Beyond “From Beyond” – an RPG Scenario Sketch

…In reply to my question Tillinghast mumbled that this permanent glow was not electrical in any sense that I could understand… – H. P. Lovecraft, “From Beyond,” 1920.

“Permanent”? Hmm…

“–she turned on the lights downstairs after I had warned her not to, and the wires picked up sympathetic vibrations.”

I would argue that the ‘permanent’ glow and the ‘sympathetic vibrations’ in the electrical wiring of the house are hooks upon which one could hang a sequel scenario: Let us suppose (for the purposes of fun) that Crawford’s machine isn’t just permanently ‘charged,’ but the entire house is in fact now a permanent tear in the fabric of reality:

1. That once activated (perhaps in its improved, final state), the machine can somehow function without current, (though perhaps at a lower level of effect). Like using an electro-magnet to create a permanent magnet.
2. That the wiring in the house, once accidentally tuned to the vibrations of the improved machine, could also create a ‘permanent’, low-level effect.

All this being said, and since these events take place in November of 1920 (early in the Golden Age), perhaps one could plot a return to “the ancient, lonely house set back from Benevolent Street.”

Crawford is dead, so the house could pass to his distant relation (perhaps a PC or NPC), or be taken by the city. Either could then experience strange goings-on and call for some investigation. I’d really like to give the PCs the red herring of a ‘traditional’ haunted house set-up, but then have them discover (perhaps through library use or interviewing neighbors) this is the old Tillinghast place, where the alleged hypnotism murders took place years ago, etc.

Maybe the ‘ghosts’ only appear when the lights are on? Perhaps the old wiring is being brought up to code, or the voltage has recently changed (or will change), increasing the effect?

“Parts of Boston, Massachusetts along Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue still used 110 volts DC in the 1960s…” –Wikipedia

Perhaps, with these electrical infrastructure changes, the ‘Tillinghast effect’ could bleed  out from the house, along the power grid, and affect the entire city?

At the Mountains of the Middle Kingdom: a Call of Cthulhu RPG Scenario Sketch

 “…and talked with undying leaders of the cult in the mountains of China…”

It occurred to me that this period and location might make an interesting sandbox for investigators. In retrospect, the Chinese Civil War is more complicated than one might suspect (no surprise), though I think the GM could almost make up anything they want to serve the story and likely have no player “Well, actually” them, OR be able to find some kind of supporting evidence via a web search. If it sounds fun, I say do it. Also, it gives you an excuse to relish archaic spellings like “Thibet” and “Peiping.”

Who: The factions:

• Cthulhu cultists (naturally)
• Nationalist / Republican Chinese
• Communist Chinese
• Imperial Japanese
• Soviets

What: Investigators are called to a mysterious monastery in the mountains of China. Perhaps an approaching army threatens a priceless collection of Buddhist scriptures? Or maybe what appears to be a humble Buddhist monastery on first glance is in reality a cover for the insidious cult of Cthulhu, pulling strings behind the scenes to make mankind “free and wild and beyond good and evil, with laws and morals thrown aside and all men shouting and killing and revelling in joy.” Or perhaps there is a Great Old One sleeping underneath the (actually legit) monastery, and the monks need help to keep it sleeping. This also allows a possible connection to various Hollow Earth tropes.

When: Since the ‘deathless Chinamen’ are apparently immortal, an adventure with this setting could be staged at any time you desire; however, the ‘golden age’ of COC and the forces involved might fit best within 1926-1941. This covers the start of the Chinese Civil War to America’s entry into WWII, after which one presumes it would be more difficult (though not impossible) to casually insert a group of Westerners. Just before and even early in WWII, American servicemen were inserted into China on their own civilian passports, via commercial flights (Pan Am) from the East coast of the US, down to South America, across to West Africa, then to Egypt, then India, and finally through Burma into China (if I recall correctly).

Where: Rural China?

