Numenera is a game published by Monte Cook Games. Its setting is the Ninth World, and this list has ten rumours for that setting. The rumours, which are similar to the Hearsay that can be found in the official books, can be used as adventure hooks or as simple misinformation.
Becara is in many ways the leader of the Few, though that is a role she doesn’t claim the title of, though it’s one she effectively fills. It’s rumoured that Becara’s refusal to claim to be the leader is subterfuge, to hide the fact that she knows that, in truth, she runs the Few and without her the group would fall apart.
Brave House in Umdera is where weapons and unarmed combat are trained by instructors who are members of the Few. It’s said that the Few keep an eye on those they are training, to see who might be worthy of joining their number, but no matter what, training is open to all.
Coloured plumes of steam are emitted from the elixir distillery in Umdera, and inside the fumes can lead to blindness. It’s rumoured that even those fumes that are emitted into the atmosphere are dangerous for those who spend too much time near them, and over the years the effects can build up.
Ethedrin is a skilled gambler and trader in secrets that can be found in Umdera’s Public House. It’s rumoured that some of the secrets he knows are used as blackmail material by the gambler, and that over the years he’s picked up just about every skeleton in the closet in the settlement, and now wields as much power as any of those who visibly hold it.
Jherad the Sage is a student of the dream titans who perhaps knows more about them than anyone else living. He constantly wears skin-covering garments to cover up the damage he suffered when he was trampled by one of the dream titans. Some claim that Jherad is still attempting to gain as much knowledge about the creatures as he can so he can discover how to kill them in revenge for his injuries.
Lia is a young distiller with so much talent for the craft that, despite being only fifteen, some of the varieties offered are her own concoctions. It’s rumoured that she’s still considering leaving the distillery, and as a result Xaozon is considering essentially bribing her to remain.
Pilgrim Palon can be found in the Public House in Umdera, regaling people of all the expeditions she’s led in the past and usually saving things single-handedly. Some doubt her tales, especially as they seem to be endless, and there are rumours that Palon is not the brave adventurer she makes herself out to be and instead is a coward who has people looking for her under a different name after her cowardice landed them in mortal peril.
The Few are a group of explorers based out of Brave House in Umdera who set out on expeditions into the nearest dream titan. Not all who set out return, though the group has so far been able to restore its numbers. There are rumours that those outside the core membership are the most likely to fail to return from an expedition and some say that’s because the core members kill those who have discovered things of spectacular value or interest and take them for their own.
The Jalnarys are the two brothers and a sister who run the Public House in Umdera and most have difficulty telling the three apart unless they are together. It’s rumoured that the three may be clones, or something similar, and that they fled from something, which is why they mostly keep to the Public House.
Xaozon the distiller was once an Aeon Priest but he left the Order of Truth for reasons he will not explain, though they seem to be painful for him. It’s said that Xaozon keeps an eye out for whenever Aeon Priests might visit Umdera, almost as if he’s looking for some in particular, or fears they may be looking for him.
The Strange is a game published by Monte Cook Games. It is, at least in part, set in the normal world, but there are other worlds out there, in the Strange. This list has six rumours for that setting, similar to the various different adventure hooks in the books, and these can be used as adventure hooks or simple misinformation.
Fallen have always been a by-product of the psychic abilities that permeate Atom Nocturne, those who are unable to cope with the heights of their abilities. It’s rumoured that the number of Fallen being created, at least as a percentage of the population, has been steadily rising, suggesting that more and more people are not able to cape with psychic gifts.
Lesser Fallen on Atom Nocturne are caught and they have their psychosis treated in a special floating citadel called Maximum Sanctum. Though the citadel is supposed to be very secure, it’s rumoured that this security is not as thorough as is made out, and that some Fallen have managed to escape over the years.
Some of those of Atom Nocturne have their minds collapse inward as they are unable to manage the heights of psychic ability. These are called the Fallen and seek personal gain above everything else. There are rumours, though, that some of the Fallen have managed to start cooperating with each other, realising they can gain more by working together, however brief that might be, than acting on their own.
