outer ones v19

8/13/2019 Outer Ones v19

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THE OUTER ONES

BYJUSTIN FARQUHAR

Where an investigation into a sinister Vermont sect reveals connections that run deep into the dark history of the region

ABOUT THIS SCENARIOThe Outer Onestakes place in Vermont sometime between

1920 and 1926 and is closely-related to the two Lovecraft

stories The Haunter of the Dark and The Whisperer in

Darkness, both of which it predates. Reading these

stories before running the scenario is highly

recommended.

RUNNING THIS SCENARIOThis scenario is non-linear: there are many clues leading

to different locations and lines of enquiry, not all of whichare essential.

This scenario can be run as a stand-alone adventure or

can be treated as a sequel to The Haunting. There are

clues relating to this scenario which can be placed in the

records of the Chapel of Contemplation. If used in this

way it can be run immediately after that scenario or after

an interval of few months or even years.

KEEPER'S INFORMATION

THE STARRY WISDOM CHURCH AND THE MILLION

FAVORED ONESFrom time immemorial, the Mi-Go or Outer Oneshave

fulfilled their pact with Nyarlathotep, The Haunter of the

Dark, making sacrifices in return for knowledge. The

name for their cult can be translated as The Million

Favored Ones.

Since man has walked in the Americas, a few individuals

mostly eccentrics and outcasts have served the Outer

Ones in Vermont, helping them to spy on mankind whilekeeping their outposts secret, in return for their promises

of power and wisdom, fulfilled and otherwise. There are

two major outposts of the Outer Ones near the village of

West Townshend, one at Round Hill, a domed mountain to

the east of Townshend. And one at Dark Mountain to the

south.

In 1862, guided by insights gleaned from their

communications with Nyarlathotep in his form of the

Haunter of the Dark in the steeple of the Freewill Church

in providence, Professor Enoch Bowen, leader of the

Starry Wisdom sect, his daughter Aseneth Bowen and Dr

Raymond Flagg, travelled to Dark Mountain in a remote

region of Vermont. There on the mountain-top they

performed an arcane rite that brought forth the Outer

Ones from the warren of caves that hollow the domedhills and a secret pact was formed.

The following year, the charismatic Raymond Flagg

bought a second home in the village of West Townshend,

close to Dark Mountain and secretly began to spread the

doctrines of the Starry Wisdom sect. The young Abednego

Akeley, the son of a Congregational minister was one of

those he came to influence. When his father died,

Abednego took his place at the Church as expected. He

then travelled in southern New England, to Boston and

Providence, for several months. This was, in fact, the

completion of Abednegos training as a minister, not in

Protestantism but in the Starry Wisdom sect. On his

return, to great controversy, he began to preach the

Starry Wisdom doctrines and transferred his own church

the West River Valley Church from the Protestant

parent body to the Starry Wisdom sect.

The Church was condemned and attacked regularly, and

over half of the congregation deserted it, but a core of

devotees remained, and grew steadily, bolstered by a

trickle of new converts. The sect appeared to offer

communion with The Divine, directly or through a race of

mysterious beings referred to by Akeley and Flagg as The

Malakhim, a communion that granted knowledge of the

secrets of cosmos. A select few were even offered

transcendence of the physical body as a reward for their

devotion and Abednego Akeley and Raymond Flagg could

seemingly summon these disembodied spirits and make

them speak to the congregation from a special curtained

box.

After three years, the Starry Wisdom Church at West

River Valley closed down after a series of vigilante actionsculminated in the Akeleys death. The church was

restored to Congregational Protestantism. Most of the

congregation fled to join the Freewill Church in

Providence, but a few stayed, some of them passing the

secret doctrines onto their children.

A few years later, Rev, Baker, the new Protestant minister,

beat a woman to death with a Bible and injured several

other congregants before being restrained. He was

hanged at the State Prison and House of Correction in

Windsor, Vermont in 1908.

Baker was superseded by Rev. Aster, a minister who had

once been part of Akeleys congregation and secretly

ordained in the Starry Wisdom Church. The sect known as


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The Million Favored Ones based on Starry Wisdom

beliefs and alliance with the Outer Ones continued in

secret for two generations.

Another branch of the Starry Wisdom sect The Chapel of

Contemplation was based in the North End of Boston.

Charles Noyes, the son of a wealthy industrialist, at 18,

was the last minister to be ordained there. The Chapel

was raided and closed down in 1912 and the Pastor,

Michael Thomas, was imprisoned. Five years later, with

the aid of sorcery and his allies, he escaped and fled the

state. Taking the pseudonym Malachi Sethom (an

anagram of Michael Thomas), he travelled to West

Townshend where he was a lay preacher, staying with

Rev. Aster until Aster and Noyes help him to purchase a

small house in Townshend. When Aster retired, Noyes

became the minister at West River Valley Church,

however increasingly he allowed Malachi Sethom to

preach and hold services at his church (even though

Sethom is not an ordained minister of the Congregational

Church). Meanwhile Noyes focused his evangelism on the

remaining congregation that meets at his house in Boston

and on the refurbishment of the old Bayfriars Church in

Arkham.

Rites of the Million Favored Ones

The cult holds rites with the Outer Ones on certain nights.

Rites dedicated to Shub-Niggurath are not open to

humans and tend to take place at the circles of standing

stones that crown the hilltops, with May Eve being the

most important date. Rites to Nyarlathotep are held at thesame sites on Samhain (Halloween) with a select few

attending rites deep in an abyss in Dark Mountain called

The Temple of the Black Gulf. Both Outer Ones and human

beings are offered in sacrifice at these ceremonies

human victims being stray children or vagrants and

prostitutes from around New England, particularly

Boston. Through its political connections, the sect has

some influence in the area, an influence that is steadily

growing. The cult has a network of spies and agents

some of whom have sorcerous powers of mind-control

that exerts its influence as far as Newfane.

The cult has a superficial appearance of being an ordinary

church which, like some other rural churches, has some

queer customs. The sect has a hierarchical structure a

public congregation and an inner circle who see

themselves as among The Million Favored Ones and who

are granted esoteric secrets from theirLord.

They are also in the process of perfecting techniques for

prolonging life beyond its natural end based on methods

developed by Orin B Eddy, Rev. Michael Thomas andothers in Boston and Providence. This is a sort of

mummification process which actually more resembles a

living death. Other initiates are occasionally rewarded for

their life of service with The Celestial Rapture or joining

the stars. This involves being taken away by the Outer

Ones to have their brains removed and placed in metal

canisters which keep the brain alive more-or-less

indefinitely and which can survive the journey through

space to the planet Yuggoth or the Outer Ones colony on

the moon. In fact, unknown to most cult members, the

Outer Ones are quite indifferent to humanity, and are

quite neglectful and the majority of these Chosen Ones

are either incinerated or after being placed in brain

canisters are abandoned in storage rooms in the colony.

But enough Celestial Voyagers return with stories of their

travels to inspire the faithful.

The Pastor appears to have miraculous powers. Among

other things, during Spiritualist-style ceremonies, he

summons the spirits of people who have supposedly

'ascended to the Heavens' and has them speak with

strange voices from within a curtained box. These voices

seem to have knowledge of personal things, seemingly

confirming their authenticity and they relate incredible

tales of being carried by Outer Ones to a fantastical city

hidden in the mountains. And from there, travelling

through the void to other worlds.

Action Against the Cult

Rev. Bill Walsh, a feisty Baptist minister, has come to

conclude that there is something sinister about the

practices of another church in the village of West

Townshend the West River Valley Church. He observes

their sermons and services and some of their suspicious

activities. He sees the sermons of a preacher known asMalachi Sethom as especially dangerous. He has heard

rumours of strange cries coming from the church in the

middle of the night and connects them to the

disappearances that have occurred in Massachusetts over

the past few years. After reporting some of these concerns

to the Baptist church-body, a second minister Rev.

Bradford Duganne is sent to assist him.

Both ministers have heard local folklore of ceremonies in

the hills and devilish creatures consorting with humans.

Walsh begins to preach against the church, declaring thatit is in league with Satan.

A newspaper story appears claiming that the church is

heretical or even Satanic. The Congregational Church

eventually launches an investigation but finds nothing

untoward. And from this point on the Congregational

Church views these attacks on West River Valley Church

as attacks on Congregationalism itself by a crazy, rural

Baptist bigot.

Duganne begins to find out deeper secrets of the history

of the Chapel and the Starry Wisdom sect. It isnt long

before he runs into trouble.

The Brothers of the Yellow Sign


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In the meantime, these events have gathered the attention

of an organization other than the Church. Another cult,

the Brothers of the Yellow Sign, is engaged in a long war

with the Mi-Go, for reasons that predate the modern era.

They see the Mi-Go and their collaborators as opponents

that obstruct the influence and power of the Living God

Hastur.

INVOLVING THE INVESTIGATORSOne of the investigators is contacted by Uberto

Guidicianni. [create handout] Guidicciani may have

heard of some of their previous investigations. Over a

year ago, his son Leonardo (who was 22 at the time) was

visiting him from his home in Rome and went travelling

around New England. He went missing in a remote area of

Vermont. Since then Guidicciani has uncovered evidence

of some sort of devil-worshipping cult in the hills west of

Brattleboro. Offering to pay them generously for their

time, Guidicciani invites them to visit him at The

Herculaneum Spa Hotel, the luxury hotel he owns in

Saratoga Springs, New York State.

