Later it is discovered there was a theft of De Vermis Mysteriis from the Miskatonic
U library. Some indications are that Prof. Thoman borrowed the book with out ...
The Experiment Overview At the behest of a favorite professor, Jonathan Thoman, a student ,Gregory Harrison, with connections to the PCs assisted him with a controversial experiment, the summoning of an extra dimensional creature on the ground of Miskatonic U. The next day the PCs discover that the professor died violently from blood loss and the student is not to be found. The PCs have no knowledge of the experiment. The local police begin immediate investigation and question the PCs at length about their friend Gregory as witnesses place the two together shortly before the murder. The truth is that Prof. Thoman was responsible for summoning a Star Vampire to Campus and was successful in his attempt to summon an “invisible servant” but unsuccessful in his attempt to bind it. The creature attacked him and would have killed Gregory as well but as Gregory’s sanity evaporated his strength increased and he attacked the creature (in the process some the professor’s blood spilled onto Gregory’s clothes) and he tore through the room and locked door and escaped the creature. The professor’s body was found by the early morning cleaning crew. The police question the PCs for information on Gregory. It is apparent they suspect him of the awful crime as his body was not found and he has not turned himself in. Now, due to the awful tragedy, the PCs connections to the death and the police’s refusal to investigate a possible paranormal explanation, the PCs decide to involve themselves to solve the crime. Gregory’s whereabouts are unknown and the crime scene is off limits, where do they begin? Later it is discovered there was a theft of De Vermis Mysteriis from the Miskatonic U library. Some indications are that Prof. Thoman borrowed the book with out going through the formal procedures. An embarrassing situation and if promptly returned the matter could be considered closed without ever involving the Prof’s name. The Star Vampire is still at Miskatonic U invisible by day it will begin killing one person every night and will then become visible. Almost certainly the only time when it will be vulnerable. The creature will go from building to building from where it was summoned looking for Gregory until it is stopped. Gregory is also still on campus hiding in various buildings in places away from the crime scene as only his wracked mind can reason with The Book. He still retains a great deal of strength as he seems locked in a perpetual fight or flight mode. His hair has turned white and he appears to have aged several years. The Book: De Vermis Mysteriis (Mysteries Of The Worm) by Ludvig Prinn, 1542 AD. Prof. Thoman liberated the book from Miskatonic U’s locked library section. The book is bound in heavy, dark leather and closed by iron hasps. (-1d6/2d6 sanity; +12 Mythos; x2 spells; 48 weeks)
The Beginning You receive a telephone call to the Dean of student’s office for a meeting at your earliest convenience, the time is 6:30 am. Hastening to ready yourself you expect good news and an answer to your possible scholarship grant. Maybe for once you’ll get the grant and not Gregory Harrison. A good friend of yours but maybe a little too smart in that impending nervous breakdown way. The Dean’s secretary sees you as you enter and motions you into his office. The worried look doesn’t quite register with you until you walk into the Dean’s office and see your fellow students, three police men and a very worried looking Dean.
A tall unshaven man in a rumpled overcoat begins to speak in a low rough voice. I’m detective Ray Stuckey and I have a few questions for you. Do any of you know Professor John Thoman? How about Gregory Harrison? Stuckey may press further if he thinks the PCs are holding back. Would your answers change if I told you that Thoman was dead and only your friend knows who the killer is? But we can’t seem to find your friend. I think one of you knows where he is and just isn’t talking. Accessory to murder is a big deal around here in Arkham. Now, do you want to add anything? Fast Talk or Persuade to find out cause of death: Manner of Death is listed as Exsanguination. (drained of blood) The Crime Scene The Prof’s room is off limits to the PCs but is not guarded. The police rely on their warning signs and a boarded up door way to keep people away. They don’t believe there is any evidence left anyway. Pausing at the splintered doorway you see the police sign indicating that no one is to pass into the room. The professor’s once neat room appears in great disarray and you see a chalk outline near the middle of the floor. This area seems to have been cleared of furniture and there are some markings on the floor that appear partially erased. There is a complete absence of blood stains, quite remarkable given the chaos of the room. Occult Roll: Appears to be a summoning circle Spot Hidden roll: A torn piece of Thoman’s calendar agenda for last night. HANDOUT 1) Secure The Book from the library 2) Stop by College of medicine and secure Human blood samples 3) Contact “Nervous Gregory” for our meeting tonight to contact the invisible servant Mythos Roll: Indications of a Star Vampire.
Next Move The PCs will most likely begin some search of their own of the campus grounds. If they don’t or they stall out at any time the next encounter occurs. Any search will be unsuccessful the first day.
The Police Depending on the PCs answers and their following actions, the police may be more or less curious as to their day to day actions. Detective Ray Stuckey is not a nice man and if crossed will feel the need to harass, including physically, the PC that bothered him. On the other hand he believes that Gregory will show up sooner or later and is the responsible party so he is not very active in the case.
