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Message no. 1
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: the Revenge of Poison Ivy (Shadowrunner Chia-Pets)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 15:28:33 EDT
In a message dated 9/16/1999 7:46:39 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
Wildfire@*************.com writes:

> > Well, remember that in the interests of believability through
> > versimilitude, the plant needs to have a reason to latch on to things.
> > Burdocks, those hooky little balls hat get into your socks, are seed
> > pods, I think. The awakened version needs a reason to grab stuff
> > too...maybe its deposting seeds in the fur/clothing/hair of its target,
> > and it lets go after a while? Or maybe the target has to rip the
> > tendrils loose, and thus spreads the seeds. Something along those
> > lines.
> >
> > -Boondocker
>
> Yeah, I know, couldn't really think of anything nifty. Since its primary
> goal was to be a real pain in the ass, I really didn't want it to grab onto
> things for essence, so maybe breaking the vine releases seeds or spores, or
> whatever it grows from, and since its dual natured, the vines can be broken
> in the astral or physical world.

Hmm...here's a thought. And a VERY wicked one at that. I'm slightly
cheating here on one account, but here goes anyway.

What if the "seeds" were just as you say, but removing them is truly
"painful". As in, you resist damage due to thorns or somesuch. What is
happening is the seeds, which are actually VERY tiny are being released into
the person itself while they are struggling. The seeds are hemo-reactive,
meaning they actually feed on the nutrients in living critter's
bloodstreams'. After the person breaks free, IF they were wounded, a test of
some kind is made. Or, it could simply be automatic. The seeds are loosened
into the new carrier, which would probably try and leave.

As the new "carrier" is going about his/her business (whatever that may be),
they are actually beginning to become a "Shadowrunner Chia-Pet". The seeds
growth begins as symptoms, like a disease or something of which disease
treatments have no effect. Ever "x" hours, the seeds continue to grow,
incurring a Body resistance test, say ever 12 or 24 hours. What is worse, is
the damage isn't healable, because the body is being directly invaded and the
plants themselves are building tendrils and root structures throughout the
new host. At a certain point, Biotech or Astral Perception can *finally* get
an idea of what is going on, say at a Moderate wound or stuff, because
outward signs are really beginning to be involved. Actually, Biotech *might*
be able to figure it out easier IMO, say with a base target number of 10,
reducing the target number appropriately for every box of damage the
character has suffered.

Treatment would be intense to say the least, along the line of Gene-Cleansing
or Shadowtech's Nanite-level cleansing. The plants are parasitic in nature,
and hence "Cure Pathogens" or "Cure Disease" do nothing. You can't
manabolt
the damn things because of the parasitic/symbiotic nature of the plants with
their host. You wind up killing the host *AND* the plant. Specific spells
would have to be used or very specific treatments (special types of toxins
encoded for the plants for example).

Okay, now *THIS* is Evil, with a HUGELY CAPITAL "E".

-K
Message no. 2
From: Wildfire Wildfire@*************.com
Subject: the Revenge of Poison Ivy (Shadowrunner Chia-Pets)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 20:58:40 -0400
Ereskanti@***.com wrote:

> In a message dated 9/16/1999 7:46:39 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
> Wildfire@*************.com writes:
>
> > > Well, remember that in the interests of believability through
> > > versimilitude, the plant needs to have a reason to latch on to things.
> > > Burdocks, those hooky little balls hat get into your socks, are seed
> > > pods, I think. The awakened version needs a reason to grab stuff
> > > too...maybe its deposting seeds in the fur/clothing/hair of its target,
> > > and it lets go after a while? Or maybe the target has to rip the
> > > tendrils loose, and thus spreads the seeds. Something along those
> > > lines.
> > >
> > > -Boondocker
> >
> > Yeah, I know, couldn't really think of anything nifty. Since its primary
> > goal was to be a real pain in the ass, I really didn't want it to grab onto
> > things for essence, so maybe breaking the vine releases seeds or spores, or
> > whatever it grows from, and since its dual natured, the vines can be broken
> > in the astral or physical world.
>
> Hmm...here's a thought. And a VERY wicked one at that. I'm slightly
> cheating here on one account, but here goes anyway.
>
> What if the "seeds" were just as you say, but removing them is truly
> "painful". As in, you resist damage due to thorns or somesuch. What is
> happening is the seeds, which are actually VERY tiny are being released into
> the person itself while they are struggling. The seeds are hemo-reactive,
> meaning they actually feed on the nutrients in living critter's
> bloodstreams'. After the person breaks free, IF they were wounded, a test of
> some kind is made. Or, it could simply be automatic. The seeds are loosened
> into the new carrier, which would probably try and leave.
>
> As the new "carrier" is going about his/her business (whatever that may
be),
> they are actually beginning to become a "Shadowrunner Chia-Pet". The seeds
> growth begins as symptoms, like a disease or something of which disease
> treatments have no effect. Ever "x" hours, the seeds continue to grow,
> incurring a Body resistance test, say ever 12 or 24 hours. What is worse, is
> the damage isn't healable, because the body is being directly invaded and the
> plants themselves are building tendrils and root structures throughout the
> new host. At a certain point, Biotech or Astral Perception can *finally* get
> an idea of what is going on, say at a Moderate wound or stuff, because
> outward signs are really beginning to be involved. Actually, Biotech *might*
> be able to figure it out easier IMO, say with a base target number of 10,
> reducing the target number appropriately for every box of damage the
> character has suffered.
>
> Treatment would be intense to say the least, along the line of Gene-Cleansing
> or Shadowtech's Nanite-level cleansing. The plants are parasitic in nature,
> and hence "Cure Pathogens" or "Cure Disease" do nothing. You
can't manabolt
> the damn things because of the parasitic/symbiotic nature of the plants with
> their host. You wind up killing the host *AND* the plant. Specific spells
> would have to be used or very specific treatments (special types of toxins
> encoded for the plants for example).
>
> Okay, now *THIS* is Evil, with a HUGELY CAPITAL "E".
>
> -K

OOOHHHH! I LIKE it!!!

