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Chaosium Digest Volume 14 Number 04
Chaosium Digest Volume 14, Number 4
Date: Sunday, April 14, 1996
Number: 4 of 4
Contents:
Nephilim Australis Incogito, Part 4 (Timothy Ferguson) NEPHILIM
--------------------
From: Timothy Ferguson <Timothy.Ferguson@jcu.edu.au>
Subject: Nephilim Australis Incogito, Part 4
System: Nephilim
PRIOR INCARNATIONS IN AUSTRALIA
These historical periods are not "Great Awakenings". Instead they form
a continum during which your Nephilim may have been conscious. During
the earliest incarnations, the small Australian population leaves it
mostly free of Secret Society and European Nephilim influence. The
Aboriginies do not learn to smelt metal, so Orichalka remains hidden
and secret in Australia until the Europeans arrive.
Note: The Bainu
A mysterious group with sailing ships may have visited Aboriginal
communities before the 1600s. As we do not know who they are, they may
have been the first importers of Stases into Australia. These people
are called the "Bainu".
Pre-contact Australia
Australia is first settled by waves of immigration from southeast
Asia, beginning at least 40,000 years ago. Not all of the original
Australians were modern humans, some being huge ogrish creatures who,
so far as we can tell, lived in peaceful communities alongside
"gracile" people.
Australia may have had up to 500 tribes of Aborigines, each with its
own language or dialect. Although their lifestyles are similar enough
that "Life Experience (Traditional Aboriginal)" gained in various
lives can be added together, "Speak (An Aboriginal Language)" and
"Religion (Tribal Ceremony)" are fresh skills for each simulacrum.
In the Simulacra below "Surivival" substitutes for the dozens of
"Craft..." skills that a well-rounded nomad would require.
Those from this period must take an Australian Metamorphosis from the
list in the next chapter. This period may be selected multiple times,
although Robusta may only be taken once, as the first incarnation. If
it is rolled later, it should be re-rolled.
01-20 Robusta Human
21-40 Torres Straight Islander
41-70 Hunter (Male)
71-00 Gatherer (Female)
Robusta Human: The Nephilim's host was one of the Robusta ogres. Its
skills are the same as "Hunter" below.
Toress Straight Islander: The islands of the Toress Straight contain a
fishing and farming culture which is non-nomadic and is not closely
related to either the Papuans to the north or the Aboriginies to the
south.
Boat (fishing) or Farm
Hunt (Fishing)
Life Experience (Toress Straight Islander)
Melee (Spear)
Natural Lore
Religion (Tribal Ceremony)
Scan
Speak (An Islander language)
Swim
Hunter (Male): The mainland Aboriginies tended to be nomadic, although
hamlets did form in areas where food was plentiful. Generally, hunting
of large animals was men's work and gathering women's work, although
this is not necessarily a reflection of status, since gathering gave
women economic power.
Art (Sacred Paintings or Sacred Dances)
Hunt
Life Experience (Traditional Aboriginal)
Meele (Boomerang or Spear and Woomera (Spear-thrower))
Melee (Wadi (Club) or Axe)
Natural Lore
Religion (Tribal Ceremony)
Scan
Speak (An aboriginal language)
Survival
Gatherer (Female):
Art (Sacred Dance or Sacred Painting)
Hunt (both women and men caught small game)
Life Experience (Traditional Aboriginal)
Melee (Wadi (Club) or Axe)
Natural Lore
Religion (Tribal Ceremony)
Scrutinize
Speak (An aboriginal language)
Survival
Available Techniques: In Australia Summoning is the basic technique,
not Sorcery. Gaining the assistance of totemic spirits fits Aboriginal
customs better than the raw personal power of sorcery. Alchemy is a
foreign concept, not used until the Europeans bring it with them to
Australia.
Available Techniques:
All three Circles of Sorcery
All three Circles of Summoning
Stasis Event: Dies either of accident or natural causes. Usually the
death of the PC will create a sacred site, where a priesthood will
keep their stasis. Local geographical peculiarities will be explained
as the effects of the PCs actions or the remanants of their body. In
Alcheringa, or to the Awakened, the site will seem obviously
unnatural. A cave interior might, for instance, look literally like
the huge rib-cage of a dead snake.
Stases:
Quartz Crystal
Australite (meteroite)
Bone tool
Weapon
Clapstick or digeredoo (musical instruments)
Bullroarer (a piece of woode twirled on a string to create a noise.
