Call Of Cthulhu - Coming Full Circle.pdf

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tw are when a new moon ap~rs. Underlmed dates are dates of the full moon.

1929 (Cold Spm) March

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May

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18 25

1932 (RrnuIIJlS to bot Seen)

October

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November

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I 2 J 4 5 6 7 B 9 10 II 12 Jl 11 15 16 17 IB 19 20 21 II II 24 25 26 21 2B 29 JO )1

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December

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4 II IB 25

5 12 19 26

S M I 4 II 18 25

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7 U Jl 14 19 20 21 26 21 2B

I 8 15 II 29

2 9 16 II JO

3 10 17 24 31

1935 (T~

W1ufWJOOd Horror)

March

February

S M IS'lIhE S I J 4 5 6 7 B 10 II 12 Jl 14 15 17 16 19 20 21 II 24 25 26 27 2B

2 9 16 II

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J 10 I I 17 IB 24 25 JI

5 12 19 26

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7 Jl 14 ZQ 21 27 2B

I B 15 22 29

2 9 16 II JO

1939 (F"II COck) April

March

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I i 6 7 8 Jl IJ 14 15 19 20 21 II 26 27 2B 29

2 9 16 II )0

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4 JO II 17 IB 24 25 )1

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I 2 1 4 5 6 7 B 9 10 II 12 Jl 14 15 16 17 IB 19 20 21 II II 24 25 26 27 2B 29 )0

May

S M I I 7 B 14 15 21 22 2B 29

2 9 16 II JO

S'l Ih E S 1 4 5 6

10 II 12 IJ 17 18 19 20 24 25 26 21 )1

This page may be photocopied for personal use only. " 1995 John H. Crowe. 1II

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"Upon <"'erythlilg was a haze of re.,.tle.W/If.\:,. and oppm:,.ion,· a touch of the unrra/ and the grote.rque, as ifsome VIIa/ ekment of perspediVe or chiaroscuro werr awry. " H.P. Lcw,rajl. 'The C%ur au/ ofSpa",'"

B~ JOHN H. Cl~O\~E, III

PAGAN PUBLISHING PRESENTS COMING FULL CIIlCLE BY JOHN H. CROWE. III EDITOR JOHN TYNES ART DIRECTOR DENNIS DETWILLEQ GRAPHIC DESIGNER MARK SCHUMANN ILLUSTRATOR HEATHER HUDSON FRONT COVER ARTIST DENNIS DETWILLER BACK COVER ARTIST HEATHER HUDSON PROOFREADER BRIAN A. APPLETON COVER DESIGNER & TECHNICAL IUUSTRAJOR JOHN TYNES PLAYTfSTERS BRIAN A. APPLETON. THOM BAGULEY • ANDREW HEDGES. CHRISTIAN KLEPAC. IAN ROBERTSON. KATHRYN ROBERTSON. JOHN TYNES SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVE HIPPLE. MICHAEL KASUBA, CURTIS SATTERTHWAITE. AND GEOFf ALA FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND ASSISTANCE IN REVIEWING PRE· PRODUCTION DRAFTS OF THIS BOOK. THEIR COMMENTARY WAS INVALUABLE AND HELPED MAKE THIS A MUCH MORE POLISHED AND HIGHER QUALITY WORK. THE EDITOU WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MAUK MOUUISON fOR OBSERVING THAT "WEST OF ARKHAM, THE HILLS RISE WILD:' AND ALL THE CONTRIBUTORS TO TH1S PROJECT fOR THEIR fAITH. C"m,ng Fw!l em;!< i> " ~""'r""~" publlohed by Pallan P"!>li,h;,,,!! for the c..11 "f Cthwlhw n ' rolepl'Vlng 8~l11e. Th,s IS 3 ""ork of "a;or,. Any .imi Intty w'fh actual p~orl .. '" (vent~. P")I or l>resent. ,~ pllldy coincidcnl~1 anJ unintentional. C,,1I Qf Cthwlh"TIO i. Chaosium. [n~'s Ifadcmark~J ~.m~ of h"rrnr ~nJ ..... "'.!~t. and,s U5C.! wnh Ihd, klnJ pcrmi •• it.ln. -1m rn,IUC' ln,," an.1 'Runnin~ Cmnono:: Full Cird~- .r~ -:<,)1995 J"hn Ty"u. All c'lher lex. l< (0199S Juhn H_ Cm ... e. III. From covet art ...ork" t 19951).-.. ",. o..lwille r. B.ck covcr artwork is 101995 Healhu Hudson Imerlor dlu~tr."on. arc 1£.'1995 I-leather HuJwn_ QI.l(J'ation> hom ",hc. soun:ca are © Ih...esp.-crivc authon. Ev .. ,y.hin~ d~. indllJin~ th .. Potgan I'uhI15h,,,~ 11>~". i.·' 1995 Tynes Cowan Corpu,aflon. Nu portion. of I),,, work may be 'cproduc...! by any mtans ..... huu. pt'rmi •• lOn of Ihe reb'anl c(\pv'i~hl holders. "',Ih .he ~XCCI'1I
LICENSED

BY

CHAOSIUM.

ISBN 1-887797-00-9

INC.

INT1~ODUCTION ~ h'~I~h hi' dl(lrt\ .1S .. Wn!CT are laude..!, Lovecrntt's l'xrl,uts .1,.1 Ir;ln:lcT are rarely consiJereJ. Yet in h,s Unit' L....·l'crah Han:lcJ exrcnsl\'cly thrOll~,'h his hdow.! l'\cw EndanJ, ohen staying and tourin/.! with fTlends he pTl'\iuu,I\' knc:w t.oly via corresponJence. In hi, [eHers (mJn~ llt wlll.,;h .ITe av.ubhlc in Arkham Hou!oC's SdecleJ Ltum I V) he m;lh'~ t n:'lUcnr mcnrinn of
I

,t,Ulng that he " cnd'Nn.l:

iI

phow),!raph takn on Ihe trip. h

" d.';IT to rill' rl.'adCT th,1I Ill' [llveJ New En~land: irs an:h,tL><:rUrt\ 1\. h,Mory, It, people, ItS l:mJscapes. It was these thinJ,'S

flul drew LuWrr"lr the crisw1arian llurofhis house :mJ maJe him LIl\'l'(ratr tilt' antilluarLlIl, Lm'c(l'l.lir the trrIVe!cr. Tht' Il'),!l'n,L.. Df New EnJ.:land inspireJ him to write.. Thl' rq.:i"n'.; Il'j.!l'nll, III WltI:ill'S, V:llnl'lTC~~, ~~\U~ts, anJ the rest are lill' lilt' hill~ WI.'\t of Afkham: they ri'>e wilJ, spectres from a l'IlrIt.ln p;I,r .1Il.l an unknown anJ un~ues~lble pre-history. Tho.' \nl'lli tuwn .. ut Mass.."tCbusetr-, [he wooJlanJs of Rhode hbn~1. ,md the nw.tlinl' of Maine jeJ I...ovccraft's imagination wlIh ,1 n..;h ;lnd ,umulatmg hroth, In tales like MThc Picture in till' Hou-.c." ~Thl' ()unwl<.:h Horror," "The Colour Our of ~P:K.:l', ~ "TIll' Tt'mhle OIJ M.ln," "TIle Dreams in the WitchHnlhc," ,mJ othen-, t\t'W England ~ml'rl::es as almost a char, ,llrer IT''Clf Wh,lt, thl'n, IS the character of New EnglanJ! It coulJ 1'C,t, pcthap" be JescnbeJ as a prc.serwx, A preSl'nce !llat ',I~'~ link ,m.l kl'M.)w, fur, far more than It will e\'er Tell, A prc ....·nlc !lUI 'I.."C~ thrl)uj.,~l the cracks (.f the old house~ and tltl' t.K.:.llll'~ "I till' old rdil:l<ms. A pre.o;ence that can Ix'lth eJu(ate an, I (l.rruI", and that (,10 rnrdy do ()I'\C without the influ· l'nn' 01 thl' Il[hl'r. UIV~cml!\ tales ~u~st that the mass of humanity l,blentlUS Tll the truc shape of thmgs IS, perhaps, hetTl'r 1,1t-lur tho.,< who learn are often consumeJ. The 1l'~l'Ilds of Nl'w EnJ,!l:mJ are the wellspring from Whl~h Ihe events de~~Tihcd in Commg Fill! Cil'de (low, In [he (Ol1l"'~' III the k,ur ~cen"rku cIlnmineJ in this book the inve~, liJ,.':lT"r~ will ~rcnd lime in " charming little Massachusetts t<1wn With ,. nlll'ilKharmmg hbwry, invcstigate a tangled and tnpterinl1s l.'Cn~·;II11).'Y, uncover the lost Journal of a culonial tnTntMI'T. l'nCl'llntl'r ,11\ ancien[ coven of SHTllmsts, [lingle Wldl ,I ~';.mpm,~, ,mel experienl'C IWO deaJly episodes with an andent wark)(l hdl-henT ~1Il venj.,'l'nce and conquest. These SCt:narios ,m.· ,Clover lhi: ((IUT>C uf a ,lecadL"-from 1929 to 1939-a dn'aJe whl(h brinj.,"!'o the Great Ocpres~i(ln anJ I~ onliCl of WI,rld \'(I,lr II W lhe III tic town uf N(lrth Ash/ield. BUI even thtl'ioC mll,..hT\' e\'l'nh ,1I'e Jistant, ....·hen compareJ to the horrol'li wh!th the mw~tl~ators ~hall uncover, '\;I'fahly .1"'-en! lrum the above Jescription is an..,.thin~ rnol:m:al,k ,I~ ,Ill dement of the C[hulhu Mythos, If you mol,ll' thb ~,h-.cr\";lnl>n Yol,1N,;lt, yuu're <.Iuite Cl'TI'lXt; this (:1m, paJ~n te.1furc~ ' 1<' clemell1~ (,f the M'l'dll),~. InsteaJ, the threah ,11\.! l'wn" 1,1 Thi~ 1'<1I1k lIte Jrawn from the above-named well~rTlnj.! th,u te.1 u)\'eaah's fictil'n-the legends anJ [he ch:mlc, lef "I Nt'w Engb",!. Cumm,l{ FuJI CIfl:le i~ a non·Mythos campai~n for Call of Ohr.lhll wt in ;mJ around the fkti()n~1 town of North

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AshflelJ .luTIng the 19JO,.. Ralher Ihan needing a ma~Kal TIt· ual [l) dos<: '\()me ~rue-Iadcn intertl.mensional gate lest all humanny perish, the in\.'Csri~a(ots will find more value 11\ pieces of knnwledl,'e sud, as [he siglllficmce of a corpOiC buried With a ten,inch Twn spike driven through it ,IIlJ into the ;,oil, or why 1'II.l nne /.~lCS 1(l White,>,-'tlOJ anymore, little bIts anJ pieces of infunnaTlon ~rl' the \llcalxms of this work. There are almust I'M.lllpl'ortunitics for gunplay here. willch may fru.)tratc some "laYCNI. In the lirst scenario, Cold Spm, the foe is an ~nclcnt, inCl)rporeal spirit on whom physical atL'lCks will have no effect. In the second, RemllillJ 10 be Seen, an implacable v:n\)pire menaces the countryside anJ natuwlly has no fear of the mnn·tat of a Tommy GUll (though IllS human minions m;JY). In the tlmJ, The \Vhllcu.ooJ HOTTOr, a sarnnic C{)\,cn has IX'l:n gmntL.J a pt.-cu]iar immortnllty which leaves them invulnerablc to :111 bUI the symbol of the I.:TOSS. In the conclusion, FuU Cnde, the spirit of Ihe first piece returns in a fonn III flc~h, but hi!> nctTlln~ are so Jiahollc nnd labyrinthine that only the most persistent of in\'C~tiJ,.r,llonl will have any l)pportunity to trade pislr,] lire With The flenJ. The pnmary COUN.' (11 acnon for thc in\'c.'.[igators h to do Ihal whKh Ihl'lr namesakt· manJalcHnvcstiJ,.':lte. This I.:am· paign 1~ rruly Illr thlllklllg. analytical playcl'li who luve a my,.. rery ,10.1 ""'0,11.1 rnrbcr he {X'rin!:" over ydlOYo'Cd newspaper clippings lllOking for Sinister connt.'(:ti(lIlS than bluwin~ a..... a~' some tenraculolr hlob. Whcn actIon Joes occur, It IS swill and .IeaJIy: the vampIre of Remlriru 10 be.> Se~n and hIS mmillTlS are unhkely tl' JIC ..... lthoUT rnkinll' :;omc of the inve'itIl..':llON ..... lth them unless the plaYCN are unusually \\--ell'prcpared and well· informed. Ukcwisc, the witches of The Whlteu,ocd HOTTD'I' havc flMny re.,ourccs at their Jispos."d and will not hcslmtc to ~lay Incautious Investlg,\WTS. Thu,ly fol'CWllrlll..J, It is our fervent hope that you enJll'i Coming Fill! Circlc. It is the oPl"lOsite in almost every way of author John H. CroWl!, Ilr~ pTt.'\Iious work. WaJker in The Wast<'s, This is a small mlc, set 11\ :l limited area ovcr an cxtendeJ peri· od of time and <;C/''111entcJ mto kxJr disparate set!; of evcnt;;; WaJk-r m Iitt Wa5td wa~ a granJ epic. foCI in location:; ,K:ro~~ the h~llbe in a compresseJ [in~span anJ forming a continuous '>'-hole, Owrall, ~ shoolJ IinJ umllllg FulJ Circle to be no! very ditficult ttl run, hut your player. will surely finJ it a ch.1I1en~'e, Wait-ll's al! happenrng n.ou' A shadow ,""'-eli In the cemetery,

and Mgs bark In a ckSl!1'!(,d farmhouse. A Stranger i.s In IOU-'ll, and there's a 1'Dl:/crll( chair mot'JIlg fry rue!f In the (>arWr- Luun dDS/!, lind hear the SUrTIl\g of Did bones In a 1«//; hear the malelng of rhe ualll ru a malJRllllnl sprnt Ptusa fry; hear lhe chanrrng bentmh the Inn, and the al'lIth'mule of Ihe si(:lel, chjld alone In his room ullh Ihe ddt~, It i.~ rhe ,harnclcr 01 New EnglanJ it"clf, that which LovI."Crnfl the traveler glimpsed In his )Ollnle',s. Step ahoonl, for Ih~ train ro GreenfielJ Icavc~ soon anJ North AshfieJ..IIIW:\1t_~. s,,), t(lIl, docs the countryside in all Its ram, ]'ling and t1l1l\ted Rim)', The Ic).'Cnll~ of New EngbnJ rise wild, - John Tynes

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GENE1~AL CONTENTS Introduction ... .•.••...•. Runnlnll Com/or Pull Cl,d.,

. .......................••.•..•.••.•..•.••.••.•..•.•..••.•..•................ .AI .•.•. .•.•. .•.•. .•. .•. .•. .•.••.••.•. .•.. . .. .. . .. . .. . . •.••...•..•. .6

Ch.rIK:IHCrtll'lon ••.•.••.•.•..•.•.••.•..•.•..•.•.

. .....•..•..•.••.•..••.•..•.•.••.•..•.• , 10

CttAPTI:II ONe. C<JIfI Spot ( 1919) .. .•.•. .•.•. .•.••.••.••.••.•. .•. .. .•. .•. . .. 16 Ptrlod, .6, CHAPTER TWO, Il.,tnilln. '" "" ~n (.U') ... . . . • . • . . • • . • . • • . • • . . . . • . . • . • • . • . . • . . . . ............I t In'",rIm .... riod, I9n. I9U • . • • . • . • . . • . • • . • . • • • • . • • . • . . • . . • . • . . . . . . . . •.••.•.••.•. Il CttA.PTER THRee, The Wblf ..""OO 11",,""(I'U) ... . ..••....•.••..•.•..•.••.••.••.•..•...........14 In,,,,lm Period. 1116-1931 ........ . ..... ....................................... . ........... IDl CHAPTER f'OURl Pull Cln-k(l95t) .•. .•.••.•. . ..... . .............................. 10& APPENDIX A: The R"¥Rn'nd'J Journal .......... . ............................................................. 1J6 APPfNDlX til Nlw Sptlll It alluall •....•...... . .....••.••.•.••.••.••.•..•.••.•.••.•.•. 151 APPENDIX C, Blbllotrapb, . . ....... . ..•..•.•..•.•..•..•..•..•.••.•..•..•.••.••....•.............•......•.•• 1.1 APP~DlX D, Piayet Aldl ... Com'n" "utl CIn'",a.arK'llr 51'1 .... ' .... . ........•....••.•..•.••..•.•.••.•..•...... I.t Afl'fRWORD ..•..•.......................•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•..•..•..•.............. . ..•..• 160

In,erim

'9»1931 ............................................

. .............

MAPS &DIAG1~AMS ComIng Putl C/n-k Map of Franldln Counl, and lurroundln'l ~a. "Irea. ItI9-ltsl CoIdSpol Map of North AIohOdd. M.uNM:hUKIIJ 19" . ..... ...... .....•...

....................................... ~

<;:I,,,,, . ......................................!IO Plallram of 11'11 Ap<;:oll HOUK .... . •.••.•..•.•..•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•..•..•..•......... . •....•.••.••11 Dlall"am oflhe l/I'Oundl around Ihe API'OII HOIlM .... . ...•..•..•.••.••.•..•..•.••.•.••.•.•. .3 1 IIrma/n. 10 k SHn Map nf North AIohDeld. MauaehuMIU I9St .•.••. .. .....•.•..•..•..•.••.•..•.•..•.•. .al . ...•..•..•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•..•..•.•..•.•.•...51 Map of lbe Ma Around North ,uhOeid ...... . . •.••.•.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••11 1 Map or !he North ,ubO,,1d Ct:m"lery .•.•..•....•.••. Dillfl'am of 11'11 "",elalllln' " 0 " . • . . • . • . . • . . • . . • . • • . • • . • . . • . . • . • • . • . . • . • • . . .. . . . .. .II OIal/l'am of Ihl o.l!<>ll'unuaJ Home. .... .•.•. .•.•. .•. .•. .•.••.•. .•. .•.•. .•. . ........•.•..•..•. .15

cI,,,,,

TIl" Whlr.wood HCHnH' Map ofWhlf.",ood, Mauaehu ... 'U "'rea. 1955

Dlal/l'am Dllli"am 0I81/1'am DlfIl/I'am

. •.••.••.••.•. .•.•. .•. .••.•. .•.•. .••.•. .•

. ......!l1

of Whillwood Churdl ..............................................................................M 0111'1" Ru .... eouail' •.. . ........ . •....••.•..••.•.•.••..••.•..•.••.••.••.•..•. • •............M ofTh" PIU1,h HOUK Anllquet. .... .. .•. .•.••.•. .••.•.••.•. .•.••. .•.•.... . .......•..•.•..•.•." oflbe Raftnllnn .•.•..•.•..•.•..•.•..•...... . ..... .•..•.••.••.•..•.••..•.•..•.•..•.•..

I1.·

""ltCln-'"

.1'

"'rea

Map of North ,uhneld. MllIIIIC:hu""1I 19:n.... ... .................... . ...................... lIt Dlal/l'am of !he new Apeoll HOUK ............................................ . ...•.•....•.••.• 115 Dlairam of the Monlauih HOUK •.••.••.•.•..•.••.•... ..... . . ...........•..•. . •..•..•..•.•..•.•.••.••.• 1 n Dlallram of the Luna PIlftr 5Qe1e1, ...••.•. .•. .•.••.••.•. .•.••.•. .•. . ..•... In DlfIIIram of fulda. ApeOIl', lIot.ton ruldel>Cl! ...............•. . •..•.••.••.•..•.....•.•..•..•.•....•... 1II Map of lbe Ma Around Ro,aWon ••.•.••.•.••.•..•.••.••.••.•..•.••.•..•.••..•... . .111 Dlal/l'am oflhe KHllnll Houll • • . • . • . . • . • • . • . • . . • • • • . . . . . . . • • . • . . • . • . • • . • • . . • . • • . • . . • . . • . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . .111

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Full Cird"

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~I IllS

is not :! Jifflcult campaign to run competently. It Post, or head to lhe IlCOlrby county seOlt tlf Gn:'enfield to take in a has been Jes'~I'lCJ ond wtluen to rl'()\',Je as much of l1lO'o'ic at tilt' BiJou, Dinm,L; tlUl is nul' and the onl)' re$1unmt III a r.afct), ot.'f Ii.:>r the Kl.-eper as l'lI.lSSlble. anJ thcrdllfC town is the ~Ient Ca~; nK>re rom lTlnn I ~ ,he frequent pm.:. ~l\.-eS 11'I'~ 01 mmrmatlllO llO characters, ~nin~. mO(J"'3[llm~. nee of J,ningwith fnendl> 1>1 tl~ fumil.,., at th('1T house each ....u-k. plnh. lines ot inve~tig"lI1nn, anJ the like. We h.we milde I.·vcr~ which Ollsn /()rms the b.1cklxll'le of the town's politi" social 5(.\'I~, effort el) 1ll,Ike rlk book as thorough and 'M;!l-<JrganizcJ as \~ Besidcs the uccasional hlrthJay party. town picnic, or Fourth 01 C,ln. In an atrempt to !;t't a 1ll'W sranJaru of quality anJ d'lOll!.~lt­ July cclebrnuon, not much excitement 0(,'0..11"\ III North A.<;hfielJ. tuln,5~ ttlr ......-enario I:,ook,. Still, there i~ [\ J,!1erenCt.' I,,<--(,"-'Cn Over the course of II~ campaign-from 1929 to 19W-the ruonln!: a campaign competently and runnmg II really well and town CnfCI'S the Grcat I1crrcssKln, Ch:lI\J,'\!., in the town are It l~ fix the l;\ftCr that you shoulJ strive. There are k}Ur m:l)llT descnhcd :II the St,1rt of e;lt.:h scen:nio, hut Tn charnc{.mze it in dcmcnr .. In any raIl' ro consiJer, sethn!:. characters. st\lr~'. anJ brief. North Ashfield ro..'taim a ~habby J,,,. nrility, Years b't) by with· p:k:tng'; ,UJ, is the C.1se wnh thb book.. OUt hOUM.'i.1WI~1'!) l.>etting OUI the brushes rmd the wl\l[cv.'a.~h; II~ !,... nernl ~tore's she"·e!> ~:ct a 1'111 ~pm*, (>o I)' rarely does se>rncone buy a car. North AshtlclJ\ Jedine is noticeable hut Tll.lt .1m. Ccmllf\i: Full en'de is lief in dw tll--otious wwn uf North fuhfielJ, mrmc; lilu.",,·isc, it Will not >;oon hcnctil trorn the wartime e..-xm· M>b~k:huscm, th(.IU!.~' one scenario (~ Whil<~ Hr.m'O'I') is omy and will not he up w its former SUlndarJ~ until the 1950~, ~( In nearl"!')' Whlll."'MX1I..I nnJ al'lllther (Full Ciltle) indll~ks

SETTING

epLS()Je~ In Ro~ron

aM R,t't'alston. Nonh fuhfldJ is ,\ typical

Engl:mJ (\lwn. Irs fuunJlng preJatc) d~ R..'\\~un{lnary War, when It was known ~ Hawthorn. In 1929 \\ncn the (mnpaign ht.~IllS, North A~hflelJ is a slnall, fril'ndl~ nlmmunlty slirrounJt"J h)' /()rc~s anJ fields, In Nonh AshfielJ, lTklC'ot ••...o:r}\lIlo: knows t."\'Cr)\IOC. Nc.uly J.11 the rowrutOlk ~,'o to ~~ne \,f the [\lwn's th~ d'llms on Surli.lly, For enti"rt,1inment dl<')' rune in [twiT hig limlily mdi<.l Set, reaJ [he Sat~ EI'i.'lIlT1g

rural

)\;cw

CHARACIE1~S

There arc thn."e Jo:en t.:haracters JescTlI~d III detail wlthm tillS book. Of those, ho\\\....'er, only about a .kr·..en can he Cllk"C.! maJor dlamucrs, First an.! fllremost, this mduJes the (\)tlf Illem· bers of rilo.! Apcott liltnily: Amelia, AliMm. Mattie, and JuHan. Th."y are the campaIgn's wn.~t:ams and tI ......,., are present in l"\'cry sccn:lt!n w varying J...'l::n.oes. From the time (If their intmJuction to the reM~uoon of the cvil that hmu\t.~ them ten ~rs IOlter,

FRANKLIN COUNTY of northwestern Mas.sochusetts. inc/udint/ North Ashfield, Whitewood, and the county 5eBl of Greenfield

I"

= 5 Miles

I

N

FilII Cirr:le •

Amelia will remain a friendly but strong-willeJ matriarch; Alison begins with a terrible burden from which she never quite recovers: M:mie will grow from a chilJ to a bri),~lt young woman about to enter college; and sickly Julian, who tries very hard to bcoome the hwestigators' rriend because he has none of his own, will grow, consider colle),'t', show promise as a historian, and aspire TO greater things rhan North Ashfield has to offer. Sadly, in the last scenario the investigators will attend his funer· al. Portraying these four people is perhaps the Keeper's most important msk, for they are the glue that binds the work. togcth· er; if the players care nothing for them, they will nor care half so much aboUT the events of the scenarios. Besides these four. other main characters incluJe the longdead diabolist Ezekial Apcon whose harreJ has kept his spin! alive for two centuries and who returns to menace the family In the final scenario; Emily Oakes, the bereaved widow of Remam5 10 be Seen who suffers under the [win tragedies of her husband's death and the revelation thar he was Jesecrating the graves of his ccmetery--the latter being such a shock that it turns all of North Ashfield but the Apcotts against her; Emil Schergen, the revived vampire of the same scenario, who is uesperate and uncertain and utterly unlike the assured and confident vampires of most stories: Lottie, the mute servant of the Ravens Inn in White~"OOd, who can find a happv fate only if the investigators are swifr and sure; Eliz..'l.beth Newless, proprietor of the Ravens Inn and immortal Satanist in the gr:md tradition offemale cin· ematic villains; and the whole Kceling family. relatIves of the Apcot:ts, who unexpectedly find Ezekial's wrath turned on them late in the: campaign.

ST01~~

TIw:"dl,.".,,,,

K.,.,. ~.~~~~~~~~~~~~::

TIle story of Commg Fu!i Cift"le is fourfold. Consistent elements include. not surprisingly. the above·describeJ setting and char· octers. It is these clements that tie the scenarios tq,'ether moreSO than accidents of plO!: or coincidence of action and it is for this reason that)oCu must strive to present the setting and char· acters with as much passion and skill as )000 can muster. As an introduction to what follows. the four episodes of the campaign are summarized here: Cold Spot (1929): A ~cold spor~ is a classical symptom of a haunting. in which a space ill a house is noticeably and inexplicably colder than any area around It. As its name indicares. this scenario is a treatment of a seemingly textbook haunting with a twist: the manifesmtion appears to be a poltergeist with :;II! the :;Ittendant flying objects and rapping sounds bedeViling rhe Apcott household, but in fuct is something quite different. The spirit of 10ng.J.ead sorcerer Ezekial Apcott is making his bid to regain human form by possessing someone in the house, an act which he c,'l.n only do on the two hundredth anniversary of his death. The house is also haunted by tWO other spirits who are benign bUl that will still serve to confuse and frighten [he investigators. In the end, it is extremely unlikely that the investigators will succeed in stopping Ezekial's plan. There are tWO reasons for this: first, the foe is an entity

•

1,1 the ~rlTll ""rlJ :mJ m:m:e mf\lrm(ltlon on hi~ rnl>tI\"I!~, ~"'Y.lk ,mJ tr.c like IS Jlth.:ult or Im[X)sslhle to (Orne hy; ~"'i.:oml, II i~ IIlll'o,lrt;mf [h,lt ~ll;11 ~uc':l-ed a~ this 5Cb up 1m: fmal 'let... n.ln,1, hill Cin:k t~n ~\!ars lall.'r. Inst~aJ 01 measurmg their ~tI\·( ... ~, I",' whcd, ... r or n(lt E:l!kial is Jdeate.i, there i~ n morl' IlllJ'llrtant (me: who Jocs he (XhM!SS! His prime tllTf.,'CI", tragiGllty, .ITl· the d'ilJrcn, Mattie and Julian. If the in\'C~figam1'$ l-.m ';1\'''' these young irH'Il1<.--..:m\ and If E:ekial ~nJs up pos-....·"lng AiI"m, Il{'lj.:hlx1r 1:1lia Gordon, or OrlC 01 the mV"'S!J g.Utl""', Ihe pb)~r' Coln ,,(,",,JeT 1111:'11' work f<) have haJ 'lome ml',l,un' III ~ucre\~, E:... kial is all hut umtorpable, anJ II tails III Ih... 111\·e~u).,':lrors to make the he~t 01 a de~j'ler:l[e snu:mon, R~rThW\J to be n (1912): As a Cil:IIl).,'-'t' of par.:e, the lm'e, ti).!.ltl'rs h.1\"e a very [,mgihle Ille. A ("Clnetery owm.:r Jespertlte lur 11Il'TI' land begin:; Ihm:inl{ up ancient graves 11llJ n.... using IIII.' \p.l(e, JesrrO)'ing the old remains or ditchinj! them m a wdl. l'nl{lrtunatd)·, unc nl thl' Illd graws held the victlm l)f a .:..I"OIJI..:ra V,lmplrc; this "'tetun, EmIl SchcTj.,rcn. woulJ hrwe Tl'lurn..:d kmg :lh'\l \\'l.:r(' 1t nnt illr thc precautions taken by ~uJl<:r~llt1 ..u\ [~'wnsfllik at the lime l,f 1m ooriaL With theM: w.lnh llI.1W Je~tr(,.,'C\1. Emil returns anJ ~ins a bloody trail 01 k.Nmg m Nllrth A.\hhdJ, l'nlikc mnst 't.';Imrires III Ikndll, Emill~ hrnnJ-new I<> hi\ cllOJlrinn :lIlJ is Ill{'xpc:nenccJ: :;nl1, I...., ha\ ,lssemhl",J a h:mJlul of seT\~lIm anJ rhe final ~hnw' down with hb dutch of thrnll~ I:' likely 10 be very excitin~ and v... ry Jc,ldl}' lor [Illllw~)lved. Tim ,.:enilrin's climax is probahly tI\I' IlC,t l'I'IX'rtUnit)" Illr IOve:.tlj::ator Jeath in the book. Th., W·hu(.'Ut"IO;! Honm (19 J5): l\ar;eJ on an atmllsrh... nc 1.ld hom,r him, thi~ i~ .1 ti~~lIl)"·wvunJ !tule talc ot a Sat:lnic (('...... n th,1t ha~ the \'ill'lJ.'C (II WhllCYouuJ entirely in liS UrnsI'. The J("~IX't I' ~trun.d)' ur).,~J (() wllKh the film befor(' runnln~ II ..... "(I'n;lril), 'I.) it is \\.-lmJertully atm()~pheri(: and Will bc ul mu..:h help in \"i~uali~inl: and desc.ribin~ thi~ Plt.'Ce. Dcfearin,l:" th ... witches IS :I ditfi(:ull Joll, eS!X'ClaJl)' bt.'C\use their pnmary \\'\'alne'~ (dll')" burst tntO flames at the snon~ prescnwlion of "cn'~s) IS alS
s.:..

•

lIon~; If i~ meant to hc a J,'Cnuine tCst of their shll and 1Il~'-'('o

nUlt)', anJ in fact oor play test IlI'OUP faileJ utterly in the ta5k.

PACING A!; m milny other areas, the I>ocing of Commg FI,!! CircU! i5 unlike that of most scenario books. The vast majOrity of rhe pl:tycr.' time WIll be ~rent in research, irn'CSt1~>atit.IIl, dcJuction, anJ Jis-cussion. For obtusc and unfonullate reasons, most I,':lminj:l ~ nari06 define rncing by thcirol"pon:umti~ k-.r combat anJ III thi) LXlOk such orron:umtics vary widt.-Iy from :<.eenano to !>Cl'narlO: Cold Spot h.'\$ none at all, unbs ~kial posscsses SOIllCllllC ;mJ fighrs Ill! way out of ti'll' IlOI.IJ.C: RrnwltU to ~ Seen wtlilikt.-!y end III ;1 ternble hartle. but th:lt comes nfter a lengthy Im"CStij.,':ltlvn, The White"ood Harror b slmdar, h.tt smcc It'S a shorter K'Cnnrio the i1l\'t'stlgation period won't mkc a~ long; FuJI Cilt:k offers Will· hal only if t hc invest4,':ltOT'S /.,.0 up lll-!'Iinst Ezcki:ll's sen'ant, ur E=cklal himself. wluch would also OCl.1Jr mlhe end of the story. If}OUr pl.1)ers are mostly l'Onct!Tlll.,j with whal fireann they're carrying With tr.cm at nny f.,'1\'et\ nK,men!, or who is ~(Jn w:m:h" Juring the night, Ih..-y are lIkely to be dlSaflPOtnted WIth tilt.'ir CXJ"CTIl'f'lCe In thl_~ cam~ugn it run as is. ~rhaps )O.lr be" opt:lon III Ihi5 ca.se is to mJ them through their IIl\'eStlh-":ltklm 'iO that the illl-imJXvtant combat scene at rhe dllnax can be rea...-n..-J, or paint the storie!; In bnn.ler, more e-z.to-sec stnlL;es: in Cold S/IO(, )UtI can amp up d..... h:lllOtings and roltel},~i5t dlC(ts to Illak.,> t hinJ..'S more dralllac-iq in R..'TIltlllU 10 be Seen )\)1.1 can mcreasc Emil's attacks on rownslotk anJ h.1\'c them bt: llunc..1 ill the.' heart of North A!;hficlJ rather than the oudyin~ area~ S(l ~ Il) creare a dimare of fear ami drama, ru. \\,,-41 as having Emil CI\." ate a numher of other mmpll\!S 311 that the Ul\lestigators ~:ct to kill n number of such ~turcs aklll~: d~ wa)~ in Th Whueu.oo.l HmTI1f)QUr best bet is pwl.Xlbiy tu narrow [he 1Il[en.';I1 l:1Ct\\.\.'CIl the tune the investigator.; arrive and the nme of the b'l'3nJ ntllllst and J,'O [Il'OUnJ hlasnnj! l'Illuses and te:lring people's hc".Js off II that will gr..... plr ~stuJent1i~ more entertainmell[, Since much of the book':; actlon oonsists of deJucrion and the ~.llv ing of mysteries, anJ assuming)oo oon't t:l.ke the p;lrh outlin&.1 :lbo\-'e, it is ~trongly urged that )'UU pur a 10( of t.ffort IntO rol<.>playmg the vari()ll~ NPCs encount .... red by the pla)~rs !)(l they can enjoy the imo:raction m place of \'iolcm action, KL'CpCrs c:ln I-~OCr.llly either be a clue JisJ"('l'Iscr, responding to qucsn"n~ WIth blanJly rresentN infllrrnanon, or can be rokpla)CT5 3nJ make [heir perfonnances mCOlllrahlc. Dun't be afraid !O h..-lr the pla)~ if Ihl.-y g\.'f ~lUck, but try f() Jo so subtly through some NPC lnt ... rnction rather tb.1n by emphasizing -50me mi'»&l clue

•

(-Well,

)'I."IU\1:

been cwr)'Where except that oIJ funn that

hekmt,d to tnc JeaJ guy...~). For a 1l"Kx.lel ul pacing, ')QI.I

mlh~lt wish to reaJ or re-read some t'f Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stones. These! arc das~ICIi of deduction IIml feaLUre actIon only rarely. Yl'llJr pbyers shoulJ Jerive their cntertamment from interacnng with Nrcs, thr()uh~' the pleasure of their own dL'Vcrnt'ss as they pUt tllf:Cthcr the pIeces, and throuj!h the slow realIZation that C\'CI)' due they Jlscover is hnngmg them that much do6er {() some fer· nhle" ((lnflw:t from whidl not: all may Il.'turn.

~Ites or Internew people with gho\1 ~tllTle~. &,.ne may ~'\\:n have expcrieo.:,.J !l mmor manifc~tanlln or .... lInl'_~scd 'ollmt.: thing that (UulJ not be convcntil'llal1y expl;\lneJ. The poml is, they \hOlllJ know e;lch miter anJ h:\\It~ ;1 ~Hlli[;Jr InIc:rl'~1 and perhaps belief in the ,upcrnawflli.

FINAL OBSE1NATIONS

Of ~pedal note are the interims lx"(wl..~n eJ<.:h !'o{Xn:lTlll. nw~ c cont:ICt l)ft ....\.'..... n ,h!.. cm·emg;lwr.. an,[ lite Arcon~spccially Juli;m-';o ,I'i t,1 li)~ler a frlend:'>hlp. II wu run other ad\'CnruTCs in b.'fWttn ,hl>!\C gl\'en m Ihh hnuk, III~ urh'l!J ,hat )\"IU rnkc the I'premunlty til r<.,lt.:p1.I~· rill' If1<..'nd"hll' FWI11 the beginni~, the investi~atur.; ~houlJ all know ea!,:h with a \'i~lt (rom the Apc.:ons, ur o •.:.:,mon:ll c,:orTC'l'xltldem:e, I'r other. I"erllaps they are (ricmJ~ or co-workel'5. They should all whntc\'Cr you C'1n Jt'vise. Try to bUI!..lup thi' rlhtil>n~hip -'>\lth.]{ have an intercst In the paranormal IInJ some of the charac· the plu'f\!ni will really sec the Ap<.:um a\ living. hrc:lrhinl.: d);lr' tcrs may very ....'ell have survived prcvious Cal! of Crhulhu sce- :JCter; rather th:ln the c.1n.llxlarJ NPt~s 1\1lmd In 1ll,,';1 RPCk

GATHI-:R THE Gl~OUP

narios. Highly experienced char:lcter~ arc not idea! for this

One touchstone anJ then on with rht: honk: in the final 'iL'CTlano, Full Circle, I':lY ~peci:.l attel\lllln to the -"l:cnc 01 Juli:m\ thi~ C'nouh.n of a challenge. funeral. f'by tim scene out Slhle have Amelia Af","'llft ill""e \'I~ 1.1 the inn.'f>ng:ltol'!< t,. (If a 1'~~'Chlcal society or somc uther group that meets weekly '<,1ya few .... \'n[.....-«nJ then ro..luc~t rill.' 1'1.1)\:1' 1\1 c,:omptl'>C ;IIlJ J ;IY Of monthly to JISCllSS and Je"ate the p.1Tanormal. Such an thr...c .... \1TJ~ alouJ. If )'tlu've ~ua:\.'(.'Jc,1 in running Q,mlnl{ Full orgamration woulJ probably not be !lOme sort of j!host Cin:/f in the way in whICh ....~ h.-lf'C i\ 1-.c'1 ,wtl'l.l tIl thl' \\\,rk hunter outfit with vaSt resources and knowledh'e or moriva· Julian\ funeral ~hotllJ be a Sfriklllg, "..ml1('r, .mJ l1lt.:mnr,lhk u{)n to battle the evil dcnllens ofthl' nether realms. Rafher, ~:cnc for }')\J :.md your pb)\:I'S. As much :l~ thi~ hook b ~ ,I],,,U( rhey ml~ht simply be a gwup or rnrr of a group of hobbyi~ts :lIlythil'l.:, 11 I~ :.bllll1 Ih..- importance 01 relaTlnn,hlr~, the \;lll1~· ",ho meet llnce or twict' II month ~t s()mcone'~ house to JIS- of Imlllly, anJ the kindness :lml the (UN.' inl1l'rcnt III rl~ !f)l'X cuss the occult. Perhaps they occasionally visit interesting orablc l'l:I"5.'1t,'C 01 tIme. campai~n. Those with low to moJemte experience

will find

UHf'

"'"

~'XDkr

""" ~~~5

CHi\1~\CTE1~ Cl~I~\TION ~ ommg

C

Full Cin:k is a loose campaign. The author has assumed that a specifIC type of group will be employed [hroob~\OlIt the c.'lmpo.ign, requiring the mcluSlon of this SL'Ction on char;~r gcnerHtion. HO\'\''l:ver, under no cironmtnnces must this be used as a campaign. Rather, the Keeper may rl(~k those scen:mos rh:at SI."(."tTI. most attractIVe and ignore the rest. In such a case, it is adVisable to still consider thiS sec· tlon, but greater flexibility in character type is possible. In the basic Jcsigns of the camp31gn, the author has bocarcd events fur parnpsychologisu, po.ranormal investigators, and/or occult enthusiasts. They may be either amatcurs or hobbyiSts or may be ~professioZ\als.~ [n any case, rhe n«:d (or a oosic back· b'TOUnd in the occult is helpnll thoo/,'h not entirely ""-"'(essary. [n some of these 5CeIlHrios basic knowledge IS neeJed. reflcCb,'J by wearer than base rarin~,'s In .such skills as Occult and History. AJ50, rennin JeJuctions and investigative methods are only rea· scmably Jane by characte~ with an occult hackground. nle thinkin~ behmd this is that a polia: officer, for msrance, ....'Oldd nore e\'iJenre of IXlt:monnal activity anJ likciy shrug It (If( as coincidence or nttempt to explnin it a....':ly. A paraps~holo~,'ist With the same evidence could bunch into a detaileJ investi~ra­ [Lon anJ may be able to concoct theories right aY.'lIy. Several ~occupations" are suitable ~re. These are listcJ below along With their ideal skills and other infonnation.

the scenarios d this camp.li.!:"n shoulJ be

1'10 rrohlcnl. Primary Skills: Amhropt.)I\lJ..~·. Hisrory. librnry Uc;e, Oxult, Photogrnphv, P~')\:holO!-~', lither lan~uas.'I!s

OCClJl;r HOBB"YIST The hobbyist will prorohly ~pcnJ only a rdatTwly small portion 01 his or her time invcstl~::lIin!: the panmormal. Sud, a person will have sOllle mhcr full time (lccupatl(ln fhm .~rvc~ to ray the bills. TI-lCrefure. J pia}\:!" J,'CI~r.Lt1nJ.,' thi~ tyl ..... IIf chamct('r ~hOllld fed f,,:e to choose a pnmary professlun (artorney, plumher, physician, collCl.,'C professor, ecd anJ deJIC.lte only a relatively small portion \Jt available skill points to the hobby. The one prohlem With emrlo)'ing a hobl'lfISl: is the lieS he or ~he has to il pmnary pm(esslon. More wdl·tnJo or /In.'!n· cially Independcnt character. may nor: IinJ this a problem, bur one who has to dedicate ilmy or more houT'S per ",:ek to a joh cannot le.lve It to gala\"J1lf t,f( into thc wild~ of Ma.''''1Chuscns. It IS up to the Keeper to kt.'C1' the campmj.{n plauslhle :mJ "dic\,able. SuspendlOJ.,' realitr on a grand SClIe! WIll Jerracc t",m the horror. The KL't!per should provide some! ~uiJancc on what dumCtCN ate suitable and cnCOtJT3b'C pla},-,rs [0 muJi/y d'3ra.:· teN l-crore t!x,,), ,Ire actu:tlly uSt-oJ. Primary Skills: those of che ['Tlmary PTl,/csslOn St.'Cond.lry Skills: those of the l'I\lraP'i)'Ch(~('IlI~t

PAlW':-'''lC1-l01.0GL';T

Pl~OFESSOR

In alllikciihooJ, such an inJIVIJual has a good eJlIC\rion anJ very likely (X):l~5 some son ofhighcr (university level) edu· canon. If he Of she is a sllCC:essful pal1lps}C1\Ologisr and is nor merely a hobbyist of some SOrt, this may provide a living ...... Either he or she is some SOrt offree lance ~1.~l05t humer~ living off' commission much hire a prl\'3tc investigator or. more likely, is inJepenJentiy 'M:altl1Y anJ can afford to devote years to an avocation. Published writings may supplement Other sources of mcome. Some may even be recipients of university or pernmenl grants, usmg tim mont.'Y to survive IlnJ (und actiVities. A paT3ps~hologist may already have a 'M:ll-rooteJ belief In the supernatural, pemaps due to personal experience or per· sonal has. Some who are more detached (and therefOre professional) WIll mamrrun a healthy amount of skepticism when encountering new cases. Of all the "occupntions~ a pla~r may choose. the parnps}cilologlSt ~hould be best equipped to deal With the paranormal. He or she will be most likely to rely on thorough methoJs of investigation and will nlso be most likely to usc the latest techniques in photography (Illd audio recorulng. In generlLting a chamcrer, the player ~hOtlld ronsiJer cJu· catlOnal background. social status, and myri.'kI Ot:her elements. A p:!nLps)cl101Of!ist will likely consider investll.rating the supernatural a full tllne job. TI1US, taking time out to participate In

An lll)5l)rtll'lent of professors I~ well SUited to this cmnl'~lLgn. Onc who rea.:hes th(."Olo!,'y, rnyrhllIOb~·, or hi~tory would he rnost likely to have an interest in d"le occult. nlC aJvalltllJ,'Cs here aft' dl.lt ~u..:h a person is well-eJuc.ueJ anJ ['(.)!\sibl}, finandally sectlft'. TIle Jown SIJe is the fuct that a p",fessor cann.--.r ~Imply fll( uff into the unknown (10 ,hort noticc. UniversIties expect their professors to ,how up to d:t~ses lind mill.,tain a re:l.'>(1Ilable schedule. In a fL'W Cl.o;cs o;,lbh3tical~ c.ln be arranboN, hut thc Keeper shoulJ resist the temJ""{a.rion n> grant t..1hhancal~ (\r va..;a. rion time l..'Very tlmc a scenario mmes up, eSJX'Cially ~11lCC 5Qme SO!natlos crop up With little ....'lIrning. Prim:try Skills: depcnJs \)11 the type of prolcssor; con~ult the mlebook

•

Alm-I01~ A pro(c.~ion.ll author has a vcry flc-Xihle occupati'lIl. In alllik.:... lihooJ, an ILWesriJ,'
Character Creation •

C1J-:R<..."lMAN

u.'h'lnmllfC ps~dtics anJ meJlums Will vcry often

1"\(1(

A prie'\t or minister of most ar~' .Icnllmm.ulCln may he ....'ell SUlt- ('''plolt their gift for monetary gain, and thus L"':l.nn(l{ JepenJ un N to thiS campalf:o as long [IS tile mJlvldlml is not tleJ down It fM a livmg. TIllS is IlOI to So1y all Will h()IJ to rillS ideal and m II oonll'~ation. An interest in d~ ()(cuIV5ul'ernarur.'l1 or a

h(1wa pl:')o'!r "'ants to h:mdlc this i~ up tll the mJlviduaJ. Note that the investigators ~houkl he a 'iCril"lus lot. OtI"ll~rwiS<', it i~ not Qh.,'iousty, during charactt!r c~[l[i()n the Keeper should note the rl:lll5ihle to believe they "'Ould nOI he collt:.cted hy Amdi;l 5UbJC.1ke.~, or al1)UTlC else m the cmllpai!!n. If they Primary Skills: Aa:ounring, FiN Aid, History, ubrary Usc, emplny a J'li)Chic. be it an mVe5riJ.,>:lror or a non-pb'f'!r ch:lraLter. L5tl:n. other Iangu:.gc5, ntrsuaJc, P~)ChoIO!.'Y thiS shoulJ be a reasonably professional rcrson who seems 1CJ.'1t imate. A ch:.racter who is dres<;cJ up like :. stcreofypical gyps)' fortune Idler or JcckeJ out in some Merlin the M:lj:tlCi:ln rlt.nfit P~""i<':HI<':S AND MI-DruMS ~io and mcJiums are traditionally emrk"t-eJ by I"'lrap<;}" will not h: mken serlouslr anJ Will likely attract unllL'CJcJ an ..1 chol.,:If,,'tSts and !J{hers m hell' inw~tignre and interpret haum- lInw:uueJ attention. In OI:her \uJl\k It 1~ tl'L,)mmendeJ thar the mIlS. The po5Slbtbty of playing su.::h a character has never been lption. No more than Of)(' should be :lllov.'Cd III the ,l:'wup and ....nich ~klrs throu/rll the astral plane or wields deadly m~ic. If tht.' l:lml' "ft is:I klnJ uf"seconJ sight or ""xth sc.'nse" that allows lhe Ih:lt are a\':lilahle to no one eI'iC. kecpm,l.! Ihe charocter /.'CflCta rcnon I,) fed emotions wilhln an inJlViJual. object. or tlon pnlCC5S f.UT aM equlmblc. tko.dhng. It Will often ~ to the point of alluwlng the inJiviJual Primary Skills: dlOSe of the prim:lr)' pn,(e~~ion thi~ person" I('! locate and oommUllicutc with splTlfual entities, usually those dt.'\\J{cd tl): ,f Ilili/her inoomc ({)me~ hom pra.:th.:inl£ the ~,I:'ih" of the dead. A medium goes one ~tl'P further ti1.1n thiS. A meJI' then lll'propri:ltc skills induJe A:.trnlof.,')', DivinMion, nowsin!!. um 15 pmhahly YA!1l versed In occult knowledg... and can conJuct Fast T..11k. Oca,lt. Ubrary Usc, rc .... uad ..., and PS'1'=holngy. ieancel! to speak with the deaJ. wil1mll'ne~s m investi}-.'llte is imporwnl in this type 1)( character.

THE "GIfT" TI'IC following is :l lis! of PO""'CTS and t heIr descTlptions. This IS mtcndcJ TO he:l f.urly comrl... tc listing' of powers. Ho\\\:\'cr, (or

the l'uqX):;O:S of Corning fl j{] Cin:l~ It is recommended the Keerer allow llnJ~ Cbir.\l\-
[n cadl case, a ba.se rating is given in paremheses next to the name of the abiilty. This is the ch.1ncc of successfully l.·mpIO)·· illg the abihty when neeJed. Uk.! skills, these abilitIes Ilnprcwt' WIth u:'\<'. More on purchMing these abilities is given later.

C lai rvoya nce (PO \Vx l ): The ability In see events anJ I'bcc., fur :l\v.ly frum one's physical body. These may be past l~n'nrs, hut IT is mon.' usual for one to see things in the present.

Ii can

l~

a mC;Jns for n rcTSOn ro find a Crienu or a SUSpl."{;{.

ClaiT\\\'ianc~

costs one mngic poim rer minute of usc. Wh~tthc is very blurry anu can easily be misinterpreted. N(\ dk rolli, Te{!ull'cd for rhi,. R:lther, the K.."I.,"·per musrcrenre a speLlfte Jescnption. ClmT\'Oy:mce will not work unlcss xtivdy attcmptt'J. HlIII>\.'Ver, unJcr sJ'I.."'Cial circumstances, one who is dUT\'I,l')':lnt may he ahle to tlrrempt II roWKS roll Of somethmg ~r COSts three magic points to /.>ct alolt- anJ rhen one m;\J.!i..: point per TOUnJ of usc thereafter. nlis ability i~ rnrc and ~hould not readily be permitted to be Within till' c.1f"(lhilitlcs of a psychiC in this campaign. Pliychic H ealing (POW x l ) : M;IllY terms are applied to this ~klll induJmg ~l;lying on ofhands.~ Some theorize that It i~ Ilt';llin~ tl1l\'U).,41 f.uth alone whi!~ Others insist ~ bencf'icial cner· b'Y tran~fer Oct"Urs bet'M:t'n [he l'\CalcranJ hi~/her sub}t!'L'"t. For rhe purpose, t,llhi~ text, the latter is the theory that is adhercJ to. A typkal heating- sc~ion c.1n last anywhere from a few min· utes Ii) an hour. 1nc healer expenJs a variabll! amount of magic JXlims depenJing on the nature of the illness or injury suffered (the KL"Cpcr assigns the number of points reqlllreJ to have a chance 01 dfect). While It will nO! heal rul1et wounJs or cnt:l· strophIC Uljurics, p.~.,.chic hcaling may alleviate pain, as~ist In the cure of minor (lr even tcmlilMl illnesses, and heIr counter the ..:ttl'i.:t' of trauma and shock. The Keeper may :tS<;ign modifiers to rl'll! ",hana: l1f ~uco:s.~ b:1scd on the nature of the illness, the skill anJ jX11I>\:r of the healer, and the levd of belief in the subjl.'Ct. Psychom etry (P O \Vx l): Pcnnit5 one to fcd the psychic vibnmons of an area find sense the emotions tmpped in 11 strue· ture or objeCt {It emanating from an individual or entity. The an).,>et anJ lear gt'nerateJ by a violl!nt munil!r, for instancc, may I'~)'chk

:;<.... s

• The

bc.:ome locked m the bricks anel bcalll~ 01 a room fOr Jecades and even centunes, allowing the ps)\:hk 10 Jetect 11 lung after the incident is past. MagIC pomt cost IS onc point per )1llllllte or frflCtion thert:of :md thi~ <:an he I!mpla,'eJ in (onjuncrion WIth SI,'cond Si).,4u. Second Sight (POWx l ) : Permit:. the psychic w vil!w an 3rea, looking into the astra! plane and tither area& outsidl! the "real worlJ.~ This essennally allows him or hl!r m :;<.'e ).,'e ight limit:ltions. For every magiC point expended, 11 one pound ob;eer may be rolll!J or a 111~ ounce nbJL'Cr IICt\l311," take {li",[-\!. This m:q.:ic point eXpt.'nditure must be macle ea..:h rmmd (three seconds) meaning thaI this "biltt)' is wry dr:.lining. Telepath y (PO\Vx I): This i~ minJ [0 minJ C(lll1munica· tion beN'l'l!n p'--'{)plc. It cm, in tllL'Of,', n«:ur owr \'irtually any ~IiStancc. Tcll!p.1Ihy is a Jrnining expcrit'nce. For e,l(h munJ of communication, each of tho:;e involveJ expends one magi..: poilU. Optionally, d'\e KL't:j'lCr m3Y al~ impose aJJlliunal mag-it pomt costs fOr dl-'tan~ (perhaps an addl(ional magic point every It'n miles bcopnd the lira 0111.'). Telcpathy may ;11.,0 he e:l-'Icr w per· fOrm on a tar~.'et that is dreamin~, msnng half the nl:1/!IC POlT'lts. Unfortunately, in sudl a case, the dreamer may nl1Sint~'rprct the mes:>aj.,'C or L'\'en Jismiss it :IS heing a strnnf!<' JT\'~m. Finally, OI1("S rebtionship to [he target may infllll'nce the co<;t. If a /.'I.J(xl frienJ, close relative, or spouse is mntacted, magic point costs art' halved. Friends. IDII>'Or\..1!TS, and more distant relations cost the normal amount while acqu~illt:lnccs cost two magiC points (0 contxt: (otal srranh'
SKILLS The folk)wing skills can be Jevdl,peJ by virtually anyone anJ are not solely the prodnce of pS\1:hics. In using these, 111 most cases. there should be some dan).,'Cr of misinterpretation. A strol ogy: AstrolO!,'Y is the ability to gain IIlslght from ana· lyzing the nlovement of st;Jr.>, planets, 3nd other he:lVenly hod· ies. A person with this .,kill may b't'nerate astr'doglcnl dlam, advise someone on past, present, and future eventi, Imd assess the talents and personality of someone else with whllm the l'lI!r' son interxts. nle le\'d \)( :lccumcy anJ v"liJity of this skill ,1Tt' in the banJs of the Keeper. Divination: nlis is a general tcm, fi'T a wide array of meth· ods of Jivining the future. It also allows one to gam fresh IIlsi h4u into problems and pasr acts. In choosing this skill, thc mdlvid·

Characler Crealion •

ual mu~ lc:lrn a \pecific merhoJ. Commonly useJ /i.'nns of d,\" m,mon are ral'O{ reaJings, palm reaJillJ.!, use (If crYlilals and cry". ral balls, and ha~pisy (re:KIIn~ entrails of :lnlmals). Many forms of [)r,lnatton IIwolve some form o( mareri:ll ohJCCt that actS lli a catalyst. A h~t o t Jivin:nion types is }jiven on pages 14-1 S. When Wle is anemptin}j to u<;c tillS skill, a specinc quc.stion nlU~ hc posed. II the skill roll is successful, the Kt.'cpcr mus, \!eto:rmn-.c whal answer to gi\~. Very often, aOW,1.:TS are Vilt;UC anJ can be Inlerpreted in rll)Tlad w-a)~. UI'im:lIc1y, It is up tll the Kecrcr M w wrut usc:..ful infum,ari~m , if an.,... is !->aincJ throo¢"l thb ~klil. N(l(e that Divin.1oon IS a skill :U¥'1lC can Je..-elop. H~w, It IS more likely to be u~(ul to experienced psychi~. Dowloing: Commonly associated with the finding of water. a ~-;er u.ses a fOrkeJ rOO, pendulum. or (}Iher item to find spccllk suhstanccs. Dowsing is II time honon..·d ability rrnctlceJ around IIw v.mlJ l"'t' both amnteurs IInJ professlunals. Studies luvt shown tllM Jowsing actlllllly works thou/.,41 how IS still a ~lUl'O! tor debate. Du....'-.cr; arc also rermN "water wioches" lOr it is rhe di~ CO\'er~' III undt.'fS::round .....-ater soum:~ that they are best known for, Hf.....\....·er, II ~l!UeJ OOv."SCr may he ahle to tUIlC in (thrtlllJ. .h mal anJ er,,-,r) on \llrtually any phYSical substance. Some J..'w~rs h,we ~n known to he: able to cnnmtently find sliver ..kpc,,;lt'. l'llrl\..-J hune. anJ even magncri<: lInt'm:lh~. The two he!.t known methods llj JO .....Slllg IIwolve the usc of a fi.lrh.J ~tlck. anJ the usc o( a penJulum. When holJing the SOl:K (whid, em be maJe of \lirtually anyt hing) in b011l hands !II wal~t k...·cI. the dowser fUlkS in on tI-.c suhS[lIncc being .stIU~~lt. He lIr she then w"lks over the grounJ where the subst:anct' is l-d1C\-eJ w be. When the stKk violently ~tlaP~ down .....ard. ,h,11 ~ the klCloon (If the substance. Further reaJm,l,'s are reqUlreJ to ),'tt prKlo;e roOrultlares anJ to determIne dePlh. A pendulum IS anolher ti&m:ltlll# mcthoJ. The do...."SCr in thl.> caSe! \Ise~ a fXxket-waoch or amulet on a ~tri ng or dtain. H,~,lmJ.: It Uti[ ',,-,m the body :mJ ovcr the spot to be searcheJ, t~ i.k')w;s(!r counts h~')w many times It )pms. The nlllnbto:r of tllfl'lS nnJ tho: direction It is spinning determines wh:1t ~1Ctly i~ k)('atcd 10 the earth below the pendulum. TIllS rt-qUlre5 a lor of pra.:oce anJ trial and error 51nce the ili.)wscr must know, fur InstaOl."I.", what SC\'en turns to the lett means. It the K...'Cpcr allows thill skill. It mUM be Jetermll1l..-..J \\,flich klrm l)j dllw~mg is u<:eJ. While lhmJ,: ;\ k,rkcJ sri,k allov.... lor rddm:dy \Wlh. k'lCation of a 5uhM::mce, uo;c of the penJulum alk"",~ ti.'lr Ilkntitkanon of an unknown suho;mnce. Some ~" ma)' require a ch..1r:lCtcr with Ihis skill to devd\l{'I it scp;lTatcl)' tOr the two forms. DOWSing i~ h'Cl'lernlly considcr\..-J rdi· "hk t1\1.lU{.~' {here Is s<1me room lot llmimerl'reranon. Seance: This is a skill that is used In concen with "the );Itt." It is ('s~nrially a MS UIll11l('ln Spm( mu.11 {h.al will "un. l,ru.,· if the Kc-..-per Jecms It ap(""-'pTL1tC. A ",ance canntl\' tO~ a ~plnt to show up; It WIll only come "'( II'S own accoru. It IS rather Lk calling '-l'~'1lC on the tdephollC ;md h.l\·11l,C them monl ttl!' the a~nng machine while }OU Ie!ave a Ille.'.sage. If they W;lIlt 10 call bock. they Will. A spmt that . . hllW5 up to a seance!

•

may exluhll phy~"al t"\'iJen~"C I,t It, pn:'>o:n~1.:_ lilt J.1o:,n·t, 11' ~~m h.- JctcctL-J thrOI.l/.,"l the use 01 Sl'Wlk) Sidu. To he ahle nl conduct a seam:e, rile ~}\:hi' Ilr Int.... lium nlU,1 know tilt: m~'Chal'lics o( it which rcqUlI'('~ either O'...ulr ,1-..111 t,1 4Cf'A.I or more or fOr the IXN<,lIl to have h~~n ~peciIiGlII)' imlnKI cd in how to conJlIC! Oil.: (in which case, the I',)\:hll.:\ O,Al.II! skill shoulJ he on k)\>.w than 10%). A 'iCmKt~ Will u,uall)· i11\\,lw il g'mup (,t f'I.."l..'ple ~ ltT:1ng arwnJ a tahle or lin the I k'or in a orcle holding: h.1nd,. It ~htlUlJ only he "U('l.",,,lul ,IT ni!."lt (Kt.'t:(X:r\ discretIon). As the nk-Jium call ... thl." "Pint. O:.K:h rarudJ:'Qnt lu';\.·s lIne mas.'" Pl,inl and the meJ1Um t'xpo:nd\ dl~hL Nt) minimum amount is o"'\.-Jcd; the Io:.s of the m:l,L'l( Plllnb I~ a ",do: eH~'Ct ,m..] ..foes not cause the SUmmllnln1( l,r CummUlllCatlllll. The rr(lo,:'~ rokc .. only u (1:\10' Illinutcs (no more than len) lInJ it th.... ~riT1l IS aurccahle, It will arri\le. What h'IPI1O.:n~ ITI.'m here i~ J~f":nJ . . nt un who (or wh:n) wa~ summoO\:d nnd wh;11 ead, p',ITTy mlend, t.l Jo or 'k1y. In the cvent the (Hde b brol-..cn (i.e. "'"VC1")Ut~ I, not holdm~ h:mds). wnmet with the cntlfy I~ hr, ,ken .mJ II .krart~ instantly. A 'ICCOnJ 5I.."ance i~ pl',s~iblc the ~111lC ......·cnlllt.:, but I, unlikely to suro.~d because the fiN will p"ll l.;IH~" haw Jrau'lo:d RIO many uf the m\...J,um'~ mOlh'" Pl>lnt~. Note th.1t Jl1nn~ a .seance, the nk'Jiulli nUt -dunrl\."r t1w ~PITlt I..,' pcrmiwng It tel cnter hi" l~r her \-ooJ)' ;mJ 'p.::lk throuI,41 hIS or her mouth. Tlll~ IS usu.,Jly \.;tk. hILt ,o:rmin cnt![1es-parncuL1rly dl."m()IlI' \)ne~ maSllllt'r;tdin~ ,..., ho:nll-:n '1-'ITIrscould r,lke rh,s opportunity t(1 t .... mpot;lT1ly IlT ~'wn Ix·nnall1.'ntly possess the viCl1tllllr somdlOw d\, harm (inI;,1ml~· be11lt.: ont' 1""0;slhle runi"hmen! lor meJJlinJ.: with rill' unl-..Oo.l\\'n). SAN J.", /l)r f'lIS~lon by a mak,,\)I . . nt i1O.:1IlJ.: shoukl 110.: rIC! les\ tl1;111 2/ 1[)IO+I ,\Od that i1~umc:s tI'I
INVI:STlGAl'ORS WITH THI: GIfT IIlhe k4."..pcr k'C\.s It IS aPr"'rriate to I'lt:rmlt an lll\'l·~tll!at('>r p",.. chic In the gam~. he UT ~he sllllUki mamtain cudul ',\:r; ocwn.ling to ti-.c list I·dow (wludl al,,) mdu..k, ti'l
ahiIill!

l.&>l

ahiIill!

CLlltvll\"ilrll"(' (!'OW)! I) 20 I'sYlhk i-t.:"Un),: (roW);!) w

Lt'\'liolIl<'1I (row)!1 '2) i\y.:ho(1lclr\' (POW,,])

~
Tdck,Il"'(' WOW,,] '21

(roW)!!) Telepathy (POW,,!)

20

40

Eath ~ 1% III .1 Io:lvcn abllil\' t,,'c ~

l.&>l '0 W

"

I pOlnl

2

p<'lm~

, rum"

•

FO\~MS 0\·' DNINATION Dlvlllanon has been widely practlceJ over the centuries in countless forms. What follnw~ i~ a listing- ot some of the more common ur more lIlterestlng. [hhe Keeper is permitting player character~ to have Divination skill, some control owr what speciflc form of divination should be exerciseJ. As will become dear, not all form.s of Jivimmon arc appropriate for lIlVcs' tij:ators, If for no other reason than (or cultural or moral reasons. While this list is extensive, it is I~' no mean~ cxhaU.'>· llVC. Interested readers arc Ufg..:J to conduct their own An Enc"lopdl(l of OccuJu~t71 (see bibliography).

re~arch.

ALfUROMANCY

The most vlt:ll rource for this srttion was Lewis Spence's

BIBLIOMANCY

An ancient (orm of divination that survived as l;ne as the This is a simpll' anJ ,traightlorward ml'lhoJ (If JlvinatlOn ninetccnth century, a[curomancy involves the usc of flour rh(u hnsn't N:cn ll~ed in centuries. It is :1 means of Jeter· and slips of paper. Sentences are wmten on the paper which I~ then rolled up In a ball of flour. Af"~r a number of these balls are prepared. the uIViner mixes them up thoroughly nine times. The balls arc then distributed Ilmong the partie· Ipants who then read the papers to Jearn their fine.

nunlng whether on.. wns 0. witch or not. The greAt h,ble In the local chun:h was rlaceJ on a scale and Its weight was comp~red with that of rhe aa:uscJ. It the accused'~ weight wa~ less than that of the bible. then he or she was Jednred innocent. NC'cdless to ,a~'. one coulJ only hope thM the ..:hurch's hlhle wa~ huge and hounJ wnh hron:e.

AMNIOMANCY

This is divination by means of the caul. A caul is the memo BOTANOMANCY vranl! which sometimes envelops the head of a child al In this form 01 divination. one fakc~ branche~ 01 VCTvcin bmh. Diviners could inspect the caul and determine the and bnar :mJ carves LJuc,tion~ upon them. The~e arc Ihen infant's future. A red caul indicated a bright future; a lead- burned and the diViner gleans an.iower~ fmm the sllloke anJ coloreJ one \.\IllS indicative of future misfortune. As a side- ~sh. 1'lOle, in some areas of Europe, a child born wilh a caul was bchc\'N to hlwc the mark of the varnpm~. After Jeath. such CAPNOMANCY a person was supposedly doomed ro me as a vampire and Fl)rms of thi\ type of JI\'maIIOn vary. All in\'oke Interpret· ing smoke from fires. The prmcipal ver~ion was dlvinmg prey upon the community. through sllloke generllted by II burlllng 5acrifice. I'U"tIVC reaJings in\dwJ the ~In
•

of

•

1··ORMS OF DNINATION CEROSCOPY

NECROMANCY

In this form of JlVlnation, the subject takes wax anJ meln It Nlr the purpo:;es of dIvination only, 1'I('Cromam:y is JivmaIn a brass vessel. Once It IS a uniform IILJUIJ. It IS poured inrn tion by means of conflicting the spirits of Ihe .lead. Other anolher \'essel conlalnlng colJ water. The .....ax C\.mgeaLs on Jeflnltions of necrumancy eXIst and j.(et more IIwol\'eJ. dle' surface of the water lO form tiny .1!,C5. It IS the form and Necromancy III any form is often perceIVed as evil. Sec psyarrangement of these discs that the diviner analyzes. chomaney for mMl' intOrmation. CHAOMANCY

PALMISTRY

This is divination through c,1reful ol"'ervation of armos· rheric changes.

ThIS form of Jlvln:llion involves the Intl'rrretari(lIl of tht· lines in lhe palm of the subJecl's hand. Currect interpn.:(,l' tion can leaJ to JI\·ining the subject's future, [he nature 01 hI" or her character, and more.

CLEROMANCY

It coulJ be argued that this form 01 Jlvmari(m has Ix-en common worldwide lind is evt'n in Widespread use toJay. P~LORHODOMANC~ KOllwn to have been uSl:d in ancient 4'YPt and Rome. clero- Originatmg with thl' Greeks, this is diVination through the mancy involves hurling dice. beans, small bones. ~t(lnes. or use: ot rose: lea .... e~. By c!.Jpping a rosc leaf in 1m or her hAnd, nnually anything cl~ anJ then analYZlllg the pattern they the diViner c(lould interpret the !)o(llmd made. Fwm thiS. ~uc­ fl~fm on the grounJ. cess (or f.l.1lurd of future endeavors c(luld I~ uelermined, CRYSTAlOMANCY

Also known AS cry~tal-gazing, this i~ ..... here the diviner I'mrloys A rrnnsparent object as the primary comrxmenl in hl~ or her craft. This Objl"Ct may be a cry~tal globe, mirror, or ('I.·en a pool of .....ater. The Jiviner usc_s a form of hypno\I~ (0 5eC lmaJ.,~S ,md \'isions In the uy~tal. In the t .....~nfleth the most common form o( crystalomancy involves the use of a crysml bll, one th~t nllm he ~ highly polished lunJ {1awbs sphere.

PS~CHOMANC~

Similar to necromnncy, its. Unlike ne..:rolll~ncy,

[hi~

is Jivinatlon hy means 01 spirnot hear an ugly rcputmon_

It Joc~

PYROMANCY

Di\'ination I:», (lrc. It is a ~'l<Xl sign when il sacrifice i10 4uick Iy consumcJ by the flames, The n:nure ot the fire ltself(wlor of flames, ~hapes thl!Y form, eoc.) aro!
I"'0""'.

ICHTHYOMANCY

Similar to harspicy, tlm is more spcd/ic. It i& divination by muns of examminj.( the entrails of fish.

• Character Creation

Vonns of Ohlinalion •

c

H

A

p

T

E

o

N

E

1 92 9 Iftpa'llnlonRatJon ...... ' ................................................................•.............................. ' 1

a.ctteround ••••.••.•.••••.••••.••••••••.••.••••••••••••••••••••..•.•••••••••••••••.••••..•••• " •• ' •..... " ••.......... 11

p,-,,", AId 'I , lcll" r from """"g Apcoll to 0 .... oIlhe inn, tlt-Ion ....•.••.•.••..•••.••.••.••••.••.••.••••.••.•.••.••••••. If IEA.... r. Plaia and AblllUu .•.•..•.•.••.•.••.•.•..•.•....•.••.•..•.••..•.••.•..•.••.••.•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•....•.••......• .10 Pouualon .••.•.•.••.•.••.•.••.•.•..•.•.••.•.. .. ..••.•.•. . ............ , •.••.•..•..•....•.•..•.•.11 The kn1vn 'pl..... ....................................................................................................11 .... of NorUIlUhkld . circa l .-It •.••••••.•..•••.••...•....••••...•......•..•....•.••..••••.....••.••.••.••.•.••.••.•.•..••• .n ~ Alhftotkl. MasMchllMtu ..............................................................................................., Inl~ lite AcJcolu ........................................................ _ . ........................................ .., AmeUaApcolt .........................................................................................................4 1\11_ u.rp.. . .........................................................................................................4 Malik HU»e' .......................................................................... . .............................. 1 ........................................................................................................ n

'uuan Apc:ofl

11M Apc:ofU In Com/nfl'ullCh'de ......................................................................................11 ~""'nt , ....1.., a.ctttround ••.•••••••••••.••••••.•••••••.•......•.•.......• _..•••.•.......••.•........•.••• • •••••••••M ~AMI , t. lJoMOfJ O,."".,lIrtkkclalM June • • I . . .. ".., I .........................................................M 1beofia ........................................................................................................17 The Apc:oll H(KIN ...................................................................................................... Dlavram otlhe.-\ilCOtt HOUN. I'ltil floo • •.••.•.••.•.•..•..•.••.•..•..•.••.•..•..•....• .. ..••..•.•.....•.•..•.......11 Ant flooc' ................... . ........................... . ...................................................11 DIafr".... ofllxApcon H(KIN.kcond I'Ioof' ........................................................................11 kcond ftoot .................................................................................................. ...

DYwrun 01 the Ap<:O(I HouN. Thlnll'loof' ........................................................................... . ThIrd f'1ooc' .................................................................................................... .n OlaVram ofthc Apeon H(KIN. BaN..... nl ........................................................................... .)O BaNmC"1 ....................................................................... . .....•.•.. .)0

.-\peon"_ ..................................................................

AOk ..•••••..........•••..... . ..••..•.•......•••••••....•••••••••••. . •••••••••••..•••••••••••••••••••••••••••• -'0

DlaVram oIlhc I!I'OUnd. tu'Ound lhe

.ll ....................................................... . .......... . .......... . ..................... .ll ....................................................................................................... -'O .....-.:bln'!l the KouN ................................................................................................. .ll Ob .......... the H(KIN ...................................................................................................... .ll QueJilonlnlf Nellfhbl).. •... .•.•. . •.. . .•.•.•. .•. . . . •.•. .•.••.• . .•.••.••.•. . •.•..•..••.•.•..•..•..•.••.•..•.•....•..• .l! Other Ncithbof' . ..................................................................................................... .l4 lQUtCh MId InyutlvaUon •....••••.•••...•............••••••••....•.•••••••.••••••••••.••.•.••.••.••.••.•.••.•.••.•.••.•. .lJ AmeILl A,peon ....................................................................................................... .l. TM County Surt .................................................................................................... .l. utrr..., ............................................................................................................. .ll Aid fI , TlIC A'"'otl f.mlly Tree • .. • . • .. . . • . • • . • . • • . • • . • • . • . • • . • • . • . . • .. • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . ..•.•..••.•.... ..H Plap. Aid II, PoII~rvel.t ........ . ..•........ . ...•....•..•.•..•..•..•.••.•..•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•..•.•..•..•.•.••.•17 N_Spa""tI .......................... . .............................................................................. .l. TM frNlllUn tounly HlII...x.1 Soc:kt, ................................................................................ .l. PYytr AMI , . Grftnlkkl Guettc.nd Covt1«' .... kle claiM AprIl ' I, ...... PIII!C ' ...................................... ..H PIaJ'U AId If ' Grwnlkld G.uftfc and Cowkr ankk .... M AprI' so. I''''' pate I •..• _ ••....•••••••••••••••••.•••••••••. ", 11M Cal • ..., epucopoal Chun:h •.••••..•.••••••••..•.••.••••....•••••••••••••.•••••••.••••.••.••••.••••••••••••.••.•.•. .l, T1Ic of ...... ~d ThOlllQ $Ic¥fllll .............................. . .............................................0 OtM.Chun::he• . . . ...•.•.••.•.••.•.••.•.•..•.••.•.••.•..•..•.•..•..•.••.••.••.•..•.•..•..•.•..•.••.•.••.•..•.•. A I 11MNotthAshhe ldCClnuRrJ ................................... . ........................................................ 1 'ueM'Ch In Boston ....................................................................................................... AI hMlcttllhtl $ecnMIo ........................................................................................................

no.. Grounch

T1w HauntM H_

PIa".

""'m.'

~

............................................................................................................ .... A'

11M Cllma.a Aprll SO .•••••••.•.•.••...••.••••••.••...........•............••.......•..••••••....••.•.••.••••••••••••.••••• AS .-\fttnnalh ......•...•••••••••.••.•.•.•.••.•.••.•.••.•••..•.••.••.••.•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•.••.••••.••.•.••.•••.. AS 1'M Tr.Mlllon ................................................................. .. ........................................ ... S.-\N.e....... andPt ..... tJea ...••.•.•.••...•..•.••.•..•.•.•..•.••..•.••.••.•..•..• .•.••.••.•.••.•.••.••.••.•..•.•..•.•..•.. A 6 NPCI ........................................................ . ..............................................................J

New Spe'" bore'.... . ..................................................................................................... ....

