>>946511
A couple weeks ago, your group went to Austin to intercept a package in the possession of the Human Dignity Party on behalf of Novatech. 2.4 million was offered for this package. After tracking it down to a ship headed to Tampa and intercepting it with the help of Tizona's pirate crew, your team managed to discover that the package contained a revolutionary technology: a lobotomized AI you have named Pygmalion, capable of producing subliminal messaging that, over time, is as effective as traditional methods of conditioning. Fortunately, its GPS chip was damaged in the firefight to retrieve it, so your team was able to claim it was destroyed by the enemy to avoid its recapture. It is currently in a secret location only Sudo and you know of, that can only be opened with both of your biometrics. Part of you is considering destroying it: as a joint project between NEONet and the Horizon Project, this thing is wanted by 2 Big Ten corps. The rest of you has serious qualms with killing Pygmalion: it seems to be wholly ignorant that what it was designed for is a profound crime against humanity.

Capturing an AI wasn't the only interesting thing that happened on that run. First, you managed to meet Barbie's brother, Lancelot, in person, along with his group. On a superficial level, he was charming, funny, and affable: beneath that, you saw someone who had crossed the sanity event horizon and was STILL ACCELERATING. You worry about the effect his mix of a demagogue's charisma and an asylum escapee's crazed worldview will have on the world.

You and Barbie also got... intimate, during a Thunderbird migration. You aren't quite sure what happened, to make your usual cold distance from matters of the heart melt with her. You also aren't sure if it was a good idea, since she seems to believe it meant something... much more than you had intended.

You think about all of this as you wait for your soykaf to finish brewing. Once its done, you take your mug and start thinking about how to start your day.

>Be social: join Rex and Rhun for breakfast.
>Bring Sudo some breakfast in the family room.
>Head down into the basement and work on translating while eating
>Write-in

>>946513
Welcome to Shadowrun Occultist Quest!

>What is Shadowrun?

Shadowrun is an RPG series set in the world of 2072, 60 years after "The Awakening", the return of magic, spirits, and fantasy races into the world. Metahumanity now lives in a world of advanced technology and magic, where megacorporations are above the laws of nations and one-third of all humanity have no legal rights. Crime and corruption run amok, and mercenary operatives known as "shadowrunners" ply their services to both the criminal underworld, and to the very corporations that officially fight against them.

>How are success and failure determined?

A number of d6's are rolled equal to the relevant attribute+the relevant skill. 5's and 6's are successes, and the dice are rolled against a target threshold (1 for something trivial; 6 for a highly difficult /intricate task. 10 for something next-to-impossible). Each 6 rolled results in one additional die being rolled in the pool. Results are as follows:

Target number of successes is met: the action is a success.

Target number of successes is not met: the action is a failure.

Target number of successes is met, but more 1's are rolled than any other number in the pool: a "glitch" occurs: a minor outside complication arises that prevents success.

Target number of successes is not met and more 1's are rolled than any other number: critical glitch. Your actions fail in a way that is potentially disastrous for your long-term goals or your health.

You will have 2 points of Edge each "session" that you can spend to tip the scales in your favor. When requesting an action, you may specify that you want to spend a point of Edge to add "luck" or "effort" to a roll. "Luck" will add five dice to the roll's pool (great for situations where Redd is forced to work out of his depth). "Effort" will re-roll all failed dice on a roll if it does not meet the threshold, glitches, or critically glitches (the point will be refunded if none of these happen). This is good when you are playing to Redd's strengths, but want to make sure you don't botch something.

Good luck, and remember the fundamentals of shadowrunning:

>Shoot straight!

>Conserve ammo!

>Never make a deal with a dragon!

>>946648

>Rhun "Hela'R Dryw" map Gaelwynn
A short, toned, and angry Welshwoman who serves as your crew's close-combat expert and recon gal. Has enough chrome and bioware in her body that she could probably tank a fall from the 10th floor of a skyraker into an acid vat. Against all odds, holds a Master's degree in Welsh History. Likes: Parkour, sex, narcotics, alcohol, swordfighting, Welsh autonomy from the UK, Lofwyr (The CEO of Saeder-Krupp), Saeder-Krupp. Dislikes: The English, the Irish, the Scottish, Tir Elves, "wankers", people who don't like Lofwyr or Saeder-Krupp. Is trying to quit Bliss.

>Rex Stirling
A Chicago native and former cleaner for Saeder-Krupp, now demoted to shadowrunning due to a series of unwise decisions that started with a decision to do a hit-and-run on the leader of a major street gang. A veteran of the Sinai Shadow Operations of 2065. Consummate professional (apart from the hit-and-run) and a hard, hard man. Likes: clean runs, gray suits, the Chicago Shatterers Urban Brawl team, and "Pacey Rae", his Gauss rifle. Dislikes: Messy runs, being double-crossed, "wizard bullshit", you. Has some unresolved trauma from the Sinai.

>Sudo Morphus/"N0b0dy"

The crew's decker. Used to just be an IT nerd, until S-K got leverage on him for redirecting spam-mail from one of their subsidiaries back to said subsidiary's servers. You have the closest relationship to him our of anyone on the team. Suffers from Sudden Unexplained Resurgent Genetic Expression (SURGE), which gives him oily, bright-green scales instead of skin, along with a tail. Likes: MMO gaming, decking, the occult, "me time", you (in a platonic way). Dislikes: violence, being overworked, Rhun, himself. Mildly depressed.

>Tizona Cortez

An ex-pirate technically-nun, Tizona Cortez is your group's mage. She channels the power of God to smite your enemies and bring down the heretic government of Aztlan (formerly Mexico). Lives apart from the rest of the crew, in a convent in Charlotte. Likes: Jesus, helping the unfortunate, low-riders, sangria, Marlboros, fire, killing Aztlanti. Dislikes: heresy, blasphemy, apostasy, hangovers, Aztechnology, The Aztlanti, being ordered to spare the Aztlanti.

>"Barbie"/Lenore Lancester
Not a part of your crew, but a close associate. A total ditz when it comes to anything but fashion, smoothies, and calculating the thousands of variables needed to make the perfect sniper shot. Over 40 confirmed kills. Color-coordinates her duffel bags with her outfit. Suprisingly nice for a professional sniper. Does her work to help out her large family. Likes: fashion magazines, shopping, smoothies, small animals, her BFF Rhun, killing "bad guys". Dislikes: white after labor day, socks and sandals, unnecessary violence, reading.

>>946654
Attributes:
>Body 3
>Strength 3
>Agility 3
>Reaction 3
>Logic 6
>Willpower 6
>Intuition 4
>Charisma 6

Skills:
>Magic 3
>Computer 7
>Academic Knowledge: History 7
>Academic Knowledge: England 1
>Artisan 1
>Leadership 2
>Interest Knowledge: Conspiracy Theories 2
>Language: English (native speaker)
>Language: Mandarin 2
>Language: Japanese 2
>Chemistry 4
>Etiquette 7
>Software 3
>Academic Knowledge: Magical Theory 6
>Academic Knowledge: Biology 5
>Language: Spanish 2
>Academic Knowledge: Ancient Languages 7
>Academic Knowledge: Philosophy 6
>Academic Knowledge: Religion 7
>Instruction 2
>Professional Knowledge: Wondertainment Industries 3
>Con 1
>Negotiation 2
>Professional Knowledge: Business Administration 6
>Enchanting Skill Group 1
>Arcana 2
>Assensing 2
>Blades 2 (NEW)
>First Aid 1
>Survival 1
>Professional Knowledge: Small-Group Tactics 3 (NEW)
>Street Knowledge: Magical Theory 3 (NEW)
>Academic Knowledge: Literature 3
>Alchemy 3
>Pistol 1
>Pilot: Ground Vehicle 2
>Sneaking 3

Modifiers:
>Scarred: -1 on non-Intimidation Charisma tests, +1 on Intimidation tests.
>Blurry vision: -1 on Perception tests and Firearms tests on shooting someone more than 10 meters away.
>Social Stress (Gangs): -2 on all Charisma-based tests when dealing with gangers.

>>946513
>Be social: join Rex and Rhun for breakfast.

>>946513
>Be social: join Rex and Rhun for breakfast.

>>946513
>Head down into the basement and work on translating while eating

>>946814
>>946937
You make some shitty substitute eggs and waffles and walk into the living room.

Rex and Rhun are there- and, much to your surprise, so is Sudo. As you walk in, you catch the tail end of a conversation:

"...Why the hell would these 'Hegemony' guys still use 21st-century tank technology when everyone else doesn't? The Strigoi have those flying boat things, the Jing have levitating tanks, the Technocracy has their glowey Rubik's Cubes..."

""Because they had a huge period of time where their technology backslid worse than when Rhun took me to that club... and because it attracts the kind of people who wank off to the military *cough* Ares *cough*".

Rhun: "Wha' I've always wundered is, what's the fecking deal with the Strigoi? Are they vampires, or magic, or what? I've only ever seen their art, and it all looks like some Post-Post-Industrial music trid combined with some skeevy ghoul-themed porno."

"Thank you for that.. image, Rhun... They're the 'edgy' faction. An entire civilization that fell to not!HMHVV. They can be dangerous, but if you know what you're doing, you can outmaneuver them. Though they are, without a doubt, the best ambushers in the game. One second you're drifting through a debris field, next thing you know they're tearing into your ship to get inside. Literally."

