The Architect of Anarchy: A Cyberpunk Crafting Quest

Turn 5 Results:

-[X] Pay them

You pay them to the tune of 5000 eddies.

And Night City went away, happy for now.

Reward: The Tax man is not coming for your soul.
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-[X]Try to Speak to Kenji: Maybe you have an answer for him. Maybe
--[X]Ask about any chance or way we could stay in Nightcity Rolled:D20 => 19

Kenji's room smelled of incense, the faint trace of sandalwood and something older, something that carried the weight of tradition. He knelt before a suit of samurai armor, its lacquered plates reflecting the dim glow of the room's neon strips. It wasn't ceremonial—it was a relic, something passed down through blood and battle. And right now, Kenji looked like he was preparing for war.

Not with a gun. Not with cyberware. But with conviction.

"Kenji—" you started, only to stop as he lifted a hand.

He finished his prayer, rose to his feet, and turned to you with an expression that was unreadable, save for the intensity burning behind his eyes.

"I—"

"No need to speak," he interrupted, voice steady. "I already know. You wish to remain in this city. You want to fight for what has become your home."

He walked over to his couch, pulled back the cover, and revealed—an arsenal. Not just pistols or blades, but heavy-duty gear. Military-grade. Weapons for a siege.

For… running away?

"I don't know how we can stop my father or mother from just… taking me," you admitted, the weight of it settling in your chest like lead. "I have a neural tracker. They can find me anywhere in the world. I can't hide."

Kenji was silent for a moment, then exhaled, shaking his head.

"Then you don't hide," he said. "You make it so that they can't take you."

You frowned. "What does that even mean?"

He gestured toward the cityscape beyond the window, Night City's endless sprawl of neon and steel. "The only way we stay is if we make ourselves indispensable. Not just to ourselves, but to the city. To the people. To the corps. To the fixers, the mercs, the street rats, everyone."

You scoffed. "And how do you suggest we do that?"

Kenji turned to you, his expression deadly serious.

"To be young and blind to what you truely are… You're a techie, Senji. And not just some two-bit ripper or a scavenger. You have the skill, the mind to create something—things—that can change this city. Maybe even the world. That can make us untouchable."

The words hung between you both.

"You can build weapons. Armor. Cyberware. Something that even Arasaka can't replicate." His voice dropped to a near whisper. "Something that makes them fear you."

A slow realization dawned.

You had been running. Always running.

But maybe—just maybe, it was time to start building.

"Let me help you." He said. "Let me help you be the Ghost you need to be."

"Than what are you my retainer?" You asked.

Kenji smiled. "To the young master… I will be anything he wants me to be."

Reward Unlocked: Mission Actions in Regular Turns

You can now send Kenji on missions throughout Night City—and beyond. Whether it's gathering rare materials, forging alliances, or making a name for himself (and by extension, you), these missions will shape your influence in the city's underbelly and the wider world.

How It Works:

• Kenji will only use the weapons and armor you provide him.
• With each successful mission, your reputation grows, and the advanced economic factions of Night City will start to take notice of your equipment.
• The higher his profile, the greater the opportunities—but also the risks.

Warning:

Kenji can die. His survival depends on the quality of his equipment, tactical preparation, and the choices you make when outfitting him. And you don't have access to other mercenaries yet, so if he dies, missions may be lost for a long time.

Cyberware & Personal Limitations:

• Kenji cannot install cyberware—for now.
• His religious beliefs prohibit it, and Arasaka enforces a strict policy: their loyal men wear only Arasaka-approved tech. So even if he was able too, Arasaka would be holding him back.
• If you wish to change this, you'll need to find a way—whether through persuasion, necessity, or breaking ties altogether.

Choose wisely. The path to power is paved with risk.

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-[X]Maintain the Academy: You are requested to fix something that the faculty is not able to deal with. So here you are. Rolled:D20 => 10

Everything Went to Hell in Less Than a Week.

The fucking principal—the same one who had barely lifted a finger—got promoted. Not because of you. Not because of the blood, sweat, and pure genius you poured into rebuilding the school. No, it was his "stellar leadership." A bullshit title that landed him a cushy dean position at some Japanese institution that would probably chew him up and spit him out within a year.

Not that it mattered.

The check bounced. Any hope of milking him for fraud? Gone.

And then came the new principal—a cruel, power-hungry bitch who walked in like she owned the place, radiating the kind of arrogance only a career corporate ladder-climber could. She saw your work, admired it, and in her infinite wisdom, decided the entire thing needed to be redone.

By you.

Like hell.

You told her to fuck off. You weren't Arasaka's little middle manager. Yet.

That's when she realized something else—if she couldn't control you, she could control others. And so she started cracking down on students, tightening the leash, handing out punishments and demerits like candy.

You walked away with a smile on your face.

She might have been in charge, but you? You were free.

Reward: Successfully handled the new principal and remained free.

For now.
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-[X]Wake up, Go To School, Stay Alive: You are going to focus on your studies. And honestly, you might as well try to make some noise. Mom and Dad are expecting things from you. Rolled: D20 => 11

To think that, for the longest time, you would have preferred being left alone. No responsibilities. No expectations. Just you, your work, and the ever-present hum of your designs coming to life under your hands.

But, honestly? It felt good to be needed.

Not in the desperate, clawing way that the corpo suits needed their bottom lines to look good. Not in the false, conniving way teachers and administrators needed students to jump through hoops to make themselves look competent.

No, this was real.

The students knew it. They saw it, felt it—the shift in power. You weren't just some techie, some misfit scraping by in the shadows. You were in charge.

