Oz was traditionally a Monarchy. The royal throne was overthrown by Evil Witches, however, who kidnapped the Princess Ozma and left Oz leaderless. The evil witch Mombi, one of the witches responsible for the royal kidnapping, transforms the infant princess Ozma into a Boy, whom she names Tippetarius, and raises him as her son. The boy Tip does not know his true nature; and all the old loyal royalists are looking for a princess, not a prince, so the throne sits empty for over a decade.
Enter Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, better known as The Wizard. He accidentally blows into town on his balloon, which coincidentally has OZ (his initials) emblazoned on it. The people of Oz, however, take it as a sign from the heavens. In classic American style, Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs seizes the opportunity, and the power vacuum, and sets himself up as ruler of Oz. The Wizard is not possessing of any real magic, however, simply a very advanced understanding of stagecraft, and a high Charisma modifier…
…and who is likely based on Washington Harrison Donaldson, a real life Circus Performer and Balloonist, under the employ of PT Barnum, who ascended one day in a hot air balloon, was carried off by a thunderstorm, and never heard from again.
So, enter Dorothy, another fairly non-magical person being whisked away into the sky by forces beyond her control. At some point, she’s supposed to hook up with Tippetarius, and help him along in his own quest. They will become Very Close.
Actually. That links us back into OPs fixit idea nicely. See, Glinda is the one who figures out the magic spell that lets Tippetarius turn back into the royal Princess of Oz. Glinda helps him turn into a Girl, and helps get the newly cracked Ozma back into her rightful throne.
After which, Ozma moves Dorothy into a room in the palace right next to hers; they are each other’s confidantes and advisors, and Dorothy is the only one who may enter Ozma’s room whenever she wants.
I think it bears mention that L Frank Baum was raised by a Woman’s Suffragette, and was an ally to the cause of Women’s Liberation all his life. He and his wife were both Political along that axis, and the Baum’s would at one point host a traveling Susan B Anthony. It is hardly a stretch of the imagination to postulate that Baum may have known a few Queer Women irl.
