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COC6 Innards

COC6 Innards

Sample file Sample file Sixth Edition Published 2005 Howard Phillips Lovecraft

Author, Scholar, Gentleman

Born 1890 Died 1937 Sample file Horror Roleplaying in the ® Worlds of H.P. Lovecraft Sandy Petersen

majority of 1983 text Lynn& Willis

most of current text

Project, layout: Charlie Krank editorial: Lynn Willis based on the design of: Pegasus Spiele additional text and information: Keith Herber, Kevin Ross, Mark Morrison, William Hamblin, Scott David Aniolowski, Michael Tice, Shannon Appel, Eric Rowe, Bruce Ballon, William G. Dunn, Sam Johnson, Brian M. Sammons, Jan Engan, Bill Barton, and friends section illustrations & sidebar decorations: Paul Carrick additional illustrations: Gene Day, Tom Sullivan, Lori Deitrick, Gus DiZerega, Chris Marrinan, Dreyfus, Lisa A. Free, Earl Geier, John T. Snyder, Tony Ackland, Drashi Khendup, and Caryad. is: Lynn Willis, Charlie Krank, Dustin Wright, Fergie, Kyle Grutze Sample& various odd critters file Call of Clear Credit Keith Herber wrote the chapter, Mythos Prehistory, H. P. Lovecraft and the , The Edge of Darkness, Prehistory of the Cthulhu Mythos, and (with Kevin Ross) Books of the Cthulhu Mythos. Mark Morrison (with Lynn Willis) wrote Dead Man Stomp. Les Brooks created the ready-to-play investigators and compiled sample gear and prices. Kevin Ross tracked down many quotes and sources, and added material and statistics. Scott Aniolowski concentrated on monster descriptions and statistics. Long ago Bill Dunn wrote the Guide Call of Cthulhu is published by Chaosium Inc. to Sanity Losses. William Hamblin wrote three Sadowsky episodes here Call of Cthulhu (6th edition) is copyright ©1981, 1983, 1992, 1993, 1995, summarized as “In Rerum Supernatura.” Michael Tice, Eric Rowe, and 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005 by Chaosium Inc.; all rights reserved. Shannon Appel assembled much of the present Sanity information. Shannon Appel also constructed the Alien Technology section, using Call of Cthulhu® is the registered trademark of Chaosium Inc. some inventions from past supplements, and did revisionary work on Similarities between characters in Call of Cthulhu and persons living or dead Deities, Creatures, and Mythos Prehistory. Bruce Ballon, Chaosium’s are strictly coincidental. psychiatric consultant, updated the Sanity chapter and wrote the All material concerning Shudde-M’ell and the Cthonians, and all other inven- Dangerousness Criteria example, the timeline, and the summaries of tions of Brian Lumley as portrayed in his works, specifically The Burrowers drugs and treatments. Jan Engan contributed the occult book sum- Beneath, are used with his kind permission. J. ’s “Cold Print” maries. Brian Sammons created the two-part Mythos tomes table. Sam ©1969 . William Lumley’s and H. P. Lovecraft’s “The Diary of Johnson wrote the tournament notes for the keeper’s chapter, more stats Alonzo Typer” ©1970 by August Derleth. ’s “The Return of the for the weapon table, and about research modifiers in the keeper’s tool - ” ©1969 August Derleth. ’s “” kit section. The 1890s prices and skills derive from the work of Bill ©1946 Estate of Frank Belknap Long. ’s “The Return of the Barton, as do the stats for Chaugnar Faugn, the Colour, and others. Sorcerer” ©1931 Clayton Magazines Inc. Clark Ashton Smith’s “The Nameless Offspring ©1932 Clayton Magazines. Inc. The quotes from “The Inhabitant of Thanks to Alexis G. Diaz, whose questions provoked 5th edition, and the Lake” are ©1964 by J. Ramsey Campbell. Clark Ashton Smith’s “The Seven to John Tarnowski. Geases” ©1934 Popular Fiction Publishing Co. Derleth’s “The Dweller in Darkness” ©1953 August Derleth. Eddy C. Bertin’s “Darkness, My Name Is” Playtesters ©1976 Edward P. Berglund. Bloch’s “Notebook Found in a Deserted House” ©1951 . Derleth’s “The Gable Window” ©1957 Candar Publishing Utah playtesters for the first edition of Call of Cthulhu were Steve Co. Derleth’s “The Lurker at the Threhold” ©1945 August Derleth. Donald J. Walsh, Jr.’s “The Rings of the Papaloi” ©1971 August Derleth. Derleth’s “The Marsh, James Memmot, Wade Round, Paul Work, Scott Clegg, Marc Thing That Walked on the Wind” ©1933 The Clayton Magazines Inc. Blish’s Hutchison, Bill Hamblin, and Eric Petersen. Chaosium playtesters were “More Light” ©1970 Anne McCaffrey. Kuttner’s “The Salem Horror” ©1937 Al Dewey (keeper), and in alphabetical order Yurek Chodak, Allan Popular Fiction Publishing Co. Clark Ashton Smith’s “The Treader of the ” Dalcher, Charlotte Coulon, Al Dewey, Bruce Dresselhaus, Jerry ©1935 Popular Fiction Publishing Co. Derleth’s “The Lair of the Star-Spawn” Epperson, Sherman Kahn, Ken Kaufer, Charlie Krank, Fred Malmburg, ©1932 Popular Fiction Publishing Co. Carter’s “Zoth-Ommog” ©1976 Edward Hal Moe, Steve Perrin, Rory Root, , Anders Swenson, and P. Berglund. Brennan’s “The Seventh Incantation” ©1963 Joseph Payne Lynn Willis. Brennan. Henry Hasse’s “The Horror at Vecra” ©1988 Cryptic Publications. H.P. Lovecraft’s works ©1963, 1964, 1965 by August Derleth. Works within are Special Thanks quoted for purposes of illustration. Section illustrations and additional sidebar illustrations are by Paul Carrick. Thanks are also due to the original authors (especially Steve Perrin) Smaller design elements, as well as the illustations in the scenarios, are by Dreyfus. Personalities are all by John T. Snyder. Monsters, deities, and animals and play group connected with the 1978 roleplaying game RuneQuest, include art by Tony Ackland, Lori Dietrick, Earl Geier, and Tom Sullivan. Alien now owned by Hasbro, from which the mechanics of Call of Cthulhu Technology illustrations are by Drashi Khendup. Additional illustrations are by were adapted via the intermediary and out-of-print Basic Roleplaying. Gene Day and Tom Sullivan. Except in this publication and related advertising, Mark Morrison has remarked that when wishes to see how some or unless otherwise agreed to, artwork original to Call of Cthulhu remains the problem of physical action is handled in a game, he turns first to property of the individual artist, and is copyright by that artist under his or RuneQuest. He is not the only one. her separate copyright. Sandy Petersen, who authored the original Cthulhu rules, labored The reproduction of material from within this book for the purposes of per- long and to great effect on his game’s behalf. He still exercises strong sonal or corporate profit, by photographic, optical, electronic, or other media influence on the game through his thoughtful forebearance and in his or methods of storage and retrieval, is prohibited. agreeable notions of rules economy. Everywhere his words have been Address questions and comments by mail to weighed and mined. Chaosium, Inc. 22568 Mission Blvd. #423 Hayward CA 94541 U.S.A. Please do not phone in game questions; the quickest answer may not be the best answer. Our web site www.chaosium.com always contains Samplelatest release information andfile current prices. Chaosium Publication 23106. ISBN 1-56882-181-6

