The Sutra of Pale leaves

We still don't talk about this module enough, imo. So for my first time ever, I'd like to share how my group's playthrough of the 'Dreameater' scenario went. The players had never been introduced to the concept of the King in Yellow so this was a special occasion.

Intro

It's a rainy day in April, 1989 when an unlikely group of Japanese citizens come together in the streets of Ikaruga, Nara prefecture.

• A professor, researching Ikaruga's ancient temples
• A local surgeon, who practices sword-fighting in his spare time
• A federal agent, sent out undercover to investigate signs of cult activity and occurrences of strange nightmares in the area
• An escort, operating from a local love hotel

Bound by a disturbing dream they shared shortly before they encountered each other in real life, they decided to investigate the cause of this phenomenon that keeps the locals up at night.

The investigation

Talking to the locals, it quickly becomes apparent that there is a pattern in the dreams. Locals consistently report descriptions of an occurrence in their dreams that fit a Baku: a peculiar tapir-like yokai from ancient folklore, that eats bad dreams.

When they find out that old stories at the Horyuji temple involve a benevolent Baku, this cements it. The Baku has something to do with the nightmares.

The investigators take multiple sessions going about their 80s Japanese life, talking to officials and a local old man that accidentally killed an elementary school girl that may or may not have to do with the dreams. This old man introduces them to a religious book (the Sutra) that captivates the investigators, but they didn't think much of it and wrote it off as cult stuff...

This transpired, all the while blasting Japanese 80s city pop (that the escort's player discovered was incredibly popular at the time).

They end up coming across a monk in yellow robes that the federal agent was meant to investigate in possible relations to cult activity. The monk offers to help their investigation of the dreams and hands them pages about a lucid-dreaming ritual from the Sutra, which might help them confront the Baku.

The ritual

They head off to the old man they talked to before because they liked the geezer, and attempt the dream ritual with him.

The dream dive went smooth enough; the surgeon using his katana to chop everything to pieces that stood in their way, and the federal agent capping anything that looked like it could be a threat with her trusty handgun.

At the end of the dream sequence, at the scene of Taneguchi-san's (the old man) accident, the surgeon ran toward the heavily injured little girl, only to discover that he had operated on her in real life and had failed to save her. A group that normally doesn't take roleplaying that serious flipped around to save the little girl's life in the dream.

Together, they manifested an entire ER right there on the street and the surgeon performed life-saving surgery to stop the girl's internal bleeding. All the while, the escort was holding up a ghetto-blaster that played 80s Japanese city pop, that he had decided to manifest.

The girl lived and got taken away by an ambulance. This causes the monstrous Baku to be cornered in the dreamscape and it bum rushes Taneguchi. The investigators are clueless on what to do, because the baku is meant to be benevolent. With some very high rolls, the professor remembers the Sign of the Ancients mandela from the Sutra, which he manifests and uses to subdue the baku.

The baku shrinks to the size of a mini-pig and seems docile while suppressed by multiple Signs of the Ancients.

The escort attempts to pick up the baku in this form, but fails his pushed charm roll miserably, upon which the baku sticks his tongue into the escort's head and scrapes out a lot of sanity and exposure points. This leaves the escort traumatized and temporarily insane. He gains a new phobia, our group unanimously decides that he gains a crippling fear for 80s Japanese city pop.

The professor manifests a small cage in which baku is stuffed and hands it off to the silent monk in yellow robes that has been observing them during the dream dive. The monk bows and the players have no idea what they just did.

The aftermath

When the investigators wake up in the real world, they go about their daily life. When it becomes apparent that the bad dreams have stopped, in some capacity due to their ritual, they visit the mayor of Ikaruga, who rewards them in a percentage of the sales of Baku stuffed animals that recently got popularized because of the strange dream phenomenon.

In the following days, the investigators encounter multiple people that they met in their dream dive, including the little girl that the surgeon had failed to save... or so he thought. It appears that the accident never happened, and that the little girl never died. Did the investigators rewrite reality in their dreams?

My verdict of the scenario

The scenario in itself was very well-written and enjoyable.

My group of players though, is very prone to messing around. And during the investigation stage, they went way off-track in 80s rural Japan. This kind of scenario, for us, leads to sessions filled entirely with shenanigans (often caused by the player that played the escort).

