GM: Team walks around the market place together before heading out. The rent-a-cops are packing side pistols,etc. None of the common citizens appear armed (maybe some concealed weapons). Jace finds some seeds. [To the arms dealer - How are you gonna find an arms dealer? Walk around the market yelling, weapons! I want weapons! Lets see some skils.] ELV: Bar. I need a bar. Hey every movie has an arms dealer meeting in a seedy bar, with the skinny oriental chick that dances on the stage, while NO ONE is looking at her... That's the bar I want, except I'm gonna buy guns... AND look at the skinny oriental chick. GM: [Roleplaying at its best right here!] ELV and Sherlock head to find a bar that meets his description. There's one just across the street from the market. It has bars on the windows and tape over bullet holes. The front door is a solid wood. Above the door is a neon sign: "Playground" There's a sign that says live show on the door. ELV and Sherlock enter. It's shadowy with dark florescent lights. The bar is on the right hand side manned by a heavy set female, human. She's got a hoop nose ring. Her black straight hair is tied up in a bun on top of her head. She's wearing a apron and a sleeve-less shirt. On her rather large left arm is a tattoo says "Daddy's little girl" in a heart. At the bar are two old men talking over mugs of ale. There's a waitress at the bar with her tray picking her nails. She is wearing a short black leather skirt and a pink tank top that barely contains her. The waitress has long blond hair. To the left are round tables that seat 4. There are booths along the wall. Off the left wall is stage and DJ booth. The dj a young male with dark glasses seems uninterested that the record he's playing is skipping as he reads a magazine (can't see what it is). There's no dancers on the stage. The waitress and bartender look up as ELV and Sherlock enter. "Hey, Fix that record!" yells the bartender in a not so gentle rather manly voice. [How's that on the details?] ELV: Now we're talking, Oh yeah baby, I like it... I nod to the bartender and head to the booth in the furthest corner, I sit such that my back is to the wall (I take it we divided up the stones...). GM: Sherlock and ELV have 45 stones. ELV: Waiting for the waitress to come over. GM: Sherlock and ELV take a seat. The waitress comes over. ELV: Pouring on all the charm. In a gruff voice, I have traveled a long way, and you have got to be the prettiest thing I have seen in the last two days. My friend and I would like to trouble you for a beer. And if your not too busy maybe you can chat with us for a few. GM: [as much as I'd like to make you roll for reaction, let's go with the flow] She gives ELV a little smile. She puts in the order and returns with two beers. "That'll be 3 credits," Sherlock: Naw. El V's got the mojo workign, no need to interrupt his stride. I will glance around some more. Make note of back doors and such, as well as make sure that what we saw as we walked in is really what we're seeing. Too many folks like to hide in the shadows. ELV: Speaking of Mojo, do I make you hawney bayby??? K Frank let's fill in the blanks. Before I get to the third response I want to see the first two reactions. I figured I'd include all three to save time. ELV: I pay her and toss her a little tip as well. Make a motion for her to sit down. "Take a load off, the place doesn't seem too busy, and I don't bite. At least not on the first date.... Unless of course she misbehaves." ELV: "I'm El, my friend here is Sherlock.... You are?" ELV: "Well Ordinarily I'd ask you where do I find some trouble... but lately trouble seems to be finding me. So, instead I'll ask you if you know someone I can see to buy some things to help "get" me out of the trouble that finds me?" ELV: Speaking of Mojo, do I make you hawney bayby??? K Frank let's fill in the blanks. Before I get to the third response I want to see the first two reactions. I figured I'd include all three to save time. ELV: I pay her and toss her a little tip as well. Make a motion for her to sit down. "Take a load off, the place doesn't seem too busy, and I don't bite. At least not on the first date.... Unless of course she misbehaves." GM: She keeps smiling and looks at Sherlock,"a smooth one isn't he?" ELV: "I'm El, my friend here is Sherlock.... You are?" GM: "Jackie and not busy at the moment," She takes a seat next to ELV. ELV: "Well Ordinarily I'd ask you where do I find some trouble... but lately trouble seems to be finding me. So, instead I'll ask you if you know someone I can see to buy some things to help "get" me out of the trouble that finds me?" GM: "Desi, has some 'equipment' and if she doesn't have what you're looking for I'm sure she can point you in the right direction," Aw shit, I'm liking her... El: "Jackie, Your stock just went up a few points. Is Desi Our friend over there ? Tell me about this city, it's by far the biggest I've seen since I've been here. Tell me about the place. Oh and of course, what do you do for fun around here? By the way, I'm still looking for a couple of friends of mine. There haven't been any strangers in the news has there? Maybe talking about crashing a plane or anything like that?" GM: "That's