X-Topic-No: 24 Date: Tue, 14 Feb 1995 20:14:20 -0800 (PST) From: Brant Harvey To: Mage-l List Subject: Bellerophon Tower -- 1 of 2 Message-ID: This lengthy monster is a complete Etheric Laboratory (Chantry, for those non-Scientists among you), presented using the basic layout from the Book of Chantries. This part deals with the Scientists of the Tower, while part 2 deals with everything else. Bellerophon Tower, Chantry of the Prometheus Desert In the middle of a strange desert, beneath an alien sky, stands a tower of gleaming steel. Until two years ago, the tower was only a dream, sketched out in a science-fiction novel. But an ambitious Scientist crafted a Realm around this dream, seeking a still-greater height. The denizens of Bellerophon Tower, though sometimes fractious, are united in a single quest: the acquisition of Mars. However, their plans have already begun to go subtly astray. The Realm is not exactly as it was designed to be, and it seems to have been invaded by unknown forces. The resonance of Bellerophon Tower is obscurely alien, and, in this citadel of mutant dreams, anything can happen. Cabals Although the planning of Bellerophon Tower was performed by the Olympian Circle, they were forced to rely upon another Etheric Cabal, the Society of the Xenologic, for the Quintessence necessary to complete the Realm. There has been tension between the two groups, the Olympians seeing the Society as pushy interlopers and the Society resenting this attitude deeply, but, under the leadership of Dr. Otto Lichtenstein, the Cabals work together excellently. The Olympian Circle Background: Several years ago, a German-American physicist named Dr. Otto Lichtenstein realized the ideal method of fulfilling his Grand Plan to defeat the Technocracy, save the world, and bring about the first true Utopia in human history. All that was needed was a way to ease the pressure of population on limited resources, while providing a showcase for the best aspects of Science. All that was needed was the terraforming of Mars. Lichtenstein swiftly assembled a crowd of fellow dreamers, and invested them with his vision of bringing humanity to Olympus Mons. Unfortunately, without a Horizon Realm to work in, the best the Olympian Circle could do was theorize. It wasn't until Lichtenstein located another Etheric Cabal, one with possession of an adequately-sized Node and a huge supply of Tass, that Bellerophon Tower at last became possible. The Circle is stretched thin trying to achieve the goal for which it was founded. Currently, it concentrates mostly on developing methods of turning desert to arable land, and on methods of reaching the Red Planet. They are aware that this barely even counts as practice for Awakening an entire planet, but are unwilling to dwell upon it. Doctor Otto Lichtenstein, "Etheric Scientist" (Questing) Nature: Architect Demeanor: Visionary Spheres: Correspondence 1, Forces 2, Matter 4, Prime 4, Spirit 5 Dr. Lichtenstein is, of course, the heart and soul of the Olympian Circle, and Bellerophon Tower itself. Although unremarkable in appearance and distant in personal relationships, he is a magnificent orator, and it is difficult not to be swayed by his dreams. His Utopian ideals and Progressivist principles are infectious; currently, the only Bellerophonian not to think of the Sons of Ether as "Etheric Scientists" is Professor Niles Greene. Ironically, Lichtenstein doesn't really expect the Martian project to succeed. To him, Bellerophon Tower is simply a means to an end, that end being the construction of a force which can stand against the Technocracy. He also hopes that the project may create new techniques for the use of Science. Currently, Lichtenstein's main project is developing a method of constructing "ley lines" (conduits of magnetoetheric energy) through the Deep Umbra. Professor Niles Greene, Son of Ether (Dynamic) Nature: Loner Demeanor: Curmudgeon Spheres: Correspondence 1, Entropy 1, Forces 4, Matter 1, Prime 2 Niles Greene is the single least-liked resident of Bellerophon Tower. He is ill-tempered, sexist, obnoxiously nationalistic (he is English, and can find fault with every other nation, including Scotland and Wales), and generally rude. However, one has to draw the line at calling him immature, for Niles Greene is fifteen years old. He is the newest member of the Olympian Circle, having joined them just before the Realm was completed, and feels that he is being unfairly discriminated against due to his dual lack of seniority. Should the Circle start to come apart, it will start with Niles. Right now, Niles' main project is building a way of powering the entire Red Planet, preferably through Tesla-esque wireless transmission. Professor Etienne Deveraux, "Etheric Scientist" (Dynamic) Nature: Avant-Garde Demeanor: Caregiver Spheres: Entropy 2, Matter 1, Mind 4, Prime 2, Spirit 2 This