TEXT: t
  
  THU BRITISH
  1920s-30s CTHULHU
  SOURCUPACK
  COMPILED
  DV
  Pete Tamlyn .
  CALL O
  LTRULN~J'
  r
  
  H.P. LOVECRAFT
  1890-1987
  COMPILED BY
  Pete Tamlyn.
  WRITERS
  Andy Bradbury, Graeme Davis, Richard Edwards, Chris
  Elliot, Marc Gascoigne, Pete Jeffrey, Caroline Rogers,
  Marcus Rowland, Norman Tamlyn & Pete Tamlyn .
  FICTION
  Brian Lumley, © 1987 Brian Lumley
  DOVERART
  Lee Gibbons, © 1987 Lee Gibbons
  INTERNAL ART
  Martin McKenna & Ian Cooke
  PHOTOGRAPHS & REPRODUCTIONS:
  Courtesy of the illustrated London News Picture Library,
  A Pictorial & Descriptive Guide to London, Harrods
  Catalogue 1929, Advertising: Reflections of a Century
  .
  MAPS & DIAGRAMS : Charles Elliott
  Excerpts from the Harrod's Catalogue courtesy of
  Harrods and David & Charles Publishers. Excerpts from
  Advertising : Reflections of a Century courtesy of William
  Heinemann Ltd.
  Produced by the Games Workshop Design Studio
  : Do Boss : Bryan Ansell;
  Studio Manager : Richard Ellard; Production Manager.: Alan Memett
  ; Projects
  Manager : Paul Cockbura ; Development Manager Jervis Johnson ; An Manager:
  John Blanche ; Graphic Design : Charles Elliott; Editors: Mike Brunton, Marc
  Gacoigne; Fdironal Assistant: Paul Ryder; Winters: Jim Barbra, Graeme
  Davis, Phil Gallagher, Marc Gascoigne, Rick Priestley ; Artists: Tony Ackland,
  Dave Andrews, Colin Diann; Typesetting : Julie V-1- ving, Gail Morgan
  ;
  Production Assistant: Anthony Barton; 1rsualiser: Mark Craven ; Finished
  Artists : Ruth Jeffery, Susan Md.ougtdin, David Oliver, Juamre Podoski, Ian
  Varley, Richard Wright ; Inrvluable Support Susan Smith, Margaret Collishaw
  Published by Games Workshop Ltd.
  This product is published with the approval of and under
  licence from Chaosium, Inc.
  By permission of Arkham House.
  © 1987 Games Workshop Ltd .
  Call ofCthulhu is © 1983, 1986, 1987 The Chaosium In .
  All Rights Reserved . Printed in the UK .
  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
  the prior writtenconsent of the publishers
  .
  The mentionof historical characwts is not intended to imply any connection
  between them and the
  fictitious events, characters and places of the
  Ca11 of Cthulhu game.
  All characters in the adventures Horror Of the Glen, Death In the Post and
  Shadow Over Darkbank are fictitious. Any resehtblance to persons living or
  dead, or to major star-faring races with unmentionable powers is purely
  coincidental
  .
  All new roles implied or pmsented in this book should not be regarded as
  official additions to the Call of Cthulhu miles.
  Any questions or comments about this product should be
  addressed to : Green and Pleasant Land Questions,
  Games Workshop Design Studio, Enfield Chambers, 14-16
  Low Pavement, NOTTINGHAM NGI 7DL.
  If you require an answer, please try to phrase your
  question so that they can be answered `yes' or `no', or by
  a short sentence . Also, please enclose a stamped,
  addressed envelope or 2 IRCs, and we'll do what we can
  to deal with your query as quickly as possible .
  ISBN: (UK) 1 869893 06 9
  (US) 0 933635 39 7
  Product Code : Games Workshop 004450 Chaosium 2320
  Games Workshop, Chewton Street, Hill Top,
  Eastwood,
  Nottingham NG16 3HY, England
  
  Howard Phillips Lovecraft was English by descent and apparently proud of it . Certainly he believed
  himselfto be a `gentleman' in the English fashion. Though he set most of his stories in New England,
  tales such as Rats in the Walls show that he was well aware ofthe possibilities ofBritish settings .
  Indeed, it has even been suggested that Lovecraft's village of Dunwich was based on the real Suffolk
  village of the same name .
  It seems, therefore, that Lovecraft knew that the awesome creatures ofthe Cthulhu Mythos were active
  in Britain . Later writers, such as Brian Lumley, have proved as much . Andwhy not, for at the begining
  ofthe 20th Century the British Empire covered a third ofthe land surface ofthe world, and its Navy
  ruled almost all of the world's seas . What better nation for Great Cthulhu to wish to overthrow?
  Futhermore, during that period, British archaeologists were responsible for a vast number of
  spectacular finds, not all of which will have been as innocent as they seemed .
  This book, then, is designed to provide useful background information for those keepers who wish to
  set Call ofCthulhu games in the stately homes, country villages and green fields of Britain and Ireland.
  Green and Pleasant Land covers the period 1918 to 1939, between the two World Wars, though much of
  the information contained herein is applicable to other periods. Given this, one question which must
  be answered is how the book relates to Cthulhu by Gaslight, which is set in the Britain ofthe late
  Victorian Era. Are two books justified when there is amere 20 years between the periods covered?
  The answer to this is yes, mainly because the changes which took place in British society during that
  time were vast and far-reaching . For example, the introduction ofthe motor car and radio
  revolutionised transport and communications .
  In addition, any book such as this cannot be fully comprehensive. The only overlap between Cthulhu
  by Gaslight and Green and PleasantLand is in the description ofthe £sd (pounds, shillings and pence)
  monetary system, but there are several parts ofGaslight which will be of great use to keepers running
  1920s campaigns, notably the excellent sections on London and Occult Societies. Equally there are
  parts of this book which I hope Gaslight players can make good use of, for example the sections on
  archaeology, insanity laws and follies .
  Having said that the book is not fully comprehensive, I must now apologise for leaving so much out .
  With the material available I could have easily filled two books ofthis size, but compromises have to be
  made somewhere along the line. For the benefit of keepers who wish to delve further into the subject I
  have included a biblio-graphy of helpful titles . Ifany readers have ideas for substantial and useful
  additions to the information contained herein, I am sure that Games Workshop will be pleased to hear
  from them .
  Although I hope it will be otherwise, I fear that Green and Pleasant Land will not be Molly free from
  mistakes . It is surprising at times how difficult it can be to get accurate information abb t even such
  recent times as the 1920 s and 30s. Of course we have done our best to eradicate howlers. but ifany
  have crept in, or if you have any questions we might be able to help you with, please
  write to Games Workshop, Chewton Street, Hill Top, Eastwood, Nottingham NG16
  3HY, including an sae for a reply. Try to keep your questions simple, so that
  they can be answered yes or no, and we will reply as soon as we can.
  Finally, it remains only for me to extend a warm thank you to all of the
  writers, artists and playtesters who have helped produce this book ; to
  Paul Cockburn, Marc Gascoigne and everyone else at Games Workshop ;
  and, of course, to H P Lovecraft and Sandy Petersen for making it all
  possible in the first place .
  Pete Tamlyn
  Aylesbury, 1986
  That is really the most
  delightful thing about
  England. You neverknow -
  couldneverguess - whatis
  waitingforyou round the
  comer. Eccentricaristocrats
  have worked their wills on this
  islandfor centuries, with the
  result thatanything may
  happen in it.
  1 BPriestly
  Ilingeredround them, under
  that benign sky: watchedthe
  moths flutter in among the
  heath andhare-bells; listened
  to the soft wind breathing
  through thegrass; and
  wonderedhowanyone could
  ever imagine unquiet sleepfor
  the sleepers in that quiet earth .
  Emily Bronte
  To die: to sleep; to sleep;
  perchance to dream;
  Ay, there's the rub;forin that
  sleep ofdeath.
  whatdreamsmaycome. . . .
  William Shakespeare
  In his house atR'lyeh dead
  Cthulhu waits dreaming
  Ancient Chant
  
  BIBLIOGRAPHY
  HISTORY
  THE INLAND WATERWAYS
  PAGE 5
  PAGE 21
  PAGE 37
  BIOGRAPHIES
  THE OCCULT
  PAGE 5
  PAGE 23
  CHARACTERS
  A TIMELINE FOR BRITAIN
  PAGE 9
  AND EUROPE 1918-1939
  PAGE 26
  SOCIAL LIFE
  PAGE 15
  FORTEAN AND
  DISASTERS
  TIMELIPAGE
  28
  PAGE 16
  ARCHAEOLOGY
  PAGE 30
  COMMUNICATIONS
  PAGE 17
  FOLLIES
  PAGE 32
  BRITAIN IN THE MYTHOS
  PAGE 33
  CRIME & PUNISHMENT
  ENTERTAINMENT
  PAGE 18
  PUBLIC HEALTH
  PAGE 19
  MONEY & PRICES
  PAGE 20
  CONTENTS
  AVIATION
  PAGE 35
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  MOTORING
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  PAGE 38
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  PAGE 41
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  PAGE 43
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  ORROR OF THE
  GLEN
  PAGE 44
  27
  Of
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  EATH IN THE POST
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  PAGE 57
  Vi
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  in
  THE SHADOW OVER
  at
  Al
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  PAGE 65
  G
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  THE RUNNING MAN,
  Al
  BY BRIAN LUMLEY
  an
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  PAGE 75
  Sill
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  Chamberlain, Neville (1869-1940) : As
  Chancellorofthe Exchequer, Chamberlain
  wasresponsible formanyliberalwelfare
  reformscarriedout by Baldwin's govern-
  ment . On becomingPrime Ministerin 1937
  hefollowed apolicy ofappeasementtowards
  Germany andwas replacedby Churchill
  when war eventually broke out . Hediedsoon
  afterwards .
  Childe, VereGordon (1892-1957) : An
  Australian bybirth, Childe was one ofthe
  leading archaeological writers oftheperiod .
  HewasProfessorofPrehistoricArchaeology
  at Edinburgh University from 1925-46.
  Childewasmoreofa theoristthan his
  contemporaries . Hisonly notable
  excavationswere at ScaraBrae in Orkney.
  Christie, Agatha (1890-1976) : Possiblythe
  world'smost famous mystery author, she
  began her writingcareer with The
  MysteriousAffairatStyles (1920) which
  introducedthe detectiveHerculePoirot .
  Shortly afterthepublication ofTheMurder
  ofRogerAckroyd (1926), shedisappeared for
  nine days, andheractivities duringthis
  period remain amatterfor speculation .
  Churchill, Winston Spencer(1874-1965) :
  Duringthe '20sand `30s, Churchill wasin
  disgrace, largely thanks tothe disastrous
  Gallipoli expedition inV;WI . He was also in
  troubleoverhis uncompromising attitude
  towards labour relations and independence
  for India, andhissupportofEdward VIII .
  Hisreputationwasone ofan aggressive,
  imperialistic, unstatesmanlike bungler.
  Neverthelesshis fervent championing of
  rearmamentmade himthe automatic choice
  forPrimeMinisterwhenWWII started .
  Coward, Noel(1899-1973) : Theleading
  playwrightandbrilliant satirist, Coward did
  muchto expose the hypocrisyand
  incompetance ofthe oldergeneration .
  Possiblya homosexual himself, his plays and
  musicals oftenfeaturedunconventional
  subjects and scandalousbehaviour.
  Crowley, Aleister (1875-1947) : The premier
  sorcereroftheage . Seethe sectiononthe
  Occult .
  Cunard, Nancy (1896-1965) : Nancy was a
  leading societyhostessamongst the younger
  generation . She became apatronofmany
  authors andpoets amongstthe `BrightYoung
  Things'. Herlove affairwithblackjazz
  singer, Henry Crowder, scandalised `polite'
  society.
  Driberg, Tom (1905-1976) : In 1928, Driberg
  joinedthe staffofthe DailyExpress . Asthe
  principal writer ofthe `William Hickey'
  column, he becametheleading gossipwriter
  in the country. Throughhis column, and
  similarones inotherpapers, the bizarre
  activities oftheupperclassesbecamegeneral
  publicknowledge .
  EdwardVHI (1894-1972) : A personableand
  kind-hearted youngman, Edwardwas never
  cut out to be King . Perhaps itis aswell he
  abdicated, forhis concern forthepoor could
  well have broughthiminto frequent conflict
  withtheGovernment .
  ElizabethH (1926-) : Unlikeherchildren,
  the present BritishQueen waseducated
  privately with only her younger sister,
  Margaret, and afewwell-chosen friends for
  company. It isthus unlikely that investigators
  will encounterher.
  Evans, Sir Arthur (1851-1941) : Educatedat
  Harrow andBrasenose College, Oxford,
  Evans becamekeeperofOxford's
  AshmoleanMuseumin 1884 . Between 1899
  and 1930he workedonexcavationsat
  Knossos in Crete, thesupposedsite ofthe
  palaceofthelegendary King Minos .
  Fleming, Sir Alexander (1881-1955) : A
  doctor and pioneerofchemotherapy,
  Fleming discoveredpenicillin in 1928 when
  he accidently leftabacterial culture dish
  uncovered. Unfortuatelyhe wasunable to
  findameans ofmass producingthedrug and
  itwas notuntil after the workofFlorey and
  Chain duringWWIIthat it becamegenerally
  available .
  Fortune, Dion (real nameViolet Mary
  Worth) (????-1946) : A formermember ofthe
  GoldenDawn, she founded herownmagical
  society, theFraternity ofInner Light, based
  at3 Queensborough Terrace, Bayswater,
  London . She wrote extensively, producing
  both works onmagical theory andnovels
  with a magical background .
  GeorgeV (1865-1936) : Georgewas thelast
  British king toplay a significant role in
  actually runningthenation . He frequently
  stepped intohelpresolve political crisesand
  initiated the formationoftheNational
  Government . Despitehislong reign, he was
  never fully trustedby thepeople ashe wasthe
  cousin, and close friend, ofthe Kaiser of
  Germany.
  George VI (1895-1952) : Likehis elder
  brother, Edward VIII, George did not
  particularly want tobe king, buthavingbeen
  thrust intothe limelighthecarried outthe
  task with quiet dignity. He and hiswife,
  Elizabeth (now the Queen Mother)beganthe
  process ofbringing theMonarchy closerto
  the people, particularly through theirefforts
  tokeep uppublic moraleduring the Battle of
  Britain . Hetook the name ofGeorgeon
  becomingking -before that he was known as
  Prince Albert, DukeofYork.
  Graves, Robert (1895-1986) : Graves first
  shot to fame in 1929with hisauto-
  biographical accountofWWI, Goodbyeto
  All That. He ismost famous forhis epic
  novels ofancientRome, I, Claudiusand
  Claudiusthe God, butwas also interestedin
  theoccult, producing the fascinatingbut
  obscure The White Goddess, an
  interpretationofCeltic religion.
  Haldane, JohnBurton Sanderson
  (1892-1964) : An Oxford graduate and
  biochemist, Haldaneperformed pioneering
  workongenetic mutations . He wrote several
  philosophical and scientific works, notably
  Daedalus; orScienceandthe Future (1924)
  which suggestedthepossibility ofcloning
  andgeneticengineering andwas the
  principal source forHuxley'sBrave New
  World . Hewas also renownedas apractical
  joker, wit and raconteurand anactive
  Marxist .
  Hitler, Adolf(1889-1945) : Hitlerbecame
  absoluteleaderofthe National Socialist
  German Workers Party in 1921, thenspent
  severalyears inprison afteranabortivecoup
  in 1923. During this timehe wrote Mein
  Kampf. He was released in 1925, but it was
  not until the slumpof 1929that hebeganto
  rise rapidly to power, becoming Chancellor
  ofGermany in 1933 and effectivedictatorin
  1934 .
  Huxley, Aldous (1894-1963) : Although a
  mainstream novelist, Huxley's workwas
  alwaysa platformfor hisownphilosophical
  ideas, culminating inthe awful vision of
  Brave New World. AfterWWII hebecame
  interested in mysticismandmindcontrol
  through the use ofnarcotics such as Peyote.
  Johnson, Amy (1903-41) : Ashort-hand
  typistbytrade, Amywas infectedwith the
  flyingbug afterseeing the film Wings in
  1928. She achievedworld-widefameby
  being the first person to fly solo from
  England to Australia (1930) .
  
  Lawrence,ThomasEdward (1888-1935) :
  Following his failure to save hisArab friends
  fromthegreedofBritainand France afterthe
  war, Lawrenceretired frompubliclife. He
  wrotethesemi-autobiographical Seven
  PillarsofWisdom, workedbrieflyfor
  Churchill atthe Colonial Office (1921-22),
  thenundertook two unsuccessfulattempts to
  disappearaltogetherby entering the services
  underan assumedname. He diedina
  motorcycleaccident .
  Lawrence,DavidHerbert (1885-1930) :
  Lawrence'snovels (includingSons &'Lovers
  (1913), Women in Love (1920) andLady
  Chatterley'sLover(1928)), with theirheavy
  emphasison sex, scandalisedBritish society
  and werefrequently banned . His own life was
  as rebelliousand stormy as hiswriting .
  LloydGeorge, David (1863-1945) : Leaderof
  the LiberalParty from 1916-30. Prime
  Ministerfrom 1916-22 . Beforethewarhewas
  responsible for many innovativewelfare
  laws . Despite hisreforminglawsmany ofhis
  contemporaries found hismethods corrupt
  and distasteful . His final downfall came over
  ascandal involving the sale ofhonours .
  MacDonald, Ramsay(1866-1937) : Leader
  ofthe LabourParty from 1922-31, Prime
  Minsterin 1924andfrom 1929-35. In 1931,
  heformeda National Governmentasa result
  ofthe Depression, a movewhichtheLabour
  Partydidnot support . He died atsea on his
  waytoSouth America .
  Marple,Jane (1854-1959?) *F* : A resident
  ofStMaryMead, which undoubtably hadthe
  highestcrime rate ofany village in Britain,
  sheconstantly found herselfinvolvedin
  murder investigations, and herreputationas
  an amateur detective wasknowntopolice
  forcesalloverBritain. Herairofinnocence
  andappetite forgossip led tothedownfall of
  dozens ofcriminals . Shewas most active
  from 1928 onwards .
  Moseley, SirOswaldErnald(1892-1973)
  AnMP famed forhisgood looks and habitof
  swoppingparties, Moseley formedthe
  British UnionofFascists in imitation of
  Hitler andMussolini . His massrallieswere
  verycolourfulandeffective, iftroublesome
  forthepolice whohadto keeptheFascists
  andCommunist counter-demonstrators
  apart . The authorities tendedto favour
  Moseley againsttheCommunists, as he was,
  afterall,agentleman .
  Norway, NevilShute (18994960) : After
  graduating fromBalliol College, Oxfordas
  anengineer, Norway worked forde
  Havillandandlater Vickers asan aircraft
  designerand pilot . Whilstat Vickers, he
  worked ontheR100airship. Later, he
  foundedAirspeed Ltdandbuiltthe first
  aircraft with retractable undercarriage . In
  1923, hebeganto writeunderthe name of
  Nevil Shute and becamea highly successful
  authorofthrillers .
  Petrie, Sir William Finders : (1853-1942) :
  Petrie workedextensivelyinEgypt formany
  yearsbefore the war. From 1892to 1933, he
  was ProfessorofEgyptology atthe
  University ofLondon, and wasknightedin
  1923. After 1926, he turnedhis attentions
  fromEgyptto Palestine .
  Poirot, Hercule (1851-1974!) *F* : Short,
  dapper, meticulously neatandwith an
  immaculatelygroomedmoustache, Poirot
  retired from the Belgian policein 1904 and
  BIOGRAPHIES
  The Duke & Duchess ofWindsor on Honeymoon in the Grounds of Castle Wasserleanburg 1937
  began acareeras aprivate investigatorin
  Britain . He was, shallwe say, alittle
  arrogant, frequently boastingoftheprowess
  ofhis "little grey cells", buthis British
  friends andclientsfoundthis funny foreigner
  more amusingthan offensive . Hehated tea,
  preferringto drink thick, sweetchocolate .
  Price, Harry (1881-1948) : A notorious
  `psychic investigator'. Seethesectiononthe
  Occult .
  Regardie, Israel : A formermemberofthe
  Golden Dawn, Regardiehaspublishedmany
  books outlining the historyandpractices of
  this famousmagical society. His works first
  became available intheearly 30s .
  
  BIOGRAPHIES
  Rutherford,Ernest (1871-1937) : This New
  Zealandbornphysicistworking inBritain
  wasoneofthe leading researchers into
  radiation and the structure ofmatter. In 1919,
  heperformed the first everatom-splitting
  experimentat the Cavendish Laboratory in
  Cambridge. Hewas knighted, and latermade
  alord, forhis work .
  Sayers, DorothyLeigh (1893-1957) : The
  daughter ofaNorfolkclergyman, she
  publishedherfirst detective novelin 1923
  whilstworkingatBenson's advertising
  agency in London. Thisbook, WhoseBody?,
  received immediate criticalacclaimandwas
  the firstto featurethecharacter ofLordPeter
  Wimsey. Many similarworksfollowed,
  though afterWWII sheturnedtowriting
  theologicalworks andplaysas well .
  Shaw, GeorgeBernard (18564950) : Shaw
  had already made a fortune fromhisbooks
  and plays beforethewar. Bythe20s
  everything hedid wastreated withgreat
  respect, and hewon the Nobel Prizefor
  Literaturein 1925 . He was acommitted
  socialist andleading lightofthe Fabian
  Society, agroupofleft-wing intellectuals.
  Simpson, Bessie Wallis(1896-1986) : Twice-
  married wife ofanAmerican businessman,
  she becamethe mistress ofthe Princeof
  Wales, laterEdwardVIII . When Baldwin
  refusedto allow Edwardto marry her he
  abdicated .
  Stapledon, Olaf(1886-1950) : Bornofwell-
  to-doparentsnear Liverpool, he wasa
  pacifist duringWWI . Alifelong interest in
  philosophy led tothe publicationofseveral
  influential novels, the most important being
  `Last and FirstMen' (1930) and `Star Maker'
  (1937) . These novelsexplored concepts of
  spaceembracingmultipleuniverses, and
  timelines spanning thousands ofbillions of
  years. His novel `OddJohn' (1935) isa
  pioneeringvisionofhuman mutation.
  de Valera,Eamon (1882-1975) : An
  Americancitizen, de Valera was theleader of
  Sinn Fein, theIrish RepublicanMove-ment,
  afterWWI . Later hebecame the first
  president ofthe truly independent Eire .
  Watson-Watt, Sir Robert (1892-1973) :
  Educated at St AndrewsUniversity anda
  tutorthere from 1912 to 1921, he was
  interested in the reflection ofradiowaves . By
  1935, he hadpatentedthe basic principlesof
  RADio reflection And Ranging, now better
  knownas RADAR . Britain'searlylead inthe
  development ofRADAR was invaluable
  duringWWII . He was knightedin 1942 .
  Waugh, Evelyn (1903-66) : Waugh
  (pronounced `War') was oneofthemost
  capablewriters amongstthepost-war
  generation . His novels, suchas VileBodies
  and Brideshead Revisited are excellent
  studies ofupper classlifeduring theperiod .
  Wimsey, LordPeterDeathBredon
  (1890-????) *F* : The second sonofthe Duke
  ofDenver, hewas educatedat Eton and
  Balliol, andthen served in ariflebrigade in
  WWI . He may havealsotakenpart in
  intelligence operations . After the war, he
  became notablefor the study ofincunabula
  (rare manuscripts), oenology (the study of
  wine), and criminology. In the latterrole, he
  was responsibleforthe arrestandconviction
  ofseveralnotorious murderers, andthe
  solution ofmany othercrimes . Hemarried
  Harriet Vane, acrime novelist, in 1935 and
  they hadtwo childrenby the startofWWII .
  Wooley, Sir Leonard (1880-1960) : Wooley
  workedfor SirArthur Evansatthe
  Ashmolean Museum. He excavatedexten-
  sivelyinNubia, SyriaandMesopotamia, his
  most famous discovery being the Sumerian
  city ofUrwhich he found in 1935,theyearhe
  was knighted .
  Wooster, Bertie (189?????) *F* : An upper
  classtwitofclassic proportions, Bertie
  Wooster stumbled elegantly through life
  from one farcical situationto another, forever
  indangerofbeing forcedtobehave
  responsibly by histerrible aunts. Wooster's
  lifestylewaspreserved onlyby the
  resourcefulnessand presence ofmind ofhis
  loyal butler, Jeeves . His adventureswere
  chronicledby the writer, P GWodehouse .
  Authors-MarcusRowland, Caroline Rogers,
  Graeme Davis&Pete Tamlyn
  
  Thebasic CallofCthulhurules assumethat
  mostinvestigators will be American . This
  sectiongives character sketches andguide-
  lines forcreating some typically British
  investigators. Also includedaretwodouble
  dyed villains drawn fromthepopularfiction
  ofthe time . Muchoftheoriginaltextwas
  publishedin WhiteDwarfmagazine as the
  articleGentlemen &Players.
  The statisticsforcharactersofdifferent types
  areguidelinesthat will produce `classic'
  characters ofthattype ; Keepersmightallow
  players to swaprolledstatisticsaroundto
  matchtheperfect mould .
  "Reporter feller wanted to know all about
  thatshow atClacton; well, I told him to talk
  to theProf. All I did wasgo along fora
  wheeze, and givethatfishy-looking chap a
  whackwitha mashie niblick when hegot
  frisky. Impertinentlittleoik; hadthecheekto
  askmewhether I'd describe myselfas a
  dilettante. Dilettante! Makesone sound likea
  ballythedansantgigolo, what?Isent himoff
  withafleain his ear."
  Gentlemen investigators needto be tall,
  languid andclean shaven (anyone witha
  beard iseitheroftheoldergeneration, a
  sailor, arty or foreign ; both the lattertypes
  areextremely suspect) . Educatedat either
  Oxfordor Cambridge, andquite likely Eton
  or Harrowbeforethat, they willbe of
  independentmeans, and won't needto bother
  with ajob, although something in the Foreign
  Office couldbe considered .
  Achaphardlyhastime for ajob, though,
  whatwiththecrowded social schedule . In
  town, itis cocktailsandthe Charleston,
  Boston, jazz-step, one-step andfoxtrot
  (beingable toplaythebanjoandukelele
  helps) ;out oftown, there is allthe fun of
  country-house weekends, with shootingand
  fancy dress parties . Justthrow abrace ofguns
  intothe oldjalopy, bring thevaletto double as
  loader,andaway you go.
  As far asclothes go, they may still bemade in
  Piccadilly by father'stailor, but theirstyle
  will bedictatedby thePrinceofWales, the
  bestdressed maninEngland (and that means
  the world) . Winters are best spent atMonte
  Carlo, and the restofthe year atthefamily
  home inthe country, or at atownflat orhouse
  inMayfair. Apretty agreeablelife. But ifan
  oldcollegechumortutor comesupwith
  somethingthat soundslike good sport, that
  may providejustthe spicethatatrue
  gentlemanneeds .
  Crime fictionand thrillers ofthe Twenties
  andThirties are litteredwith sucharisto-
  cratic detectives . Atypical CallofCthulhu
  gentleman investigator will have average
  STR, CONand SIZ, corresponding to atall,
  slimbuild . Unlikefictional slueths who
  conceal razorsharp mindsbeneath aveneer
  ofidiocy, some gentlemen should beoflow
  INT, theclassic silly ass.
  POWcan behigh, allowing themtolead
  charmed lives throughhigh Luckrolls, and
  also giving themahighinitial SAN . This may
  seema little strange, butitdoes not indicate
  powerful mental discipline somuchas a
  stunninglackofimagination . Mostwill have
  highl)EX, representing yearsoftraining in
  ballgames, riding and "huntin', shootin' and
  fishing". APP willbe high as a result of
  impeccabledressandmanners and aneasy
  charm. EDU shouldbearound 13 or 14,but
  nohigher. Gentlemen get touniversity
  because oftheirbreeding ratherthan their
  brains, andthey oftenlearnlittlebeyond a
  smattering ofLatin andthe Classics .
  Such characters willhave two mainmoti-
  vations : honourandsport . Honourapplies
  mainlyto members ofthe same class, butcan
  also leadtoacts ofextremeself-sacrifice .
  Sport isnolessimportant, andis an all-
  embracing termcovering anything from
  organised sportsthemselves, through the
  thrill ofthe chaseand hazardous pastimes, to
  outrightcriminal activities likethoseofthe
  gentleman roguesofVictoriantimes.
  Being ofindependentmeans, membersofthe
  aristocracy make ideal investigators, ableto
  takeoffanywhere atamoment's notice . They
  willalsobe wellequipped witha quality car,
  a brace ofshotgunsandaHarrods charge
  account . Perhaps themostimportant aspects
  ofsuch characters, how-ever, are their
  influence andconnections. Influence won't
  allow themtogetaway withmajorbreaches
  ofthe law orsocial conventions (especially
  socialconventions), but itwill avoid
  nuisanceslike beingprosecuted for speeding
  when chasing cultists . Infact, itwill giverise
  to almostexaggerated deference from
  humble constables ("Beg pardon, your
  lordship, I didn'trealise these gentlemen
  werewith you . . .") .
  Social connections can providea useful way
  fortheKeeperto startoffa scenario. For
  instance, thoughtheGentlemanhimselfmay
  beaprofessionalparty-goer, there isalways
  the friend fromcollegewhohasdabbled in
  the occult and needshelp to savehis
  reputation. As thesaying has it, "Ifyou can
  keep your headwhen allabout arelosing
  theirs, you don'trealise how serious the
  situationis". Gentlemen investigators arenot
  likely to be powerhouses ofMythos
  knowledge, but theydohave theiruses, and
  playingone canbe frightfully good sport .
  Players
  "Demobilised officer, finding peace incred-
  ibly tedious, would welcome diversion .
  Legitimate ifpossible, butcrime, ifofa
  comparatively humourous disposition, no
  objection . Excitement essential . Would be
  prepared to consider permanentjob if
  suitably impressed by applicant forhis
  services. Reply atonce, BoxX10."
  With this advertisment, Bulldog Drummond
  (the fictionalcreation ofLt ColH C
  McNeile, `Sapper')beganthe firstoffour
  encounters with archcriminal, Carl
  Peterson . Drum-mond is thearchetypal
  Player; that isprofessional . Thetermderives
  from thegame ofcricket inwhichamateur
  andprofessionalmembers ofthe sameteam
  werecompletely differentiated, even using
  differentdressing rooms, marked
  `Gentlemen' and `Players'. Drummondand
  his ilk canbe readily adapted to fill therole
  played by thePrivateInvestigator in an
  Americancampaign .
  To call them Playersis not to implythatthey
  are not gentlemen ; far fromit . Inan era when
  a servantcould behired fortwopounds a
  week, an annual incomeof£2-3,000 enabled
  oneto liveverycomfort-ably. Indeed,
  anotherofMcNeile's heroes, Tiny Carteret,
  couldcall on £5;000ayear. Players have
  servants, run expensive cars, and are
  membersofgood clubs. Whatmakes them
  different fromGentlemen isthelack of
  aristocratic ancestry ; aboveall, they are men
  ofaction .
  9
  
  Hugh Drummond, `Bulldog' to his friends,
  was "slightly under six feetin height" and
  "broad inproportion", with a nose that "had
  never quiterecovered fromthe final year inthe
  PublicSchoolsHeavy Weights". Tiny Carteret
  "hadbeencapped fifteentimes forEngland
  playing inthescrum"
  (ie, arugby forward), but -inspite ofhis size-
  was "marvellously agile".
  When creating aPlayer, then, STR, CONand
  SIZ should all befairly high . INT, on the other
  hand, wouldnot seemto be asimportant.
  Drummondandhis kind werepositively anti-
  intellectual, notto say dcwvn-right ignorant
  (Carteret, summoned toa meetingatthe
  HomeOffice, had toenquire whereit was) .
  However, INT shouldnotbe too low.
  AlthoughDrummondadmitted thathis brain
  "wasofthe also-ranvariety", he "possessed a
  very shrewdcommon sense, whichgenerally
  enabledhimto arriveatthe same result asa far
  more brilliant manand, incidently,by a much
  more directroute".
  POW, inthe senseofcharisma, mustnot be
  low, asmuch is made ofsuch men's qualities
  ofleadership . Also, as with all heroes ofthe
  `Saturday Matinee' variety Playersneedgood
  Luckrollsto getthemout ofthe sticky
  situations that theirdirectapproach often
  lands them in . They alsoneedto beableto
  dodge the grasp offlailing tentacles and such
  likewhenthingsgetsticky, soagood DEX
  score is desirable (Drummond was "a
  lightning and deadly shot with arevolver") .
  APPcan be as high orlow as youlike ;
  although the nickname `Bulldog' referred to
  charactertraits, Drummondwas "the
  fortunatepossessorofthatcheerfultype of
  ugliness whichinspires immediatecon-
  fidencein its owner":EDUwillbe lowto
  average, depending on whetherandwhenthe
  characterwasexpelled fromhispublic school .
  Ifthelikes ofDrummond everreached the
  dreaming spires ofOxford, itwas probably
  due tothe needto bolstertheflaggingfortunes
  ofthevarsityrugby and rowingteams, andour
  man will have spentmost ofhis time indulging
  in suchhearty activitiesas throwing arty
  undergraduates intothe fountains.
  Most, ifnot all, Players will have a military
  background and will have takenpart in "the
  last show". This givesthem asomewhat
  jaundicedview ofGermans (the `Boche') . In
  theirview, all foreigners fallintooneoftwo
  categories : comic orsinister. The ideaof
  cosmicabominations lurkingbehindthe
  fragilefabric ofeveryday lifemightbe abit
  hard to take, but such cultsareobviously ofa
  piece withunwashed Bolsheviks and other
  suchrabble whodabble in sinister
  conspiracies . Whereas the Gentlemanhasan
  unshakeable faith in allthingsdecentand
  British, thePlayerknows thatthey are
  constantly underassault from foreign plots
  which only swift and firm action cancounter.
  10
  LikeGentlemen, Players are useful fortheir
  access toa fast car, always plumping for
  something onthe sporty side (Drummond
  boasted an Hispano Suiza) . Mostplayers will
  havea couple ofsouvenirs ofthe war: a faith-
  ful batman (whoinevitablyhasa treasureofa
  wife), and awell-oiled, ex-army Webley. The
  batman and wifewillact as servants forthe
  batchelorflat in Mayfair, and the Webley is a
  handy supplementtothetrusty rightfist .
  Intellectuals they may notbe, but as `Sapper'
  said ofone ofhis creations, they are "a
  sportsmananda gentleman. Andthe
  combinationofthe two is an unbeatable
  production".
  Butlers
  "Dwat, and double dwat" lispedAlgernonde
  Vere Skeffley (Bart), heftingthe shotgunby its
  barrels as the tentacledmonstrosity shambled
  its way towardstheparty. "Deuced
  inconvenienttimeto wun out ofcartwidges,
  what?". Behindhim, Simmonds shuddered
  slightly at the sacrilegiousthoughtofMessrs
  Purdey's finestbeing used as ablunt
  instrument, andcougheddiscreetly. "Iflmay
  suggest, sir, Itookthelibertyofbringing
  along apick handleI found whilewewere
  coming through the cellar. Perhapsyouwould
  care tomake use ofthat, while Ireload for
  you?"
  More than aservant, but lessthan a
  Gentleman, theButler stood between two
  worlds, oneofthearistocracyoflabour. As
  general managerofalargehousehold, he(for
  it was always he)was responsibleforensuring
  that it ran like a Swiss watch, and thatthe
  numerous servantsmet the standard expected
  ofthem . He wielded considerable power, and
  althoughButlers (at leastthe fictionalones)
  always "suggest", their suggestions are
  seldom ignored.
  With the lowerorders, tradesmen and the like,
  Butlershad acertainway and could call upon
  an icy dignity calculated tooverawe anybut
  themost impertinent oaf. Having often served
  several generationsofthe same family, they
  were permittedfamiliarity unthinkablein any
  other retainer. As aprivilege oftheirposition,
  thiswas exercisedin anindirectmanner, and
  anyoneplaying aButler should makefulluse
  ofphrases such as "Iflmay say so, sir..:'and
  "Might I ask, sir. . :, together withput-downs
  like "Iamnot surprised. Sir."
  Although- on the faceofit- Butlers are not
  promising characters fora CallofCthulhu
  campaign, theirs is actually aprofession with
  considerable scope. For a start, theirposition
  meanstheyaccompany the master inthe
  capacityofgentleman's gentleman, or
  manservant . This allowsthem toact as a sort
  ofup-marketminder, abody-guard in much
  the same fashionasJeeveswas forBertie
  Wooster. Acting as alinkbetween servants
  andmasters, they areoften in aposition to
  pick up information othermembers ofaparty
  might find difficultto unearth, andtheycan
  appear naturally in situations where their
  employers wouldbe outofplace. A classic
  case of still watersrunning deep, they are not
  
  only equippedwithmore than average
  common sense, buttheymay also comeout
  withunknowntalents atthe most surprising
  times. "Good Lord, Robbins, whereon Earth
  didyou learnhow to charmsnakes?" "When
  yourlatefather wasresident inJaipur, sir. We
  wereplaguedby cobrasin thebathroom, andI
  thought it might prove auseful
  accomplishment
  .,,
  Whenopting foraButlercharacter, the
  followingpoints shouldbe borne inmind .
  STRisrelatively unimportant, although a
  reason-ableCON score isdesirable . SIZ is not
  critical, although aButler's appearance
  shouldblendaesthetically with that ofhis
  master.INT shouldbehigh (fictional Butlers
  arereknownedfortheirabilityto come up
  withcogent suggestions) butEDUlow to
  average - reflecting minimal schooling, but a
  wealthofexperience. POW shouldbehigh :
  Butlers should beableto shrugoffmagical
  attacks, andcome unscathed outofsticky
  situations . Their SAN willbe
  correspondingly high . Butlers sharewiththeir
  employers thatunshakeable confidencethat
  the sun will never setontheBritish Empire,
  andnoamount ofjiggery-pokery will
  convince themotherwise.
  Valets
  "I callsit wicked", sheannounced at length.
  "Fair flyinginthe face ofProvidence . Crime,
  CHARACTERS
  Denny, - crime. Don't you get `avingnothing
  todowith suchmad pranks, my man, oryou
  and me will behavingwords." She shook an
  admonitory forger at him, and retired tothe
  kitchen. Inthe days ofhis youth, James Denny
  had beena bitwild, andthere was a look in his
  eyesthismorning - thesuspicion ofaglint -
  which recalledold memories :'
  When Bulldog Drummondplacedhis
  advertisement inthepaper(never specified,
  butwecan safely assume it wasnottheDaily
  Mail), it wasalso to affect hisvalet . James
  Denny had beenDrummond's batmanduring
  the Great War, and with the GreatDepression
  loomingandmany ex-servicemen
  unemployed, would probably havebeen
  u
  
  grateful forthe chance toenter servicewitha
  known andtrustedGentleman. Althoughthe
  duties ofButlersandValets overlap, whatwe
  shallhereterma Valet is a very different
  fellow indeed .
  Ifa Gentlemanhas aValet, it isprobably
  because father is still aliveandrequires the
  Butler's undividedattention. The Valetwill be
  a younger man, trustedby the Butlerto keep
  the `youngmaster' outoftrouble. APlayer
  will have onlytwo servants ;theValet, who isa
  jackof all trades, serving attable, packingand
  driving thecar; andhis wifewho keeps house
  and does the cooking (during the Twenties,
  theprejudiceagainst employing single people
  in certainpositions was sostrong thatmany
  `married' couplesapplying for servants' jobs
  had nevermetuntiljustbefore their
  interview) .
  Valetsaretypically thecheerful Cockney
  type, "Ee, bahgum" Yorkshiremen, canny
  Scotsmen, orany other regional stereotype.
  If, like Denny, theymet their masterduring
  military service, they may haveledcolour-ful,
  even criminallives before the war. Parker
  from Thunderbirds isa more modernexample
  ofthebreed .
  Valets are doers ratherthan thinkers, butmay
  besmalland wiryratherthanmuscle-bound .
  Unlikethe Butler, the Valetwill probably be
  the opposite to his masterinbuild, thetwo
  thus forminga balanced, all action team. SIZ
  andSTRneednotbe aboveaverage, but good
  CON andDEX areessential. INT canbe
  reasonable, representing shrewdnativewit,
  butEDU islikely to be almostnon-existent -it
  is quiteinkeeping, forexample, for the Valet
  to move his lips whilst reading. POW should
  beon thelow side . TheValet'sworking class
  backgroundmay have been tough, but itis
  unlikely tohave exposedhimto anythreats
  otherthanthe physical . APPneednotbe
  especiallyhigh ; Denny, for example, is only
  described asthe "squarejawedex-batman".
  Where Valets do come uptrumps is inthe
  specialist skillsthattheycan bringto aparty.
  Denny hadbeenasignallerin the army, but
  other characterscouldhavebeenengineers,
  artillerymenor evenmedical orderlies . Prior
  to thewar any rangeoflower class
  occupations, with attendant skills, is inorder.
  Lackingthe polishand social gracesofa
  Butlerhemay be, butthe averageValet isa
  handy man tohave about whenthings turn
  sticky.
  Sleuths
  Justas Valets are differentfromButlers, so
  Sleuths aredifferent from Players . They are
  still men ofaction, whenthe'occasion
  demands, butare more (much more)
  intellectual thanPlayers, as well as being more
  solitary. Theyaretheclassic gifted amateur
  investigator, ofunnervingbrill-iance, versed
  inobscurebranches ofscienceand literature .
  Their services are soughtby theGovernment
  andtheyregularly risk life and limb in foreign
  12
  parts inthe service ofthe Empire . Indeed, itis
  more oftensuch foreign threats that occupy
  their brilliantminds, ratherthan the simple
  criminality which was the staple fareoftheir
  glorious forebear, thegreat SherlockHolmes .
  Aswell as his Playerheroes, `Sapper' created
  two Sleuths, Ronald Standish and Jim
  Maitland . OfStandishhe wrote ". ..onlythe
  Almighty and he himselfknewwhathisjob
  was. . . itwas doubtful which ofthe two it
  wouldbe more difficultto find outfrom".
  However, the best example ofaTwenties
  Sleuthcan befound in the worksofSax
  Rohmer, in the shapeofNayland Smith.
  Itwas as a Police Commissioner in Burma that
  NaylandSmith firstencounteredthe arch
  villain, Fu Manchu, withwhomhe was to
  wage an epic struggle . During this, hewasto
  become SirDenis NaylandSmith and rise to
  noless arankthan Assistant Commissioner of
  Scotland Yard . MarvelComics' adaptionof
  the character reveals thathelater moved tobe
  head ofMI6. Nevertheless, hewould stilltake
  offonmysterious and dangerousjourneys,
  aloneor with afew trustedhelpers, tounravel
  thelatest threat fromtheYellow Peril.
  Working by guilerather thanbrute force,
  Smith woulddisguise himself, even stage his
  owndeath, tothrow the agents ofFuManchu
  offthe scent so that he might follow the web of
  mystery and deathback toitsauthor. Sleuths
  neednot have high STR, but agoodCON is
  desirableto survivethe fiendish traps and
  tortures thattheirdevilish opponents will
  plaguethemwith . SIZ shouldideallyreflecta
  tall, gaunt, wiry build. DEXcanbe low, as
  Sleuths tendto rely on others, perhaps a
  Player companion, to copewiththe rough
  stuff .
  High INTis essential, notonly forgeneral
  brainy-nessbut alsoforthehighIdearoll this
  will bring. Smith seemed to spend much ofhis
  time smiting hisforeheadandexclaimingin
  frustration as hesuddenlyrealised the awful
  significance ofwhat he has discovered . The
  Sleuth may nothave progressed very farwith
  formal schooling, but hewill havea bizarre
  collection offields ofknowledgegained
  throughprivate study andexperience so his
  EDUwill notbe low.
  Surprisingly, perhaps, POWcanbe fairly low.
  FuManchu wascontemptuous ofthe
  regularity with which Smith fellinto histraps
  - wecan begenerous andattribute it to a low
  Luck roll . LowPOWalso meanspoorinitial
  SAN. This can betaken as reflecting the
  overwroughtimaginationofmost Sleuths
  (Holmeshimselfwasgivento bouts ofdepres-
  sion) . APP should not be toounusual as the
  Sleuth will wish topass unnoticed ina crowd.
  SP11tsmari
  Our token representative ofthe trueworking
  class, the Sportsmanis totally unused topolite
  company. Until recently, hemight noteven
  haveknown how to use aknife and fork . What
  enabledhimto rise above the common masses
  is his sport-ing prowess. He rose tofame,
  perhaps, as centre forward forManchester
  United, oras opening bowlerfor Yorkshire,
  and may evenbeas well knownas theKing or
  CharlieChaplin . Gentleman may bedis-
  concertedby his rude mannerbut, good sports
  tothelast, have due respectforhis ability,
  especially ifhe plays fortheirfavourite team .
  High DEXis anabsolute must for the
  Sportsman. STR andCON should not below,
  but neednot be high, dependingonthe sport
  he plays . SIZ andPOWcan beofany value,
  but INTwillprobablybe low andEDU rock
  bottom .
  Occupations
  The above descriptions are moreinthewayof
  broadclasses ofpersonality ratherthan actual
  occupations . Gentlemen, forexample, may
  opt fora life ofidleness, butcouldequally
  enter diplomatic serviceor, ifa youngerson,
  theChurch . The following list gives suggested
  skills forthe above types, butplayers wishing
  for amore specific career may choose anyin
  themain CallofCthulhurulesor in Cthulhu
  by Gaslight. Gaslight occupations should all
  have DriveAutoaddedto available skills, and
  Ex-Military is notavailable(see below) .
  Income figuresrelate to disposable wealth
  only.
  Gentleman
  Skills : DriveAuto, Fast Talk, Photography,
  Pilot Aircraft, Read/Write Latin, Read[Write
  Greek, Ride, Sing, SpeakFrench, Shotgun
  Income : d10x£200 + £300.
  Player
  Skills : Climb, DriveAuto, FastThlk, Hide,
  Jump, Listen, Sneak, SpotHidden, Swim,
  Throw, Track, Handgun, Melee
  Income: d6x £300 + £300.
  Butler
  Skills: Accounting, Debate, DriveAuto, First
  Aid, History, Law, Library Use, Psychology,
  Spot Hidden, SpeakOtherLanguage
  Income: d4 x £200 +000
  Valet
  Skills : Bargain, DriveAuto, Electrical
  Repair, Mechanical Repair, OperateHeavy
  Machinery, Sing, Throw, Sneak, Track,
  Melee
  Income : d4 x£100 + £100.
  Sleuth
  Skills : Anthropology, Archaeology, Botany,
  Chemistry, Diagnose Disease, Linguist,
  Pharmacy, Read/WriteEnglish, Read/Write
  OtherLanguage, SpeakOtherLanguage,
  Track, Treat Poison
  Income: d6 x£200 +£300.
  Sportsman
  Skills: Climb, Dodge, Jump, Melee, Throw,
  Nightstick .
  Income : d6 x£100 +£200.
  
