The Back Story

Alpha Squad

At the peak of WWI the previously tiny Army base of Pennywell, just outside New York, had become a recruit training ground and swollen by hundreds. In addition to the barracks and artillery range, located at the base was a Special Weapons Group - Alpha Squad. Made up of a select group of promising recruits the squad was tasked with testing a range of non-conventional weapons, gases in particular. The intention was upon successful testing the squad would be a vanguard to use the new weapons on the frontlines against the Germans.

Towards the conclusion of the program poor weather forced the closure of the artillery range when it flooded and put the entire program at risk, as this was where the gas tests were held. With only a few tests remaining the squad leader took to completing the program in the local salt marsh. This unpleasant and inaccessible area ran along the southern boundary of the expansive base grounds, and never saw use by civilians so was considered an acceptable risk. Under the cover of darkness Alpha Squad would position caged animals in the salt marsh and release the gases. The animals would be recovered and samples taken of the water and flora.

The Gypsies

Since the turn of the century a group of gypsies had been converging on the Pennywell village for the week leading up to Christmas. The locals extended them an invitation to set up camp in the fields opposite the square and a small fair is held. The harmless and uneventful tradition had been gaining momentum and in 1914 it would bring in 40 gypsies, about 20 of which arrived on the river.

Although the Pennywell locals saw it as a Christmas fair the gypsy celebrations were in fact held for the Winter Solstice. Pennywell wasnt chosen randomly, on the nearby hill is a supposed ancient site of power, where the celebrations climaxed in a bonfire each year. The Andersons, a farming family who own the site, received a blessing and a small fee for allowing it each year.

Unbeknown to the majority of the gypsies and certainly the locals, a charlatan and soothsayer had slipped amongst their number - Roman Chacko. He had meddled in the occult for most of his life and brought with him a rag bag collection of outcast followers. Listening to his raving premonitions they partook in his failed rituals - but everything changed when he stumbled upon an manuscript dedicated to a 'unnamed evil'.

The ancient text described a twisted rite and for two years Chacko had been attempting it. According to the manuscript it could only be held on the day after the Winter Solstice when the constellation of Aldebarren is at its zenith. Unable to use the blessed site as it is too exposed he hoped being hidden in the salt marsh the ritual would be near enough to the site to draw power. Chacko's deluded plans come to nothing until he stumbled upon a complete translation of the text and the rites true nature was revealed - to call fore Hastur.

The Incident

After a successful and uneventful solstice bonfire, the following day the majority of gypsies packed up and began to move on. By nightfall Pennywell returned to normalcy, the celebrations over and the locals return to a quiet run up to Christmas. A deep fog had settled over the river although the night was bright as the stars aligned overhead. The cultists had slipped into the salt marsh at dusk, mooring a light river barge amongst the marshes and begun the ritual as Aldebarren approached its zenith. At the same time Alpha squad had seized the ideal opportunity to complete their trials under the cover of the fog. In the supposed isolation of the marsh the squad stumbled upon the ritual and both groups panicked.

With superior training and equipment Alpha squad quickly subdued the gypsy cultists but not before a soldier was killed along with four of the gypsies. Restraining the others the squad were subjected to the ravings of Chacko, as he screamed about the coming darkness and Hastur's limitless power. Leading the squad was a career soldier, Lieutenant Sarek. He is now under immense strain as his trial is near ruin, a soldier dead and he is confronted with a group of lunatics. Trying to make sense of the ravings Sarek confronted Chacko but he broke free of the Private holding him and in the struggle Sarek was stabbed in the arm.

Sarek lost all composure and ordered the gypsies strung up in the trees. The wounded and angry squad of recruits took vengeance on the gypsies, a class of people they already despise. The three remaining cultists could easily be circus freaks, a heavily tattooed man, a immensely fat women and a dwarf. Chacko was forced to watch as one by one the three are hung and then he is dragged from the marsh to the bases south western guard house.

The Winged Horror

As Chacko was dragged to the guard tower he continued chanting and when the clouds parted Aldebarren becomes visible and the ritual completed. Without his followers to channel their power into the ritual however it was too weak and Hastur did not hear the call - however one of his followers did.

