The cover image of R'lyeh Antique . You can click on it for an enlarged version, as you can with most of the images in this document. TRPGs (tabletop roleplaying games) have managed to attract a following in Japan, but only in recent years (thanks to the efforts of Evan Cluney, among others) have we begun to truly experience what kinds of TRPGs and gaming fun Japan has developed.



While enjoying Haiyore Nyarlko-san!, I noticed that the Call of Cthulhu TRPG was being mentioned regularly. What I did not know until reading it at Nyaru References, is that the show was also referencing a book which told what happened during a playthrough of the game. This book in question is by Uchiyama Yasujirou (内山靖二郎) and is titled "Ruruie Antiiku" (るるいえあんてぃーく), or "R'lyeh Antique". As a tribute to Nyaruko-san, Call of Cthulhu, and as a test of my own ability as a translator, I will be translating the book into English. 今るるいえあんてぃーくを英語に翻訳しています。 The document follows,and will be added to until it is completely translated. I've included ost and sfx for this book. You can open a youtube link in another tab and enjoy the music while you read, if you wish. A link marked SFX can be opened in a tab and left alone to play. Eventually I'm going to convert this to a PDF version so that people can read it on their e-reading gadget of choice.



Here are some Lovecraftian Japanese words and their English equivalents:

Byouteki (病的) - morbid, abnormal

Boutoku teki (冒涜的) - blasphemy, blasphemous

Magamagashii (禍々しい) - ominous, malign

Konton (混沌) - chaos, chaotic

Kinshi 菌糸 【きんし】 - fungous

Fukitsu 不吉 【ふきつ】 - ominous

Hiyukurido 非ユークリッド 【ひユークリッド】 - non-euclidean

Shiwakucha 皺くちゃ 【しわくちゃ】 - rugose

Iu ni iwarenu 言うに言われぬ 【いうにいわれぬ】 - unspeakable





If you need more Lovecraftian adjectives, we've got you covered .



「お前、名状しがたい～とか冒涜的～とか枕につけば何でもクトゥルー神話みたいに考えてないか」

You're thinking you can make any random thing belong to the Cthulhu Mythos by prefixing it with "unspeakable" or "blasphemous," aren't you?

-Yasaka Mahiro, Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, Episode 2.



Keepers who want to run this with Secrets of Japan should make some alterations to the characters. For example, Sayaka-san does not have Bushido, but it would be very useful to combine Bushido with her Martial Arts skill tests as well as her checks to maintain composure. Bushido is detailed on p. 63 of SoJ. It starts at 10% for native Japanese Investigators but is 00% for foreigners. Bushido can be rolled to see through Bargain, Credit Rating, Fast Talk, or Persuade, but it can also deflect detection by the same (both parties can roll against Bushido; the character with the lowest roll wins.) If a social skill is seen through with Bushido, the Bushido user may deduce the person's true intentions or motivation. If using a Martial Art during an extreme time of stress, points in Bushido can be added to the Martial Arts skill during a skill test. An optional rule states that if a temporary insanity result is rolled, using the Bushido skill (once per gaming night) will allow an Investigator to negate the result.



If you are using those rules, I'd also recommend a specialization in Karate under Martial Arts. I also changed her Arts (Antiques) skill to Evaluate Treasure, as that skill is more appropriate for appraising the value of gems, rare objects, antiques, pieces of art, etc. I have also made one other edit: the characters start with EDU x4 percentiles in their own language, as per the rules in Secrets of Japan. The author of SoJ observes that Japanese has 2,000 ideographic characters as well as 2 other phonetic alphabets, making it one of the most difficult languages to learn (p63, SoJ). This is why the Own Language skill for native Japanese characters starts at EDU x 4 and not EDU x 5.



Other skills from SoJ that might be relevant can be found on pages 62 through 69. I didn't add Bushido to Sayaka's sheet because it would have affected the skill rolls her player already made in the game. Likewise, although SoJ states that native Japanese characters begin with a Martial Arts base skill of 15%, this hasn't been added to the sheets because it would affect rolls that were already made. SoJ can be used to add more Japanese artifacts and Mythos texts to this scenario if the Keeper feels the situation warrants it.



