TBF, Mags, you have been doing a lot of the heavylifting for the quest, so this will be in good hands.
To be clear to everyone, this is just me burning out on imagination of the quest, since my muse has been hitting me over the head a lot with so many different ideas that I just can't find myself too interested in this.
I'll still hang out here, though, since this still does have a sepcial place in my heart.
I'd like to thank you all for making this a wonderful experience while it lasted.
I'd also like to thank @Magoose, @Fluffy_serpent, and @Martin Noctis for doing so much to help prepare and write this quest. I couldn't have done it without you all.
A version of Anastasia? Not hard to make it VERY anti Soviet.
Give a sympathetic look at Nicholas the Second restraining from exterminating the early Soviets and seeking to balance competing interests only to be undone by unresonable and merderous soviets who tunred on themselves, Hint at the massive human costs of the Soviet takeovers, Swap out Rasputin for the Soviet NVKD and an unhinged Trotsky, convinced anastasias death will allow him to overthrow Stalin and bring true communism to Russia. End the movie with Anastasia in Paris as the partition of Partition of Poland happens and remind the world Who backed the Nazis first.
The best 'propaganda' is likely to be not really propaganda. I mean, the Soviets came out on top during the whole mess of the Russian civil war because they were basically the only faction really left at that point. So well, I'd say basically have the opening being a bloodbath of different factions other than the too small to be important soviets. And then things start going downhill with office politics, scheming, and ideological zealotry eating away at what is left.
Oh wait we may have also influenced Fallout on the reason why the Soviets weren't chosen as enemies to the US during the Great War and made it China instead
So I see Romania had a huge cultural and political shift because of a movie. Oh boy all those Russian doubting we were a threat before just saw us (Lucasfilm) jump up a bit in danger didn't they.
So I see Romania had a huge cultural and political shift because of a movie. Oh boy all those Russian doubting we were a threat before just saw us (Lucasfilm) jump up a bit in danger didn't they.
What also played a huge part in our Dracula movie that stood out more (at the time/era) because it actually showed the origin story, most people at the time of era was focused on the Dracula part but not the Vlad Tepes part (Make sense why though)
Seeing how successful the Dracula reception is now, and I'll prob be shot on this, think we should dipped our hands on the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?
Alan Moore would hate it but the movie had the right direction, it just lacked you know, the build up like what the MCU did.
So maybe an Alan Quartermain story (With some touch up and changes), then the 10,000 depths, Dracula, Invisible man, Dorian, Jekyll/Hyde and Tom Sawyer before it all leads to the LoEG.
If people want to have even more fun, we can add maybe Hellsing into it as well (Which honestly, fits the aesthetic just as well. Also, steam operated automatic crossbow is amazing.).
Alan Moore hates anything modern that he didn't write, let's be honest here. Especially in his later issues of the LoEG which... Well, if you know you know, let's just say that.
I'd be up for soing something similar to LoEG, though, especially since I've already got a plethora of ideas for a Devil's Hour series that just so happens to take place in the world of Blood Origins.
A really basic pitch written in thirty minutes or less for people who want to piss off the Soviet's as much as possible, tentatively titled "A more Perfect Union".
The movie opens with Lenin and a bunch of other prominent communists trying to install their own faction into power because none of the other communists are "real communists". However because they're arrogant snobs who think the average person is too stupid to be put into power, nobody likes them and they're kept out of power.
Enter our "hero" Joseph Stalin, a perpetually drunk boorish person first scene watching a cowboy movie all by himself. He goes on to wander the streets of Moscow when eventually he's picked up by a member of Lenin's faction who promises him "peace, land and bread". Stalin gets swayed and he attends a meeting with the group. In the session, when discussing their popularity issues, Stalin blurts out and suggests that they just claim they are the majority and that the majority are actually the Mensheviks or the minority. The communists initially dismiss this idea and in order to prove his idea as good Stalin sets out a one man propaganda crusade, relying on bums and drunks and thugs he knows to spread the word.
Time passes and with this simple ruse he ends up attracting a good amount of people to the cause. As such despite their astonishment at the stupidity of this move being successful, Lenin and friends end up rewarding Stalin with the position of "secretary". Trotsky argues against giving a boorish uneducated rube such a significant position but Lenin claims that it's merely a ceremonial position and he won't be able to do anything.
Eventually the Bolsheviks violently seize power, not through their own genius but through everyone else being more dead and less crazy than them. Stalin is kept out of the loop because they still don't like him and Trotsky and Lenin and the October Revolution is a nominal success. Lenin however struggles to run the country and due to him and most of the other soviets being arrogant snobby intellectuals the people don't really like them.
