The Severn Bank Giant
A Modern-Day GURPS GURPS Call Call of Cthulhu Adventure by Linden by Linden Dunham
Nathan Robertson Me Fecit Anno Domini MMVIIII
GURPS is a trademark of Steve Jackson Games, Games, and its rules and art are copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games . All rights are reserved by Steve Jackson Games. Games. his game aid is the original creation of !athan Robertson and is released for free distribution, and not for resale, under the permissions granted in the Steve Jackson Games Online Policy. Policy. Call of Cthulhu® is the registered trademark of Chaosium Inc.
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Introduction The Severn Bank Giant is a Call of Cthulhu adventure for 3-6 experienced investigators. A simple missing persons case ecomes a race against time to stop a group of cultists from a!akening a dormant Star Spa!n of Cthulhu. The adventure assumes that the investigators are ased in the Severn "alle#$ the area of Gloucestershire chosen # %amse# Campell as a setting for his &ovecraftian horror fiction. 'eepers should feel free to sustitute an# other region of the British (sles to fit alread# estalished campaign settings.
Missing )ne of the investigators is contacted # *r. and *rs. +ohnson. Their son ,eter$ a theolog# student at Brichester niversit#$ has gone missing and the# !ant the (nvestigator to look for him. The investigators exact connection to the +ohnsons should e determined # the 'eeper ut is most likel# to e professional in nature e.g./
A Lawyer !ill have acted for the +ohnsons !hen the# !ere u#ing their house in 0xham a #ear ago$ or ma# have dra!n up their !ills. The &a!#er recalls that the +ohnsons !ere 1difficult2 clients. A Doctor !ill kno! the +ohnsons as patients from !hen the# !ere living in Brichester. *rs. +ohnson made fairl# freuent visits to the surger# and could e termed a h#pochondriac.
The a!akening spell reuires the expenditure of a vast amount of mental energ# to e successful. 8aite is unale to a!aken the Spa!n alone and has een recruiting local people to assist him.
Initial Inquiries The Police: 9etective Sergeant Stone of the Brichester police readil# agrees to talk to the (nvestigators. ;e is convinced that ,eter has gone a!a# for a fe! !eeks$ 1to get a!a# from those overearing parents of his$ and !ith a girl in to! ( shouldnt !onder. (f #ou go round his house its prett# ovious that hes onl# taken clothes and !ashing stuff. 0ver#thing else is still there !hich suggests to me hell e ack some time soon. ;es proal# gone interrailing or something.2 G*
A Police Officer !ill have encountered the +ohnsons !hen the# initiall# reported ,eter missing. Although the police arent officiall# investigating the disappearance something aout the case strikes the officer as strange and he4she agrees to look into the it on their o!n time. A Private Detective !ill have had the +ohnsons referred to him4her # a s#mpathetic police officer at Brichester station. A Professor or an# other character !ith an academic ent ma# kno! ,eter as a student at Brichester niversit#. (f the investigator is ualified in the appropriate su5ects the# could even e one of ,eters tutors.
The University: ,rofessor &e!is$ ,eters tutor$ also appears unconcerned at his disappearance. 1(ve had students take > earl# holida#s efore$2 he sa#s. 1(t isnt particularl# unusual. (m not particularl# othered as long as hes ack in time for the summer exams.2 ,rofessor &e!is can also tell the investigators that ,eter !as a reliale if average student !ith a particular interest in evangelical groups. ;e sees the evangelical movement as eing similar to the earl# Christians !ho preached the Gospel$ and thus purer in elief than the modern church !hich he feels resemles a corporation more than a religion. G*
A Priest or other memer of the clerg#7 !ill kno! the +ohnsons as regular churchgoers. The# freuentl# involve themselves in church activities e.g. fetes$ coffee mornings etc. The investigator ma# have discussed stud#ing theolog# !ith ,eter and have !ritten him a reference !hen he applied to go to the niversit#. The +ohnsons tell the investigator that ,eter !as supposed to have returned home to 0xham for the 0aster holida#s last !eekend ut failed to sho! up. 8 hen the +ohnsons contacted the niversit# their sons professor informed them that ,eter hadnt attended an# lectures in the last !eek of the term. ,eters housemates also claim not to have seen him for at least a !eek. The +ohnsons have spoken to the police ut the# dont seem particularl# interested. After some initial inuiries the# decided that ,eter had gone a!a# for a fe! !eeks !ithout telling his parents and !ill turn up 1sooner or later !hen his mone# runs out.2
The +ohnsons remain !orried and ask the investigator and colleagues to find out !hat has happened to ,eter and return him safel# to his famil#. The# suggest that the investigators start their inuiries !ith the police follo!ed # ,eters lecturers and housemates.
