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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RangerWickett" data-source="post: 6143260" data-attributes="member: 63">The Convocation of the ObscuratiIn ZEITGEIST, a grand conspiracy known as the Obscurati seeks to influence the fate of the world through a powerful magical ritual. For decades they have worked in the shadows, establishing independent cells of operatives so no captured member could compromise the whole plot. They have infiltrated governments, manipulated their enemies into destroying each other, and crafted mighty eldritch machines that will alter the fabric of reality. When their plans come to fruition, the world will fall under their control.But the Obscurati, composed of powerful industrialists and brilliant thinkers the world over, is not unified in its plans for after this victory. The many cells of the conspiracy have operated with little communication, and though they all desire to change the world to match their personal philosophies, they are about to find that their philosophies don’t quite agree.The leader of the Obscurati, an ageless figure known as Nicodemus the Gnostic, has called the various cells of his conspiracy to gather in a great Convocation. And you, members of EN World, get to be part of that conspiracy. The conspiracy will choose the spirit of the next age, but what sort of age will it be? It’s up to you to decide.DetailsFor the duration of our ZEITGEIST hardcover compilation Kickstarter (launching this week), every member of the EN World community will be able to pledge their support to one of the factions within the conspiracy, and then decide what plots to enact once they're in power. The various PCs playing ZEITGEIST campaigns will have to try to thwart whatever schemes you come up with, and the results of the Convocation will be included in Adventure Seven, Schism. Your decisions will influence the shape of the world in the final act of the campaign as the PCs try to topple you.The factions include:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes&p=6143261&viewfull=1#post6143261" target="_blank">The Arboretum.</a> Order nature so it can spread and be controlled like industry.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes&p=6144515&viewfull=1#post6144515" target="_blank">Colossus.</a> Grant ourselves godlike powers to fix problems as they arise.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes/page2&p=6145148&posted=1#post6145148" target="_blank">Miller’s Pyre.</a> Enact subtle changes, focused on making people more empathetic and less susceptible to hypocrisy, so they can more easily pursue goodness and justice.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes&p=6145303&viewfull=1#post6145303" target="_blank">Panarchists.</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes&p=6145303&viewfull=1#post6145303" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes&p=6145303&viewfull=1#post6145303</a> Grant individuals enough power to make governments unnecessary.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes&p=6145534&viewfull=1#post6145534" target="_blank">Watchmakers.</a> Eliminate free will and design a thousand-year destiny for the world.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes/page2&p=6145841#post6145841" target="_blank">Minor Factions.</a> Various single-issue groups, willing to form coalitions.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes/page3&p=6147516&viewfull=1#post6147516" target="_blank">Radical Factions.</a><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes/page3&p=6147516&viewfull=1#post6147516" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337482-Join-a-Villainous-Conspiracy-Control-the-World-Win-Prizes/page3&p=6147516&viewfull=1#post6147516</a> Fringe groups with distasteful agendas.</li> </ul>While some of their goals may seem noble, they have performed evil deeds to enact their new world order. Over the next week we’ll profile one faction in detail per day.Swaying the Stars Choose one of the factions, which will be detailed over the following days. Feel free to pick based on ideology, or style, or what you think would make a good story. Then post your thoughts on why your faction has the best idea and why the others are wrong.The existing factions have already studied some possible combinations of planes, creating pocket dimensions to test likely consequences. Each main faction has a set of planes that they are confident will make the world a better place with no unforeseen drawbacks. However, fringe groups – or EN World posters who suggest their own ideas – run the risk of something going catastrophically wrong. But that can be fun too!The Cardinal RuleYou cannot directly alter behavior or personality. Free will is an all-or-nothing option, and you cannot force people to be ‘good’ without also turning them into complete automatons. You can, however, nudge people, and you’ll see some example options below.  Schedule of the ConvocationOn Monday, June 17, we will hold a non-binding vote where you can pledge yourself to one of the factions. That poll will remain open for the duration of the Convocation, and you’ll be able to change your vote (just click Unvote at the top right), so everyone can see the shifting support for different factions.After that initial phase, it’s up to you to decide whether to stick to the existing factions, form coalitions, organize backroom deals, or otherwise push for your ideology to win the day. The Kickstarter campaign ends in mid-July, and the following day we will open the official final vote to determine which faction will be triumphant.Agents and OfficersOf course, this villainous conspiracy is not a democracy. Everyone is welcome to play the part of an Agent of the Obscurati, but only those who contribute substantial support are given the rank of Officer.Agents are anyone on the forum. You can get involved in the discussions, suggest plans, and broker deals. Everyone who joins a faction in the preliminary vote will be given the option of having their name listed in Adventure Seven as a member of the conspiracy. Also, one member from each faction will be awarded a copy of the ZEITGEIST Act One compilation PDF, which contains five adventures (available for either Pathfinder or D&D 4th Edition). Officers are anyone who either has an EN World community supporter subscription, or who pledges to the Kickstarter. Only officers will have a say in the final binding vote. That final vote will decide the agenda of the Obscurati throughout the rest of the ZEITGEIST adventure path.After the final vote, the E.N. Publishing staff will choose one forum member that we feel best contributed to the event – be it by creating interesting posts or motivating others’ involvement – and will reward that person with a hardcover color copy of the Act One compilation.Feel free to get into character as nefarious members of the world’s elite. You’re about to rule the world. What kind of world do you want it to be?Fine Print[sblock]Like a parliament, if a faction gets 50% or more of the vote, it wins outright. If no faction gets 50%, the faction with the most support has a week to try to form a coalition of supporters from other factions – perhaps by adopting a compromise agenda. If that fails, the next smaller faction gets to try to form a coalition. If no agreement can be reached within two weeks after the vote, E.N. Publishing reserves creative control to decide an entertaining outcome.Delivery of the PDF rewards is dependent on the success of the Kickstarter drive. Should the drive fail to reach its initial funding goal, E.N. Publishing are not obligated to provide any prizes for this event.EN World staff and forum moderators are not eligible to win the compilation PDF. For each faction, members of that faction may nominate a winner. Failing that, the winner will be chosen randomly. E.N. Publishing reserves the right to disqualify people who simply post for a chance to win, rather than contributing to the spirit of the event.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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