Chaosium Digest Volume 7, Number 5 Date: Sunday, August 28, 1994 Number: 1 of 2 Contents: Two Mythos Tomes for Cthulhu Now (Seth Blumberg) CTHULHU NOW Forked Tongues (Steve Hatherly) CALL OF CTHULHU The Writing on the Wall (Steve Hatherly) CALL OF CTHULHU Tales of Terror: The Collection (Steve Hatherly) CALL OF CTHULHU Mountains of Madness Volunteers Wanted (Lynn Willis) CALL OF CTHULHU Editor's Note: New out this week for Elric! is _Fate of Fools_ (Chaosium, 64 pg., $10.95). It includes two adventures set in the Young Kingdoms. I ran the first of the two, "The Book of Brilliant Things", at a con earlier this year and had a lot of fun. Good stuff. Scott Plumer (splumer%westlrc@ibm4381.onet.edu) wanted to announce NOWSCon '94, in Cleveland, Ohio. He said that there would be two Call of Cthulhu events, one of which he will run. The dates are September 10 and 11. If you want more details, Scott has them available by email. Drop him a line. Shannon -------------------- From: Seth "the Lesser" Subject: Two Mythos Tomes for Cthulhu Now System: Cthulhu Now The bibliography of Mythos-related works given in the _Call of Cthulhu_ rules ends at about 1938. Barring the intervention of some mysterious force or agency, there must have been at least *some* publications in the last half-century dealing, however peripherally, with the Great Old Ones. In fact, CTHULHU NOW investigators may well stumble across either of the following modern tomes in the course of their researches. Note that both are written in modern English, and as such do not require an Own Language roll for native English-speaking characters; this makes them slightly more potent, ounce-for-ounce, than archaic tomes. Also note that these books have not existed long enough to develop the sort of reputation possessed by, say, the Black Book of von Junzt (or even _People of the Monolith_); librarians won't look askance at investigators who ask about them -- in fact, most librarians won't know they exist. * THE PROPHECIES OF SCIENCE/THE SCIENCE OF PROPHECY: Cognitive Science and the Writings of Abd al-Azrad Sanity loss 1D3/1D6; Cthulhu Mythos +5%; spell multiplier x2 (recommended spells: Contact Nyarlathotep, Summon/Bind Hunting Horror, Summon/Bind Servitor of the Outer Gods). This obscure book was one of the few titles published by the ill-fated Human Horizons Press, which closed when its offices burned down in the early morning of May 1 (Beltane), 1983. Research will disclose that the book's author, Jonathan Stellare, was arrested in connection with the fire, but committed suicide while in police custody. The book never actually went to the printers before the fire, but bound galleys were sent to several reviewers. Stellare appears to have had access to a mostly-complete copy of Dr. John Dee's English translation of the _Necronomicon_ in the preparation of this work. He draws parallels between the rituals that Abd al-Azrad describes and algorithmic descriptions of computer programs. Pseudocode and fragments of source code are included from one of Stellare's attempts to electronically re-create a worship service of the Outer Gods; a competent computer programmer who learned the spells from this book might be able to construct a program to aid in their casting (Keeper's option). Unfortunately, Stellare does not appear to have truly understood the significance of the _Kitab Al-Azif_, and his explanations and descriptions are fragmentary, confused and heavily adulterated with New Age mysticism. * BEYOND THE VEILS OF SCIENCE by "Dr. Harlo Y. Patten"; unpublished manuscript (1971) Sanity loss 1D6/2D6; Cthulhu Mythos +11%; spell multiplier x1 (recommended spells: Create Gate, Call/Dismiss Azathoth). This tome will fall into the investigators' hands in the form of a tattered photocopy of a low-quality dot-matrix printout. The author's name is an obvious pseudonym (and an anagram of "Nyarlathotep"), and little or nothing is known about the book's true origins. "Dr. Patten" presents a philosophical reflection on the meaning of modern physics, much like _The Tao of Physics_ or _The Dancing Wu Li Masters_, but informed with a sinister and oppressive Mythos sensibility. The book discusses the implications of relativity, quantum mechanics and non-Euclidean geometry as a way of thinking about the world, and demonstrates that human notions of morality and ethics are meaningless in the face of an empty universe ruled by random chance. Characters becoming temporarily or indefinitely insane as a result of reading this book will usually