Don't leave us hanging! What happened to Sparks in the last session? What's this about an augmented man???
Admittedly I have not been using this blog as proper campaign notes so there's quite a bit missing from the context of the things I talk about. I have much more notes in my Mothership app 😅
HOWEVER I'm ready to yap at all times.
The Augmented Man was a source of conflict all the way back, over 2 in-game years ago, at the end of our first Shore Leave. Adolfo met with his ex-girlfriend at a diner to talk (about their possible future, which she did not seem to want to pursue. sad 😔). After she had left, a man covered in military-grade exoskeleton and slickware came into the diner, and without warning, immediately impaled the cashier onto the ticket stabber. And then forced his way into the back to dunk one of the chefs' heads into the fryer.
Adolfo, ever vigilant, sprung into action to stop him; the Augmented Man would only reply by reciting advertisements, like walking commercials for Astroman (brand of cleaning fluid) or Clarion (phone-service provider).
The Augmented Man absolutely CURB-STOMPED Adolfo. He is our Marine. He's our strongest player, full stop. Adolfo could not stop him alone. Percival came in for back-up, and just barely distracted him long enough for the Station Security to detain him.
Just before he was dragged away, the Augmented Man spoke his first words that weren't some old product slogan, whispering to Percival.
"Who Is It That Drags This Corpse Around?"
And ever since, we've been hearing that phrase over and over and over again...
Sonia got a virus (right before our trip to Ukweli-4) that took over her command prompt and temporarily gave her a full black-out, which mentioned this phrase.
We eventually figured out that she picked up this virus from accessing the cameras in and around Avalon (the fantasy-themed Net Den Jonesy works at as an "artist", utilizing his Imagine Reality and Illusions). It just so happened that certain Avalon players haven't logged in for quite a while, three players in Jonesy's guild.
Jonesy also took off, asking his other friends to lie to Sparks about where he went. She got the information out of them eventually. Jonesy left to visit the Wattcolmbe Slickdev Office, looking for a glitched player that goes by Anzu, and perhaps to figure out where his friends went himself.
Sparks went to Wattcolmbe, along with Percival, Bob, and Rox (the Android Enkidu provided us while Adolfo is finishing the job on Ukweli-4). She had to get Jonesy, make sure he was safe.
The Augmented Man entered the building as well (either eventually released, or escaped), smashing his way through the first floor of the office.
And eventually, Sparks's skull.
We all made a big red-string corkboard to try and get our thoughts together (which I've redrawn, but is already a bit out of date, as we have more information now).