Modern Mythos with Jon & Seth
A podcast about the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game, writing, game mastering, and playing -- presented by the hosts, Jon Hook and Seth Skorkowsky
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Ep. 50 - Unusual Suspects
06/16/2025
Ep. 50 - Unusual Suspects
Seth and Jon are in the balcony to talk about movies made within the last ten years that are considered Lovecraftian, or Lovecraftian adjacent. But first, thank you to Graeme Patrick for sponsoring this episode! Check out his amazing scenario, Of Sorrow & Clay, available on the Miskatonic Repository on DriveThruRPG. Of Sorrow & Clay is an 1880s scenario set deep in the Appalachian Mountains Has a fantastic cast of extremely memorable mountain-folk NPCs for the PCs to encounter and 5 pre-gen investigators perfect for this remorse mountain setting Some really cool (and new) creatures for the investigators to encounter New spells and new magical items, and a couple of really nice handouts Just 23 pages + Pregens Alex Guillote handled art and design Available Roll20 VTT pack for ease of play online Of Sorrow & Clay: Of Sorrow & Clay - Roll20 VTT pack: The Ritual (2017) Studio: eOne / Netflix Director: David Bruckner Staring: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier, & Sam Troughton Based on the book, The Ritual, by Adam Nevill Older Gods (2023) Studio: Wagyu Films Director/Writer: David A. Roberts Staring: Lindsay Bennett-Thompson, Ieuan Coombs, & Jonathan Keeble Making of Podcast: From Dream to Silver Screen (conversations about making this movie) The Void (2016) Studio: D Films / Cave Painting Pictures Directors/Writers: Steven Kostanski & Jeremy Gillespie Staring: Aaron Poole, Kenneth Welsh, Daniel Fathers, Kathleen Munroe, Ellen Wong, Evan Stern, Trish Rainone, & Mik Byskov Creature special effects crowdfunded on Indiegogo for $82,510 (the rest of the picture was funded traditionally) Underwater (2020) Studio: 20th Century Fox Director: William Eubank Starring: Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher Jr, Mamoudou Athie, & T. J. Miller Last movie released under the “20th Century Fox” brand, before being rebranded as “20th Century Studios”, and it was a box office bomb The Lighthouse (2019) Studio: A24 / VVS Films Director: Robert Eggers / Writers: Robert Eggers & Max Eggers Starring: Robert Pattinson & Willem Dafoe Max Eggers had the original idea for this movie as a re-envisioning of the unfinished Edgar Allan Poe short story with the same title. We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa, Edwin Nagy, and Zach Sokol for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. @darkestthickets.bsky.social And once again, a huge thank you to our sponsor Graeme Patrick. Thanks for listening.
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Modern Mythos 49
05/05/2025
Modern Mythos 49
Seth and Jon sojourned to Ypsilanti, (Ann Arbor/Detroit adjacent), for Chaosium Con 2025! As you can well imagine, it was amazing! +++++++++++++++++++++++ Fire Lizard Games, thank you for sponsoring this episode! Check out Fire Lizard Games' upcoming Yith Borg game! Designed with the Mork Borg rules, in Yith Borg you are a Yithian looking to stake your claim on Earth in the hellscape aftermath of a Mythos-fueled cataclysm that devastated the planet in 1920. Check out their Upcoming Projects page at: And check out their full site at: +++++++++++++++++++++++ While at Chaosium Con, Seth and Jon did some "Man on the Street" interviews with convention goers we ran into in the lobby/bar in the morning hours of Friday and Saturday. This entire endeavor would not have been possible without friend-of-the-show and new Modern Mythos editor, Zach Sokol! Thank you, Zach! Zach provided all of the equipment we used to record these "live" sessions, and he fully edited this episode. We are thrilled to add Zach's audio expertise to the team. We interviewed: Ben Burns, of New Comet Games Andy Miesem Holly Buetow, of RPG Reanimators Rina Hensey Matt "Doc" Tracey Bucho Rodenberger Sandy Petersen Zach Sokol We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa, Edwin Nagy, and Zach Sokol for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. @darkestthickets.bsky.social And once again, a huge thank you to our sponsor Fire Lizard Games. Thanks for listening.
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Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keeper's Guide
03/28/2025
Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keeper's Guide
Chaosium's Hardcover book, 261 pages of content, retail price $49.99. A free PDF of the book is included with a purchase of the hardcover book directly from . 7 Chapters, plus 2 Appendices Chapter 1: A Keeper’s Miscellany Chapter 2: Occult Secrets & The Golden Dawn Chapter 3: Running Gaslight Games Chapter 4: Notable Victorians Chapter 5: Victorian Horrors Chapter 6: The Forby Masterwork (Scenario #1) Chapter 7: Oranges & Lemons (Scenario #2) Appendix A: Keeper Resources Appendix B: Generic Victorians Separate indexes for the Main Book, Each Scenario, and Tables Free pre-gen, player maps, and Keeper maps downloads for the two included scenarios Note: The section of Chaosium’s website has not been updated to feature free downloads of the updated CoC Gaslight character sheets displayed in the new Cthulhu by Gaslight: Investigators’ Guide and Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keeper’s Guide. Final Thoughts: Seth and Jon agree, this is a "must have" book for any group looking to play Call of Cthulhu in London's fog-shrouded Victorian period.
