New Crobuzon to HERO

[Curufea]

My attempt at converting contempory masterwork fabulist writings into a roleplaying setting :)

New Crobuzon is the largest city of Bas-Lag, and the setting for most of two novels by China Mieville.
The genre is New Weird and can be thought of as a darker, more grotesque version of Steampunk in this case. It has also been remarked that these books could be classed as "Fantasy Cyberpunk".

Recommended reading-
The works of China Mieville set in or around New Crobuzon:
Perdido Street Station (ISBN 0-330-39289-1)
The Scar (ISBN 0-330-39290-5)
Iron Council (ISBN 0-333-98973-2)

Discussion of these books-
http://baslag.proboards22.com

Interview with the author-
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=0345464028&view=qa

Brief overview of the city of New Crobuzon
http://homepage.mac.com/jeremybaker/towerhills/crobuzon.html

Related material (good for mood/general setting ideas)-
Dark City - Movie by Alex Proyas
Cyberpunk - anything to do with the genre
Transmetropolitan - Warren Ellis graphic novels/comics
Discworld - specifically anything about Ankh-Morpork, by Terry Pratchett (but ignore the comedy)
Thief, Thief 2, Thief 3 - computer games.

Okie dokie - now the preliminary acknowledgements are done, on to the actual setting and characters :)

Warning - this thread contains spoilers for the books. If you haven't read them yet but intend to - be aware you may be spoilt.

[Curufea]

Races

Khepri (named after the Egyptian god) -
Description
Females are tall, skinny, red-skinned humanoids that are sexually compatible (but not fertile) with humans, their heads are Scarab beatles - fully functional beatles about two feet long. Khepri do not have vocal cords. They're speach consists of sign-language with their headlegs, and various chemicals puffed out by their heads. They are able to exude chitin and build objects with it (usually statues or houses). Khepri statues are an artform. All Khepri have enhanced senses.
Males are giant Scarab beatles about two feet in length, and non-sentient. Usually kept secluded in large swarms.
Diet
Khepri are vegetarian, and prefer fruit.
Society
Khepri live in matriarchies (of course). There is a large empire near Bas-Lag. Inside New Crobuzon there is a small community of Khepri living in their own area (ghettoisation happens often in New Crobuzon). Khepri tend towards academic occupations.
One of the two largest (and only) organised crime syndicates is run by a Khepri - Francine 2 (also known as Ma Francine).
Book Reference
The main protaganist of Perdido Street Station has a Khepri lover, named Lin - a reknowned artist.
Khepri Package
Soon....

Vodyanoi
Descrption
Vodyanoi are human-sized frogs and are almost humanoid. As an amphibian, they require regular immersion in ,preferrably clean, water. Witout regular supplies of water they will dehydrate and scar.
Diet
Vodyanoi are omivores.
Society
Most work on the docks of New Crobuzon. Many use a form of "Water Magic" and are able to shape water, and have it sustain its shape for a period of time - manipulating it as you would clay. Great shamans are able to summon Undine - water elementals.
Book Reference
The main protaganist of Perdido Street Station often drinks at the Dying Child whose bartender is the Vodyanoi known as Silchristchek.
The Caucus members are attacked by tribal Vodyanoi in Iron Council.
Vodyanoi Package
Coming soon...

Handlingers
Description
Handlingers are a parasitic race. They appear similar to human hands, but with a tail. The tail digs into the host's flesh. There are two castes of Handlinger - Dextrier (right hand) warrior caste, that is able to fly and breathe fire, and the Sinistrier (left hand) ruler caste, that has psionic powers. Host bodies are effictively dead the moment a Handlinger possesses them.
Diet
As host body. However, Handlingers have been known to maltreat their host bodies.
Society
The Sinistrier caste rules them in a psychic council. In New Crobuzon they are another secret society who has come to an arrangement with the Mayor. The mayor's ex-rival/now second in command - is a Handlinger.
Book Reference
Montjohn Rescue - The Mayor's aid in Perdido Street Station.
Handlinger Package
Coming soon...

Humans
Description
Diet
Humans are omnivores.
Society
Book Reference
Human Package

Remade
Description
Remade are created/modified from the other races. The most common Remade seen is a criminal that has been through the Punishment Factories. However, some are job specialists that have voluntarily been remade. Occasionally animals will be Remade to be more task specific (steam powered legs for horses, or enhanced nasal brain tissue for dogs)
Diet
As original race. And possibly coal if they have steam-powered parts.
Society
Remade are shunned and opressed. The most famous Remade is Jack Half-a-prayer, leader of the fReemade - Remade who have become rebels and bandits. Most people do not realise that Mr Motley, the leader of the other major organised crime syndicate is a Remade. He is, possibly, the quintessential Remade.
Book Reference
Jack is in Perdido Street Station.
Remade Package
fReemade Package

Wyrman
Description
Wyrman are small semi-intelligent gargoyle-like humanoids. They infest New Crobuzon much like rats. They are, however, able to carry messages and talk.
Diet
Wyrman are omnivores.
Society
None.
Book Reference
Wyrman appear in Perdido Street Station.
Wyrman Package

Vampire
Description
As per other genres
Diet
As per other genres
Society
Another secret sub-culture. It is unknown if they have a special arrangement with the Mayor.
Book Reference
A vampire was also susceptible to Slake Moths in Perdido Street Station
Vampire Package
As per other genres

Garuda
Description
Garuda are larger than humans and bear a strong resemblance to humanoid vultures (but with an extra pair of limbs - giving them four humanoid limbs, and wings. That is 2 legs, 2 arms and 2 wings).
Diet
Garuda are omnivores
Society
Garuda are pure anarchists. Their highest crime is to deny another sentient being the ability to make choices. This includes things such as rape (choice of sex) and murder (which denies all future choices).
Book Reference
The segue passages in each chapter of Perdido Street Station are written by one of the main characters - a criminal Garuda name Yagharek who had his wings removed.
Garuda Package

Cactacae
Description
Cactus-men are usually taller and always bulkier than humans. They appear to be a human-cactus hibrid. No two Cactacae look alike - often covered in vegetable scars of healed wounds and random spines. Many pluck their spines in order to work with other races - especially on their hands.
Diet
Omnivores.
Society
Cactacae are a warrior race. Many act as bodyguards for other races. They are difficult to kill with normal weapons - giving rise to "Reaverbows" which shoot large spinning metal disks. The ghetto for Cactacae in New Crobuzon is known as The Glasshouse. And is a large hemispherical construction of metal and glass covering several city blocks. Cactacae prefer the higher temperatures maintained inside.
Cactacae are proud of their scars.
Book Reference
Cactacae appear in all three books.
Cactacae Package

Scabmettlers
Description
A tribal warrior race that lives near the oceans of Bas-Lag. Known for their magics of the blood, which is under a great deal of pressure in their bodies and congeals at an incredibly fast rate into an iron hardness. Scabmettlers are covered in ritual scarring in various patterns. Their name derives from their ability to shape their blood as it leaves their body, forming a kind of armour. Scabmettlers that are hit with edged weapons, which penetrate their body, bleed explosively - the wound spraying the weapon with blood which congeals almost instantly, often trapping it.
Diet
Scabmettler are omnivores.
Society
As warriors they move to where they can fight, often becoming mercenaries or pirates. During their relaxtion time they often drink a special tea that has an anticoagulate effect, as Scabmettlers have been known to suffer from a whole body clotting, turning them into an organic statue.
Book Reference
Some of the pirates on Armada in <em>The Scar</em> are Scabmettlers.
Scabmettler Package

[Curufea]

Magic-
Magic in the world of Bas-Lag is omnipresent. Everyone knows about it and knows someone who has used it. However - skills in the field of magic are rare. While there may be 1 in 10 people capable of minor magics, the more skilled and more powerful occur 1 in 1000 or even less frequently.
Magic is Bas-Lag, like much of life in general, comes at a cost. Puissance (the power for a magic) must come from a source. Either the stamina and blood of the casting mage, the sacrifice of others, or chymical and thaumaturgic batteries constructed for the purpose.
Magic can come from the Gods as well - but the Gods must be bargained with and magic must be bought. For example, in the case of the monks of the Moment of the Hidden and the Secret - a Teshian order that worship the god Tekke Vogu have the powers to find hidden pathways (teleport of a kind), to remain unseen and to learn secrets. For each use they must have something of theirs hidden - they forget a memory, or have a skill removed, lose their native language or have a body part taken away, hidden forever by Tekke Vogu.

