I don’t know why he saved my life. Maybe in those last moments he loved life more than he ever had before. Not just his life – anybody’s life; my life. All he’d wanted were the same answers the rest of us want. Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got? All I could do was sit there and watch him die.
Deckard – Blade Runner
Anamnesis: Session 1 – Prologue
Advice to the reader
In order to interpret the structure of my gaming session posts effectively, it is strongly suggested that you peruse A Readers Guide to Play Sessions on The Old Bard, if you haven’t already.
To better grasp what I mean when I bring up Fate questions, you might find it useful to keep the Mythic Fate Chart accessible, potentially in a new window or tab in your browser.
Prologue
The year is 2037, in the heart of the dystopian metropolis that is Los Angeles. An urban sprawl glowing with the neon haze of progress and cloaked in the shadows of towering edifices. Amidst the cacophony of innovation and the pulsating hum of advanced technology, lies a darkness that whispers tales of deceit and danger.
Standing at the epicenter of this turmoil is Clayton Brant, a seasoned Blade Runner of five years. Haunted by the violent memories of his childhood in a foreign land, he finds himself embroiled in a constant battle with his personal demons. His own sister perceives him as a murderer because of his profession, adding another layer of complexity to their deceit-laden relationship.
Despite the undercurrents of turmoil, Clayton navigates through the system with the prowess of a seasoned politician and the cunning of a manipulator. His ascent up the corporate ladder is relentless, even if it means leaving a trail of ashes in his wake.
A series of mysterious deaths among the city’s elites triggers an investigation that sends ripples through the underbelly of power and corruption. The victims, influencers with their tendrils spread across the city’s infrastructure, appear to be random, save for an enigmatic symbol found at each crime scene.
As Clayton delves deeper into this intricate labyrinth, he uncovers a far-reaching conspiracy that penetrates the seemingly impregnable walls of the city’s elite. His investigation takes a sinister turn when his sister is implicated, pushing him to confront his past, his values, and the real cost of his ambitions.
Caught in a web of deceit and betrayal, Clayton finds himself racing against time. As the death toll rises and the symbol recurs, he must uncover the truth before he himself becomes the next target.
Embark on this gripping journey with Clayton Brant, navigating a world where the lines between human and replicant blur, where secrets have a deadly price, and where every step taken could be a step closer to oblivion.
ATGM: I've flipped through the Blade Runner core rulebook several times and believe I'm ready to just dive in and start playing. We'll figure out everything we need to know as we progress. That's what all of this is about anyways. Of course, we want to make sure we prepare our Mythic Adventure Journal and Adventure Lists. On my Adventure Journal, I've titled the first scene "Report for duty", and on the Adventure Lists, I've placed "Arrive at RDU HQ", and "Get first case file". On the Characters List, I've added "Sister" and "Deputy Chief David Holden", as well as "RDU HQ". We'll come up with the name for his sister as we play out. Our Chaos Factor is the default of 5 for starting out.
ATGM: So, we've set up our initial Scene which is basically to head to RDU HQ and report for duty, and we're first going to test if this scene carries out in our Expected way. Testing the Expected Scene is located on page 67 of the Mythic Game Master Emulator Second Edition (MGME2E). I roll 1d10 for a result of 1. This is under my Chaos Factor of 5 and is an odd number so this is an Altered Scene. I'm thinking that Clayton does in fact start heading to RDU HQ, but along the way receives a call from Deputy Chief David Holden along the way.
The jarring ring of Clayton’s KIA yanks him from the depth of his dreamless sleep. Blinking against the harsh glare of the device, he scans the name flashing across the screen: David Holden, his relentless and hardened boss. A heavy sigh escapes Clayton’s lips as he mentally prepares for the tirade he’s about to receive.
Without sparing another moment, Clayton pulls himself out of bed and heads towards the shower. The icy droplets against his skin are a rude but effective wake-up call, pushing away the remnants of sleep and fatigue. Dressed in his austere suit, he strides out of his UN-provided apartment, ready to face the demands of the day.
Instead of hitting the congested streets, Clayton makes his way towards the rooftop, where his Detective Special Spinner is stationed. With a practiced ease, he climbs into the unmarked vehicle, its sleek design blending in seamlessly with the towering edifices of the city.
As the Spinner lifts off the rooftop, a panoramic view of the pre-dawn city unfolds before Clayton. The monolithic towers scrape the sky, their countless windows winking with the muted glow of thousands of lives unfolding in anonymity. Neon lights stain the foggy morning air with hues of pink and blue, the city’s ever-pulsating arteries woven between the giant structures. The sound of the Spinner’s turbines cuts through the early morning quiet, a familiar hum that has become a part of Clayton’s daily routine.
