Tag name：rpg

Cyberpunk

This is a collection of notes and other details from and about Neil's cyberpunk game:

Cyberpunk Session 32

In the morning Kage and Ricky do a patrol around the fire tower travelling out about 50 metres from the tower while Nameraka heads out to add traps on the paths to the north, east and west (having placed a trap yesterday on the path to the south that leads to the ranger/research station).

Spooky then takes remote control of the drone that was based at the ranger station. She flies the drone over the trees to the fire tower. She finds that the drone is about 80cm in diameter and is dish-shaped has a camera that is capable of night vision but has only a 90° field of view to its front. She doesn't see anything unexpected as she practises with the drone. Her control diminishes with distance.

A dark forest seen from inside the forest. Sunlight glimmers down through the trees though through mist. The trees are tall conifers relatively closely packed.

The Reference Forest

Tremen makes scans of the forest from the balcony of the fire tower using the binoculars. It is possible to see the mast of the ranger station from the balcony and that the terrain is slightly rising to the east.

Kage and Ricky don't see or hear anything unusual on their patrol (that said the trees limit their vision to a maximum of 100 metres once you look off of the path).

At about 11am Tremen and Kage decide to take a walk around the perimeter of the forest. This shows that there is an electric chain-link fence surrounding the forest with the only gate being on the southern path that leads to the research station. While there are no streams crossing the boundary of the forest it is clear that some form of irrigation is being used with occasional boggy areas showing that, in places, that irrigation isn't delivering its water consistently.

A view of the layout of the ranger station/research station. It has four rooms and a corridor. On the left is a power generator room. To its right is a laboratory/workshop room. Next is the corridor with a small bathroom at its end. Finally to the right of the corridor is a recreation room used if an overnight stay is required.

The ranger station as described by Tremen - he may have been making up some of the fixtures and fittings but the layout of the rooms should be fairly accurate.

After returning to the fire tower and having a bite to eat, Tremen heads out to the ranger station and ends up having a long conversation with the single technician working there. While he doesn't get much additional information (although he does determine that while the station does power the electric fence it doesn't have any sophisticated monitoring system for it), he does get a look at the interior of the station.

The rest of the team meanwhile continues to patrol the forest without detecting any unexpected activity.

On Tremen's return we set up a round of watches for the night:

11pm-2am: Nameraka on watch at the top of the fire tower
2am-5am: Tremen on watch at the top of the fire tower
5am-8am: Kage & Tharbin on watch at the base of the tower

Spooky is excused watch duty but bivouacs at the base of the tower while both Wakiya and Ricky decide to do watches out in the forest (both attempting to be on alert as possible all through the night.

Early in Kage's watch, she hears a man-made sound to the East Northeast. She calls out to the team over the comms and heads off in the direction of the sound. Wakiya jolts at the call over the comms, drops her rifle and works to recover it. Tremen hadn't yet dropped off to sleep and so heads out onto the balcony and scans in the direction indicated by Kage. He can see diffuse man-made lights in the direction that Kage is heading and informs the team of that.

When we resume the following applies:

Kage get a full turn before anyone on the team can act
Kage, Nameraka, Spooky and Tharbin get a full turn before Spooky, Tremen and Ricky can act
Tremen is at the top of the fire tower
Ricky is furthest from the action and has to wait an additional turn beyond those described above

Cyberpunk Session 31

Tremen answers the door. There is an Asian gentleman at the door. He bows and hands over a set of keys without speaking. He is wearing a suit which has the same lapel badge¹ as the gentleman who greeted us when we arrived in Night City. The key ring has three identical keys on it and Tremen throws the keys to Wakiya. Ricky looks outside the warehouse and there is a blocky van-like vehicle parked there. Wakiya heads to the vehicle and drives it inside the ground floor of the warehouse.

