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Message no. 1
From: Glenn Robb <GLENNROBB@*******.NET>
Subject: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 08:36:50 -0600
I'm Finished with my fourth, and final draft. And here it is.

SALT LAKE CITY

CITY OF LIGHT, CITY OF SHADOW

We don't have the same problems as other cities do, although we do have
shadows.
— Kenneth P. Scow, Council of Elders


The Information in this chapter is excerpted from Fromor's Guide to the Ute
Nation and Salt Lake City: 2055. The author gratefully acknowledges permission
to reprint these sections on Salt Lake City.

Though it is no longer a city of the United Canadian and American States, Salt
Lake City is a vigorous city that is now the Vatican of the Twenty First
Century. Today's Salt Lake City spreads from the Great Salt Lake to the
northwest to the Wasatch Mountains in the East and to the Oquirrh (Ochre)
Mountains in the West. Surrounded by the Ute Nation, Salt Lake City is an
independent City State which has been recognized by the Ute Nation, Tir
Tairngire, and UCAS. An appeal for recognition is still pending to the United
Nations. On a side note, Salt Lake City is the Spiritual Center of North
America.

GETTING TO SALT LAKE CITY

For the rich or Corporate Traveler, Salt Lake City has been rated as one of
the best places to do business in the World, lately. Regularly scheduled
flights arrive and depart daily to and from the Salt Lake International
Airport. Customs check-in is efficient, but the patron can expect a delay as
contraband is checked for. Clearing the airport after arrival generally takes
about an hour and a half. The Salt Lake International Airport boasts a very
low rating for violent incidents.

The Salt Lake International Airport has been capable of handling trans-orbital
flights to other major airports since the Council has expanded the airport in
2040 A.D. Service in this area is not regular and very expensive.

The Ute Nation has sanctioned two old Interstate Highways as ways to get into
Salt Lake City. These are I-15 and I-80. Both highways are maintained by the
Council of Elders in the City. Travel outside the routes prescribed by the Ute
National Government is not recommended, although access to Park City is granted
by the tribe of Elves that rule there. The Ute Nation maintains the sovereign
right to restrict access to all lands under its governance. The Ute Nation
border and highway patrols around Salt Lake City are armed and magically
active, and act under the principle of "just cause."


GOVERNMENT

Salt Lake City is governed by a council of elders, appointed by the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A theocracy, the Council of Elders has the
right to enact laws and govern Salt Lake City independently of the Ute Nation.
Under the Council of Elders, the rights of the citizen are maintained: such as
the freedom of choice, the freedom of the press, and the right to bear arms.

The usual Salt Lake Citizen has more freedom than can be expected under the
system, but the laws are similar to the laws of the Ute Nation, except for laws
against public drunkenness and other considerations (Game Note: See NAN volume
I, pages 40-49 for more information). However, the president of the Council of
Elders is the President and Prophet of their Church, who is a Troll by the name
of Harrison B. Salter.

The law enforcement is handled by a government-sponsored police force in
Downtown Salt Lake City, and the sprawls of Taylorsville, Sandy, Kearns, and
Draper. West Valley City has enlisted the actions of Lone Star Security
Services, Inc. And Magna has no appreciable law enforcement.

All citizens are subject to an income tax that equals ten percent of their
income. Visas, travel passes, transit fees, business licensing fees,
donations, and funding from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
make up the rest of the City State's income base into the Salt Lake City
Corporation. The City State uses these taxes and funds to contract for
essential services from private corporations. Some of the primary services and
their contractors are:
Police Services: Lone Star Security Services, Salt Lake Police Department
Fire Control: Jefferson, Smith, and Associates, Inc.
Sanitation: Various district contractors
Public Works Maintenance: Envirotech, Inc.
Public Data Base: Aros Matrix Systems, Inc.
Grid-Guide System: Sony Tech
Power Grid: Geoelectric Corp. (Ute Nation), Solar Power and Light

(>) That looks almost like a tax paradise to me . . . In the UCAS we pay 33%!
(>) Garvey

(>) I didn't kn . . . No, I'm not even going to bother saying it . . .
(>) Isham

(>) Yes, and the Government gets more money than it can handle since it's a tax
percentage that applies to everyone, rich or poor.
(>) Paradox

SALT LAKE CITY'S DEFENSE FORCE

Salt Lake City maintains it's own defense force, using the old Air Guard Base
for air defense and the Camp Williams Military Reservation for land defense.
The Salt Lake City Defense Force is also magically active, but quite small.
However, for some unknown reason, the Ute Nation is afraid of this defense
force. The defense force is recruited and trained locally: mages and shamans
who join the defense force are allowed in and do get magical equipment. Any
citizen of Salt Lake City may join.

"We need all the help we can get," said Defense General Angus Z. Robb.
"Mages
and shamans do provide a little insurance in case we were attacked by a
surprise attack."

Salt Lake City, located in the heart of the Ute Nation, often depends on the
Ute Nation for stability. However, the Air Defense Division has two Ares
Dragons and ten Saeder-Krupp Hornets and Yellowjackets for patrol. They even
maintain two Stealth Bombers bought from UCAS. Land Defense Division has about
twenty personnel carriers , six Panzer tanks, six divisions of infantry troops,
and two Special Ops Forces. A mage corps. is also in the Defense Force.

The Defense Force is activated by executive order from the Council of Elders
to defend the city, handle states of emergency, and often to keep order when
riots break out (which is seldom). However, the cause must be "a just and an
emergence situation." At any time, the President of the Church of Jesus of
Christ reserves the right to call back the Defense Force when the Cause is
unjustified.