Talents on Atom Nocturne are capable of dealing with those known as the Fallen, who seek personal gain above everything else. However, some of the Talents have been disappearing recently and there’s a concern that the Fallen may be seeking to deliberately eliminate the biggest threats to them.
The Splendor Dome in Atom Nocturne is where champions fight using their Talents, in competitions that are not meant to be lethal, and killing an opponent is an automatic disqualification from competing again. It’s rumoured, though, that sometimes others rig the fights to ensure that a rival either accidentally kills a competitor, or is killed by them.
Winners of the competitions at the Splendor Dome in Atom Nocturne may receive an artefact crafted from the psychic energy of the crowd, if the crowd approves. It’s rumoured that sometimes artefacts that should be created are not, and vice versa, as the crowd can on occasion be manipulated in their approval.
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10 Hooks and Rumours for Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.’s Night City
This list has ten hooks and rumours that can be heard in or about the Studio City district of Night City. Whether or not they are true is up to the GameMaster. They can be used as background colour or as potential adventure hooks.
Brookhaven Co-op in Studio City is a low-cost apartment building that was constructed predominately out of substandard materials. The tenants run the building as a co-op and are attempting to get parts of it brought up to a higher level, but are struggling both due to a lack of funds and because the building is fundamentally garbage.
Colonial Studios in Studio City is currently being renovated and repaired to make it a state of the art braindance and holographic producer, but it’s rumoured that work on this keeps running into problems, and sabotage is said to be suspected in some cases. The studio is said to be investigating, both on the Net and not.
Libertine Lanes in Studio City is an old-fashioned bowling alley, though with some more modern features. It’s also rife with juviegangs, gang fights and dorphers, though attempts to shut them down have so far failed. However, it’s rumoured that an attempt is being made to get the place condemned and pulled down which, though it won’t solve the problem, will move it elsewhere.
Malorian Firearms, Inc in Studio City specialises in custom weapons of high quality. Run by the gunsmith Eran Malour, it’s said that Malour is always looking for commissions to make new weapons that are “interesting” in some way. Malour seems less bothered about what such weapons will be used for, and more that making them will be interesting and a challenge to do.
Over the years, the quality of films produced out of Studio City declined a lot, though the new owners seek to turn this around. It’s rumoured, though, that on parts of the lot content is still shot that makes even the trash produced at the depths look like the highest quality of work, and that often what’s filmed ventures into the extremely dubious if not outright illegal.
Studio C at Studio City is in ruins and waiting demolition after a fire was started by an unknown arsonist. There are rumours that the company has been receiving threats, from someone claiming to be the arsonist and threatening to do it again unless they are paid off.
The United Non-denominational Churches of God(s) in Studio City amongst other things runs a soup kitchen for those in need. It’s rumoured that the kitchen has been having problems with juviegangers recently, with them terrorising those heading to the soup kitchen, including the staff. They haven’t been attacking the place directly, but even indirectly it’s causing problems.
There are warehouses on the Studio City lot that contain all kinds of things, some of them going back years. It’s rumoured that the company has recently uncovered a cache of old movies from the last century and are working to convert them to a modern medium. This is being done secretly, because the films are worth quite a lot, even in their current state.
There have apparently been problems with Colonial Studios’ new braindance programs. Some claim that they have had a deleterious effect on some users, damaging their brains, but the studio claims this is disinformation being put out by corporate enemies trying to destroy their business.
Z-KNT is based in Studio City and is one of Night City’s most successful progressive radio stations. Many rockers first found fame because of their exposure on Z-KNT, but some claim that money can be what gets someone played on the radio, not talent. Though this could just be coming from disgruntled rockers who weren’t themselves featured.
D10: Night City Rumours – Studio City is unofficial content provided under the Homebrew Content Policy of R. Talsorian Games and is not approved or endorsed by RTG. This content references materials that are the property of R. Talsorian Games and its licensees.
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Some artwork copyright William McAusland, used with permission
Cities of Sundara: Silkgift introduced aether weapons, firearms that use compressed air tanks to propel their shots, rather than gunpowder.
