Starting Contacts Lists

Started by pringerbeam, October 16, 2018, 10:11:15 PM

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pringerbeam

Independents
These contacts act independently of any major factions. They work for themselves and their own interests and try to avoid conflict.  They tend to be specialized in what they can provide for a runner but make up for this by lacking the hang-ups of criminal politics that the Syndicates and Gangs have.

Steve Roderick
Elf Greenhorn Fixer
C: 4
L: 3
Steve is an up and coming fixer looking to work his way to the top. Steve has only just broken into the big league scene and doesn't have the rep or clout to pull many strings but he has a reputation for seeming to have an endless supply of effort when it comes to scoring for a client. He has only just begun setting up runner teams and many of the unknowns have started to turn to him looking to get in on the action and get a name made for themselves rather than try to break into the scene by waiting in a runner bar hoping to get noticed.
Specialties: Miscellany (non-specialized costs only 175%), Side Jobs
Friends: Not yet
Enemies: Not yet

Big Iron Joe
Ork Arms Dealer
C: 3
L: 5
When it comes to guns in Portland, "Big Iron" Joseph Falkner is the guy to see. Operating out of the Loyd Center night market, Big Iron Joe always has some stock on hand and is always getting new product. Loyal customers get loyal treatment and if they have a special order Joe will do what he can to make sure that the customer gets that special piece for that special job. While he may not have the cheapest guns, he is the biggest independent dealer in town and wont hold orders for hostage or try to pull a fast one on you.
Specialties: Guns, Ammo, Custom Weapons, Weapon modification
Friends: People that need guns
Enemies: None

Doctor Frankenstein
Elf Street Doc
C: 1
L: 6
Honest to God his name is Frankenstein and he's a doctor. He started up a small affordable clinic near the east barrens which was great PR for his patrons and attracted plenty of bleeding heart corp kids for volunteer labor. As time went on though, the corporate patron funding dwindled and the bleeding hearts stopped bleeding. and now the clinic is run by Friedrich Frankenstein all by his lonesome. Being a skilled, good natured, and affordable Street doc means he has plenty of friends but also plenty of problems. He seems to constantly get in trouble. He mostly funds his clinic these days by doing 'ware installations for runners or selling medical equipment to them but this is a slim margin to operate on and he frequently hits the red. This fact of life tends to see him in debt to one unsavory character or another as he tries to make ends meet while keeping his clinic open.
Specialties: Healing, Surgery, Medical supplies
Friends: Bleeding people, David Chen
Enemies: People he owes money

Dominic Kane
Ork Fixer
C: 6
L: 2 (Note: Loyalty costs double)
A somewhat new addition to the Portland shadows, Dominic Kane has developed quite the reputation as a fixer of sorts. He makes his living by setting up teams of runners with jobs from confidential clients. Due to a rumored falling out that he had in the past which resulted in his pulling up roots and landing in Portland he had developed a bit of paranoia about who he does business with. Some runners consider him to be too controlling and demanding to work with but he always seems to have jobs on hand for the cash strapped runner in need.
Specialties: Information, Side jobs, Miscellany (non-specialized costs only 150%)
Friends: No one
Enemies: Also no one as far as anyone can tell

Fast Larry
Human "Used" Car Salesman
C: 4
L: 3
Larry's "used" cars is a fixture of the Portland underground and located in the warren of abandoned parking levels that used to serve the Loyd Center back when it was still legit. Larry runs an independent chop shop and keeps in good graces with all the local booster gangs. Because of this he sees a lot of runners right after the job when they need to dump a suddenly very hot vehicle or even before the run when runners are looking to buy a cheap (and soon to be very hot) ride for a getaway. The man knows that he makes things much easier for much of the underground and makes sure that he gets his cut (which he makes sure to be as deep as he can get). He talks fast and will sell you a complete piece of shit for a cyber-suite if you let your guard down. He can also do some good upgrade work for the runner that likes a slick ride but not enough to do the work themselves. For the most desperate of the shadow's denizens he also offers fast loans at interest rates that will bleed you dry.
Specialties: Buying cars, Selling cars, Vehicle upgrades, Loans
Friends: Runners, car thieves, organized crime syndicates
Enemies: People that he swindled

Lael Barick
Elf Information Broker
C: 9
L: 2 (Note: loyalty costs double)
Now, everyone in the shadows keeps their ear to the ground and those that don't usually wind up fertilizing soy. But there is a difference between your average street denizen keeping their ear to the ground and an actual professional information broker. When it comes to the Portland shadows, Lael Barick is one of the few that actually is willing to come down to the street level to give access to runners. Now just because she is accessible doesn't mean she is cheap. If you can't barter with some other really useful piece of information, she will charge you extra. Runners looking to hawk some paydata will usually look to her to offload for whatever she feels like paying. She makes sure to profit off of everything though and won't pay much unless you happen to stumble across something that will make even her pause.
Specialties: Buying information, Selling information, Introductions, Forgeries
Friends: None
Enemies: None

Lucifer Whittcomb
Dwarf Master of the Arcane
C: 5
L: 3
When it comes to players in the streets of Portland, Lucifer Whittcomb is a name that often comes up. He's a dwarf with a bit of a napoleon complex and the magical mojo to back it up. To make his living he is better known as a reputable seller of information (assuming you are willing to endure his rants) as well as talismans, foci, and other magical goods. He keeps a keen eye to magical activity and works to get first pick on any magical goods that show in on the local black market. Any weird magic stuff is either connected to him or of great interest to him.  For reasons that none seem to understand (his ranting is usually vague on the topic despite how often it comes up) he has a major beef with Running Deer.
Specialties: Selling Information, Magical goods
Friends: None
Enemies: None
Rival: Running Deer

Red Blood
Human Serjerry Ekspert
C: 4
L: 4
Fun fact: Shadowrunners get shot. Even more fun fact: They usually can't count on going to a real hospital. This is where the likes of Red Blood come in. This guy is sketchy to the extreme even by the standards of a profession that commonly sticks its hands into people's torsos but when you need an operation and you don't/can't have access to a more trusted street doc Red Blood always has a table open, you might just have to spend a bit more time under than would make you comfortable. However, he is also the city's best independent bioware dealer and when a runner needs to make sure a body disappears, Red Blood can make sure that it's gonna be walking around in three different countries by the end of the week.
Specialties: Surgery, Healing, Bioware, Cyberware, Body disposal
Friends: No one is sane enough
Enemies: People in bathtubs full of ice

Running Deer
Troll Shaman
C: 6
L: 5
The quintessential Amerindian shaman, Running Deer is an ork that walks with the spirits. Running Deer is a fixture in the local magic community. No one is quite sure how old he is but he certainly SEEMS old and wise. He likes to mentor newly awakened in the shadows and counts quite a few street magi among his pupils. No one really knows why he does what he does but the haters think he is building up some kind network of loyal pawns while most everyone else thinks he's just trying to turn the dimmer towards bright. Regardless, he seems to work hard to be on the good side of things and might just be that lone light in the shadows in an otherwise dark cityscape.
Specialties: Introductions, Magical goods
Friends: Almost everyone
Enemies: None
Rival: Lucifer Whittcomb

TruSight
Dwarf Hacker
C: 2
L: 4
For TruSight paranoia isn't a way of life. It IS life. Constantly lurking the matrix for the latest conspiracies, TruSight datamines for hours. What does this mean for the residents of Portland's shadows? Well it varies. Sometimes TruSight can analyze and exploit a AAA firewall and sometimes he can help explain why the real power behind the corporate court are all the double A corps pulling the strings at the behest of their sapient octo-lizard masters. Usually on Long haul, sometimes on Cram, TruSight is always looking over his shoulder. Hard to contact at the best of times, flat out hiding under a rock at others, when TruSight doesn't want to be found, you will be hard pressed to even find his decoys.
Specialties: Information, Hacking
Friends: none that can be trusted
Enemies: THEY'RE EVERYWHERE

Vox
Troll Rigger
C: 2
L: 5
Vox is a gearhead that revels in the smell of new tech. A rigger by trade and a hacker on the side, this ork makes his money by building, importing, customizing, and outfitting drones and decks. If this troll could help it, he would never leave the RCU but alas he has to occasionally tend to his unwieldy meat body. While he is technically an independent in the shadows, Vox has closer relations with the Steel Sentinels than most due to their shared interests.
Specialties: Decks, Drones
Friends: Samantha Gallway
Enemies: None

