Mission 1: Grand Funk Railroad

Suggested music: Apocalyptica - Hall of the Mountain King

The Job

Client: The Guild
Target: Morey Lacuna
Target background: Morey Lacuna is an entrepreneur and engineer from Great Forks. After successfully raiding an outer storehouse in Denandsor, Morey used the technology he recovered to construct a steam-powered train and railroad between Great Forks and Nexus. He quickly spun this convenient and fast form of transport into an immensely successful shipping business, and is now the primary exporter of Great Forks-grown narcotic crops to Nexus. The Guild was less than pleased about this prospect, and took action against Morey. At first, moves were economic - the Guild attempted sanctions, undercutting, and any number of less-than-fair business practices. These all failed - buyers were simply too invested in the notion of having fast, guaranteed shipment, especially in the troublesome Second Age, where barbarian and bandit attacks made even armed caravans an uncertain prospect at best. The Guild tried to take military action next, but Morey outmaneuvered them there, too - He's surrounded himself with hired Seventh-Legion soldiers and powerful automaton bodyguards from Denandsor. Eventually, Morey grew more paranoid, and snapped. He now lives on the train he built, surrounded by his closest advisors, most of whom are automated. He speaks to almost nobody, communicating with the subordinates in his shipping organization via notes passed under a door. Morey's keen business sense had not dulled, however - he increased his profitability ten-fold when he made the train a tourist attraction for the wealthy.

Although expensive, tickets can be purchased to ride along in one of the train's luxurious passenger cars. Morey was able to win the hearts of poorer classes by cutting shipping costs to remote villages which laid on the path of the railroad. These villagers were able to purchase quality goods they'd not been previously able to afford, resulting in an explosion of businesses and craftsmen and a general boost in Scavenger Lands rural economy, generating an enormous stream of profits, most of which did not go back to the Guild. At this point, however, the situation was sticky - many of the Guild's smaller suppliers now depended on Morey's technology and generous business practices to thrive. The Guild was no longer simply in a position to overpower and kill Morey, as that came with it the risk of upsetting a great deal of smaller businesses critical to the Guild's rural operations. That's where the Grass-Spiders come in.
Critical Notes:

• Lacuna has to die in a way that cannot be traced back to hostile business practices - the Guild hired the Grass Spiders to avoid the political fallout associated with slaying its competitors.
• The train doesn't have to blow up during the job, but it also doesn't have to not blow up during the job.
• As always, non-combatants are off limits. Even if passengers join combat, they are not to be harmed, only neutralized - many of them are major Guild customers.

Team: Lord of the Ashen Cloud, Zealot of Iconoclastic Virtue, Opal, Mesa, Fay Morgana
Expected Threats:

• Seventh-Legion hired security (Threat level: Soliders - minor, Officers - medium, probability of encounter: High)
• Automaton bodyguards (Threat level: High, probability of encounter: Medium)
• Wealthy passengers' bodyguards (Threat level: Minor, probability encounter: low)
• Terrestrial Exalted supporters of Morey (Threat level: Medium, probability of encounter: low)

Mission Status

Job: Complete Dates: Ascending Water 6 - 8, R.Y. 768 Kill: Ash and Fay boarded the train as passengers, while Mesa slipped aboard as a crew member. Opal and Zealot air-dropped onto the train after Morey's car had been located. The group infiltrated Morey Lacuna's armored train car and framed his automaton guards for his death. The kill was made my ash. Quote of the night: "... There was a mishap." (Fay) Exp. Awarded: Base - 5 (6 for Ash)