[Campaign-Design] TW 6 (My Players Keep Out)

[The Professor]

NOTE: If you are a player in my TW6 Campaign, please stop reading now to avoid spoiling the plot as that's what I'm looking to discuss here. the Session summaries are here:

dwaitas.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=campaigns&action=display&thread=495

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So, I would first like to thank the folks in the thread above that made some sugestions regarding my campaign. That kind of help has been fueling my creative cells for the past few days and I'm hoping to keep that pace up.

So I'm going to be posting here the thoughts and ideas for my TW6 campaign and hopefully get some opinions/suggestions for the knowledgable folks here.

Since my last posting in the afore mentioned thread, I've put together an outlined history of TW6 dating back to it's origins in the 1800s. this is a work in progress and very much open to suggestion and change.

• Origins of Torchwood 6

o Originally created in secret in 1885 by order of the crown
o Original purpose was to acquire any found extraterrestrial tech and smuggle it back to Britain
o Dubbed Torchwood 6 but kept off the books as to its details to prevent spies from learning its location
o Housed underground in what appeared to be an alien craft that somehow merged with a series of underground caves (Far enough underground to avoid the subways build in the early 20th century). The land over it was bought up under a false name and work began on exploring the ship as well as getting TW6 started.
o By 1887, TW6 was established and work began on acquiring alien tech to send back to Britain
o TW6 worked from 1887-1925 sending numerous devices back to Britain (Including parts used to build the Rift Manipulator in Cardiff)
o However, in 1925, all communication with TW6 ceased. No further messages or shipments were ever sent/received. An investigation was launched in secret to find out what had happened, but given the secretive nature of TW6 and the lack of documentation, the investigation was called off and TW6 was considered a loss, all members MIA.
o In truth, the loss of TW6 could be traced back to a faulty Rift Manipulator of alien origin found by Agent Farrah in 1924.
o TW6 studied the device and accidentally triggered it (though thought defunct).
o All TW6 members were shunted out of time.
o Accident also created a temporal rift much like the one in Cardiff
o With the loss of TW6 and no means to locate them, the facility was considered MIA as were all members
o The crown removed all records of TW6 in case the facility was found, to avoid tracing its existence back to the British government

• Abigail Springer

o Found by Torchwood in 1995, classified as a Riftee
o Went through rehab and then asked to work for Torchwood
o Displayed amazing negotiating aptitude as well as a high overall intellect and understanding of advanced sciences
o Brought on for a probationary timeframe but eventually as full time agent after convincing her superiors her intentions were not false
o Worked with TW1 before Canary Wharf as a personnel coordinator and eventually, liaison to the British government
o During overseas trip, discovered possible existence of Rift type activity in NYC
o Brought to the attention of her superiors and proposed possibly opening a US based branch in conjunction with the US Government.
o Was given the go ahead to negotiate through her contacts to see what kind of deal could be arranged

• Convincing The US

o Given the go-ahead, Abigail slowly began to work her contacts she had developed over the years to try and explain the necessity and value a US based TW office would have.
o Many were hesitant to move forward with the arrangements Abigail was proposing.
o However, the incident with the Dalek/Cyberman invasion swayed them to her side.
o There was some opposition from UNIT who had a base located outside NYC. It’s commanding officer, Maxwell Schill, had heard about Torchwood from his contacts in Britain. He was not pleased with how Torchwood conducts itself there and did not want to see such conduct repeated in the states
o While Schill was ignored thanks to the global events of that day, Abigail still met with issues when it was discovered that Torchwood 1 was closed by the crown. This let Torchwood 3 in charge and Jack Harkness was not too fond of the original proposals made per TW1.
o This put a stop to much of Abigail’s negotiations until the events of the 456.
o With Torchwood 3 then removed from the picture and another global threat emphasizing Abigail’s initial points, the US government went forward with her proposal.
o With the final blessing of the crown, Torchwood 6 was born once more.

• Formation of TW6

o Abigail would say that it was fate that she was able to find the old headquarters of the original Torchwood 6 (It was, in fact, pre-programmed knowledge from the Movellan research on Earth of the past)
o Having found the proper facilities, Abigail began looking for agents to begin staffing the center
o She recruited former Torchwood 1 Agent Harvey Glenister, 2 former UNIT officers, Ronald Bong and Bryan Zimmerman, and (Unknown details) Elspeth Durnin
o Currently, she is receiving funding from the British government as well as a few US sources looking to remain anonymous

[The Professor]

When it came to the plot, I was inspiried by reading The Official Doctor Who and the Daleks Book by John Peel and Terry Nation when I read a part about the Movellans. I'll admit to not having a good beginning knowledge base on the Who Universe, but I thought that there could be some way to use them as a focus point of a season (Originally Season 1, but I may bump that to season 2)

My thoughts were that during the Dalek-Movellan War, the Movellans came across some kind of temporal Rift on a planet that were using for resources. Curious, they studied it and harnessed a basic means to use the rift.

Realizing they needed an edge in the stalemate they were stuck in (Thanks in part to their failure to aquire the Doctor [this is before the Movellan's design the virus]) as well as the ingenuity of the human species, they decide to try and study the species in order to perhaps aquire that edge they need to win. However, realizing that their appearance was unique, they decided to craft their own human (Preprogrammed for their bidding, albeit subconciously so as to avoid obvious suspician). While that process was occuring, they studied what ecords they could of Earth and discovered records of the agency known as Torchwood and their original purpose of aquiring alien technology. If they could find a way to access those stores of tech, they migh find something of use.

