Even though the streets of London are dirty as hell, a lot of activity is to be found there: living quarters are very small and overcrowded, craftsmen (or women) often owns very small and dark places and therefore work just outside their workshop and a lot of person still work in the streets.
If you were to be in pursuit of a culprit, chased by an enemy, shadowing a person of interest, there are a lot of obstacles that can bring interesting scenes in your game.
You can also use this table to spice up any travel within the Smog City, but the entries were created with a concurrent sense of urgency for the players in mind.
Odd numbers are odd encounters.
1D66
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Obstacles
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11
| A tarot reader stops you, Death card in hand & shouts “you will kill him/her before the moon is full” (pointing at the person you are following or is following you) |
12
| A worker strong as an ox is unloading gigantic barrels of alcohol (beer, ale, wine, gin?) in front of a pub. Do you go around, over, or under? |
13
| A butcher wearing an apron covered in blood stops you by threatening you with a gory bonesaw: “you owe me a horse” and gives you a freshly sawn horse head |
14
|
A pack of street dogs (3D6 mutts) spread chaos along their path, which you happen to be on [Str12, Dex12, 3HP]. They will attack if you smell of food/blood
|
15
|
The rear axle of the cart of a “Night Soil”-collector breaks. A huge barrel containing human feces breaks and releases a humanoid foul-smelling creature
|
16
|
Someone shouts “Thief!” and a dubious looking thief-catcher mistakes you for the culprit (are you running?). [STR14, HP4, a crude club: D6 damage]
|
21
|
A man jumps down from the top of a building into a ball of hay. A mob gathers around, but only a cat (an Isfet) comes out of the hay. That mob blocks your way
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22
|
It starts hailing. Really big chunks of ice [people not searching for shelter take 1 damage every 1D4 rounds]. Actually strange considering London’s mild climate
|
23
|
A man, disguised as a priest, disrobes for raven-black rags and starts chanting. Blinding light explodes around him (Dex Save: 1D4 r. blinded/1D6 r. stunned)
|
24
|
An explorer in his Majesty’s service came back with an elephant from the colonies and goes down your street. The elephant seems to dislike you a lot
|
25
|
During the transport of a 6m x 2m painting by a Duke’s retainers, the veil covering it falls down & the portrayed Dragon says to you “Help me X, you’re my only hope”
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26
|
A falcon trainer loses control over his bird. This bird tries to snatch an object you are carrying (Dex save). Shooting the bird will attract the ire of its trainer
|
31
|
The sun seems to go down. Looking up, you see it’s a solar eclipse. You hear a wolf howling in your vicinity. Or does it come from that hairy man?
|
32
|
A rifle platoon accompanies a known murderer (John Bellingham) from newgate prison to his public execution. Do not cross their ranks or they’ll shoot
|
33
|
A scantily dressed yet unfathomably charismatic woman yells at you: “I am Artemis! Recover my bow from the british museum to gain my favor, insignifiant mortal!”
|
34
|
An Oyster street-seller’s cart collapses due to an enormous pothole. A mountain of salty smelling oyster shells blocks your way
|
35
|
A black hole opens in the sky, and a leathery creature flies out of it, throwing a black trident at a PC & shouts: “This is my master’s last warning!”
|
36
|
A gifted Catacomb Runner empties your pockets. [Dex Save -> you can choose between abandoning your current target & saying goodbye to your belongings]
|
41
|
A sunbeam pierces through the clouds, highlighting a pure rain. It feels great on the skin. Bad smells are banned [secretly cure all ailments, like lycanthropy]
|
42
|
A group of drunken sailors loudly stops you and try to get you to buy a few rounds “To the honor of the royal navy!” [5 Shilling each round]
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43
|
Through a crack in time & space, a Decurion and his 10 legionaries march into the street in turtle formation: “Surrender to Britania Romana or be executed!”
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44
|
A maid is transporting a mirror of a much too big size for her frame. Will you risk 7 years of lucklessness or make a big bow around her?
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45
|
A stage magician performs a trick, but instead of disappearing a spectator, you are transported to a side alley, landing in a vat of pork blood. The butcher seems unfriendly
|
46
|
A street preacher, standing on his soapbox, call out to you: “Repent sinner! The Lord told me of your immoral acts! Confess your crimes and be saved !”
|
51
|
A Veiled stranger skulks around, seemingly invisible to anyone but you. When he touches anyone, that person faints and regain consciousness seconds later
|
52
|
Everyone turns their head at a strolling Lady in red. Mud and dirt seem to go out of her way. A subtle lavender perfume soothes everyone in her path
|
53
|
A flute player is followed by a wave of rodents, going to the Thames. (if you roll a second time, charmed children might get drowned in the Thames instead)
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54
|
A man in a trench coat, broad pointy hat, and big silver Christian cross, points his crossbow in your direction and shouts: “Out of the way, I need to kill that Witch!”
|
55
|
A group comes your way. Each person seems to be the Twin of a character. Doppelgängers? Time travel? Evil Twins? Illusions? Hallucinations? Dreams?
|
56
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2 Lambeth Street Runners come your way. They know you and you know they don’t like you. What will they invent this time to harass you?
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61
|
A Coach stops at the side of your party and the leading horse asks: “Would you be so kind as to tell us the way to the tower bridge?”. The horse’s lips don’t move
|
62
|
A lady in nightgown (“how scandalous!”) runs down the street after a caped silhouette shouting: “Stop that person, she stole my baby!”
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63
|
The party goes through a small side-street. On a wall is a very detailed mural depicting them killing big rats and kids [Zoogs before & after death, but psst...]
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64
|
An old Hermit is feeding an army of cats. It produces a scandal, because he’s feeding them good meat, but seems not able to articulate himself
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65
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An harrowed old priest shouts at them: “Stop them! They are all possessed by demons!”. For the next 1D4 min., their steps leave a small fire behind [Arcanum]
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66
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A very grim looking man approaches the most frivolous member of your party and overturns a bucket of manure over his head: “keep away from my daughter!”
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If you use this table, please add a comment to explain to what result it brought your PCs 😄
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