QUICKSTART RULES CALL OF CTHULHU Quick-Start Ruls (7th Editi) Th ldst ad strgst mti f makid is far. H. P. Lvcraft 1
s h CREDITS CALL OF CTHULHU t i 7th Editi Authrs Sady Ptrs Mik Mas Paul Frickr Ly Willis g d p Albrt Btmpi Rachl Kah Editig Sctt Drward Layut Itrir Illustratis s Nichlas Nacari Da Eglhardt (ivstigatr sht) Cristfr fts cratd by Thmas Phiy Call f Cthulhu was rigially writt by Sady Ptrs, with latr rvisi by Ly Willis ad thrs. Th 7th Editi is a cllabrati btw Paul Frickr ad Mik Mas. CALL OF CTHULHU, 7TH EDITION QUICK-START 2016 by Chasium Ic.; all rights rsrvd. Chasium Ic. ad Call f Cthulhu ar rgistrd tradmarks f Chasium Ic. Similaritis btw charactrs ad prss livig r dad ar strictly cicidtal. Addrss qustis ad cmmts by mail t: Chasium Ic. 3450 Wddal Ct. A Arbr, MI 48104 Our wb sit www.chasium.cm always ctais th latst rlas ifrmati ad currt prics. Chasium publicati 23131 ISBN-13: 978-1-56882-388-1 Publishd i August 2016. Pritd i th Uitd Stats. HOWARD PHILLIPS LOVECRAFT 1890-1937 2
QUICKSTART RULES WELCOME TO CALL OF CTHULHU Itrstd i Chasium s Call f Cthulhu? Yu ar t al! Call f Cthulhu is Chasium s classic rlplayig gam f Lvcraftia hrrr i which rdiary ppl ar cfrtd by th trrifyig ad ali frcs f th Cthulhu Myths. Call f Cthulhu is publishd by Chasium Ic., f th ldst rlplayig gam cmpais. Chasium is famus fr th xcllc f thir gams (icludig Call f Cthulhu, RuQust, ad may mr). All yu d t play Call f Cthulhu fr th first tim is this Quick-Start guid, sm plyhdral dic, plty f imagiati, ad yur frids. Wlcm t th wrlds f Call f Cthulhu! 3
CHAPTER 1 CALL OF CTHULHU THE GAME Cratd by Sady Ptrs i 1981 ad rvisd by Mik Mas ad Paul Frickr fr th 7th diti rlasd i 2015. INTRODUCTION Wlcm t th Call f Cthulhu, a gam full f scrts, mystris, ad hrrr. Playig th rl f a stadfast ivstigatr, yu travl t strag ad dagrus placs, ucvr ful plts, ad stad agaist th trrrs f th ight. Yu will cutr saity-blastig titis, mstrs, ad isa cultists. Withi strag ad frgtt tms f lr yu discvr scrts that ma was t mat t kw. Yu ad yur cmpais may wll dcid th fat f th wrld. Call f Cthulhu is a hrrr-thmd rlplayig gam basd th writigs f Hward Phillips Lvcraft. Lvcraft pd a trmdus bdy f wrk durig th 1920s ad 1930s, ccrig bth hrrrs frm byd ad frm withi. Lvcraft s mst famus ivti has bcm kw as th Cthulhu Myths, a sris f stris sharig cmm plt lmts such as crtai mythical bks f arca lr ad ali gd-lik titis. If yu hav t rad ay f his stris w strgly rcmmd yu d s. Th bklt yu w hld givs yu all th ifrmati yu will d t crat a charactr fr th Call f Cthulhu rlplayig gam, as wll as a brif vrviw f hw t play th gam. May ruls ctaid i th cmplt Call f Cthulhu Kpr Rulbk hav b mittd frm ths Cthulhu Quick-Start Ruls fr th sak f brvity. Oc yu v playd a gam r tw, yu will prbably wat t tak a lk at th full ruls fr Call f Cthulhu, which ar availabl frm ay gd gam ad hbby str, mst larg bkstrs, r dirctly frm us at www. chasium.cm. AN OVERVIEW OF THE GAME Th aim f playig Call f Cthulhu is t hav fu with yur frids as yu xplr ad crat a Lvcraftia stry. O playr taks th rl f gam mdratr, kw as th Kpr f Arca Lr ( Kpr fr shrt). His r hr rl withi th ruls is t ru th gam fr th rst f th playrs. Th rst f th playrs tak th parts f itrpid Ivstigatrs f th Ukw ( ivstigatrs ) th hrs f th stry attmptig t sk ut, udrstad ad vtually cfrt th hrrrs, mystris ad scrts f th Cthulhu Myths. Th Kpr picks a stry t ru. Ths stris ar kw as scaris. Yu will fid at th back f this bklt. A scari prvids th Kpr with th structur f a stry t prst t th playrs. Th Kpr s rl is a littl lik that f a dirctr makig a film i which th actrs d t kw hw th stry will dvlp. T xtd that aalgy, th playrs ar lik actrs wh hav th frdm t imprvis thir w scripts. Ivstigatrs d t b aythig at all lik th ppl wh play thm. Idd, it is ft mr rwardig ad jyabl fr playrs t crat charactrs tirly ulik thmslvs tugh privat ys, rud taxi drivrs, r siistrly-gtl ccultists. Mst f th play is a vrbal xchag. Th Kpr sts th sc, dscribig th virmt, th idividuals, ad cutrs t th playrs. Th playrs tll th Kpr what thy itd thir ivstigatrs t d. Th Kpr th tlls thm whthr thy ca d it ad, if t, what happs istad. I play th gam taks th frm f a grup cvrsati with may twists ad turs ad fu th way.
QUICKSTART RULES NEVER PLAYED A ROLEPLAYING GAME BEFORE? If yu v vr playd a rlplayig gam bfr yu may b wdrig what this is all abut. T displ sm misccptis ad st yu th right track, it may b usful t dscrib a avrag sssi f play. Jh, his partr ad tw frids mt up at Jh s hus Friday vig at arud sv clck. Aftr catchig up th wk s ws ad rgaizig sm driks ad ibbls, thy sit dw i Jh s lug ad Jh hads ut sm papr ad pcils, th talks vry thrugh cratig thir ivstigatrs. Ppl cmpar idas fr charactrs as thy rll dic ad fill ut thir ivstigatr shts. It s w abut ight clck. Jh kicks ff th gam by dscribig th pig sc, tllig hw th ivstigatrs fid thmslvs talkig with a ma wh wats thm t chck ut a ld prprty that h ws; rumr has it that it might b hautd! O f th playrs immdiatly rspds t this, puttig th vic f hr ivstigatr t say that such thigs ar, Cmplt hkum. As th stry uflds, vry bcms ivlvd, dscribig what thir charactrs ar dig r sayig. Dramatic cflicts aris ad dic ar rlld t dtrmi th utcm. Smtims th playrs gt thir way; thr tims vts appar t cspir agaist thm. It is all playd ut simply by talkig ad rllig sm dic t dtrmi th utcm f crtai situatis; ppl ar t gttig ut f thir chairs t act it ut, ithr ar thy dig cstums r usig prps. Jh ad his playrs cas play at arud t-thirty, th chat fr a whil bfr callig it a ight at arud lv clck. Evry is lkig frward t mtig up agai xt wk t fid ut hw th stry dvlps. Of curs that s just a xampl. Th umbr f playrs ad th durati f a sssi f play will vary frm grup t grup. Th gam ruls us dic t dtrmi if a acti succds r fails wh a dramatic cflict prsts itslf fr xampl, whthr yur ivstigatrs ar abl t lap ut f th way f a giat statu that is abut t crash dw up thir hads! Th ruls dscrib hw t dcid th utcm f such cflicts. WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY CALL OF CTHULHU Wh yu ar rady t bgi playig Call f Cthulhu, yu ly d a fw thigs t start: This Quick-Start Rul Bk. Rlplayig dic. Papr. Pcils ad a rasr. Tw r mr ppl t gam with. A quit plac (th kitch tabl is a gd plac t start). Thr r fur hurs i which t play th gam. Wirs ad Lsrs I Call f Cthulhu thr ar wirs ad lsrs i th stadard cmptitiv ss. Play is usually cprativ. Th participats wrk tgthr t attai a cmm gal usually t discvr ad fil a farius plt big prptratd by th miis f sm dark cult r scrt scity. Th ppsiti that th ivstigatrs fac will ft b a ali r hstil situati ctrlld by a impartial Kpr, t athr playr. Wiig i such a situati dpds whthr th ivstigatrs succd i thir gal, ad lsig is what happs if thy fail t achiv it (thy may b abl t try agai latr). Durig th gam ivstigatrs may bcm ijurd, suffr saity-shattrig xprics, r v di! Hwvr, sm has t mak a stad agaist th csmic hrrrs f th uivrs, ad th dath f a sigl ivstigatr mattrs littl if it mas rpulsig Cthulhu s mastr pla t slav th Earth! Ivstigatrs wh surviv will gai pwr frm arca vlums f frgtt lr, kwldg f hrrdus mstrs, ad advacmt i thir skills as thy bcm mr xpricd. Thus th playrs ivstigatrs will ctiu t prgrss util thir dmis r rtirmt whichvr cms first. CREATING AN INVESTIGATOR T play Call f Cthulhu yu d t crat a charactr. Charactrs i th gam ar calld ivstigatrs, as thy 5
s h t i g d p s ROLEPLAYING DICE Th Kpr ad playrs will d a st f rlplayig dic, icludig prctag dic (D100), a fur-sidd di (D4), a six-sidd di (D6), a ight-sidd di (D8), ad a twty-sidd di (D20). Rlplayig dic sts ca b purchasd at mst hbby gam strs ad li. Th lttr D stads fr dic. Th umbr aftr th D is th rag f umbrs sught: 1D8 grats th radm umbrs 1 thrugh 8, fr istac, whil 1D100 grats th umbrs 1 100. READING D100 (PERCENTAGE DICE) Prctag dic usually csist f tw 10-sidd dic rlld at th sam tim. O di (uits) is umbrd 1 t 0, th thr (ts) big umbrd 10 t 00. Bth dic ar rlld ad shuld b rad tgthr (.g. 30 ad 05 is rad as 35%). A rll f 00 (ts di) cmbid with a 0 (uits di) idicats a rsult f 100%. A rll f 00 th ts di cmbid with ay thr rll th uits di idicats a rll f udr 10%; fr xampl, a rll f 00 th ts di ad 3 th uits di big rad as 3%. DICE ROLL VARIATIONS Smtims a dic tati is prcdd by a umbr thr tha 1 : it mas that mr tha such di shuld b rlld ad that thir rsults shuld b addd tgthr. Fr istac, 2D6 mas that tw 6-sidd dic ar rlld ad ttalld (r rll a D6 twic ad add th scrs tgthr). Yu might s 1D6+1, fr istac. This mas that th umbr fllwig th plus sig shuld b addd t th rsult f th D6 rll. Fr 1D6+1, th rsult must b 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, r 7. If a mstr claws fr 1D6+1+2D4 damag, fid th pwr f th actual attack by rllig th thr rqustd dic, ttallig th rsults, ad addig (rllig 1D6 ad 2D4 ad addig 1 t th ttal rlld). CALL OF CTHULHU Th Charactristics T bgi, a Call f Cthulhu charactr has ight charactristics: 1. Strgth (STR) masurs th raw physical pwr yur ivstigatr ca brig t bar. 2. Cstituti (CON) is a masur f th halth ad hardiss f yur ivstigatr. 3. Pwr (POW) is a cmbiati f frc f will, spirit, ad mtal stability. 4. Dxtrity (DEX) is a masur f yur ivstigatr s physical agility ad spd. 5. Apparac (APP) masurs th physical appal f yur charactr. 6. Siz (SIZ) rflcts yur ivstigatr s cmbid hight ad wight. 7. Itlligc (INT) is a rugh masur f yur ivstigatr s cuig ad ability t mak laps f lgic ad ituiti. 8. Educati (EDU) is a masur f th kwldg that yur ivstigatr has accumulatd thrugh frmal ducati, r th vratd Schl f Hard Kcks. Allcat th fllwig valus whr yu lik amg yur charactristics: 40, 50, 50, 50, 60, 60, 70, 80. Half ad Fifth Valus Tak th valu fr ach f yur charactristics ad halv it, rudig that valu dw t th arst whl umbr if cssary. Th tak th valu fr ach charactristic ad divid by 5 t giv th fifth valu, agai rudig dw as rquird. Rcrd th full/half/fifth valus (.g. Bria s ivstigatr s STR 60 wuld b writt th ivstigatr sht as 60 (30/12)). primarily spd thir tim ivstigatig th hrrrs f th Cthulhu Myths. Cratig yur ivstigatr is simpl ad utlid blw. Playrs rcrd th dtails f thir ivstigatrs a Call f Cthulhu Ivstigatr Sht. Th ivstigatr sht hlds all th ifrmati dd t play th gam. Thr is a blak ivstigatr sht icludd at th d f this bklt, ad yu ca dwlad at www.chasium.cm. Scdary Attributs Thr ar a umbr f attributs that ar dtrmid aftr yu hav wrkd ut th charactristics abv. Ths ar Luck, Damag Bus, Hit Pits, ad Saity. Luck bgis at 3D6 multiplid by 5. Circl this valu th ivstigatr sht. A Luck rll is ft usd t dtrmi whthr xtral circumstacs ar i yur favur r agaist yu. 6
QUICKSTART RULES Exampl: Bria is flig a hard f zmbis ad jumps it a arby car. Th Kpr asks fr a Luck rll t dtrmi whthr th kys ar i th igiti. Bria maks a prctag rll, rllig 28, which is lwr tha his Luck scr; h turs th kys ad th gi rars i t acti! h will dal a xtra 1D4 pits f damag (Damag Bus). His Build is +1. STR+SIZ 2-64 Magic Pits (MP) ar qual t -fifth POW, ad ar usd wh castig splls, pwrig arca dvics, ad magical ffcts. Magic pits that ar spt rgrat aturally at a rat f 1 pit pr hur. Oc a idividual is ut f magic pits, ay furthr xpditur is dductd dirctly frm hit pits ay such lss maifstig as physical damag i a frm chs by th Kpr. Damag Bus ad Build: Damag Bus is hw much xtra damag yur ivstigatr ds with a succssful cls-cmbat (ml) attack. Build is a scal f cmbid siz ad strgth. Add yur STR ad SIZ tgthr ad csult th fllwig tabl. DAMAGE BONUS AND BUILD TABLE Exampl: Bria st his STR t 60 ad his SIZ t 70, ttalig 130. Wh h maks a succssful physical attack, 7 65-84 85-124 125-164 165-204 Damag Bus Build 1 1 2 N +1D4 +1D6 2 0 +1 +2 Hit Pits (HP) ar figurd by addig SIZ ad CON tgthr, th dividig th ttal by t ad rudig dw t th arst whl umbr. As yur ivstigatr taks damag frm cmbat r thr vts, yur HPs will drp. Saity (SAN) bgis at a lvl qual t yur POW scr. Circl th valu that crrspds t this umbr th ivstigatr sht. This scr is usd as a prctil rll that prsts yur ivstigatr s ability t rmai stic i th fac f hrrrs. As yu cutr th mstrsitis f th Cthulhu Myths yur SAN scr fluctuats.
