+ All Categories
Home > Documents > The Starry Darkness v3

The Starry Darkness v3

Date post: 04-Jun-2018
Category:
Upload: justin-farquhar
View: 223 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend

of 15

Transcript
  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    1/15

    The Starry Darkness

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    2/15

    TIMELINE1835: a prosperous merchant builds the 'Corbitt' house, but immediately falls ill and sells it to a

    Mr. Walter Corbitt, esquire.

    1843: Egypt, Professor Enoch Bowen, archaeologist and student of the occult, found the ShiningTrapezohedron in the Labyrinth of Kish.

    1844: May Professor Enoch Bowen ceases his excavations of Nephren-Ka's tomb upon finding

    the Shining Trapezohedron, and returns to Providence. Bowen founds the Starry Wisdom sect,

    buying the old Free-Will Church for its headquarters. This cult used the crystal to summon the

    Haunter, to whom they made blood sacrifices of infants and children.

    1846: Disappearances begin in Providence that rumors link to the Starry Wisdom Church. The

    Haunter had decided to allow its links to this realm to grow through these rituals, so that it

    might find the most suitable host for its essence. It told its followers it awaited the proper time

    and place to come forth in the shape of man.

    1849: establishment in Boston of Chapel of Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of

    Secrets

    1850: Walter Corbitt joins the Church of Starry Wisdom

    1852: Walter Corbitt is sued by neighbors, who petition to force him to leave the area "in

    consequence of his surious [sic] habits an unauspicious demeanor."

    The Starry Wisdoms power grew as Bowen received direct guidance from the Haunter. In

    return for the blood sacrifices, the Haunter gave the cultists information by means of which they

    obtained various artifacts and numerous dread tomes. They collected copies of theNecronomicon, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, Liber Ivonis, Cultes de Goules, De Vermis Mysteriis,

    Pnakotic Manuscripts, and the Book of Dzyan.

    1863: A branch in Townshend, Vermont, opened under the leadership of Dr. Raymond Flagg. At

    this point, the Starry Wisdom Cult in Providence had over 200 members.

    1865: Enoch Bowen dies. Aseneth Bowen, a relative of Enoch, took over the central sect.

    1866 Evidently Corbitt wins the lawsuit. His obituary in 1866 states that he still lived in the

    same place. It also states that a second lawsuit was being waged to prevent Corbitt from being

    buried in his basement, as provided by his will. Executor of Walter Corbitt's will was ReverendMichael Thomas (age 25), pastor of the Chapel of Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter

    of Secrets.

    1868: The Reverend Samuel Shadrach Solomon Akeley, father of Abednego Akeley, dies.

    Abednego succeeds him as reverend, but begins preaching the doctrines of the Starry Wisdom

    cult to his flock after travels through southern New England [ie. After a period of study in

    Providence and possibly Boston]. The affiliation of his church in Townshend is transferred from

    the traditional Protestant parent-body to that of the Starry Wisdom sect. Controversy and

    scandal follow.

    1869: A group of Irish vandalize the Starry Wisdom Church in Providence, apparently in

    retaliation for their perceived involvement in kidnapping a fellow.

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    3/15

    1871: Abednego Akeley dies at the age of 39 and his church ostensibly closes. Many of the

    congregation move to Providence. In fact Akeley has had his brain removed by the Outer Ones in

    order to explore the universe. The activity of the cult here has simply been moved underground,

    now taking place in secret on hilltops and in the basement of Akeleys church, Our Lord of

    Celestial Wisdom. Meanwhile, key community leaders are gradually brought under the influence

    of the Outer Ones or replaced with those who are already.

    A branch of the Starry Wisdom sect in Chicago known as the Celestial Providence sect is

    disbanded by the Great Chicago Fire.