Watercraeft
The water magic of Vodyanoi

Grindylow
The magic of the Gryndylow - probably unable to be converted to Hero. The Grindylow have such an alien view of the world that they should always be NPCs. The Grindylow specialise in dimensional magics, and have rather strange versions of offensive and transport spells at the very least (shown in The Scar).

Karcism
Able to contact Hell. In New Crobuzon, you don't summon Demons, you tend to go to Hell and negotiate. Practicing Karcism makes you a Karcist. The mayor of New Crobuzon (Bentham Rudgutter) has an ambassador from Hell in one of the rooms at Perdido Street Station (and a Weaver as well).

Communicaturgy
Able to communicate over vast distances with psychometry. A female of this art is called a communicatrix.

Thaumaturgy
Mixing technology and constructs with magic. All magic is classed as part of thaumaturgy. Fetishes/props/foci for Thaumaturgy often include chymical batteries, charms, animal parts, and clockwork devices.

Somaturgy
The animation and creation of Golem. From simple clay up to shadow and sound golems.

Biothaumaturgy
Mixing technology and biology. Most biothaumaturges work in the Punishment Factories creating Remade from criminals.

Subvocalurgy
Mind control through suggestion and whispers. Powerful Sussurators (or Wordsmiths) can whisper to a specific target over miles.

Geothaumaturgy
Manipulation and sensing of the earth. Turning rock to mud, detecting Smokestone eruptions or finding types of rock.

[Curufea]

Nations-

Bas-Lag
Capitol
New Crobuzon
Politics
New Crobuzon and outlieing regions are policed by The Militia. A secret-police organisation similar to the KGB. Anyone can be a member of the Militia - the only way to tell is if they suddenly pull hoods over their heads and make an arrest. Suspects, as well as criminals have a tendency to disappear . All legal proceedings are secret. After the Construct Wars, however - the Militia come out in the open, and wear uniforms much like regular police. However - they double as both police and the military.
Inhabitants
All races
Book Reference
All three books.
Map
http://www.curufea.com/images/BasLag.jpg
By Kay Johnston

High Cromlech
Capitol

Politics
Necrocrasy (rule by the dead)
Inhabitants
Undead, Humans and Vampires
Book Reference
The Scar

Armada
Capitol
Armada - a floating city of captured ships
Politics
Council of pirate kings
Inhabitants
Pirates and kidnapees and their descendants
Book Reference
The Scar (most of the book concerns Armada)
Map
http://www.curufea.com/images/Armada.jpg
By Kay Johnston

Tesh
Capitol
Unknown
Politics
Tribal
Inhabitants
Tribal
Book Reference
Iron Council (at war with Bas-Lag)

Grindylow
Capitol
Unknown
Politics
Thaumocracy (rule by magic)
Inhabitants
Grindylow
Book Reference
The Scar

[Curufea]

Magic Items-

The Possibility Sword
Found by Uther Doul in the ruins of the Ghosthead Empire. This weapon appears to be a sword made out of plastic and plugged into a powerpack. To use the sword you must learn the Possibility martial arts - which is a technique of creating opporutinites to attack, without making choices.
The sword instantaneously moves in all possible combinations of the wielder's choices, inflicting multiple wounds at the same time. Many of these wounds open and close from then on, as their possibilities change.
This is equivalent to a force wall and damage shield of very high level.

Grindylow Statue
Rather ugly foot tall statue of a deep sea fish that contains the fin of a Grindylow mage. To activate this item, you must tongue-kiss the mouth and feed it a drop of blood.
Transdimensional movement - between molecules (can be treated as desolidification+speed+invisibility+flight). Sideffect - icthythic mutation (you gradually develop sea creature parts/features/mutations). Note - this artifact is also addictive.
In relation to other Grindylow artifacts - this is regarded as a toy by them.

Toro's Helmet
A large heavy brass helmet that sits on the shoulders to which it is strapped. It is shaped like a bull's head. When worn it takes some blood from the back of the neck to power it. It becomes as light as cloth to the wearer, give some lowlight vision enhancement, disguises their voice to sound similar to a bull and the horns can be used to rend space.
Rending space allows two things - to push through a rip and teleport to a new location, or to tear open people's bodies (an HKA with range).
This helmet was worn by the leader of the Toro party - one of the more militant disident groups in New Crobuzon.

One from New Crobuzon, definitely a plot hook-

The Crisis Engine
A conglomeration of thaumaturgic and chymical batteries and difference engines used for the high level calculations involved in harnessing Crisis energy - the energy of changing from one state to another state, of which Potential energy is a subset. This is essentially an unlimited powersource usable for perpetual motion machines and the like. Treat as an unlimited END reserve capable of powering any device or magical spell if you have good enough engineering and thaumaturgic skills. There are sideffects of course - great levels of power are likely to short or overheat the engine unless sturdier materials are found.

Plot Hooks
In New Crobuzon, everyone would want the Crisis Engine if they knew about it, and of those that do, the Construct Council knows about it and desparately wants to understand its working. If you give it to the Council, picture a steampunk version of The Matrix.
In other campaigns - Golems and Constructs or any other magical/technological being that relies on energy sources to live would be willing to do anything to get their hands on this device. To them it is immortality at the very least.

[Curufea]

Living in New Crobuzon
New Crobuzon, the biggest city in Bas-Lag is 11 miles from east to west and 8 miles north to south. Sitting on the rivers of Canker and Tar where they join to form the Gross Tar. The city is northeast of Rudewood.

Days of the week

Shunday
Chainday
Dockday
Skullday
Blueday
Dustday
Fishday


Money

Pennies (similar to Stivers)
Stivers (at least 20 Stivers to a Shekel)
Marks
Shekels (1 Shekel = price of good meal for 2)

Getting around town
The streets are so crowded that there are only a few methods regularly used to travel:
Walking, getting a carriage (usually pulled by a Remade, occasionally by engines), or using one of the trains - either the normal trains or the skyrails (much like monorails). The ever present, slow moving dirigibles are not used by normal citizens.

The Militia
Citizens of New Crobuzon in particular, but even the farms and other settlements throughout Bas Lag, live in a constant state of fear of the Militia.
They are a cross between secret police and the military, and will use any method to achieve their ends. They have been known to use Thaumaturges and Remade.
Anyone can be a Miltia member - teenagers, to old ladies. The only identifying mark of a Militia member, is the hood - which is pulled over the face to hide their identity when they are making a raid or arrest.
There are various official buildings of the Militia as well - to have them accessible to the general public if they wish to report a crime. The omnipresent dirigibles that drift around New Crobuzon skies mostly contain Militia and are capable of dropping numbers of them by rope as the need arises. Other dirigibles are used for various government purposes.
The Militia should be treated as a "Hunted" that increases effect within certain areas, or if there have been notable crimes happening.
After the Construct Wars and during the time of the war with Tesh, the Militia cease to be undercover and patrol with uniforms, like regular police. However - there may still be undercover operatives.

