1919: After the Trenches (By Jeremy K. Mosher)
Introduction
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries an era of discovery, modernization, and industrialization enveloped the world. This time generally coincides with the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward. This is also later age of steam, just before the internal combustion gasoline engine started to become a viable alternative. Electricity was slowly being harnessed to power homes and inventions. The Steam Ship, the Locomotive, the Telegraph, and even air travel all began to connect the furthest reaches of the world. As the known world became more hectic the urge for adventure exploded. Archaeologists, Explorers, Hunters, and Treasure Seekers roamed the wilds charting the uncharted and searching for the treasures of myth and lore. Modern history details these exploits, proving some true, others as hoaxes. Pseudo-sciences appeared and vanished as advances not only in technology, but also methodology allowed proof of theory and concept easily repeatable. And if all continued as it should have we would be in the world as we see it today.
Winds of Change
Civil unrest, and colonial aspirations, combined with the increasing power of emerging Industrial figures lead to a polarized and volatile political climate. Add in a resurgence of Theological doctrine and it was not long until the modern world devolved into barbarism.
A Note About the Time Line.
The main body of the time line is unaltered from "real" history. The only points expanded on are creations for the setting of this game. If you are interested in "true" World War One history, check out the Wikipedia, and the numerous sites dedicated to this great and traumatic event.
The Outbreak of War (1914)
Starting with posturing and provocations it did not take long for most of "the Powers that Be" in Europe and Africa to declare and move into armed action against their neighbors.
June:
Assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Princess Sophie.
July:
Austria-Hungary declares War on Serbia.
August:
German declares War on Russia.
Italy declares Neutrality.
Germany declares War on France and Belgium.
United Kingdom Declares War on Germany.
Montenegro declares War on Austria-Hungary.
Austria-Hungary declares War on Russia.
Serbia declares War on Germany.
Montenegro declares War on Germany.
France declares War on Austria-Hungary.
The United Kingdom declares War on Austria-Hungary.
Austria-Hungary declares War on Belgium.
Japan declares War on Germany.
Japan declares War on Austria-Hungary.
November:
Russia declares War on Ottoman Empire.
Montenegro declares War on Ottoman Empire.
France and the United Kingdom declare War on the Ottoman Empire.
December 16th, 1914
The German fleet tests a new weapon. Chemical Warheads on the cities of Scarborough and Hartlepool England. With mixed results.
December 24th & 25th:
Unofficial Christmas truce is declared between French and German forces.
Zeppelin Chemical Raids on Great Britain (January 1915)
Taking notes from the attempted shelling late in 1914, the Germans improved not only the delivery and dispersal of chemical agents, but also a less costly method to deploy. Outrage echoed through out the civilized world as the horror of mass scale, indiscriminate release of chemical agents into military and civilian targets, but the effect was undeniable. Cities evacuated, nearly open revolt of the civilian population against a government ill-equipped to defend against this "Horror from the Heavens."
Unrestricted use of Chemical Weapons (February to May 1915)
Spurned on by the actions of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and every country with even the smallest stockpile of chemical agents unleashed them en mass into trenches, troops, camps, and towns. This tactic continued for several months until advances in defensive technologies such as the gas-mask lead to fewer and fewer gains. Soon poison gas vanished from active duty, being relegated to bobby-trap use. The damage was done. huge numbers of the general populace now lay crippled with lung and eyes problems, effectively draining not only resources to man the lines, but also run the industrial engines of supply.
Blood in the Water (February 1915)
The European nations knew that any continued war effort would hinge on the importation of goods and men from the Americas. With the Central powers having no real allies in the new world they embarked on a vicious campaign of submarine tactics in the sinking of any vessel caught in open waters. The sinking of not only merchant marine traffic but also civilian vessels .
Entrenchment and Stalemate (March 1915)
With death striking from the sky and the sea, land forces dug in, and the waiting began. Each side attempted to dislodge this stalemate with various tactics, and plans, but in the end for the rest of the year the lines didn't vary in the slightest.
The Automations (April 1916)
In hidden factories, attempts, successes and failures were made to offset the lack of able-bodies men and at this point women to main the lines. Massive clockwork and steam powered metal tracked monsters started to crawl over the lines. Using early radio these slow creations coordinated actions with the remaining infantry forces. Creating the first real gains in territory since the start of the war.
"the Kraken" Mines (June 1916)
Even with the submarines sinking everything in sight, convoy tactics and radio transmitters allowed for counter-measures to be deployed. Early in June however a new threat emerged. No country took responsibility for the deployment of these silent clock-work horrors. Nicknamed "the Kraken" after the undersea horror of antiquity these indiscriminate killers drifting silently on the ebb and flow of the tides and currents effectively ceased all by water transportation of materials.