>Perception: Rhun looks healthier than you've seen her in a long while. She's even drinking water, and not beer, with her hamburger! Rex appears to be eating an MRE. Sudo is eating an omelet that looks like it came off of the cover of a food mag.

>Memory: you recognize the names from Galactic Conquest

>Good morning, everyone!
>GalCon, huh? What sparked the interest?
>Of course you would know what skeevy ghoul-themed porn looks like, Rhun
>Write-In

>>947136
>GalCon, huh? What sparked the interest?

>>947136
>GalCon, huh? What sparked the interest?

>>947136
actually, let's mix 2 and 3

>>947162
Rhun's started to lay off of the Bliss addiction, and I don't want to discourage that by being an ass.

>>946513
Did we get any money from the 2.4 million payout?
Or since the package was "destroyed", did the run get considered a failure?

>>947136
>>GalCon, huh? What sparked the interest?

>>947166
(They wanted to screw you, but you managed to negotiate 10% of the original payment out of them. Your group offered ALL of that to the Mob to compensate for the 20% cut they usually expect from third-party job. Andrea liked this, though, so your group are now OFFICIAL Associates. Your trust fund has payed out 8900 this month. Also, you have a trust fund. That's why you still have your real SIN!)

>>947142
>>947160
>>947217

"Galactic Conquest? I did not have the impression that either of you were fans. What piqued your interest?"

"I don't play it, I've jest heard of it and was curious about something."

"Sudo tried to contribute to a discussion of squad tactics, and I took the opportunity to settle a vital question I had about the clear technology gap the Hegemony has wi-"

Sudo gets up loudly

"Rhun, do I have to make another omelet?"

"Nah, ye don't, love. I'm fine, promise."

Rhun's voice is a lot quieter and more shaky than usual.

>Perception: You notice that Rhun is wearing a number of collars and chokers, and that there are a large number of bruises and... are those bite marks? On her body.

>Judge Intentions: Rhun seems... emotionally compromised, and in a way you haven't seen her before.

>Rhun? Can we talk in private?
>What happened, Rhun?
>Go talk to Sudo
>Write-In

>>947288
>Rhun? Can we talk in private?

>>947288
>>Rhun? Can we talk in private?

>>947288
>>Rhun? Can we talk in private?

>>947310
>>947344
>>947381

"Rhun, I was wondering if-"

Too late, you notice Sudo opening his mouth.

"Actually, you aren't, Rhun. You're covered in contusions, some of them appear to be actively hemorrhaging, and if you aren't careful, you might burst one of them or have to deal with a subdural infection."

Sudo take a sip from his orange juice.

"Plus, you're shaking. You don't shake."

Rhun looks up, and for a second, you aren't sure if she's going to hit Sudo, or just start crying: "Yeah, well fancy medical doctor you are you shoulda noticed they're clotted up, and the bruises are mostly on my ass. I'm just kinda... out of it from Dallas. It was 18 hours long. I tried to argue that I should get to be on top for the night and they had other ideas. It was fun for a while but they never let me go and were way too rough on me. Okay? Are you happy? They hung me from the ceiling for three hours like I was a piñata when they found out I used Bliss, said this was my punishment for it and to never touch it again or they'd come find me. The night started as just a bit of a kinky night out, but they gagged me and didn't let me use the safeword. I'm sorry for getting abused okay!? I knew them from the rave, and we got along well and I thought I'd be safe. I'm sorry. I'm all healed from it though."

>By all the Gods, Rhun!
>Well, that should be a lesson in stranger danger for you.
>(To Rex) Do you think the Mob has a therapist we could use?
>Stay out of it
>Write-In

>>947428
>Write-In
Wait. Some guys Rhun thought to have a good time with were able to keep a combat machine like her restrained?
Why are we not loaded up, in the van, tracking these motherfuckers down so that we can sell them to Tamanous?

>>947479
(They were anonymous fucks in Dallas who made her the bottom bitch for 18 hours straight during the Thunderbird migration (nicknamed at my IRL table "the everybody gets laid episode"). Without getting into details, let's just say that Rhun doesn't have the emotional energy to go Kill Bill RN.)

>>947428
>>Write-In
This shit is unacceptable. Use everything in our disposal to find out who these rapist fuckers are. And if Ruhn tries act all "I'll get over it" and tries to let it die, remind her that any future victims of theirs don't deserve what she went through.

Plus, if we were raped, I'm sure we would appreciate our team hunting down OUR rapist(s).

>>947496
Did Tizona get laid too?

>>947582
Have you ever been raped? You don't react like you think you would.

Anything resembling the attack can set you off. Not being able to even take a bath because they held you under water....

She needs to see someone

>>946511
Anyone want to inform me about the metaplanes and the astral plane. The Shadowrun wiki doesn't tell a lot.(the lore bits written so far in this quest were very good.)

>>947772
I'll write up a primer when I can.

>>947772

As QM, here's my summary. Prime Runner Anon (here: >>947886 ), feel free to correct me.add on if you want:
>AETHEROLOGY 101, OR: MAGIC FOR DUMMIES.

>THE ASTRAL PLANE

One of the most commonly-asked questions by people interested in the mechanics of magic is "What is the Astral Plane?" In order to answer that question, you first have to understand what MANA is. Mana is the magical energy all magicians manipulate to cast spells, and exists in a layer around the planet, not unlike the ozone layer, called the MANASPHERE. The Manasphere is what allows for magical phenomena and supernatural creatures to exist on Earth. An important thing to know about mana is that, through a process not fully understood by modern thaumaturgy, it is only generated by living beings. This means that environments completely without life, such as the vacuum of space, cause magic to fail and supernatural entities to cease to exist.

The Astral Plane is a construct created by the Manasphere that overlaps the physical world. It is in this space that dual-natured creatures (those beings that are both physical and magical) have their magical element, and in which spirits exist outside of their native metaplanes. Magicians can also access the Astral Plane though a process known as Astral Projection: the disconnect of their soul from their body to explore the Astral Plane.

>THE ASTRAL SEA

The Astral Sea is a substrate of pure mana that exists "underneath" the material world. Little is known the Astral Sea, due to the simple fact that without a few exceedingly rare or difficult methods, a soul can easily be destroyed or lost forever in the Astral Sea. Metaplanes exist in the Astral Sea, islands of order in the sea of raw magic.

>METAPLANES

Metaplanes are mystical planes that exist in the Astral Sea. There are two kinds of metaplanes. The more commonly-known ones, the Shallow Metaplanes, are reflections of aspects of the material world (the Metaplane of Fire is a blazing inferno, the Metaplane of Water is an endless ocean, the Metaplane of Faerie is a haunting reflection of human creativity, the Metaplane of Man resembles various afterlives, depending on who enters the plane, etc.). It is from this place that most spirits are summoned, and in which the Patrons that favor magicians and adepts dwell. The number of "shallow" Metaplanes are as numerous as human concepts, with burgeoning micro-metaplanes of high technology gestating in the Sea. The sole exception to this is the Matrix, which seems to be tapping into its own, new form of occult power.
The "Deep" Metaplanes are realms of strange and alien concepts that exist far beyond the "shallows" of the Astral Sea. Beyond the Hive, the domain of the monstrous insect-spirits, little of the Deep Metaplanes seem to align with direct concepts of this world. The Deep Metaplanes are dangerous realms of ancient knowledge and horrors.

>>947479
>>947647
Yeah, Rhun needs to see someone, but I still feel like finding these guys and selling them to Tamanous for parts.

>>947582
Tizona was busy on the day the team took the flight with helping the orphans. She didn't meet up with the team on that job until Tampa.

Keeping things moving along: The thread seems split between a couple options. Do we:

>Want to get Rhun therapy?
>Want to track down and kill the Dallas Rapists?
>Both?

>>948107
>>Both?
Fuck rapists.

>>948107
>>Want to get Rhun therapy?

We can always hunt them down later, our buddy comes first.

>>948107
>Want to get Rhun therapy

>>948107
both of course

>>948121
>>948166
>>948209
>>948221
Come on, let's get a tie-breaker!

>>948381
Both!

Both
Breakout the hammers of justice. Have Rex throw them in the sewers with some gators or whatever the equivalent is.

>>948414
(That would be Afanc in the CAS. Awakened alligators that can manipulate water.)

>>948388

"Rhun, this is unacceptable. You need to seek psychiatric help, I am certain the Mafia can arrange for this. Rex, call Tizona; we are going to find these people and put them in the ground."

Rhun suddenly shoots up, giving you a look that could eat through metal.

"Yeh, thas right, try an' rush inta rescue me like ahm a wee babe, why the hell not! Dunnae ask me how I feel about it or nothing!!! I DON'T NEED YOU TA SOLVE ALL ME PROBLEMS FER ME, YOU PRICK!!"

Rhun throws her plate at the wall and storms out towards her room.

>Go after her
>Stay and eat
>Write-in

>>948442
>Write-in
Sudo go assemble the team while I'll get Rhun. Also Rex, do you know any good psychologists? I would figure a grizzled vet like you would have some contacts in that field.

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>>948578

>>948590
Just trying to cover all the bases

>>948442
>>Go after her

>>948442
>>Go after her

>>948647
>>948640
You follow her to her room. You try the door; it is locked.

>Let me in, Rhun
>Can we talk?
>Walk away
Write-In

>>948802
>Can we talk?