CALL OF CTHULHU ad Skills s Occupati this pit yu shuld frm a ida f what yur h Ativstigatr ds fr a livig. Th trm ivstigatr ds t rstrict yu t big a cp r privat y. This chic fyurccupati will ifluc th slcti f skills fr ivstigatr. T bgi with, chs a ccupati. Aythig yu thik wuld b itrstig t play is valid, but yu shuld agr this with yur Kpr. Sm t favurit ccupatis i Call f Cthulhu ar Prfssr, Juralist, Occultist, ad Archlgist. Th ccupatis i ar ly limitd by yur imagiati. Eithr pick a ccupati frm th list fllwig ad us th spcifid list f skills prvidd, r tailr t yur rquirmts t d this, dcid up a ccupati g ad th lk at th list f skills th ivstigatr sht. Chs ight skills that ar apprpriat fr yur d ivstigatr s chs ccupati (.g. what skills wuld a prs dig this ccupati rquir?). Ths ar yur Occupati Skills. Sampl Occupatis p s ANTIQUARIAN Apprais, Art/Craft (ay), Histry, Library Us, Othr Laguag, itrprsal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Itimidat, r Prsuad), Spt Hidd, ay thr skill. AUTHOR Art (Litratur), Histry, Library Us, Natural Wrld r Occult, Othr Laguag, Ow Laguag, Psychlgy, ay thr skill. DILETTANTE Art/ Craft (Ay), Firarms, Othr Laguags, Rid, itrprsal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Itimidat, r Prsuad), ay thr thr skills. DOCTOR OF MEDICINE First Aid, Othr Laguag (Lati), Mdici, Psychlgy, Scic (Bilgy), Scic (Pharmacy), ay tw thr skills as acadmic r prsal spcialtis (.g. a psychiatrist might tak Psychaalysis). Dilttat POLICE DETECTIVE Art/Craft (Actig) r Disguis, Firarms, Law, List, itrprsal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Itimidat, r Prsuad), Psychlgy, Spt Hidd, ay thr skill. PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Art/Craft (phtgraphy), Disguis, Law, Library Us, itrprsal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Itimidat, r Prsuad), Psychlgy, Spt Hidd ad ay thr skill (.g. Lcksmith, Firarms). Plic Dtctiv PROFESSOR Library Us, Othr Laguag, Ow Laguag, Psychlgy, ay fur thr skills as acadmic r prsal spcialtis. Yu w assig pits t th skills th ivstigatr sht. N playr ca add pits t th Cthulhu Myths skill durig charactr crati, as it is assumd that all bgiig charactrs ar igrat f th thrat f th Myths. Allcat th fllwig valus amg th ight Occupati Skills ad als th Crdit Ratig skill: at 70%, tw at 60%, thr at 50% ad thr at 40% (st th skills dirctly t ths valus ad igr th skill bas valus writt xt t ach skill th ivstigatr sht). Aftr assigig pits t th Occupati Skills, slct yur Prsal Itrst Skills. Ths ar skills that yur charactr has acquird utsid f wrk. Pick fur -ccupati skills ad bst thm by 20% (addig 20 t th skill bas valus listd th ivstigatr sht). W rcmmd that yu writ yur skill valus dw i th sam frmat as yur Charactristics full/half/ fifth valus as yu ll d t rfr t ths durig th gam. Of curs if yu prfr, yu ca just writ th full valu f ach skill ad d th math i yur had durig th curs f th gam. Exampl: Bria chss sldir as a ccupati. Th ight skills that sm mst apprpriat ar Climb, Ddg, Fightig, Firarms, Stalth, First Aid, Survival, ad Othr Laguag. Bria sts th skill valus as fllws: Climb 60%, Crdit Ratig 40%, Ddg 60%, Fightig 70%, Firarms 50%, First Aid 40%, Othr Laguag 50% (pickig Spaish as a scd laguag), Stalth 50%, Survival 40%. JOURNALIST Art/Craft (Phtgraphy), Histry, Library Us, Ow Laguag, itrprsal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Itimidat, r Prsuad), Psychlgy, ay tw thr skills. 8
QUICKSTART RULES Bria picks fur hbby skills, raisig ach by 20%; Driv Aut 40%, Jump 40%, Mchaical Rpair 30% ad Spt Hidd 45%. Each is th writt th sht xt t th skill as full, half, ad fifth valus, such as Spt Hidd: 45 (22/9). Crdit Ratig A charactr s Crdit Ratig is a idicatr f his r hr walth ad class. Dpdig hw may f yur Occupati Skill pits yu allcatd t this skill, yur ivstigatr is... Crdit Ratig 0...Pilss, livig th strts. Crdit Ratig 1-9...Pr, pssssig th bar miimum. Crdit Ratig 10-49...Avrag, a rasabl lvl f cmfrt. Crdit Ratig 50-89...Walthy, sm dgr f luxury. Crdit Ratig 90-98...Rich, grat walth ad luxury. Crdit Ratig 99...Supr rich, my is bjct. Exampl: Bria chs a Crdit Ratig f 40% fr his sldir, maig that h has a avrag icm. Backstry Tak last lk at th skills ad charactristics that yu slctd. With a dash f imagiati yu bgi t gt a ida f wh this w charactr is. Yu might wat t add ts yur ivstigatr s backgrud ad prsality as yu dcid thm. Wh is sh rally? Whr did h grw up? What is hr family lik? Th mr tim yu spd thikig abut yur charactr, th mr dvlpd his r hr prsality bcms, th th mr fu yu will hav wh playig Call f Cthulhu. Each backstry try ( th rvrs f th Ivstigatr Sht) shuld b a shrt, pithy statmt. D t wrry abut fillig vry try th back f th ivstigatr sht just tw r thr tris will b ugh t gt yu gig. A cupl f xampls: Br ad raisd i Arkham, Nvr withut my trusty pistl, r Scic ca xplai vrythig. Fial Tuchs Yu w hav smthig that lks lik a fiishd charactr. G back t th tp f th ivstigatr sht t mak sur yu hav writt dw yur charactr s am, sx, ad ag, ad hav all th thr ifrmati filld i (.g. writ dw ay stadard quipmt th charactr might hav assciatd with thir ccupati). GAME SYSTEM Skill rlls may b calld fr durig dramatic situatis i th gam. Walkig dw a wll-lit hallway is t a dramatic situati, whras ruig dw a rubblstrw crridr whil big chasd by mstrs mst dfiitly is! Wh attmptig a skill rll yu shuld agr a gal with th Kpr. If yur skill rll is succssful, yu achiv yur gal. Additially, wh yu succssfully rll a giv skill, put a chck mark i th bx xt t it yur ivstigatr sht. Yu ca ly gt chck pr skill at a tim. At th d f th scari, yur Kpr will tll yu t rll fr skill icrass. At this tim, rll prctag dic agaist ay chckd skills. If yu rll vr th valu f th skill, yu ca th add 1D10 pits t th skill s valu. I thr wrds, th mr yu kw abut smthig, th hardr it is t lar aythig w r gt ay bttr. Exampl: Bria maks succssful us f his Spt Hidd skill durig play ad s ticks th bx xt t that skill his ivstigatr sht. Aftr th scari is cmpltd, th Kpr asks Bria t rll fr skill icrass. Bria s Spt Hidd skill is 45%. H rlls 43 th prctag dic. N imprvmt is mad. If h had rlld 73 h wuld b gaiig 1D10 Spt Hidd skill pits. O ccasi, yu may d t rll a tst that is t cvrd by th skills yur sht. If s, lk at yur charactristics ad dtrmi which f thm is bst t us ad trat it lik a skill. Skill Rlls ad Difficulty Lvls Yur Kpr will tll yu wh yu shuld attmpt a skill rll ad hw difficult th task is. A rgular task rquirs a rll f qual t r lss tha yur skill valu 1D100 (a rgular succss). A difficult task rquirs a rll rsult qual t r lss tha half yur skill valu (a hard succss). A task apprachig th limits f huma capability rquirs a rll qual t r lss tha -fifth f yur skill valu (a xtrm succss). 9
CALL OF CTHULHU s h t i g d p If yu ca justify it thrugh yur ivstigatr s yu ca Push a faild skill rll. Pushig a rll actis, allws yu t rll th dic a scd tim. Hwvr, th ar raisd. If yu fail a scd tim th Kpr gts staks t iflict a dir csquc up yur charactr. Exampl: Yu ar tryig t lvr p th havy st f a crypt. Th Kpr dcids this is vry difficult s dr ad asks fr a STR rll, spcifyig that a hard succss Bus Dic illustrati is rquird. Yu rll th dic but th rsult shws that yu hav faild, as yu rlld abv half yur ivstigatr s STR. Yu ask if yu ca push th rll, statig that yur charactr is usig a spad t lvr th dr. Th Kpr prmits a scd rll, but wars yu that if yu fail this rll t ly will th dr still b clsd but smthig may har yu ad culd b cmig fr yur bld! Palty Dic illustrati Bus ad Palty Dic (primarily fr us with ppsd dic rlls) Smtims, th prvailig cditis fr th ivstigatrs, thir virmt, ad/r th tim availabl t thm ca hidr r bfit a skill r charactristic rll. Udr crtai cditis th Kpr may grat a bus di r a palty di t a rll. O bus di ad palty di cacl ach thr ut. FOR EACH BONUS DIE: rll a additial ts prctag di algsid th usual pair f prctag dic wh makig a skill rll. Yu ar w rllig 3 sparat dic; uits di ad tw ts dic. T tak bfit f th bus, us th ts di that yilds th bttr (lwr) rsult. Exampl: Tw rival ivstigatrs, Malclm ad Hugh, ar vyig fr th affcti f Lady Gr. Oly ca gai hr had i marriag, s th Kpr dtrmis that a ppsd rll is dd t dtrmi th utcm f thir wig. It is dcidd that ach shuld mak a ppsd Charm rll. Th Kpr rviws th vts f th scari s far: Malclm has visitd Lady Gr twic, ach tim lavishig xpsiv gifts up hr, whilst Hugh has ly visitd c ad brught gifts at all. Th Kpr stats that Malclm has a advatag ad will gt a bus di i th ppsd rll. Hugh s playr rlls first agaist his Charm skill f 55, gttig 45 a Rgular succss. Oppsd Skill Rlls If tw ivstigatrs ar ppsig athr, r if a ivstigatr is i a cflict with a sigificat -playr charactr (i.. fr whm statistics ar listd i th scari), th Kpr may rquir a ppsd rll. T rslv a ppsd rll, bth sids mak a skill rll ad cmpar thir lvl f succss. A Rgular succss bats a Fail, a Hard succss bats a Rgular succss, a Extrm succss bats a Hard succss. I th cas f a draw, th sid with th highr skill valu wis. If bth skills ar qual th hav bth sids rll 1D100, with th lwr rsult wiig. 10
QUICKSTART RULES Malclm s playr rlls agaist his Charm skill with bus di, rllig uits di ad tw ts dic (s fig 1.) Th uits di rads 4 ad ca b paird with ithr f th tw ts dic t giv scrs f 44 r 24. Malclm s playr taks th lwr rsult 24 a Hard succss. Malclm wis th ppsd rll, ad his prpsal f marriag t Lady Gr is accptd. FOR EACH PENALTY DIE: rll a additial ts prctag di algsid th usual pair f prctag dic. Yu r w rllig 3 sparat dic; uits di ad tw ts dic. Fr a palty, us th ts di that yilds th wrs (highr) rsult. Exampl: I a dir tur f vts tw ivstigatrs, Flix ad Harris, hav b capturd by th isa cultists f th Scarlt Smil. Th cultists dcid t hav sm fu at th ivstigatrs xps, dcrig that bth must udrtak th Ordal f Pai, frm which ly ca surviv. Th lsr will b sacrificd t th cultists ful gd. Th Ordal f Pai ivlvs liftig a hug rck ad hldig it alft. Whvr hlds th rck up th lgst will wi. This rquirs a ppsd Strgth rll frm ach f th ivstigatrs, hwvr th Kpr ruls that Harris must tak a palty di, as h rctly suffrd a majr wud (h rcivd a ijury wh h was capturd by th cultists) ad is still rcvrig. Flix s playr rlls 51 agaist STR 65 a Rgular succss. Harris s STR is 55. His playr rlls 20 ad 40 tw ts dic ad 1 th uits di (s fig 2.), which ca b cmbid t rad 21 r 41. Th xtra di was a palty di s Harris must tak th highr rsult a Rgular succss Bth playrs hav achivd a Rgular succss; Flix wis bcaus h has th highr STR. Flix is abl t hld th rck abv his had fr lgr tha Harris. Th cultists jr ad lad Harris ff twards thir altar LUCK ROLLS Luck rlls may b calld fr by th Kpr wh circumstacs xtral t a ivstigatr ar i qusti, ad als wh dtrmiig th fickl had f fat. If, fr xampl, a ivstigatr wats t kw if thr is a itm lyig arby that thy culd us as wap, r if th flashlight thy hav fud has ay juic lft i it, th call fr a Luck rll. Nt that if a skill r charactristic is mr apprpriat t a situati th it shuld b usd rathr tha Luck. T succd i a Luck rll, th ivstigatr must rll qual t r udr thir currt Luck valu. If th Kpr calls fr a Grup Luck rll, th playr whs ivstigatr has th lwst Luck scr (amg ths prst i th sc) shuld mak th rll. Exampl: Fidig a cab ds t rquir a dic rll, but gttig bfr th ivstigatrs ls sight f th car that thy wish t pursu culd. Crdit Ratig culd b a factr i attractig th attti f a cabdrivr th lkut fr a wll-drssd far wh may tip grusly. Hwvr, quickly gttig a rid at tw clck i th mrig th udsirabl sid f tw might t b s asy. Wuld thr v b a cab t hail? N skill is gig t mak a cab appar at that mmt. It is a mattr f chac whthr a cab may b drivig dw that rad, hc a Luck rll is rquird. SANITY (SAN) Whvr yu cutr th hrrrs f th Myths r cm acrss smthig muda yt hrrific (such as stumblig acrss yur bst frid s mutilatd crps) yu mak a prctil rll agaist yur currt Saity scr. If yu rll vr yur currt Saity, yu ls a gratr amut f Saity pits. If yu rll udr, yu will ls lss r. Th Saity lss is grally dscribd fr a vt as smthig lik 0/1D6 r 2/1D10. Th umbr bfr th slash mark tlls yu hw much Saity yur charactr lss if th rll is qual t r udr his r hr currt Saity scr; th umbr aftr th slash is hw much yur ivstigatr lss if yu rll vr his r hr currt Saity scr. If a ivstigatr lss 5 r mr Saity pits as th csquc f a sigl Saity rll, h r sh has suffrd majr mtial trauma. Th playr must rll 1D100. If th rsult is qual t r lss tha thir itlligc (INT), th ivstigatr fully udrstads what has b s ad gs tmprarily isa (fr 1D10 hurs). Wh yu fail a Saity rll th Kpr gts t mmtarily ctrl yur xt acti as th far taks hld f yu; prhaps yu uwittigly scram r squz th triggr f yur gu. (wrst) FAIL REGULAR SUCCESS HARD SUCCESS EXTREME SUCCESS (bst) 11
s h t i g d p s If yur ivstigatr is tmprarily isa, th Kpr gts t add a phbia r maia t yur sht (such as far f th dark, far f cfid spacs, r klptmaia, a irratial cmpulsi t stal thigs ), r amds f yur xistig backstry tris. Whil tmprarily isa, th Kpr may prst yur ivstigatr with halluciatis is that a ghul crpig up yu r is it just a hmlss ma askig fr spar chag? Yu ca ly b crtai by askig t mak a Rality Chck : lctig t mak a Saity rll if yu r succssful, yu s thrugh th halluciati, but if yu fail yu fall dpr i t th madss! Ufrtuatly, rgaiig lst Saity is a lg, arduus prcss. Yu may hav t chck yur charactr it a asylum r sk thr frms f psychthrapy t gt ths pits back. Grally, at th succssful d f ach scari yu shuld gt a fw pits back as a rward. As yur Saity scr slips lwr, yur charactr bcms lss ad lss stabl ad his r hr ability t fucti dcrass. Full ruls fr Saity ar t icludd hr, but yur Kpr will lt yu kw th ffcts f this dgradati wh yu play th gam. COMBAT Wh yu ar cfrtd with th hrrr f th Myths, it is grally a bttr ida t ru away, r avid cfrtati altgthr. Hwvr, thr is ft thr chic tha t g i, gus blazig, ad mak th bst f it. Wh a cmbat ccurs, all ivstigatrs, as wll as charactrs ad mstrs ctrlld by th Kpr, act i rdr f thir DEX scrs. Th highst DEX acts first ad th th thrs g i dscdig rdr frm thr. Th durati f a cmbat rud i Call f Cthulhu is bst dscribd as lg ugh fr vry t tak sigificat acti. Th flw f th rud is ctrlld by th Kpr, ad hard-ad-fast ruls fr mvmt ad actis ar t part f th gam. Th Kpr shuld simply giv vry a chac t d smthig quickly whil big awar f th arrativ flw. Ivstigatrs hav thr cmbat skills: Fightig, Ddg, ad Firarms. Tw f ths skills ar mad up f multipl spcializatis, such as Fightig (Brawl) r Firarms (Rifl/Shtgu) yu will hav dcidd which spcializatis yur ivstigatr has (if ay) durig charactr crati, wh yu allcatd yur Occupati ad Hbby skill pits. Nt that th Fightig (Brawl) skill icluds uarmd cmbat ad th us f simpl waps lik pckt kivs ad clubs. Yu d t gt t push cmbat rlls yu simply mak athr attack xt rud. FIGHTING RULES FOR CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBAT Evry tim yu ar attackd yu may chs t fight back (attmpt t avid, blck, r parry a attack whil makig f yur w) r ddg (attmpt t avid th attack cmpltly). Bth attackr ad dfdr rll prctag dic ad cmpar thir lvls f succss: If yu ar fightig back us yur Fightig skill. Yu d t achiv a highr lvl f succss tha yur attackr. If yu ar ddgig us yur Ddg skill. Yur attackr ds t achiv a highr lvl f succss tha yu. It s a simpl mattr: th wiig sid avids rcivig ay damag ad will iflict damag (ulss ddgig) thir ppt. Waps ad Damag Uarmd attacks (huma): 1D3 + Damag Bus Small kif: 1D4 + Damag Bus Macht: 1D8 + Damag Bus Small club: 1D6 + Damag Bus Basball bat: 1D8 + Damag Bus Hadgu: 1D10 Shtgu: 4D6 (at cls rag, thrwis 2D6; ds t impal) Rifl: 2D6+4, Attacks that achiv a xtrm lvl f succss dlivr icrasd damag: blut waps dal maximum damag ad maximum damag bus (if ay); impalig waps (blads ad bullts) dal maximum wap damag plus damag bus (if ay) plus a additial dic rll fr th wap s damag (1D10 + 10 pits f damag i th cas f a hadgu, fr xampl). Fightig back: th bst a prs wh is fightig back ca achiv is rgular damag. Exampl: A ghul swigs a clawd had at Bria, wh lcts t ddg. Th Kpr rlls 03 a xtrm succss (blw -fifth f th ghul s skill). 20 is rlld fr Bria s CALL OF CTHULHU 12
QUICKSTART RULES Ddg rll a hard succss. Th attackr has achivd a bttr lvl f succss tha th ddgr ad s Bria is hit, autmatically takig th maximum f 10 damag (1D6+1D4) bcaus th attack was a xtrm succss. Th ghul is a mstr with 3 attacks pr rud. O its scd attack it tris t bit Bria, wh fights back. Bria achivs a hard succss; th ghul achivs a rgular succss. Bria has a bttr lvl f succss tha th ghul ad s h succssfully fights back t ly ds h avid ijury, but h als iflicts 1D3 pits f damag th ghul. Firarms Ruls Th prs firig th gu maks a prctil rll ad cmpars th rsult with thir Firarms skill. Radid firarms act at DEX +50 fr th purps f dtrmiig th DEX tur rdr. If firig 2 r 3 shts frm a hadgu i rud, apply palty di t ach sht. If yu ar at pit-blak rag (withi -fifth f yur DEX i ft), yu gai bus di th skill rll. Whvr yu ar sht at yu may div fr cvr, rllig agaist yur Ddg skill. If yur Ddg is succssful, th attackr s rlls t hit yu ar mad with palty di. A charactr that pts t div fr cvr frfits thir xt attack (rgardlss f whthr thy wr succssful r t). If thy hav alrady usd thir attack this rud, thy frfit thir attack i th fllwig rud. Fightig Mauvrs If a playr dscribs a gal that is smthig thr tha simply iflictig physical harm th it ca b rslvd with a fightig mauvr. A succssful mauvr allws th charactr t achiv thig, such as: Disarm a ppt. Kck a ppt t th flr Siz ad hld a ppt, whrup th ppt must apply palty di t his r hr actis util h r sh braks fr. A mauvr is tratd th sam way as a rgular Fightig attack, usig th Fightig (Brawl) skill. Th ppt may ddg r fight back as usual. Cmpar th Build f th tw cmbatats. If th charactr prfrmig th mauvr has a smallr Build tha thir ppt th h r sh taks a palty di fr ach pit f diffrc (t a maximum f tw palty dic). If a ppt xcds th attackr s build by thr r mr, ay fightig mauvrs ar iffctiv; th attackr may b abl t lay hads thir ppt, but lacks th strgth ad siz rquird t tak advatag f thir grip. Exampl: Bria attmpts t push a ghul ut f a arby widw (a fightig mauvr). Bria s Build is zr ad th ghul s Build is 1, s Bria taks 1 palty di his attack rll. Bria rlls 02 ad 22; h had a palty di s must us th highr rll a hard succss (udr half Bria s Fightig skill). Th ghul is fightig back, ad it rlls a rgular succss its Fightig skill. Bria has achivd a bttr lvl f succss ad s his mauvr is succssful h shvs th ghul thrugh th widw. Outumbrd Wh a charactr is utumbrd by th ppsiti, th charactr is at a disadvatag. Oc a charactr has ithr fught back r ddgd i th prst cmbat rud, all subsqut ml attacks thm ar mad with bus di. This ds t apply t attacks mad usig firarms. HIT POINTS, WOUNDS, AND HEALING Pits f damag ar dductd frm a charactr s hit pits. Hit pits cat fall blw zr, s d t rcrd a gativ valu. Wh a charactr s hit pits rach zr, h r sh falls ucscius ad i sm situatis may di. Wh a charactr taks damag f gratr tha r qual t half thir full hit pits i a sigl blw, thy hav rcivd a majr wud; thy must mak a CON rll r fall ucscius. If a charactr with a majr wud falls t zr hit pits thy ar cls t dath (Dyig). H r sh must mak a succssful CON rll at th d f th fllwig rud ad vry rud thraftr r di. Oly succssful us f th First Aid skill ca allviat th Dyig cditi. Charactrs withut a majr wud hal 1 hit pit pr day. Charactrs with a majr wud mak a halig rll (usig CON) at th d f ach wk if succssful, 13
s h t i g d p s thy rgai 1D3 hit pits, r 2D3 fr a xtrm succss. Th majr wud cditi is rmvd if ithr a xtrm succss is rlld r currt hit pits ar hald t half thir maximum valu r gratr. First Aid ca hal 1 hit pit. If First Aid is usd a dyig charactr it ds t cfr ay immdiat gai i hit pits, but xtds th charactrs lif s that th Mdici skill ca us usd. Mdici ca hal 1D3 hit pits, but taks at last hur ad apprpriat quipmt ad supplis. If Mdici is usd a dyig charactr it ds t cfr ay immdiat gai i hit pits, but allws a halig rll at th d f wk. Exampl: Bria starts with 12 hit pits. O Mday h gts i a barrm brawl, takig damag frm 3 sparat slugs t his jaw f 4, 2, ad 4 pits. This is a ttal f 10 damag, rducig his hit pits t 2. H has t tak a majr wud, ad will rcvr at th rat f 1 hit pit pr day. O Thursday, Bria (w at 5 hit pits) clumsily falls ut f a widw, suffrig 7 hit pits f damag. This is a majr wud. A frid admiistrs First Aid ad rushs him t hspital. Aftr 7 days hav passd, a succssful CON rll is mad fr Bria ad h rgais 2 hit pits a 1D3 di rll. At th d f th scd wk Bria s playr rlls a xtrm succss ad rgais 3 hit pits a 2D3 rll f th dic, ad his currt hit pits w stad at 5. This rass his majr wud markr, aftr which h hals at 1 hit pit pr day. If a charactr suffrs pits f damag gratr tha r qual t thir maximum hit pits i a sigl blw, thy di istatly. OTHER FORMS OF DAMAGE Oft th Kpr will b frcd t judg th amut f damag causd by sm radm vt. Whatvr th caus, csidr th likly ijury ad rat it agaist th lft-had clum th Othr Frms f Damag tabl (p. 32). Each ijury typ is fr icidt r cmbat rud; rud f big puchd by attackr, bullt, rud f drwig, rud f big burd. Th charactr will tak furthr damag ach succssiv rud that thy ar xpsd t th surc f th harm. CALL OF CTHULHU OTHER FORMS OF DAMAGE TABLE Ijury Damag Exampls Mir: a prs culd surviv umrus ccurrcs f this lvl f damag. 1D3 Puch / kick / had-butt / mild acid / brathig smky atmsphr / a thrw fist-siz rck / fallig (pr 10 ft) t sft grud. Mdrat: might caus a majr wud; it wuld tak a fw such attacks t kill. Svr: likly t caus a majr wud. O r tw ccurrcs wuld rdr a prs ucscius r dad. Dadly: th avrag prs has a 50% chac f dyig. Trmial: utright dath is likly. Splat: utright dath is almst crtai. 1D6 Fallig (pr 10 ft) t grass / club / strg acid / brathig watr / xpsur t vacuum / small-calibr bullt / arrw / fir (burig trch). 1D10 2D10 4D10 8D10.38 calibr bullt / fallig (pr 10 ft) t ccrt / ax / fir (flamthrwr, ruig thrugh a burig rm) / big 6 t 10 yards frm a xpldig had grad r stick f dyamit / mild pis. Hit by a car at 30 mph / big 3 t 6 yards frm a xpldig had grad r stick f dyamit / strg pis. Hit by a spdig car / big withi 3 yards f a xpldig had grad r stick f dyamit / lthal pis. Big ivlvd i a high-spd had- cllisi, big hit by a trai. 14
CHAPTER 2 THE HAUNTING This scari is dsigd fr w Kprs ad playrs. Advic fr th Kpr is icludd withi th txt (Kpr s Nts) hw ad wh t us dic ad ruls, as wll as guidac hw t ru th scari. Oc yu hav rad thrugh this scari ad yur playrs hav ach cratd a ivstigatr charactr, yu ar rady t bgi. Th bxd txt withi th scari is mat t b rad alud t th playrs paraphras ths lis i yur w wrds r just rad ut what is writt. Playr haduts ar markd i th txt ad hav b cllctd at th d f th scari t allw Kprs t cpy thm fr prstati t th playrs wh dirctd. Th yar is 1920 ad th lcati is Bst, Massachustts, althugh this scari culd b trasprtd t a mdr sttig if dsird. THE KEEPER S SECRET Th bdy f Waltr Crbitt is burid i th basmt f th Crbitt hus. Th mid f Waltr Crbitt still livs, awar f vts withi th hus. H hauts th plac. Crbitt kws Myths magic that prsrvs his idtity ad abls him t aimat his bdy aftr dath. H smtims vampirically prys up rsidts f th hus, drivig away r slayig ths wh lar his scrt. T slv th mystry psd t thm, th ivstigatrs must lar abut Crbitt. Whil thy d this, Crbitt will b awar f th ivstigatrs ad will try t mislad thm ad scar thm away. Failig that, h will try t murdr thm. PREPARING FOR PLAY Lad th playrs thrugh th crati f ivstigatrs fr this scari. Startig playrs will gai a bttr udrstadig f bth th ruls ad wh thir charactrs ar if thy g thrugh this prcss. Tll th playrs th prmis f th scari. Yu ar gig t b hird t ivstigat a ld hus i 1920s Bst rumr has it that it may b hautd! Th playrs shuld crat a tam f privat dtctivs, amatur sluths, juralists, r frids f th ladlrd wh hav vlutrd fr th task. Had ut th ivstigatr shts ad talk th playrs thrugh th prcss stp by stp. Ecurag thm t chat with ach thr abut thir charactrs ad hav fu cratig backstris ad rlatiships. Kp it all rasably brisk; avid gttig bggd dw with ucssary dtails. Nt dw ach ivstigatr s am, apparac (APP), Crdit Ratig scr, ad ay tabl aspcts f thir backstry fr yur rfrc durig play. LOCATION 1: INTRODUCTION KEEPER S NOTE: This itrducti taks plac whrvr sms apprpriat. If th ivstigatrs ar privat ys, thy might hav a ffic. If thy ar frids f th ladlrd, it might tak plac at his hus r i a café. Th lcati is t vrly imprtat, but tak a mmt t st th sc. Th rad th fllwig alud, rlplayig th ladlrd s discussi with th playrs.
s h t i g d p s Hadut 1 A ladlrd, Mr. Ktt, asks yu t xami a ld hus i ctral Bst, kw as th Crbitt Hus. Th frmr tats, th Macari family, wr ivlvd i a tragdy ad th wr wishs t udrstad th mystrius happigs at th hus ad st mattrs straight. Mr. Ktt has b uabl t rt th hus ut sic th tragdy ad hps that yu ca clar thigs up ad rstr its gd am. H ffrs t rimburs yu fr yur tim ad trubl. Th ladlrd givs yu th kys, th addrss, ad $25 cash i advac. Kwig yur jbs, yu will wat t cduct sm rsarch bfr yu had t th hus. Yu culd chck ut ld wspapr articls at th ffics f th Bst Glb, had t th Ctral Library, r g t Th Hall f Rcrds. Th chic is yurs. Pass Hadut 1 (pag 29) t th playrs i cas thy wish t rfr t it latr. Giv thm tim t absrb th ifrmati, discuss mattrs, ad dcid a curs f acti. Sm playrs will b k t had straight t th hus, but yu shuld suggst that thy wuld b bttr ff cductig sm rsarch first. Mr. Stv Ktt rctly ihritd th prprty ad wuld lik t mak a prfit th plac smhw, ithr by rtig it r sllig it, but has b uabl t d ithr du t th trribl rputati f th plac. Prcd t Lcati 2, 3 r 4, dpdig whr th playrs dcid t g xt. Th clippigs fils ar t p t th gral public ad th ivstigatrs will hav t Prsuad Arty Wilmt (a Bst Glb ditr) f thir cas fr accss. Arty jys th littl pwr h has ad will try t dy th ivstigatrs accss; play up his pmpsity ad curag th playrs t striv t gai accss t th mrgu. Usig Dic T... Gai Accss T Th Clippigs Fils KEEPER S NOTE: Usually wh cutrig a utral -playr charactr yu shuld rll vrsus th ivstigatr s APP r Crdit Ratig; hwvr i Arty s cas th dcisi is prrdaid h s uhlpful. First, stablish a gal with th playrs, alg th lis f gai accss t th clippigs fils. Rlplay th itracti btw Arty ad th ivstigatrs. Basd th way th rlplay gs, chs f th fllwig ptis: If th ivstigatr is tryig t wi Arty rud with fridliss, us th Charm skill. If th ivstigatr is big aggrssiv twards Arty, us th Itimidat skill. If th ivstigatr is usig ratial argumts t prsuad Arty, us th Prsuad skill. CALL OF CTHULHU KEEPER S NOTE: It is up t yu t dscrib th lcatis as yu wish. Us yur imagiati ad try t vk th fl f th placs; th smll ad is f th pritig prsss at th Bst Glb, fr xampl. Thr is d t g i t dtail wh it cms t mvig btw lcatis just cut t th ivstigatrs arrivig at th a w lcati. LOCATION 2: THE BOSTON GLOBE A DAILY NEWSPAPER OF GOOD REPUTE KEEPER S NOTE: As th playrs mak thir iitial quiris at th wspapr ffics, rlplay th ppl thy culd mt th dsk clrk, a juralist, r f th ditrs. B sur t mti th mrgu (th wspapr clippigs fils) i th basmt f th Bst Glb. If th ivstigatr is tryig t c Arty, us th Fast Talk skill. Ask th playr dig mst f th talkig t rll prctag dic (1D100) ad cmpar th rsult with his r hr ivstigatr s Prsuad, Fast Talk, Charm, r Itimidat skill, as apprpriat. If th rll is qual t r lwr tha th skill, th ivstigatr has succdd i gaiig accss fr th grup. KEEPER S NOTE: Ntic hr hw th difficulty lvl fr th playrs vrsus Arty is Rgular; Arty s prfssi ds t rquir a prfssial lvl (50%+) i Prsuad, Charm, Itimidat r Psychlgy. If it did, th difficulty lvl wuld b Hard. Pick up th rlplay agai ad icrprat th utcm f th skill rll i t what Arty says: If th ivstigatrs hav w, hav Arty back dw i a way that sms apprpriat t yu ad allw thm accss t th fils. 16