The Detective Special Spinner weaves between the towering buildings, the vertical sprawl of Los Angeles stretching beneath him like an ocean of concrete and steel. The city is just rousing from sleep, the streets beginning to thrum with the early morning rush.
Just as he’s settling into the rhythm of his flight, his KIA vibrates with an incoming call. The name on the screen – David Holden – triggers a grimace on Clayton’s face. He answers the call, his boss’s gravelly voice echoing through the Spinner’s cabin. This unexpected communication, likely linked to the recent string of mysterious deaths, could well be the turning point in Clayton’s investigation. Little does he know, this call will plunge him into a deeply personal and convoluted struggle that threatens to unravel everything he’s worked so hard for.
ATGM: For the reason of the call, I decide to turn to page 90 in MGME2E and roll on the Character Conversations table under Meaning Tables: Elements. I roll 1d100 for a result of 74. That's Mundane. I roll another 1d100 for a result of 77 which is Nice. Let's roll for a couple more words to help form out what this might be. Another 1d100 for a result of 54, Inquire and another 1d100 for a result of 39, Frightening. Let's shoot that off to ChatGPT and see what it might come up with. I ask ChatGPT the following: "Come up with a conversation between David Holden and Clayton. The meaning for this call should be formed from the following keywords: Mundane, Nice, Inquire and Frightening."
“Clayton, how’s your morning?” David’s voice crackles over the Spinner’s comm system, its usual gruff tone sounding unusually amiable.
“Pretty mundane, Deputy Chief. Just cruising through the towers on the way to RDU. What’s up?” Clayton replies, maneuvering his Spinner deftly through the towering neon-lit skyscrapers of the city.
“Good, good. It’s a nice day, isn’t it? Clear skies… perfect for a spin. Anyway, I’m not calling just to talk about the weather.” There’s a brief pause, then David’s tone shifts, business-like and serious. “I wanted to inquire about your progress on those deaths we’re dealing with.”
“Progress is slow, but it’s progress,” Clayton answers, scanning the cityscape below. “No connection yet, but I’ve got a few leads to chase.”
“That’s what I was afraid of,” David sighs on the other end of the line. “Look, something new’s come up. It’s… well, it’s a bit frightening.”
Clayton raises an eyebrow, focusing on the audio feed. “What is it?”
“You’re not going to like it. There’s been another death… at the Huntington. It’s high-profile, too high to ignore. I need you there.”
Clayton’s grip tightens on the Spinner’s controls. The Huntington was no place for the faint-hearted, even for a seasoned Blade Runner like him. But orders were orders.
“Alright, Sir. I’m on it.”
“Good. And Clayton…” David’s voice trails off for a moment. “Be careful. We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet.”
The comm line cuts off, leaving Clayton alone with his thoughts and the hum of the Spinner’s engine. He changes course, steering towards the Huntington. Another day, another death – and a new mystery to unravel.
Nestled amidst the pulsating neon lights and imposing skyscrapers of Sector 9 lies the Huntington, an enigmatic edifice of opulence and exclusivity. A beacon of extravagance in the heart of the Fashion District, it stands out, even in the frenzied tapestry of the Commercial District’s southern portion. Its monolithic facade, shimmering with iridescent reflections of the city lights, belies the intoxicating allure of luxury and power within its walls.
The Huntington is more than just a club; it is a statement, a symbol of a rarefied stratum of society untouchable by the common populace. A place where the city’s elites, adorned in the latest couture, gather to sip exotic cocktails, engage in clandestine conversations, and shape the destiny of the city in quiet whispers.
Here, in these hallowed halls, fortunes are made and lost, alliances formed and broken, secrets traded like currency. Every piece of furniture, every work of art that adorns its walls, and every soul that graces its floors tells a tale of opulence, influence, and sometimes, unspoken dread.
Beyond its gleaming surface, however, the Huntington hides darker secrets. Amidst the laughter and clinking of glasses, the delicate balance of power teeters on the edge, often with devastating consequences. For in this world of glitter and glamour, corruption runs deep, and death is but a misstep away.
For Clayton, the Huntington is a den of wolves – beautiful, dangerous, and as unpredictable as the city itself. As he steers his Spinner toward this labyrinth of power and corruption, he is acutely aware of the high stakes. Every encounter within the Huntington’s grandiose walls could be a dance with death, a gambit in the city’s complex game of power.