Other News Their name already Mud, the PCs are confronted by the esteemed Professor Armitage with questions regarding De Vermis Mysteriis (Mysteries Of The Worm) by Ludvig Prinn and if they know the whereabouts of the book. He will mention that he believes the professor may have taken it and due to their close connection can provide information on the book’s location. If needed he may confront them on their supposedly secret club Pax Spirituella, remarking these secret clubs are banned by the Miskatonic U charter and they can be prosecuted and thrown off campus. He will
then back off and say he will give the PCs some time to think about it and that the book can be returned without prejudice. He does not want to provoke and incident with such promising students.
The Library Access to the older books is heavily restricted but less so for high level faculty. Even so, Prof. Thoman chose to take the book without using proper channels. He had a key made surreptitiously and simply removed the book in the presence of the night cleaning staff. The staff reported this to Dr. Henry Armitage, the self appointed keeper of the more arcane books.
The Medical School Records are evident that Prof. Thoman did request and was granted four points of human blood. Reason indicated was “Theological Study.” A laboratory staff members volunteers that “faculty members are never turned down even if their reasons seem unusual. It is assumed that if the requests seem to get out of hand it will be addressed at a higher level.” He goes on to say that “when Dr. Harton read that note he appeared upset and mentioned something about requesting stricter controls on such requests.” Dr. Harton is a stern looking old man with little bedside manner. When questioned about the requisition he becomes immediately angry and defensive and states that “Medicine is the most important thing in the world and the other colleges should keep to themselves!” He knows nothing about the true nature of the request.
Gregory’s Secret Hiding Place Idea roll at 1/2 Greg has always found a comfort in the timelessness of the stars. Their constant presence and infinite presence may be unsettling to some but to him it has been a sign that some things can never be harmed. He has always felt protected by them. Hence, he has hidden himself in the Science Building’s Planetarium. In a crawl space under the celestial projector, Gregory has hidden himself. Through a space in the doorway he clutches The Book and whispers to himself. Entering the planetarium, you notice the celestial projector is on but there appears to be no one in attendance. The ceiling is alive with the summer constellations. Listen: Over the sounds of the projector you hear a whispering coming from projector area. Spot Hidden: A small trap door in the base of the projector is open. Looking inside the crawl space area you see the blank horrified stare of Gregory Harrison. His face a frozen mask of fear his lips quivering as they whisper, his thin hair now shocked white. San Check: 0/1 If Gregory is approached by his friends in a peaceful manner he will appear catatonic and go willingly with them supported by their strength, his arms will be wrapped around the book in an iron grip. If they mention anything of the previous night or attempt to take the book away he becomes wild and will attack the PCs only long enough to get away.
Gregory Harrison (in current state) STR: 18 DEX: 18 DMG: Punch 1d3 +1d4 Dodge: 50% Hide 75%
The First Attack This can take place in the confusion that follows Gregory’s escape, or the PCs do not think to look for Gregory at his secret hiding place it can take place first leading to Gregory. As you make your way down the dimly lit hall, at the far end you see a young female student looking through papers she is carrying. A ghoulish tittering is heard echoing down the hallway. Suddenly, you see the young woman gasp and drop her papers. Her scream is quickly cut off. The dim outlines of a presence come into view; the blood filled outlines of that unseen shambler from the stars. It is red and dripping; an immensity of pulsing, moving jelly; a scarlet blob with myriad tentacular trunks that waved and wavered. There are suckers on the tips of the appendages, and these were opening and closing with ghoulish lust…. The thing is bloated and obscene; a headless faceless, eyeless bulk with the ravenous maw and titanic talons of a star-born monster. The human blood on which it fed revealed the hitherto invisible outlines of the feaster. (Robert Bloch- The Shambler From The Stars) San Roll: 1/1d10
Star Vampire: Creature is invisible until it begins feeding. Just prior to the creature’s appearance a ghoulish tittering sound may be heard. STR: 30 SIZ: 26 Move: 9 Weapons: Talons 40% dmg 3d6 Bite 80% dmg 1d6 str/ rnd Armor 4 point hide bullets do half dmg. 1d4 talons grasp a target and creature does 1d6 str/rnd to target until 0 and death. Gregory Escapes If Gregory escapes the building he will hide somewhere in the next adjacent building. The Star Vampire will leave the building after feeding and hide as well, choosing to hunt Gregory when invisible.
Hiding Places And Possible Events Life Sciences Building. Gregory hides in the Live Reptile Exhibit but first he releases the reptiles and hides and the far end of the room in a closet. Physics Lab. Gregory turns on the Jacobs ladder in the room and holds it pointing it to the door. When the door is opened an electrical bolt shoots out. 1d6 DMG CON Roll: to avoid stun for 1d6 rnds. The device will have to recharge for one round before it can fire again. It is plugged into the wall.
