GURPS: JAZZ AGE MYTHOS

DIGGING DEEP
A scenario for GURPS: Jazz Age Mythos
Suitable for starting characters

Overview
Meshing
Digging Deep is a ‘meshing’ scenario, ‘Meshing’ is the process of immersing
intended and designed to introduce a new both players and characters in the
group of players to the setting and system, campaign setting. It allows players to
and to enable the players to establish their establish and strengthen their
characters’ relationships both with the other characters’ social ties.
player characters and with some important Each player should establish a
non-player characters. The general idea background connection from his
behind ‘meshing’ is given in the character to at least two other player
accompanying text box. characters. These must be to
The scenario is intended to occur one
characters run by different players.
Saturday in early March, and is designed The connection ought to be
to immediately precede the scenario friendly, or neutral in tone at worst, as
Consumption, available as a pdf in the
the intention is that the first character
pack ‘Islands of Ignorance’. A lead into
might think of contacting or helping the
others.
Consumption is given at the end of this
scenario. The default scenario date is
Saturday 06 March 1926.

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The scenario begins with the Investigators being invited to the memorial
gathering of an old friend or mentor, Colonel Henry Houghton. At the gathering, the
Investigators have opportunities to make social contacts and find out about
themselves and each other. Deep background decisions are encouraged as they are
drawn into some discrete investigation into a possible Houghton family scandal.

Keeper’s Introduction

The decorated veteran and hero of the Civil War and Spanish American War,
Colonel Henry Houghton, died seven days ago on Saturday 27 February, aged 81,
losing his battle against the pancreatic cancer that he had been fighting for the
last year and a half.
Born in 1844, Colonel Houghton was Obituary entry for Colonel Henry
a long-serving Army veteran who married Houghton, 01 March 1926. See
relatively late in life in 1878, aged 34. His Digging Deep handout #01.
younger wife, Loretta, died in a yachting HOUGHTON –- Colonel Henry, 81
accident in 1887 aged 37. Tragedy years of age. Lost his battle against
cancer at Whitechapel Nursing Home on
followed tragedy and both of Henry and
Saturday 27 Feb. at 2:30 A.M.. Colonel
Loretta’s children died childless; Abigail of Houghton was a veteran of the Civil War
typhoid in December 1888, and Albert in a where he reached the rank of Captain in
flying accident in June 1902. Henry’s the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer
Regiment. He was promoted to Major in
indomitable spirit was not broken but it
1882 and served as Lt. Colonel in the
had taken a heavy blow and he sought 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment in
solace in spiritualism and the occult. the Spanish-American War, where he
Admitted to Arkham’s Whitechapel Nursing took part the 1898 Siege of Santiago.
Latterly, Colonel Houghton served as a
Home [A808] in April 1922, Colonel Henry magistrate in Arkham County. Colonel
Houghton was diagnosed with pancreatic Houghton was a widower, his wife having
cancer on September 1924 and quickly drowned in a yachting accident in 1887.
His daughter, Abigail, died of typhoid
degenerated into a hollow shell of his
fever in 1888, and his son, Albert, was
former self. See Colonel Houghton’s sadly killed in 1902 following an accident
obituary notice entry, reproduced as in an experimental aircraft of his own
Digging Deep handout #01. design. Colonel Houghton is succeeded
by his younger brother, Edward, and by
Col. Houghton’s funeral was, as he his grand-niece, Rebecca. Private
had specified in his will, a private affair interment at Arlington Cemetery, Virginia.
held at the Arlington Military Cemetery,
Virginia. At his memorial party, on the other hand, Colonel Houghton specified that
as many as possible of his former friends and associates should attend and enjoy
the largesse he has provided for the event. Consequently, telegrams were sent out
on Monday 01 March inviting those Henry had named, or to those who were still
alive, at least.

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Unbeknown to anyone, however, one Charles Wool, a man claiming to be the
illegitimate son of Henry Houghton, has secured entry to the memorial party and is
threatening blackmail. It is down to the Investigators to sort out the problem and
either try to clear the name of their former friend or mentor or prove Mr. Wool’s
claim to be true. Note that the truth behind the claim is not given in this scenario,
rather it is intended that the meshing session will create a more detailed back-story
for Henry Houghton and the strength of Charles Wool’s claim will emerge as a
result of the players creating and contributing anecdotes.
The NPCs Rebecca Houghton and Edward Houghton will both reappear in the
scenario Regiment of Dread (in ‘Tales of the Miskatonic Valley’). It is recommended
that the GM read that scenario before running this one. Both Rebecca and Edward
are represented by NPC Cards (GURPS: Mythos – Important NPCs).

