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Chaosium Digest Volume 38 Number 02
Chaosium Digest Volume 38, Number 2
Date: Monday, November 17, 2003
Number: 1 of 2
Contents:
* It's Plantlife Jim, but not as we know it (CTHULHU)
By: Mervyn Boyd (jack@ktana.freeserve.co.uk)
Editor's Note:
I apologize for the dearth of issues recently. General chaos has kept me
from working on the Digest, combined with a lack of submissions to work on.
I can't stress enough that without reader submissions, the Digest doesn't
exist. I do thank those of you who've provided submissions, especially
Mervyn Boyd. All material for the Digest is, and always has been, provided
by reader submissions.
Anyone can submit material for the Chaosium Digest. These may be complete
adventures, short adventure ideas, advise for GMs and/or players, reviews of
games/books/movies, new magic items/spells/monsters/tomes or anything else
that might be of interest. All submissions remain the property of the author
and can be submitted to other publications, subject to that publication's
rules of course. Those submissions that deal with Call of Cthulhu,
Stormbringer or general BRP rules are automatically entered into Chaosium's
quarterly contest for $40 of Chaosium product. Note that a winner is only
picked when there are qualifying submissions from at least two people in any
given Quarter. In cases when only one qualifying submission is received,
that entry is automatically rolled over into the next Quarter's contest.
Although they don't qualify for Chaosium's contest, I also accept
submissions dealing with Pendragon, Nephilim, Glorantha, Cthulhu Live, Delta
Green and most anything that's related to current or past Chaosium
publications or licensees. Try to keep your submissions under 50KB in size.
All submissions may be sent to chaos-digest@prodigy.net or
gobackstage@prodigy.net and do please note that it is a Digest submission in
the subject line.
This issue features another chilling Call of Cthulhu adventure from frequent
contributor Mervyn Boyd.
Enjoy the issue and please continue to support the Digest with your
submissions.
John W. Thompson
ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Greetings All,
At last weekend's HPL Film Festival in Portland, the HP Lovecraft Historical
Society unveiled it's newest creation, A Very Scary Solstice: the HPLHS
Solstice Carol CD and Songbook. It features twenty-five of your favorite
(and most hated) holiday songs hideously infused with the Cthulhu Mythos.
Like A Shoggoth on the Roof, the CD features full orchestration and
performances cast of professional singers and actors.
The songbook features all the lyrics with exhaustive annotations of the
strange origins of the carols and mythos tie-ins. Esteemed Lovecraft scholar
S.T. Joshi contributed a preface with HPL's thoughts on the holidays.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Yog-Sothoth, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fish-Men,
Awake Ye Scary Great Old Ones, I'm Dreaming of a Dead City, Mi-Go We Have
Heard on High and many more...
Check out: http://www.cthulhulives.org/solstice and don't miss the FREE
downloads of the MP3s for Great Old Ones Are Coming to Town and The Carol of
the Olde Ones.
Enjoy!
Sean Branney
--
The HP Lovecraft Historical Society
"an alternate universe since 1984"
http://www.cthulhulives.org
* From Chaosium
Recently released:
The <a
href="Keep">http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=264">Keep
er's Companion Volume 1</a> iwas shipped to distributors in early October.
Recently released:
Arthur Machen's <a
href="The">http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=102">The
White People and Other Tales </a> Released in late October.
Now Available at Chaosium.com:
<a
href="The">http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=340">The
Parapsychologist's Handbook </a>for Call of Cthulhu. Written by Chris
Jerome. This monograph reveals the real-world science of the paranormal,
Parapsychology (its history and methods), how to play a parapsychologist,
how to run a Call of Cthulhu campaign centered around a ghost-hunting group,
and how to simulate various non-Mythos entities and psychic powers in your
campaign.
What is a "Monograph" You Ask?
MISKATONIC UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION monographs are longer works by one
or more authors on a subject of import to Call of Cthulhu roleplayers. On
these products the author has also fulfilled the functions of editor and
layout artist; we at Chaosium have done little in the way of editorial. We
found these works compelling and thought that you would enjoy them.
