Scarcity - Hodgepocalypse Toronto - Part 7 - Bloor Street & Cabbagetown

Bloor Street and Yorkville Avenue: The Gilded Wreckage

Bloor Street and Yorkville Avenue were once Toronto’s heart of affluence, known for their high-end shops, cultural venues, and luxurious residences. Now, the area is a haunting blend of opulence and ruin, where scavengers sift through remnants of forgotten wealth and art enthusiasts attempt to preserve the beauty of the past. While some enclaves cling to old-world sophistication, others have succumbed to decay, becoming dens for shadowy dealings and dangerous experiments.

Faction influence is heavy here, with remnants of the elite clashing with desperate survivors, and the fractured cultural institutions vying for resources and prestige. This district exudes a surreal charm, balancing between the lingering echoes of wealth and the stark realities of post-apocalyptic survival.

Key Locations

The Church of the Redeemer

 

Once a symbol of Toronto’s spiritual resilience, this Gothic Revival church has become a sanctuary for the weary and desperate, standing defiantly amid the ruins of the city. Originally built in 1879 as a place of inclusion and refuge, it now serves a similar purpose in a fractured world, though under the guidance of a mysterious preacher who claims to hear divine voices echoing from the shattered heavens. At night, the faint glow of its restored stained-glass windows casts eerie patterns, hinting at an otherworldly energy said to protect the faithful. Whispers speak of its altar as a source of miracles—and perhaps danger.

Plot Hook: A desperate congregation member has vanished after a private audience with the preacher. Investigate their fate and uncover the truth behind the church’s whispered miracles before the sanctuary’s fragile peace is shattered.

The Colonnade

 

Once a modernist symbol of Toronto’s urban luxury, The Colonnade now stands as a crumbling yet defiant monument to survival and ambition. Its sleek architecture has been repurposed into a labyrinthine black market, where scavengers, smugglers, and power brokers barter in whispers. Rare tech, arcane relics, and forbidden knowledge exchange hands beneath the flickering remnants of opulent lighting, while shadows seem to stretch unnaturally to conceal secrets. The market’s hidden chambers are rumored to hold vaults of pre-apocalypse treasures and ancient arcane tomes, guarded by silent enforcers whose origins are as mysterious as their motives.

Plot Hook: A rival syndicate is threatening The Colonnade’s iron grip on the black market, sparking paranoia and bloodshed. Whether hired to infiltrate the rival faction, sabotage its leader, or protect the market’s secrets, players will find that power in The Colonnade comes at a dangerous price—and loyalty is as rare as the relics sold within its shadowed halls.

Firehall No. 10

Once a proud outpost of civic duty, Firehall No. 10 has weathered both the infernos of the old world and the chaos of the new. Built in the early 1900s, this heritage building was a symbol of Toronto’s resilience, its fire crews hailed as heroes during the Great Fires of the city’s past. Now, the decommissioned firehouse stands as a militarized fortress for a local militia striving to protect their district—or so they claim. The bell tower, where fire alarms once rang, now serves as a vigilant lookout, scanning for threats in the wasteland. Meanwhile, the garage houses a fleet of heavily armored firefighting vehicles, retrofitted with weapons and crude reinforcements, their original purpose twisted into instruments of war.

Plot Hook: Rumors of corruption swirl around the militia’s charismatic leader, sowing dissent among their ranks and the local populace. The players are drawn into the conflict, tasked with investigating the accusations. Will they expose a hidden agenda, risking the militia’s collapse, or help conceal the truth to preserve order in an already fractured community?

Heliconian Club

 

Once a haven for Toronto’s leading female artists, writers, and musicians, the historic Heliconian Club has become a bastion of feminist resistance in the fractured cityscape. Built in 1875, its Gothic Revival architecture now stands as both a cultural landmark and a fortified refuge. The women of the Heliconian Club have adapted their creative skills to the harsh realities of survival, combining artistry with martial prowess. The Great Hall echoes with defiant songs of freedom, while its studios have been repurposed into training grounds for combat and workshops for crafting weapons and propaganda. Vibrant murals on its walls tell stories of resilience, weaving a narrative of hope amid chaos.  Led by the mysterious Madam Libby Goldsmith whom was known for her encanny ability to create a bomb out of just about anything and has raised the next generation of troubleshooter anarchists to “rebuild the world.”

