New Reality Seeds

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7
This is a Q6 parallel. Centrum wants to take over the USA and use them to rule the world. As one of the side effects of the long war was an Occult revival. The Cabal likes this world and wants a calm stable, wealthy, world with lots of occultism. Centrum loathes occultism. Thus the Cabal wants to thwart Centrum's plans. Homeline just wants to understand what happened and why. The parallel is about 97% low manna with small areas of high and no manna. No normal manna areas are known. All high manna areas have long term reputations for supernatural presences and events.

The British Isles:

This is one of the key areas of Adventure on Wells-7. Much of this region is in ruins but other sections have functional economies and societies. The Cabal and Centrum both seek full power here. Centrum wants to control the rebuilding of Britain as a bridge to infiltrating all aspects of the English speaking world. The Cabal sees the rich magical resources of these Isles and the thought of having ancient wells of mystic power in the middle of technologically advanced society near the levers of political and economic power is delicious to them.

Ireland: The only neutral in Europe whose neutrality was actually respected. The Republic of Ireland is a TL7^ society benefiting from American tech and the simple fact that Dublin, which is intact and the only large city in Europe without food shortages or food rationing, has replaced London, Zurich, Amsterdam, and Antwerp, as Europe's trade entrepot and financial center. The status of entrepot will be lost in a decade or so but, as there will be no pressing reason to leave Dublin, the role of banking and finance center will likely last.

Ireland is formally allied to the USA in this world, it was politically expedient for both nations. Americans are both popular and well tolerated here beyond even the norms of most Irelands.

Ireland is still divided in this world but Northern Ireland, which suffered greatly from the V-4 and V-5 weapons, is poor and repressive, most Catholics and non-Reactionary Protestants have left it for the Republic. The Republic of Ireland is cosmopolitan and secular (the people attend church regularly but they tell the priests to behave themselves) and maintain the broad tolerance their business dealings require.

Both Centrum and the Cabal seek power and influence here. Homeline notes that Centrum's traditional lack of a sense of humor seriously handicaps them in Ireland. Meanwhile, Ireland in this world is rich in magic and deeply connected to the Fay. In spite of the worldwide occult revival, openly admitting belief in the Fairies is a social disaster. So good luck getting the locals to help you if it means admitting to believing in the Fay.

Scotland: Less damaged than England and their industry is beginning to come back on line. The UK's government is in Edinburgh. Queen Margaret lives in Holyrood and the Parliament uses the rebuilt Scot's parliament buildings.

In every measure of recovery Scotland is ahead of the European curve and is soon going to be a hive of industry. This is why both Centrum and the Cabal want to have the whiphand here. Like Ireland, Scotland is rich in mystic resources and deeply connected to the Fay. Unlike Ireland the scars of the long war are felt here poverty and violence are much more a part of the world here. Organised crime is much more present, the strict rationing systems make the Black Market and "Seeing a Man about a Dog" annoying necessities of life. This gives the attacks of both Centrum and the Cabal a different flavor.

The Channel Isles: Anyone trying to covertly travel back and forth between Britain and continental Europe is likely to go through here. All forms of smuggling go through here or Cornwall.

Wales: Less damaged than England, less together than Scotland, an important source of vital resources that will soon be obsolete, Wales is in interesting wildcard in the setting. Like Scotland, adventuring in this Wales, torn as it is between the grasping claws of Centrum and the Cabal is an odd mix of Kitchen Sink Realism, mob violence, and ancient Magic. Wales is both more Grimdark than Scotland and has a brighter magic to it. Arthur's spirit is still in the land, wonders are less sinister here than in Scotland.

England is divided into sections. Look at the old film Things to Come, the primary inspiration for this setting, but also look at old Doctor Who episodes from the 1960s and the TV shows of the Andersons for the millitary bases and research stations throughout Britain. There are pleasant areas of Britain, think Cosy Catastrophy with a side of Larkrise to Candelford or Cold Comfort Farm if it is more your style. Terry Nation's TV show Survivors (for all it's class and ethnic bigotries) is a good guide to mixing horror and charm in this sort of setting. For dark terrors hiding in the seemingly unspoiled countryside, the British Folk Horror genre (Robin Redbreast, Blood on Satan's Claw, The Witches, Penda's Fen, and above all The Wicker Man are the goto examples) is your best guide, but The League of Gentlemen's Royston Vasey shouldn't be ignored.

