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Chaosium Digest Volume 32 Number 07
Chaosium Digest Volume 32, Number 7
Date: Monday October 16, 2000
Number: 1 of 1
Contents:
* A Pair of NPCs and a Plot Hook to Boot (Cthulhu Now)
by James White
Editor's Note:
OK folks, here's the deal with the Chaosium submission contest. Dustin Wright
has informed me that the reason that a winner hasn't been announced is due to
the prize, the new Keeper's Companion, not being published yet. He said that
when that item is back from the printer he will choose a winner.
As of this time, I've not been informed if the Chaosium contests will continue.
It seems likely that there won't be one for the third quarter as it's nearly
over. However, should Chaosium choose to continue with their contest for the
fourth quarter this year, anyone who sends submissions dealing with Call of
Cthulhu, Nephilim or Elric during the third or fourth quarter of 2000 will be
considered eligible entries. If Chaosium chooses to not sponsor a fourth quarter
contest this year, I will provide some sort of prize myself. Eligible
submissions will be anything sent between August and December of this year.
Exactly what it will be depends on the status of my finances at the end of the
year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Robert McLaughlin, author of Cthulhu Live wanted me to let everyone know that
Cthulhu Live's adaptation of Pagan Publishing's Delta Green should hopefully be
out sometime in November. "We have some tasty new tidbits in CL:DG for some very
intense LARP scenes." Check last issue for a review of Cthulhu Live and check
out http://www.lrp-index.org.uk/zine/feature1-2.html for an excellent review of
the Cthulhu Live Player's Companion.
* From Chaosium
Halloween is upon us!
Here in Leng, there is nothing like the month of October to get the blood
flowing. Halloween is our favorite time of year and the offices have been decked
with wailing holly and plenty of pumpkins. The Gugs have declared every Monday
and Friday in October to be costume day. You should see them running around in
their little Tigger costumes! Absolutely Darling.
As "normal" gamers start thinking about Halloween, they seem more inclined to
play a Horror RPG than at other times of the year. So if you have the time this
October, please consider running an Open Game of Call of Cthulhu at your local
shop, game club, or pancake breakfast.
Chaosium D20 News:
DRAGON LORDS OF MELNIBONE
A New World for the d20 System
#2017, ISBN 1-56882-150-6, $23.95
Chaosium Inc. Announces that we will release DRAGON LORDS OF MELNIBONE during
the first quarter of 2001.
The new edition of the d20 rules system is an impressive work, and Chaosium is
well-known for releasing top-quality role-playing adventures and campaigns
during
the past 25 years. We hope that by
publishing high-quality supplements for the D20 rules system we can bring
Chaosium titles to the attention of a new market of game players.
Charlie Krank, Chaosium president explains, "We support storytelling in all its
many forms, and want to stimulate interest in the world of the Young Kingdoms
and the works of fantasy author Michael Moorcock. We believe that Moorcock's
tales of Elric, albino prince of Melniboné and doomed bearer of the
fantastically magical sword Stormbringer, had great influence in the early
development of Dungeons & Dragons. It seems natural to make this world available
in all its wonder and majesty to players of the new D20 System."
Of course, Chaosium remains committed to supporting our own d100 game system,
and plans to release more supplementary material for Chaosium's ELRIC! game
rules. We are also working with Darcsyde Productions, an Australian publisher,
to help ensure that there is a better supply of new support material for ELRIC!
in the near future; the first book is projected to be a new sourcebook for the
world of Corum.
We look forward to the challenges of this new market, and to making new friends
among the gamers in our industry.
For more information contact chaosium@chaosium.com
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY ONLINE:
Skotos Tech Inc, a manufacturer of online interactive fiction games, has signed
a letter of intent with Chaosium to create games set in Lovecraft Country.
Skotos plans for the launch of their first Lovecraft Country game in early 2001
and is currently seeking game designers to create these games. Watch
http://www.skotos.net/games/ for more information on the Lovecraft Country games
and visit
http://www.skotos.net/storybuilders/ if you'd be interested in becoming a Skotos
games designer.
