Plotting Cthulhu

 

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DOSSIER

Plottin Pl ottingg Cthu Cthulhu lhu This chapter aims to help you construct some truly nefarious

One, as in The Thirty Nine Steps, Steps, does not mean you cannot

Mythos plots set against the ba backdrop ckdrop of World War T Two. wo. By looking at various inspirational sources it hopes to show how you, the Keeper, can mine them for ideas for your own games. If, after looking at these films and TV series you are still a bit stumped, there are also a series of plot generator tables to further aid you in your machinations.

update it to London, circa 1939. The table below contains a selection of films with a horror or weird war approach that might provide a launch pad for your plots. There are a lot of Nazi zombies in there, but if you can get past the clichés to the background stor storyy, there are some great ideas just waiting to be developed further. And don’t forget the wartime classics. These fantastic movies tell tales of daring heroes, resistance fighters,

Acht htu ung! Cthulhu &

MOVIES & TELEVISION Creating an Achtung! Cthulhu  plot becomes a lot easier when you consider the wealth of movies at your fingertips.  Just look at the enormous enormous number of W World orld W War ar T Two wo films and television shows, pretty much all of which can make a great starting point for a Cthulhu Mythos story. Whether it is a classic war story, a ‘40s thriller, or a weird war horror, there is enough mileage in many of these sources to help you prepare quite a few nights of creeping insanity for your players if you are struggling for ideas. When looking at old films, ask yourself: what would happen if you changed just one element of the plot? What if it was not a Tiger tank guarding the gold bullion in Kelly’s Heroes?? What if the German “Black Stone” spy ring was after Heroes more than Britain’s plans for war in The Thirty Nine Steps? Steps? The thrillers, or “shockers”, of the early years of Hollywood are packed full of fantastic Cthulhu Mythos stories, especially if you areinspiration looking forfor more investigative storylines. Just because something is set before World War War

Com omba bat t Thee ev ents Th nts d  depi epiccted ted i  in  Acchtu n A htun n g! C thulhu thulhu t  take ake p  plac lacee  in th in  thee run  run--up to to W   W orld rld W   W ar  ar  Two  Two  as w ell ell as as du  dur  r ing ing it it;; a per iod iod du durin ringg wh  whiich th the Al Allies lies b  batt attle le th  thee Axi Axiss po  pow  w ers  ers  across ross  the the g  glob lobee. Thu Thus co comb mbaat has has a r ole to to pla  playy wi  with thin in the A  Ach cht  t ung  ung ! Ct hulh ulhu u set  settting ing,, pot poten entia tiallllyy mo more so so th  thaan in a in  a st  stan anda dard rd 19  192 20s gam amee (de (dep pend endiing on w hat st style yle o  off adve dven nture ture  you your  r  grou  group pr  pr efer  efer s). Nev erth rtheeless less,, as si signi gnifi fican cantt as comb ombaat is  is to a  a gam gamee  set in w  in w ar  ar time, time, i  itt sho should uld  not not d  dom omiinat natee a sc scena enari rio o or or adv entu nture re at  at the ex expen pensse of  of  inv   inv estig stigaation tion.. Achtun  Achtun g! C t  t hulhu hulhu is  is s  still till,, at its its he  heaart, a  a role rolep play layin ingg ga game of Love oveccraft raftia ian n inv  inv estig estigati ativ  v e hor  hor ror,  ror, and and s  so o sh shoul ould d be  be a  att lea least as cluelue-o orien rientt ate ated d as it it is  is com omb bat-o at-or  r ienta ient ated ted.. No Nott eve every ry   playe ayerr cha chara racte cter  r  or  or in inves vesttigat igato or w ill ill be  be a sol soldier , a sai sailor, lor,   or an an air man an;; som somee w ill ill still still be  be p  prof  rof esso ssors rs,, jou journa rnalilists, sts,   libr  lib r arian arians, an and so so on  on,, and  and in  in or  or der  der  f   f or or yo your playe layer  r s to  to role role-play lay t  thes hesee cha  char  r acte acters ful fully, th they ey need eed  mys mystterie eriess to solve olve..

 

Films Hor Horror/Weird War Fil h  eich 25th 25 th  Reic

 Sun un Black ck S II: Bla utpo ost II: Outp

War Films A B  Bri rid dge T oo F  Far  ar  

San ands ds o  off Iw  Iw o J  Jiima

Acti tio on in  in th  thee  Nort rth h A  Atl tlaantic tic  

Sav ing ing Pri riv  v ate Ry Ryan an

uman an   lmo ost Hum Alm

III:   aste terr III: pet M  Mas Puppet Pup vengge ulon n’s R even  To  T oulo

elow w  Belo

Ark  Losst Ark the Lo ers o  off the Raid Ra iders

Dead Sn Snow ow  

She

W ester n Fro ront nt  

T he B  Baattle tle o  off th the B  Bu ulg lgee

oy   Hellb He llboy

d 2) and nkerr (1 an Bunke  Th  T he Bu

All T hr oug ough t  the he N  Nig igh ht 

The Big R ed O The ed On ne

ar   of War orro ors of Horr

 Frozzen Dead  Thee Fro  Th

Att ttaack ck  

 Jone ness ianaa Jo Indian Ind usad de t Cr Crusa e L Las ast d th the and an

T he B  Br  r idge idge  on t  the he   Riv er  Kw  Riv   Kw ai

p  Thee Kee  Th Keep

Bla lacck Bo Boo ok 

T he D  Dirt irtyy D  Do ozen

 Sky ky   Iron Ir on S

d  Dea ead the D ar o  off the War

Casa sab bla lan nca

T he E  Eag agle le  Has La Land nded ed

at the the   Naziss at Nazi h  Eart rth the Ea tre o  off the Cen entre

ntis is  Atlant ds of  Atla arlor ords Warl

Cockle lesh shel elll H  Her  er oes 

The Gr eat E The  Esc scaape

Com omee a  an nd S  Seee

 Dead ad   vingg De Livin  of  the  the Li sis of  Oasis

oopeers  Trroop Zon onee T

T he G  Gu uns of Na Nava varo rone ne

Das Boot

utpo ost Outp

ake bie L  Lake Zom Zo mbie

T he H  Heer oes oes of Telem lemaark

Enemyy a Enem  att th  thee Gate tess

T he Longes estt D  Day ay

Hel elll in  in t  th he Paci cific fic

T he T hin in R   R ed L ed Liine

Ice ce C  Col old d i  in n Ale lexx

T he T rai rain

In W hich In W  ich W   W e S  Seerv e

T hre reee K  Kin ings gs

Ingglor iou In ious Ba Bast staard rdss (b (bo oth  or igi igina nall and and n  new  ew  v   v er  er sio ions ns))

To H  Hav  av e and H  Haav e Not

Period/Atmospheric Films & Television

All Qu Quiet iet o  on n the he  

Die Nacht von Lissabon

The Good German

Kel ellly’ y’ss H  Her  er oes oes

T w  we  lv e O  O’C ’Clo lock ck H  Hig igh h

Foyle’s War

The Third Man

Malt ltaa S  Sto tor  r y

V alky alkyrie rie

Key Largo

The Thirty Nine Steps

Pass Pa ssag agee to to Mars rseil eille le

W e W ere re S  So old ldie ier  r s

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari

Underground

Pat ath hs of  Glo  Glor  r y

W ent th thee D  Daay W ell?

Margaret Rutherford’s Miss Marple

Warehouse 13

R oma, Città tà  Aper ta ta

W her e Eagle less Da Dar e

soldiers, commanders, and situations that will give you inspiration and background ideas for your wartime characters and adventures. Again, remember that with some of these, just changing a few details can give you a fresh take on what would otherwise seem to be very familiar territory. What are the commandos really destroying in Where Eagles Dare? Dare? Why is the last Ryan brother so vital to the war effort in Saving Private Ryan? Ryan? Remember though, your Achtung! Cthulhu   adventures do not have to be set amidst the carnage of the battlefield—you can just use these to help create dynamic scenes that your characters must traverse. There number of other either moviesinand television shows thatare youalso canause as inspiration, terms of their plot, or in terms of their atmosphere and setting. What else

might Harry Lime (The (The Third Man) Man) have been smuggling during the war? Is there more behind the murders in a sleepy English village than the local spinster (Miss ( Miss Marple) Marple) suspects? Here are three takes on some film classics to show you what we mean:

Kelly’s Heroes  versus The Bunker    Allied soldiers find a map on a captured German officer that tells of a fortune in Nazi gold which has been safely stored in a secret bunker. Put together as a rag-tag force, the group must fight its way enemy linesthe to journey reach the location. But as this is a through Mythos adventure, is anything but straightforward, becoming increasingly fraught

 

as the characters must soldier through a series of bizarre and unfortunate events. Finally the characters discover the secret bunker, which is mysteriously deserted. However, they are not alone, and they find themselves trapped when three giant Chthonians emerge from the ground around the bunker, enraged by a strange machine inside the complex which has drawn them to it. The group must rely on a wounded scientist to defeat the Chthonians. This man claims that the other soldiers deserted their posts, leaving him for dead, but is he all that he seems? Will the disturbing ceremony he describes truly win them their freedom?

castle and steal a book. And not just any book, but a very important one that the Germans must not read! The characters make their way into the castle and discover that the Germans are preparing some kind of ceremony.. There is just one thing missing: the guest of honceremony our—a notable member of Black Sun, who will read from the book and unlock a terrifying creature to destroy their enemies! When (if!) the characters return the book to the French, they thank them and then prepare their own version of the ceremony. The characters must now decide whether or not to stop the French Resistance, their supposed allies, before they unleash something they cannot control…

The Thirty Nine Steps

Allied soldiers or agents kill a German patrol. However, it

The investigators meet a man who claims to have faked his own death to hide from his pursuers. He seems half insane and babbles about all manner of strange things. Soon he is found dead, and the shadowy assassins now seem to be after the characters. A mysterious group, who call themselves “Black Stone”, are trying to secure something important in England, and the characters find themselves chased to a remote stone circle adjacent to an RAF airfield. Section M is

turns out that they were actually a special Allied undercover unit tasked with meeting the French Resistance. The Resistance insists the soldiers must take the dead patrol’s place, as there is no time to waste. They must infiltrate a German

using the stone circle to give Spitfire pilots enhanced night vision abilities, and Black Stone want the keystone which triggers this change. Can the investigators stop them before they ruin the RAF’s plans?

Inglorious Bastards  (Original)

 

THE PLOT GENERATOR

The Antagonists

 No set of random random tables can ever fully wr write ite you a trul trulyy visceral, bells-and-whistles Cthulhu-based plot, but you can use the following tables in part or as a whole to give you the bare bones of your mind-shattering adventures. You can roll your way through the entire plot, taking advantage of the almost limitless variations, or just check one or more tables for inspiration when you are stuck. Dip in for a location, an

Let’s start with those that would bring destruction on our world and rain fire on our hapless investigators. When plotting, one way you can begin is with an openended roll which, in the case of the Antagonist (Table 1), can give you anything from an individual to an Elder God as your starting point. Roll for what they are, then roll for one or more descriptions. If the results suggest one of the

artefact, or much, much more. Remember to keep asking yourself questions when you see each result, and try not to just take what you get with the fall of the dice literally as read—Cthulhu plots are frequently anything but plain and simple, often consisting of devious and twisted schemes, so use your questions to put your own unique spin on matters.

Cthulhu Mythos gods, roll up the rest of the plot and then take a stroll through the pages of Call of Cthulhu, Sixth  Edition or  or Achtung!  Achtung! Cthulhu: Cthulhu: the Keeper’ Keeper’ss Guide to the Secret War, to see what entity fits this particular story best. Alternatively, you might already have an idea that they belong to a certain group, so roll on Table 2 instead.

Tabl ble e 2: A 2: Ant ntag agon oni ist  Gro roup ups s

Table 1: Individual Antagonists D20 Roll

Antagonist (Individual)

Antagonist Description

1

A scientist

Old

2

An aristocrat

Ancient

3

A leader

Rich

 4

A cult

Evil

5

A politician

Cursed

6

Expe peri rim men enta tall su subj bjec ectt

Corr Co rrup uptt

7

A gang

Doomed

8

An organisation

Magical

9

A militar y unit

Secret

10

Black Sun

Unstable

11

Nachtwölfe

Mysterious

12

A priest

Deranged

13

Villagers

Delusional

14

An officer

Rogue

15

Royalty

Tortured

16

A Mythos creature (see Opponent Objective)

Nazi

17

An Elder Race

18

D20 Roll Rol

Anttago An agonis nistt (Gr oup up))

1

Bro rothe ther  r hood hood of  the  the Beast Beast* *

2

Broth Bro therh erho ood od o  off the the Be  Beaast*

3

New  W   W or  or ld In ld Ind dust ustri ries* es*

 4

New W orld  orld Ind Indu ustrie striess*

5

Broth Bro therh erho ood of the the Bla  Blacck Ph Phara arao oh*

6

Br othe otherho rhoo od of of the the B  Blac lackk Ph  Phar  ar aoh* aoh*

7

Cullt of  the Cu  the Bloo lood dy To Tongu guee*

8

Cult ult  of th the Blo Bloody ody  Ton onggue*

9

Tr ibes  ibes of th the Tc Tcho-T o-Tccho

10

Tri rib bes of  of  the   the Tch cho o-T -Tccho

11

Brot roth hers of the the Yel  Yello low w Sign

12

Bro rothe ther  r s of of the the Y   Y ellow  ellow  Sig  Sign

13

Starr  Sta rr y W isdo isdom Cu Cult*

14

Starr y W isdom isdom Cu  Cult lt* *

15

Miskat skato onic nic U  Uni nive versit rsityy

16

Miskkato Mis aton nic Un Unive iver  r sity sity

17

Nach achttwö wölf  lf e

Psychopathic

18

Nachtw chtwölfe ölfe

An Outer God

Malicious

19

Blackk Su Blac  Sun n

19

An Elder God

Unspeakable

20

Black ack S  Sun un

20

Cthulhu

Appears to be (roll twice: first is real, second is appearance)

*Nya Nyar  r latho lathotep tep  cult cultss.

 

The Plot  Next we w want ant t o fi find nd out ou t what wha t is at the th e co core re o off the plot (Table 3), followed by what is motivating the people involved (which can be more than one thing if you want to complicate matters further). You can also roll to see what the Antagonists need to be successful in their mission.  Now you have have the founda foundations tions for you yourr adventure, la layer yer on some trouble and strife by determining what obstacles befall your investigators en-route to the finale (Table 4, p.6). If you are feeling particularly wicked, roll several times to inspire a thoroughly wretched course for your adventure.  No Cthulhu plot would be complete wi without thout a dastardly plot twist that sees the characters landed in all manner

of trouble (Table 5, p.6). When you roll on this table, try thinking about how you can make the twist that much more painful and affecting for the characters… You will notice that some results suggest rolling on additional tables to clarify the results; these tables can be found in later sections (p.8 onwards).

The Characters How on earth do the characters stumble across this foul plot you have developed, and how is this information imparted to them th em (Table 6, p.7)?

tion &  vat Table 3: Antagonist’s Plot, Motiva rements uir Success Requi 20   D20 Roll Ro ll

eed ds: gon nist Nee nta ago he A  Ant ul, the essf  sf ul, t Succ cces  be e Su  To  T o b

onccept ot C  Con Plot Pl

ivattion Mottiva Mo

1

to atur uree to creat  ytho hoss cre a M yt forr a M atew way fo  a g  gate Open a Open h roug ugh thro com omee th

enge ge reven For rev For

victim timss icial vic acrif  rif icial ing s  sac Will illing

2

 ythos os    a M yth el to to a  trav avel to tr atew way to  a g  gate Open a Open ation n loccatio lo

rders ers ing o  ord wing Follow Follo

timss al vic victim rifici cial  sac acrifi illing ng s Unw Un willi

3

ture re  crea eatu thos os cr  a M y  yth of  a pow wer of   thee po leash sh th Unlea

atred ed ure h  hatr Pure

on men nt on xperi rime  to e  expe anss to Hum uman

 4

turee  creaatur  or a  a cre oup, p, or grou lacee, a gr a plac estro ro y a p Dest

eed d gree Simp Sim ple gr

of art art piecce of A pie

5

tit y  y  or en  entit ture re or eatu  off a cr a crea tence ce o  exis isten the ex Provve the Pro

 y  cou untr y For or co

 linee  ley ey lin A l

6

 of ... ... pose se of  purpo or th thee pur tity f   f or entity  ytho hoss en a M yt mon a M Sum umm

 y  glor or y and gl nou ur and hono For ho

ntion on inveenti An inv

7

poweer reate terr pow a grea abou outt a g oree ab arn m  mor Learn

wled dge  kno owle dden n kn orbi bidde For

ledge ge   now wled lar k  kno rticu cular parti Som omee pa e) ectiv ive)  Obj bject edge ge O nowlled ee Know (see (s