Bob the Crackhead
Dwarf Crackhead
C: 1
L: 6
A wise man once said "crackheads can get into anywhere." Bob is living proof of that. He will do anything for a quick fix... ANYTHING. He has ran naked through downtown Portland. He has sucked cock. He has robbed liquor stores. He has run naked through the Ares arcology main entrance lobby and tackled security guards. He has fought a pack of ghouls with a broken bottle and a fistful of rat teeth. He has been found passed out naked on the 15th floor of the federal courthouse. All for the low low price of whatever fix you have on hand. He also seems to be nigh unkillable. He has survived 17 overdoses (that have been witnessed in public), been tasered an uncountable number of times, fallen out of windows, been thrown into the Willamette with concrete shoes, been stabbed by ghouls with a broken bottle, and had a fistful of rat teeth fired out of makeshift blunderbuss into his face.  Careful though, he has a habit of making himself at home wherever he smells a fix.
Specialties: Distractions, minor theft, finding drugs
Friends: Anyone with drugs
Enemies: too many to count

Aeaen Eoun
Elf Talismonger
C: 3
L: 2
Aeaen is a minor magical talent with a good assensing ability that has used his skills to sniff out the magical mojo that every caster wants.  He works out of the Night Market but can be hard to track down sometimes as he spends a lot of time acquiring magical reagents and goods.  He has established himself as the alternative to Running Deer and Lucifer for those that really don't want to hear a rant or lecture when they just want to get a foci for their next job.  No one is sure how (maybe it's just the ears or maybe he knows a guy) but he seems to be well permitted with the Tir and rarely gets his shipments seized.
Friends: Not many, he tries to keep things all business
Enemies: none

pringerbeam

Gangs
More locally rooted than syndicates, gangs have pretty good reach in their home turf and some of them have chapters in other cities that they can introduce you to if you play nice with them.  Their leadership tends to be easier to get into contact with than the larger criminal syndicates and it always pays to be in the good graces of the neighborhood gang for information on a locale.  Never underestimate them though, being local means they probably know where you live.  Standard friend include other members of the gang.  Standard enemies include other gangs.

Asrian Talshra
Ancient Captain
C: 6
L: 4 (Note: if not elf, loyalty costs 4x and can't be higher than 1)
The Shadows of Portland just would not be complete without the Ancients. Being the heart of the Tir, Portland has quite the contingent of Ancients. Large enough to rival some of the local organized crime outfits, the Ancients are the biggest street gang in Portland. Don't let their biker gang image and style fool you though, these guys are armed to the teeth (some suspect the Tir gives them surplus milspec hardware on the cheap) and train their recruits to be more than street punks. They say they are better trained than the corp runts in the constabulry and definately have bigger balls. And who, you might ask, leads these pointy eared maniacs? Asrian Talshra. Portland's captain of the Ancients knows the streets of his hometown like the back of his hand and is said to be able to get anything anywhere and his outfit specializes in moving guns and drugs around the Tir and through the northwest in shipment sizes that might surprise you.
Specialties: Guns, Drugs, Access, Side Jobs
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard

Samantha Gallway
Steel Sentinel Head
C: 5
L: 5
The Steel Sentinels started out as a small car theft ring constantly trying to avoid drawing the ire of any of the larger gangs in Portland. However, when Samantha Gallway took charge of the gang, the gang went from a bunch of joyriders to a force to be reckoned with. She decided that maybe the gang should put those chopped up cars to use for something other than the shit cash they were being sold for. After some now famous hijackings of corporate drones the Steel Sentinels grew some teeth. What they lacked in muscle, they made up for with technical skills and guile as they seized territory and built up connections. Now they have made a name for themselves as the go-to-gang for cutting edge tech with drones, cyberware, and decks. If you find yourself with something that needs to have its serial numbers erased and ownership altered, the Steel Sentinels will do it for a price. They are also a good source of forged documents if you find yourself in need of a fake SIN or a license for the deck you probably bought from them.
Specialties: Decks, Drones, Forgeries, Guns, Cars, Cyberware
Friends: Standard, Vox
Enemies: Standard

Jonas Steiger
Cutters Branch Manager
C: 6
L: 4
The Portland Cutters have their work cut out for them. In the heart of Ancients territory they manage to get by with recruiting the help of the non-elves that are discouraged by the privilege the pointy eared fucks garner and there are plenty of those around. The genius responsible for this strategy? Jonas Steiger. A Portland native, Jonas got recruited by the Cutters in college and went back to his hometown to set up shop. While Asrian Talshra can get anywhere with his influence among the elves that run the town, Jonas does the same with all the normal folks that keep the capitol running.
Specialties: Guns, Drugs, Explosives, Smuggling
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard, particular beef with the Ancients

pringerbeam

Syndicates
These contacts belong to a syndicate with far reaching influence and are big hitters in the world of crime. Standard friends tends to include other members of the syndicate. Standard enemies tends to mean other criminal syndicates as well as law enforcement.  They always have work on hand for freelancers but one has to be careful as these organizations tend to try to draw shadowrunners under their own influence and don't usually like it when runners work for other syndicates.  And of course, taking jobs against them is a great way to find yourself on their hit list.


