>>2026567

Quest Mechanics

- The quest will include both puzzles and action events

- Solving puzzles is not mandatory to complete the quest, however it will help solve the mystery and reach happier endings

- To check the success of action events, use 1d20 dice rolls unless stated otherwise

- Higher dice rolls are better, the highest of the first three rolls will be counted

- A DC will be provided for most action events, for the action to succeed, the players will have to roll higher than that value


How to Win

Depending on the setting, the paranormal entities can be defeated in several ways -

- Some normal enemies (e.g. human cultists) may be killed or destroyed through physical means

- The players may investigate and solve the mystery of how to defeat a particular enemy

- In some settings, the players may find out the cause of the haunting and help the spirits find peace

- More malevolent spirits may need to be exorcised through rituals and ceremonies

- It might be impossible to kill some highly powerful otherworldly entities, defeating their minions and preventing them from entering our world would be considered a successful enough resolution for the quest


Abilities and Perks

- The abilities and perks system is still experimental, so we might see major changes in future versions

- It would be wise to select perks and abilities that are more likely to be useful in that particular setting

- For example, the Linguist skill might be very useful in investigating The Temple or the Island, but less so in investigating The Farm or The Outpost. Similarly, the Gunslinger skill might be highly helpful in settings where you expect physical enemies (e.g. human cultists), but less useful against the spirits of the dead

- Combining some abilities might give further bonuses, for example: Silver Bullets might be more effective when combined with Gunslinger, whereas Holy Water might be more effective when combined with Cleric

>Cont.

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>>2026603

Choose the Quest Setting

>The Farm
There is an abandoned farm somewhere in Southern USA, where horrific things were unleashed during the antebellum period.

>The Castle
There is a decaying castle somewhere in Eastern Europe, where numerous peasants and travelers have vanished over the centuries.

>The Forest
There is an enchanted forest somewhere in Western Europe, where the the erlking and the fae hold court on nights with full moon.

>The Village
There is a remote village somewhere in the British Isles, where the villagers engage in strange pagan rituals to ensure good harvest.

>The Lake
There is a crimson lake somewhere in Southern Siberia, where misshapen monstrosities are said to cross over from another world.

>The Temple
There is an ancient temple somewhere in Northern India, where a dark cult is rumored to perform ritualistic human sacrifices and worse.

>The Shrine
There is a hidden shrine somewhere in Coastal Japan, where young women were once buried alive as human pillars to seal an ancient evil.

>The Desert
There is an endless desert somewhere in North Africa, where a nameless city of nightmares is supposed to be buried underneath the sand.

>The Fog
There is a malevolent fog somewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, where unspeakable horrors are said to lurk behind the white veil.

>The Church
There is a derelict church somewhere in Latin America, where the souls of the damned still walk the halls searching for salvation.

>The Island
There is an uncharted island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, where aboriginal legends speak of an evil shape-shifting demon.

>The Outpost
There is a research outpost somewhere in the Antarctic Region, where several scientists went insane and disappeared without a trace.

>>2026612
>The Lake

File: Perks and Abilities - Copy.jpg (1.04 MB, 1199x2829)

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>>2026612

Perks and Abilities [You Have 15 Points]

>Gunslinger
You are skilled with several basic firearms. However they are only effective against physical entities.
Cost: -2 Points

>Researcher
You have spent years researching folklore and reports of paranormal events from all over the world.
Cost: -2 Points

>Psychic
You can communicate with spirits to uncover the truth, but talking to malevolent spirits can be quite perilous.
Cost: -2 Points

>Detective
You tend to notice things that other people miss. You are also particularly skilled at interrogating suspects.
Cost: -3 Points

>Linguist
You are proficient in several languages including Latin, Sanskrit, Arabic, and few obscure tribal languages.
Cost: -3 Points

>Cleric
You can easily detect the presence of evil entities and exorcise minor evil through faith and prayer alone.
Cost: -3 Points

>Silver Bullets
Can be effective against certain forms of undead. Success depends on your skills with the gun.
Cost: -4 Points

>Second Sight
You have minor psychic abilities and clairvoyance. However these require excruciating mental effort.
Cost: -4 Points

>Holy Water
Can be used to exorcise certain evil entities. Can also be used to heal non-lethal physical wounds.
Cost: -4 Points

>The Foundation
You have the support of a powerful government agency dedicated to containing paranormal threats.
Cost: -5 Points

>Men of Science
You have the support of an influential group of scientists and scholars dedicated to uncovering secrets.
Cost: -5 Points

>Esoteric Order
You have the support of an ancient order of clerics dedicated to exorcising evil entities from the world.
Cost: -5 Points

>Frail Body
You are physically weak and require frequent hospital visits. You also need regular blood transfusions to survive.
Gain: +3 Points

>Mental Illness
You have a history of mental illness and nervous breakdowns. Sometimes you still hear voices in your head.
Gain: +5 Points

>Lost Faith
You have lost your faith. You can no longer perform spiritual exorcisms and must use alternative methods.
Gain: +4 Points

>>2026612
>The Outpost
Love ice horror.

>>2026612
>The Forest

A relaxing holiday - or so it was supposed to be. Then we took a wrong turn by that odd rock formation. We should really have known better.

>>2026618
>Researcher (-2)
>Psychic (-2)
>Detective (-3)
>Linguist (-3)
>Second Sight (-4)
>Esoteric Order (-5)
>Lost Faith (+4)

A former Cleric and man of God, we were too good at our job of hunting monsters, and ended up revealing the horrors lurking within our own organization. Disillusioned with our work, we excised that cancer from within our Order, before taking our leave, remaining in contact with our old colleagues only on a personal basis.

And yet, sometimes, you can leave your job, but your job won't leave you.

