CALL OF CTHULU- THE MASKS OF NYARLHOTEP (Inactive)

Game Master Daniel Penfold 351

Sanity check (50%): 1d100 ⇒ 36

Colt steps forward and takes a look at the painting called "Black Mountain".

1d100 ⇒ 82 SAN (40%) if required.

Jake Sanity loss: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Colt sanity loss: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Colt you see a towering mountain, possibly in Africa, over which rises a monstrous demonic creature, its head a great tentacle swathed in blood. Near a temple-like building, tiny human figures lift their hands imploringly skyward, in supplication to the hellish god-like entity. From each of the human's heads a red tongue or tentacle dangles, looking closely, these appear to be ceremonial headpieces.

Sylvia looks at the painting labelled the Dark Pharaoh.

This shows a processional scene from ancient Egypt in which a golden chariot passes through a mass of people who have fallen to their knees in reverence. Atop the chariot is a pharaoh dressed in black and gold robes, whose face is turned away. Behind the figure, two men have been impaled on stakes, eviscerated, their internal organs hang down to the ground and are being eaten by a pack of jackals.

Sylvia Sanity check:60: 1d100 ⇒ 52

Sylvia sanity loss: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Jake swallowed as he finally looked away from the "Dark Science" portrait. That was really disturbing. Gathering his will, he proceeded to the next painting, "Drawn in Blood".

Sanity Check (48%): 1d100 ⇒ 73

Colt's vision seems to narrow and begin so spin. Though he normally has trouble drawing a breath, he seems to be starving for oxygen as he gasps in horror at these visions. No! This is just not possible. Even dreams cannot be so...

The man stands as though entranced unable to take his eyes from the horrible display.

You only have to make a save for the first painting

Drawn in Blood shows an unsettling and stomach-churning scene of a man being cut open with a silver dagger, held in the hand of a black robed figure. An act of ritual blood sacrifice, upon the victim's chest has been carved an occult looking sigil, which seems to twist and move when viewed.

Sylvia swallows hard, unable to tear her eyes away. "These paintings, they are..." She can't seem to find the words. The figures almost seem alive. She's a doctor, she's seen more than her share of blood and viscera, but the way the organs are depicted, the way they almost gleam in the light of that unnatural sun...

She forces herself to close her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she takes refuge in science. Intestines. Liver. Gallblader. It wasn't anything she hadn't seen before. Although for a layperson to have painted them, he must...

"Have you studied anatomy?" She gestures to the Dark Pharaoh, although she deliberately averts her eyes. "You seem to have a good grasp on what internal organs look like when they are no longer internal."

"No I've never studied anatomy, this is all from my imagination."

Sylvia you can have a Psychology and a Medicine check

Is anyone looking at any of the other paintings?

Colt cannot take his eyes off the one he looked at originally. The discussion between Sylvia and the artist is a distant buzz in the background.

Having had more than enough, Jake finally turned his head away. He blinked, trying to erase the image from his mind.

"Well, what do you think? I am asking for £50 per canvas."

Sylvia psychology:72: 1d100 ⇒ 85

Sylvia Medicine:60: 1d100 ⇒ 6

Sylvia can tell that Miles Shipley is suffering from some kind of drug addiction.

Sylvia continues to avert her eyes from the paintings. "I think...I'm most curious as to where you get your inspiration. You say imagination, but this..." She once again gestures mutely to the painting of the Dark Pharaoh. "That level of detail, without any study of anatomy? It goes far beyond what I would expect from mere imagination."

Remember why you're here, Sylvia.

"To be honest, we are far more interested in the process than in the paintings themselves. An...acquaintance suggested you might know something about how to travel through the dream state. That you might be getting your inspiration from there." She focuses intently on Shipley's face. "Perhaps with the aid of certain drugs?"

Sylvia, make a Fast Talk or Charm roll please.

Charm, 15%: 1d100 ⇒ 19

[i]At this point Shipley's mother says,

"I think we could all do with a cup of tea. Perhaps you two gentlemen could assist me."

At the same time Shipley leans in close to Sylvia and whispers

"Drugs yes. I take the secret drugs he gives me and then he tells me what to paint."

Sylvia blinks, briefly caught off guard. He? But realizing that perhaps Shipley is reluctant to talk about his drug use in front of his mother, she smiles instead of immediately asking questions. "Tea would be lovely, thank you Mrs. Shipley." She casts a significant look at Colt, still entranced in the painting, hoping to get his attention. "I believe Colt is particularly interested in English varieties of tea." Unspoken, she tries to get across the message, Ply her for information while you have the chance.

It's a very complicated look.

Once Mrs. Shipley is out of the room, she leans in closer to Miles. Not quite whispering, but close enough that it would be difficult for anyone in another room to overhear the conversation. And also, psychologically, to create a more intimate atmosphere. One better suited to the sharing of secrets.

"I have heard of such drugs, but never had the chance to get any myself. Do you mind sharing who this 'he' is you're talking about?"

"Yes Ma'am. Of course." Agreed Jake as he beat a hasty exit from the room with the paintings. "I feel the need for a spot." Jake commented, grateful for the distraction.

[i]Shipley's mother leads you down into the kitchen, a well kept and relatively clean room although there is a somehwt foul smell coming from what is presumably the basement area although the basement door is locked with a padlock.

Bertha makes the tea and asks you to hold the tray, she speaks to you softly and calmly.