Plot Hook: A nearby faction, resentful of the club's autonomy and growing influence, issues an ultimatum: submit to their authority or face annihilation. The players must decide whether to unite the club with other allies, fortify its defenses, or negotiate a dangerous truce. In doing so, they may uncover secrets of the club’s past and its potential to inspire a broader rebellion.

Hazelton House

 

Once a luxurious residence nestled in Toronto's affluent Yorkville neighborhood, Hazelton House now serves as a sanctuary for aristocratic survivors clinging to the vestiges of their former opulent lives. The mansion's storied past includes its transformation into The Hazelton Hotel in 2007, Toronto's first luxury boutique hotel, renowned for its 1940s-inspired Hollywood glamour and situated in the heart of Yorkville.   In the post-apocalyptic landscape, the house's grand architecture and hidden chambers have become a refuge for those seeking to preserve their heritage amidst the chaos.

Plot Hook: A desperate aristocrat hires the players to infiltrate the mansion's depths and access a concealed vault rumored to contain unimaginable wealth. However, they are not the only ones drawn to its riches; rival factions are also converging on Hazelton House, each with their own agendas.

Park Hyatt Hotel

 

Once the epitome of Toronto luxury, the Park Hyatt now stands as a crumbling neutral zone for uneasy truces and shadowy dealings. Its opulent past, including its infamous rooftop bar where luminaries and eccentrics gathered, has been replaced with a raw tension as spies, brokers, and mercenaries haunt its grand halls. The penthouse—formerly a glamorous suite with sweeping city views—has become the lair of the enigmatic Darius Kensington, a charismatic yet volatile dealer in forbidden lore and arcane relics. Known for his sharp wit and sharper temper, Kensington uses the hotel's ruins to host secret auctions and esoteric rituals. Whispered rumors suggest that the Park Hyatt was nearly leveled in an explosive act of sabotage after an auction went awry, said to have been orchestrated by Kensington himself to obliterate a rival bidder.

Plot Hook: An unprecedented negotiation between rival factions is set to unfold at the Park Hyatt under Kensington's watchful eye. Hired as bodyguards, the players must navigate treacherous alliances and thwart any attempts at sabotage—including the possibility that Kensington, angered by an unseen slight, may be plotting his own catastrophic intervention.

Pearcy Theatre

 

A storied venue in Toronto's cultural fabric, the Pearcy Theatre has always blurred the line between performance and reality. Once celebrated for its provocative plays, it now serves as a crucible of political and societal tension. Its intimate stage remains alive with drama, but few know the truth about its enigmatic stagehands: they are descendants of the Desecrators, ancient techno-demons who once sought to unravel the fabric of human ingenuity. This cursed lineage grants them unique abilities to manipulate machinery and tech—but it is a secret they guard jealously, fearful of persecution or exploitation. Whispers of the Desecrators' influence have occasionally found their way into plays performed at the Pearcy, though always disguised as allegory. Some say these stories strike too close to the truth for comfort, sparking unease among the initiated.

Plot Hook: A daring playwright vanishes after penning a script rumored to unveil long-buried secrets about the Desecrators’ legacy, masked as a critique of a powerful faction. As tensions rise, players are drawn into a shadowy web of intrigue, where every faction has its own motives—and the stagehands may prove to be unexpected allies or formidable foes.

Toronto Reference Library

 

Once a symbol of intellectual pursuit, the Toronto Reference Library now stands as a towering bastion of hope and defiance amidst the ruins of the old world. Its grand atrium, once bustling with quiet study, is now fortified with barricades and patrolled by a zealous order of scholar-guardians dedicated to protecting its priceless collection. Within its labyrinthine stacks lie not only mundane volumes but also rare arcane tomes, blueprints of ancient technology, and maps to forgotten cities. The building itself bears the scars of past conflicts, with shattered skylights replaced by steel plating and improvised defenses adorning its perimeter.

Adding to its mystique, the library has become a hub for Toronto’s fragmented artistic community. Writers, painters, and performers have transformed its reading rooms into workshops and stages, crafting works that are equal parts inspiration and rebellion. These creations often conceal coded messages for resistance movements, ensuring that even as the city crumbles, the spirit of creativity and defiance endures. Rumors persist of a secret archive hidden deep beneath the library, said to hold knowledge too dangerous or transformative for the world above.

