Shadowtrot

The year is 2070. Equestrian society thrives under the control of powerful world-spanning conglomerates known as Megacorporations. These entities fight for the business of the average consumer online, at the storefronts, and even within their homes. However, beneath the shadows the megacorporations secretly wage war with one another using deniable assets called Trotters; mercenaries specialized in the arts of espionage, sabotage, and extraction.

In the bustling port city of Seaddle, the shadows run deep. A down-on-his-luck street doctor throws caution to the wind and enters the deadly world of Shadowtrotting. Here he could make his fortunes, or find his end. Trotters can come from all walks of life; go-gangers, crooked cops, runaways, military vets... but this former medic might find that they have more in common than they realize, and just maybe, a little friendship will help everyone see that even in the shadows there can be light.

Chapters (4)

Chapter 1: A Light in the Shadows · 5th Sep 2016 · 13,728 words
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Chapter 2: Just a Trot in the Park · 21st Feb 2017 · 7,667 words
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Chapter 3: Life of the Party Crasher · 4th Nov 2017 · 15,272 words
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Chapter 4: The Storm After the Calm · 12th May 2019 · 10,512 words
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Comments ( 12 )

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Forum Explorer

Forum Explorer #1 · Sep 7th, 2016 · · · Chapter 1: A Light in the Shadows ·

So you did end up using Doc in another game then?

Digodragon

Digodragon #2 · Sep 26th, 2016 · · · Chapter 1: A Light in the Shadows ·

7546131 No, Doc wasn't in a previous game. This story is loosely adapted from a Shadowrun campaign I ran years back. Some of the original campaign story wasn't used because the players used their agency to move the focus to another plot, so here I will tell the tale as it was originally meant to be.

JackAnarchy

JackAnarchy #3 · Jan 30th, 2017 · · · Chapter 1: A Light in the Shadows ·

Really interesting world you've set up here. Although I'd recommend a Mature rating if you intend to go full cyberpunk.

Journeyman

Journeyman #4 · Feb 21st, 2017 · · · Chapter 2: Just a Trot in the Park ·

Shadowrun.

Oh, right in the eighties.

Theoboldi

Theoboldi #5 · Feb 21st, 2017 · · · Chapter 2: Just a Trot in the Park ·

Another really enjoyable chapter. Can't wait for the next one.

Sent you all my criticisms per PM, as per usual.

Limedog

Limedog #6 · Mar 14th, 2017 · · · Chapter 1: A Light in the Shadows ·

The reply took an unusual amount of time to return. “Tripped alarm hacking cop’s computer. Gotta jet.”
“Damn it, Ghost! You can’t just leave us!” Doc angrily responded.
“Sorry.”

*twitches a bit* Well, if that's not a familiar situation, I don't know know what is.

“-did you leave the doctor?” Jackie asked Manco.
“Who?” the zebra replied.
“The doctor,” the pegasus repeated.
“Who?”
“The-” Jackie realized the joke and punched Manco in the shoulder. “Ass.”

I see what you did there.

So I believe you said before (and I mean, like, forever ago, during a phone conversation) that you were pulling inspiration from the old Shadowrun campaign that you ran. Where was the Ian Dalton influence?

Limedog

Limedog #7 · Mar 14th, 2017 · · · Chapter 2: Just a Trot in the Park ·

Alright, so if this is gonna be anything like the Shadowrun game you ran when I was still your roommate, that means this next mission should involve guarding a fixer meeting...

Daylight slowly faded to orange as Doc arrived at Kerry Park. Rush hour traffic slowed the bus down and it was nearly four o’clock. His HUD lit up with a message about the park’s hours today and what facilities were available. There was a note that the main pavilion was rented out to a ‘private party’ today, a sure indication that he was in the right place.

Check! Now we just need a flustering Ian dealing with a pushy Renaldo...

