Call of Cthulhu, Episode #24: 'The 1925 Technical'

 As the Professor recovers, and Sinead is missing somewhere in Los Angeles, the next port of call is Pierre Baptiste...the French cameraman on the ill fated 'Prince of Babylon' movie. McDade, McLeoud and Pavlov 'Paulie' with the Tommy gun, get the reclusive Frenchman's address from Winwood the Producer...and find a deserted warehouse well south of LA.

A premier example of an early 20th century Scottish 'Technical' deployed in the Mojave Desert...AI says

 Entering, it looks like Baptiste has surrounded himself with his trade - photographs, reels of spent film, cameras...and...he might have just topped himself, though they determine he is drunk and the shot missed, whacking an expensive camera instead.

'Can't yoo zee ahh am bizzeeee?'

They soon determine that he is as mad as a box of madness, and is only semi coherent when drunk...so they feed him the expensive brandy they brought, and find out about a very specific 'lens' which von Varnstein (the dead Director) had ordered in order to see 'something' on the desert set. Baptiste designed it, to von Varnstein's peculiar specification - but never saw a thing.

The lens...certainly not suitable for strapping to a firearm...oh no no No, the vibration, the lack of zeroing, the potential for falling off..yeah, f**k that sh1t

 Swapping a 2nd bottle of brandy for the lens, Baptiste tells them he is 'never going back' to the site...mind you. all the characters want is the lens, reasoning that they can both re-watch the film, and get the jump on the so called 'spectral horrors' that must have been the reasoning behind the curse.

Outside, they realise they have been followed by Roseanne Bartlet - a Holywood reporter with a New Yawk accent...who wants the story on the 'ghost-hunters' that Winwood has hired...she could be useful so the party agree that she can tag along (extra SANs always helps). 

'All I want is the story dahling!'

At Atlas studios, despite the ravings of James Raven (the only main surviving actor) they find the receipts to the lens in von Varnstein's garbage bin, and determine to re-watch the movie excerpts with the lens in place on the projector...they then see what they are dealing with - the invisible spectral horrors are revealed by the lens (SAN ROLLS!!!)...and clearly something to do with the dead Indian tribe near the set. 

...also mad as a box of ticks...

Time for Library use...they determine that indeed, the invisible stalkers have benefited from a spell, and the tribe was not altogether wholesome to begin with.

Preparing to leave, they also notice that ...Conswella,... Coinsuella, ...Kawn se....'Winwood's Head of the House' is wearing an elder sign... of sorts.

Nothing to see here...

Time for action. The journalist and Paulie accompany McLeoud and McDade to the film set...though McLeoud makes some 'modifications' to the vehicle that Winwood has loaned them..raising the trunk, and securing the Lewis gun on the roof, then strapping the lens to Lewis gun (securely of course), and loading up with 1 in 5 tracer rounds...'FOLLOW MY TRACER!' What can go wrong.

Looks like my back garden, to be fair...

Confident in their early version of the 1980s African 'Technical' vehicle they have developed (TM) in 1925, they find the movie set 40 miles to the south of LA...and drive around slowly...as partial remnants of wooden castles and offices flap in the dry wind...then...'worm sign' as McLeoud sees a faint flicker of a blue tinged head near a sand dune, then a lolloping clawed arm...'CONTACT!' ...what could go wrong? 

"That's...not so good...'

This is the original 1925 Scottish version of the 'Technical'...aye

 

It's only a model...

 

Call of Cthulhu, Episode #23 - 'Hooray for Hollywood'

 Finding some items amongst the wreckage of Smythe's house, these will inform the rest of the campaign...

next stop...Hollywood...land

• A 'Rosetta Stone' document of sorts, which translates the cuneiform tablets and etchings they have found, revealing that ancient Mu and the mythical island of R'lyeh are in some way connected, and that the Mythos speaks of the rising of an ancient being known as, 'Ktulu'...via a gate, on said island..amongst the maps they had already seen. All of these are snaffled.
• A copy of 'de Vermis Mysterius' in Latin, which aligns with the books that the party already has, with regard to methodology for closing said gate, from what the characters can understand of the diagrams anyway.

Using their favour with the Russian Count, they get rid of much of the evidence, using the fire at Smythe's former abode to cover their escape, as the Mi-Go 'glamour' which seemed to have dimmed the minds of the townsfolk, lifts.

