The City Phase

The

ity Phase

“Of that Byzantine Empire, the universal verdict of history is that it constitutes, with scarcely an exception, the most thoroughly base and despicable form that civilisation has yet assumed. .. They possessed knowledge; they had continually before them the noble literature of ancient Greece, instinct with the loftiest heroism; but that literature, which afterwards did so much to revivify Europe, could fire the degenerate Greeks with no spark or semblance of nobility. The history of the Empire is a monotonous story of the

intrigues of priests, eunuchs, and women, of poisonings, of conspiracies,

of uniform ingratitude, of perpetual fratricides.”

• History of European Morals, William Edward Hartpole Lecky

T he City is the center of the Wide World; the navel of creation. It is at a crossroads, twin-faced, staring east and west. It is equidistant to Alfheim, the Steppes of the Dragons, and the mountainous Delvings of Eight Cities. In majesty it is unmatched. In wealth, unequaled.

Anything can be bought in the City for the right price. The most skilled craftsmen in the Wide World perfect their arts in the City. For the very rich, even the powers of the Underworld might be traded. These wealthy patrons tempt guilds of adventurers to brave life and limb for the treasures hidden underneath the great metropolis. The City has been claimed by many kith and kin, but today it is the seat of humanity. A handful of powerful human houses struggle continuously for power. Enclaves of distant powers and races seize toeholds in the City and pursue their strange designs in their embassies.

Like skin, it is made of folded-over layers. Each era of the City can be found buried below the others. Dig down into your cellar and find the potsherds, runestones, idols, rusted machinery, diaries, lamps, and bones of those who came before. Like skin, it has scars. Terrible pits boring holes into the Underworld—blighted cankers on a beautiful face.

The Flow of the City Phase

When the guild returns to civilization, laden with treasure and light on supplies, the City Phase begins. The City Phase is an opportunity to pursue long-term goals, research the next steps of the quest, and restock supplies before returning to the Stygian depths. This chapter details what players need to know about the City Phase. Advice for the GM for running the City Phase is found on page 190. Procedures for the GM to flesh out a City are found in Appendix D: City Creation.

Here is the summary of the City Phase:

1. Death and taxes

Each player turns in 50% of carried gold coins to the black-armored All-Watch as guild tax.

2. Noteworthy deeds

Erase the oldest deed on your roster. As a group, write the most notable accomplishments from your last Crawl on your guild roster.

3. City Events

The GM draws for a random event on their City Event table.

4. Turn in contracts

The guild turns in their contract (if any). Successfully completed contracts provide a monetary reward and 1XP.

The City is social

The City contains an untold multitude of factions, social clubs, hierarchies, royal families, anarchist collectives, sports teams, mystery cults, underground scenes, crime syndicates, etc. They want what the guild has: treasure, expertise, and a lack of self-preservation. The guild wants what these organizations have: influence, power, wealth...sure, but also fancy clothes, useful rumors, interesting friends, cool home bases, etc.

5. Upkeep

Each player pays for an upkeep tier.

• If you pay no upkeep, you are destitute for this City Phase. You do not refill your pack.

• Impoverished upkeep costs 25 gold.

• Refill your pack with impoverished-level gear from the Omphalic Market (p. 162).

• Common upkeep costs 50 gold.

• Refill your pack with common- or impoverished-level gear from the Omphalic Market.

• Burn charges to heal Wounds and clear conditions as per step 4 of the Camp Phase (Recovery) (p. 141).

• Luxurious upkeep costs 100 gold.

• Refill your pack with any gear from the Omphalic Market.

• Heal all of your Wounds and refresh all your Resolve.

6. City Actions

Each player performs a City Action.

7. Plan the next Crawl

The guild reassembles to talk over next steps as a group. The GM provides a list of possible contracts. Sign up for a contract (or two).

8. Restock the Underworld

Before the next session, the GM restocks the Meatgrinder tables.