Aether Grapnel (Two-Handed Firearm)
In some ways a hybrid of Silkgift’s aether weapons and net casters, the aether grapnel has a design not dissimilar to that of an aether rifle, but instead of a harmful projectile being fired by the rifle, it launches a grapnel instead. A grapnel weighs significantly more than the normal ball ammunition fired from a standard aether rifle, and the integral aether reservoir can only launch one grapnel before being depleted. The grapnel will trail rope behind it once fired, and Archer silk is commonly used to make the rope, due to it being light and strong.
Reloading a new grapnel into an aether grapnel is an Attack action. All other rules that apply to standard aether weapons as found in the Silkgift book should be used for replacing and refilling the reservoir, misfires and firing underwater.
Though not a weapon, an aether grapnel still fires a hard object with force and it can still do damage. The cost includes one grapnel and 100′ of rope. Unlike normal aether rifles, aether grapnels do not come in dragon steel variants, as the improved material does not provide a noticeable benefit.
Numenera is a game published by Monte Cook Games. Its setting is the Ninth World, and this list has ten rumours for that setting. The rumours, which are similar to the Hearsay that can be found in the official books, can be used as adventure hooks or as simple misinformation.
Abhumans sometimes attack the village of Umdera, seeking the elixir that is the inhabitants’ most valued possession. The village has a small group of guards that defend against such attacks, amongst other things, and it’s said that, according to the guards, the number of abhuman attacks has been increasing over the years, both in number and in danger.
Charisa is the current High Elder of Umdera and has a reputation for a brusque nature and for behaving like a humourless automaton. Some claim that the reason for this is because that’s what Charisa is; an automaton that took the place of the original woman and thereby seized control of the council of elders.
Gardun Mlen runs a shop in Umdera that sells distilled elixir as well as oddities and parts. The latter comes from a group of explorers calling themselves the Few, who claim to enter dream titans and find items of value within. There are rumours that not every item Gardun sells comes from such a comparatively reputable source, though; some have muttered that a portion of his stock comes from bandits.
Night Speaker Kazwin feels a true connection to the dream titans and is confident that she can answer any question. It’s rumoured that some in Umdera are targeting Kazwin to prove that she is a fraud and thereby undermine the Night Speakers as a whole.
Raw elixir, which is a phosphorescent substance spewed by a single dream titan that Umdera follows, is a powerful substance that’s dangerous in its raw form. It can be safely consumed once it has been distilled, but there are rumours that, though raw elixir is dangerous, it can have a much more powerful effect on those who are able to withstand its effects.
The commons of Umdera is a central portion of the boardwalk that is clear of everything but a few large planters containing trees. The Night Speakers are those most usually found on the commons at night, though it’s rumoured that some are present during the day, in disguise, eavesdropping on conversations to provide them with knowledge to make it seem as if they have real powers.
The Council House in Umdera is where important meetings are held, primarily on a regular basis with the council of elders, which only consists of seven people. There are rumours that attempts by some of the population to get the council expanded always fail for some reason.
The dream titans are the shambling, mountain-sized hulks that roam the lowland region, followed by Umdera which follows the titan that leaves behind a blue, phosphorescent liquid known as raw elixir. Some claim that the dream titans are not living creatures as such, but ancient biomechanical machines constructed by a former civilisation that are now suffering a senescence that means they have lost their original purpose.
The Night Speakers of Umdera ingest a special formulation of the elixir that Umdera collects from a single dream titan which gives them many visions. The Night Speakers claim the visions are revelatory, but many insist this claim is wrong. It’s rumoured that the Night Speakers are still convinced that the visions can be revelatory; the elixir recipe just needs refining.
Umdera is a community that is constantly being dismantled, moved and erected at a new location as it follows creatures the size of mountains called dream titans. Though the community regularly moves, staying in one location for between a few months to a few years, it’s said that some of its inhabitants believe it should cease following the dream titans and make a permanent home somewhere.
The Strange is a game published by Monte Cook Games. It is, at least in part, set in the normal world, but there are other worlds out there, in the Strange. This list has ten rumours for that setting, similar to the various different adventure hooks in the books, and these can be used as adventure hooks or simple misinformation.
Baldran’s Maw in the Strange is a dangerous nexus whose flexing fundament can crush a traveller in moments. Those who venture to the centre of the Maw have the opportunity to try and invest a reality seed, but there are rumours that sometimes seeds invested at Baldran’s Maw turn out in unexpected and unplanned ways.
