Trail of Cthulhu: Eternal Lies

Game Master James Keegan

In 1937, a team of investigators are assembled by the heiress Janet Winston-Rogers to look into her late father's past and a things left undone back in 1924...
Trail of Cthulhu System Cheat Sheet


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I'll move things along, assuming that the yacht club doesn't want to firebomb or steal Donovan's yacht- but correct me if you do and we'll go with it.

Finding little else of interest on the yacht, the investigators slip back onto the motorboat and make for shore. Their intrusion seems to be unnoticed as the cool Mediterranean night remains quiet and undisturbed once they reach the meeting place.

With the old man seemingly vanished into thin air, Freddy and Anatoly depart to meet up with the others outside of the harbor- though they split up and take different routes to discourage further pursuit.

Okay, you're all back together. You know where Donovan's busy, heavily guarded warehouse and private dock are, where he lives (which is also heavily guarded), that his wife passed away in the last few months and he seems to visit the hospital which has a wing named after him. His yacht is moored out in the harbor and contains little except empty liquor bottles, a closet stuffed with a woman's designer dresses, paperback novels suitable for a lady and a young boy and wards drawn with Nectar on the walls. And there seems to be someone tailing you, though they haven't acted yet.


Sanity 8/9 Stability 9/9 Health 12/12

"It seems that they only place that Donovan frequents that isn't a fortress is the hospital wing. It's in poor taste to ambush someone in the hospital, but then, so is peddling a drug collected from so monstrous, extra dimensional mouth."


Amadeus nods along to this. "Perhaps the more subtle of us ought to visit the hospital, while the rest stake out the warehouse or the manor and determine if there's a time when the guard is less?"


Male Human - Russian (Kulak) Archeologist - Religious Artifact Hunter / Stability 5/10, Health 10/10, Sanity 10/10

"We really haven't spent much time at the mansion. Perhaps we should split up and record the comings and goings from both places, then compare the notes. If I had to guess I'd think that the warehouse is where they're distributing the Nectar, but I don't know if they're making it there or in the Mansion. I'll stay hear near the Warehouse, since I'm already becoming a familiar sight here, and might draw less attention".


Human Dilettante

Here's a question: Why would someone bring Nectar around a young boy? Joseph mulls over it for a few seconds, before putting it aside. Shall I go with you, Anatoly?


Health 12/12 | Sanity 6/8 | Stability 6/10

"I'll be heading to the hospital, obviously. With any luck, they'll be willing to provide a tour of the facility."


Evelyn to the hospital, Anatoly and Joseph watching the warehouse- Freddy, Amadeus, Ralph?


Amadeus will volunteer to join Evelyn at the hospital, though he will remove his occult trappings and put on a slightly scuffed suit.

"I will stay mostly silent, Doctor and allow you to do the talking. But I may be able to identify anything out of the ordinary occult-wise."


Sanity 8/9 Stability 9/9 Health 12/12

"I would like to go to the hospital as well. I can stay out of the way, but if trouble starts, I don't want you two to be there without me."


Male Antiquarian Sanity Initial:8 Current: 8. Stability 7

A stakeout, just like in the pulp novels! Sign me up for the warehouse!


Male Human - Russian (Kulak) Archeologist - Religious Artifact Hunter / Stability 5/10, Health 10/10, Sanity 10/10

"So maybe after visiting the hospital, you could go perform stakeout duties on the Mansion. I think comparing notes could be important"?


You all settle on a plan and get what sleep you can with what's left of the night. In the morning, you all separate and head into the city for your respective tasks.

How are you dressing going to the hospital and the warehouse? Around what time in the day are you arriving to each?


Scuffed, well worn but nice suit. Brown probably.


Human Dilettante

Suit, trench coat, fedora. Because Joseph likes to look cool. He'll bring his gun with him


I'll assume you're going early in the workday.

The Hospital
Hospital Superbissima is a six story building made of sturdy stone with tall windows. It looks like it was renovated maybe thirty years ago. It's dark and cramped inside, with little of the natural light from the windows making it to the interior of the building. One of the nurses at the front desk waves you over while the other nurse on duty fills out paperwork, admitting a middle-aged man clutching his stomach.

"Patients or visitors?", she asks, grabbing a sign-in book.

The Harbor
It's a very sunny day on the Mediterranean and the docks are bustling with activity typical of a port city positioned perfectly for resupplying ships. A steady breeze comes in off the sea, keeping the day from growing too hot.
Give me a Shadowing roll for team stakeout, please.


Male Human - Russian (Kulak) Archeologist - Religious Artifact Hunter / Stability 5/10, Health 10/10, Sanity 10/10

Anatoly's disguise is more about hiding in plain site. He wears a longshoreman's rough clothes, and walks about like he's got something to do, or somewhere to go. Checking labels on boxes from time to time, and noting stuff on his clipboard.

perhaps it is advisable to take turns keeping watch, instead of all standing suspiciously together. Maybe we could find a flop house nearby so that if trouble starts the others can be summoned. Maybe take a Flare gun to signal the others if there is trouble?


