Five Earths, All in a Row
- Thread starter Prince Charon
- Start date
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
True.
Eventually. The article is just bare-bones, now. Also, see below.
Moving parts, yes. The coils and sails generally have no moving parts, beyond the need for the sail to be turned or furled/unfurled to control the pseudovelocity and pseudoacceleration.
Only the Aether Sail, which gets around it by tapping into the solar wind and large gravity wells. The paddles require fairly little energy, but are dead slow compared to other methods, and require constantly repeated efforts of will from multiple oarsmen.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Sort of. Both are developed on Dgp-Earth, and shared, but only Clp-Earth and Dgp-Earth really use them.
Maybe. Still deciding.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Depending on what they want to do with them, yes. Carriers are capable of handling larger aircraft than just fighters, so an enhanced drone flight could be piloted from on-board a high-flying transport plane, with less degradation than would be caused if flown from a more distant carrier.
Also, note that it depends on what you've done to the drones: if the only enhancement is 'highly resistant to psychic interference,' and it's otherwise purely mundane the range to the pilot doesn't matter. Psychic resistance plus a polywell isn't going to be much worse than that, generally - though you might still want the pilots to be on a carrier or forward base, rather than in a room below the Pentagon, nowhere near the action. It's only when you get more complex enhancements that you run into that sort of trouble.
It also depends on what the drones are doing: observation doesn't require nearly as much good luck or powers as combat.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Depends on who you're fighting, but at least adding 'resists psychic interference' would generally be desirable for opponents who have and are willing to use magic/spirits/psi powers. This results in not having as many available, because enchantment is a bottleneck.
Depending on the target, it may be easier to just spam bullets/missiles at them.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
That depends on what, if anything, is protecting the target. Generally yes, with some aggravating exceptions (that can partially be compensated for, but not completely).
I assume you mean Precision-guided munitions? The advantage they have over drones is that, like missiles, their enchantments only need to be one-shot, so they're quicker and easier to enchant than drones (especially if you're just trying to shield them from interference). They don't have time to get lonely or confused, they just go where they're told, and blow up.
On another note, this is hopefully the next-to-last draft of September, 2013. Just a couple things to fix, unless someone notices something else I forgot, as I did (the shuttle bit was a last minute 'oh, shit, I planned to have that in September and forgot' thing):
September 1: Though many buildings are still under construction, the Space Force Academy at San Francisco, CA, Infopunk USA is officially opened on this date. Throughout many nations on Inp-Earth, helmets, headbands, and foil-lined hats have once again become fashionable, due to fears of telepathic intrusion. For MPs and bureaucrats in the Inp-UK, these are often bowler hats, while American white-collar workers seem to prefer fedoras or stetsons. Some even work, either due to enchantment, or due to specific telepaths believing that they cannot read through a tinfoil-lined hat. Hoods, Magneto-style helms, and other headgear that covers most or all of the head, tend to be more effective, on average, although the skill of the enchanter, if any, is at least an equal factor, if not greater.
Sept. 3: On Fa-Earth, in the Proto-Iroquois Confederacy, a shaman and smith named Kolatsikwa (Ringing Hammer) makes a contract with the strong and humble spirit of Iron: in return for a hotter fire, Iron will help him make more weapons for less cost than the proud son of bright Copper and haughty Tin. PLACEHOLDER <Space Shuttle Enterprise next trip to the Moon>
Sept. 5: On Inp-Earth, the thoughtform of Amora the Enchantress visits Kevin Feige to discuss who will portray her in the third modern Thor movie. Interestingly, she does not insist on a starring role, but does offer to do the special effects, if given one. She doesn't insist on being depicted all that positively, either, as she wants the viewers to believe in her, and making her too heroic would contradict her representation in the comics, just as much as making her chaste. Stp-British astronef Henry VIII reaches Clp-Earth orbit.
Sept. 6: British astronef Henry VIII makes a splashdown in Clp-Earth's North Sea near the Thames Estuary, and from there, travels up the Thames to London, to be greeted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England, First of Her Name. On Dsp- and Stp-Earth, the 'role-playing game' craze, already becoming popular in many of the more fashionable or forward-thinking Gentlemens' Clubs and Ladies' Associations (often using cards instead of dice for randomization, at least on Stp-Earth), grows large on college and boarding school campuses, by this date. The books, licensed from Infopunk Earth and illustrated (and sometimes illuminated) by local artists, have proven an excellent investment.
Sept. 7: On Dp-Earth, William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee (on leave from the RN while his sub is repaired & refitted) finish film and voice work for the upcoming Doctor Who 50th Anniversary episode on Inp-Earth. In the skies over Dsp-London, Captain Nazi clashes with British hero Miracleman; the battle is inconclusive. On Stp-Earth, the British and the French each declare that the War In (Stp)Poland is none of their business ('But speaking of business, you seem to be in need of more guns, ammunition, and whatnot, which we have quite a lot of. Perhaps we can make a deal...').
Sept. 10: On Inp-Earth, the US Army's 21st Airborne Division is officially 're'activated. While originally a 'ghost unit' formed during Inp-Earth's WWII, this division is quite real. Official announcements speak of it as if the division's wartime service was itself quite real, to the annoyance of some historians, and the amusement of others.
Sept. 11: A school shooting occurs at Fairview High School, Fairview, Inp-Nevada, perpetrated by a dangerously strong probability manipulator named Bobby Greenwood. Much is made in the press of his frequent habit of reading and posting on /b/, one of the more disturbing sections of 4chan. On Clp-Earth, Elizabeth I establishes the Day Ward and Night Watch, based somewhat on the Ancient Roman Cohortes urbanae and Vigiles, as well as the Metropolitan Police of Stp-, Dp-, and Inp-Londons, as described to her by King Arthur's ambassador, and the embassy from Stp-Britain. Sir William Cordell is appointed Prefect of the Watch and Ward.
Sept. 14: In an attempt to culturally distance themselves from their parent organizations, and because the term for multiple satellites working or organized together is already 'constellation', the USSF decides to alter the terminology they use for units with space vehicles. Flights and smaller units retain the old designations, but above that level, several Flights (usually 3 or 4) form a Constellation, several Constellations (3 to as many as 10) form a Cluster, and multiple Clusters form a Galaxy. Thus, a Galaxy is equivalent to the formation that the USAF and USMC call a 'Wing', the British and USN call a 'Group', and the Canadians call an Air Division - the level below that is called a Group by the USAF and USMC, and a Wing by the British, Canadians, and USN; given that there are former USN personnel in the USSF, albeit not so many as former USAF, doing away with the confusion had some support. (Despite the hopes of some BattleTech fans, Flights are not renamed 'Stars,' and 'Galaxy Commander' is a position title, not a rank.) Above the 'Galaxy' is the Numbered Space Force, the USSF's equivalent to a Numbered Air Force. Above these are the various Major Commands, which retain the USAF designation - in fact, a lot of the individual MAJCOMs use almost the same names as those in the USAF, swapping out 'Air' for 'Space'.
Sept. 16: On Inp-Earth, the Think of the Children campaigne begins a petition to have 4chan shut down. 'World of Superman' theme park opens in Metropolis, IL (yes, this is a real place; the city on Dp-Earth is much bigger, though). De Re Metallica is published on Clockpunk Earth. In Dp-USA, the General Motors Bipedal Gun Platform Mark 1 is demonstrated for the US Army brass. The observing officers generally like it, but feel that the production model should have an enclosed cockpit.
Sept. 19: A number of fan-made (or restored) prop space vessels become spontaneously enchanted as working spacecraft starting on this date. The vessels lack working FTL systems - attempts to use FTL instead astrally project the vessel, crew, and passengers into the imaginary world dreamed of by fans of the series the vessels are based on. The first of these is the restored Galileo prop. Interestingly, the prop's interior and exterior are somewhat modified from their appearance on the show, as the forward windows are lowered enough to be functional, rather than being more like skylights, there are triangular viewscreens on either side of the pilot/copilot station substituting for side windows, and the internal dimensions are a bit larger than they should be, to allow for more headroom.
Sept. 20: Sybil Dancer involves herself in the Bobby Greenwood case. On Dsp-Earth, the Kido Butai reaches Vladivostok, doing significant damage to the Soviet Union's Pacific Fleet. However, the submarine pens are untouched, something Admiral Yamamoto regards with deep concern. In the Stp-USA, President Phelps declares that it is not in the interests of the United States to involve itself in foreign wars. Later that evening, in a private meeting with a few member of his Cabinet and some friends in the arms industry, Phelps suggests that once the Europeans have exhausted themselves a little, the US ought to pick a side, and find an excuse to join in, as that seems to have worked well for the other USAs.
Sept. 21: An orbital test of the Galileo demonstrates that the shuttlecraft possess sub-light warp systems, which will be of great interest to DARPA, NASA, and the USSF. An attempt to go FTL results in the astral projection mentioned above (Sept. 19), which from an external perspective looks like the vessel 'stops' (settles into a safe orbit), while still protected by a static warp bubble. After about an hour, the crew awakens, none the worse for wear, but quite excited. Their branch of Starship Enterprises begins immediate negotiations with DARPA.
Sept. 23: Stp-Russian heavy astronef Pyotr Velikiy reaches orbit of Dp-Earth. After a few orbits, they splashdown in the Irish Sea, and make port in Blackpool. In Inp-New Jersy, a man names Kevin Walters, who believes himself to be Walter Kovacs from just after the end of the graphic novel, escapes from a mental hospital. In Stp-French Guiana, an Æther Screw prototype is launched into orbit on a small, three-man astronef. The mission is sponsored by not only the Swiss and French, but the British, Scandanavians, Japanese, and Americans, all of whom will be using the design. Preliminary tests prove quite promising, as the vessel first visits several stations in only two hours, and then flies to the Moon and back in less than twelve hours, being notably faster between gravity wells, than near them.
Sept. 25: Scientists on Inp-Earth develop what many call 'hard light', though this description is not strictly accurate. The widespread belief among precogs on Inp-Earth that something big involving the undead will occur on Hallowe'en causes the chromatic Lantern NGOs to increase the number of anti-Black Lantern drills they perform in training. An increasing number of spellcasting groups begin long-term rituals to counter, directly or indirectly, what they think might happen. A number of US Navy psykers predict that the Iowas will be of some importance on Hallowe'en, but not due to their guns.
Sept. 27: The Ether Propeller is invented in Dsp-Germany, by Herr Professor Doktor Ludwig Erdel. Due to issues with information security, the plans and process are almost immediately stolen by spies from the USSR. On Stp-Earth, the Holy Roman Empire officially declares neutrality. However, this does not prevent Catholic-majority members from sending equipment and military advisors to help the Poles, nor Protestant-majority members from likewise helping the Prussians and/or Russians.
Sept. 28: The replica Millennium Falcon becomes enchanted, and like the Galileo, proves to be equipped with a sub-light warp system, as well as an 'astral drive' where the hyperdrive should be (determined because they knew to check, and had a Jedi with the right skillset to discover it). Corellian Engineering Corporation (see May 4), having heard about the Galileo, has the contracts already written.
Sept 30: PLACEHOLDER <Banestorms occur on all five Earths. Vikings in Dsp-<location> mostly killed by Nazis. RMS Titanic makes port in Stp-New York.>
Speaking of big props that the spirits empower, here's another. Two people with a lot of skill, and a lot of time (and money) on their hands.
RMS Titanic? Where the heck is it from? What worldline? I kinda wish it'd made port in Inp-Earth.
Oh and regarding the other Earths, I know their PODs were, in some cases, quite early on but are there other little differences as well? Like say in Dsp-Earth, there's no vanilla ice cream, only rhubard. Like little differences in common 1940s good there compared to 1940s goods in Inp-Earth's timeline, like instead of toilet paper, everyone uses "compressed sanitary sponges" that will break down in the septic tank.
This thread is what I'm talking about. Where even the TL8 goods of an alternate worldline may be different in some way.
Oh and regarding the other Earths, I know their PODs were, in some cases, quite early on but are there other little differences as well? Like say in Dsp-Earth, there's no vanilla ice cream, only rhubard. Like little differences in common 1940s good there compared to 1940s goods in Inp-Earth's timeline, like instead of toilet paper, everyone uses "compressed sanitary sponges" that will break down in the septic tank.
This thread is what I'm talking about. Where even the TL8 goods of an alternate worldline may be different in some way.
Last edited:
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
I hope this is the final draft of September, 2013. I moved the Banestorm to October. Have a look, see if there are any problems:
September 1: Though many buildings are still under construction, the Space Force Academy at San Francisco, CA, Infopunk USA is officially opened on this date. Throughout many nations on Inp-Earth, helmets, headbands, and foil-lined hats have once again become fashionable, due to fears of telepathic intrusion. For MPs and bureaucrats in the Inp-UK, these are often bowler hats, while American white-collar workers seem to prefer fedoras or stetsons. Some even work, either due to enchantment, or due to specific telepaths believing that they cannot read through a tinfoil-lined hat. Hoods, Magneto-style helms, and other headgear that covers most or all of the head, tend to be more effective, on average, although the skill of the enchanter, if any, is at least an equal factor, if not greater.
Sept. 3: On Fa-Earth, in the Proto-Iroquois Confederacy, a shaman and smith named Kolatsikwa (Ringing Hammer) makes a contract with the strong and humble spirit of Iron: in return for a hotter fire, Iron will help him make more weapons for less cost than the proud son of bright Copper and haughty Tin. On Inp-Earth/Earth-1, the Space Shuttle Enterprise begins her second mission to Inp-Luna, accompanied by her sister, the newly retrofitted Space Shuttle Discovery. Also on this Flight are the first SC-5E Galaxy, the first SRB-1C Astrolancer, and two more SB-52Is.
Sept. 4: Enterprise and her Flight reach the Moon. While Discovery and the SC-5E deliver supplies and personnel, and retrieve those who remained over the past several weeks, Enterprise and the SRB-1C survey several Lunar features, including the Peaks of 'Eternal' Light. Weapons tests also occur on the far side of the Moon, within large craters, so that they cannot be seen by even the best telescopes on the other Earths.
Sept. 5: On Inp-Earth, the thoughtform of Amora the Enchantress visits Kevin Feige to discuss who will portray her in the third modern Thor movie. Interestingly, she does not insist on a starring role, but does offer to do the special effects, if given one. She doesn't insist on being depicted all that positively, either, as she wants the viewers to believe in her, and making her too heroic would contradict her representation in the comics, just as much as making her chaste. Late in the day (by Inp-Greenwich Mean Time), Stp-British astronef Henry VIII reaches Clp-Earth orbit.
Sept. 6: British astronef Henry VIII makes a splashdown in Clp-Earth's North Sea near the Thames Estuary, and from there, travels up the Thames to London, to be greeted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England, First of Her Name. On Dsp- and Stp-Earth, the 'role-playing game' craze, already becoming popular in many of the more fashionable or forward-thinking Gentlemens' Clubs and Ladies' Associations (often using cards instead of dice for randomization, at least on Stp-Earth), grows large on college and boarding school campuses, by this date. The books, licensed from Infopunk Earth and illustrated (and sometimes illuminated) by local artists, have proven an excellent investment.
Sept. 7: On Dp-Earth, William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee (on leave from the RN while his sub is repaired & refitted) finish film and voice work for the upcoming Doctor Who 50th Anniversary episode on Inp-Earth. In the skies over Dsp-London, Captain Nazi clashes with British hero Miracleman; the battle is inconclusive. On Stp-Earth, the British and the French each declare that the War In (Stp)Poland is none of their business ('But speaking of business, you seem to be in need of more guns, ammunition, and whatnot, which we have quite a lot of. Perhaps we can make a deal...').
Sept. 9: Enterprise and her Flight complete their tasks on the Moon, and begin the return journey. On Stp-Earth, Hale Aeronef Inc. begins work on an armed model of their popular 'Merlin' scout aeronef, as well as a steam-turbine/propellor powered aeronef.
Sept. 10: On Inp-Earth, the US Army's 21st Airborne Division is officially 're'activated. While originally a 'ghost unit' formed during Inp-Earth's WWII, this division is quite real. Official announcements speak of it as if the division's wartime service was itself quite real, to the annoyance of some historians, and the amusement of others. Enterprise and her Flight land at Edwars Space Force Base.
Sept. 11: A school shooting occurs at Fairview High School, Fairview, Inp-Nevada, perpetrated by a dangerously strong probability manipulator named Bobby Greenwood. Much is made in the press of his frequent habit of reading and posting on /b/, one of the more disturbing sections of 4chan. On Clp-Earth, Elizabeth I establishes the Day Ward and Night Watch, based somewhat on the Ancient Roman Cohortes urbanae and Vigiles, as well as the Metropolitan Police of Stp-, Dp-, and Inp-Londons, as described to her by King Arthur's ambassador, and the embassy from Stp-Britain. Sir William Cordell is appointed Prefect of the Watch and Ward.
Sept. 14: In an attempt to culturally distance themselves from their parent organizations, and because the term for multiple satellites working or organized together is already 'constellation', the USSF decides to alter the terminology they use for units with space vehicles. Flights and smaller units retain the old designations, but above that level, several Flights (usually 3 or 4) form a Constellation, several Constellations (3 to as many as 10) form a Cluster, and multiple Clusters form a Galaxy. Thus, a Galaxy is equivalent to the formation that the USAF and USMC call a 'Wing', the British and USN call a 'Group', and the Canadians call an Air Division - the level below that is called a Group by the USAF and USMC, and a Wing by the British, Canadians, and USN; given that there are former USN personnel in the USSF, albeit not so many as former USAF, doing away with the confusion had some support. (Despite the hopes of some BattleTech fans, Flights are not renamed 'Stars,' and 'Galaxy Commander' is a position title, not a rank.) Above the 'Galaxy' is the Numbered Space Force, the USSF's equivalent to a Numbered Air Force. Above these are the various Major Commands, which retain the USAF designation - in fact, a lot of the individual MAJCOMs use almost the same names as those in the USAF, swapping out 'Air' for 'Space'.
Sept. 16: On Inp-Earth, the Think of the Children campaigne begins a petition to have 4chan shut down. 'World of Superman' theme park opens in Metropolis, IL (yes, this is a real place; the city on Dp-Earth is much bigger, though). De Re Metallica is published on Clockpunk Earth. In Dp-USA, the General Motors Bipedal Gun Platform Mark 1 is demonstrated for the US Army brass. The observing officers generally like it, but feel that the production model should have an enclosed cockpit.
Sept. 19: A number of fan-made (or restored) prop space vessels become spontaneously enchanted as working spacecraft starting on this date. The vessels lack working FTL systems - attempts to use FTL instead astrally project the vessel, crew, and passengers into the imaginary world dreamed of by fans of the series the vessels are based on. The first of these is the restored Galileo prop. Interestingly, the prop's interior and exterior are somewhat modified from their appearance on the show, as the forward windows are lowered enough to be functional, rather than being more like skylights, there are triangular viewscreens on either side of the pilot/copilot station substituting for side windows, and the internal dimensions are a bit larger than they should be, to allow for more headroom.
Sept. 20: Sybil Dancer involves herself in the Bobby Greenwood case. On Dsp-Earth, the Kido Butai reaches Vladivostok, doing significant damage to the Soviet Union's Pacific Fleet. However, the submarine pens are untouched, something Admiral Yamamoto regards with deep concern. In the Stp-USA, President Phelps declares that it is not in the interests of the United States to involve itself in foreign wars. Later that evening, in a private meeting with a few member of his Cabinet and some friends in the arms industry, Phelps suggests that once the Europeans have exhausted themselves a little, the US ought to pick a side, and find an excuse to join in, as that seems to have worked well for the other USAs.