Increasingly stressed out, Lenin turns to Stalin to once more get the people on their side. Stalin asks some clarification questions and eventually Lenin yells at Stalin to "just make people stop complaining". Stalin goes home and eventually comes to the realization that people can't complain if they are dead or in Siberia. Stalin organizes a group of thugs and begins rounding up dissidents. When people complain about Stalin's actions, Stalin merely declares "I am the sheriff now" and keeps on committing his actions.
Lenin is happy at Stalin's ability to take care of these problems, even if Stalin is a terrible secretary who makes up the minutes of the meetings and lies about what people said, but because he and the rest of the inner circle are really bad at running things, he's still very stressed and unable to actually run the country effectively and keep his promises. Eventually things get so bad and Trotsky and the rest complain so much that Lenin has a stroke and is left paralyzed.
While Lenin was the leader of the group none of them really like him all that much and so the leave the ignominious task of taking care of him to Stalin. Stalin takes his new "best buddy" everywhere with him and continues to half-competently Weekend at Bernie's him. The communist party grows more and more fractured as factions form. One night while forcing the paralyzed Lenin to watch a cowboy movie with him against his will, Stalin elaborates on why he loves communism, stating that it lets everyone be a cowboy and carve out their own destiny. Stalin then demonstrates that he's an idiot by claiming that he wants to be king of the cowboys so he can direct communism to be what it's supposed to be like Lenin did and crush everyone who disagrees. Lenin grows horrified but he's unable to do anything with Stalin always watching over him. Lenin eventually dies realizing that an idiot is about to destroy everything he worked for and it'll happen because Lenin enabled him.
When Lenin dies Trotsky and the others fight and try to take control of the capitol while Stalin tours the countryside, giving speeches about his best buddy and releasing his doctored minutes meetings. Eventually Stalin grows popular and powerful enough that he's able to storm and seize the capitol, with all of the other communist leaders either captured or forced to flee. Stalin then executes the ones he caught while the rest of them hide in ignominy and Stalin secures his power base.
Trotsky dies miserable and alone, with his own "dustbin of history" quote thrown back in his face. The movie ends with Stalin having selected his new council, this time composed of sycophantic fools, with the final scene being all of the Soviet leadership being forced to laugh at all of Stalin's jokes as he makes them all watch the cowboy movies nobody wanted to go with him to at the start of the movie.
I got bored and the idea was rattling around in my head
O'Brien is good for the Algorithm
In the near yet equally far future we open to a video playing on a modern computer, the video starts with an emblem of two F's one inverted to the others back. The emblem fades away to the title card of the episode ' O'Brien October: Vlad Bites Back' this hangs around long enough for the viewer to read before in turn fading away revealing the host of the video, a young man wearing a t-shirt and jeans sitting in a comfortable chair, the t-shirt is emblazoned with the quote "Things were better when yesterday was tomorrow". The young man begins his video as he often does "Hello Viewers I am the Flashback Fanatic" speaking in a calm and jovial voice "and I'm here to bring you another episode of O'Brien October where I go over the life and work of monumental man and possible living protagonist of earth Bruce O'Brien. As I have done with the past episodes I shall read a few ways some people have described Bruce and then we'll begin, one viewer commented saying Bruce was the possible reincarnation of Teddy Roosevelt and another, quite humorously typed, 'Bruce was a guy who read through the dictionary, found the word mediocre, got outraged at the description then tore the word out of the dictionary, burned it and went on a lifetime crusade against the word' suffice to say I agree." The young man turns to look over to a second camera "Now some of my more oblivious fans may wonder why I am doing a review on this film during O'Brien October when Bruce had barely any connection to the production and the reason is quite simple" the Young man pauses for a moment before grabbing the camera and pulling it close to his face "If I even think about skipping the film which caused a war in this month I know O'Brians fans will castrate me with a rusty lightsaber!" he exclaims with a fearful exaggeration.
"Comedy aside while not involved with the movie its clear that if Bruce was not around the film wouldn't have the impact it did, there's a reason some people claim that nukes were the second best weapon against the Russians with Star Wars being the first." The host pauses for a moment to let the joke sink in before continuing to keep the pace. "with regards to the film itself what can be said about it that wasn't said before? Mickey Rourke brought a human element to the story of Dracula and helped to really shape his career, Farrah Fawcett brought sexy back to the undead with her portrayal of Carmialla and her Schemes, it helped launch Daniel Day-Lewis career to higher hights and help launch human scumbag Nicolae Ceaușescu's head off his body. It cannot be understated the effect this movie had on the political landscape and while hard to find in most Muslim countries I'm fairly sure it's the Romanian version of how the grinch stole Christmas, by which I mean they watch it yearly to commemorate the painful death of the previously mentioned scumbag."