her. Faki, one of the biggest cities on the continent. You're average big city, tons of stuff to do - legal and not so legal. There's a few clubs in this part of town. There's are less favorable parts of town, I'd stay away from unless you're looking for trouble. The flashing part of town is city center. All the up-ity people live there. Strange in this city, all the time. But nothing like what you've described," ELV: Sherlock, you want to know anything???? She's friendly. I like her. Sherlock: Nope. You've covered it all. ELV to Jackie: "Okay, so we know who the supply hookup is, how about the information hookup. You know... The guy or gal that seems to 'know' everything and everyone?" GM: "There's a few locals the come around here when the sun goes down that might be in the information business. The girls that dance here are usually in the know," The music starts to play and one of the girls comes out to dance. She's human (have to start somewhere), about 23 years old, Olive colored skin. ELV: Since we are starting somewhere, I've probably been tip toeing around when I don't have to be. Do these people get frequent visitors from other worlds? I assumed not because of the technology we first found here and s tried to bend in, but if we aren't really "aliens" there is no need to go to all this tiptoeing around. Ya know.. I can say things like "my friend and I here are from Undai and we need to get off of this rock...". GM: It doesn't appear that they get many off-worlders aka "aliens". Technology seems to be located in central areas, such as major cities. The further away from major cities the more the Tech level (TL) decreases - an interesting dynamic of this world. You could say that, yes. However, you have no idea what type of response you'll get. ELV: Okay, The GM reached his freebee limit.... ELV: With that I thank her, and slide her a few extra stones across the table. "Thanks for your time and the information. When I get some more money, I'm coming back to buy you a drink.... And I'll leave my fourth leg over there at home." GM: [Jace is taking a break so I'll be playing Jace and Marvel.] She smiles and heads off ELV and Sherlock: $40 stones Jace and Marvel: $45 stones Sherlock: 4th leg? Heh, she was only talking to you in order to get to me :) Well, we've got a foundation. I say hit Desi up and see what she has and the kinda prices she charges. Tho' I doubt we can afford anything with the amount of stones we have. We probably should then head to the docks and see what we can scout out about the lizard folk. GM: Sherlock and ELV approach Desi. "What are you looking for?" Force sword - 400 Stones Force shield - 300 stones Pistol (projectile) - 100 stones Pistol (Beam) - 175 stones Submachine guns (projectile) - 200 stones Rifles (projectile) - 250 stones Rifles (Beam) - 300 stones ELV: $&%*@... I'll gladly pay you Tuesday to a force shield today. Docks. Sherlock: Damn, guess I'll need to start working the streets...again. GM: Sherlock and ELV exit the bar. Which way you wanna go? Cab (10s) or walk? Sherlock: I say we walk, what's a few more miles. ELV: Hoof it. Damn straight. Starting out with only 45 stones doesn't leave a lot of room for luxuries. We walk, towards the docks. GM: ELV and Sherlock begin the hike. They quickly realize just how big the city is. They make their way through downtown and then enter a less “respectful” part of town. As they are walking, they see a group of males and females setting on stairs in front of a house. Definitely a street gang, they haven’t spotted ELV and Sherlock yet. ELV: Uh.... Invisibility art. Sherlock: Decisions, decisions. I'll follow El V's lead and go invis. ELV: [Oh sure, so you can blame it all on me.... Plausible deniability.] Sherlock: [As Frank once told me: "The cost of being the boss"] ELV: [Tell that to Bush and Rumsfield.] Sherlock: [LOL. What can I say, SSDD.] GM: ELV and Sherlock go invisible. They begin to make their way down the street, there are seven total gang members.. As they get about 20 feet away one of the gang member’s eyes begin to glow a bright red. “What’s up, mags?” asks one of the gang members. “The mana level just went off the charts,” she answers with a smile. A white car pulls up and the back window rolls down. One of the gang members walks over and leans inside. He takes a knot full of money from the person in the back seat. The car pulls off. “What’s he got?” asks another gang member. “Time to help with a little competition,” says the man with the money. The leader heads in first and the others begin to follow. The female, Mags looks at Sherlock and ELV as if she can see them. Sherlock: I think one our goals should be to find a black magic woman (you knew this was coming) and see if something can be done about this damn aura. So far it's done nothing except attract the wrong sort of attention. Granted it was nice while we were hurtling through space, but now... ELV: I'm with you Sherlock, but do you really think Mon Capitaine is going to let us walk away now? Besides he just flashed a knot in front of some of the brokest bastards in town..... Us! And she smiles? Despite the Mana you would think that she might be a LITTLE intimated by two guys that can make themselves invisible. I mean