8

ature ress creatu ple o  orr cre people up o  off peo  gro roup  on a  a g ment nt on rime Experi Expe

ty riori rity Supe Su perio

ces)) Choi oices tion n Ch Locaatio (seee Loc tion  (se locaation A loc

9

ing   eth hing somet ne o  orr som meo eone ct so som Prote Pro tect

evil Pure ev

 tom omee A t

10

thing ng  orr som someethi eone ne o  som meo ntrol ol so Contr

ud od fe  feud  blo lood A b

 circl clee tonee cir A s  ston

11

ne meo eone som ts f rom rom so rets teall sec secre Stea

led ntrol olled contr Bein Be ingg co

n aptio ion ontr trapt ge c  con  stran ange A str

12

etrea eatt nto r  retr ack i  into my b  back  eneemy the en Forc Fo rcee the

n tentio tion rt at atten  dive vert  To  T o di

ientt site  anccien ecific fic an A sp speci

13

nem m y the e  ene overr the rit y  y ove perio riorit supe Gain su

onss vision se o  off visi ecau ause Bec

stals ls crysta ncien entt cry  anci Som omee a

1 4

rouggh akth throu break orcee a bre Forc

al sion onal Delu elusi

spell -losst spe  long ng-lo A lo

15

 even entt iouss ev  prev eviou for a  a pr ngee for  reve veng  Taake  T ke re

fencce Self-deefen Self-d

plan nets of pla men entt of  align ignm rtain in al A ce certa

16

secre rett verr up up a sec Cove

 deebt A d

rs stars ent o  off sta gnm ment in ali align erta tain A c  cer

17

ct rtefa fact hos a  arte  M yt  ythos er a  a M ecover R ecov

istak akee coveer a mist  To  T o cov

tef act act os ar  artef   yth thos ain M  M y  cert rtain A ce

18

ple /peo eople erson on/p  or p  pers ntity ty or an e  enti er an R ecov ecover

tectt  pro rotec  To  T o p

turee  creaatur thoss cre  ytho of a M a M y partt of  bod d y par  Thee bo  Th

19

hingg omet ethin ide s  som Hide

fs Belie Be liefs

 God d uter er Go an O  Out of an senc ncee of prese  Th  T he pre

20

Destr De stroy oy s  som omet ethin hingg un  unsp spea eaka kabl ble! e!

Sim impl pl y  y un unsp speak eakaable ble!!

God  Eldeer God f an an Eld  The  T he p  pres reseence nce o  o

 

Table 5: Plot Twist

Tabl ble e 4: O 4: Obs bsta tacl cle es D20 20   R oll oll

D20  Twist  Tw ist Roll

Obsta staccle

1

Time me i  iss sho short

1

They must make a sacrifice (one or more members of the group)

2

The di distan stancce is is gre great at (th  (thiis w orld, rld, t  the he Dre ream amla lands nds,, or anot noth her Myth Mytho os w orld)

2

It is an experiment (a group or entity is testing them)

Ther e are are d  distr  istr actio ction ns alo along ng t  the he w ay ay (s (side ide   missio ssion ns, pe peopl oplee in need eed,, opp oppo ortu rtun nitie ities) s)

3

It’s a trap! (they are the missing ingredient or motivator)

 4

No-one leaves alive a live

3  4

Kno now  w ledg ledge is r  is r equir  equir ed ed (e (e.g. .g. w   w here here to  to f   f ind  ind  somet meth hing ing,, spe speccific r esear  esear ch, p ch, peop eoplle to  to ask ask))

5

Phys hysiical diffic ifficu ulties lties  or ha harsh rsh e  envi nviro ronm nmeent (mou oun ntain tainss, und underg ergro roun und d, des desert, pola olar, r, oce  oceaans)

5

Thee ant Th antag agon onis istt is is par partt of of the the gr grou oup p

6

Anoth otheer gro group up o  orr entity entity is is als  also o on  on  the the t  trail rail

6

7

It is is gu  guar  ar ded  ded by a  a pow erful erful forc forcee

The antagonist is not who they thought it was; someone or something else is behind it all (roll another antagonist who is really in charge)

8

Theey mu Th must ta take a pro prob blem lemaatica ticall thi  thin ng w ith ith the them (e.g e.g.. som somethi ethin ng fr agile gile,, a per  per son, son, a pr  pr isone isoner)

7

They thought there was just one to deal with, but they were wrong…

9

Nat ature ure i  iss clo closing sing  in (v  (v olcan olcanoe oess, stor  stor ms, ms, earth eart hqua quakkes, es, f   f lood loods)

8

Wait—you know him? (a family or previous connection)

10

W ar-to r-tor  r n (m (must ust t  trav  rav er  er se se fr ontli ontlines nes o  orr battlefie battl efield lds) s)

