PULLTHETRIGGER+55

PULLTHETRIGGER+55
Date 2084-11-11 GM Fangblade_ Location Seattle Status Threat Level: High
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven Quanxi	Yellow Lotus Triad
Red Ribbon Lingchi Sojourner Runner4	Character1 Character2

Summary

The mages Quanxi find out that their new freedom is at risk; Triad assassins are in the area and sleuthing for them both. Lingchi, being a nascent relationship, was called in to help, who called Red Ribbon. Finding the assassins as thought, the team dive in for an all out attack, managing to overcome and find victory and safety for the twins.

Background

Both Lingchi and Quanxi are Triad members with a varied past in the organization; Lingchi being a somewhat respected and higher ranking person, while the Quanxi twins being mere tools. Lingchi eventually escaped their bonds, but Quanxi only this year did get free, thanks to a chance encounter with Lingchi. Call; "Lingchi, is that you?", response; "My friends do not call me that name.". Upon questioning, it was realized that they too were caught under the waves, being crushed by the preassure from above. When their boss was killed, "With him gone, we are free.". The two were free, forming bonds with Lingchi.

The Meet

Lingchi was called by Syaoran, one of the Quanxi twins, to visit and talk about the assasins. Picked up by Ribbon, the two headed in to hear their plea. The escape from the Triad did not necessarily have a clean exit, so they were just finally getting rid of the bonds of that burden. Over tea and talking, it was revealed where the assasins could be, and who: Ho'olheyak and PVSHTAROTT, ex triad and now assassins on payroll by the Triads. The team with this information, headed off to figure out how to deal with them.

The Plan

Lingchi, her ally spirit, and Red Ribbon decide to figure out who theyre dealing with. Exploring finds many faces living in the apartment block, and reveals the assasins true; The necromancer Ho'olheyak and the corpse spirit controlled PVSHTAROTT. After exploring, the team decides for an all out attack of three spirits, Lingchi, and Drones.

The Run

Knocking on the front door might have been a bad idea, as they were greeting by the berzerking and crashing roar of PVSHTAROTT, ramming through the weak and unlocked door directly into Lingchi. After a tense struggle of tanking spells and dodging blows, Lingchi dodging around multiple stone-crushing swings, the hallways around the apartment were left marred by char and broken architecture. PVSHTAROTT's anger and berzerking seemingly enhanced by the fact that Lingchi was there. If even a single blow connected, it would spell bad news for the mage, but luckily enough she was able to dodge it all and assail the duo with her spirits and spells. The drone swooping in would help finish off both PVSHTAROTT and Ho'olheyak, who were both stunned out by Lingchi.

Upon searching the duo, they found out that PVHSTAROTT was actually someone from Lingchi's past; His name was Hei Shengshung, and he worked for the triad Lingchi worked for. Not necessarily for or with her, but they were always in the shade of the star that was Lingchi. They were an aspiring mage but instead their powers weren't enough. They watched from the sidelines as their achievements were never fully recognized, so they did what any sane person would do; They faked their death after meeting Ho'olheyak and burned out on augs, devoitng their life to violence in other ways. A portion of that ended up as denying their identity to instead pretend to be an unkillable corpse spirit, burning emotions and becoming a designated omega. All they could do was follow orders. On them was a worn out, burned image in physical photo of Lingchi and some of the other folk, perhaps a bit happy and sharing a drink.

Lingchi stole away the photo, looking at it, staring at it, burning the moment into her synthetic retina. Was she feeling regret? Pain? Conflicted a stellar storm, internal crashing universes, stardust and panic. A devotion to a world once lost, even those who were part of it had lives too. What justifies the lives we take, or who we are. What do we leave behind in our wake, in our future. What is left, after stardust settles, our universe and lives in ever replicating boxes of repeating suffering. Woe, the universe turns ever more, subtle and uncaring, never knowing, ever unwitnessing you. Forever forgotten, the lives we live.

Aftermath

The remaining Triads were scared off by the team, forced back into hiding and breaking what little that sect of the Triad held. A one L'Frith and their ally spirit Vysii promised to call in Knight Errant and hand over the duo of Ho'olheyak and PVSHTAROTT to jail. A judge intentions showed him to be telling the truth?

Lingchi informed the duo that for the future they seemed safe, the amber starlight that peered on their lives as a panopticon once settling. The duo would return to their lodge, held tight in eachothers arms, Syaoran and Nilou Keqin. Tonight, feathery down and wool would comfort their bleary eyes, little ones. Lost no longer, a family found after time torn from them. Years lost to the infinite void, now it was time to recover. Sweet duo, little duckling, return your pain to ease. It is a harsh world, but for now, in this eve, sweet tea and incense is your home. Safe and warm, sleep well. Your spirits will keep you safe, and the world will not harm you.

Be at peace, and sleep, soft ones. Tomorrow, you face the hardship of the rest of your lives.

Rewards

Lingchi:

18 CDP - 8RVP

8 Karma - 8 RVP

May Raise Quanxi's loyalty to 5

Red Ribbon:

16 K Nuyen - 8 RVP

4 Karma - 4 RVP

10 CDP - 4 RVP

Zene, for running a spirit:

8 GMP

Game Quotes

Amusing quote from game.

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Sojourner: "Oh, let me do one of these too! Ahem—so Yue asked me to come help with helping a friend... friends? There were some terrible people after them, like the kinds of magicians who will bind you and laugh while you can't do anything, but they do it to other mortals too. Anyway, I helped find where they were. I found a really nice magician while I was doing that though too! He gave me some mana. It tasted like the world of a rounded pebble at the bottom of a shallow creek. It was good. Then I helped beat up the ones who wanted to re-enslave and hurt Yue's friends - I think I did really good at that. There was some past context I didn't really get, but Yue looked like she had a lot of stuff to work through when she found it out, so I didn't bug her with questions. And then we went home, which is good, because she needs to rest more!"

Red Ribbon: "God fragging dammit, drek, stupid. I should have been watching - it's my job to watch! Or, I should have been smarter, or just shot them, Lingchi be damned. Now those two are on the loose. What, we just have to count on the fact that they're not being paid anymore? Not likely... I'm setting up extra security measures, because that mage lady seems extremely unlikely to let being shot up so heavily go."