  CHARACTERS
  13
  
  Toworkoutincome forother occupations,
  decide howthecharactercompares insocial
  class withthe abovetypesand use whichever
  is the best match. Or, ifyou have anincome in
  dollars, use theconversation factorgiven in
  the section on money.
  WarExperience
  Any male characterwho reachedthe age of 16
  before 1918 mayelectto have served inthe
  GreatWar. This automatically adds 1 to his
  EDU foreach yearofservice, but costs him
  ld4 ofSAN foreachpoint ofEDU added,
  representingexperience gainedonthe field of
  battleand the effects ofshell shock.
  Theadditionalexperience the increase in
  EDU allows can be spent to develop any ofthe
  following skills : Camouflage, Climb, Credit
  Rating, FirstAid, Handgun, MakeMaps,
  Oratory, Psychology, Ride, Rifle, Sabre,
  Sneak, Spot Hidden, Swim, PilotAircraft.
  Therefore, foreachyearserved intheGreat
  War, a characterhas 15points to allocate to
  anyofthe aboveskills.
  Warveterans mayalso chooseone wartime
  weapon to have keptasasouvenir. This will
  probably be a Lee-Enfield .303 bolt-action
  rifle forthelowerranks, ora Webley-Fosbery
  .455 revolverforofficers . Alternatives are
  captured Germanweapons, either aMauser
  rifle (similar to the Enfield) ora Luger9mm
  automatic . Statistics forweapons ofthese
  types andcalibrescanbe found inthe Call of
  Cthulhu rules.
  Asconscriptionwasintroduced in 1916,
  charactersneeda goodexcuse for nothaving
  atleast2 years ofmilitary serviceandare
  likely toberegarded with suspicionby their
  fellows ifthey do not. However, valid excuses
  includevery lowCON, ajob intheCivil
  Service, orbeing inthe Royal Navy in which
  casethe character may well have seen little
  significant militaryaction .
  Very fewwomensawactive serviceduringthe
  GreatWarexcept as nurses, butthoseathome
  keptthe countryrunning while theirmenfolk
  wereaway. Consequently, any female
  characterofa suitableagemay, in additionto
  her normal occupation skills, choose fromthe
  following: DriveAuto, Accounting, Credit
  Rating, Electrical Repair, Mechanical Repair,
  OperateHeavyMachinery, FirstAid.
  Altered Base Chances
  Base chances forskills arethe sameasfor
  American investigators, withthefollowing
  briefexceptions :
  CreditRating :Thebase chancefor working
  classcharacters is 5%and thatforupper class
  characters25%.
  Ride : Thebase chance is 20 % forupperclass
  characters .
  DriveCarnage: This skillfrom Gaslight is
  available to workingclass charactersonlyata
  14
  basechance of20% . Itrefers to handling ofall
  horse-drawnvehicles .
  As in Gaslight, keepersmayconsider
  modifying the skill scores forarguing
  (Debate, Oratory andFast Talk)to take
  account ofsocial class . lbdo this, add 10% to
  the skill foreach level ofclass the speakerhas
  abovehis audience, anddetract 10%foreach
  level below. Thusan upper classperson
  talkingto amiddle classperson enjoys a bonus
  of +10(1 leveladvantage), whilst a working
  class persontalkingto anupperclass person
  suffers a penalty of-20 (twolevels
  disadvantage) .
  MerchantsofMenace
  Although theprincipalpreoccupationofthe
  Cthulhu investigator is the foiling ofthe plots
  ofthe Mythos deities and their followers, the
  worldoftheTwenties and Thirties is full of
  despicable characters, many ofwhose
  activities will beuncoveredby thoseprying
  deeply intoobscure goings-on. Suchpeople
  do nottakekindly to such interest intheir
  affairs, andan epic villainwill make an
  interesting andexcitingalternative tothe
  general run oftentacled horrors. Thereareno
  statistics forthetwovillainspresentedbelow;
  suchcharacters weremasters ofso many
  branches ofperfidiousknowledge thatthe
  keepercan quitelegitimatelyequipthem with
  such skills as seem necessary.
  Mr Peterson
  "Heis aboutmediumheight and rather thick-
  set ; clean-shaven, with thickbrownhair
  flecked slightly white . His forehead isbroad,
  andhis eyesareasort ofgrey-blue. But it's his
  hands thatterrifyme . They'relargeandwhite
  andutterly ruthless:'
  BulldogDrummond
  Likemost greatvillains, Carl Petersonwas an
  enigma . Whatever hisreal name was, it
  certainly wasn't Peterson ; norComte de Guy,
  EdwardBlackton, Rev Theodosius
  Longmoor or anyofhis otheraliases .
  Drummond onceobservedofhimthat had it
  not been fortheman's complete lack of
  scrupleaboutthe means usedto achievehis
  ends, his stupendous brain, unshakeable
  nerve and unlimited ambition would have
  allowedhim torisetothe topofany fieldhe
  chose. Despite the ruthless struggle between
  them, Drummond and Petersonhad
  considerablerespectfor each other.
  Masterofathousand disguises, Peterson
  alwaysgavehimselfawayeventually byhis
  habitofdrumming hisfingersonhisknees
  whenunder stress ; as only Drummond
  seemed tonoticethis, it didnot cramphis style
  unduly. In spite ofhis ruthlessness, Peterson
  didnot lacka senseofhumourand, likethe
  artist hewas, oftenaddedelementsofwhimsy
  tohis dastardlyplots. Needless to say, the
  jokes were always at someoneelse's expense .
  Hewas alsoan expert forger, andemployed
  this talent togood effectonoccasions when
  his methods ofpersuasion hadproved rather
  toodrastic .
  TheDevilDoctor
  "Imagine aperson, tall, leanandfeline, high
  shouldered, with abrow likeShakespeare and
  a facelike Satan, aclose shaven skull and long
  magnetic eyesofthe truecat green . Investhim
  with all the cruel cunning ofan entire Eastern
  race accumulated in one giant intellect, with
  allthe resources ofscience, past andpresent,
  and you havea picture ofDrFu Manchu, the
  `Yellow Peril' incarnatein one man."
  Fog-shrouded streets in busy seaports,
  mysterious artefacts from the East, sinister
  secretsocieties, and suddenand inexplic-able
  deaths - idealmaterial for CoCthulhu
  scenarios, and the very stuffofSax Rohmer's
  many stories about the Devil Doctor.
  The principal organisationthrough which Fu
  Manchu workedwas the Si-Fan . Aswell as
  being atermforthenatives ofEastTibet, it
  was "the name ofa secret society with
  branchesinevery cornerofthe Orient",
  dedicated totheestablishment ofaworld
  empire, ruled by a princess ofincalculably
  ancientlineage,preserved by reincarnation,
  and residing in a secret monasteryin Tibet.
  Fu Manchu's mainagents wereBurmese
  Dacoits, or Stranglers, members ofthe same
  sectas the Indian Thugees, whowere adeptat
  silentmurder. Byuseofdevices such as
  telescopic ladders, or naturalagility, they
  were able to reachapparently secure rooms
  andintroduce some deadly agent . This could
  range fromasnake concealedinside a walking
  stickto a drug, a gas, orthe Flower ofSilence
  whose touch wasdeadly. FuManchu himself
  was achemistofgenius, adeptatthe
  preparation ofpoisons, theirantidotes, and
  substances that couldproduce a cataleptic
  trance . Hewasalsoabrilliant linguist "who
  spokewith almost equal facilityinany ofthe
  civilisedlanguages and inthemost barbaric".
  Although the Doctordoesnot makeuseof
  magicorthe occult, exceptthrougha sort of
  hypnosis, theSi-Fanhasparallels with
  references in some ofLovecraft'sstories tothe
  mysteriousPlateauofLeng . In TheSi-Fan
  Mysteries, Fu Manchualso uses as ahiding
  place asecretchapel, partofanetwork of
  tunnels and chambers underGreywaterPark,
  whichhad inthepastbeen usedforthe
  worshipofAsmodeus and the celebration of
  the BlackMass. Intheearly stories, Rohmer
  makes it clear thatFu Manchu is nothisown
  master, butmerelythe servant ofsome power
  so remote andterrible thatNayland Smith did
  notdare to contemplateit . In later stories, the
  Chinaman worked more on his ownbehalf,
  and iftherewas anyonein the world bold
  enough to try to exploit Cthulhu et al forhis
  own ends, FuManchu wasthatman.
  Authors - Chris Elliott, DickEdwards
  &Pete Tamlyn
  TheE
  Oneoftl
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  Oneofthemost significant effects on British
  society inthe '20s wasthe appalling
  mortalityrate oftheFirst WorldWar. During
  thatconflict, a largepercentage ofthe
  country's able-bodiedmenwere killed . And
  "able-bodied" is asignificant phrasehere,
  fornearly 40 % ofthe potentialrecruits from
  theworking classes provedtoo sickly forthe
  forces . Thismeantthat adisproportionate
  numberofthe casualties camefromthe
  middle andupperclasses . The country's
  nobility was decimated .
  Afutherresult ofthewar wasthelarge
  numberofex-soldierswhostill carriedthe
  scarsofbattle. Thismeantnot only obvious
  disablement -lackoflimbs and so on -but the
  internalinjuries causedby poison gas, and
  the mental scars leftby lifein the trenches.
  The deadlockedfightinginwhich tensof
  thousands oflives were spent to gainafew
  miles ofmuddy grounddrove many men
  mad . Indeed, some 2,000 ofthe men still in
  militaryhospitalsattheendofthe warwere
  certifiedinsane . Sanity, in post-warBritain,
  wasinshort supply.
  Bright YoungThings
  Followingthe war, thoseyoung people who
  had survived, orwho weretooyoung for the
  conflict, invented their ownformofinsanity.
  The strictand stuffymoralityoftheVictorian
  and Edwardian eraswas thrown outofthe
  window, tobe replaced bylifeasanever-
  endingparty. Much tothehorror oftheir
  elders, Britain'syouth gave itselfoverto
  indecency (skirts abovetheknees!), promis-
  cuity, inelegant Americandances and even
  drug-taking (opium, heroinandcocaine were
  all readily available) . The youngignored this
  disapproval : afterall, it wasn't theywho had
  made such a mess ofthatawful war.
  Between 1919 and 1925 some 11,000 dance
  halls andnightclubs were opened, mostly in
  the south . Manyofthe night clubs were little
  morethanone-or-tworoomdrinking
  parlours.They often openedandclosedin the
  same week, eitherbecauseofa police raid
  (after all, obtaininga licence washardly in
  the spirit ofsuchenterprises), or because
  their patrons hadbecomeboredand moved
  ontothelatest fashionablehang-out .
  TheDepressionput something ofa damper
  ontheparty spirit, and things quietened
  downconsiderably duringthe'30s . In
  consequence, the fashion switched from
  partiesto politics, withmanyyoung people
  eitherfollowing Moseley into Fascismor
  becoming Communistsandgoingoffto fight
  intheSpanishCivilWar.
  Social Class
  Letitnotbeimagined, however, that such
  debauchery was open toall . Britainwas still a
  deeply dividednation, withovera million
  people still working as servants . Working
  class peoplewere expected totouchtheir
  forelocks orcurtseybefore addressingtheir
  social `betters', and all largehouses had a
  frontentrancefor `polite'visitorsand aback
  orside entrance for `tradesmen'. While the
  upper classes partiedinahazeofchampagne
  and opium, the lowerorders triedhard to
  drown theirsorrowsinbeer.
  Although Britain was nowherenear as
  socially mobile as America, afewavenues of
  advancement didexist forthepoor. An
  intelligentworkingclassladcouldhope fora
  safe, middle-class life as a Methodist
  Minister, orattempt to risethrough theranks
  oftheLabour Movement from Shop Steward
  to UnionLeader orMP The eraofthe
  working class pop starwas yetto arrive, but
  sportwas bignews and outstanding talent at
  socceror cricketwasa surefireticket to fame.
  Another socially significant factorduring the
  period was the continuing growth ofthe
  middle class ; professional people withgood,
  well-paidjobscould, anddid, aspire to
  `polite' behaviour. Really successful
  businessmen(many ofthemthanksto
  ruthlessprofiteering duringthe war) could
  betterthelowernobility inwealth, andthere
  was considerable rivalrybetween the true
  aristocrats andtheindustrial `nouveau riche'.
  Whether ornotyoucouldtraceyourancestry
  back tothe Norman invasion of 1066couldbe
  a very importantsocial question .
  TheEmancipation ofWomen
  The 1919 Act whichfinally gave thevoteto
  women marked the effective end ofthe
  Suffragettemovement as a national force .
  Nevertheless, thebattle wasby no means
  won . Itwasanother9 years beforetheage at
  Religion
  whichmenandwomencould vote was
  equalised, andeventhenthedaily papers
  doubtedthatyoung "flappers" had enough
  sensetousetheirnew-foundpower. Also,
  therewas considerable discrimination in
  whatjobs women couldtake and whatthey
  werepaid for them, despite thefactthatthe
  warhadprovedthatwomenwerewell
  capableofallaspects ofindustrialwork .
  Many British people, both male andfemale,
  firmlybelievedthata wifewas the property
  ofher husbandratherthanan equal partner.
  An interestingphenomenontonote was the
  trendtowardsunisex fashionduring the '20s .
  Womenworetheirhair shortand tried hardto
  lookflat-chested. Menworenofacial hair.
  Dandyism wascommonamongst the upper
  classes and homosexualitywasrife in Eton
  andOxford .
  Although the strict morality ofVictorian
  timeswasbadly shakenby theactivitiesof
  the `BrightYoung Things', theBritainofthe
  '20s and '30s was still amuch more religious
  society thanit is today. True, things were
  goingbadlyfor the churches ; the rapid
  advances in science, Darwinism in
  particular, andtheseemingly pointless
  slaughterofthe GreatWarhadbadly shaken
  men's faith in God, butBritainwasstill very
  much aChristiancountry andasizeable
  percentage ofthepopulation attendedchurch
  regularlyevery Sunday.
  Thevast majority oftheupper classes were
  members ofthe Protestant Churchof
  England, buttheworking classes -
  particularly inWales and the North East -
  preferred the less class-concious'non-
  conformist' religions, particularly the
  Methodist sects (which united in 1932,
  largely dueto falling membership) .
  Catholicismhadbeen freedoflegal
  discrimination fora century, but suspicion
  and hatredofCatholics amongst staunch
  Protestants was stillrife, a situation which
  the goings-on in Irelanddidnothing to
  relieve . Wherelarge Catholic populations
  existed, rivalry wasoftenfoughtoutonthe
  football fieldwith cities such as Liverpool
  and Glasgowhaving oneCatholicteam and
  one Protestantone .
  The situation in Scotlandwas quite different
  fromthe restofthecountry. As with so many
  otherinstitutions, Scotland had its own
  Protestantchurch, splitinto several rival
  sects . Someofthemoreextreme ofthese
  groupswerealmostunimaginably strictin
  theirmoral codes .
  Authors -Andy Bradbury&Pete Tamlyn
  15
  
  Communications
  Postage
  Thepostal serviceinthe `20s and `30swas
  muchbetterthanit istoday. Letterpost was
  cheapandthere wereseveral deliveries aday.
  Itwas quite possible topost aletter from
  London toReading inthemorningand
  receivea reply lateintheafternoon . Foreign
  mail was somewhatmoreunreliable due to
  the lack ofacomprehensive airmail service.
  The fastest wayto send a messagefromone
  place toanotherwasby telegram . This
  service was still efficient and reliable, though
  itwas steadily being abandonedin favourof
  telephones throughout the period.
  Prices :
  Letters
  1'hd forthefirst 2 oz;
  1/2d per oz
  thereafter
  Empire&
  1/2d forthefirst 1 oz ; Idper 1 oz
  us
  thereafter
  Foreign
  2 1/2dfor the first 1 oz ; 1 1/2dper 1
  ozthereafter
  Parcels
  6dfor21b ; 9dfor 51b ; is for 8 lb
  Telegrams
  is forthefirst 12 words
  (includingaddress)then Idfor
  each extra word . There was a 6d
  surchargeon Sundays and bank
  Holidays .
  Telephones
  Thenumberoftelephones inuse in Britain
  was farless thanthatin theUSA atthe same
  time, though itwas increasing steadily. In
  1928, athird ofalltelephonesinthecountry
  were inLondon, andeven in the capitalthere
  wasonly onephone per 7.7 people. At that
  time Britainmanaged an average of28.6 calls
  perpersonper year.
  Makinga call wasnot easy either. Automatic
  exchanges were rare : youoften hadtophone
  theoperator andasktobe connectedtothe
  number you wanted .
  Newspapers
  Daily Newspapers were commonplaceby
  1919 and therewere many to choose from .
  They ranging from cheaptabloids at 1/2d or ld
  to the mighty Times at 2d . Asidefromthe
  Times, which wasthe only paper a gentleman
  needconsider, othertitlesonoffer(andtheir
  allegiances) included :
  TheDaily Telegraph (businessmen) ;
  TheMorningPost
  (Imperialist Conservative) ;
  TheDailyNews andDaily Chronicle
  (Liberal) ;
  TheDailyMail (IndependantTabloid) ;
  JohnBull(Horatio Bottomley) ;
  TheDailyExpress (LordBeaverbrook) ;
  TheDailyHerald(Labour) .
  Sunday papers suchas The Observer, The
  Sunday Times, The SundayExpressand The
  Newsofthe Worldwerealsoavailable . The
  16
  social activities oftheupper classes were
  reported in the weeklymagazine, Tatler.
  Despite the profusion oftitles, the newsin
  differentpapers couldoften beidentical word
  for word . This was becausethe smaller
  papers couldnot affordlotsofreporters, and
  thereforethey re-printed Reuters reports
  verbatim . However, the useoftelegraphy and
  radio made even the foreign news fairlyupto
  date .
  Radio& Televison
  The BBC, founded in October 1922, very
  quicklybecamea major sourceofnews,
  informationandentertainment . Itsfirst
  Director, John (later Lord) Reith wasthe son
  ofa Scottishclergyman, andit was hisstrict
  moral outlook which mouldedthe BBC's
  reputation forimpartiality, standard
  pronounciation and stuffiness . Reith insisted
  oneven hisradio news reporters wearing
  dinnerjackets! FromSeptember 1923
  onwards, details ofall BBC programs could
  befound inits weeklymagazine, Radio
  Times (2d) .
  Initially, mostradioprogrammes were
  musical, butthey quicklyexpanded to
  include religious material, drama,
  informative talksand Children's Hour. News
  broadcastswere not allowedbefore 7.00pm, a
  concession to worried newspaperowners.
  One ofthe mostpopular lightentertainment
  shows wasMusicHall whichfeatured well
  known variety artists .
  Althoughtelevision gotgoing very soonafter
  radio it didnotgain pre-eminence until after
  WW2 . The early TV broadcasts were very
  strange events as theequipmentofthetime
  requiredtheperformersto sit inblacked-out
  studios scannedby an intense beamoflight .
  The studiomake-up includedred patches
  undertheeyesandbluelips .
  Principal Libraries
  Thefollowing listgivestheprincipal British
  libraries containingmateriallikelytobeof
  interestto Cthulhuinvestigators :
  The British Museum (Bloomsbury,
  London) ;
  The NationalLibraryofScotland
  (Edinburgh, founded 1925) ;
  The BodleianLibary, Oxford
  (goodfor orientalmanuscripts) ;
  The UniversityLibrary, Cambridge ;
  Trinity College Library, Cambridge ;
  TheCathedralLibraries ofDurham, York,
  Exeterand Hereford (Exeter specialises
  in Saxonworks whilst Herefordhas a
  superb, ifsmall collectionofancient
  Bibles, Greek, Roman andArabic
  books) ;
  John RylandsLibrary
  (Deansgate, Manchester) ;
  The Society ofAntiquaries
  (Archaeology -BurlingtonHouse,
  London)
  The Royal Geographical Society
  (Maps - London) ;
  The Theosophical Society
  (Occult-Bedford Square, London ; 45
  LancasterGateafter 1931) .
  We shouldalso mention the Bibliotheque
  Nationale in Paris . Though it painsthe
  Englishtoadmit it, the French National
  Libraryhas possibly thebest collectionof
  ancient manuscripts inthe world, thanksto
  Napoleon's acquisitiveness . Theonly rival is
  the Vatican, whichwill notbe open to
  investigators .
  Author-Pete Tamlyn
  
  Theorganisation oftheBritishpoliceinthe
  `20sand`30s wasverymuch as it is today.
  Mostcountieshadtheirownforce, headedby
  aChiefConstable, althoughsome hadjoint
  forces coveringmore thanone county, and
  Londonandotherlargecitieshad theirown
  forces aswell . Thecounty forces were fairly
  autonomous, but there was some central
  control throughthe HomeOffice. The
  differentforces variedwidely intheir use of
  newtechniques.
  Notethatthe Scotland Yard offices duringthe
  periodwere atthe old "New ScotlandYard",
  aredbrick building on TheEmbank-ment,
  not atthe new "New ScotlandYard" on
  Victoria Street . The Yard wasthe
  headquarters ofthe CriminalInvestigation
  Department(CID) as wellas the
  Metropolitan Police .
  Whatwas radically different fromthe
  Victorianerawas the improvementthathad
  beenmadeinpolice methods, particularly in
  the fieldofforensic science. The following
  extractsfromapublic lecture illustrate some
  ofthe techniques used .
  Forensics
  Extracts fromalecturegiven by Inspector
  CarltonofScotlandYard in 1923 :
  `Asyouprobablyknow, theofficial use of
  fingerprintsasameans ofidentification was
  onlyintroduced in 1901 . Up tillthen we still
  dependedon theBertillonsystem ofcollect-
  ingawhole seriesofphysical measurements
  foreachcriminal record. Overthelast
  twenty-odd yearswe'vebuiltupa libraryof
  morethan200,000sets ofprints, andof
  course thecollectiongoeson growing. Ihave
  toadmitthatwe don'thave an idealsystem of
  classification, but the information wehave
  hasstillproved to be worthmorethan its
  weight ingoldfromourpoint ofview.
  "Totakeprints weuseoneofthree methods,
  dependingon howlongago theprintswere
  left. Forolderprints, as long as there issome
  residualbodyoilremaining, iodine vapour
  doesthetrick. Fairly recentprintscanbe
  broughtoutusing osmium tetroxide - you may
  kiowitasosmicacid. Weprefertousethis
  methodifwecan, as itgivesa clearer result
  thanthevapour. Finally, with brandnew
  prints, wherethe oilhasn't hadtime to dry
  out, leadcarbonatepowder andan
  insufatorwillgive theclearest result ofall .
  Onceaprinthasbeenraised, aphotograph
  maythenbe takenfor comparison with those
  alreadyon record.
  "Something else thatwe arealways on the
  look-outfor is evidenceofbloodstains.
  Indeed, there is nowsometalk ofhuman
  bloodbeing identifiable in terms ofthree or
  fourdifferentgroups, butthis is still in the
  experimental stageandunlikely toimpress a
  judge. Wecan, however, prove thatastain is
  human bloodand, with abit ofexperience,
  tellhowlongithas beenthere.
  "Initsfreshlyspilt state, ifImayputitso
  bluntly, itwillbea red liquid. Assuming it
  hasfallen on somesurface where it is easily
  observed, we shouldsee itturn, quite
  quickly, toajelly-like substance. Then itwill
  begin toshrink and'harden atthe centre,
  leavinga traceofyellowish liquidatthe
  edges.
  `Afterabouttwohours, the centreofthe
  stain, stillgettingharder, willbegin toturn
  brown, whilst the liquidatthe edgeswill
  become transparent. Anhourlater, the liquid
  willprobablyhave disappearedaltogether,
  leavingthehardened centralportiona dark
  brown colour. Fromthispointonwards, the
  stain simplygrowsdarker, andthenbegins to
  breakdownuntil, after5or6days, you won't
  findmuch left exceptagreyishcrust. Of
  course, thesechanges willdependon the
  conditions atthetime- thehotter the weather
  the quickereverything happens.
  "Havingfound whatyoubelievetobea blood
  stain, you can takeasampleforanalysis . You
  place the bloodin asolutionofpotassium
  cyanideandwater (adding ammonia tothe
  solution ifthe stain isondyedmaterial) . If
  the stain isblood, it willreleasebubbles of
  oxygen. Howmuchdependson thetypeof
  blood-human bloodhasthemostoxygen of
  anycreature.
  "Ofcourse, itis not only the residue of
  human beings thatwe need totest . Our
  scientists arejustas usefulin the case of
  othermaterials. Forexample, the ageofa
  documentmaybefairly accuratelyjudgedby
  microscopiccomparison with the texture of
  writing materialsknown to havebeen
  produced atthedateallegedforthe
  document in question. Even when abullet
  cannotbefoundatthe scene ofacrime, we
  can distinguish between thedischarge ofan
  automaticpistol (which willcontain traces of
  blacklead) anda revolver (which willnot
  contain thatsubstance) ."
  Punishment
  Bythe `20sCapitalPunishmentwas only
  applicable to murderandtreason. Ofmaybe
  60 murder trials in agivenyear, perhaps 23
  would result in death sentences, and ofthose
  halfwouldbe pardoned . Womenwere much
  more likelyto begiven lightersentences and
  tobepardonedthanmen.
  Corporal Punishmenthadmore orless died
  out, thoughit was usedon occasions in cases
  ofrobbery withviolence. Instead, most
  serious offences resulted in imprisonment .
  The quality ofprison lifewas in astate offlux
  betweenthe rigid Victorian approach, with
  itslegacy oftreadmill, crank and hardlabour,
  andthe moremodernapproachby which
  offenders were "senttoprison asa
  punishment, not forapunishment". How an
  inmate is treatedmay welldepend on the
  policyoftheprison governorin question .
  Author-AndyBradbury
  17
  
  Entertainment
  The Cinema
  Intheabsence oftelevision, the `20sand `30s
  provedto bethe heydayofthecinema .
  Hollywood wasthedominant forceinthe
  industry eventhen, British film-making
  having allbut diedduring the war. In 1927, the
  Government hadtopassan Actlimiting the
  percentage offoreignfilmsthatcouldbe
  shown, inorderto helpthe British industry.
  Charlie Chaplin andhis fellow silent comics
  weretheprincipal starsofthe '20s, butwith
  the arrival of`talkies' in the late '20s,
  dramaticfilms becameeasierto make and a
  newbreed ofstars such as GretaGarbo,
  Marlene Dietrich, the MarxBrothers and
  W C Fieldstookover. The bestknown British
  film oftheperiodis probably The Thiriy-
  Nine Steps, anadaptationofaJohnBuchan
  novel . AlfredHitchcock alsobeganhis
  careeratthistime .
  The Theatre
  AlthoughShaw wasundoubtablythe leading
  playwrightoftheage, Noel Coward's
  amusing, andoften disturbingproductions
  were possibly more popular. Balletenjoyed a
  periodofrisingpopularity, especially after
  thetouroftheRussianBalletwithits famous
  impresario, Diaghilev, andtalentedstar,
  Nijinski .
  Two productions ofspecial interestto
  investigators mightbe Stravinsky's ballet,
  The RiteofSpring, andKarel Capek's play,
  R UR. The Ritewas firstperformed in 1913,
  whentheParis audiencewas outragedbythe
  violent, rhythmicbutquiteunmelodic score.
  Thestory isbasedonpagan Russianfolklore,
  andin the final act ayoung girl dances herself
  to deathas asacrifce to the godofSpring .
  Capekwas aCzech, already well known for
  his unusual satire, TheLife oftheInsects,
  which features insectsbehaving in remark-
  ablyhuman-likeways, including the
  prophetically Nazi-like ants . R U Ris a
  ventureinto science fictionand concerns a
  company whichmakes mechanical people .
  Theword whichCapekinventedto describe
  suchmachines was "robot".
  Literature
  Britishliteratureflourishedbetween the
  wars . Whatis more, authors found
  themselves able toliveby selling books,
  ratherthanhavingtowork through
  serialisations in newspapers, asdidDickens
  and ConanDoyle. Alarge number of
  contemporary authorshavealready been
  mentioned in the Biographies andCharacters
  sections,but therearemany more. Hereis a
  shortlist :
  JohnBuchan, EM Forster, GrahamGreene,
  ChristopherIsherwood, JamesJoyce,
  Somerset Maugham, A AMilne, George
  Orwell, J B Priestley, Arthur Ransome,
  Dylan Thomas, EdgarWallace, Hugh
  Walpole, Virginia Woolf.
  Sport
  Most ofBritain'smajorsporting institutions
  were founded duringthelaterhalfofthe 19th
  Centuryand, by 1919, were wellest-ablished .
  Althoughrugbywasthe preferredwinter
  gameofthe upperclasses andhorseracing
  wasa great spectator sport, thenational
  pastimesofthe countrywere
  undoubtedly football (soccer)and cricket .
  Theyalso providedoneofthefewmeans
  wherebyaworking class mancould achieve
  fame and fortune .
  In cricket, thecounty championship was
  more orlessidentical to thatwhichexists
  today, although one-day matches were
  unknown . Regular testswere played against
  South Africa, the West Indies, Indiaand New
  Zealand,butby farthemost important
  confrontationwasthatbetween Englandand
  Australia .
  AlthoughAustralia's Don Bradman wasthe
  premiercricketeroftheage, he by nomeans
  had thingshis ownway. English batsmen
  such as JackHobbs and LenHuttonwerejust
  as capable ofgetting big scores, indeed
  Hutton made 364out ofEngland's massive
  total of903 at The Ovalin 1938. As with
  today, fastbowlersweremuch inthe news .
  The infamous `bodyline' series of 1932-33
  became notoriousbecauseofthealleged
  tactics ofthe Englishbowlers, Larwood and
  Voce, ofbowling attheAustralianbatsmen
  ratherthanatthe wickets .
  The influenceofcricketover theEnglish
  aristocracy should notbe underestimated .
  Wsden, the cricket yearbook, sold almost as
  wellas the Bible, and itis quite incharacter
  for an English investigatorto delayhis
  enquiries fora dayortwo ifthereis a test
  matchonnearby.
  Themajor soccerclubs ofthe periodwere
  fairly much the same as they are today,
  though some famousnames suchasWest
  Ham Utd., Blackburn Rovers and Preston
  North End have since sunkintoobscurity.
  Only Arsenalhavealways beenintheFirst
  Division, andmighty ManchesterUnited
  came within one pointofbeing relegated
  Don Brtulman - July 191930
  A Slip, A Hit, and the crowd's ovation:
  %he young manfromNew South Wales.
  A SLIP, A HIT, AND THE CROWD'S OVATION : THE YOUNG MAN FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.
  p
  The personal success of Bradman somewhat outweighed the team interest in the third Test match
  at Leeds, at any rate during the first F
  innings
  .
  The progress of the total of 334 from this young player was thus :-oz runs in ninety-six minutes, his double century in two
  hundred and twenty minutes, and a score of 309 at the end of the first day's play .
  The great question raised by Don Bradman's remarkable
  innings (following, as it does, on rat and 254 in the first and second Tests) is what will happen to Australia when their great scorer fails to
  find his form, which must sooner or later happen .
  Except perhaps Woodfull, there is no member of the visiting team who, on his form so
  far, can be absolutely relied upon to make runs against Larwood, Tate, or some of our other bowlers.
  from Division 2 in 1934 . The Third Division
  was founded in 1920, butthefollowing year
  was expanded and split into one section for
  The N,
  thenorthandone forthe south . There was no
  it did n
  FourthDivision .
  WWII
  the poc
  Theoutstanding players ofthe period were
  ofthe I
  William `Dixie' Dean(Everton 1925-38) and
  and prf
  Sir Stanley Matthews (Stoke City 1931-47) .
  his ser
  Dean scored 12goals in hisfirst5matches for
  valued
  England, and 60 forEverton in their
  govern
  championship-winning season of 1927-28 .
  In 1911
  Author- Pete Tamlyn
  Nation
  comps
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  TheNa
  ,itdid notcomeinto existence untilafter
  ~41W11. There were some provisions to help
  epoorin case ofneed, buta wealthy Briton
  theperiod would havehad aprivate doctor,
  idprobably paidformedicaltreatmentfor
  s servants as well, particularly iftheywere
  Suedemployees . Thepoor reliedon
  ovemnent aid .
  .1
  t -
  6
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  6
  ing theDoctor
  ional Health Service as wenow know
  order to savegovernmentmoney, Lloyd
  rge,who was inchargeofsetting up the
  hems, chooseto administer itthrough
  iendly Societies . These organisations were
  ded in previous centuries asa meansof
  iding medical insurance forthepoor.
  tubersofaFriendly Society wouldpay a
  penceaweekinto the societyfundand, in
  the society lookedafterthemand
  irfamilies ifthey fell sick . Theprincipal
  ocieties were the Oddfellows, Foresters,
  .
  habites, Hearts ofOak and National
  Tosit . Someofthemwere purely financial
  ,nature, butothers hada social sideand
  irerunina similarwayto Freemasons .
  nningNationalInsurance throughthe
  iendly Societiesprovedto be something of
  istake . Whilst some were very wellrun
  l,through cleverinvestments, were ableto
  theirmembers more than the
  ernment stipulated, other societieswere
  efficient andprovedunable to paythe
  toryamount . Working class characters
  needtovisitthedoctorwillbe asked
  ch Friendly Societythey are insured
  ughbeforetheycan receive their free
  mment .
  s National Insurance, the Liberal
  ment also introduced several other
  nns aimedathelping the poor. These
  edoldagepensions, free mealsfor
  children and unemployment benefit .
  all ofthesebenefits were available
  itheverypoor(perhaps athird ofthe
  lation) ratherthan to the countryas a
  . Anyone richenoughto be an
  igatorisunlikelyto becovered .
  blic Health
  neralhealth ofthepublic, although
  bytoday's standards, was greatly
  oved . Diseases suchas typhoid, cholera
  ariawere well undercontrol, andthe
  threats camefromscarlet fever,
  eria, tuberculoisis, pneumonia and
  heart Disease . Cancer was onthe increase,
  butwasnowherenearthe majorproblem it is
  today.
  The Temperance Movement
  Temperance (abstainingfrom alcohol) was
  quite popularduring the period, although
  therewas no governmentprohibition inthe
  UK as there was inthe USA . No figures are
  available formembershipoftheTemperance
  Society, but it was sufficiently important for
  George Vand QueenMary tobe its patrons .
  Lady Astorwas also aprominent
  Temperance campaigner - indeed, she
  introducedthe 1923 Billthatraised the
  minimumdrinking age from 16 to 18 . Perhaps
  becauseofall this eminent support for
  Temperance, licencing hourswerefairly
  shortby 19th Century standards .
  Before the Great War, pubs were allowed to
  remainopen for 17 hours a day (19 hoursin
  London) . The wartimeGovernment reduced
  this to5fh hours dueto theemergency, but
  whenthe warwas over it tookuntil 1921 for
  the situation tobechanged, and eventhen
  only 8 hours aday were permitted (9 in
  London) . Alarge numberofhotels,
  particularlyinWales and Scotland, were
  `temperance houses', ie, they did not serve
  alcohol . Investigators who are fond ofa
  tipplewouldbe well advised to check on this
  before bookinga room .
  Asylums
  The Lunacy Actof1890 established the basis
  onwhich all insane asylumswere
  administeredduring the `20s . The theory
  behind this Actwas that lunacywas largely a
  legal problem - the insane neededtobe put
  away to protect society, and fortheirown
  safety. Accordingly, asylumconditions were
  Founded
  t85t .
  Research Institute
  Uste
  built r9ro.
  Incorporated underRoyalCharter.
  FULHAM ROAD,LONDON .
  NO LETTERS.
  NO PAYMENTS .
  The First Special Hospital in London for the Treatment of . Cancer.
  ANNUAL
  SUBSCRIPTIONS,
  DONATIONS
  AND
  LEGACIES ARE EARNESTLY SOLICITED .
  Funds are irnnediatel.y needed Jt r Building Exten-
  V,the first part o) which will
  be
  Wards for
  eddle-Irwome'" Patients, who can contribute
  towards their cast.
  Bankers : Courts &CO
  . . e41, Strand. T. Courtney Buchanan, Sec.
  "That was the cry of a little girl in
  St. John's Hospital.
  It illustrates
  the fact that a sufferer from skin
  complaints -is too often regarded
  as a nuisance-to be shunned-
  than someone to be helped.
  Won't you sympathise and help to
  provide necessary skilled attention
  and treatment for these sufferers
  ?
  ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL
  for Diseases of the Skin,
  49, Leicester Square, W.C.2.
  PATRONEs-HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN .
  TREATS
  1,000 PATIENTS WEEKLY.
  Patients are seen at e9, Leicester Square, every afternoon
  at z,
  andevery evening, except Saturday. at b.
  Secretary-Superintendent .
  'Phone Gerrard 8680
  .
  GEORGE A. ARNAUDIN.
  very similarto those in prisons, withlong,
  silentcorridors, lockeddoors and an
  emphasis on confinement ratherthan cure .
  Therewerethree waysin which alunatic
  could beadmittedto an asylum . An "urgency
  order" was available on the applicationofa
  relativeofthepatient, backed bythe
  diagnosis ofonedoctor. Suchorders were
  only valid for7days - enoughto givethe
  lunatictimeto calm down . For longer
  confinement, an "orderonpetition" was
  required . Inthiscase, therelative hadto
  presentthe diagnosis oftwodoctorsto a local
  magistrate . Additionally, criminalscould be
  certified insane duringtrials . Again, the
  judge requiredthe opinion oftwo doctors
  beforemaking suchan order.
  Patientscould notbe releasedwithout the
  authority ofthe asylumdoctors . Ifthey were
  committedontherequestofa relative, that
  relative couldinitiatethereleaseprocess .
  Conditions inasylums at the end ofthe war
  were verypoor. There was considerable
  overcrowding, especially asseveral asylums
  were commandeered as militaryhospitals .
  Also, there was agreat shortage oftrained
  staffas somany ofthemwere killed inthe
  war.
  In 1930, athenew Mental Treatment Act
  movedBritaintowards amore medicalview
  ofinsanity. The Actre-definedthecategories
  ofadmission, includingtheintro-duction of
  voluntaryadmission . Voluntary patients
  could dischargethemselvesat72hours
  notice rather thanhaving towait for a
  decisionfromthedoctors . Certification
  through trial remained, buttheother
  admission categories were combined,
  requiring an applicationfroma relative, two
  doctors' opinions, and thatthepatientwas
  incapableofexpressing anintelligent
  opinion ofhis own .
  Author-Pete Tamlyn
  19
  
  Money& Prices
  British coinageduring the `20s and `30s still
  usedtheold system of 12penceto the shilling
  and 20 shillings tothepound . Abbreviations
  usedwere `d' forpence, `s' forshillings and
  `£' forpounds, although amounts were often
  written ass/d, evenwhentheamountwas
  over El (eg, 30/6is 30 shillingsand sixpence
  or£1 10s 6d) . Manyprices, particularly of
  high quality goods, wereoften quotedin
  guineas ; ie, multiples of21s .
  The coins and notes in common use were 1/d
  (farthing), 'hdand Idin bronze; 3d, 6d, Is,
  2/6(halfcrown) and5s (crown) insilver ; £1
  in gold (sovereign) and 10s, £1 and£5 as
  notes. Largernotesdid exist, but evena£5
  note was so rarethat shopkeepers usually
  asked customerstosignit on the backbefore
  Goldfob watch. .
  Stop watch . .
  Ladies silverwristwatch . .
  Spectacles . .
  Microscope . .
  Telescope. .
  Pocketcompass . .
  Boxcamera . .
  ZeissIkon Camera . .
  KodakPortable CineCamera . .
  Film, developing &printing . .
  Radioreceiver. .
  Ball ofstring. .
  Parker Fountain Pen . .
  Portabletypewriter. .
  Handbag . .
  Trunk . .
  Brandy flask . .
  Cricket Bat . .
  `Stowaway' foldingboat . .
  Webley 12borehammerless shotgun . .
  100 shotgun cartridges . .
  .45 revolver. .
  100 revolverbullets . .
  Butterfly net. .
  Naturalist's dissection kit . .
  Penknife . .
  Skis . .
  Picnicbasket(4persons) . .
  Sleeping bag . .
  Campbedwithmosquito net . .
  Tent 10ftx8ft . .
  Travellingspirit stove . .
  Gardening scythe . .
  Electric torch . .
  Portable `searchlight'. .
  Traveller's medicinecase . .
  Bottle ofAspirin (100) . .
  Bottle ofhydrochloric acid(1 pint) . .
  ChurchProcessional Cross . .
  CopyofBurke's Peerage. .
  London Post Office Directory. .
  Wisden Cricketers' Almanac . .
  Dunlop BritishTouringAtlas. .
  Baedeker Guides to foreign countries . .
  The Daily Mail . .
  The Times . .
  20
  accepting it . In 1937, thesilver 3d was
  replaced bythe famous 12-sidedbronze coin .
  Rememberthatcoins weredatedwith the
  year ofissue ontheback, andalways showed
  thecurrentmonarch'shead on the front.
  Many oftheprices givenbeloware taken
  fromthe 1929 Harrodscatalogue. During the
  period, Harrods' position as supplier ofall
  the lady's orgentleman's requirementswas
  absolute . Theirtelegram address was
  "Everything Harrods London", and when
  they said `everything' they meantevery-
  thing, including banking, insurance, funeral
  and library services, hire ofdance bands,
  building and decorating and portrait
  painting . Delivery was freein Londonand
  the suburbs . Just phone Sloane 1234, any
  houroftheday, andquoteyouraccount
  number. . . .
  Obviously, theprices givenbelow are only
  examples . Everythinglistedcould befound
  as amore expensive luxurymodel atHarrods
  and many thingscouldbe obtained cheaper
  elsewhere . Prices did vary alittlewith time,
  butby muchless than the variation found
  betweencheap andluxury versions ofthe
  sameitem . Theexchange ratewas $5 to the £
  atthe end ofWWI, fallingto $4to the£by
  1930.
  Authors- MarcusRowland,
  Chris ElliottandDickEdwards
  The
  This
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  brea
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  abai
  The
  ofth
  £&10.0
  Chauffeur's Uniform. .
  £5.15.0
  £6.15.0
  Eveningdress suit . .
  11 Gus
  £1.10.0
  White suitfor tropical climes . .
  30/-
  6/6
  Plainwhite shirt . .
  10/6
  £4.10.0
  Eveningdress shirt . .
  15/6
  £3.15.0
  Man's shoes (OxfordBrogues) . .
  69/-
  £2.5.0
  Pith Helmet . .
  27/6
  £1.1.0
  Bowler Hat . .
  25/-
  £12.5.0
  Top Hat . .
  32/6
  £25.0.0
  Cloth cap. .
  10/6
  8dperpicture
  Ladies shoes . .
  49/6
  £13.0.0
  Silk stockings . .
  8/11
  5 1/2d
  Maid'suniform . .
  12/5
  21/-
  Leather driving coat . .
  £15.15.0
  £8.15.0
  11/6
  Tin ofHeinzBaked Beans . .
  6d
  £9.12.0
  Blue Mountaincoffee beans(lb) . .
  3/4
  10/-
  JarofRobertson's Jam . .
  11 1/2d
  33/-
  Bottle ofRose's LimeCordial . .
  2/-
  £17.17.0
  £22.0.0
  Tin ofoysters . .
  1/1
  15/-
  Tin ofHeinz Tomato Soup. .
  6d
  £2.6.0
  Tin ofChinaTea(5 lb) . .
  24/8
  5/-
  Dundee cake (21b) . .
  3/6
  5/6
  Loafofbread . .
  1/-
  £1.15.0
  Dozen eggs . .
  2/2
  8/6
  Pound ofbutter. .
  2/-
  £2.12.6
  Pound ofsteak . .
  1/5
  £7.19.0
  80/-
  Bristol Cream Sherry. .
  144/-
  42/-
  Cockburn'sRuby Port . .
  66/-
  £14.18.9
  Johnny WalkerRed Label Whisky. .
  12/6
  7/-
  20cigarettes . .
  1/-
  7/-
  Pintofbeer. .
  6d
  10/6
  12/6
  1stclass rail fare London- Southampton . .
  16/5
  £2.9.6
  10 day Mediterraneancruise . .
  20Gns
  1/6
  ReturnflightLondon - Paris . .
  £12 .0.0
  1/6
  Gallonofpetrol . .
  1/7
  £76.0.0
  Bicycle . .
  £5.5.0
  105/-
  BSA500cc motorbike. .
  £57.10.0
  55/-
  4mile bus fare . .
  4d
  5/-
  3/-
  3-bedroom semi-detachedhouse . .
  £600.0.0
  12/-
  Luxury hotel room (1 night) . .
  8/6
  ld
  Hotel breakfast. .
  2/6
  2d
  Hotel dinner. .
  5/6
  
  y
  id
  ods
  ,r
  te,
  nd,
  WS
  TheTreaty ofVersailles
  ThiswastheresultofthePeace Conference
  whichmet todecidethe fate ofthe defeated
  nations afterWWI . Themostimportant
  protagonists were Lloyd George,
  Clemenceau ofFranceandthe American
  President, WoodrowWilson, andallthree
  hadwidely different ideas abouthowtotreat
  theirdefeated enemies . Clemenceauwanted
  completerevenge, something that would
  ensurethat Germany could neveragain
  invadethe sacredsoil ofFrance . Wilson, in
  contrast, wasamanofideals, intent on
  making ajustpeace and layingthe
  foundationsofanew world order. Lloyd
  George, although moderate atheart, came
  freshfromanelection whichaboundedwith
  slogans such as "squeezeGermanyuntilthe
  pipssqueak" and "hangthe Kaiser".
  Inthe Treaty Germany losta lotofterritory
  inEurope : Alsace-Lorrainewas restoredto
  France, theimportantSaarcoalfieldwas to
  beadministeredbythe League ofNationsfor
  fifteen years andthe Rhinelandwas to be
  occupiedby allied troops for asimilar
  period .In all,Germanylost over6million
  inhabitants, about 10% of its population, and
  largeareasofstrategically valuable territory.
  Additionally, allGermancolonieswere
  cededtothe allies.
  Ifthiswasn'tbad enough, the Treaty imposed
  strict limitson Germany's military strength
  andimposedaheavy fineto compensate for
  thedamages caused by the war. Initially, this
  wassetat £6,600million, an impossible sum.
  Afterthe Germanhyper-inflationof
  1923-24, during whichthepriceofa loafof
  breadrosetothousandsofMarks, the Dawes
  planreduced therepayments to cover only
  those sums Germanyhadhadto borrow totry
  torepaythedebt . This still proved
  unworkable, and `reparations', as the
  paymentswereknown, werefinally
  abandonedin1932 .
  TheTreaty also provided forthe foundation
  oftheLeagueofNations, anorganisation
  dedicatedto themaintenance ofworldpeace.
  Needlesstosay, Germany wasexcluded .
  The General Strike
  Aftera shortpost-warboom, theBritish
  economy slumpedbadly, withfallingexports
  andmass unemployment asa consequence.
  Ofparticularimportance were the problems
  ofthecoal industry. Coalwasbadly hit,
  partly because ofthe riseofnew fuels - gas,
  oil and electricity - andpartly through
  competitionfrommoremodernmining
  industries in Germany andPoland . The
  crunch camewhenFrance withdrewfrom its
  occupationoftheGermanindustrial areaof
  theRuhr, andcoalprices fell sharply in
  anticipation ofthe Germans gettingbackto
  full production . Themine ownersannounced
  a reduction inwages and anincrease in hours.
  Prime Minister Baldwindelayedthecrisis
  for afewmonths byprovidingasubsidy and
  launching an inquiry under SirHerbert
  Samuel . Unfortunately, theSamuel
  Commission reported in favour ofthe
  owners . The Government subsidyranout on
  May 1st 1926, andtalksbetweenGovernment
  andtheTUCbrokedownthe followingday
  afterprintworkers refusedto producean
  issue oftheDailyMailwhich attackedthe
  unions .
  On May 4th, theTUCcalled aGeneral Strike
  in supportoftheminers . Theindustries
  affected included gas, electricity, iron &
  steel, building, printing andrail and road
  transport. However, the Governmenthad
  prepared welland, aided by thousands of
  middle class volunteers, managed tokeep the
  country running smoothly. Further-more,
  many Labourleaders, includingRamsay
  MacDonald, feared the strike mightlead toa
  Russian-stylerevolutionand refused to
  support it . TheChurchcondemned the strike
  andtheBBCwasonly allowedtobroadcast
  Governmentstatements.
  Despite thebest efforts ofChurchilland
  unionleader ErnestBevinto promote
  discord, the strikewas actuallyfairly
  peaceable, withpolice andpicketsoften
  indulging in friendly football matches .
  Nevertheless, after9 days the TUC realised
  thestrike was having noeffect andcalled it
  off. The miners continued the struggle alone
  for 6 months, but were eventually forced to
  capitulate . The followingyearthe
  Govermentpassed the Trades Disputes Act
  which made strikes in support ofother
  workers illegal.
  TheDecline ofthe Liberals
  and RiseofLabour
  Although theLiberal Party ruledthe country
  for 8 yearspriorto WWI and itsleader, Lloyd
  George, led the coalitiongovernmentfor
  severalyears after, withina decade it wasall
  butdestroyed.
  The rotstarted withthe Government's
  incompetent runningofthewar. ThenLloyd
  George split the partyby hisruthless
  maneoveuring for power. The manhe
  replaced as Prime Minister, Asquith, formed
  arival group which existeduntil 1923 . All
  this timethe Labour Party was growing in
  power.
  The Representationofthe People Actof1918
  wasacrucial factorinthe rise ofLabour. In
  givingthevoteto all menover 21 and women
  over31, itmadethe industrialworking class
  themajority voting block in thecountry.
  Wealthy businessmen, former staunch
  Liberals, switched to theConservatives as
  the surest way ofkeepingLabour out. Once
  Labour hadformeda governmentin 1924and
  peoplehad seen that Ramsay MacDonald
  was not anotherLenin, fearofLabour
  evaporated andtheLiberalvote collapsed
  completely.
  The General Strike 1926
  
  HISTORY
  The Zinoviev Letter
  Despite -or, perhaps, because of- the riseof
  theLabour Party, therewas considerablefear
  ofCommunism inBritain . Littlewas known
  ofthe new Russian stateandmany British
  Socialists openly supported it . The sortof
  scarethatcouldarise iswell illustratedby the
  eventssurroundin.gthesecondGeneral
  Electionof1924 . Duringtheelection
  campaignthe DailyMail printedaletterfrom
  aMrZinoviev ofMoscow to theBritish
  Communist Party giving instructions asto
  how to organise a revolution . The Mail went
  onto state that Ramsay MacDonaldandhis
  Home Secretary wereamong thoseonthe
  circulation list . Theletter was later provedto
  be afake, butLabour lost the election .
  Ireland
  Ireland hadbeen agitating for Home Rule
  sincethe mid-Nineteenth Century. A Bill
  granting it waspassedin 1914, but was
  promptly suspended fortheduration ofthe
  conflict . Aminorityhopedto seize
  independance whilst Britainwas pre-
  occupied, and- with Germanhelp- launched
  arebellion inEaster 1916 . The Irishpeople
  failedto riseinsupportandthe revoltwas
  crushed . Mostofthe rebelleaders were
  executed, butone, Eamon deValera, was
  saved thanks tohis American citizenship.
  Treatment oftherebels was so harshthatthe
  independencemovement, SinnFein, now led
  by deValera and with popular backing inthe
  US, grew rapidly.
  In the 1918 election, Sinn Feinwon 73 ofthe
  105 Irish seats . They refusedto sit in
  Parliament, instead forming the Dail Eireann
  inDublin. De Valerawas electedPresident
  andpromptly demandedthe establishment of
  an Irish Republic . Lloyd Georgetriedto
  defusethe situationwiththeGovernmentof
  Ireland Actof 1920 whichcreatedthe
  partitionofIreland intothe free, Catholic
  22
  south andtheBritish, Protestant north . The
  Irish FreeState, asthe south was called, was
  to be aDominion ofthe Empire .
  This caused asplitin Sinn Fein . Michael
  CollinsandWilliamCosgrave went along
  with Lloyd George andformed a govern-
  ment, butdeValerafoundedtheIRAand
  tookto guerillawarfare . Britaincountered
  withthe `Black&Tans', recently demobbed
  soldiers sent tokeep orderby any means
  possible. Both sidescommittedterrible
  atrocities, includingthe assassination of
  Collins bytheIRAin 1922 . Overt warfare
  ended in 1923, butde Valeracarried on the
  struggleby terrorismuntil 1932, when he
  resortedto politicalmeans and succeeded
  Cosgrave as PrimeMinister.
  There then followed aneconomic war
  betweenBritainandtheIrish Free State
  whichde Valera finally abandoned in 1936
  becauseoftheterrible effects itwas having on
  Irish farming. In 1937, he issued a revised
  constitutionrenouncing all linkswith
  Britain, givingtheCatholicChurcha special
  and powerfulpositionandchanging the
  country's nametoEire . The British
  government did notfinallyacceptthis state of
  affairsuntil 1949.
  The Abdication
  Duringhis timeas Prince ofWales, Edward
  VIII fell in love withan American, Wallis
  Simpson . She divorcedher (second) husband
  and hopedtomarry thenew King . However,
  she wasa foreigner, and re-marriage after
  divorcewas, atthe time, contrary to the
  teaching ofthe Church ofEngland, ofwhich
  the reigning Monarch is the head . Special
  provision ofParliamentwouldneed tobe
  made ifMrs Simpsonwereto becomeQueen
  and, backedbythe Archbishop of
  Canterburyand the Times, Baldwinrefused .
  TheKing hadhis supporterstoo, notably
  Churchilland Lord Beaverbrook . He hoped
  tocometo some accommodation whereby he
  couldmarry Wallis without her becoming
  Queen. However, withthematterthreatening
  to splitthecountry andwith Baldwin
  refusing to give way, Edward abdicatedon
  December 11th, 1936 .
  Theex-King wasgiventhetitle Dukeof
  Windsor, andpromptly left forFrance where
  heandWalliswere married . Therest ofthe
  RoyalFamilyshunnedthe new Duchess,
  refusingto accordherthetraditional title of
  `RoyalHighness'. Edward wasbriefly
  courted byHitler, whohopedto prey on the
  Duke's sympathy forthepoor and sethimup
  as apuppetking whenBritain was subdued .
  Eventually, however, theexiled lovers drifted
  into obscurity. Theaffairalso finally
  establishedthePrime Minister as the
  effectiverulerofthecountry ratherthanthe
  King .
  The Empire
  Theslow andpainfulprocessofdismantling
  the Empire "onwhichthesun never sets" had
  begun evenbefore the outbreak ofWWI . The
  `white' colonieswere thefirstofficially togo,
  being granted the status ofindependently
  governed `Dominions', and laterbecoming
  states intheirownright, albeitunderthe
  British Crown . But someofthe `black'
  colonies, notably India, werealso agitating
  hard forchange.
  In 1922, theBritish protectorate ofEgypt
  endedwith that country becomingan
  independentkingdom . A special treaty
  giving Britain controlofthe Suez Canalwas
  signedin 1936.
  TheGovernmentofIndiaActof 1919 started
  that country on the road to self-government,
  butwas swiftly followedby the Amritsar
  Massacre in which British troops killedover
  300 rioting Indians . UnlikedeValera, the
  Indian nationalist leader, MahatmaGhandi,
  was anavowedpacifist, but hispolicyofnon-
  cooperation withBritish rulewas every bitas
  successful, ifnotmore so, than the IRAs
  terrorcampaign .
  InresponsetoGhandi's campaignofcivil
  disobedience, theBritish governmentsetupa
  Commissionand series ofconferances,
  culminating ina new actin 1935. This
  established 11 native-run provinces ruled
  overbya British-controlled Federation .
  Before the scheme could getproperlyunder
  way, thewarwith Germany intervened, with
  theIndians furious thatthe Viceroy had
  declared waron theirbehalfwithout
  consultingnative leaders .
  The Empire- Facts and Figures
  Although itexisted fora comparatively short
  time, theBritishEmpire was the largest
  empiretheworld has ever known . Atits
  heightitcovered about 1/3 ofthe world's land
  surfaceandincluded more than 1/5thofthe
  world's population . The following figures
  arefor 1932 :
  Author- CarolineRogers
  The pK
  ofaqu
  centul
  intere
  found
  organ
  Goldc
  are fti
  They ,
  wellp
  perioi
  invest
  ofani
  religi
  ofpe(
  Alei
  Alth
  Crow
  numt
  most
  powe
  revol
  sorcc
  Macs
  achic
  thep,
  impc
  throe
  Born
  dead
  rein(
  His 1
  were
  from
  had :
  relia
  gift
  Cro`
  exit
  relu
  hisl
  Brit:
  led I
  pro[
  his t
  Hir.
  nun,
  Her
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  as ir
  lear
  Chr
  wou
  pow
  Des
  rath
  enoi
  tent
  The
  tow
  Fiet
  Country
  Area/sq. mites
  Population
  UnitedKingdom
  94,633
  46,540,385
  Irish Free State
  27,000
  2,972,000
  India
  1,900,000
  345,853,678
  Ceylon &Maldives
  26,000
  4,550,000
  East Asia
  138,550
  5,900,000
  Canada
  3,842,750
  9,100,000
  West Indies
  115,500
  2,200,000
  Australia
  3,100,000
  6,570,085
  NewZealand
  105,000
  1,500,000
  South Africa
  1,238,000
  7,200,000
  West Africa
  600,000
  20,000,000
  East&CentralAfrica
  750,000
  16,000,000
  Mauritius & Seychelles
  900
  400,000
  Gibralter,Cyprus&
  3,721
  560,000
  Malta
  Antartica
  2,970,000
  0
  
