From The Unspeakable Oath 20, now available for purchase in print and PDF.
Written by Adam Gauntlet,© 2011.
The investigators have succeeded! The cult’s been routed, their plans foiled, and now there’s little left to do but pick through the rubble. Amongst the debris is a document, a list of prominent local citizens, some of whom are marked with a cross and some with a triangle. What does this mean? (The word ‘cult’ is used only for the Tale’s sake. The victory could as easily have been against a vampire, a pack of ghouls, or whatever best fits the plot.)
Option 1: Extortion
The cult was blackmailing many important people. The cross marks those who had already been targeted, while the triangle indicates those who have not yet been approached. The blackmailed citizens are very worried that their dark secrets may be revealed, and won’t react well to investigators who start babbling about strange lists. The incriminating material must be hidden somewhere; the blackmailer’s targets believe that the investigators have the evidence. Or at least know where it can be found. Frightened extortion victims may do anything, even commit murder, to keep their secrets hidden. This could get complicated if someone else shows up claiming to have the evidence. Will the victims believe that the investigators have nothing to do with this extortionist?
Option 2: Arisen
The cult has been slowly infiltrating society by murdering prominent citizens and using the Resurrection spell on them. These unhappy souls are then forced to do the cult’s bidding, under threat of being returned to essential salts, or worse, being resurrected as ye liveliest awfulness. The cross indicates those who have already been turned, while the triangle indicates future targets. While the victims are relieved that their enemies are no more, they begin to wonder whether the investigators won’t just carry on where the others left off. Possible alternate scenarios include: the resurrection requires regular supply of X (e.g., human blood, a special chemical, bugs) to be effective; the resurrectees are living parts of a larger ritual that is still ongoing; complications involved in the process mean that the victims eventually become ye liveliest awfulness anyway, over time.
Option 3: Rivalry
The cult has long been in conflict with a rival organization, but as yet they weren’t sure who their enemies were. They were convinced that the prominent citizens on the list were somehow involved, and were slowly working their way through the list of suspects when the investigators intervened. The cross indicates people who have been cleared of suspicion, while the triangle marks those who had yet to be tested. In fact, the town has been infiltrated by the Mi-Go (or whichever entity best fits the plot), and some (but not all) of the prominent citizens are enemy spies. They’re relieved when the investigators do their dirty work for them, but are less happy if the investigators follow up on that list. Perhaps it’s time for an unfortunate series of accidents—eldritch or otherwise. This may escalate to a direct encounter with a Mythos entity.