Troll Lord Games

Penny-Whistle wrote:Bravo!

I love the setting you've created. This is going to be great.

Wellington is on the fire escape listening to every word coming out of 221B Baker Street. She has a stolen copy of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley in her messenger bag. She can't wait to read it to the rest of the gang later tonight. "I do so enjoy the novels Mr. M purchases. This one looks like it could make a stuffed bird laugh."

Holmes immediately realizes that Wellington is a young women and tells her so, but concedes that her disguise is very good.

"Your voice is good, but we need to work on your adam's apple or should I say, we need to give you one. And perhaps some larger gloves and some bigger shoes, I can help you there. I will send for you in the next day or so. I hope to rely on your anonymity to help me with a case I am working on. You will be well paid."

Holmes shakes hands with Wellington and says, "A little firmer on the grip next time . . and be careful my dear. My flat is watched constantly. When you leave, have a dejected look upon your face. If anyone approaches and speaks with you, tell them that you delivered a package and only received a very small tip from the landlady!"

Mrs. Hudson shows the young man to the door and give him a few twopence playing her part - as Wellington takes the coin and leaves by the back door with a scowl on his face, but beaming inside.

"Holmes immediately realizes that Wellington is a young women and tells her so, but concedes that her disguise is very good."

Wellington rolls her eyes in a manner most uncouth. "I suppose a disguise could come in handy one day, sir. But begging your indulgence I wear the trousers not because I want to be a boy but because they are much more practical for those times when a girl needs to shimmy up a fire escape or proceed down the boulevard with haste. In my line of work I never want my feet to trip over a caught skirt. Speaking of which ... Charlie asked me to tell you about some suspicious doings down at the dock. Seems a ship sailed in and the only cargo was a coffin. The authorities hired a bunch of wharf rats to unload and deliver it to a posh residence. Why didn't the sailors on board do that? Cause everyone on the ship was DEAD. And I PROMISE to return Mr. Mycroft's book before he even knows it went missing. HONEST." And with a cheeky wink the intrepid Wellington pockets the tip and leaves.

LOL!

And thanks Penny as you remind to tell everyone - that you will detail everything about your character and tell me how you happen to be in London. I'll leave it you as to how to want to associate with other member of the eventual party. You can contact Holmes directly or via a third person or note sent.

I'm using Holmes as a base to a degree but can easily allow the group to decide how they get together. Once the adventure starts, Holmes will mostly not be in the game.

I'm still waiting to see what classes Aergraith and Treebore choose so I can develop more things for the start.

Feel free to know or associate with any Victorian person real or literary as a beginning or introduction of your character.

Jack London's book about the East End of London.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_People_of_the_Abyss

Wish I could find a better image. Creepy cool cover artwork from the boxed set!

Love the pic of your character, Penny!

There is something macabre about about the Victorian era . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsYMD620-u4

That evening at the Cthulhu Club:

The party is seated in a semi- private room with a good view of the main dining area and entrance to the club.

And in a moment ~ Count Rhuvein, Lucy and Holmes enter the room having coming in from the kitchen led by Henri, the maitre d. He signals to the waiters who begin to pour the champagne.

Mycroft nods to a young man nearby who then walks into the private room while Mycroft says, “Ladies and gentlemen - allow me to introduce you to Mr. Jack London, he is the author that I mentioned earlier!”

The man nods and greets the party in a proper English accent with one or two slight Cockney notes in his speech. No one seems to notice except Holmes. The group briefly introduces themselves to their newly arrived diner guest. A friend of Mycroft almost always generates much interest.

“I say, your name is most fitting for a visitor to our great city!”, says Holmes.

“Yes sir, Mr. Holmes”, as he takes a sip of his champagne and smiles – “It is my nom de plume as most of you have surmised!”

“Your accent is very good, Sir! You are an American of course! West coast . . . hmm, San Francisco I should think!”

London says, “you astound me Sir! I’ve heard of your abilities and of course, your brother has told me all about you!”

Mycroft is smiling as he watches the exchange. It’s almost as though he loves testing his brother’s skill at deduction when he brings friend to dinner.

“Chinese Tongs!” says Lydia suddenly. “I’ve read about the problems in San Francisco’s Chinatown”

“Indeed” replies London. “The Tongs are in every major city including this one. The East End. I was just there yesterday enjoying a delicious Oriental meal. But I was more struck with the terrible conditions down there. I hope to write about it soon.”

Just then, Professor Moriarty enters the club with a beautiful women and nods to the private table of Holmes and his guests.

The discussion continues as the party enjoys the appetizers and champagne. In a few moments, Henri leads the waiters into the private dinning area and they begin serving the main course ~ American Broil. The claret: Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

He played a Stradivari.