QUICKSTART RULES If th ivstigatrs faild, hav Arty puff himslf up ad tll th ivstigatrs t lav. Pushig Th Rll? If th playrs fail th rll, ask if thy wat t prsist i thir ffrts t gai accss t th clippigs fils. If thy chs t d s, thy may attmpt a Pushd rll by ctiuig t prssur Arty i sm way (thy may chag thir apprach ad us a altrat mthd at this pit). Dpdig thir curs f acti yu shuld dcid what will happ if thy fail (a csquc); fr xampl: If th ivstigatrs ar usig Itimidat, th csquc might b that Arty calls thir bluff, ladig t a xchag f blws. If th ivstigatrs ar usig Charm r Prsuad, th csquc might b that Arty taks ffc ad scrams at thm t lav. Whatvr th csquc, sur that it scalats byd Arty just askig thm t lav fr xampl, hav Arty call sm strg-armd maitac m fr backup. Th Clippigs Fils If th ivstigatrs gai accss, dscrib th dusty shlvs f th clippigs fils mrgu. Yu ar tak dw sm stps by Ruth Blak, th rcrds kpr, it a dusty basmt filld with filig cabits ad stackd high with ld wspaprs ad thr assrtd juk. Th whl rm smlls musty ad th bilr systm i th crr givs ut a lt f hat. Th prtit clippigs ar fild by strt addrss. Sic th playrs hav alrady had t succd i dic rlls t gt i t th mrgu it wuld b churlish stp thm gttig th clu that is hr, s it shuld b mad bvius. Pass Hadut 2 (pag 30) t a playr. Hadut 2 Upublishd Stry, Bst Glb 1918: A fatur stry, which was vr publishd. It stats that i 1880, a family f Frch immigrats mvd it th hus but fld aftr a sris f vilt accidts lft th parts dad ad thr childr crippld. Th hus lg std vacat. I 1909, athr family mvd i ad immdiatly fll pry t illsss. I 1914, th ldst brthr wt mad ad killd himslf with a kitch kif, ad th hartbrk family mvd ut. I 1918, a third family, th Macaris, rtd th hus, but thy lft almst immdiatly udr mystrius circumstacs. If a ivstigatr flirts with r bfrids Ruth Blak, th rcrd kpr i th clippigs fil (d t bthr with dic hr, th ifrmati is t crucial), sh rmarks that th Glb fils g back furthr tha a fir i 1878. If th Crbitt Hus is mtid arlir tha that, thr is rcrd f it hr. LOCATION 3: THE CENTRAL LIBRARY This wrthy istituti has svral itrstig itms tuckd away. Fr ach half-day spt i rsarch at th library, ask ach playr t mak a Library Us rll (rllig qual t r lss tha thir skill 1D100). If faild, thr is d t push th rll; th playrs ca simply kp tryig agai ad agai, but ach rll mas thy hav spt half a day mr i rsarch. If thy spd mr tha a day rsarchig, hav thir mplyr, Mr. Ktt, ctact thm t ask hw thigs ar prgrssig, urgig thm t rslv thir ivstigatis tim is my aftr all. Fr ach succss, giv ut f th fllwig Haduts (i rdr). Hadut 3 I 1835, a prsprus mrchat builds th hus, but immdiatly falls ill ad slls it t a Mr. Waltr Crbitt, squir. Hadut 4 I 1852, Waltr Crbitt is sud by ighburs, wh ptiti t frc him t lav th ara i csquc f his surius [sic] habits ad uauspicius dmar. Hadut 5 Evidtly Crbitt wis th lawsuit. His bituary i 1866 stats that h still livd i th sam plac. It als stats that a scd lawsuit was big wagd t prvt Crbitt frm big burid i his basmt, as prvidd by his will. Hadut 6 N utcm t th scd lawsuit is rcrdd. 17
s h t i LOCATION 4: HALL OF RECORDS Ask fr a Library Us rll. If succssful, pass Hadut 7 t th playrs. Us th sam guidlis as fr th Ctral Library. Hadut 7 Crdit Ratig: If th playr maks a succssful rll ad has a Crdit Ratig scr f 75 r mr, thy may imprss a clrk sufficitly t gai accss. Prsuad skill: Th playr shuld prst a gd cas fr why accss shuld b gratd. Charm skill: A fluttr f ylids might gai accss fr a charmig ivstigatr. CALL OF CTHULHU g d p s Civil curt rcrds shw that th xcutr f Waltr Crbitt s will was Rvrd Michal Thmas, pastr f th Chapl f Ctmplati ad Church f Our Lrd Gratr f Scrts. Th rgistr f churchs (als availabl i th Hall f Rcrds) ts th clsur f th Chapl f Ctmplati i 1912. If th playrs thik t lk up th Chapl f Ctmplati i crimial curt rcrds, thy fid rfrcs t actis tak i 1912; hwvr, th actual rcrds ar t prst. If th ivstigatrs hav b curtus t th clrk, h pits ut that srius crims wuld b hadld i th cuty, cmmwalth, r fdral curts. A succssful Law skill rll ca idicat th sam thig. Th rcrds f city fficrs participatig i arrsts r sizurs ar fild at th Ctral Plic Stati. LOCATION 5: HIGHER COURTS; CENTRAL POLICE STATION Gaiig accss t ths rcrds will prv difficult, rquirig at last playr t mak a succssful skill rll. Playrs ca us f th fllwig: Law skill: T stablish that a ivstigatr has a xistig ctact withi th curts wh will grat accss. If faild, th playr ca ask t Push th Law skill rll t stablish a ctact. Yu shuld mak a ccald rll bhalf f th playr. D t ifrm th playrs f th utcm f th rll. Rgardlss f th dic rll, th ivstigatr kws Kim Dbru, a clrk i th Curt ffics. If th rll is succssful, Kim is warm ad fridly ad will allw th ivstigatrs accss t th fil (Hadut 8). If th rll is a failur, Kim is uscrupulus ad will dmad a brib bfr rgig th dal ad claimig t t kw th ivstigatrs. Fast Talk skill: Prhaps this ivlvs flashig a fak I.D. This is a risky apprach giv th lcati. If th rll is succssful, pass Hadut 8 t th playr. If th playrs fail thir rll, ask if thy wish t ctiu thir ffrts. Thy d t justify a Pushd rll. If usig Crdit Ratig, Prsuad, r Charm, thy risk vrstppig th mark, ladig t a csquc such as causig ffc ad arig th atipathy f th plic (prhaps rcivig a shakdw r thrats). Hadut 8 Th fil ccrs a scrt raid th Chapl f Ctmplati. Th plic raid was ccasid by affidavits swarig that mmbrs f th church wr rspsibl fr th disapparacs f ighbrhd childr. Durig th raid, thr plicm ad svt cult mmbrs wr killd by guplay r fir. Autpsy rprts ar sigularly lackig dtail ad uifrmativ, as thugh th crr had t actually prfrmd xamiatis. Thugh 54 mmbrs f th church wr arrstd, all but ight wr rlasd. Th rcrds hit f illgal itrvti i th prcdigs by a imprtat lcal fficial ffrig stris f th battl th biggst crimial acti i th city s histry that vr appard i prit. Pastr Michal Thmas was arrstd ad stcd t 40 yars i pris fiv cuts f scd-dgr murdr. H scapd frm pris i 1917 ad fld th stat. LOCATION 6: THE NEIGHBORHOOD Mst f th ppl wh livd i th ara bfr th Grat War hav mvd away r did. Nw ffics ad busisss hav rplacd th itth-ctury hms, ad th hus i qusti (th Crbitt Hus ) with its vrgrw frt yard is w th ly privat rsidc th blck. If th ivstigatrs ask arud thy fid a Mr. Dly, a vdr f cigars ad wspaprs, wh kws th ara. 18
Usig Dic T... Gaug Mr. Dly s Racti t th Ivstigatrs Establish Mr. Dly s racti t ivstigatrs wh spak t him by rllig 1D100 ad cmparig it with th ivstigatr s APP r Crdit Ratig. A dic rll that is qual t r lwr tha f ths yilds a psitiv racti frm Mr. Dly. Othrwis Dly is lss tha frthcmig t that particular ivstigatr. A diffrt ivstigatr may try a Charm, Fast Talk, Prsuad, r Itimidat rll t gt Dly t talk. Dly Talks If th playrs maag t gt Dly talkig ad ask abut th Chapl f Ctmplati, h is abl t pit ut whr it std a fw blcks distat. If askd abut th hus, h will rfr t it as th Crbitt Hus. Ecurag th playrs t rlplay ad gag Mr. Dly i cvrsati. Draw up th fllwig pits ad icrprat thm i t th cvrsati: Th Macari family mvd it th hus a cupl f yars ag. QUICKSTART RULES bibl t his chst. At sm pit h may p th bibl at a radm plac (yu dcid whr) ad pit t a passag (appartly qutig), By his w wap is th dvil wrstd! Whil t a gui qutati frm th bibl, this is a usful clu. If rmmbrd latr i th scari, a atttiv playr might raliz that Crbitt may b killd with his w daggr. D t vrplay it lav it up t th playrs t tak t f th clu r t. Nthig mr ca b glad frm Vittri. Gabrila Macari is cscius ad apprachabl. Sh ca xplai that a vil prsc livs i th hus. At ight sh wuld smtims wak t fid it laig vr hr. Wh it was agry, th thig might caus dishs r thr bjcts t fly arud th rm. Mstly, it hatd hr husbad, Vittri, ad cctratd its agr him. Th Kpr ca aswr mr qustis, but Gabrila is uabl t giv spcific ifrmati. Th Kpr shuld d th itrviw quickly, sic th ivstigatr s qustis will gratly upst hr. Th tw yug Macari bys ar big card fr by rlativs i Baltimr. Th ivstigatrs ca visit, but thy kw thig xcpt that thy miss thir parts ad that i thir frmr hm thy ft had ightmars f a strag ma with burig ys. A yar aftr mvig i, th fathr had a srius accidt ad shrtly thraftr wt viltly mad. Thy say h babbld abut a hautig frm with burig ys. Abut a mth back, th ld lady, Mrs. Macari, als wt mad. Mrs. Macari is with hr husbad vr i Rxbury Saitarium, a fw mils frm Bst. Th kids wr tak i by rlativs dw i Baltimr. KEEPER S NOTE: Prtray Dly as yu wish ad imprvis his dialgu frly t vrythig spk by a -playr charactr has t b tru ad h may wll xaggrat. H is a salsma ad usd t gagig i batr ad gssip. LOCATION 8: THE CHAPEL OF CONTEMPLATION Rad th fllwig t th playrs: What is lft f th ld church stads at th d f a crkd, digy strt. Th ruis ar s wathrd ad vrgrw with grry that th gry st rubbl sms mr lik atural st tha frmr walls ad fudati. Yu pass a slumpig wall barig whitpaitd symbls, appartly frshly swabbd thr Y s arragd i a triagl s that th tp lmts f ach Y tuch th thr tw Y s. I th ctr, s cratd, is paitd a starig y. Hadut 9 is a imag f this symbl. Shw it t th playrs. LOCATION 7: ROXBURY SANITARIUM If th playrs dcid t visit th saitarium, thy will fid Vittri Macari is quit mad. H is claspig a 19
s h t i g d p s Whil th ivstigatrs ar ar th sigs, subtly dscrib t th playrs hw thy bgi t fl tigls i thir frhads, lik hadachs, but t quit. Wh thy lav, th irritati stps. Ecurag th playrs t xplr th ruis; try t dscrib th sc ad ask what thy ar dig. Prwlig th chapl, thy fid mstly blcks f grait, ld halfburd timbrs, ad acit rubbish. At sm pit thy shuld bcm awar that th arth thy stad is cvrig wakd flrbards. Call fr Luck rlls: ths that fail thir Luck rlls must attmpt a Jump rll t lap t safty r fid thmslvs fallig as th flr givs way. Th fall is t ft it th basmt. If th Jump is faild, ask th playrs if thr s aythig thy ca d t justify Pushig th Jump rll prhaps thy mak a last miut grab fr th dg. Each fallig ivstigatr lss 1D6 hit pits. Icras th csquc if a playr fails a Pushd rll, thugh prhaps rathr tha simply icrasig th damag hav that ivstigatr ls r brak a prsal pssssi. KEEPER S NOTE: This fall may b th first icidt f physical damag i th gam. Tll th playrs t subtract th damag frm thir currt hit pits. Rfr t Hit Pits, Wuds, ad Halig (pag 13) as t whthr a Majr wud has ccurrd ad fr ruls tratmt, rcvry, ad halig. If a ivstigatr falls, rad th fllwig alud: Yu v fall i t a part f th basmt that was sald ff frm th rst, rigially rachd by sparat stairs w burid udr ts f rubbl. Withi this rm, xt t a cabit, ar tw sklts drssd i tattrd silk rbs; prhaps thy hid frm th plic ad th prishd i th fir. If th playrs sarch th cabit it is fud t ctai mldrig church rcrds. If thy d t thik t lk udr th cabit, ask fr a Spt Hidd rll ly pit ut th jural ad tm if playr succds i th skill rll. Allw th playrs t Push th Spt Hidd rll if thy vlutr t cduct a thrugh, mr timcsumig sarch. If thy fail th pushd Spt Hidd rll, thy might stp a ail r rui thir clthig. With a succssful Spt Hidd rll allw a playr t fid a jural (f cult activitis) ad a tm. Rad th fllwig alud: Th musty ld jural falls t pics as yu tur th pags, but th am Waltr Crbitt catchs yur y. A try rcrds that Waltr Crbitt was burid i th basmt f his hus, I accrdac with his wishs ad with th wishs f that wh waits i th dark. Algsid th jural is a rmus vlum, hadwritt i Lati, but s rtt ad wrm-at that whl sctis lgr ca b udrstd. Th tm is a cpy f th Libr Ivis. A cursry lk at th bk will shw that it is i Lati ad dals with mattrs f a ccult atur. A iitial radig f this bk (rquirig ithr a Rad Lati skill f 50% r mr, r a succssful Rad Lati rll) will tak a miimum f thr hurs. If a ivstigatr taks th tim t d this th hav that ivstigatr gai 2% Cthulhu Myths kwldg (ad rduc Maximum Saity by th sam amut, frm 99 t 97). LOCATION 9: THE OLD CORBITT PLACE Rad th fllwig alud t th playrs: Th brick buildig is vrshadwd by tallr, wr ffic buildigs ithr sid. Th hus frts th strt. I th rar ar vrgrw platigs ad a halfcllapsd arbr. Accss t th rar xists ithr sid f th rsidc. Studyig th hus, th bsrvr is imprssd by th way th hus sms t withdraw it th shadws cast by th flakig buildigs, ad hw th blak curtaid widws hid all udrstadig f what lis withi. Th frt dr is scurd with a sigl lck. Fur additial blts sm t hav b addd withi th last yar r tw. If th ivstigatrs thik t tst th grud flr widws, thy fid thm all aild shut frm th isid. Study th pla prvidd. Sktch ut ach flr a sht f papr as th ivstigatrs xplr it. GROUND FLOOR INTERIOR ROOM 1, A Strag Rm Th rm is filld with bxs ad juk, such as rustd watr taks ad ld bicycls. At th right d f th rm is a cupbard, bardd shut. CALL OF CTHULHU 20
