Name: Neil Johnson
Theme: Protecting everybody ain’t easy
Age: 45
Archetype: caregiver 
Class: police
Religion: catholic
Money: 500
Lives: 4
Resistance: 3
Taxes: 50
Equipment: gun, personal notebook
Special:

• Christian: At least once per day, go to confession
• Personal notebook: can be used as a proof of the hidden crimes, but it is double-edged sword. Together with the criminal, it would take you down as well. If you decide so, you can destroy it.
• Detective: Expenses at your medical treatment are paid by the government (write on the paper a cheque, and doctor can turn it into money at mayor).

Neil Johnson (45) has served as the Chief of Police in Aetherwick for the past ten years. A respected man, he does what he can to maintain law and order in the city. But there are many unsolved crimes anyway. Kids and youngsters murdered in the streets, rich people killed in their bed, their companies burning… Aetherwick is a violent city. 

Legacy of Duty

Your father was one of the first policemen in Britain. You chose to follow in his footsteps.

Back then, the police force was a new institution—riddled with bribes, errors, and mischief—but it was also built on a vision: the dream of a more peaceful and safer society. Both your father and you tried to serve that ideal, each in your own twisted way.

Your father worked his way up to become Chief of Police in Aetherwick. When he was killed in the line of duty, you were given the chance to replace him. It wasn’t just nepotism—though that did play a part. You had genuinely worked hard, proved yourself as a capable officer, and earned your reputation through results and charisma. But the real challenge began only after you reached the top.

Hard Choices

Though you’re third only to the tax collector Ned Jemmy, and Mayor, you quickly learned the dangers of being surrounded by powerful people. Early in your tenure, you faced a cruel choice: accept a bribe or lose your position—or even your life. Dead men can’t help anyone… and you still want to help.

Deadly Duel… probably

Ten years ago, you were called to the scene of a murder: the body of Dr. Alan Conray, a respected gentleman and father of Ruby Conray. He had been stabbed through the heart—duel style. At a gentleman’s club, you heard whispers of a heated argument between Conray and Sir Waverly Scott, one of Aetherwick’s most prominent figures. When you questioned Waverly, he handed you a hefty bribe and claimed he knew nothing. You kept half the money. The other half, you slipped quietly to Ruby, hoping it would help her finish her medical studies.

The Crime Lords

Two major criminal empires rule the underworld of Aetherwick:

Merill Collins (42) — specializes in illegal prostitution and narcotics. Her protégé, Claudia Knight (22), is rumored to be more than just a “right hand.” You suspect their mother-daughter bond hides something nastier… and a bit more sexual.

Logan Ahern (42) — oversees illegal gambling. His lieutenant, Samuel Fidget (22), is quiet but dangerous, and deadly. 

Both crime lords cater to elite clientele. Claudia’s brothels host figures like Sir Waverly Scott and merchant Hughie McMillan (55). Ahern’s high-stakes poker nights attract Waverly Scott, Bishop Columbus Ede (45), and merchants Arthur Dart (30) and Bradley Harrington (42).

You used to believe that a known enemy was better than an unknown one—that black markets were a necessary evil. But recently, the drug trade has spiraled out of control. You’re beginning to wonder if you could take out both leaders and replace them with their more manageable seconds-in-command.

The Lost Daughter

Twenty years ago, Hughie McMillan came to you in panic: his wife had vanished with their daughter. Your investigations led you into the underworld. You discovered that his wife had fled—not out of fear, but out of suffocation. Hughie’s obsessive rules had driven her away. Feeling unfit to raise her child alone, she left the daughter with a prostitute—Merill Collins. You chose not to pursue the matter further. You believed it was for the best.

The Hellfire Club

Years ago, you investigated the disappearance of a girl named Alice Donaldson—sister of Mitchell Donaldson. You beat up one punk until you learned the truth: Alice had been sold to Lady Muriel Clubb by Merill Collins. When you confronted Muriel, she seduced you, humiliated you, and made it clear you’d never prove anything. She revealed the girl had been used in a ceremony at the Hellfire Club—an elite sex cult for the powerful. Then, she invited you to join.

You accepted. It wasn’t just out of guilt or lust. Since joining, you’ve quietly prevented several potential atrocities. Membership also gives you access to dangerous influencers: Bishop Columbus Ede, Lady Victoria Scott, Merchant Arthur Dart, and of course, Sir Early Clubb, Muriel’s husband.

