THE OUTER ONES B Y J USTIN U STIN F AR QUHA QU HA R Where an investigation into a sinister Vermont sect reveals connections that run deep into the dark history of the region
CENARIO ABOUT THIS S CENARIO It takes place in Vermont sometime between 1921 and 1925 and is closely-related to the two Lovecraft stories ‘The Haunter of the Dark’ and ‘The Whisperer in Darkness’, which it predates. Reading these stories before running the scenario is recommended.
RUNNING THIS S CENARIO CENARIO Dark Celestial Gulfs can be run as a stand-alone scenario but can also be treated as a sequel to the events that occur in ‘The Haunting’. If used in this way it can be run immediately after that scenario or after an interval of few months or even years. The structure is largely non-linear: there are many clues leading to different locations and lines of enquiry, not all of which are essential.
INTRODUCTION Rev. Bill Walsh, a feisty Baptist minister, has come to conclude that there is something sinister about the practices of a new spiritualist, evangelical sect in his village of West Townshend – the Spiritualist Church of Astral Communion. He has heard rumours that they practice human sacrifice, but cannot prove it. He observes their services and some of their suspicious activities. He can find little trace of the history of the minister, Malachi Sethom. After reporting some of these problems to the Baptist church-body, a second minister – Rev. Bradford Duganne – is sent to assist him. Both ministers hear local folklore of ceremonies in the hills and devilish creatures consorting with humans. Walsh begins to preach against the sect, declaring that it is in league with Satan. It doesn’t take long for action to be taken against them.
ABOUT THE OUTER ONES T HEIR HEIR BUSINESS ON E ARTH ART H TBD
HEIR OPERATION IN V ERMONT ERMONT T HEIR TBD
C ASTES TBD
S ENSITIVITY ENSITIVITY TO LIGHT TBD
KEEPER'S INFORMATION From time immemorial, the Outer Ones have served Nyarlathotep in the form of a huge winged entity with a single three-lobed burning eye. They also worship ShubNiggurath and whatever Outer Gods or Great Old Ones serve their purposes. Their name for this cult and its allies among other races can be translated as ‘The Million Favored Ones’. Since man has walked in the Americas, a few individuals – mostly eccentrics and outcasts – have served the Outer Ones in Vermont, helping them to spy on mankind while keeping their outpost secret, in return for their promises of power and wisdom, fulfilled and otherwise. In 1862, guided by insights gleaned from their communications with Nyarlathotep in his form of the Haunter of the Dark in the steeple of the Freewill Church in providence, Professor Enoch Bowen, leader of the Starry Wisdom sect, his daughter Aseneth Bowen and Dr Raymond Flagg, travelled to Round Hill in a remote reg ion of Vermont. There on the mountain-top they performed an arcane rite that brought forth the Outer Ones from the warren of caves that hollow the domed mountain and a secret pact was formed. The following year, the charismatic Raymond Flagg bought a second home in the village of West Townshend, close to Round Hill and secretly began to spread the doctrines of the Starry Wisdom sect. The young Abednego Akeley, the son of a Congregational minister was one of those he came to influence. When his father died, Abednego took his place at the Church as expected. What was not expected, was the travelling he did in southern New England, to Boston and Providence, lasting for several months. This was, in fact, the completion of ism Abednego’s training training as a minister, not in Protestant ism but in the Starry Wisdom sect. On his return, to great controversy, he began to preach the Starry Wisdom doctrines and transferred his own church – the West River Valley Church – from the Protestant parent body to the Starry Wisdom sect.
The Church was condemned and attacked regularly, and over half of the congregation deserted it, but a cor e of devotees remained, and grew steadily, bolstered by a trickle of new converts. The sect appeared to offer communion with The Divine, directly or through a race of mysterious beings known as the Malakhim, a communion that granted knowledge of the secrets of cosmos. A select few were even offered transcendence of the physical body as a reward for their devotion and Abednego Akeley and Raymond Flagg could seemingly summon these disembodied spirits and make them speak to the congregation. After three years, the Starry Wisdom Church at West River Valley closes down after a series of vigilante actions culminates in the death of Abednego Akeley. Most of the congregation fled to join the Freewill Church in Providence, but a few stayed, some of them passing their secret doctrines onto their children. And some returned a few years later, after the fall of their mother church in 1877 and the cult based on Starry Wisdom beliefs and alliance with the Outer Ones continued in secret for two generations. Another suppressed branch of the Starry Wisdom sect – The Chapel of Contemplation – was raided and closed down in 1912. The Pastor, Michael Thomas, was imprisoned. Five years later, with the aid of sorcery and his allies, he escaped and fled the state. Taking the pseudonym ‘Malachi Sethom’ (an anagram of ‘Michael Thomas’), he travelled to West Townshend. He and his allies conspired to drug the Congregational minister of West River Valley church, in the middle a service, with a powerful toxin that turned him temporarily into a violent maniac. Before he managed to finish the sermon [name] had bludgeoned one of the congregation to death with a Bible. The minister was found to be sane and sentenced to death by hanging. The church was shunned and unwanted until it was purchased by a Boston dilettante by the name of Charles Noyes. Ritually cleansed and r efurbished, it was renamed as the Spiritual Church of Astral Communion, with Rev. Sethom leading the congregation. ‘T HE
M ILLION F AVORED ONES ’
The cult holds rites with the Outer Ones on certain nights. Rites dedicated to Shub-Niggurath tend to take place at the circles of standing stones that crown the hilltops, with May Eve being the most important date. Rites to Nyarlathotep are held deep in an abyss in Round Hill called The Temple of the Celestial Gulf . Both Outer Ones and human beings are offered in sacrifice at these ceremonies – human victims being largely vagrants and prostitutes from around New England, particularly Boston. Through its political connections, the sect has some influence in the area, an influence that is steadily growing. The cult has a network of spies and agents –
some of whom have sorcerous powers of mind-control – that exerts it’s influence as far as Newfane. They have a significant collection of mythos and occult texts, a body of esoteric knowledge passed down from encounters with the Haunter in Providence, and a few artifacts gifted by the Outer Ones. Collectively they also have a significant armory of conventional weapons. The cult has a superficial appearance of being an ordinary Spiritualist church but like some other rural churches in Vermont has some queer customs. The sect focuses around the granting of ‘esoteric secrets’ from their ‘Lord’ and has a hierarchical structure of an Outer Flock and an Inner Circle of ‘Wizards’. They are also in the process of perfecting techniques for prolonging life beyond its natural end – based on methods developed by Rev. Sethom in Boston. This is a sort of mummification process which actually more resembles a living death. Other initiates are rewarded for their life of service with ‘The Celestial Rapture’ or ‘joining the stars’. This i nvolves being taken away by the Outer Ones to have their brains removed and placed in metal canisters which keep the brain alive more-or-less indefinitely and which can survive the journey through space to the planet Yuggoth or Moon Colony. In fact, unknown to most cult members, the Outer Ones are quite indifferent to humanity, and are quite neglectful and the majority of these ‘Chosen Ones’ are either incinerated or after being placed in ‘brain canisters’ are abandoned in storage rooms in the colony. Enough Celestial Voyagers return however with stories of their travels to inspire the faithful.
