Hic sunt dracones
| Hic sunt dracones | |||||||||
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| ShadowHaven | Major Corp | ||||||||
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Zenith Catharsis Relay Mara |
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Notes
Catharsis and Zenith are enjoying a nice evening together when Ryan Mercury calls. Mercury explains he needs a favor for a member of the board for a developing situation, and he needs Zenith, and for him to bring a decker. They're meeting downtown at the temple of the Children of the Dragon with Alexis Glimmerscale. Quicksliver then begins down the chain of runners to Mara, who was enjoying her tea in her orchard after working on her homunculi. After discussing the job, with the sound of gunshots the mythical Quicksilver moves on to Relay, who is battling in the court of the Dairy Queen, trying to manage his slice of enterprise. Explaining he doesn't have time for this and that Ryan Mercury is on the other line, hanging up on his managers. Getting set up by Mercury, Relay reaches out to Mara to arrange some neighborly commuting. Meeting up in the home room of Catharsis' deck, the group catches up for a little bit before breaking off to finish up their evening plans.
Meeting up with stuffer shack mini donuts, the group chats for a moment about their feelings about a Dragon Church Cult over DNI. Upon entering the church, they wait for service to end before stuffing into a conference room. Alexis explains that PenTex has kidnapped a local history professor Gerald Lawrence that has been helping the church organize on Dunk's old layer, Prince Edward Island. Specifically the PenTex subsidiary United Agriculture is claiming that the Atlantean Foundation sponsored studies in Dragon Bone Bay are impeding their land use rights. Alexis further explains that this is Dunklezahn's last resting place, as one of his ancestors also rests in the area. After some debate, it is decided the group should pose as PI's hired by Warren, Gerald's husband, to look into the disappearance.
Save for a near incident at the airport with Zenith and his emotional support gun, the plane lands at Halifax, and the group begins the drive to Charlottetown. They discuss who they should speak with first, settling on the husband, who agrees to meet them at his office in the university. There the group begins with a sweep of the office, finding a SunBurst Computers (a PenTex subsidiary) bug. While Relay and Mara interview Warren, Zenith and Catharsis go to break into Gerald's office. Mara is able to tease out that Gerald was providing expert testimony that the park should belong to the province.
At Gerald's office, Zenith spots another bug, a camera bug, and a camera. As Catharsis struggles to loop the bug's footage after looping the camera's footage, Zenith slides into the door's DMs and pops it open. Upon entering, Zenith immediately kisses Catharsis before another bug is found behind a Dunklezahn poster, which while Cathy tries to grab marks on it to trace the signal, Zenith debates stealing. Catharsis fails, and the bug's monitor is alerted. Zenith, going through the drawers of the desk eventually finds several locked drawers, unlocking them and finding research notes from an archeological dig with the Atlantean foundation on them. Their digging through the notes is interrupted by the appearance of a copter drone. Catharsis struggles to find the copter drone, and Relay releases an eye from his eye arm. He spies a logo for Sunburst Software, pointing a laser microphone at the office containing the pair. The firewall of the drone is 10 with a sleaze of 10 due to smoke and mirrors. Tracing the drone, she finds that it's operator is down the street, pinging it for the rest of the crew suggesting a flying eye onto the van. Grabbing Zenith and kissing him to distract the enemy rigger, she crashes the drone's flight software, crashing the drone. Leaving his girlfriend on hold, Zenith opens the office window and hops out to grab the drone.
Relay sneaks up on a (another subsidiary corporation) King Breweries delivery van, as Zenith sneaks up on the poor helpless drone, scooping it up in his jacket and parkours back into the office. There's discussion on trapping the rigger before agreeing on following the van via spirit and drone after turning off the captive drone. Shutting the drone off, Cathrsis goes over the paper, detailing the archaeological dig on Oak Island in Nova Scotia, with evidence of even earlier occupation. Photographing every page, she notes there is a ship based expedition using the MS Tallahassee associated with the Atlantean Foundation. Relay observes another enemy drone deployed as the van leaves, Catharsis completely inverting the controls and formatting the little drone.The rigger attempts to restart the drone to fix the controls, falling prey to the formatted software. The second locked drawer contains a pair of tablets, one digital, one stone. The palm sized stone tablet has carvings in it, which Zenith collects and then Cathy references the paper, spotting some invisible ink notes. "Artifact JXT67 (likely the stone tablet) located on-site. AF (Atlantean Foundation) unaware, make sure DF (Draco Foundation) gets information once it's providence is known. Suspected connection to DBB (Dragon Bone Bay) site". The tablet has a faint signature, Zenith successfully identifying the blueish grey aura that seems to fit into a larger piece, as a dragon's aura. Upon this discovery, Catharsis takes the paper, and tablet, and turns to attend to the terminal. Zenith vows to steal the Dunklezahn poster if Gerald is dead. There's a munger on the terminal, the decker having to simply pull the cord and bail, and Relay having to explain to the husband the need to send the terminal to IT. Relocking the drawers and the office, scooping up the drone and tablets, Zenith and Cathy leave. Relay leaves Warren with a direct line to NoireBot, Mara asks Tiger to keep an eye on Warren until Warren arrives at work next.
