4
\$\begingroup\$

I'm currently storytelling a Delta Green chronicle and, while studying various resources and scenarios, I was extremely intrigued by a scenario called "The Bookstore". That is a great opportunity to give the characters some Cthulhu mythos points and help them get a useful tome or artifact. I would like to extend that scenario and I'm looking for ideas.

In order to extend the question and make it more useful for storytellers:

What tropes do you think fit in an old "Antique Store", "Bookstore" or even "Library"? Do you have any relevant film/comic references (for example, the "Gremlins" movies and "The Occultist" from DC Comics)? Any similar scenarios you've played?

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$
11
  • \$\begingroup\$ Hi Astynanax, and welcome to the site! Please check out the faq when you get a chance. A bit of advice: we usually do our best when we're answering tightly scoped questions. You'll get much better advice if you're specific about what you're trying to accomplish than expanding the question to be more general. \$\endgroup\$
    – AceCalhoon
    Jun 18, 2012 at 18:52
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ I see... Well, being a junior storyteller, I'd like to see how an experienced keeper would think. So, about what I've thought so far: First of all, the room will indeed be hidden (by magic?). Then, the magic seal cannot be recorded or photographed, you'll have to copy it by eye/hand. Then, the dispel incarnation would need some "essence" of the person who disturbed the seal (that means that the investigators will have to get close to the guardian, being vulnerable to its attacks). A proper dispel is extremely difficult, so the creature will probably be set free instead of being unsummoned. \$\endgroup\$
    – Astyanax
    Jun 18, 2012 at 19:50
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Okay, good. Now pick something specific about it that you'd like to know. How players could poke holes in it; how to organize the sequence of events; how to manage the investigations aspects, etc. Split off sub-questions into new questions (by magic? for example). Repeat this process in new questions until you have a feel for what you're trying to find out. \$\endgroup\$
    – AceCalhoon
    Jun 18, 2012 at 20:12
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Also, there's usually folks in chat here that you can noodle around with - sometimes that provides answers, sometimes helps you clarify your thoughts down into concrete questions. \$\endgroup\$
    – mxyzplk
    Jun 19, 2012 at 13:20
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Hi Astyanax I've closed this question for now, based on the comments above, and the low-quality answer below. It can be reopened if it's edited into a more focused form. If you have any questions, feel free to drop by Role-playing Games Chat. \$\endgroup\$
    – AceCalhoon
    Jun 19, 2012 at 16:43

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
\$\begingroup\$

Inkheart and Ninth Gate come to mind. Both deal with rare and magical books. This set up can work in so many ways for a Call of Cthulhu adventure. Such as

A bookseller offers the PC money to steal a rare magical text from a secret cult library

While researching in the library one of the PC's goes missing. The only clue is a note they made talking about a book with a demon hand that was crawling on the floor

While in a Antique Store a PC notices a cult figure haggling with the merchant. The next day they find out the merchant was killed and some items where stolen.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
2
  • \$\begingroup\$ A bit more detail as to why and how they are relevant would be nice. \$\endgroup\$
    – Tommi
    Jun 20, 2012 at 5:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ I typed more but I guess I hit submit without realizing it \$\endgroup\$
    – OrionDarkwood
    Jun 20, 2012 at 14:52

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .