Theatre poster March 1901

A new study has been proposed by the Boston University to investigate whether the Paris Incident caused The Event or if The Event caused the Paris Incident?

 Is Henri Penn actually innocent?

Many scholars now believe that a multiple dimensional collision of some sort took place that night, how else do you explain fully grown forests appearing in the middle of the North Sea,?

Another school of thought is the Returners theory, that we have actually returned to the natural state of the world, arguing that all the changes correlate to fairy tales and mythology indicating a racial or cultural memory of these things from and earlier age.

Prof George Danbury will be giving a talk this Tuesday in London at the  Prince of Wales Theatre in Coventry street at 3.00pm tickets will be 1/6 or 3 bronze standards.

Free booklet will be available for a small donation

Bicycles will be stored free of charge.

New York mail 2/2/1901

At the time of the Paris incident London had an approximate population of just under four million souls. The great quake and subsequent fire killed an unimaginable number, some guessing as much as quarter of the inhabitants. This is probably over estimated but nonetheless London became a shadow of its former glory.

Thirty years on and once again the city is the centre of a powerful nation. The population behind it's massive walls are now more than what is was. Citizens from all over the world shelter is this,  the greatest of fortresses.

But today it is a sad city, a city in mourning for its queen, for its mother. Today Queen Victoria is laid to rest at Windsor alongside her beloved Albert, attended by her heir Edward, and

Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany who made the dangerous  journey through wild Frisia to spend a last Christmas with the Queen.
Ambassador Anthony Hart from the Confederated Free States and vice president Roosevelt were also seen amongst the mourners. 

Thule

What do we know about Thule?

As the king has formally recognized Thule as an independent nation we now have a new neighbour to the east.

The Greek explorer Pytheas is the first to have written of Thule, doing so in his now lost work, On the Ocean, after his travels between 330 BC and 320 BC. for many years it was thought to be mythology, but then so were many other things. Thule of today is a high plateaux and highlands situated in what was the north sea bed, once known as Dogger Bank. The inhabitants appear to be a short but strong people given to big beards and tattoos, many have called them dwarfs for their resemblance to fairy tale characters.

Unofficial trading has been going on since not long after the Event, with residents of Essex make first contact.

The folk of Thule are a civilized and honourable people with an aptitude for mechanical devices and building, they have found work in many walks of British life with some even enlisting in the royal navy, they have a professor in the royal institute, the member of parliament for Thanet is dwarven and they run a school of engineering in Edinburgh for bright candidates taken purely on merit.
according to doctor Isaac Bellings the famed historical linguistic says Thulian language is closely related to early Germanic tongues, and cultural similarities can be found with early north sea cultures and that of the Thule.

Birmingham post Friday march 19th 1886

Debate in the Birmingham Town chambers reached a furious heat last Thursday when deciding what to do with the Giant discovered earlier that day. Councillor Jameson's argued that the creature be arrested while Councillor  Walsh wanted it sent to a zoo. More level heads put forward that the giant had done nothing illegal and to put another intelligent creature in a zoo would itself be a crime.

The emissary of Thule - Thanet times 23rd June 1900

Amongst the dignitaries attending the opening of the new Viking skydock at Broadstairs was an unusual character listed as the emissary of Thule. Who or what Thule is was not explained but the gentleman in question was of a short stocky build, no more then four feet six, and with a magnificent beard braided and brushed that reached beyond his waistcoat. Tattoos covered him in the manner of the pacific island natives though his  rather sophisticated fashion gave a much more civilised look. Aside from his modern dress he was the image of the noble viking himself with an air of dignity and authority.

Silver Standards

The 1889 Havana treaty confirmed the standardisation of an international currency to encourage trade between the major powers. Signatories of the initial treaty included the empires of Spain, Britain  and  Germany, and the United States  and Confederacy.
The success of the silver standard as it became know  encouraged other countries to join, until almost the entire world was using the standard.
In many places this has now replaced local currency, you can go into a gentleman's outfitters in Truro and spend Standards or Sterling.

News Of The World 1st December 1896

‘The awful catastrophe which occurred at the Boyne railway bridge on the last Sunday of November  is still the all-absorbing theme of conversation in the community…’

A section of the Boyne Bridge collapsed during heavy rain on the night of 29th November 1896, and, tragically, a Dublin-bound train plunged into the freezing waters of the river, with the loss of 57 lives (although some estimate the loss to have been 75 lives).
Initial investigation  believes subsidence under the support columns led to the collapse with some experts saying the old seabed needs longer to settle before buildings such  things.
A memorial service is to be held this Sunday at Christ church cathedral at 7 o'clock. 

