TEXT: KG Chapter 12 
  1 
  Plotting Cthulhu 
   
  This chapter aims to help you construct some truly nefarious Mythos plots set against the 
  backdrop of World War Two. By looking at various inspirational sources it hopes to show how you, the 
  keeper, can mine them for ideas for your own games. And if, after looking at these films and TV series 
  you are still a bit stumped, there are also a series of plot generator tables to further aid you in your 
  machinations. 
   
  [[[Begin Sidebar Text Here]]] 
   
  Achtung! Cthulhu and Combat 
  The events depicted in Achtung! Cthulhu take place in the run-up to World War Two as well as 
  during it; a period during which the Allies battle the Axis powers across the globe. Thus combat has a 
  role to play within the Achtung! Cthulhu setting, potentially more so than in a standard 1920s game 
  (depending on what style of adventure your group prefers).  
  Nevertheless, as significant as combat is to a game set in wartime, it should not dominate a 
  scenario or adventure at the expense of investigation. Achtung! Cthulhu is still, at its heart, a 
  roleplaying game of Lovecraftian investigative horror, and so should be at least as clue-orientated as it 
  is combat-orientated. Not every player character or investigator will be a soldier, a sailor, or an airman; 
  some will still be professors, journalists, librarians, and so on, and in order for your players to roleplay 
  these characters fully, they need mysteries to solve. 
   
  [[[End Sidebar Text Here]]] 
   
  Movies and Television 
  Creating an Achtung! Cthulhu plot becomes a lot easier when you consider the wealth of movies at 
  your fingertips. Just look at the enormous number of World War Two films and television shows, 
  pretty much all of which can make a great starting point for a Cthulhu Mythos story. Whether it is a 
  classic war story, a ‘40s thriller, or a weird war horror, there is enough mileage in many of these 
  sources to help you prepare quite a few nights of creeping insanity for your players if you are 
  struggling for ideas.  
  When looking at old films, ask yourself: what would happen if you changed just one element of 
  the plot? What if it was not a Tiger guarding the gold bullion in Kelly’s Heroes? What if the German 
  “Black Stone” spy ring were after more than Britain’s plans for war in The Thirty Nine Steps? The 
  thrillers, or “shockers”, of the early years of Hollywood are packed full of fantastic inspiration for 
  Cthulhu Mythos stories, especially if you are looking for more investigative storylines. Just because 
  something is set before World War One, as in The Thirty Nine Steps, does not mean you cannot update 
  it to London, circa 1939.  
  The table below contains a selection of films with a horror or weird war approach that might 
  provide a launch pad for your plots. There are a lot of Nazi zombies in there, but if you can get past the 
  clichés to the background story, there are some great ideas just waiting to be developed further.  
   
  Horror/Weird War Films 
  25th Reich  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Outpost II: Black Sun 
  Almost Human  
   
   
   
   
   
  Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge 
  Below  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Raiders of the Lost Ark 
  Dead Snow  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  She 
  Hellboy   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Bunker (1 and 2) 
  Horrors of War  
   
   
   
   
   
  The Frozen Dead 
  Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade  
   
  The Keep 
  Iron Sky   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  War of the Dead 
  Nazis at the Centre of the Earth   
   
  Warlords of Atlantis 
   
   
   
  Oasis of the Living Dead  
   
   
   
  Zone Troopers  
   
   
   
  Outpost   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Zombie Lake 
   
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  2 
  And don’t forget the wartime classics. These fantastic movies tell tales of daring heroes, resistance 
  fighters, soldiers, commanders, and situations that will give you inspiration and background ideas for 
  your wartime characters and adventures.  
  Again, remember that with some of these, just changing a few details can give you a fresh take on 
  what would otherwise seem to be very familiar territory. What are the commandoes really destroying in 
  Where Eagles Dare? Why is the last Ryan brother so vital to the war effort in Saving Private Ryan? 
  Remember though, your Achtung! Cthulhu adventures do not have to be set amidst the carnage of the 
  battlefield – you can just use these to help create dynamic scenes that your characters must traverse. 
   
  War Movies 
  A Bridge Too Far   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Sands of Iwo Jima 
  Action in the North Atlantic   
   
   
   
   
  Saving Private Ryan 
  All Quiet on the Western Front  
   
   
   
   
  The Battle of the Bulge 
  All Through the Night   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Big Red One 
  Attack  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Bridge on the River Kwai 
  Black Book   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Dirty Dozen 
  Casablanca  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Eagle Has Landed 
  Cockleshell Heroes  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Great Escape 
  Come and See  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Guns of Navarone 
  Das Boot  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Heroes of Telemark 
  Enemy at the Gates  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Longest Day  
  Hell in the Pacific  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Thin Red Line 
  Ice Cold in Alex 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Train 
  In Which We Serve  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Three Kings  
  Inglorious Bastards (both original and new versions) To Have and Have Not  
   
   
   
   
  Kelly’s Heroes 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Twelve O’Clock High 
  Malta Story 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Valkyrie 
  Passage to Marseille 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  We Were Soldiers 
  Paths of Glory  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Went the Day Well? 
   