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Modern Mythos - Ep.47
03/24/2025
Modern Mythos - Ep.47
Jon and Seth are joined by Oscar Rios, President of Golden Goblin Press. We ask him about the latest news coming out of Golden Goblin Press, and why the Miskatonic Valley is such an attractive locale for Lovecraftian Gothic horror. This episode is sponsored by Matt "Doc" Tracey, and his amazing Call of Cthulhu scenarios, Ghost Trade, and Lights in the Trees. Ghost Trade is a classic 1920s scenario set in the fictional town of Pennybrook, Maine. The investigators visit Pennybrook to study a spike in the number of earthquakes in the region. Townsfolk say the earthquakes are the result of the Pennybrook ghost. Clearly, there is a rational scientific reason for the earthquakes, and the investigators are determined to find out what it is. Lights in the Trees is a 1975 post-Vietnam War setting scenario. The investigators are veterans of the War, platoon brothers, who are called back together to help one of their own who’s having trouble adjusting to life back at home. Can they help their friend conquer his personal demons, or will those demons consume them as well? Oscar Rios & Golden Goblin Press Islands of Ignorance: The Third Cthulhu Companion Kickstarter, and Dark Seas of Infinity: The Fourth Cthulhu Companion, and Legacy of Shadows: Oscar Rios Lovecraft Wiki list of credits: We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes.
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Doorway of the Gods - Ep.6
03/17/2025
Doorway of the Gods - Ep.6
A Miskatonic University professor and his team of student archeologists has gone missing. The university is dispatching a new team to find their missing personnel. Featuring: Seth Skorkowsky as Dr. Caleb Buchman, a medical physician David Moore as Mr. Gilbert Palmer, a dilettante playboy (but also a secret cult leader) Rob Dennis as Mr. Hampton Fincher, an investigative journalist Andy Miesem as Mr. Shelby Avery, an occult bookstore owner Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Doorway of the Gods is the third chapter in the Time for Sacrifice campaign, by Ben Burns, Brian Courtemanche, and Jonathan Bagelman.
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Doorway of the Gods - Ep.5
03/10/2025
Doorway of the Gods - Ep.5
A Miskatonic University professor and his team of student archeologists has gone missing. The university is dispatching a new team to find their missing personnel. Featuring: Seth Skorkowsky as Dr. Caleb Buchman, a medical physician David Moore as Mr. Gilbert Palmer, a dilettante playboy (but also a secret cult leader) Rob Dennis as Mr. Hampton Fincher, an investigative journalist Andy Miesem as Mr. Shelby Avery, an occult bookstore owner Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Doorway of the Gods is the third chapter in the Time for Sacrifice campaign, by Ben Burns, Brian Courtemanche, and Jonathan Bagelman.
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Doorway of the Gods - Ep.4
03/03/2025
Doorway of the Gods - Ep.4
A Miskatonic University professor and his team of student archeologists has gone missing. The university is dispatching a new team to find their missing personnel. Featuring: Seth Skorkowsky as Dr. Caleb Buchman, a medical physician David Moore as Mr. Gilbert Palmer, a dilettante playboy (but also a secret cult leader) Rob Dennis as Mr. Hampton Fincher, an investigative journalist Andy Miesem as Mr. Shelby Avery, an occult bookstore owner Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Doorway of the Gods is the third chapter in the Time for Sacrifice campaign, by Ben Burns, Brian Courtemanche, and Jonathan Bagelman.
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Doorway of the Gods - Ep.3
02/24/2025
Doorway of the Gods - Ep.3
A Miskatonic University professor and his team of student archeologists has gone missing. The university is dispatching a new team to find their missing personnel. Featuring: Seth Skorkowsky as Dr. Caleb Buchman, a medical physician David Moore as Mr. Gilbert Palmer, a dilettante playboy (but also a secret cult leader) Rob Dennis as Mr. Hampton Fincher, an investigative journalist Andy Miesem as Mr. Shelby Avery, an occult bookstore owner Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Doorway of the Gods is the third chapter in the Time for Sacrifice campaign, by Ben Burns, Brian Courtemanche, and Jonathan Bagelman.
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Matt Ryan Interview
02/17/2025
Matt Ryan Interview
Sponsor: We want to thank authors David Trotti and Amy Kate Connolly for sponsoring this episode. They are the authors of the absolutely amazing, Japan: Empire of Shadows, the definitive sourcebook for roleplaying in Imperial Japan during the late Taisho and early Showa eras (1920 - 1932). Japan: Empire of Shadows provides single-session story hooks and multi-session narrative threads, and it includes information to play either as foreign investigators or as Japanese investigators. The 400 page book includes 334 unique locations, 35 full color maps, over 70 NPCs, 20 player handouts, 6 pre-generated investigators, new spells, new Mythos tomes, new monsters, a concise history of the island nation, the Japanese people, and so much more. Japan: Empire of Shadow has achieved Platinum Level sales on DriveThruRPG. And it’s clear, with every page, that David and Amy took meticulous care to create an unparalleled sourcebook for the Call of Cthulhu game. We also want to take this moment to remember that Amy and David lost their home in the LA wildfires. In addition to buying their amazing sourcebook of Japan, please consider sending a donation to the . Matt Ryan - Artist/Cartographer/Musician/Punk Rocker! Reckoning of the Dead: Blog with Noah Lloyd Official Chaosium cartographer Currently running Masks of Nyarlathotep in parallel with Bob Geis “Armchair Keepers of Arcane Secrets” We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. And once again, a huge thank you to our sponsor Japan: Empire of Shadow, by David Trotti and Amy Kate Connolly. Remember to hit the link in the show notes and pick it up. And please consider donating to the . Thanks for listening.
