Session One Hundred and Ninety-Eight Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)
Session 198, October 9 2024
Introduction
We continue in the late afternoon with the party resting in the safe house provided by Zen, although there is now some question about the safety of this location. Based on Kauri's hacking and the last words of Brash, the group seems to be caught up in some kind of gang power struggle. Can they make it out of this pickle alive? Will they now track down Asmodeus's contact? How does one access a bank account? Find out next time; or not.
Larry's Summary
We review the chips from Plum Island facility so Kauri can talk to little Asmodeus about them and check our bank accounts and make plans to leave and meet our contact.
The items are probably some sort of skill plug jack. Requires modification to plug in and learn a new skill. None of us have this hardware. Depending on what they are, they could be worth some money. Up to 25,000 or as low as 5,000 each each. Probably on the lower end since facility abandoned by Advanced Systems.
Velkin has an old PC that may not be worth anything, unless we find a collector.
Kauri has the credentials to the guy's personal account and his sub-group of American Posse.
Kauri consults with Asmodeus suggest doing it to accounts we were given before we run away.
Asmodeus explains passwords, and frustration over certain words. Eventually gets through locking down our accounts.
It may not be secure and American Posse may be able to pull back from who provided it.
We can get some physical money but it's considered weird. Can't get all from the card.
Kauri downloads a map.
We decide to wait for a more secure card to drain the Brash and American Posse accounts and not be tracked.
We make plans to leave in the vehicle to head South, then leave the van and work our way over to the J&J Auto with Asmodeus' contact he arranged.
Kauri shares it's August 26, 2157 seems to be the date.
Ed shows up with food and we eat and share a beer and he talks a bit.
Boots is currently out, we'll send him around tomorrow.
Velkin asks about breakfast.
We tell him we plan to keep low for two weeks. Zen has his ear to the ground and you might be in the clear.
He shows us the TV.
When he leaves, Thorfus does Psionic blast through the door, not knowing he can't do it.
There is a thump-thump-thump at the window that Glompus notices. There are chariot things, but none moving. A lot of people gathered on the walkway and on the street. There are two black vans with AS on them and two with something like a tank with AS on them, and a bunch of people in armor grouping up. Pointing up at out building.
There is a flying automaton with AS on its side.
Thorfus opens the door and the two guys are just there.
They ask if all is OK? Yeah, just going to get some fresh air.
Are you sure? Aren't you laying low.
Velkin signals Thorfus to take the other one, while Velkin takes the one next to him.
Velkin clocks him and misses.
Thorfus hits the other one.
Others join in but miss. Lambertus hits the one that Velkin is on.
Glompus moved down the hallway.
Prix pushes the button for the elevator.
Peronelle says, "If you want to live, drop your shit." Brandishing her combat rifle.
Phil holds the chair between him and Snuffles.
We were just supposed to keep you here. Nothing personal.
Thorfus says, Well Advanced Systems is on their way up.
They hand over their phones and slowly place rifles and pistols on the floor. Combat Rifle and Heavy Pistol each.
They can lead the way out and show us the quickest way out.
They can go first.
The door dings and the door partly opens and the light goes out. Then a very dim light comes on.
Kauri says everything is gone.
The Elevator is central and stairs are North and South.
We head to North stairs. They are concrete winding around both up and down.
At first is is quiet then the sound of a door opening violently above us.
We hear people coming down from above.
We hear from above crackly staticky voices and short commands. Like the ones who busted in at Plum Island.
Phil and his body are sweating and looking pale, mumbling oh shit, oh shit, Advanced Systems.
You sure you want us to some with you? We could head off here....
We get to the garage for door labeled G1, Velkin peeks and sees all the parked chariots and the one we have keys for, and there are some people in here though. Three guys look like American Posse.
Phil goes to talk to them and we follow him. We dump the ammo and give them their empty weapons.
Tell them that Advanced Systems is here and you are taking us to safe house under Zen's orders.
Phil opens the door and shouts, they are tying to escape.
Phil & other do a disengage action and run for cover, shouting that they are trying to make a break for it, Advanced Systems is coming down.
Two run forward with blades out of their arms, another takes cover and prepares to take a shot.
Both guys with blades for for Velkin.
One hits Velkin. Thorfus hits one.
Glompus and Snuffles make it to the van, but Glompus is shot. Kauri, Lambertus, and Prix disengage and run to the van. Thorfus runs to the van, followed by Velkin. We all make it to the van.
Prix shoots at the guy with a gun as she heads to the van.
Thorfus put is in R for really fast and hit the wall behind us.
Minor damage, cranks it to the D thinking that opposite side means go forward.
Clipping cars and the cars hit the parked cars spinning them and the guy with the gun is killed.
Not facing the exit and the other pedal is stop at dead end in rows of cars, see actual exit behind us.
Thorfus puts it in R and stomps on the gas.
Just as we head up the ramp out, the door bursts open and the guys run out. People on sidewalk outside the building.
Slam on brakes change gears and pull out heading South towards 14th.
Two big vans loading people, and two SUVs.
Both SUVs have some sort of larger combat rifle on the roof.
As we pass over 14th Avenue we are hit by another vehicle totaling the car and doing damage to us. 136th street playground at a deadened. There are some sidewalks and some playground equipment. I take the footpath.
There is a building to one side.
Kauri notices that the flying thing near the roof of the building is following us. It is high up.
Those with rifles shoot at it.
Down a narrower footpath and a turnoff with a road by a large building, maybe a warehouse.
Thorfus manages to get to the interstate and stops under the overpass. There are people under it.
Thorfus asks if anyone wants a chariot, the guy take off after blasting music from the radio, and speeds off, saying he knows a chop shop to take it to.
5 black SUVs go flying by.
One of them comes over with his head bandaged. He says, Hey, I know you, Powell's Cove the other night. You were with Boots. We haven't seen her in a few days.
Thorfus asks if you wanna trade coats. Thorfus trades coats with him.
He offers us the beans he is cooking.
It is dusk, but we ought to wait for it to be dark.
We got business you don't want to get involved in.
You need wheels? There's a bus stop up above.
The bus heads West down 14th Avenue past the Atrocity Club, College Point Park and College Point Blvd then it loops around.
We look for a bar with a window to watch for the bus. But we see a bus on the way.
The bus pulls up heading West, we get on. There is a scanny thing, they have an ID card others scan.
Velkin buys us each a day pass 10 credits each. He looks at snuffles, is that a service dog? Sure is.
Thorfus sits apart from the party to blend in with others since he now has a homeless person's coat.