Cloudship Atlantis

by Dr.Robert Lang

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C

ontents

I

ntroduCtIon

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ettIng

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Introduction3Humbles3 TheGentry3HumblesandTheGentry4GentryProfessions4 AtlantisinDetail5SkyPirates6CreaturesofTerraFirma6

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haraCter

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reatIon

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I.AssignAttributes6II.ChooseaTrade7III.AssigningSkills7IV.PickaHumblism7 V.NameandDescription8CharacterCreationExample8

g

ame

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ystem

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Introduction8PerformingActions8 TargetNumbers9SocialSkills9DicePools9

Who goes rst?

9Battles9 WoundsandDeath9Improvingyourcharacter9GameplayExample10

g

amesmaster

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eCtIon

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Introduction10MechanicsNotes10NPCExamplesandAttributes10

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Setup11Chapter1:Freedom!11Chapter2:Murder!(Nearly)12Chapter3:TheJob12Chapter4:TheBall13Chapter5:Pirates!13Chapter6:EntwhistleCaptured14Chapter7:TheStern14

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ppendIx

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SkillList14HumblismList15NameList15GentryProfessionLadder16

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eChanICal

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onders

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d

edICatIon

Thisgameisdedicatedtomyunbornson,whomayonedaywanttoplayit.Morelikelyhewon’t-beingfartoocoolforDad’shobbieslikeMumis.

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nformatIon

Dr.RobLangisaFreeRPGevangelist.HewritestheFreeRPGBlogandistheAuthorofIcar-thefreeScienceFictionRPG.Thisgamewascreatedaspartofthe200924HourRPGCompetition,in whichRobisajudge.Itwascreatedin24hours withachunkof8sleephalfwaythroughthemiddle.27thJune2009. Youmayprintandusethisgameforpersonaluse,butnotforcommercialsale.AllimagesaresketchesbytheAuthor.http://thefreerpgblog.blogspot.comhttp://www.1km1kt.netroblang@icar.co.uk

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hop

Please let the person holding this datale print and

bindthisgame.AstheAuthor,Igivemypermis-sion.



AHumble’slifeissimple.Wake.Getdressedintobrowntrousersandagreyshirtandjacket.Eatgru-

el. Work a rst shift. Eat gruel. Work a second shift.

Eatgruel.Socialise.Getundressedintoagrubbygreynightshirt.Sleep. AlthoughlifeishardandthechoicesthatHumbleshavearelimited,theirlifeisfamilyorientedandjolly.TheirSocialgatheringsarealightwithsong,dance,storiesandallimportantcourting.TheonlyhierarchyamongstHumblesisbyage.CompetitionbetweenthedifferentHumbletradesisfriendlyand

laced with ne banter. There is equality, fraternity

andfairnessthroughout.HumbletradesaredeterminedbytheareaofAt-lantisthattheywork.Anygivenfamilyworksinthesametradetogetherandtheonlywaytochangetradeisforadaughtertomarryintoanotherfamily, whichhappensoften.

TheGentry

TheGentryisastructuredrulingclass.Theyliveabove TheBowinairy,tallceilingedapartmentsandstrollincare-fullymanicuredgardens.TheGentryaretall,educatedandhaughty.Appearance,decorumandsocialstatusisallimpor-tant.Thefamilyunitdissolvessoonafterababyisborn,thechildleftintheGovernance,aboardingschoolcomeprisonuntiltheyareoldenoughtocontributetoSociety.Withoutclosefamilyties,TheGentryhavenobirthright:eachmust

nd their own way.

EverymemberofTheGentryhasaprofessiononAtlantisandthisjobdeterminestheirpositioninSociety.EveryGentandLadyseekstoimprovetheirprofession,nomatterwhatittakes.Eachiseducatedenoughtopickupanyprofession. TheworldabovetheBowmaybeoneofchoice

I

ntroduCtIon

You escaped the boiler room on the ying city of

CloudshipAtlantis.Nowintheupperclassworldof

the Gentry you must blend into society, ght Cloud

Pirates,conductduelsandavoidtheCoppers,who willbehuntingyou.BornaHumbleinthebowelsofthegreatsteamgiant,youhaveascendedbyluckintotheupperworldandyoumustworkhardtokeepitthere. Thisbookisgamesettingandsystem,writtenin24hours.Thesystemisadicepoolsystemthatusedd20s.

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ettIng

Introduction

Atlantis is a Victorian city oating above a black,

barrenwastelandofcoaldunes,geyserssteamvents

called Terra Firma. Aoat atop gargantuan sacks of

geysergasandpoweredbyanunfalteringsupplyofsteam. AtlanteansocietyissplitintwobyTheBow,ahori-zontallinedrawnfromthetipoftheprowtothestern.TheGentryofAtlantisliveaboveTheBow,aprivilegedlifeofluxuryandyetgraveresponsibility.BelowtheBowlivetheHumbles,theywhostoke

the re, service the boilers, mine the coal and inate

thesacks.

Humbles

FormorethanthreeCenturies,theHumbleshavelived,workedandbredinthedark,sweaty,sootyhallsbelowTheBow.Aspirationisfutile,Hum-bleshavebeenbredintoservitude.AsHumblesage,theybecomehunched,theirskinpermanentlyblackenedandcalloused.Asyoungsters,theystandnotallerthansixfeet.AHumbleolderthanfourhundredandeightyphasesofthemoonisaveryoldHumbleindeed.