The Cats of Lamu

Details

Secrets of Kenya

Pages: 13

Author(s): David Conyers

Artist(s): Paul Carrick, David Conyers

Setting: 1920s

Appears in: Secrets of Kenya

Summary

Investigators receive a letter from Jamal Alhazred, a scholar of the occult, inviting them to visit him in Lamu, a small island town on Kenya's northern coast.

Links

• Secrets of Kenya review on Orcsnest.com

Spoilers - Keepers Eyes Only

Players should not read any further.

Synopsis

Investigators receive an invitation to Lamu, Kenya by Jamal Alhazred. There, he welcomes them in his house, where they have an informal conversation about the supernatural while savouring a delicious meal. After dinner, Jamal shows the investigators a fable from The Masked Messenger about the Hag of Zais, a beautiful woman transformed by Nyarlathotep into the ugliest, most putrid being who ever lived. The fable tells that after the transformation, knowing that she'll never be the object of love or care of anyone for all eternity, the Hag hid herself in the city of Abharanah, never to be seen again. As Jamal bids them good night, investigators start to feel tired and fall asleep. They've been drugged.

Sent to the Dreamlands, investigators starts a journey until they finally meet Queen Samyatta, Queen of Abharanah Cats. She asks them to go to the cursed city of Abharanah, expel the Hag and lift the curse, so the cats can come back to their beloved home. Investigators will find her in the center of a labyrinth of caves under the city, where she appears to be waiting for them with sadness in her eyes. Maybe violence is not the way to deal with her.

References

Player Handouts:

• Jamal Alhazred's letter;
• Fable of the Hag of Zais, from The Masked Messenger;
• Note of Disappointment.

Locations: Dreamlands; Lamu, Kenya.

Creatures: Cats; Nightgaunt

Tomes and Artifacts: The Masked Messenger

Comments

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

• Statistics for Dreamland Cats;
• Statistics for Dreamland Weapons;
• Gazetteer of the Unnamed Desert Realms;
• Statistics for Nightgaunts.

Keeper Comments

According to the author, this scenario could be used as a introduction to the Dreamlands for inexperienced investigators, and also as a first expedition to Kenya.