Sample File Return of the Ripper

Sample file Return of the Ripper

An 1890s Scenario for Call of Cthulhu® and Cthulhu By Gaslight (And a Sourcebook for Adventure in Victorian London’s East End)

By William A. Barton

Respectfully dedicated to Robert Bloch, not only for his contributions to the Mythos but for his almost as plentiful additions to Ripper lore

Sample file

Return of the Ripper is ©1986, 2007 by William A. Barton. Call of Cthulhu and the Call of Cthulhu game system are © Chaosium, Inc. Call of Cthulhu is a Registered Trademark of Chaosium Inc. All rights reserved. All artwork, except where noted, is in the public domain. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author, artist, or publisher, except brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. Any resemblance between any persons, living or dead, real or fictional, and those in this scenario is strictly coincidental. (The character of Cyrus Barker was created in 1985 and, except for a common inspiration, has nothing to do with the character of the same name in a series of excellent Victorian mystery novels by Sherlockian Will Thomas.)

Playtesters: (Detroit) Pam Wisniewskii, Michael L. Galligan, Bill Yates, Laurel Goulding, John Schippers, Mark Moellering, David Schmitt, Steve Sterling; (Indianapolis) Vicki Barton, Bruce Coleman, Ross Rannells, Larry Wheeler, and Nathan Hammer—many thanks!

1 Table of Contents Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3 The Current Murders ……………………………………………………………………. 11 Enemies & Allies …………………………………………………………………………. 19 Places of Interest ………………………………………………………………………… 46 Clues & Rumors …………………………………………………………………………. 63 Encounters ……………………………………………………………………………….. 83 Stopping the Ripper ……………………………………………………………………. 107 Endgame & Aftermath ………………………………………………………………… 111 Appendixes ……………………………………………………………………………… 115 Maps: Central/East London, East End/Whitechapel, Central London …………….. 119

(Warning: Because of the subject matter of this scenario, parental guidance is strongly advised.)

Time Magazine’s ManSample of the Year, file 2006!

Author’s Bio: William A. Barton is the author/designer of the first two editions of the award-winning Cthulhu By Gaslight (and a co-author of the upcoming third edition). His other CoC adventures include “The Curse of Chaugnar Faugn,” originally published in Curse of the Chthonians, and “The Killer Out of Space,” in Cthulhu Now, plus the M.U. monograph Menace from the Moon. His contributions to the latest editions of Call of Cthulhu include the 1890s skills, price lists, and weapons and the Mythos descriptions and spells for The Colour Out of Space, Chaugnar Faugn, and the Rat-Things, as well as assorted other tidbits. Outside of Call of Cthulhu, he was a contributor to Chaosium’s Superworld RPG; co-author of the first three editions of Steve Jackson Games’ GURPS Space and GURPS Space Atlas I (and contributor to several other GURPS supplements); and designer/publisher of his own RPG, So Ya Wanna Be A Rock ’N’ Roll Star! A Rock ’N’ Role-Playing GameTM. (This award-winning RPG is available directly from Bill for $18 pp. at P.O. Box 26290, Indianapolis, IN 46226-0290; on the Web, visit http://bill-barton-games.iwarp.com; the game also includes several spoofs of and references to the Mythos.) Bill currently works as an editor for Wiley Publishing, in Indianapolis, Indiana, a division of John Wiley & Sons— original publishers of Edgar Allen Poe’s tales. He lives in Indy with his wife and four cats. Hobbies and interests (besides CoC and RPGs) include Sherlock Holmes (check out http://surrey-shore freeservers.com, for his scion’s Web site), Victorian England, the Mythos in general, Fortean phenomena (especially Planet X and alternative archeology), Godzilla (whom he pitted against Cthulhu in a 2006 Gen Con CoC event), science fiction (especially Victorian scientific romances, a la H.G. Wells), Biblical prophecy, classic rock (listening and playing), parody songwriting, and others that he rarely has time for.

2 Return of the Ripper

By William A. Barton

In which a new spate of murders allow a group of London-based Investigators the opportunity to solve the secret of Jack the Ripper—and face even greater, ancient horrors now in league with Saucy Jack himself.

