The Amber-Files

[RPGPundit]

Imagine that an Earth government managed to find out about the existence of Amberites, and of shadow-walking, even knowing of the supposed existence of Amber and of the Courts of Chaos.

What would be their reaction? This is supposing that the public does NOT know.

RPGPundit

[JongWK]

They'd last as long as the Amberites didn't know.

[RPGPundit]

Oh, I'd say it depends very much on which amberites knew.

RPGPundit

[RPGPundit]

But you're right, if the govt. has any brains at all they will try to set up an office to study and carefully learn about the Amberites without giving away their knowledge of Amber's existence; a secret group who's job it would be to observe and study the Amberites, to see what could be done with them and possibly how to kill them if necessary.

No doubt, this secret office would have some kind of cool mysterious name.. like, say, Bureau 13...

RPGPundit

[Otha]

It depends on how MUCH they knew...

I imagine that they'd start by watching them very closely.  If they figured out that there was something "magical" about them, they might try to capture one, but if they knew more, they'd probably sit back and just observe.  Trying anything more than that, as long as the Amberite(s) in question weren't doiung anything dangerous, would be just asking for trouble.

[Syzygy]

Such an organization would risk exposure shortly after kidnapping even a single Amberite.  Since pretty much everybody is watching everybody else anyway, the abduction wouldn't go unnoticed.

All sorts of opportunities follow here.

The observing Elder might rescue the PC, earning his gratitude, when in fact the Elder has the PC's worst interests at heart.

Or the organization might have been set up by an Elder Amberite or Chaosian in the first place.

A less malevolent scenario is an Earth government contacting a PC, asking to initiate diplomatic relations with Amber.

Anyway...there are endless possibilities here.  I think I prefer the diplomatic scenario best.  Most opportunity for role-playing, I'd wager.

[RPGPundit]

There's also the possibility that the organization in question manages to go along for enough time without direct contact with the Amberites that through secondary study they can build up quite an arsenal.  They could have sorcery, power words, conjurations, items, have found shadow paths, and if they get ahold of a Broken Pattern, watch out!

RPGPundit

[Malleus Arianorum]

Earth is mostly harmless.
 
As much as I like Earth, I think that Operation Corwin: go get him! Will go as poorly as any of the other attempts to mess with Amberites. That said, I'd like to see an Earthling plutarchy get ahold of a quantum physics based inter-shadow power. Here's what it would look like to me, assuming a gradual increase in knowledge and power...
 
Roswell
You know enough about the Amberites to be curious but you still have no hard facts. You might be usefull to an Amberite since you know the people they're interested in. They might even give you a biscuit! Good boy!
 
Quantum Crystal ball
The synergy between Amberite "shadow shifting" and Earthling Quantum Physics has given you the ability to peer into parallel Earths. Money and power is no longer a concern of yours since you can speculate on the similarities between shadow Earths with a high degree of success. More importantly you can identify tallented individuals and potential threats here by observing their twins in shadow.
 
In theory, you might be able to trap an Amberite by leveraging your considerable foreknowledge. But if you have any sense you'll stick to capturing inter-shadow wildlife for now.
 
Quantum penpals
Inter-shadow communication allows you to conspire with the residents of other shadows. You can team up with your shadow twins and play God with the uninitiated.
 
If you're feeling smug, you could set up a puppet dictator in another shadow and have THEM take the risks of capturing Corwin.
 
Quantum Vodoo (Optional)
Finaly! Real magic! There is a kind of sympathetic magic at work between shadows and you are aware of it and able to use it to supernaturaly influence events. For example, if you assasinate someone in other shadows they'll be enfebled here. If you empower your shadow twins you'll get the benefit too. (Or, instead of sympathetic magic, it's a zero sum game. The more you oppress your shadow selves, the more powerful you become.)
 
If this is a NEW(tm) power source you can use it to get the drop on Amberites. It's kinda like having your very own Power Word.
 
Quantum Initiate
Finaly you're able to walk through shadow. You're still not a threat, but you can leave Earth which allows you to escape if you mess it up somehow. Also, you can transport things between shadows which makes amassing power even easier. But even with your mobility, you don't have much inherent power so it's still best to have a stronghold or a series of safe houses. Without your friends and assets you're nothing more than a guy with the supernatural power to go away.
 
It might be a crippled form of shadow shifting that only works in science shadows. It might require costly megawat generators and cumbersome supercoliders or it could be a NEW(tm) power source, there may even be occasions when your way is faster, stealthier or more dependable.
 
Advanced Quantum Mastery (optional)
Congradulations! You're a serious threat to the Amberites because you've mastered a Power they don't understand. It could be anything your GM allows, but for the sake of this post, let's say you can adapt Earth's considerable firepower to work anywhere. Hunt Julian with a high powered rifle and an ultrasonic dog repelent. Use airpower against Gerard's black powder fleet. Rain ICBMs (ISBMs?) on the courts of Chaos. Of course none of that is any good against a hellrider, but it's still one heck of a show.

[Trevelyan]

If a government agency knew about amberites and wanted to stop them it wouldn't be very hard. Any decent agency could quickly locate an amberite on Earth (they don't tend to make any effort to keep a low profile) and a well placed sniper could eliminate even Benedict (in spite of Wujick's exaggerations on that matter).

If said agency wanted to study amberites then their options would be limited since most of the powers exhibited would be beyond the ability of human agencies to replicate. Most governmental bodies would be reduced to following a shadow walker and hoping to find a way for the tailing agent to report back.

The only reasonable field of study would be paraormal. The amberite study group would most likely be a subset of any other supernatural study group that might be active under the umbrella of more mundane security services. Even then their actions would be limited as few agents wuold be capable of travelling through shadow, and fewer still of those could report back.

The only way for such an agency to make any real progress would be to approach the amberite in question directly, either openly admitting who and/or what they were, or else trying to secreet a spy into the amberite's ranks (Bill Roth, government agent!).

[Nihilistic Mind]

Hello???!?!?

Secret breeding programs!!!!

[Trevelyan]

Hello???!?!?

Secret breeding programs!!!!

Because Amberites are so notoriously fertile

[weilide]

Well, I suppose they might just be recreational programs.

[Nihilistic Mind]

Because Amberites are so notoriously fertile

That's true, but that's just an opportunity for more awkward fun. I mean, would Corwin say no to any woman relatively attractive that entered his life?

If my PC is suddenly a beacon of sexy (or thinks he is) because lots of chicks throw themselves at him (then never bother calling), would I not go there? Well, I would become suspicious if and when I find out this 'agency' has my progeny...

It's good stuff!

And if I were playing from the other side, as an agent trying to get impregnated by an Amberite, imagine the fear you'd have to deal with. These people are being studied as super beings (pretty much) and you'd have to deal with all the ethical dilemmas of the agency's goals, etc...

Sounds like a fun game to play either way. Definitely takes a less serious tone than an entirely investigative adventure, but oh well...

[Trevelyan]

That's true, but that's just an opportunity for more awkward fun.

It's definitely fun, but it would only ever work to the extent that it made the life of a PC more interesting...

[Ivanhoe]

Malleus Arianorum : Thanks a lot. Now I know what my players will encounter if they mess too much with SciFi shadows.

I had a kind of Amber-files cabal in my game, but that was controlled by Flora. She just has a network of powerful friends who acknowledge her as a powerful witch that can help them a lot. It was useful when she wanted to try to drop a nuke on Chaosians who mistook a castle in Scotland for the Amber castle...