Wicked Words 1 PDF

A MAGAZINE FOR THE DISCRIMINATING GAMER
MARCH 20, 2014
John wick Presents

Magazine
Welcome Aboard!
Hello and welcome to
Wicked Words Magazine. Our
goal (and by our, I mean,
my) is to provide players and
game masters tools that
enhance your gaming
experience.
When Im sitting in the
GMs chair, I want to invoke
emotion out of my players. I
want them to feel what their
characters feel. In order to do
that, you cant play fair. Youve
got to play dirty. This magazine
will help you do that.
Each issue has a number of
regular features well be
switching around. In this, the
first WWM, we have two of our
standard features: GM Advice
and a systemless genre-specific
adventure.
We will have other features
in the future, including guest
writers, system-specific
adventures and advice as well
as some John Wick Presents
material.
This time around, we have
a short essay on Killing
Characters, starting on Page 2.
Then, a nasty little
adventure called Who Killed
Lord Davenport, starting on
page 6.
Our third presentation is
the first chapter from the
forthcoming Houses of the
Blooded: Slumming Sourcebook.
Its got a ton of information on
playing unblooded ven. If you
dont own a copy of HotB, dont
worry, you can get it from this

link.
http://
rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/
61061/Houses-of-the-Blooded
Ive set it up as a Pay What
You Want product, so
download it for free if you like,
then if you enjoy it, drop us a
few pennies for our effort, eh?
Hope you enjoy the issue.
Please let us know!
Take care and KEEP
GAMING!
Wicked Words
Magazine Issue #1,
Volume #1
Wicked Words Magazine is
published by John Wick
Presents, LLC and is and
2014 by John Wick. Logo by
Jessica Kauspedas.
You can find out more at
www.johnwickpresents.com.
This Magazine is made
possible by pledges made by
contributors via
www.patreon.com.
As always, we want to thank
all those who helped us reach
our goals and hope that if you
find this magazine useful, youll
spread the word. Thank you, and
lets get on with the show!
CONTACT US!
Email: johnjwick@gmail.com
Website:
johnwickpresents.com
Facebook: facebook.com/
johnwickpresents
Twitter: @wickedthought
THIS ISSUE!
Page 2: Play Dirty: Killing
Characters
Page 5: Who Killed Lord
Davenport?
Page 15: Houses of the
Blooded: Slumming (Chapter
1)
PAGE 1
MARCH 20, 2014
Play Dirty:
Killing Characters
In this installment of Play Dirty, our editor-in-chief takes a look at just when you do and do not
kill a players character.
As usual, he has an opinion on the subject and he isnt subtle about it.
One of the questions I get

asked a lot in GM Advice
Seminars is the one of PC
mortality.
Since Im known for running
games like Call of Cthulhu, folks
assume I play fast and furious
with my PCs lives. But the fact
of the matter is, I often surprise
folks when asked, When is it
okay to kill a character?
My answer is simple.
Dont.
I mean it. Just dont.
Killing a character is what
professional wrestlers call
cheap heat. Its easy. As the
GM, you can kill characters with
ease. A meteor falls from the sky
and whacks you on the head.
How hard is that?
I mean, youd be a jerk for
doing that, but you can still say,
Im the GM and thats what
happens. But theres an implicit
promise between the players and
the GM.
Im your friend. Im looking
out for you. I may be the
antagonist in this relationship,
but Im here to help you tell a
story with your character. Trust
me.
Thats the promise. Its a
sacred promise. Something that
should never be broken.
Of course, you know what
they say about things that
shouldnt be broken
***
Jessica Kauspedas as Beryl Tal and me holding up a sign.

Itll make sense later.
PAGE 2

A while ago, my buddy Jess Heinig and I
worked on 3rd Edition Chill. The game itself has
yet to see the light of day (but were hoping!) but
Jess came up with a brilliant mechanic for the
game. He called it dire peril.
Dire peril is a response to a question about
character mortality in a horror game like Chill.
Theres an implied promise in most roleplaying
games: the GM is your friend and hes not out to
get you. Even when Im running games, the
players know that even though Im running all the
antagonists, Im still a collaborator. Im still their
friend. Im not out to kill them. Why? Because a
characters death shouldnt be random. It should
have meaning.
Imagine a kobold killing Conan with a lucky
shot (Twenty! Critical hit!). Or Elric failing to
detect a trap and dying from the poison needle. Or
Raistlin failing his saving throw and getting
burned to a crisp by a wayward fireball. As stupid
and ridiculous as that sounds, thats exactly what
happens in so many roleplaying games. A failed
saving throw, a missed Perception check, a
random knife hit when the character had only a
few hit points left. These kinds of deaths are
meaningless. Worse, they are the very definition of
absurd.
When we were designing 7th Sea at AEG, this
thought was dominant in my head. Like Samuel L.
Jackson, I did not want our heroes going out like
some punk. So, we created a rule that said a
character could not die unless certain conditions
applied. We took that implied promise and we
made a rule out of it. Dont worry, we said. Your
character is a hero and his death will have
meaning.
Now enter Jess and dire peril.
This is the exact opposite of what 7th Sea
promised. Dire peril means, this is some stupid
crap your character is about to pull and he could
die for it.
In other words, dire peril notifies the players
that real danger is afoot. Watch your step.
Dire peril only exists because of the implied
promise. Using dire peril became a thing for both
Jess and I. He uses it in his Dying Kingdoms
games. I use it for just about everything. And
when it works it stops the players in their
tracks. Let me show you how.
***
Ive used dire peril many times in the past but
the two times it was most effective was during a
Vampire game and during a Houses of the Blooded
live action game.
MARCH 20, 2014
Friends of mine asked me to run Vampire to

help introduce two new players to roleplaying
games. I ran a trimmed down version of the game,
omitting most of the rules but keeping the rich
flavor. One of our players, my (now) brother-in-law
Nick asked if he could play a mage instead of a
vampire. I told him No.
Now, I know this violates the Just say yes
rule, but thats okay. Like killing characters, some
rules were meant to be broken. I refused Nicks
request because I knew later on in the game, Id
give him exactly what he wanted but not in the
way he wanted it.
I encouraged Nick to play a sorcerera kind of
lesser spell-caster with strict powers that were
still magical in nature but did not have the full
fledged reality-altering power of a true mage. He
created his character and played him for about six
sessions. Thats when I sprung the surprise on
him.
Nicks character was approached by a real
mage who informed him that Nicks magical
conman was nearly ready to become a mage
himself. But this would present a problem. As
soon as his avatar awoke, (translation: he
becomes a mage character), reality would notice
and immediately try to kill him. He would be
attacked by all sides. The whole world would, in
fact, become so antagonistic, that even crossing
the street would be a deadly exercise.
I told Nick that for this entire session, the
Promise (mentioned above) was null and void. I
was going to do my best to kill his character.
Then, I took a mage character sheet from my
pouch and showed it to Nick. But if you make
it if you survive this session you can trade in
your sorcerer character sheet for this one.
I then looked at the other players and told
them, If you try to protect Nick, if you get in the
way, youll be collateral damage.
The rest of the game was a race. They tried to
find a hole in the wall to dig in and hide. That
didnt help. Vampires found them.
They tried leaving the city. That didnt help.
Werewolves found them.
They tried hiding in plain sight, standing on
street corners. That didnt help them, either.
Vampire hunters came looking for Nicks friends
and, somehow, all their crossbow bolts and fire
bombs seemed to find Nick instead.
They ran and they hid and they persisted. And
Nicks friends stuck by him through all of it. They
never gave up on him. They protected him even
after I told them that theyd be nothing more than
collateral damage. True grit.
PAGE 3
MARCH 20, 2014
The tension was so thick, they were watching

every roll of the dice, leaning in close, sweating on
their brows. Usually, I have very few rolls during a
game. But that night, I made them roll for
everything. I even invoked the critical fumble rules
something I never dojust to make them sweat
a little more.
At the end of the night, Nicks sorcerer was
still alive and I gave him the mage character
sheet. He was smiling. And thats an
accomplishment. There are times I swear that
Nick can make The Dude look tense.
(If you havent seen from The Big Lebowski
and have no idea what Im talking about, fix that
problem as soon as you can.)
Nick earned that character sheet. And, if given
the opportunity, I would have killed his character.
Not because Im a jerk, but because I made a
different kind of promise.
played less combat oriented characters in the past

and she made Beryl just as deadly as they come.
Beryl also had a particular attitude about
sorcery. She killed sorcerers. In the world of
Houses of the Blooded, sorcery is illegal (a law
most ven ignore in the same way we ignore speed
limits) and Beryl made sure that law was
enforced even if it was by her own hand.
She was the bodyguard of another character
in the game, a fellow by the name of Caliban Ru.
Calibans player, my buddy Ben, plays him as the
ven equivalent of Iago from Othello. All the players
know Caliban is the villain but the characters do
not. The characters trust Caliban. Especially Beryl
Tal. Which made her discovery of his many, many
sorcerous deeds all that more painful.
Word got out that Beryl had discovered
Caliban was a sorcerer. I made sure everybody
knew. I also warned them that both Caliban and
Beryl would be at the next party.
Jessica waited until the game was already a
Ill kill you if I can.
couple of hours in before making her dramatic
appearance. And when she did, I was behind her
holding up a banner.
The sincerity of that statement means a lot.
And it should not be used lightly. Nor should it be
It said, in big letters, DIRE PERIL.
used too often. In the entire run of that game, I
As she walked through the room, I watched
used it once. And I meant it. But Nick made it out
alive. His friends took heavy damage for him. Used the players reactions. Some of them backed away,
fear in their eyes. Beryl approached them anyway
sparingly, it can change the entire course of a
asking if the had seen Caliban. Their stuttering
game.
responses were worth the two bucks I shelled out
***
for the poster board I held above Jessicas head.
The second example comes from the Houses of
When a few got in her way, she cut them
the Blooded live action game I run here in
down. Later, Jessica told me that those same
Phoenix. The game not only has the implicit
players e-mailed her before the game, asking if
promise behind it but also an explicit rule. Your
they could get injured by Beryl to add to the
character cannot die without your permission.
scene.
That goes to the Friendly Game rule I talk about
Beryl didnt kill anyone that night, but that
elsewhere in this book.
fact didnt matter. The players believed it. Thats
But I also explained dire peril to my players. I what counts.
told them about the rule when they decided they
wanted to explore a ruin for artifacts.
You are poorly equipped for such a chore, I
Play Dirty
told them. And if you go down there, Im invoking
dire peril. A couple new players asked what I
Play Dirty was the most
meant. I told them. The entire party quickly
controversial column in
decided against that course of action.
Pyramid Magazine history and
But dire peril does not only lurk outside the
remains a keystone of GM
ballrooms and secret libraries of ven society.
Advice.
Sometimes it crashes the party wearing a red
You can get your own copy
dress.
of
the
collected columns (and
One of the more feared characters in the game
bonus
stuff) at DrivethruRPG:
was Beryl Tal (played by the lovely and talented
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/
Jessica Kauspedas). Beryl was a kind of reaction
product/85816/Play-Dirty
to previous HotB games she played in. She wanted
to make a duelist. A deadly character. She had
PAGE 4
MARCH 20, 2014
Who Killed Lord Davenport?

