New Reality Seeds

[patchwork]

How did the Khedivate handle the Mahdi? How has the Caliph and Sultan (especially if it's Abdulhamid II) reacted to having a notional vassal richer and more powerful than he is? Does the additional wealth of Egypt help in the wars against Russia?

I mean, my inclination would be to look north of Africa altogether - Abdulhamid needs to go, and if the Khedive turns his attention away from Africa the Europeans will support his bid to become Caliph...could be a very exciting decade.

[Willy]

Originally Posted by patchwork

How did the Khedivate handle the Mahdi? How has the Caliph and Sultan (especially if it's Abdulhamid II) reacted to having a notional vassal richer and more powerful than he is? Does the additional wealth of Egypt help in the wars against Russia?

I mean, my inclination would be to look north of Africa altogether - Abdulhamid needs to go, and if the Khedive turns his attention away from Africa the Europeans will support his bid to become Caliph...could be a very exciting decade.

Depends if the newcomer is still a protege´ and the rulier of egypt will also have become much richer and powerful. So as long he doesn´t question the rulers power all should run well. The problem historical arises if someone is threatening the power of the ruler. The mahdi proclained to be a prophet, in a islamic tradition there is no diversion between ruler and religion, once he said I´m mahdi he said I shall rule in god´s name. The only question was the moment the 2 would clash together, not if. Same goes for other historical examples with richer and more powerful nobles than the king. We had this situations throughout history very often. If both trust each other and get a agreement fine if not sooner or later conflict arises.

I would say that in this setting the traditional heartlands of islam are more intersting to egypt than africa. A wise ruler may deal with the brits for free action in this region.

Also this egypt is richer more powerful and has a turncoat who knows about european tactics and politics, used wisely russia would be in for a rude surprise.

If the campaign centers on africa, using the traditional european animosities could be useful for egypt and keeping the colonial forces at bay without firing a shoot.

[Astromancer]

In our real history, Egypt had a vast colonial Empire that extended to Uganda. When Egypt got taken over by Britain and France, those two (mainly Britain) simply took the Egyptian empire. However, the Sudan was labeled on world maps printed in Britain as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. One of Naser's first acts, when he took over the government of Egypt, was to declare the Sudan an exclusively Egyptian colony.

Let me give some thought to your questions about the Madhi.

[Astromancer]

Metamorphosis-5


The Metamorphosis worlds are all undergoing basic changes that don't fit other predetermined categories. Metemorphosis-5 seems to be undergoing a slow motion reality quake the is influenced by popular will.

The USA in this Q6 low mana parallel was, until recently a rather dull shabby variation of not uncommon alternate USAs. The main issue being much higher than normal levels of corruption. However in the local year 2013 there were reports in the poorer areas of Manhattan of a "cult" that contacted an Alternate Reality. According to the "cultists" (they didn't describe themselves that way) the Alternate Reality was the true reality that had been covered up by conspirators. The process killed the conspirators, but left all the rest of humanity trapped in a false world. So far so typically gnostic-lite.

However, there was a flaw in the overwriting of reality. By connecting with that flaw you could gain practical benefits, mainly access to better social services and science fiction level medical treatments.

At first the whole thing seemed like a version of the Cargo Cults. The various "Miraculous" cures not withstanding. Then a Transwoman got pregnant and bore a healthy child. Clearly reality was being changed.

In 2017 a dozen gay men in committed couples announced that they had gained wombs and would bare children in order to both start families and prove to the world that the present reality is false. All twelve men got pregnant and gave birth to healthy children that were their biological children. This was not the only proof. Three dozen people with Cerebral Palsy were healed and were learning dance and gymnastics. A woman who'd lost her arms and legs in Iraq while doing a tour of duty had new healthy limbs. A man who'd lost most of his skin as well as his eyes and genitals when he'd been set on fire in the 1970's was made whole and returned to youth. A few weeks later, pushed by the weight of evidence, Manhattan was transformed.

The new Manhattan was at least TL10(and advanced in biotech and medicine). The island was powered by small sturdy fusion power generators. Even stranger, magic seemed to work. (research by Homeline soon showed that the mana level in the transformed area was Normal instead of this parallel's normal low). More importantly, this Manhattan proclaimed it was the real world returning. The only thing needed was for ordinary people to regularly contact the old reality. Do it often enough and use the contact to change your life for the better and the False Reality will fade.

The Local year is 2021, New York state, New England, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii, are fully in the "new" reality. Groups in San Francisco, Auckland, New Orleans, London, Paris, and several other cities have claimed to break through to the True Reality, several of these have hard evidence of success. Around the planet the poor are ecstatic. As the "True Reality" is a highly egalitarian social-democratic place with very little if any corruption, most of the Elites of the general reality loathe the "True Reality." They have created dozens of propaganda campaigns to attack the "True Reality" as an Alien invasion. The bio-tech medical miracles (especially the pregnancies of Transwomen and Gay men) are held up as attacks on the family and the moral order of the world. In some places those trying to contact the "True Reality" are being executed as witches and servants of the devil.

Basically, witch hunts and witch trials in the present day. The "True Reality" as written is a far better (though not Utopian) world than this parallel. But it could be used as the evil snare of predatory Aliens. Either way, the "witches" as their enemies call them have access to bio-mods and cybernetics as well as a chance to learn magic. (Magery-0 can be a bio-mod, higher levels can be gained by experience). Given the large areas of the USA under the "True Reality" many US agents, including those bitterly hostile to the "True Reality," also have bio-mods, cybernetics, Magery, and more.

Think witch hunts but the witches can fight back like superheroes (or supervillains take your pick).

The Cabal wants the weird magical bio tech. Homeline and Centrum are grabbing for any and all advanced tech, Swagmen are flocking in to get bio-mods and Magery.

[fchase8]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

In our real history, Egypt had a vast colonial Empire that extended to Uganda. When Egypt got taken over by Britain and France, those two (mainly Britain) simply took the Egyptian empire. However, the Sudan was labeled on world maps printed in Britain as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. One of Naser's first acts, when he took over the government of Egypt, was to declare the Sudan an exclusively Egyptian colony.

The Egyptian Empire lost Sudan to the Mahdi, and when Mahdi was defeated, it was mostly Britain running the area, under the veneer of joint rule with Egypt.

Nasser, and before him Mohaem Naguib, pushed for and got Sudanese independence after deposing the Egyptian monarchy.

[Astromancer]

Krypton-14 is a Myth Parallel that seems to stick to DC comics, or rather a modified 2027 reboot of 1940s DC, Fawcett, and Quality comics.

Most of the Fawcett and Quality heroes are active in the British Isles. Example: Billy Batson is from Liverpool. His secret twin sister Mary is being raised in Western Ireland by a couple named Kelly. Freddy is from Manchester, he's a 4th cousin of Billy and Mary and his mother is from Baluchistan and was a member of the Bangulzai tribe. Freddy doesn't manifest the powers of Shazam, he manifests the Thunderbolt. He's a lot less coherent in his superpowered form.

The Cabal has been looking seriously at this world. They've infiltrated the circles of many superheroes. They want to take control of magical resources like Doctor Fate's Helmet, Green Lantern's ring and lantern, and the formula to Hawkman's "Nth Metal."

Certain agents of Homeline Britain (studying the social effects of superheroes) have noticed a known Cabalist cell basically passing themselves off as Time Travelers (and clearly choosing to copy the first season cast of Doctor Who). The travelers seem to be trying to win the friendship Of Billy, Mary, and Freddy. The agents of Homeline see an obvious kidnapping plot. Can you rescue a superhero?

The setting is Britain in WWII. With the exception of Plastic Man and Uncle Sam, all of the Fawcett and Quality heroes are active in the British Isles. Remember, war time Britain can be a complicated place for adventures. Have Constable George Dixon arrest the PCs a few times, even if they are nowhere near London.

[Mysterious Dark Lord v3.2]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Certain agents of Homeline Britain (studying the social effects of superheroes) have noticed a known Cabalist cell basically passing themselves off as Time Travelers (and clearly choosing to copy the first season cast of that show).

Which show? Have a link to an article or listing? (For background material.)

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Mysterious Dark Lord v3.2

Which show? Have a link to an article or listing? (For background material.)

Mistake corrected. And I think Doctor Who is a very well known TV show. But I'll put a link in soon. Other than that, did you like the idea?

[Astromancer]

I watched Earth versus the Flying Saucers last night. In the film, the USA is able to beat off a threat by an alien power capable of disrupting the Sun and Earth's entire weather system. Sure DC gets ripped up some, and the aliens were a dying remnant of their otherwise extinct people. The fact remains, the USA beat them pretty much by themselves.

A myth parallel where that happens in the same year as the film would have radically different politics and a changed social history. Not to mention any salvaged tech or knowledge.

How would you see the world changed?

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

How would you see the world changed?

I think a lot of these sorts of scenarios depend less on the aliens than on what the people on Earth believe about them, which might have little if anything to do with the truth.

If everyone thinks "dying races, none of them will be back, or a threat ever" then you might want to destroy the US now, before it can become too powerful from the tech transfer - though in the case of this particular film the American ability to develop that superweapon to kill the saucers on short notice may hint that it's already too late.

If everyone thinks "universe is full of conquest minded aliens who might return tomorrow" the issue of whether the peasant revolt in a poverty stricken place on the other side of the world is a commie plot or not seems a lot less important that it did last year. Do note that there is already some degree of international cooperation in the film. It's not clear how much actual cooperation was required to let Marvin defend the target cities other than Washington or a lot of information about how that went. Admittedly a minor plot point for the film that only cares about the DC battle, but pretty important to what the consequences might be for this particular version of the invasion.