Zennor & The Sins of ST Senara A Gaslight Supplement For Call of Cthulhu
Zennor & The Sins of ST Senara A Gaslight Supplement For Call of Cthulhu
Zennor & The Sins of ST Senara A Gaslight Supplement For Call of Cthulhu
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STYGIAN FOX
”At Zennor one sees infinite Atlantic, all peacock-mingled colours, and
the gorse is sunshine itself. Zennor is a most beautiful place: a tiny granite
village nestling under high shaggy moor-hills and a big sweep of lovely sea
beyond, such a lovely sea, lovelier even than the Mediterranean… It is the
best place I have been in, I think.”
—D.H. Lawrence
HISTORY
Few parts of the British Isles can trace their history as far back as Western
Cornwall. Legends state that the tin used in the construction of Solomon’s
Temple was mined there. Its hills and valleys are dotted with the cyclopean
monuments of its ancient tribes.
Zennor, however, has always been one of the places forgotten by history.
Save for its mermaid legend, and a reputation its people have enjoyed for
lovely singing, it has avoided attention in the 1890s.
It was a small collection of farms when Senara came ashore in the Dark
Ages. Originally a queen from the city of Brest in Brittany, she was not
aware of her deep one heritage. As she began to turn, her husband and his
men began to look at her differently. Afraid she was a demon, they chased
her to the shore where she threw herself off a cliff, into the sea.
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Mr. Christian Grundel
Her deep one relatives came to her as she was swept away. By the time
she was deposited on shore in Cornwall she knew of her heritage and that
she was with child. The farmers worshipped her as a mermaid, and their
legends grew and changed over time until she became a saint.
Senara gave birth to a son, who’s line eventually became the Dowelly
family. Other local families continued to worship her and the other deep
ones who visited. In return, the deep ones blessed the village with their
magic.
Zennor’s farmers seldom had to worry about crops going bad, and fish-
ermen seemed to always catch the most fish. The town's enemies seemed
to meet horrible ends. So, Zennor carried on, left alone by its neighbours.
The deep ones’ help was not free, however. They demanded mates. As
the centuries wore on, people interbred more and more with the deep ones.
The old families now produce hybrids almost every generation. The old
timers eventually hear the call of the sea and return to the waves to live
their immortal lives, but their ties to their land-bound kin remain.
St. Senara still lives, grown fat and resplendent in the sea caves located
underneath Dowelly Manor, perched high above Pendour Cove. The caves
open to the sea, and every 5 years, the humans and hybrids of the village
offer up their sons and daughters as breeding stock for the deep ones. They
are shackled to columns and left in a chamber that floods with the tide.
Those accepted by the deep ones are taken away. Those who are rejected
drown.
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Zennor & St. Senara
North of town, perched on the bluffs overlooking Pendour Cove, sits the
Dowelly estate. It is a crumbling Elizabethan manor that looks down over
the village, like a vulture waiting for its prey to die.
The fields of the town are scattered with rocks of all shapes and sizes.
The locals consist of farmers scratching a living out of the stony ground
by growing potatoes or grain, fisherman who launch small boats from the
beaches of Pendour Cove to search for pilchard, and shepherds tending a
few flocks of sheep.
Although few doctors live in the Penwith region, it is well-known that
the people of the area live exceptionally long and healthy lives owing to
the clean sea air. The people of Zennor are especially marvelled at locally
for their longevity, although the observers note that they suffer from some
condition that, as they age, causes their skin to become scabrous and appear
scale-like.
Around the town, stone walls separate farmer’s fields from grazing pas-
tures. The fields have the occasional low-lying areas of shrubbery and
brambles. Trees are rare but a few copses dot the valley. The roads in
and around the town are dirt, rutted with wagon tracks and torn up and
muddied by the feet of passing livestock.
Night-time travel around Zennor and its surroundings is difficult as roads
are uneven and poorly kept. There is no light save that of the stars and
moon, which are frequently obscured by clouds. Night-time sees the locals
holed up in their homes, with smoke coming from their chimneys and lights
shining through the cracks of closed shutters.
The local people of the Penwith region differ from the people living in
the lowland towns of Penzance and St. Ives in that here one finds more
of the old ways. Homespun clothing is much more common, as is local
superstition and distrust of outsiders.
