News - May 2073 (Early)

The Zigguaraut in Iraq is Gone. Inhabitants are reporting that the background count has been greatly reduced.
Ares reports that the anti Bug Spirit ammo is highly successful. Tests in the Chicago containment zone show remarkable success. In fact, there are some who believe the containment zone may be able to be removed.
Aztechnology has been at a stand still in their efforts in California. The guerilla campaign is successful but has not broken the status quo. The Azzies have consolidated their hold on that part of California Free State that they have taken (Paradiso Dante). They have ceased their overt disruption in the land between Paradiso Dante and Azlan territory.
A number of assasinations have taken place in the NAN. This has had the temporary effect of disrupting them but has also galvinized the NAN opposition. Many are blaming Saeder Krupp. Meanwhile, Yucatan decides now is the time to strike at their long time nemesis. With Aztlan fighting on multiple fronts, the Yucatan shamans call upon their allies to begin pressing the border between the Yucatan and Aztlan. Their hope is that they can quickly crush Aztlan resistance and force them to negotiate a binding treaty to never attempt to take the Yucatan again.
Negotiations between various factions in Tir Taingaire have been successful but are still on going. Meanwhile, the royal heir to Tir Na Og has arrived safely in Tir Taingaire.
Arthur has conducted a successful coup de etat in England. Details are sketchy but public moralle is high.
With the ring of light around Toxic Monster Island, it seems that the giant toxic spirits it unleashed have been slowly dying off and the combined militaries of West Asia have been able to destroy them though not at some cost.
Tensions between Amazonia and Atzlan remain high.
The UCAS announces that it has had its most prosperous economic quarter ever and is doing quite well. The government has a surplus for the first time in several decades. There is a great deal of argument about what to do with it. UCAS will continue in talks for a merging of CAS and UCAS for the benefit of both. It may not be a full-state-to-state unification, but one that recognizes the political and semi-autonomous nature of the former UCAS and CAS states.
Saeder Krupp has suffered an extremely emberrasing defeat. It is believed that a group of shadow runners (potentially the same shadowrunners who destroyed the Zig. In Iraq) took something valuable from Lofwyr in the corporate court and it has made the Corp Court look bad. He has been officially censured by the court. The violations were pointed out by Aztechnology, which has gained considerable influence among the AAA’s as a result.
Lofwyr is extremely annoyed by this and has begun a purge of many of his upper management looking for moles. Insiders think he has found some. This is primarly due to the fact that said insiders where turned into Dragon Snack food shortly after revealing this information. There are rumors that there were shadowrunners involved and that Lofwyr has spared NO expense in tracking them down.
There are other rumors that he has failed utterly miserably at all attempts to do so such that many believe there is a powerful and hithertonow unknown magic involved. This lends credence to the theory that it is the same group involved in Iraq and two altercations in Seatle.
*Because of the recent refusal by the Corp Court and UN to recognize non metahuman sapient rights, numerous terrorist groups are causing problems around the world; particularly in the Middle East, Pacific Islands and North America.

Rumors
Azlan has made an offer of permanent peace with Amazonia and a draw down of forces along the border. It is said that Azlan is preparing for battle along its northern border and does not want problems to the South.
It is said that the Pueblo Corporate Council have discovered a Wasp Hive not far from Santa Fe. It is said that the UCAS wants to remove it ASAP but the NAN has told the UCAS in no uncertain terms that their military forces in such a manner would lead to a very hot war.
The rest of the state of Florida has threatened to succeed from CAS and join the Caribean League if the UCAS and the CAS uniite.
Wuxing has developed a new hybrid corn that yeilds up to twice as much food as that of the best Aztech has to offer.
There is going to be another gathering of the Great Dragons in Venice.
The earth's magnetic field is intesifying and the poles have somehow reversed playing havoc with compasses worldwide.
Soñador has offered Hestaby a considerable reward to help him end the fighting in Tir Taingaire.
The Elves of Tir Na Og have offered Ice Wing rich treasures in exchange for helping end the fighting in Tir Taingaire. He is considering the offer.
Hestaby has recently found a powerful treasure of her own and has no need of bribery.
Sonador has realized that his territory is vulnerable without him and has decided to return.
A great dragon council has been called in Denver for April of 2073.
A great dragon council has been called in Atlantis in April of 2073.
Saeder Krupp is enjoying unprecedented financial success.
Lofwyr is dying of a rare and incurable disease.

