The West that Wasnt
The West That Wasnt looks, on the surface, exactly like the west from the history books. Land was annexed into territories, territories became states, skirmishes escalated between Native Americans and east coast interlopers...as you would expect. You might be surprised what the west was actually like, because the history books only reported the news that was deemed fit to print.
But who made that determination?
Contents
The Department of Territorial Investigations
One thing that will not be found in any history book is the Department of Territorial Investigations, or DTI. The DTI was formed to ensure that the doctrine of Manifest Destiny could become a reality. All that land to the west will someday be part of the United States. To ensure that happens, people need to move, and live, there. Start with 40 acres and a mule.
But sometimes, an area develops a reputation. The DTI ensures that any harmful reputation never becomes too public, and that migration continues to flow west.
What is a DTI Agent?
The DTI started by recruiting a few select Pinkerton agents. Agents who saw and knew things no one else would believe. They were sent west to investigate fantastic stories and claims of the horrific. On their way, they were given the authority to recruit new agents, and to set up territorial offices as necessary.
Authority
DTI agents are fully deputized in each US Territory. They can act as federal marshals, but are generally instructed to keep as much of the law enforcement in the hands of the local authorities. They are each given the badge of a federal marshal, but with a DTI symbol inconspicuously emblazoned upon it.
The Mission
The mission of the DTI is simple: Investigate any crimes that are out of the ordinary, and ensure that if it is paranormal in any way, it is prevented from recurrence, if possible, and that it is explained "officially" in some mundane way. As a secondary mission, local authorities should be assisted in enforcing laws and investigating crimes as resources allow.
A Note on Historical Accuracy and Indigenous Americans
As anyone with historical knowledge of the settling of the western frontier will tell you, horrific things absolutely did happen, and an inordinate number of those things happened to the indigenous peoples who were living there already. This is not the focus of TWTW. When we, the authors, talk of horrors, we speak of the supernatural, the "not of this earth" horror that seeks to invade our reality.
As a matter of convention, outside of any discussions of the actual history which may be present in this book, we will refer to the indigenous peoples as Indians. We have made this choice not to disrespect them, or to make some political statement, but to invoke the flavor of the time period. You may choose to make a different choice at your table, and we encourage you to make the choice that brings your game to life in the way you want. Remember, this is The West That Wasnt, maybe they were treated very differently in your version of the west.
Additionally, we may introduce stock characters and stereotypes that some may find offensive. Again, this is not out of disrespect or any sort of political agenda. We are providing these characters so that you may choose to include them in your game if you wish. Much of the inspiration behind this game comes from movies and television, rather than in depth academic scholarship. This game makes very little attempt at historical accuracy.