Ten Weeks of Terror (April-June 1917)
In a preemptive action against rumors of an American "Trans Oceanic Air-Ship" the combined resources of the surviving Central Powers unleashed the start of what is now known as the "Ten Weeks of Terror." In secret thousands of simple clock work zeppelins were released into the air. Floating undetected, high above the limits of human endurance these silent munitions drifted on the air currents all around the world. Starting in the first days of April the mechanisms wound down, or completely failed dropping lethal payloads of explosives, chemicals, and incendiaries randomly all over the world. The out cry of the already frayed civilian populations erupted in civil unrest and ultimately war through out the Americas, Russia and the Middle East. The effect was not lost on others nations. Supply routes ended. Alliances shattered, and chaos reigned.
"Behemoth" Land-Ships Appear (August 1917)
With the aftermath of the "Ten Weeks" all movement on the fronts had stopped. In fact most of the action was now happening inside each countries borders as the remains of local governments tried to quell uprisings of the brutalized civilian populace. In a gambit the Scottish and Irish peoples unleashed one of the last technological monstrosities onto the fields of battle. Named "the Behemoth" these nearly solid iron machines combined clock-works, difference engines and Tesla inspired electrical generators to grind their seven tracks across the scorched ground. Unleashing blasts of searing charged beams upon any moving thing that crossed their wide paths.
Pandemic (Winter 1917-1918)
If automated weapons, chemical bombs, and rouge military units did not unsettle the balance of man's dominion the outbreak of influenza was the final straw. Whole families, divisions and communities perished. Leaving masses of unburied corpses dotting the countries of the world. There were rumors that some countries, those separated by water, did not suffer this fate.
"the Medusa" Appear (Spring 1918)
Some say it was a Canadian counter for the Ten Weeks, but no one is confirming it. While there are dispatches that confirm the existence, no one has ever reported seeing one. A testament to its lethality perhaps? What can be confirmed is the finding of whole trench lines void of life, and choked with blade mutilated corpses.
Attrition and Automations (1918-1919)
Men and resources vanished as automations and continued unrestricted use of chemical weapons decimated the world's population. This "Total War" took man to the edge of extinction. . . and in the opinion of some beyond.
The Mutual Armistice (February 1919)
The use of automations and chemical weapons caused an unrelenting attrition of men on all sides. Fearing that continued outward hostilities would completely cripple old and new nations alike. A proposal for a Mutual Armistice was proposed via telegraph and radio by multiple nations. It was a simple proposal, asking all nations to cease any outward actions. It made no requests for disarmament, or even suggestions of revising current borders. It contained only a plea to the humanity of all.
"The Dead are remembered by the living. If we continue with this course no one shall remain to remember any of us."
With in days all outward actions ceased.
Internal Conflicts End (Spring and Summer of 1919)
While the Mutual Armistice ceased outward hostilities, internal conflicts and civil wars still ravaged many nations. However with resources and energies not being used to capture of defend territory governments were able to focus on quelling these disputes. The Summer of 1919 marked the end of these conflicts.
Civilian "Free" Travel Accord (July 1919)
Though the armistice stopped outward hostilities, the borders of new nations, city states and empires remained closed. To prevent and limit the powers of large scale smuggling and black market operations, the various nations agreed to allow civilian travel via specified routes. The Civilian "Free" Travel Accord was born. The signatories agreed that joint protection of established trade routes would allow for trade and commerce to flourish, as long as the travelers had documentation, and the vehicles were unarmed. An amendment to the Accord in December of 1919 provided the signatories with the absolute right of search on all vessels and Right of Seizure of any goods of weaponizing value.
The Year is 1919. It is Autumn.
Open war has ended. Civilians and trade can move between nations and cities, almost unhindered. But the world is scarred. Trenches criss cross almost every land mass. Craters and ruins decorate every landscape. The seas are impassable, and over land travel is almost suicidal. Roaming automations, undetonated ordinance, and bands of brigands rule the wasts of "No-Man's Land".
The fog of war is slowly lifting, leaving all who have survived with a great sense is despair. The need to rebuild drives many now, while others witnesses to the horrors man plied upon man wait for their turn to embrace the peace of the grave.
Winter is fast approaching.
1919: After the Trenches; is an apolitical steam-punk themes role playing game. Where players create characters who have survived the barbaric and inhuman actions of nations at war.
The Game World
While the preceding pages give a glossing over of recent history in relation to the war, the game world is not set. Game Masters and Players are encouraged to describe and populate the world as they travel on adventures and missions.
However there are a couple premises that are absolutes in "1919: After the Trenches".
This is Earth using an alternate history.
The Laws of Physics are in effect.
The Laws of Gravity are in effect.
The Laws of Nature are in effect.
There are no Magic Spells.
There are no Psionic Abilities.
There are no Superhuman Powers.
No nation or landmass on the planet was untouched by the war. It was global in scale and effects.