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THE OUTER ONES
BYJUSTIN FARQUHAR
Where an investigation into a sinister Vermont sect reveals connections that run deep into the dark history of the region
ABOUT THIS SCENARIOThe Outer Onestakes place in Vermont sometime between
1920 and 1925 and is closely-related to the two Lovecraft
stories The Haunter of the Dark and The Whisperer in
Darkness, both of which it predates. Reading these
stories before running the scenario is highly
recommended.
RUNNING THIS SCENARIOThis scenario is non-linear: there are many clues leading
to different locations and lines of enquiry, not all of whichare essential.
This scenario can be run as a stand-alone adventure or
can be treated as a sequel to The Haunting. There are
clues relating to this scenario which can be placed in the
records of the Chapel of Contemplation. If used in this
way it can be run immediately after that scenario or after
an interval of few months or even years.
INTRODUCTION
Rev. Bill Walsh, a feisty Baptist minister, has come toconclude that there is something sinister about the
practices of another church in the village of West
Townshend the West River Valley Church. He observes
their sermons and services and some of their suspicious
activities. He sees the sermons of a lay preacher known as
Malachi Sethom as especially dangerous. He has heard
rumours of strange cries coming from the church in the
middle of the night. After reporting some of these
concerns to the Baptist church-body, a second minister
Rev. Bradford Duganne is sent to assist him.
Both ministers have heard local folklore of ceremonies in
the hills and devilish creatures consorting with humans.
Walsh begins to preach against the church, declaring that
it is in league with Satan. It doesnt take long for action to
be taken against them.
KEEPER'S INFORMATIONFrom time immemorial, the Mi-Go or Outer Oneshave
fulfilled their pact with Nyarlathotep in the form of a huge
winged entity with a single three-lobed burning eye
making sacrifices in return for knowledge. They also
worship Shub-Niggurath and other Outer Gods and Great
Old Ones that serve their purposes. Their name for their
religious cult can be translated as The Million Favored
Ones.
Since man has walked in the Americas, a few individuals mostly eccentrics and outcasts have served the Outer
Ones in Vermont, helping them to spy on mankind while
keeping their outposts secret, in return for their promises
of power and wisdom, fulfilled and otherwise.
In 1862, guided by insights gleaned from their
communications with Nyarlathotep in his form of the
Haunter of the Dark in the steeple of the Freewill Church
in providence, Professor Enoch Bowen, leader of the
Starry Wisdom sect, his daughter Aseneth Bowen and Dr
Raymond Flagg, travelled to Dark Mountain in a remote
region of Vermont. There on the mountain-top they
performed an arcane rite that brought forth the Outer
Ones from the warren of caves that hollow the domed
hills and a secret pact was formed.
The following year, the charismatic Raymond Flagg
bought a second home in the village of West Townshend,
close to Dark Mountain and secretly began to spread the
doctrines of the Starry Wisdom sect. The young Abednego
Akeley, the son of a Congregational minister was one of
those he came to influence. When his father died,
Abednego took his place at the Church as expected. He
then travelled in southern New England, to Boston and
Providence, for several months. This was, in fact, the
completion of Abednegos training as a minister, not in
Protestantism but in the Starry Wisdom sect. On his
return, to great controversy, he began to preach the
Starry Wisdom doctrines and transferred his own church
the West River Valley Church from the Protestant
parent body to the Starry Wisdom sect.
The Church was condemned and attacked regularly, and
over half of the congregation deserted it, but a core ofdevotees remained, and grew steadily, bolstered by a
trickle of new converts. The sect appeared to offer
communion with The Divine, directly or through a race of
mysterious beings referred to by Akeley and Flagg as The
Malakhim, a communion that granted knowledge of the
secrets of cosmos. A select few were even offered
transcendence of the physical body as a reward for their
devotion and Abednego Akeley and Raymond Flagg could
seemingly summon these disembodied spirits and make
them speak to the congregation from a special curtained
box.
After three years, the Starry Wisdom Church at West
River Valley closed down after a series of vigilante actions
culminated in the Akeleys death. The church was
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restored to Congregational Protestantism. Most of the
congregation fled to join the Freewill Church in
Providence, but a few stayed, some of them passing the
secret doctrines onto their children.
A few years later, Rev, Baker, the new Protestant minister,
beat a woman to death with a Bible and injured several
other congregants before being restrained. He was
hanged at the State Prison and House of Correction in
Windsor, Vermont in 1908.[create handout & add to
evidence]
Baker was superseded by Rev. Aster, a minister who had
once been part of Akeleys congregation and secretly
ordained in the Starry Wisdom Church. The sect now
known now as The Million Favored Ones based on Starry
Wisdom beliefs and alliance with the Outer Ones
continued in secret for two generations.
Another suppressed branch of the Starry Wisdom sect The Chapel of Contemplation was based in the North
End of Boston. Charles Noyes, the son of a wealthy
industrialist, at 18, was the last minister to be ordained
there. The Chapel was raided and closed down in 1912
and the Pastor, Michael Thomas, was imprisoned. Five
years later, with the aid of sorcery and his allies, he
escaped and fled the state. Taking the pseudonym
Malachi Sethom (an anagram of Michael Thomas), he
travelled to West Townshend where he was a lay
preacher, staying with Rev. Aster until Aster and Noyes
help him to purchase a small house in Townshend.
THE MILLION FAVORED ONESThe cult holds rites with the Outer Ones on certain nights.
Rites dedicated to Shub-Niggurath tend to take place at
the circles of standing stones that crown the hilltops, with
May Eve being the most important date. Rites to
Nyarlathotep are held at the same sites on Samhain
(Halloween) with a select few attending rites deep in an
abyss in Dark Mountain called The Temple of the Black
Gulf. Both Outer Ones and human beings are offered in
sacrifice at these ceremonies human victims being straychildren or vagrants and prostitutes from around New
England, particularly Boston. Through its political
connections, the sect has some influence in the area, an
influence that is steadily growing. The cult has a network
of spies and agents some of whom have sorcerous
powers of mind-control that exerts its influenceas far
as Newfane. They have a significant collection of mythos
and occult texts, a body of esoteric knowledge passed
down from encounters with the Haunter in Providence,
and a few artifacts gifted by the Outer Ones. Collectively
they also have a significant armory of conventionalweapons.
The cult has a superficial appearance of being an ordinary
church but like some other rural churches has some queer
customs. The sect has a hierarchical structure of a public
congregation and an inner circle who see themselves as
among The Million FavoredOnes and who are granted
esoteric secrets from their Lord He Who Waits In The
Dark, who himself is a vessel of The Divine Principle.
They are also in the process of perfecting techniques for
prolonging life beyond its natural end based on methods
developed by Orin B Eddy, Rev. Michael Thomas and
others in Boston and Providence. This is a sort of
mummification process which actually more resembles a
living death. Other initiates are occasionally rewarded for
their life of service with The Celestial Rapture or joining
the stars. This involves being taken away by the Outer
Ones to have their brains removed and placed in metal
canisters which keep the brain alive more-or-less
indefinitely and which can survive the journey through
space to the planet Yuggoth or the Outer Ones colony on
the moon. In fact, unknown to most cult members, the
Outer Ones are quite indifferent to humanity, and are
quite neglectful and the majority of these Chosen Ones
are either incinerated or after being placed in brain
canisters are abandoned in storage rooms in the colony.
But enough Celestial Voyagers return with stories of their
travels to inspire the faithful.
REACTIONAGAINST THE CHURCHThis is a conservative region and, after hearing stories of
their practices and doctrines, the minister of South
Windham Church Rev. Michael Hewitt Walsh speaks out
about the heretical sermons of given at the church and by
Sethom who is associated with it. After being intimidated
by some strange events, Walsh is joined by the younger
Dilbert Duganne, who helps him to investigate. Rev.