>>2026618
Lake

Abilities
-Lost Faith
-Detective
-Psychic
-Second Sight
-Men of Science
-Researcher
-Linguist

One question if allowed, is the outpost multi-national or sponsor by one nation?

>>2026634
I will back this

>>2026635
>One question if allowed, is the outpost multi-national or sponsor by one nation?

Multi-national. I try to avoid specifying any country or the exact region whenever possible, usually works better for story immersion.

This looks sick, casting my vote for :

>The Castle

and for perks:

>Gunslinger -2
>Detective -3
>Silver Bullets -4
>Esoteric Order -5

>>2026617
>>2026621
>>2026632
>>2026634
>>2026637
>>2026665

Okay, we have 2 votes for The Lake, 1 vote for The Outpost, 1 vote for The Forest, and 1 vote for The Castle.

So we are going with The Lake.

>Writing

File: The Lake.png (682 KB, 640x490)

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>>2026731

There is a crimson lake somewhere in Southern Siberia, where misshapen monstrosities are said to cross over from another world.

You were sent by an influential group of scientists and scholars to verify the existence of this lake. You wonder why those men of science chose you - a cynical detective who spent far too long chasing after shadows and rumors of paranormal incidents in the darkest corners of the world.

Most of the times, the rumors turned out to be overblown nonsense or simply the ramblings of madmen desperate to make sense of an insane world. But sometimes those rumors did turn out to be true. You have seen things, things no man should ever see, things that have made you lose your faith in a benevolent higher power.

You were never quite religious, but you always believed or at least hoped that there was someone out there, someone looking after humanity, someone protecting you from the things that lurk behind the shadows. But the horrors you have seen in your journey have made you lose that naive speck of optimism.

Yet you continued your investigations, a broken man doing what he can do to keep the darkness at bay. You searched for answers that no one could give you. You did your research, listened to what the men of science would tell you. You even taught yourself obscure foreign languages to help in your investigations in foreign lands.

Ever since one particularly horrific incident that left you near-dead, you began hearing the voices of undead spirits. Benevolent spirits have guided you in your journey, and in return you have helped them find peace. But sometimes you were also contacted by malevolent spirits, insane mad voices that whispered horrific secrets from the other side that you tried your best to forget.

You were also blessed, or cursed, with the gift of second sight. You now have minor psychic powers that allow you to look into the future. If you try hard enough, you can move things with your mind or bend things to your will. But these things require excruciating mental effort and you are often left bleeding from your nose or even your eyes.

Right now, your second sight is telling you something horrific will happen near that lake. Something more horrific and monstrous than any other case in your life.

>Cont.

>>2026826

Before coming to Siberia, you did your own research on the lake. The men of science shared their records with you, but you always had more faith in your own work.

What did you learn about the crimson lake from your research?

>The Lake appeared near an old military base where Soviet scientists conducted secret experiments. Perhaps learning more about those experiments will help you explain this phenomenon?

>The Lake has always existed in one form or another, there are old stories going back hundreds of years that talk about the horrors that came out of the Lake. Maybe studying Russian folklore will give you a better idea?

>The Lake has only appeared recently, without any cause or explanation. There are reports of similar lakes appearing in other countries, all of those incidents resulted in catastrophes soon after. Maybe you should check out those reports from other countries?

>[Write-in]

Have a headache, probably should get some sleep. I’ll try to continue session after I wake up.

>>2026913
>>The Lake appeared near an old military base where Soviet scientists conducted secret experiments. Perhaps learning more about those experiments will help you explain this phenomenon?

>>2026913
>The Lake has only appeared recently, without any cause or explanation. There are reports of similar lakes appearing in other countries, all of those incidents resulted in catastrophes soon after. Maybe you should check out those reports from other countries?

>>2026923
Supporting

>>2026921
Seconded

>>2026921
Support

>>2026923
Supporting this.

>>2026921
>>2026923
>>2027202
>>2027254
>>2027367
>>2027373

3 votes for investigating Soviet secret experiments, 3 votes for investigating reports of similar lakes in other countries. I'm considering both options.

You arrive at an abandoned military base in Southern Siberia. Officially, this place never existed, not even those in the Soviet high command ever knew of its existence. Even after it was abandoned, very few people know of what sorts of experiments were conducted here.

The only reason you ever managed to gain access to its location was through the machinations of your benefactors - the international group of scientists and scholars who sent you on this mission in the first place. You always guessed that their influence extended beyond international borders, but you never even considered the true extent of their connections.

You once asked Doctor Strauss, one of the higher ranking members of the society, about their organization. He just smiled and said, “Some call us the the enlightened, a name I personally never cared for. We have much to learn about this world and others before we can truly call ourselves enlightened. For now, just think of us old fools as seekers of truth.”

>Cont.

>>2028006

After you arrive at the abandoned military base, you are greeted by Dr. Sergei Roerich, the Russian scientist who first informed the society about the lake. You know from your research that Dr. Roerich is highly respected as a man of science, his word carries weight even in the highest ranks of the Russian government.

“Dr. Strauss told me over the phone that you would be coming,” Dr. Roerich smiles pleasantly as he shakes your hand, “He spoke highly of your skills as an investigator. To be honest, I was expecting another scientist, but I guess an investigator as experienced as yourself would be better suited than us for solving mysteries, especially in incidents like this.”

>Ask him what he knows about the military base

>Ask him what he knows about the crimson lake

>Ask him what he knows about the soviet experiments

>Ask him what he knows about the recent incidents

> Ask him what he knows about similar incidents in other countries

>[Write-in]

>>2028009
>Ask him what he knows about the recent incidents

>>2028282

>Ask him what he knows about the recent incidents

"I would like to learn a bit more about the recent incidents," You ask the doctor, "What have you learnt so far from your investigations?"

