Shadowrun

Shadowrun General => The Secret History => Topic started by: The Analog Kid on <11-25-11/0632:19>

Title: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Analog Kid on <11-25-11/0632:19>
So hold on a second...

...based on Roger Soaring Owl's story at the end of "Street Legends," the reason Ares is so interested in fighting bugs is...

...because they want to take the "best" parts of insect spirits and use them to turn their corp soldiers into living bioweapons?!?  Ares Firewatch with insect pincers as sword and implanted insect chitins as body armor?!?

If so?  Mind.  Blown.  It takes everything I ever thought about Ares from "Queen Euphoria" until today and dumps it right on its' head...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <11-25-11/0657:45>
Knight is apparently under the delusion that they can control the bugs, and wipe out the ones that don't behave. Needless to say, this is going to all come crashing down. And Chicago will probably be ground zero for it. Again.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Wakshaani on <11-25-11/0737:36>
It could also be that Knight's been flipped.

Which would be a terrible way to go out, but, man, who'd have seen it coming?
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Analog Kid on <11-25-11/0750:05>
Knight is apparently under the delusion that they can control the bugs, and wipe out the ones that don't behave. Needless to say, this is going to all come crashing down. And Chicago will probably be ground zero for it. Again.

Ah.  I remember reading stuff about "chitins as body armor" in the story (don't have the book handy) and just shuddered.  That's Aztechnology levels of screwed up right there...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <11-25-11/0821:08>
Yes, yes it is. And it WILL end badly, mark my words. The best we can hope for is that someone kills Knight, and when the other two partners find out what's going on, they will sanitize everyone connected with the project with extreme prejudice.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: kirk on <11-25-11/0904:32>
Yes, yes it is. And it WILL end badly, mark my words. The best we can hope for is that someone kills Knight, and when the other two partners find out what's going on, they will sanitize everyone connected with the project with extreme prejudice.
well, they'll try to sanitize. But there'll always be that chip or those plans or even the people who saw that really effective combat tool...

Once the larva's out of the egg, you can't stuff it back in.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Longshot23 on <11-25-11/1046:16>
Be vewy vewy quiet . . . I'm hunting Ares  . . .

It would be both poetic and tragic if Nightfire had been invested.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-25-11/1247:13>
Or outright hilarious if Nightfire has to beg JackPoint to extract him from a Bug Den.  ;D
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Fizzygoo on <11-25-11/1304:39>
I, for one, welcome our new Ares-Insect overlords...but then again, I'm currently the GM for my group so I'm in the minority but I'm sure I can find ways to merge my players' opinions in line with that of good old Ares.

Ares: the first AAA-hive good merge.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-25-11/1318:53>
Actually, I think they've been hinting at Ares and the Insects for quite some time now, I seem to recall something in Dunkie's Will about Knight's AmerInd Chummer having to keep his eyes open...  And he left in quite a huff around 2070-2071, right?
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Nath on <11-25-11/1406:05>
Threats 2, published in 2001 and set in 2062,  had a chapter on an Ares Macrotechnology subsidiary making experiments on bug spirit and guard dogs in Algonkian-Manitou. Game Information already suggested they would loose control at some point.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Patrick Goodman on <11-25-11/1413:28>
Yeah, this one's been around for a while. Someone's just finally decided to start playing with it. I, for one, can't wait to see what happens next.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-25-11/1631:32>
Great thing about Shadowrun, so many threads...  A few, unfortunately, we'll never know, mayhaps.   :'(

*Pours a 40 on the curb for fallen writers*
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: bobo69 on <11-27-11/0711:12>
Actually according to Conspiracy theories...the Ares project is already kaput...Crash 2.0 fucked the Ares insect spirit crashes by messingup their security and computers. By the time ares teams went to resuce the projects a few days later..hundreds of Ares black ops operatives were missing along with a few Queens and many bug spirits. Since then the Bugs have been getting smarter and more subtle in their operations.

Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <11-27-11/0800:54>
No, that's not what it said. It said that the program to make flesh form guard dogs was sanitized, except for the locations where it wasn't. Unlimitech is a subsidiary of Ares, and they have a lovely program of trying to say that flesh forms are bioware.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: bobo69 on <11-27-11/1232:12>
Well looks like Ares is truelly fucked...

And Damien Knight is either a big deluded IDIOT(most likely) or possesed by something(unlikely).

As for Roger Soaring Owl...I think his revelation of that Ares might not only be experimenting with Insect Spirit queens but also might be infested with Insect spirits will probably cause not only a civil war within Ares as Damine's co partners try to kick him out or take power but also the other megas will take advantage and eat up Ares.

Not only them but also the Dragons(esp. Ghostwalker), the NANs, various secret orgs and the various militaries will probalby try to take Ares down too or at least clean it up of Bugs.

Probably a corporate court order...

This won't be easy and the takedown of Ares will probably result in worldwide chaos.

This will be EPIC.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-27-11/1234:27>
Insect Spirits with the best firearms available on the market, people.  Think about that for a second...  ;D
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: bobo69 on <11-27-11/1254:21>
Well not really, maybe they got the best military but according to the corporate guide, Knight only owns like 23 percent of the company...his rivals own like 36 percent together(with 12 percent owned by the Draco foundation).

However Knight's controlling share is in weapons research so yeah he may have the best weapons but all Megas(Corporate court), Dragons, major powers, even secret societies combined will smash Knight so it will be bloody.

As for the powers who want Knight's head I can say that Aztechnology, Renraku, Saeder krupp, Maersk(AA), Proteus(AA)have axes to grind vs. Ares.

Well Aztechnology hates Ares for its support of teh Yucatan rebels and the Amazonians and see Ares firmly behind the CAS. All the rest including Azzies see Ares as a competitor in their arms industries and wish to see Ares taken down or eaten by them since Ares is top dog in this field.

Also the Dragon groups and cults have a proviso in exterminating the bugs whenever they are found, so expect the Dragons to try to take out Damien Knight...interesting as said earlier that the Draco foundation controls like 12 percent of Ares. Maybe we can have an alliane with Vogel and the Draco to kick out Knight and control Ares. Ares would be a powerful tool for Dragons not with Saeder Krupp.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-27-11/1257:22>
Unless we see a Dragon Civil War occur.  And there's still the Immortal Elves to consider, I highly doubt we've seen the last of them.

Harley at the very least.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <11-27-11/1257:59>
Insect Spirits with the best firearms available on the market, people.  Think about that for a second...  ;D
Insect spirits with top of the line Ares weapons < Thor shot
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: bobo69 on <11-27-11/1307:00>
While the dragons consider the bugs, blood spirits, toxics to be threats, these are not considered top priority by the dragons...

These guys consider major moves by other dragons to be the top threats or an outside force(like the Aztechnology actively looking for anti dragon weapons).

