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Unsolved Mysteries of the Sixth World #2: Alt Dankwalther's Money

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Acme

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« on: <01-10-11/0536:59> »
(My standard Disclaimer:

One big NOTE: This isn't a wheedling plea to people like Hardy and Adam for explanations or an accusation that they screwed up on x plot point. I appreciate the hard work that everyone who's ever penned the game has put in and understand the difficulties that it takes. If someone who works/worked on Shadowrun WANTS to give a "official" explanation, great. Or they can put their own speculation in. biggrin.gif It's all for fun.
SECOND NOTE: If the Unsolved Mysteries have in fact been explained, please provide reference, not just go "This already got solved!" I may own a LOT of the books, but maybe there's one I didn't get to yet. Danke schoen.)


There have been a few dozen things that just seem to have blipped off the radar here and there, either never to be brought up again or just simply shelved. The obvious answer is change in direction for the game due to new staff shuffling in and out, and frankly 20 years of canon will cause many a headache of loose ends and frayed edges. Just ask any Trekkie. There have been three major causes of UM: The end of FASA, the sweeping of 3e storylines due to System Failure/4e, and the recent financial problems making many freelancers quit.

Will they get worked out? I don't know. Maybe some of them were left intentionally vague in order for enterprising GMs to work out in their own games, or for future freelancers to gather together for their proposals. But that's what this thread series is about. The chance for we 'Runners to discuss and speculate about those things that are unsolved. If anything, it makes for a good collection for theories and explanations.

Since the Nadja Daviar one seemed to provide quite a good discussion, I present another recent Unsolved Mystery of the Sixth World:

Art Dankwalther's Money.


As most of us know, Mr. Dankwalther received 34.5 billion UCAS Dollars from Dunklezahn's will. For five years he spent it on the high life and also working out a personal vendetta against Richard Villiers, through corporate raiding of Novatech, eating two other Megacorps on his way up. (One happened to be the AA Gunderson Corporation, well known in Cyberpirates and the main bad guy in the "novel" Shadowboxer, causing J.J. Harvin to move over to Aztech with what was left.) He then focused his energy on fracturing Novatech, causing the IPO that leads to System Failure. This is not to lament him, he got a full and interesting storyline that ended with a nasty Thor Shot right to his cranium.

But what happened to his cash? The Omega Order did mess with his assets and Novatech did a hostile takeover on most of them. But that's largely his holdings, and theoretically his estate would still have benefited from the actual taking over. Also, you can't assume he dumped all 34 billion into his project, and he would have made a lot of money being a shark in order to work his next level up. He would have to have socked away a reserve in case his current scheme didn't work out. Even say, putting away a billion or two to live off of and have in reserve.

So, let's assume the other 33 billion and later assets were seized by Novatech and the Corporate Court in general when they Thored him. (That's my biggest thought is that the money just went into the CC and got split up, with Villiers bitching for the lion's share.) Would Art have left a will himself or instructions to divide up his estate? Or did he leave some other projects cooking on the side in case he got blowback from his scheme?

While a billion wouldn't really tweak with a AAA or some higher governments, it could still have severe ramifications for everything else below that..

Thoughts?

Dahrken

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« Reply #1 on: <01-10-11/0712:01> »
The most likely - if a bit unexciting- explanation is that it sits in several anonymous bank accounts or trust funds, quietly multiplying while waiting for someone with the proper credentials to claim them.
« Last Edit: <01-10-11/1328:33> by Dahrken »

raggedhalo

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« Reply #2 on: <01-10-11/0924:47> »
He spent it all on life-size voodoo dolls of Richard Villiers ;-)
Joe Rooney
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MK Ultra

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« Reply #3 on: <01-12-11/1218:05> »
Itīs quiet possible, that some of his operations and the funds to back them up are still running on preset instructions - maybe by ppl who still didnt figure out whome they where working for all the time (that was part of his MO IIRC). They will be semi-functional to achive the great goal without active guidance, but could still present some interesting hooks. Same goes for operatives that went rougue, or activa that where taken over by new players. Would be funy, if Arty managed to get control over Trans-Latvian, though thats a bit fare fetched, I guess.

TheWanderingJewels

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« Reply #4 on: <06-02-11/0851:16> »
Actually, that's become a subplot in my SR campaign (tho the players don't know it yet). Old Arty had some backers out of the Balkans that gave him a few stock tips and ideas to go look at as well as what micro corps to target to get his revenge. Aside from a small fee, they let him do what he wanted. in return he threw minor amounts of money (for him) at them to help with thier mystical research. They helped back some of his runs and engaged in a few magical hits for him. When he finally snuffed it, he transmitted his account codes to them to continue the struggle.

Which is exactly how they knew it would end. But they will honor his wishes, as they have a mad on on some corporations that have screwed up thier homelands, as well as some of the warlords.

Wallachia and Great Transilvania will rise again under the Ancient Order of the Dragon
Tech dreams of organic toys
And I'm runnin' out on the edge
Soft screams of the rockerboys
Echoing through my head

--Miracle Of Sound, City Of Night

freddieflatline

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« Reply #5 on: <06-06-11/2004:21> »
Wow trying to find out what happened to the money would be a great adventure.  Thanks!!!