Shadowrun 4E - The Way of the Adept.pdf

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Shadowrun: The Way of the Adept
Writing
Russell Zimmerman
Development
Peter M. Andrew, Jr.
Featuring Art From:
Shadows of Europe; Shadowrun, First Edition;
Grimoire; Shadows of North America; Shadowbeat;
Shadowrun, Second Edition; Corporate Security
Handbook; Primer Runners; Loose Alliance; Tir na nOg;
and Rigger 2
Proofi ng & Playtesting
Jason Freese, Patrick Goodman, Kendall Jung,
James Meiers, Chad Parker, Richard Riessen,
Grant Robinson, Leland Zavadil
Layout & Design
Matt Heerdt
Shadowrun Line Developer
Jason Hardy
© 2011 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Shadowrun and Matrix are registered trademarks
and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc., in
the United States and/or other countries. Catalyst
Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are
trademarks of InMediaRes Productions, LLC.
SHADOWRUN OPTIONS FOR ADEPTS
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Connecting JackPoint VPN …
… Matrix Access ID Spoofed.
… Encryption Keys Generated.
… Connected to Onion Routers.
> Login
****************************
> Enter Passcode
****************************
… Biometric Scan Confi rmed.
Connected to <ERROR: NODE UNKNOWN>
“No matter how narrow the path, walk it with a purpose.”
JackPoint Stats___
Today’s Heads Up
We have an important announcement
from Ma’Fan regarding the ever-
changing Awakening. Keep your
eyes out, adepts are even more
deadly, sneaky or smooth than
ever before.
7 users currently active
in the network
Latest News
The individual who left a sprite to
trace the network has been taken
care of. Let that be a lesson to the
rest of you. – FastJack
Personal Alerts
*Your downloaded copy of
MilSpecTech is corrupted.
*You have 5 new private messages.
*You have 9 new responses to your
JackPoint posts.
*The Klondike diamond collection
is now scheduled for auction in
seventeen hours.
Incoming
*Sometimes it ’s about the clothes,
sometimes the “I can take you, chummer ”
strut, but it’s always about the Attitude. [Tag: Attitude ]
*Learn about the hiding spots and routes of the Free Traders amongst us. There is also a blurb or two
about the police that try to stop them and the tools of the trade. [Tag: BorderRunners ]
*Stories from the decadent cites of Asia don’t always involve drunk tourists and sex parlors in dark
alleys. [Tag: 99 Bottles ]
First Degree
One Member is online and in your
area.
Your Current Rep Score: 517
(72% positive)
Top News Items
*Four masked terrorist walk in Seattle Knight Errant Precinct #8, no police walk out. Reports indicate
all officers were maimed, but none were slain. Forensic testing indicate the assailants were
Awakened. Link
*Lone Star private security thwarts break in attempt on Fed-Boeing Facility, Everett. The five
unidentifi ed orks were transferred to a holding center for identifi cation. Link
*Two young trolls were found slain this morning in Manhattan. Initial reports indicate this was another
case of race-related violence. Link
Current Time: 30 Aug 2072,
2100 hrs
S HADOWRUN O PTIONS
The Options line is intended to introduce new
concepts, play styles, or abilities to a group. While
all rules in this series go through playtest, they are
not considered offi cial, and all groups are encour-
aged to read and discuss them thoroughly before
incorporating them into a campaign. They will not
be used in offi cial products, Missions, or allowed
for tournament play.
711332642.021.png
. . . WARRIOR'S EDGE . . .
T h e e l f h a d t a k e n t h e n a m e T a l o n d e l a f t e r h i s R i t e o f P a s s a g e .
H e h a d s h i v e r e d i n t h e c o l d r a i n o f t h e w il d e r n e s s a n d s u r v i v e d
h i s B r i d g i n g . T a l o n d e l t h e n s t o o d p r o u d l y i n f r o n t o f h i s p a r e n t s ,
t h e P a l a d i n h e w o u l d s e r v e a l o n g s i d e , a n d C o u n t M c C o y — a r e p -
r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m P r i n c e N i’ F a i r r a , w h o s a d l y c o u l d n o t a t t e n d t h a t
d a y — a s t h e e l f r e n a m e d h i m s e l f f o r a ll t o w i t n e s s . A l o n g s i d e t h a t
n a m e c a m e a p u r p o s e ; w i t h t h a t p u r p o s e c a m e s e r v i c e t o h i s n a t i o n
a n d u l t i m a t e l y h i s P r i n c e .
