What are your Homebrew Infinite Worlds... worlds?

[johndallman]

Two from the campaign that the PCs more or less understand. I should explain that the PCS are not Infinity operatives, but Cabalists, from a world where Isaac Newton discovered magic and became a Grand Master of the Cabal. The Royal Society is the major magical organisation, and is rather more scientific than normal Cabalist lodges.

New Renaissance, 1962, Q7
Crimson Skies +25. Mussolini and Balbo died in an air crash in 1937. Hitler’s bluff had been called by the French in the Rhineland in 1936, and he was unseated by the Wehrmacht in April 1936. WWII started, but fizzled out. Germany was returned to a patchwork of states, most of them Nazi-influenced. The British Empire is a creaking giant, still powerful but old-fashioned.

Italy is notionally Fascist, semi-democratic, but in practice an oligarchy. Large numbers of German Jews removed to Italy, and there has been a flowering of culture, which some call the New Renaissance.

Europe is TL7; Fermi and Ettore Majorana invented the nuclear reactor in 1944, and it was combined with Piaggio’s version of the jet engine in 1950. Reactors are only practical for very large aircraft, but there are a lot of those.

Infinity, but not Centrum, is present here. They are trying to find out about this world’s outré nuclear technology. That depends on some subtle variations in physical laws, which Infinity knows about, but the nuclear reprocessing technology is more portable, and less guarded. They have cautiously friendly relations with the Royal Society, which takes care not to reveal the location of its home world.

This world has become very useful to the PCs, because it has long-range air travel, without strict security checks.

Ur-Rome, apparently not on a quantum level
In the foothills of the Apennines in Italy, there is a valley with a Roman road that's quite out of the way. It crosses the worlds, linking many Romes, and is not confined to a single quantum. The gates on the road are invisible, but only operate for those who know they are present.

Ur-Rome appears to be an astral realm that is always on the road, but moves along it, unpredictably. It is a platonic image of Rome, with Emperors in a repeating cycle; when things get too bad, the nostalgia for the past becomes so strong that – this being a realm of the imagination – the world changes, the Republic is restored, and then Julius Cesar returns. However, this is not obvious, and not casually discussed.

At present, it is in Nero’s reign, and lots of things are happening. The Great Fire of Rome broke out the day after the PCs arrived, because this world has a high "narrative index" in that things happen dramatically and are prone to coincidences. Magic, especially, is biased by the demands of the plot.

At the entry site you appear in what appears to be a small alley, with barrels and boxes that are used as seats by the reception party. The leader on shift is Dextrus Sixtus, a junior tribune and magician. The realm is normal mana, high in temples. He will claim that unfortunately it is only possible to leave during the waxing moon (this is actually untrue, although it’s a will roll at -5 during waning moon, currently two days after full). Going out of the alley reveals that there are more guards and fortifications, because sometimes hostiles arrive.

Dextrus is quite open, but not entirely truthful, about the nature of the world: it’s the eternal city, forever Rome. The Princeps naturally wants to meet people who come along, if they’re polite and speak decent Latin. The party seems fine. He will hand them onto Nero’s major-domo, Gaius Ludus Scripto, who looks out for interesting people to distract Nero, a lot.

[Phil Masters]

A long time ago, we had a thread somewhere about worlds generated using the random table in the book. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it now. I did like the no-Islam world in which Byzantium is nominally the dominant power, the way that China could have rated as the dominant power in our 16th century or so, while China fragmented while generating overseas colonies - but the fragments and colonies are becoming very dynamic. And the TL is 6, with a strong pulp vibe. Brave ethnic-Chinese adventurers, based in the entrepots of Sicily, seek fortune and maybe to learn the strange fighting arts of the Benedictine monasteries of the Alps.

Originally Posted by johndallman

Hess-4
A WWII where things went rather differently after the Battle of France. The key difference seems to be that Hess wasn’t an idiot, but a moderately skilled political fixer.

He noticed Kesselring’s argument that Gibraltar should be taken, but that Hitler wasn’t interested in spending effort on it. He connected some Italian naval officers who’d served in the Spanish civil war with some Spanish army officers, in June 1940, and the two groups realised they had the power to take Gibraltar with existing resources. The MAS frogmen could wreck the net defences of Gibraltar simply by planting charges on them during the summer nights, allowing Italian submarines in to torpedo ships at anchor, followed by an assault from the sea. The Spanish Army was willing to attack from the land side, and the base fell in late July. Somewhat to Hitler’s surprise, but he was always willing to take an opportunity. Malta went in September, while its reinforcements were still off Kenya, and Manstein’s DAK took Egypt in October. They are currently refitting before moving on to Palestine, and then the oilfields of Iraq and Kuwait.

The date is now early December 1940. How do we keep this from becoming another Reich parallel?