Return of the Ripper takes place in London, beginning in extra danger) to Investigators who have sidestepped the late summer to early autumn of 1893. (The Keeper may main encounters of the adventure. All the while, the adjust exact dates as best fits his campaign.) It involves a Ripper will continue at his bloody business, seemingly new series of killings perpetrated by Jack the Ripper. The defying anyone mortal to stop him. Ripper has returned to London to continue his bloody Return of the Ripper is designed for a group of from work after a five-year absence. The scenario also reveals four to eight 1890s Investigators—five experienced the Ripper to have been the victim of a Cthulhian ritual Investigators being the optimum number. Although it is that transformed the man he was originally into something recommended that the players be skilled at Call of more—and yet less—than human. Working in league with Cthulhu, it is possible to successfully complete this the Ripper, some more or less independently, are other scenario with “new” Investigators. The less-experienced occult horrors with which Investigators attempting to stop the Investigators, however, the more of them that should the fiend must deal. And at least one of these is far more become involved in the adventure—and the more formidable—and deadly—than the Ripper himself! assistance from NPCs the Keeper should allow them. The scenario presents a series of clues, encounters, and Ideally, at least one Investigator should have some locations that, explored to their fullest, will lead experience in the Mythos and perhaps even know a spell Investigators to the identity—and terrible secrets—of Jack or two—preferably the Elder Sign among them. the Ripper. A number of peripheral dangers may be (Alternatively, the Keeper may create an NPC whom they encountered along the way that may either be dealt with can use as a Mythos resource.) A mixture of private during the course of the scenario or, in some cases, inquiry agents and/or journalists, as well as at least one sidestepped to be handled at a later time—provided scholar-type among the group, is imperative for a Investigators retain life and sanity enoughSample to do so. A filesuccessful outcome. significant number of red herrings are also present, The adventure is best run as a multi-session mini- designed to mislead and confuse the Investigators. Some campaign lasting several weeks to months of game time. of these might lead to entire side adventures of their own; As such, the many events of the scenario can even be others will simply throw Investigators momentarily off interspersed with other, shorter Gaslight adventures of the the track of their quarry. Keeper’s own devising (or with those to appear in other This adventure is less linear in nature than many CoC 1890s CoC monographs). Meanwhile, should they find scenarios. It has a definite beginning designed to draw themselves stumped, the Investigators can await the Investigators into the hunt for the Ripper. A less-definite, Ripper’s next strike or for new clues to turn up. On the but probable, ending is also provided, although the actual other hand, the adventure can be telescoped into a period outcome of the adventure will depend greatly on the of several days to a week or so of game time if the Keeper investigative skills and inclinations of the Investigators. In prefers—and if Investigators are especially zealous in between lie a series of encounters, clues, and situations, tracking down clues and leads in a shorter time period. the exact order of which vary, based entirely on how Even so, the Keeper is advised to break the scenario into players decide to handle their characters’ investigation. at least two to three lengthy game sessions—or more Several “mandatory” encounters are included that the shorter sessions—to successfully complete the adventure Keeper may instigate either randomly or at will whenever so that his Investigators have every opportunity available the Investigators are in the proper places at the right to foil the Return of the Ripper. times. Additionally, a wealth of other situations are OPTIONAL: If the Keeper has only a small group of included, designed in part to add to the flavor of the East players and none already have 1890s Investigators, he End London environment of the late Victorian age in could allow them to run some of the allied NPC characters which the Investigators must conduct their investigation. described in the scenario rather than create new These situations can also feed additional clues (or offer Investigators for this adventure. Barker and Mallory are

