Chaosium Digest Volume 30 Number 08

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Chaosium Digest Volume 30, Number 8 
Date: Sunday, March 5, 2000 
Number: 1 of 1 

Contents: 

* A New Past Life for NEPHILIM 
by Ian Young idyoung@seanet.com 

* Conducting an Investigation (CTHULHU) 
by Tom Liberman tomlib@i1.net 

Editor's Note: 

We finally received a Nephilim submission! For those of you who are unfamiliar 
with Nephilim, check Announcements below for a great review of the game on 
RPG.net. We also have an article on how to conduct an investigation for Call of 
Cthulhu. Both articles are good quality pieces, so check them out. 

As previously noted, all Call of Cthulhu, Elric! and Nephilim articles qualify 
for the quarterly Chaosium Contest. Even though they don't count for the 
contest, I still gladly accept Pendragon, Delta Green and Glorantha submissions. 

The deadline for the next contest will be March 31st. The winner gets a copy of 
the upcoming Call of Cthulhu Keepers Screen 
<http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2387.shtml> for their winning Cthulhu, 
Elric! or Nephilim submission. So, keep those submissions coming! 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

* From Morag Kennedy Heirs 9606523H@student.gla.ac.uk 

Glasgow University Gaming Society (GUGS) is hosting the Student National Gaming 
Championships this year, in Glasgow, on The weekend of April 14th - 16th.  It'll 
be great, and Elric is being run by at least one, if not two people under the 
category of Open Fantasy.  You don't actually need to be a student to play, you 
can come as an independent.  There should be stuff of the GUGS webpage, linked 
from Glasgow University, Clubs and societies index. 

* From Tal Meta talmeta@cybercomm.net 

I realize this hardly consists of a standard contribution, but it might interest 
some folks... 

While perfecting my skills with Campaign Cartographer, I elected to use the old 
campaign map from RuneQuest's Questworld supplement as a teaching aid... 

I asked Chaosium for permission to put it up on my web site, and would up 
talking to Lynn Willis (the guy who originally drew the map in question) and he/ 
they said fine (and Lynn praised the effort). 

In any case, the map is located at: 
http://members.xoom.com/talmeta/maps/maps.htm 

Also, I'm the RPG Coordinator for MonCon, a gaming convention being held March 
31-April 2nd at the Holiday Inn, Tinton Falls, NJ. We've got a few CoC scenarios 
being run.... 

* From Ricardo J. Méndez Castro rmendez@sheertalent.com 

Check out my review of Nephilim at: 
http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_2809.html 

Comments are welcome, everyone. 

Cheers, 
Ricardo J. Méndez Castro         ICQ 45996385 
Sheer Talent Developments        http://www.sheertalent.com/ 

 
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----------------------------- 

A New Past Life for NEPHILIM 
(c) Ian Young, 1996 and 2000 

MEDITERRANEAN, 10,000 BC 

The Great Compromise and the Drowning of Tarshish 

 
HISTORICAL CONTEXT 

Once properly embodied you were able to see what was going on.  Here is a 
synopsis of critical events. 

A "New Atlantis", founded 14,000 years earlier upon the Promethean principles of 
harmony between Nephilim and humans, reached its cultural height at this time. 
Tarshish was an isle of fertility in the middle of a great salt plain now 
recognized as the floor of the Mediterranean Sea.  From this central kingdom, 
colonists set out and began to settle the lush river valleys where the vast 
basin met the highlands, creating still smaller kingdoms built upon the same 
Promethean model.  Out of this companionship between Nephilim and Man rose the 
Great Compromise, an agreement wherein the humans allowed the Nephilim permanent 
possession of their bodies, permitting the Nephilim continuous progress along 
the Golden Path toward Agartha.  In return, the Nephilim shared with them the 
secrets of the sky -- astrology, mathematics and the arts of civilization. 