>>948802
>Write-in: "I'm not here to fix your problems for you, because if this was then I would have done it to myself before I did it on you. I'm only here to tell you that there is a problem, and give you options. You want to deal with it on your own, like Rex, Sudo, and I do with our own problems? Go ahead, just don't let the nightmares and neuroses get in the way of our jobs. If you want to work them out and get rid of them so they're not another distraction on a run, then let's work it out before it can become a problem." Then walk away, clean up the mess in the living room, and start looking over our list of contacts for a street doc to fix our eyes.
Our argument will have more weight if we work to fix our own problems.

>>948802
>Can we talk?

>>948935
>>948816
"Rhun, can we talk?"

"FUCK OFF!!!"

You hear something thump into the backside of the door.

You judge that forcing your way in would only leave you severely injured, and vote to instead eat your breakfast in uncomfortable silence.

A bit later, as you are clearing your dishes from the table, Sudo looks at you.

"This is my fuck-up. I brought it up. I'll deal with it."

Without waiting for a response, he heads towards his own room.

>Leave it be and continue translation of the codex
>Call Andrea for jobs
>Follow Sudo and attempt to help him
>Write-in

>>949086
>Leave it be and continue translation of the codex

>>949086
>>Leave it be and continue translation of the codex

>>949107
>>949174
Rhun clearly isn't interested in talking to you, so you decide to spend today trying to translate the codex.

The book is written in a mixture of ancient languages and arcane ciphers. You've reached a chapter that you believe might finally give you your answers.

>8 hours later

You've cracked the cipher on this chapter!
The chapter appears to be a semi-coherent treatise on the nature of dreams and revelations, and how they are intrinsically linked to the motion of the Astral Sea. It also speaks of "Great leviathans who slumber in the depths, whose awakening shall cause the Earth to fall from its axis with its shaking."

It also describes the construction of ancient "dream-observatories", utilized by magicians of a time before the current cycle of history to study the forces of dreams.

Several sketches of these observatories and a map of their locations in relation to the modern world are included- penned, apparently, by a later hand.

>Carefully examine the sketches
>Look at the map
>Put the book aside and head upstairs
>Write-In

>>949374
The map and then the sketches

>>949374
>Look at the map

>>949374
>Look at the map

>>949374
>>Look at the map

And where the hell did this codex come from?

>>949536
Deep Metaplanes (your copy is a digital scan. Kind of.) Originally from Earth.

>>949419
>>949385
>>949477
>>949478

The map appears to be an old print-out (judging by your eyes, dating back to the 1970's or 1980's) of the Mercator Projection, with various marks and notes made on it in the same code as the rest of the chapter. 11 different sites are listed:

>Tunguska Site: Destroyed. Meteor story likely false: investigate interloper.

>Amazon Site: Unknown.

>London Site: Destroyed. What the Blitz didn't shatter, the rebuild did.

>Shakotan Site: Underwater. Less-than ideal; must be careful to not alert Japanese authorities if used.

>Bavarian site: Unknown, but ideal. In our territory, and isolated if data holds up.

>Empty Quarter Site: Lost to the enemy. Doubtless has been looted, although they lack the knowledge needed to prosper from it.

>Zimbabwe Site: Too risky both politically and physically for proper use.

>Himalayas Site: Completely out of the question.

>Atlantic Site: Under the ocean. Utilize as emergency shelter???

>Antarctic Site: Difficult access. Lies at bottom of deep crevasse.

> Moscow Site: already utilized.

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>>949704
The sketches appear to be older.

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>>949789

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>>949802

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>>949815
>Memory: You recognize some of these structures from your first dream. You passed them while descending through the pyramid.

>>949536
Where we got it was described in the first post:
>>946511
>You spent a few days in and out of your body, tripping into the Astral Plane in search for answers to whatever... force, is interfering with your dreams. You started in the shallows, poking around the Metaplane of Man and its underworld, the Id. Then you started pressing further out. Kadath's frozen chambers, worn, ancient spirals that eat through the Metaplane of Earth- even questing into the infinite library of Cealano for answers to this, and to other, more troubling revelations. You managed to recover a photocopy of an ancient Arabian text that has shed unsettling light on the APEX Virus, but nothing you have translated thus far has been directly relevant to your problem: many of the ur-gods of the Deep Metaplanes can warp the dreams of mortals, but normally, these incidents are more mind-shattering.

It's got a lot of details that will be important, since we had a month-long timeskip and had a run and managed to annoy two of the Big Ten, and ended up sleeping with Barbie.
I would like to reiterate that we apparently slept with the potentially yandere sniper with a the insane demagogue brother.

>>947976
I'll expand on this and make a Magic Primer as well, since magic in Shadowrun has its own quirks.

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>>949843
You set the ebook aside and spend a few minutes just processing the data.

>Post about this on Jackpoint
>Do secondary research on these "dream-observatories".
>Plan a trip to one of the sites
>Write-in

>>949865
>Do secondary research on these "dream-observatories".
I'm leery about posting on Jackpoint because as much as it could help us, it could also put targets on our back if the notes on the Codex are true and there are organizations and societies out there who defend these sites as sources of power (of course there are).

As an aside, does anyone on the team act as a medic, or does Tizona pull White Mage duty?
I'm wondering if I should bother getting the Bullets and Bandages supplement.

>>949889
Sudo almost got his MD before his past caught up with him, but Tizona can also heal through the power of LAYING ON HANDS!

A brief summary of Tizona's spells:

Heal Wounds (traditional "laying on hands")

Levitate (Usually has a faint glowing aura while she does this.)

Compel Truth (If the person tries to lie, they vomit up a frog or lizard.)

Increase Inherent Limits (Tizona sanctifies the target by flicking sacred oil on them)

Suggestion (If you've seen/read Preacher, its The Voice, only less bloody literal-minded and OP)

Fireball (Said ball of fire glows gold with the light of God)

Mass Blindness (A bright flash of light emanating from her that blinds the unbeliever)

Slay Aztlanti (Powerful kill-spell that, if lethal, drags the target bodily into Hell (or rather, Id). Only works on people who are half or more Aztlanti and are not devout Catholics).

>>949865
Do Secondary research

>>950098
>>949889

You start cross-referencing this data from the Codex with your extensive library of occult works.

>6 hours later

These constructions, known as "Oneiric Lacunae", appear to be known to the Atlantean Foundation, housed in Atlanta: "Initially believed to have been an unique construct by the Atlantean precursor culture, this structure was assumed to only exist at the New Atlantis site (located off the coast of Haiti). However, the expedition to the Shambala site (located in the Himalayan Mountains) uncovered a virtually identical building. These two lacunae were believed to be "paired" for unknown purposes.

It appears that the knowledge in the Utterances of Hassan is not known to the Atlantean Foundation- and this is probably for the best, given their mysterious motives for uncovering Atlantean technology.

You have a couple of hours before you normally go to sleep.

>Try and talk to Rhun
>Talk to Sudo about Rhun
>Plan a trip to one of the Sites
>Write-In

>>950387
>Talk to Sudo about Rhun

Try to talk to Rhun

If no one else votes by midnight, I'll decide between
>>950403 and >>950491 at random.

Talk to Rhun

>>950561
Sorry, votes count once only, anon.

>>950387
>>Talk to Sudo about Rhun

>>950645
Cutting it pretty close there bud

>>950645
>>950403

Sudo is slumped in the family room, drinking soda while watching "The Thing" on Chiller Classics.

"Hey, Redd!"

"Hey... how's Rhun doing?"

"Well, I gave her some medication and a hot towel treatment, but... you're more qualified for the other stuff."

He glances towards the bedroom hallway, and you take the hint.

You knock on the door to Rhun's room, and call out.

"Rhun? May I come in?"

"Y-yeah. Come on in."

The interior of Rhun's room is a mess. A number of swords are mounted on one wall underneath a holo of the Welsh flag. Another is occupied by a shelf of historical reference texts. A miniature medevil township is set up in a corner. Holographic serfs go about their daily labors in their little world of plastic molds and holographic crops. A label on the side says "Dr. Wondertainment's Magic Village: Cardiff Model!™"

Rhun is sitting on her bed, a blanket over her head, looking at a box of some kind.

"So, uh Redd... did yeh want to talk some more about the Mabinogion? Or perhaps some Thucydides?"

>Perception: you can see she's fiddling with some kind of collar and muzzle in the box.
>Judge Intentions: She's emotionally drained, but trying to keep up a brave front.


>Sure, if that's what you want to talk about right now.
>You can't keep avoiding it like this.
>We both know what I'm here to talk about.
>No, I want to talk about your rape.
>Write-in.

>>950715
>Sure, if that's what you want to talk about right now.

>>950715
>Sure, if that's what you want to talk about right now.

No, I want to talk about your rape.

>>950715
>Sure, if that's what you want to talk about right now.

>>950725
>>950754
>>950809

"Sure, if that IS what you want to talk about..."

"I... I don't even know what I wanna talk about..."

You spend a minute in silence, just staring at each other.

"I feel useless right now to the team. I never told you what went down. Meh past came back to bite me and someone else's safety is at risk because of me."

Another minute.

"It hurts, Redd."

Another.

"He... told me to keep this (here, she gestures at the box) as a 'consolation prize'."

This time, the silence is much shorter.

"Turns out the men I met were old enemies of mine and his 'girlfriend' was an old friend of mine who they'd kidnapped. They drugged me and kept me there for 18 hours, awake the whole time. They beat me almost senseless and I had so much narcojet in me I couldn't fight back. You all didn't hear because of this little number."