Presumably, Franco's real-world motives for not helping Hitler could have been somewhat valid. Spain is hurting from British bombing and a naval embargo, and remnants of the old Republican factions have been reactivated with British support. Franco is annoyed with those officers, edgy about the arrogant attitudes he gets off every German he meets, and probably already looking for a way to pull back. Hitler, for his part, keeps remembering that Franco is part Jewish, and encourages the hot-headed Spanish officers he occasionally meets. When everything goes pear-shaped down there, the Germans and Italians are going to discover the meaning of the phrase "Spanish Ulcer".

[dcarson]

Spain has no oil to power the economy since Germany can't provide it. And much of the transport is coastal shipping to highway and rail that runs inland because of the mountains. So that gets sunk by the British. Portugal probably is a Ally now with British planes and ships operating out of it.

[arconom]

Space Bugs:
A binary planet system consists of one planet that is inhabited by TL 4 humans with some sparse clerical magic, another planet inhabited by something akin to the bugs from Starship Troopers, and a small body of ice that is stuck between the planets.

Reich Z:
After Patrolman Whatshisname caused a nuclear-parachronic detonation on Asgard, Reich 5 underwent some changes. Essentially zombies ate everyone almost. The surviving Nazis figured out how to control the zombies and give them psionics, so now there is a huge shambling army of Robot Psychic Nazi Zombies commanded by Oberst Gophukyerslef.

A Cold Place:
Infinity set up a temporary research facility on this frozen wasteland to study the local wild parachronozoids. During the study, all of the researchers disappeared. Unbeknownst to their employer, the researchers had been eaten by a really big parachronozoidal worm whose digestive tract is linked to almost everywhere.

Don't Go Here:
A mining op on an Empty went horribly wrong. Infinity picked up on an SOS and sent in an ICOP team to investigate. They found a 20000 year old pyramid of unknown origin. They also found what was living in the pyramid. Fortunately, the team only suffered one casualty. They also managed to recover one of the miners still alive, however shortly after arriving back on Homeline, he died of severe damage to the heart, lungs, and ribcage. Something had stowed away in his chest cavity and burst out. The parasite was disposed of by a specially selected team of Agents.


and a long one
TLDR Avataresque benders, also giant psionic monsters.

Worldline Data

Jeffrey Dunhale
TL 4
Mana Level Normal
Quantum 4

Nations

Clive Barker
TL 4 + 1 Elementalists
Clive Barker is a landlocked territory located between the ravaged Jeff Bridges and the naval superpower Michael Richards. It is the richest and most technologically advanced nation in the world, and its society is shaped by controllers of elemental power called Elementalists. These frighteningly powerful individuals are the source of Clive Barker's monetary and technological power.

Atrocious
Atrocious is the great plain on which Clive Barker lies. It is vast and dangerous. A survivalist knows that, while they might be safe for the birds, crimson goutberries are a death sentence for humans. Ingesting a single berry is fatal to a child, but survivable to an adult. Rippergrass is another hazard of the plains. The only lifeform that goes near the stuff is the plains mouse, as they are small enough to fit between the blades. The water lark stays near the lakes, looking for fish that come near the surface. The dog falcon soars over the plain, watching for movement in the tall grass to reveal a red howler to kill.

Classy and Rhythmic
Classy and Rhythmic are the two significant bodies of water that serve the nation . These huge lakes are home to flourishing fresh water life such as the elf shark, the gatling flounder, and the mouse catcher squid. Many water elementalists choose to live near the lakes and offer their services as deckhands to the numerous ferries and cruiseliners that populate the area during the summer. Even winter can be profitable for an elementalist who is skilled enough to manipulate ice, as ice fishing, ice skating and other winter activities are common on the frozen lakes.

Cities

Arthur Dent
Arthur is the capitol city of Clive Barker. It is also home to The Academy, which has a significant effect on the population. Even though the city was built to support 100,000 inhabitants, well over 300,000 people live there, and that number is growing at an alarming rate. The city employs Elementalists from the Academy to build housing and infrastructure to support the growing population, but there simply aren't enough to keep up.

The Academy
The Academy, established by Frankfurt, the Minister of Elemental Knowledge, is the center of all Elementalist practice. People overcrowd the city streets of Arthur Dent for their chance to pass the entrance exam that they hope will change their lives. All Elementalists join the Academy Guild upon enrollment in the Elementalist Academy. The Guild regulates the demand of Elementalists by establishing the rate of payment required for all work done by any Elementalist. The Academy regulates the supply of Elementalists by ranking Elementalists based on their skill. Elementalists can only perform work that is commensurate with their skill level, or the Guild will either kill them or mark them as an exile. The Academy trains as many Elementalists as can pass the entrance exam, so there are lots of low ranking Elementalists, but, as part of the promotion process, the Academy students must pass a Trial to advance to higher degrees of skill. This prevents a lot of Elementalists from advancing. The Trials take place in the Academy Arena, an overcrowded, noisy, and odorous testament to the Academy's fiscal prowess. The Arena is the single largest structure known to mankind, seating well over 200,000, the money made from ticket sales comprises 40% of the GDP of Clive Barker. This Business model has made the Academy the wealthiest establishment in history.

