We returned to our crew of new shadowrunners as they figure out how to best approach the three targets, and execute their plans.
For that, our Face, James, stepped in with his strategy.
Through his contacts, James found out that Mercedes Aurelia was looking to go into a real estate deal with her cousins, possibly as a front for their own criminal purposes beyond the activities of the Krewe of Aurelia. This does mean that James owes his Fixer a rather big favor. Our Face was able to reach out to the targets and pose as a real estate agent interested in selling them potential property, which Mercedes, while skeptical, went through her own verification system to see if this elf was genuine.
Which, of course, he was. His contacts saw to planting the right markers to make him genuine within the Matrix’s Yellow Pages. She was a bit worried about introducing James to her cousins, but the Face managed to convince her to meet him for coffee at Cafe Beignet on Royal Street. Taking their patio seats on the sidewalk, the two begin negotiating a sale that only one believes is genuine.
But our other ‘runners weren’t sitting idle. WD40, in perfect rigger form, scoped out a plausible reason to have his truck in the area of the hit beforehand. Using his actual job as cover, he asked his boss if there were any vehicles near Washington Square in need of hauling off to the ‘yard. There was one, a dilapidated Civic that would be good for scrap and little else. With his observation drone nesting nearby, WD40 set out to have his truck modified in order to haul off the wreck and give passengers a quick spot to hide, just in case. In a manner of hours, he had welded a small compartment into the rear of the Ares Roadmaster that would hide his companions, so long as nobody stared too long at the sheet of metal.
Bass, our sharpshooter, sought out and purchased the items he’d need to guarantee safe and quick getaways for the crew, scouted out the area and found his perfect camp-spot, and had his sniper rifle in place for the shooting. A couple flashbangs were purchased that could, hopefully, distract their targets and observing civilians from the potential murders enough to do the deed and escape.
The night before the gig would go down, the crew went out for a socializing round of drinks. During this, James’ Fixer, Guy Walsh, made a rare appearance in public with someone in tow, an ork with reddish skin who seemed out of sorts but knew exactly where everyone around him was in relation to his position. We were introduced to Jameson “Jim” Wiley, a transplant from Alabama in need of ‘work’. Within seconds, he was given the moniker “Tide” (thanks to his prolific use of the phrase “Roll Tide” that amused and annoyed everyone in his presence) and hired for the gig.
Tide, it turns out, was a Street Samurai, and absolutely gifted in the Arts of War and Combat.
The next day, our crew with their newest addition sets out to meet their targets. WD40 and James set up the flashbang grenades into distracting traps at the corners of the park in the morning, while Bass takes his position with his rifle. Tide assigns himself to James as a public bodyguard for appearances.
The hit goes down at 9:30 PM, in Washington Square, just as the Market Day on the Frenchman St. block starts winding down. The three Aurelias meet with James, as Mercedes shows pride in finding a decent real estate agent within Crescent City. Blink seems skeptical but trusts his cousin, while Colum, the elf of the family and a mute, stares hard at Tide. Why would he be here, he wondered. Before he could sign to his cousins, Mercedes took the initiative and approached James to begin negotiations.
It happened quickly.
Bass waited for the three to line up and took his shot. Mercedes received a high-powered round to her temple and dropped like a stone. Colum took the same round in the lung, and started to draw his own pistol. Tide stepped forward and drew his sword, making one strike upon escaping the sheath. In true samurai fashion, Colum fell beneath the blade. Bass adjusted his aim and struck Blink, while James drew and fired at the same time. During this attack, WD40 triggered the flashbangs at the corners, blocking lines of sight and distracting civilians and targets alike.
Within ten seconds, three people were dead and three other people were running for Elysian Fields Ave. James and Tide planted the evidence they were instructed to do so and made to leave, while Bass broke down his rifle and descended from his rooftop onto Dauphine St.