   
   
  Roma, Città Aperta  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Where Eagles Dare  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  There are also a number of other movies and television shows that you can use as inspiration, 
  either in terms of their plot, or in terms of their atmosphere and setting. What else might Harry Lime 
  (The Third Man) have been smuggling during the war? Is there more behind the murders in a sleepy 
  English village than the local spinster (Miss Marple) suspects? 
   
  Period/Atmospheric Films and Television 
  Die Nacht von Lissabon   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Good German  
  Foyle’s War   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Third Man 
  Key Largo  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  The Thirty Nine Steps 
  The Cabinet of Dr Caligari   
   
   
   
   
  Underground 
  Margaret Rutherford’s Miss Marple 
   
   
   
  Warehouse 13 
   
  Here are some examples to get you started: 
   
  Kelly’s Heroes versus The Bunker  
  Allied soldiers find a map on a captured German officer that tells of a fortune in Nazi gold which 
  has been safely stored in a secret bunker. Put together as a rag-tag force, the group must fight its way 
  through enemy lines to reach the location. But as this is a Mythos adventure, the journey is anything 
  but straightforward, becoming increasingly fraught as the characters must soldier through a series of 
  bizarre and unfortunate events. 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  3 
  Finally the characters discover the secret bunker, which is mysteriously deserted. However, they 
  are not alone, and they find themselves trapped when three giant Cthonians emerge from the ground 
  around the bunker, enraged by the strange machine inside the complex which has drawn them to it.  
  The group must rely on a wounded scientist to defeat the Cthonians. This man claims that the 
  other soldiers deserted their posts, leaving him for dead, but is he all that he seems? Will the disturbing 
  ceremony he describes truly win them their freedom? 
   
  Inglorious Bastards (Original) 
  Allied soldiers or agents kill a German patrol. However, it turns out that they were actually a 
  special Allied undercover unit tasked with meeting the French Resistance. The Resistance insists the 
  soldiers must take the dead patrol’s place, disguised using captured German uniforms, as there is no 
  time to waste. They must infiltrate a German castle and steal a book. And not just any book, but a very 
  important one that the Germans must not read!  
  The characters make their way into the castle and discover that the Germans are preparing some 
  kind of ceremony. There is just one thing missing: the guest of honour – a notable member of Black 
  Sun, who will read from the book and unlock a terrifying creature to destroy their enemies! When (if!) 
  the characters return the book to the French, they thank them and then prepare their own version of the 
  ceremony. The characters must now decide whether or not to stop the French Resistance, their 
  supposed allies, before they unleash something they cannot control… 
   
  The Thirty Nine Steps 
  The investigators meet a man who claims to have faked his own death to hide from his pursuers. 
  He seems half insane and babbles about all manner of strange things. Soon he is found dead, and the 
  shadowy assassins now seem to be after the characters. A mysterious group, who call themselves 
  “Black Stone”, are trying to secure something important in England, and the characters find themselves 
  chased to a remote stone circle adjacent to an RAF airfield.  Section M are using the stone circle to give 
  Spitfire pilots enhanced night vision abilities, and Black Stone want the keystone which triggers this 
  change. Can the investigators stop them before they ruin the RAF’s plans? 
   
  The Achtung! Cthulhu Plot Generator 
  No set of random tables can ever fully write you a truly visceral, bells-and-whistles Cthulhu-based 
  plot, but you can use the following tables in part or as a whole to give you the bare bones of your mind-
  shattering adventures. You can roll your way through the entire plot, taking advantage of the almost 
  limitless variations, or just check one or more tables for inspiration when you are stuck. Dip in for a 
  location, an artefact, or much, much more.  
  Remember to keep asking yourself questions when you see each result, and try not just to take 
  what you get with the fall of the dice literally as read - Cthulhu plots are frequently anything but plain 
  and simple, often consisting of devious and twisted schemes, so use your questions to put your own 
  unique spin on matters.  
   
  The Protagonists 
  Let’s start with those that would bring destruction on our world and rain fire on our hapless 
  investigators.  
  When plotting, one way you can begin is with an open-ended roll which, in the case of the 
  protagonist, can give you anything from an individual to an Elder God as your starting point. Roll for 
  what they are, then roll for one or more descriptions. If the results suggest one of the Cthulhu Mythos 
  gods, roll up the rest of the plot and then take a stroll through the pages of Call of Cthulhu, Sixth 
  Edition to see what entity fits this particular story best.  
   