    1877: May The Starry Wisdom cult in Providence is disbanded after threats from the locals. The

    cultists leave town by year's end. Aseneth Bowen was commanded by the Haunter to leave the

    Shining Trapezohedron in the church for safekeeping. Empowered by the Haunter, Aseneth

    wove a spell casting an aura of dread and fear over the building. The crystal was left in the

    church, along with tomes of eldritch evil. No one in the neighborhood dared to explore the

    church.

    Many of the sect members establish themselves in Townshend where the sect has begun to

    practice more openly as the Spiritual Church of Celestial Providence. The sect here is about 100

    strong.

    Others migrate to Boston, where they swell the attendance at the Chapel of Contemplation by

    about 100.

    c. 1880: Ghost stories centering around the former Starry Wisdom Church begin around this

    time. A Yorkshire branch of the cult arises, possibly founded by Dr. Raymond Flagg.

    Between 1880 and 1890: A Starry Wisdom cult flourishes in Yorkshire, England.

    1890: By this time, the Yorkshire Starry Wisdom cult has fallen apart.

    1893: The spell around the original church prevented anyone from entering the building until a

    reporter from the Providence Telegram, Edwin M. Lillibridge, possessed of great force of will,

    made his way into the building to investigate stories of the church being haunted. He found the

    crystal and accidentally summoned the Haunter. The Haunter killed Lillibridge in a failed

    attempt to merge with the hapless human.

    1895: An edition of De Vermis Mysteriis is supposedly published by Starry Wisdom Press, but

    no copies have been found.

    1909: Starry Wisdom Press allegedly releases a version of Unaussprechlichen Kulten as well,

    but no copies are ever found.

    1912 Secret raid on and Chapel of Contemplation & Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets

    occasioned by affidavits swearing that members of the church were responsible for the

    disappearances of neighborhood children. Chapel is closed. During the raid, three policemen

    and seventeen cult members were killed by gunplay or fire. Autopsy reports are singularly

    undetailed and uninformative, as though the coroner had not actually performed examinations.

    Though 54 members of the church were arrested, all but eight were released. The records hintof illegal intervention in the proceedings by important local official, offering an explanation of

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    4/15

    shy stories of the battle - the biggest criminal action in the city's history - never appeared in

    print. Pastor Michael Thomas (age 71) was arrested and sentenced to 40 years in prison on five

    counts of second-degree murder.

    1914 The Church of Our Lord Granter of Secrets re-establishes itself in Boston as the Spiritual

    Order of Celestial Providence. This is more of a closed society and one that engages in humansacrifice rarely and with great care. The emphasis is on the development of personal power and

    knowledge.

    1917 Pastor Michael Thomas (age 76) escaped from prison and fled the state. [He escaped with

    the aid of sorcery by stealing copper pipes he made a copper dagger and used it in a ritual to

    summon and then bind a dimensional shamble.]

    1920: Aleister Crowley's (flawed) English translation of the Black Book of the Skull is published

    by Starry Wisdom Press.

    Early 1920s: A branch of the Starry Wisdom Cult is established in Arkham.

    1920s: A Los Angeles-area branch of the Starry Wisdom Cult reaches the peak of its popularity,

    lasting through the 1930s

    PLOT IDEASThe local Baptist (or whatever) minister in Townshend dies and is replaced by an outsider from

    elsewhere in New England. This feisty clergyman is conservative in his views and unlike his

    predecessor is not under the influence of the sect or the Outer Ones. He realizes that there is

    something sinister about the practices of a spiritualist, evangelical sect here based at Our Lord

    of Celestial Wisdom. He observes their services and some of their suspicious activities. He

    begins a correspondence with another minister based in Brattleboro. He begins to preach

    against the sect, declaring that it is in league with Satan. He meets and discusses the sect with

    Henry Akeley. He writes of witnessing strange ceremonies in the hills. He apparently has some

    sort of stroke and/or religious experience. Now confined to a wheelchair, he says that the sect in

    fact speaks the word of God.

    The second minister comes to investigate and dies under strange circumstances a heart attack,

    or frozen to death.