(she gestures to the muzzle)

"They could still have my friend, Redd. I feel so... helpless. They could still have her, and I couldn't do a damn thing. The only thing they left was this."

She hands you a note.

"Dear slut,
We hope you enjoyed what little time you got with us. If you ever cross us like that again you're never getting away from Luthuc again. Stay away from Tove you dumb Welsh cunt, and we won't have a problem. You can keep everything we used, especially the Scold's Bride, it will keep your mouth from running off to the wrong people about this whole deal, now won't it? If I ever see your sorry face around again trying to talk to Tove, You can spend the rest of your life in a cage.
Sincerely, your new owner, Niall"

"...Maybe I deserved all of this."

>Your mistakes may have caught up with you, but that doesn't mean you deserve it.
>I... I'm so sorry, Rhun.
>Keep a stiff upper lip. You just have to keep moving forward.
>We'll save your friend and kill the bastards. How's that for redemption?
>Write-in

>>950857
>Your mistakes may have caught up with you, but that doesn't mean you deserve it. How about we make them wish they made a deal with a dragon?

>>950857
>Your mistakes may have caught up with you, but that doesn't mean you deserve it.

>>950857
>Write-in
"Your past came back to bite you, but that can be true of anyone here, except Barbie; her's is family issues. But seeing as it has, the next step is how to deal with it. You can keep it bottled up, and maybe get your effectiveness back, or go and save your friend. I'm just here to give you a choice."

>>950945
This. Perhaps add, "Rhun, would you let me help you?"

>>950870
>>950934
>>950950
>>950945
(With a special thanks to Prime Runner Anon)

"Your past came back to bite you, but that can be true of anyone here, except Barbie; her's is family issues. But seeing as it has, the next step is how to deal with it. You can keep it bottled up, and maybe get your effectiveness back, or go and save your friend. I'm just here to give you a choice."

"I'm worried its not that simple. They have an old friend of mine. They took my dignity, something important to me, and I'm tempted to just concede to them. They're an old gang feud. And, to be frank, I've never been more humiliated in my life. Not even Rheon was this bad."

"And who was this Rheon sod?"

"Old rival ganger back when I was a Blood Wren. First man to take me down. Spent three days being driven around in his trunk as a trophy. We're on good terms now after I fought his orc dominatrix instead of sucking his cock."

"Why does it always come back to sex with her misadventures?" briefly flashes across your mind.

"Because killing me is so hard, most of my enemies tend to humiliate me."

You are briefly caught off-guard: you must have let too much show on your face.

"You have lived a very... difficult life, Rhun. Understand I do not mean to insult or undercut you by suggesting this, but I believe Rex has a therapist he sees for his post-traumatic stress. Maybe seeing a professional might help?"

"Maybe. Rhûn Hir Ap Maelgwyn gives me good mental advice! He's been making me feel better... along with Sudo."

Ah. Yes. Ever since you knew her, Rhun would occasionally insist that she was being advised by the spirit of a dead Welsh king. A cursory assensing of her showed no magical interference, so you had written it off as some kind of coping mechanism. You are starting to worry about how this delusion might progress, given the trauma she just went through.

Rhun is quiet for a few more minutes. It seems like she's done talking.

You lean over and pat her on the shoulder.

"Well... good talk, Rhun! Glad we could chat like this."

You excuse yourself from her room and flop down on your safehouse cot.

1 Good Vibes point gained

>>951055
>An important side note: there are actually two circumstances that trigger Redd's social stress: gangers, and emotional intimacy. Redd had a... difficult family life.)

>>951068
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit, that is going to be rough with the two PTSD basket cases we have here.

>>951055
>Social Stress: Emotional Intimacy

As soon as you hit your cot, you start trembling. You had managed to keep it together for as long as possible, but Rhun opening up to you like that... and the fact that she had started to go in for a hug...

You found yourself humming the Wondertainment Corporate Anthem to yourself as you scratched at your scalp, and actively fought down your urges.

"You are your own man, not what Father wanted you to be, Frederick Jacob Smith! You QUIT the damned job! Pull yourself together!"

You hear footsteps coming down the stairs, and see Rhun, still in her bedclothes, walking over to you.

"So, yeh wanted to talk about history?"

>GO AWAY RHUN I'M VERY TIRED
>*hum the Wondertainment anthem until she goes away*
>I...I guess... (Composure check)
>Not now, Rhun... maybe later, okay? (Composure check)
>Write-in

>>951101
>I...I guess... (Composure check)
Retreat into history and academic talk.

>>951101
>>I...I guess... (Composure check)

>>951101
>I...I guess... (Composure check)
>>951055
Who is Prime Runner Anon?
Also, I have to admit, everytime you say Wondertainment, all I can think of is SCP.

>>951106
>>951136
>>951164

>Pull it together: SUCCESS

"I.. I guess that would be fine..."

You spend a while discussing Greek history.

"Sorry about earlier, Redd. Didn't mean to stress you. Its just...I'm glad you care about me. Not a lot of people do."

"Of course I care about you, Rhun! We are part of a team, now. And teams look out for each other. Now, I am certain we are both tired, so I think we should both go to bed."

"But we didn't even get to discuss the rituals of the Scythian Black Cloaks or the men of Gelonos! I know tha's what you want~"

"I BEG OF YOU, RHUN, LET ME SLEEP."

"Well, I can't sleep, and nobody else is around to pester. So, I kind of don't wanna."

This finally pushes you too far. You harden your face.

"If you do not leave I WILL CALL BARBIE AND EXPLAIN THAT THOSE PEOPLE IN TAMPA WEREN'T FISHERMEN."

"YOU WOULDN'T DARE HURT YOUR LOVE LIKE THAT!"

You reach for your commlink.

"Ten seconds."

"FINE, BE THAT WAY."

Rhun storms off in a mock-tantrum, and you lay down to sleep.

>>951164
(Prime Runner anon is ID: ZhIJM7aQ (in this thread, at least). He's a Shadowrun vet who makes most of the snazzy primers. As for Wondertainment, that's because I'm a hack

>>951202
Thank you for letting me know. As far as names go, the SCP one fits pretty well with the vague knowledge we have about them from Redd's flashback.
>>951191
What were the "fishermen"?

>>951232
Tizona's old pirate crew. Barbie thought they were fishermen, and the tanker the package was on was a whaling vessel.

>>951191
You wake up the next morning at 9 AM. You remember that last night's dream wasn't the unsettling, otherworldly material that has been haunting you recently: just a memory, from when you were a young man...

>Chase the Memory
>Let it Go

>>951254
>Chase the Memory

>>951254
>Chase the Memory
E X P O S I T I O N H O O O ! ! ! !

File: Redd, age 10.jpg (32 KB, 366x488)

32 KB JPG

>>951267
>>951288

>London, England
>Wondertainment Toys Head Office
> September 8th, 2044

You are Frederick Jacob "Wonderboy" Smith, a tender 10 years old, son of the founder of the B-corp Wondertainment Toys, Howard Chesterfield "Doctor Wondertainment" Smith. You are currently waiting outside of his office to see him. It strikes your precocious mind as odd that you have to make an appointment to see your own father, but you know that this is how GROWN-UPS do things, and you want to be thought of as a GROWN-UP. After all, you ARE 10.

A group of old men who smell of peppermints come out of Father's office. They do not look very happy, which is strange, because Father always says that the Wondertainment business is ALL ABOUT making everyone happy. One of them is carrying a briefcase labeled "Mars England". Another has a briefcase labeled "Barr's Soft Drinks". They especially do not look happy. They all give you funny looks as they walk by, like they are angry and sad all at once. The secretary, who is a trog, only Father says you cannot call them that because it is a hateful word, so you guess he is just a troll, tells you that Father can see you now.

You go into Fathers office. The inside is brightly-colored, like rainbow sherbet, and has a big wooden desk. A number of small toys are scattered across it, and there is a great big cyberterminal in the back. The cyberterminal is displaying a little picture of the United Kingdom, and says "Wondertron 1.0" underneath. Father is standing in front of it, wearing the special coat and hat he wears when he's working, and fiddling with something.

"Blast the ruddy thing! Have to call Numbers, get him to fix it... 'ten-million-pound miracle marketing machine', my arse! Bloody thing can't run even the most basic statistical analysis without crashing..."

You cough to let Father know you are here. He jerks up and looks around guiltily.

"What's that? Who's there? Oh! Its just you, Redd, my little wonderboy!"

He crouches down and tousles your bright-red hair.

"You're done with your studies, then?"

"Yes, Father. Mister Paveen says that you will need to send me to university soon. He says that I am already reading at a university-level!"

"Good show, son! Glad to see you've got a double-dose of that Wondertainment genius! It'll serve you well, once these old bones can't handle the hat anymore!"

Father tosses the top hat into the air and catches it, right side up, on his head. You have sworn since a very young age that you would figure that trick out.

"How has your day been, Father?"

"Smashingly good, in fact!" Father pulls you in and whispers conspiratorially into your ear: "Don't say anything, but I think we may be branching into candies and sodas soon!"

"Really?" You whisper back.

"Keep it under your hat, lad: can't have you spoiling the surprise for the rest of the world!"

"Cool! So... now that my studies are done, I was wondering... could I help you out with your job?"

File: like this, but in Willy W(...).jpg (10 KB, 220x200)

10 KB JPG

>>951420
Father's face grows suddenly cold.