Investigator Involvement

Each investigator should establish a link with Colonel Houghton which will result in
them being invited to the memorial gathering. Some suggestions are given below for
how characters with particular backgrounds might have had contact with Houghton.
Ideally, these links should be worked out before the session so that the GM has an
opportunity to produce personalized Western Union telegrams.
Military – Colonel Houghton was a lifelong military figure who always had time for
the men around him. He retired from the regular Army in 1910 and served as
depot commander for B Company, 1st Battalion of the Massachusetts 23rd
Volunteers (National Guard) until 1920.
Occultists – Following the death of his son in 1902, Houghton frequently turned to
spiritualism.
Journalism – Colonel Houghton was a popular local hero with much to say about
the progress of the Great War. Older journalists may even have accompanied him in
Cuba as attached reporters.
Historians, Writers and Artists – Houghton was a keen collector of local art, and
was also happy to act as a consultant for writers covering military matters.
Medical – Houghton had contact with the medical profession both for his personal
medical issues and in relation to his family losses.
Law enforcement and PIs – As a Colonel in the State National Guard, Houghton was
frequently involved in tackling civil disorder, especially the 1919 industrial disputes.
As magistrate, he dealt with many minor criminal cases from 1910.
Dilettantes and entertainers – The Houghtons were one of Arkham’s prominent
families and Colonel Houghton was both a patron of the arts and central figure in
society.

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MYTH
Explorers, sportsmen, teachers, academics and scientists – As befitted his social
position, Houghton was a benefactor and patron of various projects,
projects, and he took a
keen and informed interest in their progress.
Criminals and low-lives – Houghton came into contact with plenty of people skirting
the law, both as county magistrate and as part of the National Guard. He also
funded several rehabilitation programmes with the aim of giving potential career
criminals a second chance.

Any characters whose backgrounds or occupations really do not suggest any

a
believable connection might want to consider knowing Rebecca Houghton, his grand-
grand
niece, although it is preferable for the scenario that the player characters have a
connection to Henry. Suitable characters might even be hired as part of the
evening’s domestic staff or the string quartet. As a very last resort, characters may
accompanying another player character
character (or even NPC) who has been invited.
All characters invited will receive a telegram from Rebecca Houghton,
Houghton inviting
them to the memorial gathering which will be held at the old Houghton house,
around ten miles west of Arkham along the Aylesbury Pike, just east of the railroad
crossing. The gathering is to be held on the Saturday following the receipt of the
telegram, beginning at 1PM. Characters who are known to be struggling for money
are either paired with a suitable driver character with the suggestion
suggestion that they share
transport, or told to present themselves before Saturday at the office of the
attorney, E. E. Saltonstall and Associates of 511 Gedney Street,
Street Arkham [A124].
There
here they will receive $3 from Colonel Houghton’s estate in order that they might
hire a taxi (ten miles at 25¢ per mile, plus a 50¢ tip). Less salubrious and/or
hygienic characters will be dealt with with barely-disguised
disguised disdain in a small side-
room. Saltonstall is ever aware of the high reputation
tion of his practice and wishes to
maintain it.

Arriving at The Memorial Party

Reaching the Houghton house from Arkham,

the nearest large
arge town, drivers will need to
use the Aylesbury Pike which begins as a
good metalled
alled road and slowly deteriorates
deteri
as you travel west. Potholes
otholes and cracks in
the surface make fast driving something of
a challenge, especially at night.
night A light snow
is falling as the characters approach.
The Houghton House The entrance to the Houghton estate
driveway is marked by two stone gate pillars, once imposing but now badly

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overgrown. Negotiating several hundred yards of unkempt and tree-overhung
driveway, the impression of lost glories continues with ill-tended garden until
approaching closer to the house where the gardener has made a brave attempt at
taming the vegetation. Cars line the driveway, suggesting a large attendance at the
memorial gathering.
The large Georgian-style two-storey Houghton house is old and dilapidated,
and a knowledgeable surveyor or builder (i.e. a character making any suitable
building/engineering skill roll) will realise that it is unlikely to last another decade
without significant financial investment. Colonel Houghton lost all interest in
maintaining the house after his son died in 1902, and instead spent his money on
charitable projects.
As they enter the house, guests are greeted by a hired staff who take their
hats and coats and announce them. Rebecca Houghton, hovering by the door from
the hallway to the parlour, will glance across and acknowledge new guests as they
are announced, moving over to speak with them as soon as she can politely
disengage from whoever she is speaking to at the time.
Drinks (including alcohol for those who specifically request it) and a lavish
buffet are laid on in the dining room, with white-gloved caterers attending. An up-
market string quartet plays background music.
The parlour, dining room and library are the focus of the gathering but other
ground floor (i.e. US first floor) rooms are available to drift into for more private
conversations. The first and second floor rooms are closed but unlocked. In all
rooms aside from two bedrooms being used by Rebecca and Edward for a couple
of nights (i.e. the previous night and the coming night), the kitchen, parlour, dining
room and library, all furniture is covered by dust sheets. All small items, books,
paintings, valuables and Henry’s personal possessions have been removed.

Rebecca Houghton

Rebecca Houghton is the granddaughter of Edward Houghton,

and Colonel Henry Houghton’s grand-niece. Rebecca’s parents
died in the 1912 Titanic sinking and she was raised, and
spoiled rotten, by her grandparents. Her grandmother died in
the 1918 Influenza epidemic leaving her grandfather, Edward,
to raise her alone. Edward was named as Henry’s executor but
did not believe that he was capable of arranging his elder
Rebecca Houghton brother’s affairs, so passed the duty on to his granddaughter.
Rebecca Houghton is a strikingly attractive woman of 22 years old [in 1926]
who currently works as a high-end designer for a Beverley firm making ladies’
shoes. [She will move to Arkham when her grandfather enters the Veterans’ Home

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later this year]. Rebecca is very aware of her family name (she is Status 2) and is
quick to value others based on their own social status. This makes her something
of a snob, and she would like nothing better than to rebuild the family fortune.
Rebecca is unmarried but has a somewhat mercurial ‘understanding’ with a wealthy
young Boston man, Joe Basildon, who currently has a position as a junior executive
at his father’s firm, ‘F. Basildon Insurance.’ Rebecca sees Joe as a useful rung on
the ladder towards regaining her family’s old status. [Should a player character of
Comfortable or richer wealth, and Status 2+, claim a relationship between his
character and Rebecca then he might replace Joe as her paramour].
If Rebecca is questioned about money, including her great-uncle’s legacy, she
will visibly bristle. Henry shared much of the family assets with Edward but Rebecca
believes that his patronage of so many spiritualists and support for so many
charitable organisations frittered away the remainder. Various behests, the funeral
and the memorial party represent the majority of what money was left, and the
house is unlikely to sell for many years and even then its current condition means
that it will not sell for much, possibly just the value of the land.
If the condition of the house is raised, Rebecca will sigh and explain that she
understands that her great-uncle allowed it to deteriorate after losing Albert, his
son, in 1902. Any genuine offers to buy the house will be met with obvious surprise
and gratitude, but time-wasters beware; Rebecca’s displeasure could freeze Hell over
and she has enough social clout in Arkham to cause characters some problems.
Should a player character seriously consider buying the Houghton estate then
they will be referred to the Houghton’s attorney, E. E. Saltonstall [A124] and to
Manton and Manton real estate brokers [A118] in Arkham. The asking price is not
high for such a large brick-built house and several acres of land (just about
affordable with a Comfortable wealth level), but the cost of necessary restoration
(or demolition and redevelopment) puts the price beyond anyone lower than a
Wealthy wealth level. Buying the house secures a large brick house with six acres of
land ten miles from Arkham, and the gratitude and friendship of Rebecca Houghton.
The GM and player may add appropriate and believable detail to the house and
estate, but nothing of Mythos or important occult significance is to be found there.

