Semantic Drift Ep 2
| Semantic Drift Ep 2 | |||||||||
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| Part of Semantic Drift | |||||||||
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| Factions Involved | |||||||||
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ShadowHaven "NeoNET" HTR | Toxic Mage | ||||||||
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Getaway Brunhilde Dango Alkali |
Alex, Toxic Mage Toxic Spirits | ||||||||
Summary
After the events of Semantic Drift Ep 1, a new set of runners have been flown down to CAS lands to investigate the disappearances of multiple individuals. They also join the search for a toxic mage.
Background
On the eastern Texan border lies a small town that has been facing toxic spirit invasions after what appeared to be some sort of 'rapture' months prior. People have gone missing, HTR has been called in, and there is a spike of radiation in the forest nearby. A previous duo of Shadowrunners have already been called in to investigate, but unfortunately were stopped short in their investigation, requiring a new group to continue their work.
The Meet
Four runners - Getaway, Brunhilde, Dango, and Alkali - have been called down to an airport to be flown down to the CAS. While in the air and on the way, they begin searching through the Matrix to get preliminary knowledge as to the situation. Their search gets reports of NeoNET HTR on the ground, even though NeoNET is a dead and defunct corporation, news reports of a rapture, video feed of a runner known as Lingchi getting gunned down, and Docteur Vega being hauled off to who-knows-where. Lastly, they acquire information that toxic spirits are beginning to infest the land and wander near town as well as cases of missing people.
Once down on land, they meet up with their Johnson, a woman named Sambrina, who asks the group to investigate and gain undeniable proof of five of the missing individuals' deaths. After being asked about the HTR, she says strangely the police have been taking their orders. Odd, given that NeoNET no longer exists. A cover, perhaps? She hands the group iodine and negotiations for payment begin. In the end the runner group is able to get 18k if they complete the task, 20k if they do it within 48 hours. Additionally, they will be given gear rates for reagents, foci, and vehicles and drones if they manage to get proof for more than five of the individuals' deaths. Departing from the Johnson and making way to a motel, the group begins their investigation in earnest.
The Plan
The plan is as such: Look into the HTR and find out more of what they're here for, search the Matrix for more information on the missing individuals, and tracking them down with minimal confrontation regarding local law enforcement and HTR.
The Run
As always, a plan goes wrong very quickly and as such a new plan must be written up. Using the footage of the former runner group's interaction with HTR, they find information on one of the members and search her backstory. Given clues, this is either a doctored identity or a completely fake one. Regardless, they seem to have connections to several corporations as a mercenary. Dango sends a flyspy into the area where the altercation happened and finds a series of Ares Roadmasters parked off the road a small way, noticing that a commlink is active. Hacking into it, she is detected as she pokes around. Seeing as they are outclassed, the HTR personas try for diplomacy with Dango, who manages to set up a meeting with them since it appears that neither side needs to be in conflict with one another. In the meanwhile Alkali summons a spirit and divines the meeting.
According to the divination, the HTR is meeting in good faith and will be co-operable. Given that the runners were given opportunity to decide the meeting location, Dango chooses to have it be near a StufferShack on the border of town, in an abandoned building.
While Alkali goes inside by themselves, Brunhilde hides a small distance away on a nearby hill outside town while Getaway and Dango stay in a rental car doing drone overwatch. A few minutes later, HTR shows up and places a commlink on the table, full of information on one of the missing persons. They offer more, if we do a job for them, as well as calling for a temporary partnership. After a bit of negotiating and information sharing, we are told of a toxic mage in the area hiding at a hospital outside the city limits. It hosts a high background count and appears to be infested with spirits. They ask we either incapacitate, run them off, or outright eliminate the mage. Up to runner discretion. Additionally, we are asked to get the astral signature. After a few more questions, the runner group agrees and shares contact information with the HTR. To toast this jolly cooperation, much to the confusion of the HTR, the group gets milkshakes to celebrate with.
Finished with this, the runner group drives over near the hospital, where Dango and Getaway send flyspies in while Brunhilde uses their scope magnification to get a good look at the outside and through the window. Geiger counter begins reading high levels of radiation. This hospital appears to be some abandoned 5th world clinic, using outdated retro-grade tech. Surprisingly, however, it still has power. Dango's flyspy manages to pick up the sound of odd, yabbering noises through the walls, and after getting a closer look finds a strange, small figure organizing the room. Alkali astrally perceives the location, getting a look at the spirits. Odd, strange spirits, which Alkali is able to identify as Engkantos - free spirits which appear in areas of high background count, and are rather chaotic while typically not hostile.
Regrouping, the runners officially enter the hospital (though with Getaway and Dango utilizing a drone instead of physically doing so). Inside one of the rooms, the group notices a computer turned on, hosting corrupted files and an old world radio scanner. Dango immediately moves to decrypt and uncover what it is transmitting while Alkali assenses and memorizes a very faint astral signature belonging to the mage. Dango and Getaway manage successfully decrypt the file, which reveals some very strange, ominous text. Alkali asks Brunhilde to find biometric data on the mage - hair, dead skin, anything that could psychometry could be used on. Unfortunately, it appears as though the area is bereft of anything like that.