Regrouping outside in the car, Catharsis explains to Relay Helper's observations of Babylon's summoning Pump King Jack and Baphomet and drawing summoning circles. While Relay, Zenith and Catharsis talk about, Mara takes a look at the tablet, confirming that a dragon has done something, specifically Vermithrax. Zenith relays the other three runner's storied history with Vermithrax and their hunt for Dunklezahn's Vault in the area. Realizing they don't have their gear until tomorrow, they head back to the bed and breakfast to use some divination magic on the tablet while Catharsis goes through the digital tablet.
Linking them all together with a mind net and then serving tea, Mara assists Zenith pulling from the tarrot deck, as he asks "Where is Vermithrax going to look for the pieces next?" The CEO, Inverted. There's a glimpse of a company logo turning into a squad of goons with a wyrm shadow over them. High priestess, inverted. The shadow of the dragon rippling and changing. The Dragon. There's a flash of lightning that illuminates rainy night with the MS Tallahassee off the coast, over the NE section leading to the sea. The storm will be striking in two days, maximum.
Digging through the tablet, Catharsis finds an email from Glimmerscale, to keep an eye out for Wallis, a sea drake associated with the Bride of Dunklezahn, who might be involved in the area. Seeing that Gerald was keeping her abreast of things, with his desire to hold the Atlantean Foundation at arms length, as he believes they are withholding information. Seeing the need to get into the Atlantean Foundation, Zenith calls Spinne, seeing if he knows anyone. Eventually he points Zenith towards another bounty hunter, Agase'wa'toq, who works with the Atlantean Foundation. Digging up information on Agase'wa'toq, all Cathy can dig up is a photo, a list of aliases, affiliates and a glyph. Disguising up, Mara gives Relay the dryad glitter before they head to a bar on the shady side of town called Fitzgerald's that's supposed to be frequented by shadowy types. Mara chooses to stay behind and fortify their astral defenses while Relay swaps his arm back out to something more normal.
Zenith, despite nearly starting a fight, is able to secure Agase'wa'toq's fixer's information. At this time, the fly spies, posted up, notice a cloaked thermal signature, and the spirit informs Mara that the driver has left the warehouse and changed vehicles before being asked to continue to follow. The spirit accepts on the condition Mara helps an Osprey move it's nest to someplace more stable before the storm. It is at this moment it occurs to them that the drone they shut off probably had a tracker on it. The drone that they left at their B&B. Mara analyzes the device and opens the drone, spotting the transponder, Mara pops it on one of Relay's drones, who then begins to fly it away. Mara grabs the stone tablet, Relay's eye arm, and Catharsis' real SIN commlink before beginning to scrub signatures. Everything else in the nice Victorian style B&B has to be abandoned.
Mara turns invisible and heads to the roof of the awning, watching a black sedan pull up. Several suited corpo people get out and walk inside, getting rooms across the hall from the group. One heads into their reserved room, the other breaks into the runner's room. Mara lies in wait, debating with Zenith if she should stab him, with Zenith saying that he shouldn't be allowed to leave, "just kill one to prove to the other you're serious". Channeling a guidance spirit, Mara observing the man drop a bug in an air vent and light fixture. The man bugs each runner's room, the rest of the gang returning as he's in the middle of bugging the rooms. Zenith gives Relay a pocket knife to slash the newest guests' tires, Zenith pays the woman $3,000 to forget they were here and to leave for a little bit as Cathy sneaks up the stairs. Hearing Catharsis coming up the stairs, the bugging stops as he attempts to intercept Catharsis while Mara stabs him in the back.
A scuffle breaks out, Mara showcasing her newfound sword prowess with Zenith bullying the other before tying the pair up. Relay loses sight of the weirdly invisible target, believing his drones' sensors are out of whack. Catharsis and Mara hunt for the rest of the bugs while Zenith disarms and decommlinks the two men, including ripping out their last chance commlinks. Slap patching both men it's revealed that one may know where the professor is. Frank reveals that he brought Gerald to his boss, Joseph Clay of Ardus Enterprises.
After the adrenaline wears off and the two guards are released, the group scoops up their belongings and heads to intercept the Seadrake.
The plan, at this moment: Intercept the sea drake, call Agase'wa'toq’s fixer for a meeting with Agase'wa'toq and a bolt hole, and snipe the second stone tablet before the dragon manages to gain enough power to ascend to greatness.
As they’re driving, the call goes out and for the sum total of 8k nuyen, the group is set up with a meeting and a space in a functional lighthouse. Zenith calls Crunch, trying to set up a way to get an image of Wallis so a spirit can find him. Crunch gives her boss the image so long as he promises no drakes will be hurt. Relay eventually gives up and calls Willis, getting a picture and his most recent comm code. The rigger is successful, handing off the commcode to Cathy and the image to Mara. Mara is able to find Wallis in a seaside cave on Cumberland Beach, and Cathy is able to take a mental image from Mara to find the beach-- Calling Wallis but receiving no answer due to its on and off nature.
