Hidden London
London, 1820s. The city chokes on coal smoke and ambition. Factories belch soot into skies that never quite clear, and the Thames runs black with industrial waste. You're a crew of criminals working the streets, docks, and rookeries—thieves, con artists, bravos, and worse. But you know something most don't: beneath the surface of ordinary London, there's a hidden world of practitioners, spirit-brokers, and occult traders operating in plain sight.
Pull back the curtain and you'll see the lamplighter who whispers to street spirits for information, the factory owner whose success comes from a pact with the Spirit of Industry, the aristocrat who consults ritualists before every business deal. Beyond even this hidden London lies the spirit world itself—a twilight reflection where spirits dwell, from minor hearth sprites to ancient river-gods. Those who know can bargain with these spirits for power: supernatural gifts, forbidden knowledge, or services beyond mortal means. But industrialization is transforming everything. New spirits of steam and iron are being born while old spirits sicken and die, and no one knows what comes next.
Your crew operates in both worlds—the mundane underworld and the occult one. You'll pull scores that require both cunning and sorcery, negotiate with spirits as dangerous as any crime lord, and keep the secret world secret—because the magic police are watching, and exposure means ruin. The city is changing, the spirits are changing with it, and opportunity awaits those bold or desperate enough to trade in shadows.
Concept
You're a criminal crew in 1820s industrial London using Blades in the Dark. You operate in both the mundane underworld and the hidden occult world—pulling scores, bargaining with spirits, and keeping magic secret from ordinary society. The city is transforming as industrialization births new spirits of steam and iron while ancient spirits sicken and fade.
Aim
Build your crew's reputation and fortune through scores that blend cunning with sorcery. Navigate faction politics in both the criminal and occult worlds. Manage Heat from both mundane crimes and masquerade breaches. Discover the mysteries of the changing spirit world while pursuing your crew's ambitions—whether that's wealth, power, knowledge, or something else entirely.
Tone
Strange and mystical rather than grimdark. The spirit world has eerie beauty; occult bargains are intriguing and perilous. There's a sense of wonder and discovery—every job might reveal new spirits, magical techniques, or hidden mysteries. Danger exists, but it's thrilling adventure rather than bleak survival. Think fascinating urban fantasy with criminal edge, not misery simulator.
Subject Matter
Industrial-era class dynamics, occult bargaining and its costs, criminal violence (as per Blades), spirit entities and supernatural horror elements, the transformation of tradition by progress. We'll use Blades' standard tools (Lines & Veils, etc.) to establish boundaries around violence, horror intensity, and any other sensitive topics.