Variant RPGaDay - 19, 20, and 21

Once again, I'm running behind on my posts, and I've even done a couple of posts on other topics while I've been procrastinating on this one.

Batch 7 (Blades in the Dark)

 

I've been meaning to play this, I bought the book a couple of years back but just haven't managed to get it to the table yet. That means a lot of my ideas here aren't as grounded in play as they are for a lot of my other ideas for other games. I've got the idea here for a rival crew of characters who might be running in the streets against the protagonists of this story. Everything in Blades in the Dark seems to be drearry and gritty, 

Associates – Desire – Works Hard (Spider: A criminal mastermind and planner who orchestrates scores from the shadows and manipulates factions.)

The nominal leader of the group is Jacques d'Argent. He spent a few years studying at the college to  become a doctor, but things became difficult when there was a shortage of cadaver supplies to practice on. He hatched a plan to find cadavers and sell them to the college and actually found that this was a more lucrative business than healing people.

"Jacques d'Argent" 

Goal: To cut deals with as many gangs in the city as possible, and to remain neutral with them so that his crew can claim their bodies when gang violence breaks out.

Obstacle: The local constabulary considers body-snatching to be a serious crime and are always on Jacques' trail. More than half the bodies he could claim are cremated and he thinks that's a massive waste of potential resources.

Strength: He still has his medical skills, and contacts in the college. He also has a tendency to create elaborate plans which put him three moves ahead of everyone else.

Weakness: The unpredictability of the city often renders his carefully laid out plans irrelevant and he has to remember which contingency plans have been set up and which ones might not be useful any more. Naturally, he tends to overthink things.

Associates – Promise – Blessed (Whisper: An occultist attuned to the supernatural who deals with ghosts, spirits, and strange arcane forces.)

Annabelle Deacon was born under strange stars and local apothecaries said that there would be weirdness in her future, they just didn't know how bizarre things would get. She heard the voices of the recently deceased when they were carried by Jacques to the college, confused at what was happening, and that was how they met.

"Annabelle Deacon" 

Goal: In her time dealing with the dark forces beyond the veil of death, Annabelle has learned that there is something in the darkness consuming souls...something that is growing stronger with every shred of mortality it consumes. Her goal is to ensure souls are escorted through the netherworld to the safety of the pearly gates, rather than feed the growing darkness.

Obstacle: A cult to the darkness is growing and Annabelle has become aware of it. They too are seeking the souls of the recently deceased, work to feed the shadow entity to bring it into this world. 

Strength: Annabelle is not only able to talk to the dead, she can project her consciousness into the shrouded lands of the dead for short periods of time.

Weakness: Her time spent in the lands of the dead has given her a permanently deathly pallor, and her eyes are slowly turning an inky black colour. She is losing the ability to see the living lands, and will soon only be able to see the lands of the dead.

 

Instinct – Charity – Fair of Face (Slide: A smooth-talking manipulator, con artist, and face of the crew who relies on charm, deceit, and social engineering.)

Phillipe Montague is known throughout the city as someone who can get things done for a price, but that price is often a little too cheap, and sometimes those who get things done don't take into the consideration unexpected side effects, collateral damage, or blowback from the requests made of him. May of those who end up asking for help from Phillipe are down on their luck, and he is their last resort. Of course if anything goes wrong, that just means more merchandise for Jacques. 

"Phillipe Montague"

Goal: To make deals for some of the most influential members of the city, and earn enough favours to live a comfortable life for the rest of his days.

Obstacle: Some of his early deals are coming back to haunt him, and his carefully curated reputation is starting to tarnish. Time is against him.

Strength: Phillipe has a network of allies who still trust him and who know he can be called on, he has also offered enough free services through his influence network to the streets of the city that he has a network of street rats and urchins who are willing to do his bidding.

Weakness: The upper ranks of society (whom he so hopelessly wishes to join), are wary of him and he struggles to make connections there.