From Hell: A Trip Through the Demimonde

Game Master GM Grimm

London, England – 1891
A series of gruesome murders continues to haunt the metropolis. Believing the police are inept, the frightened citizenry have formed vigilante gangs who roam the streets at night. The general public is in a panic as the chaos is heightened by sensationalism, false information, and fame-seeking mad men. Folks are finding themselves looking over their shoulders during the day time even. Some have boarded their windows and strengthened their doors. Hysteria has set in and as the events become more heinous and draw even greater public interest when they expand beyond the working class neighborhood of Whitechapel. The mayor is at wit’s end as he tries desperately to restore order throughout one of the world’s greatest cities.
With such proficiency, many have wondered if these murders are the work of just one man, or a grander orchestration of an evil cult. Could this be a cover for something much more sinister?
You have been summoned to a secret meeting in an antechamber below the Westminster Abbey by Lord Simeon Walker.

Recruitment will end when I have selected four to six solid PCs. PM me with questions. Don't be afraid to ask them.

First for the british, gentlemanly yet dashing intelligent man of action.

Which in Pathfinder's words means Investigator, of the Steel Hound variety most probably.

Will come back with an appropiate character.

How would you feel about using Path of War to give some additional character options that are less-magical (and more special ability)? I'm specifically thinking of The Medic, which would allow me to make a Doctor without the divine magic angle.

How would you feel about using Path of War to give some additional character options that are less-magical (and more special ability)? I'm specifically thinking of The Medic, which would allow me to make a Doctor without the divine magic angle.

Thematically, I am OK with it. I am unfamiliar with Paths of War though. It would require much more investigation.

I'm ok with the medic.

This campaign practically screams "Make a Vigilante" to me - and so I shall do so. Consider this my dot.

A question about character creation: Background Skills, yay or nay?

Let's not add background skills.

Couple questions now that I had time to think about it.
·First would be: is it necessary being a fellow from Britain? As a spanish fellow, I'm pretty much familiar with the zone and countries so I might thinkg of being from one of the neighbouring zones,
·Second: Now that Yorick opened the Pathdora's box of Doom, would you be open to the following feat and its follow-ups? Here layeth the feateth. . Obviously the idea would be a case by case Maneuver/Stance selection approved by you, our humble GM.

Finally, I am still decided to play the dashing, intelligent and charming gentleman but I am yet to decide if Swashbuckler or Investigator would provide the most dashing experience.

This sounds quite interesting; I'm a big fan of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comic books (not so much the movie).

Are demi-humans going to be of period Earth-like backgrounds/histories? My mind instantly turned to Gaiman-y elves, gnomes, and goblins from the faery realm; orcs, dwarves, and kobolds dwelling under Scandinavian mountains; halflings being more like hobbits and living in small communities in remote rural areas, etc. Or are you thinking they'll have more standard Pathfinder flavor from remote but 'normal' demi-human communities?

Also, same basic question about magic - is it generally suppressed and mostly the tool of heathen druids, devil-worshippers, and cultists of strange foreign gods, with only the occasional "good witch"? Or are you thinking more like a Harry Potter-esque scenario?

Dotting for interest.

Am thinking of a Human (or Changeling if allowed) Sorcerer (Eldritch Scrapper) w/ the Accursed Bloodline - one unruly young lady by the name of Bellicose "Belle" Powler... a descendant of the ancient Hag of English folklore Peg Powler.

Piggybacking off Tick in the Barrel and EmissaryOfTheNorth's questions: languages. Should we use typical Pathfinder languages, or real world languages?

The answer to the magic question will also help determine what flavor of Vigilante I make, so I'm curious as well.

Couple questions now that I had time to think about it.

·First would be: is it necessary being a fellow from Britain? As a spanish fellow, I'm pretty much familiar with the zone and countries so I might thinkg of being from one of the neighbouring zones,
·Second: Now that Yorick opened the Pathdora's box of Doom, would you be open to the following feat and its follow-ups? Here layeth the feateth. . Obviously the idea would be a case by case Maneuver/Stance selection approved by you, our humble GM.

