Hello Bryce Barren,

PELE'S TEARS TRANSCRIPT WITH USER TR

*** (3:32 PM) INTO THE WEST CHAT ROOM

USER TR HAS LOGGED ON

USER GM HAS LOGGED ON

<GM 15:32> Wake up. Time to die.
<TR 15:32> Blade Runner. Roy Batty?
<GM 15:33> Close. Leon.
<GM 15:33> Just b4 Sean Young shoots him btwn the eyes.
<TR 15:33> Damn. So close.
<GM 15:34> Yet so far.
<GM 15:35> Ready to start? Three random encounters as you head west.
<TR 15:35> Bring it!
<GM 15:36> From Summerland to the River...
<GM 15:37> You're close to the river when out of a burned out building comes...
<GM 15:37> A single mangy dog. It bares it's teeth and snarls.
<TR 15:38> I draw my pistol and aim, but I don't shoot.
<GM 15:38> It's just standing there snarling. Not really advancing.
<TR 15:39> I keep heading west, but I don't turn my back to it.
<GM 15:40> It doesn't come after you. After you get a block or so away it scurries off into some other ruin.
<GM 15:41> You cross over the river and you're into (drum roll please) the western reaches.
<GM 15:41> Technically illegal for you to be here. As MPD.
<TR 15:42> Breakin the law, breakin the law
<GM 15:42> No encounter here...
<TR 15:43> Any difference between western reaches and Rivertown?
<GM 15:44> No encounters the last stretch into the Concord region.
<GM 15:45> This part of the western reaches is pretty similar to downtown Rivertown and as you head west, it's similar to heading north in Rivertown where the taller buildings give way to smaller, residential and commercial buildings.
<GM 15:47> You reach Concord in a cold, heavy mist that's gathered all morning. The walls of the enclosure are made of junk packed tight and high. Ruined cars and busses stacked two and three high and two deep with sheet metal between them. The walls are two blocks long and you spy at least two turrets with Browning machine guns (the big ones) mounted...
<GM 15:48> There are two clearly marked entrances outlined in garish yellow paint. They're big steel doors fitted into the walls of junk.
<TR 15:49> I go to the closer of the two.
<GM 15:50> A rod swings the door outward toward you as you approach. It jerks it shut behind you after you enter, and you find yourself in a small space, no more than 5' x 5'.
<GM 15:52> There are empty ammo boxes stacked neatly to one side. A voice from the other side of the wreckage says PUT ALL YOUR WEAPONS AND WARES IN THE BOXES. YOU GET THEM BACK AFTER BEING FRISKED ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO JUST BE A GOOD BOY AND DO AS YOU ARE TOLD. PUT THE BOX ON THE TRAY. There's a big lazy susan thing in the wall.
<TR 15:53> I put my weapons and other things I'm planning to trade in a box and put it on the tray.
<GM 15:54> Holding anything back?
<TR 15:55> No. Dont' want to risk it.
<GM 15:58> The tray turns and the box disappears on the far side of the wall and a door opens. On the other side, the old man at the door frisks you as promised, then hands you the box. BOX 31, he says. BARNUM HAS THE KEY. HE DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL DUSK. WE DEAL SQUARELY HERE, NO WORRIES ON THAT ACCOUNT. OTHERWISE NO FIGHTING, NO STEALING, AND NO HARASSING PEOPLE. DON'T TALK TO THE KIDS. PENALTIES RANGE FROM EXPULSION TO EXECUTION DEPENDING ON THE JURY'S MOOD AND WHO YOU'VE OFFENDED...
<GM 16:02> Inside the wall, there's a great green field with overgrown grass. Two young children are playing in the field, tackling each other and laughing. Beyond them, on the other end of the field, is an imposing red brick building that can only be the Bazaar. The windows are all barred and/or covered by steel plates; heavy duty machine guns protrude from the upper-floor windows. Next door, to the east, is a tall building that used to be an apartment or dormitory of some sort. The soft glow of candlelight comes from some of the windows near the rear.
<TR 16:04> I say to the old man MIND IF I HAVE A LOOK AROUND?
<GM 16:06> He gives you the stink eye and spits. I WOULDN'T. NOTHING GOOD CAN COME OF IT. HAVE A SEAT ON THE PORCH. THERE'S READING MATERIAL THERE, PROVIDED YOU CAN READ.
<TR 16:07> heh. Okay, I take my box and walk to the porch.
<GM 16:08> You've got some time to kill as the Bazaar won't open for hours. You can feel eyes on you from everywhere. It's disconcerting.
<TR 16:08> Can I peer around and try to get a better sense of the place.
<GM 16:09> Sure. PERCEPTION + what do you think?
<TR 16:09> Investigation? That gives me like 7.
<GM 16:10> Why not? Success is at least one 7. Should be easy...
<TR 16:10> [ 0 5 3 0 8 2 4 ]
<GM 16:11> Right so as you inconspicuously as possible look around...
<GM 16:12> You see not a whole lot that suggests a massive plot to overthrow the MPD. Lots of children laughing, though few in sight. Chatter and laughter coming from the open windows of the complex next door. The bazaar itself is the only thing intimidating or foreboding about the whole place. Everything else seems quite...lovely.
<TR 16:13> LOL lovely
<GM 16:13> You'd relocate but the commute would be a bitch
<TR 16:13> LOL
<TR 16:14> So what's next?
