Shadowrun: Scotophobia – A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure
You’ve been in the shadows long enough to know that when something smells off, it usually means trouble. This time, the stench is coming from the edges of the sprawl, where whispers of Disian activity have grown louder by the day.
Farkas, the fixer who’s brought you into this mess, paces back and forth in front of the team, his cyber-enhanced eye glinting in the gloom. He finally stops and looks at you, his expression grim.
“Word is, the Disians are making moves. Big moves. We’ve got intel on a stronghold they’ve set up in the old industrial district, and it’s not pretty. Whatever they’re cooking up there, it’s bad news. I’ve got a client willing to pay top nuyen to see it burned to the ground. But here’s the kicker—you’ll be going in blind. No recon, no support, just you and your team.”
Farkas slides a data chip across the table. “This has all the intel we could scrape together. It’s not much, but it’ll have to do. You in?”
You pocket the data chip and stand up. “We’ll take it. Just be ready to double that pay if things get messy.” Farkas nods, satisfied with your decision. “You know where to find me when it’s done. Good luck—you’ll need it.”
You leave the meeting room and gather your team. The industrial district looms ahead, a maze of crumbling buildings and rusted machinery. The air is thick with smog, and the only sound is the distant hum of factory machinery still operating on autopilot. You check your gear one last time before signaling the team to move out.
You narrow your eyes at Farkas. “You want us to take on the Disians, in their own territory, without any backup? You’d better have something more than just nuyen on the table.”
Farkas sighs but nods. “Alright, I figured you’d say that. I can throw in some gear—combat drones, top-tier medkits, maybe even a safehouse if things go south. But that’s all you’re getting.”
You stand up and shake your head. “Sorry, Farkas, but I’m not suicidal. Find someone else for this death trap.”
Farkas gives you a disappointed look but doesn’t argue. “Suit yourself. Just remember, when the Disians come knocking on your door, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
You leave the meeting, but the feeling of unease lingers. As you step out into the cold night air, you wonder if you made the right choice. The Disians aren’t known for letting people walk away easily, and you’ve just turned down a chance to hit them where it hurts.
You’ve never been one for subtlety. You draw your weapon, nod to your team, and prepare for a direct assault on the stronghold. The sound of gunfire fills the air as you push forward, taking down Disian operatives with brutal efficiency. But the deeper you go, the more resistance you encounter. It’s clear the Disians were expecting trouble.
You signal the team to stay low and quiet. You’ll try to slip past the Disian defenses undetected and gather intel before making your move. The shadows are your ally as you move through the industrial district, bypassing patrols and security drones. But as you reach the heart of the stronghold, you realize something’s not right…
You’re not about to walk into a trap. Instead, you set up a perimeter and wait for the Disians to come to you. It’s a tense standoff, but when the Disians finally emerge, you’re ready. Explosives rigged to key points take out half their force before they know what hit them.
Extra firepower could make all the difference. You request combat drones to provide support during the mission. Farkas nods, “Done. I’ll have them prepped and ready by the time you hit the ground.” With the added firepower, you feel a little more confident as you prepare to take on the Disians.
You know things could get bloody. Advanced medkits could be the difference between life and death. “You’ll have the best medkits nuyen can buy,” Farkas assures you. It’s a small comfort, but you know it might be enough to keep your team alive.
If things go sideways, you’ll need a place to lay low. “I’ve got a safehouse on the outskirts of the sprawl. Not much, but it’s secure,” Farkas offers. You accept, knowing it might be the only thing between you and a bullet in the back if things go wrong.
You decide to keep your head down and avoid any Disian-related trouble for now. But as the days pass, you hear rumors of disappearances and strange occurrences in the sprawl. The Disians are growing bolder, and it’s only a matter of time before their reach extends to you.
You reach out to an old contact who might have information on what the Disians are up to. After a few days, you get a message: “Meet me at the usual spot. We need to talk.” You arrive at the meeting place, only to find that your contact has gone missing. But they left a cryptic message behind…
You decide to take on a different job and forget about the Disians altogether. But no matter how far you run, the shadow of their influence follows you. Soon, you find yourself drawn back into their web, whether you like it or not…