Finagling Flumphs into WotW

[Tobias]

Ok, as a quick bit of background, I'm going to be running Carrion Crown as a solo campaign for my wife. We've decided that we weren't going to be using optional insanity rules. Part of it is having insanity rules in just about every other campaign we play, and she'd rather not have her lone adventurer go mad on her. Besides, Illmarsh will be still be pretty frightening without the added insanity loss.

Spoiler:

I was breaking down the adventure for ideas to use as a bit of foreshadowing when I was struck by the fact that the invasion of the mi-go and the weakening of reality that is letting Shub-Niggurath in is the exact type of thing Flumphs would seek to warn people about.

I realize that Flumphs do not fit into a Lovecraftian game. That's ok for the game I'm going to run. I'm not abandoning the tone or theme, and I don't plan on having them actually getting involved in any investigation or fighting, but I think that, used right, they could provide a few moments where the tone rises for one last gasp of air before the final horrific reveals.

Spoiler:

Part of what I'm thinking of is that the Flumphs had a very small colony where they could keep an eye on the area. When the skum found the moit and reality started to tear, they spread out to do what they could. Unfortunately, they couldn't find anyone in Illmarsh they thought would listen. I'm thinking of adding some flumph bodies in the Mansion near the marsh giant, and maybe a living one hiding in the tunnels near the Colour.

So here's a thought experiment. Any suggestions on how to add a moment of Misfit Monster levity, either before or during WotW without completely throwing out the tone of the piece?

[Dreaming Psion]

Well, I think you could play up the ironic elements. The flumphs are trying to let the townspeople of Iltmarsh (or those of nearby towns) that something was up. But the people, being an insular and xenophobic lot, could bring out the torches and pitchforks and go after the flumphs, getting ready to put THEM to the sword. Maybe the flumphs even take the blame. It's up to the pc to rescue them.

Kinda like a sidequest. A reverse of what you're used to seeing in Lovecraftian stuff in that the alien menace threatens the mundanes, but this time it's put on its head.

And then when it hits the fan with the really serious bug eyed monsters arise, you can have some of the "flumph lovers" ask why didn't everybody listen?

Basically, playing up the sad irony of the flumph and how it relates to normal mankind at the same time as the odd out of place humor.