Enchanted Evenings: Running a Game Based on Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Setting the Stage
Understanding the World
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is set in an alternate version of 19th-century England where magic is real but rare. The novel combines historical elements with fantastical ones, creating a unique, immersive environment. To run a game in this world, you should:Familiarize yourself with the period: Understanding the social norms, fashion, and politics of the Regency era will help you create a believable backdrop.Embrace the magic: Magic in Clarke’s world is subtle, scholarly, and often dangerous. Think less Harry Potter and more arcane rituals and ancient tomes.
Choosing a System
Select a tabletop RPG system that supports historical settings and flexible magic systems. Some great choices include:- GURPS (Generic Universal RolePlaying System): Highly customizable and perfect for historical accuracy.
- FATE Core: Offers narrative-driven gameplay and flexible mechanics for magic.
- Call of Cthulhu: Though traditionally horror-focused, its emphasis on investigation and period settings can be adapted for a more magical tone.
Crafting the Story
Themes to Explore
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell delves into themes of power, ambition, and the consequences of meddling with forces beyond human comprehension. When designing your adventures, consider:- The pursuit of knowledge: Characters might seek forgotten spells, ancient artifacts, or lost grimoires.
- Conflict between magicians: Rivalries and alliances can drive much of the drama.
- The consequences of magic: Spells should have significant, often unintended, repercussions.
Plot Hooks
Here are a few ideas to get you started:A Lost Grimoire
Synopsis: A renowned grimoire, said to contain spells of immense power, has resurfaced in whispers among the magical community. The players are hired by a wealthy patron or scholarly society to retrieve it before it falls into the wrong hands.Key Events:Initial Discovery: Players learn of the grimoire’s existence through a mysterious letter or an overheard conversation.
Rival Magicians: Other magicians, each with their own agendas, are also seeking the book. This can lead to cooperation, betrayal, or conflict.
Ancient Defenses: The grimoire is protected by ancient wards and traps, requiring careful planning and significant magical knowledge to bypass.
Unexpected Consequences: Once found, the grimoire’s magic could start to affect the players in unpredictable ways, hinting at a larger, more dangerous power.
The Fairy’s Bargain
Synopsis: A faerie offers to grant the players their deepest wishes in exchange for a seemingly small favor. However, faerie bargains are rarely straightforward and often come with hidden costs.Key Events:The Offer: The players encounter a faerie, possibly the Gentleman with the Thistle-Down-Hair, who offers them a tempting deal.
The Favor: The favor asked by the faerie seems trivial but has far-reaching consequences, such as causing political upheaval or unleashing an ancient curse.
Moral Dilemmas: Players must decide whether to honor or break the bargain, each choice having its own set of repercussions.
Unraveling the Faerie’s Plan: Discovering the true purpose behind the faerie’s request can lead to a larger conflict with faerie forces.
The Gentleman with the Thistle-Down-Hair
Synopsis: This iconic faerie becomes a central antagonist, manipulating events from behind the scenes to further his own enigmatic goals.Key Events:Initial Encounters: Players begin to notice strange occurrences and inexplicable events, all linked to the Gentleman.
Manipulation and Deceit: The Gentleman uses his charm and power to manipulate key figures, potentially including the players themselves.
Uncovering His Plans: The players must gather clues to understand his true objectives, which may involve opening gateways to the Faerie realm or amassing power in the human world.
Final Confrontation: A climactic showdown where the players must outwit or overpower the Gentleman, possibly with the help of other faerie or human allies.
Enhancing the Atmosphere
Period-Appropriate Language
Use Authentic Dialogue: Incorporate phrases and idioms from the Regency era. For example, rather than saying “okay,” characters might say “very well” or “indeed.”Titles and Address: Encourage players to use formal titles and address others appropriately, reflecting the social hierarchies of the time.