GM's Background ,eter has een recruited # a religious cult called The Children of the Sea. (t is headed # an American$ %euen 8aite$ and has its headuarters in near# Severn Bank. (ts memers can e found in Brichester most da#s handing out pamphlets to passers #. )ut!ardl# The Children of the Sea appears to e a t#pical religious cult/ (ts memership is small$ ut fanatical in their devotion to their faith and their strangel# charismatic leader$ %euen 8aite. The Children of the Sea is of course far more than 5ust another
millennial cult. %euen 8aite is a middle-ranking memer of the )rder of 9agon !ho speciali:es in magical research. After #ears of stud# he elieves he has perfected a spell that can reanimate those Star Spa!n of Cthulhu !ho !ere trapped in %l#eh and other cities !hen the stars changed. The )rder has sent him to Britain to free a Star Spa!n uried under Severn Bank to test the spells effectiveness. (f 8aite is successful$ the )rder intends use his spell to reanimate other Spa!n entomed at various sites around the !orld.
Peter’s House: ,eter shares a scruff# rented terraced house !ith t!o other students in &o!er Brichester. ;is housemates$ *ark Carlisle and %ichard Bro!ning$ have remained in Brichester for the holida#s. The# are initiall# suspicious of the investigators$ elieving them to e police !ho !ant to search the house for drugs An# investigator !ho makes a Pharmacy skill check !ill notice a strong smell of mari5uana coming from the front room7. )nce this misunderstanding has een cleared up Carlisle and Bro!ning agree to talk to the investigators. Bro!ning tells them 1,eter !as ok for a god-otherer. ;e didnt tr# and ram that religious stuff do!n #our throat the !a# some of them do.2 =either student can recall precisel# !hen ,eter left although the# did notice his asence a couple of da#s into the last !eek of the term. Carlisle rememers coming home drunk one night in the previous !eek to find ,eter in the sitting room !ith a couple of other people. 1The# !ere having some ig discussion aout ho! heaven !as in the sea and not in the sk# like ever#one thinks. (t !as complete crap. ( told them as much then !ent to ed.2 Carlisle is ha:# aout the incident ut thinks he rememers one of ,eters companions/ 1An American gu# !ith ps#cho e#es. (ve seen him in to!n$ preaching in the street.2 ,eters room is locked ut an# (nvestigator !ith the proper tools !ho makes a Lockpicking roll !ill e ale to open it !ithin ? minutes. Carlisle and Bro!ning !ill o5ect to this and a successful Fast Talk or Pulic !peaking roll is reuired to persuade them to drop their o5ections. Alternativel#$ the (nvestigators can get the spare ke# from the &andlord !ho lives on the next street. ;e has alread# loaned the ke# once to Sergeant Stone and doesnt see !h# he should have to extend the same courtes# to the investigators. Fast Talk"Pulic !peaking rolls or pa#ment of a ten pounds 1vie!ing fee2 are reuired to otain the ke#. (f the investigators reak into ,eters room regardless of Bro!ning and Carlisles o5ections the t!o students !ill tr# to stop
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them. The investigators !ill proal# !in an# ensuing fight ut the# can expect a visit from the Brichester police shortl# after!ards. ,eters room contains a ed$ desk$ !ardroe and ookcase. The ed is unmade and the !ardroe is empt# except for some dirt# !ashing in a plastic in liner. The desk is covered !ith papers. (nvestigators !ho take the time to read them find that ,eter !as in the middle of !riting an essa# on !hat he terms 1grass roots religions2 i.e. those dispensing !ith traditional trappings such as churches$ formal rituals$ ordained priests and ministers etc. The top dra!er of the desk contains a single piece of A@ paper. (t is a letter dated three !eeks ago see ;andout 7. The ookcase contains ooks on theolog# !ith an emphasis on fringe religions. (nvestigators !ho succeed in a !earch skill roll find a leaflet sticking out from the ack of the ookcase !here it seems to h ave fallen. The leaflet is photocopied on !hite paper and has the !ords 1Salvation rom the Sea2 emla:oned on the front aove a crude line dra!ing of a shining cit# surrounded # ocean. The reverse of the l eaflet contains several closel# t#ped paragraphs setting out the eliefs of a group called The Children of the Sea . These seem to e to e a highl# duious mixture of ilical creation m#th$ natural histor# and apocal#ptic prophec#/ The Children elieve that God created all life on 0arth. ;o!ever$ the# also accept that life originall# started in the sea. God himself lives in the sea in a sumerged heavenl# cit#. )ne da#$ heaven !ill rise to the surface and God !ill step f orth to 5udge humanit# !ith onl# the Children of the Sea eing saved. (n the meantime the Children pra# dail# for heavens rising elieving that the strength of their pra#ers !ill help ring aout the final 5udgment the# desire.
(nvestigators !ith the #ythos Lore skill !ho succeed in an ( roll after reading the leaflet !ill reali:e that the Children of the Seas eliefs are a thinl# disguised version of those held # the Cthulhu cult. inall#$ the leaflet contains a contact address for those interested in receiving further information/ %iverside *anor$ Severn Bank$ Gloucestershire.
