Call of Cthulhu Game (Test)

[Dimthar]

BASIC DESCRIPTION
Where: Tuxtlas Region , Veracruz, Mexico.

Being close to the Gulf, the region will be explored for Oil wells, the region is famous for their Witch Doctors in Catemaco, soul cleaning ritual Temazcal , and Nahuals . Also the region was home of the Olmec culture . It has mountains, there is a Cascade "Salto de Eyipantla" ( featured in Romancing the Stone and Apocalypto movies) and the Catemaco Lake (featured in Medicine Man movie), and of course was a rich jungle with Jaguars as the major predator.

When: 1935, Mexican President Cardenas was a socialist, and invested resources in sending Doctors and Teachers to the indigenous communities.

Who: Possible PCs: Archaeologist, Doctor (Medic), Teacher, Oil Engineer, Seminary Deacon, Hunter-Guide, etc.

I am planning on setting a small Village, close to Catemaco Town (2 day walk), somewhere in the mountains, not very high.

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Players: Read the Mini-Stories posted below, these are Hints for character creation.

[Dimthar]

"... Is so hot and humid that one can barely breathe, sweat covers my entire shirt and I find no relief even at night, water, I need water …”

Again I’m so thirsty that ran out of beers. I don’t understand, the thermometer shows 47 oF.

“… The guts spilling out, but what shocks me the most is the expression in his face, Pure Terror …”

I should take some vacations all these jobs for Don Tattaglia are messing with my mind.

“… Another one has been taken down by the beast, took him from the tent during our sleep we can still hear his screams while the predator eats him alive, a Jaguar, must be a Jaguar …”

Now I find myself at the Zoo, the cat seems formidable, but somehow doesn’t inspire me any fear.

“… The symbols are so grotesque and profane, the images so disturbing …”

Nausea …, Mama Mia! Will it end?

“… I need to get to the port, I won't die in this forsaken bog …”

The color of my hair is slowly turning back to black. It’s been almost two weeks since the last nightmare, but now I feel this emptiness and great loss, like if a part of my own body died

A Telegram from Francesca. Mama wants me back in Arkham. Antonio is dead.

[Mulsiphix]

I actually live pretty close to you. When do you plan on hosting the first game? I'm not familiar with the Basic Roleplaying Rules but I would be more than willing to read up on them. Just not sure if I'd be ideal for your group.

1. I've got two kids (probably could get a babysitter on the one day a month you play)
2. I'm a newb to RP and to BRP
3. Obviously new to CoC

Any chance these wouldn't be considered problematic? When do you plan on hosting the first game? My wife and I could both play. I'm 26 and my wife is 22.

[Dimthar]

I actually live pretty close to you. When do you plan on hosting the first game? I'm not familiar with the Basic Roleplaying Rules but I would be more than willing to read up on them.

I don't have any players yet, that is why I am focusing in describing the campaign to make it more attractive.

Actually I am not sure if I should wait for the "Mesoamerica" supplement. It may allow me to play at least a short series of settings instead only the one that I have in mind.

Another option is for me to prepare "Preludes" and run them in the "Game Days" at Half Price Books, that way everybody gets to meet other players and campaigns (like yesterday).

BRP looks simple enough.

Now, if you really want to be prepared, reading 2-3 Lovecraft stories will do.

[Dimthar]

The waiting room is richly decorated and several swastikas adorn the walls, only the sound of the assistant’s typewriter is heard. No single noise from the Mexico’s independence festivities make their way into the building. Here, is just another quiet morning of September at the German Embassy in Mexico.

I should consider myself honored that Dr. Herman Wirth has shown interest in my research at the Mexican National University. I always thought that Pre-Hispanic history was of not major interest for the German Academia, and in these past 5 years at some point felt like an exiled.

Dr. Wirth exposition in last year’ symposium at the Miskatonic University if indeed considered controversial opened several paths of investigation for me. I was glad he had time to discuss with me how his findings on Hyperborean culture seem to correlate with some of Alexander Von Humboldt accounts on “El Tajin”, an ancient Olmec city.

One should always disregard the rumors of Dr. Wirth’s association with the occult, a person held in such a high esteem by Herr Heinrich Himmler is likely to attract envy and jealously.

- Dr. Wirth is ready to see you.

[Mulsiphix]

You didn't answer any of my questions Dimthar

[Dimthar]

When do you plan on hosting the first game?

I will try to do one shot in 2 weeks.

I'm not familiar with the Basic Roleplaying Rules but I would be more than willing to read up on them. Just not sure if I'd be ideal for your group.

