[Game] Work Up a Steampunk Setting

[(E)]

Answer 41, partial
Relating to standing question 2
In the south and western pacific there are several pro independence groups. Depending on who you ask they are called anything from patriotic citizens to radical terrorists. Regardless of their title these organizations are supported by like minded individuals from around the Pacific. Tensions are currently on the rise between the British governor of Nuevo Zealandia and The Japanese over the resources being sent from the wealthy British colony to support "dangerous terrorists" Nuevo Zealandia's lignae coral is considered the most energy rich coral on the planet and it's price reflects that.

As a result of pressure from the Japanese the Native Maori are being subjected to a more repressive governance. Tensions are mounting. Te Rauparaha a Maori leader has been reported to have close ties with "The potters" or "La pita" a pro liberation group operating out of Guam and Belau.

[Warlockco]

Question 34
What are popular tourist destinations?

Question 35
What is the current status of Spain, and what are its relationships with the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America?

Question 39
Who built the North Sea Pyramid, and why?

Question 42
What types of weaponry are commonly available for various country's troops? And what advanced options are there? Who has the superior armaments?

Standing Question 2
What are the top 5-10 Global Trouble Spots, and which side are the British or other powers supporting?
1 of 5-10

Standing Question 3
Who are the top 5 most wanted criminals of the world?
4 and 5 are taken, 1-3 are left.

Standing Question 4
What are some of the Chinese or Western Pacific indigenous resistance groups who fight the brutally oppressive occupations by the Japanese Empire?
1 of x

[Daigoro]

Originally Posted by Warlockco

Question 35
What is the current status of Spain, and what are its relationships with the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America?

Actually, this was answered above, in post 63.
BTW- There were actually two qn35s, the other one was the Korea qn

[Emerald Cat]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

It seems the consensus is keep it, but I'd still like to see the "all religions wield magic" part toned-down a touch.

I edited my Answer to Question 37 (re: Magic) and toned that down a little. Mainly, I made it so that religious figures wielded their magic in secret. And I mean that they are truly keeping it a secret from the general public. That should be far less disruptive to the setting.

[TGLS]

Standing Question 3
Who are the top 5 most wanted criminals of the world?
4 and 5 are taken, 1-3 are left.

Number 3:
International Art Thief and Italian Nationalist "Francesco d'Italia" is wanted in all over Europe for stealing over 100 pieces of art. In his first heist, he stole the Mona Lisa by merely walking out the Louvre with the painting. He went on to steal other great Italian works like the "Lady with an Ermine" and Michelangelo's David. Recently, he has expanded his heists into the works of other nations, including a few Picassos and several Hitlers. He is also notable for his taunting of the police force and only selling Italian paintings in Italy. Whether or not the Italian nationalism is an act, the thievery is inspiring pan-nationalism in Italy.

[Warlockco]

Question 34
What are popular tourist destinations?

Question 35b since there appears to be two 35s somehow
What has happened to Korea?

Question 39
Who built the North Sea Pyramid, and why?

Question 42
What types of weaponry are commonly available for various country's troops? And what advanced options are there? Who has the superior armaments?

Standing Question 2
What are the top 5-10 Global Trouble Spots, and which side are the British or other powers supporting?
1 of 5-10

Standing Question 3
Who are the top 5 most wanted criminals of the world?
3-5 are taken, 1-2 are left.

Standing Question 4
What are some of the Chinese or Western Pacific indigenous resistance groups who fight the brutally oppressive occupations by the Japanese Empire?
1 of x

[Daigoro]

Originally Posted by Warlockco

Question 35b since there appears to be two 35s somehow
What has happened to Korea?

Sorry, both qn35s have been answered already.

[Dr. Beckenstein]

Standing Question 3
Who are the top 5 most wanted criminals of the world?

#2: The dreaded pirate queen Oradee.

Some say, she is the widow of of a simple fisherman who turned to a live of crime to avenge the dead of her husband. Others say she is the child of a catholic missionary and a Chinese prostitute, doomed to a life of sin before birth. Still others says, "Oradee" is not a single person, but a group of respectable women, wives of wealthy merchants and even colonial administrators. The most disturbing rumor is that "she" is in fact a degenerated Japanese noble who dishonored his family by dressing as a woman and turning to a life of crime.
Few facts are known. Around 1895 first reports showed up about a daring and absolutely ruthless pirate crew who were lead by a female captain called Oradee (which is a Siamese name, but probably not her real one). Soon thereafter, an already established pirate called Chung Deng demanded "tributes and respect" from the newcomers. One month later, Chung Dengs head was found nailed to the wall of the harbour masters office in Singapore. His ship was washed ashore, with all hands on board killed. Chung Dengs whole family had vanished from the face of the earth. Anybody who dared to resist Oradee took a similar fate, and so she became the scourge of the Chinese Sea. Today, she is the spider in a net that connects every port in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, and woe betides the ship that becomes the prey of one of her ships.
She controls at least a dozen ships, probably more. All of them are captured freighters, who look rusty and neglected from the outside, but are armed with hidden maxim guns and filled with the worst scum of the oceans. It is an open secret that many shipping lines pay "fees" to Oradee. Deals like this are made with one of her agents, hard to find and utterly loyal to her. A few have been captured and interrogated, but neither cold silver nor hot iron could make them talk. What Oradee does to a traitor is probably worse than anything a hangman or torturer could imagine.
Most seafaring nations have put a bounty of at least $ 250.000 on her head. Those who tried to collect it were never seen again.