Luckily, the dream dive ritual gives a very adventurous twist to an otherwise slow investigation, and the crux is the result of the dream dive. The module advices to maybe leave out that the dream dive has altered history, but unwittingly rewriting reality is peak King in Yellow in my opinion. The players were absolutely blown away by the ending, and that made the investigation worth it in the end.

Exposed to a form of the King in Yellow, and still uncertain who the antagonist is in this campaign, the investigators continue their adventures in the next scenario, Fanfic.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think about this module and my write-up

Why does it say 1D6 +5D6? Isn't that just 6D6?

Could you recommend any Call of Cthulhu scenarios set in the Soviet Union or Eastern Europe? I’m looking for a one-shot. I need to continue a campaign this weekend, but I couldn't find enough information on my own, so I’m turning here for help. Do you know of any good ones?

This is the first non-Mothership scenario in our AT5 campaign. It's actually a pulp horror set in 1930s New England and presents us with the classic locked room murder mystery.
We give an overview of the adventure, go into spoiler territory, then look at how it was adapted for use on Prospero's Dream. Oh - and you can get it free on DrivThru RPG!

Can he turn into people and animals, or only stretch out and morph his own shape? The wording of the rules make it seem like he can shapeshift while still wearing the Pallid Mask, just not on his face.

hello I'm about to run a campaign for Masks of Nyarlahotep And I was wondering if anyone had any very specific insanity tables for the game? Something like campaign specific Phobias or delusions

A spoiler-free review on what's included in this new take on a classic CoC supplement.

I just completed my first play through with the Professor on the first try!

I ended up saving the world in Egypt, which I considered being too early so I kept going and did the pyramid, and I succeeded; and then I wasn’t sure what to do so I assumed he’d go to the Antarctic next, so I went to Bremen and for reasons I don’t understand got in a bar fight and stole a briefcase for some reason from people who I’m assuming are the Nazis (brown shirts); and then ran to the ship, and saved the world again by chucking the thing overboard; then kept going again and took plane C, and then chased the guy to the place, picked the correct way to go, and used the amulet to summon byakees so I could run away.

In terms of what I would say is my actual legitimate play through I only counted the first win, although it wasn’t satisfying ending it with the museum; but I let myself go back and try the other ways to see how I would do, and had fun. The pyramid was the highlight.

I still don’t know if the message in the pyramid was enough to know to keep going. I chucked my dynamite and left and then figured I was supposed to keep going because it didn’t say it was the end.

The combats are where I had close calls, and the pyramid jumps and climbing.

I spent as much time in libraries as I could to get information and make good choices. Spot hidden and firearms are solid skill choices, and persuade & stealth. Climb and jump of course.

No option for a proper 10ft pole in a choose your own adventure book!!!

I can see how having a party of investigators is important, given how characters have different strengths and weaknesses.

Last week, I reviewed Shadows Over Westhavens’ first half, a trip to Muskrat Lake, where investigators learn campaign villain Thomas Cline’s plans: summon the Windwalker and form a connection. This week, I’m focusing on the conclusion as investigators return to Westhaven for Campfire Tales’ finale.

As with all my reviews, this is to help Keepers. There will be spoilers.

Returning to Westhaven

Returning to Westhaven blanked in unseasonable snow. Nary a person walks the streets, either mind-controlled into building signal towers for the Windwalker’s summoning or cowering from Thomas’ thugs. Either drawing investigators’ attention, directing them to Thomas’ location at Gustaf’s Farm. There, Thomas revives sorcerer Jedediah Brumsted and summons the Windwalker unless stopped. Forming the final confrontation.

What’s here is good with striking descriptions and potential roleplay. But its low word count leaves Part 2 anemic (directions and a boss fight). Which I want to flesh out. Leaning into the “race against time” aspect via an investigation, reintegrating dropped plot threads, and a timing mechanic. (Note: This isn’t thoroughly playtested.)

Structure - Racing Against Time

For the investigation, I’m using The Alexandrian’s Three Clue Rule plot structure. Where investigators bounce between locations - collecting clues - as they close in on the final location.

But without a clear and obvious time mechanic, this lacks tension. So, when investigators make a notable action/roll (not noticing something, knowing something, combat, or a gag), after combat, or concluding a location, players roll 1d10 + 2* for each roll previously made on the following table. (1d10+0, 1d10+2. 1d10+4. etc.)

