Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Gamemasters' Lounge => Topic started by: Perfectdark1919 on <03-17-12/2247:08>
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I am working on a campaign plot involving Aztlan expanding it's territory into the West Coast of North America.
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Ok, good start... but are you looking for ideas?
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For them the world is not enough.
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Good start for a campaign idea. I might wanna swipe it someday, just keep us posted. ::)
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The twist should be that they do it legally.
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I am working on a campaign plot involving Aztlan expanding it's territory into the West Coast of North America.
Aaaaaaaaaand...?
I mean, that's cool and all, but there's nothing to really go on here.
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Aztlan shares a border with the PCC and CAS. To reach CFS, Aztlan has to go through (or around) Pueblo Corporate Council lands. If they try to punch through at the narrow strip, Aztlan has to then defend its entire border. PCC is not going to readily give up its only port city (Los Angeles) as it is otherwise landlocked. Both the PCC as well as the CAS and Ghostwalker up in Denver would LOVE to take a shot at pushing the border back to the Rio Grande.
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Also, about the only thing the CFS and Tir Tairngir will ever agree on is that neither one wants Aztlan to move any further towards them. And you know all those powerful mages who were princes not long ago? They don't like Aztlan either.
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The first part that i have is aztlan openning negotiations with the political disident movements in the tir as well as the japanese that run San Fran. After what i just heard i should have them openning negotiations with the pueblos as well. The objective of these talks is to gain allies as well as distablize the two governments. As part of there talks with the tir disidents, aztlan makes an attempt to stop the out flow of disidents that are being removed by demonizing the ancients who funnel the political disidents out of the tir. Aztlan then begins suppling arms and supplies to the disident movement. Basically gaining their trust.... It is at this point i have no idea where to go from here. I am also trying to keep the fact that the players are based in seattle and how they can fit into this situation. I could use a y help anyone can offer on this!
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Have Aztlan offer up the Yucatan to the ousted Princes of the Tir and then offer up the lands south to the Rio Grande to the Pueblo Corporate Council in exchange for their western spur into old California. Then subcontract the security duties of San Francisco at a low ball cost due to better magical threat capabilities.
Form a strong alliance with Pueblo from a mercantile perspective (Aztlan makes the chips, Pueblo programs them). Suddenly, they've taken out all of their enemies. CAS is no longer bordering them. Pueblo is an ally and buffer state, who has to deal with the CAS instead. Japan becomes a client. The Yucatan problem gets handed off to greedy elves. Nobody is left to help CFS.
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Nice that gets rid of most of aztlan's problems. But how can i get a team working out of seattle involved with this plot?
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Gaeatronics may not be terribly happy with the idea. If the Salish played it smart, they might take Tir Tairngire back as a protectorate just like Tsimshian. If UCAS got wind of the plot, that means that Pacific coast bases start drying up really fast. A concern from the local ambassador may note that if Seattle is the only Pacific port friendly to UCAS, then UCAS may have to defend it even more heavily, which means more troops and an increasing threat of attack right in the heart of Salish territory. The Salish would then find it in their best interest to divide the UCAS attention up and down the west coast. Tir ExPats hiding out in Seattle may want specific territory back, not getting dumped down on the Yucatan.
Imagine if Aztlan did a Heel-Face turn and offered to give up Blood Magic and submit their research to the Draco Foundation as a means to help heal the damage done in the Ute Nation from the Great Ghost Dance. They could flip their reputation and become martyrs over night, having sacrificed their own blood to defend the world against a great magical threat. In fact, you could roll that into a Horizon gambit so that Horizon, Aztechnology, MCT, Shiawase and Renraku all make out from the deal and thus no Corporate Court backlash.
It should be noted that if 5 of the Big Ten back something, there should be absolutely terrifying repercussions.
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Add that to the fact, aztlan will have not only backed the coup that brought down the tir princes. (secretly of course) then turn around and offer the yucatan to the princes in exchange for their status as their ally. Hell the coup itself could be a subplot in and of itself.