  Iheperiodbetweenthe wars wassomething
  bffaquiettime forthe Occult. Theturn ofthe
  centuryhad seenagreatupsurge ofpublic
  interestinthingssupernatural, andthe
  foundingoftwoofthegreatest Occult
  rganisationsofmodemtimes. These, the
  GoldenDawnandtheTheosophical Society,
  arefullydescribed in Cthulhuby Gaslight .
  They will not becoveredhere as they were
  wellpasttheirpeakby 1919. However, the
  perioddid seeagrowthin scientific
  investigation ofthe Occult, andthebeginings
  ofan interest inwitchcraftandpagan
  religion . There areplenty ofstrange groups
  ofpeople forinvestigators totangle with .
  Aleister Crowley
  AlthoughamemberoftheGolden Dawn,
  Crowley deserves special treatment here fora
  numberofreasons. He is, without doubt, the
  mostfamous sorcererofmodern times . His
  powers seem to have been phenomenal, his
  reportedmagical feats includingthe reputed
  sorcerousmurderofGoldenDawnleader,
  MacGregorMathers, and the stupendous
  achievementofturningoneofhis disciples,
  thepoetVictorNeuberg, into adonkey. More
  importantly, hewas aliveandactive
  throughoutthe `20sand `30s .
  Bornin 1875, shortly beforeEliphasLevi's
  death,Crowley isgenerally believed tobe a
  reincarnationofthefamous French sorcerer.
  Hispre-war activitieswith the GoldenDawn
  were financed largely through aninheritance
  from his mother, butby the endofWWIhe
  had spent mostofthisandwas increasingly
  reliant on income from hiswritings andon
  giftsfromhis disciples.
  Crowley had spent most ofthe waryears in
  exile in America, wherehis bitterness atthe
  reluctanceoftheEnglish worldto recognise
  his literarygenius andthe refusal ofthe
  British Governmentto employhim as a spy
  ledhim into writing pro-German
  propaganda . However, in 1920,together with
  histwomistresses, the AmericanLeah
  Hirsig, and Ninette Shumway, a French
  nursemaid, he moved to Ceflauin Sicily.
  Herehe established The Sacred Abbey of
  Thelema . `Abbey' is theright word, for
  Crowleyintended his establishment tobejust
  as much acentreofmagicaldevotionand
  Teaming as anordinaryabbeywas of
  Christianpietyand scholarship. Many
  would-bedisciplesvisitedhim and much
  powerful magic wasperformedthere.
  Despitethe constant string ofvisitors, or
  ratherbecausemostofthem were notrich
  enough toshower Crowleywith gifts, money
  tended to be somethingofa problemat
  Thelema . In 1922 Crowley turned once more
  to writing, sellinghis novelDiaryofa Drug
  Fiend, toCollins. The book concerns an
  aristocratic couplewhobecome addicted to
  cocaine andheroin, and who, aftermany
  debauched adventuresaroundEurope,
  discoverThelema (called Telepylus in the
  book) where they receiveenlightenmentand
  arecured.
  Whilstnot letting on the fullextent ofhis
  involvement, Crowley says that `Telepylus' is
  a real placeand offers to putanyonewho
  needsits help intouch with the holy
  establishment . Doubtlesshe washopingfor a
  fewpaying customers. Unfortunatelythe
  bookwas siezed uponby JamesDouglas of
  theSundayExpressand `exposed' afterthe
  manner forwhichtabloid newspapers are
  now famous . Another newspaper, Horatio
  Bottomley's John Bull, alsotook up the story.
  Crowley was frontpage news .
  Matters were madeworse in early 1923 when
  RaoulLoveday, avisitor toThelema, diedof
  hepatitisafterdrinking from alocal
  mountain spring . Loveday's wife, BettyMay,
  who hatedCrowley, went straight to Douglas
  with her story. Once again, theBritishpress
  was full ofCrowley mania. Thesorcerer
  probably revelled initto some extent -he did
  afterall title himself`The Great Beast' and
  was proud ofhis reputation forwickedness -
  but the controversy cameto theattention of
  thenewly victorious Mussolini who
  promptly expelled the `Wickedest Man in the
  World' fromItaly.
  Crowley spent the restofthedecade
  wandering around Europein searchof
  patrons andnewmistresses, residing mainly
  inFrance andGermany before returningto
  England in 1929. Hethenembarked on a
  rather foolishattemptto raise money through
  libel suits against people whohadcalledhim
  wicked (!). This servedmainly to get him
  backinto thePress, andto remind various
  creditors thathe wasbackin England.
  Towardsthe end ofthe `30s, he finally
  managedto settle down and supporthimself
  by publishing hismagical writings and his
  autobiography (or `Confessions' as itwas
  called) .
  As with therestofthe GoldenDawn,
  Crowley'smagical practicesand beliefs bear
  little superficial resemblanceto Mythos
  orthodoxy. However, theBeast's favourite
  mottowas `DoWhatThouWiltShall bethe
  Whole ofthe Law'. Itisinconceivablethat,
  havingdiscovered the Mythos, whichsucha
  great sorcerer surelywoulddo, hewould
  have failed to dabble in it .
  Like Mathersbefore him, Crowley claimed
  authority granted himby `Secret Chiefs'
  whose truenature he was anxious to hide
  from hisfollowers - thesecould indeed be
  the Great OldOnes, oreven the OuterGods .
  Much ofhismagical knowledgewas said to
  come fromhis own `Guardian Angel',
  Aiwass, whomhemetthroughthe invocation
  ofEgyptian deities. Crowley describes
  Aiwass as a "tall, darkman in histhirties". Of
  allthe possibletrueidentities forhim, it is
  most likely thatthis super-natural patronwas
  Nyarlathotep, one ofwhose forms issaid to
  be a swarthy, Egyptian-looking human.
  It shouldalsobe notedthatCrowley's
  passions in life -besides magic, drugs (of
  whichhepartookofevery kindhe could
  discover), women (ofwhich hepartookas
  many as hecould layhis hands on) and
  notoriety - also includedtheunusual subject
  ofmountaineering . Indeed, hetook part in a
  number ofprestigious ascentsofsome ofthe
  world's highest mountains and couldhave
  becomejustlyfamousas aclimber. Couldhe,
  perhaps, havebeen in searchofthe Mi-Go?
  Witchcraft Revivals
  Thecelebrated witchtrials at Salem in 1692
  markedthelast great floweringofthewitch-
  hunting craze that had dominatedoccult life
  in the western world for somany centuries.
  Thelastwitch tobe sentencedto death in
  Englandhadbeen Alice Molland, who was
  executed at Exeterin 1684 . Withthe decline
  inreligious andjudicial interest inwitch-
  hunting came aparallel decline ininterest in
  that side ofthe occulttradition . Popular
  beliefin witchcraft lingeredonmuchlonger
  than officialbelief, butbythetime the
  intellectual community rediscovered
  witches, itwas quite safe forthemto painta
  much more romanticpicturethan that which
  was common at the timeoftheBurnings .
  Witchcraft wasall setto become respectable .
  In 1899, an American folklorist, Charles
  Leland, published Aradia, orthe Gospel of
  the Hitches . The book was basedon revel-
  ations madetoLelandby one Maddalena, an
  Italianwoman who claimedthat the
  information hadbeenhandeddown toher
  through generations ofwitches. The
  substance ofLeland's workwasthattrue
  witchcraft wasa survivalofan ancientpagan
  religion centredon the Goddess Diana.
  Although the name ofthedeity isRoman, the
  general structure ofDianic belief(as
  propoundedby Maddalena)was closertothe
  Persian religion ofZoroastrianism, which
  places greatemphasis onthedivision
  betweenLightandDarkness . Diana was the
  original deity and retained Darknessfor
  herself. The Satanic connection ismade
  throughthename ofMaddalena'sgod oflight
  andevil, Lucifer, a wordwhichmeans `light
  bearer'.
  23
  
  Leland'stheories werenottaken very
  seriously at thetime and mighthave been
  forgottenwereitnotfora sensational book
  publishedin 1921 byaleadingOxford
  Egyptologist, DrMargaretMurray. This
  book, The Witch Cultin Western Europe,
  takes up Leland'sideasandexpands them, in
  reasonablyscholarly fashion, into acoherent
  vision ofwitchcraft as aninter-national,
  coordinated survival ofa genuinepagan
  religion basedaroundahorned godcalled
  Dianus .
  DrMurray's bookwasan immediate success,
  andthe arrival ofthefull version ofSirJames
  Frazer'sclassic studyofprimitive religion,
  Tbe GoldenBough, in 1922 meant thatthe
  public atlarge, andtheacademiccommunity
  inparticular, became well aware ofEurope's
  pagan traditions, andofpossi-bilities for
  theirsurvivalthrough folkcustomsand the
  witchcultto thepresentday.
  Cthulhu investigators canexpectto find two
  sorts ofwitch . Thefirstwill bea middle or
  upperclass intellectual whohasreadMurray
  andFrazer and - repelled by theexcesses of
  Crowleyandhiscolleagues - isattemptingto
  practicemagicthrough thecleaner, more
  traditionally Britishroute exemplifiedbythe
  Dianictradition . Inadditionthere willbe
  genuine covens, always in country areas,
  whichhave survivedintactthroughthe
  Burning Timeandarenowprobably rather
  nervous athaving been `exposed' by Dr
  Murray's investigations oftheircult .
  Bothtypes, whethertheir trueworship is
  directed towardspagan deities or not, willbe
  susceptible to subversionby thefollowersof
  Shub-Niggurath, whoseposition as a fertility
  deityand closeconnectionwithwoodland
  andgoats makes heran idealcandidate for
  confusionwiththehorned hunting and
  fertility deitiesofpaganEurope .
  24
  Witch covens should alwaysnumber 13
  members, andwill meet regularly onthe
  night ofthe fullmoon fora `Sabot'. Meetings
  will takeplace inwoodland, andthe witches
  will probablyperformtheirrituals `skyclad'
  (naked) . Standard witch-craftsymbols are
  the pentagramandthe homed(possibly
  goat's) head. Aknifecalledthe Athame' and
  acup aretraditional ritual tools . Theholy
  bookofthe Craftis TheBook ofShadows,
  saidtodate fromthe 16thCentury.
  Secret Societies
  Many secret societieswere active during the
  period, ranging from friendly societies,
  through Freemasons (againsee Cthulhu by
  Gaslight) to fringe religions . A good
  example ofthe sort ofminor organisationthat
  existed at the timeisgivenby ArkonDaraul
  inhis classic work, SecretSocieties.
  The OrderofthePeacockAngel wasbased
  onthereligion oftheYezidi people of
  Kurdistan, andwas broughtto Britainbya
  Syrianimmigrant in 1913. TheOrder was
  basedin London and, accordingtotrad-
  ition, its otherfounding memberswerea
  banker, a lordandthree societyhostesses .
  The mainaimofthecultwastoachieve
  spiritual strength through theworship ofthe
  peacockidolinfrontofwhichthecultists
  practicedfrenzied dancesat theirfortnightly
  meetings .
  Withthe world-wide scopeavailablethrough
  theBritish Empire, anynumberofsimilar
  cultsbased on obscure foreign religions
  couldbepostulated . Whocould tell which
  was a realcultderived fromactual native
  practice in some far comerofthe world and
  which pure fabricationhiding secretworship
  ofMythosdeities?
  Twoother examplesofsecret societiesthat
  keepers mightliketo use areFu Manchu's Si-
  Fan, andtheInnerBrotherhoodofMagicians
  from GamesWorkshop's scenario, The
  Vanishing Conjurer.
  The Society for
  Psychical Research
  The Spritualist community tendsto hold
  itselfapart from the restoftheOccultworld,
  often in the beliefthatits work is as scientific
  asthatofanychemist orbiologist. As such, it
  normally getsmore favourabletreatmentin
  the Pressand fir greatersupport frompublic
  notables . The SPR, founded in 1882 bythree
  dons fromTrinity College, Cambridge, isan
  excellent example ofthis. Themajorpurpose
  ofthe Societyis to encourage scientific
  research into ghosts and mediums, inorderto
  establishthetruthofsuchphenomena .
  Famouspeoplewho supported theSociety
  includedAlfredLordTennyson, Mark
  Twain, Lewis Carroll, Gladstone, many
  fellowsofthe RoyalSociety (Britain's
  premier scientificclub)and -inparticular -
  Sir ArthurConanDoylewhowrote several
  bookson spiritualism .
  Although foundedinVictoriandaysandvery
  active then (itwasprimarilyreason-sible for
  debunking Madame Blavatsky's
  Theosophical Society), the SPRcontinuedto
  flourish wellintothe20thCentury. The
  reason forthisisquite simple . Therewas
  scarcely a familyinBritainwho hadnotlost
  some close relative or friendin theGreat
  War. The mediums' promiseto putpeoplein
  touchwith thespirits oflostlovedones was
  too muchofatemptationformany ofthe
  grief-strikenpeopleofBritaintoresist . And
  theSPR was a promiseofscientific proofthat
  such experiencesweregenuine .
  Like occultist groups, the SPR wasalmost
  perpetually wracked by internal strife. How-
  ever, whereas the Golden Dawnleaders
  attacked each otherwith spells, and
  Theosophistsquoted rivalinstructions from
  their secretmasters, SPR members normally
  quarrelledby debunking each other. Being a
  `scientific' organisation, they needed to
  provetheirrationality bydoing as much as
  possible totrytodiscreditthephenomena
  thatthey investigated . Onlyifall attempts at
  explanation failed couldthe Supernatural be
  believed tobeatwork . The prospectofbeing
  takeninby cleverfrauds wasthebane of
  every SPRresearcher's life . Obtaining
  money throughfraudulentclaimsofpsychic
  ability isacriminal offence, andthepractice,
  and successfulprosecutions, were not
  infrequent duringtheperiod .
  TheSPRwas(and stillis) run byaPresident
  and a Councilofaround20people .
  Membership was 2 Guineasa year
  throughout theperiod . The London
  headquarters were originally at 14 Deans
  Yard, butmoved to 19 BuckinghamPlace in
  the 1930s .
  
  Themostfamous Psychical Researcherofthe
  periodwasoneHarry Price. Dislikedby
  manySPRleaders, whothought himatbest
  undulycredulousandat worst a fraud, Price
  nevertheless hadatalentforpublicity. He
  foundedhisownorganisation, theNational
  LaboratoryforPsychicalResearch, in 1926
  andcarried outalotofworkon seancesand
  hauntings . Heevendabbled inmagic. The
  Daily&pressreportedwithsome gleein
  June 1932that "a small party ofBritish
  Scientists7, aidedandabettedby "beautiful
  twenty-one-year-old" MissUrtaGondon,
  plannedtocarry outamagicalceremonyon
  Brocken Mountain in Germanywith aview
  totransforming agoatinto "ayouth of
  surpassingbeauty".
  Price's mostfamous piece ofresearchwas his
  10-yearinvestigation into thehaunting of
  BorleyRectory (chronicled inhis book, The
  MostHauntedHouse inEngland) . The
  investigation provides amarvellousexample
  ofhow aCihulhuscenario might start, with
  this advertin The Times ofMay25th, 1937:
  "IMUNTEDHOUSE. Responsiblepersons
  ofleisureandintelligence, intrepid, critical,
  andunbiassed, are invitedtojoinrotaof
  observersinayear'snightandday
  investigation ofallegedhauntedhouse in
  Home Counties . Printedinstructions
  supplied. Scientifictraining orabilityto
  operatesimple instrumentsanadvantage.
  Housesituatedin lonelyhamlet, so own car
  isessential. WriteBoxH989, TheTimes,
  EC4. "
  Price received around200replies, ofwhom
  hesaidabout75% were cranks or gold-
  diggers . Forpreference, hetookpersons of
  independent meanswith university
  backgrounds . Henevergave anyonemoney,
  sothat no onecouldclaimthathis workers
  werepaidtoseethephenomena . However, he
  didgiveeveryonea copyofhis Blue Book, a
  ghost-hunter'smanual, andaskthemtosign
  the declaration reproducedbelow.
  Inhisbook, Pricegivesa-listofthe sort of
  equipment heusedto takewithhim when
  ghosthunting. In addition totheusualwarm
  clothing, andaflaskofbrandy incaseanyone
  fainted, hetookalotofscientific equipment.
  Some ofit was simple : ameasuring tape for
  fording secret rooms, abowl ofmercuryto
  detecttremors. But healso packedacamera
  andflash (withIRfilm!), aportable
  telephone, asensitivethermometer (ghosts
  cause achill in the atmosphere)and forensic
  equipment .
  Themajor scenariointhisbook, The Horror
  ofthe Glen revolves arounda very similar
  setting . Init Priceemploystheplayers to
  investigate a reputed hauntedmanorhousein
  Scotland .
  The BorleyDeclaration
  1, theUndersigned, in consideration of
  havinghadmy services acceptedasan
  Official Observer, makethe following
  Declaration .,
  1 . I will fulfill all conditions and instructions,
  verbal andwritten, which aregivenme .
  2 . Iwill pay my ownexpenses connected with
  the investigation .
  3. I am notconnectedwith the Press in any
  4.1 will not convey toanypersonthe nameor
  locationofthealleged Haunted House .
  5 . I willnotwrite, or causeto bewritten, any
  accountofmyvisit/s tothe HauntedHouse,
  andwillnotlecture on my experiences there.
  6.1 willnotphotograph or sketch any partof
  theHaunted House or grounds without
  writtenpermission .
  7.1 will not allow anyperson toaccompany
  me on my Investigation, who has not signed
  the DeclarationForm .
  8. I will fulfillmy obligations as regards
  Observational Periods, attimes and on the
  dates asarranged .
  9 . I will furnisha Reportaftereach
  Observational Period .
  10. I will not usetheTelephone installed in
  theHouseexceptforthe purpose ofreporting
  phenomena totheperson orpersons whose
  names havebeengiventome, or for
  requesting assistancefromthose persons .
  11.1will lock all doors and fastenallwindows
  onmy leavingthe House, and will deposit
  key/sto personas directed .
  Author-Pete Tamlyn
  THE OCCULT
  25
  
  ATimeline For Britain and Europe
  1918 Representation ofthe People Act
  givesvoteto all menover21 andall
  womenover31 .
  WorldWar Iends .
  School leavingage raised to 14 .
  General Election -LloydGeorge Prime
  Minister.
  MurderofRussian Royal Family.
  Food rationinginBritain .
  1919 TreatyofVersailles signed .
  Firsttrans-Atlantic air flights .
  Amritsarmassacre .
  Rutherfordsplits theatom .
  OrientExpress re-started- usesthe Simplon
  Tunnel toavoid travelling through
  Germany orAustria .
  Henry Ford openscar factory in Cork,
  Ireland .
  1920 GovernmentofIreland Act .
  Worldair speed recordbroken seventimes.
  Holst'sPlanetsSuite first performed .
  The Marconicompanymakes firstpublic
  radiobroadcast, aconcertby Dame
  NellieMelba .
  British Communist Party founded .
  FirstmeetingofLeague ofNations .
  Oxfordadmits women todegrees .
  Firstgramophone discsmade.
  1921 First Austin7built .
  Shaw'sBack to Methuselah first performed .
  TheRoyal Family 1923, on the Wedding Day ofKing George VI
  26
  1922 "GeddesAxe" -drasticcutsin
  Government expenditure.
  GeneralElection - Conservatives win -
  Bonar Law PrimeMinister.
  Mussolini comestopowerin Italy.
  World air speed recordexceeds 200 mph .
  Tutankhamun's tombfound .
  JamesJoyce's UlyssesandT S Elliot's The
  WasteLandpublished .
  Government setsupBritish Broadcasting
  CompanyunderJohn (laterLord)Reith .
  CivilWarinIreland.
  MustaphaKemal's rebellion in Turkey.
  Hyper-inflationinGermany.
  1923 Bonar Law resigns - BaldwinPrime
  Minister.
  France occupiesthe Ruhr.
  Hitler gaoledafter "BeerHall Putsch".
  Exchange rate forGermanMarktops 10
  million tothePound .
  Chimes ofBig Ben first broadcast.
  Interpol established, headquarters in
  Vienna.
  FirstLeMans 24 hour motorrace run.
  Capek's Life oftheInsectsandR URfirst
  performed in Britain .
  1924 General Election-MacDonald
  PrimeMinisterwithminority
  government .
  When Liberalswithdraw support there is a
  secondelection - Zinoviev letter,
  Conservatives win, BaldwinPrime
  Minister.
  France withdraws fromtheRuhr.
  EmpireExhibitionopensat specially built,
  site inWembley - grandball in Albert
  Hall .
  Firstround-the-worldflight .
  E M Forster'sA Passage toIndiapublished .
  Liberty'sopentheir famous central London
  shop -the mediaeval facade isafake, but
  the timbers usedcomefromoldoak
  warships .
  1925 Locamo Pact guarantees Franco-
  Germanfrontier.
  Empire Exhibition closes .
  SchneiderTrophy wonby bi-plane forthe
  lasttime .
  British SummerTimeinstituted .
  Pneumatic tyres firstused on London bus.
  MeinKampfpublished .
  BarclaysBank founded.
  GeneralMotorsbuys VauxhallCars .
  Cosmopolitanmagazine firstpublished .
  1926 GeneralStrike .
  Byrd & Bennet fly over NorthPole .
  BBCbecomes `Corporation' andgranted
  totalmonopoly.
  Canada, Australia, New ZealandandSouth
  Africamadeself-governing `dominions'.
  Germany admittedto League ofNations .
  A AMilne's Brnnie thePoohpublished .
  Stalinbecomes dictator ofRussia .
  JackHobbs scores 16 centuries inone
  season .
  1927 Trades Disputes Act .
  Lindberghmakes firstsolotrans-Atlantic
  flight .
  Trotskyexpelled fromRussia .
  Firstautomatic telephoneexchange in
  London .
  Heisenberg proposes the "Uncertainty
  Principle".
  Trans-Atlantictelephone service introduced
  - 3 minute call costs£15 .
  1928 "Flapper Vote" - voteextendedto
  all womenover21 .
  FrankWhittle invents thejetengine .
  Scotish National Partyfounded .
  D H Lawrence'sLady Chatterly'sLover
  published and promptlybanned .
  RavelcomposesBolero.
  Dirac predictsexistenceofanti-matter.
  1929 GeneralElection - Labour win,
  MacDonald PrimeMinister.
  Wall StreetCrash .
  Britaintakes worldairspeedrecord forfirst
  time.
  The term `Apartheid' firstused byright-
  wing politicians in SouthAfrica .
  Francebeginsbuildingthe MaginotLine.
  Heathrow Airportopened .
  Popedenouncesmixed-sex schools as
  "un-Christian".
  
  Jilt
  rt
  red .
  don
  but
  1930AmyJohnsonflies solofrom
  England toAustralia in 19 days .
  Firstmechanical TV transmissionusing
  30-lineBaird system .
  Moseleyfounds the New Party, later the
  BritishUnion ofFascists .
  RasTafari becomesEmperorofAbyssinia
  (Ethiopia)underthe nameofHaile
  Selassie - Rastafarianreligion founded
  inJamaicaworshippinghim .
  Governmentrejects schemefor channel
  tunnel .
  NoelCoward'sPrivateLives opens, starring
  LaurenceOlivier and Gertie Lawrence.
  1931 Depression .
  KingasksMacDonaldto form National
  Government; GeneralElection confirms
  this .
  Air speed recordexceeds 400 mph .
  Dominionsmade self-governingsovereign
  states .
  FirstTVoutside broadcast-the Derby.
  School Milksystem introduced .
  1932 Huxley'sBrave New World
  published .
  BBCbegins regularTVtransmission using
  Bairdsystem.
  DeValeraelectedPrimeMinister ofIrish
  FreeState.
  Discoveryofthe neutron .
  Sydney HarbourBridge opened .
  Benson& Hedges introduce firstfilter-tip
  cigarette.
  1933 Hitler becomesChancellorof
  Germany.
  Germanyleaves LeagueofNations .
  BritishMuseumbuys `Codex Siniaticus',
  collectionof4th & 5thCentury
  manuscripts, from Russia .
  World Economic Conference in London
  ends intotal failure .
  1934 Russiaadmitted toLeague of
  Nations .
  Excavations at MaidenCastle in Dorset .
  `NightofLongKnives' in Germany.
  FirstTV transmissions in Russia .
  J ArthurRank founds Elstree filmstudios .
  FirstGlyndeboumeOperaFestival .
  19355Silverjubilee ofGeorge V.
  India Act.
  MacDonald retiresandisreplacedby
  Baldwin - election confirmsthis.
  Germanybegins TVtransmissions .
  BBCabandons Baird system .
  ItalyinvadesAbyssinia.
  Campbell'sBluebirdachieves 300mph land
  speed record .
  BatterseaPowerStationbuilt(initially it was
  onlyhalfthesize and hadbut two
  chimneys) .
  Firstpaperbackbookpublished(by
  Penguin), price6d .
  ICI scientistsinvent polythene.
  SIR OSWALD UOSLEY vS UNFAVOURABLE RECEPTION AT GLASGOW
  THE LEADER OF THE NEW PARTY ADDRESSING THE
  MEETING-
  WITH " KID "
  LEWIS ON
  HIS LEFT.
  Sir Oswald Mosley, :leader of the New Party, addressed a large gathering
  on Glasgow Green on September 20.
  The meeting was rendered tumultuous
  by Communist and other Interruptions ; atones were thrown and
  free
  fights took place.
  " Kid " Lewis, the boxer, who joined the New Party
  recently, can be seen in the photograph .
  1936 George Vdies- accession of
  Edward VIII .
  Germany remilitarises the Rhineland .
  Experimental video-phonesystem between
  Leipzigand Berlin .
  BBC adopts 425-lineEMI TV system .
  Edward VIII abdicates, accessionofGeorge
  VI .
  FirstSpitfirefighterflies .
  SpanishCivil Warbegins .
  Jarrowhungermarch .
  Olympic Games in Germany -Hitler uses
  them forpropagandapurposes .
  FirstLondon-Paris night ferry service .
  1937 Baldwinretires, Chamberlain
  Prime Minister.
  BBC covers coronationofGeorge VIby TV
  outsidebroadcast .
  De Valera finally abandonsalllinkswith
  Britain .
  GeorgeOrwell'sRoadto WiganPier
  published .
  FirstBudinsholiday camp opened at
  Skegness .
  Firstjetengine tested .
  A TIMELINE FOR BRITAIN AND EUROPE 1918-1939
  Sodium vapour street lamps introduced .
  999 Emergencyphonenumberintroduced .
  Picassopaints Guemica .
  First frozen foodsold inBritain.
  1938 Hitlerannexes Austria .
  Munich agreementbetweenHitlerand
  Chamberlain .
  WaltDisney's Snow White andthe Seven
  Dwarfsreleased .
  `Mallard' sets new railspeedrecord of
  126mph .
  First colourTVtransmissions .
  Biro brothers patent the ballpointpen .
  Nescafe instant coffeeintroduced .
  1939 Hitler annexesCzechoslovakia .
  Anglo-Polishtreaty guaranteesPolish
  independence .
  Franco triumphsinSpain . Hitler signs pact
  withStalin .
  Germanyinvades Poland .
  BritainandFrance declarewaronGermany.
  BBC TV shutdownfor duration ofwar (in
  themiddle ofaMickeyMousefilm!) .
  Author-Pete Tamlyn
  27
  
  Y
  forteanandDisdstersTimetin"
  1919 April: Amanspontaneously
  combusts inDartford, Kent .
  June:Captive German fleet scuttled atScapa
  Flow ; ahouseat Islip, Northampton
  explodes without cause.
  August: Oil andpetrol, followed by showers
  ofwater, methylated spiritsandfinally
  sandalwood, pourfromthewalls and ceilings
  ofa house atMeltonConstable, Norfolk .
  1 September: Airshock' detonationsareheard
  overReading, Berks .
  1920 January:Betweennow and
  December 1923,6amnesiac people are found
  wandering the streetsofRomford, Essex .
  May: Afterheavythunderstorms, ahajahaja
  (deadly snakenativetoEgypt)isfound in a
  doctor'sgardeninBloomsbury, London .
  June :Anadderis found in astreetjust
  outside Westminster Cathedral, London,
  afteraheavy storm .
  July: Quakesandexplosionsarefeltin
  Comrie, Perthshire .
  August : Eightgirls, all under 12, go missing
  in EastBelfastoveraperiodof3 days; allthe
  statuesandholy pictures inthehomeof
  Thomas DwanofTemplemore, Tipperary,
  begin tobleedatthe samemomentasa
  terroristambush is taking placenearby.
  September: Ayoungman, outwalking in
  south London, suddenly finds himself in
  Dunstable, Beds, over40miles away.
  1921 January: LastinguntilApril,
  poltergeistactivity starts in ahousein
  Homsey, London, includingcoal exploding,
  metal implementsdancingabout, a clock
  vanishingand finally a childdying aftera
  nervousbreakdown ; rail crashat
  Ambermule, Scotland, 17killed in head- on
  collisionon single line .
  May: The firstoffifteen fatalaccidents onthe
  same stretchofroadacrossDartmoor takes
  place, survivingpassengerstalk of "invisible
  hands" forcingthe caroffthe road .
  July: Moreexplosions atComrie,Perthshire.
  September :Ahouse explodes for no reason
  inGuildford, Surrey.
  November:FirstEverestExpedition -the
  climbers find Yeti footprints inthe snow.
  1922 May :P&OlinerEgyptonpassage
  from Londonto Bombay collides with
  Frenchsteamer, Seine in fog offBrestand
  sinks, 15passengersand71 crew lost,
  togetherwith over£l millioningold and
  silverbullion .
  19PFebruary: Extensivepoltergeist
  activity at a house nearWisbech,
  Cambridgeshire, culminates inthedeath of
  thewitch tryingto exorcise it .
  28
  March : While Lord Camarvon lies dying in
  Egypt, anakedmanisseenrunning wildon
  his estate, andislastseenonApril 5th, the
  day LordCamarvondied.
  June:Mount Etna erupts .
  July: Pitexplosionin Maltby, Yorks, 27
  killed .
  1924 : Train derailmentatLythamfollowed
  by fire ingas-lit coaches, 15 killed .
  September: Railcrash atPort Eglington,
  Glasgow, 8 killed .
  December: Heavygalesandfloods
  throughoutcountry.
  1925: Madame Tussaud'sWaxworks burns
  down .
  March : Oxfordcrew sinks duringBoat Race.
  April : BBC radioplay, Broadcastingthe
  Barricades, about aworkers' revolution in
  England, mistaken foractual news reports by
  manylisteners .
  July: ahouse explodes inLambeth, London
  for no real reason.
  October: werewolves blamedfor sheep
  slaughtered inEdale, Derbyshire .
  November : reservoirbursts at Conway,
  Wales, 17 killed; submarine MI sinks off
  Devon with all hands .
  December: Great floodsall overEurope.
  1926March : Closes Hall, Clitheroe,
  Lancashire, burns down verymysteriously.
  April: A largecountry house atAshley Moor,
  nearLeominster, bums down, and by
  November, 30 othercountrymansions had
  bumtdowninmysterious circumstances .
  August : Awild seal is foundin apondon
  Hampstead Heath .
  September: French airlinercrashes near
  Tonbridge, Kent, 7 killed .
  November.Another seal is foundin thesame
  pond on HampsteadHeath .
  1927January : A wildlynx is shotin
  Invemesshire -thebeast isnotnativeto
  Britain .
  February: Railcrash in Hull, 12 killed.
  March :Italian steamerFagemes collides
  withS SCornish CoastoffSwansea-
  Fagernes sinks withloss of21 lives .
  June: Eclipseofthe sunvisibleinBritain .
  December : Rail crashat Castlecary,
  Scotland, 35 killed .
  1928 January: Flowsofcoppercoins and
  chunks ofcoal fall intoclosedrooms ina
  houseinBattersea, London; British
  steamship TeesbridgedisappearsinNorth
  Atlanticwith all hands (20 men) .
  April : Earthquakein Greece, Corinth
  destroyed .
  June : Railcrash atDarlington, 24 killed .
  August: Great hurricane inWestIndies.
  October:Railcrash and fire inwooden, gas-
  litcoachesat Charfieldnear Gloucester, 15
  killed .
  November: MountEtnaerupts ; Ryelifeboat
  sinks, 17 killed .
  December: Several housesexplode in West
  London ; Kingtaken seriously ill .
  1929: OrientExpress caught byblizzardin
  Turkey and stuckfor5 days- passengers have
  todig themselves out .
  January. another railcrashat Charfield, 4
  killed .
  June : MountVesuviuserrupts ; airdisasterin
  channel, 7killed .
  J
  1
  c
  1
  1
  i
  
  July. SubmarineH47 sunkin collision, 22
  killed ; severedroughtin England ; explosion
  on HMS Devonshire, 17 killed .
  October: Germanairlinercrashes at
  Caterham, 6killed .
  November : Atlantic Earthquake, 9
  submarine cablesbroken.
  December: serious flooding in southern
  England ; steamer Radyrlostwith 21 crew in
  BidefordBay ; cinema fireinPaisley,
  Glasgow, 60 childrenkilled .
  1930 June : Greatgale, manydeaths.
  July: Bradman scores 334 against Englandin
  Test MatchatHeadingly, Leeds .
  October. Miningdisasters in Germany, 300
  killed .
  1931 January:Pit explosionin
  Whitehaven, 27killed ; earthquake inNew
  Zealand .
  June : EarthquakeinEngland ; whirlwind in
  Birmingham, 1 killed ; ordnance factory
  explosion atHoltonHeath, 10 killed .
  September:hurricane inBelize, 700 killed .
  1935: MajorEarthquake in India .
  February : Britishsteamer Blairgawrielost
  with26 crew in Atlantic storm .
  June : Rail crash atWelwyn GardenCity, 13
  killed .
  1936 November : Crystal Palace bums
  down .
  FORTEAN AND DISASTERS TIMELINE
  The 8101 Disaster.
  1938: Coelocanth skin discovered off
  South Africa -this fishwas believed tohave
  beenextinct forhundredsofthousandsof
  years. Aurora Borealis seen in Britain .
  1939: Rabiesepidemic in Poland .
  Author-Marc Gascoigne
  29
  
  Archaeology
  A Landscape ofBarrows
  In the inter-war period, the big news in
  British archaeology invariably came from
  abroad, withBritishexcavatorsmaking
  spectacular finds inthe Middle Eastand
  aroundtheMediterranean. Therewere also,
  however, some quite significant finds in
  Britain during the period, such asthe
  excavation ofScaraBrae, Orkney, featuredin
  themain CallofCthulhu rules .
  Some ofthe oldest standing monuments in
  theBritish Isles are the long barrows and
  megalithic chambered tombs oftheNeo-
  lithic (New StoneAge)period . Many were
  cleared outin previous centuries, and most
  had some kindoffolk-tale or legend
  associated with them . It wasintheNeolithic
  periodthat the first phase ofactivity atthe
  Stonehengesite took place, although the final
  monumentwas probably built much later. A
  distinct form ofNeolithicbuildingis the
  `passage grave', examples ofwhichare
  common in Ireland andAnglesey.
  Inthelate Neolithicandearly Bronze Age,
  unchambered roundbarrows becamethe
  common funerarymonument . Thebodies
  were eitherburied -often in acrouched
  position, in a stone-linedpit- or cremated
  withtheashes buried in a smallpot.
  Cremation pots werefrequently buriedin
  barrows which alreadyhelda buried body.
  Thepeople wholivedintheStonehengearea
  atthis time(the `Wessex Culture') may have
  traded withtheMycenaen civilisationof
  Greece (thepeople ofHomeric epics) . Rich
  treasure, including goldjewellery, foundin
  their barrows is evidence ofthe strong social
  organisation thatbuiltStonehenge (someof
  the stoneswerebrought allthe wayfromwest
  Wales) . In the restofthecountry, however, a
  bronze dagger is aboutthebest a graverobber
  could hope for.
  In Ireland, the barrows aresaidto bethe
  homes ofthefairy folk, the Sidhe orTuatha
  de Danaan . Themounds are supposedto
  openatparticulartimesofthe year,
  especially Samain Eve (Halloween) . When
  thishappens, itis possible forhumansto
  enter themounds -but it isunwise to do so,
  for time passesdifferently there. Amanmay
  spend 20years with the Sidhe, butfindthat
  mere hours havepassedin hisown world
  when hereturns. Couldthis, perhaps, be a
  relatavisticeffect ofinterstellar travel?
  Themost unusual Britishmonument is
  SilburyHill inWiltshire . Thisearth mound is
  130 feet high and covers5acres . It is
  30
  undeniably man-made, being regular in
  shape andofdug chalkratherthana natural
  rock formation . Yet, despite many
  excavations, noonehas beenable toprovide
  anyexplanation as to why it wasbuilt .
  Stonecircles areanother common
  monument ofthisperiod . Although
  Stonehenge is quiteunique in its complexity
  and inthe `archway' constructionused,
  simplecircles ofstanding stones canbe found
  alloverthecounty. They vary considerably in
  size, fromonly a few yards across andjust
  four stones, tothe massive arrangement at
  Avebury, Wiltshire . Single stones, andlinear
  arrangements suchasthat at Callanishonthe
  IsleofLewisin Scotland, can also be found .
  Theditch aroundtheAvebury ring was
  excavated in 1922 and foundto be30feet
  deep.
  Thatthecircles were used forsome form of
  astronomically-based worship isnow beyond
  reasonabledoubt . Manycircles -notjust
  Stonehenge- have single stones outsidethe
  mainringaligned with significant
  astronomical events . Some writers have even
  claimedthatthecircles were as much
  scientific instruments as placesofworship.
  Theories about these alignments began to
  appearasearly asthe 19thcentury, but
  definitiveprooffalls outide the period
  coveredby thisvolume, and mainstream
  archaeologists will still prefer topoint out
  thatmany ofthe supposed alignments could
  have occurredby chance . Certainly it does
  seemvery easy to find somestaror
  constellation that aparticular alignment
  points to atsometimeduring the year. This,
  ofcourse, meansthatKeepers should find it
  easy to `prove' that stonecircles are actually
  pointingtothe starry homesofthe Great Old
  Ones.
  Additional, mystically significant materialto
  be foundatmegalithic sites comes in the form
  ofthe `cupandring' marks that are
  commonly carvedonthe stones . The purpose
  ofthese, and similar carvingsonpassage
  graves, is unknown, but it seems likely that
  the designs have some religiousor magical
  significance . Theymay thereforebepresent
  to invoke, orprotect the monuments from,
  some unknownbeings.
  Finally onthe subjectofancient mysteries,
  we have the theory ofLey Lines . These are
  supposed tobe "lines ofgeomanticpower"
  which stretchovergreat distances connecting
  sites ofmystical significance. As these are
  notactualvisiblelines -like thoseat Nazca in
  Peru - it is difficult to seehowthey couldbe
  usedtoguide beings from the stars, but they
  do seemtoaffectdowsing rods, so perhaps
  the Mythos racestoo have
  meansofdetecting them . The linesmay also
  be sourcesofPOW. See thesection onthe
  Lloigor in the Cthulhu Companion (or 3rd
  Edition rules) for more speculation onthis
  topic .
  The Coming ofthe Invaders
  The Celticpeoples ofthe IronAgeleftfew
  significant burials, butthey didbuild
  spectacular military earthworks suchas
  Maiden CastleinDorset . Thesetookthe
  formofa series ofditches and ramparts
  thrownup aroundanaturalhillto enhance its
  defensivepotential . Until recently, these
  were thought to bepurely temporary refuges .
  Archaeologists ofthe period willtherefore be
  somewhat dismissiveifinvestigators claim,
  quitetruthfully, to have found evidence of
  permanent habitationwithinthe forts.
  A Celticlegend fromIreland that ispotent-
  ially significant toMythos students is that of
  the Foimore, a raceofpeople saidto have
  ruled the country beforethecomingofthe
  Tuatha deDanaanandmen . The Foimore are
  oftensaid tohavehadbutoneeye, onearm
  (extending fromthecentreofthechest) and
  oneleg, and were greatseafarers . Such
  creatures are fittingcompanionsofthe
  hideous beings ofthe Mythos .
  The Romans, onthe whole, haveleft only
  elegant, regularbuildings ofnomystical
  interest . However, they were, at heart, a very
  superstitiouspeople, and late in the Empire a
  crisis offaith caused the Romanpeopleto
  turnto themany strange, new cults found in
  distantcornersoftheir dominions . Oneof
  these, ofcourse, was Christianity, butthere
  were marry others .
  The bestknownRomantemple in Britain is
  thatofMinerva (Athena)inBath, but many,
  smaller temples and shrines havebeen found .
  Often these are built on the sitesofoldCeltic
  sanctuaries, the superstitious legionaires
  eitherrecognising aholy siteand using it, or
  attemptingto placate thegods ofthe people
  they hadconquered .
  A commontype ofRoman temple isthat
  serving the cultofMithras, aPersiangod
  much favouredbythe legions from the2nd
  Century onwards. These `Mithraea' consist
  ofa large, rectangular room sunkbeneath the
  ground, with lowbenches alongthe side-
  walls and acentral aisleleading to analtar,
  oftenbacked witha stonereliefofMithras
  killing abull, atthe farend . Most Mithraea
  knownarein themilitaryzone around
  Hadrian'sWall, butone hasbeen foundat
  Wallbrook, London . Anunderground
  
  temple such as this would be an ideal setting
  forcultistrituals.
  ThevariousGermanictribeswhoinvaded
  Britain asthe Roman Empire crumbledhave
  leftlittlemark onthelandscape. This is
  becausethey preferedto build in perishable
  woodratherthanearthorstone, andbecause
  theytendednotto build large, permanant
  fortifications. Nevertheless, they broughta
  wholenew collectionofpaganideas and
  traditions toBritain. The Saxonepic,
  Beowulf, features ahideousmonster called
  Grendel who lived underwater, thoughhis
  lairwasinDenmark, not Britain . The Saxons
  werealsoresponsiblefor the major
  archaeological find inthe countrybetween
  the wars : SuttonHoo.
  TheSutton HooShipwas probablya burial ;
  although no body has everbeenfound, the
  outlineofacoffinhas. Insidethebarrow was
  buried a complete Saxon longship and a
  wealthofarmour, weapons andother
  princely artifacts, many ofthem inlaid with
  gold and semi-precious stones . Thesite was
  excavatedin the late `30s andcan thereforebe
  treated asundiscovered formostofthe
  period . Whothedead monarch is, and why
  he is theonly Saxon king to warrant such a
  burial, is as yetunknown.
  Theperiodofthe Saxon invasionsis also the
  time atwhich King Arthuris thought tohave
  lived . Mostmodern theories havehim as a
  Romano-British nobleman leading the
  resistance against invaders . Popularlegend
  tendstolocatehim inthe south westof
  England, andmany sites in Cornwall, Devon
  andSomerset have Arthurianlegends
  attachedtothem . Asyet, nodefinite evidence
  hasbeen foundandthereis no agreementas
  tothetrue site ofCamelot.
  Interestingly, froma Mythospoint ofview,
  the Somerset Levels werebelow sealevel in
  ancienttimes, and were flooded duringthe
  winter-months . This istheexplanationfor
  Glastonbury, 9 miles fromthe coast, being
  known as "theIsleofAvalon". Itis
  conceivablethat arace ofamphibious
  creatureswould finda happyhome in such a
  land .
  All Sand andGoodies
  Excavations inthe Middle East andEastern
  Mediterranean wereall therage in the early
  partofthe20thCentury. Alargenumberof
  significantfinds were made, most ofthemby
  British archaeologists . It ishardly surprising
  thatarchaeologygrippedtheimaginationof
  thenationatthis time.
  From 1921-23, newexcavations were
  undertaken at MycenaeinGreeceby the
  BritishSchoolofArchaeology at Athens . No
  truly spectacularfinds weremade, but
  objects founddidprovebeyond doubtthatthe
  Mycenaean civilisation tradedwith Egypt
  and the Hittites ofAsiaMinor.
  In December, 1921, the first volumeofSir
  Arthur Evans' excavation reportonthe
  Minoan palace atKnossos on Crete, first
  discoveredin 1899, waspublished. Further
  volumes anddiscoveriesfollowed
  throughoutthenext twodecades .
  Leonard Wooley's excavations in Meso-
  potamiaon behalfoftheBritishMuseumled
  to the discovery oftheSumeriancityofUr,
  birthplace oftheBiblical Abraham. The first
  objects from Ur wentonpublic display in
  1922, andnew finds continuedto make the
  headlines until 1935. Oneofthe royaltombs
  openedcontained the skeletons ofthe king's
  harem, bodyguards andservants, a totalof74
  bodies, all ofwhomwere probablyburied
  alive with him.
  1922 also saw the spectaculardiscovery of
  Tutankhamun's tomb inthe Valley ofthe
  The Supreme Hour at Tutankhamen's Tomb: Breaking The Wall.
  Kings, Egypt. The wealth oftreasurefound
  inthis intactPharaoh's chamberfired public
  interest in Egyptology to newheights, as did
  talesofthe `Curseofthe Pharaohs' which
  circulated after LordCamarvon'sdeathin
  1923 . The public fascinationwith Egypt
  affectedmany aspectsofBritish life,
  including art, decoration, literature andthe
  theatre .
  From 1926 onwards, SirJohn Marshall, the
  Director GeneralofArchaeology inIndia,
  conductedexcavations atMohenjo-Darn in
  the Punjab . These leadto thediscoveryofan
  ancient civilisation . AlsointhePunjab,
  excavations at Taxila in 1922 yielded
  evidence ofthe occupationofthat cityby
  Alexanderthe Great, proving thattheGreek
  conquerordid indeedreach India.
  Theboom inarchaeology peaked intheearly
  `30s, andalthoughdiscoveries from various
  parts ofthe worldcontinuedtobe reported,
  there was nomore `headine news'.
  Author- GraemeDavis
  31
  
