\documentclass[blue]{conditionechoblueshift}
\begin{document}
\name{\bBeta{}}

\bigquote{``Blue, green, grey, white, or black; smooth, ruffled, or
mountainous; that ocean is not silent.''}{-- H.P. Lovecraft, ``The
White Ship''}

You are a member of the ancient sea-dwelling race \bBeta{\MYrealname},
(codenamed \bBeta{} by the air-dwellers, but known to some as Deep
Ones). Your people are distant relatives of \bAlpha{\MYrealname}
(\bAlpha{} to humans), and for centuries have lived in the shadow of
your stronger relatives, unseen and unknown to the humans.

Centuries ago, you and the \bAlpha{\MYrealname} fought a long and
bloody war - one that nearly resulted in the extinction of your race.
Since then, you have been careful not to confront them directly, but
the tension between your two races has not diminished with time.

The long-term survival of your race depends largely upon a steady
supply of \iAtmospherium{}, an extremely rare element found in few
places on Earth, and essential both as a source of power and for its
significance in both the religious rites and scientific progress of
your people.  Unfortunately, your own sources of \iAtmospherium{} are
almost depleted - but your intelligence has learned of an extremely
rich source located in the country of the air-dwellers.

Recently, your people have been rapidly growing in both population and 
ambition.  You desire to gain power and overthrow 
\bAlpha{\MYrealname}, eventually becoming the dominant race of the 
seafloor. Doing so, however, requires a surplus of the vital resource 
\iAtmospherium{}, and ideally some other advantages over 
\bAlpha{\MYrealname}.

In  addition, you have  a long,  proud religious  tradition, revolving
around  worship of  even older  and greater  sea races,  known  to the
humans as DEEP  SEVEN and BLUE HADES (their true  names are deemed too
sacred  to  your  people  to   be  pronounced  by  any  but  the  high
priests).  There  is  an  area  of  land  on  the  seafloor  known  as
\mLandMass{},    at   the   boundary    between   your    domain   and
\bAlpha{\MYrealname}'s, which your high  priests believe to be central
to the ritual that will raise  the lost city of R'lyeh, when the stars
align in the distant future.

This land has recently been taken over by \bAlpha{\MYrealname}, and it
would be a great morale boost to your people if you were to
succesfully negotiate possession of it. In addition, the air-dwellers
possess an artifact, the \iReligiousArtifact{}, which your religious
leaders have begged you to obtain if you can.

\bAlpha{\MYrealname} have had a treaty with \bLaundry{} for years, 
ensuring peace between them in exchange for access to a portion of the 
\bLaundry{}'s \iAtmospherium{} production. This treaty is about to 
expire, however, and \bAlpha{\MYrealname} is entering into a meeting 
with them to renegotiate the terms.

Recognizing the opportunity, your race suddenly made its existence
known to \bLaundry{}, issuing an ultimatum: you will seize control of
vital shipping lanes unless you are given a place in the negotiations.
The air-dwellers agreed to let you be a party to the negotiations, and
so you arranged a delegation. \bAlpha{\MYrealname} has relucantly
agreed to allow your diplomats safe passage to the land of the humans.

To assure the continued survival of your race, you need to negotiate 
for at least 25 tons per month of \iAtmospherium{}, although the more 
you can get your webbed hands on, the better.  In particular, if you 
were to secure 45 tons per month (or more), it would allow your race 
to expand both economically and militarily.

Obtaining possession of the \iReligiousArtifact{} and securing
\mLandMass{} for your people is important but not vital.  The
\bLaundry{} has asked for a treaty exception that would allow them to
establish an undersea base - perhaps this could give you the leverage
to get what you want, but not if \bAlpha{\MYrealname} underbids you.

You've also heard rumors - very tantalizing rumors - that the
air-dwellers may be capable of developing a device known as a \iBomb{}
If you manage to secure it, it would give you a decisive edge in a war
against your enemies, \bAlpha{\MYrealname}.

To further complicate things, you do not possess the water-retention
technology that enables \bAlpha{\MYrealname} to function
effectively out of water.  This means that \textbf{at least once per
hour you must fully immerse yourself in seawater for at least thirty
seconds}.

\textbf{If it has been over an hour since you immersed yourself in
water}, your skin begins to dry out.  \textbf{You can only walk
heel-toe}, and feel extremely uncomfortable.

\textbf{If it has been over seventy-five minutes since you immersed
  yourself in water, you fall unconscious.}  You cannot be wakened by
  any normal means, though immersing your body in water for thirty
  seconds wakens you and resets your clock.

\textbf{If it has been over eighty minutes since you immersed yourself
  in water, you \emph{die of dehydration}}.

This weakness, especially compared to \bAlpha{\MYrealname}, is
highly shameful (alas, your anatomy is \emph{just} different enough to
make their moisture-retention suits useless on you).  You've all worn
fake, water-permeable suits that look similar to the ones
\bAlpha{\MYrealname} wear.  Revealing this to either your enemies or
the air-dwellers would make you look weak beside them, which could cause
them to reduce your stake in the treaty!  For the sake of your race,
keep it secret - but you'll reveal it if you must if it means the
difference between life and death.

Negotiate and scheme your way to eventual dominance over 
\bAlpha{\MYrealname}, whether by diplomacy or by acquisition of the 
\iBomb{}, and \bBeta{\MYrealname} will honor you for eternity. 
Fail, and you will be forgotten.

\begin{itemz}[Notes]
  \item You suspect that the \bLaundry{}'s mine can produce 90 units
  of \iAtmospherium{} per month, though this is inaccurate at best and
  a wild guess at worst.
\end{itemz}

\begin{itemz}[Goals]
  \item Make sure you remain wet - enter the water at least once per hour.
 \item Negotiate a new treaty with \bAlpha{\MYrealname} and the \bLaundry{} that
 is as beneficial to you as possible.
 \item Secure the \iBomb{} for your race if at all possible, and prevent
 \bAlpha{\MYrealname} from getting wind of it.
 \item Hide your shameful need to re-enter the water periodically from
 everyone if possible - there's no need to let this weakness be known.
 \item Make as many friends among the air-dwellers as you can - if it
 comes to war, you'll need all the help you can get.
\end{itemz}


\begin{members}
\member{\cBetaRep{}} \bBeta{}'s primary representative to the treaty
convention.
\member{\cBetaAsst{}} The assistant to \cBetaRep{}.
\end{members}

\end{document}