Seattle Sleuthing

Seattle Sleuthing
Date 2084-07-08 GM Lotus Location Redmond Status Threat Level: Low
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Grinning Skulls
Thunder Alkaios the Cretan Mokumokuren Smiling Warrior
Casualties and losses
	None

Summary

Gang violence is nothing new in Redmond, but when a gang shows up and does nothing but attack people for no apparent reason, then somethings not adding up. For this reason, a group of Redmond natives pooled their resources to hire some shadowrunners to investigate.

Background

The Grinning Skulls are the newest gang in Redmond, and entered the stage with a burst of gunfire, then never took their fingers off the trigger. The gang seems to do nothing but start fights, no apparent plans or schemes going on. This is not usual gang behavior, and it is making the residents of Redmond nervous.

The Meet

The runners met an old orc woman named Ms. Moira at an old, run down house she lived in. She explained the situation with the skulls, and promised payment for any information regarding the Grinning Skulls motives or background. She then kicked them out of her house when they started planning in it.

The Plan

Mokumokuren connected the group together on a DNI call before leaving via drone for a safer location, while the other three went to a bar to plan. They decided that Thunder and Alkaios would ask around on the street, while Smiling Warrior would keep watch from the skies in the form of a crow for any suspicious behavior, and Mokumokuren would do a deep search on the matrix for any info.

The Run

While Moku's search was unfruitful, the two trolls managed to talk to some people on the street, and were pointed in the direction of Eerie Jim, an elf who apparently knew more about the workings of the gangs in Redmond. A man approached the two trolls and attempted to shake them down, which ended with Thunder loosing his temper and knocking him out in a single punch, before putting him in a hockey bag to interrogate later. They went on to meet Eerie Jim, who, for some nuyen, told them that the Grinning Skulls had a particular hatred for the ancients, and showed them the way to their hideout, an old apartment complex. Smiling Warrior used her animal shifting to listen in, and learned that the Grinning Skulls where in the pockets of the Cutters, who were using them to stoke more fear for their protection rackets.

Aftermath

Thunder, Alkaios, and Smiling all went back to Ms. Moira's to inform her of what they learned. Ms. Moira told them she would think about what she was going to do next, and would call them if she had more work for them to do. The Alkaios dumped the gangster out in an alleyway near by, while also proselytizing to him.

Rewards

2 Karma 2000 Nuyen 8 CDP

Game Quotes

Mokumokuren finds a charming forum in which the Grinning Skulls are stated to be bugs, shedim, headcases, a toxic cult, an Ares psyop, a Neonet psyop, and several other things that make no sense.

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Thunders Journal: Alkaios, Thunder, Smiling Warrior, and Mokumokuren, are in the Redmond district of Seattle. They arrive at an old house to meet with an orc woman named Ms. Moira, also known as Mr. Johnson, who hires them to investigate a new gang causing trouble in the area, the Grinning Skulls. After stuffing Alkaios stomach at a close by bar and making plans, the group splits. Smiling Warior takes on the shape of an eagle to spot anyone following Alkaios and Thunder while doing leg-work, prying around for information about the Grinning Skulls. Mokumokuren dives into the matrix and gets caught up in conspiracy chats with large time investment and little useful information gained (dead end). A booker on the streets tipps of Alkaios and Thunder to go see Eerie Jim for more information. On the way to Eerie Jim, they they get approached by a Grinning Skull who is trying to pull a protection racket on them. Without much ado, the gangster is knocked unconscious and stuffed in a duffle bag for later interrogation. Eerie Jim, collects a bribe and leads the group to the head quarters of Grinning Skulls. While Alkaios, Mokumokuren and Thunder discuss next steps, Smiling Warior who is evesdropping on a conversation between two Grinning Skulls overhears that they are a really a front for the Cutters who want to collect more protection money without drawing attention to the Cutters. The runners return to Mr. Johnson, delivers the information and she is happy. Alkaios takes the K.O.ed Grinning Skull to an Alley, patches him up to re-gain consciousness and gives him a speech about being saved from damnation by doing the right things in life.

Alkaios Notes:

Turns out, being an investigator is easy. You just walk around and shake the branches until the information falls out. Only sometimes the branches are people. And sometimes shaking means punching nice seeming folks right in the face. That Thunder packs a mean hook. I've done some cage fighting to make a little nuyen here and there but I would not want to go ten rounds with that guy. Real nice, though, when he's not being mean. Fed me and was real nice to me when I got myself turned around a few times. Confusion still sets in a little, but the head-pain. Smiling, they're something else. Flying up in the air, seeing and hearing things that are totally beyond me. And Moku now that guy has the right idea. Use your brain to make nuyen and you can do it from the comfort of your apartment. Apartment hey, with the nuyen I made I can probably afford to rent one now! But yeah where was I. Oh yeah. Grinning Skulls, some new gang causing trouble. We got tasked by the Old Lady J to find out who was putting them up. Turns out it was the Cutters which, apparently, is a gang of bad people. Speaking of which: Seattle has Ancients! I thought that was just a West Euro thing. How can the world feel so small and so big at the same time?