T h e W a r r i o r s e r v e d N i’ F a i r r a s t ill, t h e s e d e c a d e s l a t e r. H i s
O a t h s d e m a n d e d i t .
H i s o r d e r s h a d b e e n b r o a d , a n d t h e y l e f t q u i t e a b i t o f l e e w a y
a s t o h o w t o c a r r y t h e m o u t . T o s o w d i s c o r d , a d v a n c e e l v e n k i n d , a n d
d i s r u p t H e s t a b y ’ s p l a n s , w h a t e v e r t h e y m i g h t b e . H e ’ d b e e n g i v e n
t h e i n i t i a l a s s i g n m e n t y e a r s a g o , a n d h a d n ’ t h e a r d f r o m P r i n c e
N i’ F a i r r a s i n c e t h e g r e a t c o u p a n d u p h e a v a l s . T a l o n d e l t o o k p r i d e
i n t h e P r i n c e ’ s t r u s t a n d w a s q u i e t l y r e a s s u r e d b y h e r c o n fi d e n c e i n
h i s a b ili t i e s . S h e w a s h i s P r i n c e , s t ill, p o li t i c s a n d o r k i s h u p s t a r t s
b e d a m n e d ; b y O a t h h e s e r v e d h e r, a n d o n e d a y s h e w o u l d b e a
P r i n c e i n n a m e a g a i n .
A s h e h a d y e a r s a g o , h e l u r k e d i n t h e c o l d r a i n a n d w a i t e d f o r
m i d n i g h t . H e ’ d c h o s e n h i s t a r g e t t w o d a y s e a r li e r w h e n a p o li c e - b a n d
s c a n n e r r e p o r t e d a “ w e e d e a t e r g y p s y p u n k ” b e i n g i n c a r c e r a t e d . H e
w a s o n a r o o f i n a s m a ll t o w n b e t w e e n R e d d i n g a n d S h a s t a . T a l o n d e l
h a d s p e n t t h e p r e v i o u s n i g h t p e r f o r m i n g r e c o n n a i s s a n c e w o r k , r e -
m i n d i n g h i m s e l f t h a t s k u l k i n g a r o u n d i n s h a d o w s w a s n ’ t c o w a r d i c e
w h e n i t w a s p a r t o f h i s d u t y . I t w a s m e r e l y p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e fi g h t
t o c o m e , a n d h e s h a p e d t h e b a t t l e fi e l d t o h i s li k i n g . T h e fi l t h y r o u n d -
e a r s o f W o l v e r i n e S e c u r i t y h a d n ’ t s e e n o r h e a r d h i m , m e a n i n g t h a t
t h e y d i d n o t k n o w a b o u t t h e p l a n t e d c h a r g e s , t h e p l a c e d e l e c t r o n i c s ,
t h e r a n g e s h e ’ d m e a s u r e d , t h e h e a d c o u n t s h e ’ d t a k e n , o r t h e p l a n s
h e ’ d m a d e . T h e y d i d n ’ t k n o w t h e y s t o o d a g a i n s t a t r u e b o r n W a r r i o r
i n s e r v i c e t o h i s P r i n c e . T h e y d i d n ’ t k n o w t h e y w o u l d a ll d i e .
A t m i d n i g h t h e h e a r d m u f fl e d e x p l o s i o n s a n d s m il e d g r i m l y .
O n e c h a r g e c u t o f f t h e b u il d i n g ’ s e x t e r n a l p o w e r s u p p l y , w h il e
t h e o t h e r d e s t r o y e d t h e e m e r g e n c y g e n e r a t o r s i n t h e b a s e m e n t .
D a r k n e s s s m o t h e r e d t h e s m a ll s e c u r i t y s t a t i o n , a n d T a l o n d e l’ s
d e li c a t e l y p o i n t e d e a r s h e a r d t h e fi r s t c o n f u s e d c r i e s : t h e h e c k li n g
t o h i d e f e a r f r o m t h e p r i s o n e r c e ll, t h e s h o u t s f r o m o n e W o l v e r i n e
o f fi c e r t o a n o t h e r w i t h i n t h e b u il d i n g . E v e n h i s m a g i c a ll y e n h a n c e d
h e a r i n g c o u l d n ’ t p i c k u p t h e s o u n d o f t h e d i r e c t i o n a l j a m m e r, b u t
h e h a d s e t t h e t i m e r s a n d k n e w i t h a d b e g u n a t t h e s a m e i n s t a n t
a s t h e d e t o n a t i o n s .
