Invasive Species

Invasive Species
Part of La Famille Du Peintre
Date 2085-04-11 GM Sleevey Location Tacoma, Seattle Status Threat Level: Medium
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Colvos and Wren Construction	Servants of the Green-Eyed Dreaming	Arboreal Ivy Spirit
Blackhawk Bunny Hop Sticks Vic Valentine	Assorted Construction Workers Angela Yyrus	Caravan and Wind Through the Reeds	Possessed Workers
Casualties and losses
			The Workers were freed and the Arboreal Spirit was slain and subjected to chemical weedkillers

Summary

"I made an entire run based on a plant species I really hate." -Sleevey

Background

After the death of one Creighton Terrell, a representative of a collector sends Douglas Carlson to negotiate the acquisitions of several items of value that belonged to Creighton. Another pair of eyes is seemingly also on the man's resting ground as well

The Meet

The meet is at an old saloon styled bar in Puyallup, dubbed 'the Ash Bucket'. The runners arrive in various states of bedragglement (and with BHop very nearly being taken out by Blawk's truck). Douglas Carlson gave the assembled runners a simple task, they wished to recover various items of value that belonged to one Creighton Terrell, a respected hermetic academic, before he passed. Their last known location being a construction yard in Tacoma, which seems to have a plethora of supernatural events happening around it. The items in question Carlson wished to uncover were Creighton's journal, lighter, and his skull. After some negotiating for better pay, they settle on 6k nuyen each per individual item recovered and the runners set off outside. After some small talk, Blackhawk's newly acquired truck arrives and the cowboy manages to lift and secure BHops prized scooter into the trunk of the truck. With that the runners set out to retrieve what they could.

The Plan

Heading towards the construction yard the runners decided to do some reconnaissance. Blackhawk and Sticks able to figure out a potent and large spirit resided near the center of the center, said center being walled off with massive and numerous vines. Sticks, during astral reconnaissance, also spots a second spirit lurking several meters above the site, seemingly keeping watch. Ever chatty, the mage decides to spark up some conversation with spirit and learns a few key details. First, the spirit was connected in some way to a nearby mage, either a bound spirit or an ally spirit. Second, the spirit was there to ensure whatever entity occupied the site remained within the site and would react with hostile force if the runners took actions that might enable the ivy to spread. Third, the spirit was named Wind Through the Reeds and its summoner was named Caravan. Lastly, he was able to set up a meeting between the summoner and the team, on the conditions that it was to be at a very specific location and that no violence was to occur, even bringing weapons would cause the mage to dip out.

Vic and Sticks working their charms talked to the construction workers inside employed by Colvos and Wren. The workers having noticed four of their own having gone missing and have grown concerned as a result, however their company was employing a green mage who was stated to have the capabilities to dispose of the spirit effectively, arriving in 48 hours. With this information in mind, the pair departed to head back towards the others. Meanwhile, in the matrix BHop tried her best to access matrix information but unfortunately ran into resistance via their local spider with a very... eccentric personality. After a failed question to identify the foreman who apparently was incredibly attractive, BHop left the matrix with little information gained.

The runners met back up and discussed what they have learned via their recon, deciding it be for the best they head in before the Green Mage arrived. Blackhawk decided to stealth in himself to the walled off areas of the site despite his condition, thinking some physical information would likely be for the best. Using his athletic and stealth capabilities, Blackhawk was able to sneak in with some assistance from BHop observing and tampering with the camera feeds, this time using her resonance to evade the spider's gaze. A house and greenhouse awaited inside, both of which being completely overrun with vines that seemed to emerge from the greenhouse. The building was completely overgrown, acquiring physical access would likely mean hacking through English ivy. One disturbing image however was the wandering body of one of the construction workers, the vines piercing and puppeteering their body. After a brief moment, the man noticed Blackhawk, repeatedly muttering phrases stating to join it as it extended its plant covered hand. Blackhawk quickly was able to punch the figure in the face, knocking them out, before managing to slip away over the walls to return and state what he had found.

The Run

Realizing the plant was far more observant than they had thought a plan was formed where Vic would blast rock music to distract the entity while Blackhawk and Sticks snuck inside the house to hopefully uncover some of the items in question. Hooking up speakers near the wall Vic blasted aloud as best he could. With BHop stating the coast was clear Sticks on the astral and Blackhawk on the physical did the best they could snuck around the vines that covered the floors of the house. Inside able to find a desk with an old 19th century styled lighter resting atop it. Peering into the desk the pair were able to find the journal but not without Blackhawk accidentally alerting the spirit of their presence. Who after erupting in anger the runners did all they could to escape as astral and physical spines and vines did their best to barrage them. Thankfully after just using all they could the runners managed to escape.

Aftermath

Deciding it to be best to return and leave the Green Mage to cleanse the spirit the runners decided the run was accomplished with Blackhawk and Sticks staying behind to observe the Green Mage taking the skull which seemingly had green gemstones imbedded in the eyesockets. Blackhawk getting the signature of the skull before leaving himself. The contents of the journal being eery with several notes on Botany and how the astral connected with plants and wildlife. Even leading to the manasphere itself. Creighton himself seemingly dreaming of them and becoming more and more frustrated as the days passed. Regardless though with the lighter and journal in hand Carlson was appeased and the job was considered well done.

Rewards

High (13 RVP)

• 12,000 nuyen (6 RVP)
• 7 Karma (7 Karma)
• 2 CDP (spend this on the BOTANY knowledge skill or PERISH)

OPTIONAL REWARDS

• Blackhawk may take high pain tolerance at chargen rates.

Game Quotes

*Bolt: "You know, there is one thing I do that cheers me up when I'm down." Blawk: "I am not using K-10." Bolt: "There's ANOTHER thing I do when I am down." Blawk: "I'm not doing Betameth." Bolt: "I have a job for you."

"Damn, my fixer got VITAS, hope he gets better."

"Blackhawk gets into a car crash and goes 'Oh fuck they creased my J's!!'"

"You know how I know you're full of shit? Our Overseer is a BABE, get the fuck out!"

"I hate Johnny Bravo, I hate Johnny Bravo, I hate Johnny Bravo, I HATE JOHNNY BRAVO."

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Blackhawk: "That skull is gonna haunt my dreams... my chest... got it burns. I can move on... I can move past it. I need to. If this comes back to harm people I will be ready... I'll be... stronger. I have to be... god it hurts..."