,rudent investigators !ill !ant to do some ackground research efore heading off to Severn Bank. The follo!ing i nformation can e otained fairl# easil# from various sources. The numering in rackets indicates the likel# source according to the follo!ing ke#/ (nvestigators must have a contact in an appropriate official od# e.g. &ocal Authorit#$ Tax )ffice or ,olice. Alternativel# an investigator can attempt a good old-fashioned rie.
2)
Can e otained from an# suitale lirar# e.g. Brichester Central or Brichester niversit#7 !ith t!o hours stud# and a $esearch roll.
3)
History roll
4)
#ythos Lore roll
?7
Cthulhoid ook e.g. =ecronomicon$ %l#eh Text$ Cthulhu in the =ecronomicon.
;ealth statistics sho! that the incidence of mental health prolems in Severn Bank is noticeal# higher than the national average. ,articularl# prevalent are sleep disorders and associated prolems. D7 A high incidence of such complaints is consistent !ith 1fallout2 from the telepathic communications of Great )ld )nes and related entities. @7?7
The area suffered an earthuake on D?th *arch D? !ith the epicenter eing located around the Bank. Although the tremors !ere mild local people reported that the# continued unaated for at least three hours. D7 or 37 The timing of the earthuake coincided !ith the temporar# surfacing of %l#eh in the ,acific. @7 $iversi&e #anor: 9espite its name %iverside *anor has never een home to an# memers of the landed gentr#. (t !as uilt as a famil# residence in # Alfred Gregor#$ a *idlands industrial magnate !ho made a fortune from munitions production during the Great 8ar. The *anor is situated at the northeastern tip of The Bank. D7 or 37 Gregor# and his famil# left the *anor t!o months after the earthuake sa#ing that the tremors had made the house unsafe to live in and that at night it !as possile to hear the ground eneath the house moving/ 1Almost as if the 0arth itself !as reathing in and out.2 After the Gregor#s left the area$ periodic attempts !ere made to sell the house ut it remained unsold. Copies of the Brichester ;erald dating as far ack as D6 contain advertisements offering %iverside *anor for sale or auction. The more modern adverts descrie the propert# euphemisticall# as 1ripe for redevelopment.2 The last firm of agents to advertise the propert# !as 9avid 'night and Co of Brichester in F. D7
Brichester
Clues
7
The Bank !as excavated # Sir Gilert *orle# in the EFFs during his search for the Berkele# Toad B#atis7. ;e dug into the southern side of the Bank ut then ordered the !orks to e dismantled and sealed up. D7 or 37
Davi& (night an& %o: A firm of estate agents !ith an office in Brichester ;igh Street. 9avid 'night is the sole proprietor and also the o!ner of %iverside *anor. ;e ought the house from the Gregor#s in F using mone# he had earned during the late HFs propert# oom. ;e intended to refurish the *anor and then sell it at a profit. nfortunatel# for 'night the ottom fell out of the real estate market shortl# after!ards leaving him !ith arel# enough trade to support himself$ let alone renovate a l arge countr# house. The *anor has ecome something of a millstone around 'nights neck as he lacks the funds to restore the propert# ut he is also un!illing to sell it in its present condition and take a loss. ;aving al!a#s prided himself on his financial acumen 'night finds the !hole episode emarrassing and !ill e initiall# reluctant to talk to the investigators. A Fast Talk or Pulic !peaking roll is needed to make him open up. 'night !as approached # 8aite seven months ago. The American offered to rent %iverside *anor for IHFF a month. 'night accepted$ pleased that his much-depreciated asset !ould at l ast e making him some mone#. 8aite pa#s cash$ monthl#$ in person. 'night dislikes 8aite$ sa#ing theres something sinister aout him$ ut is uite h app# to take his mone#.