While the bug spirits, toxics etc. are big threats to mankind, I think dragon hubris and preoocupation with each other power games distract them from these guys...heck I won't be surprised if the Great dragons use the bugs, toxics on each other or their enemies.

There are even rumors of a few dragons going Toxic(Pobre) or that great dragon that supposedly lairs in the SOX(Lofwy's rival) who turned mutant and crazy.

What about this scary notion...a dragon possesed by a Insect spirit(queen). Possible and scary.


Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: bobo69 on <11-27-11/1320:24>
The immortal elves are preety much around...Harlequin came back after a decade under the radar.

The immortal elves got their own agenda.

So in the books what are the main conspiracies:

Great dragons: Yeah too wrapped up in their rivalries which is starting to become a civil war and starting to affect everyone.

Great Dragons vs. the Azzies: Well mainly Sirrurg and the Great dragon who rules Amazonia.

Bugs: The Bug threat is the increasing threat while everyone is busy. and Yeah they are starting to creep up everywhere. In Earthdawn, the bugs became a grave threat which nearly destroyed the kingdoms of Barsaive(Invae burnings).

True Vampires: I don't think the vampires want global domination since they already have their claws in many ruling circles of countries and orgs. The infected probably want to be left alone on their devices.

Elves: Well the main metahuman rivals of the Dragons for like a very long time.

Azzies= Therans: Yeah you have to wonder about this, the Azzies use blood magic a lot like the Therans. Makes you think that the Theran immortals control the Azzies.

Imperial Japan: Well they are trying to take over the world and failing at that though Japan is probably the strongest economic and military(debatable) power in the world.  These guys are too distracted by their internal problems and the Ryumyo vs. Lung/Masaru rivalry.

The Black Lodge vs. everyone else. : Well another org trying to take over the world.....the Dragons and Elves will probably be amused. Probably behind that filed attempt to unite the UCAS and CAS as the Black Lodge is more power and influential in the UCAS and CAS.  Not surprised if they are behind Imperial Japan too since the Black Lodge are humano centric like Imperial Japan is.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: bobo69 on <11-27-11/1322:45>
Forgot:

I also won't be surpried to see Sirrurg getting some Toxics and Bug spirits and even Shedim to hit the Azzies.

I read in Conspiracy Theories that Mannaus the capital of Amazonia has one of the largest hives in the world. If the Dragons do not like the Bugs so why is there a major yard in the backyard of a Great Dragon, no to mention a bunch of great snakes and Lindworms too.

Maybe bug spirits are their favorite snacks.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-27-11/1520:06>
How did that line go again in Ghost Story of The Dresden Files about Vampires?  "We don't need to pen in our food.  It's already been done.  They're called 'Cities'."

Something like that.  Yes, they're the Sparkly Vampires, but the ass they kick make up for it.  And that we mostly see from a guy whose supernatural powers are mostly running on "E".
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Longshot23 on <11-27-11/2142:43>
It might be that CGL is looking to make Insect Spirits the SR Big Bad instead of the Horrors.  Lesser in scale maybe, but a lot more immediate.

Personally I like the idea of the Horrors looming beneath the astral horizon - but one or more of the current SR writers has said that they hate it.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <11-27-11/2209:20>
There are multiple reasons, but one thing to note is that a lot of SR players, and especially GMs, love them.

My hatred of the Horrors and ED simply means that I am not going to propose anything with them, but you give me far too much credit if you think that I am influencing the direction of the line.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: FastJack on <11-27-11/2219:03>
GM's (like myself) love bugs because they are an enemy that, albeit very tough, still can be beat. You toss a Horror at a team of runners and you start watching your players slit their own character's throats since Horrors require Dragon/IE level magic to even restrain, much less take down.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Patrick Goodman on <11-27-11/2309:26>
Does not mean a thing. Some of the writers hate it, but some of the writers love it. The Horrors probably aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

That said: The bugs are already here, and bad shit is happening because of them. And certain folks at Ares aren't on the right side of that equation.

Things are going to get interesting, I think.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: bobo69 on <11-27-11/2337:28>
Well the magic level isn't that high yet for the horrors to break through.

Anyways during Earthdawn, Barsaive got really messed up by the Invae burnings before the horrors came.

I believe the Invae infestations got almost wiped out when the horrors came...the horrors make the insect spirits look like kindergarden.

I believe the horrors will wipe out the insect spirits since they are rivals and the horrors probably cannot gain any power from them.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <11-27-11/2350:13>
Oh my God! Who cares!?!
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-28-11/0003:45>
Oh my God! Who cares!?!
Some folks, apparently.

The Horrors were ahead of schedule, and Dunkie, hopefully, has put them back on the old time table.  But, yes, the Bugs are here now.  So most groups that don't plan in centuries (IE:  Non-Dragons/Immortal Elves) are more concerned about them now.  And Shedim.  And Toxics.  And other shadowy and dark things that are slowly working their way through the Astral that we haven't seen yet and have no concept in human history.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <11-28-11/0032:42>
Obviously.

This is why people hate me.


But Patrick is right. They aren't here. The bugs are. The bugs are a fun threat also because we get to play with the idea that you cannot kill them all, and what does not kill them really does make them stronger. The idea that there are nuke-proof, FAB III-proof, insecticide-proof insect spirits that can create Perfect Merges that are used to infiltrate the highest echelons of power is just ... It's swell.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-28-11/0036:32>
*Looks at your rank*  Don't hate you too bad it appears.  That FastJack (No, not him, the other one) guy, on the other hand...  ;D

*Dodges the BanHammer*
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <11-28-11/0112:50>
Some of us like the extended history linking SR and ED. But I agree, the mana levels aren't high enough for Horrors yet. We don't have the lizardmen or obsidimen yet. Or windlings (unless Pixies are the new Windlings). But if I had to lay money, I'd say that the first hints at horrors will come from people investigating the Deep Lacuna. The elves are too secretive to spring that kind of knowledge on the world, and the dragons moreso, unless one of them decides to pick up a page of Dunkelzhan's playbook, and say, "All right, now that you've stopped freaking out (mostly) about magic being back in the world, we've got a bit of bad news for ya..."

Or the cyberzombie D's ghost possessed could always come back from the bridge to say hello.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <11-28-11/0127:06>
Yeah, I can get passionate about it. I didn't mean to be such a dick.

It's just that, yes, it doesn't strike me as a really big deal. There should be little things here and there, but I especially don't get the whole "Oh my God! They're going to be here RIGHT NOW if we don't do something!" That's just ... anticlimactic, for one thing. It's not in the cards. At least as far as I have ever seen it. I can't imagine the idea of us blowing up the world. And that's exactly what that would do. So it's just about as likely as Evil winning in any of these big comic book events. The world keeps rolling along because you can't change things like that.

But the bugs ... They're here, they're patient, and they don't stop coming. Ever.