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Doorway of the Gods - Ep.2
02/14/2025
Doorway of the Gods - Ep.2
A Miskatonic University professor and his team of student archeologists has gone missing. The university is dispatching a new team to find their missing personnel. Featuring: Seth Skorkowsky as Dr. Caleb Buchman, a medical physician David Moore as Mr. Gilbert Palmer, a dilettante playboy (but also a secret cult leader) Rob Dennis as Mr. Hampton Fincher, an investigative journalist Andy Miesem as Mr. Shelby Avery, an occult bookstore owner Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Doorway of the Gods is the third chapter in the Time for Sacrifice campaign, by Ben Burns, Brian Courtemanche, and Jonathan Bagelman.
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Doorway of the Gods - Ep.1
01/29/2025
Doorway of the Gods - Ep.1
A Miskatonic University professor and his team of student archeologists has gone missing. The university is dispatching a new team to find their missing personnel. Featuring: Seth Skorkowsky as Dr. Caleb Buchman, a medical physician David Moore as Mr. Gilbert Palmer, a dilettante playboy (but also a secret cult leader) Rob Dennis as Mr. Hampton Fincher, an investigative journalist Andy Miesem as Mr. Shelby Avery, an occult bookstore owner Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Doorway of the Gods is the third chapter in the Time for Sacrifice campaign, by Ben Burns, Brian Courtemanche, and Jonathan Bagelman.
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Modern Mythos - ep.45
12/24/2024
Modern Mythos - ep.45
In this episode, Seth and Jon can hardly contain their excitement for the new Cthulhu by Gaslight! But first, thank you to this episode's sponsor, David Trotti and Amy Kate Connolly. They are the authors of the absolutely amazing, Japan: Empire of Shadows, the definitive sourcebook for roleplaying in Imperial Japan during the late Taisho and early Showa eras (1920 - 1932). Japan: Empire of Shadows provides single-session story hooks and multi-session narrative threads, and it includes information to play either as foreign investigators or as Japanese investigators. The 400 page book includes 334 unique locations, 35 full color maps, over 70 NPCs, 20 player handouts, 6 pre-generated investigators, new spells, new Mythos tomes, new monsters, a concise history of the island nation, the Japanese people, and so much more. Japan: Empire of Shadows has achieved Platinum Level sales on DriveThruRPG. And it’s clear, with every page, that David and Amy took meticulous care to create an unparalleled sourcebook for the Call of Cthulhu game. Cthulhu by Gaslight: Seth - First taste was in Cthulhu Through the Ages (2014) Only 4 pages long History 1986 (Box) First Edition 1988 - 2nd Ed 2012 - 3rd 2024 - 4th (Keeper book in 2025) - no Keeper Guide needed. Social Classes (Upper, Middle, Working, Criminal) Bonus Dice or Hard Difficulty for other Classes (p.271) New Skills Reassure (⅕ APP p.95) Mesmerism p.95 (compare to Pulp: Hypnosis p.37) - Suggestions/relax (Opposed by POW or Psychology with unwilling) Alleviate Pain - perform as uninjured for 1d6 rnds. Alleviate Mental Trauma - recover 1d3 San through mental blocks, overcome Phobia. Plant False Memories Adventures & Supplements Hudson & Brand - Stygian Fox More Stygian Fox Titles - Sacraments of Evil - (1993) Chaosium Six Adventures Cthulhu Britannica: Bad Company Some of the other adventures in the Cthulhu Britannica line can also be adapted for Gaslight, like Strange Little Girl, and St. Swithu’s Hole Cults of Cthulhu book has “Loki’s Gift” Games Workshop’s “Vanishing Conjurer” (statue of Sorcerer)1986 Media Inspirations From Hell (Film) Penny Dreadful (TV Series) Bodies (Netflix) Sherlock Holmes stories Young Sherlock Holmes (movie) Dracula Cthulhu Casebooks - Sherlock Holmes - James Lovegrove Great Train Robbery - Michael Crichton (book & film) Elephant Man (1980) (Pulp) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. And once again, a huge thank you to our sponsor Japan: Empire of Shadows, by David Trotti and Amy Kate Connolly. Remember to hit the link in the show notes and pick it up. Thanks for listening.