Sept. 21: An orbital test of the Galileo demonstrates that the shuttlecraft possess sub-light warp systems, which will be of great interest to DARPA, NASA, and the USSF. An attempt to go FTL results in the astral projection mentioned above (Sept. 19), which from an external perspective looks like the vessel 'stops' (settles into a safe orbit), while still protected by a static warp bubble. After about an hour, the crew awakens, none the worse for wear, but quite excited. Their branch of Starship Enterprises begins immediate negotiations with DARPA.
Sept. 23: Stp-Russian heavy astronef Pyotr Velikiy reaches orbit of Dp-Earth. After a few orbits, they splashdown in the Irish Sea, and make port in Blackpool. In Inp-New Jersy, a man names Kevin Walters, who believes himself to be Walter Kovacs from just after the end of the graphic novel, escapes from a mental hospital. In Stp-French Guiana, an Æther Screw prototype is launched into orbit on a small, three-man astronef. The mission is sponsored by not only the Swiss and French, but the British, Scandanavians, Japanese, and Americans, all of whom will be using the design. Preliminary tests prove quite promising, as the vessel first visits several stations in only two hours, and then flies to the Moon and back in less than twelve hours, being notably faster between gravity wells, than near them.
Sept. 25: Scientists on Inp-Earth develop what many call 'hard light', though this description is not strictly accurate. The widespread belief among precogs on Inp-Earth that something big involving the undead will occur on Hallowe'en causes the chromatic Lantern NGOs to increase the number of anti-Black Lantern drills they perform in training. An increasing number of spellcasting groups begin long-term rituals to counter, directly or indirectly, what they think might happen. A number of US Navy psykers predict that the Iowas will be of some importance on Hallowe'en, but not due to their guns.
Sept. 27: The Ether Propeller is invented in Dsp-Germany, by Herr Professor Doktor Ludwig Erdel. Due to issues with information security, the plans and process are almost immediately stolen by spies from the USSR. On Stp-Earth, the Holy Roman Empire officially declares neutrality. However, this does not prevent Catholic-majority members from sending equipment and military advisors to help the Poles, nor Protestant-majority members from likewise helping the Prussians and/or Russians.
Sept. 28: The replica Millennium Falcon becomes enchanted, and like the Galileo, proves to be equipped with a sub-light warp system, as well as an 'astral drive' where the hyperdrive should be (determined because they knew to check, and had a Jedi with the right skillset to discover it). As with the Galileo, the interior dimensions are warped to fit better. Corellian Engineering Corporation (see May 4), having heard about the Galileo, has the contracts already written.
Sept 30: In Inp-UK, First Lord of the Treasurey David Cameron reactivates the Home Guard, in response to the Incident on August 23rd. Due to their targets, the Guard are primarily equipped with pikes and iron nets, rather than guns. A modified net gun designed for iron nets, or a shotgun round firing same is requested from the British arms industry (not so much out of a desire to avoid killing the fae, but rather to help keep the Home Guard from accidentally killing anyone else). This action is widely (and accurately) seen as a primarily political move, both making sure the public sees that the Cameron Government is Doing Something, and helping said public feel that they are Doing Something.
September 1: Though many buildings are still under construction, the Space Force Academy at San Francisco, CA, Infopunk USA is officially opened on this date. Throughout many nations on Inp-Earth, helmets, headbands, and foil-lined hats have once again become fashionable, due to fears of telepathic intrusion. For MPs and bureaucrats in the Inp-UK, these are often bowler hats, while American white-collar workers seem to prefer fedoras or stetsons. Some even work, either due to enchantment, or due to specific telepaths believing that they cannot read through a tinfoil-lined hat. Hoods, Magneto-style helms, and other headgear that covers most or all of the head, tend to be more effective, on average, although the skill of the enchanter, if any, is at least an equal factor, if not greater.
Sept. 3: On Fa-Earth, in the Proto-Iroquois Confederacy, a shaman and smith named Kolatsikwa (Ringing Hammer) makes a contract with the strong and humble spirit of Iron: in return for a hotter fire, Iron will help him make more weapons for less cost than the proud son of bright Copper and haughty Tin. On Inp-Earth/Earth-1, the Space Shuttle Enterprise begins her second mission to Inp-Luna, accompanied by her sister, the newly retrofitted Space Shuttle Discovery. Also on this Flight are the first SC-5E Galaxy, the first SRB-1C Astrolancer, and two more SB-52Is.
Sept. 4: Enterprise and her Flight reach the Moon. While Discovery and the SC-5E deliver supplies and personnel, and retrieve those who remained over the past several weeks, Enterprise and the SRB-1C survey several Lunar features, including the Peaks of 'Eternal' Light. Weapons tests also occur on the far side of the Moon, within large craters, so that they cannot be seen by even the best telescopes on the other Earths.
Sept. 5: On Inp-Earth, the thoughtform of Amora the Enchantress visits Kevin Feige to discuss who will portray her in the third modern Thor movie. Interestingly, she does not insist on a starring role, but does offer to do the special effects, if given one. She doesn't insist on being depicted all that positively, either, as she wants the viewers to believe in her, and making her too heroic would contradict her representation in the comics, just as much as making her chaste. Late in the day (by Inp-Greenwich Mean Time), Stp-British astronef Henry VIII reaches Clp-Earth orbit.
Sept. 6: British astronef Henry VIII makes a splashdown in Clp-Earth's North Sea near the Thames Estuary, and from there, travels up the Thames to London, to be greeted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England, First of Her Name. On Dsp- and Stp-Earth, the 'role-playing game' craze, already becoming popular in many of the more fashionable or forward-thinking Gentlemens' Clubs and Ladies' Associations (often using cards instead of dice for randomization, at least on Stp-Earth), grows large on college and boarding school campuses, by this date. The books, licensed from Infopunk Earth and illustrated (and sometimes illuminated) by local artists, have proven an excellent investment.
Sept. 7: On Dp-Earth, William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee (on leave from the RN while his sub is repaired & refitted) finish film and voice work for the upcoming Doctor Who 50th Anniversary episode on Inp-Earth. In the skies over Dsp-London, Captain Nazi clashes with British hero Miracleman; the battle is inconclusive. On Stp-Earth, the British and the French each declare that the War In (Stp)Poland is none of their business ('But speaking of business, you seem to be in need of more guns, ammunition, and whatnot, which we have quite a lot of. Perhaps we can make a deal...').
Sept. 9: Enterprise and her Flight complete their tasks on the Moon, and begin the return journey. On Stp-Earth, Hale Aeronef Inc. begins work on an armed model of their popular 'Merlin' scout aeronef, as well as a steam-turbine/propellor powered aeronef.
Sept. 10: On Inp-Earth, the US Army's 21st Airborne Division is officially 're'activated. While originally a 'ghost unit' formed during Inp-Earth's WWII, this division is quite real. Official announcements speak of it as if the division's wartime service was itself quite real, to the annoyance of some historians, and the amusement of others. Enterprise and her Flight land at Edwars Space Force Base.
Sept. 11: A school shooting occurs at Fairview High School, Fairview, Inp-Nevada, perpetrated by a dangerously strong probability manipulator named Bobby Greenwood. Much is made in the press of his frequent habit of reading and posting on /b/, one of the more disturbing sections of 4chan. On Clp-Earth, Elizabeth I establishes the Day Ward and Night Watch, based somewhat on the Ancient Roman Cohortes urbanae and Vigiles, as well as the Metropolitan Police of Stp-, Dp-, and Inp-Londons, as described to her by King Arthur's ambassador, and the embassy from Stp-Britain. Sir William Cordell is appointed Prefect of the Watch and Ward.
Sept. 14: In an attempt to culturally distance themselves from their parent organizations, and because the term for multiple satellites working or organized together is already 'constellation', the USSF decides to alter the terminology they use for units with space vehicles. Flights and smaller units retain the old designations, but above that level, several Flights (usually 3 or 4) form a Constellation, several Constellations (3 to as many as 10) form a Cluster, and multiple Clusters form a Galaxy. Thus, a Galaxy is equivalent to the formation that the USAF and USMC call a 'Wing', the British and USN call a 'Group', and the Canadians call an Air Division - the level below that is called a Group by the USAF and USMC, and a Wing by the British, Canadians, and USN; given that there are former USN personnel in the USSF, albeit not so many as former USAF, doing away with the confusion had some support. (Despite the hopes of some BattleTech fans, Flights are not renamed 'Stars,' and 'Galaxy Commander' is a position title, not a rank.) Above the 'Galaxy' is the Numbered Space Force, the USSF's equivalent to a Numbered Air Force. Above these are the various Major Commands, which retain the USAF designation - in fact, a lot of the individual MAJCOMs use almost the same names as those in the USAF, swapping out 'Air' for 'Space'.
Sept. 16: On Inp-Earth, the Think of the Children campaigne begins a petition to have 4chan shut down. 'World of Superman' theme park opens in Metropolis, IL (yes, this is a real place; the city on Dp-Earth is much bigger, though). De Re Metallica is published on Clockpunk Earth. In Dp-USA, the General Motors Bipedal Gun Platform Mark 1 is demonstrated for the US Army brass. The observing officers generally like it, but feel that the production model should have an enclosed cockpit.
