Jason A Wedel over the the Shadowrunners’ Union FB group posted about the use of reflective paint on deer, which is an actual real thing. Go figure, neh? But of course it triggered both Mr. Black’s mnemonic enhancer and cerebral booster (go EVO or go home, says mr. Black!) and so we get this, a fresh 10-in-Ten. For those new around here, a 10-in-Ten is 10 ideas for runs, just enough to get you going, no stats, totally (okay, just mostly) edition agnostic. This time, we have a livestock issue.
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| Yep, they glow! |
And just before we get started, here are links to
Armed with all this, let’s dive in.
The town of Shelbyville recently found the local deer population has Awakened. Trids have popped up all over about the deer with glowing antlers. This naturally created problems, between thousands of folks showing up to see them, which snarled up traffic and parking, trampled all the local scenery, and ran the Likkle Splick diner out of chicken fried steak and Wanda’s World Famous Chuckleberry Cobbler. But events turned dire when the talisleggers showed up and started poaching deer. Bad enough they don’t have licenses or permits. But trespassing can get people killed around here. And the ‘leggers are scaring the tourists. The town council wants this controlled, quick. Can a crew of runners, media savvy enough to act in a way that will keep any bad news off the Matrix, but good enough to still run the ‘leggers off, before any locals or those money spending tourists get hurt?
And soon things are going to go bad. Small-time talisleggers are one thing. But when the Triads or Koshari come a-knockin’, you know the drek’s gone sideways. The Crew better bring their AAA game, because when the Three Storms show up, it’s all gone real retrograde.
Can the Crew come out and play?
Better hope a local alchemist can whip up some Chuckleberry Brew, so one can see things that can’t be seen, and do things that can’t be done. Sadly, chuckleberries are out of season, but there is a small Corp-run greenhouse over in Springfield that has them year ‘round…And if this isn’t enough, with less hunting, (the kiddies want to pet the glow deer and post about it on Twanger and MeTube, not see them bloodily murdered) the deer have been quietly devouring the local crops. Someone is going to have to stop Old Man Clayton from doing it loud, from the back of his pickup, while blaring “Drinking Beer and Wasting Bullets'' Is the Crew up to culling 20-30 glow deer, quietly, off the record, on the Q.T., and very hush-hush?
And if news of a cull gets out, TerraFirst! is bound to come calling. That is if they can elbow their way in past Sierra Inc., those Gaia’s Orphans hippies, GenePeace investigators and ALF protesters. Does the Crew have enough political savvy, fixer contacts, surveillance drones, and good old fashion muscle to help Sheriff Ponder keep the peace? And how is your Michael Rooker impression?
And how do you look in capezios? Speaking of the Sheriff, the locals will have some problems with the influx of new faces. All these hunters and poachers are sure to uncover some hidden stills, pot farms and other less-than-ethical activities. Does the crew help out the law, or Mags Bennet, queenpin of Shelbyville, and her Bennet boys? And how is your Margo Martinsdale impression?
And how is your glass of Apple Pie? All this new activity is bound to interrupt “the Shelby Slot”, a drek hot T-Bird run that used to pass nearby, through a valley outside town. But all these poachers, talisleggers, AnimalsFirst! types, tourists, and out-of-town criminals are getting in the way. Bad enough some poacher takes the occasional potshot at a T-Bird, but trideos going up everywhere? That drek has got to drop! Can the Crew intercede to keep the peace? And how is your Harrison Ford impression?
Mr. Black chooses this smuggler, but voice from Anchorman 2... And speaking even more of Sheriff Ponder, 2080 has put the “uncivil” in “civil forfeiture”. If the Crew can’t stay on his good side, it is bound to go badly. Say, just how much is that GMC Bulldog worth, you know with all those spitting-hot modifications?