"Not much, to be honest," Dr. Roerich sighs, "A few months ago, we received reports of strange, malformed entities roaming around this area. At first we thought it was an outbreak of rabies, or some other viral disease affecting the local animals. But then the reports kept getting stranger. Some animal corpses were found, corpses that were not exactly what I would call normal."

"What do you mean by that?" You feel the doctor is being a bit evasive about the incidents.

"Last month, we received a report from a remote village in the mountains. Some hunters from that village found a malformed dog or some other animal. Its hind legs were abnormally long and twisted, and it seemed to be in extreme pain. The hunters were terrified at the sight and tried their best to kill that thing. They say it took over a dozen bullets before it finally stopped moving," Dr. Roerich is careful to maintain his composure, but you notice an involuntary nervous twitch, "I have examined the deformed corpse myself, it was nothing like any canine species I have ever seen in my life. It was almost like it came from another world."

>Cont.

>>2031304

"How did you connect it to this camp?" You ask, a bit confused by the turn of events.

"This camp was operational back in the Soviet era," Dr. Roerich replies, "No one knows what they did here, at least no one alive. We thought that the men who ran this camp might have tested biological weapons on animals, some of those might have escaped from the lab and somehow survived to this day. Or they might have been dumping nuclear waste here, the radiations causing abnormal mutations in the local fauna. But the journals we found do not seem to support either theory."

>"Tell me more about these journals."

>"Tell me about yourself, how do you fit in here?"

>"Tell me about the men who ran this camp."

>"Did you found out what sorts of experiments they ran here?"

>"Dr. Strauss mentioned something about a lake, tell me what you know about it."

>[Write-in]

>>2031306
>"Tell me more about these journals."

>>2031328

>"Tell me more about these journals."

"The journals belonged to man named Grigori Sokolov," Dr. Roerich says, "Dr. Sokolov was in charge of this base when it was still operational. He was a brilliant scientist, but awful at keeping things organized. You are welcome to take a look at his journals if you are interested."

The journals were written in Russian, but you are confident in your linguistic skills that the language barrier would not pose a problem. Unless Sokolov used codes or unfamiliar scientific terms, you should be able to translate his records rather easily.

What do you do?

>Read the journals

>Ask Doctor Roerich what he knows about Sokolov

>Ask Doctor Roerich about the experiments

>Ask Doctor Roerich about the lake

>Ask Doctor Roerich why he was sent here

>[Write-in]

>>2031347
>>Ask Doctor Roerich about the experiments
>>Ask Doctor Roerich about the lake

>>2031368

>Ask Doctor Roerich about the experiments

"Did you find out what sort of experiments they ran here?" You ask Doctor Roerich.

"Unfortunately, we are still in the dark for the most part," Dr. Roerich sighs, "But from Sokolov's records, it seems their work involved extrasensory perception and psychic abilities. Nothing that could lead to biohazard or radioactive waste."

"Extrasensory perception? As in second sight?" You ask, your curiosity piqued by the subject.

"That and other rubbish," Doctor Roerich says dismissively, "Clairvoyance, telekinesis, and remote viewing. Mind control and other absurd topics. Seems Sokolov was also obsessed with dreams and nightmares. He had volumes and volumes of books on oneirology. Some of them legitimate scientific journals, others range from pseudoscience to occult nonsense."

>Cont.

>>2031368

>Ask Doctor Roerich about the lake

"Dr. Strauss mentioned something about a lake," You remember your conversation with the old professor, "How does that connect with all this?"

"If you are wondering whether the lake is real or not, I can assure that it exists." Dr. Roerich says, "Though I sincerely doubt half the stories told about it are true."

"What kind of stories, doctor?" You remember your research on the crimson lake and similar places around the world, but feign ignorance to learn what Dr. Roerich knows about it.

"Some believe that the lake connects our world to another world," Dr. Roerich replies, "A darker, more twisted reflection of our world. Some of my own men believe these stories and fear that the malformed creatures came out of the lake."

You notice that Doctor Roerich is clearly uncomfortable discussing this topic and not press any further.

What do you do?

>Read Doctor Sokolov's journals

>Check Doctor Sokolov's experimentation room

>Ask Doctor Roerich about his men

>Ask Doctor Roerich why he was sent here

>Ask Doctor Roerich what he knows about Sokolov

>Press Doctor Roerich for more information on the lake

>Visit the Lake

>[Write-in]

>>2031402
>Read Doctor Sokolov's journals
>Check Doctor Sokolov's experimentation room

>>2031498

>Read the journals

You decide that reading Sokolov's journals might help you uncover the secrets of the crimson lake and explain the sightings of those malformed entities.

Doctor Roerich takes you to an old office room, where Doctor Sokolov kept his journals and scientific records.

You sigh after taking one look at the disheveled office room, Doctor Roerich was certainly not exaggerating about Sokolov's incompetence at keeping things organized.

You notice books and scholarly articles on a diverse range of scientific topics - from biology to neuroscience to chemistry.

There are some other strange books as well. You notice books on geography, folklore, and even obscure religious texts.

You also notice a very detailed world map with some locations marked. You notice circles placed around the Gobi Desert in Southern Mongolia, the Rub al-Khali in Saudi Arabia, the Severn Valley in Western England, and the town of Hawkins in Indiana, USA.

You notice that some pages are missing from his journals, while names have been obscured in other pages.

You begin skimming through whatever is left of the journals, taking the time to carefully examine entries that seem relevant to your investigation.

>Cont.

>>2031547

February 20, 1939

Today we began our work in Laboratory 1 under Chief ███████ ██████████. The laboratory has been operating under different names since 1921, but it has never been as productive as it is today.

