[PTTG]

In a timeline unknown to Homeline, a large and powerful nation spreads from the Indus to the Euphrates, with tendrils reaching well into Siberia, as well as colonies in the far eastern land. A secular and democratic nation, it is currently a slowly maturing TL7 in this timeline's 1883. Another great though fragile nation controls Japan, Korea, and mainland China. Then there is the rest of the world, some 100-odd nations of various sizes. Of note is a moderate-sized nation controlling parts of what we call Germany and North America.

While the point of divergence appears to be sometime in the 1100s CE, the otherwise no-mana worldline has a mysterious locus of power in the mountainous Kobuk region of Yupikstan (Alaska, in OTL). A subterranean structure that acts as a powerful, but unique, magical conveyor and projector.

The secure research facility surrounding the artifact is controlled by the small European power mentioned earlier. Smaller and poorer than the great nations of China and Asia, this faction needs whatever aid it can get -- and the conveyor provides it. The faction sends out what are essentially TL7 vikings to plunder what they can from more primitive worldlines.

In past decades, this European nation has begun to grow in power and prestige, cowing its local rivals and drawing the attention of the great powers. They have also discovered a TL8 world in the midst of an apocalyptic war, and have stolen or bought advanced military and commercial technology they are keeping secret.

These neovikings are a threat to the secret on their own (they don't care about hiding their relative strength on low-TL worlds, and only push harder when a threat is near their own strength). However, the great powers are a dangerous question, and they are already aiming to understand how this third-rate power has suddenly exploded onto the world stage.