Human Dilettante

Taking turns is a good idea. I'll still roll for shadowing, in case it's is needed :)
Shadowing: 1d6 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1


Health 12/12 | Sanity 6/8 | Stability 6/10

Evelyn switches back into more professional attire, one of the tweed suits that she typically wore on outings like these.

"Visitors," she replies calmly, trying to exude a demeanor that suggests she belongs there. "Not for any particular patient, mind. My associates and I were actually hoping that someone would be willing to give us a tour of the facility. You see, I am a doctor myself. I have been on a sabbatical, conducting research at various hospitals across the globe - this is the first that I have visited in Malta."

Does Bureaucracy fit? Also, not sure if some or all of us should use aliases or something.


Male Antiquarian Sanity Initial:8 Current: 8. Stability 7

I agree that we should take turns shadowing, since it'd look weird for the cluster of us to hang out.

When my turn comes, I stand outside the warehouse, looking inconspicuous.

shadowing+2 point spend: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3


Amadeus nods along with Evelyn, gravely looking interested but bored.


At the harbor.

Joseph's shift on lookout progresses without incident- this time of morning, the warehouse seems quiet with little foot traffic. Plenty of guards around, though, still stationed on the roof or walking the grounds. While he's watching the place, one of the guards looks in Joseph's direction and points at his carefully chosen vantage point. The others turn to look and Westmore walks off as casually as he can manage.
Joseph is noted enough to be described.

Around noon, Ralph takes his own position to watch the warehouse, discreetly reading a newspaper across the street just like in a pulp! It's... rather boring, once the novelty wears off. But around 2:30 pm in the afternoon a silver town car with tinted windows drives up to the warehouse fence line and is let in. Various workers, some stevedores and others with coats and gloves, start filing in around 3:30 pm and the place starts to get more busy at 4pm. The car doesn't come back out and around 5 pm Ralph departs so that Anatoly can take his rotation.

While stacking and unstacking boxes, Anatoly observes the warehouse- which is mostly unchanged since yesterday's stakeout. He can detect activity full swing inside, much like yesterday evening. Around 7:30 pm, a silver town car with tinted windows drives out of the gate checkpoint and up the hill toward the more residential areas of Valletta.


At the hospital.

The nurse pauses.
"We don't normally give tours, you see... unless you represent a foundation?"

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the nurse is looking for a financial angle in all of this, as reassurances of a cash gift (for the hospital, of course) brings her around on showing you through Hospital Superbissima.

As you noticed walking in, the hospital itself is dark and cramped on the inside with all of the usual hospital corridor chaos corralled into an even tighter space. The nurse talks about how the building was an 18th century mansion, which replaced several 16th century buildings, and was renovated in 1901 to better meet the needs of a modern hospital. She notes the various benefactors while walking the halls and you note the Donovan Wing as you walk into it.

A passing nurse brings you up short. Not the nurse herself, but what she's pushing: a bottle of Nectar on a cart, with syringes and saline solution lined up next to it.


Amadeus smiles slyly. "Of course, miss, you understand we can't confirm that, but it might be that we're doing some research on behalf of a certain individual known for his charitable works toward those of ill health..."


Male Antiquarian Sanity Initial:8 Current: 8. Stability 7

I presume I get the car's license plates?


Yup. It's Montgomery Donovan's, you've got that information from public records.


Haita the Shepherd wrote:

A passing nurse brings you up short. Not the nurse herself, but what she's pushing: a bottle of Nectar on a cart, with syringes and saline solution lined up next to it.

Nobody finds that a little weird?


I'm still trying to placate the nurse. I'll freak out momentarily.


Health 12/12 | Sanity 6/8 | Stability 6/10

Money. Of course. Fortunately, the image of a doctor with money burning holes through her pockets was already consistent with Evelyn's performance at the operahouse. She is more than glad to dangle the empty promise of substantial funding in front of the nurse's face like a proverbial carrot on a stick. She even makes an offhand joke about having a wing of the hospital named after herself.

The doctor follows the tour with genuine interest, up until she notices the bottle of Nectar - she tries very hard to hold her poker face. She gives her companions sidelong glances, making certain that they saw what she was seeing, before speaking again.

"What manner of patients do you typically have in this wing?" she asks as naturally as she can manage.


Sorry, fast-forwarded past fast-talking the nurse. You're on the tour, you've seen the jar of Nectar come and go.

"This is our intensive care wing, here. Many of our more advanced treatments are done here and we're very proud of the quality of care our patients are given, for instance..."

The tour continues and Evelyn notices that many of the patients seem to be drugged. Not so that they aren't responsive, but they have that pleasant haze that comes with either a little morphine or another opiate.

Anything you want to do during the tour? Or just follow along?


Amadeus stays silent, but he keeps his eyes out for anyone handling Nectar.


Amadeus lingers toward the back of the "tour group". Peering through a doorway, he watches a nurse dealing with an old woman that's clearly not feeling very well. She injects the woman with a syringe of what looks to be diluted Nectar and within seconds a small, vacant smile grows on the patient's face.


