Keep on the Borderlands – Game Session 005

by: Charles Plemons - September 22nd, 2011   Filed under: BECMI / RC Edition, Dungeons & Dragons, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for September 22, 2011, In Search of Adventure campaign, Keep on the Borderlands adventure; present characters included Illithor (elf veteran-medium), Ralsk Lightbringer (cleric acolyte) and Theobald Goblinbane (dwarf veteran).

With Wuldric Mineshield and Arathorn now hired on, and Ralsk Lightbringer now in the party, the team returned to the goblin caves.  Not far within, they discovered a guard post stationed with six spear-toting goblins.  The team dug in the hallway and waited for the goblins to approach.  Instead, the goblins hurled spear after spear at the party driving them back with numerous injuries.  The team ran away back to the keep to nurse their injuries after learning that Ralsk had no training or skill in healing.

Once recovered, the team returned to find the goblin guard post and tore through them.  They looted the room and pushed on through to find a stairwell leading to a well-made, barred wooden door.  The sign upon it said “Come in—we’d love to have you for dinner!” in Thyatian.  Theobald knocked on the door and demanded all their money.  Shuffling and scraping sounds were heard, and Ralsk poured oil all over the door and floor.  The team fell back and ignited the oil.

The rolling smoke soon drove the party out of the caves, but they saw a trace of smoke from a cave higher up the ravine.  The team moved in and followed the smoke into the other side of the caves.  They discovered a hastily abandoned room with smoke billowing under a door.  They backtracked and went down another corridor to discover a torture chamber with two armed hobgoblins and a room full of prisoners.  A fierce battle broke out, with one hobgoblin cutting down Ralsk with his sword.  Illithor finished the hobgoblin off with a magic missile.

Two of the humans, Vasile and Veleslava Goral, were merchants relieved to be rescued and removed from the menu.  Two men-at-arms, Germanus Andros and Stefan Dodrescu, agreed to hire on with the party for a year without pay.  Another prisoner, an orc named Bronak Brokenteeth, indicated a desire to kill many hobgoblins and asked the team and come back to speak with the Bloody Fists tribe.  The last prisoner was a massive mangy gnoll that Illithor named ‘Carl’ and tried to befriend.  He fed Carl the face of one of the hobgoblins, and Carl then fled off into the caves.

Back at the keep, the team buried Ralsk and released Arathorn and Wuldric from services and outfitted Germanus and Stefan.

The above summary is for a game session of Dungeons & Dragons BECMI / RC edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Keep on the Borderlands – Game Session 004

by: Charles Plemons - September 15th, 2011   Filed under: BECMI / RC Edition, Dungeons & Dragons, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for September 15, 2011, In Search of Adventure campaign, Keep on the Borderlands adventure; present characters included Grey Mouser (thief apprentice), Illithor (elf veteran-medium), Nicholae Dragos (cleric acolyte) and Theobald Goblinbane (dwarf veteran).

Joined by Illithor and Nicholae, who had been bringing up the rear, the party attacked the goblin and ogre.  The brawl was brutal, with the goblin going down quickly.  The ogre fell back into a narrow hallway to limit the foes who could engage him.  He delivered a clobbering shot to Wuldric Mineshield, cracking several ribs and driving him into the ground.  The battered dwarf had to fall back from the fight.  Grey Mouser ran about the back ranks launching arrow after arrow at the ogre and missing.  Theobald planted his spear in the ogre’s gut while Nicholae hammered its knee.  Howling in pain, the ogre fell back further and vainly swung away at the armored and nimble Illithor who had just hit it with a magic missile.  As the party closed in, Grey Mouser finally found his range and sank an arrow in the ogre’s throat, dropping it dead to the ground.

After ransacking the ogre lair, the team found a side corridor.  At the end four burned and blackened bodies lay in a heap.  The team decided they must have triggered a trap and fell back for the time being.

