Shadows and Fortunes: A “Blades in the Dark” SG The world has been shrouded in darkness for a thousand years, ghosts and ancient terrors haunt the streets, and the powerful rule with an oppressive iron fist.
From the bottom looking up, what is there to lose if you don’t play by the rules?
Form a gang, commit daring Scores and heists, and get as far as you can as fast as you can, because time waits for no one (unless you’re a Ghost, Hull, or Vampire). You are someone with a will of steel and a flame of desire, one that won’t be satisfied by laboring in one of Duskvol’s towering factories.
Duskwall, an industrial heart of the Empire, where the refined blood of the Leviathans is brought in from by hunting ships. This blood is rendered into Plasm, the fuel that powers both the lights and the lightening walls that safeguard the city from the Death-Wastes beyond. Duskwall is crowded by hundreds of thousands, crowded and teeming in the overbuilt city. Canals run throughout, the arteries of life and commerce over inky stinking water, crossing underneath streets and bridges hugging layered buildings of brick and wood. The Bluecoats patrol in force regularly, taking their bribes and administering beatings to enforce their order.
In this environment gangs have formed, exerting power and will where there is none. For times are as dark and desperate as ever, where men and women turn to vice and violence to deal with the demands of industry, roaming ghosts, and the lack of an actual sun.
And so, there is plenty of opportunity for you, if you are able to take it.
This will be an SG based on Blades in the Dark, where you control a new gang trying to make their way in a haunted combo of industrial London and Venice, where ghosts and mad science are a daily occurrence. At the heart of the game is committing Scores, which are heists that your gangs commit to earn Coin and Reputation, which fuel your up and coming criminal empire.
But first things first, what type of crew do you run? This influences the types of Scores you do, how your gang grows, and special abilities you may unlock.
A. Assassins: Killers for hire. You are why others fear the dark, and may even gain the power to slay ghosts.
* Example Mission Types-Accidents, Disappearance, Murder, and Ransom.
* You will get paid to kill people, and you are good at that!
B. Bravos: Mercenaries and thugs. You aren’t afraid to take things by force, and your gang will become adept at war.
* Example Mission Types-Battle, Extortion, Sabotage, and Smash & Grab.
* No one will expect you to be cunning and sneaky, you can punch jerks in the face and get away with it!
C. Cult: Acolytes of a forgotten god. You walk in the presence of your god, and may call upon their aid in the sun-forsaken streets.
* Example Mission Types: Acquisition, Augury, Consecration, and Sacrifice.
* Come up with your own dark god to worship, and maybe summon them! (Inversion, maybe your god isn’t dark at all… Acter??)
D. Shadows: Thieves and Spies. You will steal and take, and no one will even know you were there. A whispered rumor leaving only groans of despair among the rich and powerful.
* Example Mission Types: Burglary, Espionage, Robbery, and Sabotage.
* Basically the Thieves Guild, can be as nonviolent (or violent!) as you like!
We will also need a
NAME for your crew. You can also mention any identifying marks, symbols, or traditions if you like.
Once there is some consensus on the crew type we will create our protagonist(s).
Character Playbooks
Cutter: A dangerous and intimidating fighter. Starts with a fine variety of melee weapons! Subtypes: Captain, Thug, Destroyer, or Demon
Hunter.
Hound: A deadly sharpshooter and tracker. Comes with a trained pet!
Subtypes: Bounty Hunter, Deathlands Ranger, Sniper, Veteran.
Leech: A saboteur and technician. Good with creating new gadgets/potions.
Subtypes: Doctor, Sapper, Viper, Witch.
Lurk: A stealthy infiltrator and burglar. Comes with neat tools (like night-vision goggles!)
Subtypes: Acrobat, Assassin, Burglar, Daring Rogue
Slide: A subtle manipulator and spy. A social monster who can bend people to their whim with the right words.
Subtypes: The Siren, the Prestige, the Grifter, the Spy.
Spider: A devious mastermind. Build connections and conspiracies to your grand plan.
Subtypes: The Arbiter, the Conductor, the Convict, or the Operator.
Whisper: An arcane adept and channeler. A warden and wielder both of the arcane and demonic.
Subtypes: The Summoner, the Cultist, the Summoner, and the Dark Scholar.
All credit and rights for the game system, setting are to John Harper and Blades in the Dark.