Alone Against the Flames (Solo Scenario)

Details

Pages: 64

Author(s): Gavin Inglis

Artist(s): Gavin Inglis (map of Embershead), plus various stock & public domain images (credited in scenario)

Setting: 1920s New Hampshire

Appears in: Alone Against the Flames (Supplement), Call of Cthulhu Starter Set

Campaign: (none)

Summary

A "choose-your-own-misadventure" solo adventure designed for a Keeper to learn the basics of the game alone. You are the main character making a new start in 1920s Arkham until the bus driver on the journey makes a fateful stop in the small town of Embershead, a place where the townfolk build a mysterious "beacon" of flame in a strange yearly tradition. Your choices determine the outcome, designed to lead you through the basic rules of the game in a gradual and entertaining fashion.

Links

• (link) - Review by Antonios S. at RPGNet

Spoilers - Keepers Eyes Only

Players should not read any further.

Synopsis

Describe the adventure in detail; no bias allowed.

 Spoiler Section (Highlight to Read)

A "choose-your-own-misadventure" solo adventure designed for a Keeper to learn the basics of the game alone. You are the main character making a new start in 1920s Arkham until the bus driver on the journey makes a fateful stop in the small town of Embershead, a place where the townfolk build a mysterious "beacon" of flame in a strange yearly tradition of "sacrifice" to Celestial Lights, servitors of Cthugha, powerful entities of living flame. Your choices determine the outcome, designed to lead you through the basic rules of the game in a gradual and entertaining fashion.

References

Player Handouts:

• The scenario.
• A blank character sheet (not included; the 1920s Auto-Calc sheet is recommended, and will be filled out a little at a time as part of the adventure).

Locations:

• Embershead, a small town near Lovecraft Country, a short distance from Ossipee, New Hamshire.

Creatures:

• Human Cultists
• Arbogast, a friendly cultist
• Cthugha, mentioned by name
• "Celestial Lights" or "Stars", living flames

Tomes and Artifacts:

• A ritual to control Cthugha, learned from another character (Command Celestial Flames)
• Azathoth and Others, by Edward Derby
• An unnamed tome (This book concerns fire, astronomical diagrams, alchemical symbols, references to Dante, and speculations on the nature of damnation), containing the spells:
  • Call Ye Celestial Flames (Call Celestial Flames)
  • Command Ye Celestial Flames (Command Celestial Flames)
• Bizarre Tales magazine (reading this restores a little lost sanity)

Organizations

• the town is essentially a Cult of Cthugha

Comments

List dedication, trivia, images, anything else of note.

Keeper Comments

Setting: 1920s Lovecraft Country in the fictional town of "Embershead"; this could be retconned or adapted to some other town, though it may hardly be worth the effort.

Special Notes: Basically a training scenario for filling out a character sheet and using the basic BRP rules set, including using characteristics and skills, reading tomes, learning and using spells, and losing sanity, investigating a town full of dark secrets, etc. Works as a nice introduction to the game setting and rules for both new keepers and new players.

Sequel Plot Hooks: (no specific plot hooks/sequels; the scenario is essentially a one-shot, though the character could be reused if they survive this scenario)