Session 35 - R&R At The Arcade

Key Points:

• With the help of Niklas, the group was able to escape the Brawl without security intervening themselves. Niklas took the group to a Genesis safe house: an abandoned arcade.
• At the arcade, Paul took Emily's corpse into one of the side offices. Roan checked on him and the two made sure that they were on good terms; Paul assuring Roan that he would keep his secret safe.
• Roan found it harder to negotiate with Niklas; as his superior was unknown. However, Niklas assured that he would at least go to Morrison with this information as well as his superior.

• On a radio in the arcade, the group heard Hannah's new single: Paper Boats. The song seemed to be about always finding your loved ones, as if it were fate and nothing could stop it.
• Aria recalled the lyrics of the song being something her father would sing to her for lullabies.
• Kembu recalled the lyrics as well from his childhood; recalling one of the girls who would sing it to him sometime.
• The two speculated that Hannah might be their mother; or at least have some connection to their past given that this is a new song and those lyrics don't have any basis in other folk lore.

• Aphrodite was knocked out with some ether and a rag.
• Otter speculated that the group might be able to get Aphrodite to sell out Athena; in exchange for freedom.
• Niklas said letting Aphrodite go wasn't an option; but Otter just insisted that they could deceive her. Additionally, she believed that she could follow her remotely in hopes of gaining additional intel. However, this is dangerous, as it is likely that Aphrodite will resist again if she believed she had a good chance of winning.
• Niklas informed that he would need an hour to get in touch with his contacts in order to determine how to proceed with Aphrodite.

• Niklas agreed to work with the party...
• He refused to reveal classified information on what Pandora's Box might be. He does not believe it to be the item of legend, but rather something of Genesis interest. If it was the item of legend, he believes it would be above his paygrade, and he couldn't say how interested Genesis would be in it.
• He said that he would follow the lead of the party going forward in recovering Pandora's Box, though it was made clear between the two parties that betrayal might be inevitable if they could not come to terms with what to do with the Box.

• Gnoll agreed to work with Setter...
• Setter owes Gnoll two fights. One fight is so that Gnoll can bet on Setter and make a lot of money. Second fight is against Gnoll; because he wants to see if he can beat Setter.
• Gnoll revealed that Prometheus was a friend of his; a human male who was an alcoholic and possible drug addict. Prometheus lost a lot of money at the Brawl due to his gambling. When he came into possession of an item that was 'hot' and that he needed to unload to the right buyer, Gnoll used what little technical know-how he had to set Prometheus up online with a buyer.
• Gnoll claimed that the 'deal' was going down at The Convention which was a hosting for anime, video games, comic books, movies, music, and other forms of entertainment.
• He showed the group a picture of Prometheus and claimed that the man would not dress up to hide his identity, however, the buyer might. The buyer's identity is unknown except to Prometheus. Gnoll thinks the deal is going down in the video games hall, but has no additional information beyond that.
• When all was said and done with, Gnoll parted ways from the group. He wasn't too keen to be in a Genesis hideout and he had some extra coin burning in his pockets, however. Though he seemed to give good information, you would hope that he wouldn't warn Prometheus...

• The group had the information they needed to pursue Rickenato's goal of owning Pandora's Box; though it isn't heartening to know that Genesis and the Olympians are both after it. The group decided to rest at the safe house where many conversations were had...
• Kembu revealed his 'secret' to Setter; the hengeyokai agreeing to keep it safe. The two seemed to be on good terms with one another by the end of the conversation.
• Roan and Setter also seemed to be on good terms; leaving to get food and bring it back for the group. Both spoke of wanting revenge; Roan knowing that he was being played while Setter suspecting that he might be as well.
• Setter revealed more or less that his old life was 'ruined' by someone and that his former team had been wiped out as a result. He plans on taking a surgical approach rather than a nuclear one to those who were involved.
• Aria would partially reveal her past to Kembu and some of the others. She was raised by her father who was often away on business. He enlisted a hengeyokai master (Kyou) who was often cruel to Aria. Her only interest is reuniting her family together; which is why she has sought out her brother, Kembu.
• Managirl expressed her insecurities to Otter; who seemed to try to dispense advice while also mocking her on some level. The two went back and forth on a number of topics... porn, video games, boys...etc. much to the chagrin of Aria and Roan, but to the amusement of Setter.
• Otter spoke on her background; having come from an affluent family. She used her father to purchase a SEED and then modified it heavily herself. With her eyes opened from the SEED, she went 'black' and dropped out of her old life.
• Setter came to an accord with both Aria and Otter. He briefly talked about his own SEED, something that had an A.I. built in to assist him, rather than using it like a traditional Freediver.
• Managirl and Kembu went on a walk; Kembu wanting to check if his master left him a message at Lisa Trent's house. During the way, they had the 'break-up' talk; with Kembu display his non-interest in an intimate way with Managirl. The teen girl didn't take it too well, ultimately seemed accepting...

• Next time...
• Otter, Setter, and Roan get to try and 'crack' Aphrodite...
• Aria continues her night time ride on her motorcycle...
• Kembu and Managirl get to find a message at Lisa's house...

Current Objectives:

• Complete the Middleman's Third Job: Recover Pandora's Box for Rickenato.
• Receive the Middleman's Answers.
• Defeat the Olympians (Four of Twelve defeated).
• Defeat Nacht.
• Prove Roan's (and the group's) innocence.