While written for Wicked Fantasy, you can use this little steaming tea pot of noble intrigue in just
about any fantasy game.
You can also use it with the forthcoming Divine Right setting from JWP...
In the postscript of his novel, The Name of the
Rose, Umberto Eco suggests the greatest mystery
novel would end with the reader discovering that
he was the murderer.
As soon as I read that, I said to myself, That
can only happen in a roleplaying game.
And thus, this adventure.
The answer to the question, Who Killed Lord
Davenport? is that the PCs are responsible for his
death. They werent conscious when it happened,
nor was it of their own will. They were pawns in
an elaborate plan to execute our titular character.
But how? you may ask. Easy. With magic.
In Medias Res
Its a Latin phrase translating as, In the
middle of things. It means, Beginning a story in
the mid-point. And thats the trick were using
here. The story of Lord Davenports murder
begins at the beginning of what most consider
the second act of a mystery novel or play. The
murder has occurred and the detective must
solve it.
Unfortunately for our heroes, they are both
the murderers and the detectives. Theyve been
framed for a killing. Blood on their hands, no
less. And before the hangmans noose goes
around their necks and theyre kicking at the
sky, they must discover who did this to them
and why.
A Bit of History
Someone placed a spell on the tabards the

Courage wore on the evening in particular and
that spell compelled our heroes to assassinate
Lord Davenport when he was alone with them.
During the attack, Davenport injured one of the
heroes and ripped the tabard on another. That
second action broke the spell and the entire group
awoke to find Lord Davenport dead at their feet,
their blood on his hands.
They look around with no memory of where
they are or why they are there. They have no idea
what has occurred in the last 24 hours. And now,
theres a knocking on the door...
Whats a Courage?
In Wicked Fantasy, a Courage is a group
of adventurers who hire themselves out to
nobles, villages, caravans, rich merchants, etc.
to protect and guard those individuals from
danger.
Its a time-honored tradition in the Reign of
Men, one that is taken sincerely and with great
responsibility. Typically, a Courage wears the
colors of their sponsor and carries their flag,
showing who they represent.
Are there evil and corrupt Courages? Yes,
just as there are evil and corrupt men. But for
the most part, a Courage dedicates itself to
protecting those who cannot protect
themselves and avenging the unjust fallen.
Dramatis Personae
Lord Davenports seneschal hired the

Lets take a look at the people involved in Lord
adventurers as a Courage to protect him against
dangers. He knows many are trying to assassinate Davenports life and who may be a suspect in his
death.
him to take his title and his lands, and he hoped
this band of adventurers would protect him. He
was wrong.
PAGE 5
MARCH 20, 2014
Oh, by the way, theyre all suspects. In fact,

Ive given each of them a motive to arrange for
Davenports death. You get to decide which one is
guilty and play from there.
Oh, one last thing... if you decide on a suspect
and your group comes up with a better answer,
feel free to switch in medias res. I designed the
adventure to work that way.
Lets start with the victim, shall we?
And, for two years, she has kept her romance

with Lazinjus a secret. That all changed a week
ago.
While Vannel discovered her infidelity nearly
six months prior, he kept the knowledge to
himself. He did not want to confront his wife and
hoped her indulgence would fade just as quickly
as it began. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Finally, a week ago, he told her that he knew
of her infidelity and asked her to cease. She
refused, saying that it caused no harm. Vannel
Vannel Bajin, Lord Davenport
already had heirs (two daughters and a son) and
Role: Victim
he had no right to interfere with her happiness.
Vannel Bajin has a thick white beard, no hair
Vannel considered her argument carefully,
on his head a long scar that goes from the nape of then shook his head. No, he said. End it with
his neck all the way across his right eye. He wears the wizard or I will.
an eyepatch. If asked, he gladly tells of the time he
Once Lord Davenport said those words, he
and his fellows in his fathers Courage slew a
was
a marked man.
band of raiding ogres. The last one nearly got
me, he says, touching the patch and smiling.
If Lady Davenport Killed Lord Davenport
But I got him first.
the wizard concocted a spell that would
Bajin is a good man; too good for those who
coerce his bodyguards into murdering him. That
surround him. He has few ambitions other than
makes Lazinjus an accomplice to the crime.
protecting his family and the town of Davenport.
If accused, she will sell out Lazinjus, claiming
His castle is as modest as he is and when he
that he convinced her to go along with the plan
laughs, every corner of the castle can hear it.
using the same magic he used on the bodyguards.
Hes dead now, so he doesnt laugh anymore.
Samaja Bajin, Lady Davenport

Role: Wife
Motive: Divorce
Lady Davenport is a beautiful woman with
long golden hair, a charming smile and eyes so
blue, they shine in the darkness. She has also
been cheating on her husband for two years with
Lazinjus, the wizard who lives in town (more on
him later).
Samaja came to Davenport Castle with high
hopes. She knew her husband would not be a
cruel manhis reputation proceeded himbut
she did not count on him being well, so boring.
Samaja grew up reading stories of handsome
rakes and gentleman pirates and hoped to find a
man with at least some edge in his voice. But
Vannel had nothing of the sort. Even when she
lost her temper at him, he spoke calmly and
softly, calming her temper.
When she met Lazinjus, she fell for him quick.
He was precisely the kind of man she was hoping
to find. He had a roguish grin and when he spoke,
his flirtations hinted of dangerous pleasures. She
was his the moment they met.
Lazinjus, The Wizard

Role: Town wizard
Motive: Fear of shame and punishment
Lazinjus is more than handsome. He has the
kind of features youd find on the hero in a ladys
pillow book. His rakish smile, his curly black hair,
his well-manicured beard and his dark eyes
women find themselves drawn to him knowing
hes trouble. Maybe that is part of his lure.
Lazinjus is also an incredibly talented wizard,
which raises the question, What is he doing out
here in the middle of nowhere serving a minor
noble?
That smile, that charm and those eyes got
Lazinjus in trouble with the wrong people.
Specifically, the head of the Wizards Guild did not
like the way his wife was looking at the young
wizard. He liked the way she invited Lazinjus into
her bed chambers even less. And so, the wizard
sent the young man out here, to serve Lord
Davenport, far from the City of Ajun where he
came from.
Once he got here, he set up shop assisting the
town and the castle with their magical needs. He
thought he had drowned his past, leaving it
behind him for good. One look into Lady
Davenports eyes, however, and all his bad habits
PAGE 6

came swimming back to the surface. Their affair
lasted a year and a half before Lord Davenport
discovered it, but Lazinjus and Lady Davenport
knew no better. Only last week did Davenport
reveal this knowledge and the two lovers have
been reeling since.
Lazinjus knows that another scandal like this
will not only cause him to lose his position in
Davenport Town, but may also lose his
membership in the Wizards Guild. He cant let
that happen. He just cant
If Lazinjus Killed Lord Davenport
he did it without Lady Davenports
knowledge. He has to play a delicate game here,
because he loves Lady Davenport and if she
discovered his treachery, not only would he lose
her, she would report him to the Wizards Guild
and hed lose everything.
Elwyn Bajin
Role: Davenports Daughter
Motive: Love of Beduvyn Hallin
Elwyn Bajin is the eldest daughter of Lord and
Lady Davenport and the presumed heir. She has
been trained since she was young for this
MARCH 20, 2014
responsibility and undertook it with seriousness

and sincerity.
She is almost the spitting image of her mother;
the only difference being her fathers wide smile.
She is not graceful, but moves with a purpose.
She cut her hair short to show her dedication to
her role. When her mother arranged for suitors,
she was a part of making those decisions, and has
yet to find a man she considers worthy of her
hand.
Part of the reason for that last part is because
Elwyn is secretly in love with another woman: the
daughter of Davenports most dangerous ally,
Antonius Hallin the Lord of Palvin.
Lord Palvin is a known villain who has enough
power to maintain his position. But he is a known
buffoon and braggart regarded by Davenport as a
fool. (More on him in a moment.)
Elwyn met Lord Palvins daughter, Beduvyn,
when the two were children. They grew to be fast
friends regardless of Lady and Lord Davenports
concerns. The two girls were like sisters seen
through a mirror. One was blonde and practical
while the other was raven-haired and indulgent.
Their illicit affair began many years ago when
the two were caught in a barn during a rainstorm.
PAGE 7

