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Chaosium Digest Volume 09 Number 09
Chaosium Digest Volume 9, Number 9
Date: Sunday, February 26, 1995
Number: 1 of 3
Contents:
Announcement: Chaosiana (Danny Bourne) MISC
Announcement: Nephilim ML (Shannon Appel) NEPHILIM
Errata: The Unknown East (Lawrence Whitaker) ELRIC!
The Past is Doomed, Part One (Geoff Gillan) CALL OF CTHULHU
Editor's Notes:
THE UNKNOWN EAST: New for Elric! is THE UNKNOWN EAST (Chaosium, 96
pg., $16.95). It looks really terrific. The book contains background
on the lands, nations and cults of the East, has rules for Eastern
adventurers, Eastern magic and lots more.
NECROPRESS ARCHIVES: Some new files have been added to the
Necronomicon Press archives (on ftp.csua.berkeley.edu in the directory
/pub/cthulhu/necropress). These include update94-4, the lastest update
of the Necronomicon Press catalog, and longlibrary, a catalog of books
for sale from Frank Long's library. If you enjoy horror in a
Lovecraftian vein, take a look.
NEPHILIM READING: Dane Johnson (djohnson@frame.com) mentions that
Nephilim enthusiasts might be interested in _Aegypt_ and _Love &
Sleep_ by John Crowley. He says "They're sort of odd contemporary
fantasy stories, but they involve 'The Picatrix', Giordano Bruno, the
True History of Egypt, and the origins of Magic." I've heard lots of
good things about Crowley's work in recent years, so if you're
interested in Nephilim, you should definitely take a look.
--------------------
From: Danny Bourne <d.bourne@bbcnc.org.uk>
Subject: Announcement: Chaosiana
System: Misc
CHAOSIANA is a new fanzine coming out soon (June at the latest). It
will cover all Chaosium RPG and board games, and will also include
Gloranthan material. We are currently looking for submissions of
articles and adventures for any Chaosium system, no matter how
obscure. If you are interested please contact Danny at the following
addresses:
d.bourne@auntie.bbcnc.org.uk
or:
106 ROSENDALE ROAD
WEST DULWICH
LONDON SE 21 8LF
So far, for issue one we have a Mark Morrison CoC adventure, a Shannon
Appel Pendragon adventure, Elric! articles from Carl Pates and James
Whittaker (possibly including Hawkmoon v2 and Corum snippets),
Gloranthan background material from Paul Reilly and Pendragon articles
from Eric Rowe.
--------------------
From: Shannon Appel <appel@erzo.berkeley.edu>
Subject: Announcement: Nephilim ML
System: Nephilim
Due to recent requests, I have set up a Mailing List especially for
Chaosium's game of Occult Role-Playing, Nephilim. By no means,
however, does this mean that Nephilim will cease to be covered in the
Chaosium Digest. I see the spheres of the two lists as being fairly
different.
The Chaosium Digest is, and has always been, a place for "complete"
source articles for games. I hope that people will continue to send
such articles concerning Nephilim in this direction. The new Mailing
List is intended as a general free-for-all discussion forum about
Nephilim.
The Nephilim Mailing List is run by Majordomo. You may subscribe to it
in either instant form (where you will get every message as soon as it
is sent) or digest form (where messages are packed together, and sent
out once a day, or more, depending on volume). To subscribe to the
list, mail:
majordomo@erzo.berkeley.edu
with the command:
subscribe nephilim
(for the instant version)
or:
subscribe nephilim-digest
(for the digest version)
in the body of the message (not the subject). If you have any problems
or questions, let me know.
Shannon
--------------------
From: Lawrence Whitaker <100520.3552@compuserve.com>
Subject: Errata: The Unknown East
System: Elric!
Enclosed is errata for the Unknown East, which should now be available
in the States. It's a small correction, and one I didn't pick up when
editing the book.
Errata for the Unknown East.
Page 38, Nomad Magic
The final sentence in this section reads:
"To see if an omen has been correctly divined, the gamesmaster should
make a secret D100 roll against the shaman's Divination skill..."
The Divination skill didn't make the final version of the book, and
should be replaced with a D100 roll against the shaman's POW x5'
And that's it... I think...
--------------------
From: Geoff Gillan
Subject: The Past is Doomed, Part One
System: Call of Cthulhu
The Past Is Doomed
by Geoff Gillan
A CTHULHU NOW Scenario set in Arkham
Copyright (c) 1995 Geoff Gillan
SCENARIO CONSIDERATIONS
The Past is Doomed attempts to put Arkham in the 1990s in perspective,
measured against its recent past. In its use of a phantom, yet
sometimes intrusive past, the scenario employs some of the mechanics
of the Dreamlands, explained briefly in Cthulhu Fifth Edition. These
mechanics are, however, fully explained within the scenario, and
Keepers and players should not consider this piece a Dreamlands one,
merely that it has dream-like sequences.
