55567-Sample.Pdf

Sample file

Sample file Sample file TRAIL OF CTHULHU

Credits

Publisher: Simon Rogers

Written by: Kenneth Hite

GUMSHOE System: Robin D Laws

Layout: Jérôme Huguenin

Art: Jérôme Huguenin

GUMSHOE Guru: Robin D Laws

Editing and Additional Material: Simon Rogers

Based on: Call of Cthulhu by Sandy Petersen and Lynn Willis

Special thanks : Effie and Julia Huguenin, Léo and Pascal Quidault

Playtesting: Adrian Price, Steve Dempsey, Wai Kien, Adrian Smith, Graham Walmsley, Alex Fradera, Dave, Polymancer Studios, Simon Rogers, Daniel Bayn, Danni Bayn, Chris Malone, Mark DiPasquale, Matthew Pook, Tim Barker, Louise Hayes, David Lai, Mike Shepard, Carla Jane Miller, Elizabeth Rees, Robert Mills, Donald F. Taylor III, Richard Hardy, Lynne Hardy, Frederic Moll, Fredrik Hansson, Jeff Campbel Jamie Michael, Joshua Ford, Marcus Ogawa, Lisa Marie Ogawa, Gil Trevizo, Henry de Veuve, Ronald Abitz, Steve Bartalamay, Alan Fountain, Peter Kessler, Wojciech “Alter” Kobza, Laurent Mollicone, Olivier Noël, Wayne O’Connor, Ghislain Morel, James Semple, Gabriella Semple, Dan Pusceddu, Olive Pusceddu, Axel Eble, Stefan Ohrmann, Martin Schrammm, Onno Tasler, Ralf Achenbach, William C Bargo Jr, Jacques SampleMaurice Mallah, Donald F. Taylor III, Keith A fileCallison, Doug

