A Call of Cthulhu scenario set on a Distant Planet far in the future
This is the Part II of this article. Check out The Last Log - Part I
1. Large Tent
By Jon Sutherland, Steve Williams and Tim Hall - White Dwarf
CAMP OVERVIEW
Landing
close to the camp, the party's first impression will be that it appears
deserted and overgrown, with no sign of life. The campsite covers an area below
a rocky escarpment flanked to one side by a ships boat and to the other by a
ruined structure. Various chairs, tables and survey equipment lay in ordered
piles, three tents and a laboratory pod are the main features. The whole area
is shrouded in an eerie silence. The air is still and the site is tinged by
green lichen which seems to be growing on all exposed surfaces. As the dust
whipped up by the ship settles, the onboard computer registers a breathable if
somewhat rarified atmosphere with no significant levels of toxicity.
1. Large Tent
The contents are seemingly untouched
— a few empty food cannisters are scattered about the floor. Cooking equipment
is set up to the rear with rough communal seating around a collapsable table.
Just inside the tent flaps is a desk and chair from the ship's pod on which is
strewn various charts, logs, text books, and the medical aid kit.
Information Points:
A. Food cannisters. They appear to
have been opened recently. Contents analysis will reveal that decomposition is
only about 3 weeks old.
B. Medical Kit. The box is open and
the contents are in disorder; those with knowledge of first aid will note that
the sedative and painkilling drugs are missing as is the drip feed and
stand.
C. The Duty Rosta. This is on the
table just inside the entrance and details group activities, shifts and works
schedules. The Team personnel are:
Hannah Ross - Technical Assistant
Steve Cohen - Technical Assistant
Frank Brand - Security
Supervisor
Jem Briggs - Security Officer
Marsh Gascoigne - Pilot and Engineer
Briggs’ name has been omitted from
the last three day entries, and that Brand is noted as sick.
2. Tent
Tent flaps
are wide open revealing rough living quarters. Clothes, beer cans and personal
effects Iitter the floor of the tent. There are two camp beds, on one of which
lies the wasted body of Frank Brand. An intravenous drip hangs from his right
forearm and dangles down to the ground. A broken plasma bottle and stand lie
close to the bed. (SAN check, 1d6 loss if failed.)
Information Points:
A. The body of Brand is strapped to the bed, both hands and legs are bound to the bed frame.
B. The initial cause of death appears to have been blood loss. A closer examination will reveal a large gouge along the right side of the torso with considerable lacerations. The bed has few traces of blood. Neither has the ground.
C. Chemical analysis will show that the contents of the bottle was a strong sedative (from the medical kit).
D. Tags on the clothing show that this tent housed both Brand and Briggs.
A. The body of Brand is strapped to the bed, both hands and legs are bound to the bed frame.
B. The initial cause of death appears to have been blood loss. A closer examination will reveal a large gouge along the right side of the torso with considerable lacerations. The bed has few traces of blood. Neither has the ground.
C. Chemical analysis will show that the contents of the bottle was a strong sedative (from the medical kit).
D. Tags on the clothing show that this tent housed both Brand and Briggs.
3. Tent
Part of the
rigid steel frame is buckled. Slumped against a support bar is a body with its
head resting on its knees (SAN check, 1d6 SAN loss if failed). Contents are two
portable beds with personal clothing and effects, there are maps, technical
equipment, journals and texts of a mining nature.
Information Points:
A. The body is Steve Cohen (name tag on his jacket).
B. Cohens’ jaw bone and shoulder blades are shattered, fractured and displaced. The neck is broken and the clothing is badly torn.
C. Some of the vertebrae of the back are shattered — showing that the body was thrown against the metal support pillar, with considerable force.
D. A pool of dried blood is around the corpse, and the fabric of the tent around the entrance is splattered with blood.
E. The tent appears to have been inhabitated by the technicians Cohen and Ross.
A. The body is Steve Cohen (name tag on his jacket).
B. Cohens’ jaw bone and shoulder blades are shattered, fractured and displaced. The neck is broken and the clothing is badly torn.
C. Some of the vertebrae of the back are shattered — showing that the body was thrown against the metal support pillar, with considerable force.
D. A pool of dried blood is around the corpse, and the fabric of the tent around the entrance is splattered with blood.
E. The tent appears to have been inhabitated by the technicians Cohen and Ross.
4. The Ship's Boat
The ship is
of an identical design to the landing partys’. Parked precariously all but 10
yards from the cliff face, an external examination of the ship will reveal that
the front right hand landing foot is badly buckled. Vegetation and dirt
partially cover the ships surface.
