The calm of the early nineteenth century is shattered in 1815 with the massive eruption of Mount Tambora. No one in the Royal Society of the Paranatural would have believed that a natural disaster halfway around the world would mark the beginning of a divide that would see the Society fall and The Equinox Institute rise in its place.
The Year without a Summer and the Decade of Darkness (1815 – 1825)
The eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 saw the average temperature drop across the globe, in what would come to be known as the “Year Without a Summer”. The drop in global temperatures heralded a decade of vastly increased paranatural activity – more than which had been seen for two centuries. Many of the Society’s members, having no prior experience of dealing with the paranatural, go out into the world seeking fame, glory and knowledge. Many die alone and forgotten in the dark unseen corners of the world.
The period also saw a resurgence in activity from once dormant paranatural societies. The Noblesse Oblige in particular proved to be particularly antagonistic during this time with the Nobility declared an enemy of the British Empire in 1817. Conflict between both sides followed, only concluding in 1824 with the Battle of Bloody Tower which saw the Nobility lead an attack on theTower of London leading to substantive deaths on both sides and the disappearance of several paranatural entities and objects.
By 1825, the Society found itself greatly diminished in size with only 1000 members worldwide – a third of the size which it originally started with. In return it found itself richer than it had ever been with an abundance of new paranatural items and its enemies, seemingly, defeated. With renewed purpose and experience, the Society looked to the future and a means of ensuring the events of the Decade of Darkness could not arise again.
A Society Divided (1826 – 1837)
The aftermath of the Decade of Darkness saw the Society fall into a period of political infighting. A century of ill or incompetent monarchs had resulted in the Society being increasingly guided by the aims of the Court rather than that of the Crown and so rival parties began to form – platforming for change within the Society and a place within the Court. The result is that for a little over a decade the Society makes little in the way of advancements or growth as it fights amongst itself.
Growing Imperialism (1838 – 1853)
The proposal for the self-governance of Britain’s colonies by Lord Durham in 1837 causes ripples of political unrest throughout the Society. Founded by Elizabeth with the intention of studying the paranatural and protecting England from any threats posed to it by such, the Society had assumed this remit extended to the colonies that made up the British Empire. Now, with potential self-governance on the cards, the Society found itself asking several questions – should its protection extend to those countries who leave the Empire? Similarly, what would become of the Society’s members and paranatural phenomena which dwelt in those countries seeking self-rulership? Was it not in the interest of the Society to use the paranatural to protect the British Empire and ensure its peace and longevity?
Several debates followed but by 1850 the majority of the Society’s members were widely in support of proactively using the paranatural to protect Britain’s interests. Some parties took a pragmatic approach while a smaller minority rejected the stance entirely. Still the outcome was that by 1853 the Court, led by Sir Arthur Wessex (“Wessex”) as President, was populated almost entirely by pro-Imperialist members who sought to protect the British Empire’s interests through whatever means necessary – paranatural or otherwise.
The Crimean War (1853 – 1856)
In 1854, Britain joined the Crimean War. The Society, eager to protect British imperial and economic interests in the region, used the war to test a number of paranatural phenomena for its effectiveness in protecting British interests. The widespread use of the paranatural was deadly for both sides but the release of the paranatural entity, known as the Threnody became symbolic of the Society’s cruelty during this period as it tore a bloody path across the peninsula.
When peace was declared in 1856, Wessex and the Court proclaimed that victory in the conflict had proven the value of the paranatural in protecting the British Empire. The Society saw a resurgence in growth and national pride and slowly plans were drawn up by senior members to secure the British Empire’s future.
Insurrection (1857 – 1872)
As the Court continued to deploy paranatural artefacts and entities in conflicts across the globe, a faction of individuals opposed to the Court’s growing nationalism, imperialism and use of the paranatural to enforce such. Meeting in secret in 1860, the group called themselves “Equinox” after the celestial equator where light and darkness were found at equal length.
In secret, the group made plans to stand at the next Societal elections in 1864, led by Louisa Bennett (“Louisa”) who would stand as President.
The outcome of the 1864 election was disastrous. The Court thought of themselves without opposition but Equinox’ work behind the scenes caught them by surprise. Despite this, Wessex and his supporters achieved a narrow victory. In the wake of the election, the Court declared Equinox’s supporters as traitors to the British Empire and expelled Equinox’s members from the Society. Soon there was no opposition to Wessex’s rule from within the Society and in the wake of this event, the Court was disbanded with Wessex acting as the sole president of the Society.