I'm also obsessed with the idea that virtually no one who encounters any ED artifacts knows what they are, or can do. And like how the street will figure out it's own uses for everything, so will metahumanity figure out its own uses for whatever it finds. So ... Let's see what happens when people who know more about string theory than Barsaive take a look at this stuff.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crash_00 on <11-28-11/0133:33>
Evil winning? I love it when evil wins. Now I feel the need to watch Swordfish and Jeepers Creepers again. Its going to be a long long night.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <11-28-11/0139:09>
If I want to watch Evil win, I'll read the news.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Fizzygoo on <11-28-11/0248:35>
The occasional mana spike that makes Horrors an issue, every fifty to a hundred years maaaybeee, can be a nice bit of spice, but for dealing with the Horrors in-their-totality-of-terribleness, well, that's something the Shadowrun writers of somewhere between 3,000 AD - 4,000 AD (in real life) will have to deal with (so long as the Shadowrun timeline keeps progressing along at current time + ~60 years. Even though the Horrors can be fun to talk about, imo.

Yeah, I can get passionate about it. I didn't mean to be such a dick.

Better to be a passionate dick that's open and known about than one that's lurking all Spanish Inquisition style ;)

It's just that, yes, it doesn't strike me as a really big deal. There should be little things here and there, but I especially don't get the whole "Oh my God! They're going to be here RIGHT NOW if we don't do something!" That's just ... anticlimactic, for one thing. It's not in the cards. At least as far as I have ever seen it. I can't imagine the idea of us blowing up the world. And that's exactly what that would do. So it's just about as likely as Evil winning in any of these big comic book events. The world keeps rolling along because you can't change things like that.

But the bugs ... They're here, they're patient, and they don't stop coming. Ever.

Totally agree.

Little things, tiny little things, that are here and there,
Only after years, fighting hives o' the Bug
And toxic spirits of water, earth, air
The runners may glimpse what's under the rug.

They may perceive an extra eye or nine
In the mirror in the dead of the night.
Or a walking nightmare, the secret sign,
While murdering friends in a firefight.

Yet these are but gold moments in the sun.
Trifle worries; whispers born on the wind
Not ev'n hinting the massacre to come.
B'yond the pale o' every mortal who's sinned.

This is the horror that is in store, though
Not for you, for your children's children's marrow.

I'm also obsessed with the idea that virtually no one who encounters any ED artifacts knows what they are, or can do.

Snopes is quoted as saying, "The leading theory of magic is that it has a cyclical nature. Magic was part of the world, then it was not, now it is, and someday it will leave again." (CT pg 67). So at least, amongst magical academia, it is widely thought (hypothesized) that these magical artifacts come from the 4th world (or mana spikes in the 5th). But what meaning, significance, and magical-use is lost until cultural records surface (if ever) or an immortal in-the-know steps forward and makes public.

And like how the street will figure out it's own uses for everything, so will metahumanity figure out its own uses for whatever it finds. So ... Let's see what happens when people who know more about string theory than Barsaive take a look at this stuff.

I like that too. What happens when magical theorists bring to bear the computational power of a 2070 era super computer to run statistical and probability analysis of mana flow in and around an artifact, how is the mass-energy changed, etc. Ahhh, science and magic together at last :)

And how will the bugs use all of this to build a better hive :D
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Nath on <11-28-11/0452:53>
Well Aztechnology hates Ares for its support of teh Yucatan rebels and the Amazonians and see Ares firmly behind the CAS.
Still, according to War! (see page 68), Aztlan is nonetheless hiring Ares Macrotechnology troops to operate in Bogota. Don't have t love them to work with them.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <11-28-11/0459:14>
Fellow Corporate Court board member vs. BRA holdout.

Hmm ... That scale doesn't look too even.


Actually, let's be honest. Someone might be getting a curb stomping because Giants walk among us, and don't ever forget it.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: bobo69 on <11-28-11/1138:46>
well if you bring the Equinox RPG into the table from Red  Brick, yeah the horrors are like a few thousand years into the future.

Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-28-11/1224:19>
Evil winning? I love it when evil wins. Now I feel the need to watch Swordfish and Jeepers Creepers again. Its going to be a long long night.
Um, who are the good guys again?
If I want to watch Evil win, I'll read the news.
That depends...  Things are changing.  We might see not-so-evil win for once.  Let's face it, the world has always been a matter of the lesser of two evils.  Vlad the Impaler is a hero in his home country, for example.  (His odd eating habits are politely ignored.).
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <11-28-11/1427:34>
Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chosé.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Bull on <11-28-11/1628:48>
Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chosé.

The more things change, the more things become a Meme on the internet and piss off Bull? :)

(Seriously, fraggin' 4Chan and LolCats.  I blame them for the deplorable state the internet is in today)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <11-28-11/1712:05>
Really? You're letting bloggers, chatrooms, and wannabe hackers off the hook?
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <11-28-11/1713:29>
No, he's programmed a special hell for them to be locked into.

And it's in an Ultraviolet Node, too!  ;D
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Fizzygoo on <11-28-11/2120:45>
Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chosé.

The more things change, the more things become a Meme on the internet and piss off Bull? :)

(Seriously, fraggin' 4Chan and LolCats.  I blame them for the deplorable state the internet is in today)

"Prepare thyself for the time
when Weird Al plays
vuvuzelas riding upon a pale
nyan cat." - Internet Bible (pdf) (http://www.fizzygoo.com/ww/bibliosdelaselInternetus_theolderstuff.pdf), Somelolz, 0.27
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Xzylvador on <11-29-11/0911:13>
Um, who are the good guys again?

Horizon is good for your soul.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <11-29-11/0925:24>
Um, who are the good guys again?

Horizon is good for your soul.

Um, 'Jack? Think you missed one of those Horizon moles.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: FastJack on <11-29-11/0948:20>
Um, who are the good guys again?

Horizon is good for your soul.

Um, 'Jack? Think you missed one of those Horizon moles.
(http://netanimations.net/ani-pm-hammer.gif)
Got 'em.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Argent on <11-30-11/0004:51>
Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chosé.

Old school quotes for the win. ;)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: TheWanderingJewels on <11-30-11/1715:05>
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <11-30-11/1828:47>
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/One_Ring_inscription.svg/500px-One_Ring_inscription.svg.png)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: FastJack on <11-30-11/2105:58>
I knew there was a reason I liked you, Ouroboros...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <12-01-11/0124:36>
Well, if you wanted to get ooOOoooold school ...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Zilfer on <12-02-11/1433:40>
What the heck does that stand for? o.O'
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: TheWanderingJewels on <12-02-11/1436:22>
Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.