Quebecois metaphysicist was known in Etheric circles for his work on psychically attracting Native American spiritforms when Lichtenstein approached him. Professor Deveraux spent much time regretting his decision to abandon the rich research opportunities of Earth; then the Society of the Xenologic arrived, and the Professor knew he had an unimaginable advantage over his Earthbound colleagues. Contact with the alien biocomputer is beginning to take its toll on Deveraux, and his normally cheerful demeanor has become infected with an indefinable strangeness. Professor Deveraux's main task is the prediction of the psychological and sociological effects of colonization. Doctor Mao Shih, "Etheric Scientist" (Questing) Nature: Deviant Demeanor: Conformist Spheres: Forces 2, Life 5, Matter 2, Mind 1, Prime 3 Dr. Mao Shih was a prominent Beijing physician, until she became obsessed with what she called "electrodirection of biological processes." Using a combination of acupuncture and electroshock therapy, she developed entire new realms of medicine. Fortunately, an Akashic Brother named Chao Li (see below) was able to save her from the Technocracy when her experiments became too obvious and too bloody. Even Chao Li is unaware of the extent of Mao's madness, seeing only the submissive front she puts forward. Dr. Shih's main task is developing the new forms of life necessary to terraform Mars. Chao Li, Akashic Brother (Questing) Nature: Visionary Demeanor: Judge Spheres: Correspondence 3, Forces 1, Mind 2, Prime 1, Spirit 3 Chao Li sometimes jokes that he's simply the bodyguard for the Olympian Circle. In reality, the sober martial artist is as important as Dr. Lichtenstein in keeping the Chantry together. He is at once the anchor of stability which keeps the Scientists from becoming lost in esoteric theory, and the inspiring force which moves the Laboratory to blaze new paths. Chao Li is also extremely good at finding ways to justify Science through quantum physics. Unfortunately, he has begun to neglect the Circle of late, concentrating instead on hunting down Icarus (see below). He fears that the winged man might have some connection to his old friend Mao, but does not wish to speak until he has some form of proof. Jane "B-Loop" McIntyre, Virtual Adept (Dynamic) Nature: Conformist Demeanor: Rebel Spheres: Correspondence 2, Forces 2, Mind 1, Prime 1, Time 3 "B-Loop" was originally hired by Lichtenstein to give the Realm computer access. She has since proven her worth repeatedly, such as by developing "prophecy programs" capable of limited prescience. Despite the fact that she seems willing to expound on her beliefs on any subject, the young Cyberpunk refuses to explain a great deal of things. None of her Chantrymates know what her childhood in Phoenix was like, or how she received her name. B-Loop becomes oddly quiet and restrained when dealing with Lichtenstein. The Society of the Xenologic Background: In 1938, the year some claim to have hosted the unsuccessful Ka Luon invasion, a Son of Ether named Harold Munnell captured from unidentified beings a large store of Tass, and a strange artifact. He dubbed this artifact, apparently a biological computer, "the Xenologic," and assembled a Cabal to study it. Unfortunately, the Xenologic was not only too incomprehensible to be understood without years of work, but was so delicate that it inexorably degenerated even outside of the Technocratic reality. The Society relocated the artifact to Victoria Station, preserved it in a Temporal Nullification Field, and devoted their energies to comparing what little information they had obtained from it with the topography of the Deep Umbra. As the decades passed, the original intent of the Society faded, and they became little more than yet another group of Ethernauts. When the Cabal was ejected from Victoria Station due to interpersonal problems, it seemed that the Society of the Xenologic was doomed. Then Dr. Lichtenstein approached their young Captain with an offer of partnership, and the decaying Cabal experienced a resurgence in energy. The Xenologicians have devoted themselves to the Olympian Quest, and have even begun to remove the Xenologic from stasis for short periods, in order to study it. The Society has a medium-sized ethership, originally named Lady X, which has been renamed the Pegasus in keeping with the mythological imagery of the Tower. The Pegasus now spends much of its time docked near the Tower, but is still taken out for long voyages every month or two. Captain Elizabeth Norton, "Etheric Scientist" (Dynamic) Nature: Martyr Demeanor: Director Spheres: Forces 3, Matter 2, Mind 2, Prime 2, Spirit 4 Captain Norton inherited Lady X from Munnell when he died at the hands of a Void Engineer barabbi. She thought of the Cabal's founder as a sort of substitute father, and has never truly recovered from his