manifest their disturbance either as a chokingly deep and pervasive depression, or as a variant of Quixotism: "referential mania", the belief that everything that happens, no matter how small -- the blowing of a dead leaf across the street, someone slamming a door, the shapes of clouds -- has a darker, hidden meaning. -- Seth L. Blumberg, M.S.E. \ ``Jesus said, `Love thy neighbor as thyself.' slb22@columbia.edu \ Right. If I did that, they'd have me up on CUSFS President-in-Exile \ charges.'' -- Davo White > No one I know shares my opinions, least of all Columbia University. < -------------------- From: Steve@flar.demon.co.uk (Steve Hatherley) Subject: Forked Tongues System: Call of Cthulhu Following is a Tale of Terror, designed to provide scenerio background and adventure ideas for a Call of Cthulhu game. FORKED TONGUES: A TALE OF TERROR by Steve Hatherly Martin Coleford-Johns is fascinated by dinosaurs. His father worked hard uncovering fossilized skeletons of the giant creatures and passed the bug on to Martin. It was only natural that he should attend Oxford and study the science of paleontology. Now, at the age of 42, Martin Coleford-Johns is the acknowledged leader of the field. Tall and good looking, many women have fallen for this aristocratic figure. However, Martin has but one passion - dinosaurs. He is distant and uninterested in anything except his favourite subject. When anyone mentions anything to do with the prehistoric world he suddenly becomes lively and alert, undergoing an almost total complete personality change. However, this reclusive man does not like to publicise his work. He lives in the family house set back in extensive gardens behind high brick walls. His two servants, a butler and a maid, aid him. Currently he has only one heir, Justin Coleford-Johns. The boy is at boarding school, his mother having died in childbirth. Coleford-Johns rarely appears in public, preferring to work either in the field or in the extensive laboratories constructed on his grounds. When he does appear (evening engagements only) he is always impeccably dressed. Visitors to the Coleford-Johns' Mayfair house are unwelcome. If the visitors cannot express an interest in either the extensive reptile collection or the study of fossils then they will be shown the door. Otherwise Coleford-Johns will talk animatedly to his fellow devotees on the subject until he grows tired of them. The Coleford-Johns family has for years been a sanctuary for the Serpent People. With the aid of Consume Likeness the Serpent People have taken the place of Martin, the butler and the maid. There are several other Serpent People hidden about the house. The only human member of the family is Justin, and he is kept away from the house as much as possible. Once he has bred and has at least one heir, the Serpent People will kill and replace him as well. The house is filled with reptiles and dinosaur books. The shelves are lined with anything even vaguely connected to the subject. There are fossils and bones and several scale mock-ups of dinosaurs. There are also several Serpent People tomes, but they are well hidden. Lighting in the house is always soft to avoid casting betraying shadows. The Serpent People never go out in bright sunlight and have most of their needs delivered direct from Harrods. Coleford-Johns has a purpose other than the study of fossils. He is engaged in a programme to return the People as rightful masters of the Earth. In rooms concealed below the house he has several clutches of Serpent People eggs, just waiting to hatch. His fossil hunting expeditions across the globe conceal a more sinister purpose. Chipping at rock in distant countries is a good cover for his true goal - finding the lost temples of the Serpent People. The Serpent People were a violent, possessive race and fought many battles with other aliens that wanted Earth for their own. However, their enemies were cunning and powerful and, at the end of the Permain Era, they began the preparations which would preserve their ancient race until such time as they could reclaim the world for their own. Their preparations consisted of a series of pyramidal temples scattered across the globe in various isolated locations. In each a number of the Serpent People were placed in a state of deep hibernation, along with much of their (now lost) technology and sorcery. Eventually, when the wars were over controls would be triggered and they would awaken to reclaim the Earth. However, something went wrong and the temples inhabitants