7/29/2019 Space 1889 Session

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Space: 1889 Session One

Goal: Retrieve the notes from Professor Challenger's expedition to Mercury, which reveals the

potential location of a secret alien library containing technological secrets.

Obstacles

1. 'Captain' Robur, rival scientist.

2. The 'Grey Shadow', an organisation seeking to protect the long-lost secrets.

3. Notes are on Robur's airship, Conqueror.

4. Austro-Hungarian representative, Franz von Holtzendorf, also seeks the notes.

5. Local Police, under Lieutenant Granger, trying to take charge.

Details

1. The airship is a technological marvel, equipped with heat rays which were used to destroy

the Interplanetary Geographical Society. Capable of outrunning local aerial law

enforcement.

2. The notes consist of five thick leather-bound volumes. Only someone who knew Challengercould decipher his shorthand.

3. The only survivor from the Challenger party is Lord John Roxton, badly injured, who is

captured by the Grey Shadow.

4. The Grey Shadow are a 'primeval' organisation founded on Mars. Mostly Egyptian or

American Indian on Earth, 'old' civilisations.

5. The Austro-Hungarians are essentially comic relief.

6. Also on the train compartment is Captain Leonard Wood, a medical officer attached to the

Aerial Observation Corps. He can take command of Shenandoah, an experimental aerial

flyer that was to be demonstrated at the conference.

7. Lieutenant Granger doesn't know a damn thing, but he will get in the way.

8. Robur has a ground organisation, but only a small one, a few operatives who will tail them.They will help the PCs free Roxton, then try and steal him back. They have a small aerial

flyer.

9. The conference building is badly damaged, and there are lots of casualties. Survivors report

that there were people milling about the area, and that some of them stole the notes. The

ambulance that took Roxton is nowhere to be seen.

10. Edward Malone, friend of one PC, tasks them with the recovery of the notes on his

deathbed.

Pitch

Basically, your characters have all been invited to the opening of the Interplanetary Explorer's Club

in Boston, with the promise of lectures and seminars by such luminaries as Alexander Graham Bell,working on the 'ether telephone', Professor Challenger on his recent explorations of Mercury and his

archaeological discoveries, Professor Lidenbrock's discussions on his expedition to the deep Lunar

caves, and Thomas Carnacki's attempts at meta-dimensional perception.

You could be invited for any number of reasons for example:

Member of the Press

Old colleague of a lecturer

Rich sponsor of the society

Just back from an expedition (off Earth) and giving a lecture

Characters should be British, American or Colonial. Middle- or Upper-class (minimum Society

rating of 3).