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Ice Cave table of contents
March or Die
Foreign Legion Tidbits
Anonimity in the Legion
Legionaire Boredom
National Perspective
India vs Pakistan Scenario Options
Germany Angle
More Legion Facts
More Germany Angles
Kashmir Scenario Options
Germany Angle - the DG Perspective
European Implications
Legion Policy
Legion Failure
Legion Etrangere
Realm of Shadows Adaptation
More Europe
Controlling United Europa
Legion Interests
More Realm of Shadows (3 long entries)
Rambo Wannabees?
Poonk
St Jerome Involvement?
Guiana Launch Sites
Shan Infiltrators
Germans in the Foreign Legion at Last!
Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 23:22:20 EDT
From: Mark McFadden
If you want to have Russians tied in with the Southeast Asian branch, you'd probably have to wait until the Vietnam War - AFAIK Southeast Asia was pretty much carved up between the British, French, and Dutch in the 19th century.
Which reminds me of something else I wanted to bring up. The French Foreign Legion. Let the French-bashing begin!
The Foreign Legion is a mercenary force. It accepts recruits from many nationalities, and is famous for not asking questions about a recruit's background. For gaming purposes, you can stick most any nationality into any geographical region where the French were feisty if they get there via the Foreign Legion.
I've read that most of the Foreign Legion forces in Viet Nam prior to the US involvement were German, presumably ex-Nazi. Perhaps the Foreign Legion was heavy with White Russians prior to that.
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 01:31:34 EDT
From: Dave K.
Ah, something i can chime in on :)
Which reminds me of something else I wanted to bring up. The French Foreign Legion. Let the French-bashing begin! The Foreign Legion is a mercenary force. It accepts recruits from many nationalities, and is famous for not asking questions about a recruit's background. For gaming purposes, you can stick most any nationality into any geographical region where the French were feisty if they get there via the Foreign Legion.
Here's a few tidbits on the FFL for any who are interested: First off, its just a twist of semantics but the FFL itself is not a mercenary force. It is controled by France and a legitimate member of its order of battle. Now the members of it may be mercenaries (its one of those sticky definitions that people associated with it tend to get hung up on). Almost all of the officers are French army (though some do rise from the ranks). It is the enlisted and NCOs that are members of other countries. The number one country supplying members to the FFL? France. Most members are French who tinker a little with their background and leave France and reenter to join. Other major nationalities that comprise the unit depend on the era. After WWII it was Germans. Currently Eastern Europe is a main supplier.
When one becomes a member of the FFL, he leaves his former life behind. Only the unit's security officer knows full details on the member. New identities are issued to those who wish them. 3 years service allows the legionaire to become a French citizen. Retiring from the FFL gains them benefits.
The FFL breaks down as follows:
Regiments-
1st REC (Armored) located at Orange, France
2nd REI (Motorized Infantry) located at Nimes, France
6th REG (Combat Engineers) located at Avignon, France
2nd REP (Airborne & Special Operations) located on Corsica
5th Regiment located in Tahiti
13th Demi-Brigade located in Djibouti
A detachment stationed at Mayotte
3rd REI located in French Guyana
Total Strength: Approx. 8500 (2000 Officers and 6500 Enlisted)
I've read that most of the Foreign Legion forces in Viet Nam prior to the US involvement were German, presumably ex-Nazi. Perhaps the Foreign Legion was heavy with White Russians prior to that.
Former members of the Waffen-SS made up a sizeable portion of the FFL's Indo-China strength. A scenario I have on the burner features some former Karotechia members who find their old ways hard to give up when they come into contact with Tcho-Tchos and some of the other shadowy elements of this corner of the world.
Post-WWII France is an area ripe for DG involvement. Their own occult past allows alot of exploration by itself. Factor in the collapse of an empire, shadowy intelligence dealings of their own, a UFO agency, Third Reich/Karotechia crossovers ops in their territory and a host of other items and you've got quite a bit.
In my campaign I have a semi-mythos aware group within France's government that functions as sort of a DG/MJ crossgroup. They handle both sides of the fence, UFOs and the supernatural. They grew out of France's occult rape during WW2 and a vow that that will never happen again. The FFL is one of their policy tools…(And the Rainbow Warrior sinking is because they've "linked" Green groups to Shub-Niggurath worship, so they have their "Waco" too :) ).
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 17:13:17 EDT
From: Dave K.
It's not so much a case of asking questions as the potential recruit telling the Legion about any trouble he may be involved. According to a deserter Legionnaire I once worked with (I accepted him as such because the ex-Guards sergeant I was working for believed what he said as well) the trick to be accepted is to be completely honest with the Legion because they will find out everything when they run a check on you; the crime doesn't really matter - but the honesty does.
The way i understand it, this is absolutely true. The only person who knows the complete background of a FFL recruit is the unit's security officer. He will help the recruit completely change his identity if the recruit wants to. There are a handful of crimes the FFL won't take you for (so serial killers need not apply) but they are very lenient. The FFl has always been a place for leaving one's past behind. Also, the main reason for joining the Legion…dim employment prospects or financial troubles (though adventure, broken hearts and the various other "romantic" reasons do exist). The Legion has been likened to a monk's order, which makes it ripe for exploration in a DG context. With its worldwide connections and involvement and mix of nationalities, there is a lot to explore there.
The reason the Legion gets sent to France's trouble spots is because it isn't subject to the same controls as the Metropolitan forces for mobilisation, and is perceived as tough yet expendable.
Again, I totally agree. It seems that every country has a force that fits this bill. Here in the US, it would be either the USMC or our SpecOps troops. And this is more than a view of their capabilities or missions. It's a psychological thing. If you talk about sending in the Army and Air Force, it seems like warning signs go up. Sending in the Marines almost seems more acceptable and less "threatening." Running ops with SpecOps has the same low-key aura about it. Its a strange public view (if DG was public, you can bet they would fall into this category, too:) ). Their mystique makes them tough and expendable, too.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 00:20:35 +0200
From:Eckhard Huelshoff
Also, the main reason for joining the Legion…dim employment prospects or financial troubles (though adventure, broken hearts and the various other "romantic" reasons do exist).
And sometimes it's just being bored. The fathers of two of my friend joined the FFL for a couple of years just because they did not know anything better to do with their lives. The experience of the Algerian War taught them that a lot of things are better than joining the FFL just because you're bored…
Again, I totally agree. It seems that every country has a force that fits this bill.
Well, Germany doesn't have anything like this. Yet.
Here in the US, it would be either the USMC or our SpecOps troops. And this is more than a view of their capabilities or missions. It's a psychological thing. If you talk about sending in the Army and Air Force, it seems like warning signs go up. Sending in the Marines almost seems more acceptable and less "threatening." Running ops with SpecOps has the same low-key aura about it. Its a strange public view (if DG was public, you can bet they would fall into this category, too:) ). Their mystique makes them tough and expendable, too.
I think there is some difference. My French friends told me that just the fact that most of the FFL are foreigners makes them expendable. It's not the nation's sons that have to bite the dust, so you don't really have to care. I think when the US sends in the USMC there's still the fear of having the nation watch their children die on CNN. When France sends the FFL, it's just some mercenaries from other nations. I think there definitely is a difference. But probably I'm wrong on this one.