CHAPTER ONE:IN SEARCH OF THE

UNFINDABLEThe Herculaneum Spa Hotelis an impressive Tuscan-style

villa with an enclosed garden courtyard and sprawling

grounds including a lake, an outdoor amphitheatre and a

large spa and bathhouse. The hotel is famous for itsprivate theatrical performances and is popular among

well-to-do New York artistic types. The investigators may

meet the theatrical dilettante, Anthony Carmichael here

(see Tatterdemalion) or the Texan playwright Talbot

Astus, working on his latest drama before he moves to

London (see Tatters of the King).

Guidicianni himself, he tells them, is involved with the

arts himself and owns a small theatre, Theater Regale, in

Manhattan which he likes to get directly involved with

when he can. This is all true. What he does not tell theinvestigators is that he is a member of an Italian secret

Society, Il Fratelli Del Signo Giallo(Brothers of the Yellow

Sign). Nor, of course, does he tell them that his son

Leonardo is alive and well and living in Rome. Another

fact that is unlikely to be revealed at this stage is that

Guidicianni occasionally holds wild orgies here, for his

most special guests.

He immigrated to the United States five years ago he

had a deep love of the country and he wished to help

bring the best of European arts to the United States.

Guidicianni wants the investigators to find out what

happened to Leonardo. He has found allegations of some

kind of Satanic sect in the area where he disappeared and

he is sure there is a connection. A church in a remote

village in Vermont has been accused of practicing and

preaching diabolical things and he doesnt believe that

this is pure superstition or inter-denominational

bickering. He gives the investigators a newspaper article

about this[han dout]. He has been corresponding with

the minister who wrote the letters and made the sermons

that the newspaper stories are based on. Reverend Walsh

of South Windham Baptist Church and has offered to send

what help he can. Walsh, in return has offered to

accommodate the investigators and give them any help

that he can, to find Guidiciannis son. The minister has

claimed to fear for his life. Guidicianni would like them to

investigate as soon as possible; to find his son and to

expose the diabolical cult. He offers the investigators

$500 for finding his son and another $500 for exposing

the cult. He insists on a full debriefing of what they find

and a promise that they will not release any information

to the public until he has approved it. The cult should be

exposed to the local population so that they turn against

it, he says, but its essential that the wider world does not

become alarmed. They are to make their way to meet Rev.

Walsh at the church.

Guidiciannis Private Rooms

Guidicianni has an impressive collection of artworks In

his private rooms he has a collection of works, mostly

paintings, with a subtly disquieting quality, for example, a

scene in Paris, showing a woman who has a look in her

eyes that reveals that she will never find what she wants

in Paris. Viewing these, succeeding on psychology, art or

an idea roll (whichever is higher) results in a SAN loss of

0/1.

Guidicianni owns a library of occult texts, some of them

quite rare. This includes a copy of The King in Yellowand

several other texts relating to Hastur.

Uberto Guidicianni, luxury hotel owner,

patron of the arts and Brother of the

Yellow Sign

Guidicianni looks good for his age a lean, athletically-built Italian. He is sophisticated, well-educated andcharming. His amorality and nihilism are concealedbeneath a polished veneer.Age 51STR 11 CON 10 SIZ 14 INT 16 POW 18DEX 10 APP 15 EDU 20 SAN 0 HP 12Damage Bonus: +1D4Weapons:PistolFistRapier

Skills: Accounting , Art: Acting 40, Art: Music 40, ArtAppreciation 50, Bargain 30, Credit Rating 75, Cthulhu

Mythos 15, Hastur Lore 45, History 40, Library Use 40,

Listen 40, Occult 50, Other Language: English 60, Other


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Language: French 40, Other Language: Latin 40, Own

Language: Italian 100, Persuade 50, Psychology 50, Spot

Hidden 40

Cults of Roman Britain: A Study of the Book

of Gaius Antoninus,

in English, translated and annotated by Joseph Barker

from 12th Century Latin copy of original Romanmanuscript, c. 1590-94.

Sanity loss l/ld6;

Cthulhu Mythos +8%;

spell multiplier x2.

Spells: Contact Hastur, Crystal Call, Enchant Knife,

Enchant Whistle, Summon King in Yellow, Summon/Bind

Byakhee.

Bound in plain brown leather with the title printed in gold

on the spine. The text is in English with footnotes

describing rites and ceremonies and historical references.

It is 100 pages long and again omits the first 23 pages ofGaius Antoninus book.

Under the Yellow Sign,

in English, by Joseph Barker, 1602. Published by William

Turner, Blackfriars, London.

Sanity loss l/ld6;

Cthulhu Mythos +5%;

spell multiplier x2. Spells:

Contact Hastur, Contact King in Yellow, Crystal Call (new

spell), Enchant Knife, Grasp of Cthulhu, Summon/Bind

ByakheeThe book is slim folio sized, bound in black leather, with

title and author stamped on the front. Contents are left to

the Keepers discretion except for the first poem in the

book, a long rambling piece, Beyond the Crystal Veil,

detailing the Crystal Call spell and conversations with

Hastur, and the last, The Mask of the King, which details

a visitation by the King in Yellow.

Der Wanderer durch den See

English and German. (See Tatters of the Kingp49 for

details)

IL FRATELLI DEL SIGNO GIALLO (THE BROTHERS

OF THE YELLOW SIGN)An artistic and mystical circle based in Rome with cells in

Paris and Berlin, and by the late 20s, another in Milan.

Most of the membership has an artistic and middle or

upper-middle class Italian background. They meet once a

year for a private performance of 'The King in Yellow'.

Admission for others is by invitation only. Some of them

work to hasten the arrival of Hastur on the Earth

There are legends that some of the elite members are

immortals coming from . Some members do indeed have

magical or psychic abilities.

Decadent, hedonistic, nihilistic, absurdist, anti-rationalist,

anti-science. They generally criticise traditional and

classical art. Rationalism has led to The Great War.

The leaders of the Brotherhood seek to return Hastur to

the Earth in order to sweep it clean.

According to legend the founders and possibly current

secret leaders of the Brotherhood are immortal sagesfrom caverns under the earth.

They are engaged in an age-old war with the Mi-Go and a

more recent conflict with the Starry Wisdom Church.

There is no true cell of The Brotherhood here in New

York, but Guidicianni has introduced some of his guests

and social set to ideas, excerpts and performances of The

King in Yellow. He may be responsible for introducing

Anthony Carmichael and Talbot Astus with copies of the

play. See Tatters of the Kingfor more details.

CHAPTER TWO:ACRUSADEInvestigators can travel by train to Brattleboro from

Boston or[Arkham how?]. In Brattleboro it is possible

to hire a car or catch a bus.

The road journey from Arkham or Boston, takes travelers

through Brattleboro, then up into the mountains through

Newfane, the hamlet of Harmonyville, Townshend then

West Townshend. The roads are poor and the journey willtake about five hours in total.

TOWNSHEND

TOWNSHEND CHURCHCommon Road

The minister of this church is partially under the

influence of the cult via the Freemasons, but it is a regular

Christian church and there is no direct connection to the

story.

MASONIC LODGEThere is a Freemasons Hall called Blazing Star Lodge #23

on the road into Townshend. Several key members of the

Spiritualist Church of Astral Wisdom and the [Church of

the Outer Ways] are here and freemasonry is one of the

key ways in which they can influence local authorities and

individuals. The Freemasons have no formal allegiance

however and the majority of the members know nothing

about it. There is no special evidence to be found at the

lodge.

SCOTT COVERED BRIDGE


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En route to West Townshend is a large covered wooden

bridge, the Scott Bridge, spanning the West River on the

investigators left.

WEST TOWNSHENDFour or five miles from Townshend heading north-west

up the road and with the West River flowing on the left

hand side, is the village of West Townshend, which has apost-office/general store and a church (West River Valley

Church). Windham Hill Road, leading towards South

Windham Baptist Church, branches off to the north,

heading up through forest to higher ground. South

Windham Baptist Church is about three miles up the road.

SOUTH WINDHAM CHURCHThis is a quiet, rural white-painted Baptist church, built in

1850 with an extensive yard and a separate parsonage

where the minister lives. The church serves the scattered

hamlet of South Windham and surrounding small farms.Nearby is a small post office and a general store.

THE REVERENDS STORYReverend Walsh greets the investigators warmly. He is a

tall, fair-haired and friendly, middle-aged man. And

perhaps not the harsh firebrand they might have

expected. Walsh relates his own story

Duganne has gone to meet someone, but has not

returned yet

When Walsh discovers hes not returned the

following morn ing he begins to get worried.

Duganne has been to meet (for possibly the 2 nd

tim), a local Indian man. This strange loner (who

sees himself as a sort of guardian) has told him

that there are Red Spirits that protect certain

mountains. And that these spirits possess some

men in order to serve them. The West River Valley

Church has been possessed by Red Spirits. He

shows him a cave with paintings of humans and

winged Red Spirits. He also shows him a circle of

monoliths where he says the Red Spirits come up

from the earth to dance to the Great Mother.

