New Reality Seeds

[Astromancer]

While reading a book on terrorism in Victorian London it occurred to me that the author was right. The plot to assassinate Queen Victoria at the Golden Jubilee was a major might have been.

The book I'm reading relates the current theory that the Home Secretary thought up the plot to discredit Gladstone and those seeking Home Rule for Ireland. For once this could lead to Centrum fighting to support progressives and civil liberties. Home Rule for Ireland in the 1890's could have prolonged the life of the British Empire by a few decades.

But with or without Centrum, conspiracy in Victorian London should be fun.

For a wilder plot, let the plot (which was always meant to fail) succeed! If Victoria and a wide selection of foreign dignitaries all die, world history jumps the tracks.

Place a charismatic hothead on the Russian throne and see Germany get the same deal they got with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and no way to strip it from them. Europe ruled by Germany in the 20th century.

But by simply killing off several key statesmen at Westminster Abby many wild shifts in European history can be made logical or at least workable.

[Astromancer]

This idea works differently. A world-Jumper who thinks he's a time traveler (a theme I use a lot) lands on this parallel in 1945. He's physiologically about thirty, given his life background his age is really hard to place. He has infected himself with a Proteus Virus that changes the DNA in the gonads of infected humans into parahuman DNA. These Parahumans are plus four all stats. The also get the Empathy, Intuition, Intuitive Mathematician, Perfect Balance, Extended Lifespan and Longevity advantages, plus several more, including several levels of Psionic Talent.

Being gay, and the Proteus Virus (a form of Alchemic Biotech) being easily spread by sexual contact, the Traveler uses the Gay Demimonde as a means to spread the Proteus Virus. As the various sexual Demimondes are actually linked, the longer the Traveler is around, the farther the virus spreads. By 1950 there are several hundred Parahuman children born to people who've never even seen the Traveler. Note: Everyone infected with the Proteus Virus is immune to a wide range of venereal diseases.

The Local year is now 1980. The PCs are in this Q6 Parallel to study why the AIDS crisis isn't occurring in this world. As they study this world they slowly being to notice the presence of many young people of talent unknown on other parallels.

Both solving the mystery of the change and it's source and then dealing with Centrum and the Cabal both being interested in the young Parahumans and the Proteus Virus should keep the PCs involved.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

While reading a book on terrorism in Victorian London it occurred to me that the author was right. The plot to assassinate Queen Victoria at the Golden Jubilee was a major might have been.

Given that there must have been quite a lot of people who wanted to kill any given head of state, but relatively few of them actually died that way (especially if you omit the "poisonings" that were likely disease or spoiled food), it certainly looks like *any* assassination is a low probability event well suited to disruption by quantum butterflies.

[fchase8]

A 'big turn of the century royal assassination' would seem to be a major destablizer - just look what the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand did in real life, and that was just one person (who was minor compared to Queen Victoria).

If it's believed to be an Irish plot, it likely would inspire even more draconian British measures upon Ireland, weakening, not strengthening, the British Empire. And if other royals died, such measures would likely also be followed by other European states (especially as Britain was relatively much more liberal than most other states).


Such an event would seem to bring about the anarchist dream/nightmare of the pre-WWI period, to cause such brutal repression as the people would have no choice but to overthrow their rulers (at least in anarchist beliefs).

This kind of chaos would seem to be something Centrum (and Infinity) would hate. Both usually prefer peaceful reform, albeit to rather different ends.

And Centrum would likely be biased against a massive assassination, given Centrum's own history. Centrum certainly would like a figure such as Queen Victoria.


Though I could see Centrum thinking that it could pull off a 'false flag' operation of some kind. Centran hubris would make Interworld agents believe they could fool 'primitive outtimers', and easily control such an operation - which in reality could very easily go off the rails...

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by fchase8

A 'big turn of the century royal assassination' would seem to be a major destablizer - just look what the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand did in real life, and that was just one person (who was minor compared to Queen Victoria).

If it's believed to be an Irish plot, it likely would inspire even more draconian British measures upon Ireland, weakening, not strengthening, the British Empire. And if other royals died, such measures would likely also be followed by other European states (especially as Britain was relatively much more liberal than most other states).


Such an event would seem to bring about the anarchist dream/nightmare of the pre-WWI period, to cause such brutal repression as the people would have no choice but to overthrow their rulers (at least in anarchist beliefs).

This kind of chaos would seem to be something Centrum (and Infinity) would hate. Both usually prefer peaceful reform, albeit to rather different ends.

And Centrum would likely be biased against a massive assassination, given Centrum's own history. Centrum certainly would like a figure such as Queen Victoria.


Though I could see Centrum thinking that it could pull off a 'false flag' operation of some kind. Centran hubris would make Interworld agents believe they could fool 'primitive outtimers', and easily control such an operation - which in reality could very easily go off the rails...

Given some of the things the Okrana the KGB and their successor have pulled off in London alone, maybe Centrum wouldn't have much trouble. All of which leads to Russian Agents being a fun recurring plot device.

[fchase8]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Given some of the things the Okrana the KGB and their successor have pulled off in London alone, maybe Centrum wouldn't have much trouble. All of which leads to Russian Agents being a fun recurring plot device.

Russia has seemingly always had a great covert intelligence operation.

In London, Centrum wouldn't be operating with the language problem, so would be working better. Though would still underestimate the locals.

