The Beloved Underbelly of Nocturnis
Winter Rules & The Architecture of Heat
Surviving the Longest Night in the Underbelly
DECEMBER 31, 2020
The final hours of 2020 are ticking away on the brass dials of the 1909 Analytical Engine. Outside, the Shreveport fog has turned into a razor-sharp sleet that rattles against the bookstore's reinforced glass. Inside, the Beloved Underbelly is a hive of activity, but every movement is dictated by the Winter Rules.
The Resource Drain: Bartering for BTU
In the Underbelly, survival is an equation. To keep the third-floor nursery at a steady 72 degrees for the twins, we’ve had to lean on our 3D6 Financial Resources more than ever.
Because the Cost of Cold is so high, the barter system is in full effect. Angela has released some of her "Dilettante" jewelry—specifically a 1920s emerald brooch—to a contact in the Tygerian Reach in exchange for high-grade heating oil that doesn't leave a thermal signature for the Silvertons to track.
The winter solstice has hit the Tygerian Reach. In the bookstore front, the windows are frosted over, obscuring the "Fred" persona from the street. But behind the heavy oak doors, the 354 is operating under Winter Rules.
In the Underbelly, winter means the 1909 Engine has to work double-time. We’ve diverted the steam-valve runoff into the floorboards of the third-floor nursery. It’s a delicate balance of pressure and temperature that only the Architect can maintain.
The Economics of the Frost
Winter changes our resource allocation. We aren't spending our $390 monthly surplus on reconnaissance drones or rare inks right now; we’re spending it on Thermal Stability.
| Winter Resource | Cost (1920s Rate) | Tactical Necessity |
| Coal & Oil | $0.40 / unit | Keeping the Analytical Engine from seizing in the cold. |
| Heavy Woolens | $5.00 / set | Outfitting the 35 Veterans for sub-zero perimeter watch. |
| Hot Toddy Stock | $1.00 / glass | Boosting the morale and "CON" saves of the team. |
| Antifreeze/Lubricants | $2.50 / tin | Keeping the Tiger Force vehicles ready for a "Cold Start" breach. |
The Winter Perimeter
Under Winter Rules, our Credit Rating works differently. The city is quiet, and anyone moving on the streets is scrutinized. Hawk has swapped his olive-drab tee for a heavy tactical parka, his shaved head now covered by a dark watch cap. He’s ghosting through the alleyways, checking the steam vents.
"The cold makes the Slinish sluggish," Hawk reported during the midnight debrief, sipping a Hot Toddy. "But it makes the metal brittle. We need to watch the gate hinges."
🖋️ Captain’s Log: The Longest Night
"The twins are five weeks old now. They don't know about the Shadow Saga or the Slinish Rot; they just know the warmth of the Firehouse-Lab. Angela has been reading to them from 1929 periodicals, her voice a soft contrast to the howling wind outside.
My 19 IQ is focused on the boiler pressures, but my heart is on the peace we've carved out here. We’re living on a budget of dimes and quarters according to the ledgers, but in the Beloved Underbelly, we are the masters of our own climate. Let the winter come; the 354 is dug in, fueled up, and warm."
❄️ Bonus: The 3D6 Winter Weather Table (Nocturnis Underbelly)
Roll 3D6 at the start of each game day (or blog post) to determine the atmospheric conditions affecting the Firehouse-Lab and the surrounding streets.
| 3D6 Roll | Weather Condition | Tactical & Mechanical Effect |
| 3-4 | The Slinish Deep Freeze | Severe: All machinery (including cars/Engine) requires a Level 2 IQ SR to start. -2 to all DEX rolls due to ice. |
| 5-6 | Coastal Bone-Chill | Bitter: -1 to CON rolls. The 354 must spend double on "Heating Fuel" resources for the day. |
| 7-8 | Freezing Mist | Obscured: Vision reduced to 10 yards. +10% to Stealth rolls, but -20% to long-range Shooting. |
| 9-12 | Standard Winter Grey | Normal: No major penalties. The bookstore front looks appropriately dreary and "invisible." |
| 13-14 | The Thaw-Leak | Damp: The Underbelly tunnels become flooded. Level 1 Luck SR to avoid equipment water damage. |
| 15-16 | Thunder-Sleet | Violent: Electrical interference. The Analytical Engine outputs are scrambled; -2 to all Research rolls. |
| 17-18 | The Algierian Aurora | Supernatural: The portals are active. +1D6 to all magic/occult rolls, but the Slinish Rot is twice as likely to manifest. |
🖋️ The Architect’s Meteorological Note
"In the Beloved Underbelly, we don't just look at the sky; we listen to the brass barometers on the 1909 Engine. If we roll a 3, it’s a 'Deep Freeze'—I have to stay in the basement just to keep the oil from turning to sludge. But if we hit that 18, the 'Algierian Aurora' lights up the Shreveport sky with a ghost-blue glow. That’s when Angela feels the strongest pull back to 1929, and that’s when Hawk double-checks the silver-tipped rounds in his magazines. The weather isn't just a background; it’s a player at the table."
📜 Product Identity & Legal
The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges:
The water world of Algieria super earth: Including the Nocturnis Neo Noir city and its Underbelly, the Whispering Isles, and the Tiger Force Shadow Saga.
The Firehouse-Lab: The specific architectural layout of the 354 Headquarters, including the 1909 Analytical Engine and the bookstore front.
Character Personas: The "Hedge Wizard" archetype, Fred the Bookseller, Arthur Earl (The Architect), Hawk (The Field Commander), and Angela St. Claire.
Unique Items: The Ink of Anticipation, The Scope of the True Meridian, and the specialized "Tiger Force" tactical gear.
Monsters! Monsters! 2nd edition, and SA magazine are trademarks of Ken St. Andre and Troll Godfather Press and are used with permission. The statistics and game mechanics provided herein are designated as unofficial playtest material for the Tygerian reach city of Noctunis within the whispering isles.
© 2020 Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. All rights reserved.
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