The Memorial Gathering Guests

As previously noted, Colonel Henry Houghton was a man who knew people from
many different backgrounds and professions. The following are some of the more
interesting guests at the memorial gathering although the GM is free to insert
others as required. The main aim is to introduce new players to some of the
personalities and organisations of Arkham, allowing them to develop a deeper role
in the social setting. Some of the following NPCs appear in later scenarios or as

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entries in Chaosium sourcebooks (these scenarios or entries being noted within
[square brackets]), others are potential friends or contacts (or, indeed, enemies). All
PCs listed below have a corresponding card with a photo and short description,
either in the file Important NPCs or in Scenario NPCs.
Edward Houghton – [Regiment of Dread] Retired company executive and Civil War
veteran. Edward, brother to Henry and grandfather to Rebecca, retired as a mid-
level executive of the Arkham Baler company [A127], leaving before that company
began to flounder. He has found retirement somewhat frustrating and longs to be
useful. Ironically, when his older brother died and left him as executor, he was too
emotionally shaken to take the responsibility. Edward is fiercely loyal to his
brother’s memory and proud of his military record. He is also ashamed of his own
weakness in not being able to act as executor and mumbles half-hearted excuses if
questioned about this. Edward holds court in the corner of the parlour, seated in
an old and tatty armchair with rather frequent and unsteady trips to the downstairs
bathroom. In any conversation about the Civil War, veterans or the passing of old
families, Edward will mention in passing that only he and Upton Weedon [Regiment
of Dread] are now left out of those Arkhamites who fought in the Civil War. He will
not elaborate and hurriedly moves on. His own Civil War record will be downplayed,
emphasising that he was only a young drummer boy and that his older brother was
the one who did the fighting. He will happily discuss his brother’s service for as
long as listeners will listen. It is obvious that Edward hero-worshipped his older
brother and that Henry’s death has truly shaken him. The old man gruffly tries to
hide the tears that come to his eyes when talking of his brother.
Dr. James Bell – [Consumption] Colonel Houghton’s physician for ten years through
to the end. He is the consummate professional this evening, expressing the
appropriate sympathy and sorrow and happily discussing the medical pathology with
fellow physicians. To non-medical-profession enquirers he will merely confirm that
Colonel Houghton died from pancreatic cancer, diagnosed by Bell ‘around 18
months ago’. Dr. Bell continued as Colonel Houghton’s physician during his time in
the Whitechapel Nursing Home. Despite his involvement with the cannibal society
(see the scenario Consumption in ‘Islands of Ignorance’), Dr. Bell dealt with Colonel
Houghton with complete professionalism. Should Edward Houghton or any long-
established Arkham medical professional be questioned about Dr. Bell, they will pay
homage to the changes in the man over the last couple of decades. Dr. Bell has
slowly grown from being a kindly but rather second-rate, insecure and diffident
doctor to becoming the respected, confident and self-assured family physician and
consultant that he is today. Most attribute it to experience and emergent self-belief.
Elizabeth Brundage – Artist [Fade to Grey and Dreams and Fancies]. Elizabeth
attends along with several of Kingsport’s artist community (some of whom may be
seen looking distinctly out of place or covertly secreting food into pockets).
Elizabeth knew Colonel Houghton as a patron of the arts and buyer of several of

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her better (and more expensive) landscapes. She is accompanied this evening by
her friend, Laura Kipple (‘call me Larry’ – Elizabeth introduces her as such), who
scandalously wears male evening dress this evening. Laura/Larry is a strong-minded
photographic artist from Boston and a relative newcomer to Kingsport. Although she
sells a few surrealist photographic prints, she makes more money from her sideline,
photographing naked models to sell to discerning adults. The pair should be an
interesting test of how players view their characters’ reaction to cross-dressing and
homosexuality. No reaction is ‘wrong’ although players should be reminded that their
characters live in a 1920s culture rather than a more enlightened modern one.
Dr. Martin Fen – [A611] Head of the History Department at the Miskatonic University,
specialist in Modern History. Dr. Fen had many conversations with Colonel Houghton
and occasionally consulted with him on historical matters. A frequent visitor to the
house for long conversations, he considered Houghton a friend.
Colonel William Hathorne - [A216] Commander of B Company, 1st Battalion,
Massachusetts 23rd Volunteer Regiment since Colonel Houghton’s retirement from
that post in 1920. Also present and always at his superior’s side this evening is his
executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Aubrey Bridgeton. Both Houghton and Bridgeton
are veterans of the Great War. Bridgeton lost the use of his left lung following a
gas attack and now wheezes frequently and avoids clouds of cigarette smoke.
Robert Ramsden – [To Sleep, Perchance to Dream]. Store salesman. Robert knew
Colonel Houghton through a shared interest in the occult. He appears under strain,
suitably skilled Investigators will note that he is suffering from Depression. Robert is
a secret homosexual and increasingly depressed at the emotional strain he is
forced to live under. Robert is an experienced Dreamer. Although Robert keeps his
sexuality a secret, Investigators familiar with contemporary homosexual codes and
secret signs might discover it if they initiate a suitable conversation. Note that
Robert is confused by and ashamed of his feelings (suicidally so, it transpires) and
will not appreciate crude or clumsy attempts at seduction by men. He commits
suicide in To Sleep, Perchance to Dream, scheduled for April 1929.
Edmund E. Saltonstall – [A124] Attorney. Mr. Saltonstall (never ‘Edmund’, not even –
it is mischievously rumoured – to his wife), has been the Houghton family attorney
for many decades. He has shown up for the memorial gathering out of respect for
his client, but will leave after a suitably polite length of time (a couple of hours).
Darrell Slocum – [A217] Town Manager. Attending the memorial to represent the
Arkham Town Council, but will leave early. Accompanied by his wife, Marla Slocum
[A1007], who is taking the rare opportunity to attend a social event with her
husband. Marla will idly flirt with young and attractive male characters. Her husband
tolerates it, as he has for several years, indulgently viewing it as his wife reaffirming
her self-confidence and sex appeal within a largely lonely marriage. Should Marla
publicly overstep the mark, such as taking the flirting too far, then there will be