3 TRAIL OF CTHULHU

Contents

Credits...... 3 Cop Talk (Interpersonal)...... 32 Piggybacking...... 57 Craft (Technical)...... 32 Cooperation...... 58 Credit Rating (Interpersonal)...... 32 Contests, Chases, and Combat...... 58 Contents...... 4 Cryptography (Academic)...... 34 Fighting...... 60 Cthulhu Mythos (Academic)...... 34 Other Dangers...... 68 Evidence Collection (Technical)....35 Stability, Sanity, and Madness...... 69 Flattery (Interpersonal)...... 35 Losing Stability...... 69 Introduction...... 6 Forensics (Technical)...... 35 Losing Sanity...... 74 Why This Game Exists...... 6 Geology (Academic)...... 35 Mental Illness...... 77 Purist or Pulp or Both?...... 7 History (Academic)...... 37 Refreshing Stability During A Interrogation (Interpersonal)...... 37 Session...... 79 The Investigator...... 9 Intimidation (Interpersonal)...... 37 Recovery...... 80 Occupations...... 9 Languages (Academic)...... 37 Refreshing Investigative Ability Alienist...... 9 Law (Academic)...... 37 Pools...... 80 Antiquarian...... 10 Library Use (Academic)...... 38 Refreshing General Ability Pools.80 Archaeologist...... 11 Locksmith (Technical)...... 38 Refreshing Health...... 81 Artist...... 11 Medicine (Academic)...... 38 Refreshing Stability Between Author...... 12 Occult (Academic)...... 38 Adventures...... 81 Clergy...... 12 Oral History (Interpersonal)...... 39 Recovering Sanity...... 81 Criminal...... 13 Outdoorsman (Technical)...... 39 Improving Your Investigator...... 82 Dilettante...... 13 Pharmacy (Technical)...... 39 Doctor...... 13 Photography (Technical)...... 39 ...... 84 Hobo...... 14 Physics (Academic)...... 39 The Cthulhu Mythos Gods and Titans...... 84 Journalist...... 14 Reassurance (Interpersonal)...... 40 Azathoth...... 87 Military...... 15 Streetwise (Interpersonal)...... 40 Chaugnar Faugn...... 89 Nurse...... 15 Theology (Academic)...... 40 Cthugha...... 89 Parapsychologist...... 17 General Abilities...... 40 Cthulhu...... 90 Pilot...... 17 Athletics...... 40 Dagon...... 91 Police Detective...... 17 Conceal...... 40 Daoloth...... 92 Private Investigator...... 17 Disguise...... 41 Ghatanothoa...... 93 Professor...... 18 Driving...... 41 Gol-Goroth...... 93 Scientist...... 18 Electrical Repair...... 41 Hastur...... 94 Drives...... 19 Explosives...... 41 Ithaqua...... 94 Adventure...... 19 Filch...... 42 Mordiggian...... 95 Antiquarianism...... 19 Firearms...... 42 Mormo...... 95 Arrogance...... 20 First Aid...... 42 Nodens...... 96 Artistic Sensitivity...... 20 Fleeing...... 42 Nyarlathotep...... 96 Bad Luck...... 20 Health...... 43 Quachil Uttaus...... 98 Curiosity...... 21 Hypnosis...... 43 Shub-Niggurath...... 99 Duty...... 21 Mechanical Repair...... 44 Tsathoggua...... 99 Ennui...... 21 Piloting...... 44 Y’golonac...... 100 Follower...... 21 Preparedness...... 45 Yig...... 100 In the Blood...... 22 Psychoanalysis...... 45 Yog-Sothoth...... 101 Revenge...... 22 Riding...... 45 Tomes and Magic...... 104 Scholarship...... 22 Sanity...... 46 Tomes...... 104 Sudden Shock...... 22 Scuffling...... 47 Spells...... 109 Thirst for Knowledge...... 23 Sense Trouble...... 47 Creatures...... 125 Buying Abilities...... 23 Shadowing...... 47 Health Loss for Creatures...... 125 Occupational Abilities...... 23 Stability...... 48 Ability Pool Refreshment for How Many Points Should I Buy?.. 26 Sources of Stability...... 48 Creatures...... 125 Ratings and Skill...... 27 Stealth...... 48 Creature Statistics...... 125 Investigative Abilities...... 28 Weapons...... 48 As A Foulness Shall Ye Know Accounting (Academic)...... 28 Sample Character...... 49 Them...... 126 Anthropology (Academic)...... 28 Trail of Cthulhu Character Sheet.49 Alien Races...... 126 Archaeology (Academic)...... 28 Byakhee...... 127 Architecture (Academic)...... 28 Colour Out of Space...... 128 Art (Technical)...... 30 Clues, Tests and Dark Young of Shub-Niggurath....129 Art History (Academic)...... 30 Contests...... 51 Deep One...... 129 AssessSample Honesty (Interpersonal).....30 Clues...... 51 file Dhole...... 130 Astronomy (Technical)...... 30 Gathering Clues...... 52 Dimensional Shambler...... 131 Bargain (Interpersonal)...... 30 Spends and Benefits...... 54 Elder Thing...... 131 Biology (Academic)...... 31 Inconspicuous Clues...... 55 Flying Polyp...... 132 Bureaucracy (Interpersonal)...... 31 Tests...... 56 Formless Spawn of Tsathoggua...133 Chemistry (Technical)...... 31 Simple Tests...... 56

