Miskatonic Monday #88: La Recette

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 Repository.

—oOo—

Name: La Recette

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: G.A. Patrick

Setting: Jazz Age Louisiana Bayou Country

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Sixteen page, 5.29 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Voodoo treasure hunt hoedown with a corpse in the trunk.

Plot Hook: When you need a dead man to talk, sometimes you got to do the voodoo that you do.

Plot Support: Detailed plot, one good handout, five NPCs, one spell, and three pre-generated Investigators. 

Production Values: Good.

Pros
# Short, one-session, one to three Investigator scenario

# Suitable as a one-shot or first part of a very dark campaign

# Solid NPCs the Keeper can sink her roleplaying teeth into

# Strong Pulpy plot confronts the Investigators with the Mythos

# Entertainingly sweaty set-up and plot

# Advice on using the plot with another backstory

# Scope for the set-up to be played out

# Set-up begging to be told in a flashback in a roadside interrogation

# Whole scenario begging to be told in a flashback in a police interrogation

Cons
# Requires a strong edit

# Requires access to the Malleus Monstrorum (alternatives suggested)

# Does involve human sacrifice upon the part of the Investigators

# Adult tone means it may not be suitable for all players

# Begins en media res

Conclusion

# Requires a strong edit

# Whole scenario begging to be told in a flashback

# Entertainingly hot, sweaty, and desperate zombie noir set-up and plot