Digital Higanbana (Lycoris Recoil x Cyberpunk Quest)

Those were the words that every Lycoris agent held onto, a reminder of the peace they ultimately served to preserve. It was through them that the serene veneer of public safety in Kyoto was maintained ever since the end of the Fourth Corporate War. They were the hidden soldiers within a populace, quietly approaching and silencing those who would threaten the image of relative peace within the ancient capital of Japan.

The shadow organization known only as 'Lycoris' was a black operations group, one whose existence could never be made public. Its operatives were orphan girls, often from those whose families had been service of the local government, who were then put on specialized regimen and training program from a young age to become talented assassins for their country. Then they were given cybernetic implants to further their abilities on the field, and distributed into a variety of roles both on the field or behind closed doors.

Make no mistake, Lycoris was certainly not a kind or charitable organization. It turned those young with aspiring futures into stoic patriots, prepared to kill their fellow countrymen if to maintain the image of public peace in Kyoto. Yet it could be argued that it is through their sacrifice that those on the side could live in happiness and content, free from the dark realities which plagued this world. It was an argument that even the operatives, also called Lycoris, struggled with themselves even as they showed no hesitation in maintaining the public peace.

Some insisted that it was necessary to kill for their nation, a civic duty they were chosen for. Many others simply saw it as a way to repay the government for raising them, a sort of odd filial debt that would be fulfilled when they reached adulthood. Indeed, that was something directly promised to the girls, that they would be freed of the organization and given the necessary civilian papers when they became 18, the closest sort of thing to a retirement a Lycoris could hope for.

Yet it was so hard at times to believe it because few ever lived that long. In a world where dangerous cybernetics could be applied by backstreet ripperdocs, every encounter could prove to be a fatal one with a rampaging Cyberpsycho. That was not to even mention the proliferation of black market guns, a way around the legal ban of private firearm ownership, meaning that it still was possible for unsavory actors to lay their hands on dangerous weapons that could kill even the most augmented Lycoris. It was in short a dangerous life, one that meant not every girl would ever grow up.

But still they persisted. They stalked, they hunted, they killed, again and again. For the sake of Kyoto, for the sake of public safety, for the sisters they have bonded with. The spider lily bloomed on the dark road they walked amid the people, disguised as regular schoolgirls. For too many of them, the very same flower would bloom on their grave in the near future.

For the lucky few, the flower was tucked into their hair upon graduation from the program.

You were looking forward to that, as your eyes fluttered open to stare at the blank white ceiling. You maintained the gaze for a little while, your head spinning while you tried to remember your last few memories. Almost immediately, you winced at the ghostly ringing in your ears.

"They've set the bomb, we don't have much more time! All units, advance now!"

"My partner's down, please, I have to get to her!"

"You have your orders, if we don't defuse that explosive in time, even more will die!"

"Everybody, get back, we can't crack-!"

Then there was the distinct sound of an explosion going off and that was all you recalled. You gritted your teeth and felt your nails press into your palms, the bitter taste of failure still in your mouth. That emergency operation had involved every single senior Lycoris, thrown them against an unhinged gang supported by Arasaka tech of all things. Many of them had been looking so eagerly to graduating soon.

Now, maybe you and a few others were left with such a stinging defeat to mark the end of your careers.

It felt wrong, to have all the killing you had done over the years to save lives to become so invalidated with one maniacal act.

While you laid there stewing in memories, a familiar voice finally spoke up through an intercom system. It was the Doctor, as you called him, the MedTech you were assigned to for healthcare and cybernetics. "Good morning, Lycoris. How are you feeling?"

"Like hell."

"I see. I do apologize, but you know the drill about medical debriefs, we have to verify you. Please provide your agent identification code."

"Juliet 702."

"How old are you?"

"17, going to be 18 in a week."

"Where were you born?"

"Where else? Kyoto."

"What was your academic performance like? What department did you belong to?"

"Slow down there, give me a moment. It's been a while since I've thought about my schooling." You sighed and massaged your temples, casting your mind back to the training lessons that started you on the path of being a Lycoris. "Let's see, I was this kind of student…"

Choose two characteristics you excelled in

[ ] [Excelled] Empathy (+2)

[ ] [Excelled] Cool (+2)

[ ] [Excelled] Reflexes (+2)

[ ] [Excelled] Body (+2)

[ ] [Excelled] Intelligence (+2)

[ ] [Excelled] Tech (+2)

Choose one characteristic you flunked in

[ ] [Flunked] Empathy (-2)

[ ] [Flunked] Cool (-2)

[ ] [Flunked] Reflexes (-2)

[ ] [Flunked] Body (-2)

[ ] [Flunked] Intelligence (-2)

[ ] [Flunked] Tech (-2)

Choose which department of Lycoris you belonged to

[ ] [Department] Street Agent: You were a typical Lycoris agent, roaming the streets in hunt of those who would threaten Kyoto's public safety and taking them out quietly. You are one of the most involved in fieldwork, with plenty of onsite investigation and direct operations.