The moment was perfect. Friendship and
sisterhood transformed into love.
When Davenport discovered their true
relationship, he forbid Elwyn from ever seeing
Beduvyn privately again. The two of them wrote
letters, maintaining their relationship, even
though many of them have been intercepted and
destroyed. They manage private meetings when
they can, but otherwise, theirs is a forbidden love.
Elwyn wants no husband. All she wants is
Beduvyn. And shes willing to do anything to get
what she wants.
If Elwyn Bajin murdered Lord Davenport
she did so out of love. When her father
discovered the two girls together, he showed a
rage Elwyn had never seen before. Perhaps his
anger was powered by discovering his own wifes
betrayal. Who can say? All Elwyn knows is that
she was her father frightened her for the first
time. Whenever she even dares mention the House
of Palvin, she can see his face turn red and his
eyes fill with anger. That fear has brought her to
this moment. She wants Beduvyn. And she
arranges for her fathers murder so she can be
with her true love.
MARCH 20, 2014
He came to Davenport Castle with a plan. He

knows all the Castles secrets and everyones
motives. All he has to do is find someone to put
the knife into the Lords throat, and then, he can
put his own pawn on Davenports throne.
If Lord Palvin Killed Lord Davenport
he either provided the tabards or knew
about them and encouraged their use. The first
way is easiest, but the second method keeps his
hands clean of the actual murder.
Beduvyn Hallin
Role: Daughter of Lord Palvin

Motive: Framing her father
Beduvyn is everything her father wanted. He
made sure of that. She is a raven-haired beauty
who moves like a velvet shadow. Her voice is low
and dark and hints of secrets. She knows exactly
how to make both men and women do what her
father wants.
But what she wants is Davenports oldest
daughter, Elwyn. The one thing she cant have.
The two have carried out a secret love affair for
years, but when Davenport discovered their tryst,
he put an end to it.
Antonius Hallin, Lord Palvin
Surprisingly, Beduvyn doesnt hate Davenport
Role: Neighbor
for ending the affair. She understands the
decision completely. It is her fathers fault the two
Motive: Ambition
cannot be together.
Lord Palvin has long, silver-blond hair, sharp
Beduvyn knows her reputation. She knows
features and an annoying laugh that makes
what others whisper about her just before and
fingers on chalkboards sound like angelic choirs.
after she enters a room. And she knows it all has
He is not only a wicked, treacherous and
to do with the creature her father turned her into.
deceitful man, he is also a secret student of
She wants to punish her father and to be free
magic. His fathers reputation kept him out of the
of his leash. But in order to do that, he has to die.
Wizards Guild, and so, his father arranged for
clandestine lessons. The boy proved a natural and And what better way than to execute a conspiracy
that stinks of him.
has been using wizardry ever since.
If Beduvyn killed Lord Davenport...
He puts himself across as a simple, ambitious
man with little or no wit or cunning. Nothing
... she makes it look like her father is to
could be further from the truth. He openly
blame. Shes arranged all of this -- the invasion,
threatens those who offend him, promising eternal the murder, all of it -- to make her father look like
hatred and quick revenge and his ruse works on
the guilty culprit. As soon as everyone turns to
most, winning a dismissive attitude from his
the obvious choice, she will sell him out. Shell
enemies. But then, years later, when they are
even cut his throat herself if she has to.
underground and his pawn sits on their throne,
At least, thats what she tells herself. In fact,
he quietly laughs to himself while he dances on
Beduvyn is terrified of her father and will never
their graves.
move against him directly. Thats why she needed
Palvin has a network of nobles who all owe
this plan. But if shes ever put in direct conflict
him favors for the blood on their hands. He keeps with her father, her fear will crumble her resolve.
his thralls in constant debt, and if they ever show
The only thing that may be stronger than that
any sign of rebellion, he replaces them, quickly
fear is her love for Elwyn. But well never know
and quietly.
that unless it happens.
PAGE 8
MARCH 20, 2014
is too much of a coward to try taking them. But

now, with the silent support of Lord Palvin, he
Role: Son of Lord Palvin
just may get them.
Motive: Accidental
Lord Palvin promised Amavale chaos when he
launched his sneak attack against Davenport
Telluris is the second-born child in the
Davenport household. He is tall for his age, plain- Castle. Palvin arranged for the tabards and made
looking and plain-spoken. He has been a failure at sure they were in place by the time Amavales
armies arrived.
everything in his life save one profession:
soldiering.
If Avinus Tengel killed Lord Davenport...
Telluris is not clever or witty, but he is also
Tengel is probably a bad candidate for
not dumb. He is a simple man who understands
murderer. Hes outside the castle and just isnt
simple things. Above all, he loves his family
clever enough to pull something like this off. Hes
without question. He does not know about his
a better candidate for lackey.
sisters secret affair, but if he did, he would not
Someone in the Castle tipped off Tengel,
care. But when his father voices his disapproval,
letting him know when the murder would occur,
thats when Telluris starts to worry. He almost
giving him an advantage.
always sides with his father, but if he sees Lord
Davenport standing between his sister and her
Janna Ren, The Assassin
happiness... his heart will be torn asunder with
uncertainty.
Role: Provocateur
Telluris has also spent a great deal of time
Motive: Money
preparing for the inevitable attack from his
Down in the dungeon of Castle Davenport is
fathers neighbor, Lord Palvin. He knows Palvin
wants his fathers lands and also knows the villain Janna Ren. Shes young and beautiful with black
has a plan. Thats why Telluris has a plan to deal hair peppered with crimson. She also has a black
eye and a broken arm. Shes currently sitting in
with the problem.
her cell, awaiting Davenports judgment.
If Telluris killed Lord Davenport
A few days ago, Janna arrived to assassinate
it was a tragic mistake. He hired the town
Lord Davenport. She failed. The question on
wizard, Lazinjus, to create the tabards and
everyones mind is, Who sent her? No matter
assumed these guards would be assigned to
how much they ask, Janna isnt talking. Her
protect Lord Palvin. Unfortunately, the tabards got silence is the only reason shes still alive.
mixed up and they were given to his fathers
Davenport wants to know who sent her and killing
bodyguards instead.
Janna will not answer that question.
Telluris is so overcome with shame and grief,
Someone had to deliver the tabards. That
he cannot even deal with the fact that his actions someone was Janna Ran. Her whole attempt at
have killed his father. Instead, he will divert his
killing Davenport was a ruse to distract from her
focus to the incoming invasion. In fact, his sorrow real goal: delivering the tabards. Now, shes just
is so complete, he has forced the memory to the
waiting in the dungeon. Waiting for the plan to
back of his brain. In complete denial, he honestly finalize so she can get out of here and get paid.
does not remember asking Lazinjus to create the
tabards. But Lazinjus remembers
Telluris Bajin
Avinus Tengen, Lord Amavale

Role: Neighbor of Davenport Castle and CoConspirator
Motive: Acquisition of Davenport Castle
Standing a hand and a half over most men,
his shaved head is covered in scars. His ice cold
eyes reflect nothing back at you but frigid hatred.
He knows only one thing: murder. Only his own
cowardice holds him back.
Lord Amavale is a scoundrel and a villain and
his hatred of Lord Davenport is well-known. For
many years, he has wanted Davenports lands but
Castle Davenport
Castle Davenport is your typical medieval

keep. It includes the following structures. This
section also includes some important servants you
may want to know about before running the
adventure.
The Moat
A standard moat, circling the castle. A
drawbridge stands high, preventing outsiders from
entering. Nothing of interest here.
PAGE 9

The Wall
The wall surrounding the castle is strong and
guarded by men with spears and bows. Each wall
has a catapult and a three man team manning it.
The Gatehouse
The gatehouse has the controls for the iron
gate that prevents enemies from entering. Also,
the controls for the drawbridge are here. Usually,
two guards stand at the ready.
The Four Towers

Each corner of the castle has a tower. At the
top of the tower on guards looking out for trouble.
Each tower contains three floors with private
chambers within. Lord and Lady Davenport share
one chamber and their child has one of her own.
The rest of the chambers are for guests.
The Main Courtyard

After entering the castle from the gate house,
you find yourself in the main courtyard. Within
the courtyard is a common well (filled with fresh
water) and lots of empty space for a marketplace
when the villagers show up with wares.
The Great Hall

The largest part of the main building inside
the walls, the great hall is the place Lord
Davenport holds social events. This is also where
the Davenport Throne rests. The room has large,
long wooden tables and dozens of chairs for
guests. It also has access to the kitchens, the
servants quarters and the guard house.
MARCH 20, 2014
The master of the great hall is a man named

Aldren. He is a young man perhaps younger
than most men in his position but he inherited
the job from his father who recently passed away.
He is capable, reliable and a good judge of
character, despite his age. He runs the great hall
and the majority of the servants except for the
kitchen. Thats the cook (who youll learn about
below). Aldren is a good ally for the heroes. He
believes them if they tell him their tale (Never
trust magic, hell say) and will assist them unless
they treat him poorly.
The Servants Quarters

The servants quarters are actually part of the
great hall. They are above the meeting hall itself
and kept warm by common fireplaces.
The servants of Castle Davenport are generally
happy with their lot. The Lord treats them fairly
and evenly. He seldom displays anger if when
he is displeased and does not punish the
servants himself. Instead, he leaves that to the
cook and the headman (Bea and Aldren).
Lady Davenport, on the other hand, is a
different matter. The servants fear her greatly,
knowing she has a quick temper and a quick
hand. Her personal maids often wear make up to
hide bruises on their faces and hands. Lady
Davenport goes through maids on a regular basis,
firing them then hiring another from the local
village. She hasnt always been this way.
Something has changed recently that has spurred
her angry humor.
The Guard House

This is where the guards sleep. It is located
outside the main hall, to the east. It houses two
The Problem of Evil