Plot Hook: A sudden fire erupts in the library’s restricted section, threatening to destroy priceless artifacts and manuscripts. As the flames spread, the players are thrust into a maelstrom of intrigue: was this disaster the result of an accident, an act of sabotage by a rival faction, or the unintentional release of an ancient arcane force long confined within the building? The truth could reshape the power dynamics of the city—or unearth horrors best left forgotten.

University Theatre

 

A relic of the golden age of cinema, the University Theatre has been transformed into a cultural and tactical hub in the post-apocalyptic world. Its opulent Art Deco design is now juxtaposed with hastily patched walls and scavenged tech, giving it an eerie grandeur. By day, it’s a beacon of hope, hosting news broadcasts and performances to inspire resilience in the fractured city. By night, it becomes a shadowy nexus of rebellion, using its broadcasts to encode covert messages to resistance cells.

Recently, the theater has captivated audiences with its nightly production of The Passion of Joan, a gritty reinterpretation of the Joan of Arc story. Cast entirely with Bogeys—resourceful goblins who have claimed the theater as their home—the play resonates deeply with the downtrodden populace. The goblin actors bring a raw, fervent energy to their performances, echoing their own struggles for survival and autonomy in a harsh world. The production is said to hold hidden messages within its fiery monologues and stage movements, creating a dangerous blend of art and resistance.

Plot Hook: Just before a pivotal performance, the theater’s projectionist—a Bogey with a knack for blending cinema and subterfuge—vanishes, kidnapped by a rival faction seeking to sever the flow of rebel intelligence. As whispers of sabotage spread, the players must navigate the treacherous underbelly of the city to mount a daring rescue. Will they arrive in time to save the show and preserve the delicate threads of resistance—or will The Passion of Joan burn alongside the hopes it seeks to ignite?

Yorkville Public Library

 

In the heart of a post-apocalyptic Toronto, the once-vibrant Yorkville Public Library stands as a crumbling relic of the past, now reimagined as a secretive community hub. Inside its dilapidated walls, gnome guardians of knowledge have emerged from myth, watching over the remains of lost literature. After the discovery of a forbidden book tied to Toronto's radiant history, strange phenomena unravel within the library—whispers echo in the reading rooms, shadows flit past the shelves, and gnomes seem to stir with purpose. As residents gather for clandestine meetings and arcane rituals, they must confront the unsettling power of the book, unraveling its origins and the secrets it threatens to unleash.

Plot Hook: When library patrons begin to exhibit peculiar behaviors after reading the tome, the community is gripped by fear. Is the book a portal to the past, or a dangerous trap? It's up to a group of unlikely heroes to plunge into the depths of gnome lore and uncover the truth before chaos reigns over Yorkville. Will they manage to appease the gnomes and break the book’s curse, or will the library's haunting history consume them?

Yorkville Rock

 

The Enchanted Gardens of Yorkville Rock stand as a serene yet mystical tribute to the lost Victorian village that once graced the area. Built atop what was once a parking lot over an old subway line, this innovative park reflects the resilience of its residents and the vibrant diversity of the Canadian landscape. Now, this lush garden sanctuary features themed sections that draw upon various habitats across Canada, from dense northern forests to riparian marshes, enhanced with ethereal magical qualities that have emerged since the Hodgepocalypse. Central to the park is "The Rock," a 600-ton fragment of Canada’s glacial shield that has become a focal point. Infused with ancient magic, this massive stone resonates with the earth’s energy, acting as a guardian of the park while occasionally revealing visions of the past or glimpses into other realms when touched or meditated upon.

Cabbagetown: The Veil Between Life and Death

Cabbagetown, once a quaint and historic neighborhood, has become an eerie convergence of natural beauty, urban decay, and a palpable connection to the dead. The creeping influence of the Necropolis casts a shadow over the district, and its residents live with one foot in the past and one in the afterlife. Gardens grow wild with strange blooms, while crumbling Victorian homes shelter mystics, mediums, and those seeking refuge from the chaos beyond. A blend of ghostly whispers and vibrant life gives Cabbagetown an otherworldly aura, making it a haven for seekers of knowledge, magic, and forbidden truths.