Advancing slowly, the team came upon a lair filled with dozens of goblins.  The women and young fled out the back while the males advanced.  The party tried to convince the goblins to pay tribute; however, the goblins, fearful and trying to protect their young, were soon provoked to fight.  With reckless abandon, the goblins filled the hallway and fought.  The party parried spear thrust after spear thrust and traded blows with the humanoids.  Minor wounds were accumulated, and a couple of goblins went down.  Things were starting to turn in favor of the party when a well-aimed spear penetrated Katarzina’s armor and skewered her.  The retainer was dead before she hit the floor, her torch falling from her limp fingers.  A sneaky goblin then stomped out the light source.

Plunged into darkness, the fighting got intense.  Quick-thinking Grey Mouser pulled out a tinder box and torches and illuminated the passageway.  Out of arrows, he also drew forth hand axes.  He hurled one into the melee as the team began to fatigue.  More goblins died, but the party lines were softening.  Illithor’s blade ran red with blood, and Nicholae had bound his wounds and moved back to the front.  Stout Theobald suffered several spear thrusts and had to fall back.  Grey Mouser moved in to fill the ranks and found himself impaled upon a goblin spear.  The cackling fiend ripped the haft from his chest as he toppled over into death.

Injured Wuldric advanced back into the fray, and the party drove the goblins back on their heels.  One after another fell, but fighting for the lives of their families, the goblins did not retreat.  They stood to a “man” and traded their lives dearly in blood and agony.  With the foul creatures slain, they had a moment to catch their breath.  Illithor picked up a goblin body and investigated the side chamber once again.  He hurled the body down the hall trying to trigger the suspected fire trap that burned the other four bodies within.  The floppy goblin hurtled through the air, splatted against the far wall, and landed in a heap with no effect.

Unsure about the hall, the team grabbed the bodies of Katarzina and Grey Mouser and fled back to the keep.  Once there, Nicholae conducted two beautiful funeral services.  They then proceeded to negotiate the hiring of Arathorn, an elven mercenary.

The above summary is for a game session of Dungeons & Dragons BECMI / RC edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Keep on the Borderlands – Game Session 003

by: Charles Plemons - September 8th, 2011   Filed under: BECMI / RC Edition, Dungeons & Dragons, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for September 8, 2011, In Search of Adventure campaign, Keep on the Borderlands adventure; present characters included Grey Mouser (thief apprentice) and Theobald Goblinbane (dwarf veteran).

The team hired Wuldric Mineshield to join in their adventures and heading back to the Caves of Chaos.  They returned to the kobold caves and stumbled upon four kobolds moving through.  During the skirmish, the kobolds broke ranks and fled with the team in hot pursuit.  The party caught them at a doorway and cut them down.  They then proceeded through the door to discover the kobold chieftain and five kobold women!

The chieftain fell back, driving the women forward.  They brandished their crude blades and attacked.  The massive (for a kobold) chieftain stood back with axe in hand.  A large golden chain dangled from his neck, catching the eye of Grey Mouser, party thief.  Several of the kobolds fell, and the chieftain moved in.  Theobald slammed his spear into the kobold who brushed off the injury.  He returned a blow to Theobald, causing heavy damage.  The kobold front was unable to stand up to the combined might of the party and began to collapse.  Soon, the team swarmed over the kobolds and won the day.  They ransacked the room and smashed open a chest full of treasure.  They unfortunately discovered none had any abilities with healing and medicine, so they withdrew back to the keep.

The team got bandaged up, sold the necklace for a small fortune, divided up the loot, and put several things in the vault.  They then went to the tavern and ate and drank well.  Grey Mouser purchased beef roast and honey mead, freely but quietly spending coin.

On the following morn, they returned to the kobold caves to find a massive chamber now empty of occupants.  They found evidence of up to fifty individuals having lived there but no sign as to where they had gone.  The team then left the kobold caves and heading to another entrance.

The team crept in and found a four-way intersection.  They proceeded straight to find a dead end as a patrol of goblins came up behind them.  The two groups stared at each other in surprise for a moment before the goblins crowded in.  One fled down the hall yelling “Bree-Yark!” at the top of his lungs.  A brutal fight ensued, with the party killing all the goblins but with Wuldric and Theobald badly wounded.  They quickly searched the bodies and returned to the keep.