Walsh interrupts services on more than one occasion and
challenges Pastor Malachi. Meanwhile Duganne travels to
Brattleboro, Claremont and Boston in an attempt to trace
Sethoms origins, but is unable to find a record of his
education or history.
A story appears in newspapers in Brattleboro, Providence
and Boston claiming that the church is heretical or evenSatanic. The Congregational Church eventually launches
an investigation but finds nothing untoward. And from
this point on sees attacks on West River Valley Church as
attacks on Congregationalism itself by a crazy, rural
Baptist bigot.
Meanwhile, Duganne finds out deeper secrets of the
history of the Chapel and the Starry Wisdom sect. He
hears stories of mysterious voices in the woods and of
ceremonies on hilltops on May Eve.
He also spies on a service held by Pastor Malachi. The
Pastor appears to have miraculous powers. Among other
things, during a Spiritualist-style ceremony, he summons
the spirits of people who have supposedly 'ascended to
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the Heavens' and has them speak with strange voices
apparently from within a curtained box. Although their
voices are strange, they seem to have incredible
knowledge of the deceased persons lifeand relate
incredible tales of being carried by wondrous beings
called the Outer Ones to a fantastic city of light in the
mountains. And then travelling through the cosmos to
other worlds.
He also sees a group leaving the Chapel after sunset on a
moonless night and heading into the hills. Shortly after
this he disappears
INVOLVING THE INVESTIGATORSA story about claims of a coven of diabolists and witches
and a re-emergence of the Satanic Starry Wisdom cult is
printed in the Boston Herald. One of the investigators
(preferably someone who found evidence of Starry
Wisdom in the Chapel of Contemplation) could, after
reading the story, contact Walsh or travel to Vermont to
investigate. By the time he or she arrives Rev. Duganne
will be dead.
If that is not enough, the investigators will soon read
about Dugannes death in the newspapers. If in contact
with Walsh at this point, he will send them a letter or
telegram requesting their help.
ARRIVAL[Add some description of route: Brattleboro > Newfane
> Harmonyville > Townshend > West Townshend]
Investigators can travel by train to Brattleboro from
Boston or[Arkham how?]. In Brattleboro it is possible
to hire a car or catch a bus.
The road journey from Arkham or Boston, takes travelers
through Brattleboro, then up into the mountains through
Newfane, the hamlet of Harmonyville, Townshend then
West Townshend.[how long?]
ROUND HILLThis is a domed mountain to the east of Townshend. The
largest outpost of the twin colony of the Outer Ones is
here.
DARK MOUNTAINThis is the mountain to the south of Townshend. The
secondary outpost of the Outer Ones mining colony is
here.
TOWNSHEND
TOWNSHEND CHURCH
Common Road
The minister of this church is partially under the
influence of the cult via the Freemasons, but it is a regular
Christian church and there is no direct connection to the
story.
WEST TOWNSHEND[Add General description]
[link to historical photos of Townshend:
http://www.townshendvt.org/collection.html]
MASONIC LODGEThere is a Freemasons Hall called Blazing Star Lodge #23
on the road into Townshend. Several key members of the
Spiritualist Church of Astral Wisdom and the [Church of
the Outer Ways] are here and freemasonry is one of the
key ways in which they can influence local authorities and
individuals. The Freemasons have no formal allegiancehowever and the majority of the members know nothing
about it. There is no special evidence to be found at the
lodge.
SCOTT COVERED BRIDGE[add impression]
MEETING REVEREND WALSH
SOUTH WINDHAM BAPTIST CHURCH
3264 Windham Hill Road, West Townshend.
Built in 1850
[Describe]
THE REVERENDS STORYThe Investigators arrive and are given further details by
the Minister. They will be told of the Duganne incident if
they dont already know about it.
INCIDENTS AND INVESTIGATIONS
INITIAL LEADStbd
LIBRARIES,AND NEWSPAPERS
WEST RIVER VALLEY CHURCHBuilt as a Congregational church and remains that way
until Abednego Akeley transfers it to the Starry Wisdom
Church.
1868-1871: The West River Valley Church is a branch of
the Starry Wisdom Church until Akeleys death.
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1871-1880: It is restored as a Congregational
denomination church, Akeleys replacement is Rev.
Walter W. Baker who is from elsewhere in Vermont.
In 1880 Rev. Baker apparently goes insane during a
service, rabidly accusing members of the congregation of
being sinners. He beats one woman to death with a Bible
and injures several other congregants before being
restrained. He is hanged at the State Prison and House of
Correction in Windsor, Vermont in 1908.
1880 - 1920: The new minister is a local man, Rev. Samuel
Aster.
1912: Charles Noyes, the son of a wealthy Boston
industrialist is ordained as a minister by Rev. Michael
Thomas at the Chapel of Contemplation at the age of 18.
1914: Noyes is ordained as a minister of the
Congregational Protestant Church at the age of 20.
1917: Malachi Sethom arrives in Townshend and Aster
allows him to stay with him. Sethom is a lay preacher
1920: Aster retires. His replacement is Rev. Charles
Noyes, a young minister from Boston. Meanwhile Sethom
continues his lay preaching. Increasingly Noyes allows
Sethom to preach in the church while he is away
apparently in Boston.
RESEARCHING REVEREND SETHOM
No record of his history can be found.
RESEARCHING THE STARRY WISDOM CHURCHAt a clipping agency or library in a major town or city,
Library Use will reveal each of the following points:
1. The Starry Wisdom was started by a ProfessorEnoch Bowen in 1844. The main sect was located
at the Free-Will Church, Federal Hill, Providence.
2. Looking up Enoch Bowen uncovers an 1844article by a rival archaeologist. This
archaeologist claimed that the study ofarchaeology had to be maintained as a science,
and should not be used as a cover for
opportunists and adventurers to exploit the
population. He cited Enoch Bowen as a prime
example of the latter sort of archaeologist.
3. He said Bowen was an occultist who was moreinterested in starting a cult than serving science.
He detailed how Bowen claimed to have found
the ancient tomb of a forgotten pharaoh, and
brought forth a crystal that shines in the dark. A
successful Cthulhu Mythos roll suggests that thereference might be to the fabled Shining
Trapezohedron of Nephren-Ka. The skill user also
recalls that the crystal could supposedly summon
a demon of darkness that enjoyed blood
sacrifices of children.
4. With successful Luck and Library Use rolls, aninteresting book is uncovered. Mystical Sects,
published in 1857, lists numerous cults across
the United States, including a small entry for the
Starry Wisdom Sect. They owned a crystal found
in Egypt. They held this object sacred, and by
gazing upon it, the members believed they could
call up a being known as the Haunter of the Dark,
who shared dread secrets with the faithful. This
being could be summoned only in absolute
darkness, and if it was exposed to light for any
period of time, it would be banished.
5. July 1844 The Providence Bulletin mentions thepurchase of the Free-Will Church on Federal hill
by Professor Bowen. The Italian community is
outraged due to the cults location. A priest
named OMalley of Spirito Santo Church claims
the cult worships the Devil himself.
6. August 1853 The Providence Bulletin mentionsan investigation into the Starry Wisdom sect. The
investigators find no connection to the
disappearances of numerous children in the area.
7. October 1865 The Providence Bulletin notes thedeath of Professor Enoch Bowen from natural
causes. A surviving daughter, Aseneth Bowen, is
mentioned.
8. March 1872 The Providence Bulletin publishes astory concerning witch cult rumors among the
Italian populace of Federal Hill. The article hints
at blood sacrifices by an unnamed cult in the
region, but no arrests or indictments have been
made.
9. April 1877 The Providence Bulletin includes asmall item on the forced break-up of the Starry
Wisdom by the authorities. It refers to public
pressure on the authorities to enforce this
closure.
