Monday 1 May 2023

The Byuro - a quick throw up setting




































Keanu Reeves as Tsar Nicholas II

AI-Generated stuff for a quick setting - ai text and art
some editing and extra stuff prompted as a lack of female characters

possibly for Call of Cthulhu - every session is a year or more later - starts in WW1
even an urban arcana D&D game

the Bureau
Logline: In early 20th century Russia, a secret organization known as The Bureau works tirelessly to protect their nation from the lurking horrors of the Cthulhu mythos.

Story Bible:
The Bureau was founded during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, when a group of intellectuals and mystics came together to investigate strange and unsettling reports from across the empire. As they delved deeper, they discovered that the Cthulhu mythos was not just a fanciful invention of H.P. Lovecraft, but a very real and dangerous force that threatened to consume the world.

Over the years, The Bureau has grown and adapted to the changing political landscape of Russia. They have weathered the tumultuous years of the Bolshevik revolution, and have continued to operate under the watchful eye of Soviet authorities. Their methods are often unorthodox, and their enemies numerous, but their dedication to their mission is unwavering.

Led by the enigmatic figure of Sergei Ivanov, The Bureau is a diverse group of men and women, united by their shared knowledge of the Cthulhu mythos and their determination to fight against it. As they face off against cults, monsters, and otherworldly entities, they must also navigate the dangerous politics of a country in turmoil. The Bureau is a tale of horror, espionage, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable evil. Bureau Agents

Agents
Sergei Ivanov (Episode 1-12) - The charismatic leader of The Bureau, who has been fighting the mythos since its inception. Sergei is a complex character who has seen much tragedy in his life, but remains steadfast in his commitment to the cause.

Yelena Petrova (Episode 1-12) - A brilliant scientist and one of the original members of The Bureau. Yelena is fiercely independent and not afraid to speak her mind, which often puts her at odds with her colleagues.

Mikhail Sokolov (Episode 1-12) - A former soldier who joined The Bureau after a brush with the mythos during World War I. Mikhail is stoic and unflappable, making him an invaluable member of the team in dangerous situations.

Anna Kuznetsova (Episode 2-12) - A young and ambitious agent who joins The Bureau in the second episode. Anna is eager to prove herself, but her inexperience often leads her into danger.

Pavel Voronin (Episode 3-10) - A skilled linguist and historian who joined The Bureau during the Bolshevik era. Pavel's loyalty to The Bureau is unwavering, but his past may come back to haunt him.

Dmitri Ivanov (Episode 1-5) - Sergei's son and a recent addition to The Bureau. Dmitri is eager to follow in his father's footsteps, but his impulsive nature puts him at odds with the rest of the team. (Note: Dmitri dies in Episode 5)

Yelena Vladimirovna Ivanova (Елена Владимировна Иванова) - a highly skilled sniper and reconnaissance specialist. She is often tasked with gathering intelligence on the enemy and taking out key targets from a distance.

Maria Alexandrovna Petrova (Мария Александровна Петрова) - a weapons expert and engineer who creates specialized gadgets and weapons for The Bureau. She is responsible for designing and building many of the Bureau's advanced technology, including their mobile HQ and communications systems.

Ksenia Borisovna Sokolova (Ксения Борисовна Соколова) - a linguist and cultural expert who specializes in ancient languages and mythology. She is often called upon to translate ancient texts and decipher cryptic symbols related to the Cthulhu mythos. Her knowledge is critical to The Bureau's efforts to understand and combat the enemy.

(Note: The characters listed above are fictional and not based on real people or events.)

Enemies:
Rasputin - A powerful and mysterious figure deeply involved in the Cthulhu mythos. Rasputin, whose full name is Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin (Григорий Ефимович Распутин), is highly intelligent and charismatic, using his charm and influence to manipulate others to his will.

Ivan Alekseevich Orlov (Иван Алексеевич Орлов), Tsarist White Russian Count - A wealthy and influential nobleman sympathetic to the Cthulhu mythos. His name could be and he is highly skilled in political intrigue and manipulation, using his resources to further the goals of the mythos.

Sergei Mikhailovich Sokolov (Сергей Михайлович Соколов), Bolshevik Commissar - A high-ranking member of the Bolshevik party who is secretly involved with the Cthulhu mythos. He uses his position of power to further the goals of the mythos while maintaining his public image as a loyal communist.

Natalia Ivanovna Petrova (Наталья Ивановна Петрова), Ballet Dancer Spy - A highly trained and skilled dancer who is also a spy for the Cthulhu mythos. She uses her charm and physical abilities to infiltrate and gather information on The Bureau's activities.

Nikolai Aleksandrovich Kuznetsov (Николай Александрович Кузнецов), Anarchist Warlord - A ruthless and violent leader of a group of anarchist rebels sympathetic to the Cthulhu mythos. He uses his military prowess to wage war against The Bureau and anyone else who opposes him.

Ivan Stepanovich Ivanov (Иван Степанович Иванов), Mythos Cult Leader - A mysterious and powerful figure who leads a cult dedicated to the Cthulhu mythos. The cult is made up of people from all walks of life who are drawn to the power and knowledge promised by the mythos. The cult leader is highly charismatic and persuasive, using his influence to further the goals of the mythos.