Despite this, Equinox’s members refused to give-up – choosing instead to oppose the Society’s machinations by seeking the direct support of parliamentary member sympathetic to their cause as well as the Crown. Queen Victoria (“Victoria”), pro-Imperialist herself and still in mourning from the death of her husband, declined all offers to meet.
In 1867, Canada became a self-governing Dominion. Despite being viewed as a practical and positive development by many, the radical leadership of the Society thought otherwise. Fearing the fragmentation of the Empire and growing republican opposition to the Queen, the Society made plans to install her son, Edward VII (“Edward”) on the throne. Seen as a playboy prince, the Society believed Edward could easily be modelled into the ideal emperor of an eternal British Empire. Plans were put into motion and, in 1872, the Society attempted to assassinate Victoria as she returned from Buckingham Palace.
The assassination failed and in the chaos that followed Victoria sought answers. Their plans already in tatters, the Society pivoted. They approached the Queen, arranging a meeting with her in secret at the Tower of London where they informed her of the threat posed by the paranatural and that it was in fact, Equinox, a group of paranatural empowered Republicans who had attempted to kill her. Shocked by this development, Victoria ordered the Society to apprehend Equinox and to protect the British Empire from all threats and by any means necessary. With the Crown and Society aligned, Wessex had all the permission he needed to begin his insurrection.
The Forgotten War (1873 – 1902)
The Forgotten War lasted for nearly three decades though little is known of what occurred during this time.
What is known is that the Society, driven by its desire to expand the reach of the British Empire, implemented the use of increasingly dangerous paranatural phenomena in the aim of achieving their goals. Victoria acted ostensibly as their leader but Wessex remained responsible for the Society’s actions as it increasingly targeted politicians and dissenters to British rule across the world.
Despite being the target of a smear campaign and countless attempts to destroy them, Equinox continued to survive. Led by Louisa, by the end of the conflict Equinox consisted of several disparate groups that were all united with the sole goal of overthrowing the Society. Noblesse Oblige are known to have allied with Equinox during this time.
The Agrippina Athenaeum is also known to have come into formation around this period though its allegiance during the war remains a mystery.
Outright conflict between the two groups seemingly came to an end in 1901 with the death of Queen Victoria though the war wasn’t declared as being formally over until 1902 when Edward took the throne as King. In the wake of his coronation, Edward disbanded the Society but refused to speak further on the issue.
No one knows who won the Forgotten War. Wessex’s fate is unknown as is the location of hundreds of paranatural artefacts and entities previously held by the Society. Huge swathes of paranatural knowledge and history have also been seemingly lost for good, either stolen by the survivors or destroyed in the conflict. Paranatural phenomena, scars of the conflict, are occasionally still found in the modern era and protected diligently by Equinox cells.
While Equinox survived, the alliance of groups quickly disbanded after the war leaving the few original dissenters, under the guidance of an increasingly frail Louisa, to pick up the pieces of a mystery ladened world.
The Silent Decade (1903 – 1913)
The decade that followed was quiet and contemplative. Throughout the Commonwealth groups, previously allied with Equinox, established their own paranatural research organisations in the wake of the Society. In Britain, under Louisa’s leadership, Equinox re-took control of Treowen House and the Society’s former Edinburgh Office and began to restructure itself as an independent group dedicated to the protection of all individuals from paranatural threats. For ten years it remained free of government control until the start of the first world war called the group to action once more.
The Insurrection in Play
The Insurrection is a period filled with bloodshed and darkness. The Royal Society of the Paranatural evolves from an institution focussed on research, exploration and hedonism (albeit built off the back of British colonialism) into an organisation focussed on power, wealth and the absolute authority of the British Empire. It uses the paranatural as a weapon to further its goals with little care for the human cost of doing so. The outcome of this is that by the end of the century, nobody is entirely certain what happened or what cost was paid (and by whom) to bring the Society’s reign of terror to an end.
The Royal Society of the Paranatural are monstrous. Part of the political horror of the Equinox Institute LRP is looking at how an organisation such as Equinox can grow from a culture that promotes the bad old ways of imperialism and colonialism. We want our game, through our worldbuilding, NPCs and stories to explore the scars left by these institutions in a safe and honest manner. We do not want to use these topics as a means to tolerate individuals who harbour such beliefs out-of-game. We therefore ask that the attendees bear this in mind when creating their characters and that the topics here are treated respectfully. Any reports of an attendee failing to do this will be investigated in line with our policies.
Finally, the period of Insurrection is one that is shrouded in mystery and contradictions. What is set out here is established fact but what actually occurred during the Decade of Darkness, the Forgotten War and in the Silent Decade remain to be discovered if erstwhile Equinox agents and researchers are willing to investigate further.