The host pauses as a collection of memes revolving around Nicolae Ceaușescu and his death flash on screen. "This movie is one of a kind, if you haven't watched it watch it. And if you have watch it again, this is the movie that like your typical Lucasfilm movie set the standard for its Genre, which reminds me despite what 'some people' would claim" the some people is said with finger marks while on screen the words "crybaby coward" flash "this movie is not a horror film, there are horror elements but the whole film plays out, in my opinion, as more as a dark examination of what a man will do for what he loves and how the best intention can easily be corrupted even by those you trust." The video then proceeds to play on for a few more minutes as the host goes over the atmosphere and the setting, touching on the now infamous 'Forest of Targovishte' scene before wrapping up with the conclusion.
"So overall if Starwars was Lucasfilms most famous film then Dracula: Blood Origin was their most infamous, not due to being bad but the whole starting a bloody rebellion thing…. Anyway tune in next time for O'Brien October: Attack of the Weebs" the video cuts to black as a credit list briefly scrolls before the autoplay feature queues up another O'Brien October Video.
Considering the fact that their liberation army/movement is being called the Sons of the Dragon(which is metal as hell), I'd say he'd probably be viewed as THE Romanian.
Alan Moore hates anything modern that he didn't write, let's be honest here. Especially in his later issues of the LoEG which... Well, if you know you know, let's just say that.
I'd be up for soing something similar to LoEG, though, especially since I've already got a plethora of ideas for a Devil's Hour series that just so happens to take place in the world of Blood Origins.
Hold up, I got more ideas or a rough draft. If anyone wants to take a crack at it more thoroughly or suggest more stories at that period, feel free to do so.
So we can go by appearance and phases
Phase 1
-Alan (Solomon Mines, OG)
-Captain Nemo (20 000 Leagues, OG, we're definitely putting the greatest hero and greatest rebel line together somehow)
-Van Hellsing (Dracula, Hugh Jackman version, sorry Mina)
1st LoGE, Hunt for Dorian Grey (Featuring Alan/Captain Nemo/Van Hellsing first. The OG of the LoGE, cameo of Invisible Man/Tom Sawyer)
Phase 2
-Invisible Man (LoEG version, he's a British MI6 operator hunting the OG Invisible man and was turned Invisible at the end while finding him.)
-Tom Sawyer (The American Operative, best way I can think of is giving him like Black Widow role. Where he's appears in the background but is always there alongside Invisible Man?)
-Jekyll/Hyde (This one is tricky, maybe make it like a Hulk Movie setup)
2nd LoGE, the Phantom of the Opera (LoGE movie plot, arms race). Similar plot and beats, as they're trying to recreate the LoGE powers and Captain Nemo submarine/tech
Here's where I come up short as I don't know what ideas to do in between, maybe some Sherlock home but featuring two starts together?
I do have a lead in for the last 3rd phase.
Phase 3
-John Carter of Mars (Last one before it transition straight to 3rd LoGE)
3rd LoGE, War of the World (Comic Book plot). Martian got trounced in Mars, headed to earth as revenge and colonize it. LoGE assemble to stop the invasion.
What also played a huge part in our Dracula movie that stood out more (at the time/era) because it actually showed the origin story, most people at the time of era was focused on the Dracula part but not the Vlad Tepes part (Make sense why though)
Seeing how successful the Dracula reception is now, and I'll prob be shot on this, think we should dipped our hands on the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?
Alan Moore would hate it but the movie had the right direction, it just lacked you know, the build up like what the MCU did.
So maybe an Alan Quartermain story (With some touch up and changes), then the 10,000 depths, Dracula, Invisible man, Dorian, Jekyll/Hyde and Tom Sawyer before it all leads to the LoEG.
If people want to have even more fun, we can add maybe Hellsing into it as well (Which honestly, fits the aesthetic just as well. Also, steam operated automatic crossbow is amazing.).
So I only now realized that I missed out on the Empire discussion. I was very busy that week. I looked at the winning vote.
We're cutting the asteroid field scenes and instead putting in more Cloud City world building and Han/Leia scenes? Probably for the best. While it was still decent, I always thought the asteroid field part kinda dragged on. Though I did like the scene of the Empire searching for them.
I like that we're doing something with the other bounty hunters. Even if it's just them getting shot by the heroes or by Boba Fett. A nice free-for-all between all the bounty hunters, Han/Leia, and Boba Fett. We can have each bounty hunter do a different way of combat with possibly a little comic relief. Only a bit though.
Is the Emperor going to be introduced any further? Though granted he doesn't really do anything in this film other than commanding Vader to capture Luke, so we don't need to solidify lore for him yet.
I think Palpatine is fine with how he is in Empire considering he's one of the main narrative focuses of Return. It fits in well with the themes of escalation for the whole trilogy where in the first film Tarkin is the big bad and Vader is the Dragon, in the second film Vader is the great villain and the core story is his and Luke's relationship, and then in the third film we have an endgame style climax where Palpatine is shown in all of his glory.