My expertise in biochemistry and neuroscience has proven highly valuable to the laboratory. As a result, even though I am one of the youngest scientists working here, Chief ██████████ listens to my counsel.

Our work here is simple enough, we test the effects of different chemicals on prisoners from the Gulags - including mustard gas, ricin, ███████████, digitoxin, curare, ███████, cyanide, and many others.

The laboratory is under the direct supervision of NKVD Director ████████ █████. He is not a particularly pleasant person to work for, but he has provided us with the resources and test subjects necessary to continue our experiments.

I am certain that our work will be useful in the wars to come. Yet sometimes I wish we tried using biochemistry for purposes other than poison.

>Cont.

>>2031778

January 12, 1945

The Red Army captured another Nazi military camp today. I had personally accompanied the NKVD agents assigned to examine the camp and searched for information. It appears that the German scientists stationed here were involved in some highly fascinating biological experiments.

A few months ago, we had received reports that the Germans were working on something called the Modern Prometheus project - a bizarre project designed to create the perfect human through scientific means. Perhaps this camp was the test site for that project.

I suspect that we could have learnt a lot of interesting things about the German experiments if we managed to capture one of their scientists alive. Truly a shame that the Krauts managed to burn their records and liquidate the prisoners before fleeing the camp.

Perhaps someday we ourselves will be able to use biochemistry to improve our abilities as humans beings and surpass whatever the Krauts had expected to achieve here. I look forward to that day.

>Cont.

>>2031890

August 16, 1949

It took over ten years, but Chief ██████████ and Director █████ have finally approved my proposal to extend the scope of Laboratory 1 and use our capabilities in biochemistry for purposes other than poison.

Although I have to admit that I am not entirely happy with the outcomes of some of the projects that were approved by Chief ██████████ and Director █████.

Just last month, some researchers from another branch conducted an interesting experiment on five political prisoners. The prisoners were kept awake for ███████ days by using a special nerve gas. I have been told that the experiment resulted in unmitigated disaster.

As for me, I have been working on a chemical compound that should increase the mental facilities of the subject. Though it pains me to say this, I have to admit that my work has not resulted in anything fruitful yet.

I am beginning to think that it might take years before my personal project is successful.

>Cont.

>>2032021

26 June, 1953

Director █████ was arrested today. Not really surprising, considering the man had managed to make a lot of powerful enemies in a very short time. I expect that he will be given a quick trial and then be executed afterwards.

I am not particularly unhappy about his fate, but it is rather unfortunate that we just lost our biggest supporter in the politburo. That said, I had personally anticipated the imminent purge when Chief ██████████ was arrested two years ago.

I have been careful to stay out of politics, so I do not think I will be among the names that will perish with Director █████. However, my influence in Laboratory 1 will surely diminish as a result of the purge.

A shame really, I had been making good progress over the last couple months.

>Cont.

>>2032072

April 13, 1955

One of our agents in America has sent reports of a classified project named MK█████. It appears that the American Intelligence Agency is employing German scientists to develop their mind control program.

Most of the German scientists in charge of the MK█████ project are former members of the Nazi party, who were recruited through Operation Paperclip. Some of these scientists had even been identified and prosecuted as war criminals during the Nuremberg Trials.

I felt extremely frustrated when I read the report. Ten years ago, if the NKVD agents managed to capture these Nazi scientists, we would have been the ones to benefit from their experiments instead of the Americans.

I lack the authority to continue my research right now. But perhaps in a few years, I will regain enough support in Laboratory 12 to continue my experiments. In the meantime, all I can do is monitor the American MK█████ project and observe what they accomplish from their experiments.

>Cont.

>>2032132

November 7, 1973

It has been over eighteen years since we first learned about the American Intelligence Agency's MK█████ project.

The project has been officially halted as of this year, but we all know that a project being officially halted means that it will likely just continue unofficially. Perhaps under a different name and with even fewer regulations this time. Those involved with the project were smart enough to destroy most of the important documents, but our agents were also quite successful in sending us the relevant data beforehand.

I have recently made contact with General ████████, who agreed to sponsor my research on developing extrasensory perception and amplifying psychic abilities through the use of artificial means. However, he told me that the research will need to be conducted under utmost secrecy. I miss the days of Director █████, when we could have performed whatever experiment we wanted on political prisoners from the Gulags without any repercussion. Now we have to be much more careful when conducting our experiments.

But I cannot really complain though, Southern Siberia is truly a wonderful place to continue my research. Also General ████████ has provided me with an adequate military base and nearly two hundred able bodied soldiers to aid in my research. He has also assured me that I will have access to as many test subjects as I require. I eagerly look forward to completing my life’s work here in these frozen wastelands of Siberia.

>Cont.

>>2032336

The remaining pages and the more recent entries in the journal seem to be missing.

After you finish reading, you wonder what to do next.

>Search for the missing pages

>Talk to Doctor Roerich about what you learnt from Sokolov's journals

>Move to Doctor Sokolov's experimentation room

>>2032357
>Search for the missing pages

>>2032831

>Search for the missing pages

You feel like you are missing something important.

You look around Sokolov's disheveled office room and the disorganized documents.

Do you notice anything odd? [+3 Dice Bonus due to Detective Skill]

>Search for the Missing Pages [Roll 1d20+3, DC 12]

Rolled 10 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>2033700

>>2033719

You find several blank pages that appear to have been removed from Dr. Sokolov's journals.

Feeling curious, you decide to hold the yellowed pages over a cigarette lighter.

Words written in invisible ink soon begin to form in the pages.

>Cont.

>>2033798

January 26, 1974

General Vasiliev strongly implored me to maintain utmost secrecy at all cost. He told me that no one other than him knows about this project. Not even those in the high command of the Soviet military have any idea about the things we are doing here.