The %hil&ren of the !ea: There appear to e no records relating to the Children of the Sea. The group is not registered as a compan# or a charit# in the !a# that some cults are. (t does not file tax returns !ith the (nland %evenue or pa# Council Tax to an# local authorities. 7 !evern 'ank: A small hamlet situated # the %iver Severn five and a half miles south!est of Berkele#. The village gets its name from the ridge that lies et!een it and the river. D7 &ocal legend has it that 1The Bank2 marks the grave of a giant slain # one of 'ing Arthurs knights. D7 or 37
)ncounter with the %hil&ren of the !ea: The (nvestigators are likel# to run into the Children as the# go to and from the lirar#$ police station$ universit# etc. 8aite sends cult memers to Brichester ever# !eekda#. The cultists usuall# mill around the main street giving out l eaflets to passers# and tr#ing to engage li kel# recruits in conversation. An#one sho!ing interest in the Childrens message !ill have their personal details taken. The# !ill then e visited # 8aite$ !ho !ill assess their suitailit#$ efore deciding !hether to recruit them in to his cult. )ne da# a !eek 8aite himself travels to Brichester and preaches in the main street. ;is sermons are all on the theme of the 0arth eing engulfed in an apocal#ptic flood !ith onl# those !ho are at one !ith the
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sea eing saved. An#one stopping to listen is regarded as a potential recruit and in et!een sermons 8aite !ill talk to spectators in attempt to discern !hether the# are cult material. (nvestigators approaching the Children !ill e given a leaflet and the standard recruitment pitch. (nvestigators could take this as an opportunit# to confront 8aite !ho !ill e present on a roll of ?J7 or one of his minions aout ,eters disappearance. Alternativel# the investigators could tr# to infiltrate the cult. (f the (nvestigators choose the first option the cultists !ill refuse to ans!er an# uestions aout ,eter. The# !ill then attempt to get a!a# so that the# can report ack to 8aite. The investigators !ill have tipped their hand !ith precious little to sho! for it. Tr#ing to 15oin2 the cult !ill expose the investigators to the vetting process descried aove. The Children !ill e suspicious of a large numer of people suddenl# expressing a desire to 5oin them. A single investigator !ould e more credile ut an#one !ho meets 8aite !ill have to convince him of their suitailit# to 5oin the cult. ;aving an insider in the cult$ !hile potentiall# useful$ is extremel# dangerous. There is the risk that the investigator ma# e discovered as an impostor in !hich case 8aite !ill kill them. The investigator ma# also e driven insane # exposure to 8aites occult po!ers and the nightl# cult rituals.
e!ern Bank The outcome of the investigators expedition to Severn Bank should e ad5udicated # the 'eeper using the map and details elo!/ *+ The ,reen #an Pu: The Green *an stands at the center of the village. The sign outside depicts a giant green figure standing on a lo! ridge !ith an expanse of !ater in the ackground. The figures ack is turned so that it is impossile to see its face ut its proportions are too fla# and rounded for it to e trul# humanoid. A smaller sign underneath offers ed and reakfast for I?.FF a night.
The medallion is three centimeters in diameter$ made of gold and ears a design of a large frog-like creature spearing a shark. (nvestigators making a #ythos Lore roll !ill recogni:e the creature as ather 9agon and !ill reali:e that the medallion serves as a adge of office for a 9agon cult official. ,rice !ill happil# attach himself to the (nvestigators part# if it looks like the# are going to take action against 8aite and his follo!ers. ;is alcoholism makes him an unreliale all# though. .+ /illage !hop: (nvestigators can otain asic supplies here such as food$ ne!spapers and some household goods specific items are at the G*
The Green *ans landlord is ;arr# Allen. ;e !ill cheerfull# talk to the investigators aout the Children of the Sea ut is unale to offer an# useful information aout them. ;e 5ust likes to moan aout !hat a unch of 1lood# !eirdoes2 the# are. T!o of the Green *ans regulars ma# e of more assistance to the investigators/ Stanley Owen is a notale l ocal artist investigators should make an -rea (nowle&ge roll to have heard of him7 and Severn Banks oldest resident. =o! aged eight#-t!o he !as nine !hen the earthuake struck The Bank in D?. ;e vividl# recalls The Bank 1rippling up and do!n for ages like it !as going to urst open ut couldnt uite manage it.2 )!en painted the Green *ans sign from a childhood dream he had a fe! da#s efore the earthuake. ;e doesnt elieve the old legend of a giant eing uried under The Bank ut does think that there is something 1not uite dead eneath the ridge$ and sometimes !hen it dreams !e do too.2 )!en can e found in the Green *an at lunchtime and at et!een eight and nine oclock in the evening. Graham Price is the o!ner of the local uarr#. ;is usiness is close to going ust ecause of his chronic mismanagement. ,rice is an alcoholic !ho prefers to spend his afternoons oo:ing it up in The Green *an. ;e is the archet#pal pu ore and !ill s!iftl# latch on to the investigators so that he can end their ears aout the state of the countr#$ 0nglands performance in the last !orld cup or an# other su5ect that takes his fanc#. =eedless to sa# ,rice is none too keen on the 1religious loonies2 up at %iverside *anor and plans 1to do something aout them soon.2 (f the investigators gain his confidence i.e. # getting him drunk !hile appearing to go along !ith his idea of taking action against cultists7 ,rice !ill let them in on a secret/ T!o nights ago some d#namite !as stolen from ,rices uarr# # some of 1the loonies.2 ,rice hasnt informed the police of the theft ecause he thinks he ma# have forgotten to lock the door of the storage shed. The last thing he !ants is his o!n culpailit# eing exposed # a police investigation. ;e !ould like the d#namite ack though efore it is used for some illegal purpose !hich could land him in even more troule. ,rice 1kno!s2 the Children are ehind the theft ecause one of them dropped a religious medallion in some ushes near the shed.