T a l o n d e l m a r r i e d h i s c h e e k t o t h e s t o c k o f h i s H K P S G E n f o r c e r.
T h e s c o p e ’ s m a g n i fi c a t i o n w a s s e t l o w , b e c a u s e t h e r a n g e w a s r i -
d i c u l o u s l y s h o r t . M o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e Z e i s s o p t i c s w a s t h e
t i m e t h a t h e h a d i n v e s t e d i n t o t h i s r i fl e . T h e W a r r i o r h a d u s e d i t f o r
y e a r s , t a k e n i t a p a r t a n d r e a s s e m b l e d i t m o r e t i m e s t h a n h e c o u l d
c o u n t . H e k n e w t h e b a l a n c e , t r i g g e r w e i g h t a n d r e c o il li k e i t w a s
a n e x t e n s i o n o f h i s b o d y . H e h a d t r u s t e d h i s li f e t o t h i s E n f o r c e r a t
l e a s t a h u n d r e d t i m e s , a n d i t h a d n e v e r l e t h i m d o w n . H e k n e w i t
w o u l d n o t t o n i g h t .
T a l o n d e l l e a n e d , s h o u l d e r s n u g a g a i n s t t h e s t o c k a n d s w u n g
t h e m u z z l e a r o u n d o n a c o m p a c t b i p o d t h a t h e l d t h e r i fl e . W h e n
h e s a w a s e c u r i t y o f fi c e r, h e q u i c k l y c a r e s s e d t h e t r i g g e r, t w i c e , a n d
t h e n c h e c k e d f o r m o v e m e n t a t a n o t h e r w i n d o w . T h e s il e n c e r a n d
fl a s h h i d e r p e r f o r m e d a s t h e y s h o u l d h a v e ; n o o n e o u t s i d e t h e
t h r e e - s t o r y p o li c e s t a t i o n w o u l d k n o w w h a t w a s g o i n g o n . T h e
s i g n a l j a m m e r, n o t j u s t h i s s il e n c e r, e n s u r e d t h a t . H e c o n t i n u e d t o
s h o o t a s t a r g e t s p r e s e n t e d t h e m s e l v e s .
M a g i c f u e l e d h i m , a n d h e fi r e d t h e r i fl e q u i c k e r t h a n a n y o n e
w h o ll y h u m a n . T w o s h o t s , fi n d a t a r g e t , a d j u s t a i m , r e p e a t ; s e v e r a l
h e a r t b e a t s l a t e r h e t h u m b e d a s m a ll l e v e r o n t h e p r e c i s i o n r i fl e a n d
e n g a g e d t h e s e c o n d m a g a z i n e t o c o n t i n u e s n i p i n g . S il e n c e r o r n o t , t h e
W o l v e r i n e t h u g s k n e w w h e r e h e w a s fi r i n g f r o m , b u t T a l o n d e l d i d n ’ t
l e t t h a t s t o p h i m . A n o t h e r p a i r o f s h o t s , a n d a n o t h e r ; t h e t a r g e t s
w e r e m o r e c a r e f u l n o w , g i v i n g h i m o n l y w a r y h e a d s a n d h a l f - c o v e r e d
s h o u l d e r s t o fi r e a t , p e e k i n g a t h i m t h r o u g h s h a t t e r e d w i n d o w s . T h e y
w e r e e a s y t a r g e t s , li k e a n a f t e r n o o n a t t h e r a n g e , u n t il fi n a ll y t h e
s e c o n d m a g a z i n e w a s e m p t y .
T a l o n d e l d u c k e d b e l o w t h e li p o f h i s b u il d i n g a n d q u i c k l y
l o c k e d h i s r i f l e i n t o i t s a r m o r e d , p a d d e d c a s e . I t w a s t e t h e r e d
t o a g r a p p li n g h o o k b y a s l e n d e r li n e o f s t e a l t h r o p e , a n d t h e e l f
3
The Way of the Adept
3
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h u r l e d t h e l o c k e d c a s e o v e r t h e r e a r o f t h e b u il d i n g . H e h a d p r e -
m e a s u r e d t h e li n e a n d s p o o l e d o u t j u s t e n o u g h t h a t t h e r i f l e
w o u l d b e d a n g li n g a m e t e r o f f t h e g r o u n d , t w o m e t e r s a w a y
f r o m h i s w a i t i n g c o u p e w h e n t h e n i g h t ’ s w o r k w a s d o n e . H i s
m o v e m e n t s w e r e c a l m , s e e m i n g l y l a x , b u t e v e r y a c t i o n h a d b e e n
m e t i c u l o u s l y p l a n n e d i n a d v a n c e . W a r r i o r s w e r e n o t s l o p p y i n
s e r v i c e t o t h e i r P r i n c e .