Monographs are digitally reproduced small run publications featuring
cardstock covers and tape bindings. We do provide a cover illustration.
Through the publication of monographs we can offer our most loyal fans more
information more easily, and evaluate the potential of these works for
eventual release to the wholesale market.
Monographs are not sold through distribution due to their limited nature. If
a given work proves popular enough, then we'll certainly consider publishing
it in a standard RPG book format that would be available for distribution.
Release Schedule Update
On All Hallows Eve we ritually sacrificed a special Jack-O-Lantern and
practiced some pumpkin augury. We're happy to share some of the results with
you.
These are the books we expect to print by the end of the year.
Our next release, <a
href="The">http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=73">The
Encyclopedia Cthulhiana</a>, is at the printer. We expect this book to be
available by November 21st.
<a
href="Cthu">http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=134">Cthu
lhu Dark Ages</a> is in final editing and is expected to be sent to the
printer in November for an early December release.
<a
href="Cal">http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=199">Cal
l of Cthulhu 6th edition </a> is in final layout and should be off to the
printer very soon. We anticipate that Call of Cthulhu 6th will be available
by Christmas.
If Early November cash flow is especially good, we might be able to slip in
an additional release in December.
For more info on our upcoming releases, or to find out about projects for
release early next year check out the "upcoming releases" News section.
Site Update
In Addition to the Parapsychologist's handbook, We've added several new
items in the last month. We now carry a selection Hippocampus Press titles,
The Black Seal, Dark Wisdom, and a variety of licensed foreign language RPG
books, and Dark Continent RPG. We also received a couple of restock
shipments in late October. Swing by http://www.chaosium.com and see for
yourself.
Rumors, Rumors, Rumors.
A highly placed Elder Party Official recently suggested that Cthulhu for
President T-shirts will soon be available.
Leng Embassy staff were recently trapped in Durango Colorado as a result of
Ithaqua's wrath. The staff have since placated the wind-walker and returned
to the Embassy compound to plot their revenge.
Chaosium is slowly, and rather quietly, re-launching the <a
href"http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/newsdesk_index.php?newsPath=29
">Chaosium Missionary program</a>.
Miskatonic University Doctorate Degrees may be available again by the end of
the year.
October was a very good month for us.
Thank you for your continued support!
The Chaosium dudes.
--
Dustin Wright- Chaosium Colorado "Leng Embassy"
/|\_(@jjjj@)_/|\ http://www.chaosium.com
28 Years of Quality Mayhem and still counting...
* Howdy People!!
Once again Chaosium announces news of things odd and unusual. We've had a
busy week around here, and hope you enjoy the fruits of our labors.
For starters, the PARAPSYCHOLOGIST'S HANDBOOK is back in stock, this time
sporting the handsome look of this new line of products. MISKATONIC
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION monographs are longer works by one or more
authors on a subject of import to Call of Cthulhu roleplayers. On these
products the author has also fulfilled the functions of editor and layout
artist; we at Chaosium have done little in the way of editorial. We found
these works compelling and thought that you would enjoy them. Monographs are
digitally reproduced small run publications featuring cardstock covers and
tape bindings. We do provide a cover illustration. Through the publication
of monographs we can offer our most loyal fans more information more easily,
and evaluate the potential of these works for eventual release to the
wholesale market.
Chaosium was also able to receive restock of many neat things, including
jewelry, dice, and some especially creepy statuary. We've also just received
a restock from the good guys at Pagan Publishing. By clicking on our new
items link, you will be able to peruse our newest offerings at your leisure.
http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/products_new.php
The shambling things that call themselves Chaosium have also been able to
add a new line of fiction to our site. Hippocampus Press has been brought
on-board, and we would love for you to come by and take a look at some of
these wonderful books. Links for a couple of them are included below.
http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=341
http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=342
In conclusion, Chaosium again would like to thank you all for all your
interest and support over the years.