Actually, what if Russian agents in London came upon Interworld activities? That could happen anytime in the last two hundred-plus years. And the Russian spies would have the language advantage over Centrum.

Russians could also find Infinity agents.


In other cities, Centrum would probably like to co-opt other spy operations, as that could overcome Centrum's language problem. But in London (and other English-speaking places like NYC), Interworld would be able to work on their English-speaking own.

Indeed, maybe Infinity would try to use non-English speakers, both locals & I-Cops, in English-speaking cities, specifically because Centrum would have trouble with non-English speakers.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by fchase8

Russia has seemingly always had a great covert intelligence operation.

In London, Centrum wouldn't be operating with the language problem, so would be working better. Though would still underestimate the locals.

The London police saw themselves as having a language problem in policing London itself. Centrum would be in worse shape.

Actually, what if Russian agents in London came upon Interworld activities? That could happen anytime in the last two hundred-plus years. And the Russian spies would have the language advantage over Centrum.

The Russians traditionally think that Western Governments are a sham. Centrum's view of Homeline is an exaggeration of Russian views of the West. So Russians running into Interworld agents would simple lead to them assuming their views of the West were confirmed. Yes, the best agents might figure something out, but since their is far more noise than signal in any spy operation, Interworld probably loses no sleep over it.

Russians could also find Infinity agents.

And find them more confusing but no revelation.

In other cities, Centrum would probably like to co-opt other spy operations, as that could overcome Centrum's language problem. But in London (and other English-speaking places like NYC), Interworld would be able to work on their English-speaking own.

Indeed, maybe Infinity would try to use non-English speakers, both locals & I-Cops, in English-speaking cities, specifically because Centrum would have trouble with non-English speakers.

[Astromancer]

Watching the Bride of Frankenstein last night it occurred to me, what a place to land some agents in.

Minnie and the Burgomaster strike me as unexpected obstacles that could slow down any PCs. Each seems trivial, but both get around and can summon a mob.

Elizabeth Frankenstein is generally seen as trivial too, but she is a baroness and she displays some precognition in the film. A untrained Psi with reason to fear threats to herself and her community is no small matter.

Doctor Septimus Pretorius is probably the deadliest monster in the film. In the original screen play unfilmed scenes had Doctor Pretorius dissecting a living woman and mocking her pain when she wakes up screaming. His hired help are willing assassins. The homunculi in the jars could come into use as well.

The nameless creature grows as a character in this film, depending on when and where the PCs meet him, he could be foe or friend. Remember the blind hermit humanized the creature. PCs offering kindness and respect might be able to gain and ally, if they can protect him.

Frankenstein isn't a non threat. Remember, for all his whininess, Henry Frankenstein isn't Victor Frankenstein. In both of the films Henry Frankenstein is one of the few people who can face the creature alone and survive. Henry Frankenstein most be very strong and tough in spite of his whining and hypochondria. PCs expecting to push the Baron around should get a nast surprise.

[Astromancer]

I just finished a book on Thomas Coryat an eccentric traveler from England who died in 1617 in India. Frankly the guy is an opportunity. A charismatic eccentric with Pacifism and a fairly high HT (he walked at about 70 miles a week from Aleppo to Mandu in India!) The man introduced or popularized the fork in England and wrote several books.

One adventure might seek Tom's lost notes, many people even today would want these for Tom's observations. Finding Tom in a parallel, healing him of the illness that killed him, vaccinating him against a few likely to kill diseases, and then sending him on his way with money, paper, ink, and a request to meet later, and a promise to take messages and notes home to England, could net the agents a treasure of interesting observations and details.

Centrum would love to get Tom home to teach languages, the guy clearly had the Language Talent, and if Tom had been teaching at Oxford British interests in India would have grown much faster and far sooner.

The book I read on this gent was Odd Tom Coryate.

[patchwork]

Probably a Britannica-umpteen: I've been contemplating the prospect of European intervention in the American Civil War, specifically having Napoleon III's nightmare scenario come to pass; someone convinces Nap, post-Trent, that the British definitely won't be playing an away game in North America this decade, so he jumps in and declares for the Confederacy, likely breaking the Union blockade and sending troops to reinforce the West. Surprise! The British were sandbagging, declare for the Union, destroy the French fleet, pick up a couple of French colonies (Guiana and Indochina, perhaps?) when the dust settles, the British Empire is even bigger, the USA and UK have a complicated relationship (Reconstruction will be significantly harsher - the British will demand it at the peace conference, but can sweeten the pot with some French money), there is likely another Bourbon Restoration that may or may not work out at all, Mexico could be another monarchy and either way the Monroe Doctrine is dead. Centrum would be delighted by this world - strong British Empire against slavery, USA makes a good hedge if the main bet (UK) fails...Canada may federate differently.

I'd probably drop in on it just as it was coming apart at the seams, with a world war one analog that's The British Empire and USA versus Everyone else who resents them at this point. 50 years of work undone (mild work, this wasn't one of Centrum's priorities) in something disturbingly like the Last War...and Homeline blunders in. Does it help panicking Centrans before they do something drastic? Homeline governments for or against their analogs? Locals who have stumbled onto Centran interference but think they're Freemasons? Actually, that makes a fun entry point...agents expecting to fight the Cabal discover the locals are misinformed and it's Interworld Services...