QUICKSTART RULES If th cupbard is wrchd p, thr bud bks ar fud withi th diaris f a crtai W. Crbitt, a frmr ihabitat f th hus, as th addrss th flylaf f vlum tstifis. Th Crbitt Diaris ar i Eglish, thugh smtims stragly phrasd. Th thr vlums tak a ttal f tw days t rad, addig +4 t Cthulhu Myths skill ad lsig 1D4 Saity pits. Th diaris dscrib Crbitt s varius ccult xprimts, icludig th summig f sm uarthly spirit ad thr magic, ad clarly dscrib a spll titld Call Frth th Opr f Ways (a altrativ titl fr th spll Summ / Bid Dimsial Shamblr). N thr splls xist i th diaris. Th spll taks 2D6 wks t lar aftr th diaris hav b rad. KEEPER S NOTE: This spll is t itdd fr us i this scari ad is icludd as a addd fatur. It is ulikly that this ivstigati will ctiu lg ugh fr this spll t b f us t that summig a dimsial shamblr is likly t b bficial i ay cas! Dtails f th spll ca b fud i th full Call f Cthulhu Rulbk. ROOM 2, A Scd Strag Rm This rm ctais ld furitur that might b brk up t bur i a wd stv. ROOM 3, Th Mud Rm Hr hag vrcats, galshs, hats, ad umbrllas. Svral bags f cal fr th livig rm s frstadig stv ar hr. Yu tic that th sid dr is scurd with thr blts ad tw lcks. ROOM 4, Th Livig Rm This rm ctais cvtial furishigs: a radi, cuch, stuffd chairs, ad shlvs lad with gwgaws. Yu cat hlp but tic th uusual quatitis f crsss, imags f th Virgi ad thr Cathlic artifacts. KEEPER S NOTE: Try t build a crpy atmsphr as th playrs xplr th hus. Rmmbr Crbitt hauts th plac ad at ay tim a is might b hard upstairs (Bdrm 3). 21
CALL OF CTHULHU s ROOM 5, Th Diig Rm h Thtabl,is isathbuilt-i diig rm, cmplt with a lg mahgay ad sv chairs. Thr placs ar st ad uusd.sidbard, Scraps f ric sup rt i a tur. ROOM 6, Kitch t Av,cvtial kitch, with icbx, wd-fd stv ad plus a magr lardr. Sm f th fdstuffs may i bsvral dibl thr is cad sup ad mat, ric krls, pastas, ad a fw bttls f hmmad wi. Th prduc which has t spild has b at by rats, judgig by th spr lft bhid. g d UPPER FLOOR ROOM 1, Mai Bdrm p Awidw rdiary bdrm, with a dubl bd, bkshlf ad viw. Appartly th rm f Vittri ad Gabrila. Mr crsss ad may cadls ar hr, ad a rsary ad brviary rst a tabl bsid th bd. ROOM 2, Childr s Bdrm s ThPicturs is rm ctais tw small bds, tys, ad drssrs. f aircraft ad cwbys mark this as th childr s bdrm. ROOM 3, Spar Bdrm This rm ctais a bd fram, bar bdsprigs, ad a drssr. Thugh uusd, this rm lks lik th thr tw bdrms. This was c th rm f ld Crbitt himslf. H stayd hr s lg that his psychic ifluc ligrs ad h is abl t will crtai dds t happ i this rm. Whvr h ds, a hrribl smll maifsts a sur sig f th Myths! KEEPER S NOTE: Thugh Crbitt lays lw at first, if th ivstigatrs sm dtrmid t lar th scrts f th hus th Crbitt tris t cvic thm that this rm is th ctr f th psychic disturbac. T this d, h maks pls f bld appar ad tris t fright th ivstigatrs ff with thumpig suds th drs ad walls. If a ivstigatr is t cvicd by Crbitt s hautig ruti, Crbitt tris t lur him r hr it this rm t b killd (s Bd Attack), attractig th ivstigatr t th widw by makig it rattl. Pick ay f th fllwig vts ad hav thm happ as ad wh yu wish: Crbitt ca caus lud thumpig iss t maat frm this rm. Ths iss ca b hard frm aywhr i th hus. Crbitt ca frm a pl f bld th flr r t drip dw frm th cilig r walls. Crbitt ca mak a rattlig, scratchig sud th widwpa r dr. Crbitt ca impl th bd at gd spd, fast ugh t strik a strg blw agaist aythig i th rm (s blw). Bd Attack Crbitt will lur th ivstigatrs t ispct th widw i th spar bdrm, th mak th bd fly acrss th rm at high spd tward a ufrtuat ivstigatr. Ask th playr f th ivstigatr ispctig th widw t mak a Spt Hidd rll: if succssful th playr may attmpt a Ddg rll t avid big hit by th bd. 22
QUICKSTART RULES KEEPER S NOTE: It is imprtat t rmai impartial as Kpr, s wh iflictig a dagrus vt th ivstigatrs it is bst t pick f thm at radm. T d this, chs th ivstigatr with th lwst Luck scr r simply rll radmly. Wh slctig a playr t b attackd by th bd, b clar wh is stadig xt t th widw, ad slct amg thm at radm. If th ivstigatr is struck by th bd, h r sh is thrw thrugh th widw. Th brk glass ad fall csts th victim 1D6 + 2 hit pits. Ay wh witsss th bd mv f its w accrd shuld mak a Saity chck (SAN 1/1D4). Ths wh pass shuld ls Saity pit, ad ths wh fail shuld rll 1D4 t dtrmi hw may Saity pits thy ls. KEEPER S NOTE: Th bd attack has th pttial t dlivr a majr wud t a ivstigatr. I th ulikly vt f ivstigatr dath, hav Mr. Ktt (th ladlrd) brught i fr us by that playr. ROOM 4, Bathrm A bathrm ctaiig a sik, bathtub, ad a watr clst with a vrhad tak. Twls ad thr pssssis ar still hr, typical t a family f fur. A brackish pl f watr has cllctd i th bathtub, fd by a drippig fauct which cat quit b clsd ff. THE BASEMENT ROOM 1: Strag Th dr t th basmt has a lck ad thr blts, abl t b pd frm th upstairs sid ly. Blw is th mai basmt strag rm. Th stairs ar i pr rpair ad th lctric light bulb ds t wrk. Th walls f th basmt ar lid with clsly fittd bards. Crbitt has turd ff th lctricity t th basmt at th fus bx upstairs i th kitch if th ivstigatrs tur it back, Crbitt ca switch it ff agai wh it bst suits him. Th stairs ar prilus; all th mr s bcaus Crbitt ca mak thm mv. O at a tim, ask ach ivstigatr dscdig th stairs t mak a DEX r Climb rll. Trat this as a Cmbid rll: th playrs shuld rll dic c ad cmpar th rsult with thir DEX ad Climb skills. Rllig qual t r blw f ths valus cuts as a succss. Ay failig th DEX / Climb rll shuld b tld that th stairs ar t dagrus ad that t g furthr risks ijury. Thy w hav a chic: rmai upstairs r Push th rll ad risk fallig. Failig th Pushd rll will rsult i th lss f 1D6 hit pits as th ivstigatr slips ad crashs t th basmt flr. KEEPER S NOTE: I a situati such as this, ivstigatr (wh succssfully gtiats th stairs) might vlutr t hlp athr. Yu d t b a littl crativ with th ruls i such a situati. As ivstigatr has alrady b succssful, grat th scd playr a bus di, but this tim if th rll is faild th bth fall ad tak damag. I this way th playr wh is pushig th rll has a icrasd chac f succss, but bth playrs ar sharig th risk. This crats a mmt f tsi ad drama, xactly as dic rlls shuld d. Tll th playrs that i this smallish rm ar scattrd tls, pip, a trash ca lid, lumbr, ails, scrws, ad s frth. If a ivstigatr sarchs thrugh th mss, ask th playr t mak a Spt Hidd rll. Trat this as a Obscur Clu (d t giv th clu ut if th playr fails th rll). Th playr might Push th rll by takig tim t cduct a mr thrugh sarch. Yu ca frshadw th csquc f failur by pitig ut th may sharp thigs amg th mss ad th risk f ijury. With a succssful Spt Hidd rll, th ivstigatr fids Crbitt s kif (s Th Flatig Kif) ad may pick it up. Oc pickd up, th kif will try t wrst itslf fr frm th ivstigatr s grasp ad attack th ivstigatr (s Havig Hld f th Kif). If th playr fails th Pushd Spt Hidd rll, th uawar ivstigatr catchs a had th pssssd kif ad it slashs him r hr fr 1D4+2 hit pits f damag. KEEPER S NOTE: Ntic hw yu ca iflict autmatic damag as th rsult f a faild Pushd rll. Thr s d fr a attack rll i this istac th harm was th csquc f failig a Pushd rll. Th walls ar lid with wd bards, a cursry ispcti f which will rval hllw aras (rms 2 ad 3). Th Flatig Kif A ld kif with a rat hilt, whs blad is catd with ddly thick rust. This is Crbitt s magic daggr ad th rust is th drid bld f victims. If th playrs fid it, Crbitt will us it t attack. If thy d t fid it, h will attack thm with it if thy bgi tarig dw th wd wall that ccals his bdy. 23