Translated, the words mean:

One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <12-02-11/1438:26>
What the heck does that stand for? o.O'
Honestly, what are they teaching kids today?
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Zilfer on <12-02-11/1441:42>
See I thought they looked similiar to the LOTR but  I didn't want to look like a complete dunce when I said that and turn out to be wrong. XD Should have went with my gut feeling. xD
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <12-02-11/1450:23>
They even put it on video for kids today with their ADHD brains and inability to read and all that!  :P

Not that my generation was any better...  Idiot getting a "B" for a "Book Report" on Rolling Stone magazine, and I getting a "C" on...  I forget, but at least it was a BOOK.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Zilfer on <12-02-11/1651:55>
They even put it on video for kids today with their ADHD brains and inability to read and all that!  :P

Not that my generation was any better...  Idiot getting a "B" for a "Book Report" on Rolling Stone magazine, and I getting a "C" on...  I forget, but at least it was a BOOK.

>.> I got an A on a book I never even read. Had to do a "journal" on the book "Night" which is about a guy in the holocaust. <.<

Oh yes, I'm good at getting by doing very little work. XD Is this a skill or a flaw? I can never tell which.... <.<
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <12-02-11/1700:06>
I once got an A on a philosophy essay where the topic was "The Mind is a Machine. Discuss." I drek you not, I took that thing in stream of consciousness form from Godzilla, to the Borg, to the Matrix, and back again. Even I had no idea what I was writing until it was on the screen. Fun stuff.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Zilfer on <12-02-11/1746:47>
I once got an A on a philosophy essay where the topic was "The Mind is a Machine. Discuss." I drek you not, I took that thing in stream of consciousness form from Godzilla, to the Borg, to the Matrix, and back again. Even I had no idea what I was writing until it was on the screen. Fun stuff.

Gotta love there is no "right" answer questions. People seem to have a freakin hard time with these questions.... *sigh* poor sods....


haha, sod the quest! xD (Sorry was thinking of a Indie short serise about DnD related stuff.... if anyone has the chance look up "Journey Quest" and/Or their earlier movie "The Gamers: Dorkness Rising")
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: TheWanderingJewels on <12-04-11/0018:00>
Knight is apparently under the delusion that they can control the bugs, and wipe out the ones that don't behave. Needless to say, this is going to all come crashing down. And Chicago will probably be ground zero for it. Again.

so Knight gets possessed by the Invae after the Chicago affair and Ares starts spreading the use of security bug-things throughout the corp.

And you thought the Universal Brotherhood was bad...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <12-04-11/0029:15>
Knight replaced?  I doubt it.  Underestimated the abilities and determination of his opponent, though -- that I can believe.  He does it so often ...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <12-04-11/0849:54>
Knight replaced?  I doubt it.  Underestimated the abilities and determination of his opponent, though -- that I can believe.  He does it so often ...
Pretty stupid underestimation.

Everyone knows how damned tough and stubborn Cockroaches are, after all.  Just can't kill the damned things!

EDIT:  Scary Thought:  Horsefly Insect Spirits!  Think Mosquito force-fed steroids from birth with a glandular problem that makes them five times the normal size.  And, yes, 'Roid Rage too.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: TheWanderingJewels on <12-05-11/1849:01>
eww
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <12-05-11/2009:37>
Yeah.  Northern Ontario is not a nice place for insect life.  They're damned tough.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Fizzygoo on <12-06-11/2238:30>
Scary Thought:  Horsefly Insect Spirits!  Think Mosquito force-fed steroids from birth with a glandular problem that makes them five times the normal size.  And, yes, 'Roid Rage too.

Yup, growing up in Wyoming, horseflies are the worst. And a Sioux Wildcat platoon of horsefly mergers keeps me awake at night...with giddiness at the thought of making my players travel to the Sioux Nation. :)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: DarkLloyd on <12-09-11/1429:15>
They even put it on video for kids today with their ADHD brains and inability to read and all that!  :P

Not that my generation was any better...  Idiot getting a "B" for a "Book Report" on Rolling Stone magazine, and I getting a "C" on...  I forget, but at least it was a BOOK.

>.> I got an A on a book I never even read. Had to do a "journal" on the book "Night" which is about a guy in the holocaust. <.<

Oh yes, I'm good at getting by doing very little work. XD Is this a skill or a flaw? I can never tell which.... <.<

You'd be Amazed at just how many books Frank Castle of Castle productions has written for my biblogrophies over the years......... 8)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: DarkLloyd on <12-09-11/1434:24>
Scary Thought:  Horsefly Insect Spirits!  Think Mosquito force-fed steroids from birth with a glandular problem that makes them five times the normal size.  And, yes, 'Roid Rage too.

Yup, growing up in Wyoming, horseflies are the worst. And a Sioux Wildcat platoon of horsefly mergers keeps me awake at night...with giddiness at the thought of making my players travel to the Sioux Nation. :)
Who wants me to REALLY scare them then.......................... Looking over Conspiracy Theories. It looks as if Plan 9, Snopes and all the rest have missed the oldest, Largest and most well defened hive from SR history.....

Anyone know what it is?

Here's a hint it's from a Really out of print product.... By like 18 yrs.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <12-09-11/1850:23>
Don't be a tease, dear.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Fizzygoo on <12-10-11/0336:14>
2011 - 18 years = 1993.

Only thing I can think of is the "CrashCart Debacle" out of 2XS (1992)

Otherwise, 1993 +/- 1 year, it would be in one (or more) of the following:

1992
   Novels
N04 2XS $4.50 Findley, Nigel D.   
N05 Changeling   $4.50 Kubasik, Chris
N06 Never trust an elf $4.50 Charrette, Robert N.
N07 Into the Shadows $4.99 Weisman, Jordan K.
N08 Streets of blood $4.99 Sargent, Carl
   7100s
7109 Shadowbeat $15.00 Hume, Paul R.
7110 Shadowtech $15.00 Wu, Karl
   7200s
7204 Germany Sourcebook $18.00 Immig/Romer
7208 The Neo-Anarchists' Guide to Real Life $15.00 Findley, Nigel D.
   7300s
7309 Imago $8.00 Sargent, Carl
7312 One Stage Before $9.00 Findley, Nigel D.
   7900s
7900 Shadowrun Main Book 2nd Ed. HB $30.00 Staff
7901 Shadowrun Main Book 2nd Ed. SB $25.00 Staff   
7902 Shadowrun Game Screen 2nd Ed. $12.00 Dowd, Tom
7903 The Grimoire 2nd Ed. $15.00 Hume, Paul R.