  Follies
  Follies
  The English aristocracy havealwaysbeen
  noted for their eccentrichabits, and the
  building offollies is perhaps the most
  unusualofthese . To describea building as a
  `folly' doesnot imply thatits erection wasa
  mistake - rather it suggests thatthebuilder
  was,perhaps, slightly mad to havethoughtof
  it . Two sorts offollies exist . Oneis a building
  onanestatewhichhas an unusual
  architectural styleoruse . A goodexampleof
  thisis thedairy atWoburn, the homeofthe
  DukesofBedford, whichis bu'it in the style
  ofa Chinese garden house . Theother, more
  common, varietyis a very tall building,
  usuallyplacedon the highestpiece ofground
  in the estate . The idea here isto provide some
  landmarkwhichis both visually stimulating
  andcanbe seen for miles .
  Thevast majority offollies were built during
  the 18th Century, alsoa timeofan explosion
  32
  inthebuilding ofcountry housesingeneral .
  Sadly, the diminishing wealthofthe
  aristocracyand the growth ofdemocratic
  local governmenthasallbut put a stopto folly
  building, particularly ofthetower kind . Lord
  Berners did erect atower onhis estateat
  Farringdon in Oxfordshire in 1935, but he
  had a long battle withthelocal authorities
  before he was allowed to .
  Building styles used forfollies vary consid-
  erably, but afewthemes do tendtodominate .
  Amongst these are `Gothic', `Classical'
  (Greek orRoman) and `Mediaeval'.
  Surprisingly, many ofthefollies were
  designed andbuiltas ruins. Thebuilders, it
  seemed, preferred the romantic vision ofa
  crumbling, overgrown `survival' ofbygone
  days to acomplete, useablebuilding.
  Althoughmany follies are fairly simple and
  innocentin design, a few haveoccult
  connections,orare sobizzarethattheycould
  only havebeen builtby someone withrather
  dodgy Sanity . Equally, some follieswithvery
  reasonable originshappento havethe sort of
  appearance that wouldmake any-one steeped
  inMythos lore very nervous . In any case, a
  follymakes and excellent centrepiece fora
  Cthulhu scenario . A few examples are given
  below.
  The Gothic Temple, Stowe : Inthegardens
  ofLord Cobham's Buckinghamshire estates
  is a splendid Gothic templethat is a perfect
  haunt for vampires and mad counts . The
  buildingis now aholiday home, butthe
  addition ofinteriorrooms is amodern
  innovation .
  West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire : This
  estate was ownedby Sir FrancisDashwood,
  thenotorious 18th Century occultist . In its
  grounds, which includea networkofcaves,
  hebuilt several follies forthe use ofthe
  magical orderhe founded, andcalledThe
  Hell Fire Club .
  John Knill'sMonument, StIves,
  Cornwall: A square-basedpyramidal spire,
  this folly has been included becauseofthe
  instructions its builderleft in hiswill . Once
  every five years tenyoung girls, dressed all in
  white, must dancearoundthe monument
  singing the hundredth Psalm .
  The SugarLoaf, Dallington, E Sussex :
  Another spire, this timecircularin section,
  which was built aftersquireJackFuller lost a
  bet . Hehadtold friends that the spire of
  Dallington church could be seen fromhis
  home . Whenit wasproved it could not,
  Fullerbuilta mock spire onthe ridgethat got
  in theway. A simple, conical building, it
  looks justlike somethingthe GreatRace
  might haveproduced .
  The Druids' Temple, Ilton : On the north
  YorkshireMoors nearMashamthereexists a
  miniatureversion ofStonehenge . This was
  builtbyWilliamDanby atthebegining ofthe
  19th Centurywhenthefashionfor Druid
  revivals (chronicled in Gaslight) was atits
  height .
  The 7HangufarLodge, Rushton,
  Northants : The builder ofthis folly, Sir
  ThomasTresham, was a devoutCatholic. In
  his time this was very dangerous . Tresham
  was gaoledforhis beliefand, whilst
  incarcerated, became obsessedwith theHoly
  Trinity. Onhis releasehe built this amazing
  folly whichis packed with numerological
  symbolism, all based around thenumber
  three. Tresham's son, Francis, was one ofthe
  instigators ofthe GunpowerPlot .
  Author- Pete Tamlyn
  In a4
  sevt
  pub
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  "
  Britain In The Mythos
  Themap below shows the sites of various Mythos-
  related events which took place in Britain . They
  include Lovecraft's own stories, those ofother
  Mythos writers, and Call ofCthulhu scenarios .
  Most ofthe events marked took place in the '20s,
  butsome are modem, and the stories ofRobert E
  Howard are set in ancient times . Nevertheless, the
  horrors involved tend to remain in the same locale
  forcenturies and could therefore be encountered
  atany time .
  In addition to Mythos writers mentioned below,
  several other British macabre writers had work
  published in the '20s which may prove ofuse to
  Keepers . They are : E F Benson, Algernon
  Blackwood, A M Burrage, M R James,
  Arthur Machen and H R Wakefield .
  London - the setting of Lovecraft's The
  Descendant, and part of The Hound ;
  also of The Horror in the Museum,
  revised by Lovecraft for Hazel Heald .
  August Derleth's The Keeper ofthe Key
  is set here, as are a number ofnon-
  Mythos Derleth stories .
  Other stories by Lovecraft's friends
  are : Robert E Howard's Skull Face, Clark Ashton
  Smith's The Gorgon, Robert Bloch's The Skull of
  theMarquis de Sade and Henry S Whitehead's
  The NapierLimousine .
  Carl Jacobi set a number ofstories in London : The
  Spanish Camera, The Aquarium, The Cane, The
  Satanic Piano and The King and the Knave. More
  recentMythos writers to feature London include
  Brian Lumley (notably the Titus Crow
  stories, also Spaghetti, Cement
  Surroundings, etc), Ramsey
  Campbell (eg, The SecondStaircase)
  and Stephen King (Crouch End) . Call
  ofCthulhu scenarios set inthe city
  include the London chapterofMasks
  ofNyarlathotep, Vanishing Conjurer,
  Dial `H'for Horror (WD 43) and The
  Heart ofthe Dark (WD 75) .
  33
  
  BRITAIN IN THE MYTHOS
  34
  ter.
  w ;
  e
  he
  of
  d
  's
  e
  s,
  ter
  35. Walberswick- from The Watchersof
  Walberswick (WD 50) .
  36. LowerPoolford-from DrawtheBlinds
  on Yesterday (WD 63) .
  37.
  Shalladhohn -from TheHorse ofthe
  Invisible (WD 66) .
  38. Cuthdon & Shubford- siteofThe
  ShadowoverDarkbankinthis book .
  Author -PeterJeffery
  t
  161'd]
  come
  amu
  -HI
  Uni
  mil
  dui
  bei
  Air
  toc
  tra
  api
  Fr
  Pa
  2 .
  TheYorkshireMoors - the setting for
  7.
  The Pictish Hills- fromRobertE
  22 . Blackpool-Laughter in theNightby
  numerous BrianLumley Stories,
  Howard'sBranMac Mom stories . Also
  August Derlethand MarkSchorer.
  includingthe novelBeneath the Moors .
  Hadrian'sWall (BrianLumley's Cement
  Place-namesused includeRadcar,
  Surroundings) .
  23. Boresby -Brian Lumley'sA Thing
  Sarby-on-the-Moor,the site ofLhYib,
  about Cars. .
  Bleakstone, Marske, Dilham, Eely-on-
  8.
  SeveralCarl Jacobi Sites - Corbie
  the-Moor, The Devil's Pool, Ellison's
  House, Langham (The CorbieDoor),
  24 . Durham -BrianLumley's Ambler's
  Heights, Dendhope, Lee-Hill, Wharby
  Darset (The SpectralPistol) and
  Inspiration . Also, inCounty Durahm
  and Tharpe-Nettleford . The local
  Royalton (The Face in the Wind) .
  (asitwas then), Castle-Ilden and
  asylum is Elmholme . TheMarriot
  Harden-on-the-Coast fromAuntHe
  House, fromRecognition, islikewise to
  9.
  Exham Priory andAnchester- H P
  be found on the moors ; and somewhere
  Lovecraft's The Rats in the Walls .
  25. Oakdene Sanatorium - nearGlasg
  off-shore is the ocean site ofthe oil-
  several Brian Lumley stories, most
  drillingrigin The Night The Sea Maid
  10. JermynHouse - H PLovecraft'sArthur
  notably, The Horrorat Oakdene .
  WentDown .
  Jermyn .
  Lin Carter's Dreamsin the House of
  26. Stonehenge -Brian Lumley's Inthe
  Weir, andthe Cthulhuby Gaslight
  11 .
  Kilderry- HP Lovecraft's TheMoon
  Vaults Beneath .
  scenario, The Yorkshire Horrors, are
  Bog .
  also set inthisarea .
  27.
  Avebury-Brian Lumley'sCement
  12 . Home oftheNarrator -
  Surroundings .
  3 .
  The SevernValley - the setting of
  H P Lovecraft's The Hound .
  numerousRamsey Campbell stories
  28.
  Liverpool -severalRamsey Campb
  nowcollected asColdPrint. Also The
  13. TheOld ManorHouse -
  stories .
  RecurringDoomby S TJoshi . Sites
  H PLovecraft's Hypnos .
  include Brichester, Berkeley, Severford,
  ?9.
  PineDunes -Ramsey Campbell'sPi
  Temphill,Goatswood, Camside, The
  14 . SussexCoast -
  Dunes .
  Devil's Steps and Mercy Hill .
  HP Lovecraft's TheEvil Clergyman .
  4 .
  ArthurMachen Country - Caermaen
  15.
  MagbaneManor - Clark Ashton
  30. Penmire-Adrian Cole's 7heHorror
  UnderPenmire .
  andtheGreyHillsareusedintheproto-
  Smith's The Secondinterment .
  Mythos stories, The WhitePeople and
  TheNovel oftheBlackSeal. Also used
  16.
  TremothHall- ClarkAshton Smith's
  31 .
  Cornwall - Seahamand Nequay, in
  by Colin Wilsonin TheReturn ofthe
  TheNameless Offspring .
  Brian Lumley's Mythos novel The
  Lloigor. TheTemple ofNodens from
  ReturnoftheDeep Ones.
  Robert EHoward's The Templeof
  17.
  HagdonManor - ClarkAshton Smith's
  32 . Scottish Highlands - thesetting for
  Abomination is probablyinthisarea .
  TheNecromantic Tale .
  Coven ofCannich chapterof The
  18 .
  Drumma'sHead- Robert EHoward's
  Shadowsoflog Sothoth, TheMystery
  5 .
  Surrey - the locationofTheCoachand
  The Cairn on the Headland . Sites of
  LochFeinn (Cthulhu Companion) a
  Horses on the Brighton Road in Henry S
  several Sheridan le Fanu storiesare in
  The Horrorofthe Glen (this book) .
  Whitehead's TheShutRoom ; also The
  nearby Dublin .
  Also, Edinburgh, as in Brian Lumle
  BarrowsnearHaslemere in Brian
  House ofthe Temple ; likewise Temp
  Lumley'sLordofthe Worms, and Leith
  19.
  Tbkertownon the Moor - Robert E
  Houseitself, underthePentlandHil
  Hill in TheSurreyEnigma (WD 67) .
  Howard's Solomon Kane stories .
  in the samestory.
  6.
  The Oaks -amansionhousecloseto the
  20. Helni -Robert EHoward's TheDark
  33 . Lesser Edale-from the Londoncha
  junction ofCambridgeshire,
  Man .
  ofMasks ofMyarlathotep .
  Lincolnshire, andNorfolk, near
  Guyhim and Crewland - see The
  21 .
  Dragon'sCave - Robert EHoward's
  34 . Edward Gavigan's Estate - fromthe
  RunningManinthisbook.
  PeopleoftheDark .
  LondonchapterofMasks of
  Nyarlathotep.
  
  J
  Tdhate toseeaeroplanes comeinto common
  onumercial use . . .butasdevicesforthe
  amusementofagentleman they're oke!"
  -HPLoveeraft, SelectedLettersIII
  The Start ofCivil Aviation
  Underthe DefenceoftheRealmAct, non-
  military aviationwas outlawed forthe
  durationofthe FirstWorldWar, civil aviation
  being legalised onFebruary 27th, 1919 by the
  AirNavigation Act . The firstinternal flight
  tookplace on May 1st and international
  trafficbegan onAugust 25th . However, this
  appliedtoBritishcompaniesonly : the
  Frenchstarteda servicefromLondonto
  Paris onFebruary 8th .
  Twoearly companies weretheAircraft
  TransportandTravel Company, and Handley
  PageTransport . AT&T, flying from
  Hounslow, offeredthefastest serviceto Paris
  usingconverteddeHavillandAircolight
  bombers, butthey could only carry4
  passengers . HandleyPage's Cricklewood
  serviceused heavy bomberswhichwere
  slower,but carriedup to 12 passengers . The
  economics favoured HandleyPage .
  Otherservices onoffer included Handley
  Pageflights toBournemouth and Brussels,
  AT&T's servicetoAmsterdam, andtheNorth
  SeaAerial Navigation Company flying from
  Leedsto "anywhere". Thomas Cooks, the
  travel agents, offered aerial tours ofGreat
  Warbattlefields from Croydon, and aircraft
  hire.
  Imperial Airways, founded in 1924by the
  mergeroffourcompanies, including
  HandleyPage, wasthemostimportant airline
  ofthe'20s . Based inCroydon (which
  thereforebecameLondon'spremierairport),
  ey offered flightsto Zurich(viaParis and
  Basle), Berlin(viaAmsterdam and Hanover)
  dCologne (viaBrussels) as well as many
  temalflights . They also flewfrom
  uthampton to LeHavre, viaCherbourg
  Guernsey.
  any foreignairlinesprovidedconnecting
  rvices, making muchofEuropeavailableto
  airtraveller preparedto change planes a
  e ortwo . Flightswere also availableto
  asablanca, but althoughRussiahad an
  linetherewereno connections over
  m Europe . Long distance air services
  theFar East, forexample)did notbegin
  tilthelate `20s . When theydid become
  ble, theaircraftmadefrequent stopsen
  teandportions ofthejourneyhadto be
  aoverlandorby sea .
  In 1934, Imperial,togetherwith the `Big
  Four' railway companies, setup Railway Air
  Services, aninternal airlinewhich served
  most ofthe majorcities in Britainand
  NorthernIreland . It alsoprovided servicesto
  manyremoteScottishislands, flying from
  Inverness orAberdeen .
  Aviation in theNews
  The `20s wasthe era ofpioneeringlong-
  distanceflights . Thesewere majornews
  stories, andmostpeoplemusthave been
  aware ofthem . Suchflightswerea
  considerable adventure -AlcockandBrown's
  first non-stop Atlantic flight, whichtook 16
  hours, wouldhave endedin the waterhadnot
  Brown climbed alongthewingsto chip office
  thathad formedthere . The most famous
  Britishaviator wasAmyJohnson (see
  Biographies) .
  Alsointhenews weretheairraces, ofwhich
  the Schneider Trophy (forfloatplanes) was
  the most famous . TheSuper-marine
  company ofSouthampton, which finally
  capturedtheTrophyoutrightfor Britainwith
  three successive wins, usedthe same aircraft
  forits air speed record attempts . The
  technologythatit developedwas laterputto
  gooduseonits most famous aircraft, the
  Spitfire .
  TheExperienceof~g
  As explained above, the first airlines used
  convertedWWI bombers, and suchplanes
  werehardlydesigned forcomfort . AT&T's
  DH9 hadanopen cockpit, andpassengers
  weresuppliedwith leathercoats, helmets,
  gloves andhot waterbottles. With purpose-
  builtairliners, matters improved, butnot by
  much . TheFokkerFU of 1921, a well-
  Miss AmyJohnson - Wonderful Amy- On January 1930.
  35
  
  AVIATION
  A
  VICKERS SUPERMARINE-ROLLS-ROYCE
  " S.6 .B "
  SEAPLANE :
  ONE
  OF
  THE TWO NEW
  MACHINES
  SPECIALLY
  CONSTRUCTED
  FOR
  THIS YEARS
  CONTEST
  ;
  SHOWING
  A
  NUMBER
  OF
  REMARKABLE
  FEATURES
  OF
  HER
  CONSTRUCTION.'
  SCHNEIDER
  thought-ofmachine, provided aheated
  passengercompartment, butthe heating
  workedin all weathers and produced a
  terriblesmell . Thepilot'scockpitwas still
  open and, inwet weather, filledwith water
  leavingthepilot floating on hiswooden seat .
  One ofthe strangestflying experiences must
  have been intheJunkersG38 of 1929 which
  included4seats, with forward-facing
  windows, in eachofits thickwings .
  The early aerodromeswere simplylarge
  fields containinga fewhuts and hangers .
  Croydon even hada road running throughthe
  middle ofit with a barrierthat waslowered
  whenplanes needto cross : a level crossing
  foraeroplanes! There were, ofcourse, no
  elaborate security checks, but the aircraft
  wereso finelybalanced thatall passengers
  werecarefully weighedbeforebeing
  assignedtheir seats .
  Aircraft for Investigators
  Sensibleinvestigatorsareunlikelyto risk
  their lives and comfortby usingairtravel for
  ordinaryjourneys, but wherethealter-native
  is along trekthrough dangerousjungles, an
  aircraftsuddenly becomes muchmore
  attractive. Inthe absence ofheli-copters,
  intrepidexplorers wouldplump fora float
  planewhichhad ski-likefloatshung fromthe
  fuselage, allowing ittoland on rivers and
  lakes .
  36
  From 1919, a numberofex-military float
  planes - such as theAvro 504L -became
  available. A suitablepurpose-builtplane
  produced in 1923 was the Supermarine Sea
  Eagle amphibianwhich hadseats for six
  passengers . This was followedby the
  Sikorsky S-38 in 1928. A highly adaptable
  aircratcapable ofcarrying up to 16501bs (ten
  passengers), it was hugely successful,
  achievinga production run of 120. For
  absoluteluxury, the 1936 Short Empire
  flyingboat(aboat hullwith wings attached)
  had sleepingaccomodationand alarge
  promenade deck forbalmy eveningsoutin
  Africa .
  Some Sample Statistics
  The performance ofearlyaircraft wasvery
  muchdependent on factors suchas weather,
  payload and the stateofmaintenance ofthe
  machine . Alsoa great variety ofmachines
  wereproduced, many with very low
  production runs . The statisticspresented are
  thereforeonly averages fortypical machines .
  Ifyou turn to aviationbooks foraccurate
  figures on aparticularmake, notethatranges
  are quoted differently for militaryand civil
  aircraft . The `range' ofabomberis how farit
  can flybefore it mustdrop its bombs, thatis
  about halfthe actual distance itflies. Ranges
  givenherearecivil ones .
  Cost
  Flying bycommercial airline costaround '/ad
  permile . Tohire anaircraftwouldbe about
  £710s per passengerhour. Purchase prices
  variedenormously, but onlythewealthiest
  investigators, orthose earning theirliving as
  pilots, wouldbe ableto afford one .
  PeterJeffery
  r
  The w,
  in seve
  more c
  which
  route
  intoto
  famili
  came
  awl
  days t
  comf
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  boa
  ma
  2)
  Date
  Type
  CruisingSpeed
  Range
  Payload
  mph
  miles
  1919
  Small airliner
  130
  425
  4passengers
  1919
  Large airliner
  90
  240
  12passengers
  1919
  Floatplane
  120
  250
  1 or2 pass
  1923
  Airliner
  110
  400
  19401bs or9passengers
  1923
  Amphibian
  90
  300
  6 passengers
  1926
  Transport
  140
  550
  6 passengers
  1928
  Airliner
  130
  450
  9001bsand 18passengers
  1928
  Amphibian
  110
  600
  16501bs or 10 passengers
  1936
  Flying Boat
  165
  760
  24passengers and 3360lbs
  
  The Inland Waterways
  The waterways ofthe 1920s and `30s differed
  inseveral respects from those oftoday. Many
  more canals wereopen, but someofthose
  which arenavigablein 1986 particular the
  routethrough StratfordonAvon, had fallen
  intotemporary decline . Oneofthemost
  familiarcanal names, the GrandUnion, only
  came into being in 1929as aresultof
  amalgamation . Inthesepre-Nationalisation
  daysthe canalswereeitherowned bycanal
  companiesorhad beenboughtup by railway
  companies.
  Inmarkedcontrastto today, therewas little
  pleasure boating, but considerable freight
  transport. Typical cargoeswere coal, stone
  andtimber, buttherewere somemore exotic
  uses . Cadbury's chocolate factories hadtheir
  ownfleet ofnarrow boats, andMorelands of
  Gloucesterstill shipped matchesto
  Birminghamby water.
  The Boats
  Eachseparate canallimitsthedesign ofthe
  boatsthatcanbe used on itthrough four
  maximumdimensions :
  Length -determined by thelengthofthe
  locks, this is normally around70ft,
  although some Northern canals have
  locksas shortas62 ft .
  Beam - the width oftheboatis again
  determined bythelocks . 7 ftis the
  maximumon thenarrow canals ofthe
  Midlands whilst someNorthern and
  Southerncanals allowedupto 14 ft .
  Draught -depthbelowthewaterlineis
  typicallylimited to3-4 ft . Thisprevents
  most sea-goingvessels from usingthe
  canals .
  Headroom -height above the wateris
  determined by bridges and tunnels .
  Typicalvalues arebetween5 and 8 ft,
  whichtendsto rule outsail power.
  Amongst boatmen, the term `barge' applies
  only to a commercialcraft inexcess of7 ftin
  beam. Themore traditional canalvessel is
  termeda'narrow boat'. Often theseworked in
  pairswitha motor boattowing anunpowered
  craftknownasa `butty'. Thetwo fittedside by
  sideinlargelocks, but on the narrow
  Midlandscanals the butty would needto be
  hauledthroughseparately.
  Theboatman's cabin, situatedatthe stern,
  was usually no more than 10 ft long, making
  livingspaceverycramped . On amotorboat,
  theenginewouldbe locatedjust forward of
  thecabin (thus reducingcargo space),
  otherwisethe rest oftheboat would begiven
  overtocargo .
  Although motor boats were inuse, towing
  horses were stillcommon . Some West
  Midlands boatmenusedmules instead . A
  speed of3mph, plus 10 minutesperlock, was
  (and still is)a goodspeedfor a narrow boat .
  On poorly maintained sections, the speed
  couldbe muchless .
  Boat People
  Apartfromthe employees ofthecanal
  companies andcanal-side industries, there
  were still owner-boaters (knownas `number
  ones') working thecanalsthroughout the
  period . Forthemost part, thesepeople were
  born andlived alltheirlives in the tiny 10 ft
  cabin, marrying otherboatpeople as folk `off
  the land' wouldrarelytaketo life in such
  crampedquarters . Such people can be
  regarded almost as arace apart ; "gypsiesof
  the waterways", people calledthem, although
  most had steadyjobs andtravelled regular
  routes. Statistics fortypical boat people can
  befoundinthe scenario, TheShadowOver
  Darkbanklaterin this book .
  Tunnels
  TheDarkbank scenario is setaroundevents
  inacanal tunnel . Suchplaces areideally
  spooky - farmoresothana railway tunnel .
  Foronething, the steersmanstandsinthe
  openatthe stern, exposedtocold, damp and
  dark. One is surroundedby darkness, faintly
  illuminatedby the boat's headlight and
  puncturedby tinypinpricks oflight atthe
  tunnel portals, butoften fogged by motor
  fumes . Ifthe tunnel is not straight, even this
  minimal illumination is reduced .
  Fewtunnelshavetowpaths . Usually the
  horsesare sentaheadin daylightwhilst the
  boat is propelled by `legging' - lying on topof
  theboatand `walking' alongthetunnel roof.
  Duringthe `20s leggingwas gradually
  replacedby canal company tugs, some of
  them electric which showered the darkness
  witheerie blue sparks .
  The scenario is set on a fictional canal, but
  many real sites arejust as interesting . Some
  ofthe longesttunnels inthecountry are the
  following :
  Standedge - 5698 yards. Huddersfield
  Narrow CanalbetweenManchester and
  Huddersfield . Only 9ftwide, with four wider
  passing places .
  Dudley - 3154 yards . DudleyCanal between
  Birmingham and Stourbridge . Partly natural
  cavern and open tothe skyin twoplaces . It
  has sidetunnels, no towpathand nopassing
  places .
  Blisworth - 3056 yards . Grand Junction
  Canal northofNewportPagnell . Wide, but
  notowpath . Water cascades fromthe ceiling .
  Harecastle- 2926yards . TrentandMersey
  CanalbetweenStoke-on-Trent and
  Middlewich . Narrowand with alow ceiling .
  Reputedlyhaunted . Had electrictug .
  Braunston -2042 yards . Grand Junction
  Canal nearDaventry. Wideenoughto pass ;
  no path . Has a slight kink sothat one can
  rarely see bothends .
  Other Features
  Locks areused to raise and lowerboats on
  shallow inclines . Whenseveral locks occur
  in sequencethis isknownas a `flight'. Only
  oneliftremained in use, the Anderton Lift
  which raisedboats over50ftfrom the River
  Weaverupto theTrent and Mersey Canal .
  Several impressiveaqueductsexisttocarry
  canals overvalleys . Often thesehavenothing
  to preventcarelessboatmen from falling over
  the edge.
  Cost
  A narrow boatfitted forpleasure use willcost
  around£7 a weekto hireor £100to buy. The
  canal companieslevied tolls forthe use of
  their canalandtugs . Use 1d20 shillings set
  cost, plus an additional ld6 farthingsper
  mile, and 3d6pence foruse ofatug.
  Author-PeterJeffery
  
  Notorin,q
  For some whileafterthe endofthe Great
  War, therewas little innovation inmotor car
  design . Certainly, the acquisition and
  running ofamotorcarbecame cheaper, with
  popularmodels such as the `Bullnose'
  Morris and ModelT Ford(both pre-war
  designs)being supplanted by newermodels
  suchas theAustin Seven. At the opposite end
  ofthemarket, the Rolls-Royce 40/50hp (or
  SilverGhost) was stillin production, but
  matterswere soon to change .
  During 1919,WOBentley hadbeen working
  onhisowndesigns, andhis first carwas
  produced the following year. fromthistime
  until the company's unfortunateentry into
  receivershipintheearly 1930s, Bentleys
  wereto betheprincipal Britishsporting cars,
  withseveral successesat LeMans and
  elsewhere . In thosedays, whatracedat Le
  Mans was prettymuch the same as whatyou
  couldbuy forthe road .
  Some Europeancars were imported, but
  these weregenerally rarities, confined tothe
  luxuryandsporting parts ofthe market .
  Manufactur-ers suchas Mercedes-Benz and
  Bugatti were able to supply carstothe
  connoisseur-andwhat cars these were, fully
  ableto compete with the Bentleys in speed
  andagility, though each required expert
  attentionatfrequent intervalsif itwas to give
  of its best .
  Competingfromabroad with the luxury of
  Rolls-Roycewere cars suchas the Hispano-
  Suizaand Packard- glorious machines of
  fantastic equipment, asornate and luxurious
  as the finesthorse-drawn carriages of
  previous eras . They were, perhaps, not as
  reliable and well engineered as the Rolls, but
  were noless desirable. Themostserious
  competitioncame fromDaimler's British
  offshoot, bythen owned by BSA. Theircars
  werea particular favourite ofKing GeorgeV,
  and thereforebecamethe standard transport
  ofthehigheraristocracy.
  British competitorsfortheBentley were cars
  suchastheVauxhall OE 30/98, a far cry from
  themassmarket carsthat company produces
  today. LaterBritishcompanies in the same
  fieldwereLagonda, Railton andInvicta, but
  Bentley's principal rivals were the foreign
  cars againstwhich they duelledontherace
  tracks ofEurope : Bugatti, AlfaRomeo and
  Mercedes .
  Duringthe 1930s, Ford, Morris, Austin and
  suchlike remainedthe manufacturers of
  popularfamily cars, althoughinnovative
  Europeancompetition came fromCitroen .
  Their TractionAvant was apioneering front
  wheel drive carwhich was so successful it
  was stillin production in 1957. Younger
  members ofthe middle class couldbesport
  themselves in an MG -acheap sports car
  builton astandardMorris chassis .
  Amongst theluxury cars ofthe `30s, Rolls-
  Royceremainedsubstantiallyunrivalled,
  taking overBentley andproducing
  marvellouscars such as the delightfulBently
  38
  3'/2 litreand, in total contrast, theluxurious
  V12 Rolls-Royce PhantomIII . In Europe,
  Hispano-Suiza, Isotta-Franschini and
  Bugatti didtheir besttocompete. The
  Hispano-SuizaV12wasevenmoreexpensive
  thanthe PhantomIII, andBugatti produced
  the amazing Royalewith its 13-litre straight
  eight engine . Only sixor sevenwere built:
  notsurprising seeingas the chassis alonecost
  $30,000- this in 1927!
  Taking all thisinto account, motoring
  betweenthe wars was indeedwithina green
  and pleasant land . There were nomotorways,
  only a few dual carriageways, and little
  enoughtraffic . Indeed, up until 1927, there
  wasconsiderable debateas to whether the
  practiceofhaving separate lanes fortraffic
  dependentondirection oftravel was
  economically viable, despitetheobvious
  safetyadvantages.
  The performance ofcars couldbe quite
  impressive- thelargerBentley and Rolls-
  Royce saloonscouldexceed 100mph, and
  sports models suchas the Bugatti 57SC
  managed 130mphormore . For muchofthe
  period, there were no speed limits to speak of
  outside towns, andone's rate ofprogress
  would havebeen limited onlybyvisibility,
  comers in the roadand one'sdriving ability.
  Thequalityofbrakes andtyres was not very
  high . Bear inmind also, thatthedrivingtest
  wasnotintroduced until 1935 - before that a
  licencewas tobe hadonapplication .
  Asthecostoffamilymotoring dropped, the
  practiceofthe Sunday outing grew. Families
  wouldtakethemselves off,to the seasideor
  for apicnicinthecountry, and attendances at
  church fell accordingly.
  Sample Statistics
  The followingtables show some sample
  statistics forvarious carsoftheperiod .
  However, even an individualmodel couldbe
  producedin several differentversions, and
  pricesvaried widelywith date and
  accessoriespurchased. Many manufacturers
  supplied only a chassis: customers had to go
  toaseparate coachbuilder for the bodywork
  whichcouldbe as ornate as theywished .
  Prices markedwith a *below are for chassis
  only ; add at least halfagainforthe
  coachwork.
  All speedsarequotedinmph . Thefewerstars a carhas, the lessprestigiousitis todriveone.
  (t) Rolls-Royce neverquoteperformancefiguresfortheirmodels, sothesenumbersare
  approximate .
  r
  r
  Model
  Year
  Country
  Seats Speed Cost
  Prestige
  Alfa Romeo 8C2900B
  1937-1939
  Italy
  2
  130+ £2,100
  *****
  Austin Seven (Baby Austin)
  1923-1938
  Britain
  4
  45
  £125-165
  *
  Bentley3 litre
  1920-1927
  Britain
  2/4
  98
  £1,200*
  *****
  Bentley Speed Six
  1927-1931
  Britain
  2+2
  92
  £1,450*
  Bentley 8 litre (saloon)
  1930-1931
  Britain
  2/7
  120
  £1,880*
  *****
  Bugatti Type 35B
  1924-1930
  France
  2
  110
  £1,200
  *****
  Bugatti Type 41 Royale
  1927-1935
  France
  2/5
  125
  £5,250*
  *****
  CitroenTraction Avant
  1934-1957
  France
  2/4
  N/A
  £2,500
  ****
  Daimler Double Six
  1926-1935
  Germany/Britain
  2/7
  61-90 £328
  **
  Duesenberg SJ
  1932-1937
  USA
  2/4
  N/A
  £2,500
  ****
  Ford Model T
  1908-1927
  USA
  2/6
  125
  £4,000
  *****
  Ford Popular
  1935-1939
  USA
  4/5
  45
  £130
  *
  HillmanTen
  1913-1924
  Britain
  4/5
  68
  £100
  *
  Hispano Suiza H6C
  1919-1931
  France
  2/5
  105
  N/A
  ****
  Hispano Suiza V12
  1931-1939
  France
  2/6
  115
  N/A
  *****
  InvictaS-Type
  1930-1935
  Britain
  2
  100
  N/A
  *****
  IsottaFranschini8A
  1924-1932
  Italy
  2/7
  95
  £2,000*
  *****
  Lagonda V12
  1936-1939
  Britain
  2/5
  110
  £1,640
  ****
  LanciaLambda
  1923-1931
  Italy
  4/6
  78
  £810
  ***
  Mercedes BenzSSK
  1929-1934
  Germany
  2
  125
  £2,500
  *****
  Mercedes Benz500K
  1934-1937
  Germany
  2
  108
  £2,980
  *****
  MG MidgetMType
  1929-1932
  Britain
  2
  65
  £175
  **
  "Bullnose" MorrisOxford
  1913-1926
  Britain
  4
  55
  £175
  *
  Packard V12
  1929-1934
  USA
  2/7
  104
  £1,100
  ****
  Railton SeriesI
  1933-1938
  Britain
  2/5
  90
  £535
  **
  Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
  1906-1925
  Britain
  2/7
  65t
  £1,350*
  *****
  Rolls-Royce PhantomIII
  1936-1939
  Britain
  2/7
  90t
  £1,900*
  *****
  SSJaguar 100
  1934-1940
  Britain
  2
  100
  £430
  ***
  Vauxhall PrinceHenry
  1908-1919
  Britain
  2
  80
  £945
  **
  VauxhallOE 30/98
  1923-1927
  Britain
  4
  80
  £1,150
  **
  
  Hilty.
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  1test
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  esat
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  I
  UPS
  I10
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  LHEAD,
  LONDONJI
  ARCS
  KoLLS-
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  POLLS-ROYCE, LIT
  14 &- 15 CONDUIT STREET, LONDON .
  PETROGRAD
  w1kohm
  GERRARD IfM
  N D
  MOTORING
  BOMBA Y
  39
  
  MOTORING
  Motoring Laws
  The 1930Actrevokedthegeneral20mph
  speedlimit (which had beenwidelydis-
  regarded) . Therewere no limitsonthespeed
  ofcarsand motorbikes, though busesand
  lorries were limited to35and30mph
  respectively. Alicencecost 5sayear and tax
  £6 for acar, £1 10s fora small bike and £3 for
  alargebike . Insurance wasmadeobligatory
  forthe firsttime.
  In 1935, in anattemptto control therapidly
  increasing numberofaccidents, the Govern-
  ment introduced the driving test anda speed
  limit of30mph in built-upareasonly. Roads
  werestill largelyunsigned, butthe familiar,
  stripedpedestrian crossingdidmake an
  appearance andpolicemenonpointduty
  controlled majorjunctionsintowns . Traffic
  lightswere also introduced, butwere
  sufficientlyrarethat theirappearanceat
  PiccadillyCircusin 1937 was thecause ofa
  publicopeningceremonyattended bythe
  Minister ofTransportandLordMayorof
  London .
  Other 1Yansport
  Author- Robin apCynan
  Whilethemotorcarwasthe increasingly
  dominant form.oftransportinthe `20sand
  `30s, there wereothertypes, whichare
  coveredbrieflyhere.
  Buses :Thetraditional horse-drawn double-
  deckerwas rapidly adapted to amotorised
  version intheyears before the GreatWar.
  With its open top, itcould be an
  uncomfortable ride,untilcovered tops
  became the norm around 1925 . Single
  deckers becamepopular inthe mid `20s,
  especiallyonlessbusyroutes .
  Buses were very popularin citieslike
  London, carryingpeoplewithout cars to and
  fromwork.The maincompanyin thecapital
  was London General, butthere werealso
  several `pirate' operators, suchasthe London
  Public Omnibus Company, until the
  formationofLondonTransportin 1933. In
  country areas, too, buses werevery
  important, forthey linked outlying
  settlements with railway stationsandcarried
  milk and mailas well aspassengers (many
  routes wereactually runby railway
  companies for atime) .
  1927 AEC Regent LS - double-decker -
  72passengers
  1936AEC Q- singel-decker - 37passengers
  Lorries and Vans : Thefirstlorries were
  steam-driven wagons, used inBritain until
  theadventofdiesel engine in 1928 because of
  thevery cheappriceofcoat . Bythen, petrol-
  drivenlorries andvanshad advanced greatly
  fromtheir humble beginnings asstandard
  motorcars with extended rears!Initially
  lorries travelled onlysmalldistances,
  serving the railways rather than competing
  withthem . However, withthe introductionof
  large six-wheelers in 1920, lorries became
  viable long-distance carriers .
  1920 Scammel - articulated6-wheeler -
  capacity 8 tons
  1930 Foden -rigid6-wheeler - capacity
  12 tons
  1935 LeylandOctopus - rigid 8-wheeler -
  capacity 15 tons
  Taxis : Londontaxisofthe `20sand `30shada
  strangely antiquatedlook, because ofthe
  manyScotland Yard rulesontheir
  construction andusage(for example, aten-
  inch groundclearance) . In 1927, the rules
  weremodified, and taxiswere updated a
  little, butthey were stillhigh-roofed owingto
  interior headroom requirements. Mosttaxis
  couldcarryonlytwo orthreepassengers,
  thoughinthelatethirties larger cabscapable
  oftakinguptofiveorsixpassengersandtheir
  luggageinsome comfortwereintroduced .
  1930Austin Twelve-Fourtaxi -3passenger
  plusluggage
  Motorcycles : Motorised bicycles had been
  introduced in the 1890s, but itwasn't until the
  boomyears of 1912-1915thatmotorcycles
  became reallypopular(theTriumph550cc
  andDouglas 350cc acquittedthemselves
  admirablyin WWI) . In the 1920s, sidecars
  andpillion seats forpassengers became
  popular, and after the Depression yearsthe
  motorcyclecombination was recognised as
  the ideal holiday transport ofthe more
  prosperous working man .
  1923 BSA 770cc V-twinplus sidecar - 48 mph
  -£82
  1924Brough SS100998cc V-twin -100mph -
  £170
  1935 Triumph650cc V-twin - 85mph- £95
  Bicycles : By 1905, the formofthe bicyclehad
  settled down, with thestandard Safety
  Bicycle formandSturmey-Archer Three-
  speed gearsbeing thenorm. Drop handlebars
  wereavailableforracingmachines, though
  most bicycleshad standard straight ones . A
  typical machine in 1925 wouldbe aRudge-
  Whitworthora Sunbeam, foraround£5 to
  £8.
  Author-Mart Gascoigne
  
  Throughoutthe 1919-39period, the principal
  source ofmotivepower remained thecoal-
  fired steamlocomotive. The size and power
  oftheselocomotives increasedbut, from
  theirnature, theyremainedhighly inefficient
  machines which requiredskilled crewsto get
  thebestfromthem .
  Inthemid andlate `30s, streamlined loco-
  motiveswere introduced . In the main, the
  cruising speedwas still only 6070mph, but
  LNER'sMallarddid achieve aworld record
  in1938 by getting upto a speed of125mph
  whiletravellingbetween Granthamand
  Peterborough .
  Very few electriclocomotives existed,
  though theLondonto Brighton line was
  electrified in 1933 . GWRhada few diesel
  railcars inthe mid `30s, butdiesel didnot
  become commonuntil afterWWII .
  PassengerAccomodation
  Themajority oftrains, exceptfor thoseon
  shortjourneybranch andsuburban lines,
  were madeupofcorridorcoaches ofthe
  separate compartment type, similarto the
  "European-Style" coachillustrated in the
  main Cthulhurules. Mostcoaches were
  steamheatedandelectrically lit . Every coach
  wasprovidedwith an emergency
  "communicationcord", achain which
  applied thetrainbrakes automatically when
  pulled. The cordalso set amarkeronthe
  coachand remained slack inthecompart-
  ment whereit waspulled foridentification
  purposes . Thepenalty for improper use was
  £5 .
  Steel construction began toreplacethe older,
  wooden coachesduring the period . This
  provedmuch saferbut, duetopoortrack
  maintenance, was less comfortable athigh
  speeds. The separate door into each
  compartmentwas abandoned inthelate `30s .
  Afew saloon-stylecoacheswith acentral
  gangwaybeganto appearin the late `20s, but
  thecompartmenttypestill predominated in
  1939.
  2ndclass travel had almostdisappearedby
  1919,the only survivors beingonsome North
  Londonsuburban services and certaintrains
  operating betweenLondon andtheChannel
  Ports. By 1937, 2nd class tickets wereonly
  availableonContinentalBoattrains . This
  was supposedly becauselinking seaand
  foreign services had2nd class, butthen the
  boatshadno 3rd class! As a resultofthis
  strangesystem, most railway travelwas only
  available as 1st and 3rd class .
  Therailway was theonly reliableandquick
  means oftransport in 1919, the electric
  tramways ofurban areas beingreally an
  extension ofthe railway principle . To provide
  thisservice, thecountry was covered bya
  vastnetwork oflines : justover20,000 miles
  oftrackand 6,700stations (twice whatexists
  today) . Despitethegrowth ofpopular
  motoring, this situationwas to remain
  unchanged throughoutmostoftheperiod .
  Long distancepassenger coachesbeganto
  eat into therailway marketinthe `30s, but
  whilstfares were cheaper, journey times
  werelonger. Aprivatecar, though more
  convenient, was neitherquicknor
  comfortable, even when within the price
  range ofthecommon man .
  TheGrouping
  In 1913, therailway systemofGreatBritain
  was inthehands ofa largenumber of
  companies, some ofwhichhadlessthanfive
  miles oftrack. Althoughtherewas
  considerable co-operation between many
  companies, theset-up led to duplicationof
  services (there werethree differentlines
  betweenLiverpooland Manchester) and
  problemswith long-distance travel . Acopy
  ofBradshaw, therailway timetable, was an
  essentialtravelling companion .
  DuringWWI, the Government tookover the
  running ofthe railway systemandran it asa
  singleunit . Theadvantages soon became
  obvious . Although the company
  shareholders wereguaranteedthe returnof
  their linesafterthewar, theGovernment kept
  the substantial profitmadeduring thattime
  and introducedmuch betterworking
  conditions withnoincrease inprices. When
  the system was finally returnedto private
  ownership in 1921, manycompanies faced
  financialruin .
  Despitestrongpressure for Nationalisation,
  the Governmentfinallyoptedto solvethe
  problem bygrouping thelines intofour new,
  private companiesorganised on a regional
  basis (thougha few companies, notably the
  Somerset&Dorset, continued to co-exist
  with the `Big Four') . This situationpersisted
  from 1923 upuntilNationalisation in 1949 .
  Obviously, sucha radicalchange could not
  happen overnight ; rolling stockin old
  liveries couldstill befound in the late `20s,
  and people stillusedthe oldnamesfor lines
  well intothe `30s. Themap shows the areas of
  the country servedby the `BigFour' whilst
  'liable 1 showshowthe old companies were
  grouped . Amoredetailedmap ofrailway
  linesisavailable in Cthulhuby Gaslight .
  A fewluxury (Pullman) servicesexisted,
  mainly onSRandLNER. All British
  'WITH S
  ., l,
  BOAT SE
  vX
  FROM MAY
  Pullmancars were ofthe central gangway
  type, with tables sothatrefreshments could
  beserved at your seat . Sleeper trains were
  runonlong distanceroutes, thoughthey were
  mainly 1stclassuntil 1928 . The 3rd class
  `beds'were often simply the provision ofa
  flat surface, arug anda pillow. Where
  possible therewas segregationofthe sexes,
  butonheavilybooked trains this wasnot
  alwayspracticable.
  Many ofthe express services were given
  specialnames . Itwas these services which
  hadfirstclaimon the morefamous loco-
  motives such asMallardandGWR'sKing
  George V.
  Fares
  Intheory, the costofpassengertravel was
  proportionalto distance, but therewere many
  deviations, especially where more thanone
  routewas possible . In 1923, the standard 3rd
  class rate was 1'hdper mile and 1stclass 2 1/2d
  permile . Return tickets wereavailablebutat
  no saving . Singles werevalidfor 3 days and
  returns for3 months . The ticketoften
  specified therouteto be taken . Breaks of
  journey werepermittedalongtheway,
  although in cases ofjourneys covering more
  thanonecompany breaks werenot normally
  allowed outside the issuingcompany's
  territory.
  41
  
  RAILWAYS
  Inaddition to standardtickets, therewere
  many concessional fares such as week-end
  returns at30% ofa singlefare, tourists'
  tickets and excursions . Suchtickets were
  onlyvalidbetween the stationsstated : breaks
  ofjourney werenotallowed, nor was
  terminationofthejourney at aninter-mediate
  station since thefareto this stations could
  well be higher thanfor the completejourney.
  Moststations were closed, ie, access and exit
  was via aticketbarrier. In addition, therewas
  frequentinspection ofticketsby travelling
  inspectors on the mainline trains . Non-
  travellers could gainaccess to stationsby
  meansofa Id PlatformTicket .
  42
  Areas covered by the 'Big Four' Railway Companies.
  Table 1- TheGrouping
  London, Midland & ScottishRailway
  (LMS) - London& NorthWestern ;
  Midland ; Caledonian ; Furness ; Lancashire
  & Yorkshire; Glasgow & South Western ;
  Highland; North Staffordshire.
  London & North Eastern Railway (LNER)
  - Great Northern ; North Eastern ; Great
  Eastern ; GreatCentral ; NorthBritish ; Great
  NorthofScotland .
  GreatWestern Railway (GWR) -Great
  Western ; Cambrian ; TaffVale ; Brecon &
  Merthyr ; Rhymney ; Barry.
  Southern Railway(SR) -London & South
  Western; London, Brighton & South Coast ;
  South Eastern & Chatham .
  Table2-'Named ' services
  Coronation Scot (LMS - from 1937)
  London (Euston) - Glasgow
  Lancastrian(LMS - from 1927)
  London (Euston) - Manchester
  Merseyside Express (LMS -from 1927)
  London (Euston) - Liverpool
  Royal Scot (LMS)
  London - Glasgow
  Devonian (LMS/GWR - from 1927)
  Bradford - Paignton
  Coronation (LNER - from 1937)
  London (Kings Cross) -Edinburgh
  Flying Scotsman (LNER)
  London (Kings Cross) -Edinburgh
  Queen ofScots Pullman (LNER)
  London (Kings Cross) -Glasgow
  SilverJubilee(LNER-from 1935)
  London (Kings Cross) -Newcastle
  CheltenhamFlyer(GWR)
  London (Paddington) - Cheltenham
  Cornish Riviera Express (GWR)
  London (Paddington) -Penzance
  Brighton Belle (SRPullman)
  London (Victoria) -Brighton
  GoldenArrow (SR)
  London - Paris (viaDover&ferry)
  Table3 -LondonTermini
  Londonhas abewildering array ofrailway
  stations, a legacyofthepre-Grouping era .
  Theprincipal stations and the areas they
  servedaregiven below.
  Paddington(GWR) - South Wales, Oxford,
  Bath, Bristol&theSouthWest, South
  Midlands, Birmingham.
  Euston (LMS) -Birmingham, Liverpool,
  Manchester, North & WestScotland, North
  Wales .
  St Pancras (LMS) - East Midlands
  (Leicester, Nottingham)
  Marylebone (LMS) - Buckinghamshire&
  SouthMidlands
  Kings Cross (LNER) - Yorkshire, North
  East, South East Scotland
  Liverpool Street (LNER) - Cambridge,
  Harwich, East Anglia
  Waterloo (SR) -Southampton,Bournemouth
  & Exeter
  -
  Victoria(SR) - South East(Brighton &
  Dover) & France
  Author-Norman Tamlyn
  
  Ferries
  Mostoftheferry services available toIreland
  andtheContinentwere runby therailway
  companies . Theprincipal routes available
  arelistedbelow.
  LMS : Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire ; Heysham
  -Belfast ; Stranraer-Larne
  LNER : Harwich - HookofHolland ;
  Harwich - Antwerp ; Harwich - Zebrugge
  (from 1924)
  GWR: Fishguard-Rosslare ; Fishguard-
  Waterford ;Weymouth- Channel Islands
  SR : Dover-Calais ; Dover-Ostend ; Dover-
  Dunkirk; Folkstone - Boulogne ; Newhaven-
  Dieppe ; Southampton- Channel Islands ;
  Southampton - Le Havre ; Southampton - St .
  Malo
  OceanTravel
  Thebest way (theonlyway for agentleman)
  to traveltoAmerica wasby Cunard linerfrom
  Southampton . Vessels such asthe
  Mauritania, Aquitania andQueenMary
  (launched 1935) were so luxurious that you
  might as well havebeen inyourown stately
  home, andthetrip, weatherpermitting, was
  one long party.
  Cunardonly offered services acrossthe
  North Atlantic. However, othercompanies
  operated servicesto all parts oftheEmpire .
  The UnionCastle line sailed from
  Southampton toAfrica ; the P&O andOrient
  lines fromLondonto theFar East and
  Australia ; andthePacific Steam Navigation
  Company from SouthamptonandLondonto
  South America .
  TrampSteamers
  For those investigators who cannotafford a
  Cunardticket, the cheapwaytotravelis by
  tramp steamer. These cargovesselstravelled
  fromportto portonjourneyslasting many
  months andtens ofthousandsofmiles . The
  trickwas to pick up anewcargo at every port
  and spendaslittletime aspossible unladen .
  Suchvessels neededa special licence to carry
  passengers, butthecaptains were an
  independent lot and were quitehappyto get
  round the regulations ifsufficiently
  rewarded. Indeed, they regularly tooktheir
  friends andfamilyalong withthem by the
  simple trickofsigningthem on as `stewards'.
  Author-Norman Tamlyn
  43
  
  of tile Glen
  QNN
  BRUTAL MURDER
  IN SCOTLAND
  Accused blames haunted house
  Inverness Police are continuing their
  investigations into the brutal murder ofMr
  Donald McColl, a distillery workerfrom
  the small Highland village ofStrathmorn .
  The officer in charge ofthe investigation,
  Inspector Charles Sinclair, toldour
  reporter that Mr McColl's horriblyslashed
  andmutilated body wasfound on the
  outskirts ofthe isolatedvillage late last
  Saturday night, as the villagers made their
  way homefrom a party at the local hotel.
  The only othermemberofthe village
  community notpresent at theparty,
  shepherd boyJamieMcLeod, is helping
  Police with enquiries. Apparently, he claims
  to have been exploring thedesertedmanor
  ofthe MacMornfamily, once lairds ofthe
  manor, whodied out 100years ago. Locals
  hold that the manor is haunted, and
  McLeod is reported to have claimedthat the
  murder musthave been committedby one of
  the ghosts thathad become disturbed by his
  investigations .
  Inspector Sinclair is refusing to considerthe
  possibility ofa supernatural explanationfor
  the crime, butdoes admit that certain
  aspects ofthe mystery, including theferocity
  ofthe murderandthe apparentlack of
  motive, defy rational explanation . The
  National LaboratoryforPsychical Research
  has offered tofund an investigation into the
  haunting ofStrathmorn Manor. Applicants
  forposts on the investigative committee are
  invited to contact the Director, Mr Harry
  Price; at 19Buckingham Place, London .
  Introduction
  The Sunday Review
  This scenario is set in the 1920s or 1930s,
  and is designed for a group ofplayer
  characters who are used to investigating
  strange occurences and can present some
  authority for doing so - they will need this
  in order to be able to co-operate with the
  Police and the suspicious, and potentially
  hostile, villagers . The introductory article
  from the Sunday Review given above
  provides a suitable lead-in to the adventure
  and dates it as some time in the late 1930s,
  which is when Harry Price operated out of
  Buckingham Place . More information on
  Price can be found earlier in this book in the
  section on the Occult .
  Obviously, enterprising Keepers will be
  able to devise alternative introductions for
  their players where necessary to fit the
  scenario into their campaigns . Little in the
  scenario other than the introduction implies
  a specific date. Likewise, the scenario is not
  set during any particular time ofyear, but it
  should not be set in winter, as Strathmorn
  would be snowbound - making the invest-
  igators' task unduly difficult . During the
  summer, the area is likely tobe full of
  tourists, the railways having made
  exploration ofthe remote parts of Britain
  much easier. This is also likely to hamper
  investigations, as accommodation will be
  difficult to come by. However, having the
  investigators in the area on holiday might be
  a suitable alternative introduction
  The following text describes the plot of the
  adventure as it is most likely to unfold .
  However, the players may well choose to
  deviate from the expected course ofevents,
  and will probably spend agood deal of time
  interviewing various villagers . With this in
  mind, personality profiles ofall the major
  non-player characters are given in the
  sections of the booklet dealing with
  Strathmorn village . As always, it is import-
  ant to have a thorough grasp of the whole of
  the scenario before starting to run it .
  Getting there
  Ifthe players choose to contact Price, he
  will need to consider whether they are
  suitable . It is up to the Keeper whether or
  not Price is impressed with theircred-
  entials. The scenario will not be unduly
  spoilt ifhe is not, as the location ofthe
  manor is easily obtainable, but the
  investigators will find that references from
  the famous Harry Price impress well-read
  locals, and ifthey are not working for Price,
  the Keeper may like to introduce a rival
  group which is .
  In accordance with his usual policy, Price
  will not offer any payment to his invest-
  igators save for transport to Scotland,
  though he will be prepared to supply
  scientific equipment . In return, he asks that
  the investigators make no statements to the
  press except through him, and that the
  results oftheir work become the property of
  the National Laboratory for Psychical
  Research .
  The easiest way to get to Strathmorn is for
  the investigators to take the train to
  Inverness and get to the village either by cab
  or by hiring a car. Regular railway services
  run from London Euston to Perth and
  Inverness, though passengers may have to
  change trains en route. The Station Hotel is
  a convenient and reputable place to stay
  whilst in the city, prices starting at 6/- a
  night for a single room, with meals from 3/-
  upwards . Investigators looking for a cheaper
  establishment are warned that the
  
