Author: Keeper Doc

Cat Links Keeper Tips, MoN - Keeper, MoN - Player

Peering into the Abyss: The Cthulhu Mythos Skill

Posted on Keeper Doc

Of all the skills on an investigator’s character sheet, the most alluring, but least used is Cthulhu Mythos. This suits the Lovecraftian perspective that humans stumble around ignorantly in a massive and incomprehensibly dark universe. The limited access to eldritch insight serves both Keeper and players well when aiming to capture this particular tone; however, it potentially restricts players aiming to recreate investigators in the image of Dr. Henry Armitage or Keepers intending to run a double-barrel Pulp Cthulhu campaign. We intend to review the use of the Cthulhu Mythos skill in the Classic and Pulp settings and introduce a Pulp-oriented Cthulhu Mythos skill expansion. The discussion seeks to inspire both Keepers and players to

Read on…Peering into the Abyss: The Cthulhu Mythos Skill

Cat Links Keeper Tips

Maps – The Dare

Posted on Keeper Doc

SPOILERS BELOW. PLAYERS KEEP OUT! OR PAY THE PRICE! Undeniably one of the finest Halloween one-shot scenarios for Call of Cthulhu, “The Dare” by Kevin Ross received a loving remaster and release by Sentinel Hill Press in 2020. There is much to be said about the merits of this 80s-based scenario, and some seasoned Keepers have already weighed in here and here. Ain’t Slayed Nobody produced a glorious actual play with a talented cast capturing the nostalgic magic encapsulated in the ultimate (and only) Kid-Cthulhu scenario. Our exclusion of the attic is fully intentional, as we heavily improvised this location based on player choices (among other reasons), but we may add this in the future. 

Read on…Maps – The Dare

Cat Links Egypt, MoN - Keeper

Egyptian Mythos Artifacts

Posted on Keeper Doc

As befits the rich history of Egypt, the chapter contains a multitude of artifacts for investigators to seek out and recover. In addition to the Adornments of Nitocris, two additional items center around the resurrection plot, including the Sword of Akmallah and the Circlet of Nata Haje. The investigators also potentially receive a gift from a priestess of Bast in return for their aid during the sidetrack scenario, The Black Cat. While none of these items serve instrumental roles in the campaign, they offer added protection to vulnerable investigators in their perilous adventures. Sword of Akmallah Location: Ibn Tulun Mosque Description: a four-foot-long curved sword closely resembling an Afghani pulwar with an exquisitely crafted Damascus

Read on…Egyptian Mythos Artifacts

Cat Links Conventions

Necronomicon 2022 – Attendee Highlights

Posted on Keeper Doc

We sent out a call to other NecronomiCon attendees and received some responses that really captured the spirit of the experience and community at large. This is a small, but incredibly representative collection of highlights. Even though we are but insignificant specks in a vast, uncaring cosmos at the mercy of the outer gods, it’s really good to hang out and see people again.   Dave Sokoll: My name is David, I’m 43 years old, and this was my first convention, ever. Providence is my hometown, so it was easy for me to be there. My mom also lives here, and she watched my 4-year-old son during the Con. I wanted to do something nice for

Read on…Necronomicon 2022 – Attendee Highlights

Cat Links Conventions, MoN - Keeper, MoN - Player

We are Providence – Necronomicon 2022 Recap

Posted on Keeper Doc

“There is Providence, quaint and lordly on its seven hills over the blue harbour, with terraces of green leading up to steeples and citadels of living antiquity…”  The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H.P. Lovecraft In 2021, the world continued to suffer from a pitiless contagion while the stars above spun out of alignment leading to the cancellation of the fifth Necronomicon in Providence, Rhode Island. While veteran attendees lamented breaking the odd-year cycle, they happily flocked to Lovecraft’s beloved hometown for the international festival of weird fiction, art, and academia once more this year as it ran from August 18th through 21st. For us at Prospero House, this was our first sojourn to the