Finally, I am still decided to play the dashing, intelligent and charming gentleman but I am yet to decide if Swashbuckler or Investigator would provide the most dashing experience.

I'm ok with the feat as you are with my governance of it.

This sounds exactly like what I am looking for.

Couple questions now that I had time to think about it.

·First would be: is it necessary being a fellow from Britain? As a spanish fellow, I'm pretty much familiar with the zone and countries so I might thinkg of being from one of the neighbouring zones,
·Second: Now that Yorick opened the Pathdora's box of Doom, would you be open to the following feat and its follow-ups? Here layeth the feateth. . Obviously the idea would be a case by case Maneuver/Stance selection approved by you, our humble GM.

Finally, I am still decided to play the dashing, intelligent and charming gentleman but I am yet to decide if Swashbuckler or Investigator would provide the most dashing experience.

It is unnecessary to be British as colonialism has opened London up to a wide realm.

Piggybacking off Tick in the Barrel and EmissaryOfTheNorth's questions: languages. Should we use typical Pathfinder languages, or real world languages?

The answer to the magic question will also help determine what flavor of Vigilante I make, so I'm curious as well.

A combination of both. Obviously, Golarian languages would be unnecessary, but celestial or demonic could prove useful.

This sounds quite interesting; I'm a big fan of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comic books (not so much the movie).

Are demi-humans going to be of period Earth-like backgrounds/histories? My mind instantly turned to Gaiman-y elves, gnomes, and goblins from the faery realm; orcs, dwarves, and kobolds dwelling under Scandinavian mountains; halflings being more like hobbits and living in small communities in remote rural areas, etc. Or are you thinking they'll have more standard Pathfinder flavor from remote but 'normal' demi-human communities?

Also, same basic question about magic - is it generally suppressed and mostly the tool of heathen druids, devil-worshippers, and cultists of strange foreign gods, with only the occasional "good witch"? Or are you thinking more like a Harry Potter-esque scenario?

The Demi-humans can be descendants of those mentioned, yes. Like magic, racial oddities are suppressed in such a xenophobic and fearful reality. So, a small percent of beings can use magic, but do so with the utmost discretion for fear of retribution. Like Harry Potter. Magic and fey are considered as dark incarnate by the masses whose fears keep them suppressed.

I am looking for an interesting and diverse group to add the flavor that keeps me excited to run this. PCs are extraordinary, but should have the ability to blend in.

Dot. Perhaps something roguish, an Inquisitor or a street Brawler.
Would you allow a Dawnflower Dissident to work with Christianity? Since part of the class is about hiding spells and working in secret, it might be appropriate.

Dot. Perhaps something roguish, an Inquisitor or a street Brawler.

Would you allow a Dawnflower Dissident to work with Christianity? Since part of the class is about hiding spells and working in secret, it might be appropriate.

I will allow.

Egad, I am overflown with questions! I mean, it isn't very common having the opportunity to play in a magical distopy based off the Earth, specially in an era full of historical figures from which we can draw inspiration... to mention some: famous occultist Aleister Crowley was 16 years old in 1891, while Vincent Van Gogh died on '90 -or did he *insert mystery music*.

Ehem, I digress. The questions, right. Can we link our backstories to relevant figures? I figured this might be off the table... but what about playing them? I suspect that, if allowed, this would mean choosing minor figures -not really famous writer, scientist or such, minor baronet from Chelsea with no crown rights, etc-.

Also you said we are to be extraordinaire, I guess that means within logical limits as we start as level two... but is being a university professor considered appropiate? How about a noble or member of a noble family? A condecorated military member?

I am getting too carried away, I'll let you answer until I order my thoughts.
Also, regarding the chain of feats I told you, I am looking at the Scarlet Throne discipline as I feel it's appropiate for the era's duelist and swordmanship styles. Anyway it'd be my third level feat -as it's the minimum level required- so there's time to check specific maneuvers out.

~~Emissary out!

