Introduction
Explanations exist; they have existed for all time; there is always a well-known solution to every human problem – neat, plausible, and wrong.
– H. L. Mencken
In the sciences and the humanities, dedicated and passionate researchers uncover new facts, formulate new hypotheses, and refine their hypotheses into provable theories. Even historians, whose work revolves around documents of sometimes questionable accuracy, are no less rigorous or skeptical than physicists or biologists. Slowly, in halting steps, our understanding of the physical world, of nature, and of humanity’s troubled past grows and improves. Sometimes scientists make wrong turns, but others step in to weed out the bad science and bad history and put our collective knowledge on the road to
And then there’s the Revisionist.
Spme Revisionists are cranks who refuse to let go of disproven beliefs, but many, many more claim to be guardians of “true science” and, ironically, defenders against “historical revisionism”. Alas, their “truth” has no facts behind it, only superstitious beliefs and cultural prejudices masquerading as “established science”. They disregard process to obtain the conclusions they want. A great number have scientific and historical training at all, merely political clout or social influence. Yet they would “save science” or “defend history”, by which they mean their own fixed ideas immune to contrary evidence.
Revisionists are the natural enemy of Timeless, for Revisionists shape consensus reality for their own ends, bolstering it against both mundane disproof and Timeless reality bending.
Appearance
Revisionists look like human academics with an air of authority verging on infallibility. Whether arguing for “radical new theories” or defending orthodoxy, they appeal more to popular belief, sentiment, wishful thinking, logical fallacies, and “common sense” as they do to rationality and evidence. Yet somehow their rhetoric and demeanor makes them seem like the rational one.
Tactics
Revisionists appeal to the masses, directly through politics and social
platforms or indirectly through academic peer pressure and other forms of
social coercion or, if that fails, bribery. While they would seldom meet
a Timeless in person, in a head-on confrontation a Revisionist will use
words and their Reality Distortion Field while leaving the rough stuff
to their bodyguards, henchpeople, or cultists co-religionists.
Revisionist Characters
Extra Dice Needed: 12d6 or 12d10
The Referee should create a typical academic, politician, or media celebrity, then add Revisionist attributes.
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Conviction: (2-12) the degree to which the Reviionist can distort or cover up facts. Roll 2d6 or simply make up a number.
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Obsession: the subject about which the Revisionist is most passionate. Choose a field in the sciences or history, the more contoversial or fringe the better.
Revisionists should be antagonists in their own right, albeit ones who use words and social power instead of physical, mental, or paranormal talent. The Referee should create a small cadre of henchmen for them, whom the Timeless PCs will likely encounter first. These henchmen could be paid muscle, fanatics of the Revisionist’s professed religion, part of his cult of personality, or an actual cult he secretly or not-so-secretly leads.
The Revisionist Sheet
The only two salient parts of this sheet are Conviction and Obsession; if there’s room on the Host System character sheet, just put them there. You can also use the large blank space at the bottom to record salient Host System stats, if the will fit.
Special Abilities
Consensus Reality Enhancement
A Revisionist bolsters consensus reality. The effect persists anywhere within sight of the Revisionist or within hearing of his voice; politically or socially powerful Revisionists can spread the effect to all areas where they have a strong influence, no matter how distant, as long as they remain in power or popular.
In areas under the effect, attempts to Bend Reality suffer a number of Banes equal to one third of the Revisionist’s Conviction, rounded down.
Reality Distortion Field
When in the presence of a Timeless, a Revisionist can produce a Reality Distortion Field. Roll a number of d6s or d10s equal to the Revisionist’s Conviction. On a d6, count every 5 or 6 as a Bane; on a d10, count every 8, 9, or 10 as a Bane. Any attempt to Bend Reality has that many Banes.
If paranormal powers – magic, psionics, superpowers, or mad science – exist in this World, the Reality Distorition Field should also affect them. Details depend on the Host System, but the effect should be proportional to the number of Banes rolled. Powers possessed by or allied with the Revisionist are exempt from this effect.
Playing To The Crowd
If the Revisionist has an audience, their Reality Distortion Field grows stronger. After rolling dice for the Reality Distortion Field, the Revisionist may reroll any dice that didn’t indicate a Bane, once.
The Power of Obsession
When the Revisionist is pursuing their Obsession, they may reroll once, as their enthusiasm bolsters their Reality Distorition Field. A Revisionist cannot reroll twice, i.e. they cannot combine this with Playing To The Crowd.