Miskatonic Monday #225: A Drop of Nelson’s 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 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: A Drop of Nelson’s Blood

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: SR Sellens

Setting: The Admiralty, 1815

Product: Scenario for In Strange Seas: Horror in the Royal Navy for Regency Cthulhu and Regency Cthulhu: Dark Designs in Jane Austen’s England
What You Get: Fifty-two page, 24.42 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, but with half the attendees and celebrating the life of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte.

Plot Hook: A dinner at the Admiralty turns deadly in celebration of the life of Nelson
Plot Support: Staging advice, five pre-generated Investigators, eight NPCs, seven handouts, two floorplans, one Mythos tome, one Mythos spell, one unnatural creature, and a sea shanty.

Production Values: Excellent

Pros

# More a scenario for Regency Cthulhu than In Strange Seas

# One-session, locked room dinner party murder mystery

# Decent pre-generated Investigators

# Very well presented NPCs

# Could be run as a LARP

# Good handouts

# Phasmophobia

# Hemophobia

# Phonophobia

Cons

# Sea shanties

# Needs a slight edit

# More a scenario for Regency Cthulhu than In Strange Seas

Conclusion

# Well appointed scenario that can be run with just Regency Cthulhu rather than In Strange Seas

# Classic murder mystery dinner party with manners, Mythos, and nautical theme that is absolutely perfect for Trafalgar Day (and other days)