Robert Salvatore
Elf Sottocapo
C: 6
L: 3
The Italian mafia likes to make everyone think that they were the first real criminal lords of North America in every 'plex but that isn't really the case here in Portland. It wasn't until after shit started going sideways that what was once a quaint city got any organized crime syndicates. That is where the Italians came "back". The Portland mafia was founded by mobsters who had actually tried to get out of the game. But when magic came back and the street lights got a little dimmer... well, everyone needs to supplement their retirement fund right? The Portland mafia is ran by Don Lorenzo Fierrie. Robert Salvatore is a Sottocapo under Don Fierrie and is the one that usually deals with the mafia's local subcontracting. He deals with non-family pretty respectably but the family will always come first and he is not above leaving runners flapping in the wind. He is, however, honorable enough to give you a heads up when he is going to drop you like a bag of dog shit.
Specialties: Guns, Drugs, Introductions, Information, Side jobs
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard

Tony Medici
Dwarf Made Man
C: 4
L: 4
Tony is one of the upper echelon of foot soldiers for the Italians.  He probably would have been promoted to a leadership position if he didn't have a sadistic taste for violence and getting his hands dirty that his considerable waist circumference belies.  This actually sits well with the family as good muscle is hard to come by and they keep him comfortable in his position even though word is the Don would like him to step up to leadership.  He is willing to work with non-family if it gets the job done but doesn't put up with people pulling side jobs for other syndicates.  If you can get on his good side, he can introduce you to just about anyone in the family.
Specialties: Introductions, side jobs
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard


Vasei Payeva
Ork Mob Head
C: 6
L: 3
This Russian mobster runs the local Russian mafia and is about as ruthless and vicious as it gets. He lied, cheated, and stabbed his way to the top and no one wants to cross him. The Russians specialize in loans, drugs, and robbery. They are also quite good at smuggling things across international borders and move drugs, people, and weapons at reasonable prices. Despite the aggressive footing that Payeva keeps the mob on, the Russian mob tends to try and stay neutral in street conflicts. Willing to sell their services to whoever pays best, they are often hired out by other criminal organizations and gangs to for extra muscle or to pad out ranks when war is about to break out. Caution is the word of the day though as once they get rolling, they make sure they get compensated, even if it means cutting it out of their employers. Payeva doesn't tolerate traitors, snitches, or anyone that pulls out of a deal and would kill anyone that he suspects of such.
Specialties: Guns, Drugs, Explosives, Smuggling, Side jobs
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard

Bori Lazova
Elf Lieutenant
C: 5
L: 4
Bori in one of Vasei's top guys, partially because he's a close second to his boss for ruthlessness, but also because in the land of the Elves it is important to have a good number of pointy ears around the table to keep the police scrutiny low.  Not that Bori didn't earn his position, he's a major metahuman trafficker in his own right and one of the most unsavory characters of the city's shadows.  Or as Vasei likes to put it: practically blood.
Specialties: Drugs, Side jobs, Forgeries, Smuggling
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard

Huangdi Lu
Elf Triad Boss
C: 6
L: 3
When it comes to the Triads, there is a bit of a stereotype. There are the honorable types, who claim that the triads were founded as freedom fighters and protectors of the people. These guys tend to inherit their positions and usually stay up at the top of the ranks. Huangdi Lu is not that kind of guy. He fought his way to the top from a Chinese ghetto in the JIC where he had to squeeze blood out of stones and money out of debtors to get enough cash and influence to try and set up an operation in Portland. No easy task for a Chinese elf in the land of the rising sun. Once there, he rolled bookies, gun dealers, and hookers to carve his own slice out of the city. These are his primary trades still and most of the guns on the streets come from one of his channels or from someone paying him protection. A surprisingly hands on leader, Huangdi likes to be where the action is if he thinks he will get to knock someone's teeth out. His right hand man is David Chen, a local born troll that does most of the triad's diplomacy.  By fate, conspiracy, or sheer coincidence he has been a constant opponent of Akira Oshiro, and the two have been locked in combat since childhood. At this point no one is sure if the fact that they have yet to kill each other is due to their own great skill or because they have grown into rivals for life and don't know who they would try to kill without each other trying to keep them in check.
Specialties: Guns, Cyberware, Smuggling, Drugs
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard
Rival: Akira Oshiro