10. June 1878 A book written by Father OMalley isfound, The Coming of the Beast. It details
numerous theories regarding the prophecies of
the Antichrist. It lists the cult of the Starry
Wisdom as modern day Satan worshippers who
desire the Beast to rule the earth. Much of the
information found in the Antichrist Themes
sidebar on pages 160 161 is contained within,
except of course for information dated after the
books publication.
11. Investigators going to Providence to search forthe Free-Will Church will find the place much as
Blake finds it in the story Haunter of the Dark
go to the Providence chapter for more details.
12. Investigators may want to check out the churchrecords of Spirito Santo in Providence. Father
Angelo is the present priest of Spirito Santo. He
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will allow investigators to see the records with a
Persuade roll. He himself has heard only rumors
of the evil cult. Reputedly, they worshipped the
Devil. He helps investigators find Father
OMalleys writings of the 1850s: The Starry
Wisdom - the stars of Hell - summoning from
those stars a shade from Hell itself, but feared the
power of God as manifested in Light.
13. Investigators who possess books pertaining tothe Cthulhu Mythos can search them for
information on the Haunter. To find it, a player
must roll D100 equal to or less than the books
Cthulhu Mythos points x3. The information is
this: the Haunter was spoken of as holding all
knowledge. The Haunter demanded monstrous
sacrifices, its favorite being human children.
Light could banish it back to its dark realm. With
a special success roll, the book calls the Haunter
The Bringer of the End Times, the Avatar of
Nyarlathotep. (At the keepers discretion,
investigators can roll separately to find the
Ancient History information on pages 129 130;
such information ends at Nitocriss death or the
books date of publication, whichever comes
first.)
LOCAL RUMOURS &FOLKLOREFrom asking around, the investigators hear various
rumours:
1. There have been witches/Satanists in the area forgenerations
2. There have been a number of disappearances inthis part of the state over the past few years:
mostly runaways and vagrants
3. There are devils living in the hills4. During the 19th century, the Old Church in West
Townshend was taken over by a Satanic cult. The
Satanic minister was killed and the cult was
driven away.
5. There are strange standing stones in the hills. Noone knows where they came from
6. Devils living in caves in the wooded hills7. According to their grandparents, in remote places
there are devils that speak to people in strange
voices. They sometimes possess people,
especially people who live alone on the higher
hills
8. The Old Church at West River Valley is cursed.Bad things happen there due to blasphemous
things that have happened there in the past
DUGANNE DISAPPEARSDuganne simply disappears one day. A police
investigation finds nothing. According to Rev. Walsh,
Duganne was meeting someone who said there were
things in the hills he could show him. Apparently the
person wanted to meet at the Scott Covered Bridge.
In fact he met[name]there who took him to a circle of
standing stones at the top of Round Hill. Duganne asked
to be left there alone and he was captured by cult
members who turned him over to the Outer Ones.
[name]didnt want to contact the police as he/she is
fearful of being punished by the cult.
If the investigators ask enough people, they will find
[Name]who claims to have seen Duganne and this other
person meet there. If the person is traced, she will
initially deny all knowledge, then later contact them,
admitting it was her. Duganne was investigating the
Satanists in the area. The contact knew about certain
standing stones in the hills that they used for their unholy
practices and she took them. Once they arrived, Duganne
thanked her and offered some money which she declined.
Duganne said he wanted to look around some more andasked the contact to go back. That was the last she heard.
She did not contact anyone about it as she was afraid. The
Satanists have many eyes and ears she says. And she was
afraid something bad would happen to her. She is not so
scared of the investigators as they are from outside.
Psychology to notice that she is nervous or not telling the
whole story. If requested, she will agree to show the
investigators what she showed Duganne, but she will
stress the need for utmost discretion.[Walsh wont
come]It is actually a trap. She is a member of the Starry
Wisdom cult. The story is almost true. But her story toDuganne lured him discretely into the woods where he
was captured by the cult. She has told her fellow cultists
about the situation and they have set up an ambush. She
will lead the investigators into the forested hills, their
cars following a rough track. She will lead them to a real
set of standing stones. There are off footprints around if
they look. Their car(s) will be disabled and the cultists
will attempt to surround and capture them. They can
probably manage four armed men at short notice.
[Does it matter if this comes before or after the incidentat the priory?]
AFEELING OF BEING WATCHEDThey soon realize they are being followed, spied upon,
their correspondence etc is intercepted etc. If one or two
characters explore the woods or hills by themselves they
hear buzzing voices tempting them with secret power and
knowledge. Meanwhile sect members are trying to tempt
the minister with strange promises.
[Detail events]
INVESTIGATING DUGANNES DISAPPEARANCETBD
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If the site of Dugannes abduction can be traced,
there is a notepad there which includes
information about his last lead as well as contact
details for Henry Akeley and other matters.
THE MONOLITH ON ROUND HILLTBD
DUGANNES NOTEBOOKThis is a simple notepad containing a few notes and
contacts. Notes include details of Dugannes Contact, Rev
Sethoms home address, the address of the spiritualist
church and a local folklorist called Henry Akeley (The
Akeley House, Townshend).
TBD
HENRY AKELEYHenry Akeley is retired folklorist who has collected many
local legends especially about the Outer Ones.He has a
wax cylinder recording that he made near a cave entrance
blocked by a boulder near the base of Dark Mountain. He
has photographs of the cave entrance, of a ring of
standing stones on the top of a remote hill and of a
strange footprint. He also knows about strange rites that
occur around these stones on certain nights.
Akeley will offer none of this evidence unless he is both
impressed with the sincerity of the investigators (eg.
Credit Rating) and sees clear relevance of it to their
investigation.
Akeley is not a man of action and likes to keep a low
profile but he will share what he knows with those he
trusts. By speaking with Henry Akeley, the characters will
learn the old stories about creatures in the hills. If they
earn his trust he will play them the recording he made a
few years earlier near the mouth of the cave. He can give
them directions to find the mouth of the cave. It is closed
with a 20 ton boulder. He will also tell them he has heard
of standing stones in the hills.
TBD
INVESTIGATING THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCHThey may manage to infiltrate the Chapel at least
superficially and witness its ceremonies. They may
witness (or at least speak to witnesses) people going out
onto the hills on certain nights. Perhaps they are able to
break in. Inside they find records, religious texts, artwork
and equipment hinting at the churches strange
affiliations. They are preferably unable to access the
hidden parts of the basement (hidden, locked,interrupted?)
THE SIEGE OF SOUTH WYNDHAM CHURCH
The Reverend requests their help. The remote church
compound (South Windham church) is cut off by snow
(its January)[or thick fog?]. Investigators may have to
walk there, or if they drive their cars are disabled. It is
surrounded by something. The phone line iscut. The
heating system breaks down. They receive phone calls
tempting them to help then threatening them, then
tempting them again to hand over the minister.
The temperature continues to drop. Anyone going outside
faces gunfire and spotlights as well as freezing air. The
minister suggests that it may be warmer/safer in the
basement. They go down some steps and through a door.
Looking for something heavy to block the door, someone
moves an ancient bookcase revealing a hidden door. They
pass through into a cave with remains of an ancient
Indian site dedicated to the Outer Ones, and possibly also
Nyarlathotep and/or Shub Niggurath. Pictographs show
red spirits with wings and many arms bearing fire,
thunderbolts, wind or totems of power. They are shown
living in the sky and in caves and worshipping Coyote,
Atahensic (Sky Woman), Ya-o-gah (the North Wind in the
form of a Bear) (and possibly Hahgwehdaetgan, the Evil
One). Buried in the rubble are ancient human bones.
Some skulls have a perfectly circular hole cut in the top.
There is a third door leading to the church building itself,
from which they can make their escape. They can also
simply shelter in the chamber.
