Session Two Hundred Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

Session 200, October 23 2024

Introduction

We continue around 9:00PM on August 26th, 2157, with the party trying to get some sleep in the back garage at J&J Motors after finally tracking down Asmodeus's contact, Wasp. Things are a bit fraught, though, due to the fallout from the group's assassination of a lieutenant in the American Posse gang while wearing American Syndicate bandanas. Still, if they survive the night, Wasp should be able to find them more permenant accommodations and point them towards some paying gigs to keep busy while she continues her investigations. Will American Posse strike back? Can the party torpedo Zen's plans without facing any consequences? Has the group evaded Advanced Systems? Find out next time; or not.

Larry's Summary

• • Quick Summaries of Jobs Mentioned by Wasp:**

1. A District Council Financial Controller who wants Oya Union’s contract cancelled needs to get fired (Mrs Skin) 2. American Syndicate needs trucks to move some stuff; a mid-level exec at Vita Technologies needs to be convinced to allow her company’s trucks to be used (Warsaw) 3. A junior district councilor needs two rivals taken care of so he can handle the Oya Union’s contract (Mondo Hernandez) 4. HW Bank needs a chief detective killed and his notes on the deaths of local labor leaders destroyed (Alison Wonderland) 5. A philanthropist wants a high-level exec from Amazon United to pledge his influence (and money) to her housing charity efforts (Harry-san)

Oya Union - Surveillance Software.

In our downtime we discuss which jobs to take.

Thorfus asks what is the penalty for failure to complete a job? Just a bad reputation or do they send their minions to kill us.

Kauri - What data did he exfiltrate and does he look it over? Kauri kept a copy of the file we put on their server. It is electronic communications between Brash and Mellow (leader of American Syndicate) talking about brash may be leaving American Possee and joining American Syndicate. There is a falling out, then the messages come to an end.

We ask mini Asmodeus if access can be tracked back to us. There are islands of connectivity, but there are ways to trace activity unless steps are taken to block it.

Can we pull the money from Brash and change the password without getting traced?

Could we transfer the money to Zen to pull the heat off of us?

Velkin suggests we relay information to Mellow the head of American Syndicate?

Can we send an anonymous message?

It is possible, but not possible with the items we have at this.

Prixithalma is fascinated by the machinery. Comparable to

• • We set a watch order.**

1: Druul & Peronelle 2: Prixithalma & Thorfus 3: Velkin & Vikram 4: Lambertus & Glompus

Wasp strolls into garage smoking something during Prixithalma and Thorfus' watch.

Hey, just a heads up, there will be a knock on the door soon. Got a friend coming with news about what's going on. Hurry up, chop chop. There is a knock at the door and we scurry to wake everyone and we hurry to another room and Velkin and Glompus hide behind stuff.

We squeeze into the workshop.

When Wasp opens the door, she says, "Mateo, ey", and offers whatever she's smoking.

He says I can't stay long, I'm making the rounds.

Mellow says we aren't involved.

Bill Slick seems to be in a listening move.

Some Lieutenant named Zen you need to make arrangements.

Seems calm, no place has been hit.

You can open the place tomorrow, it should be fine.

Wasp asks questions about preferred meeting place for Mellow. Public, etc.

Mateo leaves.

I know a place pretty cheap, probably two apartments. ID's in the work, two fixer appointments.

We head back to the shop.

Wasp comes and moves us out of the shop as they open for business.

She calls Thofus short guy. Is that a short joke? Uh, I

I have a place for you to stay and IDs. She's only gotten 8 of them.

I can do one for him. It won't do you any good. If he's in a position to show ID, you're screwed.

Velkin asks if there are ownership papers that we need. Uh, no. Neither of us can own him. Legally, I'm not sure if Advanced Systems can own him.

I assume you

• • New IDs:** all with completely clean accounts associated with them.

Zinat Iovita Elsa Zackary Terell Alf Noela Leonardo Marzanna Marina Dinesh Carlyn Helena Stephanus

Wasp asked if any jobs to communicate. Thorfus mentions Mrs. Skin and Mondo Hernandez.

That might be some synergy.

Wasp is starting with the Oya Union since they are big into computing. He mentioned being surveilled when he shouldn't have been. If you can make friends or gather information about Oya that may be helpful.

Mrs. Skin has a Pachenko Bar Lucky Cat Win Win. It is on 7th Avenue up by 119th Street. She's been working that neighborhood forever. Completely reliable fixer, you can trust her.