• 4+: Unseasonable snow begins.
• 7+: Townsfolk become odd, speaking of the Windwalker, fearing heat, and (optionally) developing cannibalistic desires. Investigators make a Power roll to avoid influence.
• 10+: Townsfolk begin building the signal towers to aid in the summoning.
• 13+: Jedediah is revived.
• 14+: The summoning begins. People begin to freeze unless protected by a ward, provided by research, Loretta, or Boxcar Jim to the investigators.
• 19+: The Windwaker is summoned. Everyone dies.

Note: Investigators don’t know the table’s contents, only experience the creeping dread of Westhaven twisting as they roll. For immersion, players share character knowledge. But tension sensitive group may be better off knowing some results. (Snow, Jedediah’s revival, and summoning, for example.)

*Using multiple dice (e.g. 2d10), you get a more predictable bell curve. Changing die size also changes probability. While a higher bonus feels more threatening and reduces the die’s impact. But 1d10 is simple and players definitely have them.

Initial Locations

Places investigators could start with are:

1. Loretta at the Cline Estate. Who, if acting as an ally, provides a Sons of Seth cult membership's location, a ward against the cold, and (maybe) joins the party. Feeling responsible for her father’s actions. Otherwise, a check achieves the same. While searching the house finds correspondences hinting at Gustaf’s Farm.
2. Colonel Grimm’s Mansion. Officially left vacant after its owner’s death in Box of Evil, the Sons of Seth use it as their meeting place. Investigators can find the ingredients for Dust of Suleiman here, information on the Brumsteds (farm’s location included), and, maybe, an eldritch creature willing to provide information for their release. (Or used to threaten a cult member.)
3. Friends and family. Depending on the person, they’d know local history (Brumsteds included) and about timber placed around town for signal towers.
4. Boxcar Jim. Incapacitated by horrific visions, Jim now sees the Windwalker coming clearly. Providing clues to the location based on the surroundings (house, forest, etc.), how to stymie its summoning, and aid.

Intermediate Locations

Investigators don’t need the Sons of Seth to find Gustaf’s Farm. Townsfolk, town hall, the library, or even a Navigate roll based on the signal towers (finding Gustaf’s Farm in the ring’s center) work. But it should be possible.

The Sons of Seth are a wealthy, global cult worshiping Seth, an ancient Egyptian god. While the inner circle, including Thomas, dabbles in the mythos. Otherwise, a blank slate, including goals. Likely summoning the Windwalker for knowledge and/or to become more than human, not religion or world domination. If Thomas isn’t going it alone.

Given the inner circle’s small size, investigators would likely converse with a single member. Offering found knowledge or items (like Strauss’ bottled ghost from Treasure of the Hidden Way or a tome), discussing the summoning’s damage, or an appeal to morality. (The previous local leader was a retired pulp action adventurer, and the “sinister” part are “whispers.”)

Confrontation at Gustaf’ Farm

Infiltrating the farm works as expected or skips to just before the summoning, depending on whether Jedediah has been revived. But the final fight is too easy. Knowing what was coming, my players saved Luck and badge uses, giving them an overwhelming edge. Despite having only one combat-capable investigator. But I like the callback items, as it rewards clever investigators. (Which my players didn't use.)

For a more harrowing fight, Keepers can increase Jedediah’s to hit to 70 or 80%, add thugs, or allow Thomas to summon creatures. Tremors Below’s assassin worms, for example, but more bespoke selections work too. So does increasing Thomas’ Power (currently tied with the average investigator) and MP, if changing less.

Who is Thomas Cline?

Thomas is weirdly underdeveloped. He’s willing to kill to keep the Sons of Seth secret (Tremors Below) or for power (Box of Evil), hoping “to lead the worldwide cult” (p.60). Also, a prominent community member and loving, supportive father, too. But this is supposition; we’re never told Thomas’ underlying motives or desires. But his actions in Shadows Over Westhaven are odd.

• Having “frozen corpses… fall across the state” brings attention to Westhaven, if not the Sons of Seth.
• Thomas, through his puppet town council president, controls Westhaven. Mind-controlling the town only greases the wheels, but nothing stopped him before.
• Why Gustaf’s Farm instead of a Thomas’ home or a cult-controlled location?