Later they find strange footprints in the snow and how
oddly localized the extreme weather was.
If not already captured, there will be another attempt to
capture (or failing that kill the minister). He disappears
and reappears again apparently having had some sort of
stroke and/or religious experience. Now confined to a
wheelchair, he says that the sect in fact speaks the word
of God. He is flanked by a local nurse called Nurse Brown
and at times by a Bostonian friend called Charles Noyes.
He attempts to persuade the investigators to join him and
the Spiritualist Church of Astral Communion. If they
refuse he speaks against them. If confronted about theOuter Ones, he says that they are real but want to share
their wisdom. He invites them to travel the stars with the
Outer Ones. He has brain cylinder (who? Abednego
Akeley or someone else?) who claims to have witnessed
all sorts of wonders in space. If they still refuse, his
friends appear and they try to overcome the investigators.
The investigators may find strange standing stones in the
hills with odd markings on them. They may see strange
footprints around them or on certain nights even witness
strange ceremonies of the Outer Ones there. They are also
used by the Spiritualist Church of Astral Communion for
special initiation ceremonies and festivals at which one or
more Outer One may make an appearance (perhaps
wrapped in robes much like an angel?).
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in the processes. [If he dies during the course of the
investigation this process will kick in] . Who is going to
succeed him?
Anyone seeing his handwriting, who has seen his Michael
Thomas handwriting at the Chapelof Contemplation can
make an INTx3 roll to recognize its familiarity (special
success means they recognize it at Thomass
immediately).
Rev Malachi Sethom (Michael Thomas)
Sorcerer and friend of the late Walter Corbitt.
Age 79 in 1923
STR 12 CON 14 SIZ 15 INT 17 POW 18
DEX 15 APP 17 EDU 14 SAN 0 HP 15
Damage Bonus: +1D4
Weapons: Sacrificial Knife 60%, damage
1D4+2+db.Derringer 45%, damage 1D6.
Skills: Bargain 45%, Cthulhu Mythos 15%, Fast Talk 70%,Occult 50%, Persuade 75%, Psychology 65%, Sleight of
Hand 55%
Armor: Thomas has usually put five magic points into
Flesh Ward for the day. Seeing him shrug off a cut or stab
costs 0/1 Sanity.
Spells: Contact Deity/Nyarlathotep, Contact Mi-Go,
Dominate, Ectoplasmic Manifestation, Flesh Ward,
Summon/Bind Dimensional Shambler, Telekinesis.
THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH OF ASTRAL
COMMUNIONThe West River Valley Church (aka The Old Church)is on
the main West River Road from Townshend, backing onto
the river. It dates from 1817. This was originally the main
church in Townshend. Next door is a building that
includes a small store and a post office.
At first glance this appears to be an ordinary village
church. The Chapel has a bad reputation and people avoid
it. Close inspection reveals that the cross above the altar
on the stained glass windows is a shining star, those
windows also bear a curious three-lobed eye symbol and
images of people being borne away by unusual, many-limbed angels.
Behind the church, beyond some trees, and a swampy
area, is an island in a bend in the West River. There are a
number of boulders in the river on either side of the
island, making it possible to ford here and cross over to
the area of Dark Mountain.
The basement contains a number of mythos texts
including Latin and several copies of the new English
versions of The Book of Eibon and De Vermis Mysteriis,
Unaussprechlichen Kulten, plus Aleister Crowley's
(flawed) English translation of the Black Book of the Skull,
all published by Starry Wisdom Press (registered office in
Romania).
THE GATE IN THE BASEMENTAlso in the basement, next to a curtained wooden box, are
two brain cylinders containing the immortal souls of
initiates who have returned from the Heavens (names
and details). On certain occasions they are brought up to
the altar and attached to the Speaking Device which
allows them to tell tales of their wonderful journeys and
the sights they have seen (the Mi-Go colony in Vermont,the Moon, Outer Space and Yuggoth). These minds are
now quite unhinged. They also suffer from a profound
longing to return to the stars. (What will they say if
re-attached ?). These minds also possess a significant
degree of Cthulhu Mythos knowledge. Detail
There are also symbols of the Tri-Lobed Eye and artwork
of people being taken by multi-armed angels whose faces
are a mass of coloured light and of people travelling
among the stars. A church record describes Aseneth
Bowen commanded by Our Lord Granter of Secrets to
protect the Free-Will Church (i.e. the Trapezohedron)
until the time is right. There is also correspondence with
Rev. Robert Gills branch of the sect which he is
establishing in the old Bayfriars Church (540 E Church St,
Arkham, location #714).
A locked door leads to a room[d escribe it ]. An alcove in
the room has a pitch black archway. Its not clear whether
it is a archway or a mirror nothing can be seen beyond it
and it reflect no light. In fact, it is a gate created by the
Outer Ones. Stepping through it at a cost of 1 magic point,
an investigator will find themselves in an almost
completely unlit tunnel in the depths of Dark Mountain
near to the Temple of the Gulf.
THE DOCTRINES OF THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH OF
ASTRAL COMMUNIONMost of these can be understood by listening to services:
When the Tower of Babel fell and the people started to
speak many different languages, contact with the Divine
Principle was lost. A small group of Magi who had resisted
the building of the Tower could speak the Divine Tongue.
They distilled their celestial wisdom before dispersing
around the world especially to Egypt. The Spiritualist
Church of Astral Communion is a successor to that
tradition. Their services include Egyptian Psalms as well
as Christian ones and Bible readings. They have the
power to commune with the Divine Principle directly
using Dark Mirrors. During these ceremonies, participants
speak spontaneously in the Divine Tongue. The Dark
Principle shares secret wisdom with them. A new
Covenant had been formed with the Divine. The time had
come for ancient secrets to be revealed to those who are
ready, in preparation for a time when the Primal Unity
would be restored. The Church can also contact the
Malakhim or Angels of the Divine Principle who share
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wisdom with them. A select number of the faithful are
taken up by the Malakhim into the heavens where they
learn the secrets of the universe and exist forever.
DARK MOUNTAIN COLONYThere are three main entrances by which the
investigators might conceivably gain access to the colony:
the Boulder Gate, the Waterfall Gate and the Church Gate(detailed below).
The colony in Dark Mountain should be experienced by
the investigators as a profoundly dangerous place to be.
This is the second largest colony of the planet, of this
secret highly intelligent and technologically advanced
race. The Outer Ones do not seek to control the planet, but
wish to maintain their operations without human
interference.
Security
If they realize that their defenses have been breached, the
Outer Ones will act intelligently and decisively. If the
Spiritualist Church of Astral Communion also know that
the investigators have entered the colony they will
attempt to follow them and cut off their retreat. If the
investigators enter through the Church Gate, for example,
Sethom will send someone (overland) to warn the Outer
Ones (this will take almost half an hour), he will likely
then enter the gate himself with a group of four men
armed with rifles and shotguns[TBD]the cultists could
then deactivate the gate or ambush returning
investigators as they exit through it back into the
basement.
The section of the colony that the investigators enter is
relatively quiet, but they may be detected by a sentry, a
priest or a scientist. Gunfire in this sector will attract 1-3
Outer Ones in 1-4 minutes. They will seek reinforcements
if necessary: 10 soldier caste outer ones will arrive in 7
10 (1D4+6) minutes.
Architecture
Entry tunnels appear as natural caves and then change toartificial and geometric tunnels typically of a triangular
cross-section and lined with black stone with occasional
shapes or glyphs carved into them. Some of the tunnels
are dimly lit by lights embedded in the walls.
The tunnels are curved in almost organic ways and they
become wider in major thoroughfares. Some have a
hexagonal, or circular cross-section.
Chambers are formed of geometric shapes ranging from
simple cuboids to elaborately interconnected patterns of
angles and curves.