[ ] [Department] Cyber Agent: You were assigned to work as part of Lycoris' Netrunner department, perhaps as a guard or one of the Netrunners themselves. You often worked with both hardware and software, focusing on the cyber war for public safety.

[ ] [Department] Cleaner Agent: You were the part of Lycoris that dealt with cover ups, either from that from other agents or tragically of other agents themselves. You helped secure and clean crime scenes to scrub them from public image, or helped grimly with the burial of other girls.

[ ] [Department] Private Agent: You...actually never belonged in the regular Lycoris hierarchy. You still were a member of the group but for one reason or another, you went and did your own thing independent of direct oversight. It ultimately served the interests of the organization to leave you be and you kept it that way by being an unexpected source of aid from time to time.

- The characteristics are each broken down as the following;
Empathy: A measure of how relatable and personable as a human, to get others to see things your way or appreciate your presence. Examples: Charming others to your side, bargaining for prices, or putting on a performance.
Cool: A measure of how focused you stay while under pressure, to remain calm in danger or maintain confidence. Examples: Sneaking about restricted areas, finding alternate paths, or silencing unaware opponents.
Reflexes: A measure of how fast your body moves to your thoughts, to engage in combat or react to danger. Examples: Firing a pistol, using a sword, or driving a vehicle.
Body: A measure of how strong your body is to exertion, to resist succumbing to pain or moving in spite of exhaustion. Examples: Swimming a distance, running at lengths, or enduring concussive trauma.
Intelligence: A measure of how learned your mind is, to recall details in total or utilized software. Examples: Executing a program, researching a topic, or cooking the books.
Tech: A measure of how good you are with technology, to craft together devices from parts or put hardware to the test. Examples: Fiddling with cybernetics, working a lockpick, or tailoring custom explosives.
- Stats wise, you start with 10 in all so a +2/-2 isn't a huge modifier (especially with a d100 system), but there are further options to change that more later on. It also affects what sort of personality or attitude you have to things. As an example, being good with both reflexes and body while having bad empathy means you are focused more on pure action than wasting words (in short, Takina from the show).
- I binged all of Lycoris Recoil and had this really weird idea it works so well in a Cyberpunk setting. Here's a go with it! You will recognize a lot of terms/references from the RPGs, but I'll probably lean heavily into homebrew content for the setting.

Name:
Anzai Yuuki

Age:
18

Affiliations:
Lycoris Graduate

Base Stats
Empathy: 10 (Base) +3 (Triumph) +1 (Minerva Optics) +1 (Alan Eyes) = 15
Cool: 10 (Base) +2 (Education) = 12
Reflexes: 10 (Base) = 10
Body: 10 (Base) -2 (Education) -3 (Disaster) = 5
Intelligence: 10 (Base) +3 (Triumph) + 2 (Linked Assessment) = 15
Tech: 10 (Base) +2 (Education) +2 (Role) = 14

Skills
Body Language (E): Rank 2 (+4)
- You can read simple and obvious gestures.

Streetwise (C): Rank 1 (+2)
- You still are relatively new to the streets.

Driving (R): Rank 3 (+6)
- You're a decent driver behind the wheel.
Pistols (R): Rank 6 (+12)
- You can reliably land shots with your pistol.
SMGs (R): Rank 6 (+12)
- You can hit a target with most of a burst from an SMG.
Shotguns (R): Rank 6 (+12)
- You can blow most targets apart with your shotgun.
Melee (R): Rank 1 (+2)
- You can swing a sword at a training dummy. (Progress 1/2)

Geology (I): Rank 3 (+6)
- You've seen your fair share of interesting stonework.
Botany (I): Rank 6 (+12)
- You've got a good hand when handling plants.

Electronics (T): Rank 3 (+6)
- You know how to follow the instructions to install a screen.
Repair (T): Rank 6 (+12)
- You have a deft hand at repairs and can fix most common issues.
Cooking (T): Rank 1(+2)
- You prefer using a microwave to cook.

Cyberware
Minerva Optics: A proprietary Lycoris software attached to the optical cyberware that directly tracks and reads the body language of designated targets with incredible detailing. This feeds into a program that quickly analyzes and predicts the target's next moves, allowing for one to even theoretically predict when they will fire a gun at the user. This is most effective at close range, where the detailing system will have the most to work with. Effects: +1 Empathy. You will have an Empathy-based chance to evade bullets at close, short, and normal range. The chance decreases as the distance increases. Alan Eyes: The chance of evasion increases with your knowledge of Body Language.