    Involving the investigators: one of them (an anthropologist or investigator of the occult or

    simply someone who previously found evidence of a sect in Townshend) began acorrespondence with the first minister after writing to him on hearing about a sinister sect in

    Townshend. He receives a strange, transformed letter from the minister. Then hears of the

    second ministers mysterious death. He gathers some trustworthy colleagues and departs

    IDEAS FOR EVENTS

    They are being spied upon, their correspondence etc is intercepted etc If one or two characters explore the woods or hills by themselves they hear buzzing

    voices tempting them with secret power and knowledge.

    The characters are barricaded in a remote house near Townshend. Why are they here?They are protecting somebody or something that is here. Have they been lured there?Are they simply staying here and under attack? Perhaps they are protecting a

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    5/15

    clergyman, a clergyman who, if they fail to protect him, will either suffer 'a heart attack'

    or 'a sudden conversion'.

    Perhaps it is the ministers church.The investigators are looking into the ministers

    activities. Perhaps they find a journal or some correspondence here hearing about

    revelations about the sect activities and stories from Henry Akeley etc. It is snowing

    outside. The Outer Ones and the cultists, realizing that they are being investigated,

    sabotage the investigators vehicles, disconnect the phone etc, trapping them inside.

    Outside the snow is deep. They are surrounded by cultists and Outer Ones at night. They

    have cut the phone line (but the outer Ones can hack into it). The want to persuade the

    characters to release their hostage. They can do so by freezing the house, breaking the

    heating etc. They will offer the characters all sorts of special knowledge and power.

    Let the investigators find footprints By speaking with Henry Akeley (they find out about the ministers dealings with him) ,

    the characters will learn the old stories about creatures in the hills. If they earn his trust

    he will play them the recording he made a few years earlier near the mouth of the cave.

    He can give them directions to find the mouth of the cave. If they go there and can

    somehow get past the 20 ton boulder that blocks the door (perhaps by waiting until it

    opens) they can enter the outer chambers of the Fungi Outpost.

    Let the investigators find standing stones in the hills and nearer the climax, they witnessa ritual in the woods. Faithful followers are taken to be hypnotized by the Outer Ones

    and later controlled. A ritual is witnessed (by investigators or the minister?) in which an

    Outer One descends from the sky wrapped in robes and appearing as an angel.

    CHAPTER IDEAS

    PRELUDE

    The Haunting (with appropriate clue a letter from Abenego Akeley (at that time of a

    Congregational Church in Townshend) regarding visiting them before moving onto Providence:

    he is to spend time with Pastor Michael Thomas as part of his education, before completing it in

    Providence)

    VERMONT

    BOSTON

    There is a major branch in the city of Boston (clues leading to it may be found in the OldTownshend Church. Mr Noyes is a high priest here, as is ('the doctor'). Leads might include the

    location and significance of the Free-Will Church and some secret that is kept there. Could it be

    an item that gives access to Round Hill/Dark Mountain?

    PROVIDENCE

    The investigators enter the Free-Will Church and retrieve an item that gives them access to

    Round Hill.

    RETURN TO VERMONT

    The investigators enter Round Hill. What can they achieve? They cant defeat the Outer Ones.They can gain understanding.

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    6/15

    VERMONT

    BACKGROUNDFollowing esoteric knowledge granted by the Haunter in the Dark at the Free-Will Church in

    Providence, Dr. Raymond Flagg travelled to Dark Mountain in Vermont and made contact withthe Haunters followers the Outer Ones. On that night, a pact of alliance was made between the

    Starry Wisdom Sect and the Outer Ones the Starry Wisdom sect would further the interests of

    the Outer Ones in the human realm, protecting their secrecy and bringing them more human

    followers ; the Outer Ones would protect the Starry Wisdom sect, give them access to esoteric

    knowledge and would take selected initiates into the cosmos with them.