Sept. 19: A number of fan-made (or restored) prop space vessels become spontaneously enchanted as working spacecraft starting on this date. The vessels lack working FTL systems - attempts to use FTL instead astrally project the vessel, crew, and passengers into the imaginary world dreamed of by fans of the series the vessels are based on. The first of these is the restored Galileo prop. Interestingly, the prop's interior and exterior are somewhat modified from their appearance on the show, as the forward windows are lowered enough to be functional, rather than being more like skylights, there are triangular viewscreens on either side of the pilot/copilot station substituting for side windows, and the internal dimensions are a bit larger than they should be, to allow for more headroom.
Sept. 20: Sybil Dancer involves herself in the Bobby Greenwood case. On Dsp-Earth, the Kido Butai reaches Vladivostok, doing significant damage to the Soviet Union's Pacific Fleet. However, the submarine pens are untouched, something Admiral Yamamoto regards with deep concern. In the Stp-USA, President Phelps declares that it is not in the interests of the United States to involve itself in foreign wars. Later that evening, in a private meeting with a few member of his Cabinet and some friends in the arms industry, Phelps suggests that once the Europeans have exhausted themselves a little, the US ought to pick a side, and find an excuse to join in, as that seems to have worked well for the other USAs.
Sept. 21: An orbital test of the Galileo demonstrates that the shuttlecraft possess sub-light warp systems, which will be of great interest to DARPA, NASA, and the USSF. An attempt to go FTL results in the astral projection mentioned above (Sept. 19), which from an external perspective looks like the vessel 'stops' (settles into a safe orbit), while still protected by a static warp bubble. After about an hour, the crew awakens, none the worse for wear, but quite excited. Their branch of Starship Enterprises begins immediate negotiations with DARPA.
Sept. 23: Stp-Russian heavy astronef Pyotr Velikiy reaches orbit of Dp-Earth. After a few orbits, they splashdown in the Irish Sea, and make port in Blackpool. In Inp-New Jersy, a man names Kevin Walters, who believes himself to be Walter Kovacs from just after the end of the graphic novel, escapes from a mental hospital. In Stp-French Guiana, an Æther Screw prototype is launched into orbit on a small, three-man astronef. The mission is sponsored by not only the Swiss and French, but the British, Scandanavians, Japanese, and Americans, all of whom will be using the design. Preliminary tests prove quite promising, as the vessel first visits several stations in only two hours, and then flies to the Moon and back in less than twelve hours, being notably faster between gravity wells, than near them.
Sept. 25: Scientists on Inp-Earth develop what many call 'hard light', though this description is not strictly accurate. The widespread belief among precogs on Inp-Earth that something big involving the undead will occur on Hallowe'en causes the chromatic Lantern NGOs to increase the number of anti-Black Lantern drills they perform in training. An increasing number of spellcasting groups begin long-term rituals to counter, directly or indirectly, what they think might happen. A number of US Navy psykers predict that the Iowas will be of some importance on Hallowe'en, but not due to their guns.
Sept. 27: The Ether Propeller is invented in Dsp-Germany, by Herr Professor Doktor Ludwig Erdel. Due to issues with information security, the plans and process are almost immediately stolen by spies from the USSR. On Stp-Earth, the Holy Roman Empire officially declares neutrality. However, this does not prevent Catholic-majority members from sending equipment and military advisors to help the Poles, nor Protestant-majority members from likewise helping the Prussians and/or Russians.
Sept. 28: The replica Millennium Falcon becomes enchanted, and like the Galileo, proves to be equipped with a sub-light warp system, as well as an 'astral drive' where the hyperdrive should be (determined because they knew to check, and had a Jedi with the right skillset to discover it). As with the Galileo, the interior dimensions are warped to fit better. Corellian Engineering Corporation (see May 4), having heard about the Galileo, has the contracts already written.
Sept 30: In Inp-UK, First Lord of the Treasurey David Cameron reactivates the Home Guard, in response to the Incident on August 23rd. Due to their targets, the Guard are primarily equipped with pikes and iron nets, rather than guns. A modified net gun designed for iron nets, or a shotgun round firing same is requested from the British arms industry (not so much out of a desire to avoid killing the fae, but rather to help keep the Home Guard from accidentally killing anyone else). This action is widely (and accurately) seen as a primarily political move, both making sure the public sees that the Cameron Government is Doing Something, and helping said public feel that they are Doing Something.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
With September posted in the fiction thread, here's what I have of October through December, 2013:
October 2: In Dsp-Paris, the great French alchemist known as Fulcanelli helps La Resistance to disrupt a ceremony by Nazi sorcerors that would have given them auctoritas over the Paris Catacombs - something that would have been quite problematic for French Resistance activity in the Capital. Fulcanelli's much greater familiarity with both Roman ceremonies (the Thule Society sorcerors are quite skilled in Nordo-Germanic Rune magic, but Roman ritual magic was what they needed to use), and the Parisian magical environment, were utterly vital to the operation.
Oct. 4: In Dsp-Soviet Union, KV-VI 'Behemoth' design finalized. When told that the vehicle would have great difficulty turning, Stalin is quoted as saying "They will not need to turn, they will drive straight from the boats to Tokyo and London." On Stp-Earth, after much debate, the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation declares that it cannot take sides in the War of the Polish Insurrection. This does not prevent specific menmbers from sending money, supplies, and 'mercenaries' to the belligerants, however.
Oct. 5: PLACEHOLDER <Banestorms occur on all five Earths. Vikings in Dsp-France mostly killed by Nazis, though two ships that turned toward England are met by the Royal Navy, and claim to be peaceful traders. RMS Titanic makes port in Stp-New York.>
Oct. 7: On Inp-Earth, an astronomy student observing Fa-Britannia sees a woman bathing by a waterfall; the woman lays on a rock and seems to pose, smiling at the camera. This image is almost immediately leaked to the internet. The Stp-British astronef Atropos (see July 7, above) reaches orbit of Dsp-Earth, and lands at Blackpool.
Oct. 10: In Stp-USA, a bibliophile named Arthur MacElroy slowly transmits to the two Elder Earths an 1835 anti-slavery novel called 'The Civil War, or, the Slave-Holder's Revolt,' which depicts a disturbingly accurate picture of the U.S. Civil War on both Dsp-Earth and Inp-Earth. While the names of people are different (General Upton S. Adams, a relative of recent-at-the-time President John Quincy Adams, instead of General Ulysses S. Grant) and the dates are consistently off by four years (President Moses Landon is elected in 1864, and assassinated by an actor named Leland Henry Osgood (?!), in a theatre, in 1869), the battles are consistently accurate in name, location, and outcome, and in time relative to other battles.
Oct. 11: The Arthurian Embassy in Inp-London informs the public that the woman recorded on Oct. 7 is High King Arthur's half-sister Morgant, who can see and hear through any image of herself. In Inp-USA, PLACEHOLDER shuttle main tanks
Oct. 13: PLACEHOLDER The International Society for the Ethical Treatment of the African Peoples is founded in Stp-Belgium, by King Leopold II. The purpose of ISETAP is to prevent atrocities such as those perpetrated by his counterparts on Inp-Earth and Dsp-Earth, and the men in their pay, in the Congo 'Free' States of those Earths. It is debatable whether he was truly as horrified as he seems, but his personal history prior to the Event is notably different from either of his counterparts in some areas, despite an interest in 'a slice of this magnificent African cake'. At the least, he did not hire Henry Morton Stanley, a man with a reputation for brutality toward the natives, to explore the Congo, instead inviting an Irish gentleman - James Sligo Jameson - to mount the expedition.
Oct. 16: PLACEHOLDER On Dp-Earth, the United States Rocketry Service is founded, providing the Dsp-USA with a uniformed space service. To appease the isolationists in Congress, the new service is part of the United States Post Office Department. The first Director of the USRS is Dr. Robert Goddard, and the first Deputy Director is William "Billy" Mitchell (who was dead by this time, in our history).
Oct. 17: PLACEHOLDER On Dp-Earth, Curtis LeMay and George S. Patton, Jr., are among the US Army officers to join the US Rocketry Service at their Regular Army ranks. PLACEHOLDER Captain Atom officially transferred to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, to serve as their liason with the American branch of the Justice League NGO.
Oct. 19: On Stp-Earth, Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. manufactures a prototype steam-powered tank (a tank engine with treads, a longer cab for the larger crew, a built-in coal bunker with automated conveyor, the controls rearranged so the back is now the front, a lot of armour, a big gun, and some smaller guns), for testing by some friends in the Cavalry with an interest in the Future Earths. A few other locomotive manufacturers, most notably the Butterley Company of Ripley, Derbyshire, choose to create their own models, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Oct. 21: PLACEHOLDER On Clp-Earth, the Kingdom of Kongo opens a university in <name>. In Clp-Ukraine, the Third Siege of Kiev begins.
Oct. 23: PLACEHOLDER On Dp-Earth, the marriage of Grand Duchess Anastasia's eldest son, Nicolas, occurs.
Oct. 28: PLACEHOLDER Hitler and Stalin jointly announce that the (Dsp-Earth) United States of America has repeatedly violated its own neutrality by supporting the Allies, and thus has been, and is, in a state of war with the Axis powers. PLACEHOLDER USS SaratogaPLACEHOLDERUSS Enterprise, out of position due to an encounter with a sea monster, thus not found by the submarines, in the Pacific. In the Atlantic, USS Ranger is saved by the sacrifice of the USS William D. Porter, whose crew interposed themselves between the carrier and the torpedoes. The Porter was lost with all hands.