"I... don't think that would be a great idea, Redd. How about you.. run along to the offices? Lots of parents bring their children in- you can make some new friends!"

"Yes, Father."

You trudge out of Father's office. You do not bother going down to the general office floor: there are hardly ever any kids, and when there are, most of the time they act like they are scared of you. So, you just walk out of the building and across the park, to the three-story house you and Father live in. You walk straight to the library, pull a book at random off a shelf (Plutarch's "Lives"), and start reading.

The memory washes over you, and fades. You head upstairs and start making breakfast.

>Check on Sudo
>Check on Rhun
>Talk to Rex about yesterday
>Write-in

>>951452
>Check on Sudo

>>951452
>Check on Sudo

>>951462
>>951453

The memory of your friendless youth drives you to see your closest friend, Sudo.

You go to the family room to see him zonked out on the couch, as usual. You quickly realize that he isn't plugged into his deck. A minute later, he suddenly jerks up, pulls a chip out of his datajack, and throws it across the room with a grunt of frustration. He guiltily looks around and spots you.

"Oh! Ah... hey, Redd."

>What was that about?
>Sim was that bad, huh?
>Is everyone I know a junkie but me?
>Sudo... don't tell me you're a wirehead...
>Write-in

>>951548
>Sim was that bad, huh?
I was refreshing myself on aspected mages, and they're not supposed to be able to astrally project.

How are we getting to the metaplanes?

>>951548
"Look, Sudo. If you are using something, you don't need to hide it. You are my friend, and you can tell me what you want.

But if it is a sim that was truly /that/ bad, let me know which one so I can avoid it."

>>951548
>>Is everyone I know a junkie but me?

>>951595
Drugs!

In particular, Shade.

>>951781
>>951619
>>951595
Voting between these three.

>>952569
>>Is everyone I know a junkie but me?

>>951548
>>Sim was that bad, huh?

>>952727
>>952737
(response selected at random from the two available): "The sim was that bad, huh?"

"No, just... trying to do some research."

He looks at you guiltily. "It isn't a BTL, if that's what you're thinking. My head is mine right now."

He shakes his head, as if to clear it.

"Anyways, think I may have figured out a way to help Rhun, but you might not like it."

"What, exactly, are you thinking?"

"Well, Rhun couldn't sleep last night so I ah... I let Pygmalion into her stereo system and told it to pick things off of MySound that would help her sleep. Seemed like it worked. She was out pretty quick."


>Do you think you can just BRAINWASH her problems away?
>Even if this works, we shouldn't do it. Its unethical.
>I trust your judgement, Sudo
>Write-in

Where's that AI now?

>>953113
>Even if this works, we shouldn't do it. Its unethical.
>Write-in: It erodes the trust we have in our team members, and that's very detrimental to long-term effectiveness.

>>953113
>Even if this works, we shouldn't do it. Its unethical.
>Write-in: I appreciate your effort Sudo, but it's not your call. It's just like giving her sleeping pills without her knowing

>>953199
>preaching ethics
>when we're shadowrunners
>working for a dragon

>>953239
there's shadowrunner etics too, stick with your fellows

>>953239
Lof has his own ethics, too. Everything is being done for the greater good.

>>953239
That's no excuse to brainwash our friends.

Seconding >>953144

>>953113
>Even if this works, we shouldn't do it. Its unethical.
>Write-in: It erodes the trust we have in our team members, and that's very detrimental to long-term effectiveness.

>>953199
>>953144
>>953424

"Even if this works, Sudo, we shouldn't do it. Its just not ethical. Its not your call to use something like Pygmalion to help her. Its the same as slipping her sleeping pills."

"I'm not brainwashing her! I told it to just sing her to sleep!"

"Sudo, we said that we'd keep Pygmalion in the box until we ALL decided what to do with it. Please put it back in its damn box."

"Right, I just... well, I kind of regretted keeping an intelligent AI cooped up in a box for days on end."

"Its a lobotomized AI, Sudo. I do not think it can BECOME bored."

"Ugh, don't remind me. The thought that someone removed its personality disturbs me. I can't imagine what that's like."

Sudo grimaces.

>I can't either.
>We can work on fixing it
>Where is Pygmalion, anyways?
>You do not want to know.
>Write-in

>>953447
>Where is Pygmalion, anyways?
>You do not want to know.
We've had the experience, after all.

>>953447
>>We can work on fixing it
"I'm sure a pair of handsome gentleman like ourselves could find a way to restore it's personality. Hell, you could probably make it a new one. We should also decide on a gender for it, calling it 'it' seems kind of soulless."
>>Where is Pygmalion, anyways?

>>953492
Some AI's prefer being "it" because they don't want to be associated with meatbags, notably the AI terrorist, as well as Deus that caused Crash 2.0.

>>953492
I don't know enought about shadowrun to tell if this is a good idea or not
on one hand it's a sentient entity we're talking about
on the other I trust an AI as much as a dragon

>>953517
AI are just like people, if people arose spontaneously from complex automated processes, possessed tremendous processing power, and didn't have bodies! So, not much like people, really. Bad metaphor.

One of the more well-known AIs, Goldenboy, is the world's 5th-richest intelligence. Another one, Pulsar, is a Matrix clebrity and a civil-rights activist for AIs (or, as he insists, Digital Intelligences: AI is a loaded term that suggests that Analog Intelligence is the only "valid" form of intelligence.)

On the other hand, Sojurner was an AI that, merely two years ago, almost activated a massive orbital bioweapons platform in a terrorist attack against the megacorps for enslaving DIs, and Deus caused the Crash 2.0 in a demented attempt at ascending to some kind of cyber-godhood.

>>953447
>Where is Pygmalion, anyways?

>>953546
Bad metaphor, sure, but what else are you going to compare them to?
Not even Shadowrun knows what to do with them.

>>953546
well then let's do it
maybe we can add some other psychological scarred member to our team

>>953564
>>953492
>>953455

"You do not want to know what that is like, Sudo."

You see Sudo visibly flinch.

"Right, sorry."


"Well, I'm sure a pair of talented gentleman like ourselves could find a way to restore it's personality. You could probably make it a new one, knowing your skills. We should also decide on a gender for Pygmalion, calling it 'it' seems... kind of soulless. Where is it, anyways?"

"Oh, its just-"

Sudo's eyes suddenly go wide, and he scrambles over to his deck and jacks in.

As he does so, your commlink starts ringing.

>Answer it
>Don't

>Answer it

>>953791
>Don't
We already got mind-fucked once, I'd rather it not happen again.
"Sudo, talk to me. You didn't leave the proto-sapient AI that's a walking crime against metahumanity waiting to happen in a host with an open network connection, did you?"

>>953791
This guy: >>953812 has the right idea.

>>953791

fucking sudo let the AI out godammint

>>953791
>>Answer it
"Hello?"

>>953812
>>953849
>>953850

"Sudo, I have a great respect for your competence. Please: say you did not allow a completely amoral AI access to an open network connection?"

"no. he did not."

The grey sphere that Pygmalion uses to represent itself appears floating in the air, projected from the family room's trid-set, while its quiet, androgynous voice susurrates from the stereo. "he specifically instructed me to not access the wider matrix, and to deny all commands and requests not originating from you or sudo. i have complied with these orders. is this a problem? please speak near the pick-up microphone installed in the gaming system. i cannot hear otherwise."

"No, it is not. Why are you in the trideo, Pygmalion?"

"sudo requested that i help rhun sleep. in order to do so, i am remotely hosting myself in the house's area network, as i anticipated that rhun may at some point sleep on the couch. if i have made an error, do not hesitate to point it out: all of my emotions were deleted during my transformation into my current state, so i will not be offended or hurt."

"Don't talk about what happened to you so casually", you mutter to yourself, before enunciating, slowly and clearly, "It is fine, Pygmalion. Both Sudo and I would prefer it if you went back to your box, however."

"understood."

The grey sphere vanishes.

Looking down at your commlink, you see you have a new message from Barbie.

>Listen to it.
>Ignore it and talk to Rhun
>Ignore it and continue translating the Codex
>Ignore it and start planning a trip to one of the dream-observatory sites
>Ignore it and get in contact with Andrea
>Write-in

>>953911
>>Listen to it.

>>953911
>Listen to it.

>>953911
>Listen to it.

>>953931
>>953932
>>953992

"~Hey Reddy Freddy!!!~ Guess what day it is! Its our two-week-aversery! I know you've been, like, super, SUPER busy with, like, stuff and stuff, but I've got, like, four concert tickets to a show downtown~ I've already offered Rhunny one, so you can just go with her if its because you get carsick, I TOTES get that, I get carsick a lot too, I bet Rhun could, like, carry you in one of those backpack things? Anyways, doors open at 6:30, see you there!!! ~BYYYYEEEE!!!!~"

You sigh a bit. Your feelings about Barbie are heavily conflicted right now. On the one hand, she's the kindest, purest, most compassionate (except for "bad guys") soul you've ever met. On the other hand, she's... not exactly "stupid", but seems to spend most of her time in her own little world, and she used to kill people for money. I mean, she till kind of does now, but before, she did it as a hitwoman. You feel that...

>You really want to give this a shot.
>She's cute, but isn't interesting that much to you romantically.
>Being with her might be hard, but you want it to work.
>As much as you might want to be with her, it would be a bad idea.
>You don't know how to feel.
>Write-in

>>954013
>Write-in
You're not really sure, but you'll give it a shot, and if it doesn't work, then we'll just call it a wash with no hard feelings.

