R'lyeh High School English Translation

------------------------------------------------------------------------ R'LYEH HIGH SCHOOL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Translator's Notes: TRPG stands for table talk roleplaying game, and is a common acronym used by gamers in Japan. Replays are direct serializations of TRPG sessions (games experienced by players and run by a Storyteller, which in this system is called a Keeper of Arcane Lore, hereafter abbreviated as Keeper. The Cthulhu Mythos is a set of shared concepts created by H.P. Lovecraft and others in his 'circle of friends', including Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard, August Derleth, Robert Bloch, and so on.) Japanese honorifics don't convert well into English, so I left them in. Niisan, Oniisan (brother, or older man), Neesan, Oneesan (elder sister, or older woman) You probably already know san, chan, sempai, sensei, dono (lord), etc. Before I forget, I included background music (BGM) and sound effects (SFX) for you to enjoy as you read through this. If you see BGM [1], you can right click on that and open it in a separate tab - the music or sound effects will play in a separate browser tab as you enjoy the story. Have fun. This is a non-profit fan translation. ======================= Table of Contents ======================= - The Beginning p.003 - Prelude p. 004 - Creating a New Investigator p.007 - Character Introduction p.011 - Scenario I [The Secret of the Reservoir on the Roof] p.15 - Intermission, Conclusion, Mutsumi-chan's Reflections p.95 ======================= The Beginning ======================= OST: [1] This book is sold by Enterbrain. It is a replay of Cthulhu Mythos TRPG games and, appropriately enough, follows the format of replay books. It is a sequel to an earlier campaign called R'lyeh Antique. I strongly suggest that you read the preceding campaign before going on to this work. If you need any idea of what a replay or TRPG is, you can use R'lyeh Antique as a representative example. As this book is a sequel, there's less need for me to walk everyone through the rules. If anyone has forgotten, I have a set of rules that can be used as a review on page 250 (TL Note: The font changes.) What was that? I haven't read R'lyeh Antique yet! Well, allow me to apologize to any people in that situation. I strongly recommend that you do so, by all means. You won't regret it! And now with that out of the way, let's return to the topic at hand. Our last series of adventures featured a bizarre antique store and a cast of unusual Investigators that all had some link to it. This time around our title is [R'lyeh High School], and as befits the title, our stage for these stories will be the school campus. Oh yes, that mystery man, Kata Randoru, the owner of the strange antique store is alive and well. The featured set of our previous game, R'lyeh Company, will also contribute a few unwholesome and unsettling antiques to the tale which unfolds at the school. The regulars of R'lyeh Company went through a great many ups and downs. The detective-in-training Sayaka-chan, the esteemed Tatsumi-sensei who was involved in many tragic events, the ladies' man Sasahara, and Miyako, who tragically lost her mind. Miyako is no longer able to join these adventures, and her player has generated a new Investigator. These Investigators have come to expect that strange events can happen almost everywhere. When the lurking cosmic truth of the universe appears, they are there to oppose it! Now let us draw back the curtain on the second season of the campaign. I pray for anyone's Sanity that reads to the very end. Cthulhu fhtagn! -Uchiyama Yasujiro ======================= Prelude ======================= OST: [1] Mitsukado Gakuen is a school with a special history. It has a large library and auditorium, and an impressive amount of exercise equipment has been prepared, including a big swimming pool. The teachers seem to be kind and even-tempered. My name is Hino Mutsumi. I'm a student who goes to the school. I've had a lot of different hobbies I pursued from childhood, but since I started attending this school I've been focusing on drawing pictures. To improve, I participate in art club bukatsu, and everyday after school I go over to the art room to practice. One of my sempai in the club is a third-year student named Shinohara Shizue-san. Shinohara-san's still life pictures are very lovely. I hope that someday produce something as good. I think it was sometime last year that things changed. After classes were over, Shinohara-san made a beeline to the art room and cooped herself up in there, drawing nonstop. I began to worry. Now with the arrival of the rainy season, she's by the window, looking out at the grey sky, with a gloomy expression. It's almost like she is listening to something outside. One day, I tried to find out if there was anything else she was listening to, but there was nothing other than the continuing fall of the rain and the patter it made as it fell to the poured concrete outside. The rain hit the window, forming large beads that slid down the surface of the glass and disappeared. I idly thought it might be alive. One day, while I was daydreaming that we were living in a flooded world of rain, I heard a strange noise come from the art club's room. It was the sound of glass jars breaking. A baby cries. A voice, calling out. But that can't be right, because the science lab is next door. Is someone there? Is someone calling out? Clearing my throat as I returned from daydreaming in the World of Rain, I glanced over at Shinohara-sempai and our eyes met. Her gaze was distant, and her eyes reminded me of the dark green of the ocean's bottom. The voice calling to me wants something, but I can't do anything for it. And maybe I'm afraid of what Shinohara-sempai will say in response to the voice. Do I know who the voice belongs to? I feel like I used to know - the person, alone in the art room, and I tilt my head to listen again. As I do, Shinohara-sempai, whose face was partially hidden in the shade, looks over at me as if to confirm what I was thinking, and weakly laughs. Although the laugh was weak, there was a tenderness in her look that reminded me of my mother. She was only one year older than me, but I always thought she was far more like an adult. I sensed danger - coming from her. At this rate, maybe she'll go somewhere far away. I can't say why. I have to get her out of here. Right then, when I was getting impatient - [Mu-tan, let's go home together!] In this dark room used for visual arts, slick with humidity from the rain, a bright and clear voice dispelled the gloomy mood, and I turned to see who spoke. Standing in the entrance was Sayaka-chan. She recently transferred into my class. When I was younger, we used to train at the same karate dojo. We ended up at the same school and had a reunion. [What's wrong, Mu-tan?] asked Sayaka-chan, who saw me staring off into space. She had a mysterious look on her face. [Oh! I - it's nothing.] That's right. It's nothing. For these strange thoughts and sensations are nothing but idle phantoms that come to someone unsettled by the pouring rain. I'm an ordinary high school student at going through my usual routine. There's no way that anything strange could happen here. Today and tomorrow both, they will continue as ordinary days. Sayaka-chan seemed worried about me, and spoke while walking at my side. [That's fine. But if there is something, I want you to talk to me about it.] There is something. I think I hear a child's voice coming from the lab next door, but I can't tell Sayaka-chan. She'll think I'm weird if I say things like that. No, I don't have to bring it up. Everything is all right. I'm just overthinking things. That's all it is. ======================= Creating a New Investigator ======================= OST: [1] Continuing the story that began in R'lyeh Antique, this book chronicles the second season of the R'lyeh series campaign. It's time for us to get started. Because it's considered lucky to do so, there's something I want to do before we are really ready to start. In our last campaign, one of the Investigators, the combat maid Anjinzuka Miyako, acheived Zero Sanity. That means she has become an unplayable NPC. It also means that I need to prepare a new Investigator to succeed her. I'm with the Keeper of Arcane Lore (abbreviated hereafter as KP), the Gamemaster for this game. KP: All right, let's make a new character for you to play. Miyako: How would you like me to go about making my new character? KP: The main area for this next game is a high school, so I'd like for you to make a second-year high school student. Miyako: A high school student? KP: Of the four characters we have so far, three of them lead a life outside of high school. It's going to be very hard to run a game set in a high school if we don't have more characters that are part of that setting. Miyako: It's a bit unusual to set the Cthulhu TRPG in an academy, isn't it? I can't think of a time when someone did. KP: Even if there's not much in the way of prior precedent, I want you to try anyway. We'll try it for a challenge. Miyako: All right, fine. I don't have any problem playing a high school student, and I can see how it'd be easier to involve the character in the campaign's school setting. KP: And I have a special supplement for you to use. Here is Enterbrain's Cthulhu 2010 book which has some optional rules for making student Investigators. Please follow them when you make your character. Miyako: Do these rolls also determine some things I did when I was a child? KP: Yes. If we determine that your character is good at science, then you will get to choose something you like from (Chemistry), (Geology), or (Biology). You'll also get some extra points to put into the skill you chose. Miyako: Okay, I see now. I think I'll spread the points around. KP: (Instead of dropping them all into one skill?) Well, often people choose to become specialists. Now that we think about it, it'd be odd to have specialists and professionals who are still in high school. Miyako: True. KP: (rubbing hands) Oh, and since your character isn't an adult yet, you won't get as many personal interest and professional skill points. Miyako: W-what? KP: That's part of growing up and becoming an adult. To put it in game terms, child Investigators start off with a 6 in STR, SIZ, and EDU. As they continue to grow, these statistics gradually improve. That's the balance at work here. Miyako: Hmm. KP: Oh, and your starting percentages in (Hide) and (Sneak) will be better than an adult Investigator's. Unfortunately, your (History) and (Credit Rating) will both be lower. Miyako: I bet I'll get it if I try. I'm not going to think as I throw these dice. Notes: With these rules, the results were simply generated by dice rolls so there wasn't much to think about. Gradually some details about the character were determined. This took some time - about an hour. Miyako: (the dice clatter and charts are checked) Hmm. It says I used to be into literature and that I'm good at home ec. I think I'm going to end up making a female Investigator. KP: That works well for this story, so I'm happy to hear that. Miyako: I thought you might say that. I'm getting pumped as well. KP: (checking her background) It looks like you were quite the math whiz during your time as a fourth grade elementary student. You'll get some extra starting points in (Accounting). Miyako: I have an idea. She studied how to do anzan (Japanese mental calculation by way of visualizing an imaginary abacus) by practicing with a soroban at a juku (cram school). That sounds like the kind of thing an excited elementary school student might do.

A simple soroban (Japanese abacus). KP: While I thought you were going to dabble in literature during your middle school days, it looks like your character became absorbed in martial arts as a second year student. Miyako: I can't see her seriously pursuing martial arts as a career or professional, though. Let's see . . . she studied karate for self defense, which means she probably studied at a dojo. Let's say that she went to the same place Sayaka-chan studied at, and that's how the two came to know one another. KP: Great. As a first-year student, your character went to the same dojo as Sayaka-chan and then the two of you became acquaintances. We'll use that as the basis for this campaign. Miyako: She was interested in culture during her high school years, though. In order to work in a way for a bizarre item from R'lyeh Company, the club room I go to has visual art as one of the things they pursue. KP: Good plan. And unlike the athletic clubs, you'll have a lot of free time after school at the club you go to now. Miyako: Wow, this character is turning out to be kind of strong. With these numbers, don't I qualify for a damage bonus of +1D4? KP: Yes, that's right. In fact, I think you might be the one in the party with the highest STR. Miyako: It seems that way. When I imagined her, I thought she was going to be like Sayaka-chan's little sister. KP: Based on your SIZ, you're much smaller than Sayaka-chan. Although you look like a small girl, you're actually really strong, kind of like Norimaki Alare-chan from Dr. Slump or Hercule Barton from Tantei Opera Milky Holmes. Miyako: There's no way I'm that powerful. Although if I keep growing, maybe I can surpass Sayaka-chan! KP: During the second year of middle school, this bright child decided to start practicing in the art club. When you finally were reunited with your fellow karateka Sayaka-chan, how did you feel about this turn of the wheel of fate? Miyako: It was a special moment, like a dramatic scene in a sports manga. Notes: And with that, the character was established and a name was assigned - I've included her character sheet at the end of the book. The name chosen for the character was Hino Mutsumi. She looked like a quiet, studious girl and she was affiliated with the art club, where she was studying how to draw. She ended up with some bonus points in Anthropology and Archaeology, but it was determined that history was somewhat of a weak point for her. Even though she could stop an adult with a look, and was a powerful martial artist, she seemed meek and modest. Notes: Hereafter, Miyako's name in this text will be changed to Mutusumi. KP: Unfortunately, you're not going to have as many points as the other Investigators. Mutsumi: That's fine. All according to my calculations. If you add all my points up, they still total far less than an adult Investigator's amount. KP: If everyone had made a high school student for the game, there wouldn't be a problem, but with things as they are now, there's going to be a small power imbalance. Mutsumi: Sayaka-chan's a veteran. There's no way a new Investigator will match her. KP: These rules were originally meant to generate student teams of Investigators, not mixed groups. Mutsumi: It was fun rolling up my background. KP: You're a good sport. I am not entirely happy with this setup, so as a special bonus, pick 10 skills and add 10 percentiles to each one. Mutsumi: Really? KP: Don't plunk more than 10 percentiles in any one skill. Split them up properly. It's bizarre for you to be an expert if you're still a high school student. Mutsumi: Copy that. I'll spread around the points. OST: [1] KP: With this, you still won't be on par with adult Investigators, but you'll have an advantage in the context of student life. Mutsumi: Sounds fair. I don't have any complaints. Notes: And with that, the Investigator was complete. Because this campaign will take place at a high school, it'll be easier to get her involved than the other Investigators. Mutsumi-chan's player is a Cthulhu TRPG veteran, so I don't think I'll have any difficulty on that point. The hard part is going to be finding a way to get Tatsumi (an elderly professor) and Sasahara (the novelist) into the scenario. This is going to give me a headache. Anyway, now that we have a new Investigator, I need to put the paste on my scenario idea and let it dry. Last time I used simple, movie-like setups and themes for R'lyeh Antique and that worked well. I'd like to use the same approach again. Hmm. I think I have something. I'm going to make a J-Horror (Japanese Horror) flavored scenario. It'll be a little bit like Ringu and Honogurai Mizu no Soko Kara (Dark Water from the Bottom). Something will happen to someone connected to Mutsumi-chan in her art club, and it'll have to do the revival of something that came from outer space. The difficult part is going to include the silence and creepy stillness from those kinds of stories. They've got a particular feel and recreating it in the Cthulhu TRPG will be a challenge. If I overplay my hand, it'll feel less like a TRPG and more like your garden variety kaidan. If I talk too much, the players will think they won't have any input in the game, and they'll get frustrated. So, without overthinking things, let's go to the basic ideas and images of Japanese Horror. One thing that pops up often is water. Damp, soggy surroundings, flooded corridors, leaking roofs through which dirty and stinky water drips, sickeningly colored steam, the sound of water dripping, and a grey world drained of color by the rain.

This kind of setup wouldn't work in Texas, as everything would dry up very quickly, but for Japan it's just about perfect. I'll call attention to the themes in the game as we play, and hopefully it'll become something special. Hopefully it'll leave a strong impression on them. Okay, I have an idea when to set the game - in Japan's æ¢…é›¨ã€tsuyu], the rainy season! The constant rainfall will greatly affect the mood fo the story. Wait! Wait a moment. If I set it there, Sayaka-chan will have finished high school and will be busy studying for her entrance exams. The name of the campaign is R'lyeh High School. I don't want there to be one high school student surrounded by two college students and a professor. It sounds like an unlucky development for me. ======================= Introducing the Investigators ======================= OST:[1] ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Higuchi Sayaka, High School Student, Age 17

STR 12 CON 16 DEX 15 Idea 75 SIZ 13 INT 15 POW 14 Luck 70 EDU 11 APP 17 SAN 69 Know 55 DB: + 1D4 Magic Points 14, Hit Points 15 Quote: I'll solve this problem! I'm a high school detective! Skills: Cthulhu Mythos 5%, Dodge 50%, Drive Motorcycle 25%, Evaluate Treasure 10%, Hide 40%, Jump 45%, Kick 61%, Listen 75%, Library Use 56%, Martial Arts 43%, Own Language (Japanese) 44%, Spot Hidden 81%, Persuade 55%, Photography 30%, Psychology 35%, Throw 45% Attacks Kick 61%, 1D6 + 1D4 (if the roll is under her Martial Arts skill, add another +1D6 damage). Player Comments: She is the one who gets stuck looking after the store (R'lyeh Company) and aims to be a high school detective. Her best skills are (Kick) and (Spot Hidden). With those, she should be able to get through anything. Probably. As this next game is going to take place at a high school, I'll try to make her more like a high school student. Now how should I do that? Player Introduction (Mary): As the youngest player, she has had the least amount of experience with the Cthulhu TRPG before starting. She's been steadily corrupted from her time with the rest of us. However, she is very strong in a spiritual sense. She still has retained her kindness and humanity. Her personality hasn't changed much. She still has the bad habit of relying on brute force to try to solve problems. As someone attempting to understand these strange cases with pure rationalism, she's the most human of the Investigators. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Hino Mutsumi, High School Student, Age 16

STR 15 CON 13 DEX 13 Idea 70 SIZ 10 INT 14 POW 11 Luck 55 EDU 08 APP 14 SAN 55 Know 40 DB: +1D4 Magic Points 11, Hit Points 12 Quote: (soft, high-pitched humming) Skills: Dodge 62%, Hide 30%, Mech. Repair 37%, Listen 28%, Art (Drawing) 43%, Art (Piano) 08%, Stealth 40%, Psychology 7%, Anthropology 53%, Special Skill (Home Cooking) 08%, Geology 11%, Other Language (English) 16%, Own Language (Japanese) 68%, Spot Hidden 47%, Fist/Punch 65% Attacks: Fist/Punch 65%, 1D3 + 1D4 Player Comments: As this new season of the game is taking place in a high school, I have created a high school student. She is an ordinary young girl who likes studying art and home ec at the school, and goes to her art club after school. She has fewer skill points compared to the other Investigators, and so is less excitable than they are. When she's on point, she tends to make quiet vocalizations like a bird. She aims of having a quiet life focusing on domestic arts. Please regard me favorably. Player Introduction (Takashi) In the last adventure, R'lyeh Antique, Takashi played a much-beloved maid with low SAN. Her name was Miyako. Takashi gave me a lot of advice over the course of the campaign. He follows an orthodox style of play but has weird and bizarre ways of thinking. Sometimes he manifests a genius-like nature. Takashi also has a lot of experience as a Cthulhu TRPG Keeper which gives him the ability to consider a scenario from a Keeper's point of view. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Tatsumi Gengoroh, Psychology Professor, Age 65

STR 12 CON 14 DEX 10 Idea 70 SIZ 09 INT 17 POW 11 Luck 55 EDU 23 APP 08 SAN 55 Know 115 DB: +0 Magic Points 11, Hit Points 12 Quote: But I'm already so tired . . . Skills: Chemistry 14%, Medicine 70%, Cthulhu Mythos 16%, Archaeology 14%, Credit Rating 89%, Anthropology 14%, Psychology 89%, Psychoanalysis 98%, Persuade 89%, Climb 56%, Library Use 89%, Other Language (English) 81%, Own Language (Japanese) 92%, Pharmacy 14% Player Comments: Tatsumi went through the wringer during the last campaign, and is a battle-weary veteran now. Now that the battlefield has been changed to a high school, he intends to step back from the action and allow the younger Investigators to take charge. He'll be assisting as an advisor. Because he has excellent ranks in (English) and (Library Use), he might come across a grimoire on his own, read it, and get into trouble. Please spare him! Player Introduction: (Age) He is the oldest player of the Cthulhu TRPG in the group and is quite skilled. As someone who knows the rules extremely well, he can be a tough player for Keepers. He tried to play offensively last game and got into a lot of trouble, which is why he has shifted his focus to defensive play this time around. After a series of Sanity checks, he has developed a thousand-yard-stare. As a Keeper, I'm worried. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Sasahara Tamaki, Novelist and College Student, Age 20

STR 08 CON 16 DEX 18 Idea 75 SIZ 17 INT 15 POW 13 Luck 65 EDU 14 APP 08 SAN 70 Know 70 DB: +1D4 Magic Points 13, Hit Points 17 Quote: Wow, Mu-tan is really cute. Skills: Drive Automobile 32%, Occult 89%, Listen 32%, Cthulhu Mythos 5%, Computer Use 15%, Psychology 50%, Psychiatry 15%, Persuade 60%, Track 76%, Climb 62%, Library Use 75%, Navigate 50%, Other Language (English) 15%, Own Language (Japanese) 56%, Spot Hidden 43%, History 89% Player Comments: Although he doesn't have a big impetus for doing so, he still visits R'lyeh Company when he has free time. Sasahara is a college student. Although he writes novels, as he spends more and more time delving into the darkness of these bizarre cases and mysteries, his writing becomes more focused on the occult. Setting that aside for a moment, the next scenario is going to take place at a high school. Will a college student like me be able to participate? In other words, will I be able to enjoy chatting with some high school girls? I am worried about that last point. Player Introduction (Hiroyuki): Crying 'Moe!', he is the loudest player. And although he is a capable Investigator, he has been known to rely on his looks. This scenario will give him many chances to associate with high school girls so he's working extremely hard to prepare for it. I've already acknowledged my respect for his talent with hunches and reasoning, and he has a talent for coming up with ideas that defeat difficult conditions. He's a very reliable player. ========================= Scenario I [The Secret of the Reservoir on the Roof] ========================= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Yog-Sothoth's Transmigration Through Time and Space

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST: [1] Note: The following occurred one month after the new Investigator was generated. We gathered at the karaoke box in Shinjuku we use for gaming. KP: It's about time for us to get the new scenario started. Unfortunately Sayaka-chan's player thought we were meeting in Ikebukuro, so we'll have to wait a bit before starting. Sasahara: I'm sure you told her correctly. KP: I gave her a call a few minutes ago. She'll be here soon. Note: And then Sayaka-chan's player arrived. Sayaka: Kept you waiting, huh? I was sure the rendezvous point was Ikebukuro (laughs, embarrassed) Sasahara: You're a key character in this. We can't get started without you. Tatsumi: I read through the replay of what we did last time. My character really went through the wringer. Sasahara: But wasn't that fun, in its own way? Tatsumi: No, I'm tired of that. I need Sayaka-chan to tag in to the ring so I can leave. (laughs) KP: It's a real problem if you say things like that before we even start this one. Tatsumi: A problem? A problem, you say!? Isn't it all your fault as the Keeper? KP: This time around the events are going to revolve around the high school Sayaka-chan is commuting to. Sasahara: So the new teammate's going to be a high school girl? Mutsumi: As Miyako-san hit Zero Sanity, I made a new character. She's a young lady named Hino Mutsumi. Please regard her favorably. Sometimes she makes a "mu" sound when she is lost in though. Sasahara: Even if the character changes, the person behind the character doesn't. KP: Anyway, there's something I need to announce before we begin. All of you are suddenly pulled through time and space by Yog-Sothoth. Sasahara x Sayaka x Tatsumi x Mutsumi: What? KP: The last campaign we played took place over a year, but mysteriously you're now back at the beginning of your second year as a high school student. You'll have to go through it again. Sayaka: But my grades weren't that bad. Why do I have to repeat the grade? KP: No, it's not because of that. It's like how in Sazae-san nobody gets older, nobody gets promoted, etc. This happened because of a Cthulhu Mythos event, so time doesn't move forward for you. Tatsumi: What a complicated setup. KP: But if I don't pull this, Sayaka-chan will graduate from high school. Tatsumi: Is that a problem? Sasahara: Yes, it is. If she graduates, I won't be able to use her as a pretext to go to the high school. KP: You don't have to think about it too deeply. If you realize you're being twisted in time by Yog-Sothoth, I'll have you roll a Sanity check. Tatsumi: Well, if you put it that way I think we can let it slide. I'm at the age where I don't even think about a year or two passing anymore. If I failed to age a year, I don't think I'd recognize it. OST: [1] KP: Now Sayaka-chan, as it turns out there is a private high school near R'lyeh Company. I'm going to say that you will become a transfer student there. Sayaka: Oh, but why? KP: Because the school you were going to was closed due to lack of students. Sayaka: What? Why? KP: It was no longer needed, and the land was sold to a private company. Sasahara: Oh no, that's bad. KP: The new school you'll be attending is a private school called Mitsukado Gakuen. It's an old academy with a long history and is well-stocked with a lot of equipment. It's quite popular among students. Our newest Investigator, Hino Mutsumi, is also a student there. Mutsumi: I'm an ordinary student who started attending the school in my freshman year, but now that I'm there I'll be in a position to help Sayaka-chan get acclimated to the school. KP: And there you have it. It turns out that both of you attended the same dojo, so I'll rule that you are acquaintances. Sayaka: So that means you're playing a cute girl who is stronger than she looks? Mutsumi: I've got (Fist/Punch) at 65%. Sayaka: You're even more accurate than I am with my (Kick) attack. Sasahara: You're outclassed in terms of damage output though. Notes: Sasahara-san wasn't wrong. Mutsumi could cause about 1D3 + 1D4 with her Fist/Punch attack, but Sayaka-chan's Kick attack causes 1D6 + 1D4 + 1D6 if it connects. The average person has only 11 to 13 Hit Points, so it is possible for him to lose all of them with one Kick from Sayaka-chan. She truly has a killer Kick. Sayaka: My kick is not just for show. Sasahara: Whoa, don't kick any of us. (lol) KP: The layout of the campaign is like this, so the Investigator we made for this situation was made using optional rules. Her skill layout was partially determined by rolling to see what skills she liked as a younger child. Tatsumi: Will there be a way for me to lend support? KP: Well, she does need to improve her (Other Language: English) and (Dodge) skills. Tatsumi: My (Other Language: English) skill is decent enough, but I can't help her with (Dodge). Sayaka: I can help her with her (Dodge). Tatsumi: The Keeper is working very hard to get her training in skills, so I bet something bad is going to happen. Sasahara: I'll leave her training in (English) to Tatsumi-sensei. Maybe I can learn how to (Dodge). KP: How would you go about doing that? Sasahara: By joining a kabbadi circle in my college. The name even sounds like a sutra, so it'll be spiritual training at the same time. (laughs) KP: Sure, why not. The rest of you should also get in some training before the campaign begins. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: An Unexpected Encounter at Mitsukado Gakuen

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: The players used the down time to buff up certain skills, and then the game really got started. KP: We'll begin with Sayaka-chan's introduction. Sayaka: Hai~. KP: It's already been two months since you transferred into your new school. The season has turned, and now you're in tsuyu, the rainy season. Rain falls down steadily outside, creating wed thuds as droplets hit the concrete-lined ground. Sayaka: [Oh no! I'm gonna be late!] I groan as I rush towards the school. Note: IC stuff is bracketed. Sasahara: This is a familiar image. It's just like one of my Japanese animes. KP: If you don't slow down, I'll roll to see if you collide with someone in the school hallways. Sasahara: That also fits the setting. KP: You smack right into another female student. You are now on the floor, sitting on your bottom. Sayaka: [Owww. I'm sorry about that. I was in a hurry.] I stand up and help the other girl get to her feet. OST: [1] KP: [It's my fault too. I apologize.] She speaks with a cold, clear voice, and as you grasp her hand and pull her to her feet, you realize how cold and wet her hand is. Sayaka: Is she wet from running through the rain? KP: That could be it. Rather than just being wet from rainwater, her hair looks moist. The woman you are looking at has long, straight, and lustrous black hair, like a member of an ancient noble family. She's one of the third-years at the school, but she's not someone you know. Lying on the ground beside her is her sketchbook, which has been knocked open. Sayaka: I pick up the book to hand it back to her. KP: Something catches your attention in the book. Sayaka: I try to glance over it, casually. KP: Most of it is pencil sketches with the occasional drawing in charcoal. One of the drawings is of a . . . well, the architecture is non-Euclidean, and it's a tower. Tatsumi: Whoa, wait a minute there! (lol) Mutsumi: All of a sudden it's Chidamari Sketch (lol). KP: Just looking at the loathsome gate of the place fills you with dread. Sayaka: Can I tell anything about the time of the picture? KP: The sky in it is pure white. You doubt you'll be able to figure out when it was drawn. Now that you think about it some more, you're sure you saw this artwork somewhere before. Mutsumi: Does the drawing look like it's finished or unfinished? Sayaka: Can I remember where I saw it before? KP: No, only that you've seen it. Mutsumi: He said it twice because it's important! Sayaka: I make a mental note and engrave the image into my memory. I'll do more research later. KP: Right after you do that, the homeroom bell chimes. Sayaka: Oop, gotta jet. I give her back the sketchbook and let her borrow a hand towel. KP: Oh. Well, the sempai you were going to lend the hand towel to gapes as if she's surprised. Sayaka: I press it into her hands. [Use this! It'll be bad if you catch a cold!] KP: She graciously takes it in both hands and sees you off towards homeroom. She doesn't seem to be concerned that homeroom is about to start. How odd. Sayaka: I am concerned, but now isn't the time for that. Gotta make a dash to homeroom! Feets don't fail me now! Tatsumi: She's a healthy and energetic girl. Sayaka: As you run through the hall, you glimpse the reception area for the school out of the corner of your eye - and Tatsumi-sensei and Sasahara-san are both there. Tatsumi: What am I doing there? (lol) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): R'lyeh Hello! This is Mutusumi reporting in. My favorite marine animal to sketch is the killer whale. I'm tough. I can handle it even if my Keeper starts talking about difficult concepts like non-Euclidean angles. However, neither I nor the Keeper really understand them. Setting that aside, there's a certain city known as R'lyeh. When Keepers attempt to describe that terrible place, it's almost a given that they'll say "non-Euclidean" in their descriptions. The only difference is where in the text the phrase occurs. When describing alien technology or architecture, you may use the phrase at will. Well then, on to the main topic at hand. R'lyeh is the alien city where Great Cthulhu and some of his progeny rest. R'lyeh was also part of the name of R'lyeh Company, the store where Sayaka-chan and her friends work. Right now this alien city is submerged beneath the waves of the Pacific Ocean, but if it ever were to surface, bad times would be had by all. Game over, man. I think a lot of experienced Investigators have worked hard to keep R'lyeh beneath the waves. We appreciate their hard work and wish them the best of luck. Keep it up! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: One of your old friends is a director at this academy - a person named Henmi Amiji. Henmi-san is the school's principal. Tatsumi: Henmi Amiji at Mitsukado Gakuen . . . Mutsumi: If only it had been Armitage. That person could easily have become the principal. Tatsumi: That's the Third time you've made that joke. Setting that aside for now, what does the director of the school want with me? KP: (As Henmi) [We've paid a lot of attention to your appearances on television. We think you could help our students with their concentration. However, a person of your stature should not be on TV trying to sell books.] Tatsumi: [That's not a fun thing to hear.] I did stop already though. Sasahara: That's not the whole truth. We remember you stopping because of the shock caused by the incident. KP: [I'm sure you're still busy with the projects you're working on for the university. Still, why not become one of the administrators here? You could provide a lot of help by guiding our students.] His voice has a quiet pleading sound. You idly glance around the meeting room and notice that one chair is unlabeled - the co-director's chair. Tatsumi: Oh my, they can't just expect to suddenly deposit an outsider into that position. KP: Henmi always thought it was too soon for you to consider retiring. Tatsumi: It won't hurt if I hear him out. Sasahara: That's nice and all, but why am I here? KP: It's a two-for-one deal. Many of the students at the school are fans of your books, and since you're close to Tatsumi-sensei, they asked him to introduce you to the school. Perhaps you could give a special lesson or presentation for the kids. Sasahara: I am very glad I was asked. Now I have every right to visit the school without causing any problems. (smiles) Tatsumi: And I as an educator am willingly bringing along this perv . . . OST: [1] KP: There's one other reason why they might be calling you. Tatsumi: And what's that? KP: As Henmi begins to blather on about how suited you'd be for the position, a woman in a maid's uniform rolls in a tea-serving cart. Sasahara: A maid!? Tatsumi: It can't be. KP: Oh yes it can! For the maid you see is none other than Miyako-san, who knew Tatsumi-sensei so very well. Tatsumi: What are you doing here!? KP: (As Miyako) [Tatsumi-sensei, Sasahara-san, thank you for coming all the way out here.] Sasahara: She's got Zero Sanity, yet she's standing here, talking to us and having a normal conversation. KP: Henmi bolts out of his seat when he sees her. (as Henmi) [Chairman Anjinzuka!] He goes to the cart and gets a cup of barley tea for himself. Sasahara: Wait, are you saying that Anjinzuka Miyako is a chairman of the school!? Tatsumi: The Keeper has a way of surprising us and defying expectations! (laughs) KP: It turns out that the Anjijnzuka zaibatsu had invested a sum of money in the school back in the day. They could send one of their representatives to supervise the investment, couldn't they? Sasahara: Oh that's right! I remember that we established that Miyako-san came from a rich family. Tatsumi: No, I can't accept this. It makes no sense! You guys are too much. (laughs) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Miskatonic University Mutsumi reporting in once again. My favorite subject is history. As you know by now, the academy in our game is Mitsukado Gakuen. This is actually a meta reference to an academy located in Arkham, Massachusetts known as Miskatonic University. It has appeared in many Cthulhu TRPG scenarios and many stories by the Lovecraft circle of writers, and is the most famous university in the world of the Cthulhu Mythos. That said, it is in fact a university. Many of the students that attend classes there are blissfully ignorant of the harsh reality of the Cthulhu Mythos. Unfortunately, there have been a few people who've engaged in some very strange studies. The library has a collection of Cthulhu Mythos grimoires that they are safekeeping, among which is the mighty and infamous Necronomicon. The chief librarian at Miskatonic University's book collection is Henry Armitage. He fought against two of the Sons of Yog-Sothoth in the novella "The Dunwich Horror" and became an exemplary Investigator. We respect him as a sempai whom we can only hope to succeed. Henmi Anmiji is a very blatant reference to Henry Armitage. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: (as Henmi) [Of course, we want to have qualified administrators on our staff. The Board would be much stronger and more stable with Tatsumi-sensei as a member.] Sasahara: Tatsumi-sensei, I don't feel comfortable entrusting these children to Miyako. Tatsumi: I can't let something bad happen here. It'd be too horrible for the children and their parents. KP: (as Miyako) [Tatsumi-sensei, the students we teach today will grow up to be the leaders of Japan tomorrow. Work with us. Help us prepare them for what they have to do.] As she speaks, she retreats to the shadows of the room. You can't read her eyes when she says those lines. Tatsumi: . . . I'll do it. I'll join the staff. I'll have to keep up my guard though. No telling what Miyako is going to do. KP: Of course. It's only natural that you two end up on the same team - after all, you both work in education, and you have a long history togther. Tatsumi: What part of this is natural!? KP: (checks notes) Okay, you and Sasahara both get to make (Idea) rolls. Tatsumi x Sasahara: (roll dice) We made our tests. KP: Something seems off about the barley tea you've been drinking. It tastes strange. Tatsumi: [Miyako-kun, doesn't this barley tea taste weird to you?] KP: (as Miyako) [Oh, does it? I just brewed it a moment ago.] She smiles coquettishly and then downs her share in one gulp. [It tastes absolutely fine to me. Heh heh heh heh.] Sasahara: For some reason, I found that part extremely erotic. (laughs) Tatsumi: This is no good. Miyako-kun shouldn't be here. Sasahara: [I have to agree with the professor. It tastes weird to me as well.] KP: (as Miyako) [That is strange. Perhaps the water went bad.] Sasahara: Water doesn't go bad, and eggs don't ripen. The school has its own internal water supply, doesn't it? KP: So it would seem. Many large complexes have their own external or internal reservoir. Sasahara: What if something got into the supply? We should take a look at the tank and make sure the system doesn't have any problems. KP: While you discuss that, Miyako wheels out the tea cart and pushes it to the cafeteria. Sasahara: Okay, let's go and check on the water. Tatsumi: I'm tagging along. KP: The two of you walk over to the boiler and check on it. A maze of twisting pipes is connected to it, and some of them are steadily dripping. The hiss of steam sounds nearby. It's very hard for you to breathe in this room, and you need to make a (POW x 5) test. This isn't a (Luck) roll, rather it's to see if your sixth sense activates. Sasahara: I bet something bad will happen to us if we make our roll. (rolls dice) I passed. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I made my test as well. OST:[1] KP: Deep within the flooded room, you think you see something out of the corner of your eye. A woman, dressed in white, with long, black hair. Her sopping wet hair hangs down over her face, obscuring it. Sasahara: Who is this!? KP: You only have a chance to see her for a moment before she disappears. A steady stream of water spews from one of the pipes as she vanishes, and you think you hear her voice, altered, bubbling forth from the splashing water. Tatsumi: It's a yurei! KP: And for seeing that unholy apparation, you guys get to roll against your (Sanity)! Tatsumi: Thanks, but I don't really need this present. Sasahara: We're already at the Sanity rolls for today! Tatsumi: It's too soon. (rolls dice) Ah rats, I failed! Sashara: Too bad, Tatsumi. (rolls dice) I failed too! I've got 70 Sanity! Why? Why did it turn out like this!? KP: Correction - you had 70 Sanity. Now you're 1D3 Sanity points the poorer. And so are you, Tatsumi. Mark 'em off. Tatsumi: I hadn't planned on losing that many this quickly. (rolls dice) 3 points! Now I'm down to 50 exactly. Sasahara: (rolls dice) Today is not my day. (rolls a die) I lost 3 points. 67 points left. Sayaka: You were both scared good and proper by that ghost. KP: You both lost so much Sanity that you wonder if what you saw was real. Could it have been something else, like a very large puppet that someone set up to scare you? Tatsumi: [I - I think I just saw a ghostly woman suddenly appear. What do you think, Sasahara?] Sasahara: [I saw that too.] As I say that, I try to close off the leaking faucet and re-examine my surroundings. KP: (reads through notes) The boiler room itself is not that odd-looking. It's a very narrow room. One thing that catches your eye - the woman that was just here left no footprints. There's no trace of her being in the room. Sasahara: I check some of the water that was spilling out. How does it smell? KP: It smells abnormal - like an old fish. Sasahara: [Tatsumi-sensei, I am concerned. I think we need to check the condition of the water in the school's tank.] Tatsumi: [Very well. Although I'm still concerned about the appearance of that odd woman.] KP: And on that note, I want to change the focus away from you guys over to Sayaka-chan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The New Investigator Appears!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: Sorry to keep you all waiting. Now it's finally Mutusmi-chan's turn. The chime to end the school day rings. As today is a Saturday, you have a half day's worth of classes to get through on this day. The students who have no club activities to do are already going home. Sayaka: Oh, does Mitsukado Gakuen not have a five day school week? KP: This is a private school and they have lots of extra days. The school staff also invites a lot of outside people to come in and provide guest lectures and lessons to the students. Sayaka: I see, I see. This is a pretty severe setup for education. KP: Mutsumi-chan, you're in the same class as Sayaka-chan. A good friend of yours from middle school is also in the same class. She is named Hasegawa Chika. For a while the two of you went to different schools, but now the band's back together. Sayaka: [Mu-tan, Chika-pon, let's go back home.] KP: Why are you calling them that? Sayaka: Those are their nicknames that I chose. OST: [1] KP: Ah, so. Well, I guess that's all right. Well, Chika-chan is a member of the track and field club. She can't go back with your group because she has practice. However, because you're in the middle of the rainy season, she's going to be training with the others at the gymnasium. Sayaka: Oh, I see. What about Mu-tan? Mutsumi: I have the art club to attend. KP: Indeed! Although it's not as severe as the track and field club. With your group, all you need to do is show up from time to time. Sayaka: Ara ara. So does that mean I'm heading back alone? Mutsumi: Why don't you join a club, Sayaka-chan? We have a karate club at the school. Sayaka: I'll join if there's a private eye club. KP: This isn't CLAMP School Detectives or Tantei Opera Milky Holmes. There's no such club at the school. Sayaka: Ah, nuts. Oh, Mu-tan is right here. [Mu-tan, the other day I ran into a beautiful senpai who had long black hair. That happened in the hall. Do you happen to know her?] KP: Mutsumi-chan, make an (Idea) roll to realize who Sayaka-chan is talking about. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I made my test. KP: She might mean a third-year student at your art club, Shinohara Shizue. She draws a lot of still life art and participates in many art contests. She's very skilled and you look up to her. Probably. Mutsumi: What was that last part about? KP: There's a rumor as to why she was absent from school for some months. According to the rumor, she was pregnant and needed to deal with the problem. Mutsumi: That is a shocking rumor. KP: That she missed three whole months is true. Because it'd be hard for her to show her face, she often spent time in the art room or the laboratory instead. Mutsumi: So she was at the art room? KP: Indeed. The grey, tired light from outside shone on her as she laid the sketchbook in her lap, furiously drawing away. Mutsumi: It sounds like it would have been awkward to talk to her then. KP: Mutsumi, try a (Know) roll for me. And Sayaka-chan, you haven't been here as long, so you may not roll. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Nnnnrrrrrh! I failed! I feel so dumb! KP: Ah, well. You won't know the thing I was going to reveal. Mutsumi: [But why is Sayaka-chan my sempai?] Sayaka: [I noticed that your upperclassman at the club was drawing non-Euclidean artwork.] Mutsumi: [I don't understand non-Euclidean geometry all that well, but why don't you come to the art club?] Sayaka: [Okay, today I'll come to the art club and check it out. I'd have to go over to R'lyeh Company even if I went home anyway.] Sasahara: Sayaka-chan! You have to work! Do you want to be a NEET when you grow up? Sayaka: We never have many customers anyway (laughs). KP: The art room is an ordinary classroom in one of the main buildings, which happens to be square-shaped. It's not a special building, so the noise of students fades away as you get closer to it. When you enter, the only sound you hear from outside is the falling rain. Mutsumi: Is she here? This is the right place. KP: No one is inside the room. You see her sketchbook and belongings at the desk she usually sits at. It's as if she suddenly disappeared. Sayaka-chan finds the towel she lent Shizue - it's been carefully cleaned and folded. Mutsumi: [Did she go to the bathroom?] KP: The window was opened wide. Rainwater is spilling into the room, splashing about on the floor. Sayaka: Can't have that. I shut the window and casually look over the sketchbook as I move past it. KP: It's the same one she had before. Sayaka: Maybe this is bad, but I pick it up and quickly page through it. Mutsumi: I'm concerned for my senpai at the club, so I am going to sneak some peeks over Sayaka's shoulder. OST:[1] KP: What you see as you look through it is very different from the still lifes she was painting earlier. There are scenes of utter darkness, titanic figures looking down upon the viewer malevolently, and a distorted baby crying and screaming. This is not ordinary at all. All the drawings are unsettling. Both of you can try your Art (Painting) skills here to find out more. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I made the test. Sayaka: I haven't studied art. (rolls dice) Not a chance. KP: You sense that the artist who made this has a very vivid (and disturbed) imagination. Moreover, the quality of the art itself is very high. This might be her best work (from a technical perspective). Mutsumi: [What's wrong with sempai? Why is she drawing these horrible images?] Sayaka: Is the page with the non-Euclidean geometry there? KP: Yes, that's the first page after the blank cover. Mutsumi: Speaking from the standpoint of a member of the art club, how would I feel about this? KP: This is the culmination of all of her art training and her hopes and dreams. Mutsumi-chan, you see one image among her drawings that sticks in your memory. It's of an odd-looking gate. You see that and are instantly filled with dread.

Mutsumi: [All of these are scary drawings! Why is she drawing these terrible things?] KP: (rolls dice) While you are looking through the book, a drop of water falls from the ceiling and lands in the book. Sayaka: [Is the roof leaking?] KP: Before your eyes, the water drop spreads out like an amoeba, reaching towards the blank spot on the page. Mutsumi: Hmm? KP: (checks notes) Oh boy. As the drop reaches the edges of the page, the sketchbook shudders and then undergoes a metamorphosis. The white is pulled towards the center and sucked into the darkness of the drawing. Horrible sounds emit from the sketchbook as it shakes and convulses. Sayaka: [What in the name of heck?] KP: Now it's time for some Sanity rolls! Get to it! If you make your roll, you lose 1 point. If you fail, you lose 4 points. Sasahara: Wow, Mu-tan just got her Sanity cherry popped. Sayaka: Can it. Oh, I don't want to lose four points. (rolls dice) A success! I only lose one point. Down to 68. Mutsumi: This is the first time my character has experienced any kind of supernatural phenomena. I go to the floor and start shaking. KP: Good roleplaying. Kudos. But that will not save you from having to make a Sanity roll. Mutsumi: I think I'm going to fail. I don't like this. (rolls dice) Oh, I made it. Sasahara: Those gals are like fighters on the rocks, doing epic moves while the waves crash below them! KP: You don't lose much Sanity then. Mutsumi: But as someone who has just experienced Cosmic Horror for the first time, I'm sticking with Sayaka-chan like glue. Now I'm an inexperienced Investigator who needs guidance. [Sayaka-chan, what is this!?] Sayaka: [That settles it! Something weird is going on in our school!] Mutsumi: What a random thing to say . . . Sasahara: She's a mysterious transfer student like Koizumi Itsuki. (lol) KP: All of you need to make (Listen) tests now. Tatsumi: All of us? What's up? Sasaraha: (rolls dice) I made it. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Reporting in from the art club team, I made my test. OST: [1] KP: Sayaka-chan, the noise came from the roof, near the cistern. It was a young woman's scream. You also hear Sasahara-san and Tatsumi-sensei's voices coming from the corridor. Sasahara: A school girl is in trouble. I make a dash for the roof. Tatsumi: I run along after him. Sayaka: [Sasahara-san! Tatsumi-sensei!] Sasahara: [Oh hi, Sayaka-chan! What's going on?] Sayaka: [Look at that!] And I point to the ceiling. KP: The two of you need to make (Idea) tests. If you succeed, (Sanity) tests will commence. Tatsumi x Sasahara: Stop showing us scary things! (lol) Notes: Both of them made their rolls, so they each only lost one point of Sanity to Sayaka-chan's clever trap. My condolences. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The Thing Floating in the Reservoir

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sasahara: By the way, I should mention that Mu-tan and I are cousins. KP: Oh, really? Mutsumi: Yes, we decided that earlier. Sasahara: When she was really young, I changed her diapers. Nah, let's not decide on that. Tatsumi: (using a calculator) You would have been not much older than four. Sasahara: True, but we would have been able to enter the bathtub together. Tatsumi: You sound like a real perv. KP: I tend to agree. Sasahara: I am sorry. I dote on her like a little sister. Really. KP: Yeah, like a little sister in an eroge. Not that I play those. Tatsumi: He just accumulated more pervert points. He might beat the high score. Sasahara: C'mon, I said I was sorry already. Mutsumi: Well, I call Sasahara "Tama-nii". I look up to him. Sasahara: There we go! (pats her on the head) Notes: Sasahara's player was very interested in the illustration Mutsumi's player had put on her sheet. As a result, he had found this excuse in game to pet the character's head. Our group had found various bits of artwork to use to put on our sheets, but he was so taken with Mutsumi's Investigator portrait that he wanted a copy for himself. What a dorkus malorkus. Mutsumi: [By the way Tama-nii, why do you know Tatsumi-sensei and Sayaka-chan?] Sasahara: [I became acquainted with them at the antique store I sometimes go to.] Mutsumi: [Wait, do you mean that weird place that's sometimes open and sometimes closed?] Tatsumi: [You're the one called Mutsumi-kun, right? Would you please guide me to the roof? I need to check out the cistern on it right away.] KP: Looks like everyone's headed towards the roof. (checks notes) Students are allowed to make use of the roof during their daily routine, but since you're near Spring break the rules are even more relaxed than usual. Still, this story is occurring in the rainy season. No people are going to be on the roof when you get there. Sasahara: Nice choice of words. As we rush over there, I want to talk to the rest of the party. [Do any of you know if there's been a problem with the water tank?] OST: [1] KP: As you reach the concrete surface of the roof, you notice that the pooling water looks reddish. Things are floating in the water - a piece of wood, some plastic, and a wood-carving knife. Now that you get a closer look at it, you see the wood is the sign for the art club. It's the same shape with the same name of the club written on it in permanent marker. Mutsumi: [That's our art club's sign . . . wait, where is sempai!?] Sayaka: Fan out. Concentrate on finding Shizue. Sasahara: Copy that. I'm headed towards the tank. KP: (rolls dice) Sasahara, you find something underneath the tank. It's a pair of uwabaki. Although they've been drenched in the rain, they're still gooey with blood. Sasahara: Not good. Oh well. I climb to the top of the tank. #YOLO! KP: The lid is open. Sasahara: (sighs) I look inside. KP: The water is stained a bright red. And the body of a female student is floating in the water. Sasahara: Oh dear. Is there a way to get her out? KP: Provided you can oppose STR 15 on the Resistance Table, yes. The lid is narrow so only two people can work together on this. Mutsumi: I'm going to help him. I've got a really high Strength attribute. I think we can succeed if we try. Tatsumi: No, I don't want Mutsumi-kun or Sayaka-chan to see this. You girls need to go to the Principal's office and the health center. Bring the principal and the nurse back with you. I'll help Sasahara-kun. Sayaka:[Yes sir. C'mon, Mu-tan.] KP: As you peer down into the dark tank and see the red water, you detect the fishy stink that was in the barley tea you had before. Now that you're closer to it, you sense other odors as well, including a stink that reminds you of medicine. Try a (Medicine) or (Pharmacy) test for me, please. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Well, I made my (Medicine) roll. KP: You've smelled this before. It's CH2O - formaline. Also known as formaldehyde. Tatsumi: [Why is formaline in the reservoir?] Sasahara: [Nevermind that! She could still be alive! Help me get her out of there!] Tatsumi: [Okay. Yes, here we go.] KP: (runs a calculator and checks a chart) Carry the three . . . and you two have a 75% chance of success. Tatsumi: Finally, something for me to be okay at other than Sanity rolls (laughs). Sasahara: Roll those bones, sir. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Got it! KP: She trembles as you pull her out. She is in the fetal position. Tatsumi: I want to give her first aid! OST: [1] KP: Hmm. Unfortunately she's not alive. You can tell from her uniform that she was one of the students here. There's a big gash in her abdomen. Tatsumi: Did she commit harakiri? KP: From what you know, Tatsumi, it'd be hard for anyone to go that far unless that person had extraordinary will. As you move her, part of a glass jar rolls out of that gash in her side. Sasahara: F-from her stomach? This school day is turning out like School Days.

