Belle Époque

The first cases began appearing in 1913. Several English sailors safely returned from an expedition off the coast of Africa. But something peculiar happened. all of them had changed in ways considered to be impossible. A chemical reaction had turned their bodies into unmistakably feminine ones. After gaining a fever and falling into a deep sleep, all of them would awake to supple breasts, curves, and and a truly beautiful face. The sailors had no trouble describing these changes, but none had any idea of what could possibly cause them. Strangely enough, they retained their male genitalia. In some cases, the length and virility would be greatly increased. The British government initially thought this was some kind of devious plot by the Kaiser, but this suspicion was gone by the time the virus surfaced in Germany a few days later.

Over time, about half of the world's men had found themselves affected by the "Hermaphroditus Virus." Women would unwittingly act as carriers, and even find themselves affected in some rare cases. Whether you were a street urchin or a king, there was no turning back once you were infected. Even if a man was immune, someone he'd know would be affected. As a result, every territorial ambition, class struggle, or yearning for independence seemed to be postponed indefinitely in the wake of this societal upheaval.

In the decades which followed, every nation each had its own way of coming to terms with these changes. In spite of the virus, the world's culture has been frozen in time, almost as if 1913 never ended. No catastrophic wars have transpired, but considerable advances in technology and diplomacy have.

You are an attractive young man who's always had a fascination with these newly-minted women that most of your peers find unusual. You've made it your goal to travel to an exotic place to take one as your wife.