Many fantasy roleplaying games provide the players with means--both magical and
otherwise--to discern truth from lies. They also have ways to tell if a character is good or evil.
With a murder mystery, this is a problem and you and I have to address it.
The simplest way is to have the Castle fitted with runes that prevent such magic. Davenport
hates any magic that may affect his mind, and thus, he forbids its use in his Castle. In other
words, no magic that reads a persons intent works within the walls of Davenport Castle.
As soon as you say that, clever players may retort, Well, well just take them outside the
Castle.
Not unless you want to deal with an army of a few thousand men throwing heavy stones, fire
and diseased cows at the walls, you dont.
So, the players are stuck with the evidence at hand, their instincts and perhaps a couple of
lucky rolls. It's up to them to figure out who set them up, not their magic items and spells.
PAGE 10

hundred guards. Currently, Lord Davenport has
three hundred guards, sleeping in shifts.
The Captain of the Guard is a woman named
Dannah. She has silver hair, ice blue eyes and a
round face. She was raised in the castle by her
father who was a lieutenant under the old
Captain. Everyone expected Dannahs father to
take the position, but he was killed defending the
castle from a siege. Dannah rose through the
ranks, earned Davenports trust and is now in
command of his small army. She wears necklace
around her neck that holds a picture of her father.
Lady Davenport gave her that necklace when she
became the Captain of the Guard.
Dannah loves Lady Davenport and knows of
her affair. She is more loyal to the Lady than
anyone else in the Castle, and when Lord
Davenport is killed, she will protect Lady
Davenport from all dangers real and imagined.
The Stable
The stables are located outside and almost
behind the great hall. The stable master is an old,
reliable man with a limp named Jasson. Hes
been with the family when Davenports father
was the Lord of the Castle.
MARCH 20, 2014
person here (see Janna Ren, above). The prison

has six cells, all of which are large and cold and
damp. And you dont even want to know about the
rats.
Whats Next?
Alfred Hitchcock once said that you dont need
plot if youve got great characters; great
characters will make plot for you.
Youve got a castle full of people who dont
trust each other. People who are ambitious, loyal
and treacherous. Youve got a siege on the outside
of the castle and a bunch of ruthless folks on the
inside.
Do we really need a plot?
The key to running this adventure is the key
to any adventure: listen to your players.
Specifically, listen to their theories about who
might be the villain here. Ive often said that
genius is not coming up with great ideas, but
The Kitchen & Larder

A woman named Bea runs the kitchen. Shes
a short, grey woman as slender as a knitting
needle and she suffers no fools. The kitchen
belongs to her and no-one else. While she comes
across as a short woman with a short temper,
she has a soft heart that she allows none to see.
She saves scraps and gives them to the local
poor. She has kept many stray dogs (called Beas
Beasts by the other servants) because she cant
turn away hungry eyes. The other servants know
she has a soft side, and while they may joke
about it privately, they generally keep it to
themselves. The other servants know she is hard
but fair and do not want to get on her bad side.
Bea is also in charge of the larder. She gives
Aldren a list of what she needs and he goes down
to the local village to acquire it. While the two
have a seemingly cold relationship, there is a
deep bond between them. Aldren earned her
trust a while ago when he took a scolding for one
of her own mistakes. Since then, she has grown
to love the young boy and sees him as a beloved
nephew.
The Prison
Far below the castle is the prison. Other than
the two stationed guards, there is only one
PAGE 11
MARCH 20, 2014
recognizing great ideas, regardless of who thinks

of them.
Your players theories might be better than the
ones you come up with yourself. If they have a
great idea, use it. Throw your idea out the window
and use theirs.
Pay attention to their thought processes and
learn from them. When they pick allies, listen to
why they pick allies. When they choose to make
enemies, listen to why they choose those people
as enemies.
For example, if they dont trust Lady
Denmark, find out why. If you want them to
distrust another NPC, use that knowledge to
maneuver them into the position you want.
Another point: the army outside is not waiting
for the heroes to solve this puzzle. In fact, while
the heroes try to make sense of the situation, Lord
Palvins army throws stones and fire over and
against the wall. Soldiers throw up ladders.
If the heroes play it right, they may win
enough trust to help throw back the invading
army. Then, they can get to the business of who
murdered Davenport.
Finale
Lastly, WKLD? works best as part of a
campaign rather than a one-shot. Players tend to
think short-term when they play one-shots,
disregarding the long-term consequences of their
actions.
I suggest introducing them to Lord Davenport
early, earning his trust. Make him an NPC they
love. He admires their courage and rewards them
with compliments and gifts. After all, theres a
reason he trusts them as personal guard.
Then, when your players truly love him, thats
the time to kill him off. Get that emotional kick of
not only losing Davenport, but being the hands
that took his life.
Their relationships with the other members of
the Castle will be impacted by Davenports death.
If they befriend the Captain of the Guard or Lady
Davenport, the blood on their hands will be hard
to clean.
PAGE 12
MARCH 20, 2014
Houses of the Blooded:
Slumming
Beginning a new series, this section includes the first chapter of the Houses of the Blooded:
Slumming sourcebook. Subsequent episodes will include more chapters.
If you dont have a copy of HotB, you can get the PDF (pay what you want) at this link:
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/61061/Houses-of-the-Blooded
When we think of the unblooded, what comes
to mind? Nameless faces, smudged with dirt and
grime. Hapless and helpless. In the core book, the
unblooded are little more than numbers on your
sheet. Rank 1 Valet, or Rank 1 Personal
Guard.
But the unblooded had lives of their own and
those lives were represented in the literature of
the ven. Chiefly, the unblooded provided moral
comic relief for the extreme tragedies and
machinations of their masters. Often, the
unblooded spoke directly to the audience,
expressing concern, doubt and other inner
emotions their masters were too proud to reveal.
But the unblooded represented in the operas
of the nobility probably had little to do with the
ven actually living in the streets of the city. In
fact, we know the two had little to do with each
other. An actual ven peasantscraping by with
little food, less shelter, and even less hope
wouldnt recognize the unblooded dancing and
singing on an opera stage.
As I said in the core book, while the nobles
watched their operas in grand houses, the
peasants had a different kind of entertainment.
That would be the theater. Plays were
tremendously popular in the cities. In fact, there
were more theater houses in a ven city than
taverns, inns or any other kind of building. A
theater at every corner.
But even in the gutters of the city, the
unblooded were not completely immune to the
influence of the nobility. Two noble Housestheir
heraldry veiled in the Senatestruggled a secret
war to control the cities. We will take a look at
these Houses, their motives, machinations and
their Virtues.
Just as the core book looked at the ven
through the lens of opera, my goal with this book
a document dedicated to the urban venlooks
at both the Blooded and the unblooded through

the lens of the theater.
In addition to the numerous plays I scoured
for information, two additional sources were
essential for this book. The first was an
anonymous street rebel and the second was a
street guard. Both provided incredible (if
sometimes contradictory) insight to the lives and
routines and troubles of the unblooded.
The
Tale of Genisshiej
If a City were a player in an Opera or a play,
its primary motivation would be commerce.

Buying, selling, trading. And stealing. A
secondary, but still important, motivation.
Commerce and crime. These are the things that
make Cities.
The unblooded scholar Genisshiej wrote
many tracts on life in the City and the plight of
the unblooded. His name itself is a bit of a puzzle.
It means, House of the Hidden Power or House
on the Low Hill, but the phrasing is in the vulgar
tongue of the peasants, not the High Tongue of
the nobles.
I pulled most of my sources for Slumming
from my copy of the book, The City. Its a
collection of pamphlets from Genisshiej, although
whether or not a single author is responsible for
all the writings is up for debate. I, for one, would
like to believe a single ven wrote all the
pamphlets, but evidence is against me. Most
likely, the pseudonym was a cover for many
writers objecting to the treatment of the
unblooded.
However, this is my game, so I can do what I
want and I like Genisshiej as a single ven trying
to win liberty for the unblooded. And so, I make
him an NPC your ven can run into.
PAGE 13

Three Things True About Genisshiej
He is unblooded.
He reveres no Suaven.
His generosity is dangerous.
Using Genisshiej
Your ven may never see him, but theyll see his
pamphlets everywhere. His outrage is contagious,
especially among the unblooded. They are right
to call us dirt, he writes. Dirt under our
fingernails. Dirt in our clothes. Dirt in our hair.
We are children of the soil. Children of dirt. And
then comes the dangerous talk. And what we are,
they once were. Still are. Slaves. They are slaves,
dressing in the masters clothes. Its no wonder
the Blooded want him dead. But, hes avoided
them so far. His words plastered in taverns, on
the walls of the market and in the hands of
unblooded and Blooded alike. In the hands of the
Blooded, the pages are read with laughter and
fear. In the hands of the unblooded, the pages are
weapons, waiting to be drawn.
Genisshiej and his writings can be weapons in
your hands, too. Perhaps some of the Blooded are
sympathetic to his cause. Perhaps some of them
may even go so far as to protect him. Of course, if
his writings cause an uproar in a nobles Domain,
he may become a target. After all, isnt what he
doing worthy of Revenge? When the pain has the
beauty of poetry. And isnt the pain he inflicts on
the Blooded a kind of poetry? Vrente. Rightful
Revenge.
Tomyns
Journal
My second source came from a street guard
named Tomyn. His journal documented his time

on the streets including his participation on a war
between two veiled Houses. It wasnt until the eve
of his untimely death that he knew what kind of
game he had been brought into, but even so, his
commentary and insight were invaluable to the
completion of this book.
Everything we know about the actual
structure and architecture of the ven cities comes
from Tomyns journal. The young man was
fascinated by the citys strange stones. All
illustrations in this book come directly from his
journals.
Using Tomyn
Tomyn is an unblooded member of the city
watch. Here are the three things true about him:
He is unblooded
MARCH 20, 2014
He does his best to make things right

He keeps a sketch pad to draw the citys
architecture
Under
the Shadow
For the unblooded, life in Shanri is hard. No
protection from the Law. Powerful nobles

demanding your time and services. That
humiliating Please dont kill me greeting. Orks,
bandits, thieves and immoral magistrates.
But in a world like theirs, even the peasants
have secrets.
This chapter looks at the lives of the
unblooded from two perspectives. First, life on the
manor: a glimpse at the servants of a noble house.
Second, life on the street: the urban mess that
makes Shanris economy work.
Oh, yes. The ven have an economy. But dont
tell the nobles. Theyll just screw it up.
Life On The Manor