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 22:29:19 EDT
From: Dave K.
I think there is some difference. My French friends told me that just the fact that most of the FFL are foreigners makes them expendable. It's not the nation's sons that have to bite the dust, so you don't really have to care. I think when the US sends in the USMC there's still the fear of having the nation watch their children die on CNN. When France sends the FFL, it's just some mercenaries from other nations. I think there definitely is a difference. But probably I'm wrong on this one.
i don't think you are wrong, I think it's a matter of national perspective (in the case, France's). They view the FFL as expendable because it's foriegn composition allows them to think that. They ignore the fact that most of the members are really French incognito. The USMC are generally viewed as knuckle-dragging neanderthals. SpecOps troops are viewed as supermen. Sending in these forces tends to elict a different response from the public. These forces are meant to be used and they paid their money and take their chances (this is not always true but it is a general perception).
You send in that private from a armored unit in Texas or a pilot from California and suddenly its a human interest story. Just seems to be the way things are…
Now this talk of the FFL has sparked up a few possible uses in DG. First, consider the more organized cult that is recruiting people. They send them to join the FFL to erase their previous lives and recieve military training. As these cultist return to their base of operation, they are not a bunch of wild screaming madmen but a disciplined force to be reckoned with. There is also the possibility of a corrupted security officer who allows cultist to enter the FFL and also screens others for possible recruitment. Pulling strings, he may be able to have these cultist either grouped in one unit and stationed somewhere where they can make their influence felt (corrupting locals, setting up a pocket empire, acting as agent provacateurs or simply attempting to worship in "peace"). They could also be spread out amongst the Legion, corrupting both the unit and providing a great international recruiting tool for when the Legionaires return home.
Realm of Shadow Spoilers below
Finally, why not run a sequel or modern interpretation of Realm of Shadows? The cult of Mordiggian would still have followers in the area and a somewhat isolated unit of the FFL would make a tempting (and powerful) ally to them. French Guyana might be by now a complete little empire of a ghoul faction with some serious mortal firepower to back it up. A "rogue" group of the FFL could even be opposed to them, giving DG an ally if they get involved. Throw in a Jim Jones-style cult and I see a scenario coming together…
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 10:30:58 +0200
From: Eckhard Huelshoff
[ snipped ]
Now this talk of the FFL has sparked up a few possible uses in DG. First, consider the more organized cult that is recruiting people. They send them to join the FFL to erase their previous lives and recieve military training. As these cultist return to their base of operation, they are not a bunch of wild screaming madmen but a disciplined force to be reckoned with. There is also the possibility of a corrupted security officer who allows cultist to enter the FFL and also screens others for possible recruitment. Pulling strings, he may be able to have these cultist either grouped in one unit and stationed somewhere where they can make their influence felt (corrupting locals, setting up a pocket empire, acting as agent provacateurs or simply attempting to worship in "peace"). They could also be spread out amongst the Legion, corrupting both the unit and providing a great international recruiting tool for when the Legionaires return home.
And the FFL might even be used for purposes that might be helpful for the work of DG. Since even whole units of the FFL can be considered "expendable", they might be the right ones to do the dirty work where a high rate of casualties can be expected.
The FFL discussion and the talk about our Tcho-Tcho friends made me think about the following possible scenario:
Taking the India / Pakistan - Conflict as a background I chose Kashmir as the setting. The PCs are looking for Mythos-relevant incidents, probably under the cover of the UN or an organization like the Red Cross. After hints from members of the Pakistani Forces in the area they discover that India is using Tcho-Tcho mercenaries that live in the Kashmir region. Then the PC are contacted by French Agents who are on a search and rescue mission. They are looking for a French journalist who has been kidnapped a few weeks or months ago [ Remember all the kidnappings that took place in Kashmir during the last years ]. Everything leads to the Tcho-Tcho-mercenaries' base of operation: A huge temple dedicated to the bloated woman high upon a mountain in the Kashmir region: The PCs join a FFL Platoon on their mission to wipe out the Tcho-Tcho and whatever might be found in the temple's catacombs…
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 09:40:46 EDT
From: ScottSaylo
I think there is some difference. My French friends told me that just the fact that most of the FFL are foreigners makes them expendable. It's not the nation's sons that have to bite the dust, so you don't really have to care. I think when the US sends in the USMC there's still the fear of having the nation watch their children die on CNN. When France sends the FFL, it's just some mercenaries from other nations. I think there definitely is a difference. But probably I'm wrong on this one.
That's it in a nutshell. The interesting thing is that the Germans make up a sizable portion of the FFL. Germany has been constitutionally forbidden from sending troops outside the country to this point. That has changed, how Germany will change her structure to allow the public to accept German troopsin foreign clime is still up in the air.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 16:26:41 +0200
From: Eckhard Huelshoff
That's it in a nutshell. The interesting thing is that the Germans make up a sizable portion of the FFL.
Especially East Germans, many of them former officers and sergeants from East Germany's NVA.
Germany has been constitutionally forbidden from sending troops outside the country to this point. That has changed, how Germany will change her structure to allow the public to accept German troopsin foreign clime is still up in the air.
It has already changed the structure to some point. Since the early nineties Germany has several units that are part of the Rapid Reaction Force. And our last defense secretary Volker Ruehe created some kind of Special Operations Team [ of about 60 soldiers ( only officers and NCOs ) as far as I know ]. I received my basic training in an armored cavalry bataillon the was part of the Rapid Reaction Force.
But there's one essential problem: We do not have a professional army! The vast amount of soldiers are just young men who have to do their military service. And this has even been reduced to just 10 months.
And there is some legal problem:
There's a constitutional obligation for every [ healthy ] young man to do his military service [ though he has the opportunity to do some other public service instead ]. But the intention behind this military service is just the defense of Germany, not the military intervention around the globe. The result is that when you only do your service you can not be ordered to take part in operations like for example the Kosovo.
So it will be a long way until we have expendable troops.
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 18:34:15 -0000
From: "Crossingham, Adam"
Mark "March Or Die" McFadden writes: «< …[snip]… It accepts recruits from many nationalities, and is famous for not asking questions about a recruit's background. »>
It's not so much a case of asking questions as the potential recruit telling the Legion about any trouble he may be involved. According to a deserter Legionnaire I once worked with (I accepted him as such because the ex-Guards sergeant I was working for believed what he said as well) the trick to be accepted is to be completely honest with the Legion because they will find out everything when they run a check on you; the crime doesn't really matter - but the honesty does.
Mark again: «< For gaming purposes, you can stick most any nationality into any geographical region where the French were feisty if they get there via the Foreign Legion.»>
The reason the Legion gets sent to France's trouble spots is because it isn't subject to the same controls as the Metropolitan forces for mobilisation, and is perceived as tough yet expendable.
Mark: «< Perhaps the Foreign Legion was heavy with White Russians prior to that. »>
and Dave K.:«< After WWII it was Germans. »>
It was full of Germans after WW1 as well. The French trusted them enough to post most of the Germans to North Africa. The Germans have had a long and honourable tradition of service in the FFL (from the 1850s I think) - there was a German sergeant who won quite a few decorations on WW1's Western front fighting against his countrymen.