David Chen
Troll Triad Lieutenant
C: 4
L: 5
Born into a long since assimilated Chinese family, David Chen didn't have much tradition to go on for signing up with the triads. But when the shit goes down you sign up with whoever you can and when financial strife struck his family's street clinic he found that the fastest way for a troll to earn cash was to sign up as an enforcer. He thought he would do his family proud and sign up with the triads because of all the old movies he saw where they were the hero. Years of leg breaking put somewhat of a damper on his ideals but as he rose up the ranks that old flame was rekindled. Now he is second in command and plays advisor to Huangdi as well as managing most of the smaller business. He is one of those rare good guys in a bad world and mellows out his ruthless boss. Don't underestimate him though, he doesn't mind getting his hands dirty when things don't go according to plan and won't hesitate to put a bullet in anyone that tries to pull a fast on on him.
Specialties: Healing, Cyberware, Surgery, Guns, Drugs
Friends: Standard, Doctor Frankenstein
Enemies: Standard,


Akira Oshiro
Human Yakuza Boss
C: 6
L: 4 (Note: Loyalty costs double for non-humans)
Growing up in the JIS is hard if your family wasn't in the japancorps. Akira learned that if you are not signed up with somebody you get trampled underfoot so it was the Yakuza lifestyle for him. He climbed the ranks and when Tir Tairngire began to open up to the as a potential growth area, it was Akira that was sent to Portland to get a slice of the pie in an area mostly hostile to the Yakuza and most of its principles. He rapidly set up brothels, gambling dens, and drug parlors both above and below board. He grew up fighting in the streets and never lost a taste for it. As such he likes to be on the front lines of most of the Yakuza's operations and leaves most of the mundane logistical tasks to his right hand man Shiro Takeda. Most in Portland tend to confuse Portland's Yakuza and Triad, The fact that their respective leaders are so similar and constantly locked in their bizarre rivalry does not help. In some circles this has become more of a joke than a concern, despite the occasional shootouts between the two which tend to cause a lot of property damage but almost no loss of life.
Specialties: Guns, Drugs, Gambling, Smuggling, Bioware
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard
Rival: Huangdi Lu

Shiro Takeda
Yakuza Lieutennant
C: 4
L: 4 (Note: Loyalty costs double for non-humans)
Loyalty, honor, ruthlessness, fearlessness, top class pedigree, all of these are the hallmark qualities of a Yakuza member and the one member in Portland that has these in spades is Shiro Takeda. Born into the Yakuza back in the JIS, he started with a leg up in the clan and made sure that he deserved it. Exuding an aura of calm and control, he balances out the wild but inspiring leader to which he is subordinate. Runners may "see" Oshiro far more out in the streets, but they will deal far more with Takeda. He makes sure that the when Oshiro and Lu are too busy throwing down that the Yakuza's interests keep getting served.
Specialties: Guns, Drugs, Gambling, Side Jobs, Bioware
Friends: Standard
Enemies: Standard

pringerbeam

Law Enforcement
These contacts are law enforcement professionals of some kind.

Detective Steven Lang
Troll Good Cop
C: 4
L: 5
In a constabulary full of toadies looking for the fast track to promotions and corp punks just riding out their mandatory service, Detective Steven Lang is the anti-bullshit. He's the tough as nails, gritty detective that knows that if you want to keep the peace you got to get your hands dirty. Some runners have a tough time getting a read on how he works. Sometimes he will enlist runners for aid, even point them in the direction of useful bounties. Other times he hunts runners relentlessly. It all tends to depend on who makes his shit list.
Specialties: Bounties, Information, Bail-outs
Friends: Good guys
Enemies: Bad guys

Detective Charles McUlster
Elf Dirty Cop
C: 4
L: 1
There's your dirty cop, and then there's detective Charles McUlster. A cop so dirty two gallons of bleach and a power sander wouldn't get through the grime, Detective McUlster joined up for his mandatory service and stuck around once he realized that he could squeeze everyone for a little extra cash in his pocket AND do less paperwork because of it. From there he only got dirtier. Good news for any runner that happens to slip on this grease stain is that he can be pretty reliably bribed. Bad news is that he could turn on you at any time once he needs to make a token collar and all his other acquaintances have out bid you.
Specialties: Access, Evidence, Bail-outs, Information
Friends: For the right price
Enemies: Cheap people