<snip uncontrollable manical giggling, think Jinai if you've ever seen El Hazard
OAVs>

And it allows for that wonderful sadistic look from the GM of "I know something
you don't know" as well as the Evil Laughter (tm). Hehe.. Next time I GM a game,
someone's gonna be in deep, lasting trouble. Thanks much, K!

Wildfire

OT: If someone needs a real good manical laugh, I can email you the jinai.wav
file. It's so wrong it perfect.

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Message no. 3
From: Scott W iscottw@*****.nb.ca
Subject: the Revenge of Poison Ivy (Shadowrunner Chia-Pets)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 22:29:20 -0300
"And now, a Channel 6 editorial reply to Ereskanti@***.com."
] Hmm...here's a thought. And a VERY wicked one at that. I'm slightly
] cheating here on one account, but here goes anyway.
]
] What if the "seeds" were just as you say, but removing them is truly
] "painful". As in, you resist damage due to thorns or somesuch. What is
] happening is the seeds, which are actually VERY tiny are being
released into
] the person itself while they are struggling. The seeds are hemo-reactive,
] meaning they actually feed on the nutrients in living critter's
] bloodstreams'. After the person breaks free, IF they were wounded, a
test of
] some kind is made. Or, it could simply be automatic. The seeds are
loosened
] into the new carrier, which would probably try and leave.
]
] As the new "carrier" is going about his/her business (whatever that
may be),
] they are actually beginning to become a "Shadowrunner Chia-Pet". The seeds
] growth begins as symptoms, like a disease or something of which disease
] treatments have no effect. Ever "x" hours, the seeds continue to grow,
] incurring a Body resistance test, say ever 12 or 24 hours. What is
worse, is
] the damage isn't healable, because the body is being directly invaded
and the
] plants themselves are building tendrils and root structures throughout the
] new host. At a certain point, Biotech or Astral Perception can
*finally* get
] an idea of what is going on, say at a Moderate wound or stuff, because
] outward signs are really beginning to be involved. Actually, Biotech
*might*
] be able to figure it out easier IMO, say with a base target number of 10,
] reducing the target number appropriately for every box of damage the
] character has suffered.
]
] Treatment would be intense to say the least, along the line of
Gene-Cleansing
] or Shadowtech's Nanite-level cleansing. The plants are parasitic in
nature,
] and hence "Cure Pathogens" or "Cure Disease" do nothing. You can't
manabolt
] the damn things because of the parasitic/symbiotic nature of the
plants with
] their host. You wind up killing the host *AND* the plant. Specific spells
] would have to be used or very specific treatments (special types of toxins
] encoded for the plants for example).
]
] Okay, now *THIS* is Evil, with a HUGELY CAPITAL "E".

That's sooooo nasty...this would have to be a very rare plant that
can't survive in most environments, otherwise the damned thing would be
everywhere...I'dalso think that if one got a blood sample taken, it
would be very easy to detect ('course, how often do you get blood
taken?).

-Boondocker
Message no. 4
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: the Revenge of Poison Ivy (Shadowrunner Chia-Pets)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 23:46:11 EDT
In a message dated 9/16/1999 7:54:31 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
Wildfire@*************.com writes:

>
> And it allows for that wonderful sadistic look from the GM of "I know
> something
> you don't know" as well as the Evil Laughter (tm). Hehe.. Next time I GM
a
> game,
> someone's gonna be in deep, lasting trouble. Thanks much, K!

Hey, you now know exactly *what* we don't print on the HHH website. I have
to thank someone else actually. The originator of the "Seed Pods" concept
sparked this one to me.

-K
Message no. 5
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: the Revenge of Poison Ivy (Shadowrunner Chia-Pets)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 23:47:42 EDT
In a message dated 9/16/1999 8:32:09 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
iscottw@*****.nb.ca writes:

> That's sooooo nasty...this would have to be a very rare plant that
> can't survive in most environments, otherwise the damned thing would be
> everywhere...I'dalso think that if one got a blood sample taken, it
> would be very easy to detect ('course, how often do you get blood
> taken?).

Ah no, not rare in the sense of this thing is only found in "x" environments,
but rare from the POV that its' only found in certain Corporate, Government
or "OTHER" protected locations. Places where there is literally NO desire
for survivors of any kind. Literally a *created* plant type.

-K
Message no. 6
From: Jeremy Baker meroeandjeremy@*******.com.au
Subject: the Revenge of Poison Ivy (Shadowrunner Chia-Pets)
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 20:01:23 +1000
>> That's sooooo nasty...this would have to be a very rare plant that
>> can't survive in most environments, otherwise the damned thing would be
>> everywhere

>Ah no, not rare in the sense of this thing is only found in "x"
environments,
>but rare from the POV that its' only found in certain Corporate, Government
>or "OTHER" protected locations. Places where there is literally NO desire
>for survivors of any kind. Literally a *created* plant type.


I feel that you have to create restrictions on viability based on
environment, else it would indeed be everywhere. It will not only be humans
that get infected by the plant, animals and birds will also act as carriers,
and will hence die in other locations, thus planting the seedlings
elsewhere.

JB

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Thwap!