1993
   Novels
N09 Shadowplay $4.99 Findley, Nigel D.
N10 Nights Pawn $4.99 Dowd, Tom
N11 Striper Assassin $4.99 Smith, Nyx
   7100s
7112 Paranormal Animals of Europe $18.00 Sargent, Carl
7113 Corporate Shadowfiles $18.00 Findley, Nigel D.   
   7200s
7210 Tir Tairngire $18.00 Findley, Nigel D.
7211 Tir Na nOg $18.00 Sargent/Gascoigne
   7300s
7313 Dark Angel $8.00 Kane, Thomas
7314 A Killing Glare $8.00 Prosperi, Louis J.
7315 Celtic Double-Cross $8.00 Sargent/Gascoigne

1994
   Novels
N12 Lone Wolf $4.99 Findley, Nigel D.
N13 Fade to Black $4.99 Smith, Nyx
N14 Nosferatu $4.99 Sargent, Carl
N15 Burning Bright $5.99 Dowd, Tom   
   7100s
7104 Street Samurai Catalog $12.00 Dowd, Tom
7114 Fields of Fire $15.00 Dowd, Tom   
7115 Lone Star Sourcebook $18.00 Findley, Nigel D.
7116 Prime Runners $18.00 Sargent/Gasgione   
7117 Bug City $18.00 Staff
   7200s
7204 Germany Sourcebook $18.00 Immig/Romer
7212 Denver Boxed Set $25.00 Findley, Nigel D.
   7300s
7316 Eye Witness $10.00 Nystul, Mike
7317 Paradise Lost $10.00 Wong/Findley
7318 Divided Assets $10.00 Dowd, Tom
7319 Double Exposure $10.00 Cain/Findley
7320 Harlequin's Back $15.00   Staff
   7400s
7401 Sprawl Maps $15.00 Staff
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: DarkLloyd on <12-10-11/1703:11>
yup. it's definatly on that list........

Gimme just a bit I had to pull out that old stuff and I'm looking up page numbers and references for you all. That way you can all look at it yourselves.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: DarkLloyd on <12-10-11/1908:39>
Okay so if anyone has a copy of the Denver box set break it out.
Look up and read:
Denver sourcebook - p.153   Essian's comment
Denver GM's Book - p. 18 Elizabeth Kalheim (option C)
                                     p. 21 Sappho (option C)
                                     p. 36 - 35 the Hole (again option C)

My theory on where the bugs holed up at is that they managed to burrow into what was left of "The Hole" or for those non-Denverites, the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD).

Yes I know that all the stuff in there are optional ways for the timeline to go but if you read the whole thing overall most of the "wost end cases" are what played out in the time line IIRC.
The references above show that Denvers UB chapter house was active in '54. And that Kalhiem was being manipulated by Sappho to "care about Cheyenne Mt again. Sappho is a Mantis shaman so you have to wonder why Mantis wants to have the Hole looked at again.....
And as for the Hole it's mentioned that it has an underground stream leading into the mountain that should allow astral travel inside but there is a powerful ward deep in the mountain. And that Shamanic commando teams, with spirit support, and curious indivduals that project  in come back with scrambled minds or don't come back at all.

Yes I know that Ghostwalker would have a problem with them, if he knows about them. And if he does know maybe he knows they are too entrenched for him to get to and that they might be too strong for him to beat alone.

Anyway that's it. If I'm right and that was the way it was suppposed to turn out, which we will never know now with all the writer turnover, this would have been freaking terrifing. Bugs with a Nuke proof bunker/Hive that have been left alone for 19 years to grow.........
Imagine what those merged Ares black ops guys could do with that?

You're welcome.
Sleep tight, don't let the bed Bugz bite.



Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <12-10-11/2114:33>
...

So let me get this straight.  Your 'oldest, Largest and most well defened hive from SR history' is one of the options from the Denver boxed set??  That's ... I can't begin to describe the level of presumptiveness there...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <12-10-11/2116:18>
Well, it's an option.  At his table, it could be.  At yours, it could not be.

That's the joys of options.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The_Gun_Nut on <12-10-11/2203:17>
Options /= canon.

Unless one of the devs ran that game.  Then anything is up for grabs.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <12-10-11/2206:19>
Well, it's an option.  At his table, it could be.  At yours, it could not be.

That's the joys of options.

Which is fine -- but he's voicing a belief that he apparently expects to be reflected in the canon.
Who wants me to REALLY scare them then.......................... Looking over Conspiracy Theories. It looks as if Plan 9, Snopes and all the rest have missed the oldest, Largest and most well defened hive from SR history.....

This is not 'well, at my table, we turned NORAD into teh biggest !nsect sp1r1t h1ve EVAR!!!!11!!!1!'  This is 'hey, you guys missed something, duh!' 
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Wakshaani on <12-10-11/2320:19>
Hrm.

Interesting.

Innnnteresting...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CanRay on <12-11-11/0026:17>
Which is fine -- but he's voicing a belief that he apparently expects to be reflected in the canon.
Ah, missed that part.  My fault for skimming.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The_Gun_Nut on <12-11-11/1157:19>
"You shall pay for your insolence!"
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Simagal on <12-11-11/1453:56>
The problem is that all three options are canon, even when they contradict each other.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: DarkLloyd on <12-12-11/1438:26>
Wyrm, you are correct. I should have stated that this was my translation of what was there from the begining.
But i did put "If I'm right and that was the way it was suppposed to turn out, which we will never know now with all the writer turnover" so It's not like in that post I claimed it was Cannon.  I will word things more carefully in the future so as not to confuse people again.

Now that that is cleared up, I'm going to ask Wrym or Gun nut to expand on what was cannon from the Denver box. Which of those option did the timeline adopt?
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <12-12-11/1851:29>
DarkLloyd, In your tertiary post, you said that, yes.  Buried, yes.  I'd call that 'fine print', as it were.

As for the rest, I don't know.  I haven't been obsessively tracking everything down, I don't have a lot of the books, and right now I don't have anything but 4e PDFs, as the books I do have are not currently in my possession.  I also don't recall what you're saying about Sappho and Kalheim being played out post-boxed-set, but that's life.  I highly doubt that Ghostwalker would have let Sappho wander free, though.

The problem is that all three options are canon, even when they contradict each other.

No, they aren't.  You're confusing 'what is written as an option' with 'what has been written post-option-given'.  Options are, by definition, to be decided by the Game Master.  Later on, if you-as-GM are using the published materials as being 'what happens in your game', and they mention 'oh, X is what really is taking place' -- as they did, for example, in the Aztlan execution of Dzibitchalbakkawakkahoohaw (the feathered serpent whose name is bloody unpronounceable), where they specifically did not say he was a Great Dragon, because let me tell you that would have had even more serious repercussions (also, he wasn't at the big 'Great Dragon' conference in Survival of the Fittest) -- then that option and only that option becomes 'canon' for official SR world purposes.

I believe the writers have kept very carefully away from 'choosing' for the GM what most of those options were.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: raggedhalo on <12-13-11/0548:06>
ISTR Sappho was canon-dead, either in Shadows of North America or the Commando Quarterly update on Denver.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: DarkLloyd on <12-13-11/1054:02>
Ragged, what's the Commando Quarterly?
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: raggedhalo on <12-13-11/1100:14>
It's the old CGL demo team magazine; it had a setting update for Denver ahead of the Season 2 Missions.  Link (http://www.catalystdemos.com/Files/Files.asp?CID=1019) - not sure which one you need, I'm afraid!