Brachistochrone dust can often be found in Baldran’s Maw, which is one of the reasons why travellers visit such a dangerous nexus. Some say that the dust from the Maw is different to that found in other parts of the Strange, but so far no-one has been able to confirm this.
Five chambers are set aside for investiture in the Orb of Worlds for those who come to the Orb with a reality seed. Naturally, given how rare reality seeds are, most of the investiture chambers spend their time empty. There are rumours that, on occasion, all five chambers have been used, and all by the same part, which some claim is the Order of the Orb itself, using reality seeds for their own purposes.
Nexuses are where the fractal energy waves of the Strange naturally meet and reinforce each other. Such locations are valuable to those who know how to channel their energy, and though only three have been catalogued by Ruk explorers, many more are believed to exist. It’s rumoured that expeditions have been dispatched by Ruk factions in order to locate more of these nexuses and, presumably, utilise them.
Radical organisations out of Ruk have attempted to take over control of the Orb of Worlds in the Strange on more than one occasion, only to be prevented by the Order of the Orb. It’s rumoured that one of the factions has decided to use a stealthier approach; instead of anything overt, they are gradually infiltrating members into the Order to slowly take control of the Orb from within.
Rive-shamash is one of the most proficient battle teachers of the Order of the Orb on the Orb of Worlds. There are rumours that she checks out those who visit the Orb very carefully, with some saying that if she doesn’t approve of them in some way, the Order will not permit the visitor to stay.
The interior of the Kray Nebula is crawling with kray of all kinds, as well as eggs that are as yet unhatched and larvae. Recently, there have been rumours of kray eggs being found drifting through the Strange in large numbers, all apparently originating from the Nebula, and seemingly being dispersed in quantity from it.
The Kray Nebula is a nexus in the Strange that most with any sense would stay clear of, given that it is home to the kray. And yet, there are rumours that travellers have been seen travelling to the Nebula from Ardeyn and, perhaps worryingly, returning safely again afterwards.
The Nexus of Baldran’s Maw is a great beacon that can be seen from hours away due to its glow, and the vibration from the vibrating fundament inside it is also transmitted through the Strange as a groaning raw that can be heard a day away. Some say that both of these properties of the Maw will sometimes act as a lure, drawing travellers to the Maw where they can be crushed inside it.
The Orb of Worlds is a nexus in the Strange that is guarded by an order of monk-like caretakers originally hailing from Earth. The Order of the Orb has prevented the Orb from being infested by dangerous creatures, though some claim the Order itself has been subverted by parasitic organisms that know control its members for their own purposes.
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10 Hooks and Rumours for Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.’s Night City
This list has ten hooks and rumours that can be heard in or about the Little China district of Night City. Whether or not they are true is up to the GameMaster. They can be used as background colour or as potential adventure hooks.
Aerocab’s offices in Little China are essentially the dispatcher location, with its vehicles maintained and stored elsewhere. Aerocab was the first company specialising in short flights to locations in the Night City area, and Aerocab was one of the first in the market to provide this. It’s rumoured that the company has been getting pressure to sell out to a larger company, and that their Little China offices have come under various forms of electronic attack to try and force them to agree.
An Allpark parking facility in Little China is a prime target for a local boostergang known as the Lords of Discipline, who take advantage of the structure’s lack of security. The gang is not in general a dangerous one, mostly confining itself to muggings and car theft and is easy to intimidate. There are rumours, though, that the Lords have been investing in some better firepower and, though they may still be cowardly, now have better firepower to back them up.
Ling Po Imports in Little China imports various luxury and expensive items from the Orient, all of which have guaranteed authenticity and a history provided to make it clear why they are so expensive. It’s rumoured that the company can also get its hands on things that are equally authentic, but lack as complete a history, due to them being obtained illicitly.
Night City Police Headquarters in Little China hosts a number of high-security cells for containing high risk prisoners, terrorists and cyberpsychosis cases. Those suffering from cyberpsychosis are naturally the most dangerous of those being held in the cells, and it’s rumoured that every so often there is an incident that results in the security of the cells being upgraded yet again.