9

There’s a traitor in their midst, working for another group

11

A M  Myt yth hos grou roup p int  inter  er feres feres (ro  (rolll on t on the he Inv olvem lvement ent M  Met eth hod ta table ble))

10

A lot lot of goo good d peop people le die die (the (the Pyr Pyrrhi rhicc vict victory) ory)

12

R esou sour  r ces ces (spo spoililed, ed, f   f aulty aulty, des destroy troyeed, st stole olen n; food foo d, tr ansp nspo ort, eq equip uipm men entt)

11

The antagonist makes them an offer they cannot refuse (e.g. “let me go and the Nazi attack fails, saving thousands of lives”)

13

Hard barg argai ain n (i.e (i.e.. the they must must give som omet ethin hingg up  up   to prog to p rogr  r ess) ess)

12

14

Mora orall dile dilem mma ma  (co (con nnec necttion to ant antago agon nists ists,,  unccom un omf  f ortab ortable pa partn rtneers, be bette tterr offe offer  r )

The essential person or item they had to bring along is key to the antagonist’s plot, and they  just delivered deli vered exactly exactl y what he wanted w anted straight str aight to his door

15

Unrest rest (  (rio riots ts,, sca scaven venggers in in th  thee rui  ruin ns)

13

Moral dilemma—they have to become the villain to achieve their goal

16

Corrup rrupttion ion (  (aa me memb mbeer of  the  the grou roup p is br  br ibed ibed, an offic fficia iall w ants ants mon oneey, doubl ublee-cro -crosss, tr aitor )

14

17

Misiinfo Mis nform rmati atio on

The villain(s) in question were coerced as a cover for the true villain (roll another antagonist)

18

Problem Prob lemss wi  with th th  thee aut  auth hori oriti ties es (m (mem emb bers ers   arres rreste ted, d, bord ordeer perm permits its  requ requiired red))

15

19

Stran trangge illn illness ess

The villain has already achieved their objective (the group watches helplessly as events unfold around them, or learn that they have arrived too late)

20

Ambu busshed

16

The villain was trying to prevent a greater evil. Will the group let him finish, or will they stop him?

17

A key character is killed, only to be found safe and well later (can be tied to the experiment outcome on 2)

18

The investigators are the villains, and the antagonist was only trying to stop them

19

It is not what they think it is (roll another plot concept)

ices reality  “Far too often the cho

proposes are such as to take away one’s taste for choosing.”

20

- Jean Rostand

Escalation (roll on this table twice, ignoring any further 20s)

 

 Now you have these the se facts sorted, there ar e only a few more steps you need to take to finish off your adventure. There are two more questions that you need to ask: what is the essence of the investigators’ mission (Table 7), and what is its goal (Mission Objective)? After all, you know why your antagonist is involved, but what do you want the

investigators to achieve? Some of the answers from Table 7 can appear a little odd at first, so just roll with it for now and see what your mind suggests (one’s mental faculties will often lead you down very strange and unexpected paths if you allow them to). Remember, you can also read between the lines, if it helps. Alternatively, if you are running a

Table 6: Plot Hook &  Involvement Method D20 ll Roll Ro

ook   Ho ot H Plot

d hod etho  vement Met Inv ol vem

1

riend A f rie

erss rder  ord d o  ivered eli vere Del

2

 war er  of  war iso oner  prris A p

ion n atio  vittat entt an in vi Sen

3

er tter er y l  y leett ster  yst A m y

 4

Tab able le 7  7: : Chara ract cter er    Miss Mi ssio ion n & Missi sion on    Obje Ob ject ctiv ive es D20  Char acte D20 cter  r   R oll oll Missi ssio on

Missio ssion n O  Ob b jec  jecttive

1

Explo xplor  r e

An all  allyy (Pe  (Per  r son  son Obj Objeectiv e)

ion ns ire ectio dir  orr d nts s o ent ume ocum doc

2

R ecov  ecov er  er 

An e An  ene nem my (A (Anta ntaggoni onist st T  Taable)

 an nd   wililll a astt w  las A l entt men tam tessta te

ientt map ncien  anc an a iveen an Giv

3

Atta ttacck

Ident Id entit ityy of of a pe person rson   (Antag (An tago onis nistt T  Tab ablle)

5

le   ticcle  arrti  orr a rt o  veert  ad d v An a thee paper in  th in

unee d a f or tun red ffere Offe

 4

Des estr  tr oy oy

A M  Myytho thoss opp oppo one nen nt (Oppon (Oppo nen entt Ob je  jectiv  ctiv e)

6

sorr fesso rofes  pro A p

Aske As ked d f or h or heelp

5

Prote Pro tect ct

A M  Myytho thoss op  opp pone onen nt (Opp ppo onen nentt Ob je  jecti ctive ve))

7

oman er y w  y wo ster  yst A m y

kmaail ackm Blac

6

Deliv  De liv er  er 

8

steer man iniist  sin A s

d ard  har o a h nto  iven int Dr ven ain rgain barg ba

Docu Doc ume men nts (Kno now  w ledg ledge Ob Ob jec  jecti tive) ve)

7

Docume Docu men nts (Kno (K now  w ledg ledge Ob Ob jec  jecti tive) ve)

9

or erro icall err erica  cller A c

or   imee or a crrim forr a c med fo ram Fra actt ous ac ono ason treas tre

Cap Ca pture

8

Find Fin d/lo /loccate

10

ten ned eate  Threa ion n  Thr ctio auct em  in an au  ittem An i

An a An  arte rtefa fact ct (Art Arteefact fact O  Obj bjec ectiv  tiv e) e)