Anastasia Vasilievna Petrovna (Анастасия Васильевна Петровна) - a powerful sorceress who is aligned with the Cthulhu mythos. She possesses immense magical abilities and is capable of manipulating reality itself. Her ultimate goal is to bring about the return of the Great Old Ones.

Ludmila Ivanovna Sokolova (Людмила Ивановна Соколова) - a former member of The Bureau who defected and joined the Cthulhu cult. She uses her knowledge of The Bureau's inner workings to sabotage their operations and is responsible for the deaths of several agents.

Olga Nikolayevna Romanova (Ольга Николаевна Романова) - a brilliant scientist who is obsessed with the Cthulhu mythos. She believes that the Great Old Ones hold the key to unlocking new scientific knowledge and is willing to do whatever it takes to uncover their secrets. She is responsible for creating several powerful artefacts that The Bureau must recover and destroy.

Episodes:
1 "The Initiation": Young scholar joins The Bureau and uncovers a sinister cult.
2 "The Ritual": Bureau agents race to stop a cult from summoning an ancient horror.
3 "The Bolshevik Betrayal": A traitor within The Bureau threatens their entire operation.
4 "The Witch's Curse": An investigation into a strange village leads to a cursed artefact.
5 "The Beast of Moscow": The Bureau tracks a rampaging monster through the city streets.
6 "The Prisoner": A captured cultist holds the key to a dangerous secret.
7 "The Ghost Ship": A cursed vessel carrying eldritch cargo washes up on shore.
8 "The Masquerade": The Bureau attends a decadent party where cultists plan a ritual.
9 "The Great Hunt": A hunt for a rare and powerful artefact leads to a dangerous confrontation.
10 "The Red Scare": The Bureau's existence is threatened by government suspicion.
11 "The Final Battle": The Bureau faces off against the cult's leader and his monstrous allies.
12 "The Aftermath": The Bureau reflects on their victories and losses, but the horror never truly ends.

Toy Lines:
The Bureau Action Figures:
his set includes highly detailed action figures of the main characters of The Bureau, including Sergei Ivanov, Yelena Petrova, and Mikhail Sokolov. The figures feature multiple points of articulation and come with accessories such as weapons and tools.

The Cultist Encounter Playset: This playset includes a miniature diorama of a cultist hideout, complete with cultist figures, a sacrificial altar, and eldritch artefacts. The set also includes miniature versions of Bureau agents and weapons to recreate intense action scenes.

The Bureau Headquarters Playset: This playset features a miniature version of The Bureau's headquarters, including the main office, laboratory, armoury, and training room. The set comes with a miniature figure of Sergei Ivanov and various Bureau agents, as well as equipment and accessories.

Slaughter of St Petersburg Playset: relive the battle of St Petersburg where the mighty Tzar's army was crushed into protoplasm. Includes streetscape floor battle mat, 
a portal to beyond, a collapsable Winter Palace and the battleship Potemkin. Includes figurines of fifty 20mm Russian soldiers, Tsar Nicholas II (TM) on his horse with a sword and one tentacled behemoth to annihilate them all. The artillery pieces really fire but cannot harm the tentacled abomination from beyond or children.

The Monster Hunter Vehicle Set: This set features a miniature version of The Bureau's armoured truck, equipped with various weapons and gadgets to hunt down and capture monsters. The set also includes a miniature figure of Anna Kuznetsova and other Bureau agents, as well as a miniature monster figure.

The Cthulhu Mythos Artifact Collection: This set includes miniature versions of various eldritch artefacts from The Bureau, including the Necronomicon, the Shining Trapezohedron, and the Sedefkar Simulacrum. The set also includes a display stand and a miniature figure of Pavel Voronin.

Agent Kit: Includes harmless replica Nagant M1895 seven-shot 
revolver, six silver bullets and one elder sign bullet, a wristwatch with a hidden garotte and camera, elder sign disguised as an orthodox cross, torch, blindfold, outre spectacles, chocolate cigarettes, explosive vodka flask, candy suicide pills, liquid candy truth serum and trick ID flips from royalist secret police to communist party official. Includes a manual of basic procedures based on a dangerously flawed Tsarist version with parts blacked out by later Soviet officials and new sections on combat with updated and correct weaknesses of the old ones.

The Bureau Agent Board Game: This board game is based on The Bureau's covert operations and features a game board representing different locations in Russia. Players take on the roles of Bureau agents and compete to complete missions and gather intelligence while avoiding detection by cultists and government authorities. The game comes with various cards, dice, and miniature figures of Bureau agents and cultists.

















Bonus Spin-Off: TzarWars

In this epic spinoff film, we follow the story of Tsar Nicholas II, played by Keanu Reeves, as he battles eldritch horrors in an alien universe. Armed only with his sword and an elder sign he took off Rasputin, Nicholas must face unimaginable terrors and fight for the fate of his world.

Transported to this otherworldly realm, Nicholas must quickly adapt to the strange and hostile environment. But as he journeys deeper into the unknown, he discovers that the true enemy may not be the eldritch horrors he faces, but the corrupt politicians and power-hungry warlords of his own world.

With breathtaking action sequences and stunning visual effects, this spinoff film takes audiences on a thrilling ride through a world of horror and adventure. And with Keanu Reeves in the lead role, fans are sure to be on the edge of their seats as they watch the Tsar battle for survival and redemption in a universe unlike any other.

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