The Philosophers’ Forum

There is a (currently popular) branch of philosophy that rejects modern educational standards, the esteem of the City’s various colleges, and even the utility of the written word. These iconoclast philosophers hang out in the district called the Philosophers’ Forum. In essence, these philosophers live as paupers (though they would use the term “aesthetic mendicant”), and make a poor living by selling their treatises, giving public recitations, and betting on rhetorical contests.

At its best, the Philosophers’ Forum is an intellectual center for the City. It contributes new ideas to ethics, aesthetics, ontology, epistemology, etc. It hosts interesting and controversial personalities. Its nightlife is spirited and lively.

At its worst, its citizenship is contentious and argumentative. Factional rivalries manifest and dissolve frequently. There’s little peace and zero quiet.

The average citizen of the district finds these street philosophers something of a nuisance, but cannot deny that they contribute a local color to the neighborhood.

Sensations:

The buildings are in disrepair, even ruinous: standing columns and collapsing arches from ancient eras define the landscape. The forum itself is shaped like a bowl for acoustical reasons. Amid the market stalls, deadbeat philosophers with shaggy beards shelter in old wine casks: they offer poetic recitations in exchange for coin. Ahead, a crowd has gathered to watch two famous old women debate the nature of sapience. The crowd loudly boos them both.

Rumor:

The Philosophers’ Forum is home to a seditionist element. They claim the current ruler of the City is illegitimate and long for the return of the rightful ruler. You can find these rebels by paying a philosopher with a non-golden coin (rare these days). If the philosopher returns the coin and says, “Money has no use in the land of the dead,” you must reply, “The dead know no king but His Majesty the Worm.” You will then be taken to the underground lair of the rebellion.

Special City Action:

• Seek truth: An individual philosopher might be batshit wrong about almost everything, but collectively the philosophers are actually very wise. Spend 50g to assemble a crowd and get them sufficiently drunk. Make a hypothesis.

• If the crowd cheers the hypothesis, your hypothesis is mostly correct.

• If the crowd boos you, your hypothesis is incorrect.

• If the crowd begins to debate your hypothesis, it’s incorrect but has some essential kernel of truth.

You can use this City Action to have the GM reveal the veracity of your theories about the nature of the Underworld and its residents.