In the manor, servants perform daily duties so
their noble masters can fix their minds on more
important pursuits: lust, treachery and ambition.
A ven noble with a full staff may have dozens
even as many as one hundredservants on his
manor, but to a noble, all of these many people
simply make up your single Staff Vassal. Lets
take a look at a full house and the busy life the
servants live.
Comic Relief And Insight

Often, the serving staff provides a rare source
of comic relief in pillow books and opera. The
servants are portrayed as wise fools, being able
to see simple solutions to a nobles complex
problems, if only he would listen. If only he would
listen
Servants also provide exposition, giving the
reader information he needs to understand the
deeper context of the work. Because servants are
born, live, die and inherit the castle, they have a
better understanding of the lands history, often
seeing historical parallels the nobles are too busy
to see.
Organization
More often than not, a servants life begins on
the manor. Most servants are born into their duty,
inheriting it from their parents. Born to a butler,
destined to become a footman or a groom. Born to
a cook, destined to become a maid or a valet.
PAGE 14

If another noble takes over the castle, he
usually keeps the servants of that castle, linking
the entire staff to the land in a deeper, more
profound way. While nobles come and go, the staff
remains. Bound to the land.
Serving in the house is much like serving in
the military. A chain of command that must be
obeyed. Servants who break that chain are
severely punished, and thanks to the rapid
healing of the ven biology, by severe I mean,
beaten within an inch of your life.
The hierarchy begins with the Seneschal.
Usually Blooded (but not always), the most
trusted servant. Lets begin with him.
The Seneschal
The Seneschal is the true head of the
household. All servants report to him. While he is
usually not involved in the day-to-day affairs of
the house, the higher servants report to him and
not the noble master. Going over the Seneschals
head is a major mistake that usually leads to
immediate dismissal.
The Seneschal is not only in charge of all the
servants, but the Master of the Road, the Spy
Network and any other vassals his master may
command. Because his job requires so much
attention, a wise Seneschal allocates his authority
to lesser figures. The Master of the Road in charge
of the Roadmen, the Master Spy in charge of the
Spy Network, etc.
Only one servant can speak directly to the
master of the house and thats the servant who is
in charge of the castles serving staff. That would
be one of the most popular characters in
pillowbooks and plays, well-known to all readers
of ven fiction: the ever-popular butler.
Vente Vente.
The proper way for a peasant to greet one of
the Blooded is with the phrase, Vente vente. This
means, Please do not kill me. He may also bow
or kneel, depending on the circumstance.
Peasants bow to show respect but kneel out of
fear. If he fears for his life, the ven kneels because
killing him requires additional effort on the part of
the offended noble.
A servant who has a more personal
relationship with their noble masters may only
give one vente upon meeting his lord. If a noble
allows such an immodest greeting, it is a sign of
respect: obviously, this is a valuable servant who
may be regarded as a useful tool.
MARCH 20, 2014
The Butler
The butler sits directly in command of the
castles serving staff. All maids and valets report
to him. As mentioned above, the position of butler
is often hereditary: a family serving in the same
house for generations. A butlers duties are to
maintain the consistency of the house as well as
its security. He receives the houses payment from
the Seneschal and pays all the servants under
him. He is often the only servant allowed to speak
directly to the master of the house (an exception
to the Seneschal rule above).
Conflict between the Seneschal and the butler
is a common theme in pillow books. While the
butler is a hereditary role, the Seneschal is not.
The butler knows the lands, the villages, the
servants. The Seneschal does not. The Seneschal
has the authority, but the butler has the
knowledge. Also, the Seneschal is (more often
than not) a Blooded character while the Butler is
unblooded. However, the master of the house
probably grew up with the butler and hired the
Seneschal. This wonderful and complicated
relationship provides many opportunities for
comedy. Use them well.
The Cook
The cook is in charge of the kitchens and
larder (where the food is stored). Anyone who
enters the kitchen knows the cook is in charge. No
one has more authority than the cook while
standing in the kitchen: not the upstairs maids,
not the stable hands and not the butler. The
cooks authority ends at the kitchen doors, but
while inside his own domain, he is the master.
Conflict between the cook and other servants is
common in ven literature with the cook often
providing comic relief from the more stiff servant
characters. Conflict between the butler and the
cook can be a bit clich if handled poorly, but
when done right, often leads to comedy at its best.
The Valet/Ladys Maid

Other than the butler, the one servant a noble
trusts most is his valet or her ladys maid. These
characters are responsible for the appearance of
the noble wherever he or she goes. Clothes, hair,
makeup, whatever. If theres a stain on a shoe, the
maid/valet is responsible.
But the maid/valet character is more than
just a groom: they often serve as spies and
romantic go-betweens for the lord or lady in
question. They arrange for secret romantic
encounters and keep their eyes and ears open for
gossip among the servants. So many scenes of the
servants griping about their conditions, then the
PAGE 15
MARCH 20, 2014
ladys maid appears, and you hear nothing but

songs of praise. Everyone knows the game.
Everyone knows how to play. Because the valet/
ladys maid is so involved in the nobles romantic
affairs, they are often portrayed as the romantic
servant, wooing the servants of other households
(and sometimes their own) in an attempt to mimic
the romantic games of the nobles often to comic
affect.
An important note: while the valet/maid is
under the butlers authority, this servant usually
has a very close relationship with the noble.
Because of their direct contact with the lord/lady,
the valet/maid is sometimes seen as a rival for the
butler and often ignores the butlers authority or
chafes against it.
the castle, providing flowers and shrubbery and

other ornaments of beauty to titillate and
fascinate the eyes that humble his skills by
observing them. And thats usually how the
groundskeeper speaks: in long, long sentences
that extend the grammar just as far as it will go
while maintaining meaning and testing the
patience of those who tickle his ear with questions
about his daily duties, responsibilities and
pleasures.
Stable Staff
The Housekeeper
If a noble has stablesand what noble

doesnt?he has a staff of servants making sure
his horses are healthy and looking well. The
groom is in charge of stables with a number of
stable boys working under his supervision. The
groom is often portrayed as a gruff, no nonsense
fellow who speaks his mind no matter who
happens to hear him. The phrase If you ask me
often proceeds anything the groom is about to
utter, followed with but nobody here listens to
me
While the butler is usually a male character,

his dramatic foil is the highest ranking woman in
the manor: the housekeeper. Exacting, demanding
and uncompromising, the housekeeper is usually
an older woman who has lived with the family for
some time, knowing all the secrets of the house.
She seems to have a supernatural talent for
getting others to tell her the truth. One look from
her evil eye and they break down, spilling tears
and secrets. While the butler is the chief servant,
the housekeeper has a special relationship with
the lady of the house: the lady has the unique
authority to hire and fire the housekeeper,
regardless of the butlers wishes. All the maids are
at her disposal. Because of her unique position,
she and the butler often clash in the most
comedic way. Most ven playwrights use the butler
The Footman
One of the most popular servants in ven

literature, the footman is a character who serves
as a kind of jack-of-all trades. He waits on tables,
answers the door, drives the carriage and
performs just about any task required by the
Maids
butler. He is the butlers go to guy, filling any role
the butler needs. A capable footman is a value in
The ven had many kinds of maids, all
any household and is often portrayed as a young
performing specific duties. The valet/ladys maid
man (or woman) with extraordinary promise. He is
characters are sometimes referred to as the
usually educated, a duelist, witty and charming,
upstairs staff. Meanwhile, the downstairs staff
but also humble, kind and generous. Its no
are the maids responsible for cleaning and
surprise that in most pillow books, the neglected
maintaining the library, study and other less
wife turns to the footman for comfort. In pillow
personal areas of the house. Maids polish the
books where the footman is the protagonist, we
brass, brush carpets, change the linens, dust
have two endings: tragic and romantic. In tragic
furniture, clean glass, polish wood, clean dishes
pillow books, the footman ends his life on the tip
and drinking glasses, air out rooms, wash the
of a jealous husbands sword. The romantic
dinge off walls, empty the trash, clean the
furniture, empty fireplaces and occasionally have version usually ends with the wife secretly
blooding the footman and the duel ending a bit
time for a romantic tryst with the footman. They
do not directly interact with the nobility (unless by differently
accident), giving a passing noble a quick bow,
Most footmen start out as pages: ambitious
lowering their eyes to avoid contact. The pillow
and promising peasants who prove their worth to
books often portray the maids as a gaggle of
a butler or groom and get taken on as a minor
gossips, providing exposition to downtimes,
hand in the household. They are not paid (except
giving the reader knowledge of what has happened perhaps fed table scraps by a sympathetic cook)
between chapters.
but serve for the chance to gain employment.
The Groundskeeper
Often portrayed as either an effete male or a
beautiful female, the groundskeeper enjoys the
responsibility of maintaining the grounds around
PAGE 16

and the housekeeper as surrogates for the
conflicts of the lord and lady of the manor. Both
trying to exert their authority, both trying to cover
the mistakes of their masters, and both trying
desperately not to fall in love.
The Governess
If the lord and lady of the house have children,
the governess is responsible for their education.
Of all the servants in the house, perhaps the
governess who is most trusted. While we usually
think of a strict nanny in this role, the ven had a
much different image.
Because ven culture is a bee hive of espionage,
treason and murder, the governess takes on quite
a distinctive role in the household. She trains the
children in the subtle arts, instructing them in
the ways of self-protection and awareness. She
works with the Swordsman to teach them selfdefense. She works with the Apothecary to teach
them how to identify poisons. She works with the
Master of the Road so the children know the Great
Enemy. Her charge is to protect the children and
she does so with fervor and extreme loyalty. She is
a capable woman: capable with steel, subtlety and
unforgiving wrath for those who seek to harm her
charges.
The Snooty Servant

You are a Baron, visiting the home of a Duke.
The servants are casual with their service to you.
They dont bow very low. They dont say Please
dont kill me. They snicker or giggle when you
make a mistake.
Go ahead. Kill one of them. One of the Dukes
servants. See what happens.
The snooty servant is another common fixture
in ven literature. Yes, theyre dirt, but they are the
Dukes dirt. And you should be so lucky to get the
Dukes dirt on your shoes.
The Servant In Literature & History

