.

The Plan

Smuggled into Lakota territory with ghillie suits. Our goal is be as unseen as possible in order to avoid Lakota patrols, local tribes, paracritters, and even jabberwockies.

The Run

Uneventful trip though Denver, once outside of Denver the cargo truck gets waylaid by Thunderboys go-gangers. Seeing the armed folks in the truck, as well as the troll with a machine gun, the go-gangers decide to go seek easier prey.

Once in Cayenne, the team gets some supplies and gear before heading out. The Dyrad gets some drugs, because dryads gonna dryads and the team gears up to head into the woods.

Samael, the literal city kid in the group, does not travel well and gets saved from all manner of forest related problems by Nez's skills and acumen. As the group sets up camp at the first of three locations, they are accosted by a bear which Nez manages to diplomacy/animal handling away. On the way to the second site, the team feels like they're being watched - Nez's dogs seems to sense something, but it passes. The group continues looking for the albino eagle that seems to be following them.

During the travel to the second site, Samael is the first one to fall - taking enough stun damage from fatigue to fall out and require some first aid to get back up and moving.

The team reaches the second location, a rock formation with a cave in it. Checking the cave for animals inside reveals it's a clear place to stay. The team realizes the albino eagle is not a spirit - which is more than a little disturbing. There is a brief discussion about how it being some kind of insane paracritter is the best of all possible choices. The team sets down camp for the night, determining a firewatch schedule.

During Saint's watch, she sees a tall hairy thing that might be a sasquatch out in the woods. Thankfully, he was just vibing and carried on his furry way.

The next morning, Proudfoot gets the gear set up and begins taking measurements while the team is concealed under tarps and camouflage. During the course of the day, the team's camouflage is tested as they narrowly (by one hit!) don't get seen by a passing Lakota kill squad patrol. As the sun sets, the runners witness... something. Some kind of magical manifestation over the mesa, a large man looking over the mesa and seeing to look down at the tribe doing the Sun Dance.

The uphill trek to the third site nearly takes out both Nez and Sam. The forest sucks and does not have room service.

During the watch, the albino eagle is spotted again, circling the monument before flying off to the southeast. During Saint's watch, the jabberwocky that has been stalking them this entire time finally makes its play, leading to a one on one duel. Saint rolls hard, and the Jabberwocky bails after a few rounds.

During the final day, while witnessing what seemed to be more spirit summoning seeming to occur on the mesa, the team discovers they've been found by two Lakota. The team seems to realize that the Lakota, who normally disdain augmentation, have cybereyes and wired reflexes. A short conversation trying to talk leads to a fight and the runner manage to drop one of them and drive the blood mage off before they did too much damage or injured the survey person they were guarding.

The dying Lakota utters with their dying breathe "my life for you". The entire team feels this wave of nausea for a moment which none of us like at all.

Aftermath

The team makes it out without having attracting extra attention, returning the client unharmed and with the knowledge that whatever was going on at the Bear Lodge involves blood magic.

Rewards

14,000 nuyen 7 karma 4 CDP Optional Gear Rewards: Survival Gear + Wilderness Armor Optional Quality: Outdoorsman @ chargen price

For Asuriel: Optional Quality: Natural Athlete @ chargen price

For Nez: Optional Quality: Magic Resistance @ chargen price

For Saint: Optional Quality: Guts @ chargen price

For Samuel: Optional Quality: Tough as Nails (Stun) @ chargen price

Game Quotes

"Saint glares. Glaringly." - Jit

"Yea, I could take a cougar." - Saint

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Samael

I am reminded, upon returning to my home in Downtown, that I am a creature of the city. Trekking through the woods and nearly passing out two of three times has certainly given me an appreciation for things like showers, room service, and not having to find a vampire sasquatch anywhere in my general vicinity. Nez was a wonder with her animals, I am in utter awe of Saint's augmentations, and remind me to never get on Asuriel's bad side, lest I find myself as halved in body as that adept.

Saint

Pretty incredible, seeing the astral up close like that. Wild the finger wigglers get to see that all the time. Wonder if it's really true, if that's where souls go when we die... If that's where she still is now...

Neznayka

I have never been so close to a piasma before! I have never seen such beautiful astral forms. Is this what Mishka is seeing all of the time? I slept at Patty's shoulder by the fire it was ... well, it was nice. It is shameful that the shaman was able to escape but he will be missing one of his ears. I am proud of that shot. I should talk to Samael again, he seemed like he was out of his element, I am sure a more neutral meeting would be very pleasant and Asuriel was very good with the blade. This was a good journey and I am glad that I was called to have it.