In this time, only the Priest-Kings and Priestess-Queens served as Simulacra for 
the Nephilim.  From their positions of authority and power, they imparted the 
wisdom of the immortals upon the people of Tarshish, and all benefited thereby. 
The Compromise required that toward the end of a Simulacrum's life, the current 
ruling Nephilim would offer its life up in ritual sacrifice, returning to its 
Stasis.  The next Nephilim in due succession would be wakened and allowed to 
manifest in the body of the next priest-king or priestess-queen chosen to house 
the "divine reincarnation". Within this environment of co-operation and 
enlightenment, human culture flourished as it has not since.  However, here in 
Tarshish, jealousy flourished as well.  This tradition effectively denied whole 
castes of servitors of the ruling hierarchy access to the divine power of 
immortality and fostered a resentment of the Nephilim and their rule. 
Ironically, it was the co-operative nature of the Great Compromise that allowed 
one of the greatest enemies of the Nephilim access to their power and the 
opportunity to turn it against them. 

The lesser members of the priesthood, those not destined to become Simulacra, 
were the first to grow resentful of the Nephilim.  Certain factions of Orichalka 
Men, soon to become known as the Black Star, were able to use this dissent as a 
means of infiltration into the very ranks of the Nephilim.  It was often the 
responsibility of these lesser priests to preside over the ritual sacrifices of 
their Nephilim leaders.  With agents in position to perform the rites, the Black 
Star gained access to the bodies and the blood of the Simulacra.  Years of 
subsequent research led to the discovery of a distillation of the blood of the 
Simulacrum into a source of wieldable power -- the Elixir.  Soon, the 
celebration of the passing of one Nephilim leader to the next became an occasion 
upon which the Black Star would destroy yet another Nephilim, adding another 
phial of power to their secret storehouses. 

The Black Star conspiracy continued to grow spreading to the secular elements of 
society.  Before long an underground organization of soldiers and commanders was 
formed under the leadership of a Black Star initiate known as Heracles.  His 
army, hidden within the ranks of the faithful soldiers, called themselves the 
Men of the Lion for the symbol of their strength and their devotion to their 
Solar cause. 

No one is quite certain how the conspiracy came to light.  Eventually, the 
Nephilim must have noticed their inability to revive their compatriots from 
Stasis and confronted the corrupt priesthood.  Their secret exposed, the Black 
Star must have attempted a popular uprising among the humans of the 
Mediterranean.  What is known for certain is that some time around 9600 BC, a 
great and terrible civil war erupted among the once-peaceful Promethean 
kingdoms.  The Men of the Lion, with Heracles at their lead wreaked great 
destruction across the lands, and the sorcerers of the Black Star intoned 
grave magics upon the legions of their former masters.  However, the rebels 
lacked the popular support to triumph, and ultimately, their efforts slowed 
under the inertia of a prolonged fight.  Faced with eventual defeat, the Black 
Star decided that their last desperate hope would be to destroy the Nephilim 
kingdoms entirely.  The remnants of the Men of the Lion rallied in a final push 
toward the Great Dam at Gibraltar.  Once there, the rebels fought a staying 
action, waiting for the Sun to reach the height of it's power.  Then Heracles, 
with the aid of a centuries-old hoard of  Elixirs and Orichalka weapons, invoked 
mighty spells and curses, granting him the might to smash the Great Dam. 

The destruction that followed was horrifying.  Millions upon millions of gallons 
of water cascaded through the strait, flooding the basin of the Mediterranean, 
scouring the very earth as it rushed inward.  Tarshish was not only drowned, but 
uprooted from its foundations.  The kingdoms of the river valleys were flooded 
and destroyed.  There were, however, survivors who fled inland to smaller 
settlements, bearing what elements of Promethean society they could.  In the 
wake of the destruction, Heracles was hunted down and as punishment was forcibly 
possessed by the remaining priest-king of Tarshish who had managed to escape the 
drowning.  The Black Star was hunted and scattered throughout the land.  Though 
shattered and diminished, Nephilim society survived, spreading outward to 
establish the rule of the Great Compromise in new settlements throughout the 
Mediterranean region. However, the last great dream of re-establishing Atlantis 
had vanished forever. 