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rows later. There will be no reputation-harming displays of domestic disharmony in
public. If a young, interesting and attractive male (or, conceivably, female) player
character responds positively to Marla’s casual advances then they will find that she
is only too happy to begin an covert affair. Her aggressive sexual dominance and
perverse experimental tastes (hidden from her husband but befitting of a cultist), will
likely be an education for a well brought-up and sheltered young Investigator!
Charles Wool – Charles seems polite and slightly diffident. His clothing is clean and
carefully pressed but observant characters will spot fraying of the cuffs and collar,
thinning of the knees and seat of the trousers. Charles is quite obviously there
alone and, whilst polite, avoids conversation. Persistent characters will discover that
his connection with Colonel Houghton is personal but rather vague. Charles has no
wish to be cross-examined before confronting Rebecca or informing Edward. He tries
to maintain a polite front but will become visibly frustrated if pressed too hard. If
he is brought to Rebecca’s attention as a possible gate-crasher, Rebecca will frown
and move to confront him Edward will ask that Charles is brought to his chair and
then begins a hushed conversation. Go straight to the appropriate scenes below.
None of the hired staff know or care about the people attending. The other guests
simply shrug and mention that they are all drawn from disparate areas of society
and know few of their fellow attendees.
Madame Yolanda – [Trail of Yig] Spiritualist and (genuine) medium. Madame
Yolanda, from ‘somewhere’ in Eastern Europe (actually Joan Clark from eastern
Pennsylvania), held regular séances for Colonel Houghton and occasionally managed
to pass along messages from the spirits of his dead family. Madame Yolanda is
destined to commit suicide in Trail of Yig, scheduled for September 1928.

Charles Wool, Scion or Scoundrel?

At some point in the proceedings (preferably when the players are just tiring of
chatting to the NPCs), one of the player characters notices that Charles is deep in
conversation with Edward. The old man appears more animated than he has been
all evening, and even lets out an occasional laugh. They make it clear to those
approaching that the conversation is private. Anyone overhearing them realises that
Edward is happily telling Charles anecdotes about Henry’s life. If questioned
following the conversation, Charles demurs and explains that he can’t explain until
he has spoken to Rebecca. Edward, on the other hand, although sworn to secrecy
until Rebecca is told, is visibly uplifted and just keeps muttering about Henry
returning in spirit. Paranoid observers might misinterpret this!
When Charles speaks to Rebecca, she has a very different reaction to that of
her grandfather. She angrily drags Charles to the scullery, the most private area on
the house’s ground floor. Anyone following or attempting to listen in are left in no