A galloping stallion snapped Doc’s attention to him. The blue unicorn wore a heavy trench coat, had a greased-back mane, and had several little personal effects of feathers, beaded jewelry, and a gaudy hoop earrings on him.
Doc closed his eyes and muttered the incantation to activate his magical sight. His green-glowing eyes saw an extra-bright aura that connected between the unicorn and his personal effects. It was unmistakable.
‘Uh oh, he’s a mage.’
He quickly blinked a second time to turn off his effect before the unicorn, or anyone else, noticed it. Doc took a step back into a defensive posture once the unicorn arrived in front of him.
“Stand aside, Equestrian,” the unicorn warned. “I am late to my meeting.”
Doc gulped down the saliva in his mouth and stood his ground. “My apologies, friend, but I cannot allow anyone else inside.”
The unicorn’s demeanor soured quickly. “What?! You will let me through! I am Renaldo, the most important fixer in all of Seaddle!” He attempted to shove his way to the pavilion’s front door.
“I ain’t budging,” Doc countered with an outstretched hoof to push back. He tried to sound firm, but some of his nervousness was heard in his voice.
Renaldo’s horn lit up. Doc was seized around his collar by the unicorn’s magical telekinetic force. The fixer was angry on a personal level. “You. Will. Move!”

Double-check! I see Doc gets to be Ian in this situation, but Renaldo's just... Renaldo. Now we just need further pressure from Super Joe as he goes a wee bit crazy(er)...

“Excuse me!” a voice above them called out.
They both looked up at a zebra that slid off the angled roof of the pavilion and land beside them. Doc immediately recognized him--Manco! Slung over his shoulder was a compact assault rifle. The zebra held up his weapon non-threateningly to the fixer.
“My friend here told you to scram. So, either you turn around and walk away, or I’m going to have to get rough,” Manco warned. “And to show you how serious I am, I will take you down without the magazine clip.” He removed the rifle’s ammo clip and then cycled the chamber.
The distinctive ping of the ejected round on the concrete floor was followed by Manco’s wide grin and unwavering stare. Doc himself found the zebra’s smile to be pretty creepy.
Renaldo was agape. He lifted a hoof... then lowered it. Without a further word, the unicorn turned around and walked away quietly.

Cue Manco! This is almost a play-by-play of what happened during your Shadowrun campaign. Now we just need Ian and Blackwolf taking down the two crazy ganger bikers spewing out flames and...

In response the gangers ignited a secondary gas tank on their bikes and then shot out fire.

The gangers circled around to line up side by side. The revved their engines and charged straight toward the two Trotters. Sirens whispered in the distance, but grew louder. Shouts and screams were drowned out by one another. Doc realized he never did ask exactly how much he was being paid for this crap.
“How’s your aim?” he asked Rita.
“Good,” she responded. “I mean, I could hit one of them. Probably.”
“Okay, you shoot the left one, I got the right one.”
Doc took in a deep breath and chanted as fast as he could to form a tight bolt of magical energy between his forehooves. He flung the spell at his target’s motorcycle as hard as he could muster. Beside him Rita fired three shots from a pistol at her target.
The bullets connected with one ganger’s shoulder, followed by the magical bolt hitting the other’s bike. The motorcycle on the left drove on without its rider while the rider on the right kept going without his motorcycle. It ended in a haphazard tumble of riders and bikes over one another. Bother gangers remained on the ground with serious wounds.

You even got in the random drone demonstration!

Mykin

Mykin #8 · Nov 26th, 2017 · · · Chapter 3: Life of the Party Crasher ·

Well that was a fun little adventure, though I can't help but think Switch got the better end of the deal with all those eclairs she must have snagged on the way out.

And dang, I hope Doc and Mirror can mend their relationship with each other. I mean, she did run away from home so the whole leg breaking thing shouldn't be an issue anymore. Unless, you know, he recognizes Doc just as easily as Mirror did in that disguise of his and decides to break his legs for essentially crashing the party. Or for being near his daughter....

Look, Doc, all I'm saying is that you're a Shadowtrotter now! Broken legs are the least of your concerns in that line of work! Just ask anyone who makes the mistake of crossing Aztechnology!... Ok, bad example.

Southern Wing