•

Olle: Cold

Contents •

C

~uiJ S(loI i~

ll11n-Cthulhu Myth~ scenario designt....1 fOr their actiVlu",s be J...:pc ..:onhJemial n CI"lUld suHer ~hould this bo..Ulmc public. This fact encounter In d~ past [0 cut1vir'ICC them of rhe existence of the may be enL.lu~.'h ill help CDIWlI\l"e the Hwcsti).,'3tOfS she is .serious f
:l

five

in\'t~tip((lr.; Wf'KI

rco....u

tl\'e

profeSSIOn'>. The 5etung is fictitious Nonh AshfidJ,

Mas~"\(huSd:ts, a rum] commUnity ,kscribeJ in !!f'l!3t1.'t detail

clseoAhcre. TIll' ~ar is 1929. ,) IUllluliu()'.l$ ,Jilt for the United State~, but heR' III North AshflelJ. Imlt~ ~.:cms to P.1SS oh·so· slowly and wnh 1ude Jlsrurhancc. In writing this, the author has assumed the group i~ wmposed of p;trnpsyc:hlllngi"ts and sunllar typc~, Cltl'ler all1att.'Ur or protcs~llmal. 11m. w,ll enahlc [0 d'll!lll [ll h:wc the abilny [(l con· Juct a pamnormal In\"c~tlJi!i nUl phlUslble to otl'll!rs sudl a:. the police.

l~I-:EPI-:l~'S

INFORMATION

It h L1te Wllllcr/e;\rl~· ~rT1ng m N...·..... EngbnJ (lnJ one (or more) \-,t I~ irr,.. eM:l~t\"~ is confa\."feJ

l"i Amc1i.1 Apcun, a fifty ~nr North A~hfidJ. M.I.,.').·K1lUi;t:ftS. She has

ldJ WI®W lIVIng 11\ le:tTTll..J th.lt Iht" m\"('sti~'3wr is a kmJ of pafllpsydwlOW~ (>r ~~"K.l!it hunter anJ ha~ a rnd"cm Ihat tits in th.11 CllIq,'Ory. Pla)'\~T AIJ II I un Ihe next P:IJ.,'(' pru"·k.le~ a tmnscrll"ll: of the letter (J.1teJ TUl'sday, AprIl 9. 1929) <;("1l1 l""t, Mn.. Aralft to dle im'c... tlgawr. TIlt' It'ner arnw~:II hl~/hcr re~IJence on April 14. If nmnlCted, l'uh... r III person or by telephone. Amdia Cdn l.Jabt>mh.·l".,)tmJ wh:lt IS in the hrieflertl:r. H...r prohlem is that her hom..., WlllJ\ ha!i ix'Cn uccupied hy her fu mil\· for many ~;en· l'fllfll)m. is exhIbiting strnnJ.!e characteri~tic:;. Her only expl::m:l. rion I~ th;n rllt' houS\' is haunted or l'ossc~';C\..1 by "denlOn~.~ It I~ her hope th;1\ SClmL'(lllC L";m Cl)II\C to llt'r ils~is{[lncc :mJ cleanse her homc. II rhe wrr.·CI"i,lflon is shCJrt and conmm~ only the has~. then l·\"Cr~·thU\1: prou.'CJ5 normally. HllYJe\.'t'r, if it Jras.,'l<> llUt be'j'lIlJ the IomLc:\ inm ,\ full OL..J,I,....-J imcrvi...·w over rhe td ...... phone, ~mu..: ~uddl'nl)· Il\·cr\\.flclm.s the lille, making communi· (,IrK.m imJ'l~ible. Trying III call1lt'r bock is fruitleS5>-Ju~t k)l.\ of ~1;ltK-
•

BAC1,Gl~OUND

n-.c Apcott ~lIm ly I\;.\~ n lon~ anJ ndl henmJ.>C and has li\'OO in Mass:llllt.'l.i ;1 mea~ure o( immllrrallty, at great per· ~mal LlN. If ..... a.' ,I pn ...-c Ilt' ..... illo willing 10 pay, but before his \\'{·J\-bIJ "Inns c.\1\\e to fnl ition, Ilt' JieJ. E:ckul was the fiN Apc.:ou m the North Ashfield area. He 1l1{l\....-J hel"l.· twm IT\l\,I~IcI\Ct', Rhode IslanJ with his wife, S JXl~J and the dark ~f"ilin on ehe Arcocr name grad· uall~' hJcJ unlil f...·w. l'Ven wllhm the bmilr, wcre 3\\';11"1: that an~"thin~ unu~l);11 oo:urn'l.l so long 3J,'O. H<m,."\"cr, the Ikath ot Ezckial's p\yt"'K';I1 ixlJy J IJ 110{ enJ his cXlStCnce. &"'C3u.se !-us plan§ "-'r immon .. llt)' ...."re Ilnly p:1rnally completcJ. hl' is now a kHlJ llt W"Il"l<.t l'r ~1'101 trnPf"'l.-J ..... Ithin d"IC hou.5l: ~rill trying IU Tl.'a(h that ~'nll. rortunatd)', I'll! ha!> 1.....'I:'n very limited m ....il.at lle coulJ ..ill. T .... \1 o.·ntuTle~ h.1\'(' pa~)oCJ ~mcc his death. Among area children .md a h.1nJful of slll'erstitioll~ locals. the house has a repuwion for bem~ haunted though httle aCTual phenomena havl' l'\·cr hccn (d, ...... r\" ...d. In trurh, the house is haunted and not

rut

One: Cold

•

PLAYER AID *1: LI:."TTER ....ROM AMEUA

Tuesday,

~.p-il

APcon TO ONE 0 .... TU£ INVESTIGATORS

9, 1929

Dear Sir. I am a ;lido"" 11vlnl) in N01 th ~.shfield, Massachuset.t5 ,., 1 th my daulI:hter, II;rtlnddllujrhter, and ne{lhaOl lind recently learned of yOUl ellpeni5e in the plIHlnOlllllll. I am in need of you I seJ.;ices fOr it seems my hou~e is ple.ljued by ~ome SOIt of I:I;host 01 spirit. Oul problems be~lIn II fe'" .,eeks II~O. I 11m not 5ure of the eXlict timl', but the children ... ele th!' first to notice an,.thin~ Since th",n, all of us hllve.,itnessed more then one strll.nlle occunence. Jnder nOrIMl cilcumstancell , I "ould not have taken the step to contact you. but the Chul(:h seems to be W"lable to help end I k.no·., of no,.,hele else to turn. The filst 5lralll~e thin~lI .. ere noticed by the children. It involved the movement of objects by invisIble hands and loud kJlocl:.in~ lind banlling on.,alls and floors. t-ootsteps have been heard illlooinins; the house despite the fact that all l'lre in bed. Sr-oons I'Ind other implements have been "tent beyond use and I don't bel ie ve eithel of the chUdren ale resronsible. Most ~ecently, the bed in my granddaulI:hter ' s loom hl'ls been moved at n1l1:ht. with heT in iL WOlse, a tellicle slule'; has pllll!iued the house twice. It sounds like a man in terrible pllin 01 an~uish, but '''I! have not "teen able to pinnolnl the source. Thinlls only seem to be ljettinQ' ;lorse and I feat fOl tll" chUdren. I am w1111nl<; to pay for your services. 1.,111 leimbuISI! you fOl trl'lin tic~.l!ts til Greenf1l!1d, a to,," close to North ~.shfi61d. tI.lso, 1.,111 pay you ~lO.OO pet day to compensllte you fOl yOUl tim6 lind tloubl6. If you need to clin; collea~ul'l:S; alonS; , I can pay 6ach of them ~6.00 {::eI day. ~ive

crackpot nor do I 'ilish to ",lIstl! your tim .. This demon or .:rhost is ;enuinely frh!htenin~ us and WI! want to lid 01,11 home of it. If you aJ·e int e.elled in invellli;atin.:r this, ~lease cOntact me at the addLess or telephone number belo..... I am tlustin!! in yOUI co:npll!lle dhctetiOn in this matter Please

this seriOUS consldeIation.

I am not

I'l

";lith SOI!Il!thinl!i a Ieasonable llerson would cons i del fl1volous.

Respectfully

You~s ,

~.meUa L At:cott 450 B l l'Ch Lane North ~.shfil!ld, Massachusetts ielephone: KLS-6l20

)ll5t b,. E=ckial. T110'0 ocher entities r()(lm the premise~, rv:lt real· I:mg they an.' dead. Unh~ Erekiai, these other ~hosts are not male...oIt'nt lind more is given on them later. , For many JecaJes Ezekial has ....':1.1[00, trying to return to thr: rh-,~1C:I1 ....urfd in sc.mle \-Iray. OxasionaUy he has made iltttmpt.~ lit thiS, causing unusual. poiter~:cist·likc phenomena to lJl-'Clr in the prcx:rss, but Il(){hing has been partirulany harmIUL H()Y,~~, his grem dl.3IlCr is coming soon and he senses It For the past momh, he has maJc repeated attempts to take po$'i(S.~ion o( one o( the mmily members. In this way, he am obrnin a new body .1.[ least ror a time. Even beneT, if he finds someone ....-00 is r/-rt-.;icaUy frail or ...."ak.wiUed. he may be able to make dv: f'Cb$"'~il.ln a permanent one. II is not a coincidence th.1t he IS able to do rillS only now. While- E:ckml is una.....are of what dare or rime ir is, exactly r....,o

•

Olle: Cold

1929)

centuries have passed since his dearh and rhere

IS one c"enmU this ')-I!ar that he may he ubiI.' to possess someone in rhe house. It is rhe evening o( [he ZOOth annivcNry of his death. Arril 30. If he fuils in his m i~ion on this night, he wiJlI"l\! (orcal to IIo":lU another tWO cenruries. More importantly, while tt.'chnically he could be forced to wnir m'O more centuries, thi~ is in realiry his one and only real chance ror escape. The chance of the house still being intocr in the ZZnJ century is remoce and if the IK'u'I<: is tlcstroo,'Cd, E=ekial's srmt IS dlSpelleJ. Ez.cki~l's perception of time is mulry. He is unahle IO deter· mine what exact ,by It is and has made repeated attempt~ over the pasr momh or 50 to possess someone in the hou.'>e. This has Jed [0 the unusual rhenornena obscrvcJ by fumily members aN..! to the investigators being hired by the incre:lSIngl~· nervous Amelia A[ICOtt.

•

EZEKIAL'S PlANS AND ABILITIES

I:.:ckl.ll T\:mam.'> a pCl\\-\'rlul lorte ck~rlte hI.'> iruul~tan[lal nature. Hu\\\."Vcr, hc.. must play by \I"'-"':Ihc rules that Jrastlcall)' limn 1m ,.l'lliry to junctIOn 1r<.'l'ly 11) the hOllse. H" )..'0.11 is simpl ... He want.\ W ~turn [Q the rl'l\o'~lcal

WIlr1d, rrderably rcrmnncndy. To..lo thiS, he must possess the Il(xiy 01 a person who is 11) the house. TIlaT ;s the hmlt of hi.'> I';II\~,'''' ,mJ IXl\\,W, He cannot take over lu~r an~nc. The taTh...:tcd Victim mU~1 be roIW_'lcally trail or flI,>S<;cSS ~ rcbtivdy low

row

ratmj!. Mattie anJ JulLm arc at the tor of hb hi[ li.'>[ thou:..,,", h.:- will be hap!",t' tll tab- lin any \,l~ltOn;. ....+to seem to h: \"lncrablc. The only nrne he may possess ,I victim IS on the

...... 'cnin~ 1,1 Arril 30, thOUJ.,fl he J{)e~ no.1I: realize thiS. Fortunately for the Arc<.)(t:. (anJ the in\'c.'>n),'a[Ol"i), &ek.al l~ un.w,art" that tI~rc is

-.ther lX'ltcntiai means l'( escape. He can at any time posscss a person in the huuse v.no b I!\.'i,me. Were he (M';Ife of rhi" he could take ~fers to Jriv\! Ah .... ln I brper over the eJ),'C and then make a rosse.~~lon ll!tempt on her. T..1.lia Goruon. a frequcnt \l1~itor, IS also a poten· ti.l1 Glndi.,bte for thi~ as arc perhaps .'il.l1T1C of the less smhlc or \\l:ak-wl1IcJ onvt'sm,I'[lt(lI'$. E:ekial ha..; an :m'ay (,f fXl\\\! .... and ahiliTies. The: n'll,)M ImTX>Tunt i~ his ahllity tll f'O-~~~S a pcl':lOn. This is Jcscril-..;:J on Jct~ul hdov.'. Nearly II!> nnportanf as po,,-.cs~ion is E:ekial's 'lhiln)' t~l hear anJ Sf'e anYlhin~ th;ot O(ClIf"'; in the hllU'ie. It I~ casy Ii.'r hml to locate mJindual" l'\'cn tlln'ie who hiJe, SIIl<."C I'll! o.:an ~ through walls, floor... anJ llhJl'l..'b. Better )'Ct. he 0.:;10 IJ\'cmear COfwel"'at\('!\.~ {l'Crh.1.p~ rhe Keeper Will n..'1.:/uirc him tll ;lrt~'mp{ a usten roll to Jct~'I..'r whl~rcn..-J (Unvers;ltIon~) ;mJ unJl'Nm.nJ tilt:lr m('anm/.! a, lOll/.! ;IS they are spoken in II hmgu.lj..'C he unJcr;rnn.is. So, if the group i~ making plan..~ (1n h~>w to defeat t!~ home's ~piritu'll men:tce. Ez.ekial will more (In.;' ..

than likely hear e\'ery "\lnl an,\'akc 'fep" tll foil them. A thin! puwer i~ tclckinesj~. He C;1O use this to hurl ,null tlh,/l-'Cts or move \arJ;'Cr {HlC~. ! I,~ Iltcll:k rJOI\!! lOr hurlin..: objl.."us at rnl}:'Ct~ i~ low (Z()fIO). hut i~ unnerving 'inU' he :l.\way~ thrnws ooj\.-'I..'ts unly when no ~JI",e I~ kx'kmg. furl' I~ f)(l real III1lIt to how often he can uS(' this power. Ho ....~"er, when ~tll' ally trying to attack St)m~'onc, he c:ln unly hurl t'ne or tv.\I ohjt.'Cts at a time . Ezcki:l.\ :,\<;0 h:ls the power to il1lct!cl\.' wlt.h C()mmuni~'l· no!\.~ and \X'l\wr lin('s. He can C:l.U'>C clecrncal surj.,'1:~ anJ ' ....l .....er failures (at the Ka--per\ Jtscn:tlon). Calls maJe to or In>m the hc;>llse's one tdephollt' may loot' \l\-'crwhdmeJ by ~Cltl( mJll(cJ by E:ekm\ or he may C\'en mJCt.1: "ill' aOO IouJ <'plthct\ mfll the line, The !arrer might cau...c ......II1e SAN lo~s (O/! I~ tyrical) II) iovcstigat()rs .... t'll.l alrea.ly \U~po:a or (cat tilt: ~urcr· n;ttur:l!.. So, If ,lI\ IIlve.stij.,'7Itllf telephone, RcvcrenJ Fr.lIld~ fmm the house, the cunver;;ltion may he ruJdy mterrupfcJ l>y II J(.cp. grrwdly VOice bdlowmg out atrocIous m5utL~. When not actin,!! '~'7IinSf [hc in\'C.~tl,!!a[,)rs or other per· CClveJ threats. Ez.ekial's srmt ruam., rh(' housc. He scans l"\lcry CT:\ck :tnd CT\.'Vicc and eJClmll'le\ l'\'ery li\,11l,t: thing . Eycry .... , often, he trics (and 3UWmarll'Otlly Iiljh) I\l p")5SCSS ~lm{"\lnc.,; till..,. :tre not :lW3TC of ar'l')1hing UnUSu.ll. All of this OCfIVity plu~ JUS{ the bmoJing pmwtuf hi$ 1"t'N,n.l1ity has a resiJual dtcu. It IS the !O(JUl'CC of the JXllterJ.,'Cisl I'hcn.,>n'lcn,t in the ~trUl.:IUN:, He h.u no I,.'(lIltrol o\'er this I'hcTII,)mcna JnJ I~ hard)' <M--aTC th," II b b'oin,e on. Durm,e a ,....,~;.e.~sll>n artt!mpt. fi.'r exampll:. <;!,)nlC\\-+.ere in the hou'>C a ,h:ur ml)..'ht overturn or a drc.~'>Cr ll1il.~u ~hilt position. Ptrl"'r~ a Ii),~u Huh will hl~)w out l'r ,I .Io.,h flics of Its own IlCCOru off the Jmncr ["hie. As A,'ril 10 lIPPfl),'lChes anJ Ezekial hecomc~ mllrc ,1\.:[1\'\'., the pherxllllcna hecnmes nl(1re common and more pWI'l(1unccJ.

nz

More on E:ekial em be fOund In the Nrc secrion. Additional Information on him is given throub~l()lIt the text. If a p~)'chic /-'C ts lTwol.... cd, the Keeper is ur~'Cd tn pay special atten· oon to the text on p. 44 unJer the heading MEmploy a P~)tflic." More mfOrmation on Ezckial's pmrern of behavior in the house I~ /-'1ven III "Runmng tim Scenario" on p. 42.

POSSESSION E:ckial's ability to possess a victim is unique to him. Orher of course, have similar powers, but these gl1ffiC m«han· Ie! are milored ~pcc ifkl1 l1y to him. Prior to April 30, &ekial can only p(JSSCS~ a person who ,I.'OfS insane or SOrTk.'One who IS sc.1nfllng him ps)d\icly. In thl! case of a person going msane during the e\'Cnlng hours (even $OfTle(lrte .....ho has ~I'IC 1ns.1ne only bnefly), pos.scssion is auto. matIC unless Ezekial tumbles a IDWx5 roll. If it is still daylight, versus POW E:ckul merely nrtJs to beat the t3'l,'Ct in a C\:lntest on the Resistance T.1ble. Erekial's I..'\lrrent IDW rating is 2J. A psychic SGlnlllng Ezekial is also In great danb'Cr. The sp«ifks for this arc Jcscribed on p. 44 in the section titled -EmplO'f a Ps)d\ic." On the evenrng of April 30, Ezekial has his one chance of f'l">S-«$sing someone m the house. He will deliberately Iat1,"C1 Maturo or Julian If ptl55ihlc ~mCt! he is now inomarely mmili..1r With them. RL-ganlleS5 of who he tries to possc:.s, the situation IS resoI-,·ed by a POW versus IDW contest on the ResIstance T.1b1e, In the cnse of Mattie and Juli:ln, their POW mtings are h~"'l.J for the purposes of this contl:st bt.'Causc &ekial is extremely familiar with them. If he has a choice, he will bOO for Mattie mSte:lJ of the infirm Julian. A!; with his telekmctic ability, a possession attempt costS hun 00 magic pctmlS. However, he must prepare himself anJ attune himself to the victim. This process rakes an hour or 50, hmlling the number of possession attempts he Co1n make on Arril 30 to pcrhap.~ six. TI,is Joes not include targets of opportunity (insane lX'Ople and sc1nning psychics) which require ahsc.~urely 00 preparation at all. Nule that these.' are raw game ml..'Chanics. TIlt' ideal may No!O Ignore them and apply them only if the target is an Im'e$' n!.,'3tOf. If [his scenario is empla,eJ as a pari of the oo,'erall camJ1O~"" E:ckiaJ must slIOO..>ed. Therefore, to allow the dlO! to Jcd.u: is danboerous. If Ezekial has a reasonable NPC taT/.,""t (such ;tS an ins.11'IC Alison HllTper or a vulnemhle Tali:l Conlon), the possession attempt should probably succeed auto. marically. Of COUIW, if an investigator turns OUt to be the vic· nm, all the Ix"tter. In this case. ho....~'t'r, the ml'Ch:mics shoulJ be appOed to allow hun or her to h.1Ve a chanet of resIsting. (ntltle~,

row

THE BENIGN SPIRITS ael.:i:tl aside, the house cont.1ins tWO 01 her noncorporeal rontities. These ghosts are long time mhabltants of the house. Both greatly fe:lr Ezekial. but are not 1fI league with him. Their mere presence is beneficia l and help~ offset to k'mt' ~maH Jegree the immense power and malevolence of the ancient warlock. Both ghOStS predate thro constr ucrion of th~ house. At one time, the land was farmed by a number of senlers, no ne tli whom haJ any legal or uocumented uric to the land. FalTly near where rhe house now stands was once a pond. Durmg the late 16805, a witt:h sca re much like the one that N'I!pt s..,lem hit this area. Several v.:omen were accused of bemg In league with Satan and ....'t're put to trial. O ne of the~ "''as sixteen )\!;n old Marie Jessup. Mane was inllOCCnt. To prove her Innocence, her

accusers used a tIIne honoreJ method of teMlng to see if she was a witch. Since witt:hes \\.'l:re wmmonly helic"ed to always floM on water, she was securely hound anJ hu rled Into the pond. She didn't float so shl' was JeclareJ {(J he inllOCCnt. That was fi ne for them, hut they neglc<:teJ ({l rrotnevc her swiftly enough. She Jrown.:d. Her fiance, a Nurt h Ashfield carpenter nameJ Jame\ McCrary, alwar~ helieved m her inlll'ICCnu' anJ wa~ wmpletcly devasf:ltl:d by h~r t ra).:ic and unjust .. leath. In ;I fll III llnguish, he hang~J himself that night (rom a tree th:lt ovcrlooked the pond In which his beloved pemheJ. Not much more than a decade pa5seJ :mJ the (jr~t Llrg~ o;t ructu re was bUIlt, the Ap::otl home. Tht' ghmts ot Marie and James haJ w:mdereJ the area near the J1C'nd seekmg solace. T he hou ..... Jrew them like a ma!:ner anJ rhey ~'()n took up permane nt reSidence there. Ever ~mce, buth h:l\,c wandereJ the house, nm quite reali;ing they arc .lead. MlKh of their time is spent watching whatc\,rof (;hildt~n llCCUpy rhe houSt: and watching tIlne go by. They also contend With Ezekial who they greatly fe:l r. Ezekial is :lWare of their presence. He doc~ not, howe\" er, pay them any mind for they lack any real power Ilr ahih· I )' to affcrt him lO any great I:xtef\t. The}' are ~Imrly prcs_ ences within the house while he is Sl.lmcthing much ll111tt' po .....'Crful, much more tangible. Conside r them to be on a kmd of different "frequency~ than Ezekial where one tn:· qucncy has limited effect on another. Hc could take IILnllll against them, but has never had any real C:lllSC or inclination to. They don't botht!r him so he newr c(lmi .. l~rcd it .... \lrth an expenditu re of powt'r 10 expel them_ Marie and James Jo manlfe~t on I)u:aslnn and rhe ..e manifestations take Jifft!reflt forms. M,lrie ..omeflme~ le,wt! .. wt!t footprints when ~he wanJers the hllll~ at mght. She sometimes even gives oti a faint I1l mhu~ ot hlue light. either ~ppear ing as a hlue globe or as a faint, lumine~cent hlue woman in Purimn garb. Her activities are largely confined tn the second floor. Mattie has ~een her llfld de~rihed her ;1..' the " Pilgrim woman though o nl y later Will ~I~ mentll>fl that the woman glows anJ that "he st.ocms to be Jrrpping wet. Julian has s«n lights mtwmg IfI Ihe hall under the crack in his door and this is Mane nmming the halk M:lTle docs nm speak or communicate. She simp!)' w,uche'. James is a localizeJ phenomenon. He h,,~ confined hlm$clf to Mattle's closet for some unfathom:lhle re~son. Manic describes him as the ~m:ln m the do,<:t.~ He .....ears hOllh and covenlls and Just SiLS in the closet and wntchc:. her. Mattie fears neither ghost though canrl()1 elCplalfl why. The Keeper should emrhasi;e the dark, Illncmg pre~ence of the -closet man" in onler to j:!ive the inveqig:lwrs another source for concern. This apparition is dotricleJ on rhe cover. BOth ghosts are actIVe in the house at nil nmes. They on ly rarely manifest (Le. become visible) lind when they do, It IS only at night. Suly in the scenarll), the m\'e'tigawr .. should be treated to II /.,~\O.!ttly appanrion of some 'iOrt, pwh. ahly by Marie. Perhaps they find wet tl>orprr nts In thelt bcJ, mom(s) or they see the ¢lostly image of her tace in the nurror while shaVing. Whatever it is, it shoulJn't cause mu..:h SAN loss (either none m at most a/I OJ), hut shoulJ sr~wn interest in the house. It i~ alSt) Marie's only way of helptng out Amelia and her fami ly. Shl: know~ Ezekial is evil and will probably sense the group is here to help. Therefore, by manifesting in some minor way while Ezcktal IS try 109 10 remain lIuiet, she may ),.'Ct Ihe group to deke mOTI: d..:eply tntO rhe mysteries of the house M

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FIEU). MASSACilUSE}TS

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fARM

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A ttOa:i()N'S MAllKET

& "ENI;VOLf!iT eMf.

C SEliVICESTATtON

o ~HOOL1l0USE

E CAIVMlV EIlISCOPAL CHUIlCH f tuTlIEIiAN CHt!1K:1l G METHODISTCttUlK:tl tt "EU'SfIINEIW.HOME

I AP<.'OTT ItollSE J TALIAOORDON"SHOIISI'. K WHALLEY HOUSE L Slt\lM~lIS HOUSE M JOHNSON HOUSE N TtLMIIKI HOUSE

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10 A!lltrt£[J)

• Ezekial's Plans and Abilities

ROAD

One: Cold

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N01~TH iX.~HnI-:LD,

'MASSACHUSETTS This Iktitl\)l.I$ (()mmurmy 01 425 is 1("GlteJ III Frnnklin County halfv.':'!y r.ctwt.'Cn Buckhmd and A~hflcld amI is Just over tv.\) and a half nllies (rom buth mwm. It can he reacheJ bv rooJ on~', wIth d'll! neare,t train sell10n hemg Itt Grt'CnficlJ six mIll'S to the east-northcasL Willie other neanl)' l.l:.mmunlties do have r.ullint'\ ~~,mf,! through them, the ck'''oC"t rasscn~.'er servK't' is Gm.'nfielJ. Franllm Counry, I"IV New En~lanJ sranl.bnls, IS rea· iI~bl-,' rurnl. Small furm~ JOI the t.lnJscape anJ North A,hlcelJ I~ 'lfIC ot many small tnwm in the ~ion. GreenfielJ IS tilt COUnty :;cat anJ is a likely ~1"Il[ tor II...... l!l\'c.m~ra[Ors 10 con· JlXt re.w;!rch. The l1I."arCSl library 01 consequence lics outside till.' (Ounty in the (It 'I' ofSI'rIIl/.,fielJ w the wuth. Trnvdhng t<, North AshfidJ is rdatIVely \:'asy. I( the inve:>U~':Itl.'l'!) d'l()O~ ttl 1'1(11 simply drivc tllt!re (at 1:Ie" avcragmg tv.-en· I)' mile, rer hum on the rurnl roaJs), d'll.'Y c.1n L1ke a tram to Gl'I.'('nheki anJ iwm there, hllm a ride. A lucky ~roup might l:le ~Ht: ,,' rurchase a use..! motor vehwde m Gn.'CnflCiJ, but rennng (<< I) uut (lj the qUC'<£1on. A b'CTll:rtlll.~ Kl't'pt:r ml~:ht h:,v.:' a taXI, ,all In Greenlld..lthal wuuld mak..-Ihc Jrlve [() North AshfielJ lilt a rruple lk,lIar<;. T.uo o,crvtCC thn)l.I/..'hout the c.1mpaign ShllldJ he Imll!\:'J to a single privately TlIl1 cab. TIlis allows the Kr.~X'r In limit ItS ~\';ulabihty when de~in.'l.1. N\lrth Ashfield is an unrclll,lrkahlc lommllnlty consisting uf iI du>teT ,'fhnmes. market. cal!!, general ~IOTC, (uneral homc,
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Olle: Cold

vide l.-ourt !>a"'llmy in GreenfielJ rllld uperatl' the clJunry FlII SIlt!rilf Tud,cr IS good :1t tilt! aJmllllMratlvc an~rIe, but cmnl' fl!,,'hnn,g is nlJt his font. Forrun.ltdy, cTimc In the county is lntrl!quem bnl: [lnd lew em mrm;:h their past w,-alth. Only 1't.'·ITntiy h.1\'e the Arrorh I~n heset L"IV difficult finances [lnd l.""cn then, d'lelf home ;In,llr~ contents coulJ porennally be soIJ 1m a $ubsrantml 'um. Amelia Apcou is CSJ'l'Ci.ll1y v.dl kno .....n and i, "~lIlikeJ 1",;111. Que_~tions cont't'rning Alison J..'t.'I'lCrnlly an: gTl.'Ctctl with nelltrul re~l'on_<;cs; n\l)~[ like her, hut no nl('rc dtan thaL Mattie I~ c(\n~ldercd hy many to be rJ'lI! ~ulte~t girl m town" anJ is une of !I'll: 1ll0l01 popular st:uJents fit the IOCllI !!Chou!. Juhan, hell11: housebound much of the orne, i~ le~~ known than the re~t 01 thc fumil)'. HIS afflIction is no 5(.'Crcl, but It h.1S prC\-'cmcd him from obmmmg any [Tuly close friend~. It't1ple either \kln'r "'....'f to know hlln or they subconsciously tear he l!i C\1rtt:l1:lnUS (not rrue, of C\)l.lr;c!).

I NTI-:1NII-:\\1IN G THEi\PCOTTS nil:

first ;Ipprorrinre action is tl) t ravd to Nurth Ashfield III intervIew the entlrc Apcol.t (1mll), prciiCnt Ut the area. At the wry leit>t Amelia shoulJ be qlK'~lIo",-.J. nit' Imtial meeting shoulJ ht, 1.:(lniJ.11 :InJ nothing Will ~..'cm l)l.lt of tI'lI! onlin.1T)'. The hou!>C is v.\:11 kept anJ the nearl",,I.>:lTaj.'C U)t\I:1ITlS a 1925 Foro MoJeI T ruurcr. Amelia Joesn't use It much (~I~ HnJs the hand crank method 01 ~mrt1l\J! It a bit try lng), hut will be happ)' to rlace Itat the group's dl'iposal through· our d'IClr Stay in the area. I( the gT(RlP :tetually purchased a vehl' de in Gn.'Cnficld, the')' Will prohahly (("d f(ll.lli~h now. EverYlhlnJ.: mmally will he Jreadfully norma1. Thmgs liven a hit if a Jog or (xher anlm[ll is bfl)l.lb~lt alung. Nu ;mlrnal will cnt~r the: mlllsc willinb~Y an..! ("\'en bringing (lne (,mo rill' grounJs will ,,1USC It 10 act in J flCf\'I.)l.I~ manner. The pet WIll Jem(ln~rrat~ ablt{llll[~ terror of tl'le hOllSC .1Il..! llnly C-.\tTClIIO: fort\' Will ~....'( It to I:nter, whcreulxln It will whil'll.' and pos~lbly atrack

The

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an ctfurt to escnre- E:dd.l!\ pre'ICna! 10 the- house can be !"t' ,mullah anJ rhc:y ddlnltdy Jo IlOl like It. An examl· n;Jtion uf the grounJs shoW'> that whde bin.!s, sqlurrels, anJ lllher wI!Jlife are prc."Cnt, none ~m f() L'Omedosc to the houS(!, [/ 'o(Ulleone goe~ 50 fur ilS to compflre till! Apcon house to till! ~1J..~lhor.;.' houses with this 111 minJ, I ["It.i' will sec sqUITTe!s :«.'ilrrYIn): OCTO_,S nci¢"tbonn): roo/tops anJ bIrds perching on Iluttcn> ....hle such "~t~ are n<.1I:ICcably absent hom the Apco(t hOTTle. Amelia \\-'111 rake the time to mtrl1Juce her fumily. Alison I-l.1rl'er I~ Ameh,1s wido.....eJ J:lUducr anJ seems plea,....lnt en<.'IlI).!h. Hll.... ~·er, atTer a fcw 1l111ll11e~ uf contact: ..... lth her, a 'li(' l't'~.lul Ps),:holof;!'i wll will reveal that .he I~ nervous anJ JIttery. TIllS .~ compounJeJ l"t' the !au dm ~he «eems a hit Ji~~'d ...J Hn..! ill ,g"....1meJ (expbmeJ LUt:T). If a~kcJ ahout any of thb llllt· 'IJe 01 an IIlter\'iew, shc willld):n i,gn<.lrance. The- other t ....''I) res· IJenrs 01 the house arc Mattie H"qx:r, Ali'lon's Jelib~ltful mne )\,:lr olJ J.lughter :mJ Juhan Apcott, Amelia's ruling teemlgeJ nl'1"'I4..'\.\' (\d\Q:;e parent!>. an.' Jc.'tta'IC..1). Alter rhe mlnal small talk ,In..1 ml~"'clbr""(lus plcasanlTles. the ,gTt'lll1' will no ..1oubt want 10 J!CI tn ....l'rk. Thc Am'lll tamil~' has .In Interc~ting story tl) telL Nlr .....eeb. ,hey ha....e sutfereJ thrllllgn 11lCT\.':t.!oin!! runot.lnb of para· n<.'nlul phenomena. The fiN Ihin/.~ that .....ere noticed .... \!re \trnllJ..'l' rapp11lJ,.'5 on ""-ails anJ cclllnJ..~. TIl£'~ .....ere attributed 10 nm:c or olher venllln. lr was only In the h):ht of hmdsight rh:u II W;t.~ re:llizeJ there wa~ rn,lTC [(l them. TIw firsr overt phe1l<.lm· en:1 ....'a~ ~r(l()n lx:nJing :In..1 mnwmcllt of (,hjt.-cts. Initially, this .... ':1$ ..:on.~IJereJ amusing hy t1~ AIX{lIt" uter. II l"It'Came llKlre di~lUrhm!!, e~pecially oncc It was realizeJ Ihm the cilildfCn ....\'fC the 1(1('U~ l'/ much of the attt:ntlllll of till! -/.~X>SL" Eo",.h family meml..... r has a ..1iHc.'rcnt snlr.,. to It'll. Bdo.... e.l(h 1\ lI..reJ with the ""enls 11'14..-,' h.1ve Wlt~~..1 or been ~u~ Jl't.:~J tl'. In

~n-.cJ

AMELIA APCOTT Amelia w:lS the laSt to experience IInythlng st fling!!, but willlikc." ly I..... the first imen'ie .....,:d. The 11m event she can Tt.'U,!lecI is tlUI M;Il't1(' l~':tn [() t:tlk t.1 herself in her ~Iccp, ~(lmclhmg ~hc haJ OC'\'cr J{lne belllre. Thi~ ....~l~ a nightly occurrcn(c. Srranj..,"':!y, ",'er.,.rhin~ she said \.VilS f{ibl:ocri~h. What Amelia J."IC' 11(" know IS thaI Mattie ....'as spo..... king in Ll0n, a Iangu:l,l.'C E:ckl:ll ...."":!li tluent in. E:eki:ll WruIJcn> Mattie to be a rrime tar· ~:ct 1\'1 [XISSCSSlon. Matfie\ stranJ.'<' hchavi('r has been j,,'om,, on k'T ('I\'er ,\ month. Amelia lhen h.'gan paYI1lJ.: :lrtenn(ln 10 sume of the thl1l,,'S Julian :md MawI.' .... ~rc saymg. Both ....\'1'\: ellml'lalnln).! (,I ~tr:I1lj..,'C IhmHs happening to Ihem. More rc."Centiy, Amelia had hl.'Cn tX,lIun!! :;ome llf t!~ (Ullery rmJ utt'mi!~ in the klnncn wen' hent be)')nJ mc. Mame, of l:UUT'SC, receiveJ the blame luml" wa~ fCah;cJ thaI <;(11l1C of the ulensll~ ....\'re tOO stOUt fur Ill'r III ea~llv IxnJ, much Ics~ turn mto \'eritable prccel.... Mmt I'\'ccnd\·, mnamng :lnJ Krc.':1.m~ anJ OIher str.m~ t'IOIses have t'nllttc...llmm the house. These rul\:e no Ji~rniblc flxnl Pl"nt, but Sl\'m III eman:ne tmm rhe very brICks ami 1.x-ams (11 the

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the

~Irucrure. More anJ more, Ihe rC:'IJen" are disturbed

by unex pt.'t.:lcJ hanging on walls, (lOON, rlllJ cethnL>:>, anJ movement (If llb}l.'Cu (thou¢1no OClU;11 m')(I(m ha\ heen seen, JU~t that tlne moment somethinl,: was l\!"IC place an..1 tI~ next, it was a.;ms~ the room). Every few nif.,~lts, an C;IT·sphtting wml or .. hriek i~~ues from somewhere within rhe IUlll'iC, m.\mkcnmg (and let rifying) ever)01lC. Thi~ Sl\'m~ ttl he m:lle anJ human. hut Ill} (Inc is quite sure of thts. (While ~he Joc,~n't know it, Iwr nd):h· hor T.llia GOMm has heanl thes..' recently :In..1 been lerriile..1 I'Y d~m. More 1m T.llia G(l1uon h gi\'Cn on rp. 33->4,) 1bc~ .. Imck.~ .....ere the laSt ~trdW as far as Amelia was eon~crt"ll.-J. She tUllk e\'crythlng in ~HiJc up umil then, kit WI,h phenl.lmena l"\mcentr:lting nn the chllJren :lnJ he(umlng more graphl<.:, ,1"11: knew ,he haJ tll take steps. TIle fiT!'1 <;tel' was t~l CllnfaCt the hea..1 ot [he lnc:!1 Eplxl'pnl chun:h, Rt.'VC:TC:n..1 FT:lnci~. She c}(plain..:d nothing; ~he merely n~ke~1 him to bless the fumily 11Il,1 IIw house. As a lonl( wile chun:h·).:oer, Amelia's requesr was Ill'll: unreason"hlc: nor th,lf unusual. &"erenJ Franci~ wa.~ OC\'cr I1lli.,rmed ahout 11ll! 1'1"11." nomena anJ c:lrTle..1 uut the hl('ssm~ without lfUc~n.}n, Unll,nunatdy, it had affi,jutdy nn cffc."Ct. MoTt' on rhe J::tlo~1 ft...... erenJ i~ given later. A~ far as ~he c.·ot.Jd '«, there was only ooc altemative. Call III -pmle!<.>ionals.~ Afrer ;1 linle re.~,II\;h, she lcarneJ 01 d"ll: 11l\'c~tI,gators anJ cont".lcteJ tI"II:lIl, As tar ,I~ ~he is nl1lCl'rneJ, (hI.')' ;tre the bst resort. A successful Psycholn)..,y roll llI:lde on her n...·eals rhat ,I~ "cllC.'V"'S she is teHlIlg rhe trulh :lmlthat she 15 rcm;lrLlbly cool .lIld co!It.'t.:teJ about It. Amdm I'. a ,twng .... \lman .... h.u. haJ In wnlenJ With much m her lite. SI'M: IS n<.'ll tl~ 1\1 shrink trom a..!\"crMty. R.'uhcr, ~hc preters 10 deal ..... ,rh 11 heaJ (In. One (ll....'iolls 411estl~11l may ari'-C. Why 11:1,n'( ~I"II: ~l1nph' mowd a.....ay, taking rhe children an.1 her J;luJ.:hlcr ..... lIh her! The am .... \'r i~ not surprisin~. It i~ Iwr Iltlme anJ she Jocm '[ like the IJea ofbclnR terroriu.:d and Jnvcn from it. AIS!..I, II..... (inan cial hlow woukl be gn'at anJ while the Apc;olts
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ALISON HARPER Alison h:ls taken the entlTC Sltu:1tion very poorly. She h,\~ Ix-en unahle Il1 cupe with srTl'~~ .... \!l\ ,II\CC rhe de;lrh of her hmbanJ ""'\ieral )':ars lIL>O in the ):I<.:hting trn~~dy :In.1 thi' l.--l-'mpletcly "hcn menace has l"Ct"n fUl) mu..:h f(lT her. SI'\(' Will Jeny kT'lt 'Will).! an't'th11lt: in rhe hope II Will ,,'0 .l'.1.':l't' if ~hc unly lunore." It. It wIn take a ~l.lCCCsslul Persu:hle rt,jl :II hnlt 01 the n<.lTTlIal chanl.~ to}..oet hC'r t(1 llpen up. Alrerna[l\·d)", ti ..... lG."Cpcr can ignore Ihls anJ h:lve her be- inrransi/.,'<'nt thr"'IlIJ..~lI.'IlIt much ul tI~ sccnaTlO, only

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opening up bter if circumstances wnrrum it &ckial saw Alison a~ a threat (rom the b..-ginnmg bt'clUS<: he was a(rniJ shc \\uuIJ n,'move her daughter irom the prenmts. TI1US, he has /.''O~ 01lT o(his way to terrify hcr :mJ hlud/.>eon h..-r mro ~uhlmssion, In this, he has been successful. She has s«n mott' than ,W't rolrerl,'cisr phcnomcna. She has bt!cn sub)e\.-.eJ tn many tlt tilt: "das~ic" si~rns o(haunnng... hILX.Jlng ....'alls, Jem\lni..: tace~ in window gbss ,mJ mirrnrs, th!"elltcning V\licl."S !rom the ~hadow~, ftding an lmusual chdl in tht air (a SOC\l!eJ "0.>1.,,1 sro(), anJ ~) on. Alison is fully l1W:lrc of the threats and n."b TCiKtw hy j.,'\)ing mto Jenial. She will nor bve the housc for an extended peri{x.\ if askxd to, bcliLvinl,' [he \.'h(l5t~ will fililow her anJ sht" would only be left alone without a bmily ttl protect ;md surrert her. Thus, any ,ugj.,restton that she (mJ her J:llJgh. rer leave while the mvcstigarion IS cunducteJ will be met with exrreme rcsiscmcc. Lug-ieal argllmen~ wilt not ....uric: well so any f\:TSUaJC rolls mnde in lhh effim nre mm.le at hnlf their normnl mance. While nor ins.1ne, A!iSi,ln is ccrminly irrntional :md will only !,OC! more ~) as th<.: SCenario progresscs. A successful Ps)clx>k\f..'Y roll maJe on Alison JUring nn in-depth interview will n:\'cal her to be irr.ltion:ll, but nor insaflC. Thus, the inter· viev'ct "ht)IJIJ rcahu: (h~t k~J(' will fIOt \-\-urk and that she will 'Imply oome up with incrca:,ingly laml.' CXUlSCS for staYing, not 10 menti(ln wen more implausihle clre than a PIJ1[ergd~t, it mlb,jlt then be the time for her to l"lf't'n up. Even h.-tter, she Oill continue to be intransigent thmu.t:hout tht:: entire !K:Coario, forcing the investigators to cope with both her imltionaliry anJ the entity.

MAITIE HARPER A 10.'\:1)" child, Mattie is likable and already Jemonstrates supe· nor intelligence despite her )UUth. She is frightened o( the house anJ woulJ like [0 leave, bur will 01'(.'), her mother m all mntteN. Many, though not aJl, evenings, Ezeklal enters her mm.1 and '!"'tab with hcr. She repeats, in Latin, some of the conversation. but h:u; 00 mcmory of thiS in the morning. Among the thin/.tS sill' will admIt SI..'Cing is the "m:ll1 in the closet." This is a ~haJ­ owy fh:ure that ~lives in the closet" and v.'ardlCs her. This is actually llllC of the (\\11 Qther, mure hemgn ghosts. She is not n(rniJ ofh!lll, bm cannot expL"lin why. She also insi~ts th:u some mornI~'S she wakes anJ finds that her heJ has moved aLTOSS rhc room, This is SOmething Amelia can confirm thoul,,j, she hns ~'cr witnesS
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aile: Cold

THE ApCOTTS IN COMING FULL Cm.GLE At thiS Juncture, It I~ impormnt to ~tress one Vital POint. The ApcL)(t~ nre an impormnt feature in Ihis cmllp;!it;n. If thi~ i~ to he moderated a~ a complete cmnpaign nnJ IXl!. as Jisrmmte s<:ennrios, it is vital to mnke the Apcotts II libhle :evcr. d1e Apco1t~ repeateJly llppear in tl1e campaign and afe a Illnin brus of action m the tln>t and last scenarios. Betwcen scenanos, Julian will a[(empl. to maintmn contact with the IIlveStlgatOT'" If they at all appear to Ix- friendly. This coulJ lead to signitlcanr IIltcractlnn between scenarios and L'ven in\\)lve ~ubrlnts 01 the KL'C~r'~ own creation. Over the span (If the cnmpaign, not only will the group be witne~s m plenty of unnerving phe!"l{>mena, hut they will (or shoulJ) be P.1rt of tht:: J,.·wlopmenr of the Af'lOtl f.l.Inily. They will w.ltch as Julhm's meJi';11 conJitlon fluctu· ates to sometimes nbrmin!! levels anJ th ...")' will "-'\: young Mattie reach aJulthood anJ even be admineJ w colk'ge, TI"IC point is that by the end of this scenario, tht' Arcott.'i n\>,..ny lx'cauSi' shc (ean; they may mllkx thmgs WOT:';C and ~TlI\'3(e d"IC ")!1lOSt." !t 1S enmely possible :;he might St:l).,'C a prank anJ fr!'1me Marne for it so It sccms the I,hen()mena arc only a child's hOflx. Thi~ is;1 reJ herring nnJ (me the group should nor be defe:ltc,1 hy. [f rhey arc being thOTOUb,jl, they should nnticiJY,lte somethin/.t like this and continue to dlt"t.:k out lend~ rather thfln just assume that every· thing was Mattie's Joins, After all. some of the pheJ){lmenfi nre beyond Martic's abIlity {the screams, ben.Jin)l Ii heavier utensils, the movt!mcnt of tilt:: beJ, etd so they shoulJ contin(IC to investigate desplfl' Ali~m's feeble flttcmpr ar deccprtnn. H

JULIAN APCOTI Julian IS bedriJJcn much of the tlmt'. He has chronic lung ail· ments nnd often is afflicteJ with sinus infections, influenza, common c(lIJ~, anJ even pneumoni;l. He is also rhy~ically v.'C:1k, frail, and extremely pale, much like hi~ mother who died while giving birth to him. This is not to say he is a total invalid.

•

He (;In ....'alk ;lfound (rhollJ,,~' runmng ;lnd negotlann~ ~taiD the nineteenth (emury (posd860). All time hc.!tllR' that is will winJ him) :md 1m gooJ d.1Y5. he spcnd~ some tirn(! read- unknown to :m)' livlllg f.tmily member. Flllllily hiswry fnlm the mg ,1 book In til{' ~hnJc of a trL'C in rhe bllck )"al\!. lIe has nme of d"le JeHelYln AJmini~lrari(ln t\l rcbtively reo.'ntly is lx"oJm<' an excellent flute Pb)\,f anJ enj0y5 re:Jding nnd ,1 vari- unremarkable. The family remaill<....J f.tirly ~m'lll, but was pros· cry oj' card game~. pen)lls ellOUj.,oh (mamly III tanmng and IanJ specu[alltm) to Not surpmmgly. his a)rhlltlon makes him \'\Jlnernb1e to af{onl a lavi~h lifestyle by local smnJanl~. Four male memher:; &chal. Julinn ha~ rt."Cclved qUite a bil of atrention. He has of the f.tlllily kJtl/.~lt Junng thc American Civil War un d"lt" nlltlccd that the rocking d,aif m his room rocks around mid· Umon side and I)f these, only 01"11" ~ur... ivcd. Since then, the f.tmm~.'ht every night. At first he Jlsml.ssed n as a draft, hw with lly line has been almost linear with \"Cry fLow branchc~. otht.-r phenomena bl."t..'Oming apparent he has (correctly) as~umed In recent yea~, t~ funlLly be~>a.n wexpand much 3) It haJ a ~.dlO£ is reSf1t>n5ible. like the rest of his fumily, he has heal\\ just prior to the Civil War. Hu\\\"ver, thrt.~ years aj.,'O, II tfabtie moons and screams and other strnn~.'e noi$(!s. UnliJa:. the rest, he ooating accidcntdanned the liws of AmelLa\ hmb~nJ. Michael: hl~ also flO(lce...1 nranf;,'e light~ movin/: m the halls 01 nlb~l(. hll..lthcr·lIl·l~', William Aruxt: 'iOn, So:~n Apcon: son·m-Iaw. Worse, OIJ[SIJe 1m Window af nighr the normal SCl;!ne changes John Harper; anJ ~ranJs()n, I~lrnd: Ha~r. If asW ah.Xlt the ahrurtly. He looks Ollt one moment and L'Vcrythin~ is normal d . . tails, she will he dosed Illnurhed about it lor d"le pam of the anJ then the next, It is snowing or 11 brge bonfire is in fhe hack· PLAYER AID H2: BOSTON G.I.OIJC ARTICLE )"nl. When such visions appear. he dl\,e.~ undt:r the covers and DATED ]ur-.'E 4. 1926, PACE I prays fur rhem t\l go ,'way. $0 fur. they al ....'a't'S h:J,,"e. Most n...'Cent· 1'1', Julian was struck til the ~tomach. It knockeJ the winJ out of him, bUI did no permanent damal,'C and 11.'11 no mark. Julian will be relieveJ to speak of this to the LIl\'estig:ltors. It is oi:....'iously a loaJ off his minJ to h.we a s't,npatheric ear. A!.oain, a s~Mful r~)l:ho1\lgjo' roll reveals thm he is being truthful. Note tim Julian and M(lttle n~ quite close. While Julian ALL FEARED LOST .....ants to le.....·e more than al"l)One, he will R'''Lst doing so unless Mllttle IS wnh 11Lm. It rna)' be pos~ible to remove hLm from the The 40 foot yacht Golden Lark sank The..day in a ruin '>quail. according to the l)(IlJ~ with klf.:i,:al argumem$ (nnd vcry possibly wLth Amclt.,'s Coast Gunrd. Owned by Mlchuel Apcoll of consent). but this .....ill require one or m(lre ~uccessful Persuade Nonh Ashfield in Franklin County. the wlb. Furthermore, he cannot simply be hurled into some local Golden Lark was regularly dod;ed in Bos.on Harbor and ..... a... used b)" the Aproll Inn. HIS mc...!ical condition must be considcreJ in any JeclsLon family 3!t a pleasure crafL While on what (\) rake hun frn-:l.y. In alllikdihooJ. he will be reasonably healthy wa.~ repor1ed eo be a shon shakedown Juring the ennre scenario, but if somethin/: ~tresses him greatly cnLi~c. ehe craft encountered lin unellpeceed squall. (Ka:per's discretion), his condition could deteriorate. As II side According to Coa.S! Guard Caplain Ill>tC, the nearest hospital IS Greenfield Memorial Hospn:ll III Harold Wilkerson. the crew of the Golden GreenfielJ, Massachusctt.,. Lark wa.~ ine.'(penenceJ and lacked basic knowledge and ~k.ills necessary for prolon~ed voyages. . When encountering rolhng <;cas. it IS behe\'oo thai !I hmch wa.~ LEARNING FAMlIS lefl open. allo ..... mg seawater to fill a hold and cau~ the craft to founder. "It is yet BACKGROUND another case of untr.uncd '~ilors' gelling in Lc:lrning ~bout the mmily background 15 an intelligent metie. over their head~; had there been one qualiThe ~n.:lllr shoulJ reali:c that <;omething in tl"le fumily's paSt fied ~ailor aboard, the nccident ne,er would have happened." CaptaIn Wilkerson coulJ very .....\:11 have an eftecr on current matters both from a emphaSized that all craft putting to sea muse mnglhle :lSrecr and from a paraoormal pel1ipecti\'e. ha\c qualified cre ...... and ba.\ic safcty meaSince the de:lth of Eu:ki:ll Apcotl in 1729. the fumll)· has ~ures :md equipment in order 10 avoid preventable accidents like ehis one dL"\.·c!(IJlCJ anJ Pn"lspereJ In a reasonably Mrmal manner. Tl"le 1be Golden Lark went down in the vicinnext few ,0!neranlms st:umbleJ O'\'er themsch1!s in an eHort to ity of 42'45"N. 70··-I5"W. Missms and preCr:l..'>I! the bleml~h on the fumily Th.1ffie left by Ezekial. WhIle his sunK:d dead are MIchael Apron (age 50). Scan Apeolt (age 25). and Patrick Harper :llt1\'LtLCS w\:n:n't highly publicized, mo~ . . than n fc ..... llKal rcsi· (age 3). The bodle, of two victnm were J<'nt~ thought hun {.Kid and some even suspt.."Cted something reco\'ered: William Apcol1 (age 57) and m{lTe dLre (including the rown minister lit the tllne. R&."\."CrenJ John Harpt'r (age 29). The search for the other bodies is still In progrcs5. TIle nexl of Thomas Stevens). kin. who !i,'e in North Ashfield, could 1101 Early ti.lmLly hlsrory has long since been fol1.'OCten. AmelLn's be reached for comment. knll .....le.lb'l! is best, but little wa!! told to her by her h\lsbnnJ. TIllis. her krll.w.ied/.'I! extends h.."Kk only untll the btter halt of

YACHT SINKS IN SQUALL

•

•

incident ~m.1iru with h~r still. Ilov.'CVcr, a sua:t.'S~ful !'t!r.;uaJe or PsycholOb'Y roll will get her tu open up. In short, th~ fumily owneJ a small }~Icht named rhe Go/den Lark. While on ~ short pleasure cruise. the '(olcln was cnught in a squall and s,1nk with al! hanJs. This left Amelia nnd her li.1ughtcr both widows. To this day the details of the accident arc sketchy, but all of the lxx.hcs except dm of Patrick I-brpcr. Alison's three yeur old son, were recovc:reJ anJ are now bUried in the North Ashfield cemetery. If the Kecpt!r so wishc~. Amelill an provi
events. While this is not the case, II i!> certainly a d1L~xy th:lt may be put forth by Llwestig:tlors that arc thinking. Thu$, 111 a W(lY. It is a kin.1 of reJ herring. Thi~ is pretty much all Amelia Gill s.:ly about fumily history. Whllt the Keeper chooses to provide the mvestigators is left to the individual, but It is likely that Amelia. Will rdate only bits :lIld rlcccs as they come up in CO!Wen;.1tion. Only if ~ht' is direct 1'1' asked fur commentary on family history will ,he parr with ~11 tim infimll:ltion. The reasons for thb arc simple. She Joe~ not understand the potential reIL'\'rlna: anJ so will nOI think to vol· umL~r the inli.lrmanon; in ~ldJition, the memoTit's of the 1926 tra~,'cdy He !>till p:1inful.

THEORIES The group may eventually comt' up with all SOTIS of riK...,rLcs concernl11g the Apcou~' histury. Some may LIlcorrccrly tI'lI..'\lT1ze that there i~ a fumily "-l..ITSC at work None \>1' rhe AJX(lu, have ever cnnsidered this. An}unc familiar with j..'Cncal{)~_'y ....··i1l know [hat 11 linear tJmily tr.::e such as tklt of the Arcottl. is not partic· ularly unusual thOUj..~l the context here I1My make it S/..'CZll :;(~. The investigamrs may alS\.l ..:ome up with all sort:; ,If theorks «)11. ccrnin" the Y:lChting traJ,,'cdy. TIKi' may l(ltch onto Ihe reJ herring concerning the SUT3111 (described later) N the fact [hat one body was never recovereJ. ~anlless, the Jeaths of the Ar~:ott~ on tltt yadu have llothmg to In With the events (,I this lxl(lk

IHI-: ApCOTT HOUSE TIle Apcon House was erected in 1699 by Ezekial Apcon. the stairs to the *conJ floor llctually opens onlO a different Since the original consnucrion, some 3dJitions were made. SCI of stairs dcsa::nding to the basement. bur none afta 1790. It is ~ three s(Qry. brick house with a peaked \\uo..lcn wof and 1.....'0 brick chimneys. Ceilings are Banquet Room: This room is Jesigned for larl,'C gathermgs. fourteen f«1 hif,
fIRST fLOOR

=-iIl

THE APCaIT HOUSE ""'....

b:] ~EET

~QUET

,

I.,

ROOM

• •

DININO ROOM

HAlL

Library and Stud y: Undoubtedly, the im'csrigmors will gravi· rate here at least once in the :>eenario. The walls of the Tlorthern and eastern parts of the room are lined with eight foot tall bookcases. These are groaning under the weight of the OOoks they bear, absolutely nonc of whIch are occulnsh in any way, Evcrything from classic literaturc and school textbooks to assorted science and history volumes are here. The v,'I!stern St.'Ction of the room conrains a 1a'1,>e brick fireplace, Jesk, table, and several chairs. The walls throughout the ennre room arc panelled anJ bear a few hunting trophies, all purchased from curiosity shops and anrique dealers. TIle mantelpiece bears assorted curios: a couple p<.'Wter plates, fmmed photos, some arrowhcjJ~, and the like, all of which can be tossed around at alarming velocities by the ~polterb'eist. ~ Hanging above thi: fin.... place on II set of brass brackets is a Revolution.1ry War~"'TIl mus· ket. It is not loaded and no longer works.

SECOND fLOOR Hall: Furnishinb'S here consist of several wood chairs and a Single small mble. This is locate'! near the base of thc stairs and bears a lamp and the house's only telephone. TIle stairs

ascend

Out

of the hall to the second floor and a Sturdy IxlO-

nister provides a secure h:lOdhoIJ. Family pholOgraphs dec,> rate the walls on both sides of the hall rand a framed copy of the family tree dominates one section of Wllll ncar the door to the library (St.'e Player Aid #3). Ughting is provided by the afor~mf'ntioned lamp plus mXl electric light fiXTures dangling from long chams in the ceiling. One fixture is near each end of the hall and these can be turneJ on via a rotary switch ncar the from doors.

==_

THE APCOTT HOUSE ...

FAMILY

, ,

,

ROOM, -

..-

...z

J-t.!.,.

MTH

U

~

0

CO LIVING ROOM

,

PAllLOR

~J ' I

,

J

b:] flieT

LOUNGE

HAlL

Dining Room: The dining room contains a single large, rcctilllgular, mahogany table surrounded by polished mahogany chairs. All meals are serveJ in here and the Apcotts are the kind of family thal Jres~s formally for every evening meal. A certain decorum IS expecteJ of all though the investigators, as Hall: Aside from a few small mbles and chairs, thc hall is empty. Ughting is provided by dcctric lamps on the few f.tuem, will not be expected to conform to ,heir standards. tables here. Kitchen: This is a typical kitt:hen of the rime. The closest thing to refrigeration is a large, insulated ice box conmining Stairs: The cast door opens onto the stairs thai de-SCend to ~rishables. The facilities arc up to date with plumbing an<[ rhe first floor. The west door opens onto the stairs tll:!t go up other conveniences having long since been invested in by the to rhe third floor. fumily. There is a round table in here wht:re infonnRl meals ma~' be mken. The \\'CSt closer serves as a pantry while the Fami ly Room: This room exhibits signs of daily usc. Some south closet is for storal,'C. The door that seems to open omo of Mattie's toys anJ a few books (Julian's) lie about the floor

•

~oflhe

House

• Ollf!: Colel Spof (1929) •

and on furniture. Most of th ... laner is practical anJ comfort- Julian's Bedroom: A corner room, Jukm's bedroom IS v..ell ahle, Of all rh ... seconJ floor rooms, this is rhe only one with furni,heJ anJ reveals his major pursuit III life.,.reaJlllg. rugs. A largl! brick fireplace In rhe south wall can have a fire Perhaps a Jozen books and magazines arc scanered :Ibout the on cold nights anJ the items on the mantle:: (much like those room anJ another thirty or so arc Ile:ltly Ilrran):!eJ (:llph:lbet· on the m:lntle In rhe ~wdy) can he naqy projectiles. Ically by author) in a small bookcase. They ne on n vancty uf Normally, every evening the family would garher about the subjects though Juli:ln's favorite subJect i.~ :ll'P:lrendy history. large c\)Ilsole tihlio ~t in here to listen to a play or the news, A brgc carpet covers the floor. hut recem pamnormal evcnt~ have upset the daily rounne_ Guest Bedroom A: TIllS conLlin .. a qu ...-en ~I:e hed and thl! Parlor: Well t"urni5heJ, thi~ contains a so6, cotfL.... rahle, and usual furnishings. One or t.wo inve~tlgators can ~k'Cp com· o;t:\'cml chairs :lIld <maIler tables, fortably in hl!re. Bathroom: Thi.~ i~ a n..:'! rmal bathroom, but lacks bathing fucilitles. Lounge: Thl~ lounf..re is use,l mOTe by Amelia and Alison dun by rhe chilJren. There is a rhonoj.!rrlrh with :lssorteJ Tl'..:orU :llhums :IIlJ comt~)rtable furmture. The closer in rhe ca~t wall i~ u~ed for clothes and general storage. Living Room: The hVlng room IS well furnished anJ limly rurmal. T1)I~ i~ when' guests arc cntert:lined. Oil paintings In here can be JetermlneJ (with a successful Art History or sim· ilar roll) to he \'aluahle by learneJ observers.

THIRD FLOOR

""'!

THE Ai'COTI HOUSE ............

I'

r

ALISON'S

flWIKJOM

I~

I -

•

MAmJ;~-';:-r

1-_'_'_ D__ oooM _--1 GUEST "'EDROOM

"

,

JULlAN"S flEDIX)OM

~'AS I'

"'(;JJ~OOM

I'

OUEST "'EDIKJOM

HAI.L

1""1 ~..!.-IM'' "I

A

"'" '." ;:m

Bathroom: Thb is:I fully e'-!uippeJ b:llhronm. [n :lJd1l1nn tu the uSlwl m:couterments, It c(Jntaim a lar~ p0rcelmn tub lin..! cahmets loaded with t(lwel~ and soap and sundry harhing ~up' rlies. GutSt Bedroom B: Slightly brger than Gut'st Bedroom A, thb one contaim two single beds ~nd C:ln comfortilJ,[y ~k·er two. If more than four ir1Ve~tlb'lltors Are I'resent, ":llts can be broughr up from rhe hasement :lnJ up to three mOTe peor[e can be comfortably aa::ommoJ:1ted betWt..~n the tv.'O guest room~.

Martie's Room: Mattic's rnom ..:ont:lln~ furnlShln~~ geared for ~ young )!Irl. The bed is huge, a queen ~ize mllJd Janng back W the Civil War. The frame :lnJ hcJsrrings arc iron lind this is covcreJ with solid ual. The floorboards arc warpeJ (:mJ have lx'Cn tOr decaJl!s) w the heavy hed i~ e~"I!nli<111y impos~ible to move any real Jistanc..: wlthOUlthe alJ 01 ~v· etal Strong reorle. The few limes It ha~ lX'l'n mexl'liL
Hall: A~i,lc from II few sm:lll tables anJ Chllir.., the hllll b empty. uJ:hting is l'nwideJ l.,.,.. electric 1aIllP~ on The few mblcs Alison's Room: This large beJroom is very well furnished here. A dmin dangles fmm the ceiling ,war the Joor tll Julian's and hilS many of A[i5('!Il 's rcrsona[ touches. As was stated d~.. room. When pulleJ, ;1 trap ..I')(")r r..:.'CCssed into the Ct'ilinl! where, lwwcver. :Ill mirrors m the room have the sam... cnKk swinb'5 Jown. allowing II folJing l:ldJer to sliJe into po:.itbn. :lcross them. Only one larJ,'C mirror is pfCsent. It is in a hin,ged fmme attacheJ to the Jressing table. [t is alway~ kpt covered The ladJer is ,rurJ)·, hur crt~ky, and leads into the anic. for Alison greatly fears [he imab't~s Ezeki:ll places there. Orher Amelia's Bedroom: Amelia ()a:upie~ the m;IMer bedroom. It mIrrors in hcre :Ire hand held tnX's and are also not readily contams a fine canopy bed, dressing table, w:udrobe. chest of seen unless the nx'm i~ at least casually ,;carchcJ. The (ircr!acc Jrll\Wfs. and other furni~hings and \\laS {,hviously once occu· i~ functional. hut much smallt'r than th ... others in the hou"e. rleJ ~. both her and her husbllnd.

BASEMENT THE APCarT HOUSE

WINE CHLAJI

LAUNDRY Il00.

- -

...z

, u

===_ ......

Wine Cella r: This mom (('mains r:\(;ks that could rotential. ly ImlJ hundrl'd~ of hottles. TI'I
I ~

Arne

""'~.

fUUNACf STOUAOf

"=

,

~I;;ET

STORAGI!

Sioreroom: This IS essentially an org:mi:eJ Junk room. Ik)x~~ :mJ (TiUeS of miscellaneous belonging's ,Ife 5Iilcked alon~ the north wall. Some llf these CIIl, with scan:hing, b..dctermilll....J dlt~d In

tll

be dlC hel(lnJ:mgs oi IIlI! f,umly members who

1926. Others arc much older. The rest of 11'11: ;m:a is

demlcJ f{) llli~ccl1any: a large, rca::;on:,hly \-",el! stl)(kcd wine rack. f.!anlcninlJ tools, sacks of potatocs. ;rnJ cfmcJ lXI()ks.

Laundry Room: Two laTJ.,~ washHlhs, scrub OOlfl.k Jeter· ,l.:cnt ;rnJ dc;ming surrlie~ (both for dothc$ and hllllschuld ~ul'l'lies), an Iwning hoaru, :'InJ the like are in here. Altson and Amelia take rums wlIh the duU"es around dw hou'iC! ~1Il(e the f:lImly can nu longer easily afToru ser\,:mts.

Fumace/Sto .....tge: Thb room ha~ (\\.~l main (cilfureS. The tir<>t is a coal flreJ furnace that proviJe~ I~al to the hou'>e dunng the Winter month~. The scconJ is a IarJ.'e cool !:-in. A ClXlI chute rim" up throu~h the foundation to a stl"C1 h:1tt:h in the )!wund next to the door leading (rom the kin:hen III thc

THI-:

Hi-\UNTED HOUSE

Th...· Apcofl hl'mc is a lar).,'e, hi~toric structure and a detailed Jc-crlptlon \11 it 1~ ~iven 'iCpamtely. The lIlVestigamT"'\ may want to mO\'" in. perhaps as .<;(k)!l as they arnve m lown. Thl~ b cerlamly agrL'C;lhle 10 Amdia Apcol[, hut i~ nO[ somelhrng ,he wlllmitially ~uw:..rest. Gue~h [()Oms <:'11l be quickly prepared for th...· new ~\'iMll1rs~ and t1'M!Y can sct up whatever cljulpment the)' \\'I~h :mfwhere In the hOllsc. In (.'KI, the group m.lY ha\'e llttle choice but to Stay with the Apcons smce therl' are no local hotds, inn~. or boarulllg houses. The nearest JoJgings (a bl.l.mil1lf! hOll'.e) ,lre in the town of AshficlJ to the south. If the gmup Joe~ not want to st,IY in the APL'ott home, hut Joe" want to live In Nurth Ashhdd, a cOlI I,le hOlll'll of searchmg will turn up a few peorle who .....l.)uIJ relll out unuM',1 bedroom~ ttlr a Jollar a d:.y. Ameli:. cannot SUg&ICSt where to look, but a

•

oursiJe. T Ill;' rest of the mom is devoted to ~:enera! "to~ old furniture, ames 01 dothes :.ntl dl~hes, hiqde~, j..':lnlen· ing tools, ami more. MUI;h i~ piled haph'lwrJly in the south· we~t corner.

(No map IS n~,l'lSlU) for th~ (/we.) The attic is one large area runnin.l: tlw length of the house. TIl(' beame,1 ceiling is peakeJ :mJ IllW cxcept nc .. r rhe mi,! die. Wooden partitions 'oCparate thi~ ~r:ll:e into flltlr ,m:.ller areas and snmll hatch·llke dOl.ll'li allllw ,IC':e's fmlll une 'oCl£lon to another. No one has IX'en in the attic m d\·<;aJes. Items in ocre Jate back til til(' I-'reVl01t~ twO centune~ ...,:hen the aUlc hecame :. kmd \If dump tor unw,lnted tlems. All ~)rt~ of things can he (oun,1 here mcluJmg large pIeces of furniture. More comlilon are crated hdonging.. : linens, clnthe~, lhshe.-, huob. and m()re. Some i<, \'alluble; mud, I" Mmpl't' Junk. The entire area is \'ery du~t)' (a qu.uter mch M more of du~t coatS cver't'thing) and dense shect~ (II cnl:m.'Ch~ an~ every· where. Ohsctwl'li shoulJ, therefore, flllllce evidenn' 1\( movement up here. Du~t :.nJ l'(ll.......~h~ haw Ix'Cn Ji~lurhcd tl'Cenl· Iy and m areas \If the arfl\; totall~ maccl'sslble to anyollC unle_s they ...:ere [0 le:."e tr;llb through the dmt. There arc 1'10 footprints ::mywhen: up here. Thi., i, likely the fiN l'\'i· dence of pamnurmal :lI.:t1vity 11\ the h.lll'ot' d~ inv<'\ti~awTS may encounter. There ;lr~' .'ioome documents in the ;lltic thtlt uIJ not at [hIS pomt Jrav.' the inVCSfibo:lro",' ;Ittenrion. n'T mlur· rn!lti(ln on tlle'ot' documenb, ~"C ~Thc eha"" COTllIllCnLCS" in F!II! Circle un p. 118.

liule ljucstiolling at the Bcnt."\l)lent C1k tn wwn will rmba.hly ml'Ct WIth M1CCl'S~. The holtsc 'lppeaTS In all rc.~pect~ normal. N(l(hing '>l."ems unu~ual arm da.'ptlCl> anWIlj.!: til(' im'eStl,lt.ltOfl; may dl~mi~~ the whole situanon as a wI!.1 J.'l.Xl;,C chase. Sud, \lleW~ ma)' he (onIIrmed if AIr,\()n ~uccecd~ In framing Malttl' as a prankster. The family, except AIiSllll o( COUNt', will imist \\-\'im stuff \\-'as ha~">­ pcnin!;! a.~ rt.'\.1!ntly a~ an h(ltlT or [\\\1 he/ore the IIl\'e~tig:ltoN arm.ed. As I~ often the ,,;a~ with IX)I[er).,'t:bts, thc rhenllmen:1 wi!l cease when Ihey arrJ\'e. Howt:\-,er, Ezekial Cllnfll)t rcmmn idl" for lon~. The thin \'Cflt.'CT of Il(lmlaky will end fairly ljukkly. However, the fino! phenomena ",itnt'~ .....·d ~h\luIJ be Sllinethill,l! Clu~"ll by one ~l( tI~ OI:hcr entllles wlthm the h()II~. It ~houlJ he somethmg tlllnor tlmt cnul.1 I'll' mlstnterprercd :IS polteT).,'Cist ilL'ti\,lty. lllelit' entitles can do lit'tle to hell' til(' group. hut tlk--Y

•

THE GROUNDS

\ti"-------===... THEAI'COlT HOUSE ...==========~ CD APCOTT HOUSE ® fOUNTA[N

IJOHf

@ GARAGE&TooLSHED

woon$ @ GORDON HOUSE

® GARDEN

The land on which rh! house OCOJpieS is a smaller lot th.:m WiIS marhk fixture is in the (orm of a 13fJ..'t" J'II115heli III the miJdle orib>inally own&! by Ezekial Apron. What is ~till in the fumily's of whld, l~ a pt.'Jesrn1. Atup [he pedestal is " cupiJ·like h~ure hands is four or five acre;; hounded by a very dcn~ :mJ stOlit pouring ""'liter from (I pitcher inro the shell. The water b then ht.J}!C measuring h r on April }O/May [. After this, his actlvity will suddtn[y Ct:3se nnJ will not once again manifest itself in any q!!nificam ()r pmlon!.>eJ manner for anOther two centuries.

This, of course, !"issumcs Ezekial mils to possess someone. Because E::eki31 IS pu:.hing to possess a person within the

•

house, evidence of this will be St.'Cn. &ckial is not particubrly suhtle and there !Ire siJe-cffecu left by his efforts (previously described). Many if not m(lst (,f the pol ~q,'Cist.like phenomena arc not intentionally Clluscd IJY Erekial, but are a by-product of his efforts to survcy tlx- house anJ ih {XXupants amI (beer) po.\· scss one uf ehem. E..lrly cxamination of the house will reveal none o( [his, hue this Will cha!lge soon alter the IrlVe~ng:1tor<; nrri\'e or mow in. Keepe r's note: some of the phenomena described by the Keeper 5houlJ be fC",.. .uscd un dx- chilJI1'!l (Hk.the movement of Mattie's bed). Thi~ ~hol1lJ due rhe group in to the Importance of the chilJren and rcrl1nps the 1"IL~d to !,.oft them out of the house.

•

SI':AI~CHING THI': HOUSI': A JlllJ!rnm uf the

hol.l~

as ""II as detailed room dcscnpnons nTC rrondcJ for the K...--epcr on tile preeNmg pages. USing the .. ha)lT.lm 35 a moJeI, a functional $l,coch of the Interior layout ,If the ~trucwrc may be made as an \lIJ to thc "byers. With 10h III hand. the investigators may come up with some sorl of ):lIme rlan [0 observe and document the \~u)StW and lIlti· m:l1d~' defeat It. Sunr1y PUt, [hen: is Iltde (() sec. The house is ",,-41 furmshed anJ I:' obo.·j(,usly qUIre old. II has been kepi: in good repair ;lIlJ tllo.'Te arc no signs of roItcrJ,.'ei~t acnvlty aside from some bent menSlls AmelL1. prQ\'iJcs. The mom ..lcscrlpcion listed separateI) mnlmns information of value to.) the mvcstigmors. Hov.,""Vcr, here ,lfC some specitlc highlights. Att ic: A search of thl" :ntle is fnlllful. [t IS the one area of the hr>u'>C rhat no one has cntcn..J In years, at least accorJing tn Amelia. Upon !;Carching It, thc ~roup will find it to be a sin~1e, low oXilm).oed room with sevcral thm, wood partitions !;CparminJ! 11 "Utl ~maller sections. TI\eSI! partitions each h.,...e a small lb.'Po,. a)" that can be crawleJ thn:II..1gh. The attic contains a large a_,,·,nrrmcnt ot I~mg forgotten Junk. Chests of dishes, oIJ steamcr trunks o( cloches and Imens, old rortrailli of (lIloXstors (induJmg une of E;ekial Arc(lu: rillS may prove to be of interl'~t enhcT III this so:nario or in Full Cirdi), rollc:..J up carpch ,md ruj.,~. ,md dust}' furnimre aTe typical items and all arc coated wIth a liberal amount of JU\t and cobwebs. Were an}tlne to 111(,,,,'e

:mKmJ

up

here,

1I

would be obvious since tracks ""'QuIJ

be ~lUl1e l'VlJenl.

N(., there are nt' tracks in the dust H()\'\'e\,er, 11 ~ucce5sful Sp(.\( I·hJJcn roll docs rt.·...eal one interesting fact. Thmgs havl' IlK'I\·t.'I.1 artllllKi. An olJ, brass oil bmp on a small tnble 3$ been ml""cJ, Icaving a trail in tI'lI;! JUSI on the tnbletop. Several trunks havc uh',il.IlI!>ly oc.en mo\'ed acrDl>S the floor, plowing through a quarrer meh thick Ia}l!r of dust m the prOCeSS. One or two have l'Ven IX'Cn upenJed. No [meks lead to any of these ob)L'Cts (lnd \'emahle ~Ilo.'et~ of cohwcl1!l I~ock any access to most of rhem. TIlt:sc wd~ are easily torn asidt:, bur to Jo so \\.'OlIIJ leave ohvi· (ll\~ e\'l~kna: of one's presence UJ'l here. 1ncse objeCts ....~re, o( «(ll\r'>C, maJverrently movcJ 1:1')' &.cki.,1 as a siJe affl!Ct of Ius rm"in~ through the hou-'oe anJ ~.lI\ni~ polenrial victims.

Amelia's Bedroom: Wdl.lurnished, it conmins a massive wanlrobe, canopy bcJ, chest oj dra ....ws, dreSSing table, and ass()fted other lurnishmgs. On rhe dressmg mble can be founJ a photo lilburn conmmll\~ 51111111 mementos anJ photos taken llf the tnmlly and the housc o\'er the past S(,\,enty oJJ ye:lTS. Till' alhulIl is ""dloQrbr.mi:ed anJ has oc'Cn cared for and aJ~led to (t)nsl~tcntl)' over the }l!ars. PhotoS of the housc appear al hurly reJ!ular intervals, usually With some family member sr.tllllm,l: stltfly in the fon."J:"tounJ. While the! fuccs chanJ.,oc. the 1lf.ll\:;I." IfSCI! ch:mges linle c)(CCpt in one aspect. I( somcone suc· Ct.'CJ~ m buth a Spot: HKklen roll ;md an Idea roll, the one (h.m,l:(' that will be nouceJ is that a hedl-oc was added to the

•

the House

property sometime bet .....een 1868 and 1871. If asked about this, Amelia has no answer. T~'Cther with the dense woods. the hedb>e has succeeded m block;ng all sound from reachm,l: neighbors except Talia Gonion (of course). A strongbox in ri'll;! dO$Ct contains IIssorted 1)'1pers and docuillents includin,l: an (lId copy of the Apcott family (rcc (Pbyer Aid #4, which appears in Appendix D; I'IIryt'f AIJ-s on p. 145) which is not as complete as the current one.

Mattie's Bedroom: Searchers here may notice, wl[h sl"x('$~'ul Spot HIdden rolls, that ti'll;! floorboan.ls are warped and hu(k leJ. TIle reason is mund.,~, but the slgniftcancc shoulJ be dear to tho5e who succeed m Idea rolls (or think of it on lheir own). With the floor in its current conditlun, It would be difficult to move a large piece or furniture acros~ It Testlllg this theory confirms the matter. Unless Martic's bed was lifted, It C(Klld flO! be simply d~w across the floor. There are no 5CUff marks to indicate It has been dr:tgbocJ ~tnJ the bt..J Itself is \'ery he:lVY, beLn/{ maJe of soIiJ oak. \Vlrh an iron frame and beJspringr.. Also, any movement of furniture m here aside from lifting II woulJ result in a large amoum o( OOIse. T.....o Sf tong mdl\'lduals (combined SIR total of 27 or more) om n)Ol\,·e the lx'll, hut thiS l'eI..flIires alternating bc[\','ttn hfnllg It and Jragging It. Only :l combined STR I1lting of32 or more will alluw the beJ to be lift ed and carried llCTOSS the roum. Ob\'iously, if Mattie's bed has Illdl't.'!1 been mOVt."fl,re, II during the scenario It mO'Ves back. to the WlIllk:m', that IS where it will Stay unless the investil->ators mO\'e it. Alison Harper's &-droom: Wdl·furnished like the reSt of the house, among the items in here is a drc~sing rnble with a larj.,oc, oval mirror draped With 11 blue shawl. When the sha...:! i~ rcmo\,t"J, ,he mirror can be seen to be marreJ by a Ions:: C11ld acn),~s thc middle. By Itself, that IS Lnslgniflcant. Ho....""'Cr, i( the room is eX:l1mned in greater Jcmil, more is JISCO\'ereJ. A hand mirror is lying face down on the Jressmg table. If exammeo, a crack idenncal to the one in the lafl,'t.'r mirror can be seen. A -'>eC. ond hand mirror on the nighr;taoo bears another ident\C3.1 crack. Alison, if askc...1 OOOUI thi~, will InSiSI she I:mekcd each acciJem.1l1y anJ the f.tct that dlf..'Y are I:rackeJ In an Identical m:umer;s purely coincidence. She will nervously try to laugh off the whole matter. HOWt.'Ver, E:ckial has IX'Cn playmg mmd l,'3.I1lt.'S wnh Alison, showmg her ....11at she Illight look like If she diJn'1 cooperate. His eXl'rnon of power h.15 caused [hco;e cracks. Not surpri~lngly. Alison no Ion&ocr uses mirrors. One result 1\.15 oc-cn ~he always has a slightly dishl.."\-·dlcJ look aOOuI her for she cannot flx her hair qUite rij.,~l1 or get her cosmetic;; applied cor rectly Without mirrors.