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How to take down the Draco Foundation:
1. Get thousands of scrubs and invest them with enough power to make them awakened, maybe use Tempo.
2. Teach them the very basics of blood magic.
3. Turn in THOUSANDS of blood mages all at once to the Draco Foundation, with the proviso that they be well cared for and researched, not executed like the Jews or Native Americans (this wins popular opinion, particularly amongst NAN).
4. Draco Foundation must pay out TRILLIONS of nuyen, bankrupting the foundation.
5. In a show of good faith, MCT steps in to operate the now bankrupt foundation.
Draco Foundation out. MCT as ally. Aztechnology walks away with Trillions in nuyen. Public opinion swayed in Aztlan's favor.
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Draco Foundation only has a bounty on certain blood mages. Besides they'd see the influx and arrange for some "accidents" to happen. Horizon would also be actively opposing Aztech for multiple reasons one of which is Aztech is trying to take over their backyard.
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Draco Foundation only has a bounty on certain blood mages. Besides they'd see the influx and arrange for some "accidents" to happen. Horizon would also be actively opposing Aztech for multiple reasons one of which is Aztech is trying to take over their backyard.
If the Draco Foundation suddenly backed out of one of its founding deals like that, it would be the end of the Foundation. Dragons already have a bad reputation, something public like that would ruin them. Note that for MCT to win the support bid, someone would have to distract Wuxing. So that would probably be a combined Renraku/MCT backed Yakuza targetting the Wuxing backed triads. Renraku has a strong holding in Australia, in particular their nautical division.
Aztlan makes a deal with Horizon for sovereignty over LA and further offers additional facilities throughout Aztlan. Aztlan does not need LA as a port, they have plenty of ports on the pacific side. California becomes a protectorate of Aztlan against the Shedim coming out to the Awakened lands to the East. Since Aztechnology and Aztlan would then become clients of Horizon and subject to Horizon spin control, Horizon could feel as though they have an upper hand. That Aztlaners are actually a huge audience and would represent a large cash flow for Horizon as well.
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The Draco Foundation isn't backing out of anything, they publish a list of Toxic and Blood Mages they are paying the million for. Any others that are brought in aren't worth the million. They aren't stupid and aren't going to bust themselves like that.
Also you can't make somebody awakened or every corp would be doing it.
Edit- You also are forgetting the fact that Aztech/Aztlan nationalizes all corps in the territories they take over, so every corp who has any type of facility in the area they are planning to take over is going to fight it tooth and nail so they don't get their property jacked. It's why Aztech got the Omega order called on them in the first place.
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To further encourage an end to the use of blood magic by Aztechnology and other parties, I offer a bounty of 1 million nuyen on any blood mages captured alive and delivered to the Dunkelzahn Institute of Magical Research for the purposes of studying the effects of blood magic use on metahumanity.
So ya, they're stuck with a million nuyen tab if the subjects can be proven to use blood magic. Whacking them at the doorstep would be a HUGE political blunder.
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California would be a protectorate and thus they wouldn't nationalize... Plus, Aztlan could sign the Extraterritoriality Treaty ONLY with those companies that side with them on this. That's how they win over the Japancorps and Horizon.
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1- You can't force someone to awaken so that won't work.
2- "I'm sorry this person isn't a blood mage"
I never said whacking them on their doorstep. Plus how bad would it look for the Azzies if they were caught making blood mages.
California would be a protectorate and thus they wouldn't nationalize... Plus, Aztlan could sign the Extraterritoriality Treaty ONLY with those companies that side with them on this. That's how they win over the Japancorps and Horizon.
Azzies don't work like that. Hell they started a war with Amazonia because the cartels were cutting in too deeply on their drug profits.
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Actually, signing that treaty would be the real stakes Aztechnology would be putting up to pull off this gambit. If the plot falls through at the end, they're still stuck with that treaty and an Omega Order if they don't uphold it.