Lets talk about a servants life for a moment.
Devoted to their Blooded masters, they are more
than just scenery. More than just furniture with
lines. Servants provide the playwright (and you,
the Narrator) with powerful tools.
Servants in ven literature do more than just
toil for their masters: they serve the audience as
well. They are the narrators, delivering valuable
exposition to the audience, filling in the little
details, giving nuance to the action on the stage.
They also provide the comic relief, giving the
audience a chance to laugh in the midst of blood
and tragedy.
MARCH 20, 2014
Think of the butler mumbling something

under his breath as he turns from his lady, off to
fill her ludicrous request. Mumbling that only you
and Ithe audiencecan hear. In theater, the
servants are the only characters allowed to break
the fourth wall (thats talk to the audience for all
you non-theater types). They comment on
everything. They turn right to the audience and
make soliloquies that only the audience can hear.
The serving class serves the audience: they
say what the audience wants to say. Occasionally,
they get to say it directly to the nobles, although
thats a very rare occurrence.
From the diaries weve been able to find, we
know that many nobles confided in their maids
and valets for advice: an outsiders view clear of
the minutia and dilemmas of the nobles troubling
existence. Often, a maid or valet serves as the
nobles conscience, giving him fair-minded
counsel. Of course, a more villainous character
would have a likewise suitable servant: perhaps
even more devious and underhanded than his
master.
The ven often portray peasantsin contrast to
their noble mastersas sensible and reasonable.
Love brings them only joy with none of its
uncertainty. While this little observation may be
in direct contradiction to the truthnobody can
really figure out loveit makes for an interesting
insight into the ven character. They assumed
peasants held a secret wisdom on matters of the
heart.
And while they do turn to their maids and
valets for such advice, knowing how much trouble
Romance causes among themselves, they
discourage it in their servants. That much trouble
in their own household is something most nobles
can live without. Therefore, no hanky panky in the
pantry.
Of course, telling a venBlooded or unblooded
that they cant do something is just a long way
round way telling them to do it. Romances
flourished in the servants quarters: a part of the
house few nobles ever visit. With the references
available, its easy to say that, in most cases,
peasants caught in Romantic trysts are punished
harshly. Whipped and/or branded. Disfigured.
Usually across the face to dissuade any further
Romances.
At the same time, operas and plays are filled
with peasants participating in the Game of Love.
The peasant characters from Opera are often
happy and in love while their masters are haunted
and troubled. In fact, when portrayed in ven
literature, the unblooded show remarkable insight
PAGE 17
MARCH 20, 2014
in the ways of Romance; more than their noble

counterparts, thats for sure.
But servants are always working. Always
working. Always working. They may sing songs
and they may gossip and they may dally here and
there, but never forget, a house servants job is to
make everything look perfect. Spot on, spit spot.
Not that nobles ever notice or careunless
something is wrong, of coursebut the butler
notices. And hell drag you by the ear down to the
kitchen and put your hands in scalding water if
you mess up.
Your hands will heal by morning, after all.
Just in time for you to get back to work.
way because they are not convenient to the ven.

No nearby villages or castles. No trade routes. No
common ground. If such things dont exist, Cities
dont exist.
Like the castles and puzzle houses of the
country lords, ven Cities are built from the ruins
of the unspeakable ones. Once great and proud
architectural marvels, the Cities of the foul past
now house those who were once servants and
are servants again. The walls are too tall to climb.
The doors reach high above their heads. Children
playing in their parents clothes, the ven
populated the Cities out of necessity: to protect
themselves from orks and the Storm. Armies of
the old Ages marched against the Cities. Ven with
the Courage to look into the dark places.
Removing all dangers (well, most dangers), the ven
slowly began occupying the ruins. Then, they
slowly transformed the ruins to their own needs.
Ancient ruined Cities crammed with bodies.
Mobs stalk the Streets, armed with knives and
Inside the Cities, the streets filled with
clubs, protecting those who are willing to pay,
workers, merchants, farmers and thieves.
terrorizing those who dont. Merchants claiming
Barbers, butchers, bakers, glassblowers,
noble title act as if the Blood flows through their
blacksmiths, silversmiths, tradesmen of all kinds.
veins. And in the darkest shadows, remnants of
The ven mastered the old architecture of their
the unspeakable ones wait for a moment of
masters, making the City their own.
weakness.
And among them all, half-hidden, are the
This is life on the Streets. Brutal, bloody and
Veiled. Those with the Blood who wear the black.
short, but better than living in the country, toiling Shamed and ostracized, they are the secret
from sunrise to sundown, ever watchful for the
masters of the City. Or so they think
threat of orks. And a ven can go far in the City if
Lets look at the real sources of power in the
he has the Blood to carry him.
City. The uvshanna, the shuvalay, and the
This part of the chapter looks at ven life on the Futhasen.
Streets. Well talk about the Cities themselves, the
merchant barons who rule them, and the gangs
Uvshana: The Merchant Barons
trying to wrest control from those who would call
themselves Blooded.
The term uvshana, merchant Baron, does
not get used often in pillow books. Most Blooded
ven found the title disgusting. Nevertheless, the
The City
term did exist, giving an uncouth title to the class
Ruined monuments to the unspeakable ones.
of unblooded buying titles from the noble class.
Doorways taller than the tallest ven. Stairs so
The uvshana rose during the first days of the
large, the old and young cannot use them. Wide
Age
of Clandestine Blood. Nobles desperate for
broadways and avenues. Buildings made from
resources
and loyal vassals began giving away
stone but not stone. Alleyways that end in walls.
titles in exchange for Goods, Resources and
Walls cutting across Streets. Stairways reaching
services. The more vassals they had under their
to rooftops, reaching a sudden end.
control, the higher a title they could claim.
And you could swear the City itself is moving.
The Blooded were reckless with their granting
A giant puzzle house full of secrets, keys and
of titles. They Law didnt forbid giving titles to the
traps. Thats a ven City.
unblooded and the noblity assumed such a title
would not protect the proud dirt should a Blooded
Baron come knocking with his personal guard and
From The Ruins
Cities grow in places where commerce is easy. secret army.
The Blooded went on making uvshana at
Rivers, sea shores, localized areas. Almost all ven
Cities are built on the ruins of the sorcerer-kings. every opportunity, assuming they would never
There are many ruins in Shanri that lay dormant, really be a bother. That all changed when the first
uvshana showed up at the Senate expecting a
filled with spectres and orks. They remain that
Life on the Streets
PAGE 18

seat. This threw the entire building into disarray.
The quiet assumption was the titles the Blooded
gave out were illusions. Unreal. But a cunning
uvshannaYtll Butchergot himself a copy of
the Law and studied it carefully.
As I said above, he found no Law
differentiating between Blooded and unblooded
title. The Right of Revenge, the Right to Weapons,
the Right to Own Land. Most importantly, Ytll
demonstrated that because he could walk into the
Senate and say the land was his, it belonged to
him (invoking the Third Law). And because he was
a Baron, the First Law (You are All Bound to the
Law) applied to the Senate as well as himself.
A Baron is a Baron, even if he has no Blood.
Ytll Butchers boldness changed ven Law forever
and earned him a position in the House of the
Wolf (who appreciated such a crafty use of hidden
advantage).
Now, the uvshana are protected by the Law.
All the Rights granted to the Blooded are granted
to uvshana. They own land. They carry Swords.
They declare Revenge. But theres a problem. They
are still dirt. Unblooded.
However, because of their significant influence
and power, the uvshana all but rule the Cities of
Shanri. Permitted to carry weapons, using wealth
to buy personal guard and bribe officials, they are
big fish in a small pond.
This is the new Blood.
At the time of which I write, the merchant
class of Shanri was making its rise. Armed with a
weapon the Blooded do not know or fail to
understand, their power is growing. And what
weapon might this be?
Currency.
Rending
MARCH 20, 2014
for seven Seasons of rice? Divvy that up into three

rendings: the original contract and two pieces,
each promising two Seasons of rice.
Each rending requires a signature from the
holder of the contract and exactly what the holder
of the rending can expect. 1 Season of stone. 2
Seasons of wine. Half a Season of herbs.
Now, wait a second. Half a Season?
Yes. Exactly. Rendings even went down as low
as a handful. Merchants kept specially made
bowls to measure out hands and bushels of
grain, herbs and other goods. See the nearby
sidebar for information on how many hands and
bushels make a Season. Now, these
measurements are still very rough. Dont expect
precision here.
Rendings change everything. They allow a level
of commerce unseen in Shanri. Theyre also a very
new concept, being used exclusively by the
unblooded, trading handfuls and bushels and
Seasons of goods and services.
There are some writings of the Blooded getting
wind of all this. The response is fairly typical.
How vulgar.
No Blooded would ever desecrate tradition by
tearing a contract. Might as well piss on a
Suavens altar. Tearing contracts? How obscene!
How profane!
No, a Blooded ven would never participate in
such a scurrilous act. At least, not yet.
GM Note: Using Renders