Believe me, its been a long time since I played anything (RPG). And BRP is a new system to me too.

Any chance these wouldn't be considered problematic? My wife and I could both play. I'm 26 and my wife is 22.

No problem at all. Although someone recommended me to do an every other week instead of monthly.

[fmitchell]

And BRP is a new system to me too.

For those not wanting to invest in the CoC books, there's a set of "QuickStart" rules available from http://www.chaosium.com/article.php?story_id=87

The short rules remarkably complete; BRP is a very simple system. They're a bit light on "spot rules" for combat and skill descriptions, but many of those are common sense. Most of the full Call of Cthulhu book is secret history, monsters, spells, and other bits of Cthulhu lore beginning characters wouldn't know.

[Mulsiphix]

Thanks for the info fmitchell. Dimthar I figured you were only hosting once a month due to time constraints or possibly extended prep time for each session. I'm good for just about any time as long as I have a date ahead of time

[Dimthar]

- Please sit down.
- How can I be of assistance?
- Have you heard about the Poza Rica field?
- The biggest reservoir found in Mexico, almost all companies are trying to negotiate rights.
- Yes… yes. but that damn Cardenas wants to enforce his communist idea that the “Oil is property of the Nation”.
- I am pretty sure there is a price that can be “arranged”
- This guy is different, doesn’t take money. You know an “Idealist”.
- You well know I don’t deal with Politics.
- What?? No… No. Is not even the reason why you are here, we think we found a bigger prize, 10 times bigger than Poza Rica.
- Interesting, where?
- South of the Port of Veracruz, well hidden in the middle of the jungle.
- And the reason you called me?
- Our Field Engineers in the zone are dead.
- Murdered?
- According to the Medic, one of them died by a strange disease, the other grossly mauled, they think a jaguar attack.
- You know I am retired.
- And I am Eleanor Roosevelt. You are the best, you been in Mexico and Venezuela before, for you, the jungle is like a walk in downtown New Orleans during Mardi Grass.
- Send Josh with all the equipment. He knows what I need.

[Dimthar]

The funny thing about working for the army as a ‘Biological Warfare’ advisor is that funding was never questioned, a good share of the money went to the Miskatonic University which turned his eye and never requested a single ‘White Paper’ from him. Classified was the only title for his reports.

After the ‘Great War’ several nations have been working in vaccines and cures. The logic was that one obscure disease will be used against them in the future and the aggressive nation would be the only one with the knowledge on how to stop it.

It took him some time to get used to the photographs. Even for someone who is a fanatic of strange diseases, these pictures were too much to handle. After his travels to Africa and India, he considered himself as someone who has seen it all, but now awe and fear clouded his mind.

One of Professors at the Engineering Department sent them, the subject: A former student who was doing field research in Mexico for one of the major oil companies.

Time to dust his Spanish: Donde sta el bano?

.

[Nok]

Read the thread - I like the setting, if there's room for a geologist (oil engineer), or an archaeologist, let me know...

[Dimthar]

Finally! I will do a "ONE SHOT" Session on Sep/13 (I know, is one month away ..) at the Dallas Meetup in Half Price Books

Meetup: 2:00 PM
CoC : 4:00 PM

http://halfpricebooks.com/001.html

This is my first time running CoC and I haven't played in 10y, so please indulge me.

I think I have 6.X ed of CoC. Read the whole Thread, if you feel like creating your own character, bring it. I will have some pre-generated also. The adventure is taking place in New Orleans (around 1935), the PCs are there to take the Boat a few days later to Veracruz.

If things go well, I would like to run the campaign on Friday Nights ... May run first another "One Shot" before starting officially. You can play the "One shots" even you don't plan or can't join the campaign, these are for me to practice the system and meet players.

From the Thread (Possible PCs)
1) American-Italian Gangster, Twin brother of the recently deceased Antonio (Oil Engineer-Miskatonik graduate) who died in Mexico from a horrible "Jungle Disease".
2) Biologist, Disease researcher at Miskatonik University, funded by the US Military.
3) Jungle Guide, oil companies subcontractor.
4) German Archeologist, works at Mexican University (Can not be included in the New Orleans One Shot).
5) Any other Native New Orleans or Support Character for the first 3.
.

[gdmcbride]

Call of Cthulhu one-shot! I am so there.

I will do my best to make it to this Carlos.

Gary

[Webhead]

Ooh...Call of Cthulhu! I will have to really try to make it to this, even if it's only to meet some of you guys and get to play CoC for the first time in forever.

I have another friend (big CoC fan) who may be interested but whose schedule may or may not allow him to attend. We shall see...