Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 3

After a glorious meal at The Dome and some discussion, a plan is formulated on who should research what.

Everyone is tasked with finding what they can about John Scott and Marshall Fenton-Smythe. The Monsignor will also look into the books with his contacts. Hal will call on your old colleague, Private Investigator, Sam Noir, to enlist his services.

You all meet back at the Dome three days later, on the 15th February. Sam Noir is also there, he greets each of you in turn and is introduced to Philip.

James searches the standard lists of fraternal organizations and finds no mention of a Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight. He also discovers an article that mentions the Order. It mentions the startling disappearance of one James Clark, who apparently left his home in the middle of the night and vanished into thin air. The article mentions, in passing that he will be missed by his brethren at the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twlight. The article is dated 7th February, a week ago.

The Monsignor has more luck. Despite digging up nothing on the books Henry talked about, he does find mention of a group called Knights of the Silver Twilight in an obscure and rather weird book on demonology.
He also finds a fifty year old article in the Boston Globe on witchcraft in New England, in listing notorious local witches, mentions John Scott, reputed warlock, whose farm was destroyed by and angry mob. Common name, but the Occult connection rings bells.

Sam also reports he found a very interesting book. He pulls a slim volume from his pocket, with no title on the spine. It turns out to be an account, written in longhand, of the raid on the farm of aforementiond John Scott, in 1721, by an armed group of concerned citizens. The writer, Clyde Whipple, was a member of the mob. He describes the reasons for the mob's attack (weird sounds heard at night, chants, strange foreigners in the area and robbed graves) and what he saw during the raid (which is horrifying)

Philip points to a hand drawn map within the book. "It's there!"

The blood drains from Henry's face as he realises, and explains to the others who have not yet cottoned on, "The headquarters is on the site of that farm...."

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 2.5

A couple of days later, On 15th February at 8pm, as arranged, Sam Noir arrives at the The Globe in Boston and meets hits former employer and colleague, Hal Green.

Over a dinner of finest Sirloin, Hal confides in Sam as to the happenings recently, of the order and the groups suspicions. Hal asks Sam to research into books, listing several names Henry has specified - The Book of Eibon, The King in Yellow and Thaumaturgical Prodigies in the New England Canaan. Also anything that mentions the name Nygotha or the Nygotha Mythos.

He also asks Sam to look into anything he can find on the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight, paying particular attention to the names John Scott and Marshall Fenton-Smythe.

Shadows of Yog Sothoth Turn 2

Over the coming weeks, each of the group is inducted one by one into the Hermetic Order of the Silver Dawn. Each of you goes through the same process.

Each has an initial meet with a man named John Scott, who's title is Noble Philosopher, at the lodge on the outskirts of Boston.
After a brief interview in the grand building at the edge of town, discussing personal background and professional business, each is invited back for initiation in a week.
 They appear to be a fraternal organisation concerned with matters occult and philosophical. Members are mostly from the Upper classes of society, a few being minor community leaders. The order is based in a lavish building and members eat and drink well at their meetings.
Each is taken to a preparation room where the subject is given a black robe. This is the robe of the Neophyte. Those assisting in the preparation wear grey, the robes of Initiates. From there the subject is blindfolded and given a lecture on the noble purpose of the Order. He is told that he will learn great and mysterious things and that he will be asked to bind himself with and oath, but he will not be asked to do or commit anything immoral or embarrassing.
He is then led across the hall to the main room, where he is asked by the man he recognises as his interviewer, to kneel and repeat the oath, promising to keep the secrets of the Order, to seek after knowledge, and to live according to the principles of the Order. The blindfold is then removed and He sees the lodge room for the first time. It is an impressive sight. The room is richly furnished and other members wear robes representing office and standing in the lodge. He is ritually introduced to the officers and instructed in the principles of the order, which are Science for Neophytes, Philosophy for Initiates and Magic for the white robed “Masters”
The subject is then confirmed in his degree by the Noble Philosopher and the meeting closes. After the meeting, the members remove their robes and head downstairs into the bar and lounge. This seems to be an enjoyable part of the events for most members. 
Everyone enters under their own name except Phil who uses the moniker Jim Garrety, to hide is true identity as a reported.
During this process, starting with Hal, one of the Initiates is Henry Caldwell! Hal decides not to acknowledge his recognition until everyone is inducted and Henry keeps his distance, unsure as to why Hal and the others are joining.   Soon enough, Henry receives and invitation to dinner at a restaurant called The Dome in central Boston, from Hal. The dinner is in two days time, 12th February at 7pm.

12th February 1928 The Dome Restaurant


Hal, The Monsignor, James, Spanners and Phil meet at the restaurant at 6.30pm and await the arrival of Henry who none of you have spoken to since the events in London. You just hope you can trust him as an initiate of the very society the group are infiltrating! At 7pm he walks in and approaches the table...

 

Knifesedge Cthulhu Campaign Intro- The Shadow's of Yog-Sothoth

Shadows of Yog-Sothoth Turn 1

Chapter 1 The Hemetic Order of the Silver Twilight

3^rd January 1928

A few months on from the Vanishing Conjurer escapade in London, Hal is relaxing in his lounge, reading the local newspaper. James and the Monsignor, currently out in town, are visiting for the New Year. Henry and Sam have not been heard from since London.

Jeeves taps on the door before entering, “Sir, you have a visitor!”

Hal looks over the top of his paper, wondering who would be here unannounced in the festive season, when a familiar round face pokes around the door. Somewhat more tanned than before, but the smile is unmistakable – Phillip Graves – presumed dead in Jaffa.

Hal jumps up and moves to embrace the big man, “Phil, you old bugger, what on earth happened?”

“I think a brandy might be in order,” smiles the photographer, throwing himself into a leather seat.

Phil recounts his escape from the crumbling temple and eventual trek through the desert, almost dying of thirst before the Nomads found him and got him back to health. He then spent weeks travelling to various tribes, in search of Nelly and Hal, but no luck until he found out Hal had been saved and returned home.

“I read about your exploits in London last year. Accused of trying to assassinate the King?”

“That wasn’t quite how it happened, and we got all that cleared up. Don’t believe everything you read, there was a cult at work and we foiled another evil scheme. I suspect the cult had connections with Cthulhu and Nygotha we read so much about last spring,” smiles Hal.

“Actually, that’s why I’m here. I’ve found out that a new society has spawned in Boston. They call themselves the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight and some of the cities upper crust are involved. My editor suspects there is more behind it than a simple gentleman’s club and asked me to investigate. They only accept high quality members unless by recommendation, so I was hoping you might get in then get me invited. And perhaps some of your new team could do a little research?”

New Adventure - opinions wanted

Dear Players

I've been browsing to plan the next adventure and wanted your thoughts. My first choice would be to run the original Shadows of Yog-Sothoth. Have any of you played through this already? Please leave comments below.

The Vanishing Conjurer Turn 8 The Finale

With the Police presence and the Royal Family, none of you brought firearms to the theatre. Hal and Sam carried small blackjacks, but the rest of the group will rely on fist and feet.

Leaving the bathrooms, It is apparent that the show has started. Ching Lung Soo is on stage, addressing the audience, promising "a magical experience like nothing you have ever seen before", while performing his on small illusions and sleight of hand tricks.

James knows the layout of the theatre, so leads the group to a staircase that leads to the basement and the changing rooms.

"There's a staff room at the bottom of the stairs. Perhaps some ushers uniforms might help us blend in, especially given the back stairs will likely have Ling Soo's people around, " he whispers.

Sure enough, you find the staff room and a cupboard full of laundered staff uniforms. Hal, Henry, James and Spanners quickly dress. The Monsignor finds a large suit to fit, presumably one of the management's. the five then hurry through the hall toward the dressing rooms. A number of oriental's bustle about the corridor, carrying boxes from a door at the foot of the stairs to a staircase leading to the stage. They pay you no heed as you stroll confidently down the corridor to a staircase leading to the stage. The exit doors are further down the corridor and you spot a couple of police officers stationed outside.

At the top of the stairs, the familiar music that accompanies The Amazing Karl's Ducks and Tub trick is playing, as the trick ends the place fills with applause. The orientals have now finished their work and have disappeared as Ling Soo announces an interval.

Ducking into a storage cupboard under the stairs, you hear Lung Soo and Weiss rush down the stairs and there's a bustle as the orientals rush back up to the stage, presumably to set up the new trick.

Several minutes pass and the applause begins again, indicating the curtain has opened. Lung Soo is performing more tricks and seeing the coast is clear, you creep out and quietly head up the stairs to the back stage. Lung Soo in standing under archway, announcing he is about to undertake a brand new trick, never before performed anywhere in the world.

James nudges Hal and points up to the rafters. Sam is up top where the pulleys for the curtains are, ready to release and drop the curtain.

Ling Soo calls for complete silence from the audience. The Chinaman begins his patter. telling the story of how, back in his native China, the people of his village used to gather..etc.

A number of the Chinese henchmen appear from the other wing of the stage, each dressed in identical robes decorated with the Chinese dragon motif of Lan-Shi, and stand in a circle around the arch. Lung Soo himself stands in the centre of the circle and the henchmen begin a low, hypnotic chant in a barely audible, indistinguisable tongue. Lung Soo begins to chant, and you hear the name Lan-Shi. Hal signals to Sam who drops the sandbag holding the curtain. As the curtains close, you charge across the stage.

Suddenly there is a bang of displaced air, throwing you backwards. Oblivious to the curtain drop, Lung Soo has continued his chant and the audience remain in silence aside from quiet gasps, assuming this part of the trick. As you get up, you see the man fitting the description of Leclair, seemingly hanging in the air, suspended above the arch. He screams in agony, wisps of smoke drifting from his clothes.

The Monsignor is quickest the react and rushes at Lung Soo and as he dives to grapple, he trips on a rope and hits the deck. Hal runs past him, blackjack drawn, and cracks Lung Soo across the back of the neck, knocking him to the ground and disrupting his chant. There is a loud thump and Leclair drops to the ground. Henry, James and Spanners take on a henchman each. Sam climbs down to take on a fourth. The remaining two leap at Hal, one kicking him square in the back, knocking him to his knees. The other tries a roundhouse kick to the head but Hal ducks in time.

The Monsignor grabs a bucket of sand from back stage, and tips it on the smoking body of Leclair.

The fracas continues and the henchmen, clearly skilled at martial arts, outmatch you and you are only saved as police rush the stage and break up the fighting. It is only then that you notice Lung Soo is nowhere to be seen.

After a day in the cells at his Majesty's pleasure, you are released. Initially the police didn't believe your story of Lung Soo kidnapping  Leclair but this is corroborated by Howard Horne. You choose not to relate the true events, which none of you fully understand. Lung Soo seems to have fled along with Weiss. His belongings have vanished from the Brotherhood headquarters and none of his henchmen reveal what happened to him.

Days later you visit Leclair in hospital. He is recovering from severe burning and seems severely traumatised. Horne tells you he'll likely be committed to an asylum for recovery. Whatever actually happened to him none of you will know.

The End