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Modern Mythos - ep.44
11/25/2024
Modern Mythos - ep.44
Thank you to our sponsor for this episode, Adam "Bucho" Rodenberger, and his new book, Under a Black Rainbow. The worlds within Under a Black Rainbow oozes with all of our irrational thoughts and collective fears, pooling them up together in slickery shine and gives them both a voice and an unforgettable form. The underside of this particular rainbow is where the absurdity of Kafka, the dark fairy tales of Guillermo del Toro, and the surrealism of David Lynch all crash together into a single, looming nightmare of differing shades. Each story uses a gnarled hand to scrape out the blackest part of each reader and then gleefully holds up the tar-like ichor for closer examination. The eighteen stories found within are mental and emotional excavations of fractured traumas, the awakening of unique pleasures, and the moments where we come face to face with the hungry voices whispering to us from the dark. You can find Under a Black Rainbow on Amazon. Classic Solo Gaming Novels: Old Choose Your Own Adventure series Old D&D - Endless Quest - Stop That Witch by Mary Clark Old Fighting Fantasy, (and new Fighting Fantasy) Main Forms of Solo Gaming: Flowchart Journaling KamCon ‘24 – The Taskmaster video has finally been released!!! It was hilarious and awesome. The contestants included Seth, Jon, Toren Atkinson, River Cole, and the Dark Lord of the Sith! And all of the KamCon panels featuring Seth and Jon have also been shared on YouTube. We have the links for them all in the show notes. Taskmaster: YouTube Content Creator Panel: RPG Writer’s Panel: We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. And once again, a huge thank you to our sponsor Under a Black Rainbow, by Adam “Bucho” Rodenberger. Remember to hit the link in the show notes and pick that up. Thanks for listening.
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Modern Mythos ep.43 --- Live from KamCon!
10/21/2024
Modern Mythos ep.43 --- Live from KamCon!
Seth and Jon were honored to be guests at KamCon in Kamloops, BC, Canada! While there, we met and played games with some amazing people, we were on several fun panels, and we recorded our first live show!!! Huge thank you to Tyler, James, Bryan, and the whole KamCon crew! KamCon is an amazing gaming convention! We can't wait to return! And, if you're up for a bold and awesome gaming convention, then may we suggest KamCon! Make the trip, it's well worth it. Seth and Jon also got to finally meet Toren Atkinson, lead singer and founding member of The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets!!! In addition to being a fantastic musician, he's also an outstanding artist. Just check out the looming green Cthulhu he drew for the KamCon convention above. If you aren't already a fan, you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, and become one! And we can't forget the love for our Modern Mythos family! We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Enjoy this live audience AMA of Jon and Seth!
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Modern Mythos #42 - Adapting Other Media to Your Games Table
09/24/2024
Modern Mythos #42 - Adapting Other Media to Your Games Table
Today, we’re talking about adapting elements from movies, TV, and books into your game. But first, we want to thank author Adam “Bucho” Rodenberger for sponsoring this episode. Check out “Under a Black Rainbow,” a collection of surrealistic horror stories. The worlds within Under a Black Rainbow oozes with all of our irrational thoughts and collective fears, pooling them up together in slickery shine and gives them both a voice and an unforgettable form. The underside of this particular rainbow is where the absurdity of Kafka, the dark fairy tales of Guillermo del Toro, and the surrealism of David Lynch all crash together into a single, looming nightmare of differing shades. Each story uses a gnarled hand to scrape out the blackest part of each reader and then gleefully holds up the tar-like ichor for closer examination. The eighteen stories found within are mental and emotional excavations of fractured traumas, the awakening of unique pleasures, and the moments where we come face to face with the hungry voices whispering to us from the dark. You can find Under a Black Rainbow on Amazon. Please enjoy the episode, and listen for Jon and Seth's insights on adapting other media to your games. Jon's newest old school D&D style adventure, Renewal at Crater Lake, which has the (maybe innovative) dice-stacking mechanic is (at the time of this podcast publication) not yet available for general purchase. It was an Indiegogo crowdfunded book, and currently only the backers have copies. But, eventually, it will be available for general audience purchase on the Frog God Games website. Please look for it there: KamCon ‘24 – We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. And once again, a huge thank you to our sponsor Under a Black Rainbow, by Adam “Bucho” Rodenberger. Remember to hit the link in the show notes and pick that up. Thanks for listening.