 

 

 

Lovecraftians: Support the New “Tour de Lovecraft: The Destinations”

Kenneth Hite, Lovecraft scholar, podcast host (and sometimes guest), and RPG creator & guru is launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund

Tour de Lovecraft: The Destinations

A reference & info guide & companion for most of the settings used in HPL’s fiction. This will be in the vein and in fact a companion piece to his previous work, Tour de Lovecraft: The Tales.

YOU SHOULD SUPPORT THIS ENDEAVOR, financially and with your social media publicity… The Yellow Sign commands it!

Lovecraft’s Psi Delta Fraternity Seal

Based on my previous art for this fictional fraternity from “Haunter of the Dark,” I’ve made this sticker-like design; oddly perfect for stickers!

Also available on other select products at RedBubble:

Psi Delta Seal Stuff at RedBubble!

Lovecraft’s Morrison Company Stickers & Paraphernalia at RedBubble!

I’ve tweaked some of my Morrison Co. art and uploaded it to RedBubble for your decorating pleasure:

Morrison Co. & Lovecraft Stuff

Lovecraft Paper Props / Ephemera for Sale

Just popped the two items I have in hand on eBay, if anyone’s looking for some inexpensive, obscure gifts for themselves or others:

“It is written on the brick cylinders of Kadatheron that the beings of Ib were as green in hue as the lake and the mists that rise above it…”

My mock museum artifact souvenir postcards inspired by “The Doom That Came to Sarnath”

“It was languid curiosity which first brought Stephen Jones to Rogers’ Museum… and he had strolled in one April day to see how disappointing he would find it. Oddly, he was not disappointed…”

My mock Rogers’ Wax Museum tickets inspired by “The Horror in the Museum”

 

Coming Soon: New Lovecraft Paper Paraphernalia!

I’ve been designing some new, paper ephemera inspired by various HPL stories and creations:

• Student ID blank
• Two hotel luggage labels
• Student union card
• Fraternity membership card
• Student club card
• Two Three steamship baggage labels
• Museum artifact postcard
• Museum ticket

Waiting for stuff to come in the mail – Lots of excitement! All the result of many hours of work and research online. And there’s still one more business card which I have yet to get printed.

EDIT 11-27-2016: Ha ha! The two hotel labels have come in! Now to wait a week or more for the other six other jobs…

EDIT: 12-01-2016: Got the student IDs in the mail last night!

Lovecraftian Newspaper Filler Articles

Presented as a public service for those who need to pad a period newspaper, or add some red herrings to the back side of an article. The following images are all real, period articles from American papers, 1924-1929.

A special note to those composing period newspaper articles: please do your due diligence. Research real articles from the period and area in question. A simple Google Image Search for the location, year, and ‘newspaper article’ should give you some samples of what they would look like. As will the following excerpts:

Certain Signs, Swastikas and The Shadow Over Innsmouth

H. P. Lovecraft began to write The Shadow Over Innsmouth in 1931. In one part of Zadok Allen’s history, he mentions “certain signs” belonging to the ‘Old Ones’ which have powers over (or against) the Deep Ones:

“…sarten signs sech as was used onct by the lost Old Ones … them old magic signs as the sea-things says was the only things they was afeard of … In some places they was little stones strewed abaout—like charms—with somethin’ on ’em like what ye call a swastika naowadays. Prob’ly them was the Old Ones’ signs…”

While this use of the swastika may seem incongruous to a late 20th / early 21st century audience, it is in fact a very old symbol, appearing in ancient North America, Europe, Africa and India. What most likely prompted the use of it here (in the Pacific) in HPL’s story were the public speculations of James Churchward from 1926 on:

Popular Science, March, 1928.

We know HPL was familiar with Churchward’s theories because he mentions him by name in Through the Gates of the Silver Key (1932) and Out of the Aeons (1933). Reading the first 3 paragraphs of the article above gives us a clear view at the then popular ‘lost continent’ stories in the public eye at the time, and the ‘evidence’ used to support them.

Rogers’ Wax Museum Anniversary Shirt Designs

Inspired by The Horror in the Museum by HPL & Hazel Heald

The story was written in 1932, though not published until 1933, so I’ll claim 2017 as the more convenient anniversary date.