Edit to add: It's this one (http://secure.commandohq.com/download/Files/Commando_Quarterly_1Q-06-lowres.pdf), pg.12-20.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Black on <12-13-11/2317:23>
Useful to know.  My game is set in 2050 and Sappho is a major character for the team at the moment.  Can't see any mention of Sappho in the link below, will check out Shadows of North America.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: raggedhalo on <12-14-11/0501:27>
TBH, I might be completely wrong.  I remember when I was planning my Denver 2070 (Missions) campaign that I had to fiddle with some stuff to have Sappho available as an NPC but this was several years ago and I could well be misremembering.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Lacynth40 on <01-12-12/1110:12>
Hrm... Someone said FAB-III proof bug spirits somewhere a bit back. Is that what a perfect merger does? Because that would be so much fun. The magical theories alone about how that works would change up thaumaturgical thought on that particularly nasty bacteria.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Henker on <01-12-12/1130:01>
Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chosé.

Old school quotes for the win. ;)
I really like this one too  ;)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: redwolf on <01-12-12/1640:21>
hi look at that :ares+bug=missing corpcort fotball 8)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Black on <01-12-12/1705:28>
hi look at that :ares+bug=missing corpcort fotball 8)

Exactly Redwolf, exactly!

CAS-Aztlan tension - CAS has heavy links to Ares... Aztlan strong magic focus, plus distracts from their insidious purpose...
Missing football... Corporations hamstringed, bug enemy number two distracted
Dragon tension - bug enemy number one distracted (are they really?  Can anyone, even Bugs, really outsmart a dragon?)
Technomancer scare - bugs have a weakness in technology, particularly the technomancers and their realms where all knowledge lives on. (Note: What happens when a technomancer is possessed by a bug...)  Bugs are all about being undetected, technomancers can detect them through the Realms, therefore, keep the technomancers from being utilised and the world distracted on a different enemy
Jackpoint - another potential enemy with enough reach and connects to expose the bug plot - keep them infighting and focused elsewhere, if possible, infiltrate this organisation and subvert.
Horizon - there everywhere and the govern by 'consensus'  How buggy is that?  And they are being used against Jackpoint, Aztlan, Ares and who knows who else?  Are they using Social Adepts or just bugs with really, really good pheronmones?

There will be wars, witch (well technomancer) hunts, death and destruction, and in the end, the bugs will ensure their own survival at any cost!
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <01-12-12/1922:47>
Hrm... Someone said FAB-III proof bug spirits somewhere a bit back. Is that what a perfect merger does? Because that would be so much fun. The magical theories alone about how that works would change up thaumaturgical thought on that particularly nasty bacteria.
Any inhabitation merge (whether Bug spirit or not) would be a dual-natured creature, regardless of how well the merge went off. FAB III attacks any dual-natured creature. To make bugs that were immune to FAB III would not be a process of improving the merge, but in finding some way to have them automatically cast certain spells when FAB III clouds got near.

(Note: What happens when a technomancer is possessed by a bug...)
They lose their connection to the Resonance, and all their abilities. Same as if they were Infected.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Red on <02-10-12/1155:04>
Back when I had aspirations of writing for FanPro and Rob Boyle told me to hit him with some writing, one of the ideas I never got off the ground to him (the management shift happened right as I was sending in, and no one ever got back to me) was alternative hosts for insects. As we've seen with Ares experiments, the bugs can invest in non-metahumans such as dogs, bears and so on. What I had never seen reference to was it's effect on others, specifically my specialty: the Infected. With HMHVV 1 infectees, the ones with regeneration and essence drain, it seems like a slim chance of working. But for something a bit closer to baseline metahumanity, like a ghoul...?

I have yet to hit my group with them, but one of the two sourcebooks and the novel I had for Rob made use of the concept. Seems to me that Ares has access to any biological samples it needs to do all kinds of expeimentation (as though getting samples of HMHVV is all THAT hard, anymore.)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Parker on <02-14-12/1819:51>
Perrfect!...(evil laugh) ;D
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CitizenJoe on <02-14-12/1838:30>
I got the impression that the insect spirit gestation required a sapient host.  Certainly an animal could be used as food, but maturing into an actual spirit needed something that animals just don't have.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <02-14-12/1853:22>
Oh, insects can be put in animals. There's a lovely pic in Corporate Guide showing just such a merge.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: CitizenJoe on <02-14-12/1902:15>
Why would they ever bother with humans?  Animals are much more easy to acquire.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: raggedhalo on <02-15-12/0437:30>
Because thumbs are awesome.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <02-15-12/0649:04>
That, and it is rather difficult for flesh form animals to gather animals and prepare them for investment.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Longshot23 on <02-15-12/0943:03>
Also, I'm putting forward the idea that insect spirits get something from merges with metahumans that they can't get from critter merges. 

But the short version is, IMHO, that metahuman flesh-forms make them a more immediate threat - like "If it happened to person X & Y it could happen to me!"
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Wakshaani on <02-16-12/1309:41>
Critters also have rotten Willpower, by and large, making a good merge rather difficult. The new "They could be anyone ... they could be you, they could be me,  ANYONE!" bugs are way sneakier than the old ones. This is a Thing for them. (Heck, Chicago's hives were probably filled with 80% stray dogs and cats that got True Formed. I wouldn't have a problem with saying that a Queen had to be a metahuman, however.)

Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Red on <02-18-12/0007:47>
Additionally, consider that the insects want to expand to take over this world, as they may have done with countless others. Animals do not generally present a large force of intelligent resistance compared to humans, who have all manner of resources arrayed against insect invasion. And yes, investing in lots and lots of animals may make a large number of weak shocktroops they could overwhelm the enemy with, but that would do incredible amounts of damage to the world they want to consume. They want out of the Hive plane because it is overcrowded. I doubt they're looking to fill this place with half-assed dog merges. What's more, the slow expansion enables them to cultivate the growth of this world. Those Queens who make it through want positions of power, not a massive cleansing. If they control us or lead us, they can direct research in new directions that empower them, breed more humans to serve as hosts for the future, perhaps even find ways to colonize to other worlds in time, spreading the insects not only across the dimensions, but space, itself.

All of that being said, some Queens may decide the best course of action is to send waves of troops, in which case they may make use of insect animals.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Angelone on <02-18-12/1013:37>
Investing babies would lead to some nightmare inducing encounters.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Red on <02-18-12/1024:32>
Echoes of a disturbing scene in [spoiler]Missing Blood[/spoiler].
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Bruce on <02-20-12/1902:05>
Investing babies would lead to some nightmare inducing encounters.

It did; such things happened in the first wave (cf Universal Brotherhood old school adventure; at one point the runners come across a (deceased) infant/insect merge.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Red on <02-20-12/1953:40>
That's... what I just referenced. Then again, maybe the adventure is old enough that we can skip spoiler alerts.

... nope. Even twenty-plus years later, I gotta warn.

