World Mythology and Shadowrun Options

[Ka_ge2020]

I've just finished watching Mortal and this evoked some other sci-fi/fantasy materials that I've encountered. Mark Chadborn's Age of Misrule for one, but also things like Ragnarok etc. I'm personally loving how they are using the mythologies of various cultures to bring some cool storytelling, which for me translates to cool potential for epic Shadowrun games. (Sorry, just had a quick flashback to Tomb Raider Underworld, too.)

Has anyone tried to integrate this kind of stuff into their games or have you focused more on the "cyberpunk"-style stories (more tech and magitech?)?

Just an honest inquiry because I'm having fun watching Mortal at the moment.

(Dare I mention Bright? *ducks* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

[pbangarth]

I played a PC in a short-lived campaign here on DS, African Righteousness -- a decade ago!

The PC was called Yazata, and considered himself to be a fallen angel from the Heavenly hosts of Ahura Mazda. Twenty questions for him below. I had a great deal of fun creating him. I wish the campaign had lasted.

[ Spoiler ]

Yazata - BACKGROUND

1) Where is your character from?
[NOTE: Origin questions are based on the character’s belief, as he has the Amnesia (-10) Quality. Whether his belief is the truth or not is up to the GM.]

Yazata is fallen from the hosts that serve Ahura Mazda, the one true God. He appeared on this Earthly plane, in the Middle East, some three years ago, with no memory of how he got here. He believes that for some reason he has fallen from favour in the eyes of Ahura Mazda, and must earn his way back into his real life.

His name here is Yazata, which in the ancient Avestan language of Persia means ‘angel’.

2) Does your character have a family?
Yes, the hosts of angels are his siblings. Ahura Mazda is his Creator and Father.

3) Does your character have an ethnic background?
The nearest modern Earthly equivalent is Persian.

APPEARANCE

4) What does your character look like?
Typical dwarf stature, dark Caucasian skin colour, black hair that curls naturally, a goatee of black, curly hair. Dark, mysterious eyes. Approximately 30 years old.

5) What does your character dress like?
He tends to wear natural fibres, wool, silk, or linen, and some cotton. He looks sort of outdoorsy, with lots of pockets.

6) Does your character have physical quirks?
Yazata has extremely intense eyes. Many people, especially women, have trouble enduring his gaze.


SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES, AND RESOURCES

7) Where did your character learn their Active Skills?
Most were a gift from time immemorial from Ahura Mazda. Others he gained during his travels on Earth, following an inner call to travel westwards. So for example, Survival (desert) came to him this way.

8 ) Where did your character learn their Knowledge Skills?
Some were present when he appeared on Earth. Others, such as many of the languages, etc. were gained as he traveled westwards from his place of appearance.

9) Where did your character get his goodies?
Three magical items were in his possession at the time of his appearance. Each is inscribed with its own name in Avestan, the ancient language of Persia. The Word of Dāmōish is an amulet that is a F6 Banishing Focus, divided F2 for Shedim, F2 for Nomads and F2 for Yama Kings, all wild spirit forms found in Asia and considered by Yazata’s Tradition to be Demons. The Will of Mithra is a F3 Centering Focus ring. Anathema is a F1 Weapon Focus knife.

The rest of his possessions have been acquired mostly from the proceeds of work he has done in the last three years. Evil exists everywhere, and many good people call for a saviour. At first Yazata was hesitant to take payment for destroying evil, but this realm has different requirements from that whence he came, and he must survive here until he finds his way home.

10) Where does your character live?
Yazata is itinerant, following a vague feeling that he has to travel westwards. Currently he resides in Lagos, a hell-hole full of things and people requiring smiting. Yazata is happy to oblige.

11) Who are your character's contacts?
One fixer in Lagos is the only current contact. [details to follow]

12) Who are your character's enemies?
All members of the Demonic host. In particular, during his travels Yazata has discovered that Shedim have a severe hatred for him personally, and attack him first and with great élan. Yazata is pleased by this. They know! Otherwise, all those who prey on the good and decent are his sworn enemies, whether they know it yet or not. They shall learn.

13) How did your character learn magic?
God created him complete with magical power. His form here on Earth appears to be a reduced form of his true self. Sometimes he believes he may be an avatar of Dāmōish Upamana, an archangel of Ahura Mazda, but Yazata fears this may be hubris, perhaps the very thing that got him banished from his true realm.

In any case, the function of Dāmōish Upamana, to ride at the side of Mithra and speak anathema on the demonic enemies of all that is good is the role Yazata feels is right for him here on Earth. Banishing, Attacks of Will, speaking words of power when using magic, these are the trademarks of Yazata’s magical practice.

PERSONALITY

14) What are your character's likes and dislikes?
Yazata likes juicy, sloppy fruit. He can never get enough of it. Of course, natural fruit is expensive, but it is a luxury he allows himself whenever he can. He likes to learn about this world, as his purpose here may yet reveal itself to him. He likes to spend time with little children. Somehow, they like him, too. Perhaps they can see some glimmer of his true nature. He likes to think so.
Rudeness, crudeness, and insensitivity are behaviours that particularly bother Yazata. He has come to accommodate such behaviour among runners, as long as their goals are in line with his: smite evil. Nevertheless, he tries to gently turn his accomplices to a more genteel habit. This has not always worked out for him.

He likes the Napalm spell. He calls it the Fire of God. It cleanses as well as destroys evil. Excellent economy of effort, that.

15) What is your character's moral code?
Destroy evil in all its forms. Good must be promoted and protected, at any cost. The sanctity of a human life is qualified by the choice that human has made between good and evil.

16) Does your character have goals?
Get back into the heavenly realm. Whatever it takes.

17) Does your character have personal beliefs?
Yazata believes completely in the Zoroastrian religion. He believes himself to be an Earthly manifestation of an integral part of that religion.

18) Does your character have personality quirks?
Yazata deals with spirits a lot. These spirits speak to him as agents of the heavenly conflict. Sometimes they encourage him in his quest. Other times they subtly and vilely try to pervert Yazata from his course. Yazata wishes he could control the source of the spirits he summons, but he cannot. He must continually be on his guard when dealing with spirits. His very soul depends on it. He usually speaks to these beings in ancient Avestan, sometimes in places where it is inappropriate.

RUNNING THE SHADOWS

19) Why does your character run the shadows?
To find the way home. To survive while here on Earth. To destroy evil and protect good.

20) How does your character view his/her role as a shadowrunner?
Spirit hunter, general magician, healer, protector, generator of spirit allies.
Hammer of God.

[Ka_ge2020]

Quick question for you in the "meta," but was this just a delusion of the character or was there to be more substance for it? For example, where they actually a spirit...?

(Which reminds me that I need to look at whether being a spirit is an option in standard SR.)

FWIW, one thing that I've been wanting to introduce into "my" SR is a little bit more Western Magic Tradition.

[pbangarth]

I left it up to the GM whether he was delusional, or correct. The game didn't last long enough for me to find out.

Playing a Free Spirit as a PC is available in SR, I think first in SR4. I played a couple of them. One I particulary liked was a Valkyrie, shunned on her home plane Valhalla because she was not all that into combat.

[Ka_ge2020]

More inspiration for me! Thank you.