Murders on The Orient Express

Murders on The Orient Express
Part of All Aboard!
The Orient Express Ghost Train
Date 2085-12-15 GM Villiers Location Peles Castle, Bucharest Status Threat Level: Deadly
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Horizon	StarKaf	Wuxing	Wolverine
Catholic Church
Alkali Delphi Lady Argentum Thunder	Tl 8 Black Magician TL 6 Adept TL 8 Illusionist	TL 8 FLR	TL 8 Hermetic Initiate	TL 8 Shark Adept
TL 8 Adept

Background

Carleton Moreau has been awakening spirits which enable quick and stealth transportation along song-lines. The old Orient Express is next in turn to enable that kind transportation between Paris and Istanbul with a few possible stops along the line.

The Meet

Carleton has hired Alkali, Lady Argentum, Delphi, and Thunder through their respective fixers and invited them to his office in the Zephyr-South building. Armed with a huge platter full with delicious Sandwiches from Redmond Delicatessen up for grabs, he explains that the runners are expected to desguise as body guards and staff of his sociopathic Billionaire brother in-law Thurson Bernard Howell VII, during his trip on the Orient express between Paris and Istanbul. While it is utterly important to body-guard Thurson and keep him safe, Carleton explains that the hidden agenda is to awaken a Free Spirit of Man which is the old Orient Express, once the current Orient Express reaches Sinaia (Romania). In order to awaken the spirit, the runners will have to perform a ritual which requires six artiffacts that are transported from France to Romania on the same train they will travel with Thruson. So, the runners are tasked with stealing the artiffacts before they can perform the ritual. As an extra perk, the runners are offerd 5 000 Nuyen bonus from Carleton's wife Virginia who has a bet going against her brother, above mentioned Thurson, about who will figure out the murder history which will take place on the regular orient express during the trip. (note: Virginia will not even be travelling on the train-trip). The runners accept the jobs.

The Plan

The runners plan to produce fake artifacts which will be switched with the originals. They plan to take turns guarding Thurson while figuring where the artifacts are kept and hopefully find or create a window of opportunity to break-in to wherever or whataver they need to in order to obtain the artiffacts. With the artifacts in their posessions, Alkali should be able to perform the ritual, as close as possible to Peles Castel, where anoter ceremony will be held. The ideal time for awakening the spirit is supposed to be as soon as the mundane ceremony finishes.

The Run

In Paris, a lucky incident makes the runners "solve" the murder mystery. The runners travel with Carleton and Virgina in Caletons plane, where they are put up in a luxury hotel the day before the adventure on the Orient Express is supposed to begin. They decide to go to the Moulain Rouge and enjoy a good time. Thuder wants to make sure the expreience will be exceptional and contacts Victor Chekov, whom Thunder helped when he put up his successful play called Spectacular Spectacular, in the hopes that he can get them him and his friends on the guest list or put in a word for the group to get a great table. Victor is very helpful and does not only agree to put in a good word for a great table at the Moulain Rouge, but also reveils that he has written the murder mystery that will be played on the Orient Express, and that Colonel Moutrarde was the murder (in the club car with the iocane powder). That was a lucky strike. So much work saved just because the runners decided to party in Paris.

The Horizon producer is hungry for PR. The next day, the runners are picked up by a Rolls-Royce Phaeton, in which Thurston is already a passenger. This is the official start of the personal protection job. A short trip later, they find themselves in front of Gare de l'Est, where they are expected to board the Orient Express. As soon a Thruston gets out of the car, automatic fire blasts into the wall just behind him. The runners immediately recognize an assasination attempt. While Thunder shields Thruston with his massive body, Lady Argentum chaises towards the source of the bullets in a building across the street. Alkali summons a spirit to support the counter attack, and

Rewards

Deadly TL - 20 RVP X 1.2 time multiplier 24 RVP

20,000¥ and/or up to 40,000¥ SINs, skillsofts, pilot programs, weapon personalities,

foci up to availability 18 (10 RVP)

10 Karma (10 RVP)

8 CDP (4 RVP)

2 CDP (Base)

5,000¥ StarKaf-Horizon paydata side quest.

Optional contacts: Carleton Moreau C5L1 (5 RVP), Genevieve LaCroix C4L1 (4 RVP), The Orient Express Ghost Train C6L1 (6 RVP)

Optional qualities:

Game Quotes

Amusing quote from game.