VISITOR INFORMATION

Any traveler who wishes to go outside City State limits must apply for a Visa
from Salt Lake City Corporation. They may also apply for a transit pass from
the Ute Nation's Council Lodge, where the Salt Lake County Building was. The
pass and the Visa allow the traveler to travel through Ute National lands, and
if necessary, either the Sioux Nation or the Pueblo Corporate Council. The
transit pass is a red ticket issued by the Utes in their embassy and are good
for a limited time. A Visa is necessary to travel out of the City and into
other countries.

Any visitor seeking employment must apply for a Work Seeker's Permit at City
Hall. This permit is good for a limited time. A visitor may apply for
citizenship at City Hall after he has found work and a place to stay. The blue
Work Seeker's Permit is quite similar to the bright blue and red citizen's
identification card. They have red tape and will accept payments to the
holder, minus the income tax.

Corporate Cards, either blue or green, are honored at all legitimate
enterprises throughout the city's jurisdiction.

MEDICAL AID

Some ten hospitals, including the prestigious University Hospital, serve the
Salt Lake area, all of which are linked through the EmergencyAlert™ system. A
variety of independent corporations operate as well, offering choice of care as
well as overflow capability in case of a disaster. The DocWagon™ is a seldom
sight, unlike most other cities.

(>) This is very interesting. Hospitals run by a city that cares about
(meta)human life -- I bet they're much better than the ones you get in Seattle,
where they check your credstick before your vital signs.
(>) Bullfrog

(>) Exacto Mundo, Bullfrog.
(>) Paradox

(>) I'm in the money, I'm in the money . . .
(>) The Neo-Iconoclast

LEGAL AID

Legal Advice and Representation are handled by either the Salt Lake Legal Bar
(SLLB) or the North American Defense Guild (NADG) at the following numbers:
Salt Lake Legal Bar
General Public: 555-AID-5
Special Hotlines
Divorce Advice: 800-DIV-ORCE
Orks and Trolls: 800-ORK-TROLL
Native Americans: 800-LAM-ANIT
NADG
General Public: 555-LEGAL
Special Hotlines:
Orks: 800-555-ORKS
Elves: 800-555-ELVES
Native Americans: 800-555-TRIB

(>) So if I'm an ork wanting to divorce a troll, I can dial any one of three
numbers?
(>) Not The One

(>) Just the Divorce Hotline if you want advice from the Salt Lake Bar.
However, if your looking for advice from the National Attorney Defense Guild,
you can only call the Ork hotline.
(>) CyberLawyer

GENETIC COUNSELING

Genetic Counseling is provided by Genowerks, inc. A company specializing in
predicting UEG in fetuses and newborns. They also have perfected the
Maxwell-Krupp Gene Test, specialized in spotting those prone to express into
Troll and Ork form. They have access to the public database of the
Genealogical Library, and can often use it to track the ancestry of Salt Lake
Elves and Dwarves back to the Creation (e.g. the First Ancestors).

PUBLIC DATANET

The Public Datanet is accessed by RTG: NA/UTE-SLC (for game purposes, the Salt
Lake City Matrix has
a security rating of Orange-5). It provides the user with a horde of public
information posted there by corporations and small business along with
individual accounts. Many corporations have matrices, and the Public Datanet
also has Genealogical Information and has a direct connection to the
Genealogical Library Matrix (LTG: NA/UTE- SLC-555-2074; with a rating of
blue-2). Aros Matrix Systems representatives happily guide customers to the
information that they so crave.


EMERGENCY SERVICES

Salt Lake City's police, fire, and rescue teams all subscribe to the
international standard PANICBUTTON™ system. Any Seiko (or compatible) wrist
telecom puts a person in instant contact with the system's central clearing
desk. As in other cities, the PANICBUTTON™ booths are scattered across the
city. It is a local offense to use the system without demonstrable need.

GETTING AROUND SALT LAKE CITY

Salt Lake City has an excellent commuter grid, but is found in Downtown Salt
Lake City and South Salt Lake City. Citizens usually use electric powered or
solar powered vehicles to get from one place to another. Others often use the
SLC Transit System, which includes buses and a monorail system. Still, some
like the feel of a combustion engine and often use vehicles with such
capability. Of course, there are strict pollution laws in effect, notably the
Salt Lake Clean Air Act of 2043. Thus, petrochem vehicles are often held in
reserve for special occasions or business.

Of course, the public road system is well maintained, but often with
inefficient means. Some roads have been redesigned to last, as they are torn
up and relaid down in a series of layovers. Others are maintained like the old
ways in the 20th Century, where construction happens almost every day.

The monorail, which was mentioned earlier, allows commuters to get from
downtown to South Salt Lake, and it is used only by a small amount of the
population. But it has been expanded and refurbished, serving the
International Airport and the Software District which includes such companies
as Renraku, Aztechnology, and Silicon Graphics, Inc. using a magnetic ring
track. But visitors shouldn't expect a delay in receiving a Transit Pass, the
monorail is never filled to capacity.

