The so-called War of the Worlds was a frightening moment in Human history. The invaders (whom scientists have since concluded originated from the planet Mars) possessed the capability of reducing Earth's conventional armies to ash. If not for people like Jimmy and his friends, I dread to think what would have happened to this world. Of course, the fact that the Martian prisoners all died a few weeks after the war ended indicates that their domination would have been short-lived, but devastating in that time. Following these events, one would think that Humanity would learn to set aside their differences in face of common threats, but one would be wrong.
No more than 20 years later, the nations of Earth were in conflict once again. This so-called Great War encompassed the entire globe, with forces battling on every continent. Even those of us with paranormal abilities became involved, fighting for one side or the other, or just for our own survival. I regret to admit that my own home was breached during the course of this war. A group of my kindred from Germany somehow discovered I was playing hostess to one Edward Hyde. They infiltrated my keep and freed him, thinking to thus win him to their cause. Hyde, of course, slaughtered them before departing. Where he walks now is unknown.
At the conclusion of the War to End All Wars (we can only hope), things seemingly returned to normal. The Geneva Convention, signed at the end of the war, is meant to govern the conduct of any future international conflict. Among other provisions, the Convention outlawed the use of any chemical, biological, or extraterrestrial weapons by any army on Earth. This, of course, does not stop criminal elements from capturing and experimenting with such weapons, and there are persistent rumors of limited quantities of Martian heat-rays and black smoke-canisters being available on the Black Market.
On a happier note, Baron Primm and Miss Jay Carver were married in a beautiful night-time ceremony. I was invited to attend, along with a handful of other nobles, though the wedding was a much smaller affair than a man of the Baron's stature could have warranted. Today, the Primms have three beautiful children, two of which, a girl and a boy, seem to share in their parents' adventurous nature. Jimmy, of course, continues in my service, even as I contemplate moving house to the New World. Lafcadio has seemingly returned to his jungle, and i wonder if we shall ever see him or any of his kind again. Mr. Locke has become more and more withdrawn, disappearing deeper and deeper into his self-apponted task of researching The Orb. He has recently went missing, presumably is pursuit of some research.
Today, the world is both similar and different to what it was before the invasion. With the passage of Prohibition in the United States, organized criminal syndicates have risen to power in many major cities. But more disturbing are the reports of strange occult groups that conduct eldritch rituals under cover of darkness. The Tarot Society still exists, spreading across Europe, the Americas, and parts of Asia, maintaining its public image as a simple fraternal organization. Finally, and perhaps most disturbingly, reports have reached my ears of a so-called Church of Crime; an entire religious organization dedicated to breaking the law as a form of worship. Worship of who or what, I do not know.
But as a bright counterpoint to the darkness of the world, heroes have risen up against these dangers. It seems that masked and costumed Mystery Men have been appearing in many cities. And I suspect that Jimmy may be involved in this, along with the eldest Primm child. I shall have to ask him about it.