Egad, I am overflown with questions! I mean, it isn't very common having the opportunity to play in a magical distopy based off the Earth, specially in an era full of historical figures from which we can draw inspiration... to mention some: famous occultist Aleister Crowley was 16 years old in 1891, while Vincent Van Gogh died on '90 -or did he *insert mystery music*.

Ehem, I digress. The questions, right. Can we link our backstories to relevant figures? I figured this might be off the table... but what about playing them? I suspect that, if allowed, this would mean choosing minor figures -not really famous writer, scientist or such, minor baronet from Chelsea with no crown rights, etc-.

Also you said we are to be extraordinaire, I guess that means within logical limits as we start as level two... but is being a university professor considered appropiate? How about a noble or member of a noble family? A condecorated military member?

I am getting too carried away, I'll let you answer until I order my thoughts.
Also, regarding the chain of feats I told you, I am looking at the Scarlet Throne discipline as I feel it's appropiate for the era's duelist and swordmanship styles. Anyway it'd be my third level feat -as it's the minimum level required- so there's time to check specific maneuvers out.

~~Emissary out!

Ok to link with historical figures, but not to play them. I need NPCs and story hooks.

Minor nobility, professorships, ex-military are all ok.

I'm ok with the feat chain thus far. A martial arts instructor once told me that you get back what you give. If you overpower the villains too often, the next ones will be much stronger.

Here. Made a musket master gunslinger.

So... Emerging guns? By early 1800's, cartridge-fed guns were the norm. Magazines were a regular occurrence in the 1880's. I just wanted to know if this was being changed.

I used the musket and regular ammunition for the design, but if I can use a rifle, I'd be happy too. :)

Wow. This sounds awesome!

Wow. This sounds awesome!

Thanks!

Here. Made a musket master gunslinger.

So... Emerging guns? By early 1800's, cartridge-fed guns were the norm. Magazines were a regular occurrence in the 1880's. I just wanted to know if this was being changed.

I used the musket and regular ammunition for the design, but if I can use a rifle, I'd be happy too. :)

** spoiler omitted **...

True, I should have went commonplace guns because that is more accurate. The British army had carbines as well by then. I don't think it would have been commonplace for a citizen to have access to one. Even in America, there was not heavy gun ownership in large industrial cities at that time. In the west, it was a necessity.

Here. Made a musket master gunslinger.

So... Emerging guns? By early 1800's, cartridge-fed guns were the norm. Magazines were a regular occurrence in the 1880's. I just wanted to know if this was being changed.

I used the musket and regular ammunition for the design, but if I can use a rifle, I'd be happy too. :)

** spoiler omitted **...

Great submission. I'm fine with the rifle except that it's value would exceed the 2000 gp. If you changed one of you traits to heirloom weapon, then you can have the rifle from your father.

Also, while I like the xenophobic that you chose, how will your PC react to party members who are different? What degree of tension?

So this is a social convention rather than a technological one?

Dotting for interest.

Am thinking of a Human (or Changeling if allowed) Sorcerer (Eldritch Scrapper) w/ the Accursed Bloodline - one unruly young lady by the name of Bellicose "Belle" Powler... a descendant of the ancient Hag of English folklore Peg Powler.

Changeling is ok.

Vaguely thinking about a Bookhound, possibly associated with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
If magic exists, but is persecuted, there's bound to be a thriving black market for spellbooks and tomes.
I can also see an unofficial "don't rock the boat" motto amongst those in possession of such tomes.

How much do urbanites, and secondarily the upper class, believe in magic?

So this is a social convention rather than a technological one?

If you are speaking of guns, then I believe that is accurate in this scenario. The British prided themselves on polite society. The perfect cover for a dark underbelly.

Vaguely thinking about a Bookhound, possibly associated with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

If magic exists, but is persecuted, there's bound to be a thriving black market for spellbooks and tomes.
I can also see an unofficial "don't rock the boat" motto amongst those in possession of such tomes.

How much do urbanites, and secondarily the upper class, believe in magic?