Linked Assessment: Lycoris authorizations enable for direct connection to local police servers to access their profiling system, providing a wealth of information about local citizens. This is combined with access codes to public camera systems to enable for indirect trailing of identified targets alongside updating profiling programs. Effects: +2 Intelligence. Provides active profiling for characters, revealing a depth of information about affiliations, crimes, bounties, and more. Alan Eyes: The profiling system will now alert you about a person's personal talents and capabilities.

Model 6b (Left Arm): A rather generic and corporate cyberlimb that is meant for an easygoing day-to-day lifestyle. But just because it was made with office life in mind doesn't mean that isn't surprisingly well-made, including a number of access ports and plugs for whatever customization one so desired. Effects: None.

Pistols
Pistols are the universal backup sidearm for any encounter on the field, being easy to carry and conceal while having excellent ammo efficiency. However, that is all that can be said for them.

Assault
Assault Rifles cover excellent standardized firearms that are often the mainstay of any armed force. They tend do well in all categories, but don't usually excel in a single one as a result.


Melee
The advent of boosterware and other cyberware has enabled classic weapons to suddenly return to the fore, being now more viable against a gunman when one can dodge or even deflect bullets. They're perfect for getting up close to neutralize any weapons advantage an opponent might have, along with being a hand backup should the roles be reversed.


Armor
Lycoris Schoolbag (Armor 1): What appears to be a regular schoolbag at first glance is actually a treated bullet-resistant gadget, one that provides you with ammunition while acting as an emergency shield. It is rated to survive small-arms fire, but higher calibers may just punch straight through.

CURRENT BANK ACCOUNT
11,300 eb

RENTALS
Shophouse - Kamoh Gardens (1600 800 eb per month)

PAYROLL
Futai Erika (Employee Agent) (250 eb per month)
Morales Hinata (Kaori Employee) (400 eb per month)

"During the examinations, I scored highest in working with technology, and working in the shadows." The ghost of a smile crossed your face. "I almost failed the physicals though. Almost."

"There is no almost- you either pass or fail a physical," The Doctor idly noted and you shrugged.

"Still, it was enough to bench me from being a more active member. I think they were considering putting me through Netrunner training to see if I was more suited for that. But in the end, I was instead assigned to the Cover-Up Department," You recalled with a tilt of the head. "Apparently my ability to understand things quickly while observing from the shadows made me suitable to act as a Cleaner Agent."

"Please describe what a Cleaner Agent usually entails."

You frowned, feeling like this particular examination was doing every single optional question. You sighed, but knew that giving the straight explanation was the quickest way to get this medical exam over with. "A Cleaner Agent is a Lycoris tasked with making sure that we truly leave no traces of our presence. If the regular members act as scissors to prune the garden, we are who clean up the debris to make sure it remains clean. We are essentially the ones who delete our presence in passing."

"How would you achieve it so?"

"We are put on standby the moment a threat is identified. Once an avenue of elimination is determined, we are rushed to the scene while those already present commence the operation." The word felt sterile on your tongue, a blase way to describe a Lycoris in the field approaching and assassinating a would-be criminal. "When we reach the scene, we immediately get to work packaging bodies and disruptions while cleaning the scene. Idly, we would have wiped all traces of the operation within an hour for minor regular encounters."

"How about major encounters?"

"The difference is that we are usually already on the scene when the operation begins then. We may not be as experienced as those who regularly patrol the streets, but we still are Lycoris," You firmly insisted with an intense look. "We can still fight, and we help secure the perimeter from enemy reinforcements in such cases. Afterwards, it's business as usual with clean-up and scrubbing the scene, though it understandably takes much longer now."

"Is that all?" The Doctor pressed and you bit your lip, recalling a ghastlier duty of Cleaner Agents.

"We are also tasked with disposal of assets following clean-up, upon return to our base. For our opposition, it is a simple matter of incineration following confirmation of identification details. For…" You faltered for a moment, then gritted your teeth to push on through. "For our fallen, the process is more detailed. We take time to pay respects while either erasing or removing Lycoris cyberware from them. Then their bodies are cremated."

There was a long pause, perhaps the Doctor generously allowing you a moment to calm yourself. Maybe he understood that every Cleaner Agent has at one point or another had to handle a fallen Lycoris, making sure that their sacrifice was never forgotten. Finally, he spoke, moving on to the next topic. "Please describe in detail what your specific role was in the department. You may as well go into detail about prominent moments in your service history."