CALL OF CTHULHU With th Kif s Attackig kif flats it th air ad stabs at a h Thivstigatr. This csts Crbitt 1 Magic pit pr cmbat rud. Th kif ca mak attack pr rud. Rll 1D100 ad cmpar th rsult with Crbitt s POW. t Ask th playr t rll 1D100 ad cmpar i th rsult with th ivstigatr s Ddg rll. Cmpar Lvls f Succss ad dcid whthr th ivstigatr is hit: g If Crbitt rlls a Fail (91 r vr), th d ivstigatr has avidd big hit with th kif. If Crbitt achivs a Rgular succss (46 90) ad th ivstigatr achivs a Fail, iflict t1d4+2 damag. p If Crbitt achivs a Hard succss (19 t 45) ad th achivs a Fail r Rgular succss, iflict ivstigatr 1D4+2 damag. If Crbitt achivs a Extrm succss (18 r blw) th ivstigatr achivs a Fail, Rgular, r Hard ad succss, th attack has impald, drivig dp it th s ivstigatr s vitals ad iflictig 6+1D4+2 damag. If th ivstigatr picks up a garbag ca lid fr prtcti, grat a bus di th Ddg rll. If th ivstigatr is uawar f th attack, ask th playr t mak a Spt Hidd rll t tic th daggr flatig it th air. If th ivstigatr fails t tic th daggr, award a bus di t th attack rll ad d t allw a Ddg rll. Th attack iflicts 1D4+2 damag, r 6+1D4+2 if a Extrm succss is rlld, ad ly misss if a fumbl (100) is rlld. Sig th kif attack i this mar rquirs a Saity chck (SAN 1/1D4). If succssful, th ivstigatr lss 1 Saity pit. If usuccssful, ls 1D4 Saity pits. KEEPER S NOTE: Wh th kif flats i t th air yu shuld bgi a cmbat rud. Crbitt s DEX is lw, s th ivstigatrs will prbably gt t act first. If thy dcid t fl, th kif will attack ay lft i th basmt r th last prs t gt t th stairs (it mvs quit fast). Whthr it pursus ppl thrugh th hus is up t yu. Usig a Fightig Mauvr t Grab th Kif Th ivstigatrs ca try t grab th kif ut f th air usig th Fightig Mauvr ruls (s Fightig Mauvrs, pag 13). Th playr s gal is t grab th kif. Th playrs us thir ivstigatr s Fightig (Brawl) skill i a ppsd rll agaist Crbitt s POW. If th playr scrs a highr lvl f succss tha Crbitt th th kif has b grabbd. I th cas f a draw, th sid whs tur it is wis th rll (if it was Crbitt s acti, th kif wuld hit a draw; if it was th ivstigatr s acti thy wuld grab th kif a draw). Usually a playr wuld cmpar his r hr ivstigatr s Build with that f th ppt t rslv a fightig mauvr, but sic is actually hldig th daggr this ca b igrd. If th playrs ar crativ ad us a thick cat t hlp thm i catchig th kif, yu may award a bus di. KEEPER S NOTE: All charactrs prst i th basmt gt t iitiat acti ach cmbat rud, ad this icluds Crbitt, usig his flatig kif. Th Magic pit Crbitt spds t activat th kif cvrs all actis mad with it durig that rud. Havig Hld f th Kif If a ivstigatr has hld f th kif, Crbitt may attmpt t wrch it away futur ruds: ach cmbat rud csts Crbitt athr Magic pit. T kp hld f th kif th playr must succd i a ppsd rll, usig th ivstigatr s STR vrsus Crbitt s POW. 24
QUICKSTART RULES Ddg 42% (Hard 21/Extrm 8) ROOM 2: AN EMPTY STORAGE BIN A strag bi, c itdd fr cal. Th dr t th utsid cal chut has b aild firmly shut. ROOM 3: Crbitt s Hidd Lair If th bards i th cllar ar brk r rmvd, a crawl spac is rvald btw tw wd walls. Ful drs maat frm th rats that st hr. A pack f rats liv i th wall. If th ivstigatrs d t giv th rats rm t scap, thy attack whvr tris t xplr this spac. Th rats will us thir Ovrwhlm attack agaist ivstigatr. Oc rat has b killd, ths rmaiig will fl. Rat Pack Idividual rats ar t wrthy ppts; hwvr, a ifstati f rats ca b dautig. Assum t rats pr pack. A succssful attack by a ivstigatr kills r tw rats ad usually chass away th rst f that pack. Rat packs xist ly fr th purpss f gamig. RAT PACK STR 35 CON 55 SIZ 35 Carvd it th ir wall f th crawl spac ar th wrds Chapl f Ctmplati i irrgular, scratchy lttrs (trat this as a Obvius clu, d t ask fr a Spt Hidd rll t fidig it will t add aythig t th gam). If th ivstigatrs brak thrugh this wall, thy fid thmslvs i Rm 4. OPTION: Crbitt Casts th Dmiat Spll At ay tim, whthr h has mvd r t, Crbitt may cast his Dmiat spll (s Crbitt s Splls). H ds t d t mv at all t cast th spll. Th castig tim fr th spll is istataus. Add 50 t Crbitt s DEX fr dtrmiig his tur i th rud if h is castig this spll. Castig th spll i cmbat rquirs him t us his acti fr th rud. H may chs t cast it as th ivstigatrs ar brakig thrugh th wall. ROOM 4: CORBITT S HIDING PLACE Lyig mtilss ad smigly dad a pallt i th ctr f th rm is a draw, wd-lkig, wizd figur f sm six-ft. Skiy ad akd, with ghastly wid-flarig, saucr-lik ys ad a s lik a kif blad. Sm srt f chai rsts arud his ck. H has lst all hair ad his shruk gums mak his tth lk vry lg. Frm him cms a sharp, swt, churig sct, lik rtt cr. POW 50 DEX 70 HP: 9 Avrag Damag Bus: -1 Avrag Build: -1 Mv: 9 ATTACKS Attacks pr rud: 1. Fightig attacks: Rats attack with tth ad claws. Ovrwhlm (fightig mauvr): As a pack thy may assault ad vrwhlm a idividual usig th Fightig mauvr ruls, bcaus f thir umbrs thy gai bus di th attack. Such a attack wuld ivlv swarmig vr th targt, bitig, ad scratchig as thy d s. Fightig 40% (Hard 20/Extrm 8), damag 1D3 Ovrwhlm (fightig mauvr) damag 2D6 25
s h t i g d p s BOUTS OF MADNESS (CHOOSE OR ROLL 1D10) CALL OF CTHULHU 1. AMNESIA: Th ivstigatr has mmry f vts that hav tak plac sic thy wr last i a plac f safty. It sms t thm that mmt thy wr atig brakfast ad th xt thy ar facig a mstr. This lasts fr 1D10 ruds. 2. PSYCHOSOMATIC DISABILITY: Th ivstigatr suffrs psychsmatic blidss, dafss, r lss f th us f a limb r limbs fr 1D10 ruds. 3. VIOLENCE: A rd mist f rag dscds th afflictd ivstigatr ad h r sh xplds i a spr f uctrlld vilc ad dstructi dirctd at thir surrudigs, allis ad fs alik, fr 1D10 ruds. 4. PARANOIA: Th ivstigatr suffrs svr paraia fr 1D10 ruds. Evry is ut t gt thm! N ca b trustd! Thy ar big spid ; sm has btrayd thm; what thy ar sig is a trick. 5. SIGNIFICANT PERSON: Rviw th ivstigatr s backgrud try fr Sigificat Ppl. Th ivstigatr mistaks athr prs i th sc fr thir Sigificat Prs. Csidr th atur f th rlatiship; th ivstigatr acts up it. This lasts 1D10 ruds. 6. FAINT: Th ivstigatr faits, rcvrig aftr 1D10 ruds. 7. FLEE IN PANIC: Th ivstigatr is cmplld t gt as far away as pssibl by whatvr mas ar availabl, v if it mas takig th ly vhicl ad lavig vry ls bhid. Thy travl fr 1D10 ruds. 8. PHYSICAL HYSTERICS OR EMOTIONAL OUTBURST: Th ivstigatr is icapacitatd laughig, cryig, scramig, tc. fr 1D10 ruds. 9. PHOBIA: Ivstigatr gais a w phbia, such as Claustrphbia (far f cfid spacs), Dmphbia (far f spirits r dms), r Katsaridaphbia (far f cckrachs). Ev if th surc f th phbia is t prst, th ivstigatr imagis it is thr fr th xt 1D10 ruds. 10. MANIA: Th ivstigatr gais a w maia, such as Ablutmaia (cmpulsi fr washig slf ), Psudmaia (irratial cmpulsi fr lyig), r Hlmithmaia (a xcssiv likig fr wrms). Th ivstigatr sks t idulg i this w maia fr th xt 1D10 ruds. Th flr is arth ad thr is a tabl i th suthwst crr with sm curld paprs it. Th paprs th tabl crumbl t dust if tuchd. What th ivstigatrs ca s up th paprs lks lik a hrscp. If thy rtriv r phtgraph this matrial, th Kpr shuld discls its tru atur i sm latr advtur whatvr this may b is up t th Kpr t dtrmi ad is placd hr as a scari sd fr Kprs t us i futur advturs with th sam grup f ivstigatrs. Crbitt Attacks By spdig 2 Magic pits, Crbitt ca mv his bdy fr fiv cmbat ruds. Giv th cst, h is rluctat t mv at all ulss thratd. SANITY ROLLS: Wh h riss frm his pallt, ask all playrs wh hav a ivstigatr prst t mak a Saity rll (1/1D8). Ths wh fail th rll mak ivlutary acti f th Kpr s chic, prhaps drppig thir gu r scramig. If a ivstigatr lss 5 r mr Saity pits, th playr shuld mak a INT rll. If th INT rll is passd, th ivstigatr has udrstd th full implicatis f th situati ad is driv tmprarily isa (s Tmprary Isaity as a Rsult f Mtig Crbitt). If th INT rll is faild, th charactr is shak but rmais sa. USING DICE TO RESOLVE COMBAT: A cmbat rud will bgi wh Crbitt first mvs. Draw up a list f th ivstigatrs ad Crbitt i DEX rdr, highst first. If a charactr has a gu draw alrady, add 50 t th ivstigatr s DEX th list. If a ivstigatr draws a gu, it will b rady t us th charactr s rgular DEX this rud. Start with th first am th list. Giv Crbitt s DEX f 35, it is saf t assum that a ivstigatr will g first, ulss Crbitt is castig his Dmiat 26
QUICKSTART RULES Dlusis: Th ivstigatr will rmai isa fr 1D10 hurs r util lavig th Crbitt Hus ad havig a gd ight s rst. Util th, th ivstigatr will b pr t dlusis; hwvr, giv that th ly vt that has th pttial t caus isaity i this scari is likly t ccur i th fial sc, th scp fr usig dlusis is limitd. Hr ar sm suggstis: spll, i which cas h acts his DEX + 50 (durig ruds i which h ds t cast th spll yu shuld ctiu t us his DEX 35). Ask what th playr is dig. If a ivstigatr is attackig Crbitt usig th Fightig skill, Crbitt fights back usig his Fightig skill. Crbitt will als fight back agaist subsqut attacks i th rud usig his Fightig skill. If a ivstigatr is attackig Crbitt usig th Firarms skill, simply rll t hit. Crbitt will t Div fr Cvr. If cls ugh, shts ar mad at pit-blak rag, gratig a bus di t th attack. Th scd ivstigatr t attack Crbitt shuld gt a bus di fr utumbrig th targt (s Outumbrd, pag 13). Tmprary Isaity as a Rsult f Mtig Crbitt But f Madss: If a ivstigatr gs tmprarily isa rll 1D10 ad rfr t th Buts f Madss tabl. If th ivstigatr is i th prsc f thr ivstigatrs, play ut th rsult rud by rud. If th ivstigatr is al yu may us th rsult t tll hw th ivstigatr is fud smtim latr i a bad way, prhaps lckd i a cupbard r druk i a guttr. Backstry: Tak th ivstigatr sht ad add a suitabl try basd up th atur f th ivstigatr s but f madss. 27 If th dludd ivstigatr fls th cllar, hav him r hr fid a pht i th hus that appars t b vidc that Crbitt is his r hr acstr; it shws Crbitt ad th ivstigatr s gradfathr tgthr ad ams thm as brthrs (thugh i actuality is thig mr tha a scrap f ld wspapr). If th dludd ivstigatr stays i th cllar, pass th playr a t t th ffct that athr ivstigatr s fac ad vic hav smhw chagd ad that h r sh is mumblig smthig i Lati (this is f curs ly a dlusi). Rality Chcks: If th playr qustis a dlusi, suggst t th playr that a Rality Chck rll might b mad if th ivstigatr wishs t discr th truth. If th playr wishs t mak a rality chck, ask fr a Saity rll: If succssful, drp th dlusis ad d t prst that playr with ay mr. If faild, hav that ivstigatr ls 1 Saity pit ad xpric athr But f Madss, ad scalat th dlusis. Giv that th tmprary isaity is causd by a maifstati f th Cthulhu Myths, 5% shuld b addd t th ivstigatr s Cthulhu Myths skill. CONCLUSION If th ivstigatrs hav slvd th mystry ad vrthrw Crbitt, Mr. Ktt th ladlrd pays thm prmptly ad happily.