When they are there, they are attacked, Duganne

is captured and the native American man

escapes.

INCIDENTS AND INVESTIGATIONS

INITIAL LEADStbd

LIBRARIES,AND NEWSPAPERS

RESEARCHING WEST RIVER VALLEY CHURCHBuilt as a Congregational church and remains that way

until Abednego Akeley transfers it to the Starry Wisdom

Church.

1868-1871: The West River Valley Church is a branch ofthe Starry Wisdom Church until Akeleys death.

1871-1880: It is restored as a Congregational

denomination church, Akeleys replacement is Rev.

Walter W. Baker who is from elsewhere in Vermont.

In 1880 Rev. Baker apparently goes insane during a

service, rabidly accusing members of the congregation of

being sinners. He beats one woman to death with a Bible

and injures several other congregants before being

restrained. He is hanged at the State Prison and House of

Correction in Windsor, Vermont in 1908.

1880 - 1920: The new minister is a local man, Rev. Samuel

Aster.

1912: Charles Noyes, the son of a wealthy Boston

industrialist is ordained as a minister by Rev. Michael

Thomas at the Chapel of Contemplation at the age of 18.

1914: Noyes is ordained as a minister of the

Congregational Protestant Church at the age of 20.

1917: Malachi Sethom arrives in Townshend and Asterallows him to stay with him. Sethom is a lay preacher

1920: Aster retires. His replacement is Rev. Charles

Noyes, a young minister from Boston. Meanwhile Sethom

continues his lay preaching. Increasingly Noyes allows

Sethom to preach in the church while he is away

apparently in Boston.

RESEARCHING REVEREND SETHOMNo record of his history can be found.

RESEARCHING THE STARRY WISDOM CHURCHAt a clipping agency or library in a major town or city,

Library Use will reveal each of the following points:

1. The Starry Wisdom was started by a ProfessorEnoch Bowen in 1844. The main sect was located

at the Free-Will Church, Federal Hill, Providence.

2. Looking up Enoch Bowen uncovers an 1844article by a rival archaeologist. This

archaeologist claimed that the study of

archaeology had to be maintained as a science,and should not be used as a cover for

opportunists and adventurers to exploit the

population. He cited Enoch Bowen as a prime

example of the latter sort of archaeologist.


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3. He said Bowen was an occultist who was moreinterested in starting a cult than serving science.

He detailed how Bowen claimed to have found

the ancient tomb of a forgotten pharaoh, and

brought forth a crystal that shines in the dark. A

successful Cthulhu Mythos roll suggests that the

reference might be to the fabled Shining

Trapezohedron of Nephren-Ka. The skill user also

recalls that the crystal could supposedly summon

a demon of darkness that enjoyed blood

sacrifices of children.

4. With successful Luck and Library Use rolls, aninteresting book is uncovered. Mystical Sects,

published in 1857, lists numerous cults across

the United States, including a small entry for the

Starry Wisdom Sect. They owned a crystal found

in Egypt. They held this object sacred, and by

gazing upon it, the members believed they could

call up a being known as the Haunter of the Dark,

who shared dread secrets with the faithful. This

being could be summoned only in absolute

darkness, and if it was exposed to light for any

period of time, it would be banished.

5. July 1844 The Providence Bulletin mentions thepurchase of the Free-Will Church on Federal hill

by Professor Bowen. The Italian community is

outraged due to the cults location. A priest

named OMalley of Spirito Santo Church claims

the cult worships the Devil himself.

6. August 1853 The Providence Bulletin mentionsan investigation into the Starry Wisdom sect. The

investigators find no connection to the

disappearances of numerous children in the area.

7. October 1865 The Providence Bulletin notes thedeath of Professor Enoch Bowen from natural

causes. A surviving daughter, Aseneth Bowen, is

mentioned.

8. March 1872 The Providence Bulletin publishes astory concerning witch cult rumors among the

Italian populace of Federal Hill. The article hints

at blood sacrifices by an unnamed cult in the

region, but no arrests or indictments have been

made.

9. April 1877 The Providence Bulletin includes asmall item on the forced break-up of the Starry

Wisdom by the authorities. It refers to public

pressure on the authorities to enforce this

closure.

10. June 1878 A book written by Father OMalley isfound, The Coming of the Beast. It details

numerous theories regarding the prophecies of

the Antichrist. It lists the cult of the Starry

Wisdom as modern day Satan worshippers who

desire the Beast to rule the earth. Much of the

information found in the Antichrist Themes

sidebar on pages 160 161 is contained within,

except of course for information dated after the

books publication.

11. Investigators going to Providence to search forthe Free-Will Church will find the place much as

Blake finds it in the story Haunter of the Dark

go to the Providence chapter for more details.

12. Investigators may want to check out the churchrecords of Spirito Santo in Providence. Father

Angelo is the present priest of Spirito Santo. He

will allow investigators to see the records with a

Persuade roll. He himself has heard only rumors

of the evil cult. Reputedly, they worshipped the

Devil. He helps investigators find Father

OMalleys writings of the 1850s: The Starry

Wisdom - the stars of Hell - summoning from

those stars a shade from Hell itself, but feared the

power of God as manifested in Light.

13. Investigators who possess books pertaining tothe Cthulhu Mythos can search them for

information on the Haunter. To find it, a player

must roll D100 equal to or less than the books

Cthulhu Mythos points x3. The information is

this: the Haunter was spoken of as holding all

knowledge. The Haunter demanded monstrous

sacrifices, its favorite being human children.

Light could banish it back to its dark realm. With

a special success roll, the book calls the Haunter

The Bringer of the End Times, the Avatar of

Nyarlathotep. (At the keepers discretion,

investigators can roll separately to find the

Ancient History information on pages 129 130;

such information ends at Nitocriss death or the

books date of publication, whichever comes

first.)

LOCAL RUMOURS &FOLKLOREFrom asking around, the investigators hear various

rumours:

1. There have been witches/Satanists in the area forgenerations

2. There have been a number of disappearances inthis part of the state over the past few years:

mostly runaways and vagrants

3. There are devils living in the hills4. During the 19th century, the Old Church in West

Townshend was taken over by a Satanic cult. The

Satanic minister was killed and the cult was

driven away.

5. There are strange standing stones in the hills. Noone knows where they came from

6. Devils living in caves in the wooded hills7. According to their grandparents, in remote places

there are devils that speak to people in strange

voices. They sometimes possess people,


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especially people who live alone on the higher

hills

8. The Old Church at West River Valley is cursed.Bad things happen there due to blasphemous

things that have happened there in the past

DUGANNE DISAPPEARS

Duganne simply disappears one day. A policeinvestigation finds nothing. According to Rev. Walsh,

Duganne was meeting someone who said there were

things in the hills he could show him. Apparently the

person wanted to meet at the Scott Covered Bridge.

In fact he met[name]there who took him to a circle of

standing stones at the top of Round Hill. Duganne asked

to be left there alone and he was captured by cult

members who turned him over to the Outer Ones.

[name]didnt want to contact the police as he/she is

fearful of being punished by the cult.

If the investigators ask enough people, they will find

[Name]who claims to have seen Duganne and this other

person meet there. If the person is traced, she will

initially deny all knowledge, then later contact them,

admitting it was her. Duganne was investigating the

Satanists in the area. The contact knew about certain

standing stones in the hills that they used for their unholy

practices and she took them. Once they arrived, Duganne

thanked her and offered some money which she declined.

Duganne said he wanted to look around some more and

asked the contact to go back. That was the last she heard.She did not contact anyone about it as she was afraid. The

Satanists have many eyes and ears she says. And she was

afraid something bad would happen to her. She is not so

scared of the investigators as they are from outside.

Psychology to notice that she is nervous or not telling the

whole story. If requested, she will agree to show the

investigators what she showed Duganne, but she will

stress the need for utmost discretion.[Walsh wont

come]It is actually a trap. She is a member of the Starry

Wisdom cult. The story is almost true. But her story to

Duganne lured him discretely into the woods where hewas captured by the cult. She has told her fellow cultists

about the situation and they have set up an ambush. She

will lead the investigators into the forested hills, their

cars following a rough track. She will lead them to a real

set of standing stones. There are off footprints around if

they look. Their car(s) will be disabled and the cultists

will attempt to surround and capture them. They can

probably manage four armed men at short notice.

[Does it matter if this comes before or after the incident

at the priory?]

AFEELING OF BEING WATCHED

They soon realize they are being followed, spied upon,their correspondence etc is intercepted etc. If one or twocharacters explore the woods or hills by themselves theyhear buzzing voices tempting them with secret power andknowledge. Meanwhile sect members are trying to temptthe minister with strange promises.

[Detail events]

INVESTIGATING DUGANNES DISAPPEARANCETBD

If the site of Dugannes abduction can be traced,

there is a notepad there which includes

information about his last lead as well as contact

details for Henry Akeley and other matters.

THE MONOLITH ON ROUND HILLTBD

DUGANNES NOTEBOOKThis is a simple notepad containing a few notes and

contacts. Notes include details of Dugannes Contact, Rev

Sethoms home address, the address of the spiritualist

church and a local folklorist called Henry Akeley (The

Akeley House, Townshend).