The scenario also reflects on the past of the nation, what has brought
the country thus far, and explores something of what the forces of the
beings of Cthulhu Mythos have been doing in the modern age. This forms
a kind of link between activities of the 1920s investigators, and
those active now. The scenario should take two sessions at least and
no special level of Investigator skill is necessary.
KEEPER'S BACKGROUND
Two strangers have come to Arkham, two men about to force the people
of this city to examine their strange and deadly past, to fight for a
future shadowed by evil.
The first is Doctor Ernst Zabrich, Hungarian author and noted social
historian. Zabrich is on the brink of a personal and professional
crisis. The last few years have seen the erosion of his distinguished
academic reputation, by what outsiders have seen as mental illness.
The doctor has been expounding a theory, one that has alienated his
colleagues and led to the accusations of a diseased mind. He believes
that evil forces are at work against the world; evil forces which have
slowly but surely worked their way into our minds and our society,
corrupting us, despoiling us, bringing about the steady decay of all
we value.
He has not said explicitly, but the forces Zabrich speaks of are that
of the entities of the Cthulhu Mythos. Zabrich has stumbled upon the
disturbing truth. These evil beings have worked their way subtly,
breaking down the fabric of society, until all around is conflict,
injustice and distrust.
Doctor Zabrich has published his findings in a book, Chronicles of a
World Gone Mad. However, the entire stocks of the book have been
destroyed in a warehouse fire in New York, the copies of the
manuscript stolen from the publisher's house during a computer raid,
and Zabrich's copies and files incinerated when a gas leak blew up his
house. One copy still exists. That copy was sent to the film director
Henry Hammerman, who was keen to make a conspiracy/horror film out of
it. Zabrich did not like the idea of dramatizing the theory, but was
keen for the mass audience attention a movie might bring it. He
forwarded the book, before the tragic warehouse fire, and journeyed to
Arkham to do further research there, because of Arkham's past links
with these dark entities.
Now Hammerman, the second stranger, has come to Arkham, but he is a
changed man. In the past few weeks he has been changed by the agencies
of the evil past, the same servants who guard the world from the
knowledge in Doctor Zabrich's book.
These servants, the Servitors of the Dark Past, have had one of their
human lackeys, Glenda Felton, working on the director. Slowly the
film-maker has succumbed to her powers. No longer does he wish to make
the movie, but is now driven by a darker purpose. He and Glenda are
planning a very different use for the set which has been constructed
on the outskirts of Arkham. The Servitors of the Past have created out
of the set, a device with which they can rob the people of the town of
their magic points, using it to create a vortex in which Glenda's
master Yog-Sothoth may gain a foothold in the township, and steadily
wear down and alter the reality of the city of Arkham.
A temple of past horrors, they plan to make it the tool with which the
future, like the past, is doomed.
With the arrival of Hammerman and Glenda and the completion of work on
the set, Zabrich has mysteriously vanished. His disappearance is the
key which unlocks the door of secrecy and allows the investigators to
put their first tentative foot over its threshold.
INVESTIGATOR'S INTRODUCTION
The initial interest in this scenario, from an Investigator's point of
view, comes from the disappearance of Doctor Ernst Zabrich, from
Arkham.
The investigators may become involved: by being hired by relatives of
the Doctor; as concerned Arkham residents; or by being hired by the
Museum. None are more advantaged than others, though concerned locals,
especially if they act on behalf of the Arkham officialdom, will
naturally find information and assistance easier to get. The above
options are discussed briefly.
* Hired by the Doctor's relatives. The doctor is missing. His
relatives have not seen him for three weeks. He is known to have
turned up in Arkham and stayed there for a week and a half, then he
vanished. His last few days were increasingly paranoid. Perhaps he
has hurt himself somehow? Can the investigators look into the matter
and find the Professor?
* Hired by the Museum. The museum heads are embarrassed. The
Doctor recently turned up there. He came to Arkham in order to prove
that his theories were correct, expecting the Arkham University to
embrace him and be a refuge for his ideas, but instead, the
Miskatonic, wishing to live down its `colorful' past, dissuaded him.
Now they are concerned he may have got himself into some trouble. Can
the investigators look into it before they are involved in an academic
scandal?
* Concerned Arkham residents. The arrival of the Doctor was given
some press in Arkham. He was noted for his work on society and
history. Though some of his ideas were outlandish, he was
none-the-less a respected member of society; now with this film crew
stirring up trouble, Arkham does not wish more scandal. Can the
investigators look into it before things take a turn for the worse?
Other Options
Keepers may wish to employ other options to involve the investigators
depending upon the professions which the investigators follow. They
may approach things from the angle of interest in the film set, but
soon will begin to draw threads between the activities of the
film-makers and the missing Doctor.