The team reassembled and returned to the goblin caves.  They carefully moved in and surprised a half-dozen goblins in a side chamber.  The party slaughtered all but one in moments, but that goblin kicked open a secret door and tossed a bag of coins into the room.  A grunt and booming laugh followed.  The party fell back on guard as the wickedly smiling goblin was overshadowed by a towering mass of muscle and hate—an ogre!

The above summary is for a game session of Dungeons & Dragons BECMI / RC edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Keep on the Borderlands – Game Session 002

by: Charles Plemons - September 1st, 2011   Filed under: BECMI / RC Edition, Dungeons & Dragons, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for September 1, 2011, In Search of Adventure campaign, Keep on the Borderlands adventure; present characters included Illithor (elf veteran-medium), Nicholae Dragos (cleric acolyte), and Theobald Goblinbane (dwarf veteran).

With Lucian in his grave, and their wounds tended, the party set back off to the Caves of Chaos with a retainer, Katarzina Markhov.  They debated entering a different cave than previously but decided to again test their mettle against the kobolds.  Katarzina lit a torch, and the four heroes stepped within.

The light drew the attention of more giant rats who scurried forth to investigate.  Battle ensued, with the rats championed by a particularly large and fearsome pack leader.  Although tense, the battle was really one-sided.  In close to a minute the rats lay dead.  The party discovered a silver necklace around the pack leader’s neck.  Further investigation of the nest revealed nothing else of value.

The party headed further into the caves and found several branches along the way.  The group turned along the northern branch and discovered a locked door.  Nicholae used a hammer and iron spike to begin beating the lock out of the door.  Presently, a trio of kobold guards approached to investigate and battle erupted.

One kobold, armed with a crude hand axe, advanced on the team while two archers fired at the party.  Katarzina took several minor hits.  The melee kobold took a sharp blow and ran for his life down the hallway.  Meanwhile, Nicholae closed with the archers with slower-moving Theobald and Illthor trailing.  Theobald hurled his spear at the retreating kobold and missed.  Nonplused, he drew his mace for action.  Illithor and Katarzina slowly drove the archers back while Nicholae tried to treat injuries as necessary.  Eventually, the archers were dead, the retreating kobold was gone, and the party had a moment to bind their more serious wounds.

The break was short-lived, however, as a wandering squad of goblins had heard the ruckus and arrived.  The wicked little creatures charged forward with crude axes held high.  They particularly focused on their hated foe the dwarf.  Despite the struggle they had with the kobolds, the team found their stride and tore into the goblins with zeal and aptitude.  Illithor cast magic missile, exploding one goblin skull like an overripe melon.  Illithor then used Theobald’s spear to kill another.  Katarzina felled a third.  The remaining goblin darted down the hallway with the team in close pursuit.  A vicious backhand planted his axe deep into the chest of Katarzina.  Although alive, she was out of the fight.  The group swarmed in, and Theobald killed the goblin before  he could get away.

Nicholae tended to Katarzina and then resumed his work on the locked door.  The rest gathered coins from the slain monsters.  Behind the door lay the kobolds’ food supply, which the party promptly set ablaze.  They then withdrew from the caves and returned to Castellan’s Keep.

Once at the keep, they sold the necklace for 400 gold coins and purchased plate armor for Theobald and Nicholae.  They also rented some space in the bank vaults to store equipment and valuables.  With a set of spare dwarven chainmail, they went to negotiate hiring Wuldric Mineshield at the tavern while others secured lodging at the inn.

The above summary is for a game session of Dungeons & Dragons BECMI / RC edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Keep on the Borderlands – Game Session 001

by: Charles Plemons - August 25th, 2011   Filed under: BECMI / RC Edition, Dungeons & Dragons, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for August 25, 2011, In Search of Adventure campaign, Keep on the Borderlands adventure; present characters included Grey Mouser (thief apprentice), Illithor (elf veteran-medium), Lucian Zieroff (fighter veteran), Nicholae Dragos (cleric acolyte), and Theobald Goblinbane (dwarf veteran).