never woke. As the Earth grew older its crust moved and shifted, crushing many temples. Others were lost as the land dropped and the sea rushed in, or were found by other races and destroyed. Now, 230 million years after their construction, there are only a few of the temples left. Martin Coleford-Johns hopes to find these. Possibilities: 1) Justin Coleford-Johns is troubled by nightmares about reptiles. In them he dreams of giant walking snakes which talk in strange hissing voices. Sometimes, in the really bad nightmares his father turns into one of these creatures. Periodically he runs away from the boarding school, but is always captured and sent back. One day, he is not captured and cannot be found. Later one of the Investigators discovers that his son has been hiding Justin in his room. Justin is clearly terrified and does not want to go back to the school. 2) In a careless slip Martin Coleford-Johns is photographed in broad sunlight while working on a large fossil in Utah, America. The photographer is a journalist reporting on the expedition and does not notice the strange, inhuman shadow. However, while Martin is still in the USA, the photograph is printed in one of the London papers. The shadow is blurred, but to a keen eye is obviously not human. The paper has the print in its files, the shadow is much clearer on that. 3) Should reports pointing to a new Serpent People colony reach his ears, Martin will begin to investigate. Stories of dinosaurs, giant reptiles, and samples of shedded skin will stir his interest. If the Investigators are involved he may try to infiltrate the group by casting Consume Likeness. Coleford-Johns may decide to use one of his different forms to avoid attracting attention to his sanctuary. -------------------- From: Steve@flar.demon.co.uk (Steve Hatherley) Subject: The Writing on the Wall System: Call of Cthulhu THE WRITING ON THE WALL: A TALE OF TERROR by Steve Hatherly The symbols and half letters scrawled messily on the wall are not from any recognisable language. They look like the drunken attempts of a lone vandal, and are not particularly remarkable. Except for one thing: they appear elsewhere. On lorries and trains, schools and churches. In the country, in town. On sheds and walls, windows and signs. Usually in paint, and once or twice in blood. Possibilities: 1) The symbols indicate the borders of a small but rapidly growing cult. As they spread alarmingly from town to town the symbols spread with them. 2) The 'ley lines' of old are now too weak for the Lloigor to use as energy sources. But, in this age of technology, there are other sources - electricity and telephone cables. The Lloigor have implanted messages into sleeper's brains, forcing them to daub the symbols across the country. They are eventually translated to form an artificial intelligence algorithm. The algorithm hides in the computer system and 'encourages' the construction of new cables. These form circles of power the Lloigor can absorb and begin their return to power. 3) The symbols (written by sleepwalkers) originate from a long forgotten language. Eventually they are translated to form one word. Rejoice. What does it mean? Is it a sign from God? Then, a second word: for. Then He, followed by is and coming. Rejoice for He is coming. But who? -------------------- From: Steve@flar.demon.co.uk (Steve Hatherley) Subject: Tales of Terror: The Collection System: Call of Cthulhu The above two Tales have been taken from the first Tales of Terror collection (long out of print). However, those depraved folks at Pagan Publishing will be releasing a collection of Tales of Terror early next year for sale by mail order. They have foolishly let me edit this weighty tome, and as a result I am actively seeking submissions. So what the hell is a Tale of Terror? Most scenarios develop from a single idea, a sole flash of inspiration. Tales of Terror showcases these flashes of inspiration without hiding them amongst turgid plotlines. Each Tale is a scenario idea stripped clean of dead meat, rotting statistics and wretched prose. Like the existing Tales in the Oath, these will consist of a brief description with three (count them, three) alternate endings. The two Tales above represent the extremes in length. Tales are usually somewhere in between. A Tale can be on any subject, providing it has relevance to Call of Cthulhu. It may be set anywhere, anytime and concern anything - people, items, places. Anything. The best Tales are universal in application - one set in Oslo in 