[tshiggins]

I just want to say that this is probably the best one "Question World" I've seen, thus far.

A lot of the time, these things come completely off the rails, because someone throws in something bizarre out of left field, and we've managed to avoid that, here. Even the use of magic is low-key enough that it doesn't mess with the steampunk nature of the setting, while at the same time adding a nice option for GMs.

(Oh, and I love Oradee. I'd make her a sociopathic Euro-Asian Modesty Blaise!)

Kudos to all!

[Daigoro]

Answer to Question 40
Who are the top 5 most wanted criminals of the world?

Criminal #1: The Kingfisher

The Kingfisher, the Terror of the West Country, Captain of the Black Manta, is wanted for a string of assassinations of aristocrats, mining barons and industrialists around the West Country and Wales. The Black Manta is a small, advanced, high speed, high altitude, stealth airship, featuring a flattened, wing-like gasbag design, and steam-capacitor powered thrusters in cowled housings that maintain an impressive level of quiet operation in stealth mode.

The Kingfisher's modus operandi is to have an accomplice mark the vehicle of their next target for assassination, be it coach, automobile or dirigible, with a luminiferous UV paint. When the target is travelling through country roads at night, such as when returning from a soiree, the Black Manta can spot them from altitude via its superior optical system, and swoop in for its attack, dropping bundles of heavy, silent, 5-foot long steel flechettes from a deadly height. While usually difficult to properly aim such a weapon, the Black Manta is equipped with miniaturised mechanical integrator-driven bombsights, giving the attack a deadly accuracy at the Kingfisher's skilled hands. And if the first bombardment should fail, the Black Manta is often able to make a second attack run on its still-oblivious target.

After successfully disposing of a target, the Black Manta quickly ascends to altitude before returning to base, usually unobserved.

So who then is the mysterious Kingfisher? None would suspect that it is the celebrated and renowned British architect, mathematician and zoologist, Lydia Florence Watford. Famous for her biologically inspired super-structures, such as the Grand Aery at Pembroke, the unique conch-shaped spire of the Ministry of Trade Halls of Dublin, or the stunning outdoor Heron Auditorium of East Exeter, shaped indeed like a giant heron curving its wings, neck and beak above the audience, she is a darling of the Empire. As the Kingfisher, though, she seeks vengeance against any who exploit the lower-working classes, especially those excessively profiteering from the deaths of labourers in highly hazardous work environments- mines, foundries, heavy industry.

While now a respected member of high society, Ms Watford made her fortune by the fruit of her own genius and perseverance. Born humbly, she grew up in anguish watching her father slowly consumed by the slurries, a lung affliction common to his profession as a Welsh tar coral miner. Upon his early death at 31, Lydia, her mother and her three sisters were left destitute, and the meagre compensation from the mines company was more insulting than helpful. It was only via the auspices of the union charity that she was able to attend a far-off, expensive university. However, while learning the fancy academic subjects that would allow her to escape poverty, she also learnt the deep-seated hatred for the prattling and heartless upper classes that has fuelled her desire to bring retribution against them. Fortunately though, she also learnt how to navigate and survive in this society, so that suspicion has never fallen her way. In fact, there are a handful of murders at her alma mater whose files Scotland Yard have yet to close.

Ms Watford now lives in a country manor in the Welsh highlands, maintaining a small academy for educating girls in technical subjects. From this she draws a select cadre to aid her as the Kingfisher and crew the Black Manta, but also to maintain a network of contacts amongst the servants and attendants that work for the evil capitalists and aristocrats that she seeks to destroy. She has acquired two remote, expired mining operations- one to house and maintain the Black Manta and her secret base, where she also tinkers on improved weapons and instrumentation for the vessel, and the second as a back-up location.

The activities of the Kingfisher are causing quite some fear and paranoia among the hoi polloi, especially as there is as yet no clue as to "his" motivations or identity, and there is a real concern that the next target may be of the royal family.