II. MARCO DE REFERENCIA
2.4. Variables
Posted by: Man-of-Many-Names
I have confronted numerous magical threats and dire evils in my life. It is not without a small amount of satisfaction that I state we may rid one of them from this Earth, if not completely then for at least a considerable amount of time. Th e shedim are a destructive force intent on the eradication of life. However, there is no dominant force combating them the way Ares took upon itself the role of battling insect spirits. In fact, there is a conspiracy afoot to sustain and abet their evil because it suits the political or other purposes of those in power. Th is is not simply limited to the Shades, as they are referred within the UCAS military, but similar alliances in South America, Australia, and the Middle East.
>
I should also add that Professor Horatius von Neurath, Dean of Heidelberger University and a high-ranking member of the Dr. Faustus Society, still engages in his own dealings with them.>
Winterhawk>
That is a problem with a very obvious solution.>
EthernautTh e good news is that aft er the Watergate Incident and the closing of the Rift, there have been no new shedim sightings, nor incidences of shedim being summoned from their home plane. One year on, it seems that the Rift was in fact the tether bridging their world and ours, and so all others matters aside Ghostwalker’s actions benefitted metahumanity greatly be severing this connection. Th is fact has emboldened many a spirit
TRICKL
E-DOWN
EFFEC
TS
. . .
Colloton over a number of issues aft er their mutual opposition to Ghostwalker provided an opening, and word is that her alliance with the shedim is among them. Perhaps that was also why Johnny Spinrad, now one of Domingo Ramos’ close allies, was meeting with General Ben Miller, the Director of Magical Security. Given their friendship with Aziz al-Shammar in Arabia, it would not be out of the question that the Azzies are advising Colloton on how to fl ip the alliance as al-Shammar did with Ibn Eisa a decade ago. However, the Shades are a component of their magical security strategy to confront Ghostwalker and other dragon operations because of their unique abilities and outlook.
>
To expand on the discussion MoMN and I had, the other problem is that Evan Corcoran has President Colloton over a barrel because it is almost certain that she has personal knowledge of the Shades and this deal with the shedim. After the events in Denver led to a loss of most of her political capital and many allies’ seats during primary season, the last thing she needs is to have this fact unveiled in public. It would be interesting to see how this plays out given her public enmity towards Ghostwalker. If it harms her and turns public opinion against her saber-rattling, then I could see his agents engaging in actions that would reveal this truth as well as making a preemptive attack before they become any sort of threat to the Great White Wyrm. On the other side of the fence is Lofwyr with his own immense hatred of Ghostwalker. I could easily see DeeCee becoming a proxy battlefi eld between the two dragons over shedim—a threat no one else in the sprawl wants there.>
Kay St. Irregular>
Now that Zebulon has returned, Lofwyr is not the only great dragon that would support these “Shades” to injure Ghostwalker.>
Frosty>
I know that I’m out of the loop on things, but as I understand it JackPoint has known for a year or so that a major pol in DeeCee is a master shedim, and hasn’t done anything about it?>
Puck>
Don’t look at me. I defi nitely see Corcoran as a problem with a 20mm HEAP solution.>
Ethernaut>
When did you become an expert in AMRs?>
Red Anya>
It became necessary after years spent hunting spirits like this one. Regardless, Puck, I think you should drop it.>
Ethernaut>
Indeed.>
FastJackAs it relates to dragons, it seems that many of them understand the kind of threat that shedim possess, but only a few have been willing to act upon it. Aft er the revelation of Ibn Eisa’s nature was revealed, it became clear why Aden was so hostile to some NIJ operatives. He was supporting the Jihad, but rooting out the hunter, especially groups like the Dark Brotherhood and the
more aggressive demon hunters in the Sylvestrine Order. Th ere has also been a diminution in suicide bombings and other attacks by the New Islamic Jihad that were able to exploit the abilities of the shedim, and Islamic Renaissance Movement sorcerers have been seen teaming up with 10,000 Daggers, Kurdish, and some freelance Spanish-speaking mercenaries to hunt them down.
>
I will confi rm that this is indeed true. I should also mention that there are others in the shadows of Eurasia that have been taking the fi ght to these monsters, led at the vanguard by the N’drangheta Family.>
Goat Foot>
You would think they’d be more concerned with Alamais turning GeMiTo into a charnel pit.>
Stone>
You fi ght the fi ght you can win.>
Black Mamba>
So Ibn Eisa is still out there?>
Bull>
Yes. He and Sayid Mujtaba Musawi are still lurking in the shadows of Arabia or possibly Iran with their undead servants. The NIJ has lost many followers who resented being used as tools of Shaytan, but while there is no shortage of groups looking for them, fi nding a living source has proved immensely diffi cult.>
Goat FootWhile the shedim have plenty of enemies, they have a significant ally in the UCAS military. Likewise, the New Islamic Jihad has not disappeared. It has simply regrouped and is still attempting to destabilize the region from the Maghreb to the Lout. Th e shedim also wield infl uence within the Apep Consortium thanks to the machinations of Evan Corcoran. Th ey have repeatedly cooperated with various toxic shamans, especially so-called Sterilists like Absolute Equilibrium. Th ere are also many freelance bug hunters and other bounty hunters who have worked with these shedim in confronting insect spirits, blood mages, and certain other types of magical threats where the ideology of warping life confl icts with the desire to eradicate it.
>
The only things in the Lout are Black Scorpion camps. Oh …>
Thorn>
There is another Sterilist named Rasa who has probably collaborated with shedim. He was a Red Samurai mage who by all indications is even less relatable to people than the most alien synthetic intelligence.>
Puck>
Let me take a wild guess how you met him.>
BullAs Kay has explained the politics to me, it seems that some of these alliances are not stable. Aztechnology has been leaning on
TRICKL
E-DOWN
EFFEC
TS
. . .
1) Did I mention that there’s lots of money fl oating around? Saeder-Krupp has an angle here. Ghostwalker has an angle. Aztechnology and Aztlan have an angle. NeoNET has an angle. Th e UCAS and CAS have their own angles. Get the picture? Lots of people with lots of money have things they want to get out of this brewing confl ict, and any runner worth their salt should know that part of our job is to fi gure out how to give it to them. Th ere is money to be had, and you shouldn’t be sitting around your dive waiting for your commlink to ring. Go out there and fi nd it.
2) Paranoia is up. Yeah, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be the runner screwed over by a dragon, but someone is going to be that runner, and everyone is a little worried that it’s going to be them. People are making an extra eff ort to ensure that whoever they’re hiring or working with is on the up-and-up, so you may have to go the extra mile or submit to a higher level of scrutiny than normal. You should be willing to be accommodating, but you don’t have to be stupid. I’ve heard tell of some operatives asking any teammates they don’t know to hand over a material link as an assurance of security. I hope I don’t have to persuade you that you shouldn’t ever do that. Anyone asks for that, just walk away. And if you decide to ask for a link, get ready for the person across the table to punch you in the jaw.
Also, don’t accept a cut in pay. Some Johnsons feel that’s what you should do to make up for the risk of working in these times, but that’s bullshit. Don’t let them act like they’re taking on all the risk. As always, the risk in shadowrunning lies squarely on your head. If anything, you should be asking for more in this climate.
>
Look, we have to manage our risk somehow. I know it’s not fun for runners, but those are the breaks. Professionals deal with it.>
HannibelleSo what can you provide? Well, references are always good. Make sure your personal network is in good shape and willing to say nice things about you—rep is as important now as it’s ever been. Also, while you shouldn’t accept less money, you can be fl exible about payment terms. Tell Mr. Johnson you’ll do a piece of the mission for a small cut of the money. Show them you can be trusted, and the fl ow of money will start to build.
>
If you don’t have a good reputation now, it’s too late to start building one. But if you have one, cash in. Call in your chips. Have your fi xer introduce you to other fi xers. Make some hay, because for you, the sun is out.>
Riser3) Borders might change. Nations are going against each other and so are corporations, and some of those blows are going to land. Cultivate your sources on the ground of wherever you’re going, and make sure you have the most up-to-date info about who owns what. Especially watch out around the CAS-Aztlan borders and anyplace that has anything to do with Denver.
4) Someone is going to try to grab power. When powerful people go at each other, oft en they lose pieces of their power. Even if they don’t, there’s at least the perception that such a loss might happen, and people are lining up to fi ll the vacuum. Th at means that wherever you are, some up-and-comer is gathering resources, building a network, and taking steps to make himself or herself shedim as a greater threat that could not be as easily manipulated.
Likewise, Lofwyr has a similar motivation in destroying them as a threat to his attempts to unite the Middle East under his control. Hestaby’s sponsorship of the Astral Space Preservation Society also makes her a threat to the shedim. Th e stability of free spirit- metahuman relations is at stake, and there is also the matter of shedim seeking spirits and other ways to access their home plane through other metaplanes using spiritual knowledge. Likewise, Arleesh’s global hunt for tainted artifacts and telesma would seem
to bring her interests into confl ict with the shedim. While they cannot make contact with their plane, there are numerous stories of magical items that could help re-establish the tether between this plane and their own. As has been mentioned before, there is the story of the Spirit Flute. Additionally, the celestial navigation devices that were sought and fought over last year are still out there somewhere. I have also been informed of a young mage who allegedly discovered an object he referred to as the Astral Star—yet another metaplanar navigation object.
Th ese shedim are not passive, however. Dragons are as much of an enemy as insect spirits and others. Some of the objects being sought are in dragon hoards, but there are also reports that shedim have sought simply to raid and destroy materials in dragon lairs with special emphasis on memory crystals and stores of draconic knowledge and lore. It is not enough to merely destroy life, but to destroy all knowledge of life and our mutual histories. Such crystals certainly would match that criterion, but also special projects such as the Library at Alexandria, Masaru’s pet project, or Schwarzkopf ’s Great Library in Prague.