Though it feels slightly paranoid, I have begun to compose my journal using a simple invisible ink solution I remembered from my days in the NKVD. However, being overly cautious was what kept me alive when many of my old colleagues were purged and executed.

We are doing good work here in Siberia, better than anything the Americans or the Krauts achieved from their mind control projects. As the project is absolutely secretive, I do not have to worry about morals or ethics when performing the experiments.

Similar to our work back in Laboratory 1 and Laboratory 12, I have begun testing the effects of different chemical compounds on the test subjects delivered by General Vasiliev.

We do not have access to countless political prisoners from the Gulag as we had under Stalin and Beria. But one can always find enough political dissidents or military deserters to work on.

Sometimes we will even have volunteers from the military who say that they are willing to die for Mother Russia. And so far, every last one of them have died screaming for their mothers.

>Cont.

>>2033837

September 8, 1975

I am starting wonder whether General Vasiliev had been entirely honest with me when he requested me to move my research to this base here in Siberia.

Ever since I moved here, I have been plagued with strange dreams and terrifying nightmares. Dreams and nightmares of another world, where things are darker and more twisted.

Perhaps this is just me getting older. I have served Russia in one form or another for nearly forty years. In my years of service, I have conducted horrific experiments on countless men, women, and children. I have seen the atrocities humans are capable of and did worse things myself.

If the men of the civilized world knew of every experiment I conduced, they would call me a war criminal or perhaps even a monster. Maybe my guilty conscience is creeping up to me in my old age and punishing me with these nightmares.

Then again, the soldiers sent by General Vasiliev to help operate the base are also complaining about nightmares and strange dreams. The test subjects are worse, they claim to be plagued with horrific visions even when they are awake.

I am not a superstitious man, but this place feels strange and wrong in ways I cannot explain. And I have the sinking suspicion that General Vasiliev knew exactly what he was sending us to.

>Cont.

>>2033913

December 12, 1975

Last night, I dreamt of a crimson lake in a vast frozen wasteland. I stared into the lake and felt something watching me from its crimson depths.

The dream was strange, I felt my whole life had been leading me to that very moment. I had the most intense desire to walk into the lake. But even then I felt a fear more penetrating than any emotion I had ever felt in my life.

I felt that the lake itself was watching me, it was a presence more evil than anything born in our world. I then realized the red liquid in the lake was not water, it was blood.

I woke up screaming, drenched in sweat.

>Cont.

>>2033921

December 21, 1981

It has been six years since I first dreamt of the crimson lake. In these six years, I went back to that lake over and over again in my dreams, and in my nightmares.

I can feel the crimson lake grow in my dreams. It crawls towards me each and every night. I fear that one day it will engulf the entire world and we will all be submerged in its crimson depths.

I turned seventy one years old today. I am now an old man moving ever closer to death. Yet somehow I do not feel afraid of death, I only feel afraid of what awaits for us all beyond the veil.

>Cont.

>>2033944

March 29, 1982

After years of experiments using countless chemical compounds on hundreds of subjects, we have finally made a major breakthrough in our research.

Drug-XVII has been highly effective in augmenting the psychic abilities of the test subjects. However, the compound is still far from perfect and can cause painful deaths from internal bleeding or even worse.

Even when the drug successfully increases the psychic abilities of the subjects, it can cause excruciating pain and the subjects are often left with nosebleeds. The compound is still heavily flawed, but I am trying my best to perfect it.

One thing I noticed is that the drug works better on subjects with higher intelligence and naturally established extrasensory perception. I will report these findings to General Vasiliev, I am sure he will be quite happy with the progress.

I should be happy about this progress as well, but my mind keeps wondering back to that crimson lake from my dreams. Especially after one of the more gifted subjects died screaming about a red pool as he bled from eyes.

>Cont.

>>2033978

July 26, 1982

Earlier this month, I asked General Vasiliev for some books on oneirology - the scientific study of dreams. I tried to explain in a haphazard manner how we might be able to use dreams to spy on the enemy or for some other equally vague and obscure purpose.

It was a rather transparent lie, but General Vasiliev seemed oddly enthusiastic about the topic. Even I found it highly strange that a hardened military man like him had paid attention to something as abstract as dreams. I strongly suspect that he is still hiding many things from me.

The following week, I received several rare volumes on the topic of dreams from General Vasiliev. Most of them were dry scientific journals, but few were highly fascinating accounts and theories about dreams from different corners of the world.

I studied theories on how dreams can act as portals to other worlds. How different people from different corners of the globe, who have never met in real life, vividly described visiting the same places in their dreams.

Most of these accounts read like weird fiction. Yet I wonder, if we could truly enter those worlds in our dreams, can things from other worlds cross over to our own as well?

>Cont.

>>2034037

May 17, 1983

I have been rather busy over the last one year perfecting my formula for Drug-XVII. General Vasiliev has been very pleased with my work. In fact, he has been pleased enough to inform me about another one of his secret projects.

He told me that there is a certain orphanage in Eastern Europe, where orphan children gifted with psychic potential are gathered under his command. These children then go through extensive physical and mental abuse to awaken their psychic abilities.

General Vasiliev explained to me that extreme pain and near death experiences can sometimes awaken psychic abilities naturally. Of course, the majority of these children do not survive to adulthood, but General Vasiliev is satisfied with the overall success rate of the project.

He told me about a pair of twin siblings, codenamed Hansel and Gretel, who can snap necks of small animals with their minds. "I wonder what they will be able to do once we inject them with your drugs, doctor," General Vasiliev had told me with a smile.

