This section of the website sets out information pertaining to the setting of The Equinox Institute LRP including information on Equinox itself, the paranatural, the various factions of the world and its history.
Overview and Setting – This section presents a high-level overview of the setting of The Equinox Institute LRP and what the game entails. We recommend all of our attendees read this section prior to delving in deeper to the setting to determine whether The Equinox Institute LRP is right for them.
The Equinox Institute – This section provides information on the goals of the Equinox Institute, its central leadership and its overall approach to handling the paranatural. Sub-sections provide further information on the various Cells that make up Equinox across the world.
The Paranatural – Anything anomalous, unnatural or supernatural can be readily described as “paranatural”. This section provides information on how Equinox categorises the paranatural and some examples of establish in-game paranatural phenomena.
The History of Equinox – This section provides a detailed history of the setting of The Equinox Institute, broken down into periods of history.
Factions of Interest – Equinox is not the only organisation interested in the paranatural. This section summarises those various factions that Equinox has dealings with.
World Background Cheatsheet
What do I play at the Equinox Institute LARP?
- The Equinox Institute LARP is a modern-day, limited-run LARP system focussed around a fictitious secret organisation founded by Queen Elizabeth I and tasked with protecting the United Kingdom from occult and extraterrestrial threats to its people known as ‘The Equinox Institute’.
- All player characters have a role within the Equinox Institute and it is this role that results in them being involved in the events that we run. These events are focused on investigating and determining how to handle various anomalous phenomena which we collectively call “the paranatural”.
What do you mean by the Paranatural?
- Anything anomalous, unnatural or supernatural can be described as “paranatural”.
- Paranatural phenomena can take many forms and includes (but is not limited to) people, places, artefacts, entities and events.
- The paranatural is rare, inconsistent and difficult to understand.
- Existence of the paranatural remains (mostly) hidden from society.
- There is in-game bigotry based on whether an individual has paranatural abilities, uses paranatural objects, is under the influence of the paranatural or has a view on how paranatural phenomena should be dealt with.
What is the Equinox Institute?
- The Equinox Institute, (also known as ‘The Institute’ or simply Equinox), is a clandestine government organisation tasked with protecting the United Kingdom and its allies from the paranatural. As part of this role it works to keep the existence of the paranatural hidden from the public.
- Equinox was founded originally in the Tudor period and has existed in various forms for a little over 400 years.
- The Institute is made up of groups of individuals who autonomously work towards Equinox’s goals. These groups are known as “Cells” and consist of at least two individuals. Players can form cells during the game.
- Cells rarely work together unless a crisis or major event brings them together.
- Equinox is led by a group of five individuals known as the Court, to whom all members and cells are accountable to. They primarily act as oversight for the activities of its members and arrange for Cells to work on assignments together.
- Equinox as an organisation is pragmatic. It can be cold and clinical in its actions but is never cruel. It makes use of paranatural objects and people with paranatural powers and is aware that the paranatural can be a force for good as well as evil.
- The Institute is not bigoted against the paranatural – it determines things neutrally on a case by case basis.
- The Equinox Institute is not the only organisation in the world with knowledge of the paranatural and is held accountable by these others organisations.
- Equinox does not tolerate nationalist, imperialistic or fascist behaviour under any circumstances.
Recent History – Mystic, Connecticut (News Year Eve 1999)
- On New Years Eve 1999 a great storm hit the East Coast of the United States of America and the town known as Mystic in Connecticut. Contact with the town was lost during the storm.
- On New Year’s Day 2000, rescuers arrived to find the entire population of the town had disappeared without a trace.
- Despite attempts to cover the incident up, the story got into the mainstream media and became known as the “Modern Roanoke”.
- Several international organisations including Equinox came together to investigate the event which was determined to have been caused by a group with paranatural abilities.
- Equinox and its allies took steps to sow misinformation as to what occurred. As a result, there is no general consensus within the general public as to what occurred and the existence of this paranatural event has largely been covered up.
Other Factions
There are other factions who work with the paranatural other than Equinox. These are summarised below:
Faction | Description | Relationship with Equinox |
---|---|---|
The Agrippina Athenaeum | Aka “The Athenauem” – they are a small academic institute based around the world that collects data on paranatural events and covers them up just as readily. | Neutral |
The Central Paranatural Bureau | Aka “The Bureau” – Equinox’s American equivalent. Believe in the destruction of the paranatural in all forms which puts a strain on its relationship with Equinox. | Allies |
CognitoHazard | An internet movement of anarchic artists who want to share paranatural art with the world regardless of the consequence. | Enemies |
The Davies Group | A British charity founded by former Equinox agents, helping the families of victims of paranatural phenomena. | Allies |
The Jessie Avery Company | The settings expy for the Disney Company, they buy and sell paranatural phenomena on the black market. | Neutral |
Noblesse Oblige | Aka “The Nobility” – an ancient organisation focussed on the hero worship of famous artists and dedicated to using the paranatural to shape paradise for humanity. | Neutral |
The Pact Britannia | Aka “The Pact” – born out of a civil war within Equinox, they intend to use the paranatural to bring about the return of the British Empire. | Enemies |
The Unified Arts Coalition | Aka “The UNAC” – an organisation created at the turn of the millennium to foster cooperation between international governments to handle paranatural events. | Allies |