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Summer Book Club #3 - Mall of Cthulhu, by Seamus Cooper
09/13/2024
Summer Book Club #3 - Mall of Cthulhu, by Seamus Cooper
Summer Book Club #3, Mall of Cthulhu, by Seamus Cooper! Thank you to our sponsor, Poul Holmelund, and his new Call of Cthulhu scenario, Lost in Cremation, a sequel to The Art of Hygge. Lost in Cremation: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/481189/lost-in-cremation?affiliate_id=51821 Jon and James talk about this inaugural book by author, Seamus Cooper, and (spoilers!) we loved it! Here is the Amazon blurb: A decade ago, college student Laura Harker was saved from a fate worse than death at the hands (and fangs) of a centuries-old vampire priestess and her Satanic minions. Her rescuer, an awkward, geeky folklore student named Teddy, single-handedly slew the undead occupants of the Omega Alpha sorority house, spurred into heroic action by fate itself, inexorably intertwining his and Laura’s destinies. After navigating her way through law school, Laura is now a junior FBI agent assigned to the Bureau’s Boston office. Unfortunately, she finds her job involves more paperwork than adventure. Ted, on the other hand, has spent the past decade perfecting the ultimate latte, and works as a barista in a nearby corporate chain coffeehouse named for a character in Moby Dick. When Ted stumbles onto a group of Cthulhu cultists planning to awaken the Old Ones through mystic incantations culled from the fabled Necronomicon, calling forth eldritch horrors into an unsuspecting world, he and Laura must spring into action, traveling from Boston to the seemingly-peaceful suburbs of Providence and beyond, all the way to the sanity-shattering non-Euclidian alleyways and towers of dread R’lyeh itself, in order to prevent an innocent shopping center from turning into... The Mall of Cthulhu. Mall of Cthulhu, by Seamus Cooper: https://www.amazon.com/Mall-Cthulhu-Seamus-Cooper/dp/1597801275/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3I2GMRHKMUO3N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XxwIkhSJEo4hlzLDhl6nq1lyS-mylXJXw6tfcMo5lzbRg1ns-Sur1B-qgjypuryJg5bPEZmalAhoR2RHQlibA5JtAnLGan0NM-vdVKDlMcK80cx140XjpwyC1NWI5zdWt5S_jzBTwBOB-qsSufzO9EnP1pkWjQ_3lmzljfEyKwkZAsjTYBgVQlvnjB7clrzE5ZN9pOjK3pRaihWlt0qU9zmPE5uCjpwfhJohVSYOXZT2AXgM6DPpSPiQgFCKYQ8bvC5boLmdWbG_kNo6KrUpJ9yglxwFDj45wwgIl1UCfRs.WOm9qL9H1El44N4yRPYcWG75vqzryKsizNKSNdFDRL0&dib_tag=se&keywords=mall+of+cthulhu&qid=1726007285&sprefix=mall+of+cth%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-1
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Modern Mythos - ep.41
09/02/2024
Modern Mythos - ep.41
In this episode, Jon and Seth talk about our favorite grave-mold covered cannibals... ghouls! Episode Sponsor: The Great American Dynasty We want to thank author Keller O’Leary and Space Cat Publishing for sponsoring this episode. Check out “The Great American Dynasty,” a true-blue, red-blooded, modern-day Call of Cthulhu scenario! Investigators are tasked with retrieving old files hidden in the home of a fellow “society” member who passed away from (seemingly) natural causes. The scenario blends iconic American folklore together with Lovecraftian Mythos to weave a story with roots long predating the founding of the American colonies. Can your investigators survive a terror that’s over 600 years in the making? The Great American Dynasty is a three-part mystery filled with abductions, body horror, mutilations, and violence. Also, be on the lookout for Space Cat Publishings next scenario, “The Curse of Punk,” where you explore the terrifying underbelly of punk society in the 1980s. The Great American Dynasty: Ghoul Lore: Arabic - lurked in cemeteries and uninhabited places male : ghoul female: ghoulla Could take on a pleasing shape to lure people. Some could transform into hyenas. Canine features. Light causes pain. Could transform to last person they devoured. Some legend was born looking human, then transformed when older (changeling) Edgar Allen Poe (one of Lovecraft’s literary heroes) wrote of ghoul in his poems The Bells and Ulalume Introduced to the west in 1700s when One Thousand & One Nights translate into french Modern audiences associate them with undead - possibly to George Romero Night of the living dead calling them ghouls Literary Sources: Pickman’s Model, by H. P. Lovecraft (written 1926) The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath, by H. P. Lovecraft (written 1927) The Dwellers Under the Tomb, by Robert E. Howard (first published in 1976, 30 years after his death, possible sequel to The Children of the Night (1931)) The Charnal God, by Clark Ashton Smith (first published in 1937) Amina, by Edward Lucas White (first published in 1907) Down in the Delta, by Adam Scott Glancy (posted to DriveThruRPG in 2018) Down in the Delta: Ghoul Combat in Call of Cthulhu: Bullets do half damage (rubbery skin?) 3 attacks (with Bonus die to multiple attacks on a target, this can become overwhelming) Special Bite and Hold maneuver - (opposed STR (80 avg) or 1d4 per round) Ghoul Game Hooks/Ideas: NPC is ghoul raised by humans PC is a ghoul raised by humans How to play a ghoul “fighting the urge” to feed Ghoul Call of Cthulhu Scenarios: There are a ton of scenarios that feature ghouls. The wiki is a living resource that really helped with today’s topic. Some of the more notable scenarios include: Paper Chase Pickman’s Student The Auction The Lurker in the Crypt The Madman Thoth’s Dagger The Fog of War Wail of the Witch Crimson Letters If you’re interested in checking out the full list of ghoul scenarios, please join the community so you too can check out their amazing wiki. I believe the list is primarily scenarios where ghouls have a major role, and not every scenario with a possible ghoul encounter. I did not see the Paris chapter of the Horror on the Orient Express campaign listed, or the introductory chapter of the Spawn of Azathoth campaign listed, or my Age of Cthulhu scenario, The Timeless Sands of India. So, a list of scenarios that include any instance of a ghoul is much-much larger. Sandy Petersen YouTube on Ghouls: Special Thanks to Bret Kramer and the amazing resources available at . Miskatonic Repository Con: Don't miss the 5th Annual Miskatonic Repository Convention! This free online event runs from Friday, October 4th to Sunday, October 6th, and is dedicated to the Miskatonic Repository. Whether you're a seasoned creator, aspiring to be one, or simply eager to play some spine-chilling Call of Cthulhu scenarios, this convention is for you! There will be engaging panel discussions where you can learn the ins and outs of being a creator, and plenty of games to immerse yourself in. Player sign-ups open on Friday, September 6th. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts and creators. For more information, find the Miskatonic Repository Convention on Facebook, Discord, and Tabletop Events. (Don’t miss it) Tabletop Events Link: Discord Link: KamCon ‘24 – We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. And once again, a huge thank you to our sponsor The Great American Dynasty. Remember to hit the link in the show notes and pick that up. Thanks for listening.