I'd run this with Evo's Buttercup getting a faint sense that something is up, probably using divination specialists. She then sends runners to various hot spots that are important somehow to what's going on, with the instructions to 'Maintain the balance'. With each step along the way, whether the runners win or lose, Aztechnology creeps a little forward in their objective. Example: Buttercup sends the runners to deal with the Yak/Triad thing. Either outcome doesn't matter as it ties up Wuxing in the process. When they get back to Seattle, they find out about the Draco swindle and MCT taking over.
This series of winning the battle but losing the war continues until the final gambit. Depending on how well the runners did with all the preceding runs would dictate how hard the final conflict is. Aztlan stands to lose extraterritorial rights, the Yucatan, everything north of the Rio Grande. But if they win, they sweep through to take the west coast undisputed.
This is a career ending run. They'll either die trying or become too famous to continue running.
1- You can't force someone to awaken so that won't work.
2- "I'm sorry this person isn't a blood mage"
I never said whacking them on their doorstep. Plus how bad would it look for the Azzies if they were caught making blood mages.
California would be a protectorate and thus they wouldn't nationalize... Plus, Aztlan could sign the Extraterritoriality Treaty ONLY with those companies that side with them on this. That's how they win over the Japancorps and Horizon.
Azzies don't work like that. Hell they started a war with Amazonia because the cartels were cutting in too deeply on their drug profits.
The stated objective of the bounty is to study the effects of bloodmagic on metahumans. Summon blood spirit. Bond blood spirit to subject. Teach subject some blood magic. Instant blood mage.
The Foundation can try to weasel out of the bounty, but that's exactly what it will look like. They'll be effectively shut down due to bad publicity.
Plus, this gambit only needs to work long enough for Aztechnology to get into California. It is a distraction to keep the Foundation out of the picture during negotiations.
It is exactly because of their tactics in the past that make the Extraterritorialty treaty so valuable. Much of this hinges on Horizon's ability to spin Aztechnology as a martyr and savior.
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Why would the Draco Foundation be interested in the negotiations in the first place? Why must they be neutralized?
Why would Horizon help the Azzies they have been in a grudge match with them for years? They know the Azzies want to destroy them.
Why are the other corps going to allow the Azzies to make such a blatant powergrab? What about the nations involved?
Edit- Also a blood spirit bound to someone doesn't make them a blood mage. If the Azzies tried something like that it would be bad for them.
The Draco Foundation doesn't need public support they have plenty of resources of their own. Besides recently they have been more focused on upholding "the spirit" of the Big D's will rather than the word of it.
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Aztlan shares a border with the PCC and CAS. To reach CFS, Aztlan has to go through (or around) Pueblo Corporate Council lands. If they try to punch through at the narrow strip, Aztlan has to then defend its entire border. PCC is not going to readily give up its only port city (Los Angeles) as it is otherwise landlocked. Both the PCC as well as the CAS and Ghostwalker up in Denver would LOVE to take a shot at pushing the border back to the Rio Grande.
Ok, so the Azzies are already using the dissadent Ute in the PCC to cause trouble there. You also have the Treaty of Denver renegotiations, which on the surface are unlikely to give the Azzies much, but they could covertly support someone in return for their support in their expansion. I don't think the Japanese are going to like being that close to the Azzies and Horizon is no friend either...
So you have to keep them busy, buy their support or.... try something completely different...
Indonesia once did something that really could work here... They invaded a nation to restore peace (actually I think is not that uncommon...). If you could have a Ute uprising, one large enough that it became difficult to contain, the Azzies might be able to cast themselves as peacekeepers, restoring order in a failed nation (or at least the bits that failed...).
Key factors in anthing are people and money. If you could bankrupt the PCC (are at least cause them financial distress) via a third party... say technomancers targeting Horizon, maybe even set the Denver Data Haven folks against Horizon (the Denver Data Haven is in PCC territory and has some sort of relationship with the PCC), maybe also use the Ute to target this whole 'shares' thing that the PCC has, and then arm an uprising terrorist faction.... maybe something like a scenario from '24' with magic thrown in.... and bang, PCC is in chaos on a number of fronts and then stage a massacre of peaceful Ute protestors (or similar) in the territory you want to 'free', have a peaceful rep of the protestors call for internation support... and send in your paratroopers peacekeepers.
