In article <RY6dnXkW29U1CF3anZ2dnUVZ8hednZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
s.r.clarkstone@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
says...
> Draco18s wrote:
> > In article <fLGdnccBCsbT4l3anZ2dnUVZ8tWvnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> > s.r.clarkstone@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
says...
> >> Dafydd Edward Dragon wrote:
> >>> Humm.. seems even the non-otherkin can experience phantom limbs in
their
> >>> own unique way O.o' Though I'd post this as I found it so funny to
read
> >>> when the paper happened to be sitting in front of my face. Humm..
> >>> nothing like cell phone phantom limbs.
> >>>
> >>>
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/detour/story/4106017p-4703680c.html
> >> Humanity is turning into a race of cyborgs it seems.
> >
> > Never read ShadowRun have you?
>
> No. Explain the relevant bits.
Fictional universe, originally written to take place 60 years in the
future,
as they've updated the ruleset (there's both novels and an RPG game)
they've
moved the "current date" forward to keep in line with this, although the
current present is today + 70 years.
Anyway, as the SR history goes, in 2010 there's a virus that kills a
quater of
the world's population. In 2011 there was a great awakening, magic came
back,
dragons woke up, and soon teenagers went through puperty didn't always
come
out human (Dwarves, Elves, Orcs, and Trolls emerged). Nations as nations
collapsed and reformed, most of the western US is a multitude of countries
now
(I believe Texas split off, California split off, northern CA, Oregan and
most
of Wa****ngton was claimed by the elves and split off, Seattle remained US,
or
rather UCAS: United Canadian and American States, another large ****tion
goes
to the native americans) and the rise of the megacorps started.
Cor****ations
run territory in SR more so than any other entity.
Lone Star (a Texas vigulantee company) rented itself out to megacorps and
have
replaced the police.
Advances in technology (around...2025 I think) allowed for the cybernetic
replatement of limbs. There's also biotechnology: why do weightlifting
when
you can grow better muscles and have them surgically implanted? Oh, I was
close: 2025 is when cyberware enters professional s****ts.
In 2029 a mystery virus attacks databases worldwide, resulting in total
financial chaos. The government and megacorps attempt to fight the virus
with
their own cybercommandoes, but eventually must recruit maverick hackers to
fight the virus with untested technology, as eighteen minutes after
engaging
the virus, four members of Echo Mirage are dead. When the data logs were
analyzed, two things became apparent: First, the virus program could
induce
lethal biofeedback in humans accessing the Matrix. Second, no existing
computer security could even slow down someone using a cyberterminal.
These
second-generation terminals are desk-sized and no longer require an
isolation
tank. In the course of fighting the virus and attempting to rebuild the
world
wide web, the Matrix is born. The surviving hackers now have knowledge of
cyberdecks and begin to cobble together their own units.
2033, Damien Knight--legendary cyberhacker--buys out and takes control of
Ares
Cor****ation in a nanosecond. The Nanosecond Buyout was a legendary
computerized exchange of stock in 2033 that propelled Damien Knight to the
head of Ares Macrotechnology. In the span of 63 seconds using a set of
mainframes in Stockholm, Sweden, Knight executed a series of transactions
that
caused the dissolution of three cor****ations, two multi-millionaires to
lose
their fortunes, three other people to become multi-millionaires, and
Knight to
gain the owner****p of 22 percent of Ares. Since then, computerized
controls
are in place to prevent such blindingly fast stock transactions,
preventing an
individual from performing the same trick twice.
Lucien Cross gained much from the Nanosecond Buyout, and probably helped
orchestrate it (facilitating the server time from Stockholm). It is
rumored
that Damien Knight had the aid of Dunkelzahn, due to an unusual bequest in
Dunkelzahn's Will:
"To Damien Knight, I leave my antique chess set, except for the black
king
piece. I hope you find another worthy opponent. It was only 60 seconds,
old
friend, but what a ride!"
"To Leonard Aurelius of Ares Macrotechnology, I leave the black king
of my
antique chess set. May you prove a worthy opponent."
Megacorps start being owned by dragons--2037 is when Lofwyr announces 63%
owner****p of Saeder-Krupp, votes himself chairman of the board,
president, and
CEO (German dragon takes control of the largest German company). Couple
others like this occure around the world.
As I hit 2056 the entries per year are growing huge, as to be expected.
The
game started in the late 80's (plus 60 is late 2040s). Bug City (2056) is
a
ShadowRun core adventure.
In 2056 Dunkelzahn (UCAS dragon who had his own TV show) became a citizen
of
UCAS and in 2057 he ran for the Presidency as an Independent. In an
unexpected
victory Dunkelzahn became the first metahuman President of the UCAS. He
was
seemingly assassinated on 9 August 2057—-the night of his inauguration-—by
a
magical attack on his limousine outside the Watergate Hotel in Wa****ngton
D.C.. This which resulted in an 'Astral Rift' at the site of his death;
every
mage who attempted to study it either died or was driven insane.
Ghostwalker
flew out of the rift, it is assumed that Ghostwalker is either Dunkelzahn
or a
close relative of Dunkelzahn's. Ghostwalker claimed Denver as his, and
has no
interest in metahumans, unlike Dunkelzahn.
Several major things come to pass from Dunkelzahn's Will in 2057 (see
http://wiki.dumpshock.com/index.php/Dunkelzahn%27s_Will
for the whole
thing).
First was the creation of the Draco Foundation, which would carry out the
will. Second was the granting of SINs (Social ID Numbers) to 1000 SINless
people. Many other strange requests permeate the will.
My favorite:
"To Art Dankwalther (a homeless drunk at the time), I leave the sum
of
34,586,224,739.58 in UCAS dollars. According to my calculations and
accounting
for conversion of the original currency, inflation, and 1 percent interest
per
annum, this settles my debt to your ancestor for the gold piece he kindly
lent
me for the last meal we shared."
2064: Net Crash 2.0
The hostile AI Deus, who had escaped his destruction in the Renraku
Arcology,
attempts to use Novatech's Initial Public Offering (which had potential to
be
the biggest Matrix event on record) to upgrade itself to Matrix godhood.
Efforts by an opposing AI (Megaera, who was to an extent Deus'
mother/prototype) and Pax, an insane former otaku acolyte who had allied
with
the radical terrorist organization Winternight (who sought to bring
Ragnarok),
disrupt this. The release of Winternight's selfmade computer-worm
Jörmungandr
and several EMP strikes to major Matrix nodes effectively crash nearly the
entire Matrix, with major hardware damage. In addition to the damage to
the
Matrix, a large number of people are trapped within the Matrix for some
time.
A number of those who survived, as well as those who were otaku prior to
the
Crash begin to note that they now have a deeper connection to the Matrix
that
no longer fades with age - the first technomancers are born.
Other events, outlined here:
http://shadowrun.wikia.com/wiki/Shadowrun_timeline
Present Day
--
Lord Draco18s
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(q p),-| | HERSHEY'S | |'-._ ))
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Bearer of the Bronze Medal for Most Posts in March 2007 (283)
Bearer of the Gold Medal for Most Posts in April 2007 (826)
Holder of the Scroll of Nobility from Lady Viriatha for that win
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