Visitors to Zennor are closely watched. They’ll feel eyes following them
from behind darkened windows as they walk past, hear whispered conver-
sations that end when they round a corner, and generally feel like they are
unwanted.
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Mr. Christian Grundel
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Zennor
1: The Smithy
A clear stream winds its way down the valley, to the sea. It is
crossed here by a sturdy stone bridge. Nearby, at the entrance
to Zennor, is the village’s busy blacksmith, Sylus Harvey. A
barrel-chested man in his forties with thinning dark hair whose
eyes are strangely set almost to the sides of his head, Sylus is
gruff and unfriendly to visitors. He keeps his arms and chest
covered with long sleeves even in the oppressive heat of the
forge because his skin is gradually taking on a scaly appearance.
He lives here with his wife, Sarah, and their three children, two
little girls and a boy. All possess the strange staring eyes and
odd shaped heads of hybrids. Sylus provides the town with nails,
horseshoes, axe and shovel heads, and whatever other metal
items they might need.
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Mr. Christian Grundel
2: The Rectory
This small wooden house sits close to the run-down church of St. Senara.
It is a curious collection of new, wooden construction and older, weath-
er-beaten wood. It sat abandoned for a long time, until Father Archibald
Connor moved in last year to bring the light of the lord back to the people
of Zennor after their old vicar disappeared several years ago.
Archibald is a straight backed, clear eyed man of roughly 30. His mili-
tary bearing still shows, but his faith is sincere, as is his passion for serving
the people of Zennor. He is a little disappointed in that his services are
only half-heartedly attended.
The few local families not involved in the deep one conspiracy have taken
to Father Connor. The rest of the town treats him with the bare minimum
of respect due his station. He is aware that something sinister is going
on, but suspects it is smuggling. He has a no proof, but he has also not
investigated too closely. He does not wish to offend his new charges, as he
hopes that with time, he can win them over. He is also aware that whatever
is going on seems to centre around the Dowelly estate and family, and that
there was some sort of scandal involving Author Dowelly’s daughter a few
years back, but no one will give him any details other than Author hasn’t
been the same since.
Father Connor welcomes any visitors or newcomers to town over a cup
of tea and some dry scones. He is a pleasant fellow who can serve as an
ally in the town.
An old military man, Archie, as he insists his friends call him, keeps a
Martini-Henry Mark III rifle for hunting and target shooting, along with
his old .476-calibre Enfield Mk II service revolver.
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Zennor
The church itself is built in perpendicular style, with six arches. The
seating is sturdy oak benches. The end of one is carved with the figure
of a mermaid and is known locally as “The Mermaid’s Chair”. A small,
circular graveyard surrounds the church, the tombstones of which reveal
that many residents do, indeed, live an awfully long time.
Despite its weathered appearance, the church is functional. On Sundays,
Father Connor holds service there. The services are attended half-heart-
edly by the townsfolk.
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
7: Dowelly Manor
An ancient Elizabethan manor perched high on the bluffs overlooking
Pendour Cove. A single, winding trail leads from the village to the house.
The Dowelly home is the true centre of life in the town.
The house is a two-story manor with a few weather-beaten outbuildings.
A rose garden in the back of the house has overgrown and is beginning to
climb the walls. It is the home of Author Dowelly, the leader of the local
cult, a descendant of St. Senara, and an accomplished sorcerer. St. Senara
herself lives on in the caves beneath the family home.
Although it boasts tremendous views of Pendour Cove, the mansion
shows the effects of the harsh sea air and the neglect of its inhabitants.
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Mr. Christian Grundel
Demographics
Most of the families in Zennor have interbred with the deep ones. This
does not mean that they are all hybrids, but that it is common for their off-
spring to begin changing at some point. Many of them look like completely
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Zennor
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normal human specimens, although they all have a tendency towards long
arms and strange staring eyes.
There are three families, besides Carrie Halfwik, that are not involved
in the cult. These are the Smythe, Tanner, and Burdyk families. All
are farmers who have arrived here from other villages in the last twenty
years or so. They are good, God-fearing, honest folk. They all suspect
something very wrong is going on, but they lack the will and courage to
investigate it, preferring to live and let live with their neighbours. That
being said, they will not knowingly stand by and allow others to come to
harm, and so they can make valuable allies. All of them are very fond of
Father Connor.
