From: | Brian McCallister <mccllstr@********.EDU> |
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Subject: | Epic Shadowrunners... |
Date: | Fri, 21 Nov 1997 15:06:23 -0500 |
input from ya'll. The idea borrows a bit from some different systems so
hang in there.
Some metaphysics first. Magic works by the mage imposing his belief upon
reality. This is the official SR line, so no problems yet. The collective
world is governed by the beliefs of those in it, to borrow a term from
Whitewolf's Mage, the sleepers. The collective beliefs of humanity pretty
much shape the world humanity lives in. This is official Earthdawn
doctrine (belief in names and what not shapes what they can do. It is the
Name-givers' belief in your legend that allows you to do the things you
can).
Okay, so to break. The cycle of magic is an artificial cycle brought
about by self-fulfilling prophecies. People at various times believe
different things and this belief alter the way magic works. Magic in
Earthdawn eventually subsided because everyone collectively believed it
would. One of the problems I am having now is explaining how magic came
back... What caused (or what collection of things) the overwhelmingly
vast majority of meta-humanity to believe in the possibility of magic
again? Was this a collected effort? Who instigated it if it was. Can we
see a rising belief in magic today (RL)? So far tough this is distinctly
possible within the available FASA metaphysics.
Anyway, to break away from the FASA line, reincarnation happens. As a
matter of fact there can be a fair amount of continuity of "self" This is
no the present psychologcal, or humanistic idea of self that is formed
and understood in a cognitive manner (amongst others) but a "self" of
essence or spirit.
Ya'll can see where this is going at this point.
So we begin in Earthdawn with the players all being in an unopened Kaer
(50 years post Throal-opening) and it is broached by a Horror. Most of
inhabitants are gone, players are hiding in a deep sub-level in the
farming areas. Okay, have fun. When they get out it will be just in time
to sart realizing what is going on, find some places, (and with some
creative time-lining) Thera invades.
Shadowrun. I am not sure how to work this yet but it will tie into an
Azzie/Enemy/Dragon thing. Oh, there are no d*&^ immortal elfs., so
scratch any comments about HB or whatnot.
Earthdawn-
One huge conspiracy theory works like this. Thera orchestrated the Scourge
:) What better way to seize control then by spreading knowledge (and
complete paranoia) about this upcoming apocolypse that, oh yeah, we know
how to protect you from. Now 99% of Thera lives the lie, and doesn't know
any better. As Theran war goes on the player start getting hints, ideas,
something that they might wonder.
Shadowrun-
Aztechnology. Except spreading knowledge and making people beieve things
is far esier now with mass communication then the Troubadours of ED could
ever imagine...
Earthdawn-
Okay, so players late in game set things in motion to remove this
dependency on magic, this utter faith in magic from the general
population (for you Mage players, can you say proto-technocracy) and
thereby protect them from the evil designs of te Theran masterminds (who
may have dies off or been killed off by this poitn anyway and all that is
left is the deaying achine carrying on their intentions unwittingly known
lovingly to us as the Theran Empire)
Shadowrun-
Someone knows what happened and says, wow that worked. Only this time we
can do it right :)
What this sets up is a cyclical system wher ein ED they are setting up a
mesn of dismantling the most horrific :) of schemes, and in Shadowrun the
birth of what happened in Ed is occuring.
Okay, now the metaphysics that makes it interesting. All the SR people
should be magically active because of magic involved. It also makes it
easier to tie in their gradual growing understanding of their past life.
This allows the classic fictional ploy of heroes come again in the time
of need, with all the flashbacks and what not. Best part is, the
descendents of the institutions set up by the characters previous
incarnbations are the things allowing the new horror to begin...
Well,this is sketchy, but what do ya think?
-Skrub