And while all this is going on, Old Man Clayton found some local boys trespassing and poaching glow deer on his land. So now they are full of rock salt and buckshot. Doc Quinn says they need a hospital. Can the Crew, in their Van (assuming they can get it out of impound), take the Frey brothers up to the Crash Cart facility up the line, quiet like? Sally May Frey is sure to be thankful, and Mrs. Frey makes the best Chuckleberry pie in Shelbyville.
Very thankful. But no kissing... And now that things have quieted down, Shelbyville may fall apart. While the town council is busy setting up tourist arrangements new parking, new hotels, better photo opportunities, road widening, etc., and all the new taxes to pay for it), and 2 neighbors are feuding over whose “Glow Deer Cookies” are the “original”, and half the town is angry about some outsider Springfield trash opening a new diner (truthfully, there is enough business for a third…) that dares to serve “Better Than Famous Cobbler”, factions have shown up. The “townsfolk” faction wants the glow deer protected. They see all those fat nuyen coming in with the deer. Tourist money, endorsements, licensing, etc. Hell, the Likkle Splick is doing booming business shipping its Chuckleberry Cobbler, and there is talk of setting up a facility for more goods (Glow Deer Beer, Glow Deer Berry Preserves, etc.) and a shipping hub. All of this might keep some of the young folks in town. The “upcountry” faction wants hunting of the deer, but for locals only. They want to start selling glow deer jerky and flash frozen venison steaks. And glow deer antlers of course. While glow deer drop their antlers like any deer, they only glow while still attached. Talismongers are willing to pay for both. (Big time. Lisa Frey is rumored to have gotten 35,000 nuyen for a pair of 16-point antlers.) And finally Boss Hoggerty wants this whole thing turned into a farming operation. Big business means big profits of course. And Boss Hoggerty has the money to do it. Can the Crew resist Hoggerty’s cash? Or will this go all Yojimbo/Fist Full of Dollars/Last Man Standing? Lots of options, and so little time…
The face of trouble, and lots of money Because having run out the ‘leggers, calming down the town, faced down the Triads, having dealt with all the infighting (and the advances of Widow/Widower Jenkins, who has a little mileage on her/him, but still a MILF/FILF, and runs a nice little Matrix Chuckleberry preserves operation), the biggest foe of all is coming. Yep, one of the Mega’s is coming to town. And they want it all. The tourism, the talismonger biz, the non-Awakened glow deer biz, the Chuckleberry action, everything. They even have plans for prime time trideos, and sending “Santa and Grudolf, the Glow Horned Reindeer” on tour, all over the world. Whether they buy out everyone, or just buy the rights to everything, or run everyone off is up to the Crew. And how much they like nuyen, or Widower Jenkins…
And none of this accounts for the arrival and manifestation of a Great Spirit form of the glow deer, in the middle of town square, during the Christmas holiday season! Can you say “Riftmas”? Does one of the major magickal groups show up as well? Do we really need to throw the Dunkelzhan Institute, the Atlantean Foundation, the Painted Horse Lodge, even the Black Lodge/Ordo Maximus in the mix?
You know Mr. Black had to go there sooner or later...
And none of this includes the fact that, if this is out of Seattle, or about half of North America, then this all goes down in or near NAN lands. Can this go all Banshee on us real quick? Does your Crew possess ID good enough for a border crossing? Do they need to be smuggled in? And if so, how is your Nathan Fillion impression?
Do you dare to pit your Crew against Tsimshian Dogmen, redneck hunters, Aztechnology Leopard Guards, Boss Hoggerty and his henchmen, eco-terrorists, the Widow Jenkins, the Triads, Koshari talisleggers, toxic spirits, lonely farmers daughters/sons, the Atlantean Foundation, the Bennett’s, and Crotchety Old Man Clayton, who may or may not be one of the deadliest street samurai ever, hiding out in the sticks? All while little Cindy Lou Who just wants a picture with the “glowy deers”?
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| Your Crew is going ruin her Christmas and make cry, aren’t they? |
And remember, save room for pie when passing through Duckabush!
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