Your Detectives

Your strongest asset for years has been Liam Conolly (30)—a reckless but relentless enforcer who keeps the city’s worst in check.

Recently, a new detective joined the force: Mitchell Donaldson (25). Young, sharp, and painfully idealistic. He wants to bring justice… and uncover what happened to his sister. He’s asking too many questions.

The Bigger Picture

Years in the force have taught you some bitter truths. Crime is inevitable. Often, it’s the only refuge of the poor and desperate. Black markets can’t be eradicated—they can only be controlled. You see yourself not as a crusader, but as a keeper of balance. You manage the rot so it doesn’t swallow the city whole.

Moral Dilemmas

Mitchell Donaldson may become your greatest liability. You’ve thought about neutralizing him before he uncovers your past. But would that really help? Or would it just be the final nail in your moral coffin?

You’ve already sent your family abroad—quietly bought a villa in Spain, told them it’s for summer. They may never come back. But at least they’ll be safe—from your sins, and from your enemies.

Your conscious is heavy, though, and you seek confession, and absolution. Since you know bishop Columbus Ede is only a parody of a priest, you are eager to seek another priests from Aetherwick. 

Spilled milk

Recently, you have visited Elliot Gregory, priest from poor quarters of Aetherwick. Even though you pretended incognito, he might have recognized you. You confessed him many things. That you know who killed Ruby Conray’s (30) father, but won’t reveal it because the murderer is a powerful man who could destroy you. That you knows who killed Alice Donaldson, but can’t say, as it involves a whole group of powerful people who would have your head. You admitted to taking bribes but also added you always gave part of it to good causes. You also confessed that your soul is burdened… and you are contemplating surrendering yourself to justice. That’s why you sent your wife and daughter away to a house in Spain you bought with your dirty money.

Sir Waverly Scott (Lord, 52)
A once-great man whose star is now fading. You know a lot about him. He frequents Merill Collins’ brothel—not for sex, but to listen to the prostitutes praise him, as if reliving his glory days. Addicted to gambling, he’s been banned from most gentlemen’s clubs in Aetherwick, which likely pushed him into the company of Logan Ahern. You strongly suspect he’s in cahoots with Ahern now. But there’s a darker secret: you’re almost certain Waverly killed Dr. Alan Conray in a duel. He paid you off to bury the case—and you took the bribe.

Ruby Conray (Doctor, 30)
After her father’s death, you secretly gave her half of the hush money you took from Waverly Scott. She used it to study medicine in America and returned as a doctor. She’s impressive, sharp, and driven to help the poor. Unfortunately, her family’s fortune is gone, and the wealthy won’t come to her—she’s a woman in a man’s profession. You admire her but also feel some guilt.

Merill Collins (Crime lord, 42)
A ruthless and powerful figure who dominates the prostitution scene and fights for control over the drug trade. Cold, calculating, and dangerous. Years ago, she took in the abandoned daughter of Hughie McMillan’s runaway wife. Whether it was charity or profit, you don’t know.

Claudia Knight (22)
Merill Collins’ right hand. Possibly her adopted daughter. Possibly her lover. You’re not sure what their relationship is—but you’re certain it’s not simple. Claudia has a fierce temper and is becoming increasingly involved in Collins’ drug operations. She also attends the Hellfire clubs meeting—she delivers animals, prostitutes, or drugs used during the rituals. 

Logan Ahern (Crime lord, 42)
Runs the illegal gambling circuit in Aetherwick. A ruthless operator, locked in a quiet but deadly struggle with Merill Collins over the expanding drug market. You’ve allowed him to operate within certain limits—but lately, he’s pushing those limits.

Samuel Fidget (22)
Logan Ahern’s protégé. Young, silent, scary. Deadly with the knife. You suspect he’s biding his time until he can take Ahern’s place.

Hughie McMillan (Merchant, 55)
One of the city’s three major merchants. Strict, cold, and deeply religious. Years ago, his wife ran away with their two-year-old daughter. You discovered she’d abandoned the child in Merill Collins’ care and vanished. You chose not to reveal the truth, nor pursue the faith of the child further. Hughie never remarried. Ironically, he now visits one of Merill’s cheaper prostitutes regularly—perhaps without knowing the full truth.

Arthur Dart (Merchant, 30)
The richest man in Aetherwick. Spoiled, arrogant, and morally bankrupt. A prominent member of the Hellfire Club. 

