Gargamelle Bubble Chamber

Gargamelle Bubble Chamber
Date 2084-09-04 GM John Location Spokane, Washington (SSC) Status Threat Level: High
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven $p1keslinger Dusty Irvin	The Sleepwalkers
Heart of the Tempest Surtr	Rielle Feleur

Summary

Surtr and Tempest team up for a bring-your-daughter-to-work-day event, which ends up being more of a well intentioned bloodbath. The pair independantly head to Spokane in search of a missing hacker, one $p1keslinger (AKA Rain Simone Lee). They treat with the grumpy Street Samurai turned Fixer Dusty Irvin. Dusty is pretty tight lipped about the whole thing, but eventually gives enough information to go off of. One astral scouting mission later, the pair are ready to assault this old government storage area in an old quarry. The fight is brutal but quick, Surtr going down in a manner all too familiar to them, getting *Engulf*'d by a ravening spirit. Tempest's scream of rage and the heavy hand of Surtr's powerful spirit Voror put down the Sleepwalkers for good. The team cleans up the scene, and finds a new friend in amongst the ruins!

Background

Rain Lee is a truth-seeking white hat out of Seattle. She ran with Dusty and his crew a while back, sticking it to the man, snapping bad guys in two and looking good doing it. She went solo after Dusty retired, and has been stirring up trouble for big names ever since. Any chance she gets, she'll out the nastiest underbelly of the sixth world. The run begins when her meeting with "The Dreamer" goes south, and her Dead Man's Switch protocol automatically posts a request for help on the ShadowHaven job forums. Both runners decide after some deliberation that this person needs to be saved, for the greater good and health of the shadows.

The Meet

Getting to Spokane is easier than done for most, but for well prepared Runners, it is hardly a challenge. Tempest employs the excellent services of Bilge-Rat Jones and his merry ship to arrive slowly but quietly. Surtr takes the more conventional route in their Americar, bribing the toll security guard ("Doreen"). Surtr makes it to Dusty Irvin's place first, having a excellent memory of the man and his storied reputation, perhaps they've even met before? The route there is full of Gaeatronics advertisements, mining rigs, and Amtrak routes. In any case, The Green Slab is a run down dive bar. The Amerind gangers out front don't bother Surtr, they pass the look test, apparently. Dusty is reticint to give up information, especially to a young and singular runner. They negoatiate back and forth, and Dusty is qwillign to give up at least the basic information. Dusty has a genuine guilt over Rain's capture, but is worried about sending yet another runner to their deaths. Tempest eventually arrives, receiving directions from another low level Spokane fixer.

The Plan

There is an old mining town that Dusty says the Sleepwalkers have been harrassing. The pair heads up, despite the tension, and starts looking into it. When near, Surtr's Ghost takes to a *Search*. Tempest follows on the astral. They locate the target in a strange reclaimed then abandoned mining operation which was, for a time, used by the SSC as off-the-books storage. The plan from here is simple, smash and grab!

The Run

The runners are suprised by a guard outpost blocking their way onto the main complex. Luckily, the front gate is guarded only with mundane means and firearms. These stand no match, especially for our regenerating protagonists. They quickly clean this up, heading further into the belly of the beast. Ghost has disapparated, and both mages have begun utilizing some preps to boost their defenses. As they approach the main complex, Surtr conjures Voror, a great Air Spirit. The three head further down, interrogating a few cultists to find out that their target and the remainder of The Sleepwalker's forces are downstairs in the 'Control Room', a glorified breakroom turned cult headquarters. The pair barge in, and things quickly get dicey. The enemies include a firing squad of trained and well armed cultists, a trio of enemy Toxic Spirits, Rielle herself, and a more senior Cult member directing the others. Things progress at lightning speed, the Cultist's plan to use a another captured woman as a human shield is dismantled, but the woman's unconscious body in the room prevents the most obvious and explosive solutions for the moment. The team clears the first room, but at the last minute, a Sludge Spirit gets a lucky hit on Surtr, knocking them down with a nasty *Engulf*. Tempest boils over in anger. After more traded blows, and a failed mind control effect on Tempest, she braves the gunfire to deliver a brutal Banshee Scream. The *Howl* can be heard throughout the room, leaving much of the opposition frozen in place. Rielle persists for the moment, dazed and confused, but still lightning quick in her layers of magical empowerment. Voror comes forth and avenges its' summoner with a very clutch *Engulf* of it's own. Rielle goes down in one blow to the massive damage code. The team cleans up, grabbing the elven woman used as a human shield ("Claire") and $p1keslinger off the floor. Surtr is quickly healed and ready to head out. Tempest leaves some explosions in her wake, crumbling most of the room and presumably killing off the Sleepwalkers for good.

Aftermath

The four survivors hop in Surtr's Americar, slowly driving into the night. Rain details her slow courtship with Rielle Feluer, and how she expected danger, but was tricked nontheless. She thanks the team profusely, and offers her hacking services if ever required. Rain also sheds some light on the Sleepwalker's wider activity, apparently they are only one in a series of cults springing up as of late. Rain claims that her 'friends' at the SSC would be willing to step in and clean it up, if only she could get some good proof. For now, she is satisfied with freedom-- and a strong drink.

Rewards

High Threat (15 RVP)

Surtr:

- Buy off Criminal SIN or 10 Karma

- $p1keslinger (Rain) as a contact (4/2) or 10 CDP

- Base 2 CDP

Tempest:

- Social Chameleon or 7 Karma

- 3 Karma

- $p1keslinger (Rain) as a contact (4/2) or 10 CDP

- Base 2 CDP

Game Quotes

"Tempest debates murdering the [cultist] but decides to murder him later." - Ed

"You... remember. Like some kind of professional." - John (GM)

Surtr, aiming a gun at the unconcious cultist, "Oh, did you want some of this, mom?"

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Surtr

It was weird to spend time with my mom like this... but I think her and I may be able to move past everything. Or at least, we'll be able to reconcile most things. I don't know if she'll ever be okay with me marrying Ez...

Heart of the Tempest

Killed some cultists, rescued the girl (plus an extra one), got a meal, good day all round. Though I worry about Surtr... mind magic, too. Running does lead to a lot of sneaky tactics, but Loki's ways are a farc cry from forcing someone not to fight... Oh well, it was fun to be able to scream at people. Though I'm sad the mage passed out before I could kill 'em face-to-face.