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Message no. 1
From: steven mancini <mancinis@******.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Subject: Re: request (Beastmaster Reposting)
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 92 22:00:41 EST
]
] I'm sorry if this seems old but I haven't read my mail recently.
]
] What is all this stuff on Beastmaster Adepts. Could someone please post
] this information or E-mail it to me. It sounds like a strange idea but
] I would like to know more about it before making any judgements.
] Thanks in advance.
] --Ghost Runner

Here ya go Ghost Runner, straight from the creator. Since it has gotten
such publicity lately, as well as a few other request I figured I would
repost it. For those who already had it, I also have the first and
probably last Player Character Beastmaster appended at the end... And
gee, she is named Quicksilver.... just like some recent subscriber to this
newsgroup... I wonder....
-Minotaur

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>>>>>[ Salutations! I have come to report that I have witnessed an
extraordinary manifestation of magic. This exquisite female,
streetname Quicksilver, has apparently developed an affinity
with normal critters and has begun to manifest similar traits
with certain Paranormals. After careful study, I believe this
to be more than a unique phenomena. In fact, I imagine there
may be more like her, hidden away in the tribes that would
covet such a rare gift. But this, is pure speculation.]<<<<<
-Nidhug, Chronicler of Magic

The Beastmaster

Magic Priority: 4

Prerequisites:
Animal Handling
Animal Biotech
Parazoology (5) [If paranormals are desired]
Magic Theory (5) [If astrally perceptive animal]

Powers:
Empathy-
Can project emotions into non-hostile animals with no
standard resistance.
Can project emotions in a quazi-"calling" for a number
of Kilometers equal to the Beastmaster's Magic
Attribute. Animals may ignore calling by accomplishing
an Unresisted Test using Beastmaster's Charisma as a
target. Even if they succeed, they may respond out of
curiousity. If they fail, they must investigate but do
necessarily have to help the Beastmaster.

Projection-
This power is similar to the Ally power Sense Link. It
may only be accomplished with the Beastmaster's familiars.
Only one projection may be maintained at a time. The
inital dis-orientation when projecting is 10 actions
divided by a Willpower test target(6) successes.
While projecting, the Beastmaster's Body is vulnerable
similar to an Astrally Projecting Mage.
While projecting, the Beastmaster can use their telepathy
power to quazi-control the actions of their beast. This
is more of commanding it, and it may not always follow.
("You want me to get HOW close to that Dragon?!?!")
Treat this power as Astral Projection for the sake of Wards
and Mana Barriers.

Telepathy-
With a familiar (explained below) is unlimited range.
With all others, it is touch.

Initiation:

This power is documented only because our only subject of study
was introduced following initiation.

Cost-
The Beastmaster must self-initiate; their magic is too
strange for group initiation and their rarity leads us
to this conclusion. Granted if a group of these mystics
could be encountered, the potential may exist for group
initiation, but their rarity makes such a potential
situation unimaginable.
Ordeal-
The Ordeal required by the Beastmaster is the impression
of their new familiar. The animal in question must be
wild and have NO prior exposure to humanity. This Ordeal
is not required, but since it accomplishes the obtaining
of a new familiar and reduce the Karma cost, it is favored
by this magician. (if such a term is appropriate.)

Additional:
The familiar is a beast that has been selected for bonding with
the Beastmaster. It must have no prior exposure to humanity. The
Beastmaster may have a number of Familiars equal to his/her
magic attribute. I.e. Quicksilver has a magic attribute of 6,
her familiars are: 2 wolves, 2 hunting dog, an eagle, and one
'slot' open.

Paranormal Familiars:
Paranormal familiars are possible, but only after progressing
through several normal critters. (Do not allow starting
character to begin game with a paranormal, but allow him/her
to reserve point(s) for further progress). The Beastmaster
must fully understand the powers his familiar shall have and
this is demonstrated through a parazoology skill of rating
five (5) or higher. If the beastmaster desires, they may
specialize or concentrate on a specific animal (with the
GM's approval.)

Dual Natured Animals:
Astral critters can be the most dangerous progression for a
Beastmaster. As stated in the book, non-magically actives
exposed to the Astral Plane will go insane/die. Since the
the Beastmaster is quazi-magically active, they can develop
a 'resistance' to this insanity. By obtaining a Magic Theory
skill of 5 or greater, the Beastmaster has demonstrated a
sufficient knowledge concerning the astral plane to survive
exposure via his/her familiars.

Disadvantages:
The Beastmaster is attuned to the animal kingdom and involuntarily
receives empathetic signals from the animals which surround her.
If, for example, she was to walk near a slaughter house, her
emotions would most likely cripple her. One specific example
mentioned during my interview concerned a tiger that was in a
nearby grassland and she 'felt' it die.

The Beastmaster may not replace killed familiars. Beyond the
backlash of the killing of the animal, severe psychological
trauma is anticipated. Likewise, if the beastmaster suffers
a magic loss, the animal is set free from the bond, and most
likely will stay if treated well. However, if cyberware is
installed, the animal will grow ill and die slowly.

