Miskatonic Monday #238: The Stench of an Open Grave

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 Stench of an Open Grave

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Marcus D. Bone

Setting: Dark Ages Wessex

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Forty-seven page, 2.86 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: An introductory Cthulhu Dark Ages investigation

Plot Hook: A hunt for a missing monk reveals dark doings in the hills.
Plot Support: Staging advice, three pre-generated investigators, no handouts, one map, eleven NPCs, and one Mythos creature.

Production Values: Decent

Pros

# Scenario for Cthulhu Dark Ages

# Classic isolated village horror Straightforward investigation suitable as an introduction to the setting

# Suitable for two to three Investigators

# Plenty of historical and regional background

# Dysmorphobia

# Hemophobia

# Traumatophobia

Cons

# Needs a slight edit

# Sanity losses light in places

# Classic isolated village horror

Conclusion

# Solid, straightforward introductory investigative scenario for Cthulhu Dark Ages

# Combines a missing monk, an isolated village, and strange beliefs in well done classic isolated village horror scenario