Dave K.:«< A scenario I have on the burner features some former Karotechia members who find their old ways hard to give up when they come into contact with Tcho-Tchos and some of the other shadowy elements of this corner of the world. »>
A scenario I hope you're going to share when finished - sounds good.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 10:47:35 EDT
From: ScottSaylo
But there's one essential problem: We do not have a professional army! The vast amount of soldiers are just young men who have to do their military service. And this has even been reduced to just 10 months. And there is some legal problem: There's a constitutional obligation for every [ healthy ] young man to do his military service [ though he has the opportunity to do some other public service instead ]. But the intention behind this military service is just the defense of Germany, not the military intervention around the globe. The result is that when you only do your service you can not be ordered to take part in operations like for example the Kosovo.
It makes for interesting problems and is probably the reason the RRF lists only officers and non-coms - they have a longer contractual obligation to service. Germany will probably discover this approach does not work in the long term. By making the armed forces more attractive you can get volunteers for longer terms or CONSCRIPT for longer periods when necessary the US drafts for two years, though it has not drafted in many years because volunteers are sufficient for force needs.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 10:58:54 EDT
From: Dave K.
The FFL discussion and the talk about our Tcho-Tcho friends made me think about the following possible scenario: Taking the India / Pakistan - Conflict as a background I chose Kashmir as the setting. «Snippage»
Here are a couple of the items that I've been looking at for this corner of the world. In the Kashmir region and the ongoing India/Pakistan "tensions," I am planning on throwing a section in to a scenario in development that involves a new mythos player in the field. The Pakistani Intel organizations are not a group of very nice people (in a field filled with them) and they have considerable power and a very shady network. Having them in bed with a group like the Fate, Cult of Transedendence or Karotechia (or another group) would be not very far-fetched and a powerful force in the region. The DG agents will have some fun with them :). The recent actions could even be from such a groups manipulation. getting to heavily populated nations to start a shooting war (and possibly throw around some nukes) might be the mass sacrifices needed by the Karotechia, a money/power play by the Fate (plus another beacon on the road to the Endtimes), or just a manipulation by the COT towards sociopathy. And besides the obvious advantages of funding the war for these groups, they could get some side benefits. Orphanages and refugee camps could be set up in their name (well, front groups of them anyway), gaining a measure of respect while secretly corrupting. These could then be culled as "farms" for sacrifices and the like.
As for the Tcho-Tchos. I'm exploring a connection between them, the Secret Immortal Masters of the Cthulhu Cult and China (starting with Meo). In the modern day, there is a secret agenda for all that recent Chinese espionage against the US (and that accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy that killed the Journalist/Intel Agents wasn't such an accident. Smell DG's subtle manipulations?). Maybe there's more behind the bamboo curtain than meets the eye :)
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 11:12:19 EDT
From: Dave K
It has already changed the structure to some point. Since the early nineties Germany has several units that are part of the Rapid Reaction Force. And our last defense secretary Volker Ruehe created some kind of Special Operations Team [ of about 60 soldiers ( only officers and NCOs ) as far as I know ]. I received my basic training in an armored cavalry bataillon the was part of the Rapid Reaction Force. But there's one essential problem: We do not have a professional army! «Snippage»
Consider this in a DG-sense. Germany (or any other nation that fits a similar bill) might be currently constrained by its Constitution and other factors. Well, these Constitutions aren't worth the paper they are written on! MJ has completely thrown the US constitution out the door and it can happen anywhere else.
Consider that in Europe, the growing power of the EU. When we factor in the Shan, the Cult of Transedendence, Karotechia and the like, the EU can be quite the sinister organization. Moving slowly at first to get the pieces into place, nothing on the surface seems too bad. Now add a few "Reichstag Fires." A few incidents involving immigration and Europe (or wherever) becomes a little more isolationist. A trade war with the US or Asia provides a common enemy. A little instability at home to put some fear into the locals. Then the government(s) begin pulling together, stepping on their constitutions to provide for the public "good." Nobody knows that their freedom has been taken away. They are part of something bigger. That the manufacturers of this are Shan, immortal neo-nazis or shadowy cultists won't matter. If Hitler can go from a nobody to ruler of Europe in a few years, the forces of the mythos can certainly do it. Germany went from a purely defensive army of 100,000 to a huge war machine in the same time. It's not whats on the paper now but what happens in the future that really matters.
In the face of the mythos and the endtimes, legal matters will find a way to "disappear" and public opinion won't be what it used to be…
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 11:24:19 EDT
From: moc.loa|olyaSttocS#moc.loa|olyaSttocS
Consider that in Europe, the growing power of the EU. When we factor in the Shan, the Cult of Transedendence, Karotechia and the like, the EU can be quite the sinister organization. Moving slowly at first to get the pieces into place, nothing on the surface seems too bad. Now add a few "Reichstag Fires." A few incidents involving immigration and Europe (or wherever) becomes a little more isolationist. A trade war with the US or Asia provides a common enemy. A little instability at home to put some fear into the locals. Then the government(s) begin pulling together, stepping on their constitutions to provide for the public "good." Nobody knows that their freedom has been taken away. They are part of something bigger. That the manufacturers of this are Shan, immortal neo-nazis or shadowy cultists won't matter. If Hitler can go from a nobody to ruler of Europe in a few years, the forces of the mythos can certainly do it.
Or on the other hand the subversive organizations are afraid of public backlash if their conspiratorial efforts become apparent to Germany and they have carefully engineered the current constitution there to keep German teeth pulled to prevent them intervening on the "wrong" side of the argument. Voila - German demilitarism becomes an heroic state, even though they have to overcome it to help the rest of European civilization survive. It would be nice to have the mainstream Germans morale heroes for a change.
From: ScottSaylo
"http://www.thehistorynet.com/WorldWarII/articles/1997/0997_side.htm
Tale Of Two Legions - Sidebar: September '…
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 13:02:34 EDT
From: moc.loa|olyaSttocS#moc.loa|olyaSttocS
think there is some difference. My French friends told me that just the fact that most of the FFL are foreigners makes them expendable. It's not the nation's sons that have to bite the dust, so you don't really have to care. I think when the US sends in the USMC there's still the fear of having the nation watch their children die on CNN. When France sends the FFL, it's just some mercenaries from other nations. I think there definitely is a difference. But probably I'm wrong on this one.
As a matter of policy the Legion is never sent alone. Then the attitude of the Legion (and the fact) is that they never go somewhere to get killed (they are way too valuable) they go somewhere to succeed and have never failed so far!.
Note from a former French military vet to whom I posted the notes about the legion Etrangere!
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 19:28:10 +0200
From: Eckhard Huelshoff
As a matter of policy the Legion is never sent alone. Then the attitude of the Legion (and the fact) is that they never go somewhere to get killed (they are way too valuable) they go somewhere to succeed and have never failed so far!.
[ snipped ]
Hm, they never failed?
Probably there is more to the FFL than just good training, experienced leaders, high morale and state-of-the-art equipment?