Oct. 31: The Thule Society's Hallowe'en Curse does not go exactly as planned. The intention was to raise as zombies the dead on Inp-Earth who died loyal to Hitler and/or the Third Reich, with as much if their equipment as was available, to strike at the Inp-Earth Allies in a manner they could not be prepared for. This is rather hard to accomplish, especially as it involves trying to raise not only men, but tanks, planes, and ships. As a result of this, combined with the number of rituals directed against it, relatively few zombies rise, though many ghosts do. Likewise, many of the ghosts who manifest are enemies of the Third Reich, whether being enemy combatants, or Wehrmacht personnel who hated the Nazis. Few of the ghosts are able to deal damage directly to solid matter (as seen, for example, when the ghost of a U-boat fires two torpedoes at the USS Constitution, a wooden sailing frigate operated by the US Navy as a training vessel, doing no damage whatsoever), but they are quite capable of causing hallucinations, Terror effects, bad luck, and other often-traumatic disruptions. They are also capable of 'damaging' each other, as seen when the ghost of the Bismark is rammed and sunk by the ghost of the HMS Hood, or when the shades of various sailors, seemingly commanded by a ghostly lady in 18th Century dress, fire a broadside at the U-boat, discorporating it. Similar situations prevail on land and in the skies, as Rommel and Patton are seen in Germany, leading a force of ghost-tanks together, against the undead Waffen-SS, and the Battle of Britain is fought again. Interestingly, the areas surrounding the former Death Camps are relatively safe, as any Nazi ghosts rising nearby, or daring to approach, are immediately torn to shreds by the vengeful spirits of their victims. The living are not all helpless, themselves, as anyone either properly empowered, or merely strong-willed, can harm the spirits that approach them - indeed, many ghost-planes are shot down by properly empowered missiles, or rammed by jets, and several ghost-ships are rammed and sunk by the Iowas that are in the Atlantic, in accordance with the prophesy, while the 'living' battleships take no damage beyond blown circuit breakers and disturbed crews. Before the night is over, thousands of Lanterns and other empowered folk arrive in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by suborbital aerospace craft, and while anti-Black Lantern tactics don't work as well on other undead, the training did prepare them for the general horror that spirits can inflict, turning the battle from a stalemate to a rout. The vast majority of the ghosts on both sides are gone by sunrise.
November 1: By this date, 2.5% of Inp-Europe's electrical grid is powered by fusion.
Nov. 6: In Fa-Aegyptus, a man calling himself 'Ptolomey Caesar' seizes power. He claims descent from both Julius Caesar (through his son of that name) and Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, whom herself may have been a descendent of Caesarion's half-sister from Marcus Antonius. Though technically a participant in the ongoing Eastern Roman Civil War, he claims to have no great ambitions beyond the 'traditional Aegyptian lands'. His declaration that grain shipments to Roma will continue on-schedule is practically a given, as anything less could bring the relatively united force of the Western Empire down on him.
Nov. ??: PLACEHOLDEROrbital construction begins on Inp-Japan's Wakamiya-class 'probe-carrier' <provides combat information at close range, probes have self destruct systems to 'protect classified Japanese technology'>
PLACEHOLDER Inp-UK Webley & Scott revolver net gun.
Nov. 23: On Inp-Earth, 'false time machines' begin manifesting in props and other items owned and/or built by fen and other eccentrics. These devices allow the users to astrally project into humanity's memory of the past, or predictions of the future, or in some cases, dreams of an alternate past or fictional future. It should be noted that this simulation of time travel does NOT affect the present without using other powers to manufacture the changes. Very few will consider it a coincidence that this happened on the Day of the Doctor.
December 5: In Inp-Germany, and a few other places, particularly bad children (and, again, some adults) have nightmares about a demon called Krampus. These nightmares are sometimes found to be accompanied by scratches and/or bruises.
Dec. 6: Saint Niklaus fills the shoes of good children with gifts, in the same nations where Krampus gave nightmares (though obviously, not to the same children). This includes some homes that should have been too secure for such to simply appear, though not so many as on the 25th, below.
Dec. 19: In the Dp-USSR, the first KV-VI 'Behemoth' land battleship rolls out of the factory.
Dec. 25: On Inp-Earth, Santa Claus brings gifts to all the good little children of the world, and some nice adults, as well - even those living in very secure homes. A number of particularly bad children (and some adults) receive coal, generally of a cheap and smelly type.
Dec. 26: Many on Dsp-Earth and Stp-Earth are deeply amused, or in some cases exasperated, by the panic among Inp-Earth's security agencies, over the gifts that appeared the previous night.
October 2: In Dsp-Paris, the great French alchemist known as Fulcanelli helps La Resistance to disrupt a ceremony by Nazi sorcerors that would have given them auctoritas over the Paris Catacombs - something that would have been quite problematic for French Resistance activity in the Capital. Fulcanelli's much greater familiarity with both Roman ceremonies (the Thule Society sorcerors are quite skilled in Nordo-Germanic Rune magic, but Roman ritual magic was what they needed to use), and the Parisian magical environment, were utterly vital to the operation.
Oct. 4: In Dsp-Soviet Union, KV-VI 'Behemoth' design finalized. When told that the vehicle would have great difficulty turning, Stalin is quoted as saying "They will not need to turn, they will drive straight from the boats to Tokyo and London." On Stp-Earth, after much debate, the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation declares that it cannot take sides in the War of the Polish Insurrection. This does not prevent specific menmbers from sending money, supplies, and 'mercenaries' to the belligerants, however.
Oct. 5: PLACEHOLDER <Banestorms occur on all five Earths. Vikings in Dsp-France mostly killed by Nazis, though two ships that turned toward England are met by the Royal Navy, and claim to be peaceful traders. RMS Titanic makes port in Stp-New York.>
Oct. 7: On Inp-Earth, an astronomy student observing Fa-Britannia sees a woman bathing by a waterfall; the woman lays on a rock and seems to pose, smiling at the camera. This image is almost immediately leaked to the internet. The Stp-British astronef Atropos (see July 7, above) reaches orbit of Dsp-Earth, and lands at Blackpool.
Oct. 10: In Stp-USA, a bibliophile named Arthur MacElroy slowly transmits to the two Elder Earths an 1835 anti-slavery novel called 'The Civil War, or, the Slave-Holder's Revolt,' which depicts a disturbingly accurate picture of the U.S. Civil War on both Dsp-Earth and Inp-Earth. While the names of people are different (General Upton S. Adams, a relative of recent-at-the-time President John Quincy Adams, instead of General Ulysses S. Grant) and the dates are consistently off by four years (President Moses Landon is elected in 1864, and assassinated by an actor named Leland Henry Osgood (?!), in a theatre, in 1869), the battles are consistently accurate in name, location, and outcome, and in time relative to other battles.
Oct. 11: The Arthurian Embassy in Inp-London informs the public that the woman recorded on Oct. 7 is High King Arthur's half-sister Morgant, who can see and hear through any image of herself. In Inp-USA, PLACEHOLDER shuttle main tanks
Oct. 13: PLACEHOLDER The International Society for the Ethical Treatment of the African Peoples is founded in Stp-Belgium, by King Leopold II. The purpose of ISETAP is to prevent atrocities such as those perpetrated by his counterparts on Inp-Earth and Dsp-Earth, and the men in their pay, in the Congo 'Free' States of those Earths. It is debatable whether he was truly as horrified as he seems, but his personal history prior to the Event is notably different from either of his counterparts in some areas, despite an interest in 'a slice of this magnificent African cake'. At the least, he did not hire Henry Morton Stanley, a man with a reputation for brutality toward the natives, to explore the Congo, instead inviting an Irish gentleman - James Sligo Jameson - to mount the expedition.
Oct. 16: PLACEHOLDER On Dp-Earth, the United States Rocketry Service is founded, providing the Dsp-USA with a uniformed space service. To appease the isolationists in Congress, the new service is part of the United States Post Office Department. The first Director of the USRS is Dr. Robert Goddard, and the first Deputy Director is William "Billy" Mitchell (who was dead by this time, in our history).
Oct. 17: PLACEHOLDER On Dp-Earth, Curtis LeMay and George S. Patton, Jr., are among the US Army officers to join the US Rocketry Service at their Regular Army ranks. PLACEHOLDER Captain Atom officially transferred to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, to serve as their liason with the American branch of the Justice League NGO.
Oct. 19: On Stp-Earth, Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. manufactures a prototype steam-powered tank (a tank engine with treads, a longer cab for the larger crew, a built-in coal bunker with automated conveyor, the controls rearranged so the back is now the front, a lot of armour, a big gun, and some smaller guns), for testing by some friends in the Cavalry with an interest in the Future Earths. A few other locomotive manufacturers, most notably the Butterley Company of Ripley, Derbyshire, choose to create their own models, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Oct. 21: PLACEHOLDER On Clp-Earth, the Kingdom of Kongo opens a university in <name>. In Clp-Ukraine, the Third Siege of Kiev begins.
Oct. 23: PLACEHOLDER On Dp-Earth, the marriage of Grand Duchess Anastasia's eldest son, Nicolas, occurs.
Oct. 28: PLACEHOLDER Hitler and Stalin jointly announce that the (Dsp-Earth) United States of America has repeatedly violated its own neutrality by supporting the Allies, and thus has been, and is, in a state of war with the Axis powers. PLACEHOLDER USS SaratogaPLACEHOLDERUSS Enterprise, out of position due to an encounter with a sea monster, thus not found by the submarines, in the Pacific. In the Atlantic, USS Ranger is saved by the sacrifice of the USS William D. Porter, whose crew interposed themselves between the carrier and the torpedoes. The Porter was lost with all hands.
