Technology is, not surprisingly given this is a steampunk pulp game, equivalent of the late Victorian age. There are airships of the zepplin/dirigible variety and very primitive ‘Automated carriages.’ There are ‘difference engines’ that can do complex mathematical equations like computers, but they’re HUGE. In addition to telegraph and telephone, many city states have pneumatic networks, tubes that run along the underground system which allow people to send information (relatively) quickly to one another.
One thing to keep in mind regarding history...conflicts tend to begin and end between specific city states. In Byzantium, there has been no World Wars, but there was the equivalent of a Korean War...but that war was fairly self-contained and did not involve any territories outside of Oriencia. There is a faction of high society advocating for ‘international unity,’ but it hasn’t caught on as it should have. The same goes for a lot of other movements that are trying to urge Byzantium to progress further into what we think of as our future.
(Some not-quite-respected factions contend that there is conscious, continual campaign to keep Byzantium society stagnant and at this late 19th Century level--but that’s just crazy talk, isn’t it? Isn’t it?)
The general culture varies depending on city state. Keep in mind that this is a stagnant culture--it’s been at the technological and political level it’s been at for over a century. There has been some progress in terms of social mores, but even it is stunted. Women are treated more or less equal, although they still will be looked down upon by certain factions of society. While there are no laws as of 2020 Byzantium regarding sexual orientation, there might be some prejudice and mistreatment of LBGTQ or non-binary people. The belief is that all races have contributed to society...but that doesn’t stop people being suspicious of people who don’t look like them or spreading untruths about them. Byzantium culture likes to think it’s enlightened--recent developments in philosophy, sociology and technology (there is a primitive form of television--called ‘tele-visors--that is very expensive and very clumsy, with a very small screen) have prompted some people to declare this time as ‘The New Age of Enlightenment’....but many reformers use the phrase more than a bit sarcastically.
The other thing to keep in mind is that there is a very small middle class, and the dividing line between high and low class are much more pronounced. There is a major homeless problem (think of Depression-era levels), many people survive through begging and low-level crime, and there is a big stigma to being ‘low-born’ (thus the complication). People who are rich are much richer in comparison to people who are poor, and most social programs are almost exclusively privately and horribly run. There is a Reform Community seeking to improve the lot of the poor, but some of it is run by...well-meaning goofs.
I will allow advanced technology if you can find a way to justify it utilizing what is known scientifically in the appropriate era/milleau...and most of it will be pretty unwieldy.
As this world stands, magic is considered fiction and those purporting to be spiritualists are considered charlatans.
The seven territories of Byzantium are:
NORAM
Noram covers approximately Canada and the United States save for the southwest. This is where we will most likely start (specifically The City of Empire, the Noram version of New York), although the characters do not have to be from Noram. Most of it is colder than normal, with areas of warm and temperate weather. It is average in its technological advancement, and is fairly prominent in agricultural and industrial production.
The three major city states are The City of Empire, Jotun and Angelus. Angelus has been slowly coopting other smaller settlements into its empire, and is threatening to try and coopt some settlements on the other side of the Noram/Sowam border.
SOWAM
Sowam includes the American Southwest, Central America and South America. It is a hot, tropical climate with some extreme desert areas and, of course, one large jungle area. The advancement of the various city states varies wildly, with some being highly advanced while other are low-tech.
AFRICANUS
Africanus occupies Africa (naturally) and a portion of the Middle East. Like Sowam, it is mainly jungle and savanna with warm-to-hot temperatures. It is mainly known for exporting valuable materials, and it is dotted with a number of city states with a number of political and social views, many of which are at war with each other constantly.
ORIENCIA
Oriencia occupies the western half of the giant land mass it shares with Albion. It is composed of the most racially diverse population, culture and religions in the world. Oddly enough, most of the city states keep to themselves; there is very little bleed from one state to another. Some states are active in trading with other states both within the territory and without.