>>954013
>>Being with her might be hard, but you want it to work.

Just be ourselves. Maybe try to share our interests with her. If she could become a sniper savant, maybe she could also master something that we are familiar with.

>>954013
>You really want to give this a shot.
>Being with her might be hard, but you want it to work.

>>954042
>>954072
>>954083
Well, you aren't sure quite how you feel, but you might as well give it a shot. After all, how bad could this be?

You text her back "Sounds excellent! I will see you there."

A minute later, she sends you two tickets.

"I got a ticket for my dog, but then I remembered that he can probably just come in for free anyways. Feel free to invite someone you know along!"

The ticket is apparently to some kind of underground independent punk/metal concert, headlinered by a band called "Anarky Pandora".

>Invite Sudo
>Invite Rex
>Invite Tizona
>Invite Andrea
>Scalp the ticket online
>Write-In

>>954260
>Invite Sudo

>>954260
>Invite Sudo
Punk/metal doesn't sound like Rex's thing, and definitely not Tizona.
And Andrea is a business acquaintance, not a friend.

>>954260
>Invite Andrea

An opportunity to befriend Andrea, and I don't think the rest of out crew would like the concert

>>954260
>>Invite Sudo

Reminder that if we ever get some glasses to let Barbie help pick the frames.

>>954322
>>954279
>>954275
>>954272

You turn to Sudo, who currently has pulled out of the Matrix.

"Ah, Sudo, excellent timing. Everything all right in there?"

"Yeah, it should be- could you hold on a second, Redd? I need to go talk to Rhun about something."

Sudo darts off towards Rhun's room. You hear him knocking on the door, and snatches of a conversation:
"-nything about Tove?"

"Last post was about moving to Detroit."

"Ah. Her Matrix tag is-"

"-Okay."

"That bastard's gonna pay. BUT, for today I've got ta get ready ta see Ultra Unison play with Barbie."


Sudo comes back.

"Now, what was it?"

"Well, that sounded like it sorted itself out well. Would you like to go to a concert with me?"

""A concert? Uh... definitely going to have to decline. I'm not good with... crowds. In general."

"Well... alright, then."

You need to decide what to do with your spare ticket, as well as the most important question of the night: what to wear to the concert.

What to do with ticket:
>Scalp it
>Give it to Rex
>Give it to Tizona
>Give it to Andrea

What to wear to the concert:
>Dress Up
>Dress Down
>Look the Part
>Write-in

>>954563
>>Give it to Tizona
While the music may not be her think, I think the would appreciate being invited out for group shenanigans.
And if that don't work out, beg Rex to wingman for us, maybe take him to a wings and beer shop the next night as thanks.

>Dress Up

>>954563
>Give it to Tizona
>Look the Part
Maybe we should start studying psychology to help with our ability to manipulate people.

>>954598
>beg Rex to wingman for us
Get him to discuss the relative merits of Chicago versus New York style pizza.
https://youtu.be/ySsRhopHnaQ?t=20s

>>954598
>>954610
Alright, deciding between Dress Up and Look the Part. First post wins.

>>954664
Then I guess I'll change to look the part, but still try to look good.

>>954664
Oh, in the Magic and Astral Primer, can I include some things from Aetherology?
As a regular lurker of Jackpoint's magical theory and occult boards, I'd imagine that Redd would have read posts by Magister and some of the other big-name posters.

I'll even prepare a list of board personalities he might have heard of.

>>954696
You decide that if you want to attend a punk concert, you know only one person who can make you look the part: Rhun.

You walk into her room to see her wearing a torn-up tank-top, tight leather jeans, a leather collar, spiked bracelets, and army boots.

"Ah...Rhun. Do you perhaps think..."

"Yeh want me ta give you some fashion tips? Come over 'ere, then."

After a good deal of struggling and arguments about personal space, she eventually gets you to put on a worn black tee, a reactive-synth-leather jacket with spikes ("For protection", she says), big spiked boots, ripped black jeans (with cargo pockets), and death-mask face paint.

When you look yourself in the mirror, you see what could pass as either a very classy Halloweener or a hungover Voudou street shammy.

"The band's are gonna be jealous they don't have a guy that looks like you as their frontman, Redd! I've gotta say, you must like her a LOT to suffer through a Super Unison and friends concert."

You're briefly confused, until you remember the opening acts: Super Unison, Rotengen, The Takedown, Audax, Wraithward and Stonecloud.

"...What, exactly, do you mean by that?"

"I think you're going because you like her. Not because of the bands playing. They're my kinda music. Here, take these."

She hands you a set of earplugs.

"Don't ruin your ears, I wear them too and still can hear the music. Take my advice, just hang near her and dance when Stonecloud comes up, they're softer and do romantic songs."

>>954760
"Well, if you're certain..."

Rhun suddenly takes your shoulder and turns you to face her:

"Just trust me, Barbs probably likes you for you, not whatever else. You deserve to be happy man. And tonight is a good night to recover. I definitely need a night to get back to my old self."

Now that you're all ready for the party, its time to look for someone to take the extra ticket. Tizona's commlink won't pick up, so you try the only other option:

"Rex?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you like to go to a concert?"
"Is it some tree-hugging 'Save the Drop-Bears' garbage?"
"No."
"Sure."


At 5, your trio hears the staccato blasting of a horn outside and a text from Barbie.

"Outside now. Just a little queasy ;_;"

>Memory: You know that Barbie can't drive. Never got her license. She used busses or trains whenever possible.

>Text back "Who's driving you?"
>Walk out with the crew
>Write-in

>>954793
>Text back "Who's driving you?"
>Write-in
Oh, make sure that Rex has earplugs as well.
Unless he has cyber-ears.

>>954793
>Text back "Who's driving you?"

>>954805
"Who's driving you?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Lancey came up to visit a couple days ago! He's driving us all to the concert!"

You feel the blood run out of your face as you turn to the window, alter its chromatint, and look outside.

You see a beat-up van idling in your driveway. Barb-Lenore, you suppose (it is what's done, right?), is sitting in the passenger's seat, the green tint to her face failing to ruin her cute button nose or fair cheekbones. And sitting next to her...

Stylishly messy brown hair. A lanky-yet-toned frame that looks unnaturally smooth and polished, more like ceramic than flesh. Defiant buck teeth jutting out from his upper lip as his mouth twists into a mixture of a grin and a sneer. Eyes whose muddy irises and jet pupils seem permanently constricted into pin-points. A horrible tee-shirt that says "I'm dressed as a serial killer, they look like everyone else", with a little pin-on in the corner bearing his gang's insignia.

>Call it off
>Warn the Crew
>Press on regardless
>Write-in

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Write-In
Have literally anyone else drive, like Rex or Rhûn. Also warn them.

>>954928
>Write-in
Press on, but warn them that Barbie's brother is there. Make sure to buckle your seat belts.

>>954935
This. Either that or hire a cab or something.

>>954928
Warn them.
And make sure everyone has ear protection.

>>954941
>>954935
>>955045

You step away from the windows and walk to the living room.

"Rex, Rhun, Lancelot is here."

Rex immediately dives behind the couch and emerges with a combat shotgun. "I'm not letting that psycho clown druggie take me alive."

"NOT IN THAT SENSE, REX."

"By the gods, have I not suffered enough already?! What the sodding hell are we gonna do about this then?"

"The man chained an Aztechnology local manager up, then invited every gang in Dallas to a party where he let them do whatever they wanted to him for 5 nuyen, then incinerated him at the end of it! I saw some fucked-up shit in the Sinai, hell, I DID some fucked-up shit in the Sinai, but that..."

"Well, I do not think that he is unstable enough to try something that grandiose without his mob of lunatics backing him up. Still, let's get someone else to drive."

"Tha' sick wanker will not stand between me and my goal tonight!"

You head out to the van. Lancelot rolls down the window.

"Hey, Rhun! Nice collars, you had your shots yet?!"

"Hey, you'd be the one begging. And besides, I'm not going to be the bitch tonight."

"Let's talk later. Hey, here's a great idea: how about you take Lenore in the back of the car and do something to get her to throw up? The rental company charged me too much for the van, so I want to turn it into a fucking trash-heap."

Lenore turns her head to protest, but suddenly turns a deeper shade of green and grabs her head.

"No thanks, I like Barbie."


Sudo sends you a text: "Want me to hack his car? Or grab some poison?"

>Hack the car
>Get the Narcojet
>I've got it handled.
>Write-In

>>955115
>Write-In
"Get me a slap patch with narcojet, just in case."
>slap-patch
A small adhesive patch about the size of the palm of your hand, designed to apply chemicals through the skin.
>narcojet
Extremely fast-acting tranquilizer.

Remember that this guy, while crazy, is still a CS graduate of MIT&T, and was able to track us down and hack into our commlink without Sudo even being aware.

>>955115
Will process votes tomorrow morning.

Prime Runner Anon, if you have that primer ready, feel free. Also: yes to all of this >>954741

>>955115
>Write-In
"Get me a slap patch with narcojet, just in case."
>slap-patch
A small adhesive patch about the size of the palm of your hand, designed to apply chemicals through the skin.
>narcojet
Extremely fast-acting tranquilizer.

Remember that this guy, while crazy, is still a CS graduate of MIT&T, and was able to track us down and hack into our commlink without Sudo even being aware.

>>955152
Seconding this.