Toxic Spirits are destroying all of Korea.
Toxic Spirits are destroying all of China.
Toxic Spirits are destryong all of Iraq.
Toxic Spirits are causing massive damage in the Pacific.
Toxic Spirits are manifesting just outside of Seatle.
A powerful ritual spell has been developed that harms toxic spirits.
Jade Oriculcum allows spirits to draw power involuntarily from humans and is the source of the rumors about theGreat Desert Spirit.
The Wireless Matrix is in danger of crashing and only reverting to the old Matrix will keep people and data safe.
There are no cats in America and the Streets are paved with Cheese.
No beer and no TV makes Homer go crazy.
The Humanis Policlub is engaged in a quiet civil war that is causing their leadership to be highly vulnerable to assasination.
The rumors of a super shadow runner group are all true and there are several reporters that are trailing them to gain the story of their true identities.
The CAS and the UCAS are becoming united.
Three hidden elven kingdoms are about to end their self imposed exile and reveal themselves to the world.
Arthur is about to conduct a coup de etat in England.
Aztlan is desperately trying to conceal rumors that they’re going to be hit by a meteorite.
Prices on Fake Sins are about to drop to half the cost due to a new revolutionary duplication technology.
Ares is secretly working to encourage the union between CAS and UCAS.
Aztechnology is bringing Saeder-Krupp before the Corporate Court for violations.
Pueblo Corporate Council disrupted an attempted assault on the Sante Fee wasp hive; they accuse UCAS but the attackers were not from UCAS or CAS, and most were elves.
The CAS government has arrested the leadership of Florida because of their talks with the Caribbean League to exit the CAS.
A Juggernaut has been sighted 75 miles southeast of Denver.
A Dragon Council has been called in Zurich.
A murder of Stormcrows has taken up residence in Tir Taingire.
Horizon is offering its services to Saeder Krupp for image control. Many believe that the dragon will take them up on the offer.

Status and Stuff:
DTP Saved
Dennis: 5 Stored DP
Anarch: 20 Stored DP
Brooks: I cannot find this, please resend.
Liv: 24 Stored DP
Wiley: 8 Stored DTP

New Character: 430 Build Points

Group Edge: 1. Cost to Increase: 10 DP

Accelerated Karma: 2 Per Session. Cost to Increase: 15 DP (5 toward)

Darkness Index: 0/10 (Effect/Countdown)

Magic Index: 6

Tech Index: 7

Group Assets: $10,000 Vehicle Harbor in Seattle
GMC Bulldog step van with $15000 in improvements including Chameleon Coating, Shielded Components and A Hard Point.
Group Jet (???? Value????)

Base outside of Atlanta. This is a major facility, stealthed and quite nice. It has repair gear and a moderate medical bay. Has a Virtual Programming Environment

Corporate Patronage: Renraku – Level 1. By spending 1 DTP the group can pay up to 100,000 NY to get up to 1 Avail 16 item per character. This represents using the Book of Life to benefit Renraku.
Level 2: The group gains access to a Delta Ware cyber clinic at 75% cost for each DTP spent for this benefit.

Foundation Patronage: Draco Foundation – Level 1. By Spending 1 DTP the group may gain access to one Rating 5 Contact for a single mission OR up to a Rating 5 Foci at 75% Cost. This represents using the Book of Life to benefit the Draco Foundation.
Group Patronage: Ghostwalker – Level 1. By Spending 1 DTP, the group may successfully gain the covert assistance of Ghostwalker in any shadowrun in the world; this will primarily take place either through the intervention of the Draco Foundation, the Atlantean Foundation, The Children of the Dragon or any number of single individuals who own favors to Ghostwalker. It signficantly increases the odds of a Personal Mission succeeding.

