Further Meditations on 'The Whipserer In The Darkness' The Miskatonic Project Graphic Novel By Mark Ellis For Your Old School Horror Campaign

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So in honor of HPL's Birthday I've done a really extensive dig into  'The Whisperer In The Darkness' The Miskatonic Project Graphic Novel By Mark Ellis. The first part of my musings can be found right HERE

The Miskatonic Project was a small group of paranormal investigators from the special documents wing of the Miskatonic University library in Arkham. Well they're each investigators whose lives were touched by the Mythos. These brushes with the Great Old Ones in the past have had some very nasty effects on these folks. That's not say that they are victims.
This is actually where the differences between the approach that HPL presents and Mark Ellis.
The idea that the characters or PC's are central to the story line or adventure. Whisperer follows the old pulp tradition of putting the investigators into harms way right out of the gate.  

H. P. Lovecraft's The Miskatonic Project...from left to right, Fleur Averoigne, Randolph Carter and Detective Malone.

Each and every one of the investigators of the Miskatonic Project have had life and limb scarred up. They're minds, sanity, and souls touched as well as consumed to some extent by the Mythos. They've seen behind the curtain of reality and they can never look away.
The Project never swirves away from the Mythos or Lovecraft's stories. These tales especially Whisperer dive head long and weave their mysteries around the events of the various Lovecraft tales. A take that Chaosium would later borrow by providing stats for various Mythos NPCs.

This is a group that is willing to do anything to stop the world wide conspiracy that is the network of the Great Old Ones. Even if it means their sanity or lives.  The trouble for the investigators and adventurers of this series is not like  something not out of the sanity shattering fiction of HPL but a pulp roller coaster ride. Robert Howard's Mythos writings have this sort of two fisted pulp sensibilities about them. And so do the characters of these stories. These are flawed heroes dealing with the fallout of their lives touched by forces from beyond their pale. They've had to suck it up and fight outwards. 

The Kingsport Archive And The Miskatonic Project

Several differences between The Miskatonic Project's version of the various cults of the Old Ones and others is that these cults are very well funded. They've got the best equipment. Headquarters are stellar and they've got access to the very best Mythos tomes that money can smuggle.
They form a world spanning network of like minded cultists willing to do anything for their various dark masters and their alien servants the Mi Go.
The Kingsport Archive was formed by 'Top Men' after the Fall of Innsmouth and this group operated more like a spy cell then a group of academics. They were more then willing to get their hands dirty with wet work. They seemed to always be running afoul of Lord Justin Sabbath.This happened to be over a certain nasty piece of Mi Go technology that they had recovered. 

It took the attentions of both folklorist Professor Albert N. Wilmarth and Inspector Lagrasse's intervention to stave off bloodshed and legal action. 

The Archive began the task of recovering the various Mythos artifacts and dealt with the sanity shattering effects of said artifacts keeping them under lock and key. 

The Archive's collection was taken away and was later incorporated into the stacks of a certain warehouse. The PC's went their separate ways after The Red Hook Affair took the life of one of their number. 

The 'Archives' often seemed to take up the slack in New England when the Project was off in some other part of the world.  My advice would be to use the project sparingly if at all.

 The Archive was much more New England or backyard oriented while the Project seemed to be a more world spanning organization. The players actually seemed to care more when the game took place on their home Lovecraftian turf. 

Great DON HECK page from HP LOVECRAFT'S CTHULHU #2.


The Different Aspects of the Mi Go

'The Whisperer In The Darkness' has some other marked differences from other takes on the Mi Go. The author uses the Mi Go as scouts for the returning 'Old Ones' and they are laying the foundation for the return of great Cthhlu and his ilk. 

Why do the Mi Go appear different from other adaptations of the story? This might easily be explained by the fact that there are different aspects of this insidious insectoids. Things that scuttle through the cracks of the universe and undermine the fabric of the cosmos for the 'Old Ones' return. 