Finally, this translation is by heavens-feel.com . Feel free to link to it on your site, but don't host it there. If you like it, please consider making a donation to help the site continue running.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ R'LYEH ANTIQUE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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, sensei, dono (lord), etc. ======================= Table of Contents ======================= - The Beginning p.003 - Prelude p. 004 - Introducing the Investigators p.007 - Previous Campaigns and Notes for the Keeper p.011 - Scenario I [The Case of the Handcrafted, Closed Polyhedron] p.13 Intermission, Conclusion, Miyako-chan's Reflections p.98 - Scenario II [ The Case of Pickman's Painting] p.103 Intermission, Conclusion, Miyako-chan's Reflections p.168 - Scenario III [ The Case of R'lyeh Company's Stolen Objects] p.173 - Conclusion of the Campaign, Reflections and Reminiscing p.244 - Final Thoughts p.250 - Wrapping Things Up: What is a TRPG? p.252 ======================= The Beginning ======================= OST: [1] This book is sold by EnterBrain. It is a replay of the Cthulhu Mythos TRPG (trans note: Call of Cthulhu) and, predictably enough, follows the format of replay books. Minato will explain these two concepts further. The Cthulhu Mythos TRPG is based on 1920s era fiction created by author H.P. Lovecraft. The concepts of the stories were then put into a TRPG. A foreign game company, Chaosium, published this game, and from the time TRPGs came to Japan it has continued to be loved by an eager base of users. The characteristic entities within the Cthulhu Mythos, if known by humans, would seem transcendent to human beings. Compared to them, Earth and the humans on it are so much dust. The predecessors who wrote these Cthulhu Mythos stories had created 'Cosmic Horror'. It has the ring of science fiction, doesn't it? And so, even within the Earth that will live in, secretly horrific beings lurk. But compared to those monsters who seek blood and meat from humans, or corrupted humans and devils, humans aren't paid much attention by malign entities. Among these beings, perhaps the most conspicuously powerful is Azathoth, who exists mindlessly in outer space, indifferent to all. But thanks to that, human civilization, even our existence itself, has been possible. Even so, there have been times when humans have made a furtive glimpse of this malevolent beings. This replay of the Cthulhu Mythos TRPG focuses on characters controlled within it, called Investigators within the parlance of the game. They don't have magic, ESP ability, or advanced weapons, but they do not silently wait to be sacrificed. That wouldn't be interesting. So to help them escape from this problem, they collect information, analyze it, use reasoning, occasionally collide with it, and make efforts to survive the situation. Even though this is a fantasy war, this is not an action movie. The characters are ordinary people like us. Armed with wisdom and bravery, they have a hard time overcoming these terrors from outer space. It is this type fo drama that makes the Cthulhu Mythos TRPG so pleasurable. Well then, let's look at the story of four souls who have become connected to a certain antique store, and enjoy their tale of cosmic horror. ======================= Prelude ======================= OST: [1] In place of a counter was an ancient desk I am sitting at, with my cheeks in my palms as I quietly watch over the store in the owner's absence. This place is on the outskirts of Tokyo, in an area dotted by houses, and is a small antique store. It is called 'R'lyeh Company. The shop's owner is my uncle, but due to his habit of wandering he rarely is here. So when it comes time for someone to look after the store, well, I have to do it. It's just your usual antique store, and it's messy and only has old things in it. No two things in the store are the same. On top of the desk, which showed fine workmanship, is a golden brooch. Also in view is a creepy-looking oil painting. This was not unexpected. It's an antique store. In addition to the other curios, it is also full of old books. Unfortunately I am not able to read books from other countries. Texts from ancient times included stone slabs of slate, or worn sheepskin scrolls. What about books? When it came to pricing them, whether they were expensive or cheap, I had no idea. No price tags have been affixed to them, and I wondered if the owner of the store wants to sell them or keep them. What a ridiculous store this is. Not many customers frequent it. Our best customer is Tatsumi-sensei. He is a professor at a famous university, and he seemed accomplished, like a doctor. He has written several books and even appeared on television a few times. I don't understand exactly what just what kind of professor he is. One time before, I tried to listen in on one of his talks. I'd studied psychology, but I wondered what the heck the man was doing. But to me, this distinguished professor has always been like a kind, knowledgable, and dependable uncle. There were times he'd help me with my English homework, and it never took him long to finish it. He uses English everyday and he is proficient with the language. When he comes here, Tatsumi-sensei always brings a maid with him. That wasn't a typo. She is a maid. She wore a black one-piece dress and an apron. So, someone fitting the otaku image of a maid. She is called Miyako-san, and I don't know her as well as Tasumi-sensei does. From listening to the two of them, I think that she lives in Tatsumi-sensei's house as a live-in worker taking care of the place, but I wonder what kind of relationship they have together. Maybe it's an adult relationship. But setting that aside, Miyako-san knows the layout and contents of the store well. Much better than I do, in fact. So when it came time for me to look after the store, there were many times when she would cover for me or help me out. The house where she lived is full of antiques, and while living among them, she gradually grew to know about them over time. It was only natural. I wonder how she grew up? Was she the young daughter of a rich family? If so, why is she working as a maid? The mysteries surrounding her only seemed to deepen. There was one other person I should mention. His name is Sasahara-san, and he was another customer of ours. He has a tall back and looks like an actor in a love scene. Everyday, after coming back from school, he works as a love story novelist. He seems like a man who would be very popular with the ladies. For the most part, he is always kind and good to the girls. He seems a little too witty for his own good, and he is not my type. Even though he writes love stories, he still likes forbidden things and horror. He didn't know Tatsumi-sensei, and as someone who only knew about strange things, wouldn't that ruin his writing? Because Sasahara-san is a university student with lots of free time, he often frequents our shop, carefully gazing at our many antiques. Dang it! I want him to stop window-shopping and buy something sometime. Oh yes. Me. My name is Higuchi Sayaka. I go to a high school near this neighborhood, and I'm in my second year of school. My speciality is karate. I have earned my black belt in the art, and my skill at kicking things has been recognized. From my childhood days, I admired spies and forged my body. Now, even before I knew it, I turned out this way. I've focused so much on karate that I've neglected my studies. Well, if you have a physical problem that requires strength, you should leave it to me. Wait, looking after this antique store doesn't require much strength or power, does it? That's what you'd normally think! But in this 'R'lyeh Company' store customers outside of the characters I described can occasionally be ... strange. Some are acquaintances of my uncle, some are people that happened to want to buy something, and some want the answers to mysteries. This part is seeming like an omen. Maybe I'll give an evildoer what for with a powerful karate kick! After all, there was that time - whoops! I have a customer now. Let's continue our talk later. I wonder what kind of person this customer will turn out to be? ======================= 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 70 Know 55 DB: + 1D4 Magic Points 14, Hit Points 15 Skills: Dodge 50%, Drive Motorcycle 25%, Evaluate Treasure 10%, Hide 25%, Jump 45%, Kick 50%, Listen 75%, Library Use 55%, Martial Arts 31%, Own Language (Japanese) 44%, Spot Hidden 75%, Persuade 55%, Photography 30%, Psychology 35%, Throw 45% Attacks Kick 50%, 1D6 + 1D4 (if the roll is under her Martial Arts skill, add another +1D6 damage). Quote: I'll solve this problem with a karate kick! Player Comments: The youngest of the investigators, this high school girl would be the hardest to integrate into the scenario. The Keeper suggested that I make her a relative of the one who owned the antique store, so I accepted graciously. She's a clear-headed, energetic, and positive young lady. As someone who looks up to the female characters in dramas, she is always training her body. She is proud of her ability to kick, dodge, and jump. She has no real knowledge when it comes to the antiques at the store, but she will ask some of the other Player Characters for advice during the times when she has to look after it. Please regard her favorably! Player Introduction (Mary): As the youngest player in the group, Mary had the least experience with the Call of Cthulhu TRPG. She is the weakest against mental shocks, and is the quickest to blow her fuse. She is likely to panic when experiencing cosmic horror. However, taking into account her limitations, she still thrusts forward when dealing with the unknown. Even so, her tendency to get in over her head must be acknowledged. At some point she's going to become a helpful 'older sister'-type character who someone else will follow. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Tatsumi Gengoroh, Psychology Professor, Age 65 STR 12 CON 14 DEX 10 Idea 85 SIZ 9 INT 17 POW 14 Luck 70 EDU 23 APP 8 SAN 70 Know 115 DB: - Magic Points 14, Hit Points 12 Quote: This old man will respond to the case! Skills: Archaeology 14%, Anthropology 89%, Biology 52%, Credit Rating 89%, Chemistry 14%, Medicine 70%, Library Use 89%, Own Language (Japanese) 92%, Other Language (English) 81%, Persuade 89%, Pharmacy 14%, Psychoanalysis 89% Player Comments: Blessed with a high EDU, he poured many points into academic skills. Justly proud of his skill with English, he wants to read many grimoires. Good natured and well-informed, he is designed to be an aging lecturer. We calculated out his yearly salary and found that it was 50 million yen! I justified that by saying as a famous professor he also wrote a best-selling book. He's not the strongest or toughest character in this campaign, so physical tasks will best be left to the younger characters. Player Introduction (Age): Age is the oldest player. He is also someone who is very experienced with the Call of Cthulhu TRPG. As someone who is familiar with the rules of many games, he is a tough player when matched against any Keeper. He is the guy in gaming raids who plays the captain character leading the raid. Perhaps because of that, he's very useful for helping Keepers maintain the flow of a story. As the group scholar, he's the wise old man of the party. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Anjinzuka Miyako, Hobbyist Maid, Age 20 STR 12 CON 18 DEX 14 Idea 50 SIZ 10 INT 10 POW 6 Luck 30 EDU 14 APP 16 SAN 30 Know 70 DB: - Magic Points 6, Hit Points 14 Quote: Service! Service! Skills: Astronomy 11%, Drive Automobile 50%, Electrical Repair 20%, Disguise 21%, Electronics 11%, Evaluate Treasure 70%, First Aid 40%, Geology 11%, Home Cooking 25%, Conceal 35%, Mechanical Repair 30%, Own Language (Japanese) 56%, Other Language (English) 11% Small Clubs 40%, Sneak 75%, Attacks: Frying Pan 40%, damage 1D6 + db Player Comments: I thought of many things I could have done, but in the end I decided on a maid. To be more specific, a meganekko (girl in glasses). She's the only servant at the house where she works. She has always admired Tatsumi-sensei for the books he writes, and asked him to let her be his maid. She wants to look after him, so she carries a fry pan for protection. She's eccentric and has confidence in what she does, One thing that troubles us is how low her SAN is. Hmm, will this be all right? Player Introduction (Takushi): He's a manga fan. He's especially fond of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. I don't understand a lot of the references he makes, but I did comprehend one or two Jojo quotes. I guess his play style could be called ''orthodox'' but upon seeing his true thoughts, one might say he is sensitive and has a lot of natural potential. He knows the Call of Cthulhu TRPG well, and has a lot of experience as a Keeper. He has pride in his ability to consider a Call of Cthulhu scenario from a Keeper's point of view. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Sasahara Tamaki, University Student and Novelist, Age 20 STR 8 CON 16 DEX 18 Idea 75 SIZ 17 INT 15 POW 13 Luck 65 EDU 14 APP 14 SAN 65 Know 70 DB: - Magic Points 14, Hit Points 12 Quote: I don't think this is such a good idea ... Skills: Computer Use 15%, Drive Automobile 25%, History 89%, Library Use 75%, Listen 30%, Occult 89%, Other Language (English) 15%, Own Language (Japanese) 56% Navigate 50%, Persuade 50%, Psychoanalysis 15%, Psychology 50%, Spot Hidden 30%, Tracking 50% Player Comments: He's a novelist who loves history and the occult - which for an Investigator seems almost ordinary. He does what he is supposed to at his school, and after returning from his university, he pens romance stories. One might say he is sensitive to womens' hearts. He certainly lives by "Ladies First". The flipside of that is his general disinterest in men. Because of his interest in he occult and history, he regularly commutes to the antique store where Sayaka-chan works. Player Introduction (Hiroyuki): Crying 'moe-~!', he has created certain female NPCs for the Keeper like a doomed man. He loves lolita and older sister characters at the same time! Maybe that makes him like ambivalent women? In any case, he's very cautious.He always tries to find the best position. However, he sometimes finds out that he has dug his own grave. There are times when his hunches have proved to be quite accurate, and when he appears defeated he might find a way to reverse it. ======================= Previous Campaigns and Notes for the Keeper ======================= OST: [1] Now that we've begun this Cthulhu TRPG, the one who has been chosen as the Keeper (the Game Master, if you will) is none other than me. It'll be my job to make sure the Investigators and customers encounter each other. Basically, the Investigators are ordinary people, but for the purposes of the story I must find a way to get them involved with this scenario's big incident. Even if it means binding them in ropes! But jokes aside, it's difficult. I don't want them to come across the event by pure chance, especially if it happens over and over again. That comes across as forced and unnatural. It's also predictable if they keep getting hired to deal with something and then go off to investigate it. If I don't prepare a good hook ahead of time, expect to have a frosty reception once it's time to get the Investigators involved. If you look at an older replay of Cthulhu TRPG I wrote (New Era), throughout the whole book an association was used as the framing device for the adventure. I was able to get them to go after the target quickly and eventually go home after their journey was over. This campaign is going to be a little different. For starters, there's a big difference in scale. I want them to enjoy a 'sketch scenario' I put together. This one takes place in one store and poses a certain question to the Investigators - if they decide to answer it, the story really begins. With a touch of manga-like atmosphere or the early draft of a manuscript, I want to approach it with this cool, detached feeling. I'll give the players plenty of advance warning. There will be a type of pattern forming, and answering the question quietly brings them into the larger story. With luck, they'll take the hook without thinking too much about it. The difficulty of introducing the hook is present in many other RPGs, not just this one. Still, using this type of narrative device is okay, I think. Well, with all of that out of the way, I think I should be talking about the real thing. It'll be a blend of horror, mystery, and isolation while they are trapped indoors. I'll use plot elements like a landslide or heavy snow to down the phone lines and keep them from contacting anyone else while they're stuck in a mansion. Let's make them solve a murder in the mansion too! Maybe not. That kind of thing would not be out of place in a novel, manga, or video game. Lots of media use that kind of situation. And it's not so bad for the Cthulhu TRPG. I guess the focus for this session will be to get the Investigators together and accept the conditions of the story. There's always the possibility that things won't turn out the way I anticipated and I'll be thrown off point. If they lose focus, I can also seal them in the location like I discussed before. Okay, sealing them in a narrow space like I plan to, the chances of the players doing something other than what I anticipate and derailing my story will be reduced significantly. This is a joy for any Keeper. In order to keep the place interesting, I'll need to step up the number of events. They'll have nowhere to run and no help will be coming, so I should be able to scare them silly. That too is pleasure for a Keeper of Arcane Lore. Hmm. Going along with my original plan, a certain customer will visit Sakaya-chan's store, and that will start the scenario. I guess the other Investigators will go to cover for Sayaka-chan and help her out. I won't have any skill to persuade them to jump through that hoop, and if they can't get the hint I'll need to find another reason for them to go there. If I have another young lady pop up, one claiming to be fans of their novels, they'll gobble up her story like a goby. Without a doubt. I notice that the player of the professor character dropped a lot of points into Other Language (English). I ought to leave a grimoire around for him to find and read. All of this will be in the mansion. If you've read this far, you know some hidden information the Investigators don't! Such as how they are going to be trapped in a mansion and deal with a murder mystery. There will be a sad fight over inheritance that could be rather painful. There'll be some kind of development such as a bad relative will target the fortune of the man who was killed. Bad people will try to find the inheritance he left behind. If I somehow blend in the Cthulhu Mythos ... ah, I see it. I see it in my mind's eye. Let's do this. ======================= Scenario I [The Case of the Handcrafted, Closed Polyhedron] ======================= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Date with a Childhood Friend -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST:[1] [Note: This takes place right after the characters have been created. The players and Keeper have assembled to play a game at their usual spot, a certain karaoke box in Shinjuku. The players will be referred to by their character's names. The gamemaster (called a Keeper of Arcane Lore) will hereafter be abbreviated as KP.] KP: I guess it's finally time to begin a new campaign, but I just got a call from Tatsumi-sensei's player. He's going to be late because of work. Sayaka: That's not good. I feel uneasy now. KP: And on top of that, I forgot my dice. Miyako: Again? Sasahara: I'll let you borrow mine. KP: Thanks for that. I'd like to use 2 D10s. Sasahara: Here you go. KP: Okay, now that I've caused you trouble by borrowing your dice, I'll roll to see how much damage you all take. Sayaka: What!? Miyako: Sasahara-kun, if it's this guy you should only loan him one D4! KP: Well, until Tatsumi-sensei's player gets here, why don't we amuse ourselves by hearing Sasahara's introduction? Sasahara: Yes, yes. KP: The three months of this season, similar days have started to run together, but summer continues to creep forward towards you. Sasahara, you've managed to attract a young lady you knew from your childhood and have been driving her around in your car. Sasahara: Just like that, a childhood lady friend!? My LOVE QUEST is over! I'll try hard to keep this one (lol). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes (Miyako's One Point Service): Types of Dice Hello! I am Miyako, and my favorite type of die is the D8. During our talk, we mentioned things like the D4 and the D10. These terms refer to the kind of dice they are. In TRPGs, unusual dice are used, and they are mostly referred to by the names they have in English. The cubes you use in most games would be called 'D6'. I think you understand now. To roll 3D6, you roll 3 'D6' and total the results. When it's time for a skill test or resistance check in the games, we use the verb 'Roll' to refer to rolling the dice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes (Miyako's One Point Service): Attributes Hello! I am Miyako, and my favorite Attribute is EDU. In the Cthulhu TRPG, Investigator characters have eight Attributes. They are decided by rolling dice and adding modifiers, if they are any to add. Rolling up characters randomly like this means there are many characters who won't 'make the cut' as Investigators. I wonder if there are some players who 'massage' the results they get. Translator's Note: A description of the eight main Attributes follows. This information is very redundant for Keepers and Players, so I haven't included it here. It contains information like STR influencing the damage you can do with Punch, Kick, and so on. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sayaka: What kind of person is she? KP: She's called Oue Tomomi. She's one of your seniors and is older than you by two years. You generally feel good towards her. She's got a very frank character. You two have continued as friends for a while now. Sasahara: So right now, I'm in the middle of a date with this knowledgable neesan? KP: Sounds good. For some reason today you've given up the driver's seat to her. She's driving you somewhere. Sasahara: What? [Tomomi-neesan, where are we going?] KP: (As Tomomi) [I've been working as a housekeeper. I'm driving to pick up the lady of the house.] (to readers) In this replay, in character dialogue will be in brackets to distinguish it from OOC discussion. Sasahara: [Tomomi, you're working as a housekeeper?] KP: (As Tomomi) [That's right, as a professional housekeeper. After graduating with a degree in Home Economics, I started working for the CEO of a large company. I'm sure you know the firm.] Sasahara: [Wow. I bet that the work can be difficult sometimes. It turns out I already know someone that works as a maid, though she's half-joking.] Miyako: Hush. That's going a little too far. KP: (as Tomomi) [Today I've got an errand to run at Rinkan school, so our plan to have a little fire at that lodge have been cancelled. Sorry to spring that on you so suddenly.] Sasahara: [Ah, what a shame.] KP: [Every year, for customary reasons that event seems to get cancelled. In return, after I run this errand, how about we go anywhere you want to?] Sasahara: I get to choose? KP: [You write stories for girls, so I bet you know some good spots to take them.] Sasahara: So we're going to be picking up a young girl? I can feel excited just thinking about it. (lol) KP: Man, this guy is . . . Sayaka: Tomomi-san chose the wrong person for her boyfriend! (lol) KP: But for Sasahara-san, who is at Tension MAX, that last comment was probably something he said under his breath. Sasahara: [Yes, what is it?] KP: (as Tomomi) [The girl we'll be picking up is Oze Yuika-chan. She's in the fifth grade of elementary school. Three years previously, she lost her parents in an accident on a mountain.] Sasahara: [That's terrible. That poor girl.] KP: [That's not the end of the story. Two weeks before, her uncle, who took custody of her, suddenly died.] Sasahara: [There's no end to her bad luck.] KP: [Her uncle was in poor health before though. Her uncle Touzo was in charge of a large firm as the CEO, and she's grown up in a rich environment because of his wealth.] Sasahara: [Well, she's a girl who's been influenced by many difficult things.] KP: [Because of that, I was trying to use Rinkan School to make her feel better and bring out more cheerfulness.] Sasahara: [Roger that! Why don't we try to spend a nice day with her as a present?] KP: [That's good. As it turns out, she's a fan of your novels.] Sasahara: [If you say that, it makes me want to try even harder! Let's give her a copy of my newest book!] OST: [1] KP: Once you arrive in front of the train station, you see a young girl next to a large suitcase that has been put on the ground. She's fidgeting nervously. She sees you, and yells 'Stop! Stop!'