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Chaosium Digest Volume 21 Number 05
Chaosium Digest Volume 21, Number 5
Date: Monday, September 1, 1997
Number: 1 of 3
Contents:
Under a Blood Red Sky: A Tale of Terror (Mathias Braun) COC DREAMLANDS
Always Ask for a Second Opinion (Philip C. Robinson) MYTHOS
Editor's Note:
Another nice batch of Mythos decks this week, but articles for other
games have continued to be scant. Send your articles this way!
Shannon
NEW RELEASES:
Here's a whole pack of new stuff. The Chaosium books all started
shipping on August 25. They should be to stores toward the end of this
week. The Pagan stuff is all a bit older, but I've just finally seen
copies.
* Call of Cthulhu - _The 1920s Investigator's Companion_ (Chaosium,
128 pg., $18.95), by Keith Herber & others, is a compilation of the
two out-of-print Investigator Companion volumes. They're also
reorganized, reedited, and have several pieces of new art. This book
has everything a player needs for Call of Cthulhu, and is designed
to be the first book in the new Call of Cthulhu core rulebook set.
_Singers of Strange Songs_ (Chaosium, 256 pg., $12.95), edited by
Scott David Aniolowski, is the newest book in Chaosium's Call of
Cthulhu fiction line. It's a celebration of Brian Lumley, containing
three rare Lumley stories: City Out of Time (a poem), Cement
Surroundings, and Spaghetti; as well as brand new stories by
D'Ammassa, Burleson, Adams, Jens, J. Smith, Tynes, Gresh, Nicoll,
Henderson, and Rainey.
_The Realm of Shadows_ (Pagan, 208 pg., $20.95), by John H. Crowe
III, is a campaign set in the 1940s. It centers around ghouls and
the Charnel God, taking investigators from Massachusetts to
Zothique and beyond.
_The Unspeakable Oath #14/15_ (Pagan, 128 pg., $12.00) is the
newest, double-sized issue of Pagan's 'zine. It contains all the
usual features, adventures, and more.
_Call of Cthulhu Dice Set_ (Chessex, $11.00) is a set of ten
blasphemously green and black dice: from the d4 to the d20,
including multiple d6s and d10s. A dice bag portraying Cthulhu is
also included. Chessex promises no Elder Gods were harmed in the
making of this product.
* Pendragon - _Percival and the Presence of God_ (Chaosium, 192 pg.,
$10.95), by Jim Hunter, is the second book in the Pendragon fiction
line. This novel is the classic story of Percival and his twin
quests for the legendary king Arthur and the Holy Grail.
OTHER BOOKS OF NOTE:
* Elric! - _Sailing to Utopia_ (White Wolf, 536 pg., $21.99), by
Michael Moorcock, is book eight in the White Wolf omnibus series of
Eternal Champion stories. It contains a number of books set in
Earth's future: _The Ice Schooner_, _The Black Corridor_, and _The
Distant Suns_, as well as the short story "Flux".
--------------------
From: Mathias Braun <braun@informatik.uni-frankfurt.de>
Subject: Under a Blood Red Sky: A Tale of Terror
System: CoC Dreamlands
Under a Blood Red Sky
A Tale of Terror for the Dreamlands
After sleeping for a while the characters awaken in a forest. Their
first impressions is that the light is very strange. Indeed it is, for
in the twilight all colors are shades of red. It looks like an old
black-and-white film filmed with a red filter lens. After walking for
an hour or so the characters come to the edge of the wood. This opens
an even stranger vista to them:
They look on a valley where a stream of blood-red water flows gently.
On the horizon a dark red light, which must be the sun, glows
unnervingly. Everything is shaded in red: the clouds, the grass in the
valley beneath, even the sheep which are herded by a little boy not
far away. Down in the valley at the blood river lies a small
city. Farther away, on the hill that the river springs from, rises a
tower, glowing unholy red in the eerie light.
Possibilities:
1.) Do vampires dream? Yes they do! This is the domain of a whamphyri
lord. (For details, see Brain Lumley's "Necroscope" series. Or, just
assume they are a weird kind of vampires, but that's only half the
fun.)
In the vampire's long unlife, he has had more than enough time to
dream, shaping a whole nightmare realm in the Dreamlands. It lies in
the middle of the Stony Desert on a high plateau. He is something of a
counterpart to King Kuranes, having created an entire realm out of
nothing. The vampire has made himself a retreat in the unlikely case
that vampire hunters should kill his body. In his domain he is a
god-king. His seat is the Citadel of Blood, the unholy red tower on
the hill. He is a very cruel ruler.
The characters have been drawn to this plateau because, against all
odds, another dreamer or dreamland's wizards has visited this place
and seen how the subjects of the vampire lord are suffering. But, the
vampire lord, also called the Witch King, is a mighty foe, so the
dreamer/wizard can not face him alone. Therefore he has tried to
summon helping hands. On the outskirts of the city he looks for the
saviours...
De facto this seems more like an campaign background, than a tale of
terror, and maybe I will use it as such.
2.) A more simple possibility: The characters are not in the Earth's
dreamlands, but in those of an alien world. They are archaeologists or
geologists and in the waking world have discovered a strange meteor.
This meteor is of a stony material in varying shades of red. Everyone
touching the stone will dream of the planet from which the meteor
comes. How is the curse broken?
(3) After watching a horror film named "the mad butcher", with much
blood-spilling, and then eating lots of pizza, the characters have a
simple nightmare. But, why do they all have the same nightmare? ;)
--------------------
From: "Philip C. Robinson" <bedlam@inzenity.org>
Subject: Always Ask for a Second Opinion
System: Mythos
Always Ask For a Second Opinion
-OR-
Question Your Doctor, every time!
Introduction: This two city deck features Arkham and Providence [not
including any country sanitariums]. The deck uses two cities, because
one of the adventures, Questionable Judgement, requires two gate
locations in different cities. As far as overlap is concerned, two of
the adventures require Doctors and Sanitariums (The Great Epidemic &
On The Edge). Two adventures (Questionable Judgement & On The Edge)
require a tome and Corrupt Cultist. Lastly, a pair of the adventures
requires monsters (The Great Epidemic needs Zombies & Questionable
Judgement any such monster).
Sets: Limited Edition [Starters, Expeditions of Miskatonic U], MSGS
Investigator: Any Investigator with low starting sanity and good hand
size max/min. Low starting sanity is preferred, so you can have a
head start with the On the Edge adventure. I prefer either the
Adventurous Dilettante*, Soulful Jazz Singer or the Cleric of Fading
Faith*.
* These are good since their special ability to discard/draw cards can be
used to cycle through your deck faster.
Adventures:
* The Great Epidemic
* On The Edge
* Questionable Judgement
The Great Epidemic (Heroic Adventure)
+9 / +4 san
Required Cards:
- Doctor/Doctor In Story Deck: Dr. Allen Halsey, Arkham (x2);
Dr. Marinus Bicknell Willet, Providence (x2)
- Three Days: Any such day [Dawn of A New Day - See Notes], Event (x6)
- Typhoid Epidemic: Event (x2)
- Herbert West: Arkham, Unique
- Night: Waning Moon [See Notes], Event (x2)
- Zombie: Monster (x2 minimum, the more the better)
- Sanitarium: Any such sanitarium [See Notes] (x2, optimally x4)
Notes:
I typically begin playing this adventure first, simply because Herbert
West is unique, possibly requiring you to cycle through the whole deck
before reaching him.
Days: It is important to note that putting in at least two Dawn Of A
New Day Events can help send pesky Zombies to the story deck, should
they keep trying to come back into your threat. Plus, you get a San
bonus, very helpful if you need to recover from an ON THE EDGE
attempt.
Nights: The Waning Moon (Night Events) are practically required, if
you intend a speedy assist for the On the Edge Adventure (since the
Call of Cthulhu Tome requires Waning Moon to be in play before
Re-Rolling your investigator).
Sanitariums: Arkham Sanitarium would be wise. Also, any Lovecraft
Country Sanitarium that either featured the Gate attribute (for this
Adventure and Questionable Judgement), or the Tome attribute (for
Questionable Judgement and On the Edge). The more sanitariums the
better, since two adventures require them, and On the Edge can take
its toll, as far as sanity is concerned.
On The Edge (Mythos Experience)
+6 / +4 san
Required Cards:
- San Below Six: Ring of Eibon, Artifact, Unique; (Joining) Monsters
that cause san loss coupled with reusable gate locations. Tomes that
cause san loss. Several possible strategies, see notes below
- Sanitarium: Any such sanitariums [see The great Epidemic above]
- Doctor: [See The Great Epidemic above]
- Corrupt Cultist: Dr. Allen [See Notes], Providence, Unique; Gomes,
Providence
- Two Phobias: Any such phobias (x4)
- Call Of Cthulhu Tome: (x2)
- Reroll Your Investigator: Requires Waning Moon, Night Event
[overlaps The Great Epidemic above]
Notes:
San Below Six Strategies:
1. The trickiest, but most sinister way I've found to deal with this
requirement is to include the Ring Of Eibon. Since it's unique, you
cannot rely upon it all the time however. But when it works, you get
to spend two sanity points to then tell another player what card they
must play. Do this ad naseum, until sanity has been suitably
drained. If you intend to rely upon this method, be sure to think
about including a way to defend this unique artifact from loss. [ie:
Raymond Legrasse, KJ Hooper, Seal of Isis, et al]
