Miskatonic Monday #112: At One With Nature

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 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.

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Name: At One With Nature

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Graham James

Setting: Jazz Age Scotland

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Twent-six page, 5.01 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Horror comes home to the Highlands

Plot Hook: Holiday in the Highlands leads to horrifying revelations close to home
Plot Support: Staging advice, seven NPCs, six handouts, and three pre-generated Investigators.

Production Values: Vibrant.

Pros

# Scenario for Shadows Over Scotland: Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying in 1920s’ Scotland
# Strong roleplaying advice throughout

# Bucolic clash between morality and duty 

# Good mix of interaction and investigation

# Part of RPG Writer Workshop Summer 2021 Call of Cthulhu Vol. 1

Cons

# Horridly vibrant background

# Needs an edit

# No guidance on using scenario in a campaign
# No maps
# Undeveloped pre-generated Investigators pulls it back from being a fully rounded one-shot

Conclusion

# Scottish set scenario strong on roleplaying, interaction, and investigation against a macabre, grotesque clash between morality and duty