>>>>>[ Quicksilver is indeed a rare individual, even for an elf. Her
affinity for animals was demonstrated to me when she 'tamed' a
pair of paranormal critters, Shadowhound and Greater Wolverine
respectively, that were under the influence of magic which
drove them into a quazi-beserk state.]<<<<<
-Gargoyle, Raven Shamanic Adept

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Real Name: Chia Shine
Street Name: QuickSilver
Race: Elven Female, Chaktaw Indian Tribe of NAN
Age: 23 (as of 2053)
Archetype: Tribal Warrior and Beastmaster
Initiate Grade 2
Allergy: nuisance to Iron

Body 5 Charisma (8) 11 Essence 6
Quickness 7 Intelligence 5 Magic 8
Strength 5 Willpower 5 Reaction (10) +3d6

>>>>>[ The two attributes listed above are high for the following reasons:
During the Minotaur Rescue, which QuickSilver funded and led, one
of the intitate snake shamans saw that QuickSilver was extremely slow
in comparison to the rest of her team, so she quickened the initative
spell (inreased reactions +2) to her in order to keep the team from
having to hold and waste actions waiting for QuickSilver's orders.
And the quickening has never been attacked and is still holding after
two years of running (knock on wood)! And right before QuickSilver
retired with her very first Paranormal familiar, in order to initiate
with the paranormal she fell the need to raise her Charisma (explained
later in QuickSilver's powers) to 8 and then decided that the money
it would cost to get an increased charisma spell would be well worth
the price. QuickSilver had been working on aquiring a Talis Cat as
her first Paranormal familiar and did not want anything to go wrong.
SO, since she had the money, she paid an initiate friend to quicken
it for her final PC run. ]<<<<<

Animal Handling (4) 5
Biotech Vet (4) 5
* Parazoology 5
* Magic Theory 3
* Astral Theory 5
* Negotiations 5

Stealth (4) 5
* Tracking 5
* Narcoject Pistols 3

>>>>>[ Ok, now since QuickSilver hates to be around when animals die as
much as they hate to die, she always carries a narcoject pistol with
stun rounds in it to knock people and animals out with. It is also
unique because someone made a joke about needing a flame thrower
before the Minotaur Prison Rescue attempt. So QuickSilver went to
one of her wonderful contacts and paid to get a fire elemental
bound in the little sucker, so it's quite a little gun. :) If there
was one ting she gained, besides a great decker, boyfriend and Minotaur,
it is contacts. She had to strike so many deals and meet so many
people that she ended up with one hell of a contact list by the time
she was done with his rescue. She is damn proud to be friends with
each and every one of them and will bend over backwords for
them.]<<<<<

Unarmed (4) 5
Armed (4) 5
Projectiles 5
Athletics (4) 5

Etiquettes
* Street 4
Tribal 5
Corporation 2
* Draco Forms 4

>>>>>[ Ok, now before people have a cow, this can be explained.
QuickSilver
made some VERY BIG decisions and sacrafices to get Minotaur back, and
yes, she broke one of the most primal rules of Shadowrun - She struck
a deal with a Dragon and lived to tell, not once, not even twice, but
thrice. She negotiated with a Seattle Dragon named Nidhug who wanted
to test the limits of my unique powers and publish a book about them.
So, I became her slave for about 6 months. I had my weekends and was
required to teach a BeastMaster adept the Dear Lady had 'aquired'
after everything was done and over. I lost many pints of blood and
lots of pride, but I got the information and the ticket into the slave
chain where Minotaur was being kept. Once there, I found that I had
to negotiate with yet another Dragon named Komoto to actually GET the
one and only Minotaur. Then to top it all off, in the end, I have
had to negotiate with Dunkelzahn on a tv show and since I had to
continue my relationship with Nidhug to help teach her boy some tricks
I decided 'screw this noise'. After all the wheeling and dealing I
have been doing with these damned Dragons I should be able to develop
this skill!! And slowly, over two years, I developed my so called
Draco etiquette, more because I needed it to stay alive and not
piss anyone off. So, that's that story. take it or leave.. :) ]<<<<<

Languages
Salish 3
Citispeak 2
Chaktaw 5
* Jap 5
* Eng 2

>>>>>[ Now this is interesting. I have Japanese because I was tired of
not understanding my boyfriend, One-Eyed Jack (whom I rescued from
the prison run when trying to find Minotaur on our invasion of the
prison island in Hong Kong), whenever he got mad and spoke at me.
I have english now becuase of the number of people in my group who
have it.]<<<<<

*'s indicate things that were upgraded through karma or other specified
ways after character creation. Most of the stars indicate skills she
developed as she was played, not skills that she started out with. this
character was made by taking the archetype of the Tribal Warrior and
making the neccessary modifications. This character was required to have
certain skills which are listed later in this article due to her unique
talents.
()'s The parantheses found throughout this character are what her skills
started out at.


Current Familiars
--------------------
Sky Scream female bald eagle
Pocahontos female wolf
Prince male wolf
Shadow male black labrador
Ghost female grey labrador
Squeak female ferret
Sneak male ferret
Desire female talis cat

Contacts
------------------------------------------------
Deborah Bailey Paranormal Rights Activist female
Nidhug Western Dragon Raven Shaman female
Viper Human Snake shaman female
Flyin Dutchman Fixer male
Makato Elven fixer male
Rogue Elven decker male
Squire Troll decker male (NAN)
One-Eyed Jack Elven assassin male (Chicago)
Jack Hammer Troll merc male (Hong Kong)
Mordecai Dwarf rigger male (Hong Kong)
Minotaur Troll samurai male (*** GRIN GRIN WINK ***)
Grinder Troll merc male (Hong Kong)
Ryumeo Human Gang Boss male (Hong Kong)
Fire Cracker Ork male decker (Cal Free State)
Babs Elven street samurai female
Gargoyle Troll raven shaman male
He Mau Elven female cat shaman
Alex Human beastmaster adept male
Butterfly Human owl shaman female

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| Steve Mancini (a.k.a. The Gargoyle) | mancinis@******.cc.purdue.edu |
| Grad Student {Dazed & Confused} | mancini@**.cc.purdue.edu |
| Political Science Department | phi@****.cc.purdue.edu |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| "We are in a Universe with more and more information, and less and |
| less meaning." - Jean Beaudrillard |
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