Weekly post: 2xp
Hunting Dead Lions
[Sblock=Syd Disguise] Syd: Obscurative+Analysis: 44+79(d100)=123 [/Sblock]
Syd Vicious pulls out his old Hudu Krew outfit, fashions a disguise from his street knowledge and heads out to surveil the fight club. The building is just as dark as he remembers it and this time he goes through the main entrance. After paying the entry fee and placing a bet to keep up appearances, he finds a seat near the top and settles down to watch. In the fighting pit there is an aquatic battle between a huge snake and alligator, both creatures look as though they could swallow a human whole with little effort. He claps and cheers with the rest of the crowd but mostly watches the security for the show. They wear all black outfits with no identifying marks and carry the sticks that the Runners faced before on the balcony. He sees at least a dozen other go-gang’s present but no Hudu Krew so he feels as though his cover is secure.
Suddenly Syd is surrounded by eight people that seem to step out of the shadows. Those that were seated close to him only glance at the newcomers and find other seats. No one else in the arena even looks in their direction and the fight continues with the snake wrapping up the gator amidst wild thrashing. The sound from the crowd and the fight drops off, leaving an area of silence with Syd and the other eight who glare at him with open hostility.
Hopelessly outnumbered, Syd casually looks around at the newcomers and asks, “Problem, chums?”
The group is a mix of races, a couple of orcs, a giant, three elves and two humans. Seven of the eight are dressed similarly in black robes with a holographic rotting lion skull on their chests. The eighth, a short human with dark skin and long black dredlocks is dressed in a cloak made from a lions pelt, with the mane as the hood. The suit he wears underneath is scarlet with a gold chain around his neck with a large medallion bearing a similar image of the rotting lion skull.
He grins with gold teeth and says, “I’m Scarlet Pips. You’re bold, coming back here. Think we wouldn’t recognize you if you changed your clothes? We got ways of knowing who people are that go way past disguises or even VR. Show this fool something.”
One of the orcs with a bright pink ponytail holds a small screen in front of Syd’s face. On it he can clearly see Enforcer 2, the woman the Runners captured and intimidated into informing on the Dead Lions, lying naked in a circle of runes. While some figures clothed in the Dead Lions robes stand outside the circle and chant in a strange language, Syd can see the woman’s skin begin to peel off without anyone touching her. She screams in agony and the orc shuts the screen off and puts it away.
Scarlet says, “That’s an old video. She’s already gone. We used what was left of her to feed the gator before this fight. You and your partners took out Glitterface and Pinkins. I don’t care, I already got what I wanted from them, but why are you still in my business? This is a sweet setup. You think three Runners are going to bust in here and crack it open? Listen, you do jobs, so I got one for you. That other little bastich that was with you, Obrik, I want you to kill him and bring me his head back here as an apology gift. Do that and all is forgiven. Interfere with my business again and you might end up in that punishment circle, if you live that long.”
Scarlet Pips steps back and fades into the shadows. Once he’s gone the other seven do the same and the noise from the arena comes rushing back to Syd’s ears. In the fight pit the gator is mashing the head of the anaconda in his jaws and though the snake still thrashes around, it’s clear this fight is done.
Syd looks around but no one else in the arena is looking at him or acting as though anything out of the ordinary happened. He collects his winnings at the kiosk, allowing him to break even from the entry fee, and leaves the arena.
[Sblock=Hawkeye VR] Hawkeye: 23+33(d100)=56 [/Sblock]
Trollick and Hawkeye investigate the location of the Dead Lions private server. At the address they find a skyscraper of course, and the bottom floor is Pips Pet Shop. They go inside to investigate and find that the expansive shop is like an ordinary pet relocation facility. There are dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, and arachnids along with all the feed, storage, and other accessories that go along with pet adoption. When Hawkeye slips into VR he finds he can access the regular pet shop site but that the subterranean levels are blocked from VR access.
[Sblock=Trollick Astral] Trollick: 37+63(d100)=100 [/Sblock]
Trollick decides to investigate the under levels in the Astral Plane but finds they are shielded from magical intrusion. The only way into the subterranean area is through the Hard Realm.
You have discovered the secret lair of the Dead Lions.
State intentions for how to proceed.
