Lightless Beacons

The leader of the cult and their plan are revealed! The investigators confront the architect of the voyage’s events and trigger… something … from the dark and deep beneath the waves. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pulp-cthulhu-pdf/ Cast: Heather as your Keeper of Arcane Lore Jae as Jefferson Hartley Jayson as Prof...

Welcome to a brand new feature on Lightless Beacons: Rekindling. In these occasional mini-episodes, we’ll explore the background settings and influences of our scenarios. Tonight, we ignite the concept of heroes in the Pulp system and genre. Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pulp-cthulhu-pdf/ Written and narrated by Lydia Featuring our Keeper of Arcane Lore for Slow...

The true carnage of the cult’s activities comes to light, and the contents of the red book are exposed. The investigators feel the impact of their sleuthing and realise that death may be the least of their worries. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pulp-cthulhu-pdf/ Cast: Heather as your Keeper of Arcane Lore Jae as...

The brawl comes to a raucous conclusion, but Phyllis and Sissy find themselves in a precarious position. Hints abound as the investigators begin to understand that the dangers may be closer than they first thought. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pulp-cthulhu-pdf/ Cast: Heather as your Keeper of Arcane Lore Jae as...

The mysterious red book is finally found, but an important passenger goes missing. Screams, threats, and a good ol’ dining room brawl cause fear and headaches for the investigators. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pulp-cthulhu-pdf/ Cast: Heather as your Keeper of Arcane Lore Jae as Jefferson Hartley Jayson as Profe...

The investigators awaken and must deal with the ramifications of their previous encounters. The SS President Coolidge runs into trouble at the port of Honolulu, and First Officer Schramm orders the ship onward towards Shanghai. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pulp-cthulhu-pdf/ Cast: Heather as your Keeper of Arcane...

In this short mid-scenario interlude, Keeper Heather and the cast recap the story so far, discuss the differences in Pulp Cthulhu mechanics vs traditional 7e Cthulhu, resolve skill improvements  and Luck recovery, and lay out a preview for what’s to come in the second half of Slow Boat to China. Contains major spoilers for Slow Boat to China Part 1 . Catch up on Part 1 here: https://feeds.aca...

In our third instalment of Autopsy of a Scenario, four concerned residents of Ma Shanks' boarding house check on a fellow tenant, who has not left his room for several days. What they find is worse than anything they could have dreamt. Join the team and a very special guest as we make a detailed forensic examination of the plot, mechanics and lore behind this classic scenario.  Like this scen...

The USS President Coolidge spies Honolulu on the horizon. Jefferson fistfights with the staff in First Class while Edmond has a horrifying discovery at the prow. Meanwhile, down in the depths of the cargo hold, Terrence and Jack struggle with dangerous forces as the terrifying truth behind the mysterious organ music is revealed.  Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the...

The investigators regroup and discuss what they uncovered the past evening. Jefferson and Edmond check out Dr. Soong’s cabin for more clues, only to leave with more questions. Terrence and Jack head to storage to examine the crate and find much more than they bargained for.  Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pul...

Welcome to a brand new feature on Lightless Beacons: Rekindling. In these occasional mini-episodes, we’ll explore the background settings and influences of our scenarios. Tonight, we light a fire under the pulp genre itself. Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pulp-cthulhu-pdf/ Written and narrated by Lydia Episode edited by Lydia, mixed and mastered by Jayson All Lig...

The passengers are compelled to spring into action after speaking with Dr. Soong. They search the ship for clues, putting their specialist skills to the test. While some are more successful than others, it is clear that something sinister is afoot aboard their vessel.  Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pulp-cthu...

The passengers awaken after another night of disturbing dreams. Sissy gossips about the ship’s goings-on and vital information is shared. As Bates and Phyllis begin to exhibit strange behaviours, Dr. Soong reveals the gravity of the situation, and makes a desperate plea for help. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Pulp Cthulhu Rulebook here: https://www.chaosium.com/pul...