May there be some terrible secret behind their invincibility?
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 14:38:45 EDT
From: Mark McFadden
Hm, they never failed? Probably there is more to the FFL than just good training, experienced leaders, high morale and state-of-the-art equipment? May there be some terrible secret behind their invincibility?
Sure, first you change the definition of failure…..
I dunno, but not putting the the FFL record in Indochine in the failure column resembles calling a couple dozen Marines hanging onto a Huey for dear life a "strategic withdrawel from Cambodia."
Bottom line: is there a French flag flying over the contested real estate anymore?
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 14:46:47 EDT
From: ScottSaylo
Sure, first you change the definition of failure….. I dunno, but not putting the the FFL record in Indochine in the failure column resembles calling a couple dozen Marines hanging onto a Huey for dear life a "strategic withdrawel from Cambodia." Bottom line: is there a French flag flying over the contested real estate anymore?
Actually since Dien Bien Phu the legion has been used in much more concentrated short term efforts. There they seem to have done very well.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 16:01:27 EDT
From: ScottSaylo
Not to spend too much bandwidth BUT: The French Foreign Legion is not the real name of the organization. It is the Legion Etrangere. In French it is abbreviated LE and it is part of the Force Rapide. The FFL in French stands for Force Francaise Libre. Or Free French Forces as we called them in World War II. If yo9u want to get all this straight for a DG game based around or within the French Rapid Response Force, you need to get it right!
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 23:19:22 +0200
From: Eckhard Huelshoff
Not to spend too much bandwidth BUT: The French Foreign Legion is not the real name of the organization. It is the Legion Etrangere. In French it is abbreviated LE and it is part of the Force Rapide. The FFL in French stands for Force Francaise Libre. Or Free French Forces as we called them in World War II. If yo9u want to get all this straight for a DG game based around or within the French Rapid Response Force, you need to get it right!
I do not think that it's a waste of bandwidth, because the "Legion Etrangere" is definitely of interest for any DG-campaign. I mean, wherever there is trouble and there are French citizens involved, the Legion is on its way to save their arse.
You're definitely right about the name, but since English seems to become THE standard language, using the international term -at least for discussions like this- should be no problem. But I agree about the names one should use in the game. It always helps to add some flavour when you use the original names.
If anyone out there is intereste in the Legion, there is a site on the net that has a bunch of helpful links:
http://hometown.aol.com/jdainis123/fave/index.htm
BTW, when talking about France and its military:
A couple of years ago, German troops took part in the military parade that takes place every year in Paris on France's national holiday.
The German troops that joined were part of the German - French Brigade. [ This might surprise the non-Europeans, but yes: the French and the Germans cooperate on a military level! ]
Besides the fact that this has been the first parade of German troops in Paris after our invasion in 1940, this might be of interest: The officials had difficulties to co-ordinate the parade, because the standard German speed of marching is faster than the French way of marching. And the Legion's way to walk is even slower and has a strange rhythm they can only keep up by chanting strange songs.
P.S.: During my military service I took part in an exercise, where French took part as well. I had the chance to shoot the French standard weapon, the FA-MAS and the Legion's sniper rifle, the Barret M-82 light fifty. Especially the FA-MAS was quite difference to the standard assault rifles, because of its "bullpup"-configuration. Everybody out there: If you have the chance to try this weapon, do it. It's quite a change!
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 20:26:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: The Man in Black
Finally, why not run a sequel or modern interpretation of Realm of Shadows?
- snippage -
I can see Delta Green protecting the White Ziggurat as part of the emerging ghoul alliance. Perhaps Jim Jones & co. were killed in order to provide fodder for the cult. If the Priests in Zul-Bha-Sair were temporarily overthrown by New-Age Ghouls, the White Ziggurat might be in desperate need of resupply (until Mordiggian is 'accidentally' released for some Countrywide whupa$$.
Keep in mind the implications of Report #3305 : VIRIDIAN FORGE :
http://www.delta-green.com/rf_3305.html
Apparantly the European Space Agency has an equatorial launch facility in French Guyana. Both New World Industries (which finances much of the launchings for it's STARLIGHT telecommunications satellite constellation) and the Shan seem to have a strong presence in the area. The White Ziggurat and the Ghoul cult need to keep very very quiet lest these other modern occult forces of destruction hear their meeping and scurrying and decide to stamp out these vermin.
Delta Green needs to use the Cult of Mordiggian to provide a base of operations in the area, with dreamers or ghoul tunnels providing rapid infiltration to the area when the time to strike NWI and their Shan allies. Ideally, all DG agents will be either dead or gone after they destroy the ESA Launchpad. The subsequent retaliation will of course destroy the White Ziggurat - but then, so what? This betrayal might even strengthen relations with GRU-SD8, who would love to see a horde of ghouls, evil aliens and evil occult korps all get hosed by a simple little scheme of sabotage.
I'll prepare a report on how everything goes down in a few weeks.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 20:55:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: The Man in Black
Consider that in Europe, the growing power of the EU. When we factor in the Shan, the Cult of Transedendence, Karotechia and the like, the EU can be quite the sinister organization.
The difficulty here is getting these various forces to work in concert. That's where Nyarlathotep comes in, as he pulled the same shenanigans with Hitler. However, I don't see the EU presenting a global threat. Rather, it becomes a desperate Russia vs. The Global Economy. According to the Frontline I saw last night:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/crash/
Unregulated international currency and stock market speculation led to a G7 financial rape of less developed nations. Allowing the IMF to rebuild Asian and Russian economies in whatever image they wanted. The final point was that controls needed to be placed on international markets, as Libertarian Self-Regulation isn't really good for the emerging global economy known to some as "McWorld." Other at NWI call it the New World Order.
Nyarlathotep wants a tyrannical world government which will fight the mythos to the last. This is the speediest way for homo sapiens sapiens to extinguish itself. By deluding all the world into thinking that victory is possible, retreat and recovery become impossible as offensive after futile offensive is launched against the reawakened Great Old Ones.
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 21:57:54 EDT
From: Shane Ivey
Germany will probably discover this approach does not work in the long term. By making the armed forces more attractive you can get volunteers for longer terms or CONSCRIPT for longer periods when necessary the US drafts for two years, though it has not drafted in many years because volunteers are sufficient for force needs.
Germany practically invented the modern professional army—I'm sure it won't take too long for their current crop of military leaders to get back into the swing of things.
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 00:21:17 EDT
From: Dave K
The difficulty here is getting these various forces to work in concert. That's where Nyarlathotep comes in, as he pulled the same shenanigans with Hitler. However, I don't see the EU presenting a global threat. Rather, it becomes a desperate Russia vs. The Global Economy. According to the Frontline I saw last night: «Snippage»
I agree that the controlling factor would be Nyarlahotep but you wouldn't really need them to act in concert. Any one could fit the bill and if the others act for or against just adds to the chaos.