Thanks,
fergie
* Parapsychologist's Handbook - index and errata available
Now available as a PDF download:
http://www.yog-sothoth.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=4122#4122
Paul
=====
www.yog-sothoth.com
* The Unbound Book - the adventures magazine for 1920's Call of Cthulhu - is
looking for submissions.
As we get our release schedule firmed up, we need yet more exciting and new
adventures set in the 1920's, especially scenarios using the D20 system
(come on all you D20 advocates - here is your chance to show us how good D20
Call of Cthulhu really is).
If you have an idea for an adventure, or have one sitting around waiting to
bring havoc to unsuspecting players the world over, get in contact with the
editor of the Unbound Book (editor@www.unboundbook.org) right way.
For further information see our submission guidelines at www.unboundbook.org
Marcus D. Bone
--------------
Editor - The Unbound Book - www.unboundbook.org
* ISSARIES, INC. PRESS RELEASE
Concord, CA and West Sussex, England
November 17, 2003
GREYDOG DESIGNS WEBSITE GOES LIVE
Just in time for Christmas, the Greydog Designs' website went live on
November 1st 2003. In the works for well over a year, Greydog Designs is a
wonderful source of hand-crafted plush toys, rune pendants and keyrings,
spellbooks, gamemaster screens, costumes, and jewelry. Go to
<www.Greydog-Designs.co.uk> to order online or place commissions for
costumes, artwork, or roleplaying paraphernalia. The site is also the home
of the Sarah Evans and Simon Bray on-line galleries, featuring the art of
Glorantha and other worlds, with original artwork for sale.
Sarah Evans, the brains behind the Greydog enterprise, says, "Our desire, as
gamers, is to supply a wide range of strange items you may have wished you'd
had during your roleplaying life. Wolf Masks, character sketches, capes,
Walktopus soft toys...if you're looking for something a little out of the
ordinary, you've found it!"
For more information, contact Sarah Evans at <greydog_designs@yahoo.co.uk>.
For more information about Glorantha or Issaries, Inc., contact Stephen
Martin at <administrator@glorantha.com>.
----------------------
It's Plantlife Jim, but not as we know it
by Mervyn Boyd - jack@ktana.freeserve.co.uk
178 Dickson Drive, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA12 9HB
Foreword
This scenario is a loosely based sequel to "The Hills Rise Wild", as found
in H.P.Lovecraft's Arkham: Unveiling the Legend-Haunted City. No special
knowledge or skills are required for the successful conclusion of this
scenario, and is suitable for players who are new to Call of Cthulhu. Even
though no time frame is included, the events outlined here take place over
the course of a week or so. This way it can give new visitors to Arkham time
to explore, and make friends (or enemies). This way the keeper can introduce
future plot elements for a campaign he/she has in mind. Events move along at
a pace the keeper's choosing. While provision has been made for all the
likely places the investigators will look into, it is left to the keeper to
improvise and flesh out all other places as well as NPCs met. The scenario
is set in Arkham, Massachusetts, in the 1920s. It would be interesting to
re-involve those characters who took park in the original scenario, but if
they have since "retired", it's left to the keeper to find a way to involve
new investigators. New characters can either be brought in from outside
Arkham, or they may indeed be residents. They might even be students at
Miskatonic U. The keeper could, of course, allow one of the players take the
roll of Dr. Billings, as that would make more sense on how to get involved
in the scenario.
Background / Keeper Information
1d4 months ago Dr. Morris Billings (Miskatonic U's Department Head of
Astronomy) mounted a localized expedition in which dozens of volunteers
offered their services to find a piece of space rock that landed somewhere
nearby. At 1.15am of that morning, a fireball was seen streaking across the
sky, and soon after the search was on for the meteorite. Three days later
the search was over, and the sole fragment was found not that far north of
Dunwich. If the original investigators are present in this scenario, they'll
know the real story behind the find.... Soon after the find, interest grew
in astronomy and Dr. Billings took on an assistant, Dr. Clayton Bennings
(from Kentucky).