We have a conversation with Hana Kage Shimon about living costs here (since it seems we'll be here for sometime). She says that monthly costs can be as low as 1,100 Eurobucks but 1,600 would be more typical assuming that we want some food that actually tastes of something[1.Those of us, such as Tremen, who now have an agent (a smartphone-like device) will also need to pay its subscription of 100 Eurobucks per month).]! Checking our funds we see that while we do still have some currency from New Toyko it does have some problems - namely it's New Yen and is dated from what is now the future! As a result Nameraka gets worried about our finances and starts to scour the newssheets for any possible patrons and/or employment.

Cyber Snoop Business News 1^st August 2020

Biotechnica Researcher Mystery

Mystery about disappearance continues despite his recovery by Queen Morosha's organisation last week in the woods to the north-east of BosWash. While Biotechnica confirmed that Professor Kogan Akigo is one of the prime genetic engineers behind the Reference Forest, they declined to provide any actual details about his current health beyond expressing hopes that he will be continuing his research soon. The professor was presumed dead following a dam break close to both the prototype Orchard and a Secret Nuclear Facility.

Land Grab in Washington

Even more mystery surrounds the acquirers of millions of acres of woodland in Washington state. The new owners, while remaining relatively tight-lipped have closed access to the acquired lands and claim that they have great plans for the land. Locals remain concerned for their future.

Reference Forests: Controversy?

While many investors have welcomed Biotechnica's cutting edge genetic engineering there are those opposed to the new Reference Forests. With three of the forests already up and growing leading to hopes for the associated recovery of the lumber industry, Green Fist, an environmental activist group has called for Biotechnica to be shut down. Green Hammer, the founder, has called the Reference Forests an abomination that uses non-native trees to destroy the remaining local ecosystem. Professor Geri McKennel insists that the Reference Forests are rebuilding whole forests, creating clean air and actually helping to restore the natural order. She claims that the Biotechnica could even grow trees on Mars.

He sees the article about Biotechnica and Reference Forests and concludes that it's entirely possible that Professor McKennel will be looking for additional security. He sends off an email to her suggesting that we could help. After a couple of hours she responds suggesting a video call which he accepts and we all (apart from, initially, Tharbin) crowd around. After some negotiation we agree to provide additional security for one of the Reference Forests for 500 Eurobucks each for three days and then a renegotiation after that if required. Biotechica will provide transport out to the forest in five minutes time!

We depart in a transport AV, which liftoffs vertically and then heads out over Night City and the heads out to the forest. The terrain we fly over is scrubby wasteland. As we fly Tharbin is able to riffle through the AV's medikit to restock (to a some degree) his own stocks with the agreement of the AV pilot.

Nameraka looks out at the countryside. There are roads etc with what looks to be normal traffic - though it can be hard to tell since we are some height above the ground.

After an hour or so we arrive, the AV pilot enjoying a high and fast approach to a landing pad next to a decent size building. He lands and it's apparent that this is a ranger station just at the edge of a substantial forest. A guys walks out of the building and points out a path leading into the forest. He says there's a fire tower in the middle that we should use as our base of operation

The Reference Forest

At about quarter past one in the afternoon we arrive at the fire tower. There is a lift at the bottom which Tremen enters and after a few seconds, with no one joining him, he presses the button to go to the top of the tower and lift ascends the tower. At the top is a room with some cots, a table and some equipment including binoculars, a metrological computer, communications gear and some seismic sensors. The tower has a balcony on all sides that allows observation of the forest. There is also a fridge with freeze-dried supplies. Water is supplied by a rain catchment system and there are solar panels and batteries to provide power.

Nameraka sets up a snare to provide some level of warning of intruders using the path we used to get to the tower while Kage and Wakiya scout out the areas around the tower after they reckon there's nothing worrying within 150 metres of the tower.

Spooky reports that she can link to a drone back at the ranger station - though we'll probably need to go back to the station to release it.

Looking from the top of the tower we can see that there are four paths from the fire tower heading in the four cardinal directions for at least 500 metres before they fade into the mist. We can see that the trees are all about four metres in height allowing for a relatively clear line of sight since the terrain is (as far as we have scouted) relatively flat.