Now, what you said about economics has real potential. As DG explains, the old style cults are small and really ineffective today. Its the governments and corporations that are the heralds of the Endtimes. That's why so much control is aimed at them. Raping the economies of the third world is another great path towards the Endtimes and provides another place to look for the mythos for agents. In some adventures they aren't studying ancient tomes but looking for government programs and the trail doesn't lead to an insane witchdoctor but the head of an economic ministry listening to strange whispers in his head. The EU (or any other alliance) is probably a more subtle tool but a greater one (and an enemy too large to really beat but that commands great non-mythos elements for a change of pace). When they finally get towards the inner circle Nyarlahotep and the horrors come out of the woodwork. That's the stuff I love. I think this is an area for my personal exploration. Thanks MIB!
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 08:56:34 -0000
From: "Crossingham, Adam"
Eckhard Huelshoff replies: «< And the FFL might even be used for purposes that might be helpful for the work of DG. »>
Given French sensibilities and political independence, I would have thought the only people the Legion Etrange EVER be working for in the interests of are the French government, or DGSE, and/or whatever the French version of DG is.
And given the nature and expanse of SOE and OSS operations in WW2 France, and French resistance involvement (a la Dave K's recent and efficient roundup of why the French do have a mythos agency) there should almost certainly be a French equivalent of DG.
ObDG: Does anyone want to start another web project and profile a French DG-style agency? We've got the replies from the list, we've got the history and background from the literature and gaming material…. The list seems a bit short on resident French though - which could be viewed as a bonus or a disadvantage….
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 10:35:07 EDT
From: Dave K
ObDG: Does anyone want to start another web project and profile a French DG-style agency? We've got the replies from the list, we've got the history and background from the literature and gaming material…. The list seems a bit short on resident French though - which could be viewed as a bonus or a disadvantage….
I can post up my notes in a few days for my version of a French DG-style agency. Much like several of the things in my campaign its still undergoing development and fleshing out bit if anyone's interested it might be useful or a starting point.
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 11:08:48 EDT
From: Dave K.
I can see Delta Green protecting the White Ziggurat as part of the emerging ghoul alliance. Perhaps Jim Jones & co. were killed in order to provide fodder for the cult. If the Priests in Zul-Bha-Sair were temporarily overthrown by New-Age Ghouls, the White Ziggurat might be in desperate need of resupply (until Mordiggian is 'accidentally' released for some Countrywide whupa$$. (Snippage)
Some very interesting points to consider. Between my ideas and what you've posted I can see my scenario sort of shapping up like this: The new Ghouls are in control of the site (though it has suffered extensive damage from the 1940s "expedition"). The gate is closed but work is commencing to reopen it and the rest of the site. The Shan step into it by control of the launch facility. They had no knowledge of the zigguraut until recently but now are looking for it themselves. A Jim Jones-style cult is there, also. They are an experiment and tool of MJ through MKULTRA experiments. Originally they were there to be out of the way and be observed/tested/etc. Now, MJ wants to use them as spies and saboteurs against the facility. They have no knowledge of the zigguraut. The FFL troops there are divided three ways. Those in Shan control. Those corrupted by the new ghouls. Those stuck in the middle and trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
Both the Fate and karotechia have agents there to monitor the situation and see if there is anything they can grab up. DG walks into this mess with some support from the old ghouls, to either shut down the ziggurrat again or secure it and turn it over to the old ghouls as part of their alliance. I am going to try and capture the flavor of a "neutral" city of WW2 (like Casablanca or Instanbul). An exotic location with dozens of enemy agents operating in secret with their own agendas, double-crosses and temporary alliances and so on. hopefully it will be successful :).
Date: Fri, 2 Jul 1999 08:55:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: The Man in Black
The new Ghouls are in control of the site (though it has suffered extensive damage from the 1940s "expedition"). The gate is closed but work is commencing to reopen it and the rest of the site.
How do the NewSchool Ghouls from NYC know about the site? As far as I know they aren't even global. A bunch of crack-smokin', yellow sign graffitti, leather biker jacket wearing, drug-smuggling wannabees don't invade archeological ruins.. Then again, maybe the King in Yellow demands more fealty and intrigue than we could ever possibly know.
EMERALD HAMMER POSSIBLE SPOILER:
I was thinking of having the Karotechia in Volgograd/Istanbul feed the Cult of Mordiggian instead of the Ghoulie Boyz. This would put GRU-SD8 in conflict with DG over the ghoul issue.
The Shan step into it by control of the launch facility. They had no knowledge of the zigguraut until recently but now are looking for it themselves.
How do the Shan find out about it, and why would they even bother? The White Ziggurat really doesn't threaten their launchings or assist their escape pod development. Like Locutus of Borg might say, it is irrelevant.
A Jim Jones-style cult is there, also. They are an experiment and tool of MJ through MKULTRA experiments. Originally they were there to be out of the way and be observed/tested/etc. Now, MJ wants to use them as spies and saboteurs against the facility. They have no knowledge of the zigguraut.
Hmmm… I prefer keeping MJ experiments on a very small scale in human terms, and very big on technological and economic terms. A compound of wackos doesn't seem to match the MJ "flavour," except for isolated incidents like Groversville. A whole town's worth of experiment would have to be supremely important, and I just don't see a need for such an unwieldy project.
More plausible and ugly (in my demented and bleeding mind) is a Jim Jones-ish cult that worships Mordiggian. "Eat of my body" and all that.
Proper usage of MJ-12 is rival investigators spying on the ESA/Shans. Keep in mind that Col. Robert Coffey, USAF was the officer tasked with retrival of the Shan from EARL GREY (http://www.delta-green.com/rf_3274.html). He will be assigned to command the French Guyana investigation. He is almost certainly under Shan influence. Shoot to kill, aim for the head. Bring your CLARION device to the party.
The FFL troops there are divided three ways. Those in Shan control. Those corrupted by the new ghouls. Those stuck in the middle and trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
Again, the New Ghouls probably don't operate in France. It would be mean and nasty to have outcast ghouls from the Strong French Mordiggian cult to have a presence in the FFL, not a big one, but there nonetheless. These cult deserters might somehow contact their spiritual brethren in NYC.
I run Shan control as very unreliable and inefficient in the short term. Numbers are also a factor. For the takeover of the ESA launch pad, the Shan would have to pull one of their patented explosive reproduction tricks in the jungle. Maybe the Shubbies in there might come out to involve themselves in the blessed event.
Both the Fate and karotechia have agents there to monitor the situation and see if there is anything they can grab up.
How does a NYC occult crime syndicate find out or even care about these things? Stephen Alzis should just show up out of the blue to trade info for Shan technology or Ghoul stuff. Whole Earth Enterprises might even come into a brutal economic and sorcerous conflict with NWI. Remember, Alzis and the Fate shouldn't be linked as far as DG Agent's limited INT and intel goes.
As for the Karotechia, they would be regulated to a mere subplot (like Alzis). Perhaps they're running "supplies" through the nation and get spotted at the waterfront or airport. Best of all, they could be in cahoots with Mordiggian's Crew as described above. This would make the Karotechia much more prominent in the plot.
I am going to try and capture the flavor of a "neutral" city of WW2 (like Casablanca or Instanbul). An exotic location with dozens of enemy agents operating in secret with their own agendas, double-crosses and temporary alliances and so on. hopefully it will be successful :).