This tale begins with Dr. Bennings removing the meteorite (which is slightly
larger than fist sized) from it's display case for some analysis. It was
there, working in the lab late one night when it occurred. While chipping a
small piece off, he mis-struck the rock and split off a larger piece than
intended. There must have been a build up of pressurized gas within its
hollow core. Dark gray dust was belched out and covered him like chimney
soot. He cursed, but thought nothing of it. He cleaned off the worst of it
and swept up the remainder and set it aside. He returned his attention to
the meteorite to determine the extent of the damage he caused. It wasn't too
severe, fortunately. It remained largely intact - but now there was a finger
wide hole in it's side.
A few days later Bennings came down with cold (or flu) like symptoms, but in
fact it was much, much worse. The dust or soot, is in fact minute spores or
pollen from an alien world, and it began to germinate and grow. Trace
amounts were breathed in and they spread internally. Within these few days
Bennings' body was transformed into a walking bag of nutrients for the
mutant space fungus. The pollen attached itself to the brain, liver,
kidneys, heart and lungs and began to grow filament strands that interweaved
with the host. It began to replicate the host's DNA cell, by cell, atom by
atom. For a while everything seemed normal as Bennings went about his daily
life, then he began to get the sniffles, muscle aches, shivers, a tightness
in the chest. He confined himself to bed and drunk plenty of fluids, but the
fever got steadily worse. He went through a life changing experience - and
not one for the better.
The fungal spores replicated themselves and soon Bennings was not entirely
flesh and bone, and blood - he was largely a spongy plant substance.
Although, mentally still Bennings, a new sinister and largely dominant
intelligence and consciousness is forming. Eventually Bennings will cease to
be. The malevolent intelligence has diabolical plans to ensure the survival
of its own kind...
Events to throw in (Day and Night)
Over the next week or so, these are a few things the keeper may wish to
throw in to add some flavor to the bland routine of daily life. The list is
by no means complete or in any particular order, so the keeper is free to
throw in others of his/her own devising. The keeper may need to flesh out
certain events if the investigators take an active interest. The keeper may
wish to assign a 10% chance that something interesting happens on a daily
basis.
Night
Those who observe the moon tonight with the aid of a telescope, or similar
viewing device, see with a SPOT HIDDEN check a black triangular object move
across its surface. Those who succeed an INTx5 check realize that it is in
deed on the moon, and not some trick of the light or optical illusion. Those
who fail the roll don't take in the significance of it and are free from
sanity loss. Those who know what they saw lose 1/1d3 sanity. Succeeding a
MATHEMATICS check calculate it's size to be approximately 250 miles long and
50 miles wide. Impaling the roll gives it a speed of 200 miles per hour.
This is an event Billings is sure to catch and almost wet his pants over,
although he won't exactly speak of it..
Day or Night
For six hours solid it rains black rain. There is no sanity loss, and no
scientific reason is given for it. Chalk it up to one of life's little
mysteries.
Day
Renovations of the foundations of St. Michael's Catholic Church (452 Lich
Street), workmen discovered some old flagstones which are believed to belong
to the old Presbyterian Church that used to be there. Removal of the stones
uncovered some rather old finds: An old ledger purporting to be a diary
belonging to Father Holbrook, and a wooden box thirteen inches long, by nine
wide, and six high. The box was opened and inside were five wooden plates of
a similar size. Each plate is engraved (on both sides) with bizarre
hieroglyphs and dots. Those who look at the boards and succeed a
LINGUISTICS, or ANTHROPOLOGY check realize that it may be Rongorongo, the
written form of Rapanui from Easter Island. The diary of Fr. Holbrook
identifies them as such, and the workings therein are his feeble attempts to
decipher the pictorial code. He believes the boards contain a ritual of some
kind, and may be relative to the sunken island of R'lyeh. Learning this
results in the marginal loss of 0/1 sanity. Without a key the boards are
inherently indecipherable, and you'd waste your time trying to.
