| From: | Glenn Robb <GLENNROBB@*******.NET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | NERPS: NAGTW |
| Date: | Fri, 12 Sep 1997 10:12:28 -0600 |
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
transorbital 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 it's 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 is 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 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 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
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 are 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.
LEGAL AID
Legal Advice and Representation are handled by either the Salt Lake
Legal Bar (SLLG) 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
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 Genelogical 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.
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. 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 is 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.
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, 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 through out it's 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 workers there 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
permiting, 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 extranational 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 Council 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 is no open talismonger shops anywhere in Salt Lake City,
there is 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 are 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.
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 it's 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 super rich. The elite of Salt Lake City
resides in this small village. Of course, there is 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 plain sad. It has become a town where Orks and Trolls
live. A sprawling barrens 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 it's
people soon expressed into orks and trolls during the Goblinization
break 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 it's economy.
However, Magna is where the hopeful 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 have 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.
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 has
constructed offices here. Notably Saeder-Krupp, Inc. Mistuhama,
Seratech, and others. The only Big Eight not included are Renraku and
Aztechnology Coporation. The SLPD is spread thin in this city to
contain many of the ganger activity, 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.
Granted it has enemies. One of them is another church known as the
Universal Brotherhood. The UB is actually very militant against the
Church because the Church Members hold something that the UB wants to
get rid of. The key to the prevention of the Horrors from gating to the
Earth. However, the UB never has been able to establish chapels in Salt
Lake City because it can never get enough converts.
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 reluctantly under their
respective company's direction. Also, a mormon looks different when
percieved 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. That is also a reason why more shamans who were mormon
women who feel the pull of their totem is too strong so they go toxic.
There is more female toxic shamans in the Ute Nation than anywhere else
in the world because of this reason.
"Polygamy" is actually practiced only by those that lead a high
lifestyle and a life of luxury, which equals about thirty 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 it's 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 that 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 become
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. The psychology between the two are extremely incompatible.
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 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.
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 it's 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 have 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. Although the Catholic Church and the Mormon Church believe
in different things; they have something in common. But there is 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.
Designer Notes:
Explanata and Errata
— The refrences to Mormon Men having the ability to perform real
miracles have been removed. If I had left them in, I would have to
develop Game Mechanics for the Priesthood, which I'm not going to do
because of 2 reasons:
1). The rules will unbalance the game considerably. Everyone
would want to play a Super Faithful Mormon man (which is okay, but they
will become just like Elijah).
2). I have to keep this very discreet in respect to my Church.
Afterall, I am a human being, and I'm trying to fix a mistake.
— Optional Game Rules have been changed to Cultural Notes.
— GM Guidelines for playing the Average and Above-Average, and less than
average Mormon has been included.
— The special relationship between Israel and the LDS Church has been
moved to the World Notes.
— The Relationship between Dragons and Mormons is correct.
— The Relationship between Mormons and Vampires has been corrected.
— The notes on Magic has stayed the same.
— The groups that are persecuting the Church are small and not as large
as the World Notes would have you surmise.