  Temperance Movement is very strong in
  Scotland, and many hotels do not serve
  alcohol .
  The map of central Inverness shows the
  location ofthe station, museum and public
  library. The police are housed in the County
  Offices . Cabs are generally available from
  The Exchange (the open area in front ofthe
  Town Hall) and the cost ofa trip to
  Strathmorn is 4/6.
  ThePolice Case
  By the time the Sunday Review story
  appeared, the case was already a week old,
  and a further few days will have elapsed
  before the investigators get to Scotland . In
  the intervening time, Inspector Sinclair has
  been unable to discover any otherpossible
  culprit and has therefore charged McLeod
  with murder. The first thing that the
  investigators are likely to do is approachthe
  police and ask for their help. The Inspector,
  assuming the players have suitable
  references, will provide the following
  information :
  Inspector Sinclair still has doubts about
  McLeod's guilt, but can find no other
  explanation for the mystery, and - being
  under considerable pressure to bring
  charges against someone - he has chosen the
  only possible candidate . Although he has
  only circumstantial evidence for McLeod's
  guilt, Sinclair does have character witnesses
  fromthe village who are prepared to testify
  that they believe McLeod could have
  commited the murder. As these include the
  Minister and the local doctor, he is fairly
  sure that McLeod will be convicted. If
  asked to provide further details of the crime,
  he willbecome irritable and unhelpful, as
  heknows he doesn't have any firm proof and
  doesn't want the investigators throwing up
  doubts . However, he is happy for them to
  have a look at the manor. Being a sceptical
  man, he is convinced that they will find
  nothing interesting, and if they are working
  on that, they can't be trying to clear
  McLeod . He will warn them that many of
  thevillagers are convinced thatthe manor is
  haunted and will be very unhappy at the
  thought of anyone risking disturbing the
  ghosts .
  This is as much as the investigators will get
  fromInspector Sinclair, but ifthey choose
  to ask to see McLeod they will pick up more
  interesting information .
  First, they will note that McLeod is a
  slightly built young man in his early
  twenties . He seems fairly bright and very
  much afraid of what is happening to him .
  All he has to say is that he didn't do it, it
  must have been the ghosts, and he's sorry he
  ever wentto thatawful house. Ifthe
  investigators try to question him about the
  house, he will say that he went there hoping
  to find treasure and that he fell asleep . All
  he can remember about that night is a
  particularly ferocious wind that built up
  whilst he was inside the manor. He is now
  convinced that the place is haunted, because
  he knows he didn't commit the murder, and
  he wishes he had listened to Reverend
  McCallan's advice and left the Devil's work
  well alone. He will not discuss the house
  further, nor say why he thought there might
  be treasure there, and will do his best to
  dissuade the investigators from entering it .
  The police officer in charge ofthe cells
  where McLeod is held is Sergeant Lorimer.
  If questioned, he will be reluctantto talk at
  first, as he is fairly superstitious, but if
  pressed and bought a few whiskys he will
  reveal that he is very sorry for the young
  man :
  "I saw the body they found, and believe me,
  there's no way the wee laddie couldhave
  done so much damage to a man. His arms
  were ripped from their sockets, his head
  was halftwisted off and hisbody covered
  with such awful cuts you'd think someone
  had been at him with a claymore . Still, the
  rest ofthe village were all at the hotel with
  Mrs McPherson when it happened, so I can
  only believe that the laddie must have been
  possessedby the Devil, like the Reverend
  says . From the way he cries out in his sleep,
  he's certainly troubled by some spirit or
  other."
  Sergeant Lorimer is not sure exactly what it
  is that McLeod says in his sleep, but - if
  further lubricated with whisky - will allow
  the investigators to stay the night at the
  police station to listen to him for them-
  THE HORROR OF THE GLEN
  selves . If the investigators follow this
  course, they will discover that McLeod
  dreams several times during the night, each
  time thrashing his arms and legs wildly and
  crying out. Many ofhis cries are
  incoherent, especially to someone
  unfamiliar with the local accent, but the
  investigators can make out a number of
  sentences such as :
  "No, no, don'tgo in there! No, it can'tbe,
  it's moving!Aargh! Don't let it get me! "
  On waking, McLeod can remember nothing
  of his dreams.
  If asked about the details of the crime,
  Sergeant Lorimer will say that the Inspector
  has forbidden anyone to discuss ituntil after
  the trial, at which all will be explained . No
  amount of bribery will get anything more
  out ofhim .
  This is all the information the investigators
  can get out ofthe police and McLeod . At
  this stage, they will probably wish to go to
  Strathmom to interview the villagers and
  explore the manor. However, they may
  decide to make use of the museum and
  public library while they are in Inverness in
  order to look for references to the manor
  .
  and the MacMorn family. From the point of
  view of the flow ofthe scenario itis
  probably best to encourage them towards
  Strathmorn straight away, but if they do
  come up with the idea of going to the
  library, referto the section on documentary
  evidence later in the booklet. Obviously,
  -,
  la
  A SIMPLIFIED MAP OF
  INVERNESS TOWN CENTRE
  . %\ Li
  45
  
  theywill not know of the existence of
  Archie McPhee's diary at this stage, and
  will need to make exceptionally good
  library rolls in order to find it .
  Ifthe investigators do make their way
  directly to Strathmorn, they will need
  somewhere to stay. The natural, indeed
  only, place to stay is the Strathmorn Hotel .
  Stathmorn Hotel
  Scottish hotels are often nothing more than
  the equivalent of English coaching inns .
  This is certainly true ofthe one in
  Strathmorn, which has only three guest
  rooms - one double and two twins . The
  investigators will probably have to share
  rooms . The double room is 5/- per night and
  the twins 3/6 per person per night . Meals
  are from 2/6. If the scenario has been set
  during the summer, there is a good chance
  that one or more of the rooms will be
  occupied by tourists . Keepers with a weak
  party might like to use this as an excuse to
  introduce an NPC. Ofcourse, ifthe
  investigators are not working for Price, they
  may find that people who are have already
  snapped up the rooms . Ifthere is not
  enough room for all the investigators, some
  ofthem will have to commute from
  Inverness .
  The hotel is run by Mrs Maureen
  MacPherson, a kindly widow. She is quite
  happy to talk to the investigators, and
  indeed does so at length as they struggle
  through the heavy porridge breakfast that
  she provides . Unfortunately, most ofher
  gossip is about local affairs and her
  children, rather that anything ofinterest .
  Mrs MacPherson's children are lain and
  Douglas . Like most other young Highland-
  ers, they found few opportunities for work
  at home and so got as much education as
  possible and emigrated . lain is a doctor in
  Melbourne, and Douglas an engineer in
  Toronto. Like many other Scots, Mrs
  MacPherson is worried about the number of
  young people leaving the Highlands for big
  cities or the colonies. The population of
  Strathmorn is now 20% less than it was 100
  years ago.
  Local matters that she is likely to mention
  include the large number of English tourists
  who now seem to flock to the area in
  summer; how wicked it is that all ofthat
  good land that Earl Cawdor has is given
  over to deer and grouse rather than provid-
  ing work for farmers like itdid in her
  grandfather's time ; and how slothsome the
  men in the village are on account oftheir
  drinking halfof the distillery's outputbefore
  it ever gets bottled (a slight exaggeration) . If
  the investigators can get a word in edgeways
  and ask the appropriate leading questions
  they can glean the following additional
  information :
  The party at the hotel on the night ofthe
  murder was in honour of Mrs MacPherson's
  46
  50th birthday. With the hotel being the only
  legal, convenient source ofalcohol, and as
  such the social centre ofthe village, every-
  one was invited and everyone came, even
  Rev McCallan who officially frowns on the
  consumption ofthe Devil's Brew. The only
  absentee was McLeod who, in theory, was
  supposed to be looking after a flock of
  sheep belonging to Mr McIntyre, a local
  farmer.
  Donald McColl left the party early for some
  reason, and that was the last anyone saw of
  him until his body was found the following
  morning by a group of villagers on their way
  to church to repent the nights debauchery
  (the Sunday Review got this detail wrong,
  which may confuse the investigators
  somewhat) .
  some sort, but what happened to it she
  doesn't know - it was probably burnt on
  account ofit telling ofthe evil doings ofthe
  MacMorn family. Not that she knows the
  evil the MacMorns might have done, except
  that it concerned Africa, but they must have
  been evil-ifthey have come back from the
  grave to haunt the manor.
  Mrs MacPherson can also supply the invest-
  igators with any information they require
  about who lives in the village, where to find
  them and so on . She will wam them to be
  particularly careful about who they talk to,
  as many people in Strathmorn do not like
  foreigners, and the Rev McCallan is likely
  to be firmly against them doing anything
  that might disturb the ghosts in the manor.
  MacMorn Manor has been deserted for over
  100 years since the last laird died without
  heirs . Rumour has it that it is haunted by
  ghosts ofthe family who protect the family
  treasure . No one in the village dares to go
  anywhere near it, and besides Rev
  McCallan has forbidden them to do so lest
  they become possessed by demons .
  As far as Mrs MacPherson is concerned,
  possession by the Devil is the only possible
  explanation for McLeod having commited
  the murder. She says he has always been a
  nice, polite boy, ifa little unreliable on
  account of his being given to daydreaming .
  Also, he was "foreverpoking his nose into
  places where noses didn't ought to be
  poked".
  The village is obviously a very close
  community, the only real outsider being Dr
  McBride, who - although Scots by ancestry
  - was born and educated in England . Mrs
  MacPherson's family have lived in the
  village for as long as she can remember.
  Her grandfather, Archie McPhee, was the
  minister at the time the manor was last
  occupied . She believes he wrote a diary of
  The next stage for the investigators will
  presumably be to talk to more ofthe
  villagers and try to get some more
  information, both about the manor and the
  murder mystery. The map ofStrathmorn
  shows the location of the houses ofthe
  principal characters, the manor and the spot
  where Donald McColl's body was found .
  The People
  of Strathmorn
  As has already been noted, Strathmorn is a
  closed and isolated community . For the
  most part - Mrs MacPherson, the McPhees
  and Dr McBride excepted - the villagers are
  reluctant to talk to strangers . A fair number
  of tourists do come through Strathmorn
  during the summer, but the McColl murder
  caused a fewjournalists to descend upon the
  village and has opened old sores . The
  villagers will be tight-lipped about anything
  remotely scandalous ; they will become very
  edgy and unfriendly if anyone mentions the
  MacMorn house, poaching, stealing from
  the distillery or anything to do with sex .
  They will be exceptionally hostile to anyone
  they suspect ofbeing from an English
  newspaper .
  
  Poaching is something ofa local pastime .
  Much ofthe area surrounding the village is
  owned by Lord Cawdor and is well stocked
  with deer, grouse and salmon . The distil-
  lery is very small, and has little market for
  its ware outside ofInverness and the
  surrounding villages. Most of the output is
  sold to blending companies . It does,
  however, provide the only local industry and
  stealing whisky from it is an accepted
  supplement to the meagre wages .
  Ifasked about the night ofthe murder, most
  people will confirm both Mrs MacPherson's
  version ofevents and McLeod's mention of
  a particularly high wind blowing that night .
  The rest were too drunk to remember
  anything .
  Donald McColl - the murdered man was
  well liked amongst the villagers . Other than
  poaching, stealing whisky and beating his
  wife he had no particular vices, and none of
  these were counted greatly heinous . His
  ability at caber-tossing had made him a
  local hero. Few ofthe villagers will admit to
  any reason why he might have been killed,
  or how anyone could have managed it .
  Rev McCallan - the local minister is
  exceedingly strict in his beliefs and duties,
  even for a Presbyterian . Woe betide anyone
  in the village who fails to turn up at the kirk
  (Scottish for church) on a Sunday. The
  Reverend regards the MacMorn house as an
  abode ofSatan and has forbidden anyone in
  the village to enter it, or even go beyond the
  protecting ring oftrees . As soon as the
  investigators express any interest in the
  house, McCallan will do all he can to drive
  them away from the village lestthey wake
  whatever demons Satan might have billeted
  there .
  McCallan is convinced ofMcLeod's guilt .
  As soon as he heard the lad had spent the
  night in the manor, he knew that he must
  have been possessed by a demon and could
  thus have been capable ofanything .
  Willie Stewart - Donald McColl's best
  friend is a slow, suspicious man with a deep
  mistrust of foreigners (by which he means
  anyone from more than 5 miles away) . He is
  also very strong and easily provoked to
  violence. He and McColl did a lot ofwork
  for Dr McBride, both poaching and work of
  a more clandestine nature . As a skilled
  poacher, he is an expert with a shotgun . He
  is happy to believe McLeod guilty, as both
  the minister and the doctor have said he is .
  Stewart feels somewhat guilty about the
  death ofhis friend as they were supposed to
  go offtogether that night, but he had got too
  drunk and so McColl went on his own .
  Dr McBride - The doctor is the only well-
  educated man in the village . He is suave and
  civilised, and will be kind and courteous to
  the investigators, saying how nice it is to
  have well-read visitors . He is happy to talk
  about the manor, but does his best not to
  impart any information . If anyone mentions
  the subject ofhis association with Stewart
  and McColl, he will admit to a passion for
  salmon and say that the two were proficient
  poachers . He explains that poaching is an
  accepted part oflife in the area and is
  nothing to be concerned about .
  McBride also claims to be convinced of
  McLeod's guilt . Ifchallenged on the
  medical impossibility of McLeod inflicting
  the wounds that werereported, he will fetch
  several books from his library and point to a
  number ofcase histories where mentally
  disturbed people were capable of feats of
  unusual strength and violence . He adds that
  McLeod was much much given to day-
  dreaming and other signs of maladjustment .
  A Spot Hidden roll will reveal an unusually
  large number ofbooks on geneology on the
  doctor's shelves . If anyone comments on
  this, he will say that he was born in England
  ofScots descent and is hoping to trace his
  ancestors, whom he believes to have lived
  near St Andrews . However, this is only
  partly true . In fact, McBride believes him-
  selfto be a direct descendant of the
  MacMorns, and is hoping to inherit the
  house and what he believes to be the family
  fortune. To this end, he has been paying
  McColl and Stewart to investigate the
  Manor for him, he being somewhat
  frightened ofit himself. When McColl was
  killed, he became convinced that he and
  McLeod had discovered something very
  valuable and had quarrelled over it .
  Knowing he cannot trust McLeod, he wants
  him hung as soon as possible.
  McBride has told no one, not even McColl
  and Stewart, ofhis theories about his
  ancestry. Also, no one in the village is aware
  that McColl and Stewart have been visiting
  the manor.
  Jean McColl - Ifanyone was relieved to see
  the back of McColl, it was probably his
  wife. To start with, he beat her when drunk .
  Also, because he spent many of his nights
  away poaching or investigating the manor,
  he was often having his wages docked for
  falling asleep at work . Being a bold and
  independent-minded woman, Mrs McColl
  has recently taken advantage ofher
  husband's nightly absences to start an affair
  with a neighbour, Duncan Brodie. As is
  usual with such matters, none of the male
  members of the community are aware of
  this, and all the females know, but are far
  too prudish to mention it explicitly to
  outsiders . Understandably, Mrs McColl is
  very wary ofanyone prying into her
  husband's death .
  Annie Stewart - Willie Stewart's wife is an
  exceedingly religious woman and even more
  THE HORROR OF THE GLEN
  suspicious offoreigners than her husband .
  This presents her with two problems . First,
  she greatly disapproves ofher husband's
  association with Dr McBride, and second,
  she is even more disapproving ofJean
  McColl's adultery. However, much as she
  would like to make trouble for McBride and
  Mrs McColl, she is too wary to say anything
  direct . The investigators will thus find her
  in the habit of shrilly sending them packing,
  dropping some cryptic comment as they are
  leaving, and then slamming the door so that
  they cannot follow it up.
  Farmer McIntyre - McLeod's employer,
  and a solid, down-to-earth fellow. He is one
  ofthe villagers not convinced ofMacLeod's
  guilt . He will speak ofthe shepherd as a
  nice enough lad, but prone to day-dreaming .
  Shepherding suited him ideally, as it gave
  him plenty oftime away in the hills where
  he could dream to his heart's content, and
  there were no distractions to tempt him
  from his work . McIntyre believes he was far
  too dreamy and placid to have killed anyone .
  If anyone thinks to ask about the sheep
  McLeod was supposed to be guarding on
  the night ofthe murder, McIntyre will relate
  that two ofthem were never found, and the
  rest were scattered everywhere . Also,
  splashes of blood were found in the area
  where they had been grazing . Though he
  accepts it is odd, the farmer supposes that a
  wolf must have attacked the flock, though
  he had thought them extinct in Scotland .
  Perhaps an eagle . . . .
  Really smart investigators may think to ask
  the farmer about any implements he may
  have had about the farm that McLeod could
  have used to kill McColl . McIntyre will
  explain that the police have already thought
  ofthis and have checked all ofhis tools and
  McLeod's knife for traces ofbloodstains .
  Nothing ofinterest was found .
  Angus McCallan - the owner of the
  distillery is the brother of the minister. This
  is not quite so incongruous as it sounds ;
  being somewhat better offthan most ofthe
  47
  
  village, the McCallans could afford to send
  a son to be trained as a clergyman . Being
  loyal to his brother, Angus will side with the
  minister in all things . The only useful
  information he has to impart is that McColl
  and Stewart were not his most reliable
  employees, often being late and falling
  asleep at work .
  The McPhhes - Gordon McPhee, who runs
  the village store and Post Office, is a
  relative ofMrs MacPherson . Also, he is a
  grandchild of the former minister, Archie
  McPhee, and can confirm what Mrs
  MacPherson said about him. He, however,
  thinks he knows what happened to to the old
  man's diary. Apparently some of Archie
  McPhee's books were given away to
  Inverness library as the result ofa clause in
  his will . Gordon McPhee believes that the
  diary may have been amongst these.
  Mrs McPhee is the local schoolmistress and
  is therefore fairly well educated . She knows
  48
  little about the Manor herself, but does
  know that the MacMorns were wealthy and
  successful up until their sudden demise . She
  and herhusband are both doubtful of
  MacLeod's guilt . They are a lot better
  disposed towards foreigners because, like
  Mrs MacPherson, they do quite well out of
  tourists in the summer.
  The Brodies - Ifthe investigators start
  following clues about the affair between
  Jean McColl and Duncan Brodie, they may
  wish to interview the latter. They will find
  him a fairly wet, inspired fellow prone to
  being dominated by women in general, and
  Jean McColl and his mother with whom he
  lives in particular. His stock response to
  questions is : "Well . . . I'm not sure that
  Mother would like me to tell you anything
  about that".
  It is more likely, however, that the invest-
  igators will find the Brodies by reference to
  Old Mother Brodie who, at 65, is the oldest
  STRATHMORN VILLAGE
  person in the village. Duncan is the
  youngest of five sons, but all the others died
  in childhood, which explains why she has
  been so protective of him. She actually
  approves of his affair with Jean McColl, as
  she is sure she will die soon and is therefore
  hoping to find a wife for her beloved son .
  Really paranoid investigators will note that
  her long fingernails are among the few
  implements in the village capable of causing
  the lacerations found on Donald McColl's
  body.
  Mother Brodie is far too young to remember
  the MacMorns herself, but she does
  remember her grandmother telling her that
  the cause oftheir downfall was that the
  laird's son went to travel the world and
  brought back devils from Africa which
  killed the family. She also knows that it was
  this younger MacMorn who planted the ring
  of strange, black trees which surround the
  house .
  Children - Small children are often good
  sources of information about things that
  their parents do not want to talk about . Ifthe
  investigators try talking to the village
  children, they will find that mothers often
  use the manor as a source ofbogeymen .
  Children who misbehave are threatened
  with being caught by the ghosts ofthe evil
  MacMorns and the devils they brought back
  from Africa .
  Documentary Sources
  By now, the investigators will probably be
  thinking oflooking for any documents
  concerning the MacMom family . Un-
  fortunately, the village has no more than the
  register for births, marriages and deaths in
  the church . These record the births of
  Gordon, Moira and Alex MacMorn, and
  the marriage and death ofGordon
  MacMorn, as given in the timeline . There
  are no records of the deaths of Moira or
  Alex MacMorn . Gordon MacMorn was
  buried in a family vault at the Manor, so his
  grave cannot be found in the churchyard.
  The evidence that the investigators need is
  available, but they will probably need to
  know what they are looking for in order to
  find it . Mrs McPherson's grandfather,
  Archie McPhee, who was minister in the
  village at the time ofthe fall ofthe
  MacMorns, kept a diary which is now in
  Inverness library. Mrs MacPherson's gossip
  and information from the shopkeeper,
  Gordon McPhee, should lead the invest-
  igators there eventually, if they don't think
  ofdropping in whilst visiting the police .
  After McPhee left his diary and several
  other books to the library, they were filed
  away and forgotten . Because of this, anyone
  unawareofthe diary's existence will have a
  modifier of-50 on any Library Use roll to
  discover it . Once the library authorities are
  reminded of the will, they will be able to
  find the books without much trouble.
  
  Several passages in the diary are of interest,
  the most significant being the following :
  'June 2nd, 1810 - Great Rejoicing. Young
  MasterAlex hath at last returnedfrom his
  travels toforeignparts . Widely indeed hath
  he sailed, even asfar as the Dark Continent
  ofAfrica, whence he hath bought back a
  realBlack Man . Most Devilish thefellow
  looks too, all the more sofor his barbarous
  tongue, which can butmake gross travesty
  ofourlanguage. MasterAlex hath also
  bought with him many treasures ofthat
  forbidden land, and a large number of
  trees, which he intends toplant around the
  manor. He is accompanied by one Douglas,
  a sailor who has been his servantfor much
  ofhis travels' :
  `June 14th 1810- Am deeply worried
  concerning the young MacMorn . Since of
  his return, the young MasterAlex hath
  refusedsteadfast to enter the kirk, and this
  despite the constant urgings ofthe Laird
  and ofmyself. Master Gordon is as good a
  Godfearing man as everwalked this Earth,
  and theLord knows we did ourbest to rear
  the boy inthe knowledge ofGod.' Yet his
  sojourns inforeignpartsfair seem to have
  tainted his mind such that the very sight of
  the House ofGodfills him with a deep
  loathing andfear. There will be no good of
  this ere long':
  `August 3rd 1810 - Alas! Our Laird hath
  passed his way to the Bosom ofChrist, and
  in a manner most queertoo. Brodie, the
  Master's manservant, did summon mefrom
  myslumberat 4 o' the clock this morning
  and bidmehasten to the manor, andmake
  all speed lest the Devil catch me. Then he
  hasted back hi 'selfwithout waiting,
  stopping only topeer back at mepuffing
  along behindandyell "the Master is dying "
  as ifthe words themselves could lendyouth
  to my ageing legs. Well, in troth, I ranfaster
  than Iam able, andhave wheezed mightily
  allday therefrom, but alas 'twas allfor
  noughtfor, by the time 1had arrived,
  Master Gordon was already beyond the
  mortal sod and in the arms ofhis Maker. "
  Ofthe manner ofhis passing there is great
  mystery as he was infinefettle the night
  before, as Isawmyself. Yetin early
  morning, as Brodie reports, screaming,
  coughing blood and saying thatthe very
  Devil were in his stomach andburning his
  way out. 1 have no reason to doubt this, as
  the maids were still clearing ofhis noxious
  spew when Iarrived, andhispoorface was
  contorted in the most awfulfashion, so he
  clearly died in the most dreadfulpain . None
  other in the house was affected, nor any
  otherwho had eaten ofthe Laird's table the
  nightpast, and Iam at a loss to explain
  whatstrange ague could have taken a man
  soft so sudden':
  `August 4th 1810 - Great Consternation. The
  Young Laird -for MasterAlex hath now
  assumed the title - behaves in a manner e en
  more strange than before. He bathfor-
  bidden a public ceremony ofburialfor his
  father, insisting thatI bury the late Lairdat
  the manor direct into the vault, and refusing
  to attende'en this simple ceremony himself,
  so great is his hatred ofthe Works ofGod.
  Yetnot content with this affront to the
  village, andpresumably refusing to lead
  them in worship, forhe has ne'r once set
  foot inside the kirksince his returnfrom the
  Dark Land, he has summarily ordered all of
  the late Master's servants and workmen out
  ofthe manorforthwith, leaving only the
  dour-looking sailor, Douglas, and the Black
  Man, both ofwhom returned with himfrom
  his travels. It is already a common whisper
  in the village that MasterAlex haspoisoned
  hisfather, yet Icannot understandwhy a
  man should killfor an inheritance and then
  straightaway sacrifice all respectand
  prestige that it brings by such callous and
  improperacts' :
  "Christmas Day 1810 - OLord, whatpoison
  is it that affects ouryoung Laird's mind so?
  Have Inotprayed, day and night, that on
  this Great Day You might send some miracle
  that might cause him to repent his past
  deeds and return to the Bosom ofYour
  Church? And yet there is still no sign ofhim .
  He hides away in the manorallday, seeing
  naught ofhisfellow men, and only in-
  frequently sending the sour Douglas to the
  village or to Inverness to buyfoodand wine.
  Some ofthe village hath a rumour that the
  _
  Master is killed, mostprobableat the hand
  ofthe Black Devil, yet Angus McCallan and
  five strong men paid call at the manor today
  to delivergifts andsaw the Laird,for all
  ,~
  that he sent thempacking withfoul words
  and curses . Perhaps, Lord, I am old and
  foolish toprayfor his soul, for 'tisplain he
  hath lost it already. "
  "May 23rd 1811- A strange event. Two men
  came all the wayfrom Edinburgh with a
  carriage containing strange parcelsfor the
  Laird. Staying the nightat MacPherson's
  hostel, they drank greedily, saying they
  knew not what was in thepackages but that
  it smeltfoul andgave them such awfulfears
  they haddriven the horses nearto death to
  be the quicker rid ofit. Iasked them after
  the Laird, and they reported himpale and
  haggard butasfoul mouthed as ever."
  Further references to strange deliveries
  from Edinburgh occur regularly for the next
  year or so . Then all references to Alex
  MacMorn cease until :
  "November 15th 1815 - Angus McCallan
  came to me today with a strange thought.
  "Is't not"; he asked, "by two weekspast
  now that is made the large deliveryoffoul
  parcelsfrom Edinburgh sufficient to tide the
  evil Lairdand his Devilish crew over
  winter? In troth, I think there may be doings
  afoot at the manor, fort'is hard to mindme
  ofwhen I lastsaw lights burning there oer
  night as they used": Nor couldImake
  quarrel with this . Angus sayth he will take a
  group ofmen and keep watch to see ifaught
  stirs':
  THE HQa
  OF THE GLEN
  "November20th 1815 - Five days nowAngus
  McCallan andhis men have kept watch on
  the manor and naught have they seen of
  MasterAlexand his companions . Village
  talk has it that they are all dead orfled the
  region, yetno man is brave enough to
  venture beyond those treesforfearofwhat
  evil things may lurk there. Were 1more
  mindful ofmy duties, I shouldperhaps send
  to Inverness to seek wordofMasterAlex's
  Aunt Moira, yet since she sinfiilly eloped
  with the merchantfrom Aberdeen, not one
  word has she sent to anyone ofthe village ;
  nor her brotheror nephew, these12 years
  long . Besides, Imindme ofwhat eer
  misfortune hasfallen on the house of
  MacMorn be best left undisturbed lest that
  same evil thatpossessedMaster Alex be
  loosed upon other men":
  This last paragraph has been ringed in
  pencil, fairly recently by the look ofit. As
  the diary only begins in 1808, there is no
  other mention ofthe elopement of Moira
  MacMorn . Enquiries at the library
  concerning other readers ofthe diary will
  reveal that Dr McBride visited there a few
  months back and requested to see certain
  old collections. He seemed to know exactly
  what he wanted, and the library staff didn't
  even know what books he looked at . If
  McBride is confronted with this fact, he
  will admit an interest in village history, but
  will reject any suggestion that he is related
  to the MacMorns, claiming again that his
  family originated from Fife.
  The only other entries of any interest are a
  few odd mentions of sheep being taken by
  wolves . The diary ends early in 1816.
  There is little else in the way of document-
  ary evidence that can be found . A copy of
  Archie McPhee's will exists in the records
  at the County Offices . This may lead the
  investigators to the diary, ifthey think it
  destroyed .
  The investigators may decide to try to
  confirm suspicions that McBride is related
  to the MacMorns . This is possible, but will
  take a very long time - Moira MacMorn
  49
  
  changed her name when sheeloped with
  McBride's ancestor. It is only through
  family tradition that the doctor knows of the
  connection . In order to prove anything, the
  investigators would need to go to London or
  Aberdeen and trace McBride's ancestry
  back to one John McBride ofAberdeenwho
  married a "Moira Gordon", supposedly of
  Inverness, of whom no further records
  exist . This would obviously take a very long
  time, and the investigators should be
  discouraged from following such a path .
  Distractions andLead-ins
  The area around Inverness has a number of
  interesting connections which may provide
  red herrings for enterprising Keepers to use
  to confuse the investigators . They could also
  be used to form the basis for further
  scenarios following on from this one,
  keeping the characters in the area.
  Inverness stands on the mouth of the River
  Ness, and it is amere seven miles up river
  to Bona Ferryat the north-eastern end of the
  famous loch . The first modern sighting of
  the Loch Ness Monster was in April 1933,
  though sightings ofthe creature date back to
  Anglo-Saxon times. The monster was front
  page news throughout the latter halfof 1933,
  so if the scenario is set after this time, the
  investigators are bound to be aware of it .
  50
  Mention ofthe creature canbe found both
  in the library and in Inverness museum, and
  there may be monster hunters staying near
  the loch .
  The major exhibits in the museum,
  however, are those dealing with the battle of
  Culloden which put an end to Bonny Prince
  Charlie's Rebellion in 1745. Culloden
  battlefield is about four miles east ofthe
  city, and is such a well knowntourist
  attraction thatthe Perth-Inverness railway
  line has a station at Culloden Moor. It is a
  well known fact that ancient battlegrounds
  are amongst the very best places to find
  ghosts.
  Seven miles down the river from Culloden
  stands Cawdor Castle, one time home of the
  villainous MacBeth, and site ofhis murder
  'of King Duncan and usurption ofthe
  Scottish throne . The castle is still inhabited
  by the current Earl Cawdor. As with most
  Scots noblemen, he is often away from
  home, the best chances of finding him in
  being Hogmanay and in the grouse shooting
  season .
  The Manor House
  The home ofthe MacMoms was built in its
  present form in the mid 17th century. At this
  time, Scotland was politically unstable, and
  warfare between clans was common . The
  manor has something of the appearance ofa
  castle and is designed with defence very
  much in mind . The main door is flanked by
  a tower to cover the approach, and the
  ground floor is given over to utility rooms,
  so that the attackers must fight their way up
  the spiral staircases in order to get at the
  family quarters . The plans of the various
  floors of the house show the layout ofthe
  rooms .
  The first thing that investigators are likely to
  notice on approaching the manor is that it is
  completely encircled by tall, blacktrees, the
  like of which they have never seen before
  (even with 100 % Botany skills) . No villager
  will dare to venture beyond these (not even
  Stewart, who has refused to go near the
  place after McColl's death) .
  The grounds ofthe house are overgrown
  with weeds . The only things that the
  investigators will be able to identify will be
  the stables and the family crypt . The former
  contains the bones of two horses which have
  apparently been eaten by some wild animal .
  The latter is open and completely empty.
  Both the main door and the kitchen door
  have been battered down, apparently some
  time ago . The kitchen isderelict, but shows
  signs ofhaving been searched recently.
  Alex McMom's Study
  (Wrecked books & Podonej
  AleX MCMOrt75 Bones.
  
  Footsteps can be found in the dust ofthe
  ground floor rooms. Investigators with
  appropiate skills will be able to identify the
  tracks oftwo largish men and one smaller
  :man . In the ground floor store rooms, there
  are a number ofold, empty coffins, all of
  which have been smashed open fairly
  recently. There is no sign ofany entrance to
  a cellar.
  The footprints of the larger men continue up
  the main spiral staircase, but stop at the top
  and come back down again . Anyone
  ascending the stairs at night will understand
  why ; against the far wall ofthe hall,
  immediately opposite the exit from the
  staircase, stands a most hideous statue . It
  depicts a humanoid creature some 7 feet in
  height but thin and lanky with a long
  pointed head . The creature has hugh claws
  at the ends ofits fingers, and prominent,
  sharply pointed teeth . Anyone ascending
  the stairs at night would see this statue in the
  distance as they reached the top . At that
  range, and in that light, it could easily be
  taken for real . Anyone seeing the statue in
  such conditions, therefore, should roll for
  SAN as ifthey had seen the actual Horror.
  The rest ofthe house has been undisturbed
  since 1815 and investigators with historical
  leanings may be interested to study it . The
  only unusual thing about its furnishings and
  decoration is that a number oftribal masks
  ofobviously African origin (somewhere on
  the Gold Coast, ifthe investigators make
  Anthropology rolls) are hung about the
  walls of all rooms save the upper store room
  and Douglas's room . Although most of the
  furnishings are undisturbed, some of the
  upper rooms show signs ofconsiderable
  violence .
  The third floor bedroom on the smaller
  staircase iaobviously the room that was
  used by Alex MacMorn's black servant as it
  contains a large amount of African material
  and clothing . Human bones can be found
  scattered in this room, and in a trail down
  the smaller staircase to the drawing room .
  As with the horses in the stables, the larger
  bones have all been cracked to give access
  to the marrow, and show signs ofhaving
  been heavily gnawed . All the bones are
  completely clean of any fleshy remnants .
  Investigators making Anthropology rolls
  will be able to identify the skull (found in
  the drawing room) as that ofa native ofWest
  Africa .
  The door to the other third floor bedroom is
  shut and heavily barred, though the barrier
  has weakened somewhat over the years
  (STR 25) . Ifthe investigators manage to
  breakin (roll on the Resistance Table), they
  will find thebody ofthe sailor, Douglas,
  who apparently barricaded himself in by
  dismantling his bed and using the wood to
  bar the door. He probably died of
  starvation, as there areno bloodstains on
  the floor.
  The investigators' main interest, however, is
  likely to be focused on Alex MacMorn's
  study on the second floor. This has been
  well and truly wrecked, and many old, and
  possibly interesting books have beentorn to
  pieces, and a large number ofphials of
  potions and powders have been smashed
  (sadistic keepers may like to include apage
  ofthe Revelations ofGlaaki as the only
  surving, readable text) . Alex MacMorn's
  bones are scattered around the room,
  gnawed, cracked and picked as clean as the
  bones ofthe African .
  Having checked out the house for monsters,
  the investigators are likely to turn next to a
  detailed search for clues and/ortreasure .
  The ground floor has already been gone
  over by McColl and Stewart and most of the
  rest ofthe house yields material ofhistorical
  interest only. The statue, however, hides a
  secret . A Spot Hidden roll will reveal a
  panel in the plinth which opens to yield a
  small hand-written book : the note-book of
  Alex MacMorn .
  The Notebook
  Alex MacMorn was not particularly tidy or
  thorough . Much ofhis writing is
  indecipherable, and none ofit is dated, but
  it can be assumed to be in chronological
  order. The book makes several cryptic
  references to MacMorn's "pets", which it
  would appear he bought back from Africa
  with him . There are also a number of
  mentions ofa place called "T'gaorl", a city
  deep in the African jungles which
  MacMorn discovered on his travels . The
  more interesting ofthe legible entries, in
  order of appearance, are given below.
  `All is going well. The commonfolknow
  hate andfear me sufficientlyto shun the
  house entirely. Douglas and Yuba have
  finishedplanting the trees. My great
  experiment is about to begin . "
  "Iamfeeding them as the Witch Doctor told
  me. They are growing strong, and their
  hunger increases . All is well."
  THE HORROR OF THE GLEN
  "The idiots in the village came bringing
  Christmas gifts as they sayis customary.
  T'wasfortunate there was nothing hanging
  in the store room . "
  "No one in Edinburgh seems to have
  knowledge ofthe tomes I seek. Iam loath to
  seekfurther afield as I need much gold to
  buyfoodformypets, yet Pwould be as well
  to have more knowledge before they arefully
  grown. What shall Ido, I wonder?"
  "That scum Lennox sought to cheat me. The
  corpses werefresh and un-hung. Good
  fortune that Ihad the sense to keep back
  some ofthe contents ofthe crypt. Mypets
  seem particularlyfond ofMother. Perhaps
  they can somehow tell who it is they eat."
  "Iam running short ofgold and the things
  arestill notfullgrown . Ihave tried to get
  them to sleep as1saw in the city ofTgaorl
  but they hunger still. Soon I will have no
  choice but tofeed them sheep. "
  "Today they tasted bloodfor thefirst time. 1
  mustnow trust to God, butIhaveforgotten
  how. At least ifI die, thefoolish villagers
  will not come hereformany years and the
  hings will as likeperish ofhunger. Yet they
  should befull grown by now. Why will they
  not sleep? Why? Why?"
  In the front ofthe book is a small, dirty
  scrap ofpaper on which is scribbled - in
  MacMorn's hand but in careful, capital
  letters - an incantation :
  "NIHAR CTHOR HAG NAATHI IST'HE
  GHLAN GHEIHNT'HOR".
  The Manor at Night
  Any investigator reading the notebook must
  make a Sanity Roll, losing 1D4 of SAN if
  this is failed .
  The investigators, assuming they are
  cautious, sensible fellows, are most likely to
  visit the manor during daylight . However,
  their failure to find any trace ofa monster
  this way will eventually lead to their
  attempting to repeat McLeod's experiences
  and going there at night . Investigators who
  are very wary ofthe Reverend McCallan
  will do this first anyway. At night the manor
  is a very different place .
  The physical layout is the same at all times,
  though remember that first sight ofthe
  statue is likely to alarm anyone with a poor
  light source, but the building seems to
  exude an aura ofevil which, will make the
  hairs on the backs ofthe inestigators' necks
  tingle and shiver. As soon as anyone enters
  the house at night, a strong wind will begin
  to blow, and the trees will sway crazily as if
  dancing around the manor.
  .
  51
  
  After the investigators have been in the
  manor a few minutes, the Keeper must
  make a roll against POW for each of them in
  secret, using a D20 with a modifier of +10.
  Only if the resulting score is the same as or
  lower than the investigator's POW will each
  of the PCs save against the spell . Anyone
  failing their saving roll will soon fall into a
  deep sleep . The Keeper should try to catch
  the victims when they are out ofsight of
  their colleagues (fairly easy in a darkhouse)
  to tell the players privately that their
  characters have succumbed, rather than
  have them fall over in front oftheir
  colleagues . A much better atmosphere is
  achieved ifinvestigators "disappear" and
  people trip over sleeping bodies, than ifthe
  characters are seen to succumb to a spell .
  Some ofthe investigators will probably
  make the saving roll and can have a little
  while to wander about and fall over their
  sleeping colleagues . They will find that
  none ofthe sleepers can be woken and will
  probably sit down to keep watch . The
  Keeper should check them again at this
  point . Ifthey save a second time, they can
  stay awake all night - they probably won't
  see anything of interest anyway. The spell
  victims revert to normal sleep patterns at
  dawn and can be woken by any suitable
  method .
  The investigators will probably think their
  night was somewhat boring, but for the
  villagers it was nothing ofthe sort . The
  Horror was indeed about, but none ofthe
  investigators will have seen it, unless they
  leftthe house to return to the village or
  search the grounds . Even so, the Horror
  only attacks lone prey and is adept at hiding
  in the darkness . If any investigator is so
  foolish as to wander the grounds or village
  alone, the Horror will jump him as soon as
  he leaves the ring oftrees, but run offif
  anyone approaches before it has finished its
  meal . The Horror will have the advantage of
  surprise in its attack .
  Very thorough investigators may try to
  ensure that they spot the Horror. If they are
  the type who come armed with a generator
  and massive arc lamps, the Keeper should
  think up some excuse to have these fail, as
  such technical overkill spoils the fun for
  `leveryone .
  52
  Assuming, then, that the investigators do
  not get a glimpse of the Horror, the next
  they will hear ofit is on their return to the
  village in the morning . No-one there was
  eaten, indeed they all stayed safely indoors,
  but one ofFarmer McIntyre's sheep vanish-
  ed and many people report hearing an
  unearthly howling in the village streets
  during the night (this will not have carried
  to the manor on account ofthe high winds) .
  Reverend McCallan will be in no doubt as
  to what was abroad and who was
  responsible . Other villagers will be more or
  less convinced, depending upon their
  personalities .
  Trapping the Horror
  The investigators will now presumably try
  to think up some plan to catch the Horror
  and destroy it . Unless they come up with
  this sort ofplan, or something better, the
  Keeper should have Farmer McIntyre
  suggest a baited trap . He will be willing to
  sacrifice an old sheep as the bait . It can be
  tethered in the village, and everyone else
  can lie in wait in nearby houses . The only
  other thing that must be done is that some
  brave souls will have to go to the manor to
  cause the Horror to wake in the first place .
  Iftheir plan is simply to go there, stay a few
  minutes with matchsticks propping their
  eyes open, and then hare back to the village,
  the Keeper should let them succeed (after a
  few nerve-wracking die rolls) . If they intend
  to stay in the safety ofthe manor then they
  must roll for sleep as before .
  The villagers will be in something of a
  quandry as to what to do about this trap.
  Braver souls like Farmer McIntye will be
  ready to help, but others will be put offby
  the rantings ofthe Reverend McCallan . Dr
  McBride, as a scientist, will offer his
  services, and Willie Stewart will also
  volunteer, both because McBride told him
  to go and out of a genuine desire to avenge
  his friend's death . The Keeper may add a
  few more male villagers to the party ifhe
  wishes, but they will have no great effect on
  the outcome of events .
  The Horror might be'a cunning hunter, but
  it is not up to combating a wily human . It
  will fall for the trap, and everyone will get a
  good view of it . In form it resembles the
  statue in the manorvery closely. This may
  confuse the investigators, as anyone who
  stayed awake in the manor all night will
  know that the statue did not move.
  Sanity rolls will of course be required .
  As soon as the Horror is within reasonable
  range, Farmer McIntyre and-Willie Stewart
  will loose shotgun blasts (McIntyre doesn't
  want to lose his sheep unless absolutely
  neccessary, and Stewart is simply hot-
  headed) . Some ofthe investigators may fire
  as well . The Keeper should ensure that at
  least one shot hits - fiddle Stewart's roll if
  neccessary. As it will have adopted its thick
  skin before leaving hiding, it is extremely
  unlikely that the Horror will be killed by a
  single volley, especially as the Keeper will
  have the opportunity to fix McIntyre and
  Stewart's rolls to miss ifneed be . Assuming
  it is not dead (and the Keeper can always let
  it survive a few minutes with mortal wounds
  on the strength of its terrible, inhuman
  willpower), it will flee back to the manor at
  great speed, leaving a trail of sticky ichor
  from a wounded arm.
  The investigators now have little choice but
  to follow the thing to it's lair. McBride,
  Stewart and McIntyre will agree to accom-
  pany them (indeed Stewart will be the first
  to suggest it), but any other villagers present
  will have been too shaken to do anything
  other than head for a wee tipple .
  Dr
  . McBride's Plan
  As the party makes its way to the manor,
  McBride and Stewart will contrive to lag
  towards the back ofthe group . If for some
  reason the investigators manage to lay their
  trap without involving anyone in the village,
  the Keeper can assume that McBride got
  wind ofwhat they were up to and kept watch
  with Stewart, following them at a safe
  distance once they set off for the house .
  Once the group reaches the ring oftrees
  McBride will spring his trap and order them
  all to stop. He and Stewart will have the
  whole party covered with their shotguns .
  Given the short range and the fact that
  Stewart is known to be a crack shot, it is
  unlikely that any ofthe investigators will be
  
  foolish enough to try anything. Farmer
  McIntyre will remind them ofthis ifthey
  seemjumpy, and will urge them to try to
  reason with the doctor. It is, after all, very
  bad form not to let the villian have his final
  rant .
  With McIntyre and the investigators at his
  mercy, McBride will reveal all concerning
  his ancestry. He will go on to say that he
  now intends to kill everyone, follow the
  monster to the treasure himself, and tell the
  village that his unfortunate victims were
  eaten . Again, McIntyre will try to keep the
  investigators from trying anything rash -
  they don't need to die and a wounded
  investigator will be easy prey for the
  Horror.
  As McBride is revealing his plans, Stewart
  has been glancing around nervously,
  looking for the Horror. Once McBride has
  got to the end of his speech, or when the
  investigators are about to do something
  rash, Stewart notices something .
  "Good God Doctor! Look at that tree over
  there . It's got a branch hanging halfoffand
  drippingjust like the arm o' the thing we
  shot!"
  Give the players a momentor two to realise
  the awful truth themselves, but if they do
  not, Stewart can add:
  "If that tree were a monster all along, what
  are the rest o' them!?"
  At this point everyone with any sense will
  run as fast as they can back to the village.
  Anyone who stops to see what happens will
  see all ofAlex MacMom's "pets" take on
  their waking form . The trees do not become
  monsters, but rather the creatures emerge
  from them after the manner ofmythological
  tree spirits . Thus no one would ever notice a
  tree missing when a creature was out
  hunting .
  Dr McBride remains where he is, transfixed
  by the sight, and the creatures proceed to
  tear him to shreds and eat him, quarrelling
  THE HORROR OF THE GLEN
  noisily over the pieces, as anyone foolish
  enough to watch will observe. Investigators
  witnessing this sight shouldmake another
  Sanity roll (note the greater penalty for
  seeing the creatures emerge from the trees) .
  Anyone lingering behind for more than a
  moment will also be caught by the trees, but
  the rest ofthose present will have a
  fortunate escape - the creatures need very
  little food when fully grown, and they will
  not chase the party back to the village .
  Loose Ends
  Once the investigators have established
  where the creatures come from, it will be a
  simple matter to dispose ofthem. Theyjust
  have to bum the trees . The villagers will be
  only too happy to assist .
  Provided that Farmer McIntyre was present
  at the final encounter, there should be no
  embarrassing questions to be faced . How-
  ever, ifWillie Stewart was the only witness
  to survive he could make life fairly difficult
  
  for the investigators, especially ifthey
  attempt to accuse him ofany crimes (in fact,
  threatening behaviour is about as much as
  he could be charged with) .
  Inspector Sinclair will be none too pleased
  at any proof of supernatural agency, but will
  be quite relieved at being spared a potential-
  ly embarrassing court case . He will drop all
  charges against McLeod on the grounds of
  insufficient evidence and leave the matter
  "unsolved". As no one in the village will
  wish to press the matter, it is quite safe for
  himto do this . He will not be in the slightest
  bit interested in any tales ofpoaching,
  whisky-stealing or adultery, unless anyone
  in the village wishes to make a complaint .
  Reverend McCallar, will be absolutely
  delighted . It is not often that a minister can
  describe a place as a haunt ofdemons and
  be proved right in such a spectacular
  manner. Of course, he will give no thanks to
  the investigators for their help, and he will
  do his best to steal all the glory by
  ostentatiously reciting scriptures at the trees
  as they are burnt .
  There is no treasure in the manor. As the
  investigators are aware, Alex MacMom
  spent every penny he had on buying food for
  his "pets".
  Ifthe investigators are working for Harry
  Price, they will be expected to produce a
  full report oftheir findings for Price to
  54
  distribute to the newspapers . The case could
  provide extremely valuable publicity for his
  organisation and the cause of Psychical
  Research in general . Ifthe scenario is run as
  part of a continuing campaign, the invest-
  igators may have to think very carefully
  about exactly what information they want
  Price and the general public to have . Ifit
  becomes known in the village that the
  investigators will be producing a report for
  the newspapers, Gordon McPhee will
  approach them with a view to doing a deal
  about arrangements for tourists to visit the
  famous haunted manor.
  With this in mind, the question ofpossible
  surviving MacMorns must be considered .
  The investigators will be able to repeat Dr
  McBride's researches and establish the,
  albeit tenuous, link with Moira MacMorn .
  McBride has no immediately traceable
  living relatives, but there are records of an
  aunt, Elizabeth McBride, who married a
  Mr Carrington and emigrated to the USA .
  Their last known address was in Washington
  Street, Arkham, Massachusetts .
  As a final thought, the investigators are
  presumably now in possession of Alex
  MacMorn's notebook . Although the text is
  exceedingly fragmentary, there are entries
  dating back to MacMorn's time in Africa .
  These, together with identification ofthe
  tribal artifacts in the manor, should give the
  investigators a good start on the way to
  finding the Lost City of T'gaorl .
  Timelinefor
  the MacMorn Family
  April 1807 - Alex MacMorn sets out to
  further his education byforeign travel. Due
  to the wars in Europe he elects to travel
  more widely than is customary.
  October 1808 - MoiraMacMorn elopes with
  John McBride, a merchantfromAberdeen.
  March 1809 - Alex MacMorn discovers the
  lost City ofTgaorl in West Africa and
  determines to learn the secrets ofthe
  Gh'icht' Tyaachtfrom the Ikambi
  tribesmen.
  June 1810 - Alex MacMorn returns home
  with a collection ofyoung Gn'icht' Tyaacht.
  He is accompaniedby Douglas, a sailor,
  and Yuba, an Ikambi tribesman.
  August 1810 - Alex MacMorn murders his
  father, Gordon, andassumes the Lairdship.
  He expells all servants save Douglas and
  Yubafrom the manor and becomes a
  recluse.
  May 1811- Alex MacMorn begins ordering
  corpsesfrom aMr Lennox in Edinburgh.
  October1815 - Alex MacMorn and Yuba
  killedby the Gn'icht' Tyaacht. Douglas dies
  ofstarvation barricaded in his room.
  Acknowledgements
  Background information on Scotland inthe
  1930s came from The Heart ofScotland by
  George Blake, Batsford, 1934
  Information on prices and accomodation
  was based on the 1923 edition of Ward,
  Lock & Co's Tourist Guide to the Highlands
  Both ofthese books could have been
  available to the investigators, depending on
  the year in which the scenario is run .
  MacMorn Manor is based on Claypotts
  Castle near Dundee, and the maps are based
  on those in Scotland's Historic Buildings by
  Hubert Fenwick, Robert Hale, 1974
  Thanks also due to Marc Gascoigne and
  Marcus L Rowland for their help and
  advice, and to the many people who have
  provided inspiration for this scenario.
  Playtesters : Kathryn & Logan Tamlyn, Paul
  and Sue Cowling, Ian Marsh, Paul Mason .
  This scenario is dedicated to Steve Bailey,
  whose fantasy campaign, Talgor, is the most
  frightening roleplaying game I have ever
  experienced .
  Pete Tamlyn - November 1985
  