3 Return of the Ripper Introduction musts if the Keeper chooses this course. Another and to the baronet’s torment. Unfortunately, the evil thing possibility is old seadog Sinbad Ahab (if any player wants he was twisted those clues, obscuring their true meanings. an especially challenging role-playing experience). Some And no one understood. effort on the part of the Keeper would be necessary, Meanwhile, Danielson gained some allies. One night, however, to integrate Ahab into the adventure early on when he’d enticed a young Whitechapel streetwalker into without giving away too much of his part in the plot. an alley and had called the Shambler to slash her up for Other possibilities might include George Lusk or another his evening’s prey, he was astonished to see the girl show Whitechapel vigilante, a police constable with the MPF no fear whatsoever at the creature’s appearance. Seeing (currently on leave)—or even Inspector Abberline, as instead the hard glint in her eye, the calculating measure long as the Keeper doesn’t let him get too bogged down she took of him and his monstrous companion, he held off, by the Scotland Yard bureaucracy. Using such NPCs somehow knowing that the Ripper would not be taking would change the dynamics of any interactions described this one. The girl, he learned, was Colleen McCabre, who between them in the scenario, so the Keeper must either was more than a simple streetwalker. McCabre was, prepare accordingly or be ready to improvise. unlike Danielson before his conversion, a truly evil person. She’d been raised by her mother to hate KEEPER’S INTRODUCTION Englishmen and to believe in the existence of supernatural Early in 1888, a young British aristocrat, Sir John forces that could be called on to destroy her enemies, if Danielson, Baronet, arrived in Sumatra to examine some one but took the time and effort to learn how. McCabre of his family’s holdings in the Netherlands-Sumatra had come to London from the slums of Dublin only Company, then in operation on the great island. months before to carry out her dying mother’s last wishes: Unfortunately, the operations of the company had to destroy the English from within—in their very capital— incurred the wrath of a local tribe of natives—members of with the forces of darkness. Considering the brief amount the dreaded Tcho-Tcho race that live throughout southeast of time she’d been at it, McCabre had done quite well. Asia. Danielson and his party were ambushed by Unfortunately, the lass had come to the great Babylon on members of the tribe and everyone but the young baronet the Thames completely unprepared with any skills to earn killed. Sir John himself was inflicted with a far worse her living. Lacking the niceties of any Christian morals, fate: Employing an ancient occult ritual, the Tcho-Tchos she at once decided that prostitution was the only door transformed the hapless aristocrat into a psychic open to her if she was to survive long enough to vampire—a creature that, to continue to exist, must feed accomplish her goal. Her looks and her firm young body off the life energy and fear of other beings. The Tcho- were more than sufficient for the task. Her scheming mind Tchos then bound to Danielson a fearsome servant, a would serve her as well in her chosen profession, while Dimensional Shambler, to help him in his quest for souls she filled it with the occult lore she would need. Her first on which to feed. They released the baronet to return to break, only weeks after she’d arrived, was the chance the West and wreak havoc on the civilized nationsSample that discovery offile a copy of the Revelations of Glaaki, owned had sent men to their island to disturb their eons-old way by a peculiar little man who ran an obscure bookstore in of life—primarily, Great Britain. the East End. Enticing him to the flat she’d saved enough Driven insane, Danielson returned to England with his to rent, McCabre killed the man, took his keys, and dread companion to carry out the Tcho-Tchos’ bidding. rummaged through his shop until she’d found the book— He had little choice. To live, he had to kill—and in the and his money, of course. With what she was able to learn most horrible, fear-inducing manner possible—so that he through the Revelations, McCabre soon contacted a could drain the life energy produced by his victims’ terror colony of Ghouls whose warrens under the capital as they watched themselves ripped apart by the mind- connected with the London sewer system. The Ghouls, blasting horror of Sir John’s “pet” Shambler. And so Sir who had been responsible for many of the mysterious John, while by day continuing the airs of an upper-class “Vanishings” throughout the East End of London for British dilettante, set out in late August of 1888 on a reign years, were willing to help McCabre in her goals, in of terror by night—one that would stain the back alleys exchange for certain services the villainess was more than and mews of London’s East End red with blood and willing to perform for them. create the chilling legend known as Jack the Ripper! And now, she was willing to make a pact with But as insane as he was and as desperate to feed on the Danielson: In exchange for her life and for his help in life force of others to sustain himself, Danielson still learning and mastering more of the dark forces that would retained some shards of his own previously decent help her destroy Britain, she would provide him with other personality. And while the evil being he’d become girls to rend and tear at his “pleasure” for their terror and committed the atrocities that would shock London, his their life forces. And her Ghoulish friends would be more “true” self, buried within, managed to leave clues: faint than happy to carry off the carcasses after Danielson and traces that, if followed up by a clever Investigator, might the Shambler were through, keeping the heat off of him eventually lead to Danielson and an end to the killings— while he killed again and again. Danielson accepted her

