From: To: Subject: Chaosium Digest v36.01 Date: Thursday, April 25, 2002 2:37 PM Chaosium Digest Volume 36, Number 01 Date: Thursday, April 25, 2002 Number: 1 of 3 Contents * DER HEXENHAMMER (CTHULHU NOW) by Mervyn Boyd - jack@ktana.freeserve.co.uk Editor's Note: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Welcome to our new subscribers. Hello again to those who've been around a while. This issue features an extensive contemporary CoC adventure by Mervyn Boyd that could also be easily adapted to Delta Green. I've still got a couple of submissions yet to be used but then I'm out, so keep those submissions coming. Enjoy! * We have a interesting how to keep as well up at http://www.shoggoth.net/article.php3?story_id=207 -- -- Matt "TrollBoy" Wiseman Webmaster: Shoggoth.net Site Designer: phpslash.org The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. -H.P. Lovecraft ANNOUNCEMENTS * Dear Friends, We would like to take this opportunity to let you know that we have expanded the HeroQuest FAQ available on the web site. To see the actual document, please go to . If you have any questions that are not answered in this list, please do not hesitate to contact us at . Stephen Martin * Howdy Folks! It sure has been a Looooooong time since the last R'lyeh report went out. I hope February and March treated you well. We Chaosium folk have been running as fast as we can to keep new book projects moving along, and chasing some old projects as well. A Trade show in mid March took half the company out of the office for a week, and we're still catching up from that. Add to the mix a new influx of Call of Cthulhu fans with all sorts of questions to answer, new retailers asking about our books, and a couple of distributors who are suddenly interested in our company again, and you can see why it's been so long since our last report. If it weren't for the Unexpected Arrival of Chaosium dude #4.5 - Ben Monroe, we'd be hopelessly behind. As it stands, we're simply hopefully behind. Now that we have 4.5 Chaosium dudes, we'll be quite dangerous once we get some cash flowing back into the company. :) Here's what's new at Chaosium: Since our last report in January, we shipped a new fiction book: The Book of Eibon (http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/fiction/6026.shtml) CHA 6026, $17.95, ISBN 1-56882-129-8 This book is a great resource for Call of Cthulhu Keeper's and players, and is selling quite well. Also in March, TSR/WOTC shipped their d20 Call of Cthulhu rulebook, published under license form Chaosium. (http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/d20/) #886440000 $39.95, ISBN 0-7869-2639-2 This book is gorgeous, and shows just what you can do when your company has deep pockets. This d20 book is introducing a new generation of cultists to Call of Cthulhu. He hope you'll welcome them into the tribe. Our d20 plans & the fate of BRP While we've tried to make it clear in the past that Chaosium is not abandoning our classic Call of Cthulhu line, we're still getting email from upset cultists who think we're switching entirely to d20. So it bears repeating: Chaosium will continue to support our Basic Role Playing Call of Cthulhu & Stormbringer lines. While some of our future releases will be dual stat releases (including BRP & d20 material), we will continue to print BRP only releases as well. We've been publishing BRP system books for over 20 years, and with your support, will do so for the next 20 years as well. So why are we printing ANYTHING using the d20 system? Because there are thousands of gamers out there we'd like to introduce to our game lines, who might not look at our books otherwise. We want and need those extra sales, and those new Chaosium gamers, so we can continue printing Books and Games for another 26 years. So we hope most of you will see this as an opportunity to find more Chaosium players, and ensure we can keep printing the books you want. Arkham Horror News In December we announced that we'd be printing a new edition of Arkham Horror this year. Our Lovecraftian board game of monster hunting has been out of print for nearly 15 years, but will soon return. Charlie Krank is spear heading the project, and it's coming along well. From the looks of things, Arkham Horror will be a late Summer or Early Fall release. For more information see http://www.chaosium.com/arkham_horror Summer Cons We still need volunteer GM's to run events for us at Origins & Gen Con. If you're planning to attend these shows, and have some time to spare, drop us a line! mailto:dustin@chaosium.com At the printer: The Creature Companion #2375 $21.95 ISBN 1-56882-133-6 Our Manual of Mythos Monsters is expected to release in May http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2375.shtml H.P. Lovecraft's Dreamlands (Hardcover) #2394, $34.95 ISBN 1-56882-157-3 We'll be releasing a hardcover edition of our Dreamlands Sourcebook in May. http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2394.shtml Here's our upcoming releases: Go let your local shop know you want these books! Support your local shop - it's where new gamers come from. For Call of Cthulhu Fiction: Encyclopedia Cthulhiana (reprint) #6022 $16.95 ISBN 1-56882-119-0 Our reprints have been delayed in favor of newer books. Expected SUMMER http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/fiction/6022.shtml Disciples of Cthulhu II #6033 $13.95 ISBN 1-56882-143-3 February Release. This Book is nearly completed, and should be sent to the printer soon. http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/fiction/6033.shtml The Necronomicon 2nd edition #6034 $19.95 ISBN 1-56882-162-X Summer Release http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/fiction/6034.shtml Other Nations A Cthulhu Mythos Novel #6025 $13.95 ISBN 1-56882-128-X Summer Release http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/fiction/6025.shtml The White People & Other Tales The Best Weird Tales of Arthur Machen Vol. 2 #6035 $14.95 ISBN 1-56882-147-6 Summer Release http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/fiction/6035.shtml For Call of Cthulhu Miskatonic University a 1920's Sourcebook for Call of Cthulhu (BRP) by Sam Johnson and Friends A Manuscript is now in house, and we hope to release this book in August. #2389 $39.95 ISBN 1-56882-140-9 http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2389.shtml Pulp Cthulhu: Reckless adventures in the 1930's (dual stat d20 & BRP) A new setting for Call of Cthulhu & Call of Cthulhu D20. 8800 $29.95 256 pages ISBN 1-56882-159-X Expected July http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/d20cthulhu/8800.shtml d20 Cthulhu GM Screen #8801 $19.95 ISBN 1-56882-159-X May release http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/d20cthulhu/8801.shtml Secrets of Japan Modern Day Exploration of the Land of the Rising Sun #2392 $27.95 ISBN 1-56882-156-5 A manuscript is in house, and we hope to release the book this Fall. http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2392.shtml For Stormbringer & Dragonlords of Melnibone Cults of Law & Chaos A New Dragon Lords of Melniboné D20 sourcebook. This book is currently being written by Gareth Michael Skarka. Expected this Summer. 2020 $23.95 192 pages ISBN 1-56882-158-1 http://www.chaosium.com/woec/2020.shtml River of Tears A Stormbringer Adventure We have yet to receive a manuscript for this book. Release date unknown. Delayed Titles The San Francisco Guidebook #2378 $16.95 ISBN 1-56882-136-0 Delayed due to hard drive crash. No word on when it will be re-created. We're removing this book from the schedule. Once we have a completed manuscript in house, we'll work it back into the publishing cycle. http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2378.shtml Straits of Chaos A new Dragon Lords of Melnibone d20 adventure. 2019 $8.95 32 pages ISBN 1-56882-155-7 This book has been removed from our schedule. http://www.chaosium.com/woec/2019.shtml We have plenty of other books in the works, but we expect to print the books above in the next four months. Thank you for your support everyone! -- Dustin Wright- Chaosium Colorado "Leng Embassy" /|\_(@jjjj@)_/|\ http://www.chaosium.com 27 Years of Quality Mayhem and counting Support your local game shop! ----------------- DER HEXENHAMMER (pt. 1) by Mervyn Boyd - jack@ktana.freeserve.co.uk Foreword It should be mentioned that this is not a CoC scenario in any real sense. There are no monsters to fight; there are no spells to cast; there are no cults seeking to summon something or other. There's no ancient dusty tomes. There's no combat, and there's no horror to speak of, save that of one immortal madman on the loose. In fact there's no real investigation to speak of either. Although the scenario can be played as a stand alone, it's probably best if it is added into an ongoing campaign as a side track event. If played as a stand alone it would be best if the players create Homicide Detectives, Forensic Pathologists, Crime Scene Technicians, and the like, because they're so easy to fit in and it's only natural for them to be involved. Incorporating established and other character types is left individual keeper. Since I am not a great creative writer there will probably be many entries that are vague in content and description - or even missing - thus causing the adventure to appear disjointed. Don't be put off by this. Originally I wanted to shift the emphasis from the usual investigative methodology and utilize other ways in which to solve crimes. For example: Blood spatters, foot or tire prints, drag marks, fingerprints, clothing fibers, pollen grains, hair strands, etc. You know, real intensive forensic clues but that scenario died a death. It got way too complex, so here's a radically different knock off instead. While provision have hopefully been made for everything the players are likely to look into, it is up to the keeper to improvise, and flesh out all other areas - as well as NPC personalities and reaction. No time frame is used so events, if any, move along according to the pace of the players. Weeks, months or even years can pass before police make any progress, and then it's only because the criminal made a mistake, or some stupid overlooked clue is seen in a new light. Some serial killers go for years without being caught, and the killer in this