Dracula: Blood Origins Directed by: Brian Da Palma
Written by: Dave Alister
Produced by: Alan Ladd Jr.
Production/Distribution Studio: Lucasfilms Unlimited
Starring: Mickey Rourke (Vlad Tepes III/Dracula), Daniel Day-Lewis (Radu Cel Frumos), Farrah Fawcett (Carmilla), Chuck Connors (John Hunyadi), James Caan (Matthias Corvinus) and Omar Shariff (Sultan Mehmed II)
Budget: $30 Million Domestic Profits: $160,798,080
International Profits: $393,005,008
It had all seemed so simple back then. You'd just given Brian the budget for a film about Dracula that he'd shown interest while you focused on your own production and future acting role, while at the same time you were making plans to check on the future films when they came to editing and making sure they were all up to par.
Then came the delays with Conan, the new Batman production, helping Robin to deal with his cocaine addiction, spending time with your family that you just...well, something had to give, right? Besides, Solomon Kane came out just fine, receiving accolades and praise from even the Moral Groups. Clearly your directors had what it took and needed no help from you. Brian had even managed to get an all too amazing cast for his movie; Mickey Rourke, a former boxer now turned actors had primarily participated in TV Movies, yet he could show a deep intensity when he got into the role of Vlad Tepes. Daniel Day-Lewis...you don't know how Brian got this kid, but you could see a bright future for him on film with the seamless way he got into the young character of Radu.
Then he followed it up with a star cast that you didn't think possible; Farrah Fawcett had been in high demand ever since her debut in Charlie's Angels, Chuck Connors and James Caan were old hands when it came to both film and TV, and Omar Shariff had jumped at the idea of playing one of the most famous sultans in Ottoman history. Frankly, when it came to the cast it had all been perfect, with hardly any fault whatsoever. You'd felt that you could go to the premiere with no worries, and enjoy a good film with your lovely wife just as you'd done just last month...and hopefully not embarrass yourself again.
Seriously, HOW THE HELL WAS HE STILL ALIVE?!
And the movie itself... well you have to say it was quite fun in your opinion. It didn't have the dark, terrifying atmosphere of Halloween ,but it did have its own Eastern Medieval mysticism that just had you feeling that something was clearly out of place, something that just nagged at you without knowing exactly what it was and it just drove you crazy trying to find out what it is...and yet it just compelled you to keep on watching, to try and identify the feeling and overcome it, not knowing you have already become a captive as you can't keep your eyes of the screen.
Carrie thought you were being overdramatic, but it's there, you're sure of it!
But overall the story was a good one, a tale of a man who began with noble principles to protect his homeland, only to be beaten down again and again, betrayed by those he was supposed to help, dealing with near literal "Devil" on his shoulder as she tries to tempt him over and over, yet resisting it with amazing inner strength. And with it, the tragedy hits all the harder when the final blow is when his own brother fights against him in the service of his mortal enemies. Only when Radu breaks his armies, when he finds himself abandoned by the people he had sworn to protect, when his very allies turned against him and imprisoned him, only then did Vlad Tepes III died...and Dracula took his place.
...And yet, as a Vampire he still showed hints of humanity; breaking his enemies and freeing his people once more, sparing his brother even as he justified it to himself that he would be worth more as a hostage, ruling with an iron Fist, yet making sure his people still had order and justice even as he kept the enemies at bay with his newfound powers. Dracula had become a monster, but one that still held on to the embers of his humanity. Even as more and more slipped away through the centuries until he became the very monster he accused Carmilla to be, he fought and struggled with every step in his tragic tale.
Radu also shined in the story. The brother who'd had enough of war, who believes that the best way forward was peace and for that they needed to work with the Ottomans. Brian really did an amazing job by showing both sides as valid options, yet at the same time showing that the greatest tragedy is that Radu could not see the atrocities and danger that the Ottomans were bringing to his people, how he had been deceived and had deceived Vlad's allies in turn. If Vlad was the brother who'd seen the truth and reality of war and the world, Radu was the brother who'd been sheltered, lied and deceived to the point he believed strangers more than his brother.
God, now you see why Mike didn't want to put this in October (besides the debut of Halloween of course). This movie might be scary, but is more of a tragic tale, a dark fantasy story rather than a pure Horror one.
The audience certainly agreed with you when the time came. All of them coming expecting horror, yet being pleasantly surprised by a different offering. Yet none of them left unsatisfied, all felt that the story was just too good to complain about. The designs for Transylvania were faithfully reproduced when it came to filming giving it an atmosphere of depression and old-time eastern architecture. The comparison between the more prosperous cities of Hungary, or even the Ottoman Empire, show a clear underdog to whom they can relate and cheer for, and the scene of Vlad's most sinister action, "The Forest of Targovishte"...dear God you'd nearly gotten an R rating for that alone. You don't know what mike did, but you're inclined to giving him a raise just for avoiding that.
