SCENARIOS

 CAMPAIGN SUMMARY

Essie (Gagnon) Vance [Whitney]: 36yo Telephone Operator. High School sweetheart of Peter but they went their own ways… she interested in travel and adventure, he wanting to stay in Arkham as a cop. Essie married an Archaeologist and found her travel and adventure as the mechanic of the expeditions. But when they returned to Arkham, Richard was mysteriously killed. Which re-introduced Peter as the PI to solve the case. Them now re-connected friends.

Peter Graves [Jordan]: 38yo Private Investigator. He followed in his grandfather’s footsteps joining the police force. But his determination to solve his parents’ brutal deaths at the hands of bank robbers drove him down a path of vigilante justice which didn’t fit the police. Thus, him a PI free of the laws of justice (in his mind anyway).

Phillip Vance [Aaron]: 32yo Apprentice/Soldier. Brother-In-Law to Essie. While his older archaeologist brother was pursuing digs across America, Phillip was in the trenches of the Great War. He came back scarred from mustard gas. But during his time recovering in a French hospital, he met Marina his nurse, and had a child with her. Them left behind when he returned home to help support his parents, considering his brother murdered and he the only living child.

Jimmy Skora [Graham]: 20yo Conman nicknamed ‘the Squirrel”. Well-to-do family (from New Haven, CT) and child prodigy entering Harvard at age 16. But boredom and youth led to swindling for the “fun of it.” Which got him expelled and disgraced and thus disowned by his family. He’s found the mafia in Arkham as means to continue his wealthy appearance. His educational background is his in as conman and ‘face’ for the mob looking for new territory. He’s connected to Peter, each “scratching the other’s back”. Peter’s link to the police and Jimmy to the underworld.

Richard Richelieu [Jon]: 22yo Dilettante aristocrat born and raised in France and only recently moved to America. His mother died in his childbirth for which his physician father never forgave him. Riche has been trying to gain grace by emulating pa, schooling in medicine, but always ignored. His older sister married and moved out and quickly fell off the face of the world (whereabouts unknown). When his father died treating early Spanish Flu patients, Riche had lost his focus and family. 2 years wandering Europe in search of the purpose of life. Drawn to America to find adventure. Donations to Miskatonic University gained him entry into the mystical Society for the Exploration of the Unexplained ­(SEU). He’s attached himself to the initial trio in hopes of facing much he has only read about.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2024/05/andrew-keetling-is-missingp1.html

Andrew Keetling is Missing, Sept 1924: Andrew's sister Sarah called Riche with a request, “Andrew hasn’t been home for over 2-weeks now and the police discount it as a playboy out ‘sowing his wheat’ as they say. What a dreadful thing to say! You know Andrew is socially awkward with woman and not interested. Too involved with the arts. If it’s not asking too much.”

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-freak-show.html

The Freak Show, July 1924: Peter Grave’s grandmother calls, “Dear boy, I hope it’s not asking too much, but I have a new friend that needs your help. Her baby has been kidnapped. I’d rather not discuss this over the phone… extra ears you know.”

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-19th-holep1.html

19th Hole, June, 1924: Another Arthur has gone missing from his Thistledown golf course, northeast of Danvers. Dissatisfied that the local police haven’t found him, Arthur’s wife Crystal McMillan tasks the valet Gordon to find Private Investigators. Gordon remembers the newspaper article about a Vance Detective Agency finding another Arthur and thus gives Peter a call.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2024/01/crackd-and-crookd-mansep1.html

Crack'd & Crock'd Manse, April, 1924: Peter receives a letter from the Dodge Brother Attorneys in Gamwell, MA, asking for his service in locating a missing Arthur Cornthwaite. Essie recognizes the name as another archaeologist from her years with her Husband Richard in that Texas Expedition a dozen years ago. "He always dreamed of researching lost civilizations like the Anasazi of the Four Corners region of the USA. I wonder if he ever scratched that itch?"

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/12/mr-corbittp1.html

Mr. Corbitt, March, 1924: Poor Bobby's (the newspaper boy) dog is missing. Along with other missing pets around town, not to mention the mutilated animals found at the park. What is going on in this friendly neighborhood?

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/11/sanitoriump1.html

Sanitorium, February, 1924: Dr. Harold Tiller (MU Medical Dept), asks the team , "My good friend Dr. Aldous Brewer recently published a psychology report on his findings. Other psychologists have voiced doubts. With my broken leg... could you go to his hospital out on North Island? If you would please truthfully verify his findings so he can rightfully be credited for his brilliant (although unorthodox) work.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/11/truth-or-consequences.html

Truth or Consequences, December, 1923: Peter invites the group to his grandmother's house up in Bolton for Christmas dinner. 

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Missed Dues, October , 1923: A month since recovering the ‘Witch Trials Papers’ and they have a chance to kick up their heels. Until Jimmy lets a pick-pocketer in his speakeasy! Which unsettles the boss, displeased how Jimmy handled the matter. Tasked with a new assignment on a different theft, “Find that small-time thief, what he stole, who for, and collect my cut with 50% interest. Or else!”

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/04/failed-prospectsp1.html

The players take a break to help playtest a scenario with new characters.

