I also want this game to evoke a "modern" feel in some ways, not actual Ravenloft Modern, but just the general sense of progress, new concepts and technologies disrupting the world in which people live. No internet, of course, but the rise of these new "newspapers" play a huge role in shaping Dementlieu politics. The disruption caused by the media alone are enough to drive Dominic out of his mind, even if it wasn't for all the other stuff going on.
Anyway, here's my timeline for Dementlieu so far, I'd love to hear people's thoughts:
- 755-6 In the wake of another Bloody Jack massacre, many Paridonian expatriates arrive in the Core, including newspaper professionals. Over the next few years, the supply and demand for mass print media increases.
757 BC Spring: The mysterious "S" writes the Second Gazetteer; all material from that sourcebook is current up to that year.
758 The Original Kara's Daughters campaign begins
759 BC A group of Kara's Daughters accompany Mina Drakov and Estelle Dirac to the Rose Day celebration in Dementlieu, and are prevented from returning before Census Day when Estelle is kidnapped. This leads to the formation of the Dementlieu Cell of Kara's Daughters.
759 BC The Census Day Massacre; a conspiracy of vampyr plotting to take over Falkovnia are foiled at the cost of many lives.
760 BC Vlad Drakov is assassinated; Falkovnia descends into total anarchy, with warring factions loyal to various warlords and freedom fighters vying for control. Hundreds of refugees flee to Dementlieu, Lamordia, Richemulot, even Darkon. Thousands more are trapped in Falkovnia under the thumb of various petty tyrants.
761 BC Helene DuSuis's brutally battered body is found floating in the Delta. The Lord-Governor provokes outrage and controversy at her funeral when he strongly implies that her killer was one of the poor she served, despite the investigation having barely begun. This precedes a series of draconian laws and restrictions against the poor.
762 BC A handful of warlords and power brokers form the Eminent Council, a new Falkovnian government. Their control only covers about one-third of the previous domain.
763 BC Having extended their control to two thirds of Falkovnia, the Eminent Council appeals to their neighbors for additional protection. Invoking a provision in the Treaty of Four Towers, several nations bordering Darkon convene a meeting and forge a series of new agreements over the next several years. Sharing their common problems with Falkovnian refugees, Lamordia petitions to join the new council of nations.
763 BC Joan Secousse dies; (haven't decided yet) becomes the new Bastion of the Dementlieu sect of Ezra, and (the other guy) is stricken with her illnesses.
763 BC Marcel Delacourte is discovered to have kept slaves in his sweatshops, using a rare form of Voodan necromancy to render them "living zombies." For the first time, stories in the various papers are accompanied by actual photographs, including one of a "zombie" child.
764 BC As part of a new agreement, Dementlieu annexes Silbervas, Lamordia takes Lekar and Richemulot takes Aerie.
764 BC In the wake of continuing public outrage from the Delacourte scandal, the Lord-Governor proposes a new and expanded detective force, trained by Alanik Ray.
764 BC A horrible storm blows ashore in Port-a-Lucine, driving people and animals mad and damaging property all along the waterfront.
765 BC The Dementlieu cell of Kara's Daughters moves out of Lumley House, and changes their name.
765 BC Councilor Jean-Pierre Theroux of the Council of Brilliance is found dead, an apparent suicide, but the circumstances of his death are the subject of many rumors.
765 BC A play posthumously attributed to the late Jean-Pierre Theroux begins to circulate in the underground circuit, claiming he was a victim of years of mind control.
766 BC A popular book coins the term "Les Grands Esprit" for the unseen forces that control the government. The anonymous author claims (s)he was a victim of this mind control, but that the "overminds" are benevolent, guiding Dementlieu toward greatness. Theories range from it being fiction to fact, to mental illness, to a form of scripture.
770 BC Start of Current Campaign