Chaosium Digest Volume 10, Number 12 Date: Monday, June 12, 1995 Number: 2 of 2 Contents: The Third Order, Part Two (Sandy Antunes) CALL OF CTHULHU -------------------- From: Sandy Antunes Subject: The Third Order, Part Two System: Call of Cthulhu "The Third Order" A Tournament Call of Cthulhu module for up to ten players, playing time 4 hours. by Sandy Antunes copyright 1995, all rights reserved [continued from V10.11] THIRD HOUR: THE FINALE Somehow, the investigators find out and reach the ancestral tomb of the Laurents, on the outskirts of Arkham. There is a moldering body in a surprisingly dust-free tomb. There is a local girl who brings flowers to each of the graves each day; she is a bit simple but loved by the locals. She will talk about the nice gentleman she met last night, who looked rather (she blushes) drunk as he went back to his house, but who did ask her if she would come by tonight. If asked where his house is, she points to the Laurent tomb. (Yep, she's a sacrifice, she's kind and dumb enough to volunteer.) The tomb is strange; it is a triangular shape, not rectangular. Inside the tomb is Edouard's corpse. It lays on a stone bier, bathed in an eternally burning flame. As soon as they desecrate (i.e. open, or even think mean thoughts about) the tomb, the spirit of Edouard is quickly drawn there to assault them. This close to the tomb, the spirit 'heals' even more rapidly. In fact, the only permanent way to stop Edouard is to somehow destroy the body with water. The Keeper can make this as difficult or as easy as possible. Dropping it in the river would be a great solution, but would require extreme heroics by the poor player who carries the burning body at great pain and damage to themself. Unless the Keeper is cruel and the players totally clueless, eventually an Investigator will triumph. The destruction of the corpse will cause Quachil to appear in its characteristic manner (see CoC 5th Ed), in this case to annihilate the spirit of Edouard. I suggest this be played off-scene, perhaps in the Tomb, to add mystery to the affair. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- INSERT #1, Claude's Diary Wed, Feb 25-- Just told the news, bastards turned me down Sat, Feb 28-- damned if I'll go to their meeting. Read my bible instead. Bastards. Tue, Mar 2-- Skipped lectures, went to library. Found what the old papers referenced, the 2nd Order. They exist, and they are part of my history! Wed, Mar 3-- calling in sick this week, need to reference things. Acting on hunch, will have cards ordered up. Fri, Mar 5-- not sure on the numerology ref, but Edouard's ritual looks possible. I wish I knew why he'd failed. Sat, Mar 6-- must remember to pick up cards for tomorrow. Sun, Mar 7-- went well, they accepted the cards. It's possible now. Mon, Mar 8-- made pretense of class. It really no longer matters. Things will be quite different for those fools now. Thurs, Mar 11-- Still puzzles by Edoward's cryptic latin, "Id imperfectum manet dum confectum evit", did he know what he was trying, truly? I have doubts over calling him, but there are things I must know. At least I know his weakness. Fri, Mar 12-- found a virgin, invited her for dinner Sunday. The stars will be right then, the time is perfect. Obtained drug at the pharmacist. I think I'm all set. Sun, Mar 13-- 1) stop by library if possible, recheck numerology 2) call Edouard to fetch the cards, give him back his 1000 years+1, sacrifice virgin 3) use ancestor's cues to complete summoning of XXXXX INSERT #2, Riddles Eduoard might say or have written down Lord of the 2nd Order, Serpent of Mankind, Bane of Life, Offer of Immortality I am as power and treasure for a prince to hold, hard and steep- cheeked, wrapped in red, gold and garnet, ripped from a plain, of bright flowers, wrought- a remnant of fire and file, bound in stark beauty. This is the way of those who follow me, and the bane of those who oppose. In my realm, I cannot be defeated. Of my foe, she has three lives with which to torment me, for she is gentle enough to sooth the skin, light enough to caress the sky, hard enough to crack rocks. She comes in on little cat's feet, being neither sour nor sweet, then hovers in the air, and then, is not there. I heard of an invading, vanquishing arm sweeping across the land, liquid-quick; conquering everything, quelling resistance. With it came darkness, dimming the light. Humans hid in their houses, while outside spears pierced, shattering stone walls. Uncountable soldiers smashed into the ground, but each elicted life as he died; when the army had vanished, advancing northward, the land was green and growing, refreshed. This stopped my war, and made me flee. Its weapons I could not combat. It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, and empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, ends life, kills laughter. [darkness] INSERT #3, Riddles that refer to the Third Order Three lives have I. Gentle enough to sooth the skin, light enough to caress the sky, hard enough to crack rocks. [water] I come in on little cat's feet, am neither sour nor sweet, hover in the air, and then am not there. [fog or mist] I bubble and laugh, and spit water in your face. I am no lady and I don't wear lace. [a fountain] INSERT 4, More Clues In both Edouard's book and Claude's notes 1) The power of the many shall become the power of the one 2) By the act of calling you bind the contract 3) The first shall be the last and the last the first In Claude's Diary 1) stop by library, check numerology references to decipher that 3rd order 2) send cards, allow 2 days for post to deliver before sabbath 3) call Edouard to fetch the cards ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Handout for Players (to be printed and distributed to each beforehand) "The Third Order" The following background has been given to all the players. The others characters are friends of your character, and you can freely discuss any and all of the information on this page with them. It is part of your "shared history". You can trust your friends, and all the information on this sheet. WHO ARE YOU? You are a