New Reality Seeds

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Neither Centrum nor the Cabal understand why Homeline is buying up all the Asian folk art they are. Each suspects dark motives. Each will kill to know the truth!
"

Surely the Cabal at least understands Homelines mercantile motives even though they don't share them.

[PTTG]

Certainly they do, but if you live in a world where a random carved wooden idol might contain terrible world-ending power or a painting might provide its owner unending youth, you'd be suspicious of anyone buying up old art too. And if they tell you "it just looks cool, is all," that's not going to be really compelling.

[Astromancer]

In this Q7 world the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire has just happened. In the midst of that inferno a strange figure came. He was described as tall, slim yet muscular, handsome, fair skinned, with black hair and blue eyes, nice manners, and a thick Irish brogue, oh and he could fly. He rescued over one hundred people from falling to the deaths or being burned alive.

The papers are full of it. Photos of the young flying man were taken by hundreds of photographers. The young man in question, who wishes to remain anonymous (fat chance), has said that all the attention to his ability to fly is distracting everybody from the horrible safety at the factory and other factories around the nation. And he does know how he got flying powers. No one else in his family seems to have them.

Homeline finds this all interesting. If the young man is telling the truth, they assume he's the child of some out timer or other. Centrum sees him as a dangerous world jumper out to cause chaos. The Cabal simply wants to grab him for dissection. to see what makes him tick.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

In the 1570's the Spanish military government in Manila seemed to believe that they could conquer China with only Spain's far eastern resources and the permission of the King. No, really. They even made a deal with a Japanese Daimyō for an extra six thousand Samurai mercenaries.

Before you say "that was insane!" let's just handwave it (massive Spanish critical successes and the Chinese triping over their own feet) and let Spain conquer China in 1575!

First, can you say imperial overreach? I knew you could. Spain is only slowly getting a handle on how vast China is. Meanwhile their Japanese "Allies" are beginning to see they could push the Spanish out and take China for themselves. Meanwhile the Manchus, who have had their eyes on China for awhile, are sizing up their chances.

Second, all of Spain's attention has to be focused on China. Spain's American Empire, which was normally tightly run, is getting a period of benign neglect, and running with it.

Third, the rest of Europe is seeing the chances of a universal Spanish monarchy with the Spanish Inquisition made universal. Although most modern scholars decry the hysteria that long surrounded the Spanish Inquisition don't underestimate how deeply feared the Spanish Inquisition was even in Catholic lands.

Basically, this is a Swashers/Martial Arts campaign with the dials turned up. If Spain can hold China, Spain will have a real chance to create the universal monarchy that many early modern scholars thought was vital to peace and justice. Or a universal tyranny that would warp and sicken the world.

It's Spain against...everybody! Get your game face on.

This is a Q6 Low Manna world. Centrum wants Spain to succeed, and then they want to put a Brit on the throne. Homeline just wants to foul up Centrum and keep them wasting large amounts of time. The Cabal is just sitting back and eating popcorn.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

After July...

The 20 July Plot is one of the most famous "Alt History" generators ever. In this Q6 world a Cabalist decided that Midwinter Anton could best get it's nose clipped by her interfering in the plot. Besides, as a patriotic German, she wanted Germans to kill Hitler.

She did two things. First she replaced the explosive with another 100 times as powerful (alchemy helps). Second she made sure they used all the explosive they came with (Suggestion spells help). Hitler was reduced to hamburger.

With a little judicious help from the Cabalist, von Stauffenberg took over the Reich. The troops in the West were told to go home quickly. The Western allies would follow and take over Germany. Then they could leave the East.

The allies were please to have less fighting, but unhappy at being manipulated. Von Stauffenberg is still struggling to manipulate into only surrenderring to the West. The West is trying to keep Russia calm. And the Germans are trying to keep Russia out of Germany. Von Strauffenberg is also trying to undo as much of the Holocaust as humanly possible (Note: more than 90% of the murders have already happened.)