1936 is less likely to be accepted than one concerning a strange artifact appearing anywhere. Be inventive. Be original. Scare me. Contributing authors will earn themselves two copies of the book, the envy of their friends, the enmity of their enemies, and the blessing of the Elder Gods. Please e-mail your submissions (as many as you like) to me, Steve Hatherley, at terror@flar.demon.co.uk. Alternatively, by snail: 37 Brighton Grove, Bramley, Leeds, UK, LS13 4BP. (I prefer e-mail as it saves typing.) Please don't send stuff to Pagan Publishing - they'll only lose it. :) If you have any queries, you know where to find me. Otherwise I look forward to seeing the spawn of your creative energies. Steve -------------------- From: Lynn Willis Subject: Mountains of Madness Volunteers Wanted System: Call Of Cthulhu [this notice was originally posted to ladyjan's call of cthulhu discussion group.] After some (longish) discussion, I'm trying to reopen Mountains of Madness as a Cthulhu publication title. I'm wondering if anyone in this group might be interested in doing some work on the concepts involved, and some writing when the time comes. I have a nominal physical form and a nominal price point, and a clear trail with the story itself. Now I need some un-nominal, thoroughly unique hu-manz to get the notion rolling. Structurally, the title separates into a shorter background book (which Phil and Marion seem to have plenty of data for), a longer campaign scenario book, documents and handouts, a nice Antarctica map, and maybe separate ship and plane plans. (Any artist who thinks he or she can draw a fine plan of the city is sincerely encouraged :-)! If Phil and Marion are the background meisters (I suppose there might be room for volunteers, too), there also needs to be a plotmeister and coordinator to help create and certainly to harmonize how the scenarios will work, who writes what, the proper lengths and proportions of material, and so on. The plotmeister job is particularly demanding, and should be approached only by people whose schedules are flexible, and who are by nature are both demanding and tactful. It will be of great help if the plotmeister lives somewhere near San Francisco, so that he/she and I can easily consult. If not physically near, email and telephone accessibility are vital. Of all the jobs for the project, this is the most important. Creative writing ability is not needed, but a cool critical eye sure is. I suspect that there also will be a sort of informal coordinating council of writers and interested participants, to provide brainstorming and plot ideas. There will certainly need to be some sort of sustaining subplot to carry matters along before reaching the city, the dark waters of the black and icy sea below, and the shimmering, calling Mountains beyond both.... And then there are the scenarists. The general plan I have in mind allows for both short and long pieces and some, like a solo scenario for two people following the flight of the Ford trimotor, do not need particular coordination (The general plan may vanish utterly by the time this gets rolling, of course....). We will want competent writers (there seem a lot among this readership) who habitually finish things, but they need not be members of this group. Writers also need to be familiar with the Cthulhu rules, and to be of the sort of mind that delights in those twists of perspective and emphasis that give players pause. What should they write? Not yet determined. Setting interesting scenarios in Antarctica is a daunting task. Nothing much happens there, nothing significant (we know of) lives anywhere except at the shelf of the continent, and it's cold, dry, and you have to bring everything with you. Not much Mythos material, at least in the initial scenarios, can be introduced, either (No convenient mi-gos, say.). But the first need is interest. Details later, and not to further bore this group with. If anyone is interested, please indicate to me what you would like to do: plotmeister, writer, contributer of ideas. Please also note any special knowledge you possess that might have bearing on the project. Naval architect, aviation buff, ham radio operator, relative of an Antarctica explorer, that sort of thing. Special knowledge is always useful; it need not tie obviously with the story. Contact me directly, via LWWILLIS@AOL.com. Cheers, Lynn -------------------- The Chaosium Digest is an unofficial discussion forum for Chaosium's Games. 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