    Rev. Michael Thomas escaped from prison in 1917 by making a copper dagger out of stolen

    pipes and summoning a dimensional shambler. With the help of covert members of the Starry

    Wisdom sect in Providence, Chicago and Vermont, under the pseudonym Pastor Malachi, he

    establishes an Evangelical churchin Arkham and re-establishes the Starry Wisdom chapel in

    Townshend in another guise. A second priest Rev. Robert Gill is an ordained Protestant

    minister and leads the Arkham sect Michael Thomas is careful about travelling much in

    Massachusetts.

    The evangelical sect that appears in Townshend seems to be an independent evangelical sect

    called the Spiritual Church of Celestial Providence. Many of the locals here are descended from

    those who fled from Providence in 1877 and the surnames Bowen and Flagg, as well as the

    first names Enoch, Raymond and Aseneth.The sect partially controls the village and the

    surrounding area. It worships Nyarlathotep in the form of the Haunter in the Dark as well as

    serving his Celestial Host the Mi-Go who similarly worship The Haunter and have a large

    mining colony in the mountains near here. They have a significant collection of mythos and

    occult texts, a body of esoteric knowledge passed down from encounters with the Haunter in

    Providence, and a few artifacts gifted by the Outer Ones. Collectively they also have a significant

    armory of conventional weapons.

    The revived sect appears to be provisionally Protestant but is in fact a revival of the Starry

    Wisdom sect, teaching the tenets of that creed in a coded form. The sect is led by a 79 year-old

    (in 1920) cleric called Pastor Malachi (aka Rev. Michael Thomas ). Pastor Malachi begins to

    preach in Townshend. He seems to have paperwork indicating that he is a protestant minister

    but it is forged. He preaches what appears to be esoteric or spiritualist evangelical Christianity.

    The cult has a superficial appearance of being an ordinary church but like some other rural

    churches in Vermont has some queer customs. The sect focuses around the granting of esoteric

    secrets from their Lord and has a hierarchical structure of an Outer Flock and two Inner

    Circles. Using esoteric knowledge passed through the generations a few select initiates known

    as Wizards have achieved a kind of prolonged life a mummification process which actually

    more resembles a living death. Other initiates are rewarded for their life of service with The

    Celestial Rapture or joining the stars. This involves being taken away by the Outer Ones to

    have their brains removed and placed in metal canisters which keep the brain alive more-or-

    less indefinitely and which can survive the journey through space to the planet Yuggoth or

    Moon Colony. In fact, unknown to the cult members, the Outer Ones, being quite indifferent to

    humanity, are quite neglectful and the majority of these Chosen people are either incinerated

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    7/15

    or after being placed in brain canisters are abandoned in storage rooms in the colony. Enough

    Celestial Voyagers return however with stories of their travels to inspire the faithful.

    The minister of the main church in Townshend Rev. Michael Hewitt Appleton speaks out about

    this as a false teaching and he sends Dilbert Gogarty, the Lay Preacher, to investigate this new

    minister. Rev. Appleton challenges Pastor Malachi on more than one occasion as to his origins.Malachi is cagey (and worried). Meanwhile Gogarty travels to Brattleboro and Boston but is

    unable to find a record of Malachi's religious education or history. He witnesses services taking

    place at the old chapel on the edge of town that Abednego Akeley used in the 19thcentury and

    which has been officially closed since 1871 (Our Lord of Celestial Wisdom).

    Rev. Appleton strikes up a correspondence with Rev. Rudolph Braswell, a minister in

    Brattleboro, and soon there are stories in the Brattleboro papers about this religious rivalry and

    claims that they are in league with Satan, witches etc. There may be hints about their coded

    doctrines: ascension into the heavens for the faithful, gifts of great secrets and powers from the

    Celestial Lord, visits from 'Angels' etc. The two ministers vow to do something about the newsect and are in the process of appealing for help from the Church.

    Rev. Braswell, in Brattleboro, also keeps a journal of his correspondence and thoughts and

    continues to publish outraged letters and articles in the Brattleboro Reformer about this new

    sect.