Count Mikhael advises the characters to take his bodyguard 'Pauly' with them, since the party seems to have trouble following them wherever they go, and 'a man with a Tommy Gun is always useful to hev, yes?'.

LA...pre smog, and pre Starsky & Hutch

Taking the 3 day train ride to LA, the characters peruse all of their books and documents, to try to uncover what is going on. Sinead also seems to have fabricated 'something' as a pendant...interesting.

Arriving in Los Angeles, they respond to the telegram desk clerk's request,  and make contact with Grant Winwood, noted producer of motion pictures...time for the next chapter.

Winwood's small place...

Winwood, who lives in Hollywood(land) opulence, brings them into his large office, informing them that he knew they were coming via a letter from their Patron, Dr Edward Call. He knows that Call died under mysterious circumstances, and the good Doctor had asked him to find the 'Arc of Vlactos' on the Hotekh Indian lands nearby...by ensuring that a movie was directed there, using Professor Schmidt and his friends to investigate when they arrive..

Winwood informs the characters of the 'curse' behind said movie - which would have been an epic known as ''The Prince of Babylon', making them aware of the deaths of some of the main players. The entire production turned into disaster in the past few months. 

'I need it to be this big'..."yes Mr Winwood..."

Actress Monica Dolman jumped from her apartment window after fleeing the set and returning to New York. The Director Erich von Varnstein was officially 'killed in a shooting accident' though Winwood knows that he pulled the trigger on himself... The main actor in the movie, James Raven, has gone mad and runs around movie sets babbling now, whilst the main cameraman, Pierre Baptiste, has retreated from society.

'Maaaahd as a hatter I tell ye...'

 The characters see through some of his reticence to continue, and realise that some of the film was actually shot on location, in the Hotekh heartland, 40 miles to the south. Winwood reluctantly admits to this. 

The Hotekh homeland, where real estate prices have plummeted

They demand to see the footage that was taken, and are are eventually shown silent move scenes of a 'desert epic'...though something is not altogether wholesome about the parts they see.

'I need a 'smell the fart' look into camera...'

 Within each scene is a mysterious, shadowy presence, or presences, from the side of shot, or interfering with the actors... clearly, the curse of the movie, is tangible...

'He says he's not going anywhere until he speaks to the camel union rep...'

 ...investigations continue. 

 

Call of Cthulhu, Episode #22: 'Fear and Loathing in Black Knob'

 With Sinead spending time with the owner of the local agricultural machinery store (!), the other characters make their way to the Russian Count Mikhael's home on the mountain, not far from the infamous Adam Smythe, who, it seems, has found a real kinship with the townsfolk, though the Prof recognises the fact that something is amiss with them...and somebody, has been messing with the darkest of magics. 

Real estate prices are gonna plummet ...just a sense...

Arriving and being welcomed by the Count's bodyguard, having had a look at Smythe's mountain home - where they see a very polite 1920s Architect style fellow...and some strange French Windows on the upper floor..., they see that Pauly (the bodyguard with the Tommy Gun) has recently received a serious hand injury.

When the vodka is flowing and the Count is once more glad to see that his guests actually paid him a visit after the weird adventures on board the Mauritania, Pauly tells the tale of his injury as the Prof prevents any infection and applies a fresh bandage - the count insisting that it was a dog - while the bodyguard insists that 'no dog walks on its hind legs'.

 Reasoning at first that all these tales of potential werewolves must be true, the characters make Cthulhu Mythos rolls (with the Prof and McDade rolling 02 and 03) and realise, that 'what we are in fact witnessing here gentlemen, is a ghoul!'

Not a dog...

 Tales of men seeking immortality, feeding on the dead, and sometime even finding that though this works - they are forever 'changed' - abound at Miskatonic University... Pauly gives them an exact location of the attack.

Using their binoculars, the party also sees some sort of summoning site in a clearing near an old Indian burial mound...clearly the location of the large blocks of concrete that Smythe had ordered.

 

I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit...?

That night, of course, having also seen a faint glow from the summoning site, they set out with shotguns. The count insists that Pauly accompanies them; they agree reluctantly,  though slipping and falling on his ass on his way down the scree slope, he reopens his hand wound, and is advised to act as rearguard instead - a fateful decision - with the signal being three flashes from the Prof's torch on the way back (this is important).

 The characters make their way along the side of the trail, using the woods as cover...and find the entrance to Smythe's house...only a candle is lit at the French windows...and the ever present sound of Mi-GO...more than one - can be heard toward the summoning site, as can the wailing cries of a human summoning something nasty - Smythe?!?