Tatsumi: Maybe it's some kind of cult ceremony. KP: The jar is about 20cm wide. The label on it has turned yellow with age, so the jar must have been in use for a long time. The label on it is completely soggy, so reading it will be impossible. Sasahara: That might be where the formaldehyde in the water came from. Was it used to preserve a dead specimen? KP: Forgot to mention that the jar was open when you found it. It's empty now. Sasahara: Meaning anything inside is in the tank now. That's not good. Unfortunately, I don't feel like going into the tank to look for it. Tatsumi: Well, I want to examine this girl's body one more time before the vice-principal gets here. (Medicine) skill roll is ... (rolls dice) good! KP: Whatever cut her went right through to her uterus. Judging from the shape of the incision, the assailant used a wood-carving knife, like the kind used in the art room. There aren't any surface wounds caused by her trying to resist the assailant. Cause of death is likely to be massive blood loss. Tatsumi: Well, how's this for a theory? The reason why she didn't resist the assailant is because she wasn't attacked. She climbed the tank, cut into herself with the knife, and willingly fell into the water to bleed out. KP: It's an unusual story, but it would explain what happened here and how it occurred. Tatsumi: [I've finished my check. The only thing now is to wait for the principal.] Sasahara: [Very well then.] KP: Crapsticks! I forgot to have you guys make a (Sanity) check for seeing the body! Sasahara: I noticed that too, but I was hoping we could just sneak past it without you realizing. KP: No way! It's not fun for me unless you guys suffer! It's the delight of all Keepers! Notes: To my delight and their sorrow, both of them failed their (Sanity) rolls. They each lost 1D4 SAN. Sasahara lost 1 point of Sanity, leaving him with 66 points remaining. Poor Tatsumi-sensei lost 4 SAN, leaving him with 45 points in reserve. Even though we're in the early stages of the campaign, one of our unlucky player characters is well on the way to losing his mind! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Fear and Terror in the Specimen Room

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST: [1] Notes: Soon the police and principal arrived. They worked together to seal off the area. The police began to comb through the scene. The prinicipal confirmed the identity of the girl: Shinohara Shizue. The principal used the PA system to immediately suspend school operations and dismiss any remaining students, and both Henmi and Tatsumi-sensei went with the police to their headquarters for questioning. As men who were highly respected, the police agreed to let them assist in the investigation. The reservoir tank was thoroughly checked out by the police, and nothing strange was found in it. KP: As Mutsumi-chan and Sayaka-chan have strong connections to the deceased and the school, you are required to stay here during the investigation even though the rest of the students have been dismissed. Mutsumi: My character is in shock after what happened. She went to the art club room to sit down and process this. Sayaka: I try to comfort Mu-tan. KP: (checks notes) The two of you smell formaline in the art room. Mutsumi-chan knows this area well, so she knows the laboratory is next door. Sasahara: And we can guess from that where the specimen jar came from. I think I'll go over there and check it out. Sayaka: [Well, if you're going over there, I'd better tag along. Sasahara-san can't be counted on.] (lol) Mutsumi: [D-don't leave me alone!] I follow after Sayaka-sempai and Tama-nii. KP: When you get there, you notice the sliding door at the entrance of the lab has a broken window. You look inside and see that all of the specimen jars have been shattered. The air is thick with the stink of formaldehyde. Sayaka: Is there glass on our side of the sliding door? KP: No, only on the other side. Sayaka: How about this? Shizue-san did not have a key to the room. She broke through the glass and reached in to unlock the door from outside. This level of reasoning is possible for Higuchi Sayaka . . . what do you think, everyone? Mutsumi: [That's amazing, Sayaka-chan! It was like something out of a detective novel!] Sayaka: [I'm a high school detective, after all.] (lol) Mutsumi: [I don't know what all of that means, but you seem very reliable.] Sayaka: I want to use my (Listen) skill to check out the room before I go inside it. KP: And you may do that. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Got it. KP: You hear the sound of water dripping inside. Sayaka: [That might be from the culprit! He could still be inside!] Sasahara: [Sayaka-chan is very brave.] KP: The stench of formaline assails your nostrils as you rush into the room. The books rest untouched on the shelves. You don't sense anyone else's presence in the room. A variety of living creatures is inside a puddle of liquid in a corner. The noise is coming from there. Sayaka: I look for the one making the noise. KP: (rolls dice to choose a creature randomly) Hmm . . . the culprit is . . . Suzuhara!? Sasahara: What? Why me!? KP: The creature is still alive. It has thrown out a long tongue, which it has attached to your legs to let the demon feed. KP: And while you deal with that, get more of the other Investigators involved in this tale. Sanity rolls all around! If you make the roll, you'll lose 1 SAN. Fail, and you lose 1D3 SAN. Sasahara: (rolls dice) Made it! You say I can't do it!? EXTREEEME! Sayaka: (rolls dice) Well, I don't know how EXTREEME I was, but I made the test. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Oh no! I failed. And I lost (rolls a die) 2 points, leaving me with 49 SAN left. Mutsumi-chan is standing in the room, gaping as she takes in the sight. Sasahara: Your biffing the roll keeps this from being EXTREEMELY unexciting! I take Mu-chan by the hand and lead her outside. Sayaka: I reach out my hand and get one of the weird specimens. I wanna take one home. Sasahara: What are you thinking? Sayaka: No, that's not necessary. I'm interested in this thing as a piece of evidence. I'll carefully check it out later. KP: Strange things gurgle, churn, and squirm in the puddles at your feet, like dancing shrimp. Sayaka: I grab some and leave the room! [Mu-tan! I brought out some of the dancing shrimp!] Mutsumi: Wow, that's just - I don't understand you at all, Sayaka-chan. (lol) KP: As you carry them outside, the struggling marine-like forms stop their struggling. One by one, they quiet down and stop moving altogether. Sayaka: [So if they go outside the room, they die?] Mutsumi: [Weren't they dead to begin with?] KP: Normally, they die when they are killed. But you notice something. The movement of the things in the science room stops as well. You notice that water has been splashing into the room and mixing with the formaline on the floor. Could there be some kind of connection? Sasahara: The rain again. Anytime we've experienced something strange, water has always factored in. It's everywhere. Mutsumi: [I thought I just saw the specimens move again.] Sasahara: [It's probably only your imagination. A halluciantion caused by breathing formaline fumes.] That'll be how I help her accept the insane nightmare that we Investigators must struggle with. Mutsumi: Is there a connection between the ghost you saw earlier and these specimens? Or is this the work of the eldritch god who sleeps in His tomb at R'lyeh? Sayaka: I just thought of something. If we investigate this room thoroughly, could we find out what label was on the jar that we found inside Shinohara-san? Mutsumi: Bet you'd need to (Spot Hidden) to find it among all the junk inside. KP: Not in this case. You find it after looking around. However, verifying which label came off of that jar will require some work. It'll take two hours and for you to succeed on an (Idea) and a (Library Use) test, back to back. Sasahara: Well, we have some time to kill before Tatsumi-sensei will be back from the police station. Why don't we try to get this done ourselves? Sayaka: Sounds good. Both you and I have good ratings in (Idea) and (Library Use). Mutsumi: I'm not good at those things, but I can gather all of Shizue-sempai's belongings from the art room and bring them to Henmi-sensei. Sasahara: That's fine. It sounds like a normal thing for a high schooler to do. Unlike Sayaka-chan, you're not one of us yet (gooble gobble). Mutsumi: Hanging around you guys means it's only a matter of time before I awaken as an Investigator. Notes: It took some time, but the two of them working together were able to find the missing label. The jar itself was examined by a chemist named Nakatani Minoru. The jar label said "1946, From T". Minoru-sensei took a look at the other jars and identified their contents as eels or bats - or things made from pieces of these and other animals. As a collection of specimens, it was worthless. After dropping off Shizue's belongings with the principal, Tatsumi-sensei finally was dropped off by the police, and Mutsumi-chan and Tatsumi-sensei returned to the group. Sayaka: [Tatsumi-sensei, thank you for all your hard work!] Sasahara: At times like this, we have to rely on you to see us through. Tatsumi: One of the merits of having lived this long. I'm used to dealing with mass media. Sasahara: [We've identified the jar and its label.] Tatsumi: [Ah, you did? We were never able to find out what got out of that jar and into the reservoir.] Sasahara: [Whatever was there, it already made its exit stage left via the pipes attached to the tank.] Tatsumi: [For someone that drank that ghastly tea, you're casually making jokes like that.] Sasahara: [Oh god, you're right. That was in bad taste.] KP: As time passed, the sun gradually set. The police wrapped up their work for the day and returned to their base. OST: [1] Sayaka: Why don't we head on over to R'lyeh Company? It's close to the school. Tatsumi: [Fine, but we're stopping along the way to get something warm to drink. I've been drenched in rainwater today and I feel chilled to the bone.] KP: It feels like it's been a while, but your group has arrived at R'lyeh company and is inside the store. The usual collection of bizarre and unsettling objects is on display - sinister-looking multi-sided pieces, mouldering books from China, things that could go on sale at a bazaar in the Middle East, golden buckets, and so on. Mutsumi: [So this is where you've been working part-time, Sayaka-chan. Oh, this many-sided wooden thing is pretty!] Sasahara: [Mu-tan, that thing is dangerous. Don't touch it!] (lol) Tatsumi: [Sayaka-chan, you mustn't put these scary things out on display.] Sayaka: [But they're merchandise. I have to sell them.] Tatsumi: [Don't do that!] Sayaka: [But people want to buy them. This is a store. Miyako-san sometimes comes here and buys lots of things.] Tatsumi: [You absolutely musn't sell them to her!] Sayaka: [Hooeeeeh? Will you buy some of these things instead then, Tatsumi-sensei?] KP: While the two of you carry on your foolish chatter, the coffee finishes brewing and you pour a cup for all of the cold Investigators. Tatsumi-sensei and Sasahara-san should both make (POW x 5) rolls for me now. Sasahara: I hope I don't see that yurei again. (rolls dice) Got it. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I also made my roll. KP: Very well then. The two of you glance out through the window as rain oozes down it and and see water pouring out of the reservoir tank on the school's rooftop. Could the flow be stopped by garbage? Sasahara: Water, water everywhere. KP: And then the thing from the boiler room rises out of the water pooling on the rooftop's surface, trailing long, black hair. It's about as tall as Shizue-san was. Sanity rolls all around! Light 'em up! Sasahara: (rolls dice) Got it! Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Oh no, I failed. This just isn't going to be my day. KP: Those who fail the roll will be 1D3 Sanity points the poorer. Tatsumi: (rolls a die) Well, that wasn't so bad. 1 point gone, 44 points in reserve. KP: The phantom vanishes from sight again. Tatsumi-sensei, why don't you make a Psychology check to analyze yourself? Tatsumi: What a suspicious setup. I have a feeling I'm going to regret this. (rolls dice) I made the roll! KP: The moment you locked eyes on that thing, you experienced . . . thirst? Desire? A powerful craving. The last time you felt something this powerfully was when you went to the lost grave of the Heike samurai, encountered Atlach-Nacha, and thought that It was your long-lost mother. Tatsumi: Please don't bring that up again! Sasahara: You found that old wound, cut it open, and packed in fresh salt! (lol) KP: Although in your case, I think the ghost just unlocked the hidden emotion you had concerning your mommy. Sayaka: But why would Tatsumi-sensei be reminded of his mommy by Shinohara Shizue-san? Sasahara: I have to agree. Maybe if he failed his roll by a lot he could come to that interpretation. I wonder what kind of desire I'd have? Tatsumi: Easy. You lust after high school girls. Sasahara: That's not fair. I also lust after Yuika-chan. Sayaka: She's in elementary school. Please don't lust after her! Tatsumi: It's interesting that so far, only Sasahara-kun and I have seen the ghost. Maybe it has something to do with the barley tea we drank? Sasahara: Oh, it was cursed. And now that we drank it, we're also cursed. Tatsumi: Or it affects the disturbed - and causes people with traumas to experience hallucinations. Sasahara: But that was made using water from the reservoir. Wouldn't the other students also be affected? Sayaka: Thankfully no. Recently we've been bringing in our own water in bottles and thermoses because the school's water's tasted bad. Sasahara: I wish I had know that. I ended up drinking some from the faucet. KP: I think you'll start bringing in your own supply. Mutsumi: [Psst! Tama-nii! Tatsumi-sensei's acting a little strange. What's wrong with him?] Sasahara: [Oh, him? He's all right. Something just reminded him of a traumatic event from his past.] (lol) Mutsumi: [Trauma?] My image of this intellectual on the TV is now crumbling. Sayaka: Well, what are you going to do tomorrow, sir? Tatsumi: Many things, to gather information. Whatever I can. Sasahara: I'll meet with Shizue-san's parents, and I'll bring the specimens to some people in the scientific community. Maybe they can shed some light on the nature of these things. Tatsumi: Still, I don't think I have a strong enough reason to enter into the dreadful world of cosmic horror once again . . . Sasahara: Probably not! Notes: Once again, the players seemed to be a little lost. Even though they normally played Investigators whose blazing spirits were tempted by intellectual curiousity, working within the confines of a high school somewhat perplexed them. The idea of a high school girl killing herself also weighed heavily in the hearts of the team. Having to ask her parents and schoolmates about it would be a thankless job. If I had used the idea of messages appearing on a blackboard from space or an innocent child asking them for help, perhaps they would have been more willing. It's at times like this that I feel very troubled as a Keeper. How do I keep my players motivated? Fortunately, even though Tatsumi and Sasahara had their concerns, one of the Investigators was raring to go - the high school detective girl, Sayaka-chan. Sayaka: (fidgeting) This kind of bizarre mystery is exactly what we need! As a high-school detective, I can't overlook this! KP: How very much like you, Sayaka-chan! This way is the best. (applause) Sayaka: Detectives get to help people who need it! Mu-tan, become an Investigator like us! Hurry, hurry! Mutsumi: You make it sound nice. KP: Yes, that's the kind of natural development we want. Mu-tan, join your pal and become a high school detective. You'll be able to answer all kinds of requests for help. (sparkling, wet eyes) Mutsumi: I've got something I need to do first. I want to ask Tatsumi-sensei what the police think about Shizue-sempai. Tatsumi: [Based on the evidence available, they're likely to rule it a suicide.] OST: [1] Mutsumi: That's it. There's no way I can accept that Shizue-sempai would kill herself. We have to find out the truth for ourselves. I'm going to cooperate with Sayaka-chan on this case. We'll work together as detectives. Sayaka: Yessss! The new Investigator has finally appeared! Sasahara: Sayaka-chan seems happy. Sayaka: [Mu-tan, you can leave it to me! Without fail, I'll find out what happened to your sempai! And I'll stop who or whatever caused this to happen!] And with that, we have the official debut of our new Investigator! KP x Sasahara x Tatsumi x Sayaka x Mutsumi: Hooray! Banzai! (applause, noisemakers) Sayaka: [And now we'll solve this with our group, which we'll call the SOS-Dan!] (TL Note: The ï¼³ï¼¯ï¼³å›£ was the after-school organization formed by Suzumiya Haruhi. å›£ means brigade, party, gang, or troupe. ) Sasahara: Why are you calling it the SOS-Dan?!

Sayaka: S as in Shinwa (ç¥žè©±) [Mythos], O as in Osoroshii (æã‚ã—ã„) [Horrible or Ghastly], and S as in Suiri (æŽ¨ç†) [Solving Mysteries through Reasoning]! Sasahara: What a terrible dan. Sayaka: [I have no interest in ordinary cases! If you have trouble with the forces of the Mythos, then bring it to us!] (lol) That'll be the motto of our dan. Tatsumi: (ahem) Can I be in the dan? Mutsumi: Why not? We don't have any Ability-users (espers), Aliens, or Time-travellers though. KP: Technically, since Tatsumi-sensei knows a few spells you could argue that he's an ability-user. Maybe a Yuggothan and Yithian could come to the club - that'd fill out the ranks with aliens and time-travelers. (lol). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Nakatani's Horrible Relic

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: The following morning Sayaka-chan and Mutsumi-chan went to Shizue's house for a home visit. They were, after all, her former classmates. Her parents explained that their late daughter's pregnancy was in fact a phantom pregnancy, Furthermore, the rumor about her was so awful that she stopped going to school for a while. Eventually she started going to school again because she felt a powerful compulsion - [That one must bring what she has to the academy] - or something like that. After confirming the status of the police investigation, Tatsumi-sensei's group then tried to get in contact with Nakatani-sensei's medical society. The investigation was at a standstill, and the reason why Shizue-san was able to easily open the lid to the tank was explained away as a manufacturing defect by the tank's maker. Mutsumi: This is my OOC speculation - Shizue-san was receiving the sendings of some malign entity. She was a sensitive artist, after all. Tatsumi: You may be on to something there. If she made a sketch of R'lyeh, a likely suspect is Great Cthulhu, who is well-known for Its powerful and malign dream-sending. Sasahara: But she manifested a phantom pregnancy. Are those thought waves powerful enough to cause those? Tatsumi: Not that I know of, but Cthulhu is the Priest of the Old Ones. As It's a god, we can't rule out that right now. Sayaka: Where do the specimens fit into that explanation? Tatsumi: You're right - we don't have all the pieces of the puzzle yet. Sasahara: I think we need to look into the specimens provided by Nakatani. Tatsumi: Good point. We'll reconvene with Sayaka-chan and then proceed to wherever he lives.

Notes: Nakatani's organization was headquartered in Sumida ward, in a high class building. They soon arrived at the reception area. The business was a privately owned medical lab. The owners were currently arranging things in Southeast Asia and were looking forward to setting up a new life there. The person currently running the show was a plump, bland sort. As the organization had strong ties to Mitsukado Academy, not only was Tatsumi-sensei welcomed, but so were Mutsumi-chan and Sayaka-chan. Mutsumi: [Thank you for meeting with us during this busy time.] KP: (Nakatani) [Oh, it's fine. I don't have that much to do. I'm retiring anyway. It's nice for me to meet some of the students from Mitsukado Academy before I leave Japan. Say, why don't you tell me about some recent things that have happened at the school?] Sayaka: [I'm a recent transfer to it. From what I can tell, it is a nice place.] Sasahara: (whispering) [This guy seems really laid back. ] Tatsumi: (whispering) [I was sure he was going to be the main villain in the story.] Sayaka: [There was a spot of trouble, sir. At some point some of the samples from the science lab were stolen. We did some research and found out the samples were from this laboratory. The label said it was from 'T'.] and while I'm chatting, I use (Psychology) to study how this man reacts. KP: (rolls dice while talking) [Hmm, sounds like a whimsical thief, yes.] There wasn't much of a reaction just then, but you sense he'd rather want to talk about that subject. OST: [1] Sayaka: [You see, I dream of becoming a detective. I'd appreciate if you could tell me more about the specimens in detail.] Mutsumi: [Sayaka-chan, I don't think you should say that aloud.] OST: [1] KP: Make a (Persuade) check for me. You'll get a +20 percentile bonus to the roll because you're a Mitsukado Gakuen student. Sayaka: This should be easy. (rolls dice) Got it. KP: He probably thinks you're a girl pretending to be a cute detective from one of her manga stories. Nakatani goes to look through correspondence between the lab and your school. Mutsumi: [Oh yes. Our group - our club - members read and study detective stories. That is what we do.] Sayaka: [After all, we're the SOS-Dan!] Mutsumi: [Sayaka-chan, please.] Nakatani: [Some of those samples were collected by my father, Eitaro. Though the ones you mentioned weren't especially valuable. And they were unpleasant enough for me not to want to donate them . . . not that I'm looking to be compensated. Oh no.] He makes a weak, nervous laugh. You think he feels a large amount of guilt for something. Tatsumi: [I beg your pardon for asking, but what kind of work was your father involved in?] KP: His eyes mist over. [This was before the war. He was working as a gynecologist and obstetrician. But to the Nakatani medical group, he was thought of as a little strange.] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): The Dream Sendings of Great Cthulhu Mu-tan reporting in! My favorite singer is Bjork. Many of the experienced players know that somewhere in the ocean is a city full of blasphemous things sleeping in the watery depths. One of those awful things is Great Cthulhu. Every so often one of his dreams, a powerful telepathic wave, reaches past the surface of the water and begins to affect humanity. Usually those influence the thoughts and dreams of the sensitive amongst us. These people are then 'inspired' to put their 'imaginings' down in paint or in the form of sculpture. That is why you might now be thinking you've seen something like It at a museum or exhibition. That also explains the fabled artist's temperament. Or maybe you remember 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind.' We found evidence of Cthulhu's dreams affecting someone we knew - Shizue-sempai's sketchbook was clear proof of that. Note that while we as players suspect what's up, our characters don't. And to mundanes, maybe we are crazy folk. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sayaka: [What about the phrase 'From T'? Does that ring any bells?] OST: [1] KP: (as Nakatani) [Can't say that it does.] Tatsumi: [I'm sorry to bother you with these troublesome questions, but were all the pieces of your father's collection disposed of?] KP: (as Nakatani) [Not all of them. I still have some of his documents and an odd piece of metal. And an old metal safe, although I don't have a way to open it, I'm embarrassed to say.] Sasahara: [If it's all right, we think we might be able to open the safe. May we try?] KP: (as Nakatani) [That would be helpful, but can you do it?] Sasahara: Okay, Keeper - we want to open the box. KP: None of you, even working together, are strong enough to open the safe. To cleanly open it, you'll need to pass a test against (Locksmith). To break it open, you'll need to do the same for (Mech. Repair). You can make five rolls. Sasahara: Is any one of us good at either (Locksmith) or (Mech. Repair)? Tatsumi: I remember that Miyako was really good at (Locksmith). She was the Master of Unlocking. Mutsumi: Hai, hai! I used to study mechanics in one of my classes. I was very interested in it. If it's okay, I'd like to give this a try. Sasahara: I hadn't figured you to be the MacGyver, but I'm okay with it. Mutsumi: Even so, I'm not as good as MacGyver. My (Mech. Repair) skill is only 37%. I think that I can roll under that after I fiddle with the lock for a while. Tatsumi: You've got the best chance of any one of us. [Nakatani-san, is okay if we break the safe open?] KP: [So long as you don't damage what's inside, go crazy. I'll even let you use my workshop.] Notes: The group took the safe to the workshop. Mutsumi: [If it means finding out the truth behind my sempai's death, opening this toy is nothing.] (rolls dice) Oh, I succeeded! (Everyone applauds!) KP: Excellent. The door swings open. Inside are old books and envelopes containing papers. Tatsumi: [Could we examine these envelopes?] KP: Nakatani is overjoyed that you opened the safe. He moves past you and looks through the envelopes to make sure that the papers inside them don't contain trade secrets. After he finishes, he slides the envelopes over to you. [Do as you like.] OST: [1] Notes: What follows is a list of the contents of the safe. - A book, written in English. The title is " An Investigation into the Myth-Patterns of Latter-Day Primitives with Especial Reference to the R'lyeh Text ". Reading the book would take four hours and a successful (Other Language: English) skill test. - Clinical records for obstetrics work. The will and virtues of pregnant women. Reading that would take some time and require a (Medicine) skill test. - Nakatani Eitaro's personal notes, in about three books' worth. These were hand-written in a cramped script. Reading them would take four hours and a successful (Own Language: Japanese) skill test. - An envelope containing Eitaro's study into obscure animal species. This was quite heavy, and the postmarks on it were dated fifty years ago. Tatsumi: What a haul. Let's get started going through this stuff. Who is the author of the book that was written in English? KP: Dr. Laban Shrewsbury. Tatsumi: That quirky anthropologist? I think I've heard some bad things about him. Sayaka: What was he like? Tatsumi: In the original stories, he went even farther than Randolph Carter. Sayaka: Even more than Kataa Randoru? Tatsumi: I don't think that Randolph Carter and your eccentric uncle are supposed to be the same person. Sasahara: One thing at a time. Let's let the fellow with medical training take a look at the envelope of notes. Tatsumi: All right. Pass it here. (rolls dice) Ah, I failed. KP: The text is full of specialized, technical vocabulary used by experts in the field. You can't make heads or tails of it. Sasahara: [Tatsumi-sensei, you can't give it up! It all depends on your skill. ] Tatsumi: [I'm sorry, this is too technical for me. My regular job is lecturing at a university.] Sasahara: [That didn't stop you from launching books and doing guest spots on TV.] Tatsumi: [Ouch, that hurts to hear.] (lol) KP: You do notice one thing though - in the year 1946, the notes reference a pregnant woman who came to be in his care after an encounter with an American soldier. He says he thought he must not deliver the baby she carried. Her name was Tokui Mariko. Tatsumi: That'd be right after WWII. Was the soldier part of the occupying forces? KP: He might have been part of the staff at GHQ. Tatsumi: What kind of person was Tokui Mariko? KP: You ask Nakatani if he has any memory of the person, and he says no. Sasahara: Tell me some things about all the papers stuffed into these envelopes. KP: There are some letters. 'The exact nature of the specimens is unknown. I could find no similarities with known living beings.' Inside one of the other ones is a dried fish - it looks vaguely like a cuttlefish, but isn't one. Sasahara: What the heck is this? KP: (evil lol) You held it in your hand, Sasahara! Sasahara: Oh darn it to heck. What is this, poisoned herbs or some other trap? OST: [1] KP: (rolls dice) Your finger is hit a strange, burning sensation. Your field of vision shifts to unwholesome color blends of crimson and black, and the thing comes back to life and begins to squirm! Oh, and you just lost a hit point. Sasahara: Is - Is this real life? Why is this happening to me? KP: The being also goes through a sudden metamorphosis, becoming a crawling thing like a repulsive slug. Before your eyes, the awful being leans back and then makes a huge leap through the air towards the kitchen. Sasahara: After it! Catch it! KP: The thing is so slimy you're going to have trouble holding it. The thing gracefully arcs through the air before settling in the drainage pipe in the sink, perhaps to lurk within. Sasahara: What the hell is that thing? KP: Although all of you calmly tried to grab that thing, you need to calmly roll against (Sanity) now. Sayaka x Mutsumi: (roll dice) We made the test. KP: All well and good, but you lose 1 Sanity point anyway. Tatsumi: That was unexpectedly frightening. (rolls dice) Darn! I failed! Sasahara: (rolls dice) So did I! KP: Tatsumi-sensei will lose 1D4 Sanity points. Sasahara, on the other hand (chuckles), held that thing and came into close contact with it. He'll lose 1D6 Sanity points. Notes: Tatsumi-sensei lost 2 points, bringing him down to 42 points. Sasahara also lost 2 points, bringing his current tally down to 64. Because reading the materials would take time, the Investigators arranged to borrow them. The group then needed to discuss their strategy with the Nakatani medical group. After making some arrangements, they left the building to return to R'lyeh Company. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Dr. Laban Shrewsbury Mu-tan reporting in! My favorite academic is Indiana Jones. As many of you know, Lovecraft was not the only writer to develop the Cthulhu Mythos. One of the many authors who followed in Lovecraft's footsteps, August Derleth, created the famous magic-using heroic Investigator, the famous Dr. Laban Shrewsbury.

Let me give you an example so you know how powerful this guy is. Even though the universe is full of mind-rending terror, this fellow used arcane sorcery to travel to the Pleiades. On the Pleiades' fourth planet is the Great Library of Celaeno, which houses special tablets containing secrets taken from the Great Old Ones and Elder Gods. Professor Laban Shrewsbury carefully recorded this information in his journal - a text that would eventually become known as the Celaeno Fragments. He did other amazing things, like bombing Cthulhu, or summoning and controlling Byakhee. It's enough to make other Investigators swoon at his very name! While he's very famous, for an academic he didn't leave behind many texts for us to read. Now that we have a copy of one of his books, poor Tatsumi-sensei, whose mind has become increasingly unstable as of late, can't resist the temptation to read it. Poor fellow! If you want to read about Dr. Shrewsbury's exploits, read Derleth's "The Return of Cthulhu"! It chronicles his rise to greatness! You'll surely come to respect and salute the man. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Studying Grimoires All Night Long

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: (checks notes) You guys make it back to R'lyeh Company around 21:00. Sasahara: Just what was that dried fish? Mutsumi: Do you think it's the same as those specimens from our science lab? Those things mysteriously came back to life. Sayaka: Those returned to being dead soon after though. Look here. Spiny lobster, spiny lobster. Sasahara: Wait, did you bring those things back with you? (lol) Sayaka: I'm not goofing around. These are bits of evidence. Now that we have a chance, we can use them to decorate R'lyeh Company. Mutsumi: I respectfully disagree with your sense of aesthetics. Tatsumi: While this conversation is incredibly interesting, I want to go off to a place where I can study in peace. I have two volumes to work on. Which to choose? Sasahara: How about the one written in English? You're much better with that language than any of us. Tatsumi: Oh dear, how will I retain my precious Sanity points? Sasahara: Because of his high EDU, Tatsumi's (Own Language: Japanese) score is higher than mine. Even so, he can't work on both books at the same time, so I'm going to read the material written in Japanese. KP: You also are fortunate in that it's a book that was written in the modern era. Because of that, you can use electronic dictionaries and translation software to help you out. You'll get a percentage bonus for using those. Sayaka: Awesome! As a high school girl, I have some English-Japanese dictionaries! KP: One of the smaller ones that fits in your school bag will give you +10% to your rolls. Huge ones that are in large libraries will give you +20%. Sayaka: Speaking of which, might we have one of the large ones here at R'lyeh Company? Randoru-ojiisan's collection of foreign books would seem to prompt getting one. KP: Fair point. Tell you what: if you use the one in Randoru's personal study, you'll get a +20% to your roll. Tatsumi: I'm okay with that. It means I'd be rolling with a 101% chance of success. Sayaka: Well, I guess I could make something for everyone to eat while we work. Mutsumi: I could help. I have Cooking as one of my specialities. Tatsumi: Wow. Mutsumi: I have it at 08%. (Note: The starting percentage is 05%). Sasahara: Mu-tan, I don't think you can say it's a speciality with only 08% (lol). KP: Time for a Bikkuri Cooking minigame. I'll have you roll for it four times. If you succeed four times, you'll make something beyond description that makes men weep with joy. If you succeed one time, it'll be on par with something a decent enough chef threw together. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Okay, I passed one of the tests. I make some egg dishes - sunny-side up eggs, okonomiyaki, and omelets. Tatsumi: I'm not going to complain if you make food that tastes good, but only feeding us egg dishes means it's going to be a pretty heavy dinner. Sasahara: I'm going to eat some of everything that Mu-tan made for us, even if I get an upset stomach. Tatsumi: I eat some of the food to regain my strength, and after that I settle down to work. Let's try (Other Language: English). (rolls dice) I easily make the roll. Sasahara: I'll roll to read these notes. Let's see, that'll be (Own Language: Japanese). (rolls dice) Dang it, I failed. Was it something I ate? Mutsumi: [Tama-nii, don't blame my food for your mistake!] OST: [1] KP: You've already translated the title of the book into Japanese. You've also managed to skim the book for content, so you get to roll 1D3 and deduct that amount from your Sanity points. Tatsumi: Why do I do this to myself? (rolls a die) Okay, that's not so bad. I only lost one point. 41 in the bank. KP: One passage from the book gets your attention. =============== Translation of the Passage ===============

Sometimes a devoted follower of Cthulhu will receive a blessing from the god. This has been known to happen to the various cults that serve It. The blessing will take after the qualities of Cthulhu, and will be fierce and abnormal. This Child is extremely dangerous, and is recommended to return the Child to Cthulhu in the early part of June. By doing so, the mother of the Child will be recognized as a shrine maiden, and will fix her attention upon the Gate, and will perform the necessary rites.

Tatsumi: Have a look at this. Pretty juicy piece of clueage, don't you think? I'd guess that the Child who inherited the qualities of Cthulhu was Shinohara Shizue's. Sayaka: But she had a phantom pregnancy. We talked with her mother and the doctor's could not find any evidence to suggest that she was ever pregnant. Tatsumi: Ah yes, you're right. Mutsumi: Mu . . . There was something in there about the Gate. I remember that Shizue-sempai had a very odd-looking drawing of some kind of Gate. Tatsumi: Then the Gate was in some way connected to the explosion of the sketchbook? Sayaka: We lost a lot of Sanity points back then. I think we're on the right track. Mutsumi: I think I lost the most back then. Sasahara: No, we lost something back there - our chance to tie this up neatly. The monster is still alive. Tatsumi: Then let's find out what that rite was. I am looking through the text for any descriptions of rites concerned with gates. OST: [1] KP: Tatsumi, make an (INT x 3) roll. Tatsumi: This is probably a roll to learn another spell. (rolls dice) Drat, I failed. KP: Then you do not learn it. But as a special house rule, for this scenario and this scenario only you'll be able to perform the ritual even if you have to hold the book in one hand and recite from the volume. Tatsumi: That will be helpful. I carefully mark the page so that I can find it later. KP: Maybe you can use the rite to force the Child back through to the Gate to Its father. Tatsumi: This would be the right spell for the job. I'm glad I succeeded in my (Other Language: English) roll. KP: Here's something of note. The spell is set up so that the more magic points you sink into casting it, the greater its percentage chance of success. Tatsumi: Thanks for the 411. Oh wait, there was something I wanted to ask about. Are there any descriptions of the 'Gate' we saw in this book? KP: Good question. From what you've read, it's quite ambiguous. Its job is to prepare the 'mother'. Tatsumi: This sketchbook is very important. We need to continue our examination of it. Sayaka: But it was ruined. Sayaka x Tatsumi x Sasahara x Mutsumi: Uhhhn. Tatsumi: We didn't have much of a chance to save the sketchbook from ruination because of plot concerns, but is there something other than the 'Gate' drawing that's salvageable? Sayaka: Tatsumi-sensei, her parents showed us her room this morning, but we didn't find any other examples of her art. Mutsumi: And when I rounded up her belongings to bring them to the principal's office, I didn't see anything suspicious in the stack of things. Sayaka x Tatsumi x Sasahara x Mutsumi: Mmmm. KP: (Oh dear! Sayaka-chan has forgotten about an important clue!) Sasahara: We also need to re-examine the notes I failed to make heads or tails of. There might be a clue waiting to be found in them. Tatsumi: Fair enough. I'll examine his notes. Sasahara: And while he does that, I'll examine the R'lyeh Text. KP: You guys do know that you're pulling an all nighter, right? Tatsumi: We have to.

Mutsumi: Thank you both for your hard work, but I've got school in the morning. I excuse myself and leave them to their studies - I need to be in home in bed. Sayaka: I'll walk you home. Sasahara: (to Sayaka) [I don't have to worry about her walking the streets at night if you go with her. Thank you for looking after Mu-tan.] Sayaka: And I think I can trust you both with the shop. There's coffee in the back. Good luck with your reading. Tatsumi x Sasahara: Got it. OST: [1] KP: The two of you are sitting next to each other, in the quiet yet spooky shop full of strange objects while you pour over unusual books. The both of you need to make POW rolls. Tatsumi will roll (POW x 5), but Sasahara will roll (POW x 1). Tatsumi: Is it that lady yurei again? Sasahara: Why is my percentage chance so low? It'll be hard to roll under that on D100. Tatsumi: It is a mysterious riddle wrapped inside an enigma. Here I go. (rolls dice) Hurray, I didn't pass! Sasahara: (rolls dice) Drat, neither did I. KP: You felt a chill run down your spine, but you didn't notice anything other than that. Indeed, to describe this in a way that your characters don't experience, the two of you are totally engrossed in reading, unable to see the woman's face in the ambient darkness, staring at you. Sasahara: That sounds scary. But my character doesn't know about it, so he isn't scared! (lol) Tatsumi: People could be rearranging the room around me. I don't care. I'm too busy reading these notes. Sasahara: Want to bet the reason why I couldn't see the ghost is because my blood was sucked? Tatsumi: . . . You lost me. Sasahara: Think back to earlier. Remember when we had that rancid tea? The reason why it tasted bad is that it contained pieces of a monster that wanted to enter our bodies. Tatsumi: And because of that, we were able to see the ghosts? Sasahara: Correct! But when that monstrous thing sucked my blood, it took out the element that drinking the tea added. That's why I'm insensitive to ghosts. KP: By now poor Miyako-kun will be able to see all kinds of things that normal people can't. Tatsumi: Well, she's got Zero Sanity. KP: Your characters have been studying for a while. Time to have you roll some tests. Sasahara: With a +20 bonus, my (Other Language: English) skill roll shouldn't be too bad. (rolls dice) I failed! Tatsumi: Rats. I wish we had someone we could ask to learn the spells for us. Sasahara: I'm sorry. I have no excuse. For some reason, I've got a bad feeling about what's going to happen. Tatsumi: It's my turn to roll. Here we go, for (Own Language: Japanese). (rolls dice) Okay, that was a success. KP: The notes are a record of an abortion performed on a fetus with unusual and/or malformed characteristics. The subject was Tokui Mariko. The notes indicate that the fetus had incorporated some things you might see on animals - tentacles from a sea creature, or bat-like wings. As you read the scientist's notes, you are reminded of some of the disturbing images from the R'lyeh Text - maybe the author was getting closer to uncovering some cosmic truth. Tatsumi: I think the doctor was on the right track. His judgment is sound. Sasahara: Do you think Tokui was in a cult? Or that her baby daddy was an alien? I'm going to look for information on those ghastly specimens we found. Tatsumi: Sounds good. We don't have much information concerning that. KP: There's no contact information for Tokui Mariko. Reading the notes will cause Tatsumi to lose a Sanity point. He also accrues one point of (Cthulhu Mythos). Sasahara: I wonder just what the baby really was. Tatsumi: Oh dear, I'm getting points in (Cthulhu Mythos). More troubling is my current Sanity. Down to 40 points. Mutsumi: You're heading down the same path Miyako-san did. (lol) Sayaka: Hey Keeper. Before I go to bed tonight, I want to try to put the sketchbook back together. (Note: It seems that Sayaka has acquired the habit of taking work home with her.) KP: Okay . . . Well, since that's like putting together a puzzle, why don't you roll against (Idea)? Sayaka: I'm a detective so I have a great rating in (Idea). (rolls dice) I passed! KP: Well done. The book's integrity has been restored. However, it's now held together by lots and lots of cellophane tape. It's clear that someone worked hard to repair the book. Sayaka: The book was kind of magical. I wonder if that aspect of it is gone forever. KP: We'll see. Sayaka: (yawns) Tomorrow I'll pass this thing over to Tatsumi-sensei. He might be able to make some sense of it. I'm bushed. Time to turn in. Oyasuminasai. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: After the Rain, a Resurrected Past

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST: [1] KP: The weekend is over. It's now Monday. The rain continues to fall, but you heard on the weather report that it'll finally stop around this afternoon. (rolls dice, looks at a chart) Oh yes. This afternoon at the academy the students will have a chance to swim in the pool. Sasahara: A key event at the swimming pool? Lots of cute students in swimming outfits! I don't want to miss that!

image taken from http://nyaruref.blogspot.com Tatsumi: No matter how you spin it, the pool sounds dangerous. Maybe there's a way we can cancel the practice. Sayaka: [Goood morning!] I say as I arrive at R'lyeh Company. My character is dressed up and ready for school. Mutsumi: I went with her. [Tama-nii! Did you learn anything from all that reading?] Sasahara: [Nah. I got tired of it about halfway through.] (lol) Mutsumi: [This is why you never follow through, Tama-nii!] KP: By the way, the all-nighter stunt that Tatsumi and Sasahara pulled will each cost them 1 magic point. Mark it off. Tatsumi: I used to have such a pretty mind! My precious magic point! Come back! Sayaka: I was busy last night as well. I take out the repaired sketchbook and show it to them. KP: (I was waiting for this chance!) Sasahara, Tatsumi, try an (Idea) test for me. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Nope. Sasahara: (rolls dice) Got it. KP: Sasahara, you are sure you saw one of the pictures from the sketchbook before - in another place. Sasahara: I've seen that before . . . but where? Sayaka: Wait, that was the same feeling I got when I first saw the sketchbook! KP: Correct! But had you forgotten that until just now? Sayaka: I carefully wrote it down in the memopad of my heart. Sasahara: I think I know where we saw it - back in R'lyeh Company. Tatsumi: Good thinking, little buddy. It'd also be quite fitting for R'lyeh Company to have an image of R'lyeh in its collection. Sasahara: Let's get over to the shop and look through its warehouse! KP's notes: Now that they've finally recognized the clue I laid out for them and taken the bait, I can feel much more relaxed. After a thorough search, Sayaka-chan uncovered an oil painting of R'lyeh that was a dead ringer for Shizue's conception. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Forgotten Foreshadowing Mu-tan is here on the scene! My favorite mystery is Child 44. Players forgetting about foreshadowing and other important details can be a common thing. The Cthulhu TRPG places a lot of focus on investigation and solving things through careful reasoning. Every puzzle has an answer. In the event that the Investigators can't find any leads to follow up on, it's quite possible that the story could conclude without any real resolution or deduction. That's a bad thing, of course. The player can hint which avenues to pursue with foreshadowing, but if he does that too much, the game will lose its drama and tension. It can be tricky to find the right balance between being helpful and being too helpful. When I was working as the Keeper, I gave too much information this way and received strong criticism from my players. However, the only thing I was guilty of was being too kind. Doesn't everyone else feel this way? Keeping this in mind while reading the players is interesting, isn't it? It's all part of making sure that the players have a good time, in the end. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST:[1] KP: So there's no doubt in your mind that her sketch and this thing show the same thing. This piece of art is a very old oil painting done on canvas. The gate that's dead center in the piece is identical. Written on the frame itself is ' Offering to Ruriyuhe'. Tatsumi: Ruriyuhe . . . R'lyeh? KP: The people examining the painting can make an (Art: Oil Painting) skill test. Mutsumi: Leave it to me! I've got this. (rolls dice) Oh, I failed. Sasahara: I've only got the base 05%, so I don't think I've got a shot. (rolls dice) I made it! Mutsumi: It's not faaaiiiirrr! This was my chance to shine! KP: The materials used to make this came from Japan. It's about 500 years old. At the time an artist named Mary had works that were all the rage, an aesthete would say that this is the craft of an amateur. This is lore you happened to come across while studying the history of that time for a book you were writing, Sasahara. Sasahara: [This is the inexpert craftsmanship of a layman. We can date it back to about 500 years ago in Japan.] Tatsumi: Now he's acting like he's all that just from a lucky dice roll (lol). KP: Even though it's not a masterpiece, it's still quite affecting. Looking at the work makes you feel like you have ice for blood - as if your soul wants to shut itself away from the world. Sasahara: Uh oh. What's this? KP: From the darkness in the center of the evil-looking gate, an ominous voice calls out to you. [ Fungurui . . . Magurunafu . . . ] Sasahara: [It's calling out to me! Do you hear it?] KP: You've had another strange experience, Sasahara. Try a (Sanity) test for me. If you make it, you lose zero Sanity points. Fail and lose 1D3. Sasahara: (rolls dice) Tch, failed. (rolls a die) And three more points are gone. KP: Fair enough. You were so unsettled by what happened that you threw the painting away. Sasahara: As the painting clatters to the floor, I say this: [That damn thing is dangerous! It's cursed!] Mutsumi: [You were so calm a minute ago, Tama-nii. What's gotten into you?] Sasahara: [I - I heard a voice call out from inside the painting. I know I did.] Sayaka: [Dang it. Please be more careful with the store merchandise. We need to sell that.] Tatsumi: Hey Keeper. I want to look at the painting and try out a (Cthulhu Mythos) roll to know more about it. KP: All right. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) How about that!? I got it. Mutsumi: (golf clap) Excellent work, Tatsumi-sensei! You're following Miyako-san down the path of lunacy and madness. KP: Well done. Well, you've dragged your mind through the filth of many a grimoire, and so you are sure you've seen this in the R'lyeh Text. This is supposed to represent the city of R'lyeh itself, where the dark god Cthulhu sleeps the rest of millennia. Beyond that, you don't know. Tatsumi: While it was stuff the players guessed, our player characters didn't know. Till now. I spread the word so we can start putting our heads together to solve this as Investigators. Sayaka: [Assuming what you said is true, where did Shizue-san come into contact with this painting?] Tatsumi: [Maybe she came to a mysterious antique store one day.] Mutsumi: [Did she ever buy a book from you?] Sayaka: [Not that I can remember . . . ] KP: Oh yes she did. She sure did. Sayaka: Really? I never wrote that down. KP: It happened even if you didn't. It did. Sayaka: Oh, I didn't know about this. (lol) KP: If you want to know exactly when she did, you can find that information in your shop's records. They're easy to search through, so you can make two tries against your (Accounting) skill. If that's no good, you could also employ your (Library Use) skill, but as you know that takes a long time - in this case, about four hours. Still doable, but you'll end up missing school. Mutsumi: The time has come again. I won't fail again. Tatsumi: Mutsumi-kun, are you good with (Accounting)? Mutsumi: Back in elementary school, I really enjoyed going to a soroban juku. (rolls dice) I made it! I succeeded! KP: Good job. The rest of you see her quickly go through the books at a fast speed. She finds the record of this oil painting being bought in 1995 for 20,000 yen. Tatsumi: This, for only 20,000 yen? Not a bad price. KP: Sasahara-san, who made those lovely art criticism comments earlier, knows that it shouldn't have gone for that much. It should have commanded a higher price. But going back to the records, you also find who sold the painting: Tokui Masako. She lives in an apartment building in Mukojima, which is in Sumida ward.

Sashara: What do you want to bet she's related to Tokui Mariko? Shall we go talk to her? Tatsumi: Yes, I remember that name from the medical records we were looking through. We should speak with her. KP: And Tatsumi-sensei, you're acquainted with a talented person who works in obstetrics. It'll take some time for you to get to your contact though - well past the morning if you go now. Sasahara: How long would it take for us to go to Mukojima from where we are right now? KP: If you leave now, you should be able to make it back just as the afternoon is beginning. Tatsumi: We could split up to get all this done in time. Sasahara: I won't be able to patiently work. I must participate in the pool event! It's necessary for me to savor and appreciate all those school swimsuits! Tatsumi: This foolish guy . . . Sayaka: We'll go to school and try to keep a handle on things there. Maybe we can prevent anything bad from happening. Mutsumi: While keeping anything connected to water a wide berth. Tatsumi: Good luck with that. I think our work on this side will prove more dangerous. Sayaka: Really? KP: Who's to say? (evillol) Notes: While Sayaka-chan was hurrying to school, morning assembly had already begun. The vice-principal was explaining things about the case of Sumire. He did not say whether or not she took her own life, or how she died, or whether she was killed by someone else. He steered the talk away from speculation and focused on what could be positively confirmed. KP: It's almost as if the school doesn't care that much about this unfortunate development. Sayaka: Oh, is that so? Well, I'm going to keep my attention focused on all the strange events that may be happening at this school. I want to nonchalantly use my (Listen) skill to overhear conversations from the other students while the vice principal talks. (rolls dice) Made it! KP: Hmm. The biology club is talking about how the medeka ricefish and crucian carp they were raising are gone. That's a conversation you overhear. Sayaka: The fish are gone? KP: Apparently there was a water tank where the fish were being cultivated. But over the holiday break, something must have happened. When the group came back on Monday morning first thing to check on them, all of them were missing. Water had been splashed about. Maybe someone took them. The weird thing about all of this is that the door to the science room was locked when the group first went to check on the fish. Sayaka: That means this is a locked room mystery! Mutsumi: There's something bad at our school. KP: Classes are beginning now. Do you want to try to do some light investigation? Sayaka: I'm a high school detective! But I'm also a high school student. I go to my lessons right away. Mutsumi: During my classes and free time I look through the book Tama-nii entrusted me with. Maybe there could be some clue as to what happened to Shizue-sempai. Is such a thing even possible? OST: [1] Sasahara: There's something else we need to deal with. Right now only Tatsumi-sensei can use the spell we need to confront the alien threat. Mu-tan, could you try to learn the spell? Mutsumi: English isn't my strong suit, but I've got a J to E dictionary in my school bag. I'll work on the notes by using that in my free study period. KP: It's not the best thing available, but you will get a +10% bonus to your roll from using that. Mutsumi: I'm happy for whatever bonuses I can get. Sayaka: I'm still tired from working on that puzzle all night, so I'm going to be sleepy-eyed, dozing off, and napping in some of my classes.

