Halloween Kitty
| Halloween Kitty | |||||||||
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| Part of Hail to the Pumpking | |||||||||
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| Factions Involved | |||||||||
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ShadowHaven Pump King Jack | Major Corp | ||||||||
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Blackhawk Foxy Grampa Red Ribbon Sizzles |
Character1 Character2 | ||||||||
Summary
Amidst the beginning of October the aura of Halloween lingers in the air but the beginnings of a looming threat raise their head.
Background
With the festive season now in focus, the spirits amidst Seattle begin their annual routines but things are fully not as they seem. A lingering curse resides over the area of Sophocles having all who know of it uneasy. Amidst that unease a spirit friend/ally of Pump King Jack and Bone Daddy by the name of "the monster under the bed" has gone missing. Bone Daddy worried about this hires a group of runners to figure out where they may have gone and return them if it is possible and not too late.
The Meet
Meeting at Bone Daddy's establishment at around evening time, the runners barge in on an argument amidst three individuals about disappearances as of late and the trouble they would spell with some being more concerned than others or at least it would seem. As the runners entered one of the three stormed out leaving Bone Daddy and one of his acquaintances. After defusing the tension slightly Bone Daddy relayed the mission to the runners, that the monster under the bed had gone missing and it brings a concern giving current goings on in the surrounding areas involving a rumored curse. The spirit was known to roam about in the streets of Sophocles. Wanting some closure on the issue Bone Daddy offers the runners an assortment of contacts and a visit to his chop shop if they succeed at the job. With failed negotiations after the fact the runners agreed and set off to accomplish the task at hand and locate the spirit in question.
The Plan
Once the runners arrived in Sophocles they made a quick stop at a Horizon ran supermarket to stop for a quick bite or something similar. Once inside however the runners purchased a ludicrous amount of items they did not need or even want. Even the infected amidst them who had no need for any of the items. Suspicious of this and how it seemed to resemble what was going on in the surrounding area Blackhawk contacted Asahiro who informed him that the curse was likely tied to the efforts of Horizon to "privatize" the spirit of Halloween by invading and altering other metaplanes for their own gains. These efforts likely also causing the spirits in the area to feel unwell and unsafe hence the disappearance of the monster under the bed. Thankful for this intel the runners headed towards a hinted at spirit that would likely know where the monster under the bed would be given how they were mutual acquaintances, a spirit known by the alias Pump King Jack. Arriving at an abandoned Highschool where in the ritual needed to summon him was laid out on a whiteboard. To carve out a pumpkin and place it atop a scarecrow wrapped in cloth whilst singing a 5th world song by the name of "this is Halloween." Blackhawk not having the proper connections nor a good singing voice chose to stay out whilst the others gathered the resources. Grampa managing to procure the pumpkin and supplies whilst Sizzles and Grampa assisted Red Ribbon in their riveting performance. Pump King Jack was appeased by this and chose to conjure himself stating he did not have long as he was in the spirit equivalent of parole or prison. Once being informed of the Monster under the bed's disappearance he informed the runners of a local spirit that would likely know where to continue their search. Given how the monster under the bed was from a deeper metaplane and needed some assistance to reach the material plane. The spirit in question being one "Grand Duke Zaleos." Appreciative of the information the runners headed off towards the selected area to figure out more. Once there the runners were met by two dual natured guards asking their business. After informing the guards that they wished to see the Grand Duke and that Jack had sent them they let the runners past. Once inside they found several dual natured beings as they approached an office with strong ties to the metaplane of man as a massive fish like spirit made itself known as the Grand Duke Zaleos and to state their inquiry. Grampa and Ribbon taking the lead informed the spirit of their business, they were searching for the man under the bed and had heard he would know how to find them. There was good and bad news. The bad being that as of that moment they did not know of the MUTB's whereabouts. The good however being that they knew of one that did know, an Anansi spirit not too far away that would likely prove helpful. Thankful for the spirits time the runners departed looking for the Anansi spirit located elsewhere in Sophocles. Some investigation later the runners were able to locate the spirit amidst an abandoned building. Blackhawk approached the spirit convincing it to manifest so his fellow runners could communicate with it. After some negotiation and bartering the Anansi spirit revealed that they would most likely be in the forest nearby. The haunted forest to be more specific. With a quick thanks and slight dread crossing the runners faces they headed towards the woods to hopefully find their target. Hopefully avoiding the dangers that may await.