SIDEBAR - NEW PROFESSIONS
These professions may be found suitable for this scenario. Indeed
Keepers may allow them to supplement the career lists for their own
campaigns.
Documentary Film-Maker
Skills:
Art
- Film writer/director
- Editor
Fast Talk
Credit Rating
Psychology
History
Cinematography
This profession, belonging to the category of artist, may also be used
in the 1920s. Many films exist depicting the time, and they are a
valuable social resource. Obviously they would be cruder, but would
have just as much seriousness of purpose, if not considerably more, as
their modern counterparts.
The new skills listed allow the Investigator to put together a
documentary film, using the proper equipment, virtually single-handed.
A small crew, to handle sound and lighting and often comprising no
more than two people, is often employed by the film-maker. Usually,
however, such film-makers are adept at all facets of their craft,
unlike those who make commercial feature films, where things are much
more specialized.
Politician
Skills:
Accounting
Bargain
Credit Rating
Fast Talk
History
Law
Persuade
Psychology
(Skills taken from Cthulhu 3rd Edition)
The most likely use of this profession in Arkham is as a local
counsellor. Such types are usually emphatically parochial and proudly
so. This profession could also incorporate journalist. Many political
aides have journalistic skills, and many political journalists have
political savvy. This profession would be suitable for all eras of
Cthulhu play, though a Victorian politician would differ considerably
in his more direct conservatism, to his more image-conscious,
media-wise modern counterpart.
THE SCENARIO
THE LAST DAYS
Investigators, whatever their motives, are drawn into the scenario by
being involved with finding the missing Doctor Zabrich. However they
get involved, there are a few options of reconstructing the Doctor's
last days. In most of the places he visited, people recall him. Some
information may be gleaned from these locations. The Arkham newspapers
also carry an account of his story (see Handout #1).
Handout #1: Noted Sociologist Missing in Arkham.
Arkham, November 10, 199-. Famous Sociologist and expert in modern
history, Doctor Ernst Zabrich, has been reported missing after failing
to collect his belongings from the Arkham Hotel yesterday. The Doctor
has not been seen since he left the Miskatonic University on the
afternoon of November 7th, where he had been researching his latest
book.
Inspector French of the Arkham police has denied any links between the
Doctor's disappearance and the recent destruction of the warehouse in
New York carrying the complete stocks of his latest book. A search is
being undertaken, but the Inspector is not yet alarmed. "He may have
absent-mindedly left for other engagements. We are currently making
enquiries before we press the panic button."
The Doctor's latest book, Chronicles of a World Gone Mad, is said by
many to have distinct occult leanings, and shows disturbing signs that
the Doctor may have seen the last of his days as a respected member of
academia.
Byline - Sandra Deegan.
IN ARKHAM
The following information can be gleaned from sources within Arkham.
THE NEWSPAPERS
Sandra Deegan, is a small, feisty reporter of twenty seven. She wears
large raincoats in all weather to hide a plethora of break-in
equipment and what she calls `personal protection', which is a can of
mace and a pistol.
She or other news reporters, may decide to help investigators with the
following information. Doctor Zabrich arrived in Arkham on the
afternoon of the 1st of November and registered in the hotel. He spent
his first day wandering about the Museum and the Miskatonic
University. Then, he had an appointment with Professor Henry Fleming,
Historian at the Miskatonic. By the third day he was cruising the
bookstores of the city, and behaving in a way that was called
"paranoid and erratic" by bystanders. By the fourth day he had dropped
out of sight completely. The alarm was raised when he failed to pay
his bill or collect his luggage at the hotel. The police have his
effects, and so far are contacting his associates, but have not made
any statement beyond that reported. The matter has yet to make the
major New York or Boston newspapers.
THE HOTEL
The hotel manager, G. Kevin Ermmy, is a small man with a large head of
newly-transplanted hair. He is friendly, but leery of breaking faith
with his clients by revealing too much to unauthorized persons. He
will certainly relax more around anyone official, and unless Persuaded
otherwise recommends the investigators speak to the police. If
pressed, he can reveal he was happy to have such a distinguished
person as the doctor as a guest. However, he felt the man might have
been a little strange. Zabrich was often asking if someone had called
for him. He was especially nervous of people who dressed in a fashion
that was out of date. He would often grab newspapers and magazines and
begin to tremble at what appeared on the cover, and would fly out in
the middle of news stories on television, though later examination of
both would reveal nothing at all amiss about them. If the
investigators fully gain Ermmy's confidence, the hotel manager is
happy to pronounce the good doctor as crazy and admit to being
ultimately glad to be rid of him, for he was beginning to frighten the
staff.