There is a sense with these Mi Go that their disposable in the long run in the agenda of the Old Ones. Simply another biological tool or weapon in the arsenal of the Mythos. Mankind is heroic but it matters little in the scope of the agenda of the cycle in the Mythos. 

The Mi Go make an excellent pulptastic antagonist race against a party. 

'The Whipserer In The Darkness' The Miskatonic Project Graphic Novel By Mark Ellis is a really nice take on the Mythos instead of the usual turn of events. As always your mileage may vary. 

Tales of Gothic Transylvania - A Gothic Horror Campaign - Further Meditations On Tales Of The Grotesque And Dungeonesque Volume One

The nights are beginning to get longer and the shadows are lengthening. I'm putting together a series of one shot Gothic Fantasy Adventures using Tales Of The Grotesque And Dungeonesque. I've been rereading volume one of this piece of forgotten lore.

What Is Tales of The Grotesque And Dungeonesque? 

The Tales of The Grotesque and Dungeonesque volume one is a Gothic Fantasy Supplement for old-school fantasy role-playing games.

Contains house rules, random tables, new spells, new monsters, and a campaign setting for Gothic Fantasy adventures in the old-school fantasy RPG system of your choice.

 Get The Book Right Over HERE

Its actually a bit more then just that. The book is actually the campaign setting background and volume one in three part Gothic tour de force. Tales is set up in such a way to be a plug and play piece of goodness. From the 162 page book of volume with the variations of horrific OD&D tropes. The book is set up for Labyrinth Lord but its easily adaptable to any number of OSR retroclones.
The first book is essential because it sets up the PC options, adds flavor to character generation, And adds the real world/fictional counterparts to the game world. The second volume adds even more background.

 Appendix N Background Material 
When I was very young, I was shown two books from the U.K. that grabbed my imagination and led me on a fifteen year odyssey. At a county fair I glimpsed a copy of  Tourist Guide To Transylvania And The Dracula Collection. They were deemed far too scary for me by well meaning grandparents. It too the better part of ten years to find the books I had glimpsed. Weirdly enough my wife whose from the U.K. where the volumes were published by Octopus books also owned them. 

The Tourist Guide & its sister book the Dracula Collection were essentially a number of science fiction & fantasy pieces with the Transylvania country side of a sword & sorcery universe as its framing device. The books are fantastic. They have zippo to do with the real world at all. Seriously this is a universe where no only is magic real but the countryside is ruled by vampire lords, liches, & black magicians who summon the very powers of Hell itself! Faerie exists  but its an uneasy relationship at best. These are the 'Kindly Ones' version of the fey. A sort of extra-dimensional monsters that can cause all kinds of problems. Count Dracula is eluded to but never given any real consolidation in the book.
There are barbaric tribes, witches, covens of white, black, & grey magicians, & all sorts of powers from beyond. Hell plays a very prominent roll in this book. This is a dimension where the gods of yesteryear roam the countryside plucking victims to feed their dark hungers.

 The second book describes Dracula's art collection and some of its inspirations. It also describes a family museum and the occult devices of power which it holds. The books are nice because in detail we are given a complete picture of the 'family Dracula' separate from the Hammer Films and even what we've seen before.
This is really a world of Gothic Dark Fantasy. 

These books provide very solid fodder. 

Tales of Gothic Transylvania

This is a world of the Gothic Pulp a place where the edge of nightmares have overtaken the daylight world and people fear the night. Only adventurers stand against the darkness. The Gothic Transylvania countryside is one part 'Supernaturalypse' and three parts of Hell. Its place in desperate need of adventurers and heroes. 
Some of these hard bitten individuals are those who seek thrills and hunt the most deadly game of all. The undead have run up against adventurers from 'The City' time and again. The odds are that the players are going to run into an NPC or two from the City. Trey Causey little creation is also going to be making an appearance or two at the table. 