GEN CON UK:
High Priest Mike Mason has this to report:
The best of the best came together at Battlemasters and Gencon UK 2000 to
compete in the first ever UK National Call of Cthulhu tournament. The event,
organized by Eurolog and sponsored by Chaosium, was run across two conventions
to ensure that everyone got the chance to play in some great games.
With over 100 players, the seven Keepers running the games worked flat out to
make sure everybody had a great time.
After much screaming, sanity loss and a few hit points lost, the Grand
Tournament Winner was Steve Clapton. Steve was awarded the highly sought after
'Gold Cthulhu' trophy plus a bunch of other goodies kindly donated by Chaosium.
The runners up included Doug Johnson, Jim Tolley and Andrew Douse -- who also
went home from Gencon UK with cuddly cthulhus, rulebooks and other gear.
Eurolog was pleased to be able to lay on more Cthulhu games at the conventions
than anyone else, but it doesn't stop there. In 2001, Eurolog is planning to
put on even more Cthulhu games and increase the size of the UK National. The
2001 tournament will be run across Battlemasters in April (www.eurolog.org) and
Gencon UK in September (http://rpga.ukonline.co.uk) so keep an eye out for more
information nearer the time.
Leng Note:
Given that one Steve Camper won the recent Cthulhu Masters Tournament at Gen Con
Milwaukee, Leng Embassy Officials are now looking into the occult significance
of the name "Steve", while watching all local Steves very closely.
**Upcoming Releases (Chaosium)**
October
At the printer, Expected October
>CALL OF CTHULHU KEEPER'S COMPANION
Blasphemous Knowledge, Forbidden Secrets, and Handy Information for Call of
Cthulhu Role-playing.
CHA 2388 $23.95 (1-56882-144-1) 208 pp.
http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2388.shtml
The Call of Cthulhu Keeper's Companion is an invaluable resource for GM's. New
material includes advice for new keepers, a lengthy study of Mythos artifacts, a
learned discussion of many occult books, an up-to-the-moment description of
every facet of forensic medicine, a thorough revision and expansion of the game
skills (including nearly two dozen new ones), and the augmented text of the
Keeper's Compendium, somewhat updated--forbidden books, secret cults, alien
races, and mysterious places. Additional short essays and features round out
this book-more than 100,000 words! The best-selling Keeper's Compendium appeared
in 1993, but has been out of print for more than two years.
November:
Reprint of the Call of Cthulhu Hardcover (5.6)
This book has been doing so well, we're having to reprint it a second time this
year. It sure is good to know there are thousands and thousands of Call of
Cthulhu players out there. Thanks for the support!
December:
>Unseen Masters
Modern COC adventures against hidden powers
2384, $23.95 ISBN 1-56882-120-4 208pp
by Bruce Ballon
http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/2384.shtml
Three mini-campaigns set in modern New York City lead investigators through
serial murder investigations, madness, and into an ancient conflict between
bitter rivals. Along the way
investigators will be aided by Mysterious allies, face [the] Cult of the Sacred
Light and the Black Brotherhood, and confront immortal horrors beyond time and
space. These three scenarios can be combined to form a NY City campaign.
A January 2001 Release
>From Chaosium Inc
http://www.chaosium.com
Available through the Wizard's Attic
http://www.wizards-attic.com
Worlds of the Eternal Champion:
Dragon Lords of Melnibone
A New World for the d20 System:
CHA #2017
$23.95
ISBN 1-56882-150-6
208 pages, illustrated.
For ten thousand years the bright empire of Melnibone ruled the world. Her
soldiers were ruthless, unspeakably cruel, and well-skilled at arms. Powerful
sorcerers, magic comes easily to them,
as easy as breathing. They forged eternal bonds with the aloof gods of Law and
Chaos, with the hideous demons from other planes, with elemental lords that are
of the world itself, and with the ancient
dragons that Melnibone used to enforce her might.
But wealth and age has dulled the Bright Empire, tarnished it beauty, and
weakened its people. The empire rots from within. And outside, young kingdoms
arise on the lands Melnibone's sons and daughters carved from the stuff of chaos
that lies at the edge of the world. They are petty, and envious of the ancient
wealth of their former masters.