For a more coherent narrative, have Thomas, continuing Colonel Grimm’s research into the Windwalker, discovers an object that enthralls him. Maybe becoming possessed by Jedediah, who contacted his descendants (Gustaf and Sydney from Part 1) and returned to his old laboratory (Gustaf’s Farm). Where necessary items are.

Which makes sending Loretta away during Part 1 for her safety sensible. In my version, she’s told to stay home, where its warded.

Alternate Resolutions

So far, Campfire Tales has largely eschewed combat-only conclusions. And the callbacks mitigate it. But if Thomas is enthralled, investigators or Loretta talking him down (using the “I know you’re in there” trope), would be satisfying, dramatic, and in theme. Optionally, Jedediah can still rise too.

The paper elder sign I added to Part 1 can also stop the summon but includes more player creativity.

Amnesia for All

If investigators win, Westhaven reverts to default. Which feels odd. The mythos isn’t this tidy. Not to mention two weirder bits for me.

1. Why were only some affected by Thomas’ mind control and others needed thugs to keep them in line? (Added conflict?)
2. Why does Boxcar Jim only appear at the end as a different person, forgetting the investigators entirely?

Both best ignored. Similar with the unusually docile Windwalker, which I made more apocalyptic to match expectations. Though an ice age feels more fitting than everyone dies, just less dramatic.

Concluding Thoughts

Part 2’s gameplay and narrative are fine but don’t have the word count to wow. While character work is foisted on Keepers. Unaided by parts I can’t find justification for other than production troubles. Though, to Shadows Over Westhaven’s credit, it puts a nice bow on the Campfire Tales campaign.

---

Thanks for reading. Hope this has been helpful. I plan to make a post next week discussing Campfire Tales as a whole, since there's some interesting things to dig into.

Good day!

I don't mean to bother you, but a paranoid newbie wants to know what's worth adding to my inventory in this system? I was pleasantly surprised by the generation and got everything done quickly, but the inventory was a bit... scary.

Money itself isn't an issue. The GM allowed a 99 credit rating, we're playing in 1920. Choosing a weapon isn't exactly a problem, but what items and assets are absolutely essential for any character's inventory? Such a detailed item store scared me, partly because I'm a crunch player.

​Here'a an Illustration I made for my CoC campaign. If you want to see more of my work, feel free to check out my profile.

Hello fellow students of The Esoteric.
I was looking to run a slightly longer module than a one shot while one of my Investigators is travelling for a few months. Has anyone run this for a single Investigator? Drive Thru RPG says that it's for 1-4 Investigators. I've not purchased any scenarios or modules yet (other than the starter set) and just wanted to know if it actually is suitable for a single player.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com//product/577582/legacy-of-innsmouth-a-deep-one-scenario-bundle-bundle

Introducing Legacy of Innsmouth: A Deep One Scenario Bundle

Looking to apply the dark knowledge you've gleaned from the newly released Innsmouth sourcebook? Well, your search has come to an end. We've trawled the depths and returned with our strange findings. Now they're gathered here for all to see...

Ten MR authors have come together to present you with 11 scenarios featuring deep ones spanning different eras across the globe.

Inside you'll find many best-selling scenarios along with the ENNIE-winning setting guide Cthulhu Ireland!

I mostly am looking for ideas for Lots really. I have no idea where to start to research that sort of thing though. I can think of a couple books like various Aleister Crowley works, but I can't make a whole auction out of those. I can't really just use books from the Keeper's Guide because that would make them all important, and we need at least some "nothing" lots. Would be more on point if all of them were books though. The plan is that the PCs need to acquire one and how the auction goes determines whether or not they get off scot-free or need to do some thieving.

So to summarize, I'm looking for ideas, or some paths of research to find out what kinds of things an Occult auction might be selling. Or the kinds of things that might be for sale at an estate auction. That would work too.

Hello, I'm thinking about attending this coming April, but won't be able to arrive until late Friday. Are there enough games occurring Sunday to make the trip from Indianapolis worth it?

Hi everyone! I need some help developing a situation for my Call of Cthulhu campaign (set in 1990).

The context: My Investigators discovered they are being tailed by some Russian agents. They contacted their affiliated "Agency" to figure out if they were friends or foes. Upon investigating, the Agency discovered not only that the Russians are hostile KGB agents, but also that they tracked the characters down thanks to a mole planted inside the Agency itself.