[TheQuestionMan]

Awesome, I am borrowing the series from the Purple Library Guy.

Cheers

QM

[Curufea]

He writes like Willam Gibson meets Lovecraft :)

I should have time to go through the books again soon and actually derive system specific rules and stats.

[Curufea]

Unique individuals

The Construct Council
A virus in the card and valve programmed constructs used throughout New Crobuzon as cheap labour caused a spark of self awareness. Not enough to have an independant intelligence of the equivalent of a human being in a construct however - but enough for a seed. This seed replicated to other constructs with the help of human techno-worshippers. There is a conglomeration of intelligences in one of the city dumps - various construct parts gained sentients and self awareness to levels well beyond human understanding. The various constructs of the city, once the seed of the virus, implanted by the technicians, has grown - are drawn to the Council and become one with it. Acting as mobile parts to itself - going out, coming back and reporting/being reprogrammed.
The Council is a rational amoral survivor willing to make deals in order to continue to exist. It has the ability to vast thaumaturgical calculations at high speed, and to build new task-specific constructs that are many times more efficient than human built equivalents. However it must remain undiscovered at all times. It knows if the Militia become aware of its existance - it is dead.
Note - By the time of the third book, Iron Council, the Militia were aware, there were the Construct Wars and the Council was destroyed (probably). Which lead to Golems becoming the new cheap labour force.

Bentham Rudgutter
Mayor of New Crobuzon and Head if the Fat Sun Party. A driven man, who has forged alliances with races and creatures that were thought impossible. His various secret dealings, much like the legal system and life in general in New Crobuzon, are shady at best. His second in command, likely to take over his position, was killed and possessed by a Handlinger because he was becoming too much of an annoyance by Rudgutter.
Rudgutter is on negotiation terms with the demons of Hell, Handlingers and Weavers.
On a personal note - sometime in the past Rudgutter lost his eyes, and has nothing but empty sockets. It is never explained how this happened. He is able, through thaumaturgy, to use other people's eyes though. Once they have been inserted, that is. One of the rumours often circulating the streets of New Crobuzon is about "The Eye Killer", who removes victim's eyes. This happens whenever the Mayor's current eyes decay too much to be useful any more.

Eliza Stem-Fulcher
Mayor of New Crobuzon after Bentham Rudgutter. Also a member of the Fat Sun Party. She was assassinated during the revolution of the Collectivists by Ori, a Toroan.

The Weaver
Possibly the least understandable creature and one of the greatest individual powers in New Crobuzon. Currently there is only the single ambassador in the city - but there are many others "out there"
Weavers are huge transdimensional spiders. Their concern is their art, and their art is the weave of the world. They will occasionally do odd, inexplicable, bizarre and/or violent things to improve the weave. They are able to move between dimensions - their home being a dimension where the web of the world can be perceived. Weavers do not possess names as we understand them.
The Weaver is an excellent McGuffin - and will get players to do things, or help them at the GMs whim. However - there is always a price (in Perdido Street station, the heroes discovered the price for being helped, and to set the weave correctly, was their left ears).

Toro
An insurrectionist and leader of the dissident group who call themselves Toroans. Cecile is a Remade woman whose crime of the manslaughter of her baby has sentenced her to have her baby's arms attached to her face in the Punishment Factories by the magister as a permanent reminder. She had the Helmet of Toro constructed to give her powers and disguise her identity in the pursuit of revenge. First mention of her occurs in the first book, but the group does not form until the third book <em>Iron Council</em>. After the assassination of Mayor Stem-Fulcher and killing the mayor's lover - the magister who sentenced her, Cecile passed her Toro helmet to Ori.

Spiral Jacobs
A seemingly homeless derranged old man that was in Jack Half-A-Prayer's gang of fReemade back before Jack was captured (20 years ago). He wanders around the city offering information, advice and occasional funding to various dissident groups throughout the city.
In actuallity he is the Tesh ambassador and a Hecatomage - one who knows magic of many different styles. He wanders the streets of New Crobuzon laying down spiral glyphs in a long ritual designed to bring destruction to the city during the Tesh War. His aid to dissidents is a red herring, a way of keeping the government and citizens busy so they don't realise his intent.
The final spell calls forth a non-corporeal life force that will give the city a tremendous ablife intent on killiing its inhabitants. The ritual itself causes killing illusions (called Haints) to appear randomly throughout the city as it nears completion.
While Spiral Jacobs is casting the ritual, he cannot be hurt with physical weapons of any sort - including magical physical weapons. All such attacks will miss.

[gewing]

Khepri sound kind of disgusting... like the Chessmen of Mars. :(


The Garuda sound interesting. but then I like the idea of 4 arms. ;)

Think of the possibilities...:eg:

[Curufea]

Ah well - they don't have 4 arms. They have 2 arms and 2 wings...
Angels are another 6 limbed creature, for example.

But in general, if you look at anything from this genre (New Weird), your immediate reaction is nearly always going to be "disturbing" :)

[Curufea]

Flora and Fauna

North of New Crobuzon-

Prey Tree
This is a large, carnivorous tree similar in appearance to both a willow, and a skeleton. Animals are captured with its bone-like tentacles and dragged to its trunk, where the mouth is located. Parts of digested animals are used to adorn the tree as "Prey Fruit" to attract other animals. These parts are organically and thaumaturgically preserved for long periods of time (and are actually nutritional).
(from Iron Council)

Vinehogs
A species of pig on which grow symbiotic grapes. These parasitical vines are highly valued for the wine they produce. The grapes rippen when the pigs rut. The Vineherds, the clannish tribes that shepherd these pigs and harvest them, are very agile and strong due to the nature of harvesting - they need to get in and take the grapes quickly without taking injuries.
(from Iron Council)

Giant Turtles
Huge land turtles that wander the countryside. Many have towns built on their backs.
(from Iron Council)

Stiltspears
An uncivilised people living in swamps of Bas Lag. They appear to be a cross between humans and stick insects. Their name derives from their hunting methods, of waiting completely still in water, before spearing a fish with their hands. Their hands have tough, radial fingers with sharp nails that can be folded together to form a sharp point. Stiltspear also practics a version of somaturgy that enables the children Stiltspear to create small golems to play with, and the adult hunters to paralyze large prey. They also have a natural thaumaturgical ability to camouflage themselves as trees. Stiltspear communicate with clicks.

[Curufea]

Various update edits to previous entries made - and now unique locations outside of New Crobuzon

The Scar
The impact rift where the Ghosthead Empire colided with the world creating a dimensional rift. Full of Torque energies. Located in the far northern sea. No one has ever returned from it.

The Stain
A permanent Torque area north of New Crobuzon. Torque is a dimensional "wrong" chaotic storm of magic. Occasional Torque storms wander throughout the world. The Stain, however is a large, permanent area. The cacotopic zone between the high Torgue areas and the healthy land is navigable by the very determined and was the passage taken by the Iron Council. The Militia will not enter the cacotopic zone of the Stain without great provocation. Random Torque energies that wander the zone will occasionally change non-living things to living, and vice versa. It will also warp and mutate. It can be implied that many of the "standard" races throughout the world are the result of Torque.

Smokestone Fields
Between the swamps and fields of New Crobuzon and south of the Stain are the Smokestone Fields. An area of variegated swirls and flows of grey rock. Smokestone may turn gaseous or can remain solid permanently. It's usual state is solid and it can be destroyed with explosives normally for mining. However occasionally a fault in the earth will open releasing new gasseous smoke-like Smokestone that can ossify the unwary - smothering, choking and finally permanently encasing.