Bradley Harrington (Merchant, 42)
Pushes for automation in his factories—something that could provoke a riot among displaced workers. You suspect he has ties to Logan Ahern, possibly for financing or protection, but you lack hard evidence. Finding proof could give you leverage.

Columbus Ede (Bishop, 45)
Charismatic and respected in public, but behind the scenes, he’s corrupt to the core. A member of the Hellfire Club, addicted to gambling at Ahern’s establishments, and privately decadent to the point of self-parody. He plays the holy man while indulging in every vice.

Lady Muriel Clubb (34)
The femme fatale of Aetherwick—beautiful, manipulative, and utterly without remorse. You still dream of the night she seduced and humiliated you. She’s indirectly responsible for the disappearance (and probable death) of Alice Donaldson. A Hellfire Club regular. You’re unsure if you hate her… or love her passionatelly.

Sir Early Clubb (33)
Muriel’s husband. The most beautiful man in Aetherwick. Just as decadent as Arthur Dart, perhaps more so. A patron of vice, a darling of the Hellfire Club. 

Lady Victoria Scott (34)
Wife of Sir Waverly. A Hellfire Club regular who openly cheats on her husband at their events. Her presence there is both scandalous and politically dangerous, especially if Waverly’s position is truly as fragile as he seems.

Mitchell Donaldson (Police Detective, 25)
A young idealist. Righteous, moral, and fearless. Unfortunately, those qualities make him dangerous. He’s determined to uncover the truth about his sister Alice’s disappearance—and he’s getting closer. You’re beginning to fear what he might discover, especially if he finds a link to you.

Liam Conolly (Police Officer, 30)
A force of nature—brash, impulsive, and deadly. He kicks down doors first and asks questions later. But when the city’s darkest figures need to be kept in line, he gets results. You tolerate his chaos because he keeps the bigger monsters at bay.

Elliot Gregory (priest, 30)
A priest of poor to whom you confessed of some of your sins without telling anything super specific out of fear. You came incognito but he might recognize you anyway. It felt good. You wish to come back to him. 

1. Sir Waverly Scott likely killed Dr. Alan Conray in an illegal duel.
You accepted a bribe to suppress the case and passed half to Ruby to fund her education.

• Knows: You, Sir Waverly Scott

• Shouldn’t find out: The public, especially Dr. Ruby Conray (his daughter) — it would destroy her emotionally and professionally

2. The wife of Hughie McMillan ran away from him due to his abusive, despotic behavior.
She abandoned their daughter, leaving her with Merrill Collins, who raised the girl.

• Knows: You, Merill Collins

• Shouldn’t find out: Hughie McMillan — discovering the truth could cause him to snap or act rashly

3. Lady Muriel Clubb runs the secretive and depraved Hellfire Club,
where elite members indulge in forbidden pleasures and occult practices. Muriel uses sex, influence, and blackmail to control members and ensure secrecy.

• Knows: You, Sir Early Clubb, Columbus Ede, Victoria Scott, Arthur Dart, Claudia Knight

• Shouldn’t find out: The public, law enforcement outside you , clergy, moral watchdogs, journalists

4. Bishop Columbus Ede lives a double life: publicly pious, privately decadent.
He gambles, fornicates, and attends the Hellfire Club. His charisma protects him, but exposure would be catastrophic for the Church’s standing in Aetherwick.

• Knows: You, Muriel and Early Clubbs, Isabela Scott, Arthur Dart, Claudia Knight, possibly Logan Ahern

• Shouldn’t find out: The public, his congregation, his ecclesiastical superiors

5. Muriel Clubb ordered Merill Collins to kidnap Alice Donaldson for a Hellfire Club ritual.
The girl died during the event. You were seduced and blackmailed into silence. You’ve used your club membership to prevent similar atrocities since.

• Knows: You, Muriel Clubb, Merill Collins, possibly someone else, but you are not sure who has been present to that event

• Shouldn’t find out: The public, and most importantly, Mitchell Donaldson (Alice’s brother) — he would likely seek violent revenge

6. Lady Victoria Scott (Waverly’s wife) is a regular participant in Hellfire Club orgies and affairs.

• Knows: You, Muriel and Early Clubb, bishop Columbus Ede, Arthur Dart, Claudia Knight

• Shouldn’t find out: The public, and especially her husband, Sir Waverly Scott — their already broken relationship might end violently

7. Sir Early Clubb and Arthur Dart may be romantically involved.
You are not sure, but there are signs of Arthur Dart being a homosexual, and they way he looks at Early is undisputable. 

