The Updates

Tradition, Superstition, and the Status Quo

Traditions and Superstitions

The Gods and their cultists: The Gods are reviled, aside (of course) for the Intercessor. The Intercessor's main claim to benevolence is banishing all Gods (including himself) from the world and promisimg not to meddle any more. Individuals such as Versinya and Verachtlich lend a certain amount of credence to the idea that the Gods are all evil;

The Powers and their shamen: Are also widely feared, but more so by superstitious sorts. It's hard for sophisticated, modern sorts to regard the Sky and Land and Ocean as being alive; people will tend to scoff at the idea that the Powers are somehow alive and malevolently plotting against humanity, but at the same time will be swift to lynch folk who seem to be collaborating with the Powers. Ghouls are allowed to practice shamanism on the basis that the Intercessor's message seemed to be intended for humanity; the Church of the Intercessor is not entirely pleased about this.

The Moon Truce: Every two months, when the twin Moons are full, it is very unlucky to begin a fight with someone - unless it is a formal duel.

The Riverview Inn: The Riverview Inn is one of several buildings that sit on the bridge between the Steam and the Docks. The Riverview - and, indeed, the other establishments on the bridge - tends to be regarded as neutral territory by the criminal underworld. The Muldoon family, who own the tavern, have paid the right bribes to the right people to maintain this neutrality.

Duels: Duels in Horizon are pretty damn simple. You challenge yer opponent, you agree on the weapons to be used, you meet at the earliest convenient time and you fight. Alternately, your opponent backs down and acknowledges you the better fighter.

By and large, duels are only fought to first blood; duels to the death tend to only happen with the fighters involved really, really hate each other, or when there's a terrible accident. Furthermore, and please take note of this because this differs from certain other freeforms that have had duels as part of the setting, duels are not fought to resolve disputes unless the parties in the dispute agree to settle it with a duel. Duels are regarded as an honourable manner in which two gentlemen may settle their differences without endangering their interests too greatly; however, it's widely recognised that many people in the criminal underworld are neither honourable nor gentlemen.

For example: Louis the Bear and Big Wilhelm, two drug barons, have been trying to force each other out of the dope market in the Steam for ages. Meanwhile, Crazy Abdul from the Cartel has been muscling in on the territory; Louis and Wilhelm realise that if they don't settle their differences soon they'll end up destroying each other's business playing into Crazy Abdul's hands. They agree that their biggest, toughest, ugliest mooks will fight it out at the Riverview; the winner's employer will get the Steam monopoly. This is an entirely appropriate agreement and an entirely honourable duel.

Another example: Crazy Abdul has been engaged in his own battle with Nutty Achmed for leadership of the Cartel. Abdul says to Achmed "Brother! Why must the Cartel suffer while we battle for mastery? Let us duel that we may settle this with honour." Achmed spits in Abdul's face and says "Pah! I care not for honour when there is power to be gained! Keep your bodyguards close, Abdul; soon the Cartel will bow to me and you will receive the Twin Silvers!" Achmed in this instance is under no obligation to duel Abdul, although his refusal may make him seem dishonourable to some; those within the Cartel who value honour may transfer their support to Abdul, but those within the Cartel who admire ruthlessness could transfer their support to Achmed.

A third example: After Crazy Abdul has won control of the Cartel and Achmed lies dead in a ditch, Abdul is celebrating when Charlie the Pimp comes up to him. "I challenge you to a duel!" screams Charlie. "Er, what?" says Crazy Abdul. Charlie yells "Before this day is out we will fight a duel, and I will win control of the Trading District from you!" Abdul strokes his beard. "You are drunk," he says to Charlie, "and you are a silly man. Try to take the Trading District if you dare; the Cartel will send you running back to the Slums with your tail between your legs and your hat on fire, and your best whores will find comfort in my harem." In this instance, Abdul loses no honour by refusing the duel; there is no ongoing dispute to be resolved here, merely a brash challenge from a man fortified by drink.

Last example: Terry the Thug and Bruno the Boxer both reckon they're the best fighters in Horizon. They challenge one another to a duel and Bruno kicks Terry's arse. This is an entirely acceptable duel, because it's purely about showing off one's combat prowess.

Beggars: It is considered bad luck to mistreat a beggar, but at the same time bad luck to employ them; culturally speaking, this leads to a situation where people feel vaguely uncomfortable around the homeless, unwilling to give them too much help but not wanting to get forceful with them and make them go away.

The Twin Silvers: In the Horizon criminal underworld, and in those subcultures that come in contact with it (IE, the subcultures non-criminal PCs occupy), it is considered both polite and lucky to give a man you are going to kill (or have killed) the Twin Silvers - two old coins from the Imperial currency (now utterly worthless - it doesn't take a lot of effort to find a couple of these) with the likeness of the two Moons on the back. The significance of the Twin Silvers is simple: they are supposed to remind one of the truce that comes when the two Moons are full, and a person who has received the Twin Silvers has twenty-four hours left to put their affairs in order before the hit men come.

It's considered a dishonourable and unworthy act to kill someone without giving them the Twin Silvers, but there is no obligation to draw their attention to the fact that you've handed them the Silvers. It's fairly common to have a scene in a play where one of the villain's cronies is counting his ill-earned reward from his master at night, only to discover that the reward money includes the Twin Silvers just as the assassin is coming through the window. The Three Families are especially down on important people (like the PCs) having hit men sent after them when they've not received the Twin Silvers; they have made it known that they will take action against anyone who does such a thing, and will protect the victims where possible. They've also made it known that if they find out you've thrown away your Silvers to get their protection they'll kill you themselves.

The Status Quo

On the other hand, the Mayoral Legions are well-trained, and the Ministry of Friendship does an excellent job of playing the Four Nations off against one another - any decision to begin a second Siege would have to be unanimous amongst the Four Nations, and the Four Nations don't have much in the way of common ground except "The Empire's never, ever going to happen again." If Jurica, for example, unilaterally decided to move against Horizon, Irgar, Vegdarbarra and Lasinia would swiftly come to Horizon's aid. On the other hand, under certain conditions the Four Nations could well decide to invade Horizon and either impose martial law or burn the city to the ground. This is a distinct possibility if: