Art and Con--Art

[Dabblez]

This is the write up of a recent South Rubi-Ka Society adventure.
The adventure itself tells about how the simple operation of collecting a painting from a courier at Omni-Ent spaceport and depositing it at an art gallery in trade is turned upside down by the intervention of one skilled con artist by the name of Matisse.

Because of the number of people and incidents involved it wouldbe hard to provide a full account of the story. I will present
the most streamlined of versions here. Any of the characters involved should feel free to add a more subjective account of the events should they wish to.

Many thanks to all the players involved.

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Premise:
The Society has been behind a project to bring back to Rubi-Ka a painting by celebrated Borealis artist, Tinka. The painting in question, "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe avec Leets", was sold to a off-world private collector more than 20 years ago.

At the time the sale was viewed as controversial. "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe avec Leets" was seen by many as the start of a new typically Rubi-Kan school of painting (the "Avec Leet" movement) and as such should stay on Rubi-Ka.

The South Rubi-Ka, in association with Omni-Manufacturing Rubi-Ka, Anderton Consulting and numerous private individuals have raised the funds to bring this work of art back home to be exhibited at the Modigliani Art Gallery in Omni-Trade.

Adventure Summary:
Getting wind that the Dejeuner was being sold for 7.5 million credits, Matisse, a small time con man and forger decides to make a play for it. With a little misdirection he makes the Society representatives in charge of collecting the painting (namely Ehrynn, Equestra, Specchio, Skybert and Sightsee) believe that their appointment with the courier has been moved. Matisse then impersonates the courier at the fake meeting, trading Society representatives a forged version of the Dejeuner for very real credits.

Meantime the real courier, not seeing anyone at the appointed meeting place, proceeds directly to the art gallery and hands the genuine painting to Modigliani, the gallery's curator.
Modigliani advises the courier go to the Society's offices to get his money, which he does.

The party arrives at the gallery. Specchio proudly presents Modigliani with the forgery. At the same time Savoy places a call
the the Society's private channel asking why the courier is with her and not them, and more to the point where have the 7.5 million credits gone. After a general moment of confusion, the reality of what must of happened becomes clear to all involved.

At that point, Specchio, who had been long suffering from sleeping deprivation issues, falls ill. As luck would have it Dr Luxurea is in the neighbourhood. She is invited into
the art gallery to take a look at Specchio. He explains to heer how he has hardly sleep at all in the past few weeks, so much so his law practice is suffering from it. His nights are filled with a
recurring nightmare which involve a little girl he cannot quite place and which none of the prescription drugs he has tried are able to suppress. But that is a tale for another day.

The rest of the party spread out, looking for Matisse in all the usual places in order to get their money back. As they visit popular spots like Rompa's, the recruit friends to help in the search, like Ghump, Jaggors and Bonefish.

Eventually Matisse is tracked down to Neuter 'r Us in Newland. Matisse is apparently drunk, however party mange to force him to cough up credits. On closer inspection however these the
credits are also fakes. Matisse is stopped by the party before he manages to creep out of Neuters.

Matisse now drops all pretence of being drunk and is forced to show the party where the real credits are hidden. Even as he digs out the stash from the Newland Junkyard, Mattisse tries to negotiate a 50/50 split of the credits to no avail. He yields the genuine credits to the party then, making the most of a momentary distraction, leaps over a low wall, and before the party can react, loses himself in the crowded Newland backstreets.

[____________Bonefish]

And if I'd had more time I'd have ventilated 'Shorty' Lupoh's forehead into the bargain, let some of that hot air out.


Garret "Bonefish" Silvestrini
Director - SPARTA
Director of Operations, OTSEC

Founding Member of the Omni-Tek Security Council

garret.silvestrini@ot-sparta.org
www.ot-sparta.org

[_____________Jaggors]

I still can't beleive Matisse got away like that while he was standing only a couple of feet from us.

/me walks away shaking his head

[Dabblez]

Well obviously Matisse had stashed the loot in a place from which he could make a speedy exit :-)

[________________Tuxx]

Ohhhh, I wished I had been around to help .