[Curufea]

Political groups-

New Crobuzon is such a totalitarian city that many dissident groups (often called Neuvists) have formed in it over the years. Here are a few of them, as well as the Mayor's party.

Fat Sun Party
Currently in power. In the time of the Perdido Street Station and The Scar books - Bentham Rudgutter is mayor. During his time the Militia is a hidden secret police, Handlingers are rumours, a war with the Grindylow was rumour, there was the Season of Nightmares, the Construct Wars and an attack on Armada. Wrightby starts his company to put railroads across Bas-Lag.
Almost twenty years after this, in the book Iron Council, Bentham is dead and Eliza Stem-Fulcher is Mayor. She is also of the Fat Sun Party. Under her leadership, the Militia wears uniforms and walks openly, but are more like Military Law than a normal police force. Handlingers are recognised and given condemned prisoners for hosts. Golems replace constructs as cheap labour (aside from Remade of course). There is a major revolution from the Collective, war occurs with Tesh and the Iron Council returns.
Note - none of the New Crobuzon books so far have ever dealt with the upperclasses. So how the city is run, and how those who don't have to struggle for a living survive in it is a mystery. All the books have been street-level.

Runagaters
Also known as Double-R's and Doublers. A number of dissident groups that get together and discuss (much like a book club) the various news items that occurs in Runagate Rampart, one of the most famous illegal free press newspapers in New Crobuzon. Runagaters are generally non-violent although they may protest. They are occasionally recruited by the more militant dissident groups. The newspaper was briefly shutdown, and its editor caused to disappear by the Militia during the time of Rudgutter, however it recovered and the hidden reporters for it returned.

Toroans
Toro is the leader of this very select and small group of very militant dissidents. All their missions have been well planned, all the members loyal and all the missions succeeded. Toroans arise sometime between the two mayors. Their final act was the assassination of Stem-Fulcher. Toro herself, is a Remade.

Iron Councillors
The Iron Council was formed towards the end of the Wrightby rail enterprises. The camp following prostitutes, the Remade labours and the skilled human and xenian workforce rebelled from lack of pay and poor working conditions. Stealing the train they took it through The Stain's cacotopic zone and settled on the far side creating a commune that treated all races equally. There were many losses on the journey and many losses on their return to New Crobuzon. During the time of the Tesh War, the Militia managed to free the straits leading to the north coast of Bas-Lag and circumvented The Stain by sending a force after the Iron Council via the sea, instead of overland.

Collectivists
The Collective was formed from all the dissident groups and many volunteers just before the mayor was assassinated. Thousands of citizens throughout New Crobuzon rose up against the government in a revolution that lasted weeks. Many others stayed at home, or fled the city. Towards the end of the Collective, the Iron Council returned to New Crobuzon.

Member names
Many of the dissident groups took great pains to hide the identity of their members, due to the nature of the Militia. The would often refer to each other as Chavrim, or Chavers, or even Jack (after Jack Half-A-Prayer the fReemade). Iron Councillors refer to each other as Sisters (as almost a third their number were prostitutes, and did not like the assumption made they should be called brothers).

[TheQuestionMan]

Keep up the good work

Cheers

QM

[Chuk]

Dude, you have to do the Scabmettlers. (If I get a chance, I might.)

[Curufea]

It's been boring at work this week :)

I have not yet started the actual statistics using the rules yet - I'm kinda busy at home, and looking up the BBB at work would be noticed...

Now that I've finally finished reading the third book (public transport is a must for folk wanting time to read stuff), I can go back to the first book and start filling in blanks.

This messageboard is rare in that there is no time limit on editing old posts. However - as the subject areas fill out, and before this thread gets too big, I will be putting it on a webpage on my site.

Speaking of my site - currently there are no 5E resources on it, apart from a dead Space Hero campaign and an old 2 or 3E campaign based on Western Shors. So not really worth visiting yet :)

Chuk Dude, you have to do the Scabmettlers. (If I get a chance, I might.)

Definitely. But I'm wondering about the type of game - the thread on low-level games has got me wondering about the overall level of a New Crobuzon game. But I guess it dosn't matter too much if you use packages - it only varies the starting values, and you can chose to start low.

Scabmettlers would be fairly similar to Cactacae - with Armour (although I see the Cactacae with Damage Reduction and Regeneration as welll). Scabmettlers would require extra time, and need to damage themselves to get the armour.

There are a lot of powers in New Crobuzon where you need to damage yourself to use them - draw blood, etc.. Not sure how that mechanic would be represented in the rules though. Possibly as an OIF expendable, must cause 1 body damage to self?

[Lightray]

Over on RGP.net, someone posted an artist's rendering of Perdido Street Station:

http://members.shaw.ca/csafruik/art/6205.jpg

And the thread at RPG.net, to see other pictures posted there:

Perdido Street Station (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=163920)

[Curufea]

New Crobuzon
Suburbs
Western Suburbs

Barrackham
Canker Wedge
Chimer
Creekside
Dryside
Gallmarch
Gross Coil
Howl Barrow
Noted for its homosexual, transvestite and theatre community. The Pretty Brigade who fought valiantly for the Collective during the return of the Iron Council came from here.
Kinken
Litchford
Raven's Gate
Rim
Riverskin
Saint Jabber's Mound
Salacus Fields
Sangwine
Sheck
Skulford
Smog Bend
Sobek Croix
Spatters
Spit Hearth
Tar Wedge
The Crow
West Gidd

Eastern Suburbs

Abrogate Green
Aspic
Badside
Bonetown
Brock Marsh
The academic suburb of New Crobuzon. Full of physiks, biothaumaturges and artists of all sorts. New inventions are a weekly occurance, and with luck - it won't run wild.
Chnum
Dog Fenn
East Gidd
Echomire
Flag Hill
Flyside
Griss Twist
Kelltree
Ludmead
Mafaton
Mog Hill
Murkside
Nigh Sump
Pelorus Fields
Petty Coil
Pincod
Saltbur
Stoneshill
Sunter
Syriac
Syriac Well


Buildings

Perdido Street Station
Location: The Crow
Image: http://members.shaw.ca/csafruik/art/6205.jpg
The rail hub and central government building of New Crobuzon. This massive building sits in the centre of the city. Both the sky rails and the land rails have their termini here. The ambassadorial suites are also housed here (including The Weaver and the Ambassador of Hell). It is the tallest building in the city, topped by a spire.

The Ribs
Location: Bonetown
The ancient bones of a long forgotten monster rise the height of the tallest buildings in the inner suburb of Bonetown. The bones are thicker than trees and harder than stone - many times older than the city which surrounds it and grew to encompass them. No one knows how old they are, what type of creature they were from, or what killed it.
Magic and technology continually fail to work in their vicinity. Many believe the area to be at best cursed, or haunted.
Treat as a continual supression field.

The Glasshouse
Location: Riverskin
The Cactacae (or Cactusman) city-within-a-city. A huge metal and glass dome that covers severeal city blocks. Temperature inside the Glasshouse is equivalent to a desert. Only Cactacae live inside, but outsiders can visit on very rare occasions.

New Crobuzon University
Location: Mafaton

Rivers
New Crobuzon sits on the joining of two rivers. The Tar from the northwest and the Canker from the north meet near the centre of the city to form the Gross Tar, that exits in the southeast. The rivers meet at Strack Island.

Bridges
Bridges that cross the river Tar

Odner's Bridge.
Raven's Gate to Chimer.
Hadrach Bridge
Creekside to Rim.
Drud Crossing
Smog Bend to The Crow.
Stentorus Bridge
Smog Bend to Gross Coil.
Mandrake Bridge
Lichford to Gross Coil.
Barrow Bridge
Howl Barrow to Kinken
Nabob Bridge
Riverskin to Sheck
Pigment Bridge
Riverskin to Petty Coil
Cockscomb Bridge
Flyside to Petty Coil
Sheer Bridge
Griss Twist to Brock Marsh

Bridges that cross the river Canker

Khadoh Bridge
Canker Wedge to Dryside
Coins End Crossing
West Gidd to East Gidd
Barguest Bridge
Brock Marsh to Ludmead
Danechi's Bridge
Brock Marsh to Bonetown

Bridges that cross the river Gross Tar

Rust Bridge
Griss Fell to Kelltree
Barley Bridge
Syriac Well to Echomire
Grand Calibre Bridge
Broken (was between Badside and Dog Fenn)

Railway Stations
All tracks originate from Perdido Street Station. There are two types - Trains which use the land based rails, and Pods which use the Skyrail.
Trains / Railway

Verso Line
->Rim->Creek Slum->Chitin->Low Falling Mud->Chimer's End
Sink Line
->Outer Crow->Skulkford->East Sink->Lich Sitting->Fell Stop->(ruined station in Rudewood)
Sud Line
->Spit Bazaar->Sly->Salacus Fields
->Spit Bazaar->Sly->Petty Coil->Saltpetre->Trauka->Syriac Rising->The Downs
Dexter Line
->Gidd->Barguest Bridge->Ludd Fallow->Station Junction->Kelltree
->Gidd->Barguest Bridge->Ludd Fallow->Station Junction->Mog->Dark Water->Abrogate Green
Head Line
->North Crow->Dryside->Hog Leaving->Flag end->Terminus

Pods / Skyrail
->Canker Wedge
->Tar Wedge
->Saint Jabber's Mound
->Sheck->Ketch Heath
->Flyside->Barrackham
->Chnum->Mog Hill

[TheQuestionMan]

DAMN!!! That's great

[Curufea]

Character ideas

Earlier this year I was involved in a New Crobuzon campaign using the Amber rules that inspired me to start writing up the setting for Hero. If ever there were a book series that was ideal for a roleplaying setting - it would be New Crobuzon (even more so than Lord of the Rings). Here are our characters from that game-

Mordred
A Gentleman Vampire who's safe haven appears to be a Gentleman's Club (in the Victorian sense) but is actually the home base for several vampires, including his master and his rival. He has all the traditional vampire abilites, and , unlike every other character, resources.
My character, Garett met Mordred (and most of the others) while attempting to steal a book on weather control for The Khepri.

Garett
Okay - this one's not an original character at all, and I'm kinda ashamed he was mine. Straight out of Thief 2, including the arrows and the mechanical eye. But I can't help it - I like thieves, and this guy is the best.

Brother Cyclops
A homeless beggar and supplicant to one of the many churches in New Crobuzon. This unfortunate fellow was probably caught in a Torque storm at some time. He has high levels of regeneration - but this is offset by his constantly opening and closing wounds. He is unstuck in time and occasionally in his less-lucid moments can give out vital information. He can teleport and has been known to manipulate time - ie if there is a staircase built in a building in the future, he can climb it in the present. Brother Cyclops is hunted by one of the most skilled Biothaumaturges in the city for various reasons.

The Captain
I've unfortunately forgotten the characters name. He's an ex-Militia captain who has been grafted to some kind of magical artifact - or was wearing one while he was caught in some kind of Torque event. The Shadowcloak could even be a Grindylow item. It allows the manipulation of shadows and the use of them for transport. He was also the main reason we had a series of demon-possessed hunting us. He has no memory of who he is or why they may be after him, he just appeared on the streets - naked except for his cloak.

The Khepri
I'll put the names in when I find my character sheet again :)
The Khepri in our group was a secondhand bookseller who operated out of a cart/trailer that was hauled around the city by her bodyguard/servant - a Remade centaur type (I think they used Bull parts). The Khepri herself is a Remade, but has been able to hid the fact that the Biothaumaturges had put her head on a male's body. She could infact speak, but always hid this skill. Eventually she made a deal with the Biothaumaturge who was hunting Brother Cyclops (because he found him an ideal experiment subject) and have her head placed back on a Khepri body.
We never knew where either body was procured from.
This Khepri often employed my character, Garett for various things.

The Reporter
A freelance reporter for the independant (and illegal) Runnagate Rampant. He was the main investigator in one of the subplots about the building of a navy to go to war with the Grindylow (Our game was set sometime between the first and second books). His apartment was often used as a safe house by us, until we started needing protection as well, and we moved to Mordred's club. This reporter, however had uncanny abilities to persuade others and coerce them into doing things.

[Curufea]

Okie dokie,
I've created a website for it - which offers more possibilities than a messageboard :)

http://www.curufea.com/games/crobuzon/

[Curufea]

<h2>Khepri Package Deal</h2>
<TABLE BORDER="0"><TR><TH><h3>Abilities</h3></TH><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR><TR><TD>-1 STR</TD><TD>-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>+2 DEX</TD><TD>6</TD></TR><TR><TD>-1 CON</TD><TD>-2</TD></TR><TR><TD>+2 INT</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>+3 EGO</TD><TD>6</TD></TR><TR><TD>+2 PRE</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TH><h3>Powers</h3></TH><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR><TR><TD><STRONG>Compound Eyes</STRONG></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>Enhanced Perception +2 with Sight <BR>Increased Arc of Perception - 240 degrees - Sight<BR>Infrared Perception<BR>Rapid Sight</BLOCKQUOTE></TD><TD>2<BR>5<BR>5<BR>3</TD></TR><TR><TD><STRONG>Osmotic Olfactory Sense Glands</STRONG></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>Analyse Sense - Smell<BR>Enhanced Perception +2 with Smell </BLOCKQUOTE></TD><TD>10<BR>2</TD></TR><TR><TD><STRONG>Khepri-Spit</STRONG></TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>Through ingesting colourberries and paste, <BR>can produce organic ceramics</BLOCKQUOTE></TD><TD>0</TD></TR><TR><TD><STRONG>Chymical Mist</STRONG></TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>Khepri communicate through exuding <BR>various chymical smells</BLOCKQUOTE></TD><TD>0</TD></TR><TR><TH><h3>Disadvantages</h3></TH><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR><TR><TD>Distinctive Features: Khepri<BR>Non Concealable, Prejudicial</TD><TD>-20</TD></TR><TR><TD>Physical Limitation: No vocal chords<BR>All the time, Greatly</TD><TD>-20</TD></TR><TR><TD>Physical Limitation: Compound Eyes<BR>Difficult to read, or view details at close range - requires Concentration 0 DCV</TD><TD>-10</TD></TR><TR><TH><h3>Total Cost of Package</h3></TH><TD>-10</TD></TR></TABLE><P>Khepri communicate with a mixture of chymical sprays and headleg sign language. Some Khepri who wish to communicate with non-Khepri also use a form of sign language that can translate into Ragamoll, and carry around a board on which to write messages for those that don't know sign language but can read.</P>

[Curufea]

couple of quick updates-
First off - Happy New Year! It is 12.30 am as I write (now off to bed)

Secondly - I've put the map of the city of New Crobuzon, scanned from the book, up on my website.

[Susano]

Khepri sound kind of disgusting... like the Chessmen of Mars. :(


The Garuda sound interesting. but then I like the idea of 4 arms. ;)

Think of the possibilities...:eg:

Heh, the ASIAN BESTIARY will have a character sheet for the original Garuda -- the mount of Vishnu.