For a metric ton of mileage from the author visit his blog right over HERE

Review and Commentary on The Miskatonic Project Graphic Novel By Mark Ellis For Your Old School Horror Campaign

You can Download And Purchase this right over HERE
 According to the blurb on Amazon: Before the X-Files, before Torchwood, there was the Miskatonic Project! Dedicated to breaking the aeons-old power of ancient, alien entities, the Miskatonic Project battles the loathsome threat of Cthulhu and his unspeakable spawn! In H.P. Lovecraft's The Whisperer in Darkness, the Miskatonic Project faces an enemy of inhuman cunning whose power has never been directly challenged! Deep in the catacombs beneath legend-haunted New England hills, the final confrontation between Cthulhu's legions and the defenders of humanity begins! Featuring art by Don (Iron Man) Heck, Darryl (Green Lantern) Banks and Daryl (Crypt of Cthulhu) Hutchinson.

The Miskatonic Project came out in 1993 as a three issue limited comic book series from the pen of Mark Ellis and the imagination of Don Heck. The series flew into my comic box over at Smokey Joes  in Torrington,Ct. after I got back from a pretty awful turn of events in Boston. 

What Is The Miskatonic Project?

The Miskatonic Project was a small group of paranormal investigators from the special documents wing of the Miskatonic University library in Arkham. Well they're each investigators whose lives were touched by the Mythos. These brushes with the Great Old Ones in the past have had some very nasty effects on these folks. That's not say that they are victims. 

Long before Delta Green was even thought of. This comic series provided a blue print for running my Call of Cthulhu games with a slightly more heroic bent. The mini series was interesting because it ran right along side of the various HP Lovecraft events. 

These were folks who were trying to make a difference in a world where the Mythos wasn't simply on the rise it was ascending and causing some very nasty turns. The insanity was always lurking one step around the corner and the madness was bubbling below the surface of the series. 

Here's how the series stacked up according to Wiki: 

" Lord Justin Sabbath, Professor Augustus Grant, and psychic Fleur Avignon used the Miskatonic University as a base of operations. They worked closely with noted folklorist Professor Albert N. Wilmarth, who brought the Mi-Go to their attention."
 The mini series basically threaded its way in and out of the Lovecraft mythos stories. Familiar locations, objects of power, Old Ones, races all made their appearances. Again according to Wiki : The Mi-Go and their human collaborators were portrayed as paving the way for the return of the Old Ones, including Cthulhu. Inspector John Raymond Legrasse, the New Orleans police officer who first appeared in Lovecraft's inaugural Cthulhu story, "The Call of Cthulhu", appears in the second chapter.

So it was a fun read to connect the dots with the Chaosium game. 

Using  The Miskatonic Project For Your Old School Horror Game 
The Miskatonic Project ran from December 1991 - April 1992 and it was very solidly written. The series definitely has a pulp flavor and treaded some pretty dark ground even back then. The books were put into the adult section right next to some of the White Wolf Games. This was cutting edge stuff for 1991. 
Much of the time I had the players dealing with some of the fall out from the Project. There would often be loose ends that the graphic novel didn't really go into. This was a limited series and therefore left out some of the events that were happening in the Lovecraft stories. The trick was to pick up where the story ended and bring in the investigators to deal with the Lovecraftian menace. The Kingsport Archives became a thorn in the side of Miskatonic and there was a confrontation with Lord Justin Sabbath. The Archives dealt with things a bit more harshly and certain men in high places paid the right people to look the other way when 'special jobs' needed to be done.
Very important top men who had dealt with the Innsmouth affair. The 'Archives' often seemed to take up the slack in New England when the Project was off in some other part of the world.  My advice would be to use the project sparingly if at all. 