•

OBSEINING THE HOUSE

QUESTIONING NEIGHBOI~S

Observing the house from a Jistlnce for a rrolon/..'ed perioJ (ovcr a few lbys) can be revealing. A few times, someThing srl1lnboe will be Obs.;TWJ tbat cannoT h- conventionally explrlln...-.J. A flickering light like tim from a canJle mlly l~ secn momcnmrily rhroub~\ an upper story winduw when no one IS in

Neighbors will all deny seemg anything unusual. All likt and rcspt."C[ the residents of the hou5C nnJ will S,1Y ;mJ do nothing to cause them Jiscomfon or embarrassment. For most, the house is a munJane building, albeit tllt:: lart:cst anJ most mag.nificcnt in town. More impormmiy, the fact i~ tklt none know anything. Neib>hborhooJ children make up
that part of the house. Perh:lPS a shutler sbms dosed when there is no uiso;:rnible wind. Whatever the Keeper thinks to

to&S

in

shoulJ be subde lmd not hcavy-handcJ. It shoulJ be JUSt Cf\()Ub~' m whet the apPdircs of the pbyers and have them thinking something creepy is going on, which is, of course, the case. As April 30 approaches, phenomena will become tn{)re overt and grophic. Neighbors shouldn't notice bec.1Use of the hedge, but someone intentionally ~'atchmg the house will. TI,is can mduJc things like trees appearing to move of their own

aa:oru, reaching through winJllw5 and even movmg about thl'

Y:\I1:1. ShaJowy figures m:1Y movl' ahout the yard in the Jarkcst hours o( th..! nj~>ht :mJ chasing them Jown only causes them TO \'3ni<;h withOUT a troce. Rn!1lly, ooises from the house it!IClfincludmg the lIlHlCn'ing shriek Amelia Jescril"le,~ill he heard and perhars cause some SAN loss. If the ilWC5til}ltoT:s chOClSC to exercise trus Opf:lon, the best ronon to set up in isT.,lia G,>n!\m's back y;ml. Trying to obsen'e me house (rom nnywhcre else is difficult 1lt.'Cl1uSC o( rhe ho..-.Jb'C. Of I."OOtsc, the b'TOUP may JUSt choose a scduJcJ corner of the ~~rJ from .....1'icl1 to ....~trdt d~ house. TIl()Ugh thi~ places them doser to me soorre of the phenomena. it should be no less etTi.!ctive.

An insommac, Tali., b'('lS an avcrat,"C of fom to five hours of sk"Cp per night and ofren smys up wry late compiling lesson plam and grnJmg parers. From her vant:1gt! point In the office in the rear of her house, 5he can easily see the Apron home. She has SI.."Cn sn
roulJ le:w [0 her JownfaU. Ol""iously, the 1fl'..'eSligatOrs Will find MISS Gonion's obser· vatlons of value. Getttng :l. statement from her IS difficult, h0wever. AI first, she will deny kl'lOWing anything, but her ocrvous Jcllle~nor belies rhis. A successful Psychology roll maJe by the quesrioner or anyone present will «:veal she is hiding something or holdmg something b.'lCk. At this point, the invcsti/,'lItors may attemlX to (X'rsuaJe her to talk. but this should be dimwit. They muS( be able to properly assure her that ht.'T stOT)' will rem:un completely confidential and even then. a successful PersuaJe roll IS re
her IS to write her IlOtCS. She knows Il(lthing of relevance to the OTHI~I~ NEIGHBOI~S Wh:lt follows are brief descriptions of the immediate neiJ.,~lbors of Amelia Apron and her fumily. Though none know anything relevant. this is PTO\'idcJ 5incr It is entirely possible that the MARK AND MARION T1LBURG group may attcmIX to inten'lew cver)One in depth. This )UlIng couple mOVt:J into the housc: aJJXCnt to the Apcon home III 1927. Marl.: is age 29 and owns a feed store in nearby Buckland. He spends t1)()5( o( his u.,'t'S there. 24 year oM PAUL AND JUSTINE WHALLEY Mr. :lnd Mrs. Whalley live aJJacrnr K) the Apron home (sec Marion sometimes helps her husband there, but can often be map) anJ have been in the nelJ.,~lborhooJ over tWO decades. found either at home or In North Ashfield running errands. They arc long time friends of the Apcou fumily and remember They :Ire well-:lcqu~inteJ with the Apcons, but know IlOthlllg fond ly the male member! of the fumily before the rra~..ic acci· of rclcvrmcc to the case. dent that cl:limed their lives. Paul was once an investment banker ",,·ho conducted most of his business in Greenfield. He EDMOND AND MARY 10 JOHNSON IS now a 63 year old retiree :lnd lives a quiet life wirh his 59 Edmond (20) and Mary Jo (17) are new to North Ashfield. The rear old Wife. Both are courteous, well.mannered, and polite hoose 10 which they now live was previously owned by anJ Will happily invite well-groomed, polite individuals Into Frederick and Gloria johnson, Edmond's uncle and aunt. A tI'K'lr home. fl.'W months ago, Frederick and Gloria died in an ~utomobik: accident ncar the Hatv.lru Unlvcrslty OImpus in C'mbTl~, M:lss.'lChusetts. Edmond inherited the house along With a Sil' ENID SUMMERS Mrs. Summers is a wiJow living across the street from the able fortune, ~nd recently movcd 10 With his wife. Much of Al'con home. She is 97 ~'3rs old and dc~( Aside from th.1.t and their time now is spent either trnvclling or Y.'Orking at hobbies, some arduitls, she IS 10 rebtively brood health ~nd is of sound ~s [hL,), are well off eT'lOlI/.~l to not 1'Il.'t!d JON;. mmd. Evcry altcrnoon, she SitS 00 her IX'lrch ~nd knit:s ~;ltL'n. Edmond and M:lry Jo know (cw local people ....l!11. If they Once married to an importer named WIlliam Summers, nre present during the scenario (Keeper's discretion), they will sl'K' 1T\OI.'el.1 to Nonh AshAeid :I(ler his Jcath III 1890. She is be polite and pleasant to m\les[il,.'3.tors. lbey are at best only inJepf.·t'l<Jcmly wealthy and spends most of her time garuening acqualOranccs of the Ap:on fumily and know nothing of relc~nd SL'WlIlg. Pleasant·lookin!:' Visitors will be greeteJ in a friend· \':J1\Ce. H~r, they are friendly, enthusiastic hosts to any VI.$Iy manner. but the only way to effectively communicare with irors who might drop by for a chat.

•

Olle: Cold .!>iJof (1929) •

l~ESI-:Al~CH AND IN~I-:STIGATION

As p.1raps~hologlStS. The group wlll know that proper back· ground research is often the key in pJrtloormnl hwesril,'arions. Knowing The hisTory of a family, structure, or area can Jo much to assiST in ~lving a given case.

Conductmg basic background research is easy, prO'JiJed ,he invcmJ,'fIrors are not' shy abouT 1q,'Vo'Ork. $c\'cral places for research are available anJ logical IO visit: the counl)' kat. the ooonty historical sociery. local churches. anJ any decent city or Unl\OCf'Slty library. SubjectS to check should mclude AIX()[t fum· ily hiSTory, nrea IllSTory, and land rt."Conis.

AMELIA ApCOTT (NOI~TH A'iHFII-:LO) Of course, she should be conMllteJ first. She can give a general family hislOTY. bul this is only JeClileJ back to the bq,rinning of ,he Civil War (1861). Prior to Ihat her knowtedge is exceptionally poor. She knOl.\,'$ of no fumlly p:1pers [hat can help, but can provlJe a family tree that hangs on a wall in the first floor hall. An oilier copy is m a StrOnbrbox in Amelia's bedroom dOSt:tand this am be proviJed [() the investilj':ltors. rb~r AlJ #3 is a copy of this fiunily tree. It can serve as a USl'ful tOol both in this scenano and in tl'lt! final scen:lrio, Full Circle. Where It is pertinent In Cold Spcx is that it documents the birth anJ JC:lth (on April 30, J 729) of E:ekial Apcon. While secmlllb~y a coincidence, a perceptn'e Im'cstlgator who notICeS the sumlanty of datcs may JeciJc to 100k mto this ancestor of today's ApcoftS. Other JXIpers Amdi.l proviJes from the strongbox are of no rele1.':l.nce. There are more stored m the attic, but n is un:r.vare of their U1stcnce anJ they have no bearing on tillS scenario.

THE COUNT'1 SI-:AT (GI~EEN1'1ELO) I..ocareJ In nearby GreenfielJ. Massachusetts, the county se:ll is a gooJ place to visit at least once III the scenario. Everything that is relevant can be fOunJ III the courthouse: the county reconJs office. the sheriff's office, etI:. County ~s are oflimueJ help. The .k. .-J . to the Apron lanJ can be to\md on me. confirming It has been III the hands of the famIly slIlce the 16CX.)s. The docu· ment states that the lanJ originally was a fifty acre farm com, plere WIth house, barn, and pond, but amcnJmcnu to the file show that most of the lanJ was sold off during the J 750s by Ezckial's son, Abraham. SIIlCC then, only the house anJ the lot on ",""lIch 1\ stands has been In the family's hands. The rest of the a..:re:tb'C now bears nci/:,'hboring houses. No reconIs exist that inckme all}Q1lC other than the ApcoftS have ownl,:o lhe IanJ since Europeans arrived on Ihe North American continent, and LnJccJ dus is the case. 1be sheriffs office is e\'en less of a help. Standard prnctice

•

IS ro bum all records older than lV.'CnLy ye:ITS except unsol\.'ei,l felony cases and major case flies. Thus. notiung of use is here. Greenfield itself is the \afg\!st (own in the county and has a population of :.lpproximatcly 15,500 at rhe time of this scenario. It contains much of what the investigators mib~lIl'\(.'t'J that North Ashfield l:.lcks. Stores are \\ell·stocked and aniS<11lS IInJ skilled laborers (blacksmiths. mt.'<:hanics, etc.) can be found here, Anyone attesteJ and broughllo trial will be hauled into the county court here which is the centerPiece of the rown.

LIBI~I~'1

(BOSTON OR El_'iE\"HEIU-:) WhIle Greenfield 3nd North Ashfield have no libraries of thcirown except the one In the historical society III GreenfielJ (described later), the investigatoTS may choose to viSIt one our· si,le the immeJiate :.lrea. Any major CIty or university library can, af beSt. provide information only of marwnal benefit. Nothing on tbe Apcon family or lhe Apcott land can be found. However. research on Native Americ.lns Clll1 be producllve. Such research woulJ likely be spurrcJ by an investi· gator suggesting maybe the land itself has a long, Jark. and mysterious pasL In a (fictitious) book entItled A:oplcJ of fu.Raolulion. MIIS.sachlUf[tJ, the author. Avery 111omas, describes Nanve Americans fhllt lived in Massachusetts pnor to J 775. Thomas was II prl)fessor of anthropology lit Boston College m the late nineteenth and eany twentieth century. Pubh~heJ lYt' Ibllack & Brown PreM of Boston in 1901, the ix'X.)k saw only a limlu.-J printing of 01lC thousand wptes. Informanon m this 256 page text is lmpantal and Il()[ slanted by personal biases or views anJ O\'CTIIll. is reasonably accurate. Readers can tackle it in four Jays lind a succeMful Read English roll is rt.-wanleJ with +1% (0 History skill. In b't!neral, rhe book contains mformauon on what rnbes livt.'tlm the State prior to J 775 :mu how rhey interacteJ WIth each other and with Europeans. So far. thefe is little to distinguish this book (rom any other on Native Americans. ReaJeTS can [ell easily [hat some informallon within is speculative. However. of interest is one subsection descrIbing a small (nbe called the Surani. Noother book can be found that discusses them. Unfortunately, Thomas faik-J to mdude either a bibliography or footnores so it is ImposSIble 10 track Jown his source (ViSltlllg hiS widow m Boston meets with failure ... she has no kllOwleJ,:.'C of the sub,it.'Ct and has long since discanleJ all her husband's IlOtes). The Surani. who died OUt after a smallpox epH.ll!mic in the [680s, were lI11egedly an extremely spiritual people who worshipped some stran~:e sea or water god whose name has been losl to hIstory. The bW had minions who would emerge from the sea to accept sacrifices and homab'C' No specLfic tales are quoted from nor IS much more given on Ihem. They are known 10 have had a Village very dose to the current Slle of North AshfielJ. From here. they would supposedly carry OUl a kind of pilgrimage to a point on the coost where rites "'OlIld occur.

•

•

Aid 3

Olll!: Cold Spof (1929) •

ThelT for~,'otten I:mgua~~ has lx'Co ~perulared to have haJ no conntXtion with any other. Ho ....'C\'cr, those knowleJgc'lble IIbout Nlltive Amcfl(;uns or l~nguagcs (pcrh~p ... succeeJing III ~ HlStory or KnowleJ~'\: roll) will know Ihm the Sumnl are nm alone in this Wilt. The lbomas book is a total red herring. It is the only one dlC Itwe~tig'dtors will noncc SIOCl' It is the only to mention the town 01 North AshfielJ by name (till' thorOlI1:h inJex li.~t., N()rth Ashfield, thus calling ,ltlennon to the rel...v.mt section~). Invt'stll,'ators trying t.) outguess the scenario may tre~t this lti a kind ("If bible :mJ be nllloleJ by it. The Sur.tm are completely Irrde\~lIlt to matrcN at h.1nd anJ ,111 allu~l(lns ((I G.hulhu,

1)~s.'On, Dt.'cp Ones, or mher cnmlcs of the Cthulhu Mythos arc bogus (or at the Kl.'Cper's diS(;retion True, hut lrrek·"'a!u). One other thing the gTl>UP might research i~ polrcrl,'elm :lnJ Ix,lrergclst actiVity. A successful uhrary Use roll IS ft.··wan.! L.J with Pb~r AIJ # 5 (bell"lW) which IS mfi..>rrnatio1\ assemblLxJ from several commonly m':lllable sources. Alr..-rn;l[l\"dy, 31l}\'I'II.' who SUL"1.'Ceds III an llilJlt roll alrea...ly kl"M.lW~ IhlS inli.lrmauon :mJ may be j.!iven the pla\\!r aid. Para5)dKlloJ.li~t~ and occultl\t~ h:we nn even ).,'rc;ner dunce of knowing thi~ :md may :ltlcmpl hoth Occult and Knllwlcdl,"l' rolls.

PLAYI;.R AID 1#5: ABOUT POLURGEISTS The pl.lyer aiJ below is JcsigneJ rtl ~rw as ~ resource l'IT he gleaned frllm s<:v~r:ll commonly :l\'~lbhh: .~UUR·es. the KL'Cper and may he made available to the ulVesligmors II (2) Any invcsti).,';nor ~ucceeJs in an Q<.:uh roll. anyone of thrL'l' reqUirements is sati~fieJ. TheM:' ;lre: 0) Any profl'~'llm(ll P.c. parar~ych\)ll1).(iM or llCculmt (1) Research III a reasonably l~fI.:e university or cit \. ~u(cl'('ds in either an CXcuh roll or (I Knm.,,·lc
ABOUT POLTERGEISTS Phenomen~

attributed w poltergeists arc :unong the mosl common OCOJrrcnce~ in the supcrn:lTUTlII. Evidence of their anivitles h:we ilL'Cn JI)(1.unenred back to before the time (,f ChriSt ,mJ continue (0 this day. TIlC term "polter/,.ocist" I~ German :mJ means "rarding" or "rumblinj( ghost. This 11> certainly an apt name for these entitles t~lr they an~ beSt known for maklll.ll noise anJ bre~king objects. Many early documented cases {I( IXllter~:eist acnvity were German, hut such phenomcn:l have bc.'t:n observed in almllst "II cultures. Though theories \'ary as to why slich phenomena occur and whether or not there I~ 1;entience JxhinJ them, certain ttalts are common among poltergeists. The hurllll~ of objecTS :;«ms to be most common or at least i."lt'st known. Such acu lire generally ob!)(:rve.l Within structures, but this is not ~Iways the case. In nUmerous instances, Stones are observed to have been hurled by some invisible force or to h~\'e JropreJ from the sky. In these ca.se.~, the stone~ arc oi:!l.·i· ou~ly terrestrial III origin (i.e. they are not meteorites) though they are sometimes s:uJ to he warm or even hot to the touch. Rcg:mfless of where the phenomena occurs, there are few, il any, cases of anyone actually ob~ervin).,' an object being hurled or moved. Usu:llly, what is noreJ is th:l[ the obJecr is found in a place it ~houlJn 't be, perllaps broken. When it is

•

1

•

NE\"SPAPEI~S (GI~EEN1'1ELO) time consuming and some are 11) poor condition, havin~ suf. Orttnflcld currently has t ....'O newspapers. The Grreflf~W Dally fered the ra~oe.s of small roJenrs, nhllsture. and age. R.!cmdtT has a wiJer circulation anJ was IOundeJ in 1920. As they may AlrcaJy know, Grccnfteld'~ wrren! d.1lly newsUnronun;ne!y, Its short history means that there are no issues paper, the Dally Rromler, is of1ittk hell" and Nonh AshAelJ h.,s rreJ.1tlnl: World War [ 50 searchmg rhrouj,.n back issues IS fruitnever even had a newspaper. HO\\~er, there hnve been severnl less. The Olher new~papcr is the GreenfieW Ga~t'IU' and Co1411CT, newspnpcr publishers operating in Greenfield m'er the paSt tWO a small w('CkIV paper that was IOunJeU on July 20. 1841. If the cemuTies and most oj these arc on file in the basement. TI'IC oIJ· Im'e~nl;.ltnr.. tl.ll nl go to either of the new5raper offices to seek est: present here is d'le previously rnemioncJ GTl%Jlfw.-Jd G/ltdlt out bock l~ueS, copies may be fOund in the Franklin County and Cowrie, a weeldy roper (hal was first published In 184 I. It Historicli Society. Whrlt may be found in btK..k isSue5 of the is the only paper that cont:.uns anything relevant fO the ca~ at Ga~clfe and Courier is JcmilcJ in the next section. Keeper's note: hand. Going through all the older copies (pR,-1870) and seeking III 1932 these two 1'lCW!;p:lpers merged to fOrm the Grttn{ieW OUt dues will take a few hours. but It is fortunate that no issue l.l.u/:l &wrder-Gazeue Therefore. Tn the final [....'0 scenarios, It is is particularly long. only a Ie....· p3b'eS al hest. What follows IS a Ilk Duly &ronl1'T.Ga;:ClIt' that contains current news. Nore that listing of articles thai may be found In newspapers stored here the GreenfielJ rapers described here exisreJ in n!ailife, rholl!,.n or at the I'leWspaper offices. of course the: articles ~hown

In

the pla}'!r lIids did not.

(I) BOSTON GLOBE ARTICLE

'!HI-; FI~NI
9:00 A.M. ro 5:00 P.M. Munday throul,~l S:uuniay anu 12:00 P.M. w 6:00 P.M. on SunJay. In actuality, the hours are unpreJicrable anJ

3re

Jependent on whether or not the proprietor, 57

't'!:lf oIJ Alan Weathersby, is mOtlvareJ to show up. A group

Luck millS R'(ttllreJ to determine whether or

not

he

is present.

faIlure indu::ltes that Alan is our to lunch, hasn't yet shown up. or has doscJ early. The mUSC\lm section OCCUpies most of the first floor .. oJ conmms arnf.N.:rs from the area's history, some of which have

Sifting rhroul:,'h all of the OC\\ospapcrs in here IS a time consum· ing process. HoweveT. one Globe- article dateU June 4, 1926 is rei· ewm. If Amelia tolJ the group when the yachting accident occurreJ. It enn be qUickly loclltl..-d. It documents the loss of the GoW"n Lmk which resulled in the death of much of the Apron f.unilya few years ago. Pla~\!r Aid #2 (see p. 26) proviJes the text of this arnclc. A kind Keeper may havo;: Alllcii.1 proYiJe this to the investilptors if they ask ror clipl'in).,os relating to her hus· band's death.

(2) GREENPIEW GAZEITl! AND COUlllER ARTICLE Pb',\'T Aid #6 (helow) can be found among the staCks of these aging rafiers. (Y.lteJ April 18, 1856, it i~ a hrief article documenting a reported "haunring~ at the Apcot:t house. TI'IC mel that this article i~ In the Sll.me month as the current e\'i.'TItS should be 100J fur thout,-ht.

been donated or loaneJ to the society by area resiJents. The gift shop nkcs up the remaining portion of the ground floor and

sells the usual knick·knacks one ",oolJ cxpea. ExceIX for a small office and a h.1throOIll, the seronJ floor is completely occupl~"I.1 by a SIzable hbraf)' contrunmg common reference materials anJ a L.Il.'e aS51)rtment of his lory teXlS, Many of tile t,'mer h:wc some reIL'vance to ,Irea or rel:.'ional history. Aside from these, a ~mnt· rcTing of olher books (classic literaruTC, 5Chool tcxtbook.~. eoc.) are on hand and local resIdents may acqUIre a library canl free of chJIJ.>e. An\Une from ('Iu[5iJe the county may freely peruse the library, but cannnt cht.-ck OUt books. The im'estll.'3.tors shoulJ he nble to convince a member of the Arx;OI:t clan, most likely Amelia or Julian. tI.l cllt'Ck OUt books for them. The hasement is essentially a iall.'C stureroom containing dtSC
shmm much Interest in them. Skuting throuE:h them will be

•

GREENFlEW GA71:.TfE AND CUVRlER ARTlCl.l:': DATED APRil 18, J856, I'AGE 2

Pu.YER A ID #6:

The Gh= of NOM Ashfield 1he 'lolth Ashfldd home of Sylvanus and M()u'a A(X'Ott CTUpI...-d

into dWlS yesterday

a~

nt.';ghhors an""fKlinl( a dinn(-'T fXilty ~udtk.."flly hurl about the." 00u.'oC and through \\ IndOW~ Jrutially bdi<.'VIrlJ.! the d-likbt.'fl to he n....-.;pon...ilJ\e. II \\'35 only unul It wa.s dr.....t<.'m\Uled that th...,' w ...-re a.<,k,'(.'P in tI'K.'1r n:.orn.-. thJ.t II dlwllt.'d on ,m},onc .<;(JIncthmg more sini:;tl'r W:J.~ lnvolwd. Acx'Orlhng to Ocnni.... Ql\~';J.n, a vbttor th;u l'\'(.'fling, thing<; secrrJ(.'d to \lXl\'e of their (IWn accord aClns,~ whit..... and l::tt('r VIOlently hurk.>d themst.-h'e> IntO waUs and ~'\'en through \\1nU.IW,>. Ill' looki not ..("count for the happerungo., but ..-v.ore hl- woukl never :J~1I\ <"'fltc..-'T tht' hou.<;c \'(Iilt'thl... Of not thi.... W"ob a hoa.x ha~ n(lt Ix-en oc1(""uncd, blu rumor Ius it that the 11l(:ai Epi'lCO(XlJ Olurch has be(.'fl con· ta<.1~'CI hy \IT Apron and UlJt an inVl'Sl.J~tlOll l.'> pending, \\~.. td)(.'d

furnIture and ..mill Objt.'CLS

•

(3) GllEfNl'lfW GAZflTf

takes four days to study and the reader is rewanleJ with + 1% Occult i( a Read Enb>lish roll succeeds (optional). Sadly, it IS o( This IS a Sc.'COnJ article on phenomena aT the Apron: home and no relevance though Je.,.ious Kt.-epers may want to ross in a is the onl), Olher of its kinJ. If is dall..'ti soon aher tile fit'S[ and blurb on the Surani rribe JUSt to perpetuate· the red Il("rring. this ~houlJ be a due rh:n (he phenomena &'0{ more extreme l.arer invesrigarors seeking ea~y history of the fl1,oion may read this In the month. 5...-e Pb~'Cr AiJ #7 for details. book. Furthermore, they may be looking for ancient lq,ocnJs that may be relewnt or perhaps l"'Yen tales of curses or ~Indian burial grounds" that could be affecting [he house. There is no PlAYER A ID 117: GRUNF1EUJ G~ AND CoI.nuER AKTlCLE DAnD APRIL 30. 1856, PAGE 2 such information.

AND COURIfR ARTICLE

Do Ghosts Haunt North Ashfield? TIl{' dl..'itUriXUK'C'i ofbst wt:ck st"Ctn to h.we repc".ued thetnsel\"eS once again. 11'oc.' qUl('l, Birch ~ne residence of Sylvanus and MOI1".1 ArX:'01l wa~ thrown Imo d)JOI> as Sbrtlin~ shrieks Wdt' ht.~Jrd by m:Lny of the re;idcnL~. 111c ~hrit.'k.~ W"-'I'e trat'e'd to the

ApCOll hOlllcand when ndl-:hbof'> went to inve;tig:uc, they found smoke Lm:m.1ting from a from window.

"TI)C ..hril'k.~

\\(.'1\.'

wholly une:lnhly," t'OlT1l1l<.'mOO M:lTgart.1

john.'ilofl, a local n..'Sidcnt Neighbors rushed in [0 c\ow;e the fb.mc,; and r\.>s<.'UC the Aproru;. 'nlC fire turned out to be a ~maI1 blaze cnnfir\ed to :l dh':ln In the living room. 1l1c ClU5e ~ unknov,,, wh.1! ....'3:i dislurbtn~ is d);lt no one \\~.c. home and lhe '\OUtre ofthe ..hncb. which 'J('CIl'll.'tI to belong to a nun and conunued throowxJUt the !oC:lrch 0( the hou.'iC, could rxx he ck1t'fmiOC'tI.

II \'\-obili.-.cm't.'fed th.ll the Apron family wasout of(()\\"ll during tJu... iocidt.'11 and IS apparcnlly in &Non on family busines";_ The)' could noc he l'OOf:jctoo for comment. l1l1:t b Ill(" <;<.'CO!l
)l':lf

Slx.Tiff Slcln [oLlll'tl he L' Iookmg into the case bul hoo.1( pt.'rpctratoo by local houligan'i

believe. 1110 he a

Inrellib"Cnt nwemgators will be Inclined to question the proprieror, Alan Weathersby, m the hope he may be a soun:.e o( good-ro-\mow information. 5.1dly, Alan is merely a caretaker and is nor versed m loall history ~nd what is common knowl· edge. His main duty is to ka-p the place clean. lock the doors at night, and man the register at the gift shop. However, he is an anful conversationalist who will gladly chat about minor matters for hours on end. lne HIstorical Society contains one book relevant to the 1fT>"eSrigatlon which 15 described below. A crud Keeper may pba:: a copy of the Avery TIlQmas book descri bed earlier here as \\~l. Both of these are fictItious and 00 flO( exist In real life.

of t~ New England h.mans by Jacob Wenh\-orth (Boston. Massachusetts: Pollack & Brown Press. 1899) This 164 page book describes some of the tribes of Native AmcrK:ans that hvw in New England and concentrateS partie· ula~y on Mass,u:husens, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. InfOrmation wirhin is fiav.'Cd as anyone WIth knowlwge on the: sub.ten is likely to determine with the appropriate successful skill roll (Anthropolo~,'y, HIstory, or Occult). The book also contains a large chapter of legends and stories, all supposedly related to the author by tribal elders and shamans. This book Tales

•

Olll!: Cold

CAl~Al~~ I':PISCOPAI. CHU1~CH

(NORTH A'iHI'lELO) One oflhrec North Ashfield churches, this is the only Episcopal one and is by fur the oldest. The ochers are LuTheran and Methodist lind both date from after the Civil War. Standing on the site of ,he original church which burned in 1801. the C1lvary Episcopal Church is a picturesque stone structure OCOJpied by Rewrcnd Fr:mcis O>nnolly. 1ne dlurrn boosts the largest congfCb"nion in town (102 members thOUWl not all ~how up consistently for Sunday services) and is a striking example of early nineteenth century architecture. AldlOl.lb-h (he church IS wirhin easy walking distance, the group may choose to call ahc:ld flrst, perhaps to set up an appointment. Any relephone comoersatlon will start out normally, with Reverend Francis bemg cordial and polite. However, rhe call will soon be unexp«tedly interrupted if the investib",tors are calling (rom the Apoon house. The Keeper has myriaJ options here. As earlier, smnc may be imposed by Ezekial, O\'er· whelming the line and preventing communication. Perhaps a bett~r option is to in]Cct a string of loud, Vile. anJ uncouth Ian· gu31,"t into the line. The source o( this is obl.'lously flO( rhe minister nor the invesngators, but it is shocking. Rcv~rend Francis, flO( knowing what is going on, will hang up, figuring thar rhe invesrib'lltorS are rude, insulting buffoons. The investigator ar the other end will prob.lbly rake 0/1 02 SAN loss due to the unex· pected shock that is apparently supernatural in origin. Remember, the Interruption is loud and vile and tOlally unex· pected, thus II shock. The invesrigators might have a rough nme explaining this ro Reverend Fronds if they later meet him. Interviewing RL""crend Francis in person should go off Without a problem. He, unfortunately, know'S nothing o( the haunnng though he can confirm t11.lt he conducted a bk-ssing of the house. Ameli!! will I'lOl want him told of her sfUial problems unless there seems to be no other alternam.-cs. J( he does I~rn of the poitcq:eist, he will be eager to assist in any manner possible, but only i( the investib'lltors appear reputable. If they 00 I'\O{, he will advise Amelia to rKi herself of them. Investigators who are rude, belli&ocrent, creepy, or weird may very \1,dl flnd themselves heaved from the Apcott home simply because Reverend Francis' opinion is so respected by Amelia. More on him is gwen In the NPC section. What few realize is that the church 11.1.S a hefty amount of records that have built up smce colonial days. Some have been

Church •

cnmpileJ bot' previous church personnel, but much is material donateJ in d1e wills of residents. Old county b'CIVernmem documents (p reCivII w'1r) can also be found here, but how this h~ppened is unknown. n1e b.'lscment of the church is packed wl!h crates of reconls. Each crate is bbcled with the date in whIch It pl~ccd here and sometimes also has some descriptIve bbd. The laner might be something to the effect of ~Smythe Familr Paper.. ~ or ~Church finrmci~1 records: October, 1904 _~ Irwestig~t0rs who think to check the church must b'et p..'lst Reverend Fmncis firs!. He is a very pcrsonllble and inoffensive f..'Cmlcman who is aJept at putting people at eaSt!_ Any normal ami civil reque't ro check church records will be granted under the comllti,m that everything is replaced as It w:lS found and great care is taken to not damage anything. He will specifically warn that lllany of the papers arc in poor condition and must lX' handled carefully to avoiJ heing damageJ. Nothing rnny be removed trom church property. However, the investigators may return as many tImes as they wish as long as they are courteous ami follow the reasonable conditions given. If they find they need to return llluitiple times, they will be provided access to a mccting room on the first floor in order to coordinate and properly orlf.lnize their studies. If at any time the Invcstlgators are rude, bclll!,1('rent, or disresIX"Ctful, Reverend Franci~ will a_~k them to leave and will Jeny them any further access to the hascmenr_ No was prt.·viously ~rated, the basemen! is chock full of recl'nh an ..1..l()Cuments, almost all of which are totally irrelevant to matkrs at hanJ. Ho\.\'Cver, systematic ami organized research can Ix- proJuctive. If rhe search is haphazard and lacks coordination, It will be diffiLlllt or t!Ven Impossible to find anything in a timely manner. Since the basemen! contmns ample stocks of olJ newspaper.., the group may find the three articles pn."Viously listeJ if the historical society ""'as overlooked or the articles missed. In aJJi· tion to those, one item of interest is here. It is the journal of Ro....·ercnd Thom~s Sn.·vcns, the minister in char!,'C of the origi· nal ..:hurW that was srandinl: here during Ezekial's time. If someIhLn~ like this is being specifically SOU"'~1t, it should be found alter only a few hours of effort, less if several researchers arc coonlmating their effOrts. Otherwise, It may be very hard to find SUKC It appeaN as an mnocuous, leather IlOtmJ tome in a room lull of such lIems.

The Journal of Rcwrcnd Thmnas Steven.s This JnurL1:l1 was written by RL'Vercnd Thomas Stt..'Vens bcm\.'en ! 720 ~nd 1744. Reverend Thomas operated the ori/.,'inal chuoch (ot the same n~me) from I 710 to his death in 1744 at age SO. It ducunlCnt.' life in e:"lrlycolonial Americll and provides a remark· able Jescription ofrht· rise anJ development of North Ashfield. Rc'ldt'rs may l>e confused initilllly bcc.1Use North Ashfield is Lalled H,lwlhorn by RL'verend Thomas anJ It was only renamed North A~htidd after his death. It is quite eviJent that he was an ",arly re,klent of the town ami that he had travelled all throtl!,~1 New Engbnd before settling here.

•

Church

The book is a rn..-fty learher bound tome conraining 410 parchmenr pages. Writttn in archaic English, most of it is devot· ed to day to day occurrences. HO.....'eVer, a reader checking the final years of the I o r looking for references to the Apcotts will find repeated nomtions concerning one Ezekial Apcutt. It is quite obvious that Reverend Thomas thought little of Ezekial. Furthe rmore, it soon becomes apparenr that he suspectS ~nd later devoutly believes Apcoet is involved in Samnisrn and witchcraft. He holds no contempt for Ezekinl's wife :md son and believes they are blameless. One word frum the good reverend coulJ have had the man lynched, bur he was of the opinion that witch trials, such as those carried out in the area of Salem in the late l 6CX)s, were unjust and II biOI: on Christianity. Not wanting to cause a renewed bout of hysteria, he remained silent. Ho ....>ever, it is dear that he greatly feared Ezekial and was raking some steps (not described) to counter him. Ezekial's 1729 death due to pneumonia is documented and Reverend Thomas, thoub~l relieved br this, apparemly had nothing to do with it. Ezekial was buried in the town cemetery and the journal alluJes [Q Yprecautions~ taken at d1e burial No elaboration is "oWen on this. No furtl1er mention of Ezekial Apcott is given thouJ,>h the Apcott family is occasionally mentioned (as are many ocher local families) until the abrupt conclusion o( the Journal In 1744_ No malice or concern is JiTt!ct:ed at any other member of the Apcott family after Ezcki~l's death. Though sma ll. the handwriting is clear. The languab'C used, hoWt.'Ver, is archaic_ In onler to get full value out of the book, the reader must succeeJ in a ReaJ English roll. No skill bonuses are JWflrdeJ for successfully reading this book. Reading the whole thing takes three weeks, but if the Ezckial Apcott entries alone are checked out (these are easy to locate (or most are in one specific section and Ezekial's name IS easy to spot), that rakes only a single Jay. More on this is given in Appendix A: The Re'Vt'1V1d's Journal, on p. 136. Seeking out this book is a good tactic and the information c.1n be quite helpful, though it will not be easy to finJ since lilt: group will be unaware of its existence. However, certain clues avaibble dsewhcre in the scenario may lead the mvestigators to the church whereupon they may seek out journals of all paSt priests or perllaps even this one in particular. There have Ix;en pcrl1aps two dmen priests over the yc~rs. They have served as little as a year or tWO in some c."\SCS to as much as TWO or three deClldes in others. Most are eventually reassigned to other postings though a handful, such as the previously descnbed Reverend Thomas Stevens, have died while in the service of the North Ashfield congregation. Thus, five other journals much like d1e one just described may be found. These arc not togeth. er and can be difficult to find. None contmn any useful infor· mation, but stumbling across ont! may cause the group to search for others. Once the reseaoch here is complete, It becomes L'Vident that linle can be found that preJares 1800. This is lx>causc the fire that destroyed the elirlier church also destroyed most of the records collected up [Q that time.

nOs

Om!: Cold

•

If it seems tOO dlffiadt for the group to acquire the Stevens ,iournal, the KeeP'!r may have all papcrs from the original church in a single marked crate. Remember, the origin:.l church burned 50 1'10( many of its lXlP'!rs would have sUl"\Il\Ied and thus \.\ould fit In one crate. This allows investigators who are thinking to merely seek OUt the oldest reoorus and finJ them all in one con· vement location.

OniER CHURCHES n.... other two churches In town are

the Umted MethoJlst

Olurch and the First Lutheran C hurch of North Ashfdd. The hmer is run by Albert Nelson while the minister for the latter is Ronald Christensen. These gentlemen will be polite and helpful to any who visit, but there are no clues at either location; the ministers are f.'ImiHar but not ",,-ell·acquainted with the EpIscopalian Apcotts. Both churches \.\\!Te estllbhshed in the post.Qvil War years and neither houses slJ.:nificant amounl5 of ft'COfI.:ls or documents (ouuide of accounting flies and so forth).

THE NOI~TH A'iHFIELD CE'METER~ (NORTH A'iHl'1El.D)

l~I';SI,:AI~CH IN BOSTON

This la~, fenced lot- is the town's one and only cemetery and dateS back to 1700. It is Privatelyowl'V!d in concert WIth a funer· al home on an adjacent lot (Incidentally, this cemetery is the focus of rhe next scenario. Rl'mlUru 10 be &en.) 1ne cemetery Itself is spread O\fer perhaps a few hundred acres of rolling. wooJeJ land and is reasonably well mamtained. Im'cstig;Jtors may take an hour or so out to clm the Apron f.unily plot anJ see if c\'ef)OOe who IS supposed to be buried there is. in fact, there. Rndmg it is easy, partlaJlarly if the OIretaker. Silas Wttms. IS consulteJ. He ll\les In a smail, stone cottllboe on the cemetery grounds anJ spends most of every day malntaming the groves and caring ror shrubs. When comparing names on gravc markers With those on the family free. they find that most of the Apcotts are accoun t· tJ lOt. A few in the mid·nineteenth century are not here and presumably "''I!te burieJ elsewhere. The oldest grave IS th.1t of &ektal Apcot:t. Marked by a plain gramte tombstone, the engrnving reads:

r

EZ/';KIAL APCOTT l.A)\lING l·'An·II·:R AND H USBAND

B.

J U 1.~

12, 1673

D. APIw. 30, 1729

•

The others be:u similar style engravmRS :In.) the mOM recem arc the gr:wes o{ those who JicJ when the Golden LII'k sank. Of those, only one body was not reClwered: [hm of ~nl! Pntrick. TI'lCre is a marker for his grave, but Amelia GIn explam his grave is empty. There should be no reason for all)'lltlC to tamper wlIh graves. HO\.\'e\'er, in the unlikely event son'IC mve.'>tlj.':ltors Jt.'CIJc to !-Irab the 'ole plck:.ixe anJ disturb the rc~t ~1f the dea ..1. the)' will find Ezekial's grove to bt! the o nly unusual one. Yes, rI~rc is a coffin. It is a lead·lmed aff.ur common fl,)[ Its tlll1l' and i~ in relatlvcly decent condItion. When opened, skdetal t\.'fll:un.~ r.:.1n he seen. A sua:essful Spot Hidden roll ~1r all)- l'xammarion 01 ih coments beyond a cursory glance will reveal the hlxJy w ..... buried face down. This was bdie...eJ by some 10 be a w:1y ~.t keeping witches and w:lrlocks at re~t in tl'M.'lr gm\·es after death. If the Keeper wishes to add to the mystery, a ten meh Jong If\lll spike may be round dnven throub>h the torso :lnd the hottom 01 tI'IC coffin, and mro the soil. A common proctll"C In parh (11 Euro~ between the I SOOs anJ the 17().1.; ..... a~ tll pin a Ulrp-< to the earth beneath the coffin With a stake or !>Plke. This ....\luld all~'l!dly prevent it from rismg as a varnpm: or some Of her unJead to plague the regio n.

-,

Mosf of the acnan in Cold Spa! shoulJ take place wlthm Franklin County. ~peateJ tnps betwee n North Ashfield an..! Greenfield may noc: be that unusual. HOWl.,\'er. a little re<;ean:h may be conducted early on in Boston or elsewhere. L,ter in the scenario, once the IIlVesl lgalOfs have faun ..1 out about the sinkmg of ti'M.' Go/lkn Lark. SOllll'One may 1n~1'1 on travelhng to Boston to dlCck on renm.ls there of the t~oeJy. In theory, most useful Informanun GI n Ill! oh:mncd over the telephone, but some may choose tIl "....1 to Boston an)· way in the vab'Ue hope there are clues hidm~ there. If i~, however, a false hope. There is only one ~ phlce to cheek on the GoWrn Llrk 10 Boston... rhe offices of the United StatC5 Cabt GU:lrd. Whetl'ICr in person o r hy rclep/lone. the Im·e~tllZ:ltors Will he toIJ the s,'Ime thmg. ITMJstllkely by u eutenant "-tnck Spencer. the publIC affairs officer. After checking 'lome rcconk ueutenant Spenccr will pretty much rcstn!e what was in tl1l" N'Wlipaper amcles (St.'C Player Aid #2) on the mMrcr. That I~ thM the Golden Llrk ....'l'llt down In a storm and thnt a cuntributmg fuctor .....-as crt.'W inexperience. Exccl'( for Patrick Harper, all bodies \.\\!re rcccM..-reJ by Oxasc GU.'ll\1 searche~ wlthm three (bys. If they 1,'0 on to ask 10 mtervll'W C'Iptain H,lrolJ Wilkerson, the man cited in Pbycr Aid #2. trn.-y will 1:'11:' informed that he retired in 1928 and moved I.ll! of ~tate. They illl\'(,' fM) rcconJs indiGlting where he is now. the Keeper's lIlrormation. he moved 10 C'Iliforma and there should he absolutely no chance of finding him. Even .1 he ~re foun,\, he has noc:lung useful to adJ.

ror

•

l~UNNING THIS SCENAI~IO

often be small, loose things such as glasses, dishes, and picture

The author's intent in wTlting Cold Spar is to have the investi· frames. EzekiaJ's aim isn't very /,rood (20% lI[tack mting), bUt J,'lIton believing, m least initially, that they are dealing with a pol· b...'{;ause the rar/,'Ct will nt."\·er see it coming, no D<.x.ige roll is rergt!iSL The Keeper shoulJ r,llre steps to perpetuate this belief allowed. as Ion);: has it S(."t:ms appropriate. Player Aid #5 conmins a sec-

tion

llO

mformation on how rhey may find this phl~r aid. At Arst, litde should happen. The investigators should be le([ (ree to conducr research and question rhe locals. Ezekial at this poim is aware of the new presences within the house and is wary. He will curmil his activities temporarily to assess the situation. Note that this IS common among polter)::rislS, Often, such phenomena has been known to subside when strangers appear, but once they depart, it erupts with renewed vigor. Ho\.\~\'cr, one or tv.u little paranormal tricks on the part of Maric Jessup and the discovery of disturbed itcms in the attic should convince the group that strange stuff is going on here. How long this quiet perioJ lasts is up to the Keeper, but is rrob.'1bly dependent on what progress the ir'IVesti/,'iu require E:ekial to have to succeed in Usten rolls (certainly a reasonable limitntion to imlX>se on the already powerful entity). Otherwise, he will know everything automatically assuming conversations are held in a language he understands. Rt'gardless, Ezckial does have thc one massive constraint that time is not on his side and he must act on the evening of April 30 to be able to frt.oe himself. His hand may be fon:cd regardless of any special informa· non he has acquireJ during the act of eavesJropping. Initially, phenomena that crops up should be sulxle. This is a side affect of Erekial's presence and rene~ activity in the house. Often, the phenomena arc not under his control :md he is not even aware of it. Since he is focusing on Mattie and Julian, much of the wt:irdness should occur when they are nearby. In this early staj,>e, all that may be noticed is that an object known to be m one pbce is now, mexplicab/y, in another. Actual movement will not be seen nor will there be any sound. Thus, a Jrinking glass placed on the kitchen mb/e may, moments l'lter, be found o n the floor. undam:lb>eJ. As time and events progress, phenomena will become more pronounced :mJ more graphic, Objects may be hurled and c\'en broken. B.'1nging on walls and floors may be heart! and will eventually be so loud and violent as to vibrate throughout the structure anJ knock pictures off of walls. SAN loss may occur for early incidents (usually something along the lines of 0/ 1 or 0/1 02), but once things become routine, SAN loss will no lon/,>er be inflicted unless SAN rolls are fumbled. As events gel mOTe violent as April 30 approaches, objects may be hurled Jirectly at individuals, perhaps inflicting injury. Items will generally cause no more than I D4 damage and will

•

Only near the end should non-poltergeist phenomena

polrerb"Cisrs and poltcTg\-'isr phenomena. See p. 37 for appear. TIle shrieks could be attributed to a poltert,,>eist, but not:

this Scenario

stuff like bleeding walls and ghostly apparitions. The booming shriek that was the final cause for Amelia's call to the llwcstiga' tors is probably the most distu rbing. It is a booming, male voice that howls in anguish so loudly that the windows nmle anJ pic· tures off the walls. SAN loss for hearing it is 1/1 D6 the first time and 0/1 D3 each subsequent time, The shriek will generally occur no more than oncc per night. The Keeper should feel free to concoct whatt.'Vcr SAN draining nastiness th:1t St."tms f1ppropriatc for thc p.'1rticuiar group he or she is dealing WIth. As the case gets more extreme towart! the end of the month, the Keeper could ('\len Jredb>e up dark memories from previous scenarios that investigators may have taken part in. For example, a survivor of Chaosium's Masks 0/ N:yarlulMtep might catch a glimpse of the Black Pharaoh in the reflection from a win~low­ p.1ne and take the llppropriare SAN loss. Note th:lt throu/,>ilOUl all of this, Ezekial's ~.'cJilI is to possess Mattie or Julian or possibly a particularly weak-wil!ed investi/,>a· tor. Thus, there is reason behind at least some of the phenomena. True, he l'lcks control over some (much) of it and this is Jue to his repeated attempts to possess one of the young ones, attempts which have no chance o( success except during the evening hours (dusk to miJni/,>ht) of April 30, 1929. Knowing the investigators are present and probably a threat, he will .Ill his level beSt to scare d'lem off if tlxi' don't abanJ()n then efforts carlyon. HOwt:ver, he will also do his best to keep the children in rhe house. His control over Alison is hopefully enough ro al least keep Mattie within his gmsp.

mil

SOLUTIONS Eventually, the investigators will begin \\'I!ighing their options. A series of solutions will likely be put forth and the most promising ones are described in this se<:tion.

ABANDON THE HOUSE Evacuating the house is perhaps the beSt option, though the ilwestigators may not realize it. As long as no one is on the premises to be possessed, &chal is powerless. It is safe to return on or after May I, but this is something rhe group will nor koow unless they acquire information from a ps~hic (more on this option is b1jven later). Therefore, any evocuation of the house will probably be 11 permanent one. L'Iter rt:siJents (if tile house is sold) will find it to be normal and paraoormal actIvity will have subsided. In the unlikely event a new family moves in before April 30, they are subject to Ezekial's schemmI,' jusr like the AlXotts. Unfortunately, there are a number of stumbling blocks here. Alison is effectively Ezekial's frightened pawn and will do

Onl!: Cold

everything possible to Stlly in the hou:K' with Marne. She IS uxal· Iy Irrational and !lny attempt to remove her hy force will result In her struggling with all her might. If force is useJ against her in an anempf to subdue her or take her from the house, she loses 102/ 101 0 SAN. If her SAN loss exceeds fOur poinl-S, ~he will become extremely violem and will comempblX the use of lethal rorcc if she deems It necessary. This inS;lmty is temporary and lasts only as long as ~hc perceives n tlm.'flt. Prcsumnbly she could still be subdued, but if there is a convenient carving knife or broken bottle lying Mound, she migl\l he ahle to use It 10 ),"DOd effect. Note thm If she does go ins.1ne, !,"'cn tcmror:lrily, ~he might be possessed by E:ekial, therefol"l.' fulfilling his goak

DESTROY THE HOUSE Whde rash, it will pt!TTl1:1nem/y resolve the cri~i~. It Will dispel all spiritu:ll entities wlrhin, including Eu:ki:ll. fucki:ll will JIl his best to prevem the destruction of the hO"lsc, but he c,1nnot extin,,.uish flres nor can he Stop :I ..... rcckinl: ball. Ameli:l will reSist such a soluoon except III the most extreme cirrumsmn...--es. Alison, too, will Tl.'Sist this taCtic, perh:l~ tiering much like in tho;> previously described solution.

EXORCISE THE HOUSE

5..d, Il'S

Exorcism, thoub~l rarely practiced, i~ still !"t..·c(\gnizeJ by the Roman-Catholic Church. H()~'e\-"er, as enthusiasb of the mOtion picture Tht E:um:lSt are aware, gcrnng pnests ro conduct rhe cer· emony IS a difficult anJ porentially \cns,'thy prou.~~. Worse, tl~ Catholic Church does IlO( reooynize the ability of Jcmonl( entities to be able to possess Items or structures. nlCY GlI'I only pus!tC~s people. Asking :I ICJlitimate priest to exorclsc the house i.. futile fix even if he were willing to do it (possihly agamst the orders of Church hierarchy). he would romt (lUI thm It is impos· sible. A blessing on the property may ht: J,oI\'en and this is !o011lething he mlgiu do. Unronun,nci)', a ble~~inl: Will not ~\"aken &.ekial though It will be a cause for irrirarion. Whilc a blessing IS bcmg conducteJ, E:.ckial will sit idle :IS I~ did befOre, await ing the departure of the priest so he can exact vcn/.'C:lncc on thc frunily. An alternative IS to h:lV"e E:.ckial hurl an obJCCf ,ddc.IOCI· ical1)' at the lxxhel"5Ome pricst or otherwise dcmon~trating his power and presence (and dcllance). If the invcstiglltors are par-mormal researchcrs or (JCI..""Ult investigators, they may very ~~ll hnve ties to various re!i.l,'\()u~ or!,..miz:mons. A suo:essful group Luck. roll or perhnps the gen· erosity of the Keeper will allow for a C1tholic pTlest to he a\'3il· :lblc. He is Father ?lui McNamcr:a anJ can he from anywhere the Keepcr deems appropriate. He is capable of conJuctmg an exorcism in [he event &ekial possesses one of the Ar~{)I:tS, hut docsn'r escape. A house blessing is also .....Ithln he; ability. Statistics and more infOrmation on Father ?luI can l~ foun,\ in Ihe N PC section. AllOfher polcntial source of support is &"'Crelld Fr.Inci~ ('{ the C1h'3ry Epis(:op.11 Clun:h of North Ashfield. He has simi lar abihoes as Father ?luI. bur cannot perform an crorcism. One Interesting I"'o~~ibih[y i~ for a dcr~')m
the House .

pLI,~r

to mke actkm. While he wIll 1l\.J( have the ~pcll cnrusm later), h~ can conJll(t rounnc blessinl:,'s anJ d ..... liko: an,1 hl~ mere rresence may very "~tl prlNiJ~ some small me:" ,uro: ot protenion to the family. On the reverse siJe, Ezekial 111;1" ~llh1CCt an llwestigator priest to increaseJ abuse since he IS likely 111 'pend much more time U\ tho: house than woulJ an \lrc fOUntCrp.'Tt. (de...:nl~1

GIVE UP Oil\.'

1'I{l{ ,llt\"lj..'Cther unlikely option i1> thm the Ifl\'c.sti!-':ltors may up. SII\(e rhe poIto:r),:o:i:.t.!ike ocnnty has rrob.,bl)' Jn~ of!. ,mJ 'Inn: TV.) mall)!', threato:oing manltc~rntJons haVe! N.'en nl.'I.-Urnng, Im'e~ugators m~y ~ltnrly hit a dead enJ and return hum(' wuh ill'II,lllgles. rrhl~ occurred In playre~ting.) In this casc Amdiil thanks them, rays them. anJ hopes br the besl. The hest (,t, COUI'S{', JI)Csn't happen. On April 29 or }O (,11 the Kl'l.'rcr's JiscTCtion), Amdia calls up one of the inveSII' j.!at\,I"o. Silo.' ~'1ys the polto.'l'!:..'ci~1 ;KtiVlty ha~ suJJenly ):rown m~'re ;lnd ml're dramatll:. :lnJ that the situation IS Jesperate. In the b:II.1J,'T1",unJ, the invesuJ.,'ators can hear a stran~ rackctI",,,,mlllg klllxks. rhinl.,'S ,mashing. anJ perhaps even an ufll'Mthl)' s.::rcam. Ameki lA·ill rleaJ with them to plea"C reI urn 1Il1meJiatcly, A~~uminj.t till')' J~l, they will return lu~t 10 tllno: I,'r the climax. AI\;lIld,ming an im·c.~nj.ta1llm Imly to return when maoi fc~t;ltlom mCTc:tse is not uncommon l1l ~lIpcmarural invcstlg:tnlln~. Tilking tbi~ option i~ Ill"( i1 bad one. if [be ltwestigatol"> 11;1\0.' quickl} anJ e!fldemly dealt With :1]] tile' research anJ arc (unknowlO).!"ly) lUSt w;utin£ around fC'T thc dunax 10 occur.

~1\'"

More sf'\."Ciflc SCo,nnlOl: IS por.slhle. fur each of the f(',Ill-I\\-' in): hits of infonnation, [he rs~dli..: muq SlICCl"I.-..J in the anlTemenflont.'.! roll anJ mu~t resi~t ]X~scssion by Ezch,L Durin!: the day. the ps~{:hic Jouhles his/her for the first posses_ion attempt and is at normal for the rest. At ni):ht. hi~!llt'r is at half (or the purpO'iC of resisting IXlssesslon. In other words, during the day, &cha! IS weaker ami at mght. he r~ lImncnsely strong, The p,,)\:hic: ~hou!d be: aware {If the Ix){enual f{)r J.1ngcr anJ the Keeper ,houlJ be sure to emphasr:c the J.1nl.,OCr here. If he onhe {kuJes w bull ahead anywa}" then 11 can'! be s.,iJ ample lA'3rning w,bn'r pml'II.k...J. The Kt."CpCr is enrou~'l...1 ttl play out rileS<' spectral coo· v~~'tions as dramarically ru. Ix)ssible. Il\llking them into lu.'YOO!C lovenrs In the session.

row

row row

1. One J.,~l()St is a 5C\'entl'Cnth Cl.'ntury Puntan ","umnn. She apparently died at the hands l,l North A~hn~ld reSidents who ItleJ tu prove .he was noe: a Wloch. TIley JiJ ~prO\'e~ her Innt.~ C..:1\I..'I.', but ~he dit...J in the rroccs ... She .IrowncJ m a rond !hat Olll.'t! existed on the prorerry and took Ul' n.~idence in the Al"'ott hllUl>e afe:er It \\o':lS built. 1neTt' is Ilt"hmg unfriendly or nule\Hlent concernln~ her. Her name IS Marie anJ she is confuseJ as to who the lnVCStlj.,':lWr.; ;lre anJ why C\'ef)Une iJ!llOTCS Ilt'r. Howe"er, II seems ~he ,klCS '>Cnsc tilt' group is here to hdr. I! que~tioned. she i~ ohviously Ill)! aware ~he is dead, She can !'Clan: fhm Ihcre i~ a ..lark presence in the hnuse. Olll' Ihnl b I1nmeno;cly Jl()wl.~rful and has evil Je~i~m on tho.-.c present. SI'Io.' fear., thi, pre!;Cnce, but canl'l{ll put a name 10 It.

2. All(l{her ghOSt is 3bu henign. He dll,..J ;ll'll)UI [he !i.1mo: limo: a5 M:mc and apparently e:he t .... udeaths arc somd-lOw hnW. He EMPLOY A PSYCHIC Ht.:TC I~ ,In "'l1{lIln t1ut i~ nrrually Jnllnll'J to f.I1IUTC. If the J,'TOllP 15 a very !;.1t.1 ennl)". ~pendlng his tnnc hruoJmg ()\,·... r his ~k):;1 hnn/.,... In a J'S}t:hK to scan the !lou),\! or u)mmllnicate With l[~ lo... c.~ In life, he .....as ~ Nunh AshfielJ c.,rpemer !UrnI'd Jamo:s. ~1'1flt" he,-,Ile i~ in tremen,llIu~ JJnj.,'l.:r. Merely scanning the He likes till: d'ulJren, but h powerless 10 pTOCl.."Ct them or af(t."Ct hlll)'I.' (;KI1W use of PS}'l:homctry, St."I.'I.)nd SiJ.,~1t. or Cbirvoyancc) them in llny .... ':1'1'. He enM'S bein):" m M;utie's doset and ~penJs WIll I\.,\·e:ll the pn'M!r "f Ezckial AreNt (a5StlIl11ng the roll (.. II' tl")l,' m(')S1 (II hh time there. If a~kcJ, he thinb 1")1,' is dreaming and is r.,~hk llbillty SllCCl..·uh) ;md rl'o\! danl-ocr all bee while in the unly wairing to wakc- ur. TI,c IIlfi.-,rmation he am provide un hutt ..... 11 ;Klual co!mnUn1":,ltlon IS mccmptcJ (flI.-"rhars via ;I Ezeki;11 is thc !i.1mC as Tb,1[ pfovilk... 1 by Maric. ....:an.1:l. lilt' p'i}\:hle must sucI."t.'el.1 10 a POW versus POW re'I.·.· hlr"ll..,(, Tt~llll a\t>ld N:ltlj;! J'I.'lSse~"Cd hy E:cklal, thus assisting hun 1 The Jl(m~rful !,-host IS, of a.M.lfSC. EzekiaL Any scanning 01 in ;l(hl~,\'1O): h1.~ llbjecm-e. l\)Ss""Non can occur m this case at any him runs tl ..... grave nsk of IX1SSC!'Slon. RcS1S[!lncc roll~ \'ersus I1me, Ill" lu..,t Jurmg tilt' O!lt' hrk.·i penoJ on April 30. f'\I~""'S~lllll when In'ecdy scanmng 111m are at half altcr all other Sl:annmg the huu.:;e to o;ense ¢wsts ('r demons will reveal m~lI..liflcr; arc taken into acnlUn! (for tim ... of Jay, sJ)l."Cial cir· the pil't-e~ uf mformatlon bdllW. Noe:c tlut 10 :Ja.:fuire eadl, rllt' C\ltmt,lIlCCs, or whatt.,\·er). A I's}'t:hi,' WIll hhlllllJ) be \'el')' fearful 1,,~dlK muse: Slll.:U."I...J in whatever roll d)C Ka:per call~ !Dr (1"<-'1' of scannin):" him anJ rI'Io.' K........ pcr must mnke it crYSL11 cleM thm h;lr~ lI'lng [he f;:lIidehnes provided :It the l~innin,l! uf this hook It will at le;IS1 be a rerrifyin): esperienr.:e. Successfully scanning ur 1I~11lg some IXher sy.~tem), hllll nnd U\'oiJing po!:iscssil)n results III the luss of 1/1 DB SAN. I TIlt'rc ;Irc rhrcc ghOSt, 10 rhe huusc. Note Ihllt someone in tl'lo.' house who 1~ 11l)~1lt', ......·en tellllX1rnri· 2.<..1n..- (,I ,he gh,)sti is d~'r1l1nanr and cxtremely powerful. Ht:' IS Iy (i.e. hru. loot 20% of morc oi hl~ or her SAN points In a sin· al .... ) nubt,lent and ha~ d:ui... ,J."sil:tU (In all prc..<;ent. gle hour or nt least five POlllf'l in a single ~hOf Wld maJt: rm lUe:1 1. n""IX'\\~r 01 the Jomllunt J.,~'\('st I ~ concentrarcJ wllhin lhe t\)Il), Jurmg dlC t.·vcninj.l hour.; mny he auromarically Jl():;sc~seJ hull ...... , hut extends thrUllJ.,~lIlUtlhe entire lut. unlcs~ E:eki.,1 fumhles ,I roWx5 r(-.l1. The Keeper sru.lUIJ pro· 4 Whlle ;111 are in J.'1nL>t'r, 11 i." e:he (hilJl'l.'n \\'ho are ~pcdfkally \'ide ..... halt."\!er infonnarion thaI he or ~hc f~'\.'ls is llprropriate In r:lrL't'teJ. tl..... t.,\·Cnt ~Oll"'" iJi04: tries >;carlnlllg Ezcki;11.

•

a

•

Keeper's note: as shoukl be obvious In the pn.."Vious para· graph, S:ekial coulJ just rake steps to d rive someone insane then possess them. That Is absolutely tnlC exccpf for one minor problem. E:cl:.ial simply isn't aware of this OpliOn. If he ~rc, he nl~t h.we been released long ago.. Since no one has ever boone Insane within the hoose, he has never learneJ that this is a kin..! of gate tlt' coulJ exploit. H~r, if someone does crack "nJer the strain, he will notice and try his beSt to succeeJ in a p0ssession. ]( he mils (unlikely), he may t\O( try again unless tim person remains in the hcxlsc for a prolonged period (more than an hour) whereupon he can try again if the rnrb'l!t is still insane. A psychic at this POint may, probably:u the url,:ing of the player characters, Ul'b't! the Spirits or ghosts wlthm the house to Mgo toward the Iight_~ This is, of course, a reference to the socalled ~tight at the end of the tunnel~ pcn::elvcJ by psychics and people who undcl'b'O 1lC.1r Jeath experiences. nlis will be TCsisted by all spirits within the house. To convinct: the two benign ghosts to comply wnh thiS request reqUITCS the psychic to sue· ceed in Persuade rolls for each of them. Ezekial will nlX leave rqranUess ofhow well the psychic rolls a PcrsuaJe. This tactIC IS a poor one here. n)C! benlbrn gho:;tS Jo offer a small measure of prorection to those Ifl the house. If one leaves, all Luck rolls fOr pearle within the house are reduced by ten percent of their nor· mal \·:lluc. lfboth leave, all Luck rolls are redl.lC'ed by twenty percent of their normal value. Thus, if an investigator nonnally has a Lucl: roll of 50% and bot:h ghosts lea\le, hiS/1ler Luck taong is reJuceJ to 40% (20%0£50 is 10; 5O.1C>-40). If the In\lesrigatorll wait umil afte r the conflict with fuk ial is resol\led. they might then try to put the spirits of the twO benign ghosts to rest. If they arc successful in this, each investigator who is Involved gains a reward of +103 SAN per ghost. Note thaI this only applies if they are nor sent away too soon, giving Ezekial yet another advantage in his struggle against the in\lestib>a.fOrll.

THE Cl..IM'A.'C: AplUL

30

As stateJ elsewhere, it is only In the evening of April 30 that E:ekial can succeed in his possession attempt. Things should begm With a bang early in the mornin!; With a dramatic and noisy evem; perhaps all the glassware in the kitchen exploJes, or a Joor is blown off its hinb'CS. Major manifestations continue sporadically throughout the Jay, with minor manifestations such as knocking, footsteps, \IOices, cold spots, anJ the like occu rring frequently. By the evening, anyone in the house shoulJ be fraded anJ perhaps injured: objCCts in the house now fly around in full VIew of anyone present, and often strike the vie\\.'er. In this situation, Alison Harper's refusal to accept the situation will be ludicrous. No maner whAt she sees or whnt happens, she blames it all on the chiklren. She grows increas· ingly framic as rhe day \.\.'earll on, and may become violent if Olhers 3rrempt (0 restrAin her or remove he r from the hO\lse. Feel free to assign some sympto ms of temporary in~nity or

•

Olle:

phobia (0 her ro cxacerhate [he situation it you wi~h. Martie and Julian will be sC:lreJ witless, especially :15 horh now fecI a growing suspicion that tlu"y :Ire the t:lrgcts of the events. Amelia will also be sc1red, \:Iut also strong and defiant. She wiU lend rhe Investigators wharever support they requi re, and do her best to protcct her family.

A'·-rEI~MATH

The afterm:lrh is largely dependent on what tactics \\o'Cre u~ed and how successful o r unsuccessful they w~::re. As~uming Elek ial is avoiJed or defeateJ, the 1fl\'e~tiJ:ators will he gi\· ... n the reward they were promised. However, it is certainly poSSible that E:eklal ma~' succt't'd in his Jire plan. If he doe5 manab'C to rossc.~s someone, he !f lme of the children, a psychic, a ViSitor, or an in~ane inve~tl !::ltor, he will probably lTy to cover up the e\'idence of thi~ I") masqueradmg as that inJividual until he am m:lke a clean getaway. Unfortunately, his knowleJf.,'C (If Engli~h i~ an::hai..: anJ any speech by hun, regardless of what LlOJ~· he IS In, WIll be quite noticeable. I( this occurs to a pl:lyer ..:haracrer, the Keeper should take the player aside and i:1,·e him or her the gener:l l rundown on what has been going on. In effect, rim person is now playing Ezekial Apcon and since he i. now in a new body, his 1,'0.11 has been achieveJ. ll,\ InlmeJmte con· ~:ern should be to escape the hou.!.(" anJ flt.oe into the mgln, escaping the investig:ltors and presumably vamshmg !()Tever. An unmaskeJ Ezeki:ll in the body of:1n unfortunate vic tim is a hu~:e loose end. Assuming he Joesn'! cS(:ape 10 the confusion, It may come down to combat. Ezekial's hoard of spells anJ large banery of spell points ~h(luIJ Inflict much damage on attackers, perhaps enough to allow him fO makl;: gooJ an escape. If not, he mib>ht be killed or subdueJ. Killing the body he is in Will put him back into his ghost fQrm where the cycle will o nce again renew itself. SuhJuing him can be a bit more entertaining. What might the ll1Vesti,t!~ltors Jo with the body of one possessed by Ezekial Apcmt! Options here are interesting. They may attempf to h,l\·e 11 pTleST exorcise the body (see the srell Exorcism for Je[Jil~) anJ If successful, Ezekial i<; defeateJ anJ Ihe I"'OSsession vic tim is restoreJ back to a rdatively normal srate. They (QulJ kill him with the result being that already described in Ihe previous p:lragr:lph. Another option is to have tum (ommlt· ted to an asylum, but this is a d isas trou ~ ch",ice. Ez... kial would bide his time anJ rhen use his po.... \!rful magic to escape, probably killmg several of the staff in the proce~s. If Ezckial does succecJ In his plan and e~ape th ... irwe!>· tlgators, the scenATlO pretty much ends. The phenomena :It the house will nor recu r since E:reki:ll i$ no 10n~'Cr there <;(J in II way [he group was successful. UnfoTlun:ltely, the wMIlX.k is now loose in New England Joing un~peakable things in the name of his (oul on<;ter. E:rekial is not a tool. He will n(JI return to the house not plague the investigators again. He has bener things to Jo with his rime.

•

TRANSITION Before moJeraring Cold Spot, the Keeper should take into aa:ount one basic consideration that was only briefly discussed previollsly. If there is no intention to run this as part of the over-

all campaign, then running it as it has JUST been described is fine. HO\•.'\:vcr, the basic premise of the final scenario, Full Circle, is that Eu:kifl\ Apcon wins here and docs possess someone. TI,is allows him to rerum in that scenario whcn:upon the group has a finnl LTaCk at putting him away for good. Some minor moJifi· cations here are necessary to accommodnte this final scenario. Simply PUt, the Keeper must make a special effort to ensure SOnll"OT\(' is possessed by Ezekial and he somehow escapes. This is not to say thut if the investigators do an exceptional job that they should be denied victory. If they overcome the challenges in this scenario, Full Circle Clflnot be moderated as part o( this campaign. To maxImize Ezckial's chances of dniming a victim, the Keeper can mnke a few minor aJjusnnems. First, Mnttie and Julian shoulJ probably not be the victims of possession nor should Amelia be susceptible. y~, Ezckial will target the chi!· Jren, but what the Keeper c.1n do is place a few "tarl,'CtS of oppor· tunity" in the house. These are people who are less·than·smble and Inay go insane, therefore permitting Ezckial to possess them. Alison Harper is one obvious choice and is pemaps ideal. Another is T.1lin Gordon. Pcrh.'lPS she visits the house to tutor Julian or to help out Amelia. TIlis would, of course, require her to confront her fear of the house. Such stress will grate on her s..1nity, making a sudden shock like the scream sufficient to drive her m5.1rte. I-"'inally, if the Keeper finds there arc investigators who begin the scenario with low SAN ratings, they are addinonal potential victims. Under no cin.-umstances should the Keeper arrange to have a player character possessed by Ezckial as part of the plodinc. If It happens as part of the logical progression of events (this did happen during one playrcscing sesSion), then so be it. N{){e that the beSt option, aoondoning the house, is one [hat will s.1VC the Apcmts. It will not, ho ....ever, make others immune who visit the house while it is standing empty prior to April 30. If Ezekial can lure Talia Gordon in or perhaps someone else, this can result in that person being possessed. Entering her mind and getting her to sleepwalk her way across to the Apc{){t home is a good option, but that assumes the Keeper wishes to allow Ezekial to have some marginal influ· ence 11\ areas adjacent to the property (as opposed to none as was Jescribed previously). Reg:m:lless, the result should be vic· tory for Ezekial so he can return in FIlII Circle (or a second crack at the investigators. The Keeper at this point should probably review the rest of the sccn!lrios in this book before moderating rhis ant!. This mmiliari1adon process will provide a better unJerstanding of the area anJ how characters and events tie toI,octher.

•

SAN

l~I-:\'~AI~DS

AND PI-:NAl.:fIES

A ction o r Event .B..tih!l! Drive Ezekial from the house or otherwise destroy him (without destroying the house) ........ +1010 SAN

Avoid Ezekial by being absent from the house on April 30 ..........+108 SAN De(eat Ezekial by abandoning or selling the house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +106 SAN Defeat E%ekial by destroying the house. . . . . . . . . Each benign ghost PUt to rest (only if this is done lifter E;:ekia l is our of the house) .....

. ... +104 SAN

. .. +103 SAN

Alison Harper goes indefinitely insllne due to excessive pressure placed on her by P.c.s

...... ·1 D4 SAN

Mattie Hllrper or Julilln Apcott is possesseJ lind the possession is detected. . . . . . . . . . . .

. ... [ DlO+Z SAN

An adult (Alison, Ameli:!, or lin invesrigawrl is possessed and the possession is dt::rected ...... , ..

. ..·1D10 SAN

Eitht::r of the children are killed

.·IDIO+Z SAN

Amelia is killed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ·1 Dl 0 SAN Alison is killed Each investigator killed

.. ·108 SAN ..............·106 SAN

Talia Gordon is publicly humiliated and loses her job .... • •.....-103 SAN

•

NPCs

ALISON APCOTr HARPER. AMEUA AUSON APCOTr. WIDOW AND CURRENT OWNER Of THE APCOTr HOMl: WIDOWED DAUGHTER Nationality: Amencan

STR 7 APP 12 SAN 51

DEX POW lu
Nationality: American

11 13 65

lNT SIZ Hits:

15 9 10

CON EDU

10 14

Ago

50

Damage Penalry: I D4

Edocation: high school Skills: Cook 62%, CreJIt R"'ting 49%. Dnve Automobile 25%, Rm AIJ 49%, HIstory 26%, Usten 39%, MeJidnc 11 %. Occult 7%, Spot HidJen 44% Lanb'Ual,'eS: EnglIsh 88% Attacks: nc:mr aho...e hasr skill Notes: Amelia IS a.strong willed, defiant M)Olnn who is not likely [0 back down unless fuceJ with the :tWf"ul truth. Of course, by then. It may be tOO bte...

•

Olle: Cold

STR

10

DEX

APr \3 POW ::AN 37 Luck Damage Bonus: +0

15

[NT

14

12 60

S[Z

10

Hits:

II

CON EDU

12 12

"'"

31

Education : high Kh()()1

Skills: Behave lrrntKmally 95%, Cook 5[%, hm AId 41%, History 24%, Usten 90%, Needlepoint 5090, Occult 11 %, f\!rspire Suspiciously 45%, Sneak 22%, Spot H,JJcn 77%, Stutttr Nervously 25% Languages: Engh~h 76% Attacks:

Small dub Armel:. 30%; I D6 Jam:ll,'e (any "111\'emem, ,mall, dub-like objeCT: canJlcsock, bonk, en;.) Small Knife Attack 30%; I D4 Jam~'e (any convement, \111.111, piercing ob,...'Ct: knitting nt."CJle, steak knife, ere.) Notes: Alison has already h..-en Jescribe,-I lt1 Vivid Jemil. A~ statcU, she gready fears Ezekial anJ wh.1l he miboht do It she Jefle5 him. While no!: insane in any ~nct !oCnse, she IS Win· pictciy Irmtional anJ on {he \lerb'l! of a full N()wn hreakJown. If this occurs, she may be possessed, completing E:ckial's plan 111 a way he Jidn't antidp.1IC.

NPCs.

MAIHIWA JUNE HARPER. GRANDDAUGHTER

JULIAN WILSON APCOTI. AILING NEPHEW

Nationality: Arncric\I1

STR 4 API'

15

DE)(

row

SAN 60

7 14 70

INT 15 SIZ 5

CON

6

EDU

5 9

Luck llits: 6 Age: Dam.1g
Nationality: American SIR 5 DEX

4

Arr 10

row

9

INT 15 SIZ B

SAN 43

uu.:k

45

Hi ts:

6

CON

4

EDU

10 11

~'C:

Damage Penalty: ! D4 Education : j,lraJ.... 'lChtx'li, 50ml.' !Utllrinj,l Ski1l~: Iliswry 4O'X>, Law 11 %, Libmry Use 45%, Listen 66%, Malhl11l:lth."S 19%. Occult 11 °"" PI.IY Assorted Om.! Games 54%, Attacks: none ft1)' AUle 65%, Sla.,tdv'Drnw 29",\), Spot HilkJen 45% N(XCl>: "hj.namcJ MMattlc,ft MathllJ., IS rhe }()U0j,.oest widlin Laflb'llal.~: Ens.~lsh 78%, German I CI'% IhI: hou;,c and I' :1 Illdy tafl.,'Cl (or E:ckml. Ourmg the mornmJ.! Atttclu: l'kln..' anJ l':uly ahcTIlul,ln, ~hc i~ at ~hool ex.:ept on weekenJ~. NOles: Ottl.'n L1.>I1fincJ III Lx'll, Juhan IS chronically III and m051 Otl~rwl'>l.', she I:. ,II the hlluse aoo ~u l1JeCt to EzekiaJ's machi- N:lii..'\'e he Will nOI MlrVIV(' his teen }e.11"'i. &'1\ sllp,t\.'St colJ n.1n(m~. MatTh.' IS Irl('~t ~leh!;htful and the mve~garors shoulJ o n he bit- thrcarcnillR and h.....1" him COOIX·.,j up In hIS room Ii,r Ix-',':oml,' <.JUlt~' mr,t<.:h..-J 11,\ her and thercmre prott.'ctiw (II her. \\\'eks. When nOI Ill. hI.' does walk to town anJ genemlly t"nfO'J'S IIII.' as he~t he (:In. H .... Glnl1l.lt c..\CT1 h nmcil to any slgtll tlcant J l').,>m! :;(ll~ ~1X·t~h much nfhi$ time reaJing and enPiing musIC on hi~ aunr\ 11I..'W phorx~r;lrn. Ezekbl may possess Julian, but his rI'I\o'~iCllI con,llrinn maw him a bs than IJeal can ..hdate.

tnc

La nl,'lIal,'c",: Enghsh (m\:haic) 93%. F~nch 61% (:m:haic), Ul.'rman 70% (~Irc:h:lltl, L:ltin 88% Attacks: Hurl Oh)Cu Td ... kinetic.ll1y 2a:'k; I D4 damage (di ~h. c:mdle_"tick, picture (mm .... drinking glass, etc.) Spells: (us--1hl ... a(ter he has posscssed a victim and has phy~ic11 form) CoI\I:IC1 Ghoul, He~h Ward, Implant Fear. Nih~lImarc. Shrivdbng. Summon/Bind Oemon (Ni/,~'rgaunr). Voorish Sign, Wrao.:k. plus any ("hen. t~ K£cpcr ft.'cis arc appropnare NOles: &ckial is a powerful warlock or S\.)rc:crer who owes com· plete allCJ,'1all<."'e ro &1r.Il1. lie will Jo (he hk.lJing l,(his m3!>ter to

EZEKIAL APCOTI. ANGRY GHOST AND DISEMBODIED SORCERER

the JelTlOlCnt (,f humani t ~· in ~'Clll'r.. l. In the event he possesses ~'K:flm, he will have ,"lCCI.'~~ to all the lisreJ ~k ills anJ spells

a

abuvc. In lifc, he tl(tuall~' posscSSo.'J m (W "kil ls, bUI many (espeCially t lK~ li~ SIXl[ HlJden anJ usrcn) J egr.weJ to the 00* mte frum Jbu-';(.'. ()t!\cN JIJn't elthl'r lx'Gluse they are of some SAN 0 Uh.l 115 Hit.;: n/a ~oe: 251 Dam..1ge Bonus: 1\/(1 Ed ucation: sclf.mught uS(' In the ~pml .... tlrlJ or somc Jark (orce Interverlt.'J to ensure Skills ~'Crll'ratly only lI~:lhle after he has possesseJ a vicnm): E::ekial Jldn't return to the ph)'~lcal ..,,'Orld as a gf\)fIfi ... J \'CI," ful.:(lurmn~ 35%, Akhcmy 54%, Bafl,':lin 39%, D:monolOJ:')' etahle. PI"lY'IL':l1 ~T:ui~I1':'~ (STR CON, en:.) arc Uctermined hy the &1%, F;ht T.'tlk 57%, HI.ll! 17%. History 26%. Occult 50%, !"I(xly o( the mdlVldunl E:ckial pos.'-'Cssc~, His DEX I1Inng i~ the I\:r;u:!<.lc 75%. RI,lc 32%, Show No Pity I(X)%. Sneak 4QOA> av ... ral.'C o( the viLtim\ DEX rating ~nJ his INT rating.