[Curufea]

I know nothing of the Chessmen - but if there are write-ups done for races/creatures/items that are similar to those found in New Crobuzon, please let me know.

For example - Vodynaoi are very similar to Deep Ones or Troglodytes. The name sounds Russian to me though...

[edit] And just to re-iterate the Garuda have 2 arms and 2 wings and 2 legs. Same as an angel or other winged humanoid.. Apologies for the misleading logic of calling them 6 limbed.

[Susano]

I know nothing of the Chessmen - but if there are write-ups done for races/creatures/items that are similar to those found in New Crobuzon, please let me know.

For example - Vodynaoi are very similar to Deep Ones or Troglodytes. The name sounds Russian to me though...

It is. Vodianoi, Vodyanoi, Vodyanoy, are Russian water spirits. They lurk in pools, streams, and ponds, and lure humans into the water and devour them.


[edit] And just to re-iterate the Garuda have 2 arms and 2 wings and 2 legs. Same as an angel or other winged humanoid.. Apologies for the misleading logic of calling them 6 limbed.

Well, technically, something with "2 arms and 2 wings and 2 legs," is a six-limbed creature.

[Curufea]

General campaign ideas:-

Most magic should have side effects that always occur. Usually some kind of drain on stats as well as the normal endurance for the power, but possibly also body damage.

Having a look through the 5th ed version of Fantasy Hero - there are many things of interest (as you'd expect).
Arcane Defence (AD) is something that should be included - but it won't be a figured characteristic. It's at 0 for all characters unless they have a very good reason for it to be higher (ie they were in a Torque storm). There would be some package deals that raised it - usually as a power. For example an Elementalist would be able to add AD against magic of their element (ie AD bought as a limited power only vs an element).
A player could buy Arcane Luck - which is similar to Combat Luck, and allows a very small amount of protection against magic. It seems to follow with protagonists in the books - who were only ever caught in the periphery of magical effects.

AD seems to be a good way to describe the otherworldly creatures in New Crobuzon. Rather than getting "desolid vs magic" as a perfect defence - because creatures such as the Slake Moth and the Weaver did take small amounts of damage from magic. So AD and possibly Damage Resistanc e. And creatures/items capable of dimensional magics (Weavers, Slake Moths, Striders, Grindylow Statue and Toro's Helmet) should have AD.

[Curufea]

More general ideas from FH-

Perks-
Contacts
1 pt - Priest, minor spell user, dissident member, scientist
2 pts - Abbot, professional spell user (e.g. biothaumaturge), dissaffected Militia member (e.g. Brennan), dissident cell leader, political party member
3 pts - Major spell user (e.g. Judah Low), Militia captain, movement leader (e.g. Toro), political party leader
4 pts - Mayor's assistant
5 pts - Mayor

Lordship
1 pt - Business owner
2 pts - Militia member
3 pts - Member of parliament
4 pts - Ambassador

Talents-
Arcane Luck - Similar to Combat Luck, but applicable to magic and using Arcane Defence.
Magesight - 5pts only allowed, unless its of your branch of magic only.
Shapechanging - not allowed (no one in the books does it)

Powers-
Healing (resurrection) - Not allowed, not even for vampires
Healing (inanimate) - possible
Multiform - Not allowed
Summon - Common power for spell users.
Summon (amicable) - Not allowed.

[Susano]

Note to self: Find these books.

[Curufea]

I'm tempted to buy you copies - if you don't mind the style and grotesqueries (its similar to Lovecraft), and get as inspired as I am (and the folk I played the short Amber game with) - you may write up the characters from the books.
Which you're damn good at doing (and I'm not just saying that because I'm trying to avoid too much work)

There has always been problem in getting English authors published in the USA - I remember the rigamarole that Terry Pratchett fans had to go through to get his stuff.

Amazon is still the best bet. Unless your local public library has them (but I have doubts about USA public libraries)

[Susano]

I'm tempted to buy you copies - if you don't mind the style and grotesqueries (its similar to Lovecraft), and get as inspired as I am (and the folk I played the short Amber game with) - you may write up the characters from the books.
Which you're damn good at doing (and I'm not just saying that because I'm trying to avoid too much work)

There has always been problem in getting English authors published in the USA - I remember the rigamarole that Terry Pratchett fans had to go through to get his stuff.

Amazon is still the best bet. Unless your local public library has them (but I have doubts about USA public libraries)

Crud. I was going to go the library route to save money (which I don't have lots of now). Of course, getting US authors in the US is tough too. I'd love to get a serious all-in-one collection of Fritz Leiber's Fafhard and the Grey Mouser, but....

[Curufea]

I haven't heard of it being collected together - I've got about four of those from the same publisher - so at least the covers match.
I've heard the collected Amber is hard to get, and only have the colleciton of the first series.

Amazon shows excerpts of the Crobuzon books including the various awards they've won - so there is hope local booksellers will cotton on to them.

[Curufea]

Bwahahaha - the wonders of Poser and Photoshop.

This is my idea of what a Grindylow looks like. I think the book describes them as a cross between humanoids and deep sea fish - and they swim through the air in an unnatural manner, distorting space around them (I haven't got "The Scar" book within easy reach).

<a href="http://www.curufea.com/games/crobuzon/grindylow.jpg"><img src="http://www.curufea.com/games/crobuzon/grindylow.jpg" width="200"></a>

[Curufea]

And now a Khepri-


<a href="http://www.curufea.com/games/crobuzon/khepri.jpg"><img src="http://www.curufea.com/games/crobuzon/khepri.jpg" width="200"></a>

[Curufea]

More new art, from Nicholas William Kole who I seriously want to involve in this project if I can :) -

Races
<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/cray.jpg.html">Cray Huntsman</a>
<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/craypencil.jpg.html">Cray Huntsman</a>

<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/cactacae.jpg.html">Cactacae Face</a>
<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/returnofthemack.jpg.html">Cactacae</a>

<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/vodyanoi.jpg.html">Vodyanoi</a>

Characters
<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/jack_halfaprayer.jpg.html">Jack Half-a-Prayer, the fReemade</a>
<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/somaturgy.jpg.html">Judah Low, the Somaturge (Golemist)</a>
<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/toro.jpg.html">Toro, leader of the Toroans</a>

Nick's website on Elfwood-
http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/nickspacekole.html

[Markdoc]

I haven't heard of it being collected together - I've got about four of those from the same publisher - so at least the covers match.
I've heard the collected Amber is hard to get, and only have the colleciton of the first series.

Both the collected Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (two big-ass fat volumes) and the collected First Chronicles of Amber have been re-released in the fantasy masterworks series. I brought the F&GM series last year and I'm on the lookout for another copy for Mike already.

cheers, Mark

Linkage here: http://www.mykreeve.net/books/fantasy/fantasy_masterworks.htm

[Curufea]

Kewl!

(but off topic)
;-p

On topic-ish, I forgot to mention Nick's portrait of one of the female Anophelies-
<a href="http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/n/i/nickspacekole/anoph.jpg.html">Mosquito Woman</a>

[Curufea]

More misc notes as I read through the first book again-

Newspapers
Beacon
Quarrel
Runagate Rampant (illegal)
The Shout (illegal)
Forge (illegal)

Vaudois Hill is SW of Lichford just before you enter Spatters

The largest ghetto of Garuda is in Spatters, an estimated 2000.

There are 6.7 million people in New Crobuzon

The university is in Ludmead, not Mafaton.

Notable Garuda-
Krakhleki, a famous writer
Shashjar, a member of the Diverse Tendency Party (which is mainly Xenian).