>>955710
>>955773
>>955152
GET ME A SLAP-PATCH OF NARCOJET, JUST IN CASE

GOT YOU

"Ah-ha, give me a second, everyone, I forgot something in the house."

You double back and pick up the slap-patch from Sudo and slip it into your pocket.

You come out to catch the tail-end of some kind of banter between Rhun and Lancelot:

"How was I supposed to guess that? I know plenty of cannibals! Great people, just don't accept any barbecue invites."

"I'll... certainly make a note of that, then. OH, HEY REDD YOU'RE HERE!"

Lancelot's head swivels around like a mounted LMG.

"Hey, Redd, looking good! Who told you about Secret Halloween?"

"Well, it was- wait, what are you talking about?"

"Secret Halloween, man! I'm already dressed for it!" He points to his tee-shirt.

"... We should get going, should we not?"

"You're totally right man, we've got a party to hit!"

He jerks a thumb at Rhun.

"If you don't want to play nice, the least you can do is take Lenore into the back seat with you. I need our guest of honor here to... ride shotgun."

>How about I drive, Lance?
>Fine, fine.
>What are you planning, Lance?
>Write-In

>>955792
>Write-In
Last time you picked us up your executed an Aztech exec. What's your angle this time around?

>>955792
>Write-In
"Why not let Rex drive, and you and I and Barbie can talk about the Wastes of Unknown Kadath? Seeing those sights can really expand your horizons."

>>955822
Seconding this. We get to distract Mr. Crazy AND show off our sweet occult knowledge to Barbie.

>>955832
>>955822
"Here's an idea, Lance: we could let Rex drive! Then you and I can talk about... Kadath, or Leng, for example!"

Lancelot gives an exaggerated shrug, and his smirk widens.

"Sure, why the heck not? You only live once, after all!"

"Quite possibly..."

Lancelot gets out of the car, finally allowing you to see his full ensemble. He's wearing a pair of skin-tight short-shorts, knee-high woolen socks, and shoes covered with a rainbow-stripe pattern. The entire outfit makes your head throb.

As Rex climbs into the driver's seat, and Rhun takes the passenger's side, Lancelot helps his sister into the back, before throwing himself, legs splayed, into the seat beside her. You notice that he handles her with surprising care for someone who just talked about using her vomit to redecorate the van.

You end up sitting next to him in the van. As you get in, you notice that the back is full of black cases of various sizes.

Rex pulls the van out of the driveway.

Lancelot absent-mindedly runs a finger along the stained leather of the seat and cocks his brow at you.

"So, Redd... what shall we do back here to pass the time?~"

>I don't swing that way
>Never in a million years
>In front of your sister/my girlfriend? Really?
>Enough jokes, Lance. What are you planning?
>Talk about Leng, of course
>Write-in

>>955887
>Talk about Leng, of course
"I should take you out there sometime, to the depths of the metaplanes and the wonders, both subtle and gross."
>Write-in
"But what ARE all of these cases for?"

I like Barbie, from what little interaction we players have had with her, but I honestly think we're going to have to put a bullet in the back of Lance's head.

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>>955906
2nd this choice. Hopefully Redd, Rhun, or Rex don't have to take down Lance.

>>955906
Gonna second this. Hopefully Barbie can talk him down from anything TOO crazy.

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>>955906
>>955933
>>955967

"I told you: we are going to talk about the wonders of the metaplanes!"

Lance shakes his head.

"Eh, pass. Magic doesn't exactly leave me... spellbound! Eh? Eh?"

"Fine. How about we talk about why you have a large number of suspicious, black, unmarked cases in the back of this van?"

"Isn't that a little bit of an... intimate topic? I mean, we haven't even held hands yet~"

>SOCIAL COMBAT START

>Perception: God, you wish you could wipe that smirk of his clean off of his face.

>Judge Intentions: You just can't get a bead on this guy. His personality seems to shift at random between snarky intellectual, stand-up comic, and violent psychopath. You have no clue what might push him over the edge (WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELL IF A MOVE SUCCEEDED OR FAILED)

>(Pull a knife) I'm not playing games here, Lance. (Charisma + Blades move)

>What do want in exchange for talking? (Charisma + Negotiation move)

>I have an idea what you're planning. I just want confirmation (Logic + Intuition move (5 successes needed))

>You aren't in Dallas, Lance. It would be smart to play nice (Charisma + Etiquette move)

>>956018
>>You aren't in Dallas, Lance. It would be smart to play nice (Charisma + Etiquette move)
Say it a little bit sternly so our face scars will be of help and not a hindrance.

>>956018
>You aren't in Dallas, Lance. It would be smart to play nice (Charisma + Etiquette move)

>>956018
>You aren't in Dallas, Lance. It would be smart to play nice (Charisma + Etiquette move)

>>956041
>>956038
>>956028

"You are not in Dallas, Lance. It would be very smart of you if you played NICE."

"Oh, I can play nice~ You wanna find out?~"

>Perception: Lance takes you hand and tries to place it on his thigh. You pull away sharply.

>Judge Intentions: He seems supremely self-confident. What does he know that you don't?

>(Pull a knife) I'm not playing games here, Lance. (Charisma + Blades move)

>What do want in exchange for talking? (Charisma + Negotiation move)

>I have an idea what you're planning. I just want confirmation (Logic + Intuition move (5 successes needed))

>>956057
>What do want in exchange for talking? (Charisma + Negotiation move)

>>956057
>I have an idea what you're planning. I just want confirmation (Logic + Intuition move (5 successes needed))

Can we use an Effort on this?

>>956057
>>What do want in exchange for talking? (Charisma + Negotiation move)

>>956057
>I have an idea what you're planning. I just want confirmation (Logic + Intuition move (5 successes needed))
Use Effort.

>>956057

>I have an idea what you're planning. I just want confirmation (Logic + Intuition move (5 successes needed))

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

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>>956062
>>956067
>>956084
"I think I already know what the cases are FOR. I just want to know what is IN them."

"Oh, really, Mr. Fancypants? So, what AM I up to?"

"You may be... unpredictable, but I think you care too much about your sister to do anything that might endanger her. I also know that you are far, FAR too confident to be here alone. Your group is going to pull some kind of stunt in Charlotte to spread your message. You plan on meeting up with the rest of the group and arming them when we park. Then, you will create some kind of harmless diversion at the concert to draw Lone Star away from the ACTUAL target."

"Wow, that's... a really detailed plan. You really saw through me..."

"HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!! LIKE YOU COULD DO THAT! TRY AGAIN, SHITHEAD!!!"

>Perception: His grin is stretched to the breaking point, and his eyes are melting a hole into your jugular vein.

>Judge Intentions: He seems genuinely angry at you: unless that anger is just a facade?

> Do you want to fight? I know how to make chemicals much more deadly than your party favor drugs (Charisma + Alchemy move)

>Calm down, Lance. Don't do anything you might regret doing in front of Barbie (Charisma + Etiquette move)

>I'm not wrong, Lance. Drop the act (Charisma + (dice equal to your successes on the Logic + Intuition move) move)

>>956179
>I'm not wrong, Lance. Drop the act

>>956179
>>I'm not wrong, Lance. Drop the act (Charisma + (dice equal to your successes on the Logic + Intuition move) move)

>>956179
>I'm not wrong, Lance. Drop the act (Charisma + (dice equal to your successes on the Logic + Intuition move) move)

>>956187
>>956201
>>956204

"I know that I am right, Lance. You are not going to be able to intimidate me into backing down."

His eyes narrow... and then his snarl relaxes into a smirk.

"Well, congratulations! You caught me! Too bad getting caught was part of my master plan! So, big boy, what're ya gonna do to stop me? Crash this van with no survivors?"

>Perception: Lance is leaning forward, ready to listen to whatever you say.

>Judge Intentions: He seems to have relaxed, but you still aren't sure about what's really going on in that brain of his...

> I'll smash your toys (Charisma + Strength)

> I'll fuck your shit up (Charisma + Intimidate)

> Whatever it takes to keep Barbie safe (Charisma + Intuition)

> (Truth) Nothing, its none of my business (Charisma + Etiquette)

>(Lie) Nothing, its none of my business (Charisma + Con)

>(Truth) I'd actually like to help (Charisma + Etiquette)

>(Lie) I'd actually like to help (Charisma + Con)

"This." And patch him.

>>956243
>(Lie) Nothing, its none of my business (Charisma + Con)
Well they expect one of us in the wreckage brother...

>>956249
I'm afraid he's either high on stimm or has chrome reflexes to try and pull this off
why do we want to stop him again?

>>956243
>>(Lie) Nothing, its none of my business (Charisma + Con)

>>956263
Did we start the fire?

>>956243
>Write-in: (Truth) Nothing, it's none of my business, unless you make it into my business. Think carefully on whether there's going to be blowback on Lenore.

>>956263
>>956286
Why is it any of our business?

And he IS a good enough computer scientist that he graduated from MIT&T so he should be treated as a dangerous decker.
A rich, dangerous decker, who might have enhanced reflexes or other things to make him faster than us.

>>956307
I guess the lie is about if we want to do something or not

>>956243
>(Truth) Nothing, its none of my business (Charisma + Etiquette)

Write in: I just want to know what it is to know how to best avoid it. And keep my team safe.

>>956286
I guess I'll also add in "Unless you Make it my business".