H e t o o k a s i n g l e , c a l m i n g b r e a t h a n d t h e n w h i s p e r e d t o h i m -
s e l f i n S p e r e t h i e l a s h e l e a p t o v e r t h e r o o f t o p ’ s l o w w a ll. H e r e c i t e d
h i s O a t h s a s t h e p a v e m e n t r o s e u p t o m e e t h i m , t w i s t i n g c a t - li k e
a n d e f f o r t l e s s l y a b s o r b i n g t h e l a n d i n g ’ s i m p a c t w i t h h i s l e g s , m a g i c ,
a n d f a i t h . T a l o n d e l g l a n c e d u p a s h e d a r t e d a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t , s p o t -
t i n g a r o u n d - e a r w h o ’ d m u s t e r e d t h e c o u r a g e t o s t a n d i n a w i n d o w
a n d l e v e l a s h o t g u n . T h e e l f s n o r t e d a t t h e i n e l e g a n c e o f t h e m a n ’ s
w e a p o n , t h e u g l y s o u n d o f t h e s li d e , a n d t h e s l o w n e s s w i t h w h i c h
t h e m u z z l e t r a c k e d h i m . H i s l e f t a r m s w u n g u p , a n d a s li v e r o f s t e e l
l e a p t f r o m h i s h a n d . T a l o n d e l’ s e y e s w e r e n ’ t e v e n o n t h e t a r g e t a s
t h e c o r p s e f e ll; h e w a s a l r e a d y s c a n n i n g t h e o t h e r w i n d o w s . T h e r e
w e r e n o n e . W o l v e r i n e S e c u r i t y a g e n t s w e r e o n l y f e a r s o m e w h e n a t -
t a c k i n g . T h e i r b r u t a li t y a n d b l u s t e r l e f t t h e m w h e n t h e y w e r e o n
t h e d e f e n s i v e .
A r i p p l e o f e n e r g y r o ll e d o f f h i s s h o u l d e r a s h e s l a m m e d i t i n t o
t h e f r o n t d o o r o f t h e s t a t i o n , b u c k li n g t h e m e t a l a s i t g a v e w a y f r o m
t h e f o r c e o f h i s m a g i c a ll y e n h a n c e d i m p a c t . T h e d o o r c r a s h e d o f f t h e
h i n g e s , b u t e v e n b e f o r e i t c l a t t e r e d t o t h e g r o u n d h e w a s t u m b li n g ,
r o lli n g t o o n e s i d e , a v o i d i n g t h e fi r e h e k n e w t o e x p e c t . T a l o n d e l t h e n
s p r a n g t o h i s f e e t m e t e r s a w a y f r o m w h e r e t h e y e x p e c t e d . H i s w r i s t
fl i c k e d a g a i n , a n d a h a n d f u l o f s h a r p s t e e l w h i s t l e d t h r o u g h t h e a i r.
T w o m o r e b o d i e s s l u m p e d t o t h e fl o o r.
A p a i r o f u g l y p o li c e m e n d i e d t o t h r o w i n g b l a d e s b e f o r e h e
r a n d r y . T a l o n d e l r e li s h e d t h e
o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e l y o n h i s
W a r r i o r ’ s t r a i n i n g a n d s t e e l.
A s w o r d l e a p t i n t o h i s h a n d ,
t o o q u i c k f o r t h e n e x t o f f i -
c e r ’ s e y e s t o r e g i s t e r. I t w a s a
s h o r t b l a d e , s o m e t h i n g li k e a
g l a d i u s , b u t l e a f - b l a d e d li k e
a n o l d x i p h o s . I t w a s s i m i -
l a r t o a s e c o n d a r y w e a p o n
t h a t a n O l d - W o r l d a r c h e r
m i g h t c a r r y , b u t g r a c e f u l
r u n e s e t c h e d i n o r i c h a l c u m
r a n t h e l e n g t h o f i t s b l a d e
e n s u r e d l e t h a li t y d e s p i t e i t s
s i z e . T h e e d g e s w e r e li n e d
w i t h m o n o f il a m e n t w i r e ;
c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e e n c h a n t -
m e n t s a n d T a l o n d e l’ s a b ili t y ,
i t w a s e n o u g h t o s e p a r a t e
t h e s u r p r i s e d g u a r d ’ s h e a d
f r o m h i s s h o u l d e r s e a s il y . A s
a b o y , h e ’ d b e e n a m a s t e r
w i t h a w e ll - b a l a n c e d h u r l e y . A f t e r h i s N a m i n g , T a l o n d e l h a d a n
a l t o g e t h e r m o r e l e t h a l w e a p o n .
