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 Japantown 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.
Hotel Yamagumi in Japantown is, for some reason, owned by Arasaka, though no-one knows why. This hasn’t stopped speculation, though, with it being claimed to be a place where Arasaka can keep people safe to a place where they spy on the clientele, though neither makes much sense, given that it is easily verifiable that Arasaka is the owner.
Kenshiro Saeba is a young solo and former private investigator who has been forced to hideout in Japantown after solving a kidnapping case involving Yasume Kanzaki and a rival gang boss. Kanzaki is fond of Saeba, to the annoyance of his heir, Shin, and there are rumours that Shin would be perfectly willing to cooperate in anything that would result in the disappearance of Saeba that couldn’t be traced back to Shin.
The Garden in Japantown is Night City’s lover’s lane and is kept safe by the Gold Eagles, a Japantown-based guardian gang that keeps the area free of trouble. It’s rumoured that not only will the Gold Eagles stop anyone from attacking those who use the Garden, they will also ensure that they, and anyone they associate with, is never able to do anything similar again.
The Gazebo in Japantown is rumoured to have been built by Richard Night himself, and it’s also where a mass murderer called “The Claw” left most of his victims’ bodies. The City is said to be planning to tear the Gazebo down, as most can’t think of any uses for it, but it’s said they are meeting opposition by different groups who all want it preserved for historical reasons, whether to honour Richard Night, the victims of The Claw or The Claw himself.
The Imperial Bank in Night City’s Japantown has never been robbed, and it’s known to have a very expensive security contract with Arasaka. It’s rumoured that, as expensive as the current contract is, the bank is planning on increasing the current security, leading some to wonder if the management has become aware of a direct threat to the bank, one that has a chance of succeeding against the current security regime.
The Japan Trade Center is where the high-level executives of most Japanese corporations operating inside the United States meet every month to discuss their future strategy and planned acquisitions. The topics of the meetings are kept secret, but it’s rumoured that recordings of them have been turning up on the Net for those willing to fork over enough money to buy.
The Nakagowa Kabuki Troupe is the premiere attraction of the Bodukkan Center for the Performing Arts in Japantown, and there have been some claims that the Troupe is nothing more than a professional posergang, given that some members have been bio-sculpted and never appear in public out of character. Kabuki aficionados dismiss this claim, but it’s rumoured that sometimes the arguments on the matter can get heated, leading to the occasional fatality.
The Nichiban Mall in Japantown is designed to look Japanese, is filled with Japanese shops and all the signs are in Japanese, so any gaijiin will need help getting directions. It’s rumoured that asking for directions often results in being given ones that are poor at best and downright misleading at worst.
The Tokagawa Tower in J-town is home to, amongst others, the local yakuza boss, Hichigo Kanzaki. The penthouse in which he lives is said to be a veritable fortress, but it’s rumoured that no-one outside Kanzaki’s close family and retainers have seen him in some time now, and there are rumours that something may have happened to him.
The XYZ Piano Bar in the Nakagumi Business Plaza in Japantown is a karaoke bar and a known hangout for yakuza, who can be found frequenting the bar on a weekend. There are rumours that certain members of the bar’s staff have recently disappeared, as it turned out that they were spying on the yakuza for someone, which did not go down well once it was discovered.
D10: Night City Rumours – West Hill 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.
Zombies are one of the types of low-level undead that are frequently encountered by characters, though individually they are often not much of a threat.
What Distinguishing Feature Does the Zombie Have?
Little flesh remains and the zombie is verging on skeletal.
Lower jaw is missing and the tongue dangles free.
Maggots riddle the body and drop from it.
One hand is missing at the wrist.
Short sword protrudes from its torso.
Walks with a noticeable limp.
How is the Zombie Behaving?
Gazing around it in an alert manner.
Moving with a jerk, then stopping, then jerking forward again.
Standing in the same spot, not moving at all.
Travelling in circles.
Walking around constantly and randomly.
With its head bowed, not looking at the surroundings.
What Items Does the Zombie Have?
Empty scabbard on a sword belt that smacks into the zombie when it moves.
Full helmet encasing its entire head.
One thigh-length leather boot.
Punctured breastplate.
Shield strapped to its back.
Torn backpack, now empty.
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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 Use that can be found with creature descriptions in the official books, can be used as adventure hooks or as simple misinformation.
Erynth grask are ultraterrestrials with a practically incomprehensible intelligence. They are usually encountered singly, and are dangerous when so encountered, but some claim that there is a pattern to encounters with the creatures. Not just a pattern for the behaviour of an individual erynth grask, but for all of them, as if the entire species is acting on some sort of overarching plan.
Ghost crabs live on the ocean floor, but only in the deeper regions. They can be a danger to any who venture into the depths, as the hunt creatures for food, trapping them in their webs. Though ghost crabs grow up to 5′ across, there are rumours of even larger specimens found in the depths, ones which can grow two, three or even more times larger than even the largest typical ghost crab. These are also said to be substantially more intelligent.
Isthyns are known to fiercely defend their nests, even if doing so means that they will die. A nest of isthyns isn’t so easy to kill, though, and sometimes people harvest isthyn eggs and plant them in places where they wish to deny access to resources, allowing the eggs to hatch and riddling regions with the dangerous creatures.
Jiraskars are extremely dangerous, and fast, creatures, and an encounter with such can quickly end in death for all concerned. However, someone has decided that, because of this, jiraskars would be highly effective in combat. Which is likely true, but training one would be extremely difficult and dangerous. They are offering a reward for all jiraskars that can be captured alive, and an even bigger reward for any that can be trained.
Margr are known for their violent lives, killing each other or anyone unlucky enough to stumble across them. There’s a rumour of one tribe in the wastes, though, that has managed to rein in its bloodlust, at least when it comes to other members of the tribe, and are therefore growing in size and strength. If not stopped, they may become a significant threat to any settlements and caravans in the region.
Mastigophores are normally found in pairs, or larger groups, guarding ancient ruins from interlopers, standing watch and stopping anyone entering. There’s a rumour of some more mobile groups of mastigophores, that travel along regular routes, almost as if they are guarding a road or other ancient route that has now disappeared.
Mesomemes harvest the heads of their victims, whether human or animal, and attach them to tendrils that sprout from the creature. Most mesomemes have an assortment of heads from many different creatures attached to them, but there are rumours of the occasional one which is much more selective, only choosing heads from a specific type of being.
Most murdens live out in the wilderness regions, where they prey on passers-by, but there are rumours that some have set up homes in the tunnels and sewers beneath some larger cities. Though few claim to have seen them, or survived the seeing anyway, there are repeated claims of the irritating telepathy of the murdens being detected.
Nevajin are creatures that can separate their head from their body and have both parts still function separately, though this is a painful process. Someone wants to capture a number of nevajin and forcibly separate their bodies from their heads, to study just how far apart the two can survive, and is willing to pay substantial amounts to anyone who can capture the creatures.
The poisonous reptiles known as laaks are not particularly dangerous individually, but they are rarely found individually. A few people have been said to have turned up dead recently, seemingly poisoned by laaks, though none can be found on the premises. Leading to suspicions that someone is letting laaks into places to do their killing, then collecting them again.
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.
Genetic codes capable of creating truly dangerous creatures can be obtained in Shome in the Periphery, though it’s said that the buyer should check everything carefully before attempting to make such beings. It’s said that a few buyers have ended up dying at the claws and fangs of the things they were trying to create, due to not checking that they had bought what they thought they had bought.
Lady Kasin-dar, of the Fortress of Favors, is known to extract marrow from often-unwilling subjects for the genetic needs of the black-market. It’s rumoured, though, that she also extracts genetic material for her own needs; some say she is suffering from a terrible genetic disease caused by her research that requires regular transfusions of clean genetic material to keep in check.
Mendalla is the unseen crime lord who rules the organisation known as the Onomasticon. Given that no-one has seen Mendalla, there are plenty of rumours about him. Some of these suggest that he’s actually a respected figure in Ruk society who rules the Onomasticon as a way of operating on both sides of the law.
Shome in the Periphery is a lawless city where it’s possible to buy goods that the major factions don’t want selling. Or, at least, that’s what’s normally stated. There are rumours that sometimes the goods being sold by the criminals of Shome are supplied to them by the factions, though it’s unclear as to why this would be done.
Some of Ruk’s factions have outposts and installations in the Periphery, including mobile harvesters and resource barges. There are rumours of a quiet war happening amongst these outposts, as the factions strive with each other for advantage, though never going so far as to instigate open conflict; little enough comfort to those in the way.
The average citizen of Ruk believes that those who venture into the Periphery is either unbalanced in some way or a criminal. To the extent that some citizens are claiming that everyone who does so needs stopping from returning to Harmonius, as they are clearly a bad influence that needs to be kept out of the Glistening City.
The Fortress of Favors is home to Lady Kasin-Dar, who has the ability to rip bones from one individual and splice them into others. The Factol Council and the Myriand have both warned the Lady from using any of the citizens of Harmonius for her experiments, but it’s rumoured that sometimes the council sends citizens who need to be punished to her.
The Onomasticon is a criminal organisation that keeps a database of genetic profiles; given that such can be used to create a whole host of person-specific things from toxins to mind-control parasites, it is extremely illegal. Though the Onomasticon primarily sells such data to others, it’s rumoured that they have gradually been collecting the genetic profiles of people in positions of power, influence or simple utility in order for the organisation to increase its power by controlling them.
Underground tunnels link Shome in the Periphery to the Shadowed City beneath Harmonius. There is a rapid transit system, like a pneumatic tube filled with mucous, that runs through the tunnels, making travel much faster. Though it’s rumoured that not everyone who enters the mucous reaches their destination; some are said to be devoured by the mucous, which is a living creature, so that it can continue to function.
Various groups have attempted to shut down the criminal organisation known as the Onomasticon over the years, with no success. It’s rumoured that other groups have tried to infiltrate the organisation in order to control it too, but if any of these have been successful in this, no-one is telling.
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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 Lake Park 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.
Combat Cabb in the Lake Park district of Night City has some of the most heavily-armed and armoured cabs in the city, and aim to get their customers to their destinations, no matter who needs shooting on the way. Recently, there have been a number of targeted attacks on cabs belonging to the company, with the attackers seeming to be after the cabbie and their cab, not the customer.
Juvegangers make out on Isadore Island in Lake Park during the day, but there are rumours that a few of them have been disappearing. Normally the park is a safe place to visit in daylight, so the idea that someone is still preying on people, even juvegangers, during the day is a concern.
Lake Park might be a safe and pleasant place to visit during the day, but at night it’s a different story. Various citizens who use the park are pressing the city to try and take it back from those who prey in the park at night, but with little sign of intere4st from City Hall. However, if the city government isn’t willing to do anything about making the park safer at night, it’s rumoured that these same people are.
Night City Fire Station #2 has problems getting its old-fashioned tanker trucks to a building fire before said building burns down, due to traffic in the area. There are rumours of some arsonists using this to their advantage, and in fact helping cause more traffic problems to ensure that the fire department can’t get there in time.
Rumour has it that some of the custodians that help keep Lake Park clean during the day don’t do just that. It’s said that some of them are using the fact that there’s all this land available with plants growing on it to grow a few of their own plants, which can then be sold onto the visitors to the park during the day.
The headquarters of the Night City Transit Corporation is in Lake Park, and has been suffering problems recently. Though the security of the building is high, they’ve been suffering from well-planned and technically advanced graffiti attacks. Going by what’s being written on and around the building, someone clearly has an issue with the fares.
The homeless of Lake Park are usually safe from being preyed on by gangs, as the local gangs will even protect the largest group of homeless, known as the Pack, from the predations of other gangs. Recently, though, there have been rumours that some of the Pack have been disappearing, though gangs are not necessarily thought to be responsible.
The lake in Lake Park has a filtration system that sometimes breaks down, leading to the place smelling like raw sewage that day and being deserted because of this. There are rumours that following such days, bodies are often found in the water, dumped by people using the smell and absence of others as a way of avoiding attention.
The picnic grounds in Lake Park have gas-powered grills at different points on the island, though the gas is turned off at night. Reportedly, though, despite this there have been a number of “incidents” – explosions – on some nights due to people tampering with the gas lines in an attempt to get the gas back on., Reportedly, the city is considering removing the gas lines entirely as a result.
D10: Night City Rumours – West Hill 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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In space, ships can still run into trouble, and here are ten different descriptions of problems that others have suffered and which they need help with.
A hull breach has affected the ship and a number of compartments depressurised, killing everyone in them. The depressurised area has cut off several parts of the ship, and without the breach mending and atmosphere restoring to the affected areas, it is impossible to fully control it.
An explosion in the ship’s engine compartment has resulted in the engines being destroyed, most of the engineering crew, including the chief engineer, being killed, and the compartment being opened to space. The ship is currently dead in space and drifting.
Life support on the ship has suffered a critical malfunction due to a computer problem, one that took out all the backup systems as well. If aid isn’t forthcoming soon, everyone will die when the oxygen runs out.
Passengers on the ship came out of cryosleep to discover that the crew had vanished, even though the escape pods remained in place. They lack the skills to pilot the ship, especially as many of the systems have been powered down.
