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Message no. 1
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Magic question
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2000 22:39:13 -0700
This would probably be a better question for RN, but since I'm not on the RN
list and this might impact a story, I figure I will ask here ...

What would a normal shaman notice (possibly from totem reaction?) walking
past a toxic shaman who is not actively destroying anything at the moment?

I just want to keep whatever consensus is in mind in case I decide to fully
commit to some vague storylines I started a while back.

Mike
Message no. 2
From: J. Mach jjmach@**********.com
Subject: Magic question
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2000 22:05:27 -0800
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Goldberg <michael.goldberg3@********.att.net>
To: plotd <plotd@*********.com>
Date: Saturday, December 02, 2000 9:39 PM
Subject: Magic question


>This would probably be a better question for RN, but since I'm not on the
RN
>list and this might impact a story, I figure I will ask here ...
>
>What would a normal shaman notice (possibly from totem reaction?) walking
>past a toxic shaman who is not actively destroying anything at the
moment?


If the normal shaman wasn't astrally perceiving, you mean? Probably not.

Toxic shamans are all sociopaths, to some degree, often terribly so. So,
if the person were quite empathetic, they might notice something about the
person that tips them off that there is something "not quite right" about
the toxic (dead or predatory eyes or something). If that causes them to
glance at the toxic's aura, that would probably give it away in short
order.

As for a "totem reaction" I'm not sure what you mean. If it is an
absolutely essential plot point, and you need a deus ex...er totema, then
I suppose you could have them get a "bad feeling" to get their attention.

--My two yen

Jeff
Message no. 3
From: Michael Goldberg michael.goldberg3@********.att.net
Subject: Magic question
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 19:24:48 -0700
"J. Mach" <jjmach@**********.com> wrote:
>If the normal shaman wasn't astrally perceiving, you mean? Probably not.


That is probably enough for me to go with.

>Toxic shamans are all sociopaths, to some degree, often terribly so.

By a "mundane" member of society, for instance a wageslave, a Shadowrunner
would be in the same category. A person not involved in the shadows
probably wouldn't see the distinction between, say a toxic shaman and a
wetworker of the likes of Haze, the Wanderer, Twitch, or even Easy. (Just
to name a few.)

Still, I get what you mean. Toxic shamans by definition have a negative
view toward "life" as it currently exists. (Again though, toxic shamans are
not alone in that view.)

>As for a "totem reaction" I'm not sure what you mean. If it is an
>absolutely essential plot point, and you need a deus ex...er totema, then
>I suppose you could have them get a "bad feeling" to get their attention.


I think you got close enough to what I was looking for that I wouldn't worry
about that too much. I seem to recall that some of the early Shadowrun
novels (before I gave up on them for a variety of reasons) handled totems in
an odd way. The more I reflect on it now, the more it seems like it was
more of a forced "deus ex" mechanism to keep the story moving.

Basically, it comes down to what is best for the story and the collective
shadowtk list, which is why I was asking -- just to make sure I don't go too
far in error with one direction or another.

Thanks for the input.

Mike

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