  Character Statistics
  The following list includes details of all
  non-player characters in the scenario . The
  skills listed are only those with unusual
  values. All characters can be expected to
  have the usual base level starting skills as
  well . Further information on the personality
  ofthe characters can be found in the body of
  the text, particularly inthe section on the
  inhabitants of Strathmorn .
  Inspector Sinclair
  Senior Police Officer at Inverness . In
  charge ofthe murder investigation .
  STR 11 CON 14
  SIZ 16
  INT 14
  POW 9
  DEX 10 APP 11
  SAN 45
  EDU 15 Hit Pts 15
  Age 45
  Skills : Fist 50% ; Nightstick Attack 60% ;
  Nightstick Parry 70% ; First Aid 25 % ;
  Law 60 % ; Psychology 20 % ; Spot Hidden
  30% ; Drive Automobile 55 %', Credit
  Rating 40% .
  Equipment : Truncheon (Nightstick), car.
  Sergeant Lorimer
  Station Sergeant at Inverness.
  STR 16 CON 13
  SIZ 15
  INT 8
  POW 5
  DEX 6
  APP 8
  SAN 25
  EDU 9 Hit Pts 14
  Age 52
  Skills: Fist 70% ; Nightstick Attack 75 % ;
  Nightstick Parry 80% ; Shotgun 45 % ; Law
  30 % ; FirstAid 30% ; Spot Hidden 45% ;
  Mechanical Repair 30% ; Drive Automobile
  40% ; Singing (drunken ballads) 40% .
  Equipment : Truncheon (Nightstick),
  bicycle .
  Jamie McLeod
  Shepherd Boy. Prime suspect in murder
  enquiry.
  STR 8
  CON 7
  SIZ 7
  INT 14
  POW 12
  DEX 9
  APP 15
  SAN 60
  EDU 7
  Hit Pts 7
  Age 17
  Skills: Zoology 10% ; Botany 10% ;
  Listening 40% ; Tracking 30% ; Fast Talk
  50% ; Climb 40% ; Swim 35 % ; Throw
  50% ; Hide 30% ; Sneak 45 % ; Pick Pockets
  25% .
  Mrs Maureen MacPherson
  Proprietress ofthe Strathmorn Hotel .
  STR 12 CON 13
  SIZ 7
  INT 10
  POW 14
  DEX 14
  APP 8
  SAN '0
  EDU 9 Hit Pts 10
  Age 42
  Skills : Accounting 30% ; Bargaining 20 % ;
  First Aid 50 % ; Oratory 20% .
  Reverend McCallan
  Presbyterian Minister of Strathmorn .
  STR 15
  CON 9
  SIZ 12
  INT 12
  POW 6
  DEX 12 APP 10
  SAN 30
  EDU 13 Hit Pts 11
  Age 34
  Skills : Read/Write Latin 20% ;
  Accounting 20% ; History 35 % ;
  Library Use 20 % ; Theology 80% ;
  Psychology 25 % ; Debate 40 % ; Oratory
  65% .
  Equipment : Bible .
  Willie Stewart
  Villager. Best friend of murdered man .
  STR 18 CON 13 'SIZ 16
  INT 8
  POW 10
  DEX 14 APP 10
  SAN 46
  EDU 5
  Hit Pts 15
  Age 28
  Skills : Fist 70 % ; Head Butt 40 % ; Kick
  35 % ; Knife Attack 60% ; Shotgun 80% ;
  Nightstick Attack 40% ; Tracking 65% ;
  Camouflage 55 % ; Hide 75 % ; Sneak 80% ;
  Climb 45% ; Jump 60% ; Swim 65 % ; Listen
  50% ; Spot Hidden 60% ; Throw 65 % .
  Equipment: Knife, 12-gauge shotgun .
  Dr McBride
  The village doctor.
  STR 6
  CON 12
  SIZ 10
  INT 17
  POW 9
  DEX 13
  APP 8
  SAN 45
  EDU 16 Hit Pts 11
  Age 38
  Skills : First Aid 80% ; History 40% ;
  Library Use 75 % ; Pharmacy 60% ;
  Treat Disease 55 % ; Treat Poison 75 % ;
  Diagnose Disease 80% ; Drive Automobile
  60% ; Debate 30% ; Oratory 40% ;
  Psychoanalysis 20% ; Psychology 40% .
  Equipment: .22 revolver, 20-gauge
  shotgun, bicycle .
  Jean McColl
  THE HORROR OF THE GLEN
  Widow ofthe murdered man .
  STR 11
  CON 9
  SIZ 11
  INT 14
  POW 14
  DEX 11 APP 14 SAN 70
  EDU 6 Hit Pts 10
  Age 24
  Skills : First Aid 25 % ; Hide 30% ; Sneak
  40% ; Fast Talk 55 % ; Singing 60% ; Dodge
  75% .
  Amiie Stewart
  Wife ofWillie Stewart .
  STR 11
  CON 9
  SIZ 6
  INT 7
  POW 10
  DEX 8
  APP 8
  SAN 50
  EDU 3
  Hit Pts 8
  Age 25
  Skills : Theology 35 % ; Debate 20% .
  Equipment: Rolling Pin .
  Farmer McIntyre
  Employer ofJamie McLeod .
  STR 13 CON 13
  SIZ 14
  INT 12
  POW 15
  DEX 9
  APP 15
  SAN75
  EDU 8 Hit Pts 14
  Age 34
  Skills : Fist 65% ; Kick 30 % ; Shotgun 50
  Rifle 60 % ; Zoology 75 % ; Accounting
  30 % ; Tracking 45% ; Carpentry 45 % ;
  Bargaining 60% ; Climb 45 % ; Swim 60 % .
  Equipment: 0-gauge shotgun, .22 rifle,
  knife.
  55
  
  Distillery owner. Brother ofReverend
  McCallan .
  STR 11
  CON 6
  SIZ 12
  INT 9
  POW 6
  DEX 3
  APP ll
  SAN 30
  EDU 11
  Hit pts 9
  Age 36
  Skills : Accounting 45 % ; Chemistry 20% ;
  Mechanical Repair 45% ; Bargaining 60 % ;
  Credit Rating 40% .
  Gordon McPhee
  Village shopkeeper and postmaster. Cousin
  of Mrs MacPherson .
  STR 9
  CON 11
  SIZ 9
  INT 13
  POW 12
  DEX 8
  APP 9
  SAN 60
  EDU 7 Hit Pts 10
  Age 37
  Skills : Accounting 40 % ; Psychology 20% ;
  Bargaining 80% ; Fast Talk 45 % .
  Village schoolmistress . Wife ofGordon
  McFee.
  STR 7
  CON 5
  SIZ 8
  INT 12
  POW 13
  DEX 14
  APP 7
  SAN 65
  EDU 9
  Hit Pts 7
  Age 34
  Skills : Botany 10% ; History 15 % ;
  First Aid 45 % ; Library Use 20% ;
  Zoology 20 % ; Fast Talk 35% ; Oratory
  40% ; Singing 40 % ; Accounting 20% .
  The oldest woman in the village . Age 65
  STR 8
  CON 15
  SIZ 8
  INT 10
  POW 16
  DEX 10 APP 10 SAN 80
  EDU 4 Hit Pts 12
  56
  Skills : Debate25% ; Botany 20% ; Occult 15% ;
  Diagnose Disease 30% ; Treat Disease 20% ;
  Treat Poison 25 % .
  Duncan Brodie
  Mother Brodie's son .
  STR 12
  CON-13
  SIZ 10
  INT 6
  POW 7
  DEX 13 APP 15
  SAN 35
  EDU 6
  Hit Pts 1
  Age 25
  Skills : Hide 40% ; Sneak 55 % .
  The Horror
  The Gn'icht' Tyaacht are a race oftree
  spirits native to the jungles ofWest Africa .
  They live in a form of symbiosis with a tall
  black-leaved tree called Nuwanda by the
  natives . Although the creatures are flesh-
  eaters when manifesting themselves
  separate from their trees, tribal witch
  doctors have found that they can be tamed
  by means of magical spells - provided that
  they are fed solely on human flesh which
  has been hung until completely dry .ofblood
  until they reach maturity at approximately
  five years old .
  Before maturity the Gn'icht' Tyaacht are
  fairly active, and voraciously greedy, but
  can be controlled by sophisticated magics .
  Once they have matured, their appetite
  reduces dramatically, and they spend most
  oftheir time asleep within their trees .
  Gn'icht' Tyaacht are only able to leave their
  trees during the hours ofdarkness.
  Although a single Gn'icht' Tyaacht has no
  magical powers, a grove ofcreatures (10 or
  more) is able to link minds psychically and
  performlimited magics . The grove becomes
  aware ofeverything that happens within it,
  and within a distance of about 10 yards from
  the perimeter ofthe grove . In addition, the
  grove is able to cast a powerful sleep spell .
  Persons caught within the grove when the
  spell is cast must save twice against falling
  to sleep, rolling 11320 +10 and needing to
  score below their POW to save.
  It is taboo amongst the Gn'icht' Tyaacht to
  attack anyone within a grove, unless that
  person breaks the rules ofhospitalityby
  first attacking one of them . This
  information was not known to Alex
  McMorn .
  Certain African tribes - including the
  Ikambi, who were visited by McMorn - are
  known to worship the Gn'icht' Tyaacht, and
  it is the Witch Doctors ofthese who
  developed the techniques for controlling the
  creatures . The tribes were heavily
  decimated by slave traders, and it may be.,
  that the knowledge ofwhich they were
  guardians is now lost to mankind .
  The Gn'icht' Tyaacht do not worship any
  other mythos deities, but were once
  enslaved by Cthugha when he was
  summoned to Earth by an overly ambitious
  wizard in thelong lost African city of
  T'gaorl . The Gn'icht' Tyaacht were
  powerless against Fire Vampiresand nurse
  an age long hatred for Cthugha and all ofhis
  allies .
  Characteristics
  Average
  STR 2136 +10
  17
  CON 3136 +12
  22-23
  SIZ 2136 +14
  21
  INT2136-2
  5
  POW 2136
  7
  DEX 3136 + 5
  15-16
  Hit Points
  22
  Move
  12
  Weapon
  Attack
  Damage
  Claw
  40%
  2136 +4
  The Gn'icht' Tyaacht can use both claws at
  once.
  Armour. The Gn'icht' 7jyacht are able to
  change the texture oftheir skinsfrom almost
  intangible when entering their trees to a
  thick, woodyformforfighting . 7his latter
  acts as 5pointarmour. 7hey always adopt
  their thick skinnedform when out of
  concealment, and thus can onlybe caught
  withoutarmour ifsurprised when leaving or
  entering their trees, or when hidden.
  Spells: None individually. See abovefor
  grove spells .
  SAN. Anyone seeing a single Gn'icht'
  7~aacht must make a Sanity roll, losing ID6
  ifthe roll isfailed. Seeing a Gn icht'
  Tyaacht emergefrom its tree has a greater
  penalty ofID10for afailed roll, or 1point
  ofSANifthe character makes the roll.
  Gn'icht' 7jvacht have the same sort ofskill
  at stealth and trackingas rivaljungle
  hunters such as leopards.
  
  Death in the Post is not a scenario in the
  classic format . There is very little to be
  discovered, andmost ofthat can be found
  outvery quickly and easily. However, the
  investigators will soon findthat knowing
  what is going on and being able to do
  anything about it are two quite different
  things . A large amount ofthe latter part of
  the scenario is left to the Keeper to prepare
  or improvise . Feel free to alter the number
  and nature ofencounters as you see fit .
  The plot concerns the attempts of a crazed
  sorcerer to assassinate the various promi-
  nent persons who were responsible for his
  incarceration in an asylum. He does this by
  sending each ofthem a curse through the
  post . Once the players find out about this,
  they must find the various victims, convince
  them that they are in danger and - hopefully
  - save them . The action takes place some
  time in the early 1920s .
  The scenario has been designed to make use
  ofa lot of the information given in Green
  and PleasantLandand to take the in-
  vestigators on a longjourney around the
  British Isles. It will also provide a good in-
  troduction to 20s British social life, and will
  give the investigators one or two useful
  contacts .
  Players' Introduction
  Players can be introduced to the adventure
  by George Edmundson, a well known col-
  lector ofoccult paraphernalia . Edmundson
  is not a practicing occultist himself, indeed
  he is fairly sceptical about the claims of
  most sorcerers, but he is passionately in-
  terested in the subject and has an extensive
  collection ofbooks, manuscripts and cult
  objects.
  The Keeper will have to invent and intro-
  duce the connectionbetween Edmundson
  and one ofthe investigators . Ifone ofthe in-
  vestigators is a famous occultist or ancient
  historian, there is no problem; Edmundson
  can simply choose that character as so-
  meone to consult. However, ifnone ofthe
  investigators is sufficiently eminent,
  another connection is required . Perhaps Ed-
  mundson is an old school friend ofone of
  the investigators, ofmaybe the Keeper
  could introduce him in an earlier scenario
  when the investigators are looking for an
  occultlibrary to consult .
  Whatever the connection, the scenario
  begins when one of the investigators
  receives a letter from Edmundson asking
  for a meeting . The character concerned will
  be invited to dinner at Edmundson's house
  (a stylish Georgian building in the
  Marylebone areaofLondon), and the letter
  will add that Edmundson wishes to discuss
  "a matter ofoccult and historical interest".
  Ifthe investigator is well known to Edmund-
  son, he will also be invitedto bring "any of
  his learned friends who may be of
  assistance", otherwise he should go alone .
  Edmundson ends the letter by asking that
  "the matter be treated with the utmost
  discretion and not revealed to anyone in
  whom you do not have complete trust".
  On arriving at Edmundson's house, the in-
  vestigators) will be treated to a sump-tuous
  meal (Edmundson is quite wealthy and has
  several servants) . During the meal, the host
  will make polite conversation concerning
  the well-being ofhis guest(s), and any oc-
  cult matters that happen to have made the
  news oflate - perhaps the latest Aleister
  Crowley scandal or recent discoveries in
  Egypt . Gentlemen investigators should not
  be surprised at this ; they will know that
  their host will not begin to discuss business
  until port is served in the Drawing Room
  after the meal .
  When Edmundson finally reveals why he
  asked for the meeting he produces a scrap of
  papyrus and shows it to his guest(s) .
  "I havebeen given this", he says, "by a
  friend who knows of my predeliction for the
  occult . He passed it on in good faith, saying
  he has little idea concerning the authenticity
  ofthe object, but nevertheless offering it for
  sale. Having examined it myself, I confess
  considerable interest in it . It would appear,
  as you can see, to be a magical formula of
  some sort, having a number ofparallels
  with items in the d'Anastasy Collection in
  the Leiden Museum of Antiquities, and
  thereforepresumably dating from the se-
  cond century AD".
  "However, on closer examination, and on
  comparing the item to a similar papyrus in
  my own collection, I began to have doubts
  as to its authenticity. The papyrus does not
  seem to have aged as one might expect, nor
  is the style ofthe heiroglyphics entirely in
  keeping with the calligraphy ofthe period .
  In short, I fear it may be a clever fake
  designed to defraud collectors such as
  myself . As I said earlier, I am convinced of
  my friend's good faith in this matter - he has
  a number of means whereby he could have
  acquired such an item in all innocence - but
  if some unscrupulous felon is circulating
  such fake artifacts, I am certainly interested
  in catching the bounder and teaching him a
  lesson . Equally, if the item is genuine, I
  would be interested in your opinion as to its
  value".
  As Edmundson has said, the item in ques-
  tion does indeed seem to be a magical
  papyrus from the 2nd century AD. The
  materials and general style are in keeping
  with what one would expect, but a suc-
  cessful Archaeology roll will confirm his
  suspicions. A Chemistry roll will also con-
  firm the doubts about the age of the
  papyrus . The item is a fake, but it is a very
  clever one .
  A successful Mythos roll will provide more
  interesting information . Whilst ofmodem
  manufacture, the papyrus can hardly be
  called a fake . It carries a genuine spell and
  has an obvious and deadly purpose. The
  papyrus is, in fact, a target item for a Hun-
  ting Horror. Whosoever happens to be in
  possession ofthe papyrus when the monster
  appears (or the last person to touch it) will
  be devouredby the Hunting Horror. Unfor-
  tunately, it is not possible to tell from the
  papyrus exactly when the creature will ar-
  rive (though a successful Mythos roll will
  tell the investigators that it must appear at
  night) .
  Edmundson, being somewhat sceptical
  about the efficacy of magic, will not initially
  be very impressed with any warnings his
  guest(s) might give him. Nor will he be
  prepared to reveal the name ofhis source .
  A typical collector, he is nervous that some
  rival will hear about the item and step in
  with a higher offer than the one he has
  made. It will take a successful Debate or
  Persuasion (APP x 5 roll) to convince him
  that he is in danger.
  If those investigators who are Edmundson's
  guests are unable to discover the truth about
  the papyrus, or fail to convincehim of his
  danger, the matter will have to be left until
  the following day, in which case the section
  57
  
  titled Edmundson's Death should be con-
  sulted . Otherwise, proceed direct to the sec-
  tion The Plot Thickens to see what
  Edmundson can tell them about his friend,
  then consult Combatting the Horrorto get
  Edmundson and the investigators through
  the night . . . .
  Edmundson's Death
  Having failed to resolve matters with Ed-
  mundson, the investigators will have tobid
  him goodnight . It will be the last time they
  see him alive . Ifthey try to contact him in
  the morning, they will have the conver-
  sation with Wilkins the Butler given below.
  Otherwise, the first they will hear of the
  night's events will be when Inspector
  Carlton catches up with them, which he will
  try todo from midday onwards .
  Wilkins will be most apologetic and ob-
  viously upset (an unusual
  .state of affairs for
  a butler - they are trained to be un-
  flappable) . "I'm terribly sorry, sir, but I'm
  afraid it is quite impossible for you to see
  the master. You see, amost terrible thing
  happened here last night . I'm afraid I slept
  through all the excitment, being a rather
  heavy sleeperyou see, butI was woken at 2
  o'clock by Varley, the chauffeur, who said
  he and his wife had heard the most terrible
  screams coming fromthe master's rooms".
  "Well, I went to investigate as they bade me
  and, hearing no sound and having no reply
  to my knocks, I opened the door. You can
  imagine my distress, sir, when I say that I
  found my master lying there, quite dead, his
  body shredded with scratches and several of
  his bodily organs strewn about the room. It
  fair turned my stomach, sir, I'll say. The
  police are here now, and say it must have
  been an animal of some sort . A window in
  the bedroom has been forced open and they
  assume it got in that way, though it must
  have climbed the wall or flown to do so.
  And here's a strange thing, sir. Although the
  master was in his nightclothes when he
  58
  died, andhad obviously been
  :to bed, he had
  clutched in his hand that parchment he
  showed you last night:'
  At this point, a Constable will intervene and
  ask Wilkins not to discuss the matter fur-
  ther. Ifthe investigators are on the door-
  step, they will be invited in to speak to In-
  spector Carlton . Ifthey are on the phone,
  ,theConstable will ask fortheir names and
  addresses and request thatthey make
  themselves available to see the Inspector
  that afternoon .
  An Interview with
  Inspector Carlton
  If Edmundson was sceptical about the ef-
  ficacy ofmagic, Inspector Carlton is
  downright dismissive . He is quite certain
  that there is a natural explanation for the
  murder, though he is at something ofa loss
  for one at present. Thus, while he will quiz
  the investigators thoroughly on the events of
  the previous night and have an attendant
  Constable take copious notes, he will be
  dismissive about their fears. Let the in-
  vestigators make Debate or Oratory rolls if
  they wish, but give both a modifier of
  -100% for thetime being. Carlton will
  become more amenable to persuasion as the
  scenario progresses (see the section The
  Police Investigation) .
  If they don't have good alibies, the investi-
  gators are likely to become prime suspects .
  Fast Talk orPersuasion may be useful to get
  them away from the police, but Carlton will
  soon realise he has been conned and come
  after them . Only Debate will put him offthe
  scent fora long period oftime . Ifa Debate
  roll does prove necessary to avoid arrest,
  that result will hold until the investigators
  do something else suspicious, at which
  point re-make the roll to see if Carlton still
  believes their excuses .
  Finally, as the papyrus seems closely linked
  with the murder, Carlton will insist on
  keeping it as evidence and not allow the
  investigators to examine it futher. He will
  take the same line with any furtherpapyri
  that turn up. He will only change his mind
  on this ifa) he becomes convinced ofthe
  occult menace and does not suspect thein-
  vestigators, or b) he is ordered otherwise by
  a superior.
  ThePlot Thickens
  The papyrus was given to Edmundson by
  James Richardson, a well known investi-
  gative reporter with the Daily Clarion. The
  investigators may have got his name from
  Edmundson, otherwise they will need to
  worm it out ofWilkins once the police are
  out of the way. If all else fails, Richardson
  himself, on hearing ofthe death, will begin
  to investigate it, and - after talking to
  Wilkins - will track down the investigators.
  Ifthis happens, he will not confess his part
  in the affair unless convincedby Debate or
  Oratory ofthe supernatural threat .
  Richardson received thepapyrus anon-
  ymously through thepost . He assumed it
  was a hoax ofsome sort, but offered it to
  Edmundson justin case. IfEdmundson is
  dead, he will be very upset and feel honour-
  bound to do whatever he can to trackdown
  the culprit . Furthermore, he will want to do
  so himselfrather than let the police get on
  with things. The investigators may find that
  one ofthe nation's top investigative jour-
  nalists is a useful ally to have .
  Note, however, that Richardson's reputation
  will be known to the investigators . The
  Keeper should point out to any upperclass
  members ofthe group that Richardson is
  famous for his scandalous expos6s, and that
  there is some risk that he may produce a
  lurid story about them and their occult in-
  terests . It would be quite in character for
  them to not want anything to do with him .
  Richardson can be contacted via the Clarion
  offices, or by hanging around pubs in Fleet
  
  Street . He has a house in Kingston-on-
  Thames, Surrey but he is not on the phone
  and hardly everhome.
  APossible Suspect
  Initially, Richardson will have no idea who
  mighthave sent the papyrus . Aman in his
  professionmakes a lot ofenemies, more
  than one ofwhom has threatened to kill
  him. Give each ofthe investigators an Idea
  roll . If none ofthem make it, Richardson
  will make his . The result of this is that so-
  meone will remember a short news item
  fromtwo weeks ago.
  The news concerned the release of a patient
  from Grey Fell Institute for the Criminally
  Insane in Northumberland . The man in
  question is oneDrRandolph Briggs, who
  was found guilty of gross professional
  misconduct by the General Council ofthe
  BritishMedical Association, just before the
  outbreak of the Great War. The investigation
  came about after the goings-on had been un-
  covered by Richardson (who had posed as a
  patient) and published in the Clarion.
  Whilst the investigation was in progress,
  some ofBriggs' ex-patients tookthe matter
  to the police, and Briggs was later put on
  trial for attempted murder. He wasjudged to
  be insane,and was sent to Grey Fell .
  Richardson recalls that Briggs raved about a
  "new medicine" he had discovered, which
  had the power to cure any disease, even
  revive the dead . Ifthere are no ladies pre-
  sentwho might be upset, he will add that
  Briggs' methods included sticking huge
  needles into his patients, and making them
  drink concoctions made from their own
  fresh blood and chemicals extracted from
  obscure South American fungi and insects .
  As far as Richardson is aware, Briggs did
  not dabble in magic as such, but he certain-
  lyhad some pretty wierd ideas .
  What is certain, however, is that during the
  trial Briggs swore that he would be revenged
  upon Richardson, Lord Elwood - the owner
  ofthe Clarion, and the BMA officials who
  sat on the enquiry.
  The Truth about Dr Briggs
  In fact, Briggs has been dabbling in magic,
  though some ofhis medical practices, eg,
  the acupuncture, are quite genuine, if
  somewhat bizarre to 1920 Britain . He has
  been in contact with Nyarlathotep for some
  time, gradually getting further and further
  out of his depth . Eventually, he became in-
  sane, which is when his patients started to
  worry and Richardson got involved . The in-
  vestigation and court case went a long way
  towards bringing himback to his senses ; by
  the time he got to Grey Fell, he was fairly
  well back in control . However, instead of
  professing himselfcured and tryingto get
  released, he has been using his time in the
  asylumto further his researches and plot
  revenge .
  Because he is a gentleman, independently
  wealthy and no trouble to look after, Briggs
  has beentreated very well at Grey Fell . He
  had his own suite of rooms, which he was
  allowed to furnish as he wished . He even
  managed to get his occult books smuggled
  in, disguised as medical tomes. This gave
  him plenty of time and opportunity to get
  back in touch with Nyarlathotep and perfect
  his skills . Whenthe time came, it was a
  simple matter for him to convince Grey
  Fell's Director to release him.
  Briggs has now returned to the house in
  Wimbledon from which he used to run his
  practise . Renting it under the assumed name
  ofHobbs, he has outfitted a complete
  demonological temple in the cellar and
  created the papyri he needs . However,
  suspecting that someone may guess what he
  is up to, he has now removed all ofhis oc-
  cult tomes to a place of safety and is travell-
  ing aroundthe country, posting the papyri tc
  his victims as he goes.
  The Mysterious Mr Phelps
  Briggs is accompanied on his travels by his
  valet, Phelps . It was Phelps who was
  responsible for supplying Briggs with his
  occult paraphernalia whilst in Grey Fell,
  and he is well aware of whathis employer is
  up to . He is also completely insane (a result
  ofbeing present the first time Briggs con-
  tacted Nyarlathotep), buthas contracted a
  particularly insidious form ofparanoia
  which enables him to pass as sane most of
  the time .
  Phelps is convinced that everyone and
  everything, especially Briggs, is out to get
  him and - because they do not often behave
  as if they are - they must be working a very
  deep and subtle plot . Phelps is therefore
  countering by pretending to go along with
  what they are doing, but is all the time
  DEATH IN THE POST
  working on his own, secret counter-plot .
  The main thrust ofthis is to cause as many
  deaths as possible, but to do so by
  manoeuvering people into killing eachother
  rather than doing the deed himself. The on-
  ly outward sign of Phelps' insanity is a very
  shifty manner, caused by his gross distrust
  ofeveryone . This behaviour makes him
  very memorable, a fact that has done
  nothing to allay his fears that people are out
  to get him.
  Investigating Briggs
  Copies of the newspaper reports of Briggs'
  activities are fairly easily obtained,
  especially if Richardson is working with the
  investigators . These will provide some
  potentially useful pieces ofinformation .
  First, there will be photographs ofthe ac-
  cused man . Unfortunately, these are out of
  date, as Briggs has aged considerably dur-
  ing his time in Grey Fell, grown a beard and
  taken to wearing glasses - he is no longer
  recognisable as the man in the photograph .
  In addition, the investigators will discover
  the address ofhis old surgery (a large house
  in Wimbledon, South London) and the list
  of people he is likely to be outto kill .
  Besides Richardson and Lord Elwood,
  Briggs swore vengeance on five senior
  members ofthe BMA: Sir Arthur Railton,
  Dr Howard Colnbury, ProfHenry Masters,
  Dr Albert Winterton and Dr Hamilton
  .
  Lund .
  On visiting the house in Wimbledon, the in-
  vestigators will find it seemingly un-
  occupied, though peering through the win-
  dow will show that it is well cared for. They
  may break in, in which case they will find
  the demonic temple in the cellar, but unless
  they do so carefully (eg, at night, or using
  Hide and Sneak skills) a neighbour will spot
  them and call the police .
  By speakingto neighbours, the investigators
  can discover that the house has been unused
  for many years, but has been regularly kept
  upby Phelps (they will get a description of
  59
  
  the servant from these conversations) . In
  addition, they will find out thatthe house
  has recently been sold to an estate agent, J
  Heggarty & Frogmorton, and that it is now
  being rented to someone whom none ofthe
  neighbours has met and who has thus far
  rudely ignored all invitations to tea . The
  neighbours are most displeased about this,
  and say that Dr Briggs must have been mad
  to sell to an agent who specialised in
  renting.
  Messrs Heggarty & Frogmorton are very
  discreet about their clients' affairs .
  However, a successful Fast Talk will per-
  suade them to part with information, as will
  a Credit Rating roll ifthe investigators say
  they are interested in buying the house for
  somewhat more than it is worth . The infor-
  mation they can give is as follows :
  About 4 months ago, Briggs wrote to them
  from Grey Fell saying that he wished to sell
  the property and its furnishings . They snap-
  ped it up, and - almost the same day as they
  advertised it - they got an enquiry from a
  Mr Hobbs. This was about a month ago,
  and Hobbs paid 3 months rent in advance,
  even though he didn't move in until about a
  week ago . The money was delivered by a
  servant, ashifty-looking fellow, who took
  away the key. Neither he nor Hobbs has
  been seen since. All other contact with
  Hobbs has been via a London Post Office
  Box, and contact with Briggs has been via
  his solicitor who handled his affairs whilst
  he was in Grey Fell .
  As mentioned above, the investigators may
  try to get to view the house by saying they
  want to buy it . If they succeed in their
  Credit Rating roll, Mr Heggarty will show
  them round the following day, after having
  failed to get in touch with Hobbs (the estate
  agents still have a key as they own the pro-
  perty) . When the temple in the basement is
  discovered, Heggarty will be aghast and
  assure the investigators that it was not there
  when he bought theproperty.
  The Post Office Box by which Hobbs was
  contacted has now been closed, but the staff
  remember a shifty-looking servant who
  ordered the box on behalfof his master and
  collected the mail . The solicitor, Mr Fin-
  chley of Cratchett, Finchley & Weems, is
  just as discreet as the estate agents. IfFast
  Talked, he will reveal that he has not seen
  Briggs since he was released, but adds that
  Briggs did ask for £300 ofhis money to be
  sent to him at Grey Fell just before his
  release .
  A Visit to Grey Fell
  Sooner or later, the investigators will pro-
  bably visit Grey Fell to enquire about
  Briggs . The Director, Dr Mortenson, is
  convinced that Briggs was fully sane when
  released . He will be quite affronted ifthe
  investigators suggest otherwise . By use of
  communications skills (at -10 modifier if
  they have already upset Dr Mortenson), the
  investigators will gain the following infor-
  mation :
  Briggs behaved quite normally for most of
  his time at Grey Fell . He occupied himself
  by furthering his medical studies, using
  books brought to him by his servant,
  Phelps . Dr Mortenson and his staffdid not
  examine every book to ensure that it was
  medical in nature .
  Dr Mortenson will also be able to provide
  up-to-date descriptions of Briggs and
  Phelps . Grey Fell has no address for Phelps
  other than Briggs' old surgery address .
  The investigators may think to ask ifany of
  the other inmates were close friends of
  Briggs, and try to get information from
  them . Ifthey do, Mortenson will introduce
  them to Mr Walter Finney - who was the
  only inmate Briggs got on well with . Finney
  suffers from accute Quixotism, and thus
  sees supernatural goings-on everywhere. Of
  course, no-one believes anything he says,
  and Briggs took advantage ofthis to use
  Finney as an assistant . Finney knows very
  little about magic, but he has learnt a few
  names offby heart . Watch the investigators
  mouths fall open as he drones on about the
  Great Old Ones as ifthey were close
  friends. Ifthey try to convince Dr
  Mortenson that what Finney is saying is
  true, they may need to make
  Communication skill rolls to avoid staying
  in Grey Fell for the rest oftheir lives .
  TheVictims
  All the people on Briggs' list of victims are
  sufficiently eminent to warrant an entry in
  Who's Who and can therefore easily be
  tracked down. Their attitudes to the
  warnings that the investigators will give
  them are detailed below :
  Lord Elwood is currently resident on his
  country estates in Warwickshire (get there
  by GWR from Paddington to Stratford-on-
  Avon, then taxi) . At the time when the
  Hunting Horror is due to visit him, he is
  holding a house party for several
  aristocratic friends . If the investigators
  manage to convince the noble Lord ofhis
  danger (and he has great respect for
  Richardson even though most ofhis friends
  hate the man), he and his guests will wantto
  hunt the creature . Tryingto convince them
  that a Hunting Horror is not quite in the
  same league as a fox will not be easy.
  Sir Arthur Railton is now dead . There is,
  however, an entry in Who's Who for his
  daughter, Hermionie, who lives in Chelsea .
  She is very much apart of the `Bright Young
  Things' party set and is also a heavy user of
  cocaine and opium . Ifthe investigators
  explain the nature ofthe papyrus that she
  may receive, she will be delighted . "Oh
  how wonderful! It will make a simply
  marvellous party game. We can spend the
  night passing the thing round, and whoever
  has it when the monster arrives loses!" The
  investigators will probably come away with
  the opinion that Miss Railton's Sanity is
  already well below zero.
  
  Dr Howard Colnbury has since been
  knighted and entered Parliament as a
  Conservative MP He can normally be
  found at home in his constituency of
  Petersfield, Hampshire (SR train from
  Waterloo) . He is happy to believe that
  Briggs is out to get him, especially ifpeople
  have already been killed, but will be
  unimpressedby occult explanations .
  Instead, he will insist that the police handle
  the matter byproviding a Constable to
  protect him. IfRichardson is with the
  investigators, Colnbury will refuse to even
  talk to them . This is becausehe invested
  heavily in some companies that made
  healthy profits during the war, and
  Richardson is known to be running a
  crusade against wartime profiteers .
  Professor Masters is a lecturer in medicine
  at Balliol College, Oxford (GWR from
  Paddington) . He is well over 60 and is
  getting a bit senile. His first reaction on
  being told what is going on is to assume that
  the whole thing is an elaborate
  undergraduate prank . Even ifthe police
  come to warn him, he will think they are
  undergraduates in disguise . The only way to
  get him to take matters seriously is to Fast
  Talk him into phoning some of the other
  doctors involved who are convinced - or
  their bereaved relatives . Even this won't be
  easy, as the Professor has a marked distrust
  ofnewfangled gadgets such as telephones -
  the roll should have a modifier of-10.
  Dr Wmterton has retired and lives in
  Harrogate, Yorkshire (LNER from Kings
  Cross, change atYork) . He feels rather
  sorry for Briggs, believing the fellow meant
  well and that the whole affair was
  Richardson's fault for blowing things up out
  ofproportion. At the time, he argued on
  Briggs' behalf, and only agreed to certify
  him insane in order to prevent the idiot
  judge from sending him to prison . Whilst he
  agrees that Briggs may well be after
  Richardson and a few ofthe others ("and
  serve them right too!"), Dr Winterton will
  not believe that he is in danger until he
  receives a papyrus .
  Dr Lund still has his practice in Harley
  Street, London . He has recently become
  very inter-ested in the theories ofthe
  Austrian psychologist, Dr Freud . On
  meeting a group oflunatics who actually
  believe inthe occult and monsters from the
  Outer Darkness, he will wasteno time in
  trying to get to the roots of their neuroses .
  Dr Lund is a capablepsychologist, and may
  be ofuse to the investigators later - if he
  survives - but first they will have to get him
  to stop analysing them and listen to what
  they are saying.
  All of the victims will be reluctant to believe
  an occult explanation fox,any deaths that
  have occured, and the investigators will
  need to employ their Communication skills
  to the full in order to convince them . Even
  ifthey believe that they are in danger, they
  will try to seek a rational explanation for
  any deaths that have occured . Bear in mind
  that all ofthe victims are upper class and
  will have at least one servant, so the
  investigators will not even be able to talk to
  the victims until they have convinced
  whichever servants they first talk to that
  they have something important to relate .
  Note also thatWinterton and Masters are
  not on the phone, although Balliol College
  is .
  This list ofvictims and their personalities
  need not be followed closely. As the Keeper
  will need to design or improvise all
  encounters with the victims, there is no
  reason why he should not make any changes
  to the list that he sees fit .
  Combating the Horror
  One thing the investigators need to sort out
  quickly is how to save Briggs' victims from
  the Hunting Horror. Ifthey have made their
  Mythos roll to identify the papyrus, they
  will already know that burning it won't do
  any good - the creature will simply come
  after the last person to touch it . Eventually,
  they will manage to work out that what they
  can try to do is to prevent a victim from
  opening his envelope, so that the Horror
  goes after Briggs instead, though getting
  this to happen may be difficult, as the
  victim in question needs to be convinced of
  the occult menace (as opposedto a purely
  physical one) .
  It is unlikely that the investigators can
  muster sufficient firepower to beat the
  Hunting Horror in a straight fight (and if
  they do, they obvious-ly have totally the
  wrong approach to the game) . However,
  they can work out ways offoiling it. To start
  with, they can try sitting in a room with
  Elder Signs at all the doors and windows,
  though this could prove a little expensive on
  POW. Also, Hunting Horrors are afraid of
  bright light - this is why they always attack
  at night - so the investigators could summon
  enough artificial light to simulate daylight,
  andkeep the Hunting Horror at bay. The
  players may already know of both of these
  methods . Ifthey do not, allow them Mythos
  rolls to see iftheir characters know.
  DEATH IN THE POST
  Ifthe Hunting Horror is prevented from
  reach-ing its intended victim, it will flee
  back to the Outer Dark whence it came in a
  foul mood . It will, however, first flap
  noisily around the building in which the
  victim is hiding, perhaps even breaking into
  some other rooms in an attempt to get
  through to the victim . It will also call out
  the victim's name in its horrible, harsh
  voice . Everyone who hears the Hunting
  Horrormust make a Sanity roll, losing 1
  point ofSAN if they fail .
  The conditions ofthe summoning spell are
  such that the Hunting Horror cannot
  initially attack anyone except the victim, as
  the victim forms the sacrifice necessary to
  complete the spell . The only orders that the
  Horror has to perform once it has
  completed the conditions ofthe summoning
  are to return whence it came - Briggs
  doesn't want it hanging around . Normally it
  will do this immediately, albeit in bad
  humour, but it will attack anyone who has
  attacked it . The Horror cannot return to a
  victim if it is foiled on its first visit, as the
  summoning spell is then dissipated .
  61
  
  Ifall else fails, the papyrus could always be
  passed on to some unsuspecting member of
  the lower classes - a tramp or some such .
  Hope-fully investigators will not be so
  despicable as to suggest this themselves, but
  Edmundson and Sir Howard Colnbury are
  both sufficiently craven to think ofit .
  Tracking Down Briggs
  Briggs is aware that someone, somewhere,
  may realise what he is up to and try to foil
  him . Indeed, he rather hopes they will, as
  he wants to frighten his victims before they
  die. R.ichardson was chosen as the first vic-
  tim to make sure thathe would die before
  any investigations got underway.
  Because Briggs needs toprepare the papyri
  with his own hands, he has taken some care
  to ensure that they are delivered . Although
  the postal service is very reliable, he has ac-
  tually allowed two days for the letters to ar-
  rive. In fact they all arrive in one day, giving
  each victim about40 hours in between
  receiving a papyrus and the arrival ofthe
  Hunting Horror. Briggs also had Phelps
  check on the movements of each victim the
  previous weekto ensure that he sent the
  papyri to the correct addresses. Victims'
  servants will remember receiving a strange
  visitor or phone call .
  In order to evade pursuit, Briggs and Phelps
  aretravelling round the country, staying in
  hotels . The day after each papyrus is
  posted, they check out, return to London to
  lose anypursuit in the metropolis, then im-
  mediately set out for somewhere else . The
  sequence ofpostings, with corresponding
  postmarks on the enve-lopes and London
  stations from which the pair will have
  62
  travelled, is given in the table below. There
  are two days between each posting (but see
  The Final Encounter) .
  Victim
  Postmark
  Station
  Richardson
  London
  Professor Masters
  Bristol
  Paddington
  Dr Winterton
  Chester
  Euston
  Lord Elwood
  York
  Kings Cross
  Miss Railton
  Bournemouth Waterloo
  Dr Lund
  Cambridge
  Liverpool St
  Sir Howard Colnbury,
  MP
  Brighton
  Victoria
  The investigators, ifthey manage to get in-
  formation on the postmark early enough,
  can set offfor the place in question in the
  hope of catching Briggs . They will need to
  make some enquiries to find out which hotel
  he is staying in, asking people ifthey have
  seen Phelps being the best tactic . The
  Keeper is welcome to spice up this search
  however he wishes, perhaps allowing a
  chase through London at one point, but
  unless time is short or the players are get-
  ting bored, the object should be to allow
  Briggs to evade pursuit until the final en-
  counter.
  The Police Investigation
  Sooner or later, someone is likely to get
  eaten, thus causing the police to get involv-
  ed . Details of their initial view ofthe case
  are given under Edmundson's Death and An
  Interview with Inspector Carlton above. As
  a Scotland Yard officer, Carlton can in-
  vestigate murders anywhere in the country,
  though he may not be informed ofevents
  outside London unless he is in touch with
  the victim. Even then, he may have difficul-
  ty getting the local force to assist .
  As already noted, Carlton is mostunwilling
  to believe any supernatural explanation and
  has a -100 modifier on any attempt to con-
  vince him of this . His initial theory is that
  the victims have been mauled by some
  animal ; ifany investigator with Zoology
  skills can get to examine a body, he can
  testify (after making his skill roll) thatthe
  wounds were not caused by any animal
  known to man. This will reduce Carlton's
  cynicism modifier to -80. Each murder after
  the first will reduce the modifier by a fur-
  ther 20 points .
  IfCarlton is persuaded that the animal
  theory is not tenable, his next explanation
  will be thatthe murders were carried out by
  some sort offoreign cultist who dresses as
  an animal, and tries to make it seem as ifhis
  killings were commited by an animal .
  Briggs did visit Africa and China in the ear-
  ly days ofhis researches, so this is a
  reasonable explanation .
  Once more than one murder has been
  commit-ted, or one ofthe investigators has
  persuaded Carlton of Briggs' involvement,
  he will take the connection very seriously
  and will warn all ofthe victims . Briggs'
  handwriting is onall the envelopes, which
  will prove the point for him . However,
  because he does not believe the supernatural
  explanation, he will not take any ofthe
  measures necessary to foil the Hunting Hor-
  ror. Constables will be detailed to guard the
  victims, but they will not be very effective
  (they will not even be armed) .
  Because Carlton will be interested in the
  papyri as evidence, the Hunting Horror may
  sometimes come after whichever unfor-
  tunate Constable happened to touch the
  papyrus last . Other times, the police
  
  willjust handle the envelope. The Keeper
  should not let the investigators know who
  last touched eachpapyrus unless they con-
  trive not to let one out of their sight .
  The manner in which Carlton and his men
  are used is up to the Keeper. If the in-
  vestigators are having a lotoftrouble, then
  the police can help them along . Alternative-
  ly, ifthey seem like they are sitting back and
  letting the police do all the work for them,
  have Carlton be very obstructive and try to
  keep the "lunatics" offhis case .
  The Final Encounter
  Though Briggs has laid his plans fairly
  carefully, they are by no means perfect. In
  particular, he has reckoned without Phelps.
  The servant was entrusted with the task of
  actually posting the papyri. When the time
  comes to sendthe final papyrus to Sir
  Howard Colnbury, Phelps burns the
  envelope instead, and in its place he sends a
  short note which simply says "Royal Stewart
  Hotel, Edinburgh". This is where he and
  Briggs go on leaving Brighton . Healso
  posts the note a day late .
  The investigators should realise this fairly
  quickly, thoughthey may be confused by the
  different handwriting and the fact that it is a
  day late arriving. The Keeper can give them
  Idea rolls oruse Richardson as aprompt if
  necessary. Assuming all goes well, they
  should arrive in Edinburgh late that even-
  ing. Briggs is not in his room - he's out hav-
  ing a meal to celebrate the completion ofhis
  revenge. The Keeper should contrive a
  chase around the city, ending with the cap-
  ture ofBriggs in justenoughtime for he and
  the investigators to work out what has hap-
  pened before the Hunting Horrorcomes for
  him.
  Phelps has vanished completely. It is left to
  the individual Keeper's imagination to
  decide how the investigators encounter him
  again . Remember, he knows where Brigg's
  books were hidden and will be able to
  retrievethem for his own purposes .
  Maps
  As there are no explorations, except
  possibly the break-in at Briggs' house, to be
  conducted the Keeper should be able to do
  without maps. Ifthe players demand a
  floorplan of a house they are trying to pro-
  tect, the Keeper can base iton somewhere
  he knows, borrow a plan from another Call
  ofCthulhu scenario, or use the Halls of
  Horror floorplans .
  NPC Statistics
  Note that the skill values given below are
  for unusually high skills only. The
  characters will also have the base values in a
  wide range ofother skills.
  George Edmundson
  Collector of occult paraphernalia .
  STR 3 CON 1
  SIZ 15 INT 15 POW 11
  DEX 1 APP 1 SAN 55 EDU 20 Hit Pts 13
  Age 38
  Skills : Read/Write Latin 45 % ;
  Read/Write Greek 40% ;
  Read/Write Egyptian 60% ;
  Read/Write Hebrew 30% ; Anthropology
  20% ; Archaeology 30% ; History 35% ;
  Library Use 30 % ; Occult 65 % ;
  Credit Rating 50 % ; Debate 45 % .
  Wilkins
  George Edmundson's butler.
  STR 1 CON 8
  SIZ 11
  INT 13 POW 13
  DEX 6 APP 1 SAN 65 EDU 9 Hit Pts 10
  Age 45
  Skills: Accounting 30% ; Debate 45 % ;
  First Aid 25 % ; Psychology 20% ;
  Spot Hidden 30% ; Speak French 60% .
  James Richardson
  Investigative reporter for the Daily Clarion .
  STR 11 CON 10 SIZ 13 INT 15 POW 10
  DEX 13 APP 13 SAN 50 EDU 13 Hit Pts 12
  .
  Age 29
  Skills : Punch 60% ; Read/Write English
  85% ; Speak French 30% ; Speak German
  25% ; Library Use 65 % ; Listening 60% ;
  Psychology 35 % ; Drive Auto 40% ; Hide
  25 % ; Sneak 25% ; FastTalk65% ;
  Credit Rating 45 % ; Debate 30 % ; Oratory
  35% .
  Equipment : .38 revolver, car, camera .
  Inspector Carlton
  A senior CID officer from Scotland Yard .
  STR 10 CON 10 SIZ 12 INT 15 POW 12
  DEX 4 APP 8 SAN 60 EDU 19 Hit Pts 1
  Age 47
  Skills : Nightstick Attack 45% ;
  Nightstick Parry 50% ; Anthropology 30% ;
  Chemistry 25% ; First Aid 20% ;
  Listening 25 % ; Psychology 65 % ;
  Spot Hidden 45 % ; Tracking 20% ;
  Drive Auto 45% ; Debate 75% ; Fast Talk
  40 % ; Oratory 35% .
  Equipment: car.
  Typical Constable
  DEATH IN THE POST
  Can be plain clothes CID man or uniformed
  officer.
  STR 13 CON 15
  SIZ 15 INT 12 POW 1
  DEX 10 APP 10 SAN 55 EDU 8 Hit Pts 15
  Skills : Nightstick Attack 40% ;
  Nightstick Parry 45 % ; First Aid 25 % ;
  Psychology 20 % ; Spot Hidden 30 % ;
  Debate 30% .
  Equipment: truncheon (nightstick) .
  Professor Henry Masters
  Professor ofMedicine at Balliol College,
  Oxford . Also senior member ofBritish
  Medical Association.
  STR 5
  CON 6
  SIZ 9
  INT 17
  POW 4
  DEX 17 APP 13 SAN 20 EDU 25 Hit Pts 8
  Age 64
  63
  
  DEATH IN THE POST
  Skills : Anthropology 35 % ; First Aid 65 % ;
  Library Use 70% ; Pharmacy 45 % ;
  Treat Disease 85% ; Treat Poison 90% ;
  Diagnose Disease 90 % ; Oratory 40% ;
  Debate 65% .
  Dr Albert Winterton
  Retired doctor. Former senior member of
  British Medical Association .
  STR 8
  CON 7
  SIZ 7
  INT 16
  POW 12
  DEX 9 APP 12 SAN 60 EDU 22 Hit Pts 7
  Age 68
  Skills : Anthropology 20% ; First Aid 70% ;
  Pharmacy 70 % ; Treat Disease 75 % ;
  Treat Poison 65 % ; Diagnose Disease 80% ;
  Oratory 30 % ; Debate 40% .
  Hermionie Railton
  Society hostess. Drug addict .
  STR 9
  CON 11
  SIZ 5
  INT 10
  POW 5
  DEX 10 APP 13 SAN 7 EDU 12 Hit Pts 8
  Age 22
  Skills: Read/Write French 50% ;
  Speak French 60% ; Credit Rating 75 % ;
  Fast Talk 40% ; Singing 40% .
  Dr Hamilton Lund
  Psychoanalyst . Senior member ofthe
  British Medical Association .
  STR 6 CON 14 SIZ 10 INT 18 POW 13
  DEX 13 APP 5 SAN 65 EDU 21 Hit Pts 12
  Age 52
  Skills : Anthropology 45% ; First Aid 30% ;
  Pharmacy 25 % ; Treat Disease 45% ;
  Treat Poison 55% ; Diagnose Disease 65% ;
  Psychology 65 % ; Listening 40% ; Debate
  45% ; Oratory 60% ; Psychoanalysis 70% .
  Sir Howard Colnbury, MP
  Conservative MP Former doctor and senior
  member ofBritish Medical Association .
  STR 13 CON 14
  SIZ 5 INT 16 POW 13
  DEX 6 APP 15 SAN 65 EDU 23 Hit Pts 10
  Age 58
  Skills: Accounting 35 % ; First Aid 45 % ;
  Law 40% ; Treat Disease 40% ;
  Treat Poison 35 % ; Diagnose Disease 65 % ;
  Psychology 40% ; Drive Auto 50% ;
  Bargain 40% ; Credit Rating 60% ; Debate
  60% ; Fast Talk75% ; Oratory 75 % .
  Lord Elwood
  Owner of the Daily Clarion .
  STR 11 CON 7
  SIZ 14
  INT 9 POW 16
  DEX 15 APP 11 SAN 80 EDU 1 Hit Pts 11
  Age 49
  Skills: Rifle 40% ; Shotgun 60% ;
  Fencing Attack 45% ; Fencing Parry 60% ;
  Accounting 50% ; Read/Write French 45 % ;
  Speak French 70% ; Law 40 % ; Drive Auto
  70% ; Credit Rating 80% ; Oratory 45 % ;
  Debate 30% ; Ride 80% .
  Equipment : .45 revolver, .22 rifle,
  20-gauge shotgun, Rolls Royce, horse,
  cavalry sabre.
  Dr Randolph Briggs
  Former doctor. Worshipper of Nyarlathotep.
  STR 10 CON 13
  SIZ 6 INT 1
  POW 10
  DEX 7 APP 8 SAN 8 EDU 18 Hit Pts 10
  Age 57
  Skills: Read/Write Egyptian 55% ;
  Read/Write Arabic 35% ;
  Read/Write Chinese 40% ; Anthropology
  40% ; Cthulhu Mythos 50% ; Occult 65 % ;
  Pharmacy 60% ; Treat Disease 45 % ;
  Treat Poison 35 % ; Diagnose Disease 55 % ;
  Psychology 30% ; Sneak 70% ; Bargain
  40% ; Fast Talk 60% ; Drive Auto 40% .
  Further Reading
  D'Anastasy Collection : The D'Anastasy
  Collection is a collection ofEgyptian papyri
  in the Leiden Museum . The collection in-
  cludes many curses and other magical
  papyri from Egypt .
  For more information about target items for
  spells, see the scenario, The Statue ofthe
  Sorcerer from Games Workshop .
  Chaosium's campaign scenario, Masks of
  Nyarlathotep involves a group ofAfrican
  Nyarlathotep worshippers, the Cult ofthe
  Bloody Tongue, which is close to the sort of
  organisation Carlton suspects ofcommiting
  the murders on Briggs' behalf. Enterprising
  Keepers may wish to include the cult as a
  red herring .
  
