So, I’m looking for ideas that can flesh out London as a supernatural city.
I’ve read the city guide, and though it does an adequate job of capturing the real-world diversity of London, it doesn’t extend that diversity into the faction descriptions which are overwhelmingly white/eurocentric.
What are some ways of reflecting the diversity that defines London in the Fantastical elements of the game?
Wild gives you an easy shot at this, with your “Fae” covering djinn and pretas and all other sorts of fun international spirits, either brought by the spread of the empire or coming with generations of immigrants. You could also easily have the oldest vampire or most potent wizard in the city be transplants from abroad (Chinese folklore offers ready inspiration for both). If you need immortals, remember that London goes at least as far back to Roman Londinium and easily older with the native tribes, but also that the city imported copious numbers of mummies at the turn of the century. If nothing else, make some of your more modern characters nonwhite, or at least mixed-race.
(Spoilers for the City Guide)
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Mummies actually get to be the exemplars of the night faction. But their inclusion evokes White Victorian archaeology, not so much actual People of Color. And the book doesn’t even engage with the imperialism inherent in importing the ancient remains & artifacts of another culture, instead blaming the mummy craze on mummies themselves.
Brainstorming further, the characteristic that makes the history of British Immigration distinct, at least from my perspective as an American, is its connection to the history of British colonization and the establishment of the British Empire. That so many People of Color in the have roots in the former colonies of the United Kingdom.
I think rather than a generic “fey spirts from everywhere” take, (that is used a few places in the city guide for the US cities and feels much more of a natural fit there), that the best solution would be to come up with a specific and compelling story of why the a particular group of monsters has come to London and tie it to the history of British Imperialism in that country.
Read Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch or Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman.
Seconding the vote for Neverwhere. Actually, with a little digging you might be able to find some RPG-related materials, ripe for contributing elements.
Another possible inspiration: Cleanskin, a movie starring Sean Bean, which tackles prejudice against Muslims within London and the possible ramifications of it. While it has no speck of urban fantasy in the growling creatures arena, it does address racial tensions and could easily spin some Fae into a similar storyline.
The Fireborn GM guide is mostly a supernatural guide to London. I run my game in London and have all sorts of things going on. Fae fighting over the great parks, werewolves in battersea (as an easy pun) etc
Don’t know if anyone mentioned this, but the newest book Dark Streets has some interesting ideas.
Rachael Compton OP said they read it.