GOD ’ S V ENGEANCE This is a conservative region and, after hearing stories of their practices and doctrines, the minister of South Windham Church – Rev. Michael Hewitt Walsh speaks out about this dangerous sect. He is joined by the younger Dilbert Duganne, who helps him to investigate. Rev. Walsh interrupts services on more than one occasion and challenges Pastor Malachi. Meanwhile Duganne travels to Brattleboro, Claremont and Boston in an attempt to trac e Sethom’s origins, but is unable to find a record of his education or history. A story appears in newspapers in Brattleboro, Providence and Boston claiming that the group is a survival of the infamous Starry Wisdom sect. Meanwhile, Duganne finds out deeper secrets of the history of the Chapel and the Starry Wisdom sect. He hears stories of mysterious voices in the woods and of ceremonies on hilltops on May Eve. He also spies on a service held by Pastor Malachi. The Pastor appears to have miraculous powers. Among other things, during a spiritualist-style ceremony, he summons the spirits of people who have supposedly 'ascended to
He also sees a group leaving the Chapel after sunset on a moonless night and heading into the hills. Shortly after this he disappears
Flagg, and death of Eddy. Mentions ‘On Resurrection’ by Enoch Bowen. Also discusses his work with Rev Orin B. Eddy, Rev Elisha Bishop and Rev Michael Thomas on Ancient Egyptian methods for establishing eternal life and their mummification of Enoch Bowen somewhere in Providence . Sanity loss 1/1D8; Cthulhu Mythos +4 percentiles; Occult skill check; 10 weeks to study and comprehend/20 hours to skim. Spells: "Summon Walker of the Planes" (Summon/Bind Dimensional Shambler). There's no further elaboration on the nature of this entity. This spell takes 2D6 weeks to learn a fter the diaries are read, likely too long to be useful in this adventure.
I NVOLVING THE I NVESTIGATORS
THE CHAPEL OF CONTEMPLATION
the Heavens' and has them speak with strange voices apparently from within a curtained box. Although their voices are strange, they seem to have incredible knowledge of the deceased person’s life and relate incredible tales of being carried by wondrous beings called the Outer Ones to a fantastic city of light in the mountains. And then travelling through the cosmos to other worlds.
A story about claims of a coven of ‘diabolists and witches’ and ‘a re-emergence of the Satanic Starry Wisdom cult’ is printed in the Boston Herald. One of the investigators (preferably someone who found evidence of Starry Wisdom in the Chapel of Contemplation) could, after reading the story, contact Walsh or travel to Vermont to investigate. By the time he or she arrives Rev. Duganne will be dead. If that is not enough, the investigators will soon read about Duganne’s death in the newspapers. If in contact with Walsh at this point, he will send them a letter or telegram requesting their help.
Here follows a more detailed treatment of the Chapel of Contemplation than found in The Haunting. Note also the the mythos tome in the original version is Liber Ivonis, whereas here this has been substituted with De Vermis Mysteriis.
GROUND F LOOR: This floor is almost completely destroyed. Fire and time have reduced it to a scattering of bricks, a few remnants of charred walls and blackened timbers. Most of the roof is completely absent or lying collapsed on the ground. There are no doors remaining. Grasses and weeds grow up through the ground, hiding the decayed floorboards beneath. 1. An empty doorway leads to the first open area. Over a low wall lies the remains of a washbasin and a toilet
PRELUDE : THE CHAPEL OF CONTEMPLATION Several clues relating to this scenario can be found i n The Haunting. These are as follows:
The Corbitt Diary Found in the old Corbitt Mansion, Boston. The three volumes are in plain English, though sometimes strangely phrased. Accounts of his occult experiments, morbid sacrifices of children, magic rites and summonings, his ambition to surpass the boundaries of mortality, reports of law suits waged against him (protectors in high places). Corbitt sees himself as a servant of He Who Waits in the Dark. Details of involvement with Chapel of Contemplation. Mentions Starry Wisdom in Providence. 'Shining crystal' and describes communing with 'He Who Waits in the Dark' who grants his followers profound secrets in return for sacrifices (especially children). Mentions names Prof Bowen and Dr Flagg. Box found in Egyptian ruins. Haunter summoned up in darkness, can't tolerate light. Mentions rivalry or split between Eddy and
2. The largest space here. Under a collapsed section of roofing is the remains of a central pedestal and the remains of black paint that once covered it. On the wall on the left is painted a symbol – a stylized representation of the Three Lobed Eye. It was created quite recently by Charles Noyes and Dr Hayes with white paint. It is intended to show that the sect survives. Spot Hidden reveals the remains of some words on the walls of no known language (and now unintelligible). At some point they become aware that the earth they stand on is covering weakened floorboards: call for D100 rolls equal to or less than DEX x4. Those who get failing rolls are unable to grab something secure when they feel the floor give way. They fall ten feet into the basement. Each falling investigator loses 1D6 hit points. They end up in area 10. If the floor is excavated, Spot Hidden reveals a decayed trap door which would have to be dug through leading to the passage below.
3. This passage once led from beneath the central stage in Area 2 to the secret stage effects in Room 5. The passage is partially filled with earth and water. Some of the controls leading to Area 5 are here. 4. The wall on the right hand side has collapsed revealing Room 5. Spot Hidden and Mechanical Repair reveal that this wall once opened with an unusual pivot system. 5. This room contains the rusted remains of several machines of unknown function. Mechanical Repair and an Idea Roll may reveal that they included various special effects machines. Well buried under these remains is a trapdoor are the stairs to the inner circle meeting room (Room 8). Again, the floor would need to be excavated in order to find this. 6. Empty. Excavating the floor turns up a trapdoor to areas 9 and 10. 7. Empty. A stairway completely choked with debris at one end leads down into area 8. 8. Basement: Sealed off from the rest of the underground areas, this area contains a furnace, a bookshelf and a few pieces of broken furniture.
Theology (replace with an Idea roll by a clergyman if that skill is not relevant) establishes that the books on that particular topic are largely out of date. In a file cabinet, (with Locksmith to open) is an extensive set of notes on many prominent members of the community at that time. An Accounting roll turns up the organization’s mundane expenses, which are unremarkable save for a great deal of “donations” from unspecified sources, payments for a safe deposit box (where the leader keeps On Resurrection). Library Use reveals the following items: A journal of cult activities states that Walter Corbitt was buried in the basement of Corbitt's house "in accordance with his wishes and with the wishes of that one who waits in the dark.” A letter (Providence postmark) from Dr Raymond Flagg to Orin B Eddy, pertaining to the dispute that existed between them at this time A letter (Townshend postmark) from Rev. Abednego Akeley about arrangements for an upcoming visit lasting for two weeks, after which the sender plans to spend 6 weeks in ‘the church in Providence’. [Create Handout]
S ECRET B ASEMENT This part of the basement was sealed off from the rest, reached by separate stairs now buried under tons of rubble. 10. Prison: In front of where the investigators land is a locked cell with rusted floor-to-ceiling bars. The cell-door is ajar and iron. Scratches on the walls remain. The doors at either end are made of iron. Spot hidden reveals traces of bone, which forensic examination will reveal to be human. 9. Chained to a pedestal at one side of this area is a large book. Examination proves it to be a Latin work, De Vermis Mysteriis. It is the prize of those who can break the chain (STR 30) or carry the pedestal out of the building (characters’ STR versus 36 on the resistance table to lift up through to the outside world, no more than 3 characters may work together). No lock is present; the chain is literally welded to the pedestal. On an ancient-looking table, next to a silver candelabra, rests a cup carved from black onyx, among the muck on the floor is a six-inch, large-gauge needle. There is a blocked trapdoor visible in the ceiling (STR 30 to open). The bookshelf holds mostly works on theology, Middle Eastern and Egyptian archaeology, and spiritualism in various shades of disrepair. An Occult, Archaeology, or
A drawing of a golden sarcophagus- shaped box (The Sarcophagus of Nephren-Ka) A photograph of Marion Allen with his name scribbled on the back 11. A spiritual connection between this realm and the realm of The Haunter has been created here. Anyo ne who enters the room sees lights, even electric ones, dim. For every few minutes spent in the room, a Sanity roll of 0/1 should be made. A low stone slab occupies the center of this room, with a few small wooden tables around it. At one end is a large, dark mirror, now cracked. The walls are painted with Egyptian hieroglyphs; appropriate skill rolls (Hieroglyphs or halved Archaeology) establish that these are funerary texts. Within the this room are two skeletons dressed in fragment or silk robes, perhaps cultists who hid from the police and then perished in the fire. 11B. Buried beneath this chamber is the secret tomb of Elisha Bishop who ‘haunts’ the Chapel in much the same way that Walter Corbitt haunts his house. He will become active only if he feels his entombment is threatened. DE VERMIS MYSTERIIS (incomplete) —in Latin, by Ludwig Prinn. This worm-eaten folio was copied imperfectly, and after further damage over the centuries
is missing great portions of the text. It describes itself as containing "spells and enchantments", particularly those that can summon strange entities. One such spell, included in a "chapter dealing with familiars," summons a "shambler from the stars. It contains references to "such gods of divination as Father Yig, dark Han, a nd serpentbearded Byatis. The author "awesomely implies his knowledge" of Nyarlathotep, "the oldest god of all Egypt". There is a chapter called "Saracenic Rituals", which is said to have "revealed the lore of the efreet and the djinn, the secrets of the Assassin sects, the myths of Arabian ghoultales, the hidden practices of dervish cults" and "the legends of Inner Egypt". It describes cults of Bubastis and Sebek, and on the Pharaoh Nephren-Ka's worship of Nyarlathotep. Prinn's chapter on divination has some information on "The Star of Sechmet", a mysterious crystal. An invocation from the book: "Tibi, magnum Innominandum, signa stellarum nigrarum et bufaniformis Sadoquae sigillum ("To you, the great Not-to-Be-Named, signs of the black stars, and the seal of the toad-shaped Sadoquae"). Sanity loss 1D2/1D4; Cthulhu Mythos +5 percentiles; 18 weeks to study and comprehend/ 36 hours to skim. No usable spells. THE SOCIETY OF RATIONAL CONTEMPLATION COURSE IN SPECULATIVE PHILOSOPHY —in English, French and Spanish editions. Twenty-four cheap, paper-bound volumes available as a correspondence course covering such topics as secret societies, telepathy, astral p rojection, yoga, and root races. Aspects of the Mythos are alluded to, but never fully revealed. The reading time given does not include the time for mailing and to finish the “examinations” and “exercises” that must be reported for the next section to be sent. Sanity loss 0/1D4; Cthulhu Mythos +2 percentiles; two Occult skill checks, one halfway through reading; 12 weeks to study and comprehend/24 hours to skim. No spells. THE BOOK OF THE DEAD —Sanity loss: None; Occult +3; Spells: None
This is a domed mountain to the east of Townshend. The largest outpost of the twin colony of the Outer Ones is here.
D ARK M OUNTAIN This is the mountain to the south of Townshend. The secondary outpost of the Outer Ones’ mining colony is here.
TOWNSHEND T OWNSHEND C HURCH Common Road The minister of this church is partially under the influence of the cult via the Freemasons, but it is a regular Christian church and there is no direct connection to the story.
WEST TOWNSHEND [Add General description] [link to historical photos of Townshend: http://www.townshendvt.org/collection.html]
M ASONIC LODGE There is a Freemason’s Hall called Blazing Star Lodge #23 on the road into Townshend. Several key members of the Spiritual Church of Astral Wisdom and the [“Church of the Outer Ways”] are here and freemasonry is one of the key ways in which they can influence local authorities and individuals. The Freemasons have no formal allegiance however and the majority of the members know nothing about it. There is no special evidence to be found at the lodge.
S COTT C OVERED BRIDGE [add impression]
MEETING REVEREND WALSH
WEST TOWNSHEND [Add some description of route: Brattleboro > Newfane > Harmonyville > Townshend > West Townshend] Investigators can travel by train to Brattleboro from Boston or [Arkham – how?]. In Brattleboro it is possible to hire a car or catch a bus. The road journey from Arkham or B oston, takes travelers through Brattleboro, then up into the mountains through Newfane, the hamlet of Harmonyville, Townshend then West Townshend. [how long?]
ROUND H ILL
S OUTH W INDHAM B APTIST C HURCH 3264 Windham Hill Road, West Townshend. Built in 1850 [Describe]
T HE REVEREND ’ S S TORY The Investigators arrive and are given further details by the Minister. They will be told of the Duganne incident if they don’t already know about it.
I NITIAL LEADS Visiting Rev. Duganne and his doctors
[Depends on details of incident]
LIBRARIES , N EWSPAPERS AND RUMOURS
8.
West River Valley Church Built as a Congregational church and remains that way until Abednego Akeley transfers it to the Starry Wisdom Church 1868-1871: The West River Valley Church is a branch of the Starry Wisdom Church until closed down.
Researching the starry wisdom cult At a clipping agency or library in a major town or city, Library Use will reveal each of the following points: 1.
1871-1917: It is restored as a Congregational denomination church. In 1917, the church minister – Rev. Walter W. Baker – apparently goes insane during a service, rabidly accusing members of the congregation of being sinners. He beats one woman to death with a Bible and injures several other congregants before being restrained. And is subsequently on death row in the State Prison and House of Correction in Windsor, Vermont (about 45 miles North of Townshend, taking around and hour and a half). Potentially he could be interviewed if the investigators write to him for his consent or potentially with the cooperation of the state police.
2.
3.
1918-present: The Church is bought by Charles Noyes and established as the Spiritual Church of Astral Communion with Rev Sethom as the Minister. It appears to be a completely independent church as it is unaffiliated with the National Spiritualist Association of Churches, who have never heard of it.
Reverend Sethom Rev. Sethom claims to have previously been an Anglican minister before his conversion and ordination by Rev. Noyes. No record of his history can be found.
4.
Local Rumours & Folklore From asking around, the investigators hear various rumours: 1. 2.
3. 4.
5. 6. 7.
There have been witches/Satanists in the area for generations There have been a number of disappearances in this part of the state over the past few years: mostly runaways and vagrants There are devils living in the hills During the 19th century, the Old Church in West Townshend was taken over by a Satanic cult. The Satanic minister was killed and the cult was driven away. There are strange standing stones in the hills. No one knows where they came from Devils living in caves in the wooded hills According to their grandparents, in remote places there are devils that speak to people in strange voices. They sometimes possess people,
especially people who live alone on the higher hills The Old Church at West River Valley is cursed. Bad things happen there due to blasphemous things that have happened there in the past
5.
6.
7.
The Starry Wisdom was started by a Professor Enoch Bowen in 1844. The main sect was located at the Free-Will Church, Federal Hill, Providence. Looking up Enoch Bowen uncovers an 1844 article by a rival archaeologist. This archaeologist claimed that the study of archaeology had to be maintained as a science, and should not be used as a cover for opportunists and adventurers to exploit the population. He cited Enoch Bowen as a prime example of the latter sort of archaeologist. He said Bowen was an occultist who was more interested in starting a cult than serving science. He detailed how Bowen claimed to have found the ancient tomb of a “forgotten pharaoh,” and brought forth a crystal “that shines in the dark.” A successful Cthulhu Mythos roll suggests that the reference might be to the fabled Shining Trapezohedron of Nephren-Ka. The skill user also recalls that the crystal could supposedly summon a demon of darkness that enjoyed blood sacrifices of children. With successful Luck and Library Use rolls, an interesting book is uncovered. Mystical Sects, published in 1857, lists numerous cults across the United States, including a small entry for the Starry Wisdom Sect. “They owned a crystal found in Egypt. They held this object sacred, and by gazing upon it, the members believed they could call up a being known as the Haunter of the Dark, who shared dread secrets with the faithful. This being could be summoned only in absolute darkness, and if it was exposed to light for any period of time, it would be banished. July 1844 The Providence Bulletin mentions the purchase of the Free-Will Church on Federal hill by Professor Bowen. The Italian community is outraged due to the cult’s location. A priest named O’Malley of Spirito Santo Church claims the cult worships the Devil himself. August 1853 The Providence Bulletin mentions an investigation into the Starry Wisdom sect. The investigators find no connection to the disappearances of numerous children in the area. October 1865 The Providence Bulletin notes the death of Professor Enoch Bowen from natural
causes. A surviving daughter, Aseneth Bowen, is mentioned. 8. March 1872 The Providence Bulletin publishes a story concerning witch cult rumors among the Italian populace of Federal Hill. The article hints at blood sacrifices by an unnamed cult in the region, but no arrests or indictments have been made. 9. April 1877 The Providence Bulletin includes a small item on the forced break-up of the Starry Wisdom by the authorities. It refers to public pressure on the authorities to enforce this closure. 10. June 1878 A book written by Father O’Malley is found, The Coming of the Beast. It details numerous theories regarding the prophecies of the Antichrist. It lists the cult of the Starry Wisdom as modern day Satan worshippers who desire the Beast to rule the earth. Much of the information found in the “Antichrist Themes” sidebar on pages 160 161 is contained within, except of course for information dated after the book’s publication. 11. Investigators going to Providence to search for the Free-Will Church will find the place much as Blake finds it in the story Haunter of the Dark – go to the Providence chapter for more details. 12. Investigators may want to check out the church records of Spirito Santo in Providenc e. Father Angelo is the present priest of Spirito Santo. He will allow investigators to see the records with a Persuade roll. He himself has heard only rumors of the evil cult. Reputedly, they worshipped the Devil. He helps investigators find Father O’Malley’s writings of the 1850s: “ The Starry Wisdom - the stars of Hell - summoning from those stars a shade from Hell itself, but feared the power of God as manifested in Light.” 13. Investigators who possess books pertaining to the Cthulhu Mythos can search them for information on the Haunter. To find it, a player must roll D100 equal to or less than the book’s Cthulhu Mythos points x3. The information is this: the Haunter was spoken of as “holding all knowledge.” The Haunter demanded monstrous sacrifices, its favorite being human children. Light could banish it back to its dark realm. With a special success roll, the book calls the Haunter “The Bringer of the End Times, the Avatar of Nyarlathotep.” (At the keeper’s discretion, investigators can roll separately to find the “Ancient History” information on pages 129 130; such information ends at Nitocris’s death or the book ’s date of publication, whichever comes first.)
REV. SETHOM’S HOUSE The investigators may wish to confront Michael Thomas or investigate his house. His possessions include keys to open the gate to Dark Mountain in the cellar of the Church and a key that opens the ‘Boulder Entrance’ and the ‘Spring Entrance’. Rev Sethom lives in a medium-sized wooden house not far from his Church. The basement of his house has a nearly complete, walledoff area with a laboratory containing surgical equipment, dessicating chemicals, and preserving balms and notes on Egyptian funerary practices. The centre of the room has a stone sarcophagus on a raised platform. The sarcophagus has maps of the Otherworld painted on it. [T here ma y al so be a br ain cy lind er he re with sensor y- vo ca l ap pa ra tus. ] THE BOOK OF THE DEAD —Sanity loss: None; Occult +3; Spells: None DARK RITES—TB D
MICHAEL THOMAS’ NOTEBOOKS—in English. Masquerading as copies of the Proceedings of the Society of Scholars of Biblical Rectitude, these three volumes described Thomas’ magical techniques and experiments. Sanity loss 1D4/1D8; Cthulhu Mythos +4 perce ntiles; Occult skill check; 10 weeks to study and comprehend/20 hours to skim. Spells: Hardness of Flesh (Flesh Ward), various hypnotic techniques (Dominate), Contact He Who Waits in the Dark (Nyarlathotep), Ectoplasmic Manifestation.
REV . M ALACHI S ETHOM Rev. Sethom is a white haired old man with a Bostonian accent. He says that he was born in Vermont, in Claremont to the north. He used to run a spiritualist church in Boston. He wanted to go somewhere quieter and return to his roots before he died. [No record of this man can be found]. In fact he has returned in order to continue the practices of Starry Wisdom and in o rder to find a way to avoid true death altogether. He has established a church here, associated with the existing cult, and they have captured many people here, taking them to the Temple of the Gulf to be sacrificed to The Haunter of the Dark in exchange for secrets of pr eserving human life. Combined with his notes, he believes he has perfected the method. He has built himself a tomb under his house. And Dr Hayes and Mr Noyes have been trained in the processes. [If he dies during the course of the investigation this process will kick in] . Who is going to succeed him?
Anyone seeing his handwriting, who has seen his Michael Thomas’ handwriting at the Chapel of Contemplation can make an INTx3 roll to recognize it’s familiarity (special success means they recognize it at Thomas’s immediately).
Rev Malachi Sethom (Michael Thomas) A 79 year old sorcerer and an old friend of Walter Corbitt. Age 79 in 1923 STR 12 CON 14 SIZ 15 INT 17 POW 18 DEX 15 APP 17 EDU 14 SAN 0 HP 15 Damage Bonus: +1D4 Weapons: Sacrificial Knife 60%, damage 1D4+2+db.Derringer 45%, damage 1D6. Skills: Bargain 45%, Cthulhu Mythos 15%, Fast Talk 70%, Occult 50%, Persuade 75%, Psychology 65%, Sleight of Hand 55% Armor: Thomas has usually put five magic points into Flesh Ward for the day. Seeing him shrug off a cut or stab costs 0/1 Sanity. Spells: Contact Deity/Nyarlathotep, Contact Mi-Go, Dominate, Ectoplasmic Manifestation, Flesh Ward, Summon/Bind Dimensional Shambler, Telekinesis.
THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH OF ASTRAL COMMUNION The West River Valley Church (aka ‘The Old Church’) is on the main West River Road from Townshend, backing o nto the river. It dates from 1817. This was originally the main church in Townshend. Next door is a building that includes a small store and a post office. At first glance this appears to be an ordinary village church. The Chapel has a bad reputation and people avoid it. Close inspection reveals that the cross above the altar on the stained glass windows is a shining star, those windows also bear a curious three-lobed eye symbol and images of people being borne away by unusual, manylimbed angels. Behind the church, beyond some trees, and a swampy area, is an island in a bend in the West River. There are a number of boulders in the river on either side of the island, making it possible to ford here and cross over to the area of Dark Mountain. The basement contains a number of mythos texts including Latin and several copies of the new English versions of The Book of Eibon and De Vermis Mysteriis, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, plus Aleister Crowley's (flawed) English translation of the Black Book of the Skull, all published by Starry Wisdom Press (registered office in Romania).
T HE G ATE IN THE BASEMENT Also in the basement, next to a curtained wooden box, a re two brain cylinders containing the ‘immortal souls’ of
initiates who have returned from the Heavens (names and details). On certain occasions they are brought up to the altar and attached to the Speaking Device which allows them to tell tales of their wonderful journeys and the sights they have seen (the Mi-Go colony in Vermont, the Moon, Outer Space and Yuggoth). These minds are now quite unhinged. They also suffer from a profound longing to return to the stars. (What will they say if re-attached ?). These minds also possess a significant degree of Cthulhu Mythos knowledge. Detail There are also symbols of the Tri-Lobed Eye and artwork of people being taken by multi- armed ‘angels’ whose faces are a mass of coloured light and of people travelling among the stars. A church record describes Aseneth Bowen commanded by Our Lord Granter of Secrets to protect the Free-Will Church (i.e. the Trapezohedron) until the time is right. There is also correspondence with Rev. Robert Gill’s branch of the sect which he is establishing in the old Bayfriar’s Church (540 E Church St, Arkham, location #714). A locked door leads to a room [d escr ib e it ] . An alcove in the room has a pitch black archway. It’s not clear whether it is a archway or a mirror – nothing can be seen beyond it and it reflect no light. In fact, it is a gate created by the Outer Ones. Stepping through it at a cost of 1 magic point, an investigator will find themselves in an almost completely unlit tunnel in the depths of Round Hill near to the Temple of the Gulf. [How ca n I rest ri ct ac ce ss to th e ch ur ch initiall y? ]
T HE DOCTRINES OF THE S PIRITUAL C HURCH OF ASTRAL C OMMUNION Most of these can be understood by listening to services: When the Tower of Babel fell and the people started to speak many different languages, contact with the Divine Principle was lost. A small group of Magi who had resisted the building of the Tower could speak the Divine Tongue. They distilled their celestial wisdom before dispersing around the world – especially to Egypt. The Spiritual Church of Astral Communion is a successor to that tradition. Their services include Egyptian Psalms as well as Christian ones and Bible readings. They have the power to commune with the Divine Principle directly using Dark Mirrors. During these ceremonies, participants speak spontaneously in the Divine Tongue. The Dark Principle shares secret wisdom with them. A new Covenant had been formed with the Divine. The time had come for ancient secrets to be revealed to those who a re ready, in preparation for a time when the Primal Unity would be restored. The Church can also contact the Malakhim or Angels of the Divine Principle who share wisdom with them. A select number of the faithful are
taken up by the Malakhim into the heavens where they learn the secrets of the universe and exist forever.
INCIDENTS AND INVESTIGATIONS DUGANNE DISAPPEARS Duganne simply disappears one day. A police investigation finds nothing. According to Rev. Walsh, Duganne was meeting someone who said there were things in the hills he could show him. Apparently the person wanted to meet at Secluded Spot A [Peaked Mountain Road or the northern outskirts of Harmonyville]. If the investigator’s ask enough people, they will find a witness [Name] who claims to have seen Duganne and this other person meet there. If the person is traced, she will initially deny all knowledge, then later contact them, admitting it was her. Duganne was investigating the Satanists in the area. The contact knew about certain standing stones in the hills that they used for their unholy practices and she took them. Once they arrived, Duganne thanked her and offered some money which she declined. Duganne said he wanted to look around some more and asked the contact to go back. That was the last she heard. She did not contact anyone about it as she was afraid. The Satanists have many eyes and ears she says. And she was afraid something bad would happen to her. She is not so scared of the investigators as they are from outside. Psychology to notice that she is nervous or not telling the whole story. If requested, she will agree to show the investigators what she showed Duganne, but she will stress the need for utmost discretion. [Walsh won’t come] It is actually a trap. She is a member of the Starry Wisdom cult. The story is almost true. But her story to Duganne lured him discretely into the woods where he was captured by the cult. She has told her fellow cultists about the situation and they have set up an ambush. She will lead the investigators into the forested hills, their cars following a rough track. She will lead them to a real set of standing stones. There are off footprints around if they look. Their car(s) will be disabled and the cultists will attempt to surround and capture them. They can probably manage four ar med men at short notice. [Does it matter if this comes before or after the incident at the priory?]
BEING FOLLOWED They soon realize they are being followed, spied upon, their correspondence etc is intercepted etc. If one o r two characters explore the woods or hills by themselves they hear buzzing voices tempting them with secret power and knowledge. Meanwhile sect members are trying to tempt the minister with strange promises. [Detail events]
I NVESTIGATING THE S PIRITUALIST C HURCH
They may manage to infiltrate the Chapel at least superficially and witness it’s ceremonies. They may witness (or at least speak to witnesses) people going out onto the hills on certain nights. Perhaps they are able to break in. Inside they find records, religious texts, artwork and equipment hinting at the churches’ strange affiliations. They are preferably unable to access the hidden parts of the basement (hidden, locked, interrupted?)
S ANCTUARY The Reverend requests their help. The remote church compound (South Windham church) is cut off by snow (it’s January). Investigators may have to walk there, or if they drive their cars are disabled. It is surrounded by ‘something’. The phone line is cut. The heating system breaks down. They receive ‘phone calls’ te mpting them to help then threatening them, then tempting them again to hand over the minister.
If they do, the minister disappears and then reappears ‘a changed man’. If they don’t then the temperature continues to drop. Anyone going outside faces gunfire and spotlights as well as freezing air. The minister suggests that it may be warmer/safer in the basement. They go down some steps and through a door. Looking for something heavy to block the door, someone moves an ancient bookcase revealing a hidden door. They pass through into a cave with remains of an ancient Indian site dedicated to the Outer Ones, and possibly also Nyarlathotep and/or Shub Niggurath. Pictographs show red spirits with wings and many arms bearing fire, thunderbolts, wind or totems of power. They are shown living in the sky and in caves and worshipping Coyote, Atahensic (Sky Woman), Ya-o-gah (the North Wind in the form of a Bear) (and possibly Hahgwehdaetgan, the Evil One). Buried in the rubble are ancient human bones with evidence of human sacrifice. There is also an ancient brain case.There is a third door leading to the church building itself, from which they can make their escape. They can also simply shelter in the chamber. Later they find strange footprints in the snow and how oddly localized the extreme weather was. Around this time the minister is contacted by a retired folklorist named Henry Akeley (the name will ring a bell) who has his own experiences, evidence and theories about the cult in the area. Akeley is not a man of action and likes to keep a low profile but he will share what he knows with those he trusts. By speaking with Henry Akeley, the characters will learn the old stories about creatures in the hills. If they earn his trust he will play them the recording he made a few years earlier near the mouth of the cave. He can give them directions to find the mouth of the cave. It is closed with a 20 ton boulder. He
will also tell them he has heard of standing stones in the hills. If not already captured, there will be another attempt to capture (or failing that kill the minister). He disappears – and reappears again apparently having had some sort of stroke and/or religious experience. Now confined to a wheelchair, he says that the sect in fact speaks the word of God. He is f lanked by a local nurse called ‘Nurse Brown’ and at times by a Bostonian friend called ‘Charles Noyes’. He attempts to persuade the investigators to join him and the Spiritual Church of Astral Communion. If they refuse he speaks against them. If confronted about the Outer Ones, he says that they are real but want to share their wisdom. He invites them to tra vel the stars with the Outer Ones. He has brain cylinder (who? Abednego Akeley or someone else?) who claims to have witnessed all sorts of wonders in space. If they still refuse, his friends appear and they try to overcome the investigators. The investigators may find strange standing stones in the hills with odd markings on them. They may see strange footprints around them or on certain nights even witness strange ceremonies of the Outer Ones there. They are also used by the Spiritual Church of Astral Communion for special initiation ceremonies and festivals at which one or more Outer One may make an appearance (perhaps wrapped in robes much like an angel?).
BOSTON Rev Charles Noyes runs a Spiritualist Church in Boston called the Church of Astral Communion . He is also a ‘Son of Yog-Sothoth’ at the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight and a close friend of Carl Sanford. ‘The doctor' likewise is the vice- leader and a ‘Knight of the Outer Void’. Leads at the Church of Astral Communion might include the location and significance of the Free-Will Church and some secret that is kept there. Rev. Noyes will also have a key that gives access to Round Hill/Dark Mountain.
T HE S PIRITUAL C HURCH OF ASTRAL C OMMUNION , BOSTON ON RESURRECTION —in English. Enoch Bowen’s notes on mummification and the preservation of the soul allowed the cult to preserve many of its more powerful members in secret underground chambers, awaiting the return of the Old Ones. The techniques inside have been lost for millennia; if the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh ever found this book, it is likely that they could reconstruct the ceremonies used for their most potent mummifications. The cult leader keeps these in a safe-deposit box at a local bank. Sanity loss 1D3/1D6; grants an Egyptian Hieroglyphs skill check; Cthulhu Mythos +3 perc entiles; 8 weeks to study and comprehend/16 hours to skim. Spells: Apportion Ka, Hardness of Flesh (Flesh Ward).
REVEREND W ALSH ON THE ROAD TO D AMASCUS He also relates a profound religious experience that transformed his life. He makes comparisons with Paul on the road to Damascus. An angel appeared to him and revealed the truth. Saying that there was a place in the Heavens for him if he stopped preaching against the new sect. He is now preaching the benign or benevolent nature of the new sect and wishes to hand the church to the new sect. He invites Rev. Braswell to Townshend for a great revelation.
CONFRONTING THE OUTER ONES
In actual fact Walsh , seen as too much of an ongoing threat to the new sect, was kidnapped (from his house? His car?) and has been replaced by an Outer One.
Water normally pours from the cave and into Tannery Brook. Pastor Malachi and some other agents (who?) have a key that causes the flow of water to reduce to a trickle within a few seconds. The cave can then be entered, initially by crawling - it is only3 feet high at the entrance, rising to 5 feet after 10 feet distance and 6 feet after another 30 feet distance.
Rev. Walsh is now confined to darkness and pushed around in a wheelchair by a somewhat sinister doctor from Boston called ‘Doctor Clarence Haynes’ who claims to have saved Walsh ’s life and who never leaves his side. His speech and movement appear to be affected. There are other rural and urban charac ters – including a farmer called ‘Walter Brown’ and a well -bred Bostonian called ‘Mr. Noyes’ – who seem to linger around the house. At Walsh ’s house, Braswell is told that Walsh will surely be ascending to the Heavens and he is made an offer to join the sect. He refuses and tries to leave. The Outer-One posing as Walsh kills him.
ROUND H ILL W ATERFALL ENTRANCE In the woods, about a mile to the north, near the east bank of Tannery Brook is the mouth of a cave. This cave leads to the western sector of Round Hill Colony, a sector which historically has been used primarily for human agents of the Outer Ones.
T HE GATE IN THE CHURCH BASEMENT There is an active gate (with a key possessed by Rev Michael Thomas) between the cellar of the West River Valley Church and a chamber in Dark Mountain. This chamber has a library of brain cylinders, speaking equipment etc. However, the main route is across a small island in the river behind the church and up into the h ills to the south. A different key stops the flow of water to a
small spring/waterfall, which becomes a passage leading into Dark Mountain.
The investigators enter the Free-Will Church [and retrieve an item that gives them access to Round Hill] .
The gate appears simply as a semicircular blackness, a mirror perhaps except that it leaves no reflection. On closer inspection it appears to be an archway into a black space. It leads into a tunnel system which includes scuttlers.
T HE F REE -W ILL C HURCH OF S TARRY W ISDOM 352 Atwells Avenue Access: Cellar door Steeple: windowless
The deeper tunnels are wider and perfectly smooth. They might find storage rooms with brain canisters, a scientific lab, mining equipment, a map room, old living chambers, an armory with weapons and/or armour. The nea r chambers seem abandoned and include equipment from the 19th century. There might be chambers for humans too - living quarters with artificial light, a library of occult texts, an armoury with weapons from the 19th century and today. Some of these weapons might be illegal – dynamite, grenades, Thomson SMGs, a Browning machine gun. There could be small spheres of 24-carat gold. There could even be futuristic weaponry and equipment granted by Nyarlathotep – a Kevlar vest, a taser, Mace, a microwave oven, an electric freezer, modern d rugs. There might be one or more cultists living in here, perhaps i n some kind of suspended animation. There may be a roo m here where brainless human bodies are kept in suspended animation. And a huge library of braincylinders. The Outer Ones worship two primary entities: ShubNiggurath (especially on May Eve) who’s help they need for good reproductive success. And Nyarlathotep in the form of The Haunter in the Dark. In their colony in Dark Mountain they are able to summon him in a deep black hole called ‘The Dark Gulf’.
TEMPLE OF THE GULF The Nyarlathotep cult associated with the Outer Ones is called ‘The Million Favored Ones’. A gate and physical entrance both lead to this Temple to Nyarlathotep deep in the darkest bowels of Round Hill. There are also some chambers nearby associated with human cultists and there is a library of brain cylinders. Carelessness or bad luck here will result in the investigators being captured. The ceiling is dotted with star-like points of light and a dim phosphorescence with can be controlled by a contro l panel. The huge black space is surrounded by a viewing are a and a priests’ platform. The high ceiling is a fractal series of concave domes dotted with star-like points, rising higher and higher as it approached the Dark Gulf.
PROVIDENCE
From Lillibridge's notes:
"“Prof. Enoch Bowen home from Egypt May 1844— buys old Free-Will Church in July —his archaeological work & studies in occult well known.” “Dr. Drowne of 4th Baptist warns against Starry Wisdom in sermon Dec. 29, 1844.” “Congregation 97 by end of ’45.” “1846—3 disappearances—first mention of Shining Trapezohedron.” “7 disappearances 1848—stories of blood sacrifice begin.” “Investigation 1853 comes to nothing— stories of sounds.” “Fr. O’Malley tells of devil -worship with box found in great Egyptian ruins—says they call up something that can’t exist in light. Flees a little lig ht, and banished by strong light. Then has to be summoned again. Probably got this from deathbed confession of Francis X. Feeney, who had joined Starry Wisdom in ’49. These people say the Shining Trapezohedron shews them heaven & other worlds, & that the Haunter of the Dark tells them secrets in some way.” “Story of Orrin B. Eddy 1857. They call it up by gazing at the crystal, & have a secret language of their own.”"
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cthulhuwho1/38108300 18/in/photostream/ If the Shining Trapezohedron is removed from the Church, Nyarlathotep will – if possible – command his human and Outer One servants to return it. [According to another source the steeple is defended from sect members by an Elder Sign.]
CONCLUDING THE SCENARIO SANITY AWARDS
Killing Malachi or otherwise disrupting the sect. Sanity reward = ?
Closing off the tunnel in the old church
Destroying the old church
CAST OF CHARACTERS Rev. Walsh Age STR CON SIZ INT POW DEX APP EDU SAN HP Damage Bonus: Weapons: Skills: Armor:
Dr. Haynes
Akeley cannot be persuaded to join the characters’ investigation but he is willing to show them where the cave is. There are indeed footprints there. He also has photographs of a footprint of an Outer One, the mouth of a woodland cave blocked by a round boulder with similar tracks in front of it and another of a circle of standing stones on the summit of a wild hill Age STR CON SIZ INT POW DEX APP EDU SAN HP Damage Bonus: Weapons: Skills:
APPENDICES
Middle-class Bostonian cultist and sorcerer. Age STR CON SIZ INT POW DEX APP EDU SAN HP Damage Bonus: Weapons: Skills:
Walter Brown Rural cultist and sorcerer. Sandy hair? Lives in a rundown hillside place near the d eep woods. Aseneth Bowen’s son Age STR CON SIZ INT POW DEX APP EDU SAN HP Damage Bonus: Weapons: Skills:
Reverend Charles Noyes Middle-class Bostonian cultist and sorcerer. Age STR CON SIZ INT POW DEX APP EDU SAN HP Damage Bonus: Weapons: Skills:
Henry Akeley To the south of Townshend is Henry Akeley’s farm. A trim, white house with two storeys and an attic, built around 1800. The lawn is well-kept with a stone bordered path leading to a Georgian doorway. At this time he has a housekeeper. A retired anthropologist from the University of Vermont. The folklorist is present in his house on the side of the hill and is already gathering information about the strange creatures of the area. He has a recording made in 1915 near the mouth of a cave of buzzing and human voices.
APPENDIX ONE : T IMELINE 1832: Abednego Mesach Akeley is born in Windham County, Vermont 1835: a prosperous merchant builds the 'Corbitt' house, but immediately falls ill and sells it to a Mr. Walter Corbitt, esquire, the owner of a successful, local furniture shop. 1843, Egypt: Professor Enoch Bowen, archaeologist and student of the occult, found the Shining Trapezohedron in the Labyrinth of Kish. 1844: May Professor Enoch Bowen ceases his excavations of Nephren-Ka's tomb upon finding the Shining Trapezohedron, and returns to Providence. Bowen founds the Starry Wisdom sect, buying the old Free-Will Church for its headquarters. This cult used the crystal to summon the Haunter, to whom they made blood sacrifices of infants and children. 1846: Disappearances begin in Providence that rumors link to the Starry Wisdom Church. The Haunter had decided to allow its links to this realm to grow through these rituals, so that it might find the most suitable host for its essence. It told its followers it awaited the proper time and place to come forth in the shape of man. 1849: A minor schism within the Starry Wisdom Church results in Rev. Orin B. Eddy setting up in an abandoned church in the North End of Boston with financial and practical aid from Walter Corbitt and with part of the Starry Wisdom Church’s collection of artifacts, occult texts, especially their collection of Egyptian funerary texts. It is called Chapel of Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets. The practices of the Chapel are in the style of a Spiritualist Church with séances, sometimes aided by sorcery such as Telekinesis or by
information gathered from the Haunter of the Dark in Providence, but mostly through various forms of fakery. 1852: Walter Corbitt is sued by neighbors, who petition to force him to leave the area "in consequence of his surious [sic] habits an unauspicious demeanor."
The Starry Wisdom’s power grew as Bowen received direct guidance from the Haunter. In return for the blood sacrifices, the Haunter gave the cultists information by means of which they obtained various artifacts and numerous dread tomes. They collected copies of the Necronomicon, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, Liber Ivonis, Cultes de Goules, De Vermis Mysteriis, Pnakotic Manuscripts, and the Book of Dzyan. With the aid of certain ancient funerary texts, Orin B. Eddy makes progress rediscovering Ancient Egyptian techniques for everlasting life. 1858: A growing feud between Orin B Eddy and the main body of the Starry Wisdom Church ends in the death of Eddy. His body is cremated and buried in the crypt. Rev. Elisha Bishop is placed in charge of the Chapel of Contemplation. He discovers and continues Eddy’s Afterlife work. The Chapel becomes quite influential in Boston due to the patronage of powerful people as well as access to potentially damaging information on certain influential people. 1863: A branch of Starry Wisdom opens in Townshend, Vermont, opens based at a Dr. Raymond Flagg’s second home under the leadership of Dr. Raymond Flagg. Flagg comes to influence the young minister Abednego Akeley, who initially challenges him but is impressed by Flagg’s dark mirror invocation of the Divine Principle. [Flagg would have needed a deputy to run this group while he was in Providence] At this point, the Starry Wisdom Cult in Providence had over 200 members. 1865: Enoch Bowen dies. Dr Flagg takes over the central sect. Bowen’s daughter Aseneth is vice -leader and pastor of the Providence branch. Enoch Bowen is mu mmified and entombed in the crypts of the Freewill Church. Whether the rituals designed to maintain life after death were successful or not is not entirely clear. 1866 Evidently Corbitt wins the lawsuit. His obituary in 1866 states that he still lived in the same place. It also states that a second lawsuit was being waged to prevent Corbitt from being buried in his basement, as provided by his will. Executor of Walter Corbitt's will was R everend Michael Thomas (age 22), pastor of the Chapel of Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets.
1868: The Reverend Samuel Shadrach Solomon Akeley, father of Abednego Akeley, dies. Abednego succeeds him as reverend, but immediately after the funeral he left Vermont and travelled in southern New England. On his return, he begins preaching the doctrines of Starry Wisdom to his flock and converts his church affiliation to the Church of Starry Wisdom. In fact he was already a convert and was simply awaiting his father’s death to complete his training in Providence and Boston. The church is renamed as West River Valley Church of Starry Wisdom. Controversy and scandal follow. 1869: A group of Irish vandalize the Starry Wisdom Church in Providence, apparently in retaliation for their perceived involvement in kidnapping a fellow. 1871: Abednego Akeley dies at the age of 39 and his church closes. Rev. Akeley was killed by an unknown assailant. And seriously wounded, he asked to have his brain removed that he might explore the mysteries of the cosmos. He leaves behind a son, Henry Wentworth Akeley, conceived hours before his death. The mother is Sarah Elizabeth Phillips, a servant in the Akeley’s household. After Rev. Akeley’s ‘death’ most of the congregation move to Providence, others remain, continuing to consort with the Outer Ones and passing their secret doctrines from parent to child. In fact Akeley has had his brain removed by the Outer Ones in order to be initiated to the mysteries of the universe. Meanwhile, some community leaders are gradually brought under the influence of the Outer Ones or replaced with those who are already. A branch of the Starry Wisdom sect in Chicago kno wn as the Celestial Providence sect is disbanded by the Great Chicago Fire. 1876: Policemen showed up at the Chapel of Contemplation’s doorstep in search of a sacred golden box (once the property of Nephren-Ka) from Egypt which had vanished from the British Museum shortly after Bishop made an unsuccessful bid to purchase it. (This box would eventually show up in the hands of Rupert Merriweather, with whom it will be found at the start of t he rulebook’s “The Edge of Darkness” scenario.) The authorities, upon searching the Chapel, found the false panels and secret doors used to stage séances and trick congregants. 1877 May: The Starry Wisdom cult in Providence is disbanded after threats from the locals. The cultists leave town by year's end. Aseneth Bowen was commanded by the Haunter to leave the Shining Trapezohedron in the church for safekeeping. Empowered by the Haunter, Dr. Flagg and Aseneth Bowen wove a spell casting an aura of dread and fear over the building. The crystal was left in the church, along with some of the sect’s library of occult
texts. No one in the neighborhood dared to explore the church. [Alternatively, Elder Signs left on the doorways prevent their re-entry?]
1895: An edition of De Vermis Mysteriis is supposedly published by Starry Wisdom Press, but no copies have been found.
The Townshend and Boston sects are reinforced by refugees from Providence. The Townshend sect is now about 40 strong, but is forced to practice in secret.
1909: Starry Wisdom Press allegedly releases a version of Unaussprechlichen Kulten as well, but no copies are ever found.
Others migrate to Boston, where they swell the attendance at the Chapel of Contemplation. Many others head west, to California, where a branch is established in Los Angeles.
1911: A New Orleans jazz musician and trumpet-maker called Lightning Billy Watkins spots the Trumpet of Ptah in a curio shop and noting it’s unusual tones, converts it into a modern trumpet.
Meanwhile, remnants of the sect continue secretly in Providence under the leadership of Aseneth Bowen.
1912 Secret raid on the Chapel of Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets occasioned by affidavits swearing that members of the church were responsible for the disappearances of neighborhood children. Chapel is closed. During the raid, three policemen and seventeen cult members were killed by gunplay or fire. Autopsy reports are singularly undetailed and uninformative, as though the coroner had not actually performed examinations. Though 54 members of the church were arrested, all but eight were released. The records hint of illegal intervention in the proceedings by important local official, offering an explanation of shy stories of the battle - the biggest criminal action in the city's history - never appeared in print (the existence of the cult, the details of what was found and the bloodbath that ensued were so embarrassing that the whole thing was covered up). Pastor Michael Thomas (age 71) was arrested and sentenced to 40 years in prison on five counts of second-degree murder.
Elisha Bishop dies. While a coffin went into a plot in Mount Auburn, his body rested in a small, secret chamber beneath the Chapel of Contemplation. Spiritual manifestations within the chapel picked up considerably, as Bishop’s spirit made itself manifest. Thomas revives the sect with the aid of Elisha Bishop’s ‘spirit’. c. 1880: Ghost stories centering around the former Starry Wisdom Church begin around this time. A Yorkshire branch of the cult arises, possibly founded by Dr. Raymond Flagg. It is active until around 1890. Winter 1881: Marrion Allen, an amateur occultist from Arkham, and lead er of a group calling themselves ‘The Dark Brotherhood’ joins The Chapel of Contemplation in Boston. Feb. 1882: Marrion Allen steals two items from the Chapel, both artifacts from the tomb of Nephren-Ka: a miniature sarcophagus and an ancient Egyptian trumpet. August 1883: Marion Allen flees from members of Starry Wisdom to New Orleans where he sells the Trumpet of Ptah at a curio shop in an attempt to raise funds to flee the country. Soon after, he is killed by agents of Starry Wisdom on the docks. 1890: By this time, the Yorkshire Starry Wisdom cult has fallen apart. Dr. Flagg seems to have disappeared after this. 1892: Aseneth Bowen dies. Her body is mummified in a chamber beneath her house in Providence by Rev. Michael Thomas. 1893: The spell around the original church prev ented anyone from entering the building until a reporter from the Providence Telegram, Edwin M. Lillibridge, possessed of great force of will, made his way into the building to investigate stories of the church being haunted. He found the crystal and accidentally summoned the Haunter. The Haunter killed Lillibridge in a failed attempt to merge with the hapless human.
Rev. Charles Noyes (who later also becomes a member of the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight) takes charge of the remnants of the Starry Wisdom sect in Boston. 1917 Thomas, aged 73 (quietly tried on four accounts of second-degree murder in 1912, and sentenced to life in prison) vanishes from his cell one night, leaving two guards torn apart and five prisoners insane. He uses sorcery – stealing copper pipes he making a copper dagger and uses it in a ritual to summon and then bind a dimensional shambler. Charles Noyes helps Thomas slip away without a trace. He makes his way to Townshend, Vermont where he opens the Spiritual Church of Astral Communion. Knowing that his end is near, he works determinedly to restore the now-endangered art of perpetual life. 1919: Lightning Billy Watkins is committed to a mental hospital after mysterious events during a New Orleans funeral march. Michael Thomas arrives and begins to preach in region under the pseudonym, Rev. Malachi Sethom.
Human sacrifice reappears in region. People have begun to disappear in Vermont. 1920: Aleister Crowley's (flawed) English translation of the Black Book of the Skull is published by Starry Wisdom Press. 1921: Rev. Walsh arrives, hears rumours of strange practices in the area 1920s: A Los Angeles-area branch of the Starry Wisdom Cult reaches the peak of its popularity, lasting through the 1930s New York jazz musician Leroy Turner buys Lightning Billy Watkins’ unusual trumpet from a curio shop in New Orleans. Early 1920s: A branch of the Starry Wisdom Cult is established in Arkham, overseen by Rev Thomas. Hears from locals about ceremonies on May Eve May Eve 1922: Rev. Duganne witnesses ceremonies in the hills Walsh and Duganne believe there is a survival of witchcraft in the area Walsh begins to preach against the Spiritual Church of Astral Communion and to publish sermons and letters in the press about it A correspondence possibly begins with one of the investigators. Walsh starts to be spied on and intimidated. He is not sure who to trust any more. Walsh asks the investigators to help.
APPENDIX TWO: TRANSCRIPT OF HENRY AKELEY’S RECORDING (Indistinguishable Sounds) (A Cultivated Male Human Voice) … is the Lord of the Wood, even to… and th e gifts of the men of Leng… so from the wells of night to the gulfs of space, and from the gulfs of space to the wells of night, ever the praises of Great Cthulhu, of Tsathoggua, and of Him Who is not to be Named. Ever Their praises, and abundance to the Black Goat of the Woods. Ia! ShubNiggurath! The Goat with a Thousand Young! (A Buzzing Imitation of Human Speech) Ia! Shub-Niggurath! The Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young! (Human Voice) And it has come to pass that the Lord of the Woods, being… seven and nine, down the onyx steps … (tri)butes to Him in the Gulf, Azathoth, He of Whom Thou has taught us marv(els)… on the wings of night out beyond space, out beyond th… to That whereof Yuggoth is the youngest child, rolling alone in black aether at the rim… (Buzzing Voice)
… go out among men and find the ways thereof, that He in the Gulf may know. To Nyarlathotep, Mighty Messenger, must all things be told. And He shall put on the semblance of men, the waxen mask and the robe that hides, and come down from the world of Seven Suns to mock… (Human Voice) (Nyarl)athotep, Great Messenger, bringer of strange joy to Yuggoth through the void, Father of the Million Favoured Ones, Stalker among… (Speech Cut Off by End of Record)
APPENDIX THREE: EGYPTIAN HYMNS H YMN TO R A O thou who art crowned king amongst the gods... Thou art the lord of heaven, Thou art the lord of the earth; Thou art the creator of those who dwell in the heights, and Those who dwell in the depths. Thou art the One God who came into being at the beginning of time. Thou didst create the earth, Thou dist fashion the man, Thou didst make the watery abyss of the sky... Thou dost travel across the sky with thy heart swelling in joy; The great deep of heaven is content thereat...
AKHENATEN ’ S H YMN TO THE A TEN When thou settest in the western horizon of the sky, The earth is in darkness like the dead. They sleep in their chambers Their heads are wrapped up. Their nostrils are stopped And none see the other. While all their things are stolen Which are under their heads And they know it not Every Lion cometh forth from his den All Serpents they sting Darkness The world is in silence. He that made them resteth in his horizon. Bright is the earth when thou riseth in the horizon. When thou shinest as Aten by day Thou drivest away the darkness. When thou sendest forth thy rays The two lands (Egypt) are in daily festivity. Awake and standing upon their feet When thou has raised them up. Their limbs bathed they take their clothing Their arms uplifted in adoration to thy dawning Then in all the world they do their work.. All cattle rest upon their pasturage The trees and the plants flourish The birds flutter in their marshes, Their wings uplifted in adoration to thee. All sheep dance on their feet. All winged things fly, They live when thou hast shone upon them. The barges sail upstream and downstream alike. Every highway is open because thou dawnest. The fish in the river leap before thee.
Thy rays are in the midst of the great green sea. Creator of the germ in woman Maker of the seed in man Giving life to the son in the body of his mother Soothing him that he may not weep. Nurse (even) in the womb. Giver of breath to animals, every one that he maketh When he cometh forth from the womb On the day of their birth Thou openest his mouth in speech Thou suppliest his necessities When the fledgling in the egg chirps in the shell Thou givest him breath there-in to preserve him alive. When thou hast brought him together to (the point of) bursting it in the egg To chirp with all his might, He goeth about on his two feet When he hath come forth therefrom. How manifold are thy works, They are hidden from before (us) O Sole God, whose powers no other possesseth. Thou didst create the earth according to thy heart While thou wast alone Man, all cattle, large and small All that are upon the earth That go about on their feet (All) That are on high That fly with their wings
The foreign countries, Syria and Kush, The land of Egypt Thou settest every man into his place Thou suppliest their necessities Everyone has his possessions And his days are reckoned The tongues are divers in speech Their forms likewise and their skins are distinguished (For) thou makest different the strangers.
APPENDIX F OUR : I DEAS AND QUESTIONS Is the church in Providence left with the Trapezohedron and the occult texts intact because of the command of the leadership or because they are prevented by Elder Signs left by those who raided the church? Does Duganne witness ceremonies in the hills on May Eve before he disappears? Or is that Walsh or the investigators?
Perhaps Duganne also had Henry Akeley’s contact details – left in his room – when he disappeared. Investigators may assume Akeley has something to do with the disappearance. Problem is that this would introduce Akeley and his evidence of Outer Ones rather early.
APPENDIX F IVE : M AP OF THE C HAPEL OF C ONTEMPLATION