For Americans stirring the Doctor or a Doctor-ish figure into the setting is a strong temptation. If so, I suggest that World-jumppers and other outtimers can seem very Doctor-ish. Cabalists and some of the odder Icorps agents could seem very much like the Doctor. For that matter certain folkloric treatments of fairies passing as human can seem a lot like the 4th Doctor. But remember, the Master often passed as the Doctor. Having your Doctor-ish NPC be a villain is a grand plot twist. The most suitable takes on the Doctor for this setting are One through Five, Seven through Nine, and Twelve. The First version of the Master(DelGato) and Missy fit this setting, as does the Meddling Monk. Although you might want to dress the Monk as a Vicar.

Northern England: This area is more linked to the government in Edinburgh and is more like Scotland or Wales. There's less of the post-apocalyptic here and more poverty and hard times, until you go to the towns and cities. Bombing raids and the later generations of V-weapons made Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, and other northern towns ruins. More than other areas of England this region blends "Kitchen Sink Realism" with the post-apocalyptic. However, don't forget the Dittymen and Liverpool's history of "Fairy" sightings. In this area stir a little bright magic into the grimdark.

Cornwall and the Scillys: A hotbed of Smuggling and more closely tied to the government in Edinburgh than most of England north of here. Tintagel is a center of bright magics, but other areas of the lands west of the Tamar have darker powers attached. The Cabal can summon Giants to this area, hungry giants.

On the other hand, Truro has the oldest fusion plant in England. In this world Cornwall has the most reliable electric power and phones in England.

The Southwest: This area is less ravaged than the Southeast but more neglected. Bristol is more like Liverpool or Manchester than not. The area is post-apocalyptic and poor. However, Cornwall's stable power supply is spreading to the east, slowly.

The Midlands and the Southeast: These areas are the most like the source of my idea. Everytown in the movie is in fact meant to be seen as London. Figures like The Boss are real threats here. Warlords do shade off into gangsters less glamorous than the Krays but every bit as violent. Both Folk Horror and Kitchen Sink Realism also suit this area. But do remember that the Cabal, Centrum, and various hostile and/or greedy Swagmen are around too. Hammer Horror is also a flavor that suits this area.

When setting a campaign in this area remember that the conditions on the ground are choppy and few people can travel. A base were British Rocket is maintaining radio contact with weather satellites and has a general Unit meets Dads Army vibe can be just over the hill from the Countryhouse maintained by a Cabalist coven who are spying on the nearby fay. People living Kitchen Sink Realism lives on one block of London could be just a mile or two away from post-apocalyptic horrors out of Jubilee.

[PTTG]

A Yrth-like Quantum Sargasso, in this case with no mana. In addition, banestorms into the world tend to cause amnestic effects, erasing information about global history, but not skills or language abilities. As a result, people generally call this place their language's equivalent of Earth.

It is Earthlike but has different terrain, in this case forming three large continents. The largest is an equitorial landmass about half the size of Eurasia. The opposite hemisphere is made up of two mid-latitude continents (one north, one south,) separated by a shallow ocean.

The local life is entirely Earthlike, with the exception that Humans weren't present until around 500 BCE. Banestorms brought around 50000 humans at that point, from four or possibly five distinct regions. These were the largest and most frequent banestorm waves, with no more than 50 people per year transiting.

The new people introduced technologies from Homeline within a few decades of their historical arrival (time passes trivially slower than Homeline)... up to around the 1950s, at which point technology became too reliant on specialized skills to transfer so reliably.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7

It's important to remember that large amount of materials on world history. science, and the cultures of the world, not to mention vast amounts of great art were lost/stolen/destroyed during the long (thirty plus years) WWII on this world. Many PCs in Europe might be sent by universities or governments in exile to recover cultural treasures. Less honest types may just be sophisticated looters.

France France, as a major theater of the long war is very much like Things to Come. Yes Brittany and certain areas in the South have small areas of magic and Cabalist infiltration,( Brocéliande most of all) but this is mainly a post-apocalyptic area. The Americans do maintain bases on the Atlantic coast and hospitals in Quimper, La Rochelle, and Calias, but the influence is still small.

Some rural French equivalents of The Boss of Everytown style themselves as rightful King of France. Such "kingdoms" tend toward enforced Medievalism. The are also "Revolutionary Communes" and various attempts at Utopia ranging from the sincere and decently trying to the truly hellish.