STR n;a APr n/a

• NPCs

DEX N)W

n/a 23

INT

18

SIZ

n/a

CON n/a EDU nla

01ll! : Cold

•

TAUA GORDON, SCHOOLTEACHER AND fRIGHTENED WITNESS

REVEREND fRANCIS CONNOLLY. EPISCOPAL MINISTER

Nationality: American STR 14 DEX 14 INT 15 CON 13 APr 14 IDW 7 POW 17 SIZ II SIZ 9 EDU 14 APP 14 EDU 15 So<\N 29 Luck Hits: 11 Luck 85 Hits: 12 A)..'C: 30 45 28 SAN 85 Damage Bonus: -+(l D:unagc &nus: +104 Education: 8A. In Enj.:!ish from Stephens CoIlq,'C Education: BA. III Enb~i~h from Boston ClllCj.oc Skrlb: AcrountirlJ! JOOb, Bargain 33%, Bioiom' 22%' Crinb't' fit Skills: Acoounrmn 41 %, Barg:un 4(')'}1), Dm,< Aurol'llobile 33%, L:'UJ Notses 80%, Fa:.t T.11k 43%, First AkI 41%. HLSWI')' 4;%, Christianity 80%, FaSt T.11k 20%, First Aid 45%. Hiswry 40%, Instruct 83%. Law 10%. l1brary Usc .5()IX" Ustcn 61%, L'lW 19'%, libmry Use 7CJ%, Usten 30%. Medicine 10%, Occult M"tI"II!matics 40%, Mt.Jicine 9%, Ib-suadc 60%, Spot HiJJcn 15%, Persuade 80%, Psycholoro' 60%. Ride 25%. Spot HiJJcn Nationality: AO\\!fK::in

STR 9

DEX

Il

INT

16

CON 12

39%, Turor 88%

40%

languages: Enf.,~(sh 90'~, r-rench 50%, brill 2;% Attacks: Ruler At:t:lIi 60%; I point of d:un:q:.,oe (c\\d\oc lOch

Attacks: nooc above h.ue skill

Languages: English 90%. French 44%, L1(ln 67%

Notes: Reverend Fmrn:is IS a .....ell·rc~pccteJ member of the community and presides over the brgest oong~oat10n In North Ashfield. He i~ fumllmT with the Apcutt:;. havlIlg spent many even ings dining with them. He will assist nny f)CwcometS ro Ntmh AshfielJ who wish to conduct re5CllTch [hough he willl'l( naturally Olrious as to the subject m:mcr. 1fhe learns rhe Arco(f 00( RT'C'"'l stmnb't" OCUlrfL-nce~ fearing (he imroct (In h...-r repumfumily IS in dire srraits, he will wish to he of assistan'.... [JlIn, ~ will cen::unly call the polIO: if me hears j:1mfire. Unfornrnarcl),. [his coulJ lead him to conJemn the im'csnJ,>:l.to~ If the ~ !jO.) chrll,lI!;Cs. Tali.a may brnvc the house m ruror if li'K.1' seem ~tranb>e or dangerous. Reason.1b1y nonnal anJ Julian anJ be on h.anJ to become a rot"a:ntiai pos:;c.'~sion vieum. dL'CCrlr seeming people Will receive his full eoopem[ion L'\'en if Tut()rmll' will occur l. . . .mt:en 8:00 P.M. anJ 10:00 P.M. his personal views nnd rerccptions differ from theitS. SOlnenmes, she will L"\'en be present fur meals. In sLich a alse, Amdia may confide rn Talia ",-no will Jo her be$( to be surportI\'C an...! ....ill a."munl), 1'10( say anyThing to itl'l)Qne about the phenomena. Tali.1 could very easily become inJefinrtely or even per. maocml)' ins.1.OC while III the house consiJering ~he stam the SQ."nano \.\.1th a mere 29 roims of SAN. \.\ooJcn ruler)

Noc:es: Taha is [he (~ten«l neighbor living hchind d)f ApCtlrt house. Thanks to the hcd/."t.'S some ancestors of the present Jay Arwrts so [h(llJj:,~1ffu!ly lk'Cld...J to plant, the shrieks causeJ by E:ckiaJ AJ'COf:t afe iunndcJ tn her horne. So, roo, arc !)I,:xmJs of gunshots anJ (!ther cxct'(1tional1y kltki OClISCS. While Tali.. may

•

NPCs •

NEW SPELL, EXORCISM

fATHER PAUL MCNAMERA. ROMAN-CATHOLIC PRIEST Nationality: Amcricm STR II OEX APr 12 fX)w

SA.N 94

Lu..:k

16 16 85

INT 51Z Hits:

IJ

roN

12

12 12

EDU

18

44

Damal,oe Bonus: .;{l Education: MA. In lmgUl~I":'\ !rom Princeton UniveT"'ity, SL'tll· mary <;(i'KK,1

Skills: Accounting lO%. Bargain 52%, Dnve Automobile 25%. Chri<,tlanity 87%, Fast T.11k 41%, FiNt AJJ 35%, History 50%, LM 29'10. UbmT)' Use 70%. l.mcn 50%, Oxul, 45%, ~~uaJe 7w\" PS)l:hok}J.,''f 65%. Rh.k 35%. Spot HklJen 59% L:mJ.:lJ;'l-'C~: EIlj.;lish 95%. French 61 %, uR"Ck 60%, Latm 75% AtrdCks: none "IXl\1.' base ~kill

Spells: E......,rci~m Notes: Father ~lIl is an ol'tlunal Nrc tor use in Cold SpoL Cl[\~ldcr him w he a Jcdkatl'd Jdcndcr o( the filllh and SI:lulllh orruncnr of t."'il. AI the Kccrer'~ llrnon, Fatlll!T Paul

wukl he a renreJ

rnl!!>T

livmJ.: III j\;orth Ashfield (in ....~,ich case

he ~h()ulJ be mU!.:h older than ~hown alxl'.'d. or ~imrly some~)l)l.' hrought In Inlln out~idc the town (perhaps from Gfl:cnficlJ ,)1' &,"I<)n).

• NPCs

Exorcism has appeared in one form or another In more th:m one horror scenario. In the fifth edition Call of Clh"lh" rules, the dosest version is rhe spell ~CaS{ Out Devil" which is African magic. Exorcism is a variant of that spdl designed [Q simulate the type of exorcism ritual that was portrayed in the motion piClure The ExordJI. This arJuous and lbn!.'(!TOus ritual may only be successfully employed by a Roman-C:uhollc priest who has true fuifh in God. Presumably, vari:mrs exist for Other reHIlions, but this is the only version avnilable here_ The rirual may be employed in any situation where a \'io,:tlm is posscssed, be It by:1 demon, spint, or even one rhl' Great Race of Yith_ Its strength comes primanly from the fmth of those involved. The priest (who should he suital-Iy equipped with crucifix, bible, rosary, holy water, et al) :lOd any assi.mng him must contend with whatever distractions the enmy within the victim can come up with. If they arc distracted, the ritual has no chance of effect. A particularly cunning or pawl·rful entity can pit its enme POW against that of the priest and each of those present. This conflict is resolved individually on the Resistance Table. Those who fuil clInnOt help further in the ritual and If they fumble, they are open to Possession by any other entities wuhin the victim. AlternatIVely. rhe enmy within the first victim could SWitch vicrllns unexpectedly. causing untold problems for those involveJ in the mUll!. AssulIlinl:' the ritual proceeds beyond this, a second versus POW contest is resolved on the Resistance T.1hlc. This lime, It is rhe POW of the entity pitted IIgainst ,hnt of the priest plus one point of POW from each IIssistant (maximum of three). If the entity wins, the possession is still in effect_ If It loses. it is driven from the victim for II mintmum of one day, probably much longer if not per· mancntly. A failed Exorcism does not preclude it bemg tried multiple times thou~,'h it is a taxing mua!. It may not be tried more than once per day. Time needed to cast it varies and depends on whether or not the Keeper wams to mlcpla)' the SItuation. A f,-enerall!uiddine is to require thc exorcism to last one hour per POW pomt of the entity within the Victim. If Exorcism succeeds, the priest loses 108 SAN, but reuains I D4 SAN if the victim rcvives and is still relatively sane. ObservcT5 and assistants each lose I D6 SAN. but regam IOJ SAN If the victim survives It largely sane and \rablc. The victim loses 1010 SAN. If It fai ls. the priest lo~s 1010+108 SAN while asslsrams lind observers lose 108 SAN. Worse. the victim loses 1020 SAN. Exorcism reqUires an expendIture of ten magic points. If the prieS[ fumbles any rolls on the Resistance Table, he loses one poinl of POW lind I D6 SAN per fumbled roll.

row

0,,<,:

•

THE FIRST INTERIM: 1930-1931 nee Cold Sl)()! wraps up, rhe investigators may initially believe they can turn their backs on North Ashfield and fOfb1C( about it. That is, until they start receiving letters from Julian Apcott. Julian is an avid reader. Furthermore, he is very intelligent and were his physical conliirion not so extreme, he would [ike to one day attend college. To him, the investigators were tascitlating. They proved to be educated, informed, and intelligent and one or more of them arc probably role models for him. A sensible young man, Julian is not one who wants to meddle wid1 the paranormal. The events in Cold Spot were morc than enough for him. However, he is fascinated with history, particularly American amI European history. Before tOO long, he will begin to write those investigators with a similar interest. Ideally, some member of the ~rroup is a historian, parapsychologist, or author and therefore studies history either as a hobby or as a profession. Julian will do his best to maintain contact with the group, perhaps asking for information on various subjects of interest or merely to maintain a relationship. If this goes well, one or more group members may find themselves invited by Amelia or Julian to visit the Arx:otts once again, this time for a social call. What begins as correspondence could develop into a long term friendship with the entire Apcott family. Of course, this may nOt work out weU at aiL Just becausc the Apcotts are friendly and socinl doesn't mean the investigntors arc. If they choose to ignore Julian's letters, they will stop after two or three.

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I?-ElYIAI)V~~ 70 BE ~~L£:JV 1 9

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Emlfl PIli ... and Abllltk& .••...•••.••.•.••.•.••.••.•..•.••.••..•..•.••.••.••.•..•..•..•.•..••.•..•..•.••.•..•.•.. .!I6 V.mpl"" In Cell o(C,"ul"u .............. . ... .17 V.mplre AbUIUu .nd 1><:>_", .....•...•...••......••..•.••..•.••.••.•..•.••..•..•.••.•..•..•..•.••.•..•.•..•.17 Vampire DII8d. .nlave' and WeaImuH' ..... . . . . . . • • . • . . •.••...••. 57 V.mplre AU.~1lI .•..••.•.•..•.••.•..•.••.•..•.•..••.•..••.•..•..•..•..•.••.••.•..•..•.••.••.••.•..•.•..•.•. .!I7 lnlltn'kwlDa f.mU, Daltu ............................................................................................ .!I. Harth AJhfk:1d In 1931 •.••.•..•.•..•.••.•.••.•..•.••.•..•.••.••.••.••.••.••.•.....•. . •... . . .... .!II Mep of North AJhRo!Id. Mauec:hu..,lI. circe 1'31 .•.•..•.••.••.•...•.••.••.••....•..•..•.••.••.••.•..•..•..•.••.•.••.•59 Rue.n:h .nd In_ll/8l1on •. .•. .. .•. .•.•.••.••.•. .•... ...••.•..... .•............ ........... . .......... .60 f.mU, and f.U .. n 0.111.... .......... . .............................................................................. .60

Th .. CemeUtr'J' .................................................................................................. .61 M.p 01 Ihe Nonh AJhfl .. ld Cemet.. r'J' .••.•..•.•..•.••.••.••..•..•..•.•..•..•... . . ...•....... • ... . ...•.•..61 T1ut PulMtr.1 Hom... . .....•..........••..•..•....••.••.••.•..•..•.....•.••.•..•.••.•... .61 PI.,..r AId ,9> P.U811e from 1I0ben Olllte,· dla.., d.l .. d (kIDber I. 19st .•..•.... . ..••....................... .6t Th" SlelI'

.............

.. .. . .•. .. •.•.

. •..•. • •.••.•..•..•..•.••.•.•. .6t

Th .. Sc.. n .. ofth .. Murden •..•.••.•..•.•.••.••.•..•.•..•..•.••..•..••.•..•.••.••.•..•..•.....•.•...•.••.•....••.•. .6t DI.wam of 0. .. oaJtu funeral Hom" .. ....•......•... . .... .. •.•..••....•..•..•.••.••.•.••. .6S

TIl.. DtsI:u~ G........ ......................................................•.................................... ""' TIl" flln .•.•. .•.•..•... ........... ..65 Thtc No., lI"poner .................................................... . hpandlna 11M Inn.llealion .... . N......

peput .................................

' .C!AJ

. ••.• .65 .. .115 .115

. ....

PI.,..r AId &"1011 Globe .nkk del .. d S.lunSe,. (kIober ••• '31 (pelle I) •..•.••.••.•..•..•..•..•..•.•.••.•..•66 PIII'''r Aid 'IOB, lIo.ton 610"" IIrtlcie dII.ed Mond.,. (k.ober 10, nut (plllIe I). . ....66 Pl.,,,.. Aid floc, 1knl0ll Olok .nkk d.l"d Tuud.,. (kIObe .. II. It" (PIlI!" I) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• M Pili",,, Aid 'lit lIo.ton 610"" anlele dilled Mond.,. (klobcr 10. It" (PllIIe t) ............ . .......67 Pl.,.., Aid III, 11011011 (110"" .nJcl" dilled Wflfnudll,. (kIo"", II . IUt (Pllve I) ....... . .....67 han""ln Counl, Shorrltr. Depanm .. nl •..•..•.•.••.••.•..•.••.••..•.•..•..•..•..•.••..•.......•..•..•..•.••.•.•..•. M hllllllllln Coun" Coronet ..... .•.••.• . .•... .•. .•.•. .•.•.....••. .•.•. .•. . .. . .... .67 ID,,, .... ,,, ... lna n..pUI~ ...••.•......••.••.•..•.•..•.••.•..•..••.•..•..•.••..•.•..••.••.•..•.••.••.•..••.•..•.•..•. .61 Blllbbina 10 'h" Sh,,"II' ................. ........ ..... ... ... ...... ........... . ..... ......•........ ....... .61 hanltHn Coonl, HI"Dricel SocI"I, ............................................................................... .61 Pili,,, Aid P .....at from $uptt,.,tWon .nd H,.t"rl. In pn-1l"tIO/utlon N" ... l!nf/l.nd •..••.••.••.••.......•....•. M C81.1UJ' f.plKoPilI Chun::b of NDnb .uhfk:ld .. ........... . •.....•...........•.. M PI.,..r AId 114, P _ a t from R""'fl'fcnd Thom.'-joum.' •....••.••.••.•..•..•..•.......•..•..•..•.••.•.•..•..•.• 70 Th" four Gr ••,... .. .. ........... ...............•............ . •.... • .......•..71 edmund IIlIlat' .•..•.•..•.••.•.••.•..•.•..•.••.•..•.••.••.••.•..••.•..•..•.••.••.••.•..•.••.••.•..•.••.••.•.••.•71 Hom .. r Bro ... n .. . ..•..•.•.....•.•.••.••.•.••.•..•..•..•.••..•.••.••.•..••.•..•.••.••.•..•..•.••.•.•..•..•71 emil Sc:h"rttn ........................................... ................. ..71 Ann Thomp .... n ...•..•.••.•.•....•..•....•..•.•..•.•..••.......•..••.•..•..•.••..•.•..•.••.••.•..•..•....•..•.•.7t: PI.,..r Aid fl5, US! of WIl9U .Iolalfli .llh" North AshRo!ld c......,.....,. .. ...... •.... ......•.... . ........7t: A Bu., Vllmplre .............. . ...•.•....••.•.••.•..•..•..•..•.••.••.•..•..•..•..•.••.•..•.••.••.•..•.•..•.••.7t Pili,.... Aid 1160 Bruton GloW IU1lde d •• ed Sunde,. October 16. Itst (plllIe I) .•.•..•..........••.•..•.•..•.....•..•.•... 75 Pili,.... Aid tl7, &"ton Glo"" IU1lcle dilled frlda,. Uclo""r II. 1931 (pallt I) ............................................ n Player Aid ,", 110"011 Globe .nJcl" UIHi Tu ......'. (klobcr It!. IUt (pilat I) •.•..•.....•.••.•..•.••.••.••....•.••.•.••. n In901910Q 0.01 Ap0;011t .•..•.•..•.•..•.••.•....•..•.•..•.•..•..•.... . ..•. 7~ 'lraclllina Do ... n 0." Vlllilin ........ . . .........................u The CoII.bot.lor •.•..•..... . ..... 7~ PI.,..rAld fig, V.mplru . .. .. . ... . • _........ .... .. . . . . . . . . . . .................................15 A NIQhl .I.he eltou •.••.•.••.•.••.•....•.•..•..•.•.••.•..••.•..•..•..•.••.••.......•....•....••.••..•.•..•.•.••.• rt Worried famlll... ........ .......... ........... . .....•. ... . ....••.....7t PnpartnQ lor. Sho ... down ............................................................................................77 ConfroDllna , .... fiend by Da, ..........................................................................................77 The HOUH .................................................. .. ... .... . . . ... . ... r. ConlronlinQ the fl"nd by Nighl . . .. . ..•....•..•.•..•.......•..•..•..•.••.•..•..•.••.••.•..•.••.•..•..•.••.•.•..•..r, Aftermalh .•..•.•..•....•.••.•.•..•.••.•....•..•...•.... ............... . . . . . . . . . . . . .....................79 SAN 1I......rd' .nd Pen.llk. • . . •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 71 NPCt ...................................................................................................... . ...M!

'IJ,

•

Conlenls •

,

aJlluns 10 be St'ell i~ a !>Cquel fO Cold Spoc. If is not Jm:ct-

nano Cold Spot) anJ is aware thl."y were of aSSistance to them, the ,1,'cncrollocations lind Amelia's emlo~ment of them combineJ with her recommt!n· V ll.'lC1q.:rotJnJ aTC the $.1mc. It l~ Jc~ignt.-u to accommo- dation that Emily seck mdep.mdent outside assistance InOOwted Jare [he ,urVI\\.lf'li ot that scenario. Howl.,\-er, if they arc una\'3il· her to conmct the investigators. She will reimburse rhe b'l'OUP for abl~ or unsunN to this !>CCl\ario, olhcr marnctl!f types coulJ be their rravd cosrs and pay them a reward of $200.00 if they can (ootactcJ. AI'I'WpriJtc charxters mcluOc l~..'PUt1e5, Ifl\'csu/.r:lnve either flnd the killer or assure her she is 5.'l.fe. In any case, she R'(X,rtcrs, an..I rm",lIe lIl\'CStigaWr'I. The latter would presulll' will pay an aJ.htional up front fee of $25.00 to each im'cstiga' Jhly be Imed by the gflt'!\-ing Mrs. Oakes or by reL.,tives of those tor as a S)111bol of J,oooJ fa ith.

I

~

wh()~e

ly reLuc.! rn events there,

graves

\.\~rt.'

['lUI

violated (see below),

1<EEPE1~'S INl"Ol~MATION

PI~EI..IMINA1~~ RESE.AI~CH

It IS a..'1ol"":T 13, 1932. One or morc()fthc in\,csrig-J.tors receive a letter from (I woman nameJ Emily Oakes (Pllyer Aid #8) 1x.'J.:" "..jl\~ their a.~mtanl""', Hl"t' husband, owner of the North A~hlielJ funeral parlor and Cl.'11lCteT)", has been munlcn...J aklOg WIth tWO (>t hiS emrk~'f'C~, SI'Il' fean [he county JcI:ltI1lCS are gomg I() fail 10 ImJmg her hmbanJ's killer anJ :II~) fl.'3TS she amVor her Jauj.~\tcr could become the next vicrUl\, The Im-estil,'atoo an.' known Rl Iwr fOr she knows the Apcolt famIly (from the SQ."

If the im'Csfig:lrors are cautious anJ thorough, they may postpone an iml1ll.-Jtate trip to Franklin County and first look up newspaper articles pertaining to the case. This p~ is JescribeJ In (urther derail in the St.'Ction entitled ~NCWSpapersM on p. 65. However, i( some research of that nfllllre occurs now, the Keeper mAy provide Player Aid HIOA, HIOB. and HIOC ("nim appear on p. 66) [0 researchers. A successful Library Use roll for each article is required. TItey may also find Player AlJ #11 (on p. 67) which IS much more n.!a:nt (October 10). All these articles can be found to the Bo~on GIobt, a paper that is on file in most '-'OIxllibraries in dle rq.rion.

Pt.J.YER AID *8: LETTER TO INVESTIGATORS FROM EMILY OAKES

October 10, 1932 Dear Sir, I am an acquaintance of Amel ia Apcott , a friend of yours from North She stated that you '
Yours ,

~.9.~

919 Mal;n01ia Lane North Ashfield, h'lassachusetts Telephone: KLS-3323

I_<_ee~p~e_r_~__I'_lf~o_n_,_,a_l_io_'_'__________~~~~~·~7w~~~~nn~a~/ru~'~l~o~m~'~S~f~~'~~~~.~

_.__

BACI
A ~tders

and coloni.<;rs \.\-'err

a pefiple who grc:uly fcared the unknown. Many phenomt'na now cxplained llV science wt:re [0 them supernatural. Among the !1lnn~ fears (witches, gh()sr$, ....'CR'\I.~)lvl'~, Jcmons, etc.) ....'Cre vampires. The vampire hysteria thar $\\'\:pr early wionia! New En!-,"hnJ wa:. brotlh~lt ~r from Europe where it haJ I:x.-en in filii kln;c in MJfllC areas ti)T l'Cllturics. Evidence of helief in \~Im­ ri~ (anJ O\Ien :\Ctioru raken a~l\1nsr them) has bt:en doc\!· mC!ltd as bte a~ the cnJ 01 the nincr.,:enth century. North AshfielJ, Mas~aehu.'>t:rts was by no mcm~ immune [\) sudl Ixli..r~. In rhb ca~. their view~ were ....>ell founJed. WhIle in other areas, Ji~ases sud, as LUberculosis and cholera "'ere mistaken as eviJence of v:ullpirisrn, in North Ashfield. a real \'ampITC briefly plagued the pt.-'ople. One victim W"JS Emil Schergen, thl! son of a German stonemason ami English seam· stress. Ellul eaml! to North Ashfield as a young nlfln seeking to esc.1f'C 1m J~mlinL'\!ring futher an.] establish a mrm anJ fumily of his ~lwn. HI! maJe an excellent ~tart. HIS mrm, though well out~idl! the f(Jwn, W<1~ pnxillctive enrn.lgh fhm he was lIble to $IIPp'lrt himself and a girl from town he to(lk flS a bride. Then, he made the mistake of goln/.: outside at night. Unle did he reflil;:e thflt with the European settlers came a European ~ourt:e .. .\"alllpire~. The one he encountereJ 1{)unJ him very eas~' prey. The IlCxt day he ....'Us found by hurners and broughllo lhe village. A JoctLlr flnd the local minister ....'Cre broughl in to help. bUi there was nothing they could d(1 to save him. The minister, Reverend Thomas Stevens, recognized the signs that Emil haJ been the \'ictim of a V:l1npire ami took precautions to SL'C he would not rise fwm the grave. With the full knowl· eJb~ and consent of Emil's wife, he plunged a sharpened, iron spike through lhe heart of the would·be vampire alter lhe body was laid in the coffin. The hellef was thaI by piercing the heart, the vampire would ,lie. If thi~ f:llled, pinning the hoJy to tbe coffin v.nulJ pin the vampIre to the grave, pn•.'\"cnting ir from rising anJ S(-.::king vi("tim~. The ~pike- wa~ driwn comrlereiy thrUUb~l the boJy and {XlunJed well !Iltu [he ,oil below, a(fix· ing Emil to the gravt'". [n Emil's ca.st', the first be-lief was pa.rd~' trut'". By pIercing tbe heart with a stake (any stake; what It is made uf is not impor. ronl), the vampire is thrown into a state- ot par:1lysl~. The body dec.1YS normally :mJ for S(.'s is de~d. Ho~ver, this does not de,troy the fiend. To destroy the lyre of vampire Emil now is, the head must be S('wrcJ or lhe entire boJy burned. Removing the ~take from the heart alloW!> the vampire to return from Its stasis and TeI,>t:l'\erate. Emil was buried and eventually memory of him faded. His wife moved away, selling the funn to newl.:ome!""S. The IIlcident was soon filr/,'otrcn, being one of m:my ami not onc that w:c; par· ncubrly note",,·onhy.

•

7wo: R
DESPI':I~TE PLAN

[t is now October I)f 1932. Aimosl two centuries have pas'\!.'d since the death orEmil Schdb'\.'n. He has lam in his gra\·... un,lis· IlIrbed that entire rime and would have remained so had it not ix.""Cn for the intervention of rhe new owner of the Nurth Ashfield cemetery. Norrh Asbfield's cemetery was founded !Il 1iOI and has \x.'Cn the rown's one and only cemetery tilr Its entire history. Over the ~'\:ar.'<, various owners have purchaseJ Inl're- land til make ~pat\.' for more grave.~, but now there IS no more- land a~~ul· able. Six m(Jnth~ lIgo, fl mortician n;Ulled Rohert (}.Ike.. mowd to NllTth ibhfie!d ;!IId IXlll!,~1t the cemetery an,1 the- funeral home a,lj,K\·nt to ir. H .... moved his wifc and ~bu).,~l[t'"r m ,mJ wa~ reaJy to sp.... nd tht: rest of his li(e qUietly herc. Unf"T1unmeiy, hc made Olll! gross misc.'1lcul.'1rion. When he purchased till" rrnpeny, he failed to take into account the lack of spare fur 1lt.>W gwves. Having sunk all bis available 015h Into lhe bnd and buildings and l"lll~'ing tOO much for It to hoo(, he foond hlm~lf III dIre financial difficulties. TIle fact that It is the middl .... of the Creat Depression JiJ not help the Situation. T'NO months rasscd and the last of the available gra\'C space was filled. He then made a f.1teful .Iecision. In reviewing the record~, he found that Illost of the old ~r:l\'es wen: occupied by people who no longer had family memhers III the Norrh Ashfield area. So, be dttidcd to recyde grave~. The one potenti:ll hurdle was to C{)nvince his stall w g<) along with his plan. The tim was Silas Weems who had been caretaker here..' /llr over f1fty ~\.'ars. Silas may haw b..'t"'n .... ncotmtered III Cold S/>Ot where he """a$ simply a man trimming hedges and raking It"'ave~. Tlm.'t'" ~'Cars have passed sina.' thcn and Silas was no k)n~'t:r able to earry out his Juties alone. Sadly, he was m) lonf,'Cr of "fl)..~lt mind" having slipped slowly into scllililY o\"er the f"l;I~1 (ew years. Silas was easy [0 convince. TIle other worker was Slephen OilmonL He W:l-< hired by Oakes ril.~U after he took over the cemetery. Gilmont was a Iveal to\lh~l who S.1W gravedi!4:"mg as an ellsy way «) makc mOllL'")'. When he ....~IS approach<:J 11)' Oakes, he wallle-J to kn..)w what wa~ in It for him. Oakc~ promised him ca~h, ;\ pia.:!' [0 li\" .... , Jnd a steady job... 110 small considerations in thh e,:ollomicaJly depl"t.'ssed time. Gilm
A

Plan.

cemetery for few ever visitl.'i.l thc olJ section or were familiar \\'Ith how thIl1J.:s v..'Orkcd there. Olkes was also counting on [he fact that grtCVing relatives will !,'Cncrally be less pcn.:cptwe and notC3Tt" that their kl\'t."ll Ones were being buried in the oldest St.-C. tion. If the question did come up, Olkcs could explain it away, the best story being that the old gmves were sp:lCCd fur apart 111 some places ;1nd the lund had been wastefully used. No one ever had any reason to suspect Oakes so no one l:ver checked his story. The secret was (....'Cn kept from his own wife and child. I':mly OUI of the deslTl~ to \.."CCp them ignorant of crimes he "'':IS ("Ommitting and p:mly out of fear that his dallb~1fer would spill hl~ secret to cl-issmate5 at s<:hooi.

TEI~I~IBLE CONSEQUENCES For four months. Oakes qUietly went about his grim business and in the end, twenty four graves were TCq'l:k.J. It w'as the last that ",'as to COSt him his life. It was the grave of Emil Schergcn. On the night of October 6, 1932, Oakes and his assis[ants went to disinter two more graves. This haJ been a busy Wl.'ek and was the second pair of gr.wcs to be reqded 111 as many da)'s. While Oakes stood by with a lantern and w::Itl:ht.-.J lor witnesses, the diJ(gi!rs commenced their msk. Soon, they uncovered a coffln lid. It turned out to be another lead·lined box. one of sewml they had (ound so fu r and app.1rendy com· monly useJ in some areas o(New England Juring the colonial days. TI,C box WtlS pulled from the earth. but broke apart in the process. Skeletal remains fell out. but they were used to such thin!.'S. What ""':IS unusual was the presence of a long, Iron spike among the scattcred nbs. Gilmont paused to extract II from the mngle of bones and leathery flesh. After a cursory exnnllnatlon and deciding there was nothing extraor· dinary abo\lt It, he cnst lIt1side. However. he Jid mke the rime

to pMer a gold ring he found 1I1ll0llg the remains. This IS not [he first sudl item he K\iberated n and would not have been the last, h:ld he nO( died the next nit,.~1(. By the end of the l:\,ening. the TCmains (rom the tWO graves. indudlng the aforemcn tioned spike, were caSt into the old well as had so many others before them. Even the shattered coffins and stone markers were cast in. TI,e nc.xt Jay passed without l.'Vem. On the evening of the 7th ofQcrober. Oakes nK't with his diw,'Crs in the CClfnl.S.xe on the property. They \\~rt soon rudely interrupreJ. The door burst open and a filthy, nako..-.Jman W:IS smnding in the light from the mom's single lamp. Everyone froze. While they Irit..J to decide whether to laugh or be alarnK"tI. the fully rtJlCncr:ueJ and now ra\'enous Emil Schergen tore them to pll."Ce$. After drmking his fill of the blood o( his victims, he fled mto the night to So..'Ck shelter from the oncoming dawn. TI..e next Illornillll, the SCl'ne was discowred hy the loaIl postal carrier, Simon Mullins. who was dropping off mail:l.t the C<XL'lgC. Soon, Oakes' wife and COUnty deputies ""we on the scene. The grisly l.'Vcnt bt.-C:llne notoriOU5 ovcrnit,.~lt.

EMIL SCHEI~GI~N What happcn.......:1, o( coors<'. was that the removal of tl..e spike from d,C remains took away the one thing that kept Emil In Sta· sis. The remains along with rhe coffin fragments and SP1ke W\:rc hurlL.J into the .....dl. There. in ci..1rkn....ss. Emil's bones waited until nib~ufall. Once the sun v..':IS Jown, he oc'j.,>an to rtl,'I;'l\ernre. TI,e pT"OCt!Ss was remarkably swift and within an hour, he was on the hunr. IllS need for blood was exrreme...wlrhoot it, he WO\Ild not survive the night. The pro;'umlty of Oakes and hiS smff to the well CI\:lblcJ him to make quick kills, thus ensuring hiS survival.

I-:MIes P1.ANS AND ABILITIES Emil &:hcrgcn is an incxperienet:d vampire. He never acTU' ally h(lJ the opportullifY to rise and feed during colonial Jah but in the days Sillce the murJers of Oakes ami the diggers, he has becume acclISl('omeJ to his condition. Furtl'll'rmorc, he enJOYs It and even revels III It. No longer IS he a r.l\'CIlOU5. unthinking fiend. Instead, he is a calculating, diabolical creature trying to 5urvive and "dJust to n new century and new culture. Sillce killing the three men in the COttage, Schergen has ckllm.... d four more victims. Two were killed :l.nd drained of blood. Neither will rise as a new \':Impl rc and Schergcn took preca\JtlOnS to hIde the bodies. The Ihll\l. M)'ta Donovan, was daimed as a SOCll1cd "bride ~ and now serves him as a kind of acolyte vampire. The founh victim was nor: killed. Rather. Stephen Bascom was merely bitten and placed under Emil's thrall in onlcr to act as a guardian :l.nd a tutor on tht: "'~Jys of t""::ntkth et:ntury Massad\usen.s.

Not surprisingly, Emil longed for something familiar. Knowing he ('Quid not stroll through town unnoticeJ. he sought OUt his old mrm. He found it to be a decaying. ab.1o, donnl plOl ofland. TI,c laSt owners lc(t it in the 18505 and no onc has since steppt."tl forward to claim or occupy II. Emil found the remOlC site anJ solirude ideal. It aIlO\\'t!d him to have rI secu re place to hide O\lt :l.nJ t,'Ct accustomeJ to life as a t\V\!nticth century American vampire. As the investig:trion unfolds, Emil continues to explore hi5 new eXIstence. He will claim new victims from time to time. but is unlikely to learn of rhe invesrigators and thelT :u:rions as even his human servant HaS(.'Om has little cmlt:u:t with North Ashfield residents. More on Emil Schergcn, his followers, his L1nd, and vampires is given later. It is the job of the inveSfil,'lltors (though [hey don't know It )oct,l to seek OUt Schergcn and destroy him and his progeny before they have the opronuniry to kill again and spread their affliction outside of North Ashfield.

fobe Swn

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\1AMPIRI~S IN C1u.. OF CTHULHU In Call of ethu/hl!, there is no one description for vampires that must apply to all. The author is of the view that as in folklore, in Cau of Cthulhu there should be many different forms or ~species" of vampires. The fOrm of \'~mlpirc portrayed in Remo.n15 to be Seen is flO{ IxlseJ on any s11lgic example of a \'aIllplre from folklore or IitcrawTC, but is a blend of several. The pri· mary influence IS, not 5urprislll~t\y, rhe vampire portrayed in Brarn Smkcr's Dm. . ula though it is certamly noc intendeJ to be

immersion in holy water fOr a prolon!,'l.-.J period Cfln dcsrroy this fOrm of vampi re. (4) Vampires must rest ni,l,~uly in Ol slleltered place (away fr()1ll sunlight:) in order to I'eb'ellt:ratt': a Jestroyt:J or damal,.'<:cllxxly or to Tt.'C(Ner magic pOints. Exposure (0 amblenr sunh!,~\t l."lUl:;CS I 03 pOints of burn Jama!,'C per round. Exposure to dirl.'Ct ,un llght causes I [)6+1 points of burn damab.... per fOunJ. ProiongeJ exposure can Jestroy Ihis rypt' of rnmpire. a complete or accurate representation of that fumous fiend. (6) To immobilize a vampire in onler to later destroy 11, an impal. ing object such as a wooden smke, railroaJ spike, hunting knit.:, or arrow must picn:c the heart. If the object is removed, the vam· VAMPIRE ABILITIES AND POWERS (I) Immune to aU physic.1.i Jalll3b't! t!XL"Cpt for a few 'recitLc pire is no longer affected and will Tt.),'Cner:ltc. att.llck forms which are described in tbe se<:tion on vampJTc (7) TI'le prescribl..-tl method of permanently slaying thi~ fOrm of ....'l!akne.sscs. rnmplre is to sever It!; head. CnrefullX'Ople will remove tile hl.'all (2) c',n run timer than normal humans (movement rate of 12). surgically though mOSI will be imp;1tiem anJ hack it off With a (J) Sncn/,.>'th anJ Consmuuon rntings arc tWO tllncs the level the spade or axe. Eithcr way is equally effective. An alrern,IUve ~'ampire had Juring life. The Dextenty rating imn'aSt's by fifty method ofkilling a vampire is to burn Its body. This methnJ is pen:ent from the lL...,el it was during life nnd Appearance dou- diffiruit fOr the vampire must be immobile anJ thu~ unablt' to bles (maximum of 19). escape. In addition, total Jestruction lJ( a boody hy (lames is Jif (4) When the vampire slICCCssfully bites ,I victim. he J,>a1ns lhver. ficu!t anJ requirc~ 6ther a very hO'- fire or prollm!.,'CJ expo.lSUrc to fbmes. Often in folklore, a \~mpire ",nulJ first be decapitatFor more on rhis. sec The section on vampire attacks. (5) The \~mplre has the po",'l'r to transmute into a large canint! e..-! and r1'len, Just to!Jt" sure, the remains woulJ be burned. generally resemblmg It wolf. Transformation mkes one round (8) At dnwn each Jay. the vampire lose~ OIK' point of POW. (duet! second~) to complete anJ costs the \~Impire one magic point. TransfOnning back into human form COSLS J)() magic VAMPIRE AtTACKS points, but sri!! mites one round to complete. A vampire can have any attllCk it possesseJ Juring lite anJ ma\' (6) The vampire has a limited fOrm of hovering flib~lL It is slow \...'arn ncw atrack fOrms whenever it so ch()0:;(!5, JUSt like a (maximum movemelll rati ng of 4) :md is generally used to gain human. It is I'lOI unuSIJ..'l.1 for (jilt: f<) know how to fire a shot!.,'1.tn access to upper story windows and to CTOS!; barriers. TIll': ability or use a foi!. Ho\\.wer, the prim:lTY fonns of mack arc physical to f~' costs the vampire one magic point per minute. and serve ro enable the creature to gilln SUStenance. Thus, (7) learning ability increases immensely. For e.'Cl.mple. Ian· Grapple Atrack and Fisr/Punch Atmck arc very commonly gua,l,>es can be learned from readmg dictionaries and textbooks tk."'VelopeJ in order to mciHtnte rill': ovcrwlll':lming of rcsistnntvic· in Just a few days. In addition, the creature has a phOtographic tims. Tile most impormnt attack is d'l(' Bire Artnck. It is used memory. against willing or subdued \'ic[im~ or against grappk.J victim~. (8) The vampire's senSl!S are greatly heiJ,~ltcned. A m..-w!y crcntcd (Refer to till': description for the Grapple ski!! in the Call of I ;::"~,,,,:. gains usttn anJ Spot Hidden skills each lit tl'\l! rate of Cthlllhll rules if needed.) The Bite Attack always strikes unle~ I ! U .H points per Jay until they reach 95%. ExperienceJ \~Im­ the victim is struggling, wheTt.'upon the aTrack raring is 95%. pires may increase theSt! skills to I 00% throub~l active practice When ~ bite occurs, thl': victim takes one hit point of d~m and traming. a~:e (1 D3 if the victim is srru~~ing violently) inirially. Once flitren, the victim loses one roint each of STR, CON, and POW per round fOr as long as rl'\l! vampire wi~hcs. For evcry tWO VAMPIRE DISADVANTAGES points of POW draineJ, the mmpire !-'Uins one point (up to a AND WEAKNESSES (I) No reflection is cast. It also casts no imal,'C on film and will maximum POW of 24). If POW reaches .ero, the victim dies. not appear on television images or photOb'l1l.phs, nor alll its 11'lC vampire must then decidt' whether or not to proVide thl,' vic\tlice be rccomcJ. TIle v'J1npire casts no shaJow. tim with irs unlife. In the rdarivdy rnre c.'lse that iT docs, the vic(2) Garlic is n sev\!TC irrimnr :10.1 is :lvoided if at all possible. It tim rises as a weaker, mexperienceJ vampire under the master's causes no actual J..'l.magc, only discomfurt. control. If STR or CON reaches zero, tile victim S\\.OOns and (3) Contact WIth blesscJ objects causc~ burning amI one point remains unconscious until recovery occurs. STR and CON of damage per rounJ of conmcc. Holy water causes 103 hit return at the same rate as hit points, \xII blood transfusions can points of llama&>e per oun~ which strikes. If such attacks r.•.-Jure increase the ran: by a limited amount (Kt.'C['Cr discretion). Lost the creature's hit points to zero, il is thmwn imo a tellltx>mry POW returnS at the rate of one pomt per week, but fOr cvery stasis Juring whid, it I'ej,,'enerares one point per round. Tornl tuur poims draineJ, one point is lost pemJanendy.

I NTI-:1NII-:\\1ING I-:MIl.)? OAl
NORTH A'iHFIEI.O IN 1932 TIl('

inVCSliho;l.10rs

will lind Nonh AshfielJ linle chrm!,.'l.."t!

since their initial visit in 1929. Evidence that the Great OcpTI:ssion has a holJ here is morc ubviou~. hO\\~\ler.

Upc,m R't.'eiving the lener, the j.!rt)Up h:t:):l little wnl.': 10 plan. In allllkchhooJ. thl.'Y Will telephone Mrs. Otkcs [0 confirm th~ tettcr. :l~k quesnons, and leI her know Ihey :'Ire coming. nlis con· Vl'!"anon will provide addlUonal mformation anu Ill:lY provide S(.1I11C cXI']:m:ll-inn as tn why ~he contacted them m preference to

M:my people lire fo"'--gnin~ st:mJard maintcn:mcc SlLch (IS painnng exteriors anJ repbcing shmgles. TIl(' reasons !.1(l 1x.,X)nd mcre (car of the count ry'~ poor eam()lIlY. Many lack

rrl\~ltc IIlve~t1gatol'1>.

the Jispos.,ble cash for Ihm/.'S th ..t

This case ~~ beyond her simply being a frighten<-'l] and grieving \\Xlman. Not only must "he conu:nd with the munler 01 her husband. hut also with the ~tigma of what he did. This :llnnl.': is enou"~l cauSl.': (01 beT to Sec the CQ[ta!,'\!, but could .see the area in which It was loc:lred. While reading, ~he Jored oft: Later hIli.': IS not sure how Illuch later), she \loa, a\\"akcocd ~. a horrific howlin!.: sound. Shl.': will msisl, quite vchl!mcndy if IlI.':r wool is questioned, that this was no oolinar)'

Buildin/.'S that looked fine in 1929 now show Signs of nc~lcc[.

rln.on'II'It.'cess.1TY

:mJ could

be Interpreted ll) lllxuri~. No one is st
mil' {() v.urk now than hut folk:; make do.

w.\S

rhe case in 1929. Times arc tlj!hl,

No major ch:mh'C~ have occurred in the town aside (rom not extreme) J("~;Tadllnon In ~encral appc:lroncc. ~1:lny IX·Oflll.': do grumble and cOlllpbm about dw econolllr as wdl as other suhjCCts, b\ll some arc excitcd about £IX' upcoming presidential dcetion. Invcstig:lror.. visit· ing the Benevolent Ca(" or h:lng-jog around the !,'Cnernl ~[orc will almost certainly be fre:lICd with arguments over pOlitiCS intermixed with rumors surrounding the O:lkcs' Ct:idcd.

tlw po.'rttPfiblc (lxll

NORTH ASHFIELD,

AND SURP;0UNDING FARMS

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'ARM

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C SERVICE STATION

D SCHOOUlOUSe E CALVARY EPISCOPALCHUJX:H f LIITHERAN CHURCH

o MfTHODlSTC/lU!K:H

H OAKES fUNERAL HOME

I APCOTT HOUSE I NEW APCOTT HOUSE

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(ONLY II'ORIGINAlIS OONE)

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NORTIt ASHflf!W CEMnf.RY

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ONE MILE

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HIDEOUT CA\VI1tORN

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• Chap"'" rwo: Rem(//;,s 10 be Sem (1932)

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100

Map of North Ashfield, 1932 •

1u."I\\~. This was no ,lot: or O¥lI:e and lihc IIlsisrs she is familiar \\·Ith the .~ounJs bach diose IIlllmals make. It sounded absolutely unearthly anJ was \"Cry unsettling. looking OUt the WIndow to ~pot what It wal>, she S;IW an Illllmal "hape lope across an open ~'c.tlun of the cemetery, moving IIway from the COttab'l!. She S\:I:;:J heT husband's field glasses to get a better look and Ilt that I1K)ment, the douds I'(lTred. permItting the moon to illuminme Iht' ."lrt'a l'lt':trer. Her look was bnef. but she is SUI'C of wh:lt she saw. The animal or whatl'\·er It was seemed to 110m across the CClnelery and ~urse, caSt no .. ha..k"lW. This, despIte the fact thm allihe trees an.1 rombslOI'leS around weI'C c:lSting quite dear ami ~t.stlm:t shadows in the moonlighL What she Jocsn'( know is she was wirnc.ssing Schel'b't!n's c:.c;1.l'c. Hi~ imme.liate blooJlusl satcJ, he chan!,'t'.J into his canine fonn ami no.1t(.'d ow o( Ihe art':a. partly 10 leave no track:; :md pardy in celebration of his newfound po"l!r. Thll> Vision was SWiftly JismisscJ and sl)(' \\~nt lxK:k to bed fil-'l.ll'lng It was an OJXical illusion. Wrong. With the JISCCA'cry of 1)('1' hushand anJ those two unfortun.1le workmen the Ilf'xt mormng, she rcnli:t...J somethmg was gta\'dy amiss. She men· Ul'"'-""' the.- ammal to the sheriff who IInmedlately JlsnllSscJ the IJea ru; IrreJe..':lnL To him, an ammal couldn't break down a Jovr anJ Jo ~11at II JIJ to dlQl;e men. TI'leI'C are no bears or lal'},'C I'reJators in ti)(' !\rea and ."l search for trucks provcd (rull le55. She is slire of what she saw, bUI can't press the issue w\th the police (or fear tht.oy Will either h:l\'e her committcJ or will 'Ci:e cusn.xly of IlI.-r eleven year old Jaughter, Ellen. TIle investl' b'3IOrs 3rt' her hst hope. She fcaN harm might come to her or Ellen anJ even jf it Jocsn't, someone or something is lirill al bf8C anJ ml~t harm others. Her stOry enJs here. Any successluI PSYCMq,'Y rolls made: on her Will m'Cal that she IS undcr ~at slr'ess, is ~nuincly (earful, and Jefimtely believes in what she is sapng. Reaching North Ashfiel..l this rime is a bit easier. The tram trip is the same, but now. a taxi service is jn On:enflelJ and mp doll1rs can earn the group a rille to North Ashfield. TIle Jriwr is C!qlIlI"PcJ with a Ford MOOel A taXIcab so i( thc!y are l1rgc in num· ber or h1l\'C a Ioc of~, they mil)' haw to make ("WI:) trips. Thl"l't' IS only one taxi in town, but It may be possible to hitch a nJe 01' a~ for ~oc: to be rrucL:ed in SCJXltate/y.

l~ESI-:Al~CH AND

IN"ESTIGATION

TIle Arcorl3 will be 1UlPfJ)' to 1.rn.'Ct the group (assuming they JXl.rIcd on friendly tenns at the l"!Kl of Cold Spot) anJ will put tI'leir

now seven )~r ok! Ford Model T rouf'Cr at lhelr d,s)XlS31 for the duraoon of their stay. TI'l(' vehide IS still funcnon.11 though is shot.o.1l'11'Sq,rns of \\~r.

I-:MII.'JI AND EL1.I~N OAI<.ES Mrs. Oakes will for the duration of rhe scen.1rio do her best ro

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at ka~ not inll>tlOon.Jlly hilll,k-r the ill\'C$[I/.,oat(>f'\. She will off...-r them lodgings In the funeral home and will agree In any rcason.11J1c reque5t. Unronunatd)', there IS hnlc 51)(' can a..kl to wh:lt shc srntt.'tl in her leiter and on the telephone. l((wl'K.'n) asked. she can confirm that her huslmnd did violate b'111¥CS in the CCIllI!tery, apparently in a S(hc!me TO scll oR'the plw to 1'lC\I' customers. The .!.heriR' ~'lIS able to prO\'e this after re:Kiing J'l..'OOrUl> umhscat N fmm the offICe on lhe l'l."I1'K.~r)· grounds. Emily is pn!J'(lreJ 10 pay the !'C\.I"arU, h:I\'mg J'l..'CI.!mly paw......J s(lrr~ }C\'dry in Gra>tlf.dJ. In thc t.'\'Cn! lhe ill\~stil:l'ltors L"lCk a vdllCle 01' neeJ one on ~hon 0C'IllIX, \he can k».n tlll.>tli Rt.........'rt'~ 1929 mnI Mod.....J A 5\.'\11n. Willie In the funeml honlt: or In the prcSl!na: ofMf'!,. OJ.kcs, the ltlVestlb'3tors will likely enwunter lin anflt."Y)'mg assortment of dl,tmetions. This ranl.>Cs from InljUISlnve reporters frolll OIlt$iJc the l"Ollllty to nosy dcputlC'S \\nnderm/: whm Mrs. OUce;; IS UI' to. Willie she is not: umk=r any dlJ'l..'C1 SUSph.:lOn, her acrimics lire Mill of IIUCfC5t to the authonocs. Unless the Hl\"\'Stlgarm~ /.'0 um of th...ir \\';Iy to attract attcntkm. tl'lCY \houlJ he bl1:ciy il,'1'lCln-.J hy buth the press and bwenfCwccmcnL The ..arne cannot be SOlid for Ellen Oakl.~. She I~ an owr active ek-ven ~ar olJ who always seems to be unJertOo.>L CUI'Il'l:>lty will calise her fO constantly Jog the groop while d'll.-1' orc In or near the funeral home onJ ~he may evcn anxh herself 10 one parncular ~r."l\'Orue~ invcstil-'3wr. SI1(> will no" hO\",."\'cr, Icave the immcJiarc arc;! offhe fm'lCral home, not c\"en [0 ).:0 tll sch(l~)1 (her mother is ~Pnlg her (')lll of school OUt 01 (car for her s.,fery). Nor will she enter Ihe ccmetery, fearint: if mol'C than anythmg else. The Keeper shouiJ (cd free to play this to the hilL She is not: betng cure; she is ddilx."r:ltcly heing a \'eT)' disrupm.-e JISIrarnon. Worse, she 1'1...... no llSt...(ul inlormanon anJ can do nothing to help tnc group. I( tht!y quesnon ncr about her tuller, it is ob,'ious ~hc doesn't qUite understand he IS nevCI"commg home JeSpltc the f.tcr that she has been roId liCVeral tunes by her fTlO(her. While the investigatoN arc In the house, the [lroliP may wall! to ask her mother to t:ikc char~'\! of her. This will flO( help n.'r Emily Oakes cannot control Ellen. Hom..·ver. i( they think to mrroducc Ellen to M:lmc AI"(Xl(1 (now 3b't! 12). they will lla\~ OOIlf' d'l(' ritd"tt thing. Mattie is a friendly and likeable girl and Ellen, being new to rown, desperalely ~';Ints II frienJ her own ~'t!. Once mrroduced, they will !,'1!1: along well, SO much so tim the group can arrange fOr Ellen to ~pcnd much ofhcr orne with the Apcotu. While with the Aroco(ts, Ellen is a completely Jif. (erent girl anJ is re.Jsonably "'('II·mannered. Up until now, M:luie :mJ E11t':n IUI\"c not associated (Ellt':n was the IlC!W ,,
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THE CEMETER'i

[0 the colonial years, the property has a stone caretaker's rott:Ij.,'C (built in 1850), a smllll , two room, wooden shed th:n serves as :1.1\ office, anJ a tool shed. AJJ.1CCIU to rhe cemetery is llnother, smaller lot. On this one is II tWO story house rhar was built in the 1850s. It is now II funeral home. haVing Ix'\.'n convcrteJ TO rhc purpost in 1875. For more inform:uion on the ccml'tery. :-ee the Illap below.

has been 10 CXlSh..'1tre Sl~ 170i and most people v.1)() die in the ni"C3 find this to be their fin:.1restmg place. Prrvalely owned and opcran..J, it has ch.'1Il!,'C(.1 owrw.:r5 ~'ernl times and in 1875, :l funt."f31 home was csmblisheJ next to the property. The bst owner was 74 }l:l1T old Morton Bell. After selling the propcrty to Oakes, he nlOVCd to lOin family members in Maine ....-here he is enjoying his retirement. When Roben Oakes took over six months 1lh'O, he thought th:lr it was :\1\ excellent i!wesrmenr. He haJ already v.'Ot'ked in a sllccessful mortuary in Bosron :md now JoXlJeJ to sm" his own. When he learned ,he one in North Ashfield was up fOr So'lle, he

The North Ashfldd

Ccml1:Cry

THE VUNERAL HOME Built in 1852. this two story stone structUft· is one of the hq,'Cst in the- Ilrea. [1'1 1875, Jonas Carter, then owner oj the ccmetl'r~'. bought the house and converred It to a funera l home. The 5C(;. ond flooroonrnins the pcrsonal living quarters of the owner anJ his 6mily whilc rhe first floor and basement serve as a mortu· ary. Currently, Emily and Ellen live Illone in thl' house. 11\11 Emily will be happy to proviJe rooms fur the- investigators. For more informanon, sec the map nearby. [ktllileJ room descriptions are not mcluJeJ as there is little of inrere~t to the Inve~t1· gtltors here anJ oc'Cause it is very unlikely any particular tlCtlon will occur wlthm t~ builJing. Thorough invcstigators will search the cemetery office and rhe funeral home for clues. TIle office contains Imle uf help. The funeral home, ho\\"~\'Cr, is larJ,~ llnJ will takl' a Jay or tv."() to search. Mrs. Oakes will consent to a search. if asked, but will be II'SS than pleaSl'd if she [c,'lms one is oond\lcteJ

jumpt:d at the oppcoHunity. Qlkt:s was 1lL"Vef a gooJ bu.~inessmnn. He IlSSUlm:J tlm[ in these ~rs of the Grc:u Depression, onc of the few thin{.>s that

would still g..::t busint.'SS was a funcrnJ home. So, he lX'id OUt his life s(tvings to acquire this one, never l'ven trying to oor"br;tin with Mr. Bel! who \\'Ould have glaJly solJ him the property aT a much kmer rrice. Once The Jeal WM read"lCt!, Oakes moved WiTh his wife Olnd daughter ro his new resiJence. Ar 01':>1:, f..'vcrything w:IS fioe. HO\\~'er. as was smcJ before, Oakes SCXIO fOu nd hc WllS in nnan· cial [roubl~. This ultimmxly led to his Jovmf.il1. The cemetery ocrupies a few hundl'l.>d acres of rolling, wooded land south of toWn. The entire lot IS bonlercJ by a rot· ting split rail fence. Aside from hundreds of graves dating hack

fr"=====" NORTH ASHFIElD CEMETERY & THE CARETAKER'S COTTAGE "'====="'i'l! ............ "

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" ClUlfTAXU"S COTTAGE

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The l'"uneral Home •

without h('r knowl('Jge. While o;c:m::hmg rhrou~h the desk In the 'IUJy. Rohert Chkes' dl3ry may he fOunJ. A ~lIcce~~ful Spor HidJen roll 1II doublc d'IC chJnce will rcsuh m II Ix-ing JiSCO\'C1'L-J (tllI)lII,~\ :\ fumhk.J f'(~1 ~till mcans It is ml!>loCJ). Ocptme5 Ilt.'\'t'f OCk."qlIJtL" I)' ~.:·:II'CheJ IhI.- '>Ilk.I)", hll\'ing f'cM.md llll d\C'j' necJcJ 10 the of(k,."'t' on the aclUal cemt:tery grounds. Tlx'y only conJucreJ II C\I~ r)' msp...'uion (lIthe hmeral home. The diary II-clt is a small, h:mdwfiHcn volume measuring jivc In..:ht'~ l"'t· Cll,~lt inches. Emll~· Cbkc~ \\~IS IIn;r,\~Jre her hlb· band k("( ,I Jury anJ l'Io:\'ef XlIL"llly \\~m throul,-h this Je!>k. OI:hcfWISC...he \wlulJ haw 31rt.-:lI.ly loola...J thl'OlljJl it lln..1 givcn II t..l the IT\\'c.\lll,'Sen' tially ~klCUml.!ntlltilln in Oakes' own h:mJ Imhcatmg what he did anJ why. PI;I)~r Aid #9 is a s..'lmplc fY.l~~;IJ..'\".' from the diary. Since Emily Oakes 1K'\'('r kllt.'W ....+Iy hl.!f hll~hanJ diJ such hcmou~ thm/.:~, this Jl,lurnal will do much 1Ot.'TlIis.:htCTI thc woup anJ 'oCt Emily'~ 0111'11.1 at R''il. Pm:atel~·, she feared her hushmd "":ll. lI'I\ph'ed III ,,-,mcthmg moft.' ,mlstcr aM that his munkr \\'a~ l'art of tllI~. What i~ nlost tllljX'1rtant cum:crnlng the diary IS th:1Ill" men· U()ns the 01..1 \wl! and what It ....'35 u*d tor. If they haven't .lIlt\\: so alreaJy. tl'IC );!fOlir may rlow check out the \\~II.

~IHI':_ .... ,,") T.'Al·'l·11x- (\'1lll'rcry no Iunl,'t't has a ,mtl.

W(.'emi helped with the gF.lve digwn~, hut most of 1m cffi.m into c:lrin,!: f\)r the )!ft.)l1nd) while the 25 ~~~r old Gilmont JiJ the heavier I;100r. nlC futll.'T:Il home \\-':IS run by Ror.crt alone. There .....asn't f.(') much b.HII'IC!>S that he couldn't handle it himSl...tf th()U~l he \\':IS inten:stt.'li It\ ocqutnnj! an ll~'il~tant tltlCC the tin.,1oclal ~itU3' riCIn lX'rmluN hun IU htre one. No '>Cr'o':ltUS are In die house llllci much lib! Amelia Apron in COOl Spot. Emily Oakc~ musl care for the house on hcr o..... n. .... 'Cn(

THE SCENE OV THE MURDERS In\"e~nj.,';ltln): the Kenc is ea.~y. M ...... o..kcs ..":11\ ..!Im;:t them (lr evc.n mkl' them to the carc.t:lker's ((lIt:JJ.,'C. This nl~tlC, stwlC house has ;,I~;,dy Ix.... n ~arched (,If trlo<;t l'\'iJcncc. TIll' hmkcn from door is I,'tlt"ll.!, havmg Ix-cn tl.!llu'I\'ed by the dCI'Ulil'~ and 1'1;lCI.-J In the nearby tool ~hc.J. s..,\·eral ~IUlll rlank.~ h~\'(' IX'('n natk..1i :l(rt"'~ the Jourway, thus l'Il:\'enlln);! ac.:c.~~. <.:">0 the hoards i!> tack,1 ;J han..! paim....J 'Igll \t3ung,

• .. IIw~!!anm; thllUJ..~\ Thi\, (1 f (tlUT'loC. shouI J nul ' \.ICICf tnl.! from Robert Oak~. ....)mc. m:l)· he a hit rc!u....-r.mt. nx"y , .. n emer throu.l:h ;lnY (1)(.' ot there WCft.' t\\U carctllkers/).ltlwe Jigl,'CTS. They "'en: Stephen St.",·cral unlo..:ked ..... rndO\...s or via die 1'I;lCk door (M~. Onkc~ ha~ Oilmont ;md Silas Weems. Both ....~rc horn anJ raiS('..! In ,lie the key). Pryinj,lthe boanls tree of the front doorway I~ C3~y. A North A~hhclJ aft.'a. but only W(....... m had workeJ at die ceme- CTOwoor and h:ltlllller can I~ OCCjlllft.'J from the tool ~lx..J 10 lefY pli\>r ttl RoI'Crt Oakcs' arm-al. W...... m~ was in hi5 ~'CmlCS aSSist In tim. 11Il\\~"er. to R'mo',e and 1I'k.'Tl rcrlacc them with anJ \\-a.) "-1I11e\\1,at SC;'nile. Otlmunt was a local nrtfi;m "I,,) aTl)' hope Ii l'l"nu:almJ( the fau dx''i "1:rt' .J~(Urbcd rt"lllllft.'S the louM the ,..t, at the CCIIlCfer, well ~Ulr.•.J to his ICIll~"II.!raIllCnL im'esug:Jtor fl. ~lllXl'Cd in ;J C.1rpelltf~·tWlX,.Jwurl:mg ,kill rt,J,1. PLAYER All) / 0(I(lb,.'1.

A~ldc

#9:

PASSAGE FROM ROBEIO' OAKES' I).ARY I)ATED Oc:ToBER I, 1932

/9J1

Theft" 11 .\umc.'thmg I mus, g..·f off my (11<51 Somcthmg I e,.III·ll.'l":lI ~U Emily Tho! />usIlI('U has bero m d,re need (If CaMI un',uly II\(QI11t' "ill LI\( hL'cause ilk..,;! "'ell I\(j ,,'alot' ~paa and ptopk m the llI'e(1 u. ...'I'(' ~ng w go r!scu.MI.' 10 bur) th..·rr ~..:d IJN'!. W'ont", fmh r.:centl~· ruJ I CPTnt' 10 W rwt.:tIIk>n thai I pwJ tOO much for t1u~ IW("~. So m'ICh so. In (/Jel. wn I eUl,IJn'l ('t,'11 aff,wd 111 /'IuelltUt' JI1(I!\' land w fl.'. Thew wt" ~rort III lit.: I:wemem /If lhe.' ho"1(' and Gtlm,,", brl.'aL them ulllll hts Ipm-... Inne I mlw WJ I mn uneasy Mlllt thIS. The (/Jel thaI I am relpmwhk far deli/lilt. J(I rnan, {/"II"":$ i.I an QmlS I UIU hal'<" w bear (or
•

•

TIle interior of the cottage is a mess. The main arca is a liv· ing room of some sort, but It is in tremendous disarray. Splintered wood from the door and smashed furniture is sc.'l.t· rered about. In fact, damage done here exu.eJs that done du ring: the worst of the poltergeist phenomena du ri ng Cotd SPOI. Ar least at that time, L,rgc pieces of furniture weren't shattered. A rair of six to ei!,>ht inch diamete r p;ln:hes of dried blood are on the floor neaT the fireplace and a large spattering of blood can be seen against the waH OPPOSIte the fro nt door. Individual blood drops can be found in a few isolatL.u areas, but to the tramed eye (such as rhat of a doctor), relatively little blood is actually here. To the untramed eye, the scene appears quire bloody. There is no indication that anyone has attempted to clean Ufl the scene aside from removing the lxxIies. Closer investilf<1tion of the room reveals some interesting: fOCt:s. As stated, the amount of blood actually present is not p;lr· ticu)"r1y great. While a laypenlOn may see these p:!t~hes of blooJ as significant, anyone succeeding in a Forensics or Medicine roll will realile they are composed of only small portions of blood. Doctors and other knowled!,reable incliviJuals may also attempt Knowledge rolls. Think of it this v,.-ay. Hurl a few ounces of water onto a carpet or floor and wan:h It spread. That is aoom the amount of blood from each potential victim th:u can be vie ....-ed at the scene. In other worUs, the :lmounts present at the scellt'. are not amounts that would result in death due to bled· ing. y~, the bodies were allegedly torn to veritable shreJs.

Someone shoulJ soon mquire lI"Iro rhe k~:..'l.tlon of the bl(Xll1. Keeper's note: This IS {I ..>ita! duro Ob\'iou~ly, when M N. Otkcs mennons that the ~heriff saiJ the lx'ldies \\-'ere torn apaTl, there should be n lor o( blood :It the sceTlC. TIle Keeper shou!J take eSflCCia! ca~ In Jescribing: The scene m allow the rla,>,-'TS to notice rat her than hm'e rhe game mechanics do the \\UTk. fur them. !f ~n invcstigamr is:l Jocmr or otherwise should he ~1\V:Jre of the \-rnume of b!ood that ShOllIJ b..- at rhe scene, the pl:l)'!r should be thinking like II Joctor. HowI.:ver, if the connection i5 stili not maJe, the Kt.'i:JX't may wanr to rhen cllil fur the skill rolls. Next, if robbery were the motive, why woulJ there be rhe neeJ (or such app.'l.lling violence? Ch("ddng to ~:c if vaillable~ are hc!re will dispd theories of robbery. In rhe nearby !-..:Jwom can be (ounJ some v.1luables. Specitically, II silver !,ocketwatdl is in a Jr.I'M.'T and under II bed is.'l. tin ca,h box containing thirty dol· lars in cash nnd four dollars in change. A mason j:lr III a trunk at the fo<)t of OIlC of the beds cont:lins mOTe goodies. Thi~ was Oilmont's stash o( items he stoic from gr:1VCS as WI!!! as other personal effects. The jar contains ei!,.>hr dollars III change, one five Jollar bill, a !,dd ring, a tMnisheJ _ilver pockctwaoch com· plete WIth chain, anJ two gdJ coins. The cash hox, waoch, and mason jar llre easily founJ. Mrs. Oakes can confirm nothing is missing: that she b aware of. The sheriff has :l!so ruled OUI the flOSsibility o( robbery as .'l. motive (more on this is given later). Note [hal Emil JiJ actually take something. !r ....'
""....--======= THE OAKES FUNERAL HOME ==========""'i~ FIRST nOOR

'fCOND flOOR

MEETING

ROOM

b CASKET DISPlAY

~,~.

HALL

,

. !lATH

,

ROOM

MAS""

'

,CO

ROOM WUNGf ] P

I

-

SIfTING

,

UVINGl!OOM

,

Ie

- -

,

0

'OOM

i'

"

W

MTH

, ,

UIIIIAIIY

OfFICE,..

PAIILOII

BED ROOM

I

STUDYt

CHAPEL

DINING

KITCHEN

,

I'oEDl!OOM

,

fAMILY

'OOM

'OOM

BASfMfNT

MTII

STORAGE \.

ROOM

,

,

,

,

I>OOM

, "

0

J

FUIlNACE

ROOM

•

CREMA. EMBALMING

J

STORAGE

,

TO~IUM

h"' ' ' -

~ IUT

CREMA· TOlllUM

The Scene

the Murders •

Oilnlont's trunk. These willllO( be mlsSt....1. The mltSOn jar shoulJ

Mtr.tCt

a bit of attention. The rar-

nlshed wareh, the !,'old ring, anJ d'le

tWO

,,:old coins all camt!

from gra\'c~ rea:ndy viobwJ by Oakes and his worlo!rs. The watch IS In pt"o(ll' conJIDOn h..'l.ving deteriorated qulre a bn ....-hilc In the ~r.t\"e. If tak'cn to a )C'Yodcr in On.:enHeIJ or el5e\.\ncre, it can be clc;me1.1 and id,,:ntifk.-d. It is an early ci~1«.'enth ccntury design produced In LonJon by Nil-'C! !3.1tf\.-·U & Sons. TI'IC maker's name is mscribeJ in~iLk the MIlch t"asc and !Ius will be

easily dISl.-v.'crt,\1 by one deaning the works. A knowlc,.I/.,'t!.1b1c ./l..,,,·lcr Of w;nJunaLrr w,1l prob:ably know that Nigel B.1rrctt & Sons proJuceJ .....arches in the elghtccnth and nmeteenth ren[Uric:> anJ sold them In Bnt:un and the Amcncan colonlCS. Thi!> should indicnc [0 Ulvesngttrors thm it came (rom a rccemly violated g~1\'e. Gettmg the waTCh dC(locJ and identified to Grl"Cnf1c1J t:1~ pcrllllp5 IWO dllYS. llle !.'Old wms are British SO\'ertigns mlluw in 1560. E.1Ch IS worth [I nJ)' sum to collectors anJ d'K."Y are in good condition. ~::l.in. dlCloC should be :lSSUIn...-o to be fmm a grave. It IS the 1,"l"J rin~ thai is Important. It bdonl,'\.-..J to Emil Schergen anJ Ius inlnals E.A.S.") [Ire engraved on the interiOr 01the band. TIlls may [llIow rhe group to connt'ct it to rhe l.'ravc bter, eml'h:lSltllll.' Sche'l.>en's nallle in d\Clr minds.

r

1'HI-; DISTURBI-:tJ GI~"ES Since dl1.."Y are in the area, it is 10J,>ica1 10 next viSit the disturix.J Mrs. Oakes can ,,'tIide d'M! group to tl\C :lppropriate 1iI..'C(ion o( 11'Il' cemetery Since the Lkputle~ brought her here 10 determine If she was involvl>(1 in the ocrivlnes {)f her husbanJ. TI'K."Y are ~rcetClI 1Yt. four open graves. All are unrnari:t..J and liOn." marbble, but Mrs, Oakes can lell them ,hat they \\~re preR,e,.\>Iution grm"d her husbanJ ....'35 rCL)clmg 111cI,'l\lIy. If askeJ (0 see n.'OOT1.:Is permining to them, she can proviJe them. While ,he ~hcTltl lOok the n.'COrd~, a second SCI of accurate books was kepr in the fUI'M!ral home in the evem a fire ~pt rh ... ottlce at the cemetery. Pickmg out the other b'T'dVes in this section that ....~rc recydl.J 11' easy. Ewry b'f:lve here l.brcS back to pnor In (he Amencnn Rco.,-llutlon exccp ror a random scattcring of twcnty rhill h.1V~ brnnd 1lC\\' markers. All these .....ere people who JlcJ in or !'Iear North Ashfield anJ "~re burieJ here withm rhe past ~mves.

six months.

Invcsu b>3nng the cemetery In ~'Cncrnlls possible, but rhere at the ....\:11. If the eighty foot deer ....~I IS Jcso:nJcJ by a dllnbi!r, he or she will find the hottom 10 be Jry, but choked with the remalOs of a score or more coffinS anJ [h...'1T JesslC,ltW and skeletal Clln£l!nt5. Even some wmo. stones are In here, many broken orcrnckcd Jue [0 the ..Imp from above. If a rt'C(l\'cry of [he remain~ is (l[[cmptcd. perhaps out of re51X-'Ct ror tI'Il' pl"Ople or perilaps in a search for dues, the great Imn Spike will eaSily be found in the top layer. Just pokmg through the Jehm may TC\,e:t1 It (a Spof HIdden roll may be ca.lleJ hlt). It IS left to the im.·esll&>3tOr5 to p:)nJcr Its _~Ignificana, i~ nothmg important except:

• The Scene

Ihe Murders

!..A.w.winj.! a lan{(~m imo the

"~11

is a more hkely taCtic, hut shadowy Jumble of splimereJ woo...! anJ other Junk. The bet that human remains lITC in thc well crml'll'M I'll;' confirmed wlrhllut dcscendmg it. Rope, lamerns, and t'Mher helpful rools and supphcs can he ol)f;lmcJ from the IOtll shed. III L'II;'~t ,,11 d ...'1( can

I:lt!

~n I) a

THE FIl.ES While the sheriff "'as quick to seize all Jocument5 and rewnls he could !rom the ccrnetcry office, many haJ duplicares m the funeral home'~ s,1fe. The oR'1Ct: Itself cont:uos OOI:hinJ! remark able, all u!I<.:ful inlUrm:1flon havmg already b..'Cn talren by the amhormes. MN. o..kes can again heir hy turning duplicateS twer ill rhe i:"lUp. She wIll not think ro \'olunteer this material. but will pm· \'Ide It If askIXI. 11'IC rcconls can be re"it'\\'CJ III A sm!.~c Jay by a JeJicmcd rea.kr. le~s if t"O people work on them. !-"in:mdal n..'COnls can he aoo.lrarcl)" mterpreted tml~' if tI~ rt'alkr sucn-eJ~ in an Aoctllmnnl: mil. If sua:esstul. it can be derermllleJ th.1t the cemetery anJ funeral home were In dire finaocial smuts soon After Rohm Oakes took over. 11l1S SlllJ.1l10n bt''Came critical 4luckly lind gmJually was resolvcd due to a steaJ~' mflux of cash (rom burials. Man:hing the~ n..'CONS With the r..'COTl.ls detmling !I\,:\ilaNe gr,1Ve SI'1CC sh(lw~ clearly thnt burinl~ were being conJll(tcd long ~fter thc bst gr.we SP;I<:C wa~ used. Further examination, possibly requiring a SIKXC"ful ReaJ English or IJca 1'(\11. Will n.·wal that gra1.'CS Jug m the past fum months ,,"'ere all dug Infll existmg J,>r:lves. The pn.,\·ious gravcs all d:ne from the

1)00.. 11lt" condusKm shoulJ be Ol:lI.'IOIl) anJ is the one the aUlh"ntles came 10. OIJ pltJts m:rc dug up anJ til(' remams ,,"we JI~,:nnIeJ. The gnwl,'S were then resolJ f() bnn!! In more cash. 1nc sheriffs Jel':mmenl assum('d the remains \\\:rc destrtyt'l-.J 111 the crematonum in the nU'lCml home, but o..kes was too lazy. The welt was l'lCarby anJ Jry so rati'ICr than make the effort to mke d'IC c(lmn~ anJ remains all the way 1l\ the cn..'111atonum, he anJ hl~ lISl1OCia[cs Jumped tht.'ITI in Ihe m,~II. In a way, this was WIll(: ~ma: to mire them all d'IC way to the crematorium wQulJ h:n'<' IIlcre3Sl.,j the dIana: for a Wltt'ICsS TO S(:e the octwiry, son'\('thtng Oakes ":1) "cry fearful of. 11'IC rcmaU\5 arc still there, a\\':Iltmg Jlsco'.-ery. NtJ(e thaI thi~ is allmformation the ~ht.'I'iffhas. The mvesrig-IIOT'S. m Jom!! this rese'Jrch. haw merely cnnflrmcJ what he h.u ~t:1ted publICly already. TI'IC next logical step, though 1'101 necessMlly one that is appropnate here, is to mquire as to cX4Ktly who was Jug up. Rt-asons tor tlus \-ary. OcCllltlsts may susp<.'Ct something ha\,ing fO du With the past of one 0/ the vloL1reJ /-:raves. More Jown to l":mh 1Il1.'e5tigatoN will realire that an oulragoed mml' ~. member may h.wc learned of t~ grave tampcnng anJ may h3\'c raken maHeT'S into hi'V'her own hands. More on thIS is !-'1\-en later.

•

rwo: Ri.?naim 10 be SeI!1I (1932)

THE Nos'J/ l~EPol~TER There arc many reporters hangin~ :lround, mo~rly In Grct.'Ofleid at the Shcriff's om~"C bUI also 111 North AshfielJ. If dl'sircd, one TClXlrtcr in particular am :em in
I~~1'ANDING THI-: I~I-:STIGATION

rt....... iolls acn\ln probably will take lnrle mtlre Ihan a ..L1Y or ("", Now IS when the in\,CStigaflOn ~....a'" up fully. N()f~ th.1t \vI\ile tI'IC II'1\'CSn~'310rs arc ploJJlng .. long, the \llImplTC isn't ~ltnnJ: Stilt. &'1: "A Busy Vampire" on p. 7Z tor m\lre mRlnmllion.

NE\"SPAPEI~S CI'll'Ckin~

back issues of any maiOI', rq:lon.111lCWSp.1pcr Will ,,>am three pla)\.'T alJs (these may h.we 1>t.'Cn JiSCO\"crcJ prior to ti'lClr arrt\l3l III Notth AshflCkl). To find them n.'tIUITCS tI'IC rt:St.'an.:hcr to not: fumhle a library Usc roll. The)' can he kx:at<.'ll at Ill().'it any lthrnry includmg the one m the Franklin Gxlllt)' Histoncal Sudcty in Cn..'Cnfidd. Pla}~r Aid 1I10A IS a I30mm Globe :mlde datc..1 October 8, 1932 thm first llOl'IOunces the crimcs to thc public. PI:l~r Aid # IOB is :l foltowup art ide 011 October 10, 1932 that conr.lins more JetaileJ infurmation indudinJ! tnc sl~riff's tht."oflcs anJ actions. Player AIJ /lIOC is an article Tt.'Ve:llmg d'le scandalous ~ra\'e tampering. Other arridcs am be fi.)UnJ, but none that have an)'lhmg more rI ...1n what I~ m the5C pla~\!r aids. Inten'll"Wmg most aT¥-ll'lC (111 d'k" street or a P:lSSlIlJ! repor(cr can l'arn the same mlOrmatklll, llUt Will also rroll3b1)' Include the indr..'idu.1I's personal bl:tSC,. fear;, and cI'K.'oTles.

•

PLAYER AIDS NIOA, l OB, & C : BosTON GLOfJE ARTICLES DATED AS NOTED BELOW SATURDAY, OcToBER

8,

1932 (I'AGE I ) M ONDAY, OCToBER 10, 1932 (PAGE 1) TuEsDAY, OcTOBER 11, 1932 (I'ACE 1)

THREE DEAD IN NORTH ASHFIELD KrLLER STlLLAT LARGE Early thi~ Illoming, the bodies of three men ",ere found III the careuker's CO(tage at the Nonh Ashfield cemetery, Dead are the cemetery'~ o\\ner. SO year old Roben Oake~. and t\\oofhls workers, Silas Weerm (age 79) and Stephen Gilmont (age 2S).

MURDER INVESTIGATION EXPANDS

SCANDAL ROCKS FRANKLIN

SHERIFF CALLS FOR CIVILIAN VOLUNTEERS

SHERIFF ANNOUNCES GRAVE TAMPERING

III the wake or the October 7 murders of Roben Oales. Silas Weems. and S tcphen Gilmont, Sheriff Bill Taggert of the Frnnkltn The Illurdc", occurred overnight and the County Sheriff's Department followed up method and reason behi nd thi~ arc sltll on his pledge \0 make catching the killer It unknown. Al"Coruing to SherilT Bill Taggert maximum priority. Civilian volunlcc~ lire of the Franklin Coun ty SherilT"s being deputized in order to cUlT)' out a cou n· Department. the: three men \\-ere killed by a ty wide manhunl. ShenlT Taggen believes maniac \\ ho was probably wielding either a the killer is I wandering hobo or uump and hatchet or a large CiU'Vlng knife. 1be scene is is concentrnting men at tmin stations and reported to be c'(tremely ~ With the major rood intersttllORS. Roads and mil ~iclims apparently bemg dismembered by hnes nrc: being patrolled by deputies lind the fiend In II frem:y of death and nlll}' hem. ~·olunleers III automobi les and on horseback TIl(' bodie~ have been tumed over 10 the and the SherilT is confident the ease will be Franklin County Coroner and Sheriff wrnpped up won. Already, many people Taggert hM ~owcd to bring in the killer. have called in to the sheriff's department. bUI so far. lillie relevant infonnation seems North AiJlficld i~ a small town in rural to have been recei\ed. SheritfTaggcrt urges Franklin County. It i~ oot an area lnown for anyone With pertinent informauon on this "Iolent crime: ami the graphic nature ofthc:5e case to telephone the Franklin County murder. has shocked the community. Sheriff's Department. Neighbors report Robert Oakes, owner of the cemctcry R~ we ll as a nearby funernl home, 10 be new to me area, hRving moved with hl~ \.life. Emily. and d:lUgh ter, Ellen, to North A.. hfic1d onl) six months or so ago. The two worke", \\ere both caret:U.ers and \\-ere local men. 1be Globe will contmue to follow thl' trngic \tOl)' & il de\elops.

GOing llm,'cdy to thc.' Globe articles

is bette r since their w ritcrs at leMt tT')' III 'III out InnuenJo. Alsollvaibhlc here Arc NU more rlt.'Wspaper articles. P1.1yer AWs #11 ;mJ # 12 ;Ire rrnnscriptS o( Globe articles (they may be founJ m JXlpers in GrttnfldJ as \.Icll) Jescribing JLS.1ppcaro1lCCS In the North AshfielJ area. Tl'leliC arc viml dues that can be loonJ at almost ,my poiO[ durmg the scenario and may be learned about merely by listening (0 ronvcI"S.1tions In cafes. More

COUNIY The: case of the murder or Robert Oilke.s and hiS workers III the North Ashfield Cemelery look a strange tWist today. SherilT Bill Taggen announced to reporters in Greenfield thaI records collected at lind near the scene of the crime indicate that up to two dozen graves were illegally tampered with by cemetery personnel.

1be motives for this appear to be financial, Sheriff Taggert did 001 provide lopeC'ific details since the: murder invesugation is still in progres.... Howc"er, he did State Ihlll he believed old groves were being disi nterred and sold to new clients. The contents of the graves were: allegedly then taken to the cre· matorium in the nearby funeral home (Illd disposed of there. This activity Wa!o appar· ently confined to an old sectIOn of the: cemetcry, isolrued from the rest by trees. SherilT Taggert refused to indicate whether famihe~ of those who were in violated graves are now suspects in his murder investigRtion.

and ....'aS qulCkJy promored to the second hiJ,'hest rn.nk within ""II! dcparm'\ent. When Sheriff Tuckcr died, It W:lS only mtwTal for

him to take O\·cr. Unlike his r~, Bill has (mining, eUucatJOn, and experience SUited to d'le job. He is Jllts,'l'tlt and Jcdicatl....,j. n.rrols In the county hao.~ been doubled. Milln I'tXlIls are patrolk.J by deputies in automobiles. More I\:lTKXe al"l.."aS such as North Ashfield l,'Cr less attention, bul when n crimc is reported, the sl'ler iff will b";vC It the attenrion it warmnls. on Emil Scherl.'Cn's ocri\' ines is I::lVcn L1teT. The munJcn in North AshAeld are the most luriJ anJ shoclang In Irving memory. SI:"lefiffT."l8l.'!;!rt is derennined to aw~ FRANI
Aln.'rtcn ~n.lhere, he moo."CJ ro GrcenfJdJ to become II Jeputy i11t.1,'al police proceJure could be

•

~t 3b-:Unst the sheriff.

RI!11Iatill'

to bl! Sem

•

PLAYER A ID If II : BOSTON GlOlJli ARTICLE

PtAnR

AID #12: BosToN GI..Of)Ii ARTICLE DATED W WNESDAY, 0cT08ER 12. 1932 DETAILING A

OATEn MONDAY, OcToBER 10, 1932 DI:JA llING A DlSA I>t>EARANCE IN NORTlI A'>l ltlELD (PAGE 2)

I) ISAPI'EARANCE IN N ORTli AsI'i1'lEW ( I'AGE 2)

NORTH ASHFIELD FARMER MISSING

SECOND DISAPPEARANCE IN NORTH ASHFIELD

IS THE CEMET ERY KILLER RESPONS lBLE?

AUTHORJTLES ARE BAFFLED

Today, Rebecca Gray, wife of Donald Omy, a North Ashfield fanner, reported [0 [he Fr:lnklin County Shenll' that her husband hJ:, been mi~~ing ~ince la~t night. According [0 MI'. Gray. ~he la~t ~aw her hu~band when he ,[epped oUlsick [0 chl:ck un <;ome IIve,lock

Ye~tcrday evening. Hugh Donovan. father of 17 year old Myra Donovan reported his daughter miSSing to the Franklin County sheriff. She was last seen the cvening before by her pare nts and Wll.\ ~uppo~ed 10 be fClirIIlg for the evening. Miss Donovan is the o;ccQfJd person 10 go mis~lI1g in Franklin County in recent days.

Sherin Taggen .....M he~itant [0 conoc'Cl chis CII~ .... ith the killing\ of Roben OakC\ and hi, 1""'0 ..... orken. on the evenmg of October 7. lie ~Ia[ed that Mr Groy wa., not one of

While the Dono\'an fami ly declined to COIlllllent. neighbor.; describe Miss Donm·an w. being a prelty young worrum with a qUIet demeanor. S~rill' Taggen admits that this case IS baming since there is no !..nown rea<,on fOf her to leave thc area of her own accord. Whecher lhis ca.<.,c: i" connected 10 the disappearance of Donald Gray a few day~ ago or to the murder-; or October 7 IS not yet known. ShcrifTTaggen asks anyone with relevant infonnation on this or the other eases to contact the Frankhn County Sherill"s Department immediately. Miss Donovan is 5'4" lall. 105 pounds with brown hair. blue eyes. a fair compleJoon, and II shghl build. She ..... ru.III~t <.een wearing a plaid skirt and .... hite blouse.

[he depuuzed Clllih.1Il \oluntt:en. and no bodies ha\e turned up any .... hcrt: III the C(JoUllIy

Donald Omy has Il\ed ncar North Ashfield entire life. Acrording 10 hi\ neighbor;, he wru, born and mi'tCd nn lhe Omy farm and inheriled Illc 11111d upon the death or his fallll!r in 1923. He i~ dc~ribcd as a wann, JO\ ial man wilh many friends ami 00 enemies. Mrs. Gmy (.·()l.lId not be reacI1l.'"
An)'olle .... Ich mfonnau{ln on Ihl:' "aM: is ru,J..ctJ to cootactthe Franklin County ShenfT immedialely. LXmald Omy i\ age 51. 5'10·' tall. ~OO to 210 pound\, with curly block hair streakctJ with gray. lie Wll~ Ill\t \Cen wearing cover:lll~, work boot" and a flannel \hirt.

1J1\'I.-~J.:aron;

~uspicious

The disappearance of Myra Donovan is the latest in a rccenl string of mysteries to plague North Ashfield. Thi~ is unprecedented for the small. slccpy community and mally reside nts are becoming worried or agitated over the maller.

brought m 10 Invcstigate the case, he qlllckly realizcJ he was o( his league. For the first ome !>l1lCe he ""as appom«.-tl In 1928, ~llpot onk·n:J autop;:ies to l~ ~rtOrmeJ. These .....~:re carried OUt at the Greenfield MCnll.">rial Hospital by Dr. Harold Rohrs. Dr. Rohn i~ the only surgeon m R...·wn.ls ollihe case are Ill]!: avaibNc lOr !'uhlie vicwtng Sillce Franklm County alld .....hile he is f1(l{ a ~tholq.1jst, he is rca· thert' IS an on),'<.>111g mvcstig:1tkm. Rcrmtcr.; arc l"OnstIllltiy h.1ng. sollably .....dllJuahfied to carry Out autopsies. The ClSC has puz· 1IlJ.: lIRll.lnd the jail and cOl.lrth~JtlM!, wllInng br the ~hcriff to tied hllll for he (ounJ cvlJcm:c that both teeth and obJeCfs III rde.1'C.' nK1I'C intormanon. Any drort.~ maJc I" rhe invesrigamrs the room "'Cre used ro kill the victims. In Oakes' case, a brokl!n tu at'llllI'C n.'Cllftls or report" williX' truitle'~. dlair leg was founJ plull):,'ed dl'CJ"l 111m hl~ lIb.1omen ill a mall· SUlI.'"C the

are, in tlx-ury,

t~ Will .."

f""Ill{

kxlkillg,

be 1\J.rru".,J. L'IlI('",~ t1"l1:1' :m: Incn.-JINy Jcnse anJ ,1Il .. lUn........ h" th.-y ill'\' hel'\' (th~ IJ1Vlti~ hon.b uf rer0rt\'r., 'IIlJ J...jlI.lfIc!, ttl lkS<.:~nJ on 1I'I<'"m), th...-y ~1"\()l.11J be able [0 opcrlUe Lll'l.'dy unhmckn....!.

w-;u,

flUl

ncr that makt-s the possibility o( it being (In acciJenr exrremd~' ullhkt-Iy. Slrun!,oely, each victim was not (lilly Il)rn amn, but was FRANKLIN COUNT"lI C01~ONEI~ lackmg blood. Dr. Rohrs noreJ this in his files and ~uml'J A:;. I.' (,Imnl<.ltl m many rom oj t~ UmleJ States, dus IS 811 mosl of the blood was drained at the scene (wfucll he has ..>l ;lff,(JIIltl.:J i"l"'lflon. 1be cum'I"1t OlroflC"r IS James ~ilrot:, a mor· vislreJ). This is nor: the case (the vampm: ooruumeJ II:) thouJ!h t .... l<1Il with the Grmll.~ FU1lCr.1! Home in Gn.'(.'"f1f1e1d. When h~ Dr. Rohrs IS Ulla\>o'3re of any significanl.":r in this.

•

' 10

•

Whil~

;.....qU!rlIlJ: 11I~ rccorJ~ ,InJ tiles IS IlOI: possiblc, mto.'r· Dr. Roh,.., is. Hh wh~n:about~ al'\! v,\'!lI·known and nsk· 1IlJ: any ft'JX,rkr or dlC.·\:king d~ telephonl.' Jirt.'Ctory am b'Ct his hVnll' and tlHicc IIJdre~. Dr. Rflh", h an aibble man whu is wll1lTlJ! to openly Jiscuss mo,q a.-.pech t,1 the c:t<.e though will not J,'O into lurid decl1b. l'\nrmallul.)kmg mve~t1,.:aturs ...,110 aPrIlM h11n for an Intervlcw may Ju '1\), but will ImJ 1"If IS tired of spe:lkll\~ with reporters anJ '>l:n~ltilln ;.('\'I.;.:r;. Gettin/.! hml to actually ~top fur a chm ft.'quires till' 11we5l:i,,>:ll\lr ....·ho h representing rl"lf group to ~tla:eeJ in a faSt l:llk ndl (a f..'t.'1 ..... nJU~ Keeper may subsmute fursu.-"k skill heft' It It lX'Ilt.iib the Im""<;I:1L':IlOr5). In af1't' Inh:r"i\.'W. Dr. Rdu'S will pn"ll~bly repeat rl)()M of Wh.lt ha~ alrt.-a..ly Ix,," aJ\'Cn..-.J hy the news~pers. The b>ent."ral <.:I,ndiuon o! tho;: hOl.lies is ~1I·kn(lwn lhoo~ no 0I'\t! has 'f\."t nrs to noOcr ,hl5 and t:lk II.... apI'R1f'nate ;I\.-,-ion. \"i~'\... in~

INTI~INIE~ING DEPUTIES TIm

b

cercllnly.1 ).,"I.lI.xI ClCtlC, but llle questioner must SUl,ll.'t..J m

;\ 1\.....wJe n.tl to J..'t."t a J..jllIty to r.llk. FUrihermore, it does nu ).,"1.11."11.1 m inrervll'w .. II ,he .krUtlt's. Tmcking down the ones who WCIT i1t the sox ..... 1,1 the munlcr mn be Jolll: qulcldy hv tbkJllI: .lnll,JIlJ (it i~ (OmnlCl!\ k''II.lW~eJf-,'C; they h;r.'C Ix'!,!n intervicweJ hy many n.'porrers). The twO who ~re »rit on rill.' ~et'Ie anJ assigned the C15C ;lR' RKk WiIIl~ anJ rred Garner. Bol:il .. re in rhelr late t ....entles anJ have ix'Cn with the FCSD ti)r several ~ars. Their stories will t..'S<;o.'fJriall~· h- idcnru:al so inferv1t:wm~ tncm separarely, thou).,-h a ).,'ol"lt.ildea, will not ro.~ulr in eXIra inlOnnation or coniliLting smries. Uk Dr. Rdlf";, tilL')' \\'ill not give out lurid Jetails of the Gt'>C. HO\\~'Cr, I hey mn say the boJies wert' horribly mutiwte·d, ...3I.:h appearing m h.-wo: been renJeJ ararL To deliver the remains to GreenficlJ n......,Uln......1 them to oorrow an ice truck. pad. t.'adl '<'t 01 Il'malns In SC\-·eralla'l.'C sheets (thim"n lll,HlI.lles in all), and then Jrive them 10 the Greenfleld MemoT1al HOSpitaL If asked it there ....':b much b1rH. ...11l1 till' scene or if thl_'Y cle:meu anythmj;: up, tl'll1' will ~y ,hm ,hen' was a lor ofhloud. No, they Jidn't cic.1n .lflYlhlnJ;: ur. TIK1'ldt the (rime ~nc M tht.";' found 11. M per ,he ,1~T1tf'S inStrUCnoM. Rt.'fllembcr, tht:y arc fl()f meJicnl men. 1lleir 1C'\·d \"It- octllalpollO! technical training is very low a!ll.i their li'ren~1L kI1l.)W.·It:..i~.... i~ nOfIClOsn:nL TI1e amount ofblooJ they~' ;\1 th... s<:etlt' wa.:;, to them, [I IDt. They will :lOCurarely Jesc..Tibe how brf-,....• tilt': hkx'll.ll';m:he~ m:re to investigator.;, if aslred. Their eSlimateo! the ~m.· olthl' hboJ patches ma~s the stzeoft~ patch· e~ lounJ at tile <;ecfIC I'IV the im'estiL':ttllfS (SIX to eight inches 1I1 di.1nlett'r). Thl' moulJ wnfirm in their mmJs that the blooJ IS 1t11~mf,(. So t.....'nlC~ the qUt'~tion: where did the blood go!

• Franklin

Coroner

Bl.ABBING TO THE SHERn'1' At this point, it is Hssumed the 1I1vestigmors are not sh:lr1n~ theJr flndmJ,'S with the sheriffs Jepanment. There arc .,'()(x\ reasons for this. HIC group shoulJ realize that (J) the Fran\din County Sheriffs Department (FCSD) may Il(l[ he pleased that private citizens are investigating the crunes, (2) rhe fact that they are occulc investigators coulJ b'Ct them in tl'Ol.lhle, (3) if they allow their names to become public, this can only hdpthe mltr dercr{s), nnJ (4) anythin[{ tht.')' tell Sho.'riffTalU,'Crt will probably be dismissed as litter hogwash. In rhe event the group Joes try to "do the riJ..>ht thmg" ami share mformarion With the author ltlCS, the Kt.'cper should have SheriffTa~'Crll"ttienrly listen ro them anJ then Jismiss rhem. If they OCI nrangdy or lire !iOtlWhow suspicious, they may find themselves m Jail, under SUSP'cion, or kicked Dut of Franklin County. Otherwise, the Keeper ~h()u ld give them II hreak and 10.'1 th~m learn from the experi· ence. A particularly nasty Keeper midll pltlf;!ue them with honles of reporters, hmdcring their t1\vestigalion and fl}n:ing them to deal with life in the spo!:l.ghL ThiS should not he In Insurmountable oboltacle and could be roleplayed out quit... sur.:~'C_~fully (anJ pcmnps humorously as ltwesugarors crawl nUt hotel winJows and dOOb"C down back Alleys to avoicl c:'Imera· wielding journalists). Sheriff T3J;!).,'Crt isn't ignorant or incomperenL I( in Ihe unlikely event the llW"'~lif-,'ll.[()rs are convincing (rcfJecteJ by \uc· Cl!5sful Persuade rolls and actual 5\.,]IJ evi.Jencr like the mhsin.: hkJ(xl), he will probably still dismiss them politely, but then a..ljust his investigation aocordingly. The mls-,ing blood .....111 nllt h:1"e him thinking Il/xl\lt wmpires. Ho\\\,:ver, he will h.we thtr.:'~ 11l.'W theories. One is that the ~hol.x{ is [l Cllnnibal. The sca:mJ is that some maJ dllCtor was here fur blooJ. The thin! (and most plausible) IS that a family memher of Utlt' of chose .... ho wa~ in a \'io/a[('d grnve concocted a particularly gnsly means ('( revenge. While he will continue to publicly Stare a transient llr hobo was respon~iblc. he will begin to conduct :;ome J!ene:llot.:· iClll rcs.:arch In an effort to trace family members. ThiS process IS slow and wHilelld nowhere. In :lddition, he will keep 1m e)\' on Mrs. Oakes and the mVC5t1garof", but might rlOf hinder them as long as It seems they are Joing no(hmg iIlqpl anJ are I1I..lI. ob5tructing his investigation.

FltAN1
Still opcmteJ bo; AL1n Weathersby, (his society is laf'J,oeIy unchanged sU\ce the group ill'S( encountercJ It in 1929. AIn.-aJy, they may h:r.'l' come here for back issues or llt.'W'opapets aM thus fOund some pl:l}\!r :lids. Si~ It the c10scst thing 10 a pubHc lihrary in the COUnty, the hisrorical society will :mract lhe invcsti!,F,lIors. Ultimately, they may feel the no..J m seek further research opporluni~ elsew-ilere, bul there 15 material here of use. Ar thiS point, the [{roup will likcly h:r.'l' a number o( t1'k'O-

7wo: R.t'maim 10 be Scm

•

nt."I,

UlTIOI1J! "-·hlm should be counted werewolves and v:J.mpm.'s.

lbe hlS1ol1Cl.1 society has a hnlc ~uch lJ{cr3rure. One recenraallll' ~lrion IS SUPt'TSUtiOIl and HJ.Slcria III Jm-Rnduuoll Neu EnglanJ. Wmten by Jan L~kt:r, this (fictitious) \ldumc was published by Watcrmark Press in Boston in 1929. It may lllso be fOund in major libr.lries throughout N{lrth Americ:1 5\) may be avaibble multiple times if the group bils to locate It in Greenfield.

Ths 305 ~'C, leather bounJ book is wntten in En&~ish anJ requtres five Jays of sruJy ro complete. BmJmgs are cxrellem and j.,"I..lOJ anJ this copy has oIJ\'lou~ly nor seen much use. A

suarssful RcaJ English roll rewanls the ll.-aOer with +1 % to Occult. It also rewanJs the reader wllh PI.')~r Aid # 13. A n.'·aJer w+\I.) is fluem In wnnen English (60%+) automllriOllly j,'CtS this pb~r aid unless his or her skill roll is fumhlcJ. Thc book COVCI'b a wiJe \lancty of t,)pici rnngmg from thc 5.'llcm witch trials to reporteJ cases .1/' I'Klltcrl,'Cist a.:ti\lity to the ,';unpirc crn:c of perioJ. Plll)\'r AiJ # 13 is pan of sectlon on the l,ttcr. OutsiJe of the 4Ut-'Cke-r book arhl I:«k I~~ues III newspapers, the hislOncal socii.'ty has littl .... else tll {>f(er.

tr.c

tr.c

maren.,L~

PlAYER A ID ##13: PASSAGE FROM SUPl:.""RSTITION AND HYSTERIA IN PRE-REVOUITION Nl:."W Er."GlAND DISCUSSING THE VAMPIRE CRAZE One of {he m:mgc:r and less publiciud {rends ofhys{eria in New England is Ihe: so-called """mpirc: =~.~ Wha{ is remarkable about Ihis i~ nut I11Crdy,hat it oa;:urred, but dUI( il pe~isted ror 50 long. Evidence: ofbc:liefin vampim;:lS well ali aaioru ukc:n ~irl5l them h~vc: Ix-en documc:med 10 ali latc: as the 1890s. Belie:f in lI'.!mpircs is an old one: that cmsso into many of the world's athurcs. Genuine bdief in lI'~mpires and other Cte ronsJJcred pbusible ro many, if not most propk Dadu offunily:me:! friends ....'t!re: a frightening thing ro the CQ\onisu, opt'Lwlywhen the: de:.illu v.~ unusual or unaplain.able. Diseues Wt an: loc:by wdl-o:pbined ;mcJ in many ClSCS curable were: III 171h :me:! 18th century !'lev. Engl:1nd 5Omc:limd viev.'t!d :lS evidence of vampire awcX. TuDrn:ulosis:u1d cholera art' IWO discasc::s that ausc w.tSIing and gradual death 10 victims and the: symptoms of lhesc: disc:ucs resemble evidence of vampire: anrou: dc:suibcd over lhe: c.c:muries. The: men: hct th;u deaths wert' onen amiboled 10 vampires is rt'm;ulable enough, but in New Engbnd, m:lIly rook thlS:u1 alra §lep rur· ther. D«eued IO'I--cd ones bclievc:d 10 be vicurns of vampires w.= onen disinterred In till: middle of the night by grieving n::lalivt:S and
CA1~AR~ EPISCOPi-\L CHURCH 01" N01~TH A.'iHl·lI-:LD

Reverend Francis Connolly is ~till in chnge here. He will (onJly greet the invt!stigarors, rememhering them frum 1929. Since th"t flmt!, Amelia would (pwbably) h,j\,c spoken highly of thclll to him, giving him a positive view of them C\'en if Ihey only Jealt with him perlpllcrally. On the other hanJ, If ,he situation in Cold Spat got ugly. they may find him to be hosnle. How,"'Vef, It IS assumed here that they did not earn Re\lerenJ Francis' wmth. The Invesligators will probably believe that this place, ha\ling the town's oldest reconls, will one.: "gain be of usc. Unfortunately, mosr records that arc relevant v.>ere destroyed III the fir.: thllt destroyed the fil'bt dmrch in the early 1800s. As In Cold Spot, one of the few pre·l800 documents still on file is rhe Journal of R...·\'ercnd Thomas Stevens. If they JiJ· n', find It m 1929, they Will have a seconJ opponumty to finJ It now. If they found it prC\'iou~I)', IOClltlllg It now shoulJ be exceptlonall)' eas}'. Full mformarion ahout the JotJrnal can be founJ in Appendix A: Thl' Rc1..:rend's JOtlrnal, on p. 136.

fo

ChL'Clung the Journal tor Pll'\as.,'CS relanng 1\1 rhoS(' nllmes IisteJ in P\a)1!r AIJ #15 is ea~y anJ will rake no more than a Jay. Some of those listeJ arc not menrioneJ at alt ur arc onl)' mentioned briefly. Mosr uf those who died betv.wn I and 1744 arc mentioned ,.,inC\.' that is thc perioJ c(wered in the puma!. Of these, Sarah Mnliter and Simon Calmont (no rdation to Stephen Oilmont though the investigators may notice the similariry in names) arc not Illcnl10ned at alL The rest earlll,'~1 short comments like ~l pre~IJed uver rhe funeral uf Hawld Miles tod,)'. He was a fine, honest man who ..... 111 n be misseJ by all. A few C\'cn warmnted a paragrnph or two 111 rhe JOurnal anJ these SL"Cm to be people who \\1!re e .. pc· cmlly dose to Reverend Thomas. When Emil Schergen IS menwlneJ, however, the tone I .. enmdy Jlfferenr. Reverend Thomas ob\liously diJ not know EI11I1 well thOU/,~l does menril)f1 that his wife WilS the daugh· ter of a local farmer. Player AiJ # 14 (on the next pal,'C) b the final passaj,'C mcnrioning Emil SCh.... rj,'Cn anJ describes his Jeath anJ the precamions taken Jurmg the burial. This p..1~· sas,'C shoolJ be an important due and may have the group theorl:ing that Emil has risen as a vampire. With this In hand, they should be able to track Enul down and th\\-'3rt hi~ rlam.

no

•

PlAYER AID #14: PASSAGE FROM REVEREND THOll.iAS' JOURNAL MENTIONING EMIL ScHERGEN.

SPEllING ERRORS ARE INTE!"mONAL.

October31, 1730 'Tis been a frightful day for the good peopl of Hawthorn. Yesterday, Emil Schergen died. By all accou.nts, Emil was a diligent worker and a productive member of thee communitee. I knew his wife well and learned from her the dire circumstances of his

death. Yesterday, he was found by Jebediah Cooke and Lowell Woods. His pale body, twisted in grotesque death was under a tree on the Schergen farm. His throat has been

torne out, as if he had been savaged by a wolf. I was called in to comfort his wife (lnd take the body to its final resting spot. Emil is not the only one to have died in this manner.

r have been told

that two peo·

pie near Greenfield were similarly killed last month. I have further been told that the belief is that

(I

vampire was responsible for those deaths.

With Benjamin Smith and Joseph White in attendence, I was careful in my inspec-

tion of the body when we prepared it for burial. The lack of other wounds and the absence of blood has convinced me that a vampire indeed did slay poor Emil. I only hope that the creature has left our area though I am now preparing for it in case it strikes again.

It has been my duty to inform Mrs. Schergen of her husband's fate. She has agreed that precautions must be taken to safeguard the communitee. This afternoon, we quickly buried Emil. I didn't have the heart to deny placing him in consecrated ground. However, I took some of the usual precautions . John Peters was good enough to quickly forge a stout iron bar, sharpened at one end. In the presence of Benjamin

Smith, Joseph White, John Whitherspoon, John Peters, and Daniel Drake, I hammered the spike through Emil's body as it rested in the coffin. I made sure the spike went well into the earth at the bottom of the grave. My research tells me that by doing this, the spike will kill the vampire. Failing this, it is pinned to the grave and cannot rise. As an added precaution, we bound the hands and feet to futher inhibit the corpse's

movement. I feel these actions will keep Emil from rising as a vampire and will save his immortal soul.

•

Aid #14

. Two:

fo

b~ S~1!I1 (1<)1)\ •

THI-: I:OU1~ Gl~WI-:S [n reviewing rea::m.ls o( whose graves \\.\:rC Jisrurb;:d, a list of rv.oenty four names can be compiled (as mentionl"'( under "The Disturbed Graves," p. 64). The names are ;n the order that the graves were violated in. The last four on the ItS! are the j.!raves that are stilt open and had only been violated the night or twO before the murder. Plarer Aid #15 (on the next {Xl~,'C) is a copy of the list which :my one o( them can easily compile (rom rhe meso Hopefully, the ilwesO!,'ators will deduce here thar the mur· ders oa:urrcJ only when these L-tSt rour graves \\.\!fC v;olan.'ll. If tht." fig\ITC that perhaps it was the violation o( the j.!rnves that led, one way or another. to the dt';lths of Oakes and the caret:lkcr.;, then they will already be \I,\!][ on theIr way. Of the h~r fOur viobtl-J, infonnation c.1n be round at the county coon house anJ the C11vary Episcopal ChuKh o( North Ashfield. &"'COros available will int.licate th.at no living member of any o( the (o.IT Jl.'ceascd indi\'idl.l..1ls now lives in Franklin County. They are abo lTIt-n· tioned in Reverend Thomas' journal, parricubrly Emil Schcrgen.

I-:OMUNO

l~UTGEI~

No recorus arc in the chuKh on this indivi,.lliai. OIJ lanJ reconls!l1 the county scat (or alternatively they may Ix found in the b.1sement ~}f the historiGlI society) indicate theTC was a Rutgcr fumily living in North Ashfield (rom 1705 to 1850. AfterW:'ITJ~, th..: name disappe:lrs from there ~nJ reappears in nearby Buckkmd. The Rutb'Cr dan lived there from 1850 TO 1889 and thcre3frer cannot ~ found. Both in Buckl3nd and in North Ashfield the Rl.ltb'Cr fumily owned a Iarb'C larm. Discovering this information reqULres :l sucress(ul uhrary Usc roll 3nd tWO (0 four hours o( v.'Ork. Checking OUt (he old RUTb'Cf furm outside of North AshflclJ is possible. It is now occupied by the L1rson fumily. Ola( Larson will weer visitors in 3 frienJly m:mner anti hdp(uily anS\\\!r any and all reasonable questions. Un(onunMely, he has IlOthing relt'vant (0 say lind his family has Iwcd here only since 1891. A flrst gener~don NOfv."Cgian immigrant, Olafs thick accent and poor vocabulary may try the grotlp's collective patience.

HOMEI~ BI~o\"N No mennon of a Homer Brown can be fuund in any TL'COnl any· whtre in Franklin County. $t.·"eml people whose last name is

Brown live in North Ashfield and there are people with thM very common name scarrcTt'd throughout the county.

I-:MIL

SCHI-:I~GEN

Old land reoords at the county seat (or the ooscmenl ()f th..: historical society) inJiGlte a fa rm was once owned hy one Emil Schel1.ocn from J to J 730. The land was then sold by Alma Schcrgcn to a man named Kevin Peters an(1 remained in his

no

·'.kill! W

pllaId.L:a

!~~~~~~~~~~~~~:IT~~

I~mil

•

PtAnR All) 1#15: LIST OF GRAVES VIOl..ATEO AT THE NORTH ASHAELD CEMETERY. THIS LIST IS O:"lE TIIAT CA/'. 8E COMPILED FROM A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF REOORDS PROVIDED BY EMILY OAKES.

No ACTUA L LIST OF nils NA1lJRf. WAS COMPIU:l) BY OAKES OR ANYONE I::LSE. NAMES ARE LlsnD IN THE ORDI::R THE GRAVES WERh VIOL.ATW. THE LAST R)UR SEING CRAVE!:; THAT WERE OPENED, BUT NOT VET RI::USED.

Name Gail Marcqulst Josiah Martin Hannah Martin Josephine Martin Daniel Smythe DavId Mears Benjamin Watts Mary Palme r Abigail Reed Simon Galmonl Chastity Petersen Brian Greene Samantha Greene Joseph Siralford Humility Howard Sarah Moliler lames Moliler Hugh Johnston Pamela Johnston Harold Miles Edmund QUIQCr Homer Brown Emil Schergen Ann Thompson

I.

,. ,. ••5. ••7. ••9.

".II. ". ".

14. 15.

".

17.

IS. 19.

'0.

".

". ...".

Born January 12. 1705 D«ember 30. 1720 March 2. 1724 September 11. 1740 Novembe r. 1710

,

June 16, 1708 May 9, 1689 Septembe r I, 1700 January 9, 1689 ? June 14 . 1720 July 2. 1726 November 12. 1721 lulY 31, 1740 february 6. 1698 March 29, 1728 ?

,,

,

November. 1690

May I. 1700 March 15, 1715

1.111111),\ h.m.b I.lr ~n:r'll dl:'-;IJ..:~. Nu Ilne htllJ~ tnle lu d~ land I.... '" R..-(llrJ 111 Ellul So..:he:q...... n\ ,1e:alh in 1730 GUl be .b..:ovne:d III [hc ~wl\h oftic~. hur hO'.I, h~ die-.i is nur 1Il ..llcatcd. hndlll!! [hl~ ~'lUl~~ a [rip t" thl' cllumy ~t'al and an hO\lr lonl: \\.111 Illr;1 (krk to tr,Jcnn;llh th..: "'1m..·.h th;Jt on till· at the: n-.unty '\Cat. l~nJ"l'lOtinJ;: the bnd IlR;\ liMp i~ "»'~lhlc. hUt is 0<>( I(\'l}t. ....-.1.lr.I"" . Th,· ckrl.: .11 riM.: bn..1 oH-ice can ((lmp;m: ,I pr..... RI""lulI"n IlMr tp onc: tI"lI 1\ rd.I()\'(:h· currenr and gwe a ~'I.'n­ I:r;ll l'lo.:;lri,'n. Further r.:hc(king 1"I.'\'l:aJ~ that while that ;lrc;1 once

(ol\l,li!'Ic,l ,.,:\,cr:ll .1..:tin!

tlmh, Il'W .H\,

nuw \l,nrk-J ,mJ

i.1Il,] 111 TIll' :1I'ca nl whae TI'tC Sr.:he:q..:cn farm

hot the: "t;lte: .. ,I

\-\'i\..)

Died March 17. 1709 February 19. 1744 february 19. 1744 february 20. 1744 March 10, 1743 Ap ril 16, 1729 Augusl 23, 1753 December 17, 1742 August 4, 1756 January 19, 1730 October 23, 1760 February 3. 1751 June. 15. 1717 Novembe r 13. 1721 January 8. 1749 January 18. I n2 May 14 . 1769 Seple mbe r 10. 1703 October 14. 1110 Augus t. 1737 May 13. 1733 April 19, 1706 OcIober 30. 1no December 21. 1731

ANN THOMPSON

Birth and dc.'lth l"I.'Con.h lilT Ann Thorllr~l.ln can Ix Il)1JnJ at [he Oll.lmy n:conls offio.-. FinJlOg thc~ l:lkc~ the ck-rk il"ll'Te no m~.rc ,lUll half an hour. Born on Mnl\tl 1S, 1715. her lieath cl'rtlflLnrc mJiGIt~~

she died of a ~f{'\'cr~ on n...~mllt·r 21, 1731, No l1nd "-'l'Onls GIn '-'e founJ fOr her tholl)..," t1~re "re many pl"t1p!e With the l:L...- n;Jllle "Thompson" ...c;Ull:reJ thmuJ!hotn Fmnklm COlm!r Time permlthn,e, a )..'I.'ncalogl~1 ml~ll L~ able to cst:lhh,h .\ rc1ari<.'n..~hlr. but [his "uuld reqUire: lumdreJs of hours 01 minJnumbmg l'C5c:arch. After all that. nothing rde\"Jnt IUrm ul'_

IllllS!

is nllW llwne:J

M'l>';J..:hu'>l;u~.

Whilt.' Ih ... m\'e:;tigator~ liTe Intlefln!-( away \~1111aJ,lc nme CIlIlwill dl'l.Idl' to he thnn>ll/.~\ :lnd d"l<.xk OUI dllr.:tlnj.! 1't'.!K.ln:h ami mtcl'\'It.'W~, Emil i~ h.ls)', First. he l......1!ilb to [he: ,·1.1 ~l\t:I):e:n t.mn. nl'>l'I..~l 11111 rth~ll (1U1.Slde (If town. II C,1Il r.:1:11111 VlCtllllS. Thi~ is a nomul nJutine that he is esmhlishm,e. h.: "·.I,d\' rl:aJl<:d wlthm ,111 hl"llIT. A crud I
1111: II .1 hI mon' tr\lI1)! .md Im~ "'>Il~ummg (remaps 35kmg Itlr

Lm..l '.I\'I;r;ltIlIn d.I~·li1.~1t, M11~

•

n~l,),

thu .. nuking Ih~ .l.'n"lUp \-\-'ast,' pl\.'t:I(lU~

llil wlut ll:lrl'tCm the:rc is ,elven lare:r.

hut II W-:1S enough Tn hnng hlln har.:k lOto mnnnt. He "-'IUlres a Ie:w more victlms bclorc Ill! can /.:0 on fl) a "-1iimcn that IS ",om('Ihlllg resembling normnky tor hi' ~kmd.~

R<:maills 10 be Scm

•

PtJ.n"R AIDS ' 16. 17. & L8: BosTON GLOBE AR11CUS DATED AS NOTED SEWW SUNDAY. OcrooER 16, 1932 (I'AGE 2)

FRIDAY, OcroOER 2 1, 1932 (rAGE 2)

TUESDAY, OcroBER 25. 1932 (PAGE 2)

FARMER FRANKLIN COUNTY GIRL MISSING DISAPPEARANCES IN FRANKLIN MISSING IN FRANKLIN CONTINUE COUNTY SHERIFF CALLS FOR STATE POLICE COUNTY CIVILIAN VOLUNTEERS ARE CONSULTED LATEST IN STRING OF DISAPPEARANCES WORRIES AUTHORITIES

TIle laiC)!. in a mysteriou.\ stnng of disappearances was announced to tlte public and I"fC"S ~terday afternoon hy Shcnff Bill Ta!;b'Crt of the Fr.mklin COUnty Sheriff's Dqxutf1ll!l1l Yc:.teniay afternoon. Sheriff Bill Taggert of 11le Illle.o;l victim iii 19 year old Howard the Franklin County Sheriffs Department Raymond., a fann hand 00 the Cawthorn F:mn announced tlut another per.;on ha.~ di~ southwesl of North A.shfield. pemed in the area of Nonh Ashfteld Thi!o is the laIN in a 'Mng of disappearances and Howard Raymond wa.~ reported to be II relimurder.; tlut ha~'C plagued the: toy,'n in the past able wOlter ""ho lived 00 lhe Cawthoru faml few weeks. MISI>U1g is Christian Carter, a 51 and had bceu ..... orklllg there for over 1..... 0

year old fanner

Mt Carter's ""hereabout, un: currenLly being sought by Sherif! Taggcn. Hi" wife. Patricia. rqxJI'1ed him mis;.mg yesterday morning. I lc ""as lasl socn le;wing the: Carter fannhouse prior 10 sunri:.e. Thi... ""Il.~ the beginning of hi ... u.-.uaI morning rouunc. According 10 Sh..-.nff Tuggcn. il is unlikely Mr. Caner left of his own ocoortI sil1l.'\! he did not lukc any of the lann" horses or vchldes. Then.: IlJ'e no leads in this case and the shmff is hoping a witres~ will t'OlTle forwunllo 1I.....~isl m the resolution of the maner. Otri~tian Carter is

o.b>e 51, whllt, male. S' 7" in

height, and 145 pound,. He ha.-. medium length blonde h.1ir and blue eyes and was IlISt seen we.mng blue denull oowfalls. 1e.11her wOliboots. heav)" f3bric gloves. a red flannel ~Iun.

and a brown Jackt't.

yclll"l. He ..... a.~ reported missing by CIlWtllOfTl, owner of the fann.

Mlssmg is Darlanne Wd·>'ler. Inc 17 year o ld daughler of lIriah Web~ler. a relired

farmer. She wa~ 13.,1 '<en JU~I alter dlnoeron Q.:loher 24 by her falhcr.

ErilSrnu~

In lighl of thi~ IllIesl disappcar,lIIce. Sherin Taggel1 revealed Ihal he h;I' been 111 C(ll1la>:1 with tllC Sune f'()lice and that they have pru· La'it l'Oen 01\ the evening Of0:'1obcr 19 by the \lded valu:lble guidance. lIul) ..... '<ern, IhJt fann\ owner, Mr R.:Jymootl is belie\oo to Ihe Stale Police will be called in to :tell .. d)" ha\C mel with fou l play ~i nce his belongings QS.<;isl in the in\e'li~;ulon. The Siaic Pllti~C are ~till in the falTn\ bunkhouSl:. Sheriff had no comment cOllo;r,:ming thl~ milLler :1.\ TassCfl has oonrtsealcd all of tlK:.'>C belongmg ... or prcs~ time and is examimng them III the: ~h for clue:;; While the sherifl' DdlmL~ II IS possiblc Mr. Sheriff Taggert a~k~ thlll anyone \.I11() has RaymOnd Simply lefl for II brief trip 10 a loell- 'ieCn or kno ...... ~ Ihe \.Ihcn.:ilhoul\ ,'f Mi" tion outside Franklin Count)·. he is w;suming Webster conlJo.:I him immt'tlinicly. Darl;umc the "'""OI'lot due 10 the eKlrt1ne number of C'.Jl.e,~ Web~ler i~ a 17 ycar old ...... hile tcm •.tIe. 5· .. · of dl~.lIlI,'e thai ha~e occurred over the tall. 100 poond~. With ,llOulder length. lasl few week.~. \ tnughl. sandy bmll.ll haJr and blue c~c, She h3.'> a slight hmp and favor. her len Ic~ Howard Raymond IS B ..... hite male. approxinUllcly six recllall and 210 pound~. He h.1.~ medium length darl. brown hair and II ::J1(lI1 bean:I. Hc W'ol~ 101."1 <;Cen wearing blue, dc:nllll trouscr!;. II brown 10llg ~Iec\"e ,bin. 000t.,. brownpcket, and II rull

Not klll.)wing the area's ]1t'OP[e well, he Jrlt":s IltJt know what of North A~hflcld M>Ciety he can easily dlim without It hcing ooticeci. TIlerdi.,rc, his nocturnal ft...::din!:.'S will be docUmentL.J as Ihe $\."'Cn~rio PfI.."Ib'fi"SSCS. Emil allhis f'l,lint has lltlle sdlo.lntrol. Once he )GIrl!. fttJing. he cannot \t(lp. TIle re... ulr I~ enl"ICf he k.ills the victim or he turn~ 111m or her into a mm rm~. The l1ner 15 l;oll1clhing he will flO( do by aociJent. Rml"lo!r, II IS a conscious cholcc he makes. By rI"lo! omc the IIwcstig:ltors arrive in Franklin O)l.Jnty. Emil h.1S claimed thn.'\: more victims. Two have ['l'\":n killeJ anJ l'OC: rurneJ into .1 \':J.mplre f{l serve hIm. Hi:. mo:~[ recent \"iCfllll 1~ (lne he h.1S bitten, bur !'!Of killed. In fact. It i~ the flrsa: ome ht was ahle to exen:iSt;' control U\'l:r his hUOb'!:r, bur t'Ven this nml" clctncnt~

•

Ye~l entay momlllg, Sherdl Bill Tag.[!crt of the l'ranl1in County Shentr\ D.!panmcnt made a now familiar Jnnoum:ement Another pcr~ol1 ha~ di\appcared in thc Nnrth A~hfield arca

Two: R.
It wa~ only

becau.'>C he haJ already I<:J !I'M nL1."hr. Vic[im~ Wh "'t.'CllnJ I~ a girl n:lme:d Mym Dl,lnllI under a tn....:' l'II;;1r

A

•

Sd~rJ.,'I,'n's

fIrm. H~ was killeJ anJ is not missed by an.,.une. £tml's !i.lurth victim IS Stephen Bascom, a local fanner. The only reason R:lSCOm now lives IS that he y,.'ali anackeJ the S,11llC mj.,~lt as Wallach. Wallach's blood gave Emil 'lome measure of cuntrol. Bascom now serves Emil and has ,k)ne much to llCquaim hIm (it!) with the moJern woriJ . Emil's hunting ib y,.dl as the activities of his acolyte, Myra o...lfl("I\':ltoTS doslIl/l In on him. TIu'l!C Globe articles (Player Aids 1/ 16 throu!.~l # 18011 the previous paJ.,'l') Are proviJ\!d documenting the disappearances. If by the enJ of Nov\!mber the investigators h:l\'e not cra..;keJ the case, Emil will probably pick up and mow om 01 the Me:'l, fearing dIscovery by the authontles. N)r more lIlfo on Emil :mJ hiS ahihuC5. see ~Emll's Plans and Ahilitit'~,~ o n p. 56, as well as his stats in the NPC 'l!!Ctio l1 .

Tl~Cl
sever.)l text, state. Ot.J(\ide ~)f this h..1'11.: Tt'J;t'arch, the 1I'l\'C.,tl~'lIt(lT"i .. houlJ (~'n­ Sider 1.\-hmlhe v:.un pm.' nllJ.,~u do next .mJ when' II Inll.:hl he. It they ~lI';pect It IS one dut wa.~ :1wakclll."l\ lrom a ccnfune"\"I1):: sleep by O:!kes :tnd hi~ worker.;. then they ~houlJ c\ln,idl'r wl-Ut problem~ it must he f:k;in~, L1n~Uaf.:c (lm\ culrurnl hilrril'r.- 'llnnc arc ~t:lI:j.,'O!ring. II rhey a.:rually :.U~''«I &1111 Sdk:I'}.....·". dwn J.,'("m,(l III his old fum) is ,mart and WIll likely result 10 dle -.a,.. narit! ljlu.::kly conJudm~ Ill!' the ~..'()oJ or .II. Otl~rwlset f'i.'" ilbl(' tauic.~ include cOIl~l unlllg' surveillance \In ltkdy Victims (1.\('K.lllleJ w failure 'inn.' ,hey t:nnnol pr\!,licr exaaJy who I, a likelr vicl1m) (lnJ ~"\lbl(" 1;1IT~ ~,( till: U\_';l[ U~'. Checking Ihe a'meler)" mau~eums, JnJ pm':tte pili'" .lrounJ Ihe area I.'> fruides~. Ulnmatel)', tl~ 1Il\·l' .. u~ator. mU~T b...l!lI\ to smpt.'Ct the occup:mt 01 Oil<' .,f th.. dl~turheJ Rr.l\-'l·~ ;lI1d Emil

Schergcn

IS

the

he~t

':;lIldldate.

THI~ COI.l.ABORATOI~

At thi~ pOint, the Invelitigarors should h..l\'e some idea a \';Ullplre Clr'M:rewolf IS ul\'lWcd. It they have the 'iGlke from the y,.dl, they rna}' itrongly su~pect the furmer. If TN.')' lack the haSIC knowl· \"db"!! tbcmselves (jX:lhaps refleacJ I~' p(.)or Oa:ult ~ kill or hy fnileJ Occult roIu,). they lIlay W'.Jnt (\) research vampires. M ~)~I any brb"!! city or university library will h.1\'l' lin (Jcruh se~:tK)n bearing hlerature on \'ampires and Iycanthropes. A suc· cessful uhrary Use roll will result In the researcher AnJln1: mnulll.:ral:>lc tomes nn vampIres. Th..1' very often conflict on t'\'en baSI':: filcts, hut a number of promising things come up. TI~ results of S.1lJ re.search can be found in Pia}'Cr Atd # 19 on the ncXI pa~'C. It can be cxplaineJ thm II is a synop~ is of whm

One loosc end trn.· lIl\'es[)~a[Or.; mar ~t umhle :lCn"''' I\;tn Ullll'll:llllT'S lX'rhap~ if Ih~i' d'K.'~l [(.) ...... II 'tr.ml.."!! pun:h.l ....'s "\:re m.kle at l\lCal stlJT'e~ Ilr pc:rhar_\ )ml :h pOln (,I' I"llitl' (01l\e""1' tion. Of course, it is unhkely tbi~ due wllll~ di..covl'red "1 glwn any sl~n1flc;mce. A~km1: arounJ town reveals th~t Ih ....l.m I" a J,!rllif brn~r

I~Ol.\1ING THE i\PCOIfS As ){iven here, the Arron f'lI11ily is only peripherally m\'ol\'(:1;.1 In Ihls M:Cnario. Amelm IS friendl y wllh Emil)· Oakes and unltke ml'lSt of Nonh Ashfield, has not oslracized ncr l't."Causc ot her hu.b..lmJ'~ cnmcs. In tact, Amelia IS one of the nnly reo. pIe in North Ashfield stl ll friendly with Emily and she I., doing Ill'r he_" tll comfOrt the woman. If the IIlv(!stib>arors ,hmk of it, hnll.' Ellen Oakes can be pawned of( un Marne H:ltors, of course. She ml,l,~u al iSO host a dmncr fOr the mvestignwls nnd the surVIving O:lk\!s f.JInily nt
eA

J.,'Oing, a.~ he i\ no d,ltlbt very intcr"Med. MaUle heN:it will prohahly Ctlme (llld Vi~11 the IIlWS"J,!.ll\lTh m the luncr:11 p:trlor on (Jill: l'r mon.: afll.'rnr.w,Jn_'. Il\:rh ap" whIle rlaym~ with EII~n . If AIi'lln H~rpl'r i~ ~[ill pte<;cnt, sIt.: Will ~JX"lk wry httle rl' d~ im·c~ngMors. They c.m ll t1~ Im·e-',llJ,.':tlur; wuh ,111 .lUI' h,l'tl:' anJ relate tl) rll\!m wh;lr h:lprcl'k'J; the IIl\'estl,l,<:1,,,r; wulJ then ).,'Ct hllW protectm),.' the Ap{'uu~:1' "'"'ell 'I~ ..:nndu<:llI1g' the ill\'estigarion. [( the vampi res strike and mi .... lHlce, fhey nre unlikely III ~Irike at th•.' "lme rerson :I.e:IIl\, huwe\'er_ [dc~Jl}', 1,1 Cl,)U~, none 01 the Arx\'"~ sholll,1dIe.

Ii

7"",: R<7110ilLl" 10 be Sem (1932)

e

PLAn""R AID #19: VAMPIRES

TillS player md is de'igned to serve tt5 tt resoun:e fOr the Kt."Cl'cr and may be made available to the ITlWStis,>atOrs jf any one of three rt!(lluremems is satisfied. These are: (I) Re~arch m a reasonably L1.r~ university or c ry lihrary on vamplric ocrt\'lty 15 Jane. TIlLS mformation cart be {,
frum St:\fCral commonly aVfli!ahle sources. (2) Any mvesngmor succeeds m an Qo.:ulr mil. 0) Any profesSional invesngator p.1raps'f\-'hologist or occulmt succeeds m euller an Occult roll Of a KIl()Y,·k..J~oe 1"011. & .. h ~ki ll roIl~ may be arrempreJ.

ABOUT VAMPIRES Scholars have long examined Vllmpire myth and lore, somctime~ with Ian eye to C'omootritlJl: the evils of the spirit ....mW anJ sanK'mne5 with a rebo\'cly unbiased SClellnflC t')'\!. Many fucts h.'l\'t' tUTTll...J up ronct'rning vampires. By definlnon, a \'amplre is an undeaJ creature th.1.t survl\'Cs by drnmmg the blooJ. )UUth, or life fOrce of victims. Vampires in some IOrm have been found in many cultures ~JwiJe. To the 13ypcrson, it is the vampi1'l$ of E.15tern Europe that arc most f.l11liliar, mainly Jue to the publication of Brom Stoker's DnlCllla in 1897. The \':J.mptrt"s of history and fOlklore are \'ery diverse and often do 1'lOI conk:lfTIl to the better kOClWn v.unpires of fICtion and 111m. Brnm Sroker's vampIre is one of the n.-IaU\'t'!y few cases where a fictitious v:llnrm~ is actually ~1l·moJeled on a Vllmpire species of folklore. Many \'allll'ire species h.1VC been documented flrolJnd the ....urld. In Europe, \'ampires hfl\le b.:en stuJiw oyer the centUOCS and were commonly linko..l to witt:hcrafl and Samn ....urship. There are scores of InethoW: of becoming II vamptre, Examples Include bemg one who was exoornmunicated, one ....noJleJ a "iolent ~k":lth, one. who was murdered, une who was :t wioch or SCf vam of&!.tm, CIne who was II \\"e~fin Iifc, one ....1\0 haJ been :Ittocked (or killed) by a vampire in life, flnd l'vcn one who had a em JUmp over Ius/ her corpst' prior to buri.1.L If all the means of becoming a \'ampln" ~ valiJ ICXJ% of the time, the. world \\-UlIIJ be oo.'CfC"O\.\IJeJ with vampires. Preo.'Cnong the rise of one as a vampire can be done III sev· ernl ways. AcoorJln~ to some rrndmons, burying the suspectcU vamrire face down will aluse it to Jig deeper into the grounJ rnther rh'lO rise from the &'Tavc. Other Irnditions insist that a corpse shoulJ be bounJ prior to hI,mal 10 pre\'Cnt the wmrirc from escapmg. Smne stOfies state fh,t Vllmplres are obscsseJ with untymg knoc:s. Therefore, some oorp.ses \.\.\.."'I'C wried in netS, the t~ being that beRn dlC wmptre coolJ rise, it wouIJ first hn.-e to unr:ie alilhe knots. This process coulJ lake place onl}' at the rntc of one knot per .,ear. The most Jmstic means of rreventing the rise of a corpse was to decapttate if, drr.'C a stake or spike through Its 1"le\IT\ (thus pinning it to the gnrve), or burn It. TI"lCSC extreme methoJ.s ~ nor: thar uncommon becausc the £ear of the unknown often oveR:an"le the I..'llef one fdt fur a dereaseJ rclaU\'C. RnJing II \'amp;re is no e.1.S}' taSk. Very often, the first sit,.'l\S ~re people suffering from or even Jying from wasting Ji.seascs. [n such cases, a \'ampin" was of~n bI:uneJ. Cemetenes ~re scoun."'I..! fOr evidence l)f the unJead, uncxplameJ holes III groves, roprled tomhstones, anJ .listurbeJ grove soil are three classic Slb'l\S. Disrxummg a vampire ooulJ be an t:\'eI'L grearer challcn.j.,oe anJ there ....ere ~ intrepid indiviJu.,ls th.1.1 made their livings as vamplTe killers Juring the MiJJIe A!,oes and Renaissance.1be

•

10 be Sem (Il)Ul

method of killinf,:" a vampire was Jc~nJ.c"t upon ..... hat 1"l.-'!.:lun one is in. According 10 a fL·..... tmJinons, a v;unplre coulJ bc killed with a sil1f,~e ""In.~ho:.X [tl tile heart. Many \':ImJ'll~ !ipt."CICS roliid be killed with a ....~ st:tI..:e beiOJ; romm~ throul'!h the ht-:Lrt. Some cultures statcJ the stake coulJ he ma..!e of anythin/: whil~ others wou.IJ specify parriaJlar m:1fcrifll5 (....hreth{>rIl .\I1d hawthorn are two IXIrtiC'ut"tly useful wlxxb fllr srnkc:;). For mmry (xhcr species, thrusting II stake lhn"lll);h d~ crt::lturc\ heart WOllIJ only put It into 11 stasis. The way t~\ complcre the deS\"rtn;oon of such \':llllJ'llTCS was usually ttl Ix.J~:l...! Iht-m. Most \'am pll'CS are susceptible In fire and coulJ he kilk...J I"") h.lrnin),! Ii......) 10 their gl'tl\,eli. In many '>':J.mpires .....I:re kille...! by J.......~1f'lt.1 non ,\OJ just to be sure, frighrellt..J \"illlj..'C........\lUIJ crcm.Ltt.' thc remains. Holy ohp:ts Ololy ....mer, lTU(.iflCl!~, tTCII'.<;CS, ro~ark.'\, holy wafen;, crc.) wt:re useful in kCCllinf,:" mnny vamptre ~1".'(Jes m buy. Touching a vnml'ire with fl I~essed or holy in.'111 woulJ hurn the cmlture like fire Of ockl. VamplI"CS had a wide :UTay of pooA\.'TS. MII.Ie f rum Ii~ 01"1\0'1 t)US benefit ofimmormlity, 1ll:tl1)' wmpirc spt..'Cies Ct.lUIJ alrer tI'It.'Ir physical fOrm 10 that of another creature (canillt...., fdines, 1:'100>, anJ roJcnrs Ix;n" most common), Tho5l! that \\\'re snnrn:rs In life mif,oht still possess formkhble ~pell casting OIbiltoes. 'WmplfC'; wcn: very often allcgcJ 10 he able to cont rol annnals WIth mere thought and even influence human behavior. InterestlO~~~', aft'\\' vampire species IM!fC krown to be able 10 fn.~ly nmn arounJ and hunt durmg tlx daylight hours, t'\'t'll in Jna"! !;Unlip,t. Unlike the \':Impires of firnon. varnr"re5 of rolkklfC ....\:re usually frightening, filthy entioes more akm tll ~:h(lul~ in appc;lr· arw.:e tMn suave noblemen. Often relM1VCs \\\:re mrgett-.J fiN, bt.·ing most msceptiblc to the pcilnons of" l'Il'Woorn undead. Scholars havc a Vilriery of explanations 1m the vamrire hy ... teria that swept Europe during the MIddle A/-'Cs .mJ Renaissance. Some arl..oue that it was J'leuple common diseases such as tullCraliosis anJ cru~(.'ra as "i,l,'Th llf unJead attack. Such diseases calbe Victims ([) ....~lS(e a\\'3') a.~ If the life .....ere being ornlneJ from them. (>tIler scholars ,1rJ,oue that there IS strong evidence thm many rX'{lplC' were prcm.1.tlll"l.-~ ly buried. Since the actual time of death collid l'c! easily mismk en due to the poor Stan: of medICine lit the tlllle, it was entirely possible for one thaI was merely comatosc ur L'\'cn un(.on.'i(Jou~ to be beliC\.~1 to be Jcad and then qUiddy bUriL.J. Some 0/ these people inevimhly escapt:.'1.1 d~r grn\'e~, only fO be .seen wandering al"()lmd by supersntiOus oolls. 10e result ....uulJ lIkely be a mob arrackmg the poor person who, havll\~ JUst narrowly escaped death by llsphy:canon, I~ sudJenly lynched hy ti)r· mer friends and nt.ofJ.'hbors. Fin:llly, SOUle scholars pOint OUllh::l1 ....flen bodies are buried, Jeoomposirim sluws to a crnv.1. When a {,.'l1l\'e was then opened in the M:an;h fl"ll' \':lmpircs, peo ple would bt: ama:eJ at the rcmarbble St31e l~r prescf\mion. Their onlyexpl.1.narion ror this was \'ampires.

rna,

~Aid#19 •

who kL-.:rs to himself. Ilis wife, MfI('\la, is ....\:U liked. She spends muSt ufllt'r tune rlt II.... Bascom farm while Stephen occasional· ly cumc\ mto town fOr supplies. utile does anyone know, but R.1SCI'Hll has killeJ his wife (early on October 14) IlllJ IS now in IC:l/lut" with the vnmplre. If dlC)' .lend... to follow up on 11, finding B.'lscom's fi,ml is C:l~y. AI¥1ne m the rlre:l can proYlI.k Jirections to It. It is :l sIXty :liTe ~rTt."3I..I, one thinl of which IS dL'\\'l(cJ to \moJs. A brick tilrmhotl_'i\!, wooden ham, outhouse, brKk gram ~ilo, rlnJ ....'OOden rool shed are the only structures on the bnd and all IIrt' dusTCre<1 fit the SI,:lUrhw\!~t curner. On ched:mg nut d'lt" furm, the group will find it unoa:u1'1et.1. Pcrh.1p$ d .... reskknr~ are out! Wrong. If " .... y break mto the furmhouse (wlu.:n IS locW up light), t1x'Y may flnJ the mutit,tl'l.I rind bloo..I1ess body of Finola Ba~m under::l rile of fiTt.'\\'-Xlll in the basement. nlis will reqUire someone (() oclllaI· Iy J,'l.l down theR' and .!IllCOf.'eJ ill a Spot Hidden n,l1. If more than a lew J.,)'$ has rm<;c:d, no Spot HIJJen roll IS nt.'CeS5.1ry ~ml~ the ~tench of wning flesh will he ohvious the moment Oil!!
•

A

NIGHT AT THE

Buou

In 19]1, a witJly MJl."reis(ul nltXlOn ptCfu~ \.\--a~ rdcascJ, Srnrrlng Bela LuJ,'051 In d)C otle Tole, It was the fi",r U,S, \·er· sl.m 01 Dmcula. n,(lU¢'I tame by roday's st:.mJ:lnl.~, in the 1930s, the film was considered ro he f'IOSitively friJ.,~'tcning by many movie !:Ot':rs. This fllm is actually baseJ on Hrlmtlton Deane's pby .... , GTl-.:nfiel.l. Mas~i1dlUSCttS is one S\ldl markL'L The Kt-'Cpcr mi)iht want ro mention in l'Ii1ssing that II l~ being shown L'VCry e\'enmg at the Bljou n'lCatre. The film IS sewnty 1i.."C mmures long. Admission is flfty cents ior adults, twen· ty flve cents for dlildren.

in IInJ kill Bascom ri"~lI under the no';Cs 01 hi~ gu.1nk) The flnal reodution tilr hun IS either he I~ 1:lIlcJ fllr a \'\:Ty Iun/;: rime or IS hea\"Cd into an asylum. Ob.·lou~ly, if B.1SCOtn is trockeJ brIck {() the farm, that wil! l'C the b•.'ginning of tile enJ fnr ScherJ.,'Cn",or lOr the investigators. Bascom himself is 1I due. If he is cxamineJ, twO l'l,lnJ.1h'CS Will he ~n ...one(m hiS neck and uOI'l(her on his le(, ..... riSL lne b.lnJaj..'\.'~ cover {\\\l pain; of 5"mall puncture wounds. These were made hy Emil'~ tL-'Crh lind only now are healing. nle presence 01 these \\I(JunJs on Bascom may be sufficient rrodJmg tn invcm· galOl'S thal:'l vampire i~ In\'ol\'&1. Pet.plc in town who have ')ren B.1SC01n recently will remember the<;e ruriolH banJaJ.,oc~ .

\.\10RIUED FAMILII';S The OtlC finnl due to dll.."Ck out IS till..' families ofthose who .lisappt.'·a r durlllg the scenano. At 6rst, thi~ llnly im.'Olvt.'li the Grays ::InJ the DoJlO\.':J.m. The Grays arc a dose-kmt f.umly who will already have had to deal with nosy repmters. As a result, any IIlveSti1-!"nrllr comlllg to the house will be tllTrM!J away. No lImount o( rersua~i(\n will \.l.nrl with them. The Oon(JII.-anli are Illore oPen i1nd (riendl)" even in the.o;e tryin/: nrnes. n'lt'y will he skeptical o( the ~'TOUp'S 1llt,J1I\'Cl<, but Hugh I).movan, who will speak on bchnlf of tI'It' f.1mily, will paticmly IlnS\'.\;r reasonable questi()n~. Nothing of any re;II usc will be lcarneJ from hun anJ he will Ol'l( volunll.'t'r lnfnrmanon. Keeper's note: the ilCXt thTt."C par-agraphs u.,.!;cnbe nn option that may be exerciseJ. n'lt' KccJl(.'r must Jud/.,'l.' whether or ncx aJd,tlonal mO{ivatlon is neeJe,1 or thar somethlll).l super· natural should be aJJc..J at this point. If the inve,tig:ltiCln has b'one slowly, inserting thiS of!l:ion may he IJc::ll, but t>l:llt'rwisc Illay be unneceSs,1TY. When the group ~:oes to 1e.1ve, they will be appnlGChcJ by St:\ICI'l ~a r 01.1 SUSie J)onnvan, HU1-!"h's )nllnJ.,'Cst daughter nnd Myra's sistt"r, Susie IS a ClitC girl with brown hmr ri.,d lip in ph!mils. SIlt' Will try to mil.: to the group as they arc ahout to walk or Jm~ a\\'ay anJ when her futllt'r i~ not within Sih~\L Ha\,lIlg

. fa

•

l'l\-'t'mcarJ t hat th..." are looking for Myra and remaps thin~m~ at the market In Nonh A~h(icIJ. they are police, she will t ry to gl\'e them her story. She will rell the im'estlg:ltO!"'i rh:n she saw Myra last m~t mppmg at her window. When ~he told her father thiS, he dlJn't believe I~r so ~hc IS row tellin,l,( the invcsugawrs, hoping tilt" will beliL'Ve her. This may seem normal, but the problem is thaI her bedroom is on the SL'COnJ floor. TI,is is why ~he didn'llel Myr.a in. It was a little spooky and ~he dUX.lb>ht Myra was pllly" In):

a 1'-,ke, as ~he hOO done many tunes

Ra~k.; (o..,h r/M[ m,lY be u.)Clul (rope, hatchets, kniVes, gasoline, ell:.) can be ,KljUlreJ from Ir.c funeral home. borrowco fmlll the AIX.lltV" or purchaseJ at thl' b'CllCrnl wre. C,rving: a few WtXll.len srakc.l. IS easy ;mJ (.,111 he quickly ,kme. One thing: they may try to ohTrull IS ~1k."I.'T aillmunm,m lor flrearms. n,is may he Ix'Ctluse they ~U~PL"Ct lyc:mthropt: ,lcm'lty or JllSt ....':lllt to he d(Tr.1 cnrdul. l'!;l\"mg: ,\ ~umllllth In

wund~ Cln h: dt'il(" ):..'1~· ... n of fl(ltIce. He em (lnly load call1"lCr> (.·omm<,n in

bd"ore. She cannot add GIft.'flficlJ handload a cvuple OOzen

any more to thiS 5Gltemem. What h.lppcnc:d """as Myra d.J what many vampires are Joe. umented as Jumg. HiStorically, vampires often first attackeJ rei an....es. Myra wem to her (lIJ hmne, but was thwarted when SUSie didn't open the window. Being inexperienced, ~he was fcarful of hreaking In alld alerting the hOlise 50 .~he retreated. She has nn Intentlon (If returning so if the invcstl~'01tors stake lIut the DollClVan mrm, It will be a fnmless exercise:.

Pl~EPAlUNG "'Ol~ A SHO\\1DO\\1N It thc inVestigatOrs go In expecting a vampire, they will prepore themselves fur 1[. Holy or hlcsscJ obje..'Ct.S 5uch as crosses anJ bibles can be purchased at the gl!ncral store amI crosses can be easily fubricareJ from v.ooJ. Holy water is available at the Roman-Catholic church In Greenfield. G:ulic am be purchased

a ,by

(>I"

tv.\)

ruml M,l~usetts (121,'3uf.,'C. 16-J,.'01Uf.,'C. Z(\.Jf.\Ul...... 10-\16•• }(\. }C • .44-40, .38, and .45) and d"k" Il1\l.'stlg;nor<; 111m! pro"'iJ~ I~ ~II-.'Cr. SaJly, the aggrnvatKln anJ expense of pun:ha!om~ ~d\"~r

ammumtll.'n IS wasted; Emil Scher).,ocn IS mHnl1l~ to 'lk:h
CONF1~ONTING

THI-: Fn-:ND B'll DA'll f.lrm on Emil Sdle!l.,\,n ,LOd hiS

TIle which f\lllll"~n; r'M.~' 11\"l'~ IS a JibpiJ'"lto.:J place. The bnd h:l\ IX'l'n 1\."Cl;.ime,\ hor' \muJ~ and where there are no ttee ), bra,'kn illld ....'-"(',!~ ch.,k L'wr~" thing. A thin track can be found th,\I WlI!>nn.:e the Jnw w th~ fimnhouse. Evidence of recent lllo...·t!lllent .. long tlllS GIn be '>I.~n

I,,' :lIl)One 5ucro..'dmJ! III Spot HIdden anW'or Track rolls. Another succes.srul Track or Spor I-hdden roll wIll reveal that Ir aprears someone C1me through here wltlllll the past severnl J.1'j'S anJ was pushll'l: a wheelbarrow (It was Bascom nrm ..oing )upplics In). Scouting OUt the lanJ Junng the t.by is reasonably safe to do Since no\"3mplrcs are abroad and B.'\SCOm will only he in the IfII11\cJiak: \'lcimIY of the old furmhousc. As was previously sWt· t..J, Bascom 1\..'(entl\' wcnt to the b~nera l store in town and hou~,'hl eo.·cry single beartrnp he roulJ. Now, a score or more are scauereJ around Ihc furmhousc. All an: ....,,11 concealed and any nne Ill)f \."\":llkmg c:lrctully may be caught m one. Unless they are speclfical!} Iookin~ fOr beartraps or are takmg sUIt'dble pl\.'C\U· nons (proddIng aheaJ wllh poles, crawling anJ carefully walCh· ins; the J!rQllOJ ahead, L'tC.), each investi~':Itor must altcmpt a Luck roll when .....ithm IWU hundl\..J rL'l't or the furmh()u.~. I( thiS tails ~' mt.lre Ihan 20%, the unrortunare IOJivldual steps 11\10 a beanrap. D:l1ll:\#."C is to the lower k,\: only and is I D6. A ~\OJ l.ud: roll must now be arremrrcJ. Iritf.uls~' more than 20%. the \'k:nm IS inJure..! badly...C1ther the 1C1{ is broken or a majOr artery was LTushed or severed, In either 0lSC. rhe viwm 1:. OUt or .\Crion li,)r at least a while (Keeper's discretion), A bear t rar should not kill an investigator unless he or she was aln:ady L,,'lI.lly IIlJured. H<m\."'\·ct. It may ifIC.1p,.'w:imte. Noise rrom It lX.'3rtrap (plus Ii'lt' J"O$.~lble scream of pilln) will be hcnnl bot'd'lt' ocrupants of the h(Xl~ Ir any one 01 lil(!fll suca.oeJs III a listen mil, Dunng the Jay, only &scorn anJ the ~'$ h,1\'c a dlance. Once near the house. It can be seen 1h.1[ at one tltne It wa:. at the center a ct1Illpc>und. The broken shell or a stone gram silo is behinJ the h{)Usc lind nearby is II complelely coliap'It.-J ham. TIle house itselr appears to be II ~hell as well. There is no roof and the wi"'~'S are boarded O\'er. HOWI.'\'ef, there are a (t'-w signs of reanl acnvity. Ir a Spot: Hk.lkn roll sua::eWs. (l~ may notice thaI the door i_~ new as are a rew of the planks on the win<.klWS. Ir Basoom has II fire I.oolng in thc houS(' (he probably docs), smoke may be viC\\"J rrom the chmlnL'Y (Spor Hidden rolls may ~':Iin to Cltlc...1 ror). Further e.xamimmon or the outbuilJil'lb>5 is finc, hut pointless. ~ onl)' nrea or interest (;lOd da~r) IS the nld funnhouse.

or

THI~ HOUSE Imml!d13tely :Iround the house IS a ....U!dy area. The entire \\ICSt cnd or lhe structure IS cngulred In a dense pooch or thorny hram· bles that inhIbit movcmenL Near the back door IS an old ....~I that (till rontains w:lIcr. The intenor tN:- house has been cleared the rubble and Jcbns. In fact, examtnauon or the rolbpscd l"am will te\'Calthat Jcbris rrom the house was dumpeJ on amll)o(l to It. All or the windows have Ix'\.'1'1 hoarded up (rom lxMh the intcriorand extenor. All B.'tSC01ll h,1S left lire small, cross Sh.1(X.J slits that sen:\" as vM..'wing :mJ ilw'l: ports. 1ne door he recently in.stnJled is made (lr soIiJ ook. It has no lock. but can be oorred and boItL.J from the insk.lc. house still bcks a roof, bUl Bascom h.1S

or

nle

•

or

cn.'(tl..J !;L,\'cral tllTf"lUliru imll.lc III pnl\'ld\" ~hclt~·r. In tOlet. ;\\ (,Ir :'IS al\)'OrlC L1m tell. he i~ the (lnly one b\'in~ hen'. HUll und 1m foor ..1<"'-'$. ,hal is. YL'1I. ).'O(XI 'ole SrL"'\'e bruu~lt ilkmJ: hi~ ~k'J,~: Killer, Burch. Mauler, anJ Emg. Allan: lal).~; all are nll.mcrd. St:tOMICS on them lire pr()\'h,k-.J larer, They Will OOt:)' ,unrll' (\,m manJ.~ btf\.'l.:n l~·1\1s....... 'm Of anY\"3tnl'1re. Thctr 6\wire is ~KlLL ~ Sino: th.."Y are 1u.,l'iC llbiJc .....ith R"lsu~m, tI'ICY arc :1.1) cxcelk'l'1t Jcrense anJ Wtln.c, tlll."Y c:lll delect the prcscn(c of inrruJcnI near the huuse. If B.1!)(\11ll ".."s It i50 III hi" ;u.l\"311rah'C, he Illll}" rcll·a..-.· thl\.-": or the four t.i(lj...'S un Int ruder.; lIUtl>IJl', u~in~ the ('l1\tU~il 'n CllIlJ(..J 10 1;:\'1 In sewral \\\.~I·.ljmc..1 ~h(J(~ at tlt.'L-in~ in\'e~ti!..... t\ ..... , 1ne prt'5L"tlI."C or the lklJ,~ can l~ dCtL"\.teJ. If tho: dl'J,... hear (lr smell someune outsldc. tlx,,)' will J!m"~ IInJ tim m.l)' be hearJ. as~llnl1n.'; som~'ne ~1KXt.'Cd, in a us[cn mil. [)u~: 'pour :md tracks can be !i.lImJ 11\ the :Irea I~' an)\1nc su(..:('CdmJ,: In 11 Spot Hidden

mil.

B.1SCOm I~

nul.

a l'I;1tll.'1U m:IIl,

Undu

1'\(1 Clrcum.~ranl"'l·~ Will

he 1'1!..'l-'Oli;'lte. AT¥lI'IC wll.) :ltWllplS 1\1 enler ..... 1111"" nmtll.JMtd" attaCked by him and hb .k'J,'!>. He Will U~ !Ill.' Iirin1: ~III~ tn kill 311)UllC he srot~ OU(~iJe. HI.., ....\.'\'cr. there i~ ;1 l<.lt of l.:<1wr !io' the mvcstig;'lwT'I (;.;10 sltp up fil irl)' dll'>C II rhey ;lre carelu!' Furthermore, a L1.lIlple trCo.!S (wel'hanj.lthe house so il ".1I1K,(lnl; has the !l:l1P; tl) Jimh one, Ix· Ill' she may 11\' ahle III pKk otf B.'lSCOm. On~ he ~ ),.'on.:, ,..'cn"ing his dng~ I~ like ... hn(1on~ lI ... h III a l"arn:!. Un(urtun.ltcl", illh'lnlfll 'IO.'\'~ the dunl""r hN."",\.~1 '\;uJ dnnber hoJ't-4ull" h.u. ma,t<.,r 1111'\.hcal L"\l\"(·T;.I,!.'<:.~..k till.' ..LUIl.I!." tnlfll Bas..-·llfll'S I 21.'3u)..'I:. ;'I full of h.:n f\1 n\\:nr)' tcct ..... 111 JI.l .111 extra I D6 J.,m;'l~'C per len k'CL A '\!lx\!...,lul Jump nJI all(.'Vi.lIl·, 11)6 or thiS. One mcrk Bascom mayempluy " m unle;1~h the dr'f..... on inlrudC'l"'i l'llIt5IJe. If he Joe~ thi .. , Iw Will huld one bru.:k 10 serve a~ an extra '>('1 t,( eye~ and eat'> wlthm the hnus.c. All Bascom }U" III Jo I~ 1\('"..1 (l/f tI'It' ITl\'C.",I.1J.:;'It(,r<; unnl OIght(,111. ldeall)', dll")' Will be OCU111lj"OOIC..1 hy dcpune .. (..r,lh tllr them arc j:iven 11\ Ihe NPC seo:non). but rim I~ certamly nut pre{lruJlncJ. Rcs..':InU\"ss, OIll..'C the sun ,..'oe~ Ju ..... n. till..' vampIre' Will IlW:'Ikcn and (.'VCn tip the udds. EmIl ,It thi .. P01llt i~ (lInmnJ,: ;10.1 vcry wn..octOus ~nd ~hoolJ he able to either e,;a\("C or d,) 0. lut or dam:l!,'\'. Myra IS il novi~ anJ h,\s bet'n k~ unJer ti~~l1 rem, H("T ~sc or tact10 b Illlil so l:ooJ and she m;lY :11I..lW hcr.cJt !(1 he placed in a pt);ol[10n (l( di~,Jvantah'C (helllJ: oolnurnhel\..J (lr atta<.:kmg Without mklnJ! rull :tlh"3nraf,.'C (,f IlI..'f fl.1lural a"illt1l·~). Ir the lm·t!S[1pt(,1'\o attack at nih'"t Ilr ate JcI.l) ....d until du~k, Ihe resulr will likely he dl.o;,1ster ror thl!tll. On the or:her han.l. if they OWn:llIllC l3a_'>C\lm durinJ.: Ii'll' .by, they ha\'e lin ex...-elll!nt d1..1nCC tlew or "'-'lUI' is ~lmmerinJ: (If'I ;) low r.~. A bcJmll and <;('"'\'eral t'xtra hlankl~ an: III UrlC (..,mer, slll..'llen..J bV a large rarpaulm. Nearl:'l\" un,l!!r an'-'tht'r ,hclrcruu: mrpa.ulm can he ((lund camping ~uppljes, provisinns, G1rl'cmr~' .supplies, and 1,.1sl( tnols. RndinJ! tilt;' tr:lP Juor tl) the cdLu i~ e;L~)'. It i.\ unJ..or the pile of eqUIpment. TI'It' tr.'lp door 1~ Ill"....., h:t\·in)..' 1'lIXn in\lallcd by Bascom. It is h:~t..'\1 rrom tho: t"1'f");ollc )i.k '0 mu" h.:

1o

•

chopl'eJ open. Once f'CnctmleJ, the group will be greeteJ by a sllb~ltly

fOul stench emamumg from the dark hole. Shmmg a light down re\'eals a set of three focx Wille, slimy, stone steps descendmg into whnt appears to be an oIJ cellar. Once inside the ctllar, the group will find it to be roughly the dimensions of the fOunJa· tions of the hou.se. The ceiling is supported by oIJ beams and was recently shored up with rimbers insmlleJ by the e>.'C1'·useful Bascom. There are no coffins. If It is Jaymnc, Emil and Myra will be loun.] in one corner in each other's arms, cOllered by a blnnket. Disran:hing them is easy assuming the group IS acting Jurin~ tI'Ie hours of d.aylight. Examming them ror Slgn~ of vampirism is easy. Each Ji~ plays fangs and neither has yet discovered how to retract tht."In. Oosc elWmmation of Emil or Myr.t's face will reveal tI~ presence of these f.UlJiS. OutSide of that, each is extremely p;11~ and somewhat thin. Decapirnring them is a mess)' anJ stressful business. The person Joing the honors loses I DB SAN for the first time anJ J D4 SAN each aJJitional time, Wirnesscs each lose I D6 SAN the first time anJ I D3 SAN e;lCh subsequent rime. The Keeper should fed frt."e to descrihe in gr:lphic detail this grisly sequence.