TBD

HENRY AKELEYHenry Akeley is retired folklorist who has collected many

local legends especially about the Outer Ones. He has a

wax cylinder recording that he made near a cave entrance

blocked by a boulder near the base of Dark Mountain. He

has photographs of the cave entrance, of a ring of

standing stones on the top of a remote hill and of a

strange footprint. He also knows about strange rites that

occur around these stones on certain nights.

Akeley will offer none of this evidence unless he is both

impressed with the sincerity of the investigators (eg.

Credit Rating) and sees clear relevance of it to their

investigation.

Akeley is not a man of action and likes to keep a low

profile but he will share what he knows with those he

trusts. By speaking with Henry Akeley, the characters will

learn the old stories about creatures in the hills. If they

earn his trust he will play them the recording he made a

few years earlier near the mouth of the cave. He can give

them directions to find the mouth of the cave. It is closed

with a 20 ton boulder. He will also tell them he has heard

of standing stones in the hills.

TBD

INVESTIGATING THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCHThey may manage to infiltrate the Chapel at least

superficially and witness its ceremonies. They may


8/27

witness (or at least speak to witnesses) people going out

onto the hills on certain nights. Perhaps they are able to

break in. Inside they find records, religious texts, artwork

and equipment hinting at the churches strange

affiliations. They are preferably unable to access the

hidden parts of the basement (hidden, locked,

interrupted?)

THE SIEGE OF SOUTH WYNDHAM CHURCHThe Reverend requests their help. The remote church

compound (South Windham church) is cut off by snow

(its January)[or thick fog?]. Investigators may have to

walk there, or if they drive their cars are disabled. It is

surrounded by something. The phone line is cut. The

heating system breaks down. They receive phone calls

tempting them to help then threatening them, then

tempting them again to hand over the minister.

The temperature continues to drop. Anyone going outside

faces gunfire and spotlights as well as freezing air. The

minister suggests that it may be warmer/safer in the

basement. They go down some steps and through a door.

Looking for something heavy to block the door, someone

moves an ancient bookcase revealing a hidden door. They

pass through into a cave with remains of an ancient

Indian site dedicated to the Outer Ones, and possibly also

Nyarlathotep and/or Shub Niggurath. Pictographs show

red spirits with wings and many arms bearing fire,

thunderbolts, wind or totems of power. They are shown

living in the sky and in caves and worshipping Coyote,

Atahensic (Sky Woman), Ya-o-gah (the North Wind in the

form of a Bear) (and possibly Hahgwehdaetgan, the Evil

One). Buried in the rubble are ancient human bones.

Some skulls have a perfectly circular hole cut in the top.

There is a third door leading to the church building itself,

from which they can make their escape. They can also

simply shelter in the chamber.

Later they find strange footprints in the snow and how

oddly localized the extreme weather was.

If not already captured, there will be another attempt tocapture (or failing that kill the minister). He disappears

and reappears again apparently having had some sort of

stroke and/or religious experience. Now confined to a

wheelchair, he says that the sect in fact speaks the word

of God. He is flanked by a local nurse called Nurse Brown

and at times by a Bostonian friend called Charles Noyes.

He attempts to persuade the investigators to join him and

the Spiritualist Church of Astral Communion. If they

refuse he speaks against them. If confronted about the

Outer Ones, he says that they are real but want to share

their wisdom. He invites them to travel the stars with theOuter Ones. He has brain cylinder (who? Abednego

Akeley or someone else?) who claims to have witnessed

all sorts of wonders in space. If they still refuse, his

friends appear and they try to overcome the investigators.

The investigators may find strange standing stones in the

hills with odd markings on them. They may see strange

footprints around them or on certain nights even witness

strange ceremonies of the Outer Ones there. They are also

used by the Spiritualist Church of Astral Communion for

special initiation ceremonies and festivals at which one or

more Outer One may make an appearance (perhaps

wrapped in robes much like an angel?).

THE CONVERSION OF REVEREND WALSHIf Walsh is not protected, the minister disappears and

then reappears a changed man.

He relates a profound religious experience that

transformed his life. He makes comparisons with Paul on

the road to Damascus. An angel appeared to him and

revealed the truth. Saying that there was a place in theHeavens for him if he stopped preaching against the new

sect. He is now preaching the benign or benevolent nature

of the new sect and wishes to hand the church to the new

sect. He invites Rev. Braswell to Townshend for a great

revelation.

In actual fact Walsh , seen as too much of an ongoing

threat to the new sect, was kidnapped (from his house?

His car?) and has been replaced by an Outer One.

Rev. Walsh is now confined to darkness and pushed

around in a wheelchair by a somewhat sinister doctor

from Boston called Doctor Clarence Haynes who claims

to have saved Walsh s life and who never leaves his side.

His speech and movement appear to be affected. There

are other rural and urban characters including a farmer

called Walter Brown and a well-bred Bostonian called

Mr. Noyes who seem to linger around the house. At

Walsh s house, Braswell is told that Walsh willsurely be

ascending to the Heavens and he is made an offer to join

the sect. He refuses and tries to leave. The Outer-One

posing as Walsh kills him.

CONFRONTING THE CULTApproached that the investigators could use include:

infiltrating Church services Searching the Church Searching Sethoms house Presenting collected evidence to the local

authorities

Presenting collected evidence to localsCONFRONTING THE OUTER ONESSee The Colony in Dark Mountain


9/27

LOCATIONS

REV.SETHOMS HOUSEThe investigators may wish to confront Michael Thomas

or investigate his house. His possessions include keys to

open the gate to Dark Mountain in the cellar of the Church

and a key that opens the Boulder Entrance and the

Spring Entrance.

Rev Sethom lives in a medium-sized wooden house not

far from his Church.

The basement of his house has a nearly complete, walled-

off area with a laboratory containing surgical equipment,

desiccating chemicals, and preserving balms and notes on

Egyptian funerary practices. Also here is a copy of Enoch

Bowens On Resurrection.

The centre of the room has a stone sarcophagus on araised platform. The sarcophagus has maps of the

Otherworld painted on it.

[There may also be a brain cylinder here with

sensory-vocal apparatus.]

THE BOOK OF THE DEADSanity loss: None; Occult +3;

Spells: None

MICHAEL THOMAS NOTEBOOKSin English.

Masquerading as copies of the Proceedings of the Society

of Scholars of Biblical Rectitude, these three volumesdescribed Thomas magical techniques and experiments.

Sanity loss 1D4/1D8; Cthulhu Mythos +4 percentiles;

Occult skill check; 10 weeks to study and comprehend/20

hours to skim. Spells: Hardness of Flesh (Flesh Ward),

various hypnotic techniques (Dominate), Contact He Who

Waits in the Dark (Nyarlathotep), Ectoplasmic

Manifestation.

ON RESURRECTIONin English. Enoch Bowens notes on

mummification and the preservation of the soul allowed

the cult to preserve many of its more powerful membersin secret underground chambers, awaiting the return of

the Old Ones. The techniques inside have been lost for

millennia; if the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh ever

found this book, it is likely that they could reconstruct the

ceremonies used for their most potent mummifications.

The cult leader keeps these in a safe-deposit box at a local

bank. Sanity loss 1D3/1D6; grants an Egyptian

Hieroglyphs skill check; Cthulhu Mythos +3 percentiles; 8

weeks to study and comprehend/16 hours to skim. Spells:

Apportion Ka, Hardness of Flesh (Flesh Ward).

REV.MALACHI SETHOMRev. Sethom is a white haired old man with a Bostonian

accent. He says that he was born in Vermont, in

Claremont to the north. He used to run a Spiritualist

church in Boston. He wanted to go somewhere quieter

and return to his roots before he died. [No record of this

man can be found]. In fact he has returned in order to

continue the practices of Starry Wisdom and in order to

find a way to avoid true death altogether. He has

established a church here, associated with the existing

cult, and they have captured many people here, taking

them to the Temple of the Gulf to be sacrificed to The

Haunter of the Dark in exchange for secrets of preserving

human life. Combined with his notes, he believes he has

perfected the method. He has built himself a tomb under

his house. And Dr Hayes and Mr Noyes have been trained

in the processes. [If he dies during the course of the

investigation this process will kick in] . Who is going to

succeed him?

Anyone seeing his handwriting, who has seen his Michael

Thomas handwriting at the Chapel of Contemplation can

make an INTx3 roll to recognize its familiarity (special

success means they recognize it at Thomass

immediately).

Rev Malachi Sethom (Michael Thomas)

Sorcerer and friend of the late Walter Corbitt.

Age 79 in 1923STR 12 CON 14 SIZ 15 INT 17 POW 18DEX 15 APP 17 EDU 14 SAN 0 HP 15Damage Bonus: +1D4Weapons: Sacrificial Knife 60%, damage

1D4+2+db.Derringer 45%, damage 1D6.Skills: Bargain 45%, Cthulhu Mythos 15%, Fast Talk 70%,Occult 50%, Persuade 75%, Psychology 65%, Sleight ofHand 55%Armor: Thomas has usually put five magic points intoFlesh Ward for the day. Seeing him shrug off a cut or stabcosts 0/1 Sanity.Spells: Contact Deity/Nyarlathotep, Contact Mi-Go,Dominate, Ectoplasmic Manifestation, Flesh Ward,Summon/Bind Dimensional Shambler, Telekinesis.

THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH OF ASTRAL

COMMUNIONThe West River Valley Church (aka The Old Church)is on

the main West River Road from Townshend, backing onto

the river. It dates from 1817. This was originally the main

church in Townshend. Next door is a building that

includes a small store and a post office.

At first glance this appears to be an ordinary village

church. The Chapel has a bad reputation and people avoid

it. Close inspection reveals that the cross above the altar

on the stained glass windows is a shining star, those

windows also bear a curious three-lobed eye symbol andimages of people being borne away by unusual, many-

limbed angels.


10/27

Behind the church, beyond some trees, and a swampy

area, is an island in a bend in the West River. There are a

number of boulders in the river on either side of the

island, making it possible to ford here and cross over to

the area of Dark Mountain.

The basement contains a number of mythos texts

including Latin and several copies of the new English

versions of The Book of Eibon and De Vermis Mysteriis,

Unaussprechlichen Kulten, plus Aleister Crowley's

(flawed) English translation of the Black Book of the Skull,

all published by Starry Wisdom Press (registered office in

Romania).

THE GATE IN THE BASEMENTAlso in the basement, next to a curtained wooden box, are

two brain cylinders containing the immortal souls of

initiates who have returned from the Heavens (names

and details). On certain occasions they are brought up to

the altar and attached to the Speaking Device which

allows them to tell tales of their wonderful journeys and

the sights they have seen (the Mi-Go colony in Vermont,

the Moon, Outer Space and Yuggoth). These minds are

now quite unhinged. They also suffer from a profound

longing to return to the stars. (What will they say if

re-attached ?). These minds also possess a significant

degree of Cthulhu Mythos knowledge. Detail

There are also symbols of the Tri-Lobed Eye and artwork

of people being taken by multi-armed angels whose faces

are a mass of coloured light and of people travellingamong the stars. A church record describes Aseneth

Bowen commanded by Our Lord Granter of Secrets to

protect the Free-Will Church (i.e. the Trapezohedron)

until the time is right. There is also correspondence with

Rev. Robert Gills branch of the sect which he is

establishing in the old Bayfriars Church (540 E Church St,

Arkham, location #714).

A locked door leads to a room[describe it ]. An alcove in

the room has a pitch black archway. Its not clear whether

it is a archway or a mirror nothing can be seen beyond itand it reflect no light. In fact, it is a gate created by the

Outer Ones. Stepping through it at a cost of 1 magic point,

an investigator will find themselves in an almost

completely unlit tunnel in the depths of Dark Mountain

near to the Temple of the Gulf.

THE DOCTRINES OF THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH OF

ASTRAL COMMUNIONMost of these can be understood by listening to services:

When the Tower of Babel fell and the people started tospeak many different languages, contact with the Divine

Principle was lost. A small group of Magi who had resisted

the building of the Tower could speak the Divine Tongue.

They distilled their celestial wisdom before dispersing

around the world especially to Egypt. The Spiritualist

Church of Astral Communion is a successor to that

tradition. Their services include Egyptian Psalms as well

as Christian ones and Bible readings. They have the

power to commune with the Divine Principle directly

using Dark Mirrors. During these ceremonies, participants

speak spontaneously in the Divine Tongue. The Dark

Principle shares secret wisdom with them. A new

Covenant had been formed with the Divine. The time had

come for ancient secrets to be revealed to those who are

ready, in preparation for a time when the Primal Unity

would be restored. The Church can also contact the

Malakhim or Angels of the Divine Principle who share

wisdom with them. A select number of the faithful are

taken up by the Malakhim into the heavens where they

learn the secrets of the universe and exist forever.

DARK MOUNTAIN COLONYThere are three main entrances by which theinvestigators might conceivably gain access to the colony:

the Boulder Gate, the Waterfall Gate and the Church Gate

(detailed below).

The colony in Dark Mountain should be experienced by

the investigators as a profoundly dangerous place to be.

This is the second largest colony of the planet, of this

secret highly intelligent and technologically advanced

race. The Outer Ones do not seek to control the planet, but

wish to maintain their operations without human

interference.

Security

If they realize that their defenses have been breached, the

Outer Ones will act intelligently and decisively. If the

Spiritualist Church of Astral Communion also know that

the investigators have entered the colony they will

attempt to follow them and cut off their retreat. If the

investigators enter through the Church Gate, for example,

Sethom will send someone (overland) to warn the Outer

Ones (this will take almost half an hour), he will likely

then enter the gate himself with a group of four men

armed with rifles and shotguns[TBD]the cultists could

then deactivate the gate or ambush returning

investigators as they exit through it back into the

basement.

The section of the colony that the investigators enter is

relatively quiet, but they may be detected by a sentry, a

priest or a scientist. Gunfire in this sector will attract 1-3

Outer Ones in 1-4 minutes. They will seek reinforcements

if necessary: 10 soldier caste outer ones will arrive in 7

10 (1D4+6) minutes.

Architecture


11/27

Entry tunnels appear as natural caves and then change to

artificial and geometric tunnels typically of a triangular

cross-section and lined with black stone with occasional

shapes or glyphs carved into them. Some of the tunnels

are dimly lit by lights embedded in the walls.

The tunnels are curved in almost organic ways and they

become wider in major thoroughfares. Some have a

hexagonal, or circular cross-section.

Chambers are formed of geometric shapes ranging from

simple cuboids to elaborately interconnected patterns of

angles and curves.

Every so often there are small openings that seem to

exhale cool, fresh air. These are supplied by a series of

cooling ducts, most of which are too small to be traversed

by anything larger than a scuttler.

ScuttlersIf the strange architecture was not enough, one of the firstindications the investigators will have of the alien nature

of where they are is an exploring scuttler. About a

hundred yards down the entry tunnel (no matter where

they entered from) a Listen roll will detect a strange

sound. The sound approaches closer and within a couple

of rounds will be heard clearly. A dim glow from the

things head can be spotted bobbing in the darkness. Dim

or indirect light (a lit match or weak flashlight perhaps)

will reveal the shape of something insect or arachnid-like

approaching them not unlike a lobster or crayfish in sizeand general appearance. It will flee gunfire or bright light,

otherwise it will approach within about six feet and stop

for a couple of seconds before fleeing. Gunshots will

attract attention as described in Security above.

This scuttler is just one of many that are roaming around

the colony. Normally they cling to the underside of the

adult Mi-Go that spawn them, but sometimes they roam

freely.

[To be finished: see N ew Tales of the Miskatonic

Valley P75 for more details.]

BOULDER GATETBD

WATERFALL GATEIn the woods, about a mile to the north, near the east bank

of Tannery Brook is the mouth of a cave. This cave leads

to the western sector of Dark Mountain Colony, a sector

which historically has been used primarily for human

agents of the Outer Ones.

Water normally pours from the cave and into Tannery

Brook. Pastor Malachi and some other agents (who?)

have a key that causes the flow of water to reduce to a

trickle within a few seconds. The cave can then be

entered, initially by crawling - it is only3 feet high at the

entrance, rising to 5 feet after 10 feet distance and 6 feet

after another 30 feet distance.

THE CHURCH GATEThere is an active gate (with a key possessed by Rev

Michael Thomas) between the cellar of the West RiverValley Church and a chamber in Dark Mountain. This

chamber has a library of brain cylinders, speaking

equipment etc. However, the main route is across a small

island in the river behind the church and up into the hills

to the south. A different key stops the flow of water to a

small spring/waterfall, which becomes a passage leading

into Dark Mountain.

The gate appears simply as a semicircular blackness, a

mirror perhaps except that it leaves no reflection. On

closer inspection it appears to be an archway into a black

space. There is silence. If the investigators make any

significant sound about 30 seconds later they will hear a

scuttling sound (See Scuttlers above).

APARTMENTThis series of chambers appears as a near-perfect

facsimile of a human dwelling. It is used for human guests

primarily senior agents such as Charles Noyes and

Malachi Sethom. There is even running hot and cold

water, electricity and a working radio. The windows

appear to have a view of the ocean. On closer inspection

this turns out to be a moving hologram with sound

projected just outside the window.

SENTRYA lone soldier caste Mi-Go. TBD

The sentry could be a controlled by a human

brain it may fire a cone of cold or a cloud of

drugs. Would it have the power to communicate

instantly?

TEMPLE OF THE GULFThe Nyarlathotep cult associated with the Outer Ones is

called The Million Favored Ones.

A gate and physical entrance both lead to this Temple to

Nyarlathotep deep in the darkest bowels of Round Hill.

There are also some chambers nearby associated with

human cultists and there is a library of brain cylinders.

Carelessness or bad luck here will result in the

investigators being captured. The ceiling is dotted with

star-like points of light and a dim phosphorescence with

can be controlled by a control panel. The huge black spaceis surrounded by a viewing area and a priests platform.

The high ceiling is a fractal series of concave domes


12/27

dotted with star-like points, rising higher and higher as it

approached the Dark Gulf.

HUMAN BIO-RESOURCESThere is a bank of scores of human subjects suspended in

fluid here as well as the equipment for reviving them and

putting them in this condition.

