Miskatonic Monday #20: Of Wrath and Blood

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Depository.

—oOo—

Name: Of Wrath and Blood

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Jon Hook

Setting: Jazz Age Baltimore
Product: Scenario
What You Get: 6.96 MB, 24-page full colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: A sequel to ‘The Haunting’, the Classic Call of Cthulhu scenario, which achieved second place in the ‘And Theeeennn?’ competition in 2010.

Plot Hook: Two boys go missing after their family is driven from a haunted house
Plot Development: Two newspaper morgues, a maddening visit, and some lost boys in a twins showdown.
Plot Support: Straightforward plot, a new spell, six reasonable handouts, and three maps.
Production Values: Decent beyond a slight edit.

Pros
# Sequel to ‘The Haunting’
# Lots of roleplaying investigation
# Nice cover

Cons
# Workmanlike plot
# Denouement needs stronger foreshadowing
# Lacks information on 1920s Baltimore
# Weak hook for a standalone scenario

Conclusion
# Workmanlike sequel 
# Much desired sequel, but not the ‘official’ sequel