As the party is enjoying their excellent supper, Watson sees a friend enter the club. He excuses himself and goes over to greet the man and his friends. Handshakes all around, and then Watson returns to the table.

“A friend Dr. Watson?” says Lucy as she pours more champagne into his glass.

“Thank you my dear! Yes indeed, friend and colleague. That’s the brilliant Dr. Jekyll!
Hmm . . . It seems he spends more time in his laboratory than in his office, lately ~ but tonight he certainly is lively and engaging. I’m glad of it.”

“I know him, Dr. Watson. I’ve seen him in Whitechapel and nearby in the Chinese district!", exclaims young Jack London.

“Why are you glad, John?” says Mycroft as he lights a thin small cigar.

“Well . . he has withdrawn somewhat from his excellent medical practice and is away from his office for weeks. Many of us know that he is in his lab. At one time, we thought perhaps he was researching and experimenting to create a vaccine or remedy for the many afflictions that are infecting our citizens these days. But now, we are all unsure about what he is up to.

After some more perfunctory chatter - Sir Henry rises and proposes a toast . . “to a great evening with beloved friends. I drink to your health!”

Holmes notices Moriarty leaving in haste.

All raise their glasses and drain them as the maitre d directs the waiters to refill everyone at the table.

Mycroft suddenly starts, and looks at the wall next to the table and then glances at his brother pointing to the wall and then to under the table.

“Everybody duck under the table quickly!!!” shouts Sherlock as he throws himself to the floor.

And everyone does dive for the floor, and then the wall explodes shooting shards, fire and metal fragments into the private dining area. The rest of the club is in chaos . . people screaming and running in different directions, while some patrons look around, drink up and then make their way to the coat room.

Holmes quickly moves out from under the debris to sit up and gesture to the doorman pointing his finger in the direction of the entrance door.

The doorman exits calmly and when outside uses hand cant to signal to the cab in the next lane to follow the one that just left with Moriarty and his guest.

The game is certainly afoot!

Rhuvein wrote:That evening at the Cthulhu Club:
snipped for space

The Opium Wars. It is insane how similar that time period is to ours. That war was so profitable for some families their fortunes remain immense. There are a lot of parallels between those wars and the Afghanistan/Iraq (Yemen, Somalia etc) invasion of our own time. Nothing new under the sun I guess. The academic Henry Giroux writes a lot about historical amnesia. As people we really do seem doomed to repeat our mistakes. Though 'mistakes' seems too soft a word since these things are orchestrated and not accidents. Perpetual war makes my inner Wellington very angry.

LOVED the Jekyll scene. You should be writing fiction full time. And coat rooms! I remember those.

Yes, I do enjoy the text as well... Not to mention nobody "...wasted them with their crossbow"!

GM Michael, who appreciates the more civilized demeanors

DMMike wrote:Yes, I do enjoy the text as well... Not to mention nobody "...wasted them with their crossbow"!

GM Michael, who appreciates the more civilized demeanors

Thank you, good sir!

Penny-Whistle wrote:The Opium Wars. It is insane how similar that time period is to ours. That war was so profitable for some families their fortunes remain immense. There are a lot of parallels between those wars and the Afghanistan/Iraq (Yemen, Somalia etc) invasion of our own time. Nothing new under the sun I guess. The academic Henry Giroux writes a lot about historical amnesia. As people we really do seem doomed to repeat our mistakes. Though 'mistakes' seems too soft a word since these things are orchestrated and not accidents. Perpetual war makes my inner Wellington very angry.

Indeed!

Penny-Whistle wrote:LOVED the Jekyll scene. You should be writing fiction full time.

Well thank you Ms. But I need an editor . . .

Oh, and hope you don't mind but Liz posted this thread over at the Victorious FB page to show 'actual play' as it were.

GM Michael, giving credit where its due!

DMMike wrote:Oh, and hope you don't mind but Liz posted this thread over at the Victorious FB page to show 'actual play' as it were.

GM Michael, giving credit where its due!

Yep, no problemo.

Heh, I have to get onto FB - I haven't gone online there for a long time.

From the London Chronicle ~ front page article:

Last year was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumours which agitated the maritime population and excited the public mind, even in the interior of continents, seafaring men were particularly excited. Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, both of Europe and America, naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several States on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter.

For some time past vessels had been met by "an enormous thing," a long object, spindle-shaped, occasionally phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale.

The facts relating to this apparition (entered in various log-books) agreed in most respects as to the shape of the object or creature in question, the untiring rapidity of its movements, its surprising power of locomotion, and the peculiar life with which it seemed endowed. If it was a whale, it surpassed in size all those hitherto classified in science. Taking into consideration the mean of observations made at divers times—rejecting the timid estimate of those who assigned to this object a length of two hundred feet, equally with the exaggerated opinions which set it down as a mile in width and three in length—we might fairly conclude that this mysterious being surpassed greatly all dimensions admitted by the learned ones of the day, if it existed at all. And that it DID exist was an undeniable fact; and, with that tendency which disposes the human mind in favour of the marvellous, we can understand the excitement produced in the entire world by this supernatural apparition. As to classing it in the list of fables, the idea was out of the question.