9

Negot gotia iate te

An arte An  artef  f act act (Art Arteefac factt Obj Objeectiv e)

10

Recconn Re onno oitre

A p  phys hysiical lo locat catio ion n (Locatio (Loc ation n Ch  Cho oice ice a  and nd appro ap prop pria riate te su  sub b-tab -tablle)

11

Div ert

12

Dist istra ract ct

13

Expos posee

An an ancien cientt ma  map p to  to… …  (Myste (M yster  r ious ious Loc Locaation tion   Ob je  jectiv  ctiv e an  and d Fro  From m/W here) here)

14

Hide

A M  Myt yth hos creat reatu ure’s re’s b  bod odyy par t  (Op (O ppon poneent Obje bjecctive tive))

15

Unde nder  r stand stand

A My Myth thos os c  crea reatu ture’s re’s  bod bodyy pa  part rt   (Oppon (Op ponent ent Obje bjecctive tive))

16

Prove Pro ve

The curre urren nt ant antago agon nist

17

Dispr ove

The cur  cur rent rent ant antaagon gonis istt

18

Stea St eall

A milita military ry un  uniit

19

Inse nser  r t

A mi  mililitary tary  unit

20

R escu scuee

A s  secre ecrett org  orgaanis nisaation

el   avel  trrav  with t ideed with ovid Prov

11

at crat tocr rissto An ari

antt orttan por  imp ne im eone Someo Som ingg, is ssin is  miss  th hem is to t to en   been  haas be or h e,  or ane, nsan ins n son  (P Perso ed ( rdeered murd e) ive) ecttiv bjec Obj

12

uall idua ivid ind div  y  in lth y ealth  wea A w

 veenge re v  Want re  Wa

13

Stu tum mbl blee up upon an  an   ge   ange strran entt or st even ev tio on locati

Off ere red d a contr trac actt f or  cess rviice serv ir  se their

guee eagu olllea  col ld c An old

facct rtefa  arte an a e  red an fere Of f  ive)) ctive  ject ct  Ob je fact rtefa (Arte (A

1 4 15

graam legr  teele A t

en   dden forrbidd ered fo Off ere ge   edge  wlled dgee (Kno w ledg owle know ivee) bjeectiv Obj

16

nisst goni tago anta er  an ther noth Ano

rniing  waarn entt a w Sen

17

cid dent  acci An ac

d in lled  calle  is ca bt is debt A de

18

iou us  erio  ystter A m ys callll onee ca phon leph tele

 ly in need amii y Fam

19

ds   eeds  nee try n ourr country rett You ber of  a secre emb A mem  you!  yo n tion satio rgaanisa org

20

em y enem An en

O red deta de ls  on  on    st  ist o n taigls  an ntai hedr a oetre anff  le)) Table istt Tab onis agon ntag (An (A

A ph physi ysiccal loc locatio ation n  (Loc Locaation tion  Cho Choiice an and appro prop p riate  sub riate sub--tab table le)) An an ancie cien nt ma map to… to…  (Mys yste teriou riouss Lo  Loccatio ation n  Ob j  ject ectiv  iv e an and Fr om/W here here))

 

military campaign, roll on Table 9 to determine the underlying focus of the mission before rolling on Table 7 for the mission objective. As with the Plot Twist table, some mission objectives suggest that you roll on additional tables for specific people, items, or locations. These tables are also useful when you need to quickly generate a random person, object, or piece of information.

Table 8: Artefact  Objectives D20 20   R oll

Add dde ed F  Fla la vo  vou ur 

Ar tefa tefact ct  St Stat ate/ e/ Condit itiion

1

Scro rollll

Corru rrup pt

2

Book Book

Magic ical al

3

Key

Pr ice cele lesss

 4

Stat atu ue

Doom omeed

5

R are re  pl plaant o  orr f low  low er 

Cur sed

6

Anci cieent technol olo ogica call dev  dev ice ice

7

Table 9: Knowledge, Military & Person Objectives D20 Roll

Knowledge

Militar y  

1

Schematics (weapon, base, ship, plane, vehicle)

Pathfinder

Secr et Secr 

2

Technology/scientific discovery

Invade

Cry ryst staal

Ancien Anc entt

3

A strange illness

Liberate

8

Dr ug

Aliliv  v e

 4

A weakness

Infiltrate

9

Str ange ange li  lif  f e-f  e-f or  or m

Ev ilil

5

An ancient secret

Defend

10

Ore re o  or  r  r   r eso sou ur ce ce

Br oken

6

Escape route

Ambush

11

Pr ototy type pe

Loc ocke ked d

7

Conspiracy

Evacuate

12

Pri ricceles esss a  art rt

Out of  po  pow er  er 

8

Chemical formula

Rescue

13

R eliliggio iou us i  iccon

Bur ied ied

9

Criminal activity

Attack

1 4

Extr a-d a-dim imeension onaal  ob je  jecct

Unsta tabl blee

10

A spy ring

Seek and destroy

15

Myth tho os a  arte rtefa fact ct

Fr agile agile

11

A legend

Scout/recon

16

Heirlo rloo om

Ev er  er -ch chan angi ging ng

12

An ar tefact

Suppor t

17

Ev iden idence ce

Holy

13

A state secret

Patrol

18

Phot oto ogra rap phs

R adio ioaact ctiv  iv e

14

A language

Take and hold

19

W eap apon on

Myth tho os

15

A tome

Breakthrough

16

A theor y

Pre-emptive strike

Tech chno nolo logi giccal al it  iteem

Appear s to to be X  X,, b  but ut  is is   act ctu ually ly  Y  (ro (rollll  tw ice ice; fir  fi r st  st re resu sult lt is X, se seco cond nd   resul res ultt is is Y )

17

A traitor

Hold the line

18

What happened?