Most families in Zennor parish own, at the very least, a shotgun, if not
a rifle also. Fisherman often have clubs for dispatching their catch, while
farmers might use pitchforks or shovels. Should investigations in Zennor
turn violent, keep this in mind.
From Exeter, the Great Western Railroad departs from Queens St. Sta-
tion for Plymouth, a two-hour journey of 36 miles. From there, another
train can be caught to Truro and on to Penzance or St. Ives, a journey of
3–4 hours.
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Zennor
The train through Cornwall treats its passengers to views of the beautiful
countryside. Cornwall is an area of moorland, rocky coastline, and mild
climate. Low lying shrubs and grassy hills are common, while thick forests
are not.
The Great Western Railroad terminates in Penzance, although there is a
northern spur that terminates in St. Ives. Investigators can use either town
as a launching point for expeditions to Zennor.
Penzance
Penzance, population 11,700, is a quaint fishing town on the southern shore
of Cornwall. It the terminus of the Great Western railway. It boasts a
beautiful harbour and several scenic walks. It is the capital of the local
pilchard and mackerel fishery, and also sees a good number of ships trans-
porting the tin, copper and granite mined in Cornwall to other locations.
The area is also London’s principal provider of potatoes, with extensive
farms around town. There are several places for tourists to stay, two of
which are:
T The Queen’s on Esplanade (4s 6d) – comfortable and in a fashion-
able part of town.
T The Union on Chapel St. (4s) – serviceable, but with no view of
the sea.
The town contains a library with a collection of rare Cornish works, and
information on the Cornish language.
Other items of interest in Penzance include the Esplanade (the nicer
section of town), the Pier (offering walks in the sea air and views of
Mount’s Bay), and Lescudjack Castle (a British earthworks on a hill near
the train station). The natural philosopher Sir Humphrey Davy was born
in Penzance and has a stature in his honour standing in market square.
From Penzance, it is 7 miles northwest over dirt roads to Zennor. As in
St. Ives, omnibuses that cater to tourists are available for transportation,
as are local farmers.
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Mr. Christian Grundel
St. Ives
St. Ives is a picturesque fishing town of 7,500 at the northern terminus
of the rail lines. A beautiful seaside town, irregularly built, with many
terraced homes and modern villas. It features the church of St. Ya (or
Ia) built in the 15th century. It also features a subscription reading room
and Masonic lodge. There are many hotels, the following of which are
a few:
T Tregenna Castle (4s 6d) – Originally the home of the Stephens
family; well-appointed.
T Union Inn on Fore Street (3s) – comfortable and low key.
T White Hart on Wharf St (2s 6d) – acceptable, if a little rough.
The people of St. Ives make their living on the sea. The harbour
sees boats coming in loaded with herring and pilchards daily. Not
surprisingly, there are plenty of pubs serving thirsty fisherman who’ve
just come ashore. These also make excellent places for investigators to
gather rumours, as paying for a few drinks makes a friend and loosens
their tongue. The oldest and most colourful such establishment is The
Sloop on Wharf St.
Investigators looking to get to Zennor from St. Ives will have to travel
west, 5 miles, over scenic dirt roads, with the rocky hills on one side,
and the cliffs and sea on the other. Omnibuses are available that take
tourists around to the local ruins, of which Zennor Quoit is one. Al-
ternatively, investigators could walk, or hitch a ride on a farmer’s cart.
Richard is not affiliated with St. Senara or the deep ones in any way. He
has heard strange rumours about the Dowelly family and other families in
Zennor, but he will be hesitant to discuss them with outsiders.
Richard is a superstitious man who can tell investigators a lot about the
legends and rumours of Penwith if they loosen his tongue with some drink
and company. What those rumours are, or whether or not they are true is
anyone’s guess, but consider Richard and the Gurnard’s Head an excellent
home base should you wish to develop a campaign based upon the Penwith
area.
The Gurnard’s Head Inn is a local landmark, and acts as the nearest
post office to Zennor. As such, the deep ones and hybrids wouldn’t attack
it or attack investigators on its grounds for fear of drawing attention on
themselves. Consider it a safe house for investigators.