"I suppose you want my best and worst moments on file. Very well, if I recall correctly…"

Choose a department role and two skills to excel in
-[ ] [Role] Restoration: You were the one who directly went onto battlefield afterwards to tidy everything up. From wrapping the fallen in bodybags to collecting brass to even repairing bullet holes, you were like the groundskeeper for Lycoris. (+2 Tech)
--[ ] Driving (R)
--[ ] Botany (I)
--[ ] Geology (I)
--[ ] Electronics (T)
--[ ] Repair (T)

-[ ] [Role] Cover-Up: You were the one who helped secure the area from further intrusion by curious or nosy civilians and bystanders. You helped spread plausible stories to have them shrug and move on, while also deleting all evidence that Lycoris was once there. (+2 Empathy)
--[ ] Persuasion (E)
--[ ] Streetwise (C)
--[ ] Electronic Security (T)
--[ ] Composition (I)
--[ ] Forgery (T)

-[ ] [Role] Autopsy: You were the one with the grim duty of disposal of assets, both foreign and Lycoris. You tried your best to balance duty with respect for the dead while working to make sure not a single piece of the organization's secret cyberware leaked to the public. (+2 Intelligence)
--[ ] Body Language (E)
--[ ] First Aid (I)
--[ ] Biology (I)
--[ ] Diagnose (I)
--[ ] Cybertech (T)

Choose a highlight of your career
-[ ] [Highlight] Scene Erasure: Just when you had thought you had cleaned up a scene pretty well, a gang of all things shows up looking for their assassinated associates. You led your colleagues in drawing them in to assassinate them, dirtying the scene once again. (+3 Reflexes, +3 Cool)

-[ ] [Highlight] Lycoris Lifesaver: Just when you had reached for a fallen comrade, you realize with shock they were actually still alive, but not for long! Your timely realization and emergency aid saved their life, and you were appropriately honored by your colleagues for saving a sister. (+3 Empathy, +3 Cool)

-[ ] [Highlight] Riot Fighter: A cover-up went badly for one reason or another and instead incited a civilian riot that tried to push in to see what was happening. You were at the front of the defense effort, withstanding and holding back the crowd from discovering the activities of Lycoris until the situation defused. (+3 Empathy, +3 Body)

-[ ] [Highlight] Perfect Cover: There was a massive Lycoris operation that caught the eye of the public and threatened to blow the organization's cover. You alone were the only one who came up with a cover-up story sufficient enough to spin it away, earning you no small amount of respect from the higher-ups at your creativity. (+3 Empathy, +3 Intelligence)

-[ ] [Highlight] Cybernetic Forgery: A piece of Lycoris technology was somehow leaked and got on the black market, a disaster...of your doing. You successfully created a fake variant of Lycoris technology with the approval of your higher-ups and the organization purposefully leaked it to create mass disinterest in the organization's 'shoddy' cyberwares. (+3 Cool, +3 Tech)

-[ ] [Highlight] Reborn Flower: During a regular cleaning, a group somehow managed to ambush your team and cut you down, taking the others hostage. You managed to fake your death and pull yourself together long enough to not only send an alert but to also take on the group by yourself to save your colleagues. (+3 Reflexes, +3 Body)

Choose a disaster of your career
-[ ] [Disaster] Failed Story: Unfortunately, the cover-up led by you drew more attention than normal from the public eye and Lycoris was forced to cease operations for a while to remain hidden, much to your shame. (-3 Empathy)

-[ ] [Disaster] Leaked Cybernetics: You failed to thoroughly wipe a piece of Lycoris technology and it fell into unsavory hands, necessitating a special operation to retrieve at great cost. (-3 Tech)

-[ ] [Disaster] Scene Contamination: During your duties, you accidentally tainted a piece of vital intelligence that wasn't retrieved properly. It was a mistake that earned censures all around, with you taking a lot of blame as well. (-3 Intelligence)

-[ ] [Disaster] Blood Nausea: There was a particularly bloody firefight that resulted in a mountain of bodies on the scene and you couldn't handle it, losing your stomach in front of so many others. The humiliation stuck with you for a long while. (-3 Cool)

-[ ] [Disaster] Surprised Runner: While cleaning up a scene, there was an intrusion from a passing Edgerunner and you were given orders to eliminate them. But they drew quicker than you and put you out of commission, the stinging failure of defeat giving you shakes of the hand. (-3 Reflexes)

-[ ] [Disaster] Booby Trap: You were shifting about a body when there was an ominous click. Then you woke up in a medical bed with half your body riddled with shrapnel from the detonation. You never could recover your old strength. (-3 Body)

- You will get all the listed skills of the role you pick, but the two skills you mark out will start at Rank 6 instead of a normal start of Rank 3. It's a difference of a +12 vs +6 bonus to your skill rolls, and you are considered a "employable" with those specific skills. Skills range from 0 to 10 and each level gives a +2 bonus to rolls. At Rank 3, you're an enthusiastic dabbler. At Rank 6, you can probably get a job from this. At Rank 9, you're considered a professional, if not one of the best in the field.
- These will be the last basic stats, but not the end of skills (we still have combat skill options that you get by default/can choose)