Rearguard

19 20

What’s there? Resources

Resupply Field test

20

 

Ta Tab ble 1  10: 0: F  Fro rom/ m/Wh Wher ere, e, M  My ythos os O  Opp ppon onen ent t & Pers Pe rso on Obje ject ctiv ives es D20 Roll Roll

From Fro m/W her  her e

My tho hoss Op  Opp pon one ent*

Perso rson n Ob Ob jec  jecttive ivess

1

Fran Fra nce

Deeep on De one

Civi ivilia lian n

2

Germ ermany any

Mii-go go

Police licem man

3

Bri ritain tain

Night ightggaun auntt

Sold Sol dier 

 4

Unit Un ited ed State tatess of Ame meri rica ca

Collour  out Co  out of spa space

Pilot

5

Sout outh h Am  Ameeric ricaa

Serv itor itor of  of  Nya  Nyarlat rlath hote otep p

Sai ailor  lor 

6

Spaain Sp

Gr eat eat Old One ne (  (cho choo ose ap appro prop pria riate te))

Fugit Fug itive ive

7

Italyy Ital

Cult Cu ltist ist of the the Old  Old  Go God ds

Crim rimin inal al

8

Nort orth h Afr ica ica

Chth htho onia nian n

Spyy Sp

9

Mid iddle dle  East

Hound und  of Tinda Tindallos

Ref ugee

10

Sov iet iet Un Union

Eldeer thin Eld thingg

Crash rasheed pil pilot ot

11

Scand andiinav ia ia

Bloo lood dbor n

Pr iest iest

12

Thee Low  Cou Th  Countri ntriees (Belg Belgiium um,, the the N  Net eth herla erlan nds, Luxe uxem mbo bou urg)

Gho Gh ouls

Scien ienti tist st

13

Can anad adaa

Die Dra Draug  ug ar

Milit Mil itia ia

14

Pacif  Pac if ic ic

Die  Gef allen Die lleneen

Politi liticcian

15

China

Halja

Acttor/s Ac or/siinge nger  r 

16

 Japaan  Jap

Manne nnesskin

Arch rchaeo aeolo logis gistt

17

Asia sia  (oth (otheer)

Ser pent peop eoplle

Heir/h ir/heeires iresss

18

Comm mmonw  onw ealth ealth

Die T oten

Blacckm Bla kmaarket rketeeer 

19

Ausstral Au tralia ia

Die ie Au  Ausserw erwä ählt hlteen

Mad adm man

20

New  Zea Zeala land nd

Cold Col d on  ones es

W ound ounded ed… … (ro  (rolll aga again)

*Se Seee Ca Calll of  C   C thu thulhu ,  , Six  Sixt  t h Ed ition ition an  and d Ach  Achtun g ! C thulh thulhu u: the the Ke  Keeeper per’s ’s Gu  Guiide to to the  the  Sec Secre rett W ar.

 

Locations Finally, you can decide on the region or place where the mission will occur by rolling on the following Location tables, or you can randomly pick a location (or series of locations) for the different parts of your adventure. If you already know what you want—say, somewhere Mysterious, then just roll on the Table Table 12: Mysterious Locations for ideas. Don’t forget to check for the location atmosphere (T (Table able 11) to add some

If you want something truly unusual and a little bit freaky, it is often worth rolling up the plot, some obstacles and a few objectives, followed by a bunch of locations, without rejecting anything at first sight or thinking too much about what you get. Once you have assembled your random plot elements, take a closer look at them: quite bizarrely, you are likely to find some very peculiar matches that make total sense. Just don’t ask why…

additional ambience to the proceedings.

Table 11: Locations Mission Region, Choice & Atmosphere D20 Roll

ions -  ati Table 12: Locat ountryside   Co s, C Buildings, & Mysterious

Mission Region

Location Choice

Location Atmosphere

1

Western Front

Building

Derelict

2

Western Front

Building

Ruined

1

3

Eastern Front

Building

Peaceful

 4

Eastern Front

Building

5

Pacific Front

6

Pacific Front

7

North African   Front

8

North African   Front

Countryside

Submerged

9

Middle East

Mysterious

Ancient

10

Middle East

Mysterious

11

American home front

Mysterious

 