Sayaka: But after school is over, I'll do a sweep of the campus to make sure everyone is okay. KP: Nothing major happens in your morning classes. As the afternoon approaches, the storm clears and the adults you're used to seeing in the campus show up. Sayaka: Who could that be? KP: It's the folks you'd expect to show up at the special event - people other than Tatsumi from the board of directors. Sayaka: Meaning the big event is going to happen soon and Tatsumi-sensei still hasn't returned? Notes: Around this time, Tatsumi-sensei was asking an obstetrician he knew for any insights that could be gleaned from Tokui Mariko's charts. Past the 12th week, something strange happened to the fetus - some kind of abnormal growth had occurred. They had to perform an emergency abortion to save the life of the mother - but then the fetus somehow managed to cling to the mother's insides, as if it was refusing to be withdrawn! After massive internal hemmorhaging, Mariko-san went into shock and died immediately. Tatsumi: This is terrible! It pains me to hear this awful story. KP: You don't know as much about obstetrics as your colleague, but you know enough to know nothing about this is natural or normal. Tatsumi: Something bizarre and inhuman made her carry that child. I wrap up my interview and wait for Sasahara-kun to get in contact with me. Wait, we can still do that even if we're both mobile. I immediately head back to the school - and make efforts to get the pool opening postponed. KP: Now that you mention it, I need to talk about what's going on with Sasahara. Sasahara: I wonder if I'm going to be okay all by myself. I think something bad is going to happen. OST: [1] Notes: The place Sasahara was visiting in Sumida ward was a small area called 'Town of the Dove'. After WWII, occupying forces moved in - and a brothel was soon established in the area. It was a red light district. You might be able to see it if you walked along one of the roads leading away from Tokyo Skytree. The area still had some traces of its old history - vivid tiles, or strange bay windows. This particular building still stood as a piece of that antiquity. This part of area was like a slice of space lifted from the gulf of history between the end of the war and the new frontier that followed, but carefully preserved and deposited in an empty space in Tokyo. It was very strange indeed. KP: Sasahara made his (History) roll, so I'll share my notes about the 'Town of the Dove' with him. Sasahara: I bet that Tokui Mariko-san originally lived here. KP: Speaking of people living here, you use the notes you have to deduce the location of Tokui Mariko's old apartment. Time has not been kind to the old building - it looks rotten and decrepit. Sasahara: Might as well cut to the chase. I walk over to the doorbell and ring it. 'Ding Dong!' KP: The door opens and you see the inhabitant of the apartment. She's a woman who looks to be in her eighties. However, her outfit is suprisingly flashy for someone so old. Sasahara: Awk-ward. [By any chance, are you Tokui Masako-san?] KP: [That's right, sonny. Who are you? Is this some kind of sales pitch?] Sasahara: [No, not a sales pitch. I'm with R'lyeh Company. I'd like to ask you about an old oil painting which you sold us.] KP: Hmm, let's see how this goes. Choose either (Credit Rating) or (Persuade). If you pass the test, the conversation will go smoothly. Sasahara: Unfortunately, I'm not great at either of those. (rolls dice) I failed. KP: Not good. [I already sold that painting to your shop! I've got no connection to it anymore!] And she does not seem like she feels comfortable talking about it. Sasahara: [There's no problem with the painting. In fact, I came here to talk about how beautiful it is! I'm interested in where it came from. I'm a writer, and I'm covering this story!] I produce a name card and try to appeal my nature as an innocent. KP: Okay. Roll [APP x5] on D100. Sasahara: That'll be easy to roll under. (rolls dice) Made it! KP: (as Mariko) [Now that I look you over a little more, I think you're a bit of an IKEMEN! Sayaka: Why did you suddenly switch to Roman letters? (lol) KP: To establish that she has no eye for IKEMEN. Sasahara: This is against my will! But I invite her out. [How about we talk about this at length over some tea together?] I also smile and let the light reflect off my teeth. Kira, kira. KP: (as Masako) [Instead of tea, let's throw down some booze! I know a friend who runs a place that let us drink even in the early morning! Let's go there instead!] Sasahara: I should have gone with Tatsumi-sensei. He's more in touch with this generation. Tatsumi: Stop making difficult faces! You're her drinking partner. Notes: And so Sasahara and Masako found themselves at an izakaya, throwing down drinks. The group uncovered that Masako used to be one of the girls at a snack bar. She was now living off of her pension. She was the sister of Mariko, and as such inherited some things from Mariko after she died, which included the painting. Masako sold the painting to R'lyeh Company. KP: (Masako, a little tipsy) [So I brought over the painting to that place since that's what they are into, right? I showed the owner the painting and his eyes lit up - like a kid at a candy store. He offered me a lot of money for the painting, a lot more than I thought it could sell for.] Sayaka: It does look like the kind of painting Randoru Ojiisan would collect. Sasahara: [It's a beautiful work of art. Please, if you can, tell me about the artist who painted it, Mariko.] KP: (as Masako) [Up until the war broke out, we were part of a pretty rich family. Both Mother and my sister loved painting.] Sasahara: [Westerninized and stylish women!] KP: [But Papa was killed during the war. Mother and the house were destroyed in the air raids. When the war was finally over, we were left without a single yen. Things were terrible. It was hard just to survive. We worked as hostesses in a cabaret. My sister would sometimes go out with Occupation soldiers. Do you understand?] Sasahara: [Yes. Wow, that's . . .] Tatsumi: Sasahara, I'm not there but you should try to find out about Masako's pregnancy. Sasahara: I know, but the mood's turned really serious, and I don't want to upset her by asking about another painful memory. Tatsumi: Good luck! You can do this. Sayaka: Of course you can! You're an IKEMEN, right? Sasahara: Okay, let me see if I can put this delicately. [How was Mariko when she was creating the oil painting?] KP: That was a very natural way of asking. (rolls dice) [She was pregnant with the child of a foreigner. It must have been one of the Occupation soldier's.] Sasahara: So this is like what happened to Shizue. Mutsumi: Shizue-sempai had a phantom pregnancy. KP: [Her body couldn't handle the strain, and she didn't want to have the baby. She died at 20 because of that.] Sasahara: [Did she talk to a Dr. Nakatani?] KP: [That's right - wait, why do you know that much!?] She seems extremely suspicious now. Sasahara: [It was a lucky guess. I'm a student of history, and Nakatani was one of the few doctors willing to come here during that time.] KP: [Oh, is that it?] Sasahara: Wow, that was a dangerous spot. Tatsumi: I'm interested in that soldier. I wonder what he did to Masako. OST: [1] KP: She continues: [The soldier who was her customer visited her while she was in the hospital. He was called back to his country for some reason, but he did care for her a great deal.] She tells this story with a smile on her face. Sasahara: I guess we may have misjudged the man. Maybe we don't need to track him down. KP: [Well, he wasn't an IKEMEN.] And with that, she produces a two-shot of Masako and the man. Masako is wearing a showy, polka-dot one piece dress. The man she's with is a Caucasian in a military uniform. Sasahara: Okay, this is an important clue. I engrave this into my memory. KP: (rolls dice, checks notes) As you look over it, you realize that Masako looks a bit like the girl you pulled from the inside of that cistern. That is an incredible coincidence. Tatsumi: Finally some clues linking the two have floated to the surface. KP: The soldier seems strange. He's got very large, round eyes, and a weak, hanging jaw. For a white person, he has a very small nose, and his nostrils are flaring. Sasahara: What is this? (laughs) KP: You can see his name tag on his uniform: G I L L M A N. Tatsumi: Gillman? What an evil-sounding name! (lol) KP: Around this time many soldier were forbidden from coming here. There was a big fear of venereal disease spreading around. Maybe Gillman was suffering from syphilis? In any case, you should try either your (Medicine) or (Anthropology) skill roll. Pick whichever is better and roll against it. Sasahara: (sighs, rolls dice) I failed. Never had a chance. KP: Okay, then try your (Occult). Sasahara: I'm much better at that. (rolls dice) Made it! KP: It's not syphilis. This is a hereditary condition, one common in a particular area of the America coastal area, specifically a coastal town called Innsmouth. Rumor has it that the area had a very weird cult as its dominant religion. Your success in Occult tells you all of this. Tatsumi: Another piece of the puzzle snaps into place. We've got everything now. Sasahara: [May I take a photo of this image with my cell phone?] KP: [I don't care.] Sasahara: I send the photo as an attachment to the mass mail I send everyone! Tatsumi: Don't send out scary photos carelessly! Sasahara: Tatsumi-sensei, please use your (Medicine) skill. Tatsumi: People like this are why we the world's so messed up . . . (rolls dice) Holy gobsmackers, I failed. Sasahara: Please give this a decent try! Work! Tatsumi: It's not my fault, I got a bad roll on the dice. KP: If you guys want to wrap up the discussion with Mariko, I'll cut to the event at the school. Is that okay? Sasahara: Fine. The painting'll be safe and sound at R'lyeh Company, so let's go to the school! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Innsmouth Hello! Mu-tan's here again My favorite city in America is Miami. Innsmouth is the name of a certain port city in the United States. The city's inhabitants have mingled their bloodlines with the Deep Ones and share with them a devotion to Dagon and Cthulhu. This is an area hot with Cthulhu Mythos activity. The area tops my list of places I don't want to go. Gillman had a particular set of traits common to people from that area, which has come to be called the "Innsmouth Look". When Tama-nii looked at the photo and confirmed that Gillman had the Innsmouth Look, we knew without a doubt that this case was strongly linked to the Cthulhu Mythos. The town is described in 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth', one of Lovecraft-sensei's tales and outline for the Cthulhu TRPG in 'Return to Innsmouth'. The original manuscript is being kept in the library of Lovecraft's work. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: Well then, the school day is well into fourth period. Sayaka-chan, Mutsumi-chan, your phones buzz and notice that you got an email with a photo attachment. Sayaka: I mumble as I switch between my nap and wakefulness, and go off somewhere where the teachers won't see me to look at the message. KP: Very well then. The both of you can try a (Medicine) or (Anthropology) test, as mentioned before. Choose which ever skill test you want. Mutsumi: I'm decent at (Anthropology), so I'll go with that. Sayaka: Mu-tan knows all kinds of unusual skills. Mutsumi: Part of that comes from choosing skills that the other Investigators didn't have. (rolls dice) Made my skill roll. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Didn't make mine. OST: [1] KP: Mutsumi-san, something's weird about that man's skeleton. In fact, the more you look at him, the less he looks like a human being - more like something that branched off of a distant evolutionary ancestor and evolved into a seperate species. Now roll (Sanity) for realizing that, please. Mutsumi: Nuooo! Tama-nii, don't send weird pics in email! Sasahara: Of course things turned out like this (lol). Mutsumi: If you know better, then don't do stuff like this. (rolls dice) Okay, made my roll. KP: You don't lose any Sanity points, but you do upset your teacher. [Hino-san, what are you making that ruckus for?] Mutsumi: [I'm sorry, sir! It's nothing.] Sayaka: No teacher has ever thought that one of his students would have to roll for (Sanity) in a classroom (lol). KP: Fourth period ends and people start getting ready for lunch break. Mutsumi, make an (English) skill test to get some work done on your task. Mutusmi: With the dictionary I have, my total chance for success is 26%. (rolls dice) I failed! And I was hoping this would be a nice side job. Sasahara: That is disappointing. In the meantime, I'm working with Tatsumi to ensure that we can recite the spell. Mutsumi: I'm worried about your insufficient amount of magic points. Tatsumi: My POW was sucked away by that loathsome Tindalos. KP: Mutsumi is going to be busy pouring over the grimoire. What are you going to do for lunch break, Sayaka-chan? Sayaka: I will patrol the school, and keep close eye on any spots where people can imbibe drinking water. KP: Well, if you're interested in the water going into the school, the physical education area has a big pool. That's certainly relevant. Sayaka: I wonder if I can quietly slap a "CONTAMINATED: DO NOT USE" label on their water supply. KP: Unfortunately, once you glance inside the gym, you notice that some of the girls in your class are using it to practice volleyball lessons. It'll be hard for you to infiltrate it right now. Sasahara: High school girls in uniform, playing volleyball? I've got to get over there right now! (lol) KP: (gracefully ignoring Sasahara's comment) Every so often, one of the students playing volleyball with get thirsty and then relieve his or her thirst at one of the water fountains in the building. You also notice that Chika, one of your classmates, is playing volleyball as well. Sayaka: I have to stop this. I'll grab the ball and stop the practice. KP: That's pretty abrupt. But if you succeed in a (Throw) test, you'll be able to intercept the ball. Sayaka: I'll think of an excuse later. (rolls dice) I failed! KP: The volleyball flies away from your grasp and hits another student in the face. Your classmate, Chika, walks over to the water fountain and bends down to get a drink. Sayaka: [Chikapon, don't drink!] I yell as I dash over to her. KP: You were right to worry. As she gulps down some of the water, she starts to look troubled - as if she's in pain. She trembles as she loses control of her body, and with terrified, teary eyes, she peers at you as she is compelled to drink more and more of the water. Sayaka: Oh no! Can I destroy the water fountain with karate kicks? KP: You? Sure. But it might take too long. Sayaka: I put her in a full nelson and drag her away from the fountain. KP: Right, nothing unusual about that at all. Mutsumi: Meanwhile, I start thinking about ways to destroy the water fountains. (lol) KP: Chika's got a STR of 10. Your STR is higher, Sayaka-chan, so youv'e got a 60% chance to succeed. OST:[1] Sayaka: [Stop it, Chikapon! You've had enough!] (rolls dice) I made my test! KP: You pull her away from the fountain. Frothy water is oozing out of her mouth and it looks like she's suffering. Worse still, she's speaking in a strange voice. Or rather, something inside her is speaking in a strange, distorted voice. [Hebbu, hebbuuuu!] Sayaka: [There's something inside Chikapon!] I try to get that awful water out of her. KP: You can try to help her with a (First Aid) test. Every round that you don't pass the test, she's going to take 1D6 damage because she's drowning. Mutsumi: You can do this, Sayaka! Save her! Sayaka: No problem. I have (First Aid) at 45% (rolls dice) Oh no! I failed! Sasahara x Tatsumi x Mutsumi x Sayaka: (pained silence) KP: Let's see how many Hit Points she loses. I'll let Sayaka roll for that. Sayaka: Now I'm holding a friend's life in my hands. (rolls a die) She loses 2 Hit Points. Mutsumi: It's okay. Chikapon probably has eight Hit Points. Sayaka: (performing CPR) [Chikapon, hang in there! Don't you die on me!] (rolls dice) I failed again! KP: You start to see the color begin to leave her face as she continues making that pained vocolation. The horrible voice from her throat continues to say the same thing as before. Now roll to see how much damage she takes. Sayaka: I don't like this at all. (rolls a die) Another 2 Hit Points gone. KP: That's not enough to kill her, and she isn't going to pass out yet. Her eyes are dim, but they vaguely perceive you nearby and seemingly plead for you to save her. Mutsumi: This is a heavy life-or-death situation. KP: Indeed! And Sayaka-chan, so far your friend has lost four Hit Points. If you don't make this next roll, it could be really bad for her. OST: [1] Sayaka: I gotta make this. C'mon, don't fail now! (rolls dice) I made it! KP: She pulls away from you and leans forward, vomiting thick, slimy water pouring from her mouth, spattering the floor and collecting in a disgusting puddle. The liquid itself begins to twitch unwholesomely, like the things from the science lab. It then begins to flow towards the exit. Sayaka: As I suspected - that's not water at all. It's a living organism that happens to look like water. KP: That's when you notice a long-haired woman, clad in white, waiting at the exit to the gymnasium. She looks like she's been drenched in water. She stands, as if waiting for the slime to reach her. For some reason, she reminds you of Shizue. You need to roll (Sanity) now. Sayaka: I'm being pursued from all corners! (rolls dice) Made it! KP: You still lose one point of Sanity anyway. She vanishes, but she leaves behind a feeling of unluckiness and misfortune. Maybe there's something bad that's going to happen at the school, and soon? Sayaka: No matter what happens, I am sure that Tatsumi-sensei and that other person can deal with it. I'm busy making sure Chikapon is okay. KP: Chika wakes up, shivers, and cries out [I'm not a mommy!] Is she suffering from delusion? Roll against your (Psychiatry). Sayaka: I don't have an ice cube's chance in Hades of making this. I've only got 01%. (rolls dice) I didn't make it. KP: You don't think you'll be able to calm her down, but you can take her to the nurse's office. Tatsumi: [Not a mommy!] eh? One way to write abortion or miscarriage in kanji is æ°´å (TL Note: water child). Maybe that child's spirit is manifesting as a 'water child'? Sayaka: Something very bad is about to go down at my school. Tatsumi-sensei and that other person, please come back soon! KP: (rolls dice) Well, it's now after the afternoon break period. Tatsumi-sensei and Sasahara-san have arrived on site and are walking through the front gate. Sasahara: I leave behind the oil painting at R'lyeh Company. KP: Roger roger. You two have made it before the swimming lesson at the pool. Over the intercom, Tatsumi-sensei hears that the board members have been summoned to an emergency meeting. Tatsumi: What is this about? KP: As you recall, there were problems with the water supply earlier. The academy is getting ready to reopen the pool for swimming lessons and the committee is busy doing everything it can to make sure that goes swimmingly. A kannushi has been called to exorcise the water and they have also hired a lifeguard to give a talk on safety. It feels like opening the beach to tourists. Sayaka: The risk of people drowning is too high. They shouldn't reopen the pool. KP: But so many distinguished people have checked it out and given it the okay. At this point you'll need something with heavy evidential weight to convince one of the board members to close the pool. Tatsumi: (ahem) Last week a young lady killed herself and threw her into the water. Today a young lady suffered a derangement of the mind while imbibing water from a fountain. Isn't that sufficient to request a postponement? KP: I get what you're trying to say, but that has no relationship to the pool itself. Were Henmi-kocho to cancel the event, it'd be reopening the wound in the school's psyche that Shizue-san's death cause. Tatsumi: Rrrrgh. I really want to close that thing down. But I can't do it! KP: (rolls dice, checks a chart) Oh! That's right. Sayaka-chan, the first group to enjoy the pool once it opens will be your class, for phys. ed. Sasahara: What an amazing coincidence! KP: Cthulhu-sama is watching you (laughs). Sayaka: If we can't cancel the pool opening, I can at least stand guard there in case something bad happens. Sasahara: Shouldn't we have a quick 'Investigators' Meeting' to hash out what we'll do? Tatsumi: I agree. This is probably the big finale for this session. Mutsumi: We've established that G I L L M A N was a Deep One. Does that mean his deformed child was one of the Blessed of Cthulhu? Sasahara: That aborted baby was used as a specimen for study. Mutsumi: The notes that we got about that indicate the doctor was doing some weird things. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Investigators' Meetings Hello! Mu-tan reporting in again. My favorite snack food is Heart Chiple. Investigators' Meeting is a stock phrase - I guess you could say it's a lump of kanji characters we stuck together ourselves. You won't find any mention of it in the official rules, so don't bother checking them. It's a special time when all our player characters meet up in person and then have a discussion of everything that they've uncovered up to that point. After that, we as players carefully pour over all the evidence and information so that we may determine the best CoA (Course of Action). This is helpful not only for us but for any one person in charge of making the game replays. Players can also rely on their own personal knowledge of the Cthulhu Mythos in a bit of metagaming. Some people say you have more fun with less knowledge, but our policy is to weave together scraps of data and disclose our results. Even a character not in the know will get some idea on what to do and have a chance to agonize over it. For all those players squirming and worrying over when they can disclose mind-rending truths, why don't you schedule an Investigators' Meeting? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sasahara: I remember that Tatsumi-sensei wanted to reconcile with his mother too. OST: [1] Tatsumi: Don't start that again. But maybe you're on to something. What if that liquid lifeform thought that Shizue was its mother? If that thing was in the samples the school got, and it noticed Shizue, then its malign sendings could have caused her phantom pregnancy. Sayaka: That's awful! She never did anything wrong! KP: You're on the right track. The dream-sendings of the aliens tend to affect the sensitive, which Shizue-san was. The science room was right next to the art club's, and she fell under the things malign influence as she was studying art right here. Tatsumi: So, her killing herself near the cistern must be connected somehow. Is it because the baby was part Deep One, and therefore loved water? Sayaka: No! It's too horrible to contemplate! Tatsumi: Hmm, I'm not sure about this idea. Would a Deep One have that kind of special ability? Sayaka: We know for sure that the water in this place is dangerous. Chikapon was in a lot of trouble earlier. Sasahara: We've got all the pieces, let's put the puzzle together. We established that the Water Child wants to go home, right? What if it needed the Gate in the oil painting to accomplish that? Tatsumi: Oooh, nice. Why were Mariko and Shizue able to visualize that scene and put it down on paper so well? Mutsumi: They gleaned the image from the telepathic sendings Cthulhu was sending their way. But while they were doing so, the Blessed Child of Cthulhu began to affect their bodies. Tatsumi: That is a horrifying prospect, but the theory seems to make sense, given the evidence we have. KP: I think that's about all the time you guys get for your Investigators' Meeting. According to my in-game clock, the pool's about to open. I think that Sayaka and Mutsumi ought to change into their school swimsuits. Mutsumi: I don't think so. Instead, I'll stay in my school uniform and watch what happens. KP: Not participating? But thou must! [deep, booming voice] Mutsumi decides to get ready for P.E. class, which includes putting on her swimsuit! Mutsumi: Sayaka-chan, when the Keeper shows his serious side there's no way for us to turn back.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The Terrible Opening of the Pool

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: Some investors from the Anjinzuka zaibatsu are here to inspect the reopening of the pool. Henmi-kocho and Miyako are standing by the side of the pool. Sasahara: I innocently and nonchalantly get there . . . carrying the oil painting. Tatsumi: He's just an acquaintance of mine, don't pay him any mind. I'll be carrying the grimoire. KP: (rolls dice) Miyako-san noticed what you are carrying. [Every time you get closer to being the Tatsumi-sensei I love!] She does the oh-ho-ho-ho laugh of a cultured ojousama. Sayaka: I'm on guard. If I need to help these people evacuate the area, I'll be ready. KP: (checks notes) The kannushi has begun the ritual purification. Sasahara: It'd be nice if Miyako-san was dressed as a miko (laughs) KP: Not a bad idea. I'll say that she is. [Haratama, Kiyotama . . . ] Miyako-san is keeping pace with the priest as he recites the traditional Shinto prayers. Sasahara: Miyako-san is wise. Tatsumi: Wait a minute. Aren't you worried that she's trying to summon something bad? OST: [1] KP: She's certainly not doing that right now. (rolls dice) Something begins to change in the center of the pool. Some of the students have noticed it and are saying things like [What the heck is that?] or [Does that look like a human being?] Sayaka: It's here! Something has arrived! KP: The white thing looks like a person that has floated up from beneath the water, face up. A young woman with long black hair. You notice that she looks like she's been covered in slime. Roll against your (Idea). Sayaka x Sasahara x Mutsumi x Tatsumi: (roll dice) We all succeed. KP: Wow, it's like I'm wired for quad! Mutsumi: All the PCs have high INT. KP: All of you discern something familiar about the translucent form - Shizue, or is it Mariko? Mutsumi: I'm surprised this thing would reveal itself in front of so many ordinary people. I've got a bad feeling about this. KP: The stomach of the thing looks like it's been torn open. Inside, a red and black thundercloud-like object boils and churns, spreading a terrible black and red substance that pollutes the swimming pool! Tatsumi: Get the students out of here! KP: At this point we'll go to individual actions. Carefully declare what your characters will do here. Tatsumi: Roger that. Well, I use the magic spellbook in my hands to prepare the spell we found earlier. Sasahara: But you won't be able to incant the spell. KP: And if you want the students to evacuate, you can try to lead them with a (Persuade) or (Credit Rating) test. Sayaka: This is a task best left to me. My (Persuade) skill is the next highest after Tatsumi-sensei's. KP: You said you were keeping guard earlier, so I'll rule that you kept your wits when things went down - you'll get a +10 bonus to your roll. Anyone else? Tatsumi: I get ready to assist with the spell as necessary. Tatsumi: I prepare the weird painting by positioning it near Tatsumi-sensei. Mutsumi: I think my character might be overwhelmed by all of this, but Tama-nii and the others seem to know what's up. I'll stand by them and will follow what they do. KP: Seems like that's everyone. Okay, Sayaka, you can roll against your (Persuade) to wrangle the kids out of here. If you fail, they'll fall into a panicked state and may dash every which way. OST: [1] Sayaka: [There has been another incident. Everyone, please follow me away from the pool!] (rolls dice) Made it! Mutsumi: Way to go, Sayaka-chan! Sasahara: Now we have to be sure to succeed on our end, too. KP: Well then, both the students at the academy as well as Henmi-kocho are following your lead. The sudden appearance of the thing in the pool is not something they're going to try to rationalize for now - instead, instinct kicks in and tells them it is best avoided. Tatsumi: It'll be easier for us to work without so many mundanes gawking at us. Mutsumi: But I'm still a mundane! (laughs) KP: (pages through notes) Before the remaining Investigators at the scene, a most strange and unearthly transformation begins. I'll read through my description of what happens. In the depths of the stained water, your eyes discern the movement of an aquatic creature. It looks vaguely like a long, narrow catfish, but even so, you begin to notice deviations from that form. Lengthy tentacles jut out from its side, and they are powerful to function as additional limbs. Ghastly, bat-like wings stick out from its back - however, these are not large enough to allow the bulky creature to fly. Looking at this unnatural, unwholesome thing tells you it has no place in any sane universe. The unholy thing moves beneath the water and then sticks its head above the surface. The body of it is composed of an awful-seeming jelly that leaks into the water around it. The front of it has some end like a hagfish - which somehow you realize is used for sucking blood. And yet, the face of the thing has some resemblance to an unborn baby's. Two tentacles reach out from its face, waving pathetically as it begs the mother to feed it! Sayaka: This thing is huge! It's probably displacing most of the water in the pool! Tatsumi: Wh-what is that? What is that thing!? KP: (Sanity) rolls all around the table, please! Tatsumi: Oh dear, you're going to take away even more of them. (rolls dice) . . . I failed! I'm going to lose my marbles! Sayaka x Sasahara x Mutsumi: (rolls dice) We pass the test. Tatsumi: Was I the only one who failed!? KP: Those who make their tests lose 1 point anyway. Those who failed must deduct 1D10 Sanity. Sayaka: Hangin' tough with 65 points remaining. Sasahara: I'm still sane, as I have 60 Sanity points in the bank. Mutsumi: I have 47 points leftover. Tatsumi: (rolls a die, slumps) Seven points! I lost a lot! I've only got 33 points left! Sasahara: That's terrible! Mutusumi: Mmmu, Tatsumi-sensei, isn't that enough to cause you to fall into indefinite insanity? Tatsumi: Mercifully no. Had I lost another point, I would have crossed over into that territory. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): The One Who Accepted the Blessing of Cthulhu Hello! Mu-tan here. My favorite type of pet would be cats. The horrible creature we've encountered began its existence as a type of crossbreed, a thing that's half human and half Deep One, then altered while still unborn by the dream-sendings of Great Cthulhu. I think I might be getting ahead of myself. What's a Deep One? Well, in this game it's a pretty famous creature. The most famous place for encountering Deep Ones would probably be Innsmouth. Off the coast of that town, the Deep Ones have built an underwater colony. Deep Ones look humanoid, but with features you'd see on a frog or sea creature. They are capable of breeding with humans and are among the Mythos entities you're most likely to see in the middle of human civilization. They've also been featured in tons of Cthulhu TRPG scenarios, so Investigators become familiar with them quickly. Sometimes a diety revered by the Deep Ones, the ancient priest of the Great Old Ones called Great Cthulhu, will bestow a "blessing" upon a Deep One child, causing it to manifest characteristics of the Great Old One. The resulting creature is powerful, and this one might be beyond all control. I could not have predicted that all the recent troubles at school could be tracked back to this one being. This creature and many others appear in the Malleus Monstrorum book from Enterbrain. Check it out! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sayaka: That was a really dangerous spot just then. If Tatsumi-sensei had lost his mind, who would have cast the spell for us? Tatsumi: But it's not over yet! The amount of Sanity I just lost was greater than or equal to five points. If I fail this next test, my character will go temporarily insane for an hour. OST: [1] KP: Indeed! Tatsumi-sensei, roll those bones. One (Idea) test if you please. If you succeed, you will fall into madness for an hour. Tatsumi: Won't everyone get into trouble if I go crazy? Sayaka x Mutsumi x Sasahara: Yes, we will! Tatsumi: Keeper, our backs are against the wall. We'll all be in trouble if I fail this roll. Can't we just skip that rule this one time (very calm resolve)? KP: Nope! Be quiet and roll! Tatsumi: It's useless! It's all useless! My Idea rating is 85%! Sayaka: It's that high!? KP: It's possible you might succeed. I just need to roll within those 15 percentiles. (rolls dice, they clatter and land) Look, you rolled an 87! (dry laugh) Sasahara x Mutsumi x Sayaka x Tatsumi: (absolute silence) KP: Your Cthulhu Mythos increases by 1 percentile. And I'll decide what derangement you temporarily manifest with a random roll of the dice. Tatsumi: I'd like one that won't prevent me from casting the spell, please. KP: Well, let's see what you get. (rolls dice) Well, well, well. You've manifested a psychogenic malady - causing you to lose your sight. Until you recover, you can't see. Tatsumi: [Help me! I can't seee! Give me some light!] Mutsumi: Well, he can still recite the spell. Tatsumi: No, I cannot. I didn't memorize this one! I have to read it from the spellbook to cast it. Mutsumi: Oh, that's right. Tatsumi x Sasahara x Mutsumi x Sayaka: Achaaaa. (pained bitterness) Sasahara: What if I read the spellbook to Tatsumi-sensei? Could that allow him to cast the spell? KP: Hmm. Okay! But you have to make an (English) roll to accomplish that. Sasahara: [Tatsumi-sensei! I'll be borrowing the grimoire!] Tatsumi: [Copy that! I'll leave it to you.] KP: Oh, and Tatsumi - here's something you'd think about. Remember Miyako? She's still here. A worry begins to nestle itself in your mind. Tatsumi: [ Why are you still here? Get to the shelter!] Miyako: [Are you saying you don't want me around?] Sasahara: [Wait! Miyako-san, do you know a spell to make this monster leave?] KP: No, she doesn't. But maybe she could contribute some Magic Points to help you cast the spell. Tatsumi: [Grrrr! All right! Miyako-kun, please help us!] KP: (as Miyako) [No, you need to speak sweetly to me! Like I'm your lover! (laughs)] Tatsumi: [This one is so . . .] Keeper's Notes: By the way, in the end Tatsumi's player wouldn't speak sweetly to her. I was hoping for a dramatic moment when he'd plead with her and then she'd share her reserve of magic points. Well, that's over now. What's done is done. In the end, Tatsumi told her that if she really was his lover, she'd leave this dangerous area, but it's clear to me that he doesn't think of her as his girlfriend. The only way they'll be together is if he loses all his Sanity points. KP: Just to confirm, the two of you are going to perform the spell while Sayaka, Mutsumi, and Miyako lead away the students. Those standing behind might attract the attention of the Blessed Child of Cthulhu - and with it, a powerful attack. Is that okay? Mutsumi: Yes, I think I can do this. I have to be brave and get this done - so that Shizue-sempai can finally rest. I'll do what I can to drive this monster from the school! Sasahara: It seems I have to make an (Other Language: English) test. Do I get any bonuses to the roll? KP: No, because you don't have the luxury of sitting down, sipping coffee, paging through a dictionary, and taking your time. However, as a courtesy I will allow you to make a second roll if the first one fails. Sasahara: How strict! (rolls dice) Dang it, I failed both times. KP: You won't able to read it aloud for Tatsumi-sensei and accompany him during the spell. Mutsumi: What will happen next? How can I help? KP: The Child never got any food from Its mother. I imagine It will try to get some. It will catch some of the tasty humans lurking about and eat them! Mutsumi: Oh no! (sweatdrop) KP: Sayaka-chan isn't here, but I still need to pick a victim. Here's my trusty D3. I'll randomly decide who is the target. Sasahara: Now just a minute. Miyako is still here. Why not use a D4? KP: Hooeeeh? Should I include Miyako in the table? Tatsumi: Of course you should! KP: All of you are mean! Sasahara: The next roll might kill one of us. KP: All right, all right. A D4 it is. (rolls the die) Oh, it's Mutsumi-chan! Mutsumi: That might be okay. I've got a really good (Dodge) skill. KP: I have to roll for its attack. It's got a 65% chance. (rolls dice) What do you know, it failed. The tentacle lashes out and smashes against the starting area for the pool lanes. Mutsumi: I bet they're crumbling into rumble. Sayaka: Once I finish the evacuation, I want to go back and help the others. KP: I have no problem with that, but you'd be exposing yourself to attack from the creature. Sayaka: I'm the heroine! [Mu-tan, are you okay?] Sasahara: I'm surrounded by cute high school girls. This is giving me a lot of courage. Tatsumi: Then you should do something courageous. Sasahara: Too true. Well, let me do something so we don't all get 187'd. Two rolls of (English) under pressure conditions, coming up. (rolls dice) Made it! Tatsumi x Mutsumi x Sayaka: (light applause) Sasahara: Now with that in place, the professor can take the wheel! KP: Sayaka, if you were to get Miyako-san to help out, your group might have enough Magic Points for this spell . . . (uses an abacus) Carry the three, and you have 13 points in total. Tatsumi: I didn't regain Magic Points because I was pulling all-nighters. KP: And since this Blessed Child of Cthulhu has a POW of 26, even with that total you'll only have a 40% chance of success. Sasahara: Those are some strict conditions. KP: And yet it's a number that doesn't preclude the possibility of your success. I try to run a balanced game. Notes: Even at 40%, it's still a little tough for the players to win. I decided to page through the Cthulhu TRPG rulebook and look at its rules for Summoning and Dismissing deities. Maybe those rules will be of greater utility than a simple opposed test on the Resistance Table, so I'll appropriate them to determine whether the Investigators can dismiss this terrible beast. Tatsumi: (palming and shaking dice in his hand) It all comes down to a throw of the dice - for good or for ill, it all depends on chance. Mutsumi x Sasahara x Sayaka: (gulps) Tatsumi: [Lost Child of R'lyeh! Go back to your place of origin!] (throws dice) . . . ! I failed! Mutsumi x Sasahara x Sayaka: Oh no! KP: Well. You didn't make the roll, did you? Sayaka: H- how can this be? What can we do now? KP: Not to worry. I've prepared something to run in the event your spell failed. Sayaka: I don't like this! (sweatdrop) KP: The Thing seems to have noticed what Tatsumi-sensei was trying to do. It yells out as It moves toward him. It's acting irritable, much like a gigantic infant. Near Sasahara's feet, the painting quivers and a begins to emit a voice. [Fungurui . . . muguruunafu . . . ] It sounds like someone is casting a spell. Tatsumi: Could it be related to the Gate of R'lyeh? KP: Suddenly, an ominously malign being erupts from the pool, causing a huge wave. This is a bad omen. The thing locks its eyes on your group and begins looking into the past. Sasahara: Surely it's not going to . . . OST: [1] KP: The non-Euclidean geometry of the towers and the Gate seems active. A darkness beyond darkness gathers. A dark green tentacle erupts from the blackness, swelling up near the front of the painting before leaking into our reality - and touching the large Thing from the pool. Sasahara: A touching reunion of parent and child! (laughs) KP: You've seen tentacles like this one in the R'lyeh Text. A disgusting and detestable voice pours forth from the painting. You may roll against your Sanity now. Tatsumi: But I didn't see it! I've got hysterical blindness. KP: Sanity losses are caused by experiencing cosmic horror, not merely looking at it. But you make a fair point. I'll lower the amount of Sanity you lose this time as a service to you. Tatsumi: I'm doomed no matter what I try. (rolls dice) Oh, I made it this time. Sasahara x Mutsumi: (roll dice) We both make the roll.

Sayaka: (rolls dice) Oh no! Here, at the end of all things, I finally failed a Sanity test. I was doing so well until now. Why? Why!? KP: I'll get to you in a second. Anyway, Tatsumi-sensei, you still lose a Sanity point even though you couldn't see the abomination. Tatsumi: I lose Sanity points even if I make the pass the test. Oh wait, I just lost another point! That's just enough to cause me to go indefinitely insane. KP: Lucky you - you just earned another Cthulhu Mythos percentile! Now I need to determine what kind of madness you manifest. While I'm doing that, those who made their Sanity tests and can see the monster will lose 1D3 Sanity points. Mutsumi: (rolls a die) Lost a point. Down to 46 Sanity points. Sasahara: (rolls a die) Dang, I just lost 3 Sanity points. I have 57 left in the bank. This is starting to feel like Great Cthulhu Itself is showing up. Sayaka: H-How many Sanity points am I going to lose? Will it be a lot? KP: Don't worry, you didn't see Great Cthulhu and fail a Sanity test. It won't be that bad. You'll only lose about 1D20 Sanity points. Sasahara: Losing 1D20 Sanity points is plenty harsh in itself! Sayaka: I failed the roll at the worst possible time. KP: Don't cry - just roll the die. Besides, you've been making your rolls too often. Sayaka: That's not my fault, though! Oh no . . . (rolls a die) Yes! I only lost two points of Sanity! Sasahara: You rolled a D20 but only lost 2 points of Sanity!? Tatsumi: You are strong with the dice. That's heroine power for you. KP: Craaaap! I was really hoping that Sayaka-chan would finally fall into madness and ruin! Sayaka: That won't happen~â™ª! KP: But in any case, the threat isn't over yet. The tentacle touched the abomination in the pool, but Its owner seems to have become aware of your group. The nightmare from R'lyeh lifts up, up, up into the sky . . . Tatsumi: We must flee! [Someone, guide me away from here! I can't see!] KP: (rolls dice) Miyako raises a hand towards it. Even if she might be looking at Great Cthulhu, she seems totally calm and in control. Mutsumi: It must be nice to have Zero Sanity (lol). Tatsumi: I really hope that crazy woman doesn't cause me to be carried away to R'lyeh. Sayaka: Don't worry. I won't let her do that. I'm good at leading around people in an emergency. Mutsumi: Are we really going to flee? We can't let Great Cthulhu or his kid run amok and cause trouble here. Tatsumi: I thought you'd say that. What if we broke the painting? Maybe that'd be enough to dismiss this manifestation of Cthulhu and return It to Its sleep. The child might remain there in the pool. Sasahara: Oh, and in the second season of our show, Mitsukado Gakuen would be destroyed. Sayaka: I don't want to have to keep changing schools! Mutsumi: Muuu - I wonder if there's anything I can do to help. KP: I wonder! Sayaka: The creature dwells in water. Maybe we could get rid of it by draining all the water out of the pool. Tatsumi: Interesting idea, but Great Cthulhu is just fine both in and out of water. Sayaka: But this offspring seems to reside in aquarium-like environments. Perhaps if it had no water here it'd get Its father to take It back to R'lyeh. Tatsumi: I can't really make any speculations here. We're up against a Great Old One - a type of god. I can't fathom how it will think and act. Sasahara: It'll also take time for us to drain the pool. Mutsumi: Let's try out the idea. KP: (checks notes) You can control the valves controlling the pool water with two (Mechanical Repair) tests. Mutsumi: I might be able to do this. My character is really eager to try after it was mentioned that her school might be destroyed. That set her switch to on, so to speak. Sasahara: If she's moving to do that, I'm tagging along as well. Maybe I can be useful. KP: She's much better than you when it comes to (Dodge). In terms of the game's setup, it might be better if you let her go alone. Sasahara: If I go to, it'll give Great Cthulhu something else to attack. It'll increase Mu-tan's chance of survival. KP: I'm impressed. I didn't think your resolve was that strong. Tatsumi: [My apologies, but I think I will be of little use here. I'm going to beat feet towards the evacuation site.] Sayaka: [Mu-tan, be careful!] Mutsumi: [It's okay! Tama-nii is coming with me!] Sasahara: [Mu-tan, you can leave this to me!] KP: I think I see your death flag waving in the light. Is it only my imagination? OST: [1] Sasahara: Mu-tan and I begin running towards the plumbing room for the pool. KP: The tentacle's grip around the abomination loosens as it begins to twitch and lumber in your general direction. I've got good news. One of you is about to win a free trip to R'lyeh. Let's see who it is. 1-2, Mutsumi. 3-4, Sasahara (rolls a D4). As I thought, it's Sasahara! Sasahara: [It's okay if the tentacle's attack misses!] KP: Yes, but odds aren't good. It has a 65% chance of succeeding. (rolls dice) A direct hit! (Just as I thought!) Sasahara: Nuooo! Guided by a new era, Sasahara acts with elegance! I'll (Dodge) the attack! (rolls dice) I made it! KP: Wow, you thought to (Dodge) that right away. You're a talented player. Sasahara: [That would have been the end of me if I hadn't practiced kabbadi!] (laughs) Tatsumi: You got out of a tough spot there. (lol) KP: Okay, the two of you make it to the pool's plumbing room. Mutsumi-san can control the valves with two (Mechanical Repair) rolls. Mutsumi: No problem! I know which valves to turn. [Tama-nii! Help me open the second and third valves!] Sasahara: Now it's turning into a steampunk game. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I did it! I was able to operate the system the way I wanted! KP: Many of the pipes and other parts of the system have been damaged by neglect, but you are successful.The water gurgles as it drains out of the pool, and you can hear the noise clearly even in the plumbing room. Sasahara: [Mu-tan, we've got to get out of here! Hurry!] KP: You hear the walls of the plumbing room, which are made out of concrete, start to crack. The metal door begins to buckle and warp. Some powerful force with tremendous strength has grabbed the room. Mutsumi: [T-tama-niiiii!] Sasahara: I grab her and hold her close to me - maybe I can shield her from something dreadful. KP: Those two Investigators spending time in the den of horror, make a Sanity roll! Mutsumi x Sasahara: (roll dice) We made it! KP: Oh. Well, you don't lose any Sanity. Sasahara: It's the Power of Love! KP: Suddenly the noise falls silent . . . and the door falls inward with a terrible crash! Sasahara: I grab Mu-tan and rush outside of this doomed location. KP: Something horrible has destroyed the pool. A huge hole has been bored into the bottom, where the remaining water has been collected. Inside this space is a blasphemously unwholesome sight that threatens to overwhelm your spirits. Mutsumi: [D- did we survive?] Sasahara: [I think we did. Somehow.] KP: The painting is at your feet. The tower portion of it is wrapped in a darkness beyond darkness. The work, which began half a century ago, is now coming close to completion. Sayaka: How are the other students that I led away doing? KP: Thankfully the manifestation of Cthulhu that hit the pool is nowhere to be seen. Sayaka-chan, you make it back to the scene with the principal. The pool has been ruined, and the awful painting stands where it was dropped. Sayaka: [Henmi-sensei, this is clearly the result of a gas explosion.] Mutsumi: [Of course. I made my Sanity roll, so I fully believe that this was the result of a gas explosion.] Sasahara: We've thoroughly corrupted Mu-tan. Now she's a full-fledged Investigator through and through. KP: Miyako-san agrees with your explanation. This was clearly the result of a natural disaster. Tatsumi: I'm sorry Henmi-san, but I don't think we'll be able to have any pool activities for P.E. this year. Sasahara: They just opened the pool, and I didn't get a chance to look at all the high school girls in swimsuits. It's a shame. KP: (rolls dice) You realize that Miyako-san has been staring at that oil painting as if she's entranced by it. Sasahara: [Hey! Miyako-chan, what's going on?] KP: (as Miyako) [Sasahara-san, that's a gorgeous painting. Would you allow me to buy it?] Sayaka: [Hold it! That painting is the shop's. I'm taking it back with me.] Then I pick it up, dust it off, and get it ready to carry it back. KP: (as Miyako) [My apologies. Naturally it's R'lyeh Company property. Sayaka-chan, how much do you want for the painting?] Sayaka: [Umm. Three million yen!] TL Note: about $30,000. Sasahara: Sayaka-chan's donburi calculation is here! KP: (as Miyako) [Done!] Mutsumi: She bought it! KP: [This is the perfect decoration for the Board of Directors' room! Ufufufufu!] Sayaka: [That one purchase will become a war chest for R'lyeh Company. Now we don't have to worry for a good long while.] OST: [1] KP: And so the terrible truth behind the phantom pregnancy, suicide, water pollution, and c. was at last laid to rest by the brave efforts of the Investigators. Those who lived through these horrible events will receive the benefit of +1D10 Sanity points. Sasahara: But there was a 1D20 Sanity loss event in the game. Mutsumi: I think I know why we only got 1D10. We didn't cast the dismissal spell. 1D10 isn't too bad for what we did. If we had totally failed, we would have got back no Sanity points or even had further Sanity loss penalties at the end. KP: I wouldn't go so far as to say you failed. And I'm going to award your lot a bonus 1D3 Sanity for smoothly getting the students out of that dangerous situation and your work with Chikapon. Tatsumi: Grrr. I lost 21 Sanity points in this game! OST:[1] Notes: And now, the Sanity gains and losses for this campaign so far. Sayaka ended play with 63 points and then gained five. She now has 68 points. She has lost one point since play began. Tatsumi finished play with 32 points and then gained back nine. He has 41 points in the bank. Since play began, he lost 12 points. Sasahara concluded play with 57 points remaining and then gained back five. He currently possesses 62 points. He lost 8 points over the course of the game. Mutsumi wrapped things up with 46 points remaining and then gained 12, giving her 58 points. She gained three points as a result of her work as an Investigator. Sasahara: You're the only one in the black, Mutsumi-chan. Everyone else lost Sanity. Mutsumi: It feels very different from when I was playing Miyako. It feels so good to have more than 50 Sanity points! (lol) KP: Oh, that reminds me. We need to check on Tatsumi-sensei. After all, he's in the throes of madness. Tatsumi: Why did you have to bring that up? KP: Let's see what you get. (rolls dice) Wow, this is bad. You now have bipolar disorder. Fortunately you don't have to be committed again, and you can deal with this one by seeing a psychiatrist. That'll eat up all your free time between this and the next scenario. Mutsumi: Poor Tatsumi-sensei is being kicked around. Tatsumi: I'm in a downward spiral. The only thing that will go up is my Cthulhu Mythos. KP: And with that, our first story draws to a close. What new terrors await our Investigators in Mitsukado Gakuen? Tune in next time to find out! Everyone: Otsukaresama!

Conclusion of Scenario One, Consultation with Mutsumi-chan Note: After the game was over, the Keeper and Mutsumi's player went to an izakaya in Ikebukuro to discuss the events of the game and reflect on what happened. Mutsumi: First off, let's have a toast to celebrate the beginning of the second season of your Cthulhu TRPG campaigns. Kampai! KP: Thanks. Kampai (glasses klink) Mutsumi: This time I asked other players for their opinions. KP: Nicely done. Let me hear them. Mutsumi: Tatsumi's player is dissatisfied by the pool event, in which he wasn't able to tie up every loose end. He understands that unpleasant things must happen, but he wants to do something to deal with them before they happen. KP: Yes, I could see why he feels that way. Mutsumi: And as players, we understand why things are the way they are, but after we established the premise that water = bad, it follows for us as Investigators that swimming pool = full of water = bad. It's only natural that we should want to cancel the opening of the swimming pool, isn't it? KP: It took a lot of work and money from the higher-ups to fix up the pool and open it. Closing it suddenly would be hard for them to accept. Not only that, but it was an event I really wanted to run, and I thought it'd yield a nice illustration for the book to boot. The event also emphasized how much danger the Investigators were in. Mutsumi: The people looking at the picture don't get to feel the stress we do in that situation, and we want to have control as Player Characters to affect what goes on in the game. KP: Players get to experience the feeling their Investigators do - so we know where that feeling comes from. The true foe lies within the self. Mutsumi: All we ask is that you recognize our work and give us a chance to do a bit more to solve the mystery - we are Investigators. KP: Oh, things went wrong this time around, and not everything went to plan, which hurt the climax of the story. I recognize this. I then had to try to get everyone pumped before ending the scenario even though the train went off the tracks. Mutsumi: Tatsumi really had his hands full this time, and he had to make several skill rolls in succession. I'm glad he got through the scenario mostly intact, and I hope he has a chance to rest and relax. KP: Me too. He exceeds my expectations and usually finds a solution that lets the team fix everything. Mutsumi: I wonder how he's faring as a player. He used to be a Keeper but has been a PC for a long time. That's got to change one's perspective. KP: He was a good Keeper, too - which is why he feels excited as he solves these dilemmas. Mutsumi: I think this challenge was a bit too much for us as Investigators. Solving it took difficult, specific actions. KP: Both the players and the Keeper were opposed against circumstance. Players love to show off, and want Keepers to give them a chance to do so with the ideal backdrop. Mutsumi: Hmm . . . you said the next scenario will be very difficult for Sayaka-chan. KP: I'm still mulling things over, but that's basically correct. Mutsumi: According to Tatsumi, rather than going for scary you've been shooting for ghastly or repulsive. KP: Well, this one has a theme of Japanese horror. I want people to feel the dampness and moisture and experience being creeped out. Mutsumi: We really got into the terror of a fellow student getting killed in a terrible way at the same school. KP: Believe it or not, that wasn't everything I had planned. I had to tone down some of that stuff after talking to my editor for the book. I ran part of the scenario past him and he told me what needed to be cut. Notes: The material I was talking about earlier was also purged from the replay. When I was thinking about what makes Japanese horror work, I sometimes went overboard in my descriptions and came up with something too unsettling for people to play through and enjoy. I clearly got ahead of myself. This is the second volume after R'lyeh Antique, and I musn't forget that the story needs to also please people who came in from the beginning, and it must also keep their attention until the end. Gotta toe the line. Mutsumi: Still, that was a really tough start for the second season of our "show". I think that aside from Sayaka or Tatsumi, the rest of us didn't feel much tension. KP: Oh. I'm sorry. I guess that's why it became harder for you and Sasahara to take much action after the second half of the story began. Mutsumi: The change in atmosphere from a normal school life to crazy horror was so abrupt. It was hard to decide how to proceed once things got real. Not only that, but I was playing a brand new character, and she didn't know what to do. No one's born knowing all that. KP: I understand what you're saying. It's not like rotating in a veteran. This one's still tender - we need to have something to bring her up to speed. Mutsumi: Not only that, but I need to get used to the way that she thinks. It takes a little time to become accustomed to playing the character. KP: True, but the first time you had to roll Sanity or felt the touch of madness, I thought your character would awaken to what it was like to be an Investigator - as if a switch clicked on in her head. Mutsumi: It's a shame that did not happen to Mutsumi. KP: If I don't try to involve her directly in what happens, she'll never become an Investigator. You've got to think of a way to positively bring her into the fold and work on the right timing for it. Mutsumi: Although now that Sayaka-chan has formed the SOS-Dan, I'll hang around with them and will get suckered along. KP: That really helped me out. Although it was a silly Haruhi reference out of nowhere, it helped the development of the scenario move along. Mutsumi: Moving away from questions asked by the group, I've got one I wanted to ask you, the Keeper. What did you think of the climax to the scenario? KP: Other Language (English) skill tests, rallying the troops to gather enough Magic Points, the chance to pass Sanity rolls - all of these were things I adjusted to give you a fifty-fifty chance. At the end, whether or not the spell went off came down to luck. Mutsumi: So you had two things ready to run, one event where we succeeded and one where we didn't? KP: Of course. If you had succeeded right away with the spell, Cthulhu's tentacle wouldn't have come through the Gate and the scenario would have ended quickly. Mutusmi: Would Great Cthulhu have taken the water and everything inside it? KP: I think It might have destroyed the painting. Mutsumi: 'Destroying the Gate' does sound like something out of an adventure. KP: I think that Cthulhu would have taken the Thing in the Pool with It. That would have wrapped things up even if you guys had failed utterly. I try to use a flexible approach as a Keeper. Mutsumi: What would have happened to Tama-ni if he didn't Dodge out of the way? KP: Fortunately for him, it wasn't one of Cthulhu's tentacles after all. It was one of the Blessed Child's. He would only have taken 4D6 damage. He has 17 Hit Points. He probably would have survived. Mutsumi: Really. (pained laugh) KP: Although you might not like taking that much in damage, most Player Characters can soak that and still live. It's not an instakill attack, although any more than that is really dangerous. Mutsumi: (writing this down on a memo pad) Thanks. This will be very handy for when I run the Cthulhu TRPG for you. KP: Wait! I have a weak heart! 2D6 is enough! No more than that! (lol) (later) KP: The next scenario is going to take place during summer break, so you'll have a chance to enjoy another vacation story. Mutsumi: We had a lot of trouble the last time that happened. KP: (ignoring the jab) During the events of R'lyeh Antique your group went to the beach, but this time you'll be going into the mountains. Mutsumi: No thanks. Oceans, beaches, mountains, and lakes - we don't need any of those. (sweatdrop) KP: I think since we got dark and heavy with the Japanese horror this time, the next one will be light and silly. Mutsumi: Oh good. It's nice to have a proper balance. KP: Gotta find things that match the idea of camping out during summer. OST: [1] Keeper's Notes: Okay, I'm going to hit Tsutaya on the way home. I need to look at some B-movies to come up with ideas for light, relaxed and funny horror. The only problem with that is that movies with all those elements are in different genres. I'm not only going to borrow the feel of a B-movie, but also some of the monsters as well. There have been many exciting monsters in B-movies, but my favorite creature from those films is the zombie. So this time I'll be borrowing the theme, location, and monsters from B-movies. Even amongst zombies, there are many different types. I like the dead people who become mixed up, violent and mindless sorts who bite people which then causes those victims to also turn into zombies type. That's the type of zombie most people think of. Oh, and the zombies lose their intellect and try to bite people. Although individual zombies are weak, they roll in packs. The people who fight them only live to fight another day. Those folks are tough survivors. Eventually civilization falls beneath the relentless approach of these undead freaks. Such is the appeal of the zombie. However, for the light-hearted scenario I want to run, this idea of being overrun and then devoured while still alive is too dark and heavy. And this is only the second episode of the new season. It's a little too much for me to do a TPK just yet, and it'd be hard for me to work with. I also need to find a way for the Investigators to dispose of the zombies. In many zombie movies, the heroes use powerful weapons and attacks to eliminate their undead adversaries. B-movies also supply many people that you know are going to be victims when they first show up. I need to make those too. Okay, I think I can remember what I like about zombies and make them embody that character for my players.

========================= Scenario II [The Secret Terror Behind the Parasitic Mushroom] ========================= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The High School Girls' Mental Care

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: Welcome back, everybody. Before we raise the curtain on the second episode of our new season, let's have you guys roll to see how your experience checks work out. Note: The sound of bouncing dice and results being recorded on paper. Sasahara: Yes! My (Occult) skill increased! I've gone over 90 percent! KP: Excellent work. A surge of confidence rushes through you as you have mastered a skill. You immediately earn 2D6 Sanity points. Sasahara: I lost a fair amount of Sanity points in the last scenario, so this is a nice win for me at a time when I need the support. (rolls dice) Okay, 8 Sanity points back! Nice! KP: I did think your losses were pretty severe last game. Tatsumi: That must be nice for you. KP: Oh, and since it's been two months since the Pool Opening Incident, you guys have each earned two free checks to put into skills of your choice, as long as there's an in-game explanation for how you got the experience. Mutsumi: Oh, I was hoping to have more than just two. KP: And for Tatsumi, who fell into insanity, it'll take about 1D6 months more before he is completely cured. Tatsumi: Aren't you painting yourself into a corner? If you roll high, it'll mean I won't be able to participate in this next scenario. KP: Your symptoms have mostly abated, and so long as you don't have any huge shocks you can resume daily activities. In game terms, I'd recommend not trying more than two Sanity tests. And you will get back 1D6 Sanity as a result of the treatment you've been going through. Tatsumi: Okay, okay. (rolls a die) Not too bad - three more points of Sanity. Sayaka: Keeper, Keeper! Are there any skills you would recommend for the next scenario? KP: Well, perhaps you should look into improving your (Biology). Tatsumi: With all my checks and improvement, I have about 55% in my (Biology) skill. Mutsumi: With that much, we're probably okay, right? Sayaka: The rest of us have it at base chance. We won't have many opportunities to improve after this. Sasahara: Well, at my college I'm going to study a bit of (Psychiatry). Our in-group therapist Tatsumi seems to keep losing his mind (laughs). OST: [1] KP: Well, if all of you are done with experience rolls, I think it's time for us to get our new show on the road. Tatsumi x Sasahara x Mutsumi x Sayaka: We're all set! KP: This scenario is set during a different season, namely summer. People are enjoying their summer break. As people without popularity, Tatsumi and Sasahara receive a call from Henmi. Reconstruction of the swimming pool is coming along, but they won't be able to finish it this year. Sasahara: [Gas explosions are a dreadful thing.] Tatsumi: [How true. That no one was injured in that is a thing to be grateful for.] KP: When you arrive at the school, you see that both Henmi and Miyako are waiting for you. It seems they have something to ask of you. Sasahara: If Miyako called us, you can be sure that what's in store is nothing good. KP: Oh yes, Sasahara was supposed to give a special class in the school's spring term. Did he do that? Sasahara: It was a lecture on mostly unknown history with a strong focus on the occult. KP: This is a place for impressionable children. If you teach a class on the occult, you'll be forced out of the school. Sasahara: All right, all right. Well, my other strongest skill is (Library Use), so I'll do a lesson on literature throughout history. KP: Fair enough. Roll (Library Use) and (History). Sasahara: Okay then. (rolls dice) Made it under both. Tatsumi: Since he was knowledgable in both subjects, it's not suprising he did well here. KP: Good job. The students and staff liked your lesson, and the regional newspaper covered it in an article. Henmi is pleased with the results and will look better upon you from this point onward. Sasahara: I hope this next scenario involves (History) and (Occult). KP: As people who are popular with the students, it seems that Hasegawa Chika, Higuchi Sayaka, and Hino Mutsumi have something they want to ask you about. Sasahara: Oh, okay. What is it? Tatsumi: If memory serves me right, Hasegawa-san was saved by Sayaka-chan during the events of the last scenario. Remember that incident at the gymnasium? Sayaka: Yes sir, that's right. Something was trying to pour itself into her body. I pulled her away from that and then stopped the invasion with a (First Aid) roll. Mutsumi: Yes, after some really bad dice rolls (laughs). KP: Yes, well, during that incident Chika-pon's mind suffered a terrible shock. She's since developed a strong phobia of water. Sayaka: Ah, that's sad. Poor girl. KP: Sayaka-chan and Mutsumi-chan both suffered tremendous shocks to the mind during the pool incident, and are now experiencing PTSD. Tatsumi: I do feel bad for them. However, I'm probably the worse off for wear, considering how many Sanity rolls I failed (with disastrous results). KP: Every day, Miyako comes to visit Tatsumi-sensei, kindly bringing medicine for him to drink with water. Tatsumi always refuses to take it. Tatsumi: I don't want to drink anything that woman has prepared for me. Sasahara: More to the point, why were we called? Do they want Tatsumi-sensei to provide counseling for the students? OST: [1] KP: Yes and no. As you are well aware, there is still some strong resistance to accepting psychotherapy in Japan. So instead of counseling, you will oversee a group trip. You will take the girls on a relaxing trip to a mountain camp spot, and see that they get rest and relaxation, which will help heal their weary souls. Sasahara: This is an excellent idea. I am in full support of it. KP: This will include physical exercise. A sound mind resides in a strong body, after all. Basically, it's a low-key, mountain camping experience. Sasahara: If Mu-tan is going, I'll be participating as well. Notes: After outlining the general details of the excursion, the group met up at R'lyeh Antique to discuss what to back and prepare for the trip. Hasegawa Chika was also present. Mutsumi: How is Chikapon doing? KP: She keeps it to herself a lot, but you can tell she's not as energetic or happy as she used to be. Mutsumi: Muuu. That makes me worry. Sayaka: [Oh, it's hot. Want to get some ice cream?] Mutsumi: [Doesn't R'lyeh Company have an air conditioner?] Sayaka: [Those kinds of things didn't exist in ancient civilizations.] is what I say as I slam my hand against the counter to make my point. Mutsumi: [Wait, don't you remember selling that awful oil painting to Miyako? You could easily buy one with the money you received for that.] Sayaka: [Unless Randoru-ojiisama gives me permission, I can't use the money from the store for my own use.] KP: I've been keeping track of the store's war chest. With what you just added to it, you don't have to be as careful for a while. Mutsumi: [Chikapon, if we stay here Sayaka's going to melt. Let's change locations.] KP: (as Chika) [Oh yes! The ice cream shop in front of the train station is running a sale. If you buy a cone with two scoops of ice cream, you get an extra one for free!] Sayaka: [Okay, let's go!] And then we dash for it. Sasahara: Uhh, I don't think I can eat a triple ice cream cone. KP: Before you finished eating it, it'd melt. Sayaka: No! You can eat it before then. Or you can push it down into the cone while you eat it. KP: Well, before I finished it, I'd probably tire of it. Sayaka: No, that's not it either. Maybe you boys have a different sort of appreciation for ice cream. Mutsumi: We'll have a guys-can't-understand girls' talk while we walk towards the ice cream shop. OST: [1] KP: Fair enough. Halfway there, a person walks in front of Mutsumi. Mutsumi: Who is this? KP: [Mutsumi-nee, were you going to sneak off to camp without me?] he says. He seems mad. Mutusmi: Oh, I know who this is. [Tasuku?] Sayaka: Who is this person? Mutsumi: He's my little brother. I left my family/friends/acquaintances section on my character sheet. I see that some new stuff has been added to it, but not by me. KP: And I was very glad that you did that. I have added some stuff to it, yes. This little boy is a grade schooler. He's a lively little boy who can act a little impudent. Sayaka: [Oh, it's Mu-tan's little brother. I'm Sayaka. She's Chikapon. Please regard us well.] KP: When you greet him, Tasuku blinks with surprise. He barks out his name tensely, and follows a strange procedure for introducing himself. Mutsumi: Oh wow, could little Tasuku feel self-conscious around Sayaka-chan? Sayaka: Oh, is that it? KP: But to know for real, you need to pass (Psychology) tests. (rolls dice for both girls, both fail) Okay, maybe he does. Maybe he doesn't. Sayaka: [I want to have a little brother too!] and I'll rub his head. KP: His face reddens. His reaction modifier towards you is edging into positive territory. Mutsumi: [You always complain when I do that to you, but you're okay with Sayaka-chan doing it.] KP: (as Tasuku) [That doesn't matter! Tell me about your camping trip!] Sayaka: [We're going on a trip with Mu-tan!] I say. KP: (as Tasuku) [Really!? Sayaka-san is going too!?] His surprised eyes, pleadingly, meet Sayaka's. Mutsumi: [Do you want to go too, Tasuku?] KP: [Well, it's like this . . . I haven't done my independent research project for school yet. And if I went on the camping trip, maybe I could find something to write about. ] He tries to sound disinterested, but you can tell he really wants to go. Sayaka: Tasuku's putting on a strong front. [Mu-tan, I don't have a problem with him tagging along, but do you think Sasahara-san can look after him?] KP: His eyes light up like a Christmas tree. He's looking at Mutsumi pleadingly. Mutsumi: [I suppose we can do that. As my cousin, Tama-nii can do a good job of looking after him.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: How to Enjoy Camping

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: And with that, the supervised activity of Mitsukado Gakuen began. Chika-san, with her experience on the track and field team, was chosen as a group leader. Jougasaki-sensei, a phys. ed teacher, was also added to the group as one of the supervisors. Jougasaki-sensei was very different from Tatsumi-sensei and Sasahara, and was not clearly part of the intelligentsia. As a result, there was some anxiety as to how the group was going to function with such a red hot blooded person added to it. What a troublesome person this was.

KP: Your group gets closer to Tochigi prefecture's auto camp parking spot. (checks map) Since you're going by car, that'll take you about an hour from the interchange. It's deep within the mountains. You'll be able to fish or go boating in the river. Mutusmi: I think I can make boiled river fish with salt for breakfast. KP: Might want to hit a store selling outdoor gear before you get there, though. Mutsumi: I'll pick up groceries and things we can eat. Chikapon, Sayaka-chan, will you help me? Sayaka: I will, but I'm only going to buy meat (lol). KP: Jougasaki-sensei has brought along camp gear, but reminds you to get personal items that you will need. Sasahara: We'll need light. I'll buy a LED lantern. I also will get a basket for carrying fish. Sasahara: [Tasuku-kun, do you want to get something?] KP: He points out a "Water Shoot" brand water pistol. Tatsumi: That uses compression to fire a stream of water from a tank. Sasahara: [Okay then. I'll get it for you.] KP: He is very impressed by your generosity. [Thank you very much. This is their newest version. Both the tank's capacity and the pump pressure have been improved.] He continues on for a while about the properties and features of the Water Shoot squirt pistols and rifles. Sasahara: [All right, all right. It's good to play with fun toys.] SFX:[1]

KP: And that just unlocked a new skill: (Water Shoot). Sayaka: Trophy Earned! KP: Yes. Well, (Water Shoot) is your ability to accurately hit things with a fired stream of liquid from a high-pressure watergun. Your base chance is equal to your (INT + DEX). Please write that down on your character sheets as a wild skill. Tasuku uses the (Water Shoot) skill often, so he has (Water Shoot) at 61%. Mutsumi: . . . Tama-nii, I think we are going to have a chance to use the (Water Shoot) skill in this scenario. Sasahara: Maybe our enemies in this session will be weak against water (lol). Tatsumi: I probably don't need to mention this, but an expensive toy like that will be hard for a small child to buy. You have royalties from your novels, so please pay for that object for him. Sasahara: Relax, we're on the same page. I'm going to buy enough of these waterguns so each of you will have one. One of the things we'll do on the trip for exercise/relaxation will be watergun fights. Notes: After procuring their supplies and enough waterguns to satisfy the biggest watergun maniac, the group crossed a puny-looking bridge to their campsite. The are they had selected was very far away from all of the other ones, and once they had found a particularly quiet spot, they decided to set up the tents. KP: Jougasaki-sensei is readying the tents. For now, the rest of your group is free to do as it wishes. Sayaka: What is there to do around here for fun? KP: Okay, you have several courses to choose from. One is a mountain trek. The other is playing in the river. However, finding the path for the mountain trek is going to be a little difficult. You'll have to pass a (Spot Hidden) test. Sayaka: Sure, I'll give it a try. (rolls dice) Made it. KP: You find the path. Your view of it had been blocked by thick tree and bush cover. There's an old sign which marks the road, but water is starting to take its toll on the sign. [ Nijimasu Culture Spot 400m ] Tatsumi: Interesting. Maybe that's an area that's good for fishing. Sayaka: [Chikapon, which of these would you like to do?] KP: She wants to try mountain hiking. (rolls dice) Tatsumi-sensei, you made your (Psychiatry) test. She's not comfortable around large quantities of water and doesn't feel like pushing her luck with it today. Tatsumi: She still hasn't conquered her fear. I want to tag along on the hiking course. Mutsumi: I'm still worried about Chikapon. I also want to go. KP: Tasuku is visibly let down by your selection of the mountain course. He was hoping the river play would afford many opportunities for watergun fights. [Tsk!] Sayaka: I'm sorry Tasuku, but I don't think we'll be able to do the watergun fight right now. Sasahara: [How about I play with him while your group goes hiking?] KP: Splitting the party I see. How are we going to handle this? Tatsumi: I'm responsible for Chika-san's recovery, so I'm going to tag along for the hiking course. Sayaka: And Chikapon is my friend, so I wan t to go along with Mu-tan to help cheer her up. Sasahara: So the only people going on the river course are me and Tasuku-kun. Mutsumi: So it seems. Sasahara: Tatsumi-sensei, that's unfair! Taking three cute high school girls on a trip and going hiking with them is my job. Sayaka: What kind of job is that? (lol) KP: Tasuku seems very interested in a watergun fight with you, Sayaka. Sayaka: Sorry, Tasuku-kun. I'm worried about Chikapon. [I'm sorry but today isn't good. How about we do the watergun fight tomorrow?] KP: [Dang it. I'm only playing with Tama-nii . . . ] He seems dissatisfied with this turn of events. Mutsumi: Now we have the kidadult looking after the kid. (lol) KP: Now for the hiking group. In this one you guys are experiencing things that you couldn't at Mitsukado Gakuen. So we'll use the intermission experience rules during this scenario. Mutsumi: Meaning what? KP: If you declare that you are doing something important during your hiking exercise, I'll give you a check for the appropriate skill. You can then make an experience roll to improve it. You only had two chances to advance your skills at the start of the scenario. This is a little bonus from your Keeper. OST: [1] Tatsumi: Very well. I'm going to take note of the animals we pass by for later study. This will justify adding a check to my (Biology) skill. Mutsumi: I'll keep an eye on the animals living on or near the rocky path. So a check for (Biology) for me as well. Sayaka: I intentionally choose a harder part of the path to follow. I want to put a check into my (Climb) skill. KP: If you're going to try something you haven't done much of before, it'll mean you're choosing a different course than everyone else. Sayaka: [I've got something I want to check out over here.] I say as I begin going up the mountain. (rolls dice) Dang it, no good. I didn't improve. But is it okay for me to separate from Chikapon's group and continue doing this? (lol) Mutsumi: [That's a big rock containing feldspar.] I say lines like that while carefully examining the stones around me, totally ignoring the scenery I was brought to see. (rolls dice) I succeeded! (rolls a die) My (Biology) skill went up 8 percentiles! Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I learned from the experience! (rolls a die) But I didn't learn much. My skill only went up by one percentile. KP: Rather than observing the plants and animals of the season, Tatsumi notices a naratake. The type you found is edible. It's fragile and doesn't keep long, so it's not in wide distribution now, but it's fine so long as you quickly pick and eat it. In the olden days, people used to regularly consume these.

TL Note: Naratake is a type of fungus, specifically Armillaria mellea subsp. nipponica. Tatsumi: Well, even if it looks edible, it'd be dangerous for a layperson to start picking these and consuming them. KP: If you pass two (Biology) tests, you'll know for certain whether or not that is safe to eat, like an expert. Tatsumi: My (Biology) skill is pretty decent. I have it at 55%. I'll pluck some of the naratake to take back with me. KP: Seeing how her friends are kind of doing their own thing on this hiking trip, Chika gets a little bored and tries to help you pick the fungus, Tatsumi-sensei. Sayaka: That does sound fun. May I join in? KP: Sure, you have time. Tatsumi: Okay. [Everyone, you want to look for fungi shaped like this one.] Then we start collecting samples of it. KP: Chika is glad that you came over to help out. [Sayaka-chan! I found a lot of it over here!] Sayaka: [Oh! Nice job, Chikapon!] I say as I follow her footprints. KP: There are indeed mushrooms growing around the root of the trees. Sayaka looks over them. Try an (Idea) roll. Sayaka: Oh. (rolls dice) I made it. What's going on? KP: The mushroom she found is a little different from the sample Tatsumi-sensei gave you. Sayaka: [Chikapon, we should let Tatsumi-sensei check these out.] KP: And there's something weird with the fungus you've collected as well, Sayaka. There's something like fine, long hairs on the bottom. Those should be on the top. Sayaka: Fine, I'm calling him. [Tatsumi-sensei! Would you please come take a look at this?] Tatsumi: [Here I am. What seems to be the trouble?] KP: You now see a big clump of fungi. Roll a (Biology) test. Tatsumi: Okay, let's see . . . (rolls dice) Made it. KP: The samples the girls gathered look different from regular fungi. As you tear one apart, the fibers inside look wrong. The insides are pulpy and dark. Tatsumi: What are these? KP: The hairs also remind you of mouse whiskers. Mutsumi: Could these have been fungi that parasitized mice? Sayaka: Do frightening fungi like those exist? Tatsumi: Setting that aside for now, we don't know about the nutrition afforded by these odd things. Discard them. Don't bring any back with you. We have enough of the edible kind for our trip. KP: Okay, that brings to a conclusion your particular events. The schoolgirls had fun gathering mushrooms. Sasahara and Tasuku got to do a watergun fight by the river. Sasahara: I got stuck playing with a little kid. Why, cruel world? KP: That's one of your cousins. Be friendlier with him. Sasahara: Mu-tan is cute, but I don't like the boy ones. KP: Uhggggh! (lol) Sasahara: But I'm an adult, and as one, I can play fairly with this little guy on his level. [Time for a watergun showdown. We're each wearing a target on our chests. Whoever gets the other's target soaked first is the winner.] KP: (as Tasuku) [Tama-nii, do you think you can defeat my Giga Breaker?] You can sense how much he's been influenced by tokusatsu shows like Power Rangers. By the way, Giga Breaker is also the name of his watergun. Sasahara: All right, now that things are getting serious I'm starting to worry a little. KP: Time for opposed tests. Each of us will try (Water Shoot) skill tests. The first person to succed in two tests is the winner. Notes: The dice gods were not smiling upon the Keeper that day. Sasahara scored two successes in a roll, eliminating Tasuku. He also got an experience check for his (Water Shoot) skill and then improved that. Sasahara: [Ha ha ha ha ha! I won! I am the victor! ] KP: Oh yeah. Real mature. That's what real adults do. Sasahara: Well, a real adult wouldn't play seriously with a kid. KP: Tasuku, who lost, decided to clam up. You think you see a few tears fall onto his beloved Giga Breaker. Sayaka: You made him cry! Mutsumi: Tama-nii, that's mean. Tatsumi: Honestly, this is cruel. Stop that. Sasahara: Stop ganging up on me! KP: And now, as the two of you youths settle into a nasty mood, the river activities can begin. This includes fishing, drinking alcohol for the adults over 20, etc. In short, everyone gets pumped and has a good time. Sasahara: All well and good, but what about the other camp spot nearby? Was there a group that claimed it? KP: (rolls dice) Yes! Three men, one woman. One of them is wearing a painfully tacky Hawaiian shirt. They're quite loud. Right now their group is drinking beer - all well and good for a camping trip, but they're throwing the cans into the woods instead of packing them up to properly throw away later. Sasahara: What a bunch of jerks. KP: Tasuku has noticed what they're doing and walks over there. [Don't just throw your empty cans into the woods!] He has opted for a direct approach. Sasaha: Oh no, what is he doing!? KP: The guy in question stands up. [Don't try to pick a fight, kid.] he says while poking Tasuku. Sasahara: Dang it, I gotta get involved. I try to seem calm and nonchalant while I go to rescue Tasuku. [Good evening. Are you folks camping out here too?] KP: (Jerk) [Who're you supposed to be, this little runt's CO?] Sasahara: [No, I'm his cousin. Anyway, he does have a point. Why don't you pack up your garbage and take it home?] KP: [Ah, shaddup. Who made you the boss?] From behind him comes another guy nodding in agreement. He has long black hair drawn back in an old-style topknot. He's bristling with muscles - and seems to be the group's leader. [You got some kind of business with us?] he says as he focuses attention on Sasahara. Sashara: [Throwing garbage into the forest - isn't that embarrassing to do with kids watching?] I stay calm, as I'm only saying obvious things. KP: You've got the attention of all of them and their amazing stink-eyes. The lady in the group comes out of the tent. Sasahara: Is she cute? KP: She's the type of pitiable girl you might find appealing. She's clearly a dojikko and is not dressed well for camping. She's also had a lot of booze to drink and starts trying to calm you down by wrapping her hands around your shoulders. Mutsumi: The curse of the IKEMEN strikes again! KP: So it seems that way. With breath that stinks of booze, she tells you that there's no need to fight, and that they'll soon have a barbeque, and asks you to join them. Sasahara: I'm afraid I have another commitment, so I must decline your generous offer (gulp). KP: The lady shakes you. [C'mon, c'mon. This one's bad at reading the mood.] She gets so insistent that the third man, who you hadn't seen until now, comes over to stop her. Sasahara: What kind of man is this one? KP: He looks rather fat. His face looks quiet, and his voice is dull. However, he makes a big show of picking up a rock and tossing it past the both of you to stop you. Suddenly the entire group seems to get much angrier than it was before. Sasahara: That's not the way to end a fight. What is he planning? KP: I wonder. The drunk girl laughs at him. [Futoshi, no matter what you do, it's so funny!] She guffaws like a jackass. The chubby man who she called Futoshi, seems okay with what she did. His crooked smile betrays no cleverness. Sasahara: This was so pitiful that even Futoshi had to step in. KP: The other men laughed too, but it seems that the "gag" is over and done with. They begin to pack up their stuff, leaving their refuse exactly where it is. [This is getting stale. Let's bounce.] They walk off, leaving behind Futoshi and you. The drunk girl staggers off after them. Sasahara: What kind of people are they? I'll talk to Futoshi. [Are you all right?] I ask him. KP: Futoshi, who's dusting himself off, apologizes to you. He gives you some of their food, six delicious-looking rainbow trout. Sasahara: The others were jerks, but this Futoshi fellow seems all right. Mutsumi: In B-movies, these would be the guys that get killed off instantly. Note: When the Investigators went back to their campsite, they saw Jougasaki-sensei putting together the tents for them. Jougasaki-sensei was clearly experienced, and it didn't take long. After that, the group got ready to have a barbeque. Sasahara: Okay, I'll get the fire started. Tatsumi: [Hey, we could wrap the mushrooms we gathered in foil and cook them in the fire.] KP: (as Jougasaki-sensei) [Wait a moment, Tatsumi-sensei. Gathering wild mushrooms is no job for an amateur.] Jougasaki-sensei seems as if he is a little full of himself. Tatsumi: [I'm fully aware of that, and I know mycology.] I'm going to give them guy a short lecture using (Biology) to show that the mushrooms are safe to eat. (rolls dice) Made it. KP: Jougasaki-sensei seems as if his pride has been hurt. He makes an "urgh" noise before apologizing to you. He was looking forward to being the boss of the the camping trip, and now he's lost to an indoors-loving academic. Mutsumi: Wow, he's clammed up. Sasahara: I don't want to embarrass him in front of the children. [But I'm glad you're here. If you hadn't come along, we wouldn't have been able to get the tents set up.] Tatsumi: [And you really helped us out by getting all the kindling and firewood.] KP: Nice follow-up. He thanks you and doesn't seem so glum. Tatsumi: This guy's kind of childish. I'll have to be careful to avoid shattering his ego. Mutsumi: I'll take some of the rainbow trout that Tama-nii got. Grilling them on skewers should work. KP: You have some water with you to use for cooking. You can wash off and cook those on the fire with your Special Skill: (Home Cooking). It's an easy task, so you can roll against your skill four times. Mutsumi: I improved my skill to 18% through advancement. Now let's do this! (rolls dice) I only succeeded with one roll. KP: You begin cleaning them and removing their guts. Sayaka: I[Perfect. Nothing to complain about.] Mutsumi: [Sayaka-chan, you aren't afraid of anything.] Sayaka: [Except for the merch at my store.] KP: And you're in the middle of cutting one of them when it shudders and pale, slug like things begin to crawl out of it. Apparently it had those instead of internal organs. Sayaka: [Aaaah! Something came out of the fish!] Mutsumi: Some kind of parasite? KP: The quantity you see is too bizarre. As they spill out of the fish, they wither a bit. This is far too strange for any slug. Mutsumi: [Wh- what the heck is this!?] KP: Roll against your (Sanity). If you make the test, you lose no points. If you fail, you lose a Sanity point. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I'm okay. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I'm not! I have 57 Sanity points left. That's awful! I wash my hands and then dispose of those white worms. KP: That slug-like things keep quivering even after you hit them. However, they're not doing well outside in the dry air. Are they related to slugs or leeches? Sayaka: I flush them away with water. KP: They provide no resistance. Mutsumi: [Tatsumi-sensei, these rainbow trout are in terrible condition. Maybe they're infected with something. Can you take a look, please?] I explain what I saw to him. KP: Tatsumi, try a (Biology) roll. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I failed. KP: He seems baffled after your explanation and an inspection of the fish. Maybe it was just a worm inside the guts? Sasahara: Gross. Let's cook fish that aren't worm-infested. KP: Not all the fish are contaminated. You have some there that will be safe to cook and eat.

Notes: In the end, the youngsters were revolted by the sight and lost their appetite. After that Sayaka-chan and the other high school students went into their tent to have a girls' talk. OST: [1] Sayaka: [What are you going to do tomorrow?] Mutsumi: [We already went mountain hiking. Why don't we go to the river tomorrow?] Sayaka: [Oh, that's right. Tasuku-kun wants to have a watergun fight with us.] KP: Yes, and you two could do that. That won't be much fun for Chika, who doesn't want to play in the water. Sayaka: [What's wrong? Are you still afraid of the water?] KP: She shrinks down. [Yes, it's still frightening.] Sayaka: [It's okay. You don't have to do it if you don't feel like it.] Mutsumi: [Take your time. It's okay to gradually get used to it.] KP: You two give her some gentle encouragement, and her confidence gradually starts to rise. She thinks about it for a little bit. [Okay, I'll do it. Tomorrow I'll play in the water with everyone.] Sayaka: Chikapon is great! SFX: [1] Mutsumi: We achieved one of the main objectives of our school trip. Sayaka: Oh, yes. Now that Chikapon is facing forward, looking toward the future, we'll go over the area used for fishing on the way back. (laughs) KP: So because no incidents have happened yet, you really think that you'll be able to get back home safely? Sayaka x Mutsumi: Why? If we go back home like this, it'll make for a really happy end. KP: Over on the boys' team, to whom Tasuku's care has been entrusted, the men are enjoying beers and tending the fire. Jougasaki-sensei has consumed a little too much a little too quickly. He keeps interrupting Tatsumi-sensei when Tatsumi-sensei begins to expound upon a subject. Tatsumi: This guy's cheesing me off. His behavior could stand some correction. OST: [1] KP: You take a moment to regain your composure, and then hear club music coming from the woods. It must be the other camping group. Judging from things, they brought a boombox along. This music doesn't fit this forestal setting. You look to the source of the sound and then a blaring light blasts through the forest and screams pour forth from their campsite. Sasahara: [Man, those guys are noisy.] Tatsumi: [I'm very tired of this. Let's pack up and move somewhere else.] KP: (rolls dice) Jougasaki-sensei looks irritated. [Man, those guys are loud. Let's give them a piece of our mind.] He stands up and begins to walk over to the source of the noise. Tatsumi: [No, stop that. We are in charge of all these students. We can't expose them to any source of danger.] KP: [Yesh, I get that. But even if they weren't our shtudents, we gotta show young people how to live. We gotta lead them donscha see?] Sasahara: This guy's sauced. Tatsumi: [We won't be good teachers until we handle situations with care and maturity. Think in the long term.] Sasahara: [That's right. Think with your head.] KP: [I'll be convinced if you can make a (Persuade) roll on me.] (lol) Sasahara: He's been drinking meta-beer. (lol) Tatsumi: I think this guy is more trouble than the kids. They've been fine so far. (rolls dice) Got it. KP: [ (sigh) All right. I shee now what a teacher's suppoed to do. Lesh continue our talking about edukeishn.] Tatsumi: Wow, this guy is drunk (lol). Sasahara: Oh dear, this guy is troublesome (lol). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The Terror of the Man-Eating Rainbow Trout

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: After Jougasaki-sensei heard the impassioned lecture from the teachers, they settled in for the night. The following morning, Mutsumi-chan woke up to prepare breakfast for everyone. That was when the group noticed something strange. KP: You move to the area you've set aside for washing the food and notice a circle of naratake growing around it. They weren't there yesterday. Mutsumi: This isn't naratake. What kind of mycological menace is this? KP: To do a closer inspection, you should pick some up and look at it. Sayaka: Could you have dropped some naratake along the way to the camp site? KP: How very much like a high school girl detective. You don't need to roll for this kind of deduction. You see where some of the mushrooms were dropped along the way. It seems these new mushrooms sprouted where you threw the worms from the fish last night. You look to where you drained the water from last night - and another clump of mushrooms is growing there as well. Tatsumi: Is this another form of the weird parasite from last night? KP: (as Jougasaki) [Oh boy, mushrooms! I'll have some.] Tatsumi: [Stop it! That's a poisonous mushroom that just looks like the edible kind. You musn't eat it.] KP: (as Jougasaki) [Oh, I see. Still, it really looks like the other one we saw.] Sasahara: We can't leave these things lying around for other people to find. I pick them up and dispose of them by burning them. KP: (as Jougasaki) [Those smell delicious.] Tatsumi: [Don't eat them. Whatever you do, don't eat them.] Sayaka: Jougasaki-sensei lives life on the edge. OST: [1] KP: You have disposed of the mushrooms. And you finish your breakfast. The next thing on the schedule is a watergun battle with Tasuku-kun. He eagerly walks you through how to operate the waterguns, aiming them, and keeping track of the water you have left in reserve, giving special attention to Sayaka-chan. Sayaka: Today I want to let Tasuku-kun and Chikapon have some fun, so I'll go with the flow. KP: (as Tasuku) [Yesterday I was 187'd by Tama-nii, but I didn't have a one on one strategy ready then. Today we're going to let it all hang loose. I like team watergun battles more anyway.] Sasahara: [Tasuku-kun is amazing. I don't know if I can win again.] I say that because I got chewed out by everyone yesterday. I'll try to act more mature. KP: Surprisingly, it seems to have the opposite effect. Tasuku-kun is even more upset by your acting all mature now. Sasahara: What's with that? I just can't win. KP: Tasuku is burning with the spirit of competition. If you could look at his aura right now, you'd damage your eyesight. He definitely wants to fight against you in a team battle. After all, you're his rival. Sayaka: If we include Jougasaki-sensei in the mix, we'll have seven people. How are we going to split up the teams? KP: [Sayaka-san is going to be on my team!] Mutsumi: But with seven people we can't do a clean split. Tatsumi: I think I'm too old to be doing this sort of thing. I'll excuse myself and get in some fishing instead. That leaves you six people, so you can evenly split them into teams. Notes: A team battle between Sasahara and Tasuku unfolded. Dice clacked as they bounced around the table. Lady Luck smiled upon Sasahara, and soon enough Tasuku's team was defeated handily. Both the losing and winning teams tried hard to keep neutral expressions, but it was a tense situation. KP: Tasuku was embarrassed in front of Sayaka. He hits a tree trunk. [It wasn't supposed to be like this! It wasn't!] he says, grumbling. Sayaka: [Oh dear, Tasuku-kun got beaten.] Mutsumi: [Tama-nii, you shouldn't go all out against a child.] Sasahara: I just got some good rolls. I didn't think it was going to turn out like this. I didn't even know I was going to win. Sayaka: How about we have the winning team do something for the losing team? Sashara: Oh, that's good. That's so obvious. Why didn't I think of that? Mutsumi: You didn't think about holding back either. Sasahara: Are you still talking about that? If I didn't bring all of my mad skillz into the match and utilize them to the fullest, I would have been showing disrespect to my opponents. Sayaka: You're not going to use logic to argue out of this. This is all your fault, Sasahara-san. Do something about it. Tatsumi: I've grown weary of listening to this tiresome conversation. I pretend that I can't hear it and focus on fishing. KP: Some people walk out of the forest near you. It's the flashy man and the fellow with the topknot. The flashy guy walks over to you, carrying cans of draft beer in each hand. [Hey gramps, are you catching anything?] Tatsumi: Good question. Am I? KP: You're not in an especially great spot, but you're doing well. Try to succeed on a (Biology) or (Know) test. Tatsumi: My (Know) derived statistic is especially high, so I'll go with that. (rolls dice) I succeeded! KP: You've been getting rainbow trout - nothing else, not even yamame. It's as if someone chose this area to breed rainbow trout, and every other kind of fish was outcompeted by them. Tatsumi: Odd. We didn't see any sign that someone was using this area to cultivate rainbow trout. [Indeed I am. Though it's only rainbow trout. ] I say in response to the flashy guy. KP: [ As it turns out, 10 kilometers away there's a trout cultivation center. Hey old man, wanna hear a story?] Tatsumi: Why not? [Sure, please let me know about it. Everybody else, this chap has a tale he wishes to share with you.] Sayaka: Fine. It'll help smooth things out with Tasuku-kun if we have something to distract him from how lousy he feels right now. KP: The man begins his tale. [This story doesn't take place a long, long time ago . . . ] OST: [1]

The Terrible Tale of the Rainbow Trout
Behind this camp site is a certain village. Because of urbanization, the area was losing people rapidly. Making things worse was the lack of industry. The bosses of the village thought about what they could do to create jobs - and came up with the idea of cultivating rainbow trout. After some initial difficulties, they opened up a cultivation center. The reason you can catch so many of these fish is the cultivation pond leaked into this river. But to be frank, I don't think you should eat them. This is just between you and me, but after some of the fish got out, one of the guys running the center was found dead. I think someone needed to take responsibility for what went wrong, if you catch my drift. What's worse is how his body was only bones when they found it. I don't know why, but I wonder if they used his flesh to feed the fish in these waters.

Tatsumi: [That's not a fun tale.] KP: What he described was a very odd ghost story. It seems to have profoundly affected Chika-san, who is now white as a sheet and holding onto Sayaka-chan in fear. Sayaka: [Don't worry, Chikapon. It's just a silly story he made up.] Tatsumi: Dang it, we're going to have a total relapse and lose all the progress we've made so far. I try to calm her down with a (Psychology) roll and get her to understand that what she just heard was fiction. (rolls dice) That's a success. KP: She calms down. [I'm very sorry, sir. I think I got carried away.] The rough-looking fellow notices her reaction. [Hah hah hah! That thing totally scared her!] He laughs like a jackass. Sayaka: [Stop that, you're upsetting her.] Sasahara: [Why don't we stop telling ghost stories now?] And while I say that, I look out the corner of my eye at Jougasaki-sensei. Hopefully he isn't getting into trouble. KP: You don't see him. He's long gone. (lol) Sasahara: I'm running out of patience. He acts less like a teacher and more like a child. KP: Suddenly Jougasaki-sensei, out of nowhere, appears behind the rowdy man and seizes him. [Cut that out, all of you!] Sayaka: No fighting on a field trip. We need to put a stop to this. KP: You can drag him back Jougasaki-sensei if you oppose his STR on the Resistance Table and win. His STR score is 15. Mutsumi: I'll put a stop to this. I've got a STR of 15. Sayaka: Here's my right hand gal, Mu-tan. Mutsumi: Don't call me that. KP: Mutsumi-chan's STR is 15, which gives decent odds: 50% right off the bat. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Made it. [Stop it, sensei!] I pull him back and hold him in a full nelson, courtesy of one art club girl. OST: [1] KP: (rolls dice) He calms down shortly after you do that. Meanwhile, the flashy fellow seems upset by what the guy with a topknot is doing. His travel compatriot seems to be acting weird. Mutsumi: In what way? KP: Now that you look at him, he looks very pale - as if the signs of life have left him. Try a (Medicine) test. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I made it. What do I learn? KP: It's as if the nerves in his face are paralyzed. It's not just that he has a blank expression - even that is a composed look. And you don't sense that he's paralyzed. It seems more like he's dead. Sayaka: Wait a second - do you think he ate some of the contaminated fish? Sasahara: Wow, that's even worse than I suspected. As in swallowing all those parasites? KP: The guy in the top knot staggers forward and suddenly bites into Jougasaki-sensei's arm. Sasahara x Mutsumi x Sayaka x Tatsumi: Bites!? Mutsumi: [What on earth are you doing!?] I'm going to knock that guy away from Jougasaki-sensei. KP: You'll need to oppose his STR on the Resistance Table. Incidentally, his STR is a 16. Mutsumi: Fine, I still have a 45% chance to succeed. (rolls dice) ! Oh no. This is not good. I rolled 100. That's a critical fumble. KP: The zombie is still firmly clamped on Jougasaki-sensei, and Jougasaki-sensei landed several punches on the face of the guy with the topknot. Tatsumi: I approve of Jougasaki-sensei's course of action. KP: That drove the guy away from Jougasaki-sensei - and the terrible man has a piece of Jougasaki-sensei in his mouth. Blood weeps out from the wound, staining Jougasaki-sensei's clothes like a nosebleed. Sasahara: [What the heck is wrong with you, biting another person like that!?] KP: The man with the topknot is shocked. [My buddy . . . what happened to him?] Meanwhile, his zombified friend looks like he has taken a turn for the worse. Sasahara: This guy is already dead. Tatsumi: Wait, I just realized something! We have to treat Jougasaki-sensei before he gets infected! KP: Your first aid kit is in one of the tents. Tatsumi: How does the guy with the topknot look? Sasahara: And then he explodes, his body riddled apart with those horrible worms, prompting the Keeper to ask for a Sanity roll with hefty penalties? (laughs) Tatsumi: Right, I should proritize giving care to Jougasaki-sensei first. (monotone voice) KP: These players . . . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Tasuku and Secret Base Exploration

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sayaka: I don't get it. We set out to go camping to relax and have a good time. We were having fun but at the end we went back into this nightmare world. Mutsumi: We found those diseased fungi extending from a rat's corpse. Then we found worms inside the rainbow trout. After that, the ponytail punk bit into Jougasaki-sensei. Sayaka: I don't think it's been a very good vacation. Do you think that we are cursed? Sasahara: And Jougasaki-sensei was badly hurt. Time for us to pack it in and go home. KP: (as Jougasaki) [Oh, don't trouble yourselves on my account. Let's stay and enjoy camping!] Mutsumi: Our Keeper won't let us go back yet (lol) KP: Show me your character sheets. [The players do so.] Okay, everyone roll D100 and tell me what you get. (That was for a Psychology roll, and Sasahara and Tatsumi succeeded.) Mutsumi: Muuu. What was that about? OST: [1] KP: You two notice that Tasuku is staring at the river's headwaters. Sasahara: I remember hearing that a rainbow trout cultivation plant was near the river source. We ought to check that out. Tatsumi: Well, whoever does that shouldn't go alone. Sasahara: [Tasuku, would you like to see the fish cultivation center?] KP: That made him excited. [Tama-nii, let's go on an adventure!] Mutsumi: [Why don't we stop that, Tasuku? Chikapon is getting scared.] KP: [Oh, but I need to get material for my independent study.] Sasahara: If we stay here, I bet he'll go off by himself to check it out. We can't let him go alone. Tatsumi: It'd probably be safer if I came along as well, but I'm worried about Chika-san. I don't want her to have a relapse. Sayaka: Okay then, I'll take Chikapon with me. We'll go shopping for something to eat and pick up some souveniers. KP: Well, what about Jougasaki-sensei? He's currently resting in one of the tents. Sasahara: Okay, if he's not in good shape to drive, that kind of leaves me. Why don't I drive the girls to a store? Tatsumi: That leaves me and Mutsumi as the ones who'll accompany Tasuku-kun to that fishy place. I'm not really that eager to go. Mutsumi: [My apologies, Tatsumi-sensei. My younger brother can be selfish sometimes.] Tatsumi: [No need for that. I do wonder what's going on over there. We ought to look into it.] Notes: The party split into two groups, one doing investigation of a bizarre site and the other . . . shopping. Sasahara was threatened by being overwhelmed by teenage chatter, but despite the danger of that, the group completed their task and returned to the campsite safely. Sasahara also took the time to get some information. It turns out that there was a bizarre suicide at the cultivation plant, and then for some reason someone else was eager to buy it. The group wanted to know what kind of research was being carried out there. The story about the place being owned by someone trying to stop a village from failing is true. Perhaps the failure of the cultivation plant upset him so much that he wanted to die. But it might not have been as grisly as what the trashy fellow from before said. Sasahara: I didn't think it was being used for cultivation. Certainly not now. Mu-tan, be careful. Mutsumi: Just the same, we can't get reception out here in the boonies. I can't hear anything you just said. KP: Now let's get to brass tacks. The group that left to see the cultivation plant (rolls dice) finds it. It took you about ten minutes of walking. The thing's a nonassuming prefabricated building with concrete walls and a warehouse. There's also a garage with a closet and what looks like a big pool. The sign for the place has carelessly been painted over with spray paint. Tatsumi: [Hello? Has this place been closed down?] I look for signs of any human activity or presence. KP: You do not see any other people. The door to the concrete prefab building is shut. But rather than say it's deserted, you still see signs of it being used. The power is still connected, and there are signs of trash caused by human activity. Mutsumi: Is someone looking after this place? KP: You see a sign saying that this area is under town management. To recognize the name associated with it, you'll need to succeed with either (Biology) or (Psychiatry). Tatsumi: Good for me, as I am proficient with both. (rolls dice) (Biology) was a success. KP: The name is Shouji Gosuke. He won several large awards and is someone in the field of Biology whose work you've heard of. He found abundant traces of life near a fallen meteorite in Antarctica. However, his research base is at a large lab in America. Why would he be doing work here in Japan? Sayaka: So this is a place where he's doing research? OST: [1] KP: Back in 1997, traces of bacterial organisms were found in Alan Hills 84001. He was famous for his work on that project. As a matter of fact, I was happy when I heard the news because it was the first indication that humans had found extraterrestrial life. Tatsumi: Microscopic life in a meterorite in Antarctica? I got a very bad feeling. Sasahara: So what does that biologist have to do with the guy who killed himself? Is this not part of the public record? KP: (rolls dice) A bunch of adults standing around and talking isn't interesting for Tasuku, so he starts walking towards the reservour. Mutsumi: [Hey! Don't go off by yourself!] KP: (as Tasuku) [The fish we tried to eat earlier came from this pond. You don't have to come if you're afraid, Mutsu-nee.] Mutsumi: [This kid is troublesome!] Tatsumi: I don't think we should take our eyes off him. Let's go with him to make sure he's safe. KP: The pond has turned muddy yellow. You don't think it is being used to raise rainbow trout now. However, there are many small things squirming in the water. For some reason, you feel repulsed, looking at the pond. Tasuku takes one of the rainbow trout from before and throws it into the pool. Mutsumi: I carefully watch the pond to see what happens next. KP: Mutsumi, attempt a (Spot Hidden) test. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Got it. KP: At the bottom of the pond is something big. And it's moving. Something like a rainbow trout or a flounder, but as large as a big table. Tatsumi: What the heck is that? KP: Tasuku has also noticed and begins trying to lure the fish over by moving the surface of the water. Tatsumi: Cut that out! KP: (rolls dice) The thing at the bottom does something like inhaling - and much of the water is sucked into it. Tasuku has lost his balance and is getting dragged along with the water. Tatsumi: I grab Tasuku's hand and pull him out of there! KP: Tatsumi and Mutsumi are the closest characters. You can each try a (DEX x5) roll to grab a hand. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I did. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) As did I. KP: Then I'll add Tatsumi to Mutsumi's STR for your side. Beat Tasuku's SIZ, which is six, on the Resistance Table. Mutsumi: That should be easy. (rolls dice) Made it. KP: The shock of what just happened has made Tasuku go mute. He holds tightly onto Mutsumi. Tatsumi: What sort of acquatic monstrosity is this? KP: Without seeing it in detail, you're sure it's no normal form of animal life. You could probably learn more if you got a good look at it. Mutsumi: What about the other doors to the buildings? Can I find one that's unlocked? KP: Yes. Mutsumi: (opens door) [Excuse me!] KP: Okay, now we're getting to illegal entry. Tatsumi: They've been keeping some strange animal, so maybe you need to be careful. Mutsumi: I did say [Excuse me!] when I came in. Everything will be fine. KP: Oh, really? Notes: Everything is not fine if you enter a place without permission, even if you say [excuse me]. However, speaking as a Keeper trying to pick up the tempo of the scenario, I gladly welcomed this development from the bottom of my heart. Although Mutsumi-chan and Tatsumi started out being very careful, they eventually came across an old PC covered in dust. They reconnected its power supply to a wall socket and then powered up the device, carefully scanning through its files. KP: You think that the Kleine Biotics company is a dummy corporation and that they've been getting their funding through something else. Tatsumi: [It's amazing that you can glean that much.] Mutsumi: [Back in elementary school, my folks sent me to a juku for learning the Japanese abacus.] (lol) KP: But why did you pervert the power of the soroban for illegally looking through the company's books? (lol) Mutsumi: Anyway, us coming across a hidden lab carrying out secret experiments in the middle of nowhere in the mountains is like something out of a B movie. Tatsumi: I'm sure the cells from the meterorite in the Antarctic factor into this. Now I can't help but think of that. Mutsumi: Shoji Gosuke . . . Shogosuke . . . Shugosu (ã‚·ãƒ§ã‚´ã‚¹ - Shoggoth)! Tatsumi: I really hope a Shoggoth doesn't show up. KP: I can't comment on the matter (checks the time on his smartphone). About this time the other group should be coming back from their shopping trip. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Shoggoths Hello! Mu-tan reporting in once again. My favorite slimy food is okra. Famous for their shouts of [Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!], these amoeba-like creatures are about the size of a large truck. They can form many tentacles, mouths, or eyes. They come from a priomordial, ancient earth - long before humans walked upon the surface of the planet. They are also artificial, created to be used for brute labor building long-forgotten cities. The still dwell within one of them, located in the Mountains of Madness, to which Misaktonic University sent an expedition. Now others hide in the oceans, to be used as brute muscle by certain crazed cultists. In short, even if you stay away from the Antarctic wastes, you can still run across one. You won't be able to defeat one using any half-baked approach. Personally, I'd recommend running away at full speed if you see one. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: A Hellish Night Was Beginning

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: Sasahara and the others are on their way Sayaka: We left Jougasaki-sensei alone. I hope he's okay. KP: Time has passed and the sun begins to slide behind the mountains. It'll be dark soon. As the mountain road you're driving down narrows, suddenly an oncoming car races toward you. If you don't want to be in a head-on collision at full speed, pass a (Drive Automobile) test. Sasahara: What the heck! (rolls dice) I made it. KP: You manage to avoid hitting the car as it rushes past you. The other driver drives at full speed into the bridge. Sasahara: As soon as I can, I turn the car around and go over to the site of the crash. We need to help him. KP: The car is a mess, and the driver went through the windshield. (rolls dice) A fire has started around the engine. As the flaming mess burns, you hear a mysterious voice yell, "Don't go! Please don't go!" Sayaka: What is that? Sasahara: I pull out the driver and check his injuries. Gotta get him away from the burning car. KP: Meanwhile . . . Tatsumi and the others in the laboratory need to make (Listen) tests. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Made it. OST: [1] KP: You hear a terrible roaring sound over by the bridge. Mutsumi: [Tatsumi-sensei, what was that noise?] I ask even though as a player I have some idea of what it was (lol). Tatsumi: [Maybe a car crash. We should check it out.] KP: On the way over to the accident site, you pass by a tent that someone was setting up. Tatsumi: Oh, we ought to check on Jougasaki-sensei. KP: (rolls dice) You see him wandering off into the distance, in a daze. [Te te te. Te te te. Te te te.] Tatsumi: [Hey, come to your senses!] KP: (as Jougasaki) [Oh, Tatsumi-sensei? Forgive me. My mind went blank.] Tatsumi: [Are you all right?] Mutsumi: As we thought. Getting bitten causes a terrible infection. KP: While you converse with Jougasaki-sensei, Sasahara returns from the crash site. Notes: As the groups recovenened at the tent site, they exchanged information back and forth. Tatsumi: [Remember those rude jerks we heard last night? They were playing loud music on a boombox and generally acting like jerks. But we haven't heard so much as a peep from any of them in a long time. I think they may be in trouble. We ought to check on them.] Mutsumi: [Is Jougasaki-sensei going to be all right?] Tatsumi: We need to keep an eye on him. Leaving him alone would be bad. Sasahara: We need to keep him on a short leash (lol). KP: Tasuku picks up his watergun, oblivious to the mood. [Hey guys, let's leave this guy alone and have another fight! Sayaka will be on my team, and I'll protect her!] Sayaka: Well, I guess that'd make more sense than us throwing a football around. I don't know what's going to happen but I bet it's an event where we have to use these waterguns. Tatsumi: The Keeper's not so subtly pushing for that. Sasahara: [We don't know what's going to happen next. I think it'd be a good idea for us to organize all our important things and carry them with us, in case we need to move in a hurry.] However, I don't pack away my watergun. I keep that with me. Mutsumi: Oh, good idea. KP: By the way, I have a number of fun events left to run for you. Unfortunately, I can only handle so many NPCs at the same time, so I want you to co-run Tasuku, Chikapon, and Jougasaki-sensei. That way I don't have to keep track of so many rolls and statistics. Notes: And so it was that the PC-aligned NPC sheets were distributed. The PCs worried about the Sanity scores of NPCs close to them. With the ante raised, things became more interesting. If you're wondering at home, Jougasaki-sensei's remaining Sanity is 35, Tasuku's is 60, and Chika's is 52. Tatsumi: Jougasaki-sensei's got very low Sanity! (lol) Sayaka: Chikapon lost a lot of SAN because of her trauma. That's sad! KP: Okay, your group follows one of the forest trails and reaches their campsite. The place is a mess. Their boombox lies abandoned on a blanket. The ground is littered with empty beer cans. The lady in the party is sitting on the ground with a blank expression. Sayaka: I bet something scary is watching us from the woods. KP: You guys have seen cooking stoves. This is a larger one hooked up to a big alcohol cylinder. Maybe they thought they'd be cooking out here for a while. There's also a kettle nearby for boiling water. Sayaka: I guess I can visualize it. KP: The woman is sitting on the ground near the camp stove. Now that you get a better look at her, it seems like she has been scorched by something. There's a clump of those mysterious mushrooms growing near her. They don't seem to have been affected by whatever scorched her at all. She speaks aimlessly: [ Ke. Ke ke ke ke. Ah. Tasty. You were so tasty.] She mumbles but keeps repeating the same phrase. Sayaka: She's scary! I don't want to approach her. Sasahara: [Hey you. Do you know where the other people went?] I say this in a calm and neutral voice while standing a good distance away from her so I can move if I need to. Keeper! Don't forget what I just said. KP: Don't worry about that. After hearing your voice, she turns around 180 degrees and faces you. [Ke. Ke. Ke ke ke. If I'm delicious, will you eat me too?] She picks up the camp stove with both hands, and douses herself with the fuel and sets herself alight. Sayaka: [No, don't do that!] KP: The stink of burning hair and flesh is overpowering, and then a rush of those slug-like objects pours out of her mouth and ears. Please roll against your Sanity. Notes: All of them failed their Sanity rolls and lost 1D10 Sanity points. Tatsumi lost 3 Sanity points, leaving him with 41 points. Sasahara lost 4 points, with 66 points in reserve. Mutsumi lost 4 points, so she now has 53 points left. Sayaka-chan, who normally powers through Sanity checks, lost a full 10 points, leaving her with 58 points. She made her (Idea) test and understood what happened, causing her to lapse into indefinite insanity. KP: Now I need to understand what kind of madness manifests in Sayaka-chan. (rolls dice) Okay! You have an eating disorder where you'll consume some strange substance. Your mind shatters and forces itself back together, leaving you with warped, unwholesome cognition. The mysterious mushroom near the burned woman looks so tasty. You want to eat some. You might even lose your enjoyment of normal food as a result of this. Sayaka: No, this is horrible! Somebody stop me! KP: And since you fell into madness, you need to roll (INT x5) to see if you manifest some kind of Insane Insight. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I didn't make it. But isn't it good that I didn't make the roll? Mutsumi: That's right. If you fail the roll, you'll think of something that no sane person could conceive of. KP: Well then, you think that the parasites coming out of the woman's head are especially vulnerable to fire. Sayaka: [The worms . . . fire burns. Look.] Mutsumi: Interesting. They don't seem to do well in dry environments either. KP: And since those worms are wriggling, you think that rather than cooking the mysterious mushrooms, you should eat them raw. (lol) Mutsumi: You can't eat just one. (lol) Sayaka: Do not want! Please save me, Tatsumi-sensei! Sasahara: Even now your body is reaching towards those mushrooms. Tatsumi: [Don't pick up and eat things you find on the ground.] I try to use a (Psychoanalysis) roll to calm her down. KP: The girl is alight, and still holding the camp stove. She begins to stagger towards Sasahara. Sasahara: I retreat. I need to buy Sayaka-chan some time to recover. Mutsumi: Where are the people that were with us until a few moments ago? KP: Glad you noticed. Try an (Idea) test. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Kind of surprised I didn't have to roll against my (Spot Hidden). Anyway, I made my test. KP: You find Futoshi's shirt. Under it are more of those weird mushrooms. Mutsumi: No . . . no way. KP: The clump of mushrooms begins to move, and then it juts out of the ground and looks at you with eyes like a snake's. The creature must have been lying on its stomach when Futoshi sat on it. It continues to stare at you and then moves toward you, oozing like a slug. I think that's due cause for a (Sanity) roll. Mutsumi: I saw stuff I shouldn't see on a school trip! (rolls dice) I made my test. KP: Even so, you still are 1 Sanity Point the poorer. Mutsumi: Down to 52 Sanity Points. KP: In any case, you've gradually become used to seeing the aftereffects of this fungal invasion, the Malevolent Mushroom Men. I'm adjusting your Sanity losses to reflect this. Mutsumi: Since you referred to them in the plural form, I bet we're going to meet more and more of these malignant monstrous mottled mindless mycological menaces. KP: Futoshi --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Getting Used to Horror Hello! Mu-tan reporting in once again. My favorite theme park attraction would be the go carts. Maybe this is a rule that is not as well known as some others, but if Investigators often encounter the same kind of creature, they can become used to it. In game terms, that means that they either lose fewer or even no Sanity points if they continue to encounter it. Let's use an example. Say there's a terrible creature which causes a Sanity loss of 1D10 in the event a Sanity roll is failed. After you encountered that same thing ten times, you wouldn't need to roll a Sanity test the eleventh time you saw it again, or any time thereafter. However, this effect can be temporary, and a Keeper may decide when an Investigator has managed to forget enough about the creatures to return to being terrified of them again, necessitating a return to normal Sanity loss rules for them. When that happens is up to the Keeper. It's worth bearing in mind that these creatures are cosmic horrors. Let's use another example, those abnormal aquatic creatures called the Deep Ones, the critters who live offshore of Innsmouth. This kind of rule would be handy for any Investigators who have to investigate Innsmouth because they'd be likely to encounter Deep Ones many times in that town. If they keep having to roll Sanity rolls over and over again for the same thing, players will be under too much pressure. If you want to check out the rule for yourself, it's on page 47of the fifth edition rulebook. TL Note: From the fifth edition rulebook: "Getting Used to Awfulness Within a reasonable interval of play, investigators should not lose more Sanity points for seeing monsters of a particular sort than the maximum possible points an investigator could lose for seeing one such monster. Thus in the same game day, perhaps, or game week, or in the same play session, perhaps, no investigator should lose more than six Sanity points for seeing any number of Deep Ones. Yet the interpetation of 'reasonable interval' must vary by keeper and interpretation. When it feels right, the horror is renewed and points must be lost. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: Oh, I got kind of distracted there. Tatsumi-sensei, you can try a (Psychiatry) roll to reason with your unstable colleague. Tatsumi: We will have problems if I fail. (rolls dice) Thankfully I succeeded. Sayaka: Thank heaven for that. [I - I don't want to eat this thing! There's no way it could taste good!] I say as I return to my normal state of clarity. Sasahara: Sayaka-chan's stock of Sanity points is finally getting depleted. Just like the rest of us. Welcome to the club. Mutsumi: I want to avoid this weird lifeform. I'll move back to the rest of the group. KP: Fungal Futoshi is headed towards you. Meanwhile, the burning lady is headed towards Sashara as if she is locked onto him. Sasahara: I didn't want to be popular like this! KP: Oh, and as far as the madness which Jougasaki-sensei is falling into, I already picked that out. It's part of the scenario setting. Tatsumi: I am sure you have something impressive waiting for us. KP: Strange and bizarre things are happening around him that can not be explained using modern science. Clearly, this is the result of a gigantic prank someone is pulling on him. He has developed panzaism. He turns to the scary girl and says [Hey now, put a stop to this ridiculous joke!] as if he's scolding a mischevous student. Tatsumi: This guy's always going to be a pain in our sides. (lol) Sayaka: Okay then. Before he is attacked and killed by a zombie, I'll strike the girl with a (Kick) attack. Sasahara: Sayaka's Lethal Legs have been unlocked. Sayaka: I'm pairing (Martial Arts) with this. KP: Fine. Roll that. (Her eyes are so intense!) Sayaka: (rolls dice) That was under both (Martial Arts) and (Kick), which means I get to cause 2D6 + 1D4 in damage. (rolls dice) Ten points. Sasahara x Mutsumi x Tatsumi x Sayaka: Yaaaaay! Notes: Ten points are enough to flatten both Tatsumi-sensei and Mutsumi-chan. To put into perspective, a more delicate human being would be 187'd by a hit like that. She really does have a killer kick. KP: How should I adjudicate this? (Rolls a die) Okay Sayaka, you scored a direct hit in the medulla oblongata. The relevant part of the skull has been demolished. Her head isn't really attached to the spinal cord anymore either, and now dangles like an obscene bobble headed doll. Inside her skull, you can see the juicy and ruined brains. You realize you've gotten some experience dealing with Malevolent Mushroom Men. Even though you lost a lot of Sanity points, you realize that you can deal with these things, and you think you've gotten a better handle on the situation. Sayaka: [I'm not afraid of anything anymore!] Sasahara: [That's right!] . . . we're losing her. KP: (rolls dice) The woman is still moving. She begins stumbling towards Sasahara, her head bobbling and twitching like something out of Silent Hill. [I'm so tasty!] Sayaka: Didn't my (Kick) work just then? Sasahara: No good! We can't beat her! Gotta run! Tatsumi: I think we should flee. They can't pursue at high speed. Mutsumi: In movies, this'd be when we barricade ourselves in a building. We might try to hide in the rainbow trout cultivation center. Tatsumi: They still have power, and we might be able to find some way of making contact with civilization over there. Sasahara: Then let's beat feet. Don't forget to bring Jougasaki-sensei with us! KP: As you flee the campsite and rush towards the trout cultivation center, the sun sinks below the horizon. The beams of your flashlights shake and rush around the trees as you race down the path. Now you all need to make (Listen) tests. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Made it. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) So did I. KP: You hear footsteps quietly coming up behind you. OST: [1] Sayaka: (whispering) [Mu-tan, do you hear something?] Mutsumi: [Someone's following us.] (whispering) Sayaka: [Do you want to see who it is?] (whispering) Mutsumi: [Do we?] (whispering) Sasahara: What are those two chattering about? KP: In a horror game they'd be two high school girls acting foolishly, but this is actually pretty decent roleplaying (lol). Sayaka: Fine, we will look behind us. KP: Don't worry. You don't see a human form behind you. Sayaka: [Was it our imagination?] Mutsumi: Maybe it's that. I shine the light at it. KP: Wah ha ha ha ha! When you do that, within the beam of the light is a pair of legs and a waist - only half of a human being, still walking towards you, with mushroom stalks and fungus caps sticking out of it. Somehow it's still able to perceive you. Mutsumi: Aaaack! Sasahara: Was it one fo the other campers? KP: Yes, judging from the trousers. And even though it lumbers toward you in a somewhat comical way, you still need to make (Sanity) rolls. Notes: At that moment, both Tatsumi-sensei and Sasahara failed their Sanity rolls. Mutsumi succeeded. As a result, Tatsumi-sensei's Sanity went down by five points, plunging him into temporary insanity for an hour. Tatsumi-sensei's current store of Sanity points is 36. Sasahara lost three points, leaving him with 63 points remaining in the bank. Even though she made the roll, Mutsumi still lost 1 Sanity point, leaving her with 51 points remaining. Tasuku-kun lost six points in one shot, causing him to fall temporarily insane for one hour. KP: I'll randomly determine what kind of insanity Tatsumi-sensei manifests. Hmm, it's some kind of hysteria. Tatsumi, instead of terror or even a normal desire to avoid this horror, you feel that it's the funniest thing you've ever seen. In fact, you can not stop laughing. Tatsumi: [What the heck is that thing!? Ah he he he Ha ha ha ha hu hu ha ha ha ha ho ho!] Sasahara: [Damn it, Tatsumi-sensei finally broke.] KP: Well, that's one Investigator down. Let's see how Tasuku is doing. (rolls dice) Okay, he goes catatonic. He managed to stumble over to Mutsumi. [Oneechan . . . oneechan . . .] He's totally folded in on himself, like a helpless baby. Mutsumi: [Tasuku-kun!? What's happened to you?] KP: He leans against you, forgetting everything else around him. Sasahara: Tasuku-kun, I'm so jealous of you right now. (lol) KP: But why do you feel so strongly about your cousin? Sayaka: I'm really tired of these Malevolent Mushroom Men. They're nothing but a bunch of jerks. This disgusting half-man is about to become mulched by my powerful low kick. Mutsumi: Sayaka-chan, you've made a complete 180. Sayaka: Now that I've gone a little crazy, I see how liberating it can be. I think I'm closer to understanding how Miyako-san must have felt after attaining Zero Sanity. Mutsumi: Sayaka-chan, noooo! You'll lose your humanity if you lose to the dark. KP: This half-man zombie fungal thing isn't a particularly skilled opponent. You can knock it over with your (Kick) attack. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Made it. KP: The thing was magnificently knocked over by Sayaka-chan. Before it can right itself, you can obliterate it with some curb-stomping. No need to roll for the follow-up attacks. Tatsumi: [What are you doing!? Oh ho ho ho ha haaaa ha haaaa haaaaa haaa!] Sasahara: [Tatsumi-sensei! Stop laughing! We have to get out of here!] I grab him by the arm and pull him out of there. Mutsumi: I grab Tasuku-kun and high-tail it out of there. I have confidence in my STR. Tatsumi: [Looook at how scared Sasahara is! He's in such a pathetic state! Aha ha ha ha ha hoo he he he hah.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The Insane and Kinda Cursed Laboratory

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: Some time passed as the group retreated, and Tatsumi-sensei and Tasuku could again think and react normally. After that, the player characters and the NPCs accompanying them got ready for a siege inside the concrete building and set to work on establishing communications with people outside the forest. Or so they had intended. They could not budge the iron door, the sole way into and out of the building, and therefore could not go inside the structure and close the door behind them. However, a search of the surrounding area revealed that someone had set up a generator in the garage, as well as a large supply of gasoline with which to power it. KP: Off in the distance you notice a reddish blaze. That might be the campfire stove that rowdy girl overturned. Sashara: [Oh no. That bad lady is going to come back for me.] KP: And you guys need to make a (Listen) roll. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I made it. KP: There's a creepy sound coming from the bushes. It might be the cry of a bug, but it doesn't sound like one you've ever heard before. Sayaka: [Something's here! We need to get inside, quickly!] Tatsumi x Sasahara x Mutsumi: [Run away!] KP: As you rush to follow Sayaka-chan's advice, something emerges from the darkness. It's very difficult to see in the darkness, but you are sure it has at least four legs. It rushes up to you like a wild beast. Sayaka: Let's get everyone here and push the door shut. Put your backs into it! Mutsumi: I want to help Sayaka-chan! KP: (rolls dice) The mysterious creature is advancing towards you. Sayaka-chan and Mutsumi-chan, after everyone else rushes inside, you can keep the creature out by pushing against it with the steel door. All you need to do is beat STR 22 on the Resistance Table. Sasahara: The thing has 22 STR!? Tatsumi: Is this one of the other campers, transformed into an inhuman beast? Sayaka: If Mu-tan and I work together, we have a STR of 27. Mutsumi: We can do it if we roll under 75. (rolls dice) Got it! We'll use the door to keep that thing outside. KP: The thing throws itself against the steel door for a while before quieting down. You hear its strange cry of disappointment and it begins circling the garage. If it decided to come in through the window like the dogs in Resident Evil 1, you wouldn't be able to keep it out. Sasahara: [Everyone not on door duty! Look for the key to the door. We can be secure in here if we lock the door!] KP: But do you have the time to do a careful search? Tatsumi: This is less than ideal. We have no Investigators with the (Locksmith) skill, but we don't have the time to do a thorough search. Sayaka: Look for things to throw at it if it does try to come through the window. Mutsumi: We could always stick a garbage can over its head. (lol) KP: I'm using special house rules in this game to make it feel more like a B-movie. You can find stuff to toss at it if you make a simultaneous (Throw) and (Luck) test. Sayaka: I have good ranks in both of those, so I'll handle it. Everyone else can look for the key. I'll be on guard duty. Sasahara: I'l sprinkle some gasoline in certain sections. If worse comes to worse, we can trap the thing in here and burn it up. KP: The rest of you can try to make (Spot Hidden) tests. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I got it! KP: You move some papers around on a desk and find the key hidden underneath them. As you pick up the key, you happen to glance upward through the window and lock eyes with the beast. Mutsumi: [G - Good evening.] (sweatdrops) KP: It is roughly humanoid in form, but it's covered in bulging muscles. Bone shards jut out of its arms and its head is totally jet black. For some reason, the thing reminds you of those worms from before. It no longer has heads and its open mouth is a slimy white cavity oozing with drool. All right gang, (Sanity) rolls all around. Mutsumi: I bet this thing can infect us! (sweatdrop) Notes: Both Tatsumi-sensei and Mutsumi-chan failed their rolls. Sasahara passed the test. Tatsumi-sensei lost two points, leaving him with 34 Sanity points remaining. Mutsumi-chan lost two points, leaving her with 49 points. Sasahara lost 1 Sanity point even though he passed the test, leaving him with 62 points. Tatsumi: I'm getting used to Malevolent Mushroom Men. Sasahara: Isn't that good? Tatsumi: No. I'd rather make my Sanity rolls so I have a chance to keep my SAN! Sayaka: Then we need to keep that thing away from the window. Let's see, roll against my (Throw) and (Luck) . . . (rolls dice) Got it! KP: Great roll. The trash can sails through the window and smashes squarely against the beast's head. The thing stumbles back before staggering towards the lsb. Mutsumi: [Nice, Sayaka-chan!] Sasahara: We can't stay here.We'll run out of stuff for her to throw. While everyone else runs away, I'll pour gasoline all over the lab and will remain behind. Once that thing comes in, I'll light it on fire before I run away. OST: [1] KP: And that will work so long as you make a (Luck) test. Sasahara: Don't look down on my (Luck) attribute. (rolls dice) KP: You manage to contain the former camper inside the building before setting it ablaze, ducking out of it at the last moment. Sasahara: [Yippeee!] Sayaka: [That Malevolent Mushroom Man seems weak against flame. Perhaps the others are also.] KP: No time for spacing out just yet. (rolls dice) The Mushroom Man leaps through the window. Sayaka: [It's strong against flame?] KP: No, it was hurt, or so you think, but you didn't cause a mortal wound with what you did. It wails in rage and pain as it rolls around on the ground, trying to smother the flames. Tatsumi: [We can't kill this thing. We need to hide inside the building!] Sayaka: But how? Sasahara: I have a feeling that Jougasaki-sensei is infected with this mycological menace. Mutsumi: We can't make him stay outside. Are you an oni, Tama-nii? Sasahara: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It'd be heartless to leave him outside. (lol) KP: You hear a loud pounding on the door. Sayaka: Mu-tan, help me keep this door closed. KP: The noise quiets down as you hold it shut. Eventually it tapers off entirely. Sayaka: [I think we're okay now.] Tatsumi: What's it looking like inside? KP: When you take a look inside, you are very surprised. It looks like a standard warehouse, but overlooked, set on shelves, is a glass container that's cleanly illuminated by flourescent lighting. It's a specimen jar used for culturing specimens. As you suspected, this is a lab for researching genetics. Mutsumi: This is stuffed thick with B-movie cliches. (lol) KP: (rolls dice) You hear someone call out from inside. [Hello?] Mutsumi: Oh, who is that? KP: A disheveled, lazy-looking middle-aged man peeks up from a desk and moves into the light. Only his head is in the light beam, so that's the only part of him you see. Tatsumi: [Excuse us. We went on a camping trip in the forest nearby, but we were attacked by a strange beast. We fled here.] Sasahara: [Pardon me for asking, but could you be that famous biologist, Dr. Shouji?] KP: [Dr. Shouji] [H- how do you know about me?] Sasahara: [I know a lot. For example, you're working here to find out the reasons why your father took his own life, so you're continuing to study the meteorite and the alien cells it contained. However, your research sponsor has some kind of secret, unwholesome agenda.] KP: [W-who are youuuuuu!?] he wails, confused. Mutsumi: Why are you saying all that to him? Now he won't trust us at all! Sasahara: We did all this investigation earlier. We finally have a person to test the theory on. (lol) KP: But how is he supposed to react when someone he never met hits him with that out of the blue? Sasahara: Just testing to see if my bluff will work. (lol) Tatsumi: Well, I'd better not let this chance slip by. [Dr. Shouji, could you tell us what you've been researching out here?] OST: [1] KP: [I'm doing what he told me to do. I've been researching the properties of Antarctic shoggoth cells.] Sasahara: Oh man, he said it! He said the word 'shoggoth'! (lol) Tatsumi: So how do you know that name? (lol) KP: [My formal name is Shouji Gosuke. I abbreviated the name of the newly discovered cells to shoggoth. Why did you react so strongly to the name 'shoggoth'?] Mutsumi: Much ado about nothing. Tatsumi: This really does feel like a B-Movie now. Notes: The mad doctor calmly talked them through the truth. In fact, Sasahara's assumption had pretty much been the truth. However, his client was Klein Mutual Life Insurance Company. They seemed like a normal business. However, something still was off about the entire thing, thought Mutsumi. Tatsumi: [It pains me to tell you this, but I believe the runoff from your experiments is polluting the environment and mutating the local life forms.] KP: He goes white. [That's . . . that's not possible.] But while he staggers back, swarms of rats pour out of the ventilation ducts in the building. They begin to chew everything that is within reach. Sasahara: This research is bad! Sayaka: Wait, I remember that the mouse we found on the mountain was infected too. Sasahara: [But can these not-Shoggoth-cells really mutate people into inhuman things?] KP: (as Dr. Shouji) [Now that I think about it, it's not impossible. All the evidence is right here.] Mutsumi: [Wait a moment . . . ] KP: [Look upon the folly of this cursed biologist!] Tatsumi: [No, I don't want to look at it!] KP: The shadow cast by the mad scientist changes horribly as more light streams in from the door. He looked human - from the waist up. From his waist onward are unearthly extremities that shine in the light like the shell of a beetle, ending in a viscous pool of black meat. This is the kind of scene that you should only see in a nightmare, and yet cruel reality is here, to defy the kind wishes of god and man. Sayaka: That's scary, but I'm sure I'm used to it by now. Right, Keeper? KP: Nope, the doctor's been busy converting his flesh into shoggoth tissue, which is a type of true horror you've never seen before. So pick up your D100s. It's time to roll against your Sanity! Mutsumi x Sayaka x Tatsumi x Sasahara: Nuoooooooooooo! Sasahara: Why did he have to morph into a shoggoth? He could have stayed in human form. Those don't require SAN to see. Tatsumi: Agreed. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Made it! Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I'm okay! Tatsumi: (rolls dice) That is not good. I failed. Sasahara: (rolls dice) I also failed. KP: If this is a shoggoth, it's a very small one. You lose 1 point of SAN if you make the roll and 1D10 if you do not. Sayaka: Down to 57 points. Mutsumi: I have 48. Sasahara: All right, let's see what we got . . . (rolls a die) four points. I have 58 points left in the bank, and I do not go temporarily insane. Tatsumi: (rolls a die) 10 points gone!? Mutsumi: Tatsumi-sensei, are you all right? Tatsumi: There's no way I could be. I only have 24 Sanity points left. I know the drill, Keeper. Let's see if I make my (Idea) check . . . (rolls dice) And I do. So I go temporarily insane for an hour and then indefinitely insane after that. Mutsumi: You're getting terrible results for your Sanity checks, Tatsumi-sensei. Tatsumi: I've failed every roll up till now. What the heck is this? Sasahara: The curse of Miyako? (lol) KP: (as Miyako) [Saaa, Tatsumi-sensei . . . Hurry! Hurry and come over to this side! (high-pitched, effete laughter) Ah ha ha ha ha ha!] Tatsumi: Don't let her take you over! KP: Rather than me rolling on a random chart, I already have a madness picked out for you that will suit this scenario. You've acquired a delusion - many small insects are crawling over your body. Horribly, insects are beneath your skin, crawling around like worms, eating your flesh. For the next hour, you'll try to cut them out of your skin or kill them by drinking insecticide. Tatsumi: [The bugs are inside me! Crawling in my skin! Gotta get them out!] Sasahara: Don't worry, I took several courses in Psychology in college extension courses. KP: Then you might want to use that skill right now. (lol) Sasahara: [Tatsumi-sensei, the human body is full of germs. Some of them are benign, and through them, we get the benefit of symbiosis.]. I roll against my (Psychology) to calm him down. I've got 20% in the skill. (rolls dice) I made it! Tatsumi: [I - I see. These are my symbiotes. I have become wiser once again.] Sasahara x Mutsumi x KP x Sayaka: Yaaaay! (applause) Sasahara: It's kind of awesome how I just fixed up Tatsumi-sensei with my (Psychology) skill, isn't it? (lol) Mutsumi: [Tama-nii! That was awesome! I'm so moved!] Tatsumi: [Oh, it's nothing special, really.] KP: Dang it, I had something really awesome planned for what was going to happen to him. I hope another Investigator will lose his or her marbles so I can use this plot idea after all. Tatsumi: Don't want to know. Sasahara: Now that Tatsumi-sensei's calm, I'll ask this guy: [Dr. Shouji, why are you assuming that form?] KP: To put it simply, it was a mistake made while experimenting with alien cells. His body became infected with shoggoth material, and now it's like this. Mutsumi: You tell all kinds of ghastly tales with a light style, as if they were mere trifles. Sasahara: So he was investigating shoggoths? KP: You try to talk to the transformed doctor. Suddenly, Jougasaki-sensei, who had been quiet all this time, begins to emit a noise. [Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!] That in turn brings a terrible pounding from behind the metal door - perhaps the work of the transformed camper. Mutsumi: Was that a way to attract them? Sayaka: [Doctor, we need your help! Jougasaki-sensei was bitten by a Malevolent Mushroom Man! Isn't there anything we can do to save him?] KP: [Hmmph. There's no known medicine that'll control the cells.] He fiddles with an IV needle in his arm. You notice that there's a baleful, phosphorescent liquid inside the tube connected to it. As a matter of fact, you realize that there are IV bags, tubes, and needles set up with that same glowing green liquid. Mutsumi: Shoggoth cells, Anti-shoggoth medicine, everything's coming up shoggoth. Sasahara: [What kind of effect does that medicine have?] KP: (as Shouji) [This creation allows me to control Shoggoth material. The reason why I can retain my human intellect is because of this medicine.] Sasahara: [Do you think we could use it to heal the infected person trapped behind the building door?] KP: (as Shouji) [Well, I'm sorry to tell you this, but from what I've heard so far, I don't think there's a way to help him.] Notes: A few ccs of the strange liquid was all it took to restore Jougasaki-sensei to normal, or at least as close as he can be to that state. It seemed that people whose symptoms had not advanced much could be cured. The group pondered what to do with the poor contaminated souls that could not be saved, and eventually decided to burn them to ash with gasoline. Mutsumi: But the runoff from this has already polluted the rainbow trout and the local mushrooms. Won't it be impossible for us to contain this? Sasahara: And here's something worse: the trout may have swum downstream, in which case they could have been caught and eaten by someone else. O Yog-Sothoth-sama, please rewind time for us! (lol) Sayaka: I just had an idea. What if we yelled [Tekeli-li] to summon the other creatures? KP: (as Shouji) [That's not bad. I've learned that shoggoth cells respond to others of their kind from my own research.] Tatsumi: Oh, is that so? (lol) Mutsumi: It seems like the Keeper really wants this to feel like a B-movie. Even the dialogue matches that theme really well. Tatsumi: So what's the plan? Call out [Tekeli-li], trap all the things in one place, and burn them up? Sasahara: Let's get Jougasaki-sensei to yell out [Tekeli-li] for us. Sayaka: But he was cured. Mutsumi: But we have another sound source: Dr. Gosuke. KP: (as Shouji) [That might work. But to do it, I'd have to disconnect myself from the Shoggoth cell control IV drip.] Sayaka: [But what will happen to you if you do that?] KP: (as Shouji) [I'll lose myself entirely. My consciousness as a human will be gone forever.] Sayaka: [Oh no . . . ] He'll be giving up his humanity. KP: (as Shouji) [But maybe that's all right. I might have been waiting for this. You showed me the consequences of my folly and warned me about what was happening. I'm very grateful.] Sayaka: He's making some very good, cool statements here. Sasahara: However, all of this is his fault. (lol) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The Scientist and Compensation

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: The Investigators outlined their Shoggoth Screen Strategy. They split into different groups, with Strike Team A moving towards the battlefield. Mutsumi: I have a good rank in (Mechanical Repair). Maybe I could get the doctor to yell [Tekeli-li] over loudspeakers. We might be able to modify one of the tanks to do the job. KP: A (Mechanical Repair) roll will fit that task nicely. Sasahara: Now I think I know what we needed the waterguns for. We'll load them up with Shoggoth control fluid. KP: Now for some rules explaining how this will work. To herd an infected, you'll need to roll Dodge after drawing near it. If you succeed, you can use the (Water Shoot) skill to counter and nail it with the medicine the gun is carrying. These chemicals will cause a Malevolent Mushroom Man to take 2D6 points in damage. The tanks on these waterguns aren't bottomless. You have enough "ammo" for four shots. Make them count. Protect each other on the battlefield. OST: [1] Tatsumi: Will we be able to soak the damage? This is an intense conclusion. Mutsumi: Could we increase the tank capacity on these waterguns to increase our damage output? KP: Hmm. If you succeed in a (Mech. Repair) task, you could up the damage they cause to 3D6. Mutsumi: Fantastic. Everyone, loan me your waterguns! I have some modding to do! Sasahara: Someone just got upgraded to gadgeteer. (lol) Mutsumi: I also did pretty well in the previous scenario. In fact, I was starting to forget I was in the visual arts club at school (lol). Sayaka: I have better rankings in (Kick) than I do in (Water Shoot). What if I soaked my socks in this drug and then kicked the bad guys? KP: No ma'am. That's a bad plan and it won't work. Sayaka: Hoeeeh? But I've got knee socks. Couldn't that soak up enough to do damage? KP: If kneesocks are involved, maybe I'll give in. Sayaka: That's right! That's how it has to be! (â™ª) Sasahara: No matter what we say, kneesocks are the winner. They're invincible. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Scenario Key Items Hello, this is Mu-tan again. My favorite police drama is the Seibu Keisatsu. Shoggoths featured rather heavily this time around. As they are a powerful threat, Investigators with no aces up their sleeves should run away. However, for us to do that would not make for a good story. Heroes do stuff. They aren't passive. That said, I can't think of anything we can do to flat out annihilate a shoggoth. If you're a Keeper and your group finds itself in that spot, maybe you could improvise a Key Item. In B-movies, towards the second half of the film some previously unrevealed weakness of the monster is discovered. This lets the previously outclassed protagonists to mount an offensive during the exciting climax of the film. Other things that might work for unexpected weaknesses of a monster include ultraviolent waves, radio waves, over the counter medication, etc. It has to be an expected thing. The thought of these things existing in a cosmic horror TRPG like this one should make players' hearts swell. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tatsumi: So let's split into teams. Sasahara with his high skill in (Water Shoot) and Sayaka with her sopping wet (Kick) attacks will herd the pseudo-shoggoths over here. Mutsumi and I will handle setting up this area to confine and burn them.

Sayaka: Roger roger. Sasahara: Okay, I'm opening the door! KP: You open the door and find two of the former campers waiting for you - the topknot guy and the trashy girl that was with them. While he was badly burned before, it looks like he's grown new skin to heal himself. Tatsumi: Shoggoths can regenerate. KP: You are looking at two Malevolent Mushroom Men. Roll against your (Sanity). Sayaka: Hmm, Tatsumi-sensei and I are already accustomed to this (lol). Sasahara: (rolls dice) I missed! (rolls a die) I'm down two points. I have 56 points remaining. I guess by now I'd be accustomed to these things as well. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I made it! I lost one point of SAN. I have 47 points left. I'm probably used to these things by now. Tatsumi: It's amazing to see you guys no-sell these mental shocks. I lost 10 points from these awful things. Mutsumi: The total came out to nine points. They are still very scary. Sasahara: A thing that can still be scary . . . it's a strange feeling. KP: The creatures move to attack you. The woman yells how tasty she is. The twisted man ambles towards you in a jerky fashion like a malformed Silent Hill creature. Mutsumi: They're aiming for Tama-nii! (lol) Sasahara: I run backwards like an American football player. I have a DEX of 18 so this should work. I yell at the girl, [You fool! As if you could catch me!] Sayaka: I'll draw the ponytailed punk. [Come on! It's time for you to know the power of kneesocks!] (lol) KP: It'll take them three rounds to get the gasoline and propane tanks ready. You'll have to keep these creatures' attention until then. Sayaka: Then we'll focus on evading and countering with the control fluid. Note: Thus was the rule for counters in effect. An irregular battle against the Malevolent Mushroom Men soon began. These creatures had lost their humanity, and the punk attacking Sayaka swung at her twice in one round. The chemical attacks allowed the Investigators to reduce as much as 3D6 damage per strike. The former man with the ponytail didn't fail, and though Sasahara had boasted of his DEX score, he was still trying to dodge the woman's advances. Sasahara: [Ha ha ha! Come on, try to get me!] KP: Impudent whelp . . . can't let him get to me. Oh, here we go. One of them decides to fling the camping stove they've been dragging about. If it hits and explodes, you'll be engulfed in an area of effect attack. You won't be able to reduce the damage either. Sasahara: Whaaa-!? KP: Her (Throw) attack is only 25%, but she has strong love for you, Sasahara. [Come on and accept my delicious tasty looooooooove!] (rolls dice) Got it! Sayaka: She just confessed to you, Sasahara. What are you going to do? (lol) Sasahara: I'll just avoid the attack with a (Dodge) roll. (rolls dice) Easily done, and I move out of the way with grace and style. Mutsumi x Sayaka x Tatsumi: (applause) Sasahara: [Ha ha ha! Your love will never reach me!] Notes: Aware of their respective gifts, the Investigators fought with perfect tactics. They were able to buy the required three rounds of time. The players had kept track of the data for the NPCs and even come up with a countermeasure using these NPCs in case their own strategy had ended in failure. Experienced players like these are frightening. Tatsumi: (wipes sweat away) [Everything's ready on our end. Dr. Shouji, it's up to you now.] I say as I get ready to bear witness to his end. KP: (as Shouji) [Dr. Tatsumi, please listen. The truth of human life is profoundly complex. I was presumptuous and foolish.] Tatsumi: [The way you went about doing your research was wrong. That's all.] KP: [Is that all? I caused an enormous amount of trouble for everyone. And I'll die before I can ever make amends for what I've done.] He says as he takes out the intravenous needles. Tatsumi: I'll take my leave before he loses his human form, and rejoin Mutsumi-kun and the others. KP: As you leave the lab, a terrible ululation begins. [Tekeli-li. Tekeli-li.] It soon becomes a grisly, dizzying chorus, with the other singers headed towards the lab. Sayaka: [Tatsumi-sensei, you did it!] Mutsumi: [Now we'll get all the shoggoths in the room with the gasoline and set them alight.] KP: By the way. Sasahara: Oh no, what on earth is it now? OST: [1] KP: You hear an echo of the doctor's song coming from far away as a landslide begins, knocking down trees. A dark cloud of earth rises up into the air. The storm begins moving to where you are, swallowing trees whole. Is it an avalanche? A tsunami? No, it is neither one. But it is a gigantic thing that is sucking everything into itself. There's no doubt that this is a mass of shoggoth tissue the mad doctor cultivated. You can see the wall of quivering, oozey flesh that squirms and reflects like the light like chittering swarms of beetles. Many of its unwholesome mouths bleat [Tekeli-li, Tekeli-li] as it rushes towards you. Mutsumi: [N-no way! The mountain we are standing on is a shoggoth!] Sasahara: [What kind of place did we choose for our campsite!?] Tatsumi: Still, to use a real shoggoth, I have to wonder if our Keeper is crazy. KP: Before you start worrying about my sanity, worry about your SAN. It's time for the day's big Sanity test. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Made it! Sasahara: (rolls dice) I'm okay. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Okay then. Tatsumi: Dang it . . . (rolls dice) ! As expected, I failed again! Somebody do something! KP: Well, if you make your roll, you lose 1D6 SAN. Failed rolls incur a loss of 1D20 SAN. Mutsumi: Ouch, here we go (rolls a die). I lost four points, and I have 43 SAN left in reserve. Sasahara: (rolls a die) 6 points gone! I'll fall into insanity for an hour if I make my Idea roll! (rolls dice) Which I didn't. I'm dumb, so I don't understand anything (lol). Tatsumi: I only have 24 Sanity points. If I roll badly, I'll have to retire. Mutsumi: I believe in you, sir. You can dot his. Sayaka: If you roll a 1, you'll be all right! Tatsumi: That's right. Here we go (rolls a die). 4! (Everyone cheers in relief.) Tatsumi: I somehow made it past that. I have 20 Sanity points remaining. KP: Nobody fell into madness at the end. Tatsumi: That's not entirely true. Jougasaki-sensei lost 11 points, and he only has five points of Sanity left. Mutsumi: He's in the single digits. He won't be able to return to society. KP: He'll fall into Indefinite Insanity. The good news is that he now has Panzaism, which will cause him to perceive the most extraordinary things as ordinary and rational. As a result, he isn't aware of what's unfolding in front of him and is going through things with a slow, relaxed pace. Tatsumi: In some ways that's a blessing. We might be better off not healing his broken mind. (lol) Sasahara: Save that for later! We have to run away first! KP: Bad news - you've got shoggoths racing towards you from all sides. You have no paths left on which you can escape. Sayaka: Can we use the control fluid to do something? KP: Try an (Idea) test. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I got it! KP: Well done. You remember how the mutated camper reacted to hits from the control fluid. Extrapolating from that, you think you know how a shoggoth will move once it's exposed to the chemicals. Sayaka: I gather the remaining liquid and use it to blast through an escape path for us. Tatsumi: This is crazy, but judging from how the Keeper is smiling sardonically, it might be the right C.O.A. KP: I wonder. Sayaka: [No hesitating now! Chika-pon, stay next to me! Don't get seperated!] Sasahara: I get next to Mu-tan and Tasuku and prepare to rush forward. Mutsumi: [Tasuku, hold onto onee-chan and don't let go.] KP: The kid looks up at you and says [Sayaka-chan, onee-chan, I'll protect you with my Giga Breaker.] It's as if he's revitalizing his own reserves. Jougasaki-sensei stares at the shoggoth mass and asks about what kind of strange wall it is. He has no sense of tension at all (lol). Tatsumi: [Jougasaki-sensei! That doesn't matter. Come over here!] I say as I demand he that he gets over here. KP: Looks like I need to walk you through the Shoggoth Breakthrough Rules. Whoever wants to try should first succeed in a (Water Shoot) test. Shoggoth tissue seems to instinctively avoid it. If you time things right, you should be able to pass through. Sasahara: Isn't (Water Shoot) a skill that everyone has by default? KP: True, but this can only be attempted a limited amount of times. Sasahara: I only used the skill one time, but I know someone who uses it often. Tasuku. Tatsumi: I and Tasuku-kun both have the skill. Should everyone try? If we do it that way, one of us will probably succeed. KP: And when the passage opens, you'll need a DEX x 5 roll to get through. If you fail, the flesh will close around you. Mutsumi: You'll be 187'd! Sasahara: So what are we looking at? 4D6 in damage? Tatsumi: (thinking) Nope, this is a full-sized shoggoth. You're looking at 8D6. Sasahara: Ich! KP: Some damage will be reduced by the fluid, and it may be possible to rescue trapped Investigators using your skill. However, even after breaking free, the trapped Investigator will still need to make another DEX x 5 roll to clear the obstacle. Tatsumi: I think I get it. In any case, the DEX x 5 roll is the most important rule. KP: And I'm going to let you roll for Tasuku, Chikapon, and Jougasaki-sensei. That way, if they die it'll be the fault of the person who rolled the dice. Those who are close to Chikapon and Tasuku will even have to make a Sanity roll if they die (laughs). Sasahara: Who wants to use (Water Shoot) to open a passage? Tatsumi: We all have the skill on our sheets. Mutsumi: Won't we waste the fluid? Sayaka: No, if we get a bad result we all die. It's better if we attack with full force. Tatsumi: Sayaka-chan is correct. We can't think about what'll happen next. We don't have time. Sasahara: Then let's shoot. Here's my (Water Shoot) roll. (rolls dice) I made it. (Everyone oohs and ahhs). Mutsumi: That's so like you, Tama-nii. You've mastered the art Tasuku taught you. As a result, you've made things for everyone else. Sasahara: Now Tasuku has to make his roll to blast a way through. (rolls dice) Oh, that's not good. Of all the things, I just rolled 00. (Everyone groans or gasps in horror.) KP: 00, or 100, is the worst possible result. His equipment breaks down. Mutsumi: One of our needed Water Shoot tests just went up in smoke. Sasahara: Even though you've got 61% in (Water Shoot), you do this! Tasuku, you fool! Tatsumi: But the one who rolled that is you,! (lol) Sayaka: Enough, the way is open! Let's go! KP: (DEX x5) rolls, if you please. OST: [1] Sayaka: I'll roll for Chikapon and myself. (rolls dice twice) We both made it! Sasahara: I think I'll be okay. And so will Tasuku. (rolls dice twice) We're in the clear! Mutsumi: My DEX is not that impressive. (rolls dice) I managed to go through. KP: The ones in trouble will be Tatsumi-sensei's group, I think. The good professor himself has a DEX of 10. Tatsumi: Compared to the brutal Sanity rolls I've had to go through, this will be a piece of cake. I have a 50% chance. (rolls dice) I made it! Next up is Jougasaki-sensei. (rolls dice) Oooh, I failed! KP: Still, that wasn't bad. Fitting for a party that had high DEX scores. Sayaka: I want to save Jougasaki-sensei with a kneesocks kick! KP: (I'm impressed by her determination!) Jougasaki-sensei comes to his senses as the flesh wall wraps around him. [Sayaka-kun, this is dangerous! I'll be all right so go on back to the group!] is what he says while refusing your help. Sayaka: Nooo! I don't want to lose Jougasaki-sensei after we've come so far! Sasahara: If only Tasuku-kun, who has ratings in both DEX and (Water Shoot), could have protected him. KP: And I put Tasuku in the game just so he could do things like that, but then someone rolled a fumble and broke his watergun. Sasahara: [Tasuku-kun, run away for now. We'll follow later.] KP: What is Chika going to do? Sayaka-chan, you've been handling her dice rolls. I leave her decision to you. Sayaka: She's got an DEX of 17. I'll have her accompany me. [Chikapon, summon your courage! Let's save Jougasaki-sensei!] KP: She goes with you. She's been through many ordeals as a result of this camping trip and has overcome them all. As a result, her spirit and mind are strong. Sayaka: [Thank you, Chikapon!] Tatsumi: Mutsumi-kun and I should hang back. Neither of us has an impressive DEX score. It'd be bad if either of us rolls and fails. KP: Probably for the best. Sasahara: I'll loosen the thing's hold with a blast. (Water Shoot) kicking in . . . (rolls dice) and it's good! Mutsumi: You're a sharpshooter! Sayaka: Chika-pon will try as well. (Water Shoot) (rolls dice) and it's no good! Tatsumi: Once the shoggoth begins crushing/digesting/tearing him apart, it's all over. They do 8D6 damage every round. If your next kneesock kick fails, he'll die. Sayaka: Don't worry. I have confidence in my kick. (rolls dice) I failed!? Sasahara: Oh wait, I'll only be reducing the shoggoth's damage by 3D6 with my hit. That leaves 5D6 for him to soak. Sayaka: I can't believe I failed with my attack! I'm tearing up with disappointment! KP: Oh, and you were right, Tatsumi-sensei. The shoggoth's crushing/tearing attack is going to cause 8D6 in damage. Tatsumi: Yuuup. KP: It's been a while since I rolled this many dice in damage. Rip and tear your guts, rip and tear. (clack, clack, roll) Okay, he just takes 29 points of damage. Sayaka: I've never heard anyone take that much damage before. Sasahara: So if the 3D6 reduction was 18, he'd have 1 Hit Point remaining. KP: You can't give up! Even if it is statistically unlikely you'll roll 18 on 3D6. I am impressed with the strength of your convictions. Sasahara: I have to do this, and we need that result. (rolls dice) And I got a 10. Not good enough! KP: So Jougasaki-sensei takes 19 points of damage. Sayaka: [Jougasaki-senseeeiiiiiiiiii!] KP: It's not over yet! All of those who tried to help Jougasaki-sensei must make a DEX x5 roll. Sayaka: First, Chikapon (rolls dice). And she easily dodges out of the way. I'm up next (rolls dice). I failed!? Sasahara: Oh, that's not good. Tatsumi: Should I help out? KP: No, if Sayaka-chan makes a mistake, she can take care of it herself. Sayaka: How so? KP: As the thing lurches toward you, it hears something else yell [Tekeli-li!] and hestitates. Sayaka: [W-Whose voice is this?] KP: It's Jougasaki-sensei's voice! It's as if he's trying to hold the wall of flesh back from you.