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doubt that Rebecca wants this conversation to remain private. There may, inevitably,
be Investigators who nonetheless manage to overhear the conversation. The angry
whispering is hard to make out, but a character who does manage to come up with
a creative way to listen in will realise that Rebecca is adamantly refuting Charles’s
claim to be Colonel Henry Houghton’s illegitimate son.
Charles Wool claims that Henry had a brief relationship with his late mother,
Daphne Wool. His information is vague as his mother was reluctant to divulge much,
but the family are desperate for money and Charles is asking for money from the
Houghton estate, roughly half the legacy. If denied then he intends to approach the
press. The exact year of the affair, and thus Charles’s age, are deliberately left
vague at this stage. If pressed, the GM should explain to the players that the
details are up to them to create. In any event, the relationship will have occurred
after the death of Henry’s wife, narrowing the likely dates to anywhere from 1888
(making Charles 38) and about 1900 (making him 26).
The scandal of an illegitimate child will likely blacken Colonel Houghton’s
name, especially if the woman was of an unsuitable background or a prostitute. On
the other hand, if Charles is really Houghton’s son, he might reasonably be due a
share of the estate. Charles explains that the threat of exposure is made
reluctantly, and will be a last resort. If informed, or if Charles has already spoken
to the old man, Edward is more than willing to accommodate his newly discovered
nephew and even adopt him into the family as Henry’s son.
Rebecca, on the other hand, initially believes that Charles is a con-man simply
out to blackmail the Houghtons. An innate disdain for those with less breeding than
her own, an assumption of criminality from the poor, real fear that the family name
will be ruined, combined with the thought that Charles Wool is out to grab the
small legacy that was left to herself and her grandfather, all come together to
make Rebecca instinctively hostile to Charles and his claim.

The Player Characters’ Role

Whether or not Charles Wool’s claim is genuine depends on the players and their
own story contributions.
Rebecca will approach the most suitable and sober player character. With so
many of Colonel Houghton’s friends and acquaintances in one place, there is an
ideal opportunity to test Charles’s claims. She asks that the Investigator, perhaps
aided by a trusted friend or two, discretely asks around to see if they can prove
Charles’s story false. If prompted, Rebecca grudgingly agrees that they should also
look into the possibility that he is telling the truth.
After this, it is up to the players to build the back-story. Their characters
should compare notes both with the other player characters and the NPCs. They

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should create interesting back-stories and anecdotes involving their characters’ past
relationship with Colonel Houghton. The GM should veto the more ridiculous stories,
possibly through NPC reaction. The NPCs will build off of these anecdotes, adding,
prompting and enhancing where appropriate. The players should then judge these
stories and decide how far they prove or disprove Charles Wool’s claim.
See Appendix 1 below for an example of how the creative storytelling might
work. It may be worth mentioning that the rest of the campaign is more structured!

Conclusion

Rebecca will accept whatever conclusion the player characters reach. Should they
find in Charles’s favour then she will reluctantly accept that he deserves something
after all. She works out a deal with Charles that satisfies them both. Edward is
delighted to have a new nephew, something that helps to sway Rebecca’s change of
attitude. Obviously, Charles will also be grateful and could become a Contact.
Should the player characters decide that Charles is a fraud, Rebecca will
threaten him with legal action and possible imprisonment for blackmail. Charles,
unable to afford a long legal battle, will likely back down. Rebecca will explain the
situation to Edward who will become visibly upset but sadly accept that Charles was
nothing to do with his brother after all. Charles Wool might reappear to take
revenge, becoming an Enemy, if the GM so chooses. Who knows who Chares Wool
really is and what his real motive was?
Either way, Rebecca is grateful to the player characters and becomes available
to buy as a Contact (Savoir-Faire 15), or even an 45-point (75% of PC points) Ally.
The GM will have to create Rebecca Houghton’s character sheet if she is taken as
an Ally. She is not wealthy or politically powerful enough to qualify as a Patron.
If the players manage to reach a conclusion without conflict or other major
social faux pas, and were entertaining, they should receive 2 CP. If only one of
those goals was achieved then only 1 CP is earned (although the GM should be
aware of players being new to storytelling gaming and take this into consideration).

The End..?

The gathering is over, the guests are leaving or have left, Edward has fallen asleep
in his chair, and Rebecca supervises the staff clearing things away.
The player characters should sort out who is driving them home and should
all end up either in the same car or in convoy. A light snow has fallen and the fog
gathers. In the dark, cold, March night, the car or cars head down the Aylesbury
Pike towards Arkham when a young woman suddenly staggers into the road.
Welcome to the next scenario, Consumption….

