This adventure works best with a cyberpunk-themed campaign, but can be worked in, as a side adventure, when any group of characters visits "the big city".  My thanks to Mike for granting permission for me to host his revised version on my web site. -Kevin Clark - Apr. 7th, 1998.

Introduction

They say Rock and Roll will never die.  That may be true, but rock and rollers do die.  The music biz has always been cutthroat, but lately the metaphor has become a reality.  Rumor has it that some of the major labels have been threatening independent bands to get them to sign.  While there isn't any proof, the grapevine says that a major corp was behind the "riot" that killed off that up and coming independent band Cygnus.  My job is to see that no unfortunate accidents happen to my band.

Background

This adventure begins with the PCs walking in an urban area.  The adventure can take place on Earth or one of the more urbanized worlds.  They will see a young woman struggling with a man and a woman.  The pair is trying to force her into a waiting ground car.  The young woman is dressed in a somewhat outlandish outfit and is resisting the two with the aid of an electronic guitar.  If the PCs ignore the incident, they will see a report of her death ( drug overdose) in the news the next day.&

Attackers: If the PCs interfere, they should be able to drive the two attackers off.  If the attackers are captured, they will say they were hired to find the young woman and bring her to a abandoned warehouse.  If the PCs investigate the warehouse, they will find it empty, but there are signs of a hasty departure by a small group of people.  The two attackers are two-bit muscle, and do not know anything who hired them or why.

Damsel in Distress: If the PCs save the young woman, they will find her very talkative.  She will tell them that she is in a band and that her band has been threatened by certain corporations in the past and that she thinks the corporations have stopped being polite.  She will also tell the PCs that a few other successful independent bands have been threatened and at least one band was killed by a faked riot.

Bodyguards: She will then tell the PCs that she was impressed by the way they handled "those two little problems back there" and will offer them a job as bodyguards.  She will explain that they will only be in the city for one concert and could use protection in the hotel and during the concert.  And, if things work out, she might be willing to hire the PCs for their tour.

Approach

Hotel: The PCs will be brought directly to the hotel by the young woman.  If they want to get their equipment, she will ask them to pick it up later.  The band is staying at a luxury hotel and have the entire eight floor of the building.  This should indicate to the PCs that the band is doing remarkably well.

While the PCs are being introduced to the other members of the band, a corporate hit team will attack.  They will enter via the stairs and attempt to kill anything on the floor.  They do not expect the band to have any weapons or any guards, so they will be quite surprised to see the PCs.

Limos: If the PCs and the band survives the first attempt, the PCs' next job will be to guard the band on the way to the concert.  The band is traveling in three ground limos.  The trip to the concert hall will take 20-30 minutes, due to the crowds near the concert site.  The PCs will have to keep the fans from tearing apart the limos and the band members ( and themselves).  There will be an attempt by another hit team to take the band out somewhere along the route.

Concert: When the limos arrive at the concert site, they will drive around back and the band members will head into the dressing room.  The PCs are supposed to secure the area.

Half an hour after their arrival, the band will be up on stage playing.  The concert will last approximately for hours.  There will be one attempt on the band during the concert.

Protecting the band during the concert will be difficult.  The concert area will be packed with thousands of people and fans will be rushing towards the stage constantly.  Naturally, it would not be very pleasant for the PCs if they gunned down a few fans by accident.

Maps

Hotel Map

The hotel is a small luxury hotel with doormen and so forth.  It is tastefully decorated with all sorts of valuables.  The band has the entire floor and the elevators only stop on the floor if instructed with a special electric key.  The fire doors also only open from the inside.  The map only shows the interior rooms of the wing the band and PCs are staying in, not the rest of the structure.

• 1-8. Rooms: These are double rooms.  Each is equipped with two beds, desk, closer, bathroom, and so forth.  The band's road crew is staying in these rooms.
• 9-16. Rooms: These are single bed rooms and are more luxurious.  The band members each have a room as do the managers, press agents, and so forth.

Concert Map

The concert area is a large outdoor structure and is used for everything from concerts, to ballet, to political debates.

• Parking Lot: Part of the parking area.
• Gate: The ticket gate.  The gate is carefully designed to prevent a crowd from rushing through it.  This feature is intended to avoid people being crushed to death by crowds.
• Stands: The areas where people sit to watch the show.
• Stage: The performance area.
• Dressing Rooms: This building houses the dressing rooms.
• Control: This tower rises over the stage and houses the controls for the stage lights, sound system, special effects and so forth.  It also has a camera system that can be used to scan the crowds.

NPCS

• The Band: Six Novice ( for combat purposes) NPCs.
• Roadies: Eight Experienced NPCs.
• Others: Three Novice NPCs.
• Attackers: Two Experienced NPCs armed with Arno Five Fifteens.
• Hotel Hit Team:
  • Two Veteran NPCs armed with Traylor Model 57s and SG-77s.
  • Two Experienced NPCs armed with SG-77s.
• Limo Hit Team:
  • One Songbird equipped with a MG-7.
  • One Veteran NPC armed with a Stracher P-11mm and the MG-7.
  • Two Experienced NPCs armed with Stracher P-11mms and SG-77s.
• Concert Hit Team: One Elite NPC armed with a Mueller-Rivera F-19.

-Michael C. LaBossiere

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