Madness of the Ancestors

Details

Pages: 36

Author(s): David Conyers

Artist(s): Paul Carrick, David Conyers

Setting: 1930s

Appears in: Secrets of Kenya

Summary

Investigators are hired by Prof. Curtis Mathieson, from Miskatonic University, to look into some strange deaths taking place in an archeological dig site in Kenya.

Links

• Secrets of Kenya review on Orcsnest.com

Spoilers - Keepers Eyes Only

Players should not read any further.

Synopsis

The scenario starts in Arkham, where investigators are contacted by Prof. Curtis Mathieson. He explains that he received an hominid skull from a dig site in Kenya with some rather disturbing characteristics that defy explanation. Mathieson goes on to say that he had two reasons for contacting the investigators: because of their academic expertise, and also in their roles as investigators of note. Since the excavation begun several diggers vanished, and now a student got killed. In fact, the skull comes from the remains of a Ghoul, and the dig site is excavating one of several entrances to a underground network of ghoul tunnels spreading all over Africa.

As the investigators arrive at the site and the days go by, one-by-one workers, researchers and investigadors start getting captured and/or killed by the ghouls until no one's left. The ones who manage to survive may face a destiny even worse than death, as the ghouls keep humans captive within the tunnels, living as human cattle in a barbaric society where the survival of the fittest is the only rule.

References

Player Handouts:

• Mandius africanus (Ghoul) skull;
• Telegram from Prof. Spaulding;
• Newspaper clippings;
• Fable from The Masked Messenger;
• Letter from Prof. Mathieson to Prof. Spaulding;
• Passage from The Masked Messenger.

Locations: Arkham, A dig site outside Tsavo, Kenya.

Creatures: Ghoul

Tomes and Artifacts: The Masked Messenger

Comments

Prof. Curtis Mathieson is a recurring character, appearing in The Trail of Tsathogghua (Scenario) from The Trail of Tsathogghua (Supplement), and also in Miskatonic University (Supplement). This can be used as a hook.

Prof. Rudolph Pearson from Columbia University is cited briefly in this scenario as one of the translators of The Masked Messenger. Further background on him can be found in Secrets of New York.

The following data is included for use in this scenario but can also be useful somewhere else:

• A complete description with statistics of The Masked Messenger;
• A list of the most commonly used items in an archaeological dig site;
• A selection of archaeological terms and phrases;
• A description with statistics for African Ghouls;
• Maps and schematics for ghoul tunnels;
• A Map of southern Kenya and the Kilimanjaro area.

Keeper Comments

According to the author, this scenario is designed to be challenging for both novice and experienced investigators, since no special skills or prior learning are required to complete the investigation. Archaeologists and anthropologists will have a role to play in this scenario.

Expect and average of three evenings to complete play.