Weekly post: 2xp
Same Old Path
[Sblock=Knowledge: Street] (Skepticism+Analysis), Trollick: 50+100(d100)+10(luck)=160, Syd Vicious: 49+94(d100)+64(luck)=207, Hawkeye: 45+30(d100)=75 [/Sblock]
From what Trollick knows about necromancers murder is always an option for them. There is no point to try and negotiate. The Dead Lions know who you are, and they will always be a threat.
From what Syd knows about gang hierarchy and leadership he knows there is no point to try and negotiate with Scarlet Pips. Having a HPD Captain in his pocket is far more valuable than three skilled runners.
Syd and Trollick convince Hawkeye that buying off Scarlet Pips is not an option. The Dead Lions are going to try and kill you anyway to protect their HPD lapdog, and because they are a group of psychotic death mages.
The Runners meet with Janet of the Pines to discuss strategy at the skyscraper of the Bright Leaf Society. Along with Janet are Obrik and eight other men and women. Two of the new faces are twin male orcs with green ponytails and matching two handed swords sheathed on their broad backs. They differ in one regard. One carries a shotgun, the other a rifle. The rest of the six are elves. They are all carrying single hand full auto firearms, have various melee weapons sheathed at their hips, and wear light armor. They don’t give their names, nor do they ask for yours.
Janice does all the talking. She is wearing heavy armor with dark blue runes carved into the breastplate. She says, “The crimes of the Dead Lions go far beyond the fighting pits. We have been trying to bring them down for a long time before the Billington’s were murdered, but their connection with the HPD kept them protected. If you can bring down Captain Towers with what you know then we can rid the Houston streets of this vile gang. I’ll be honest with you. Taking out the Dead Lions means our reputation will increase throughout the city so let us handle the necromancers and the three of you secure the proof to disgrace Captain Towers. For your part in this I’ll pay you five thousand credits each.”
The location of the Dead Lions stronghold is shared, and the Bright Leaf Society decides to attack at once. They are joined by twenty-five other strong warriors armed and ready. The scouts of the BLS find a service entrance at the north-side of the building. The entrance is warded with magic, but four of the BLS hold out their hands and with a bright flash the runes fall apart. The door is opened, and the assault begins. The BLS druids leap forward down the long hallway with predator ferocity. Once inside the compound and past the shield, there is no need for the runners to go further and Trollick and Syd watch over Hawkeye as he invades the private server through the VR.
[Sblock=Hawkeye VR] Hawkeye: 28+77=105 [/Sblock]
Inside the VR Hawkeye sees the private server as a wide-open plain with pale blonde grass, a pool of water next to a tree with wide branches. In the branches of the tree are a pride of lions with torn, rotted skins. Where the flesh shows through the skin it is metallic and cybernetic underneath. The lions leap down from the tree with gleaming claws and fangs, ready to tear any intruders apart. Hawkeye knows the lions are just representations of security programs for the Dead Lions server. He makes himself invisible to their sight and dead to their noses and passes by them without harm. Hawkeye moves to the tree and places his hand on it. The tree represents the information node and Hawkeye now has access to everything it knows. He makes copies of all the relevant information and stores them in his phone.
While Hawkeye is busy finding the proof of Towers cover up Trollick and Syd wait and stay alert. The BLS went downstairs but you haven’t heard from them since.
Hawkeye pulls off his headset and says, “I got it." He holds up the screen of his phone and it shows a first person view of horrible things even a runner hates to see. The faces of the Billington family are clearly visible. You fast forward through the violent parts to the end of the video where Captain Towers shows up on screen. No other member of the HPD is present.
*Video dialogue: Captain Towers clearly looking disturbed: What kind of disgusting drek is this?
Glitterface’s voice: Scarlet Pips said to take them out. He didn’t say we had to be nice about it.
Pinkins comes into view on the video: So we had some extra fun, so what? They’re dead and that’s what matters.
Captain Towers looks away and shakes her head: Scarlet Pips is going to pay double for this one. *End Video*
You have successfully found the evidence that will make Captain Towers pay for her crime. The Runners remember Obrik told them Lieutenant Fawbreu of HPD can be trusted. Hawkeye slips back into VR and sends a copy of the video incriminating Towers to Fawbreu.
Trollick, Syd Vicious, and Hawkeye are at the entrance to the Dead Lions stronghold. They have not heard from the Bright Leaf Society.
State intentions