Of course it may end up that Stephan Alzis, Delta Green, The Cult of Mordiggian, and the Karotechia would ally against NWI, the Shan, and a few annoying New School Ghouls. Then the alliance would turn into a crazed cannibalistic shark-like feeding frenzy as everyone turns on each other.
PISCES and the French DG would want some of that action as well, more on them after COUNTDOWN gets into the Hands in Black.
Date: Fri, 2 Jul 1999 21:34:44 EDT
From: Dave K.
As i recover from the SMACK being laid down :) I'll try and explain a couple of rationalizations for the below scenario. Now as I commit the blasphemy of blasphemies and admit I don't use Emerald Hammer (though it has proven a trove of lootable ideas) and I don't know how much would be applicable there.
How do the NewSchool Ghouls from NYC know about the site? As far as I know they aren't even global. A bunch of crack-smokin', yellow sign graffitti, leather biker jacket wearing, drug-smuggling wannabees don't invade archeological ruins.. Then again, maybe the King in Yellow demands more fealty and intrigue than we could ever possibly know.
now, the way I have run the old school/new school ghouls in my campaign isn't so much of a cult split/civil war as it is a generational gap thing. I have it as a reflection of the 1960s in America for the Ghouls. This radical new philosophy for the new school ghouls has exploded across ghoul culture as a whole but manifests differently everywhere. I equate the NYC ghouls and some of the other urban sects with places like Berkley and Watts in the 60s, hot spots where tensions have risen to the boiling point. In other places, the gap is more subtle. These sects are very diverse. Not every old school ghoul is a friend of DG and not every new school one is it's enemy. Some have codes concerning who they eat. Some old school ones are so reactionary and isolated as to be a foe to everyone. With the mass migration of ghouls to the third world, some new school ghouls have found alliances with elements of the government there. need to clean out those homeless urchins before carnival? Need to get rid of some political revolutionaires? Call the ghouls.
How do the Shan find out about it, and why would they even bother? The White Ziggurat really doesn't threaten their launchings or assist their escape pod development. Like Locutus of Borg might say, it is irrelevant.
I wouldn't say that's irrelevant to them. I don't think they went there looking for it but following up local legends and the such they came into contact with it. As the Gate might represent a possible escape route they'd want to take a look. Control of it could give them possible control over the ghouls and a gate that directly leads to a God is nothing to sneeze at. it could help their power base if nothing else.
Hmmm… I prefer keeping MJ experiments on a very small scale in human terms, and very big on technological and economic terms. A compound of wackos doesn't seem to match the MJ "flavour," except for isolated incidents like Groversville. A whole town's worth of experiment would have to be supremely important, and I just don't see a need for such an unwieldy project. More plausible and ugly (in my demented and bleeding mind) is a Jim Jones-ish cult that worships Mordiggian. "Eat of my body" and all that.
Now I like the Jones/Ghoul cult idea. My basis, though, for the MJ connection in my campaign is allegations in the RW of CIA-MKULTRA connections to Jones. As an outgrowth of MJ projects in mind control, an isolated "religion" could prove an ideal control group. Any failures get attributed to the brainwashing by the cult leader or their general wierdness. Turn them loose then and it looks like a religious frenzy of madmen, not a government backed assault. and you don't care about casulties (hell, you'd just make the survivors drink kool-aid anyway!). Now, I also think I view MJ differently. i view them as an organization that started out investigating aliens and has grown well beyond their original charter. I view them as secret masters of America, foremost when dealing with the Greys, but involved in a variety of other agendas.
Again, the New Ghouls probably don't operate in France. It would be mean and nasty to have outcast ghouls from the Strong French Mordiggian cult to have a presence in the FFL, not a big one, but there nonetheless. These cult deserters might somehow contact their spiritual brethren in NYC.
Here I was referring to the garrison in French Guyana, not the FFL as a whole. I have other plans for them :)
I admit, I like this angle. Have to dwell on that one.
How does a NYC occult crime syndicate find out or even care about these things? Stephen Alzis should just show up out of the blue to trade info for Shan technology or Ghoul stuff. Whole Earth Enterprises might even come into a brutal economic and sorcerous conflict with NWI. Remember, Alzis and the Fate shouldn't be linked as far as DG Agent's limited INT and intel goes.
again, I think I run them differently. I consider the Fate's power base in NYC but they are world-wide with their connections. I also feel that their real interests lies in the occult/mythos but they deal in the temporal world as well. Money and power comes from drug-running and arms dealings (and so on) as well as the mythos IMHO.
As for the Karotechia, they would be regulated to a mere subplot (like Alzis). Perhaps they're running "supplies" through the nation and get spotted at the waterfront or airport. Best of all, they could be in cahoots with Mordiggian's Crew as described above. This would make the Karotechia much more prominent in the plot.
i think the K would be interested in a European project a few hundred miles from their base. they might not realize how to exploit it yet but they would keep an eye on it. but I agree, they would be a minor player on the scene.
Of course it may end up that Stephan Alzis, Delta Green, The Cult of Mordiggian, and the Karotechia would ally against NWI, the Shan, and a few annoying New School Ghouls. Then the alliance would turn into a crazed cannibalistic shark-like feeding frenzy as everyone turns on each other. PISCES and the French DG would want some of that action as well, more on them after COUNTDOWN gets into the Hands in Black.
I agree on the feeding frenzy (that's what i aiming for with the conclusion). And yes, can't wait for the updates in Countdown.
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 1999 13:21:32 +0200 (CEST)
From: Janusz A. Urbanowicz
Eckhard Wrote:
Hm, they never failed? Probably there is more to the FFL than just good training, experienced leaders, high morale and state-of-the-art equipment? May there be some terrible secret behind their invincibility?
Interesting side-note: just about 3 days ago there was EL-related incident in Poland. Two teenagers who just started holidays in teh coutryside, went at the morning to the woods to pick some wild fruits growing there. At 10:30 (am) they encountered young strange man dressed 'as Rambo' (words of one of them) - band on the hair, black t-shirt with some emblem. He had military backpack. The man asked them a question about the name of the nearest village, got answer, the he pulled up a TT pistol and opened fire. Both boys were hit, one could move so he crawled back 1.5 km to his house and warned teh faaily. Ambulance was called but the sencond teenager died on the way to the hospital. The first one had an operation and survived.
Police operation to catch the man failed.
Next night, police in the near city Czêstochowa stopped a car for routine check. They asked the driver to open a bag lying on the back seat. The car's passenger pulled up a Scorpion (later in TV it looked more like UZI but I'm no gunfondler) and started shooting. Both policemen were hit, in spite of this one managed to get behind a wall and started shooting. The policeman emptied his weapon towards the car and was too weak to reload. The passenger picked up first policeman's gun and came to the one who was shooting, and said "I won't kill you because you ran out of ammunition". He then went away and surrendered to a guard in a factory he encountered. Car's driver called the police and ambulance on a cellphone - the passenger was a hitchhiker he picked.
The guy who shoot was 22, he was born in Poznañ. As a kid he was a boy scout and a member of catholic "Light, life" youth movement. When arrested he said he served in Legion Etrangere for 5 years. Asked why he killed he answered that in LE he was taught to eliminate danger.
