Moreauvia
Scope
The motivation behind building Moreauvia
Moreauvia is both the name of the world in question and a sort of code name for a project hatched up by Pete Allen (science and continuity) and Byron Starr (historical impact and divergence). The idea is that they could have a world in which authors could play, and share in helping to build at the same time. The website at https://www.moreauvia.com is both a base of operations for that project, and formerly served also as the home for the Tales of Moreauvia magazine, which was an alternate history/historical fiction magazine (not strictly with Moreauvia stories).
The goal of the project
Moreauvia is a shared world concept and setting, intended for use in fiction, gaming, and assembling a working script bible for media. Once it's sufficiently baked, it could be released under a creative commons license. This means authors would be welcome to write Moreauvia stories and materials, and publish them in other venues and get paid and everything, with the understanding that:
- Material will subject to review for consistency with the timeline.
- Acknowledgement for the concept will be given.
- Author keeps project apprised of successful publications, so we can post successes and build the project accordingly.
Theme
Genre
In that the technology and science are a bit wonky, and the setting is late 19th/early 20th century (mostly) genre could be steampunk, weird west, plain old western, straight up science fantasy, or even horror. Steampunk or Alternate History probably most accurately describe the prevalent feel of the place, but there is a lot of room for play.
Settings:
- Pre-the Great War (1850-1880)
- During the Great War (1880-1890)
- Immedately following (1890-?)
- The Future (1900-1975ish)
Reader Experience
Much like its inspirational setting, The Island of Dr Moreau, the world feels a bit grim, a bit dark. Innovations in technology which were supposed to improve lives have, but at the costs of others. Depending on when the story is set, the entire world is about to enter a war, or has just finished a global conflict with no clear winners.
Recurring Themes
What price progess?
Scientific advances have been able to eradicate the slavery of fellow humans, but at the price of altering species and arguably enslaving other sentient beings.What gives humans the right?
Untold suffering has taken place in the lab, in the field, and in society. Humans have assumed ultimate control over their co-habitants on the planet without regard to any moral imperative that doesn't suit them as "masters over nature."Just because you can doesn't mean you should...
Where does it end? What future cataclysms have humans brought about by messing with Nature in this way? What does the far future look like?Character Agency
Main characters (whether in stories or games) will have little global impact on the world - the intent for this project/world is to interpret how chanracters or societies might develop differently or react to the differences between this world and ours. Any stories would be verified for consitency to the timeline and established history.
That said, any proposal will be looked at and ideas blowing the top off the cool meter might be able to made to work.
©2023 Pete Allen/Byron Starr | theme: Eldritch Horror by TJ Trewin.