  Protagonists 
  Dice Roll 
  Protagonist Type 
   
   
   
   
  Protagonist Description 
  1  
   
   
  A scientist  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Old 
  2 
   
   
  An aristocrat  
   
   
   
   
   
  Ancient 
  3 
   
   
  A leader  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Rich 
  4 
   
   
  A cult 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Evil 
  5 
   
   
  A politician 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Cursed 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  4 
  6 
   
   
  The subject of an experiment  
   
   
  Corrupt 
  7 
   
   
  A gang 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Doomed 
  8 
   
   
  An organisation 
   
   
   
   
   
  Magical 
  9 
   
   
  A military unit  
   
   
   
   
   
  Secret 
  10  
   
  Black Sun 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Unstable 
  11  
   
  Nachtwölfe 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Mysterious 
  12  
   
  A priest  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Deranged 
  13  
   
  Villagers  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Delusional 
  14  
   
  An officer 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Rogue 
  15  
   
  Royalty  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Tortured 
  16  
   
  A Mythos creature (see Opponent Objective) Nazi 
  17  
   
  An Elder Race  
   
   
   
   
   
  Psychopathic 
  18  
   
  An Outer God  
   
   
   
   
   
  Malicious 
  19  
   
  An Elder God  
   
   
   
   
   
  Unspeakable 
  20  
   
  Cthulhu  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Appears to be (roll twice: first is real, 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  second is appearance) 
   
   
  Alternatively you might already have an idea that they belong to a certain Mythos group: 
   
  Group Protagonists 
  Dice Roll 
  Group 
  1 
   
   
  Brotherhood of the Beast* 
  2 
   
   
  Brotherhood of the Beast* 
  3 
   
   
  New World Industries* 
  4 
   
   
  New World Industries* 
  5 
   
   
  Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh* 
  6 
   
   
  Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh* 
  7 
   
   
  Cult of the Bloody Tongue* 
  8 
   
   
  Cult of the Bloody Tongue* 
  9 
   
   
  Tribes of the Tcho-Tcho 
  10  
   
  Tribes of the Tcho-Tcho 
  11  
   
  Brothers of the Yellow Sign 
  12  
   
  Brothers of the Yellow Sign 
  13  
   
  Starry Wisdom Cult 
  14  
   
  Starry Wisdom Cult 
  15  
   
  Miskatonic University 
  16  
   
  Miskatonic University 
  17  
   
  Nachtwölfe 
  18  
   
  Nachtwölfe 
  19  
   
  Black Sun 
  20  
   
  Black Sun 
  *Nyarlathotep cults 
   
  The Plot 
  Next we want to find out what is at the core of the plot, followed by what is motivating the people 
  involved (which can be more than one thing if you want to complicate matters further). You can also 
  roll to see what the protagonists need to be successful in their mission.  
   
  Protagonist’s Plot, Motivation, and Success Requirements 
  Dice Roll 
  Plot Concept 
   
  Motivation  
  To be Successful, the Protagonist  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Needs: 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  5 
  1 
   
   
  Open a gateway 
   
  For revenge 
   
  Sacrificial victims 
   
   
   
  for a Mythos creature 
   
   
   
  to come through 
  2 
   
   
  Open a gateway 
   
  Following orders 
  Unwilling sacrificial victims 
   
   
   
  to travel to a 
   
   
   
  Mythos location  
  3 
   
   
  Unleash the power  
  Pure hatred 
   
  Humans to experiment on 
   
   
   
  of a Mythos creature 
  4 
   
   
  Destroy a place, 
   
  Simple greed  
  A piece of art 
   
   
   
  a group, or a creature 
   
  5 
   
   
  Prove the existence  
  For country 
   
  A ley line 
   
   
   
  of a creature or entity 
  6 
   
   
  Summon a Mythos  
  For honour and  
  An invention 
   
   
   
  entity for the purpose  
  glory 
   
   
   
  of… 
  7 
   
   
  Learn more about a  
  Forbidden 
   
  Some particular knowledge 
   
   
   
  greater power  
   
  knowledge 
   
  (see Knowledge Objective) 
  8 
   
   
  Experiment on a group Superiority 
   
  A location 
   
   
   
  of people or creatures 
   
   
   
   
  (see Location Choices) 
  9 
   
   
  Protect someone or  
  Pure evil  
   
  A tome 
   
   
   
  something 
  10  
   
  Control someone or 
  A blood feud  
  A stone circle 
   
   
   
  something 
  11  
   
  Steal secrets from  
  Being controlled 
  A strange contraption 
   
   
   
  someone  
   
  12  
   
  Force the enemy 
   
  To divert   
   
  A specific ancient site 
   
   
   
  back into retreat 
   
  attention 
  13  
   
  Gain superiority 
   
  Because of  
   
  Some ancient crystals 
   
   
   
  over the enemy  
   
  visions 
  14  
   
  Force a breakthrough 
  Delusional 
   
  A long-lost spell 
  15  
   
  Have revenge from  
  Self-defence  
  A certain alignment of planets 
   
   
   
   
  a previous event 
  16  
   
  Cover up a secret  
  A debt 
   
   
  A certain alignment of stars 
  17  
   
  Recover a Mythos  
  To cover a 
   
  A certain Mythos artefact 
   
   
   
  artefact  
   
   
  mistake 
  18  
   
  Recover an entity   
  To protect 
   
  The body part of a Mythos creature 
   
   
   
  or person/people 
  19  
   
  Hide something 
   
  Beliefs 
   
   
  The presence of an Outer God 
  20  
   
  Destroy something  
  Simply   
   
  The presence of an Elder God 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  unspeakable! 
   
  Now you have the foundations for you adventure, layer on some trouble and strife by determining 
  what obstacles befall your investigators en-route to the finale. If you are feeling particularly wicked, 
  roll several times to inspire a thoroughly wretched course for your adventure.  
   