scenario has racked up an impressive 319 years spree. The scenario is intended to be set in Little Rock, Arkansas in the modern day (2000), though this can be changed as the keeper desires. Keeper Information For the last two years or so, the city of Little Rock has been beset with a number of reported disappearances. Nothing out of the ordinary there you might say. Every city has that problem. True, but many of these people have one thing in common. They are modern day witches, and all are being hunted by a Witch killer. A matter of procedure & Lab Results Conventional play means players do what they want when they want with relative impunity. Since this scenario assumes players are law officers, then certain rules and regulations should be adhered to. It is left to the keeper to include things like obtaining arrest and search warrants, or whether it is assumed these things are automatically taken care of for the sake of simplicity. Ballistics; toxicology; it all takes time, and as such results from lab analysis come back in 3d8 hours. Pushing things through urgently requires a CREDIT RATING check. Success enables the impatient player to wait only 3d4 hours. For an impale you can subtract another 2 hours from the time, but nothing takes less than 3 hours. Ignatius Sprenger, Witch Killer Sprenger was born in Dusseldorf, Germany on June 16, 1656 to strict parentage. His father was a distinguished and influential clergyman and Puritanical to boot. He was the eldest of five children, and it was by no mistake that he would follow in his father's footsteps. Nor was it by any mistake that he got involved with two reputed witches. The alarm of witchcraft was first raised in the family of a local nobleman, where two Negro maid-servants were charged with the supposed crime. It was likely they were practicing voodoo or obeah, but, however this may be, the charges did not stop at them. The alarm spread rapidly, and in a brief space of time numerous persons in the city fell under the suspicion on the most frivolous of pretexts. Two noted examples being an old washer woman named Lieselotte Meier, who was employed by a local statesman to look after his children, who shortly afterwards displayed symptoms which Sprenger, on examination stated were those of diabolical possession. The poor washer woman was arrested, brought to trial, found guilty and hung. The second being that of Ute Schaudi, a simple farm girl who was accused of witchcraft because the cows weren't producing much milk that month. Similarly, she was arrested, tried and hung. Being a man of observation and ingenious invention, Sprenger struck out a trade which brought him moderate returns which sufficed to maintain him, and at the same time gratified his ambition by making him a terror to many, and the object of admiration and gratitude to many more, who felt themselves indebted to him for ridding them of their enemies. After several successful cases, Sprenger left home and engaged in a regular tour of the surrounding counties. He found and employed two confederates, a man called Jurgen Hitler, and a woman whose name is long forgotten. They visited every town on their route that invited them, and secured to themselves the moderate payment of twenty pfennigs plus expenses, leaving what more than this to the spontaneous gratitude of those who should deem themselves indebted to the exhortations of Sprenger and his party. Soon Sprenger became known as Der Hexenhammer (The Hammer of Witches), for his exacting punishment of known and suspected witches. In every town to which they came, they enquired for reputed witches, and having taken them into custody, they assailed the poor creatures with a multitude of questions constructed in the most artful manner. Confessions of whatever Sprenger wished were wrung from his victims under extreme and merciless torture. Rich and poor, learned and ignorant, all were gathered into his inquisition. They were stripped naked and shaved bare, in search for the Devil's Mark which they ascertained by pricking with needles, though the absence of such marks was not conclusive to prove innocence. Bound hand to foot, they swam their victims in rivers and ponds, it being undoubted fact that if the accused were a witch, the water, which was the symbol of admission into the Christian Church, would not receive them into its bosom (a witch would float). If the accused continued obstinate, they were seated in constrained and uneasy positions, occasionally being bound by cords, and compelled to remain so without food or sleep for as long as possible. Some they walked until their feet were blistered and they dropped from fatigue. Others they hung in heavy sacking and swung for days at a time without food or water until delirium set in. Some were hung by their ankles, or bound by their wrists and repeatedly dropped from a height. Many were beaten with rods and spikes, or crushed beneath great weights. The most insidious and ingenious tortures were held to last resort. For example: The Bowl. This torture method involved trapping mice in a bowl which was upturned onto the victim's exposed belly. On top of the bowl a fire was set. As the temperature