citizen of the small New England town of Arkham, notable for the presence of Miskatonic University. Also, though, you are part of the secret fraternal order of Free and Accepted Masons (the Freemasons) and its allied group, the secret maternal Order of the Eastern Star (women masons). WHAT ARE THE MASONS? Evolving from the stone mason guilds of the Middle Ages, your local Lodge is a part of the Grand Lodge of America. The Masonic Creed is: "Duty, Honor, and Obedience to the Law of the Land" First loyalty is to the order, than to mankind, then to one's self. As a fraternal order, women are not allowed to be Freemasons. The Order of the Eastern Star is the equivalent for women-- both groups interact socially, but do not hold Lodge meetings together. Children are often members of the more socially-inclined groups, The Order of DeMolay (for boys) and The Order of the Rainbow (for girls). Members of these junior orders are often inducted into the Freemasons or the Eastern Star when they become adult-- but being in DeMolay or the Rainbow is NOT a guarantee of becoming a member; rather, it allows the adults to look at one's qualities and suitabilities before deciding to invite. To be a Freemason is an invited honor-- you cannot enlist or ask to join. The masons believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and in the immortality of the soul, although they do not set any one particular religious form to these. Secrecy is important-- in many countries, Freemasonry is banned. The Roman Catholic Church is especially opposed to the masons. HOW ARE THEY ARRANGED? Freemasons meet in groups called Lodges. There is a Grand Lodge for each region. Each Lodge has at least one Master Mason (by definition). There are three orders, or rankings: Entered Apprentice Fellow of the Craft Master Mason Within the Grand Lodge of New England, there are several subrankings which (for this adventure) as described as follows: Entered Apprentice: 1st degree (typically masons of 1 year or less) 2nd degree 3rd degree Fellow of the Craft: 4th degree (awarded based on merit or lineage) 5th degree 6th degree Master Mason: 7th degree (awarded based on merit and respect) 8th degree (only for Lodge Masters) 9th degree (only for Grand Lodge Masters) Within the Eastern Star, these titles are renamed "Entered Novice", "Watcher", and "Greater Watcher", but are otherwise identical. Progress through the lower orders can be due to talents, merit, or social standing. Fellows of the Craft are often promoted due to good lineage or family connections. However, the rank of Master Mason is only granted at the decision of several Lodge and Grand Lodge masters, and rarely is swayed by social or political connections. This top order is soley based on skill within your chosen craft, or especial talent and virtue. WHAT DO MASONS DO? There are many pragmatic society advantages: inside business connections, strong ties to industry and political leaders, and the like. It is no coincidence that most elder masons are also wealthy, and prefer to share their wealth and experience only with their fellow masons. That is part of the origin of the order from the medieval guild structures. There is also secret knowledge, much of it carried over from Europe. Even apprentices know that there are secrets known only to the higher orders, but of what nature there is much speculation. A few things are known to all: the secret symbol (often embodied in rings), the secret handshake, and the call for help ("Will no one help the widow's son", a call which all masons are dutybound to assist, but which should only be done in the most extreme of situations...) WHO ARE MY FRIENDS HERE? You know the other members of your group from social picnics and events within DeMolay and the Rainbow over many years of playful adolescence while growing up in Arkham. As you became older, you all joined the Freemasons/Eastern Star. Currently, Lodge meetings in Arkham are every two months, with total membership (Freemasons and Eastern Star) being 38 members. However, this week, most of the masons are out of town, at a business fair in Boston. At Miskatonic, Professor Claude Laurent often runs Sunday get- togethers, where you sit around, talk philosophy, drink bootleg alcohol, play cards, and generally indulge in drawing room society pleasures. WHO IS CLAUDE AGAIN? Dr. Laurent ("call me Claude") is a professor of French Linguistics at M.U., and holds these get-togethers in the Society Room on campus under the guide of the "French Club." Claude tends to judge people based on their social standing a bit much, and often tries to curry favor from the more wealthy members, but overall is a good egg and generous with the liquor. A 6th degree Fellow, he recently was evaluated for promotion to Master Mason, 7th degree, but this did not succeed for him. Slightly embittered, he was conspicuously absent at the last Lodge meeting. He did make last week's sunday "French Club" meeting, however, and after apologizing for his childish retreat from the Masons' meeting, commented on how you were the closest thing he had to family, and made the surprising gesture of providing a gift to each of you. He gave each of you a very nice hand-drawn tarot card. The cards were quite exquisite hand-draw paintings by the local artist/fortune teller Gerald Rahn, whom some of you may know. WHERE AM I RIGHT NOW? For some reason or another, you never got around to putting it away someplace safe, and as this Sunday's meeting begins, three things are apparent: 1) You happen to have your card with you, 2) Claude is late, which is very unusual for him (usually he unlocks the place and is there waiting, today one of you had to get the keys from the office) 3) THERE IS NO WHISKEY BECAUSE CLAUDE ISN'T HERE, OH NO!!!!!!! So you can chat and swap stories and wait for him to arrive, yes? -------------------- The Chaosium Digest is an unofficial gubble forum for Chaosium's Games. To submit an article, subscribe or unsubscribe, mail to: appel@erzo.org. The old digests are archived on ftp.csua.berkeley.edu in the directory /pub/chaosium, and may be retrieved via FTP. gubble gubble.