  This scenario is set on a canal in the
  Midlands. For further background, Keepers
  should refer inparticular to the sections on
  Canals andMummerset earlier in the book.
  Introduction
  Our intrepid investigators are taking a short
  holiday away from the daily grindYofgrappl-
  ing with the Like ofWhich Man was Never
  Meant to Know. They have retired to the
  Golden Lion, a small country hotel on the
  Staffordshire-Shropshire border. All is
  peace and tranquility. They arrive on Sun-
  day evening, perhaps spend Monday quietly
  fishing, and are enjoying a pleasant salad in
  the lounge of the hotel on Tuesday lun-
  chtime when they overhear an argumentin
  the nearby public bar.
  It isn't easy for the investigators to make out
  what is going on, partly because ofthe
  heavy, wooden door in the way, and partly
  because ofthethick Midlands accents of
  many of the participants . However, the
  general flow ofthe discussion seems to be
  that someone who sounds reasonably well-
  bred is trying to hire some men to do some-
  thing, and they - local working men by their
  rough language - are adamant that no
  amount ofmoney will get them to do the
  job . After some ten or fifteen minutes of
  heated discussion, the noise comes to an
  abrupt halt and a gentleman comes through
  into thelounge .
  The visitor looks somewhat harrassed, and
  kindly investigators will no doubt offer him
  a drink and ask to share his troubles . How-
  ever, ifthey feel it impolite to butt in, the
  stranger soon makes it clear that he is eager
  to talk. He is Gregory Longthorpe, an
  engineer for the London, Western & Welsh
  Railway Company (this fixes the date ofthe
  adventure as pre-1923, but Keepers could
  easily date it later by the excuse that none of
  the `Big Four' wanted the Cuthdon bunch
  line) . He has been attempting to hire some
  local men and has met with conspicuous
  lack ofsuccess.
  Longthorpe's problem is simple . The
  LWWR owns the local canal system, and
  there has been a rockfall in Darkbank Tun-
  nel which, by ill fortune, sunk apassing
  narrow boat and blocked the canal .
  Longthorpe was trying to hire a bunch of
  local quarrymen to clear the blockage, but
  they have come outwith some superstitious
  twaddle about the tunnel being haunted and
  are not interested .
  "It's not as if there's anything difficult in-
  volved, at least not yet . All I need to do at
  the moment is get to the blockage and take a
  few measurements to find out how difficult
  it will be to clear. It may be quite a simple
  job . I went in yesterday to fit a few instru-
  ments, but I couldn't manage much with on-
  ly one pair ofhands . Well, we can't afford
  many staff these days, so I was hoping to
  hire a few local men to help . Unfortunately,
  they seem somewhat reluctant . I say, I don't
  suppose you chaps would mind helping out,
  would you? I mean, I wouldn't insult you by
  offering you what I'd pay those ruffians, but
  you might find it interesting and it would get
  me out ofa most awful hole:'
  How can the investigators refuse? Of
  course, they may ask Longthorpe why the
  locals are so scared of the tunnel, but hejust
  says that the ordinary folk neither like nor
  trust canals and canal folk, and have all
  sorts of stupid superstitions about them .
  The Keeper should use Longthorpe to plant
  the idea ofboat people as a `race apart' in
  the minds of the investigators .
  Assuming the investigators agree,
  Longthorpe will ask them to meet him at
  Darkbank Junction Maintenance Yard at
  10:00 the following morning. Theynow
  have halfa day in which to follow up local
  stories about the tunnel . They should find
  enough to raise their interest, butby no
  means the whole of what is available . The
  locals from the other bar will have disap-
  peared . It is necessary that the investigators
  should be keen to get a look at the tunnel .
  Into the Tunnel
  On arriving atthe maintenance yard, the in-
  vestigators are met by Longthorpe and the
  yard foreman, Walter Braithwaite.
  Longthorpe explains that he has just had
  word ofa landslip on the railway and is
  urgently required there . He asks the in-
  vestigators ifthey would be willing to take a
  lookat the blockage themselves, and
  presents them with a collection of detailed
  drawings, various instruments and explan-
  ations as to how to use them . The in-
  vestigators should by now be keen to get a
  lookat the tunnel and will go ahead. Ifnot,
  the Keeper should prod them along by hav-
  ing Braithwaite make sarcastic remarks
  about fine folks who go back on their pro-
  mises, and Longthorpe moaning about how
  much work he has to do .
  Braithwaite will show the investigators to an
  inspection launch and give them some quick
  65
  
  instructions as to how to use it . It all seems
  fairly simple, and soon they will be on their
  way into the tunnel . It is very dark and
  damp, and a bit spooky, but hardly Sanity-
  shaking . The investigators will pass the
  spots where the "ghosts" can be heard, but
  the Keeper should not worry them with
  thesejust yet . Nor will anything else in the
  tunnel bother a well crewed boat .
  Eventually, they will arrive at the blockage.
  As Longthorpe said, a narrow boat is sunk
  in the centre of the canal, apparently after
  having been struck by rocks falling from the
  roof. It looks like it will take a lot ofworkto
  shift it . As promised, there are a few in-
  struments attached to the wreck and they
  seem to match those on Longthorpe's draw-
  ings. On the other hand . . . .
  The Keeper should check characters with
  high Electrical and/or Mechanical Repair
  skills first . Rolls should be made secretly by
  the Keeper so that he can make sure that so-
  meone succeeds . Although the instru-ments
  seem genuine, they have been rigged up to
  form a simple detonator, and on closer in-
  spection the sunken narrow boat turns outto
  be packed full ofkerosine and explosives . If
  the investigators had taken a reading as
  Longthorpe suggested, they would have
  been blown to pieces . . . .
  Some Background
  The boat in the tunnel is the Eleanor, an un-
  powered "butty" boat belonging to the
  Darkbank Quarry Company. The previous
  week, the Eleanor and its powered partner,
  the Millicent, were returning to the quarry,
  crewed by Albert Long and his wife, Amy.
  They had been to Tipton, delivering stone to
  William Crawford's Builders' Merchants
  and, on the return trip, had collected some
  kerosine, blasting powder and gelignite
  from Parker & Cross (Mining Supplies) in
  Wolverhampton . The Longs had put the
  dangerous cargo in the unpowered Eleanor
  for safety.
  Returning through Darkbank Tunnel, the
  Eleanor was struck by a rockfall and sank .
  Amy Long, who was at the tiller ofthe but-
  ty, was seriously injured, but her husband
  managed to rescue her and take her, aboard
  the Millicent, on to the quarry. The pair are
  still there, having no transport other than
  their boats, and being unable to afford
  medical treatment, even ifthe quarrymen
  could be persuaded to fetch a doctor (which
  they won't, as quarrymen and boat people
  do not get on well) .
  The canal network is owned by the LWWR,
  which is in poor financial shape (as are
  most railway companies at this time) . As
  canals are even less profitable than railways,
  they are not best pleased at thethought of
  another heavy maintenance bill . However,
  Longthorpe and his employers are not
  callous enough to stoop to murder. The
  LWWRis simply happy to turn a blind eye
  to whatever circumstances might happen to
  force closure ofthe tunnel .
  The real villain ofthe piece is Stanley Grift,
  a local businessman who owns the nearby
  Shubford Quarry. IfDarkbank Tunnel is
  closed, Darkbank Quarry will close too, the
  cost of making the road to it suitable for
  motor transport being prohibitive . That will
  leave Grift with a monopoly oflocal stone
  production, a situation which will greatly
  improve his wealth . Grift is able to
  manoeuvre Longthorpe and various other
  local people into going along with his
  scheme, through a life-long policy ofseek-
  ing power over others by fair means or foul .
  See the NPC descriptions for more details
  of who is in Grift's power, and why.
  When news of the Eleanor's sinking and its
  dangerous cargo reached.him, Grift knew
  that this was his chance to close the tunnel .
  All he needed was a bunch of idiots who
  could blow up the boat by 'accident . Arnold
  Trubshawe, the proprietor of the Golden
  Lion, is one ofGrift's agents, and it was he
  who suggested duping the unsuspecting
  holidaymakers . On Monday, Grift and
  Longthorpe went into the tunnel to fix up
  the detonator, and Tuesday lunchtime saw
  the staged argument in the Golden Lion. All
  that was needed was for the investigators to
  be as mechanically inept as Grift expected .
  However, bright investigators are not the
  only spanner in Grift's plan . The previous
  week, he had senthis strong-arm man,
  James Carter, to see what could be done
  with the wreck. Carter never came back
  from Darkbank Tunnel . Grift assumed that
  he simply fell in and drowned - people often
  do . In fact, he has become the latest victim
  ofthe real menace ofDarkbank, the alien
  race of Tunnel Dwellers which makes its
  home in the watery passages underneaththe
  ridge .
  The Tunnel Dwellers were responsible for
  the rock fall that sank the Eleanor. Their
  population has been expanding over the cen-
  turies, and they are seeking to move into the
  sewer systems ofShubford . Unfortun-ately,
  their attempts to tunnel through have been
  foiled by a particularly hard stratum of
  rock . On hearing the Longs discussing their
  cargo onthe way up the tunnel, they realis-
  ed that this was their chance to get
  something to help their digging . All they
  need to do is work out how to use these
  strange human explosives, and the whole of
  Shubford is at their mercy.
  The history of
  Darkbank Ridge
  Darkbank Tunnel is on the old main line of
  the Staffordshire & Ellesmere Junction
  Canal . The rest ofthe canal has long since
  fallen into disuse, leaving only the side
  branch up to Cuthdon and the short stretch
  from DarkbankJunction, through the tun-
  nel, to Darkbank Quarry. In the previous
  century, there was a thriving mine under
  Darkbank which was accessed via the canal
  tunnel . This explains the vast network of
  side tunnels leading off the main passage.
  The mine was forced to close after the
  miners broke through to the subterranean
  lake where the Tunnel Dwellers lived,
  resulting in a series of mysterious and fatal
  "accidents". The timeline for the history of
  Darkbank is as follows:
  1780-95
  Extensive digging in Darkbank
  Mine
  1796-1801 Digging of Darkbank Tunnel
  1874
  Work starts on the lower level of
  Darkbank Mine
  1876
  Construction of a boat lift in the
  mine to raise tub boats from the
  lower level to the canal
  1889
  Work on the lower level uncovers
  
  a subterranean lake . A week
  later the first ofthe mining
  disasters occurs - 27 miner'sdie
  in a cave-in
  Over thirty fatal "accidents" in
  Darkbank Mine and seventeen
  rock falls in Darkbank Tunnel -
  three leggers and a boatman
  reported drowned in the tunnel
  A major disaster closes the
  Mine. Both shafts to the work-
  ings closed by rockfalls. 18
  bodies recovered, 63 more never
  found .
  1893-1906 Rockfalls continue in the tunnel,
  necessitating frequent repairs .
  Twice, repairmen are killed in
  rockfalls. Three more boat peo-
  ple and eight leggers vanish
  1906
  Legging through the tunnel
  discontinued
  1906-1913 Four more boat people vanish .
  Rock fills and repairs continue .
  Five repairmen killed in 1913 .
  William Jarvis commits suicide
  after seeing "things" in the tun-
  nel in 1916.
  1889-93
  1893
  Timeline for the Scenario
  Week 0 - Tune
  Eleanorsinks in Darkbank
  Tunnel
  Thu
  Grifthears about Eleanor's
  sinking and cargo; Tunnel
  Dwellers begin stealing ex
  plosives fromthe Eleanor
  Carter goes to look at
  Eleanorand is killed by
  Tunnel Dwellers
  Grift asks his agents to look
  out for likely dupes ; Tunnel
  Dwellers have accident lay-
  ing explosives - several of
  them are killed
  Fri
  Sat
  Week 1- Sun
  Investigators arrive at
  Golden Lion; Trubshawe
  sends for Grift who decides
  to use them
  Longthorpe and Grift set up
  detonator on Eleanor and
  recruit quarrymen for stag-
  ed argument
  Longthorpe contacts the in-
  vestigators
  Investigators enter tunnel
  for first time ; dwellers
  remove more explosives
  after investigators have left
  Longthorpe meets Grift in
  Quarry Tavern, Shubford to
  report progress
  Tunnel Dwellers try
  blasting, but fail because
  they let the explosives get
  wet
  Tunnel Dwellers remove
  more explosives
  Tue
  Wed
  Thu
  Fri
  Sat
  Tue
  Full Moon
  Wed
  Tunnel Dwellers try
  blasting again ; they have the
  explosives badly placed and
  make no progress - several
  ofthem are killed
  Thu
  Another meeting in the
  Quarry Tavern
  Fri
  Tunnel Dwellers unpack re-
  maining explosives
  Week 3 - Sun
  Longthorpe and Grift meet
  again, Quarry Tavern
  Tue
  Tunnel Dwellers blast
  again ; they succeed - Shub-
  ford is doomed
  Of Canals, Boats and Tunnels
  The investigators will need to spendat least
  some time on the water, probably in the in-
  spection launch . This is a very easy vessel
  to pilot when going forward - there is a sim-
  ple wooden tiller atthe back ofthe boat to
  steer, and a single lever on the engine to
  control speed. The lever is pressed forwards
  for forward thrust and pulled back for
  reverse thrust . Because of the narrowness of
  the canal, the propellor is not able to
  operate at maximum efficiency ; when it is
  turning too fist, waterpressure builds up in
  the canal opposing the motion of theboat .
  The maximum speed attainable is 4 mph in
  the open and 3 mph in the tunnel, but these
  figures do not correspond to `full forward'
  on the engine control .
  Moving forward through the canal is no pro-
  blem . However, the launch is too long to
  turn round (the launch is 35' long by 7'
  broad and the tunnel is 15' wide), and the
  Eleanor is impassable . In order to get out
  again, the investigators will need to travel
  backwards. Unfortunately, simple tillers
  like that on the launch only work if they are
  at the back ofthe boat . When the launch is
  in reverse, the tiller is effectively at the bow
  and thus useless, and ifthe launch isn't
  steered it will soon wander into the tunnel
  walls .
  The investigators could try legging the
  launch back, but they won't have any skill in
  this, and are almost certainly nowhere near
  fit enough . After a few hundred yards, the
  Keeper should warn them that they will
  become completely exhausted long before
  they reach daylight . Ifthey insist on ex-
  hausting themselves, the Tunnel Dwellers
  will have an easy meal .
  The correct way to pilot a canal boat
  backwards is to travel most ofthe way in
  reverse, but fling the engine briefly into for-
  ward gear every so often when the steering
  needsto be corrected . The speed will be
  limited to about 1'h mph, but at least it is
  safe. Ifthis method is not used, then once
  every 100 yards the launch will be in danger
  ofhitting the tunnel wall . Thelaunch does
  have a boat hook which can be used to fend
  THE SHADOW OVER DARKBANK
  it away from the wall ; to do this an in-
  vestigator must roll under his STR on 1D20.
  Ifthe launch does hit a tunnel wall, then roll
  1D10 with the following results :
  1-2
  Launch holed - it sinks (5 + 1D6)
  x 30 yds later
  3-4
  Launch leaking - it sinks (60 +
  1D20) x 30 yds later
  5-10
  No effect
  Even if the launch sinks, the cabin,top will
  remain above water. However, unless the in-
  vestigators have informed a reliable and
  trustworthy individual about their expedi-
  tion, no-one is likely to rescue them . There
  is no towpath in the tunnel . The canal is on-
  ly about 4' deep along much ofits length,
  but the tunnel floor is heavily pitted. Ifthe
  investigators do try wading, each time they
  pass apoint marked with pits, make a Luck
  roll for each person to see if they fall in . If
  anyone does, consult the rules on swimm-
  ing, treating the character as completely
  surprised by his sudden immersion . Other
  characters may attempt to save a drowning
  friend by making a successful Swimming
  roll at a penalty of-20. The investigators
  can avoid the pits by sounding the ground
  ahead ofthem with a boathook or long pole .
  Later in the scenario, the investigators may
  wish to explore the side tunnels that lead to
  the mine workings . The miners used short
  "tub boats" to get round the tightcorners,
  but years of disuse have made even this
  dangerous, ifnotimpossible . Therefore, the
  investigators will have to resort to a rowing
  dingy. Such craft are available from the
  Darkbank Junction yard, and have a max-
  imum capacity of4 persons . No great skill
  at rowing is required to use them unless the
  investigators wish to move at great speed .
  The Local Area
  The scenario is set in mythical terrain
  northwest ofWolverhampton . Directions
  are given from the map to nearby real
  towns . Although the LWWR line connects
  67
  
  Cuthdon, Shubford and Wolverhampton,
  the investigators will need a carto make any
  progress . In particular the canaljunctions
  and pubs where the boat people can be
  found are often well offthe beaten track .
  Blawick A small village which gives its
  name to a flight oflocks and a canaljunc-
  tion . Nearby is Blawick Manor, the home of
  Algernon Planchet . He is the closest thing
  the area has to a genuine aristocrat .
  Cuthdon A small market town which marks
  the terminus of the Cuthdon Branch of the
  Staffordshire and Ellesmere Junction Canal .
  The LWWR has a branch office at Cuthdon
  Station . Cuthdon hasblossomed over the
  last 30 years as Shubford declined .
  Darkbank Ridge There are disused mine
  buildings on the ridge above Darkbank
  Tunnel .
  Eastchurch This small village is famous for
  its mineral water spring, the produce of
  which is bottled and sold to the upper
  classes . If the investigators try to wipe out
  the Tunnel Dwellers by poisoning their
  water, thepoison will find its way into the
  Eastchurch Spring . The investigators (and
  Longthorpe ifhe knows ofthe plan) should
  be given a Geology roll to see ifthey realise
  this .
  Peneris Hill A small hillock close to the
  Golden Lion, on which stands a circle of
  standing stones. A successful Mythos roll
  will show the stones to bepre-human, but
  they have no connection with the Tunnel
  Dwellers.
  Shubford A small town existing largely on
  the profits of Shubford and Darkbank Quar-
  ries . Stanley Grift has more or less com-
  plete control over the town . The town has
  declined substantially in wealth since the
  closure ofthe mine .
  Sources of Information
  Most local people will be suspicious of
  "nosey parkers" and unwilling to answer
  their damn-fool questions . Very few will say
  anything against Grift (5%) and still fewer
  know. anything about canals and the tunnel .
  A large percentage of Shubford folk (25 %)
  have relatives who perished in mining or
  tunnel disasters, but they are unlikely to say
  much more than `"tis a terrible place, you
  don' want t' go havin' anything to do wi' it".
  The reaction ofthose questioned will de-
  pend to some extent on the social class of
  the questioner.
  There are four more obvious sources ofhard
  facts : two libraries, a church and a news-
  paper office . In all cases the investigators
  will need touse communications skills as
  well as Library Use to get at anything other
  thairbooks .
  The Cuthdon Heraldhas its offices on
  Market Street . It has complete files ofthe
  paper (from 1806), and also ofthe Shubford
  Gazette (1798-1904) which the Herald now
  incorporates. Library Use rolls can be used
  to research the information inthe Darkbank
  Timeline .
  Saint Peter's Church, Shubford A quick
  tour of the local graveyard will reveal
  several gravestones which mention mining
  accidents, and a large monument com-
  memorating the 1893 disaster. The vicar,
  Rev Haynes, is from Birmingham and only
  took up the position in 1916, his predecessor
  having volunteered for chaplaincy service in
  the Great War and not returned .
  Cuthdon Public Library in Penny Street
  holds a complete collection ofthe Cuthdon
  Herald, plus the following books which
  may be ofinterest to investigators :
  1 .
  D R Lewis - The Mines and Quarries
  ofShubford . 1873 . Includes Darkbank
  Mine and Quarry. Nothing untoward
  recorded.
  2 .
  R Kemp - Mining in the Cuthdon
  District . 1884 . Long section on
  Darkbank Mine . No mention of any
  trouble .
  3 .
  R Kemp - Darkbank Mining Diasters .
  1898. Covers the "accidents" and even-
  tual closure of the mine.
  4 .
  C Ford - The Staffordshire and
  Ellesmere Junction Canal . 1887. A
  history ofthe canal . Mentions no ill of
  the tunnel .
  5.
  R Longmuir - Ghosts & Frights of
  Shubford District . 1889 . No mention of
  Darkbank.
  6.
  R Longmuir - Lore and Legends of
  Cuthdon . 1907. Mentions all ofthe
  canal ghost stories (see later) .
  Shubford Public Library in Chapel
  Lane, Shubford has a full set ofthe
  Shubford Gazette . It also has plans of
  the Darkbank mine and tunnel complex
  and a geological survey ofthe ridge .
  Investigators making a Geology roll
  will be mystified as to why the rock is
  apparently so unstable . Available books
  include volumes 1, 3 and 5 above, plus:
  7.
  D R Lewis - Mining in the Shubford
  District . 1893 . Mentions the discovery
  of the lake and the start of mining ac-
  cidents.
  8.
  C McLure - The Tunnel at Darkbank.
  1809. Describes the digging of the tun-
  nel . Nothing ofinterest mentioned .
  9.
  R Longmuir - Lore and Legends of
  Shubford . 1890. No mention of
  Darkbank.
  10. C Ford - The Handling ofPowered
  Canal Craft. 1912 . Mostly about
  engines . The chapter on steering con
  tains an account ofhow to steer a boat
  in reverse. Ofcourse, the investigators
  are unlikely to know how valuable this
  information is until they have en-
  countered the problem. Ifthey do find
  the book before trying to,handle a boat,
  the Keeper should only give them the
  information ifthey study the book
  carefully.
  Authors of Books
  in the Libraries
  Many ofthe authors ofthe above books are
  still alive and can be contacted .
  Richard Kemp should be the easiest to
  find. He lives at 16, Canal Street, Cuthdon
  and is well known at the town library where
  T
  
  he calls on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
  The library staffwill be unwilling to
  divulge his address, but will point him out
  or take messages forhim . Kemp will initial
  ly be rather suspicious of the investigators,
  but once they have gained his trust, he will
  be able to tell them the complete story of
  Darkbank Mine and how to contact the
  other authors listed below. He will not be
  impressed by any lurid stories ofinhuman
  creatures living in the tunnel .
  Denise Woolgar is the daughter ofD R
  Lewis . She lives at 17, Shubford Lane,
  Blawick . Her father vanished mysteriously
  three years ago (he fled to escape Grift's
  blackmail but no one knows this) and she
  has all of his papers . Mrs Woolgar will be
  happy to assist anyone interested in her
  father's books, but in fact the papers hold
  little of use . Lewis did have a theory that the
  rock fallswere caused by changes in
  drainage patterns occasioned by the un-
  covering ofthe lake, but a successful
  Geology roll will tell the investigators that
  this is rubbish .
  Charles Ford lives in Braunston, Northants
  and is an expert on a wide variety ofcanal-
  related topics . He has no information ofuse
  beyond whatis in his books.
  Ronald Longmuir has retired to his native
  Yorkshire . An expert on ghosts and haun-
  tings, he can recount all of the Darkbank
  ghost stories, with several variations, and
  has also realised that the stories only started
  after the discovery ofthe lake . He suspects
  thatthe lake may be cursedin some way.
  Longmuirhas kept in touch with goings-on
  and has acquired William Jarvis' suicide
  note (see The Tunnel Dwellers) . He is not
  on the phone, but will respond quickly to
  telegrams .
  The Principal NPCs
  Stanley Grift is - as stated above - hungry
  for power and quite unscrupulous as to how
  he goes about getting it . Over a number of
  years, he has built up an impressive dossier
  of information about local people, which he
  uses to blackmail them into doing his bid-
  ding . This information - including various
  account books, letters, official documents
  and photographs - is kept in a safe in his
  study. Unless investigators know what they
  are looking for, this will seem quite in-
  nocuous . Amongst the people being
  blackmailed by Grift are Gregory
  Longthorpe, Arnold Trubshawe and Inspec-
  tor Morris .
  Grift lives at Shubford Grange, a manor
  house on the outskirts of Shubford, with his
  wife, Lavinia, and son, Ronald . Lavinia is a
  compulsive social climber, and is forever
  holding social events at the Grange - garden
  parties in the afternoon, dinner parties in
  the evening, house parties at the weekend .
  The guests are minor aristocrats, local
  clergymen, retired army officers and the
  like . Ronald is, in contrast to his father, a
  complete wimp. The Grange has several
  servants, headed by a burly butler called
  Meadows .
  Gregory Longthorpe is naturally a shy,
  awkward fellow, but is under severe stress
  from the role forced on him by Grift . He
  feels extremely guilty about trying to kill
  the investigators, but will continue to pro-
  test his innocence in the face of all evidence
  to the contrary, because he is so frightened
  ofGrift . For example, when the in-
  vestigators return from the tunnel, he will
  say that someone must have rigged up his
  instruments to make a detonator on Tues-
  day ; that he couldn't see howbad the
  THE SHADOW OVER DARKBANK
  blockage was whilst trying to control his
  launch, hold a lamp and fit the instruments ;
  and that he had no idea what the Eleanor
  was carrying and would never have asked
  the investigators to help if he had . A suc-
  cessful Psychology roll will reveal that
  Longthorpe is under great stress .
  The hold which Grift has over him is
  evidence ofa homosexual affair between
  Longthorpe and his young clerk, Simon
  Jones. At this time, homosexuality was a
  criminal offence which could result in a
  lengthy prison sentence . Longthorpe has an
  office at Cuthdon Station, and lives alone in
  nearby 11 Station Road . He spends a lot of
  time out of the office inspecting various
  problems .
  Simon Jones is a good-looking, young lad
  who works for Longthorpe and with whom
  messages for the engineer are likely to have
  to be left . Jones will break down and tell all
  if successfully interrogated (use Fast Talk to
  trick information from him or Oratory to
  bully him), though all he has to reveal are
  details of why he and Longthorpe are so
  frightened ofGrift . He knows nothing about
  the Eleanor's cargo or the attempt to
  destroy the tunnel . Jones lives in lodgings
  with Mrs Doris Wheatear, a war widow, at
  46 Victoria Street, Cuthdon, about 100
  yards from the Station .
  Arnold Trubshawe is the proprietor ofthe
  Golden Lion . He is as much in Grift's
  power as Longthorpe, but is somewhat
  more comfortable in the role . Outwardly
  genial and friendly, he is actually a greedy
  schemer whose misdeeds Grifthas un-
  covered . Everything he says to the in-
  vestigators is calculated to serve Grift's
  purpose . Also at the Golden Lion are Trub-
  shaw's wife, Julia, who knows just enough
  to avoid talking to the investigators, and
  Florrie Palmer, the barmaid, who is highly
  talkative but knows nothing .
  Gavin Hall is the owner of Darkbank
  Quarry, and - potentially - an ally. However,
  he has become depressed and untrusting as
  a result ofGrift's scheming against him, and
  will be of little use. Although the closure of
  the Quarry will ruin him, he views the pro-
  spectwith a certain sense ofrelief- at least
  now Grift will leave him alone . Inspector
  Morris has instructed Hall and his men not
  to say anything aboutthe Eleanor's cargo
  for fear of causing panic or theft ofthe ex-
  plosives by Bolsheviks . Hall lives at 17
  Long Hill, Shubford, on the road that leads
  out to Darkbank Ridge .
  Inspector Robert Morris, the senior of-
  ficer at Cuthdon, is having an affair with
  Grift's wife, Lavinia . Grift is well aware of
  the need to keep the police on his side, and
  encouraged his wife to start the affair. As a
  result, Grift'ssafe contains a large
  69
  
  collection ofletters to "Beloved Lavinia"
  from "Your Adoring Bobbins", which will
  be sufficient to ruin Morris's career if made
  public . Mrs Grift was careful not to write
  anything in return .
  All ofthe police in the area are under Mor-
  ris's control, so the investigators will not get
  very far if they accuse Grift oftrying to
  murder them . Morris will try to pinthe
  blame for any attempts to blow up the tunnel
  or steal explosives on the boat people, a
  theory which will have unanimous support
  from everyone except the boat people
  themselves .
  Algernon Planchet is a complete twit in the
  classic Bertie Wooster mould . Nevertheless,
  everyone in Shubford and Cuthdon is in awe
  ofhim because he is a genuine aristocrat
  and the richest man in the neighbourhood .
  Planchet has a passing interest in the more
  sensational aspects ofthe occult, and - on
  learning that the investigators are experts in
  this field - will pester them to arrange an
  "entertainment" at Blawick Manor. "I say,
  we could have a bally sex orgy, or one of
  those Black Mass thingies . Jolly spiffrng, eh
  what?"
  Atthe begining ofthe 19th Century a group
  oflocal notables, led by Planchet's grand-
  father, Sebastian, formed the "Ancient &
  Honourable Order ofYellow Druids" and
  used to holdceremonies in the stone circle
  on Peneris Hill . Superstitious townsfolk
  may tell the investigators that such
  ceremonies still take place at Full Moon . A
  painting ofSebastian Planchet in his
  "druidic" robes exists on the landing in
  Blawick Manor.
  The Tunnel Dwellers
  "They were dark, or light grey skinned ap-
  paritions, that seemed to melt and flow into
  the substance ofthe canal water, in obscene
  mockery of all that is good and natural in
  the world oflight and men :' So reads the
  only existing description ofthe Tunnel
  Dwellers as given in the suicide note of
  William Jarvis, an impressionable young
  surveyor who cut his throat after an en-
  counter with the beings in 1916.
  Formillions ofyears, the Tunnel Dwellers
  remained cut off from the world in their
  underground lake . When the Darkbank
  miners broke through and disturbed their
  home, they were not slow to retaliate. At
  first, they sought only to drive the new-
  comers fromtheir territory, but later they
  realised the possibilities for conquest of vast
  new areas ofunderground waterways, and
  they have been bent on expansion ever
  since .
  They resemble over-sized, eyeless toads,
  whose flattened heads terminate in a
  pointed proboscis with which they feed .
  Beneath the proboscis is a tiny speech organ
  from which they emit sounds too high-
  pitched for the human ear to detect (though
  dogs can hearso
  ofthe sounds and will
  always show considerable anxiety in
  Darkbank Tunnel) . Although blind, the
  Tunnel Dwellers are sensitive to light which
  they find confusing and distressing . For this
  reason, they will avoid all but dim lights.
  They can hear extremely well, and sense
  vibration through a series of nodules down
  their sides. Their hearing covers an enor-
  mous range ofpitch, and they can detect
  tiny sounds at considerable distance. The
  more intelligent ofthem can understand
  English, although they cannot reproduce the
  sounds. Their bodies are covered with a
  thick layer ofslime which is necessary for
  their respiration - a Tutmel Dweller would
  quickly die ifthe slime dried out. The slime
  also acts as armour as blows tend to slide off
  them .
  The tactic ofthe Tunnel Dwellers has
  always been to fight a guerilla war. They
  avoid attacking large groups ofpeople,
  unless they are certain that none ofthem can
  escape . People who venture into the tunnels
  alone, as James Carter did, are ruthlessly
  picked off. The-creatures are much more
  likely to attack people actually in the water,
  wading or swimming, than people in boats .
  Attacks will be made by IN Tunnel
  Dwellers pet-opponent. In desperate cir-
  cumstances, they will cause rock falls to try
  to sink enemy boats .
  In combat, a Tunnel Dweller may either
  claw or attempt to feed. Clawing does 1133
  ofdamage, but for every point of damage
  done, there is a cumulative3% chance of
  the victim contracting a fever. For example,
  ifa character takes a total of7 points of
  damage during a fight with a Tunnel
  Dweller he has a 21% chance ofbecoming
  ill . The fever starts 24 + 2d20 hours after
  the fight and is extremely debilitating . The
  victims will suffer horrible hallucinations
  (loose 1136 SAN if a SAN roll fails) and will
  need 2134 weeks in bed afterwards to
  recover.
  To feed, a Tunnel Dweller must make a suc-
  cessful claw attack to grab the victim (no
  damage done) and then insert the proboscis
  (roll STR v STR onthe Resistance Table) .
  In each round thereafter, the Tunnel
  Dweller will feed, unless the victimmakes
  a STR v STR roll to break free. For each
  round of feeding, roll 11310 to guage the ef-
  fects ofthe victim's bodily fluids being
  suckedout . The possible results are:
  1 Victim loses 1 point ofSTR (until zero
  STR brings death)
  2 Victim loses 1 point ofCON (until zero
  CON brings death)
  3 Victim loses 1 point of SIZ (until 1/z
  SIZ, then lose APP)
  4 Victim loses 1 point of DEX (loss of
  coordination)
  5 Victim loses 1 point ofAPP (skin
  shrivels)
  6 Victim loses 1 point ofINT (brain
  damage)
  
  7 Victim loses 1 point ofPOW (until zero
  PONY brings death)
  8 Victim loses 1 point of EDU (memory
  loss)
  9 No effect
  10 No effect
  Ifthe attribute in question is already zero,
  further feeding has noeffect. A character
  surviving an attack can recover - roll 11310
  per week of complete rest ; ifthe result,
  compared to the table above, matches an at-
  tribute weakened from the attack, 1 point
  can be recovered for that attribute.
  However, no attributemayrecover more
  than halfthe points lost, and INT & POW
  cannot be recovered at all by normal means .
  Seeing a Tunnel Dwellercosts 1134 SAN
  points ifa SAN roll fails ; otherwise, there is
  no loss. A further roll should be made ifthe
  Tunnel Dweller suceeds in feeding on the
  character -11310 SAN is lost ifthe roll fails
  and 1 point otherwise .
  Characteristics
  STR 11310+8
  CON 1138+10
  SIZ 2136+4
  INT 2136+6
  POW 3136
  DEX2D6+3
  Hit Points
  Move
  Armour
  Average
  13-14
  13-14
  11
  13
  10-11
  10
  12-13
  4 / 12 swimming
  2 points of slime
  Skills : Swim 95% ; Geology 30-80% ;
  Understand English 0-50% ; Listen 95 %
  Climb 20-70 % .
  Theclaw attack skill varies considerably,
  depending onthe brightness of the light and
  whether or not the Tunnel Dweller is in
  water :
  Canal Employees
  Any employees of the Staffordshire and
  Ellesmere Junction Canal will be polite and
  helpful if they know that the investigators
  are working for Longthorpe . They will not,
  however, abandon their duties to assist .
  There are toll clerks at each major junction
  and terminus, and lock-keepers at each lock
  or flight oflocks. The men at Darkbank
  Junction are actually a maintenance crew,
  but they always seemto be busy with
  something else (eg, repairing boats) when
  anyone wants them to venture into the tun-
  nel . Henry King, the toll clerk at Blawick
  Junction, is the only official who is aware of
  the nature ofthe Eleanor's cargo .
  The Boat People
  `The boat people form an inward-looking
  group who will be very suspicious of
  strangers "offthe land", especially those
  asking questions . Each was born in a tiny
  boatman's cabin, has lived all his or her life
  on boats, and few will have ventured so
  much as a hundredyards from a canal (so
  there is no point in asking them for road
  directions . . .) . Their lifestyle precludes for-
  mal schooling, but they are by no means
  stupid. Aside from matters ofpersonal
  vengeance, they will not take time offto
  assist the investigators, though they may be
  prepared to lend one oftheir children to the
  group to give advice.
  The Carter Family crew the boats belong-
  ing to the Shubford Quarry Company. There
  are seven boats altogether, three motor boats
  and four butties (each motor boat takes a
  different butty each time it returns to the
  quarry to speed up turnround), All ofthe
  boats are named afterGrift's mother:
  Charlotte Grift I to IV being the butties and
  V to VII the motor boats . They are painted
  grey with black lettering, and are poorly
  maintained . The family comprises Old Josh
  and his wife, Nel (aboard Charlotte Grift
  V), his sons, William and James, and his
  nephews, Samuel and Young Josh . William
  Carter and his wife, May, crew Charlotte
  Grift VI whilst Samuel and Young Josh crew
  Charlotte Grift VII. James Carter was eaten
  by Tunnel Dwellers just before the in-
  vestigators arrived .
  The Carters are an unkempt, quick-
  tempered and foul-mouthed lot who will do
  nothing to help unless they are paid, either
  in cash or beer, whereupon they will trot out
  whatever lies they can think up to keep the
  flow ofgoodies coming . The only hope the
  investigators have of gaining their assistance
  is to prove that someone, either Grift or the
  Tunnel Dwellers, is responsible for the
  death ofJames . Each oftheir motor boats
  has a shotgun aboard forpoaching .
  The Standege and Willock Families both
  work for William Palmer (Coal Merchant)
  of Cuthdon . Their boats, Jupiter (Standege)
  and Mercury (Willocks) are drawn by
  donkeys (or "animals" as boat people refer
  to them) and are in good shape, ifsomewhat
  grimy. The colours are green and cream
  with red and yellow lettering . They bring
  coal from the Staffordshire pits to Cuthdon,
  returning with any cargo that Palmer can
  find, usually timber. Neither family knows
  much, but they will directthe investigators
  to Andrew Bellar. Palmer's offices are at
  Cuthdon Basin .
  Andrew Bellar is the oldest, proudest and
  most knowledgable number one (owner-
  boatman) on the canal . He also has the
  thickest accent . His boat, the Polestar, is
  horse-drawn and beautifully maintained and
  decorated . Andrew knows all about
  Darkbank Tunnel's "accidents" and ghost
  stories, but it will take a long time and a lot
  ofbeer to worm the information out of him .
  His only companion is his 14 year old
  grandson, Young Andrew, but he is theun-
  cle of Percival Bellar and father ofHarold
  Bellar (see below) . Andrew owns a fine old
  rifle, which he won in a game ofdominoes.
  The Longs, Albert and Amy, are the only
  boat people left in the employ ofthe
  Darkbank Quarry. They will stay atthe
  Quarry for the duration ofthe scenario
  unless the investigators get a doctor for the .
  semi-concious and critically ill Amy. There
  are plenty ofdoctors in the area, but the in-
  vestigators will need Oratory and Credit
  Rating rolls to get one to treat a boat person .
  Albert Long is extremely distrustful of
  everyone, thanks to his failure to get the
  quarrymen to help Amy. His first instinct
  will be to threaten anyone who comes near
  with his shotgun.
  The Younger Number Ones each have
  their own regular trade. Samuel and Ivy
  Gannton, inthe motor boat Calcutta and
  butty Bratch, trade mostly in agricultural
  produce and supplies between Cuthdon and
  Market Drayton . Horace and Cora
  Blackwell, in the motor boat Penguin, get
  their main trade from the Cuthdon paper-
  mills. They fetch timber and carry finished
  paper to Kidderminster. Percival and
  Florence Bellar, in the motor boat Artemis,
  trade in industrial materials between
  Cuthdon and Birmingham . Harold and Jane
  Bellar, in the motor boat Felspar and butty
  Elizabeth, trade in grain and flour between
  Cuthdon and Kidderminster.
  Like Old Andrew, all the number ones look
  after their boats well and are proud, in-
  dependent and very difficult to get informa-
  tion from . Each one, if suitably bribed, will
  relate one ofthe ghost stories . If the in-
  vestigators want more information ; they
  will refer them to Old Andrew. Each
  number one has a shotgun for poaching .
  Darkbank Ghost Stories
  The following stories are told about
  Darkbank Tunnel . As is the case with all
  Light
  Dazzling
  Daylight
  Dim None
  Out ofwater
  1%
  10%
  30%
  40%
  On surface
  3%
  15%
  50%
  65%
  Under water
  5%
  20%
  70%
  90%
  
  such stories, no two tellings are ever iden-
  tical . The variations given will allow the
  Keeper to change the stories each time the
  investigators hear them .
  The Mother and Baby
  Back in the old days, a hundredyears ago,
  there was a number one named Eli Hardcas-
  tle, a hard manwith many enemies, the
  worst ofwhom was Josiah Allan . When Eli
  found that Josiah was the father of his wife's
  baby, he roasted and ate the child in
  Darkbank Tunnel . Ellen, his wife, cut her
  throat and jumped into the water. To this
  day, people using the tunnel can hear her
  sobbing and the cries of the baby.
  Variations : Eli becomes Elias or Nathan ;
  Hardcastle - Harbottle or Hardacre ; Josiah -
  Joshua or Joseph ; Allan - Allman or Orton ;
  Ellen - Eleanor or Helena . Ellen is some-
  times said to have drowned herself. In some
  versions, Eli forced his wife to eat parts of
  the child.
  Although the story is probably fictitious,
  the sounds can actually be heard . When the
  wind blows through certain cracks in the
  rock, it produces noises which sound like
  sobbing and a baby's cries. There is a 20
  chance each time the appropriate point is
  passed that the sound will be heard. The
  first time they hear each sound after hearing
  the story the investigators must make a
  Sanity roll, losing 1D3 SAN points ifthey
  fail . Keepers may wish to rule that the in-
  vestigators don't notice the sounds until
  after they have heard the ghost stories .
  The Vengeful Number One
  A sequel to the mother and baby story, this
  tale has the vengeful Josiah Allan lurking in
  the water, whence he siezes passing
  boatmen and drags them under. Anyone tell-
  ing this story (except Old Andrew and
  Longmuir who know all the tales) will refer
  to Allan as "a number one who had been
  sore wronged in life" rather than giving the
  cause ofhis grief. The story is presumably a
  result of the activities ofthe Tunnel
  Dwellers.
  Variations are as for the mother and baby
  story : use Joseph Orton for the first telling
  if the stories are not told together.
  Faces in the Water
  Faces can sometimes be seen staring out of
  the waters ofDarkbank Tunnel . They are
  variously described as "drowned folk", "the
  Devil and his imps", "rotting corpses",
  "death's heads" or "tunnel bogies". The
  story arose as a result of sightings ofthe
  Tunnel Dwellers .
  The Drunken Legger
  A legger, whilsttaking a boat through
  Darkbank, had so much beer inside him
  that he fell offand drowned. However, he
  was so drunk, that he didn't know he was
  dead and thus continues to pace the roof of
  the tunnel . The origin of this story is uncer-
  tain, but may be a result ofboatmen hearing
  the muffled hammering ofthe miners or
  Tunnel Dwellers.
  The Repairmen
  This story concerns a disasterwhich befell a
  repair crew in the tunnel . Apparently, the
  area ofthe tunnel they were working on col-
  lapsed again, burying 20 (or 12, or 50) men
  alive . Sometimes, you can see their hands
  and arms clawing their way out ofthe tunnel
  walls . There is no obvious explan-ation, but
  boatmen may have seen Tunnel Dwellers
  standing in the darkened niches that line the
  tunnel .
  The Wronged Lady
  Back in the old days, a hundred years ago,
  the boats sometimes carried passengers, and
  one such was a lady, Mary Blackwood (or
  Miranda Greenwood) . The crew ofher boat
  became drunk at the Junction Inn and, once
  in the tunnel, raped her, then drowned her
  (or she drowned herself, in shame) in the
  canal . Her ghost now haunts the tunnel . The
  story is probably a complete fabrication . As
  R Longmuir can tell the investigators, exact-
  ly the same story is told ofHarecastle
  Tunnel .
  Movements of the Boat People
  The table below shows the canalside pubs at
  which the various boats can be found on
  each night ofthe week. Aside from follow-
  ing the line ofthe canals until you come
  across a boat, this is the only way to make
  contact with the boat people . Four ofthe
  pubs listed are inthe Shubford-Cuthdon
  area. The other four are real pubs on the
  real canals that the Staffordshire &
  Ellesmere Junction Canal links into .
  Key to pubs :
  1-The Navigation/Cuthdon Basin
  2 -The Quarry Thvem/Shubford
  3 -The Junction Inn/Darkbank
  4 -The Ramshead/Blawick
  5 -The LockfWolverly/near Kidderminster (Stafford-
  shire & Worcestershire Canal)
  6 - The Cross Keys/Penkridge (Staffordshire &
  Worcestershire Canal)
  7 - The WharfTavem/Goldstone Wharf(Shropshire
  Union Canal)
  8 - The Longboat/Birmingham, (Birmingham Canal)
  Key to boats:
  A - Calcutta & Batch
  B - Polestar
  C - Jupiter
  D - Mercury
  E - Penguin
  F - Artemis
  G - Felspar & Elizabeth
  H - Charlotte GriftV& butty
  I- Charlotte GriftVI &butty
  J - Charlotte Grift VII &butty
  Accents
  In theory the accents ofthe locals should be
  Wolverhampton and that ofthe boat people
  a mixture ofrustic and Wolverhampton .
  Keepers unable to manage such dialectsmay
  resort to Birmingham or Mummerset.
  Longthorpe and many ofMrs Grift's guests
  will have more polite accents, whilst Alger-
  non Planchet will be excruciatingly upper
  class . Mrs Grift tries desperately hard to
  sound like Planchet, and fails dismally.
  Pronunciation of local place names is fairly
  standard, but Shubford should be pronounc-
  ed as "Shubford", Cuthdon as "Cuth'on"
  and Blawick as "Blake".
  Objectives
  The investigators can be assumed to have
  completed the scenario ifthey discover the
  existence ofthe Tunnel Dwellers and take
  steps against them in time to preventthem
  from reaching Shubford . It is probable that
  Grift will escapejustice - he may claim that
  he saw Carter on the Monday night, and that
  he must have set up the detonator on Tues-
  day. Also, he will sieze on any hard
  evidence ofthe existence ofTunnel
  Dwellers to insist on the tunnel being clos-
  ed, and be as grateful as a total miser can be
  to the investigators for helping him achieve
  his objective.
  Key to Tunnel Map
  1
  Kinks in the tunnel which cut off the
  view of the tunnel portals
  2 Water falls from the roof, soaking
  anyone or anything not inthe cabin (the
  tiller is out in the open)
  3
  Pits in the tunnel floor
  4 Deep, dry, floored niches in the tunnel
  walls ; for the use of repair men
  5
  Sound ofa woman weeping, the
  "mother" from the ghost story
  6
  Sound ofa baby crying, the "baby" from
  the ghost story
  7 The wreck ofthe Eleanor
  8
  Underground stream crosses the tunnel
  (arrows indicate direction offlow) ; ar-
  chways in tunnel wall rise to a foot above
  water level
  9 Junction with mine complex ; no boat of
  more than 12 ft in length canturn here
  10 Very old mine shaft up to surface, now
  impassable
  11 Mine shaft to surface and down to lower
  workings ; upward shaft impassable,
  downward shaft flooded
  12 Remains ofold boat lift to lower level ;
  tangle ofrusty and useless machinery.
  Shaft now flooded
  13 James Carter's dinghy - his drained and
  shrivelled body is still in it ; a Sanity roll
  should be made on discovering the body
  - investigators lose 1D3 SAN ifthey fail
  14 Point where Tunnel Dwellers are trying
  to blast through rock
  Pub
  Sun
  Mon
  Tue
  Wed
  Thu
  Fri
  Sat
  1
  A
  B
  C
  E
  F
  D
  G
  2
  H
  I
  J
  3
  B/G/H
  A/C
  B/E/H4
  CIF
  D/E/Ip
  F/G
  A/D/J
  4
  C/D/J
  E/G/I
  A/F
  B/D/H/1
  C/G
  A/E/l/J B/F/H
  5
  E
  G
  G
  B
  B
  E
  6
  D
  D
  C
  C
  7
  A A
  8
  OF
  J/F
  J
  H
  H
  I
  
  b a
  S
  "penrir Nill
  Goldem Taon Stone Circle .
  f Zcrh (anewpoints up bill)
  0.
  1 Mile 2 &files 3 Miks 4 Miles
  i
  scale.
  Agbt of Locks (no oflocks in l4Sht)
  Wawickjunctien
  -- Rarlray
  THE CUTHDON &
  SHUBFORD AREA
  Shropshire Union Cara9.
  'Ib m1,vhampton
  (k Birminglzan
  Wolverhampton
  ocks (21)
  Birmingham Canal
  .
  73
  PARKRANK TUNNEL &
  ` MINE (canal level
  .
  o~rkings),\
  -
  Fti
  I
  r
  i
  71-
  '
  '
  t
  -4'
  A tr
  .
  .
  W
  D
  
