New Reality Seeds

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

One of the most self-destructive things a major European state ever did to itself was the French Taille. At no point was there even a pretense of fairness in the collection of the Taille. Anyone of significant social standing could avoid the tax. Generally, some hardworking farmer who had excited the jealousy of his neighbors or the resentment of the local notables was made responsible for collecting the tax and liable for the assessed amount. These involuntary tax collectors generally gathered what they could (few cooperated) then ended up in jail for several years because they didn't have (the generally outrageous ) assessed amount of the Taille. The poor "tax collector" was then released after his property was confiscated to cover his "shortfall".

This botched tax system for starved the French government of needed funds and immiserated all French peasants that had to pay the tax. Note: Many areas of France were exempted from the Taille. These areas soon became the most prosperous areas of France.

The Taille, along with the Gabelle(a grossly unfair salt tax) and the taxes on bread, all transferred the burden of taxation to the poorest people. A redistribution of income from the French kingdom's most basic producers to it high-status consumers.

However, in this Q6 parallel, King Henry, coming to the throne after a brutal civil war, decided to reform the tax system. Seeing the simplicity of the Church's tithe (the Dime), Henry proclaimed the Roral Dime, and abolished both the Tallie and the gabelle.

That was two kings ago, now King Louis rules France. A France with a far richer treasury and far better finances. To start his personal rule, the King having reached his majority in the year 1651, Louis is determined to invade Britain and end the commonwealth! Cardinal Mazarin, needing to keep the young king busy, and seeing a chance to gain the papal throne and having the finances to pull it off, agrees with the young king and encourages him.

Basically, [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell]Cromwell[url] versus LouisXIV. Lots of military action excellent swashbuckling possibilities. Remember, Cromwell's conquest of Ireland was just finished. Large numbers of Irish veterans will be back for round two.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

In many worlds Edgar Cayce predicted the return of Atlantis in the year 1968. In this Q4 parallel, Cayce's prediction came true, three hundred years early.

It's the year 1672, a new island, roughly the size of Spain has risen in the Bahamas. All the major European powers want a share. Many states like Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, and Naples, even the Ottomans, are trying to claim some of these new lands.

Strange ruins are found in these lands. Reports of visions and wonders are common around these places. The cool-headed scholars of the Enlightenment are convinced that whatever strange powers started the myth of "Magic" exist and might be discovered here.

Basically, Swashers in a "Lost World" setting. 17th-century Natural Philosophers seeking the secrets of LOST ATLANTIS! So it's swashers with lots of Pluppy flavor. Pirates, Enlightened Scholars, refined gentlemen adventures, frontier types from Britain's American colonies, are all viable PCs.

Both Homeline and the Cabal want the secrets of these strange ruins.

[Inky]

You've tripped over your figures again - two hundred years, not three. That apart, this is a marvellous idea straight out of the very best and most magical kids' adventure stories. I'd read the heck out of this if it was a book, or play the heck out of it if it was a game.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Inky

You've tripped over your figures again - two hundred years, not three. That apart, this is a marvelous idea straight out of the very best and most magical kids' adventure stories. I'd read the heck out of this if it was a book, or play the heck out of it if it was a game.

I was debating with myself rather 1672 or 1772 provided the most adventure options. 1672 it is, or split the difference and go for 1722. A young Ben Franklin could lead an expedition to seek the answers to exotic mysteries!. Glad you like the idea.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

In 1848, the year of revolutions and revolts across Europe, upstate New York experienced the Hydesville events which, in Homeline history, started the Spiritualist movement. However, in this Q6 parallel, something different is happening. Known agents of the Cabal approached the Fox Family and offered to train the girls. Soon the girls are demonstrating not communication with the dead, but ESP, telepathy, PK, and precognition.

1850's America and Europe are all agog for Psionics! Scientists are examining PSI and developing means of training such powers. Homeline assumes that the Cabal was aware of some traits of this parallel that made Psi powers easier to study/train and decided to benefit from a rich supply of Psions. Homeline has decided they'll skim the local supply too.

The richest supplies of Psions tend to be in North America and now in the local year 1860, this has become a problem. Homeline has mainly recruited Psions the northern USA. This means that the South has an advantage in both numbers of psions and quality of powers.

Homeline is now worried about a Cabal dominated CSA with covens of powerful Psions. They discover that the local head of the Knights of the Golden Circle! The last thing Homeline wants is the Confederate "Reich-5" coming to power in Quantuum Six.

Basically, ACW espionage with lots of psionic spooky goodness thrown in.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Try this one...

In many worlds Edgar Cayce predicted the return of Atlantis in the year 1968. In this Q4 parallel, Cayce's prediction came true, three hundred years early.

It's the year 1672, a new island, roughly the size of Spain has risen in the Bahamas. All the major European powers want a share. Many states like Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, and Naples, even the Ottomans, are trying to claim some of these new lands.