(>) It's a good idea to know where construction is taking place, which you can
find out from the trid and the radio. Traffic jams aren't exactly uncommon at
road works, so if you're in a hurry you'd do well to take some alternative
route.
(>) Not The One

(>) Did I mention that KSL and other Salt Lake City television stations keep
the citizens up to date about road construction?
(>) Paradox

ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA

Salt Lake City's special events include a Salt Lake Art Festival, where local
artists can display their works, the annual Days of ‘47 Parade and Rodeo. The
Days of ‘47 Parade is the second largest parade in North America, dwarfed only
by the Rose Parade. It usually traffics down Main Street every 24th of July,
celebrating the emigration of the Mormons into the Salt Lake Valley. The Rodeo
goes on a bit longer, and is often held before the Ute Horse Exposition, both
events are held at the Delta Center. Tickets to the Rodeo are sold by the
Smith's Tix network and passes to the Horse Exposition are available at the Ute
Council Lodge. Both are sold three months in advance. Both feature races and
competitions between riders, and at the Exposition, horses are bought and
sold. Both show displays of horsemanship unrivaled in the West.

As for the Delta Center, which is under the wing of Saeder-Krupp Industries,
Inc., it is still the home of the Salt Lake Jazz basketball team, which belongs
to the International Basketball League. Also, the Delta Center proudly
presents the Salt Lake Starz, a woman's basketball team that also belongs to
the Woman's International Basketball League. Franklin Quest Field showcases
the internationally acclaimed Salt Lake Pioneers, a baseball team that belongs
to the International Baseball Association who won the World Series two years in
a row. Recent additions to the Salt Lake City sports teams include the Salt
Lake Ice Breakers, a hockey team; the Salt Lake Mountaineers, a soccer team;
and the Salt Lake Maulers, an indoor football team.

Salt Lake City does have cultured entertainment. The Salt Lake Opera and
Ballet house showcases' opera and ballet, when the Salt Lake Ballet and Opera
Companies effectively performed under one roof. Various plays, from
Shakespeare to Experimental Theater, are performed at theaters around the
city. The Salt Lake Symphony plays regularly in Abravanel Hall, a building
joined to the Salt Palace.

The Salt Palace itself is a convention and events center maintained by the
Salt Lake City Corporation. Salt Lake City is also the home of the most
popular Salt Lake Gate Crashers, which is considered by some as a very annoying
industrial rock band, but the band has regular World Tours. Salt Lake City is
also the New Age capital of the World, with such new age composers and
performers as Harrison Dale Oaks, Lisa Tesh, Jonah Henderson, and Spiritwolf.

(>) What's so special about the 24th of July that they hold a fragging big
parade?
(>) Chrome Agnon

(>) To celebrate our ancestors, our culture, and the day of emigration into the
valley.
(>) Paradox

POINTS OF INTEREST

Salt Lake City is full of points of interest. One of the most notable is
Brigham Young University (B.Y.U.), which occupies the old University of Utah.
BYU is a large facility comprising some of the best research facilities in
North America. The medical school, known as Neal A. Maxwell Medical School, is
the third best medical school in the World: whose standards are dwarfed by
Harvard Medical School in Boston, UCAS, and Cambridge Medical School in
Cambridge, United Kingdom. The University Hospital, adjacent to the medical
school, is one of the most efficient hospitals in Western North America.

The old Utah State Capital Building is part museum, part embassy. It serves
as the UCAS Embassy to Salt Lake City and is open to tourists. The Salt Lake
County Building has been turned into the Ute Nation Council Lodge, and serves
as the Embassy from the Ute Nation. The Tir Embassy is located near Pioneer
Park and is surrounded by trees. The Tir Embassy also acts as a cultural
liaison for Tir Elves that journey to Salt Lake City.

Temple Square, a region of the city sacred to the Saints, is Salt Lake City's
most frequently visited site. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
sponsor regular tours in Temple Square, usually guided by Sister Missionaries.
The square has two visitor centers, North and South, that are open to all
tourists. Temple Square during Christmas is spectacularly stunning, as the
whole square is decked out with lights.

The Triad Center, maintained by Bonneville Communications, Inc., holds tours
throughout its facilities. Renraku maintains offices there, along with a
television station known as KSL.

This is the place Monument commemorates the spot where Brigham Young was
reputed to say, "This is the Place, Drive on!" It has a pioneer village
constructed beside it and actors at the village show what life was like in the
mid 19th Century. Just across the Road is Hogle Zoo. Hogle Zoo shows many
fine animals: both mundane and awakened.

The latest addition to Salt Lake City's growing business district is the
Aztechnology Pyramid. Constructed a little west of the International Airport,
the Aztechnology Pyramid was built similarly to the Pyramid located in Seattle,
UCAS. Tours are rarely available.

The Ute Nation offers guided tours of portions of their lands. Weather
permitting, tours through Orem, Pleasant Grove, and Provo offers tourists to
see the Mount Timpanogos Temple, the Provo Temple, the Ute National University,
and Timpanogos Cave. For the last, it is at the traveler's own risk. The
native guides for these tours are known for their sarcasm.

TRIBAL HOLDINGS

Other than the Ute National Council Lodge, there are no appreciable tribal
holdings in Salt Lake City, although a few Ute Mormons are granted asylum.
These Ute Mormons often have their own businesses and live there without little
problems. The Ute National Council Lodge is open to the public and non-tribal
visitors are welcome. Applications for Citizenship and asylum are often sold
there.

CORPORATE HOLDINGS

Salt Lake City is a hot bed of Capitalism and Commercialism. Profiles of the
many national, international, and extra national corporations with offices in
Salt Lake City are available in the Public Datanet. They include the times, if
any, of facility tours. Most corporations maintain public information desks
and displays of their products at their main offices. There is one thing of
note: in order to maintain the capitalistic atmosphere, the Councils of Elders
maintain the Sovereign Right to break up Monopolies in any form: including the
Interlocking Directorate form. It was stipulated in the Corporate Security Act
of 2053. However, they only use it when the economy is in danger.