Information Points:
A. A successful listening roll will detect that faint humming noises emanate from the ship, suggesting that it is still powered.
B. The rear cabin door is shut tight and opens only if the emergency release is activated.
C. Once opened, the rear cabin area is exposed revealing a huddled body (SAN check, 1d6 loss if failed).
D. Closer examination shows that it is the body of Hannah Ross, one of the teams technical assistants.
E. Clutched in the left hand of the corpse is a bottle of capsules. The body is unmarked and the cause of death appears to have been a massive overdose of painkillers.
F. To characters with Pilot abilities it will be obvious that an abortive launch attempt had been made.
G. Primary ignition switches are on and control systems disarray. Warning lights indicate landing gear malfunction.
H. A primitive radar sweep system has been hastily installed and is operational and registering the presence of both landing party and their ship. The hailing tannoy is turned on (much to the alarm of those outside!).
I. The armoury locker has been unsuccessfully forced, upon opening it (can be forced easily by two of the party) one rifle niche is empty.
Overview: The ship is fully operational requiring at least two days work with welding equipment to realign the buckled foot.
A. A successful listening roll will detect that faint humming noises emanate from the ship, suggesting that it is still powered.
B. The rear cabin door is shut tight and opens only if the emergency release is activated.
C. Once opened, the rear cabin area is exposed revealing a huddled body (SAN check, 1d6 loss if failed).
D. Closer examination shows that it is the body of Hannah Ross, one of the teams technical assistants.
E. Clutched in the left hand of the corpse is a bottle of capsules. The body is unmarked and the cause of death appears to have been a massive overdose of painkillers.
F. To characters with Pilot abilities it will be obvious that an abortive launch attempt had been made.
G. Primary ignition switches are on and control systems disarray. Warning lights indicate landing gear malfunction.
H. A primitive radar sweep system has been hastily installed and is operational and registering the presence of both landing party and their ship. The hailing tannoy is turned on (much to the alarm of those outside!).
I. The armoury locker has been unsuccessfully forced, upon opening it (can be forced easily by two of the party) one rifle niche is empty.
Overview: The ship is fully operational requiring at least two days work with welding equipment to realign the buckled foot.
5. Temple
Constructed
of rough hewed stone and with paved flooring, its low walls have been reduced
through the ages. An altar-like structure stands at its centre made of a dense
smooth material, cold to the touch. Two tables have been erected on the site,
various artifacts lie upon them, some in plastic bags. Hand tools are strewn
around.
Information Points:
A. A successful spot hidden throw at -20% around the temple will detect a circle of regularly placed black stones. As characters enter the area a breeze (chill) will pick up across the campsite.
B. Artifacts scattered on the table consist of numerous utensils, containers and bone carvings. (The players should be discouraged from too deep an analysis of these artifacts — merely being remnants of an ancient and unknown civilisation.) The books on the table are amateurish drawings of both temple and artifacts. There is a black stone placed on the table which is identical to those surrounding the temple area — they are distinctly alien and of a completely different structure to the temple’s material. Closer examination will reveal that the runes carved on the black stone are both crude and recent (a few months old).
C. The altar is about chest height from the floor; it is approximately 8' long, with grooves running down its edges some 2" deep; a collection channel is cut into one corner. There is little vegetation visible around the site.
D. The whole structure is of a solid and sophisticated construction which has borne well the ravages of time.
A. A successful spot hidden throw at -20% around the temple will detect a circle of regularly placed black stones. As characters enter the area a breeze (chill) will pick up across the campsite.
B. Artifacts scattered on the table consist of numerous utensils, containers and bone carvings. (The players should be discouraged from too deep an analysis of these artifacts — merely being remnants of an ancient and unknown civilisation.) The books on the table are amateurish drawings of both temple and artifacts. There is a black stone placed on the table which is identical to those surrounding the temple area — they are distinctly alien and of a completely different structure to the temple’s material. Closer examination will reveal that the runes carved on the black stone are both crude and recent (a few months old).
C. The altar is about chest height from the floor; it is approximately 8' long, with grooves running down its edges some 2" deep; a collection channel is cut into one corner. There is little vegetation visible around the site.
D. The whole structure is of a solid and sophisticated construction which has borne well the ravages of time.
6. Ship's Pod
Standard
Transtec laboratory pod. It is awkwardly balanced upon a rocky out- crop.