    Meanwhile, Gogarty finds out deeper secrets of the history of the Chapel and the Starry Wisdom

    sect and he hears stories of mysterious voices in the woods.

    He also spies on a service held by Pastor Malachi. The Pastor appears to have miraculous

    powers. Among other things, during a spiritualist-style ceremony, he summons the spirits ofpeople who have supposedly 'ascended to the Heavens' and has them speak from inside a

    wooden box. Although their voices are strange, they seem to be recognised by others and relate

    incredible tales of being carried by wondrous beings called the Outer Ones to a fantastic city of

    light in the mountains. And then travelling through the cosmos to other worlds.

    He also sees a group leaving the Chapel after sunset on a moonless night and heading into the

    hills. He is later found on top of a nearby mountain, frozen to death.

    There are articles in the Brattleboro Reformer about this mysterious event. Rev. Appleton

    suspects that this is not an accident and writes to Rev. Braswell about it.

    Rev. Appleton continues to investigate the church, the history of Michael Thomas, the history of

    Abednego Akeleys church in Townshend and links to stories of witchcraft and strange creatures

    in the hills.

    Rev. Appleton becomes more convinced of the danger as he approaches the truth and witnesses,

    first hand the footprints, voices, standing stones in the hills as well as the true identity of Pastor

    Malachi. The second clergyman may have been publishing rants about the sect for a while and

    then becomes silent as he realizes the nature of what hes up against.

    HOOK:

    In Brattleboro there are stories of a controversial new evangelical sect in Townshend. Thelocal minister claims they are in league with the devil. Remarkably the minister has had a

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    8/15

    conversion experience. A minister from Battleboro who went to visit him has now

    disappeared.

    A story like this might reach as far as New York.

    There are also leads to Vermont in the Chapel of Contemplation:

    A Brattleboro receipt near the paint pot Church records from the 19 th century that include letters from branches of

    the Starry Wisdom Church in Providence, Chicago and Townshend

    At this point, the players may enter a correspondence with Rev. Braswell. He will offer to

    recommend their help to Appleton if they express and interest in investigating

    Suddenly Rev. Appleton goes quiet and then word gets out that he has had a stroke. He also

    relates a profound religious experience that transformed his life. He makes comparisons with

    Paul on the road to Damascus. An angel appeared to him and revealed the truth. Saying thatthere was a place in the Heavens for him if he stopped preaching against the new sect. He is now

    preaching the benign or benevolent nature of the new sect and wishes to hand the church to the

    new sect. He invites Rev. Braswell to Townshend for a great revelation.

    In actual fact Appleton, seen as too much of an ongoing threat to the new sect, was kidnapped

    (from his house? His car?) and has been replaced by an Outer One.

    [Braswell will write to the investigators of this in an alarmed way and mention

    that he is going to Townshend to investigate immediately]

    Rev. Braswell goes to investigate. Rev. Appleton is now confined to darkness and pushedaround in a wheelchair by a somewhat sinister doctor from Boston called Doctor Clarence

    Hayneswho claims to have saved Appletons life and who never leaves his side. His speech and

    movement appear to be affected. There are other rural and urban characters including a

    farmer called Walter Brown and a well-bred Bostonian called Mr. Noyes who seem to linger

    around the house. At Appletons house, Braswell is told that Appleton will surely be ascending

    to the Heavens and he is made an offer to join the sect. He refuses and tries to leave. The Outer-

    One posing as Appleton kills him.

    TOWNSHEND,VERMONT

    [link to historical photos of Townshend:http://www.townshendvt.org/collection.html]

    OVERVIEW

    Dark Mountain

    This is the mountain to the south of Townshend.

    Round Hill

    This is a domed mountain to the east of Townshend.

