Starting Adventure
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 1:23 pm
It occurs to me that a lot of people have no idea what kind of plots you might have. So, some thoughts...
Murders:
The police deal with these a lot. To the point where a lot of them are "whoops, this guy was poor. No one cares." Assuming a 'normal' assailant, you are looking at all the typical murder reasons (jealousy, money, rivals, lust...) and add on the occasional cultist and serial killer to muddle the waters.
Cultists usually have specific reasons for killing. Sometimes it's to keep something a secret, often it's robbery of unearth artifact, and if you're really lucky, it's a blood ritual to summon a monster.
Killers, like Jack-the-Ripper, are sometimes pure humans, but occasionally, they'll be some broken man trying to make the pain from a mi-go abduction go away. Occasionally, they'll be pushed by darker things, whispers form outer gods, or what-not.
Plus, someone eaten in the shadows by fungus or a night gaunt... well, the police can't stop that even if they want to.
Robbery:
Mad Science is bad, m-kay. But it makes some wonderful macguffins. In addition, there's rules for magic relics in the gothic horror book. And, well, horror tomes are also fairly common. Rites and rituals have to be learned, and a book with the correct rites, or mad-science formula are very valuable. Also, the police, don't like dealing with the mystic, so... often the constables won't do much. That being said, many wealthy patrons will look into getting an inspector on the case. Occasionally, the mi-go will have use a front to get something dangerous to them destroyed or retrieved.
Valuables, are less useful, but someone powerful might want something back for purely sentimental reasons.
Also, stealing from a merchant will almost always get some kind of response.
Last, municipal services and food distribution are a major thing. Prevent food from reaching an area of the city, and you'll have food riots and people fleeing to other sectors.
Kidnapping:
Sometimes thought of as pre-murder. A lot of times, especially when cults are involved, this is about holding people until they can be properly sacrificed. Occasionally, there's a political reason behind it. Constable response depends largely on importance of kidnapee.
Illness:
Plague is deadly. While that might be enough, it's useful to note that experiments are what the mi-go do. They might inflict a specific illness in an area, start a plague to see how people react, maybe even spread something that will force the humans to evolve. The sorta-good news is that they rarely do this without a method of control. As repopulating Lastfell would take too long.
Scandal:
Let's not forget this is a victorian-ish London expy. High society is based a lot on gossip and whispers. Even trade and merchants in this closed environment are subject to needing to keep good names and clear records. Rumors that a merchant is secretly being supplied by the mi-go can ruin a business.
On the lower side of things, accusations that a person is mi-go (be it an infiltrator, or sympathizer) will likely get them burned at the stake. Lynching went out of style when people realized mi-go infiltrators don't need to breathe. Or at least, don't breathe like humans do.
Accusations of magic use or occultism or doing human sacrifice in a cult, can also ruin your day.
Of note, there's a small percentage of those who have scars and direct visible reminders they were experimented on by the mi-go. That's a definite social flaw, as one can never truly be sure how much of the original is left. Still, someone like Carl (from the random characters, with a fungus growing into his brain) can find some sort of acceptance in small groups in the slums. Of course, trying to go to a rich party, or even go shopping at a nice store, is another story.
Murders:
The police deal with these a lot. To the point where a lot of them are "whoops, this guy was poor. No one cares." Assuming a 'normal' assailant, you are looking at all the typical murder reasons (jealousy, money, rivals, lust...) and add on the occasional cultist and serial killer to muddle the waters.
Cultists usually have specific reasons for killing. Sometimes it's to keep something a secret, often it's robbery of unearth artifact, and if you're really lucky, it's a blood ritual to summon a monster.
Killers, like Jack-the-Ripper, are sometimes pure humans, but occasionally, they'll be some broken man trying to make the pain from a mi-go abduction go away. Occasionally, they'll be pushed by darker things, whispers form outer gods, or what-not.
Plus, someone eaten in the shadows by fungus or a night gaunt... well, the police can't stop that even if they want to.
Robbery:
Mad Science is bad, m-kay. But it makes some wonderful macguffins. In addition, there's rules for magic relics in the gothic horror book. And, well, horror tomes are also fairly common. Rites and rituals have to be learned, and a book with the correct rites, or mad-science formula are very valuable. Also, the police, don't like dealing with the mystic, so... often the constables won't do much. That being said, many wealthy patrons will look into getting an inspector on the case. Occasionally, the mi-go will have use a front to get something dangerous to them destroyed or retrieved.
Valuables, are less useful, but someone powerful might want something back for purely sentimental reasons.
Also, stealing from a merchant will almost always get some kind of response.
Last, municipal services and food distribution are a major thing. Prevent food from reaching an area of the city, and you'll have food riots and people fleeing to other sectors.
Kidnapping:
Sometimes thought of as pre-murder. A lot of times, especially when cults are involved, this is about holding people until they can be properly sacrificed. Occasionally, there's a political reason behind it. Constable response depends largely on importance of kidnapee.
Illness:
Plague is deadly. While that might be enough, it's useful to note that experiments are what the mi-go do. They might inflict a specific illness in an area, start a plague to see how people react, maybe even spread something that will force the humans to evolve. The sorta-good news is that they rarely do this without a method of control. As repopulating Lastfell would take too long.
Scandal:
Let's not forget this is a victorian-ish London expy. High society is based a lot on gossip and whispers. Even trade and merchants in this closed environment are subject to needing to keep good names and clear records. Rumors that a merchant is secretly being supplied by the mi-go can ruin a business.
On the lower side of things, accusations that a person is mi-go (be it an infiltrator, or sympathizer) will likely get them burned at the stake. Lynching went out of style when people realized mi-go infiltrators don't need to breathe. Or at least, don't breathe like humans do.
Accusations of magic use or occultism or doing human sacrifice in a cult, can also ruin your day.
Of note, there's a small percentage of those who have scars and direct visible reminders they were experimented on by the mi-go. That's a definite social flaw, as one can never truly be sure how much of the original is left. Still, someone like Carl (from the random characters, with a fungus growing into his brain) can find some sort of acceptance in small groups in the slums. Of course, trying to go to a rich party, or even go shopping at a nice store, is another story.