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Baby Sitting
 A Shadowrun scenario for 1 to 5 players, one of them should be a spell-caster

The players have to look after a young computer genius called Moonspear, an elf from Salish-Sidhe. The problem is that, although a genius and a nice guy, Moonspear has never been in the big city before and just wants to have a good time. He’s understandably naïve and may make some dangerous mistakes.

Note: although set in Seattle this could be run in any conurbation.

The approach will obviously depend on the style of your campaign: an elven contact or relative will negotiate the deal. The reward for looking after this rich young tourist will be something useful to the PCs. For example, they could obtain the gratitude of his parents (who could be powerful deckers, mages or lawyers).

Expenses of up to 10,000 nuyen can be negotiated for the party.

It will be emphasized that they are intended to be guides to Moonspear and also to protect him from the local criminal scum. If the boy gets hurt for any reason, expenses won’t be paid. If he gets killed then the family will hold the PCs responsible.

Moonspear is flying in overnight using a cargo Zeppelin. The Zepp’ discharges its passengers and cargo at a quiet corner of SeaTac.

Moonspear has 2 vehicles: a pickup and a motorbike.

It takes about 30 minutes to unload everything and clear customs. Moonspear doesn’t appear with all the other passengers… Once the players have begun to worry and ask about their "patron" a message is sent out from the Customs/Immigration section. One person can see "Mr Moonspear".

All elves look young but this kid looks underage for driving. He can’t be more than 17.That’s your first reaction. The second reaction is "Oh Frag!!! He’s wearing Ancient colors!" Customs have also noticed Moonspear’s choice of dress. They are suspicious and a little nervous.

To keep Moonspear out of a holding cell requires an etiquette test (target 5)

To persuade UCAS Customs not to disassemble the vehicles is simpler (target 4). In any event he’ll be kept busy for a couple of hours. Divide that time by the number of successes rolled.

There shouldn’t be a problem here unless your players are unbelievably crass. Moonspear will eventually be allowed into the city and he’s intelligent enough to change his clothes once his breach of etiquette is explained (although he does want to meet the Ancients). But he’s got plans for the evening……..

 A NIGHT ON THE TOWN

What does every healthy 21-year-old want to do in the big city? That’s right, our boy wants to go out and have a good time. He wants to visit a few bars, see some live bands and dance with a few pretty girls. He wants to go anywhere that’s more exciting than an ecologically sound Elven commune, where everyone has known him since birth.

He’s been bored…..Very, very bored…..But that’s all going to change

But maybe not in the way everyone wants…..A young elf can get hurt in the big city

 Moonspear, or "Spear" as he asks you to call him, wants to go to a bar. He’ll pay for all the drinks; just a nightcap before he checks into the hotel. You did book a hotel for him didn’t you?

 At this time of night, it’s a choice of coffin or luxury. Moonspear will use either but will insist on going to a bar and buying drinks. Any bar; it’s your choice.

 This should be fairly freeform. Use all the crazy NPCs you like. Moonspear is going to attract a lot of attention, not all of it benevolent. Role-play as many encounters as you and your players find amusing. Rip off an entire episode of "CHEERS" if you like. Lull the players into a false sense of security. UNTIL…….

 A young oriental woman, "Kiki" is going to find Moonspear "cute" (especially considering all the money he seems to have) and ask him about his background. Moonspear is going to be indiscreet and mention that his parents work for Luna Biogenetics. He will also mention that he has some of the company’s new cyberware. The young woman’s escort, "Karl" will object to her obvious interest in the "boy" and the PC’s will have to "defuse" the situation.

 [Anyone with any knowledge of cybertech should be aware that Luna Biogenetics produce designs for beta class cyberware].

 Statistics: "Kiki" has average stats except for Intelligence and charisma (4 each) she has no combat skills. "Karl" is more of a threat: he’s also a minor Mafia enforcer (use "Detective" stats but reduce all skills by 2).

 Moonspear’s hormones look like they’ll get him into trouble some day. You’re tired and the girl’s date looks a little drunk. You’ll have to talk your way out of this (or just get the Street Samurai to be really intimidating)

 Again there should only be a problem If the PCs fail several social rolls or if they are looking for a fight (Karl’s "family" will not be happy if he gets killed in a bar-fight). The bar security staff can intervene if necessary.

By now, Moonspear’s had enough and will take a taxi to the hotel. He’s in no state to drive himself and asks the PCs to take his vehicles to the hotel too. Unknown to the players, Karl has made a few phone calls.

 The cab turns up very quickly and Moonspear will get in (possibly with Kiki if you want to make things complicated). Moonspear will be shot with a Taser by the cabdriver (another family employee). The taxi will take off at high speed (anyone who insisted on going with him will be tasered too).

 Cue high speed chase and fire-fight. The Taxi is a Ford Americar with turbo charging and 3 points of vehicle armor. Use average stats for the driver but add Vehicle Control Rig level 1 and Americar skill level 5.