Further note on the Sufferage Lottery-
The Upper Class automatically qualify for the vote.

Xenian Reproduction
Khepri males have sex with the heads of Khepri females, who lay eggs. Baby Khepri females have the heads of grubs. No Khepri female enjoys reproduction, they practise homosexual sex for recreation, which is ritualised.

Cactacae women plant egg bulbs in the ground that are fertilised by the men.

[Curufea]

I've added Nick Kole's art to my site. I'm on leave for the next two weeks - so I should have time to actually make rules-related progress on this conversion.

[Curufea]

<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right"><font size=2><b>Val  </b></font></td><td><font size=2><b>Char   </b></font></td><td><font size=2><b>Cost</b></font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>30  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>STR</b></font></td><td><font size=2>20</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>13  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>DEX</b></font></td><td><font size=2>9</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>20  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>CON</b></font></td><td><font size=2>20</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>30  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>BODY</b></font></td><td><font size=2>40</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>10  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>INT</b></font></td><td><font size=2>0</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>23  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>EGO</b></font></td><td><font size=2>26</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>18  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>PRE</b></font></td><td><font size=2>8</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>1  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>COM</b></font></td><td><font size=2>-4</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size=2></font></td><td><font size=2> </font></td><td><font size=2></font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>7  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>PD</b></font></td><td><font size=2>1</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>5  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>ED</b></font></td><td><font size=2>1</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>2  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>SPD</b></font></td><td><font size=2>0</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>10  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>REC</b></font></td><td><font size=2>0</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>40  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>END</b></font></td><td><font size=2>0</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>55  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>STUN</b></font></td><td><font size=2>0</font></td></tr><td><font size=2></font></td><td><font size=2> </font></td><td><font size=2></font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>2"  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>RUN</b></font></td><td><font size=2>-8</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>2"  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>SWIM</b></font></td><td><font size=2>0</font></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><font size=2>4"  </font></td><td><font size=2><b>LEAP</b></font></td><td><font size=2>-2</font></td></tr></table><b>Characteristics Cost:</b> 111

<table border="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td align="right"><b>Cost  </b></td><td><b>Power</b></td><td align="right"><b>END</b></td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5  </td><td><b><i>Antennae: </i></b>IR Perception (Sight Group) </td><td valign="top" align="right">0</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">11  </td><td><b><i>Antennae: </i></b>Mind Scan 3d6 (Sentients capable of dreaming class of minds), Cumulative (+1/2) (22 Active Points); Neither Character nor Target Can Attack Through Link (-1) </td><td valign="top" align="right">2</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">28  </td><td><b><i>Aura of Nightmares: </i></b>Change Environment 16" radius, -1 DEX Roll and all Skill Rolls based on DEX, -1 EGO Roll and all Skill Rolls based on EGO, -1 INT Roll and all Skill Rolls based on INT, -2 PRE Roll and all Skill Rolls based on PRE, Long-Lasting 1 Day, Multiple Combat Effects, MegaScale (1" = 1 km; +1/4), Personal Immunity (+1/4) (99 Active Points); No Conscious Control (The aura is excreted as a byproduct of the Slake Moth's digestive system; -2), No Range (-1/2) [<b>Notes:</b> Those living in the area that is the hunting ground of one or more Slake Moths have terrible nightmares and depression. They are affected for the entire day, although it is worse at night (when the Moths feed).] </td><td valign="top" align="right">10</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5  </td><td><b><i>Chitinous Shell: </i></b>Damage Resistance (5 PD/5 ED) </td><td valign="top" align="right">0</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">45  </td><td><b><i>Claws: </i></b>HKA 2d6 (3d6+1 w/STR), Penetrating (+1/2) (45 Active Points) </td><td valign="top" align="right">4</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">57  </td><td><b><i>Dimensionally Patterned Wings: </i></b>Mind Control 6d6 (Any sentient life capable of dreaming class of minds), Personal Immunity (+1/4), Telepathic (+1/4), Inherent (+1/4), Cumulative (+1/2), NND (Defense is to look away or see only a reversed image of the wings. ; +1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2), Area Of Effect (11" Radius; +1) (142 Active Points); No Range (-1/2), Set Effect ("Do not move"; -1/2), Always On (-1/2) </td><td valign="top" align="right">0</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">5  </td><td><b><i>Insectile Legs: </i></b>Extra Limbs (2) </td><td valign="top" align="right">0</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">19  </td><td><b><i>Moth Wings: </i></b>Flight 14" (28 Active Points); Restrainable (-1/2) </td><td valign="top" align="right">3</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">90  </td><td><b><i>Proboscis: </i></b>Major Transform 3d6 (Sentient into mindless being, Up to GM, no current method known), Partial Transform (+1/2), Continuous (+1), NND (No orifices, or transdimensional (such as a Weaver); +1), BOECV (Mental Defense applies; +1) (202 Active Points); Concentration, Must Concentrate throughout use of Constant Power (1/2 DCV; -1/2), No Range (-1/2), Limited Target (Sentients that dream; -1/4) </td><td valign="top" align="right">20</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">160  </td><td><b><i>Transdimensional Body: </i></b>Physical Damage Reduction, 75%, Arcane Reduction 75%, Mental Reduction 75% </td><td valign="top" align="right">0</td></tr><tr><td align="right" valign="top">10  </td><td><b><i>Transdimensional Insect Mindset: </i></b>Lack Of Weakness (-10) for Mental Defense </td><td valign="top" align="right">0</td></tr></table><b>Powers Cost:</b> 435


<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right"><b>Cost  </b></td><td><b>Skill</b></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Teamwork 12- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Tracking 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Tactics 11- </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">3  </td><td>Stealth 12- </td></tr></table><b>Skills Cost: </b>12


<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right"><b>Cost  </b></td><td><b>Talent</b></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">16  </td><td>Berserk Fury </td></tr></table><b>Talents Cost:</b> 16