Secret Societies 

The Black Star 
The origins of the Black Star have their roots in a subversion and betrayal of 
the highest order.  Seizing upon growing resentment within the ranks of the 
priesthood, the Orichalka Men found the them ripe for infiltration. Creating a 
network of priests, scribes, petty bureaucrats and servants throughout the 
temples, all loyal to their cause, these Orichalka Men established direct access 
to the estates, and even the bodies, of the Priest-Kings and Priestess-Queens of 
the Mediterranean.  Utilizing their research of Nephilim Stases, they perverted 
the very life-blood of the Nephilim to their own purposes.  Calling themselves 
the Black Star, they nurtured their influence within the temples of all of the 
Nephilim kingdoms. Their eventual discovery and subsequent persecution scattered 
them across the Western world.  Their close association with the Nephilim, 
however, inflicted damage that could never be undone. 

The Men of the Lion 
Under the leadership of Heracles, the Men of the Lion formed the secular, 
militant branch of the Black Star conspiracy.  Joining in a common cause with 
the lower orders of priests, these warriors created a conspiracy of arms, 
waiting for the order to fight against the Nephilim in the name of Humanity. 

 
Your Simulacrum 

You awoke for unknown reasons, and had a very short time to find a Simulacrum. 
Roll 1d100 on this table to find what Simulacrum you chose. 

Simulacrum Selection 

d100 Simulacra 
01-50 Priest-King, male 
51-00 Priestess-Queen, female 

Priest-King 
Art (choice) 
Astrological Lore 
Build or Farming 
Business 
Fast Talk 
Hunt 
Law 
Life Experience (Tarshish/Colony) 
Read/Write (Tarshish) 
Religion 
Sorcery, Lower Magic 
Sorcery, Higher Magic 
Speak (Tarshish) 

Priestess-Queen 
Art (choice) or Craft (choice) 
Astrological Lore 
Farming or Pharmacy 
Fast Talk 
Law 
Life Experience (Tarshish/Colony) 
Natural Lore 
Read/Write (Tarshish) 
Religion 
Sorcery, Lower Magic 
Sorcery, Higher Magic 
Speak (Tarshish) 

 
Simulacrum Age 
* Roll 3d6 x5.  This gives your Simulacrum's age before incarnation. 

Simulacrum Skill Points 
* Multiply age times 4.  This gives your current Simulacrum skill points. You 
may spend these points on the skills listed with your Simulacrum's profession, 
up to 50 points per skill in this past life, and to a maximum of 90 points. 
* Add pre-incarnation age as value of  Life Experience. 
* Roll (2d6+6) x5.  You may spend these points on any spoken language skills. 

 
Your New Life 

You undertook a new life of embodiment.  Find out how long you lived in this new 
body, and what you learned for that time. 

Nephilim Age 
* Roll another 3d6.  This number  x5 is the number of years you lived in the 
Simulacrum after incarnating. 

Occult Development Points 
* Multiply the number of years your Nephilim was incarnated by 2 to determine 
how many occult development points you have to spend on occult skills. 
Distribute occult development points among available techniques, spells, occult 
Lores or a specific Arcanum Lore, up to 50 points per technique in this past 
life, and to a maximum of 90 points per technique. 

Available Techniques 
Sorcery, Lower Magic 
Sorcery, Higher Magic 

 
What Did You Do? 
You were one of the great priest-kings or priestess-queens of the Mediterranean 
kingdoms at the height of the Great Compromise.  What secrets of civilization 
did you grant your subjects?  Did you do battle with the Black Star and 
Heracles, or did you manage to escape the conflict? 

Stasis Event 
What events led to the death of your Simulacrum, and your re-imprisonment in 
your Stasis? 

Stasis Event 

d100 Event 
01-20 Died peacefully of old age 
21-50 Voluntarily killed in ceremonial sacrifice 
51-66 Killed by the Black Star 
66-85 Killed by the Men of the Lion 
86-00 Killed in the flooding of the Mediterranean 

Stasis Form 
For Nephilim of the first incarnation 

Stasis Form 

d100 Stasis 
01-16 Small stone idol 
15-25 Mammoth ivory carving 
26-35 Stone axe head 
36-45 Obsidian blade (arrow point, knife, or axe head) 
46-60 Ceremonial sacrament bowl (stone) 
61-70 Jewelry of beaten metals 
71-85 Ivory bead 
86-92 Animal teeth 
93-98 Crystal (quartz, diamond, etc.) 
99-00 Natural feature of landscape (Carving of stone outcrop, cave painting, 
etc.) 

