Cephalophobia N O .1 I SSUE 1 S PRING 2014 CEPHALOPHOBIA In This Issue... Two Years of Squamous Horror 3 Academic Departments Classics Department 4 Cryptozoology 13 Vocational Education 16 Economics 21 History 27 Modern Languages & Literature 29 Study Abroad 31 The editors of Cephalophobia are particularly grateful to Ian MacLean for the use of his wonderful illustration “Beginnings” featured on the cover of this publication and as design elements throughout. We also wish to acknowledge MUP forum member Wordcraftian, whose suggestion “Cephalophobia” was adopted as the official title of this publication. Cephalophobia is a free publication for the listenership of the Miskatonic University Podcast and other Lovecraft enthusiasts. Supervisory Editor: Keeper Murf Associate Editor and Layout: Professor O.E. Scriven Additional Copyediting: Professor Charles Gerard 2 FOUNDER’S INTRODUCTION Two Years of Squamous Horror Two years since we started. I’d love to say I I’ve also been deeply gratified by the amazing response from knew this crazy idea would last. but the truth is that I had the Call of Cthulhu community. It’s hard to believe that no idea what would come of it. I’ve listened to podcasts our listenership numbered in the single dig- since late 2005, but making one was a whole new world. its when we began two years ago. And while other podcasts may boast larger In many ways, it started with Paul Maclean and numbers at their second anniver- Yog Radio. It was the first podcast I ever lis- sary, I think the MUP community tened to, and Yog-Sothoth.com (YSDC) stands out as one of the most ac- still stands out as a shining example of tive, informative and friendly on- amazing community builiding. It’s also line groups in Lovecraftian gaming. fair to say that Paul was responsible for creating the entire genre of recorded I’m humbled by the support and “live play” role playing games when friendship from everyone. It is an he accidentally left an audio recorder honor and privilege to supply an running during a D&D session back entertaining and informative presen- in 2003. When he later shared that file tation that benefits this amazing com- with the YSDC community, he changed munity. the hobby in a single stroke. YSDC set a benchmark for role playing game audio that We are in an exciting time for the role play- has served as an inspiration for me and many other ing game hobby in general, and Call of Cthulhu podcasters. in particular. I’m proud to be a part of keeping you in- formed and entertained in our little niche of a niche. We The Miskatonic University Podcast has been enormously have some pretty cool plans for the podcast to come. Here’s gratifying for me. Through this endeavor, I’ve met some to the next year, and whatever the future may bring. amazing people. My co-hosts have become my closest friends, without whom this show would have exploded on Go Pods! the launch pad. When I made the post on the Yog-Sothoth forums asking if anyone was interested in co-hosting, I didn’t expect to be so fortunate to find people I would bond Dan Kramer with like family. Dan Kramer Producer & Captain, Miskatonic University Podcast 3 CEPHALOPHOBIA Eternal Spring A short, non-mythos adventure set in ancient Greece, for the Cthulhu Invictus setting | by Matt Puccio Scenario Background This adventure is meant to expose the players to aspects of Greek mythology. It could be used as a diversion during a long campaign (e.g., The Legacy of Arrius Lurco) or as an introductory adventure for getting a new group of Cthulhu Invictus characters together. To that end, it’s fairly straightforward and intended to run in a single session, perhaps 3 hours. Keeper’s Introduction Since time immemorial, the naiad (a water spirit) Corycia has been linked to a spring on the slopes of Mount Parnassus near Delphi. The local tribes honored her with offerings as she kept the waters flowing. One day, Apollo caught sight of her and fell in love, wooing her in the way that gods do. She named the son born from this union Lycoreus. Coming of age, the young man sought to challenge the gods for his rightful place in the heavens. He set off for the peak of Mount Parnassus to demand his birth- right, and she never saw him again. Struck down by Zeus for his hubris, Lycoreus’ body has lain on the peak for centuries, his lemure haunting the desolate peak. Not knowing the fate of her son, Corycia has mourned for long centuries. The spring that she pro- Classics Department tected flows no longer, depriving the nearby trees of life-giving water. Eventually, the locals forgot about Corycia, and stopped bringing tribute to her. Over the years, a number of hapless shepherds and adventurers have stumbled upon her cave. One by one she entranced them, slowly feeding on their life-force in her grief for Lycoreus. Now, it is 54 CE, and Marcus Meridius Flavius, a young Roman patrician, has gone missing while exploring the foothills of Mount Parnassus. He stumbled across the naiad’s cave while looking for trea- sure, fell under her spell, and has lain in the cave for several weeks, slowly dying. His death is certain unless the investigators intervene and relieve Corycia’s grief. 