CONl'l~ONTING THE FIEND B~ NIGHT NeeJles~ to sa} thiS is a

htJ IJea, but CQuid ctrtamly occur if the

11l\'eStiJ,!3Wfli nlake a few mlsmkes Clr Just don't figure out what's going on In tune. It can OIDJr In Clther CIne of two c:m;:um· smnccs: ell her the im-csri,,>at(Hl can encounter Emil while 1'Ie IS

OUI and about (perhaps even coming for tI~m, if he learns of thetr actiVities), Of they venture to the old Schergen furm al a rime when Emil is present and such as ~hord}' after dusk or shonly belOre dawn. Alremately, they C(JulJ rncounter Myra IMC3d of Emil In either Clf the above sltuatltmSj worst of all, they could encounter both vnmpu'es, with Stephen Bascom thrown in fOr good measure. The- vampires' tx>"~ anJ abllrries are !.>i\.-en on p. 57; also check their NPC hsnn!.'S for smts. Run the cl1mbat as best as pos. sible, but keep in mind thl! Emil is not very experienceJ and is hanlly the skil led, ferocious hunter-killer that most vampires arc thou~:ht to br. If at all pos.~ible, he v.'OlllJ rather attack a single, \.me investl(.'ator; it is extremely unlikely that he ",uulJ ~ the entire !.'TOUp unless they surpriseJ him. If he drd wish to attack the enure glt'llIP, he woulJ prohably have aucom anJ the Jo~.'s make the first /llO\Ie 11'1 saurer, ftighten. and injure the im-est!· g:lton hapha:mnlly. Then he aruVor Myra WCJ\lld pick off indi \'iduals one at a time, stnkmg from the shadows. I( push comes to shove then Emil will flee, probahly leav· mg bchmJ Myra and Bascom tCl stall the investigators. He's only recently arisen and has nothing in particular to lose by al).,nJoning IllS plans in NClrlh A,.;hfielJ other than a small measure of convemence and secunry. Should he escape in this manner,

3\\,m

•

7wo: RJ..nmils 1o Ix! Sem

he will move mpiJly anJ as filr as possible ~incc he knows he i~ bemg hunrcJ. In this case, he IS probably IO~1 to the il",·e~rJ..'a· tors and !.'One for good. Should Emil ronfrom and slay one or more of the IIwe~ri gators, he will (if rossible) ronven them into either human fhmlls or c;er\'anr""mpire~. If this 0CCl1n; he will. ot course, pump the new va.ss.'ll 6:>r infonmltlon on anything anJ cvcrythlilU rcl:n ing 10 the investigatol'S, their rurrent effom., an...I their past h,\ rory. He will be particularly Jclil,'\-ucJ [0 learn all he ;::an IMn mvestij:,'lltors with substantial exrcrience in tho: oco.lll or, wnnt III all, the Myd\os. Should he learn about various cldritUl tomc~, aromas, and rhe like helJ by the investi/.>arors he may J~'Ci..ic th'lI he woulJ like to have such items and such kntlwledj.,-'e lor himo;c1t; at this ps.lint, IhI:.- Keeper's Ima~,'mation can no Joubc: picture the results 01 tillS, pcrh~ps the worst of all po~sll.]e olltoome~.

Al',I-:l~MATH Ending Emil Scheq,..m's exJSto.:nce furever end~ the rhtc;\t he poseJ to the worlJ. However, If rhe RrOlt!' tails to '-'t'I him, hc will csc'pe and leave the orca, probably f,)rever esc1pin): thetr grasp. Eventually Emil may become a /.t1\W power m the worlJ...or pcrh:lPS the Il('xt group of IIl\'o.:~Ij.:alO" will j.'I!1 hll11. Who knows? Assumin,g the group is victorious, d'lt' m,l1n 100........ nJ at this poinl is the sheriff, [fhe wrr~n 't pan (rf lhe solUll(m, he may become part of the problem. How! If he dl<;W\'crs the }.tOlUp\ acllvlties (e~pecially if he finds JecaPltateJ .r.n<: i." locateJ m n remote area, any mcident that (llTIlrs there wrll not rome to Ihe sheriff's attention Illr weeks. 1/ :I ulm(-'OCtcnt l.'(lIIerlll' occurred, the incident ml~~11 tlt'\'er be l;.>arlx:J by him, In the mC3n time, they really Jon't h.1\·;'> to tell Erml'i :1I1}' thing. She Will be satisfred if they assure her that e'\'eryrhrng Will be oby lIml thm she and Ellen are 10 no dan~'l.:r. If sh.· mlrts hearrng about vamprres, she might be cooperarive (:I ~U(c~'s~fuJ Fast Talk roll i$ very Impormnt here) or mlh~l1 fCPOrllhc ,gmul' to the sheriff. Overall, the group may ~ hest WtveJ h\' cuwr 109 up an,!, Illegal activities and s,1ymg as little ,1S ro~sil.]e w I'>e(). pie in Franklin Cou nty.

SAN n.E\~Al~DS AND PENA1:r'IES &.tim!

~

Destroy Emil Schcrl,>et1 ... .. .+1 DIO+I SAN Destroy Mym DoIlO\'an . . . . ,., ... , . . +IDJO SAN Bring Stephen B.1scom to JUMICC ,+1 D4 SA!'>J Fail to Star Emil Schc'l,ocn ... the vampire es...lIrc~ .·1 DID SAN Each victim who Jisappears Juring the ~nari(\ . ,·101 SAN An IIwestigator is killeJ by II vampire ...... • ... ] D6 SAN An im:estll,oa[or nses as a vamplfC .... , . 108 SAN

SAN RIl\>lan:\s and P enallies •

NPCs

EMILY SIMMONDS OAKES. fEARfUL WIDOW

EllEN LYNN OAKES. ANNOYING DAUGHTER Nationality: Americ.11l

Nationality: American

5TR 0

DEX

7

[NT

12

CON

7

AI'I' 10 POW 9 SIZ 8 EDU IJ ~,I.:: 50 AAN 19 Luck 45 Hits: 8 I),ilmab't' Penalty: -1 D4 Education: hif.,.oh school Skills: Accounnng I 5%, Anthropol~'Y II %. B.1I"J,oain I 3%,

STR 5 API'

12

SAN 40

DEX

7

POW lli
9 45

INT SIZ

II 6

CON

Hits:

7

A~...::

8

4

EDU

II

Dama~:e Penalty: .J D6 Education: grnJe sd\onl SkiUs: Act Naughty 95%, HIde SO%, listen 35%, Sneak SO%, Chemi~tr}' 3%, Cooking 40%, Drive Automobile 25%, !-Irs! Spot: H1JJcn 35% AlJ 43%, Forcruics 6%, History 30%. Law 12%, Lihrnry U~ L.1 ngua~'t.'S: En).~ish 60% (4{'1% wmren) JO%, Lmcn 4('1%. PcrsuaJe JO'}6, Ph3rmocy 5%, Ps~hd(~'Y Attacks: none to speak t\f

l6%, Stx>l t-hJJen 55%, Swim 11% English 70%

Lanb'lla~,'es:

A ltllcks: none :lbow base ~klll

Nott:s: Mrs. Oakes i~ !'lut only ~rll"VlIlg over the loss of her hushanJ, but must deal wllh the now ",hlic Jisgrace of what her huslxmJ JIJ. To compounJ matter;. her financial situation i~ \1r.UoeJ. She IS In the rrocess of rrymM to sdl the properly lmJ move away, but th,~ w II] rnke ',orne time. The money she IS pay-

Notes: Ellen is a hlmdful. Sh~ ().lnore~ any of the ~whim~~ of aJuhs, ev~n her mother. She IS ~ L\oo Int~nt on ,..'t:U1ng IIlvolvcJ in anything the IIlVCSlll:afJ,lrS do inside the funeral home and may turn OUt to be ljlllte II hmdrante. FMtunatcly, ~he (e~N Ihe Ct.'fllelery and won't IOliow them there nor will ~he leave the 1I1l111eJlate are-a of the funeral home. Her mocher has pulled her

from school out of fcar for her safer)" If the investigators ....... m III be.' nd of Ellen, their Ol'lC and only reasonable choice IS It\ Ing d'lC Hl\'e5Ug:ltors IS her last lW:1I1ablc cash. She Jocs have mt roJuce her to Marne ApcolL They will ~e fuM tncnJs erlflu/.:h to pay blls anJ generally scrape by. but if the lm'esn~>:l' anJ tillS will take care of tI'lC problem she poses to rhe J:TOOp. I\lr.; try III sqUL>ere extrn payout o( her, she simply Jocsn'r havc II (unle~~ they want ro Wlllt tor the 5.11e o( the propenyl. M rs. Oakes has confi~J herself to the funcrnl home. Only OCl
IxmJ\ :&etrVltteS, but many OOn't unJcl'SClnJ or belie\-e thIS. WW';t" ~hc IS still a relative strnn~,'cr 11\ town with no true inenJs. A fl"W of the locals (Amelia Apcort is one of thcm) have tned III help OUI, but otherwise, ~he is essentially on her own. Whilc they arc in North Ashfield. Mrs. Oakes will coopemte a~ he~t ~hc can WIth the in....estig;ltors and will do IlOfhing to intentionally hmJcr d'lCIT actIvities.

MEL RAZEN. BOSTON GLOBE REPORTER Nationality: Americlln

STR

II API' 9 SAN 70

DEX POW Lw.:k

12 14

70

15

CON

9 Hits: II

EDU

INT

SIZ

Age:

12 14 34

Damage Bonus: +0 Education: B.A. m Journalism, ~tOn Umverslty Skills : Accounting 20%. Art: Journalism 36%, Bargam

• NPCs

7wo: R.i.'1IlOin.1" 10 be Sem

•

20%, Climb 43%, CreJlf Raring 20%, Drive Automobile: 42%, F:tst Talk 48%, History 30%, Law 22%, ubrnry Use 44%, Occult 10%, Persuade 34%, Sing 25% Languages : Engli~h 80% Anacks: RstiPunch Attack 35%; 1D3+db damage Notes: Ra:en is one of many reporters covering rhe semational Oakc!~ case. He is available for the Keeper to ignore or use In any fashion J esm!J: Razen can I't a thorn in the lI\\'estigaror,' slJe o r may become a valueJ ally. WhaTever the case, he'll aIWllY~ be after a story. MYRA DONOVAN, ACOLYrE VAMPIRE Nationality: Ameriam STR 18 DEX 18 INT 13 CON 21 APr 18 POW 15 SIZ 8 EDU 9 Age; 17 SAN 0 Luck 75 Has: IS Damage Bonus: +1 T14 Education: some high s.chool Skills: Conceal 20%, IJo.:,Jge 44%. Hio..k 49%, HislOry 25")(" Jump 40%. usten 85%, Occult 10%. RiJc 25%, Sneak 51%, Spof Hidden 54% Lanb>'Uages: En)..~l sh 66% Attacks: Fist/Punch Attock 57%; I 03+Jh u.'l.mas.:e EMIL SCHERGEN. VAMPIRE GrarrJe Attock 45%; specIal ..bm:l!,-e/etTcct~: <;ee ~Vamplre Nationality: Gemlan·Amencan Aua~ks" on p. 57 STR 18 DEX 11 INT 16 CON 18 APP 15 POW 23 11 Bite Alrn.;k 95%; usable only on a slIo:cs:.lully grnpplt'J VIC SIZ 14 EDU tim: ~'C ~Vampi rc Attacks" on p. 57 SAN 0 Luck 11 5 Hits: 21 Age: 30/ 131 Special: ~'l! "Vampm!s in Call of ethulhu (,n p. 57 Damage Bonus: +206 Notes: Myra IS completely under Emil's w nl m!. She IS bJl,'Cly Education: llrrrentice trainll\g as a stonemason Skills: AJ!riculwre 57%, Climh 95%, Conceal 46%, D..xI~1(' an automaton With liule inJcpenJem will or mDm'aoon. 51)(; b 65%, Drive Ca rri:t~,'e 37%. Geology JI %. HiJe 95%, Hlnory also almOSt completely Inexperienced. Her sk ills a.Te srill imIJ..... 25%, Jump 95%. usten 95%, Natural History 53%, Land quate anJ i( ~he encounter.; prepared investij:{arors, they may N
•

Two: R''1l1aitM' 10 be SWII

NPCs •

BASCOM'S DOGS Killer

Luck Hit Points

10 14 12 7 7 35 10

Damage Bonus

«l

STR DEX

CON POW

SIZ

Butch 9

Mauler

Fang

II

12

13 13

9 16 9 7 7 35

II

6 7 30 9 «l

8

8 40 II

8

«l

«l

Move 12 12 12 12 Skills Common to All: usn:n 95%, SpOt Hiddcn 75%, Track Nationality: Amcrk:m by Smcl165% DEX II INT 10 CON 18 Attacks Common to All: STR 18 Bitt" Atnu.:k JO%,; I D6 damage APP 8 POW 9 SIZ 16 EDU 10 SAN 15 L«k 45 Hlt5: 17 Ab-'\!: 38 Notes: The.-.e vicious brUle:; can onJy be control!...'I.! by Stephen Darrulge Bonus: +1D6 anJ the \~lmpirc5. They will pose a dire rhTt':lt (0 all who enter the Education: high schoo! hoose. If they are SOmt'l1OW released, hO'M.'Ver. tilt')' wi!) arrack any Skills: Agnrulrure 56%, Bargain 16%, u rpcnrry 80'Xl, Clunb and all people they am. They are 00( immune to the bear tr.lPS. 71%, umCt'al 57%, Dodb'C 42%, Drive Automohlle 4Q01b, Hide TI'\l.j' will 00( m~imlly avoid them und must be suhjt.'CtaJ to the 50%, Jumr 41 %, LoNen 56%, Ml"Ch:mical Rer~lIr 39%, Natural same procedures concernmg them as the invesngatots. History 50%, Land N:wibtation 45%, Occult lOOi" PcrsuaJc 21%, Rid ... 53%, Sneak 6()'%, Spor HidJen 65%, Swim 46%, DEPUTIES, POTENTIAL SAVIORS Curt D.we Geoff Mike TIuuw 42%, Track 52% 15 Languages: Enghsh 65% 14 17 13 STR

STEPHEN BASCOM, SERVANT OF THE UNDEAD

DEX

Attacks:

Rifle ArmeL: 45%; 106+1 l1ama~ (.44-40 leVcHlCtion rifle) INT Shotgun Atmek mQ; 406/206/1D6 Jam~'C (l 2.gau!.'C Jou- CON ble barrel shotgun) APP AWlting Knife Attack 51%; 104+2+Jh damage (la rb'C hunting POW knife) SIZ L1't'C Club Attack 45%; I D8+db Jamage (any convenient EnU bJ1,~

duh such

Fi~r/Punch

:I~

a rifle or

shot~un)

Atmclc 77%: 1D3+Jb Jam~'C Notes: Stephen has !;t:TveJ Emil wdl. He tutors his newfotmd master on the ....'ays of modern Massachusetts aml pr(){ects 111m dunn,!: the ..laylight hours. He has spent qUIre a bit of effNt rcpalrlllg the house and maklllg It bener sUlteJ [0 both him and hiS master. Stephen possesses a venrnb1e l1~nal nf ....~apuns. T\\'o double bmTel 1 2-gau~ ~hOl:gun~, a ~ing!c h,lrrd 12-gauge, and ~ .44-40 k·ver·action hunting rine nrc 1!Iw:Jy~ in casy reach and Stephen is always toting:lt least one of these. He also 'M:ars a I:1q..oe hunnng knife in a leather scabbard on his bdt. Among hiS camplllg surrites arc over lOur hundred rOlJnd~ of ammum non ... 12·g3uJ,'C buck~hor (does full ,bmagc), 12·gaul}' bmlshor (llocs halt dam~>e). lind .44-40. Sterhen hMll'S a 12i!au~'C douhie barrd loaded with hucbhot. Ilo....\:ver, in a I'W[raCIC1.~ shoorout, he will rrohahly ~ilth .... \:aJXln~ from mne to time rather than e~:pend rime rdo.1d ing. Stephen is completdy under the control of Elm], even Juring the daylight hours. There is!'ll.,) Tt'aSlming with hml.

• NPCs

SAN Luck Hit P oints

12 12 II

9

16

IJ 12 74 80

10 12 15 15 14 16 II

67 70 16

15 II

14 12 II

12 12 57 55

15 16 14 II

12 IJ 10 55 60 14

13 13 +104 +1D6 +104 +104 Age 20 19 23 22 Skills Common to All: Ounb 60%, Concea! 35%, Drive Automobile 30%, Fast Talk 3<J)6, FiTlit Aid 35%, Hide 50%, Jump 35%, Lm' 15%, Ust:t'n 55%, Mechanical RclX1ir 10%, Narural HisfiJry 2036. ~r:<;uadc 25%, PswhoklJ,'Y 35%, RiJe 35%, Sneak 55%, Spot Hidden 6(ffl:., Swim 45%, Throw 4006, Track ] 5% Languages Common to All: English 60% Attacks Common to All: Hand~un Atrnck 40?\,; 1010 damaf,'C (38 T(..'Vt)lvcr) RI(lc/Shot.l!un Att:'ICk 4QO,.o: 406/206/1D6 d:unah't: (12gauge pump·action shotgun) or 206+4 Jamage (. 3Q..06 bolraction nfle) Fi_t/Punch Attack 70%; 1n3+db Jamage N()te~: The~ tt>lIT depuries are providcd in the event the sllCT< iff's Jcparuncnr f.'Ct inv(llveJ dlfL""Ctly. They may assist UWt'stib'.1· tors at Emil's hldc(.u[ ,)r may l", a persistclll annoyance or hin· dr:mcc. Though not \~!I educated or trained, all arc young and pll}'$!cillly fir. None arc grmsly corrupt or Incompetent. [}.ImaJ,ocBonus

i?.I!11loim 10

•

THE SECOND INTERIM: 1933-1934 this time. the invcsriJ.,13tors should have developed a close relationship with the Apcons. Unless they appear to be boorish cads, the Apcotts will cry ro mainmin contact with some or all of the investigators.

In rhe thinl \""'ek of July, 1934, II lettcr will arrive in the mail box of Julian's fuvorite invcstig:uor. In it, Julian explains that his physical condition now has improved to the extent that he can travel. At age 18, it is his hope that he can visit the befriended

investigator and that he or she can help him tour colleges and universities in the area. His dream is thm he attend college and now that his health i<j looking bener, this may be a reasonable option. Julian will, of course, nor approach an investigator on this if there is not a Strt)ng relationship between them (or some of them) amI the A!'lCottS. lfhe does visic, his appenrance is better, but still very fmit and pale. Soon after completing whatever tour is given, he returns to Nonh Ashfield. There, he !iuffers a retapse and must give up any plans for cotle{.,'t.

CHAPTER

THRE

E

THE }f/HI7t)flOOD HO/~/~o/~ 1 9

~

s

w .........Uon ................................................................................................ ... The wtIllnrood eo.tn ...................•....................•.•...................•......... _................. ... N..... Pall! ........•••....•..••.... "." ...•....•.... , .......................................................... ... Tht Rut BotTOI' •••••••••••••••••••••••••• _ ••••••••••••.••.••••••••••.••••••.....•.•••••.•..••• _ ................ .. 1 Ruc....:h and I D~lkIa •.••.•.•.••.••••••.••••..•••.•••••••••.••.••.••.••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•.... 17 H.n-' AdflJor •.••.•.••.••••.•.••.•.••••••••••••••.•.••••.••.••.••.•..•.••.........••.•••••••.••.•....•........ Pu ..... lne Dr. DriKoll '" ......................................................................................... flndln. Whlltwood •.•..•.•.••.•.•..•.•.••.•.••.•.••.•.•..••.•..•.••.••.••.•.••.••.•..•.••.••.••.•..•.••.•.••.•. .II Pla,..r AkI ,to. S .... rtrr. rtpOn Do Nan Bartow........ ........•.•. . ••.•.••. . •.•..• ........ •.•..•.••.••.••.•.••.•..•. .19 Whlltwood. MlII.MChu.stll. • .•.••.•.••.•.•.••.•.••.••••.••••••.••.••.••.••.••.•.•.•••••.••.•..•..•.••.•..•.••.••.•.••.•" Map ofW'hllewood. M.......,hu ...11lI clrc:.II I'U •.••.•.•..•.••.•.••..•.••.•..•.••.•..•..•..•.••.•..•..•.••.•..•..•.•.••,. Rano. Inn .....................................................................................................11 W'hltewood etn>tluy ••.••.•.••.•.••••.••••.••••.••••••.••••••••.••.•..•.•.•••.•.••.•••••••.••.•.•••.••••.••.•.•. W'hlltwood C1ullch ............................................................................................. ... OIatram of WhlltwOOd Chun:h ............................................. . ............................... ... DI. . . . . ofdMR .. IMI ... cot~ ............................................................................. ... 1lM ParbII HDUM AntJquu and Otd IIooIu .........................................................................91 JNatn.m of 1lM P.-bII ~ AntIquu •••••....••••••.••••••••••.••.•••••••.••.••.••••.••.•••••.•.••.••••••••.91 Plaftr AkI .t h Select puMVU from A TrulIIC 011 Dnf/lJl'orsItlel In N4:w ~~ .•••••••••••••.• •••••••••••••••••••••••,s A T _ * 011 Ottril WDQltlp III New fngllltwl ........................................................................114 The TOwll ••••.•••••••••••.••.•.•.••.•...•.••.•. . •..•.••••.••.••.•..............................•.••.•••..••.••• .114 Keqon".o

:.1. .1.

'1

AI' .... lno ............................................................................................................. Ot .... r Co.tll MtmNn ............................ . ....................... . . ..........................16 Conn MemNr Nolt. . ......................................................................................' 1 Th" R....n.lnn ................................................................................................ .91 lHa!Jr'am of IJH b.-.,o. 1110 •.•.••.••.•.•.••.•..•.. ... ••.••.•..•.••..•.••••.••.••.••.••.••.•.••••••••.••.••••.•...., . P\ayft AId"" i.t:na- from e&dlial Apcon 10 fllulbt:th Newlal4lo1ed (klober II. IJ" .. .... .... ........................... 101 AId ItS, Ltna- from e...... Apc:on 10 f llulbt:th Nt:w1al4loted IanUUf •• USO •.••••.••.••.••.•.••.••.•••••••.••.•.• 101 Enn" III Whll"wood ••.•••••.••.•••...••••...•...............•.•..•...•..•••.••.•...........••....•••••••••••.••.••. IOt eo.u ....Unt IJH Conn .....................................................................••........................ IOt

PIa,...

Actloon and Re.cdon ..••••.•.••••..•.•.•.••••••••....•••••.••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••.••. . IOt R"rlbuUoft •.••••.••••.••••.••••••.••••••••••••••.••••.•••••••••••••.••••.•.••.•...•••••••.••••••••............ IOS Vlaory or Ddo:IIf!' ................................................................................................... 1011 SAfi( R_atds and Pt:n.ltlu •.••••.••••.•....•••..•.•.•••••••••••.••.•••••...........•....•.....•..••.••••.••••... 104 NPCII ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 104

•

Conlenls •

(/"'!-' he WhH•.,uood HCJm1f IS rhe thin! sccmlT1{) in Commj! Grt:cnfidd, MMls:tchus<us. Th~ havc alway~ ensured that Full Ci,t:/(. Of the (our, It is rhe le:ast conJ'IIXh.'·d (0 [he evcr~'lne in the family ~:ot the he!JL In Nan's case, she was p~

I

camp:1ign as il occurs In a town ne:uhy North AshfielJ :mJ only minimally in..'Olves the Apcoru or (){her lamlliar NPCs. II is JesigneJ to mvolve the survivors of the pre\'1(lUS two sccn:If1os, or othc~ similar to them in ahillty anJ helic( UnuSU;l1 for Ct!// of Cthu/hu, this sct"nario is l-:lscJ on a film (set" ~1l'\C Real HOTTOf~ on the next rage) ami tht' Kt:eper h rl."l."ommcnJc.J to arrro:u:h It cinematically. As the entire ttlYin ,If WhItC'oI.'(Mx! IS mther forboding and ~m ' $tt!r, the Kt,'(,JkT ~houlJ ....,ork to estaJ:.b~h 01 certain nlOI.xl right (rom the ,tart and maintain it throu~:hollt.

l
On March J, 1692. 8i%.1bcth Selwyn. an lICOlSc!d wloch.

"~J.li

burneJ at the ~mke by the mhahimnts of Willtcwn<xl, Ma~sachusetl.'i. Within rhn.'\' years, the rest of her Cfl\!Cn, who h:tJ :Jw>iJeJ execution, resurm.:tt.'I.1 the charre.1 ~ that haJ been t.urieJ In an uncoruecrarc<.1 pIoc :.Jpccm to tI\I.! Village cemetery. With new life anJ a resroreJ Ixxiy, E1iz.1beth Selwyn commenced a ri.oj~n of terror o\'er Whitt!wooJ that lX'J0!3n wllh the munlers of the Uaughters of ht':r 3CruSCrs. Soon, the vill~te ~~ plunJ.,oeJ into a pt:rpctual IIvmg n~tmare, fon::in/: II into (lb~mty anJ making II :llmu51 unknown to outsiders. The vill:\S.,te of WhItewood is an (:vil rixc where the mhllbltatm either lTini,oc In fcar hehmJ lockcJ Joors or are III league ..... Ith the CO\'t'n. ElIzabeth Selwyn's new IJcntit)' is 8uabcth Newless ami ~hc masqlK'ral.les as the pmrrictor of the R.lvens Inn. A plcrure.~que prl.. Rcvolution csrnblishmcnt, Selwyn (i.e. Newless) uses it to house frienJs lind entrap potential >Xrifice\. The Cl)\ocn h.1S long si~ scattered throu/.,'hout New EnJ.,~anJ anJ (lnly ml'Ct~ tll conJucT specific mu.,ls, most of which arc JcsigneJ to maint:l1O their immorwliry. For the em'cn, immorrolity has a JrcaJful priet:o Thc ben· efits J.,>:Iined arc the cessatKln uf the agIO/.: process an~1 tural Immutllly to Jlsea.'ie and ph)'~ical injury. The JisaJvanral,'C i~ the nlocd to rake part in twO blood sacnfices each year. TI1cSC reqUIre the dealh of an ~lnnocent" woman and the ...Inn king uf her blood. For over (WQ centuries, theIr male10ulenf scheme has sllCCeei.led. The drill: is 1'\(:)\1,' Febru~ry 14. 1935. For over thn.'C y,\.'Cks, N~n Banow, n f!.§~holClb"'· stUdenr:tl Misk.1wnic UniversIty, has becn missing. btl..' in Janu.1r~', she wem to Whlt~xl to Jo resean::h lOt her senior thesis. The sub~t of this f'ilf'Ct wa~ wm:hcrnh anJ win.:h burnin[.tS onate sl.:vcnlt."Cmh century New England. Miss Barlow's family had the Franklin County Sherif( send It Jeputy to WhiteY.uoJ to find Nan. HIS determination was that she left toWn withCM.1t paymg her hofe! bill anJ f(lr reason~ unkrKlWn. she departed his Jurisdiction. From his POInt of View, Ihere IS nOl'vlJence oHoul plaY;lnd the case is closed. nle B.1rl(lw$ ate one uf !\everal promment fiumlu:.'s in

•

videJ a ,.,'00.1 eJucation and was enCOUnlb't'd to enroll in a quality uniVcNity. Her dlOice was Misbtonic. The Barlows nuw want m ime or reCTIllt a few competent individuals to find Nan and bnng her home. The inve5Ul:ators are ideally suited I'm thIS [ask. TheIr explOIts III previous scenarios will have bc.'C(lme known m higher sucial circles in Franklm County and among enthu~iam of the occult. It is not their knowledge of the occult that the I\',rlow "unily is mterested in though they are aware riwr tim may prow relcVllnt cllnsidering the subJcct mattl'r Nan was resean::hing. What draws the Barlow5 to the inve~tig:ators is their previous rcconl of success and. more importantly, Their alleged knowleJj:,'t' of rural Franklin County. M.lrthermore, as nutsiJers, they '01.001...1 have no chance ni being 1n\\llveJ in her I.II~appear:mce lIml would Invcstlgate Ih.: matter with a neutral t:)~. The WhlleutJo:ld HOI'TOT i~ Je~iJ,'neJ for t\\'U ~lr three kertainly no more than tOur) char· act . . rs of low w moJerate cxperience.

THE \.~HITI-:\\?OOD CO\?EN

TIle CtlVCO domm.1les Whltl'wonJ compit.'tdy. It CorulSU of tI ...... cu~t(lmary thlrtl'Cn memhers. but hal; accumulated many fol·

lowt·n; and symp;ltlm.ers over the ~ars. n11s coven I~ 1'IOt tYPIcal of all witches llnJ certmnly not typical of twentieth century wln.I'\C~. R.lIher, It is d~'lfcJ entlri.4y to black magic ant.! J.1rk, e\'il Spirit:.. How the Keeper wishes to interpret this is up to the individUill. thi~ is mtended to be n non-Cthulhu Mythos scenatlo. it is prnoobly iJeal tn assume till')' lire wonhirPCf!i of tan l'r j;omc ancient. male1o'tllenr entity. TWKe ilnnually blooJ s.'-v:riflces must be made. One must he at midniJ.:ht on OtnJlemas Eve (r-ebruary 1) and another must be at llliJnij:,~lI on tI ...... Witches' S"bbath (March I). Nt.-edless to .,.IY. in each C,I5e the sacrifice must be human. femal..:, and ·pure of heart, ~ anJ resulns in the Jeath o( the vic· tim. n'e ~pt.'r definc:s what IS .pun: of heart." A& part of the ritual, the victim's b100J I~ c(lIlsumeJ by the coven. nle pri· mary reward filr these sacnficelt is conrinueJ immonality fOr the rhim'Cn particir~lnts. This ritual (enUlla! -The Ritu.,J of Sust:lInmem") lind its effects arc further Jescribed in ApjlC'ndI:X B: NC\.. Spc!l! & Ruual5, hegmning on p. ! 38.

ru

s.. .

NAN'S FATE N;m l\1rlOW was tricked into (.'Oing to Whttc\\'OOJ. Her professor, Alan Dri')colJ, is panofa coven [hat i~ in league with 5"ran. The coven requires t\ID s.1Cl'ificc~ per ~ar for impormnt ritu.1ls on Febru.'T)· 1 and Man. h 1, ant.! Nan was perfect for thr first UI'\I.'. At Dmcoll's sUj::/.'t'stion, she drove to WhiteWOOll where she wa5 $OOn captureJ by the coven. In rhe firsl ritunl (F.!bruary 1; CanJlemas E\·c), .. he was killed anJ her blood cunsumed by the thutten p;lrnupants. Nan's boJ'i along with her car has "In~ lX'Cn JJ .. pl.l~ of in a fiver a few CQunties ~y hy follow· ers of the co\'en.

7brre: The

Horror

•

1~ESEA1KH AND I~I-:STIGATION Inirial contact with the Barlows will come in the form of a telL'phone (;lll (rom W(){xlson B:n!ow, N:m's uncle. He will s.ay that Nan was lasT known to be III Wlmcwood :mJ was there conJucting rese;lrch on witchcr.lft of Amenca's colonial perind {or a school paper. The sheriffhas been unable to heir nor has Nan's advisor at Miskatonic. He will offer them $50.00 up front plus will pay all reasormble expenses. If Nan is returned home s.1fdy, he will I,\'Y a $400.00 rcw:ml to the I{T(lUp. \f it turns (jut Nan met WIth foul pby. the $400.00 Tt!wanJ WIll still be p.1iJ if her killers lHe brought TO Justice. On the telephone. Woodson will appear wr:llly courteous anJ professional. When they eventually mttt him, he will (Urn Out to be a stern, rmmaculutcly gr00lncJ ~,'entlcman who is obviously a person Ilj some means. In the event rhey JL-<:ide [0 check up on their cmpluyer, rhey C;Jn finJ ;J lor on him with only tI little reSt:arch in a library nnJ ,-!uestioning flTOlinJ Ort:enfidd, Newsparcrs por tray him as ~ 'wctllthy I~ndowner who has large amounts of stock in somc Iiollywood nlm comp<1nics [hM arc surviving thc Orctlt Depression, He also uversee~ a successful strlnJ,! of gcneral stores m Massachusetts Hnd Connecticut. In fact, he owm. the one in Nonh Ashfield and from the manager rhere. may hHve heard much about the group. Questioning people arounJ Greenfield (or even Amcli~ Apwtt in North AshfidJ) will rt'veal that he is ~ supremely honest rn:1n who dete~ts rhose who ~Jdle falsehoods. He conJucts bminess on ~ handshake and doesn't overly concern himself Will, wmtcn contrtlcts. Many :llso know him to be Je\'oudy religiOUS (Luthemn) and very superstltlous. Nnrhm): SUSpICIOUS can be found in his backgrounJ. but this inrormatlon on hi~ charac· ter will be valuable If the ).:TOUp deals with him at lhe cnJ of the scenario.

THE

1~·:A1. HOluWI?

This ~ccnario was adapted from the 1960 film Horror Howl (black and white, 76 mmutes) anJ the attempt h~IS hl.~n rna,le to stay as futhful as pos~ihle to the original storylinc, Hu ....'Cver, cen,'lin changt's htlve heen made to accomrnoJ:lfc the t"ran1t'work of Coming nlll Circle. It i~ qrongly recom' mcndcJ (or ~nyune wishing [0 moJernte this S("t'n~rio to view the film a Jay or two before running Thi' Whiteu.ooa Horrur. Many video rental stores Glrry it anJ it can fllso be pun.:haseJ, Furthermore, before mOllcr;Jting this, it may be wise to discreetly check among pro~p..:crive rbyers to Jeter· mme who may have actually seen the film. Anyone who has will have an ovcrwhelmlllg' aJV:lIlt:lge here :lnd therefore may not be wdl SUited to plaYing through il. (To the author's knowleJgc, Horror Hotel was nc\'cr remaJe. It is cltcd fully III the bibliograrhy.)

Research and

•

NAN 'S Ao\1ISOR

t~ town is remote, lsolateJ. POOf, anJ run<")Wn. Moo: on hun elln be found in the Nrc section anJ in the boxed text enmled tacric th:n may rrr>ve helpful. TI)j,.j' can VISit Nan's Misbtonll uPursuing Dr. Driocoll~ helow. ,K.J\,lsor In ArlJ1.1m ttl confirm wh:l( WooJson was saying and perhaps ro a.:qUlfC dues. Dr. Dmwll reaches in both tht" Psychology ami History Jcp-Jrtment~ an ..1 IS a I1l,}teJ expert on the occult. He shoulJ be Research at the library wiU turn up littk Iln Whnev.txx.l. II !;Om easy to loot\.' Juring normal school hours anJ any nll'Ctmg not evcn he fol.lnJ on a map unless a ubrary Use roll is maJ.">IIh hlln can be in his officI' {)r III II cbssroom lifter he com- successfully at 20% its normal chance. Ilo,",,-",,cr. a telephone caU rle[c~ a [edure. A tall. thin, Jisrin/ZuisheJ looking man, or visit to thl! COUnty TeI.Xlrus office of sheriff's Jepartmcnt in Dnsooll Will he harPY 10 ans~~r the questions of rcrumblc Grecnfldd, MallsachuS(:ru (the "'('lmty M.'at (If Franklin County) lookmg pet.'r1c. but if specific information IS ....'anted concern- will mvan.l im'c..q-1h'3tOr.; \\'1lh Jmxtinru lm ho ..... to h"CI ttl IL mg Nan Barlnw. II family mcmhcr must be present or consent Further research on the history of the area or on wltd, trlills l'/ III wming Ttl the release of such ink)rmarion. He Will not the seventeenth anJ eighteenth l"£nturie~ Will. with iI sUCCt'~~ful withhold nnyrhmg If one of the investigamr.; is :1 police ofheN Ubrary Use roll. result in the discovery of mere m..xnotes or "T:1 Mi~karllr\il cnllcaguc, h{)\\''\:wr. If these rcquiremcnt~ are mInor pass.1,(:e.~ mentioning Wh,te ....uod and irs shon, hut futi 5:JtOr1; can learn witchcraft :b well v. the hislOry 01 ~wmttmh anJ ei!.rluccnth that a fev.· witchc:s .....ere t noo and cxecuteJ in Whm:wooJ In the remur)' N~' En/:lanJ anJ ....':lmeJ to Jetermine why such h)'5' 1690s, bU11'I1,l JctaJls:lre proviJeJ. Uttlc else can he leameJ In Afkham and the next ~tep I~ tt'ria ("()lItd ("\I.:cur and go so fur as TO resuh In the Jeaths o( so for the investi h'3[on to visit WhilL'wooJ. The hcst mcan.~ \.1 .,'Ct· many poople. He ~u~'Csred ro her to viSIt Whitew{)oJ ~ince it ting there is to flrst travd by I rAin m GrL'en(iclJ. There, they' \\"a~ one of the mnre (,bscurc loc~les where witch trllll~ uccurred in the bte <;c"cntccnth l:emury. If :tslttJ for more may wish to Jo a Illtle rescarch. At the ~heriff's dt'l""lrl1ncnl, spct:iflcs on witch trials there, he WIll SCC a ..'OfYt' a~ t(m~ as "'CJ'\.·en anJ Intentlon:llly sent Nan there knowin/;! she \\OOIJ r.e a R!rsll.'klc or Law roll is SUCl.""Cssful. If WlIl.xlson Barlow 1\ prethe perli.'Ct candlJ:ne fOr a Vital ritual s.1criflce. He is very sent or oth~rwise vouches for the gmup, the report is ohtall'led ~mllo{h an.j IS e~senuaJly immune to the he perceiving automatically. rs}ciu.,logy n~l~ of the irwcstl/.,'atoN. I( pressed. he will f«.'ely Bloch's wTlttcn report (see Player Ai.1 #20), wl'lIch can he conflrmeJ by a hm~f interview with lum, state~ that t~re Wol\ "Jmit he ",,";IS l....'rn In WhitcwooJ, but that IS not why he scm no cvlJenct' Nan Barlow was lI'I tht' [lrea Juri~ Ius vI~it. Tl-tf Nan theft:. Rmher. 11.5 uniquc hlsmry was Ideally sUlIeJ to her hotel regi)t~r inJ,cateJ she srayed It wuplc Jays anJ there ,~ nl.) ~tuJies. AOOtIf Wh,tev.'OOlI he lo.m S,IY httle. He will Jeny hi!\" m~ gone there III the paSt couple dec"\Jcs anJ as ror as he knows, L'ViJenee of~r or her vehicle, a 1933 Ford MoJd A «Jan,

Assuming rhey [(Ike the

CfIse,

rhe

IIwc~rig:ltors hl'lVC

one initial

FINDING \~HITE\~OOO

PURSUING DR. DRISCOLL one of thinrtn memben of r~ coven and as ~uch, bcndit~ Jircnly from the rilU,lis performed on CmJlem3S Evc an.1 the Win:hes' S:lhb3rh. A!l a tcachero( the OCl.-·ulr at M,\bronic, his stuJCnt.~ view hIm as a ~ri{)us msrrucrllf who .....llntS his students to t!lkc scrioU'oly the sul~ l('(,"t:s he pre\i.lcs over. Those who arc open mmded to his materi,11 have little rrohlem with him. Nu one suspects in the least th.1t hI.' is a witch or is in any way malt'volent. If the m\·c.,tlhoaton cht'Ck mto Driscoll, either emly In lhe ~(l.'n:lTlO, Of more likely near the end Of in t~ aftermalh. thc..'Y WIll lind ,>ome mtere~ting Ihm/.,'s. B3dq~rolinJ rcscarch nn him n~\"I'a!s he has been at MIskatunic for ten )'.'ars anJ has a ~potle~~ ,",mk Tl'C\)J\1. He earned his Nl.D. In History (nllll Mi~kiltonlC in ! 920 ImJ was hircJ as an insrructor therl' 10 1925. Hh rlOn is simrly lhllt he Dr. Driscoll

i~

• Nan's AcNisor

was born in the: 1600s anJ rcconh Irom rhat peritxl are ~pot ty at best. Dr. Driscoll's house conr.uns the only incnminatlng en Jcnee. HIS office on camrus has no dues. His Iwu~ i~ nOfmal in :Ill rcsf"lt.'cu except one. One small, winJowle~~ rol.llll 011 the flrst floor has been convertt.'t!tnw a kinJ of Saranic shnne. It b complete with many of the !Tappings of S.,tani~m and black Illn~lC. The room is kcplloch..J ar all om(':~ and lhe only key is always in Driscoll's pc.lSSC~Sllm. Discovery o( this ~hrine m.. y he rewalmg, but I~ 1"1(" all that incrimU\.1Im~. H:wing such a shrme, thou~ slron).:c by rhe standards of mo~t, is in no way 1111.'/.,':11. R.t!rorllng rh,~ fU police will do no good unless It is accompanieJ by OIhl.'r evi· dence pmning the Jisal'pearance of Nan Barlow or someone else un Driscoll. If confrontcJ wnh ,he facr of rhe ~hrul\" in his house. Driscull will claim It is Just pari o( a 'ifUJ)' on Wlo.;h· es ,IOJ not evIJC~ {II some per'lllnalltfestyle.

Horror

•

belnj! present at the tillle he searchc..·cl The repon also men· n(lns an interview With one "MIss Russell" that indicateJ she haJ met Nan (!OJ loaneJ her a hook on New EnglanJ wm:h· It he i~ Imer\'IO,!WcJ. a r~ychoIOj..'Y roll inJicates th:u rhe del'Ul y llbviollsly helieves she is r"l<.)t there and that he Did more than enough tll find her, Quesrinninn his thoroughness or Cl'\mpetence Will !"Kif earn the investlgators his frienJship. ASIde fnlm thc Franklin Countr Shaiffs Department (FCSO), the gn:'up may JedJe lO ~top :u d'IC historical SOClcty. Alan Wearhersb~,' is stilt there anJ little <;ttIl\S ro h::a\'e ch::anJ:'i,'J ~mre tI'IC,r bsr \-Il-If- Ant research here.s frUItless: WhltcWOOJ l~ I'll"" \kYllnlcnted In ::any olJ ocw'papers or books. The same l~ cssc.-nnalty true if Ii'll! county rcconh office is d,eckcJ. Whncw\lOJ IS known of and can be locateJ on a map on file there, hilt nOlhln~ a~ide from the (,,\CI itexl,u is documented. When checking .hn.mgh Grecnfie!'.l and, I:Her, North A,hfidd, .he J:'mup cannot find one pcr.;on except for Deputy Bloch wh"l has . . ver been 10 WlmewooJ. A flOW have he~rJ of II :1.\ hcm~ ,I Jark nl}"SteriOllS plaa:, 001 Jun't know anythin~ bq\)nd thiS really tenuous rumor. e~.

GettLnJ.: tu Norrh AshflclJ 1:0 ea.~y. Hlrmn Greenl ielJ '~ Mni:le taxi klr 1....'0 or three Jolldr.; IS \>Oc option :lnJ 11Itrhlllj! fa nde is another. BUYing II useJ Model T or Chevnllet C:ll'ital at E..1SY Ed's Used Car Lot l'lln bc done:b l(ln~ a.~ the /:r()Ur i~ willing to plop down $100.00 l'a~h fl)r rhl! vehicle. Any vehicle hought from Eusy Ed will be rcli:lble I!r"l<.)ugh to la~T thrtltl"h this scenilrio. Once in Nonh Ashfield, they will h;\\'1! an t'aSlcr time Assumm~ Iheir rebtioruhip With Ih~' Apculfs anJ \lthcr<; In rown is snll CIVil. rht1' toan find lodgm/:\ with(,ut any pmhlcm if the)' nttJ m Slay the ni~lf- Tl'IC~' c.m cven botnl\\' Amelu Ap.."(ltt\ a/:inl: Mood T. Asking awun,1 N\'T!h A~hfidJ abuut While\\.-uoJ o r Nan Barlow JDe~ no ,I.'()(xi. No one here krll.lW~ any m(lTc th:ln the pearle In Grl'Cnfidd. DrivinJ:' from North AshficlJ to WIUTew\)(),! is more of n cha llen!.'\! .han might have been expc..:leJ. The r(l:lJs flrc JXlIlr and whar \\nuld rooay be ~ short Jnw draJ.:'~ on ffIT do~ to halt An hour. An~lIy, they relCh 11 small markct/ga'>Ohnl" ~t.l­ tlon run t:.y Joseph Millbrook. He can Jlre..:t vj,iroTll to till" Whitl!\~\)(,.j turnoff whICh IS unly ,1 ~hoTl JI~rancc ;m".ty. Hi,

IUYER AID '20: SHERIf'1" S REPORT ON NAN B ARLOW. SPELLING AND TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ARE INTENTIONAL

c.. t.Jsal? ll6&A ~:~l'WIOOn

o.uo: r.bn>ary 6, UlS Nan 8U'low 2Z Don:~ SUeK, o~ ~b\Ulet;e- (honla) lUlOIII l(W, f!IIIenOn K.all, ~Uln1c: Uni~ty, Arkt-, ~h~ (achOOl)

...-"

-"

birth: January 19, 1JlA Helqbt.: !>'s"

DIU of

Weiq lit:

uo u..

Hair: blOIIde, 1Hdi.". langtb

z.y.:

BII.ll4: alig!:it

Ccapleldon: pale

~h.1nQ

bl\18

t.t=-:

~,

On ~ "

at _ _

I _ "-Patched by Shar:W ~ to in-ugate a ~ penIOflII report. w.d by Itt. Woodeon sarlow Barlow in.u.::.ted ~ &n,I(Jhcer, Na.n BaJ:low, had. ~ a f.IuDlly vatber1nv in OAWIfield ..u1 he ~ lhol havino ICDe ttouhla in tbl; vUI.oIoe of N/1iUloDCId He IlU.ted bIIr bo...-- in Nhit.elODCld bad to &.'I with . . . . ..-reh IIW con4uo:t1ng for a collage r.u. '*PU.

O~ Kr.

I ar- out to wbitoawood 011 tbe aorninq or: PI8bruary " Whit.ewood u a ...n CCDIIIunity n.ort.~ or: NOrtb Mbfiel.d ..u1 located dovn a ro\I(Jb Idde raid oef tbe .aiD county n:.4. ll:L Whitewood" I t1rK valt to tile U"IOLIIIlII InD, tile OIIJ.y txItti in tile U'M. Ie ill owoe:I omd opented by KrI. Inizal:>et..b Hew~ IIpQkP1 wlth Kn. New~ woo IlU.teot lbe r_l~ Id.. BaJ:low. She IIJ4 Mi-. Barlow _yerJ OIIJ.y a COI.l.Pla .say. uound ~ 1 1OIl"- sncn..:t _ tile blIt-.l ~. The nog-l.\It.N' 100- that lhe checll:ed in on JlI/1l1oUy lD 11/14 brft ",I:oru&ry 1. Mr& New~ .,.,ted Mi-. Barlow l.rr. wltoo"t psy1ng ' - ' bill. I loOI
u

Attar leaving the

Ra"lOLllllll

=, I

8MrCbI!d the village fm: aiqIUI of Kia. sarlow or her vehicle. a un lIoct.l mr4 M04e.l A

or: Mi.- 8Ulow. ~. I dic1 pPNll with Ki86 R~ who operar.e. a local -.id IIW J:e!leraber:ed xJ.- Barlow beinq in town arou.n4 Jan....a.cy n an4 tb.at lhe l.oaI:l*'- he:r a book oxr. ...... Dl91aru1 witcbll. Mi-. a.clow taU..t to ~ the book, tNt lortt lt in tbe C&nI of KrI. New~ Kia ",.-ll re<;:C7Y'lIr",s tbl book whir!. ~ the 1UI"1OL111l11 Inn. a COII.pl.a ~ lar.m-. lD .y in..-:iqacion of the ,,~ uwa, I toun4 no aiIJD. of Mi.a BUlDv an4 it _ abe bM l.rt t.be arM. :It. U

..san. Thill

~h t;ailed

llltiquol IItOnL xJ.-

to tllZ'n II.p any II1qn

R~

Ubly abl aither returaed t
•

~b

fIlNvhG' ..

•

Jlrecti(lru will he helpful far he will POll'll out that ri'M.' rooJ IS h.1rJ w spot. He will also bt- CUrlOllS as to why anyone waulJ Wllflt to b'" m such ~ dark :lI'lJ torbiJdmg place. While he remembers Nan B.,rlow as a pretty, young woman who ~tl)ppeJ at his '>Iation for fuel :mJ JirenillnS 10 Whit<: ....'OOo...I, he .toes not kno.... her I:ri name. T ravdlers ..... ill be aJviseJ by him 10 aVOid [he town, but he can give no specifics. TIle rood [0 Whm!v,.ooO is an owrgrown, smgle lane I rock whICh IS easily miSsed unless it is being Clrefully "'3.ochcJ KJT. Assummg the Im'e~igators leave Arkham after Jawn, they will rro\)'1blr TC:lch rim rood dose to dusk. If they sropreJ to ~p.!nJ d'le m~~)f in Nonh AshfielJ or OrccnflelJ. ther will proh,bly arm',: m the ~rly to mid~'\(ternoon. A solil'llry \'chide ros~mg Jown IhlS rood any lime between Jusk anJ Jawn ma)' encounter jerilftK' ~,(,I'Ie, one of the witches uf WhitewooJ. He .....111 appear as an l~J man dressed in a J.'\rk overcoat anJ suit. If Ihe dm'er IS female and alone, 1'Ie Will soIi':lt a riJe to town, but uron arrival will 1'Il\'.,.tenou ~ ly Jisappear fRlm the "elude when the dnver IlXlb; ,l\\~ly, If the driver is male or the vehicle con· rams more than one lIcrup:ml, he will u!'lexp&:teJiy appear (per· Iups u~mg the spell ProJeCtlm:q,oe JescriheJ hiler) in the TOad m the rolh of the vehicle. Assummg the Jnvcr allempls 10 amid '>Inkm.': hml, a sUl'ct'.~sful Onve n'lil must be maJe. IffuilcJ, the \'chiJ~ will strike II I fee and hecome Jis.,hled, OccupantS ofthe vchlCle ..... ill each t:,ke I DB d:ml~'C (rom the crash (a suro:ssful uKk toll will reJu.:e this to I D6 Jama&'('). If the Dnw roll is fumbled, the acciJent will be seven:, likely resulting III lhe \'Chi·

de ()"enurn m ~ or be~ominJt une Wifh a bTl-'\: I~k. bk.h u.:.:u· I':mt must make tW{I Luck n~l~ aher stICh an ocu~lenr. If the ht"t I~ successful. I 118+1 Jam:,~.'e i~ raken. C>tI'lt'rwiM', lDH·", J,Ull' al..'\: is taken. It!l'lt' o;(.'COnJ IS f:uleJ, the victim l> tr:ll'f'I;'J m the rWI~J wreck.~. Fmally, a gn'lllp Luck nlll mu~t be n1:t1.k. It it IS fumhleJ, the wre..:k bun!'. mill fbme, I 116 ruunJs ;,Iter the!impa.:t ,mJ OQ"upants each lake 1D6 J:ml;lL'C mitially anJ 103 ~bmal..'\: per rounJ th.:reaftcr due to t:X1'1(lsur~ to tI'M.' flames. Only m a ;;e\·~re 'k,XiJent i~ t1'\<:1't' the rx"",'II'Iluy "I the \'d,ide bul'SflnR mto flaml,.'S, jethr~ Will lIwsterioLJ,ly Ji~prx';'r limn..... JI:ucly after tI'Ie :1O:...lenl. If the dnver ch.xlI>C' tn nm hun J(,wn, the vehlde willl'a~~ harmlessly through him ,mJ when tbe I..:cU· pants bol behmd, he will have vamshed, Notl' that unleu th.: dm'er IS a ruthll"\ ~'3 ngster llr homKI.,b1 malll:lC, 1lt'/)I'Ie nUhl make a SAN roll when ;lnl'l11l"fing II' run dllwn jerhnl<. It the roll is (aik·d, then the!- nHem!'t may he made, 1,.,lt if the roll is su.:, ccssful. then hot- ~he LIlU)t allcmpf to ,1\\llJ Jelhrl.lt.'. The K...'Crcr may ch~ 10 11m ~prin,l! Ihb upon "'Ie lm·~·,ti~;L{oN .... ht·n the~' initially arnve unless a lone femille P.C, Jmw hapl't:n~ .llong. Nmc that.., [his point in Ihe ')(cll,lri,l, 11 b \,h\'i"u~ly un ..... 11,t! to kill (Iff tile entil'l!' Rf(lIJP or ....·wrdy injure tho:m. Thu" lk)me or mOst ut" the J.'m~~ n.....'CI\'eJ in .to .xciJent Ctlul.ll>c consiJcn..J to I'll! 01 rhe ~rummclhng" \'ancry .•,brUl"-'~, 1m nor L'Ur .. , lind II.....:: like. ~Pummcl!inlt d'lIl\ll!.'l.' r~n)\'I'T'i ;r~ Ih~' Tine III tWO or more p(lin'" per J.1Y .1nd i~ lllln·l~·lh;rl, Ihu; will no.l{ rt',ult in hospirnli:.an~)n l'\'en if till.' "K:llm I,-,.;t:,;tll hn f'oinl1. In IIl1." (,\'cnr the hit pomts arc rcJUI.:cd tll;:em I,., rhls type I'! .\.un,I).,'l·,

unron.sciousne:;s (nrx Jearn) resuh. formal :mJ Will ensure all guest~ are pruperly taken CITe of. Her Upon arrl\'al m WI\l(ewood the 111\·cstl/.,'aton wIll see a mUl~ sen-:lnt, Lottie. takes Clre of mu5( of Ih~ mn's chore~ and Jl1.1.pIJareJ town which is essentmlly a cluster of small houses IS a nCr\-'ou~ }I;)lJnl:: woman who wII\ .10 her I)t>st to warn ['Oten surrounJlng lin t\bandoned·lookil\~ chunn. The lar~.'csr occu· nal ViCIlTns 01 the dlln!,'!:r they IUce. More on heT is in the Nrc pieJ buildmg in rown is the R..wens Inn. AII,(J In (...·idcnce is a secnon anJ the section cnnrleJ ~Al the Inn." Examin:UlOn of small cah!, a small generol store, anJ an imtiquc shop. Furrher the hotel reh~srry will show that Nan B..,r!11W ~t:I}\:J in RO askN about II, s~ WI]l ~1}' that If opens into an olJ st-.;tlun of the cellar that was hlleJ With L'3rth m on.lcr II..l This small, fkritious town has been Jetcriorotmg anJ fester- ~h{)re up tile /OunJ.1tlons. In llCtuallfY, the tror door opens (lOW ing for ()\IeI' two centuries anJ fhme nlll affillateJ wnh the a set of stone smiTS gomg down to the cellar whiJ, b u~J tor c()\Ien arc tight bppeJ anJ reclUSIVe. On Candlemas Eve ;md ntuals by ,he coveo. For mofC un I his, "'-"t' the diagra.m anJ the Witches' Sabbath, the locals harricilde thelllsclve5 in JC'icrlprillO "t lhe Ion 11!l p. 98. rllelT homes ami admit no one under :my UfCUmS(ance5. All know the$t: arc nights of great ent, though none elln (or will) \\1HITE\"OOD CE'METEI~)1 say exactly what dan~'Cr lurks outsiJe. Below ,lTe Jescriptions Behind [he inn is lhe oIJ ttmetcr}· whk}, is nu km,L"o;!T useJ. In of the rown's highlights, OIl(; fenU!J"lllT comer is 9 5L'CIion 01 unCI,JIlSt.'CT3leJ grounJ \\.-t.cre [he remains of wir.che.......l:I'C hUTIed in the late 5L....·enlecnth century. 11 Ju~ up. the gra.\'e marLxl" E!i:;lbeth SelwVnR Will he l~"ENS INN j{xmJ [.) be empty. TIlis sc,'crilln ul tht' cemetery I~ sometimes lne crnterplett of this sccnllrio, tl-\\.' inn is lo..:.'1teJ next to u'oCd lOr rituals. One end (If a 5L'Cf'C1 tunnel !mm the mn I. Whltt'wood Cemetery. TI\C IOn and l'emefl!ry an: the £ex'us uf the ~'en's jXAAt!r and Jomain. T\\C llWt'ICT and l)perawr of the un,I~T a fb! qlllte ~Iab here wlm'h scrve~ liS i1lC 1i,1 of a low·sct Inn is Mrs. E1iz,1berh Newles~, it miJJI"'>':lh><eJ wid(lw who is :\Cw· ~tl~l"\c \~lult (marked "Mar!f.lre[ Thlllll,'ll1r1, d. I69r). M,ln' (m ally the af~lrement1Oned Elizabeth Selwyn. She IS courteous, btlt thi~ i~ 10 the dC!;Crircion of the mn pnwideJ later.

\~HITI-:\\1000 , 'MASSACHUSI-:TTS

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WHITEWOOD, MASSACIIUSETTS

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WHITEWOOD CEMETE~,(

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Homr

PlOTS .............. .

•

\\1HITE\"OOD CHUI~CH

1l1b rUrhltlWn Episcop.,l chun:n 00 lonl,oer has a con~~>:luon.

It i~ :.rill U...U,lpio...J bv ReverenJ Daniel Russell who refuses to lewe. Hc is 84 yean. old, feeble. and blmd. If confronted by out· slJers, he Will implore them to leave town unr11t:Jiately lind will no!: expl:lIn why. saying It is best they flO{ know. The ),,'OOJ rev· erenJ IS Irrational and often raves when the subJCCt of evil mille!> to 1m. mlllJ (willen IS frequent).

THE CHURCH

The witches an..[ their mmions generally avoiJ the chun:h

thtlU!->ll It would

not

wllhsmnJ a Jercrmll1cu assault by them.

I

c:

Such an ass..lult is extremely unlikely. but woulJ probably come in the lorm of magic and curses rather d1.1n some sort {,f plty.;i. cal att:\(;k. Ho"wer, the is a JecaYlnJ! "~ anJ ~tone

~

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d,urm

snUo:ture whICh "'OtllJ burn nicely. The n..'3sons they don't mke OUt the bothersome holy man are \'3ricU. The mere fucr: rhat his death Illlghr attract some :mennon to WhitcwooJ Is one reason. Al'KlI:hcr i~ that the consecrntcJ grounJ IS an an~'lOg hln· Jml\C1! TIl any pi<xs d'ICY nllgin try [Q \:.1rry our againSt 111m. R,eo,·erenJ Daniel lives in an aJJac.ent cot:ffi!,'t: with his gmnJ. "buWlfcr, Pmricia, anJ rarely leaves the! immeJmte ~re:l of the ehun:h or COtC\i,'l'. P.ltriei:l makes sure his nceJs arc mkcn e:lTe of (l'IOUfishmem, chores, etC.). ThOUJ,~l ITnltlonaJ. among his many Tli\'inl,'S will likely be the ~m{Cmem "trust the CT0$5!" Irn'c!'>tll)'atllTS will probably perttT\"e tillS 10 be 50fllC \';lriam of "nu)! m GoJ" or ~trUSI m ChrIst," but in ncru.1hty, it IS practi· cal adVIce. Crosses are the one gr~at \Vl:~ap(ln fur use aJ,'lumt the WltdlCS III the Whl!C\VOOlI CQI.'en. It is ;I filCt he is aware 0(, hut does nn( klll)w the true extent of the po"..er. Unfortunately, his memal srnte makes It imPl\,sibie fOr him to smte this dearly. More on hun IS in the NFC secrion.

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STORAGe

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THE PARISH HOUSE SHOP

,

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THE PARISH HOUSI~ ANTIQUI-;S AND OLD BOOKS

fur rI~ )"(lSt I..-utlpl... of months, The Pamh House has been run by:l 'tUm/.: woman named Patrici:l Russell, tN.- gmmkl1ughtcr of R.....,·~rend Daniel R.u:.sell. She inherited the store from ho..'T grand· mother ",·ho JieJ a lew months ago and has ~ince dean....J It up anJ m:untameU iL It has gooJ stock. but OOcs li[tl~ bus1ness SIno:: pet"lple who IIYe near Whlti,."Y.'OoJ muu] the town. Au is worrit..J about making ends meet and her savings have been dwmJ!inH L'\ocr ~l1Kl! her arrival hel\'. Thrnci.1 Russell is a healthy, normal ootsklcr who has nor yet been tamt...J by living m the town. She met Nan Barlow anJ loollL'li hc!r one Clf the boob that she has for sale.. This boo!.: is ~till in ~tock anJ she will be harJ'r' to loon It to respecrnblc look· i~ lI1\'c~n!-:ators. It is a thick, hanJwrittcll, learher·bounJ manu· "enlX enmlcJ A TrrorlJe on lli,ji WorshIp m Nt!\< £""and. She know!) little about the book's contents except that It wa.s wnrren l" a J..:I!,.--:l.1 man n.'tml.J W"ltct Hathaway a eenwry or so ~'O who JiJ a ~tudy ll( wl(Chcrn(t m NI.."W EnglanJ. For those who wish to pun:hasc it, the price is $14.00. $12.00 if a sua:cssful Bargain roll IS made. Aside from this tome, the shop has a remarkably nice col·

•

STORAGe

r

THE RUSSEUS' COTTAGE sruDY

KITCHEN

r

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,

,m ~t:DROOM

, !'lATH

OOOM LIVING ROOM

Rl'VeIlEND·S ,flCOIlOOM

,

•

\t.'ct:l(m ~lf Items, nwq brought in by !\it in the time ~ince she rooL. (....-er management. One cunous piece m stock is a portrait Jepi.:t1Il~ the burnmg of E1I:""Ih..'th Selwyn m 1692. It is O\'er a cemuT)' old anJ i~ urui)(neJ. Of oo:epmble qu."I!lty, it is in good u1nJinon and meaSlLr~ hlr feet hIgh by rhre.! feef wide. The arnst Jepict\ the hurning in an abstract manner 50 fuccs are no( e\'Cn remotd), l"CI.."flJ:ni::lble. 11K' main fOcus of the Image is a

....\."lI1lan

qTil~ W

a I:re;lt tlml-.er that smnJs upright in the

nl\JJle 01 a raging honfire. The lire is alre,w.iy ,."oing in full fom' ,mJ the Inwer half tl! the wl,.lm:m's boJy i~ okrureJ by flames. In the ~R.)lmd and hac\q!ruunJ are ~haJowy fil(uTel> m Purimn ~tyle ,If.\rb. E"ch has a b~ CrlliS upraIsed in one h:mJ and is br.mJi~hing If m the Jm.'Cnon of the burnmf;? Ii/.!ure. Its pnce IS S20.C'O, $15.00 it a Bargam roll ~uccec...ts. It the group I"lOtires 11, P:u WIll remember that Nan ,howaJ ~Imilar imereM in II and askeJ nhout witche~, mdudmf;? 8l::"1h(,lh St:h....yn. 111(.'

PLAYER AID #121: SELECT PASSAGES FROM A TRF.ATIS£ ON DEVIL WORS"'" IN NEW ENGlAND

Chapter IV: Dispatching a Witch Numerous methods of eradicating an accused witch were test~ in eightccnth century I1(,W England. Some were lime honorro methods brought over from various parts of Europe while others were little more than the actions of a lynch mob. Hanging The method of execu tion ror the S.,lem Witches. A witch that was hanged according to some traditions could not l.lter come back to haunt or curse those responsible. Hanging at the time was not always a swift, clean death. Done improperly, the .... ictim might slowly strangle to death rather than die quickly from a broken 1U.'Ck. Dispos; and holy water werc very potent. A cross was especially useful for not only could onl.' be readily obtained or fabricated, but it was portable. Burning blessed herbs and candles were also useful in protecting one's home from evil. It was believed that evil, such as thai posed by witchcraft, could be thwarted though devout behavior and proper use of holy materials. Even the physical preS('nce of a witch could be affc.cted by the use of a cross, perhaps in conjunction with prayer.

•

~

",""v,-II

n,~

The

•

A TREATISE ON DEVIL WORSHIP IN NEW ENGLAND This thick. hanJwritten, leather·bound tome is written in rI somewhat Ilrch~ic torm of Eng1i~h ami will T,lke :I rom! of ten da~'s to decipher ami rcaJ completely. II sccms to be a manuscript wm!cn in the early to mid 18005 though coulJ Ix' dJcr. No d:l[c~ or other inJic,uions of when it was written arc given. Wh,lt ilo cvidcnr b lhat it Jpp.;ars ((1 he ;\ m:mU.<;(rlI'T liMt was bc:ing written for public:ltion. On the first page, the n:lmc of the author. Wiltler Hathaway, anJ rhe ml..- i~ giwn. Unfornm;!te!y, later re~arch will utterly fail ro discover who Walter is ur wh)' thi~ book wa~ wrincn. Those reading it who make :l successful Read English roll10sc 1D6 SAN (lDZ SAN loss for tho~ Wh~l ~kim It) em.! reCCI\'C +1% Cthulhu Mythos, +1 0% Demonolol,.'Y. +1 % <xcult, nnd +15% Witthtrolft. I( thl! Kl.... pcr JOI!S n,)t \I~C tht! . . killr. Demonology or Witchcraft in his or her campaign, then +2% Occult should 1~ received. Ir ha~ a ,,2 spell mulrip[iI.'r ;mJ comain5 the spells Entrancement and Death Curse (both JescriheJ fully hlter). Ex.,mining it will reveal ;1 ~m:l[1, hlank ,lip of paper which was app:ltently USI!J as a bookmark. ReaJing the markl!.! Sl"Ction takl!~ 103+1 hours anJ r... qUlrl'~ a ,ucccs~ful Re:td English roll. The5\! pagl!s td l o(the Whitewood wllch tri:lls :md Jet:Jils Ihcl'xecutk>ns of Ann Wentw,lnh, Margaret Thomson, Martha Williams, Hann:lh Chllrles. :lnJ Elizabeth Selwyn. It .. k,cs not, howcwr, m~'I1It,\n Eliz,lhcth\ ret urn from thc dead :lnd the subscqucnI curse on the town. Perceptivc in\'estig:ltors mll~ m)rice t he name MSdwyn" rl·~l'm· bll's the rever..c of ';Nl'Wless." Reading Ihe book III greater demit gIVes more thorough informnflon on witches lind how they were pen.:el\'ed In ell:h tccnth centllt~' New Engl:tnd. It provides commentary and descriptil\lls on many purported w1tche~ :In ..1J(\(unwnt.'i "':ore . . ufwtn:h Irial, :lnJ InvestigallOns. The inf.1mous S:llem Witch Trials forms:ln entire (haprer 1m its own, More importantly, the manuscript gives prncllcal inform:llion on how witche~ were dele"e..! an..! disp:l1cheJ. I, ducuments many bdiefs which Ihe author stresses were not :llw:lYs comistent. P1a~'Cr AIJ #21 i~ (lne excerpt from the ]'tt',,!.., If the entire text is read, thb wilt be discovere,!. Anyone seckHl~ this kind o( marerial specifk:llty (an find il easily ju~t hy lookmg for rhe appropn:ltc chapler heading. Note tll:lt this Player AId provide5 "not her indlC:lti,)!l of rhe impormnn: of the cross (as wdl as other holy items). Wise investigators might stock lip on such Items In light of en(ounters in pre\·Iou,> scenarios. [n (act, sin«~ thl!Y h:lu t\) comend with a vampire in Remc.lllu to be Seen, some arc Mill [ikely t~, l'arry ct\JS"l'!~ or rhe like.

f"Iinting is

}'\!\

arlolher obscure indication of rhe import.lncl" of ....t,lmen Jo chore.:; :tTOUnJ the home. ChilJren Jre 5111<111

lI\

num·

tI ...... cros~ in dl":lling with witches though rhe itwesng:ltors may ber :mJ mrdy venture fur (rom home. Th,_i' lIre qUh.:kl\· wlmkt:<.1 IOsi .. le by nervous anli/or agitated mothers:lt rhl! dil,.tucst PflM). nm ctIoch onTO this. Quesrioning Par c.'n earn the group some 1.'OOd infOrm:l' cation. The whole :tnnosphcre i:. ~ullcn :lml depre~.,ed. rion. She 1$ still unfumilb.r With the lown Jesplte having lx:en horn here (she was raised in Boston). While she l'annor coum IIny of tile locals a~ (rienJs, she h:ls PICkeJ up on some o( tile l(lCal qUirks :lnJ oJ,llries. One is rh:n ever'I-QI"IC" barricades them· selves in their homes on the evenings o( the last J:tys of Jaml'lry nnd f-cbruary. Some people eventu:tlly IOIJ her that MOn ccr· min nib"us, the inhabit:ln~ b:lr their doors and the de:l.! conw to Iife.~ Pat bdil.''''cs O(\ne o( Ihis despite the ravltlf,'S o( her gmnJfmhcr who she repeatedly apologizes for. Unle docs she know, but she is :It the top of the list o( cnmliJmcs for the cII"'cn's next 5.1crificc.

OutsiJers :l1'C .woiJ.:d ami :.11 refuse til Llk.. p"rt in mlervi!.'w~ r!.>gardlcss ~)f the siu' .J/ bribe onere,1 or t1...: :lmllunt of dlTeat~ given. If Ii...... c.-1fc b VISIt!."..!, all ,:ollvcrSan~lIl .....ithm ~'I.'aM~S until the OUblde~ depart. H:lwrh\lrne'~ Douds, d"IC ~l1ull j.,~·I·lI.'rnl store, is no more frienJly tlwtl~h rhe prnl'tleillr, brl H:lWlhnITIC, witl he atlca... t polite enough III lll<1kc ~al~~. !t.~ ~I{lcl is vcry limited :ln~1 consi~ts mo~tly 01 t{)ol~, /il<.~~lutf." d(lIhinl.(, anJ the hkc (no firearms or :lmmllninon). It qUl.-kl)" 1"Io.:'''llC~ obvious that no ooc !.-ven v.':lnt~ to K)uk at the HWeSTlL':IllIN. fllu(h less communicJte with rhem.

AT THE INN

THI': TO\\1N T Ill: rest of the tOwn conSb[S of one ~reasy C.1tC (the Woodhinc o( rundown olJ homes, mOSI o( whIch Jate back to the eit:..r.tccnrh anJ e;lrly nineteenth centuries. No moJo ern convcnicnCl.:s such as c!t-crriciry or relephone service 3Te pn'" scm :lnJ there is no Ioc." l police Jep:lrmlenr. The COUnty sherI iff's Jcp:1rtlllenr hc,lJquartercJ in GI\.'CnficlJ has the Juns../tc. tion In WhitewooJ, bul no Jepudes patrol rhl' aI'C1I unless specifically calk,..! in (:11\ extremdy rorc occurrence). During [he J:ty, men can be SL'Cn f,'Oing to work in the fields while the

C,fC) anJ :t group

• The Parish House

The Raveru Inn .In..! I[.!> proprie[(lr arc ~tr;It\j.,"..', tn ...,y tI...: Ica~t. Mrs. N~"Wless SCC'm~ a bir rhre:lrimmg dC'l'irc her uUlw;lrdly being mn~rnnrly (orm:ll. C(Jurk'OUS, and ",,!ttl'. She ,Il~m\"~ seems 10) l~ ,II"Ound at incoovcnient rime:;, eSfl<..'CiJlI~· when Lottie is trying ro conran the guests. Louie is th.. mute servant v.urkinc ilt dl .. mil. Shc know, there is :t gre:lt t.'Vil in Io)wn anJ constantly tears ((Jr Ill'r hie. Despift! thIS, she IS a hrave ~uung \,,)man who know, Ihe grvup is here to Jo gtXXl things :md alMl knows they Jre Wt:>dut!y ill· prepared for their OPIX)~ltlon. nlerdore, she w1l1 fry tu ....";ltn lit.. investil.'lltoTh and Idl what ~I"IC kn{Jw~ uf Nan.

•

LOH1c'~ IXiSI is a r~'lc Un\!'. TI'Iators aSIJe, ,mJ ur}.~mly b~5flcuble. She 1,1.'.11 tlll'n rull nut a pad anJ pencil. hUI Mrs. Nev.~css will clIn vclllcmly enlcr at thi~ time to usher LottIe away to other morc~ "-""'ing thm )he tihoulJ not IXlfher rill! !-'UCSf~. If [he im'estiJ,atnrs, hut ~he i~ h.1n1ly m a !'tNt\(lfl whc're ~he cllulJ caJ'C alxlUt !1m 5I.>rt (If thmg. More .mJ't-l("rant thlnw; arc on her mind. Mrs. Newlelo!. willl1ter Ihreaten ulftil' m rTlv:lte anJ lUtk."f her to n(l{ tI('e the /..'1\lUr n&oain. At thl.- Kt."Cl'er's Ji.'\Cf('{lOIl, Lome may be a\:lle to scmwl OUt a ,hOTT note prior to thc entrance of M,...,. Nl'Wlc.'iS sayllll-:' to the effl.'C[ Iha! \hc IllU~t rnlk with them ahout an lIrl.'L'nr mmtcr. If the lIl\-'c.mgamrs .\0 not 1::11«- ~wift all,-I deci~ive Step" tIl So..'C Lome quilkly 3nJ ~-.:t her to 'Iafety I'lUb!Je of (Own, she will again try to leave them ,\ nute (probahly rill! TlC..'I:! ,Lly). Ih,S mne: when toc,. are nkcm 1I'l>Ol till! inn. Ho~\."\w, in the pTll(X~S of dlllnJ,! thl~, she Will iI.L,>am he Clu..:\lr by Mr<;. Newb~ whu will then have Jethroc IGxnc ~tmngk her. Hl'r corJ"M! may he later found crammeJ In an akO'."C Jown m the cellar. Trying TO smuggle her OUt of {\J\-\;n Illay noc be I;':asy. It II mmc~ to the IIttenrion of the Cl,,1Ven, they williakc steps to prevent this (such ~s J,s-1blinl: the Invcstigator.;' vehid ...{s) or arrang· ing an tlCCiJcnl on the roaJ). Ni/..~lI at the Ravens Inn c:ln he an mteresnnJ.: expcricnCt!. &,mc nil-~lU the faim Singing t-.( St!\-'cml \nll'\!' can be hcaru in the mn, but the SUUTO: is Jifricub [(l JCll'mlll'le. If a suoce.~sfuJ 1..J~len Tl~ll~ made at half its nomlal chm'K:e (pemaps oombineJ wllh :I successful Idea roll). the hSfI:ncr thinb The ,in/..'1Ilg IS comml-:' from unJcr the builJm.c, It occur<; amunJ miJnib-hr anJ i~ muffled so Ihm the worus alnr"k.lf he mflJ" out. On 'j()Il"k' ni,,~1IS, ~inging, mUSIC, and J..1ncing can he he:'ru in rhe l"(lm· mon area of the inn as if a parry m.:rl' f.'()ing on. However, wlll:n SOI11C(lIle J,'(lC~ Ollt to invcstigme, 1111 'il.lI.II1J. . will t'\!:1.\.C and 1'1(' Ulle will be ~o-oo m:mer how inexplicahle this mi):,~,t St.'em. I( askt..J about it rhe next mornmg, Mrs. N('wll'&i will say that the J.:uc~t~ upSflms ~~re ha\lmg a !-':lthering of some son. TIle ~l1pStall'5 gucru will amiJ cnntal.:t, bur Will be pobrc if con, frunn.-O. lney are actually some of tile wlll:hc~ tIl' the coven, 10 [own unly for lilt' ntuals. More mrormatlon ah.lUT Other covcn ml'mhc-rs are in tilt' NPC section. ft

•

OTHER COVEN MEMBERS Norlll
m:my n~mbers of Ihecovcn (such as Alan Driscoll) Ii...c wel l outside the immediate area ofWhirewooJ. AII ....'Cre born

here and most were born during the oolnni:!l days. The coven has gmJu:.l1y grown apart over the decades and the only thing binding them ("".'ether at this pOint IS the nccJ. to conduct the vital. life sustaining rituals. fuildc from the IIWCstigators, all of

the guests :'It the R:1Vcns Inn arc wiu:h(:$. Some nrc male and some are female and srnristlCS for all can be found bdow.

Thr~)ughout rnO~t of the scenario, t1'H..'Y will avoid any direct CQnOle[ with invcsti),';,uors. n,c.y will quietly go about their daily liws 3nJ may be SC!Cn III the IQCll] C<1fc or walking the strt.'t:ts. If they nrc confromcd. they will universally react simply by cxchan~ mg the bare~t of pk'l\.~.:mtries. They will do nothing to provoloc- an argumen t or physical n[tercafion nor will thl..j' say or do (lny· thing th:lt will pronlQ(c a ooml!TS<1tion. If nothmg else, questioners may be greerc..1 with the silent treaT!nc:nI from virtually all o( the yuestS o( the R;wcns Inn. In allllkdihooJ, tI'II! investigators will ~ro no further th(ln to :lttempt interviews with ~ruests fit the IOn. If, however. they St:lrt brc:lking mto their rooms, they wil l find nothing o( n::1L'V
or

Elaine

Aru!.m 10 14 12

John O leander Felicity lsaa, Daniken ~ H:1f1m.1n l.<m.o> llrilllo 13 14 16 9 8 12 15 11 12 9 Elmo

\Vilma Penelope Keanon

Anne

M=l; &ili .fuu.tg Thynna!]