Can you make a POW roll please Jake

opposed pow roll:40: 1d100 ⇒ 7

--------------------------

Meanwhile, upstairs, Shipley goes to a desk and unlocks a drawer and takes out a small box. He opens it to show a syringe and a small vial filled with a greenish coloured liquid.

"He came to visit me, at first in my dreams and then in person, he told me if I took this I would enter the dream state and see wonderful things, and so I have. I have moved backwards and forwards through time. Would you like to try?"

POW (50%): 1d100 ⇒ 32

Jake, you feel as if Mrs Shipley is trying to control your mind but you manage to shake off the effect.

As she realises her spell has had no effect her form starts to shift. His jaw elongates and the rest of his body transform to form a snake like creature.

Sanity roll please Jake

Sanity (48%): 1d100 ⇒ 53

Colt finally follows Jake and Mrs. Shipley to the kitchen... when Jake practically drags him to follow. He looks back over his shoulder at the horrific scene until it is out of sight behind the closed door. He then stares at the padlocked door.

Wonder whats kept in there that it needs to be locked away.

He turns as Jake almost knocks a teacup off the counter.

1d100 ⇒ 27 Sanity (32)

Wow! Can't believe one of my characters in this game finally made a roll... though probably a higher difficulty level :-)

Jake sanity loss: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Colt you are unaffected by seeing the transformation.

Jake screamed aloud as the woman transformed into a horror in front of him. He dropped the teacup and stumbled back until he hit the wall, clutching his walking cane.

Sylvia takes the syringe, although she makes no move to inject herself. Instead she studies the green liquid, trying to remember if she's ever seen anything like it before.

Medicine, 60%: 1d100 ⇒ 57 On the off chance she can identify it.

"I...wouldn't want to take your supply away from you." She carefully hands the syringe back to Shipley. "I know how rare such things can be. But if you wouldn't mind introducing me to your supplier, I would be very appreciative."

Suddenly she hears a scream coming from downstairs. "Jake? What's..." She realizes how inane the question is before she finishes it and begins to run back downstairs to the others.

I'm assuming that we weren't so far apart Sylvia couldn't hear a scream from downstairs. Timing up to the GM in terms of whether Shipley had a chance to say anything else or not.

Map updated

Sylvia you are unable to identify the liquid.

The next moment you hear the scream from downstairs.

As you hear the scream Shipley says,

With that he giggles and goes back to painting, not saying another word.

So Combat order is as follows:

Colt
Ssathaa (Serpent Person)
Jake
Sylvia

Sylvia it will take you 1 round to get downstairs to the kitchen

Colt... strangely calm for some reason steps to the other side of the room, and draws his fathers old Colt Army revolver, and points it at the monstrosity.

1d100 ⇒ 17 Firearms (20%)

1d10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Bullet

"Jake! Let's get out of here"!

Wow! What's going on with Colt...

Colt's bullet flies through the air, stroking the serpent creature causing it to hiss in pain.

In retaliation it moves across towards Colt, although it is too far away to get to him this turn.

Jake, your action

Jake gave his cane a twist and drew his sword/cane in a flash. Still frightened at the... snake thing, he lashed out with his sword.
Fighting (Sword Cane Sword, Medium) 57%: 1d100 ⇒ 19 damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (3) = 5

dodge:37: 1d100 ⇒ 62

Ssathaa tries to dodge Jake's cane sword but fails and howls in pain.

In retaliation he tries to bite Jake

bite:35%: 1d100 ⇒ 34

damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Jake if it hits can you make an extreme Con check

Sylvia spends the round running to the kitchen and arrives at the end - can you make a Sanity check please Sylvia.

So that means it's back to Colt

Forgot to say Jake you can try to make a dodge check to avoid being bitten.

Jake tried to dodge the snake woman...
Dodge (50%): 1d100 ⇒ 20

Sanity, 60%: 1d100 ⇒ 76

Sylvia Sanity loss: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Jake you manage to dodge the serpentfolk's bite.

Colt, your action.

Colt is in a panic at the frenetic pace of action. He tries to aim at the approaching snake person without hitting his friends.

Bonus Die for Point Blank Range, but Penalty Die for firing into melee?

1d100 ⇒ 36 Firearms (20%)

1d10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Bullet

He then tries to run away from the creature dodging as he goes, as his bullet barely misses the beast.

Sasathaa tries to attack Jake again.

bite:35%: 1d100 ⇒ 43

damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Jake can you attempt to dodge, if you fail can you make an extreme Con check

Jake it is now your action

Sasathaa misses Jake. but just barely

With gunfire echoing in the other room, Jake dodged and parried as the snake woman tried to bite him.
He counterattacked with a lunge.
Fighting (Sword Cane Sword, Medium) 57%: 1d100 ⇒ 42
damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (2) = 4

Sasathaa fails to dodge, he is still there but only just.

Sylvia, your action

Sylvia freezes at the sight of the snake monster attacking Jake and Colt, eyes wide. Then, eyes never leaving the monster, she begins scrabbling in her purse for her pistol. Hands shaking slightly, she aims at the creature and fires.

Firearms, 40%: 1d200 ⇒ 25
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 1

Sylvia's bullet flies through the air, striking the serpentfolk between the eyes, it falls back dead.

What would you like to do next?

The echos of the gunfire fading in his ears, Jake leaned against the wall still gasping for breath. His arm trembled as hie continued to hold his sword out towards the snake-woman, the bloody tip trembling along with him.
"What... what was that? WHAT WAS THAT SNAKE... THING?" He asked aloud, uncomprehending.

You can have a Cthulu Mythos roll on the snake creature.