Mr Arthur De Bausset unveils his new airship 1889

Mr Arthur De Bausset’s new hybrid airship uses a combination of revolutionary vacuum cells alongside existing hydrogen cells to create a safer ship with greater lift than any previous types.  Working alongside German designer Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the two remarkable men have created a revolution in modern transport.

Tickets for the maiden voyage of the AS Artemis have already sold out and the ship is still being fitted for passengers, the demand has seen tickets changing hands for handsome sums.

United States navy has apparently expressed interest as has the Imperial German navy.

These new craft should reopen the broken communications that once tied us altogether, we are looking at a turning point in the history of the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, the future has arrived.

 

Reply to the Times Prof. Bryndon Barr

Nothing astounds me so much as the ignorance of learned men. The squabble between Mr Chamberlain  and Mr Swettenham is unseemly and as pointless as is any plan, German or British, to fortify a swamp.
The area in question is an expanse of salt water Marsh, lagoons and at best very low hills with constantly shifting waterways that make navigation almost impossible. The flat lands are dangerously vulnerable to flooding and the geological instability of the midatlantic makes the risk of tidal waves a constant. We can all remember the loss of the six West coast colonies four years ago for this very reason.
A far more sensible way to secure the Rhine approach would be to invest in these new ships of the air.
Another alternative to this militant approach is to move the capital to somewhere else, Bristol for example, good access to the sea, good infrastructure, canals, roads and rail links. Dublin would be another candidate.  Both of these  cities are secure from external aggression and both have good working port facilities, in fact most of the imports in London come through Bristol. London only remains our capital because tradition and history make it so, but we should remember there have been changes before.

Extract from an Open letter from Edmund Swetenham MP to the times June 1890

With Chamberlain tying himself in knots trying not to offend the Germans he seems to have forgotten that the southern channel plains are in fact French sovereign territory.  German expansionary policy was one of the major contributing factors that lead us to the current state of affairs.

While I understand that France is in effect a wilderness, it is for us, the better off nations, to aid in the rebuilding of that once great nation.

We as a nation should also consider whether friendship with a nation that since 1872 has annexed or absorbed much of Eastern Europe. The only thing Germany lacks is a secure Atlantic port.

Joseph Chamberlain MP addresses the house June 1890

"It has come to our attention that in response to the continuing problems of piracy along the Atlantic Coast and banditry around the Normandy Reach, that the German empire intends to builds a fort at the mouth of the Rhine.

 

While this would most definitely benefit our trading fleets it does however hand a strategic advantage to the Germans. In the unlikely event that our two nations should ever come into conflict the gateway to the continent would be denied to us.

 

Needless to say, that would be an unacceptable position to find ourselves.

 

My proposal therefore, is to establish an outpost on the northern entrance to the estuary where we can maintain the security of the British people without threatening our neighbours. "

transcript of an interview with Musketeer Torsten Bauer 24/5/1892

“I was there, I saw it. My squad was assigned station just outside Clamart.

I was watching the road that night, it was dark as you would expect, and quiet except for the sound of the guns.
 Anselm noticed them first, a crowd of refugees coming up the road. They were running, we shouted "halt, stop" but they kept coming, we shot above their heads but still they came. Sergeant Becker ordered us to shoot them, but they still came on, running through us, civilians and soldiers. 

  They ignored us in their haste to escape, refusing to stop and answer us until Becker grabbed a soldier by the arm and pulled him from the mass. “Why do you run?” he said, the soldier tried to pull away, a look of terror in his eyes. Sergeant Becker slapped him “Pull yourself together.” He shouted in French “you are a soldier.” the man regained his composure, remembered who he was, “The devil has come, and his minions have the city. Run, run for your lives.”

Becker let go of the Frenchman, but he did not re-join the crowd. “Sergeant can I stay with you?” Becker gave him that look that only sergeants can give. “I should not have run, can I defend my people from here?” Becker ordered us to take the man into custody and some others to watch the road.

Over the next few hours the refugees continued to pass our position. We questioned a few others but got similar gibberish from them. Then about midnight we heard the sounds of fighting. Becker, Anselm and I climbed up a bank to get a better view. In the distance smoke and flashes of musketry could be seen. Militia fighting and retreating towards us? This did not make sense. Becker ordered our squad to take up positions, but not to fire until ordered. A young Feldwebelleutnant came running up to the sergeant at this point. “Orders from the Major hold the line, let the Frenchie’s through, or let them join you, it’s up to you.” Then he was gone.