Night
Over the next few nights, one may be fortunate enough to hear (LISTEN check,
which the keeper may roll) the distant, but faintly audible eerie strains of
flute music. It's haunting, yet beautiful and tranquil. Those who are able
to trace the music to it's source are led to an old graveyard, and there
they see illuminated by the pale moonlight - a ghoul sitting atop a
gravestone playing on a whittled human bone. There is a loss of 0/1d6 for
the sight. If the ghoul is disturbed, it ceases play immediately and
scampers away through the mausoleums and headstones to a tunnel that leads
down into a ghoul warren. Incidentally, the headstone upon which it sat is
barely legible. Those who succeed a R/W ENGLISH check read: "Here lies the
mortal remains of Jacob Zeal. 16<something> to 17<something>" - the date
being far too weathered to be legible. Whether the ghoul was just playing
the flute for its own amusement, or was casting a spell remains to be
seen...
Day or Night
FIRE! Miss Jenny's Beauty Parlor (288 W Church Street) is set alight by an
arsonist. All the town's barbers once unsuccessfully filed to close her
down. Perhaps somebody seeks to do just that by different means.
Day
Out-of-town characters decide Caselius' Fine Jewelers (388½ W Church
Street)
is a soft target. They roll up in their Hudson Super Six Series J, park
outside and leave the driver there with the motor running. They burst out,
with handkerchiefs over their faces and enter the premises... They are armed
with Colt .45 M1911s, and a Tommy Gun. They are not the brightest of armed
robbers, hence the robbery at day. The eldest of the trio is a mere 19 years
of age. The fire at Miss Jenny's Parlor may be a diversion. Life is cheap
to these young punks, and they ain't afraid to open up should anyone "make a
move".
Day or Night (Whenever)
There is concern amongst the dispossessed populace of Potter's Field. While
people come and go as they please, there is muttering talk that a few people
have been abducted over the last few days. Speculation ranges from Ghoul
activity, Greg the Monster, the return of Herbert West (the re-animator), to
some deranged deformed human (a sighting of Bennings).
Investigator Introduction & Information
If a player takes the roll of Billings, this is how he gets involved.
Billings is the department head of Astronomy. Bennings is his assistant, and
has been off work for some time now with the flu. Nobody has seen or heard
of him in a while, so out of concern for his well-being Billings goes round
to see how he is doing. There is no answer at the door. The curtains are
closed, and the milk is just sitting on the doorstep. The door is unlocked.
There is no answer to his calls. That's when Billings makes the puzzling
discovery of a plant growing on Bennings' bed.
To involve the original characters, maybe they are in town on unrelated
business (even if the keeper has to create another scenario) and decide to
swing by and have a look at their meteorite. They see it's not in the
display case where it should be. They chat to Dr. Billings who tells of
Benning's work, which naturally leads on to him developing a bad case of the
flu, and hasn't been seen in a while. See below, for what Billings has to
say. As he mentions the flu PSYCHOLOGY check reveal Billings to be slightly
hesitant, and unnerved. He knows more that he's not saying.
Other characters are left for the keeper to somehow bring in. Maybe a friend
or nephew (or niece) receives a letter from Bennings that says he's been
working on a meteorite that was discovered a few months ago, and now he's
developed a bad flu, or cold. Other than that, maybe the letter is from
Bennings asking the recipient to come to Arkham for some reason or another.
Keepers, use your judgment.
Dr. Billings says...
He recounts Bennings work, and shortly after he came down with the flu....
We went to his home out of concern because nobody had heard of him in a
while. His door was unlocked and uh... well, what we saw was strange. You'll
have to see for yourself, but, anyway, there was no sign of Bennings. Just
"it" - the plant. We're trying to keep this all on the Q.T. The less people
who know, the better. For all intents and purposes Dr. Bennings had to
return home to Kentucky for a family related matter. Only myself, the Dean,
yourself, and Professor Robert Angley, a botanist here at Miskatonic know of
this. Before Bennings disappeared he was working on the meteorite, and gave
some samples to Prof. Angley for analysis. It would appear that Bennings had
made an interesting discovery.
Continued
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