The World As It Is Known
It is the early 1820s. The world is changing at an astonishing rate. The Napoleonic Wars have ended; Napoleon has died in exile. The Regency also ended when ‘Mad’ King George III died and was succeeded by his son, the previous Regent, King George IV. Meanwhile, in a rural village deep in the heart of England, a country ball is being held. Dashing officers, rich aristocrats and beautiful ladies will all be meeting & discussing the Great Changes & the Future.

Military & Magic
His Majesty’s military forces are divided into three main branches. The Army contains the finest infantry, cavalry and artillery in Europe; the Navy has ruled the seas since Trafalgar; and finally the Aerial Corps’ dragons guard England’s skies.
Together, the three branches of the military have recently defeated the French absolutist tyrant Napoleon. Attempted invasions were repelled, and mighty campaigns were fought on the continent. In the end, Britain’s military prevailed.
Napoleon’s defeat was not accomplished by the three branches of the military alone. They also had support from Jonathon Strange; the mysterious magician who’s recent disappearance (along with his mentor Mr Norrell) is the subject of much speculation.
With Napoleon defeated, the military has found itself lost. What is their purpose without war? With Europe relatively peaceful (apart from trouble in Greece) there are no more challenges. The bored officers find themselves alienated from society, and itching for a new foe…

Unrest at Home
Meanwhile unrest is gripping the United Kingdom. The Luddites are protesting the changes technological innovation is having on the Labouring Classes, whilst the Irish are pushing for independence. But the greatest political question is Electoral Reform. The rotten borough of Grampound has just been removed, and now people are pushing for Catholic emancipation. The Catholic Question is an issue with wide implications. It would ease pressure for independence in Ireland; however it may be a stepping-stone to wider Electoral Reform, leading to the prospect of even the Poor having the vote…

Recommended Reading and Viewing
The works of Miss Austen are highly recommended, they perfectly capture the feel of society at our events. They have been filmed in a large number of editions.
On the military front, Mr Cornwall’s biographies of Sharpe are excellent, and have been filmed. Flashman is a later figure, however his memoires (edited by George Macdonald Fraser) are very amusing, if not appropriate reading for Ladies.
For those interested in the slightly more esoteric aspects of our event, two works in particular are essential. Both of these books are canon historical accounts in our world, and our first event takes place shortly after the end of these books. The book Temeraire by Miss Naomi Novik is a wonderfully insightful account of the Aerial Corps (the other books in the series are non-canon: in this world there was no disease affecting dragons, Napoleon never invaded England, &c). Meanwhile Jonathon Strange & Mr Norrell by Miss Susanne Clarke is a fascinating study of the two great magicians who guided the return of English Magic.
Finally, watch Alien, and imagine these worlds colliding. For this atmosphere, you may enjoy watching the French film Brotherhood of the Wolf or Doctor Who episodes like Tooth & Claw. Those are obviously both in the wrong historical period and not canon for the game, but will give you an idea of the vibe and essence of our event…

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Masquerades & Massacres (Jane Austen's Aliens): Organiser
Maelstrom: Papa Abgal (The Rum Fairy of Doom, High Exarch of Entertainment)
Serenity: Xavier Yu Ji ('Pointy Hat Man')
White City: Too Many Characters To Mention!
Dark Ages Society: Godfrid Swine-Herd (Scummy Saxon), Hauk Ragnarsson (Rus Viking Flashman)