Pete's first shadowrun adventure: Tierra madre

[buzzmong]

I am in Vegas at the moment. I will roll in a bit.

If you're in Vegas you should be rolling pretty much all the time you're not sleeping.

[deject]

my meager gambling funds ran out way too fast

[Roman Totale]

my meager gambling funds ran out way too fast

Hookers are expensive.

[HereComesPete]

Pants -

The armoured guy is still dragging you up the gravel, you're outside and rained on for a second or two then up some stairs, you realise you're back in the mansion. You can't see from your restricted view of the faded stuccoed ceiling but you can hear a hive of activity, boots running past, loads of radio's chattering and hissing and voices calling out to unseen responders.

The armoured guy stops and leans in again,

I didn't get a word of that, the joys of a magehood are many fold. Well, they're not for the person wearing them but it stops you from summoning a big angry ghost or burning us all to ash with a load of flame.

Listen, the boss is gonna ask you some questions. Answer them truthfully, he knows when you're getting fact and fiction all confused. If you do that and it turns out this shit storm wasn't your fault, then chances are you'll go free. Unless you're guilty of something else around these parts.

He drags you past the bottom of the stairs and into a room decorated with real old civil war flags, pistols and muskets.

Right, the hood is coming off, you've still got cuffs on that'll zap you blind if you try any funky shit. Don't talk unless you're asked a question or the boss will get pissed.

He takes the magehood off you, flipping you around into a kneeling position with your arms behind your back, then stands back just out of your view.

In front of you there's a man in a lighter, slimmer version of the armour everyone else appears to be wearing. He's is sitting at an old wooden table that's been dragged away from one wall and cleared of it's paraphernalia. His armour is more formal, bars of rank on his low cut gorget.

[HereComesPete]

Deject, Roman -

Wiccans? I honestly didn't know there were any in there, it would explain the two unconscious women we're currently travelling with however. They look pretty similar to you in terms of dress, guess you're one of them as well huh? They're the only two I've seen, we went in a different way to the official horses.

You hear him set off wandering around again, pausing every now and then.

Well well, we got another. Welcome back mysterious elf! That just leaves the child with the sword wound and the apparent wicca ladies.

You will of course be aware that you're hooded and you're wearing cuffs. They're magecuffs, no offence I hope. The level of magical destruction I've seen today is making me a little wary and as I don't know for certain who is awakened and who isn't, you all get equal treatment.

For the benefit of our late riser, you are currently on the way to an undisclosed location where my employer will sort this out, you were dragged out of that hole by someone since departed this van. You have been gifted some healing via a mage and some injections hence the dull ache in your neck. The nausea you feel is a result of the intense magical state you were subjected to, lie back and relax so the drugs can work faster.

If any of you are hungry or thirsty you will receive succour when we arrive. Please don't try to escape, it tends to offend.

[Dog Pants]

I'll keep quiet then. Don't fancy getting zapped.

[HereComesPete]

Pants -

Well, given the utter lack of answers I've received I'm hoping you're going to help me and not end up locked away in a subterranean hole for the rest of your life, next to the fools in blue robes.

He slowly pushes back his chair, walks around the table and stops in front of you, crouching on his toes so his eyes are level with yours he leans forward a little, eyebrows up, clearly expectant.

Do both of us a favour, tell me your version of events. I want quick, concise and centred mostly on what the fuck happened in that big room across the hall.

[deject]

I assume I am in a similar situation as Roman?

[Dog Pants]

Hahaha, I forgot I was an elf. Thought he was talking to someone else. Even so, he hadn't asked me a question.

Uh, well. I was going about my business and I saw a commotion, people gathering outside this house. So I stopped to keep an eye on things. Oh yeah, some hispanic homme led me there, thought I was someone else. Anyway, looked like some kind protest or something. Public forum, some shit like that. They started going inside, and it was all raining and shit, so I figured "hey, that place looks dry. I'll jus' sit at the back an' knock back a few". Wonder where the fuck my rum went. Anyway, there was some cult shit going on so I hung near the back. Don't trust cults. This homme at the front started goin' all batshit crazy an' all the women started gettin' agitated. Things got a bit fuckin' strange then. Big man got bigger, like a demon or something, tearing the women apart. I was gonna make my exit, but I saw a couple other guys making with the magic fingers, so I got a little help of my own and started putting down some bayou covering fire. Them blue were doing something, powering him up or something, so I gave one the good news. All this black shit was globbing off the damn roof. Weird shit. An' someone somewhere was putting bullets into the big homme. Them hairy women looked like they were getting the better of him, an' he did some weird sacrifice shit, an' sounded real pissed. So me an' this other guy laid our shit down on him and he musta exploded or somethin' cos next thing I know I'm with th' cops and can't get a fuckin' smoke.

[HereComesPete]

I assume I am in a similar situation as Roman?

Yes, you're the 'mysterious elf' who the voice just told was wearing a hood and magecuffs.

[Dog Pants]

Oh, so that wasn't for me after all.