Even though Drug-XVII was supposed to be my life's work, I now find difficulty in maintaining enough interest to continue with that project. My attention keeps moving back to that crimson lake from my dreams. And of those twisted dark shadows I sometimes glimpse underneath its depth.

>Cont.

>>2034179

October 28, 1983

Over the last four months, I did extensive research on certain lakes similar to the crimson lake from my dreams. I learnt of a strange lake in the Severn Valley near Brichester, in England. Where an eldritch horror called Gla’aki supposedly reveals dark secrets to its worshipers.

I also read about the misty Lake of Hali - which has been observed in the Gobi basin in Southern Mongolia, the Rub al-Khali in Saudi Arabia, and many other deserts from all over the world. This black lake supposedly serves as a gateway between our world and the sinister city of Carcosa - an ancient and mysterious city that sometimes appears in the dreams of the damned.

I also learnt about other strange places from some of the darkest corners of the world. Places where the line between ‘what is’ and ‘what is not’ is blurred. I read about the intoxicating Sesqua Valley near Mount Si - a valley only visible to those who are partially or utterly insane.

Perhaps each of these locations serve as gateways to other worlds, but only those with the right mindset and psychic abilities can find them. Perhaps these are places where the fabric of reality is at its thinnest, where nightmares and worse can cross over to our world.

>Cont.

>>2034240

November 21, 1983

Last week, I received a strange report from one of our agents in America. He told me that a little girl with psychic powers opened a portal to another world, in the town of Hawkins in Indiana. Normally I would have laughed off the report, but some of the names involved with the incident grabbed my attention.

A certain professor, who I knew to be one of the top scientists involved with CIA’s mind control project, was reportedly sighted in Hawkins around the time that portal was opened. I wonder if there is any kernel of truth in this strange report.

>Cont.

>>2034277

January 31, 1984

General Vasiliev is dead. Officially, he died peacefully in his sleep, though I have to wonder how one can die peacefully in sleep with a neck that is twisted the wrong way.

I attended his funeral in Moscow. Not because I was particularly sad about his death, but because it seemed the right thing to do all things considered. Without his financial support, I never could have continued my research on Drug-XVII.

It turned out that I had made the right decision in attending Vasiliev’s funeral. As after the funeral, one of my former students, Sergei, approached me. Sergei has done pretty well for himself as a scientist and his word now carries weight even in the highest ranks of the government.

Sergei offered to intercede on my behalf and help me secure funding for my research in Siberia. Somehow, he had learnt of the success of Drug-XVII and wanted in. I told him that I would love to continue the work as long as I retained my autonomy.

Implicitly, I feel that I have done all I can do with Drug-XVII. My main objective now in returning to Siberia is to find the crimson lake I keep seeing in my dreams over the last nine years.

I am certain the lake exists, I can feel its evil presence grow each and every night.[/i]

>Cont.

>>2034316

February 20, 1984

We have found the lake. Or rather it has found us.

I told five of the most gifted test subjects in the base that they would be released if they managed to find the crimson lake for me. It was a lie of course, there is no way we would let someone leave after they have learnt the secrets of our experiments.

Still, the false hope of release was enough to push the test subjects to their limits. They willingly injected themselves with Drug-XVII and forced their minds to search for the crimson lake. After bleeding severely from his eyes, one of the subjects told me that he had found the lake.

To my utmost surprise, the lake had somehow appeared less than a mile from the base. I am quite sure it was not there until now. The lake has disregarded the laws of time and space, and materialized in a location where it had not existed previously.

I cried when I saw the crimson lake with my own eyes, though I do not know if I was crying from happiness, fear, or from some other entirely alien feeling.

>Cont.

>>2034343

You finish reading the last missing page of the journal.

As a detective focusing on the paranormal, you have seen a lot of strange things in your life.

Your research on similar lakes in other countries seem to match with Doctor Sokolov's findings.

Still you are not sure whether to believe his strange journal or not.

What do you think?

>Sokolov had clearly lost his mind, I do not believe any of his ramblings

>Some of it seems relevant to the case, but most of it seems too fantastical to be true

>I am going to hold my judgment until I learn more about this lake

>I believe most of it, but I will need more proof to sure

>I have no reason to doubt it, I have seen stranger things in my previous investigations

>>2034355
>I believe most of it, but I will need more proof to sure

When you've gone werewolf hunting in the Balkans, you've seen everything.

So what are the chances of us getting our hands on this Drug-XVII to become a PSIONIC GOD?

>>2034386

>I believe most of it, but I will need more proof to sure

You believe most of it, but you will need more proof to be sure.

You remember the time you investigated the case of werewolves or vulkodlaks in the Balkan region. That remains one of the strangest cases you have faced in your life so far. Since you survived those things, you can survive whatever this case throws at you as well.

>So what are the chances of us getting our hands on this Drug-XVII to become a PSIONIC GOD?

That plot point may or may not come into play very soon.

>>2034423

As you were trying to organize Sokolov’s papers, you suddenly hear gunshots and soldiers screaming outside the base.

It sounds like Roerich’s men are fighting something. You are not a skilled gunslinger, but you still have your gun with you.

What you do?

>Go outside and try to find out what’s going on

>Take your gun and try to help Dr. Roerich and his men

>Stay in the office room and hide for now

>>2034433
>Go outside and try to find out what’s going on

>>2034729

>Go outside and try to find out what’s going on

Moving outside, you are confronted with a scene out of nightmares. Men lying dead or dying in pools of their own blood. Their necks twisted or their limbs ripped apart like broken dolls.

"What the fuck is that?" A soldier screams as you too notice the pale humanoid figure with outstretched limbs. No, calling it human would be an insult to the idea of humanity itself. It almost looks like an artist who has never seen a human was told what humans are supposed to look like, and then that artist had made his own twisted interpretation of the human frame.