for crying out loud if this doesn't scream don't eff with us we're baaad mother effers I don't know what will. Oh well Sherlock Like you said SSDD. ELV: Tally hoe -> Bogies 11:00, just below the hard deck. I'm in, you in?... they got something we need, Let's save Frank the trouble. I'm heading towards the dude with the knot.... Sherlock, if there are any good reasons not to do this, speak now, or forever hold your piece. Sherlock: You're one step ahead of me partner. They got cash, we need cash, we're good guys, and they're bad guys. It works for me. Sherlock: Missiles armed and ready, I'm heading around to their 6. Once El V starts a ruckus up front, I'll bring the smack on the rear. That should split them up very nicely. Where's Mags in their line up? ELV: I knew I could count on you..... Of course before all of this started I was about to contact Jace and Marvel to see what THEY were knee deep in to! Frank sensed that... And distracted me. GM: She smiled with the mana level went off the charts, so apparently that type of thing happens (mana level fluctuations). Let me elaborate on the last game turn: The guy with the money leads the others inside. The guy with the money and two others are already inside. Mags is looking and Sherlock with an inquizitive look, like she's not really sure what she's looking at. You can do a parlor trick that makes you invisible to the naked eye, Mages see things like that all the time. The further away from the city the more likily Invisiblity art is viewed with awl. The group hasn't been in the city long enough to determine what is considered bizare and what is run of the mill. GM: [Oh yeah, Kimo aka Jace has taken a break from the game so I'm running both Marvel and Jace.] Are you taking the time to place a call before you start the festivities? That might give away your position - but I could be wrong. Mags is standing at the top of the steps letting everyone else head inside first. Sherlock: Story of my life "...not really sure what she's looking at." So basically, she's reading me because I'm a mage. Her eye's are saying nothing's there, but her "mage sense" is telling her that something is. Sound about right. Guess I need to learn how to hide my aura. What kinda of roll would I need to give it a try? Boss, since they're almost all inside, I say we sneak in behind them and then take their money. At least it'll reduce the chance of witnesses. GM: Mages (and mana sensitives) can automatically sense changes in mana levels. Magic users can generally tell another magic user on site (same as a military person can someone else in the military and often what branch). The unuusal delima for this group is they generate a mana field which is fairly easy to spot by most mages. Sherlock's magic ablities weren't "set-off until the mana wolf incident. Hope that clears it up. ELV: Shows how much I know about Magic... Now that everything has been put into perspective, okay, round the back we go. GM: Sherlock and ELV head around the back through the alley. Watches for a bit then heads inside with the others. There's a 12 foot high wooden fence in the way. Both men scale the fence no problem. They check around the corner. There are three large cages each with 2 large attack dogs. The cages are closed with a latch on them. Three armed guys set on the steps smoking and talking. ELV: Well Sherlock, That's another fine mess you've gotten us into. How about the side of the house? If not the side, we can take a new look at the front. That is unless you've got yet ANOTHER light bulb appearing over your head. GM: [A group of commandos scared of a few gang bangers. I'm testing out my more detailed game turns and providing more information per turn without expecting you guys to just ask all the right questions. --- I like it !!!!--- Sneak up on the three guys, take them out in two turns! (ok it's ELV make that 4 turns.) Sneak in, steal money, Escape.] The side of the house is all brick straight up no windows. The front of the house has solid door on the front with bars. ELV: Okay....Sherlock. One. Two. Two and a half. Two and three quarters..... Jump. Here is the plan. I say we try to maintain invisibility until we are right up on them. You cover left I cover right for the greatest possible distraction. Sherlock: What can I say, I don't go looking for trouble 'cause it usually knows where I am. (Lethal Weapon?) I'm thinking the bit of cash we get may not be worth the effort. These guys obviously expect trouble. It may be better to try to find and rob a pimp or normal street thug. These guys look pretty professional. GM: [Be gone voice of reason!] Sherlock: Works for me. Let's go! ELV: Nonononono.... You are right. Phew. You saved me from a potentially beer goggles moment. Lets head back to the docks. We'll fall for the NEXT trap he tries to spring. When we are at a safe distance I call Jace and Marvel. Sherlock: To the docks it is. If I know Frank, he's got backup traps to his backup traps. GM: [Rats foiled again, thought the knot of money would lure you in! Plan B] ELV: [Well you almost had ME!] Sherlock: [I was game until we went around back and saw the "street gang" had a pair of Dobermans and guards watching the back door.] ELV: [As was I. Next...]