The Storytelling Writers Competition 2022 Results!
We want to thank everyone for entering our writing competition. All in, we had around 20 entries into the competition and we spent the month reading away, comparing and contrasting our notes. It’s wonderful to see such a breadth and depth of unusual places and original settings arriving in Call of Cthulhu and we were blown away with what could be done in a month.
In an effort to celebrate so many different scenarios, but also to really highlight those that went that extra mile, we’ll be giving out three awards: Gold, Silver and Bronze, with two scenarios per category.
We evaluated the scenarios based on their: Design, Use of Language, Creativity and Storytelling, Inclusive/Diverse Storytelling and Ease of Use. For transparency, we’ve included our full evaluating criteria at the bottom of the page.
The Antediluvians by Tiffany Funk
Something is lurking in the black blizzards of the Great Plains...
August 1st, 1935, northeastern South Dakota: the Great Depression and the severe droughts and dust storms of the Dust Bowl ravage middle American farmland. The town of Tillings is the site of a massive, federally funded construction: the Tillings Hydroelectric Dam. Once complete, the dam will provide much-needed irrigation to neighboring farms, flooding 300 acres of nearly deserted land.
The Antediluvians is a Call of Cthulhu 7th edition one-shot scenario designed for 4 to 6 players and the Keeper that can be played in 3 to 4 hours. The scenario includes all the assets needed to play, including NPCs and stats, maps, handouts, and six pre-generated investigators. Players may choose to use the pre-generated investigators, create their own, or use existing investigators.
Content Warning: The Antediluvians includes religious iconography, body horror, and scenes of extreme violence.
The Judging team says:
“An atmospheric scenario in an engaging setting. This is on par with anything Chaosium would publish. Doesn’t outstay it’s welcome - it’s a solid, short scenario that could be played in a couple of sessions.”
Saturday 14th By Rina Haenze
It's Saturday, June 14, 1980. Your crime scene team has been dispatched to Camp Shady Pines to investigate the bizarre deaths of the camp's counselors who had been preparing for the arrival of the campers next week. According to Shelly Peters, the sole survivor, the counselors were attacked and brutally hacked to death by a mysterious masked stranger. It's up to you and your team to find the truth, and fast, so the camp can open on time.
This scenario, written for Call of Cthulhu in the 1980s setting, is an homage to classic slasher flicks with a mythos twist. 4 pre-generated characters are included in this adventure, along with Keeper notes and suggestions.
Content warnings: harm to teenagers, blood, gore, homicide, potential PvP, potential drowning, body horror
The Judging team says:
“A quick-witted Keeper would have a blast with this. The monster is cool as is the setting and concept. A great little one-shot that would be good fun all round at the table.”
We’re delighted to announce that Saturday the 14th will be recorded for our new Miskatonic Playhouse Hobby Feed.
Bride of the Wilds by H.S Falkenberry
On June 18th, 1932, a young woman goes missing from the lonely Appalachian college town of Belias, Georgia, amidst rumors of evil doings and witchcraft in the wilderness outside the town. This investigation-focused scenario tasks players with heading out into the forest-cloaked North Georgia mountains and tracking down the young woman–before she is condemned to a life more hideous than any death.
This scenario:
Can be completed in one to two medium-length sessions with 1 - 4 Investigators.
Takes place in a rich, original Southern Lovecraftian setting in the wild foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Features a compelling and immersive story told primarily through interviews, journal entries, tomes of eldritch knowledge, and newspaper articles.
Includes numerous exciting opportunities for Keepers to create handouts to engage their players.
Features dynamic, engaging NPCs, unforgettable monsters, and the first hints of an entire pantheon of prehistoric Wild Gods.
This scenario contains some graphic content (violence) and mature themes and is suitable for mature players only.
The Judging team says:
“A good scenario that wouldn’t take much to turn into a great scenario. It has a complicated mystery that is atmospheric and interesting.”
Amelia’s Friends by Stephen K. Stein and Carolyn Stein
Amelia’s Friends is a Pulp Call of Cthulhu scenario set in the South Pacific during the search for famed aviator Amelia Earhart. While searching for the missing aviator, a storm wrecks the heroes’ boat on a mysterious island.
Exploring the island, the heroes uncover a horrific plot threatening them, missing companions of their crew, survivors of another shipwreck, and the island’s inhabitants as well as those of several nearby islands, as well.
Can they stop the carnage? Or will they die unremembered on the beach?
