The Full Moon Makes the Flowers Bloom

The Full Moon Makes the Flowers Bloom
Date 2085-09-11 GM Sarcarian Location Tacoma Docks
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Yellow Lotus Triad
Lingchi Misfire	Hao Lin Unnamed Vampire Adept
Casualties and losses
	Unnamed Vampire Adept

Background

Lingchi got a call from Joe Smith in which he told her about a shipment from the Ten Thousand Lions Triad, based over in Hong Kong, coming into the Tacoma Docks later that day. A known associate, Jing Zhang, was in charge of the shipment, and Joe Smith wanted Lingchi to trail him and find information on who he's working with and how they're operating. Meanwhile, Misfire's fixer Alexey Dorosov calls her, telling her about the same shipment, but instead focusing on a specific package that he wants taken to the Vory. He offers 6,000 nuyen, which she accepts.

The Meet

The two runners, unaware that their goals intertwine, meet at a noodle stand, as they both stake out where the ship is planned to dock. They acknowledge each other, but don't discuss further. Misfire and Lingchi instead go off separately to pursue their individual objectives.

The Plan

Misfire sneaks off into the docks, planning her approach towards the ship. She spots Jing Zhang carrying the cargo crate out into the docks, and decides to bide her time until he gets closer. Lingchi spots two Triad associates going into a bar and gets distracted, approaching them and drinking with them to try and get information (as well as nurse her habit). Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Jing Zhang, and recognizes him as an old Triad associate of hers, Hao Lin, operating under a fake name. She also spots a powerful lion spirit at his side in the astral. She decides to summon a spirit to recon.

The Run

Misfire continues tailing Hao Lin as he travels down a busy street. Lingchi spots her and, realizing she's after her target, messages her, telling her about the spirit and offering to join forces as long as Misfire lets Lingchi extract the information. Misfire agrees, happy to have the assistance. Lingchi casts an invisibility spell on herself, which Hao Lin notices the feeling of and sees through. He fails to spot her as she sneaks, however, and they follow him towards an approaching GMC Sidewinder. He places the crate into the SUV as a woman steps out, who Lingchi assenses and notices is a powerful vampire associated with the Yellow Lotus Triad.

Misfire calls her own GMC Sidewinder over, and the two sneak up further. The vampire spots Misfire as she approaches, however, and pulls out a throwing knife, intending to pop Misfire's tires. Misfire, eager for blood, gives a tusky smile and charges forward, as Lingchi calls over Sojourner. Misfire swings at the vampire adept, missing her punch, and Lingchi misses a Sunbeam spell on the vampire. Hao Lin tries and fails to stab Misfire with Narcoject, and Sojourner and the summoned spirit do battle with the lion spirit. Seeing Lingchi's spell, Misfire grabs the adept and immobilizes her with her troll strength, allowing Lingchi to incinerate the vampire with her sunbeam spell.

Hao Lin attempts to flee in the SUV, and Misfire pursues in her own SUV. An unfortunate illusion-induced crash on Hao Lin's end quickly ends the chase. As he lies dying, Misfire walks up to grab the commlink. Lingchi convinces the lion spirit guarding him to let Misfire take the commlink if she magically heals him, and the spirit agrees. Misfire also takes the package. The commlink and the jacket of the vampire both point to a Mahjong parlor, the Setting Sun, in the Loveland district. Convinced that this is a Yellow Lotus hideout, Lingchi decides to take this information to John Smith, leaving a burner commlink for Hao Lin to contact her when he wakes up. Misfire takes the package to Alexey and receives her payment, then heads back to her shack in Redmond to resume her knitting.

Aftermath

Hao Lin contacts Lingchi panicked. He reminds her that, due to his Triad oath, he HAS to tell the Triad about Lingchi's involvement, putting them both in serious danger. Lingchi bargains for time to find a way to break the oath, as she did. Hao Lin agrees to give her two months, using Memory Displacement to forget the events of the day, but tells her that she MUST find a way out of his predicament in that time. With a timer hovering over her, Lingchi begins to research dispelling magicks.

Rewards

For Lingchi: 6 karma (for letting Hao live, and promising to free him) 12 CDP -10 Yellow Lotus Triad rep (for killing the vampdept) +1 chip on Joe Smith (for the favor) - can raise loyalty up to 5

For Misfire: 6000 nuyen (for stealing the crate) 3 karma (for helping out Lingchi) 12 CDP -10 Yellow Lotus Triad rep (for killing the vampdept)

Game Quotes

"Do you have a larger gun in your car?" "Yeah, I have an M202." "That is a lot of M's." "... Chummer, really?" -Lingchi and Misfire discussing the potential beginnings of combat

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

"I dunno what Dorosov wanted with all those BTLs and drugs, but a deal's a deal. That Lingchi chick's pretty solid, too. Glad she picked up what I was putting down with that grab. Wish her luck on whatever work she had to deal with, but man, that's NOT my problem."

Lingchi - It was only supposed to be a simple favor. If I had known it was finding the Triads, I would have refused. However, this is an opportunity. I hope. Hao's plight has made me aware I can do more to help others. [Mandarin: It's not enough to break my own chains and walk free. If I wish to find meaning in this world and the next, I cannot rest easy at this point. I must break the chains of others. Let more look to the stars for guidance.