Sanity 8/9 Stability 9/9 Health 12/12

Freddy does the same. He's shocked by the casual use of the nectar, but doesn't dare make comment about it in what is probably enemy territory. Obviously, he will also keep an eye out for any sign of Donovan.


Would you want to stall until Donovan maybe shows up? Try to steal a glance at some of the charts or visitors' logs?


Human Dilettante

Joseph looks at the car That's Donovans, right? Should we follow it?


Health 12/12 | Sanity 6/8 | Stability 6/10

Despite being both horrified and intrigued by the casual medicinal usage of Nectar, Evelyn continues to play the part of a potential donor. She keeps an eye out for any potential documents that could shed some light on the hospital's operation.


Male Human - Russian (Kulak) Archeologist - Religious Artifact Hunter / Stability 5/10, Health 10/10, Sanity 10/10

"Yeah, probably not a bad idea. The warehouse isn't going anywhere. It's probably headed towards the hospital or home, but wouldn't hurt for us to get all the information we can. Is the car stashed nearby"?


Sanity 8/9 Stability 9/9 Health 12/12

Definitely think that we should stall and wait for Donovan. At least try to get a look at him.

At some point in the tour, when Freddy can whisper to Evelyn; "Maybe you can ask some technical questions with particularly long answers? I'd like to try to draw this out until Donovan shows up."


The Hospital, earlier in the day.

Evelyn would know that the nurse's station or records office has logs of who is visiting the hospital, who was admitted and what they are being treated for. But it would take a bit of stealth to find anything worthwhile.

With her medical knowledge and grasp of bureaucracy Evelyn starts asking very specific questions about treatment regimens, research grants and other deeply involved topics in the day to day running of the hospital, careful to keep it to questions the nurse can answer so that they don't have to leave the halls.

Around 1:00 pm, a group of men approach the intensive care ward where you're grilling the nurse. Five men in dark suits surround a handsome gentleman in a more weather appropriate light suit- Montgomery Donovan. With barely a glance at the nurse's station, two of the men in dark suits take up positions near you at the entrance to the ward. The other three and Donovan walk down the hall. Donovan into a private room, with one guard at the door and the other two guards proceeding down the hall to take positions on the opposite side.


The Warehouse, around 7:30pm

Rushing to where the car is parked Anatoly, Ralph and Joseph try to follow the silver town car toward its destination. Give me a Shadowing test to "drive casual".

You can see three men in the back seat of the car, one sitting in front and then the driver. They are heading toward northwest Valletta.


Human Dilettante

Shodowing: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Joseph gets into the car, and sits in the passenger seat. Come on guys, act casual.....


Keeper Screen:
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The car continues northwest, turning off of Great Siege Road into the garage at the rear of Donovan's townhouse. You drive past as the guard opens the garage door to admit Donovan's car.


Human Dilettante

Joseph turns to his friends Should we go in?


Sanity 8/9 Stability 9/9 Health 12/12

Freddy gives the nurse a curious look. "Wow, an impressive man. Who is that?"


Male Human - Russian (Kulak) Archeologist - Religious Artifact Hunter / Stability 5/10, Health 10/10, Sanity 10/10
Joseph Westmore wrote:
Joseph turns to his friends Should we go in?

"I don't think so. Not right now anyway. We've verified our suspicions. Maybe we wait to see what the others have discovered before we plan our next move".


Freddy Elliot wrote:
Freddy gives the nurse a curious look. "Wow, an impressive man. Who is that?"

The nurse's eyes dart to the bodyguards standing within earshot.

"I'm afraid I can't give any information about our patients or their visitors. We pride ourselves on offering quality care to suit every citizen of Valletta from the most wealthy to the poorest."


The nurse motions you down the hall.
"Let's keep walking. We can make a quick round of the labs downstairs and then I need to be getting back to my station."


Sanity 8/9 Stability 9/9 Health 12/12

Freddy nods. "My mistake, I understand completely." The PI makes a mental note of the room number that Donovan visited and moves on to follow the nurse.


Your nurse walks you to the lab and dispensary on the first floor, looking to complete the tour. Passing Donovan's guard, Freddy notes that Mr. Donovan is visiting room 304 in the intensive care ward.

The lab and dispensary are housed on the first floor, not far from the entrance. Like the rest of Hospital Superbissima, it's quite dark and oppressive compared to the newer hospitals you've seen in America. Nurses and doctors measure out prescriptions and run back and forth checking paperwork.

"As you can see, Hospital Superbissima is a very modern and ground-breaking facility and well worth your committee's time and investment. Do you have any other questions? Perhaps you would like to speak with our administrators about your donation?", your tour guide says, all smiles.


Sanity 8/9 Stability 9/9 Health 12/12

Freddy is hanging back, pretty clearly out of his element in this portion of the conversation.


Health 12/12 | Sanity 6/8 | Stability 6/10

"Oh no, I do believe you have shown and told us everything we need to know," Evelyn says with a smile, glancing at her compatriots. "This facility is very promising. I just need to report to my superiors before discussing any figures with your administration. I am fairly confident that they will be just as impressed as I am."

I think we have everything we can get from here without drawing a lot of attention to ourselves.

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