10

8

14 8 14 13

12

13 12 10 16 10

9

12 15 12

Il

6 9 15 9 6 15 8

EDU

nI,

nh

n/.,

nI,

1'1,1"

nI,

nI,

nI,

nI,

Iva

SAN Lu.:k Ha Ibmts

0 65

0

0

fJJ

80

60

II

-<{)

-<{)

13 +104

0 75 12

-<{)

-<{)

0 70 13 +104

0 75

12

0 70 10

-<{)

0 75 16 +104

0

Damlll.'I! fk,nu) Gender Apparent Al,oc

0 70 14 +104

-11">1

(emale

male

male

m:lle

(emale

male

(ell1:;lle

(emflle

male

(emflle

25

41

28

fJJ

33

37

35

45

42

78

STR

DEX INT CON

Il

APr

16

POW

13

SIZ

II

II

12 17 14 15 15

14 II

7 Il

13 14 9

12 12

II

16 10 10 14

12 12 17 II

15 9

15 12 11

14

9

Typical Skills: [);monolO!,'Y 40%, HiJe 75%. listen 75%. Sne:lk 75%. Spx Hid,len 75%, \X/l!chct:Jft 75%. plus Olhcr skills the Keeper chooses W pfoviJe t hem Languages: English 1CO%, Lltin 80%, plus fluency one or t ....'O other hmgu:lgcs o( the K<.'Cper's choice (most commonly German an~1 French)

Attacks: Fil-~lting

Kni(e Anack 55%: I J)4+2+Jh damage (sacrificial knife) Arrack 75%; 1D3+db damage Grapple Atrack 65%: spcc:ial damagcleffccts Spells: vary: dependent upon ..... hat the Keeper proviJes them; all spt...Jls should be ntu:llistic in nature Special: Due to their p..1Cr With Satan and the magic that sust:lins them. they:lre Immune to all Jisc:lsc :lnJ physic:l1 threat~, n'ICY do not age. The only things they nrc affl..-'Cted by is :I cross brought within close proximity (within a few fcct,l :lnd whatever spells the K«pcr chooses to allow (I«ccr them. Spells that have a purely physical effect sudl as Shrivdlmg should have 00 effe..:t. Notes : Thc!iC (Ire d'IC t:Jnk (lnJ file w1tches. Most hvc OutslJe the immediate Whitewood area and onl)' return ro attend rI'IC twO mam annual rituals (though 0Ct.11s10nally Q(her rites (Ire helJ as well). They help III muals anJ pnwide much nt.'('(.iN mus· de to subdue l:omootive victims, Outwan.lly, most appe:lf to be normal citizens and «(In blend into SOCiety eaSily. Ages listeJ alxwe arc their apparent ab'CS; most are members o( the original coven that wns pers...'Ctl[cJ in the 16905 and later thrived and took ovcr White ....,ood, Half thb group is male :mJ the other hair is (em(lle, Shon biogmphies o( e
• Other CIWell Members

Three: The Whil£'lIitJod Horror

•

COVEN MEMBER NOTES Elaine Anders

dlurcb in New EnglanJ. Over the

yc~r rs,

SI.'\'eral pne;'>t." have

h.'II..! many) IS that of a sociahte either succumbeJ to temptatIOn she has placeJ belUrc them. he It greed or lust and more ha\'C been ;'>Imrly mUn.krcJ, H('r curIn Bc&on. In the past, she has been an ~'\! actress anJ W:b bnefly mani\..J to a Unm..-d SrntC5 senatOr. (}.'ef the centunes, rent JOb IS that of a nur.!e m a Boswn hOSpital u.....neJ anJ l'f't.-r· Elaine's current Kknnty (she has

f t has amas.st..J 51gnlOOmt ~11th. While me OepressH.}n has ate.! by the Roman Catholic Church. had an ImplCt. r.tr bfesq4e continues to btl extrnvagant OurslJc lsaac Jones of WhitC\\'OOJ, she ;~ a h..'lub>hry Hod :trr<JI,>a11l )tlung ~man. In For O'ICr eight Jeca .. lcs, 1s.1.1C has scrvt..J as an anornt.·y III o;c,'veml the presence or OI:her coven memhers, hov.\.'VCr, she is suhmis· New EnglanJ smtes. Currt.·mly, he lI'>CS the alms D. MKh"d SI\'e. This rdll.'C!S her relnnvdy low srnnJing wnhin the c{lI.'en. Godfrey and runs a small l:ru.r office 111 ami-'or, MaL~. HL' pm· 11m. makes her 00 less dangerous m mnb~c with. hcm'\."\'er. fessional lite anJ rrivate life are rnmlly Ji'ilXlrmC- In Ill' 00..,<,Elmo Braun mem, he ~ps a bTJ.~ &'tanic altar. HI.' is a 'M:lI·rmctlCt'J wm.: h 8mo's life is that of a wanderer. SmCl." 3N'lrOXlmardy 1800 and is among th,· mosl pov,t:rful 01 the ten \O\\,\'r r.mkmj.! (}l'Ie~. (when he moveJ out of W111Tewood), he has tm."dJeJ all ovcr Wilma Me.1M tl~ eastern sealxxmJ. [n hIs wake he le:lvCI; II long string of Once marneJ to Kcano.)n Sutter. Wilm;) it..fr him m 1799 one,· unsolved UI5.1PPC:lmnces. He has :lvcr::tJ.,'I.'J one munler per they realizeJ they c("IulJ not crcare chilJren. Although hoth arc month tOr hIs entire hfe, a life that lx.').:an In I 706. While he aware that II is pnll.mbl~' a siJc affct:t ul their mum,nalLty. was flO( air.'e' when Elizabeth "'as exa:uteJ tllL'TI reborn. he has Wilma ncver tails to blame her ronner hu,h::mJ 01 thIS. Sm..e Slll1.1C people who annoy him. Fortunately, his irICk of skill representative III the community, often means the curses are indfectlve, Currentiy, he works In a Anne Thunnan dry ~ store In Berhn, New Hampshire In the past, he has Anne is [he most Clf"lhlcufthe I~\:r rnnklll,!: Wln:neS. She ....m worl:eJ as a booJ.:kreper and a hotel manab'Cr. born m 1542 and has IlCtlE.1l1y been I'TOCttcinJ.: wltthcrah lon,-'Cf" Felicity Hartman than any in the: OO\'en. uk! ai<:'1beth, !lht: ....m execureJ. but her !;:ilclty is mlssmg her left ring tinl.'I!r. This rs the one remain' Jeath occurred m 1620 III ScotlanJ. She W'd~ re<;urrccteJ l;!'f ;1 inll scar of twO days of [enure :mJ interrogation she suffered CO\fen rhere anJ later came to the AmeTlcnn colonies. After and the hanJ~ of mqUlsitors in 1692, 5.1Jly, she! wasn't a Wirth joImng the coven III 1700, she spent t"-O full L'Cn tuTle~ III then though rhe tormcm she suffen.-d ultimately droo.'e l'II!r to Whlt~. She still visits ofren, but now, much of her nme L~ pning the mnks of the coven, ~ has since m~ an t..ffOn to spent on a small funn near BuckbnJ. Her entire exlSt~ I~ ~'CI. her l"C\·enj..~ on all) and every bmnch of the Christian Jevot~ to the PTOC[1CC of ma~!lc.

met,

THE 1~"ENS INN TIle R.wcns Inn IS a br!.'e, TWO smry. stOne structure located aJ);}CCm TO the lOwn cemetery. It was constructed during the

and

1I IS the best kept: structure in the town. It is now essen· tiallya hotel only Since meals are no longer scrveJ here. Below

Revolutionary War nn the site of the town's first inn which

is a short uescripnon of Its contents.

burned to the grounJ in 1768. Mrs. Ncwlcss maintains it well

..

rooM

LOUNGE

-[?' ~

"

"-

I' "'::' I'

\~f'

fUm

~ I,

rooM

,

fl:l;,

I100M

"

UVINO IIOOM

~,

• LON>Y

bj

I

fIRST fLOOR Fo)'er/lobby: This is a lar),'C room lit with oil lamps anJ IS ~klmlllateJ by a bll.'C de5k behind wluch are 1ie"crnl opc!n mailboxes and 11 board With ia..,),! to all vacanT rooms. TIle hotel registry (3 bl1.'t'. raJ IeJ.ger) 15 on the desk and Nan

Barlow's name and Signature are in It Mrs. Newless can often be ft"",md Sitting in a chair behind the dc~k reading or kmmng,

She Will oo)CCt to anyone: !:oing behind the desk or through the Joor behmJ It Bathroom: ThIs is a sm~1l b..1throom open to all patrons, It has no h~thing rncilities"'JuSt n toiler, sink. and nor'4,.'C cabi· net. Living Room: nle lal'J.'t'st room in the inn, this is fur· nlsht..J m the colonial style and IS dJstinb'Uisht:d by a huge firep1.on whIch always contalllS a roonng blaze Juring cold tl.mes. GuestS may fredy gather here and Mrs. Newless occasion:J.II~' WIll brm~ snacks or Jrinks to people III this room. Mrs. Newles.'i' Room: Mrs. Ncwless' person....1 quarters ,Ire L'Omformble and ""ell (urntShed. Pl.1.".:r Aids #22 and #23 GIO be rounJ m tim room, in whlm~ver locadon the Keeper Jcmcs. They appear on p. 101. anJ more infomlarion nn these can be found III ~Victory or Defeat'" on p. 103. Guests who :II\~ caub~lt snooping in here will be e,ieCted (rom the mn anJ llkdy become the mrget o( 1\ Death Curse or SImilar repnsal

Lounge: This IS II comfortable room for Mrs. Ne\I.'leu' per.;onal use. It contams II sofa, desk, bookcase. and some chaIrs, Books m here are normal literature including re(er·

• The

l~"ens

Inn

ence material.

IGtchen: Also for the penon.al usc of Elizabeth Newlcss, this is a fully equipped kin:hen. lbough she will occasionally make snacks for patrons, she U06 OOC plU\lidc meals. Guest Rooms: A tom\ of lOur are on the ground floor (Room #4 15 describeJ below) and nme arc on the uppt:r Ooor. Thoogh they may vary in mlf'lor derni\s, they are subsrnntially the same in most aspect!, E....ch contains a beJ, armoIre, small nib~ltsmnd, one or two chairs, an oil lamp and brns~ candlt!stick. a throw rug, and perhaps a smnll desk or table. Most rooms WIll have a pio:her of water and washbasin lind the Imens are changed daily by Lortie. Mnny of the Upstairs rooms arc rurrendy occupied by members of the coven or their fol· ~~rs, Nothing mcnmm:mng can be (ound in their rooms; they have been dodging 1.1W cnron:emcm authorities fOr toO \ong to leave occult nems un..'lltendOO, Room 1#4: On the surfia this is a typical guest room, bUl under the throw rug is a rrap door. No ring or hanJle can be found and it can only be opened by prying iT up or pushing from below. It opens onw II serof stone stlUrs going Jown into the basement Nan Barlow was lured down here via :m En! rano:menr spell lind was never seen agnin. Stairs: Tbe east end of the smirs opens mm the lobby, From the lobby, they ascend to the second noor. A door that seems to go ro the smirs actu.... lly opens onto II seto( stone smiTS Jescending to the basemenL This door is normally Icqx locked lind only Mrs. Newless keeps a lory.

Three: The

Horror \"JJI

•

THE RAVENS INN

ROO"

'"

STORAG'

ROO"

, ,

.,

ROO"

f":I

,

, ,

,

'" ,

,

ROO"

ROOM

"

'"

,

.,

JOOO"

ROO"

ROOM

'"

,"

b:J ,aT

ROO"

."

,

~

LOUNliE

P

!lATH r ROOM

SECOND flOOR G uest Rooms: The horel has .1 t01:\1 lit th irteen guest rooms. Four lIrc "-In the liN fluor while the rest lire on the sc.."C' onJ. The g(leSt room, wen.' Jescril~J in Jetail pfI..'Viously. Lounge: This is open to the U~ 0/ the guests. The fur Olturt' j~ comlortahle lInJ there is a phoJ'lOgraph :I\'ailablc. L'nl{)rtunardy, the- !;C1ecn\)n o( record albums is limited to only a lew \rum out operru..

Bathroom: This 1a1}.'C bath room has h.1rhmg t«:llInc\ anJ is use~ll;!'f the guests. It is also occaSionally uscJ I,., Mrs. Newless who has no private bathroom "fher \lWI1. Storal,'C: nih 1Mb'\! nXlm con min~ ;l~!ol)rh:J Junk ranglllg (rom old furnIture 11..) ....,orn Imens. A Imp Joor In the I..'ciilllg c.1n be pulled down. A nearhy laJJer GlIl l~ IcaneJ J,t.'3ll'L'>l rhe attic I~ empt). wall to permll ea5)' ~.-.s to the attic

n'le

THE RAVENS INN

STOREROOM

WOOD PILe

116;11 MAlNROOM

BASEMENT Main Room: This are.' conmins a coal fired furnace proviJing hear Juring colJ ni~~ltS to the entire hotel), a wood pile, and crntes of assorted Junk. The smne smirs in here go up to dle first floot. A secm door in the south wall opens into the area of the basement dUI is supposWly filled with earth. An)QIle specifically looking for such a door must make a ~uc­ cessful Spot H..JJcn roll when examining that portion of the "'all in onlet to locate it. A l~ brick in the wall must be remO'o'eJ to expose the hanJle which can be turned to open the Joor. Whoever designed the door was an excellent brick· [:I}\.'r or mason. Laundry Room: nw:: bundry room is where much of I..orne·s tlmC.'; is SpcnL Nothing more unusual than a washboard, ropper rub, kmtting marerials, and so on can be found in here. Lottie's Room: Lome lives in this small room adJaCent to the maIO room and spenJs her nighmme hours huddled 10 here, praymg that the coven w,ll ignore her. During n~s when the wit is active, Louie is cotlVt:nientiy sent away to do

•

chores for one of the locals so she will fV;)( witness nnyt:hing. At such times, she still does work at the inn Juring the Jay, but spends the evening hours doing 'W'Ork at a nearby furmhouse belonging to a CO\Ietl sympathizer. This enables them ro have her slccp in the barn there and h.'l\'e a lq,'1timare reason fOr being absent from the inn. Storeroom: This room contains more junk plus she/ve5 of canned food and other useful supplies. Corridor: This dusty, coboM!lxooted area conmins no obvious exit except the smirs going up to the trapdoor wtuch opens into Room #4 of the inn. TIle: three rou~~l alcoves are usu.l11y choked wLth c~bs, but if Jethroe Keene has Jispan:hed Lot:tie, her decaying corpse may be found p~ up in one of these (impaled on a spike in the back waU). Grill.rype, iron torch holders conmining unll[, v,-eboovered torches are attached to [he brick v,'alk Temple: Thi.s Iar~ room is 9 natural ewe that has b«n expanded somewhat to suit the neWs of the ~'c::n. It is always

•

kept dean tor II is often the kxatlOn o( the coven's Tltuals o( lesser IIllp(JrtallC(':. A la'l.'I!. reJ penmgmm is painted on the black. marble·tlled !loor anJ thc!re are thirteen black candles around It.S edb'!!. Several chairs Ime the walls and a larb'!!. pad· locl<eJ dlesr is ncar the south....'est wall. An oak table is also In here and oh... ious dark SlaJllS (dried b100J) co...et" it. TIle rough CO'o't'reJ With a number o( occult Items (Jevil masks. ~nDngs, en.:.). The locked chest comams Smanic pampherna· Ita IIlduJmg tlurteen black. silk robes anJ several sacrificial J.'\g~,'crs. These daggers have long, razor-sharp, wa ... y blaJes With a serpent design en.:ht-J IIlto the steel. TIleY are the eqUI...· aknl o( a b.m'1e knife m combat anJ do I D4+2 damage. A la~, bI.-d cumm c:uwrs much of the cast wall. This cullO!als the tunnel emrance leading to the cemetery. walls a~

&erel Tunnel: TIllS tTudely rorurnl(tcJ tunncl run!> from the remple to a romb in the town ccmc.'tcr~. At til(' cnJ near the sulxerrancan temple is a wooJ cmll!. TIllS cunmm~ t ....-o kfroscnt: lanterns and a 2-a:1l flashli).,']l!. TIle latter 11.1~ ;\ Jead barrery. Tile other end of the tunnel emts unJer;J ~tone slab which IS hinged SO It will sWing ur whc.·n pu~lleJ In1m tl"ll' bottom or pulled from the Ilil'. The \lah IS heavy, h,,",,"Vl'T, anJ can only be opcneJ hy slIa:ccJlnjl m a re.~1"I..1ncc n,11 against It. It has a SIZ of I 5 when pushed trom bel,)w al\ ..1 a SIZ o( 20 when pulled (rom abcl\'c. H QWl'VCr, I wo peoplc may combine ti'lt.'ir STR raun),'S from below anJ up to t'lUr may work on It from above. TIle tunnel Ltsclfis hned wLth br...:L .mJ is shoreJ up With J:unp, rottin~ timbers. The whole att."3 Jnl""water l"Onsmntly lInJ h..15 the strong smellu( molJ JIlJ mildt......

PLAYER AID '22: Lt:rT"ER FROM Ezt:."KlAL APcorr

P1..AYER AID #23: LhTTER FROM Ezl£KIAL APco1T

TO ELIZABETH NEWl.ESS DATED OCroBER 25 , 1729

TO ELIZABETH NEWLESS DATED JANUARY 4. 1730

Hawthom: Oclober 25, 1729

H aWlhom; }tlnuary 4, /730

OwT EI(:abeth.

DeaT EIQ;lIbeth,

I Ulanl to again thank )'OU ftYr JOUT assistance in TIt1 l'"eS
It SC'ems we hat<e beell 1H1Oble to reach all arcommoda tion as of yet. Your most recent letteT UtlS mosl distTeSsilJg. I understand)'OUT need 10 maintain a specific numberwilhin )'OUT group. I reali::::e that la include me would unlmlwue )'OUT group and thaI this is nor possible. Hou'a'tT, litis is nor what I am asking for. I simply ul:lnt (lcct'SJ fa rhe kn01.llledge

Yours,

you hm'C on elt'flla/ life. YOIIT le[leT'S

htwt' heell very wlgur

an this 5ubject. Are you trying fo say flUit the secrel i$ (ml~' ..ueful to those who art' memben of an O'6'Oni:::aLion likt" )'OUrou,"!

I am nor withoul f>01l1C or knexdedge. J om still confi dent we wn reach an accord, 0111' Ih(lt is JlLLltimll)- henell cial. There are things I can sfwre wilh )'01.1 rhot loould be )'OUT benefit, and to ,he benefit of your fTiends if thot is tvhat you wish. Please d o I\Ol consider me comlX'Ulion OT opposilion. I musl remind you tfult ta' seRl(' the same Masrer. one who would be most displeased wel'l' we w con

tel

flict.

E::::ekinl Apcotr These t ....-o

pla~

aiJs

can be loaneJ on the firsl noor of the Ravens Inn, in Elizabeth Newlc5S' bedroom.

See p. 9S fOr demils.

Un{ortun!llel)" 1 ca"flO( accept )'OUT illt'ltalion ro t'isil at My /ru, tisil U'US too recent fO permu mt" fO le(Jt't' 1m' obligations here. People al'l' beginlling co siupecr me hen' in Ihe Hawrhonl area and I am considerilll{ mOt'ing to cls.' ",here in the colony. If you wish to meet, il will hat>(! to be ill secret and somewlwt- in TIt1 area.. J know this is inconve· lIitnt and thaI you fuwt' your own set of obliglllioll$. I will ulldersumd if you must cancel. tm'Sent.

YOUTS,

E:::ekiol Apcoll

E"I-:NTS IN \~HITI-:\"OOD

As the Ilwestigators proceed with their activities, cenaln things enn or will happen. Having already succeeded in the first step of their plan (t1w C:mJlemas Eve sacrificd. the coven's overall plan is to obmln a victim for the sacrifice scheduled for March I (the Witches' S..lbbath). I'rlr Russell is currently at the top of the list and is espe<:ial1y amacnve because she is a descendent of one of

those who ucnouneed Elizabeth as a wioch. However. if a female investigator qu.1.1ifies, then she may become a target (Keeper's discret1on). If the investigators become a th reat or one can be a

sacrifice, then a sprig of ....uo..lbine and a small, deceased bird with a slender, [....'0 inch, silver arrow through iT will be kit on their beds or among their belongini:s. This is both a warning !Or t,~

Khooled

In

witchcraft anJ the first step in a number of

curses and ntuals including the March 1 ritual. A successful Occult or Witchcraft roll will reveal the genera! significance of thIS act Once this is doT\(', the coven will soon come to collect their victlm(s). This will probably occur the next evening. In\'e.~tig:ttors in this case will be accosted by several burly win:h· es or rI"lCIT flunkies who wi!! attempt to bind them and will knock [hem OUt if nt·1.:essary. Lethal force will be aYOided except as a laSt resorL Rt.-member. not aU witches are female though uninformed Investigators may subscribe to this myth initially. Furthermore. while their primary ahility is in mal:,'ic, it is not of the tyre that can be wielded easily. It is ritualistic magic rim rakes nme and care to perform. Physical force is, therefore, still useJ by Ihem. If carrun:J (.something which can easily happen, but the I
COMBATTING THE CO\?EN The best \\'eapon against the witches of Whitewood is

not

firearms or other ~apons, which is quite evident since the WItches are immune to physiQll attacks. Rather. a Ct0l>5 wielded l"')' fI Mbeliever in the Almighty~ and brandished at fI witch will TC5ult in rJ"IC astQnisl"ICd rnrg\:t bursting into nllmes. I D4 damage IS inflicted per round until death occurs. During the entire time the fire hums, the winn can only wtitl"IC in pain, scream, and aimlessly run around. One such a[mck may be made per n'JunJ and once:! wioch is ali!,mt, the fire cannOt be extinguished and continues until nothing but ashes and charred bits of bone rem:lln. TIlis effect works only against the thirteen witches of the coven and may I"lOl: \vork on any witches outside of this scenario. Of COUI'SI.', the Investib>ntors Clnl"lOl: guess that an orJinary cross

•

E~enls

in

ha~ this \")O\I--er, but if they brandish one in an attempt to keep the witches at bay (as they might with a vampire), they will be in for a great surprise. There are plenty Qf crosses in the main section of the cemetery which is consecrated. Most Hre unwieldy wood or stone affuirs, but this makes them no less effective against a witch. Wimessing the b..1rbecuing of a witch causes the loss of 1/1 D6 SAN. HO'AA."VCr, if multiple witches Hre so assault· t!d in a short period, the SAN rol! need be Ilttempted only once. A kind Keeper might rcrum I D4 SAN since It is obviously a suc· O!Ssful means of disJXltching the opposition. nlC win::hes are 'M:U·infOmled about this OT\(' loWakneSS. Therefore, they will not confront a cross wldding Iffi'estigacor unless forced to by cirrumstance. In :llllikelihood. about the only thing that would force a witt:h to confront a cross bearing mvestigator is if it IoWre to occur at the time of the kt.jI 5.1crifice. They have nothing to lose at that point for if the sacrifice is prevented, they die anyway. An investigator acrua!ly approoching the 5.'lCTifi· cial victim at the moment she is about to be killed wllJ successfully drive off the win:hes, even if E1izalx."th Selwyn/Newless is rhe one with the knife. 1l1ey simply cannot bear the sight of the cross and the prospect of being fried. In 8izabeth's view. It is better to S',O,·iftly age then Jie than to be burned to death. Ho>.WVcr, Elizabeth can effectively thro\\: a knife. She only has two so can only do this once, retaining the ather knife for the sacrifice.

AC'TION AND H.EACfION Acting against rhe coven is diffiuJit to pull off due to their obvi· ous natural and supernatural abilities. While they are corpore-ai, physical attacks do them no harm. Only the cross can kill them. Are there any other methods that can be used against tl"ICm! Yes. While they are immune to \\'I!apons and a blow with a fist does no good, it is possible to grapple with them. An intrepid group COllld very well overwhelm individual coven members in their hotel rooms or elsewhere in thl! village anJ bind them. A witch that is bound and g~g&>ed i~ li ttle threat III lIlo~r cases. Their magic is ritllalistic anJ without d"IC tools to perfOrm It, not to mcntion the physical freedom to do so, they are virt ualJy helpless. If the witches are taken on individually, it may be possible to seize several of them befOre their comrades can TC5pond. This may give the investigators a bargaining chip if the situation dq,>rades to a standoff". A capturoo witch ~'Ould be harJ to incarcerate for an)' prolon!,>ed period since he or she would inevitably find some means to perrorm spells and effect an escape. On the Ofher hand, if some or even all o( the witches are subJued, it allows IIlvestiga· toTS time to consider other options and pemaps make the discovery concerning crosses. Lacking this diSC01iery, the Keeper mi),>ht allow some tradi· tional methods of exeUltion to work against them. If this is the case, burnmg at the smke would work while hanb';ng and dec.arimtion would nor. Of course, if rhe investigmors do decide to burn a witch. they must face: the leg:!l and moral consequences. The legal consequences might be avoided, but the moral ones

•

can't. Burnmg a wItch altve cosu each rcrson IIlvolveJ (induJ 1Il~ wItnesses .....ho Jo nothing to stop it) 102/1 DB SAN lClSs. 11m rorln of eXt.'CUtlCln is nOf a preny one :mJ the descnpflon IS hest left to the imagination of rhe: Keeper. NOte thlll after the lust WItch I:. deah WIth in thIs manner, SAN loss drops f{) I I D4 per c:<ecUnon as ~ as the: execunons are carried out IWCr a ~hllrt pcrlOJ of orne (one evening). B.'1meo.llIlg one wllm per week, fur exnmplc, will cost the full I m/I DB SAN loss per execution siT\Cl;! the pMticip.'l-llts ",ill have the opportUnlty to brood ol:er the m~tlcr ;mJ second'j.:ues~ themselves. A benet opoon IS to burn ,111 at once. Thlii COstS 103/ 1DIO SAN loss wtuch is more In the ~hort run, bUI a 101 less than if several scp' ,nate executions :lre carried out over the span of a week. NeeJless to s,'1Y, It the press or authoritIes learns of the exeQItK'IlS, If will earn bann.:.'f heaJlmes all ncross the United Smtes. If they are mAde t() look merely like Iynchmgs, the story won't t-Oft ne~r1y the same amount of press OO\'Craboe though It will rer· cunl)' be front raJ.,~ Tll'WS in New En/.o\and rapers. Todesrroy theca.'m requires that d~ th~ foremost members (Eli:abcth Sdwyn, Jethroe Keene, anJ Alan Driscoll) be killed. Other a'llo'(:n members may l...-entu:llly reestablish the OO\'cn clse\\-ncrc In Nc:.'W Englllnd, but thi~ is Imposslblc if the group IS able [0 pTl'Vent the viral f1(u:lls schcduled for achu!vement Jurmg the course of thiS scenario. PTl...·enting the ntual re.~ult.s in the dc:aths of all COllen members. So, captunng some, but 00f killing them Imer results in their Jeath~ if the RItual of Sustainment is I'ICJII carneJ out on their behl1lf (5Otnerhmg rh.1t IS obvIOUsly I'ICJII possible If they are ueJ :lnd gaggeJ anJ housed in some investigaror's b:lscment during the vital time).

l~ETRIBUTION [he C()I.'m is .....illing to be quite oren and rorthn~u if their purposes. Whltl'WOOl..!, being central w their ~r, is the one plare ....ncre they feci secure enough ro take bolJ oction. This !.KX's not mean they openly prnctice magic in the stTttts. Howc\'Cr, they are llkely to assault investigators and IIrran~oe theIr swift Jestructlon rather than rely on slow working spells ~nJ mmntatlOns. PhysIC31 action bv some of the more able members of the CO\'en IS I'ICJII be}ond consl\.!cratlon. Tnat IS the .....ay the)' suhJue some o( their sacrIfices and IS I'ICJII an unlikely metic to cmpl.:Jy ~:unst Intruders, parriculany those that trnvel aloot' Ot III p.1iTli. [t ~siblc, magic will be used or investig:lmrs will be kiJntlppcd to serve as S<1Ctifkes III 1.1[er ceremonies.

N

~teJ,

It ser\'~

"IC'TOI~"Y Ol~ DEFEAT?

By this ome, it should be obvious how the lIlvesngatot'S can win m rhis ,:;cenario. VictOry is arnicveJ onlv ii the coven is brol.:cn up anJ the Tltllal15 prcventeJ. [f any covm members (particu· larly the hlghcsi rankmg ones: Selwyn. Kt.'cne, anJ Driscoll) are surviving at dlC enJ, dlC coven willlvemua!ly reestabhsh !tself and the att(lcmes will continue. If they nil perish, the COVl'Tl'S mornl tOIIO\\~Th will break up. Anything les~ must be consiJ· ered failure, aT lca~t in dle Ion/( rlln thOl.lJ..oh if Elizabeth IS elinl1lUlted, they may mke decades to recover. Note that whIle

•

Horror

Driscoll is not 10 Whlte\.\-'(xx! lit the bcgmnmg 01 the ~'t'­ nArio, he will be present for all the mUAIs. While the J.!ruup is busy at the chun.:h or in their rooms, he will discreetly enter town and entcr II\{' house of one of the co\'en'~ supporter). He will\ater show up at the cemetery for thc final ntua\~. In The \t'hucuoood HQTTOr, the IIlvesl1gators will pr<1habh ~rend thclr bTlc( time in town tracking down leads :lnd IntCr VIewing the few IX'Oplc who will talk. Ultimately, ..... hllf rhey must contend with, asiJe from the genera! spol1kmess of the IOwn, is a very forthnght coven that will act openly In nrJer to nchleve thclr go.,ls. If they arc overcome by the intrerlJ invcstigators, there IS no lont-ocr an} (Jb~rade T(l their der.lr lure. 'With dll~ co\'.... n ~tampcd oor, WhncwooJ can gradually return to a relative sr:ttc of normalcy thou!-oh it will Ix- m;lIl\ decades berore the drlrk memories fuJc. In tht: imrncJirlte aftermath 01 the 'iCcnnno, a numher 01 thmb'5 can happen. One nice geSTure the m\'e~ngrlwr~ 11l!1~ take IS to help OUt l.ottie. If she survIves, riley can arranJ.!<' lor her to get out of Whitewood. Althotll.o\l It is the hel/..'ht ollhl' Great Depression, the Investigators can get Amelta Ap..:o.llt to lure Lottie as a maId or cook. This only re'lulres a sua.:c~Mul Persuade roll on the p;IH of the group's rel'rt:~ntatlve. nlC chan~ for succcs~ Is douhlt:d if Alison H:lrper is deaJ or \.\';15 possesseJ by Ezekial Apcot! in Cold SpOt unJ I~ therefure not I're.senL In the evcnt Amellll Apcon's Modd T is dcstroyed, ~he WIll be irnt:lleJ but undcrstanJm~. The automohile wa~ nor vlml to hl!r and was only used rarely. She will be rlc;!!>andy surprised and mosl grau:ful if the 1nve~ngaroTh repl.u:c [he vehicle. If at any time the group IPins :lcces_~ TO Eli%aheth Ncwless' b..!droom III the Ravens Inn, II number of imercsnnt: rhllll.'S may be discovered. In the oonorn of a chest are rapers. ThIS includes bundles of old letters, m:lny Jatmg bck to the early 1700s. Many :lre munJanc and Unlmrl..lrtant, hut llthen arc: revealing. Some glvc all the Jcmil~ of who I.~ in the coven and Driscoll is prominently memloned. Wirh thcs .. lettets In hanJ, it is a simple matter to track him down al Ml~kat
or

•

Srmnb>ely, WooJson IS a superstitiOUS man who has a slrong belief in the supernatuml. As long as their story isn', tOO outianJish, he wilt accept any truthful story wlthOlit com· ment and pay the reward. Kindly Keepers could have Nan's boJy lind C:IT turn up in another county near [he enJ of the scenario to oolstcr the invesngamrs' claims.

SAN

l~I-:\\1Al~DS

AND PI-:NALTII-:S &!ion Kill EJizabelh Newless ................. +1010 SAN Destroy I he covcn . . . . . . ..............+1 01 0 SA N

PTt.'Vcnt u.."lftle's muruer ,lnd help her restart her life in North AshfielJ ......+1 D6 SAN

louie is killed .......................-1D6 SAN

NPCs

ELIZABETH SELWYN. A.X.A. ELIZABETH NEWLESS. HEAD Of THE COVEN Nationality: American STR I] DEX 15 [NT 17 CON 13 APP 11 21 SIZ 12 EDU 36 SAN a Luck 105 Hiu: 13 Age,45/288 Damage Bonus: +1D4 Date of Birth: February I , 1647 Education: none, only personal studies Skills: Accounting 37%, Anthropology 10%, Astronomy 42%, Botany 15%, Chemistry 15%, Conceal4O%, Cthulhu Mythos 12%, Dc!monoIOl,'Y 75%, Fast Talk 63%, Hide 65%, HI~[()ry 50%, Law 15%, Ubrary Use 40%, usten 60%. Medicine 20%. Occult 73%, Persuade 60%, Phannacy 30%, PsycholO!.'Y 66%. Sing 8 1%, Sneak 65%, Spot Hidden 74%, Throw 64%, Witchcraft 86%. Zoology 16% Langua~,'cs: English 100%, L'tnn 80% Attacks: AJ,>hung Knife Armek 75%: 104+2+db damage (.sacrificial JaE:boer) Throw Oaru,-er 64%; 104+2 damab>e (sacrificial dagger)

row

•

or

Spells: Death CUfsc, Entrancement, wsc:r Vampnic Dram. Project Image, Ritual of Ufe, Ritual of Susrainmenr. plus any orhers the Keeper sccs fit to provide: her; any added spells shoulJ be ritualistic in nature Special: Due to her pact with Satan and the magic that susmins her. she is immune to all disease: and physical threats. She docs fIOt age. The on ly things she is affected by is a cross brought within dose proximity (within a few feed and whatever spells the Kccper chooses (Q allow affect: her. Spells that have II purely physical effect such as Shrivelling should have no effect. Notes: E1lwbeth is a cruel and heartless person, revelling In her status as high priestess of Saran. Her public appearance is that of a cold, but thoroughly professional owner/operator of a rural inn. [f the coven fails to make either of the required sacrifices in any given year. Elizabeth dies, leaving ~hind an aged corpse:. [n addition. she is Immune to gunfire and strikes from normal weapons (they llist pass through her). While normally opposed to the personal use of phYSical force. if hard presscd, she ClIO effectively wield a knife. She is never armed except during rituals when she carries a pair of deadly sacrificial daggers.

DR. ALAN DRISCOLL. MISKATONIC PROfESSOR AND WITCH Nationality: American STR 14 DEX 15 INT 18 CON 13 APP 13 POW 21 SIZ 15 EDU 21 SAN 0 Lud< 105 Hits: 14 Age: 43 Damage Bonus: + I 04 Education : Ph.D. in H istory from Mu;katonic University. M.A. 10 Psychology from Harvaru UniverSity Skills: Anthropology 25%. Archaeology 21%, Astronomy 42%, Botany 5%, Chemistry 10%. Demonology 74%. Drive Automobile 33%, GeolO!,'Y 9%, Hide 60%. History 80%, Library Use 76%, Listen 61%, Persuade 73%, Psychology 70%, Sing 60%, Sneak 63%, Spot Hidden 69%, Throw 31%. Witchcraft 85%, Zoology 10% La nguages: English 100%. French 52%. German 50%, latin 79% Attacks : Aglmng Knife AttaCk 60%: 1 04+2+Jb damage (sacrificial da~>er)

Spells: Deilth Curse, Enrrancemem. Project Image, Ritual of SUSlainment, plus any ()(hers the ~per sre.s fi[ (0 pr()\liJe

7hm: The WMrwood Horror

•

him. any adlled spel ls should be ritualIstic in nature Special: Due to his pact with Satan and the magic that sus· tains him, he is immune to all disease and physical threau. He does not age. The only things he is affected by is a cross brought within close proximity (within a few feed and what· e"o'er spells the Keeper chooses to allow affect him, Spells thar have: a purely physical effect such as Shrivelling should have 00 effect. Notes : Dr. Driscoll is yet another of the head witches in the coven and lives outside the Whitewood area, He periodical· ly visirs the town, hO\l,'e\let, and is presem at all major riru· als. liu all the other coven members, he has ~n the recipient of The Ritual of life and ~ Ritual ofSusrainment and thus is not affected by physical assaulu. As a member of the Miskatonic faculty, he used his poSition to cultivate Nan Barlow as a sacrifice. This is the first time he has done thi s and willlikdy be his last. Obviously, if B 1m of Driscoll's stu· dents began to disappear, suspicion would fall o n him. This is somethlOg he IS eager to avoid.

LOtTIE. MUTE SERVANT AT THE RAVENS INN Nationality: American

STR IO APP 8 SAN 32

DEX POW

12 12 60

INT SIZ

IJ II 12

CON 12 EDU 9 Age: 17

Luck Hits: Damage Bonus: +0 Education: grade school equivalent (educated at homel Skills: Demonology 5%, Hide 60%, History 3006, listen 67%, Occult 24%, Snea k 60%, Spot Hidden 62%, Witchcraft 10% Languages: EnglIsh 60% (written only; cannot sJXak) Attacks: none above base skill Notes: Lortie is a frightened young woman who was born and raised in Whitewood. Her parents were IxMh victims of the coven and she now works as a virtual slave in the Ravens Inn. Her lack of abilit y to speak has many belIeving she is unintelligent, but thIS IS not the case. She knows much of what IS going o n in the rown and will attempt to warn those threatened to leave. If caught by Mrs. New[ess, her life WIll be tragically cut short. Kindly investigators will arranbte for her to [eave town and reestablish her elsewhere .

•

JETHROE KEENE. WITCH Nationality: Amencan DEl( 14 INT lJ CON 16 POW 21 APr 10 SIZ 16 EDU 36 HilS: 16 Age, 45/288 SAN 0 wok 105 Damage Bonus: + 1D6 Date of Birth: January 10,1647 Education: none, se[haught Skills: Bargam 21%, Climb 55%, Conceal 30%, Cthulhu Mythos 6%, Demonol~'Y 7Cf'Jb, Dri\'e Carriage 39%, Hid..: 77%, History 35%, Listen 75%, Occult 63%, I\!rsuade 41%, Pharmacy 5%, Ride 30')6, Sing 80')6, Sneak 82%, S('!('t Hidden 81%, Witchcraft 8Q9(, Languages: Engl ish 1('X)%, L1tin 80% Attacks: Fighting Kmfe Attack 60%. 104+2+Jb d:ml!lge (sacnflci:ll knife) Fist/Punch Arrack 74%: I D3+Jb damage G rapple Atmck 67%: special u:unage/effecu Spells: Death Curse, Entrancement, Project Image, Ritual of life, Ritual of Sustainment, plus any others the Keeper 5ee\ fit to provide him: any added spells should I'C ritualIStic In nature Special: Due to Ius pact with Sarnn and the magic that sus tains him, he is immune [0 all disease and physical threat~, He does not age. The only things he is affected by is a CWh brought within close proximity (within a few feet) and whatever spells the Keeper chooses to Bilow affect him. Spells that have a purely physical eff~r such as Shrivellmg should ha ....e 00 effect. Notes: Like Elizabeth, Jethroe is kepi alive ~,tht! rituals and is immune to gu nfire and weapons. A po~rful win::h In his own right, he is second only to Elizabeth. More importantly, he was prescnt at Elizabeth's execution III 1692 and fc-el~ guilty because he was unable to stOP II. Jerh roe recently arrivcd in Whilewood and helped capture Nan B.1rlow. Physically strong, Jethroe is often calleJ on fO subdue ~acn­ flees. If lortie must be disposed of, he will strangle her anJ stuff her body in an alcove in the caves beneath the inn.

STR 17

•

i~,'I

.

:1 ""

J"

':~. -~(:~~. -1M :\)~\. .,.:

. ~ .. ; ~ ~ PATRICIA "PAT" RUSS~LL. ANTIQU~ SHOP PROPRIETOR

HVER~ND DANIEL RUSSELL. BLIND MINISTER

Nationality: American

STR II

DEX POW Luck

APr I; SAN 70 Damage Bonus:

Nationality: American

12 14

INT SIZ

14

CON

II

70

HilS;

12

EI1U Age:

12 13 22

+{l

Education: !lA. 10 History from the New Jersey Col1q,'C for Women (r:m of RutJ!ers Universny)

Skills: Accouming 30%, Bargain 40%. Demonology 4%, Drive Auwmnbltc 27%, Hismry 40%, Library Use 43%. ustcm 41%, Occult 14%. Persuade 41%. Sing 35%, Srot HiJJcn 55%. Witchcl"llfc 4% Languages: Enj!llsh 68% Attacks: 1lI.'1le' al")\',, base 5kill Notes: ?U has been III Whlte-A'O<.xl for only a few months. hannl: come here [0 care (or her IlranJmther upon the Jeath at her ~rnnJmOlher (who JleJ of natural causes). She now operates The Prmsh House, an antlque store once owneJ by her j!rambm,ther. Whde a font of use(ul mform:ltIon early in the ;;ctnano, later her presencc becomes a liability. This is I:>ecal.l.<;C ~he IS a very likely c:mJIJate (or sacrifice, being the ri~ht lyJ'C plus being a JescenJent of one of those who Jenoum:eJ ElI:'1beth Selwyn In 1692. Danger to hcr increases if she her.:mnes perceiveJ as a threat. Much of hcr time IS 'reO[ .It the .1Iltit../ue shop :md caring (or her grandfather. Reverend namd Russell.

• NPCs

STR 6 APP 9 SAN 13

DEX POW

Luck

6 16 80

INT SIZ lIlts:

16 13 10

CON EDU AI!I.':

6

19 84

Damage Bon us: +0 Education: high ~ch()ol. some eJucanon at Boston CollcJ.,'(': Sk ills: Accoulltmg 33%, Bar/.'Olill 26%. [kmunoill/.'Y 31%, First AIJ 40%. Hlswry 67%, uhrary uS(! 63%. l.J~ten 45%, Occult 37%, PersuaJe 65%, Sing 65%. Spot HIJ~len 0%.

Witchcraft 30% Languages: English 96%, Latin 80% Attacks: nonc above base skill Notes: The' LIst bastion of gouJ In WllIte ....'OOI.i. tillS blinJ Episcopal mlnlSh'r refuses to leave Jesplte the tutallack ut' a congrcgaulm. He Will Implore oulSlJers to leave tl!wn lor their lives arc In great peril. The ~ reverend was bhnded by the coven's magic and curses rmd IS now a (e<'ble ulJ man whose ..Iay~ :Ire numbercJ. At best, all that em he gonen from him is that WhitewooJ is a place where the D.!\'il reigns anJ where e\'ll has triumpheJ over ~ooJ. He lenJs f() rave when cncouO[enn~ oUlsiJer... Amons: hiS raVln~\ I~ one userul rhm~e ... ~trun rhe cross!~

•

THE THIRD INTERIM: 1936-1938

"IT

' his is the third and final interim between scenarios. At this point, not only is Julian writing the investigators, but Mattie is as well. Her letters arc fewer and not as .....·ell written, but their content shows she is intelligent and sensitive. Her continued close relationship with Julian remains obvious throughout. In his final several letters [Q the investigators, Julian reveals that his condition is much improved and that he can sometimes venture to Greenfield without major discomfort. His intense interest in history has flourished under the influence of the investigators and it is evident that he might have been a good professor .....'ere he to attend college. Even without a high education, it is still possible for him to work as an author or historian. If one or morc of the investigators encourages him in this, it is something he will pursue.

..

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1 9

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Ptarn' AJd .u, l.eUa' from AmdNi Apeou - . I I... Juu..... .se.tb ................. . ...... . ................................ 110 Introdu<:tJoa . ......•...••••••.•••••••••••••••.•.•.•••••.••••••••.••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••...1 10 1r1tQCCUa Old and JM. ...............................•..............•. . .. . ...•.•.......... , ...........•......... 111

~

NordI"""fIorlodln I' " .•.•••..•.••••••••....••••.••••..•••••.•••••••••.••••••••••••••••.••••.••.•••••.••••........... 111 Map 01 HortII Aatlfkkl, ......b_U " Iruo I.'• . . •••..•.••.•• , ••••..•••••.•••••• _• • _•••.••••.• _•••••••• _•••••.••••. 1" D\aVr.... oIlM_. . . . . . . HooaMC ... .. opUonal) . •. . .....••.••.••.••.••••.••.••.•••••••.••.••.••••••••••.••.•.... 115 Rl-unJon .••.•••• . ••••.•.••.•.••.•••••••••.••••.••••.••.•.•..••.••.••.•• . •• , .... . .. . .............................. IIS MMtJe.....' • ....,nl ...... . ..................................................... . .. . ................... . .. 11 1 a.HIIRIl and In_Ie-lion ............... .. .... . . .. . . . . .. . .... ,."'" .•.••.••.• . •• . ••.•• . •..•..•.••.••.••.••.•.••.•.• 114 P18ya AId ,u, UnftnlJ/Md 10111., I)CnlMd.,., I "ftftrll"" Julian Apcoll •..•.•..• . •• .• •.•• . • . .•..•.•• , .................. 114 ..oIlan" a.m.m. ................ . .............................................. . .. . .. . .......................... 11 4 It • ....,ea ... . .......... . . . .... . ......... . .... . .. . .............................................................. 11 1 DIafr- of tIM MonIauth "CKlH .............................................. . .. . .... . .....................1 15 nt. DlWIlCUon • . .•••.• , ••.•.••.••.•....• , ••.. . .... . .•...•..•••••••••••••.••.•••••••••••••.••.••.••••••••••••••••••.. I II

nt. Not.d IIleD

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••• . •• . ••.••.•.•••••••• , ••••••••••.•••• 1 11

I"

The ....na-al .•• . ••••.••.•.••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••• , •••...••••••••.••....•....•.••.••.••.••.••• • •••.••••••• The ChaM c.om_ ...............................................................................................111 ~

...................................................................... . .............................. 1 .. P&aya AId fHAlt.u..- h.o MarfaRlKeltUnt to ..... 1IIOttIer ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I . t P&aru AId fHa, WI," Hoi foUo wlnt P..,." .IUd 'NA ••.••.••.••.••••••. . ..... . .. . •. . .••..••.••.••.•..•.•••••• l l t PlafuAJd "f ' ~ _ m u l l i n tIM a.-..IJeIda.una MNICourlti" •.•...•• . ••.•..•..••.••.•.••.•.••.• I to The lJunM Plate .•.••.•.••.•.••.•.••.•.••.••.•.•.••.••.•..•.••..••.•.••.•. . . .. . . .. . •• . .. . ...•..••.••.•.••.•.••. Ito The LIUWI PIltIrIlo<:ICI, . ... .. ... . ....... , . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . ............................................................. .I to CII.ddRIl 0...1111. Luna PI" 110<:1011, ....... . .................... . .............. . . .. . . .. . .......................... l tI O....m ofdte LI.... P..... SOclet, . . • .. .... . . . . .. .... . ................................ . ........................... I n fIA_IntMid fRlmnt ................................................... , .. , .. . .. . . . .............. , ............ I n '<"nint tIM 1Io<:1ft, ..................... . ....... . . . .. . .......................................................... 1n ScOpplrlt botkIaIln Boston ••••••••••••••.••••.••••.••.•.••.•••••••.•••••••••••.••••••• .. •.•••••••••..••. , ••••....•... 10 full ..... autdulee .. . ........•....................•..........•...•....•.••...... . ...•..........•...............114 114 ~1edroonI .................•........ _•..........•...........•••.....•..••.•••••....••.............. 114 IOtchefl •••••.••••••.•••••.•.•..•.•... . ..... . . . ......•..•••••••.•••••.••••••••••.••••••••••••••••.•••••..• 114 AIIk ••••••••••••••••.••••.•.•••••••••••••••••••••••••• • •••••••••••••••.•• . .. . ••••••.•••.••...•.•.•. , •..•. 114 ~ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• . •••• . •• . ••••••• , ••••• , •••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 114 DYtr.... offRklal~lkKton~ . . .. . ................. . ..........................................111 N~c..IU .......................... . ... .. .. . ......... ............ , ....... . ................................116 A~ .... UJaIUM2Arb ................ . .... . . .. . . ........................................................ . . .... 11 C.ltele! aO)'.."on .. . ..... . . ...................................... " .... , .. . .. . .. . . .. ............................. 111 MAp 0111... ""'" Around Ro),....on .............. .. ............. . .............................. . .. . ............ . . . l lI7 . . . .•.••.••.••.•.••.••.•.••. "1 Dlal/l"MII of til. amlnt "CKlH •• . •.•.••.•.••.. . .•.•..••.•.• , .••.•• , • , . . . • • . . . . liThe KeltttJtto; eooperllte ............................................. .. ...... . . . ................. , •.••..• , ..... Itl

r....u,a_ ...........•.................................................................................

1"

Un.. Keltlln.- Don't c.oo,.u.l• ................... . ....... , .. , .. , ............. . .. . .... . .......................... In llhowdown •. . .. . . . . . .. . •..• . . . ...••••.••••.••••••... . .•.• . •••••.•••••.••.•••••••.••.•••••••••••••.••.••••.•••••.... 1" Plan '" su.n.b .. . .............................•.....................•..........••.............................. 1" PIan .. ~ .••••.•••••.•••....••.••......•.........•••••.•••••••••••••.••.•••••••••••••••••••••.••.••••••••• 1" PlIIrt Co TIIIte Ptn:1... AJonIII ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• . •• • •••••••.••.•••••••••••••••••• .,0 PLan 0. Get lIM Ctilldftn ••••••••••••••••••••••••••....•••.••••.••••••.••.••••.••.•.•.•••.••.••.••.••.••.••••••••• 1)0 P .... f> .1." tIM alblol . . .. . . . ...................................................................................1)0 P ....... PoaHN I Keltllnt ................................................................. . ...................... 1)0 He_ . ~n. for CIIll DlClbuJIJu • . ••••.••••.•.••••.••.••.• . •••••••.••.••.••.•••••••.••.•••••.••••.••••••••.•.•..•.•..••. U t PoaHNIoft .•• .• .•••••••.•.••.•.•••••••.•.••. _ .••.•.••. _ •.••.•• , •..•.••... . .. . .. . . . ...•..•..•....••.••.••.•.•• . I U G~I"- Vunplric Drlln . . ....... , •• , ... , .... .. . . ................................ . ...............................151 AII ........ lh ... .. . ...... . .... ...... . .. . ................................................................... . ........... 1)0

.AN R._,"", Ind ~U.. . . ..................... . . . ........ , ..... .. .......................................... · . I ~ PoiUcrtpl ... ... .. . . . . .. . . ......... . ............................................... . ................................ I ~ HPc. . ...... . .. . ............................. . .. . . . .. . . . .. . ......................................................... I S I

•

•

I

~U

'IOIlIe extra preparation on the p:lrt (If the Keeper. It al all p0ssible. look back to p. 46 uf Cold Spoc lIMr ~Trarnlnon~ and tOT'> may wd.! have mckled either or both of /Vmam$ to mnkc sure that all the ba.-"cs lITe covert-oJ anJ that)'X1 know .....h.11 Do: S.'t'l'\ and Th .. W/u!<--uoo1 HO'ITOI', and pcmaps other adven· the ApcCKts' sirll.'l.tion ru the ~tart of Fit!! eird.. will be. tu~s a:; "'Cll. Of the four scenarios In this book, it IS the le.'lS1 Depending- on how Cold 5/101 "'Cnt, some rinkering :mJ L1J5~ultcd to 1~1n1:: run on lUi own; while it can be done in this filsh- lomizing of this scenario may well he in order. "-In, It will he much \u:akerthan If run at some pointsubsequcot On ArriJ 6, 1939, each of the IIWesn,,':lrnrs who was IrM.:weJ

Cnd\!

IS

a

dlll.'Ct

SCl.jud to Cold Spar, though

It IS

..

assumed that in the Intervening decaJc the in...esri~oa·

to Cold

Spoi. Hopefully. ru least one Investigator pre.sent dUTlllg

the fir
to Cold Sptx receIVes a k'uer fmm A!llcl~1 A~t(P13~r AlJ #24). II mti.'tms them of Julian's death ;mJ i/l\'l[\.."S them ru attenJ the fUIlCr:tll't.'C\l.lSe ~ .. .it was his wish.~

PLAYER AID *24: LETTER FROM AMELIA

A.Pco1T REVEALING J ULIAN'S

DEATH

Tuesday, Arr!1 4. ]939 Dear Sir, It is my sad duty to Info,'m you that my ne'(lhe.... Jullan ~.pcott , died Monday after sufferlnll; t}uough a 10nll; illness It ...as his "ish th8t hi! close friends and assoc i ates attend his funeral. 1 can ~!lo ... ide you and your fliends ..lith lod~ln~s and .. e .. Duld dearly love to villit,o/hh you fOl a tim ....

l
If ,III ....'ent ....l!Il (or poorly. dependmg on the point of view) m ('..o/J Spot E.::ekl3l Apron 11.15 eSGlpt.oO rhe IIWestibrarOI1j anJ pre\unubly fled into history. Nochmg has bt."Cn seen of him III ten yem anJ by now, his is probably Ilrtlc more th:m a uark memo nry m the invesri,I!Utors. Smce fleemg North Ashfield in April of 1929, E:ekia! has IrtlVclled the eastern Unltcd Stares. Twice. he has swiocheJ boJ· I\,"~, thanks tu the spells he possesses. His time has been ""'ell )p!..'Ilr. I'bnng wmched and learned from those he encounters on J J.1.ily basis, he is now qUlle mmiliar With modem America InduJm~ Its lanl,"ll3!->e, culture. history, anJ technology. He has lkl!j.:hted In many of the new inl'l()\.'arioru o( the t~ntleth cen' tury anJ is amateJ anJ p/ellseJ at what he coruiJers Widespread dL'I.:aJencc, permissiveness, :mJ socictnl uecay. (n his Jay, witch· cralT was not wlcmreJ anJ wouJJ earn one a ueath sentence. '\IlnlCtllncs rq:ardless of innocence of :my Involvement.. He has tound (hat nnw, his knowleJI,>e and pr."lctire of the occult IS not only n..l( Ilklf'!l, but is toler:tted anJ L'"\-en openly accepred m '\I'mc arc.1S. It IS even a kind of fud to S()me people, those inter· c\teU m k-armng about somethmg lx")Ond the physical realm~ ul nmun'.

St:..·crnl ~ars were spent tr:tvellmg the eastern seaboanl. He finally settleu in Boston, a city he ""'as mmlliarwlth in the 1iOOs

•

Introduction

his liking. Takin~ tull the Luna Park SocIt.'1:y, a small ~roup o( OCUIlt enthUSiaSts who meet regulari}' t{) J'SClI~S anJ ~tudy the supernatural anJ ';omCtlmd e\'en carry out SC:lnces anJ the like. MOnL'Y h.'l~ never been a problem even though thc economy is Stlll III roul-:h shape. Through US(: ot 11I~ magIc, he has been able to commit a -;enC.! of late night burglar· 11:5 and murders throughout NL'W E.n~lanJ and proceeJs tmm this have enabled him to live in a fine Boston resiJencc nnu In relative luxury. fukbl has been careful ennugh to Slmce the crimes o.lt over many years and throu~:hulJ[ many town~ and citIes and none have)oet: been CllllflCCred. Up un[ll recently, &elia! w.tli plouJm1! Ihf"l'llJ.cn. life, wing ,he hiJding of hIS l.brk master and JUst S-,'\:ncmlly enJO')"mg tWL'Il' orth cemury existence.. He haJ al"l!iC.liutdy nu intentIOn of l'VCr returning 10 NOM Ashfield or Sl'Cking out rel1tives. TI.....'Y haJ alreaJy '\I'rvcd thdr purpoS('. R..'"CCmly, ho....\'.vef. somethmg Jl:trm1l\/.( came to his :lttcntion. Thn)IJ.L~' a '\I'nes 1)/ Jream~ ,md later thl"()IJ!:.fl communing with v:mOlJS 1.l.1.rk. ~I'inu, E:ckial ha~ learned th:l! 1m life i~ nor eternal. Ilis hdH.J w:lS that he coul.1 ~imply switch from body to hody t(lreVer ilnd be effecTively Immortal. ThiS is IlQ{ the casc. He mUM periodically n!cha'l."C hl~ life enert/Y. U~ing the life e1"lCfJ.'Y of JUSt al\}onc will nor do. He must n..cJurge uSing the lifc c.~!ic.'nce (>1 Hood reL10.)I)S. Th{S must be done Within a momh ul the annlvcr;ary ufhis "1"('5ur· reullln" L'\<ery ten years. Thercf"ore, he must scek OUt anJ hnd mmily members anJ Jrain tI"IL'ir life K,TCC Within nne Imlnlh lInJ, though much chang(.-d, is \till advanra.).,'l" o( tI"ll' rimel>, he has

tu

}OUlL>U

Four: Full Circle

•

before or aner the Jay he took control of II body in Cold Spot This means rhnt he must acr 11\ April or May of 1939, and agmn during the same perloJ 10 1949, anJ in 1959, anJ so on. Using spells 1le'A1y acquired for the purpose, he is now a kinJ of ps~ic vampire, Oil(' that feeds on the souls rather than rhe blooJ of victims. He can rechnically Jrain the souls of an.,.. one, but only a family membu or blood relarion can serve to extend hiS life :mJ this can only be done during rhe specific peri· oJs Just describeJ. Were he in the body of [\ rdative, he would slmrly father chilJrcn of his own and feed on them, bur that cae· tic cannot \.\.'OriL He no lonb"Ct ocrupies a body of II blood memo ber of the family even if one was posscsscd durmg Cold Spor.. He now ha5 three gools in life. Rrst is to drain pomts equ.11 ro his own from [\.\."0 or more blood rel.1tloos. Second, he wants to learn if there nre othcr blood relatives in the ....urld that he eRn ft.oed on. He then wants to ensure these people come [0 no harm since they are essentially canle he must exploit <--very decade. Third, he is consiJering transferring his mtellect inro the body of a new victim, that of a }'OOnger (prefer· ably (emale) member of the Apron family. Once in such a boJy, he Will do his best to finher (or mother) as many chilJren as possible in onler to perpetuate the family Hne. Since Amclia is roo old (anJ is r)(){ a blood relation, having marrieJ into the family) and Julian is too infirm, thIS means his only potential rnrge! for possession In North Ashfield IS MAttte Harper. (Note tn.11 It is generally assumed here that Alison is dead or was po6' 5e5sed by &eki..·lI In Cold SpcM. If this 15 not the case, she is a tar· get here, too.)

row

TRAGI-:DIES OLD AND NE\"

E:e1(Jars plans commence early m Man:h, 1939. He travcls to North Ashfield and scouts our the area. Rnding the Aprons there, but in diminutive numben, he is concerned about hIS long rerm life 1!X("!e<:t.1ncy. To live another decade, he realiws he may have [0 kill all remaining Aprons. This alanning fact has him hopmg there a~ dues within the Apron household tn.1t COlIId IeaJ him to Other family memben elsev.mre in the Umted States. HIS plan beginS with the attack on Julian Apcott. JUSt after 11:00 P.M. on Aprzl 2, 1939, &ekial slips through Julian Apcou's window and drams his life force as he sleeps, Fearful of a.....aking others in the house, he slips away undetecteJ. The next mormng, Mattie discovers the now dead body of her rousm and InfomlS her grandmother. Julian's Jeath, though unexpected. 15 not that much of a surprise. Hc had long been chronically ill and some doctors had expccreJ hun to perish already. To Amelia, there was flO sign of foul play. Julian seems to h[l\'c died in hiS sleep. Arrangements for burial are made through the local (uner· al home. Since ~'ents m &mo:m.s to be Stm, the funeral home has been bought by Roger Hart, a mortician from Pluladelphm.

•

FOllr: FilII Cirr:le

He has been able to open a new cemetery tlUtsiJe of town an..! has made rhe busine~s work desrlte the economy. Ft.-w are interred in the old cemetery !lOW and these bunals are alwa~ in family plots that srill have room for them. The Apcott secrion still has sp;n and Juhan Will be oonN aloTW'iJe IllS f..ther.

N01~'iH A.'iHFIELD

IN

1939

By now, me group should be wdl awa~ of how to reach North Ashfield. TIlle mp ~'OCS by Wlthoot event anJ the b'lOllP shoulJ arrive at the Apron house befOre dinnertlmc. As has been the ca~ before, hule ever seems to ch:mf.oc in North AshfielJ despite economic han.l.ship ~nd political turmoil eiSt.-where. The Depression was felr here nnd was exhibltcd by the hck of m:lintcOllOttOn some shops and JwdlinK~ in the SI,.'(;. 00...1 anJ thin! scenarios of this camplign. By now, the cC(>nnmy is gradually recovering and eviJena: of this can be :seen. All shops and most houses have been rel1O\lA(ed to some extent anJ many In the rommunlty have banded t(lJ,'CdlCr to help (lUt thosc In need. For the first time in years, there is hope for bener tunes. fblitical strife in far off Europe is lIl'l."Cly ignored amI kw ~up" port the iJea o( the Umred States !,'Ctrir\i: lTw(1lveJ In til
Norlh

in 1939 •

N01tIfi ,,

•

fARM

•

~IH FI IE LD,

MASSACHL:SETfS

,·t···················· " ,: : TO :

~

IIUC)(LAND

,, . ........ .......

•

'AlIM

••

-

•

•

A HO&SOI'JS MARKeT & IIEN[VOLE!'JTCAFf C :;[RV1CE!liAT10!'J o SCHOOLHOUSE E CAl.VARY EPISCOPAL CI1URClt f lUTtIERAN 01URCIi o .o.tEntOOIST CHURCH H twrr FUNERAL HOMf I APCOTT ItoIlSf J !'JEW APCOTT HOUSE IONl.Y If ORIGJI'JAL IS GONE) K L1.NlfNCE MONTAUOH"S HOUSE

• •

NOIITlt

ASHFIELD CEMETERY

;...... : . ~"';'::::'"

: I! ............... . .... ti D

•

~-

- ~ ::... . . .. . . .~

•

•

•

FAIIM

100

•

B rfET TO

ASHFIELD

•

•

'

..

• •

•

•

HJ~, Alison's Jaub~lter. Now 19 yeaN <'lIJ, t~ Im'estig;uOr
collCJ.."t' .....015 Jeb}\-.J a year by bd: of funJs, hut enough has final Iy been Sol\\,..J to allow ht-rm enroll. Aside fmm the family memllt'rs, It is possible that Lot-tie, the mute servant Imm Tht Whlta<'IXICl Horror is .....o rking here. M ore on her is given 10 the Nrc St.'Ction,

THE NEW APCOTT HOUSE In t~ C\'t'nt th:'It the Aprons' home .....as Je.~t~ or ab.lnJoned Jurin):! lhe events of Cold Spot. a new one It is C(lnsWcrably mo~ moJest th.1n their origmal house, but the family has Jane their hest to make It cozy,

SecOND PLOO.

rIRSTf'LOOR

~

1imI,..nLII~N'

,. UVINCl JKX)M

~

,

,

l

~

~

..:>.

(

snlLlY . ~ .

DININO

r

OOOM

AMELIA·S

~

,

flEDR(X)~ Mm

,

kWl/oI

ALJSON'S L...:...! (OllGUESTj ~DROOM

,

n,I--:UNION If all has gone well In previous !l<Xnarios, the invesngawrs shnulJ have JevelopeJ a long rerm rcl:lrionshlp wIth the Ar\:otts aM even be conslJereJ mmily fTiL-nJs, Any meeting with them will. meretOre, be InenJly and l'Vcn JOVial, even unJer the present CITOlmstances, From thIS pomt onwaru, the 5Ct.'"O.1no will ~.'enerally assume th.1t only Amci.L.1 anJ Martie are rre~n •• If Alison and Lome a~ here Jue to c:vent!; 10 the preVK'lU$ scenariOS, the Keeper should refer to the mlOrmanon on them m .he NPC section ror gUidaoct', As usual, while in the ilrea, Ameli., places her now fou rtl'en ~ar oIJ Fonl Model Tat thor J ISpos.l1. It i _~ rehable l'nouh~l Illr drivl!ll arounJ the coun· ty, ll\1t Without a major overhaul. It canrKX make prolonb'Cd trips. If ~he 'MIS forceJ to repl,lce her vehicle Jue to previous C\-'rnts 10 the campail,.'TI, it ~houlJ be an olJ moJel s-:dan (Foru MoJd T. roru Model A. or Che·:roIet C,plmlart'" all wllhin her mc.':In~) that is reasonably reliablc. lhou#\ ~nef stncken, Amelia IS wnhal and genUinely ghJ to .sre the Im·estlgators. She is raking Julian's Jcath qUite well (conllm,eJ ~ a successful Ps."dloICl.'Y roll if one IS arrempt:ed), but thiS _~hou ld come as no smpmc. Nor only IS 5he a strong ~r.;on, but Julian's Jemlse has been long antidpareJ. When ~keJ how Julian died, she will Indicate he flnally succumbed Il.I hiS assorteJ chromc ailments, He died III his sleep and was c.lis· ccM!red by Mattie. wI«! Amelia. Martie is glad to seot the HWcsng.UOrs. If the rdaoonshlP IS parncu.1arly strong, ~hc mar even Vll'W some of them as vlrtl.!.11 aunts anJ uncles. Alter the mln.'lII.'l"e\.'linb'S, ~he ..... tll admit to bemg the one ""no fOund JulLan JcaJ in beJ. She was \'ery ck"ISC to him anJ is rnkm~ his Je.1th very ....dl, but 1\ troul-.lei.l by It. A successful Ps-,.:hoIo)''Y roll will conflnn this. It

•

Four: Full Cirde

IS

pro',il.ieJ here.

BA,SrMr HT

~~ ,

WOOD

•

MArnE'S

I'JfO\KXl M

JULIAN'S BfDIlOOM

PJLI:

•

STO~AGr.

b:J

• STOQAGE •

II

==

•

ST0~ACE

•

lAUNDRY AREA

~I:I:T

a~ked aht)ut this 111 the presence of Amelia, ~hc Will malcc cxcm CS, but Indlcatc tjllledy (so her grandmother d0('sn'l nonce) rh;Jt )I"k) woulJ like to talk latcr. Even 11 the invcsnl,'.1tnrs aren't per U'ptlVC a~ ttl her mood and emofions, ~hl' will frY to ,peak akmc With nne or more of them before bedtim .... In the ml-:ln nme, the group will he "ifcl'L'<.l the ,l!UC'" «X'IllS 10 the hnuSt' (Or as font: as ti"k'Y wish Il.l remain 111 tn ..... n. The IUlll'ral is schcJuleJ lor April 10.

MATTIE'S STATEMENT Either the fir.;t evenmt: after they ;lrrtVC (II' Slllllenme [he .sc..:onJ day, Mattie will try to get the Itwe~ tl /;!ato" (,lr at least those ~he trusts the most) a.'iII.lc whilc Amelia and an)nnc else III the housc is IY)t preSCllt. This may relfUire lhem m ~"l lor a walk thn)tlh-h rhc OI.-'l.-hhorhood if the htXl!\I: is IlIXUpicJ. O nce alone, Manie will ~'\.'t str:u,I!ht to the point. She noticed th.1f prior to hiS Jeath, Julian WilS ,\ennl( >fran~~I~. Ht: St."CmeJ to be rcasc:m.'lbly flne phy;,lCally excel'! that he ....-:l.'> It ....*-· m~ pale anJ Wl'".1k. She first nO{lceJ rim latc III March .md his condltillO contmueU til gt't v.\)~ O\,'cr the nex t. few d'lY,'. EhApril I. he was bo..-JnJdcn anJ nn the m'lrnm~ 01 rhe 3rJ, Matne Illllnd hun JcaJ. If Mattie is ,milre " I the vampire Inun Remwn$ III be Seen, "he wil! hclr'lul!r sUJ.:/..'\'~t th:lrJull.1n's wmptom~ were rcmark.,bly c of JocumentcJ "'lCtlm~ ,I\":lmplre uttaCk. There is more to It than thl~, hll ....l!\·er. Ever «occ the I!Vent.S 10 1929, Julian was ncar p.1ranolJ ahllllt p... rsonal .,alt..'tY. He was always good about Iochn$: hiS Window anJ kcepln!.! the ~hurrers dosa.! tight. When
Malli",'s Slal",m",nl •

k.... W anJ the· shuttcf"!; d'l!.Cd. When ~hc found him till! nC\! m"rnln!:. the WIn,!..>w \\-~ no ktnL.'\:t loo.JeJ and [he ~huner. weren't lan:I .......J. In ...JJll1on. ~he 1\».1I1J sr«ks 01 muJ ,m.! Jlrt tI~ carpet til Juhan\ morn ncar the winJow. It was as If ... \rlll'!.lnl' haJ entereJ ovcrnlj.,~,t, perha\'Ili 10 do harm to her

Pl.A\'£R AID US: UNFINISBED LETTER PENNED 8\ A "~1:VERISB" JULIAN

Arcorr

AND INTENDED FOR TIll:. INVESTIGATORS

t\l)

l1.'ltISIn. SIll" has no eXl'lalutHlll !~Jr thi~ Illlt ~an she explain htlw OIlC "\\lIIJ dimh a sheer ""'all m l'nler ]uli;lIl \ ~'ConJ .~Iory win· JO" J\;(:.!:hlllj.! wa~ di~turh&.l m the heJT\.,ol1l nor WllS d'lt!re any

sign Jultan was harmed. Matne t~ unJerstanJahly cuncerned, She has little wn· crete rnll.>i anJ a lot llt lea"". A .. a I;}\\lr 10 her..
1~ESEA1~CH AND I~ESTIGATION M.1Ule\ "'11\1 alutle ~h()lIlJ ~ more than "Jo.ju:!le mllll\':anon

fi.lI" dll..'<:k1l1,Ll Ihlllj..~ OUL 1111) (OmhulCd wllh rl't"\·i(llJ.~ stron!..... l" .... nts III til.: area shl"IUIJ be mOTe th;tn wmrdlmg CIll.IUl,~\ till" the

Ime~tij!att'rs.

A !tItle chcxklll[l" (an t"'--'Veal

,I

k(. FiN off. how might l'llC

haw scateJ the wal1lu reachJuhan\ window! ChL"Cking d'lt' ~111 reve:lls no marks of rope~ or hO(Jks fhar may have be:('n u~.1 nor I., til{' wall outside marred in :my way. Exam1l11111.! the ~ruunJ hck'lv.' the.- winJow I~ UllpormnL Barnn).! fumhlcJ Spot HiJden roll!>. one rhinf;! I~ lJulte \,I""ltltJs. The ~'II below the wmJnw I"'''''>e~~ tW\) deep, Tl'CtilllJ.1ubr mJenr>ltions apl'r\,)(j· m.lldy

IW\l

JO Mfm:h, 1939 My

Irk:nd~,

I h.1te ru trouble~. bJt II !:it.'CIIlS that something has onee ~
str:mj..~

At flr"!;t, [ thought .... nat I was (edm);' was a mere halluci· nanl. rel="nofollow">n. For ml1nths now, I have b..--cn m (relatively speakmg) .........."1\\ he:!lth. No majlJT rcbrs<:~ and more Importantly, I h:we IX"Cn liVing Tl.'llSOnahly wlllfonahly. This all chanj,:eJ rect=ntly. I h,we l'lCJ:un tu have the feci· mg Ihar I run bcmg wardll...J. w:m:hed b\· sollleone or some.

Ihm!: mak'\1:IIenL i h:we been fedln):( "\!ak lardy. CouIJ this he rel1reJ! C"lUIJ the lllJ ~ptrit he tl.'tumini Perhaps It was m~' 11ll~'1n.1non running aw:ly WITh me.

T...." .bY" h;}\·c P.l-,,«J 'lncc i Ix-gan this letter. SinD;! tllen, my wnJm
fl't!t .1parl. E\·h.klke of a bJ..kr, rerhap!'1 further

Jk"kllll: Will uncover il cldbp:l:.TlpI: (>1 the unfini!>he...l Inter. Julian h.').,'rtn the lener anJ had h"pcd to M'nd It to the in\"C~tLJ.':1I\1"'" bot E:ckL.11 Jramed hi" Itte hNL Wllh the phY'Kill eVlJence found l>Ut~ide and III the TUom and with the 1errer in hand, the grour ~houlJ l:le ~llS. rx'Llmg 'illmcthlllg nelant.>U!> I~ .I(oot. e..-en thlJUb~1 it may nN l:le panmnrmul.

JULIAN 'S I~EMAINS

I thmk sumeone has been mtmnj.1 IOro my room at ml!llt. Or s()met:llIn~. Marnc will pt>.'it this un the morrow. f'lea.'>C (the IdtL"I' L'nds thl~

here. un{i1ll5hed.)

II :tlIkcd ,IOJ that I:; the only "'aY to legally and ethu:ally sec

!Ill' body. Julian

\\r.b

p\aced

(lwncJ ;lnJ (>pct:ll<:d

10 the taT\' of the local funeral home now by RtlJ.'t:r H;uL Afrer thor expenencc in

/t.'TI1urJU to be Sun, rhe IIwe<;figillOfS ~hookl be very fumihar with b~\l\lt l>l the funeral h.,Jme in the: C'o'ent thq want to break

Ihe

II1t\' II. Thl~ ~hould nul, huYA....·('r,

be

rte\.-CSSo1ry.

l-bn is a sott spoken J.,"Cndemcn of aveflll:,>e heiWlt and bUIld. HI! has thinning, aITly. grny hair and pale blue I!)'eS. JuitJn. the mve~tlb'rtUJn; are lol.\, i~ III the h.1scmentofthe build· in)! ,mJ h'l\ already \.x'Cn cmbalme.\. All that remruns is to pre. pare Ihe Ix,.jy lor "una!. The tal""! Juhan has been embalmed will be: a j.1TClll blow tll tht.~ who were Iklpmg to seek our evidence

Inm.ll ~Oln:hes 01 the house "nJ j.1munds ~hould have lumc..lup III "-aml'lT1~m. When viewed, the body will n)l)Sl likely be on !I Sled tabie, all \,!thc I'n:nous inlormOlTKln "Ithm 11 wuple houn; and eer· minI)· 111.' nltlfC than a lby. LockmU any t"I'Il'r leads IIlltially, the partially Jrcs.seJ. If rhe J,'Tll\IP walleU a fl'W d..'l)'S before vlewinti: j!nllJp m:IY want w vicw Julian's rem.IIIlS. Amelia will mnscnt tu ttlC lxlliy, 11 WIll rrohahly be alreaJy in the ca.sket and in the

•

•

chapcino the tlrst floor. Juli:ln aplX-ars as a lX1le, thin, gaunt man, much as he did m life. No injuries aside from those c.1used by the embalmmg process are evident. Successful Forensics or Medicine rolls can confirm this. If an ocwru forensic examimlrion is conducted, the cau".. of death cannot be determined unless the body is :lump" sled. Amelia will not agree to this under any drcumstances unless the inve5Ug:ltors already have compelling evidence of foul play (they probably don'r) and a successful Persuade roll is made. After all tillS hassle, an (lUtopsy is inconclusive. Juhan's physical condition was obviously poor and his IUOb'S fire In extremely poor condition. The physid:ln conducting dle aumpsy Will, with a successful Medicine or Pathology skill roll, conclude that Thou~ The procedure was inconclusive, it is sccms probable Julian's lungs finally wore OUt and that he died in his sleep. No evlJence <.,f vampirism exJS[s other than the p;!lc. weakened nawre of the body. Interviewing Roj.,'Cr Hart is poSSible and he will be most COo..1peratlVe as long as he believes The group is fleting With the blessing of Amelia Apam :md in the beSt mterest of the ApcotT mmily. TIle only Important fuet he can f(.·by is that durmg the embalming process, he removed a nom];11 3mOUnt of blood from the body. Note th3t when a body is embalmed. the cin.:u· latory system of the corpse is flushed of all fluids and embalm· mg (]uid is pumped in. During this process, the blood is dralllt.-d mw a glass J3r and [he amount is quite obvious to anyone who is even remotely competenL Judgmg Hart's compeccnce may be a ch.1.Jlenb'C' but dlere IS no evidence that he is not com· pletely Clpa.blc at his job.

A SUSPECI' In a town like North A..<;hfield, everyone knows everyone else. Stranb'l::rs in the area are obvious and are the source of gossip and rumor mon!,'Cflng. TIle investigators should sooner or later ask around to see if an~' strangers are in town or have been seen lately. Nothlngof note h.1S occurrcJ in North AshflelJ in months :md certlinly nothing that ""ouIJ atnact OlItsiJers. As an out of the way rur;!] L'Ommunity, stmnbocrs rarely StOp except to buy fuci at the service station and pemaps grab a bite to ear at the Benevolent elft. HU\\....-ver. bte in March, a stranger did come to town. This IS widely known though IlOI: to the Apcons. Information on him can be obtained from many people. Asking f\C1b~lbors or people on the Sln"CI may bring b'OlXi results. A successful grollp Luck roll will indicate the individual who is questioned knows of a man who has been renting a room in the home of Clarence Monraugh SlflCt' March. Asking the s.1.ffie quesrions in the cafe will automatically gain the infOrm:ltion unless a group Luck roll is fumbled. These Luck rolls may be attempted once per person quesnoneJ. In other \\,'on1;, a~ long ~s the inveSTilf.ltors a.~k more th3n one or twO people. they should be able ro gain this information quickly.

•

Four: Full Cirdl!