Remember that Airships are the major transport system across oceans in this setting and it makes sense that there is a large American Airship base near Paris. They've recently got a fusion powerplant up and working. Paris is beginning to become restored. There are those who violently object and see the return of electric light as a return of modernity and rebellion against authority.

The French author whose book best captures the mood and style of this Paris is Jacques Yonnet whose one book Pairs Noir or Rue des Malefices, is both the origin of the Noir of Film noir and an early work of both Magic Realism and Urban Fantasy.

Iberia: Spain and Portugal were invaded by the Germans and the Vichy French in the late 1940s. Conditions are much like France except that the scattered minor statelets are divided between anarchists and fascists. Decades of violence has made the differences between the two types of states academic outside of Andalusia were actual anarchist communes are the norm, and Barcelona which has been held by Anglo-American forces since 1957 and is a Socialist State with strongly Democratic-Anarchist government.

The Cabal is highly active in both Andalusia and the Pyrenees. Centrum seems to write Spain and Portugal off, but Swagmen seem to be highly interested for unknown reasons.

Morocco: This part of North Africa has been an Anglo-American base since the 1940s. The Americans introduced TL6+1 solar power generation into Morocco in the late 1940's. The present monarch of Morocco is a figurehead. The Parliament holds the real power and is highly democratic. The population lives in what is for all practical purposes a Social-democratic society and enjoys a high standard of living, a responsive welfare state, and high standards of education and literacy. Technically the USA runs the place, but as the locals are doing so well, why mess things up?

This Morocco is thoroughly modernized and is derided and scorned as apostate by conservative Islamic scholars and right-wing Arab governments. The nearby populations look on the society in Morocco with hungry eyes and a desire to gain this sort of life for themselves.

From the mid 1940s on, the USA was building Tech Level Six plus One solar power plants in the deserts they worked in or near. Mainly to save oil. With decades of improvement and the Buckminster Fuller battery, these power plants( now mainly TL7 plus 2) supply Morocco's energy needs abundantly. Morocco will soon be as prosperous as Ireland.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7


The local year is 1980. The Tech Level is a mid TL7^ (think circa 1960 with a few exotic bells and whistles mainly in the Raygun Gothic style or theme) in America. In Europe and Asia it varies between TL6 and TL3, depending on how badly messed up the area was. The USA is trying to restart the economy and promote peace and democracy. The USA has fusion power generation. This is cheap and reliable. Once the economy comes back these fusors will rapidly replace all other power generating systems accept hydro-power. Buckminster Fuller came up with a wonderful supercheap battery for cars. As the oil fields on line are tapped out if accessible or totally inaccessible everybody prefers electric cars they can use to gas cars with only rare expensive gas to run them. The electric cars may be slower and less fun, but they are available.As the seas are fulled with vast numbers of mines, Airships are a vital means of transoceanic travel. These Airships are TL7^ and impressive. As maritime infrastructure fades and Airships get better it looks more and more like airships are a perminant fixture on this parallel. Both for the speed (compared to ships) and fuel efficiency (compared to airplanes) airships are looking like the future after all the old mines finally sink.
.

Dublin has the largest airship base in Western Europe. The Mediterranean, Baltic, North, and Irish seas are clear of mines. Well, fairly clear in the case of the last two. Dublin is the trade entrepot of Europe, such as that is, because it's a practical break of bulk point. As trade revives and Europe's cities are restored life will change.

The airships and fusion power generators are supertech. Functionally TL7 plus 2. However, they aren't the only supertech around. The Weird Science skill suits this low manna world. If you have Cabalists with a taste for technology, then assume there are esoteric physical science skills. Alcheny being Esoteric Chemistry at TL5 or higher.

Thus strange things could happen at isolated bases and Nazi "Wonder Weapons" could be nasty indeed. Or even work as designed!