There are t!o uildings in the uarr#$ an office and a storage shed. The office contains little of interest. The shed is full of euipment$ !hich could e of use in opening the door to the Spa!ns vault if ,rice can e persuaded to lend it to the (nvestigators. An#one !ho makes a Perception 3/ision4 roll !hile in the vicinit# of the shed finds several large ro!nish stains on the ground. A First -i&5 Diagnosis or Physician skill roll is reuired to recogni:e the stains as dried lood. The trail of dried leads ehind the shed and through the ushes to a hole in the fence that surrounds the uarr#. This is the onl# evidence remaining from the Childrens theft of ,rices d#namite. 6+ The 'ank: A ?F-foot high ridge covered in roken limestone and scru. (nvestigators traversing this terrain must do so at half speed or roll their 9L !ith a - penalt# to avoid falling a nd suffering pt damage. (n some areas of the ank a different t#pe of rock is mixed in !ith the limestone. (t is dark green in color !ith a smooth soap# texture. An investigator !ho makes a ,eology roll !ill e unale to i dentif# the rock ut !ill reali:e its presence in the region is completel# anomalous. (nvestigators !ho succeed in a #ythos Lore roll !ill recogni:e the rock as eing similar to the stone used to uild %l#eh and other prehistoric cities. 7+ #orley’s 8ell: A ? foot deep pit in the southern end of The Bank. This is the site of Sir Gilert *orle#s dig in the seventeenth centur#. Although not particularl# steep the 8ells sides are as treacherous as the rest of The Bank and ,Cs should make a %liming roll !hen descending. ailure results in a Fft fall to the ottom for d points of damage. At the ottom of the 8ell large amounts of limestone rule have een cleared a!a# to expose a door made of green soapstone. An 0lder sign has een carved into the surface of the door.
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(f the investigators !ant to repeat *orle#s excavations the# !ill need suitale tools e.g. pick axes7. ,r#ing open the door reuires a Force& )ntry skill check !ith a -6 penalt# the penalt# is reduced # for each additional character !ho helps$ though onl# 3 ma# tr# at once7. (n the event that the door is opened an#one in close proximit# must make a Do&ge check to avoid the stinking cloud of green gas that escapes from the door!a#. ailure means that the person is enveloped in the gas and must make an ;T check -3 or lose d3 hit points through violent vomiting. The gas soon dissipates$ ut its stench - a mixture of rotting fish$ sea!eed and salt - lingers on. Be#ond the door!a# is a green stone staircase$ !hich leads do!n into the earth. (nvestigators !ho descend the stairs find that the foul stench gets stronger and stronger until the# find themselves in a cavernous chamer containing a massive open sarcophagus. (nside the sarcophagus lies a dormant Star Spa!n of Cthulhu. Those investigators not driven insane # the sight of the sleeping monster can destro# it if the# have the means to do so the#ve recovered ,rices d#namite for example7. (n the unlikel# event that the Star Spa!n is destro#ed the (nvestigators are free to explore its tom. 8hat the# find is at the G*
Ri!erside Manor %iverside *anor is a moldering rick pile situated at the northeast tip of The Bank. (ts grounds are surrounded # a rick !all that has collapsed in several places allo!ing the (nvestigators eas# access to the grounds. The house is in poor condition/ Slates are missing from the roof and a numer of !indo!s are roken. The interior is damp and dirt#. *+ ,arage: A attered ord 0scort is kept here. The cult uses the car for their trips to Brichester. .+ Hallway: A large !ooden door 9% 3$ ;, DF7 gives entr# to the house. (t is kept olted from the inside. The hall!a# is done out in dark !ood paneling. This has !orked loose in places. 0+ (itchen/ There !ill usuall# e t!o cultists here preparing meals for the others. Conditions are unh#gienic. 1+ Dining $oom: A !orm-eaten dining tale is the main feature of this room. The taletop is littered !ith the leftover remains of previous meals. 6+ Lounge: Cult memers not other!ise engaged can usuall# e found here !ith 8aite taking part in cult dogma teaching sessions. 8aites nightl# attempts to resurrect the Spa!n also take place here. 7+ %ellar: 0ntrance to the cellar is via a locked !ooden door 9% 3$ ;, DF7. (nside are the tools used # the Children to excavate *orle#s 8ell spades$ pickaxes$ ladders and uckets7 plus a !ooden crate containing the stolen d#namite ten sticks7. 9+ !tu&y: *ust# old ooks line the shelves of this room. A large desk at the ack of the stud# is covered !ith sheets of paper on !hich are scriled !riting and calculations. A person !ho succeeds in a #ythos Lore roll !hile examining these papers !ill reali:e that the# are an attempt to formulate the correct !ording of a spell designed to revive a dormant Star Spa!n. The spell invokes the name of several )uter Gods$ most notal# Mog-Sothoth. Another piece of paper has an elevation of The Bank sketched on i t. *orle#s 8ell is clearl# marked on the sketch together !ith a stair!a# leading underground. + !leeping 2uarters: These rooms are !here the cultist sleep and recuperate after particularl# strenuous sessions of !orship. The rooms are all untid# !ith personal elongings stre!n ever#!here. ;+ #aster 'e&room: 8aite has selected this room as his o!n. A decrepit four-poster ed dominates the room. A locker eside the ed holds the follo!ing items/
•
.3H calier revolver !ith five rounds loaded
•
'e#s to the house and the 0scort
•
•
Brichester Building Societ# account ook in the name of %euen 8aite. The account contains 5ust over IFFF pounds A ring inder containing 8aites personal 5ournal
*<+ Peter’s $oom: This room is similar to those occupied # the other cultists. ,eter !ill e in ed recovering from the !ounds he received during the raid on ,rices uarr#. ;e has gone from eing an oserver to eing a !illing participant in the cults activities. ;e !ill not go !ith the investigators voluntaril# and !ill have to e sudued efore he can e removed from the house.