A pirate navy is forming, to sail against the Dreaming City of Imrryr. Its
captains hope to recapture stolen riches and to bring a hated overlord to ruin.
DRAGON LORDS OF MELNIBONE provides a heroic setting for your d20 System game in
a complete and detailed role-playing world developed by Chaosium Inc. and based
upon the fabulous stories written by Michael Moorcock.
The island of Melnibone and the world of the Young Kingdoms wage their eternal
battle in a fully developed and extensive storyline. Ancient magic abounds.
Sorcerous swords whisper of forgotten
treasure. Spirits and demons plague the living. . .
- . . and a new albino emperor has taken the Ruby Throne, promising to restore
the terrible heritage of Melnibone and bring the young upstarts to heel.
Other 2000 BOOKS
We have plenty of books lined up for 2000 of course. But I'm limiting myself to
only talking about the next 90 days here. We'll print more books as fast as we
can!
-----------------------------
TINLEG MUNK and ERROL FINGERS BONADI
Rapper and producer
Tinleg Munk (real name Thomas Matheson) was born in Watts, Los Angeles, in 1971.
Thomas abusive father left when he was five, leaving his mother to care for him
and his two sisters. Thomas grew up a hard man, and resorted to petty crime at
an early age, but his natural wit and keenness of mind kept him out of trouble.
After failing High School, he left and formed a rap collective, the Palm Grove
Posse (named after the street where he lived) with some friends. Thomas chose
the stage-name Tinleg Munk, inspired by the image of a one-legged Tibetan monk
that Thomas had seen burning himself in protest of the Chinese occupation of
Tibet on TV. The band worked hard, buskin in underpasses and finally recording
a demo tape in Thomas Garage. The tape was sent to every record company the
band could find, but success was not forthcoming. The death of Si-Dee, one of
the band members, in a hit-and-run accident, marked the tragic end of the Palm
Grove Posse.
Thomas was forced to work long hours at menial jobs in order to pay the rent.
Increasingly frustrated, Thomas became involved in a robbery that earned him 6
months in prison. However, prison gave him inspiration and, on his release, he
reassumed the name Tinleg Munk and began looking for a record contract. Just
when ultimate failure seemed imminent, Thomas had the fortune to meet Errol
Bonadi on a bus.
Errol came from a middle-class Italian-American family. Errols father, Marco,
was a musician and encouraged Errol, who showed an aptitude and took a degree.
Although his ambition was to become a classical composer, Errol began working as
a producer for Spiral, a small LA record label. However, both of Errols
parents were killed when their house burned down. Unbeknown to Errol, the house
had first been ransacked by a small, deranged cult dedicated to the worship of
Nyarlathotep. The cultist were searching for Marcos inherited and forgotten
copy of Massa di Requiem per Shuggay, a Mythos musical manuscript. Unable to
find the manuscript, the cultists waited for Errols parents to return home,
then tortured them over the manuscripts whereabouts. When the Bonadis revealed
no information, the cultists killed them and set fire to the house. The fire
brigade were able to save most of the house, however, leaving Errol with a
meager inheritance and a lifetime of grief.
Errol began to struggle at work and knew that he was facing the sack. He and
Thomas struck up a chance conversation on that bus, and soon realized that they
shared similar aims. They arranged a meeting where Errol first heard Thomas
demo album "The Trial". The two fast became friends and soon Errol had
engineered a contract between Thomas and Spiral Music. The combination of
Thomas acid wit and tough angst and Errols smooth production led "The Trial"
to scorching success. The follow-up, "Love 4 Tha Streetz", enjoyed similar
success. However, Errol, previously happy to remain out of the limelight and
have Thomas have his way, was now asserting his will and aspirations as an
artist. The duos "Dead Man Stalking" EP showed increasingly classical
influences that often threatened to steal Thomas thunder. This lead to
artistic differences between the two. There was also a growing personal rift.
Errol, an asexual puritan in many respects, disproved of Thomas frequent
excesses. After Thomas girlfriend, actress Tara Malizi, left him, Thomas
turned to drugs more frequently and had several run-ins with the police.
