[UA] Pyric Victor?

[R. Menzi]

     If there can be a Necessary Servant, a Two Faced
Man etc., the tone of UA really calls out for this
guy:

     The Pyric Victor is an old, archtype.  Still, it
enjoyed a significant return to relevance with the
spread of nuclear weapons technology.  In the recent
context, the PV's influence peaked during the Cold War
when mutually assured destruction (MAD) was considered
the best tactic on the table.  It has since declined
and the opposing sides in modern MAD relationships are
less ideologically opposed.  Further evidence of his
loss is the reduced scale of any likely nuclear
exchanges (from global annihilation to localized
destruction with nasty environmental effects.) 

     The significance of downing the MAD ante may
actually represent either the rise or fall of the
Pyric Victor's influence.  Without world-ending stakes
in any MAD conflict, the PV's seat is far less danger
of passing on to the first man who pushes a bid red
button.  In fact, several potential nuclear incidents
have been narrowly avoided thanks to the current PV's
preference against giving up his seat.  (The seat cost
him *everything*, so he'll be damned if he's going to
give it up to some pissant with an itchy button
finger.)

-----------

     Channels should assist any move that overcomes
one's obstacles by sacraficing one's resources or
things of value.  The PV is not a pleasant path to
walk, and usually not followed intentionally.  Still,
it has some popularity among Annihilomancers, since
destroying what they find valuable also provides
charges.

     Signs include yellow ribbons (soldiers leaving
their homes unprotected), red buttons while sirens
blare, and incorrect math - specifically, equations
that produce the number zero, but show a positive
number as the answer.

---------

      Does this one fit well with UA?  I'm still no
good with Channels, though.  All I can think of is
that they should work better or worse depending on how
much the action sacrafices to succeed.  That and it
should do whatever it does pretty damn well,
considering that it will exact a nasty toll on any
avatars - gotta make it worthwhile.



Regards
- R. Menzi

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