  THE SHADOW OVER DARKBANK
  NPC Statistics
  There is a huge supporting cast in this
  scenario, but very few ofthem will do much
  other than talk to the investigators. Full
  statistics have been included for all of the
  more important characters, and some values
  for typical characters of various types are
  also given in case the Keeper needs full stats
  for someone in a hurry. Skill values are only
  given where the value is unusually high or
  low. Normal base values can be assumed for
  unmentioned skills.
  STR7
  CON 11
  SIZ 11
  INT 12
  POW 8
  DEX 15 APP 18
  SAN 40 EDU 9
  HitPts 11
  Skills : Accounting 20% ; Fast Talk 35 % ;
  Swim 70% .
  Stanley Grift
  Owner of Shubford Quarry.
  STR 16
  CON 14
  SIZ 16
  INT 17
  POW 18
  DEX 9
  APP 10
  SAN 90 EDU 10
  Hit Pts 15
  Skills: Photography 65% ; Accounting 85 % ;
  Geology 40 % ; Rifle 40% ; Listening 55% ;
  Spot Hidden45 %; Psychology 45 % ;
  Bargain 90% ; Credit Rating 90% (in local area
  only); Debate 75% ; Oratory 80 % ;
  Fast Talk 65 %; Swim 35 % ;
  Lavinia Grift
  Wife ofStanley Grift .
  STR 8
  CON 15
  SIZ 17
  INT 8
  POW9
  DEX 10 APP9
  SAN 45 EDU 6
  Hit Pts 16
  Skills: Fast Talk 35 % ; Oratory 25 %;
  Sing 1% .
  Arnold Trubshawe
  Proprietor of the Golden Lion Hotel .
  ST 14
  CON 12
  SIZ 16
  INT 12
  POW 11
  DEX 13 APP 14
  SAN 55 EDU 9
  HitPts 14
  Skills : Accounting 65 % ; Fast Talk 45 % ;
  Bargain 75% .
  Julia T)rubshawe
  Wife ofArnold Trubshawe
  STR 13
  CON 14
  SIZ 12
  INT 11
  POW 9
  DEX45 APP 14
  SAN 45 EDU 6
  Hit Pts 13
  Age 36
  74
  Age 20
  Age 20
  Age 42
  Age 38
  Skills : Listening 75 %; First Aid 30% .
  Florrie Palmer
  Barmaid at the Golden Lion .
  STR 12
  CON 11
  SIZ 8
  INT 6
  POW 14
  DEX 16 APP 17
  SAN 70 EDU 5
  Hit Pts 10
  Age 18
  Skills : Fast Talk45 % ; Sing 60
  Walter Braithwaite
  Foreman at DarkbankJunction Maintenance
  Skills : Accounting 60 %; Bargaining 50% ;
  Fast Talk 30 %; Swim 40 % .
  Richard Kemp
  Local Historian.
  STR 12
  CON 10
  SIZ 12
  INT 16
  POW 10
  DEX 14 APP 15
  SAN45 EDU 14
  Hit Pts 12
  Skills: History 40% (local area 80%) ; Library
  Use 70 %; Make Maps 65% .
  Old Andrew Bellar
  The oldest `number one' boatman in the area .
  STR 16
  CON 18
  SIZ 16
  INT 15
  POW 18
  DEX 14 APP 14
  SAN 90 EDu 4
  Hit Pts 17
  Skills : Punch 80% ; Rifle 50%; Shotgun 40% ;
  Knife Attack 75 %; Knife Parry 50%; Accoun-
  ting 15 % ; First Aid 60% ; Zoology 30% ;
  Listen 40% ; Psychology 45% ;
  Mechanical Repair 55 %; Hide 65 %; Sneak
  65% ; Bargaining 85 % ; Fast Talk 60% ; Sing
  60% ; Swim 90% .
  Equipment: knife ; 12-gauge shotgun, .22
  rifle.
  Inspector Morris
  Chiefof Police for the Cuthdon-Shubford area .
  STR 12
  CON 8
  SIZ 10
  INT 15
  POW 7
  DEX 11
  APP 14
  SAN 35 EDU 14
  Hit Pts 9
  Age 45
  Skills : Nightstick Attack 45% ;
  Nightstick Parry 35 %; Shotgun 40% ;
  Rifle 45% ; First Aid 30%;
  Drive Automobile 40 % ; Credit Rating 45
  Equipment: car, truncheon (nightstick) .
  Age 62
  Age 58
  Gavin Hall
  Owner of Darkbank Quarry.
  STR 16
  CON 14
  SIZ 14
  INT 14
  POW 6
  DEX 15 APP 8
  SAN 30 EDU 11
  HitPts 14
  Skills : Geology 60% ; Accounting 55 % ;
  Bargaining 35 % .
  Algernon Planchet
  STR 17
  CON 16
  SIZ 9
  INT 12
  POW 14
  DEX 15 APP 6
  SAN70 EDU2
  Hit Pts 13
  Skills : Punch 70% ; Shotgun 60% ;
  Knife Attack 65% ; Knife Parry 50 % ;
  First Aid 30% ; Mechanical Repair 55 %;
  Hide 40% ; Sneak 50% ; Bargaining 40% ;
  Fast Talk 55% ; Swim 90
  Equipment: knife, 12-gauge shotgun.
  Typical Boatman's Wife
  STR 14
  CON 17
  SIZ 7
  INT 12
  POW 16
  DEX 16 APP 8
  SAN 80
  EDU 2
  Hit Pts 12
  Skills : Knife Attack 45% ; Knife Parry 45% ;
  Accounting 20% ; Zoology 20% ; Bargaining
  50% ; Fast Talk 65 % ; Swim 80
  Equipment: knife .
  Typical Quarryman
  STR 18
  CON 16
  SIZ 17
  INT 6
  POW 9
  DEX 13 APP7
  SAN 45 EDU 3
  Hit Pts 17
  Skills : Punch 75 % ;
  Operate Heavy Machinery 40 %;
  Mechanical Repair 40% .
  Typical Grift Guest
  STR 9
  CON 10
  SIZ 12
  INT 9
  POW 9
  DEX45 APP 13
  SAN 45 EDU 15
  Hit Pts 11
  Skills : Credit Rating 50%; Debate 35% ;
  Oratory 35% ; Ride 65 % .
  Age 47
  Gregory Longthorpe
  Area engineer forWWR.
  STR 13
  CON 14
  SIZ 12
  INT 15
  POW 9
  DEX II
  APP 10
  SAN 45
  EDU 14
  Hit Pts 13
  Age 32
  Yard .
  STR 16
  CON 15
  SIZ 13
  INT 11
  DEX 15 APP 8
  SAN 55 EDU5
  Skills : Electrical Repair 30% ;
  Mechanical Repair 80% ;
  POW ll
  Hit Pts 14
  Alocal aristocrat, owner of Blawick manor.
  STR9
  CON 10
  SIZ 12
  INT 7
  POW5
  DEX 16 APP 16
  SAN 25 EDU 19
  Hit Pts 11
  Age 28
  Skills : Geology 25% ; Law 15 % ;
  Operate Heavy Machinery 55 % ; Punch 60% ;
  Skills : Read/Write Latin 45% ;
  Mak Maps 65% ; Drive Automobile 45 %,
  Swim 55 %.
  Electrical Repair 40% ;
  Read/Write Greek 30% ; Occult 25 %; Ar-
  Mechanical Repair 65 % ;
  chaeology 20%; Rifle 35% ;
  Operate Heavy Machinery 45% ; Swim 35% .
  Henry King
  Drive Automobile 60% ; Credit Rating 75% ;
  Equipment; car.
  Tol Clerk at Darkbank Junction .
  Oratory 50% ; Sing 35 % ; Ride 60% .
  STR 8
  CON 9
  SIZ II
  INT 16
  POW 12
  Simon Jones
  DEX 12 APP 14
  SAN 60 EDU 8
  Hit Pts 10
  Longthorpe's clerk .
  Typical Boatman
  Age 37
  
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  Chapter I
  Now? Now, I wouldn't even fool with a ouija
  board, not for my life. You won't even catch
  me reading aghost story! But at that time . . . .
  I was a teacher - mathematics and associated
  subjects, especially geometry - at a school in
  North London. A bit boring, really. Not much
  call for triangles and circles in North
  London, not even then. And none at all for
  squares . But of course, in those days, the
  word "square" only meant a parallelogram
  with four equal sides and four right angles . It
  would be another twenty years before it
  meant anything else.
  Those days - the mid `30x - before The.War.
  So long ago. And still the thing preys on my
  mind . . . .
  In my spare time I had become interested in
  the work - or the pastime - of a smallbut
  dedicated group which called itselfthe
  Society for the Higher Resolution of the
  Unquiet Dead. SHROUD for short .
  Londoners all, we termed ourselves "psychic
  investigators", and, on ong weekends or
  holidays, would go offand sample the
  spectral atmospheres ofEngland's ancestral
  haunts .
  Not that the house in Cambridgeshire
  (standing almost at the junction of three
  counties : Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and
  Norfolk) was well known for its pheno-
  mena ; it certainly wasn't `listed'. But we were
  interested anyway, for our own reasons . More
  of that anon . . . .
  There were five of us in our particular group ;
  we'd all chipped in, and the estate agent had
  been glad to get the place offhis hands, even
  as a few days let . . . it was that unpopular!
  Harkness, one of our group, had gone up the
  weekend before and scoured it ; he'dbeen on
  a business trip for his boss but got back to
  attend SHROUD's monthly meeting at The
  Waggoners. Cocooned in a corner away from
  the rest ofthe crowd, Harkness told us all
  about it :
  "Got it for a song!" he was jubilant, grin-ning
  from ear to ear. "Has to be something wrong
  with a grand old place like that, when you
  can get it mid-season for a few quid!"
  "What's it like?" askedJackson, our self-
  appointed leader, who once actually (or
  allegedly) had seen a ghost . I'd heard his
  account several times, and - frankly - I
  doubted . But he was the sort that has to be
  the star attraction or life has no meaning . He
  was surly, too, and occasionally aloof when
  speaking to those less `psychically inclined',
  which probably accounted for my dislike.
  "Does it have any amenities?"
  by Brian Lumley
  Harkness read from notes he'd prepared :
  "Tbilets, one up and one down; bathrooms
  likewise, both a bit dated; ground-floor
  kitchen halfmodernised, but needs a gas
  cylinder for cooking . Bedrooms galore, but
  only two beds; two musty old mattresses but
  no sheets, blankets or pillows, so it's a
  sleeping-bag job. A massive open fireplace
  downstairs, which we won't need - ifwe do,
  there's a great pile of wood stacked out in the
  gardens . Oh yes, and no lights! They won't
  switch the juice on just for a few days . There
  are two old oil lamps, which I fixed up while
  I was there."
  "A dump!" commentedJackson, sourly.
  I felt obliged to say : "What do you want, a
  haunted house or an all mod-cons
  overlooking the bay?"
  Jackson turned his cold gaze onme. "You're
  new to this game, aren't you?" He was maybe
  thirty, slim, had a habit of staring
  unblinkingly through his small specs. His
  hair was going a bit thin and his cheeks were
  slightly hollow. He liked to think of himself
  as cadaverous, bookish, erudite - I
  considered him a poseur.
  I shrugged . "So? I mean, we're going up there
  to investigate paranormalphenomena - not
  for a seaside outing! This is my first one, yes,
  but I'll probably spot anything weird just as
  quickly as you ."
  He sniffed. "That remains to be seen ."
  "What about supplies?" George Ainsworth
  spoke up. He was our youngest, maybe
  twenty-three, short andblocky and scruffy as
  hell
  . A rough diamond, there wasn't an
  ounce of malice in him . And he was an
  expert photographer. "Is the village close by?
  I don't want to cart a load ofphoto-graphic
  kit up there if it's right on our doorstep."
  "Village? Village?" cried Peter Harkness .
  "Hey, I'll tell you about the village!" He was
  around thirty-five. Enthusiastic, but big,
  slow-moving and watery eyed, and so eager
  to please thatpeople tended to lean on him a
  bit . He always seemed to buy far more
  rounds than he was due - chiefbeneficiary,
  Graham Jackson, of course.
  "Shh!" cautioned our fifth member, urging
  restraint . Clive Thorne was our oldest and
  world-wisest . He'd served a term with the
  Army, and still looking about and not nearly
  settled down. But he was strong and inspired
  confidence. He was maybe five feet eleven,
  and all muscle. "Calm down," he said . "Half
  this lot will be up there with us ifyou're not
  careful!" SHROUD's several cliques guarded
  their finds fiercely.
  75
  
  Harkness lowered his voice. "Village!" he
  whispered . "Well, there's Guyhirn just a
  couple of miles away. But
  across the fens toward
  Crowland is a real find
  . It's
  not on the latest maps,
  except maybe Ordnance
  Survey - but haunted? Lord,
  even ifthe Oaks wasn't
  there, it would still be
  worth visiting thatplace ., It
  was a village four hundred
  years ago, but now it's
  done, decayed, falling
  apart . I spotted it from a dormer window at
  the Oaks ; a spire right out across the fens.
  Only a few miles as the crow flies, but it
  seemed like ten . The road winds like a snake,
  and you come through a copse. . . and there it
  is! Two tumbledown streets crossing each
  other at a disused church, and a corner pub
  called The RunningMan ."
  `A pub, eh?" Thorne smacked his lips . "We'll
  be all right for a pie and a pint, then!"
  "It's got more than that, this pub,", said
  Harkness . "Its sign is the weirdest I've ever
  seen; in fact you won't believe it! My eyes are
  fine long distance, but lousy close up, so I
  couldn't make out the finer details. But
  there's this bloke "
  "Running?" saidJackson . And he gave a
  derisive snort .
  " - and he's bleeding! I mean, he's wild-eyed
  and his clothes are torn, and he's got blood
  dripping off him! Horrible!"
  "You sure it's not a slaughterhouse?" I tried
  to brighten up a bit .
  "It's a pub", Harkness scowled at me . "I went
  in, asked about the sign . The barman toldme
  it's from a legend almost as old as the village.
  How one night a man, all torn and bleeding,
  had gone stumbling through the streets
  pursued by three cowled figures in black . No
  one helped him, because there'd been
  rumours ofplague - he might be a plague
  carrier, and the cowled men wouldbe priests
  trying to help him . But they weren't! A
  woman in her cottage saw them catch him,
  take out carved knives, cuthim up! Into bits!
  Which they put in sacks and carried away!"
  Thorne grunted, said : "Certainly sounds
  weird enough!"
  "Anyway," Harkness finished it off, "then the
  plague came. The village was hard hit -
  people thought it was the punishment of
  God - the land around turned barren and the
  survivors moved out. Came decline and
  decay. Now there's only the crossroads, and a
  few old tottering houses. . ."
  "I'm convinced," I broke the silence. "Even if
  the Oaks doesn't come up to scratch, its
  worth visiting that ghost town. Especially
  The RunningMan ."
  Ainsworth said : And I'vegot to get pictures
  of that old pub sign!"
  "Better still," said Harkness, "pictures of the
  original sign! The old boy at the pub has it,
  keeps it locked away for its value . The one
  outside is a copy. He didn't have the time
  right then, but he said next time I was in I
  could see it ."
  After that we settled down to drinking, made
  the rest of our arrangements, passed a
  76
  pleasant but otherwise unspectacular
  evening . A pity I can't say the same about the
  time to come. . . .
  Chapter II
  Monday morning, bright and early, we were
  on our way north in Clive Thorne, s banger,
  Harkness' boss' car having "turned nasty" at
  the end ofhis recce . It was an Al job all the
  way to Peterborough, with Harkness,
  Ainsworth and me crammed in the back,
  thumbing through our "literature" - books
  and pamphlets on famous haunted houses
  and parapsychological cases - most ofthe
  way. Jackson sat up front, puffing on his
  pipe, boring us silly yet again with his
  interminable story, which he embellished
  just a little bit more each time he told it .
  "So there I was," he finishd off on the
  approach to Peterborough, "left all cold and
  clammy, and this shining, spectral thing
  drifting off into the woods. For all I know,
  it's there still, but I've not been back. .
  . ."
  "Anyway," said Thorne, who'd been dying to
  change the subject for ages, "that was then
  and this is now. So, what about these
  disappearances at The Oaks, eh? Here we go,
  offto investigate this poor old house - which
  might well be entirely innocent - all on the
  strength ofa few people vanishing in or
  around it! It was you stumbled across the
  connection, wasn't it, Graham?"
  Jackson puffed at his pipe, said : "I've a sharp
  eye for that sort of thing . I was doing some
  newspaper research, came
  across some interesting
  facts . Summer of `32,
  young London couple on
  the run, heading for Gretna
  Green . They detoured and
  ended up at The Oaks,
  hired it for a fortnight .
  Alas, the girl's Old Boy had
  put an ad in the papers and
  offered a reward for word
  of their whereabouts. A
  local spotted them in the village, and the
  game was up. Daddy came rumbling up from
  the family hearth ; him and a couple ofburly
  lads broke down the door and burst in. The
  kids' clothes are there, their sleeping things,
  sleeping bags - but no sign ofthem . And
  they've not been seen since. . . ."
  "Interesting," Thorne nodded . "Suicide pact,
  d'you think?"
  "Well if it was," said Jackson, "they made the
  pact in that house. Second case : two years
  ago an old tramp breaks in, lives there for a
  couple ofdays . The police get wind of it, and
  since they're looking for a petty thief, they
  pay him a visit . But it's the same story : his
  things are there, but he's not ."
  "On top of which," Harkness broke in from
  behind me, "there's the atmosphere of the
  place . Wait and see for yourselves . But you
  wouldn't findme staying there on my own, I
  can tell you!"
  "Well, you're not on your own," said Thorne,
  "so stop worrying about it . And anyway,
  that's what we're here for." Following which,
  we were all pretty thoughtful and quiet . . . .
  Coming through Guyhirn toward The Oaks,
  in an outlying huddle of fairly derelict
  houses covered in ivy and flaking paint, we
  passed a square- towered old church .
  Opposite stood the local pub - not The
  Running Man, but to Clive Thorne a pub
  was a pub! `A pie and a pint!" he cried
  jubilantly. "We'll dump our stuff, nip back for
  lunch ."
  Then Guyhirn was behind us, and Harkness
  directed Thorne down a third-class road for a
  few miles to The Oaks . And ifwe'd had our
  doubts before, just seeing that old place told
  us we'd been worrying needlessly. Or, onthe
  other hand, worrying with good cause,
  depending on your point of view. . . .
  The estate agent was waiting for us with the
  keys . We were right on time and paid cash
  there and then, which pleased him no end
  .
  He wasn't much ofa one for hanging about ;
  seeing us inside, he gave us a few hurried dos
  and don'ts and was on his way in less than
  five minutes . We'd have liked to start
  exploring right there and then, but Thorne's
  suggestion about "apie and a pint" seemed a
  good one . So we dumped our stuff and drove
  straight back to the pub.
  George Ainsworth had a half-pint with the
  rest ofus at The 7fuo Coaches, then excused
  himself; he wanted to
  photograph the church . He
  liked to rub brasses, too, so
  churches interested him .
  He came back fifteen
  minutes later with the
  verger and introduced him :
  Mr Applebury. Applebury
  was small, round and
  friendly, quite extro-vert
  and not averse to throwing
  back a pint of best beer. He
  ordered, smiled and said : "George says
  you're staying at The Oaks?"
  "That's right," Jackson eyed him down his
  nose . "A very atmospheric place, we believe".
  Appleby nodded . "Yes, you've picked a good
  one there - ifghosts are your game. Myself,
  I'm not a believer - in ghosts I mean!" He
  chuckled . "But if I was, I'd have to believe
  they're here. At the house, the church across
  the road there, this whole area ."
  "You know the history of the region, then?"
  I invited him to sit with us . Jackson
  grudgingly made room .
  "I know the history of the church," Appleby
  shrugged . "A church is always a focus down
  the centuries . Births, deaths and marriages,
  records, old legends. You want to know
  about a place, visit its churches."
  "Tell us about your ghosts," Thorne invited,
  "Er - the ones you don't believe in."
  "I'll tell you something about The Oaks, if
  you like, for what it's worth - and a snippet
  or two ofchurch history. The two are
  connected, you see . At the turn of the 16th
  century, there was a bad plague hereabouts,
  and - of course - the church was a haven.
  Somewhere in the local fields there's
  supposed to be a mass grave, so the dead are
  certainly here. But you'll have to find your
  own ghosts - I only deal in fact ."
  "We're all ears," saidJackson drily.
  "Please go on," I urged before the arrogant
  sod could put Applebury off. "You
  mentioned the plague. What, as far back as
  1340-50?"
  Applebury soon set me right . Ah, no! The
  Black Death was only the beginning . It raged
  for two years, but, after that, scarcely a
  
  decade went by without a resurgence . Right
  up to the end of the 18th Century. One such
  outbreak, called simply `the plague',
  occurred here in 1596 - and the locals
  blamed it on a peculiar sect who at the time
  had their own `church' or headquarters at
  The Oaks ."
  "Three hundred and fifty years ago?"
  Jackson sounded sceptical. "Well, we haven't
  yet had a good look at the place, but I
  wouldn't say it was that old!"
  Applebury shook his head . "You mis-
  understand me. Thepresenthouse will be
  fairly recent, a hundred and fifty years
  maximum . But its foundations, maybe even
  its end walls, are as old as the church across
  the road ; for the first house was built there
  about the same time - early 16th century. It's
  in the records. The family didn't prosper and
  the last of the line moved to London about
  1580 . Then, for a long while, the house
  stood empty. Tao far out from the village,
  and too expensive to be purchased locally. . . ."
  GrahamJackson was beginning to take
  notice . He glanced at our rapt expressions .
  "What did I tell you? This is all good back-
  ground stuff! I'llprobably do a pamphlet on
  The Oaks forthe AGM next month ."
  I urged Applebury to go on . "But surely The
  Oaks hasn't stood empty as long as that?
  Anyway, you said there'dbeen a second
  house built on the foundations."
  He held up his hands . "Whoah! Let me, have
  the story." And aftera moment: "In the late
  1500s, in the reign of
  Queen Elizabeth I, the
  Chorazos Cult had a
  chapter in London. The
  cult was pagan and worse
  than pagan, and its
  members a polyglot bunch
  to say the least . Originating
  in the mountains of
  Romania, there were
  nevertheless China-men
  amongthem, Africans and
  Arabs, Hungarians and, as you'd expect,
  Romanians . Their leader 'Chorazos' - we
  know him under no other name - had been a
  gypsy. They'd come to England as `refugees',
  from what we don't know; possibly they'd
  been hounded out of their native lands .
  "In 1595, they were hounded out of
  London, too, but we do know a bit about
  that . Apparently their `Temple' in Finchley
  was an opium den full of whores, rife with
  orgiastic ceremonies and perversions .
  Human sacrifices - to whom and for what
  purpose? - were seemingly regular
  occurrences. . . .
  "Eventually the Queen ordered an investi-
  gation - on the advice ofDrJohn Dee,
  incidentally, of all persons! - and the place in
  Finchley was destroyed . Ah, but Chorazos
  and his principle `priests' had already made
  their exit! A year later, they turned up in
  Scotland where they carried on as before .
  Not a wise move : Elizabeth might be
  interested in astrology, alchemy and the like -
  she had a leaning toward the occult - but
  James IV ofScotland found all such practices
  abominations!
  "DoubtlessJames would have acted, but in
  the end it was taken out of his hands.
  Chorazos had built his temple on the lee of
  the Pentland Hills ; after the disappearance of
  a number of village children and some young
  adults, the people of Penicuik rose up in a
  body and . . . that was the end ofthe sect .
  `And now you'll say, `what has this to do
  with us, especially with The Oaks, eh?'I'll
  tell you - or rather, I'll ask you : what about
  the missing year - between 1595 and 1596?
  Where was the Chorazos Cult then, eh?"
  "They were here?" This from Thorne.
  Applebury nodded . "And their centre of
  operations?"
  "The Oaks!" and that was me.
  "So there you have it!" Applebury beamed .
  Jackson had grown sceptical again. It was
  plain to see that - to him - all ofthis sounded
  too good to be true. "And the connection
  with the old church across the road?"
  `Ah! Well, that's in the church records . The
  parson at that time was a portly fire-eater
  named, appropriately
  enough, Goodly . He took
  right against the sect .
  There had been the usual
  disappearances, etc - ladies
  of - ahem - dubious
  character were known to
  frequent the `ceremonies'
  at The Oaks ; and worse,
  when Goodly himself
  attempted to enquire the
  nature ofthe worship
  there. . . Chorazos roundly cursed his church
  and the entire area! And looking around now,
  at the regional decay, I'm tempted to believe
  that the curse Js still extant!" he sighed.
  "Any description of this Chorazos?" George
  Ainsworth wanted to know. "A sketch, or
  maybe a painting? something I could
  photograph?"
  "Huh!"Jackson snorted . "That's asking for
  jam on it!"
  Applebury raised his eyebrows a little .
  Pointedly ignoring the obnoxiousJackson,
  he spoke to the rest ofus . "Town records
  often did include contemporary sketches and
  paintings - you're quire correct, George - but
  not this time. No, the cultists were something
  the townspeople would rather forget -
  especially after they turned on them and
  burned The Oaks down!" He saw our
  expressions . "Oh, yes! That's how the people
  dealt with the sect in the end . So. . . no
  pictures, I'm afraid . There's a painting of old
  `Hellfire Goodly', yes, but not one ofthem . A
  description, however, might be easier to
  come by. I think we might supply that . If
  you'd care to finish up here and come across
  the road with me to the church . . .?"
  Chapter III
  An hour later, on out way back to The Oaks,
  Thorne asked, "So, what did you make of it
  all?" He was speaking to all of us ; but Graham
  Jackson answered him first :
  "Black-cowled foreigners, like a monkish
  order? Services dedicated to some alien `god'
  called Yot-Sottot? Human sacrifices?" He
  shrugged . "Obvious, isn't it? Demon-
  worship, what else? Trouble is, the idiot
  villagers burned the place down! I've read
  somewhere that ghosts don't often survive
  that sort ofthing . It's like an exorcism . Like
  when they used to burn witches."
  While he talked, I thought back on our visit
  to the church . Personally, I'm not much ofa
  one for churches, and
  couldn't tell a font from a
  transept . Applebury had
  taken us down the central
  aisle of the huge, echoing
  old place to a small room at
  the rear. He'd hurried us
  along, and I'd noticed he
  was sweating . "Count the
  rows," he'dsuggested,
  breathlessly. "Ofpews, I
  mean . See what figures you
  get ."
  It had seemed an odd request, but we did it
  anyway, counting offthe rows of seats to
  ourselves . At the door to the room at the rear,
  he said : "Well?"
  Jackson shrugged . "I lost count," he said .
  Obviously he hadn't bothered.
  "'twenty-six," I spoke up .
  "What?" Thorne seemed surprised, glanced
  back down the hollow belly of the old
  building . "More like thirty-six, surely?"
  We all looked back, tried to count the pews
  from where we stood . But the light was poor
  and a dim sun, burning through high stained
  glass windows, struck motes offloating dust
  and made the place smoky and ethereal .
  "Odd perspective, isn't it?" saidJackson,
  scratching his chin .
  "Yes it is," Applebury nodded, his Adam's
  apple visibly wobbling . I stared at him,
  decided he looked a little. . . afraid?
  "Oddperspective . . perspective. .
  .
  perspective. . ."
  It was only an echo, but sharp and clear, and
  it came a full minute afterJackson's original
  statement! It startled all o¬us, especially
  Applebury. He gave us a sickly sort oflook,
  said : "The acoustics in here are. . . they're
  sometimes more temporal than spacial ."
  Without explaining his meaning, he'd then
  led us away into the small back room.
  As we went in I heard George Ainsworth
  muttering, "Well, Icounted twenty-two
  rows!"
  "There was a time," said Applebury, who
  seemed recovered now, "when this room was
  used as a vestry. Rarely used at all now, and
  more as a library for church records than
  anything else." We could see what he meant .
  There were a good many ledgers and folders
  atop the oak desks ; other tomes, Holy Bibles,
  leather-bound manuscripts, and records
  bound into books covering centuries, were
  displayed on shelves behind dusty glass.
  Peter Harkness looked about, traced a line
  with his finger in the dust on the wooden
  arm of a chair, seemed puzzled . Much the
  same as me, I supposed .
  I turned to Applebury, said: "You're verger
  here? But this place hasn't been used in . . . in a
  long time!" It was a guess, but it was correct .
  "It's voluntary," he said quickly. "These days
  I'mmore a watchman, really, a caretaker. I'm
  just looking after it until they pull it down .
  Which they will, God willing, sooner rather
  than later!" After that, he turned a little sour,
  applied himself to our business and got
  77
  
  finished with it as quickly as possible. When
  we left the place and he locked up, I noticed
  how relieved he seemed to be out of there . . . .
  And I wondered what it was he believed in, if
  not in ghosts. . .?
  "Yot-Sottot," said Peter Harkness with a
  grimace, breaking into my thoughts . "I mean,
  there's a name to conjure with . I never saw
  thatin any demonology before! It sort of,
  well,feels evil!"
  "I don't know how it feels,"Jackson snorted,
  "but it sounded like so much waffle to me!"
  "It was all there in those old books," I
  reminded him . "Dated, even signed by old
  'Hellfire Goodly' himself . Waffle? It was
  authenticated . And I'd say it is authentic."
  "Me too," said Thorne, driving the car into
  the grounds of The Oaks . We piled out,
  entered the old building,
  began to explore and get
  the feel ofthe place.
  Thorne wandered into the
  kitchen, but his voice came
  back to us : "It was authen-
  tic, all right . 1bo much
  background detail not to
  be . `Great Old Ones' who
  came down from the stars
  when the world was
  young . Kutulu and the
  demon sultan Azathoth, YibbTstll and Shat-
  Mell, Shub-Nigguth, and . . . hell, half-a-dozen
  more I can't even remember! But Chorazos
  and his lot, apparently they worshipped this
  Yot-Sottot : a being co-terminous in all space
  and conterminous with all time. A thing that
  is every when and where, ifyou know the
  gates . But only Yot-Sottot himself knows the
  gates . Weird as hell!"
  `And this cult or sect, they actually lived
  here!" George Ainsworth's voice, from a
  downstairs bedroom, was full of excitement .
  We began to congregate in a spacious sitting-
  room . From somewhere upstairs came
  Graham Jackson's voice. Since he couldn't
  put a damper on things, he'd decided to join
  in . "Yot-Sottot was the gate, and he led them
  all through it and down from the stars. Well,
  we may not have ghosts, but we certainly
  have demon-worship."
  "Ifyou worship Yot-Sottot," Thorne calls
  back up to him, "as Chorazos and his people
  did, then he'll teach you to change the
  structure of space, how to warp the fabric of
  time."
  Jackson came back from downstairs, but
  Peter Harkness was still bumping about
  somewhere up there.
  Suddenly he let out a yelp,
  a squawk as iffrom a long
  way away. We heard him
  come clumping down the
  stairs, except he seemed to
  be coming for a long time.
  And he was panting and
  muttering to himself,
  "Bloody hell, bloody hell,
  bloody hell!"We went to
  the door of the lounge,
  looked out into the entrance hall, toward the
  foot ofthe wide wooden staircase.
  Finally, Harkness came into view, shaking
  and shivering, hair full of cobwebs, pale as. . .
  as a ghost! He literally flew into our arms
  "Jesus!" he gasped. "I mean, I mean, I know
  this place! It isn't as if I haven't been here
  before. . ."
  "So?" Clive Thorne stared at him . "So what's
  wrong?"
  Harkness tried to get a grip of himself, shook
  his head . "I thought . . . I thought . . . ."
  "Oh, good grief!" Jackson tut-tutted . "Get to
  the point, for God's sake!"
  "Shut up!" Thorne shoulderedjhim aside .
  "Peter, what is it?"
  "I . . . I went upstairs, to the first floor. I mean,
  there isonly one floor upstairs . But then I
  went up to the attic. Except
  - it wasn't there! Just
  another storey, another
  floor. So I thought it was
  my specs, or those three
  quick pints ofbeer, or I'd
  somehow confused myself .
  And then I did go up into
  the attic . I went to look out
  ofthe old dormer window,
  but it was grimy. At least, I
  thought it was grimy. But it
  wasn't . It was simply dark outside, as if it
  were night . Then I saw the moon up and the
  stars. God, it wasnight!"
  We all looked at each other. There was no
  denying Harkness meant it ; he was shaking
  like a leaf. "So I came down," he continued,
  his hands fluttering . "But the stairs went
  down and down, and . . . Christ, I thought I
  was never going to get. . . to get . . . down . . .
  again!" And he fainted .
  Thorne caught him ; we carried him into the
  sitting-room, stretched him out, splashed
  water into his face. After a while, he came to,
  sat up, looked all about . And he saw the
  worried expressions on our faces . "What?
  Did I pass out?"
  "Yes, you did," I nodded .
  "Something like that, anyway," said Jackson,
  drily. . . .
  CHAPTER IV
  Out ofnowhere, one ofthose summer
  storms had blown up. If the old house had
  been gloomy before, now it grew positively
  dark. Outside, the rain hammered down.
  "There's your darkness," I told Peter
  Harkness. "A storm was brewing, that's all .
  And the moon is often out during the day."
  He nodded, looked grateful - if a little
  doubtful .
  "Light!" said Thorne. He brought the oil
  lamps from the kitchen, got them going
  .
  ThenJackson assumed command:
  "Right! So it looks like were confined, at
  least until this storm lets up. But we've a gas
  cylinder to connect up, wood to fetch
  indoors, a fire to light . We can stow away our
  provisions, brew up a pot oftea, lay claim to
  our sleeping areas - at least attempt to make
  the place liveable down here. Later, after a
  meal, time enough then to think about
  exploring upstairs . . . ."
  Oddly, his suggestion for once found no
  opposition . There were things to do and
  there was system, order in it . And no-one,
  not even Thorne, actually wanted to explore
  upstairs - not right then . We got to it, settled
  ourselves in, waited for the storm to let up,
  which it didn't . If anything it got worse ;
  there was even an occasional flash of distant
  lightening . We got a roaring fire going ;
  Thorne cooked up sausages, eggs and beans;
  we opened a few bottles ofbeer and had a
  drink . Came 7.00pm and still it rained, and
  now the light was really failing . Finally,
  Jackson said : About an hour's light left, if
  you can call it light! Me, I'm for a look
  around upstairs . Any volunteers?"
  Harkness shook his head at once. "Not me,"
  he said . "Tomorrow in the broad daylight,
  maybe." George Ainsworth stayed with him
  while the rest ofus took a lamp and climbed
  the stairs . There were no carpets, just bare
  boards, and the wallpaper was at least forty
  years out of date. We suspected a young
  couple with perhaps an aged relative had
  once had the house, however briefly ; the
  bedroom and toilet downstairs hinted as
  much. But as the hiring agent had told us,
  no-one had ever stayed very long here.
  Upstairs was very similar : bare boards, grum-
  bling plumbing, sound but not especially
  savoury. And the `perspective', for want ofa
  better word, as in the church, all wrong. Our
  oil lamp burned brightly enough, but its light
  just didn't seem to travel right or fill the
  space. It was difficult to judge distances ; the
  echoes were wrong; the shadows thrownby
  the lamp seemed to have moved too swiftly.
  Disturbing, but not what you could call
  threatening . "Haunted?" Thorne looked at
  Jackson, his face ghastly in the artificial light .
  Jackson shrugged, shook his head .
  "Somehow, it doesn't feel ghostly," he finally
  answered . "Tainted, more like." And - again -
  he had it right . We climbed more stairs . The
  attic, admitting light from only one small
  dormer window, was too dusty and
  cobwebby forus to be bumping about in; we
  merely looked in, then called a halt for the
  night . I did glance out ofthe dormer
  window, but I couldn't see any moon . The
  storm, of course. . . .
  Back downstairs, Clive Thorne stirred
  himself. "Me," he said, "I'm for The Running
  Man! A pint ofbest will go
  down just great!" George
  Ainsworth was snoring in a
  chair beside the fire ;
  Jackson and I declined,
  too ; but Harkness jumped
  at the chance to be away
  from the house for a
  couple of hours. And
  anyway, he knew the way
  across the fens . They went
  offtogether, came back an
  hour later thoroughly dejected . The pub was
  shut ; proprietor away on business ; The
  Running Man wouldn't be running again
  until tomorrow night .
  Anyway, all of us were tired . Ghost-hunting
  could wait until tomorrow. After all, it was
  only our first night .
  No one opted to sleep upstairs. . . .
  Chapter V
  As it happened, we all slept in the huge
  living-room . Someone kept the fire going -
  probably Peter Harkness - for in the morning
  it was still burning down into white ash .
  Around 10.00am, Clive Thorne woke us up
  with tea - which was good - and buttered
  toast like squares of tarmac - which wasn't .
  The sun was shining, however hazily; the
  world looked fresh outside streaked
  windows; now, perhaps, we could get down
  to it . And, in a body, we explored the house.
  
  Downstairs, upstairs, attic : normal as normal
  could be . Big, old, and full ofechoes; a bit
  sorry for itself, nothing out ofthe ordinary.
  Not then, anyway. GrahamJackson found a
  small card table and began to make notes for
  his proposed "pamphlet" ; Thorne started
  measuring the house up and making
  diagrams ofthe floors and rooms : George
  Ainsworth got his cameras ready for the
  night, when he'd set them up strategically
  with trip-wire "ghost-traps" ; I spent my time
  with Peter Harkness, who was still a bit
  shaky.
  At noon, we went into town and had afew
  too many at `our' local, then sauntered over
  to the church - which was
  firmly secured, and
  Applebury nowhere to be
  found. We got back to The
  Oaks about 3 :30pm and
  settled our-selves down for
  an afternoon snooze,
  because we planned to be
  up and about for much of
  the night . About 7:00pm,
  Clive Thorne gave me a
  shake and said something
  about The RunningMan. I opened my eyes,
  saw Thorne and Ainsworth standing there,
  George with his box camera round his neck.
  Jackson was still asleep and snoring in his
  sleeping-bag across the room, and I still felt
  groggy. That's how beergets me .
  I declined Clive's offer, promised I'd have the
  fire going again when they got back . They
  tip-toed out - probably because they didn't
  wantJackson's company - and Peter Harkness
  went with them. He didn't fancy being the
  only one awake in the house, not with night
  coming on . I heard him say that as they went
  out, and I think that's what kept me awake. . . .
  Anyway, I finally got up, washed, made the
  fire. And by thenJackson was awake, too. He
  made coffee, grumbled that the Primus store
  was leaking a bit. He had to grumble about
  something . About 7.45pm we finished our
  coffee ; and by then, too, the house had
  grown very quiet . Maybe even ominously so.
  We lit the lamps, found ourselves holding our
  breath, listening intently - but to what? The
  sighing ofthe evening breeze in the branches
  of the great oaks in the grounds? A creaky
  old floorboard somewhere upstairs? We were
  both thinking the same thing : floorboards
  don't usually creak unless someone steps on
  them. But we were the only someones in the
  house - weren't we?
  Jackson pre-empted me, said : "There's only
  two of us." He was nervous, blinking his eyes
  just a little too fast .
  "Two of us against what? A heavy ghost?" I
  didn't feel brave, but I'd been dying for a
  chance like this . "Well, you can stay down
  here ifyou want to, but I am going to take a
  look :' I took one of the lamps andJackson
  was right on my heels when I started up the
  stairs .
  "We really shouldn't," he said, his voice
  shaky.
  "Why not? Whatever it is, it can't be as bad as
  the shiny, spectral thing in the woods ." The
  pleasure I took in saying that made up for my
  own bad attack of the jitters .
  "That was . . . different!" he said . "I mean, I. . . I
  didn't just go walking into it!"
  "Well, this time, we're walking into it," I told
  him . "Or you can go back down - on your
  own ." And then I noticed that we were still
  goingup the stairs. I said nothing, but a
  moment laterJackson noticed it too. It lasted
  only a moment, the feeling that we'd been
  climbing for hours, and then we were on to
  the landing . At the end ofa long corridor
  was a narrow window looking out on a jet
  black night . . . . On a what? Middle of summer,
  only 8:00pm - and it was pitch black out
  there!
  . ..Ididn'tJustgo walking into WJackson's
  voice echoed to us, as from a million miles
  away. "OhJesus!" saidJackson very quietly.
  "Oh God!" I quickly checked out all of the
  rooms - which still somehow seemed to take
  ages - and all the time him stumbling close
  onmy heels . The idiot : he should have
  brought the other lamp! The upstairs rooms
  were empty, but the odd `perspective' ofthe
  place was back . "We should go down,"
  Jackson whispered . "We should go"
  "Up!" I said. I was in a bad state too, but I
  could still think in a straight line. Ifwe'd
  heard something and it wasn't on this floor, it
  could onlybe in the attic. I found the stairs
  and headed up them, with Jackson's fingers
  trembling on my back . We climbed and
  climbed . Oh, Lord, I said to myself, please let
  us reach the attic!But we didn't . Instead, we
  came out on the upstairs landing - again!
  Chapter VI
  Jackson Ripped . "The pews in the church!"
  he panted . "It's just the same . We have to get
  out ofhere. I have to get
  out!" He grabbed the lamp
  and it nearly came apart in
  our hands . I had to let go
  of it . And he ran off with it
  like a hare back downstairs .
  To hell with me, the
  coward just ran! And I
  admit it, so did I .
  Down, always down . A
  headlong, flying, floating
  flight in jet blackness, without ever seeming
  to get anywhere . The upper floor landing,
  and again the upper floor landing .
  And Jackson's jibbering floating back to me,
  and the light of his lamp always just too far in
  front, its distance distorted and all
  perspective altered . Yot-Sottot : a being who
  could change the structure of time andspace,
  and us trapped somewhere along the warp. . . .
  It became a total nightmare. "Out, out, out,
  out, out!" he was babbling ; and other voices,
  mine and his, saying : thepews ofthe church,
  and up, up, up! I would soon crack and I
  knew it . Landings and stairs, landings and
  stairs, landings and -
  - AndJackson coming back up, his face
  hideous with fear in the flaring light of the
  lamp! His eyes bulged and there was froth on
  his lips . "On the stairs!" he shrieked . "In
  cloaks, cowls, knives! They're here, do you
  hear me? ?'hey'm here!"
  "What? Who?" I tried to grab him . Mad as a
  hatter, he bore me before him backward up
  the stairs . We hit the landing and almost
  collapsed there, but that was when I noticed
  the shadows coming up the wall . Cowled
  shadows .
  I got behind Jackson, put a hand over his
  babbling mouth, dragged him along the cor-
  ridor. Almost exhausted, he made no protest .
  I took the lamp from him, put it in a room,
  quietly closed the door. We stood in the utter
  darkness ofthe corridor, me hissing in his
  ear : "Be quiet, for God's sake, be quiet!"
  They came up onto the landing, looked this
  way and that . Two ofthem - cowled, yes, and
  strangely hunched. Ifthey'd turned our way -
  I don't like to think about that . But they went
  the other way, disappeared into the weird
  distance of the place. I counted five, let go of
  Jackson and regained the lamp, tip-toed
  breathlessly for the landing. My hairwas
  standing on end . I hadn't known it could do
  that, but it could . And what aboutJackson,
  now that he'dhad a breather? You've guessed
  it . He came leaping and gibbering by me,
  snatched the lamp again, went bounding
  down the stairs.
  This time the descent seemed normal - or
  nearly so, considering that there might be a
  pair ofcowled cultists on
  our heels - or would have
  done if not for the
  cabalistic, esoteric and
  erotic designs painted
  crudely on the walls in red
  and white. But I had no
  time for the latter as I
  sought to catch up with my
  raving colleague. And then,
  at last, we were down on
  to the ground floor. That
  was when I tripped, went flying . Jackson
  raced ahead, toward the hall and the main
  door of the house - but skidded to a halt as
  the door opened and two more cowled
  figures entered . They didn't see me where I
  lay sprawled in the dark at the foot of the
  stairs, but they did see GrahamJackson . For
  he had the lamp.
  He cried out; an inarticulate, mad, rising
  babble of sound, threw open the living
  room-door and hurled himself headlong
  through it . In there. . . I can't swear to what I
  saw. Candles? An altar or some such? A circle
  of cowled heads, all turning inJackson's
  direction as he sprawled and the lamp was
  sent flying? All these things - perhaps. But
  one thing I did see was Chorazos, and I make
  no mistake when I say thing!
  It could only be him : taller than the others,
  officiating at the altar. His hood was thrown
  back and beneath it . . . I don't know what that
  horror had for a head but its face was a
  writh-ing, shifting mass ofworms! I lay
  frozen with terror, none ofmy muscles even
  attempting to obey me .
  The two cultists who'd come into the house
  from outside were afterJackson in a flash,
  and as they followed him
  into the living-room, so
  they took out long, curved
  knives from under their
  cassocks. But I have to give
  Jackson his due : he wasn't
  just going to stand and take
  it . Flames from the lamp
  had takenhold on
  hangings and esoteric
  tapestries ; the demon-
  ologists were converging
  on him; he spilled over the altar and sent
  candles and priests alike flying, then made a
  crazy hurtling leap for the window. Knives
  rose and fell as he bounded, but then he was
  out through the window in a crashing of
  glass and splintered timbers, out into the
  darkness ofthe gardens . Which seemed to
  me a very good idea!
  I'd got my second wind, got my senses back,
  too. As several of the cowled cultists in the
  living room went out through the broken
  window afterJackson, I up and sprinted for
  the door. Going out, I slammed into Clive
  
  Thorne and George Ainsworth . Peter
  Harkness' white face stared at us out of the
  car's window. Thorne and Ainsworth saw
  my condition, the look on my face . And I
  saw the looks on theirfaces.
  "The house," they said as one man . "Look at
  the house!" I stumbled with them to the car,
  fell inside, almost on top ofHarkness where
  he opened the door for me. The others piled
  into the front . Then I looked at the house.
  "It's not . . . not The Oaks!" said Harkness, his
  voice with a croak .
  I continued to look, began to understand .
  "Oh, it is," I gulped . "But not in this
  century. . . ." The gaunt old structure reared,
  different in every stone from the one we
  knew. Thorne backed the car away, threw it
  into a gravel-crunching reverse turn . And it
  was then we saw the villagers with their
  torches . They were setting fire to the old
  place, shouting and screaming their hatred,
  hurlingtheir torches in through doors and
  broken windows . And their massed cries like
  a thinkeening of wind, and their figures
  insubstantial as, smoke. Our ghosts at last,
  they wore the
  arb of the late 16th Century!
  Down the drive we went and out through
  the gates, and suddenly I yelled : "But
  Jackson!"
  They looked at me, said nothing . "He's out
  here somewhere, running, bleeding, pursued
  by, by. . . . " And still they looked at me . "But
  you must have seen him come through the. . .
  window?"
  Thorne said, "Tell us later what happened in
  there. Right now we're going to find a police
  station . But we'll say nothing about . . . about
  this . Only the `facts'. About the leaky gas
  cylinder, and aboutJackson being missing ."
  "But he isn't," I insisted . "He isn't . . .
  missing?"
  George Ainsworth switched on the car's
  interior light, passed me back a photograph
  which someone had carefully tinted . It
  wasn't one of his - this was one he had been
  given by the proprietor ofthe pub they'd
  visited . I glanced at it, looked harder, then
  stared with my eyes bulging . A pretty good
  shot of the original pub sign from The
  RunningMan. The descriptions from
  contemporary witnesses must have been
  vivid accounts. There was no mistaking him.
  Clothes, tatters, bloodied face and hands . It
  was GrahamJackson, of course.. . .
  I looked back, and in the near-distance the
  night sky was shot with black smoke and red,
  roaring flames . . . .
  80
  
  011921"004454
  UHL BR17 ISH
  1920s-30s GTHULHU SOURGtPAGh
  This volume is a Companion to the 3rd
  Editon Call ofCthulhu rules, which allows
  the full horrors of the Cthulhu Mythos to
  be enacted in good old 1920s-30s Britain,
  Heat of the Empire, Centre ofCivilisation
  and an all-round top-hole, spiffing place
  to set your Call of Cthulhu campaign,
  what?
  Featured within are sections on British
  Characters, History, Travel, the Occult,
  and much more besides, which provide all
  the information Keepers require for British
  Cthulhu roleplay.
  Also included - three new adventures!
  The Horror ofthe Glen -Abrutal murder
  in the Scottish highlands is not all that is
  seems. How could a half-wit boy have com
  mitted such terrible mutilations upon the
  body of Donald McColl? When the In
  vestigators arrive, they may find that the
  real answer to the question lies within
  haunted McMorn Manor - and that secret
  may be more than their Sanity can bear!
  Death In The Post - a strange papyrus, an
  horrific murder and a plea for help from
  a respected gentleman . What more incen-
  tive could any Investigator want? But can
  the Investigators solve the mystery in time
  to prevent more slayings, and to find the
  evil behind the mysterious campaign of
  death?
  The Shadow over Darkbank - even on
  holiday, there's no rest for an intrepid In
  vestigator. When strange things start hap
  pening in the Darkbank Tunnel, it might
  be a sequence of tragic accidents - or it
  might be something far more sinister. . .
  plus - a contribution from the British
  Master of Mythos Fiction, Brian Lumley
  CREDITS:
  COVd :LED BY:
  Pete Tanlyn
  COVEF, ART :
  Lee Gibbons
  INTERNAL ART: Martin McKenna & Ian Cooke
  MAPS & DIAGRAMS : Charles Eilion
  Produced by
  THE GAMES WORKSHOP DESIGN STUDIO
  ISBN : (UK)
  1 869893 06 9
  (US) 0 933635 39 7
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Call of Cthulhu (CoC) (BRP) [multi]/Cthulhu 1920s/CoC 3e - 1920s - Green and Pleasant Land {CHA2320}.pdf