Looking At The Miskatonic Project Graphic Novel By Mark Ellis 

The graphic novel clocks in at 128 pages black and white. I've only reread the series. It's a pretty timeless comic mini series. The book does hit the high points and its a very interesting read after all these years. There's definitely a blue print for the world of Ellis's take on the Mythos. The book is tight, fast, and good reliable read. That being said with Delta Green out today and the amount of Mythos related stuff from Pagan Press. The Project might be a cool addition to those who want a bit of a different take on Lovecraft. Its worth a look at.
 You can get the graphic novel on paper right over HERE

Free PDF Protodimension Magazine,Volume 5 Summer 2013 through Spring 2014. For Your Horror Campaign

Protodimension Magazine,Volume 5 Summer 2013 through Spring 2014.
Issue # 16 Get It Right HERE
The  free premiere horror rpg continues with another issue geared towards the wilds of rpging!

 This issue features my short story 'Slices' set in the world of Dark Conspiracy Third Edition!
The contents of this issue features : 

• Dithering in the Dark, Words from the Top by Tad Kelson
• Creativity Contest Winners, We Got Some Great Words
• Submitted for Your Approval, The Kazanjian Art Contest WINNER By Dave Schuey
• Drop Zone, Inc., Inspirational Fiction by Herb Severson
• Welcome Home to the Chateau, A Kazanjian Art Contest Runner Up by Tad Kelson
• Audrey in the Grave New World, Gameplay-based Fiction by Becky Panovich
• The Haunted Heart, A Ghostly Adventure by CW Kelson III (Tad) for Call of Cthulhu & Dark Conspiracy
• A Real Opportunity, A Kazanjian Art Contest Runner Up by Captain Obvious
• Castaway, Socotran Fiction by Norm Fenlason
• Stasis, A Calm Proto-Dimension by Norm Fenlason for Dark Conspiracy III
• Breshingridge Center, A Location and Organization by Ron McClung for Dark Conspiracy
• Slices, Minion Hunting Fiction by Eric Fabiashi
• Small Town Dark USA, Small Towns in the Greater Depression by Ron McClung for Dark Conspiracy
• Prancing Ponies, A Closer Look at Colt Pistols by Jason D McEwan for Dark Conspiracy
• The Next Creativity Contest, Beastie Designs ‘R’ Us, er, ahem, You…? by Norm Fenlason

Review And Commentary On The Book of Artifacts By Dragon Tree Press For Your Old School Horror Campaign

Back in the early 80's when the hobby was just getting started and I began my weekly trek down to War and Pieces in West Hartford. I stumbled upon Dragon Tree press and into the world of Delos. 

 I did quite a bit of adventuring upon the shores of Delos. It's a place that borders Arduin, Narnia, Fairyland, Oz, and many other worlds. There is more of the touch of Faerie here. More on that in
Delos comes from the pens of Ben & Mary Ezzell.

From the Dragon Tree Home page : 

Delos is a planet near neighbor to that best of all worlds which is Arduin^®, and doth much traffic therewith. However the mana here is richer and more erratic, and the Theologian Newton describes it thus:

Here they need not store nor hoard their mana for it floats rich in the air for all, and nay they cannot hoard it for it slips and slides and sputters, all in and out of the Mage and the air and the ground and the Shadows. And here they cast and cast and there is no lack...and no grievous burden on the Mage to draw it neither. But as the mana slides about so often slide the spells and so they miscarry to the shame and sorrow of all....

American mages name this mana as 'Percentage and Fumble System'. The casters have aplenty to work with but tis like steering a ship in a storm or runaway horses, and caster's skill is all to turn it as he wishes and he fails to his woe.

Like Arduin^®, Delos hath never built fireish machines but offtimes spaceships land here from the techno worlds and trade their goods or mayhap are robbed of them, and starrish beasties leave ship to roam in our woods. And here Multiversal can sell many strange goods from many strange worlds, but some they cannot sell because of the Prime Directive. And the rich living mana hereabouts offtimes sparks cross-Shadow making natural gates as those from England to Narnia, whence persons come through by mental inclining from amany strange Shadow-worlds and times, by the strength of their hearts' desires.