Key Locations

397 Carleton

 

397 Carleton, a meticulously restored heritage house built in the late 1800s, stands as a testament to Toronto's architectural legacy. However, its history has taken a darker turn. In the midst of an urban sprawl, it is now home to a secretive alchemical lab run by a Verkhail researcher, whose work is rooted in the ancient pursuit of transmutation and the quest for immortality. Locals regard the house with a mix of awe and fear; peculiar lights and strange fumes escape from the windows, whispering tales of arcane knowledge that hark back to the dark ages of scientific experimentation.

Plot Hook: The researcher has mysteriously vanished, leaving behind a series of volatile experiments that threaten to unravel the fabric of reality. As the chaos escalates, bizarre phenomena plague the surrounding area, reminiscent of the alchemical upheavals from centuries past. Players must race against time to uncover the researcher’s secrets and shut down the lab before the entire block—and possibly the city—is consumed by catastrophic alchemical fallout that echoes the historical consequences of unchecked ambition in the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.

Cabbagetown Sewers ​

 

Deep beneath the ruins of old Toronto, the Cabbagetown sewer system has become a labyrinthine warren of collapsed tunnels, forgotten waterways, and scavenger nests. Before the world fell apart, whispers of strange, hairy creatures lurked in these underground passages. Now, survivors tell of glowing eyes in the darkness, strange hissing voices, and clawed figures darting through the fetid waters. Whether these beings are mutated remnants of pre-collapse myths or something far older is up for debate, but one thing is sure—those who venture too deep rarely return.

Plot Hook:​

A local scavenger returns from the Cabbagetown tunnels, raving about finding an ancient access point leading deeper into the ruins. He carries an old, claw-marked Toronto Sun article from 1979 about a creature sighted in the sewers—one that eerily matches recent descriptions from missing person reports. Whatever’s down there, it’s hungry… and it’s waiting.

 

Necropolis

 

The Necropolis Chapel and adjoining lands stands as a beacon for those seeking wisdom from the beyond. The chapel's spectral bells toll a haunting melody, and its ancient runes pulse with energy at twilight, drawing mystics and the lost alike. As whispers of a powerful relic's theft spiral into chaos, the veil between the living and the dead weakens, leading to nightmarish hauntings that threaten to consume the city's heart.

Plot Hook: Players must navigate the ever-stirring chaos of the Necropolis as they race against time to recover the stolen relic from the clutches of a malevolent spirit. With the chapel and its crypts quarantined, they must uncover hidden secrets and confront their own fears as they delve into the depths of the past to restore balance before darkness engulfs Cabbagetown.

Riverdale Farm

 

Riverdale Farm is a picturesque urban commune in post-apocalyptic Toronto, known for its rich crops and strong community spirit, but it faces peril as a traitor within has revealed its location to the raider group known as the Haraak. Players must navigate the complexities of uncovering the betrayal, fortifying the farm against an impending attack, and fostering unity among the commune to ensure its survival.

Plot Hook: A trusted member of Riverdale Farm has betrayed its location to the various gangs, sparking imminent danger for the commune. Players must root out the traitor while preparing the farm's defenses to thwart the raid and protect this vital food source.

Riverdale Park

Once a tranquil recreational haven, Riverdale Park has transformed into a war-torn battleground. Scavengers and Fossilborn now clash violently, each side vying to reclaim the land as a sacred site. The park's gentle hills, once adorned with lush greenery, are now dotted with ruins that nature has slowly reclaimed. Amidst the remnants of civilization, dangers lurk in every shadow, threatening both intruders and inhabitants alike.

Plot Hook: A group of settlers has set their sights on establishing a safe zone within the park, envisioning a new community amidst the chaos. However, this plan faces significant challenges. Players must take action to clear the area of lurking threats, navigate tense negotiations with rival factions, or even make the morally ambiguous choice to sabotage the settlers’ efforts to assert their influence over the park. Will the players aid in restoring peace, or will they further complicate the conflict within Riverdale Park?

Sackville Street

 

Sackville Street, the main thoroughfare of Cabbagetown, is steeped in history, dotted with derelict mansions and workshops that cater to seekers of the occult. As night falls, spectral figures are said to haunt the cobblestone paths, and a ghostly entity has begun targeting residents who reject its unknown plea, intertwining the past's tragedies with the present's eerie occurrences. This setting offers a rich backdrop for Fate Fugitives—materialized spirits rebelling against their predestined fates—who may find their paths converging amidst the spectral turmoil.