I would say that none of them would publicly acknowledge any belief or affinity for magic. They would relegate it to children's entertainment, even if some were practioners.

I would say that none of them would publicly acknowledge any belief or affinity for magic. They would relegate it to children's entertainment, even if some were practioners.

Excellent. Very real-world. Do historical secret societies like the Golden Dawn exist? Are there a few rich 'collectors' or secret practitioners in london? Happy if the number is in the single digits (given the population at the time, a 1:1,000,000 ration would give 6 to 7.)

GM DeathbySuburbs wrote:

I would say that none of them would publicly acknowledge any belief or affinity for magic. They would relegate it to children's entertainment, even if some were practioners.

Excellent. Very real-world. Do historical secret societies like the Golden Dawn exist? Are there a few rich 'collectors' or secret practitioners in london? Happy if the number is in the single digits (given the population at the time, a 1:1,000,000 ration would give 6 to 7.)

I would put the ratio a bit higher. 10:1,000,00. Secret societies do exist.

What would be the domains and weapon proficiency for Christian clerics?

What would be the domains and weapon proficiency for Christian clerics?

I'm going to go with long sword on favored weapon. Same proficiency as class descriptor with all else. Good and Law alignment domains. All elemental domains; Strength, Healing and Community.

Dotting for interest, I'll put something together tomorrow. No preliminary ideas yet, except maybe an Eldritch Scion Bladebound magus/Warlord, shooting towards Bladecaster, or perhaps, if you'd consider it, an Avowed of some sort, perhaps Self, Great Old Ones, or perhaps something else, definitely leaning GOO for the tone, but could choose another of that interferes with the way your campaign goes.

Edit: So much for no preliminary ideas. Also, I wasn't clear, Warlord is another Path of War class.

@GM DeathbySuburbs
Okay, entranced by the idea of a Call of Cthulhu type book-using scholar-slash-cultist, but the inability to cast much during combat might prove problematic.
Should still be able to do investigation, backroom and social. Figure a Familiar with Scent is probably worth more than spells in a game like this :)

Is this problematic?

Edit: Clarification - by which I mean that spells generally require complicated setup, and a book in front of you.
Also - are there Rituals? As in, do they exist, not can we start with one.

rungok wrote:

Here. Made a musket master gunslinger.

So... Emerging guns? By early 1800's, cartridge-fed guns were the norm. Magazines were a regular occurrence in the 1880's. I just wanted to know if this was being changed.

I used the musket and regular ammunition for the design, but if I can use a rifle, I'd be happy too. :)

** spoiler omitted **...

Great submission. I'm fine with the rifle except that it's value would exceed the 2000 gp. If you changed one of you traits to heirloom weapon, then you can have the rifle from your father.

Also, while I like the xenophobic that you chose, how will your PC react to party members who are different? What degree of tension?

Okay I'll make the change to heirloom weapon. :)

Uhm... Well, he's not going to be outright hate-crime-ey about it. He thinks that non-humans are of a lower station. Like, they aren't ever above peasantry status, even those of great accomplishments. He also would find half-breeds upsetting... distasteful at best.

It would mean that if he had to have a priority, it would be humans' first, other races second*...

*this is not to say that he can't have his mind changed. He isn't going to change it at the drop of a hat.

I know that in this gaslight-era world, status is very, very important. Grimm's family is low-level gentry, as in they're not a commoner family, but not frivolously rich. We don't have enough clout to buy mummies for unwrapping parties, for example.

Ok, my idea of a Dissident is mechanically hard and not that flavorful after all. 'm going for an Irish Catholic Paladin with the Warrior of Holy Light (spell-less) archetype, two-handed weapon user.

First-generation immigrant from a large poor family, he's working to send money home. If there are any secret Church societies devoted to hunting evil and protecting people, he'd be a member of one of them. Otherwise he'd be some kind of manual laborer, dockworker or construction worker, caught in something bigger than himself.

Good-hearted guy, not the stick in the mud paladin, more of a kind guy who listens and gives advice. Possibly married and with kids. Won't lie, I took some heavy inspiration from the Dresden Files' Michael Carpenter.