The Run
Once the runners had arrived to the woods after a quick rest as the sun rose. After some brief preparations and purchases the hunt resumed amidst the woods. Whilst stealthed the runners noticed 2 prevalent factors. Firstly a rustling in the bushes just to the north of them but more prevalent a rather CHUNKY hound of the wild hunt that was manifested patrolled the general area. Choosing to face the danger they did not know rather than the danger they did they approached the rustling in the bushes that actually ushered the runners closer. After agreeing to connect to the runners DNI the figure turned out to be a UCAS agent that went by the alias of Raven that turned out to be looking for the same spirit the runners were. Their motives after some intensive insight simply revealed to be their duty to the UCAS and to put a stop to the curse, part of said process being to protect the spirit in question. With slight hesitance but a realization Raven's objective lined up with their own the runners agreed to accept Raven's help and lend their own. The spirit as it turned out was not too far away from the area they resided in but the issue of the hound remained. Thinking quickly of a way to distract them Red Ribbon offered up their drone to fly and distract the CHONKY hound so they could slip past much easier. Piloting the drone high in the sky as fast as they could the hound gave rapid chase as it flew as well. Realizing their was not much time before the hounds return the runners quickly followed Raven's lead to a close cropping of bushes where after a brief ritual a head poked out of the ground revealing The Monster Under the Bed safe. Well... as safe as they could be given the circumstances. True to what the runners suspected the spirit fled after the bad aura and the energy of the curse contaminated the area. No longer feeling comfortable in the local area. After a brief negotiation Raven asked for a private word with the spirit and whispered something into its ear. Blackhawk and Red Ribbon overheard the ominous message but with not many clues how to decipher it and also the looming threat of speaking it aloud would likely incur the wrath of the UCAS military, they chose to remain silent as to what they heard. Once the spirit seemed to agree another spirit of man appeared from behind and transported them to a safe location in Sophocles before departing. Now slightly confused and on edge the runners departed. Blackhawk agreeing to give Raven a ride on the way out.
Aftermath
The runners eventually convened at Bone Daddy's residence to inform him of both the completed mission and that The Monster Under the Bed had been returned safely to Sophacles. After a brief blurt out via Sizzles that the runners had brief help from a woman in the UCAS military the runners glared at him before Bone Daddy simply continued the conversation. As it turned out Bone Daddy was decently aware of the Horizon involvement in the current metaplane/Halloween fiasco and was preparing for whatever may come of it. With the runners pay in hand, a job well done, and warnings of what may come, the runners departed for whatever may come next.
Rewards
- 40,000 Nuyen worth of cars, car mods and lifestyles/lifestyle mods (10 RVP)
- Every 4,000 Nuyen that isn't spent can be taken as Karma OR CDP (max 10 Karma/20 CDP)
- Loose change kept at 50% rate (if you spend 200 nuyen out of a 4,000 chunk, you keep the remaining 3,800 as 1,900 nuyen)
- 10 CDP (4 RVP)
Optional Contacts:
- Pump King Jack
- ya didn't meet any of the others and nobody asked Raven's contact info rip
Optional Quality Rewards:
- Common Sense @ Blackhawk (3 RVP)
- Vehicle Empathy @ Red Ribbon (2 RVP)
- Inspired @ Sizzles (4 RVP) for being a great singer for This Is Halloween
- Analytical Mind @ Gramps (5 RVP) for doing like a bazillion Matrix Searches
Game Quotes
Player After Action Reports (AARs)
Blackhawk: "Pretty simple in and out job. Got to finally stealth around and avoid a fight. That bodes well for my ammo count at least. I just worry about what else is going on... corps and planes do not tend to mesh well if you ask me."
Walter: "A simple job, plenty of twist and turns. And I got to have a lovely nap afterwards. I will ask the people of Sophocles to leave that dog at home, though."