Now, what to do with LA and San Fran? Maybe the peacekeeping mission in in LA and leave the Japcorps along in San Fran. Two much hassle to fight a second front against more megacorps. (They would likely already be in a shadowwar with Horizon regardless...).
Probably halt near Hestiby's territory, don't want to provoke the Dragon.
May need to blackmail a high level CAS rep, or assassinate their president, or something, to keep them busy and out of the picture, otherwise they may take Azzie peacekeepers as an agressive move and may accidently trigger a border disputer/war.
How to involve runners?
Break it into a number of Azzie-backed runs (the sort where the Mr Johnson is never the same and none of them speak with a mexican accent... but over the course of the campaign, have trid reports handed out which clearly show the Azzies taking advantage of each mission's outcome.
Start with a Bang, then go small, and then have regular Bangs until you build up the momentum... and then have the runners change sides!
I suggest.... hmmm... and this is just brainstorming... I would also suggest running the Twilight Horizon stuff at the same time, just because it would explain whats keeping Horizon so distracted....
Mission One
An assisnation of a Treaty of Denver deligate. Perhaps the CAS rep, and frame a Ute dissadent. This is important, as CAS and PCC are actually fairly tight at the moment, what with the common enemy, the Azzies. But if you can cause some tension here and start the whole Ute uprising theme, then hehehehe..... and its a heck of a first mission for a campaign.
Mission Two
Denvers a bit hot now, so lets go elsewhere... Maybe a prison break? A Ute leader, arrested for political crimes, is being transfered for questioning (re: recent assination). Time to break him loose, get him to his allies and hand over a sealed package....
Mission Three
.... I could go on... maybe in a later post. Its an interesting campaign idea.
Good Luck!
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What if they spin doctor it into an ancient dragon conspiracy that they have been trying to stop. Start cherry picking events where dragons have caused problem. Dunkelzahn created a rift in FDC. Ghostwalker is some sort of undead monster. Ares was in bed with Dunkelzahn and they caused Bug City. Ryumu caused the earthquake in Japan. etc. A dragon war would be a pretty decent distraction. That takes Ares and Saeder Krupp out of the picture while they deal with spin control. That leaves NeoNET, EVO and Wuxing. EVO and Wuxing are part of the Pacific Prosperity Group (Which Aztechnology has been trying to join). If they fight too hard against this, they become weak to the JapanCorps which would love to gobble them up. That leaves NeoNET as the wildcard.
You can say that such and such corporation wouldn't do this or that or the other thing. But the simple fact is that people do stupid stuff all the time. And they keep coming back to the stupid well repeatedly. So, yes, it is possible for a massive change in the political and corporate landscape with something like this happening.
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Anyway, regarding the OP. As Boromir might put it, "Aztlan does not simply take over the west coast of North America."
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Aztechnology is part of the PPG. I'm trying to point out it's not as simple as you make it out to be or it would have already happened. Megas want money not to govern. What does Aztechnology gain from this? Besides a huge target on their back.
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When did they get in? It must have been a recent event.
Yes. It is an incredibly difficult thing to do. Nothing about that house of cards I built was easy.
Aztechnology stands to gain several allies, lose several enemies and also dominate the entire Pacific, controlling all trade from Japan. Done right, they can also cripple the dragons and seize control over several power sites in North America. Later on, they can 'renegotiate' with Tir Yucatan and retake the peninsula. Also, once weakened, and with Ghostwalker out of play, they can retake their seat in Denver, probably under the auspices of reforming the NAN as a single nation.
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The Azzies would gain an enormous number of very tangible benefits. By holding more territory, they control the trade, natural resources, and are in a position to cripple any other corps in the region by enforcing their laws and tarriffs. With such a greater pool of resources to draw upon, Aztechnology could make serious bids on continental control, especially with the ability to almost completely cut off the rest of North America from the Japanese and Eastern corporations. Once they settled in, negotiations to get rid of any support San Fran's rebellious leader may still have from the Japs, and I can't imagine Tir Taingire would not be happy to see the xenophobic general ousted. The more cities Aztechnology can get their hands on, the more major production facilities they will control, and the more pressure (financial, political, and even military) they can exert on everyone else.