4 TRAIL OF CTHULHU

Contents

Ghoul...... 133 Haiti...... 178 Sheriff O’Donnell Spells It Out For Gnoph-Keh...... 134 Louisiana...... 178 You...... 216 Great Race of Yith...... 135 Mongolia...... 178 At First Glance...... 216 Hound of Tindalos...... 135 Peru...... 179 Frank Dolezal’s Apartment Hunting Horror...... 138 Rumania...... 179 (2941 E. 22nd)...... 216 K’n-Yani...... 139 Saudi Arabia...... 179 Cleveland by Night...... 219 Lemurian...... 139 Soviet Union...... 180 Lester’s Tavern...... 219 Lloigor...... 140 South Pacific Mandate...... 180 Nadie’s Tattoos...... 220 Masqut...... 142 Spain...... 181 Brood of Coatlicue...... 220 Mi-Go...... 142 Thibet...... 181 The Picture in the Tavern...... 221 Nightgaunt...... 144 Technology, Weapons, and Meet One-Armed Willie...... 221 Rat-Thing...... 145 Equipment...... 182 The Crazy Greek...... 222 Sand-Dweller...... 146 Vehicles...... 183 Meet Detective Merylo...... 222 Serpent-Folk...... 146 Vehicle Table...... 184 Eddies of Charybdis...... 222 Servitor of the Outer Gods...... 147 Aircraft Table...... 185 Investigating Scylla Shan...... 148 Weapons...... 185 and van Schaen...... 223 Shantak...... 149 Hardware and Sundries...... 187 The Painting...... 223 Shoggoth...... 150 Western Reserve University...... 224 Son of Yog-Sothoth...... 151 Putting It The van Schaen Mansion...... 224 Space-Eater...... 151 All Together...... 190 “Eleven” and “Twelve”...... 225 Star Vampire...... 152 Tips For Players...... 190 Fear Death By Water...... 225 Tcho-Tcho...... 152 Believe You Might Succeed...... 190 Confronting van Schaen...... 226 Xothian...... 153 Justify Your Casting...... 190 Loose Ends And Further Trails...... 227 Beasts and Monsters...... 155 Drives Drive You Forward...... 190 Allosaur...... 155 When Stuck, Look For More Appendices...... 228 Bear...... 155 Information...... 191 Appendix 1: BRP and GUMSHOE..... 228 Crocodile...... 155 Talk To People...... 191 GUMSHOE-style play Gorilla...... 155 Keep Moving Forward...... 191 using BRP rules...... 228 Lake Monster...... 155 Deputize Yourself...... 191 Converting BRP to GUMSHOE...... 228 Lion...... 156 Tips For Keepers...... 191 Appendix 2: Sources Mummy...... 156 Designing Scenarios...... 191 and Resources...... 230 Rat Swarm...... 156 Managing Scenarios...... 198 HP Lovecraft...... 230 Shark...... 157 Maintaining Menace...... 203 Howard and Derleth...... 230 Snake...... 157 Other Mythos Authors...... 231 Vampire...... 157 Campaign Frames...... 204 Other Horrorists...... 231 Wolf...... 158 Other Fiction...... 232 Yeti...... 159 The Armitage Inquiry...... 206 Setting...... 206 Non-Fiction...... 232 Zombie...... 159 Appendix 3: Useful Documents...... 232 Cults and Cultists...... 160 Style...... 206 Mythos...... 206 Trail of Cthulhu Ahnenerbe...... 160 Character Sheet...... 233 Black Dragon Society...... 161 Investigators...... 206 Continuing NPCs...... 206 Keeper’s Investigator Matrix...... 234 Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign...161 Investigative Ability Checklist...... 235 Cult of Cthulhu...... 162 Rules Variations...... 207 Pitch...... 207 Campaign Frame Notes...... 236 Cult of the Skull...... 163 Appendix 4: Contributors...... 238 Starry Wisdom Sect...... 164 Project Covenant...... 207 Witch-Cult...... 165 Setting...... 208 Yithian Agents...... 165 Style...... 208 INDICES...... 239 Mythos...... 208 Alien Races...... 239 Investigators...... 208 Beasts and Monsters...... 239 The Thirties...... 168 Continuing NPCs...... 208 Gods and Titans...... 239 A Desperate Decade...... 168 Rules Variations...... 209 Spells...... 239 Poverty...... 169 Pitch...... 209 General Index...... 240 Famine...... 170 Book-Hounds of London...... 209 War...... 170 Setting...... 210 The Nightmare Countries...... 175 Style...... 210 Abyssinia...... 175 Mythos...... 210 Antarctica...... 175 Investigators...... 211 Belgian Congo...... 175 Continuing NPCs...... 211 SampleBrazil...... 175 Rules Variations...... 211 file Burma...... 176 Pitch...... 213 Easter Island...... 176 Egypt...... 176 The Kingsbury Horror...214 Germany...... 177 The Spine...... 214 Greenland...... 177 Premise...... 215