--------------------------------- 

Conducting an Investigation by Tom Liberman tomlib@i1.net 

INITIAL INFORMATION 
Any good Cthulhu scenario starts off with some small amount of initial 
information. It is up to the group to take this and expand to the point where 
they have a good understanding of their opponents. There exist three main ways 
to better inform yourself before taking on the enemy in his lair. Research, 
Stakeouts and Confrontation. They do not always go in that particular order but 
it is generally a good idea to do some research before a stakeout and a stakeout 
before a confrontation. The difficulty often arises in the difference between a 
confrontation and a fact-finding interview. All this is discussed below in the 
appropriate category. This area often includes searching the corpse. Many times 
the group becomes involved when someone drops dead in front of them. Always 
search the corpses wherever they might be found. 

RESEARCH 
The group has some initial information and is now looking to expand it through 
research. This takes place at libraries, newspapers, city hall and other places 
where records of those involved might be lurking. This stage is often returned 
to each time more information is gathered in the interview stages. Many items of 
interest are dug up during these sessions some of them valid and others Red 
Herrings. How you interpret the information gathered here through the 
interviewing and further research process is essential to solving the problem 
correctly. Notes are very important during this stage, as it is easy to forget 
pertinent information during a crisis later. 

CLUES 
You will gather many clues during this stage and storing this information is 
vital. Often times you will reference things that make no sense in the current 
investigation but down the road will prove invaluable. Often a group will note a 
clue but then when the time comes to use this clue have forgotten all about it. 
You must physically write down clues and check your notes each time you get new 
information. Note taking is essential to good investigating. Not all clues are 
vital but you will most likely gain necessary information for success during 
this stage. Note everything. 

THE FIRST INTERVIEW 
You’ve gathered what information from your research that seems pertinent to the 
task at hand and now you’re ready to interview victims, suspects, bystanders and 
anyone else who might have a clue. The first thing you must have ready is your 
story. You’re not going to tell them about Mythos material initially so you must 
have a good cover story. You never know who the real villain is and if you 
reveal yourself too quickly you and you’re friends are doomed. Always have a 
good reason to ask questions. During this phase you will be using your skills. 
See that section for important information. 

HINTS 
Some of those involved will give you hints to what is going on. Sometimes you 
might need to push the interview if this is the case but generally it is good to 
go back and do more research before pushing your case into dangerous territory. 
You can always go back and re-interview. Sometimes there is a rush but generally 
being patient and careful is the proper attitude at this stage. 

DECISIONS 
You’ve done your interviews, gathered clues and gone back and done more 
research. Now its time to make decisions. Who is the bad guy, who is an innocent 
bystander? Who needs to be re-interviews with more pressing questions? Who needs 
to be told about the Mythos? Most importantly you will still have questions 
about what to do with certain people. If you are in doubt about anyone, the best 
solution to discovering more is the stakeout. The option after that is the 
break-in. Information gathered from the stakeout and break-in will help you 
greatly in determining who is the enemy. 

THE STAKEOUT 
Possibly the most important aspect of the entire investigation. People you talk 
to will often be lying and the stakeout will determine some reasons for those 
lies. Who comes to visit, where the suspects go. Not all suspects are the 
villain but they might well have important information they don’t trust the 
investigators with. Stakeouts answer many questions and lead the group to new 
suspects. Stakeouts also generally bring up more questions and often result in a 
renewed research phase. 

THE BREAK-IN 
When you’re certain that someone has some vital clues and you’ve exhausted legal 
methods of obtaining that information its time for the break-in. This act is 
illegal and often holds great danger. If the person is not a cultist then police 
might be brought in and you could be arrested. If the person is a cultist then 
there might well be traps and monsters awaiting you inside the forbidden 
doorway. Take extreme precaution and have a story ready in case you’re caught. 