Mondo Hernandez is a bit of an oddball. He grew up around here, but you never see him. Only talks to you by public phone in Popenhus Park. It isn't far from here, less than a block. He's hacked it and vets people with it.

Wasp sketches out a triangle with an X at the Northwest corner. If you pick it up, it is a direct line to him. He's the only one you can talk to.

The Arcadia a few blocks up 12th Avenue near corner 119th. Don't get your hopes up, your boss paid a lot, but most is going into my investigation. I covered 1st month's rent. If you want to be anonymous, that place is perfect.

Let's drive, meet me in back we have an old van to take. I don't know who you're worried about seeing you, but let's take that, more privacy.

Enkido prepares to open shop. He stares in a way indicating he wants us out of our shop.

We head our, van is a light blue with rust but similar to van we used. Not enough seats for all of you, so squeeze in.

Wasp double parks in front of the building that looks a bit run down. Wasp hops out with us and walks us to the window.

There is a pool filled with plastic bags, furniture, and junk piled up. People hanging out on balconies witting with their legs hanging down.

Wasp hands physical money to woman at window. $600 for two rooms for a month. Two adjacent units on 2dn floor. Safer off 1st floor, and if you need to you can jump.

If Wasp learns anything, she'll come see us. If we find anything come see me.

I don't know if you'll see our employer, I'll be split a bit working on that business Mateo mentioned.

We check our rooms. There is a lift and signs state it is non-functional.

Our rooms are on the back side across from entry way.

Rooms 297 & 208. In layout similar to what Zen had for us. Communal space, two bedrooms, and bathroom. Peeling paint and stains on everything.

The people just hanging out. Many seem to be smoking the same stuff Wasp did.

Men and women hanging around, we are pretty sure they are "working girls and boys."

Each room has two double beds, for a total of 4.

Rear exit on ground level to alley. Gate is actually closed. The gate must work since trash bins there. There is some sort of partial ladder that doesn't reach the ground.

Kauri sees not a lot of networking to work with. No cameras. Lots of lines, but none are data lines. It looks like television and phone lines.

The marketplace has network access.

Kauri's range is 90 feet and can pick up signals near the apartments.

Kauri asks if there is a way to get physical money.

American Possee probably can't track transactions with those IDs, but if American Syndicate knows about them, they can easily track us.

Previously we did not have Mellow's contact information, but it is in the messages that Zen had us plant.

Can these IDs be traced? Asmodeus says that they aren't chip cards, but magnetic strip.

We recall the wallet we acquired yesterday. There is some cash in denominations of 10s and 20s, for $70. There is also an ID card in the wallet.

Prix is willing to work on fixing Vikram after watching what Wasp and

Vikram volunteers to watch the apartments. Prix can take it or leave it.

Lambertus is feeling overwhelmed but is willing to go with us if we need him.

Vikram, Prix, Lambertus, and Glompus all stay behind. They do their best to clean up the place.

Prixithalma will put her mind to where to put a hole between the apartments that doesn't affect the structure of it.

Velkin wants to figure out what the gun thing is with a blinky light. Asmodeus' best guess is that it is some sort of recording device. We need a viewing screen and cabling. Velkin leaves it here.

We go down and head out the back and the gate opens and it screeches a little. The alleyway connects to 119th Street.

Velkin suggests selling the skill jack cards to Wasp.

119th Street is not as busy and all traffic heads South.

We walk to Mrs. Skin's Pachenko Parlor, Lucky Cat Win Win.

Thorfus' sees beer with image of a dwarf on it.

We buy a paper for $2 and get change in smaller bills.

They seem to be produced every day. It is the College Point Herald.

There are sections. General Interest News, notes on crime, etc. There is mention of a terrible accident on 14th Avenue last night. Picture of mangled cars. Only mentions reckless drivers from out of town being the possible cause.

Then Business and Corporate News. Short article on Oya Union and contract with District for Surveillance software. It doesn't seem to be very news. Mostly the good qualities of this surveillance stuff Oya produces.

Sporting Events, and a half page of artwork. Including one involving one of a group of adventurers. One is names Valiant. It seems to be part of a larger story.

There is something about a disturbance at Tito's Tacos when the police responded to calls for the disturbance that there was nothing to report. It may be related to illegal activities. Unnamed witnesses say there were reports of lots of gunfire.