I doubt it would be easy. Let's face it, Dunzelkahn did a bang up job predicting exactly what would happen so far, what makes anyone think that suddenly his multi-billion Nuyen foundation would be stupid enough to fall for bound spirits? The trouble with that sudden influx would be that a single high-level mage figuring out that it was only a gambit using bound spirits could blow it all, and turn that raging drekstorm right back on Aztechnology. All of a sudden, the now-benevolent and helpful Azzies are exposed as (the all too familiar) villains, having been caught subjecting mundanes to blood magic experimentation and then selling them off to the Foundation!
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Yes, and that is how in the end you stop Aztechnology. But you have to catch them with their hand in the cookie jar. But you don't want to catch any of their co-conspirators. If five megas are caught with the same cookie jar, the crumbs will just be swept under the rug.
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I'd think the first time any of the Foundation's more powerful allies, I.e. Ehran or a dragon, got a peek, that whole plot crumbles
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The Azzies would gain an enormous number of very tangible benefits. By holding more territory, they control the trade, natural resources, and are in a position to cripple any other corps in the region by enforcing their laws and tarriffs. With such a greater pool of resources to draw upon, Aztechnology could make serious bids on continental control, especially with the ability to almost completely cut off the rest of North America from the Japanese and Eastern corporations. Once they settled in, negotiations to get rid of any support San Fran's rebellious leader may still have from the Japs, and I can't imagine Tir Taingire would not be happy to see the xenophobic general ousted. The more cities Aztechnology can get their hands on, the more major production facilities they will control, and the more pressure (financial, political, and even military) they can exert on everyone else.
I doubt it would be easy. Let's face it, Dunzelkahn did a bang up job predicting exactly what would happen so far, what makes anyone think that suddenly his multi-billion Nuyen foundation would be stupid enough to fall for bound spirits? The trouble with that sudden influx would be that a single high-level mage figuring out that it was only a gambit using bound spirits could blow it all, and turn that raging drekstorm right back on Aztechnology. All of a sudden, the now-benevolent and helpful Azzies are exposed as (the all too familiar) villains, having been caught subjecting mundanes to blood magic experimentation and then selling them off to the Foundation!
In the shadowrun universe, the Nation State is weaker then the Corporations. Controlly terrirtory does not equal control of whats in the territory. Therefore control of territory does not equal control of trade, or resources, or production. Private individuals control this. Now Azzies do have a history nationalising these things and generally annoying other corps, but they did get a serious smackdown last they did this. Other megacorps are unlikely to support an Azzie expansion and they can hit Azzies elsewhere, like Europe and the rest of North America. This is not a computer game where owning territory (gold mines) gives you the edge along.
Also, controlly territory is very, very expensive. Even now, when nation states wield more power than they do in Shadowrun, many nations run in the red (though there are strangely sound economic reasons to do so...), and the privitise as much as they can, not nationalise.
You could not cut NA from Asia by control of territroy. To do so would most certainly provoke a war. Which is expensive. And Azzies have too many interests spread around the world the risk them for a pointless war. Actually better to keep it open and charge a reasonable tax.
Not sure why Azzies need to spend so much effort on the Draco Foundation at all? The other corps and the remaining nation states are far bigger challenges.
Not sure why the immortal Tir elves want the pensular?
Creating Blood Mages to bankrupt the Draco foundation? Only if the Draco Foundation is run by idiots, which I would assume is not the case. I thought the list of Blood Mages was limited, and even if it wasn't, its a simple enough tasks to avoid/delaying payments etc and then investigate how the bloodmages are being created. Who are not just idiots getting farmed by the Azzies. If you created an army of awakened blood mages (and thats a big IF), they are powerful and... well ruthless is the nicest word I can use.
What will happen? A blood mage gets dumped at the Draco foundation's door, they will investigate his entire past, using both mundane means and powerful magic, and find one) just created and unlikely to have done much to taint his essence, b) the connection to the Azzies.
