Miskatonic Monday #196: The Terror in the Tapestry

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.

—oOo—

Name: The Terror in the Tapestry

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Ryan Sheehan

Setting: Dark Ages England

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Thirty-two page, 22.80 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: What would drive someone to commit tapestry theft?

Plot Hook: Part of a holy tapestry has been stolen. Can the thief be found?
Plot Support: Four pre-generated Investigators, two handouts, eight NPCs, one map, one Mythos spell, one Mythos tome, one Mythos artefact, and two Mythos monsters.

Production Values: Serviceable.

Pros

# Scenario for Cthulhu Dark Ages

# Can be run using Cthulhu Through the Ages. Better with Cthulhu Dark Ages.

# Set near Totburh, setting for Cthulhu Dark Ages.

# Nicely detailed ritual

# Good mix of action and investigation

# Ophidiophobia

# Homichlophobia

# Textophobia

# Pentiliarphobia

Cons

# Needs a slight edit.

# Plain map.

# Some terminology could be called ‘problematic’

# Odd means given of obtaining the ritual

Conclusion

# Solid scenario for Cthulhu Dark Ages themed around an interesting artefact

# Suitable addition to a campaign set in and around Totburh