    WEST TOWNSHEND

    http://www.townshendvt.org/collection.htmlhttp://www.townshendvt.org/collection.htmlhttp://www.townshendvt.org/collection.htmlhttp://www.townshendvt.org/collection.html
  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    9/15

    CHURCHES IN TOWNSHEND

    South Windham church (Baptist, 1888)

    3264 Windham Hill Road, West Townshend.

    A Congregational church (protestant)

    West River Valley Church (1817, aka The Old

    Church)

    This church was abandoned from 1882 and then used

    again from 1895 to 1905. Now Our Lord of Celestial Wisdom details below. Next door is abuilding that includes a small store and a post office.

    Windham Congregational Church

    (north of West Townshend)

    Congregational church (United Church of Christ) in Newfane

    (back towards Brattleboro)

    When the investigators arrive in Townshend they find that Rev. Braswell has been discovered

    dead of a heart attack. Dr Haynes and the others will protect the body from further investigation

    (using mind-control sorcery if necessary). The body will be taken to a funeral home inBrattleboro until the funeral a few days later. If they are able to investigate the body, there are

    unusual burn marks on the skin on both hands and on the soles of the feet. (Medicine or First

    Aid to recognize these marks as characteristic of electrocution).

    The local police are to some extent under the influence of the sect and are not interested.

    Appletons Journal a critical clue is located under the seat of Appletons car [how to ensure

    they find it?]. Other important evidence would be Braswells letters from Appleton which are

    still in Braswells study. Within two days, Walter Brown willbe sent to try to retrieve these.

    Now of course the Brattleboro Reformer carries stories of theuntimely death of its contributor and speculates as to whether

    it is suspicious or not.

    If Appleton is interviewed he says that he will be ascending to

    Heaven soon and how wonderful it will be. Wont the

    investigators join him? He promises them all sorts of esoteric

    knowledge, hinting at sorcery and travel to mysterious celestial

    spheres.

    OUR LORD OF CELESTIAL WISDOM (WEST RIVER VALLEY

    CHURCH)

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    10/15

    The church is on the main West River Road from Townshend, on the river side. It dates from

    1817. This was originally the main church in Townshend.

    Dr. Raymond Flagg started a branch of the Starry Wisdom sect in Townshend in 1863. One of

    the converts, Rev. Abednego Akeley, bought the West River Valley Church in 1868 after he

    returned from travelling in Boston and Providence, learning the ways of Starry Wisdom andthen transferred its affiliation from the Protestant Church to the Starry Wisdom Church. There

    was an outraged response and the church was regularly criticized or attacked. Rev. Akeley was

    shot by an unknown assailant. And seriously wounded After Rev. Akeleys death1871 the sect

    officially closed and an attempt was made to re-open the church. The church was unpopular

    however due to its reputation. A new Protestant church was built in Townshend. The West

    River Valley Church was then used for about a decade as a Methodist Church, but was again

    abandoned for similar reasons. It has been abandoned since 1905, until Rev. Malachi and Rev.

    Gill refurbished it.

    At first glance this appears to be an ordinary village church. The Chapel has a bad reputationand people avoid it. Close inspection reveals that the cross above the altar on the stained glass

    windows is a shining star, those windows also bear a curious three-lobed eye symbol and

    images of people being borne away by unusual, many-limbed angels.

    Behind the church, beyond some trees, and a swampy area, is an island in a bend in the West

    River. There are a number of boulders in the river on either side of the island, making it possible

    to ford here and cross over to the area of Dark Mountain.

    The basement contains a number of mythos texts including Latin and several copies of the new

    English versions of The Book of Eibon and De Vermis Mysteriis, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, plus

    Aleister Crowley's (flawed) English translation of the Black Book of the Skull, all published byStarry Wisdom Press (registered office in Romania).

