New Reality Seeds

[PTTG]

I like it. Does the telepath only read minds?

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by PTTG

I like it. Does the telepath only read minds?

He has a wide range of skills, psionic and otherwise. He's a large powerfully built man, think James Garner or Fess Parker. He has high stats, he looks strong and tough, his high DX (14) and IQ (16) generally come as a surprise. As the telepath has a high levels of Social skills and the Psionic Suggestion skill, he's a very good con man/infiltrator.

[fchase8]

Is the world-jumper of Infinity, Centrum, or a free agent?

If he works for either cross-dimensional power, taking a powerful telepath who didn't know about alternate worlds to another world would be a big no-no to both Infinity & Centrum.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by fchase8

Is the world-jumper of Infinity, Centrum, or a free agent?

If he works for either cross-dimensional power, taking a powerful telepath who didn't know about alternate worlds to another world would be a big no-no to both Infinity & Centrum.

A free agent as yet unaware of either Infinity or Centrum. His World Jumping ability works on a different axis. He almost never lands on any worlds either Centrum or Homeline knows about or can get to.

[fchase8]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Basically events seem to be out of whack on a Q6 echo going through the late 1960's. Agnew has just resigned admitting massive corruption and that he was being blackmailed by the Mafia. In the spirit of reconciliation, and to get past the scandal, Nixon has nominated Humphrey for Veep. Centrum and Homeline each suspect the other.

Nixon nominating Humphrey as his new VP sounds so out-of-character, so out-of-left-field for Nixon, that at least Infinity would suspect it was mind control. I figure that echoes don't have native-born telepaths (and are no mana), so would expect an outside visitor of some sort, hamfisted and idealistic (which is the case).

Or maybe Infinity thinks that this wasn't an echo but a fantasy parallel. Indeed, maybe Infinity thinks that they're witnessing an echo 'become' a weird world.

Centrum might not realize how weird Nixon's action is. Indeed, Centrum might like, or at least respect Nixon, with his realpolitick and paranoia.

Infinity might think Centrum is trying to hamfistedly support Nixon by nixing the corruption issue early, and building up domestic support for his anti-USSR stance. Though hasn't it been stated that Centrum doesn't like telepaths, because Centrum is just too paranoid to work with them?

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by fchase8

Nixon nominating Humphrey as his new VP sounds so out-of-character, so out-of-left-field for Nixon, that at least Infinity would suspect it was mind control.

Never mind Infinity, the locals are going to suspect mind control. Of quite a few people other than just Nixon and Humphrey.

It's true quite a lot of cross-time plots tend to assume the local barbarians don't matter at all, but that's always a mistake. Especially so in an era like the 1970s, full of well organized governments and intelligence services with a decent tech level and an ample supply of paranoia.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by fchase8

Nixon nominating Humphrey as his new VP sounds so out-of-character, so out-of-left-field for Nixon, that at least Infinity would suspect it was mind control. I figure that echoes don't have native-born telepaths (and are no mana), so would expect an outside visitor of some sort, hamfisted and idealistic (which is the case).

Or maybe Infinity thinks that this wasn't an echo but a fantasy parallel. Indeed, maybe Infinity thinks that they're witnessing an echo 'become' a weird world.

Centrum might not realize how weird Nixon's action is. Indeed, Centrum might like, or at least respect Nixon, with his realpolitick and paranoia.

Infinity might think Centrum is trying to hamfistedly support Nixon by nixing the corruption issue early, and building up domestic support for his anti-USSR stance. Though hasn't it been stated that Centrum doesn't like telepaths, because Centrum is just too paranoid to work with them?

All good stuff. Adding a piece of random weirdness to the world can send everybody running around in circles. The "Wilderness of Mirrors" can consume any agent.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by malloyd

Never mind Infinity, the locals are going to suspect mind control. Of quite a few people other than just Nixon and Humphrey.

It's true quite a lot of cross-time plots tend to assume the local barbarians don't matter at all, but that's always a mistake. Especially so in an era like the 1970s, full of well organized governments and intelligence services with a decent tech level and an ample supply of paranoia.

The Telepath is trying to heal/restore history as he knows it. Note: although well read and educated, the Telepath is from a world where it was the year 2150AD (as I said, the World-Jumper wasn't from the local area) so his knowledge of 1969 is limited. He's a Parahuman (he looks like a stereotypical classic Hollywood Cowboy/Leading Man because he was designed to look that way.) He's from a society that's as different from the late 1960's as they were different from the 1600's. Because he has degrees in History, Anthropology, and Sociology, he thinks he isn't naïve about the locals. He assumes because he normally has a certain humility he can't be guilty of hubris.

Do you see his trap?

A note on the History the Telepath sees as normal. Humphrey is a solid President and continues the Great Society and the Space Program more strongly than Nixon (yes I know, Nixon favored both, to a degree, Humphrey was more committed to both). American involvement in Vietnam was over by October of 1969. The stress of office caused the early onset of the Cancer that killed Humphrey. Reagan was the next President, the Democrats were split and a weak candidate ran against Reagan. Although no better or worse than Homeline's Reagan, this world's Reagan got blamed for the Oil Shocks and Stagflation. He used the same means Carter did on Homeline to end the Stagflation, was as successful, and like Carter was a one term President. Edward Kennedy was President from 1977 to 1985 followed by Ferraro from 1985 to 1993. After 16 years of Democrats the nation voted in a Republican in 1992, Newt Gingrich. It was a disaster. For the next fifty years, as Europe moved to the political Right, America moved to the Left.

The Telepath fears a world where democracy become discredited in Europe and America at the same time. Thus, although he is basically a kind and descent man (he has Pacifism: Cannot Harm Innocents), the Telepath sees himself as fighting for the survival of the world. He fears Humanity can't survive the 21st century if democracy is lost. He'll do whatever it takes to move history back on course.

[fchase8]

Originally Posted by malloyd

Never mind Infinity, the locals are going to suspect mind control. Of quite a few people other than just Nixon and Humphrey.

It's true quite a lot of cross-time plots tend to assume the local barbarians don't matter at all, but that's always a mistake. Especially so in an era like the 1970s, full of well organized governments and intelligence services with a decent tech level and an ample supply of paranoia.

Oh yeah, good point. It'd be a world where Nixon is the least paranoid person in America...

Local parapsychologists could find the telepath before Infinity or Centrum. Other conspiracy hunters (can't exactly call them "nuts") might find Infinity or Centrum and think that they're the 'power behind the throne' causing all of this.

[Astromancer]

On this Q6 Parallel a powerful being, whether he's a Psi or a Mage is in dispute, has offered provable and easy access to multiple Earthlike worlds (they seem to be Parallel Earths with differently arranged continents and flora and fauna identical to the Earth he has shown up on). He claims to have seeded these worlds with Earth life forms and denies he can create Ex Nillo.

The Gatekeeper as he calls himself is offering to allow anyone who wants to settle these worlds the right to organize colonies and leave. He has built cities, farms, roads, and other infrastructure, on several worlds for people to settle in and get started.

The local year is 2017. Centrum, Homeline, and the Cabal, want to know who this new player is, and how he finds so many parallels.

Meanwhile, several nations are beginning to be alarmed. Syria has had a mass exodus, the government is terrified they won't have enough people to be a nation or hold their territory. Large masses of people fleeing repressive regimes are causing threats of war.