LIBRARYThis area has a series of chambers containing Mi-Go

books[refer]. There is also a pair of chambers for

accessing brain cylinders from various species.

BIO-RESEARCH FACILITYThe investigators come across a series of chambers where

bizarre experiments are conducted on humans.:

Human beings with their brains removed Human beings with their brains artificially re-

attached

Human brains controlling various kinds ofmachines:

o Walking robotso Doorso A helicopter-like hovering machineo Mining equipmento A sentry gun

Humans with modified organs Humans controlled by implants Humans alive and conscious and opened up

suspended in fluid

A Human controlled by box with alien braintissue in it

Humans in pain, opened up or with electrodesattached perhaps they beg for death

Masks and body-suits of human form made out ofsome kind of plastic

There is also a series of rooms where Mi-Go sometimes

receive modifications such as limb removal

SCIENTIFIC STORAGE

CITY OF THE OUTER ONESThis vast, domed cavern contains a city constructed of

towers of black Yuggoth stone. Thousands of Mi-Go live

here and the entire city emits a thrumming sound. A

series of major tunnels branch off leading to other sectors

of the city mostly mining areas, farms, food storage and

processing plants and other entrances.

Entering this area, the investigators will be attacked by

2D6 Mi-Go workers (unarmed) within 1D6 rounds. 2D6armed and armoured Mi-Go Soldiers will arrive in 3D6

rounds.

Details TBD


13/27

BOSTONRev Charles Noyes runs a Spiritualist Church in Boston

called the Church of Astral Communion. He is also a Son

of Yog-Sothoth at the Hermetic Order of the Silver

Twilight and a close friend of Carl Sanford. The doctor'

likewise is the vice-leader and a Knight of the Outer Void.

Leads at the Church of Astral Communion might includethe location and significance of the Free-Will Church and

some secret that is kept there. Rev. Noyes will also have a

key that gives access to Round Hill/Dark Mountain.

THESPIRITUALISTCHURCHOFASTRAL

COMMUNION,BOSTONTBD

PROVIDENCEThe investigators enter the Free-Will Church[andretrieve an item that gives them access to Round Hill].

THE FREE-WILL CHURCH OF STARRY WISDOM352 Atwells Avenue

Access: Cellar door

Steeple: windowless

From Lillibridge's notes:

"Prof. Enoch Bowen home from Egypt May 1844buys

old Free-Will Church in Julyhis archaeological work &

studies in occult well known.

Dr. Drowne of 4th Baptist warns against Starry Wisdom

in sermon Dec. 29, 1844.

Congregation 97 by end of 45.

18463 disappearancesfirst mention of Shining

Trapezohedron.

7 disappearances 1848stories of blood sacrifice

begin.

Investigation 1853 comes to nothingstories of

sounds.

Fr. OMalley tells of devil-worship with box found in

great Egyptian ruinssays they call up something that

cant exist in light. Flees a little light, and banished by

strong light. Then has to be summoned again. Probably

got this from deathbed confession of Francis X. Feeney,

who had joined Starry Wisdom in 49. These people say

the Shining Trapezohedron shews them heaven & other

worlds, & that the Haunter of the Dark tells them secrets

in some way.

Story of Orrin B. Eddy 1857. They call it up by gazing at

the crystal, & have a secret language of their own."

Images:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cthulhuwho1/38108300

18/in/photostream/

If the Shining Trapezohedron is removed from the

Church, Nyarlathotep will if possible command his

human and Outer One servants to return it. [According to

another source the steeple is defended from sect

members by an Elder Sign.]


14/27

CONCLUDING THE SCENARIO

SANITY AWARDS Killing Malachi or otherwise disrupting the sect.

Sanity reward = ?

Closing off the tunnel in the old church

Destroying the old church


15/27

CAST OF CHARACTERSRev. Walsh

AgeSTR 11 CON 14 SIZ 13 INT 12 POW 14DEX 11 APP 9 EDU SAN HPDamage Bonus:Weapons:

Skills:Armor:

Rev. DuganneAgeSTR CON SIZ INT POWDEX APP EDU SAN HPDamage Bonus:Weapons:Skills:Armor:

Dr. HaynesMiddle-class Bostonian cultist and sorcerer.

AgeSTR CON SIZ INT POWDEX APP EDU SAN HPDamage Bonus:Weapons:Skills:

Walter Brown

Rural cultist and sorcerer. Lives in a rundown hillside

place near the deep woods. Aseneth Bowens son


Unnamed sorcerorSandy hair?

Suicide cultist

Reverend Charles Noyes

Middle-class Bostonian cultist and sorcerer.


Henry Akeley

To the south of Townshend is Henry Akeleys farm. Atrim, white house with two storeys and an attic, built

around 1800. The lawn is well-kept with a stone borderedpath leading to a Georgian doorway.At this time he has a housekeeper.

A retired anthropologist from the University of Vermont.

The folklorist is present in his house on the side of the hill

and is already gathering information about the strange

creatures of the area. He has a recording made in 1915

near the mouth of a cave of buzzing and human voices.Akeley cannot be persuaded to join the characters

investigation but he is willing to show them where the

cave is. There are indeed footprints there.

He also has photographs of a footprint of an Outer One,

the mouth of a woodland cave blocked by a round boulder

with similar tracks in front of it and another of a circle of

standing stones on the summit of a wild hill

AgeSTR CON SIZ INT POW

DEX APP EDU SAN HPDamage Bonus:Weapons:Skills:


16/27

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1:ABOUT THE OUTER ONES

THEIR BUSINESS ON EARTHTBD

THEIR OPERATION IN VERMONTTBD

CASTESTBD

Worker Soldier Priest Scientist Thinker

SENSITIVITY TO LIGHTIn H.P. Lovecrafts The Whisperer in Darkness, the Outer

Ones are described as travelling abroad only in darkness.

The Outer One that disguises itself as Henry Akeley is

sitting in a darkened room. The planet Yuggoth (Pluto)

itself is almost lightless. All this strongly implies that the

Outer Ones not only can navigate without light, but that

they are sensitive to even moderate light. Prolonged

exposure damages their visual tissues and in the short

term they experience pain and impaired vision.

Light conditions Effect

Dim light (twilight or a brightly lit room) Skills at -10Moderate to bright light (daylight) Skills at

APPENDIX TWO:TIMELINE1832: Abednego Mesach Akeley is born in Windham

County, Vermont

1835: a prosperous merchant builds the 'Corbitt' house,

but immediately falls ill and sells it to a Mr. Walter

Corbitt, esquire, the owner of a successful, local furnitureshop.

1843, Egypt: Professor Enoch Bowen, archaeologist and

student of the occult, found the Shining Trapezohedron in

the Labyrinth of Kish.

1844: May Professor Enoch Bowen ceases his excavations

of Nephren-Ka's tomb upon finding the Shining

Trapezohedron, and returns to Providence. Bowen

founds the Starry Wisdom sect, buying the old Free-Will

Church for its headquarters. This cult used the crystal to

summon the Haunter, to whom they made blood

sacrifices of infants and children.

1846: Disappearances begin in Providence that rumors

link to the Starry Wisdom Church. The Haunter had

decided to allow its links to this realm to grow through

these rituals, so that it might find the most suitable host

for its essence. It told its followers it awaited the proper

time and place to come forth in the shape of man.

1851: A minor schism within the Starry Wisdom Church

results in Rev. Orin B. Eddy setting up in an abandoned

church in the North End of Boston with financial and

practical aid from Walter Corbitt and with part of the

Starry Wisdom Churchs collection of artifacts, occult

texts, especially their collection of Egyptian funerary

texts. It is called Chapel of Contemplation & Church of

Our Lord Granter of Secrets. The practices of the Chapel

are in the style of a Spiritualist Church with sances,

sometimes aided by sorcery such as Telekinesis or by

information gathered from the Haunter of the Dark in

Providence, but mostly through various forms of fakery.

With the aid of certain ancient funerary texts, Orin B.

Eddy makes progress rediscovering Ancient Egyptian

techniques for everlasting life.

1852: Walter Corbitt is sued by neighbors, who petition

to force him to leave the area "in consequence of his

surious [sic] habits an unauspicious demeanor."

The Starry Wisdoms power grew as Bowen received

direct guidance from the Haunter. In return for the blood

sacrifices, the Haunter gave the cultists information by

means of which they obtained various artifacts and

numerous dread tomes. They collected copies of the

Necronomicon, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, Liber Ivonis,

Cultes de Goules, De Vermis Mysteriis, Pnakotic

Manuscripts, and the Book of Dzyan.

1858: A growing feud between Orin B Eddy and the main

body of the Starry Wisdom Church ends in the death of

Eddy. His body is cremated and buried in the crypt. Rev.

Elisha Bishop is placed in charge of the Chapel of

Contemplation. He discovers and continues Eddys

Afterlife work.

The Chapel becomes quite influential in Boston due to the

patronage of powerful people as well as access to

potentially damaging information on certain influential

people.

1863: A branch of Starry Wisdom opens in Townshend,

Vermont, based at a vacation home owned by Dr.

Raymond Flagg. Flagg comes to influence the young

minister Abednego Akeley, who initially challenges him

but is impressed by the power that Flagg can invoke.