We take watches overnight

Footnotes

A stylised red tree on a shimmering black background ↩

The GK Strategem

I'm running a new traveller campaign - pages about it can be found here:

Traveller Session 29

Game Date: 332-1105
Location: Olympia → Spirelle → Penkwhar → Persephone

A map of the local jump map around Spirelle

Excerpted recent email server logs from Vagabond's Hope

To: Vagabond's Hope Re: Salvage Rights for Vigilant Star

Transmission Time: 73 days (Route: Glisten → Bendor → Ffudn → Marastan → Persephone → Tenalphi → Wardn → Olympia)

Sent: 226-1105 Received: 332-1105

To: Captain and Crew of the Vagabond's Hope

From: Imperial Court of the Admiralty sitting at Glisten

As the Imperial Court of the Admiralty covering Flammarion we are pleased to inform you that your registration of Salvage Rights on the Vigilant Star discovered at Flammarion has been received and, as the first registrant, recorded. Efforts to locate the owner have been started (your reports and documentary evidence of the status of the crew mean that this will involve tracing the heirs and successors).

Your options as holders of the initial salvage rights are as follows:

(1) Complete the transfer of ownership of the wreck. This requires inspection of the wreck by representatives of the Imperial Court of the Admiralty at your expense (typically Cr100,000 plus travel expenses) and payment of half of the assessed value to the current owners of the Vigilant Star.

(2) Auction off the salvage rights via the Imperial Court of the Admiralty. This service costs 20% of the hammer price of the salvage rights plus Cr10,000.

(3) Cede your salvage rights to the Imperial Court of the Admiralty

If we do not receive instructions within two years of this registration option (3) will automatically apply. Hence if you wish to exercise either Option (1) or (2) we need to receive official notification of your intention by 225-1107.

*** Authenticated as sent by the Imperial Court of the Admiralty at Glisten by authentication protocol AP-6782 ***

To: Junebug Re: Events at home

Transmission Time: 58 days (Route: Mirriam (Five Sisters) → Karin → Iderati → Flammarion → Caladbolg → Biter → Adabicci → Tenalphi → Spirelle)

Sent: 271-1105 Received: 340-1105

To: Junebug

From: Firefly, Mirriam

Dear Junebug,

I do hope that my dear sister is well and safe. I am glad to report that we are well and safe even if the power has suffered from intermittent failures. As you may have heard our world of Mirriam has been attacked by the Zhodani. Luckily they seem to have concentrated on the Naval Base and I'm hoping that this message will manage to find its way to you despite the troubles. While the Zhodani have damaged the High Port, the forces of the Imperium led by our Chief of the Unified Realm Elysian Varn did repulse the attack and the good news is that the Zhodani Vessels have left the system.

(Rest of message omitted by email summariser software)

Your loving sister

Firefly

To: Junebug Re: Events with your lover

Transmission Time: 158 days (Route: Regina → Jenghe → Extolay → Denotam → Frenzie → Garda-Vilis → Vilis → Mjolnir → Joyeuse → Beater → Hofud → Biter → Adabicci → Tenalphi → Spirelle)

Sent: 146-1105 Received: 340-1105

To: Junebug

From: Tomas, Regina

Dearest Junebug,

Just wanted to give you a quick rundown of what happened today at the Lysander School of Operatic & Performing Arts – it’s been a wild day.

A high‑ranking Zhodan Consul slipped into the rehearsal hall uninvited. He claimed he was there to review set design, but the Dean wasn’t around, so the whole thing felt off.

The Consul was quickly confronted by Public Order Commission Officers. The situation escalated, and the Consul was escorted to the Dean’s office for a private discussion.

The Dean has already sent a formal note to the Zhodani Embassy demanding an apology and clarification. The Consul has responded, apologising for the misunderstanding and insisting there’s no espionage or treachery on his part.