2. Utilizing the unholy trinity of Father Dagon/Mother Hydra/Shoggoth.
Simply playing these at a single gate location can drain you of four
sanity. But, if you were at a reusable gate location like 197
E. Pickman St., you could pay the san cost not only for the location,
but for subsequent gate uses! Add to that a (regrettably) rules lawyer
interpretation vis Dreamlands Rules, pg. 28 & 67 regarding Joining:
"Cards that Join CAN be played together" (not MUST). Also on pg. 67 is
the phrase: "Two cards MAY Join as long as long as one of them allows
this in their Special Effects box." (not MUST). So, if you really need
to suck some sanity, and are at the proper location (ie: 197
E. Pickman St.) the Unholy Trinity becomes a Seven point loss. One for
location, then summon Mother/Father for additional one pt. Next round
summon Mother/Father for one plus gate reuse of one san, and finally
the Shoggoth becomes a three point loss... As long as you're willing
to spend turns doing so, the possibilities are endless. If you use
Joining monsters, the benefit is, if you don't need to waste san, you
can plop all your monsters out at once anyway.
3. Since a Tome is required for Questionable Judgement (see below),
you can always add a tome that has a high san cost...
Corrupt Cultist: Bringing out Dr. Allen, who does not count towards
The Great Epidemic because he hasn't the Doctor attribute, and Gomes
are just too fun! Not only do they fulfill the need for corrupt
cultist in this adventure, and Questionable Judgement below, but
Dr. Allen fits the theme nicely! After all, wouldn't *you* want a
second opinion after consulting with him?
Questionable Judgement (Mythos Experience)
+5 / +1 san
Required Cards:
- Library: Any such libraries [MU Orne Library, Arkham; BU John Hay
Library, Providence; The Athenaeum, Providence] (x2)
- Tome: Call Of Cthulhu [See The Great Epidemic above]; Any such tome
that costs san
- Two Gate Locations in Different Cities: Any such gate locations in
Arkham and Providence (x2 in each city)
- Monster: Zombies (x2) [See The Great Epidemic Above]; [See San Below
Six section in On The Edge, above]
- Spell: Any such spells [See Notes] (x2)
- Corrupt Cultist: Dr. Allen, Providence, Unique; Gomes, Providence
[See notes for On The Edge, above]
Notes:
Spell: Since a spell is required, why not throw in Keenness Of Two
Alike (folk Spell)? It will aid you in The Great Epidemic if you need
to get an ally out in a hurry, for whatever reason! I like to throw in
Pipes of Madness (Folk spell) just for the sake of evilness.
Sample Deck:
This breaks some of the suggested guidelines given above, simply
because I was shooting for a very harmless looking, but incredibly
annoying deck. Most people learn to pay attention after I play the
nasty phobias, or do strange things at 197 E. Pickman St....
I am assured low sanity for On The Edge, after people notice the
monster combos, the nasty phobias, or from using the Ring of Eibon.
Regrettably once someone is familiar with this deck, and sees it
coming, it gets its player targeted for reduction to zero sanity
pretty quickly. I doubt this deck would be tournament worthy, without
some way of protecting the Ring of Eibon, and/or adding cars..but then
I play it for fun, not victory....
52 Cards total
Adventures
==========
The Great Epidemic
On The Edge
Questionable Judgement
Allies
======
[Arkham]
Dr. Allen Halsey (x2)
Herbert West
[Providence]
Dr. Allen
Dr. Marinus Bicknell Willett (x2)
Gomes
Artifacts
=========
Ring of Eibon
Events
======
Yithian Mental Contact
[Day]
Dawn Of A New Day (x2)
Direct Sunlight
High Noon
New Moon
[Epidemic]
Typhoid (x2)
[Night]
Waning Moon (x2)
[Phobia]
Bacteriophobia
Claustrophobia
Eosophobia
Portophobia
Locations
=========
[Arkham]
197 E. Pickman St. (x2)
Arkham Mystical Supply
Boston & Maine Train Station
Golden Eye Society
MU Orne Library
[Providence]
The Athenaeum
BU John Hay Library
Church of Starry Wisdom
Robert Blake's Study (x2)
The Shunned House
[Sanitariums]
Conanicut Island Private Hospital
Massachusetts State Hospital (Tome)
Asylum For The Deranged (Gate)
Waterbury State Hospital (Gate)
Monsters
========
Father Dagon
Mother Hydra
Shoggoth
Zombies (x3)
Spells
======
[Folk]
Keenness Of Two Alike
Pipes Of Madness
Tomes
=====
Call of Cthulhu (x2)
Nameless Cults Bridewell Edition
Enjoy...
Philip C. Robinson
Bedlam@InZenity.org
--