Introduction and description 

Contains over 200 new magick items with complete descriptions, stats, prices, uses and misuses. Also included are rules for player-character construction of magick items in a mana-rich (i.e., Percentage and Fumble) world. Any first-level spellcaster can make a Staff of Power ... which will do something ... but watch out! Table of Contents (abbreviated) Delian Methods for Constructing Magical Items Discusses the methods and rules for the construction of magical artifacts together with notes on fumbles, failures and other mishaps. Definitions & Commentary An explanation of terms and definitions relating to magical artifacts together with notes on the laws governing such devices. Traps Perhaps more popular with game masters than with players. Wands & Staffs All mages have one, right?  But what exactly do they carry? Adventurers' Equipment Listing includes the AMLA knapsack with all the essentials as well as much, much more. Clothing Everything for the well-dressed adventurer. Armour The better to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Arrows & Bows ... and, speaking of arrows, a bow is also nice ... Miscellaneous Weapons Weapons come in all shapes and sizes ... and other characteristics as well. Swords A wide assortment for the fighter, paladin or other gay blade. Drugs & Potions Drugs and potions to satisfy a wide variety of needs. Furnishings Providing those special touches that make a cavern or dungeon so much more. Amulets & Jewelry More than merely adornment, the right touch for every occasion. Rings When you don't know what to offer, a ring is always the proper gift. The One Ring and the Lesser Rings Here are the secrets of the One Ring and the nineteen lesser rings. Random Akronian Effects Table Even the best of magics fail or fumble ... here's an aide to determining the effects. Magic Item Generation Table A helpful guide for providing the proper assortment of devices and treasures for your dungeon. Using the Book Of Artifacts For Your Old School Horror Campaign  The Book of Artifacts is a throw back to the early days of OD&D and its a book full of deadliness as well as whimsey. The book has the feel of more an attachment then it is a complete volume of lore. As for why its a horror resource? The truth is that the book has more then a touch of the horrific nature of both fairy tales and the deadliness of its origins. Namely from back in the early days when things weren't so well defined. The traps, tricks, and magic items if placed correctly can mean all of the difference between a PC melting into a puddle of slime or gaining the treasure.  Magical treasure in this book are closer to the fetishes seen in other rpgs. Namely spirits are bound within the confines of the magic item. This into itself is pretty nasty but the consequence of these actions for those who find such items can be deadly.  There is a strange twist in the nature of 'fairy' within Delos. Its treated as an alien and separate dimension in many of the Dragon Tree Press products. This allows a DM to tie the product directly into Lord Dunsany or CS Lewis more then Tolkien. The background has a more traditional fantasy feel then the usual tropes of D&D. Some of the background of the Fey were truly alien and very horror based.  Many of the Delos books have the background of Amazon Mutual as a background and story device. This is an insurance company that pays out should an adventurers body need to be recovered for resurrection. The company is more then a bit on the shady side and has helped to finance more then its share of nasty and dangerous deals. There have been several instances when they've purposely uncovered 'Things Man Wasn't Meant To Know' with the intention of cashing in on the deal. Amazon Mutual is always hovering in the background of all of Dragon Tree Press's materials. They do actually provide a pretty good horror campaign motivator with the PC's never quite sure whose side their really working for.  Believe it or not several of the treasures in this book are tied directly back to Amazon Mutual allowing a DM to quickly,quietly, and carefully insert them into their campaign with little fuss or muss.  Using The Book of Artifacts With Modern Retroclones Because of the nature of Dragon Tree Press products there is very little problem inserting this material into most retroclones. The Delos stuff is really suited to working with OD&D White Box but because of the nature of the material I've used it with AD&D second edition with very little modification. This is the one Delos product that is actually out of circulation at this time. Every other Delos related products are available through their website.  Dragon Tree Press Products Available Right Over Here

Review and Commentary on The Free 'The Ancient Academy' Dungeon From Robertson Games For Your Old School Horror Campaign

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HERE

"4 Leagues from the village of Thorn, the ruins of a monastery sit atop a rocky hill. Inside the last intact building is a staircase to the dark dungeon below. 