4 Return of the Ripper Introduction offer. Up till then, he’d used the Dimensional Shambler to from the criminal elements, the ordinary evils of the carry off the bodies of his victims—those he didn’t have streets, and from her Ghoulish comrades. When the to abandon first as others happened near. But controlling criminal community of London suffered a void in the Shambler took too much of his concentration away organized leadership in ’91, following the supposed death from the business of feeding on the life forces of his of Professor James Moriarty, the “Napoleon of Crime,” victims. With the Ghouls’ aid, it would be so much easier. McCabre slipped in to fill that gap in prostitution. Those There’d be fewer victims discovered, and he could spend who opposed her, or failed to join her, slowly, one by one, more time absorbing the life energies he needed to live. began to disappear. By the fall of ’93, McCabre had nearly And so it was. Jack the Ripper struck again and again cornered the market on the independent trollops of the during those fearful months in the late summer and East End. And those rest, she vowed, would not last long, autumn of 1888. But McCabre and her Ghouls were unless they joined her. For now, in addition to her own efficient—only five of the Ripper’s many victims were resources, the Ripper had returned. discovered. The other prostitutes that McCabre led or Danielson, after returning to Sumatra and communing lured to Danielson’s clutches simply disappeared—more with the Tcho-Tchos, had been sent back to London to victims of the Vanishings. Life—and death—went on in finish what he’d started five years before. This time, the the East End of London. Tcho-Tchos had sent with him an additional “companion” But still, those five were enough. Spurred on by a to aid him, should he have problems with the Shambler—a fearful public and a condemning press, the Metropolitan back-up, so to speak. It was a giant Sumatran rat. Police Force mounted the greatest manhunt in its almost Danielson had to purchase a private yacht to bring it back 60-year history. And this, coupled with the clues his in secret, but he’d managed. And now, he’d returned to better self had managed to leave or send to the police, plague the capital of the British Empire once more, as he finally forced Danielson to flee. The gruesome murder killed and fed to sustain his own, now totally evil and mutilation of Mary Jane Kelly on November 9 was existence. He’d contacted McCabre again, this time to tell the Ripper’s last—in England at least. Several days later, her he didn’t really need her help. But now, he found that Sir John Danielson, Baronet, left for an extended trip to McCabre was too powerful herself for him to discard so the Continent—a trip that would last five years and take readily. For in those five years, she’d opened herself up as the twisted creature the young aristocrat had become not a vessel for the Great Old One Y’golonac and was well on only to the Continent, but through Africa, the Middle her way to becoming his newest priestess. She wished to East, India, and, finally, back to Sumatra to report to his continue their old “business” arrangement, and Danielson, masters, the Tcho-Tchos. as much as he’d learned in the intervening times, was not During his sojourn, Danielson found it much easier on powerful enough to refuse her. She allowed the Great Old what remained of his conscience to feed off the subjects One to possess her body to demonstrate her new powers to of other countries rather than his own countrymen—or Danielson. He knew enough to realize he had little choice women. His Shambler he’d left in London,Sample disguised as a fileif he wished to continue his own existence—and so he wax statue of a “South Seas Daemon” he’d donated to agreed to a renewed partnership with the woman. Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. He could still call it to And the Ripper struck again. With the Shambler and the wherever he traveled from there. And as he fed off the life aid of McCabre’s Ghouls, Danielson took up his bloody energies of those unfortunates he chose as his victims in deeds once again. (The rat he held in abeyance until Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, and other stops, the last needed, at the baronet’s estate in Barnet, north of remnants of the old Danielson—the one who wanted to be London.) But the Ghouls, at McCabre’s instructions, did caught and freed by death from his frightful affliction— not carry off all of the Ripper’s victims this time. It was slowly withered away, replaced totally by the evil thing the terror of the Ripper’s renewed killing spree in the Tcho-Tchos had made him. He was still Sir John Whitechapel that McCabre was counting on to drive those Danielson in name, appearance, and heritage, but his soul remaining independents who’d resisted her into her camp, was totally that of Jack the Ripper. making them “her” girls. That way, she could “protect” Meanwhile, as Danielson traveled, he studied arcane them from the Ripper. And those who still chose to resist texts and grew in magical knowledge to prepare him for her? Well, they could very easily become the Ripper’s what he knew would be his eventual return to England. In next victims—and would. With such a threat—a far the East End of London, McCabre grew as well. As she greater inducement than were the simple Vanishings— studied the Revelations of Glaaki, she became even more Colleen McCabre, now quite evilly insane, would control evilly depraved than before—and much more powerful. all prostitution in the East End. And from there . . .? With She gathered other independent East End streetwalkers the power of Y’golonac, nothing could stop her from together, manipulating them by fear and the force of her rising through the criminal ranks of London, to eventually own strong will and forcing them to work for her, rot and destroy the British Empire from within— bringing her most of their own pitiful revenue to help especially while all eyes were focused on the atrocities of build her power. In turn, she offered them protection . . . Jack the Ripper.