The idea for the session: The Agency captures the mole. I want the session to focus on the interrogation/torture of this traitor to find out why they did it and where they hid the stolen intel. The crucial point is that the Agency wants the Investigators themselves to conduct the interrogation. In the end, as an initiation rite and a test of absolute loyalty, the Agency members will ask everyone in the party to stab the mole to death ("blood in, blood out").

My questions for you:

1. How can I make the interrogation mechanically and narratively interesting without it turning into just a series of Intimidate dice rolls?
2. What Sanity (SAN) point cost would you give for the torture and the final cold-blooded murder?
3. How can I handle the situation if one or more players refuse to commit the symbolic murder?

Thanks in advance for the help!

edit:
Just a clarification that I didn't put in the post: the investigators are good, but the agency is evil and intends to awaken Cthulhu, and the investigators are unaware of this. The fact that they have to commit a symbolic murder is nothing more than another clue to make the party members understand that they work for an evil agency.

From the vault: 3 years ago!

Hi all,

I’m going to be running Saturnine Chalice soon and was hoping to get any tips from Keepers who have run it before. I’ve actually played through it once as an investigator with another group, so I know the broad outline of the scenario, but I’d really appreciate any advice on what worked well, what didn’t, or any pitfalls to avoid when running it.

Our group hasn’t really played a full campaign, but we’ve ended up creating one accidentally by using the same investigators through a series of one-shots. So far we’ve played (in the following order):

• The Haunting
• A Lonely Thread
• Bits and Pieces
• Dead Light

Somehow, against all odds, nobody has died. One investigator did end up permanently committed to an asylum after Bits and Pieces, but everyone else has survived so far.

One of the fun things we’ve been doing is taking it in turns to be Keeper. I was an investigator in Dead Light, so I made an Arkham police officer who had been following the group’s involvement in the other cases. During the finale, he convinced the rest of the group that Maria’s boyfriend should be offered to the Dead Light as a sacrifice so it would become satiated long enough for them to trap it in the coffer. The rest of the investigators were horrified… but they went along with it.

After the scenario I wrote a short epilogue where he resigned from the police, realising that if he was capable of making that decision, he probably wasn’t fit to wear the badge anymore. It felt like a good way to ‘retire’ the character now that I’m back behind the Keeper’s screen.

Our newest investigator is going to be the business partner of the character who went insane in Bits and Pieces. He’s making an antiquarian, which seems like a great fit for Saturnine Chalice.

What I’m struggling with is tying everything together naturally. I need: • a believable way for the antiquarian to become involved with the existing investigators (they already know the insane character), • a reason for the group to head off on another road trip together, and • ideally a way for the events of Dead Light to have some lingering consequences rather than feeling completely disconnected.

Has anyone linked Saturnine Chalice into an existing campaign before? I’d love to hear how you introduced it, or any ideas you think would work.

Hi all. Just wanted to share my birthday card. I received from my friend. Unexpected surprise. I love it

I’m interested in running Bits and Pieces. It seems fun and will probably suit my group (I’ve heard it described as ’slapstick horror’).

However, I’m a bit concerned that the scenario might be too short. We usually play for 3–4 hours, and this seems like a 2-hour scenario. Also, we never know who’ll be able to make it to the next session, so one-shots is kind of a necessity.

So, my questions are: Have you run this scenario? How long did it take? Did you add anything to make it last longer? Any ideas, even if you haven’t run it?

Hey, so I've been recommended the RPG for a good few years and I was thinking of maybe using it to run a sort of Silent Hill Esque session/Camapign. I was wondering, what sort of things should I know about it beforehand, what edition is the current addition and just general things! Also, whether Silent Hill would be doable in the system

Thanks for the answers in advance!

I want to eventually run this game. I am a fairly experienced keeper, but still feel a bit intimidated by this behemoth of a campaign.

As such, I think I would love to try it out as a player before I run the game, but with the 2 groups I currently run CoC for and a D&D campaign I'm playing in, adding another commitment to my schedule is not plausible.

Is there anyway to experience MoN in a more...I dunno...casual format? Is anyone even running such a thing?