Confusion was now showing on the face of the NCO’s, and fear was beginning to take hold and we hadn’t even seen the cause yet. We didn’t have to wait for long. As the French drew closer, shapes began to emerge from the smoke. First we thought it was just the way smoke makes shapes and pictures, but then things seemed to solid, too real, winged things, two and a half three metres tall things. Things with muscles and swords that slashed at the soldiers, killing them at whim. Musket fire and bayonets seemed as nothing, sure some fell but not enough. Our guns joined the French. Bang bang bang, soon our rifles became too hot. We fell back, shoulder to shoulder with the men we had been fighting only twelve hours before. The demons came on, nothing could stop them, killing everything, everyone.

Daylight saved us. The sunrise that day was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. At the touch of the sunlight the beasts disappeared, the Devils minions cannot abide the light.

I truly believe if it were not for the sun, they would have destroyed us all.”

Excerpt from diplomatic review 1897

The Crowns desire to claim sovereignty over what has now become known as Doggerland has several obstacles to overcome.

First problem is the vast number of dispossessed Norwegian and Swedish refugees that have settled in the eastern and northern areas, also claimed by king Oscar for his people.

Second a vast portion of the land falls into what are traditionally Norwegian or Danish waters.

Thirdly, a large portion of the territory appears to be a wasteland of frozen salt marsh swamps in the winter and dried out dustbowls during the summer.

Forth, a population of short human like creatures seem to live around the area known as Dogger Hills, they appear quite civilized and some trading is already occurring between them and the Essex men.

The currently accepted boundary of British Crown holdings is the Silver River to the east and up as far as the River Tay, then north to the Shetland hills. The boundary to the south runs along the River Rhine.

Expansion south is certainly an option for consideration as no central authority has yet to emerge in France, and this is certainly something the German  Empire is aware of.

 

geological society report to parliament 12/5/1899

Recent studies over the last ten years have noticed a slowing and eventual halt to the growth of glaciers over the west of Scotland , northwest England and Drumlins Ireland. Vast areas of these parts are now uninhabitable to humans, however some areas are infested with what can only be described as goblins.
These creatures are ugly, uncouth and violent to a degree not normally seen in a human society, they raid upon the lawful and good folk of the neighbouring counties and cause much wanton destruction. The northern parts of our nation are effectively at the mercy of the goblins, and goblins appear to have no mercy.
One advantage the citizens of the north have over these brutes are the benefits of our modern technology, the goblins use crude weapons such as bows, swords and axes whilst the good people have access to pistols and rifles.
It is the recommendation of the society to the government of her majesty to send forth a force of sufficient strength to eradicate these creatures before they become to numerous to move.

Queen Victoria saves the day

Museum archivist and part time magician Henri  Penn  is believed to be the perpetrator  of the Paris  incident.  Common consensus believes it to  have happened about half past five  on Friday the 27th of January, exact location unknown. The precise  details are lost but the psychic shock wave and terrible upheavals in the earth's crust are well known. 

The death toll that day was so vast few have tried to put a figure to it. The survivors then had to contend with the madness that afflicted so many,followed by disease, famine and a breakdown in law and order. Governments simply ceased to function. Many believed judgement day had arrived. 

It took six months for a working authority to coalesce in London. Based in the relatively undamaged Tower, Queen Victoria began to rebuild her nation. Remnants of the army,navy and police were gathered together, rationing was enforced and work parties conscripted. Within a year London was once again a functioning city.

January 27th 1901 Alice Henry interview

Thirty years ago today the world changed, or at least that's what they tell me. The German empire was at war with France, old France that is, and  that's when it happened. They say it started in Paris. One minute the Prussians are shelling the city, next they're fighting hell's own.
There is no explanation for what followed, an ice age? Tectonic activity? Gods wrath? It doesn't matter. The seas retreated leaving ships stranded in ports. Winters got longer and colder. Crops withered in the fields. Governments struggled under the collapse of trade, famines and waves of refugees. War and revolution, strange creatures, supernatural powers, it all added up.
Queen Vic died last week, she outlasted most of her empire by several decades. Edward says he will rebuild the empire, we shall see. Britain is a nation under siege, no longer an island, no longer an empire. Beset by the creature from the Paris gate, raiders from the Scandinavian highlands, fractious subjects and ambitious neighbours.
It's not like it was, apparently.