Five young heroes gathered at Castellan’s Keep seeking adventure and fortune within the nearby Caves of Chaos.  They began their journey within the Hearth and Road Tavern inside the keep by talking to some of the individuals gathered within.  They asked half-a-dozen individuals their rates to hire on to an adventuring party to get an idea of the needed investment.  They spoke to Arathorn the elf, Archibald Baker the halfling, Katarzina Markhov the guardswoman, Quintinus Metelko the archer, Ursula Botsaris the arcanist, and Wuldric Mineshield the dwarf.  After determining they lacked sufficient funds, the five set out on the two mile trek to the caves.

Lucian used his wilderness skills to study the terrain and tracks around, and they sought out a less frequently entered cave.  Nicholae and Lucian ignited torches in preparation.  As Lucian moved into the cavern, eight kobolds shimmied down ropes from a large tree and attacked with their crude spears.  Illithor and Theobald suffered minor injuries but helped put the kobolds down quickly.  After looting the bodies and binding wounds, Lucian charged into the cave.

Within, more kobolds awaited, with several readying weapons while two fled down a side passage.  The party moved in, and as Lucian advanced, he found himself dumped ten feet into a flip-lid pit trap.  A brutal fight ensued, and Grey Mouser tried to get within the pit to disable its workings.  He accidentally triggered the trap and crashed into Lucian from above.  The rest of the group eliminated the remaining kobolds while Lucian exacerbated his injuries trying to heal himself.

After rescuing their allies from the pit, Lucian moved into a side chamber filled with trash and debris.  Numerous giant rats swarmed up from the heap and attacked.  The brave fighter went down beneath a gnashing horde of vermin teeth.  The party bought themselves a few moments of reprieve, slaying several rats and dragging Lucian’s body free.  With more kobolds just out of sight to the right and a dozen more rats bubbling up from bolt holes to the left, the team fled back to the keep.

Gathered around the body of their fallen companion, Nicholae attempted to perform his first funeral ceremony.  He was very nervous and got some of the rituals wrong.  Lucian is now at rest but may be married to his casket.  It was all a bit confusing.

Bolstered with a few gathered coins, the equipment from their fallen friend, and some knowledge of the caves, the team plans to launch a second foray better prepared.

The above summary is for a game session of Dungeons & Dragons BECMI / RC edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 012

by: Charles Plemons - August 11th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun Add Comment

Game summary for August 11, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), and Vessel (troll brawler).

Within the compound, Team MACHETE moved to the first door and kicked it open.  Within was a science lab with several scientists and technicians as well as four armed guards.  In glass tanks along the rear were two cybertooth tiger drones.  The team plunged into the room, bullets flying.  Scientists and techs went down in a hail of stray gunfire as the team opened up in full-auto mode.  The guards fought back viciously, also in full-auto.  The sound of brass hitting the tile floor tinkled quietly between the booming thunder of indoor gunfire.  Blood sprayed the walls as the team moved in and took down target after target.  Bernsen unleashed a devastating Power Ball to help seal the deal.

Using one of the living scientists, the team started a download of the system science data.  Network took control of the biodrone cybertooth tigers, sending one back toward the extraction point on remote along with his GM-Nissan Doberman drone.  The other, Network “jumped in” and controlled directly.

Just as the team started backing into the first room when the barracks doors opened and more metahuman troops poured through.  Network charged through to the attack, and Feast and Razor lobbed and launched grenades.  The effect on the furthest foes was best described as “chunky salsa.”  With two soldiers down and another injured, Feast moved in with a katana while the combat mages started lighting people up.  Unfortunately, one the elves proved especially dangerous, dropping the cybertooth tiger and several of the MACHETE team with a number of point-blank long bursts of APDS ammo.  With most of the team down, things looked bleak until the elf’s modified Colt M23 went dry.  Suddenly the team was upon him, and he died in a hail of blades and bullets.