On the 20th of July, the steamer Governor Higginson, of the Calcutta and Burnach Steam Navigation Company, had met this moving mass five miles off the east coast of Australia. Captain Baker thought at first that he was in the presence of an unknown sandbank; he even prepared to determine its exact position when two columns of water, projected by the mysterious object, shot with a hissing noise a hundred and fifty feet up into the air. Now, unless the sandbank had been submitted to the intermittent eruption of a geyser, the Governor Higginson had to do neither more nor less than with an aquatic mammal, unknown till then, which threw up from its blow-holes columns of water mixed with air and vapour.

Similar facts were observed on the 23rd of July, in the Pacific Ocean, by the Columbus, of the West India and Pacific Steam Navigation Company. But this extraordinary creature could transport itself from one place to another with surprising velocity; as, in an interval of three days, the Governor Higginson and the Columbus had observed it at two different points of the chart, separated by a distance of more than seven hundred nautical leagues.

Fifteen days later, two thousand miles farther off, the Helvetia, of the Compagnie-Nationale, and the Shannon, of the Royal Mail Steamship Company, sailing to windward in that portion of the Atlantic lying between the United States and Europe, respectively signalled the monster to each other in 42° 15' N. lat. and 60° 35' W. long. In these simultaneous observations they thought themselves justified in estimating the minimum length of the mammal at more than three hundred and fifty feet, as the Shannon and Helvetia were of smaller dimensions than it, though they measured three hundred feet over all.

Now the largest whales, those which frequent those parts of the sea round the Aleutian, Kulammak, and Umgullich islands, have never exceeded the length of sixty yards, if they attain that.

In every place of great resort the monster was the fashion. They sang of it in the cafes, ridiculed it in the papers, and represented it on the stage. All kinds of stories were circulated regarding it. There appeared in the papers caricatures of every gigantic and imaginary creature, from the white whale, the terrible "Moby Dick" of sub-arctic regions, to the immense kraken, whose tentacles could entangle a ship of five hundred tons and hurry it into the abyss of the ocean. The legends of ancient times were even revived.

Then burst forth the unending argument between the believers and the unbelievers in the societies of the wise and the scientific journals. "The question of the monster" inflamed all minds. Editors of scientific journals, quarrelling with believers in the supernatural, spilled seas of ink during this memorable campaign, some even drawing blood; for from the sea-serpent they came to direct personalities.

Bully for you!

http://www.vernianera.com/Nautilus/

http://www.vernianera.com/Nautilus/Bouvet/Bouvet.html

Insane factoid:
London went from a population of 2 million when Victoria came to the throne to 6.5 million by the time of her death.

I've been reading old Punch accounts of the 'Street Arabs' -- which is what homeless children used to be called. The metaphor was a reference to their nomadic lifestyle rather than place of origin. With an unprecedented population explosion children were everywhere. I can see how the Baker Street Irregulars truly could have eyes and ears everywhere for Mr. Holmes.

I don't know about your city but here children are rarely seen outside.

Penny-Whistle wrote:Bully for you!

http://www.vernianera.com/Nautilus/

http://www.vernianera.com/Nautilus/Bouvet/Bouvet.html

Very cool!

Right . . the children of London.

It was somewhere in my readings, mebbe London's book about the abyss - re: How many children were working at very young ages. Astounding really.

Of course, we know much from Dickens et. al.

Horrible.

Black and white photos from the past . . apropos of nothing except Chicago street urchins/irregulars:



In front of a Jane Addams Hull House satellite down the street from the St. Valentine's Day Massacre - in this pic, circa 1937-8.

My Mom is 3rd from the left. Viking girl in braids!

My all time favorite picture of my Mom!

Wow. That is priceless. And she was too adorable for words!

Thanks, Penny!

Just looked at my work schedule for next Friday.

I'll be working until 8 pm - so if y'all don't mind, we have a later start to this opening session ~ say 8:15 if you guys are OK with that.

Most likely we'll fine tune chars and abilities and other stuff like background start and then mebbe a short combat session to test the system and rules.

See you then!

I'm OK with playing later.

I'm not sure if you want me to make you aware of this, but I have had this RPG for years, and it has always struck me in how cross compatible the material, not the mechanics, would be with Victorious. The fact its called Victoriana put aside.

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/554 ... e-Rulebook

Q: If I improve Intelligence or Charisma at first level, do I get additional skills or powers?