Or'zet! An opera in three acts: setup

Or'zet! An opera in three acts: setup
Part of All the World's A Stage
Top Hats humiliated by the Mad Hatters, walking down the street, flapping their arms like chickens, while the runners sit back, munch burritos and laugh.
Date 2085-07-21 GM Villiers Location Seattle Status Threat Level: Medium
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Mad Hatters	Top Hats
Funk Glitch Thunder Trades	5	5
Casualties and losses
		Humiliation

Summary

The Finnigans have a plan. That's why they need the revolutionary Or'zet! opera to be a success and make hiring decissions that will ensure their goals. Nobody is allowed to know who's behind the plot, thats why they hire runners to do the staffing for them. The runners do a good job and complete the first step of Finnigans plans without knowing what the plan is, nor why.

Background

The Or'zet! opera was originally planned as a classical opera in italian language to educate the underground population in culture. Finnigans realize that, with the right cast and finesse, this is an opportunity to instigate political unrest which will help them reach their goals. So, they decide to change the whole concept and make the opera about content instead of format. For this purpose, they need the opera to be understandable and rousing to the spectators. Re-cast the core staff and influence the development of the project to become a successful socio-critical piece that will might become the spark for the desired unrest in the Ork Underground.

The Meet

The runners meet with Johnson in the matrix. He doesn't want to be identified. Johnson wants Bat'Wejoto, Penelope Hopkins, and Naomi Fisk, to work together on the opera Or'zet! and make it a successful modern political masterpiece. He hires the runners to convince the tree to work together on the project and offers them 10 000 Nuyen.

During the meet, the runners figure out that Johnson is Francesco di Gangi, a Finnigan caporegime. While they keep their poker faces about their knowledge of Johnsons true identity, they negotiate for the opportunity to take payment in kind with the hopes of fenced gear at an opportunistic price. Johnson agrees.

The Runners receive the necessary information about the targets and two files with information about the opera and a police investigation into the assult on Penolpe Hopkins before Johnson "logs out".

The Plan

The runners plan to visit the targets ony by one to find out what they need and convince them that joining the opera and working towards the new specs is a great idea.

The Run

The first stop is with Bat'Wejoto in the Ork underground. Before they meet her, the runners do some matrix leg work and find out that she's about to rent a new office, which is owned by the Monreau-Family, for the Ork Underground Theatrical Society, OUTS. They contact Carleton Monreau and negotiate 6 months of free occupancey for OUTS. During the meet, they find out that Bat'Wejoto wants to dig a new theatre, and that she is concerned about her friend Maria not getting the promised role under the new concept of the opera.
The Runners appeal to Bat'Wejotos sense of equal opportunity for opressed, that equal opportunity has to work both ways and that Bat'Wejoto cannot discriminate against Penelope Hopkins, just because penolpe comes from a rich family. Bat'Wejoto agrees to the deal. To sweeten the deal, the runners offer the 6 months free rent of the office space negotiated with the Monreau's, to supply her with an electrician to for free to do the electrical work in the new office, and to privide a strong spirit of earth to explore the surroundings for an undiscovered / unexploited lava cave which would suit the needs of the theatrical society.
Bat'Wejoto is thrilled.

The second stop is with Naomi Fisk, whom they meet in Redmond, in the Zephyr-South Multi-Use building, where Naomi / Redmond Amateur Theatrical Society has an office.
Naomi is harder to convince. She's all about teaching the lower class people in the lower levels of Seattle high-class culture in the hopes of elevating them by singing classical opera in a foreign language.
Naomi and the runners argue in a very professional, yet duel like manner about what is right. High culture without enablement, or "lower" culture at more par with the eye-level of the audience to influence change? With market research and predictions from the matrix, Naomie gives in.
After watching a magicians duel between Mad Hats and Top Hats, eating burritos, and whitnessing the humiliation of the Mad Hats, the mood is at peak hights. Naomi and the runners wish sincerely whish each "break a leg" with best faith and kind intentions.

The third meet is with Penelope Hopkins. The runners don't really know what makes her boat rock, so the outcome a very uncertain as they enter the high-security high-society mansion of Penolpe (The body-guard of the team stays in the Van, ready for heavy action, in case anything goes down, knowing that the house security wouldn't allow him inside with his heavy hardware.
The Face and the group is well warmed-up from the previous negotiations and the Face quickly figures out a strategy and hooks Penolpe on the idea of accepting the job.

Aftermath

All threee targets have been secured. The runners get paid in cash or kind. Johnson is very happy and triggers phase II of Finnigans Plan.
...To Be Continued...

Game Quotes

Amusing quote from game.