Every so often there are small openings that seem to
exhale cool, fresh air. These are supplied by a series of
cooling ducts, most of which are too small to be traversed
by anything larger than a scuttler.
Scuttlers
If the strange architecture was not enough, one of the first
indications the investigators will have of the alien nature
of where they are is an exploring scuttler. About a
hundred yards down the entry tunnel (no matter where
they entered from) a Listen roll will detect a strange
sound. The sound approaches closer and within a couple
of rounds will be heard clearly. A dim glow from the
things head can be spotted bobbing in the darkness. Dim
or indirect light (a lit match or weak flashlight perhaps)
will reveal the shape of something insect or arachnid-like
approaching them not unlike a lobster or crayfish in size
and general appearance. It will flee gunfire or bright light,
otherwise it will approach within about six feet and stop
for a couple of seconds before fleeing. Gunshots will
attract attention as described in Security above.
This scuttler is just one of many that are roaming around
the colony. Normally they cling to the underside of the
adult Mi-Go that spawn them, but sometimes they roam
freely.
[To be finished: see New Tales of the Mi skatonic
Valley P75 for more details.]
BOULDER GATETBD
WATERFALL GATEIn the woods, about a mile to the north, near the east bank
of Tannery Brook is the mouth of a cave. This cave leads
to the western sector of Dark Mountain Colony, a sector
which historically has been used primarily for human
agents of the Outer Ones.
Water normally pours from the cave and into Tannery
Brook. Pastor Malachi and some other agents (who?)
have a key that causes the flow of water to reduce to a
trickle within a few seconds. The cave can then beentered, initially by crawling - it is only3 feet high at the
entrance, rising to 5 feet after 10 feet distance and 6 feet
after another 30 feet distance.
THE CHURCH GATEThere is an active gate (with a key possessed by Rev
Michael Thomas) between the cellar of the West River
Valley Church and a chamber in Dark Mountain. This
chamber has a library of brain cylinders, speaking
equipment etc. However, the main route is across a small
island in the river behind the church and up into the hillsto the south. A different key stops the flow of water to a
small spring/waterfall, which becomes a passage leading
into Dark Mountain.
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The gate appears simply as a semicircular blackness, a
mirror perhaps except that it leaves no reflection. On
closer inspection it appears to be an archway into a black
space. There is silence. If the investigators make any
significant sound about 30 seconds later they will hear a
scuttling sound (See Scuttlers above).
APARTMENTThis series of chambers appears as a near-perfect
facsimile of a human dwelling. It is used for human guests
primarily senior agents such as Charles Noyes and
Malachi Sethom. There is even running hot and cold
water, electricity and a working radio. The windows
appear to have a view of the ocean. On closer inspection
this turns out to be a moving hologram with sound
projected just outside the window.
SENTRY
A lone soldier caste Mi-Go. TBD
The sentry could be a controlled by a human
brain it may fire a cone of cold or a cloud of
drugs. Would it have the power to communicate
instantly?
TEMPLE OF THE GULFThe Nyarlathotep cult associated with the Outer Ones is
called The Million Favored Ones.
A gate and physical entrance both lead to this Temple to
Nyarlathotep deep in the darkest bowels of Round Hill.There are also some chambers nearby associated with
human cultists and there is a library of brain cylinders.
Carelessness or bad luck here will result in the
investigators being captured. The ceiling is dotted with
star-like points of light and a dim phosphorescence with
can be controlled by a control panel. The huge black space
is surrounded by a viewing area and a priests platform.
The high ceiling is a fractal series of concave domes
dotted with star-like points, rising higher and higher as it
approached the Dark Gulf.
HUMAN BIO-RESOURCESThere is a bank of scores of human subjects suspended in
fluid here as well as the equipment for reviving them and
putting them in this condition.
LIBRARYThis area has a series of chambers containing Mi-Go
books[refer]. There is also a pair of chambers for
accessing brain cylinders from various species.
BIO-RESEARCH FACILITYThe investigators come across a series of chambers where
bizarre experiments are conducted on humans.:
Human beings with their brains removed Human beings with their brains artificially re-
attached
Human brains controlling various kinds ofmachines:
o Walking robotso Doorso
A helicopter-like hovering machineo Mining equipmento A sentry gun
Humans with modified organs Humans controlled by implants Humans alive and conscious and opened up
suspended in fluid
A Human controlled by box with alien braintissue in it
Humans in pain, opened up or with electrodesattached perhaps they beg for death
Masks and body-suits of human form made out ofsome kind of plastic
There is also a series of rooms where Mi-Go sometimes
receive modifications such as limb removal
SCIENTIFIC STORAGE
CITY OF THE OUTER ONESThis vast, domed cavern contains a city constructed of
towers of black Yuggoth stone. Thousands of Mi-Go live
here and the entire city emits a thrumming sound. Aseries of major tunnels branch off leading to other sectors
of the city mostly mining areas, farms, food storage and
processing plants and other entrances.
Entering this area, the investigators will be attacked by
2D6 Mi-Go workers (unarmed) within 1D6 rounds. 2D6
armed and armoured Mi-Go Soldiers will arrive in 3D6
rounds.
Details TBD
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BOSTONRev Charles Noyes runs a Spiritualist Church in Boston
called the Church of Astral Communion. He is also a Son
of Yog-Sothoth at the Hermetic Order of the Silver
Twilight and a close friend of Carl Sanford. The doctor'
likewise is the vice-leader and a Knight of the Outer Void.
Leads at the Church of Astral Communion might includethe location and significance of the Free-Will Church and
some secret that is kept there. Rev. Noyes will also have a
key that gives access to Round Hill/Dark Mountain.
THESPIRITUALISTCHURCHOFASTRAL
COMMUNION,BOSTONTBD
PROVIDENCEThe investigators enter the Free-Will Church[andretrieve an item that gives them access to Round Hill].
THE FREE-WILL CHURCH OF STARRY WISDOM352 Atwells Avenue
Access: Cellar door
Steeple: windowless
From Lillibridge's notes:
"Prof. Enoch Bowen home from Egypt May 1844buys
old Free-Will Church in Julyhis archaeological work &
studies in occult well known.
Dr. Drowne of 4th Baptist warns against Starry Wisdom
in sermon Dec. 29, 1844.
Congregation 97 by end of 45.
18463 disappearancesfirst mention of Shining
Trapezohedron.
7 disappearances 1848stories of blood sacrifice
begin.
Investigation 1853 comes to nothingstories of
sounds.
Fr. OMalley tells of devil-worship with box found in
great Egyptian ruinssays they call up something that
cant exist in light. Flees a little light, and banished by
strong light. Then has to be summoned again. Probably
got this from deathbed confession of Francis X. Feeney,
who had joined Starry Wisdom in 49. These people say
the Shining Trapezohedron shews them heaven & other
worlds, & that the Haunter of the Dark tells them secrets
in some way.
Story of Orrin B. Eddy 1857. They call it up by gazing at
the crystal, & have a secret language of their own."
Images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cthulhuwho1/38108300
18/in/photostream/
If the Shining Trapezohedron is removed from the
Church, Nyarlathotep will if possible command his
human and Outer One servants to return it.[According to
another source the steeple is defended from sect
members by an Elder Sign.]
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CONCLUDING THE SCENARIO
SANITY AWARDS Killing Malachi or otherwise disrupting the sect.
Sanity reward = ?
Closing off the tunnel in the old church
Destroying the old church
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CAST OF CHARACTERSRev. Walsh
Age
STR 11 CON 14 SIZ 13 INT 12 POW 14
DEX 11 APP 9 EDU SAN HP
Damage Bonus:
Weapons:
Skills:Armor:
Rev. Duganne
Age
STR CON SIZ INT POW
DEX APP EDU SAN HP
Damage Bonus:
Weapons:
Skills:
Armor:
Dr. HaynesMiddle-class Bostonian cultist and sorcerer.