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7


The local year is 1980. The Tech Level is a mid TL7^ (think circa 1960 with a few exotic bells and whistles mainly in the Raygun Gothic style or theme) in America. In Europe and Asia it varies between TL6 and TL3, depending on how badly messed up the area was. The USA is trying to restart the economy and promote peace and democracy. The USA has fusion power generation. This is cheap and reliable. Once the economy comes back these fusors will rapidly replace all other power generating systems accept hydro-power. Buckminster Fuller came up with a wonderful supercheap battery for cars. As the oil fields on line are tapped out if accessible or totally inaccessible everybody prefers electric cars they can use to gas cars with only rare expensive gas to run them. The electric cars may be slower and less fun, but they are available.As the seas are fulled with vast numbers of mines, Airships are a vital means of transoceanic travel. These Airships are TL7^ and impressive. As maritime infrastructure fades and Airships get better it looks more and more like airships are a perminant fixture on this parallel. Both for the speed (compared to ships) and fuel efficiency (compared to airplanes) airships are looking like the future after all the old mines finally sink.

s.

Gibraltar is an important airship base in this world. It has the job of keeping mines out of the Mediterranean Sea. Airships, because of how they fly and how high they fly are excellent at spotting submarines and floating mines (it's a trick of the light that let's people at high altitudes going at low speeds see through the water). The "BOOM FISHERS" place pieces of scrap metal on the end of long ropes and set off mines at sea. As mines float below the water's surface, to make them hard for ships to see, the explosions are mainly contained in a small area. Besides, in order to spot the mines, airships fly far above the reach of shrapnel.

Tangier in Morocco also has an airship base and maintains a boom that stretches to Gibraltar. Nets attached to the boom also catch mines. Ships wishing to enter or exit the Mediterranean must call at the port of Tangier. The only exceptions are military or other government sponsored vessels. They go to Gibraltar.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7

As the old British Sci Fi film "Things to Come" makes clear many people thought that if there was a second Great War, it would last for decades and lead to a new Dark Age. On Wells-7 ( the other Wells worlds are myth parallels) WWII, for unknown reasons, lasted until European and Asian civilization collapsed in the early 1970s. A fairly socialistic and still democratic USA still exists. The economy is a mess but that is blamed on the aftermath of the War and President Goldwater's "free market" economics. ( Goldwater got in in 1968 and got rid of all market regulations and totally collapsed the economy.) Robert F. Kennedy was elected in 1972 and is now finishing his second term. He is credited with doing titanic things to straighten out the mess.

Greenland: Administered by the USA and pretty much a US territory. Fusion power generators make live fairly agreeable. The Native Greenlanders and the remaining Danes raise food in TL7+1^ greenhouses and work either mining or running the US bases and weather stations. The majority of Greenlanders want to stay part of the USA.

Iceland and the Faroes: Much like Greenland, only Iceland uses geothermal power which they had on line before the USA had fusion power. Both Iceland and the Faroes have airship bases. Iceland is a transit hub, the Faroes are a center for "BOOM FISHING" and otherwise dealing with mines.

The Shetlands and the Orkneys: These islands are administered from Edinburgh in theory. In practice they're US bases that house airships hunting mines. Like Greenland they have Fusion power generation and grow crops in Greenhouses to feed themselves.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7

Norway: Norway was occupied by the Third Reich until the collapse of the regime. But large areas were in full revolt for decades and had American bases and troops. Norway is pulling itself together and has large amounts of Hydropower and it's industry is slowly coming back. Still, much of the nation is in ruins. They're rebuilding, but it will be slow.

Sorcerers liked to Midwinter Aton summoned a low-intelligence, but thoroughly nasty type of Troll to this world to make trouble for the resistance fighters. The local Nazis, as well as Norse and Swedes, assume it's some kind of Ahnenerbe project that got loose and just looks like Trolls.

Sweden: Their neutrality wasn't respected and they had to fight off several Nazi invasions. Most of the nation is trashed. They are excepting US aide as it can get to them, and like their neighbors rebuilding.

The Trolls are also causing them issues. They've established Troll Hunting Brigades. They aren't really picky about recruits as long as they want to kill trolls. Even ex-Nazis can sign up.

Finland: The Finns had a brutal time of it in WWII even on Homeline. It was worse here, but not much worse. The Finns are much like their neighbors but with the additional problem of Russian refugees and bandits coming at them from the east.

Karelia and other territories either taken by the Soviets or simply withheld by the Czarist state have been reintegrated into the Finnish state. As there is no functional Russian government at this time the only objections come from those left out that want in.

Still, the Baltic sea is open for commerce and clear of mines. Finland is taking full advantage of its opportunity to link up with the West and the markets hungry for Finnish timber.