<GM 16:16> You wait. You're eventually joined on the porch by an eight-fingered man who came through the opposite gate you did. He's tall, dark, and not very handsome. He gives absolutely no indication that he wants a conversation. He's carrying a box of his own. It gets darker and colder. you pace to keep warm. Do anything else? Say anything to him?
<TR 16:17> LOL, is there anything else TO do? I guess I wait. and NO! :0
<TR 16:17> Probably has the death sentence in 12 systems
<GM 16:18> After the sun goes down the big front door shudders and opens a crach. Ocho Fingers pushes it open with his foot.
<TR 16:18> LOL I follow him inside
<GM 16:19> (lots of LOLing from you tonight)
<GM 16:22> Inside is something else. It's lit by candles and a candle chandelier, showing off some of the beautiful woodwork inside, even if most of the room is pretty dark. It's a big foyer with several halls stretching to different sections of the house, but all look to be gated. Again, you have that uncomfortable sense that someone is watching you. Probably pointing a gun at you.
<GM 16:23> The 8-fingers goes to the one room that's well-lit and you follow him, seeing no other options.
<GM 16:25> Inside is what you're guessing is the bazaar and its reputation does not disappointed. There must be two dozen different kind of single-hand firearms in one glass case, and tons of different knives in a second one. All kinds of rifles and machine guns hang from pegs on the walls. Persian rugs hang over the windows. A harsh fluorescent light illuminates the area, running on a single solar generator.
<TR 16:25> sweet
<GM 16:27> The 8-fingered guy pushes his boxes at a guy with a long beard and low baseball hat who stands behind the counter. He reads the number and then fishes behind the counter for the right keys. The two men bargain in low voices while you check out the wares.
<GM 16:29> After ten minutes or so, the ammo cases are shut and the eight-fingered guy tucks one of his under his arm and heads for the exit.
<GM 16:30> It's 4:30. Do you need to stop?
<TR 16:31> Nah, let's keep going for a bit. I belly up to the bar.
<GM 16:31> DON'T THINK I KNOW YOU, PAL. I'M BARNUM. YOU ARE?
<TR 16:32> Um... NAME'S BRYCE. ;)
<GM 16:32> YOU MPD?
<GM 16:32> He asks this casually.
<TR 16:32> NO.
<GM 16:33> He looks at you for awhile but his face is impassive.
<GM 16:33> BUYING, TRADING, SELLING, WHORING?
<TR 16:34> lol TRADING OR SELLING. DEPENDS ON THE PRICE.
<TR 16:34> i push the box over to him
<GM 16:35> He goes through it quickly, sorting the junk from the better pieces. Looks like he knows what he's doing.
<GM 16:36> He offers you a fair price in ammo or asks if you want store credit.
<TR 16:36> Looking around would I want anything?
<GM 16:37> Lots of nice stuff but nothing you could afford with what you've got. You get your weapons through MPD inventory anyway.
<TR 16:37> HOW DOES CREDIT WORK?
<GM 16:38> YOU CAN USE IT FOR ANYTHING IN HERE, OR FOOD, OR LODGING. OR WOMEN.
<TR 16:38> Can I stay the night? Might keep my ears open.
<GM 16:39> You're asking me, not Barnum? No reason why not.
<TR 16:39> I'LL TAKE A ROOM.
<GM 16:40> WITH A HOT WATER BATH OR WITHOUT?
<TR 16:41> The spa treatment LOL
<TR 16:41> WITH. I'LL SPLURGE.
<GM 16:43> It's safe to say Barnum doesn't find this as amusing as you do. All business. He hands you a hand-written credit slip and tells you which hallway to go down.
<TR 16:43> I thank him mightily.
<GM 16:45> He nods, all business. At the gate there's a woman meeting who draws teh gate open for you. She's a full figured woman, clean smelling and very pretty, though maybe 10-15 years older than you. she's wearing a form fitting pink robe and introduces herself as Honey.
<TR 16:46> oh gawd
<TR 16:46> honey?
<GM 16:48> She leads you down the dark corridor to a small room with a clawfoot tub. She shows you how to operate it (practically spilling out of her robe as she does) and then asks if you need any other services.
<TR 16:49> LOL how about a lap dance?
<GM 16:49> Do you ask her that?
<TR 16:50> No! I'm a married man though. So I say thanks but no.
<GM 16:51> She looks a little disappointed and lingers for a moment. Did I mention she's pretty hot?
<TR 16:52> LOL did I mention I'm MARRIED? No thanks. No role-playing sex with you Bryce.
<GM 16:53> Okay, she goes away and you're in your room. With a few books. Quiet nights sleep?
<TR 16:55> I'm assuming I'd get my ass blown away from some guard in the shadows if I sneak out?
<GM 16:56> Based on what you've observed, you'd guess yet.
<TR 16:57> Ha ha. Then I take my hot bath and listen very carefully.
<GM 16:59> Your bath is lovely and you hear nothing all night. You stay up late waiting to hear tanks move through the lobby but are disappointed. All is quiet on the western front
<TR 17:00> Hey we just read that in 207!
<TR 17:01> LOL
<TR 17:01> So there's nothing going on in Concord then? No militia forming?
<GM 17:02> I can only tell you what you saw and felt. And what you saw and felt seemed pretty peaceful to you.
<TR 17:03> LOL you mean BESIDES the prostitution ring and arms dealing going on next door?
<GM 17:03> Precisely
<GM 17:03> :)
<GM 17:04> Let's call it. We can pick up next week with new orders from Barrett after you report.
<TR 17:04> Wow, 35 min over. Sorry! Logging off!
<GM 17:05> No problem, enjoyed it. Spater.

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