Oct. 31: The Thule Society's Hallowe'en Curse does not go exactly as planned. The intention was to raise as zombies the dead on Inp-Earth who died loyal to Hitler and/or the Third Reich, with as much if their equipment as was available, to strike at the Inp-Earth Allies in a manner they could not be prepared for. This is rather hard to accomplish, especially as it involves trying to raise not only men, but tanks, planes, and ships. As a result of this, combined with the number of rituals directed against it, relatively few zombies rise, though many ghosts do. Likewise, many of the ghosts who manifest are enemies of the Third Reich, whether being enemy combatants, or Wehrmacht personnel who hated the Nazis. Few of the ghosts are able to deal damage directly to solid matter (as seen, for example, when the ghost of a U-boat fires two torpedoes at the USS Constitution, a wooden sailing frigate operated by the US Navy as a training vessel, doing no damage whatsoever), but they are quite capable of causing hallucinations, Terror effects, bad luck, and other often-traumatic disruptions. They are also capable of 'damaging' each other, as seen when the ghost of the Bismark is rammed and sunk by the ghost of the HMS Hood, or when the shades of various sailors, seemingly commanded by a ghostly lady in 18th Century dress, fire a broadside at the U-boat, discorporating it. Similar situations prevail on land and in the skies, as Rommel and Patton are seen in Germany, leading a force of ghost-tanks together, against the undead Waffen-SS, and the Battle of Britain is fought again. Interestingly, the areas surrounding the former Death Camps are relatively safe, as any Nazi ghosts rising nearby, or daring to approach, are immediately torn to shreds by the vengeful spirits of their victims. The living are not all helpless, themselves, as anyone either properly empowered, or merely strong-willed, can harm the spirits that approach them - indeed, many ghost-planes are shot down by properly empowered missiles, or rammed by jets, and several ghost-ships are rammed and sunk by the Iowas that are in the Atlantic, in accordance with the prophesy, while the 'living' battleships take no damage beyond blown circuit breakers and disturbed crews. Before the night is over, thousands of Lanterns and other empowered folk arrive in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by suborbital aerospace craft, and while anti-Black Lantern tactics don't work as well on other undead, the training did prepare them for the general horror that spirits can inflict, turning the battle from a stalemate to a rout. The vast majority of the ghosts on both sides are gone by sunrise.
November 1: By this date, 2.5% of Inp-Europe's electrical grid is powered by fusion.
Nov. 6: In Fa-Aegyptus, a man calling himself 'Ptolomey Caesar' seizes power. He claims descent from both Julius Caesar (through his son of that name) and Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, whom herself may have been a descendent of Caesarion's half-sister from Marcus Antonius. Though technically a participant in the ongoing Eastern Roman Civil War, he claims to have no great ambitions beyond the 'traditional Aegyptian lands'. His declaration that grain shipments to Roma will continue on-schedule is practically a given, as anything less could bring the relatively united force of the Western Empire down on him.
Nov. ??: PLACEHOLDEROrbital construction begins on Inp-Japan's Wakamiya-class 'probe-carrier' <provides combat information at close range, probes have self destruct systems to 'protect classified Japanese technology'>
PLACEHOLDER Inp-UK Webley & Scott revolver net gun.
Nov. 23: On Inp-Earth, 'false time machines' begin manifesting in props and other items owned and/or built by fen and other eccentrics. These devices allow the users to astrally project into humanity's memory of the past, or predictions of the future, or in some cases, dreams of an alternate past or fictional future. It should be noted that this simulation of time travel does NOT affect the present without using other powers to manufacture the changes. Very few will consider it a coincidence that this happened on the Day of the Doctor.
December 5: In Inp-Germany, and a few other places, particularly bad children (and, again, some adults) have nightmares about a demon called Krampus. These nightmares are sometimes found to be accompanied by scratches and/or bruises.
Dec. 6: Saint Niklaus fills the shoes of good children with gifts, in the same nations where Krampus gave nightmares (though obviously, not to the same children). This includes some homes that should have been too secure for such to simply appear, though not so many as on the 25th, below.
Dec. 19: In the Dp-USSR, the first KV-VI 'Behemoth' land battleship rolls out of the factory.
Dec. 25: On Inp-Earth, Santa Claus brings gifts to all the good little children of the world, and some nice adults, as well - even those living in very secure homes. A number of particularly bad children (and some adults) receive coal, generally of a cheap and smelly type.
Dec. 26: Many on Dsp-Earth and Stp-Earth are deeply amused, or in some cases exasperated, by the panic among Inp-Earth's security agencies, over the gifts that appeared the previous night.
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Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
If anyone is reading this who isn't also seeing it on SB.com, here's the current draft of October, 2013. I moved Dieselpunk USA's entry into the war to November.
October 2: In Dsp-Paris, the great French alchemist known as Fulcanelli helps La Resistance to disrupt a ceremony by Nazi sorcerors that would have given them auctoritas over the Paris Catacombs - something that would have been quite problematic for French Resistance activity in the Capital. Fulcanelli's much greater familiarity with both Roman ceremonies (the Thule Society sorcerors are quite skilled in Nordo-Germanic Rune magic, but Roman ritual magic was what they needed to use), and the Parisian magical environment, were utterly vital to the operation.
Oct. 4: In Dsp-Soviet Union, KV-VI 'Behemoth' design finalized. When told that the vehicle would have great difficulty turning, Stalin is quoted as saying "They will not need to turn, they will drive straight from the boats to Tokyo and London." On Inp-Earth, the refitted Space Shuttle Atlantis is officially reactivated.
Oct. 5: PLACEHOLDER Banestorms, natural dimensional incursions characterized by accompanying weather anomalies, occur on all five Earths:
^ On Earth-1 (Infopunk), a dirigible-yacht appears over New Zealand. The captain-owner, crew, and passengers are quite surprised to see aeroplanes, as such are considered science fiction on their Earth, despite the current year being 1997! PLACEHOLDER
^ On Earth-2 (Dieselpunk), A pair of Viking flotillas arrive. Those who head to France are mostly killed by trigger-happy Nazis, while two ships that turned towards England are met by the Royal Navy, and claim to be peaceful traders, once the Captain finds someone who can speak 9th-century Old Norse (the cook, oddly enough, who had left Oxford for the Navy when the war started). When asked what they're selling, they hesitate a moment, before offering 'fine weapons and shields, only slightly used!' A sorcerer from the Stella Matutina arrives shortly via yacht, and confirms that they are indeed from another dimension - while banestorms are very rare on Earth-2 (having more than two or three per century would be quite surprising), they are not nearly so unexpected as they are on the other four Earths.
^ On Earth-3 (Steampunk), RMS Titanic makes port in Stp-New York. PLACEHOLDER
^ On Earth-4 (Clockpunk), PLACEHOLDER
^ On Earth-5 (Fantasy), PLACEHOLDER
Oct. 7: On Inp-Earth, an astronomy student observing Fa-Britannia sees a woman bathing by a waterfall; the woman lays on a rock and seems to pose, smiling at the camera. This video clip is almost immediately leaked to the internet. The Stp-British astronef Atropos (see July 7, above) reaches orbit of Dsp-Earth, and lands at Blackpool. In Nazi Germany, Himmler is assassinated, and Paul Joseph Goebbels becomes Führer. The assassination is blamed on the Jews.
Oct. 10: In Stp-USA, a bibliophile named Arthur MacElroy slowly transmits to the two Elder Earths an 1835 anti-slavery novel called 'The Civil War, or, the Slave-Holders' Revolt,' which depicts a disturbingly accurate picture of the U.S. Civil War on both Dsp-Earth and Inp-Earth. While the names of people are different (General Upton S. Adams, a relative of recent-at-the-time President John Quincy Adams, replaces General Ulysses S. Grant) and the dates are consistently off by four years (President Moses Landon is elected in 1864, and assassinated by an actor named Leland Henry Osgood (?!), in a theatre, in 1869), the battles are consistently accurate in name, location, and outcome, and in time relative to other battles... as well as technology.
Oct. 11: The Arthurian Embassy in Inp-London informs the public that the woman recorded on Oct. 7 is High King Arthur's half-sister Morgant, who can see and hear through any image of herself. Unfortunately, this makes the image more popular, partly because of how few people believe it, and partly because of how many do. In Inp-USA, PLACEHOLDER shuttle main tanks; orbital construction Grissom Mobile Space Force Base, aka USS Grissom
Oct. 13: PLACEHOLDER The International Society for the Ethical Treatment of the African Peoples is founded in Stp-Belgium, by King Leopold II. The purpose of ISETAP is to prevent atrocities such as those perpetrated by his counterparts on Inp-Earth and Dsp-Earth, and the men in their pay, in the Congo 'Free' States of those Earths. It is debatable whether he was truly as horrified as he seems, but his personal history prior to the Event is notably different from either of his counterparts in some areas, despite an interest in 'a slice of this magnificent African cake'. At the least, he did not hire Henry Morton Stanley, a man with a reputation for brutality toward the natives, to explore the Congo, instead inviting an Irish gentleman - James Sligo Jameson - to mount the expedition. On Dsp-Earth, construction of Belzec extermination camp begins.
Oct. 14: On Dsp-Earth, the United States Rocketry Service is founded, providing the Dsp-USA with a uniformed space service. To appease the isolationists in Congress, the new service is part of the United States Post Office Department, though the ranks are those of the US Army, up to the rank of Colonel. The first Director of the USRS is Dr. Robert Goddard, and the first Deputy Director is William "Billy" Mitchell (who was dead by this time, in our history).
Oct. 17: On Dsp-Earth, Curtis LeMay and George S. Patton, Jr., are among the US Army officers to join the US Rocketry Service at their Regular Army ranks. In Inp-USA, Captain Atom officially transferred to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, to serve as their liaison with the American branch of the Justice League NGO.
Oct. 19: On Stp-Earth, Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. manufactures a prototype steam-powered tank (a tank engine with treads, a longer cab for the larger crew, a built-in coal bunker with automated conveyor, the controls rearranged so the back is now the front, a lot of armour, a big gun, and some smaller guns), for testing by some friends in the Cavalry with an interest in the Future Earths. A few other locomotive manufacturers, most notably the Butterley Company of Ripley, Derbyshire, choose to create their own models, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Oct. 21: PLACEHOLDER On Clp-Earth, the Kingdom of Kongo opens a university in Mbanza-Kongo. In Clp-Ukraine, the Third Siege of Kiev begins. On Dsp-Earth, Second Lieutenant Charles E. Yeager, USRS, pilots Director Goddard's Daedalus Manned Rocket in a suborbital flight from Muroc Rocket Field (formerly part of March Field) to the Manhattan Rocket Field on an artificial island in New York Harbor. The rocket appears somewhat odd by Inp-Earth standards, as the engine is at the front of the rocket, pulling it like an airplane; further, the Daedalus is a VTOL craft, a 'tail-lander'.