Using first aid and Heal, the team was quickly patched up.  Demolitions charges were set throughout the building, and the team extracted.  Once a safe distance, Bersen clicked the remote to blow the place to pieces.  Team MACHETE slipped quietly into the jungle and disappeared, mission accomplished.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 011

by: Charles Plemons - August 7th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun Add Comment

Game summary for August 4, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

The MACHETE team spread out around the entrance to the science base, protected by a number of soldiers and CorpSec, including a bunker.  The team decided to sneak close and use launched grenades to take out the guards.  Unfortunately, the guards were alert and noticed them coming.  In moments, long bursts of bullets ripped through the jungle.  Several of the guards went down from a distance to grenades and bullets.  Feast moved in with his katana and tore through the opposition as well.  Vessel found himself on the receiving end of several bursts, as was Napalm.  Bernsen set several of the enemies on fire, and the team cleared the area in a few moments.  A set of shaped charges later, and the team was in the base entrance.

Within, an assault team blasted away firing from behind crates, barrels, and other items.  Network’s drone lead the way, followed closely by Tango.  Feast and Razor moved in to work some disaster with their blades up close and personal.  After a brutal few moments, the gunfire died down as the last opponent fell.

Now within, the team needs to recover the cybertooth tiger data and examples of the technology!

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 010

by: Charles Plemons - July 30th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun Add Comment

Game summary for July 28, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

With the location of the science base ascertained, the team prepared for an assault.  Aztechnology provided an additional four operatives to assist:  a cyber-enhanced ghoul named Feast, a combat mage named Napalm, an ork brawler named Razor, and a martial artist adept named Reaper.

The 8-man team headed into the Amazonia jungle approximately five miles from the base.  About a mile in, a trio of cybertooth tigers pounced from the foliage, their approach masked by chameleon camouflage.  One began mauling Feast, but the ghoul shook over the attacker and retaliated.  Napalm and Razor were incapacitated by the biodrones quickly, but the team rallied.  They used APDS rounds to get through the drones’ armored skins and soon took down all three.

Several team members were badly injured, and Feast and Tango went to work with first aid kits.  Bernsen used Heal to patch up the more grievous wounds.  After a short time, the team was back in good shape and pressed on through the jungle.

The firefight had drawn the attention of several Amazonia patrols, and it didn’t take long to run into one.  The MACHETE team discovered Saeder-Krupp elite CorpSec working with the Amazonia soldiers, and another firefight erupted.  Feast charged forward at an Amazonia elf infantryman, hunger in his eyes!  Vessel hurled a HE grenade at a troll, and Napalm unleashed a Fireball on the troll as well.  Bernsen used Flamethrower on the elf, and the rest of the team exchanged volleys with the remaining human.  With minimal injury to themselves the MACHETE team brought down the patrol and pressed forward.

They soon found the entrance to the science base, guarded by a number of soldiers.  They fell back to plan the assault.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 009

by: Charles Plemons - July 18th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun Add Comment

Game summary for July 12, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), and Tango (ork tank).

Note:  This post has been edited for the Internet and is rated PG-13.  Details are omitted to protect the guilty.

After learning that Dr. Escobar only frequents the Handy Mandy Club every few nights, the team decided to return and lay in wait.  Network again set up outside the club in the old Nissan-Holden Brumby with the Ferret RPD-1X drone at the rear entrance.  Meanwhile, Tango and Bernsen entered the establishment and began drinking and blending in.  Tango made some small talk with a local Mr. Johnson and subtly confirmed the link with the club and the Andes Cartel.

Tango and Bernsen discussed trying to bribe the bartender into helping them slip a knockout drug into the drink of Dr. Escobar, when he arrives.  However, Tango happened to oversee a little exchange between her and Nicolas Salazar, the Cartel leader in this area, and realized that would be a very bad plan.

