Our London

Our Victorian London
Gods’ Wars is inspired by, and shares a lot in common with, Victorian London, but is not a historical game. Our world is an alternative history world in which some major changes in the historical timeline have resulted in a society similar to but different from the one we know as Victorian England. In the Gods’ Wars version of 1880 England, women and people of all cultures have equal rights to white men. Non-heterosexual sexual orientations, the full gender spectrum, and non-monogamous relationships are also an accepted part of society. Modern western colonialism and slavery never really took off. Thus, racism, sexism, and homophobia are not themes that are going to be addressed or are welcome in this game. ​​ We have made these changes purposefully so that players of all races, genders, sexualities, etc. can enjoy this romantic era without the feeling that they could not have truly belonged in such a society. In this one, they can. We have altered history so that our non-cis/white/heterosexual players can create and tell their own stories in this world. The decision to exclude these themes was one made not to belittle the struggles made for equality nor to diminish the stories that could be told with these themes in such a setting. These struggles and these stories are incredibly important, but they are not the ones that we are telling in this world or in this game.

But if all are equal, where will the scandal and drama come from? Rest assured. Victorian London in Gods’ Wars is not a utopia. There are still many inequalities in our London that were present in the real 1880 and that are fodder for the Society Papers. Those inequalities revolve around class dynamics and the drastic difference in wealth distribution among the landed nobility and the working classes. Sexual scandal still exists as well. Having a child out of wedlock is still wholly inappropriate and shows a lack of moral character especially if one does not support said child. Marriage (with two or more people) is still very much a business contract designed to improve family prospects rather than the more romantic but scandalous ideas of marrying for love. Not following any number of rules of etiquette (see below) can also lead to your name being associated with scandal.

We welcome all genders, sexualities, and races in the London of Gods' Wars. We encourage you to play whatever character you feel most comfortable with or would like to explore. Sexism, racism, or sexuality-based discrimination are not a part of this society and will not be tolerated in or out of game.

Queen Victoria
If the Victorian age is attached to a single person, it is with the figure for whom the era is named after. By 1880, Queen Victoria has ruled the nation of Great Britain and Ireland for forty-three years. While some people remember a time when she was not upon the throne, most NPCs have only ever known her as their monarch. As such, like any old piece of furniture, there is a general sense of respect and admiration for her. This is helped by the fact that the British Monarch is a figurehead with no real authority on the ship of state outside of what tradition and the people allow. In recent years, Victoria has continued her trend of remaining mostly absent from Society life outside of the traditional duties she carries out with it. This has stemmed from the death of her husband, Alfred, almost 20 years prior. Her main impact in 1880, is a brief fashion trend for mourning black, as Victoria has all but abdicated herself from Society. For these reasons, you will find her missing on the list of NPCs, as you will for all areas of the game. While making her interactable by PCs would allow for interesting outcomes, it is not very realistic to expect her to have much of a presence in society during this time.

The Industrial Revolution
The Victorian Era is equally attached to another that came before and ran through it, the Industrial Revolution. It is a time of steam, smoke and iron, pictured in real London 1880 in stovepipe hats and cigars. That is mostly the same in our London, only the women also wear the stovepipe hats and smoke cigars. In 1880 we find ourselves at turning point of sorts: the cities of the United Kingdom have grown into Industrial powerhouses, attracting people from the countryside to their ever-filling slums. Elsewhere, towns are being built out of nothing in the demand to fulfil exports. But what does this mean for you? For transport it is the last hurrah of the horse and carriage- of which there are around ten thousand in London alone. For the majority of Londoners, this is the most common mode of transport around the city. The alternate is railway. Though most lines and stations are designed to take you from London to the wider country, the relatively new Metropolitan Railway and a number of underground tunnels give Londoners a faster, if slightly more smoke-filled way of travel. The world, and London in particular, has technologically come quite far in the age of the Industrial Revolution, but it is still only 1880. Telephones have been invented, but are not widely used for another few decades. Wireless telegrams not for another fifteen years. Automobiles are five years away, but Karl Benz’s first prototype is a long way off from a Model T.

