The Updates

The Riverview Inn

However, it's always been a strong tradition that the night of the twin full Moons, which comes every two months, is a deeply unlucky day to have a fight, and those who do so are looked on with contempt by all and sundry; the Moon Truce, as it is called, is regarded as an almost sacred thing. On the night of the Moon Truce the Riverview is the place where the various factions in the city meet without fear that their words will circulate beyond the Riverview's clientele, or that they will be shanked. This tradition is respected by factions criminal, political, governmental, and esoteric.

Mungo, the bouncer, deals with any troublemaking during the evening. Now, Mungo's a big lad but he's not the greatest fighter in Horizon. However, trucebreaking is - aside from being deeply unlucky, according to superstition - liable to earn you a fatal dose of street justice later on from every faction which respects the truce, often including your own. So people tend to listen to Mungo when he tells them to settle down.

The superstition does not cover duels of honour, for it is said that the Moons themselves have been known to duel when both are full. There is a courtyard out back, enclosed by the tavern and the stables and the lodgings and the edge of the bridge, which makes an ideal venue for such things.

There's unspoken agreement that the authorities will turn a deaf ear to dubious business discussed at the Riverview on the night of the Moon Truce; the Elder Muldoon has bribed the right people in the Watchdogs to prevent embarrassing raids and arrests, and the authorities appreciate having an opportunity to hire a crook or two. It should be noted that Imperialists are universally despised, both within the underworld and by all governments. Those who remember the Last War remember the Emperor's crimes and (by and large) despise what the Empire became; those who do not remember the Empire tend to think of the Imperialists as dangerous lunatics who bomb buildings full of innocent people in the name of a mad dictator who's probably dead. Whilst the Truce is a relatively safe time, it would be foolish in the extreme to loudly proclaim yourself an Imperialist during it; come sunrise, the entire city will be after your blood.

Some OOC Comments:

The Bar: There will always be a GM on hand playing a Muldoon behind the bar. The bartender is there to help you! The Muldoons know everyone who's worth knowing in the underworld; if you're not sure who to talk to if you want, say, a decent safecracker who's game for robbing a clockworker's shop, they'll be able to advise you.

If, during the game, you're completely bored, confused, or isolated, or simply aren't having fun, come along to the bar and sit down. A person sitting down at the bar is the subtle, non-atmosphere breaking signal to players and GM that you aren't enjoying yourself. The GM who is tending the bar will be happy to help you with your issues, as bartenders in these things have done since time immemorial. ("Why the long face, Frank?" "Ah, Muldoon, nobody's in the market for a good thief these days/I'm new in town and I've no idea who to talk to/I've got this problem with ghosts and I haven't the first clue who can help me.")

We'd also like players to help here. If you see someone sitting down at the bar, it means that they're at a loose end and aren't enjoying themselves; we'd appreciate it greatly if you could make an effort to talk to them and help them get involved in the game. If you are enjoying yourself and just want to ask the bartender (or the GM at the bar) a quick question, please stand at the bar rather than sitting to avoid confusion.

Remember: if a player is standing at the bar they are just having a chat with the barman or some other character. If a player is sitting at the bar they are bored and would like other people's help in order to get involved with things.