Playable in one session for up to 6 players, this easy-to-run, one-shot adventure includes:
Details of the South Pacific island and its peoples
Seven pregenerated Pulp Cthulhu investigators
Detailed descriptions, statistics, and pictures of more than a dozen NPCs
A map of the island and other handouts
Suggestions for incorporating this scenario into an existing campaign
An outline for an optional side quest to expand the adventure
The Judging team says:
“Dumb pulpy fun, just the way we like it. This scenario thrives on tension, dread, and the grind. A great scenario if you are all round the table together having a good time.”
The Depths of Bermuda by Thomas S. Lawrence
March 23rd, 1928, Bermuda: Captain Foster and crew have waited since September to salvage gold bullion from the wreck of the “Nova”. The “Nova” lies on a ledge 200 yards below a reef just South of Bermuda. During Winter, Foster struck a deal with Oskar Stern, owner of the New York Times. Stern helped finance the salvage mission and will get a share of the prize and exclusive rights to the story. Stern has sent a journalist, and camera operator to document the mission. Stern’s niece has managed to charm her uncle into letting her go as an observer. Two bodyguards accompany her.
When they arrive at the salvage site they see another group working about 1000 yards along the reef, a group of scientists from American Museum, New York studying the reef and taking samples of coral.
A few months ago a meteorite landed near the reef not far from the Science expedition and the salvage site. The meteorite carried a seed of the Chromiant, or “Colour out of Space”. Its larval form now dwells under the reef and is beginning to feed on the life force of the reef. Corals in the vicinity of the Space visitor have started to become bleached grey, and are strangely mutated, as are many reef-dwelling creatures. The scientists now disinterested in their mission, are becoming deranged and slowly drained of their life force.
The Judging team says:
“This would make a great con game or one-shot. All the elements are there and the characters are interesting. The mortality rate and TPK potential is quite high (which we like here at MP)”
Baba Dochia by Christopher Dimitrios
Baba Dochia ("old woman Dochia", in Romanian) is a folk horror mystery set in Romania in 1992. It takes place in a remote mountain village beset by corruption, destitution, and the unnatural. The spirit of a tormented mother haunts the land, bringing blight and terrible winter chills. It is also the site of a cult led by a grieving witch. The cult celebrates the apparently innocuous Dragobete Day, the equivalent of Valentine's Day, to commemorate the witch's lost, idealized lover, but the celebration hides a dark secret.
The Investigators inevitably get entangled within this complex web of grief, torment and corruption. To make matters worse, each of the Investigators have their own (secret) agendas that bring them to this village.
The module is based on the Romanian folk legend of Baba Dochia interpreted through the lens of the Cthulhu Mythos.
- 13 pages, at around 9k words.
- Playable in one four-hour session.
- Includes a Spotify playlist of moody dark ambient and Romanian folk-inspired music.
- Investigators with agendas and backgrounds.
The Judging team says:
“A good sandbox scenario about a culture and setting that we don’t get to see very often. Some unusual choices like the spotify playlist really makes this one stand out.”
Judging Criteria
Design (1-5 points) How does it look? The front cover, the handouts, the images?
1 It is difficult to read because of the design
3 This looks fine and there's some ok handouts and images
5 This looks professional with relevant and easy to use handouts
Use of Language (1-5 points) How is the formatting and structure?
1 I had to stop reading because of the spelling mistakes and painful structure
3 I managed to read it and understand what was going on.
5 I enjoyed reading that, the format aided understanding and it works for screen readers
Creativity and Storytelling (1-5 points) Is it interesting? Is the use of Mythos fun?
1 It’s full of tired tropes and the whole thing is a mess
3 Solid, yet simple delivery. Not exactly a new idea
5 I’ve never seen something done like this and am inspired
Inclusive/Diverse Storytelling (1-5 points) Does it take appropriate steps to include everyone? Is there anything problematic about the story?
1 The scenario has problematic or bigoted undertones (and is disqualified)
3 The scenario attempts to be inclusive but may have minor issues.
5 The scenario is the gold standard in inclusive practice with diverse investigators and a sensitive story.
Ease of use (1- 10 points): How easy would it be to pick up and play this scenario? Are there any issues with the mystery?
1 I finished it and I still don't know how to run the scenario.
3 I can probably make it work, but players might dislike it.
5 Yeah ok, this works, but there’s some issues with the plot
7 I am excited to run this scenario and think the mystery is cool.
10 This is such an easy scenario to pick up and play and players will love it.