The passengers are introduced to their fellow dining companions: music teacher Phyllis Barnes, “waste management businessman” Stuart “Bunny” Bates, entrepreneur Takishi Suroda, and a mysterious researcher of the occult, Dr. Soong, with his silent manservant, Wang Ma. Dinner, drinking and dancing provide an indulgent backdrop to a mysterious disappearance. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yo...

Welcome aboard the SS President Coolidge, passengers! Our voyage from San Francisco to Shanghai promises restful relaxation in our Special Class cabins, exotic ocean vistas, and an itinerary of thrilling events for those seeking a little extra entertainment during their journey. The first leg of our voyage ends at the port of Honolulu in five days’ time. Adventure awaits! Like this scenario and fa...

An archaeological expedition seeks riches and academic glory in the Valley of the Kings, but uncover far more than they planned. Join the team and a very special guest as we make a detailed forensic examination of the plot, mechanics and lore behind this classic scenario.  Like this scenario and fancy running it yourself? Buy the Gateways to Terror anthology, published by Chaosium. https://ww...

After their trip through the maze of impossible rooms, the gang faces a desperate plea for help, and an exit to a horrifying new reality tempts one of the team. Will the mobsters be lost in the endless corridors forever, or have the strength to find their way back to Arkham? Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Screen Pack: https://www.chaosium.com/...

Having tracked down Sticky Jack’s address, the gang splits into pairs. The lady of the house provides a dubious welcome with a steaming pot of coffee. Investigating the upper floors of the building, all sense of direction is soon lost, along with blood and sanity. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Screen Pack: https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cth...

The gang continues their search for the stolen goods at Miskatonic University. Luckily, Wendy “No Nonsense” Kelly knows her way around a bookshelf. After a trip to the restricted section to learn about the missing tome, it's off to the local speakeasy to hunt down a lead on Sticky Jack’s whereabouts.  Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Screen...

Arkham, 1922. Four gangsters have screwed up. Badly. Now they’re in deep trouble with their boss, Mordecai ‘The Hammer’ O’Leary. Instead of receiving a hand tool-related beating, they’re sent on a punishment mission to find a missing man and collect his unpaid debt. But they might come to wish Mordecai had taken his hammer to them after all…  Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself?...

In this new feature on Lightless Beacons, we’ll be opening the book on Lovecraft’s classic tales of terror. In lively and incisive panel discussions we’ll talk about the stories themselves, their relationship to the Call of Cthulhu RPG and their influence on other horror media and weird fiction. Tonight we focus on Dagon, the story of a sailor haunted by his discovery of a nightmarish island beari...

The Thirteen are well and truly fragmented, with Bradley’s powers only growing stronger. Melinda attempts to seek answers in a shared but distorted memory. A broken Erik refuses to yield while Alicia overpowers him, and Maggi performs her final ritual. Will the group break the Moonchild’s hold, or will Bradley get what he’s always wanted? Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase...

David, in a moment of lucidity, grants Erik and Maggi further insight into a possible way out of their predicament. The duo turn on Bradley while Alicia and Melinda struggle with their sense of self. In the chaos, Melinda is transported to a time and a place that for twenty years has only existed as a bitter memory. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Nameless Horrors sc...

In the basement of Mari’s house, Melinda is flooded with memories and hidden truths about her companions. Arguments ensue, both verbal and physical, much to Bradley’s delight. Erik eventually storms away from the conflict with Maggi in tow, only to find that David has also arrived. Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Nameless Horrors scenario collection here, available i...

Mari retrieves Nathan and the college alumni from the canteen. Maggi has a dark realisation as to the extent of their servitude. More hallucinations torment Erik and Alicia. The alumni finally meet basement-confined Bradley. Melinda approaches him first, and a connection between them ignites.  Like this scenario and fancy playing it yourself? Purchase the Nameless Horrors scenario collection...