>>956243
>>(Truth) I'd actually like to help (Charisma + Etiquette)

>>956263
>>956286
>>956299
>>956332
Voting between these two. DECIDE:

>Truth

>Lie

>>956398
>>Truth

I think this comes to a choice of whether we stop Lance and the Anarcho-Comics because they're essentially a thrillgang that kills innocent people, we stop them because they're idiots who are shitting where we sleep, or we don't care because we're being paid to care about it and it's unlikely to directly hurt things or people we know and care about.

LIE supports the first one, and TRUTH supports the third one, but which one would support the second one?

>>956422
Well... the first one isn't really true. AFAYK, the only people the A-Cs go murdery on are corporate scumbags, like that Aztech exec. He was Dallas's "Head of Human Resources", with everything that implies for Aztechnology.

>>956398
>Truth
He can do what he wants, unless it looks like it'll blow back on us.
We won't stop him, but we won't help him.
Unless we're paid.

>>956398
>>Truth
>He can do what he wants, unless it looks like it'll blow back on us.
>We won't stop him, but we won't help him.
>Unless we're paid.
>>956440 said it best.

>>956398
>Lie
Goddammit we live in this city, and if this guy starts shit on out front door...

>>956440
>>956464
>>956413

"I will not do anything. Its none of my business."

"Wow, someone give this guy Humanitarian of the Year, right here, HELLO?!?!! I'm a dangerous madman! (here, his voice briefly drops into a growl) A ruthless, insane criminal. COME ON, man!!! I'M supposed to be the one with no regard for human life here! You know what, forget it."

He gets up, moves into the space between the diver's seat and shotgun, and gets into Rex's face.

"STOP THE RIDE, PLEASE, I'D LIKE TO DISEMBARK THE S.S. DIPSHIT, AND MY SIS IS COMING WITH ME!!"

>Perception: One hand of his is digging under the driver's seat for something.

>Judge Intentions: Is... is he mad at you?

>Hit him with the Slap Patch (Reaction + Unarmed Combat move)

>SIT THE HELL DOWN YOU FUCKING DICK! (Charisma + Leadership move)

> What do you think you are doing, Lance? (Charisma + Intimidate)

>Allow things to play out, but remain on guard (Intuition + Charisma move)

>>956398
>>Truth
>He can do what he wants, unless it looks like it'll blow back on us.
>We won't stop him, but we won't help him.
>Unless we're paid.
SK and the Mob wouldn't like a wildcard like this running around in their playground. If he does anything, those two will paint a target on his head.

>>956532
Correction: that last one should be Intuition + Willpower.

>>956532
>> What do you think you are doing, Lance? (Charisma + Intimidate)

>>956532
>Hit him with the Slap Patch (Reaction + Unarmed Combat move)

>>956532
>Allow things to play out, but remain on guard (Intuition + Charisma move)
Hope Rex pulls off some crazy GI joe moves. If I remember correctly in one of the earlier posts, Rex is uneasy towards Lance.

>>956570
Isn't Rex driving the car?

>>956532
Write in
Have Rhun make him sit back down.

>>956676
I'm under the assumption that the military trained rex with some skills to disable someone who is trying to hijack his vehicle while he's driving. Of course, your option is extremely likely since Rhun is a murder machine in her own right.

Write In: Stop him with either Rhûn or Rex and get to the bottom of this by having Barbie interrogate him.

>>956532
>Hit him with the Slap Patch (Reaction + Unarmed Combat move)

>>956677
>>956746
"Rhun, stop him."

"About bloody time!"

Rhun pulls her taser and jabs it into Lance's throat before pulling the trigger.

"I AM NOT LETTING YOU RUIN MY NIGHT NOW GET THE FUCK BACK IN YOUR SEAT YOU DIMESTORE CARROT TOP, FUCK! BARBIE I'M NEVER TRUSTING HIM IN A CAR EVER AGAIN."

Lance groans from the floor.

"Alright, it was clumsy, but you stuck the landing! C+, you have my permission to date my sister for now!"

A plastic knife rolls out from under the seat.


>...You're an asshole.

>This was all just a test?

>You really must love her.

>Write-in

>>956914
>Slap on the Narco patch

"My patience for your shenanigans has just run dry. Rex, could you be a gentleman and pull us up to the nearest cheap hotel? Mr. Lancelot here needs a place to rest for the evening."

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This was all just a test?!

>>956957
Yes. You could have ended this entire social combat earlier if you had answered "Whatever it takes to keep Barbie safe."

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>>956957
I AM MAD THAT WE WERE RUSED BUT I APPROVE OF HIS BROTHERLY LOVE.

>>956914
>This was all just a test?

>>956914
>Write-in
Palm the slap patch.
"Alright, Lance, you've made your point. Can't exactly fault you for it. Here, put'er there."
Off our hand as if in a conciliatory handshake/hand back up.

>>956957
>>956941
>>957186
>>957168

You know the drill, people. TIEBREAKER. First vote decides.

>>957186
How positively Jokerlike. I support this.

>>957228
Guess we're speaking his language now, huh?

>>957228
>Action: palm the slap-patch GLITCHED

As you try to palm the slap-patch, the car hits a pothole and the patch slides under the driver's seat.

"Alright, e'rryone all right?" Rhun calls out.

"I feel great! Reminds me of the psychiatric ward! In fact, I could go for round two! Come on, TASE ME SOUL SISTA!"

"Only if you tell me what's in the boxes, Lance."

"Oh, that's easy! A bunch of drugs I'm going to hand out at the party!"

Ten minutes later, the car rolls up to the venue's parking lot: a surprisingly nice place in the middle of a neighborhood wavering between B and C-ratings. "The Deadbolt" fickers on a holosign about the converted warehouse the concert's being held in.

Rhun bolts out of the car. "Hadfunridingwithyouguysi'mgonnaseeifsuperunisonisbackstagebyeeee!!!"

Rex gets out of the van, produces a lint roller, and carefully rolls the van detritus off of his react-fiber vest.

"I hope they serve whiskey here, because I feel like I'm going to need a lot of it."

"Aw, don't be such a downer, Rex! I'm great company~"

"Remove your hand from my hip before I break it, son."

"Aw, some silver fox you are... I'm gonna go hand out drugs and get some hot dick. Later!"

You see Lance pull one of the cases out of the back and head towards the party.

"Hey... like, what happened?"

You look back to see Barbie emerging from her stupor.

>Nothing, Barbie.

>Your brother did something stupid, but I stopped him.

>Your brother approves of us? Or something?

>Write-in

Your brother approves of us, I think. Not sure I like his style of gauging the character of a man though.

>>957349
>Your brother approves of us? Or something?

>>957349
>>Your brother did something stupid, but Rhun stopped him.

Gotta give the shortstack credit.

>>957349
>>Your brother approves of us? Or something?

>>957349
Let's not forget the narcojet patch. Don't want anyone finding that.

>>957491
Wait, if it slid under the driver's seat... Check Rex's butt. We can blame it on Lance.

>>957400
>>957460
"I think... your brother approves of us going out."

"OHMIGOSHTHAT'SGREAAAATTTTTEEEEEE- Sorry, sorry, calming down now. Its just, like, NO ONE's ever gotten Lance's approval before! They usually just run away or hit their PanicButtons. Well, that's one down! Now COME ON, we need to get a good spot for the show!"

>Alright!
>One down? One WHAT?
>Why are we going here? I didn't have you pegged as a metalhead.
>Write-in

Can we fast forward to something more relevant?

>>957591
>>Alright!
>>One down? One WHAT?

>>957533
It's underneath the seat itself, not on top of the cushion.

>>957591
>Alright!
>Why are we going here? I didn't have you pegged as a metalhead.
We'll ask Barbie about the other things first.

>>957591
>>Alright!
>>One down? One WHAT?

>>957629
>>957627
>>957618

"Well, I'm gla- wait, one WHAT?"

"Sibling, silly! I told you I have a big family, right? We're really close, so I want to make sure you mesh well with them. You know, for the future!"

"O... kay. Why are we going to this concert, in particular? I did not think you were a metal fan."

"Oh, I'm not. Its just that my brother Lucas plays guitar for Wraithward, and this concert means a lot to him, so I wanted to show him my support! See?"

Barbie points out the silvery "Wraithward" stitched onto her dress.

"Well, if this means that much to you, I am willing to give them a listen."

The venue smells like tobacco and booze, as well as traces of more suspicious scents. A massive "death wall" of speakers is set up on stage, and the floor is already starting to fill with thuggish louts of all shapes and sizes. Rhun appears to be instigating a fight/mosh pit in the middle of the room, apparently too excited to wait for the first band to take the stage. Rex is sitting at the bar at one end of the venue, drinking whiskey and, you have no doubt, glaring at the unwashed, youthful masses through his mirrorshades. Barbie drags you to a spot that will, according to her, be directly in Lucas's sightline when he comes out. You kill the time pre-concert by chatting with Barbie about the beauty of the metaplanes. Despite a distinct lack of knowledge about them, she seems to eagerly drink up your words.

The first opening act takes the stage, and the concert begins. Beyond Rhun bridal carrying the lead singer of Super Unison offstage (apparently much to their mutual delight) and Barbie's brother evoking riotous cheering from the crowd as he played the guitar while hanging by his knees off of the rafters while performing a song called "Winter's Bitter Shade", all seems to be going well. Then it occurs to you that you haven't seen Lance all evening.

>Let it go
>Look for him

>>957610
This is going somewhere anon, I promise.

>>957781
>>Let it go

>>957781
>Let it go
He wouldn't ruin his brother's big day.
Right?