Plot Hook: A vengeful ghost haunts Sackville Street, targeting residents who refuse to assist its mysterious cause. The adventurers must uncover the spirit's identity and the nature of its demands before the hauntings escalate into chaos.

St. James Cemetery

With its ancient monuments and crypts shrouded in mystery, holds a legendary treasure said to be protected by a sorrowful wraith, the spirit of a long-forgotten guardian. When a local treasure hunter hires the players to retrieve the fabled artifact, they are drawn into a web of dark history, where they must confront the wraith's trials and ultimately decide if they will seize the treasure for themselves or help the spirit find peace from its tragic past.

Plot Hook: A local treasure hunter enlists the players to unearth a long-lost treasure hidden within St. James Cemetery. As they delve deeper, they must navigate the wraith’s challenges, revealing that true treasure lies not in riches, but in understanding and forgiveness.

St. James-the-Less Cathedral

 

St. James-the-Less Cathedral stands as a beacon of hope amidst the tumult of urban life, its tranquil spires and lush gardens offering sanctuary to the weary and lost. Built in the late 19th century, the cathedral is not only a spiritual refuge but also a center for a unique blend of Anglican faith and low-level magic, where priests utilize their arcane knowledge to weave protective wards around its grounds and congregation. However, recent whispers of dark forces stirring beyond the city walls threaten to break through the cathedral's defenses, prompting the need for urgent intervention.

Plot Hook: As malevolent forces begin to seep into the sacred grounds of St. James-the-Less, the players discover that the cathedral’s mystical wards are mysteriously failing. They must investigate the source of the disruption and restore the cathedral's protective magic before chaos ensues, determining who or what seeks to exploit the sanctuary's vulnerability.

Toronto Zoo

 

In the ruins of the once-thriving Toronto Zoo, now a treacherous maze where the remnants of humanity coexist with mutated beasts, the echoes of a long-lost civilization persist. The Haraak raiders, notorious scavengers of this post-apocalyptic landscape, relentlessly hunt through the dilapidated enclosures, while survivors form small settlements on the fringes, daring to tame the wild creatures that roam the grounds. When a powerful faction promises a lucrative reward for the live capture of a rare, mutated animal believed to possess extraordinary abilities, an intrepid group of adventurers must strategize and navigate the hazardous remnants of the zoo. They will encounter fierce rival hunters and the unpredictable dangers posed by the mutated inhabitants as they race against time to secure the beast and possibly shift the balance of power in this brutal new world.

Plot Hook: With a transformed into a perilous jungle of mutated creatures and lurking dangers, brave settlers seek to tame the fearsome beasts that now roam free. When a mysterious faction offers a considerable bounty for a specific mutated animal, players must brave the zoo's treacherous enclosures, confront rival hunters, and risk their lives to claim the prize.

Wellesley Street

 

Wellesley Street, once a vital artery connecting Cabbagetown to the bustling city center of Toronto, now lies in disrepair and disarray in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Overgrown with wild vegetation and marked by the traps of scavengers guarding their territory, the avenue is a perilous path riddled with remnants of the past, where dangers lurk around every corner and whispers of hidden treasures fuel the hopes of survivors. Echoes of its former glory still linger, intertwining with the stories of those who dare to traverse its treacherous expanse.

Plot Hook: A desperate survivor claims to have unearthed a hidden vault along Wellesley Street, its ancient contents rumored to hold the key to restoring some semblance of civilization. However, the treacherous route is fraught with dangers, and they need a skilled team to help navigate the perils and outsmart the local scavengers to uncover the vault’s secrets.

Witch’s House

 

Nestled in the heart of Toronto's Cabbagetown, the Witch's House is a decrepit Victorian mansion, its façade entangled with ivy and shadows. Once home to a whimsical figure who displayed a paper mache witch in the window, it has since transformed into the lair of a reclusive sorceress, rumored to wield powerful magic. Visitors who dare enter the house are met with an unsettling interior where hallways shift and staircases float, challenging their very perceptions of reality. 

Plot Hook: The sorceress offers the adventurers a chance to lift a devastating curse that plagues their ally, but her assistance comes at a price. To fulfill her demand, they must venture into the lair of a rival mage to recover a dangerous artifact, unraveling a web of intrigue and peril in the process.

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