CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Coffee Shop Part 2

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)

Overview Index 

Adventure Index 

The Lab

While the rear sounds and looks like a kitchen, once past the doors, it’s all a holo illusion.  The back is a very unsanitary lab/operating room.  Drugged patrons are brought here, have their brains wiped, and are inserted with the control earpiece.  Right now, there’s one female body strapped down to an operating table, basically brain-dead, but still alive.  

The Neural-mancer Meat Puppet is here working away on a computer with the Soul Crystal hooked into it.  He doesn’t seem to notice the characters, however a pair of Robotic Arms on either side of the door immediately attack (DC 12 Detection).  The Puppet then swings into action, trying to subdue the characters.  (Remember, he can completely heal himself up to 4 times.)  The Puppet should be taunting the characters as well, the arrogant, little prick that he is.  (Note: The characters will immediately recognize the Neural-mancer.  He’s a famous serial killer with an enormous bounty on his head.) 

Outcome

The Puppet fights to the death and makes no attempt to escape.  Upon death, the clone suddenly changes form into an entirely different person.  The video screen comes on a rd later with the real Neural-mancer.  “Oh, that’s what happened to him.  Bah, didn’t think much of his research anyway.” 

At this point, the characters might wish to interact with him.  The real thing is a lot more reasonable (the Puppets tend to retain their host’s personality).  He’ll want to know who they are and will congratulate them.  Perhaps he’ll want to find the characters and hire them someday.  Perhaps, he’ll mark them for revenge sometime if they cross his schemes again.

There’s a text message from Virtual Lila shortly afterward.  It announces the transfer of the remainder of the job money (XP) into the Crew’s account, along with, “Thank you.  End of Line.  --Lila.”  And she’s gone.

Twist

If Virtual Lila was caught by the Puppet and the group was summoned to the coffee shop, instead of the real Neural-mancer making an appearance, Virtual Lila appears after his death.  With a flurry of commands on the Puppet’s computer, the Soul Crystal glows and suddenly the body on the table is electro-shocked several times.  The Crystal shatters and the body arises.  She looks in a mirror and admires her face, “It’s not too bad.  I can work with this.”  Without even an introduction, she asks for somebody’s Data Pad.  New Lila logs into her bank account and pays the group.  “You guys are good,” she says, “I’ll keep in touch.”  And with that, New Lila walks out the door and into a new identity. 

Alternately

If the Puppet wasn’t the killer or didn’t have the Soul Crystal, the real Neural-mancer will come on screen after the Puppet is killed and thank them for getting rid of him.  (He did screw up pretty bad with Lila.)  He’ll point them at another suspect, “Just to clean up loose ends in this affair.”  Perhaps instead, they even find Supreme is hacking the computers there.  With a DC 12 Hack, they can discover that the attack is coming from the Arcade.