Published in February 2005. Printed in U.S.A.

4 I n d i c i a TableTable of ofFront ContentsContents Matter

The Call of Cthulhu A Mythos Grimoire...... 217 Call/Dismiss Deity Spells...... 221 I. The Horror in Clay ...... 8 Contact Spells...... 226 II. The Tale of Inspector LeGrasse ...... 12 Contact Deity Spells...... 227 III. The Madness from the Sea...... 18 Gate Creation Costs...... 229 Enchantment Spells ...... 233 Game System Summon/Bind Spells ...... 245 Introduction ...... 24 Scenarios Call of Cthulhu Terms...... 30 Resources for the Game...... 33 The Haunting...... 250 About Investigators ...... 35 Edge of Darkness...... 256 Creating Your Investigator ...... 36 The Madman ...... 265 Dead Man Stomp...... 270 Sample Occupations ...... 42 Notes on Occupations ...... 44 Creating Harvey Walters ...... 48 Utilities Rules & Skills...... 51 A Guide to ...... 280 The Resistance Table...... 55 Guide to ...... 280 Spot Rules for Injuries ...... 57 Locales & Events...... 282 Spot Rules for Combat ...... 59 Traveling: Land, Sea, and Air...... 284 Spot Rules for Firearms ...... 63 Optional Rules: Vehicle Chases...... 284 Weapons Table ...... 64 Speeds & Distances...... 286 Skills & Base Chances...... 69 Costs, Equipment, and Services ...... 288 Sanity & Insanity...... 75 1890s Costs, Equipment, & Services...... 288 Treatment of Insanity ...... 86 1920s Costs, Equipment, & Services...... 290 Example of Play...... 87 Present-day Costs & Equipment...... 292 Magic...... 89 References...... 294 Examples of Occult Books ...... 92 Cthulhu Supplements...... 296 Major Books of the Mythos ...... 94 Timelines...... 297 More Mythos Tomes ...... 98 Disasters, Natural and Man-Made...... 297 Harvey’s First Spell: An Example...... 100 Events Occult, Criminal & Futurist...... 300 A Hundred Years & More ...... 303 Reference Ready-to-play Investigators...... 306 1890s Investigators ...... 306 The Cthulhu Mythos...... 106 1920s Investigators ...... 307 The Necronomicon ...... 112 Present-Day Investigators ...... 309 Howard Phillips Lovecraft...... 115 Charts & Forms ...... 310 De Rerum Supernatura ...... 120 Monster Master...... 310 Mental Disorders ...... 128 Character Sheet (Front)—1920s ...... 311 Keeper’s Lore ...... 133 Character Sheet (Back)—Any Era...... 312 A Keeper’s Toolkit ...... 140 Character Sheet (Front)—1890s ...... 313 Creatures of the Mythos ...... 148 Character Sheet (Front)—Present...... 314 AlienSample Technology...... 176 Character Sheet (Half-size)...... file 315 Deities of the Mythos ...... 181 Blank Telegram Form ...... 315 Beasts & Monsters...... 202 Play Aids...... 316 Personalities ...... 212 Index...... 318

C o n t e n t s 5

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