It is odd though, you'd expected the young men who came to see Farrah Fawcett as a seductive vampire, yet the flood of women who came to see Mickey Rourke as Dracula certainly surprised you. Just what is it about a young vampire that seems to fascinate girls?
Critics praised your movie, with Ebert calling it a "Breath of Fresh air on a story already mined for all it's different variations". he gave it two thumbs up, as did many of the other critics, quickly forgetting how they had a field day tearing down Hardcore just because it didn't have the explosive results one would expect. From direction, the acting, even the realistic setting and historically accurate costumes, they could find nothing to criticize, and not enough to praise.
The reception in America was great. The reception overseas though was astronomical! Britain's had a long history of Dracula films, being the bread and butter of their national film industry, so another movie should not have made the impact this one did. But you truly broke new ground here, as apparently for all the different variations of the formula they'd done, no one had ever thought trying to make an origin story of the titular character, making it quite novel for any and all fans of the old Vampire.
Hell, Christopher Lee even gave you an endorsement of the movie, claiming it was one of the most original and interesting versions, and one he would have been honored to have played in if it had been done back in the days. This coming from the man everyone in Britain recognizes as the definitive Count Dracula (as much as Bela Lugosi is in America) gave you quite the bump in ticket sales there.
France, Germany, the Western Block, everyone and all loved the film and gave it high reviews, making you at least three times as much as you did in America. Everyone has some character or story that just clicks with them in this film; If it isn't Vlad's tragic story then it's Carmilla's own Machiavellian schemes. if it isn't Matthew Corvinus dedication to his people and Iron-Willed character then it's John Hunyadi's determination and devotion to Hungary and its people.
Though most Muslim countries did refuse to air the movie. Not that you can't blame them, you're basically showing them as the bad guys who are killed and tortured, and that they deserve to have it happened to them. The Eastern Bloc countries have also forbidden the entry of any foreign "Capitalist Propaganda" in their own words. Figures. Well, it's not like they can stop the flow anyways, some copies are going to pass the Iron Curtain eventually and show them the art of Lucasfilms.
...though you don't know why you feel some dread when you think about it.
Ah, it's probably nothing.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The meeting room at Lucasfilms could be considered to be a bit of a mess at the moment. The same way that one would say water was wet, or the sky was blue, or Universal were pricks. It was a bit of an understatement when folders and papers were strewn around, the chairs seemed to have been made into makeshift beds when they could, and currently two out of the three leaders of the Studio were just trying to make sense of what the reports all said, all the while trying to not have a panic attack.
It was a work in process.
"Mike...what the fuck!" You exclaimed as the news hit you, a look of shock and disbelief on your face. This just...this could not be real!
"I-I don't know either. It just-" Mike choked on his words, the trembling of his hands and the drink on the table telling you how much this was affecting him. Of George there was no sign, Marcia had called and told you he may be staying home today and perhaps tomorrow. Not that you would blame him, this whole situation was unreal. How the fuck did this happen!!
Okay, calm down...take deep breaths...now is not the time to panic, but the time to think.
Go back to the beginning...start from where everything stopped making sense.
From what information you've been able to gather (and there's a lot now considering what happened) Romania, one of the countries from behind the Iron Curtain, is not the best place to live at the moment. As in, it's a shithole where it's main leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu, created a totalitarian state which so far has been considered as the most repressive in the Eastern Bloc at the moment. Jesus, you know you're fucking up if you're outdoing the Russians in brutality and oppression.
Secret police (The Securitate) created an ambience of terror and paranoia, being responsible for mass surveillance as well as severe repression and human rights abuses within the country, not to mention their tight control over the media and the press. The economy is in shambles, living conditions are worse (except for Ceaușescu of course), and his attempts at implementing policies for population growth had only led to more orphans and more dead women.
The man is a fucking madman who'd be right up there with Stalin if he'd been born just a bit earlier. Yet, how could you find out about this? Simple...everyone does now, ever since the Romanians finally said enough is enough, took to the streets, started killing members of the Securitate, took over control of the media to spread out their message, and actually managed to get their hands on Ceaușescu, and proceeded to kill him in one of the most gruesome manners that you've ever heard (thank God they didn't show that).
And it may all be because of your movie.
You did mention that there would be a way for contraband to pass the Iron Curtain, you expected it even. Yet you couldn't have predicted the impact that Dracula: Blood Origins would have in the country where Vlad had lived and died on. The story of a defender who fought again and again against invaders, who despite being betrayed, crushed, and defeated so many times yet refused to give up, the rage, anger, spite against those who would dare oppress him and his people...well, it found a fertile ground for its message when shown.