Denmark: Denmark is a game of two halves. Copenhagen is stable and has an American Airship base as well as being the hub of Baltic trade. Sadly, while Denmark's islands are free, Jutland is held by remnants of the Wehrmacht. Basically clusters of little bandit kingdoms calling themselves the Fourth Reich. (Unknown to the Cabalists, Midwinter Aton has agents among these bandits. What they seek here is unknown.)

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7

As the old British Sci Fi film "Things to Come" makes clear many people thought that if there was a second Great War, it would last for decades and lead to a new Dark Age. On Wells-7 ( the other Wells worlds are myth parallels) WWII, for unknown reasons, lasted until European and Asian civilization collapsed in the early 1970s. A fairly socialistic and still democratic USA still exists.

The Low Countries:

The Netherlands and Flanders are held under a brutal remnant of the Nazi occupation. (Wallonia is effectively just a northern province of France) The regime is brutal vicious but not completely idiotic. They are smart enough to know they need their serfs alive, they don't even bother with special persecutions of the remaining Jews. Still, everyone sees the normal oppression as more than enough misery thank-you very much.

Given they need the labor of the subjects the local Nazis prefer psychological torture and nasty mind games to physical violence. They do that too, but they need you to work the next day, so they're careful in how they hurt you. They work to instill "Corpse Discipline" in there subjects. For their own good of course.

The rulers of this terror state are aware of the steady recovery of the allied powers and that the central government of Germany hasn't sent any messages for a decade now. Their minds are focused on how to retain power while making deals with the Allies.

North Germany: A chaotic mess much like France or Southeastern England (Prussia will be covered later). Many small communities fighting for resources mainly, although some co-operate. The area is mainly at TL3 and ruined roads and unexploded ordinance and mines, as well as bandits and local Freikorps make travel brutally hard.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7

As the old British Sci Fi film "Things to Come" makes clear many people thought that if there was a second Great War, it would last for decades and lead to a new Dark Age. On Wells-7 ( the other Wells worlds are myth parallels) WWII, for unknown reasons, lasted until European and Asian civilization collapsed in the early 1970s.

The Baltic Republics:

Each of these countries pulled away from the Soviets after the joint collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the Third Reich. Each is poor but stable. Bandits and other chaos constantly threatens them but easy access to the Baltic trade routes help them. Recently they've accepted, with little joy, an alliance with the revived Prussian state. They see this as good for them and the Poles. They still have Issues with the Prussians.

These countries held on to TL6, barely. They've been trashed like everybody else.

Prussia:

A successor state of the Third Reich. These folks are smart enough to know they backed a loser and that the Anglo-Americans are the winners and the horse to back now. They're making nice to their neighbors, reforming their society, and making clear that Hitler was an Austrian, not a Prussian. Given the instability of the region Prussia, if unpopular with the general public in the democracies, looks highly plausible to the governments of the democracies.

Prussia is at TL6.

Poland:

Thoroughly trashed and brutally stomped Poland is in misery. The only things going for them are their fertile fields and the fact the Prussians have reopened and cleared for navigation the Vistula and restoring Poland's link to the Baltic.

The Poles have accepted an alliance with the Prussians because the see they have no choice. They'll never trust the Prussians but "We prefer them conning us to stabbing us."

Poland is at TL3. However those areas nearest Prussia are doing better.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Wells-7

The Czech Lands: Bohemia and Moravia are an independent state. They're trying to be a socialist state. Given how trashed the area is and that the local tech level is four on a good day it's hard. They are however fairly democratic and friendly to the Western Allies.

Slovakia: This is a brutal Clerical Fascist state. They are hostile and paranoid. All outsiders are seen as a threat to the state.

Hungry: Unstable but claiming to be unified. They are trying to revive the monarchy among other projects. Different factions claiming the crown espouse different solutions to the nation's problems. The Red Houses are Communists/Socialists, the Black Houses are Fascists of some type or other, and the White Houses promote some brand or other of Democracy. Most of the ordinary people say all the Houses are Gold, because they believe in getting all of it for themselves and little else.

The Balkans: This area is called the Shatter Zone. The long war has left the area a cauldron of bitter little micro-states desperate for safety and stability. This is an area of endemic violence and poverty. The area is at TL3. The Cabal is actually a force for good here. They're determined to control the area's mystical resources is creating small islands of stability and peace.

If the PCs need to do things in the Balkans, they'll need to ally with the Cabal.