The Nefedov Institute

It is the year 2011. This may look like "Earth" but it isn't; this is "Home." Their respective timelines diverged in 1986 when Danish scientists on Home developed the first practical method of travel between quanta of existence, and subsequently to parallels of existance within a single quanta. Since that time, research into the new sciences of transdimensional physics and parachronics has exploded, but always while remaining under the auspices of the UN and various super-secret governmental projects.

In theory, the entire world would benefit from this remarkable discovery through the intervention of the United Nations. After long hours of heated debate, the UN Security Council in executive session created the UN Interworld Council (UNIC), a body comprised of Security Council members. It established oversight, if not actual control, of world-wide "operations" (wherever based) designed to investigate new worlds, and to estalish diplomatic and trade relations with those of other worlds. The possible benefits to humanity of such an enterprise were limitless. At least that was the theory... in practice, only the wealthiest and most powerful individuals benefitted through corruption and tyrrany.

The secret that travel to "parallel worlds" was practical and even already was taking place was leaked to the public only three years ago. In part, this was revealed to give many hope in the light of a worsening world-wide recession (which now has turned into a bona fide depression in some areas), but that mostly this was just a convenient excuse that helped those "in the know" to avoid excessive criticism over the secret acts of what might have been perceived as a de facto world government. "The secret" truly needed to be revealed because the various nations and the UN itself began to lose contol over the projects and researchers involved, who increasingly were beginning to share their knowledge and expertise with corporate and other entities.

Today, only a few people truly understand more than the very basic concepts of multiple timelines vs. quanta, and string vs. web theory; and there still is wide debate even among scholars about how it all works... but it does work. Rumors of wrong-doing and abuses of power have abounded since the knowledge of the existance of Infinity Unlimited and the Infinity Patrol, however. Media coverage of off-world activity has faded to near-nothingness in recent months. Those most critical of the UN's control of the dimensional portals and of its activity were denounced as uninformed, insane, or simply long-time anti-establishment conspiracy theorists and activists... some of whom never were heard from again.

The Institute was established to study Cliodynamics. It was founded as a private organization ostensibly dedicated to the study of historical macrosociology, economic history, and theoretical mathematics of long-term social processes. Although not known outside its white-walled headquarters in Surry County, Virginia, its scope and purpose actually is much wider than advertised. Engineers and scientists that worked on UNIC projects were hired (as they either retired from public life, or were terminated due to opposition to UN off-world programs) early on and brought the Institute a wealth of knowledge and experience in the theory, design, and operation of inter-dimensional transport machinery... and most importantly, combined to create a working copy of a basic interdimensional "map" that could be used to identify targets for investigation.

Once engineers at the Institute proved that they had a working transmitter in the new facility, "troubleshooters" (called "agents" within the organization) were hired. Each went through a rigorous pre-employment screening, and many washed out prior to indoctrination, well before they ever learned the true purpose of the Institute and that a base of operations capable of off-world travel not controlled by the UNIC exists. Simply stated, the function of the Institute in general, and of agent-teams in particular, is to curb the abuses of the UNIC and its subsidiary bodies, and to gain for itself assets to use to this end.

Institute missions to other worlds began several months ago, in mid-2010, and these first missions were successful in gaining valuable insight into both practical off-world working methods, and into actual work performed by UNIC operatives. Suspicions of wrong-doing were confirmed... and found to be even more excessive that ever imagined. The Insititue contacted exceptional individuals from certain other worlds who were found to be trustworthy and properly motivated, and recruited them to assist in the cause. These individuals generally act as observers, informants, and contacts on their own world; but a very few have made the transition to enable themselves to join as troubleshooters with agent-teams from Homeline. The vast majority of agents, however, are native to Home.

Only one organization is known to have remained out of the impending world government's spotlight... and you are a member of that organization... The Nefedov Institute.

The PCs are considered "talented beginners," most or all of whom never have been off-world before. Perhaps only one (at most) of the PCs might have worked with the Institute before the game begins. No PC will know any other PC before the game begins.

Character point level = 140 base (+5 if native to Home, +5 if mundane)
Character point limits = -30 in disadvantages and quirks combined, with only up to -3 points from quirks permitted

Tech level = TL 8 base, though TL9 equipment and (limited) training may be provided by The Institute (and thus may be available to starting PCs). Note that many skills have TL modifiers that will be enforced during play.

Base of operation - Homeworld (a.k.a. "Home"), in a heavily-wooded private compound in Surry County, Virginia, USA (the operation primarily is underground, with living arrangements made on the surface inside the estate surrounding the compound)

Note that the Nefedov Institute will be a patron to all, so there is no point cost for advantages and disadvantages (access to advanced equipment, a patron with unusual reach in time and timeline quanta, contacts on other worlds, etc.) that come as a result of the common patron. Free skills: Computer Operation/TL8 (1 point), and Esoteric Knowledge [Multiverse] (1 point).

Exceptional abilities and possessions (such as magery, psionics, cinematic martial arts or other powers, (basic) gadgeteering; and off-world tech, bio-tech modifications, etc.) will be evaluated for reasonableness. As noted above, a character with any of these will be worth fewer points overall. In addition, no more than 30 points total may be spent on these sorts of abilities / powers / assets (total) at game-start.

On Magery and other esoteric abilities - No one native to Home may begin with any practical knowledge of Mana (e.g. knowing spells, magic rituals, magical properties of items, etc.), but it isn't out of the question that someone native to Home could have the Magery advantage at level zero (only) at the start of the game. It also is possible to increase that level over time as circumstances permit. Magery has a -50% accessibility limitation in this setting as only a limited number of world-lines will have mana levels above "none" and fewer still will provide the PCs the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of magic use. Quasi-magical alternatives to formal spell-casting (without the -50% accessibility limitiation) may be selected provided there is some real-world basis for them.

No PC is able to travel between world-lines / quanta without assistance in this game. Parachronozoids and such might exist, but will not be PCs.

The PCs are agents working for The Institute. This means that:

• They have

  The Institute falsifies death explanations for the PCs, or otherwise cuts all their ties to outside society.

  no official record of existance outside the organization and thus are completely dependant on it, living full time in the region surrounding the base in Virginia.
• Contact with the outside is both very limited and strictly supervised.
• PCs must have no disqualifying physical or psychological characteristics
• PCs should have both 1) some field or fields of specialization, and 2) a lower-level general knowledgebase

  They may have to adapt to a wide-range of unusual circumstances in varied settings without outside assistance.

  of some sort

Important: No consideration will be given to those who are not 100% loyal to the organization.

Most or all PCs will be native to Home, though one character may be selected who is from another world-line. If submitting such a character idea, you may submit a second idea for consideration that is from Home in case multiple individuals submit alien PCs.

No character sheet is required to be completed until after being selected as a player, or as a reader who has agreed to remain on standby.

In the game's application thread, please note the following:

• The basis for your loyalty to the organization
• Your proposed area(s) of expertise
• Whether you are from Home or elsewhere, and
• Which (if any) exceptional abilities or items you would like to have at start.

If you wish to play a non-Homeline "alien," include an explanation of why the PC is helping off-worlders (from his or her point of view) and basic information on the world that the character once called home.