Re: Oh the Bearmanity!
Firefox's little spirits fly out into the warehouse. Somewhere in the darkness she hears a *HAUMLP!* (that's an onomatopoeia right there) and Firefox can tell one of the watchers has been destroyed. Still, one of the others returns shortly, "Nothing there! I looked under the drop bear, behind the drop bear, above the drop bear. Nothing!"
Snow and St. V walk on in, like the brave runners they are (albeit, accompanied by their own squad of tiny drop bears). Lights on the ground faintly glow, deepening and defining the shadows. Familiar, metallic voices can be heard;
"... the Drop Bear Inquisitors found nothing. That isn't to say that he was truly innocent."
"Of course, Elder Gyro, they never are. We can allow for no leaks of Elder Ophis's success. His surfing ninja pirate Commandos are too valuable for the world to know of them yet."
"Elder Fistyantilus, I believe we have company..."
"Ah, keen ears, Elder Angelone. Shadowrunners, enter please, tell us what news you bring."
(I assume Snow here will fill in the DBC on the details of the mission. A quick note here, the mission as written assumes Fortuna gets Becka. While it also assumes the characters will fail at negotiating the original job with Fortuna, or in crossing the border to get to his house, it does not say what happens if the PCs fail to deliver Becka, and Becka therefore survives. So congratulations on breaking the otherwise idiot-proof plot. Apologies for the narrative errors forthcoming.)
"The news of the MILD INCONVENIENCING of dear Becka is most upsetting. We do not blame you for your terrorist acts, however. People in your position do as they must, which is why we are certain you will assist us with this final job. We must settle debts, remind the loutish elves of their place in things. Eye for an eye, life for an INVOLUNTARY ROAD TRIP. We wish for you to assist us in killing Fortuna."
"And his family. Don't forget the family."
"And burn down his mansion."
"And kick his dog."
"The Inquisitors will get right on it. They just completed a two-day training segment on animal abuse and how best to commit it. We can..."
"Elder Ophis, your eagerness is pleasing, but this is not the time to discuss such measures. First Fortuna. Expect him to call you in the near future. You see we paid actors to impersonate you and ..."
"Actually homeless vagrants."
"Don't tell them that, Elder Ophis! It will only discourage them. There, there, shadowrunners. We hired the best acting school had to offer."
"For a bottle of wine a day!" There's some more barely concealed laughter.
"... actors to impersonate you and break into one of our own facilities to steal information indicating drop bears are a result of HMHVV."
A few of the elders snicker.
"An obvious falsehood, but we needed bait. Meanwhile, we're sure Fortuna's spies are reporting the successful run, reporting runners matching your description professionally executing it. He'll be wondering who hired you, but even moreso, he'll know your desperate mercenary hearts require you sell the information to as many buyers as will accept. He will be contacting you shortly. We simply need for you to arrange and attend the meet. Set it for the Space Needle during non-business hours. After Fortuna is dead, you will be reimbursed, 2,000¥ per person, plus whatever pay Fortuna brings. Brother PTHHHHT," the speakers of his obelisk hiss and crackle as the elder tries to call out the name, "please bring out the data chip."
While he speaks, another of the short monuments rolls out with a data chip on top.
"Thank you Brother PTHHHHT," again the name melts into a wash of static, giving no hint of its true enunciation. "There, simply set up and attend the meet and you get paid in full. Do you accept?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:52, Tue 18 Nov 2014.