Poorly-fitted reactor shielding has flooded much of the ship with radiation. Many of the crew are dying or dead, and those that have managed to get to better shielded areas are unable to do anything about the problem, as they are unable to get to suitable gear.
The ship has collided with a small asteroid and has suffered extensive damage to its systems and hull as a result. It is no longer capable of getting underway and may be too badly damaged to repair outside of a spacedock.
The ship has suffered an attack by pirates and, although it managed to drive them off, it suffered extensive damage in the process. The pirates may return with reinforcements, and if that happens, a second attack will not be driven off.
The ship in question is in a decaying orbit about a large planet and lacks the ability to break free. They urgently need towing out of the gravity well before they burn up in the atmosphere or just crash.
The ship was too close to the system’s star when a solar flare overwhelmed its systems with an EMP. Most of the systems are now burnt out and the ship is dangerously close to the star and getting closer.
The ship’s fuel supply is contaminated, possibly deliberately at the last place they refuelled, and they are currently dead in space. The ship could do with new fuel, as well as help in flushing their system clear of that which is contaminated, or perhaps a tow if another ship is capable of doing such.
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 Use that can be found with creature descriptions in the official books, can be used as adventure hooks or as simple misinformation.
A band of chirogs is apparently ambushing travellers and demanding that they hand over any numenera in their possession for destruction. Those who refuse are attacked and the numenera taken from their corpses whilst, oddly, those that agree are more often than not allowed to go on their way, which is not how chirogs normally behave.
Abykoses are creatures that look like ghosts, and are considered to be such by the majority of people. The beings are usually not aggressive in nature, but under certain conditions they can be. It’s rumoured that some abykoses are far more aggressive than others, and that this doesn’t appear to be related to the normal conditions for such happening. It’s said that there is a pack of marauding abykoses that travel around leaving destruction in their wake.
Aneen are herd animals that are often domesticated and used as mounts or pack animals. The beasts are omnivores with tiny forelimbs and small claws, neither of which are much use, but there are rumours of larger, significantly more dangerous aneen with larger, stronger forelimbs and claws and a nature that is significantly more carnivorous.
Broken hounds are a danger to those who travel through their territory, attacking in large numbers, and they prove impossible to reason with, acting only out of hunger. Yet there are rumours of packs of broken hounds behaving with far more intelligence and cunning than would usually be the case, leading some to wonder if they could be under the control of numenera.
Caffas are immune to the effects of wind and other air-based attacks, and have no problems with flying in strong winds. Some swarms are rumoured to follow storms, using the high winds of the storm as a way of partially defeating those they attack before they even strike.
Callerails, when two of them encounter each other, fight to the death, each attempting to absorb the inorganic parts of the other. There’s a rumour that a truly enormous callerail has been seen, one which looks as if it may have successfully absorbed the portions of several others and grown significantly as a result.
Dark fathoms are incredibly dangerous machines of war that anyone with sense would leave well alone. There’s a rumour, though, that a Nano with more ambition than sense is hoping to capture a dark fathom and control the creature to use against their enemies, and are looking for people willing to help them capture one.
Most cragworms dwell in abandoned and isolated areas, but there are rumours of a smaller variety that can be found living beneath cities, particularly in old passages, and in other underground areas. Though these may not be as dangerous as a normal cragworm, due to being smaller, the small spaces in which they are found can make them difficult to avoid.
There’s a bounty on the head of culovas living in the Westwood, due to the beings disrupting the local logging trade. It’s rumoured that the culovas have started to act more aggressively against interlopers as a result. Instead of remaining on familiar ground as they normally do, some say the creatures are instead venturing further afield and initiating combat pre-emptively.
Though blood barms are not usually aggressive unless they or their young are threatened, there are rumours that sometimes blood barms who are raising young can become very territorial. In such a case, the blood barms stake out a section of land and will viciously attack anything that moves into it, continuing with such behaviour until the young are grown enough and the blood barms move on.
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.
An outsider from Harmonius has recently arrived in the underground city of Dran. They do not appear to be from Zal, who are helping to rebuild the city, nor are they claiming any other faction membership. Those who have spoken to the outsider, though, believes that they are an agent from one of the factions and, going by their questions, looking for someone and something specific, though what hasn’t been shared.
Rumour has it that agents of both the Quiet Cabal and the Karum are searching the Veritex beneath Ruk for something. It’s thought, going by their questions, they are looking for a specific person, though it isn’t known whom. The agents have been seen in several cities of the Veritex, and may have even clashed with each other as well.