Amid the chaos, rumours of espionage and treachery have continued to spread among students and faculty. We’ve tightened visitor protocols and stationed officers at key points on campus to keep things under control.

The Dean’s message was formal but firm. The Consul’s reply was polite, but the whole thing feels like a diplomatic tangle that could blow up if not handled carefully.

(Rest of message omitted by email summariser software)

When/Where can we meet up again?? - I am missing you terribly and in particular our wild rides 🙂

Tomas

Spirelle News report 340-1105: Another Zhodani Raid reported

Following on from our news reports of attacks on the Jone, Mirriam and Karin (which followed those reports from Iderati and Flammarion) we now have reports of a raid on the Asteline system.

Our local scout base hasn't received reports of any attacks closer to us, either from the Zhodani or from the Sword Worlds.

In addition we have not had any news of any attacks to our coreward such as attacks on or towards Lunion (the local subsector capital)

Our System Defence Boats remain on high alert

To: Vagabond's Hope Re: Transfer of surplus equipment

Transmission Time: 0 days (Route: Spirelle)

Sent: 340-1105 Received: 340-1105

To: Vagabond's Hope

From: Spirelle Scout Base General Stores

Following a review of supplies and equipment kept at our scout base I am pleased to inform you that the following equipment is surplus to our requirements and is hereby transferred as equipment for the Vagabond's Hope:

Two (2) collapsible fuel tank kits each designed to convert a multi-Environment suite on a Type K Safari Ship into a temporary fuel tank, complete with connectors and tubing to allow fuel transfer from the temporary fuel tank to the main fuel tank. Each tank can hold 10 tons of fuel.

While I've no idea why these were ever shipped to our scout base (we typically only see the occasional Type S Scout Ships) I understand that you can use these tanks to avoid the need to any surface refuelling at Penkwhar - an excellent since the inhabitants there are little more than pirates (luckily without space or star ships).

Each tank should only be filled with refined fuel and be inspected after use to avoid having to clean up after a leak of liquid hydrogen into the multi-environment suite (or beyond into the rest of the ship

To: Vagabond's Hope Re: Repair, Annual Maintenance and installation of turret

Transmission Time: 0 days (Route: Persephone)

Sent: 350-1105 Received: 350-1105

To: Vagabond's Hope

From: Persephone Imperial Scout Service Waystation

I am pleased to inform you that the Vagabond's Hope has been booked into the Imperial Scout Service facilities here at Persephone. The following work has been scheduled:

Repair of the Hull Damage
Implementation of the Annual Service
Installation of a custom dual laser turret

Payment for the above items (including labour charges) has been received from the central funds of the Vagabond's Hope and it is expected the work will be completed by 054-1106¹

Footnotes

The GK Strategem will resume in the new year (real world) - I need to some actual plotting! ↩

Mongoose Traveller 2e Character Creator

Choose the traveller's species and gender from these options:

Choose the traveller's homeworld below and then press Next

Optionally type the Univeral World Profile (UWP) of that world in the box below

(This UWP is not in the correct format (e.g, A123456-C))

Some skill tables may allow a choice between the Drive and Flyer skills or between Drive and Vacc Suit. Please choose your preference:

Drive
Flyer or Vacc Suit

Note: This preference defaults to Drive if the tech level of your homeworld is tech level 8 or lower and Flyer if it's 9 or higher. If you change the homeworld, this preference will change accordingly. If you don't want the default, change the homeworld first and then change this preference.

Once happy with your choice of homeworld press next to continue.

Your initial characteristics are shown in the character sheet to the right.

Choose which pair of characteristics you wish to swap (if any). and then press Do it! to perform the swap. You can swap as many pairs of characteristics as you like.

Swap with

Once you're happy that you don't want to swap any additional pairs of characteristics press Next to move to the next stage of character creation.