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Thank you to Adam Rodenberger!
08/31/2024
Thank you to Adam Rodenberger!
I wanted to thank Adam for his generous support of the podcast. He sponsored the second Summer Book Club episode, and I neglected to include a link to his book, so I wanted to rectify it here. Please check out this amazing collection of twisted short stories today!
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Summer Book Club #2
08/31/2024
Summer Book Club #2
Up next in the Summer Book Club, Writing Monsters, by Philip Athans! Listen as Jon and James discuss this (spoilers) AMAZING book on writing and designing monsters. The book is written from the perspective that the advice is for authors writing books, but the advice is equally applicable to authors writing roleplaying game adventures. Writing Monsters, by Philip Athans:
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Summer Book Club - Shadows Over Baker Street
07/22/2024
Summer Book Club - Shadows Over Baker Street
Welcome to the first of three Summer Book Club episodes! Your hosts are Jon Hook and James Droucker. Please forgive James' audio quality. We were so excited for the book club reading that we overlooked the need to have better quality sound. Please enjoy this episode as James and I discuss the stories contained within this excellent anthology, Shadows Over Baker Street. Sponsor: Fire Lizard Games - Shadows Over Baker Street:
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13 Bak'tun - Ep.5 - Actual Conclusion!!!
07/21/2024
13 Bak'tun - Ep.5 - Actual Conclusion!!!
A Time for Sacrifice campaign Chapter 2: The Thirteen Bak'tun, by Jonathan Bagelman Cast: David Fogel as Beauregard Lafayette Fulbright, a culinary-focused dilettante Joe Hockin as Marcus Djuric, a bold Private Investigator, and as Paolo Ortega, an intrepid native explorer Matt Repp as Gregory Lawrence Hildebrandt, a well-intentioned dilettante Bryan Stephens as Ezra Irish, a fearless cowboy and Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Music composed by Jules Lawrence, and is used with permission. Visit his Bandcamp site at: It is September 1927, and our intrepid investigators are on a rescue mission for the Miskatonic University deep in the jungles of Veracruz. This episode is sponsored by the Of Sorrow and Clay, by Graeme Patrick. Of Sorrow and Clay is a dark tale about family that takes you deep into the Appalachian Mountains of 1920s Kentucky in search for your old Pa. As his neighbor Jack puts it, “he says it was time to go see his wife, Sadie.” The only problem is she went missing decades earlier, and the old coot hasn’t been back in days. With hat in hand, Jack is begging you to put your squabbling aside and help him find your father before he does something he’ll regret in those dark, foreboding woods. This character-driven story comes with five detailed Pre-gens to pick from, each with their own secrets and grudges to keep. You may not like each other, but blood is blood, and it runs deep in the black soils of the holler. Ladened with moral choices, Of Sorrow and Clay offers plenty of role-playing opportunities and is perfect for conventions running for 3 to 4 hours. It also offers a host of GM guidance to help you wrangle the wayward Taft family. DriveThruRPG:
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Modern Mythos - ep.40
07/15/2024
Modern Mythos - ep.40
In this episode, Jon and Seth talk about Actual Play Games -- how to make them, what traits they share with normal podcast recordings, and how they differ. Episode Sponsor: The Great American Dynasty, by Keller O’Leary, published by Space Cat Publishing. The Great American Dynasty is a true-blue, red-blooded, modern-day Call of Cthulhu scenario! Investigators are tasked with retrieving old files hidden in the home of a fellow “society” member who passed away from (seemingly) natural causes. The scenario blends iconic American folklore together with Lovecraftian Mythos to weave a story with roots long predating the founding of the American colonies. Can your investigators survive a terror that’s over 600 years in the making? The Great American Dynasty is a three-part mystery filled with abductions, body horror, mutilations, and violence. Also, be on the lookout for Space Cat Publishing's next scenario, “The Curse of Punk,” where you explore the terrifying underbelly of punk society in the 1980s. Be sure to check out the link to The Great American Dynasty below. We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes.