Boswednack
This small village of 19 souls consists of four farms and Boswednack Man-
or, a large Edwardian farmhouse with an absentee owner. It lies roughly
halfway between Zennor and Gurnard’s Head.
Porthmeor
Just half a mile southwest of Gurnard’s Head, Porthmeor straddles the dirt
road the ultimately leads to Zennor. Upper Porthmeor is situated around
the road itself, while Lower Porthmeor is closer to the coast. Comprised
of 11 farmhouses, one vacant home, and a Wesleyan Chapel, the village
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Mr. Christian Grundel
Treen
Situated a short 2-minute walk from the Gurnard’s Head hotel is the
hamlet of Treen. The road from Penzance, in the south, swings east in
Treen, for Boswednack and Zennor. Four houses cluster around Treen
Manor, along the road that leads from the hotel out to Gurnard’s Head
and Treen Cove, half a mile to the north, while four farms spread
across the land from the hotel to the cove. The farmers are all related,
the Thomases, while those living in the homes closest to the road are
originally from Zennor.
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Zennor
The descent down the cliffs to Treen Cove is not an easy one. There
is a small Coast Guard Station, manned by 3 men, their wives, and 8
children, ranging in age from 13 years old down to 5 months. From Treen
Cover to Pendour Cove is about 1 mile, by water, while the cliff road
takes considerably longer, as it winds its way back and forth along the
steep edge.
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Zennor
The Reformation
T Crown agents are sent to Cornwall to rid Zennor of its old beliefs.
Tasked with confiscating or destroying the idols to St. Senara, all
the fantastically carved pews featuring underwater images with
mermaids and bizarre fish-men, and a hideous bell rumoured to
summon beings from the sea for dark masses with its repugnant
peals. Will the agents of the reformation be successful, or will the
scabrous residents of Zennor begin making an annual pilgrimage to
Chapel Jane, at Gurnard’s Head, in order to keep their old ways
alive? And even if the Crown agents survive Zennor, will they
survive the Cornish rebellion?
Elizabethan Times
T Smuggling has always been a thing in St. Ives, but when gold arte-
facts of unearthly designs begin showing up, Her Majesty’s Exchequer
deputizes a special commission to investigate.
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Mr. Christian Grundel
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
KEEPER INFORMATION
Veronica Dowelly had a lonely, sheltered childhood. She was raised by her
father, Author, in a horrible old mansion overlooking the sea.
Author did not expose her to the horrors in the caves beneath the manor,
but she knew that strange rituals took place there on the new and full
moons, and that some local families gave birth to vastly different children.
One day, she snuck down the basement steps after the hybrids came
with their children for a ceremony. She saw the deep ones rise from the
sea to claim their new breeding
stock. She knew that one day
she would be taken below and
that horrified her. When the
chance arose, she stole as much
deep one gold as she could and
fled to the city of Bath.
Author knew of her plans
but did nothing to stop her.
Secretly, he hoped she could
escape the reach of Senara and
live a happy life.
Using money she had stolen,
she set herself up as a wealthy
vacationer and proceeded to
Veronica Tillinghast throw herself at Godfrey Till-
(nee Dowelly) inghast, the dashing first son of
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Mr. Christian Grundel
Godfrey’s Tale
“Thank you for seeing me today. I’ve sought you out because I have
nowhere else to turn. I am convinced my dear wife Veronica was murdered,
but none of the authorities are able to prove it, or even explain what
happened.”
His facade cracks here and he raises shaking hands to his head. “Oh
my dear sweet bride, why would anyone want to hurt you?” With effort he
recomposes himself.
“My apologies. We were the picture of happiness, you see. Ever since we
met in Bath. Such a sweet, gentle girl. I was one of the happiest men in
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The Sins of St. Senara
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Mr. Christian Grundel
“I’m told perhaps you can. I am a man of reason. I would have never
believed a thing such as this is possible had I not seen it happen. I am also
a rich man. I am willing to pay any price for justice for my sweet wife.
And if I cannot get justice, then I want revenge. I am convinced some dark
force from her past took my wife from me. I want to know who, and I want
to know why. And I want those responsible to pay. If you will help me,
I will spare no expense. All my life will be an open book to you. Please,
help me….”