  Obstacles 
  Dice Roll 
  Obstacle 
  1 
   
   
  Time is short 
  2 
   
   
  The distance is great (this world, the Dreamlands, or another Mythos world) 
  3 
   
   
  There are distractions along the way (side missions, people in need, opportunities) 
  4 
   
   
  Knowledge is required (e.g. where to find something, specific research, people to ask) 
  5 
   
   
  Physical difficulties or harsh environment (mountains, underground, desert, polar,  
   
   
   
  oceans) 
  6 
   
   
  Another group or entity is also on the trail 
  7 
   
   
  It is guarded by a powerful force 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  6 
  8 
   
   
  They must take a problematical thing with them (e.g. something fragile, a person, a  
   
   
   
  prisoner) 
  9 
   
   
  Nature is closing in (volcanoes, storms, earthquakes, floods) 
  10  
   
  War-torn (must traverse frontlines or battlefields) 
  11  
   
  A Mythos group interferes (roll on the Method table) 
  12  
   
  Resources (spoiled, faulty, destroyed, stolen; food, transport, equipment) 
  13  
   
  Hard bargain (i.e. they must give something up to progress) 
  14  
   
  Moral dilemma (connection to protagonists, uncomfortable partners, better offer) 
  15  
   
  Unrest (riots, scavengers in the ruins) 
  16  
   
  Corruption (a member of the group is bribed, an official wants money, double-cross,  
   
   
   
  traitor) 
  17  
   
  Misinformation 
  18  
   
  Problems with the authorities (members arrested, border permits required) 
  19  
   
  Strange illness 
  20  
   
  Ambushed 
   
  No Cthulhu plot would be complete without a dastardly plot twist that sees the characters landed 
  in all manner of trouble. When you roll on this table, try thinking about how you can make the twist 
  that much more painful and affecting for the characters… 
   
  Plot Twist 
  Dice Roll 
  Twist 
  1 
   
   
  They must make a sacrifice (one or more members of the group) 
  2 
   
   
  It is an experiment (a group or entity was testing them) 
  3 
   
   
  It’s a trap! (They are the missing ingredient or motivator) 
  4 
   
   
  No-one leaves alive 
  5 
   
   
  The protagonist is part of the group 
  6 
   
   
  The protagonist is not who they thought it was; someone or something else is behind it  
   
   
   
  all (roll another protagonist who is really in charge) 
  7 
   
   
  They thought there was just one to deal with, but they were wrong… 
  8 
   
   
  Wait – you know him? (A family or previous connection) 
  9 
   
   
  There’s a traitor in their midst, working for another group 
  10  
   
  A lot of good people die (the Pyrrhic victory) 
  11  
   
  The protagonist makes them an offer they cannot refuse (e.g. “let me go and the Nazi  
   
   
   
  attack fails, saving thousands of lives”) 
  12  
   
  The essential person or item they had to bring along is key to the protagonist’s plot, and  
   
   
   
  they just delivered exactly what he wanted straight to his door 
  13  
   
  Moral dilemma – they have to become the villain to achieve their goal 
  14  
   
  The villain(s) in question were coerced as a cover for the true villain (roll another  
   
   
   
  protagonist) 
  15  
   
  The villain has already achieved their objective (the group watches helplessly as events  
   
   
   
  unfold around them, or learn that they have arrived too late)  
  16  
   
  The villain was trying to prevent a greater evil. Will the group let him finish, or will they 
   
   
   
  stop him? 
  17  
   
  A key character is killed, only to be found safe and well later (can be tied to the  
   
   
   
  experiment outcome on 2) 
  18  
   
  The investigators are the villains, and the protagonist was only trying to stop them 
  19  
   
  It is not what they think it is (roll another plot concept) 
  20  
   
  Escalation (roll on this table twice, ignoring any further 20s) 
   
   
  You will notice that some results suggest rolling on additional tables to clarify the results; these 
  tables can be found in later sections (p.XX). 
   
  The Characters 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  7 
  How on earth do the characters stumble across this foul plot you have developed, and how is this 
  information imparted to them? 
   
  Plot Hook and Involvement Method 
  Dice Roll 
  Plot Hook  
  Involvement Method 
  1 
   
   
  A friend  
   
  Delivered orders 
  2 
   
   
  A prisoner of war Sent an invitation 
  3 
   
   
  A mystery letter 
  Provided with travel documents or directions 
  4 
   
   
  A last will and  
  Given an ancient map 
   
   
   
  testament 
  5 
   
   
  An advert or   
  Offered a fortune 
   
   
   
  article in the paper  
  6 
   
   
  A professor 
   
  Asked for help 
  7 
   
   
  A mystery woman Blackmail 
  8 
   
   
  A sinister man  
  Driven into a hard bargain 
  9 
   
   
  A clerical error 
  Framed for a crime or treasonous act 
  10  
   
  An item in an  
  Threatened 
   
   
   
  auction 
  11  
   
  An aristocrat  
  Someone important to them is missing, is insane, or has been  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  murdered (Person Objective) 
  12  
   
  A wealthy  
   
  Want revenge 
   
   
   
  individual 
   
  13  
   
  Stumble upon an 
  Offered a contract for their services 
   
   
   
  event or strange 
   
   
   
  location 
  14  
   
  An old colleague 
  Offered an artefact (Artefact Objective) 
  15  
   
  A telegram 
   
  Offered forbidden knowledge (Knowledge Objective) 
  16  
   
  Another   
   
  Sent a warning 
   
   
   
  protagonist 
  17  
   
  An accident 
   
  A debt is called in 
  18  
   
  A mysterious  
  Family in need 
   
   
   
  telephone call 
  19  
   
  A member of a 
  Your country needs you! 
   