THE POLICE
Inspector French of the Arkham police is weary. A big taciturn man
with long, gallic face and a penchant for fedoras against the winter
cold, he has chased down every lead, every possible place the Doctor
may have gone, to no avail whatever. He is beginning to despair of
this case blowing up to one of those that the press love; his hopes of
this being a merely routine matter are vanishing with every new but
fruitless avenue.
He has contacted the following to no avail: Doctor Zabrich's family;
his publishers Grommet and Dewflap; and his agent Jerry Kindly of
Talent Spectrum Associates. None of the above know anything about the
good Doctor, not having seen him since he left for Arkham.
The police are happy to help those whom they believe can help them in
return, or officials of any kind. French is a good cop, but lacks
imagination, and his plod-through routine is fast getting him nowhere.
Rather than relate everything he got from the above, he is happy to
put bona fide investigators in touch with them. He only asks that they
share any information with him that they find.
As the investigators may have learned from the hotelier, the police
have the effects of Doctor Zabrich, taken from his hotel room.
Investigators require a good Persuade roll and some measure of
standing to gain access to these effects and to the above addresses.
The effects are:
* A shaving mirror and bathroom accoutrements.
* A map of Arkham, with the University, Libraries and bookshops
and public buildings circled.
* A battered tartan suitcase, unlocked. Inside are: clothes of
American manufacture, a shaving kit, a copy of Time magazine dated
last week in October of that year, and a dust jacket for a book.
The Dust Jacket
The dust jacket is from Chronicles of a World Gone Mad. On the front
of the jacket is the title and author credits against a background of
pictures of strife and conflict, all tinted red and placed within a
ruptured globe. The copy inside the flyleaf reads:
Front - "The late twentieth century is a catalogue of murder, anguish,
conflict and mayhem. Western Society appears to be losing its grip on
the hearts and minds of its people. But, what if this is not the
result of mere social breakdown? What if there is something more
sinister involved? In this alarming book, Dr. Ernst Zabrich, noted
historian and sociologist, examines the evidence for a conspiracy
against the people of not only the great nations, but all society. A
conspiracy of global and ultimately supernatural proportions.
Back - Dr. Ernst Zabrich was born and educated in his native Hungary.
For ten years, he served as a distinguished academic and teacher at
Boston University. Since retirement, Dr. Zabrich's interests have
broadened to include studies in the esoteric and psychological fields.
Dr. Zabrich's previous books include Power and Poverty, Ideologies in
Conflict and the recent Dark Probability.
MISKATONIC UNIVERSITY
Investigators can easily learn Zabrich visited a historian while at
Miskatonic, but more information may be difficult to glean. The main
reason for this is that the Miskatonic is keen to avoid persons making
capital on strange incidents in its past. As a respected academic
body, the staff are concerned with keeping themselves as distanced
from crackpots like Zabrich as possible. Indeed, his very presence in
Arkham they have been viewing with alarm. If it is pointed out to the
staff, especially historian Donald Pendlebury who interviewed Zabrich,
that the missing man's recovery will help squash further unfounded
rumors about the University, assistance may be more forthcoming.
Otherwise, those of the faculty are likely to treat investigators as
so many unwanted gossip-mongers, people they are far better off
without.
Persistence, or the appropriate Persuade or Credit Rating roles gain
an interview with Donald Pendlebury.
Historian Donald Pendlebury
Pendlebury is a young man who dresses in natty suits and has a passion
for Arkham and its past. Only thirty two, he has already distinguished
himself with some authoritative work on the Arkham area in the past
few years. Some see his work as revisionist, since his theory is that
places like Arkham had a much more important cultural impact on the
surrounding areas than the cities like Boston. He is sometimes rash,
but very persuasive when it comes to his theory. Pendlebury's love of
Arkham and its past shows.
Pendlebury can tell the investigators the following. Zabrich came to
see him on the morning of November 3rd. He attempted to draw out of
Pendlebury an admission that Arkham was somehow the center of the
conspiracy that Zabrich had theorized about in his new book. As
Pendlebury dislikes this kind of thing, and does not regard it as
important to the genuine history of Arkham, he gave the Doctor short
shift. Zabrich became agitated and began to scream at Pendlebury.
Pendlebury admits ruefully, "I guess I lost my temper, because
somewhere around there I began to scream along with him." Finally the
security staff were called and Zabrich was forcibly ejected from the
office. Pendlebury remembers Zabrich was shouting: "We are all doomed
as long as we stay ignorant. We must fight. Know and fight." After
that the security guards threw him off the campus.
The security guards confirm this story and add that Zabrich was on the
verge of violence, and was still agitated when he left campus.
[Contined in V9.10]
--------------------
The Chaosium Digest is an unofficial discussion forum for Chaosium's
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appel@erzo.berkeley.edu. The old digests are archived on
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