Not the principal. Not Arasaka.

You.

And watching them come to that realization? It was satisfying in ways you hadn't expected.

You walked the halls, feeling the weight of their respect settle on your shoulders like a well-fitted coat. It wasn't fear—not entirely. It was acknowledgment. They knew where they stood in the pecking order now.

And at the top?

You.

And, damn, that was a wonderful thing.

Reward Unlocked:
You go to school and bask in your well-earned respect.
Your presence holds weight—students defer to you, teachers tread carefully.
For now, the academy is yours.
But power has a cost. And sooner or later, someone is going to try and take it back.


-[X]Surfing with Stella: So Stella wants to have some fun screwing with the Local Arasaka net. you will assist her, maybe you can even help her with whatever she is doing. Rolled:D20 => 16

She stretched out in front of you, her movements lazy, deliberate—like a cat basking in the knowledge that no one could make it move unless it wanted to. Meanwhile, you worked, your fingers moving with precision over your tools, trying to assist her even though you both knew she didn't need your help.

No, she just needed someone to blame if things went sideways.

"Why are you doing this?" you asked, pausing just long enough to glance up at her.

She smirked, tilting her head in that infuriatingly smug way. "What, you don't like that I can crack into high-security systems and look good while doing it?"

You narrowed your eyes. "No, I mean… why do this when everyone knows you're doing it? You've got the skill, the talent. But the motivation? It's not there."

She rolled onto her side, propping her head up with one arm. "Simple. I don't want to work for Arasaka." She flicked her wrist dismissively. "End of story. Unless, of course, you know someone better?"

A slow grin spread across your face.

"How about me?"

She raised an eyebrow, skeptical but amused. "You?" She laughed. "With what money? What power?"

But she didn't say no.

That was all the invitation you needed.

You leaned forward slightly, resting your elbows on your knees as you met her gaze with unwavering confidence.

"My mind, my wit, and my own two hands," you said, voice steady. "That's far more than anyone else seems to have now, isn't it?"

She tilted her head, considering you, her eyes flicking across your face like she was scanning a system for vulnerabilities.

"Big talk," she said finally, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Plenty of people think they're smart, think they've got the hands for the job. But thinking ain't doing, Senji."

You shrugged. "I don't need to think. I build."

She exhaled sharply through her nose, something between a chuckle and a scoff. "And what, exactly, do you think you're going to build that could match me?"

You smiled.

"Something bigger than Arasaka."

That made her pause. The amusement in her eyes dimmed—just a little—as something sharper, more calculating, took its place.

"You're serious."

"Deadly."

She tapped her fingers against the floor, considering. Then, slowly, she sat up, leaning forward to mirror your posture.

"Alright, builder," she murmured. "Impress me."

You smiled. "No stella, you don't get to ask me to impress you, because you already know what I can do… I want to know if you can impress me."

There was no need to negotiate any longer. "deal."

Reward: Gained Stella as an Agent to use on missions. Though it does cost you money, and like with Kenji, she must be outfitted with what equipment you can make to keep her alive.
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-[X]Make Malcom's Gun: You will make it. And it will kill God.
--[X]Rare Components Rolled: D20 + 3 => 20

It was… perfection.

Everything about it was engineered for two things—killing power and adaptability.

The revolver was another .44 Magnum design, but calling it a simple copy would be an insult. It took inspiration from the Smith & Wesson Model 24, sure—but that was where the similarities ended.

This wasn't just another heavy-duty hand cannon.

You crafted it with precision, down to the finest detail.

A shortened barrel for better maneuverability in tight spaces, perfect for quick draws and close-quarters combat. A break-action mechanism—because reloading needed to be fast, seamless, efficient. And underneath, a laser sight, calibrated to razor-sharp accuracy, ensured that every shot landed exactly where it needed to.

But the real masterpiece?

The ammo.

Every round was a custom load, designed specifically for armor penetration—packing enough power to punch through reinforced plating without losing velocity. You had tailored the powder mixture to maximize stopping power while keeping recoil manageable. It wasn't just about brute force—it was about efficiency, about striking exactly where it hurt most.

And for the special rounds… well… you made sure he would never never run out.

And you didn't just stop there.

You made sure he had everything he needed, speed loaders, plenty of them, ensuring that reloads were near-instantaneous. No wasted motion. No fumbling under pressure. Every second counted, and you had accounted for them all.

This wasn't just a weapon.

it was a masterpiece of gunsmithing.

And as you turned the revolver in your hands, feeling the weight of your own craftsmanship, you knew—this was the best work you had ever done for someone else.

And Malcom, only said one thing that cemented everything. "Whatever you need. I'll be there."

Reward: Created Masterwork Handgun, The Last Argument. The Perfect 44 handgun for the modern age.

Gain Malcom as a Mercenary for you to use in Mission turns. For the first five missions he is on, he will not need to be paid anything.
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-[X]Ghost in the city: You want to look into the Rumors and legends of the city. You want to see if there is any truth to some legends. Rolled:D20 => 3

Kenji stopped you. "Now is not the time to be gathering around in rumors and fairy tales and legends.

There is only the here and now that we must maintain what we need."

He looked to the design you had created. "So go forth and make a weapon worthy of your talents."

Failure. Kenji stopped you.
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-[X]Create a Custom Design: You will make a wonderful ne design that no one ever has seen before. (Goes to Design Miniturn)
--[X] A submachine gun based on the historic Thompson submachine gun.

(Continued in Design Turn 2)