Shadow of the Waxwing Slain, Ch 15.
Case of the Golden Shards
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After taking a break playing Long Haul 1983 by SCP for ‘spooky season’, (here’s part 1 and part 2), I’m back to Shadow of the Waxwing Slain, my Bladerunner RPG campaign. Though this is Chapter 15, I’m starting a brand new case so it’s not a bad place to jump in!
Check out the Table of Contents for previous chapters and other stuff I’ve written! Thanks!
Chapter 15: Case of the Golden Shards
Pre-Case Notes: Dee improved Observation from d6 → d8. Eddie improved Hand to Hand Combat and Stamina from d6 → d8. Dee also upped her Hardened specialty to max, +3 Resolve, and took Merciful: When inflicting a Critical Injury, she can choose to reduce the Crit die to reduce the chances of severe harm. I thought it made sense for her character after what’s happened so far.
Randomly-rolled Shift: 1d4 = 2 → Afternoon
Shift 1: Afternoon
Location: LAPD RDU - Holden’s Office
“Welcome back,” Holden said. “I hope your time off was…restful.”
Dee sat next to Fletcher on one of the two cheap metal chairs Holden had on the other side of his desk. She shrugged.
Fletcher had a Styrofoam cup of coffee and sipped at it. “Just give us the case, Chief. Small talk isn’t your strong suit.”
Holden harrumphed and handed over a folder.
Dee reached forward to take it and open it.
Random clue: Witness
Inside was a witness statement.
“This minor hustler was brought in on possession charges. She gave us some information. Some kind of criminal gambling ring, called the Golden Shards. They got some kind of illegal fights to the death. She says replicants are involved, so the case is ours. See if what she says checks out. Find out what the fuck is up and shut it down.”
“Easy enough,” Fletcher said, standing up.
“One more thing…”
“Keep Wallace’s little lap-dog informed,” Fletcher replied, walking out the door.
Dee stood and hesitated.
Holden shrugged and waved his hand, looking down at papers on his desk.
Dee followed Fletcher.
They corralled a couple desks together where they would be working from while on this case.
(BR:RPG)NPC: Ferris Jadin
(BR:RPG)Location: Red Light District: Paradise Evolution
“Ferris Jadin,” Dee said, looking at the statement and information on the witness. “A low-level street hustler.”
She read over the statement while Fletcher sat, sipping at his coffee. “She says she attended an illegal boxing match, at Paradise Revolution, in the red light district. It was to the death and the fighters…were replicants.”
Fletcher closed his eyes, breathing in the smell of the coffee. “N-9s or 8s, I wonder.”
“Doesn’t say.”
“I’m going to make a call, see if I have any connections that know about these ‘Golden Shards’. Gimme a minute.” Fletcher said, grabbing the phone on the desk and dialing.
Connections: d10 + d8 = 9,5 → One Success
NPC: Enzo Jackstadt, Male Bodyguard
Fletcher talked on the phone as Dee went over the witness statement. After a couple minutes, he hung up the phone.
“I know a guy, Enzo. I’m going to meet up with him, he might know something. You want to talk to Ferris or check out the club?”
“I’ll check out the club,” Dee said.
“Keep in touch,” Fletcher said, finishing his coffee.
Location: Sector 4, Animoid Row, The Fish Ladies
Fletcher passed through animoid row, vendors selling all kinds of synthetic fauna, from your normal dogs and cats in cages to lizards and iguanas in aquariums.
He came to a wall of water-filled aquariums full of lively, vibrant fish, fake aquatic plant-life and little colorful rocks. He remembered Dee’s little fake fish trinket. Maybe she’d like a little fish…
He went in through a door, store name “The Fish Ladies” in rainbow neon over the top.
Inside was narrow hall filled with fishtanks on either side, leading to a larger room with more fishtanks and a couple women behind a counter, talking and looking over paperwork.
Enzo stood looking at a tank holding a black fish with yellow fins, hands behind his back.
“Let us know if you need help,” one of the ladies called out as Fletcher walked over.
“Thanks,” he said and stood next to Enzo, looking at the colorful fish. “What do you have for me on these Shards?”
“Listen, Echo,” Enzo said. “This is bad shit you gettin’ into, I just want to let you know that, alright?” He sighed.
“I get it. Tell me.”
Enzo let out a breath. “It’s a gambling ring. Extensive. Got their hands in everything from the casinos to sports to…other events.”
“It’s the other events I’m interested in.”
“The lady I work for, she attends some of these events. It’s cage match type shit.”
“Illegal fights,” Fletcher said.
“To the death. Rich people put their N-9s into the ring. Bet on them.” Enzo looked uncomfortable. “It’s not right.”
“Where do these events happen?”
“It changes. The Shards are pretty careful about it. Invite-only guest list. Tends to be the upper class of LA, if you know what I mean. A few low-lifes find their way there, of course. Friends of friends.”
“Where did you see it?”
(BR: RPG) Location: Red Light District → Happy Jack’s Casino
“Happy Jacks. Listen, I got to go.”