Arriving at the beach, Relay sends a fly spy down to investigate the cave. Noting the wires and the other gear, Cathy is able to spot the devices and invite a mark, baiting Wallis into discussion and eventually permission to enter his cave.
Entering the cave, Cathy follows the wires down to Wallis with Zenith sneaking down behind her. The two discuss the professor, and the tablets. Wallis offers to go get the other tablet, which the runners put on hold for fear of the tablet falling back into the hands of the Bride of Dunklezahn.
After a night’s rest, they discuss over breakfast what to do--Which leads Relay and Zenith to attempt to destroy the tablet, both taking a shot at it and barely cracking the surface. With it being the time to collect vehicles, Zenith grabs his van while Mara drives one of Relay’s cars, and Cathy pretends to drive Relay’s boat while Relay drives both his boat and submarine. Seeing as the boating exercise will take all afternoon, Zenith begins a stakeout of the Waste Management plant, to see what’s happening. Which, he can’t see much--Cathy hops into the host, dredging the floor plans, with the secure overlay out of the host as the cameras provide little information. Relay slips into a drone and further scouts out the building, confirming building contents and which rooms appear to be dead on the matrix. Meanwhile, Mara contacts Ryan Mercury and shows him the tablet, discussing what to do with it.
Several hours later, Cathay and Zenith show up to meet Agase'wa'toq. Zenith explains the danger of the tablet and the danger the boat will be under. Agase'wa'toq wants some sort of confirmation, which Zenith tries to offer by proving he has no drugs in his system with blood, which Agase'wa'toq declines, and confirms he’ll at least go tell the Atlantean foundation. While the amicable runner meeting occurs, Relay and Mara debate how to store the tablet. Oracle drops a Star card, suggesting they wait until the next autumnal equinox after burying the tablet to hide it.
The group begins arguing about the professor versus the second tablet, which is interrupted by Warren calling, with someone demanding a dead drop of the tablet. Negotiations are tense, with Relay having to be pulled off negotiations for being... Relay. Ultimately, they agree to meet down by the docks with Warren and the tablet, to have a face to face conversation. Catharsis and Loyell are placed into Relay’s boat to fish Zenith and Warren out of the water when Zenith tackles the professor into the water. As they arrive at the docks, there is the van with 3 people inside; outside steps a man holding a gun to Warren. Zenith is to toss the backpack to the center, Warren is to go to the middle and grab the backpack, Zenith instead slips the tablet into his coat, tosses the backpack and grabs Warren, who tosses the backpack to the hostage taker. It’s only after Z and Warren are in the van that it’s revealed Z has the tablet. As Relay goes matrix dark to peel out of the parking lot, Mara assures Zenith everything will be fine with Cathy while detagging Warren.
As she says that, Wallis climbs onto Cathy’s boat, declaring that he is commandeering it to go get the tablet piece that is under the ocean. The seadrake claims that the decker will be fine, with the implied threat to stay out of his way, and that Loyell should mind his own business and not start a fight. Catharsis DNI’s the group explaining her situation, and asking for help. She reminds Zenith he needs to keep his cool, and to go get the professor, and that right now, she will be fine.
The rest of the group, meanwhile, attempts to figure out how to get into the building where the professor is being held. Cathy speaks with Wallis, who honestly states he wants the tablet out of loyalty to Veorvinteth, stating that anyone who attempts to defy Leviathan is worthy of that loyalty. He states Veorvinteth wants to rejoin all the pieces and release the powers within. She continues to talk to him about his hopes, dreams, and what he wants for the future.
Meanwhile, Zenith creeps into the building, slap patching down a guard and waking the professor and making a break for it, with Relay covering the exit with a drone. After some scuffles, with Zenith needing medical attention in order to defend the professor, they manage to make it to the car, where Relay peels out in a ridiculous stunt. Zenith is treated for his wounds while unconscious, and the professor is checked for tags.
Wallis states they hope the tablet will be used to bring the Great Dragon Spirit back.
13 hrs.
Summary
Background
The Meet
The Plan
The Run
Aftermath
Rewards
- 50,000 nuyen (25 RVP)
- 20 karma (20 RVP)
- 30 CDP (14 RVP)
- 1 Street Cred (1 RVP)
- +5 Children of the Dragon rep
- +2 Draco Foundation rep
- Optional Gear Reward: Vulkan Electronaut @ 2:1 prices
Narrative Consequences
- Dr. Lawrence is rescued from Pentax and returned to his husband; Vermithrax is denied his knowledge.
- The tablet remains separated and out of the hands of both the Draco and Atlantean Foundations.
- Zenith's latent dracomorphosis activates due to the stressful events in Dragon Bone Bay.