We pass a small store that sells clothing. It seems to be a recruitment center, called Army Surplus. Maybe $20 for an outfit.

We buy a new shirt for Glompus because of all the blood and bullet holes. $20 for all new clothes.

We buy a mask for everyone for $1.00. Black or camo. We get all black and one camo for Glompus.

We wear them to hide faces from cameras. We get to 7th Avenue and it is a good ways down before a hole in the wall place with a sign above the front window of a Big Cat with it's paws in the air. Luck Cat Win Win. Inside is a nightmare of bright lights with noise and people pulling handles causing more noise. It is almost overwhelming.

We walk in and there are rows of machines. At the back is a counter where the proprietor is sitting. A youngish guy flipping through a flimsy book with pictures.

Velkin goes over and says, Hey. He looks up and says Eh, you need change. Velkin - I'd like to speak with Mrs. Skin. He heads through a curtain of beads out the back. What're you here for. Wasp sent us for business. You looking for work? He disappears and comes back says come here, she'll see you.

It gets much quieter back here, but we can still here the noise up front. The hallways opens up to a lounge area.

There are a bunch of young men and women flipping through flimsy books like the buy at the counter. Like they are waiting. There are a lot of doors. They guy knocks on one door and a woman's voice says come in.

It is a nice room, much nicer than our apartments. A water fountain and a lot of plants. It is a desk with a screen and terminal.

There is a lady here, she is kind of objectivly beautiful. Thin, hair pulled back in a flowing gown, lounding in a comfortable chair behind the desk. Come in, come in. So Wasp sent you.

So you're here for business. Yes, some things to get taken care of. Yes, which are you after.

Thorufs mentions the Financial

Come in, close the door, get comfortable, I only have the two chairs.

I've been tasked with a job for a corporate interest. Kazumi Komiku. This same organization would like this information destroyed. It has to do with a certain government contract and shoddy programming. That is enough. but more specifically, accessing certain information about this financial controller that will neutralize her from the corporate interest. No need to get messy.

So is this what you're interested in?

50K is the payment. Recover the blackmail files, then we'll go from there.

She pushes out a piece of paper and says we need to sign, and she'll need to see our IDs.

Just sign with the same name, I don't care. Formality. Just standard Non-Disclosure Agreement. You know how these corporate clients are like.

If you know anything about me, I know a lot but not everything.

Kazumi Komiku I have tried to get information, but failed, but I have reason to believe there is information

Assitant Chief Venance at the 109th precinct. Rumor is it that he has files on a lot of people, including Kazumi. Oya has information that this information will destroy her career. The chief won't sell for a high fee, so we need it stolen. If you can do it without him finding out, that would be excellent.

I can point you to a couple people who can help.

Officer Chloe Feliciano has a crap foot patrol assignment on the water front. She wouldn't mind causing him some problems.

Civilian Kose Anjan, tried to sue city after her suicide and swears it had to do with a smear campaign to do with her death. He's offered money, but not enough.

She writes down the information for the two of these contacts. Do you know where the College Point Bud Depot is, personally, my bet would be Feliciano is inside the force. Anjan has motive, but I don't know how much he knows.

If this all works out there will be a follow up job to use against Ms. Komiku, it will be a job of destroying evidence that Oya's surveillance software is crap that doesn't' really work.

Velkin mentions an advanced payment. She looks at us, and squints at us. She gives us $500. Prove yourself then you can get a big payment.

Velkin reaches for the money and says thank you.

I like new blood.

To be honest, looking at all of you, you've all got the same waxy look to all of you. The skin tone isn't right. but the face we could do something if you want. Better cheekbones, the works at competitive prices. Discount even if you do a good job.

The information is probably not on computers. It is probably on tapes or maybe on papers. If we help ourselves to other things, if you don't piss off Venance or give him a direction to point back, then do it.

Oya Union is agnostic on who lives and dies. At the top of the list of agnosticism about life and death is us.

Oh, timing, faster is better. Even a little bonus if really quick. This has to be done before the issue of the renewal comes up at the district council meeting which is a report from financial auditors about 3 weeks away.

We leave and close the door. Back in the waiting room for what is apparently an underground plastic surgery facility.

We head out to the street away form cacophony of machines and kaleidoscope of lights.

We make our way towards Popenhus Park to talk to Mondo Hernandez.