The Romanians embraced Vlad as a long-lost son, his tactics became theirs, his anger invigorated them, for if they truly had nothing at the moment, then there was nothing they would lose if they fought, just like Vlad. Their new movement, "The Sons of the Dragon" (which is what Dracula actually means) controlled near all the country side, as well as all the cities in western Romania, and they were already making plans for an advance on the Eastern part where the remnants of Ceaușescu's followers still retained power, if only by the thinnest threads as the man was really that hateable!
The soviets are already scrambling the tanks to "bring order and security to the people of Romania" (you notice there's no mention of Ceaușescu. Even they could not hide the shit that little bastard did). Yet it seems that's all they can do. For all that Romania is surrounded by Soviet Satellites, most of them are unreliable; Hungary has never forgotten (nor forgiven) the bloody repression of the Revolution of 1956, and there's enough rumblings as to make the troops there nervous. Yugoslavia has never been interested in either the east nor the west, so Russia is not getting help from there. Bulgaria has both Turkey and Greece looking at them so no dice from aid there, and Poland...is peacefully marching for a humanitarian resolution that stops all the violence.
Well, whoever is organizing it has your respect.
It doesn't take away the fact that somehow, someway, it was one of Lucasfilms movies which caused the greatest political crisis in Soviet Sphere since the beginning of the Cold War. Many newspapers are already heading with "The Collapse of Communism" and how the Soviet Union's defeat may just happen within the decade. You're a bit too high-strung what with most of the studios looking at yours in both awe and fear alike, Mike having to calm down most of your new partners in the Entente that you've formed, and making damn sure that no one suspicious is around your families or the studio.
This has been a rollercoaster of emotions. You can only hope this is as far as it will go.
*Bzzzt* "Mr. O'Brian, there's an Agent Brooks from the CIA here to meet you. He says it's important."
Damn this is quite a lot to take in. Alright, well to just focus on the entertainment aspects, pretty damn good film overall and something we can proudly add as one of the Lucasfilms greats. Probably the definitive version of Dracula for many and with that Lucasfilms now has the top 3 highest grossing films with Dracula being third and Brian De Palma cements himself as an equal to the rest of the directorial crew. Were it not for Napoleon then I'd say that Dracula would have been a shoe-in for an Oscars sweep, but as it is it seems like we made an icon for both horror and historical fiction and vampires are going to be a very popular topic in the 80s. Love the story, love all the actors, great movie!
And then we get to the absolute juicy parts of the Romanian uprising, and OH BOY is it going to be insane.
Okay so first off this is going to be one of the biggest and most iconic moments of the Cold War, perhaps what may be seen as the beginning of the end for the Soviet Union and Communism as a whole. We are definitely going to earn an entire verse for We didn't Start the Fire. What makes the Romanian Revolution huge compared to the Hungarian and Czech ones is that the people actually managed to purge their totalitarian masters and kill the communist dictator which is a major escalation and case of populist justice that didn't happen for either revolution. With the ruling class legit purged and the military seemingly on the side of the people and ready for either a conventional war or Carpathians insurgency, this is going to inspire everyone else in the Warsaw Pact and maybe they and the military will get some ideas to start coups at the same time and have the Soviets go to war with the entirety of the Warsaw Pact, the nations they were supposed to defend. Huge win for America and the downfall of the Soviet Union is basically guaranteed. Here's basically a summary of some of the most important changes:
With the Soviets having to fight a conventional war in Romania, this has a huge chance of butterflying away the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan which was set to take place next year. Right now Afghanistan is under the rule of a Soviet puppet and civil order is disintegrating across the nation as the various tribes and Islamic groups are rejecting the progressive reforms and marxist economics and it's basically a free for all. So the Afghan Marxists have no chance of holding onto power outside of Kabul which means two things. Either the Soviets intervene despite launching war in Romania and have two fronts which are their personal Vietnams and thus the Soviet economy goes into the shitter, or they sit out and leave their puppet to die, turning Afghanistan into a Central Asian Somalia divided between multiple warlords.
If the Soviets don't invade Afghanistan then the CIA under Carter, Reagan or any other alternate president never supports the creation of the Mujahadeen, which means Osama Bin-laden never gets radicalized and stays a Saudi tycoon. Which means, Brian De Palma may have just butterflied away 9/11.
The 1980 Olympics will still be boycotted by the West, if not for Afghanistan then for Romania
With Romania being more visible victims, Carter is going to heavily escalate in economic warfare with the Soviet Union, maybe to a total embargo with them and the Warsaw Pact. Complete death of Detente until Gorbachev comes to power.