The two get friendly with the dancers Zorra and Honey Dowell, and Network warned them of the arrival of Dr. Escobar outside.  He came in and quickly went to the back area.  Tango decided a visit to the VIP area would be in order, perhaps giving him a chance to grab the doctor in the back rooms.  However, when Honey led him to the back, he found that the good doctor was throwing nuyen around in the dressing/shower area.  Thinking quickly, Tango bought his way to the same area and had Honey fetch his buddy Bernsen and lots of drinks.

In the back area, thanks to their free distribution of nuyen and booze, a party broke out.  In the chaos and confusion, Tango slipped the knockout drug into a drink and offered it to Dr. Escobar.  The doctor drank and soon passed out.  Bernsen and Tango carried him to the hallway where they were confronted by the massive (and armed) ork security guard.  Tango flashed him and the girls his fake DocWagon EMT license and convinced them he needs to get the man some air out back and the ork needed to go up front and fetch someone in charge.  Buying this line of crap, the ork went up front while Network pulled up around back.  The trio dumped Dr. Escobar into the Brumby, grabbed the Ferret, and fled the scene.

Back at the warehouse, they learned their fixer, Gilberto would soon have them passage on a ship going to Uruguay.  Meanwhile, Network decided to begin the interrogation.  She did a remarkable, if disturbing, job of making the man talk, and he revealed the location of the science lab.  Unfortunately, they learned that an easy entrance may not happen due to the randomized passkey sequence on Dr. Escobar’s commlink—which was left in his pants back at the Handy Mandy Club.

Undaunted, the team smuggled Dr. Escobar out of Argentina and into Uruguay where they now plan their infiltration/assault on the science research facility.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 008

by: Charles Plemons - July 7th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun Add Comment

Game summary for July 7, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

Note:  This post has been edited for the Internet and is rated PG-13.  Details are omitted to protect the guilty.

Following the successful UNDER THE RADAR mission, Team MACHETE was delivered a new missive.

Aztechnology has intercepted some classified reports of advanced bio-cybernetic research being done by Amazonia in order to perfect living weapons of war.  The report indicates Amazonia scientists have taken the Shiawase Cybertooth Tiger biodrone template and taken it to another level.  Using genetic material samples, they have engineered warform smilodon populator (sabre-tooth cats) and fitted them with state-of-the-art advanced versions of Computer-Assisted Sensory Translation (CAST), Tactical Recognition and Analytical Capability Expert System (TRACES), and Supplemental Environment Interaction Expert System (SEIES).  The report provides evidence that these may be on a second or third generation, with full adaptation to SEIES input and interaction.

This could mean disaster for the war effort.  If Amazonia has access to such an advanced model of biodrone, they may well gain the upper hand in jungle engagements.  Even more disturbing is the report is incomplete but indicates other research is being done as well.  Aztechnology suspects they may also be working with biodrone technology involving paranormals as well.

Aztechnology has learned Dr. Leopoldo Escobar, a leading Amazonia bio-cybertechnology researcher, is on vacation in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Despite a strong Aztechnology presence in the nation, other corporations are likewise represented.  Dr. Escobar has a very strong contingent of protection provided by Amazonia and Saeder-Krupp South America.  It is assumed S-K is providing some of the technology and funding leading to some of Amazonia’s achievements.  The weakest link in his protection seems to be his penchant for visiting the Handy Mandy Club fairly frequently, and this is an obvious location to attempt a kidnapping.  The Handy Mandy Club is operated by the Andes Cartel, which frowns heavily upon CorpSec in their establishments.  They have a particular dislike for Aztechnology and will not knowingly do business with our assets.