• Knows: You’ve suspected this from observing their behavior at Hellfire gatherings

• Shouldn’t find out: The public — homosexuality is illegal and scandalous; exposure would ruin them both.

8. Muriel Clubb wants to seduce Arthur Dart 
You are not sure, but the way she is around him gives a lot out. 

• Knows: possibly nobody

• Shouldn’t find out: you wonder what would Early though about it. And what would other members think about famous Muriel Clubb not being able to get who she wants. 

9. You (Chief of Police) are a secret member of the Hellfire Club.
You joined to monitor their actions and prevent worse crimes, but this justification is wearing thin, because you take part in their rituals and orgies, even though you are a married man, and a father. 

• Knows: Muriel and Early Clubb, bishop Columbus Ede, Arthur Dart, Claudia Knight, Isabela Scott.

• Shouldn’t find out: other police officers, journalists, the public. 

1. Stop the drug delivery
Tonight, at 18:00, a big drug shipment is expected. You want to put it to a stop and confiscate the goods.
You need a win. A public one. Something that’ll remind everyone — from the scum in the gutters to the gentlemen in velvet chairs — that law still holds meaning in Aetherwick.

2. Replace Logan Ahern with Samuel Fidget
Logan grew too big, too bold, too dangerous. It’s about time someone more reasonable took his place. Samuel Fidget is young. Ambitious. If you play your cards right, he’ll be in your pocket. Better a devil you helped raise than one who’s already built an empire on blood. Just make sure the transition doesn’t turn the city into a warzone.

3. Right the wrong… but at what cost
You were always good at heart. Or at least you liked to think so. But you got dirty along the way — real dirty. You told yourself it was for the greater good. Now you want to fix it… but how? If you speak the truth, you might end up in prison. Or in a coffin. And what then? What about your wife? Your daughter? You sent them to Spain to keep them safe. They don’t know half of what you’ve done. And they shouldn’t. You want to make things right. But not at the cost of their safety. And maybe… not even at the cost of your own.

4. Prevent Mitchell Donaldson from getting too close.
He’s young, idealistic, and far too eager to uncover the truth. You should get rid of him. That would be the smart thing to do. But he reminds you of yourself — before compromises, before Hellfire, before the rot. Part of you wants to protect him. Part of you wants to warn him. And part of you knows… he might be the one to finally drag you into the light.

5. You fear what happens if both Logan and Merill fall.
They’re devils, yes. But known devils. The city runs on their blood-soaked wheels. You pull them out, and the whole machine might crash. Street wars. Power vacuums. Outsiders moving in. You need a plan — not just how to take them down, but how to keep Aetherwick from eating itself alive when they’re gone.

5. You dream of escape.
The villa in Spain. Quiet mornings. No sirens, no bribes, no corpses. Just your wife, your daughter, the sound of waves. Sometimes, it feels close enough to touch. Other times, like a cruel fantasy. Because deep down, you know… men like you don’t get happy endings. But if you could get enough money… if you could buy your way out… 

6. You want to hurt Muriel Clubb.
She humiliated you. Broke something inside you. Laughed while doing it. You should crush her. Expose her. End her. But you still dream of her — her mouth, her eyes, her cruelty. She’s poison. You keep drinking.

7. You wonder about Claudia Knight.
Merrill calls her daughter. Maybe she is. Maybe she isn’t. Either way, you’ve seen the way she looks at the world. Cold. Watchful. Wounded. You think about what kind of childhood she must’ve had. You don’t know why it matters to you. Maybe because no one saved her. Maybe because she doesn’t expect anyone ever will.

8. You think about taking the whole city down with you.
If you fall, why go quietly? You know secrets. You know sins. You could name names that would shake Aetherwick to its bones. Sometimes, when the guilt gets too heavy, that idea feels like justice. Other times, it just feels like revenge.

18:00 Drug delivery
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Taxes
21:00 1st Meeting of poors

D2
9:00 Church
11:00 Meeting of poors
12:00 2nd Taxes
13:00 Lunch
15:00 2nd drug delivery
16:00 Weddings
19:00 Dinner
20:00 taxes

D3
9:00 Church
10:00 Hearing for the government