   
   
  secret organisation 
  20  
   
  An enemy 
   
  Offered details on another protagonist (Protagonist Table) 
   
  Now you have these facts sorted, there are only a few more steps you need to take to finish off 
  your adventure. Two more questions that you need to ask are: what is the essence of the investigators’ 
  mission, and what is its object? After all, you know why your protagonist is involved, but what do you 
  want the investigators to achieve? Some of the answers from the next table can appear a little odd at 
  first, so just roll with it for now and see what your mind suggests (one’s mental faculties will often lead 
  you down very strange and unexpected paths if you allow them to). Remember, you can also read 
  between the lines, if it helps. 
   
  Character Mission and Mission Object 
  Dice Roll 
  Character Mission Object of Mission 
  1 
   
   
  Explore  
   
   
  An ally (Person Objective) 
  2 
   
   
  Recover  
   
   
  An enemy (Protagonist Table) 
  3 
   
   
  Attack 
   
   
   
  Identity of a person (Protagonist Table) 
  4 
   
   
  Destroy   
   
   
  A Mythos opponent (Opponent Objective) 
  5 
   
   
  Protect 
   
   
   
  A Mythos opponent (Opponent Objective) 
  6 
   
   
  Deliver  
   
   
  Documents (Knowledge Objective) 
  7 
   
   
  Capture  
   
   
  Documents (Knowledge Objective) 
  8 
   
   
  Find/locate 
   
   
  An artefact (Artefact Objective Table) 
  9 
   
   
  Negotiate  
   
   
  An artefact (Artefact Objective Table) 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  8 
  10  
   
  Recce 
   
   
   
  A physical location (Location Choice and appropriate sub- 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  table) 
  11  
   
  Divert 
   
   
   
  A physical location (Location Choice and appropriate sub- 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  table) 
  12  
   
  Distract  
   
   
  An ancient map to… (Mysterious Location Objective and  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  From/Where) 
  13  
   
  Expose  
   
   
  An ancient map to… (Mysterious Location Objective and  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  From/Where) 
  14  
   
  Hide  
   
   
   
  A Mythos creature’s body part (Opponent Objective) 
  15  
   
  Understand 
   
   
  A Mythos creature’s body part (Opponent Objective) 
  16  
   
  Prove 
   
   
   
  The current protagonist 
  17  
   
  Disprove  
   
   
  The current protagonist 
  18  
   
  Steal 
   
   
   
  A military unit 
  19  
   
  Insert 
   
   
   
  A military unit 
  20  
   
  Rescue 
   
   
   
  A secret organisation 
   
  As with the Plot Twist table, some mission objectives suggest that you roll on additional tables for 
  specific people, items, or locations. These tables are also useful when you need to quickly generate a 
  random person, object, or piece of information. 
   
  Artefact Objectives 
  Dice Roll 
  Artefact  
   
   
   
   
  Artefact State/Condition 
  1 
   
   
  Scroll 
   
   
   
   
   
  Corrupt 
  2 
   
   
  Book 
   
   
   
   
   
  Magical 
  3 
   
   
  Key  
   
   
   
   
   
  Priceless 
  4 
   
   
  Statue 
   
   
   
   
   
  Doomed 
  5 
   
   
  Rare plant or flower 
   
   
  Cursed 
  6 
   
   
  Ancient technological device  
  Secret 
  7 
   
   
  Crystal 
   
   
   
   
   
  Ancient 
  8 
   
   
  Drug 
   
   
   
   
   
  Alive 
  9 
   
   
  Strange life-form  
   
   
  Evil 
  10  
   
  Ore or resource 
   
   
   
  Broken 
  11  
   
  Prototype  
   
   
   
   
  Locked 
  12  
   
  Priceless art 
   
   
   
   
  Out of power 
  13  
   
  Religious icon  
   
   
   
  Buried 
  14  
   
  Extra-dimensional object 
   
  Unstable 
  15  
   
  Mythos artefact 
   
   
   
  Fragile 
  16  
   
  Heirloom  
   
   
   
   
  Ever-changing 
  17  
   
  Evidence  
   
   
   
   
  Holy 
  18  
   
  Photographs  
   
   
   
  Radioactive 
  19  
   
  Weapon  
   
   
   
   
  Mythos 
  20  
   
  Technological item  
   
   
  Appears to be X, but is actually Y (roll twice; first  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  result is X, second result is Y) 
   