Age
STR CON SIZ INT POW
DEX APP EDU SAN HP
Damage Bonus:
Weapons:
Skills:
Walter Brown
Rural cultist and sorcerer. Lives in a rundown hillside
place near the deep woods. Aseneth Bowens son
Age
STR CON SIZ INT POW
DEX APP EDU SAN HP
Damage Bonus:
Weapons:
Skills:
Unnamed sorceror
Sandy hair?
Reverend Charles NoyesMiddle-class Bostonian cultist and sorcerer.
Age
STR CON SIZ INT POW
DEX APP EDU SAN HP
Damage Bonus:
Weapons:
Skills:
Henry Akeley
To the south of Townshend is Henry Akeleys farm. Atrim, white house with two storeys and an attic, built
around 1800. The lawn is well-kept with a stone bordered
path leading to a Georgian doorway.
At this time he has a housekeeper.
A retired anthropologist from the University of Vermont.
The folklorist is present in his house on the side of the hill
and is already gathering information about the strange
creatures of the area. He has a recording made in 1915
near the mouth of a cave of buzzing and human voices.
Akeley cannot be persuaded to join the characters
investigation but he is willing to show them where the
cave is. There are indeed footprints there.
He also has photographs of a footprint of an Outer One,
the mouth of a woodland cave blocked by a round boulder
with similar tracks in front of it and another of a circle of
standing stones on the summit of a wild hill
Age
STR CON SIZ INT POW
DEX APP EDU SAN HP
Damage Bonus:
Weapons:
Skills:
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1:ABOUT THE OUTER ONES
THEIR BUSINESS ON EARTHTBD
THEIR OPERATION IN VERMONTTBD
CASTESTBD
Worker Soldier Priest Scientist Thinker
SENSITIVITY TO LIGHTIn H.P. Lovecrafts The Whisperer in Darkness, the Outer
Ones are described as travelling abroad only in darkness.
The Outer One that disguises itself as Henry Akeley is
sitting in a darkened room. The planet Yuggoth (Pluto)
itself is almost lightless. All this strongly implies that the
Outer Ones not only can navigate without light, but that
they are sensitive to even moderate light. Prolonged
exposure damages their visual tissues and in the short
term they experience pain and impaired vision.
Light conditions Effect
Dim light (twilight or a brightly lit room) Skills at -10
Moderate to bright light Skills at
APPENDIX TWO:TIMELINE1832: Abednego Mesach Akeley is born in Windham
County, Vermont
1835: a prosperous merchant builds the 'Corbitt' house,
but immediately falls ill and sells it to a Mr. Walter
Corbitt, esquire, the owner of a successful, local furnitureshop.
1843, Egypt: Professor Enoch Bowen, archaeologist and
student of the occult, found the Shining Trapezohedron in
the Labyrinth of Kish.
1844: May Professor Enoch Bowen ceases his excavations
of Nephren-Ka's tomb upon finding the Shining
Trapezohedron, and returns to Providence. Bowen
founds the Starry Wisdom sect, buying the old Free-Will
Church for its headquarters. This cult used the crystal to
summon the Haunter, to whom they made blood
sacrifices of infants and children.
1846: Disappearances begin in Providence that rumors
link to the Starry Wisdom Church. The Haunter had
decided to allow its links to this realm to grow through
these rituals, so that it might find the most suitable host
for its essence. It told its followers it awaited the proper
time and place to come forth in the shape of man.
1849: A minor schism within the Starry Wisdom Church
results in Rev. Orin B. Eddy setting up in an abandoned
church in the North End of Boston with financial and
practical aid from Walter Corbitt and with part of the
Starry Wisdom Churchs collection of artifacts, occult
texts, especially their collection of Egyptian funerary
texts. It is called Chapel of Contemplation & Church of
Our Lord Granter of Secrets. The practices of the Chapel
are in the style of a Spiritualist Church with sances,
sometimes aided by sorcery such as Telekinesis or by
information gathered from the Haunter of the Dark in
Providence, but mostly through various forms of fakery.
1852: Walter Corbitt is sued by neighbors, who petition
to force him to leave the area "in consequence of his
surious [sic] habits an unauspicious demeanor."
The Starry Wisdoms power grew as Bowen received
direct guidance from the Haunter. In return for the blood
sacrifices, the Haunter gave the cultists information by
means of which they obtained various artifacts and
numerous dread tomes. They collected copies of the
Necronomicon, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, Liber Ivonis,
Cultes de Goules, De Vermis Mysteriis, PnakoticManuscripts, and the Book of Dzyan.
With the aid of certain ancient funerary texts, Orin B.
Eddy makes progress rediscovering Ancient Egyptian
techniques for everlasting life.
1858: A growing feud between Orin B Eddy and the main
body of the Starry Wisdom Church ends in the death of
Eddy. His body is cremated and buried in the crypt. Rev.
Elisha Bishop is placed in charge of the Chapel of
Contemplation. He discovers and continues Eddys
Afterlife work.
The Chapel becomes quite influential in Boston due to the
patronage of powerful people as well as access to
potentially damaging information on certain influential
people.
1863: A branch of Starry Wisdom opens in Townshend,
Vermont, opens based at a Dr. Raymond Flaggs second
home under the leadership of Dr. Raymond Flagg. Flagg
comes to influence the young minister Abednego Akeley,
who initially challenges him but is impressed by Flaggsdark mirror invocation of the Divine Principle. [Flagg
would have needed a deputy to run this group while he
was in Providence]
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At this point, the Starry Wisdom Cult in Providence had
over 200 members.
1865: Enoch Bowen dies. Dr Flagg takes over the central
sect. Bowens daughter Asenethis vice-leader and pastor
of the Providence branch. Enoch Bowen is mummified
and entombed in the crypts of the Freewill Church.
Whether the rituals designed to maintain life after death
were successful or not is not entirely clear.
1866Evidently Corbitt wins the lawsuit. His obituary in
1866 states that he still lived in the same place. It also
states that a second lawsuit was being waged to prevent
Corbitt from being buried in his basement, as provided by
his will. Executor of Walter Corbitt's will was Reverend
Michael Thomas (age 22), pastor of the Chapel of
Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets.
1868: The Reverend Samuel Shadrach Solomon Akeley,
father of Abednego Akeley, dies. Abednego succeeds himas reverend, but immediately after the funeral he left
Vermont and travelled in southern New England. On his
return, he begins preaching the doctrines of Starry
Wisdom to his flock and converts his church affiliation to
the Church of Starry Wisdom. In fact he was already a
convert and was simply awaiting his fathers death to
complete his training in Providence and Boston. The
church is renamed as West River Valley Church of Starry
Wisdom. Controversy and scandal follow.
1869: A group of Irish vandalize the Starry Wisdom
Church in Providence, apparently in retaliation for their
perceived involvement in kidnapping a fellow.
1871: Abednego Akeley dies at the age of 39 and his
church closes. Rev. Akeley was killed by an unknown
assailant. And seriously wounded, he asked to have his
brain removed that he might explore the mysteries of the
cosmos. He leaves behind a son, Henry Wentworth
Akeley, conceived hours before his death. The mother is
Sarah Elizabeth Phillips, a servant in the Akeleys
household. After Rev. Akeleys death most of the
congregation move to Providence, others remain,
continuing to consort with the Outer Ones and passing
their secret doctrines from parent to child. Meanwhile,
some community leaders are gradually brought under the
influence of the Outer Ones or replaced with those who
are already.
A branch of the Starry Wisdom sect in Chicago known as
the Celestial Providence sect is disbanded by the Great
Chicago Fire.