Of course, I think that the plan, on the surface and without further detail, seems a tade crude. I think the Azzies would be more subtle. And I still don't know why they are spending so much effort to target the Draco Foundation and not all there many, many other enemies?
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The blood mage gambit was ONE of what would have to be hundreds of small sub plots that they would have to do to get their objective. If you're fixating on this aspect, then it is already doing its job, tie up the Draco Foundation. Ultimately, the blood mage gambit comes down to this: Dunkelzahn wanted the Azzies to stop using blood magic. If the Azzies show up on the doorstep with all of these blood magic hedge magicians, plus concerns for their safety and a willingness to provide their blood magic research, the Draco Foundation would very much be violating both the spirit and letter of the Will.
Let's assume they hesitate and stall to avoid paying. Think about who is really out there hunting down the 'real' blood mages. Shadowrunners. How many shadowrunners are willing to get jerked around like that? It is a lot of work to bring someone in alive, especially a blood mage. The Azzies could also spin this in their favor by pointing out that the Draco Foundation isn't willing to fulfill their contracts and that they are selectively killing people for assassination, not general protection of the public safety as they would profess. The Azzies walk away with their ten thousand blood mages and the Foundation has to deal with the backlash. On the back side, they've also planted the seed in the minds of the general public that they have TEN THOUSAND blood mages on the street.
Yes, the Foundation would save its money by not paying out or delaying payment, but they would be tied up in a PR mess if they do. The Foundation gets tied up for a while dealing with that mess. If they pay up, then they are in financial straits and need a white knight to step in. It doesn't matter how much the Foundation has, it is limited. Aztechnology just needs to create more than that to strain the Foundation's resources.
But again. This is just one of many smaller moves on a great big chessboard. Work it out so either way, Aztechnology wins.
You've also got to accept the basic premise that Aztlan takes over the West Coast. What needs to happen for that to take place. I think that it is obvious that they need to make some alliances to get it done. What needs to happen to get those alliances?
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Its an idea. I think there are a number of things to consider:
1) Artificially 'Awakening' someone, particularly to a specific type, is not currently possible. But lets assume that the Azzies worked it out.
1a) Azzies worked it out, something worth billions of Euros and would make them potentially a power without equal... and the create disposable cannon fodder?
1b) Azzies can awaken people now... every other megacorp and remaining nation state powers quickly organise their own shadow operations to still secret. Soon every nation / corp as 100% awakened security personal.
2) Azzies 'create' an army of Blood Mages. Immortal Elves and other shadowpowers suddenly see the stakes much higher (as in the end of the world type stakes) and act accordinly. Harliquin and others, most likely Hestiby and even Lowfyr, take actions in the shadows to ensure this secret stays buried forever. Azzies most likely destroyed in the process/
3) Azzies show up at the door of Draco Foundation with 10,000 blood mages. Draco Foundation takes the following actions:
3a) Delay. Need to verfiy, confirm, whatever. Shadow community etc not that worried because more concerning is that 10,000 blood mages just appeared out of nowhere. Most figure its a trick (because it obviously is).
3b) Draco Foundation or similar (perhaps Horizon) run a media campaign to discredit the Blood Mages and/or Azzies.
3c) Draco Foundation declares they are infact not Blood Mages, even perhaps a new, similar but safe, varient. Azzies recieve a token reward only in public, shadowwar begins in the background.
3d) Draco investigate the Blood Mages, trace them back to Azzies, deal with the problem. Perhaps call in Dragons for assistance. Perhaps expose Azzies. Suddenly the Dragon Terrorist (forgot his name) is actually a hero...
3e) Remember, Draco Foundation has a large number of shadowrun contacts, and some very special in house resources. Azzies are not going to have a cakewalk.
3f) Still don't know why Azzies are even attacking the Draco Foundation in relation to its expansion attempts?
4) 10,000 Awakened Blood Mages who then get sold out. Um.... yes... I can see how that will turn out....
Look, its an idea, but how well it works depends in part of who your playing with. Some players go with the flow, some will tear apart the logic with a viciousness of a wolverine. My players would walk if I ran the above. Just saying.