5 TRAIL OF CTHULHU

Introduction

In the mists of prehistory, alien gods and monsters fell to Earth and Why This Game Exists on investigation, on gathering warred over our planet, unleashing This game exists in order to adapt clues instead of treasure. We cosmic science and inconceivable the greatest RPG of all time, Call designed GUMSHOE to make powers until continents sank of Cthulhu, to a different rules that easier, clearer, and more and seas boiled. Exhausted or set, the GUMSHOE engine. Why direct. GUMSHOE exists to solve a defeated, They fell into an aeons- on Earth would we do a thing problem that many people found long slumber, and the human race like that? First of all, part of what with running Call of Cthulhu goes about its unknowing business makes Call of Cthulhu so great is – one bad die roll can derail an over Their graves and tombs. But its theme, taken from the cosmic adventure. You didn’t find the there are those who want to seek despair of the greatest horror diary, so you didn’t get the spell, so out the fragments of the lore They writer of the 20th century, HP either Arkham is destroyed or the left behind. Those who want to Lovecraft. We kept that. Second, Keeper has to scuttle ‘round and learn the secrets of the stars, and part of what makes Call of plant the diary somewhere else. the true names of the dimensions. Cthulhu so great is its deliberate In Trail of Cthulhu, the GUMSHOE Those who want the dead gods’ decision to make characters rules guarantee that you will find powers. Those want to wake Them increasingly vulnerable to the that diary. (We don’t promise not up. horrors they face, to give their to destroy Arkham.) This is not the bravery real meaning and force entirety of what GUMSHOE offers, You are among the few who real mechanical consequences in but it was the starting point for suspect the truth – about the mad the game. We kept that, too. GUMSHOE’s laser-like focus on gods at the center of the universe, investigation. about the Great Old Ones who So what did we change? Let me dream of clearing off the Earth, change the subject. The greatest Some Keepers, and even some about the extra-terrestrials who playwright ever is William players, enjoyed seeing everything use mankind in their experiments, Shakespeare. His greatest play go pear-shaped, and reveled about the ancient legends of is King Lear. Why would Akira in the creative destruction of undying evil that are all coming Kurosawa make that play into the adventure. Some didn’t, and true. You have to make sure nobody a movie? And why would he set worked out their own ways else ever finds out — or the world that movie, Ran, in samurai-era around the problem, ways they will wake up screaming. Japan instead of quasi-ancient are perfectly happy with; their Britain? Because more people want own crib sheets to King Lear, if You have to keep the doors to the to – or can — see a movie than you will. We hope there is enough Outside from swinging open – no a play, and because transferring other good stuff in here for them, matter what the cost in life or the story to Japan makes its but Trail of Cthulhu is first and sanity. You have to piece together themes paradoxically clearer than foremost for the Keepers and the clues from books bound in leaving them in the “familiar” players who privilege investigation, human skin, from eviscerated world Shakespeare wrote. Did Ran and who want mechanics that do corpses covered in ichor, and from improve on King Lear, or make it likewise. It’s for fans of procedural inscriptions carved on walls built obsolete? Don’t be ridiculous. Did shows like House or CSI, in which before humanity evolved. You have it do something worth doing by the mystery isn’t “will the lab test to go whereverSample the answers are, changing King Lear? Absolutely. come back,” butfile “what do the and do what needs to be done. results mean”? That’s not to say To return to our topic, then: things won’t go wrong for the But do you dare to follow ... the trail Another part of what makes Call players, merely that the wrongness of Cthulhu? of Cthulhu so great is its emphasis won’t be caused by an absence of

6 TRAIL OF CTHULHU

Introduction

Core Concepts Dexter Ward, The Dunwich Roleplaying Game: We assume you’ve already got this covered. If Horror, and The Shunned House not, see any other roleplaying game book for the mandatory “What is all feature more-or-less resolute Roleplaying” section, or ask your geek friends. monster-hunting Investigators Keeper: The Game Master, or GM. thwarting cosmic evil in Investigators: The Player Characters, or PCs. Howardian fashion. (Robert E Investigative Abilities: Include academic, interpersonal, and technical Howard also wrote at least one abilities. These abilities always work; they are designed to gather fine Purist Mythos tale, The Black clues. Stone.) Many of Lovecraft’s finest General Abilities: The rest of the abilities, including combat abilities tales, such as The Call of Cthulhu and “statistics” like Health, Sanity, and Stability. Using or testing them (which features both neurasthenic creates drama; they may fail. scholars uncovering the truth Stability: A short-term measure of your Investigator’s mental health. and police raids on vile cults) and It goes down rapidly during an adventure, but usually refreshes The Shadow Over Innsmouth afterward. (which features both a desperate Sanity: A long-term measure of your Investigator’s blissful ignorance chase through a ruined town of the horrible truths of the Mythos. It goes down slowly, and seldom and a narrative of psychological if ever goes up again. corruption) draw from both modes The Mythos: Short for Cthulhu Mythos, the body of lore created by HP for their power. While it is not our Lovecraft that underlies most, or all, of the horrific events in a Trail job to tell you how to run your of Cthulhu campaign or adventure. game (actually, it is, but we’ll get to HP Lovecraft: American horror writer (1890-1937). All quotes in this that in a later chapter), it seems to rulebook are from his stories and poetry. us that treating Cthulhoid horrors Clue: The point of each scene is to deliver a clue to the mystery, the way HP Lovecraft does would to the Investigator with the relevant investigative ability. When the be a good idea. clue has been delivered, the scene can end, unless there’s a really awesome fight going on. Clues are leads to other scenes; they don’t However, for those who wish to have to be “true.” emphasize one or another idiom, we have indicated those rules and game elements most suited for the Purist mode with the following clues, but how they use them. It’s model. It intends to recreate a symbol: for players who are curious about game of philosophical horror, in the Call, and who want to follow which the act of uncovering the the Trail all the way to the end. truth dooms both active seeker and unfortunate bystander alike.