Social Classes
The upper class or aristocracy of Victorian London made up only about 2% of society, but will be a majority of the NPCs (and likely PCs) in this setting. These individuals were born into nobility and owned the majority of the land. The royal family, lords, clergy, officers of state, and titled individuals made up this category. If you were rich enough and had high enough status, you didn’t *need* to have a job.

The bourgeoisie or middle working class makes up (nearly) the rest of the PCs and NPCs in this game and consisted of professionals like factory owners, bankers, shopkeepers, merchants, lawyers, engineers, businessmen, and traders. They could also be extremely wealthy, but didn’t always enjoy the same benefits in status as the upper class.

The lower classes include the working class or labourers (who performed jobs such factory work, seamstressing, mining, and chimney sweeping) as well as the poor who were not working and receiving public charity. Although the majority of society (about 85%) fell into this category, there are very few NPCs (and likely PCs) in it.

The Season
‘The Season’ refers to the annual period in which it was customary for England’s elite families to come together for balls, dinner parties, and other glamorous social events dressed in their finest. Only those of high society were invited to and welcome at these events (and likely were the only ones who could afford to attend). Typically, the participating families lived on grand estates in the country, but relocated to their elegant mansions in the city for several months during the time that Parliament was in session, for the purpose of socializing with the other elite and finding a spouse. The most sought after invitations, of course, were at the fanciest mansions belonging to the highest status individuals of the British aristocracy.

During actual 1880 in London, there was a significant gender imbalance in how people approached the season, which is largely going to be ignored in our game. Instead, all genders will want to dress their best for these events and can approach or be approached for romance. No part of our society will be closed to someone based on their gender.

In this game, the season will just be starting as the game begins. Because the season typically took place in the summer, in game time will begin in April. So the starting date of game in the real world is October 16, 2021, but in game time will be April 16, 1880.

Etiquette and Scandal
For those in the upper echelons of society, rules such as the proper forms of address, and even what to wear were all considered extremely important. Etiquette was also very gendered in true Victorian Society, something we are modifying for this game. The horror of scandal, such as being caught in the wrong fashion at the wrong time of day or addressing someone by the wrong title, was paramount. Some NPCs put great stock in following these rules and expecting others to follow them. You do not have to follow proper etiquette, but ignoring it completely may cause issues with some NPCs or get your name in the society papers associated with scandal. What does scandal mean for you? Your relationship with some NPCs may decrease, depending on the extent of the scandal and your current relationship with them. This is true not just of NPCs who may be involved in the scandal, but any who care about proper etiquette. Scandals spread faster than even popular gossip, particularly among the highest-ranking individuals. Even worse, the Society Papers may catch word of what has happened and publish it. Your reputation- and its association with scandal- has a significant impact on your prospects for marriage as well as your invitation to other high society events.

Unwritten Rules of Etiquette -You must never approach people of higher rank in person, unless being introduced by a mutual friend, or having first contacted them by letter. -Unmarried people should never address other unmarried people in person without an introduction or a chaperone (someone older and preferably married) -An unmarried person never walks out alone. They need a chaperone. -An unmarried person can never ride alone in a closed carriage with another unmarried person who is not a relative. -An unmarried person cannot receive an unmarried guest at home if they are alone. A chaperone must be present. -No impure conversations should be held in front of an unmarried person -No sexual contact is allowed before marriage. Innocence is demanded in marital partners. -No sexual contact is allowed outside of wedlock. -No children should be had outside of wedlock.

High Society Social Clubs
Similar to the Gentleman's clubs of true Victorian London, but open to all genders. These clubs are an excuse for the upper class to be even more exclusive. Attendance at the Social Clubs is based on invite only. Members are obviously welcome and anyone else who wishes to be a part must get the permission of the club leader. Each club has a reputation and its members are public, though what they do during their meetings is less so.

The Society of the Muses: Lead by Oliver Merritt. Also includes Celina Culpepper, Hector van der Vorm, and recently invited Victor Moore. The Cyrenaic Club: Lead by Paul Cresswell. Also includes Isobel Beveridge The Lotus Club: Lead by Night Mather. Also includes Bennet Otis, Henry Adalbert, and Fiona Kelly. The Hyperion Club: Lead by Charles Moore. Also includes Guinevere Green, Eloise Blythe, and Harry Doyle.