This was in Tuesday and Wednesday papers. No mention of the case since.
An failed op SAN0 dropout gone wild ? An example of [DG] burnout ? What you need to see before to consider two teenagers a danger ?
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 1999 15:20:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: The Man in Black
As i recover from the SMACK being laid down :) I'll try and explain a couple of rationalizations for the below scenario.
Ok, but first, may I have a little smack down music please… (Rage Against the Machine with another indecipherable semi-political commie mutant traitor song). Hmm… what do I have here, my new "Brass handle in the shape of a hammer" swordcane (pics available as soon as I get my scanner) well well. (Sound of glass breaking, screaming and furniture being thrown about).
Now as I commit the blasphemy of blasphemies and admit I don't use Emerald Hammer (though it has proven a trove of lootable ideas) and I don't know how much would be applicable there.
So you don't use it, but you do loot (re:use) it? POONK!*
- "Poonk" is the sound of a brass "bec-de corbin" hammer wielded by a deranged cripple dressed in black impacting the skull of a total idiot over the internet.
now, the way I have run the old school/new school ghouls in my campaign isn't so much of a cult split/civil war as it is a generational gap thing. I have it as a reflection of the 1960s in America for the Ghouls. This radical new philosophy for the new school ghouls has exploded across ghoul culture as a whole but manifests differently everywhere. I equate the NYC ghouls and some of the other urban sects with places like Berkley and Watts in the 60s, hot spots where tensions have risen to the boiling point.
Interesting, but shouldn't there be a few scenarios developing this theme through the sixties and seventies first. I always thought that it was the Fate that caused some ghouls to break away and be all sociopathic in the eighties. (When Detwiller was just an itty-bitty gamer in the larval stage of professional game designer :)
I wouldn't say that's irrelevant to them. I don't think they went there looking for it but following up local legends and the such they came into contact with it. As the Gate might represent a possible escape route they'd want to take a look. Control of it could give them possible control over the ghouls and a gate that directly leads to a God is nothing to sneeze at. it could help their power base if nothing else.
Not in my campaign. The Shan are trying to avoid the Great Old Ones and the ENDTIMES. The Shan do not have enough resources to conquer homo sapiens sapiens, let alone an entire Mythos race. Old-fashioned spying on the White Ziggurat, no matter who controls it, would only offer them exposure instead of opportunity. I also wonder if the Shan can enter the Dreamlands. They probably picked up the L'gyhx folks on Uranus' Dreamlands. Then again, no known sightings of Shan in Earth's Dreamlands have been reported.
The Shan should just use their Top Secret ZIRCON spy satellites/teleportal network/orbital breeding hive-nests to take candid camera shots of the place. Note that this closely parallels US/NATO/UN policy; placing IMINT over HUMINT. Israel is the only nation that plays it backwards. They have to, enemies in downtown Lebanon or Jerusalem can't be spotted from 100 miles up. This is why the Mossad has such a harsh rep.
Now, I also think I view MJ differently. i view them as an organization that started out investigating aliens and has grown well beyond their original charter. I view them as secret masters of America, foremost when dealing with the Greys, but involved in a variety of other agendas.
You make them more powerful than they should be at this time. All of their power derives from the Grey's Mythos tainted gifts. Since many MJ-12 personnel retain their sanity, they cannot operate like the Black Brotherhood or other world-dominating Mythos cults; they don't even know anything about the Mythos. Instead, the organization is a battleground between the Sane and Insane, the Sane folk will shut down "failed" projects that the Insane ones would allow to continue "just to see what would happen." Currently, most of the folks at MJ-12 are still sane - for the time being.
The Secret Master identity of MJ-12 is premature and can be prevented if Gavin Ross and Delta Green can succeed in removing folks like Dr. Freidrich Lounds, LT GEN Thomas Deerhausen, Abner Ringwood and Justin Croft from the Steering Committee.
In my upcoming conversion of "Music of the Spheres" from "The Stars Are Right," Delta Green gets a chance to discredit Lounds (MJ-4) and remove him from the committee. Later on, during my Epic Mega-Campaign "The Grey War" Majestic's cover is blown, just in time for some ENDTIMES/CthulhuPunk fun.
In other words, MJ-12 is well on the way towards becoming the organization you use, but not if enough ruthless people prevent them first.
Again, the New Ghouls probably don't operate in France. It would be mean > and nasty to have outcast ghouls from the Strong French Mordiggian cult > to have a presence in the FFL, not a big one, but there nonetheless. These > cult deserters might somehow contact their spiritual brethren in NYC.
Here I was referring to the garrison in French Guyana, not the FFL as a whole. I have other plans for them :)
Me too, the outcastes would want to be close the the White Ziggurat. Their plan would be to revitalize the compound for their own use in worshipping Hastur, Nyarlathotep and (in a deal with evil natives) Shub-Niggurath.
again, I think I run them differently. I consider the Fate's power base in NYC but they are world-wide with their connections. I also feel that their real interests lies in the occult/mythos but they deal in the temporal world as well. Money and power comes from drug-running and arms dealings (and so on) as well as the mythos IMHO.
I thought the whole point was that they don't have to do the dirty work of drug-running/arms-dealing/loitering because they take a clean percentage off the guys who do. My view of the Fate is that of a secret society/social club for cult leaders, a sort of "Cult of Cults." Each member of the Network has the resource of the Lords/Adepts to do their bidding, and money from the crime-bosses who have no Mythos knowledge other than fear.
This gives them world wide reach, but not as a whole. So Lorenzo De Vargas, President of Bolivian Air Freight might be the largest cocaine producer in the world. However, his master - Papa-Pichhu the Immortal One; aka Jesus Delacruz, NYC fruit stand owner/operator and High Priest of Shub-Niggurath for the Fate would allow Montgomery Kensington III, Duke of Buttburne and Glaaki's chief Impaler for the Fate, some juice in South America (or at least Bolivia). But only as far as Jesus allows (ie no clearcutting or slash and burn agriculture).
i think the K would be interested in a European project a few hundred miles from their base. they might not realize how to exploit it yet but they would keep an eye on it. but I agree, they would be a minor player on the scene.
They would have to be a minor player because they don't have the manpower to be everywhere at everytime. There has to be a limit on the operations of each and every conspiracy or the game degenerates into a "Conspiracy of the Week" mentality. Just because it's geographically close, doesn't mean the Special K knows about it, or even cares. They have minds to warp and inferior races to smack down. Rocket launching bugs plus the Karotechia could only lead to… SPACE NAZIS~! and no one wants that.
I estimate that there are several hundred Bauer, A few dozen Ritter, a few dozen Lebenstentotenstentotententotesten, thirteen Bischofe and Three guys in a homosexual necrophiliac cannibalistic Menage a trois. This places actual Karotechia and not clueless racist idiots at less than 500-600 at the most. Now they might own a few of French Guyana's Officer Corps, bought off with drug money, but NWI, the Fate, and the CIA could also be paying these same corrupt officials. This makes the Karotechia's sources into quadruple agents, which the Shan might infest…
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 1999 16:00:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: The Man in Black
The guy who shoot was 22, he was born in Poznañ. As a kid he was a boy scout and a member of catholic "Light, life" youth movement. When arrested he said he served in Legion Etrangere for 5 years. Asked why he killed he answered that in LE he was taught to eliminate danger.