Used to warn women and children away from men's rituals. Mick uses
one in "Crocodile Dundee").
The Age of Discovery:
From 1616 until the founding of the first colony various explorers
touched the Australian coast. They serve either themselves, the Temple
or the Wheel of Fortune. People from the Indonesian archiapelgo made
regular contact with northern Australia, to trade sea cucumbers,
between about 1605 and 1903.
01-10 Maccassan (Sumatran) Trader
11-30 Marine (See Soldier in "Chronicle of Awakenings", p.35.)
31-00 Sailor (See Deep-Sea Sailor in "Chronicle of Awakenings", p.35.)
Nationalities for Europeans can be Dutch or English. Don't forget to
alter the name of the Life Experience skill to (Sailor near Oz).
Sumatran Trader: The character's host was a Sumatran who visited
northern Australia to barter for trepang (sea cucumber) with the
indigineous inhabitants.
Bargain
Boat
Hunt (fishing)
Life Experience (Maccassan)
Meele (Knife)
Natural Lore
Speak (Maccassan)
Speak (Northern Australian Aboriginal Dialect)
Swim
Marine and Sailor: Marines and sailors on the voyages of exploration
were occassionally hosts to Nephilim. More often officers within each
crew were in the service of the Wheel of Fortune, seeking out new
resources for their Arcanum.
During this time, characters may roll instead on the pre-contact list,
to simulate taking an Aboriginal simulacrum. If "Robusta human" is
rolled an alternative should be selected, possibly "Maccassan Trader".
Some Secret Societies shipped Stases to Australia believing it to be
uninhabited.
Death: Either of an accident while sailing or old and in bed.
Stases: If a European, see "Chronicle of Awakennings", p.36.
If Maccassan: Either roll on the Pre-Contact table or select another
item that seems right for you.
Early Sydney
In 1788 the first colony is founded in Australia, in Sydney Cove. The
colony was basically a prison camp for British urban offenders. Aside
from Arthur Philip, the Governor, virtually none of the convicts had
farming experience and the colony was unable to feed itself for many
years.
If you desire an Aboriginal Simulacrum, roll on the pre-contact table,
substituting Maccassan Trader, from "Age of Discovery" for "Robusta".
01-50 Convict from Urban Background
Use "Urban Rabble" in "Chronicle of Awakenings",
p.40 after changing the Speak skill to (English)
and the Life Experience to (Sydney, 1788).
51-60 Convict from Rural Background
As "Farmer" in Pre-Dynastic Egypt but subsitute
Craft... for Boat, change over the Life Experience
and make the language spoken (English).
61-70 Marine: "Chronicle of Awakenings", p.35.
70-90 Sailor: "Chronicle of Awakenings", p.35.
91-00 Officer: Officers of the Marine Corps and of visiting ships have
either the skills of a sailor or a marine, but also have
"Business" to reflect their mercenary activities in early
Sydney and, as they were usually literate, have "Read/Write
(English)"
Death:
01-30 Starvation
31-50 Disease
51-70 Age
71-90 At sea
91-95 With violence in Sydney
96-00 Speared by Aboriginies, or died living in their communities.
Occult Techniques:
Study of magical techniques would have been extremely difficult for
those with as little leisure time as the early Australians. Although
all Circles of each art, save the Philosopher's Stone, may be taken,
Alchemy must be justified to the gamesmaster, as most people lived in
prisons or communal barracks with no private place for anathors.
Similarly, the highest Circle of Sorcery requires justification, as
occult texts are scarce in the colony.
Stasis:
01-30 Naval Equipment (Navigation equpiment, ships
pulleys)
31-50 Convict gear (Balls and chains, whips.)
51-70 Aboriginal artifact (Roll on Pre-contact table).
71-80 Marine's weapon or pat of marine's uniform.
81-90 Gentleman's item bought out from Britain.
91-00 Ladies' item bought out from Britain.
The European Expansion:
In the period between 1813 and 1873 the interior of the continent was
explored. This first date marks the crossing of the Blue Mountains by
a trio of explorers, opening up a fertile hinterland for the colony.
Until this time it was believed that Aborigines only lived on the
coasts; this was proven incorrect. Clashes between the Aborigines and
settlers occured frequently at this time, due to theft of tribal land
by settlers and theft of grazing animals by Aborigines. Many Irish
people settle in Australia at this time; some are Nephilim transported
by the theft of their Stases. Transportation of convicts ends.