It's on!..although there is also sound of something in the area across the roadway, in the woods around the burial mound..the ghoul, no doubt, though it seems to be aware of the wily characters' attempt to set a trap for it.

The canny ghoul, does...canny...ghoul stuff

Opting instead to return to Smythe's presumably empty home, they scooch through a badly secured window, and find it empty... In the living room is a partially finished letter, and a map...to Septimus Crane. McDade starts snapping photos of everything.

They opt to leave...hearing a terrifying female scream from the site...then decide to go back inside the house and await the 'things'. Whoever they might have saved. it would appear, ran out of time (those cads!). 

McLeoud and the Prof head upstairs, securing a superb ambush position at the entrance to the door with the French windows with solid slugs in their shotguns...the room having been turned, it seems, into some sort of alien nest! 

'Yeah man, but it's a dry heat...'

 McDade finds a research area, with three human brains preserved in tanks of foul green liquid...ewwww..., with maps and data on ancient Mu...and snaps everything, then unplugs the brain jars which start to vibrate and die with a quiet, shuddering, inaudible screech...and then he finds a pupa mi-go, that may...or may not...be alive.

Lovely with chips.

As the 1st Mi-Go returns to the nest, the Prof gives it both barrels (min damage 7 from solid slug - which is a big deal since rubbery Mi-Go take minimum damage (shotguns impale in 6th ed. but not in 5th - but it was a stoopid rule anyway)) and blows it apart at close range, with the second coming in fast ti grab McLeoud, but he similarly gives it some solid slug discipline.(The local Black Knob gun store is currently out of solid slugs by the way...).

They're heeeere...

They start to gather all of the intel, the sound of a 'third' Mi-Go echoing as it seems to leave the scene of carnage. ...and the ones, are bigger than the previous aliens they had slain... 

Another one???

Returning from the summoning now, Smythe himself, painted in horrible runes and sigils rushes up the stairs screaming 'WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" ...good thing McDade is still loaded for bear - it isn't pretty, and that carpet was new too!

 They now rush out...speeding to the summoning site, perhaps to delay or stop whatever is coming? Though...they have forgotten about the ghoul in the woods...

Yeah...that guy

 After luck rolls, where the Prof loses out..the ghoul SLAMS into him from the woods as the characters rush down the road...clawing and biting and clawing...doing considerable damage as the two fall into a flurry of teeth and claws...McLeoud and Mcdade, keen not to shoot the Prof, take into the ghoul with the butts of their shotguns, though this allows the thing to get more attacks on the Prof who bleeds out and falls to to the ground..apparently dead, blood streaming from his neck (-2 hp - one round to save). McLeoud tries a first aid, but there is too much blood.

As the ghoul rears, McDade blows its head off with solid slug at close range...and both characters look up to see, the third Mi-Go..casting a Mind Blast to destabilise the characters - striking McLeoud who falls to the ground raving and screaming with madness...

McDade reloads as the Mi-Go comes in to grab McLeoud, delivering both barrels of solid slug to the alien thing...and the stench of cordite and the sweet sickly smell of dead bug...fills the air. 

Falling to the ground, with McCeoud screaming nearby, McDade manages to get a dressing onto the Prof's neck, and just manages, barely, to save his life.

That...was close.

He rushes back to get Pauly, forgets the signal, and almost gets shot... (I mean it would have been funny?) ...

 Bearing in mind that the Count owes McDade a favour for having saved his life, agreeing to burn the evidence, is practically a given...and he sends men off to do the deed. McDade searches the remainder of the house as the fuel is being doused around the place, finding more books on ancient Mu (and Easter Island) and another book...with strange inscriptions and sigils and spells...of course.

 

Shadowdark #13: 'ORCS MR. RICO! - Zillions of 'em!*''

 Having first visited Maureen the witch in the tower, the party get advice around taking the orc caverns - and rescuing Maureen's wand.

'Sort out that bloomin wand willya?'

 (* with apologies to Mr. Heinlein) 

While there, she asks Dagmara if she would like to be her apprentice. She agrees, puts on a 'locky bangle thing', and is told that when she gets back, she'll have to mop the floor (a typical modern apprenticeship these days), if she ever wants to learn the secrets of true magical power.

A local mercenary chaos elf cleric called Nijel, is recruited (he may even survive this time...though he does inadvertabtly whack Jeralt...ummm...)