4 CLASSICS DEPARTMENT Investigators’ Introduction Involving the Investigators Marcus Meridius Flavius and his sister Flavia - wealthy, The keeper should have a reason for the players to become young and decadent Roman patricians - had been tak- involved in the search; perhaps they are looking for a patron, ing their leisure in Delphi, visiting there in advance of the or in need of money; or they need something else from Fla- upcoming Pythian athletic games. Flavia spends her days via, for example, an invitation to consult with the Oracle, or flirting with young athletes who train for the games. Her perhaps an introduction to someone important. The play- younger brother set about finding his own sort of thrill. ers may have a contact in common with her, or one of her agents (a trusted household slave) may contact them, having Flavius, intrigued by a legend of buried treasure in the near- heard that they are worthy investigators. The keeper should by hills told to him by locals over cups of wine in the local tailor their involvement based on the group’s needs. taverna, set off to find it. The story of a guardian spirit did not dissuade him; on the contrary, it inflamed his interests even more. Excited by the prospect of adventure, he set off Lycoreus my son, Offspring for the foothills of Mount Parnassus with a single slave at his side. of Apollo, He sought the Two days later, the slave returned alone, explaining how highest peak To challenge Flavius commanded him to search an alternate path up the mountain. Finding nothing, the slave returned to the spot the gods. To question their where they separated, but was unable to find Flavius and eventually returned to Delphi. When the slave could do no wisdom. To ascend to his more than describe the general area where Flavius disap- peared, Flavia had him tortured to extract the truth. Under rightful place amongst this maltreatment, he eventually died without revealing any further useful information. them. Alone now forever I pine for his return. While the local authorities mounted a cursory search for him nothing was found, and they have been too busy with the upcoming Pythian games to devote more resources to Corycia’s Lament locating the young Roman. Since then Flavia has consulted with an haruspex, an augur who reads the entrails of animals; she has repeatedly prayed and sacrificed at the various temples in Delphi, and has -fi nally paid a large donation for a consultation with the Py- thia, the Delphic oracle. While the Pythia’s next available appointment is more than a week away, Flavia seeks inves- tigators to go and find out what happened to her brother. 5 CEPHALOPHOBIA Meeting with Flavia Beginning the Search Flavia takes her leisure in a luxurious tent on the grounds of One of Flavia’s slaves can show the players where the search the athletic fields of Delphi, where young men are training focused. If the players do any research in the town, with and practicing for the upcoming Pythian games. When the a successful Persuade roll in a local taverna they can find players arrive, she is busy flirting with one of the young ath- someone who knows the legend of a spring, a treasure and letes; at their appearance, she dismisses him, her demeanor its guardian spirit. They can hire their own local guide if rapidly changing to a more somber tone. they don’t trust Flavia’s slave. One way or another they can find the approximate location of the cave, although its exact Flavia is an attractive woman in her early 30s, who has no location will require a bit of searching. qualms about disregarding the social rules – by example, the only chaperone in her tent is a young slave girl. Meeting Although it’s been too long since Flavius disappeared for with strange men in a private tent would be scandalous to a Track roll to be useful, a successful Navigation roll will most unmarried Roman women, but Flavia doesn’t seem to speed up the time it takes players to find a dried up creek care about rumors that this meeting might arouse. bed that flows down the hillside from the slopes of Mt.