Primary Objectives

  • Buenos Aires – The team will infiltrate into Buenos Aires, Argentina aboard commercial aircraft using provided faked SINs, passports, and permits.  Exfiltration must be arranged by the team.  The team has been setup with the following fake identities:
  1. Altrus “Vessel” Bloodstrike – Manuel Solis, German translator from Hannover, Allied German States.
  2. Mayorga “Tango” Durran – Alarico Carrera, DocWagon EMT from Denver, Front Range Free Zone (FRFZ).
  3. Roger “Bernsen” Dorn – Anthony Willis, talismonger from Seattle, UCAS.
  4. Rosa “Network” – Catalina Palomo, commercial pilot from Santiago, Chile.
  • Dr. Leopoldo Escobar – It is imperative the team kidnap Dr. Escobar.  The more low-key this kidnapping, the better.  Leaving the country with Dr. Escobar is a priority.
  • Research Facility – Dr. Escobar will know the location of Amazonia’s primary research facility, suspected to be located outside of Porto Alegre, Amazonia.  Extract from Dr. Escobar the location and method of entry into the facility.
  • Data Recovery – Infiltrate or penetrate into the research compound and acquire Amazonia’s research data.  Use your discretion to determine if a full-on assault or clandestine operation is most appropriate.  If possible, extract DNA samples of any biodrones as well as current models of their CAST, TRACES, and SEIES technology.  Live specimens would also be a plus.

Secondary Objectives

  • Conversion – Dr. Escobar is a valuable asset and should survive his kidnapping and interrogation.  He will be a useful tool in implementing Aztechnology’s own biodrone program.
  • The Andes Cartel – The Andes Cartel already has a contract on the head of Aztechnology’s Chief Operating Officer, Diego Chavez.  Do not further escalate hostilities.  Preferably, the Andes Cartel should have no evidence or indication Aztechnology was involved.
  • Destruction – Destroy utterly the Amazonia research facility, after the data is collected.  Destruction of the information is unacceptable.

Support

  • Gilberto Zambrano – Mr. Zambrano is a freelance fixer in Buenos Aires.  He has a number of contacts that could be of use and will assist the team by providing clean weapons and so on.

After landing in Buenos Aires, the team met up with Gilberto Zambrano and received their equipment, including a collection of vintage reproduction firearms.  Vessel, dissatisfied with the firepower, began examining his MAC-10 for options and promptly broke it.  He asked Gilberto to start trying to locate a light machinegun.  The team decided they would need a boat for extraction and set Gilberto on that as well.  Several rigged some crude boxes to mount under the seats of their vehicle and placed the functioning MAC-10s inside.

They then got in the old Nissan-Holden Brumby and headed to the Handy Mandy club.  Network setup surveillance with eyes on the front door and a Ferret RPD-1X drone at the back.  Tango and Bernsen left their weapons in the van and headed inside.  They were met in the entranceway by a minotaur bouncer who searched them for weapons, informed them of the three drink minimum and sent them inside.  A couple patrons were already present, and Honey Dowell was onstage entertaining with a little number involving actual honey.

The pair sat at one of the back tables and opened communication with subvocal mics back to Network and Vessel.  The two began talking to the waitress and the elven dancer, Ravishing Raven.  That is, Tango did a lot of talking, and Bernsen often made Spanish-like sounds.  They eventually learned that the muscled, tattooed, cigar-smoking dwarf with the neon color-shifting Mohawk was the owner, Gerardo Martinez.  They met several of the other dancers and did their level best to blend in and pretend to enjoy themselves.

After a while, a pair of ork goons arrived escorting an immaculately dressed ork in a black suit, shades, slicked black hair, and gold rings piercing his ears and tusks.  The man spoke with Gerardo for a bit and went to the back.  Tango learned from Raven this was a frequent visitor she suspected Gerardo worked for.  She said she thought his name was Nicolas Salazar.  Tango had Network look him up, and she discovered he was “allegedly” the head of the Buenos Aires operations for the Andes Cartel.

Before long, Vessel got bored and came to the club as well.  He tried to slip an extendable baton into the building and was immediately discovered by the minotaur guard.  He paid her a healthy bribe to let him in, without the baton, instead of turning him away.  Once inside, he ignored Tango and Bernsen and struck up a conversation with Honey Dowell, bought some drinks, and got to know the bartender, Anita Barrera, as well.  Vessel paid for a private dance from Honey, but once away from everyone, he bribed her for some information.  He showed her a picture of Dr. Escobar and found that he generally arrives every other day and was there the night before.

After spending some more time with the dancers, to be polite, the team then returned to Network’s van to plan their caper.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.