SALT LAKE CITY IN THE SHADOWS

Like all metropolitan areas, Salt Lake City has crime, both organized and
unorganized. Contrary to what the World believes, Salt Lake City has
syndicated crime. The largest of which belongs to the Mafia Family, other
syndicates are maintained by the yakuza, the Triads, and Tongs. There are no
Seoulpa Rings in Salt Lake City. They were all apprehended by the police.

Salt Lake City's law enforcement's biggest concern is the Mafia. Although
there are shadow magic shops that have sprung up in West Valley City and Magna;
the Mafia is what the Police is cracking down on. So the Mafia is a discreet
organization that is often involved in Embezzlement and other white collar
crimes.

Since there are no open talismonger shops anywhere in Salt Lake City, there
are shadow magic shops instead. They are illegal talismonger shops that use a
legitimate business as a front. Magical supplies are bought and sold on the
black market in Salt Lake City. The reason for the shadow magic shops is not
just the attitude that the residents have for magic, but there is a fanatical
apostate group known as the Purists that actively hunt such shops and burn them
to ground.

Besides that, there is also a wild mix of independents, ranging from data
pirates who steal data in the name of Freedom, to shadowrunners buzzing low
altitude smuggling vehicles across Ute Territory.

(>) This I find surprising. Criminal organizations like the Seoulpa Rings are
way hard to arrest. You might get a few of them, but you'll never get them all.

(>) Walt

(>) Walt, I think Fromor forgot to mention the Crack Teams of Shadowrunners
that the Salt Lake Police Department uses against Organized Crime. Of course
it wasn't easy, but the Seoulpa Rings in Salt Lake City were more messy than
the other organized crime groups. Those that were left knew that they could
never get around those Crack Teams, so they left for more "Fertile" regions.
(>) Paradox

(>) Which suggests that either someone believes propaganda or disinformation,
the survivors probably just got good enough to slip through the gaps.
(>) Electron Shadow

(>) That's right Electron Shadow. The survivors did slip through the gaps,
even though they were really messy in their operations in our city.
(>) The Neo-Iconoclast


VITAL STATISTICS
Population: 2,000,000+
Human: 52%
Elf: 13%
Dwarf: 2%
Ork: 10%
Troll: 12%
Other: 1%
Population Density: 200+ per square meter.
Per Capita Income: 45,500¥
Population Below Poverty Level: 25%
Persons on Fortune's Active Traders List: 2%
Persons of Corporate Affiliation: 53%
Hospitals and Medical Centers: 30
Means of Commuting to Work:
Internal Combustion Vehicle: 5%
Solar-Electric Vehicles: 20%
Grid-Guide Electric Vehicles: 40%
SLC Transit patrons: 23%
On-Site Workers: 10%
Other: 2%
Felonious Crime Rate: 5 per 1,000 per annum
Education:
High School Equivalency: 52%
College Equivalency: 32%
Advanced Studies Certificates: 10%



PLACES IN AND AROUND SALT LAKE CITY

Salt Lake City has neighbors, from the Shoshone tribal city holdings of Ogden,
Perry, Brigham City and other cities to the north, to the majority of the Ute
National holdings to the south. Places of note are within Salt Lake City
itself and a few towns like Park City.

Bluffdale

This small town at the border of the Ute Nation is home to the revolutionary
Salt Lake Maximum Security Prison. The prison has become a center of
reeducation for inmates instead of a place for confinement. Inside, it looks
to be more like a college or university than a prison. The inmates are taught
several subjects, and if any of the inmates happen to be magicians, they are
allowed to study magic as well. Shadowrunners sent here are often reeducated
by the police force to become part of a special crack unit designed for
challenging missions (re: shadowruns). Other than that, the populace is
surprisingly well versed on Ute Culture.

Draper

Draper is another small town close to the border. It, however, has become a
haven for big business. Surprising enough, the computer industry. The
well-known Micron has moved into Draper and now builds cyberdecks (which are
the equivalent of Fuchi-4, 6, and 7). They also manufacture cybernetic
interface systems and bio-chips. Other than it's cyberdeck operations, Micron
is also a world leading supplier of skill-softs and activesofts.

Another company that makes its home here is the matrix supplier, Novell, which
has bought some of the Microsoft Holdings after Microsoft had sold out to
several companies. Novell supplies Matrix Software solutions to a number of
small and mid-sized businesses around the city state and is a big competitor
for Aros Matrix Systems and Renraku.

Holladay

Holladay is a community of the truly rich. The elite of Salt Lake City
resides in this small village. Of course, there are a number of high class
businesses here, from the Fashion Place Mall to San Francisco Sour Dough
Pizza. Don Callone, a well known Mafia boss, resides here.



Magna

Magna is just really sad. It has become a town where Orks and Trolls live.
Some sprawling barrens are the type of place where one can buy squats at a low
price. Magna was once a thriving town with people who had hopes and dreams of
a better life. Until the Awakening.
About two-fifths of its people soon expressed into orks and trolls when
Goblinization broke out. Others in the region that expressed either found
their way to Magna or left the city. Magna is responsible for most of the ore
mined out of the nearby Kennecott Copper Mine, which in a large part, had
increased Salt Lake City's bank roll and thus boosted its economy. However,
Magna is where the hopefuls from the West go. Seeking a better life, many
Mormons from other parts of North America find themselves in Magna. Magna is
also the home of many drunkards, drug dealers, and some shadowrunners.
However, there is hope for the town.