Could definitely have potential to swing the election depending upon if Romania wins or is defeated by this point. Reagan is likely to make aid to Romania one of his selling points on the campaign trail.
Likely earlier death of Brezhnev due to added stress.
Soviet invasion of Romania combined with second oil shock is likely to lead to a worse global recession and stagflation.
With Romania rising up, the US may want to secure their flanks and become proactively involved in dealing with the Iranian Revolution, either with reform of the monarchy or the creation of a democratic republic. CIA may assassinate Khomeini.
Global downward spiral in Communisms popularity as they are once again seen as killing the citizens of the nation they are supposed to protect that are rising against them. A revolution each decade shows Communism's folly. Massive schism within the global Marxist and Socialist movement to create new strains of ideology that exist wholly separate from the Soviet Union.
Yugoslavia may pivot fully to the West out of fear of invasion by the Soviet Union, basically become a De Facto American ally in the same way as 1980's China OTL. Tito who is set to die in little more than a year, may be spooked by Romania enough to clean house and leave a strong foundation for Yugoslavia in the aftermath of his death, possibly butterflying the Balkan Wars.
In stark contrast, this may have just killed the détente with China as China is seeing an American film inspire an angry revolt in the Warsaw Pact and may be fearful that by opening themselves up to the West that they will only inspire revolution and lead to the CCP's downfall. So while China may cooperate with America geopolitically to keep the Soviets out of East Asia, they may keep the country heavily closed to trade and tourism with the West in order to prevent new ideas from leaking in. Hell, considering this took place in November, we may have just butterflied away Deng Xiaoping rising to power. Guess this all depends on if the Reformers win or not.
Even more radical, considering that Hong Kong and Macau likely both are popular consumers of Lucsafilms products and its citizens have VHS copies and have seen Star Wars and Dracula, what if this causes China to legit just give up on integrating both colonies and just let the UK and Portugal keep them? The CCP may well legit decide that having these two cities as a constant reminder of the century of humiliation is better than inviting in Lucasfilms and destroying the Communist Party's hold on China.
Various Middle Eastern nations that were opening up to the West like Egypt and Jordan pivot faster now that it's clear that the Soviet Union can't be relied upon as a patron.
Warsaw Pact with the rise of Solidarity in Poland and ongoing resistances throughout the Pact are going to see a heavy break from the Soviet Union and try everything they can to push away from Moscow until they can achieve full independence. For now it's likely that they will pull a Belarus and sit out of the Romanian War both to secure the homefront and because they don't want to get involved in the Vampire mess.
East Germany may be the next target of revolution as West Germans may smuggle in Star Wars and other movies to inspire them to revolt against Honecker's totalitarian rule and unite the Germanies. Ditto with Bulgaria next to Greece.
Pope John Paul II was just elected so a Polish Pope seeing the potential in Romania may take action to inspire Poland and other Warsaw Pact Catholics to rise up in the name of Christ. Hell, maybe Solomon Kane can inspire Eastern Christians to go to revolution....
So. Any stories we could take historical inspiration from to further flip the bird to the status quo?
*Somewhere in an alternate universe, Russia-quest finds a powder keg exploding in romania, all cause by complete accident, a Rising Star in the USA decides to pull out a Dracula Origin Story.*
Well we still got Prince of Persia. I imagine that once that's made then the Iranian people will turn on Khomeini and take back their nation. Hell, if we had released it right now we could have given some weight to the democratic Iranians to keep the revolution a purely democratic populist one instead of a radical Shia one.
My current plan is after ZZ Gundam I was going to pitch "Mobile Suit Gundam: Freedom" which is basically the Russo-Ukranian War in space mixed in with Gundam F91 so that hopefully either Putin never comes to power, Ukraine joins the West early or if the war does happen the Ukranian people can use it as inspiration to kick some Russian Nazi ass.
Totally down to making a war movie about miracle on the Vistula though. At this rate I wonder when Spielberg makes Schindler's list if that somehow completely eradicates Neo-Nazism.
At this point I really want to see Magoose Dice somehow have Napoleon cause a Napoleonic restoration and Napoleon VI becomes France's official Head of state.
The WIP work is a bit more fleshed out and now has an actual name.
From the Ashes
This story is set in a land that has seen better days. Having fallen from the heights they once were generations ago the land faces an ancient threat their ancestors were familiar with. A story of facing uncertainty, of pushing on in spite of the odds, and hope even in the darkest of times.
The first act focuses on the Chosen Champions, each the best of their faction, alongside the two rival researchers and the Prince/Princess. Focuses a bit more on slice of life with the many different personalities interacting with each other, and sometimes clashing, while they all try and do their best to prepare for the upcoming threat that led to their group's formation.