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The 13 Bak'tun - Episode 4
07/08/2024
The 13 Bak'tun - Episode 4
A Time for Sacrifice campaign Chapter 2: The Thirteen Bak'tun, by Jonathan Bagelman Cast: David Fogel as Beauregard Lafayette Fulbright, a culinary-focused dilettante Joe Hockin as Marcus Djuric, a bold Private Investigator, and as Paolo Ortega, an intrepid native explorer Matt Repp as Gregory Lawrence Hildebrandt, a well-intentioned dilettante Bryan Stephens as Ezra Irish, a fearless cowboy and Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Music composed by Jules Lawrence, and is used with permission. Visit his Bandcamp site at: It is September 1927, and our intrepid investigators are on a rescue mission for the Miskatonic University deep in the jungles of Veracruz. This episode is sponsored by the Of Sorrow and Clay, by Graeme Patrick. Of Sorrow and Clay is a dark tale about family that takes you deep into the Appalachian Mountains of 1920s Kentucky in search for your old Pa. As his neighbor Jack puts it, “he says it was time to go see his wife, Sadie.” The only problem is she went missing decades earlier, and the old coot hasn’t been back in days. With hat in hand, Jack is begging you to put your squabbling aside and help him find your father before he does something he’ll regret in those dark, foreboding woods. This character-driven story comes with five detailed Pre-gens to pick from, each with their own secrets and grudges to keep. You may not like each other, but blood is blood, and it runs deep in the black soils of the holler. Ladened with moral choices, Of Sorrow and Clay offers plenty of role-playing opportunities and is perfect for conventions running for 3 to 4 hours. It also offers a host of GM guidance to help you wrangle the wayward Taft family. DriveThruRPG:
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The 13 Bak'tun - Episode 3
07/01/2024
The 13 Bak'tun - Episode 3
A Time for Sacrifice campaign Chapter 2: The Thirteen Bak'tun, by Jonathan Bagelman Cast: David Fogel as Beauregard Lafayette Fulbright, a culinary-focused dilettante Joe Hockin as Marcus Djuric, a bold Private Investigator, and as Paolo Ortega, an intrepid native explorer Matt Repp as Gregory Lawrence Hildebrandt, a well-intentioned dilettante Bryan Stephens as Ezra Irish, a fearless cowboy and Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Music composed by Jules Lawrence, and is used with permission. Visit his Bandcamp site at: It is September 1927, and our intrepid investigators are on a rescue mission for the Miskatonic University deep in the jungles of Veracruz. This episode is sponsored by the Of Sorrow and Clay, by Graeme Patrick. Of Sorrow and Clay is a dark tale about family that takes you deep into the Appalachian Mountains of 1920s Kentucky in search for your old Pa. As his neighbor Jack puts it, “he says it was time to go see his wife, Sadie.” The only problem is she went missing decades earlier, and the old coot hasn’t been back in days. With hat in hand, Jack is begging you to put your squabbling aside and help him find your father before he does something he’ll regret in those dark, foreboding woods. This character-driven story comes with five detailed Pre-gens to pick from, each with their own secrets and grudges to keep. You may not like each other, but blood is blood, and it runs deep in the black soils of the holler. Ladened with moral choices, Of Sorrow and Clay offers plenty of role-playing opportunities and is perfect for conventions running for 3 to 4 hours. It also offers a host of GM guidance to help you wrangle the wayward Taft family. DriveThruRPG:
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The 13 Bak'tun - Episode 2
06/24/2024
The 13 Bak'tun - Episode 2
A Time for Sacrifice campaign Chapter 2: The Thirteen Bak'tun, by Jonathan Bagelman Cast: David Fogel as Beauregard Lafayette Fulbright, a culinary-focused dilettante Joe Hockin as Marcus Djuric, a bold Private Investigator, and as Paolo Ortega, an intrepid native explorer Matt Repp as Gregory Lawrence Hildebrandt, a well-intentioned dilettante Bryan Stephens as Ezra Irish, a fearless cowboy and Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Music composed by Jules Lawrence, and is used with permission. Visit his Bandcamp site at: It is September 1927, and our intrepid investigators are on a rescue mission for the Miskatonic University deep in the jungles of Veracruz. This episode is sponsored by the Brutal Urth RPG, by Fire Lizard Games. Brutal Urth is a unique fantasy roleplaying game where you live, explore, and survive a world filled with dinosaurs and an array of creatures and intelligent tribes. Check it a preview of the game on DriveThruRPG: Also, sign up for the Fire Lizard Games newsletter:
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The 13 Bak'tun
06/06/2024
The 13 Bak'tun
A Time for Sacrifice campaign Chapter 2: The Thirteen Bak'tun, by Jonathan Bagelman Cast: David Fogel as Beauregard Lafayette Fulbright, a culinary-focused dilettante Joe Hockin as Marcus Djuric, a bold Private Investigator, and as Paolo Ortega, an intrepid native explorer Matt Repp as Gregory Lawrence Hildebrandt, a well-intentioned dilettante Bryan Stephens as Ezra Irish, a fearless cowboy and Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Music composed by Jules Lawrence, and is used with permission. Visit his Bandcamp site at: It is September 1927, and our intrepid investigators are on a rescue mission for the Miskatonic University deep in the jungles of Veracruz. This episode is sponsored by the Brutal Urth RPG, by Fire Lizard Games. Brutal Urth is a unique fantasy roleplaying game where you live, explore, and survive a world filled with dinosaurs and an array of creatures and intelligent tribes. Check it a preview of the game on DriveThruRPG: Also, sign up for the Fire Lizard Games newsletter:
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Modern Mythos - ep.39
05/20/2024
Modern Mythos - ep.39
In this episode, Jon and Seth discuss the epic awesomeness that is PULP CTHULHU!!! Dastardly villains and bold heroes! Investigate the Mythos with jet packs, telepathy, and tommy guns! Seth is well experienced in running Call of Cthulhu campaigns using the Pulp Cthulhu rules. The player's heroes are hardier and more apt to survive their brushes with the horrors. While Jon has almost zero experience with Pulp Cthulhu. Listen in as Jon sits at the feet of the wizened master, Seth, to learn the secrets of Pulp Cthulhu! SHOW SPONSOR: Jolene, by Rina Haenze. Jolene is a modern day scenario intended to be completed in a single four-hour session of play. The investigators have been drawn to Santa Cruz, California, to help a love-lorn woman. She was spurned by her lover when a mysterious woman, Jolene, stole him from her. The investigators soon learn that this is not an isolated incident. Be warned, this scenario contains depictions of mental illness, addictions, drug use, homelessness, strong emotional trauma, potential drowning, body horror, death, potential homicide, PTSD, and potential player-vs-player action. Jolene includes four pre-generated investigators and a custom Bout of Madness table for this scenario set in 2019. The author, Rina Haenze, also includes tips on how this scenario can be run more intimately, with greater potential for true horror, as a one-on-one game – one Keeper and one player. Jolene is available now on DriveThruRPG for only $6. Jolene: We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. And once again, a huge than you to our sponsor Jolene. Remember to hit the link in the show notes and pick that up. Thanks for listening.
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Modern Mythos - ep.38
04/12/2024
Modern Mythos - ep.38
In this episode, Jon and Seth are joined by Call of Cthulhu's Creative Director, Mike Mason! We talk about the new Arkham book, the further plans in the Miskatonic Valley line of books, Chaosium Con 2024, and the Basic Roleplay (BRP) Contest. This episode was graciously sponsored by the creators of Northern Lights & Darkness compellation of modern day Call of Cthulhu scenarios set in Scandinavian cities and country sides. Each scenario is set in the author’s home countries and uses elements of Scandinavian folklore and myth. The Excursion, by Maja Kvendseth, is set on the Norwegian coastline. The Art of Hygge, by Poul Holmelund, takes us back to the year 1999, and is set in and around Copenhagen, Denmark. Dreamers of the Bogland, by Wille Ruotsalainen, is set in Helsinki, Finland. The Hidden People, by Theodor Helgason, is set in modern day Iceland. The Tunnel People, by Jonas Morian, is a “dungeon crawl of Cthulhu” set in the metro lines beneath modern Stockholm, Sweden. And finally, A Shadow of What Once Was, by Oscar Sedholm, is set in the Sapmi region of Sweden. Northern Lights and Darkness on DriveThruRPG: The new Arkham book has been well received by fans and critics alike. Mike Mason and the entire Chaosium crew couldn't be more thrilled. Mike was kind enough to join us to talk about the new Arkham book and the other books that will follow in this line. Topics discussed include: Matt Ryan's amazing maps, creating Arkham specific investigators, and the broadsheet Arkham Advertiser newspaper created by the fine folks in the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society. We also talked about Chaosium Con, both in The United States and Australia. And the new BRP Contest! Chaosium Con: BRP Contest: We can’t do this show alone. We want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at making us sound awesome! We also want to thank John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his official website, and please consider joining his Patreon account. Links in the show notes. And finally, we want to thank The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for generously allowing us to use their song, Gluttony, as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Please check out their BandCamp site and their official band site. Links in the show notes. And once again, a huge than you to our sponsors Northern Lights and Darkness. Remember to hit the link above and pick it up. Thanks for listening.
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Egg Out of Time - Ep.7
04/01/2024
Egg Out of Time - Ep.7
A Time for Sacrifice campaign Chapter 1: Egg Out of Time, by Ben Burns Cast: Brett Bookout as Dr. Archibald Bleakman, an archeologist B. Sawyer as Father Doug Roth, a two-fisted missionary priest David Fogel as Beauregard Lafayette Fulbright, a culinary-focused dilettante Seth Skorkowsky as Chester Stanley, Esq., an attorney and Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Music composed by Jules Lawrence, and is used with permission. Visit his Bandcamp site at: It is August 1925, and our intrepid investigators are all members of a Miskatonic University archeological dig in the Mayan city of Chechen Itza.
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Egg Out of Time - ep.6
03/20/2024
Egg Out of Time - ep.6
A Time for Sacrifice campaign Chapter 1: Egg Out of Time, by Ben Burns Cast: Brett Bookout as Dr. Archibald Bleakman, an archeologist B. Sawyer as Father Doug Roth, a two-fisted missionary priest David Fogel as Beauregard Lafayette Fulbright, a culinary-focused dilettante Seth Skorkowsky as Chester Stanley, Esq., an attorney and Jon Hook as the Keeper of Arcane Lore Music composed by Jules Lawrence, and is used with permission. Visit his Bandcamp site at: It is August 1925, and our intrepid investigators are all members of a Miskatonic University archeological dig in the Mayan city of Chechen Itza.
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