A proposal to the Council of Elders details a major humanitarian operation in
the small city. The Council seeks to upgrade the small city's education base,
clean out the gangs, and tear down old schools and build new ones. Several
businesses are already in on the act. They are tearing down apartment
buildings and squats and building new ones. Several neighborhoods have already
begun clean up projects. Slowly, Magna is becoming a town that can stand on
it's own two feet.

Midvale

Midvale has grown into a warehouse and small business district. It is also a
breeding ground for some of the Shadowrunners in Salt Lake City. Three gangs
and four urban tribes dominate Midvale and have split up the town into seven
districts. The gangs are: The Reds, the Halloweeners, and the Faux Pas. The
four urban tribes of Native Americans include: The Darkskins, the Sioux, the
Velasque, and the Salt Lake Aztecs. The police and their shadowrunning units
have often infiltrated these gangs and are slowly reducing their power.

Murray

Another district for small business and manufacturing.

Riverton

Riverton is small town of trees and parks that has no interest in anything or
anybody. It's actually quite peaceful.

Sandy

Sandy is both a city embroiled in gang wars and a haven for the rich.
However, the Police Department is cracking down on the gangs in Sandy. Sandy
also has a center for the secular Salt Lake Community College where people can
go for higher education in a wide range of subjects. One of which does include
magic.

South Jordan

South Jordan is a part of one large sprawl, which includes West Jordan and
West Valley City. However, there are areas of wide open spaces that are
totally green which separates the Sprawl from Riverton.

South Salt Lake

This place is a buzz for Shadowrunning. Many of the Big Eight have
constructed offices here. Notably Saeder-Krupp, Inc. Mistuhama, Seratech, and
others. The only Big Eight not included are Renraku and Aztechnology
Corporation. The SLPD is spread thin in this city to contain many of the
ganger activities, leaving the Corps to handle the shadowrunning problems
themselves. A necessary decision. The Salt Lake Community College South City
Campus is located here.

Taylorsville

Nothing of note in this small township except for the larger Redwood Salt Lake
Community College Campus. They have just recently built an Applied Technology
and Magic Center where the old Applied Technology Center used to be. Here they
train cybernetic technicians and tomarrow's corp mages. The Markosian Library
had recently added a floor, a floor dedicated to occult students. This was
necessary. The College Bookstore now sells hermetic libraries, conjuring
libraries, fetishes, hermetic ritual materials and other hermetic and shamanic
supplies quite openly. It has never been bombed.

West Jordan

Except for the area around the Jordan River Temple, the place is just one big
sprawl.

West Valley City.

Ditto. Other than that it is a breeding ground for most of the shadowrunners
in the city. However, a detective agency has taken residency in the Harmon
Building. The place is chock full of shopping plazas and even has a mall.

CULTURAL NOTES

THE MORMONS

This section includes some gaming considerations about Mormons. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints is a non-profit organization that is worth
billions of nuyen. It is the fifth largest church in North America and the
fastest growing church in the world. In fact, due to Israel's recent return to
their roots, the LDS Church is the second largest Christian church in Israel.

The Mormons are a group that believes in the sanctity of their bodies and will
never undergo willful cybernetic augmentation if they can help it. Those that
do under go cyber augmentation do it reluctantly under their respective
company's direction. Also, a Mormon looks different when perceived in astral
space than other (meta)humans. In astral space, a Mormon has a brighter aura
around him.

All Mormon men are in the Priesthood. This priesthood is the main reason why
magic is frowned upon. Mormon women are also more spiritual than non-Mormon
women, even though they aren't allowed in the Priesthood. But Women in the
Church who feel the pull of a totem to magic has a higher chance of going toxic
than the men. This is because of a Woman's psychology, which is, as I
understand it, they can be either totally good or totally bad and hardly ever
in between.

"Polygamy" is actually practiced only by those that lead a high lifestyle and
a life of luxury, which equals about 30 percent of the population. Those that
lead a middle lifestyle and below sometimes feel that they are unable to
support two or more households. The actual term is Plural Marriage and is also
practiced by the Council of Elders and the General Authorities of the Church.

Also, since 1978 the concept of Racism no longer exists within the Church.
Any (meta)human can be a member of the Church. In 1978, black men were
declared to be allowed in the Priesthood. So there are Mormon elves, dwarves,
trolls, humans, and orks and any other metahuman species. Sasquatch, Centaurs,
and other sapient species do not count because they are naturally close to the
Lord, they don't need an organized religion. If racism still existed within
the church, then African elves, dwarves, trolls, orks, humans, and other black
metahuman species would not be allowed in the Priesthood.




Mormons and Magic

Magic is frowned upon by the Church simply because of the Priesthood. The
Priesthood is God's gift of authority to Man and magic shouldn't be practiced
by the faithful. However, some do want to practice magic and they aren't
stopped because of they want to.

Both traditions are tricky. The Shamanic Tradition is especially tricky
because of its nature. Many faithful Mormons are faced with a decision when
called by their totem. For the majority it's easy, they feel the call of the
Holy Spirit is much more powerful and they reject their totem. Others reject
the exhortation of the Church follow the way of the totem. But a precious few
are locked in a morality crisis.

These are the devoted who are called feel that their totem is so strong that
they can't deny both God and the totem. The result is madness. Some of these
former Mormon shamans who go utterly mad became utterly toxic. Others commit
suicide or go into a psychotic fit which takes time to heal by
parapsychologists. The scars are lasting and never fade. Some of the worst
case scenarios are that these toxic shamans often claim to follow the totems of
Blight, Mildew, Decay, and Mold among other saprophytic totems; one even
claimed to follow the totem of Entropy. Fortunately, an insect totem will
never ever call a Mormon. This is because the Mormon is so attuned to Good and
insect totems are to Evil that the Bugs will have no success.

Hermetic mages who were Mormon, however, regard their abilities as talent and
nothing less. They think that their parents do not understand why they
practice magic. And their parents think that they never understand what the
Priesthood is and what it can do for them. However, there are very few evil
Hermetic Mages even though magic is looked down upon.

For both traditions, the conjuring of evil spirits (re: demons), and toxic
spirits are grave sins. Necromancy is a sin that will get the magician
excommunicated. Thus, hermetic mages will only conjure elementals and normal
shamans will only conjure nature spirits. Most will never raise the dead.

Mormons and Vampires

A special Hate-and-you-need-help relationship exists between vampires and
Mormons. Vampires can't stand to be near a Mormon because they are walking
holy symbols. An average Mormon will keep a Vampire at bay because of that
fact. What really repels vampires from holy symbols is the faith behind the
symbol. So, in addition to their faith in God, the average Mormon has a
tremendous amount of faith in himself/herself. Sometimes really faithful
Mormons will cause vampires to either flee the area or evaporate into dust,
after the vampires feel the pain (something like a royal migraine headache).

Mormon Scientists, however, are seeking a cure for the Human-Metahuman
Vampiric Virus. So far, they have succeeded in developing a drug to treat the
symptoms (Essence Loss) of the HMHVV. It has been successful in reversing the
effects of the virus in a large part of the test subjects. The drug they named
Azetine, in homage to the drugs used successfully in treating AIDS, is pending
to UCAS' FDA for approval in the United States. The drugs will only work on
Vampires and not other HMHVV infected critters.

The Mormon Church and the World

A new period of persecution is being wrought against the Church. Many groups
are persecuting the Saints because of their firm belief that they are right and
the others are wrong. It's no longer a question of Science vs. Religion, but a
question of Magic vs. Faith.

Everyone from toxic shamans to magical societies to the Humanis Policlub to
the Japan Imperial State are against the Mormons. The only groups that aren't
against them are the Jews, the Native Americans, the Catholic Church, and the
Dragons.


The Japanese Imperial State has declared that it's against the ideal of Yamato
to be a Mormon because the LDS Church accepts metahumans into the fold, and
therefore it's against the Law to join the Church (a law that is consistently
broken).

The Humanis Policlub had denounced the Church as a "bunch of Metahuman
Sympathizers" and its members have bombed a few Mormon Meetinghouses in their
time. Super-Secret Magical Societies have decided that the LDS Church is a
threat to them and their goals, so they try to target and kill as many Mormons
as they can (Of course, magic always fails so they turned to guns). Toxic
shamans regard the Church as the enemy.

Of the groups that respect the Mormons, the Native Americans respect them all
the more. This is because most of the Native American population has been
converted to Mormonism. Since this includes groups from South and Central
America as well as North America, the statistics are true.

The Dragons respect the Church because of reasons known only to them.
Therefore a deal between a Mormon and a Dragon is always honored, although the
dragon will still try to get the better part of the deal. Still, Mormon
Shadowrunners will never trust a dragon when they deal with one.

The Catholic Church is going through the exact same thing: persecution, and
although the Catholic Church and the Mormon Church believe in different things;
they have something in common. But there are only two places where this isn't
true: France and Quebec. There, the Mormons are tolerated.

The reason why the Jews of Israel respect the Mormons is because of Israel
itself. It's returned to it's mythic roots. Many more Jews have joined Church
because of this, although active proselyting is still denied. So it is the
second largest Christian Church in Israel now. Only the Greek Orthodox Church
is larger. However, Jews have started building their temple and the Mormons
are aiding this project.

GAMEMASTER GUIDELINES FOR PLAYING THE
LDS NPC.

The Average Mormon NPC should always be played strictly in respect to Moral
style. That is, a Mormon will always follow the Law and stand by it, whether
they are in UCAS, Tir Tairngire, or Japan. They are generally honest and
trustworthy. Contacts who are average Mormons would be the Troll Bouncer (in
pleasant clubs), City Official, Government Official, Mr. Johnson, Corp
Secretary, and any other NPC the Gamemaster would deem appropriate.

The Shadowrunning Mormon NPCs are played like any other NPC, except they will
always try to do the right thing. They will pick and choose their Shadowruns
and never get involved with violent gangs or tribes. They will generally not
lie to their associates and even run the shadows if it will help Mankind in
some way. Shadowruning Mormon Contacts include: the Fixer, the Company Man,
the Bounty Hunter, and any other archetype as a contact.

It is easier than normal to perceive a Mormon in Astral space. For perceiving
a Mormon, the target number is 2. For targeting an average Mormon in Astral
Space, the target number is 2. For actually damaging an average Mormon with a
Combat spell use these guidelines:
For Mana Spells the TN# is Willpower + 2.
For Physical Spells the TN# is Body + 2.
This reflects the special aura around Mormons and any Celestial Aid they might
receive. As for damaging Manipulation Spells the rules are the same as in the
book.

Oh, and Mormon NPCs can be of any race. PCs however, can only be
realistically played by Mormons themselves, but they can be played just like
any shadowrunner because Shadowrunning Mormons aren't average Mormons.


> Heh... I know I'm still writing but how you all are going? Is there a
> possibility to see the end of this project someday? :) Keep in mind that
> the nagttw site is still there, ready to accept new submissions and add
> decker comments. Of course the submissions should be as final as possible,
> so, for example, I'm going to put
> online:
>
> New Orleans
> Desert Wars
> Cleveland
> Salt Lake City
> GEMITO
> and what I can extract from an Australian post by matb..:)
>
> Ok for everybody?
>
Message no. 2
From: GKoth2258@***.COM
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 15:02:26 -0400
Um, two things that bothers me right off the bat is the statement that Salt
Lake is the spiritual center of North America. And that it is the Vatican of
the 21st Century. Very bold, partisan statements. I really think you should
tone that down a bit. Say something like Salt Lake sees itself as the
spiritual center "in the middle of a vastness of Sodom and Gomorra that is
the 21st Century -- at least according to the Church of Later Day Saints."

At least think about it, eh?

Erik J
Message no. 3
From: Les Ward <lward@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 15:59:51 -0400
>Um, two things that bothers me right off the bat is the statement that Salt
>Lake is the spiritual center of North America. And that it is the Vatican of
>the 21st Century. Very bold, partisan statements. I really think you should
>tone that down a bit.

Not neccessarily. It all depends on "who" wrote the original text.
Remember, this is supposed to be like a post to Shadowland. If the original
Shadowrun universe poster wrote the thing with bias, then so be it. That's
the risk of relying on shadow information. For example, the whole Tir
Sourcebook was written with definate partisan statements. The shadow
comments called the original "writer" on several points.

Wordman
Message no. 4
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 11:12:42 +0100
Les Ward said on 15:59/25 Sep 97...

> Not neccessarily. It all depends on "who" wrote the original text.
> Remember, this is supposed to be like a post to Shadowland. If the original
> Shadowrun universe poster wrote the thing with bias, then so be it. That's
> the risk of relying on shadow information. For example, the whole Tir
> Sourcebook was written with definate partisan statements. The shadow
> comments called the original "writer" on several points.

Agreed. I think more shadow comments in the Salt Lake City text would be
good; try to include some that contradict the main text, for two reasons:
1) it'll give GMs more freedom in deciding what's "the truth;" and 2)
players, reading this as outsiders, will have to decide what they take to
be true.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Zo buurman, ik hier?
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

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Message no. 5
From: Glenn Robb <GLENNROBB@*******.NET>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 07:49:22 -0600
I could change Fromor's opinion. Anyone else want's Fromor's opinion changed
besides you?
Maybe it does need changing. Or maybe not. It really depends on who Fromor
really was and his opinions. He may be a stoic, or a cynic. Or something.
Remember the first line?

— Elton Robb

GKoth2258@***.COM wrote:

> Um, two things that bothers me right off the bat is the statement that Salt
> Lake is the spiritual center of North America. And that it is the Vatican of
> the 21st Century. Very bold, partisan statements. I really think you should
> tone that down a bit. Say something like Salt Lake sees itself as the
> spiritual center "in the middle of a vastness of Sodom and Gomorra that is
> the 21st Century -- at least according to the Church of Later Day Saints."
>
> At least think about it, eh?
>
> Erik J
Message no. 6
From: Glenn Robb <GLENNROBB@*******.NET>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 08:00:45 -0600
Gurth wrote:

> Les Ward said on 15:59/25 Sep 97...
>
> > Not neccessarily. It all depends on "who" wrote the original text.
> > Remember, this is supposed to be like a post to Shadowland. If the original
> > Shadowrun universe poster wrote the thing with bias, then so be it. That's
> > the risk of relying on shadow information. For example, the whole Tir
> > Sourcebook was written with definate partisan statements. The shadow
> > comments called the original "writer" on several points.
>
> Agreed. I think more shadow comments in the Salt Lake City text would be
> good; try to include some that contradict the main text, for two reasons:
> 1) it'll give GMs more freedom in deciding what's "the truth;" and 2)
> players, reading this as outsiders, will have to decide what they take to
> be true.
>

I totally agree with you, Gurth. But I waited for two weeks for more Shadow
Comments, but no one was posting any more. So, due to pressure, I sent off the
final.

— Elton Robb
Message no. 7
From: Paolo Marcucci <paolo@*********.IT>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 17:01:27 +0200
At 08:00 26/09/97 -0600, Glenn Robb said:
>I totally agree with you, Gurth. But I waited for two weeks for more Shadow
>Comments, but no one was posting any more. So, due to pressure, I sent
off the
>final.

Uh, pressure? I'm feeling guilty here :)

Anyway the Salt Lake post is online at

http://www.interware.it/shadowrun/nerps/nagttw

open for comments.

Please remember that any shadowcomment posted there is mirrored on this
list (so nothing will be lost). If Elton has to do some editing on the
non-commentable sections, just let me know. As soon as the file will be
"final" it will be sent to our Global Editor Mr. Gurth (promoted on field :)

Bye, Paolo
____________________________________________________________
Paolo Marcucci paolo@*********.it
InterWare Service Provider Trieste, Italy
http://www.interware.it/ Tel. +39-40-360630
Message no. 8
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 1997 11:21:36 +0100
Glenn Robb said on 8:00/26 Sep 97...

> I totally agree with you, Gurth. But I waited for two weeks for more Shadow
> Comments, but no one was posting any more. So, due to pressure, I sent off the
> final.

There's no need to let the list do all the shadow comments; when I'm
writing a Shadowrun text, I usually do the main text and comments at the
same time -- I think of something to say and a few comments to go along
with it, that expand or contradict the main text.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Zo buurman, ik hier?
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

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Message no. 9
From: Glenn Robb <GLENNROBB@*******.NET>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 1997 19:27:02 -0600
> There's no need to let the list do all the shadow comments; when I'm
> writing a Shadowrun text, I usually do the main text and comments at the
> same time -- I think of something to say and a few comments to go along
> with it, that expand or contradict the main text.
>

Hmm. Something to think about, although I would usually do that for NERPS:
Equipment (how about that for a Title other than Stuff!). I wouldn't have done it
for the piece I was writing.

— Elton Robb

:Begin Dwarf Rune Block:
[a bunch of Dwarven runes from LOTR]
:End Dwarf Rune Block:
Message no. 10
From: Rob Siemborski <robsiemb@******.ORG>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 13:43:22 -0400
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

On Sat, 27 Sep 1997, Glenn Robb wrote:

> > There's no need to let the list do all the shadow comments; when I'm
> > writing a Shadowrun text, I usually do the main text and comments at the
> > same time -- I think of something to say and a few comments to go along
> > with it, that expand or contradict the main text.
> >
>
> Hmm. Something to think about, although I would usually do that for NERPS:
> Equipment (how about that for a Title other than Stuff!). I wouldn't have done it
> for the piece I was writing.

Personally, I feel that having "real deckers" who read the material and
comment on it can give a much better feel to the comments. Of course,
they can also go against the author's intent, so....

- - Rob -

- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Rob Siemborski * http://www.bergen.org/~robsiemb (Has PGP Public Key)
Wow! Web Wonders <> http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Wow/
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Message no. 11
From: Les Ward <lward@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 14:17:01 -0400
>Personally, I feel that having "real deckers" who read the material and
>comment on it can give a much better feel to the comments. Of course,
>they can also go against the author's intent, so....

I write my own decker comments as well, for two reasons:

1) Sometimes, the "original text" would never in a milion years describe
some of the things that need describing. For example, the Seattle
Sourcebook is supposedly a travel guide. No travel guide would ever talk
about who the oyabun of the local Yakuza is.

2) Comments allow to present many possible explainations for an event, none
of which may be true. This is a valuable tool in building campaigns, and it
also gives other GMs a lot of latitude in how they use your writing.

Wordman
Message no. 12
From: Adam J <fro@***.AB.CA>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 17:22:43 -0600
At 13:43 9/29/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Personally, I feel that having "real deckers" who read the material and
>comment on it can give a much better feel to the comments. Of course,
>they can also go against the author's intent, so....

I think that's the main reason why it makes sense: Ares wouldn't tell the
honest hard core truth about it's latest gun, but a user could, even if it
went against what Ares had stated.
It's the same way with damn near anything. A gun, some cyber, a new
magical tradition, or *gack* a religion. Different people have different
opinions, and in todays world and certainly in the 6th world, people are
free to express it, and are encouraged you.

-Adam
Entity responsible for the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball

-
http://shadowrun.home.ml.org \ TSS Productions \ The Shadowrun Supplemental
ShadowRN Assistant Fearless Leader \ WildAngle@******** \ fro@***.ab.ca
From The Jury's Bench: http://www.interware.it/shadowrun/jurybench
Message no. 13
From: Linda Baxter <Baxter@******.NET>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 22:16:50 -0500
>I could change Fromor's opinion. Anyone else want's Fromor's opinion
changed
>besides you?
>Maybe it does need changing. Or maybe not. It really depends on who
Fromor
>really was and his opinions. He may be a stoic, or a cynic. Or
something.
>Remember the first line?

I think your article is fine as written. IMO the shadow comments are added
to give us gm's some lee way to change some of the items or to give us
ideas to expand our own campaigns. :-)

Termite
Message no. 14
From: "Paolo Falco, Explorer" <Falco@****.IT>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 14:14:40 +0000
Adam J thus did speak about Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]:

> At 13:43 9/29/97 -0400, you wrote:
> >Personally, I feel that having "real deckers" who read the material and
> >comment on it can give a much better feel to the comments. Of course,
> >they can also go against the author's intent, so....
>
> I think that's the main reason why it makes sense: Ares wouldn't tell the
> honest hard core truth about it's latest gun, but a user could, even if it
> went against what Ares had stated.
> It's the same way with damn near anything. A gun, some cyber, a new
> magical tradition, or *gack* a religion. Different people have different
> opinions, and in todays world and certainly in the 6th world, people are
> free to express it, and are encouraged you.

There's just one main point...
REAL people are more interested in telling the truth WHEN there is a
TRUTH. In this case, we are spaking about fiction, so I guess the
best thing would be to allow the original author to delete the
comments that go against his ideas. COmments can be a great help, but
could also prove dangerous in case one wanted to contradict an author
(ie- if he for example wanted the area to assume a different aspect
than that described in the text)

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Paolo Falco | "All things foul and dangerous, the Lord God made
(explorer) | them all" (Monty Python, "All things Dull and Ugly")
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Anarchic Lemmings Corporation, a new Way of Thinking!
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/2717
Message no. 15
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: NERPS: NAGTTW [Salt Lake City]
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 09:39:31 +0100
Paolo Falco, Explorer said on 14:14/30 Sep 97...

> There's just one main point...
> REAL people are more interested in telling the truth WHEN there is a
> TRUTH. In this case, we are spaking about fiction, so I guess the
> best thing would be to allow the original author to delete the
> comments that go against his ideas.

Assuming you're talking about the RL author of a NERPS article, naturally
he/she should remove all comments that don't fit with his/her view of the
article. This is precisely why I want people to re-submit their article
after others have commented on it -- so the comments that the author wants
to can be added in, and the others left out.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Zo buurman, ik hier?
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

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Further Reading

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