GM: Evil Mike, Cruel Silver Tongued Devil
Samuel Smythe (Steve): Occult Branch, Polish National, The Healer
Baltasar Magnusson (Owen): Operations Branch, Swedish, The Lindquist/Forger
Cyrus Lowenstein (Ben): Operations Branch, American, The Ladies Man
Nick Harmon (Mike): Occult Branch, American, Combat Psychic
We had known for a while that the Russians were up to something at the Wroclaw Art Gallery. They were somehow going to pass on sensitive information using paintings. We had obtained one of the paintings and discovered the hidden code within in the painted shades of the art work. Although we couldn’t decipher the code, we did have a fair idea when the paintings would be handed over to the buyer or buyers. The Wroclaw Art Gallery Gala was happening in just a few weeks. International buyers from all over the world would be there. We’d be there too.
We obtained a couple of invitations to the Gala. Our plan was simple. Agent Smythe (and a date) would attend the gala as himself. The Russians already knew agent Smythe and would be watching his every move. Meanwhile, Agents Magnusson and Harmon would be disguised as waiters. They would be searching for persons of interest. Agent Lowenstein would hack into the surveillance cameras from outside and provide valuable identification information. Agent Lowenstein disguised himself as a bum and took up residence inside a trash dumpster located at the side of the gallery.
As the diversion, Agent Smythe was extraordinary. The man known only as “The Russian†tracked Smythe’ s every move, thus keeping him from noticing Magnusson and Harmon. Using some previous intel, Magnusson followed an exotically beautiful women to a smaller gallery. As luck would have it, Agent Lowenstein identified this woman as “Willowâ€, a Chinese operative looking to defect. Magnusson used all of his training to ignore Willow’s hints and direct commands to leave. This paid off.
Soon a group of men were seen heading to the same gallery. Agent Harmon stealthily followed. Smythe also followed but was noticed by The Russian. Smythe used a little of his power to cause the lights to go out so he could stealthy follow Agent Harmon to the gallery. Agent Lowenstein identified the men as known operatives from Italy, Israel, and the United States. Each was escorted by their own pair of armed goons.
…and that’s when the “shit hit the fanâ€.
As Smythe stealthily followed behind Harmon, he drew his machine pistol…which went off with a mighty cascade of bullets that nearly hit Harmon. (Yes, I critically failed my Stealth roll.) The goons at the end of the hall took up positions to protect their charges; firing their guns in our general direction. To add to our difficulties, Russian agents from within a secret room exited into the gallery shooting everyone, including Willow.
Bullets were flying everywhere and no one was sure just who was on what side of the battle. Willow was in grave danger. Knowing that we needed to extract her, Magnusson concentrated on getting her to a nearby elevator. Harmon overpowered the Israeli operative and used him as a bullet shield against the Russians. That ended well for Harmon. Not so well for the dead Israeli.
Lowenstein reported that the Russians had captured my date and were moving her out of the building. She was innocent of everything that was going down and was terrified out of her mind. Lowenstein left his post to save her. We were still in the middle of a firefight for our lives. Fearing more Russians Magnusson called for the doors to the gallery to be locked shut. Unfortunately Lowenstein was already heading to the front of the building (pushing his hobo shopping cart.) We somehow managed to get everyone in the elevator without Agent Lowenstein’s help.
Out front, Lowenstein opened up on the two Russians holding my date. One went down; the other pulled a combat shotgun and nearly killed Lowenstein. We were all betting on the Russian at this point. Before Lowenstein could do more than bleed all over the sidewalk, the Russian killed my date and ran off.
We all escaped will Willow. Unfortunately the U.S. and Italian operatives cleaned out the coded paintings and disappeared into the night.
Our handler, Mr. Myster was not happy.
Agent Smythe