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APPENDIX 1 : Example of Storytelling Gaming

Not everyone is familiar with the gaming technique of creative storytelling so this
gives a short example of how it might play out. The players and characters involved
here are: Annie, playing Abigail, an office stenographer; Bob, playing Benjamin, a
black ex-soldier now a hospital orderly; and Chris, playing Clem, a children’s book
writer and part-time store worker. The GM plays all the NPCs, as usual.

Clem, the writer, has been asked by Rebecca to establish the veracity of Charles
Wool’s claims by talking to the other guests.

Chris: I’ll move over to Benjamin, he may have known Henry from his time in the
service.

Bob/Benjamin: ‘Ah yes, I first met the Colonel in France when I was a pioneer in
the 101st Engineers in the 26th Division.’

GM: <Knowing that Henry Houghton didn’t serve in France>. Lt. Colonel Bridgeton
overhears you and wanders over, ‘Sorry my man, but you may be mistaken. To my
knowledge, Colonel Houghton was never in France. Perhaps you met him at the
training depot here in the US?’ Bridgeton then nods and walks away again.

Bob/Benjamin: <Curses himself for not reading the obituary properly> ‘Thank you sir,
my mistake. Yes, it was at the Boston depot before we departed for France. Colonel
Houghton was a regular visitor there, always doing what he could to cheer us up
and pass on advice. I remember one occasion when he warned us about the
dangers of foreign women. Well, we were all young and such dangers seemed to
offer a paradise. Anyway, I can’t see such a man dallying with a young woman.’

Chris/Clem: ‘He warned you against getting involved with women? Hmmm. I wonder
if that was just following the Army’s party line? I knew him back when I was a
struggling English student at high school, that would be <checks dates and ages>
1900 or so. He had established the Houghton English scholarship that I managed to
win, so I met him a few times in that regard. He seemed terribly old to me back
then but I do recall that he had a twinkle in his eye and an old-fashioned charm.
One of my teachers, Miss Haldicott, was particularly taken with him and they spent
a lot of time chatting and laughing together.’

Annie: <To GM> Am I close enough to overhear?

GM: You were talking to Elizabeth Brundage and Larry, I believe? Yes, you’re close
enough to overhear a key word or two if you wish.

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Annie/Abigail: I excuse myself to Elizabeth and Larry then turn to the others. ‘Sorry
to overhear you, but would that be Miss Euphemia Haldicott of <checks town
directory> Arkham Public High school?’

Chris/Clem: <Sees that the story is advancing and decides to roll with it> ‘Uh, yes,
that’s her. A very distinctive name so you’re not likely to forget it. Did you know
her?’

Annie/Abigail: ‘I did. She was my first supervisor at “Rogers and Evans”, a real
sweetie. That was a few years back now, of course, ’22 or ’23? She would have
been in her late forties or so. I seem to remember her mentioning that she’d been
a teacher in her younger days but had then had to leave for some reason.’

Bob/Benjamin: ‘I don’t suppose you know more? Like, did she have a child? Was
she a single mother?’

GM: <Steps in to establish some period flavour>. Elizabeth Brundage follows Abigail
over to your group, tailed by Larry who is nonchalantly lighting a cigarette, quite
scandalous for a woman at the time.

Chris/Clem: Everything about Laura/Larry disturbs Clem’s sense of acceptable social

behaviour. He’s definitely a man of his time, or possibly of the previous decade. I
think Clem will take a step back, flustered and not trusting himself to be polite.

GM: Larry smiles tightly but Elizabeth eagerly joins your conversation. ‘Single
mother? I doubt that her family would have allowed such a thing. It is more likely
that any baby would have been sent for adoption or had its name changed and be
raised as the baby of a married relative.’

Annie/Abigail: ‘Of course. The baby wouldn’t necessarily be called Haldicott. It might
have been renamed … Wool! ‘

Bob/Benjamin: ‘It would certainly explain why Charles’s family are reluctant to go
into details. He probably doesn’t know that Daphne was not his biological mother,
the woman he claims had the affair with Colonel Henry.’

Chris/Clem: ‘Slow down a bit. We don’t know that Euphemia actually had a baby,
let alone that it was Henry Houghton’s. We need to ask around some more to see
if anyone else knew her. Right, who here might have known a high school teacher
around the turn of the century and might be able to confirm a pregnancy. Let’s
start with Dr. Bell.’

And so the investigation continues, with GM and players building up the story
together as they go until they reach a convincing conclusion.

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