Sayaka: [Jougasaki-sensei, stop! This can not be done!] KP: He turns to look at you - and though he's hurt badly, his voice is as strong as ever. [Now . . . get away from here!] Sasahara: Even though that thing is absorbing him, he's still fighting it for Sayaka-chan's sake. Sayaka: [I - I'm so sorry, Sensei!] KP: [N- no, it's all right. No need to w-worry.] Sayaka: I might have saved him if I had kicked correctly. KP: (as Jougasaki) [S-sayaka-kun, look after Chika-kun for me. T-tell her to not be afraid! Tell her to live her life!] Sayaka: [Tatsumi-sensei!] Sasahara: That irresponsible guy ended up having a cool moment at the end. KP: Probably shouldn't be saying this now, but I had rules for determining what would happen if your DNPCs didn't make it through the flesh wall, and how you'd rescue them. The only one who absolutely couldn't be saved no matter what was Jougasaki-sensei. I bet things would have been better without this going on behind the scenes. Sayaka: I dash out of there, but I'm going to remember what he said. KP: Chika, who was worried about you, grabs on and hugs you when you get back. [Sayaka-chan, I'm so glad you're okay!] Sayaka: [Chikapon . . . Jougasaki-sensei, Jougasaki-sensei is . . .] KP: [I understand, Sayaka-chan.] is what she says as she kindly pats you on the head. Mutsumi: You're coming up with some good images to wrap everything up. KP: I intentionally gave him low SAN and DEX to use him as a sacrifice. Sasahara: How cruel! Make up a better scene on the spot! (lol) Sayaka: [Jougasaki-sensei, Chikapon is all right now. You don't have to worry anymore.] I say that with teary eyes to the sky, where he's become a star. Tatsumi: I set up the gasoline here so that Sayaka-chan could make her escape, but now I don't feel like lighting it. Mutsumi: Nope, you gotta follow through. I light the gasoline. KP: The gasoline that you set up in advice catches fire, engulfing the laboratory and the shoggoth mass. With the propane tank also in place there, the place soon goes up in a big explosion. Sasahara: Everything burned up! KP: The shoggoth mass tries to escape from the burning flames, but as it moves away many shapes of suffering animals appear on its surface. Rats. Rainbow trout. The mushrooms, and the rude campgoers you encountered earlier. All the things it absorbed have risen to become a roiling chaos. Finally, a man's face forms and begins sucking up the rest of the mass through its mouth. Tatsumi: A man? KP: Yes, it's Dr. Shouji. He was still filled with regret while his body became that of a shoggoth, so the final element of his will continued to exist. He just fought the shoggoth from within. (A deep silence comes over the group.) KP: And Tatsumi-sensei. How are you going to make up for this? Tatsumi: [I - I don't know what to say.] I'll try to deal with this by looking weak. KP: Before your eyes, the black and glistening shoggoth burns, taking on the color of a lit cigar. Mutsumi: It seems like everything's wrapping up and we have to wait for the conclusion. KP: Time passes and the sun rises, making all of this seem like a bad dream. Sayaka: The conclusion's finally here. Mutsumi: Chikapon went through that ordeal as a result of coming here with us. I feel terrible about that. Sasahara: Indeed. She should stay away from places where there are Investigators. KP: But on the other hand, she's much stronger now than she used to be. It's kind of like how an oyster can make a pearl. Tatsumi: I could stand getting a SAN pearl about now. KP: Time for some rewards. Stopping shoggoth material from spreading around the camp area will get you 1D20 SAN. Those who had support characters and kept them alive also get an additional 1D3 SAN as a bonus. Had Jougasaki-sensei lived, you would have gotten an additional 1D6 SAN as a special reward. Sasahara: That sounds nice. Could we roll 2D10 instead of 1D20? KP: No. If you're going to ask for dumb things, you can just hurry up and hit zero SAN. --== The Results of the SAN recovery ==-- Sayaka got back 10 points, leaving her with 64 points in reserve, a total SAN loss of 3 points. Tatsumi-sensei got back 7 points, leaving him with 25 points, a net loss of 14 points. Sasahara got back 2 points, leaving him with 52 points, a net loss of 10 points. Mutsumi got back 15 points, leaving her with 58 points, which meant she neither lost nor gained points. Sasahara: How could I get only two points from those die rolls!? KP: Even I feel bad about that. Tatsumi: And I only got back 7 points. KP: You're really unlucky with dice rolls. Could it be the Curse of Miyako? (lol) Mutsumi: I didn't lose anything because I kept most of my SAN. (heh heh) Sayaka: Normally I do okay, but this time I lost a bit. KP: Indeed! This second season really showed the difference. Mutsumi: Tama-nii was in a bad spot as well. This really was a turning point for us. We've become SAN roll losers. Tatsumi: I just thought of something. The next episode is the final part of this story - and since it's the final one, I bet we'll see something truly awful. I'm not sure if my nerves can take it. My (Cthulhu Mythos) score is already 21%! Mutsumi: Amazing. You have a higher (Cthulhu Mythos) score than Henry Armitage!

Tatsumi: Now that I hear that, I feel a little better about the situation. KP: Oh crap! Dang it! Sayaka: What is it? KP: I forgot to have you all make (Sanity) tests when Jougasaki died! Sayaka: That's all right. I will remember his courage forever. It's fine. KP: Hmm. I'll let you all off the hook as a little bonus. (Everyone hmms.) KP: Well everyone, look forward to the next exciting incident at Mitsukado Gakuen! Sayaka x Mutsumi x Sasahara: Otsukaresama. Tatsumi: I'm so tired.

Conclusion of Scenario Two, Consultation with Miyako-chan OST: [1] Notes: The following day I asked Mutsumi-chan's player to meet me at a coffee house with the intention of hearing impressions of our latest game. Mutsumi: The scenario we played through this time definitely was like a B-Movie. KP: This one was patterned after one of my favorites, Return of the Living Dead". How was it? Mutsumi: I'm embarrassed to say that I had no idea what to make of it until halfway through the scenario. Once I realized it was supposed to be B-horror, things quickly fell into place. KP: I wondered whether to say [This time we're doing a B-movie] when we started playing. Mutsumi: So why didn't you? KP: The mushroom folks, the scary story at the research lab, are all things that I tried to present with good stage direction. The second half of the scenario is your standard, silly B-movie setup. Mutsumi: It might have gone better if you had come out and told us that it was a B-movie at the beginning. The glowing green liquid that the doctor used to control shoggoths cemented the work as a B-movie. KP: But what about the appearance of the Malevolent Mushroom Men? That was both grotesque and funny at the same time. Mutsumi: After inflicting that much damage to our Sanity, you don't have to laugh. KP: Oh, is that right? Ha ha ha ha ha. Mutsumi: It's no laughing matter! KP: I should have said something at the beginning. It's not good if I keep throwing underhand. Mutsumi: It'd be better for us and for you. We wouldn't end up looking at things from the wrong perspective. KP: But if I had tried to make things too funny at the very beginning, there was a risk your group would give up and return to the camp site. Mutsumi: That wouldn't happen in B-horror, but in a more realistic one, if the camp site is safer, there's no reason why we wouldn't flee to it. KP: Is that the case? Mutsumi: So you need to do something to keep us at the camp site, like an investigation or a move that takes away our chance to escape. KP: This time, compared to some of our sessions of the past, a careful examination wasn't necessary. Mutsumi: If you don't give us enough chances to investigate, we'll come to the wrong conclusion and fail the scenario. KP: And when Sasahara was out shopping, you guys were investigating to the true limit of your ability. Mutsumi: But because it was a B-movie horror scenario, we didn't need to investigate. That's the kind of defiant attitude I feel right now. KP: If you'd spent more time investigating the causes behind the case, I would have needed to throw more shocking events your way. Mutsumi: If we don't get the Keeper's basis, then a lot of the work stalls, leaving us stuck in the mud. KP: Hmm. I'll reflect deeply on that. Mutsumi: And as usual, too much Sanity was lost this scenario. KP: Both Dr. Shouji and the Malevolent Mushroom Men caused the same kind of Sanity losses. That should have represented your getting used to the horror of the woods. Adding more Sanity rolls on top of those would have been excessive. Mutsumi: Yes, and Tatsumi-sensei's Sanity points are gradually being shaved off. KP: And then on top of that, a full-sized shoggoth appeared. What a bad spot for him, ha ha ha. Mutsumi: But this isn't a laughing matter! Tatsumi-sensei won't be bringing in many Sanity points into the next scenario. KP: This is a matter for Tatsumi-sensei to deal with using his strength as a human being. And now one thing I regret is not more strongly entangling Tasuku-kun or Chikapon to the development of the scenario. Mutsumi: I have to agree. As NPCs, they really didn't do much. KP: Chika's trauma, Tasuku's curiousity, or Jougasaki's hot-blooded instruction - they were all a bunch of troublemakers. But they didn't really do much to change the flow of the story. Mutsumi: You could have used them as victims for the Malevolent Mushroom Men to infect. KP: If I'd added more chase scenes, you would have come to hate the NPCs. Mutsumi: They were a burden and didn't help out. As a result, the other players got tired of them. KP: Maintaining balance like this is difficulty. Although this kind of behind the scenes stuff is interesting for Keepers, the players who experience it may find it bothersome. Mutsumi: There's a difference between what's experienced by players and Keepers. KP: And we have to take that into consideration and carefully adjust it. Mutsumi: And then our play style has to adjust as well. Had we known that this was supposed to be a B-movie, we would have been more tolerant of Jougasaki's odd behavior. KP: Indeed, when Jougasaki tried something both Tatsumi and Sasahara shot him down right away. Mutsumi: He was an annoying teacher, but his death got all of us pretty pumped. KP: His timing was good (lol). Mutsumi: Even so, if Sayaka's (Kick) attack had worked, she might have saved him. I feel bad for her player. KP: Her player is weak against events where Sayaka's mistakes harm other people. Mutsumi: She tries so hard to save other people - this was quite odd. I might hesitate and then launch a daring attack. KP: A death caused by recklessness is boring. A death caused by bad decisions is much better. This was outside of my calculations, but it's nice that she was true to her feelings. Mutsumi: It's not so much that your calculations are working, but that our skills as Investigators is working. KP: And for the most part, your dice rolls have been okay. Mutsumi: Due to that, the shock we experienced when bad dice rolls killed Jougasaki-sensei was greater. KP: I feel lucky as a Keeper if the sacrifice of one NPC inspires such emotions. Mutsumi: Speaking of which, what was Kleine Biotics? KP: That is a secret. Or rather, it'll be important in the future, so I can't give you information about it. Mutsumi: Ah, I see. KP: I've provided the name. Now Mutsumi-chan needs to find out more with an (Accounting) skill test. If she does, maybe something else will appear. Mutsumi: Some of their corporate research involved shoggoths. It's hard not to view them with suspicion. KP: They really are suspicious (laughs). Mutsumi: So in the next scenario we'll encounter Klein Biotics, and something big will happen? KP: No, the next one will be a perfectly cromulent school adventure. Mutsumi: We started in tsuyuu and then went into summer break. I guess that means the next time period is Autumn, right? OST: [1] KP: No, we're going forward in time faster. The next one takes place on Christmas Eve. This next game won't take place over a couple of days, but rather a series of months, in which you'll enjoy your life at the school. Mutsumi: A laid back school life. That sounds nice. Notes: The image of the third scenario crystallized within me. This is the concluding scenario of the second season. I'll scale back the grotesque and the blood instead focusing on a story that will inspire tears. One okay to use for an ending. I'll also use juvenile academy science fiction for inspiration. Maybe there are some people who don't understand what I'm talking about right now. I mean things like Nazo no Tenkousei or Nerawareta Gakuen . That's about right - oh, but those are very old. Perhaps Toki o Kakeru Shoujo, which got an anime adaptation, or Rokubanme no Sayoko, which got a TV drama adaptation, will make you understand it better. The idea of students getting drawn into a case at their school is certainly compatible with the Cthulhu TRPG, in which ordinary people become Investigators and look into the mysteries of the Cthulhu Mythos. In addition, the Cthulhu Mythos is full of science fiction elements. So with all of that in mind, this next scenario's theme will be more science fiction than horror. The hard part will be fitting in Sanity points into this mix. However, in our last scenario the group suffered some heavy Sanity losses. Maybe I can make things a little easier for them this time. Now personally I love to ask for lots of rolls against Sanity, but their stock is being chiseled away, and it's getting easier for them to fall into madness. That won't match what I'm trying to do with this one. Okay, for this juvenile SF story, we need a transfer student. His true identity will be a big point of the story. Wait a moment. In a certain way, Sayaka-chan is a mysterious transfer student. Well in that case, maybe she could show up dramatically to - nah, that won't work. It won't work if I set things up that way. Not only that, but here's where we have a showdown. So let's go with something simple for the next game's main idea. I wonder if I can pick up something from one of the Cthulhu TRPG supplements? I'd be glad if someone recognized this thing I'm going to use from playing through the Cthulhu TRPG. But will the players recognize this reference? ========================= Scenario III [The Secret of the Transfer Student] ========================= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Their Second Christmas Party

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: It's time for us to begin the third scenario of this, our second season. But before we begin, I ought to give you some advice. Sasahara: What's going on? KP: Up until now, I've run brutal scenarios that eroded your Sanity points. This one is going to be mild compared to those. So instead of chiseling away at your SAN and causing you to become gibbering lunatics, we're going to have a nice, quiet mystery instead. I'd like you to keep that in mind as you play. Sayaka: I'm glad to hear that. But why did you want to take the trouble of telling us this bit of advice? KP: Because up till now you've been in one bad situation after another. I get the feeling that you're tense, as if there's no margin for error. I think if you tackle this scenario with those expectations, things won't work out. Sasahara: I have gotten covered in blood a lot recently. Mutsumi: Jougasaki-sensei got 187'd, but he could never make a Sanity roll (lol). KP: But if this is cosmic horror, then it's only natural for us to suffer as Investigators and eventually meet a dismal end. And for this next scenario you'll be playing the same characters. I won't ask you to play as characters you don't know. If you take your time and relax, nothing bad will happen to the rest of the world. This time. Mutsumi: Then I'll forget about the concept of the game at first and focus on enjoying my campus life. Sayaka: Roger that. KP: Enough of the preamble. Let's have you roll some Experience Checks and see how you improve. As a result, Sasahara's (History) skill went from 89 percent to 99 percent. Sayaka's (Spot Hidden) increased from 81 percent to 90 percent. As a result of mastering these skills, each earned 2D6 SAN in reward. However, each player rolled a different result. If I say that Sasahara rolled a 3, you get a sense for what kind of dice luck he has. I suppose if you were a crafty player, you might set your specialization skills around 88 percent to capitalize upon the chance of getting 2D6 bonus Sanity points. KP: Okay, now it's time for Intermission Experience. You'll get five experience checks to put in any skills you like. Mutsumi: Keeper, what skills will be useful now? KP: Start off with (Mechanical Repair). That one is vital. After that, choose (Persuade), (Move Quietly), and (Hide). Those quintessential Investigator skills will come in very handy. After that, adding (Occult) and (Histroy) will be suitable. Mutsumi: But I already have (Mechanical Repair) and Tama-nii already is good at (History) and (Occult). Sasahara: You can leave those last two to me. I weigh in at 99% for (History) and 92% for (Occult). Mutsumi: That's pretty amazing. I bet you're the best occult researcher in all of Japan with those. KP: He would be if someone noticed those skills. Right now he's still a college student. Sashara: Of course! I was even honored with the position of special lecturer by this fine academy. KP: The principal of the school was even gloating that he'd gotten to meet you and Tatsumi-sensei. Sashara: Ha ha ha, Mu-tan. Have you rethought your views of me? Tatsumi: I had to go into mental care after I started to believe that my skin was being invaded by worms. KP: Right, and that means you won't be getting these delicious experience checks. But as a consolation prize, your delusion will be cured and you'll regain 1D3 Sanity points in the process. Tatsumi: (rolls a die) 2 points. I now have 29 points in the bank. But will I be all right with only those? Mutsumi: I'll have my character working on broken equipment around the school with one of the teachers. KP: Then you'll end up working on one antique clock that the school is holding on to. Mutsumi: I might end up being better at (Mechanical Repair) than my (Art) skill. Which means I might end up repairing machines rather than doing art (lol). Sayaka: I'm a high school detective. I'll take skills that fit what an Investigator is supposed to be. Sasahara: I ought to put points into (Psychoanalysis) for Tatsumi-sensei's sake. Sayaka: He's a delicate sort. (Psychoanalysis) would be useful. KP: Okay, if you're all done seeing how your characters improved, we'll get started. This one opens on Christmas Eve. OST: [1] Mutsumi: Summer changed back into winter! Sayaka: Last time a monster showed up to attack me at R'lyeh Company. This year I want to invite everyone to a party. Sasahara: Oh yes, I remember that. You were in your next to last year in high school (laughs) KP: If you understand that Yog-Sothoth pulled you through time, I'll count that as bearing witness to Yog-Sothoth. That's a D100 Sanity loss. Sayaka: Not last year. The last time we had a Christmas party! KP: Miyako will be attending the party. Sayaka: We ought to have a turkey dinner for this. Speaking of which, wasn't Miyako our chef? Mutsumi: Her (Cooking) skill is 25%, and she's never succeeded once with it. KP: If you ask her, she'll try to prepare one. (rolls dice) And she failed. Mutsumi: That gorgeous turkey became a black bit of charcoal! KP: (As Miyako) [Don't worry about it. The center is juicy and tender. The outside is crunchy, like a Peking duck.] Sayaka: [Miyako-san, that's not a duck.] KP: After the dinner comes the present exchange. Did you all bring one? Mutsumi: Are we doing that? KP: Let's see what you get each other. I'll leave it up to you to demonstrate what kind of sense your characters have. Sasahara: Please let us know about these kinds of things in advance. Sayaka: We have a mixed gender group with varying ages. It'll be hard to find something that'll make everyone happy. I'll just go with a gold standard - a muffler. Tatsumi: I'll use my (Other Language: English) skill to pick a simple book that everyone will enjoy. How about something like Peter Pan or Alice in Wonderland? Sasahara: I get a good quality music player and load it up with fun music. Mutsumi: I don't have that much for my allowance . . . I'll get a portrait frame. Sayaka: That's the kind of gift you see in a drunk's joke. KP: Now that we have the gifts, let's see who gets what with some random dice throws. Sayaka: I'll pray that Miyako-san receives Tatsumi-sensei's present (lol). Notes: The dice clacked and landed. Miyako got Sayaka's muffler. Tatsumi-sensei's Western fairy tale went to Sasahara. Sayaka ended up with Sasahara's music player. Mutsumi's present went to Tatsumi. Mutsumi received Miyako's present. Sasahara: I received Tatsumi-sensei's gift. I'm gonna get 187'd by Miyako (lol). KP: Miyako's gift was a complete translation of The Golden Bough. If you take the time to read that, you'll earn 5 percentiles of (Occult). Sasahara: Luckyyyyyy. I wonder if that present was aimed at me. Mutsumi: I'm interested in Anthropology, so this isn't a bad deal. KP: Was the muffler you gave one that you made yourself? Sayaka: I'm afraid not. It was something I bought at a department store. (lol) KP: Well, you need to roll (Idea) to choose a design that'll please the person who gets it. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I barely made that. KP: She seems to really like it, and immediately wraps it around herself. She looks at Tatsumi as if she is expecting something. Tatsumi: [Oh. Yes, that is a very nice muffler.] Sayaka: [That's not what you should be praising.] (lol) Tatsumi: [Whatever do you mean?] Sasahara: How long with this lukewarm love comedy last? Mutsumi: I try to draw a picture of Tatsumi-sensei to fit in the frame. (rolls dice) Oh, that's bad. [I'm sorry, sir. I was nervous and it didn't work out well.] Tatsumi: [Not in the slightest. I am very grateful for this. Thank you.] KP: (rolls dice) Miyako has noticed how friendly the two of you are acting towards each other. She'll continue to watch you from the shadows. (lol) Sayaka x Sasahara: Tatsumi-sensei, please focus your attention on Miyako-chan! (lol) KP: As the party winds down, Miyako calls over Tatsumi-sensei. Tatsumi: [What is it, Miyako-kun?] KP: [Tatsumi-sensei, please accept this.] She gives you a wrapped gift. It seems she wanted you, specifically, to have the boxed present. Tatsumi: Oh, were we doing this in addition to the present exchange? (uneasy lol) KP: I don't know what you are thinking or feeling, but Miyako loves you, and wants to give you an exclusive gift. This is common sense. Sayaka: That's right, Tatsumi-sensei! KP: The item inside is a muffler with your initials in it, made by hand by Miyako herself. Sasahara: That's a serious present! Tatsumi: [Thank you. This looks very warm.] I say as I gratefully accept it. KP: She fidgets and her eyes get wavery when you recognize her and her hard work. Sayaka: I wander off to let them talk, and then watch from a hidden location. I want to see how this turns out. I'm excited. KP: So is Miyako. (lol) Tatsumi: Now I'm starting to feel uncomfortable. Is there something I could get for her at R'lyeh Company? KP: Both Sayaka-chan and Tatsumi-sensei should try (Idea) tests. Sayaka: (rolls dice) It's good. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I passed. KP: You remember something interesting from the last time Miyako came to R'lyeh Company. Tatsumi: I make eye contact with Sayaka, who is hiding. (lol) Sayaka: I take something good, wrap it up, sneak up the back, and bring it to Tatsumi-sensei to give to her. (lol) Tatsumi: Oh wait, what kind of item is it? KP: At the end of our last season, Kata Randoru sent you a big box of assorted antiques. What Sayaka got out was a silver cylinder and a mysterious machine. Of course she has no idea how to use these and thinks of them as mere objet d'art. Mutsumi: Hold up, that's Yuggothan technology. It's one of their damn buckets. Do you really want to give that to Miyako? (lol) Tatsumi: No time. I take it and hand it to Miyako. Sayaka: [You can pay me later for it.] I whisper. (lol) KP: Miyako's eyes widen as she recognizes the item for what it is, and hugs the Yuggothan bucket to her chest. [Thank you so much, Tatsumi-sensei!] she says, her voice rich with emotion. Tatsumi: [Ah, it's no big deal. If you're that happy to get it, I feel glad too.] Miyako: [I'll study this with care!] Tatsumi: Hold up, don't go saying scary things all of a sudden! (lol) Sayaka: This is Christmas, don't overreact to every little thing. KP: Cutting back to Miyako, she's on cloud nine. For the rest of that evening, she graciously takes care of you while wearing her fluttering maid outfit. Sasahara: [Miyako-chan, did something good happen to you?] Mutsumi: [Up until a little while ago you were with Tatsumi-sensei, weren't you?] Sasahara: [Stop, you're backing Tatsumi-sensei into the corner!] Tatsumi: (quiet voice) [Nice assist back there, Sayaka-chan. It was appreciated.] Sayaka: [Always glad to help. By the way, your total came to to 500,000 yen. ] (lol) Tatsumi: As usual, it ended up costing a lot. Ah well, I don't know what the going rate is for a Yuggothan bucket to begin with. (lol) Sayaka: And Randoru-san did not give me any instructions on how much to sell these things for. I wish that I'd get deposits for how many times Yog-Sothoth had me go through this time loop. Sasahara: Being an Investigator is expensive. We've seen our bank accounts shrink down as a result of these adventures. KP: But think of it this way - the bulk of your money has gone into R'lyeh Company's coffers. Sayaka: And thanks to you, our finances are in great shape. (lol) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Miyako and Mutsumi's Research into the Yuggothan Bucket

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: The Investigators welcomed the first day of the new year in peace, and the third season of the school year began at Mitsukado. Sayaka: [Once this is over, we'll be seniors.] Mutsumi: [Before we start taking our college exams, I want to go on a trip somewhere.] Sayaka: [We should invite Chikapon too.] And how is she doing? KP: She received treatment for the shock she got in the second term and sems to be on the way back toward sound mental health. Lately she's been focusing on her activity as the leader of the track and field club. Sayaka: I'm glad to hear that. Since she began to hang out with us, she's been through some terrible things. KP: The advisor of her old club was Jougasaki-sensei, and he's not with you guys anymore. Sayaka: (tears up) I'm so sorry, Jougasaki-sensei. Mutsumi: [I don't think I have the funds for that. I'm not doing well off the proceeds from R'lyeh Company like you, Sayaka-chan. I just have my allowance.] Sayaka: [Why don't you get a part-time job?] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Yuggothan Buckets Hello once again, Mu-tan here. My favorite alien is Jiro. The cylindrical object Miyako received has appeared in many Cthulhu TRPG scenarios and is a kind of standard item: a Yuggothan Bucket, designed for carrying collected brains. The Yuggothans (aka the Mi-Go) came to our planet to mine certain minerals that could only be found on Earth. They've been here for many aeons and are one type of alien species in this continuity. As they used Pluto (which they call Yuggoth) as an outpost along the way, we sometimes refer to them as the Fungi from Yuggoth. To an observer, they look vaguely like reddish, winged shrimp, with a head that looks like a egg fungus. However, they are masters of surgery and can change themselves if they want to. Getting back to the container, the Yuggothan Bucket is about thirty centimeters tall and is made of metal. Inside is a brain that may have been preserved alive for millenia. If you connect certain devices to the Bucket's ports, the brain inside can see and hear what's going on outside, and if you connect the speaker, it can even talk to you. It's a cyborg! We don't know how Randoru-san acquired one, but the players are sure that it's not good for Miyako to receive this. However, the Investigators they're playing are unware. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mutsumi: [A part-time job? I don't know if Mother will allow me to do that.] KP: While you guys are having this conversation, a message is broadcast over the school's intercom system. [Ding-Dong! Ding-Dong! Hino Mutsumi-san of Grade Two, repeat, Hino Mutsumi-san of Grade Two, please come to the Director's Office.] Sayaka: [Mu-tan, what did you do?] (lol) Mutsumi: [W-what? I don't think I did anything bad.] I say and head on over to the Director's Office. KP: And when you get there, you see that Miyako-san is standing there waiting for you, wearing another of her maid uniforms. Mutsumi: [Hino Mutsumi, reporting as ordered. What is it?] I say while fidgeting a bit. KP: [Oh, it's just that you're famous for your work repairing machines. I was hoping I could ask you to repair our old clock.] That's when she brings your attention to a very old-looking timepiece used as decoration in the Director's Office. Mutsumi: My (Mechanical Repair) is 63%. I'm not a master, but perhaps I can show her the handiwork of a professional. KP: Miyako seems interested in seeing what to do. Perhaps she wants to learn how you'll do this. Mutsumi: Why me? KP: Because you don't seem to worry about strangers. Sasahara: She's your old character. You probably don't have to worry about her. (lol) Mutsumi: Impossible! (lol) KP: It seems that she doesn't want many others to know about it, so she's asking you. She particularly does not want Tatsumi-sensei to know about it. Mutsumi: Fine, I'll do it. KP: The job comes with perks. For your work on the clock in addition to keeping the secret safe from the other teachers, you'll get 5,000 yen a day. For someone living on an allowance, that's not too bad. If you do this, you should be able to pay for that trip to Okinawa you wanted. Mutsumi: [5,000 yen a day? I'll do it. Please let me do this work for you.] OST: [1] KP: Then it seems you have reached an agreement. Several days pass while you both work on it, but it seems that you are not making progress. According to Miyako, a certain container is inside. She is certain the lid of it can be opened, but can not say how that may be accomplished. Mutsumi: If we can't take it out to examine it, we won't make progress. KP: However, now that you've gotten this far, you think this isn't just objet d'art. It's some kind of device that required a lot of skill to manufacture. You also appreciate how detailed the thing really is. Miyako claims that it is the work of a civilization that has transcended humanity. Mutsumi: I'm not sure if I buy that story, but the device is very beautiful. Now I'm interested in this thing as well. KP: So as a result of this, Mutsumi has been busy with work, and has not had time to hang out with Sayaka-chan. Sayaka: (teary) I'll look after the shop at R'lyeh Company. But I doubt any customers are going to come. KP: (rolls dice) How about that? Someone else other than your usual visitors shows up. And in addition to that, it's a foreigner. Sayaka: [Hwwaaaah! Wh- Naisutsuumichuu!] Mutsumi: The invincible Sayaka-chan is actually a ditz (lol). KP: The man blinks and responds. [I can speak Japanese.] Sayaka: Oh wow. We'll be able to communicate with Japanese. KP: He's a middle aged, large white man with kind features. He's wearing a worn-looking suit. Based on that, you don't think he's someone sightseeing. Maybe this is a man from another country here on a business trip. Sayaka: [Welcome to our shop. What kind of item are you looking for?] KP: He takes out a memo pad from a pocket and flips to a page. He shows you a sketch of something written on it. [Do you have something like this at your store?] You recognize it instantly - it was the Yuggothan Bucket that Miyako got last Christmas Eve. Sayaka: [By any chance, was it about this wide, silver colored, and looked kind of like an odd machine?] KP: He becomes excited. [Yes! Please sell that to me.] Sayaka: [I'm very sorry, sir, but we had only one of that and we already sold it.] KP: His face goes wide. [Who did you sell it to? Please tell me!] He inches closer to you. Sayaka: [Calm down. No matter how you plead, I'll not reveal our customer's private information.] Sasahara: Okay, you're minding the store and acting responsibly. (lol) KP: He doesn't withdraw. He's shaking and asks if there's no way for you to regain the Bucket. Sayaka: [Why do you want that thing so badly? First off, is it even a machine?] KP: When you say that he stops talking and composes himself. [My boss wants it. I have not been told what the thing is.] Tatsumi: So his boss told him to get it and he flew all the way to Japan to buy it. Sounds like a lot of trouble. Mutsumi: That boss is probably really suspicious. (lol) Sayaka: [I see. Well, I can contact the customer and see about buying back the item for you. Will that be acceptable?] KP: [That would be great! You're a good person.] He says and shakes your hand with one of his colossal ones. Roll against your (Martial Arts). Sayaka: What? Why am I rolling against (Martial Arts)? (rolls dice) Oh, I failed. KP: Then you learn nothing. (TL Note: The Keeper comments that she could have inferred a good amount about the man's fighting ability had she succeeded.) Sayaka: That's kind of suspicious. In any case, I'll get this guy's contact information. Does he have a meishi?

KP: (as foreigner) [Oh, I am late with my introductions. I am called Rogers.] The card indicates that he works at the Japanese branch office of Kleine Biotics. Sayaka: Klein Biotics . . . KP: The guys that were funding Shoji Gosuke's research. That suspicious bunch. Sayaka: Could this just be a coincidence? KP: (as Rogers) [Ojousan, is something wrong?] Sayaka: [Oh, nothing's wrong. By the way, how much did you want to set aside for the buy back?] KP: (as Rogers) [I think about three million would be enough.] Sayaka: [Do you mean American dollars?] KP: [No, yen. The national currency of Japan.] He seems very angry right now. Sayaka: I didn't think to ask that much for Miyako's present. Sasahara: It was for the daughter of the Anjin zaibatsu. KP: Judging from Rogers' mood and actions, he may not be able to offer more than that. Sayaka: [I see. Well, I can not guarantee the customer will sell it back to me, but I'll begin negotiations.] KP: [I'll be in your care!] he says, while bowing politely. Then he leaves. Sayaka: And then I call everyone and let them know what just happened. OST: [1] Notes: Soon the other Investigators were aware of Rogers and Kleine Biotics. Where was the part where she respected the privacy of her customers? The group thought Kleine Biotics was fishy and resolved to begin their investigations of the company. Sayaka: Does the company have a web site? KP: Yes, but it's written in English. The main office is located in America. They have a branch office here in Japan. Sasahara: The guy left behind a meishi. I want to call the number on the card. KP: You find that it's a real number. You get a proper ringtone when you call the number. [Hello, this is Kleine Biotics.] The voice belongs to a female employee of the company. From the sound of things, she's a native Japanese. Sasahara: [Hello, I'd like to get some information on insurance-] KP: They firmly but politely refuse. They only do business with certain clientele. Tatsumi: I suspect that they are a dummy corporation that only exists on paper. I want to do some more information concerning their main branch. KP: There's going to be an upper limit to how much you can find out about this company while you're still in Japan. Tatsumi: Then I'll hire a private detective firm in America. I'll try to find a reputable one to take on the work. KP: You need to roll against your (Other Language: English) skill. There's a lot of information you'll need to communicate and interpret, but since you have some time to write out what you'll say and predict what they might say in response, I'll let you roll twice. Tatsumi: No problem. I'm used to international phone calls. (rolls dice) I made it. KP: You are able to find one. They tell you that they'll do a preliminary investigation and will report back to you in one week's time. Tatsumi: So, what do we know of interest concerning Kleine? Sayaka: That fellow named Rogers seemed very interested in buying the Yuggothan Bucket. I'm a little worried that he might try to steal some of the grimoires and tomes we have. I think we ought to make some fake ones to leave out for him to find. KP: Sayaka-chan, are you really saying that? (If she really does that, developments after this are going to be a pain.) Sayaka: Will it be bad if I say yes? Mutsumi: Such a lust for delusion! Chuunibyo-girl. Tatsumi: She may be developing paranoia. Nothing has happened that would prompt that kind of response. Sayaka: Okay, I'll let it go. KP: Yes, that's the normal, human response. (Phew!) Sayaka: Although I still think it's a good idea. Well, back to work. Now I need to contact Miyako and let her know that someone wanted to buy the Yuggothan Bucket from her. KP: And when you call her, she fiercely turns you down. [There's no way I could ever sell the present Tatsumi-sensei got for me!] Sayaka: [I'm sorry. Of course you're right. I understand.] Sasahara: I didn't think that was going to work. Sayaka: [I should mention that it was the CEO of a company that wanted to buy it. He had a man named Rogers show up to purchase it.] I show her Rogers' meishi. Perhaps the Anjinzuka zaibatsu group knows something about Kleine Microbiotics. KP: (as Miyako) [I have never heard of the company. But perhaps I can have a word with the petty official that runs it.] Sayaka: She's scary. She's so scary. Okay, I'll get in touch with Rogers to let him know that she is not willing to sell. KP: And he's definitely disappointed, but understands that there's nothing to be done. He sadly withdraws. Sayaka: See, that was his mistake. 3 million yen isn't enough. If he had offered to pay 3 million American dollars, I would have tried much harder (laughs). Mutsumi: Her sense of money is . . . OST: [1] KP: A few days after this, while you're working at your job in the Director's office, Miyako-san makes a bold new discovery during her research into the Yuggothan Bucket. Mutsumi: W-what happened? KP: While you were attending your lessons, Miyako was continuing her own study of the device. By happy chance, she was able to open the lid of the machine. Mutsumi: [That's amazing! Show me, show me!] KP: Inside are many complex-looking structures. The interior of it is dripping with liquid. Many tubes stretch upward inside the device. You get the feeling that the Bucket is empty. Mutsumi: [Mu -. So that's how you open it. That was a blind spot.] KP: Mutsumi, you should roll against your (Mechanical Repair). Mutsumi: I probably need to make this one. (rolls dice) Fortunately I did. KP: This is a device used for carrying living tissue. That much you can infer. However, this machine uses technology that far more advanced than anything on Earth. In fact, you realize this machine is extraterrestrial in origin. Roll Sanity. Mutsumi: It's a trap! (rolls dice) I made my roll. KP: You don't lose any Sanity this time. Mutsumi: [Up until now I never believed in OOPArt but now here's the real thing, right in front of me. This is amazing.] Tatsumi: So it wasn't storing and preserving a brain. So what is this one for? Mutsumi: Hmm. KP: Mutsumi, you can roll for (Idea) or (Mechanical Repair) . Your choice. Mutsumi: All right, this time I'll roll against (Idea). KP: You don't think this hasn't been used. However, nothing has deteriorated. You think this could be used right away. Mutsumi: But to what end? SFX: [1] Notes: As the Keeper I'm not sharing this with the Investigators, but the brain was removed from the Bucket and placed elsewhere. And yes, it was Miyako who did that. You'll understand why in due time. At the same time, a recent break-in at R'lyeh Company caused some traces to be left behind. The culprit used some clever tricks, but they hadn't counted on the high school detective girl Sayaka-chan's sense of hearing. The odd thing about the break-in was that the thief did not steal cash or antiques - instead, the thief consulted some of the books at the shop and then left. Sayaka: That's why I wanted to make some fake books and leave them out as a trap (teardrop). Sasahara: I bet this is the work of Rogers' client. Mutsumi: We may have predicted that this would happen, but the problem wouldn't have been resolved by leaving out fake books. Tatsumi: As Investigators, it's only natural for us to be even more suspicious of Rogers and Klein Microbiotics. Sayaka: You should take care to ensure the Yuggothan Bucket hasn't been stolen. KP: As far as you know, Miyako-chan, the Yuggothan Bucket is secure inside the Director's room, stored inside a safe. The Director's office has lots of personal info and is protected by a good security system. If someone tries to break in, they'll likely trip it, which will ring the alarm and notify the security company. Sasahara: How much like the Anjinzuka zaibatsu. They leave nothing to chance. KP: The security setup's about as good as what the best private sector security firms can set up for individuals. The systems used by banks are tougher, though. OST: [1] Tatsumi: I guess we can avoid worrying about that for now. But to change the subject, how is that private detective agency doing? Have they found any information to report so far? KP: (checks notes) Yes, it's been about time for them to get back to you. The investigation into Klein Microbiotics' American main branch revealed that they are a dummy corporation. However, the investigation was not able to find proof of shady accounting practices and tax evasion. There is no doubt, however, that the whole thing stinks. Sasahara: I wonder what this fake company is designed to hide. Tatsumi: So when was Klein Microbiotics founded? KP: Information is scant concerning when it was founded, but that happened sometime back in in 192X. Tatsumi: So this place was created back in the 20s? They're a pretty old lot. And if I take a look back at what we know about the 20s, I bet we'll find some reference to it in a story or scenario set around that time. Mutsumi: I have no recollection of that, but if you say so, you're probably correct. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The Mysterious Transfer Student Jeffrey

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: Some time has passed and you're now two months into the scenario.It's time for Sasahara-san to present another special lesson. Sasahara: I've been working hard on this one. Prepare yourselves for maximum awesome: a lesson detailing the connection between known history and the occult. This is going to be intense! Mutsumi: I have to see Tama-nii on the stage. Tatsumi: Is it all right if I sit in on this lesson? KP: When Miyako learns that you want to attend this lesson, she arranges for you to have a seat right next to hers. Tatsumi: I'll see Sasahara's work. KP: You have the entire school's worth of students assembled in the auditorium, Sasahara. Last time your lecture made the local papers. As a result, you spot some journalists sitting in some of the seats. Depending on how well you do on this next roll, your lecture will inch that much forward to perfection. Sasahara: Then let me employ my specialty . . . Tatsumi: So will he ask questions like "Was the Tendai Buddhist monk Tenkai really Mitsuhide Akechi"? Sasahara: You're not wrong. (rolls dice) I succeeded. Big time. I rolled under 1/8th of my skill. KP: Talks on history can be a bit dull, but you're pulling in the audience's attention. Director Henmi and Tatsumi both comment that despite your age, you're doing a great job here. Sasahara: I remind journalists that some of the topics I discussed are covered at length in my next book, which will go on sale soon. KP: Finally you wrap up your talk and get to the question and answer section. A hand raises up from the student section. OST: [1] Sasahara: [Hai. You there.] KP: The student stands up and the rest of the crowd falls silent. He's like a character from a manga - a blonde-haired, blue-eyed bishounen. He's not wearing the school uniform. Instead he is wearing a duffle coat. Sayaka: A foreign exchange student? Sasahara: [Are you a student of this academy?] KP: [I am Jeffrey Collin. I am supposed to begin my studies at this academy tomorrow. I really wanted to hear Sasahara-sensei's lecture, so I arranged to audit it.] His Japanese is flawless. Sasahara: [I feel honored. So what is your question?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [Tracing back to the root of the argument, that Tenkai and Mitsuhide . . . ] and he begins to ask you a very complicated set of questions. You must roll against your (Occult) and (History) once again. Sashara: It'll be horrible if I boof this in front of the students. (rolls dice) I made it. KP: You are able to calmly and completely answer his questions. You can tell that he has a solid foundation in history but is less schooled in the occult. It's no wonder that he wanted to attend your lecture. Sashara: [You have a strong understanding of history. You've studied it extensively, I can tell. But to know real history, you must study the occult as well to develop the proper perspective.] Sayaka: He was doing so well. It was a good lecture, but now he's starting to rant like a nutty eccentric. KP: Jeffrey obediently listens to what Sasahara says and continues participating, asking deeper questions. He's young but he has impressive understanding of the subject. Sasahara: Fine, I up the difficulty by adding in more arcane and esoteric material. Tatsumi: What about the rest of your audience? You're losing them! Mutsumi: Tama-nii, you ought to wrap it up right here. KP: Miyako is overjoyed and listening to this with rapt attention. Notes: Jeffrey was soon assigned to Sayaka-chan's class. As he was a handsome youth with striking features, many girls swooned over him and doted on him. He seemed interested in everything, and he had a frank character. He was a sparkling student in every class he had. Sayaka: Fine. But with all the weird things that have happened recently, I think it's strange for a foreigner to suddenly transfer into this class. I wonder if he's working for Klein Biotics? Mutsumi: You're very suspicious today, Sayaka-chan. KP: Although you've been keeping your distance from him, one day he walks over to you and starts talking to you. [I heard from people in class that you know Sasahara-sensei and Tatsumi-sensei.] Sayaka: [That's right. They're regular customers at the antique shop where I work part time.] KP: (as Jeffrey) [I've ready some of Tatsumi-sensei's books on psychology.] Sayaka: [Oh. I have never read any of them.] (lol) KP: (as Jeffrey) [That is a shame. They are excellent works. And Sasahara-sensei's lecture was quite fascinating. I'm jealous that you know them as friends.] Sayaka: [It turns out that Sasahara-sensei has a neice.] I'll call Mu-tan over. Mutsumi: [G-good afternoon.] I'm a little unsure as to how to deal with Jeffrey. I'll be ready to counter if something bad happens. Sayaka: [Since you're so interested in them, I'll introduce you to them the next time I have the chance.] KP: (As Jeffrey) [R-Really!? Thank you so much!] He says as he grasps both your hands. That's a very common form of skinship amongst foreigners. Sayaka: Fine, fine. I try to be calm and play it off like nothing. Mutsumi: And you just drew the envy of every girl in our class. (lol) KP: Oh, and some recent news for Mutsumi-chan. Miyako, who has been acting oddly, seems to have dropped the tools you were using to research the Yuggothan Bucket. Mutsumi: All right, I'll pick them up. KP: As if it's totally natural, Jeffrey appears and starts helping you gather them. Sayaka: There we go. He's totally setting your flag. Soon enough he'll unlock the Mu-tan route.(lol) KP: Honestly, he seemed more interested in the device and the tools than Mutsumi-san. Sayaka: Why the device and tools!? (lol) KP: (as Jeffrey) [These precision tools look so easy to use. That's made in Japan for you.] Mutsumi: Was I carrying anything that special? KP: They weren't custom, but they're one rank above what you might get from a specialist's shop. Some of them came as a birthday gift from your middle school days when you became obsessed with mechanics. Mutsumi: [Jeffrey, are you interested in htis kind of thing?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [Yes, I am. If it's possible, I'd like you to tell me where you bought them.] Mutsumi: [I think you can get some like these in Akihabara.] KP: (as Jeffrey) [Akihabara! That's the point of origin for Japanese culture! I want to go there at least once!] Mutsumi: [Well, for a special kind of culture, anyway . . . ] KP: (as Jeffrey) [Mutsumi-san, next time (if it's okay) would you show me around Akihabara?] Sayaka: Sounds like he's inviting you on a date (lol). Sasahara: I won't let him be alone with Mutsumi. I'm coming along! KP: Don't just pop in from out of nowhere! (lol). Sasahara: Sayaka-chan, introduce me to Jeffrey! I'll be accompanying them to Akihabara! OST: [1] Sayaka: I did promise that Jeffrey would be introduced to you, so you don't even have to ask. I think we should all go together. Tatsumi: Me too? But Akihabara is not very interesting for me . . . KP: You raise the topic of going there with everyone and Jeffrey goes on to say that he wants to see Ginza as well. Sayaka: [That place, full of celebrity culture, is so scary that high school girls can't go there by themselves.] KP: You find conspiracies where they don't exist. Mutsumi: [But why do you want to go to Ginza?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [Some time ago, a person who lives in Ginza did my grandfather a big favor. I'd like to stop by for a visit.] Mutsumi: [What sort of person was it?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [A person named Sahimetou no Mizoguchi-san.] Tatsumi: S-Sahimetou!? Notes: Sayaka and Mutsumi informed their friends that they were going with Jeffrey. Sayaka: [Tatsumi-sensei knows Ginza very well. Since we're going there, why don't we ask him to be our guide?] KP: By the way, whoever was in earshot when Jeffrey said that name needs to make two rolls, (Occult) and (History). Tatsumi: (rolls dice) My (History) test was fine. Sasahara: (rolls dice) I passed both tests. KP: Those who passed the (History) skill test know that Sahimetou no Mizoguchi is something who lived during Meiji until the beginning of the Showa period. It was kind of a mutual aid association for the steelworks industry. In truth, it handled big-rigging for zaibatsu. However, it no longer exists, and hasn't existed for a long time. Tatsumi: So that place is . . . KP: Those who passed the (Occult) test know that according to rumor, it also had a religious aspect, and an even stranger rumor states that it was really run by tengu. Administration was handled by miko oracles. These oracles were located in what is modern-day Ginza. Tatsumi: I wonder if they're connected to Shoji Gosuke's research or to Klein Microbiotics? Mutsumi: It sounds like this thing is bigger than we imagined. Tatsumi: Hearing all of this come from Jeffrey has made us (as players, anyway) very interested in this Jeffrey chap. Sayaka: [For our next holiday let's have Tatsumi be our sponsor as we check out Ginza!] Mutsumi x Sasahara: [Yippeeeee!] Tatsumi: [All right, I suppose. This might be costly.] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Sahimetou Hello yet again. This is Mu-tan, and my favorite character from the Shiromuku no Kamen replay is Takashiro Shuutarou (*). At any rate, the cult appeared in Shiromuku no Kamen, and their history goes all the way back to the 1500s. Shiromuku no Kamen is set in the Cthulhu and Teikoku (1920s) era. You already heard most of the story from Tatsumi-sensei on what they originally were, but behind the scenes they began to have dealings with the miners from space, the Yuggothans. In time the organization came to be ruled by cultists doing research for the Yuggothans. Mizoguchi was one of the cult leaders. Tatsumi's player experienced the games in the Shiromuku no Kamen replay, so hearing names from it probably makes him feel very nostalgic. * - TL Note: That was my best guess with the name. Kanji have multiple readings and the writer may have chosen different readings for the name. I will revise it later if necessary. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST: [1] Notes: And so the group of Investigators gathered that Sunday in Ginza to meet Jeffrey. He wore his usual duffle coat with a sweater underneath it. Perhaps he was weak against cool weather, and this was his countermeasure against Japan's winters. Sayaka: This is the first time for me to see Ginza. I don't want to lose contact with Tatsumi-sensei. KP: Valentine Day's not too far off, and you can see hearts strung up in the windows of some of the shops. Mutsumi: [I need to buy chocolate for everybody.] Sayaka: [You're giving chocolate to everyone?] Mutsumi: [I'll give some to everyone who's been helping me out. This year I have to give some to Tatsumi-sensei.] Sayaka: I wonder if I gave him any chocolates last year. For some reason, I can't seem to remember what I did last year (lol). Sasahara: If you try to remember, you'll lose Sanity points (lol). KP: He was a regular customer in the first season. Seems to me that'd earn a little chocolate, don't you think? Mutsumi: [Oh, I have an idea. Let's invite Chikapon over. The three of us can make homemade chocolates together. And if we all buy at the same time, we will save on the cost of the ingredients.] Sayaka: [If you'll be helping, I'll gladly do it!] KP: Jeffrey seems interested in your girls' talk. Sasahara: [Hey, Jeffrey. It's polite to act like you're not paying any attention to their conversation.] KP: (as Jeffrey) [Oh, please excuse me. I was interested in how Valentine Day is celebrated in Japan. It seems very different from the way we do things back in America. For example, people have White Day over here.] Tatsumi: In the West, the gifts aren't just limited to chocolate. Sayaka: Oh, I didn't know that. But does that mean they don't have White Day in America? KP: We started up doing White Day when we were kids. Now it's fixed in place. It's a new custom. Tatsumi: Although when I was a kid, we didn't even have Valentine's Day. KP: You were born in the middle of WWII. Mutsumi: I walk Jeffrey through how we celebrate Valentine's Day and White Day over here in Japan. Sayaka: [On White Day, you have to give back three times what you got on Valentine's Day.] Sashara: [Hey, don't teach him weird things.] (lol) KP: Jeffrey carefully and attentively listens to Mutsumi-chan's explanation. He reflects on what he has heard and tries to trace it back to the original root. Sayaka: [You don't need to think about it so much. Just think of it like a festival for men and women.] KP: (as Jeffrey) [A festival . . . hmm. Then in hsort, chocolate, to the people here, is like a boiled food.] Tatsumi: [Boiled!? You have a very old-fashioned way of thinking.] KP: (as Jeffrey) [I hope you'll overlook that. I've only learned from reading in books. That's why I appreciate what you're doing now. Now I get to learn about real, living culture with all of you.] Sasahara: [Jeffrey is so serious.] Tatsumi: [He's extremely interested in Japan. Do you want to become a researcher when you are older?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [I seek only to advance my own knowledge of the subject. I doubt that I can form my own viewpoint and use it to interpret data the way that Tatsumi-sensei and Sasahara-sensei both can.] You both sense that he is an extremely careful person and you remember how he listened to everything you said, understood it, and then hit you with very sharp questions. However, he's only absorbing information. He hasn't hit you back with any of his own theories or ideas. Tatsumi: Hmm. KP: Even so, the breadth of his knowledge is impressive, to the point that discussions with him can derail. Yet the discussions are calm and reasoned, and you feel that you could be friends with him - the subjects he is interested in directly relate to what you and Sasahara work on. OST: [1] Sayaka: This is an amazing child. How extensive is his knowledge? Tatsumi: [You're still in your youth. For now, absorb any important information that you can. Because someday you'll need it. ] Sasahara: [Jeffrey, do you have any plans for the future?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [I want to use some form of art to express myself, whether it's canvas, or text, or music, to do what Sasahara-sensei does.] Sayaka: [My dream is to be a detective!] KP: (as Jeffrey) [I am sure you could be the kind of beautiful detective we see in movies.] Sayaka: I like this kid! He's all right! Sasahara: [Setting aside Sayaka-chan's dream for now, I think Jeffrey's got a great dream for the future.] KP: Upon hearing your words, Jeffrey makes a small smile. Everyone, roll against your (Psychology). [They all do, Tatsumi succeeds.] Tatsumi, you realize the boy's actions and words don't match his age - he has the atmosphere of an older philosopher. Tatsumi: There's a lot going on behind the scenes. I'll keep a close watch on this grown-up adolescent. Sayaka: [Anyway, let's try to find that place you were talking about earlier.] KP: Jeffrey produces a notebook and shows you the address he mentioned earlier. The sheet of paper it's on is quite old. The area has greatly changed - you don't think this particular place exists any longer. Sasahara: Can I use a (History) roll to figure out what changed? KP: Sure, why not. If you make the roll, you'll be able to get a general idea of how the area changed. Sasahara: (rolls dice) Got it. [They put in a boutique where this used to be.] I say while pointing at his old map. Tatsumi: If we go a little further over here, we can ask one of the locals and get some more information to help with the search. KP: You get the idea that Jeffrey knows more about Ginza than he let on. He is quickly able to grasp the information that the locals tell him and mark the landmarks on his map. Both of you should roll against your (History). Sasahara: I made my roll. KP: He knows Ginza's layout from his study of old Ginza - roaring trains and quaint cafes. So, from the time period of the Great Kanto Earthquake to right before WWII. Sasahara: [Why does this child know so much about old Ginza?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [Oh, Grandfather told me a lot about it. Though this Ginza is very different from the one he described.] Sayaka: [Was your Grandfather from Japan?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [No, like me, he was another American. Tatsumi: Was he involved in the iron and steel trade? If so, he might have been connected with Sahimetou. KP: You need to roll against your (Own Language: Japanese). Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Got it. Sasahara: (rolls dice) I also passed. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Nope. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I just struck out. KP: Those with failing rolls think that Jeffrey's use of Japanese is a little odd. Those who succeed realize his phrasing is very old-fashioned. Then again, he might have learned Japanese from old textbooks. Sasahara: Perhaps his grandfather was the one who taught him. Notes: While listening to Tatsumi, and relying on Sasahara's knowledge of history, the group eventually figured out the location and made their way to it. Unfortunately it had been replaced by a brand new building, leaving behind no trace of the former place. The story about how it had disappeared at the beginning of the Showa era was accurate, or so it seemed. To cheer up Jeffrey, the group went for a fun walk around the town. Tatsumi treated them to some seasonal food, and then they went on the Yamate line to Akihabara. OST: [1] Sasahara: Now to corrupt our young friend through the power of Otaku Culture. KP: This is something that matches his interest. When he sees a maid, he says that she's wearing the same uniform that the school director's assistant has, and then asks you if that's popular here in Japan. Sayaka: [Uh, popular . . . ? Well, that's . . . ] (sweatdrops) Sasahara: [We can not say it's unpopular.] (lol) Mutsumi: While talking, we head on over to the tool manufacturer's shop. KP: You reach some of the older sections of Akihabara and find an old-looking shop catering to specialists and enthusiasts. Jeffrey puts on a serious face as he begins examining these objects. His careful scrutiny separates the chaff from the wheat. Eventually he begins asking the owners for advice. He also is writing out an order form to request tools from particular makers. Mutsumi: What kind of tools is he buying? I want to quietly snoop in on their conversation. KP: Specialist terminology is flying back and forth. If you want to understand, try passing a (mechanical repair) test. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I cleared the test. KP: Some of it is for working with complicated electronic equipment. The other is for medical treatment gear used in surgery. Mutsumi: [Hey, Jeffrey. What are you using medical treatment gear for?] KP: It seems some of the equipment can be used for something else, as it is ideal for delicate work. Tatsumi: Although I wonder if this is going to be used for making plastic models and putting figure kits together. Mutsumi: You're thinking too small. I bet this has something to do with the Yuggothan Bucket. KP: All of what he's been buying could be used to work with the Yuggothan Bucket. Mutsumi: Suspicious! This guy is too suspicious! Tatsumi: So he's somehow connected to Kleine Microbiotics, and they have their eye on the Yuggothan Bucket. Sayaka: But he's just an innocent kid full of enthusiasm for studying. Tatsumi: For the most part I agree, but at times he manifests this deep kind of futurist philosophy. Sasahara: So it's like he's much older than he appears. Mutsumi: I wonder what secret this mysterious transfer student holds? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Comitting an Impossible Crime