death. Despite her disciplinarian air, Norton is confused and insecure, and blames herself (wrongfully) for her Cabal's eviction from Victoria Station. Partially because of this guilt, she will not, under any circumstances, allow anything bad to happen to her crew. She is beginning to gain faith in herself now that she has secured a place for the Society of the Xenologic in a Laboratory. Professor Gordon Laws, "Etheric Scientist" (Questing) Nature: Fanatic Demeanor: Loner Spheres: Correspondence 4, Matter 2, Prime 2, Spirit 3 Nobody but Captain Norton knows of the fire that burns beneath Gordon Laws' mask of sullen detachment. Laws is obsessed with destroying the Technocracy, starting with the hated Void Engineers. Norton sees Laws as a potential danger to both the Society of the Xenologic and to Bellerophon Tower itself, but has weighed this risk against Laws' utility as a navigator. The Professor has twice saved the Pegasus by simply teleporting it out of Void Engineer ambushes. Laws plans to learn enough about Prime to create a Device capable of doing this on a regular basis. Sascha Koscovich, "Etheric Scientist" (Dynamic) Nature: Visionary Demeanor: Bon Vivant Spheres: Forces 2, Matter 3, Mind 2, Prime 1, Spirit 2 Had an Ecstatic Cultist named Ignatius (see below) not arrived at his favorite club fifteen minutes late, Sascha Koscovich's life would have gone very differently indeed. As it is, Koscovich became so involved in a discussion about science and the true nature of reality that she completely forgot about her date with the famous local singer. Koscovich's conversation partner, a Son of Ether, Awakened her that night. By morning, the energetic young woman had begun to develop theories which conflicted with her Mentor's; this trend still continues. Sascha departs from standard Etheric tradition by concentrating on light and color rather than electricity; her pet projects range from aura photography to altering moods through color to attracting spirits by "resonant polydimensional spectrography." She usually has at least one temporary Paradox Flaw related to this, such as a polychromatic aura or bright violet hair and nails. She still spends much of her time with Ignatius, and Niles Greene accuses her of acting like a Cultist. Ignatius, Cultist of Ecstasy (Primordial) Nature: Caregiver Demeanor: Bon Vivant Spheres: Life 4, Mind 2, Prime 2, Spirit 1, Time 2 Ignatius is in the habit of letting reality take him where it will. When he met the guitarist of the newly-leaderless "razorfunk" group Surrealistic Nacho, he let himself drift into the role of the new lead singer. When he met a near-Awakened girl after a gig, he let her talk him into a date, where he would begin her apprenticeship. When he arrived fifteen minutes late and found that she had moved on to another Destiny, he let her go. And when his Avatar appeared to him in the form of a golden unicorn and told him that his Destiny lay with hers, beyond the reach of the living Earth, he let it run his life. Ignatius is basically along for the ride; but oh, what a ride! ------------------------------ The Nodes of Bellerophon Tower Lizette Mound: A so-called "faerie mound" located just outside of Lizette, Quebec, this Node is connected with a few local legends of mischievous dwarves. These dwarves, which were only active during the full moon, have not been sighted by any witnesses since the construction of the Tower, two years ago. Tass sometimes collects here in the form of small, brightly-colored flowers. The Umpqua Site: This Node, located in western Oregon, is entirely devoid of the spiritual qualities which usually indicate a Node. It might never have been located if it hadn't become associated with sightings of the Ka Luon. It was here that Munnell, searching for the aliens, acquired the Xenologic. UFO sightings in the vicinity declined after Munnell's encounter, but have been on the rise since the Tower was created. Lichtenstein Tower: Dr. Lichtenstein, believing he had sufficient knowledge of Prime to create a Node, decided to test out this theory in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Although his construction, a fifteen-foot tower of iron struts which glows at night with electrical discharges, does indeed produce Quintessence, it does so erratically. It seems to function best just after being struck by lightning. The Tower displays many other quirks; for instance, it has been attacked twice by flocks of birds, and once by a small army of lizards. It is also often surrounded by a shimmering "mirage" which, thankfully, obscures it from any Sleepers wandering the desert. Because of these irregularities, and because Lichtenstein himself was nearly killed by a Prime surge during the creation of the Node, no similar experiments are planned for the future. Petrotta's Workshop: The warehouse district of St. Louis holds this