If the investigators refuse to help Godfrey, they’ve made a powerful
enemy. The scenario ends, but he will use his considerable influence and
wealth to close doors to them. They will soon find themselves persona non
grata: snubbed at their clubs (and amongst high society, in general), banks
demand repayment in full for any callable loans (both for investigators and
any of their friends or family members with such loans), friendly merchants
are no longer as friendly, etc.
If they investigators agree to help, they can name their price, up to 1000
pounds. Godfrey will pay half, up front, and cover all expenses. He will
also make sure the doors are open for every avenue the investigators want
to pursue.
AVENUES OF INVESTIGATION
Should the investigators agree to take his case, Godfrey is very thankful and
leaves them to their work. He is willing to answer any questions they would
like to ask and is sure to let them know he is at their disposal should they
need any sort of help during their investigation.
There are several paths for the investigators:
T Library research on the Dowelly family, the town of Zennor, or
even the Tillinghast family.
T Inspecting of the Tillinghast estate in St. John’s Wood and inter-
views with staff.
T Traveling to the Royal Edinburgh Lunatic Asylum and interviews
with staff.
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The Sins of St. Senara
Library Research
Research in one of London’s many libraries yields plenty of information.
Investigators researching Zennor discover that its small rural town in the
hundred of Penwith, in Cornwall, population 500. It is not located on any
railroad tracks or connected to any telegraph lines. A successful Library
Use or History check reveals the legend of St. Senara: a Christian Breton
queen who threw herself into the sea while pregnant after her husband
suspected her of adultery. While adrift at sea, she was saved by an angel
who gave her food and drink. Senara and her new-born son came ashore
in Cornwall and founded the church of St. Senara where she landed, the
town of Zennor.
A Hard Library Use check unearths the local legend of the mermaid
of Zennor, who was so entranced with the singing of a young boy in the
Church of St. Senara that she rose from the sea to attend mass. The boy
and mermaid later married.
Investigators looking into the Dowelly family can find them mentioned
among the prominent families of the town, but there is surprisingly little
information beyond their appearing in tax rolls. An extreme Library Use
roll turns up the clue that the Dowelly family claims direct descent from
St. Senara.
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Mr. Christian Grundel
The Servants
Any staff member questioned tells the same story: Veronica was a lovely,
sweet lady who adored her rose garden. She changed dramatically after
the incident and became a shut-in. She became paranoid, insisted all the
mirrors be removed from the house, and smashed those that she found
afterward.
Two staff members particularly could be of interest to investigators:
T Molly – Veronica’s personal maid. A haggard looking, but kind
young lady with sad eyes. A Psychology check determines that she is
still deeply and genu-
inely distraught at the
loss of her mistress.
She wants to help
but is a little guarded
with the investigators.
Charm or Persuasion
can convince her to
talk. She reveals that
Veronica was secretly
terrified of Godfrey
divorcing her over her
inability to conceive,
and had Molly get
her special medicine
to help her become
more fertile. She was
under strict instruc- Molly
tions to keep this
secret from everyone
else. She also knows that on the night of her meltdown, Veronica
found something in her room that deeply disturbed her, but doesn’t
know what, as she broke down and was unable to explain it.
T Klaus – A tall, powerfully-built German in his 40s. Klaus seems
like he would be more at home on a battlefield than as a butler.
He is never-the-less deeply loyal to Godfrey, and truly loved Mrs.
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Mr. Christian Grundel
Searching her vanity will discover a locked drawer. No one has the key.
Molly can confirm it’s the drawer that Veronica kept her fertility medicine
in. A Locksmith check can pick the lock. Inside is a small box containing
a peculiar smelling dry tea. A successful Medicine or Natural World check
identifies it as pennyroyal tea, an abortive. Also, in this drawer is Veroni-
ca’s Journal (see Sins of St. Senara Handout #1).
The journal starts just after Veronica’s marriage. It is happy for the
most part, although it reveals Veronica was in fact terrified of giving birth
to a “half breed”, while also terrified that Godfrey would divorce her for
not being able to conceive, leaving her alone in the world and undefended.
