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− | '''''Night Birds''''' takes place in a world combining 1930s fashions and moods with 1980s technology, inspired by things like ''Batman: The Animated Series'' | + | '''''Night Birds''''' takes place in a world combining 1930s fashions and moods with 1980s technology, inspired by things like ''Batman: The Animated Series'', ''The Big O'', ''Dark City'' (1998), ''Twin Peaks'', and more generally ''film noir'', hard-boiled crime fiction, urban fantasy and magical realism. The visual style is stark and sharp, with clear strong lines, solid black shadows and select highlights of bright color. The soundtrack uses '80s dreampop and contemporary synthwave. The protagonists are various people entangled in some way with the crime and corruption of the city - police detectives, journalists, criminals, private eyes, vigilantes and plain old survivor types - imperfect heroes or goodhearted crooks with too much decency, or not enough smarts, to merely look away when they see a wrong too great to stomach. |
People dress in suits, dresses or casual sportswear. Trench coats are everywhere. Everyone wears hats, caps or bonnets. Everyone smokes. | People dress in suits, dresses or casual sportswear. Trench coats are everywhere. Everyone wears hats, caps or bonnets. Everyone smokes. | ||
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Public intoxication is a crime punishable by fines or jailtime. Licensed restaurants are allowed to sell no more than one (1) or, with a special permit, two (2) servings of alcoholic beverages per meal per adult customer. | Public intoxication is a crime punishable by fines or jailtime. Licensed restaurants are allowed to sell no more than one (1) or, with a special permit, two (2) servings of alcoholic beverages per meal per adult customer. | ||
− | Mass media consists of TV, radio and newspapers. Music comes on vinyl records, 8-track cartridges and compact cassettes. Telephones have recently started using buttons instead of rotary dials. Phone booths are common in most urban areas. Computers are boxy things with text-based operating systems, clicky keyboards and bulky CRT displays. Portable devices are suitcase-sized, expensive and finicky. Digital data transfer using phone lines is available between | + | Mass media consists of TV, radio and newspapers. Music comes on vinyl records, 8-track cartridges and compact cassettes. Telephones have recently started using buttons instead of rotary dials. Phone booths are common in most urban areas. Computers are boxy things with text-based operating systems, clicky keyboards and bulky CRT displays. Portable devices are suitcase-sized, expensive and finicky. Digital data transfer using phone lines is available between select locations, mostly universities and government offices; fax machines are used by most organizations and available in some public libraries. |
=== Dials === | === Dials === | ||
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== Setting == | == Setting == | ||
− | A glittering pile of crime, corruption and urban decay. The state capital of Washeegan, | + | A glittering pile of crime, corruption and urban decay. The state capital of Washeegan, ??? was heavily built up in the preceding decade but much of this new development has been abandoned since the Depression settled in. Unemployment is rampant. Everyone is desperate for money and a moment of relief. Not a great place to live, but many have no choice and some just belong. |
=== Downtown === | === Downtown === | ||
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; South Cemetery Park | ; South Cemetery Park | ||
− | : A communal area of tended woods, lawns and hedges next to the former site of the city's oldest graveyard (now an open air cinema). | + | : A communal area of tended woods, lawns and hedges next to the former site of the city's oldest graveyard (now an open air cinema). Populated by murders of talking crows. |
== Player Characters == | == Player Characters == | ||
− | === Player Character | + | === Player Character Name (Player Name) === |
− | [[File:filename.jpg|right| | + | <!--[[File:filename.jpg|right|400px]]--> |
A brief description of the character's background, manner and looks, including a signature piece of color (red dress, blue suit, yellow hair, green eyes etc). | A brief description of the character's background, manner and looks, including a signature piece of color (red dress, blue suit, yellow hair, green eyes etc). | ||
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'''Upgrades:''' Upgrade X, Upgrade Y, Upgrade Z | '''Upgrades:''' Upgrade X, Upgrade Y, Upgrade Z | ||
− | '''Signature Quality:''' | + | '''Signature Quality:''' Player-Controlled Protagonist |
'''Standard Qualities:''' A Quality, Another Quality | '''Standard Qualities:''' A Quality, Another Quality | ||
− | '''Traits:''' Trait 4 (Special Rule), Trait 3 (Special Rule), Trait 3 (Special Rule), Trait 2, Trait 2, Trait 2, Trait 2 | + | '''Traits:''' Trait Name 4 (Special Rule), Trait Name 3 (Special Rule), Trait Name 3 (Special Rule), Trait Name 2, Trait Name 2, Trait Name 2, Trait Name 2 |
− | === | + | == Other Characters == |
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− | + | === Anita Voorheisen, Chief of Police === | |
− | + | By some miracle, an honest (at least when she thinks it actually matters) cop on top of the pile. Confirmed bachelor. Owns a breeding kennel and animal shelter that she helps run in her spare time. | |
− | + | === Bartholomew "Boss" Blackwell === | |
− | ''' | + | The ''de facto'' head of organized crime in the city and a notable philanthropist. Big, loud, flamboyant, likes white suits and cheap cigars. |
− | === | + | === Charles Donovan, Mayor === |
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− | + | Richer than the rich and more crooked than the crooks, but quite popular largely due to his unapologetically brash public persona. Always seems shorter than expected in person. | |
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− | + | === The Matchstick Girls === | |
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− | + | An army of street vendors who sell matchsticks, cigarettes, candy, flowers and other such small things. Some also offer more suspect merchandise for customers who know when and how to ask. | |
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− | + | === The Newsboys === | |
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− | + | Omnipresent public service criers and newspaper hawkers. Usually the first ones to hear of everything. Will snoop (or not snoop) for a price. | |
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− | + | === Sarah Sarandon === | |
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− | + | A celebrated singer, actress and socialite with a taste for slumming. | |
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== Episodes == | == Episodes == |