Finally, I was thinking of making him an Angel-blooded Scion of Humanity Aasimar for the nice, nice racial feats. If that's not alright, I can make him either a standard Aasimar or a human.

would you be willing to made Guns common place? Instead of emerging?

I am thinking a Picaroon Swashbuckler, He is French but his English is passable (or so he would have you believe). A former member of the French theater he studied swordplay in Spain and is really a member of the Musketeers.

I'm going to withdraw my dot. I have too much on my plate to be able to put together an effective character for this recruitment.

A shame, because a Warlock Vigilante would have been a blast for this.

I'm going to withdraw my dot. I have too much on my plate to be able to put together an effective character for this recruitment.

A shame, because a Warlock Vigilante would have been a blast for this.

It would have been. Thanks for considering. Good Luck!

I don't think I can get my idea for a Magus going into Bladecaster to work how I'd like it to. Any word on Avowed, GM DeathbySuburbs?

I don't think I can get my idea for a Magus going into Bladecaster to work how I'd like it to. Any word on Avowed, GM DeathbySuburbs?

I will allow the Avowed.

Is the Old One pact kosher, as well, or should I stay away from the "I sometimes consort with Eldritch Horrors" vibe?

Is the Old One pact kosher, as well, or should I stay away from the "I sometimes consort with Eldritch Horrors" vibe?

I like the flavor of this, but how will it work in the end? Good vs. Evil?

I was more thinking I'd be tapping into just a tiny portion of the madness and knowledge the Old Ones hold, attempting to keep my sanity in check while I (eventually) rid my foes of their own. Mutual benefit for the Old Ones; Aside from world-altering plots, I think one willing to make a pact with a human would be content with the sowing of madness wherever it be. Spreading the good word of, perhaps, Nyarlathotep, Shub-Niggurath, or even Hastur, need not be to those with any foreseeable power, only serving the one who I've made a pact with enough to sate them, no more than absolutely necessary (until/unless I descend into madness. Acting as a conduit for such otherworldly power, who knows what could happen?).

Edit: Else, I can pick a more friendly pact, if you'd rather not get steeped too much in the madness of a cultist in the group, provided selection goes in my favor.

I was more thinking I'd be tapping into just a tiny portion of the madness and knowledge the Old Ones hold, attempting to keep my sanity in check while I (eventually) rid my foes of their own. Mutual benefit for the Old Ones; Aside from world-altering plots, I think one willing to make a pact with a human would be content with the sowing of madness wherever it be. Spreading the good word of, perhaps, Nyarlathotep, Shub-Niggurath, or even Hastur, need not be to those with any foreseeable power, only serving the one who I've made a pact with enough to sate them, no more than absolutely necessary (until/unless I descend into madness. Acting as a conduit for such otherworldly power, who knows what could happen?).

Edit: Else, I can pick a more friendly pact, if you'd rather not get steeped too much in the madness of a cultist in the group, provided selection goes in my favor.

I really like the flavor of this. This is what I am looking for. I don't mind inner turmoil for a PC as long as it does not impact the party and it's mission.

I really like the flavor of this. This is what I am looking for. I don't mind inner turmoil for a PC as long as it does not impact the party and it's mission.

Oh, no, of course not. Balancing the breaking of minds with the good things he intends to do should not only be a difficult ordeal, but potentially mind-numbing, and certainly disturbing, to himself as well. While whichever Old One grants his pact may not be able to revoke it, the possibility for repercussions due to insufficient souls broken by The Good Word are, I'd imagine, not out of the question.

Once the pact is made, after he's spread enough madness to properly align himself with these Eldritch powers, it's a fine balancing game, and spreading madness for the greater good could be an interesting sub-plot for him, if I do say so myself.

Edit: Unfortunately, I won't have any real capability to break the wills of my foes early, but come later levels, maybe six or so, I should be able to more easily spread the word. Who knows, perhaps small cults of those devoted to one I've gained my powers from will be useful? Certainly potential networks of information, though potentially distorted.