It takes on a much darker tone after the Serpentine incident, culminating
with the final passage: “I had thought I had run far enough. I had thought
my past behind me. Now I know one can never run far enough or fast
enough. Who you are catches up to you eventually. Godfrey, I love you,
but I must never tell you of any of this. I couldn’t bear for them to take
you as well….”
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[ HANDOUT 1]
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
The Body
Veronica has been interred in the Tillinghast family crypt in Brookwood
Cemetery (the London necropolis). Brookwood is roughly an hour’s train
ride southwest of London. Intrepid investigators might take it upon them-
selves to break in to view Veronica for themselves.
Doing so would involves traveling to Brookwood and sneaking into the
massive cemetery, most likely at night. The crypt is locked, requiring a
successful Locksmith check to get in. The lid of the sarcophagus is SIZ
150. Prying off the lid reveals the decomposing form of Veronica (SAN
0/1).
A successful Hard Medicine check, given her state, reveals the abnor-
malities around her neck area. There appears to be a cartilage structure for
rudimentary gills. No other info can be gleaned from examining the body,
except for the fact that Veronica is indeed very dead.
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[ HANDOUT 2]
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The Sins of St. Senara
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
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[ HANDOUT 3]
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
his feelings for her just weren’t right. While true, he’s guilt
runs far deeper—George would cover the mirror up every night
for Mrs. Tillinghast, but he’d never seen her so distraught and
never had to strap her down before—he didn’t cover the mirror
and he doesn’t know how or why, but he knows that somehow,
she died because of it.
The investigators can see Veronica’s room if they ask. It is
occupied by another patient but can be cleared for them to
investigate. It is a solid room in the heart of the institution with
a heavy wooden door that locks from the outside. A barred win-
dow lets in the sunlight. A bed, dresser, and desk with mirror
make up the only furniture. A Spot Hidden check notices that
the bed is reflected in the mirror. There are no clues to be had
here, other than the impression that the asylum is a massive
institution and it would be extremely difficult to get in and out
to commit murder without being noticed.
Keeper’s Note: George Ballard makes an appearance in Hudson &
Brand, Shadows of the Past, and if he’s already been encountered
there, he shouldn’t be encountered here. If needed, George may be
replaced with Brodie Abernathy, a quiet Scottish fellow, married
with grown children, in his early fifties.
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The Sins of St. Senara
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
INVESTIGATING ZENNOR
Eventually, investigators will exhaust other avenues of inquiry and all clues
point back to Veronica’s hometown—Zennor.
Traveling to Zennor is best accomplished by taking the Great Western
Railway to Exeter, and the on to either Penzance or St. Ives. Investigators
will have to travel over several miles of back roads from either town to get
to Zennor. Emphasize how they are leaving behind modern conveniences
and going into an area where people live much simpler, isolated lives.
Zennor
Investigators receive a surly welcome in Zennor. While the hybrids are
used to the omnibuses full of tourists who have begun rolling through to
look at the Zennor Quoit, they are not used to outsiders who come in and
begin asking questions. Nor are there any inns in town, so investigators
will need to find lodging elsewhere if the intend to spend more than a day
in the area. This may work to their advantage.
Eyes watch from between closed shutters and knowing looks are ex-
changed behind their backs. Play
up the creepy town vibe for all
its worth.
Not everyone in town is
unfriendly, however. Father
Archibald Conner welcomes the
outsiders. If they take the time
to talk with him, he can provide
a lot of information. He tells the
investigators of his suspicions
about the Dowellys and that
there is some sort of get together
held there two nights a month,
but that he doesn’t know any de-
tails about it. He will also warn
them to be careful and offer to
look out for them. Carrie Halfwik
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
Carrie Halfwik also gives the investigators the same friendly welcome
she gives everyone. Over cups of her strong home brew she lets them
know to be careful where they stick their noses, as the town has many
secrets. The accuracy of any info Carrie gives the investigators is left to
the Keeper. She represents an opportunity to throw some red herrings
into the mix if desired.
Investigators snooping around rapidly come to the attention of Tom
Bergen. He makes sure that there is a tail on the investigators wherever
they go in town. A Spot Hidden check notices one of the townsmen
attempting to look innocuous while shadowing them. The rest of the
townspeople will stonewall the investigation as best they can.