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: Mutsumi-chan gathered the ingredients for her homemade chocolate and prepared it for Valentine's Day. As a result, she had less time to spend with Miyako-san working with the Yuggothan Bucket. KP: It seems that Miyako is very insistent on continuing work with the Yuggothan device. Mutsumi: [What's the hurry? Why can't we continue the pace we had before?] KP: (as Mutsumi) [Because of Valentine's Day. I want to show Tatsumi-sensei the progress we've made with this device.] Tatsumi: I can't believe I gave her that thing as a gift. Mutsumi: I wonder what she's going to sue the Bucket for. It's designed to preserve living tissue. Sayaka: What if she wanted to fill it up with chocolate and give that as a present? Sasahara: It'd preserve chocolate with a never-before seen taste. (lol) Mutsumi: Not just raw chocolate, but living chocolate! You'd be able to get living chocolate delivered right at your door! (lol) Tatsumi: That's not candy, that's just proto-shoggoth! KP: Anyway, after you finish making your chocolates you have to hurry and help Miyako-san. You got to the Director's office just like you normally would. When you arrive, you hear a loud noise from outside the window. The Director's office is on the first floor. Mutsumi: What's this? Is the window closed? KP: It's still winter. Mutsumi: Okay, I'll keep my guard up while checking a look at what's going on inside. KP: You don't see anyone else inside with Miyako. Mutsumi: What could this mean? OST: [01] KP: When you look one more time, you see that the Yuggothan Bucket, which had been set on one of the tables used for the reception area, is gone! Mutsumi: What was that? KP: You only took your eyes off of it for two or three seconds at most. You heard the sound of the director's door opening. So in that span of time, someone came into the room and made off with the bucket. But that's impossible. Mutsumi: Couldn't the culprit still be in the room? I look above and below the table. KP: Try a (Spot Hidden). Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I succeeded. KP: You don't believe anyone is hiding in the room. However, that still does not explain how the bucket disappeared. You've seen something impossible, so it's time for you to make a (Sanity) roll. Mutsumi: It seems that of late, only I get to roll against (Sanity). (rolls dice) I passed the test! KP: You don't lose any Sanity. Miyako seems totally unfazed by what happened. Sasahara: She doesn't have to make Sanity rolls anymore. (lol) Mutsumi: This seems like an impossible crime. Is the door to the Director's office locked? KP: Two people are inside that room, so no. As far as who's inside, you'll see soon. Mutsumi: I dash out of that room and quickly check the corridor. Is there someone carrying a big, heavy big of luggage? KP: You see chattering students as they move about the campus, but you don't spot anyone who seems suspicious. OST:[1] Mutsumi: The criminal has disappeared. It's time for a certian high school detective girl to make her appearance. [Director, why don't we consult with Sayaka-chan? She's used to these kinds of mysterious cases.] KP: Not only that, but the now-retired former Investigator Miyako-san knows Sayaka-chan quite well. And she'd rather ask Sayaka to help than involve the police. Miyako-san supports your idea. Mutsumi: In that case, let's have the gang meet up at the Director's office! Investigators assemble! Everyone: Yeaaaaaahhhh! [LATER] Sayaka: [Hmm, this is a fascinating case.] I check the window for traces and look at the ground beneath it to see if the culprit left behind footprints. KP: Okay, try to pass a (Track) test. Sayaka: That's not my forte. [Sasahara-san, please lend a hand.] Sasahara: Very well. (rolls dice) I made it. KP: The footprints were made by a male wearing school shoes from this institution. Sasahara: If we suspect Kleine Microbiotics, wouldn't it follow that Jeffrey is the Tatsumi: This is a high school, so Rogers would stick out like a sore thumb if he tried to infiltrate the school. Sasahara: Just the same, I want to check the room one more time. I want to make sure no one is hiding inside, behind, or under something, and I want to check for a hidden passage, etc. KP: You see nothing suspicious. Sayaka: Are there any traces left behind by someone who entered and left the room? KP: Many people go into and out of the Director's room. It's hard to pinpoint any one set of them as the culprit's. Mutsumi has only the idea that someone took the bucket and left in a flash. Sasahara: So that would mean the culprit couldn't have escaped with the bucket! I look again for any blind spots where the culprit might be hiding. OST: [ 1] KP: (laughs) So where would that be? Sasahara: What if he's using optic camoflage, or crossed into a different dimension, or the Gate spell? Mutsumi: Maybe the thief used hypnosis on Miyako and me. Do either of us feel dizzy, or just a little strange? KP: Both of you feel like you normally do. Tatsumi: Can I use (Psychiatry) to see if they were hypnotized? KP: (a beat) Well, let's say you can. But you have to roll for it. Tatsumi: It won't work on Miyako. She's permanently insane. I ask Mutsumi-san to lie down on the sofa and get comfortable while I treat her with (Psychoanalysis). (rolls dice) I made it. KP: You question her for a while. It doesn't seem that the thief hypnotized her and escaped with the Yuggothan bucket. Mutsumi: Could we have fainted for just a few minutes without falling over? We could have recognized that by noticing how much time passed in between - drat, there's no way to know precisely when the sound appeared. KP: You were repairing the grand clock in the Director's office. In that instant, you were looking at the clock. That's why you can attempt an (Idea) roll now. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) That's a failure. KP: Sorry, but you don't remember. (Everyone groans in disappointment.) [That was a pretty good line of thought. Maybe it's too hard for them to guess on their own.] That said, the clock did chime while you were working on it, so you know that it was 1600. So folks other than Mutsumi-chan, try an (Idea) roll. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Yes. Sasahara: (rolls dice) I did it. KP: You notice the old antique clock is five minutes slow. Your watches and keitai show the time as 1605. Sasahara: That's it. That's how he did it. He stopped time right here in the room. Mu-tan, what time does your watch say? KP: It says the current time is 1600. Sasahara: How about you, Miyako-san? What does your watch say? KP: All the clocks in the room are affected except for the one next to the door. Sasahara: Then Mu-tan, the culprit used an area effect to freeze time where you and Miyako-san were standing. He then took his time and carefully stole the alien artifact. KP: That's thinking outside the box. Sayaka: But that's a lot of trouble to go to. Why not aim for a time when Mutsumi-chan and Miyako-san weren't in the room? Mutsumi: Because when we're not there, it's stored in the safe. Sasahara: When the two of you are performing research on the bucket, the security system isn't armed either. Sayaka: I get it. Tatsumi: He can stop time, but he can't open the safe? Something doesn't match with the thief's technology level. Sasahara: Are there any Cthulhu Mythos creatures that can stop time? Tatsumi: Maybe the Mi-Go (Yuggothans). Mutsumi: If we think about a species that mastered time, the Great Race of Yith comes to mind. Tatsumi: But if we follow this line of reasoning, the culprit would have had to carry away the bucket himself. Let's see if we can ask around to see if anyone spotted someone carrying the bucket in the vicinity ofthe Director's office. KP: Try a (Luck) check to see if you can find anyone. Tatsumi: Since I had my POW sucked away by that Tindalosian Hound, I haven't been particularly lucky of late. (rolls dice) But I made the roll anyway. KP: Well done. Someone spotted Jeffrey walking nearby. He was carrying a general-purpose utility bag. Tatsumi: Yup, I thought it was him. Sayaka: Let's find him! Mutsumi: We don't know his address. Tatsumi: _We_ don't, but we can go back tot he Director's office and ask Miyako-kun to tell us what she knows. KP: But that's the student's private personal information. They aren't supposed to give that out. Tatsumi: [ But we have the footprints of a male student outside the window, and eyewitness testimony that implicates him as the culprit. Or he could simply end up being controlled by the true villain.] KP: Not bad. It is Tatsumi who's asking, and Miyako likes him. I'll give you a x10 bonus to your skill. Sasahara: Miyako-chan, I want to make you believe me! (lol) Tatsumi: So that means I have an 890% chance to make her believe me. Mutsumi: I've never heard of someone with an amount that high. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Look at that! I got a 01! How wasteful with chances like that! Mutsumi: That's a waste of the 01. Tatsumi: I think I passed. I rolled under the 890 (lol). KP: She is totally convinced and shows you Jeffrey's personal history. Tatsumi: I confirm it's an address in Japan, check which registry the address is affiliated with, and look at any other bits of information. KP: His original address is i America, but you do see something that piques your curiosity. His parents both work for Kleine Microbiotics' main office in the United States. Tatsumi: Kleine! Now we know that Rogers and Jeffrey are connected. Sayaka: So in order to steal the Yuggothan bucket, they worked to get Jeffrey transferred into our school? Tatsumi: We don't know that for sure. I don't think that was Jeffrey's sole intention. He really does seem to enjoy learning about Japan. Notes: After that, Sayaka-chan and Sasahara rushed over to Jeffrey's place, as they could not raise him on the phone. They got to his apartment building - it was a high-grade one with people permanently stationed in the reception area and auto-lock systems designed to confound outsiders. Sayaka used the comings and goings of people to blend in and infiltrate, and then discovered that Jeffrey was not at home. Whilst carrying a bread roll and some milk in hand, Sayaka-chan increased the tension of the group as she did the sneaky stuff Investigators must do. But not only was Jeffrey not home, the people who were supposed to be sharing the place with him, his parents, did not turn up. [LATER] Sayaka: [It's nearly morning. What happened to Jeffrey? I'm worried about him.] Sasahara: [He might have hopped on an airplane and left.] Sayaka: [I don't think he was that kind of kid.] Sasahara: [If he's okay, he should appear at school. Sayaka-chan, why don't you go there and look for him?] KP: (scrambling for notes as this is totally unexpected) Today's Valentine's Day. Sayaka: Sasahara-san, can I go home now? I want to get cleaned up and get the chocolate I made for today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): The Great Race of Yith Hello, this is Mu-tan. My favorite sci-fi novel is Kirinyaga. The Great Race of Yith are fairly well-known creatures that appeared in one of Lovecraft's novels, "The Shadow Out of Time". They are a species that established a great civilization a long time before mankind appeared. They are called "great" because they can separate their consciousnesses and send them through time and space. Upon arriving in a particular time, the consciousness then invades and possesses a living being in that time. In the ancient past, they possessed strange things with cone-shaped bodies. While staying in these bodies, the Great Race established control of ancient Earth. They carefully watch the future in order to see impending threats, and if they see one, they flee across time again. This impressive array of powers is indeed great, as befits a group called the Great Race. They also have extensive knowledge of the detains of each age they visit. They are interested in humans and can swap bodies with them, interrogated the captured human mind to learn more. The human minds are supposed to be purged of the memories of the time spent in the Great Race's captivity, but sometimes the process doesn't take, the person has memories that surface as delusions. They're definitely an element that first the Call of Cthulhu TRPG. I like this group of creatures in the Cthulhu TRPG. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sasahara: [Very well. I will accompany you.] Tatsumi: I'm worried about Jeffrey, so I'll go to the school in the morning. Mutsumi: I'll also head to the campus. I'll wait there to see if Jeffrey shows up. KP: (rolls dice) When Tatsumi-sensei arrives at the school, he gets some giri choco from some of the female students. Tatsumi: [Thank you very much. That's right, today is Valentine's Day.] Mutsumi: [Tatsumi-sensei, here's some from me.] Tatsumi: [Oooh, homemade chocolate! I'm happy.] Sayaka: [And here's some I made. You always look after us.] Sasahara: Dang, Tatsumi-sensei is really popular. Sayaka: [Here are some for you, Sasahara-san.] Sasahara: [Cool. Thank you.] Sayaka: I made too much, so I'll pass out what's left to random boys as they walk by. Sasahara: [Now I feel less happy.] KP: The boys seem very happy when a pretty girl like Sayaka-chan hands them chocolate. Some of them flex and suck in their guts. Sayaka: [Well, so long as they're happy.] Mutsumi: [Sayaka-chan, you're slipping a little.] Sasahara: She's a little different from the girl Randoru-san asked to look after R'lyeh Company. KP: While you are chattering, the chime for the bell rings and you scurry to your respective appointed places. Jeffrey is nowhere to be seen. Sayaka: So he's not in any classrooms? KP: His homeroom teacher says he's absent, and without a reason why either. Mutsumi: Hmm. What should we do? Sayaka: He's not at his apartment or the school. Rather than the bucket, I'm more worried about Jeffrey. Tatsumi: I want to know more about the apartment building. Since he's not here and his parents aren't contacting us, do you think the Director will give me permission to check it out. Sasahara: Although we're Investigators, we're not real detectives. Mutsumi: There's no harm in asking. We could even tell him what we've found out so far. KP: By the way, the door to the Director's room is shut. Tatsumi: How odd. I'll knock on his door. KP: [The director is out today. If it's urgent, please contact him directly.] Tatsumi: I'll call Miyako on her cell phone. KP: It goes straight to her answering machine. Up until now, there's never been a time when she didn't rush to the phone when her dear Tatsumi-sensei called her. How odd. (laughs) Sasahara: Oh no, did they get Miyako too? Sayaka: Would they be able to capture Miyako-san? KP: Although she's got Zero Sanity, she's still a normal person (laughs). Tatsumi: Where does she live? KP: Doesn't she live with you? She's your maid, after all. Tatsumi: I-is that still true? KP: She didn't return home last night. Sayaka: Is she searching all by herself? Mutsumi: She's still an Investigator, so I think she might try something aggressive like that. Sasahara: But she didn't tell Tatsumi-sensei before she left, and today's Valentine's Day. OST: [1] Mutsumi: Considering how much she was looking forward to this, this is odd. Tatsumi: And there's no clu. I wonder if she decided to check out Kleine Microbiotics. Sayaka: Shall we go ahead and check out Jeffrey's rom? Tatsumi: That does sound like the most efficient way of doing things. Sayaka: Then let's book. We need to check out his apartment. [Sensei, I'm sorry but my stomach has started hurting. Please allow me to go home early.] Mutsumi: [I - I too am suddenly experiencing the same thing.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Jeffrey's Forgotten Past

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sayaka: Let's tell the management about what's going on and ask them to let us see if he's all right in his room. KP: Uhh, you need to roll against your (Credit Rating) to get that to work. (Would that work?) Sayaka: I point out that a teacher from the school, Tatsumi-sensei, is with me. KP: Good idea. You get a +10 percentile bonus to your roll. Sayaka: Will that be enough? (rolls dice) I'm sorry, it didn't work. KP: The owner's still a young lady, but she is doubtful because you're a student clearly skipping school. Maybe you came here to give him chocolate on Valentine's Day. [I can't let you sneak in and surprise him. You've got to win or lose love fairly.] â˜† Sasahara: She's so annoying! (lol) Mutsumi:What is she on about? Sayaka: Maybe she's after Jeffrey too . . . KP: It's possible. He is a bishounen character. Sasahara: So she likes younger men. I wonder if my appeal would get through (lol). Sayaka: Setting that aside, I want to ask about Jeffrey's parents. KP: She hasn't seen them in person, but apparently one of them is a large, gentle-seeming sort who happens to be caucasian. Sasahara: Could that be referring to Rogers from Kleine Microbiotics? Sayaka: I describe Rogers to her. Is that the person she's talking about? KP: That fits the description she has. It's him. Tatsumi: What about the contact information for Jeffrey at the school? KP: A different person is listed. Sayaka: This is very suspicious. We need to check out his room. Mutsumi: But didn't you try to sneak about the area just last night? KP: I tell you this much - now that the supervisor has got a clear look at you, that method will probably not work again. Sayaka: What if I distracted or lured her away from her post? That might work. KP: The easiest way to do that would be to get her to use the auto-lock function. Sayaka: I'll try to use (Persuade) here. KP: What are you trying to do? Sayaka: I'm going to call her from outside the building via my cell phone. (doing an impression of an old woman) [H-Hello there. You shee, on the roof of my apartment buildin' there's a flying doll shpinnin' around. Waaaooow! Itsh dangerosh! Itsh fallin'! Mutsumi: Sayaka-chan, you're good at that! KP: Well done. She wouldn't think the elderly lady on the phone is the same high school girl she saw earlier. Roll for it. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I got it this time! KP: She takes your story seriously and dashes out. OST: [1] Tatsumi: While I have the chance, I disengage the auto-lock. KP: It's the first time you've seen their setup. Try either an (Idea) or (Mechanical Repair) roll to determine what button to press. Tatsumi: Makes sense for me to go with (Idea) (rolls dice) I got it! Everyone, go for broke! Sayaka: Good luck, everybody! Notes: The Investigators made their way into the building and then Mutsumi used her (Mechanical Repair) skill to destroy the lock on his apartment's door. While breaking and entering would normally be a crime, the conditions of this case caused the Investigators to enter without hesitation. OST: [1 KP: No one is inside here. The bare minimum of essential items necessary to live are present. There's not much sense of this place being "lived in". Sasahara: I can see shoes and clothes, but are there other traces that Jeffrey's family left behind? KP: There's no evidence to suggest that anyone other than Jeffrey lives here. You should declare how you are searching the place. Sasahara: I look for traces of Miyako's beloved bucket. Or Miyako. Tatsumi: I look for documents that can incriminate Jeffrey and reveal his real identity. Mutsumi: I look for mail with addresses, phone numbers, and other things that might reveal a clue idicating where Jeffrey might nwat to go. KP: Very well. Sasahara, roll against your (Spot Hidden). Sasahara: My (Spot Hidden) is only so-so. (rolls dice) Got it. KP: There's no evidence that Miyako was here. There is no sign of violence. There's no trace of her bucket. Sasahara: So it doesn't look like Miyako snuck in here. KP: And Tatsumi, to look for what you want, try a (Library Use) roll. Tatsumi: Easy enough. I have a good (Library Use) skill rating. (rolls dice) Got it. OST: [1] KP: There are fake passports and fake family registry documents among the many things you find. There's also a record of Jeffrey's age as being in his later teenage years - but that's in a document that's several decades old. Sasahara: So he hasn't aged? Tatsumi: So it seems. KP: You also find an old black and white photo. It was taken in front of a medical treatment facility, judging by the sign in the image. There's a ten year old boy who looks a lot like Jeffrey in the image. There's no sense of life in the eyes of the boy. Turning over the photo reveals it was taken on a day in 1920. The name of the medical facility is "Greenwood". Tatsumi: [I- is this Jeffrey's grandfather?] Sasahara: [It must be! There's no way a human who doesn't age could exist!] KP: You should try an (Idea) roll. Sasahara: I don't think I'm going to like this. (rolls dice) I made it. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I also made the roll. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Yes! I failed! KP: Those who made their rolls understand that it is indeed Jeffrey in the photo, and he has surpassed time itself. Roll a (Sanity) test now, please. Tatsumi: [There's no way an ageless person can exist. It's just common sense.] (lol) Notes: Sasahara and Mutsumi-chan both failed their Sanity tests. They each lost 1D4 Sanity points. Sasahara was one point the poorer, leaving him with 54 points. Mutsumi lost the full four points, meaning she only had 54 points in reserve. KP: Finally, those who heard the name "Greenwood" should try an (Occult) roll. Sasahara: (Occult) is my specialty. Let me give this a spin. (rolls dice) Got it with room to spare. KP: All right. For Sasahara, that name rings a bell. Check a look at this note.

    RUMORS CONCERNING 
  GREENWOOD TREATMENT FACILITY  
   Greenwood Treatment Facility is in a town 
 with the same name. It provides mental care. During the 1920s 
 there was a report of someone carrying out human experiments 
 using the patients. No fewer than five people were cruelly used in 
 these experiments, and they didn't even look human in the end. 
 It is now unknown where the town of Greenwood exists, or if it 
 does indeed exist. Perhaps the entire thing is an urban legend 
 born of prejudice concerning mental treatment.

Tatsumi: This feels like a reference to the scenario on sale right now, "At the Medical Facility". Could our Jeffrey be the one from that story? TL Note: They're referencing "The Asylum and Other Tales". If you'd like to see some Japanese players go through the scenario, you can do so here. The proper name for this treatment center was "The Greenwood Asylum for the Deranged". Mutsumi: It seems that way, though I forgot about the name of Greenwood. Tatsumi: Keeper, can I metagame here? KP: If Sayaka-chan et al say they want to hear, I don't mind. Sayaka: Please tell us. Notes: Some time ago both Mutsumi and Tatsumi's players went through the events of The Asylum, they began to retell what they experienced. Sayaka: So to make sure, you're saying that Jeffrey is the same Jeffrey from that scenario? Tatsumi: But the Jeffrey in that scenario wasn't modified to stop him from aging. Mutsumi: Maybe Kleine Microbiotics came in after that scenario to pick up the pieces. Tatsumi: Remember Shoji Gosuke? Kleine was backing him. Maybe they used some of Shoji's research into altered cells to make Jeffrey immortal . . . Oh dear, this scenario seems to be taking a dark turn. KP: Mutsumi, you don't have to roll for this. You find a label affixed to the side of the answering machine. The information on it matches the meishi Sayaka-chan got from Rogers. Mutsumi: We should pay this company a visit. Sasahara: Going into their main base? Isn't that too dangerous? Tatsumi: We could ask Miyako-kun for help, but this won't be easy. Sasahara: Let's see how big the company is. I want to check out the building using Google Street view. KP: When you check it out, it looks like a narrow, four-story office building. The building also has many small spaces for shops, general office work, etc that are being rented out. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Greenwood Treatment Facility and Jeffrey Mu-tan reporting in again. My favorite Call of Cthulhu scenario is "Dead Man Stomp". This time we have some spoilers for a scenario from "The Asylum and Other Tales." While the scenario's quite old at this point (over 20 years in fact), there are likely some players who've not gone through it yet, and I don't think it'd be good for them to read past this point in my explanation due to spoilers. Still here? Time to get to the meat of the matter. The Greenwood Treatment Facility was researching shoggoth matter, like Shoji Gosuke did. Some time ago a young man named Jeffrey Collin was admitted to the Treatment Facility. He was manifesting signs of schizophrenia but in fact had been mind-swapped with a member of the Great Race of Yith. The doctor learned of his knowledge of superscience and put his talents to work researching shoggoth material. We cleared the scenario and got Jeffrey out of that terrible place. I wonder what kind of connection the Jeffrey from this game has to the Jeffrey from that scenario. Shoji Gosuke, the Greenwood Treatment Facility, and the Sahimetou . . . three forces that were fascinated by shoggoth research. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tatsumi: It's possible that Kleine Microbiotics is a dummy corporation and that the only employee is Rogers. Sasahara: Well, let's go. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: The Shadow Out of Time

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: The Investigators were ready to make their charge into the branch office of Kleine Microbiotics, but when they finally got there, it was 1900 hours. The office workers had all left and the place was shut up tight. There was no trace of anyone there. Surprisingly, this was good news, as they soon decided to break into the place and sneak in. Mutsumi set to work on destroying the lock with her (Mechanical Repair) skill. TL Note: The (Locksmith) skill in Call of Cthulhu is used to manipulate locks, but unlike (Mechanical Repair), it leaves the locks intact after the skill is used. If you depend on (Mechanical Repair) for your extra-legal work, you will leave behind a big trail of evidence. Think carefully about the best COA for the situation. Well, enough about that. Back to our regularly scheduled programming. Notes: Unfortunately, she was not successful. Fearing that the unwanted attention drawn by the racket, the schoolgirls worried they'd have to resolve on their (Fast Talk) if they were discovered. Sayaka: [Mu-tan, you might have gone too far this time.] KP: If you guys mess up here, you'll be reported to the police. Mutsumi: (messing with lock) I'm sorry, Sayaka-chan. I think I'll get this on the next try. (rolls dice) I got it! Tatsumi: Right at the worst time, we get into a spot of trouble. (lol) Sasahara: (Locksmith) and (Mechanical Repair) are valuable skills. KP: But if she had a (Locksmith) skill of 89%, she'd be able to sneak in almost anywhere. That'd make things very difficult for the Keeper, as I wouldn't be able to hold back precious information. Tatsumi: It's true that we have to shoulder that risk when we break in somewhere, but even with a large (Locksmith) skill we can't casually walk in afterward. KP: Ah, is that so? (lol) Sasahara: Although sometimes we do get too full of ourselves and just casually walk in afterward. (lol) Tatsumi: Setting that aside, if someone is inside the office, he'll hear us if we're too loud outside. Let's go ahead and enter. Sayaka: I go first. If there's trouble inside, I'll stop it with a (Kick). KP: It doesn't look like anyone's inside. The entrance has a small desk set up for reception. In the back are areas divided by cheap-looking partitions. Sayaka: We take a look around so we don't get caught. And we are on the lookout for Miyako-san, by the way. KP: It seems that she is not here. There's no trace of anyone being kept in confinement. However, in the back, near the director's office, you see the Yuggothan bucket. Mutsumi: So we know for sure that this is Kleine Microbiotics' doing. Sayaka: I'm glad to hear that. We'd done so much getting here that I was worried about what it would be like if Kleine had been innocent this whole time. KP: The bucket seems a little different from when you last saw it. Try a (Mechanical Repair) roll. Mutsumi: I was really worried about what would happen if I failed before, so I won't fail now. (rolls dice) I made it. KP: It's missing some parts. And the tools Jeffrey bought in Akihabara are lying about. Mutsumi: Parts have been pulled out? For what reason? Tatsumi: I haven't the foggiest. Sasahara: While she's messing around with the pail, I take the time to look about the office. KP: You discover a device. It's about 30 centimeters wide. It has an odd-looking trapezoidial shape. It looks like it's made of bronze. Complex designs are carved into the surface. It clearly isn't an example of modern art. On the bottom is what looks like a light. On top is a red jewel. There are several switches on it, but they're not labelled in any language you recognize. Sasahara: What is this thing? I want to fool around with it for a bit. OST: [1] KP: (Wow, he ended up going with the unsafe choice.) Hmm. To understand how to operate this machine, you'll need to make an (Idea) roll. Sasahara: [What kind of device is this?] (rolls dice) Made it. KP: As Sasahara randomly fiddles with he device, he chances upon (accidentally, in fact) the right way to operate it. White light begins to spill out of it and you feel very dizzy. The gem on the top begins blinking. Tatsumi: [Sasahara, what did you just do!?] Sasahara: [I just touched it and it started doing all this on its own!] KP: As the light settles down, you see something strange in your field of vision. It's a towering form, easily over three meters tall, with pincers that remind you of crab claws connected to a rainbow-colored cone body. This last part has some kind of shell. One of top sections, which looks like some kind of horrible receptacle, moves with a ghastly elasticity. Sasahara: Holy cow, a member of the Great Race has appeared! KP: The Yithian turns three of its eyes to look in your direction and snaps its crab claws. You need to make (Idea) rolls. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Got it. Sasahara: (rolls dice) I made the check. Sayaka: (rolls dice) No good. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I failed! KP: Those of you who made the roll realize this isn't the true form of what you see here. Instead it's a form of solid projection. Sasahara: Oh, that's good. So this device is some kind of projector. KP: And now it's time for everyone to make some (Sanity) rolls. Those of you who don't realize you're looking at a projection might lose a lot of Sanity points this time. Sayaka x Mutsumi: Oh no! Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I failed! But maybe this won't be so bad. It's just a projection after all.

Sasahara: (rolls dice) Oh, I failed. KP: Those with failing rolls will lose 1D3 Sanity from witnessing the projection. Tatsumi: (rolls a die) Okay, I'm down 2 points. I still have 27 points left. Sasahara: (rolls a die) I lost a point. I have 53 Sanity points remaining. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I made my Sanity test. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) I'm okay too. KP: It's still a shocking thing to see, so even if you realize it's just a projection, you still lose 1 Sanity point anyway. Sayaka: I have 75 points left. Mutsumi: I have 53 left. One thing is true; we haven't had that many Sanity rolls in this scenario. Tatsumi: But isn't that a good thing? I wish all scenarios would be like this one (laughs). KP: The strange being begins clacking its pincers. Try an (Idea) roll again. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Got it. Mutsumi: (rolls dice) Yep. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I made the roll. Sasahara: (rolls dice) I passed as well. KP: The clacking noise it's making is some form of communication. You also realize the creature has a much higher intelligence than a simple beast. Sasahara: Hmm. Do you think we could try talking with it in Japanese? KP: As if in response to what you said, the creature reaches out and appears to do some kind of manipulation in the air. Then the creature fades out from view. Sasahara: Did it remotely trip the switch on the projector? Tatsumi: I think this machine is a communication device made by the Yithians. We used it to establish a link with one, and then it realized we were humans, and then it cut the signal. Sasahara: If we saw a Yithian when they still looked like that, then this machine was sending information to and from the ancient past. Sayaka: This is amazing! KP: For it to make a projection that looked totally real, they must truly have technology far above what humans can acheive. Anyway, I need all of you to make (Listen) rolls now. OST: [1] Sayaka: Oh no, is someone coming back here? (rolls dice) Made it. KP: Yes, that's right. You can hear the footsteps of someone coming up the stairs and walking towards this office. Sayaka: (whispered) [Someone's come back! Quick! Hide!] Sasahara: [Hide . . . where!?] Tatsumi: Oh no, he'll see the broken lock and realize someone's poking around inside. Sayaka: Could we flee to a higher floor? OST: [1] KP: Whoever is there is close enough to hear the sound of your feet, and would surely see you as you ran. Sayaka: [Yup! Hide!] Mutsumi: I'll try to hide in the darkness. KP: Come on, (Hide) rolls all around. Notes: Normally (Hide) rolls in a crowded office would be a troublesome affair, but fortunately this group has a kindly Keeper. You should recognize and honor the warm and generous heart this Keeper possesses without fail. The group tried their (Hide) rolls. Sayaka and Mutsumi succeeded, but Sasahara and Tatsumi did not. KP: Okay, one person walks up to the front door. You can tell from his stance and walk that he's used to being here. But then he takes a step back when he sees the destroyed lock. Since two Investigators failed their (Hide) check, he gets to try (Spot Hidden) rolls to see you. Sasahara x Tatsumi x Sayaka x Mutsumi: Fail! Fail the roll! KP: (rolls twice) He made one of the rolls. (rolls a die) He found you, Tatsumi. Tatsumi: Blast it! Well, I nonchalantly walk away from everyone else and stand in the light. KP: You now see who it is that walked into the building. It's Rogers. He is carrying a small submachine gun which he has squarely pointed at you. Sasahara: A submachine gun!? Sayaka: Since he's distracted by Tatsumi-sensei, can I launch a sneak attack and waylay him with a well-placed (Kick)? Mutsumi: Chill. If Rogers shoots you with that, you'll die. Sayaka: I just need to roll under my (Martial Arts) . . . but then again, I don't want to get killed by Rogers so I guess I'll just bide my time and see what'll happen. Mutsumi: Don't talk about being killed! (lol) KP: Yes, that's probably the most rational thing to do (Sayaka-chan's always so eager to dive into danger.) Rogers looks over Tatsumi and says the following in a calm, even tone: [Who on earth are you?] Tatsumi: [That's my line. What have you done with Miyako-kun? Where is she?] KP: (as Rogers) [What is your relation with her?] Sayaka: He's her lover. Tatsumi: No! [W-we're old friends.] KP: (as Rogers) [Then tell me her whereabouts. Now.] He carefully takes aim through the sights of the gun. Tatsumi: What's this guy saying? OST: [1] KP: Just a sec. (rolls dice) (I checked for Tatsumi's Psychology roll. It was a success.) You think that Rogers really does know where she is. Tatsumi: [You yourselves kidnapped Miyako-kun, didn't you? I suspected so myself, and made my way here.] KP: (as Rogers) [Stop playing dumb. She spoke of "that one" - whoops, looks like I said too much.] (laughs) Sasahara: Who could she mean by "that one"? Mutsumi: Probably Jeffrey. Sayaka: [Rogers-san, where is Jeffrey?] Sasahara: Dang it, Sayaka-chan came out of hiding. Sayaka: But this guy seems like a normal human, and I'm worried about Jeffrey. KP: He remembers the kanban musume of R'lyeh Company. [Sayaka-san, why on earth are you here?] Sayaka: [I'm worried about Miyako-san and Jeffrey. Rogers-san, do you know something about what happened to them?] KP: (as Rogers) [Absurd. What are you saying? "That one" was kidnapped. By none other than your esteemed friend Miyako.] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): The Relationship between (Spot Hidden) and (Hide) Hello again. Mu-tan here. My favorite detective is Sherlock Holmes. To conceal a person, you'd roll your (Hide) skill. To find something that has been concealed, you'd roll your (Spot Hidden) skill. Fairly self-explanatory, right? If there was a hide and seek battle between two people, one with a 99% (Hide) and another with a 99% (Spot Hidden), the (Spot Hidden) guy would probably win most of the time. That's kind of unfair. In fact, the rules themselves don't clearly spell out how each works in realtion to the other. Our Keeper and many others have had to puzzle over the rules and in order to arbitrate what happens. Our Keeper made the following house rule: if the Investigators make their roll, that usually is enough to carry the day. It's biased in favor of the Investigator's side of things. In other words, had all the Investigators made their (Hide) skill tests, Rogers wouldn't have been able to discover them with the usual (Spot Hidden) tests. However, he might well have found us in time because he saw the destroyed lock and knew someone was there. Don't waste time and effort doing wasteful things. Yes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sasahara x Tatsumi x Mutsumi x Sayaka: Whaaaaaaa -! Notes: The total opposite of what the group expected had come to pass. While Sayaka-chan had staked out Jeffrey's apartment, Miyako kidnapped Jeffrey from right in front of Kleine Microbiotics. Rogers then armed himself with a submachine gun for protection and had been hunting down Miyako ever since. Sasahara: Could Miyako-chan do that kind of thing? Mutsumi: She's got Zero Sanity, but in terms of skillset she's a normal human (lol). KP: In terms of raw skill, it's probably impossible, but it happened because it was fated to happen by the scenario. Her player probably rolled a 01 on the skill tests to make it happen. (lol) Tatsumi: Rogers doesn't have any skill in telling lies, so this is probably true. Sayaka: Maybe all of this happened after the Yuggothan Bucket was stolen. After that, Miyako-san infiltrated Kleine Microbiotics. Sasahara: It is odd to think of Miyako doing this all by herself. I wonder what she intends to do with Jeffrey? Tatsumi: I have no idea. KP: (as Rogers) [If you're Miyako's friend, help us find her. If we get Jeffrey back safe and unharmed, we won't have her charged for infiltrating our place and kidnapping Jeffrey.] Tatsumi: [But we don't know where she is!] Sayaka: [Rogers-san wants to get Jeffrey back. We want to find Miyako-san. Why don't we cooperate and work together?] KP: (as Rogers) [Nice plan. Sayaka-chan, you are someone who understands.] Sayaka: [Could you put away that dangerous thing?] KP: (as Rogers) [But if I do that, we might get attacked again.] Sayaka: I guess we can't guarantee that won't happen. Sasahara: I would like to get a submachine gun. KP: Just so you know, your barbaric utterings are being recorded for the replay. Sasahara: Why do you think that would frighten us? (lol) KP: Rogers realizes that your teams are short on time and calls a temporary truce. He does not seem interested in personal details at all. Sayaka: Why did you want the Yuggothan Bucket? KP: He needed it to take care of Jeffrey's health. For particular reasons, they needed Yuggothan technology. They covertly read the books at R'lyeh Company and opened negotiations with Miyako, but she refused to play ball. Eventually they had to steal the item directly from Henmi's office. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes (Mu-tan's One Point Sketch): Weapon [Destructive] Power Levels This is Mu-tan. My favorite Dragonball character is Android 8. Even in the Cthulhu TRPG, which does not especially favor combat, both Investigators and NPCs need fighting ability. Targeting, damage, and armor are all things you need to get a grasp of lest the enemies mow down your beloved Investigators. To a certain extent, this is necessary. If Investigators didn't fear for their lives, it wouldn't be a horror game. Unskilled human combatants are not a match for Investigators armed with guns. The Keeper needs to keep in mind what the Investigators' capacities are and arm their enemies to match that. In this scene, Rogers was sporting a submachine gun, which far exceeded what our group was capable of dealing with. Sayaka-chan might have been killed if he had shot her with that weapon. This shows how powerful enemies can be, and demonstrates how avoiding unnecessary combat is often the best approach. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mutsumi: Now that you mention it, I remember noticing that the Yuggothan Bucket seems different from how I remember it. Sasahara: They said he needed the Yuggothan Bucket in order to maintain Jeffrey's health. What kind of person is Jeffrey, anyway? (lol) Tatsumi: There's no way for us to understand how Miyako thinks or what she does. But since she's taken Jeffrey as hostage, maybe she wants to trade them both for money. KP: Thus far, there have been no calls or notes from Miyako demanding a ransom. Mutsumi: Would Rogers be okay with exchanging the Yuggothan Bucket for Jeffrey? KP: It seems that they've already removed all the things they need from it. He's okay with the idea. Tatsumi: Still, for Miyako to be doing research into Yuggothan tech . . . the idea is so absurd it feels like a cheap gag. Sasahara: For Miyako to turn out be the Big Bad now seems a little unbelievable. (lol) Mutsumi: Speaking as her former player, I'm kinda shocked. Tatsumi: Just for the sake of trying, I want to call Miyako on her cell phone one more time. KP: (rolls dice) After it rings a few times, she picks up. OST: [1] Tatsumi x Sasahara x Sayaka x Mutsumi: Hoeeeeeh!? KP: (as Miyako) [Ah, Tatsumi-sensei. You called at a good time. It's true that our hearts are operating on the same wavelength.] Tatsumi: [Miyako-kun, where are you right now?] KP: (as Miyako) [The obstetrics wing of Nakatani Hospital. No one's using it right now!] Sasahara: Oh wow, that's a call back all the way to something in the first scenario. KP: Now Nakatani has gone on to southeast Asia, and the building they were using has closed down. Tatsumi: [What are you doing there?] KP: (as Miyako) [Tatsumi-sensei, could you come here? Before midnight, and alone. Please come here! Please come! You have to come here!] she says, her voice full of urgency. Sayaka: Miyako-san is scary! (sweatdrops) Sasahara: She's gone nuts. Tatsumi: [Come to your senses, Miyako-kun!] KP: You can try a (Psychiatry) test here, Tatsumi-sensei. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) Got it. KP: You haven't gotten her to calm down, but some of her symptoms seem familiar. They're very unusual. She says what she has to say, and then she hangs up. Tatsumi: I don't know if Jeffrey's with her, but we should go to the Nakatani lab and find her ASAP. KP: (as Rogers) [She said she wanted you to come alone, but what are you going to do?] Tatsumi: [I'll go in alone, but the rest of you will be waiting outside in case something goes wrong.] KP: (as Rogers) [I suppose we can trust in your negotiation skills. The rest of us will follow your strategy.] Mutsumi: Rogers has been very reasonable and rational. That's unexpected, considering his company's involvement with shoggoth tissue research. Sayaka: Or perhaps since he was working in a branch office, he wasn't informed on the inner workings of the main office. Sasahara: Perhaps he specializes in physical labor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Miyako's Valentine Present

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: The Investigators - and Rogers- rushed to the closed down building. After carefully checking out the building, they quietly infiltrated it. Tatsumi: [Miyakoooo-kuuun, where are you?] I purposely raise my voice to cover the sound of their footsteps. KP: (rolls dice) Her voice slices through the darkness. [Tatsumi-sensei, I'm glad you made in time. Now come to me, quickly.] As you head toward the source of the sound, you find that one of the signs on the walls is lit. It's for the operating theatre - and it says a surgical operation is currently being performed. Sasahara: When she talked about making it in time for something, she must have meant Valentine's Day. Maybe Miyako-chan wants to give Tatsumi-sensei some kind of present. Mutsumi: I see. That does make sense. Tatsumi: I net it's something I won't want. All right, I'll have everyone else wait outside while I go inside the room. KP: The room is used for surgery. There are no windows. It has a tiled floor. There are lighting apparatuses on the ceiling for shining light on particular areas. In the middle of the room is the operating table. Jeffrey has been secured to this table with rope around his arms and legs. His duffle coat has been repurposed in lieu of a mattress. Sasahara: Looks like Miyako was the villain after all. OST: [1] KP: [Thank you very much for coming, Tatsumi-sensei!] says Miyako. She's wearing her maid uniform but for some reason also has on rubber gloves. Behind her, surgical tools have been neatly lined up. Sayaka: Whatcha gonna do, Miyako-san? (lol) Tatsumi: [What the heck are you doing!? Let Jeffrey go!] KP: (as Miyako) [Nope! This is your Valentine Day present! Now hurry, get to the operating stage!] Tatsumi: Uh . . . KP: Tatsumi-sensei is at a loss for words. Miyako continues. [I'm going to give you eternal life, Tatsumi-sensei!] Tatsumi: Wait a second, are you going to put my brain in that Yuggothan bucket? KP: (as Miyako) [But with how things are now, you'll die before I do.] Tatsumi: [Well yes, that's just common sense-] KP: (as Miyako) [I can't stand that!] she screams, interrupting you. Sayaka: Scary! Miyako-san is scary! (lol) Tatsumi: [Does Jeffrey have some connection to this "enternal life"?] KP: (as Miyako) [That's Tatsumi-sensei for you. He's already figured it out.] Tatsumi: No, I haven't gotten that far yet. (lol) KP: [This is amazing technology. At first I thought I'd only be able to preserve Tatsumi-sensei's brain, but then when I started to carefully research the Bucket . . . but if I use this . . .] she says as she removes Jeffrey's coat. Tatsumi: Oh no, don't show me anything scary! (lol) KP: Jeffrey's body has been altered and part of the Yuggothan Bucket has been embedded in his abdomen. The content inside it glistens like a black, shiny beetle and pulses - and you realize that it contains something that looks like the shoggoth tissue that Gosuke was studying. Anyway, since you can see all of this, you need to make a Sanity roll. Tatsumi: It'd be terrible if I went mad here. (rolls dice) . . . ! I failed. KP: You lose 1D6 Sanity points. Tatsumi: If it's that low, I should be able to soak it. (rolls a die) I only lose one point! I've got 26 points left in the bank! Sasahara x Mutsumi x Sayaka: Yaaaay! KP: (Oh, that's good. If Tatsumi-sensei had lost his marbles, this entire thing would have gone up in smoke.) Tatsumi: Anyway, how is Jeffrey? KP: He's unhappy because he's been "outed" to you guys, who he clearly respects. Tatsumi: So does he have a human's soul? Mutsumi: Maybe this is a different person from the one at Greenwood Sanitarium. Sasahara: So by using shoggoth tissue, and using the brain in the Yuggothan Bucket, humans will be able to keep their consciousness and become immortal? KP: Normally, humans don't react well when shoggoth cells are introduced to their bodies. You saw that with the mushroom people in part 2. Gosuke was able to use medicine to keep his consciousness. Mutsumi: I think the Sahimetou were also using Yuggothan tech. Maybe Klein Microbiotics somehow got some of the cult secrets. KP: (as Miyako) [Okay, Tatsumi-sensei. I'll give you eternal life by putting your brain inside this young, healthy body.] Tatsumi: [I don't want to do that terrible thing just to live longer.] KP: (as Miyako) [Why!?] Tatsumi: [For starters, if I agreed then Jeffrey would die.] KP: (as Miyako) [But that doesn't matter! If it's for you, any sacrifice is all right.] Tatsumi: [What's your goal in all of this?] KP: (as Miyako) [I want to always be with you. Compared to that, there are no other important goals.] Mutsumi: She's gone totally mad. She used to be my character. This is so sad to see. Tatsumi: [I'm sorry, but that's going to work. Even if I get to live forever, you'll still remain mortal. Instead of me dying first, it'd be you.] KP: That made her take a step back. She looks as if she just realized something. [Y-you're saying you couldn't stand that, Tatsumi-sensei?] she asks in a small voice. Sasahara: Here it is! The development I've been waiting for. Sayaka: I'm so happy. Finally Tatsumi-sensei was able to respond to Miyako's feelings! Sasahara: (writing something down) "I won't be able to endure eternal life without you." [I'll use that line in my next novel.] Tatsumi: It was a convenient lie, but I still don't think I should have said it. Sasahara: So you don't think that carefully of Miyako-chan? Tatsumi: Frankly I think I'm way too old for her. She should find someone who's a better fit for her. KP: Ah, so that's how Tatsumi-sensei feels. Tatsumi: Here we go. [I'm already so old. It'll be a great waste for you if you die together with me. ]