Despite the pod's legendary sturdiness its bottom right hand corner has been
crumpled inwards. Only one of its four doors appears open and it is only
accessible by climbing the rocks and lowering oneself down into the entrance.
Information Points:
A. Deep impressions in the soft soil surround the pod. They are angular in appearance, starting some 20 yards from the pod's present position.
B. The three closed doors emergency access buttons fail to respond emitting only a hiss, indicating that they are functional.
C. The outer surface of the pod is scarred with score marks. Gouges around both door and underside are of an irregular and indefinable nature. There are traces of carbon in small round indentations peppering the pod's surface.
D. Closer examination of the doors will reveal the fact that they have been welded shut, from the inside...
E. On looking through the pod entrance one can dimly see that the jumbled contents of the lab lie to the far end of the pod.
F. When illuminated, players will see a mass of smashed furniture and equipment; scattered papers and clothing partially cover two legs which protrude from the pile.
G. Exposing the body will reveal the headless corpse of Cpt Spalding (SAN check, 1d8 loss if failed).
H. Items of interest in the pod are some welding gear and cannisters. No weapons of any description are visible.
l. The body's head appears to have been literally torn off, there is no sign of it in the pod.
J. In Spaldings jacket pocket is a black log book. This is the personal mission log of Spalding and details in note form the group's activities since November 25th 2243, dated Day 1. The entries are in the style of a detached professional- brief and emotionless. The notebook is more a scientific log than a personal diary, obviously unofficial.
A. Deep impressions in the soft soil surround the pod. They are angular in appearance, starting some 20 yards from the pod's present position.
B. The three closed doors emergency access buttons fail to respond emitting only a hiss, indicating that they are functional.
C. The outer surface of the pod is scarred with score marks. Gouges around both door and underside are of an irregular and indefinable nature. There are traces of carbon in small round indentations peppering the pod's surface.
D. Closer examination of the doors will reveal the fact that they have been welded shut, from the inside...
E. On looking through the pod entrance one can dimly see that the jumbled contents of the lab lie to the far end of the pod.
F. When illuminated, players will see a mass of smashed furniture and equipment; scattered papers and clothing partially cover two legs which protrude from the pile.
G. Exposing the body will reveal the headless corpse of Cpt Spalding (SAN check, 1d8 loss if failed).
H. Items of interest in the pod are some welding gear and cannisters. No weapons of any description are visible.
l. The body's head appears to have been literally torn off, there is no sign of it in the pod.
J. In Spaldings jacket pocket is a black log book. This is the personal mission log of Spalding and details in note form the group's activities since November 25th 2243, dated Day 1. The entries are in the style of a detached professional- brief and emotionless. The notebook is more a scientific log than a personal diary, obviously unofficial.
Day 72. ...malfunction of survey droids at Base
70, running routine checks to establish faults.
Day 77. am - security officers Brand and Briggs
sent to establish nature of fault and possible repair.
Day 80. am- after absence of a day without
communication Brand returns alone in a state of shock, claiming that Briggs
attempted to murder him... Brand sedated and stable.
pm-...Brand's continual ravings unnerving the
team, lam concerned for Briggs’ safety; am considering contacting Transtec for
back-up and Brand's evacuation and replacement.
Day 81 . l had to rebuke Ross this morning for
wasting company time with alien artifacts, (a circle of black stones she hadn't
noticed before) and have been forced to put temple out of bounds, team is
stretched with two personnel absent from work rota... still no sign of Briggs.
I wonder if he'll return.
Day 82. Bases 10, 9, 6 all non-operative. Considering
shutting down all subsidiary bases and concentrating efforts here... forced to
sedate Brand due to his demoralising effect on the team.
Day 83. am - talked to Brand this morning... no
charge (hand writing worsens)...
pm - we have been under attack for three hours
now... must assume that rest of party dead... no food... no weapons... have
taken all precautions I can... can only hope now... (final entry scrawled and
unreadable).
7. Player’s Ship
See the
Technology paragraph below.
8. Piles of equipment
The piles
of equipment are all standard mining survey gear. Drill bits, sampling rods,
explosives and detonators, some of which are open.
9. Service Droids.
Stand
inactive around the camp; successful electronic analysis will show that the
batteries are dead and they are in a considerable state of despair. By Jon Sutherland, Steve Williams and Tim Hall - White Dwarf