Strange ruins are found in these lands. Reports of visions and wonders are common around these places. The cool-headed scholars of the Enlightenment are convinced that whatever strange powers started the myth of "Magic" exist and might be discovered here.

Basically, Swashers in a "Lost World" setting. 17th-century Natural Philosophers seeking the secrets of LOST ATLANTIS! So it's swashers with lots of Pluppy flavor. Pirates, Enlightened Scholars, refined gentlemen adventures, frontier types from Britain's American colonies, are all viable PCs.

Both Homeline and the Cabal want the secrets of these strange ruins.

Some added details, look at a map of the Bahama Banks and you'll see the shape of this new land. The islands of the Bahamas are now hills on this new island and cities like Nausau, Freetown, and Freeport, are hill stations in the interior.

The newly exposed land has quickly grown over with forests and scrub. Large numbers of slaves have fled into these woods and live in Maroon settlements and fiercely protect their new freedom.

Pirates have built their own towns along the new rivers and lagoons of the island. The Pirates and Maroons and Caribs often make common cause against the authorities.

[dcarson]

Longer term what does a larger Bahama do to the Gulf Stream. Part of it passes between there and Cuba.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by dcarson

Longer term what does a larger Bahama do to the Gulf Stream. Part of it passes between there and Cuba.

If you look at maps of the Bahama Bank, you'll see that it's still an island. The current through the straits of Florida will be fierce though. A navigation issue to be sure.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

In late October 1828, Andrew Jackson, who was running for president, suddenly died of heart failure. The party Jackson was leading had no way to come up with a replacement candidate. Although the party liked Calhoun, they had no way of declaring him the replacement candidate in a mere two weeks. Thus John Quincy Adams got a second term. This had many knock-on effects.

First, the Bank of the United States retained its charter. Although the Bank had many issues the US economy developed at a smoother faster pace.

Second, Adams, realizing that Jefferson had a shrewd idea in making land purchase in the Old Northwest fairer and more democratic. Adams saw how the wide distribution of land and discouragement of land speculators tended to discourage slavery. So Adams strongly promoted Jefferson's agrarian vision. Henry Clay, far less concerned with Adams' moral vision, still saw the benefits of the policy when he was president.

Third, Adams decided to follow the visions of Washington and Franklin and offer the Cherokee people a chance at statehood. John Ross jumped on the opportunity. Clay, though deeply racist, followed through with creating a Cherokee State and appointed a Cherokee elder to the Supreme Court.

Fourth, Adams got a federal university founded and established a large number of scientific institutions. Throughout the rest of the century America always a substantially larger number of professionals, scholars, and scientists to draw on.

There was no ACW because the planer elites were never as large and powerful. They still strove to undermine democracy in favor of aristocracy. But they lacked the power to revolt, so they settled on corrupting.

The local year on this Q6 parallel is 1890. Although America never got as bad as it did in Homeline's America, the 13th, 14th, and 15th, amendments don't exist. Slavery is gone per se, but forms of servitude still exist. Corporations are rising to new levels of power, and facing a still basically 18th-century government.

Basically, a Steampunk/Cyberpunk world. The USA is striving to be a 20th-century democracy while being limited by an 18th-century government. Less grim than many similar settings. The greater inclusion of Native Americans and African Americans into US society creates an illusion of progressivism. But this America is more about class prejudice than race prejudice.

Centrum likes this America and is working to take over. The Cabal seems to find this America unusually rich in potential Cabalists. So the Cabal sees a Centrum take over as bad for them. Although a Centrum/Cabal fight amuses Homeline, they really want to know why this America produces so many potential Cabalists. Maybe Homeline could have more magicians.

Meanwhile, Homeline's USA is fascinated by this parallel and want to prevent a Centrum takeover. The Americans also study this parallel's very different racial history to see if there are useful ideas for them to use back home.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

In most worlds Leonardo da Vinci never really got what he really wanted, a patron that would let him focus on building useful things and studying natural philosophy and giving what he learned to the world. However, in this Q5 world a minor nobleman, with a large fortune, offered Leonardo just that. This particular nobleman seems to have been Very Fond of Leonardo and Leonardo seems to have returned his feelings.

Leonardo, who in our world experimented with solar power, developed several solar furnaces. To make these more practical for getting things done Leonardo examined the writings of Hero of Alexandria and built several Aeolipiles. His work with these led him to working with heat and pressure. And that led him to invent a version of what other worlds call a Stirling Engine by 1508.

The local year in this world is 1560 and Northern Italy is in the middle of an industrial revolution. Unlike Homeline history, where the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars stopped the spread of industrial technology, in this world, all European nations and the Turks are busily pursuing industrialization. The local Tech Level is a blend of four and four plus one (TL4, TL4+1) and rapidly advancing.

Clockpunk Swashers with industrial espionage in the days of the young Queen Elizabeth.