"he Children o# the ea %euen 8aite has een in Severn Bank for six months. ,rior to this he had een a middle ranking 9agon cult memer respected # other memers of the order for his facilit# !ith magic. 8hile stud#ing one of the cults more oscure texts$ 8aite found a reference to a Star Spa!n uried under Severn Bank in 0ngland. ;e sei:ed on this as a golden opportunit# to test a spell of his o!n devising !hich if cast successfull# !ould a!aken the creature from its death sleep. After a conference !ith his superiors it !as decided that 8aite should go to Britain. The orders leadership !as skeptical aout his chances ut agreed he should e allo!ed to make the attempt. After all if 8aite !as successful his spell could e used to resurrect other Star Spa!n and possil# even Great Cthulhu himself. )n arriving in Severn Bank 8aite !as luck# enough to find the empt# Gregor# house$ !hich he rented using mone# provided # his order. )nce his ase of operations !as estalished he egan recruiting gullile local people to provide the extra odies reuired for a successful casting of the A!aken Spa!n spell. So far 8aite has acuired an entourage of eight people five male$ three female7 !ho have een induced to follo! him # a mixture of occult po!er$ ps#chological manipulation$ and charismatic preaching. The cult has a rotation dividing duties et!een recruiting expeditions to Brichester$ meal preparation and !orking to!ards freeing the Spa!n. 0fforts to!ards this last task have run into a series of ostacles. After the Children had cleared the rule from *orle#s 8ell the# found that the door to the Spa!ns chamer !as sealed !ith an elder sign. nale to remove the sign 8aite decided to steal some d#namite from ,rices uarr# and simpl# lo! the door open. Taking ,eter and t!o other cultists 8aite urgled the uarr# >s storage shed a nd took the d#namite he needed. ;o!ever$ the noise of the urglar# !oke ,rice !ho !as sleeping off a !hiske# and shooting ender in the office next door. (n the ensuing scramle to escape 8aite lost his adge of office and ,eter !as in5ured !hen the enraged ,rice fired his shotgun at the fleeing cultists. =o! that 8aite has the means to open the door to the Spa!ns chamer he is concentrating his efforts on casting the A!aken spell. ;is efforts have een hampered # his failure to perfect the invocation to Mog-Sothoth on !hose intervention the success of the spell depends and # not having enough !orshipers to generate the reuired *agic ,oints. ;is solution is to press on regardless and each evening he !ill have a FJ chance of successfull# casting the spell. This !ill d oule to DFJ if 8aite decides to offer up a human sacrifice to Mog-Sothoth. This !ill occur to him on an# da# in !hich he makes an ( roll at -3 one roll per da#7. (f the spell is successful there !ill appear to e a sudden flash of all lightning over the Bank as Mog-Sothoth riefl# materiali:es and releases the Spa!n from its death sleep. This !ill e follo!ed # a series of revererating ooms from underneath The Bank. This !ill e the Childrens cue to take the stolen d#namite up to *orle#s 8ell and last the door and its 0lder Sign apart. )nce released$ the Spa!n !ill cra!l out of its vault and into the Severn !here it !ill sumerge efore s!imming out to sea through the estuar#.
/ 5 /
$nding the Ad!enture
Ackno&ledgments
(deall# the investigators should stop 8aite from releasing the Spa!n and return ,eter to his parents. (f the Spa!n escapes then the (nvestigators have essentiall# failed. %escuing ,eter and4or apprehending 8aite ma# still e good for a Sanit# A!ard$ ho!ever.