CONFRONTATION 
You’ve decided to tell the person about you’re involvement in the Mythos. This 
is a dangerous tactic often taken too early in an investigation. Players often 
become frustrated and try to shake up the barrel to see what falls out. This 
sometimes works. If you take this method with a cultist you’ve revealed your 
true nature and opened yourself to attack. The more the villain knows about you 
and your plans the less chance you have of succeeding. This will often lead to 
the climax of the adventure and if you’re not prepared for the decision-making 
solution then you are doomed. When you confront someone who is not the villain 
they might well be willing to aid you if they have knowledge of the Mythos. This 
is a double-edged tactic and must be used with extreme caution. 

VIOLENCE 
You know who the enemy is and now its time to destroy. Many scenarios require a 
violent solution and this often the proper course. Remember though that cultist 
will respond in kind. Know what you’re dealing with before attacking if at all 
possible. Have a plan of attack. Coordinate, organize, set diversions, hit hard 
and finish the job right the first time. Going back after a botched job is the 
leading cause of death among investigators. Creatures are smart and will make 
plans against you. Once you’ve reached this stage plan well and do it right or 
doom awaits. 

THE FINAL SOLUTION 
Your clues and hints are vital to solving most scenarios. The greater the threat 
the less likely you are to be able to solve it through shear violence. You will 
have to use items found to close gates, dispel creatures, and banish nastiness 
among other things. Often this final solution is only a temporary delay of the 
inevitable. Accept this. Many times no perfect solution exists and striving for 
it will only get you killed. Do what it takes to stop this particular 
manifestation. Remember the world is doomed eventually and so are you. Do what 
you can and sacrifice yourself if necessary. Be prepared. Don’t start the chain 
of events leading to the Final Solution unless you have a good idea of what is 
going on and how to stop it. If you missed vital clues and start this sequence 
you are doomed. 

INNOCENTS 
Involving those not directly associated with the Mythos leads to death for those 
individuals. Anyone you encounter in a Cthulhu game is living on borrowed time. 
The more people you involve, the more will die. Avoid this at all costs. Send 
people away to far off places. Hide them as necessary. Your sanity is at stake. 
The more people who know who you are and what you do the more people who can 
betray you. 

THE LAW 
The law is similar but different than innocents. Most of the time you don’t want 
to bring in the law but sometimes the case is just too big for you to handle by 
yourself. The research, stakeout and break-in stages are vital to making this 
decision. The more you know about you enemy and the greater your evidence of 
illegal (not immoral) activity the better chance you have of letting the law 
handle the problem. Often law enforcement officers brought in prematurely will 
die, be driven insane or worst of all join the cult. Be careful involving anyone 
but don’t be afraid to have someone help if the situation is bigger than you can 
deal with. 

USING SKILLS 
This is one of the most forgotten aspects of the game. The Keeper isn’t going to 
tell you to use your skills when appropriate. You must make this decision. Often 
you try to do things that skills cover without using those skills. The Keeper 
isn’t going to help you. Familiarize yourself with all your skills and use them 
early and often. A list of often overlooked skills follows. 
1. Accounting: Useful skill when digging through organizational records 
2. Credit Rating: Much overlooked. Opens doors and mouths. 
3. Fast Talk: All the time. Role play it but tell the Keeper you’re using it 
4. Mechanical Repair: Opens locks 
5. Psychoanalysis: Anytime you’re dealing with a loony this can be vital 
6. Psychology: During every interview to check for reaction. Tell the Keeper 

THE GAME SESSION 

ROLE PLAYING 
Role-playing is everything to Cthulhu. When we sit down you will be asked to 
become the character in question. You will not be yourself. This is often 
difficult but is made easier the more you understand the character and his/her 
motivations. You will probably develop phobias. Role-play your fears. Don’t take 
a character that is so alien to you that you can’t get into the role. Use your 
skills and profession as often as possible. If you're a doctor then make sure 
you're the one who goes to the asylum seeking records. If you're a lawman then 
you deal with local law. Don’t let others do your job for you. Whatever your 
characters background keep it in mind during the investigation. Cthulhu often 
goes beyond the bounds of the written scenario. Surprise the Keeper. Go to areas 
your character has knowledge about even if they don’t seem involved in the story 
line. The Keeper will be happy to expand to accommodate your interests. If you 
speak any language go to a part of town that speaks that and use your knowledge 
to gain information. Try not to get frustrated. 

 

 

 

 
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