An old school one-page dungeon including dungeon map, legend, wandering monsters, and descriptions for 39 separate rooms."

Using The 'The Ancient Academy'
 For Your Old School Horror Gaming 
Last night I got the opportunity to throw the players through this dungeon with a twist. The basic premise behind the dungeon is that this was a magic school ala 'Harry Potter' which had been slaughtered by the forces of Chaos during the 'Supernatural Apocalypse of The 70's.
Many of the monsters appeared first in this adventure and then in my second part of  HM3 - The Chaos Halls of Belzir . 


Guns did nor higher technology actually help the players navigate this one. Between undead, the chaos induced mutants running around, and combat the players want to go back and deal with the Ancient Academy itself later. 
The dungeon funk table got a good solid exercise last night causing all kinds of interesting castings of spells, medicine rolls, and saving throws. Especially in the potion section of the ruins. 
Since the ruins in my game sit on a demi plane this place is still standing with all kinds of mutants and mythos issues just waiting to cause havoc. 
There are three reasons to use The Ancient Academy. One this is an easily customizable  dungeon and very quick to run.  There are thirty nine rooms to play with and add both horrific element to very easily. Finally this is very reliable dungeon to run. 

Random Encounters Table For Lurkers, Stalkers, Psychopaths, And Mid level Hoods For Your Old School Horror Games

1d10 Lurkers, Stalkers, Psychopaths, And Mid level Hoods Random Encounter Table 

1. This alchemististically modified hood is a 2nd level fighter whose been caught between planar realms. He's more then slightly insane and now stalks both men and women trying to gain help for his plight but his touch brings acidic death. Use stats for a shadow but with acid touch. During combat he will become more 'real'. Armed with a forty five and two clips. 
2. This mid level mob enforcer (3rd level fighter) has the face of a grinning skull which he hides. On the weekends he stalks folks and kills them with an enchanted straight razor. Usually armed with a .38 special and speed loader set up. Most times he covers his face but then shows his true colors to victims. 
3. This fem fatale Stalker moves from town to town killing victims with a vicious bite and blood drain. She's a vampire working for a cult gathering victims for her pagan god! She can however move around during daylight hours due to the intercession of her god. 2nd level cleric.
4. This stalker passes himself off as a pool shark and moves from one small town to another gathering games and taking the souls of his victims. Likes the ladies and really targets boyfriends for a friendly game of chance for their souls. Serves rather nasty death goddess as a 3rd level cleric.
5. This rabid psychopath moves from one grave yard to another looking to become one of the undead. Even their not comfortable with this straight razor, ax wielding animal. The monsters moves among the tombs like a shadow striking at his victims and taking their heads as trophies. 4th level fighter armed with an enchanted ax. 
6. This mid level trouble shooter for the mob is looking for an accountant whose cooked the books for an infernal Copo. He's got this man's soul contract with em and this guy wants it back! He's armed with two enchanted +2 forty fives and clips. He's also got an attitude worse then the abyss. 5th level fighter
7. This little number is part human and part shadow! A lurker who moves from one church to another stealing the valuables of the  worshipers after Sunday services. A 4th level thief and con artist. 
8. This stalker passes himself off as a helpless bum but he's actually a holy kidnapper and gatherer for a cult of necromancers and  child killers. He's a nasty piece of work and uses cords on his victims. He's been exposed to the essence of his god and has an acidic touch for 1d4 points of damage. A 3rd level fighter armed with a short sword for close work. 
9. This raving psychopath is on the lamb from a bounty hunter. He likes to kill during the full moon and is on his way to becoming a cleric of a lunatic moon goddess. Armed with two daggers this first level cleric hides during the day and kills at night. 
10. This mid level mobster is armed with a sawed off shot gun and is slowly being possessed by a spawn of Cthulhu  He's willing to trade information about stolen loot for his life. The loot however has a curse of Cthulhu and is very dangerous. A quest for the loot might have to be mounted!