ALBION
Albion occupies the eastern half of the land mass it shares with Oriencia. Unlike Ociencia, there is a uniformity to the population, and this is the closest thing we have to a ‘nation’ like we have in this reality. There is a cooperative council that acts for what stands in as a government, monitoring and negotiating between the different cities before any conflicts arise. This does give Albion a very insular feel, and outsiders may find interacting with its natives...off-putting in a subtle way.
BURRARA
Burrara occupies the island continent of Australia and the islands around it. Unlike the other territories, Burrara is a unified country run by a parliament composed equally of aboriginal and colonial members, it is devoted primarily to keeping its territory thriving and unified. People who visit Burrara will be struck by how even the most developed areas are verdant and lovely with its copious mix of concrete, steel...and forest.
PELUCIDAR
Pellucidar occupies Antartica, and as such is very much an unknown quantity. There is a small but vocal minority amongst intellectuals and scientists who theorize that there are pockets of warmth in this frigid landscapes that may support life.
You will notice I did not name the specific city states for each territory. Subject to my approval, you can create the ‘thumbnail’ of the state/culture you come from, a general description that I will elaborate upon!
The Fellowship of Prometheus is an inter-territorial organization that was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1913. It is composed of men and women who have been remarkable and daring in exploration, adventuring and participating in the general enlightenment of society. Membership is by invitation only and is considered quite prestigious. The Fellowship provides financing and support to a number of projects across the globe, and there are branches all over the world. The main branch is located in The City of Empire in Noram, where new members are inducted.
(This means if you are a character in this game, you should think of a reason why you were invited to this august club...plan on sharing it with your fellow players in the first session! :))
The Fellowship is fairly progressive. It endorses the Reform movement, and many members are active in trying to get social services to the lower classes. Many members also have done freelance work for different city states and governments in the name of world peace.
The Specifics
The following skills are acceptable. Combat skills cannot be specialized in. If you do not see a skill you might like, discuss it with me.
Might: Brawling, Knife, Lift, Stamina, Cane/Club
Agility: Athletics, Dodge, Pickpocket, Stealth, Throwing, Drive, Pistol, Rifle
Wit: History, Language, Medicine, Lockpick, Search, Explore, Tracking, Navigation, Repair, Science, Cultures, Deception
Charm: Command, Courage, Diplomacy, Military, Persuasion, Seduce, Streetwise, Contacts, Ride
The following perks are acceptable:
Aristocrat, Wealthy, Attractive, Daredevil, Destiny, Favors, Lucky, Perceptive, Recall, Sidekick
The following Complications are acceptable:
Age, Lowborn, Crazy, Enemies, Gremlins, Personal Code, Skeletons In Your Closet, Unlucky in Love, Unlucky in Money, Bull In A China Shop, No Book Learning, Not Pretty Cunning, Weak, Bad Rep, Large Debt
In addition to standard ‘modern’ guns and weapons (most of which are listed on page five of the rule book), player characters can also wield a Tesla Gun, a scientific weapon named for its creator, Nikolai Tesla. The Tesla Gun fires a bolt of electrical energy, doing 4D+2 damage. Tesla Guns are very rare, and are mainly in the care of the Fellowship of Prometheus.
New Specializations
Blend: Blend is a specialization skill of Streetwise. You just know how to fit in with any crowd and look like you belong there. Perfect for spying, concealing your getaway and other less-than savory practices!
Tough-It-Out: Tough It Out is a specialization skill of Stamina. You can just grit your teeth and barrel through the kind of abuse other people would fold under.
Intimidate: Intimidate is a specialization skill of Persuasion. You can influence people through judicious and astute application of fear.
New Complications
Big Fella: You're large. Like, freaky huge. You will find it difficult to be discreet, and have trouble maybe fitting through some walls.
Willful: This is what we'd call in our world 'overconfident to eleven.' It is difficult for you to be deterred or persuaded from a plan of attack, and you will most likely believe you are right...even when you're wrong.
Tongue-Tied: You're...not what you call eloquent. It is hard to talk to other people, and you may trip yourself up in attempts to get what you want.
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