Miskatonic Monday #208: The Elk Jaw Dagger, It Drives ’Em Mad

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 Elk Jaw Dagger, It Drives ’Em Mad

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Clio Urquhart

Setting: Seventies Colorado

Product: One-shot/Side Encounter
What You Get: Seven page, 8.67 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: “Revenge is a powerful motivator.” – Marcus Luttrell

Plot Hook: Stopping off could mean stopping off forever.
Plot Support: Staging advice.

Production Values: Decent.

Pros

# Short one or two hour scenario

# Easy to adjust to other time periods

# Suitable for one or two Investigators

# Non-Mythos horror scenario

# Easy to adjust to other time periods

# Aichmophobia

# Cartilogenophobia

# Scopophobia

# Foniasophobia

Cons

# Non-Mythos horror scenario

# More detailed plot outline

# Title gives everything away

# Non-Mythos horror scenario

# No NPC stats

# No Maps

# Scenario backstory left undeveloped for investigation

Conclusion

# Potentially effective tale of possession and revenge horror undone by lack of scope to investigate the backstory.

# Very short, bloody, slasher-horror scenario built around a dark relic which leaves too much for the Keeper to develop.