: Search for anagathics. If you do locate a supply you will start using the anagathics immediately at a cost of Cr for this first term of use. If your roll is a 2, you will be imprisoned.
: As you are using anagathics you will suffer a mishap unless you can make this roll twice. The anagathics will cost you Cr this term.
: If you fail this roll you will suffer a mishap and leave at the end of this term. In most cases you will not receive a benefit roll (a representation of money, equipment and influence acquired during your years of work) if you suffer a mishap.

Family Affairs:

You can attempt to advance as .

If you roll or more you will be released from prison

: Apply to become a commissioned officer. If your application succeeds that successful application replaces your advancement. If, however your application is rejected you may then attempt to advance as normal as a non-commissioned officer.

You are now years old (but with a physical age of ). As a result you need toAs your physical age is under age 34 you do not need to make an aging roll to avoid the effects of aging weighing on you unless you stop using anagathics.

You have completed your xth term across all careers and pre-career education. What would you like to do next?

: After time in pre-career education you decide to join a career
: Due to events in the term just completed you are required to join
: Due to events in the term just completed you are required to become a Rogue or Drifter if you wish to continue in a career
: Due to events or mishaps in the term just completed you are required to join a new career in the next term
: You are required by to continue in their service in the next term
: You were arrested and convicted in the term just completed
: You are yet to be released from prison
: After your time in prison you decide to join a career
: Continue in as
: Continue in but change assignment
: Leave and change career

Choose this option if you wish to change branch (the agents require you to reapply if you wish to change branch)

(Events or Mishaps mean that you must leave the agents)

Your society expects you to serve 3 Terms before changing career. If you leave, your new career options will be limited. However due to events in this term, yuou can attempt to become a Military Officer next term despite this expectation.
: You decide to go adventuring
(Events or Mishaps mean that you must muster out)
: After your time in pre-career education you decide to go adventuring immediately
: After your time in prison you decide to go adventuring

The following skills require specialisation. Please the choose the specialisation and the level of that specialisation. You can split up the specialisation if you desire by changing the level of the specialisation.

Base Skill	Specialisation	Level	Available Levels

: Apply the specialisations listed above. If you have allocated all your specialisations you will move onto finalising the character. Otherwise you will need to choose additional specialisations (or select Skip).
: Skip your remaining specialisations. Note: You will lose the remaining skill levels

Loading...

Name:
Species:: Human
Gender:: Female
Homeworld:
Age:: 18
Physical Age:: 18
Cash:: Cr
Parole Threshold:

Benefits

Associates

Contacts: 0
Allies: 0
Rivals: 0
Enemies: 0
Patrons: 0

	STR	DEX	END	INT	EDU	TER	SOC	PSI
Score
DM

The following 'traveller companion' stats are calculated but have no effect during character creation:

	WLT	LCK	MRL	STY	CHA
Score
DM

Skills (0 skill levels total, maximum †)

Life Events

DJV's Mongoose Traveller V2 Character Creator Plugin Version 3.409.0

Traveller Session 28

Game Date: 324-1105
Location: Smoug → Olympia

A map of the local jump map around Smoug

A blue bipefdal creature wreathed in some kind of white light. The creature has claws and a crazy grin

Artist's impression using the description of the creature as described by Earl.

Earl - Finds captains logs but they are encrypted. He transfers logs to our systems and then looks at external logs which show the ship was aiming at Wardn but does not land at the SP, it flies over the Scout Base and some farm land before landing. Some of the crew plus the Droyne leave and disappear from view for a time then reappear with one of the creatures we encountered on 886-945. They enter ship and take off we then we see the crash. He then searches the ship from fore to stern trying to grab whatever he can, no other bodies are found. The Captain asks us all to look at the footage from Wardn asking if anyone can see the blue creature. No is answer. He checks in on me and the Droyne warrior, then he tries to decrypt data from Captains logs.

Chase - Unloading vodka and finds strange L shaped thing which he picks up and takes with him.

Masuyo - Is completing claim form for salvage. Droyne warrior appears to be going to sleep. She stays with him.