inside the bowl rose the mice would panic and in their frenzy to escape they would burrow through the still alive victim. By this expedient Sprenger, found favorable reception amongst many persons who would listen to his dictates as Greeks to the Oracle of,, Delphi. Being three of them, they were sufficiently strong to overawe all timid and insecure opposition with a certain air of authority. The fanaticism and diabolical cruelty of this man has probably never been equaled in the history of human persecution. Relying implicitly upon the Scriptural injunction: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (EXODUS, 22:18). By now Sprenger's actions had naturally attracted the interested eye of Nyarlathotep. The most plentiful inquisition of Sprenger and his consorts lasted ten years as he flourished across the length and breadth of Germany. Even at one time to preside over a raid at a suspected witch conclave within the Horselberg mountains wherein 1300 men and women, child and infant, young and old were eradicated. The number being so great that the names were never taken and written down, the prisoners being cited as Number 1, 2, 3, and so on. All deemed to be emissaries of the Evil One. At length there were so many persons committed to prison, or had been put to death upon the suspicion of witchcraft, that the government was compelled to take hand in the affair. The magistrates for whom Sprenger and his confederates once worked were now obliged, willingly or unwillingly, to commit them for trial. Prince Bishop Heinrich Fleischer von Freiburg was appointed by Parliament to lead the trial. At this time he was one of the most popular noblemen in Germany, and was much courted by the clergy. He was shrewd, penetrating and active, and exhibited a singular mixture of pious demeanor with a vein of facetiousness and jocularity. The trial began. Ignatius Sprenger, the man that at first they hailed as a public benefactor was labeled a cunning impostor. Blinded by his zeal, he cost the lives of many precious people, dealing in cold blood for monetary gain, and still more horrible, for the allure of fame. The trial concluded with the sentencing of Sprenger and his cohorts to death by public hanging in January 16, 1692. It was their in the gallows as Sprenger's life was slipping away when he asked God to spare his life. Intrigued by this little man's crusade, Nyarlathotep granted him his wish - immortality to carry out his work, but he took Sprenger's soul in payment. The following morning Sprenger's body was found to be missing which caused a stir among the populace. The next we hear of Sprenger is in Salem, Massachusetts where he enjoyed a renewed, and fresh lease of life and freedom. But once more the hysteria subsided and public temperament changed, and Sprenger again found himself out of favour, and so to continue, he was forced to scale down his relentless effort and become more discreet. Since then, Sprenger has moved from town to town slaying those whom he deems a witch, finding great success in Arkham, Kingsport, and Dunwich. It wasn't until the Government raid on Innsmouth in 1929 when he really felt useful again. But after which he was forced back to relatively meager pickings. For over 300 years Sprenger has continued his trail of terror. Sprenger's Immortality and Killing Him Sprenger has been granted immortality, and this means he cannot die. If Sprenger is "killed", he will appear dead to all but the most thorough forensic examination. Sprenger remains biologically active at the cellular level and will slowly heal until he comes back. This is not to say that should he cut a finger off, that that finger will slowly regenerate into another fully living Ignatius Sprenger. That won't work, but Sprenger will eventually regrow another finger; or limb. You know, like a salamander will regrow a severed tail, but the tail won't regrow a salamander. Also, the severed part will not decompose. To utterly destroy Sprenger it is suggested that he be totally consumed by fire, and whatever remains should be pounded into fine dust, dissolved in acid and then scattered to the four winds and all points in between. Just burning the body is insufficient. The charred remains will slowly heal. Dismembering or decapitation is also an option, but should the body parts come into contact they will eventually knit together. Whatever method that stops Sprenger from regenerating is fine, so use your judgment. To determine how long Sprenger has before rising from the dead, consider how he died. Reduce all applicable stats to zero to reflect the damage taken. He regenerates 1d2-1 points to each stat per six hours, and "awakes" only when he as a minimum of 1 point in each stat. For example: If Sprenger simply dies of gunshot wounds or is stabbed to death, he needs only to regenerate hit points. If specifically shot in the head and killed, reduce his INT and EDU to zero. If he is run over by a speeding car reduce his STR, DEX, APP (and if applicable INT & EDU if head trauma is sustained). If he's burnt to a cinder all stats should be reduced to zero. Use your judgment when determining the stat loss. Severed parts take months to