An failed op SAN0 dropout gone wild ? An example of [DG] burnout ? What you need to see before to consider two teenagers a danger ?
He obviously thought (right or wrong, sane or insane) that he was being pursued. Shooting at the teenagers was a misguided and idiotic attempt o implement a "no witnesses" policy.
In a DG world; the corpses might be a dead giveaway (sic) or a SAN check for his sane pursuers, who might be pawns of Interpol/Cult of Trancendence/Karotechia/Whomever. Maybe he was fighting folks with Consume Likeness.
Sounds like a St. Jerome candidate who failed the admissions test, or maybe a Sword of the Order put down in a bad way.
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 1999 18:30:12 -1000
From: Jay Dugger
A Jim Jones-style cult is there, also. They are an experiment and tool of MJ through MKULTRA experiments. Originally they were there to be out of the way and be observed/tested/etc. Now, MJ wants to use them as spies and saboteurs against the facility. They have no knowledge of the zigguraut.
[snip]
Try back issues of Aviation Week for pictures of French Guiana's Kourou launch site. With any luck, you can find one showing an Ariane booster. This would provide two things for your game. One, you have an icon of high-tech sterility to contrast against the heat, humidity and rot of the surrounding jungle. Two, as the rocket rools out of its assembly building (if Kourou has such) towards the launch pad and lift-off, you have a built-in countdown. This decrementing clock can easily add tension to your game.
Perhaps the cultists greet PCs at the airport after the style of Hare Krishnas or Moonies. Imagine PCs, tired after standing in line at customs, weary from attempts to communicate in French, their luggage straps digging into the flesh of their palms and shoulders, finally reaching the exit. Equatorial heat slaps their faces as they leave behind air-conditioned sanctuary. They look around for a cab, and hear, "BRO-THER! Have you heard of the VANITY OF MAN? Do you know what HERESY they, in their PRIDE, do CON-TEM-PLATE? Nothing less than celestial PORN-NOG-GRAPHY! Their goal is impregnating MOTHER NIGHT with their insidious-insectile-inseminator!" (Ad lib ad nauseam)
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 08:37:53 +0200
From: Eckhard Huelshoff
Try back issues of Aviation Week for pictures of French Guiana's Kourou launch site. With any luck, you can find one showing an Ariane booster. This would provide two things for your game. One, you have an icon of high-tech sterility to contrast against the heat, humidity and rot of the surrounding jungle. Two, as the rocket rools out of its assembly building (if Kourou has such) towards the launch pad and lift-off, you have a built-in countdown. This decrementing clock can easily add tension to your game.
[snip]
By the Way, since French Guyana is a French territory it is a part of the EU!
[ Which means European tax and import regulation, and the law of the European Union has to be followed over there ]
And of course the Legion has got a couple of training facilities there.
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 1999 20:56:02 -1000
From: Jay Dugger
The Shan should just use their Top Secret ZIRCON spy satellites/teleportal network/orbital breeding hive-nests to take candid camera shots of the place. Note that this closely parallels US/NATO/UN policy; placing IMINT over HUMINT. Israel is the only nation that plays it backwards. They have to, enemies in downtown Lebanon or Jerusalem can't be spotted from 100 miles up. This is why the Mossad has such a harsh rep.
Ahh, but consider MiB's CI post. Imagine a Shan-possessed infiltrator. The insect flits from body to body like the evil parasite from the movie, "The Hidden." How could Arianespace capture so much of Earth's commerical space launch market without help from aliens? I doubt Shan have $0.24 of technological beads and trinkets to give us natives, so no chance for them to beat Fungi at seducing humanity.
[snip]
You make them more powerful than they should be at this time. All of their power derives from the Grey's Mythos tainted gifts. Since many MJ-12 personnel retain their sanity, they cannot operate like the Black Brotherhood or other world-dominating Mythos cults; they don't even know anything about the Mythos. Instead, the organization is a battleground between the Sane and Insane, the Sane folk will shut down "failed" projects that the Insane ones would allow to continue "just to see what would happen." Currently, most of the folks at MJ-12 are still sane - for the time being.
[snip]
Allow an observation on groups within this genre. Every fictional organization seems either corrupt and competent or innocent and ineffective. MAJESTIC, Karotechia and the Fate (especially the Fate) all have close ties to Mythos forces and their prowess waxes accordingly. SaucerWatch—can you say "patsies?"
Delta Green's alliance with ghouls shows slowly moves from the latter to the former as their alliance with ghouls shows.
[asbestos on]
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 13:38:30 +0200
From: Eckhard Huelshoff
German news magazine "Der Spiegel" reports about a new book dealing with the history of Germans in the "Legion Etrangere" from 1870 to 1965:
The book is called "Deutsche in der Fremdenlegion 1870-1965: Mythen und Realitäten" and has been written by Eckard Michels.
Some information from the book:
For nearly 100 years the legion has been dominated by the large quantity of Germans. After the foundation of the Legion by King Louis Philippe in 1831 there was a rule that no single nationality should make up more than one third of the legion.
But after the French-German war of 1870/1871 many Germans signed up for the legion: Between that War and WW I about 38000 Germans entered the legion.
But because the French Generals did not really trust the Germans they did not fight their fellow Germans in the trenches of Northern France, but were sent to Northern Africa and Indochine instead.
But since the Germans fought well, France began an organised hiring for the Legion in the occupied German areas after WW I. The right to do this had been installed in the Treaty of Versailles.
About that time German had become kind of the inofficial standard language of the Legions enlisted men.
After France had been occupied by the Germans in 1940, the newly installed Vichy-Regime was contacted by the Nazis. The Nazis had the "wish" that the French should hand over any German Legionnaires. But the Legion's leaders did not give in. Not because of political reasons but because of the guarantee the Legion offers to any enlisting man that thy will keep his identity secret, the so called "Anonymat".
For German Jews the Legion offered no place to hide. Even before the assault by the Germans, the commanding officers of the legion decided not to accept anymore Jewish Germans.
The Time of German dominance of the LE ended with the Algerian war. While the French activities in Southeast Asia had been thought to acceptable by German officials, the Algerian war was seen as a dirty war.
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 14:07:19 +0200 (CEST)
From: shoggoth
I can post up my notes in a few days for my version of a French DG-style agency. Much like several of the things in my campaign its still undergoing development and fleshing out bit if anyone's interested it might be useful or a starting point.
I'm working (yes , slowly , but it goes on..like a lazy shoggoth) on a K. style spanish agency , born during WW ][ , and the actual genesis of a DG-Style core on spain due to the contact of CESID agents with DG operatives aboard HESPERIDES Biological Investigation Ship during its Antartic expeditions.
Maybe this summer that rogue AI i have to deal with in the work take it easy and let me have the time to write more..maybe
And let me recommend Rammstein for a good background music on games with a Special K. presence };->