Junebug- Is on a gurney heading for Med-Bay.

Cyndariel - Tends to Junebugs injury, then she looks at the strange item Chase brought in with him but her priority is Junebug. Cyn also wants to have a look at the bodies we brought back. She sets up a scan on the strange item and checks on Junebug who is cuddled up with Kimbley on the Med bed. She also wants to check on the Droyne warrior.

An L-shaped object made of some kind of metal. It vaguely looks like some kind of implement, maybe a large key

The L-shaped object

The item is broken but carbon dating shows it is several hundred thousand years old. Cyn's research comes back with some kind of Ancient artifact, she collates and saves the information. Cyn checks on Droyne, it seems to have slipped into some form of unconsciousness, possibly some form of Hibernation? Decision made to transfer it to Med-Bay. Junebug is recovering and will fully recover by end of Jump. Unfortunately Droyne dies during the night.

Fiorana - I am dismantling the turrets from the downed ship and it is going OK. I have a strange dream the same night as the Droyne warrior dies [The Droyne shares his memory with you. His oytrip (normally a group of six Droyne) has been loyal to Tsyamoykyo (apparently an individual of some kind of superior Droyne). After a time in cold sleep half of his oytrip was awoken and assigned to look after some men (which he associates with servitors of Tsyamoykyo). After several Jumps the oytrip and the leader of the men left the ship and interacted with a base of one of Tsyamoykyo's enemies. They returned to the ship and left. Shortly after that the men attacked the oytrip. His leader and go‑fer died. The Droyne wiped out the humans and their weapons but then had no-one to control the ship. It's computer acted on its default program - completing the jump and landing (badly) on this moon.] I share this dream with the crew the next morning. I carry out research on the proper fitting & integration of the Laser turrets so I can check after work is completed.

Tharbin - Scans the area and finds where the object came from and it appears the Droyne warrior dropped it. He asks Chase to tell Cyn to quarantine it in case it is explosive. Plans our next jump. We have some trouble plotting a successful jump to Olympia, passive scan show nothing and we finally plot the jump. He looks at the back plot from the Zhodani ship, they did not stop at any SP's and planned to refuel at Gas Giant at Smoug. No plans to land anywhere.

The Artifact we found may be a Droyne Ancestral Artifact? Possibly it is a key for the Ancient site at Warden? We plan to hand the artifact over to the Scout Base. From what we can piece together, it appears that the Zhodani crew may have mutinied and killed the Droyne while in Jump but missed one who got revenge by killing the Zhodani causing the ship to follow default programming by landing (badly) on the moon at Smoug?.

Cyn shares her research with us and all formation points to us handing the artifact over to the authorities at earliest opportunity and we also plan to isolate it so it cannot draw any energy from any external source. Masuyo asks me for a Faraday cage to lock the item away and securing it inside one of the fuel tanks.

We take our stations for Jump exit which is performed smoothly, we head for the planet for refuelling, permission given to land, we order 20 tons of fuel @21000 credits, Masuyo asks about a night life planet side with any bars: There is one bar so Masuyo plans to ask if they want our Vodka.

Small world 1,000 population ,low gravity and respirators required.

11,000 credits for the Vodka.

There is a letter (in Zhodani) apparently addressed to Qinchriadriashav (The head of the Zhodani Consulate for the local sector based at Chronor). It describes the concerns from the captain outlining his fears and worries about the mission he has been assigned. He concludes by saying: How can anyone believe that there is an unknown Ancient site at Wardn and that it can be activated? I still believe this mission to be either illegal or unauthorised by the Consulate (or both). I beg that you investigate how this mission was set into motion.

Cyberpunk Session 30

Wakiya leads the way out the back, followed by the rest of the team. We hear Screams, yelps and the sounds of panic from the room behind us. As Wakiya reaches the street she encounters someone trying to enter - she reacts instinctively and pushes the gentleman out of the way - breaking his nose in the process. The chaos behind us builds in intensity and the hooded figure with us turns, gestures and summons a new portal. Everyone through! Now! he says.