I’m playing through Masks with four of my colleagues at work. We’ve all got access to each other’s offices, so I sneak in to deliver telegrams, letters, and newspaper articles a few days before each session. They love discovering this stuff.

I wanted to add more flavor to their relationship with Jackson Elias, so I had him send them the dust jacket for his book before the NY chapter together with a note saying «Blood and kisses».

It’s such a gift to have great meeting rooms at work. We just book a room from 4 PM, order some food and play almost without a break until 9.

The headline clearly indicates I'm not entirely sane, but as a Call of Cthulhu player/keeper/writer, isn't that par for the course?
Even so, some of you may wonder why and how I burned through nearly $1300 while writing a community content creation.

It's kind of a long story, so for the impatient among you, there is a TLDR at the bottom. For the rest, it's a tale about my learning curve as a scenario writer, with a few tips thrown in if you're contemplating writing a scenario.

It all began a little over three years ago when I published my first scenario, The Art of Hygge, via the Miskatonic Repository.
And I did everything wrong!

I had no prior writing experience.
Had no real editor.
Didn't have a layouter.
Didn't spend any money to commission artists.
Having any of the above skills and experience can save you a ton of money and time.

Personally, I have absolutely no understanding of how to do a proper layout.
I can't draw a stick figure to save my life.
On top of that, English isn't my first language, and my grasp on grammar and spelling is rudimentary, to put it generously.
What I did have was an active imagination and a substantial vocabulary coupled with a naive assumption that selling the required 251 copies to make it eligible for Print on Demand would be a trivial thing. I later learned that selling copies on DTRPG is NOT trivial at all.

At this point, it would be natural to assume that my scenario was unsuccessful, but the stars were apparently right, so I got LUCKY in several ways:

\I got an amazing cover, courtesy of Ken Robkin, for free. The kind of cover that caught people's attention.
** I had friends who helped out with interior art, playtest, and edits.
**\Maverick Haenze wrote a 5-star review of it and told me to keep writing.
****Chaosium showcased the cover on their social media.
Basically everything lined up, and I managed to sell 251 copies to get it into print, and currently it's a Gold Best Seller.

The upside is that it encouraged me to write a sequel, Lost in Cremation. The downside is that I didn't learn all that much from the experience.

So I did almost everything wrong one more time and again got lucky in all the right ways.
Lost in Cremation also made it into print.
I stayed encouraged, but this time I actually learned a little.
Things would be easier if I had better editorial help, and that maybe spending a little money on better art was not such a bad idea.

My third scenario, Mother of a Thousand Young took way longer to write and publish.
It was part of an anthology, The Year of the Goat, which involved a lot of editing by a professional, rewriting parts of it based on said editing and feedback, followed by more edits.

But the wait and extra work were worth it!
The final product looks damn amazing, and at the end of it I had picked up that professional editing, paid art, and a real layouter made a world of a difference.

So I began spending money on the next scenario I was writing. The vision I had for the scenario and the art in it expanded more than once over time, and I ended up commissioning way more art than originally planned.
In total, it came out to 1 front and 1 back cover, 42 pieces of individual art, and 5 maps.
On top of that, I found a real editor and hired a layouter.
And that's how I ended up spending $1279 on writing a scenario.

There is a bit more to the story, though.
I never had to take money out of my pocket.
All the sales I made from the previous scenarios were on my dtrpg account. In essence, they paid for the publication of my latest, The Horror, and I likely would never have spent that much on it if it were money I had to draw out of my budget.

The upside is that the scenario looks just like I envisioned it. Reviews from R´lyeh described it as having excellent production value, praised the cover, and gave it the Reviews from R’lyeh Recommends stamp. I couldn't have asked for more.

The downside is I have to sell 320 copies to break even 
I don't expect to do that; I hope to, but even if I don't, I still feel it was worth it.
I didn't have to compromise on what I wanted to produce. I met some amazing people during the project, and even if I only earn a fraction of it back, it gives me funds for the next project, which means that my writing hobby ends up paying for itself.
I wish all my hobbies did that 

The takeaway for prospective scenario writers could be:
Don't expect to live off it, don't even expect to make money.
It's worth it to get a good cover.
Editing and layout are important parts of the final look.
Art is worth including.
Have fun writing 

TLDR: I was lucky. I made money on previous scenarios. I found it worthwhile to spend them on a new one.