[HereComesPete]

Back at the mansion with pants -

Well, a little bit scattered in the telling but it does fit.

He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes, places on in your mouth and lights it, it's quite a fancy one with gold coloured felcher.

I appreciate that it's probably a little smoother than your usual smoke but needs must. Now, a few questions.

How many other magical users where in there? How many did you see die? How many did you or your spirit kill? You're a long way from New Orleans houngan, any reason? Where did the others go?

You may get a reward for your part in this whole affair if it turns out you helped kill the thing that attacked.

[Dog Pants]

I gone done some accent and slang research now I got summin ta say.

Jasper blows out a strained, smokey, breath and a blank look as he thinks back.

Uh, well. Dere wus de big bra. He gotten nailed by a buhlet. I drop a gris-gris on one of dem podnas in blue an he exploded, but latuh on. Th' other bra wid me, he did lakwise. Den dere wus dem hairy chawmuhs, reckon wun got near tore in half by da big bra, den he got 'nuthuh wid his knife. Uh, y'know, it's kinda hard to r'membuh. Oh Gawd, cap, the big bra? He done some nasty shit an' made dis big bawl o' glob or flesh or summin. Thing ate wun o' da blue podnas, an mabbe wun o' da chawmuhs. Fuckin' mean, cap. Bad fuckin' juju. Kinda messy in dere, hard to say. Anyways, I ain't no houngan. Jus' a servitour, me. Not even ain't no more dat either since I lef' Nawlins. An' everone else? Well shit, halfa dem in dere were chantin' or throwin' gris-gris. Bra which fought by me, them blue podnas, da fuckin' hairy chawmuhs. Oh yeah, an' da big bra, uv course.

[HereComesPete]

Pants -

Apologies, you looked young but your gift with the hmm, what do you call them again, les invisibles is it? Well anyway, you're gift with spirits is quite powerful according to my sweep team. There's a lodge out East of the old i99 I believe, near magnolia bluff. They might well help you develop your skills.

Regardless, your story, for all it's colourful flavour, answers my questions in as much as you obviously don't know what happened after the leader got shot. The bawl, damn it, ball of flesh and glob is news so I guess that qualifies you for an informant reward. Sergeant Deigh, cut him loose and give him his five hundred.

He walks back behind his desk, rubbing his temples.

Sure thing boss.

He lifts you up, un-clips your cuffs with a device from his belt and re-cuffs you with your hands in front then wanders off through an archway, gesturing you to follow.

In the room he's in there's a plastic desk surrounded by heavy boxes, some are open, guns and a multitude of equipment are stacked within. There's two chairs at the desk, he points at one

Pull up a plank. You and me gonna talk now, I got something interesting to impart.

[Dog Pants]

Jasper paws as his cigarette with the magecuffs as it burns the felcher.

Whutevah ya say, bra.

[HereComesPete]

Pants -

The El Tee, he's pure souled and high minded. Old school kinda badge. Thinks this is the police horse, not lonestar. But he does good and values his men, so I like the guy.

Truth is, he either doesn't see or doesn't want to see what goes on in the murky world of this city. The shadowy world of cons and marks, grifters and double crossers. I however know this game and I'm in a position where I can feed contacts of mine people and information that looks like it might help.

He reaches into one of the boxes and pull out a wedge of money.

Now, you could walk away with this five hundred. Or you could do me a favour and earn something else much better as well. What's it gonna be?

[HereComesPete]

Roman, Deject -

The van pulls to a stop after roughly half an hour. As it does there's a slamming of doors and muffled voices outside. A door slides back and you feel the wind and rain enter the muggy heat of the van. It rocks a little as someone moves around

I'm going to need three stretchers and two chairs. What? No of course not! They're still hooded and cuffed, I'm not a fuckin' idiot! Say that again! Exactly, damn right I'd kick your black ork ass!

The van moves again as the voice stops leaning out the door.

Right boys and girls, you're about to get moved. This'll be done with stretchers for those unfortunate enough to have not woken, but you two who've woken up will be placed in wheelchairs. I realise this is all very unsettling and probably getting you a bit pissed off too, but it'll be to your benefit to just sit back and listen. It was for me.

There's a clanging noise from by the door and then the sound of quite a few people working in a small space. Sounds like the three unconscious types are off and away on their stretchers. both of you are then helped up and placed in chairs. As you roll out the van down what must be a ramp you get hit by the wind and rain of the storm as it continues to lash down, then suddenly you're out of it again, rolling along on your chairs.

Eventually you come to a stop and it's quiet. Quiet enough you can hear the very gentle whirr of air-con and the crackling sound of a fire. Behind them you hear hushed activity as if from some distance away, the gentle beep of biomonitors and other medical equipment.

[deject]

Where are we? Actually, screw that, what the hell is going on. I have no idea what I am doing here.

[Joose]

You know, much as I enjoy being pushed about, its getting fucking uncomfortable lying here.

[Dog Pants]

So I'm gonna be workun for y'all, not Lone Stah. Well I ain't got no need for moneh anyways. I ain't no thug though.