   
   
   
  Knowledge, Military and Person Objectives 
  Dice Roll 
  Knowledge  
   
   
   
  Military  
   
   
  Person  
  1 
   
   
  Schematics (weapon, 
   
   
  Pathfinder 
   
   
  Civilian 
   
   
   
  base, ship, plane, vehicle) 
  2 
   
   
  Technology/scientific discovery Invade 
   
   
   
  Policeman 
  3 
   
   
  A strange illness 
   
   
   
  Liberate  
   
   
  Soldier 
  4 
   
   
  A weakness 
   
   
   
   
  Infiltrate  
   
   
  Pilot 
  5 
   
   
  An ancient secret  
   
   
  Defend  
   
   
  Sailor 
  6 
   
   
  Escape route  
   
   
   
  Ambush  
   
   
  Fugitive 
  7 
   
   
  Conspiracy 
   
   
   
   
  Evacuate  
   
   
  Criminal 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  9 
  8 
   
   
  Chemical formula  
   
   
  Rescue 
   
   
   
  Spy 
  9 
   
   
  Criminal activity 
   
   
   
  Attack 
   
   
   
  Refugee 
  10  
   
  A spy ring 
   
   
   
   
  Seek and destroy 
   
  Crashed pilot 
  11  
   
  A legend  
   
   
   
   
  Scout/recon 
   
   
  Priest 
  12  
   
  An artefact 
   
   
   
   
  Support  
   
   
  Scientist 
  13  
   
  A state secret  
   
   
   
  Patrol 
   
   
   
  Militia 
  14  
   
  A language 
   
   
   
   
  Take and hold  
   
  Politician 
  15  
   
  A tome  
   
   
   
   
  Breakthrough  
   
  Actor/singer 
  16  
   
  A theory  
   
   
   
   
  Pre-emptive strike  
  Archaeologist 
  17  
   
  A traitor  
   
   
   
   
  Hold the line  
   
  Heir/heiress 
  18  
   
  What happened? 
   
   
   
  Rearguard 
   
   
  Blackmarketeer 
  19  
   
  What’s there?  
   
   
   
  Resupply  
   
   
  Madman 
  20  
   
  Resources 
   
   
   
   
  Field test  
   
   
  Wounded… (roll again) 
   
  From/Where and Mythos Opponent Objectives 
  Dice Roll 
   
  From/Where 
   
   
   
  Mythos Opponent 
  1 
   
   
   
  France 
   
   
   
   
   
  Deep One 
  2 
   
   
   
  Germany  
   
   
   
   
  Mi-go 
  3 
   
   
   
  Britain 
   
   
   
   
   
  Nightgaunt 
  4 
   
   
   
  America  
   
   
   
   
  Colour out of Space 
  5 
   
   
   
  South America 
   
   
   
  Servitor of Nyarlathotep 
  6 
   
   
   
  Spain 
   
   
   
   
   
  Great Old One (choose appropriate) 
  7 
   
   
   
  Italy  
   
   
   
   
   
  Cultist of the Old Gods 
  8 
   
   
   
  North Africa  
   
   
   
  Cthonian 
  9 
   
   
   
  Middle East 
   
   
   
   
  Hound of Tindalos 
  10  
   
   
  Soviet Union  
   
   
   
  Elder Thing 
  11  
   
   
  Scandinavia 
   
   
   
   
  Bloodborn 
  12  
   
   
  The Low Countries (Belgium, 
  Ghouls 
   
   
   
   
  the Netherlands, Luxembourg) 
  13  
   
   
  Canada  
   
   
   
   
  Dholes 
  14  
   
   
  Pacific 
   
   
   
   
   
  Race of Yith (Yithians) 
  15  
   
   
  China 
   
   
   
   
   
  Leng spider 
  16  
   
   
  Japan 
   
   
   
   
   
  Lloigor 
  17  
   
   
  Commonwealth 
   
   
   
  Moonbeast 
  18  
   
   
  Asia (other) 
   
   
   
   
  Serpent people 
  19  
   
   
  Australia  
   
   
   
   
  Insects from Shaggai 
  20  
   
   
  New Zealand  
   
   
   
  Being from Xiclotl  
   
   
   
   
   
  Destinations 
  Finally, you can decide on the region or place where the mission will occur by rolling on the 
  following Location tables, or you can randomly pick a location (or series of locations) for the different 
  parts of your adventure. If you already know the type of place you want – say, somewhere Mysterious, 
  then just roll on the Locations: Mysterious table for ideas. Don't forget to check for the location 
  atmosphere to add some additional ambience to the proceedings.  
   