<table cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td align="right"><b>Val  </b></td><td><b>Disadvantages</b></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">25  </td><td>Psychological Limitation: Instinctive animal behaviour and intelligence - Moth (Very Common, Total) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Dependence: Dreamshit - only before pupating, the minds of sentients after pupating Takes 1d6 Damage (Uncommon, 1 Day) [<b>Notes:</b> This is actually two disadvantages rolled into one. Dreamshit is extremely rare, but sentients are common.] </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">15  </td><td>Hunted: Militia 8- (As Pow, NCI, Capture) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">10  </td><td>Hunted: Mr Motley 8- (As Pow, NCI, Limited Geographical Area, Capture) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Hunted: Isaac Van Der Grimnebulin 11- (Less Pow, Limited Geographical Area, Kill) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">5  </td><td>Physical Limitation: Does not see in the visible spectrum. (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing) </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="right">20  </td><td>Enraged: If other Slake Moths are attacked or killed (Uncommon), go 14-, recover 11- </td></tr></table>
<b>Disadvantage Points:</b> 85
<br>
<b>Base Points:</b> 75
<b>Experience Required:</b> 414
<b>Total Experience Available:</b> 0
<b>Experience Unspent:</b> 0
<b>Total Character Cost:</b> 574
<br>
<table width="100%" valign="top"><tr valign="top"><td><b>Height:&nbsp;</b>4.00 m</td><td><b>Hair:&nbsp;</b>Brown</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><b>Weight:&nbsp;</b>200.00 kg</td><td><b>Eyes:&nbsp;</b>No eyes, but antennae</td></tr><tr valign="top"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-weight: 700"><td colspan=2><b>Appearance:&nbsp;</b>It was taller than a bear. A clutch of sharp extrusions like dark cartilaginous whips blossomed from its sides and flickered out towards him. Other, smaller; sharper limbs flexed like claws.<br>The creature stood on legs like monkey's arms. Three pairs jutted from its trunk. It stood now bipedally, now on four legs, now on six.<br>Always those juge irregular wings, curving in strange directions, shifting in shape to fit the room, each as random and inconstant as oil on water, each a perfect reflection of the other, kept gently moving, their patterns changing, flickering in a seductive tide.<br>It had no eyes that they could recognize, only two deep sunken hollows sprouting thick, flexing antennae like stubby fingers, above rows of huge slab-teeth. As Isaac watched, it cocked its head and opened that unimaginable mouth, and from it a huge, prehensile, slavering tongue unrolled.<br>It waved quickly through the air. Its end was coated in clumps of gossamer alvaeoli that pulsed as the enormous thing flailed like an elephant's trunk.</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2><b>Personality:&nbsp;</b>"Slake-moths don't live entirely in our plane. Their ... ah ... nutritional needs are met by substances we cannot measure."<br>...<br>"They draw the dreams ou with their wings, flood the mind, break the dykes that hold back hidden thoughts, guilty thoughts, anxieties, delights, dreams...."<br>...<br>"And then," he continued, "when the mind is nice and juicy ... they suck it dry."</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2><b>Quote:</b>These cries were not audible. They vibrated in wavelengths other than sonar. The scientist felt the hair all over her body bristle as teh ghosts of emotions fleeted through her skill like half-heard rumours. Snippets of alien joy and inhuman terror wafted in her nostrils and ears and behind her eyes, synaesthetically.</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2><b>Background:&nbsp;</b>Brought to New Crobozuon by Mr. Motley, and eventually the Militia as well, for experimentation and drug production. Adult Slake-moths produce Dreamshit to feed their young.</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2><b>Powers/Tactics:&nbsp;</b>Slake Moths will hunt in packs. Separating out a single sentient being so that one of them may feed, before finding anohter. They will always attempt to bring their wings into sight to paralyze their prey before they suck the intelligence out of them. Slake Moths do recognise individuals and will hunt down those that have hurt them in the past, including those that have captured them.</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan=2><b>Campaign Use:&nbsp;</b>One Slake Moth will easily terrorise the largest city. A flock of them will cause a national emergency and any government will immediately take drastic steps to kill or capture them if they are loose.<br>If a corrupt government, then capture is a priority as they produce Dreamshit to feed their young - a very powerful drug.</td></tr></table>

[Susano]

Dang it... I was going to build one of these....

My impression was they were stronger and tougher... 30 STR, 30 BODY, 75% Damage Reduction. I mean, not even the Weaver could kill one... and the stunted one took hours to die -- after they dropped a ton or more of gravel on it!

[Curufea]

I take it you've got up to them then :)

I wanted to do this one first, to spark interest in the books and the genre....

Anyhow, I made it not that overly powerful because it's really meant for an heroic setting. I think it'd give superheroes a tough time - but because only normal people faced it, it'd be a tremendous monster...

But you may be right. This is, after all, the first time I've tried turning a book character into Hero. So I don't have as much experience....

I do like my Aura of Nightmares though :)

[edit] - Okay I've changed it now...

[Susano]

Finished books 1 & 2, and await 3 to come out in softback.

Found the link between PERDIDIO STREET STATION and THE SCAR (ahh... that's where Bellis Coldwine comes from!). Found it interesting that Isaac is a portly, black man with a beard. I kept trying to picture who would play him in the movie version.

Does he ever re-appear?

I also find it interesting we still have no idea what a hochi looks like, other than covered in spines...

Slake Moths have to be some of the nastiest things ever dreamed up for a novel. Larger than a man, far stronger, and far harder to kill. I think their wings are Mental Paralysis myself. The Mind Control you used isn't powerful enough for the instant "freeze" effect the wings have. But I like the other powers -- work well to represent how the creatures operate.

Oh, and I loved the idea that there was something that preyed on Slake Moths... And that something is far to dangerous to consider messing with.

And the Weaver is really, really weird. I started reading his (it's?) lines out loud to get the right effect and understanding.

[Curufea]

There's a brief encounter with an Hotchi near the begining of the third book, Iron Council. I think it is riding a bird of some sort from memory. They are kind of an anthropomorphised hedgehog.

Most of the characters (if not all) never appear in the other books, except as mentions. Spiral Jacobs and Toro from the third book have a brief mention in Perdido as well...

Oh, and the Construct Council is mentioned in the third book as well.

Brian Blessed would be good for Isaac (IMHO), or possibly a very grizzled Robbie Coltrane...

I like how in one of his interviews, China goes on about the Monsters, and how he likes them - and it's just that publishers insist he builds a story around them before he can get them published :)

I like the sheer frontier-quality of the setting. Everything is unknown and dangerous....

I also like the Mayor and the Ambassador of Hell in Perdido - I'd like to know how their relationship works...

The concept of the Weaver is very cool. And I don't think I'll ever attempt the stats for them - they're really "GM plot device" because they are so alien.

[Curufea]

Just found out that he's won the Arthur C. Clarke Award again this year (this time for Iron Council) ... congrats!

http://www.appomattox.demon.co.uk/acca/winners.htm

[Savinien]

I'm reading the first book now and got it at the library.

I hope you haven't given up on the conversions.

[Susano]

I need to order IRON COUNCIL now that it's out in softback.

[Curufea]

Sorry, since then - Western Shores has kind of taken over, now that I'm actually GMing again. Oodles of background material and world design to do..

Also recently sidetracked into making steampunk papermodels for a free website :)
(on a side note - someone has been hacking the site - http://www.paperworlds.com which gets me really irritated)

However - I will get back to it when I have less other distractions - and if anyone wants to do their own content or conversions, I'm happy to host it and give credit.

[Savinien]

Finished the first book.

Interesting and a good read.

[Susano]

Finished the first book.

Interesting and a good read.

75% through IRON COUNCIL.

Whew... it's really an odd read.

[Curufea]

It really is more of a political manifesto than a standard quest adventure :)

I really think his style is similar to William Gibson at times, or other writers of cyberpunk genre.

[Susano]

I really think his style is similar to William Gibson at times, or other writers of cyberpunk genre.

Funny, I thought the same thing!

[Savinien]

I haven't read Gibson, yet. I might take a quick break for Half-Blood Prince... Jump back into the 2nd New Crobuzon novel... Then Gibson?

[Curufea]

Gibson is, to me, half way between Mieville and Terry Dowling (Wormwood)...

But William Gibson is definitely a classic writer - being on the forefront of the cyberpunk movement. It is from his works than many of the cyberpunk roleplaying games come.

[Savinien]

I haven't read Dowling either. The name reminds me of Planetary, though!

I have The Scar and have started reading it.

[Curufea]

Wormwood is the most jargon-laden, unexpositionable and weirdest book I've read so far. I loved it :)

But I should point out - it's science fiction, rather than fantasy.

[Savinien]

The difference between sci-fi and Fantasy is an ill-defined line.

I finished The Scar and ordered 'Iron Council'.

China certainly has some original concepts.

[Susano]

The difference between sci-fi and Fantasy is an ill-defined line.

I finished The Scar and ordered 'Iron Council'.

China certainly has some original concepts.

That he does. However, I will admit, I wasn't impressed with Iron Council the same way I was with the first two. It seemed to meander for more than it needed to and lacked a strong ending -- it just sorted of (ahem) ran out of steam. :winkgrin:

[bcholmes]

Wow. Great collection.

China's a fascinating guy. I got to hear him at a convention a few years ago. I've only ever read _Perdido Street Station_, though.