Detailed Descriptions
Settings: Describe settings in rich detail, from the dark, cluttered libraries filled with ancient texts to the opulent drawing rooms of high society.Atmospheric Elements: Use sensory details to create an immersive experience. Mention the flickering candlelight, the musty smell of old books, or the chill of a faerie-infested forest.
Incorporating Historical Events
Real Historical Figures: Introduce historical figures as NPCs, such as politicians, military leaders, or other notable personalities of the Regency era.Historical Conflicts: Weave real events, like the Napoleonic Wars, into your story. Perhaps the players’ magical endeavors inadvertently influence these events.
Character Archetypes
The Royal Magician
Background: A magician employed by the crown, tasked with using magic to benefit the state.Motivation: Loyalty to the monarchy and a desire to see England prosper through magical means.
Skills: Access to state resources, knowledge of military applications of magic, and political acumen.
Complications: Torn between duty to the crown and personal moral codes, often caught in political intrigues.
The Cursed Scholar
Background: A brilliant scholar whose intense pursuit of magical knowledge has resulted in a terrible curse.Motivation: To find a way to lift the curse and continue their research.
Skills: Deep knowledge of obscure magical lore, problem-solving, and resilience.
Complications: The curse manifests in debilitating ways, such as physical ailments or uncontrollable magical outbursts, complicating their interactions and endeavors.
The Scholarly Magician
Background: A dedicated academic who has spent years studying ancient tomes and manuscripts.Motivation: To uncover lost magical knowledge and elevate their status within the magical community.
Skills: Extensive knowledge of magical theory, research, and ritualistic spellcasting.
Complications: May be overly cautious or dismissive of practical magic, leading to tension with more action-oriented characters.
The Ambitious Novice
Background: A young and eager magician who shows great potential but lacks experience.Motivation: To prove themselves and surpass their peers, driven by ambition or a desire for recognition.
Skills: Natural talent for magic, creativity in spellcasting, and quick thinking.
Complications: Tends to act recklessly, often biting off more than they can chew.
The Disgraced Noble
Background: A once-respected member of high society who has fallen from grace due to a magical mishap or scandal.Motivation: To restore their honor and reclaim their former status through magical feats.
Skills: Connections with influential figures, charm, and a knack for political maneuvering.
Complications: Haunted by their past mistakes and constantly trying to outrun their reputation.
The Hedge Wizard
Background: A self-taught practitioner of magic, often from a rural or lower-class background.Motivation: To gain recognition and respect from the formal magical institutions that have shunned them.
Skills: Practical, hands-on magic, resourcefulness, and survival skills.
Complications: Distrustful of established magicians and institutions, often leading to friction.
The Faerie-Bound
Background: A magician who has made a bargain with a faerie, gaining power at a significant personal cost.Motivation: To fulfill their end of the bargain while minimizing the impact on their life and soul.
Skills: Enhanced magical abilities granted by the faerie, insight into faerie lore.
Complications: Constantly under the watchful eye of their faerie patron, with unpredictable demands and consequences.
Bringing It to Life
Creating Atmosphere
To capture the novel’s atmosphere:Use period-appropriate language: Sprinkle in some Regency-era speech patterns and vocabulary.
Detailed descriptions: Paint vivid pictures of the settings, from candlelit libraries to misty moors.
Incorporate historical events: Weave real historical events and figures into your narrative to ground the fantasy in reality.
Detailed descriptions: Paint vivid pictures of the settings, from candlelit libraries to misty moors.
Incorporate historical events: Weave real historical events and figures into your narrative to ground the fantasy in reality.
Magic in Play
Magic in this world is rare and mysterious. To reflect this:Limit spell usage: Magic should be powerful but not overused. Consider requiring lengthy rituals or rare components for major spells.
Emphasize research: Characters might spend sessions poring over ancient texts to learn a single spell.
Consequences: Every use of magic should have potential downsides or unintended effects.
Emphasize research: Characters might spend sessions poring over ancient texts to learn a single spell.
Consequences: Every use of magic should have potential downsides or unintended effects.
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