If you want an Aboriginal simulacrum, roll on the Pre-contact table,
but ignore "Robusta Human", substituting "Maccassan Trader".
If you want a European simulacrum, roll on the Early Sydney table,
with the following change:
41-50 Overlander
Overlanders are drovers of cattle, pushing herds along stock routes to
the markets in the regional capitals.
Overlander
Build (campcraft)
Farming
First Aid
Hunt
Life Experience (c 19th Australian)
Ride
Rifle
Scan
Speak (English)
Causes of Death:
01-30 Sickness
31-60 Age
61-80 Exposure
81-90 Went back to England and died there
91-00 Clashes with Aboriginies
Magical Techniques:
All save Philosopher's Stone are available, but Alchemy and Grand
Secret Sorcery must be justified to the Gamesmaster.
Stases: Use the table for Early Sydney.
The Gold Rushes:
In the period between 1850 and 1880 gold was discovered in many parts
of Australia. Miners flooded out from the towns into the goldfields
and emigrated to this country to try their luck. Generally, the money
was made by those who sold the shovels and the grog, rather than the
miners themselves. Large numbers of Asains immigrate to Australia at
this time. Their market gardens provide vital foodstuffs in many
communities. In some places they suffer terrible racist violence. In
others, they intermarry with the European population.
Increasing taxes and charges upon miners eventually led to a revolt on
one of the fields. The fortress the miners set up was overwhelmed by
soldiers with little difficulty, but the "Eureka Stockade" became an
Australian cultural icon.
01-50 Urban gold-digger
51-80 Immigrant Gold-digger
81-90 Storekeeper
91-95 License Inspector
96-00 Bushranger
Urban Gold Digger
Bargain
Build
Craft... (Profession)
Craft (Mining)
Conceal
Fist/Punch
Life Experience (Australian Goldfields)
Speak (English)
Immigrant Gold-digger
As above, but split the Life Experience Score into two skills, for
instance L.E. (Goldfields) and L.E. (China C. 18th). Also, add a
Language skill to reflect the immigrant's homeland.
Storekeeper
Bargain
Business
Craft...
Fast Talk
Life Experience (Australian Goldfields)
Read/Write (English)
Speak (English)
License Inspector
Bargain
Law
Life Experience (Australian Goldfields)
Read/Write (English)
Rifle
Ride
Scan
Speak (English)
Bushranger
Bargain
Hide
Hunt
Life Experience (Australian Goldfields)
Ride
Rifle
Survival
Speak (English)
Causes of Death:
01-25 Crime on the gold-fields
26-40 Killed at the Eureka Stockade
41-55 Went back to country of origin and died there
56-70 Died of disease
71-00 Died of age
Stases:
01-50 Mining Gear
51-75 Item bought out from Britain
76-85 Aboriginal Artifact
86-95 Soldier's weapon or equipment
96-00 Antique bought out from Britain or China, roll on an earlier period
from the sourcebooks.
The Depression
In 1890 the global depression struck Australia. Many men took to the
roads, finding seasonal work where they could. In the cities the union
movement formed. It becames a mainstay of Australian political life
until the end of the Twentieth Century. By this stage of Australian
history, the vast majority of the white population lived in the
cities, not the country. This has continued up to today, with over 85%
of Australians living in the urban areas, mostly in the south-eastern
corner.
Town Labourer
Bargain
Craft...
Craft...
Fist/Punch
Life Experience (1890s Australia)
Speak (English)
Town Professional
As above, but replace the two Craft skills with others that are
"Professional" like First Aid and Medicine, or Law and Business.
Also, add Read/Write (English).
Farmer
As Pre-Dynastic Egypt, but with altered Life Experience and Speak
skills.
Swagman
Swagmen were wandering labourers. The most famous one is the ghost in
"Waltzing Matilda" which many Australians feel should be our anthem.
"Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong under the shade of a
coolibah tree..."
Bargain
Craft (Shearing)
Fist/Punch
Law (Swagmen were vagrants and often fell foul of the law.)
Life Experience (1890s Australia)
Scrutinize
Speak (English)
Survival (This skill reflects the ability to find water and shelter.
Europeans are notoriously incompetent when it comes to finding bush
tucker. Swagmen had a steady diet of flour, tea and meat when they
could buy or poach it.)
Causes of Death:
01-50 Old Age
50-75 Sickness or violence
76-95 Emigrated to Britain then died.
96-00 Killed by the early Secret Socieities.
Stases:
01-30 Item of value imported from Britain
31-60 Farming tool
61-70 Aboriginal artifact
71-81 Tool of urban professional
81-90 A piece of jewelery made at this time
91-00 An everyday item from turn-of-the-century Sydney
The Federation
1901 was the year that the Commonwealth of Australia was founded.
Prior to this, each colony was a self-governing militocracy. The new
capital, Canberra, was placed exactly between Sydney and Melbourne,
the two largest cities. Its chief architect had a wife who was also an
architect and who helped in the design of buildings. The original
designs show that this assistant architect was familiar with Sacred
Geometry, especially one Chinese style and applied it in the design.
Australia has the highest standard of living in the world.
01-20 Urban labourer
21-40 Urban professional
41-50 Bush Poet
51-60 Early politician
61-90 Pastoralist
91-00 Boer War Soldier:
Urban Labourer
Urban Professional
These two are the same as the previous entries, but Life Experience
should be (Australian Federation). Reading is common by now. Decide if
your character should have Read/Write (English).
Bush Poet
Art (Poetry)
Bargain
Fast Talk
History
Life Experience (Federation Australia)
Read/Write (English)
Speak (English)
Early politician
Bargain
Life Experience (Federation Australia)
Psychology
Read/Write (English)
Speak (English)
Two "Professional skills" such as Business and Farm or Medicine and
First Aid.
60-90 Pastoralist
Like "Pre-Dynastic Egyptian Farmer" with altered linguistic and life
experience skills.
91-00 Boer War Soldier
Australia sent forces to the British wars in what is now South Africa;
this set a pattern followed until World War Two where Australian
forces were sent to wherever the Empire needed cannon fodder.
Fist/Punch
Life Experience (Federation Australia)
Melee (bayonet)
Read/Write (English)
Ride
Rifle
Scan
Speak (English)
The First World War
Australia was a combatant in the First World War. It suffered the
highest level of casualties per capita of any country. Australian
forces trained in Egypt then were butchered at Gallipoli. Fresh forces
marched along the Road of Conquerers through the Middle East, picking
up many Nephilim at this time. In Australia, small cenotaphs are
raised in most towns. These may have some magical purpose. They are
the foci for the main display of Australian nationalism each year,
A.N.Z.A.C. Day.
As per "Chronicle of Awakenings", but Australian soldiers in the
Middle East tended to have "Ride" in addition to their other skills.
The Second World War
During the Second World War Australia was left undefended from the
Japanese by the fall of Singapore. Desperate battles occured along the
Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea. The Burma deathmarch dragged
Australians through southeast Asia. Once America entered the war,
large numbers of Americans were stationed in Northern Australia,
MacArthur's "Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier".
During this period Nephilim from Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia and
the Americas came to Australia in large numbers. War brides carried
some indigenous Nephilim to the United States once the war was
complete. Australia decided to "Populate or Perish" after the War,
drawing in all of the white immigrants who were available, including
many Nephilim fleeing the wreckage of Italy.
As per "Chronicle of Awakenings".
The Mineral Boom
The mineral boom begins in 1942, with the Australian economy regearing
to ship out raw materials to the world. Many Earth spirits are
awakened at this time, including many Mimi and Narguns, described
below.
Creatures awakened in the 1940s have a wide choice of simulacra. It's
best just to use the many simulacra provided for the modern day in
various supplements, tinkering with them so that they do not have
inappropriate skills.
The 1950s until today
During the brushfire war in Vietnam, Australia supported the American
alliance. Huge numbers of immigrants flooded into the country from
Vietnam and other parts of the world. During, the 1980s the Asian
Engagement and Multicultural Diversity policies of the governement
altered the structure of Australian society. Today, about 1/6 of the
people in Australia were born in another country. Extended to include
people whose parents were born overseas, Australia has one of the
"newest" poulations in the world. This also means it is a melting pot
of Nephilim and magical traditions from the other continents.
IN CONCLUSION
Thanks to all who offered encouragement when I first suggested the
writing of this document. Thanks also to Sam Shirley, Penelope Love
and Mark Morrison for allowing me to rework the _Terror Australis_
material.
Timothy Ferguson, the 10th of April 1996.
--------------------
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