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The Draco Foundation either pays up or they don't. If they don't, all those Blood Mages come home and the Draco Foundation gets discredited. That is probably the desired outcome.
If they pay up, a carefully arranged white knight appears to bail them out so that the Draco Foundation thinks it gets the upper hand against Aztechnology.
If they don't pay up, then a public relations nightmare gets dumped on them, claiming that they aren't actually interested in helping the world and that blood mages are misunderstood. Additionally, the dragons are conspiring for world domination, etc. Release contents of mysterious room mentioned in Dunkie's Will which supports the claim.
While the Foundation deals with the issues, Azzies can maneuver elsewhere without interference from the Foundation.
The 'sold out' blood mages could be the portion of society that is awakened but driven insane. In exchange for turning themselves in (with promises of safety), they get 10% of the reward donated to their families (100K each is a lot for peons). Without doing some sort of awakening ritual, 1 in 10,000 people has some sort of magical talent. 1 in 5 of THOSE has training. 1 in 4 of THOSE is a full magician. There are 134 million people in Aztlan. That means that there are 10720 estimated number of untrained citizens with some magical talent. Find them. Teach them ONE magical skill/spell. Teach them ONE technique using blood magic. Throw in some psychiatric therapy and support for their family. Boom! Legit 10K blood mages. BOOM! 10K potentially dangerous wild cards off the street. BOOM! Massive infrastructure put in place to secure all the magic talent in Aztlan. This is something they should do regardless of using them for the Draco Gambit.
Now, step back from the Draco Gambit. That is just ONE of many moves on the chess board. Look at the others. I strongly suggest that Horizon gets on board with the Azzies as well as the PCC. The Shedim are a major problem in the LA area. That's not a liability anyone wants to deal with, especially the PCC. Give the PCC a port on the Gulf and LA becomes less vital, especially given the magical threat. If the Azzies can produce 10K magicians in a single swoop, that would be a big selling point towards being able to fight a magical threat. "We're here to help. We can wait until they turn you all into zombies if you like. But we'd just as soon fight the threat before they get too integrated into society." Horizon was founded on fixing California after the earthquake. If the Azzies present their case in a pro-California way, i.e. it was the corporations that drove a wedge between California and Mexico all those centuries ago. It is time to reunite our peoples and heal this land of ours.
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Horizon are in it to win it against Aztlan in South America; I don't see them backing their blood enemies (pun intended) against the Draco Foundation. Besides, why go through all this when Aztechnology is awfully close to getting what they want (a return to Denver). Focusing on that, and a contingency plan for when/if Ghostwalker comes back, seems like a much higher priority than picking a fight with Draco.
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OP: Aztlan takes over West Coast. I can't change that. I'm just trying to figure out how. But if Horizon is against Aztlan in South America, then that is a carrot Aztlan can throw to Horizon for their support.
I think most of my takeover techniques involve a 'Heel Face Turn' on Aztechnology's part. Basically "We've been fighting and sacrificing for the good of the world here... You've all benefited from us doing what you were not willing to do..."
Don't get me wrong. I'll be the first to say that Aztlan taking over the west coast is nigh impossible.
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Joe, I know your keen on this as a posisble. Thats cool. But I just don't buy it. As a plot, it feels too crude and more like a sledgehammer then something subtle I would expect from Aztlan. I would rather see them finance a series of magical terrorist attacks (via double blinds) which hit Draco Foundation at the same time, preferably with loud, public and very bloody effects.. That would keep Draco just as busy with less potential issues.
I also don't think territory swaps are very easy or likely. These things are complex, and as every government is riddled with spies of all sorts, very public long before it takes effect. Could happen, but I would expect lots of blackmail and dirty tricks first.
I would rather see something more subtle, more behind the scenes. I would rather not see enemies working together so easily. I would rather see Azzies using the Ute dissadents, the technomancer anarchists, and the Treaty of Denver discussions as their tools. Assassinations, black mail, terrorism and dirty tricks. These are the tools of a megacorp. or just plan military strike. But no comic book plots for me. In my opinion of course.