NOT orcs

.Armed with scrolls and Maureen's invisibility ring, the party rush back to the caverns of chaos.

 

...Better

Jumping right in and rushing the caves, they pay scant attention to the 'wall o heads' in the entry way, pausing only to recognise the remains of Barnard, Balin and Elfin John, whose heads have been dug up and place in the orc trophy case. 

'Zillions of em!'

Too late, they see that one of the heads is actually a live orc who barks orders as the contents of the guard rooms rush the party from two sides...'separate the spellcasters' seems to make strategic sense, but 'spare the half orc wizard' seems to be a vert strange order...curiouser and curiouser.

'NEVER split the party'

The party get their asses kicked, very narrowly avoiding another death in the shape of Jeralt the paladin, and a critical is very narrowly avoided by Leeta, with every spell failing to work. They retreat after luckily dispatching the first band of orcs, back to Bruno's lab across the valley - noting that they are being watched by human bandits from the hill.

2nd time around - a little bit of Recon reveals a lot

They decide to be more cautious next time, and Dagmara goes on a recon with the ring of invisibility.

Mountainhome stops the dogs, as the party take on the orc main body

They spot another trap about to be sprung (these orcs ain't stoopid), and place the Mountainhome shield to guard against the orcs' vile attack dogs, while they take on the main force, with Dagmara spotting the orc chief 'Ruckin Whiteye' in his throne room - though he sees her with some sort of magical eye-piece. He looks tough!

I bet he drinks Carling Black Label

In addition, they find that the entire orc complex is a giant mine, refining the anti-magical white ore known as 'moon-stone' 

Hard fightin

  

Dagmara never looks good when she's invisible

With one orc left alive, they pursue him through a secret door, leaving White-eye for now, and heading toward what seems to be the human bandits' lair... 

Call of Cthulhu, Episode #21: 'Arrival at Black Knob - It makes a buzzing sound, and not in a good way...'

 Reuniting with Sinead back at the station in New York, the characters check they are not being followed. Sinead however, swears she sees something...or someone..tall. loathsome...who quickly disappears.

 

'Ok I would recommend that you read NONE of these!'

Consulting the books they have gathered, the party learn spells and benefits..risking sanity, but gaining forbidden knowledge. They now know for instance:

1. Septimus Crane and the Order of Silvery Twilight have the means and intention to open a gate to another realm and summon a bloody dangerous elder being; perhaps Great Cthulhu.
2. They probably won't be changing their minds anytime soon.
3. the characters are simply in the way...

They do everything to ensure that they aren't being followed...though Sinead has an experience on the LA Train sleeper carriage, with something horrific outside her room...later, the part find a strange symbol carved into her stateroom door. She wonders idly if one of the items that 'randomly appears to have fallen into her hands' may be to blame...acting as a beacon to those of malign intent.

I mean it looks perfectly safe?

 She sees the shadowy figure again at the halfway house station at Black Knob in midwest USA, where the Russian count has invited the party to visit him at his hilltop mansion. Consulting with the characters (with McDade rolling 01 for his Cthulhu Mythos), and their new found knowledge...they realise that this may be 'the worm who walks', a manifestation of dread Nyarlathotep himself. The others begin to stay a few tentative steps away from Sinead.

I bet he drinks Carling Black Label.

At Black Knob she starts to create some 'jewellery' with the local metalworker/farm machinist for ummm 'protection?' as the others settle in to get drunk with the local townsfolk, finding out that the Russian Count is not the only new person in town.

Seems perfectly safe...what could go wrong?

 

Black Knob station, before the characters start their normal antics...

 Arriving three months ago, Adam Smythe ingratiated himself with the locals, had a relationship with Margaret Brown the local librarian, drove her mad...and yet seems to be well liked at the same time? Oh, and he also ordered nine large stone blocks for no particular reason at all.

'This is how we sort out paranormal mysteries in Scotland laddie!'

Rolling a '01' (again with the 01s!!!) the Prof manages to find out that not only was the now crazy Margaret in love with 'Good Adam', but 'Bad Adam' seems to be aligned with some entities which go ...'bzzzz and not in a good way'. ...and that the local Sherrif is under some sort of 'glamour' spell that makes him leave Smythe alone.

I hate it when that happens...

 

It's solid slug time !

The party arms up with solid slug for the shotguns - there's vile Sorcerors and foul alien Mi-Go in them thar hills.