regrow. When he finally awakes, Sprenger will move on to a new location to begin again - even if he has to dig himself out from his grave. He doesn't hold grudges against the players, and won't seek revenge. Sprenger has probably been killed several times in the last 319 years. Player Insertion Campaign: Characters, particularly those with a relevant skill, can be brought in by LRPD to help in autopsies, bug identification or whatever when the main dig has begun. They will be paid their normal fee in compensation. Or, they learn of it from news reports and take an interest. Perhaps a name is released and it's similar to somebody they've met already - another reason to snoop around.. Use your discretion in how you bring your players into this. Stand Alone: Players create Police Detectives and the like. Everything is going fine at the office. Day to day affairs. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then a call comes in. Time to head of to work. See Case One Case Number One: I32-6382-7-A The Date: 27 May 2000 Two park rangers, while checking the general state of things in a remote part of the Pinnacle Mountain State Park discover the partially exposed human skeleton. Excavation of the site recovers only the skeleton. No jewellery, identification, clothing, or other effects. Dental records identify the skeleton as 27 year old Melissa Blake, an exotic dancer who was reported missing almost two years ago by her partner Collin Harker. Analysis of the skeleton show a few stress fractures that did not heal. They were probably sustained just prior to death. Things that come to light: It's unlikely that all the clothing and shoes would rot into nothing in the intervening years. You would expect to find something, so she was probably buried naked. She was found buried, so suicide or death by misadventure is ruled out. She was probably murdered. Re-opening the case. Collin reported Melissa missing on 14 May 1999. The ensuing investigation was headed by Detectives Kevin Milligan and Andrew Wilson. A routine background check on Collin proved clean, with no suspicions. Interviews with her family and friends brought nothing to light. Melissa was well liked by all who knew her; she had no credit problems, no enemies, no problems with ex lovers, no extra relationship affairs. Nothing. Everything seemed to check out, so the case was left open and unsolved. The only interesting fact that can spring out at the players is that she had a keen interest in Wicca. She, apparently was a practicing witch, although she was not part of a coven, or similar group. Re-investigating the case, going over old case notes, and re-interviewing friends and family brings nothing else to the fore. Collin, and Melissa's family would be extremely relieved to be told of her discovery. Collin lives in the same home and has not been big on the dating scene since Mel's disappearance. Any life insurance she had is still uncollected. In this instance that's pretty much this case closed, with the exception of what actually happened to her. Case Number Two: I26-6376-9-A A month or so passes, when on 13 July, 2000 a group of ramblers discover another skeleton not more than 500 yards from the location of Melissa. They inform the park rangers. Investigation of the burial site is similar to the first. Victim was buried. Victim is naked. No personal effects. Dental records ID the victim as Audrey Harrison, a 25 year old dental technician, who was reported missing by her parents almost two years ago. With the location of this body in relation to Melissa, it should immediately ring some alarm bells. Is it mere coincidence, or is there something more sinister at work. Re-opening the case. Audrey was reported missing on 03.April.1999. The ensuing investigation headed by Detectives Donald Rumsfield and Ryan B. Dennehy failed in the light of lack of suspects or evidence. The case remained open and unsolved. A same kind of profile can be created. Audrey was well liked by all who knew her; no credit problems, no enemies, no problems with ex lovers and the like. Nothing. Everything seemed to check out. Interviews with her family and friends brought nothing to light. Again, the only interesting fact that springs out to the players is that she was a had a keen interest in Wicca. She was a practicing witch. Ah, a link. It does indeed seem something sinister is at hand. Also, Audrey and some of her Wiccan friends usually held some kind of renewal ceremony at a secret location in Burns park once a month. This is nothing more than a small meticulously cared for niche in amongst a dense part of the woodland, where Audrey and her friends prayed, chanted, sung (sometimes naked, but not always), and performed earth cleansing spells in honour of Mother Nature. Nothing perverse occurred here, no sacrifices, no smoking of marijuana. (continued) -- To unsubscribe from the chaos-digest ML, send an "unsubscribe" command to chaos-digest-request@chaosium.com. Chaosium Inc., Call of Cthulhu, and Nephilim are Registered Trademarks of Chaosium Inc. Elric! and Pendragon are Trademarks of Chaosium Inc. All articles remain copyright their original authors unless otherwise noted.