Legend
Every Elementalist has heard of Jersey. Children dream about being him. Fledgling Academy students aspire to his greatness. Jersey was an Elementalist who, according to legend, mastered all four elements. Tales even tell of him resurrecting the dead. Even though he was born more than 600 years ago, some are convinced he is still alive.

Religion
There is a religious group who believes that the Elementalists are the "Fingers of God" sent to bestow His blessings upon those who obey and His wrath upon those who do not. This group resides predominantly in the capitol city of Clive Barker, Arthur Dent.

Terrorism
Clive Barker, because of the huge success and power of its Elementalists, is a nation feared and envied by all others. This fear and envy has led some to try and disrupt the smoothly operating business. Those foolish enough to try find themselves at the mercy of an army of well trained Elementalists. Despite repeated failures, terrorists gain support and continue to attempt to put an end to the Academy's economic power.

Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges is a wild bountiful land. Its natural riches are what attracted its current population, despite its danger. It is also home to a terrorist group that is attempting to convert Elementalists and use them against the Academy.

Geography

Malign
An endless jungle provides a home for thousands of species of plant and animal. Only the most skilled survivors can tackle the jungle and return to civilization. The hazards of the jungle are too numerous to describe entirely, but here is a beginning. Red Nighthooks wait in the trees for their prey to fall asleep before they attack with venomous hooked claws. Once one of them latches on to you, your life is over.

Faultbeasts
Their hide will turn an axe blade. Their claws tear through lattice armour. They are faster than you.
The fearsome predators of the jungle aren't the only things that will kill an inexperienced survivor. There are Faultquakes, quicksand, and Barbvines all of which will kill any except the best survivors.

Fault
Only the best can survive near the Fault, and even they know better than to get comfortable with their environment. A Faultquake can happen at any moment. Faultquakes are terrific explosions of energy from the depths of the world. This discharge shakes Jagged nearly to collapse. After a Faultquake there are two things you can count on, a death toll and Faultbeasts. Faultbeasts are terrible creatures that possess frighteningly powerful abilities. The monsters of the jungle run in fear when a Faultbeast encroaches on their territory. These monsters have destroyed Kermit the Frog more times than the Magistrate of Jeff Bridges would like to admit. The Faultwardens have prevented numerous assaults from reaching the capital's walls, but sometimes the only defense against the Faultbeasts' assault is a hasty retreat.

Jagged
Jagged is home to vast veins of gold and hematite. It also contains a network of caverns that extends miles into the bowels of Jeff Dunhale. Many Faultbeasts make their home in the darkness of the mines. Those brave enough to try and extract the riches from Jagged risk a lethal encounter with one. The Faultwardens are sometimes tasked to travel into the mines and clear them, however this is a rare and happy occasion for the miners, as the Faultwardens are already overtasked in their primary objective.

Cities

Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is the largest city in the jungle. Its 200,000 inhabitants support themselves by hunting in the jungle, agriculture, and a very successful steel industry. The area's main crops are bananas, mandioca, coffee, and corn.

[PTTG]

Interesting naming scheme there.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by patchwork

Rockefeller:SCOTUS overturns the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1910 on grounds of liberty of contract. Trusts continue to dominate America and have their claws in Germany (WWI was little affected, but Hitler then died in the Beer Hall Putsch). The Soviet Union fizzles after only three years, leaving revolutionary socialism ironically much more credible. This is my Dieselpunk-goes-cyberpunk world; the Trusts are effectively megacorporations which can dictate terms to national governments, but the TL is still 6+1 and the global Marxist underground are an existential threat or civilization's last hope, depending on your perspective.

Luciano: Dutch Schultz murders Thomas Dewey in 1936. The Mob wins the resulting ill-considered crusade by Hoover; Frank Costello gets put in charge of rebuilding Italy after WWII. No President would be foolish enough to cross the Commission on this world; mostly used to keep Homeline mobsters from contacting their fathers or younger selves on a world where they need fear no cops.

Champlain: Columbus sinks, Europe gets distracted with Protestants and Muslims, and the New World isn't discovered until 1603. Without Spanish gold, the Habsburgs collapsed; North and South Champlaina belong to France, while Spain and Portugal have carved up Africa between them, according to the Pope. Of course, the Protestant English and Dutch don't care about that agreement. Clockpunk pirate world, essentially.