SPOILER ALERT FOR MISSING BLOOD.

.
.
.

The encounter in question may not have been an actual investment, as the baby, a hybrid of a fly and a human, appears to have been a flesh form with a human soul. Ant flesh forms are sent to kill it.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Black on <02-20-12/2223:38>
That's... what I just referenced. Then again, maybe the adventure is old enough that we can skip spoiler alerts.

... nope. Even twenty-plus years later, I gotta warn.

SPOILER ALERT FOR MISSING BLOOD.

.
.
.

The encounter in question may not have been an actual investment, as the baby, a hybrid of a fly and a human, appears to have been a flesh form with a human soul. Ant flesh forms are sent to kill it.

Whooooahhhh!  That's sold it for me!... wait, what's missing blood?  Is it a mission or a fiction or an adventure?

A flesh form with a human soul? That's wierd.  Bet its not what the bugs were hoping for....
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Patrick Goodman on <02-20-12/2239:00>
Missing Blood is the adventure that comes with the Universal Brotherhood sourcebook. You have to have both; make sure that you get both if you find it online. Of course, I think it's available as a PDF now.

It's like Aliens, only scarier. Buy it. You will not regret it.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <02-20-12/2249:08>
Universal Brotherhood PDF
* Battlecorps (http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1414) ($10)
* DriveThruRPG (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=2766&it=1) ($8)


That's... what I just referenced. Then again, maybe the adventure is old enough that we can skip spoiler alerts.

... nope. Even twenty-plus years later, I gotta warn.

SPOILER ALERT FOR MISSING BLOOD.
[spoiler]
.
.
.

The encounter in question may not have been an actual investment, as the baby, a hybrid of a fly and a human, appears to have been a flesh form with a human soul. Ant flesh forms are sent to kill it.
[/spoiler]

Since the editor is wonky, there is a spoiler tag. (spoiler)(/spoiler) only with brackets instead of parentheses.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Angelone on <02-20-12/2302:35>
Yeah, I thought I had seen the idea somewhere. I was going for more of a swarm of babies though. I imagine the runners in a hospital with an entire maternity ward full of spirit babies. Or a Children of the Corn type encounter.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Crimsondude on <02-20-12/2321:25>
If I'm not mistaken, the Children of the Corn idea showed up in a Shutdown game I followed.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Angelone on <02-20-12/2353:26>
*mumble mumble* From now on I'm wearing a tinfoil hat. I could see that, I ran a game in which I used one of Blackjack's evil places, the archology, and did something similar.

Edit- http://web.archive.org/web/20040220143809/http://blackjack.dumpshock.com/stuff/EVPLfacility.htm
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Marzhin on <02-21-12/0633:29>
Universal Brotherhood and Bug City are probably my favorite Shadowrun supplements. I remember reading them and feeling the hairs raising on my arms and a chill running down my spine. To this day no other RPG book had this effect on me. Amazing pair of books (and the associated novels too). I love them so much that I bought the original English prints and bought them again in French when they were (finally) released here a couple of years ago.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chosé.

By the way, the correct spelling should be Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chose, without any accent on chose.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Red on <02-21-12/0703:06>
I've heard it said that the Universal Brotherhood "Printout" is arguably one of the best written flavor texts in role-playing history. I really can't argue yet.

Renraku Arcology: Shutdown was a hell of a ride, too, but it's REALLY hard to top UB.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Mirikon on <02-21-12/0743:56>
I only read Bug City and Universal Brotherhood recently, and, knowing everything that went down, it STILL creeped me right the hell out! Excellent writing on those two. Of course, the reason it worked so well is that it was something completely different from the rest of Shadowrun, which made it a shock to the system. Sci-fi setting aside, those books are just classic horror. Once in a while, it makes a great impact. If you do it too much, you're like "ANOTHER eldritch horror from beyond the worlds? It must be Tuesday."

Shutdown was awesome, as well, though a completely different kind of book. More of a war story than a horror story. I read it, and I start getting pictures of the French Resistance in WWII, except that they are locked in a building with something that is infinitely more intelligent than they are, and doesn't have a physical body they can get to.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Hiddenhope on <02-21-12/0851:17>
....

I just thought of something.
I had this idea of a high level campaign. At first it was going to be a real life irony thing were a group of shadowrunners get employed to start a revolution in Libya, and then I thought of a way to include the Insect Spirits.

1. The Johnson tells them to start revolution in Libya, however he mentions that he doesn't care if it succeeds or not, he wants the conflict to last for least 3 months.
2. The Runners get the freedom to start the revolution in a number of ways, then they have to keep it going. Also they have to stop the other cops from intervening.
3. Pass out hints that something is not right on the astral plane, if the runners don't get it have a loss of contact from one rebel cities.
4. Turns out that the Johnson was an Insect Shaman and he, along with the queen, realise that the chaos caused by an armed uprising would provide the perfect breeding ground. Also he doesn't kill the shadowrunners when they find out, instead offers to pay them along with a bonus if they just walk away (because money is the only thing that motivates your kind).
5. The group can either side with the rebels, the Egyptian army or just run away.

How does this connect to Ares?
Well in the corporate guide (can't remember the page put it’s near the end of the Ares article) it mentions that one of the jobs given out to Ares-loyal high-ranking shadowrunners is "start a revolution with a spoon"
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Longshot23 on <02-21-12/0931:54>
There's no central authority in Libya in the Sixth World to revolt against - hell, Libya the nation no longer exists.  It's not a bad idea, it just may need to be staged elsewhere.  Unless the multi-megacorporate plus nations backdrop of the Desert Wars is part of your concept?
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Hiddenhope on <02-21-12/0943:05>
Quote
There's no central authority in Libya in the Sixth World to revolt against - hell, Libya the nation no longer exists.  It's not a bad idea, it just may need to be staged elsewhere.  Unless the multi-megacorporate plus nations backdrop of the Desert Wars is part of your concept?

Well the idea first came to me when I read the sixth world Alminac and saw that Egypt had been turned into a space filling empire (AH term) and had absorbed Libya. I don't have the book on hand right now but I think it mentions, that something is about to go down in Egypt. So the revolution could be helping an independence movment. Then again its been over 60 years in the timeline since Libya was absorbed so I am sure that no-one remembers the nation.

Well the scenario can easily be transplanted to another location. Perhaps someone wants to get China together again?
Anyway, I like the idea as it shows that the Insect Spirits are getting smarter.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Longshot23 on <02-21-12/0948:02>
Quote
There's no central authority in Libya in the Sixth World to revolt against - hell, Libya the nation no longer exists.  It's not a bad idea, it just may need to be staged elsewhere.  Unless the multi-megacorporate plus nations backdrop of the Desert Wars is part of your concept?