KP: Hmm. Tatsumi-sensei ought to try a (Persuade) roll. If he fails, things will continue as they are. Sasahara: Making us settle things with a roll! Tatsumi: My (Persuade) skill is 89%. I'll probably succeed. Sayaka: That's a Death Flag. (lol) Tatsumi: Maybe not. This is where we put everything right. (rolls dice) Made it! Mutsumi x Sasahara x Sayaka: (applause) KP: Most impressive. Miyako listens carefully to the strict words of Tatsumi-sensei. A shaft of tears run down her face. Mutsumi: Really? KP: The intensity and hardness of her look fade. She also looks like she's gasping. Finally she is able to speak again in a pained voice. [Don't look at me with that face, Tatsumi-sensei . . . ] Tatsumi: [Miyako-kun?] KP: [Tatsumi-sensei . . . it feels like we've met again after a long separation. I wanted to always be with you. I think I've been in a dream.] Tatsumi-sensei, try a (Psychiatry) roll. Tatsumi: Maybe we can help Miyako-san be sane again. (rolls dice) Got it. KP: You guess that she may have been freed from her compulsive obsession. Mutsumi: Was she cured of her Permanent Insanity? Sasahara: That's the power of love! KP: Going by the rules, even though they call it Permanent Insanity, this'd be a recovery for her. She'd need at least one year of treatment to regain her mind. The average is four years. But if she goes through treatment, she could become an Investigator again, though she'll never be able to enjoy the same lifestyle she did before. Tatsumi: Oh, is that how it is? I didn't know. KP: Frankly I was surprised to read that while going over the rules. In ordinary play, I don't really worry about how Investigators that fall into Permanent Insanity. (lol) Sasahara: So Miyako-chan was regaining her sanity points over the year between season one and season three? KP: Her composure isn't that strong just yet. One good shock will shatter her mind anew. Her eyes have alighted upon Tatsumi-sensei glaring at her, and she wobbles as if she's about to fall over. Tatsumi: I move to catch her before she falls over. KP: As you hold her and rest her head in her arms, she goes to a peaceful, quiet sleep like a baby. Tatsumi: [All right, guys. It's safe to come over here now.] Sayaka: [Great work as always, Tatsumi-sensei!] I move immediately to help Jeffrey escape. KP: You get a good look at the Yuggothan bucket embedded in his chest. Make a (Sanity) roll, please. Sayaka: I was ready to deal with that. (rolls dice) I made it! KP: Then you lose no Sanity points. Sayaka: [Are you okay, Jeffrey?] I untie the ropes holding him in place and get him his coat. KP: (as Jeffrey) [I'm all right, Sayaka-san. But I didn't want you to see how I really was.] Sayaka: [So long as our hearts connect, it doesn't matter what form you have.] I look as if I don't care. And really, we've seen so much that this isn't anything that'll disturb us. Mutsumi: Sayaka-chan is relaxing to have around at times like this. KP: (as Jeffrey) [I'm happy to hear you say that.] he says as he lets out a friendly laugh. Even so, you can feel the distance between you in his expression. Sayaka: [Don't worry about it. We're friends, right?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [I - I'm not from the same time as you guys.] Tatsumi: [We had our suspicions concerning that.] Sasahara: [You told us about our dreams for the future. So even if you live in a different time, won't it be the same future?] OST: [1] KP: Jeffrey reflects on what you said. [I'm from the distant future. But perhaps I too will have a point where my own dreams come true.] he murmurs. Then his head inclines as he realizes something. Sayaka: [Jeffrey, is something wrong?] KP: [It seems that time is up. Sayaka-san, Mutsumi-san.] Sayaka x Mutsumi: [What is it?] KP: (as Jeffrey) [It was a shame I didn't get Valentine Day chocolate from you.] he says with a different expression. This time it's the kind of smile friends from the same age might show each other. Sayaka: [We still have it! It's right here!] Mutsumi: [I made this together with Sayaka-chan and Chika-pon.] KP: He takes the chocolate. [Wow - this is - I feel a little bashful.] He blushes and looks at your chocolate. Suddenly, he twitches as his head falls limp. Sayaka: What? KP: His face takes on a wholly different expression. His eyes are hollow, as if you're looking at a wax figure. No matter what you try, you don't seem able to provoke a response from this person, except for odd movements. Tatsumi: Then was his personality exchanged by one of the Great Race of Yith? KP: Rogers is shocked by Jeffrey's transformation. Tears flow down his face. [You've transcended time! It is the advent of our lord and master!] Mutsumi: So Rogers was a member of a cult supported by the Great Race of Yith. Tatsumi: So I guess I'll ask whoever just popped into Jeffrey's brain a question. [Who are you?] KP: [I received a suspicious transmission. I brought back our agent in a hurry. His eighty years of gathering data won't be wasted.] Sayaka: [You mean you're not Jeffrey?] KP: [He was the Shadow Out of Time. I remember the call. You were talking about how impossible it was to converse from someone in another time period.] Now all of you need to make (Idea) rolls. Tatsumi x Sasahara x Mutsumi: (roll dice) We got it. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I did not make it. KP: You're convinced that there's an alien personality inside of Jeffrey, and it belonged to that weird cone-thing. That means it's time for you to make your (Sanity) roll for the final episode of this season. Tatsumi: Whaaaaat!? Sashara: Right when I thought we were wrapping everything up! KP: Guys, relax. This scenario's a lot kinder than some of the others. You will only lose 1D6. Tatsumi: Maybe I'll make it through this after all. (rolls a die) I onhly lost one point. I have 25 Sanity points left. Sasahara: (rolls a die) I lost one point. I have 52 Sanity points left. Mutsumi: (rolls a die) I lost four points. I have 49 points left. KP: So no one fell into madness at the end? Well, I suppose that's fine for this scenario. Sayaka: I don't know what happened to Jeffrey. Sasahara: Is that good or bad, though? Sayaka: Perhaps it's for the best. If Sayaka understood what happened, I don't know what she'd do. Tatsumi: We're outclassed. We should try to resolve the situation peacefully. Sayaka: Fine, but let me know what happened to Jeffrey later. KP: Rogers reacts to the alteration in Jeffrey and begins trying to act as the escort for the new visitor. He clearly respects the entity and the two make preparations to leave. He speaks to you. [Please forget all about this incident. It'd be to your benefit, and to ours as well.] Sayaka: I see them off, but I'll look to see if Jeffrey doesn't like this. KP: He's not the same person you knew, so he doesn't look back at your group. He's also unsteady on his feet as the Yithian hasn't gotten used to this new body. Even so, he maintains a firm grip on the chocolates you handed to him. Mutsumi: Even though the Yithian has complete control of his body? KP: Perhaps Jeffrey's body itself refuses to let go of the chocolates. Sayaka: This is a bittersweet ending. We'll never think of Jeffrey without having these complicated emotions. KP: Well, we'll deal with the fallout from this scenario later, but right now we're at the end of the game. We'll figure out how many Sanity points you regain, and resolve Miyako's obsession with Tatsumi-sensei. Mutsumi: Wouldn't the latter be the main point, not a footnote? (lol) KP: I haven't put that much thought into it. I wonder what to say. Mutsumi: She was my old character. Watching her turn into the culprit gave me a complex feeling. KP: Anyway, for helping your nutty pal Miyako regain her sanity, you'll each get back 1D10 Sanity points. Mutsumi: Nutty? Seems like the one who should be complaining isn't the Keeper, but the player - me! How rude! Sasahara: Do we get any bonus SAN, like +1D3 or the like? KP: Not this time. We didn't have many Sanity rolls during this adventure. Tatsumi: That is true. Sayaka: I only lost one point. Well, we need to roll. Notes: The gang did pretty well with their SAN recovery rolls. Rather than just the Sanity points they earned for completing the scenario, they also got Sanity points for the skills that increased past 90 percent. Sayaka did very well. She earned 5 points of Sanity, raising her balance to 80 points. She had earned a profit of 15 points of Sanity since the beginning. Tatsumi earned 4 points of Sanity, bringing his total to 29. He had earned a profit of 2 points of Sanity since the beginning. Sasahara earned 3 points of Sanity, bringing his total to 55. He had earned a net profit of 3 points of Sanity since the beginning. Mutsumi earned 5 points of Sanity, bringing her total to 54. She earned a net loss of four points of Sanity since the beginning. Mutsumi: Sayaka-chan's Sanity points have finally hit it big: 80 points! Sayaka: I got a lot of Sanity points thanks to improving my (Spot Hidden). Tatsumi: Sayaka-chan got a lot. #winning Mutsumi: I'm in the red after all of that. I was floundering back and forth between fifty and sixty points. Sayaka: But isn't that the most interesting? Mutsumi: Yes, I suppose so. Tatsumi: Meanwhile, I'm toeing the line. KP: And the funny thing is that Tatsumi rolled against Sanity fifteen times this season, but he only made one Sanity roll. With his record of failing those again and again, you can say that he reaps what he sows, can't you? Tatsumi: All those times, and I only succeeded once!? Can it be? KP: I remember when you saw the tentacle of Cthulhu-sama in the first scenario and manifested hysterical blindness for an hour. That might have saved you from a lot of trouble, now that I think about it. Tatsumi: I don't want to succeed only at trivial moments . . . KP: In contrast to this, Sayaka-chan did not falter. She only failed her Sanity roll twice during the entire campaign. We can see the effect of that on her current Sanity point tally. Tatsumi: That befits her position as the hero. Sasahara: She's got really good luck with dice. The goddess of luck smiles on her when she throws the dice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Transcending Ancient Time

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KP: Well then, it's getting closer to the time for us to wrap this up. One month after the case is resolved, your group gathers one more time at R'lyeh Company. Today's the 14th of March - which means that it's White Day. Tatsumi: How is Miyako-kun? KP: She's greatly changed since that day. She seems very quiet and her behavior seems rather immature. The psychic shock of what she went through affected her footing - and she's been using a wheelchair to move around. Sasahara: She's become a sickly moe character! (lol) KP: Right now Miyako has but three Sanity points. You feel like you're the custodian of a fabulous creation wrought in glass - delicate and fragile. Sayaka: Only three points . . . no matter what she sees, she'll fall into madness. KP: Naturally she'll be far away from the Director's office. Her rest and recovery have been left in vice-Director Tatsumi's capable hands. Tatsumi: Me, a director of this place? Even though I retired from my work with mass media, it looks like I'm going to be very busy in spite of that. KP: By the way, the Anjinzuka group wants you to supervise her recovery. There's no one else they'd think of entrusting the task of healing Miyako's heart to. Tatsumi: Of course I'll accept. KP: And so the two of you are able to live in the same place. Right now she's too frail to work as your maid, though. Tatsumi: I help her get around in her wheelchair. Sayaka: Miyako-san must be really happy right now. KP: You could say that. Sasahara: Oooh, just thought of something. White Day is coming up. I don't want Sayaka-chan and Mu-tan to not get anything back. I have some special cakes made and bring one to each of them. Mutsumi: [Tama-nii, thank you!] KP: When you get that, you notice Miyako in her wheelchair, being guided into the room by Tatsumi-sensei. Sayaka: Oh wow, a White Day present from Tatsumi. Sasahara: But you didn't give him anything on Valentine's Day (lol). KP: Maybe he has to say whether or not he'll accept Miyako's love now (lol). Sasahara: Oh, I get it. Tatsumi: I accept her feelings. Sayaka: Good, it would have been too sad for Miyako if we skipped past that part. Tatsumi: I'm a terrible man . . . So when we gather at R'lyeh Company once again, I'll have set up a big spread of snacks and treats for everyone to munch on together. KP: Very well. Later on, when she sees the spread you've set out for her, Miyako begins beaming. Mutsumi and Sayaka-chan gave you some pointers on how to arrange all of that. It seems like Miyako has been freed from the obsession that she was under. Mutsumi: It's good that Miyako-san is happy. Sayaka: I'll munch on something as I think back to Jeffrey. [Will it be impossible for us to see him anymore?] Tatsumi: If the Yithian swaps minds with the boy again, we might. But who can say when or if that will happen? KP: While you're talking, a package arrives for Sayaka-chan. It's from Randoru. Sayaka: [Oh, this box is from Randoru-san. Where can he be now?] KP: This time the package is from Australia. Tatsumi: Oh, that reminds me. Australia has a Yithian city in it. Sayaka: I cut through the tape and open it! KP: Koala-themed snacks are inside. This must be for White Day. Sasahara: I wonder what these snacks are that could never have come from Australia (lol). Sayaka: Randoru-san is surprisingly devoted. Mutsumi: Maybe he's in a place where he can't receive packages (lol) KP: There's also a book marked as being for Sayaka-chan. It's an old volume, written in English. Tatsumi: An old book written in English? (I have to be careful with my Sanity points and not be made to read any grimoires.) KP: The letter included in the package says that he is working on a survey of remains near Ayers Rock. He won't be back for a while and is entrusting the store to you.

Sayaka: [It's good that he's as healthy and active as ever.] Tatsumi: What about the English-language book? Is it a grimoire? OST:[1] KP: It's the Pnakotic Manuscript. Sasahara has a great (Occult) skill, so he knows how rare that book is - there are only five of it left in the world. As you can imagine, it's quite precious. Sasahara: Randoru-san, how do you get your hands on these books? (lol) Tatsumi: I'm not going to read that! There's no way! (lol) KP: According to a note stuck inside the book, it's a reference to be used when studying certain ruins. In fact, it contains knowledge from before humanity existed - and to put it bluntly, it's data gathered by the Great Race of Yith. You do notice a mention of "R'lyeh" as you skim through the pages. Tatsumi: The Yithians mentioned R'lyeh? That's unexpected. KP: Randoru thought so too. He sent it to the shop for safekeeping so that he could continue to study it when he returned to Japan. There's also a passage from the book on the note. Sayaka: Tatsumi-sensei, please read this! (lol) Tatsumi: Maybe I can read enough on this page to know what it says without triggering a Sanity roll. KP: It's short and simple enough to not require an (English) roll either. Here's what you find:

To the wonderful people gathered at R'lyeh Company, I give you this for All Saint's Day. A gift full of love that transcends time itself.

KP: Is what it says. Mutsumi: Could that be . . . ? OST: [1] Sayaka: It's a message from Jeffrey to us. KP: Travelling through antiquity, translated from one language to another over and over, the message arrived here. Though it sounds a little tough as a result. Mutsumi: So the reference to R'lyeh wasn't the city, but the bookstore! Sasahara: Gotcha. It's put togehter well. Tatsumi: What are you going to say in explanation to Randoru-san? Sayaka: Good question. There's plenty of time before he returns to Japan, so I can think of a proper explanation. Although I'd rather have Jeffrey himself explain. Sasahara: The strangeness of this will surprise even Randoru-san. Sayaka: Let's work together to preserve a record of Jeffrey for when Randoru-san comes back to Japan. KP: Okay then, that's it for the second season of our campaign. Everyone, thank you very much for all your hard work! Sayaka x Mutsumi x KP x Tatsumi x Sasahara: Otsukaresama! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Conclusion of the Campaign, Reflections and Reminiscing

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: After we finished the game, we went out to an izakaya in Shinjuku. Everyone was going to share their thoughts and recollections of the second season. Or that was the reason, but it ended up as a standard enkai with everyone eating and drinking. OST: [01] KP: And with that, it's all over. We were having so much fun, too! Tatsumi: That's a shame. KP: I'm a little disillusioned (gulps down booze). Sayaka: We made it through the second season, so don't spoil the good mood. KP: Ah, my bad. Okay then - to getting through the second season, and bringing back Miyako from Permanent Insanity, kanpai! Tatsumi x Sasahara x Miyako x Sayaka: Kanpai! KP: Boy, I did a great job using that plot thread of Miyako being driven insane. Mutsumi: In my years of playing this game, I've noticed a blind spot in the rules when it comes to Investigators being cured of Permanent Insanity. Tatsumi: Indeed. Usually they can never be played again. KP: Because we're playing a campaign, these kinds of things can happen. It's interesting to be able to play the same character in the Cthulhu TRPG. Sayaka: But is Miyako-san going to be in a wheelchair from here on out? KP: If we look at the rules, we see she has no chance of ever returning to her normal state. She'll never be able to be an Investigator again, but with careful treatment over time, she'll recover more of herself. Mutsumi: If her treatment continues, after 1D6 months she'll get back 1D3 Sanity points and her player will be able to make a POW x5 roll to return her to active- KP: Ahem. If we use that calculation, will she able to return to her starting Sanity of 30 after four months? Mutsumi: Sadly no. Sayaka: Four months is a long time. Mutsumi: Sayaka-chan and I are going to graduate high school by then. Sasahara: But it'll seem short for her, as Tatsumi-sensei is with her. Mutsumi: Still, we can't expect to get her back as an Investigator and face terrifying scenarios. Sasahara: She might be able to become our stock gag personnel. That'll allow her to pop up in main events. Tatsumi: I'm surprised. Is that possible? KP: Why not, since it's interesting. Sayaka: I think it's good for Miyako-san, so we should approve it. Mutsumi: I feel the same way. At the end when Miyako was trying to perform surgery on Jeffrey, I felt like apologizing to her as she was my character. It was strange. KP: You weren't saying much during that scene. Sayaka: All's well that ends well. Tatsumi: I recognized Zero Sanity Miyako-kun as my girlfriend. It's official. Sasahara: Tatsumi-sensei, please make Miyako-chan happy. (lol) Sayaka: Yes, please! (lol) Tatsumi: (mumbled complaints) KP: You know if you get 187'd duuring an investigation, it'll break Miyako-chan like a piece of glass. Sayaka: No, I hate it. Don't say scary things like that. Tatsumi: I suppose I'll retire soon. Mutsumi: That's no good! If you retire, we'll lose one of our most capable people. We depend on your skills. We need you in the party. Tatsumi: The only thing to do is generate another Investigator with a really high EDU. Sayaka: Keep working hard, but not so hard that you pass away. Tatsumi: Don't ask for the impossible. But since Sayaka-chan has a high SAN, I'm somewhat relieved. KP: I think the storytelling worked well in this scenario. Tatsumi: I feel satisfied by it. Mutsumi: Not many Sanity points were lost. Tatsumi: Indeed! Let's have more scenarios like this one! KP: You guys suffered massive losses in the second scenario. This is my way of making it up to you. Sasahara: The ending was nice too. That was the cherry on top of the sundae. Mutsumi: So did Jeffrey have an immortal body? KP: Yes, that's right. Through a combination of treatment at Greenwood, and the Shoggoth material from Shoji Gosuke, and the research that Kleine Microbiotics did with the Yuggothan bucket, we ended up at that point. Sayaka: Okay, but why? KP: Because there was a high risk that Jeffrey's Yithian possessor would flee. The human mind who was returned to his own body might remember what he experienced and talk about it. Sasahara: Don't the Yithians do something to prevent that? KP: I can't claim to understand how hyperintelligent aliens behave, but I would hazard to guess they don't want humans to know about their existence. That's why they use cult members who are loyal and won't talk, like Rogers. Sayaka: What relationship did that group have with Jeffrey? KP: They wanted one human being with excellent knowledge that they could exchange minds with over and over again. Tatsumi: To build an immortal person, and make him acquire decades of knowledge. KP: Had things not soured, "Jeffrey" would have acquired about 100 years of information to report. By the way, Sasahara messed with that Yithian transceiver. That caused the Yithians to activate something in Jeffrey's body. In short, they accelerated their timetable and hurriedly gathered all the information Jeffrey had collected thus far. Sayaka: What's going to happen to Jeffrey? KP: All the information he collected is going to be recorded carefully. After that his spirit will probably return to the time of human history. Mutsumi: That's what he'll do again and again and again. Sayaka: That's so heartless. KP: In the process of this happening over and over, at some point their plan might collapse. Someday in the future, a group of Investigators will find out about this and free Jeffrey from his task. Sayaka: I want things to end up like that. Jeffrey's fate is too sad right now. KP: That's why I think I did the right thing by going light on the Sanity rolls for this scenario. If I had piled them on, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy this meeting where we talk about what happened. Tatsumi: I bet I would have lost all my Sanity points if that had happened. Mutsumi: We would have dragged our bloodthirsty Keeper to kangaroo court (lol). Sasahara: So what's going to happen to Kleine Microbiotics? Why were they mentioned such a long time ago? Tatsumi: They were a cult supporting the Yithians. I guess you could say they were forward thinking. KP: Kleine Microbotics appears in a campaign called "The Fungi from Yuggoth". The particular scenario was called "The Dreamer". Tatsumi: Really? I played through that campaign but I have no recollection of that. KP: It's a blink and you miss it moment. And the Yithian agent in that was named Rogers as well. Sasahara: Was it the same one? KP: No, because it if was he'd be over 100. The scenario happened back in the 1920s. It was my own imagining that the Yithians would settle upon that as a stock name for their agents. Tatsumi: I really don't remember it at all. KP: It was a bit part. There are only a few in Japan that'd catch the reference. Mutsumi: There were quite a few references in the scenario that'll go into the repaly. KP: Yes, I felt a little lost. I thought I'd throw in some more stuff from things other than the original novels. Mutsumi: What do you mean? KP: That this game will be linked to the Cthulhu Mythos by the references to other scenarios. This is not to chip away at them, but to emphasize the love for the original works. Mutsumi: Meaning the people who played through those scenarios will get a rush from coming across the reference. Sasahara: This kind of development is different. Tatsumi: That was tried out in a scenario from Cthulhu 2010 titled, "Death Carves into the Arm". KP: Of course if no one gets the reference it's bad, but making the people who get the reference smile is fine. I'm thinking of upping that amount. Mutsumi: That's fine. Sasahara: It'll mean a lot to people like me who are invested in the mythos and the original stories. KP: The only thing I worry about is if the reference is a kind of spoiler. Mutsumi: Do you have to worry about that? The scenario came out over twenty years ago. KP: Even so, there are still people who have yet to play it. Mutsumi: Then just be careful when you write them in. It might just be a famous name from the Fungi from Yuggoth campaign. Sayaka: After reading this, won't people want to meet Jeffrey from "The Asylum"? Tatsumi: True, instead of waiting for it to happen naturally there'll be Investigators that pretend not to know and then seek it out. KP: I see. I can understand that way of thinking. Mutsumi: At the same time, there are plenty of people who've read the original Cthulhu Mythos stories and pretend not to know about what's going on while they play Investigators. KP: All right then, let's hear what you thought of the campaign. Tatsumi: I think it was bad for a casualty to appear at the school. KP: Out of nowhere, you're picking that one. Tatsumi: To put it into words, if a student fatality shows up, it'll be hard for us to back to a quiet, relaxing school life. Sayaka: Not only that, but when these terrible things happen at our school, we feel responsible for them, like they're our fault. KP: It is what it is. Think about what happens on Meitantei Conan. The audience has come to expect it. Mutsumi: No matter where the Investigators go, these blasphemous horrors have to show up. (lol) Tatsumi: I understand the reason, but I have to apologize to the students (lol). Sayaka: I really want to apologize to Chika-pon. Mutsumi: One of our club members was killed, a classmate went through extreme trauma, another was crushed, and the transfer student was possessed by an alien time traveller. Your average female student wouldn't stand for this. Sasahara: These weren't NPCs that we didn't know that well, they were people that we met everyday. It's a bit heavy. KP: Now I know why a school-themed Cthulhu TRPG campaign was going to be tricky. Just going like I normally would leads to trouble. Sayaka: I hope that the Seven Mysteries of the school don't turn out to be grisly nightmares. Sasahara: Even if those Seven Mysteries turn out to be missing persons cases, we'd suspect the people were done away with. Sasahara: Rather than just horror, it's cannibal horror. KP: I like it! Sasahara: But we're herbivore Investigators. KP: Really? I thought your character was quite the hedonist when it comes to flesh. (lol) Sayaka: Because those people are high school girl investigators! (lol) KP: Maybe I put Mutsumi-chan through too much. Mutsumi: Why? KP: Because I went through all the trouble of having you be a high-school investigator and then didn't use that setup well. Sayaka: Well, if you put it like that, her position as a high school student didn't connect to the scenarios much. Sasahara: Though you fit the scenarios fairly well, Sayaka-chan. Tatsumi: If three out of the four Investigators had been outsiders, it would have been hard for us to act within the school. Sasahara: I have something to say about that. We are not outsiders. We, like Sayaka, dispense justice for the girls in the school. We're in the position of screaming and laughing. Mutsumi: I had the chance to use my skills at some strange times. I didn't have any problems with the activities. KP: That's a good thing. It'd have been a bad thing if we didn't get a hold on Mutsumi's character until the end. Sasahara: There was the dark history of Miyako's days as Tatsumi's maid. (lol) Mutsumi: You should look forward to the real true Mutsumi in the next season. (lol) Sayaka: Will this campaign continue? KP: That's not up to me. It's up to our readers to decide. Mutsumi: So if it's popular, it'll continue. Sayaka: I hope that we can finally meet Randoru-san in the next season. And I'm waiting to talk more with Jeffrey-san. Tatsumi: I doubt the latter will be on earth in the next season. (lol) Mutsumi: Maybe a Byakhee will carry a letter to us from the Library of Celaeno next time. (lol) KP: You'll probably see things that Randoru aquired during his travels. Sayaka: Maybe we can get in touch with him through long-distance. Sasahara: Shouldn't we try to play a really big campaign, like the Shiromuku no Kamen? KP: That could be good. I'll have fun thinking about the scenario. Mutsumi: I want to see more things around the school, and see Tatsumi-sensei work as acting director. Sasahara: That's true. Now that Tatsumi-sensei got to that spot in the school, the school's going to be a lot more fun. Tatsumi: I'll be fine so long as the stories are like those in the third scenario, namely ones with very few Sanity rolls. Sayaka x Mutsumi x Sasahara: Yes, more like that one! (lol) KP: Now having heard all that, I'll also include things the readers will like. Sasahara: If they're reading our campaign, they shouldn't complain. KP: All right, that's about it. Thank you all for working hard to make this a great game. Everybody: Otsukaresama! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Conclusion of the Third Story, and Looking Back Together ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: The game ended, so the group went to an izakaya in Shinjuku to talk about their thoughts about the campaign. That said, it soon became another banquet with people eating and drinking. KP: Dangit, they're out of basashi! I was really looking forward to eating that. Tatsumi: That is a shame. KP: That's disappointing . . . (gulp) Sayaka: Don't ruin how pumped everyone is making it through the second season with a weak gag like that. KP: Ah yes. Well everyone, now that we've survived the second season and Miyako's returned from Permanent Insanity, let's have a toast! Kanpai! Tatsumi x KP x Mutsumi x Sayaka x Sasahara: Kanpai! KP: I'm really glad I got to include that plot thread about Miyako recovering from her madness. Mutsumi: I've been playing this for a while. For there to be no rule on an Investigator recovering from Permanent Insanity is kind of a blind spot. Tatsumi: I've never heard of that either. For the most part, a zero-SAN Investigator can't be used anymore. KP: Because this is a campaign, it's fun to do this. It's interesting to have the same Investigator available for play many times. Sayaka: But is she going to be in a wheelchair from now on? KP: If I go by the rules, there should be no way for her to ever recover from her trauma. I don't think she'll ever be able to return as an Investigator, but there will be no obstacle preventing her from living her daily life. Tatsumi: So for 1D6 months' worth of treatment, she'd be able to regain 1D3 Sanity points with a successful POW x5 roll? KP: So with about four years of treatment, she'd be able to return to her starting Sanity of 30. Mutsumi: It's sad for her to only be able to regain up to 30 points. Sayaka: Not only that, but four years is a really long time. Mutsumi: That's about how long it'll take for Sayaka and me to graduate from college. Sasahara: Tatsumi-sensei's going to be with her. That should speed things along, shouldn't it? Mutsumi: I can't think of her enduring those kinds of grueling scenarios. Sashara: Even if she can't be an Investigator again, she can function as a background or gag character. That's probably the main point. Tatsumi: I'm surprised. Is this really possible? KP: It's all right so long as it's interesting. Sayaka: I think Miyako-san will be happy with it, so it's all right. Mutsumi: Yes. I feel the same way. At the end, the scene with Miyako performing surgery on Jeffrey made me feel very bad for my character. KP: Mutsumi didn't have a lot of things to say in that scene. Sayaka: All's well that ends well. Tatsumi: Now we need to focus our attention on Zero Sanity Miyako's recovery. Sasahara: Tatsumi-sensei, please see to Miyako-chan's happiness (lol). Sayaka: That's right! (lol) Tatsumi: (mumbles) KP: You know, if Tatsumi-sensei died during an investigation, Miyako would break forever. Sayaka: That's too horrible! Don't say scary things like that. Tatsumi: The time has come for me to withdraw from the battlefield. Mutsumi: No, we need you in the party! We'd be lacking in many key Skills if you left. Tatsumi: Hmm. I'd have to make an Investigator with a great EDU score if Tatsumi-sensei retired. Sayaka: You just have to work hard enough to the limit where won't die. Tatsumi: Don't ask for the impossible. If I had Sayaka's level of Sanity points, playing this would be a lot easier. KP: I thought this scenario had some good storytelling the way it was supposed to. Tatsumi: On that point, I'm satisfied. Mutsumi: We didn't lose many Sanity points. Tatsumi: Let's have more scenarios like this one! KP: You guys lost so many in the second scenario that I arranged this as a special service to you. Sasahara: It had a good ending that tied everything up nicely. I like those. Mutsumi: So Jeffrey had an immortal body? OST: [1] KP: You're on the right track. As you deduced, the treatment he received from Greenwood and Kleine, who studied the Yuggothan bucket, gave him immortality. Sayaka: But why? KP: Again, there was a high probability that the possessing Yithian would vacate Jeffrey's body. Jeffrey's original mind would return and start blabbing about the Yithians. Tatsumi: But does the Great Race of Yith worry about such things? KP: I can't understand the thought processes of a hyperintelligent aliens, but these beings don't seem to want the human race to know about them. That's why they have a cult full of people like Rogers to stop any possible leaks. Sayaka: But what connection does Jeffrey have to them? KP: Okay, the Yithians possess one individual and his mind is exchanged, his body inhabited. The more times they do that, the more likely it is that they'll get caught, right? So it makes sense that they'd want to do that fewer times. Tatsumi: So change things up - make the human immortal. Then the body can keep on gathering data for decades. KP: They probably would have been able to ge about 100 years of data out of Jeffrey this way. After then the inhabiting Yithian would have left. But Sasahara messed with their communicator device - and that might have caused the Yithians to do something to Jeffrey's body, and that would have rushed the data out of the boy. Sayaka: Okay. What would have happened to Jeffrey? KP: The process inside him collecting data would have stopped, and his original human mind would have returned to his body - the one that was stuck in the Yithian past. Mutsumi: So theirs is a cycle of repetition - travel, gather data, then go back. Lather, rinse, repeat. Sayaka: How awful! KP: Hmm . . . well, it all depends on the project the Yithians are working towards. And you might be able to save him in the future, or extricate him from the Yithians in some way. Sayaka: I hope we can do that. It's too cruel to leave Jeffrey like this. KP: Okay. I think going light on Sanity rolls for this scenario was a good call. If I had kept shaving them off, we wouldn't have anybody left for the recollection meeting. Tatsumi: Why are my Sanity points getting so close to zero? KP: It was the will of the bloodthirsty keeper (lol). Note: Some time passes. Sasahara: So was Kleine Microbiotics a call-out to something else? KP: It was a reference to a cult that served them that appeared in the "Fungi from Yuggoth" campaign. They were in "The Dreamer" scenario. Tatsumi: Really? I played through the "Fungi from Yuggoth" but I don't remember them. KP: They were only in there for a little bit. The fact that they had an agent named Rogers was in there too. Sasahara: Was it the same human? KP: Nope. Remember, the original scenario was in the 20s. Rogers would have been over a hundred by now. But my thinking was that the Yithians would always need a man on the ground, and that man would be named Rogers. Tatsumi: I don't remember that. KP: It was such a minor part. Only a few people in Japan would pick up that. (lol) Mutsumi: This time you packed in a lot of references to scenarios and replays. KP: I was a little lost . . . I thought I should pick up some stuff from the original stories and novellas. Mutsumi: Meaning what? KP: I firmly establish this as part of the Cthulhu Mythos by bringing in tons of references to other scenarios and replays. That way I get a balance between the loved original stories and some weathered scenarios. Mutsumi: Then readers who get them might become really excited. Sasahara: Some Keepers will be surprised that "this turned out like that". Tatsumi: Now that I think about it, that was tried out in a scenario from Cthulhu 2010 titled, "Death Carves into the Arm". KP: If they don't get the reference, no big deal. But if they do, they'll smile. That's about it. So I'll keep packing them in. Mutsumi: One after the other. Sasahara: For me, a person approaching this stuff for the first time through the game, there's a big deal between referencing the original books vs scenarios in the game. KP: But I worried about posting spoilers if I pulled stuff from scenarios. That one about people from the Asylum really concerned me. Mutsumi: That came out more than twenty years ago. If it was medicine, it'd be past the expiry date. KP: But what about the players who haven't gone through it yet? Mutsumi: Then be careful. Don't touch the core of the scenario. Just a call-out to a name or a noun from it is enough. Sayaka: But won't it be strange for people who read our scenario and then encounter Jeffrey in "The Asylum" scenario? Tatsumi: They'll just pretend they never met the chap before. KP: We can think of it that way as well. Notes: The original Cthulhu Mythos stories reveal a lot as well, but lots of players who have read them play as if they haven't. KP: Well now, do you have any thoughts concerning the campaign as a whole? Tatsumi: I think having all those deaths at the school was bad. KP: That's what you immediately jump on. Tatsumi: Well, if the students feel they're in danger of dying, they won't be able to enjoy their school life. Sayaka: Plus we feel responsible if we come to this school when terrible things keep happening around us. KP: The same thing happens in Meitantei Conan - wherever that kid goes, there's going to be murders. It's guaranteed to happen, so you should just accept it. Mutsumi: We're Investigators, so Cthulhu Mythos incidents will happen near us. Tatsumi: I understand the reason, but I want to apologize to the students. Sayaka: I felt awful for Chikapon. KP: You're unexpectedly sensitive. Mutsumi: My senpai was killed. My classmates were traumatized. A teacher was crushed to death. The transfer student was possessed by an alien. This is too much for an ordinary high school girl. Sasahara: Rather than thinking of them as NPCs, I wonder what's going to happen to the students I meet tomorrow. That's kinda heavy. KP: I have learned the difficulty of setting up a school campaign in the universe of the Cthulhu Mythos. If I had run a one-shot I wouldn't be having this trouble now. Sayaka: It'd be good if we didn't have an incident connected to the Seven Mysteries of this school. Sasahara: The Seven Mysteries? Someone'll go missing. Or some game will start after someone dies. Mutsumi: And if we don't uncover the truth, people will keep on dying. Tatsumi: Rather than just being a scary story, it's going to involve people being eaten. KP: I like graphic, showy stuff like that though. Sasahara: I'm a herbivore Investigator (lol). KP: According to my sources, you like racy, sexy things. Sayaka: That's why we're high school girl detectives! (lol) KP: I think I ended up being really rough on Mutsumi-chan this season. Mutsumi: Why do you think that? KP: Because I had you play a high school Investigator but I didn't do a good job of using the setting. Sayaka: If you don't mind my saying so, Mu-tan's being a high school student didn't relate much to the scenarios. Sasahara: If Sayaka was by herself, it'd be a usual scenario. OST: [1] Tatsumi: Amongst our group, there are three outsiders. It seems like it'd be hard for them to work at the school. Sasahara: What are you talking about? Tatsumi-sensei and I have legitimate reasons to be there. It's a good place for us. (lol) Mutsumi: I've had some small moments when my skills have been useful. I have no complaints on that point. KP: Thank you for saying so. I'm a bit sad that I wasn't able to create a good position for your character until the end. Sasahara: You've got a spooky one set up for Tatsumi-sensei. Miyako-chan's going to be his maid! (lol) Mutsumi: I'm looking forward to the next season. (lol) Sayaka: Will you continue this campaign? KP: That depends on the response of the readers. Mutsumi: In other words, it'll continue so long as these books are popular. Sayaka: I hope that we finally get to meet Randoru in the next season. Although there are many questions I want to ask Jeffrey as well. Tatsumi: What do you mean? He won't be on earth next season. (lol) Mutsumi: He'll get a Byakhee to deliver us a letter from the Library of Celaeno. KP: There may be some things that have a record of Randoru's travels. Sayaka: He's probably crossing the 3000 leagues. Sasahara: I think it'd be good for us to confront one big incident, like in Shiromuku no Kamen. KP: Hmm. That does sound possible. I'll have fun thinking up the scenario. Mutsumi: I want to be able to do more at Mitsukado Academy. I also want to see more activity from acting director Tatsumi-sensei. (lol) Sasahara: True, now that he's director it should be easier for us to take action at the school. Tatsumi: For me, it'd be great if more scenarios were like the third one - where I didn't have to make many Sanity rolls. Sasahara x Mutsumi x Sayaka x Tatsumi: Yes, that's a good thing! (lol) KP: That's all well and good, but I need to listen to the voices of the readers as well. It'd be goood if I can do that. Sasahara: I won't ask for much more if this campaign is allowed to continue. KP: Okay, time to wrap this up. Everyone, thanks for all your work and for a fun game! Sasahara x Mutsumi x Sayaka x Tatsumi x KP: Otsukaresama! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ending ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello. My favorite one of the original novels was "The Dunwich Horror". This is Uchiyama Yasujiro. The previous work in this series, R'lyeh Antique, got favorable reviews, so we ended up publishing a continuation to it in a school setting, as we alluded to at the end of R'lyeh Antique. This is due to the their support, and that of Nyarlko-san. Thanks again. Once again, Investigators gathered at the weird occult antique shop, R'lyeh Company. What did you think of their activity this time? They got involved in many weird cases, and gradually became accustomed to cosmic horror. They dealt with awful things that couldn't be resolved with ordinary skills or muscle. Their Sanity points decreased, and while that occured the players and Keeper remembered their original intention while laughing and walking a tightrope. Yes, it's good that no one was eliminated this time. Tatsumi-sensei's mind is as fragile as ever. He'll pull through. Surely. In terms of the scenarios, the first started with a mystery, then expanded into splatter, then Japanese horror at a declining village. Now we've got B-movie horror, as well as juvenile science fiction as themes! I tried throwing in many references to the original Cthulhu Mythos short stories and novellas as well as references to older scenarios. I worried about sharing spoilers but ultimately decided in favor of it because it was fun for me. Last time I shared my favorite themes, and this time I'm including my personal hobbies with full force. Because the Cthulhu TRPG uses such a simple system [TL Note: BRP] it's very easy to include all of these. That said, I will still make mistakes. Yet the players still keep getting scared. I'm glad that everyone enjoyed Zero-Sanity Miyako-san's meta discussions within the text last time around. You'll still be able to enjoy the antics of the character as she's now a Keeper-controlled NPC. Please play some of the Call of Cthulhu TRPG. You'll increase your (Cthulhu Mythos) skill. While you lose Sanity and experience the campaign you'll understand what makes the BRP TRPG system so interesting. You don't have to go through an epic adventure either. Simple, short sketch scenarios like the ones from this replay are fine too. Don't throw away those once you run them - save them and pass them to the next Keeper. When the players start to forget them, remind them and see the feeling of nostalgia creep back inside. To return to the subject of the book, I had a lot of help putting this one together. I need to thank the players who continued from last time. Thank you for not learning your lesson and returning once again to the world of horror. I'm thankful to those who gave me advice, correction, and cooperation in making this book a reality. We are all blessed by the Cthulhu Mythos. Thanks again to Koin-sensei, who drew wonderful illustrations. I'm sorry that I made him draw all those disgusting, warped creatures. He did draw Mutsumi-chan, the new Investigator, who Sasahara's player really liked. I'm extremely thankful for Sakamoto Masayuki's constant encouragement throughout all stages of this project. Finally, thank you to everyone who supported the Cthulhu TRPG and all the people who will play it in the future! May you receive lots of Sanity points in your games. May we meet again someday! Cthulhu Fhtagn! Uchiyama Yasujiro [personal page] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Translator's notes: Many explanations of game mechanics followed, but they are superfluous to most fans of the Call of Cthulhu game (i.e., STR [strength] is an attribute measuring how much weight your character can lift, CON [constitution] measures overall health and resistance to disease, etc. For brevity's sake I have omitted them. But there was something not present in the usual editions of the TRPG book . . . Development in Down Time The following is an optional rule proposed in Enterbrain's "Cthulhu 2010" supplement. It's a way to improve your skills through training in the interval between scenarios. Players can earn up to five checks (max) to use for improving their Investigator's skills. Naturally Investigators who have fallen into Indefinite Insanity or are confined to an insane asylum can not benefit from this. [TL Note: Personally, I'd grant one check per month of down time so long as the player can justify why his character deserves it - studying (Other Language: English) at an eikwaiwa, going rock climbing at a gym to boost (Climb), going in for mixed martial arts matches to improve combat skills such as (Fist/Kick/Dodge/Martial Arts), going to an archery range to improve (Archery), auditing a college art class to improve Art ( ) , or practicing at a track to bring up (Drive Automobile) are all good examples. Yes, this is throwing the players a bone but it doesn't really affect play balance when things like Hastur, Cthulhu, or Nyarlathotep are opponents.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hino Mutsumi's History ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Year as an Elementary Student - Strong Point: Music (Listen) + 03%, Art (Piano) + 06% Notes: She attended piano class, but did not come to like the instrument. Second Year as an Elementary Student - Strong Point: Home Economics Psychology + 02%, Art (Home Cooking) + 03% Notes: She wanted to someday be a mother, and began helping her own mother in an active way. Third Year as an Elementary Student - Strong Point: Doing Nothing But Playing Sneak + 03%, Sneak + 07% Notes: Kick the Can became a popular game in her class. She became very good at approaching the can quietly to kick it. Fourth Year as an Elementary Student - Strong Point: Arithmetic Accounting + 08%, Accounting + 08% Notes: She attended soroban (Japanese abacus) class and loved it. She became very good at anzan (mental arithmetic using an imagined soroban). Fifth Year as an Elementary Student - She Was Deep in Nature Dodge + 03%, Dodge + 03% Notes: Her school was out in the countryside. When she began her sixth year of elementary school, she transferred to the same city that R'lyeh Company is located. Sixth Year as an Elementary Student - Fascinated by Society-Related Material Archaeology + 06%, Archaeology +02% Notes: Influenced by her homeroom teacher, she became interested in archaeology. First Year as a Middle School Student - Superior Grades in Society-Related Material STR +1, SIZ +1, EDU +1 Anthropology + 04%, Anthropology + 10%, Anthropology + 06%, Anthropology + 03%, Anthropology + 03% Notes: She went on to middle school and shifted her interest from Archaeology to Anthropology. Second Year as a Middle School Student - Interested in The Samurai Code STR +1, SIZ +1 Fist +05%, Dodge +10%, First Aid + 09%, Fist +10% Notes: She studied karate at a local dojo. That's where she met Sayaka-chan. Third Year as a Middle School Student - Interested in Various Skills SIZ + 1, EDU + 1 Spot Hidden + 03%, Spot Hidden + 03%, Spot Hidden +06%, Mechanical Repair + 03%, Mechanical Repair + 07%, Mechanical Repair + 02%, Notes: This is when she realized she had an aptitude for delicate work. At the time of Graduation: Mechanical Repair + 05%, Electrical Repair + 05%, Other Language (English) +05%, History +05%, Library Use + 10% First Year of High School STR +1, SIZ +1 Art (Painting) + 05%, Art (Painting) + 05%, Art (Painting) +10%, Art (Painting) + 08% Notes: She joined the art club upon joining high school. She found a great sempai and became hooked on art. Her annual income is 40,000 yen (approx $359.23 at the time of this writing). As she's now a high school student, the otoshidama money she receives at the year's end has shrunk considerably. She receives a small allowance. Her parents take care of her clothing and educational expenses.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- References Occuring Throughout the Work -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "All according to my calculations" as well as "Outside of my calculations" are quotes by Sion Eltnam Atlasia from Melty Blood. "Kept you waiting, huh?" is a recurring quote in the Metal Gear Solid series. "It's just like one of my Japanese animes" is a quote from Metal Gear Solid. Chidamari Sketch is a reference to Madoka, which reunited most of the staff from Hidamari Sketch and partnered them with Urobuchi Gen, who writes bloody tragedies. Fans jokingly refered to Madoka as Chidamari Sketch. He said it twice because it's important! This is referencing a popular Japanese TV commercial for the health product "Jokin ga Dekiru Tafudento" , or "Bacteria Eradicating Tough Dent", tablets used for cleaning dentures sold by the Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company . The original line goes, "Daiji na koto nano de nidai iimashita yo", which has the same meaning as above. This text lifted from nyaruref.blogspot.com "Feets don't fail me now!" is a line often attributed to actor Mantan Moreland. "Game over, man." is a line from Aliens. Armitage the Third is a reference to Armitage III, a Blade Runner-like anime that freely lifts names and references from Lovecraftian stories. "You guys are too much." is a line spoken by Mark in The Room. "Eggs don't ripen." is from The Critic. "I don't need this present." is a line from Lucky Star. NEET stands for Not in Employment, Education, or Training. Koizumi Itsuki is one of the characters from The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi. Eroge is erotic game - a visual novel that has some erotic scenes in it. School Days is a dark and violent eroge. Bad endings include vicious murders, stabbings, bloody suicides, dismemberment, etc. "This level of reasoning is possible for [Furudo Erika.]" is a quote from one of the Detectives in Umineko. Doing things that are EXTREEME is a call back to Wanderer's Storyteller games on IRC. There was one stoner character that liked to attempt stunts. "People die when they are killed." is a very funny line from the translation of Fate/stay night. "Gooble, gobble, one of us." is a strange line from the movie Freaks. Hoeeeeh? is a common expression used by Kinomoto Sakura in Card Captor Sakura. Water, water everywhere is a line from Cast a Deadly Spell 2. The Master of Unlocking is a honorary title given to Jill Valentine, the heroine of Resident Evil. It's also a Perk that can be purchased for characters in the Nasuverse RPG. You can't give it up! It all depends on your skill! are quotes from Marvel Vs Capcom 2. Is - Is this real life? Why is this happening to me? are quotes from David After Dentist. Slice of clueage is a quote from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "You lost me." is a line from a certain Fate/stay night doujin. "I used to have such a pretty mind!" is from A Girl in Gold Boots. "Good thinking, little buddy." is from Sam and Max Hit the Road. "Every puzzle has an answer." is from Professor Layton and the Curious Village "Is such a thing even possible?" is a quote from Giorgio Tsoukalos, who believes the ancient alien theory. "This is against my will!" is a recurring line spoken by Melissa in Rune Soldier Louie. "X-san and that other person" is a reference to the Slayers films. In Slayers, the main character Lina was often referred to by name, and then her companion Naga was either called Naga the sidekick or 'that other person'. "Roger roger" is a standard line spoken by battle droids in The Phantom Menace. "Cthulhu-sama is watching you" is a play on "Maria-sama ga miteiru", a show about romances between girls at an all-girls Catholic school. "But thou must!" is a standard line from old-school computer RPGs where you must choose one option in order to continue the story. The phrase appeared in Dragon Quest for the Famicom. (e.g. Will you take the Princess with you? Y/N Y: You must leave right away! N: But thou must! [choice repeats]) Quad stereo (aka quadraphonic/quadrosonic sound) is similar to what we now call 4.0 surround sound. It was the earliest consumer product in surround sound and many recordings were available in that format during the 1970s. "I've got a bad feeling about this." - Obi-Wan Kenobi's first line at the beginning of Episode I: The Phantom Menace during the scene when Kenobi talks to Qui-Gon Jinn onboard Saak'ak. Hangin' tough was an old song by the Backstreet Boys. "But it's not over yet." was a line spoken by Claire Redfield in Resident Evil: Code Veronica. Absolute silence is a reference to End of Evangelion. Hmm. Okay! is a line spoken by Master Tang in Kung Pow. "Hoeeh?" is a recurring expression of surprise spoken by Kinomoto Sakura in Card Captor Sakura. To be 187'd is a reference to the FP. In that film, getting 187'd means receiving a death or defeat that can not be described in ordinary terms. Guided by a new era, ____ acts with elegance! is a quote from Sailor Uranus during the Sailor Moon S arc of Sailor Moon. The Power of Love was a song by Huey Lewis and the News. It was part of the Back to the Future soundtrack. The true foe lies within the self is a reference to Parasite Eve. If memory serves me right is a line from Iron Chef. A strong mind resides in a strong body is a recurring quote from the opening of Soul Eater. Pushing ice cream down into the cone is a secret trick Izumi Konata uses in Lucky Star. The reaction modifier is a game mechanic from Dungeons and Dragons. In short, it indicates how NPCs are likely to receive and react to your character. For instance, in a very superstitious area people will be more guarded and hostile towards elves, dwarves, etc. Trophy Earned is a reference to Playstation Network. Accomplishing certain things in games causes the actions to be noted and marked with award-like icons. Stop ganging up on me! is a quote from Denny in The Room. Meta is a term in art that means self-referential. If you're watching a movie about people making movies, it's meta. If people are in a horror movie talking about what not to do in a horror movie, it's meta. "This guy is already dead." is a reference to Fist of the North Star. "I got a very bad feeling." is a quote from Bill and Ted. " . . . was beginning" is an oblique reference to All Your Base Are Belong To Us. Throwing footballs around is a reference to The Room, in which characters often engaged in dialogue while tossing around a football. "You can't eat just one." was a slogan for Lay's potato chips. "I'm not afraid of anything anymore!" was something Tomoe Mami said in Mahou Shoujo Madoka before she was killed in battle. "I don't want to look at it!" was a line yelled by Lina Inverse during one of the Slayers OVAs. Crawling in my Skin was a line from Crawlin', a song by Linkin Park. "Attack with FULL FORCE" was one of the ending songs from Haiyore! Nyaruko-san. "Rip and tear your guts! Rip and tear." was a line from the DOOM comic adaptation. The long scream of a character's name is likely a reference to Metal Gear Solid, in which your support staff would frantically try to raise you on the radio after you suffered a mortal wound. "It's not over yet!" is a line spoken by Liquid Snake in Metal Gear Solid. "That is a secret." is a quote by Xellos Metallium from Slayers. Cromulent is a funny neologism coined by David X. Cohen. It means fine, acceptable, normal, acceptable, legitimate, and realistic. "Summer changed back into winter!" is from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. "Luckyyyyyy!" is a recurring lamentation from Napoleon Dynamite. "Such a lust for ___" is a reference to "Such a lust for revenge! Whoooooo!?" which is one of Skullface's lines from Metal Gear Solid V. "For now, absorb any important information that you can. " is a quote from Initial D. Setting a flag refers to an element in visual novels. At certain times decisions can be made that cause "flags" to be set, and accumulating different ones will cause an event to occur later on in the story. Sometimes these events can include opening a route in the story that allows the player to romance one of the heroines in it. At Your Door is a reference to a CofC campaign of the same name. Investigators assemble is a play on Avengers assemble, a common battle cry for the comic book team The Avengers. "Go for broke!" is a line spoken by the announcer in Marvel vs Capcom 2. "Check a look" is a quote from The FP. The Big Bad is a reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Villains for entire seasons usually were Big Bads. "How rude!" was one of Jar Jar Binks' catch phrases from Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace. "We were having so much fun too!" is a quote from one of the Dead Ends from Arkham Origins. Lather, rinse, repeat is the shampoo algorithm - if taken literally, it'd result in an endless loop. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Final Thoughts from the Translator -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here we are once again. As you know, I love the Cthulhu Mythos, Japan, and anime. I wonder if it was my destiny to translate this series. I intend to keep going with the kind support of my fans, whose encouragement and enthusiasm are always appreciated. I hope you enjoyed reading this, and I want to give words of thanks again. To Uchiyama Yasujrou, thank you for creating the R'lyeh replay series, which has provided many years of laughter, scares, and entertainment to Cthulhu players. To Koin-sensei, thank you for creating wonderful drawings depicting cute girls as well as unearthly beasts. To H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Robert Bloch, Robert E. Howard, and August Derleth, for getting this ball rolling. To Chaosium, Sandy Petersen, Lynn Willis I give my profound gratitude for creating the Call of Cthulhu TRPG. To Arkham House, for keeping the above guys in print! To Nintendo, for helping make Kanji Sonomama Rakubiki Jiten. To Glenn Rosenthal, for JWPce. To Thomas Wilde, for Elsewhere teaching me what it means to be a writer. Thanks to all, and good night. - Claude Smith of heavens-feel.com, 2017