 If a small group, all the PCs could be in the Cab. Allow one of them to wake up before the cab gets to the street doc’s.

 If your group is big then the taxi-driver doesn’t stand a chance: even the odds by using the stats for the Troll Mercenary and add: Ford Americar 5. Have Kiki in on the kidnapping (and equip her with a shock glove).

Moonspear’s a little quieter after his unpleasant encounter with kidnappers and appears to have developed a phobia about taxis. He’s still determined to collect some memories of the big city and will insist on going to bars, nightclubs and sporting events. His parents expect him to go to some educational places so he has to go to museums, art galleries and all sorts of other places where Shadowrunners can’t take heavy weaponry. This is an opportunity to show all those cyber-fans that cyberware can be seriously limiting.

You’ve spent the last few days going round the tourist sites of Seattle and some really strange bars. Where does he get the energy? Some of it was interesting but You’re almost relieved when Moonspear announces that he’s got tickets for a concert.

He promised his little sister that he’d go to a concert of her favorite band: The Elementals. She wants the guitarist’s autograph. No problem you think, until you find that they are playing at "Underworld 93" which is right in the middle of the Barrens

Better get out the heavier armor and check out the Docwagon contract.

Note: The Elementals are detailed in the published adventure "Total Eclipse" and you could use this as link to the official scenario.

The Elementals have a successful night as does Moonspear who meets a really good-looking elven lady called Gilrael and gets a date for 2 nights time. [He’s young, cute & rich]

There are a lot of armed and dangerous people at the club; the players should be worried by the various rough-looking patrons there. Make them worried but only run a fight if you and the players would enjoy it.

Gilrael (real name Suzie Letvin) is an Elf Poser, i.e. a human who has been surgically altered to look like an elf. She’s also a recruiter for the Paranobilis Policlub (which is always looking for new recruits). Suzie is basically a nice girl who used to lack self-confidence. Being an elf has done wonders for her self-esteem and her previous psychotherapists would be astonished at the changes in her personality.

Players may deduce that Gilrael is not an elf (the Tolkienesque name is a pretty big clue). Astral perception will also show something "odd" about her. If they confront her, she will deny any accusations (she genuinely believes herself to be elven). There is no way of proving condition to Moonspear, who finds her very attractive. The only way to stop him going to the date is to use physical violence. This will not enhance character reputation or credstick.

In which our heroes have the opportunity to journey Downtown and meet some very rich and deluded people in a plush luxury hotel.

You’ve never seen so much tres chic clothing in your life. This is the only time that you’ve been allowed into the ballroom of the Laubenstein hotel [#11 on the Downtown map if you’re using the main rulebook]. And this is the only time you’ve seen so many elves in one place. At least they look like elves…

These people are elf posers. Astral perception will show oddities and a real elf, or someone with elven etiquette will eventually deduce what’s going on. If all else fails, a simple intelligence test will determine that the average height of these people is too low for elves.

So who are these rich elven wannabes?

It’s a sad story. Most are sad, inadequate people who are trying to compensate for their neuroses. [Use standard archetypes but add a flashy, expensive weapon]. They just happen to be much richer than the normal elf-poser. Which is where the mage, Glorfindel comes in.

Glorfindel is a combat mage, with problems. For one he’s a BTL-addict and hence a multi-personality schizophrenic. Secondly, one of his personalities believes himself to be an Elf: an Elf with a mission to collect as much money and power as possible. He intends to use spells on Moonspear to siphon off money and possibly details of cyberware.

Glorfindel uses the spells "Mob Mood" and "Influence" to control his followers and hence support his expensive tastes. If given the opportunity, he will use these spells on Moonspear and his bodyguards.

[statistics: use human combat mage archetype but add spell-lock for increase charisma (plus 4) and extend spell-list to include the above spells. Add elf-poser cosmetic surgery].

Note: a nightclub full of rich elven wannabes is not a good place for a bunch of uncouth street people. These posers may be unwell but it is their home turf and they have the resources to take revenge for any injury caused by the players.

Glorfindel will make a grand entrance, invite Moonspear to address everyone from the stage and then cast spells from the wings. What the players do at this stage is up to them. If they start firing, then the elf-posers will produce light pistols, machine pistols and flashpacks.

The players could lose a magic contest with Glorfindel. They won’t be killed but they will (if human) be given cosmetic surgery and swift brainwashing. Moonspear’s family will eventually come to the rescue.

If the players are losing a firefight (unlikely knowing most SR players) have the Laubenstein Security people intervene (using gas and the sprinkler system). That should provide a useful distraction to cover the escape of intelligent players. If they’re too stupid to run away… well that’s their problem.

Moonspear will decide that he’s had enough of Seattle and excitement and will enroll on a nice, safe post-graduate course somewhere.

Assuming that the characters haven’t been killed, maimed, arrested or brainwashed, they will be paid and can now count Moonspear as a contact.

(Contributed by Mathew Williams)