1872:West River Valley Church is restored as aCongregational denomination church, Akeleys
replacement is Rev. Walter W. Baker who is from
elsewhere in Vermont. Meanwhile, the Starry Wisdom
doctrine survives to some extent among former members
of the congregation.
1876: Policemen showed up at the Chapel of
Contemplations doorstep in search of a sacred golden
box (once the property of Nephren-Ka) from Egypt which
had vanished from the British Museum shortly after
Bishop made an unsuccessful bid to purchase it. (This box
would eventually show up in the hands of Rupert
Merriweather, with whom it will be found at the start of
the rulebooks The Edge of Darkness scenario.) The
authorities, upon searching the Chapel, found the false
panels and secret doors used to stage sances and trick
congregants.
1877May: The Starry Wisdom cult in Providence is
disbanded after threats from the locals. The cultists leave
town by year's end. Aseneth Bowen was commanded by
the Haunter to leave the Shining Trapezohedron in the
church for safekeeping. Empowered by the Haunter, Dr.Flagg and Aseneth Bowen wove a spell casting an aura of
dread and fear over the building. The crystal was left in
the church, along with some of the sects library of occult
texts. No one in the neighborhood dared to explore the
church. [Alternatively, Elder Signs left on the doorways
prevent their re-entry?]
The Townshend and Boston sects are reinforced by
refugees from Providence. The Townshend sect is now
about 40 strong, but is forced to practice in secret.
Others migrate to Boston, where they swell the
attendance at the Chapel of Contemplation. Many others
head west, to California, where a branch is established in
Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, remnants of the sect continue secretly in
Providence under the leadership of Aseneth Bowen.
Elisha Bishop dies. While a coffin went into a plot in
Mount Auburn, his body rested in a small, secret chamber
beneath the Chapel of Contemplation. Spiritualist
manifestations within the chapel picked up considerably,as Bishops spirit made itself manifest. Thomas revives
the sect with the aid of Elisha Bishops spirit.
1880:Rev. Baker of the West River Valley Church
apparently goes insane during a service, rabidly accusing
members of the congregation of being sinners. He beats
one woman to death with a Bible and injures several
other congregants before being restrained. He is hanged
at the State Prison and House of Correction in Windsor,
Vermont in 1908.
The new minister is a local man, Rev. Samuel Aster. Aster
was once a member of Rev. Akeleys congregation,
initiated into the Starry Wisdom doctrine. After his
Protestant ordination, he was secretly ordained in the
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Aleister Crowley's (flawed) English translation of the
Black Book of the Skull is published by Starry Wisdom
Press, with offices in Los Angeles.
People have begun to disappear in Vermont.
1921:Rev. Walsh arrives, hears rumours of strange
practices in the area
1920s:A Los Angeles-area branch of the Starry Wisdom
Cult reaches the peak of its popularity, lasting through the
1930s
New York jazz musician Leroy Turner buys Lightning
Billy Watkins unusual trumpet from a curio shop in New
Orleans.
May Eve 1922:Rev. Duganne witnesses ceremonies in
the hills
Walsh and Duganne believe there is a survival ofwitchcraft in the area
Walsh begins to preach against the Spiritualist Church of
Astral Communion and to publish sermons and letters in
the press about it
A correspondence possibly begins with one of the
investigators. Walsh starts to be spied on and
intimidated. He is not sure who to trust any more.
Walsh asks the investigators to help.
APPENDIX THREE:TRANSCRIPT OF HENRY
AKELEYS RECORDING(Indistinguishable Sounds)
(A Cultivated Male Human Voice)
is the Lord of the Wood, even to and the gifts of the
men of Leng so from the wells of night to the gulfs ofspace, and from the gulfs of space to the wells of night,
ever the praises of Great Cthulhu, of Tsathoggua, and of
Him Who is not to be Named. Ever Their praises, and
abundance to the Black Goat of the Woods. Ia! Shub-
Niggurath! The Goat with a Thousand Young!(A Buzzing Imitation of Human Speech)
Ia! Shub-Niggurath! The Black Goat of the Woods with a
Thousand Young!
(Human Voice)
And it has come to pass that the Lord of the Woods,
being seven and nine, down the onyx steps (tri)butesto Him in the Gulf, Azathoth, He of Whom Thou has taught
us marv(els) on the wings of night out beyond space,
out beyond th to That whereof Yuggoth is the youngestchild, rolling alone in black aether at the rim
(Buzzing Voice)
go out among men and find the ways thereof, that He in
the Gulf may know. To Nyarlathotep, Mighty Messenger,must all things be told.
And He shall put on the semblance of men, the waxen
mask and the robe that hides, and come down from the
world of Seven Suns to mock
(Human Voice)
(Nyarl)athotep, Great Messenger, bringer of strange joy to
Yuggoth through the void, Father of the Million Favoured
Ones, Stalker among
(Speech Cut Off by End of Record)
APPENDIX FOUR:THE CHAPEL OF
CONTEMPLATIONSeveral clues relating to this scenario can be found in The
Haunting. These are as follows:
The Corbitt Diary
Found in the old Corbitt Mansion, Boston. The three
volumes are in plain English, though sometimes strangely
phrased. Accounts of his occult experiments, morbid
sacrifices of children, magic rites and summonings, his
ambition to surpass the boundaries of mortality, reports
of law suits waged against him (protectors in high places).
Corbitt sees himself as a servant of He Who Waits in the
Dark. Details of involvement with Chapel of
Contemplation. Mentions Starry Wisdom in
Providence. 'Shining crystal' and describes
communing with 'He Who Waits in the Dark' who
gran ts his followers prof ound secrets in return
for sacrific es (espec ially children). Mentions
names Prof Bowen and Dr Flagg. Box found in
Egyptian ruins. Haunter summoned up in
darkness, can't tolerate light. Mentions rivalry or
split between Eddy and Flagg, and death of Eddy.
Mentions On Resurrection by Enoch Bowen. A lso
discusses his work with Rev Orin B. Eddy, Rev
Elisha Bishop and Rev Michael Thomas on Ancient
Egyptian methods for establishing eternal life
and their mummification of Enoch Bowen
somewhere in Providence . Sanity loss 1/1D8;
Cthulhu Mythos +4 percentiles; Occult skill check; 10
weeks to study and comprehend/20 hours to skim. Spells:
"Summon Walker of the Worlds" (Summon/Bind
Dimensional Shambler). There's no further elaboration on
the nature of this entity. This spell takes 2D6 weeks to
learn after the diaries are read, likely too long to be useful
in this adventure.
THE CHAPEL OF CONTEMPLATIONHere follows a more detailed treatment of the Chapel of
Contemplation than found in The Haunting. Note also the
mythos tome in the original version is Liber Ivonis,
whereas here this has been substituted with De Vermis
Mysteriis.
GROUND FLOOR:This floor is almost completely destroyed. Fire and time
have reduced it to a scattering of bricks, a few remnants
of charred walls and blackened timbers. Most of the roof
is completely absent or lying collapsed on the ground.
There are no doors remaining. Grasses and weeds grow
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up through the ground, hiding the decayed floorboards
beneath.
1. An empty doorway leads to the first open area. Over a
low wall lies the remains of a washbasin and a toilet
2. The largest space here. Under a collapsed section of
roofing is the remains of a central pedestal and the
remains of black paint that once covered it.
On the wall on the left is painted a symbol a stylized
representation of the Three Lobed Eye. It was created
quite recently by Charles Noyes and Dr Hayes with white
paint. It is intended to show that the sect survives.
Spot Hidden reveals the remains of some words on the
walls of no known language (and now unintelligible).
At some point they become aware that the earth they
stand on is covering weakened floorboards: call for D100
rolls equal to or less than DEX x4. Those who get failing
rolls are unable to grab something secure when they feel
the floor give way. They fall ten feet into the basement.