Melittus: A letter from the Pope is mislaid, and so the Roman attempt to Christianize England in 601 is done with fire, sword and decidedly mixed success (the pagans are all gone, but everyone in the British Isles understands that the Pope is a Very Bad Man). As an organizational matter, the Western Christian Church centered on Iona is outcompeting the WCC headquartered in Rome.

Mellitus:
How exactly does this happen? It seems out of character with the teachings and policies of the Church in the 7th Century.

The Saxon Wars of Charlemagne offer some rough parallels from the Early Medieval Period, but the killing in those was mainly done by the secular power and the coerced conversions were actually conditions of peace agreements.

What is the origin of the army that carries out this conquest? Missionaries could not do it, even if they wished to do it.

I think you need an ambitious Saxon king who wants to rule all of the kingdoms of southern and middle Britain and who wishes to use to use an ideology based on 'one god, one king' to help attain his goal. Make him nasty enough and you can get all the brutality you like. Some overzealous churchmen who deplore the violence but are willing to accept it in order to save souls may work. Transposing the mentality of things like the Albigensian Crusade or the Northern Crusades (real 'convert or die' wars with major Church leadership and a powerful crusading appeal) several centuries early would require an earlier POD in Christianity.

Later historians in the Christianized Britain may blame the Pope centuries after the fact. Ionan monk-chroniclers may have a vested interest in writing history that shifts the blame for the atrocities from a Saxon king whose descendants may still be powerful rulers to a distant and rival bishop in Rome. They may honestly think the Roman bishop was to blame, if that's how the earlier chronicles slanted events...



All just IMHO.

I do like the timeline.

[Michele]

Tsar
Tsar

and

Pope-1
Pope-1

[David Johnston2]

I remembered a couple of others:

Magdalene: Mary Magdalene takes the place of Peter and women provide the priesthood of the Roman Church. This leads to scholarship being regarded as a feminine (and lesser) thing and most civil service jobs end up being occupied by women as well. Technology advances more slowly after the 15th century so that by 1939, they're in the middle of their own industrial revolution. Despite this, Teutonia still has a new and aggressive dictator, and Angland and Franke are in a nervous alliance against him with the (much smaller) Anglish Free State in the New World wanting to stay out of the approaching war.

Magus: Simon Magus takes the place of Peter, and it becomes standard for people with magic aptitude to be taken into the Church and trained by them. Christian religion is more politically powerful in 1939, but not because they have a stronger grip on people's belief. The Reformation having been crushed, Protestant churches don't exist as a thing and the Church is quite corrupt, but there's an underground of "witches" in alliance with a revolutionary movement who are about to throw the world into war against an alliance of Church-backed rulers.

[robkelk]

This tag search should turn up a few more...

[patchwork]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

Mellitus:
How exactly does this happen? It seems out of character with the teachings and policies of the Church in the 7th Century.

The Saxon Wars of Charlemagne offer some rough parallels from the Early Medieval Period, but the killing in those was mainly done by the secular power and the coerced conversions were actually conditions of peace agreements.

What is the origin of the army that carries out this conquest? Missionaries could not do it, even if they wished to do it.

I think you need an ambitious Saxon king who wants to rule all of the kingdoms of southern and middle Britain and who wishes to use to use an ideology based on 'one god, one king' to help attain his goal. Make him nasty enough and you can get all the brutality you like. Some overzealous churchmen who deplore the violence but are willing to accept it in order to save souls may work. Transposing the mentality of things like the Albigensian Crusade or the Northern Crusades (real 'convert or die' wars with major Church leadership and a powerful crusading appeal) several centuries early would require an earlier POD in Christianity.

Later historians in the Christianized Britain may blame the Pope centuries after the fact. Ionan monk-chroniclers may have a vested interest in writing history that shifts the blame for the atrocities from a Saxon king whose descendants may still be powerful rulers to a distant and rival bishop in Rome. They may honestly think the Roman bishop was to blame, if that's how the earlier chronicles slanted events...



All just IMHO.

I do like the timeline.

We agree more than we disagree. The muscle is provided by Aethelbehrt of Kent and Saebehrt of East Anglia, and the idea is to level the pagan temples and kill the pagan "clergy" while leaving the common people alone (mostly). Tactical success, strategic failure (those damned Kents burned our temple! But, Christianity is now pretty much the only game in town...still, if we must be Christian, we can at least be Ionan and not Roman...)

As to being out of character for the Church, Melittus' expedition was the first in our history that wasn't predicated on conversion through violence, and to me it's clear from the Epistola ad Mellitum that Gregory knows this is such a big change he's afraid the front line won't go along with it. Really, that policy change was just unfortunately delayed in my timeline...