. She also starts hitting Sasahara on the shoulders. This must be Yuika-chan. Sasahara: We'll bring her into the car and do introductions there. KP: She's wearing her hair in twin-tails (translator's note: Like Tohsaka Rin from Fate Stay Night or Hiiragi Kagami from Lucky Star). From what you can tell, she seems like a sweet little girl. She's a little shy and very excitable. After she is introduced to you, she calms down, and with a very quiet voice tells you 'Good afternoon' in greeting. Sasahara: [You're one of my fans! Here, this is my newest work. If you feel up to it, will you read it?] KP: When you do that, she looks over the book you just handed to her and makes a mysterious face. She's just met the real author of her favorite books. He's right in front of her and she doesn't know what to do. Please make a (Credit Rating) roll. Sasahara: I've only got the base 15%. (Rolls dice) Ah, I failed. KP: You come across as a frivolous person, totally unlike a real author. She looks at you from a distance, with doubting eyes. Sasahara: She doesn't believe me! She doesn't believe me! KP: In your afterword you've included expressions like 'Kyaah!' and a discussion of sweet things. Perhaps she thinks the book was really written by a female author. Sayaka: You're writing about things like that (lol)? KP: Tamaki comes across as a girly name, so you must have been hiding the fact that you're actually a man. Sayaka: How complicated. KP: But when it comes to writing girls' novels, maybe it makes sense that the author would conceal the fact he was a guy. Sasahara: I'll quietly tell her the idea for my next book and improve her mood that way. KP: Sasahara-san, what kind of book are you going to write? Sasahara: A tale of romance that has lasted through history. Romance in the Heian age, or in the Sengoku period. Something that will be very popular with the ladies who love history. KP: Okay. Try a skill test against your (History) rating. Sasahara: (rolls dice) Made it. [My next work will be about Naoe Kanetsugu's life and times.] KP: [Eh, Kanetsugu!? He'll be in the story? If he's in there, what about Kagekatsu? Or Mitsunari?] she says. I think you managed to pique her interest (lol). Sashara: I've got her hook, line, and sinker! (lol) KP: She says that [All three were bad natured, so they must have had some hidden good spots.] Sayaka: Yuika-chan loves history. Sasahara: [Yes, yes! Of course they did!] Matching her points, I try to smooth out the rough spots and keep the conversation flowing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Uniting the Team at the Antique Store -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes (Miyako's One Point Service): Skills Hello! I am Miyako, and my favorite Skill is Geology. In the game, whether the Investigators succeed or not depends upon whether they can make skill tests. These are decided with dice rolls. Earlier, Hiroyuki (TN note: Sasahara's player) had to roll under his Credit Rating skill, which was at the base percentage of 15 - which was hard for him to roll under. In the Cthulhu RPG, most tests can be made by rolling under a number. The dice we use for that make up a D100 (either two D10s or a really big die that Indiana Jones would run away from in a temple.) As you can see, the rules are very easy to remember. Maybe that's one reason why the game has lasted so long. By the way, there are many more Skills on a character sheet than the limited ones our Investigators chose to specialize in. Examples include things like Fast Talk or Accounting. When will we need to use these? Nevertheless, a Keeper must sometimes call for skill tests against these in the scenario. To do otherwise would be careless. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OST:[1] ============= Keeper's Notes: ============= Following their discussion, they took Yuika to an amusement park. Tatsumi-sensei's player arrived after that. KP: Since Tatsumi-sensei is here, I want to cut away from this scene over to Sayaka-chan, who is looking after the antique store. Sasahara: I wanted to play some more with Yuika though ... KP: Sayaka, who was through with school for the day, has made it over to the store. It's now evening, and time for you to open it for business. Sayaka: My uncle is managing it. KP: The shop is named 「 R'lyeh Company 」. Tatsumi: Who gave the store such a stupid name? (lol) Miyako: It sounds like the name of a shop built in the middle of the ocean. KP: It's okay. It's on the outskirts of Tokyo. It's an ordinary building that's fairly isolated from everything else. It has been converted into an antique store. Your uncle is a 40 year old man named 'Kata Randoru'. He is a fairly strange man. Tatsumi: Wait a moment! That name! Miyako:'Kata Randoru' ... 'Randorufu Kataa' (Randolph Carter) (lol)! Tatsumi: I bet your uncle has some wonderful dreams. Sayaka: Sorry, I don't follow. KP: In Lovecraft's stories, there are many places a character can go, like outer space or the world of dreams. Randolph Carter was a superstar in places like those. Examples of these stories include 「 The Statement of Randolph Carter 」 or 「 The Dreamquest of Unknown Kadath 」. Those two are very interesting, so I think you should read them. Sayaka: So you're saying that hero is my uncle? KP: Well, he has a similar name. I wanted to remind you of the real Randolph Carter with it, and perhaps make you suspect the origin of the many odd objects in your antique store. In truth, there's a kind of 'unity' they have. In addition to used goods and objects of art, there are ancient books, rare stones, and paintings of various things. Tatsumi: Basically, in these huge stacks and rows, her uncle has assembled a set of things that suit his tastes (lol)? KP: So I guess Tatsumi-sensei is going straight over to the store, correct? Miyako: If Tatsumi-sensei is going, I will also. After I properly set up my maid outfit, I'll accompany him. Tatsumi: This is kind of embarrassing. Miyako: Why? Why is it embarrassing? Tatsumi: Because it's like you're really my maid (lol). Miyako: As Tatsumi-sensei's live in maid, this Investigator thinks Tatsumi-sensei should have gotten used to it by now. Tatsumi: Is that all you have to say!? Miyako: Well no, as someone who was touched by the books you wrote, I want to help you with your work just a little bit. That's why I pushed you to accept me as your maid. Tatsumi: Again you hit me with those reasons (lol). Miyako: If you have odd jobs, I'll liberate you from them. You'll be able to concentrate on your studies. Everyday I'll do my best to give you the best quality of service. Tatsumi: All right, all right. In any event, let's pay a visit to 「 R'lyeh Company 」. KP: On that note, I need to point out that since Randoru is not there today, your neice Sayaka will be stuck looking after the shop all by herself. Tatsumi: Where is he? Sayaka: [Oh, he's ...] Wait, where is he anyway? KP: He went out a few days earlier. He hasn't come back yet. Sayaka: What!? KP: As he lives a nomadic existence, it's not unheard of for him to be absent for weeks at a time. while he's not there, it's your job to look after the store. After school, or in the free time you have on your days off. Sayaka: Won't that make the place go bankrupt? KP: Sometimes things that seem like junk to you sell for an astronomical price, so it seems like the place will stay afloat thanks to that. Sayaka: So will Tatsumi-sensei explain why Randoru-ojisan is off on another journey? Tatsumi: [Well, it isn't anything strange, really.] I make that offhand remark while I scan the store for anything that catches my eye. KP: As one of the store's regular customers, when she's stuck working the store alone you'll sometimes give her lots of advice like a helpful grandfather. Hint, hint. Tatsumi: Right. [Concerning these antiques, Miyako-kun is very knowledgeable so if you have anything you're unsure about, ask her lots of questions.] Miyako: Are there any strange books lying around? KP: Roll (Library Use). Miyako: (rolls dice) Oh snap, I failed. KP: Well then, you come across a book about Japanese cooking that was published in America in the 18th century. The book itself is unusual but the material in it is not; you don't think it will be very useful except perhaps as a collector's item. Miyako: [Tatsumi-sensei, I want to get this!] (lol) Tatsumi: Why go to all that trouble of buying a pointless . . . [Sayaka-chan, how much are you asking for the book Miyako's holding?] Sayaka: Umm ... [32,000 yen.] Tatsumi: Ugh, that's expensive (lol). KP: Do you have any reason for asking that much? Sayaka: No, just a feeling. Miyako: [Sensei, buy it! Buy it!] Tatsumi: [Can you read this book?] Miyako: [If you translate it for me into Japanese, I'll be able to make all kinds of delicious food for you!] (translator's note: I suspect the book will have many substitutions for when the actual ingredients are too difficult to procure - it most likely won't be 'authentic'.) Tatsumi: [What a troublesome task! For pete's sake ...] Sayaka: [Thank you very much for your purchase! ☆] Tatsumi: Before I knew it, I ended up buying that thing! (lol) KP: While you guys were doing that, a customer comes into your store. He's wearing a hand-sewn suit and has the air of a respectable businessman. He looks like he's in his 40s. OST:[1] Sayaka: [Irashaimase!] KP: After you greet him, he asks [Hey, where is the owner of this place?] with a very arrogant manner. Sayaka: [I am sorry, but the owner is currently out.] KP: He hears you say that and then responds with [What did you say!?] in a very angry voice. His face is turning red. Sayaka: [How may I help you?] KP: [YOU can't! I had a job for the owner himself! He was supposed to be ready by now!] Sayaka: Wow, this guy's mad. Did I hear anything about this from my uncle? KP: No, you didn't. Not a word. Sayaka: [What kind of arrangement was supposed to take place?] KP: Sayaka-chan, you need to make a (Credit Rating) test. Sayaka: There's no way a high school girl would have Credit Rating! All I've got is the base 15%! (Rolls dice) Huh, I succeeded. (lol) KP: Oh! Hmm. Well, the man seems to calm down a bit. You think that he's starting to trust you. He begins telling you about the job. (KP's comment: I had originally planned for Tatsumi-sensei to step in and help after she failed her skill test.) Commentary: What Sayaka-chan first heard was the man's name, Oze Sougo. He came to Randoru with an emergency request. Randoru had an extremely complicated object made of wood, and he absolutely had to open it. There was even a certain due date when it had to be done, which was today! In order to get that done, he had come here. Sayaka: I think I'll look in the back of the store for anything that will be useful. KP: I think it'll be hard for you to do that in such a crowded, overstocked store. I'll have you make a (Spot Hidden) test. Sayaka: My (Spot Hidden)'s at 75% and I have pride in it. (Rolls dice) And that's a success. KP: A lot of documents and other objects have piled up. After looking carefully over the stuff arranged on Randoru's desk, you find the object Oze was talking about. The object is about as wide as a tennis ball. It has 12 sides. It might be made of wood, but as you look at it and tap it against something you realize it is as hard as stone. The box is one of those mystery puzzles. Unless you know the trick, you won't be able to open it. Sayaka: Why not just open the cap? KP: It won't open. Sayaka: Oh snap. Well ... I'll ask Miyako-san for help on this one. KP: When you ask her she replies with [Oh, is that so?] That response isn't very satisfying. Oze tells you that the puzzle contains a will that must be read at 11 o'clock tonight, and the box is the last possession his dead uncle left to him. Tatsumi: This keeps getting stranger and stranger. KP: If things keep up like this, your group won't be able to open the box. Sayaka: Can it even be opened? KP: If you wrack your wits, you might come upon the answer. Tatsumi: I'll try to lend a hand. [Well, well. no need for us to fight over this. Let's try to find a way to open this by tonight. We'll report what we find and will resolve this peacefully.] Can I make a (Persuade) roll? KP: You may. Tatsumi: I've got an 89% in (Persuade). (Rolls dice) I easily pass the test. KP: I'm going to rule that he knows of you and your work. [Well, if a famous professor like Tatsumi-sensei says so, I'll believe it.] He says that while wringing his hands. Miyako: How very much like you, sensei! I admire how cool you are! ============= Keeper's Notes: ============= After that, their very disagreeable friend left. Once he had gone, the Investigators huddled around the item, trying to figure it out. Miyako: I'll use my (Evaluate Treasure) skill (rolls dice). I passed the test. KP: It's certainly put together well, but as far as you know, no one else has seen this kind of box before. Aside from the beauty of it, which anyone would recognize, you can't find anything that would indicate its relative value or its past history. Miyako: It's unknown and basically brand new to the art world. KP: You're not sure how many parts there are in the box, but after a while you think you are starting to see how they move. Make a roll against your INT. Miyako: There's even a time limit. Didn't Randoru leave any notes out for us to find concerning this object? Sayaka: Let me have a look at it. KP: Try a (Spot Hidden) roll. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Swing and a hit. KP: Sayaka-chan finds something on top of a mountain of Randoru's papers. It looks like it has part of the solution to the box puzzle you have. Using it doesn't completely ease the difficulty of solving it, but it does help you through the process of doing so. Thanks to these notes, you're about halfway through solving the puzzle. Sayaka: If only he had finished all the work himself. KP: Now that you've done that . . . Miyako-san witnesses something extraordinary! Miyako: [Kyaaa! What a shock!] (lol) Sayaka: [What is it, Miyako-san?] KP: The piece of the puzzle that Miyako-san was working on suddenly loosens, falls off, but slides back into its original spot. Tatsumi: [What an amazing machine. If it is a machine.] KP: Now that you've all witnessed that phenomenon, I want to call for an Idea check. Everyone, roll those bones. Tatsumi: For some reason, I hope I don't make this roll. KP: Hush now. Roll for it. ============== Keeper's Notes: ============== If you see something awful, horrible, or unearthly and make an Idea roll, you might become aware of some terrible truth about existence. For the most part, that's why people don't like rolling Idea tests in my games. Miyako, Sayaka, Tatsumi: We all made the check. OST: [1] KP: Congratulations. As you watch the piece return to its original position, you realize how impossible the construction of this item really is. It reminds you of an ambulatory part of a hive or a mollusk. That's the image that comes to mind. And the unwholesome material its made of moves once more. All of you, please a Sanity roll. (evil lol) Miyako: This thing is alive! (lol) Sayaka: Nuuooooooo! (lol) Tatsumi: Of course, things are gonna go South. (rolls dice) Made my SAN roll. Sayaka: Whew! Made mine too. Miyako: Oh dear, I only have 30 SANity. (rolls dice) I failed my check! KP: For those who made your rolls, deduct 1 SAN from your current score. Those who failed the rolls lose 1D3 SAN. Miyako: That seems like a lot. KP: You thought this was an ordinary box puzzle, but it suddenly began moving in an irregular, unwholesome, and frightening way. To describe it with our words, I'd say it moves like a stag beetle or a cockroach. Miyako: That's pretty gross, but to lose 1D3 SAN over it ... (rolls a D3) Urk, lost 2 points. I'm at 28. Tatsumi: 69 points left over here. Sayaka: I also have 69 points remaining. Miyako-san, are you in a 'San-chi-pinch'? Miyako: I'm okay. I'll hold it together. I'm holding it together. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes (Miyako's One Point Service): Ability Rolls Hello, I am Miyako, and my favorite food is Thai curry! When the Keeper asked us to roll Idea, he had us roll against a statistic in the game that's a little different from our other skills. Certain values are derived from our Statistics, which then are treated as Ability Rolls. Idea is (INT x5), and represents our raw reasoning ability. Know is (EDU x5), and that one stands for the sum of our learning and factual knowledge. Even if we can't speak or read them, we can at least identify foreign languages with Know tests. Luck is (POW x 5), which unsurprisingly represents how lucky we are. Luck rolls are handy for getting out of dangerous situations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tatsumi: This is no ordinary object, that's for sure. Sayaka: But if we don't open this, the honor of our store will be sullied. Let's find the answer using the notes Randoru-san left out for us. KP: Speaking of which, the handwritten instructions are very hard to read. His penmanship is questionable at best. Make an (Own Language [Japanese]) roll to read it. Tatsumi: I might be the best one for that job, and then Sayaka-chan, who has a high INT score, could be the one to solve the puzzle. Miyako: It would seem that way. It looks like I'm not very useful right now, so maybe I could cook up some dinner for you while you two work (rolls dice). Ah, I didn't make the check. KP: You didn't fail the roll by much, though. I rule that the food just made is safe to eat and nutritious, but not particularly tasty. Miyako: I did it! Tatsumi: (eating) [Hmm . . . This isn't bad.] is what I'll say while maintaining a neutral expression. Sayaka: [Thanks! Next time you should teach me how to cook (munch, munch) . . . wait, never mind about that. I'm good.] (lol) Miyako: My dignity as a maid is on the line! I know, I'll study the book you bought for me today. Oh snap, it's written in English! KP: Getting back to the game, Tatsumi-sensei works on the notes. We'll check on your progress as the time in game progresses to 21:00. Make an (Own Language [Japanese]) roll for me, please. Tatsumi: I doubt I'll mess this one up (rolls dice). Made it. KP: While translating and working through the notes, Tatsumi-sensei occasionally stops to give advice to Sayaka-chan. Sayaka-chan, if you can make an (Idea) roll, you'll be able to open the box. Sayaka: An easy job (rolls dice). Made the roll. KP: The last part is proving very hard to move. It seems like that one part got wider as you solved the other sections of the puzzle. It's as if there's a mechanism in there that is working to prevent you from opening the box. Worse still, you're running out of time. Tatsumi: Is it 23:00 now? Sayaka: If only I could move that one part, I'd be able to open this for certain. KP: Probably correct. You don't understand what the part is with your intellect, but by "feeling" you believe you're starting to get it. Sayaka: If that's the way it is, maybe the secret is getting the part into one place. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes (Miyako's One Point Service): Sanity Rolls Hello, I am Miyako, and my favorite phrase is "quiet, easy, and comfortable living". The Sanity Roll has finally made its appearance. This is a big part of some of the most important rules in the Cthulhu TRPG. Just hearing the name of it alone conjures up a certain kind of image in the minds of many people. In practical terms, when Investigators come across the uncanny and unearthly, they have to pass a check. SAN (Sanity) is a value equal to an Investigator's POW x5. When a character comes across a horrific thing, his player must roll under the character's SAN on D100. If he does, the character makes the check. Functionally speaking, that aspect of the mechanics is not very different from a standard skill test. What happens afterward is different. If the character makes the check, he will lose only a little or no SAN. If he fails it, he might lose a lot of SAN. The amount of SAN lost depends on the scale of the encounter. Meeting a Diety class entity might incur a SAN loss of D100! There's no easy way to recover them during the course of a Scenario either. During the course of play SAN gradually gets chipped away, and it becomes harder and harder to pass Sanity checks, causing the loss of even more SAN. Truly a bad place to be! This wonderfully captures the mind-breaking horror of Lovecraft's malignant alien gods. My own SAN isn't that great. The risk of my failing a check is there, and it might happen anytime. Who knows when that will happen? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Mansion in a Storm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST: [Ambient SFX] The place owned by the Sougos was to the West of Tokyo. After passing the metropolitain area of Tokyo, you'd be heading to a place deep in the mountains. On top of that, with the worst kind of timing, a downpour would start, filling your evening with heavy rain. With effort, the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. Sayaka-chan, who was solving the puzzle, raced against the clock to get every piece in place by the deadline. As she worked alone in concentration, the storm arrived to interrupt her. KP: Miyako, what vehicle are you driving? Miyako: A sports-type station wagon with four seats. As Drive (Automobile) is my specialty, we're racing along in the rain (rolls dice). There we go, a success. KP: Wait, Sasahara's car was a station wagon? Sasahara: Yes, it seats up to eight people. It's one of the kind that anyone can drive. Because a lady is driving, I'm sure that this trip will be completely safe. KP: Hmm. After playing with Yuika at the amusement park, you guys had dinner with her. After that, you two prepared to drive her home. You're now en route during this storm. The rest of you guys see their powerful station wagon in the rear view mirror of your own car. Tatsumi: It seems that Sasahara is heading to the same place we are. Miyako: As we're driving quickly, we must be passing them at an extreme speed from behind. (lol) Sayaka: I bet Miyako-san's personality changes when she's behind the wheel. (lol) KP: (Tomomi) [The maid driving the sports car that just passed us is giving us a hateful stare!] Sasahara: [What was that just now?] KP: The car that you're passing holds one of the regulars of your shop! It's Sasahara-san's station wagon. For some reason two ladies are looking back at you from inside it. When you look closer, you see that one of them is a young girl - she must be an elementary school student. Tatsumi: [Oh, Sasahara-kun! You've finally crossed that line!] (lol) Miyako: [This is terrible! Sayaka-chan, contact the police!] (lol) Sayaka: [Wait, a kidnapping? Is this a kidnapping?] Sasahara: [Who's a kidnapper!?] (lol) KP: Okay, the two of you have a sort-of car chase. As the race continues, you leave the national highway and exit onto a local road. You see that you're headed towards a certain site in the middle of a forest. The pavement you're driving on develops a steep slope. You see a structure ahead. About three cars are parked in a large garage. Your two cars come to a stop near it. Sayaka: Wow, what a mansion! So, in the middle of a raging storm, we've arrived at a creepy house in the middle of the woods. It sounds like we're being boxed into a situation. (lol) KP: Sayaka-chan, that's a promise I don't have to say ☆ (evillol) Tatsumi: In any case, now that we've stopped let's hear the truth about Sasahara-kun's kidnapping a child. Sasahara: So why are you treating me like that just because I have a little girl in the car with me!? Note: And after that, the Investigators began to exchange information back and forth. Sashahara: [So I'm giving Yuika-chan a ride home. What were you saying about that?] Sayaka: [We are here as part of our work at R'lyeh Company.] Miyako: [Look at this. This horrible wood carving is alive. Look at it move. Look at it.] (lol) Sasahara: [No, stop! Don't make me look at it!] KP: Okay, Sasahara, now that you've seen that object's freakish movement, you need to pass a Sanity test (lol). Sashahara: (rolls dice) Made my test. I only lose one point. I'm down to 64 SAN points. KP: Since you were going to see it at some point anyway, maybe it's good we got that out of the way. (lol) Sasahara: Okay, that creepy wood puzzle's got my attention. I want to make an (Occult) roll. (rolls dice) Made my roll. Do I know anything else about that construct? KP: Yes. Among certain maniac circles this object is known. You know that beneath the surface of this cursed object, locked away, is some kind of power. Sasahara: Sounds like the kind of object I read about in cosmic horror stories. The more I think about it, the more I want to open it. KP: As Tomomi listens to all of you talk, a dubious look starts to form on her face. You're talking about strange religions in the middle of nowhere, next to a mansion in a heavy rain. Sasahara: And wasn't the will left behind by Yuika-chan's relatives rather strange? KP: [This rain is awful and we're standing in front of the door to this place.] says Tomomi as she opens the front door. It's as if she's being beckoned inside. Sasahara: I guess we go inside too. I want to meet this uncle of hers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OST [1] (TL Note: A list of NPCs follows.) ====== Notes: ====== Oze Sougo, 46 years old Nephew of Sougo. One of the people who are the guardians of Yuika. He works for Oze Tokura's company, which is a commercial trading group. He is one of the managers in accounting, and has an arrogant attitude. He looks like someone who only cares about work. Sasae Emiko, 43 years old Sougo's little sister. Showy and loud, she loves to dress in traditional Japanese kimono. She has never known trouble or hardship in her life, and often severely objects to the opinions of her older brother. Saeki Masahiro, 38 years old Emiko's husband. A manager at Tenno Trading Company. He's making investments for Emiko in a venture firm. The sparkle has drained from his life and he feels trapped in a bad situation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sasahara: Ah, I get it. You've lined up the usual bunch of people fighting over succession to the family inheritance. Tatsumi: There'll be some kind of secret that Detective Conan will reveal (lol). Sasahara: No, that will be Sayaka-chan's task. Sayaka: You can leave all of that to me. With this kind of setup, there'll be a serial killing, right? Sasahara: Don't say you're happy when you come across ill omens. KP: Okay then, Emiko-san suddenly cries out in a hysterical voice [Yu-Yuika-chan! Why are you here?] Sasahara: Guess it's my turn. [That's my line. They said her relative's will would be unveiled tonight. But I don't understand why Yuika has to be here.] KP: (Emiko) [ . . . Who are you?] Sasahara: [Tomomi-san's childhood friend!] KP: (Emiko) [ What on earth do you mean? ] Sayaka: Sasahara, that means you have no relation to them at all! (lol) Sasahara: I know that ... but I'm not going to give up here. [Rather than criticize my being here, isn't it bad for all of you to force Yuika-chan to sit through this?] KP: At that, Emiko starts to falter and withdraws. Sougo jumps into the conversation. [How rude! What is your business with us?] Tatsumi: Why did these sticky characters get entertwined? KP: (Sougo) [She has to be here. It's part of the conditions specified in the will.] Sasahara: [Of course it'd contain something bizarre like that.] KP: (Sougo) [We have proof.] With that, he produces a document written by Touzo. The handwriting seems to be his. ====== Notes: ====== The reading of the will was supposed to happen at a particular day and time, and the puzzle had to be solved by a specific deadline. Yuika and her guardian had to be present at the reading. Sasahara: Hmm, this looks like Touzo's handwriting. Let's ask Tomomi to confirm that it's his. KP: (Tomomi) [There's no mistake this is the Master's . . . but what is this?] Tomomi looks as if she's very surprised. Sasahara: [What's going on?] KP: (Sougo) [Every year Yuika is allowed to attend Rinkan School and we say nothing. We don't want to remind her of Uncle Touzo.] Sasahara: [Yes, Tomomi-neesan. It looks like this is their responsibility. What should we do?] Sayaka: He has suddenly become quite meek. (lol) KP: Tomomi says [I don't think we should leave the reading of the will just to these people. We don't know what will happen.] in a whisper to Sasahara. You feel a strong sense of unease, as if you can not trust them. Sasahara: [Are they really that bad?] KP: Well, Tomomi-san's not among the people standing to inherit. She seems genuinely concerned for Yuika-chan. At least, that's how it looks to you. Tatsumi: [Well then, as a compromise, how about if Sasahara-kun attends the unveiling of the will? That won't violate Touzo's wishes.] Miyako: [ Good! What a nice idea!] Sasahara: What? I have to be witness to this? Tatsumi: What are you complaining for now? Sasahara: But I don't think this will turn out well. I've got a bad feeling. (lol) Tatsumi: I'm well aware. Because of that, you've got to attend! Miyako: Oh no, does that mean we have to attend it as well? KP: At the very least, as the one who opened that puzzle box, Sayaka-chan will be expected to attend. Tatsumi: Then I will insist on attending as well. Miyako: I don't like this. KP: It seems you don't know how to appreciate this game (evillol). Miyako: No, it's not that. Even though I said I didn't like it I'm still having fun (lol). Tatsumi: Good. Now with that out of the way, I want to address these creepy people. KP: Very well. Make a (Persuade) check, please. Tatsumi: It so happens that (Persuade) is one of those skills in which I have confidence. (rolls dice) Made my roll. KP: As you begin to (Persuade) them, the clock ticks closer to the appointed time. They're not happy about it, but they appear to have accepted your position. Sasahara: They broke easily. Can I make a (Psychology) check to see what they're thinking about? KP: You may, but I'm rolling it for you. (Hmm, he made the test.) At this moment, they want to get the reading of the will done above all else. That's the impression you get. Sasahara: I wonder why this is so important. What should we do with Yuika, who we brought with us? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes (Miyako's One Point Service): Psychology Hello, I am Miyako, and my favorite kind of old furniture is dining tables. The skill Sasahara-kun used, (Psychology), can let the user see through lies, and sense what kind of emotions a target is feeling. Because NPCs in the Cthulhu TRPG have their own agendas and aren't always honest, this skill is very handy. Some other skills that you should put some points in include (Spot Hidden) and (Listen)! Unlike other checks, (Psychology) rolls are mostly made by the Keeper. It is not good for players to know if they succeeded or not - and if they don't make the roll the Keeper is free to feed the group false information. Better be careful! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ KP: Sougo and company do not seem to want to go anywhere in this storm. They will hold the reading of the will in their own home, in a quiet room. Sasahara: Well, I'll ask Tomomi to attend the reading. I'll have Yuika-chan keep me company in my room. KP: Hey, that's no good. Sayaka: You said the worst possible thing. KP: [I need to hire a guard to watch this guy!] says Tomomi as she gives you a good hard kick in the butt. She takes Yuika inside right after that. Sasahara: She's so strict! I bet she's a tsundere (lol). Sayaka: Judging from that, there's no dere. Just tsun. Miyako: Of the three adults who are gathered here, I want to talk to the quietest one. I think that's Masahiro-san. I want to have a quiet chat with him. KP: That's doable. Miyako: [Sougo-san seems so fixated on the will. Is there some kind of hidden reason for that?] KP: Wow, that's really rude! Masahiro answers, [You'll hear nothing from me.] Miyako: I guess it's time for a (Fast Talk) roll . . . but I'm bad at that skill! Sayaka-chan, help me out! Sayaka: Okay, I'll lend a hand. [As the one who opened the puzzle, I'd hate for it to be used in a crime. If you know something, would you please fill us in?] KP: Okay then. Sayaka, roll your (Fast Talk). Sayaka: (rolls dice) Made it. KP: Seeing as how an honest young lady asked him, Masahiro turns his head to the side and whispers. [Just between you and me, I don't think Touzo left much for them in the first will.] Sayaka: [The first will? Are there two of them?] KP: (Masahiro) [As he was the company manager for a large firm, he had an official one drafted up by a lawyer. We got the notification that there was a second will in a letter from Touzo himself!] Sayaka: [That makes it look like Touzo had advance notice he was going to die.] KP: (Masahiro) [Yes, and I thought that was weird too. The letter said if people had complaints about the allocation of his fortune, they had to open a certain puzzle box. I think you are starting to understand why Sougo has certain expectations.] Sayaka: [Thank you very much. That clears up a lot.] KP: (Masahiro) [By the way, you're so young yet you're running an antique store. It's cute. Have you thought about expanding your business?] He says that while palming some bills and looking at you in a meanginful way. Sayaka: [Oh, the store is just a part-time job for me.] is what I say, then I get out of there in a dash and hurry back to Tatsumi-sensei to report what I've learned. Miyako: [Sayaka-chan is tough!] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: On the Other Side of the Lens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SFX: [1] OST: [1] KP: Okay, you guys are in front of a fireplace inside their living room. Everyone has gathered there, and is paying close attention to Sayaka-chan, who is holding the wooden object. Sayaka: I feel uncomfortable. KP: Sougo is glaring at a wall clock. He's counting down to 0100 (1 AM). Sayaka, when it turns 0100, you are to open the wooden object. Sayaka: It'll be close, but I'll open it on the dot. Sougo: [Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Now, open it! Right now!] Sayaka: I open it. KP: Just then, when you open it, you feel your body become heavy and sluggish. To put it in game terms, you just lost 6 Magic Points. Sayaka: Wait - wait -wait! There's no will inside here! Just some kind of lens. KP: Sayaka, when you look into that thing you see someone's bloodshot eyes staring back at you. Sayaka: [Kyaaaa!] (I might throw it away from me!) Tatsumi: Don't throw it! (lol) KP: (as Emiko) [Hey, what the heck do you think you're doing!?] She picks up the device and looks into it. [ . . . Touzo-sama?] she murmurs. Miyako: What was that? I want to pay careful attention to what happens - from safe distance in the back. Tatsumi: Me too, me too. KP: You don't understand what kind of mechanism could accomplish this. Behind the lens, you see the figure of an elderly man looking back at you. Miyako: Wow, is this a pre-recorded message? KP: As you stare at it, the figure in the lens begins to speak. You can hear what he is saying. (as Touzo) [It looks like you were able to open it after all. You have some skill, don't you? You greedy misers.] Sasahara: This isn't the kind of feeling you get from a will. I think something bad is about to happen. KP: (as Touzo) [In a moment, I will die . . . but I can not leave this world because of my grudge. If you have any regret for Makoto Ichi in your heart, do now what you ought to do. That's the only way to live. It is my will.] Sayaka: Was this recorded on a media player? Is that how they are playing it back on that screen? KP: No, no. As if it was created with technology far beyond our means, the screen isn't just playing back a 2D image. You can see a full 3D panorama there, as if an entire world exists behind it. What's more, you sense that the figure is looking at you. This is no mere recording. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes (Miyako's One Point Service): Magic Points Hi, I'm Miyako, and my favorite magic is One derived statistic all Investigators have is Magic Points, and they are equal to POW. If his Magic Points reach zero, an Investigator will lose consciousness. Although Investigators rarely use Magic Points, they are expended during spellcasting. That odd device in our story drained 6 Magic Points! If it had been me, I would have fainted on the spot! Since this thing sucked away 6 Magic Points, I bet it used them to cast some powerful spell. That wooden contraption is dangerous. We need to treat it with care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sayaka: Yikes, that's scary. My eyelids are getting heavy . . . KP: When that happens, the voice speaks again. [There are some faces I don't recognize in this crowd. Are you the comrades of that detestable miser? If not, you need to flee the area - oh well, it's too late now.] Miyako: [Faces he didn't recognize?] Does that mean us? Tatsumi: Is he looking at us? KP: From behind the lens, the old man raises a contraption not unlike the one you brought. Something like a black haze begins to pour forth from it. Touzo seems completely unaware of this. Sayaka: [Touzo-san, get away! Run!] KP: He seems unable to hear you. The black haze engulfs and wraps around him, and he then emits a short scream and collapses. Miyako: Did he just die? KP: He's on the ground. He's not moving. Tatsumi: I wonder if that's where they found him. KP: Within that black haze, you three notice two glowing green eyes floating in it, staring at you. The eyes look back at you. You feel unease and naseau as they regard you, carefully studying the other side. Then the black haze stretches out to cover the entire area you can see. Miyako: Could this be ... a Hound of Tindalos? KP: All right, everyone! SAN rolls all around! Everyone: Nuuuuoooo! (lol) ====== Notes: ====== Everyone made their SAN check, but they lost 1D3 SAN even with a successful test. Tatsumi: I just lost 2 points. I'm down to 67. Sasahara: I lost 2 points as well. 62 left over here. Sayaka: I lost 1 point. I have 68 left. I guess I'm still safe. Miyako: Uuu. I lost two points. I only have 26 points left! I don't think I can pass anymore SAN checks! KP: Now that all those SAN rolls are out of the way, Emiko, who was holding the object, lets out a very loud scream. OST:[1] Tatsumi: [What is it!?] KP: (Emiko) [It hurts! It hurts! My arms! Aaaah! Aaaah!] and her arms begins shaking. Masahiro, who is next to her, asks her what's wrong. His face is pale with fear and he's very confused. Tatsumi: It's time for me to take charge. I've got the (Medicine) skill. [Everyone! Restrain her! I've got to treat her right now!] Miyako: [Got it!] KP: A pale-blue something is on the back of her hands. It looks like a powerful poison is working through her system. As it works its way through her body, it's causing necrosis of the flesh. Tatsumi, you can try either a (First Aid) or a (Medicine) test. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) made the check. KP: Using towels to dab away pus, and cold water to lower her body temperature - these are the things you can do in this situation. It's not enough. This poison was designed to destroy all of her muscles. This poison reminds you of some of the strongest venoms from sea creatures. However, you've never heard of one that produces symptoms as violently as this one does. Miyako: How horrible. Where did this poison come from? Tatsumi: [Help me get her to the kitchen! Sayaka, get me towels! We've got to flush this poison out of her body!] Sasahara: I want to close that box. KP: Nope! It won't let you do that. Sasahara: How inconvenient. In any case, I want to get it off the floor. Tatsumi: Think we can remove the poison just by closing the box? (lol) KP: Hmm. Some time passes and you continue to treat her. Thanks to Tatsumi-sensei's ministrations, she's out of danger for now. With the wronged eyes of an innocent person dragged into a terrible situation, she glares at Sougo. [If niisan is so greedy, make him accept Touzo's wrath!] Sasahara: Here come the sibling quarrels. I'm going to clam up and see if we overhear any interesting information (lol). KP: (crazy like a fox!) Sougo, who is being blamed by her, says this in return. [Give me a break! You needed money for your company's working capital!] Emiko turns red with anger. [I don't want to hear that from you! You were embezzling money from the company!] That statement goes off with the explosive force of a bomb. Sasahara: Wow. Those two have considerable money troubles. KP: Sasahara learns that from listening closely to their conversation. The two realize that other people can hear what they are saying, so they soon quiet down and stop. Sashara: [I didn't hear anything~! (tries to whistle unconvincingly)] Sayaka: We have other worries. What exactly was that lens? Tatsumi: Let's think about this like a Cthulhu TRPG roleplayer. The lens isn't a monitor for video playback. Instead it creates a link between a time in the past and our time in the present. Doesn't that make sense? Miyako: Someone from the past is watching us. Sayaka: So what was with that black haze? Tatsumi: It may have been a Hound of Tindalos. Sayaka: What kind of monster is a Hound of Tindalos? Tatsumi: If one of Them detects a human who is attempting to cross time, It will follow the human wherever and whenever he goes. It will never stop until It finds the human and devours him. They can arrive suddenly from any corner in a room. Even the corner on a window is enough. They're something you never want to meet. Sayaka: I think I heard about that one. If you were in a round room, It would be unable to find you, right? Miyako: It'd be nice if a room like that existed and was close by (lol). Sayaka: So when Touzo-san used the lens to look to the future, the Hound became aware of him? Tatsumi: There's no doubt of that. Unfortunately I think I locked gazes with It. Miyako: Remember that this kind of metafictional awareness is beyond the capacity of our Investigators (lol). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes (Miyako's One Point Service): The Hounds of Tindalos "They are lean and athirst!" he shrieked... "All the evil in the universe was concentrated in their lean, hungry bodies. Or had they bodies? I saw them only for a moment, I cannot be certain." —Frank Belknap Long, "The Hounds of Tindalos" Hello again! I'm Miyako, and my favorite breed of dog is the Irish wolfhound. The Hounds of Tindalos work on peculiar principles, though if you just judged them from the name, you might think They're the kind of animal you'd see a person walking on a leash. Though the name says 'Hound', It isn't an animal you could keep as a pet. Their most noticeable characteristic is Their capacity to manifest and attack from corners - furniture, room corners, anything will work. It seems They come from the angles of time. I don't understand that very well. When one considers that They can materialize and attack from any angle of less than 120 degrees - yes, even the ones on your bed, it seems like They are cheating. They especially seem to want to punish people who move backward in time. If you are trying to travel or look through time, you stand a chance of locking eyes with one of Them. In that case, even if you try to retreat, there's no helping you. The Hound knows of you, and It will hunt and kill you. It will find you, no matter what you do to hide. Once They notice the [purity] of humanity, They can't be satisfied until that [purity] is destroyed. Obviously They can cause a lot of trouble for Investigators! They're one of the rarer creatures in the Cthulhu TRPG. If possible, I never want to meet one of Them. To anyone currently making a journey through time, watch out for the Hounds of Tindalos! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Closed Room Murders and Threats From the Basement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST: [1] Sayaka: I have a question. Amidst all the racket that happened when the will was read, there was a mention of regret for Makoto Ichi-san. Who is that? KP: According to Emiko and the rest of the bunch, he was Touzo's son, and Yuika's father. Sashara: He was the one who died in that accident on the mountain. Oh, that's right. We were told to have Yuika-chan with us. KP: Okay, when you go up to the second floor to find Yuika, she's sleeping soundly in bed as if nothing happened. Tomomi is looking at her with kind eyes. Sasahara: [Has anything strange happened, Tomomi-san?] KP: (as Tomomi) [Nothing out of the usual. But there was something loud downstairs. Did anything happen down there?] Sasahara: [Where can I begin? Something strange has occured. I'm sorry to ask, but please wake up Yuika and bring her downstairs. Everyone else is waiting.] KP: (as Tomomi) [Even though she's sleeping right now?] She says that with a sad look on her face. Sasahara: [It might be dangerous if you stay here. You'll be safer if you're with everyone else.] KP: (as Tomomi) [If you put it that way . . .] She accepts your explanation. She wakes up Yuika and gives her a change of clothes and brings her downstairs. Everybody! Try an (Idea) roll. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I made it. I guess I realize something. KP: Those who made the roll realize you haven't seen Sougo recently. Sayaka: [Hey, where's Sougo-san?] KP: Before you realized it, you feel he must have gone somewhere. [Where did oniisan get to?] asks Emiko. She has a grim look on her face. Tatsumi: [Something may have happened. It's dangerous to go alone.] Sasahara: I do a head count of everyone who is downstairs. KP: When you do that, you notice that one luxurious, heavy-looking door is locked. It might have been locked from the inside. OST: [1] Sasahara: I'll get Tomomi to open this door. KP: (as Tomomi) [This is the door to the Master's room. The key is probably inside.] Sasahara: So I guess Sougo is inside it? KP: At that moment Emiko rushes in. (as Emiko) [Niisan, what are you doing? Come on out of there! I won't let you go off and do something on your own!] She glares angrily at the door while pounding on it. She doesn't seem bothered by her arm injury now. Sasahara: I bet something really important is in that room. KP: (as Tomomi) [It contains both a bedroom and a study. It's full of important documents.] Sasahara: I wonder if he's hiding the evidence of his embezzling. Is there a gap in the door I can look through? KP: Sorry, but there's no way to look through that heavy door. Maybe you could use the outside window to look in. Sasahara: I'm not going outside alone. Sayaka-chan, come with me. KP: What a pitiable coward. You should go alone. Sasahara: But it's dangerous to go alone! (lol) Sayaka: All right, all right. I'll go with him. Sasahara: Yay! I knew I could count on you. Sayaka: I think I ought to show Tomomi-san just how cowardly you are. (lol) KP: (as Tomomi) [He cried a lot when he was little.] (lol) Sasahara: [Yeah, you teased me too much then.] is what I'll say back. KP: (as Tomomi) [Don't say strange things. You chase around little girls.] Miyako: From the time he was little, he's liked little girls. (lol) Tatsumi: Cut the idle chatter and get to work! Sasahara: All right. Miyako-san has my number on her cell phone. I have her number on mine. If something strange happens, we'll call each other to report it. Tatsumi: This guy is very cautious. KP: Although those two went outside, it's still difficult to look inside the room. The window is high up. Sasahara: Okay, I see how it is. Sayaka-chan, you can stand on me and look into the room. Miyako: There goes Sasahara-kun, being all grim and stern while showing frightening things to other people. (lol) Sasahara: Well excuuuse me, princess. Let's change things. Sayaka-chan, you can lift me up instead. I only have a 17 SIZ. Sayaka: No, the original way was better. Just don't look up my skirt, please. Sasahara: I won't, I won't ... is what I'll say, and afterward I'll look. (lol) Sayaka: I'll step on his peeping face. Sasahara: Ow! Sayaka: Anyway, I want to look in the window. KP: Make a (Luck) roll, please. Sayaka: (rolls dice) Made it. KP: Okay. You are blessed with good luck. (That was a roll to see if she could see the horrifying work the monster did while killing Sougo. She passed, so she didn't see that.) You look inside the room. You see that Sougo has fallen against the bed. Sayaka: How is he? KP: From what you can see from this angle, you don't see any surface wounds. You do see documents that have been scattered around. Sayaka: [Ah, this is terrible!] Sasahara: [What is it, Sayaka-chan!?] Sayaka: Sasahara-kun is battered by footsteps from above. [Quick, call Miyako! I can see Sougo and it looks like he has collapsed inside!] Sayaka: I'll call Miyako-san. Miyako: I report the situation to Tatsumi-sensei. Tatsumi: [We'll have to break the door down.] Can we do that? KP: You guys don't have the key. Up to two people can work on the door at the same time. Tatsumi: We will tackle the door together. KP: Master and pupil tackle the door together. The door bursts open. Both of you can attempt a (Spot Hidden) roll for me. Tatsumi: (rolls dice) I failed. Miyako: (rolls dice) It's all right, I got this. KP: Tatsumi did not pass. I rule that he was distracted by seeing Sayaka-chan's face peering down in the window. Tatsumi: [Aah! It's a ghost! Wait, that's Sayaka-chan!] (lol) Sayaka: [It feels like someone in there is insulting me!] (lol) KP: All right guys, can the jokes for a while. Miyako, you sensed something in one of the corners of the room. When you look at it, you see some of the adumbral haze you saw in the lens earlier. You look into it more deeply ... and see the green, glowing eyes which burn with hunger, as they stare into yours. Miyako, make a (SAN) roll right now. Miyako: Why only me!? KP: The game being played here is "cosmic horror". Realizing truths about the universe is bad for you. Miyako: (rolls dice) . . . I didn't make the check. KP: Then you lose 1D6 SAN. Miyako: If I lose another four points, I'll fall into indefinite insanity. Sasahara: Already!? Miyako: I only have 26 Sanity points left. C'mon, roll low. Roll low! (rolls dice) I only lost 2 points. (Everyone breathes a sigh of relief and applauds.) Miyako: I have 24 points left. KP: You're down to that few? That's a number that will make any Keeper nervous. Miyako: I've had a lot of back to back events where I had to roll SAN! (lol) KP: It pains me to say this, but a few more and . . . Miyako: What about the black haze? KP: Soon all the traces of it fade away. Tatsumi: I didn't see any of the black haze, so I'm going to check Sougo's breathing. Is he alive? KP: Nope, he's dead. But judging from his body temperature you think he was killed very recently. Tatsumi: I want to investigate his body further with a (Medicine) roll. Made it. KP: There are no surface wounds on the corpse. It looks like it was a case of sudden death. You can try a (Spot Hidden) roll. Tatsumi: This time I made the roll. KP: After examining him further, you find a small hole in the back of Sougo's head. It's so small you couldn't fit your little finger in it. It's precise - it doesn't look like a lot of pressure was used to make it. One odd thing about it is that blood isn't dripping out of it. Sayaka: What kind of injury is this? Tatsumi: Again, our Investigators won't know this, but speaking as a Cthulhu TRPG player I've seen this before. This is the work of a Hound of Tindalos. It used Its tongue to attack this man. Miyako: So that black shadow really was a Hound of Tindalos . . . Sasahara: Is that awful thing in the mansion with us? Tatsumi: If It locks eyes with you, it'll chase you until you die. Somehow or other, it'll find you. KP: You find out some other things. Sougo seems to have died before Emiko was poisoned. You hear her in the other room. She keeps saying [This is Touzo's curse! It's his curse on us!] Judging from her voice, her sanity is starting to crumble. Tatsumi: What a horrible night to have a curse. I'll try a (Psychoanalysis) roll. Maybe I can calm her down. (rolls dice) Made it. KP: You manage to calm her down. She collapses into slumber. She's been terrified by what's happened, and the wound on her arm hasn't helped. Tatsumi: It has been an upsetting evening. I drag her over to a sofa. She can catch some zzzs there. Sayaka: We have to contact the police and tell them what happened to Sougo. Sasahara: Hold off on that. We need to search Touzo-san's room first. (lol) Miyako: Once the cops get here, they won't let us investigate the place ourselves. (lol) KP: Okay, you look inside. You find a large bookshelf, an antique desk, a bed, and similar trappings. It looks like a good room to rest in. Everything is Western-style. There are many documents concerning his company and the economy. There are also some occult texts, which will please Sasahara. Miyako: I want to look through the books Sougo-san recently read. KP: It seems that Sougo-san was mostly looking through documents related to stocks and securities. Miyako: He was looking through things concerning monetary value when he was attacked. Sasahara: [Tomomi-san, did Touzo-san have an interest in the occult for a long time?] KP: (as Tomomi) [About a year ago his health took a turn for the worse. His interest in the occult began then as his interests and personality changed.] OST: [1] Sasahara: [He got weirder and weirder.] KP: (as Tomomi) [Don't say it like that. Anyway, he was mostly doing the work while being cooped up in this room. I didn't think it was that strange.] Sasahara: [How was his illness back then?] KP: (as Tomomi) [According to the doctor, it wasn't strange that he would die.] Sasahara: [What did he mean?] KP: (as Tomomi) [He wouldn't go to the hospital and he never told anyone else that he was sick. He insisted on being treated here, at the mansion.] Miyako: [And then two weeks ago he died. I'm sorry if remembering this is hard, but would you tell us what shape he was in towards the end?] KP: (as Tomomi) [I was the one who found him. One morning I came in here and found him collapsed on top of his books. His body was extremely cold.] Miyako: Keeper, is that where we saw Touzo-san in the scene before he was attacked by the Hound of Tindalos? KP: Seems that way. Sayaka: Wait - would that mean Touzo-san didn't die of natural causes? Instead, he was killed by the Hound of Tindalos? KP: You've heard how he was receiving medical care. Maybe you accepted the hospital's explanation for what happened him. Miyako: How much did Touzo-san really know about what the wooden puzzle? Sasahara: I bet he knew a lot. I want to thoroughly research his occult library as such. KP: That'll take some time. And you need to make a (Listen) check first. Sayaka: Sasahara-kun and I made our rolls. KP: Very well. You hear the sound of a car engine starting in the garage. Tatsumi: Who the heck is that? It couldn't be . . . Masahiro! KP: Now that you mention it, earlier you saw him near Emiko, getting blubbery and upset. Now you realize you don't see him anywhere. Tatsumi: Now is not the time to panic and run off! Do you want to die? Sasahara: That's a bit much, Tatsumi-sensei. You're acting like you're really in a horror movie. (lol) OST: [1] KP: Oh yes, that Tatsumi-sensei. He's someone to worry about, except you're more worried about the noise of the powerful earthquake that shakes the house. Tatsumi: Wait, what? KP: Right after that, you hear a loud crash. Then it's followed by a sustained press of the car horn. BeeEEEeeeEEEeeep. Tatsumi: An accident? Sayaka: I rush out of Touzo's room. I'll run outside and check out the situation there. Tatsumi: [Wait up! You should bring a doctor!] I say as I follow her. Miyako: If the sensei goes outside, I go outside to bring an umbrella as his attendant. Sasahara: I'm worried about Emiko-san and Yuika-chan. I want to stay behind with them. Tatsumi: This clownin' knuckle dragger . . . carefully got away. I'm concerned about Yuika-chan too. All right, I leave them to you. Sasahara: Of course! Leave them to me! (lol) KP: Depending on the blare of the klaxon to find your way through the strong winds and the rain which even now pours down on you in sheets. It's pitch black outside, and as you walk along the mountain trail you find the car, a beautiful Mercedes Benz that has been in a crash. Tatsumi: Not good. Is Masahiro all right? KP: The car looks like it travelled about thirty meters on the road. The front has been torn into. That must have been what caused the car to crash off the road. While looking down at the car from higher up on the road, you make a strange discovery. Miyako: Not again! I don't want to see it! Sayaka: Hold up! I'm only looking at the state of the car! (lol) KP: (ignoring their protests, continuing his description) Something large and white just moved across the ground in your field of vision. You hear some strange noises from the car's hood, and then you see something like mucous sticking to it. While you look at it, you think something is trying to drag the car into a hole in the ground. It's some kind of monster. Everyone, roll SAN! Tatsumi: It's okay. (rolls dice) Made it. Sayaka: (rolls dice) I passed the check too. Miyako: Uuuh, don't look over here. (rolls dice) . . . I failed! KP: Those who made the check lose 1 SAN. Those who didn't will lose 1D6 Sanity points. Sayaka: That's a lot of Sanity points. KP: The large and white thing just wriggled like an earthworm, and the car moved with it. When that happened, there was a slight tremor as well. Hence the fear. Sayaka: What on earth is this phenomenon!? Miyako: It's useless! It's all useless! I'm teetering on the brink of lunacy! (rolls a D6) Oh! Oh! I only lost one point! I'm down to 23 Sanity points. KP: Hoehhh, this is intense. (lol) Sayaka: After deducting that one point, I'm down to 67 SAN. Tatsumi: I've got 66. I feel our SAN is getting five and dimed. KP: Now's not the time to cower behind your mother's skirt. In the driver's seat, his face impacted by the airbag, is Masahiro. To pry him out, you'll need to break safety glass and pull. The glass has about 8 "hit points". OST: [1] Sayaka: Let me break the window. I have karate as a personal specialty. Miyako: While Sayaka-chan could probably do it all herself, I want to help out. With this frying pan. KP: You brought that with you this whole time!? (lol) Miyako: I'm always ready for danger because I bring my equipment with me. Tatsumi: I'll leave breaking the glass to the ladies. I think it'll be my job to get him out of the car. I don't have much confidence in myself, though. KP: Okay, if you guys mess this up the car will become further wedged in the mud. Getting him out will be even harder if that happens. Sayaka: Sayaka, mairimasu. Karate kick! The damage for this is 1D6 + 1D6 + 1D4. (rolls dice) I did 8 points! KP: That's enough to fracture the glass and send bits flying in the air. Tatsumi: This high school girl, with just one hit! Miyako: I wanted to help out with my frying pan. (lol) Sayaka: Did you see the results of my ascetic training!? (lol) KP: I wonder what kind of training it was. Miyako: I "holster" my frying pan and return to assisting Tatsumi-sensei. KP: In any case, I am glad you two are so reliable. I probably won't require Sayaka to roll dice the next time she wants to break things. Sayaka: Yaaay! KP: You pull him out of the car. When you do, he says this to Miyako: [ Avoid the ground! A big mouth opened in it! It's going to eat the car!] Miyako: [Calm down. Get a hold of yourself!] is what I say while I think about hitting him with the frying pan to make up for my missed chance to use it earlier. (lol) Sayaka: Can I quiet him with a kick? KP: While he'd quiet down, he might not live if you do that. Better not. Tatsumi: I calm him down with a (Psychoanalysis) roll. I also tell him that we need to get out of here. (rolls dice) Made it. KP: As the rain continues to fall, you leave the scene of the accident. You hear the car lose its balance and fall into the hole in the earth. Or was it swallowed? The sound of your footsteps and the destruction of the car mingle together. Tatsumi: What could be beneath us? Sayaka: We've got to hurry. Otherwise we're going to get eaten! Miyako: Right. Back to the mansion! KP: Back at the mansion, one can hear a 'kshing' noise of metal on metal near the rear entrance What could be making that noise? (lol) Sayaka: I don't know! I don't want to know! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtitle: Two Grimoires -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OST: [1] ====== Notes: ====== After they returned to the mansion, Tatsumi-sensei gave Masahiro first aid and bandaged him up. Emiko's injury was not yet healed, but upon seeing what happened to Sougo, she became frightened and fled the mansion. She never had a chance to hear Sougo's terrifying testimony . . . Tatsumi: This guy's kind of incompetent. We saved him when he was about to be killed. I doubt that he's trying to pull a scheme. Miyako: It looks like Touzo-san was fully ready to ice these people. Tatsumi: Setting aside the Hound of Tindalos, what was that gigantic, white thing we saw? What about the earthquake? KP: You get the feeling that the earthquake is like that gigantic, white thing's footsteps. Tatsumi: Sentence. I don't think we'll be going outside the mansion anytime soon. Sayaka: With all of that in mind, don't you think it's time we called the police and an ambulance? Tatsumi: Good point. We'll try to call 119. Translator's note: America uses 911 for its emergency number, and Japan uses 119. KP: You guys are as noisy as a fire brigade. Nevertheless, you are able to reach a local emergency response unit. They inform you that the storm and the recent earthquake have destroyed the mountain path leading to the mansion where you are. Once the storm settles down, they'll be able to send a rescue helicopter your way. For now, you're going to have to wait. Sayaka: Nuooooooo! Do not want! ( ;_; ) KP: Of course, if they arrived I might just have that gigantic worm-thing that's lurking underground surface and kill all of them. Then I'd have you all roll against Sanity for getting a good look at it. Sayaka: Whoa! Our Keeper has a terrifying way of making threats. (lol) Miyako: We understand. We understand. We'll deal with the situation ourselves. KP: Thaaaat's right! (evilol) Miyako: Although it's been that way ever since we got to this mansion (lol). OST:[1] Sasahara: Say, Tatsumi-sensei. Touzo-san's study has lots of occult books. I say it's time we read some of them. Tatsumi: Ah, that's right. We might be able to understand Touzo's objective. I will assist you. Miyako: I'll help them out too. Tatsumi: Before we get to that, I warn the NPCs in the mansion. [Don't try anything on your own.] Sasahara: [Tomomi-san, don't put yourself in a situation where you're alone. It's dangerous!] KP: (as Tomomi) [What if I suddenly need something?] Sasahara: [Well, I am a man (barely)!] Miyako: What are you saying now? (lol) KP: All right, if you want to look through Touzo's collection of books, you can make a (Library Use) or (Occult) roll. Sasahara: Might as well use my best skill. Here goes my (Occult) (rolls dice) ... made it. Tatsumi: I'll try with my (Library Use). (rolls dice) Got it. KP: He's got a good collection of volumes, some of which could command good prices. Among them, two books catch your eyes. Sasahara: And what books are those? KP: Something called G'harne Fragments and another book called the Eltdown Shards. Both are written in English. Sasahara, who made his Occult roll, remembers hearing something about those Fragments. They were apparently stolen from a city named G'harne and are a sort of record of the city. Eltdown Shards was written in England. It discusses mysterious clay tablets that were found in the south, and analyzes the mysterious writing found on them. Neither one is very common. Sasahara: I'm not sure what relevance these have to our current dilemma. Is there something in them that looks like it could be useful? Tatsumi: We won't know that until we read them. KP: Skimming them will take some time - at least a few hours. You'll also have to make an Other Language (English) roll. Tatsumi: I really want to read them at length, but for now I'll just skim them. Sayaka: Now that everyone else is reading these books, I'll prepare a study station for them with desks and things to take notes on. Miyako: I'll help her out with that. KP: Okay, the two of you should attempt a (Spot Hidden) test. Sayaka: Made it. KP: Among the many items which have scattered across the surface of the desk, you find a moon calendar. The time for a new moon is circled. Sayaka: A new moon? What moon is it tonight? KP: You won't be able to know until the rain clears. Sayaka: What if I tried to look it up with my cell phone? KP: If there's a site that has that information . . . well, why not? You find one. Tonight's the full moon. Sayaka: What's the meaning of this? Miyako: It means that Touzo scheduled the opening of that box puzzle. It means he knew it would be opened on the night of the full moon. KP: By the way, the new moon often happens on the 30th of a given month. Tatsumi: So Touzo-san knew that on the day of the full moon, he was going to die. It's almost a certainty that he intentionally summoned the Hound of Tindalos and died in the process. Miyako: It seemed he had accepted his fate in his will. Sasahara: But wasn't he insane by that point? KP: I have nothing else to add to that. Miyako: He knew he'd die summoning the Hound of Tindalos, but he also used It to attack Sougo and the rest? Tatsumi: He was crazy, but I think he was still afraid of dying. Sasahara: Why bring Yuika-chan into this? Miyako: He probably thought Yuika-chan would be over at Rinkan school during this time. He didn't think she'd be here while this was going on. Sayaka: But that leaves Sougo-san and his relatives on the chopping block. You heard how Sougo-san was misappropriating company funds. Touzo-san must have hated him. Sasahara: This must have some connection to Makoto Ichi-san's death. I wonder if he really died in an accident. Miyako: Now I want to hear what Emiko-san has to say about all of this. Tatsumi: We've only heard a little from her. Let's make her explain this stuff in detail. Sayaka: While you are busy with this, we can continue to investigate this room. Sasahara: Yes! I bet his diary is here somewhere! His diary! KP: Hold on just a second. I need to roll for something. (rolls dice once, then twice) Hmm. That's interesting. Sayaka: The Keeper's doing something suspicious! KP: No, not at all (lol). Miyako: I'm concerned. Tatsumi: So am I. =============== Keeper's Notes: =============== What I just rolled for was a test to determine the behavior of the Hound of Tindalos, which is still lurking at the mansion. I was determining who It would hunt as prey with some random dice rolls. In the context of this scenario, The Hound of Tindalos prefers to attack people when they are alone, and It likes to target those with high POW. Up till now the group has stayed together, so It hasn't felt like attacking. Unfortunately, as time continues to pass, It will eventually decide to attack people even if they remain in a large group. Sayaka: Can I search for his journal, assuming he kept one, with a (Spot Hidden) roll? KP: Nope, for this you'll need to roll against your (Library Use). As this area isn't as large as a real library, the amount