Catherine the Great's Washing Board

Origin
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, was Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, the country's longest-ruling female leader. She came to power following a coup d'état which she organized—resulting in her husband, Peter III, being overthrown. Under her reign, Russia was revitalized; it grew larger and stronger and was recognized as one of the great powers of Europe.

The period of Catherine the Great's rule, the Catherinian Era, is considered the Golden Age of Russia. She enthusiastically supported the ideals of the Enlightenment and is often regarded as an enlightened despot. As a patron of the arts she presided over the age of the Russian Enlightenment, a period when the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens, the first state-financed higher education institution for women in Europe, was established.

Effects
Used during her childhood in a poor (for a princess) family and kept in use by her servants throughout her life, clothing washed with this washing board will impart a desire to improve the lives of both the wearer and those they feel responsible for.

In the hands of Catherine the Great this led to the Golden Age of Russia as she made every attempt to improve the quality of life of her subjects. However, perhaps born from the spite she had for her husband, Peter III, any man who interferes with these goals become marked for death. Events will conspire to have them killed, either by accident, disease or at the hands of another.