A male figure in a kimono running away from a spectral wolf in a japanese style restaurant

Our last view of Shadow

We do so but only six of us... Looking behind us reveal the shocking sight of Shadow being caught by one of the creatures

We arrived on something that feels somewhat reassuringly like concrete. Looking around us we see that we're in some kind of warehouse - there are fluorescent lights above us and a staircase leads upwards at the far end of the warehouse. We are still in our earlier clothing (stone masons and painters)

At the far end of the warehouse are some people dressed in black suits and ties.At the front of the group is a gentleman looking older than the others. He has a small black button about the size of a penny on his lapel. This shows a stylised red tree on a shimmering black background. He is flanked by two younger men and a young lady standing to the side behind them.

Tremen approaches the group and the gentleman offers a business card using both hands to present it. Tremen apologies for not being able to offer his own card and takes the card (using both hands himself). The business card is white on black is a relatively technological card giving the name as Makoto Ryujin. He says that this warehouse and its supplies upstairs is for our use and is the only freebie his employers are prepared to give he expects us to do jobs for his employers as required. He turns to the lady with him and introduces her as Hana Kage Shimona. He explains that she will join us to assist. When we ask what has happened to Shadow he's unable to help. I was told to expect a group to arrive - you're a group!

A woman dressed in black with obvious body armour under her clothing. She has a Katana in a scabbard by her side. It is night-time in a modern looking street scene

Hana 'Kage' Shimona

He (and the two other gentlemen) depart and we explore our new surroundings. There is clothing for seven people and some equipment upstairs which we gratefully appropriate (even if the clothing is somewhat generic and not as stylish as some of us would like). There are non-perishable foods in a larder (sporting brand names we don't recognise even if we can recognise the rice, ramen etc). Adjacent to the larder and kitchen are other facilities including small rooms to be used as personal bedrooms for each of us. Also included in the equipment are smartphones and we can determine that we're in a place that calls itself Night City on the west coast of America and the year is 2020.

Nameraka explores the various news channels - there are several, revealing that there no major news events ongoing at the moment either in the world as a whole or locally. However one oddity is that under the news ticker there is a small red box that is apparently a lottery tracker showing the number of verified murders reported during the day (we see the number change from 79 to 82 as we watch).

Ricky explores outside of the warehouse revealing that the warehouse is in what Ricky calls a downbeat area (but not a slum). There is the smell of the sea which Ricky discovers is about two streets away and covers from a small seafront that hosts some small boats. There is traffic on the roads and behind the warehouse can be seen a city which, from the building we can see, is both bigger and richer than our warehouse district.

Tremen does web searches looking for any reference to Shadow (using his real name) - there are no hits, but on the other hand, there are no hits for any of the rest of us either.

We spend a nervous night with half (or more) of the team being unsure how much we can trust in this environment and with Shimona in particular - though checking the building shows it to be relatively secure (the roller doors, for example, are reinforced).

Next morning we have a breakfast and check our new equipment - which seems to be in working order if nothing special. We ask Shimona to take us to a nearby store where we can get some fresh food to go with the non-perishable foods already here. Wakiya stays at the warehouse while we go on this errand. The streets are busy and loud (which reveals that the Warehouse is somewhat soundproofed) complete with the sound of frequent sirens. Cyberware is a lot more obvious here that in Newport City - some people are effectively flaunting their use of it). The city scape is garish and somewhat overpowering. The roads all seem to lead towards the corporate centre of the city. However the roads hold not just ground vehicles but some aerial vehicles as well. We do see police walking beats but don't seem to be doing so in an oppressive manner - only a few can be seen at any rate.

Once at the store Shimona buys the fresh food and we start the return journey. As we return we hear the sound of a shot ringing out about 100 meters ahead of us. A guy runs out of a store at roughly that distance and, when someone gets in his way he shoots them down. Up to that point hardly anyone on the street took any notice, but at the second shot the people do react and take cover. Tremen asks Shimona Is this common?, she replies Not common - but it does happen now and then and explains that the corporate zone is safer.