Oct. 23: PLACEHOLDER In Dsp-UK, the marriage of Grand Duchess Anastasia's eldest son, Nicolas Mikhail, to Princess Maria Perdita of the House of Wertigo (eldest daughter and second child of the King-in-Exile of Vlatava), occurs at Winchester Cathedral. In Dsp-USA, 2nd Lt. Yeager pilots the Daedalus Rocket on its return journey to Muroc, though without Director Goddard, instead carrying NYC Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia.
Oct. 25: On Dsp-Earth, Mayor La Guardia returns to New York by train, having found microgravity to be uncomfortable.
Oct. 31: The Thule Society's Hallowe'en Curse does not go exactly as planned. The intention was to raise as zombies the dead on Inp-Earth who died loyal to Hitler and/or the Third Reich, with as much if their equipment as was available, to strike at the Inp-Earth Allies in a manner they could not be prepared for. This is rather hard to accomplish, especially as it involves trying to raise not only men, but tanks, planes, and ships. As a result of this, combined with the number of rituals directed against it, relatively few zombies rise, though many ghosts do. Likewise, many of the ghosts who manifest are enemies of the Third Reich, whether being enemy combatants, or Wehrmacht personnel who hated the Nazis. Few of the ghosts are able to deal damage directly to solid matter (as seen, for example, when the ghost of a U-boat fires two torpedoes at the USS Constitution, a wooden sailing frigate operated by the US Navy as a training vessel, doing no damage whatsoever), but they are quite capable of causing hallucinations, Terror effects, bad luck, and other often-traumatic disruptions. They are also capable of 'damaging' each other, as seen when the ghost of the Bismark is rammed and sunk by the ghost of the HMS Hood, or when the shades of various sailors, seemingly commanded by a ghostly lady in 18th Century dress, fire a broadside at the U-boat, discorporating it. Similar situations prevail on land and in the skies, as Rommel and Patton are seen in Germany, leading a force of ghost-tanks together, against the undead Waffen-SS, and the Battle of Britain is fought again. Interestingly, the areas surrounding the former Death Camps are relatively safe, as any Nazi ghosts rising nearby, or daring to approach, are immediately torn to shreds by the vengeful spirits of their victims. The living are not all helpless, themselves, as anyone either properly empowered, or merely strong-willed, can harm the spirits that approach them - indeed, many ghost-planes are shot down by properly empowered missiles, or rammed by jets, and several ghost-ships are rammed and sunk by the Iowas that are in the Atlantic, in accordance with the prophesy, while the 'living' battleships take no damage beyond blown circuit breakers and disturbed crews. Before the night is over, thousands of Lanterns and other empowered folk arrive in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by suborbital aerospace craft, and while anti-Black Lantern tactics don't work as well on other undead, the training did prepare them for the general horror that spirits can inflict, turning the battle from a stalemate to a rout. The vast majority of the ghosts on both sides are gone by sunrise.
Still trying to work out where to split Hallowe'en into two or three paragraphs, as what I have now is a pretty big wall.
October 2: In Dsp-Paris, the great French alchemist known as Fulcanelli helps La Resistance to disrupt a ceremony by Nazi sorcerors that would have given them auctoritas over the Paris Catacombs - something that would have been quite problematic for French Resistance activity in the Capital. Fulcanelli's much greater familiarity with both Roman ceremonies (the Thule Society sorcerors are quite skilled in Nordo-Germanic Rune magic, but Roman ritual magic was what they needed to use), and the Parisian magical environment, were utterly vital to the operation.
Oct. 4: In Dsp-Soviet Union, KV-VI 'Behemoth' design finalized. When told that the vehicle would have great difficulty turning, Stalin is quoted as saying "They will not need to turn, they will drive straight from the boats to Tokyo and London." On Inp-Earth, the refitted Space Shuttle Atlantis is officially reactivated.
Oct. 5: PLACEHOLDER Banestorms, natural dimensional incursions characterized by accompanying weather anomalies, occur on all five Earths:
^ On Earth-1 (Infopunk), a dirigible-yacht appears over New Zealand. The captain-owner, crew, and passengers are quite surprised to see aeroplanes, as such are considered science fiction on their Earth, despite the current year being 1997! PLACEHOLDER
^ On Earth-2 (Dieselpunk), A pair of Viking flotillas arrive. Those who head to France are mostly killed by trigger-happy Nazis, while two ships that turned towards England are met by the Royal Navy, and claim to be peaceful traders, once the Captain finds someone who can speak 9th-century Old Norse (the cook, oddly enough, who had left Oxford for the Navy when the war started). When asked what they're selling, they hesitate a moment, before offering 'fine weapons and shields, only slightly used!' A sorcerer from the Stella Matutina arrives shortly via yacht, and confirms that they are indeed from another dimension - while banestorms are very rare on Earth-2 (having more than two or three per century would be quite surprising), they are not nearly so unexpected as they are on the other four Earths.
^ On Earth-3 (Steampunk), RMS Titanic makes port in Stp-New York. PLACEHOLDER
^ On Earth-4 (Clockpunk), PLACEHOLDER
^ On Earth-5 (Fantasy), PLACEHOLDER
Oct. 7: On Inp-Earth, an astronomy student observing Fa-Britannia sees a woman bathing by a waterfall; the woman lays on a rock and seems to pose, smiling at the camera. This video clip is almost immediately leaked to the internet. The Stp-British astronef Atropos (see July 7, above) reaches orbit of Dsp-Earth, and lands at Blackpool. In Nazi Germany, Himmler is assassinated, and Paul Joseph Goebbels becomes Führer. The assassination is blamed on the Jews.
Oct. 10: In Stp-USA, a bibliophile named Arthur MacElroy slowly transmits to the two Elder Earths an 1835 anti-slavery novel called 'The Civil War, or, the Slave-Holders' Revolt,' which depicts a disturbingly accurate picture of the U.S. Civil War on both Dsp-Earth and Inp-Earth. While the names of people are different (General Upton S. Adams, a relative of recent-at-the-time President John Quincy Adams, replaces General Ulysses S. Grant) and the dates are consistently off by four years (President Moses Landon is elected in 1864, and assassinated by an actor named Leland Henry Osgood (?!), in a theatre, in 1869), the battles are consistently accurate in name, location, and outcome, and in time relative to other battles... as well as technology.
Oct. 11: The Arthurian Embassy in Inp-London informs the public that the woman recorded on Oct. 7 is High King Arthur's half-sister Morgant, who can see and hear through any image of herself. Unfortunately, this makes the image more popular, partly because of how few people believe it, and partly because of how many do. In Inp-USA, PLACEHOLDER shuttle main tanks; orbital construction Grissom Mobile Space Force Base, aka USS Grissom
Oct. 13: PLACEHOLDER The International Society for the Ethical Treatment of the African Peoples is founded in Stp-Belgium, by King Leopold II. The purpose of ISETAP is to prevent atrocities such as those perpetrated by his counterparts on Inp-Earth and Dsp-Earth, and the men in their pay, in the Congo 'Free' States of those Earths. It is debatable whether he was truly as horrified as he seems, but his personal history prior to the Event is notably different from either of his counterparts in some areas, despite an interest in 'a slice of this magnificent African cake'. At the least, he did not hire Henry Morton Stanley, a man with a reputation for brutality toward the natives, to explore the Congo, instead inviting an Irish gentleman - James Sligo Jameson - to mount the expedition. On Dsp-Earth, construction of Belzec extermination camp begins.
Oct. 14: On Dsp-Earth, the United States Rocketry Service is founded, providing the Dsp-USA with a uniformed space service. To appease the isolationists in Congress, the new service is part of the United States Post Office Department, though the ranks are those of the US Army, up to the rank of Colonel. The first Director of the USRS is Dr. Robert Goddard, and the first Deputy Director is William "Billy" Mitchell (who was dead by this time, in our history).
Oct. 17: On Dsp-Earth, Curtis LeMay and George S. Patton, Jr., are among the US Army officers to join the US Rocketry Service at their Regular Army ranks. In Inp-USA, Captain Atom officially transferred to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, to serve as their liaison with the American branch of the Justice League NGO.
Oct. 19: On Stp-Earth, Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. manufactures a prototype steam-powered tank (a tank engine with treads, a longer cab for the larger crew, a built-in coal bunker with automated conveyor, the controls rearranged so the back is now the front, a lot of armour, a big gun, and some smaller guns), for testing by some friends in the Cavalry with an interest in the Future Earths. A few other locomotive manufacturers, most notably the Butterley Company of Ripley, Derbyshire, choose to create their own models, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Oct. 21: PLACEHOLDER On Clp-Earth, the Kingdom of Kongo opens a university in Mbanza-Kongo. In Clp-Ukraine, the Third Siege of Kiev begins. On Dsp-Earth, Second Lieutenant Charles E. Yeager, USRS, pilots Director Goddard's Daedalus Manned Rocket in a suborbital flight from Muroc Rocket Field (formerly part of March Field) to the Manhattan Rocket Field on an artificial island in New York Harbor. The rocket appears somewhat odd by Inp-Earth standards, as the engine is at the front of the rocket, pulling it like an airplane; further, the Daedalus is a VTOL craft, a 'tail-lander'.