  Locations: Mission Region, Choice, and Atmosphere 
  Dice Roll 
   
  Mission Region  
   
  Location Choice 
  Location Atmosphere 
  1 
   
   
   
  Western Front  
   
   
  Building  
   
   
   
  Derelict 
  2 
   
   
   
  Western Front  
   
   
  Building  
   
   
   
  Ruined 
  3 
   
   
   
  Eastern Front  
   
   
  Building  
   
   
   
  Peaceful 
  4 
   
   
   
  Eastern Front  
   
   
  Building  
   
   
   
  Abandoned 
  5 
   
   
   
  Pacific Front  
   
   
  Building  
   
   
   
  Windswept 
  6 
   
   
   
  Pacific Front  
   
   
  Countryside 
   
   
   
  Dreadful 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  10 
  7 
   
   
   
  North African Front 
   
  Countryside 
   
   
   
  Overgrown 
  8 
   
   
   
  North African Front 
   
  Countryside 
   
   
   
  Submerged 
  9 
   
   
   
  Middle East 
   
   
   
  Mysterious 
   
   
   
  Ancient 
  10  
   
   
  Middle East 
   
   
   
  Mysterious 
   
   
   
  Impossible 
  11  
   
   
  American home front 
   
  Mysterious 
   
   
   
  Perched 
  12  
   
   
  American home front 
   
  Mysterious 
   
   
   
  Mountain-top 
  13  
   
   
  British home front  
   
  Mysterious 
   
   
   
  Cliff-top 
  14  
   
   
  British home front  
   
  Sea  
   
   
   
   
  Flooded 
  15  
   
   
  Occupied France 
   
   
  Sea  
   
   
   
   
  Underground 
  16  
   
   
  Occupied France 
   
   
  Sea  
   
   
   
   
  Remote 
  17  
   
   
  Germany  
   
   
   
  Military  
   
   
   
  Ominous 
  18  
   
   
  Germany  
   
   
   
  Military  
   
   
   
  Dripping 
  19  
   
   
  Other occupied territories 
  Mythos  
   
   
   
  Frozen 
  20  
   
   
  Other occupied territories 
  Mythos  
   
   
   
  Too quiet 
   
  Locations: Buildings, Countryside, Mysterious 
  Dice Roll 
   
  Building Type  
   
  Countryside  
   
  Mysterious 
  1 
   
   
   
  Town 
   
   
   
   
  Old battlefield  
   
  Castle 
  2 
   
   
   
  Village  
   
   
   
  Cavern 
   
   
   
  Temple 
  3 
   
   
   
  Monastery 
   
   
   
  Plantation 
   
   
  Stone circle 
  4 
   
   
   
  Factory  
   
   
   
  Mine head 
   
   
  Church 
  5 
   
   
   
  Laboratory 
   
   
   
  Settlement 
   
   
  Mansion 
  6 
   
   
   
  Prison 
   
   
   
   
  River 
   
   
   
  Cemetery 
  7 
   
   
   
  Chemical plant 
   
   
  Desert 
   
   
   
  Cave system 
  8 
   
   
   
  Casino 
   
   
   
   
  Glacier  
   
   
  Tomb 
  9 
   
   
   
  Palace 
   
   
   
   
  Swamp  
   
   
  Archaeological excavation 
  10  
   
   
  Library  
   
   
   
  Coastline  
   
   
  Ruins 
  11  
   
   
  Hospital  
   
   
   
  Canyon  
   
   
  Mine 
   
  12  
   
   
  University 
   
   
   
  Lake 
   
   
   
  Sanatorium 
  13  
   
   
  Church  
   
   
   
  Forest/jungle  
   
  Monastery 
  14  
   
   
  Mansion  
   
   
   
  Mine 
   
   
   
  Museum 
  15  
   
   
  Museum  
   
   
   
  Farm 
   
   
   
  Swamp 
  16  
   
   
  Train station  
   
   
  Fields 
   
   
   
  Outpost 
  17  
   
   
  Hotel 
   
   
   
   
  Hills  
   
   
   
  Battlefield 
  18  
   
   
  Government building 
   
  Mountains 
   
   
  Gateway 
  19  
   
   
  Sanatorium 
   
   
   
  Delta 
   
   
   
  Island 
  20  
   
   
  Department store  
   
  Snowfields 
   
   
  Monolith  
   
  Locations: Military and Sea 
  Dice Roll 
   
   
  Military  
   
   
   
  Sea 
  1 
   
   
   
   
  Headquarters building  
  Shipyard 
  2 
   
   
   
   
  Military base  
   
   
  Cargo ship 
  3 
   
   
   
   
  Battlefield 
   
   
   
  Warship 
  4 
   
   
   
   
  Supply dump  
   
   
  Underwater ruins 
  5 
   
   
   
   
  Wewelsburg Castle  
   
  Deep sea ridge 
  6 
   
   
   
   
  Wewelsburg II 
   
   
  Submerged wreck 
  7 
   
   
   
   
  Bunker system 
   
   
  Underwater base 
  8 
   
   
   
   
  Frontlines 
   
   
   
  Lost island 
  9 
   
   
   
   
  Trench system  
   
   
  Floating base 
  10  
   
   
   
  Eagle’s Lair  
   
   
  Ocean Liner  
  11  
   
   
   
  Wolf’s Lair 
   
   
   
  Open sea 
  12  
   
   
   
  Arms factory  
   
   
  Coastal waters 
  13  
   
   
   
  Weapon testing laboratory 
  Coast 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  11 
  14  
   
   
   
  Radar installation  
   
  Port 
  15  
   
   
   