“You got anything else for me?” Fletcher asked. “I don’t think you want these death matches to happen anymore than I do.”
Manipulation: 2d10 = 7,9 → Two Successes*
*Crit bonus: You discover something unexpected
Enzo hesitated, before nodding.
(PWM) Clues Oracle: 1d100 = 23 → Connection to Object of Interest
(PWM) Clues Format: 1d100 = 05 → Audio and/or Video recording
“I’ll see you later,” Enzo said, holding out his hand for a shake.
Fletcher took it, feeling a data stick in his grip. He palmed it into his pocket. “See you,” he said.
Enzo left, waving at the fish ladies. “Thanks, maybe next time,” he called out, walking out.
“What about you, mister?” One of them asked, walking over and looking at the tanks in front of him. “Want one?”
He looked over the possibilities. “Maybe. I want to buy one for a friend.” He noticed a wall of fake fish souvenirs. “She’s got one of those,” he said, pointing. “But I want to get her a real one.”
Location: Sector 1 → Red Light District → Paradise Evolution
Weather: A cold acidic fog
Dee walked past dive bars, strip joints, sex clubs, drug dens and gambling holes, through a cold fog that made others shiver but didn’t bother her.
Few denizens walking around in afternoon in the red light district but it wasn’t empty by any means. Prostitutes showed off their wares and hosts called out to entice those who passed by.
Dee found Paradise Evolution, perhaps once a simple hotel, now a slimey brothel, neon red name emblazoned at the top, holographic nude model, twenty feet tall, stretching in front of it.
Inside was a dimly-lit bar, a pudgy man behind the counter, a few shabby couches and tables. Women in skimpy clothing delivering drinks or just sitting in suggestive poses, waiting for customers.
Dee took a seat at the bar and asked for a drink.
Wasn’t long before a woman with green hair, big breasts and toned legs, wearing what amounted to a bikini, sat next to her, leaning against the bar top. She was tall, with broad shoulders and surprisingly deep but beautiful voice. “If you’re here, you must be looking for company,” she said.
Dee took a sip of her beer. “I’m looking for more than that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” The woman sounded annoyed and intrigued at the same time. “This ain’t the place to find love, hun.”
“I’m talking events,” Dee said, smirking at the thought. “I hear of things happening here and…I’m interested.”
“If something happens here, I know about it.” The woman produced a long cigarette. “You got a light?”
Dee pulled a lighter out of her pocket, flicked it open and produced flame.
The woman lit her cigarette, took a deep inhale and breathed out smoke. “You look and sound like a cop, hun, so I don’t know that anybody here going to talk to you.”
Dee tried to get a read on this woman.
Insight: 2d8 = 6,8 → Two Successes*
*Crit bonus: Identify the woman’s strongest emotion
(PWM) Emotion Oracle: Disgust
The woman wanted to like Dee but was disgusted at the thought she was was a cop.
“I’m not,” Dee said, looking at her drink. “I used to be. I was made to be. I left. Now…Now I need cash and I heard there were events here…something I’d be good at. Something that could make me good cash fast.” She looked at the woman. “I was made to fight.”
Manipulation w/advantage: 3d8 = 7,6,2 → Two Succeses*
*Crit bonus: You impress someone
The woman offered her hand. “I’m Levka.”
Dee shook it.
“And that’s my real name, which I don’t give to just anyone.” She pulled out her pack of smokes and offered one.
Dee took it, lit it and took a drag.
“I might know about events like what you’re talking. Thing is, they don’t just take a rando off the street, understand? You need a backer, an owner, someone to rep you, put you up for a bout, you get it?” Levka shook her head. “And this ain’t no kid’s game. You lose…” she sighed. “You ain’t coming back.” She looked at Dee, closely. “And girl, that would be a shame.” She smiled.
Dee smiled, taking a long pull of her beer. “I might be able to find someone who could do that for me. Be my backer.”
“Well,” Levka said, taking Dee’s beer and drinking it, before setting it down. “I can let you know when the next one will be. But…” she shrugged. “It’s not going to be right now.” She winked.
Dee looked at her. "I suppose I have some free time,” she said and finished her beer.
Chapter notes?
Do you all like the post-chapter debrief I generally write after each chapter? Sometimes, when something big happens, it feels necessary but other times, I almost feel it’s best to just end the post as the chapter ends, without intruding as the author at the end to go over every little thing, thought and decision.
Readers can always comment with questions so maybe the post-chapter notes aren’t important. But maybe readers like them?
Let me know what you think in the comments.
As always, thanks for reading. It’s fun to be back in the Bladerunner world with Dee and Fletcher.
Very well written, I was able to lose myself in the story and I'm interested to see what happens next. I really enjoyed this and I'm going to have to try and keep up. I can't comment on the post chapter debriefing, but I would think they'd be helpful. Cake on extra details, briefly break down complex scenes. I think if anything it reinforces what was just read, which I find helpful.