T h e s w o r d w a s n ’ t j u s t a t h i n g o f m e t a l, m o n o fi l a m e n t , r u b b e r
g r i p s a n d o r i c h a l c u m . I t w a s h i s P r i n c e ’ s w ill m a d e m a n i f e s t , a g i f t
f r o m h e r h a n d , a s y m b o l o f h i s f e a l t y a n d o f h i s p l a c e . H e w i e l d e d
i t a s s h e w i e l d e d h i m ; a n d t h e y w e r e u n s t o p p a b l e . T h e b l a d e s a n g
i n t h e d a r k n e s s o f t h e s e c u r i t y s t a t i o n , l e d u n e r r i n g l y f r o m r o o m t o
r o o m b y h i s fl a w l e s s v i s i o n , m a k i n g e x a m p l e s o f e v e r y n i g h t - b li n d ,
u g l y h u m a n t h a t d a r e d t o s t a n d i n t h e w a y o f a t h r i c e - O a t h b o u n d
W a r r i o r. I t w a s m o r e t h a n a s w o r d , j u s t a s h e w a s m o r e t h a n a
s w o r d s m a n ; t h e y w e r e s y m b o l s , a n d s y m b o l s d o n o t d i e e a s il y .
T h e s l a u g h t e r fi n i s h e d a s q u i c k l y a s i t s t a r t e d . T a l o n d e l h a d
b a r e l y b r o k e n a s w e a t .
H e d i p p e d g l o v e d fi n g e r s i n t h e p o o l o f b l o o d l e f t b y h i s l a s t
v i c t i m a n d s w i p e d i t a c r o s s a b a r e s p o t o f w a ll. H e w a s n o t a n
a r t i s t , b u t w i t h i n m o m e n t s t h e s k e t c h w a s c o m p l e t e . H e t il t e d h i s
h e a d a n d n a r r o w e d h i s e y e s i n m u t e c r i t i q u e , b u t t h e r e c o u l d b e n o
m i s t a k i n g t h e g r a f fi t i’ s s i n u o u s n e c k , s l a s h i n g t a il, o r b r o a d - s p r e a d
w i n g s . A d r a g o n , p a i n t e d i n t h e b l o o d o f s l a i n h u m a n s , w o u l d s e n d
a m e s s a g e . H e s t a b y a n d h e r f o ll o w e r s w o u l d t a k e t h e b l a m e f o r
t h e n i g h t ’ s s l a u g h t e r a n d f o r t h e e s c a p e o f t h e p r i s o n e r s h e w a s
a b o u t t o s e t l o o s e . T h e g y p s y b o y h a u l e d i n b y t h e l o c a l s w o u l d g o
f r e e , a n d t h e B i t c h - W y r m ’ s s y m b o l o n t h e w a ll w o u l d m u d d y t h e
w a t e r s o f r e s p o n s i b ili t y .
H e t o o k s t o c k ; h u m a n s w e r e d e a d a n d a n e l f h a d b e e n f r e e d
f r o m a c a g e . H e s t a b y a n d h e r m i n i o n s w o u l d , a t l e a s t b r i e fl y , b e a r
t h e b l a m e f o r i t . T a l o n d e l s m il e d . H i s o r d e r s h a d b e e n c a r r i e d o u t ,
a n d h i s O a t h s f u l fi ll e d . H i s P r i n c e ’ s p l a n s m o v e d f o r w a r d y e t a g a i n .
I t h a d b e e n a g o o d n i g h t . H e w a s c o n t e n t . H e r e m a i n e d p u r e . H e
w a s a W a r r i o r, a n d n o n e c o u l d s t a n d b e f o r e h i m .
4
The Way of the Adept
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CURRENTS OF POWER
Posted by: Ma’Fan
> Hush. You would have taken the landing a lot harder than I did
if your grapple harness had fallen apart in mid-climb. I, at least,
landed on my feet.