As the group begins readying to leave, Alkali spots one of the Engkantos with a tuft of hair, and immediately decides he must have it. Approaching the gremlin, it seems eager to trade, though what it wants - the color from Alkali's eye(s) - is not something he is willing to give. Brunhilde pipes up to offer, but given that they are a cyborg the spirit is disinterested, almost detesting as it declines, before looking back to Alkali. Eventually a deal is able to be struck, the spirit given an astral topographic map near where Gamma Grey and his gang are, where their company may engage in further, greater trades. Being given the hair, Alkali, Brunhilde, and Dango's drone get back to the car.
Alkali performs psychometry on the hair: A disgusting feeling, though strangely validating. A manic cackle, a task completed, the feeling of a hand running through hair. A church. A radio transmission. Outside of the city, in the forest. Returning to the present, Alkali feels wrong. Uncomfortable. Deciding to head back to the motel, they rest on this information and get ready to adventure to the church in the morning. Luckily, the next day, Getaway's roadmaster arrives. The group piles inside and they make their way through the checkpoint leading toward the church as the HTR gives the police the all-clear.
As they approach, Alkali can feel the background count rising higher and higher, a sense of nausea hitting their senses. Even Dango is capable of feeling discomforted. Whatever this is, it isn't caused by a spell. This is something extra unnatural. As the group gets closer and closer to the church, the background count oddly enough shifts, lowering heavily. The church is visible at this point; its roof noticeably having a large hole in it, indicative of something crashing through.
Using Matrix Perception, Dango is able to notice a roto-drone around the backside, and analyzes the footage it holds. Its camera caught signs of solar panels, a large metallic object crashing through the top of the roof as a chorus of screams is heard. Then audio is cut. Soon after, so is the video. Sending a few flyspies in, Getaway and Dango see what appears to be a satellite leaking fluid on the floor. At the back of the church is a strange pattern, which Alkali is able to discern as a component for a ritual to summon an ally spirit - a powerful one. There is a sound of muttering being heard. Alkali assenses the location, recognizing the astral signature as well as a few F9 spirits. The mage is protected by three spells: One physical barrier, one armor spell, and one astral armor spell. Their aura hosts a relatively potent spirit pact. Additionally, there is a planar portal, though at the moment it does not seem to be doing anything beyond existing.
We make a plan. Brunhilde will stay outside, aiming at the window while Alkali and Getaway's anthrodrone head inside. They will try to get the mage to step into the light, where then Brunhilde will take the shot. Dango, in the meanwhile, will keep a bird's eye view from the top of the church's ceiling, giving assistance to Brunhilde to get a clean shot. Alkali divines this plan, getting a vision of impending doom. If we mess this up... we're encountering something we can't fight as we are now.
As Alkali and Getaway step inside, the mage calls out to them. Alkali and the mage, Alex, begin a discussion. One of faith, of belonging, of desires, and binding angels. No matter what, the mage refuses to leave the safety of their barrier. In the end, Alkali takes a gamble, stepping closer to the barrier and getting the mage to drop their guard. They seem to believe Alkali is here to help. In that moment, Brunhilde takes the shot - piercing through the decayed brick walls, through the physical barrier, and straight into the chest of the mage - though is barely unable to kill them. Instead the mage drops to the ground, unconscious, and their auto-injector begins to pump Numb into them. Seizing the initiative, Alkali casts a manabolt, finishing them off.
Immediately, the background count rises and a low droning voice is heard. It is filled with rage as the church almost seems to draw breath. As the the group gets back to the roadmaster, Dango's flyspy is able to record something exiting the portal, crawling to the satellite. It grows, and grows, and grows... unnaturally, it scoops up the mage in one hand as it continues toward the satellite. Then it lifts it up, and the footage is cut. The flyspy's geiger counter skyrockets.
Aftermath
In the end, the group is able to escape the area and make their way back to the HTR, disseminating their findings and receiving the information on the missing people's deaths. As Dango spoke of the satellite, the HTR overplayed their hands very slightly. It appears, perhaps, their true objective is the satellite rather than the mage. But, that is not the runners' concerns this day. They call up their Johnson, hand in the information, and get their payment. All in a day or two's work.
Rewards
Run Rewards for Semantic Drift Episode 2!
Total hours: 9 (30 RVP +2 from funny side objective [GMP])
20k nuyen (Gear rates for reagents, foci, and vehicles/drones.) [10 RVP]
22 Karma [20 + 2 RVP]
2 CDP
Optional Rewards:
Trustworthy [15 RVP]
Sharpshooter [4 RVP]
Closer [4 RVP]
Silence is Golden [9 RVP]
Run counts as a mundane ascension for Getaway and Brunhilde
Run counts initiation ordeal for Alkali
Game Quotes
Player After Action Reports (AARs)
Brunhilde: "Here's to hoping I don't get haunted by any deities after this..."
Getaway - "I've learned two things: One, nothing good happens in the CAS. And two, Alkali is capable of spending thirty minutes arguing with what sounds like a novacoke-addled spirit over nothing worth anything. At the very least, it was kind of amusing for five of those minutes and damn they look good in that maid outfit."
Dango - "Woah, Didn't think I'd meet a toxic god-spirit...thing. Man religion is really one of the human-created things of all time, eh?"