The underground city of Dran was recently hit by quakes that buried much of the city and collapsed most of the rest. Representatives from Zal are helping with the rebuilding, which the residents appreciate, but there have been rumours that Zal somehow caused the quakes in order to get control over the city.
The All Song does not reach into Muk in the Veritex, and it’s a possible destination for members of the Church of the Embodiment. It’s rumoured that devotees of the All Song are trying to stir up opinion against Muk, claiming that the All Song doesn’t reach the small city due to the actions of its residents, who are secretly plotting something.
The Veritex is a maze of tunnels beneath the surface of Ruk, and it’s thought that they all used to connect before Ruk was damaged. Some portions are isolated from others, and it’s been suggested that some of the collapses isolating them are not the result of damage, but are deliberate in nature, suggesting someone has something they want kept hidden.
There are cities in the Veritex beneath Ruk, home to all sorts of people, from those with hidden agendas to criminals to those that just wish to be left alone. It’s rumoured that some of Ruk’s factions have taken over some of the cities, using them as hidden bases from which they can launch operations without others seeing; the Karum is said to be one of these.
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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 Night City University 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.
Dr. Edward Michaels is the Dean of Night City University and he tries to keep the corporations out of the university’s decision-making process, which annoys them and many of his colleagues, who would prefer more corporate sponsorship. Rumour is that some of those colleagues are conspiring with the corporations in an attempt to force Michaels out of his position.
Hababas on Grace Street is a former biker bar that is now the preferred hangout of the Voodoo Boys. Armed conflicts are discouraged but students who fancy themselves as being toughs often go there to prove themselves. Quite a number of these have ended up severely injured as a result, and it’s rumoured that some of their more influential parents are pressuring the university to do something about the bar.
It’s rumoured that not everything done in the Science Labs of Night City University should be done there, or is authorised by the faculty. There have been claims of the chemistry labs being used to manufacture new drugs for use on the street or explosives, and that these are secretly shipped out to gangs willing to pay for them. Explosives are dangerous, though, and it’s said that there’s occasionally an “incident” in the labs.
It’s said that Night City University has been conducting research into neuralchip interfacing, using students as guinea pigs for the research, and that this research has gone very badly wrong. Though no students are said to have died, some are said to be barely alive and that their families have been paid substantial sums of money to keep everything quiet.
Newgate Prison and Paragon are two rather different bars that share the same building in Grace Street near the university. There are persistent rumours that Newgate is the place to go for any student wishing to score something a bit harder than just alcohol, but the owners continually deny this and a few attempts to find evidence of this have all failed to do so.
Night City University’s Schumaker Hall of Performing Arts hosts film and video studios, as well as other places. and there are constant rumours about students getting into those studios after hours to do video and film-related projects that are definitely not on the curriculum. No-one has ever been caught, nor even any evidence found, and it’s thought this is just an urban legend.
Night City University’s student housing is at least reasonably secure and all, no matter what the standard of the apartments are, have generally the same level of security. It’s rumoured, though, that this security is starting to wear thin around the edges, and that there have been incidents in some of the complexes.
Students at Night City University can arrange an agreement with the campus police to come to the protection of any students living in the blocks near to the university itself. It’s rumoured that some students are trying to increase the funding of the campus police so that they have the people and equipment needed to take control of the blocks closest to the university and make them as safe as the campus.
The Biograph Theatre on Grace Street has two screens, one showing art films for students, the other showing adult films to support the first screen. There are rumours that students in need of some money can inquire about appearing in the adult films for some quick cash, though no-one has ever seen anyone they recognise.
There are rumours that the university is planning to expand again, though opinions differ as to just where they will expand to. Suggestions range from simply buying up some of the neighbouring blocks and flattening them, to satellite campuses in other cities, to building their own artificial island in the bay.
D10: Night City Rumours – Old Downtown 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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The Fists of Kormmuz are sellswords found in Sellswords of Sundara (5E) who fight using leather hand wraps, cestus studded with metal plates and full gauntlets, dealing damage with their fists. Sometimes these are enchanted to do more damage or other injuries to the target.
Cestus of Stunning
Wondrous item, rare
Description
The cestus of stunning is a +1 weapon and looks like a normal cestus. It grants a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls on unarmed attacks and on a successful blow it can deliver an additional 1d6 points of electrical damage and can stun the opponent. An opponent who takes a critical hit from a cestus of stunning, unless they are immune to electrical damage, must make a DC 7 Constitution save or be stunned for 1 round.
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This list has ten hooks and rumours that can be heard in or about the Japantown 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.