*+ The Call of Cthulhu$ The Shado! over (nnsmouth and At the *ountains of *adness # ; , &ovecraft .+ Cold ,rint # %amse# Campell
This is m# first proper attempt at !riting a Call of Cthulhu scenario. (m not reall# satisfied !ith it. T he uried monster seems asurdl# po!erful and the spell used to free him is too contrived. The main idea for it came from seeing Bile preachers on the streets of 8orcester and Gloucester. ( have to admit to a certain amount of admiration for these people as the# rave the indifference or ridicule of the pulic as !ell as the lous# British !eather. ( got to !ondering if the preachers ever actuall# convert an#one and if so$ !hat happens to the convertsK Are the# expected to 5oin a church of some kindK Street preaching seems to e the complete antithesis of organi:ed religion. ( ended up giving these thoughts a m#thos t!ist and this scenario is the result. ( dont think (ve done the asic idea 5ustice$ ut ( might return to it one da# if ( come up !ith a good stor# line.
Author’s Note:
anit% A&ards 'illing the Star Spa!n/ NDF ,reventing the release of the Star Spa!n/ NF
$()erience A&ards %escuing ,eter +ohnson from the Children of the Sea/ N
Awaken Star Spawn of Cthulhu: )nl# %euen 8aite kno!s this spell. (t shares some veral and gesture characteristics !ith the Contact Star Spa!n of Cthulhu and Call Mog-Sothoth spells. (f cast successfull# near the site of a dormant Star Spa!n it causes the All in )ne to manifest itself and reverse the temporal conditions !hich keep the Spa!n dormant. Casting the spell reuires the same procedure as an# Call 9eit# spell ut the chance for success the effective skill level7 is onl# eual to the amount of *agic ,oints expended. (f a human sacrifice is offered to Mog-Sothoth then the character ma# roll against his skill level in the ritual as normal.
!pells: A!aken Star Spa!n (ncomplete version. 8aites additional notes in his stud# are reuired to learn the !hole spell7.
!e>: *ale
-ge: 3?
!T: D D?: @2: 3 HT: Do&ge: H
HP: D 8ill: ? Per: 3 FP: Parry: E
!pee&: ?.FF #ove: ? !#: F D$: F
Traits: AttractiveO CallousO Charisma NDO *ager# DO *ind Control PO The (nnsmouth &ookO *egalomaniaO Selfish -7.
Ne& )ells and Books
#ythos Fright %heck: -F 4 -3
N*Cs
Unarme& 3;4: dND s! cr 4 d- thr cr
'illing the Star Spa!n/ N3
#ythos Lore: N
6+ L-C)*/ Terror rom the 9eep/ Sci-fi strateg# game # *icroprose$ heavil# influenced # ; , &ovecraft and +ohn 8#ndham. The games climatic scene features a massive suid faced alien in a sarcophagus.
+0 Pistol 34: dND pi
Apprehending %euen 8aite/ N
Language: 0nglish
1+ nderground # *arcus %o!land. CoC scenario that appeared in Games 8orkshops Good Games Guide. ,rovided the mechanics for 8aites ps#chic ailities.
=ame: %euen 8aite
&indens disclaimer aside$ !e like the adventure$ and look for!ard to seeing more i n the future. Editor’s Note:
The Journal of Reuben Waite: A personal diar# comined !ith a record of 8aites research into the Cthulhu *#thos including his attempts to perfect his A!aken Star Spa!n Spell. The 5ournal is particularl# informative aout oceanic matters connected !ith the *#thos.
0+ Guide to the Severn "alle# # Shannen Appel "alk#rie *aga:ine ? and 67
!kills: Archeolog# -O Astronom# -O 9riving Automoile7 -HO astTalk -3O Guns ,istol7 -HO ;istor# @O *erchant -DO *#thos &ore -DO )ccultism -DO ,ulic Speaking -@O ,s#cholog# 3. !pells: A!aken Star Spa!n of Cthulhu -?O Burning 9eath -3O Contact 9eep )ne -?O Contact Star Spa!n of Cthulhu -O ;eat -?O Sickness -?. ,ear: .3H ,istol !ith ? rounds unless the ,Cs got to it firstO see room Q7. P 8aite has the ailit# to influence peoples minds. or the cost of D fatigue he can make a uick Contest of his ( vs. the target
/6/
=ame: ,eter +ohnson
=ame: Children of the Sea Cultists
!e>: *ale
-ge: DF
!e>: *ale4emale
!T: F D?: F @2: HT: D Do&ge: H
HP: 3 8ill: Per: F FP: D Parry: H
!pee&: ?.?F #ove: ?
!T: D?: @2: HT: Do&ge: H
!#: F D$: F
-ge: DF to @F HP: D 8ill: Per: FP: Parry: H
!pee&: ?.?F #ove: ? !#: F D$: F
Unarme& 3*<4: d s! cr 4 d-D thr cr
Unarme& 3**4: d s! cr 4 d-D thr cr
Traits: Bad Sight *itigator/ Corrective &enses7O anaticism Cult of the Children of the Sea7O atO &anguage &atinO Broken4(lliterate7.
Traits: anaticism Cult of the Children of the Sea7.
!kills: 9riving Automoile7 -O ;istor# -FO *#thos &ore -HO )ccultism -DO %esearch -F.