The crew almost did not make it to the extraction point, a back-alley parking lot across the double-lane street. A pair of NOPD patrolmen were walking their beats nearby and rushed to investigate, spotting the three ‘runners as they attempted to escape. WD40, in his truck, observed from his drone and triggered the last flashbang, which was closest to the police. As the light and sound distracted the two patrolmen, our three ‘runners made it to WD40’s truck, and our crew escaped, flashing through back streets and making for one of Bass’ safehouses in the nearby neighborhood (913 St. Roche) and laid low for the rest of the night.
The following day, after reaching out to the Johnson that hired them, the group was given the other half of the money promised to them. Tide was given a portion of the money, as a welcome member of the party.
By Wednesday, January 14, 2060, our shadowrunners are back at their homes and reading the Times-Picayune that details the murder that occured at Washington Square and how the investigation is ongoing with little leads as to who committed the crime, but talks about the items left at the scene.
Tag: 2060
Shadowun Gig 1/12/2060
Beginning the campaign with a tutorial session so as to let the players grow comfortable with the game mechanics, we’re at January 12, 2060 in New Orleans.
The Crescent City has continued to grow and thrive, despite the setbacks brought on by politics and weather. The Levy Breaking of 2019 is distant memory but remains as a point of pride within the culture. The Troll and Ork populations were pushed into the Lower Ninth Ward as humanity continues its policies of prejudice, and have turned the district into a hub for the two peoples. Elves flaunt their beauty in the French Quarter while Dwarves and Humans mingle throughout Garden and Middle City.
The 3 players who begin the campaign are:
-Donnie “WD40” Bordelon is a Human with a penchant for all things mechanical, working with one of the major scrapyards just outside the city. His VCR (Vehicle Control Rig) was installed in order for him to better manage the large vehicles necessary in the scrap yard, but he’s tinkered with his own vehicles and drones to accept his mental commands.
-Maynard Ulysses “Bass” Basse, a Dwarf with a talent for finding good hiding spots and exploiting them with a rifle, he is the one who can look at a map and tell you precisely where the sniper is going to be or should be.
-“James”, an Elf who plays his cards close to his chest and keeps several up his sleeve, is one of those folks who knows practically everybody but nobody can ever place him. A skilled wordsmith who knows precisely who to call if you need a cache of bullets, an invitation to a Mardi Gras Ball, or a body disappeared.
The gig (the NOLA term for a shadowrun) starts as all three are contacted by their Fixers, each believing them to be suited for a job that is floating about. The three meet the Johnson (the person who is negotiating the terms of the gig) and each other at the second story of a bar down in the French Quarter. The Johnson is flanked by two bodyguards who are stark contrasts to their boss: a Human dressed in an all-white suit to their traditional black. The Johnson speaks hautily in his Russian-accented English, which spikes the interests of James and Bass.
The gig is simple: He wants three people dead. What complicates the gig is that he wants the hit to go down in broad daylight, made as public as possible, and for items of evidence to be planted around the area. The hit is supposed to go down in Washington Square Park in two days’ time, when all three targets will be at the park. There is a market day happening along Frenchman St., just a block away from the park, and the streets will be crowded with foot traffic.
The team begins their planning. They ask around for info on who the three targets are, why they’d be at the park, and why their deaths would be important for the Johnson. They’ve pieced together the facts over several hours. The targets are all young people with status in the Krewe of Aurelius, who controls the Lower Ninth Ward district and oversees the local gangs in the area for the benefit of the Lamigo Family. Rumors were uncovered about the rival Koronev Family, who had established themselves within the northern districts, wanting to establish footholds outside their territory. The evidence meant to be left behind all point to a rival Krewe of Aurelius known as the Krewe of Mait’rede, who has bad blood with Aurelius.
The three plan out the hit, while still investigating. James find out that the targets are all cousins who frequently visit each other, named Blink, Mercedes, and Colum. Bass learns that the only person within Koronev who has been pushing for the territory expansion is a young upstart named Markev “Maestro” Koronev. WD40 figures out the kind of security the targets are employing for the meet and uses his drones as countermeasures while planning the getaway.
How will this group of Shadowrunners execute their plans and the targets? We will find out on Saturday night (October 3, 2020) at 9PM CST.
Swift's Corner 