The guy with the gun has run off so we get closer to the scene. The passer-by looks to have been injured in the leg by the shooter acting on reflex. The shot was to get him out of the way and wasn't to kill.

Since we don't want to get more involved we leave the scene and return to the Warehouse. We let Wakiya know of the morning's adventure and then there is a knock on the door....

D&D

We're also now playing a D&D campaign on Fantasy Grounds Unity. Some notes that have been taken are:

D&D Session 19

A cave entrance on a hillside. The cave is not all that tall and boulders lie strewn in front of it. The hill stretches up above the cave entrance.

The cave entrance at Wyvern Tor

The party prepare to set off for the caves at Wyvern-Tor. A plan is hatched that Fioranna, Silanne, & Bluebell will take up a position to the north of the caves on a ridge, whilst the rest of the party will approach from the south, drawing the attention of any creatures. Crom is selected to lead the advance from the south with Tremen, Tharbin & Tarqual. The plan agreed before we approach was for Crom and the party entering from the south to make the initial contact with any forces allow the Silanne, Fiorana & Bluebell to observe and attack from the right flank in the hope we can catch any guards unaware and dispatch them quickly. Bluebell cast a move silently spell just before we set off.

A battlemap showing the narrow valley that leads to the cave entrance. The entrance itself is at the top of the map while the party is at the bottom of the map

The party prepares to enter

Treman & Crom are the first to advance and it isn't long before they are spotted by a sentry posted near to the cave entrance. The Bugbear moves towards them.

A battlemap showing the party much deeper into the valley. Tremen is in the lead with two bugbears on either side of him. Tharbin and Tarqual (with Fortenbrass the monkey) are three to five squares behind him. Crom is a further square back (and to the right) with a beefy looking orc just behind him. A goblin can also be seen at the bottom of the battlemap

Battle is engaged

Tremen & Crom are the first to engage. Bolts fire over Tremen as he charges to engage. Crom rages and hits out with his axe, just missing Tremen. A second sentry appears to Tremen's left which draws his attention. To our south more creatures appear taking the party a little unawares, Myself & Tharbin defend our positions, striking out at the creatures advancing towards us.

Later in the battle Bluebell enters the fight from above the valley while Crom is engaged by more foes including at least three more goblins.

Bluebell enters the fight while Crom is attacked by a wave of goblins that join his existing foe

Fortenbrass makes a hasty dash to the ridge on our left, suddenly from the ridge to our right, just above, Bluebell appears as she joins the attack and cast starry whisps at a bugbear. A javelin lands just past Crom, as he charges to the south to hold the line with Tharbin, as a wave of Goblins appear.

Now Tarqual and Fortenbrass are menaced by an orc. Fiorana is assisting Tremen while Tharbin is alongside Crom. Meanwhile Silanne (also above the valley near to Bluebell) has some Orcs to fight.

Battle is well and truly joined

I fire some bolts at a bugbear that approaches my position from the north. The fight continues all around. Silanne & Fiorana charge out from the tree line on the ridge, also battling more bugbears, Silanne moves to attack close range with melee - slashing with her scimitar. I retreat to the left ridge. After dispatching one bugbear Trem moves to attack the second. In the chaos of the battle it is noticed by some, that the goblins appear to have glowing green eyes & weapons.

Now a large creature, Gog, joins the fight. It is twice the size of the goblins and bugbears (2x2 squares on the battlemap). It appears in the middle of the fight surrounded by the existing bugbears.

Gog appears!

In the thick of the battle, Gog a huge beast emerges in the centre of the battle which sends shock waves through the party. Some are filled with a sense of dread, others draw a deep breath as they fortify themselves for the unimaginable fight ahead.

Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk Session 32

Cyberpunk Session 31