Characters
The two scientists: They are both full characters in their own right. Both sharp academic minds whom play a key role in the prep work, one digging into relics of the past to find the lost knowledge of Golden Age magitech lost in a feud, and the other pushing the boundary of explosive projectiles, making what can be recognized as early guns.
The Rancher: An unlikely member. A very skilled Goat Rider whom has taken very well to the experimental equipment, but highly self-conscious about his perceived lack of combat skills. Has a way with animals and deep understanding of plants as well.
The Champion: A once in a lifetime prodigy, and elite in basically any weapon. He/She is a gourmet, a cook and a prankster, but the weight of the new role weighs heavily on him/her. Is also the chosen of an anchient weapon, one whom is believed to possibly be older than the kingdom itself.
The Noble: A member of an old bloodline, blessed with special magic. And yet, hasn't been able to tap into it, a great frustration for the family and him/herself, as well as a point of contention even as he/she spearheads the archaeological efforts.
The Healer: From a Bloodline of healers. She is a skilled combatant, alongside her inherited affinity for healing as healing magic literally runs in the family. But has some issues over being known for the inherent ability of her bloodline, and not for her skills or achievements.
The Ranger: A master of the bow, and the foremost expert of his species in manipulating the wind. A master of his/her craft that was selected to represent them. Always pushing him/herself to do better, to push beyond the limits of yesterday. And yet, is also insecure and perhaps comes off a little arrogant sometimes due to his awareness of just how much of his/her life was invested to get this far.
The Leader: A highly skilled warrior and leader of her faction. While she/he is highly capable, she however needs to balance her time between his/her duty as a Chosen Champion, but also to the people she leads. Especially helping her young chosen successor prepare for if/when she needs to take over.
The Retainer: A member of a mysterious ninja tribe, one whom has been long tied to the royal family. One that has long fallen from their heights of the Golden age after the tribe split for reasons that have been lost to time as far as most of the world knows. Assigned to the princess due to being among the more skilled in the combat arts relative to most of the village, and the threat of the cousins whom hold onto old grudges.
The Thief: A mysterious person with a shrouded past. Knows more than he/she should, in both knowledge and magic. Most notably in secrets possibly older than the founding of the nation.
In the Climax of the arc, all of the elements and events would come together, in a desperate doomed war that ends with a pyrrhic victory. The champions barely escaping alive thanks to the assistance of others, and even then being forced to recuperate in hidden relic recovery facilities till arc 3. The threat still around, but contained with it's reach drastically curtailed
The second at is set a long time after the first, where the broken old kingdom is only remembered by the elders of the old species. Still in living memory for specific long-lived communities, but at least one generation of most species have passed. This is centered around basically dreamers, people whom while lacking the talent, training, or bloodline of the first group of protags, nonetheless has the will to try and change the new status quo for the better. Kindling hope, gathering new members, acquiring better equipment clashing with those whom see them as a threat, including threats from before the disaster.
The Dreamer: Someone has to be the one with the vision and the optimism to start gathering the group together. The person is the heart of the organization, the one whom gathered the others to try and turn a dream into reality. Not unfamiliar with combat given the age he/she lives in, but is more of a diplomat.
The Town Captain: While unproven as a commander of an army, this person has shown great talent in the art of command. And yet, the weight of command can be heavy, for one's decisions can decide who lives and who dies.
The Apprentices: Students of the two scientists from the previous era. earnest and seeking to use their skills to aid others in doing their part.
The Agent: Hailing from an ancient tribe. He/she doesn't talk much about the past. While a bit of an enigma, he/she had met the dreamer before.
The climax would be a major clash with a cult built around the cause of the disaster, whom were founded shortly after the fall of the golden age. Between the friends, allies, and their improvements of the organization and their people, they whether an all-out attack by the cult, attempting to weaken the rising new power in the area.
This act ties the first two together. The containment is weakening, the recovery of the gravely wounded champions are finished, if not fully complete, and the Arc 2 Cast are at the forefront of the wider fight. One of the major aspects are the interactions between the casts, coming to terms with how much things have changed, and possibly spotty memories of the time before. The climax would be the final battle, the Champions and the act 2 organization fighting the enemy faced in act one, without the element of suprise being on their enemy's side.
Anyone else thin if this quest years down quest timeline got a spin off where Bruce retired from show business to enter politics, he'd not only win presidency in landslide but soviet's would have collective heart attack's?
Anyone else thin if this quest years down quest timeline got a spin off where Bruce retired from show business to enter politics, he'd not only win presidency in landslide but soviet's would have collective heart attack's?
well the history books will probably label it as the 1978 Romanian revolution, but meme wise it would be something like Communism vs Lucasfilm 2: Vlad strikes back, or proof that western entertainment is the greatest weapon against communism
Especially in his later issues of the LoEG which... Well, if you know you know, let's just say that.