    Also in the basement are two brain cylinders containing the immortal souls of initiates who

    have returned from the Heavens (names and details). On certain occasions they are brought up

    to the altar and attached to the Speaking Device which allows them to tell tales of their

    wonderful journeys and the sights they have seen (the Mi-Go colony in Vermont, the Moon,

    Outer Space and Yuggoth). These minds are now quite unhinged. They also suffer from a

    profound longing to return to the stars. (What will they say if re-attached ?). These minds also

    possess a significant degree of cthulhu mythos knowledge.

    There are also symbols of the Tri-Lobed Eye and artwork of people being taken by multi-armed

    angels whose faces are a mass of coloured light and of people travelling among the stars. A

    church record describes Aseneth Bowen commanded by Our Lord Granter of Secrets to protect

    the Free-Will Church (i.e. the Trapezohedron) until the time is right. There is also

    correspondence with Rev. Robert Gills branch of the sect which he is establishing in the old

    Bayfriars Church (540 E Church St, Arkham, location #714).

    In the basement is a series of vaults and tunnels that contain brain canisters and communication

    equipment that goes with it. Perhaps the investigators surprise two Outer Ones inspecting or

    repairing the vaults or preparing something, (Reverend Thomas is that you?one of them

    buzzes) they are unarmed workers but could try to use mining equipment to defend themselves.The door to the Outpost is a heavy sarcophagus lid in a crypt, and it has been left open by the

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    11/15

    Outer Ones. There is also a tunnel leading a few hundred meters away to Round Hill Burial

    Ground where it exits in a locked crypt.

    [How can I restrict access to the church initially?]

    In the woods, about a mile to the north, near the east bank of Tannery Brook is the mouth of acave. This cave leads to the western sector of Round Hill Colony, a sector which historically has

    been used primarily for human agents of the Outer Ones.

    Perhaps there can be a showdown with Pastor Malachi here, who is of course a sorcerer. Agents,

    including Malachi could be followed here on occasion. Water normally pours from the cave and

    into Tannery Brook. Pastor Malachi and some other agents (who?) know a secret command

    which causes the flow of water to reduce to a trickle within a few seconds. The cave can then be

    entered, initially by crawling - it is only3 feet high at the entrance, rising to 5 feet after 10 feet

    distance and 6 feet after another 30 feet distance.

    He wants to make an offer to the characters. Maybe they have no choice but to flee into thetunnels of the Outer Ones. How would they ever escape? They would be followed in. The

    investigators would have to try to hide and outmaneuver their enemies in the tunnels. They

    might encounter one or two Outer Ones. If they stray too far underground they are bound to be

    captured. The deeper tunnels are wider and perfectly smooth. They might find storage rooms

    with brain canisters, a scientific lab, mining equipment, a map room, old living chambers, an

    armory with weapons and/or armour. The near chambers seem abandoned and include

    equipment from the 19thcentury. There might be chambers for humans too - living quarters

    with artificial light, a library of occult texts, an armoury with weapons from the 19thcentury and

    today. Some of these weapons might be illegal dynamite, grenades, Thomson SMGs, a

    Browning machine gun. There could be small spheres of 24-carat gold. There could even befuturistic weaponry and equipment granted by Nyarlathotep a Kevlar vest, a taser, Mace, a

    microwave oven, an electric freezer, modern drugs. There might be one or more cultists living in

    here, perhaps in some kind of suspended animation. There may be a room here where brainless

    human bodies are kept in suspended animation. And a huge library of brain-cylinders.

    CONCLUSION:Killing Malachi or otherwise disrupting the sect. Sanity reward = ?

    Closing off the tunnel in the old church

    Destroying the old church

    ORIENTATION NOTES FROM WHISPERER IN DARKNESS

    The old Akeley place is on the side of Dark Mountain and is due south of Townshend. Woods on

    Round Hill (where he is to find the black stone) are to the east of the house. The recording was

    made on May Eve 1915, at the closed mouth of a cave in the wooded west slope of Dark

    Mountain as it rises out of Lees Swamp.

