Victorian London RPG

London, during the Victorian era, established itself as the capital of the British Empire, a rapidly expanding metropolis where opulence and misery coexisted. It was a city of contrasts, where the wealth of the nobility and the bourgeoisie flourished in elegant neighbourhoods such as Mayfair and Kensington, while poverty and despair took hold in working-class and marginal neighbourhoods such as Whitechapel and Spitalfields.

London's cityscape was dominated by a mix of architectural styles, from the neo-Gothic Palace of Westminster to the modest terraced housing that formed endless rows in industrial areas. Large railway stations, such as King's Cross and Paddington, became gateways to the city, symbolising the transport revolution that connected London to the rest of the country and the world. Bridges over the River Thames, such as London Bridge and the newly built Tower Bridge, linked the growing city, while the Port of London bustled with commercial activity.

Social life in London was equally varied. In the salons of high society, the most influential families discussed politics, literature, and science, while West End theaters presented Shakespeare plays, operas, and early modern musical productions. At the same time, the city's darker neighborhoods were home to criminals and the desperate, a world that inspired the novels of Charles Dickens and the investigations of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Gentlemen's clubs, such as the Reform Club and the Carlton Club, served as centers of political and social power.

The Industrial Revolution left an indelible mark on London. Factories and workshops sprang up in industrial areas, where smoke from chimneys blackened the sky. Technological innovations such as the telegraph and gas lighting transformed daily life, while public transport, with the first horse-drawn buses and the Underground (known as "the tube"), made the city more accessible.

Progress brought with it pressing problems. Living conditions in the slums were deplorable, with narrow, poorly ventilated streets where disease spread rapidly. Child labour, labour exploitation and the lack of rights for women were persistent issues that social reformers began to address with increasing urgency. Charities and movements such as the Chartists campaigned for reforms, although change came slowly.

London was also a place of unsolved mysteries and haunting shadows. Figures such as Jack the Ripper struck terror into the hearts of Londoners, while secret societies and occultists operated in the shadows, exploring the boundaries of knowledge and power.

Main currency: Pound sterling (£): The official currency of Great Britain. Shilling(s): 1 pound = 20 shillings. Penny (d): 1 shilling = 12 pence.

Example of costs of goods and services: Bread (a loaf): 3-4 pence (d).

Beer (a pint in a pub): 2-3 pence (d).

Renting a room in a cheap boarding house (per week): 3-6 shillings.

Dinner in a middle-class restaurant: 1-2 shillings.

A custom-made suit: 3-10 pounds (£).

A theatre entrance: 6p (d) to 1s (s), depending on location.

Horse and carriage for one day: 10-20 shillings(s).

Daily (newspaper): 1 penny (d).

Lower Class Workers: Factory worker: Earned between 10 and 15 shillings per week.

Domestic servant (female): Between 8 and 12 shillings per week.

Shoe-shiner: He could earn between 1 and 2 pence (d) per customer, adding up to 10-15 shillings (s) a week if he was lucky.

Seamstress: Earned approximately 6-10 shillings(s) per week.

Street Vendor: Very variable income, between 5 and 10 shillings(s) per week, depending on luck and location.

Middle Class Workers: School Teacher: Approximately £20-30 per year (10-15 shillings per week).

Merchant or shopkeeper: Could earn between 1 and 2 pounds (£) per week.

Police Officer: Salary approximately £1 per week.

Accountant: Earned between £70 and £150 a year, depending on experience.

Typesetter or printer: Around 30-40 shillings(s) per week.

High Class Professions: Medical: Approximately £300-£400 per year, depending on clientele.

Lawyer: Income varies, but on average, between £200 and £1000 per year.

Engineer or inventor: Between £150 and £300 per year, with great opportunities for further income from patents and breakthroughs.

Banker or financier: Could earn hundreds or even thousands of pounds (£) a year, depending on investment success.

Charity: Workhouses: Places where the most desperate received food and lodging in exchange for exhausting work.

Charities: Like Christian charitable missions, they provided clothing, food, and shelter to those in need.

Important Organizations: Scotland Yard: The headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, involved in intrigues and mysteries to be solved.

The Gentlemen's Club: Exclusive clubs where powerful men in society meet, places of influence and secret deals.

East India Company: Powerful trading organization with interests throughout the British Empire, involved in the trade of spices, silk, and other riches.

Westminster: Seat of government, including the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.

Whitechapel: Known for the Jack the Ripper murders, a gloomy area with an air of mystery.

Covent Garden: Vibrant area with markets, theatres and cafes.

Soho: Famous for its streets full of clubs, theatres and music. Also a place of dark secrets.

Tower of London: A historic castle that serves as a prison and place of execution.

St. Paul's Cathedral: A symbol of religious power in London.

Thames River: Includes the bridges and river banks, areas where clandestine activities take place.