As a Narrator, I hate money. I mean, I hate it.
Players spending all their time counting the
money in their pockets. The more time they spend
bookkeeping, the less time they spend in ruins, on
the Streets and in rivals bedrooms. Counting,
counting, counting. It drives me mad. Thats why I
liked the ven so much. All the counting takes
place off-screen. Season Actions.
But putting money directly in the players
hands this is risky. Counting. Do we have
enough money to? questions annoy the hell out
of me, mainly because a characters lack of
equipment shouldnt be what hinders him. What
hinders him are his own choices, his own vows,
his own code of ethics. Not how much cash he has
in the bank.
Dont let money get in the way of a good story.
It started on the Streets. A merchant trying to

negotiate a trade of contracts, but finding himself
with a difficult problem: his contracts were too
rich. What he had was too valuable for what he
wanted to trade for. He had a contract for ten
Seasons of iron and needed a contract for seven
Seasons of grain. So, instead of taking a loss, he
tore a piece from his contract, wrote seven
Seasons on the fragment, signed it, and traded it
off.
The concept spread quickly among the
merchants of Shanri. They called it rending.
Ripping pieces off a contract, offering it in
exchange for other lesser favors. Got a contract for Becoming A Merchant
five Seasons of spices? Rend it into five pieces: one
Even in this culture of absolute power and
with the original signatures and text and four
absolute helplessness, there is a chance to move
pieces promising one Season each. Got a contract
PAGE 19

beyond your birth to something greater.
Merchants hold real power. Unblooded power.
Every Spring, poor families bring their
children to the market, line them up, and sell
them like cattle to the merchant Guilds. Children
are bought and sold on the Streets of the City.
Ten Seasons of wheat for this one. Five
Seasons of wine for that one. Ill give you seven
handfuls of pig meat for that one.
Children are valued for their Virtue. Strength,
Cunning, Courage. The Guilds value Virtue. They
need apprentices. And so, a child is sold to a
Guildthe Cooper Guild or the Bricklayer Guild
or the Mason Guild. The family goes home with
enough food to live for another year and the Guild
gets an apprentice.
Guilds: Cults Of Secret Knowledge

The Guilds are trade organizations. Think of
them as the precursors of modern day unions
mixed with a bit of secret society.
Think, for example, about your own trade.
Think about the secrets of your trade. Every trade
has them. For example, do you know how to
make a sweater? Could you, if I handed you the
right tools and materials, make a sweater? If you
can, then you have secret knowledge. Something
valuable. If you were a blacksmith, you would
know how to make horseshoes and nails, swords
and farming tools. And if you were a mason, youd
understand how to carve stone, mix mortar and
understand the mathematics to create a castle.
Secret knowledge.
Now, consider a culture where each trade had
such knowledge. Sure, in todays society, you
could just look things up on the internet, but
consider a less advanced culture. A world where
secrets arent just powerful; theyre sacrosanct. A
world where such knowledge has value.
I know how to turn sheeps wool into yarn and
how to turn that yarn into clothing. And if Im the
only person in my village who knows how to do
that, I have a valuable trade. I have secret
knowledge.
Now who are you going to share that secret
with? Just anybody? Hell, no. Youre going to
share it with someone who pays you for it. And
youre going to make sure nobody else gets those
secrets. The person you share it with is going to
pay for it and theyre going to swear to keep it.
Now were talking about the Guilds of Shanri.
Cults of secret knowledge.
When an apprentice joins a Guild, he
undergoes rituals of secrecy. He makes vows to
MARCH 20, 2014
So the city, shes all quiet. But not quiet

like a baby, more quiet like a spider. Theres
only one moon out tonight, and its in the sky
like a long, cold shiv, lookin for a mark. A
beggers night is what they calls it, cos only a
beggar be out on a night like this one. This
night, shes got the mercy of the grave.
Cobblestones, they make that noise when
feets walkin on em, and it echoes off the brick
walls and thick glass windows. Clip-clop,
clip-clop, thats the sound, only its whole lots
louder. Thats why some folks be wearin boots
with soft soles, sos they dont make that
sound. They wears coats and cloaks dyed
with black black inks from places that aint
here, and in them coats and cloaks is knives
thats hard to see but easy to reach. And these
be the folks were tellin stories about tonight.
And dont get attached to nobody. This is a
bloody one all right.
-- from The Streets
keep those secrets even under penalty of death.
He vows not to teach his secrets to anyone else
unless he is also a member of the Guild. And he
vows to protect the Guilds secrets even if that
means murder to do so.
Life Of A Guildsman
A guildsman (uvanna) undergoes these rituals.
He vows to keep what he learns a secret, to teach
what he learns to other guildsmen and to prevent
any unworthy ven from learning the guilds
secrets.
As an apprentice, he is taught the basics of
his trade. The most rudimentary secrets. These
prepare him for more advanced knowledge.
Generally, a Guild hires an apprentice when he is
still very young. Few apprentices are hired beyond
the age of nine. Get them when theyre young and
impressionable. Get them when they still fear
authority.
As an apprentice, he serves another
guildsman. He performs mundane tasks,
undertakes simple jobs. As a blacksmiths
apprentice, he learns how to stoke the furnace,
how to work the bellows and how to clean up the
shop. As one of his first tasks, he learns how to
make tools.
A guildsman remains an apprentice for about
five to six years. During that time, he slowly
learns how the shop works and how to perform
more advanced tasks. Then, when hes ready, he
PAGE 20

undertakes another ritual that reveals deeper
secrets of the trade. Now, hes a journeyman. He
has enough skills to represent the Guild. He goes
out on his journey, performing tasks for other
shop owners, learning as he goes. Each shop has
its own character, its own skills, and its own
secrets. He learns them all.
Then, when he is ready, he takes the final test.
The test that will make him a master of his trade.
He creates an object of true Beauty. Something
unseen before. Something that demonstrates the
knowledge and skills he acquired on his journey.
He makes his masterpiece.
His act of Beauty sits before the masters of his
trade. They judge it. If it is found to be worthy, he
is considered a master and given a shop of his
own. If not, he must continue on his journey,
serving other masters in their shops.
Once a master, the Guild assigns him a
territory where only he may practice his trade. A
blacksmith? No other blacksmith in his territory.
A glassier? No other glassier in his territory.
Sidebar: Thalla: A Firm Grip

The ven word is thalla and it literally means
firm grip. The word takes on many connotations
in the ven language. It is a noun, signifying an
agreement. We have made a firm grip here. It is
a verb, meaning to make such an agreement. Let
us grip firm on this, then. It is also an adjective
used when speaking of a ven who keeps his word.
He has a firm grip.
The opposite, shialla, means weak grip. And
yes, you can use it as a noun, a verb and an
adjective.
Rise Of The Merchant Class

Armed with solidarity, the Guilds gained
significant Strength in Shanris Cities. Then, with
a new weaponcurrencythat Strength doubled.
Merchants could negotiate deals the nobles would
never consider. Most noble contracts are written
with Blood, meaning they could not be changed
even if the two in agreement wanted to change it.
Merchants found a way to change and modify
contracts quickly and in the moment. Need one
Season of Stone to make a firm grip with a fellow?
Tear off a render.
Because of this versatility, the merchant class
made a quick rise to power in Shanri. At this time
in the game, however, they are still finding their
feet, still preparing for that rise. They are still
under the shadow of the Houses, still unblooded,
still dirt. Proud dirt, but dirt, nonetheless.
MARCH 20, 2014
It has just begun. A quick rise to power. And

we all know what follows...
Shuvalay: Street Gangs

At this time in ven history, the streets run
rampant with the worst kind of organized crime.
Street gangs control nearly every aspect of city
life. They provide protection from other street
gangs in exchange for almost free reign wherever
they go. They divide the cities into warring
neighborhoods, playing a game thats far from
invisible, and all too bloody.
For the unblooded, the choice of becoming a
professional criminal is far from the safest one.
The unblooded are not protected by the Law. No
Revenge. No ownership. An object cant own other
objects. As far as the Blooded are concerned,
stealing from a peasant isnt a crime unless it
upsets the Blooded who owns the peasant. Then,
youve caused Insult. And then, nothing can
protect you. Thus, being a criminal isnt just
robbing from dirt, but taking the chance you may
Insult one of the Blooded.
But this provides a unique environment for
the unblooded. Without the Law to protect them,
they have to find a way to protect themselves. In
ven history, this lead to the formation of street
gangs: the shuvalay (an individual member of the
gang is a shuval). Unblooded with enough muscle
to protect entire neighborhoods. Emulating the
system the nobility created themselves, the
peasantry turned to the strong for protection,
trading goods and services for iron and brute
force.
Most neighborhoods have their own shuvalay:
a group of ruffians who protect the residents and
shop owners from violence. The Dirty Skirts. The
Bloody Boots. The Cobblestone Boys. They walk
together, dress alike, share passwords and
handshakes, andwhen they went into battle
carried banners to declare themselves.
Who Am I Willing To Insult?

Any act on the street must be put into the
context of who am I willing to insult? Steal from
a merchant and you insult the street gang
protecting him. Dine and ditch on a tavern and
you insult the street gang protecting the tavern
keeper.
In exchange, of course, the gang providing
that protection can take any kind of liberty it
wants with the merchant and the tavern. They
can take merchandise, eat and drink for free, stay
there all night, beat up the staff. Anything they
want.
PAGE 21