Errol, meanwhile, had discovered his fathers copy of Massa di Requiem per
Shuggay. He was startled by the piece (though did not realize its sinister
nature), and although many musicians pronounced parts unplayable, he resolved to
use synthesizer technology and a philharmonic orchestra to give the piece life
as the backing for Tinlegs eagerly-awaited next album, "Behind the Mask", which
will be a single epic song about the darker side of human nature. Errol plans
to give the song its first airing in front of a concert audience in order to
promote it, in a week from the time the investigators arrive. It is here that
Azathoth will be summoned if Errol is not stopped
The cult are still active, however, and three days before the investigators
arrive, they ransack Errols LA apartment whilst he is in San Francisco. As
Errol keeps Massa di Requiem per Shuggay at Spiral Musics studio in LA, they
found nothing. The cult, which comprises only five members, have also began
stalking Thomas ex-girlfriend Tara (who Thomas still deeply cares for), in the
mistaken belief that Thomas knows something about the piece (he doesnt, as he
rarely works directly with Errol these days). If the investigators are
free-lancers, they can either be called in by Errol to investigate the
ransacking or by Thomas to protect his girlfriends. If the investigators belong
to some sort of organized body (like Delta Green or the CIA) they may be asked
to investigate the cult more directly. They will gradually discover Thomas
criminal excesses and eventually the horrible truth about Tinlegs new album.
STATISTICS
Thomas Matheson a.k.a Tinleg Munk Age 29
STR:12 CON:13 DEX:13 INT:14 APP:14 POW:13 SIZ:14 SAN:60 EDU:10
Damage Bonus: +1D4 HP:14
Education: High School and the street university
Weapons: Fist/Punch: 60%, 1D3 + 1D4
-32 Automatic 30%, 1D8 damage
Skills: Art (songwriting): 70, Art (rapping): 75, Bargain: 50, Brag: 85, Credit
Rating: 80, Dodge: 40, Drive Auto: 45, Fast Talk: 65, Listen: 50, Mechanical
repair: 25, Pose: 65, Profanity: 50, Psychology: 30, Spot Hidden: 45, Wit: 60.
All other combat skills at basic.
Notes: Thomas is a largish man, getting a little overweight, though this is
exaggerated by the baggy (and expensive) clothes he wears. Thomas is arrogant
and loud, the original showman. He tends to surround himself with expensive
women and obsequies hangers-on, as well as an entourage of huge bodyguards. He
is frequently drunk and disorderly, though his excesses (particularly
drug-taking) have increased since Tara left him.
Errol fingers Bonadi- producer Age 25
STR:10 CON:10 DEX:15 INT:13 APP:12 POW:14 SIZ:12 SAN: 68 EDU:15
Damage Bonus: 0 HP:11
Education: BA music, UC Davis
Weapons: All combat skills at basic. Possesses no weapons.
Skills: Accounting: 45, Art (music): 65, Bargain: 65, Computer Use: 25, Craft
(production): 80, Cthulhu Mythos: 4, Electrical Repair: 35, Fast Talk: 55,
History: 35, Italian: 30, Listen: 55, Persuade: 65, Photography: 40, Psychology:
35, Spot Hidden (talent): 60
Notes: Errol is a quite, non-descript man who wears sunglasses no matter how
dark it is. Although he has successfully comprehended the Massa, he does has
not learnt the spell contained therein and failed to realize the full horror of
the manuscript. He just thinks that when played, it will be a very powerful and
moving piece of music, which, supplemented by Tinleg Munks vocals, will earn
him a place in music history.
Massa di Requiem per Shuggay: The full rules for this infernal piece can be
found in the CoC rulebook, pg87 (5th edition). Sanity loss 1D3/1D6; Cthulhu
Mythos +4 percentiles; average 2 weeks to study and comprehend. Spells:
performed with full chorus and orchestra, Call Azathoth is cast about midway
through the third act. I imagine the spell effect looking like this: as the
soprano sings the final note of the spell, everybody in the audience convulses
and dies. Azathoth forms out of the mound of corpses. If there is no audience,
this happens to the artists.
--