!kills: 9riving Automoile7 -O ast-Talk -FO *#thos &ore -FO ,s#cholog# -O ,ulic Speaking -F.
=otes: )ver!eight$ espectacled !ith a ookish air aout him ,eter comes across as a it of a nerd. The onl# son of doting parents ,eter sa! universit# as an escape from the stifling environment of famil# life. After arriving in Brichester$ ,eter soon reelled against his traditional middle class C of 0 upringing. %ather than descend into unaashed hedonism as might e expected in someone a!a# from home for the fist time ,eter egan to flirt !ith evangelical groups seeing them as purer in spirit than the traditional church. ;e first encountered 8aite during one of the Americans preaching sessions in Brichester ;igh Street. Although he found 8aites eliefs i:arre$ ,eter !as taken !ith the force and conviction of his preaching. After otaining one of the cults leaflets ,eter contacted 8aite thinking he !ould make an excellent su5ect for his dissertation. 8aite responded # visiting ,eters lodgings and using his po!ers of persuasion recruited ,eter into t he Children of the Sea.
=otes: 8aites cultists are a fairl# desperate unch. %ecruited primaril# from Brichesters transient population the# consist of alcoholics$ drug addicts and the sociall# inadeuate. 8aite has cured them of their various addictions and has given their lives a purpose. The Children are all fanaticall# devoted to 8aite and !ill gladl# give their lives for his if necessar#.
,eter has een a cult memer for long enough to e a true eliever. )nce rescued$ he !ill need specialist treatment$ including the services of a deprogrammer$ if he is to recover.
Talons 3*64: Fd s! cut 4 Hd thr imp
=ame: Star Spa!n of Cthulhu !T: EF D?: D @2: E HT: DF Do&ge:
HP: E? 8ill: DF Per: E FP: 6F Parry:
!pee&: H.FF #ove: H !#: N@ DE< tall7 D$: F
Tentacles 3*64: Hd- cut Unarme& 3*64: Fd s! cr 4 Hd thr cr
=ame: Graham ,rice !e>: *ale
-ge: @D
!T: @ D?: D @2: F HT: ? Do&ge:
HP: ? 8ill: 3 Per: F FP: ? Parry:
Traits: Cla!s Talons7O *ager# 3O %egeneration ast7O Sharp Teeth Tentacles7O Terror *#thos right Check -7. !pee&: 6.E? #ove: 6
!kills: Bra!ling -?O S!imming -@. !pells: Contact Cthulhu -DFO Contact Star Spa!n of Cthulhu -DFO Contact 9eep )nes -O Contact )ld )nes -O 9read Curse of A:athoth -H.
!#: F D$: F
!hotgun 3*.4: dN pi-
=otes: The Star Spa!n has een trapped in its vault ever since %l#eh and its satellite cities sank eneath the sea. The Spa!ns chamer !as separated from its parent structure during pre-historic shifts in the 0arths crust. The Spa!n has onl# !oken once since its imprisonment. The rising of %l#eh in D? caused it to revive riefl# along !ith other memers of its race. )nl# the 0lder Sign left # Sir Gilert *orle# prevented its escape. The creatures struggles to reak out of its tom !ere responsile for the famous Severn Bank earthuake. 8hen %l#eh re-sumerged the Spa!n fell ack into its death sleep.
Unarme& 3*<4: d s! cr 4 d-D thr cr Traits: Acute "ision O AlcoholismO Co!ardice -7O =ightmares D-7O Status . !kills: Accounting -O Bra!ling -DO 9riving Automoile7 -DO 9riving Tracked7 -DO Geolog# -HO Guns Shotgun7 -DO *echanic ;eav# *achiner#7 -O *erchant -O Thro!ing -F. ,ear: DG ,ump Shotgun. =otes: ,rice is a ig ra!n# man !ith a red face. ;e can usuall# e found in the front ar of the Green *an. Al!a#s a heav# drinker he has ecome a full-lo!n alcoholic since his !ife left him for another man six months ago. ;is !ifes departure has left ,rice ver# itter and he is eager to take his a nger out on someone or something. The theft of his d#namite has given him legitimate excuse to hate the Children of the Sea and he !ill readil# 5oin up !ith the investigators if the# seem aout take action against the cultists. ;e !ill support an# aggressive course of action and !ill even suggest a fe! of his o!n. ;o!ever$ his ravado !ill uickl# evaporate if at an# time the cultists are getting the upper hand or the situation escalates out of control in some other !a# e.g. if the police urst onto the scene7. (f things start going !rong he !ill e the first to turn tail and run. ,rice suffers from nightmares as a result of the Spa!ns telepathic communications ut attriutes them to the upset of his !ife leaving comined !ith too much spirits efore he goes to ed.
/7/
Player Handouts
/8/
Maps
Map 1: The Severn Bank
/9/
Map 2: Riverside Manor
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