Each falling investigator loses 1D6 hit points. They end up
in area 10.
If the floor is excavated, Spot Hidden reveals a decayed
trap door which would have to be dug through leading to
the passage below.
3. This passage once led from beneath the central stage in
Area 2 to the secret stage effects in Room 5. The passage
is partially filled with earth and water. Some of the
controls leading to Area 5 are here.
4. The wall on the right hand side has collapsed revealing
Room 5. Spot Hidden and Mechanical Repair reveal that
this wall once opened with an unusual pivot system.
5. This room contains the rusted remains of several
machines of unknown function. Mechanical Repair and an
Idea Roll may reveal that they included various special
effects machines. Well buried under these remains is atrapdoor are the stairs to the inner circle meeting room
(Room 8). Again, the floor would need to be excavated in
order to find this.
6. Empty. Excavating the floor turns up a trapdoor to
areas 9 and 10.
7. Empty. A stairway completely choked with debris at
one end leads down into area 8.
8. Basement: Sealed off from the rest of the underground
areas, this area contains a furnace, a bookshelf and a few
pieces of broken furniture.
SECRET BASEMENT
This part of the basement was sealed off from the rest,
reached by separate stairs now buried under tons of
rubble.
10. Prison: In front of where the investigators land is a
locked cell with rusted floor-to-ceiling bars. The cell-door
is ajar and iron. Scratches on the walls remain. The doors
at either end are made of iron. Spot hidden reveals traces
of bone, which forensic examination will reveal to be
human.
9. Chained to a pedestal at one side of this area is a large
book. Examination proves it to be a Latin work, De Vermis
Mysteriis. It is the prize of those who can break the chain
(STR 30) or carry the pedestal out of the building
(characters STR versus 36 on the resistance table to lift
up through to the outside world, no more than 3
characters may work together). No lock is present; the
chain is literally welded to the pedestal.
On an ancient-looking table, next to a silver candelabra,
rests a cup carved from black onyx, among the muck on
the floor is a six-inch, large-gauge needle.
There is a blocked trapdoor visible in the ceiling (STR 30
to open).
The bookshelf holds mostly works on theology, Middle
Eastern and Egyptian archaeology, and Spiritualistism in
various shades of disrepair. An Occult, Archaeology, or
Theology (replace with an Idea roll by a clergyman if that
skill is not relevant) establishes that the books on that
particular topic are largely out of date.
In a file cabinet, (with Locksmith to open) is an extensive
set of notes on many prominent members of the
community at that time. An Accounting roll turns up the
organizations mundane expenses, which are
unremarkable save for a great deal of donations from
unspecified sources, payments for a safe deposit box
(where the leader keeps On Resurrection).
Library Use reveals the following items:
A journal of cult activities states that WalterCorbitt was buried in the basement of Corbitt's
house "in accordance with his wishes and with
the wishes of that one who waits in the dark.
A letter (Providence postmark) from DrRaymond Flagg to Orin B Eddy, pertaining to the
dispute that existed between them at this time
A letter (Townshend postmark) from Rev.Abednego Akeley about arrangements for an
upcoming visit, after which the sender plans to
spend several weeks in the church in
Providence.[see handout]
A photograph of a golden sarcophagus-shapedbox (The Sarcophagus of Nephren-Ka)
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A photograph of Marion Allen with his namescribbled on the back
11. A Spiritualist connection between this realm and the
realm of The Haunter has been created here. Anyone who
enters the room sees lights, even electric ones, dim. For
every few minutes spent in the room, a Sanity roll of 0/1
should be made.
A low stone slab occupies the center of this room, with a
few small wooden tables around it. At one end is a large,
dark mirror, now cracked. The walls are painted with
Egyptian hieroglyphs; appropriate skill rolls (Hieroglyphs
or halved Archaeology) establish that these are funerary
texts.
Within the this room are two skeletons dressed in
fragment or silk robes, perhaps cultists who hid from the
police and then perished in the fire.
11B. Buried beneath this chamber is the secret tomb of
Elisha Bishop who haunts the Chapel in much the same
way that Walter Corbitt haunts his house. He will become
active only if he feels his entombment is threatened.
DE VERMIS MYSTERIIS (incomplete)in Latin, by
Ludwig Prinn. This worm-eaten folio was copied
imperfectly, and after further damage over the centuries
is missing great portions of the text. It describes itself as
containing "spells and enchantments", particularly those
that can summon strange entities. One such spell,
included in a "chapter dealing with familiars," summons a
"shambler from the stars. It contains references to "such
gods of divination as Father Yig, dark Han, and serpent-
bearded Byatis. The author "awesomely implies his
knowledge" of Nyarlathotep, "the oldest god of all Egypt".
There is a chapter called "Saracenic Rituals", which is said
to have "revealed the lore of the efreet and the djinn, the
secrets of the Assassin sects, the myths of Arabian ghoul-
tales, the hidden practices of dervish cults" and "the
legends of Inner Egypt". It describes cults of Bubastis and
Sebek, and on the Pharaoh Nephren-Ka's worship of
Nyarlathotep. Prinn's chapter on divination has some
information on "The Star of Sechmet", a mysterious
crystal. An invocation from the book: "Tibi, magnum
Innominandum, signa stellarum nigrarum et bufaniformis
Sadoquae sigillum ("To you, the great Not-to-Be-Named,
signs of the black stars, and the seal of the toad-shaped
Sadoquae"). Sanity loss 1D2/1D4; Cthulhu Mythos +5
percentiles; 18 weeks to study and comprehend/ 36
hours to skim. No usable spells.
THE SOCIETY OF RATIONAL CONTEMPLATION COURSE
IN SPECULATIVE PHILOSOPHYin English, French and
Spanish editions. Twenty-four cheap, paper-bound
volumes available as a correspondence course covering
such topics as secret societies, telepathy, astral projection,
yoga, and root races. Aspects of the Mythos are alluded to,
but never fully revealed. The reading time given does not
include the time for mailing and to finish the
examinations and exercises that must be reported for
the next section to be sent. Sanity loss 0/1D4; Cthulhu
Mythos +2 percentiles; two Occult skill checks, one
halfway through reading; 12 weeks to study and
comprehend/24 hours to skim. No spells.
THE BOOK OF THE DEADSanity loss: None; Occult +3;
Spells: None
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Dr Raymond Flagg
Providence
Rev. Orin B. Eddy
Chapel of ContemplationBoston
February 3rd
1858
Rev. Eddy,
The awesome secrets of the Divine Principle
cannot be spread haphazardly about the world.
Please respect the wishes of our esteemed founder,
return to the fold and preserve the unity and
integrity of the True Church. True and deep
communion with The Divine can be found only here
and only through the Shining Trapezohedron. You
cannot continue to operate independently. Your
power is pale next to ours. Your chapel exist by our
tolerance. Do not speak out against the Starry
Wisdom Church. Do not create further conflict.
Please respond within one week to arrange
reconciliation.
Raymond Flagg
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I look forward to meeting you and to receiving
your response.
May we be among the Million Favored Ones!
Abednego Akeley
APPENDIX FIVE:IDEAS AND QUESTIONS
Is the church in Providence left with the Trapezohedron
and the occult texts intact because of the command of the
leadership or because they are prevented by Elder Signs
left by those who raided the church?
Does Duganne witness ceremonies in the hills on May Eve
before he disappears? Or is that Walsh or the
investigators?
Perhaps Duganne also had Henry Akeleys contact details
left in his room when he disappeared. Investigators
may assume Akeley has something to do with the
disappearance. Problem is that this would introduce
Akeley and his evidence of Outer Ones rather early.
SOLUTION: This clue can only be found once the
investigators find Dugannes contact and are able to findthe scene of his disappearance at the stone circle on Dark
Mountain