Well the idea first came to me when I read the sixth world Alminac and saw that Egypt had been turned into a space filling empire (AH term) and had absorbed Libya. I don't have the book on hand right now but I think it mentions, that something is about to go down in Egypt. So the revolution could be helping an independence movment. Then again its been over 60 years in the timeline since Libya was absorbed so I am sure that no-one remembers the nation.

Well the scenario can easily be transplanted to another location. Perhaps someone wants to get China together again?
Anyway, I like the idea as it shows that the Insect Spirits are getting smarter.

It's your campaign - stage your idea where you like. IIRC, there was something about comparatively new hives in Egypt.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: redwolf on <02-22-12/0242:15>

Quote
There's no central authority in Libya in the Sixth World to revolt against - hell, Libya the nation no longer exists.  It's not a bad idea, it just may need to be staged elsewhere.  Unless the multi-megacorporate plus nations backdrop of the Desert Wars is part of your concept?

Well the idea first came to me when I read the sixth world Alminac and saw that Egypt had been turned into a space filling empire (AH term) and had absorbed Libya. I don't have the book on hand right now but I think it mentions, that something is about to go down in Egypt. So the revolution could be helping an independence movment. Then again its been over 60 years in the timeline since Libya was absorbed so I am sure that no-one remembers the nation.

Well the scenario can easily be transplanted to another location. Perhaps someone wants to get China together again?
Anyway, I like the idea as it shows that the Insect Spirits are getting smarter.

It's your campaign - stage your idea where you like. IIRC, there was something about comparatively new hives in Egypt.

it is not in swa last time i looked .
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Angelone on <02-22-12/1848:11>

Quote
There's no central authority in Libya in the Sixth World to revolt against - hell, Libya the nation no longer exists.  It's not a bad idea, it just may need to be staged elsewhere.  Unless the multi-megacorporate plus nations backdrop of the Desert Wars is part of your concept?

Well the idea first came to me when I read the sixth world Alminac and saw that Egypt had been turned into a space filling empire (AH term) and had absorbed Libya. I don't have the book on hand right now but I think it mentions, that something is about to go down in Egypt. So the revolution could be helping an independence movment. Then again its been over 60 years in the timeline since Libya was absorbed so I am sure that no-one remembers the nation.

Well the scenario can easily be transplanted to another location. Perhaps someone wants to get China together again?
Anyway, I like the idea as it shows that the Insect Spirits are getting smarter.

It's your campaign - stage your idea where you like. IIRC, there was something about comparatively new hives in Egypt.

it is not in swa last time i looked .

The new hives are mentioned in Conspiracy Theories.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Red on <02-23-12/0354:36>
One more reason to pick it up. Pyramids, ancient magic, insect hives... oh, that goes down smooth...
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Patrick Goodman on <02-23-12/0940:19>
Interesting definition of "smooth" you have there.... ;)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Red on <02-23-12/1019:23>
You got that right. Just ask my players. ;)
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: peregruzka on <08-04-18/1434:04>
Hi everyone!
Were hesitating to post right here or just create a new thread.
Starting Sacrifical Lamb with my friends and as a GM I'm trying to get everything I can about Ares and Insects.
A lot of questions ^^
I know that Ares fought against them (Burning Bright and Bug City).
Ares invented some astral killing bactery and then "freed" Chicago.
Then Ares started to make dogs and critters as hosts for insects with insect's shaman brainwashed (Threat 2)
Ares have access to insect's world or the world infected with. (Street magic 4)
Were trying to find more about attack in Denver Roger Soaring Owl so today I've discovered in the end of Street Legends that Damien Knight use human hosts.
Question 1) Why the hell no corporate blocus or something on Ares? Or is it actually ok nowadays to use insects like corpo assets?
Question 2) Can someone make me a sum of events that I'm missing? And if someone can make something like chronology it'll be great!
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Longshot23 on <08-05-18/0831:05>
Hi everyone!
Were hesitating to post right here or just create a new thread.
Starting Sacrifical Lamb with my friends and as a GM I'm trying to get everything I can about Ares and Insects.
A lot of questions ^^
I know that Ares fought against them (Burning Bright and Bug City).
Ares invented some astral killing bactery and then "freed" Chicago.
Then Ares started to make dogs and critters as hosts for insects with insect's shaman brainwashed (Threat 2)
Ares have access to insect's world or the world infected with. (Street magic 4)
Were trying to find more about attack in Denver Roger Soaring Owl so today I've discovered in the end of Street Legends that Damien Knight use human hosts.
Question 1) Why the hell no corporate blocus or something on Ares? Or is it actually ok nowadays to use insects like corpo assets?
Question 2) Can someone make me a sum of events that I'm missing? And if someone can make something like chronology it'll be great!

Answer 1: "It's an internal Ares situation and problem. Events do not require a Corporate Court response at this time. That is all."
Answer 2: Ares mucking around with insect spirit merges goes back to at least 2063-64 (probably further, but that's when it was first outed). They had ~9 years of institutional experience in bug-fighting at that time. Any timeline is going to be theoretical because it was kept successfully under wraps until 2072 with that business involving Soaring Owl. Things apparently started to fall apart over the next 3-5 years. It has been covered in Spy Games, Conspiracy Theories, Street Legends, Hazard Pay, Clutch of Dragons (had the least material), Dirty Tricks and Storm Front. Cue the change to SR5, and the plot thread didn't get picked up again until Forbidden Arcana and Dark Terrors (because most attention was directed at the CFD plot).
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: peregruzka on <04-17-20/1017:43>
hi chummers!

making a campaign right now with ares infestation.
So it would be really nice if someone can summum
since "sacrificial lamb" and "conspiracy theories" what happened?

Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: Michael Chandra on <04-17-20/1022:51>
Well for starters Cutting Black happened, which exposed what Ares was doing and how wrong it went. Now we have 'good bugs' in Detroit tower that team up with Ghouls and Runners to hunt down Bad Weaponized Bugs.
Title: Re: Ares Macrotechnology and Insect Spirits
Post by: peregruzka on <04-24-20/0733:33>
Ok , so must say thanks for nothing first of all ,looks like noone is coming to this section of forum.
Thought could possibly find here my answers,but no, I've find then elsewhere between reddit and my own search.

Thanks Michael for your answer at least youve tryed to give me some information and answer my question.
But when you say  for starters Cutting Black happened its not the case.
After a lot of stuff between "Conspiracy theories" and 6th Edition,  Cutting Black is happening.

So answering my own question:

after sacrifial lamb and cospiracy theories here goes "Storm Front" with the death of Nicholas Aurelius Junior in Exit Row

The 5th edition then develop slowly the Ares story with:
- Hard Targets and Market Panic ( Ares update )
- Cutting Aces ( Ares continue to merge Vogel supporters and kills Firewatch teams while Ravenheart resist as she can)
- Dark Terrors  (description of insects spirit and Vogel's explosion)

The 6th edition then goes with Cutting Black that resolves Vogel Fate ,and other questions from 5th edition.