Failed Prospects, October , 1923: You are staff or students from the Miskatonic University of Arkham (MC), called to supplement an in-field research team on the verge of discovering an unknown dinosaur species. Dr. Baker (Head of the MC Paleontology Dept) onsite, has called for other professors and/or students (Paleontologist, Archaeologist, Botanist, Photographer, and even Journalist) to help.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/03/crimson-lettersp1.html

Crimson Letters, Sept , 1923: After the death of Prof Charles Leiter (Essie's supervisor), Prof Dean Fallon (head of MU Admin) approaches Essie and her “friends” to track down a set of valuable missing papers (The Witch Trials Papers). Fallon worried MU liable for misappropriation and thief (and ill-afforded scandal) per missing papers in Leiter’s possession, now missing. And their owner now asking for their return.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/02/robert-douglas-willp1.html

Robert Douglas's Will, April, 1923: Robert Douglas was best man at Essie and Richard Vance’s 1906 wedding. And years later, Richard was best man at Robert and Ellen’s wedding. You remained best friends, trading Christmas cards. It is now 1923 when you receive the invite to the reading of his will, in Timmins, Ontario. Strange that they didn’t send their usual Christmas card last December. And what’s this about Timmins, Ontario? Last you heard, they lived in Calgary, Canada. Events unfold to release his death not accidental nor by suicide.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/02/overdue-book-dead-boarder.html

Overdue Books/Dead Boarder, 22 Dec, 1922: A book retrieval turns into a murder investigation, which centers on the discovery of a body in a locked room. As events unfold and the investigators discover a variety of hidden (and not so hidden) clues, it becomes apparent …

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/01/amidst-ancient-treesp1.html

Amidst the Ancient Trees, 14 July, 1922: Payoff of a kidnapping gone wrong way out west in Bennington, VT. But Peter is drawn to the kidnappers’ descriptions that match his parents’ killers!

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/01/therapyp2.html

Therapy.P2: You have a chance to seek therapy.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-last-resortp1.html

The Last Resort, 12 May, 1922: A week’s vacation of the island of ‘Maa Weaka’ yet Essie tries to cram in all the touristy action in one day. Maybe it’s the ghost stories that intrigue her. Or the faulty electricity on the island. Then there was the over-the-top do everything resort owner Jeremy and all his clothing changes (butler, receptionist, janitor, cook, carpenter, painter). Desperate to get a good “Yelp” review?

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-doctor-will-see-you-now.html

“The Doctor Will See You Now.” Therapy and Spells: You have a chance to seek therapy. Meanwhile, Professor Avebury has coordinated your meeting with Dr. Henry Armitage to learn some protective spells.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-minds-eyep1.html

The Mind’s Eye, 23 April, 1922: Phillip has to fill in for Helen Stanley's brother, Michael Farr, as one of the pallbearers for Henry Stanley. Only to encounter Michael later, self-mutilated (eyes gouged out!). Now vested in the case, and after interview in his padded Arkham Sanitorium cell, they search for what drove him mad. First stop: Walnut Street in French Hills where Michael’s injuries all began.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/11/tatp1.html

Transatlantic Terror, 12 April, 1922: They return to America, escorting Henry Stanley’s casket home to his mother Helen in Arkham. Unexpected seating at the Captain’s table with the rich and powerful has them interacting with an obnoxious Joseph Taft; nephew of THE Chief Justice William Taft. Can Peter last the week without punching out the man?!

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/11/up-in-smokep1.html

Doom Train, Feb 28^th-March 22^nd, 1922: A bothersome London train enthusiast, Henry Stanley, goes missing. “Up in smoke!” Peter could care less; Essie’s curiosity has they step into the case.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/10/grim-occupationp1.html

Grim Occupation, Feb 20^th, 1922: After 2-weeks of helping to catalog and crate their Egyptian finds, they boarded the Vimy transport plane for their return flight. But along the way, stopped in Paris for a drive southwest to Cauzerte for Phillip to check in on his sweetheart Marina who had sent him a concerning letter.

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-necropolis.html

The Necropolis, Feb 4^th, 1922: Trapped in total darkness beneath the Kizzah ziggurat, and the air running low. They must hurry to find a way out. But then Professor Powell’s notes did mention an ancient Egyptian religion and lost Black-Pharoah leader. Could this be his resting place, filled with riches such tombs have been known to hold?!

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/09/armored-angelsp1.html

Armored Angels, Jan 25th, 1922: The late Richard’s archaeology Professor Lawrence Powell, sends a request from Iraq for him to join a dig at the Kizzah ziggurat. Essie accepts the request on behalf her husband, along with Peter and Phillip. All especially interested when they learn Henry Jones (Richard’s murderer) is onsite as a team-member!

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/08/dead-lightp1.html

Dead Light, Friday Nov 4^th, 1921: Peter’s grandmother’s 90^th birthday is tomorrow up in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He has invited his dear friend Essie to come along since she has met the grandmother before. It’s late (6pm) by the time they get on the road after work. But a sudden horrendous storm, and near-miss hit of a dazed woman in the middle of the road, sidetracks them to the Orchard-Run Diner just up the road.

SIDE SCENARIOS

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/08/2083-moonglowv3part-1.html

Moonglow, 2083: A relief mining crew on emergency flight to see why Moonbase Shackleton has gone offline in communication and operations. In descent when short-range communications warn "Altair inbound, Abort. I say again, abort landing!"

https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/11/when-evil-wins.html

When Evil Wins, 1983 (Whitney/Jordan): As Concord Police Dept Officers, they get a call on the police-car radio, “Squawk, Jamal/Clarice I show you closest to respond. Head to the Thorp Mansion. Just got a strange call from their oldest daughter, Erica. Couldn’t understand her hysterical crying before she hung up. Over.”