A Level Corp (Chrysanthamum) based in Atlanta GA. Capable of generating SINs and legal licenses of up to Avail 14 gear.
Assets: Financial 3 – Income of 20 Million NY Per Month (Includes Jade Oriculcum Refinery)
Assets: Shadow 1 – Corporate Patronage on 1 Runner Team called, “The Saws” consisting of 5 Rating 4 NPC’s – A Mage, 2 Street Sam’s, a Face and a Decker. They have their own gear.
Asset: Reseach Area – Allows 1 DTP worth of research to be done by the corp per turn. It has thus far confirmed that the Jade Oriculcum does indeed have anti spirit properties. It thinks it may be what Ares is using in their anti Bug Spirit ammo.
Book of Light – Possession of the Book allows one to predict the next target of the greatest opportunity for the Allies of Life, through the Dagger of Arachne.

First of Seven Rituals (Unlocked): There are up to six other 'streams' that you can unlock in the dagger that point to the location of interest. These will be revealed when the Dagger is activated on its primary day. To anticipate the location on each lunar cycle, the master tome of each stream must be found. The dagger can be ordered to point to the location of the master tome instead of the location of each groups next position of opportunity.

Book of Darkness – Can be read for 1 DPT to give knowledge of Blood Metamagics (as outlined in Street Magic)

Possession of the book allows one to predict the next target of the greatest opportunity available to the Foes of Life through the Dagger of Arachne.

You learn the first of seven rituals within this book that will reveal the presence of all but the most powerful Shedim or Shedim agents within a 10 feet as attached to the dagger or any other vessel upon which you wish to invoke the ritual. It costs a DTP and seven animal sacrifices to create. (None currently made)

Dagger of Arachne

*The dagger is tied to a powerful Ally Spirit (which you already knew). You can make a spirit pact with it. (Which you didn't.)
*The dagger can be bound to an infinite number of mages, however the effects only apply to anyone within a fifty foot radius of the wielder.
*The dagger is beyond doubt Atlantean in origin. It is difficult to determine but you believe it to be essentially indestructible. Furthermore, you learn that there is a distinct astrological tie of some kind to the cloaking effect, though what that is not yet discernible. It does seem to be a 24 hour window on the Second Saturday of every month.


A E D G T F S
+3 +4 +4 +7 +5 +5 +0



Targets:



Research:
There are seven conspiracies.
The Dragons, who have two factions – the pro meta human and pro environment factions. The question is how much of a role metahumanity is to play in these. Their future will be extremely eco friendly and magic will be strong.
The Elves, who have two factions – The elven supremecists and the elven cohabitors. The question is how much of a role meta humanity plays in their future. Their future will be somewhat eco friend and magic will be rediculously strong.
The Atlantean Foundation – The two factions are the elites and the baselines. The question is what means are acceptable to achieve the desired future. The baseline are quite strong but the elites have a subtle but important infleunce. Their future will result in beneficial relations between all metahumans and sapients in general. The primary question is whether this shall be through empowering the masses or rule by a benevolent few.
The Illumanti – Very similar on the surface to the Atlantean foundation however they believe that core humanity should be dominant. Three factions; the Templars who believe that humanity should be dominant but only barely. The Masons who believe that humans should rule but that there is a place for non humans as well. The Scourge, who believe that non meta humans should be purged. They are largely hidden amongst the other two factions. Their future would be dominated by humans and a balance between magic and tech. They use strong governments and corporate institutions as a primary tool.
The Techs – Two factions – Dark Technomancers and AI’s. Tech at the expense of magic. Transhumanists and the like. Their future would essentially be Eclipse Phase without the magic.
The Fey – Two factions – Ambivalent Fey (who want to keep humans around as play things) and Hostile Spirits (who want to rid the world of non pure magic beings.) Their future is a world of strong magic, with little tech.
The Shedim. Who want to destroy all life. They have no factions.
Translating the cave wall you learn many things (not all of which I am going to put here) but you also learn that ONE of these factions WILL prevail. The “dagger” faction can be a faction but by the very nature of the dagger, one of the conspiracies will succeed. It just depends on which faction.
I will include 2 DTP worth of research into the Gem of Memory next time (which will not need to be spent.)
I will also include more details on the translation beneath the cavern.
Future book locations will also be done next News which will be the Saturday after this coming Saturday.