And so Abigail was created.

The Movellans used the rift they dicovered to try and send Abigail back in time to Earth in order to join Torchwood and find a way to aquire advanced technology. However, their study of the Rift and temporal mechanics was not as successful. While they were able to send her back, they not only missed their mark (Dumping her in 1995), but they lost track of her as well.

However, Abigail was mentally conditioned to serve the Movellan plans on a subconcious level, so they hoped that once she was found, she will have aquired the tech they could use to with the war.

[The Professor]

Taking a lesson from this thread on Tropes:

dwaitas.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=seeds&action=display&thread=440

I decided to work backwards from the end of the season, design the end and then figure out how to get there. Originally, I had planned on Abigail's origins being discovered in a 3 part finale (Working with a 14 'episode' season). somthing perhaps involving the Movellans coming to earth to take Abigail back as well as anything she had found.

At first, I planned on her being aware of her origins. But then, I thought that might not inspire the players enough to rescue her at the end of the season. The idea was that the Movellans would arrive, capture Abigail and steal an alien virus TW6 would have acquired that has the capacity to wipe out worlds.

From there, hopefully inspired to rescue their boss, the group would follow and end up in the far-flung future during the Dalek-Movellan war. To toss a little enjoyable timey-wimey stuffs at them, I would see if there was a way to work it where the players may end up altering the virus to affect only Daleks, there by creating the Virus the Movellans use to win the war as listed in standard Whoverse knowledge.

But I'm not sure if I want to hold off on that whole plot until a second season to give the group time to warm up to her and each other. If so, it leavs me wondering what sot of plot arc I can use for season one. I do know that when this campaign officially starts, they will need to help explore the ship that served as the original TW6's HQ (I'll be basing them in an old warehouse till later). So it could be something based on discovering what happened to the original TW6. Perhaps including them exploring the city to find any alien tech caches TW6 may have hidden.

[The Professor]

This is the initial write-up I've done for Abigail. Any suggestions/comments are welcome.

Abigail Springer (Genetically Engineered Movellan Sleeper Agent)

Awareness: 3
Coordination: 4
Ingenuity: 4
Presence: 3
Resolve: 3
Strength: 2

Story Points: 12

Traits
Dark Secret (Major Bad Trait) – Movellan Agent (Albeit unknown to her)
Amnesia (Major Bad Trait) – Never had a past and does not know her true origins
Impaired Senses – sight (Minor Bad Trait) – A flaw in the Movellan’s genetic design of her to record what she sees
Technically Adept (Minor Good Trait) – Programmed by the Movellans
Voice of Authority (Minor Good Trait)
Fast Healer (Major Special Trait) – Part of the Movellan’s Genetic design of her
Charming (Minor Good Trait)
Attractive (Minor Good Trait) – Much like the Movellans

Skills
Convince 4 (Leadership, Charm)
Athletics 3
Knowledge 3
Science 3
Technology 3
Marksman 2
Fighting 2
Transport 2

[The Professor]

Having thought about it, I've decided to hold off on the Movellan reveal until Season Two (Assuming there is one) and have come up with a few episode titles and ideas for both. Thought I'd share them as well and get opinions if people want to comment.

Season One Episode Listing
1.0 Arrowdown

1.1 Home Sweet Home The TW6 agents have finally found themselves a new headquarters, but first they need to do a little spring cleaning as an abandoned, ancient alien ship may have a few ghosts still lurking about.

1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6

1.7 The Bleeding Planet When a known Mafia crime boss dies from unusual causes, TW find their hands full with the Slitheen, a young girl, and a world eradicating virus.

1.8
1.9
1.10
1.11

1.12 End Game (Part 1) - Ghosts of the Past The reason behind the disappearance of the original TW6 is discovered as the TW team deals with a threat that could spell the end of Torchwood 6.

1.13 End Game (Part 2) - Past, Present, and Future Conspiracies and temporal anomalies collide as TW handles not only threats from the US Government, but a dark, looming threat from beyond the rift, something that does not want to let its captives go.


Season Two Episode Listing
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11

2.12 The Movellan Gambit Part 1 The Movellans make their move in acquiring the technology Torchwood has accumulated, especially the Slitheen Worldbreaker Virus acquired in Episode 1.7. With that, they can wipe out their enemy, the Daleks. Abigail’s origins are revealed as she fights to avoid capture by the Movellans. But, in the end, the Movellan forces take her back through the temporal Rift back to their time.

2.13 The Movellan Gambit Part 2 The players follow the Movellan forces through the temporal rift onto an alien world. Scans would indicate that the Temporal Rift won’t flare again for (1 week?) giving them time to hunt down the Movellans and get back the virus (And Abigail?). First encounter of the Daleks by the players.

2.14 The Movellan Gambit Part 3 It’s a showdown between the Movellans and the Daleks with TW caught in the middle. Whatever they decide will have a lasting effect on the future.

[The Inspector]

Looks like an excellent framework. Glad to see the Movellians making an appearance as well.

I would suggest having some continuing involvement with the US Government. Perhaps the FBI back Torchwood as a counterpoint to UNIT? Or have a NYPD officer who aid them in exchange for helping him on odd cases in the city?

In any case, let us know how it goes.

[allivingstone]

Jan 15, 2010 20:27:33 GMT The Inspector said:

Perhaps the FBI back Torchwood as a counterpoint to UNIT?

"Agent Mulder, you're being reassigned to New York."
;D