Oct. 23: PLACEHOLDER In Dsp-UK, the marriage of Grand Duchess Anastasia's eldest son, Nicolas Mikhail, to Princess Maria Perdita of the House of Wertigo (eldest daughter and second child of the King-in-Exile of Vlatava), occurs at Winchester Cathedral. In Dsp-USA, 2nd Lt. Yeager pilots the Daedalus Rocket on its return journey to Muroc, though without Director Goddard, instead carrying NYC Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia.
Oct. 25: On Dsp-Earth, Mayor La Guardia returns to New York by train, having found microgravity to be uncomfortable.
Oct. 31: The Thule Society's Hallowe'en Curse does not go exactly as planned. The intention was to raise as zombies the dead on Inp-Earth who died loyal to Hitler and/or the Third Reich, with as much if their equipment as was available, to strike at the Inp-Earth Allies in a manner they could not be prepared for. This is rather hard to accomplish, especially as it involves trying to raise not only men, but tanks, planes, and ships. As a result of this, combined with the number of rituals directed against it, relatively few zombies rise, though many ghosts do. Likewise, many of the ghosts who manifest are enemies of the Third Reich, whether being enemy combatants, or Wehrmacht personnel who hated the Nazis. Few of the ghosts are able to deal damage directly to solid matter (as seen, for example, when the ghost of a U-boat fires two torpedoes at the USS Constitution, a wooden sailing frigate operated by the US Navy as a training vessel, doing no damage whatsoever), but they are quite capable of causing hallucinations, Terror effects, bad luck, and other often-traumatic disruptions. They are also capable of 'damaging' each other, as seen when the ghost of the Bismark is rammed and sunk by the ghost of the HMS Hood, or when the shades of various sailors, seemingly commanded by a ghostly lady in 18th Century dress, fire a broadside at the U-boat, discorporating it. Similar situations prevail on land and in the skies, as Rommel and Patton are seen in Germany, leading a force of ghost-tanks together, against the undead Waffen-SS, and the Battle of Britain is fought again. Interestingly, the areas surrounding the former Death Camps are relatively safe, as any Nazi ghosts rising nearby, or daring to approach, are immediately torn to shreds by the vengeful spirits of their victims. The living are not all helpless, themselves, as anyone either properly empowered, or merely strong-willed, can harm the spirits that approach them - indeed, many ghost-planes are shot down by properly empowered missiles, or rammed by jets, and several ghost-ships are rammed and sunk by the Iowas that are in the Atlantic, in accordance with the prophesy, while the 'living' battleships take no damage beyond blown circuit breakers and disturbed crews. Before the night is over, thousands of Lanterns and other empowered folk arrive in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by suborbital aerospace craft, and while anti-Black Lantern tactics don't work as well on other undead, the training did prepare them for the general horror that spirits can inflict, turning the battle from a stalemate to a rout. The vast majority of the ghosts on both sides are gone by sunrise.
Still trying to work out where to split Hallowe'en into two or three paragraphs, as what I have now is a pretty big wall.
Last edited:
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
For those of you following this here but not on SB.com, November 2013 has been posted to the fiction thread.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
In case anyone is following this here, but not on SB.com:
Something I came across elsewhere, that might be relevant to Dsp-Earth... maybe. The ethically-challenged genius Dr. Hormone would have to be an alchemist or other psyker/magic-user to fit the setting, and his hormonal concoctions would have to be a lot slower, but he's not that much more unethical than far too many other scientists of the era.
In the 1940s, human experiments that we would call 'unethical' were by no means confined to the Axis powers. The Tuskegee syphilis experiment (called out by alicemacher in the comments section of the above blog-post), which ended in 1972, is only one of many tragic examples. Dr. Hormone may be a bit far out, but he can be adapted into the setting. What I'm wondering is, should he be?
Something I came across elsewhere, that might be relevant to Dsp-Earth... maybe. The ethically-challenged genius Dr. Hormone would have to be an alchemist or other psyker/magic-user to fit the setting, and his hormonal concoctions would have to be a lot slower, but he's not that much more unethical than far too many other scientists of the era.
In the 1940s, human experiments that we would call 'unethical' were by no means confined to the Axis powers. The Tuskegee syphilis experiment (called out by alicemacher in the comments section of the above blog-post), which ended in 1972, is only one of many tragic examples. Dr. Hormone may be a bit far out, but he can be adapted into the setting. What I'm wondering is, should he be?
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Another one for anyone who's only following this thread on SV.com.
Over on SB.com, wellis asked a question that I found relevant enough to crosspost my reply:
(From WWI, but they weren't much different from 1880.)
Both have water or other drinks (beer, rum, wine, et cetra) in bulbs or bags, with the straw built in, much like our astronauts (though ours don't have nearly so much alcohol).
Some of the Stp-Earth nations might replace the drinking bags with something like a small bellows, that refills from another source.
Making hot tea in space is interesting, but it can be done, and by God, British engineers will figure out how!
Inp-Earth/Earth-1 wins on making the food appetizing. Generally healthier, too.
So, thoughts?
Over on SB.com, wellis asked a question that I found relevant enough to crosspost my reply:
Generally, they have fairly standard Army or Navy rations for the era, just that anything that crumbles too easily, or is too hard, gets jellied and/or pre-cut into bite-sized pieces.wellis said:
(From WWI, but they weren't much different from 1880.)
The most common are what they 'appetizingly' call 'tube rats': food pastes of various kinds (imagine K-rations in paste form), in small toothpaste-style tubes.wellis said:
Both have water or other drinks (beer, rum, wine, et cetra) in bulbs or bags, with the straw built in, much like our astronauts (though ours don't have nearly so much alcohol).
Some of the Stp-Earth nations might replace the drinking bags with something like a small bellows, that refills from another source.
Making hot tea in space is interesting, but it can be done, and by God, British engineers will figure out how!
Inp-Earth/Earth-1 wins on making the food appetizing. Generally healthier, too.
So, thoughts?
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Disturbing information that is relevant to Dieselpunk Earth:
Of course, the Fliegerschokolade and Panzerschokolade on Earth-2 comes in more an stranger varieties, due to mad German alchemists trying to improve things.
A reddit post on the subject.
Of course, the Fliegerschokolade and Panzerschokolade on Earth-2 comes in more an stranger varieties, due to mad German alchemists trying to improve things.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Something related to Earth-4, that I might have missed if not for a post elsewhere on SV.com:
In 1562, Bishop Diego de Landa, who had been given charge of the Diocese of Yucatán (later an Archdiocese), had a number of Mayan books burnt, along with thousands of 'cult images.' On the three Earths ahead of Clockpunk Earth, only three or four Maya codices survive. However, the current date on Earth-Four is 1557, and the timeline is rather divergent. So, this would be something a lot of scholars would be deeply interested in, and would want to sort out sooner, rather than later.
Certainly not the only one, though.
On a related note, have been thinking a bit about diplomatic missions from Earth-1 to the other Earths. Sending anyone to Earth-2 is somewhat dangerous (the Nazis and Soviets don't exactly strike one as trustworthy, and might be very reluctant to believe a mission is purely diplomatic), but the others, less so. Plus, as the Starfighter upgrade and variants thereof have spread, more and more nations are getting ready to send such missions out... along with humanitarian aid missions that may not always be welcome (after all, the other Earths still have slavery, and in some cases have noticed that this is a serious hot-button topic on Infopunk Earth).
In 1562, Bishop Diego de Landa, who had been given charge of the Diocese of Yucatán (later an Archdiocese), had a number of Mayan books burnt, along with thousands of 'cult images.' On the three Earths ahead of Clockpunk Earth, only three or four Maya codices survive. However, the current date on Earth-Four is 1557, and the timeline is rather divergent. So, this would be something a lot of scholars would be deeply interested in, and would want to sort out sooner, rather than later.
Certainly not the only one, though.
On a related note, have been thinking a bit about diplomatic missions from Earth-1 to the other Earths. Sending anyone to Earth-2 is somewhat dangerous (the Nazis and Soviets don't exactly strike one as trustworthy, and might be very reluctant to believe a mission is purely diplomatic), but the others, less so. Plus, as the Starfighter upgrade and variants thereof have spread, more and more nations are getting ready to send such missions out... along with humanitarian aid missions that may not always be welcome (after all, the other Earths still have slavery, and in some cases have noticed that this is a serious hot-button topic on Infopunk Earth).
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Not a quest (though if someone wants to run a quest based on this, I'm willing to help), but a mix of the other two. If you (both you specifically and 'you, the reader') want to do a fic/article/whatever in this setting, feel free to post it here, and I'll either approve it, suggest corrections, or maybe create a 'non-canon, but interesting' section for in in the fiction thread's index (or I might dislike or completely hate it, depending). I'll keep up the worldbuilding log either way, but posters like tshiggins and Vulpine Fury have contributed to this before, and seem inclined to continue to do so, (for which I am grateful).
For those who tend to tune out .sigs, the link to the fiction thread is in mine.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
Not an update, sorry, but an interesting video relevant to self-loading pistols on Stp-Earth/Earth-3 (which is rather ahead of our history):
Revolvers and hand-cycled pistols are still rather more common, as are odd power-cycled weapons that chamber the next round (but don't always cock the hammer) with electrical power, compressed air (these are the most likely to be converted to some form of gas-operated reloading 'now,' with knowledge trickling in from the Future Earths), spring-tension, and so forth, but they really do make a number of semi-auto and automatic firearms that are closer to what we had in about 1896 to 1901, than in 1878, and more so 'now,' in 1880.
Revolvers and hand-cycled pistols are still rather more common, as are odd power-cycled weapons that chamber the next round (but don't always cock the hammer) with electrical power, compressed air (these are the most likely to be converted to some form of gas-operated reloading 'now,' with knowledge trickling in from the Future Earths), spring-tension, and so forth, but they really do make a number of semi-auto and automatic firearms that are closer to what we had in about 1896 to 1901, than in 1878, and more so 'now,' in 1880.