It screams, an otherworldly blood curling sound that fills you with a primal fear - a fear of the unknown, a fear of the things that lurk beyond the darkness, a fear of things that should not be.

What do you do?

>Try to shoot it with your gun

>Use telekinesis to fight it

>Run

>>2036370
>Try to restrict its movement with telekinesis, you don't know enough to properly fight it.

>>2036450

You don't know enough to properly fight it, but perhaps you can restrict its movement with telekinesis.

You can move things with your mind, so you should certainly be able to restrict its movement.

You try to focus, using your psychic powers always requires extraordinary effort.

>Use telekinesis to restrict its movement [Roll 1d20, DC 12]

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2036457

>>2036459
guess it ain't going anywhere soon

>>2036459
>>2036460

You have used telekinesis to move small objects before, but this is the first time you have used telekinesis against something like this.

To your pleasant surprise, your efforts at using telekinesis is far more successful than you had expected. Perhaps these entities are weak against psychic attacks.

The thing stops moving entirely, giving the soldiers a clear shot at their target.

Still, it takes several dozen shots before you are confident that the nightmarish figure is dead.

Dr. Roerich approaches you as the soldiers examine the malformed corpse.

"You are bleeding from your nose, Detective." Dr. Roerich looks at you suspiciously.

>I must have hit my head on something

>I have a disease, this happens time to time

>Tell him the truth about your psychic powers

>>2036474
>I have a disease, this happens time to time

>>2036478

You don't know whether you can trust Dr. Roerich with your secret.

You tell him that you have a disease and the nosebleeds happen from time to time.

"That thing stopped moving exactly when you stepped in," Dr. Roerich still looks suspicious, "A rather fortunate coincidence. Isn't it, detective?"

>Say nothing

>Try to convince him through your persuasive skills [Roll 1d20+2, DC 12]

Rolled 15 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>2036482
>Try to convince him through your persuasive skills [Roll 1d20+2, DC 12]

You mean to say that I used magic garbage you seem so sceptical of?

>>2036486

"Don't be ridiculous, doctor," You smile, "A man of science like you shouldn't worry about things like fortune. It was a simple coincidence, that thing probably just had a delayed response to the damage it took from the soldiers. It's not like I could have used magic to stop it or something."

"Yes, that does sound ridiculous when you say it aloud," Dr. Roerich smiles, he seems convinced by your explanation.

You then turn your attention to the dead body of that nightmarish entity. You have personally seen horrific results of human experimentations before. You have seen what torture and mutation can do the human body. Yet you feel certain that thing was never human, it was at best an approximation of the human figure by something that is utterly inhuman.

“Did you find out anything from searching Sokolov’s office?” Dr. Roerich asks guardedly as he inspects the malformed corpse, “Anything that can explain this thing?”

>Ya, I found some pages from his journals that were written in invisible ink

>No, I haven’t found anything yet

>>2036493
>Ya, I found some pages from his journals that were written in invisible ink

Has a few other locations which might be connected, although the sanity of the man is questionable

>>2036497

"Ya, I found some pages from his journals that were written in invisible ink," You decide to tell Dr. Roerich the truth, "It mentioned a few other locations which might be connected to this case, although the sanity of the man is questionable."

"Interesting," Dr. Roerich says, "I'll have to take a look at these pages."

>Cont.

>>2036502

You remember reading the name ‘Sergei’ in some of the missing pages of Sokolov’s journal. You wonder if that Sergei referred to this Doctor Sergei Roerich.

"Did you know Dr. Sokolov?" You ask him.

"Only by reputation," Dr. Roerich answers, "Why do you ask?"

“No reason,” You reply, “I was just curious about how you fit into all this, doctor. What a scientist as influential as you doing here in an abandoned military base all the way out here in Siberia. If you don’t mind me asking, what do/i] you do in the government exactly?”

“I serve the government as an advisor on science. Most of the work I do is classified and it would be best if we left it there.” Dr. Roerich sighs heavily, “My superiors didn't particularly care about this incident until they learnt of a certain deceased general’s involvement. Now they want me to make sure this threat is contained, one way or another."

“How does Dr. Strauss fit into this?” You further ask.

"I knew Dr. Strauss from the society, and I thought he would be able to help us make sense of these things. Perhaps even help us find a way to eliminate these mutated animals or whatever they are. He recommended your services and well, here we are.” Dr. Roerich raises an eyebrow, “Do you have any more questions, detective?"

“Not right now,” You reply, “Thank you for your time, doctor.”

What do you do now?

>Check Doctor Sokolov's experimentation room

>Talk to Dr. Roerich’s men

>Go visit the lake

>>2036506

Had screwed up the formatting.

You remember reading the name ‘Sergei’ in some of the missing pages of Sokolov’s journal. You wonder if that Sergei referred to this Doctor Sergei Roerich.

"Did you know Dr. Sokolov?" You ask him.

"Only by reputation," Dr. Roerich answers, "Why do you ask?"

“No reason,” You reply, “I was just curious about how you fit into all this, doctor. What a scientist as influential as you doing here in an abandoned military base all the way out here in Siberia. If you don’t mind me asking, what do you do in the government exactly?”

“I serve the government as an advisor on science. Most of the work I do is classified and it would be best if we left it there.” Dr. Roerich sighs heavily, “My superiors didn't particularly care about this incident until they learnt of a certain deceased general’s involvement. Now they want me to make sure this threat is contained, one way or another."

“How does Dr. Strauss fit into this?” You further ask.

"I knew Dr. Strauss from the society, and I thought he would be able to help us make sense of these things. Perhaps even help us find a way to eliminate these mutated animals or whatever they are. He recommended your services and well, here we are.” Dr. Roerich raises an eyebrow, “Do you have any more questions, detective?"