At this point, the Starry Wisdom Cult in Providence had

over 200 members.


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1865: Enoch Bowen dies. Dr Flagg takes over the central

sect. Bowens daughter Aseneth is vice-leader and pastor

of the Providence branch. Enoch Bowen is mummified

and entombed in the crypts of the Freewill Church.

Whether the rituals designed to maintain life after death

were successful or not is not entirely clear.

1866Evidently Corbitt wins the lawsuit. His obituary in

1866 states that he still lived in the same place. It also

states that a second lawsuit was being waged to prevent

Corbitt from being buried in his basement, as provided by

his will. Executor of Walter Corbitt's will was Reverend

Michael Thomas (age 22), pastor of the Chapel of

Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets.

1868: The Reverend Samuel Shadrach Solomon Akeley,

father of Abednego Akeley, dies. Abednego succeeds him

as reverend, but immediately after the funeral he left

Vermont and travelled in southern New England. On his

return, he begins preaching the doctrines of StarryWisdom to his flock and converts his church affiliation to

the Church of Starry Wisdom. In fact he was already a

convert and was simply awaiting his fathers death to

complete his training in Providence and Boston. The

church is renamed as West River Valley Church of Starry

Wisdom. Controversy and scandal follow.

1869: A group of Irish vandalize the Starry Wisdom

Church in Providence, apparently in retaliation for their

perceived involvement in kidnapping a fellow.

1871: Abednego Akeley dies at the age of 39 and his

church closes. Rev. Akeley was killed by an unknown

assailant. And seriously wounded, he asked to have his

brain removed that he might explore the mysteries of the

cosmos. He leaves behind a son, Henry Wentworth

Akeley, conceived hours before his death. The mother is

Sarah Elizabeth Phillips, a servant in the Akeleys

household. After Rev. Akeleys death most of the

congregation move to Providence, others remain,

continuing to consort with the Outer Ones and passing

their secret doctrines from parent to child. Meanwhile,

some community leaders are gradually brought under the

influence of the Outer Ones or replaced with those who

are already.

A branch of the Starry Wisdom sect in Chicago known as

the Celestial Providence sect is disbanded by the Great

Chicago Fire.

1872:West River Valley Church is restored as a

Congregational denomination church, Akeleys

replacement is Rev. Walter W. Baker who is from

elsewhere in Vermont. Meanwhile, the Starry Wisdomdoctrine survives to some extent among former members

of the congregation.

1876: Policemen showed up at the Chapel of

Contemplations doorstep in search of a sacred golden

box (once the property of Nephren-Ka) from Egypt which

had vanished from the British Museum shortly after

Bishop made an unsuccessful bid to purchase it. (This box

would eventually show up in the hands of Rupert

Merriweather, with whom it will be found at the start of

the rulebooks The Edge of Darkness scenario.) The

authorities, upon searching the Chapel, found the false

panels and secret doors used to stage sances and trick

congregants.

1877May: The Starry Wisdom cult in Providence is

disbanded after threats from the locals. The cultists leave

town by year's end. Aseneth Bowen was commanded by

the Haunter to leave the Shining Trapezohedron in the

church for safekeeping. Empowered by the Haunter, Dr.

Flagg and Aseneth Bowen wove a spell casting an aura of

dread and fear over the building. The crystal was left in

the church, along with some of the sects library of occult

texts. No one in the neighborhood dared to explore the

church. [Alternatively, Elder Signs left on the doorways

prevent their re-entry?]

The Townshend and Boston sects are reinforced by

refugees from Providence. The Townshend sect is now

about 40 strong, but is forced to practice in secret.

Others migrate to Boston, where they swell the

attendance at the Chapel of Contemplation. Many others

head west, to California, where a branch is established inLos Angeles.

Meanwhile, remnants of the sect continue secretly in

Providence under the leadership of Aseneth Bowen.

Elisha Bishop dies. While a coffin went into a plot in

Mount Auburn, his body rested in a small, secret chamber

beneath the Chapel of Contemplation. Spiritualist

manifestations within the chapel picked up considerably,

as Bishops spirit made itself manifest. Thomas revives

the sect with the aid of Elisha Bishops spirit.

1880:Rev. Baker of the West River Valley Church

apparently goes insane during a service, rabidly accusing

members of the congregation of being sinners. He beats

one woman to death with a Bible and injures several

other congregants before being restrained. He is hanged

at the State Prison and House of Correction in Windsor,

Vermont in 1908.

The new minister is a local man, Rev. Samuel Aster. Aster

was once a member of Rev. Akeleys congregation,

initiated into the Starry Wisdom doctrine. After hisProtestant ordination, he was secretly ordained in the

Starry Wisdom Church at the Chapel of Contemplation

(the Free-Will Church has been closed). He incorporates

Starry Wisdom doctrine into some of his sermons and has


18/27

a secret inner circle of initiates known as The Million

Favored Ones who continue to consort with the Outer

Ones.

c. 1880: Ghost stories centering around the former Starry

Wisdom Church begin around this time. A Yorkshire

branch of the cult arises, possibly founded by Dr.

Raymond Flagg. It is active until around 1890.

Winter 1881: Marrion Allen, an amateur occultist from

Arkham, and leader of a group calling themselves The

Dark Brotherhood joins The Chapel of Contemplation in

Boston.

Feb. 1882:Marrion Allen steals two items from the

Chapel, both artifacts from the tomb of Nephren-Ka: a

miniature sarcophagus and an ancient Egyptian trumpet.

August 1883:Marion Allen flees from members of Starry

Wisdom to New Orleans where he sells the Trumpet of

Ptah at a curio shop in an attempt to raise funds to flee

the country. Soon after, he is killed by agents of Starry

Wisdom on the docks.

1890:By this time, the Yorkshire Starry Wisdom cult has

fallen apart. Dr. Flagg seems to have disappeared after

this.

1892:Aseneth Bowen dies. Her body is mummified in a

chamber beneath her house in Providence by Rev.

Michael Thomas.

1893:The spell around the original church prevented

anyone from entering the building until a reporter from

the Providence Telegram, Edwin M. Lillibridge, possessed

of great force of will, made his way into the building to

investigate stories of the church being haunted. He found

the crystal and accidentally summoned the Haunter. The

Haunter killed Lillibridge in a failed attempt to merge

with the hapless human.

1895: An edition of De Vermis Mysteriis is supposedly

published by Starry Wisdom Press, (registered office in

Boston) but no copies have been found.

1909: Starry Wisdom Press allegedly releases a version of

Unaussprechlichen Kulten as well, but no copies are ever

found.

1911: A New Orleans jazz musician and trumpet-maker

called Lightning Billy Watkins spots the Trumpet of Ptah

in a curio shop and noting its unusual tones, converts it

into a modern trumpet.

1912:Charles Noyes, the son of a wealthy Bostonindustrialist is ordained as a minister by Rev. Michael

Thomas at the Chapel of Contemplation at the age of 18.

Secret raid on the Chapel of Contemplation & Church of

Our Lord Granter of Secrets occasioned by affidavits

swearing that members of the church were responsible

for the disappearances of neighborhood children. Chapel

is closed. During the raid, three policemen and seventeen

cult members were killed by gunplay or fire. Autopsy

reports are singularly undetailed and uninformative, as

though the coroner had not actually performed

examinations. Though 54 members of the church were

arrested, all but eight were released. The records hint of

illegal intervention in the proceedings by important local

official, offering an explanation of shy stories of the battle

- the biggest criminal action in the city's history - never

appeared in print (the existence of the cult, the details of

what was found and the bloodbath that ensued were so

embarrassing that the whole thing was covered up).

Pastor Michael Thomas (age 71) was arrested and

sentenced to 40 years in prison on five counts of second-

degree murder.

Rev. Charles Noyes (who later also becomes a member of

the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight) takes nominal

charge of the remnants of the Starry Wisdom sect in

Boston.

1914:Noyes is ordained as a minister of the

Congregational Protestant Church at the age of 20.

1917:Thomas, aged 73 vanishes from his cell one night,

leaving two guards torn apart and five prisoners insane.

He uses sorcery stealing copper pipes he making acopper dagger and uses it in a ritual to summon and then

bind a dimensional shambler. Charles Noyes and Samuel

Aster help Thomas slip away to Vermont without a trace.

He begins to preach thinly-veiled Starry Wisdom doctrine

in the Townshend area under the pseudonym, Rev.

Malachi Sethom. Aster allows him to stay in his house and

then with Noyes help assists him to buy a small house of

his own. Knowing that his end is near, Michael Thomas

works determinedly to restore the now-endangered art of

perpetual life.

1919: Lightning Billy Watkins is committed to a mental

hospital after mysterious events during a New Orleans

funeral march.

1920:Aster retires. His replacement is Rev. Charles

Noyes. Meanwhile Sethom continues his lay preaching.

Increasingly Noyes allows Sethom to preach at the

church, while he looks after business interests in Boston

and begins to establish a new church at the old Bayfriars

Church, 540 E Church St, Arkham.

Aleister Crowley's (flawed) English translation of theBlack Book of the Skull is published by Starry Wisdom

Press, with offices in Los Angeles.