Over the next hour Chacko was interrogated brutally as Sarek struggled to find out why the gypsies were in the salt marsh, and what they knew of the weapon trials. Now completely insane, Chacko shrieked of the coming darkness and the Unspeakable One.

Tied to a chair Chacko was still being beaten when the door of the guard house exploded inwards and a minion of Hastur, a Byakhee, burst in. Enraged by the killing of cultists at the ritual site, the Byakhee lashed out. In close quarters the horrified soldiers scrambled to defend themselves but the creature has powerful claws. Wading through the squad the Byakhee killed one and wounded several others before snatching up Chacko. The stunned survivors watch as the gypsy was carried into the night by the winged horror.

The Aftermath

None of the Alpha squad can agree on what they saw but there is no question of what to do - the nights events must be buried forever. The hung gypsies were cut down, their bodies placed in to river barge and then sunk in the marshes. The remaining dead cultists were blamed for the soldiers deaths.

Later the public are told the squad suffered a training accident on the artillery range, not an uncommon occurrence at the time. Most Pennywell locals however are aware of the involvement of a group of gypsies in the incident, as after the 'accident' the soldiers swept through town looking for any gypsies they might have missed. The military report remained top secret due to the activities outside the base grounds but there is no mention of the Byakhee or the unnatural events witnessed.

The survivors became drawn together in their secrecy and before finally shipping off to fight, they all got a tattoo of the Alpha Squad emblem. A ritual uncommon in the Army at the time, this was a special act of solidarity to unite them against the great darkness they now know is lurking out there.

Many questions remain unanswered; where did the Byakhee come from; where did it take Chacko; how much of the truth did Sarek learn?

Nine Years Later ...

The Great War has passed and The Pennywell base is now a quiet barracks, although still home to the Alpha Squad. Only a handful of the original members of the squad have survived who actually know what happened that night. Three have remained in the service and are still part of Alpha Squad; Major Sarek, Sergeant Falcone and Sergeant Dryden. While two others have left; Robert Williamson has gone on to become a salesman and Frank Hedges a recluse.

After the war Hedges soon began researching the events of the Pennywell incident and become obsessed that the evil would one day return. When the gypsy gathering finally returned to Pennywell in 1920 he was able to speak with an elder and learned a great deal about Chacko. Shortly afterwards he purchased a farmhouse in Pennywell and continued his research in hope of finding a way to stop the evil.

Hedges remained in contact with the others over the years, warning them of the danger but they preferred to leave the incident in the past. Unfortunately his fears were realised in late 1923 when they all have a premonition one evening. It is of parting clouds and the Star Aldebarren shining down as a beating wings of the Byakhee can be heard approaching.

The stars align again and the Byakhee crosses over, returning to the site of the original ritual. Whether on a mission of vengeance for Chacko, or simply the whim of Hastur, no one will ever know. The creature then uses its twisted magic to raise the murdered gypsies from the salt marsh.

When night falls the next evening it rises into the night and begins to hunt for the survivors of the Alpha squad. It swoops down on the Pennywell Barracks and smashes through a wall into the room of Ike Dryden. He is mauled and his corpse is carried back to the salt marsh. He is the first and soon the others will follow.

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Required Resources

• Call of Cthulhu - 6th Edition
• Secrets of New York

I would recommend familiarising yourself with the Secrets of New York thoroughly before undertaking this scenario. In particular with the layout of Manhattan and life in the 1920's. If this is the players first session in New York, then detailing for them the public transport, key public figures and a breakdown of the different suburbs, would definitely be advisable.

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Timeline

The Scenario begins on Tuesday 18th December 1923. Below, TAB(prologue) and TAB(presentday) gives the outline of events.

Alpha Squad

Detailed in TAB(alpha) is the Army's Special Weapons Group (Alpha Squad) based at Pennywell, its members as of 1914 and 1923.

Clue Summary

A range of various clues and plot hooks are present through out the scenario. Below, TAB(clues) gives a summary of the key points.