small, inconspicuous Node, which was originally used as a workshop by the alchemically-oriented Son of Ether Reynaldo Petrotta. One of Dr. Petrotta's last works was a homunculus, a miniature man created through alchemy. According to Petrotta's journal, the homunculus experiment was indeed successful, but no trace of it has ever been found. Several Laboratory members have reported that, while nobody is in the workshop, somebody rearranges its contents, but none have yet proved it. The Horizon Realm Basic Concept Bellerophon Tower is built in the middle of the Prometheus Desert, which was originally conceived in the mind of its creator, Dr. Lichtenstein. Although nobody can accuse Lichtenstein of being stupid or incompetent, he's not exactly original: the desert has a suspicious resemblance to Arizona. This resemblance disappears at night, when the true nature of the Realm becomes evident. Prometheus' night sky, definitely not that of Earth, shines with the light of two moons and a dazzling sea of alien stars. Considering its youth -- the Realm is very definitely in Spring -- it shouldn't be surprising that the desert is still almost entirely undeveloped. However, it may be somewhat shocking to find out that the desert isn't actually fully explored, either. Lichtenstein published a science-fiction novel containing a description of the Realm about five years ago; few people read it (it wasn't very good), but the Scientist gambled on even this minimal belief aiding in the construction. Unfortunately, he turned out to be more right than he knew, and those who read the novel added their own interpretations and imaginative beliefs to the Realm. Thus, the Prometheus Desert is a mystery even to its maker. Environment The desert is reasonably benign as deserts go, with few violent storms and only hot rather than blistering weather. Further, there are copious water-bearing plants scattered throughout the sands and rocks, so plentiful, obvious, and easy to use that it seems almost as though they were created to help sustain life in the desert. (They were -- this is part of the Laboratory's terraforming scheme.) The zoology of the Realm is extremely weird. The Scientists brought in standard, southwestern American desert animals, such as lizards, when they first arrived. Now, two years afterwards, this bland ecosystem is clearly no longer in existence. Instead, everything from bright- plumaged eagle-like birds to illogically immense lizards to manticores have been sighted. This reveals an as-yet-unproven environmental hazard: mutation. It seems that Lamarckian evolution is in full effect in Prometheus, which would fit well with some of the ideas expressed in the novel. Experimentation has shown that Life Science is easier, particularly that dealing with transformation, and that changes to an organism seem to be expressed in its offspring. It is suspected that this can affect humans, as well, but this has not been observed among the Laboratory's Sleeper staff yet. In light of this odd feature of the Realm, its inhabitants are arguing over whether or not to rename it the Proteus Desert. Denizens of the Realm The desert is supposed to be uninhabited. However, explorers have seen a winged man (nicknamed "Icarus") flying in the distance on several different occasions. There have also been two encounters with mysterious lights and unexplained laughter--the Scientists have not yet decided whether this is evidence of the Faerie or of stranger beings. Professor Deveraux is investigating both rumors through the development of a "psychic radar" system capable of homing in on sentient minds. Sphere Effects Life Science is indeed easier to perform in Prometheus, and skill checks against transforming effects (Shape Tree, Better Body, Metamorphosis) receive a +4 bonus to skill. Attempts to control randomness through Entropy are just slightly more difficult, and effects such as Statistical Delation Through Paradigm Alteration will receive a -2 penalty on skill. This same penalty occurs while trying to predict the future through Time, and any failures due to this penalty will result in he prediction of a wildly improbable future. There may be other effects on Science in the Realm, but they have yet to be discovered. [Note that these effects are for GURPS rules; in Storyteller, the bonus to Life is -2, and the penalty to specific Entropy and Time effects is +1.] Chantry Description Bellerophon Tower: The Tower rises like an arrow of gleaming steel from the desert sands. It is easily the size of some New York skyscrapers, although more slender, and less efficiently designed. The overall effect is one of ambition, with just a touch of bad taste. The Tower is constantly under construction on the inside. For example, there are three different elevator systems: a massive freight elevator which works on steam, a semi-functional teleporter (it