Isis Igiri, Intrepid Reporter (A to Z, I)

Today, we bounce back to a Shadowrun or cyberpunk-themed character, though she could fit into most modern games or even earlier if there is a space for mass news and investigative reporters (which some women were doing even in the 19th century).

Isis Igiri, Intrepid Reporter

Quote: Can you speak to me on the record?  Or will this be from an anonymous source at the company?

Why, certainly, Mr Mathews, I would be happy to get those files for you?  And some coffee too?

Description: Isis is a woman in her mid-twenties, fit, but not exceptional in build or height.  When she lets herself be, she can be quite pretty but she has also mastered the art of professional blandness, appearing as just another corporate drone or bystander and vanishing into the crowd.  She is of mixed ancestry with darker skin, black hair and dark brown eyes, but the eyes are cybernetic and can change color as needed, she wears her hair short so she can easily fit a smart wig over it, and is a master of makeup to change her appearance.  In other words, you see the Isis that she wants to show you.

Her personality is equally mutable, when being herself, Isis is sharp, quick to ask questions seeking clarification, and always on the lookout for the opportunity to puncture pompousness with a sharp barb or deploy a clever pun.  But when blending in, she will embody the corporate culture she is in, being as active as she can be and always trying to draw people out and learn more about what is going on.

Needless to say, when she can be herself, Isis tends to dress flamboyantly and is happy to stand out.

Background: Isis was born into a solidly middle-class lifestyle; her parent worked in corporate subsidiaries and it was a nice life.  She received a good education, but by her early teens, she was enamoured by news and news reporting.  She worked on the student paper, took AP classes to prepare her for college, planning on a journalism track.  Everything was going well.

Until she overheard something by chance in the locker room, followed it up with much diligent research and investigation, and exposed the football coach for using neo-steriodal enhancers on the team.  Careers were ruined and she was bounced from the school, it was a corporate-affiliated high school and it had no place for those who did not toe the line.  However, a teen Matrix magazine NewStar, and distant subsidiary of Horizon, saw her potential and hired her directly.  She leapt in with both feet, becoming a reporter and soon moving into undercover work which turned out to be her strength.

She shows up on the Stellar Report, a Matrix news magazine, every few months with Isis Investigates.  She has revealed food adulteration, faulty cybereyes, and a variety of other examples of corporate malfeasance.

Presenting this Character: So much of how to present Isis depends on in what context she is encountered.  If she is encountered while she is working undercover, she is likely to simply be seen as office drone number 27.  She is probably more likely to notice an infiltrator than the other way around, as she has learned the rhymns of the office and what is expected of the staff and employees.

What can she do?:  She is a master of blending into any organization and leading conversations to reveal the information she is looking for.  She can match her style to any group and change that quickly if needed.

Isis is a competent hacker though she does not use a cyberdeck but once she is given access to a system, she is excellent at subverting it.  Her knowledge of surveillance systems and how to avoid them is also excellent (a vital skill if you are infiltrating corporate facilities).

Isis‘ combat skills are all focused on defense and evasion; she is not interested in hurting people any more than she needs to to get away. She is good with less lethal weaponry and is a good shot with a taser.

Who might know her and why: Those who work with or for the news media may have heard of Isis.  As would people who worked in corporate branches that had secrets were exposed by her reporting.

Isis has been building a network of people with specialized knowledge and skills to help her understand various information she comes across in her investigations.

Plot Hooks: During an infiltration mission, one of the corporate drones looks at you and winks.  What do they know?

A recent news report has roiled a corporate office you have been hired to hit.  Maybe you should talk to the reporter and find out what they know.

Your fixer has an odd offer, someone wants to speak to you about a recent mission.  They are willing to pay for your time and you do not have to mention what you did or who your were working for, but what you saw in one of the areas.  Easy money?

Notes: I feel the media side of Shadowrun often gets neglected but I try to bring it into my games when I can.

Oh, I should have gone for Intrid Investigator for maximum alliteration!