The second is the Pulp idiom or and those most suited for the Pulp Purist or Pulp or Both? mode, which aims rather for the mode with this one: The game Trail of Cthulhu “desperate action” feel of Robert E is intended to tell stories of Howard’s Cthulhu Mythos stories uncovering the occult horror (The Thing on the Roof, The Fire mysteries of the Cthulhu Mythos. of Asshurbanipal, Skull-Face). It Traditionally, such games fall into intends to focus on the struggle one of two camps. (especially the physical struggle) The Keeper may rule that some against the Mythos, doomed or rules and elements are simply One is the Purist idiom or mode, noble as the case may be. It also not allowed in her games in which takes a subset of HP privileges character survival order to inculcate a specific SampleLovecraft’s later and starker somewhat more than does the flavor fileof horror, which is after all works (The Colour Out of Space, Purist idiom. the entire point. An index of Pulp At the Mountains of Madness, and Purist rules can be found on The Shadow Out of Time, The HP Lovecraft, of course, wrote in p 243. Whisperer in Darkness) as its both idioms: The Case of Charles

7 Sample file TRAIL OF CTHULHU

The Investigator

“There can be nothing normal in the not. Regardless of an Investigator’s . The other listed Occupations mind of one who, knowing what I chosen career, uncovering the are both typical of the 1930s and knew of the horrors of Tempest secrets of the Mythos has become rife with potential for eldritch Mountain, would seek alone for her life’s work. encounters. the fear that lurked there…. Yet I Every Occupation description continued my quest with even greater Occupations includes its Occupational abilities zeal as events and revelations became Before discovering the Mythos, (see p. 23), its Credit Rating band more monstrous.” your Investigator did something (see p. 32), and any special abilities else; something you may still do or rules that Investigators with — The Lurking Fear to keep body and soul together that Occupation can use. You while he risks both. This is can buy and build Occupational In Trail of Cthulhu, your your Occupation, which helps abilities at half-price, so pick an player character is called an determine the abilities you will use Occupation geared to what you “Investigator” because that is what during your adventures. want your Investigator to be able player characters do: investigate to do in the game. the (often horrible) occult The Occupations typical of mysteries that conceal the truth of Lovecraftian characters the Cthulhu Mythos. Investigators (Antiquarian, Artist, Author, List of Occupations may be professional investigators Dilettante, Doctor, Journalist, Police Alienist such as detectives, police, or Detective, and Professor) are government agents, or they may marked with the Purist symbol Antiquarian Archaeologist Artist Investigator Creation Quick Reference Author Ask your Keeper how the campaign frame (see p. 204) affects character creation. This can, for example, set the number of build Clergy points available or give caps on certain abilities. Criminal Choose your Investigator’s original Occupation (see p. 9). Decide if Dilettante you still follow it, or if you have abandoned your job to become a full- time (and likely increasingly impoverished and ostracized) uncoverer Doctor of Mythos truths. In a one-shot adventure, you may not have time to Hobo quit your job! Based on your own conception of your Investigator’s character Journalist and backstory, choose your Drive (see p. 19). Military Spend build points (see p. 23) on your abilities (see p. 28), making Nurse sure your party as a whole has as many abilities as possible covered. Define the Pillars of your Sanity (see p. 46); and Sources of your Parapsychologist Stability, (p. 48), if your campaign uses them. Pilot Choose any contacts you have (see p. 31) Police Detective At any point during this process, decide on your Investigator’s Sample filePrivate Investigator name, birthplace, favorite cigarettes, religious beliefs, or anything else that you think will help you understand and roleplay your Professor Investigator. Scientist