The Chinese leaders in Night City drew the line at Little China so that the area wouldn’t end up in the Combat Zone, and money from Southeast Asia has helped keep the area in local hands. There are rumours, though, that money is flowing in from somewhere else with the intent of taking control of Little China, though it isn’t known who would want to spend money to achieve that.
The CPU of the elevator in the Red Door Inn in Little China is known not to be always cooperative, and residents may have problems confirming their occupancy and getting to the correct floor. It’s rumoured that this is deliberate, for some reason, with suggestions that sometimes residents not only don’t get taken to their floor, but get taken somewhere else entirely.
The Night City Transit Center in Little China is the central hub for the city’s entire transit system, as well as being the location of the maintenance yards. It’s rumoured that the city is considering moving the hub to another location, which might have a deleterious effect on the district if it’s done.
The Piper Memorial Sports Arena in Little China is home to many blood sports, in particular professional wrestling and boxing. It’s rumoured that the owners of the Arena are looking into promoting some even bloodier sports, in the probably correct belief that attendees would be willing to pay to see things such as gladiatorial matches to the death, but are running into more than a few objections.
The Toy Box in Little China carries toys of the finest quality from all over the world. It’s rumoured that the proprietor, Hing Chin, also sells even finer goods than those he has on display; toys made from the most expensive materials for those who truly have money to burn.
There have been rumours about Madame Lin’s Massage Parlor in Little China, related to Madame Lin being involved in the Pacific Rim slaver circuit. Such rumours have never been substantiated, and it’s said that one reason for this is that those who get too close to the truth have a tendency to disappear.
D10: Night City Rumours – Little China is unofficial content provided under the Homebrew Content Policy of R. Talsorian Games and is not approved or endorsed by RTG. This content references materials that are the property of R. Talsorian Games and its licensees.
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Sign up for our newsletter and get them by email in our weekly update together with discounts on new releases.
Cities of Sundara: Silkgift (PFRPG) introduced aether weapons, firearms that use compressed air tanks to propel their shots, rather than gunpowder.
Aether Grapnel (Two-Handed Firearm)
Some artwork copyright William McAusland, used with permission
In some ways a hybrid of Silkgift’s aether weapons and net casters, the aether grapnel has a design not dissimilar to that of an aether rifle, but instead of a harmful projectile being fired by the rifle, it launches a grapnel instead. A grapnel weighs significantly more than the normal ball ammunition fired from a standard aether rifle, and the integral aether reservoir can only launch one grapnel before being depleted. The grapnel will trail rope behind it once fired, and Archer silk is commonly used to make the rope, due to it being light and strong.
Reloading a new grapnel into an aether grapnel takes a full-round action. All other rules that apply to standard aether weapons as found in the Silkgift book should be used for replacing and refilling the reservoir, misfires and firing underwater.
Though not a weapon, an aether grapnel still fires a hard object with force and it can still do damage. The cost includes one grapnel and 100′ of rope. Unlike normal aether rifles, aether grapnels do not come in dragon steel variants, as the improved material does not provide a noticeable benefit.
Some artwork copyright William McAusland, used with permission
As well as the remains that could be found in a coffin, other items might be found inside as well. Here are ten different things that could be found in a broken open coffin.
Broken, once sealed pot that looks to have been emptied of something.
Cradled in the hands of the corpse inside the coffin is a chalice of blackened silver.
Crowbar, chisel, hammer and small spade in a cloth bag underneath the corpse.
Hidden under the remains is a dagger that still bears what appear to be bloodstains, perhaps a murder weapon hidden in the coffin.
Inside the coffin is the projectile that killed the occupant; it looks as if it was inside the skull until the body decayed enough.
Leatherbound diary, somewhat stained now by proximity to a corpse.
Scroll case tucked into the coffin’s corner. Inside it is the last will and testament of the occupant.
Small bag containing dried herbs, seeds and bones, with an occult symbol embroidered on the outside.
Tightly tucked into the coffin, next to the corpse that was clearly its intended occupant, is another body, one that has been bent and broken so that it fits inside.
Two sets of manacles, one for arms, one for legs, that look as if they may have been on the body.
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