Read on…We are Providence – Necronomicon 2022 Recap

Cat Links China, Tomes

Mythos Tomes – The Goddess of the Black Fan

Posted on Keeper Doc

Location: Shrine to the Bloated Woman at Ho Fang’s Mansion in Shanghai Physical Description: Single scroll, parchment, stored in an unassuming carved ivory scroll case with silver filigree decorations Author:  Liu Chan-fang, a Chinese monk or retired minor official of the Imperial court Publication History: Unknown. Composed in classical Chinese reminiscent of styles popular during the Ming Dynasty. Lost for centuries until recovered by Carl Stanford. Widely considered among contemporary practitioners as the foundational text for the Order of the Bloated Woman. Some skeptic cultists consider Chang-fang as simply a recent prophet and believe earlier critical texts remain buried in lost libraries and ancient tombs. Some adherents regard Su Da Ji, the brutally malicious and favored consort of King

Read on…Mythos Tomes – The Goddess of the Black Fan

Cat Links Keeper Tips

Full Fathom Five – Review & Con Runs

Posted on Keeper Doc

  “Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes; Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange.”  – William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act I, Scene II WARNING: THERE BE SPOILERS BELOW Review: The title for Paul Fricker’s Miskatonic Repository scenario is drawn from a portion of the song that Ariel sings to lure the shipwrecked Ferdinand to the play’s sorcerer protagonist Prospero. The final stanza explicitly seeks to tempt Ferdinand whose father drowned in the deep. In Full Fathom Five, Fricker skillfully weaves literature, history, and Cthulhu Mythos into a delightfully deadly and dreadful compact scenario set on

Read on…Full Fathom Five – Review & Con Runs

Cat Links Kenya

Kenyan Mythos Artifacts

Posted on Keeper Doc

Taan Kaur’s Ring  Location: on Taan Kaur’s person. Description: a thick gold band bearing a red gemstone, a Burmese pigeon’s blood ruby, which flares during the absorption of magic points, as described below. The magic ring is otherwise well hidden amongst the mundane rings adorning all of  Kaur’s other fingers. Use: stores up to 30 magic points. When held against the head of the dying, the ring absorbs half the person’s remaining magic points as it releases a red glow. Grants the wearer immunity from fire and heat.  Depiction in Game: use for dramatic effect in the dark. In particular, it allows the investigators to spot Taan Kaur as she briefly pauses to drain Magic

Read on…Kenyan Mythos Artifacts

Cat Links Egypt, Tomes

Mythos Tomes – The Black Rites

Posted on Keeper Doc

Location: Stored in an old shoebox beneath Janwillem Van Heuvelen’s bed in Cairo  (The Black Cat, sidetrack scenario). Physical Description: Ten fragile papyrus scrolls, handwritten in cramped Egyptian hieroglyphics. Author:  Luveh-Keraphf, High Priest of Bast. Researching the author reveals conflicting esoteric information about his role as an Atlantean priest alongside High Priest Klarkash-Ton, an alleged servant of Tsathoggua.  Publication History: 13th Dynasty Egypt (1786-1633 BCE), part of the larger collection entitled the Scroll of Bubastis. According to Egyptian scholars, most copies of the Scroll of Bubastis excluded the Black Rites, which were held in secret at the most closely guarded temples. Exceedingly rare and protected by modern worshippers of Bast. Rumors speak of a possible Greek translation, which may be held in

Read on…Mythos Tomes – The Black Rites

Cat Links MoN - Keeper

Adding “The Auction” to Your Campaign

Posted on Keeper Doc

SPOILERS FOR “THE AUCTION” BELOW! Released in 1983, The Asylum & Other Tales contained a collection of seven adventures and opened with “The Auction” by Randy McCall. We love this classic scenario, as do many other Call of Cthulhu fans. The combination of the 40th Anniversary Call of Cthulhu Kickstarter and exquisite corresponding HPLHS prop set makes running “The Auction” even more appealing, and we feel it fits beautifully into a Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign either as a prelude adventure or as a compelling campaign-linked sidetrack. In addition, we offer a few suggestions to enliven the investigative trail for any run of this scenario. Prelude Scenario: Peru serves as a perfect jumping-off point for the

Read on…Adding “The Auction” to Your Campaign