If investigators persist, intimidation is the next step. Investigators will
be followed on one of the lonely dirt roads and cornered by masked locals,
who warn them off their path of inquiry.
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
during the twice monthly ceremony, but this is also the most dangerous
time as the house is filled with humans, deep one hybrids, and deep ones
at this time.
AUTHOR'S JOURNAL
Handwritten in Cornish, it details goings-on in the town of Zennor
and the comings and goings of the deep ones, along with Author’s
magical research. It also details Author’s relationship with Veronica
and how he knew of her plans to escape and allowed her to succeed.
When Senara wants Author to retrieve her, he argued that she should
be allowed her freedom. Senara would have none of it and sends
him to London with instructions to either bring her back or kill her.
Author tries desperately to convince Veronica to return. After he is
chased away at the Serpentine, he lurks around her house trying to get
a chance to speak with her. Finally, he resorts to magic, appearing in
her mirrors. It breaks his heart to kill her, but he justifies it with his
belief that it must be done to protect Senara and the other deep ones.
Sanity Loss: 1D4
Cthulhu Mythos: +1/+3 percentiles
Mythos Rating: 10
Study: 2 weeks, once translated.
Suggested Spells: Contact Deep One, Create Mist of R’lyeh, Mirror
of Tarkhun Atep.
Author will be resting in the chair in his library. A hard Stealth check is
required to escape his notice. If roused or attacked, he uses his spells while
calling the servants for aid.
The library itself is a collection of mildewed esoteric volumes in several
languages. Author’s journal contains the most Mythos lore, along with
spells.
Alternatively, if the Keeper wants the investigators to get their hands on
a certain mythos tome, it can be found here.
Investigators might look for a different way in. Those approaching the
house through the bushes in the back see bulkhead leading to the basement.
A Locksmith check gains entry.
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
The basement is damp, smells of ancient mould, and is packed with the
accumulated junk of several centuries. Examples include rusted suits of
armour and weapons from the English Civil War, disturbing worm-eaten
wood carvings of marine life, a chest of scrimshaw mermaids like the one
found in Veronica’s room, and so on.
Debris is piled high with little room to manoeuvre. Keepers can call for
Stealth checks, if desired to raise tension, but unless someone fumbles a
roll it is unlikely that they will be heard down here.
Investigators searching the basement for anything suspicious should be
allowed Spot Hidden checks, or at the Keeper’s discretion, Idea rolls, to
notice that a pathway winds through the piles to a section of wall in the
back. The floor here is trampled clear of dust. The path terminates at the
wall. There is a secret door here allowing passage to the sea caves below.
Depressing a loose rock causes the door to grind open on rusty hinges,
causing a racket that echoes through the caves below and alerts Senara and
the deep ones.
Beyond the door, a wet spiral staircase, hewn out of the rock, leads down.
The smell of sea air mixes with another, powerful odour reminiscent of
fish. No source of light is available, but investigators can scrounge up a few
rusty oil lanterns and oil in the junk piles.
AUTHOR'S CONFESSION
To add drama, consider having Author approach the investigators
alone while they are imprisoned. He knows why they have come and
views them as the righteous vengeance he deserves for his actions.
He is impressed they’ve made it this far. After confessing that he
killed Veronica, and claiming Senara forced him to, Author frees the
investigators. He begs them to return with reinforcements and blot
the sin that is Senara from the world. He can provide his journal as
proof if asked.
The investigators will still need to affect their own escape but
contrasting the very human anguish of Author against the inhumanity
of Senara adds to the horror of the scenario.
Senara has fed well on sacrifices as the centuries passed, and is now
an exceptionally large, fully turned deep one. She has difficulty moving
on land and has to squeeze through the corridors of the cave, but still
occasionally slips out into the sea. She is attended to at all time by two
deep ones. They will hear the investigators opening the secret door and
will lie in wait to ambush them. Senara assists with magic but is too bulky
to fight effectively in the corridors or her chambers. The goal is to subdue
and capture, rather than kill.
Investigators who are captured are held until nightfall when a high tide
ceremony is taking place. They are tied up and left in a side cave. They
are securely bound with rusted manacles behind their backs. A successful
Hard Sleight of Hand check allows an investigator to slide their hands out
of the manacles. If the Keeper wants the investigator to fail forward, they
can escape on a failed roll, but cut their hands or dislocate fingers for 1D3
damage in the attempt.