    Therefore, Dark Mountain is real-life Bald Mountain. The Akeley Place is across the West River

    from Townshend. Lees Swamp must be marshy area around real-life Negro Brook in the valley

    just west of Dark Mountain. Round Hill is real-life Crane Mountain.

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    12/15

    The Chapel could be what is now Calvary Chapel (1817) located in West Townshend, West River

    Road.

    KEY CHARACTERS

    Rev. Appleton

    Appleton appears to have had a stroke. [Unless they can examine him, Critical Medicine to spot

    that this is not true]. The real Appleton has been replaced by an Outer One. He is covered in

    gown and a scarf. His face appears to move very little and his speech is affected. He is unable to

    abide light of any brightness. Even moderate light will cause him pain and half his skills. When

    necessary, this Outer One carries an electric gun under Appletons gown.

    Dr. Haynes

    Middle-class Bostonian cultist and sorcerer.

    Walter Brown

    Rural cultist and sorcerer. Sandy hair? Lives in a rundown hillside place near the deep woods

    Mr Noyes

    Middle-class Bostonian cultist and sorcerer.

    Pastor Malachi

    A 79 year old sorcerer and an old friend of Walter Corbitt.

    Henry Akeley

    To the south of Townshend is Henry Akeleys farm. A trim, white house with two storeys and an

    attic, built around 1800. The lawn is well-kept with a stone bordered path leading to a Georgian

    doorway.

    At this time he has a housekeeper.

    A retired anthropologist from the University of Vermont. The folklorist is present in his house

    on the side of the hill and is already gathering information about the strange creatures of the

    area. He has a recording made in 1915 near the mouth of a cave of buzzing and human voices.

    Akeley cannot be persuaded to join the characters investigation but he is willing to show them

    where the cave is. There are indeed footprints there.

    He also has photographs of a footprint of an Outer One, the mouth of a woodland cave blocked

    by a round boulder with similar tracks in front of it and another of a circle of standing stones onthe summit of a wild hill

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    13/15

    PROVIDENCE

    The Free-Will Church of Starry Wisdom

    Access: Cellar door

    Steeple: windowless

    Free-Will Baptist Church (in reality St. John's Roman Catholic

    Church (1871))

    352 Atwells Avenue

    Images:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/cthulhuwho1/3810830018/in/photostream/

    If the Shining Trapezohedron is removed from the Church,

    Nyarlathotep will if possible command his human and Outer One

    servants to return it.

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    14/15

  • 8/13/2019 The Starry Darkness v3

    15/15

    APPENDIX:

    TRANSCRIPT OF HENRY AKELEYS RECORDING(Indistinguishable Sounds)

    (A Cultivated Male Human Voice)

    is the Lord of the Wood, even to and the gifts of the men of Leng so from the wells of night to

    the gulfs of space, and from the gulfs of space to the wells of night, ever the praises of Great

    Cthulhu, of Tsathoggua, and of Him Who is not to be Named. Ever Their praises, and abundance to

    the Black Goat of the Woods. Ia! Shub-Niggurath! The Goat with a Thousand Young!

    (A Buzzing Imitation of Human Speech)

    Ia! Shub-Niggurath! The Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young!

    (Human Voice)

    And it has come to pass that the Lord of the Woods, being seven and nine, down the onyx steps

    (tri)butes to Him in the Gulf, Azathoth, He of Whom Thou has taught us marv(els) on the wings of

    night out beyond space, out beyond th to That whereof Yuggoth is the youngest child, rolling

    alone in black aether at the rim

    (Buzzing Voice)

    go out among men and find the ways thereof, that He in the Gulf may know. To Nyarlathotep,

    Mighty Messenger, must all things be told.

    And He shall put on the semblance of men, the waxen mask and the robe that hides, and come

    down from the world of Seven Suns to mock

    (Human Voice)

    (Nyarl)athotep, Great Messenger, bringer of strange joy to Yuggoth through the void, Father of the

    Million Favoured Ones, Stalker among

    (Speech Cut Off by End of Record)


Recommended