  Launch facility 
   
   
  Underwater caverns 
  16  
   
   
   
  Airfield  
   
   
   
  Beached wreck 
  17  
   
   
   
  Naval base 
   
   
   
  Deep sea trench 
  18  
   
   
   
  Submarine base 
   
   
  Island chain 
  19  
   
   
   
  Path of advance 
   
   
  Sinking island 
  20  
   
   
   
  Convoy  
   
   
   
  Fleet 
   
  Location: Mythos-related 
  Dice Roll 
   
  Extra-terrestrial  
   
   
  Local 
  1 
   
   
   
  Dreamlands 
   
   
   
   
  Carcosa 
  2 
   
   
   
  Azathoth’s Court  
   
   
  Carcosa 
  3 
   
   
   
  Aldebaran 
   
   
   
   
  Arkham 
  4 
   
   
   
  Yuggoth  
   
   
   
   
  Arkham 
  5 
   
   
   
  Xiclotl 
   
   
   
   
   
  Deep One city (Y’ha-thlei, Massachusetts;  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Ponape, western Pacific) 
  6 
   
   
   
  N’Kai 
   
   
   
   
   
  Deep One city (Y’ha-thlei, Massachusetts;  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Ponape, western Pacific) 
  7 
   
   
   
  Formalhaut 
   
   
   
   
  Elder Thing city 
  8 
   
   
   
  Leng 
   
   
   
   
   
  Elder Thing city 
  9 
   
   
   
  Abbith 
   
   
   
   
   
  G’harne (North Africa) 
  10  
   
   
  Celaeno  
   
   
   
   
  G’harne (North Africa) 
  11  
   
   
  Korvaz  
   
   
   
   
  Irem, City of Pillars/The Nameless City (Arabia) 
  12  
   
   
  Betlegeuse/Glyu-Ohu 
   
   
  Irem, City of Pillars/The Nameless City (Arabia) 
  13  
   
   
  Ktyanga  
   
   
   
   
  Kingsport 
  14  
   
   
  Kythanil  
   
   
   
   
  Kingsport 
  15  
   
   
  Uranus/L’gy’hx 
   
   
   
  Plateau of T’sang/Sung 
  16  
   
   
  Rigel/Orion 
   
   
   
   
  Plateau of T’sang/Sung 
  17  
   
   
  Elder Race colony (working)  
  Severn Valley 
  18  
   
   
  Elder Race colony (abandoned) 
  Severn Valley 
  19  
   
   
  Mythos-conquered world 
   
  Innsmouth 
  20  
   
   
  Mythos-ruined world 
   
   
  Innsmouth 
   
  If you want something truly unusual and a little bit freaky, it is often worth rolling up the plot, 
  some obstacles and a few objectives, followed by a bunch of locations, without rejecting anything at 
  first sight or thinking too much about what you get. Once you have assembled your random plot 
  elements, take a closer look at them: quite bizarrely, you are likely to find some very peculiar matches 
  that make total sense. Just don’t ask why… 
   
  A Quick Guide to Achtung! Cthulhu 
  During the events depicted in Achtung! Cthulhu, the Axis powers will doubtless strive to entreat 
  innumerable alien species, Great Old Ones, and Elder Gods for aid and the power necessary to stave off 
  the efforts of the Allies. As an RPG of Lovecraftian investigative horror, Achtung! Cthulhu draws 
  heavily from the creations and writings of author H.P. Lovecraft et al, as developed by Chaosium, Inc. 
  in its seminal roleplaying game, Call of Cthulhu.  
  It is thus recommended that the prospective Keeper should have a copy of Call of Cthulhu, Sixth 
  Edition, or the upcoming Seventh Edition, published by Chaosium, Inc., as a basic RPG reference to the 
  entities of the Mythos. Both The Keeper’s Companion (Vol. 1) and The Malleus Monstrorum, also 
  published by Chaosium, Inc., provide further information, but are not essential for running this game. 
  Dan Harms’ Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia, published by Arc Dream Publishing, is also an invaluable 
  literary resource. 
   
   
  Achtung! Cthulhu and Controversy 
  
  KG Chapter 12 
  12 
  Achtung! Cthulhu is first and foremost a historical game, one in which the Axis and Allied powers 
  fight out a Secret War behind the scenes of major battles and campaigns (with occasional centre-stage 
  appearances). Whilst this Secret War will have an influence on the events and outcome of World War 
  Two, neither the Secret War nor the Mythos can fully explain how the conflict pans out.  
  Furthermore, neither the Secret War nor the Mythos are the cause of, or reason for, every event or 
  outcome of the war. In particular, the Secret War and the Mythos are not the source of the evils that are 
  perpetrated by the Nazis, the Japanese, or the Allies during World War Two. It is Modiphius’ 
  viewpoint that the Keeper should not suggest that the atrocities committed during World War Two are 
  due to anything other than human agency. To do so is to cheapen the lives of those who died, by 
  seeking to excuse the brutal acts of men who can have no justification for their heinous acts of cruelty. 
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Tables & Charts/Encounters/Horror/239163177-Chapter-12-Plot-Generator-v1pr.pdf