usually gets close to the right floor), and an empty shaft which Greene uses for anti-gravity experiments. The stairs, oddly, get a lot of use. Lichtenstein has estimated that Bellerophon Tower could easily hold five times as many people as it does now, though this might require some of the cluttered workrooms of the Scientists to be emptied. Bellerophon Tower is almost entirely self-sufficient. The top five stories contain a variety of electrohydroponic chambers, which grow plants at five times the rate of nonelectrified hydroponics. The electricity for this is provided by solar paneling in the roof and outside walls, and the water by massive hydrosilicate electroconverters in the basement, which can turn sand and rock into water through the miracle of electricity. In keeping with Etheric philosophy, the Tower is not very well-armed. Greene believes he could rewire the solar panels to become electrical projectors, but, as with so much else in the Laboratory, this is still untested. However, the Scientists have a great transportation system at their disposal: four "dune zeppelins," bus-sized lighter-than-air vehicles designed to cruise about ten feet off the ground, at about the speed of a bicycle. St. Louis Office: The Earthly manifestation of Bellerophon Tower is, rather disappointingly, a small office in a warehouse on the edge of downtown St. Louis. Should anybody actually hunt down this office, that of an unlisted and unnamed book distributor, they would simply find a dingy warehouse filled with far too many science-fiction novels. This warehouse also holds the Laboratory's Earthly assets, namely, a rather battered delivery van and a mint-condition Edsel. Purpose The purpose of Bellerophon Tower is, in Lichtenstein's words, "to reach Olympus." The Chantry's goal is ultimately the terraforming and colonization of Mars. This hugely complicated task is being pursued in dozens of different ways, from developing lifeforms capable of enduring in the Martian soil, to attempting to predict the effects of colonization on social structures. The Society of the Xenologic is less involved with this planning aspect of the project as it is with the development of safe routes to the Red Planet. Realistically, this purpose is subject to change. Professor Laws envisions converting the Tower into a War Chantry to fight the Void Engineers for the Deep Umbra, and Lichtenstein himself secretly plans to use the Laboratory to train a new generation of Etheric Scientists. History Bellerophon Tower is very young indeed. Lichtenstein had drawn up the plans while still an apprentice, but hadn't managed to do more than correct them occasionally until he met Captain Norton at the Great Hall in Paris. Since she had the Tass and the Node he needed, and he could provide the Laboratory she had been looking in vain for, they formed a partnership. The entire affair, however, has been fraught with complications, little mysteries and unexplained deviations from the original plan. Since the actual creation of the Realm two years ago, nothing particularly disastrous has happened, but neither have the original ends of the Laboratory come any closer to being fulfilled. Chantry Inhabitants The Tower is decidedly short on servants. Essentially, the Laboratory is forced to rely upon the Acolytes of its various members, which include an ambitious sci-fi writer, a nurse who Dr. Shih was accustomed to working with, a clunky robot named "ZORTAK" which Captain Norton picked up off another group of Ethernauts, and, yes, a hunchbacked dwarf. Dr. Shih has offered to create a servitor race of mindless tree-men to help with the chores, but she has yet to receive encouragement from anybody. Internal Structure and Relations Never one to miss a detail, Lichtenstein made sure that the Laboratory had a written covenant, one which, like the U. S. Constitution, can (theoretically) be amended as the Chantry subject to it changes. All of the full-fledged members of the Tower receive a say in what occurs within it, and are mostly autonomous in their own activities. In practice, Lichtenstein's personality controls the affairs of Bellerophon Tower, and not even Professor Greene has objected to this. The Laboratory also possesses a rudimentary legal code, dealing with the means to both accept new members and expel old ones. The code has not been tested. External Relations Bellerophon Tower is still extremely young, and is well aware of it. They have not yet attracted much attention, although Lichtenstein plans to publish an article about the Realm as soon as it is "finished." The fact that it likely never will be does not concern him much. Status and Reputation Bellerophon Tower is essentially unknown, but those who know of it have little reason to disrespect it. However, the fact that it was constructed without consulting the Great Hall would likely tarnish