s h t i g d p s If thy fail t disps f Crbitt ad simply rprt t Mr. Ktt that thig was wrg, h spds a ight i th hus t mak sur ad is stabbd t dath i th basmt by Crbitt s magic daggr. Th ivstigatrs will th b sught by th plic ad must th sk t prv thir icc. Of curs thigs may t g s wll fr th ivstigatrs. Bth th kif ad Crbitt ar dagrus ad, dpdig hw th dic rll, th playrs may fid thir ivstigati ds i dath r madss. O pssibl dig wuld b t dscrib a brif pilgu fr ach playr: dad ivstigatrs ar prhaps raimatd by Crbitt s magic, t rpair th basmt walls bfr thir bdis crumbl t dust. Isa ivstigatrs fl scramig it th ight, vr t rtur. If th ivstigatrs ar victrius th yu may wish t igr th gig ffcts f Crbitt s Claw attacks. Rwards If Crbitt is cqurd ad dstryd, ach participatig ivstigatr gais 1D6 Saity pits. Th ivstigatrs ca claim th wrm-at bk frm th Chapl fr thir w. Fially, th ladlrd gladly pays thir f ad a bus. Extsi Kprs will hav ticd th frshly paitd sig th rubbl at th Chapl, as wll as th vidc f th cvrup fllwig th raid i 1912. Cctis t what may b a grat cspiracy ar availabl ad might b rturd t at sm latr tim. Als, csidr th strag, crumblig papr that lkd lik a hrscp is this cctd t th cspiracy r smthig altgthr diffrt? Bth f ths clus culd lad th way it furthr advturs f yur w dvisig fr this grup f ivstigatrs. Waltr Crbitt, Udad Fid STR 90 CON 115 SIZ 55 INT 80 POW 90 DEX 35 APP 05 EDU 80 SAN: 0 (igr Saity csts fr splls) HP: 16 Damag bus: +1D4 Build: 1 Mv: 8 Magic pits: 18 (if spt, rcvr 1 pr hur) Rlplayig hks: Crbitt is full f malic ad will sk t divid ivstigatrs ad tur thm agaist athr. Crbitt sks xcitmt ad prvrs amusmt at th ivstigatrs xps. H will sk t acquir ay surcs f Myths kwldg that ar bught i t th hus (such as th Libr Ivis). KEEPER S NOTE: Kp carful track f Crbitt s Magic pits. B sur t rmmbr that h rcvrs at th rat f 1 pit pr hur. Crbitt casts Flsh Ward as s as ay trs th hus. If itrudrs had straight t his bdy, thy may cutr Crbitt bfr h has rgaid ths tw pits. ATTACKS Attacks pr rud: 1 Fightig attacks: Wh aimatd, Crbitt is abl t mak all rgular attacks (kick, puch, tc.). Big wudd by Crbitt s clawd figrails risks srius disas; if h lads a succssful attack up a ivstigatr, a Luck rll shuld b mad. If it is faild, th ivstigatr has b rakd by Crbitt s claws ad a day latr th victim bcms dlirius ad must mak a CON rll: Failur: Dlirium lasts 1D10 days; ls 1D10 CON. Succss: Dlirium lasts 1D6 days; furthr CON lss. Rpat th prcdur util th ivstigatr rcvrs r dis. CON lst ds t rgrat. Wap: Flatig magical daggr. S Th Flatig Kif (s pag 23). Spdig a Magic pit t caus th daggr t attack fr 1 rud cuts as Crbitt s cmbat acti fr th rud. Fightig 50% (Hard 25%/Extrm 10%), damag 1D3 + damag bus (1D4) + pssibl ifcti (s abv). Ddg 17% (Hard 8%/Extrm 3%). Armr: Each pit f armr rducs th damag rcivd by 1 pit. Crbitt has cast Flsh Ward alrady. Rll 2D6 fr his armr. Rduc his armr by pit fr ach pit f damag h suffrs. Splls: Dmiat (variat, s blw), Flsh Ward, Summ/Bid Dimsial Shamblr. Magical Artifact: Flatig daggr. CALL OF CTHULHU 28
QUICKSTART RULES Skills: Cthulhu Myths 17%, Itimidat 64%, List 60%, Slight f had 30%, Stalth 72%. KEEPER S NOTE: Oly a fw skills ar listd fr Crbitt ths that might cm it play. Yu may imprvis thrs if rquird. Saity Lss: 1/1D8 Saity pits t s him mv. ABOUT W. CORBITT, ESQ H might b silt at first, but at sm pit durig th cfrtati with th ivstigatrs it will b mr cvicig t hav him grwl, scrch, cackl, r mck. H ds t brath at all. Crbitt is t truly a vampir, r ay rcgizabl mstr h is a srcrr i th prcss f trasfrmig himslf it smthig tirly ihuma. Sulight causs him pai ad is t bright fr him t s cmfrtably. It might kill him, but whthr it ds s is fr th Kpr t dtrmi. Althugh h driks bld fr fd, h culd als at carrts drikig bld is just mr fu. His Flsh Ward spll prats as dscribd blw, but charactris its ffct lik this: bullts ad blws ly chip ff pics f his bdy, makig him lk v mr hrrific tha h alrady ds. His drid, ir-hard flsh is ivulrabl s lg as th spll hlds. If damag xcds th armr, his hit pits rduc rmally. H vr hals ad cat b kckd ucscius. Rachig zr hit pits, Crbitt crumbls it dust ad vr rturs. Crbitt ctrls th flatig daggr, but if th ivstigatrs maag t wrst ctrl f it ad succssfully stab Crbitt with it, h will quickly tur t ashs ad dust, rgardlss f ay splls. Crbitt s Splls DOMINATE (Crbitt s variat): Csts Crbitt 1 Magic pit ad taks rud t cast. With his vrsi f th Dmiat spll, Crbitt ca mtally clud th mid f ivstigatr at a tim, as lg as th targt is physically i th Crbitt hus. Th playr shuld mak a ppsd POW rll vrsus Crbitt s POW f 90. If Crbitt succds, th targt is i a daz fr 1D6+1 cmbat ruds. Whil i this dazd stat, th victim is subjct t tlpathic cmmads frm Crbitt. Ths may tak th frm f subtl ad crpy halluciatis r dirct cmmads at th Kpr s discrti. H r sh will t cmmit suicidal acts, thugh hmicidal, iditic, r rcklss acts (such as tryig t swallw a butchr s kif) might b attmptd. Wakig, th victim will t rcall what happd. FLESH WARD: Crbitt will alrady hav cast this spll bfr th ivstigatrs gt t him, t prvid himslf with armr (s Armr abv). Cst: variabl magic pits Castig Tim: 5 ruds Grats prtcti agaist physical attack. Each magic pit spt givs th castr r th chs targt 1D6 pits f armr agaist -magical attacks. This prtcti wars ff as it blcks damag. Fr xampl, if a charactr has 12 pits f Flsh Ward as armr ad suffrs 8 pits f damag, th charactr suffrs damag but th Flsh Ward is rducd t 4 pits. Th spll lasts 24 hurs r util th prtcti is usd up. Oc cast, th spll may t b rifrcd with furthr magic pits, r rcast util th ld spll s prtcti has b usd up. Hadut 1 A ladlrd, Mr. Ktt, asks yu t xami a ld hus i ctral Bst, kw as th Crbitt Hus. Th frmr tats, th Macari family, wr ivlvd i a tragdy ad th wr wishs t udrstad th mystrius happigs at th hus, ad st mattrs straight. Mr. Ktt has b uabl t rt th hus ut sic th tragdy, ad hps that yu ca clar thigs up ad rstr its gd am. H ffrs t rimburs yu fr yur tim ad trubl. Th ladlrd givs yu th kys, th addrss, ad $25 cash i advac. Kwig yur jbs, yu will wat t cduct sm rsarch bfr yu had t th hus. Yu culd chck ut ld wspapr articls at th ffics f th Bst Glb, had t th Ctral Library, r g t Th Hall f Rcrds. Th chic is yurs. 29
s h t i Hadut 2 Upublishd stry, Bst Glb 1918. 1918 fatur stry, which was vr publishd. It stats that i 1880, a family f Frch immigrats mvd it th hus but fld aftr a sris f vilt accidts lft th parts dad ad thr childr crippld. Th hus lg std vacat. Hadut 7 Civil curt rcrds shw that th xcutr f Waltr Crbitt s will was Rvrd Michal Thmas, pastr f th Chapl f Ctmplati & Church f Our Lrd Gratr f Scrts. Th rgistr f churchs (als availabl i th Hall r Rcrds), ts th clsur f th Chapl f Ctmplati i 1912. CALL OF CTHULHU g d p s I 1909 athr family mvd i, ad immdiatly fll pry t illsss. I 1914, th ldst brthr wt mad ad killd himslf with a kitch kif, ad th hartbrk family mvd ut. I 1918, a third family, th Macaris, rtd th hus, but thy lft almst immdiatly aftr thy all bcam ill at th sam tim. Hadut 3 I 1835, a prsprus mrchat builds th hus, but immdiatly falls ill ad slls it t a Mr. Waltr Crbitt, squir. Hadut 4 I 1852, Waltr Crbitt is sud by ighbrs, wh ptiti t frc him t lav th ara i csquc f his surius [sic] habits ad uauspicius dmar. Hadut 5 Evidtly Crbitt wis th lawsuit. His bituary i 1866 stats that h still livd i th sam plac. It als stats that a scd lawsuit was big wagd t prvt Crbitt frm big burid i his basmt, as prvidd by his will. Hadut 8 Th fil ccrs a scrt raid th Chapl f Ctmplati. Th plic raid was ccasid by affidavits swarig that mmbrs f th church wr rspsibl fr th disapparacs f ighbrhd childr. Durig th raid, thr plicm ad svt cult mmbrs wr killd by guplay r fir. Autpsy rprts ar sigularly lackig dtail ad uifrmativ, as thugh th crr had t actually prfrmd xamiatis. Thugh 54 mmbrs f th church wr arrstd, all but ight wr rlasd. Th rcrds hit f illgal itrvti i th prcdigs by a imprtat lcal fficial, ffrig stris f th battl th biggst crimial acti i th city s histry that vr appard i prit. Pastr Michal Thmas was arrstd ad stcd t 40 yars i pris fiv cuts f scd-dgr murdr. H scapd frm pris i 1917 ad fld th stat. Hadut 9 Hadut 6 N utcm t th scd lawsuit is rcrdd. 30