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A direct military assault won't work. That would result in an Omega Order being called immediately since it would be a direct threat on Horizon HQ. It would also be an attack on the NAN (PCC) which does have the magical strength to fight back. It is also an attack on a Japanese protectorate (rogue or not).
Aztechnology needs to remove several fronts before going active. That means political fronts (CAS, PCC, Amazonia), internal battles (Yucatan), corporate (Horizon, Japancorps) and shadow (Dunkelzahn's operatives, and probably Ghostwalker). I count at least 10 gambits that need to be run to clear the path for a military assault. I don't see them getting cookie jar committed until like step 8 or so. Securing California would be step 9. Step 10 would involve the return of Daniel Howling Coyote to reunite the NAN, including the anti-anglo Makah and Crow of the S-SC and destroying the land bridge of Panama and severing the link to Amazonia.
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Ahh... this I am on the same page with you.
Threats/Obstacles:
PCC and other NAN allies (eg Sioux)
Tir
Hestiby and her territory
San Fran
Amazonia
Horizon
Other Megacorps, particular Jap Corps (Renraku is now based out of LA? for their NA operations, or New York? I remember something about this in the Shutdown book).
CAS
Ghost Walker
Other Dragons including Sirrug
Draco Foundation
Ongoing civil war in Yucatan.
The military assault is not likely, not with the odds against them, but hey, you never know.
Divide and Conquer and Only Fight One War on One Front. Two important rules.
So first step is to resolve Amazonia Conflict. Make Peace or Win the War. This removes a massive thorn from their side. Step Two would be to resolve the Yucatan Conflict, same deal. Can't give away territory you don't control.
Step Three, sow confusion and discontent among your enemies. This is a shadow war. Distabilise CAS, PCC, and anyone else who might possible get in your way. Assassination, fund home grown terrorists (even if they would normally also hate you, eg Afghanstan during Soviet occupation, actually most major cold war events). Make sure its through double blinds and linked to you. The key here is to keep your enemies occupied and distracted and unable to act when you make your move.
Step Four, Take the Higher Ground. Before any actual terrirtory is taken, you must take the higher ground, at least in the public eyes. Massive media campaign painting you as the good guys and potential targets as terrorists, failed states, aggressors. eg Iraq, Poland, East Timor, WWI etc. Be attacked, defend yourself, play the victim guard, demand justice! or Big Brother, Human Rights card, eg failed state invasions. If Step Three is successful, it should provide justification.
Step Five. Attack! Just Don't Announce It! This step involves actually making your move, but always do unannounced. So everyone can see what your about to do, eg Step Four got you support, just don't set dates. Only the US does this and it could cost lives if you can't dominate your enemy immediately. See if you can be invited into the territory, perhaps by someone involved in Step 3 (rebel/freedom fighting groups), or can some sort of international body sign-off.
A lot of these steps overlap. Step 3 is where you would find the most work for shadowrunners, but there is lots of work in Step Four and Five. Runners could easily be involved in both the Azzies and Enemies side of the conflict. Step Four could be skipped in a more fiction, cinematic setting, and replaced with the 'Surprise Armada' scenario. You know, when the runners accidently stumble on a massive fleet/army just moments before the invasion.
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Can't give away territory you don't control.
I believe that is the entire premise behind extraterritorialty and private law enforcement.
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I don't see Aztlan even trying to take over the west cost, Seattle however now that would be something.
Now I am not talking about a Military coup here, but have a look at some points and tell me if you like what you see happening
- Seattle has considered breaking off from the UCAS
- Aztechnology lost a lot when they got kicked out of Denver
- The Aztechnology pyramid in Seattle is extreamly important to doing business north of the Aztlan border
- Ares Macrotechnology is a long standing enemy of Aztech and Knight Errant becoming the law in town is a destabilizing element
Sounds like a potential story arc to me
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I want to say some time back in the 50's, Aztlan sent a big battleship up to Everett to push the rules for servicing non-UCAS vessels at the base. I think that Salish vessels were being serviced there or something.