Anything they want.
What is the owner going to do? Complain to
the street gang protecting him? They are the
street gang protecting him! Of course, if hes
unhappy, he can try to assist another ganggive
them some leverage for nosing in on his
protectors rackets if he has the courage to do
so.
The gangs own neighborhoods. A small gang
has enough strength to hold a single
neighborhood while larger and more powerful
gangs expand their influence. If a gang gets strong
enough, it can take over a neighborhood owned by
another gang. Either the usurped gang now pays
tribute to the usurpers or they get wiped out.
Their choice. Although, sometimes, there is no
choice. Only blood.
Sidenote: Illtavna
MARCH 20, 2014
structure. Well start at the bottom and make our

way to the top.
Gupa
At the bottom of the gang are gupa. The word
best translates as punks. Peasants who want to
join a gang but have not been officially accepted.
These petty criminals are the chattel of the
criminal world. Cheap and expendable. The gang
owes them nothing, but whenever they perform
any illegal activity, the gupa must pay up to the
gang that controls their neighborhood.
Its a dangerous place to be. Without any
protection, gupa operate at the whim of the gangs.
If they offend someone, theyll most likely end up
dead. Maimed at least. But if they play their cards
right, show the proper respect and pay off
whenever they score, they might get recognized by
a gang. And when that happens, a whole new
world opens up.
It means never back

down. To survive in the
Salu
City, a ven has to carry
himself a certain way. Never
Are Uvshana Part
The salu are official members of
showing weakness. Never
gangs. The word is slang for
of a House?
showing doubt. You could
saluvaria which means to salute.
Yes and no.
also call it bravado.
The salu are the engine that drives
A House can recognize
If you have illtavna, you
criminal activity on Shanris streets.
an uvshana, but the
dont apologize for anything.
Recognized and protected by a gang,
merchant baron cannot call
You never make mistakes.
the salu earn a special kind of
himself Blooded. They
You have a justification for
respect from the unblooded. They
cannot go around saying, I
all your actions. You never
take what they want when they want
am Baron Tantos Yvarai,
back down.
it, providing protection for local
Blooded
of
the
Fox.
Instead
markets and merchants. Protection
Questioning another
they
say,
I
am
uvshana
from what? From the rival gangs, of
vens illtavna is more than
Tantos, under the shadow
course.
just questioning his honor;
of
the
Fox.
its questioning his
There is no single caricature for a
competence. His Strength,
salu. Some are ruthless: wrecking
his Courage his virtue.
life wherever they go, abusing the
Street gangs value their members based on their
authority that comes with their titles. Others are
ability to defend their own turf and to give virtue
more circumspect about their role in society:
to the gang. Its more than just questioning a
seeing themselves as what we might recognize as
vens honor. Its questioning his usefulness to the police officers. They protect the people against the
gang. And thats the worst kind of Insult. The kind worst part of society. Of course, these noble salu
that can only be answered with blood.
are still criminals: they rob, steal, hijack and thug
all day long, but they choose to do because they
feel their actions protect their neighborhoods from
Organization
criminal elements even worse than themselves.
Blooded or unblooded, the ven are slaves to
Becoming a salu is no small affair. Typically, a
tradition and ritual.
gupa has to prove his worth to a gang before they
Street gangs have their own traditions and
adopt him, making them one of their own. When
rituals. Unfortunately, we only have secondary
hes proven his worth, the gupa is told hes
sources on those rituals and traditions. We do
allowed to wear the gangs tattoo: a symbol of
know a bitthanks to Tomyns journaland well status on the streets. Once he has the tattoo
be using that information here.
usually worn in a prominent manner, such as the
cheek or forehead or chest or back of the hand
Gangs had their own hierarchies: leaders,
underlings, hangers on, etc. Lets look at a gangs
PAGE 22
MARCH 20, 2014
all know him for what he is: a ven with the

backing of a gang.
doesnt belong and she shrieks. You laugh and

head out to your next stop.
On the streets, the farmers are trading their
Vapa
wares. You get an apple here, a peach there, some
wine and cheese. Nobody says anything. Everyone
Vapa is a complicated word. The literal
knows you protect the neighborhood from the
translation is older brother. The connotation of
Rotten Bunks just down the road and they are
that wordlike most ven wordscarries two
grateful. Grateful enough to keep their heads
meanings. The first is the one who watches out
down and their voices soft.
for me. Older siblings take care of their younger
siblings, after all. The second connotation is the
When you hit the blacksmith, thats when
one I must watch out for. Older siblings take care business starts picking up. He calls you by your
of their younger siblings, after all.
name and you smile and shake his hand. Strong
Vapa are the heads of gangs: those who gather grip here. You chat a little about trivial things.
You look at the knives hes got set out. You could
enough salu around them to earn the title. In
use one of those, you tell him. He tells you that
order to claim the title of vapa, a salu must also
ones already spoken for, but if you need it take
be able to claim a neighborhood as his own. If he
proves his strength, the next tier in the hierarchy it. Ill just make another. So, you take the knife
and he grins and laughs. Then, he has his
of criminals recognizes him as what he is. Vapa.
apprentice come out and opens the box. A box full
For a vapa, the day to day stresses of running of renders.
a street gang are not as glamorous as one might
You go through the box looking at the names.
think. The politics of rival gangs, reluctant
You
see a few you recognize. Good names to own
merchants and the occasional
favors from. You take the ones you
interference from the
want and close the box. The
ignorant, effete and selfblacksmith, he asks you not to
righteous noble class make
Ven
Measurements
take all the good ones and you use
the job more than a handful
your new knife on his face. He
of trouble. And if the truth be
stops smiling and laughing. His
known: the vapa arent the
100 hands = 1 Season
son drops the box and it smashes
ones who are really in charge.
20 hands = 1 bushel
on the floor, spreading rendings
No, the vapa answer to a
everywhere. You tell the kid to pick
5 bushels = 1 Season
higher authority. The
them up. Tell him, You dont want
authority that recognizes
to be the one who ruins your
them for their loyalty,
fathers business.
usefulness and ingenuity. A
shadow tier of the criminal hierarchy. The
You go down to the side of the neighborhood
Futhasen.
where the doors are painted red and you meet
your friend with the mask. The one with the little
shrine to the slut suaven. And she does you real
Life In A Street Gang
good. You leave her something special: a rending
You wake up when you want. If your gang has with a name on it. A big name. She compliments
any clout, you are probably staying in the nicest
you on your generosity and skills.
rooms in an inn or tavern because the guy who
Later that night, when youve had too much to
owns the place owes you something. You wash up
drink and too much to eat, you and your gang are
if you likeand go downstairs. You get your
food for free. You drink heavy liquor for breakfast walking down a twisting alleyway. You arent
exactly sure where you are. Didnt this alley turn
as the rest of your gang shows up. Slowly. Oneleft? And behind you, theres a laugh. You turn
by-one. When you are all ready, you hit the
and see the Rotten Bunks. Theres more of them
neighborhood.
than there used to be. Theyre all carrying sticks
This particular day is the day you make
and knives. Cowards wont even carry swords
collections. You hit the butcher and he gives you
when they know there arent any Blooded around.
free meat. The best cuts of the day. When you hit
You pull your knives and sticks and the fight
the baker, he gives you hot bread with a smile on
begins.
But you dont make it to the end. Some
his face. You already warned him not to hide his
bastard
Bunk slams his stick between your eyes.
pretty daughter, so he makes sure she gives you
You
feel
something break in the middle of your
the bread. After you make an indecent proposal,
she tells you to wait a while while her father looks face and you fall down, blinded. You feel two
on nervously. You put your hand in a place it
PAGE 23

heavy hits on your head and thats the last thing
you ever feel.
Theater Gangs
On the streets of Shanris Cities, gangs are
everywhere. It seems every neighborhood has a
gang of its own. One particular kind of gang Id
like to mentionto demonstrate just how far this
wentis the theater gang. Before we go further
with that, let me explain a little bit about theater
life in Shanri.
Like I said above, theaters were everywhere in
the City. Likewise, the Streets were filled with
gangs of actors. Theater owners would hire a
particular gang of actors to perform specific plays.
Each gang had its own specialties and within each
gang, each actor had his famous roles.
Theater owners hire out a gang for a particular
amount of timeweeks or even months.
Competition between gangs and theaters is
bloody. The gangs sabotage performances of rival
gangs by gutting the actors. If you cant walk, you
cant get on stage. Performance cancelled. Why
dont you good folks come on over across the
street and see a real show?
This bloody part of ven theater
MARCH 20, 2014
that. The Futhasen marks those who answer

directly to him with a tattoo, identifying the
marked criminal as property. This belongs to
me. Of course, the identifying mark is also a
warning: Meddle with my property and Ill meddle
with you.
As the Law demands, the fallen blooded wear
black, but they wear it proud. Remember: as far
as the Blooded are concerned, under the black,
you have no legal protections. So, while you
enforce the Law, you are not protected by it. Most
Blooded ignore what the fallen blooded do as long
as they dont mess with their unshamed cousins.
They can beat up peasants all day long.
My Cousin
Perhaps it is something in the ven Blood that

demands it. Being surrounded by your family.
Isolated from their kin, the Futhasen (or simply
fsen) adopt new family members. nephews and
nieces to justify claiming Revenge. The unblooded
come to them hoping the fsen will adopt their
children, adding the child to the Bloodeds
family.
Ugtasen. Half-Blooded. Those who have
undergone the Ritual illegally. An irony,
considering the fact that all Rituals are illegal.
Fallen Blooded do not, as a rule, perform the
Futhasen: The Fallen Blooded
Blooding ritual on just anyone. Filling the streets
In the Great Game, there are winners and
with half-Bloods will get you killed. Like
losers. The winners take the spoils. The losers
everything in ven culture, the fsen keep it quiet.
take the black. Shunned and discarded. Rubbish. Unlawfully Blooding a peasant is cause for true
Refuse. The Fallen.
pain: Injury and Insult. Any of the Blooded can
Once a Blooded noble has lost his land, he has make a lawful claim. While Blooding a peasant
illegally does present dire consequences, it also
nowhere to go. His family and his friends must
allows the Fallen an opportunity to create
shun him as the Law commands. Nowhere to go.
powerful soldiers. Soldiers willing to serve his
Nowhere to go but the streets.
cause. Adopted into a Blooded family, these
These are the Futhasen. The Fallen Blooded.
cousins claim a different kind of protection.
The Master Criminals of Shanri. They rule the
Mess with me, you mess with my Blooded uncle.
gangs quietly. No-one even dares whisper their
A part of the fsens family. Not truly Blooded, but
names.
no longer unblooded.
Futhasen find their way to the City where they
rule like little gods. While shunned by elite
society, they are still protected by the Law.
Revenge, ownership, weapons. These things still
belong to them. Their Blooded status gives them
the protection of Law and their relationships with
the suaven gives them supernatural backup.
The Futhasen prefer to remain unseen,
relying on their reputations and sukatelstreet
namesto support their reputations. A sukatel is
a nickname the Fallen Blooded picks up. It is
usually something ambiguous or misleading. The
Judge, The Widow, or The Butcher. Something
ambiguous, misleading and melodramatic like
PAGE 24
Next Issue!
More Play Dirty!
Houses of the Blooded:
Slumming (Chapter 2)
A New RPG: The Story Engine!
See You Next Month!

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