So, what do we know about the CAS? Options

[Johnny Reb]

Lots of little nuggest have filtered down over the years, but despite a short overview of the major cities in Shadows/North America, there's not been much on the actual *culture* of the CAS.

Some interesting tdibits:

Racism had a small push during teh Night of Rage, but has settled down and is now less than what you'd find in the UCAS.

The CAS has teh largest military in North America (And possibly the world), but it's an older, bulkier style force. Their special forces are pretty crummy.

CAS magic is as strong or stronger than teh UCAS with only about a quarter of the population. Much as teh UCAS has an 80-20 Hermetic to Shaman split, the CAS has about an 80-20 Shaman over Hermetic split. Power is concentrated in the northwest region, the Louisiana Bayou, the Carribbean border, and Appalachia.

CAS is a True Democracy, with a Matrix connection in every household. When you log in, you're asked to vote on local, county, state, and Confederation isssues. Majority rules (Tho sometimes taking a two-thirds, rather than half plus one). System tampering seems non-existant and isn't overseen by any corporation. CAS deckers sling some of the most solid code around ... rarely cutting-edge, but totally stable and hard to infiltrate. More Rolls-Royce than Ferrarri.

The CAS shares a friendly border with the UCAS and the Pueblo, a warm border with teh C-League, and a hot one with Aztlan. A war is pretty much a given, doubly-so now that teh Azzies are taking hit after hit from all sides.

The CAS is friendly with Ghostwalker. Probably more of a 'Enemy of my Enemy is my friend' status, but, who knows?

No Great Dragon is known to operate in teh CAS. No Immortal Elf is known to operate in teh CAS. No Megacorp operates out of teh CAS (Tho MCT and SK are worming in). No AA coprs (Or A!) have ever been tied to CAS locations.

The CAS is the second-largest economy in North America, third if Aztlan is considered. Lacking heavy industry by and large, teh CAS is a serious player in matrix, communications, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.

Teh CAS doesn't use a SIN number. The religious forces consider them to be, well, sinful. Similarly, there's no real national ID card setup, nor 'chipping' for easy police state-like overseeing of teh populace.

The CAS still uses the dollar, rather than Nuyen, for transactions and is now pushing to be seen as 'The True US'. It still uses the old US Constituition.

Major cities include several in Texas, Atlanta, Nashville, and New Orleans. There's some bad blodo between teh major cities over the selection of the capital.

The Vol Sprawl, a section of interstate running between Nashville and Knoxville, is a massive Rigger paradise, where drivers and police battle in a non-leathal test of skill on a regular basis. Think Dukes of Hazzard, only faster.

Anyone have anything else?

-- Johnny Reb