ding  g   Buil ildin D20 Bu   pe oll  T y pe R oll

side Cou Co untr y side

riou us  yste erio M yst

n  Town  Tow

Old field d attle lefiel batt

le Cast Ca stle

2

 Villag  Vil lagee

avern rn Cave

 Teemple  T

Abandoned

3

Mona nast stery ery

Plan Pla ntat tatio ion n

Ston St onee circ circle le

Building

Windswept

 4

 y Factorr y Facto

ead ne h  head Mine

ch urch Chur

Countryside

Dreadful

5

 y rator or y Labo Lab orat

ment nt ettle leme Sett

nsion on Mansi

Countryside

Overgrown

6

on Pris rison

Rive Ri verr

ery emet etery Cem

7

al emic ical Chem lantt plan

ertt Des eser

m syste tem avee sys Cav

8

asino no Casi

cierr Gla lacie

b  Tomb  Tom

Impossible

9

alace ce Pala

p Swamp Swam

gical al   eolo logic rcha haeo Arc n vatio tion exca ex cava

Perche hed d

10

ry Libra Lib rary

line oast stline Coa

Ruin Ru inss

11

spita tall Hospi

on Cany Ca nyon

Mine

American home 12

front

Mysterious   Mountain-top

12

sit y  y niver ersit Univ

Lak akee

orium ium anat ator San

13

British home front

Myst My ster erio ious us

Clif Cl ifff-to top p

13

Chu Ch urch

le /jung ngle orest st/ju Fore

ry naste tery Monas

14

British home front

Sea

Flooded

14

n nsio ion Mans

Min inee

m useu eum Mus

15

m useu eum Mus

Farm

p Swam Sw amp

15

Occupied France

Sea

Underground

16

ion  stat tation  Tra  T rain in s

ields ds Fiel

tposst Outpo

16

Occupied France

Sea

Remote

17

Germany

Militar y

Ominous

18

Germany

Militar y

Dripping

19

Other occupied territories

Mythos

Frozen

20

Other occupied territories

Mythos

Too quiet

17

Hotel

Hill illss

ield attlef  lef ield Batt

18

ment nt   vern rnme Gove ng uildi ding buil

ins unta tains Moun

ay atew eway Gat

19

rium m anato atoriu San

Delta

Islan Isla nd

20

tmen entt epar artm Dep store sto re

ields nowf  f ields Snow

olith ith Mon onol

 

Table 13: Locations -  Military & Sea D20  o ll R oll

ar y  itar Milit

Sea

1

ingg din  bu uilild rs b rteers uart dqua eadq Hea

 yaard hip p y Shi

2

 baase ry b itary Milita

hip p  shi rgo o s Carg

3

eld d ttllef iel Batt Ba

ip ship  Warsh  War

 4

ump  y du Suppl y d

ruiins  wateer ru Under wat

5

tle astle  Cas rg C elssburg  wel  We w  We

ge ridge  seea rid ep s Deep De

6

urgg II sbur  Weweelsb  Wew

ck reck  wre ed w rged Submerg

7

m tem  yste kerr s ys unke Bun

base er  base ater rwat derw Unde

8

es lines ntlin ron Fro

d and isllan Lost  is Lost

9

 s y  ysstem ch s ench  Trren  T

se base tin ng ba oati Floa

10

at Seat ’s Se rir’s enrir Fen

er iner n lin ean Ocea

11

ir Lair ’s La f ’s   Wolf   Wol

n sea pen Ope

12 13

Arm rmss fa faccto tory ry ry tory rato  laabora ingg l  teestin on t apo  Weeap  W

Table 14: Locations Mythos-related D20   Extra-terrestrial Roll

Local

1

Dreamlands

Carcosa

2

Azathoth’s Cour t

Carcosa

3

Aldebaran

Arkham

 4

Yuggoth

Arkham

5

Xiclotl

Deep One city (Y’ha-nthlei, Massachusetts; Ponape, western Pacific)

6

N’Kai

Deep One city (Y’ha-nthlei, Massachusetts; Ponape, western Pacific)

7

Fomalhaut

Elder thing city

8

Leng

Elder thing city

9

Abbith

G’harne (North Africa)

10

Celaeno

G’harne (North Africa)

11

Kor vaz

Irem, City of Pillars/ The Nameless City (Arabia)

12

Betelgeuse/ Glyu-Ohu

Irem, City of Pillars/ The Nameless City (Arabia)

rs ters  wate al  wa stal Coast astt Coas

1 4

n tion llatio talla nsta R adar ins

Port

15

 y acilitt y h f acili nch aunc Lau

rnss  vern er  ca ve ater rwat derw Unde

13

Ktyanga

Kingsport

16

ld field Airfie

eckk  wrec d wr hed Beache Beac

14

Kythanil

Kingsport

17

se base al ba aval Nav

ch ench  trren p sea t eep Dee

15

Uranus/L’gy’hx

Plateau of T’sang/Sung

18

asee  bas ne b ariine mar ubm Sub

in hain  cha slaand c Isl

16

Rigel/Orion

Plateau of T’sang/Sung

19

 vaance  ad v  of  f  ad Path o Path

nd land  issla ingg i Sinkin Sink

17

Elder Race colony (working)

Severn Valley

20

Con vo y

leett Flee

18

Elder Race colony (abandoned)

Severn Valley

19 20

Mythosconquered world Mythos-ruined world

Innsmouth Innsmouth

 

PLOT GENERATION SUMMARY •

•

Player Characters:   Roll for a Plot Hook (Table 6).   Roll for an Involvement Method (Table 6). Roll on any additional tables as directed (Tables 1, 8, 9, 10).   Roll for a Mission/Military Mission (depending on your campaign; Tables 7 & 9).   Roll for a Mission Objective (T (Table able 7). Roll on any additional tables as directed (Tables 1, 8-14). »

»

Antagonists:   Roll for an Antagonist Description on (Individual or Group; Tables 1 & 2).   Roll for the antagonist’s Plot Concept (Table 3). Roll for the antagonist’s Motivation (Table 3). »

»

»

»

» »

 

Roll for3).the antagonist’s Success Requirements (Table Roll on any additional tables as directed (T (Tables ables 9-14).

•

Locations:   Roll for a Mission Region (Table 11).   Roll for a Location Choice (Table 11). Roll on any additional tables as directed (Tables 12-14).   Roll for a Location Atmosphere (Table 11). »

» •

Obstacles:   Roll for one or more plot Obstacles (Table 4). Roll on any additional tables as directed (Table 6). Roll for a Plot Twist (Table 5). »

»

»

  on is the   nati n  i “Imag na  n.” o  reati n. c   ing of  re     ni nn ng i beg n

- George Bernard Shaw