Other London is a modern-day urban horror setting that uses Fate Accelerated Edition.
You are a member of Desk 17, a secret corner of London’s Metropolitan Police Service. Desk 17 deals with unusual threats, and operates partly in the strange world of Other London…
Other London
A short history of Other London
Desk 17 was formed in 1640 by Charles I and was charged with hunting witches in Great Britain. It was known then as the Witch Hunters Council, and one of its founders was lawyer Matthew Hopkins. Hopkins later became better known as the Witch-finder General and, in his enthusiasm, put over 200 ‘witches’ to death – many of them innocents.
Hopkins was charged with being a wizard in 1647 and put to death. Without Hopkins’ sensationalist approach, Desk 17 thrived, out of sight. In time, Desk 17 became absorbed into the London Metropolitan Police, even though it continues to report directly to the Palace. Few know of Desk 17’s existence, which is how the section likes it.
Desk 17 is headed by Nathan Pearce and consists of him and four or five roving agents. Desk 17’s recruits are rarely drawn from the police service; Pearce has complete autonomy in selecting his team, and it has included witches, warlocks and even a vampire.
Desk 17 and Other London
Although Pearce runs Desk 17 as he sees fit, he attends weekly briefings at the Palace. These days, Desk 17 has two main objectives. The first is to prevent too much ‘Other’ stuff from leaking into ‘real’ London, and the second is to deal with any Other London threats that may arise.
Ideas for locating Desk 17 offices.
Other London factions
Whom you owe allegiance to affects where you can go and how others react to you. The following list is not exhaustive.
The City of London: The City of London is ruled by a shadowy cabal of powerful sorcerers. It is guarded by dragons, which are tended to by dragonspeakers.
The fae: The many-factioned fae inhabit the untended parts of London and the fabled wildwoods.
Vampires: Even a great city such as London can support only a few vampires. London’s vampires are old and established in positions of power.
Templars: The remnants of the once-powerful Templars have a presence in Other London. Their true agenda is unknown, although they present themselves as soldiers for hire.
The Golden Dawn: Following the disastrous events of 1939, when the Golden Dawn was nearly wiped out, the order went underground and has been heard of only occasionally since.
Children of Hecate: The Children of Hecate declare themselves as the ruling council of witches. To an outsider, they spend their time sharing biscuit recipes and knitting patterns.
The Host: The Host is Heaven’s angelic representative on earth. According to them, the Angel of Death is trapped somewhere in London.
Miniaturists: Dolls house fanatics, railway modellers and diorama builders. Builders of elaborate tiny worlds for inscrutable purposes.
Independents: As well as the factions, there are uncountable independents owing allegiance to nobody.
Society of the Statue People: An idea for a faction fleshed out on my blog.
Custodians of the Echo: Another idea for a faction on my blog.
Trent Rochester & Associates: A legal firm managing the estates of the dead.
Other London: Desk 17
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I write about Desk 17 on my blog.
Other London: The Fallen
Nathan's briefing: I’ve had a report from a seer of a person of interest. The person of interest works at Burger King at Victoria Station and will serve a woman in a blue dress at 4.12 pm today exactly. The seer knows no more than that but thinks they may be Fallen. We’ve not seen Fallen in London for some years, so you may not know about them. Fallen are fae creatures from the realm of shadow. They invade other realms, and if this person is Fallen, they have found this one...
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Other London: Murder of a Templar
The PC's briefing: “Desk 17? Detective Sergeant Lionel Pearson here. Get yourselves over to New Scotland Yard. I have a case for you.”
That brief message leads the PCs across London, where they meet powerful secretive factions and discover the truth behind who murdered a Templar - and why.
Other London: Murder of a Templar includes three new factions: The Templars, Lady Raven (an old family whose power is fading) and Lord Slyke (a shadowy vampire).
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Other London: The Dead Undead
Other London: The Dead Undead is an investigation for Desk 17, London's occult investigation unit. It works well with 2 or 3 players.
The PC's briefing: “Abigail de Brionne has reported a body at her club, Club Serapion. Please investigate.”
That brief message leads the PCs to the corpse of Johnny Smoke, a vampire. But how did Johnny Smoke die? And why?
Other London: The Dead Undead includes details of a new vampire faction: Brixi's Clan.
Other London: Tales of Terror
Inside, you will find people, places, things and organisations that inhabit Other London, including sinne eater, a ring owned by Sir John Dee, a paper covered in spidery words, a bottle containing a ghost, mysterious graffiti, something hidden in an old quarry, a young woman who may be a werewolf, tiny clay figures, an online auction, a sinister spider tattoo, Great Uncle Sebastian’s collection of snuff, the Grand Vitae Society, a hideous plated skull displayed in a Knightsbridge club, a carpet with a disturbing design, a cursed picture frame, and more...
Each comes with a description and three options so you can easily drop them into your urban fantasy / horror games.
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