“Not right now,” You reply, “Thank you for your time, doctor.”

What do you do now?

>Check Doctor Sokolov's experimentation room

>Talk to Dr. Roerich’s men

>Go visit the lake

>>2036506
>Talk to Dr. Roerich’s men
>Go visit the lake

See if you can get two or three guards to acompany you there,since going alone doesnt sound all that appealung

>>2036509

You decide to go visit the crimson lake. If what Sokolov wrote in his journal is true, the lake might hold the answers to this mystery. However, you feel that it might get rather dangerous near the lake.

You notice a few of Dr. Roerich's men, every one of them trained soldiers by the looks of them. You ask them to accompany you to the lake.

"My apologies, detective, but the doctor ordered us to stay here and defend the base." One of the higher ranking soldiers replies.

What do you do?

>Go visit the lake alone

>Ask Dr. Roerich for his permission to take his men

>Lie and persuade the soldiers to come with you anyway [Roll 1d20+2, DC 12]

>Check Doctor Sokolov's experimentation room instead

>>2036521
>Check Doctor Sokolov's experimentation room instead

>>2036509

You decide to check Sokolov's experimentation room instead. This room is slightly more organized than the office, but it will still take a lot of effort to find anything useful here.

You notice jars of strange chemicals and stranger scientific equipment. You feel that you lack the scientific expertise to make sense of these things without extensive research.

You also find books and scientific journals on neuroscience and biochemistry. Also some strangely titled research files, you recognize some of the names from your own research - Demhe, Yhtill, Kadath, Celephaïs, Leng, and similar eldritch names.

You find case files from different locations - Sesqua Valley near Mount Si, Severn Valley in Brichester, Hawkins in Indiana, Rub al-Khali in Arabia, Gobi basin in Mongolia, Senoi in Malaysia, and other remote corners of the world.

You also reconize some names from Slavic folklore - Kitezh, a mythical city beneath the waters of Lake Svetloyar; Bujan, a mysterious island in the ocean with the ability to appear and disappear; and other fabled lands of myths and folklore.

It seems Sokolov was looking into any source, no matter how unusual, that might explain the phenomenon of the crimson lake.

Do you notice anything odd? [+3 Dice Bonus due to Detective Skill]

>Examine the chemicals [Roll 1d20+3, DC 10]

>Examine the scientific equipment [Roll 1d20+3, DC 12]

>Examine the documents [Roll 1d20+3, DC 15]

>Go talk to Dr. Roerich

>Go visit the lake

Rolled 14 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>2036555
>Examine the scientific equipment [Roll 1d20+3, DC 12]

>>2036734

You carefully inspect the strange scientific equipment in Sokolov's experimentation room. Most of the equipment seem far too complex to be understood by a layman.

Yet you feel drawn towards a particular item - a small metallic device that feels oddly cold when you touch it.

As you touch the device, you feel an odd sense of lucidity. Like you are dreaming, but somehow aware that you are in a dream.

You decide to take the device with you, wondering whether it might be useful later on.

What do you do now? [+3 Dice Bonus due to Detective Skill]

>Examine the chemicals [Roll 1d20+3, DC 10]

>Examine the documents [Roll 1d20+3, DC 15]

>Go talk to Dr. Roerich

>Go visit the lake

>>2037058

>Examine the chemicals [Roll 1d20+3, DC 10]

Rolled 2 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>2039267

Rolled 3 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>2037058
>Examine the chemicals [Roll 1d20+3, DC 10]

>>2039271
Welp, shit....

Rolled 10 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>2037058

>Examine the documents [Roll 1d20+3, DC 15]

>>2039267
>>2039271
>>2039272
>>2039274
>>2039286

These dice rolls.........we might be in trouble

You carefully examine the chemicals and the documents, but find nothing of interest. You feel that you are missing something important, but not sure what exactly.

Eventually you give up on your search and decide to go talk to Dr. Roerich instead. You find him carefully dissecting the pale humanoid figure that attacked the soldiers earlier.

"I’ve read the pages you found, detective,” Roerich says in a grim voice as he notices you approach, "I think it’s time we visited this lake Sokolov kept rambling about. Six of my men died today, we need to contain this before things get worse.”

>Go visit the lake

>Contact the government for help

>>2039957
Go visit the lake

>>2040963

You agree with Dr. Roerich and decide to go visit the lake. Everything you have learnt from your investigations point towards that place.

"Sokolov had over two hundred soldiers with him when he was in command of this base, Yet all of them vanished - probably killed by the monsters or worse." Dr. Roerich grimaces, "We have fewer than twenty men with us now. We will need to be incredibly lucky if we want to survive this."

>Cont.

File: Forest Shadows - Copy.jpg (482 KB, 1339x745)

482 KB JPG

>>2041192

You, Roerich, and eighteen heavily armed soldiers make your way through the frozen forest.

"The lake, it should be a bit further away," One of the soldiers says in a frightened voice, "But sometimes it moves, it appears where it shouldn’t appear, and it always grows.”

Your head feels strange as you walk through the forest. It almost feels like you are in a dream - where the sense of time and place is different.

All of a sudden, you notice some dark shapes creeping among the trees. One of the younger soldiers screams as one of the shadow creatures come out from behind the trees. Its clawed hand dripping blood or some other strange red liquid.

“Take cover,” The commander of the soldier shouts as more and more shadow creatures come out. They let out nightmarish screams and begin to move towards your group.

We are nearing the end of the quest, bad dice rolls can get us killed here

>Roll 1d20 to check how many of you survive this fight

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2041353

Might want to start a new thread, this one got saged

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2041353
Rolling

Thread continued: >>2047003