> Ma’Fan
> Some of you might have heard about the recent splash surrounding
the latest Visionary Academic Journal. Some of you haven’t, but
should. A grad student started the ball rolling in a journal four months
ago, and speculation intensifi ed when an MIT&T reviewer couldn’t
fault the kid’s logic, and a major S-K research team confi rmed it.
Adepts are now functioning in noticeably different ways than they
were a few years ago. Plenty of our regular posters are busy, but I was
able to get Ma’Fan to share some information with the rest of us. If
you’ve got an adept in your crew, it’d be a good idea to listen up.
> Fastjack
S-K’s interest had been piqued by the doctoral dissertation I
just linked to, and they conducted experiments on young adepts,
trying to find out exactly where one Way stopped and another
began. ey con rmed that there were, indeed, tangible bene ts to
focusing their company adepts along a Way. ey installed implants
on research volunteers to see when— exactly when—they stopped
walking the Ways of Warriors and Athletes and found themselves,
instead, dark shells on the way to being Burnouts. uite tellingly,
even amidst a corporation the size of Saeder Krupp, they have been
unable to recruit a single Invisible Way for these experiments, or to
convince any of their corporate Speaker’s Way initiates to take part.
As Totemic Way followers are almost unheard of in corporate circles,
it is unsurprising that only those with more direct, physical powers
were experimented upon.
> Of course they’re functioning differently. We’re all functioning
differently, all the time! Upgrading is kind of what shadowrun-
ners do, after all. I don’t see the academic community all abuzz
every time some chromeass gets a new arm or hacker upgrades
his ‘jacks.
> Slamm-0!
> That doesn’t make any sense.
> Black Mamba
> That’s not quite what the researchers mean, lad. There have been
startling changes in how individual adepts have handled them-
selves under controlled conditions, breaking the norm regarding
established progression rates. People have gotten tangibly better
at the things they practice the most, and they have done so faster
than they should.
> Thorn
> I agree. Taking perfectly functional adepts and tearing them apart
to replace parts of their body with machinery, just to see how
much they can take before their magic deteriorates, is a nonsen-
sical waste.
> Ma’Fan
> Uhh, so? Doesn’t that make sense?
> Slamm-0!
> No, I mean I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about with
all these different Ways.
> Black Mamba
> Wouldn’t you be surprised if one of your commlinks suddenly got
harder to trace, or started processing commands faster, all without
you mucking about with the wiring, new software, or upgrading a
processor? If, just from you using it, one of your programs started
to run more smoothly? You might be glad for the change, but still
a little curious about how and why it happened, aye?
> Thorn
As wasteful as I felt those experiments were, my curiosity was
piqued by their results. e ndings seemed accurate, and matched
with the theories put forth by the academic journals. Formal research
is con rming what Cat whispers to me in private; quite simply, adepts
who are dedicated to a Way are rewarded for their dedication.
> It is no surprise. The totems are loyal to those who show them
loyalty.
> Man-of-Many-Names
> Oh. Uhh, yeah. I can see how that might be something folks would
want to talk about.
> Slamm-0!
> So all this buzz is over crazy shaman-adepts who hear voices?
Really?
> Black Mamba
> I can see why they wouldn’t. Keep the edge, stay alive.
> Dr. Spin
Link: “Walking a Way, or Sprinting Along It: Specialization Among
Adepts” Visionary Academic Journal, November, 2073
And this is where I will begin. FastJack asked for me to talk to
you because I have a little downtime on my hands, thanks to a broken
leg, and because I’d come across some of this recent adept research as
part of a job. Since I had some familiarity with the subject at hand,
and some time to kill, I was more than happy to help out.
> No, not really. Most adepts follow a Way, even if they don’t know it.
Think about the adepts you’ve worked with. They focus on kicking
ass, or talking their way out of trouble, or not getting spotted in
the fi rst place, right? “Ways” are just how they classify them-
selves, or how the academics classify them. Some do consider
themselves followers of a Totem, who are we to disagree? It
seems to work for Ma’Fan.
> Riser
> Aww, kitty got hurt?
> Mika
Cat looks a er me while I pursue secrets and remain dedicated
to stealth. Basically, as long as I look a er myself instead of relying
5
The Way of the Adept
CURRENTS OF POWER
Posted by: Ma’Fan
> Some of you might have heard about the recent splash surrounding
the latest Visionary Academic Journal. Some of you haven’t, but
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