Homeline is trying to prevent any serious disruptions of the possitive aspects of the post-war world. Centrum wants to keep Churchill in power and the empire stable. The Cabal wants Midwinter Aton crushed. Midwinter Aton wants to found the fourth Riech. It's early December 1944, Merry Chirstmas. Don't let World War Three start before Easter.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

With a little judicious help from the Cabalist, von Stauffenberg took over the Reich. The troops in the West were told to go home quickly. The Western allies would follow and take over Germany. Then they could leave the East.

This is not remotely consistent with the plans of the 20th July conspirators. They wanted to overthrow the Nazis and make peace, but they expected to be able to keep large amounts of German's conquests. The Allies' demands will remain unchanged: unconditional surrender on all fronts.

Since as of 20th July, the Battle of Normandy was at its height, the Red Army was half-way through Poland, and the bombing had not yet wrecked German logistics, the new German government seems unlikely to surrender unless the Cabalist can control a lot of minds at once. They can probably get a ceasefire-in-place to allow for negotiations, but the Allies have already made up their minds that they want to occupy and remake Germany. They reckon they can do it, and regard the price as less than fighting another war in two or three decades' time.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by johndallman

This is not remotely consistent with the plans of the 20th July conspirators. They wanted to overthrow the Nazis and make peace, but they expected to be able to keep large amounts of German's conquests. The Allies' demands will remain unchanged: unconditional surrender on all fronts.

Since as of 20th July, the Battle of Normandy was at its height, the Red Army was half-way through Poland, and the bombing had not yet wrecked German logistics, the new German government seems unlikely to surrender unless the Cabalist can control a lot of minds at once. They can probably get a ceasefire-in-place to allow for negotiations, but the Allies have already made up their minds that they want to occupy and remake Germany. They reckon they can do it, and regard the price as less than fighting another war in two or three decades' time.

Interesting shift in problems. Still, the July 20 conspirators were less vile than the Nazis so it still a less monstrous mess. And the Holocaust stopping is to the good. I suppose the Cabalist would have to expose Midwinter Aton to the German and allied governments. Being a Cabalist, she probably convince folks that Midwinter Aton was somekind of SS cult and not real wizards.

Von Stauffenberg would see himself as fighting resurgent Nazis. He'd be forced to make a deal with the allies or turn Germany over to Nazi vengeance.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

Stalin didn't life a healthy lifestyle, just assume that before Lenin dies, Stalin falls ill himself. In the cut throat politics of of 1920's Russia, this puts Stalin out of the running. Trotsky who was a central figure in the party long before Lenin or Stalin, comes to the fore.

Allow Trotsky the patience to realize that the USSR needs time to heal. And throws his efforts into repairing the economy and society. Assume that Trotsky sees no point to the Holodomor or mindless nit-picking about how parties in other nations recruit. So the scandal and destruction of the Ukrainian famine never burden the state and the American Communist Party is allowed to openly and respectably work to gain members instead of the weird sneaking around imposed by Stalin.

Note: I'm not making Trotsky a social-democrat here, the USSR remains oppressive, but not the terror state Stalin made it into. Also, Trotsky has his eyes on conquest and revolution, rather than perfect internal purity in this world. So the USSR seems more threatening in some ways, and far less nasty in others.

Also, in the early 1930's communism and the Communist Party were popular in the states, Stalin thwarted the growth of the party by secrecy mandates which made no sense in America. Without the burden of Stalin's diktats, an American Communist Party might grow very quickly and be highly influential, if in a roundabout way.

This could set up radically different WWIIs and Cold Wars.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Without the burden of Stalin's diktats, an American Communist Party might grow very quickly and be highly influential, if in a roundabout way.

It's a different departure point, but you'd probably be interested by the story collection Back in the USSA.

[TGLS]

I'm not sure Trotsky would make the best choice for a world with communist friendly North America. The Holodomor would probably happen sooner, albeit in a different firm as Trotsky moves to quash the kulaks, an his theory of permanent revolution would probably hype the first red scare further. Maybe a softer touch member from the Right Opposition could allow Communism to flourish abroad.