People have begun to disappear in Vermont.


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1921:Rev. Walsh arrives, hears rumours of strange

practices in the area

1920s:A Los Angeles-area branch of the Starry Wisdom

Cult reaches the peak of its popularity, lasting through the

1930s

New York jazz musician Leroy Turner buys Lightning

Billy Watkins unusual trumpet from a curio shop in NewOrleans.

May Eve 1922:Rev. Duganne witnesses ceremonies in

the hills

Walsh and Duganne believe there is a survival of

witchcraft in the area

Walsh begins to preach against the Spiritualist Church of

Astral Communion and to publish sermons and letters in

the press about it

A correspondence possibly begins with one of the

investigators. Walsh starts to be spied on and

intimidated. He is not sure who to trust any more.

Walsh asks the investigators to help.

APPENDIX THREE:TRANSCRIPT OF HENRY

AKELEYS RECORDING(Indistinguishable Sounds)(A Cultivated Male Human Voice)

is the Lord of the Wood, even to and the gifts of themen of Leng so from the wells of night to the gulfs ofspace, and from the gulfs of space to the wells of night,ever the praises of Great Cthulhu, of Tsathoggua, and ofHim Who is not to be Named. Ever Their praises, andabundance to the Black Goat of the Woods. Ia! Shub-Niggurath! The Goat with a Thousand Young!(A Buzzing Imitation of Human Speech)Ia! Shub-Niggurath! The Black Goat of the Woods with aThousand Young!(Human Voice)And it has come to pass that the Lord of the Woods,being seven and nine, down the onyx steps (tri)butes

to Him in the Gulf, Azathoth, He of Whom Thou has taughtus marv(els) on the wings of night out beyond space,

out beyond th to That whereof Yuggoth is the youngestchild, rolling alone in black aether at the rim(Buzzing Voice) go out among men and find the ways thereof, that He inthe Gulf may know. To Nyarlathotep, Mighty Messenger,must all things be told.And He shall put on the semblance of men, the waxenmask and the robe that hides, and come down from theworld of Seven Suns to mock(Human Voice)

(Nyarl)athotep, Great Messenger, bringer of strange joy toYuggoth through the void, Father of the Million FavouredOnes, Stalker among(Speech Cut Off by End of Record)


20/27

APPENDIX FOUR:THE CHAPEL OF

CONTEMPLATIONSeveral clues relating to this scenario can be found in The

Haunting. These are as follows:

The Corbitt Diary

Found in the old Corbitt Mansion, Boston. The three

volumes are in plain English, though sometimes strangely

phrased. Accounts of his occult experiments, morbid

sacrifices of children, magic rites and summonings, his

ambition to surpass the boundaries of mortality, reports

of law suits waged against him (protectors in high places).

Corbitt sees himself as a servant of He Who Waitsin the Dark.

Details of involvement with Chapel ofContemplation.

Mentions Starry Wisdom in Providence. Mentions summoning of Walker Between the

Worlds

'Shining crystal' and describes communing with'He Who Waits in the Dark' who grants his

followers profound secrets in return for sacrifices

(especially children).

Mentions names Prof Bowen and Dr Flagg. Box found in Egyptian ruins. Haunter summoned up in darkness, can't tolerate

light.

Mentions rivalry or split between Eddy and Flagg,and death of Eddy.

Mentions On Resurrection by Enoch Bowen.Also discusses his work with Rev Orin B. Eddy,

Rev Elisha Bishop and Rev Michael Thomas on

Ancient Egyptian methods for establishing

eternal life.

Sanity loss 1/1D8; Cthulhu Mythos +4 percentiles; Occult

skill check; 10 weeks to study and comprehend/20 hours

to skim. Spells: "Summon Walker Between the Worlds"

(Summon/Bind Dimensional Shambler). There's no

further elaboration on the nature of this entity. This spelltakes 2D6 weeks to learn after the diaries are read, likely

too long to be useful in this adventure.

THE CHAPEL OF CONTEMPLATIONHere follows a more detailed treatment of the Chapel of

Contemplation than found in The Haunting. Note also the

mythos tome in the original version is Liber Ivonis,

whereas here this has been substituted with De Vermis

Mysteriis.

BROTHERS OF THE YELLOW SIGNIf the investigators enter the Chapel then leave it for at

least two days before returning, the break-in will have

been noted by The Brothers of the Yellow Sign. Two

agents are dispatched to investigate. They enter the

basement, a couple of days after the investigators,

possibly taking photos of evidence and removing

anything readily portable. They then take turns to watch

the place from an old Model-T Ford parked nearby.

The agents are out-of-work actors whove worked on

Guidiciannis productions in the past. They don overalls

when they enter the basement and try to pass themselves

off as City of New York workmen conducting a safety

inspection. If an investigator is alone, the actors may try

to apprehend and interrogate him or her. They may also

tail the investigators. If they are able to gather enough

information about the investigators, where they live etc

they may be able to spy on them for a few weeks or

months. There could be break-ins attempting to locate

evidence from the basement. They could even be followed

on their next investigation.

Dan Sherritt, unemployed actor and agentof the Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign

Sherritt is intelligent and overweight. He gave up medicalschool to become and actor and is now unemployed. Afterattending a read-through of The King in Yellow he hasbecome a drug-addict, haunted by strange dreams andmanipulated byAge 28STR 10 CON 12 SIZ 15 INT 15 POW 8DEX 14 APP 14 EDU 18 SAN 25 HP 14Damage Bonus: +1D4Weapons:

StickFistGrappleSkills: Acting 70%, Singing 50, Bargain 25%, Disguise61%, Drive Auto 30, Electrical Repair 20, Fast Talk 65,Jump 35, Listen 35, Mechanical Repair 40, French 26,English 100, Persuade 55, Psychology 50, Sneak 20, SpotHidden 35

Sandy Barthelemy Frost, unemployed

actor and agent of the Brotherhood of the

Yellow Sign

Frost is fairly handsome, but sickly and down on his luck.He attended the reading of the play with Sherritt and isobsessed with it. He is desperate to get hold of a copy.Age 27STR 11 CON 7 SIZ 12 INT 12 POW 12DEX 14 APP 14 EDU 18 SAN 45 HP 10Damage Bonus: 0Weapons:Skills: Acting 60%, Dancing 40, Bargain 50%, Disguise66%, Fast Talk 65, French 31, English 80, Psychology 15,Sneak 20, Spot Hidden 35

THE CHAPEL SITE

Ground Floor:


21/27

This floor is almost completely destroyed. Fire and time

have reduced it to a scattering of bricks, a few remnants

of charred walls and blackened timbers. Most of the roof

is completely absent or lying collapsed on the ground.

There are no doors remaining. Grasses and weeds grow

up through the ground, hiding the decayed floorboards

beneath.

1. An empty doorway leads to the first open area. Over a

low wall lies the remains of a washbasin and a toilet

2. The largest space here. Under a collapsed section of

roofing is the remains of a central pedestal and the

remains of black paint that once covered it.

On the wall on the left is painted a symbol a stylized

representation of the Three Lobed Eye. It was created

quite recently by Charles Noyes and Dr Hayes with white

paint. It is intended to show that the sect survives.

Spot Hidden reveals the remains of some words on the

walls of no known language (and now unintelligible).

At some point they become aware that the earth they

stand on is covering weakened floorboards: call for D100

rolls equal to or less than DEX x4. Those who get failing

rolls are unable to grab something secure when they feel

the floor give way. They fall ten feet into the basement.

Each falling investigator loses 1D6 hit points. They end up

in area 10.

If the floor is excavated, Spot Hidden reveals a decayed

trap door which would have to be dug through leading to

the passage below.

3. This passage once led from beneath the central stage in

Area 2 to the secret stage effects in Room 5. The passage

is partially filled with earth and water. Some of the

controls leading to Area 5 are here.

4. The wall on the right hand side has collapsed revealing

Room 5. Spot Hidden and Mechanical Repair reveal that

this wall once opened with an unusual pivot system.

5. This room contains the rusted remains of several

machines of unknown function. Mechanical Repair and an

Idea Roll may reveal that they included various special

effects machines. Well buried under these remains is a

trapdoor are the stairs to the inner circle meeting room

(Room 8). Again, the floor would need to be excavated in

order to find this.

6. Empty. Excavating the floor turns up a trapdoor to

areas 9 and 10.

7. Empty. A stairway completely choked with debris at

one end leads down into area 8.

8. Basement: Sealed off from the rest of the underground

areas, this area contains a furnace, a bookshelf and a few

pieces of broken furniture.

Secret Basement

This part of the basement was sealed off from the rest,

reached by separate stairs now buried under tons of

rubble.

10. Prison: In front of where the investigators land is a

locked cell with rusted floor-to-ceiling bars. The cell-door

is ajar and iron. Scratches on the walls remain. The doors

at either end are made of iron. Spot hidden reveals traces

of bone, which forensic examination will reveal to be

human.

9. Chained to a pedestal at one side of this area is a large

book. Examination proves it to be a Latin work, De Vermis

Mysteriis. It is the prize of those who can break the chain

(STR 30) or carry the pedestal out of the building(characters STR versus 36 on the resistance table to lift

up through to the outside world,

outer ones v19

Documents