ATGM: Caught off guard but this change of plans, I decide it's time to put in some Blade Runner RPG mechanics into the situation. For 1, Clayton as a really low rating for his driving skill, and it might be fun to interrupt his plans on the chance of a skill test here. As noted in his initial character sheet here. He has a D rating for Driving, therefore, to perform this skill check I need to grab at least a D6. Here is what the core rulebook details on how to perform a skill check.
There are a total of thirteen core skills in the game, and they are all described later in this chapter. Twelve of the skills are connected to one of your core attributes: Strength, Agility, Intelligence, or Empathy. One skill (DRIVING) is instead connected to the Maneuverability attribute of your vehicle.
When you perform an action, you first describe what your character does or says. Then you grab two dice – one for your skill level and another for the base attribute that is connected to the skill. These two dice are called your Base Dice.
Blade Runner RPG Core Rulebook – Chapter 3: Skills & Specialties – Rolling Dice. Page 54.
The type of Base Dice to roll depends on your levels in the skill and attribute…
As Clayton changes course to head to the Huntington, he nearly runs into another spinner. He grips his controls to avoid colliding with the other spinner.
ATGM: I also need to grab a die for the Maneuverability rating of my spinner which has a rating of B which is a D10. I roll both these die, and for the D10 I get a result of 8, and the D6 results with 1. Since I got an 8 on my D10, that means I scored 1 success you need at least a 6 or higher for that. So, Clayton successfully avoids colliding with the other spinner.
As Clayton’s Spinner veered towards the Huntington, the chaos of LA’s high-altitude traffic surged around him like a living organism. The neon-lit buildings flashed by in a blur, their monumental silhouettes crisscrossing against the electric-hued sky, painting a dizzying panorama of the sprawling metropolis. The city’s skyways, packed with a myriad of vehicles whizzing past in an orchestrated symphony of motion, were alive with ceaseless activity.
Suddenly, another Spinner – sleek, metallic, indifferent to the lives around it – hurtled towards Clayton’s path. An artificial voice rang out from his Spinner’s console, a warning drowned in the roaring gusts of wind. Clayton’s pulse spiked; he had mere seconds to react.
Time seemed to slow as he tightly gripped the controls, his fingers instinctively dancing over the buttons and switches. The approaching Spinner loomed larger in his view, its seemingly impassive hull a grim harbinger of impending disaster.
With a swift, decisive motion, Clayton yanked at the Spinner’s control wheel. His vehicle responded with a lurch, veering sharply to the side. The powerful G-force slammed him into his seat, his breath hitching in his chest. The rogue Spinner whooshed past, missing his vehicle by a hair’s breadth.
A rush of adrenaline flooded Clayton’s veins as he narrowly avoided disaster, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. The other Spinner zoomed away into the neon abyss, oblivious to the catastrophe it had nearly caused. Clayton took a moment to steady his breathing, the afterimage of the near collision still imprinted on his retinas.
He then guided his Spinner back onto the course towards the Huntington, now alert to the unanticipated dangers that lurked in the city’s frenetic skyways. The imposing silhouette of the exclusive club loomed in the distance, a constant reminder of the intriguing yet potentially lethal journey that lay ahead.
Bookkeeping
Well, we’re off! And we even had a chance to actually use at least one Blade Runner RPG mechanic within this session. I’m going to say that this ends the scene, and well Clayton certainly was not in control here. I mean his attempt to get to RDU HQ was interrupted by David Holden directing him elsewhere, so we’re going to bump the Chaos Factor up to 6.
Of course, if you have personally played the Blade Runner RPG yourself, you’re probably already asking, “But what about the case file?” For the uninitiated however:
The Case File is the backbone of the BLADE RUNNER RPG gaming experience. Simply put, you need a Case File to play this game.
Blade Runner RPG Core Rulebook – Chapter 9: Running Blade Runner – The Anatomy of a Case File. Page 213.
So, in the next session, we’ll start crafting the first case file for this solo adventure. Of course, we’ll have to be crafty about what we initially put into it, since we’re playing as both the Game Runner and the Player Character. We’ll need to leave some things unresolved in the case file for the element of surprise and randomness.
However, I wanted to go ahead and set the stage and kick off the adventure. I hope you’ll hop into your own spinner and follow along for the ride.
Till next time!
Resources Used
- Blade Runner: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook
- Mythic Game Master Emulator Second Edition (MGME2E)
- ChatGPT for generating a description of various elements as noted.
- Midjourney for creating imagery.
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