Further checking is w:l.rr:mted. The fellow's name is Clark Woodruff. He claimeJ ro be a historian studying rurru New England and arrIVed in North Ashfield m the thinl \\/\!Ck of March. After visiting the rnfC and a few other spots in town. he visited old Clarence who is known to rem his hack hcdroom OUl on occasion to visitors to the are.1. At this point. SIJ')'ing (In WooJrutT, who is in fuet E:ekial Apaxt, will mcctwith little suc· cess. He does nothing suspicious. at IC:lSl aT fiTht. Overzealous mvestigawrs may decide to invade Cbrcn{,"(' Montaub,h's home in onler to search Wuodruff's (Ezt;kial's) bed· room. Thoroughly illegal and probably unJustifk-d this early in the. scen3rio, they should meet With stOUT resistance. Cbrena.- IS a 76 yt':lr old retired furmer who sold his land ten years 3b'O an ..1 bour,,>ht a small house in North A..<;hflelJ. When he was a young man, he served in the Army and experienced combat in the Indian Wars and the Spa.nish-American War. He now cunflne~ himself to his home along w1th a small terrier (~Tacky~) and rwo laq,'e hOllsccats ("C1Iico" and "~n:hes~). The cats are hannl~~~. but the terner IS a very alen animal. Also visinng is hIS young grandson. David. This ten year old IS staymg with his g-ranJpa while his futber, who lives in GI\."'enfield, seeks JOb OPP()rtUllltlC.~ in Boston. Tacky's pr~sence is an obstacle for investigators. He will bark :It anything he dt:tt!Cts within fifty feet of the house. and h~ deteers people 95% of the time. So. unless Tacky furnbb mul· tiple Ltsten rolls. he will bark when intruders tTy to ~hr up f(J the hcxlse. Cbrc.ncc will not ignore his dog and as a paranoid man, will be prepareJ ttl repel any burgbrs, cuahroars, llOilr chlstS. or Rt.-ds he believes m his fevered mmd are out to do hml or his brrandson harm. More on Clarence Montaugh C:ln he found in the Nrc st-""Crion. ClARENCE MONTAUGH'S HOUSE ..._~ I'IRSTI'LooR

DINING

\'

OOOM \

r

1

KlTC~~N I ~,

f1ANT~Y

LIVING

,

~

"

FAMILY

'OOM

r

,OOOM

seCOND FlOOR

CLAAENCf'S ~EDROOM

A

•

[n tI'lt! unlikely chance the In\lestigators do l,>et [0 rnnsadc E:ekia['s room unhmdered, they will finJ mreresting things. A cursory inspt."Ction revea[s litde of note. The room IS eqlllppcJ with lare mneteemh OO'Irury nlrmshml,'S and is somewh:u sp:lr· em. In aJJlnon to a bcd, night5tllnd, chmr, and desk IS an o[J chest. Ettki.'ll (Oark\ has rlaceJ hIS personal belonging:> In here and keeps thIs locJccJ ....+.en he is our of the room. Howe\"er, a \llCO;:ssfu[ l,'fOUp Luck roll (the 1000..'(!st Luck roll among the pM' ncipanng in\ICsn~'iltors) mC;Jns Ezeki;J[ eIther dId not lock the chest or left <;OlllC items on the de~k. If the it~'S nre not easily acttSSible. PIcking ,he lock is easy since 1[ is an olJ st.,·le padlock (requires 11 slIcO!ssnlll..odsmllh skill roll at +20%). Since the chest and lode belong to U1rence, !.xxh U'lI'\!T1CI! aOO E.:ekial have keys. The top layer of Items in the .:best are clothes lind (Xher mundane thll1b'S, but at [he bot: tom are four lu!avy books. TI,e first is the Bridewall OO1I10n of Nmne/w Cults. It IS described more fully later in tl'lt! scenano. The second I~ a hanJwntten m:muscnpt entitled MaglCk of I~ Neu En,gUmJ WilCiIes. ComplleJ in 1790 by an unkno..... n author, it ....1lS borrowed from the Luna Park Society library by Ezekial. A label affixeJ to the Ins.Jc front CO\ler bears the pnnt· ing ~Luna P,uk Society, Boston." ('Thl~ label provides sufficient mfOrmation to allow one to find that organiIc:ltion in the Boston area; it is describeJ bel,oinning on p. 120.) nlt': book i~ actually more a coIlecnon of note5 on sixret:nth anJ se\"entcefuh centu· ry Wltd!e.s m New England than an OJ1.'"anIZt..J study of Witchcraft. Much of rhe information IS [OOIlly bogus, hm:mR been taken from rumor and mnuendo. It rakes (our weeks to study IlnJ no benctlt is R'uncd since rhe informrltlon is wrong on most occoums. TIlt': third \IOlume is an obsc:ure occult (orne entitled A TTl'allS<' on ,hI,' mll(k Arts. It is described more fully later in scenano. TIle flnal book is :I roaJ atlas fOr New EnglanJ (published in 1928). 'With rhe boob IS a flIe foIJer ront3imng scribbleJ 1'10«"5 aOO ~I"lCCts of b/..·mk [XIper. 1lIc 1'10«"5 list file current resiJents of" tIle Arco{( house and describes each of them. They also oontmn SCIOlI.' Apcott genealOl,oical infomlation plus (l crude sketch of the layout of the house. [n r\.-viewmg the notes, it is obvious that the resident of thIS room has some special or pt.'CU liar Interest In the Apaxts. AsiJe from the chest, tWO bunJles of cash al'\! under the mattrcM, each consisting of t .....enty crisp, new ren J\)ll!lT bills (torn I of $400.00).

tm-

THI-: DISTRACIION While the 1l1\1estiir-ltors are busy around rown, E:ekial is executing the next ~u.'P in his scheme. After drmmng Juhan of a]] his POW on the evening of April 2, he n!alt:ed the )Qllng man .....as han.!ly ....mth the effort. He simply haJ link POW (only nine points), fur tOll little to satisfy Ezekial's oceds. Now E:u:kial knows he is In dire stmits. It seems he will htlve to dmin horh suTVl\Iing Al'cotts (this includes Alison, If she is still around) in oruer to live IIl"MJther decaJe. Ha\lmg consumed his entire sup' rly of blood relatIVeS. he .....ould then remh. &.ekial h::ltes this Idea and has come up WIth an alternative.

•

He figures that after tWO hundn."'I.l )\:ars, the Aprons must h(lv!! some branch or hranches of the mmily elsewhere. Hi~ task now is to find theln ... anJ find them quickly. He has less than t .....o months to act and is probably [l\\.11re that the In\lestigators arc im,ul"cJ. While po....~rflll, he knows he IS wlnerable and ....'llnts to mud ronfronrnoons where po!'~ible. Within the Apron home are Jocument5 and these are what he hop.!s to selIC and use [0 rrnc:k down other branches of the mmily. If this mils, Ilt': ..... ill return and drain the rest of the fum· Ily. Mawe is last on his list for if sl'lt! survives and the last ofl'lt!t POW IS nor neeJed to sus[mn him, he wants to possess her. Once m Marne's boJy. he can Inerally become a baby factory, proJucing chllJren to susrnm his o..... n nccJ for life encr,,:y. In doing this, he 'M:>Uld probably alklw some [0 grow up and expand the mmily ..... hile nthers would die to S.111ate his need lOt life energy. E:ekial's plan at this point is straIghtforward. The thIrd night after the ill\ll,"stij!ators atrlvc (Dr whcoc'\'er the Keeper f('Cls is appropri.'lte). E:eklal will slIp Into the Apron home in an attempt to steal fiamily JXlpers. Locked doors will 1'1(){ stop hun lOr he h.'lS become aJcpt In r«en! ~::I~ at rlckmg locks and illegally entermg homes. He should be able tu get away WIth hiS burglary fairly easIly. The framed mmily tn.'t!, the family photo album, a f('W bundles of letters m II desk drnv.\:r, and mlscella· IlOOUS (){hcr papers are quietly taken and Ezeklalthen di~ away with his ill g(J(ten ~"OOlis. If an illl.'cstlJ,o:ltor IS on ~'\Jafll ur awakr fOr some reason, it is possible he or she may J..'"fCCt and interrur" Ezckial. An encoomer will probahly cause E:ekial to n(.'C. hut it han.! pressed, the unfOrwnatc m\"c~tI~ator should be qlm.:kly dll>patcheJ WIth whatever entemllmng destructive m:q.:ic the Kl'Cpcr chooses to emplny from the son::erer'~ arsenal of ~peI6. An
•

from a strongbox 10 her bedroom. If the Keeper wnnts to pro. viJc dtis oldcr copy of the Family tn.."C, usc Playcr Aid #4 from rhe back of this book Oulian Apcott and both Mame and fntrick Harper lire not listed in this versIon). The mvestigators shoulJ ask al this point why somcone v.'oldJ want old letters, a photo album. anJ a family tree. K~ r 's note: if the Keeper is so inclined, It may be advis. ablo;: to have Erekial's first break·in attempt automlltic.'tlly fail. This could be for any of severnl reasons including having Mattll! accidenmlly discover a dark figure and raising the alarm, fon::ing hIm to flee mto the mght. This \VOUld allow the Keeper to Increase the drama of this sequence by havmg Ezeklal attempt a riskIer break·in, using the arson or other diversion JUSt described.

THE NEXT STEP If d~ investlgators h:JVen'r Jone SO aln:aJy, they shoulJ now consider who might be responsible. One good tactic already describeJ is to srek our srranbters in town. Both Amelia and Marne can attest to the rncl that fC'N outsiders linger in North ruhfldd fot any lengthy time, pausing only to purchase fooJ or boasoline. This option was preViously described and the investi· l}'Itors may already be aware of Clark Woodruff, the stranger in Clarence Monrnugh '5 house. While before, little could be done (lqr.'llly) to irweSnb'3te him. now there is more motivation. Che1::kmg our WooJruff is row easy. Vismng Monraugh's homc wi!! for the first time meet With suo:ess. Clarence i~ an angry man. While he was aslt"Cp, hlS boarder skippc.-.J rown, le:wtng 1115 room an an awful mess. He didn't L'VCn Ixxher to pay the bst few dll)'S rcnr. Unless dlt-'Y have done something pn:viously ill aggrnv:ne Cbrencc, he will admit the invesngHton; to his home if thC)' express nny Interest in finding Woodruff. Obrnining Clan..-nce's permission to Si,'1I.rch Woodruff's room should be I!asy barring total II'Ic.ompetena! on the pan of the mvestigators. 11le bedroom IS II mess. It looks as if someone packed up and left III a hurry. The mattress is askew as if something had been stOn...J under It and the bt..Jlinens are 10 a rude lump in the corner. Tnc doors to the wardrobe are open and It is com· pletelyempty. An overrurm.-ci coffee mug lies on the noor next to the nib>htstand. A window is ajar and paint on the sill is scraped, indicating someone climbed through. Under the bed can be fOund the dead body ofT1Cky, Clarence's terrier. Ezebal was forced to kill him 10 order to keep hinl stlent so he could slip in and Out of the house at nibtilt. Clarence does not ~t know T.1cky IS dead and thmks he somehow got out of the house. When rold of this, Cbn::nce williosc 1/1 D4 SAN anJ ~ome extremely agitnted and irate. This is not Jird:tcd ar the ifl\~stib'arors. bur if he ever learns WooJruff is back in mwn. it is open season on him. At first, d~re is little that would lead the group onw:mJ.. Qarcnce am give them a physical description of the mrm Ilky are now looking for (5' I 0", 160 to 170 pounds, medium build.

•

{'"our:

medium length bushy brown hair, brown eyes, meJlUm com· plexlon. :311d a rJspy voice) which c:m be confirmed hy penplc III [Own who m~t hIm. He has Olore information If the gr{)up IS p:l.tlenl anJ hdp calm him. Not widely known is t1~ fuet rhat ErekUll llrovc to town. Once ar the Montau/,~1 houS<':. he park.J hb car ,mJ \.\I';Ilkl!J everywhere. Clarl!nce remembers rhe car and. bein~ the p<1ra· ooid. yet observant surt, I.'Of II description anJ lict:nse numhcr wl~n WooJruff tlrsr arrived. He was Jnvmg an early modd bbck Studeb.1.ker Dictator Royal TOUTer with MassadlU.-;etts Lu:ense number LUNA4. Questlonmg ten year old l:>twid Montaugh Will re,<;ult 10 more IOlOrmanon. DaviJ at tirstclatms to know Ill/thlll\{. A ~uc ccssful Ps~oIo&'Y roll on hIm reveals thar he IS sc.1red ilnd Ifhi~ grnnJfuther is throWing a rnnrrum in thl! backgrounJ, hb tear is more obvious. A little CO:Lxml,; (:1 successful Pcrsu"JI! roll) will get him to .peak. Ukilrcned If-wid ;lOd whar sc.1.reJ him more was thar this man seemeJ to be willlOg ro rake :In activo;: mle III hringmg destruction on them. DaviJ rook his explorauons one step furrhet. While Mr_ Woodruff(as DaVid calls hIm) was OUl one day, DaviJ manaJ"ted to g'l!t mID the room through the poorly fasteneJ wmdow_ He got a look at WooJruffs belongmgs lind was rurally tlli;cmatcd. Lying on rhe desk were several brl,.duced prmted volumes. David couldn't reaJ tbe writing; It wasn't in English. He was forced to leave before he could gct ,my further bec,1use he heard Mr. Woodruff returning and gn.~ting his gmnJfurher in the living room. Two more bits of in(ormatiun can be learned twm David. He docsn't understand thelT Significance anu may neglect to mention rhem since they seem U01mporrnnr. A sue· cessful Persuade or group Luck roll (m the Kl.~pcr's discre· tion) will j,'Ct him to part with thiS knowledJ..TC and onc roll

The NelCl

•

I1lU~t

he att.. mpteJ for cach fau. (I) O~ l,(the la.~t thIng' David remember~ hearmg I~ the st.l{cmcm "Iho~ ha5tal\l ~ Iwm '29 are back agam lnlc r fcT1n1: . wllh m', rran~.ft HI' h ,,~ since f(lr1.~ltren th .. sredfk Statcllll.'nt , but rcmcmhcrs th.. m..nacing houseguc$! was concerned :It,(JUI IllJ enemies. He Gin Te1.l!" thi~ 11,) the in\'c.sti,gators who m:ly ~u'rect they ;'m! the ones hein),: rdt.'rreJ to. (2) One other o\Jcrhe;ml nmllll('nt m:lkcs no !>enS{' to [)"\'I,!. '" neeJ m(lTC arnalfs!~ \\'as rept.-ateJ mOTe than onLX". DanJ, hemg from uut lJi tnwn, know~ Ilothmg of the AIXOlt I.lmih .lnJ nll';hcani what wa~ (:uJ. He thulIj.!lu "Arnl{l~ W:h ;h;tu;III~' "arrl,:ut.~

H , ~ ~Iatcm .. m

,~ c(mtusmg unlc.\~. 01

(OllM;o:, 01\(' or mono: llf thl' mvc~n~.. tllN m:ll..c~

£Ill' ClmllttUtln

11l1U1lin-ly.

At thi$ point, L( shoulJ be obvioU!> that finding the Mllnraugh IlUU~l' rmd mtcr\'icwm~ ,,, rc~idents is important. TIwre IS a .;hanee the ~roup will filii ro IC:lrn oj' U IIlltlall\. I-Iu ....... vcr. the afternoon after W{"M.!ruff has ~kif"J'l('J (Own, Clan:n(t~ Will go to til(' l.l(t lor .1 ~mJwKh and coffee anJ Ihere will ~rill the bc;lI\~ al'-out hl~ iln!e;11. Soon Iht' whde I{lwn w,1I kllL)w.)('I II Will he no mllTe Ih,1O a Jay hefore the ~T\lUp fll\J~ (lUI :tbolll this unu.~uall"'·cn(..

THE FUNEIW. The lunernl ()j'Jullan Apcotlwill ~\\ 0(1 norm:llly on April 10. hiITnnl-: Interferc",,:c (rom thc m\'c~ugator~_ They are cnct)ur a~'Cd to attenJ hy Am!.'l;a. hut CVCnts may force tneir al\SCn(t~. [I rile)' attcnJ, thc)' will I1nJ tm' funcrnl tl~ be crow,led With ~~111p.1theti' Nurth A~hfidd rc(iJents. AI ......) pre~nt Arc .........·ct:ll bnll))" (rienJs from uut·Of·t{lwn (like the invcsuJ;:aw....). TIl( luncr.al was sffieJulcJ cil.,",u day) alter Julian's Jc;nh in onler to allo" the~ ~p(.'Cial ~ue~h lime m arrive. Their pre)· en.;e I~ mundane anJ onlmaq'. hut the m\'cstig:ator"i might I ~ su~pi(l\)u~ 01 th~'11\. The Keepcr ~holll J be prepared lor rhis ~·ontlll.l:CI\(·y. Note Ihm Illu(h of the tI..""C1W, openly \\"CCrlllg at the !:ondusl0n. The lunt:rall~ men:lfull)' bnc(. a~ rer Julian\ wl\he$. II one mvestigalllr lX"lImc especially do!>C to Julian In [he tm [en ),I:an, he or ~he may 1"It! a~keJ hy Amelia rn ~ay II few \\,)rJ~ I:"It!fure the garhereJ (row,\.

IHI-: CHA.'m COMi'1I-:NCES I\J~UIn~ the Sltipect l~ the only option the ,l:!RlUr has. If the). belK'\'e 11 coulJ be E:eh11. all ~hou lJ /....l. All)Otle left behmJ In Nllrrh AshtielJ will have an lIllC\'endul tune though m.1Y he laler !:lllll:lIct.·J r-,.. tclepliol'll! ami iI~kcJ tn Il~low ,linn".

•

The !troup has rwo major leads here, thou~>h they may [\Of realize it. Rrsr, they can l'asily rl"ltO;! the the license plat!! of lhe Studcooker and this will (:vcntuaJly JeaJ them to E:ckial. &''COnd, if they reali:e the importance of the mmily trt."e and Apcou l.ocnealol.'Y, they may anticipate what Ezekial is doing (but probably IlO( ""'hy) and Ix,at him to the proverbial punch. E.'1ch option IS JcscrlbeJ sepamtely.

GENEALOG'>? If the Importance of the papers taken from the house is discov· ered. ii'll! group may believe thar the ru;s"ii:mt is after Apoorts in geneml. Since" mm ily tl'l.'C was taken, perhaps there are more Araxts around th:tn the: ones III North Ashfield. Am!!lia knows ot none, but !,oenealogy was never her strong SUiL In their h:mJs, the r layers should h:\\"e all ac!ual copy of d'k: fumily [ I t t (Player Aid #1 from Cold Spot), either provided them I'I.-"<:emly by Amelia or carned over from the first SO!nario. Rej.'ll.nlless, examination o( the mmily tree will reveal that there IS one branch of the fumily that is unaccounted for. It Jates back to before the Civil War and a name on [hat branch bears a d.'llt: of' birth, but no death IS reconled. In all mher cases, death dates arc reconled on the (amily tl'l.-'C. The name m question IS John Kcelmg. John Kedlllg was rhe son of Margaret Apcon lmJ Joseph Kecling. Born on November 30, 1859, both his parents were ,k.>aJ by the time he WlIS 13 ',-';ars 0l..1. Amelia knows nothing 01 thiS bntllch ~lf tho: fumily since it pn.-.Ja[l:s her limited knowledb't!. A logical Jcducoon would be thm John Keeling ended up in the care of!he Keeling family rather than the Apcotrs. Several mcan~ of trackm)! down d'IC Ka:linb'S is possible. Rrsr, searching the Aprotr home for more clues to their wl'IC\'\." about'S is possible anJ may meer WIth success. In the :lttic arc CTl1tt!S anJ trunks of old belongings, everything from disncs to linens to furniture. [fa thorough search through the dusty mess is made, in the bottom of one old trunk are a few bundles oflet· ~rs. Items Within the trunk (hte it to arounJ tI'IC time of d'IC en'il War. The top layer conSISts of blankets, but under that are old newspapers and the aforementioned letters. Two of the letters are IIll!X'rtant. The first, Jated Dt'CCmbe:r J, 1859, is (rom Margare! Apron Keeling to her mother, J"ne A!tcrson Apcocr. It is a birth announcement of one John Keeling. Player AId #26A is 3 trnnscn pt of this letter. The second was apparently wntten soon ofter the first. In it, she regretS her fumily I)(X being able to see lhe m.>woom, bur wintry conditions in Royalston make a trip unwise for eitl'lCr her or her family. TI'IC transcripr for this .second letter IS F1..1)\!r Aid #26B. It is cert:linly possible the investigators will be daunted by the rrospect of se3rching the house, particula.r1y the .lusty, rob.... \.-!J fllted attic. Other options remain. Going to the county A.'COrus office III GreenfielJ is a possibility. Checking through I\'C('lrUs [heTC is possible and l'\'cn prolonged rese:lI1:h is as long as d'IC group asks lOr specifIC items or succeeds in a Persuade t'(1[J. If the lalter is successful. 01'W! researcher may assisl the clerk

•

I'"our: I'"ull Circle

PlAYER AID #26A: LETnR FROM MARGARI:.T KEELING TO HER MOTtiER ANNOUNC ING TI-IE Bllm-I Ot· tiER SON

December 3, [859 Oc.1r Mom,

I know you wilt be most harPY wilh rhis lerrer. You are now a proud grandpMent. I gavc birth ro a SOI1, J~,hn, on Novcmber 30. He is a he::tlthy boy who resembles Pa. 1 e:m', wait to visit "nd show him off.

Please Jon't ....,orry a bit. Both I nml John are in f..,ood l'lCalth and f..'OOd spirit'S. Joseph is firle and sen.ls his heSt wishes. The snow up here in Royalston has bt."Cn a bit over· ....~lelming this )'ear. but If rhe "..e1t her dears, we will try to visit for ChriStnl:l~. Give my best to PH flnJ rhe fJmlly.

Margaret PlAYER AID #268: LI:.TTER SENT FOUDWING i>t.AvER AID #26 December 15, 1859 Dear Mom, [t $e\!ms we willll(){ be able to make It to North Ashfield for Christmas flfter all. E:trly snows here have choked tl'lC roads. I fcar th'-'ll loven rhis letter m3Y not: reoch you umil the New Year. Royalston is complcre\y frozen in.

I'm sorry 1M: won't be able to make it, OO[ \I,\! will viSIt as soon as '>I."e cm. Dr. Rln.crs saiJ we should only f..'O when the wcarher is clear since if coulJ affect young John's health, ami mine as well. We really miss you and will remember you 1Il our nightly prayers. WW:,

MargateI' in Finding the Keeling name, but may not look through hlf:.~ unsupervised. Sadly, the Keehng namf: is not llsred anywhere. No one bv that ndme has ;,....·cr rcsiJed ill Franklin County, at least as fur 31> Lhe n.-ccrus show. Hov.-ever, till're IS one plocc tbar may be checkeJ ... marriab'C ccnific.'ltes. If nlarri3j..'\! ccrtlflcates nn Ale for the year 1856 are searched, one hsting the n3mes ~Marl.'3rct Apoxt" anJ ~Joscph Keel ing~ IS found. joseph'~ place of birth IS listed as Royalston, Massachusetts, while Margan:t's is li_'itcJ as North Ashfield. This is a new link ro tllllt town that can be fol· loo't!(l up on.

•

PLAYER AID #27: MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT IN TIlE Failing this, the last gooJ option IS to St.'Ck OUt olJ issut!s of ) l.fNE 18, J856 ISSUE OF THE the GrunfuM Ga~~'tu und Corm"eT, These are (\\I:\ilable in the Franklin O:>unlY Historical Society in Greenfield, their offices GIlliENFlEUJ GA7EITE: ANO COURIER in Greenfield, and the Calvary Episcopal Church in North KEEIING-APCOIT Abhfidd, all locations the group should be well familiar WIth. An issue dated Wednesday, June 18, 1856 c()mains a small mar- Married last Sund:IY \\ ere Joseph K(.'eling and Margarel riage announcement (PIa~-er AId #27) and viml information rhat Apcott. Joseph is the eldest son of Geoffrey :lIld Wilhelmina Kt..'Cling of l{()yal~lon. Margarel ~ from ~onh A.~hfield and is could leaJ the investigators 10 the mooem d'lY lG..'Clings. Ihe younge:;t child of Walter :lnd Jane Arx"Ott. Joseph n..'CenlWith this infurmation in hand, they can try to heaJ off Jy purdl3.'>Cd a small f:lml ou~!de of Royalston where he &ekial Apcon by finding rhe lG..·dings first. As better intencb to rai~ chkkens. researchers, they should be able to do so quickly assuming they n.'ttivl-d these clues in a timely manncr. More on the town of \Jet with lL It is not: recommendeJ, hov.'t"ver, that d)(' investiga· iW)-ablon and the Keellnb'5 is in the section cntltled ~FulJ tors already be members as this would drastically alter the Cin:le: Royalston.~ coursc of the SCt:nario. The Society is one Jedicated to discussion and research more than active investigation of the paranormal. Meetings are helJ every Smurclay afternoon and these can sometimes drag THE LICI~NSE Pl.ATE Woudruff/E::ckial will have made a clean getl1W:ly so any hope well into the evening hours. Occasionally seances are held and to ..:arch him on the roods is a ripe dream. HOWl'Ver, with the use of OUjifl boards and tarot decks is commonplace. Hcenr.c number and vehicle description In hand, It is possible to Headquartered in a houlit' purchaseJ OUt of the organi~ation's trace the auromobile. If the group is on friendly terms with treasury and special donations, the Society publishes a month· SheriffTaggenofthe Franklin County Sheriffs [kpartment, he ly, twO pabOC newslener called the Luna fhrk News. This l,.ocner· may Tlln these checks fur them. Otherwise, they will h;lVe to ally contains the minutes of the month's meetings and a few viSIt the Dcparrmem of Momr Ve\)icles' office in Boston, articles on the supernatural by Society members. Circul:ltion of Gettmg to Boston will mke a few hours by train from this newsletter is generally restTicted ro the mcmberslup and a G~nfielJ or a whole llay by automobile. The office of the relative handful of interested parties III the BostOn area. A dia· DMV is open between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. weekdays. gram and description of the Ulna Pnrk Socit.."ty's hou$C is pI"(> When they arrive, rht.--y will have only brief wnit. n)(' clerk is vided later. obviou~ly l'K"W at the job and is still trying to gel used to tI)(' rou· In his travels, Erekial sought a place where he could settle tine. Tllis inexpc:!rience can be to the group's advanmge. down and contlllue to learn. When he diSCO\'ercJ the Lun..'l Parle If they go [0 the clerk and ask him to dleek tI)(' license num· Society, he determined that It was ideal for his needs. Hen:. he I)t!r, he is hesItant to do so. He isn't sure he can release such could conduct all kinds of dark research without 3n}Qne becom· mformation without authorIZation. A successful Fast T.'l!k roll ing suspicious about it. The Society's occult librnry is q\lltc l,.'O()(.l will b'Ct hml ro look up the records. If the Keeper decides the and has served him "-'!ll over the past t .....'O to three ~rs. In addi. story the group is uSing i~ partiailany good, thcre may be a tion, he hopes to gradually mke control of the l,'TOUp and turn bonus to the die roll. it to evil purposes. Already, he has It few follo"-'!rs and dupes The Mass.'lchusetts license plate LUNA4 is I"t.'gistcn:d in the within the ranks and given rime, he will undoubtedly convert name of the Luna Park Society. nlCir address is 90 1 Breeds some others and scare off" the rest. Right I"IOW, he is considcred Lane, Boston. Thc \'ehide is a block. 1929 model Studeb.1ker a valued member and few suspect his troc nature. Dtcr.uor Royal TOllrer. A little invcstil,.':ltion of the luna Pnrk Society can turn up a wealth of information. It IS f\Ot n secret sexiety though it is restricted, allowing no female or mmoflty members (something that is fuirly typical of the times). Gaining knowloob'C on this group is easy. Asking local pnraps)'chol~rjsts and professors in tht.'Ology and occult at area colleges and universities will gain 11)(s non·profit organization is a !:TOUp of occult enthusiasts most of what is needed. who study and discuss the sUp!.!rnatural in weekly meetin b'5. The current president of the Luna Polrk Society is a p:lra· Founded in 1920, it is v.'e1J funded due to the generally affluent psychologist nameJ John Arthur Corrington. This mil. thin, naTUre of its membership. There are Mty members in this all fifty year old is largely a figurehead and spends more ofhis tinlC male society. most o( whom arc amatcur enthusiasts as opposed researching the paranonm! than he does running the organiz...... to v.-elliearfll"ti researc.hers or professional parapsychologISts. It oon. He is independently wealthy, h:lVing inhenred a small furis possible the investigators belong to a similar l,.'TOUp them· rune from his family. 1bc Society's trcasurer, Gordon Pr)l:e, is seh..es and may know of this one (if appropriate, Knowled!,'I.! of simiL1r economic and social background as Coppinl,.'1on, but rolls may be called for) or even have had some peripheral con· is (.oompcrent enough to conduct occurate bookkeeping. TllC rest

THE LUNA PA1~1< SOCII-:~

•

f'"ollr:

•

of the membership is rank and file and every year on the winter solstice, a new prcsiJem and treasurer is elL"Cted. Coppington has served eight consecuuve terms as presidem and Pryce has been treasurer for duce years. The SocIety IS an open organization. AIl}'01lC who appears rc5pL'Ctable (middle or upper cbss) will !,.'lIin admittance as tong as they aren't reporters or an)One who may be Jisruprive to the I,oented atmosphere. Membership is re.strict&1 to only d'\QSe who alll convince a p:mel of members that they are serious and em make a "aluable contribution to the organization. N(~w members must pay a one time initiation fee of one hundrcJ dollars to join. Afterwards, annual dues arc tv.ellty dollars though speci.11 donations arc somedmes soliciteJ. All membets have fult acttss to the Society's house includi ng Its rather subsmnri..11Iibrary, photolab, and orhcr IIttractiOns. Ever}Orte is given two copies of the monthly l"\e'A'slener and is invIted to join in on wl'Ckly discussions. Attendance is not required, but is strongly L·ncouraged. Most members miss at least some meet· mgs; f;..'W till to attend at least o nce a month. In nddition to this, the group owns five vehicles. Each is a sillilY. bl'lCk Studebaker Dictator ~'al TOlirer, a fine quality though IlOt hIghly IUXUTlOUS nve passenl.JCr :uuomobile. All are idclllical to the one Woodrufti'E;ekml was drIVing and their respective Jio:nsc numbers are LUNA], LUNA1, LUNAJ, WNA4, and LUNAS. Members may freely use thesc as long as they sign them in and out and n!fuel them when approprinre. At'I()(her perk is a lun.1 Park life insurance plan (for an adJi.

tional small monthly fee, a member {.tetS a $5,COJ renn life insurance policy). Finally, as many mt:mbers are a(f1wm, busi· ness conllC(:tions an! ofren made in the Society making them more th:m a simple group of occult enthusiasts.

CHI-;CI
LUNA PAm< Socn,:T'l/ This is rcbtively e:lsy as long as the grcM,lp doesn't assume the whole organization is a nest of cultists. Remember, it is an open orJ,'anization. Visitors who indicate they mi{..nt be prospccri\"e members will be treated to the grand tour. TIle sign up sheet for the vehicles is clearly posted on a bulletin bo:ml in the fi:YJt:T. When one checks to s('C who haJ LUNA4 our and when. they will be dis,1ppoimed. The vchicle hasn'r been sLgned out III o\'er thrt."C wreks so according to this Jocumcnt, it never left the I,'rounds. This is confirmeJ wIlen the garal,'C is checkN. PmkL.J inside are all fIVe black Studebakers. Quietly asking arounJ about the vehicles indiClres few seem to pay any attention to them and it would be easy for a ITIember or SClVllnt to "oorrO\v" one unnoticed for a time. Eventually a servant may be encoun· tert.'
Ashllcld. 1ne real Clark WooJnlff was a contemporary of E:d.aal'$ who dlt.'l.1 In 1722 :mJ is buriL'l.l In the aid .5C.'Ctlon of rhe North Ashfield O:nletery. The ali..1s E::ekial now uses IS MlInm~uc reister. When toUring d-.e Society, !'I<.lthmg comes into View rllm ....'(>m~ unusual. The library is striking l.....>cause of t he number of \'olumc.~ II conr~uns ("'ell (J'l.ocr O!1o.' thousand). Overnll. the hous~ I~ wd\.tumishcJ. ample t."Vi&!ncc that the organiZ3rion IS "~11 lunJt...J and tmancially "ound. The half Jo:crt or more members "ill, :arc generally here nt any given nme are well dresseJ and o!:Niously men of son'll." nlClll\S. A handful of sef'\~.mts aTe' also prcc;enl and spt~nJ rhelr time mamrainmg the premlSCli and serv· m~ the members Jnnks and fOod. Dunng good wcather, a fc:w members may even ~ out on the back lawn playing croquet. After all else fulls, sol11t.'One may gIVe OU t the dCJ;Cl'lption of Waoc.!rult they have. UntOnunalcly, II is SO generiC as to be able to be.- apphed to an)' of a dcr.cn members of the Society as "\:11 as a couple of the SCrVltnts.

Bl~EAKING AND ENTI~RING fbh:l~

mh unless the investI~..ators are paruculnrly pnranoid, mto the Society is po~sible. At nighr, only a couple live-m ser'\'ants arc preM:nt, the butler and the cook.. Unleu they h()rribly bunglc the operanon, , hey should be able to j:;aln <.lUlek anJ easy ac:ccss. Thc donrs are never lockeJ IInJ scan:h1IlE! tnc structure cnn occur unhll1JereJ. ThIS will lead nuwhcrt!, h~lwever. Slightly more rISky is to slip lM"ay Juring a tour of the premises, This may be to RCt a doset look at some rooms Of per· haps to ~ mm the of1,.taniUltion', fllcs. A~ne C\u~rht at rhlS ....+.0 C\n!1Ot talk his or her way out "'Ill be qecn.'ll along with hreakln~

==.._--==

fr!_ ......

' IRST'LooR

J KITCHCN

DINING

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PAN""

,

,

,

""'NO

-

hiS fncnJs. If II cnnlC was cummltted (t1'dt, prOf't!ny dllll~OC. etc.), the Socicfy will call rhe pohc:e and h.1\'c the nA'enJer()) hurk'll Into Jail. They will rrosecu te offl....Jers to the fullest ~tem of tlte law. The,r attorney IS quite capable anJ wllh I'll.... · ty of moncy backmg him up, il'r\'c~tigalQrs under vahd cil:1rJ,,'Cs will vcry probably be convicted. resulnng III whatever p... ni~h· me1ll is appropriate.

JOINING THE SOCII-:T'l VISitors who exlubn n dc~in: 10 Jl~n the luna I'J.rk SoclCty an: invited 10 anend one of the \.\ttkly Jiscusslon meenn~. TI"lCsc

occur C'Vl:ry SalUnJay bcgmnrns: at U)O P.M. The next four

Saturdays full on April 8. 15, 22, anJ 29 (see the calcndnTS accompanying this SCl':nario). Only rcspectnble appcarlng people wi ll be inVited, bur t he SOciety is t.'3.bocr to t.",courage n.'crUitmcnr :;0 some member is likely to 5UPPUrI an 1Il\ft.-sn~tator who is "'1::11 JresSL-d :mJ 'M!ll spoken. On the <:xher hand, if he is .K:'COmpanied by a bunch of seed}' characters who k)()k more SUlteJ to II San Francisco dance hall, (hIS coulJ aJversd)' affect Ill) chanO!~ s:reatly of bemg ask&! 10 JOIn. The inrtlation process allows one or more of the 1rr.·Csrr~ tors mort.' prolongeJ exposure to the memi:lt."TS, pcrmlmng them to Judge who may be suspicious. Ezekial (in the ~uisc of Montague Feister) will be lurkmg m the Luna Park Sncit:ty fur ho'M!ver long the Keeper Jccidr.'~. It may be as liule as a Jay or two or as much ru; a couple \\'l.'Cks. By the end of the mnnth, however, he is forceJ due ro orne conswunts to act. Ezekml'$ actJ\'Ity ar (he Society is ro res.:arch what he hru; found in the oOC\.HTlC'nts se~ from the Apcon: home. Much of his tune will be spent in rhe ol'b'am:anon's library and when Its resoolCrS are locking, he will b-'U to the Boston PublIC Ubrary

----=====-

THE LUNA PARK SOCIETY ...... SecOND fLOOR

MNN OFfICE

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WAff!\! I'UIINACf STORAGI! IIU,ff!1I

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Oul Luna Park

,WINI!

C£UA11

, lAUNDRY OOOM

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ANDLOUNOI!

•

,

PRINTING

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and area university libraries. Ulmmndy, wh:lt he is trymg to find is tl1C! Kt.-eling fumily. The informaonn is ea~ily (ounJ in geneaklf:,.jcal recorus at the Socicty anJ in public rt.'<.:orJs at the public librnry. The only variable is how ICIng II rakes E.tckial to acquire the information. For the sake of pacing and riot. tilt' 1
SocieTY's hc:u.lquaTtcrs. 01sual vi~lfOrs a~ u~lI:rlly in and out wiThin lin hour so w Lx' able ro Ilin.: fM n longer ]'ot!rkxl m~y rt!quirc S(11l1l'One t() try to jl.1in thl: s..lCiL'ty.

STOPPING EZI-:l<:IAL IN BOSTON

Rll.thcr than wall for Ezcklal to rnke acrion and h'(l \l1 R{"I")'3I~r(\Il, the IIWCSlIg:'lWTh may find thcm'!Clvcs in the 1X'siU(\ll that d"lt.")' can act uj:(
bemg shadowcJ, he WIll rrol"h'lhly flee and hC'ad Stt:lif.:hr fot Royalston. An altcrt)am'c IS to ~~I Eu:kial':. address Irom the Society, eithcr by ;lsklng a member where he Ilve~ (rl!ljuirl!s a suc· ccssful Fa~1 T.'tlk mil to l.'Ct somL'OOC [0 part with thi~ intonlla ti\~n to a total srrunb'\!r) llr ,,>erring a sllrrcrritklll~ look at the ml'ml:oer..hlp file~. E:ckial ha~ Pl\lI>pcrcJ ovcr the p..'t~c de"l.!e. He now rent:. a house III Boston. The house iuclf sccms normal excert the h~scmcnt has llt.'\.'T\ turned into a kind of Satanic shrine or tcm· pic. $.:x the .;cp:rratc description und Jm,t;r.1.m of the hou!oC I,lr mur.. details. In II arc thc sl'l.:cial chnractcmtics o( the hou>iC as well as unu:.llal peMls intruders may con/ronl.

ObscT\'1Il$! EzckmVMontil$!ue (rom II JISCTt.'Ct dl~tance docs Iinle J..'ood. He aCb normally anJ Jocs l)()thing to atfmcr suspi· CIOn. Nel#,lxlts h:I\'e nothing baJ (() say about him and he I" known t~) '>OfocnmCli gIve p"~rmint~ til children playmg In 1he ~..rrt\.'t \llIhlJe IllS home (dV! m\"CMI~::Irots may octu.1l1y wit, lll'liS this). TIlCt'e arc only t\\.'O n....sonahle ways to conflnn that Monta,eu.: 1$ actU.1\1y £:chal. That IS 10 Ii>llow hun when he le,wcs ~l ~'O W R()y.II~ton or to brc:\k into hi.) home. If they d\(xlSC to ocr. either Ix.'(',msc they havc haru proof that th,,,, have their man or becau$t: t1~. liTe paranoid. the >eene ~holllJ pby OUt naturally. In all bkebhooJ, (he ~'fOllp Will

arrang\: somc SOrl of ambush anJ either rry [0 capture or lISS.'l5· sin:lte E::ekial. lie is a fOrln lJahlc opponent, ho....'{.'\'ct, .1IlJ Inlormarion on hun can be found in the Nrc S(.'Ctlon, One fortun(ltc benefit tilt' InVestli,oan1ts mllr have I_~ tlut Ezcld.11 nuJ,!fu not mstantly recognize them, A JecaJe hM pa~ since CoIJ Spot and EzcklaJ's observ:Uions of the group ....·hen he took on physlCa\ll)rm \\'\!I'C prolxlbly flccnng. Unless he cnallm· ten.-d them In North Ashfield earlier lI\ this scenario. toc,), may be able to dl·\.:dve lum bnefly before he n.-rognlzcs them anJ rakt-s aprmpriatc lICtlon.

EZE1htcJ area~ are Jcswbt.....1below,

ground (Keeper discTi:[ion) must attempt one KnowleJ/-,'e roll pa book. StlcceSS means thm eIther the lX)()k has already been read or mformll.tlon ",Irhm 13 PQh'eS IS already known. Each book will n.·waru a successful readt.'T +2% Occult. A ~SUC'CC5-5ful reaJcr~ I~ one \.\00 Sllcco..J~ m the appropnar.: langu.~-'l' skill roll,

EZEKIAI:S BEDROOM Locared at the hack of the hou!oe. Ezek!al's bedroom sl..'cm$ norObl'lOUSlv a room w~re Ezcinal spends qUite some nme, the mal. Upon inttL.11 eXlllmnanon there IS cvIJcnt only a LuJ.-'e tanuh' room I~ ",-"'I furnished wuh hunring rrophles dL'O;lr'dt· lx..J, warurobe. open d-.eM cont1lllung clothes, mghtstanJ. In!;! the walb. Included amon.ll the~ are tWO o.koer heoos, a small mble. and a couple ch.1irs. lJnJer the clothes in tht chest boar') head, anJ a bbck. bear's head, H .lIlbring above the lire- can be found a cipr hox conr.lI.ntng ten one hunJn:J Jollus pL1Ce I~ the head lJf a lari,oe mountain /-,!{x\t and below that IS a bins and $730.00 in assorteJ ot:hcr bills. .30-06 holt,actlon deer rifle. It IS not loodeJ anJ ti'ICTC IS no ammumtlon lOr It m the house (it is ti'ICR' for show). KITCHEN In aJJmlln to s/"'\'eral comfOrtable d\lllfS mcluJlng l\\.\} Initially, this aproears nonna!. It is modern With :I ~mk and large, leather, .....lngback chatl'li, the room comalru a wooJbox. fulla:f, InsUlatOO Ice box, mble anJ counters, cabmcb. an..! bear ~km rug. a latt"!.' oak desk, anJ tour bookcases. 10eliC more. W~re til the rest of the house there are wooJen nOOts. bookcases are cmmmt.-o With a wiJe IIs50rtment of literature. thIS room IS tiled. A narro ..... enrry~'lIY leading off from the su..le but most common are o.,:cult texts of every Size and de!l<:rt(>" door and 11\10 tile kitchen includes the doorway to d~ base-non. Ocrull enthUSIasts will note man)' of t~ socnlled ~clas. ment smirs. SICS" of the field, AUglI$un Calmcr's TTtGII5C' 011 the Appc,mtr.ct 01 Spmu and on Vampl1'C$ (1746. l'I French edItion), Margare( AtTIC MUrrd)"s 114- Wllch-Cult m Wtsrnn Europt and ~ God of llu The st:urs off the family room leaJ to the attic. whKh E:ehll \t'lrmcS (lxxh in English), Spren~~r anJ Krntmer's TIw Mallttu use~ only mmml!llly. (A map IS nut mcludctl.l H~'CV1!r, then: M"kjICanlm (a 1928 rrarulatl(Jn mto English), Guauo'5 are \YI!II O\'er t'ol.'O dozen boxes and trunk.~ up here that belo~ Compenalilm M(llc{icttrum (a 1929 translation IntO En~llsh). to fonner resIdents. The content" are unrelated to ~ckial or lind Montague Summers' The HlSlory of Witrhcrofl (lIIJ his pl(lns. The slopmg ceiling of the attic is cooted WIth soot. ~ (1924, m English). Examining these :mJ other The chimney h:ls a bad leak. and smoke and soot have been J.oet· boob on the shelw~ will reveal rhlll each is replete WIth mar, tin~ into tl~ IIttlC tOr )l!ars, Clever irl\'t!Stlg3tors couIJ prohably J!1n T\l.l(e~. al"'J'.1r~ndy scrawled (here by EzekiaL Some IlUfe5 3rt' i,'t:t IIW:l)' With a creJibie arson effort if ~l inclined Jetbl\'c of ulIlduSlons made by the authors and (l{hcrs Simply c.111 atrennon III v;m0ll5 passages, If tile mVesri~':llOts get caught BASEMENT up 10 tim, they will waste their till'Ie for nothmg wmren here The Stairs ..town arc sw rdy, but creaky and tI~ fuse box is loont.-d under them. While there is an electric lighrftxrure, thc bulb ha~ anYThing ro do with maTTers IU h:mJ. At beSI, they will ICllrn thllt feISter may have substantial occult knowlcJl,'C. has lxen removed 50 attempting to turn on the lights will Jo Rc.1Jing the books can be of beOl'fit. Professionlll no 1.'00I..I. Anyone emering the basemenl must brmg a light ()ccultist~ nnd paraps)\:holOl.olS(S may "cry wdJ haw aJre.'k.ly InrruJcts will quICkly note that the north end o( the IxuereaJ many t'li' all of these. howevcr. All)\loc With such a bock-

f AMILY ROOM

""'"".

EZEKtALAPCOITS BOSTON RESIDENCE

.

.

,' ••.•. .••.•. - ••.• - - - .•• - ••.• - - - - -- - - - - - - -' , fiRST Pt.OOR

PATIO BASfMfNT

,---------------------r----,

EZEKAlL'S 6tDROOM

fAMILY

ROOM

KITCHEN

DINING ROOM

SITTING IIOOM

UVlNG

c

ROOM

c

PATIO

GARAGE

mem is one bl1.oe Satanic temple. separared from the rest by heavy black cumins. An altar block is at the far end of the room !lWay (rom the staiT5. L1tCT examination will show it to octually be fushioned of woocl, bur painted (0 appear like a grayish stone mass. The center of the floor is markcJ with a Ia~, red pentagram llI'ound which are scrawled a series of incomprehensible Satanic and CIlb.'llisric s\11lbols. Thirteen block candles are evenly spxed around Ihis pentagram and though no. lit, they are partially melted. Two tables arc near the srnirs, each covered with a black, silk doth. On these are II ~'arit:ty of ritunlistic items ...small copper bowls containing various herbs (marijuana and hashish being among them), a pair of ornamental. but functional sacrificial d'lggCrs (eqUivalent to

knives domg I D6 dam:lb>e), a doren or more black can· a lar!.'C (,'OOt's skull (successful L.'lO!q,'Y or Biology roll to I J."',,",,,re the spt.'Cies), a silver planer, six silver chalices, and 1af!,'I!

•

..dUltever else the Keeper chOOSC!s to place. here. Han~,'ing on the walJ nearby are six black, silk robes complete with hooJ5. There is nothing overtly Jangt:mus in the basement unless Ezckial or his follo....-ers are prcst!nr. Howt.·ver. [here :lTC some special thm!,'S on the altar. On it is a small, black axton clorh on which are the following Items: one saCTifici.1l daru,'l!r, one copper bowl. Oil{' silver chalice. a pair of hamkuffi;, anJ a pair of leg manacles. Examinll1g the 11ltar more closely reveals the presence of drbJ blooJ. Samplt:.S tl.lkcn for later analysis will confirm that both human and animal blood lire prescnt. The final fe.'1ture is one that can get the investlg:lwni into trouble. Recessed into the back side of the :Iltnr :t.TC t ....o shelves. E:lCh contains a book. The firsr is rhe Bridcw.Illl-Jl· tion of Friedrich Wilhelm von Junzr's Namdt:s.s Ciliu nnd the second is a lc:t.ther bound m:muscript enrideJ A TWJllst on Int! Bluck Am. Each is J escribed sep.lrate!y on the next page.

•

EZEK1AL'S UBRARY, NAMELESS CULTS leat~...

beSl:

~ble

qualit)', this eJi n:J\\,N anJ conraills typogrnpillcal errors and mistrnnsL1tiOrb. to the Invest!- Namekss Cul{J IS mort' lully Jcscribed in the fifth eJltion Call ,l:atnrs (oa:ulu.'>u anJ rarar5)'Chol~l$lS may aHemp! of CthlClhu rules 11M Ch:t05lum's Krt,II,·r'5 Compendium. The presc~ of the JIr(~ fl)n~ (also kfl('M'n a~ the Bla~k Knowk."l.Ij.,'C «lll~). It IS unlikcl')' any h:J\,t: ever seen a copy. II ." ~ruteJ to be a pubhslx..J translation of a (.'Verl more rnre Book) IS had cnou¢l, but E:ckial has been ~ kinJ {b to aJJ German teXL SAN 10l'~ for reaJmg 1/11$ IS I D8!2D8 anJ II margin 1'lC.'lteS. These Will be d~ 1f1\'estig:IIOfS' firsl ta5tc 01 the n"-Iulrt's 1i.)fIY clcill ",C'I~b of stuJr. In Engil~h, It has a x3 ~rdl Cthulhu Myth<>!; In tI'II.' cnmpm).!n an.1 will only he expcnenct:'J mulupllcr ami ~UC(es~;ful re:WeTl\ g;tJn +12% Ohulhu Mytlxlil>. III the Il(termath. Fill! Cin:/.e will be kmg compk'tC l'C~ an.,.. Spells (onl:lu\l..J :m~: C,IVQisl1l15,!i C~-acgha, C,ll/DIsmlss one C'lIl aJcqu;ucly 5!lkly tillS hook. Shub-NiJ:):urath. Summon/BlnJ D:trk Young of 51mb· Ma'l:in notc."s are :1 ).,'Cnernl runninll; comfT'l(:nmr}' on the Ni~urmh, Com,k;[ Horned Man (Ny.ul:uhotcp), Coowet book's contems, Qhser\l:lnons maJe by tfu: author as well ;\s Brother (Ghoul). ContaCT Zhar, C.,IVDismiss AIathodl, his conclusions a1'l.: notcJ by E:cki"l whu m;lkes mther subdued Summ\ln/BmJ Byakhcc. umt:lCt Da~'On, Contact ChilJren of comments in ).,'CllCrnl. B\' the enJ, notes induJc." rcmark.~ like £)a~ln (l'\..'t'p Ones), RL'\,\vlfy (Re-slIfrcctlOn), Call Forth That ~tht!rc IS H greater lruth thm Ill)' Master h:ls 1'101 )'\'!I fL-velllcJ ((I Wh.d, ShoulJ NO! Be (Call/Dlsnllss Nyogtha), Call Hnn, C,1l me" :lnd M\'on JlInzl knew much morc Ih.1n ~ expresseJ here." A rare,

non

"':'IS

h,.,.,mJ [(.me of at

rubll!>hcJ

In

184; an..! may he koown

Sj"OO.' Dt.·... iI (Cont'al:t MI·Go). C reate B.1.rrier of Naach·lllh, An Idea mil reveals thllt E:ckial may h:wc IIlti'nded to I'Ur
EZEK1AL'S LffiRARY, A TREATISE ON THE BlACK ARTS J\lhll~llCt.! 11\

1803 hy An occulnst named R. M. Stouffer, this claims to contain Jcscriptlons o( real Ii(e Witch co...ens, "'1t.1nic cul[~, \'..1mf'lru, iycanthl'()("es. monster<;. and Jemons 01 ,,"'o!f"j' Iype. One hundreJ are behC\'(~d to havc been prmt· ,,"J. a hllnJful entcril\l: tht' coJlccnons o( majOr libraries (MlloblOnl!.: Univer\.11 this is a pm.....J t~'me Amon.!: occult schol:lrs
an'Mmg mYlholo,:lcal belll~'!I anu emme:; from al'OllnJ "'Ie ""x-Id (pnm:1fI1y European anJ MIJdle E1.stem In otl~..jn) is mlc.rma· non on dw: Cthulhu Mythos. Spells anJ ti"lL" Jc.o;crlJ"lKm (If their cff..'Cts are qUite dean)' gwen anJ can he learned f.1lriy easily, As a treaTise 011 tI'Ie occult nnd wltchcrntt:, 11 IS f1aweJ. KOl)wledJ.:('ahl~ readers !\lay l'C aNe til glean ;1 hur amouni 01 usc(ulrnatl."rial from thc text while tho.se ....+.0 arc ",1\I1Ct'~ ma~' learn 1:q."\JS infOrmation. Readers wilh 40% or mure In Occuh skill who succeed III Ihclr Read EIl~.{ish rolls b'OlIl the (oIlowlll~: +3% Q:cult. +3% Cthulhll MYlhos, +1% History. Those With lc"'~ Ihan 40% Occult who make suc..'t'ss(ul Re,.d Ens.:lish mils gam only +1% Occult nnJ +2% Crhulhu Mythos. A Tr.·lJtLsc OIl the Oluck Arts causes the Inss of 1/1 05 SAN nnJ has a x4 spell multiplier. RcqulreJ sfUdy nme is sixtl..'cn wcch. l1,is \'olume'~ spells aT'(: its mosrJan~:erous dement.. uk..' od'M'r informallon wlThm, somc o( The spell~ arc faulty. Mml o( Its o\'er tifry ~llClls are wholly hogus and will 1t.1"'C no effect i( cast.. Howevcr, here I~ a Iisr of spells (hal Will ha\'c some dft.'Ct if attemJ"leJ, Ixll 1'lC.>I: nccess.1f1ly the effect amKlptlTeJ \10,' the aster; (I) Call At\:' Sf'lT1t: Thl~ IS Summon FI1\,' Vampire as per [he Call of Cthulhu rules. (2) HokJ Fire SPirit: TIlis is a fI~ I:>IIlJiI\l! spcll fl)f FIt\:' V:lrnpires. It Simply uses up the caster's m:lJ!K pomn anJ automaOClII)' (ails to blllJ. (3) C.1t1 Ga'l.ooyle: TillS is Summon Nlgl1t~unt a.s per till: DIll of Cthulhll rules. No VCT'iIOll 01 ~B",J Nii.:hTb':llmt~ IS In this text.. (COIlIIIlW,-.d (II lOp of Ilt'.XI po.wJ

(4) Profl..'Ctivc Pentagram: PurportcJ in the book to be a kind of circle of prote<:tion. it has no ....ff...'Ct. It C:1n be ..... ISt around the people to be prorecrcd or arounJ a crcawre to be entrapped. Tnking I1ftttn mmutes to create. Lt msts the .;:mcr ten magic points and I 02 SAN. The book dearly srnrcs that ~ ... no d3l-"'ITlon may cross ITS houndaries." (5) Ignlre: Costing , hl'l.'C magic poilU~ an.1 no SAN. d ..... caster 1l\UmlUrs a ftw \\'0015 and concentrates (lLl a tllll,'t-'t, typically an unlit candle or t·mttm. It will cau.>C it (0,1 iJ,.!n!tc \\'irh a flash. The srel1takes one round m cast and can be u~J to ~tarr small fires in flammable mareT\;\ls. [r canllOl he use,1 a~ an

FULL CI1~CLI-:: l~O)?ALSTON Royalston, Massachusetts. is II ~mnll town in norrhwe,tcm Wom:ster CoUnty. With a population of 744 tlt rhe time of this scenario, it is an out of the way agricultural community. To get to Royalston, one must (lr~t travel to South RO\<':lhron. Though smaller (popub tion 500), Somh RoyaL~ton has a tmin srntion. Ftom there, the drive is only a little o\'er four miles, but the rooJ ends ,It Royal,ton. Royalston is easy to locate. It can he found (In th.. mal' of Massachuserts in most any decent encyclopeJia (the author found it in Volume II of the World Book £nCJ(lopcJLa of 1938)

fRANKLIN & WORCESTER COUNTIES of northwestern M8SSl1chusert:.. Including Royalston, S. Royalston, ilnd the countY seats of Greenfiefd Bnd Worcester

1u

•

::

8.5 M iles

I'"ollr: I'"lIll Cirdl!

aTtack nor will iT work within ~IX md'IC~ of liVing ti~suc. TI1US, Ollt' canOCH Ii~ht 1I ta!}.'t..'t's clothes ()f l)Jir(m Arc. Of C\)t!I'SC, The laner TWO sentences are fll.lf mentioned as parr of the spd! so thn.<;\! learning rhis will h:!...,c m learn thrOl.LJ,.!1t tTi:!.1 :!.nd error. (6) Magic Sign: This IS V{lOrish Si!!n as per the Cull of Cthlllhil rules. Interestingly cf'IC\U~h Ezekial h:ls placed his lIsll.ll mar!,,,n notes in rhis hook, hut tl'ti,-'Y arc only t('Ilmd in Ill!.' fiN chapter. TIle TCllloOn IS simple. E:ekial is sri]] tC:lJm~ 1his hook anJ h:h tmly progrc.~scd tbr()U.L~l ,I small fX1rrion. :lnd (,1111ng tillS, many atl:hes :In.! road m:lr~ will ~how it. Worcester Coumy is the brh'l,'sf CUlI"t}' in Massachusetts :md ~pr:l\\'l.!o :lerms the center of lhe ... nne, honlering "n Rh<.)l\" bland ,mJ Conm..'Ct icut to the !'(luth ;mJ New H,nnpshlre III [hc north. It is ea~t of Franklin ClUnty, onc ~lf live Mass:lChusctts c()unties tltHt horder on il. The city ot WorceHer «(XIrubrion 195.311) IS the coumy scar. Ro),alswn ,h:lrc.'i many traits with North A.shl1ekl. Ir i~ lit tle more thim a clu~t('r of homes a.ruund :l small \'ilIal,'C cen· ter: service ~'atlon, two caf~~, ~:encra l store, amI the like. Finding th~ Kcclinl,'S l.!o extremdy C:ll>}'. Evcrynnc m town knows the K...·t:!ing family. The:! pe()pl~ here ;IT(' frit'nJly ~nJ llpen AnJ wdl wve dircctiom to anyone whu kmks llOrl11;_1 and reasonHbly rcspe-cIAhlc.

11'1\: I(.,.'elins::; currcmiy in Rll)'lll:>tlln arc a small f.ullily. E."(ten,I~J l>r,mches ~)f the f.ulllly are sc:mcrcd throu~ollt New Enj.!l:md, hut tI'I\:l'I.' IS no W;Jy to tril~k dlClll down 11\ II timely t:1.,hl\>I1, E:ebal must come heft! a~ 1ll0~t th(' lI1\1esllgators If they hill t~l he;,\.ll\lm off 111 Boston. Th(' K~'Clmt: huuse i~ II llll.'dlllln ~I:C traml.' Structure wl)l..:h ,huw~ SI,)me SIgns ul neglect, but is ('IlherwiSt! a mce h"llll.:. u\'m~ here arc f\!rcl\'al ~"ILn!:, hi~ wIfe Norma, ami their ..:illlJren l}\Iia (~ 14), Su~'n (II!-"C 10), Smllue! (a!-oc 8), ,mJ I\:ter (age 3). Also hVII1~ here I~ Norma's granJmother, Albert;1(A,.wILnj!_ Norma IS currently 5(....'cn months pregnant. I\:rm~lils the primary breaJwlnner tor fumily. He oper· ,II," ;\ tt.oc.\ Sfl)rc aJpcenr to the J,ocncral itOre and III t'llS spare tll1ll' hire, Out as a G1rpcnteT, Norma, now n~'C 38. was II 'l:hntllreal:h":'T bdore ~he mnmcd Percival. b\ll now JC\lOh!S her IIlne C;lrtng fOr her rather Inr!!e hmoJ III duldren. Money I, flj.!'llI I.)r Ih~ famI ly ..lUI.' fO the Depression, but they b'Ct by, "';l'l-Jll'~' Tn ~:I}', ifEzekial arm'e~ here, he ha~ found a "erita-

THE KEEUNG HOUSE FIRST FLOOR

c c ~

) .'OYER

, ,

FAMILY ROaM

~

PANTRY

~

LIVING ROaM

,

' cl

DINING

~

"""",

" KITCHEN

,

~

tm-

I-I\"

fl';!)t.

Willie 1"II.>t normally anll·soa:ll, the famll) is unJcrstanJ ,lbh war,· llf stranA,"t.'nI who Imt ~how up out of the blue 10 'l'I.""l With them. Vi lt!!....... to RO'l':tlswn arl:' mfre(.jucm anJ ,L"d~' tnml fhe uccasional .s.1Ie~man, 1"11.) srran~r (·...er knocks lIn dll.' Kt."Clm.l.~' dl)()r.

IF THE l<:EI-: LINGS COOPI':I~TE

In\'C~lI~;mm ..... ill hopefully h:l\-'e .1 plan un how they w,1l ,lppnxKil 11K' Krelings, assuming d"lt."y .....·en mrcnd to. The I"N;!St Ix'l l..~ (\1 bnn~ alon~ Matn~ or anolill:r memher of the Apron ial1llly, Intn"lt..!uclIV:: rI"It.'Illscl\'Cl> III ronJuncrilm ""'Ith a nhm'e is ef'llll.ll.'il to j.."Ct in tM Joor, Unltkc the Aprons, the Keeluw haw :I 1:111.,,\' and \'Cry...krnik.J (nmil), 11Ibic tft.11 IIlduJ~ In:lny Jl3l,'eS (" I.mul}' hl~tory and Imea!-'C. AnJml: the ronl"lt."'t1'ICr hanJ, l~ more Jlfhculr. Honest m\'csu~:lrt>rs may rdl them till.' whl.lle ~tor)', or at least an abrlJs,"CJ version of It soon after en(l."'Imterm~ lilt! tamlly. Ir d)C}· belch OUt wild tales of h~lOSts :mJ J,.·TnOn5 :mJ SOI'Cl"Ters, Pcrci\'31 will probabl)' qect them Irum 1m ht"lU5e aM call the shenff, An IIbrldged version IS a WI\CT awnut' 01 approoch. Elimll13ting supernatural dement.'>

lh:

• Full Circle:

SfCOND fLOOR

'. ~EGUEST EOJK)Q.\\

SAMUEL

&'I'I;"'TER'S ~WROOM

... \

, ''''''"' ,

N!DROOM LYDIA' DEDROOM

AlllF.RTA'S I)E')ROOM

\..

f"'C'"

c

~

~~ " MASTER ~5 ~ DEOIXX),\1 I,

tlrlJ JuSt :>tilling that somc mani;K i~ OUT III Wipe our thcApcon line lllil-41t be we!! rt.'CciveJ a~ kJl\g ns d'l\: srcaker Sl.'Cm~ crc.lible (rc(1ec;reJ by a succc~~ful fursuaJe roll), The Kt.'ClinJ.,'5 arc nt.>t I(lOIs nnJ will be skepucal of virtually anything the ITl\ICstlJ,oaroTS S.1y. TIlCreforc. rhey must be conVInCIng. After an inmal StkXCssful Itrsuade roll, the Keeper may JcmanJ II I:H"IlI)' Luck roll or perhnps :I foIlowujl I\-rsu.1Je roll, Betlc:r }'CI, Ii'll! scene may ~ pl1)\.-J out wnh a nmllmum ..lIe wlls, perhaps n."IUlf· IIlg only ()rIC ~rsuaJe mil at the enJ, If a pla)'Cr can Ix (;("1n\lJncinJ:: in hi~ ur her spo!Ch, this shoulJ IX' a J,"OO<..ImJIGlUOIl Ihat his or her ch;mtcter IS beint: ('{]ually cOllvincing. Ii d'l\: group am b'Cl the K('t.'lin~'$ to cooJ'lCra[e, they may ~ llble to come III' WIth a rlan to thWllrt Ezeki:iI, M(,s[ likely, rim willuwol\"C laYlnt.: down a [MlP for him eIther at the house or in town (or both). Thoscwho a~ rhlnkmg will h'l\'C tilt! grand. I1lI)(hcr, Alberta Cowlmg, tab> rhe dllklren :lnJ Norma to rei· IInv~ III Boston lOr safefY. I\-rm'lll IS one 'A11O WIll no( want 10 abandon his hou.se and will stay tll :bS1St.. More on the K...oclmg dan is gn-cn 10 the Nrc .section.

or

IF THE 1<EELINGS DON'T COOPERATE Two other possibllmcs eXl~t here, Either the group faLls to con· \,lIlce [he Kt.'din!-'S dlt.") lire In danger or they deciJc [0 not cv..:.n approach them, In eLlher casc, UptlOIlS still remam. If they h:lven'r let on 10 ceklal that they are on hIS ttall, theR': IS an excellent chance they can snare him here. Rennn,!! room~ to Alma Moore's Bo.1n1mg HuuS(.' under llSSUml.-J n.111leS I~ n good start. From there, lhe)· can try 10 blenJ Into

rOllr: rllll Cin:le

•

the communlly. Tm'Y can then spend the fol lov.mg d:I)"S ......ndlm!l the town. Placing the Keelml:' re~IJcna: under con· ~tant surveillance is [I must ~mct chat would ho: &ckial's pri· milT)' tar~oet. Mmllt"Jining a vigil on Percival at the f!..oed store is also Impurtant ~lnce Ezckial could cho()~e to mtack 111m while he IS alol1e. TIle Kreper should ft.'C1 (r~ to m:lke Percival an Irnr
lOr JUSt such a mow may ovcrhear d'le conversation or get the Jernils (rom the wairn::lis a(tcrw:mls. thus leammg that their CI1l.'IllY IS

present.

The Kt.'Cper at this point must decide what Ezckial will Jo. Fim, he will briefly d'\eCk OlIllhe home hy walking by and seeInj.: wilt! is there. With that lIl/urmatinn in mind, he has scver· al possible rlnns.

PIAN A, STEALTH Slip

Into

tI'K' house

al night, dr-lin l\:n:l\~... I\ POW, and snatch

the mlmly hihle and a random child. If 1\-n:I\'31 anJ rhe chllJ

rM'II.!e !Uu Iiule row, he can n.'furn tu North Ashfield ;1Il..! mnsume the POW (rom the rest of the Apootu. F... iling th is, hl' em attack rncmbers of the N.."Cling tamlh· clSo..-'Wherc in New The LIl\'cstigators don't have klllg to W;llt. Ezckial has only a lim· England using information witllill tilt!' Kt.'Cling family bible. IteJ amount of time so will not ttlrry III Bo..ron very IOI1j.!. EWllnL111y, he will end up here III order to AnJ the K..oelings anJ PIAN 8 , ASSAULT mal".. 1\15 !1'K)\·C. Assault th.' house With his friends. This would fUjuire Ihem tu E::ckial\ plan is simple. Emer the town as a IlOrffial tra\,· kill all dw JJults (no witnesses allowed) so they could steal the eller and huy lunch at the rnfC. In the mean rime, [\ioU Satan· (;\olily hble ;lOd h.lnar all the dlilJrcn. II I"lI.lSsiblc, I\:n:ival wOf'ohil"pmg foIkw.\"f'S recruireJ fmm the luna P..IJ'k Society will woulJ he c.,prured so he l"()Uld be draU'leJ orlm pn.'uous roW. lurk 0llU1Jc l,f town in a rented tru..:-k. TI'leS(' men 3re Jescribe.-J Tlll' (.'Ie o( thc chilJren is 1l\()fI! grim. Sc'll'Ie "''llOkl probably he more futly in the NPC section. Well·armed and Jerennin.:J, his drained o( POW. hut thc rest ....001.1 he (ast inru a kind ~,I ~b... (onfeJcrates will be on call to assist him when neeJed. AI the cry III whart."Vcr renllxc nltm E:cki;\l m;\I1a+.'{"J Tn huy and lock eo,!\', I'll' will casually ask where the Kt.'l'iIll).,'S liv.:, stating he is a them on. Tht.")' would end up dther belllj.! drm~J ten years later relative (ITlIll out of st3te. like th ... 1!l\l... ~tll:arors, he will be.- givcn {,r IlCc()l1lin/o! baby (,ctories. di~rion~ to their house. invcstig:non w,lIt!ng In or ncar the c.,fC

SHO\.\1DO\.\1N

PLAN C, TAKE PERCIVAL ALONE

The final sequences of Full Cirde are left to the lI'\\'enriveof the Kecl1Cr and the players. The investigarors should have a faIr shOt at stopping Erekial. [fthey are cunning and decithe first srcp in a mu1ti-step plan. The house and the rest of the sive, they should be able ro beat him. However, one wrong SICP family would ~ the next target (see Plans A and B). or bunglctJ move and Ezekial may I)()( only adueve his goal and escape, but may kill some or all of the Investigators. T:1ke OUt f\:rdval separately

bv

attacking him during the Jay when he Is aim'll! and draining his POW. ntis would likely ~

llCSS

PLAN D, GET THE CHILDREN W,1ir for the children to walk to school then snatch one or more

of them on rhe rood and flee in the truck. [n its own way. thiS

i\1~I-:1~'MATH

is the me)${ (rib~'tening. If successful, all nnyonewill know is thm Deferlting Ereklal is a d.1unting rusk, but is certainly poSliible. [he chilJren simply disappeared O~ day and ~re TlL'Ver hennJ H~er, blatantly killing him could land the investigators 10 from again. The only due as to their fule ~Id be report.s of a j.1il on nnmler charges_ 1ne specifICS of this are 10 the hands of dark. unmarkeJ [ruck speeJmg (ront toWn on the day they dis- the Keeper_ appeareJ. Not onl)' do the children have the POW E:eki:d IX"Cds EqU.111y possible is the chance Ezekial has ro escape_ Trymg and crnves, but the older ones can be mined for mformation on to track him down after the scenario should be difficult He will where other Kt.-clinb'S live. sever all connections with the Luna Park Society If he SUSpectS he was rmeed rhere. If he doesn't, it is still possible to stop him. In the yc.1ts afreT E:ekial's victory, he wilt find a secluded funn PLAN E, STEAL THE BIBLE Slip 111m the house and steal the family bible anJ other docu· and set up shop there. Any captured Kodmgs will be placed in ments then L1rer return to North Ashfield and drain all the the oosemmt of the farmhouse to.5erw as baby factories or JUSt Apcotts. TIllS is the most subtle and returns the threat hade to rargetS of abuse. Every ten years In April anJ May, two to four the Apcom where It originate.\. The family bible contains all the Keelings somewhere in New England will mysteriously die and there is little rhe group can do to prevent this. "nlere tire just too infOrmation nt.'CeSSary to track down plenty of KeeHngs. many Kcehn!,'!i to profecr and without the family bible. tracking aU down is \'ery difficult PLAN p, POSSESS A KEELING The fTI05{ unlikely. bur perhaps the most effccnvc option IS for Hopefully, the result is victory for the Ul\restigators. Ideally, Ezekml m JXlS.SeSS one of the Keelinb'S, preferably one that IS in future sccn.1rios fhat involve travel to or through Franklin female (the oldest dllu!,>hter, L),Jia). He would first want m drain and Worcester Counties, the group will finJ (rlends. The sufficient row from O£her relations (Kcelings or Apoot:ts) Keelings will be grateful and the Apcoru will be especially so, though might carry out the possession fitst and larer gain his probably understanding the full magnitude of what was done POW. As st:ltcd before, Ezekial is I)()( above bcoominR a baby for them. fuctory hImself if opporrUOlty permits. With these plans in mind. I~ Keeper must judge whether (II'" I)()( the nwcstlgarors have tippeJ their hand, eIther in Boston or in Rcttruston. Ezekial should know ....-hat they look like and Com"" fUll Circle can conclude in any of 5COrcs of ways_ With will certainly reco~,'nizc membets of the Apcott family if any were victory comes the salvation of the Apcon and Keeling families. brought along. Sponmg someone he knows will instantly make Presumably the two branches \\.'OUld get together and fOrm him bcxh suspicious and wary. Also, .....hen he goes to observe some long reml bond. Family reunions and gatherings would the Kedmg house, if things look unusual (boarded up windows, become routme and inevirnbly, the invcstigamrs would be invlt· no duldren prescnt ....-hen he knows t~ :ue some, etc.), he will ed as fnends. As time passes. the dark events of the 1930s again become C.1utiouS. This coulJ dCalate to him actually seek· would become part of the famIly's folklore and history and ing our those hunting for hIm and trying [() rake them OUt first. eventually the fuct:s themselves would be questioned by sceptiHis two confeJerates will be of invaluable service In thiS case. cal descendenu.

Pos,se1UP,

SAN

1~E"'AlmS AND PENALTIES

Kill &ekial Apcon/Monmgue Fe.ster _ ...... _ .. __ ... _ ... _ .... __ . _. _ ............ __ ...... __ ...+1010 SAN Pm'cnr a.ny further deaths or dls:lppearana:s ............... _.. . •. _•. , •.• . • ..• _•..•..•.. _...... +1010 SAN Mattie Hnrper or Amdia Apcot:t are killed or dis.1ppear .. __ .... __ •.. _... , ...... _..... . ..•... __ -I DB SAN (each) E.1Ch one of lile Keehng chiklren who are killed or disappear ... . .... _. _.. _, .. _.. __ ... _.... _.........-1DB SAN Norma KeellOg is killed or disappears .... _. __ ......... _. _.. _. _........... __ ........... ___ . _..-1D6 SAN Each IXher adult Keeling is killed or disappears ... _... _..... _..... __ ... _... ___ .. _.... _... _... _... -1D4 SAN Each inveso!,>alOrwhols killed or disappears _. __ ....... _... ___ ......... _.... ____ ..... _. _. __ .. __ .·106 SAN

•

•

The opposite is dreadfully possible as well. Erekial could very easily achieve his grim 1.'O.1Is, probably wiping out [he invesngators In the process. Ewn if he doesn'r kill them, rh(.'Y could find themselves 10 1t1,'lI1 aOlVor financial trouble. If they con· tinue their activities against Ezekial after 1939, the Keeper has one aJJirional tool that can be cmployed. On December 7, 1941. the JaJY.Il\csc attack Pearl Harbor :lIld soon after, many of rhe draft ab~ invcstigators may find thcmselws in milimry ser· vicco Such characters would be in little position to aid in the fight ~':'linst &ekial who, by this rime. is probably wdl hidden and nearly impossible to find. Time is on Ezckial's side. Even if some of the groopcontinues to seek himoul, he (an lirerallyout. live them. Ifhe is so inclined. he c.1n act: against them from afur, sending assassins anJ monstrous beings against lhem. The enJlng most groups will probably encounter is one that results m bloody vicrory, one that is Pyrrhic. What will it COSt them to srop Erekial Apcott and the other horrors of this C1ffipaign! How many innocents will perish-and how many IIwesngnmrs will full before the scythe, when rhe legends of New Enb~anJ rise wild and claim their due!

NPCs

AMELIA ALISON APCOTf. HEAD Of THE APCOTf fAMILY Nationality: American 1[ STR 6 DEX 1NT 15 CON 8 [2 5[Z POW [3 APP 9 EDU [5 SAN 55 Hits: 9 Lucl< 65 ~'C: 60 Damage Penalty: ·1 D4 Education: high school Skills: Cook 66%, Credit Rating 39%, Drive Automobile 25%, First A1J 49%, History 29%, librnry Use 31%, Usrt:n 33%, Medicine 11 %, Occulr 14%, Spoc Hidden 4()'% Languages: English 88% Attacks: tlOfIC above base skill NOles: Amelia is mking the death of Julian quite well. nlough he is the la~t to bear the Apron name and this fact distresses her. she has lo~ prepared herself fOr his death. She is b'Oing thTQUb.n a natural grievin/;: process and is still the strong willed individ· ual the in\'cstig:.ltors b'Ot [0 know in 1929.

•

FOllr: 1"'1111 Cirdl!

ALISON APCOTf HARPER. WIDOWED DAUGHTER Nationality: American STR [0 DEX [5 [NT [4 CON [2 5[Z [0 APP 13 POW 12 EDU 13 SAN 4[ Luck 60 Age: 41 Hits: II Damage Bonus: +0 Education: high school Skills: Cook 63%, First Aid 41 %, History 25%, Usren 9QOA.. Needlepoint 70%. Occult II %, Sneak 22%, Spot HiJJcn 77%. SrUffer Nervously 25% Lanb.'U3I,:CS: English 76% Attacks: Small Club Atrock 30%; I D6 damage (any convenient. small, club-like object: amdlestick, bottle, etc.) Smal! Knife Attack 30%; 1D4 damage (any convenient, small, pien:ing object: knitting needle, steak knife, en:.) Notes: It is g.::ner:llly assumeJ here that Alison is no longer in the picture, having either been killed in Cold Spcx or posscsseJ. If this IS not the case, Alison is still in North Ashfield. After the events of 1929. she will have recovered to some ~rree thouJ.>h will still be D~ious ly nervous and uptib>ht. When nor attending to household chores and ensuring Mattie is raiseJ right, she spends her time knitting b-weaters and quilts. Income from this helps pay the bills and she is actually f.:urly successful at It. Some of her hand milde items are sold tD a suppller to markets them as "New England cTarot in shops in Boston, Providence, Harrford, and $.,lcm.

NPCs •

MATHILDA JUNE HARPER. GRANDDAUGHTER

LOlTlE. APCOTr fAMIL1:' SERVANT

Nationality: American

STR

DEX

14

lUW lock Oamaboe Bonus: +0

14 70

12 [6

APP SAN 62

INT SIZ

16 10

CON

Hits:

12

~II;!:

EDU

14 12 19

&iuation: hib>h school Skills: BioI'l.'Y 5%, Drive Automobile 25%, Rrsr Aid 41%,

History 32%, library Use 13%, listen 45%, Mathematics 19%, Natuml Histor, 15%, Occult 2J%, Persuade 55%, Sing 60%, Spot HIJJcn 38%, Swim 47% languages: English 82%, French 15% Attacks: none above base skill

Notes: Mattie has grown to become an intciligenr, well adjusteJ ),)Ung ....uman. She WItS recemly accepted in prestigious Smnh College anJ will Attend her flrst classes in the fall seinesreT of 1939. Her entry into coIl~'t! WItS deI..B~ by a year due to a stresseO flnaneml SIIu,1tion, but bc~ a scholarship and 5aveJ looney, she will be able to obtam a h~ education. Throubohour this scenario, she will be very concerned about the cin:umsrnnces of Julian's Jearh and Will be at least SOTJle'A.n..1( acm'ely imuh'ed In those portions of the investiganon that rake rl~ In the Nonh Ashfield 1Irt.'a. She will alSO want to spare Amelia any additional pain anJ will want to shield her Initially from the conJCUUrc conccrningJulian. Later, the fucts will obvl· ously have ro be shared with Amelia, who will be distresscd, but ultmlRtcly of assistance to the group. Marnc is a target ofEu:kial and may be a victim at the end (If the scenario if the IIlvesnga-tor.;

f.111.

• NPCs

Nationality: American STR II DEX APP 10 POW SAN 49 lock Dam."lge Bonus: +0 Education: grade school

12 12 60

INT

SIZ Hits:

13 11 12

CON EDU Age,

12 12 21

e