the Realm's image in the eyes of some of the more conservative Sons of Ether. Status: 0 Reputation: 2 Policy Regarding Outsiders The Tower's Scientists are leery of being discovered by Void Engineers or Nephandi, but realize that the Laboratory is too young to survive without allies, and too small to survive without further recruitment. As such, they will be polite and hospitable to any who stumble through a shallowing, but will be extremely careful not to reveal any information they feel might harm them. Visitors to the Realm may feel oddly like prisoners. Allies and Enemies Luckily for the young Chantry, they have earned no obvious enemies yet. However, the Pegasus has thrice been ambushed by what appears to be a single group of Nephandi Deep Umbrood, implying that the ship, at least, has acquired a nemesis. Unfortunately, Bellerophon Tower is almost as short of allies. Ignatius knows a few low-ranking Toreador, and all of the Etheric Scientists have contacts in their Scientific society, but the Laboratory has only one truly reliable ally. Kath'kar, an adventuresome Umbrood, was saved from Void Engineers by the Pegasus, and has since sworn eternal service to Captain Norton. Unfortunately, his only aid to date has been providing a guardian spirit for the Lichtenstein Tower. If the Ka Luon do exist, then there is certainly a good chance that they are interested in the Realm. However, they have not yet made a confirmable appearance, and the rumors have not made clear how helpful or hostile the aliens might be. There is a chance that the Faerie might also be aware of Bellerophon Tower, but, again, any opinions they might hold about it have been kept secret. Research Capabilities The Tower is still limited in its research facilities. It does contain one of the largest collections of back issues of Paradigma in the Tellurian, but members of other Traditions may not find this entirely impressive. The Laboratory also possesses an incredible collection of science fiction, including some "lost" works of Jules Verne. Fortunately, this same problem does not apply to workspace. There are more laboratories in the Tower than there are bedrooms, and most are still empty. Wandering these labs, full of experiments ranging from Dr. Shih's demented parodies of botany to Niles Greene's sparking attempts at Teslan transmission, would drive many Sleeper researchers mad. The Laboratory's computer system is still unreliable, although B-Loop has worked out a great deal of the bugs. It is also the single best method the Bellerophonians have of learning about the outside world. Deveraux and Ignatius each have their own sets of spies, but neither seems to get much useful information out of them. There is always enough Quintessence available to sustain the Node, but a surplus is entirely dependent upon how well Lichtenstein Tower is functioning (see above). Professor Laws has advocated raiding Void Engineer outposts for their Quintessence stores, but his enthusiasm is unshared. Stories The basic mood of Bellerophon Tower is one of strangeness, and of unrestrained futures. From this point, everything is possible, even possibilities which nobody has yet considered. The unexpected will occur, apparently of its own volition, and every mystery solved will engender two new ones. Story Ideas for Bellerophon Tower 1. While investigating a strange metal tower in the middle of the Mojave Desert, the characters suddenly find that the land around them has changed. Trapped in the Prometheus Desert, they must brave giant lizards, unseen antagonists, and the environment itself. Even if they survive this and find Bellerophon Tower, will the characters be able to convince the Laboratory members of their good intentions? 2. The characters have been in constant conflict with the New World Order of St. Louis. While trying to infiltrate it, they discover that the New World Order is performing some infiltration itself; it suspects a young Etheric Laboratory within the city, and is attempting to place a spy in it. Will the characters risk blowing their operation to save this Chantry? 3. The strange happenings in the desert suddenly become much more frequent, mapped territories change inexplicably, and Scientists start to disappear. But who is actually causing this, and why are they doing it? And, most importantly, how can they be stopped? 4. The Pegasus will return from a voyage, but has brought a Zigg'raugglurr stowaway with it. The achronological being, loose in the Realm, begins summoning allies through the Horizon. Unless it was stopped, it will have killed all of the Bellerophonians and used the Realm as a beachhead for an invasion of Earth. 5. One of Dr. Shih's experiments goes hideously awry, and the plants in the electrohydroponic chambers attempt to take over the Tower. Can anybody keep Bellerophon Tower from becoming a Little Shop of Horrors?