Before the ceremony starts, Senara and her attendants will be resting in
her chamber. The secret door will have been shut and opening it will again
alert the deep ones due to the loud groaning sound it makes as it turns on
rusted hinges. Investigators looking to escape will be best served swimming
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
The Sins of St. Senara
for it out of the underwater entrance. For a more exciting escape attempt,
time it so the investigators free themselves from their bonds and begin to
sneak out just as they hear the groan of the secret door opening above
them. With the locals heading down and Senara and her servants stirring
behind them, they will be left with no other route but to swim for it.
The pool in the ceremonial room connects to the sea through a thir-
ty-foot long tunnel. It is unlit. A gentle swell will be rolling in from the
incoming tide. Investigators will need to dive in and swim for it. Swim
checks need not be called for unless the Keeper wishes, as the wave action
here is manageable. Investigators do need to make CON checks to be able
to hold their breath until they reach open water. Failure incurs 1D6 damage
as investigators begin to inhale sea water.
This is a dark, terrifying swim through a cave of unknown length with
death on their heels. Take care to impress this on the investigators and
take your time describing how they furiously swim and pull themselves
along the rock walls while their lungs scream for air. That being said, it
shouldn’t be fatal for them. Let your players feel their first gasp of air
as the investigators break the surface in Pendour Cove. The manor is far
above them, and the lights of Zennor can be seen in the distance. Figures
can be seen with torches around the mansion, and shouting can faintly be
heard over the wind. The sun has set, but it is not yet fully dark.
Escaping
The hybrids will be looking for the investigators. To make matters worse,
their deep one relatives are coming in from the sea tonight. Investigators
need to find their way to land and avoid search parties.
Going back to Zennor is not an option. There are two possible desti-
nations: St. Ives, or Penzance. St. Ives is closer, at five miles to the east,
while Penzance is larger, but seven miles to the south-southeast.
The escape should be a harried, wet, and miserable scramble through the
countryside. Call for Stealth checks where appropriate, as the investigators
see strange hopping forms in the dark, searching for them, or cower in the
bushes while torch wielding Zennorites pass.
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
CONCLUSION
Investigators who make it back to St. Ives or Penzance have access to trains
and the telegraph system. Author will not use his magic to attack them,
hoping that they will return and make him and Senara pay for their crimes.
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The best course of action would be for the investigators to present their
findings to Godfrey. Although sceptical at first, he can be convinced through
the physical evidence of Veronica’s body, or the combination of Veronica’s
and Author’s journals.
Godfrey is powerful enough to put in requests to Scotland Yard. De-
tectives will be dispatched, followed shortly by a more powerful force.
Newspapers later report that a smuggling ring was broken up in Zennor, at
great cost of life.
If the Keeper wishes, the scenario can be expanded to include the au-
thorities raid on Zennor. This can see the players playing their current
investigators, or perhaps expendable bobbies or soldiers created just for the
purpose of the raid, which will likely have a high body count on both sides.
Author will not fight back in such a scenario. He will make sure that
Senara cannot escape and is killed, then turn on his attackers and implore
them to shoot him as well.
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
ATTACKS
Fighting (Brawl) 40% (20/8), damage 1D3 + db
Firearms 50% (25/10), none carried.
Dodge 35% (17/7)
Armor: None
Skills: Art (Literature) 30%, Credit Rating 90%, History 45%, Law 45%, Language
(English) 75%, Language (Latin) 35%, Natural History 35%, Persuade 50%, Ride 33%.
Quote: "I may not ever understand how this happened to my wife, gentleman, but I am
capable of understanding why. I want to know why, and I want those responsible to
swing from a rope."
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The Sins of St. Senara
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Mr. Christian Grundel
Dodge: 20% (10/4)
Armor: None
Skills: Art/Craft (Brew Gin) 75%, Charm 30%, First Aid 40%, Hold Liquor 70%, Lan-
guage (English) 35%, Language (Cornish) 15%, Natural World 40%.
Quote: ”Hair of the dog that bit ya, that’s the cure for what ails ya, love….”
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Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)
Jonathan Potter (Order #33997241)