Rip It & Run! East Meets West.

A truism that rolls around regularly is that a change is as good as a rest. Taking a break from the routine events of one’s existence often provides that extra spur of interest and stimulation, making a return to routine that much more bearable. Switching the flavour of one’s Call of Cthulhu campaign can have a similar effect.

Throughout literature the shock of the strange has been used to great effect to provide a frisson of excitement. Oftentimes, the unusual element is a foreign one, a cultural manifestation from another part of the world thrust into the quiet backyard of a daily existence. We’ve seen how the intrusions of Ancient Egyptian mystery can provide a unnatural chill to an otherwise straightforward investigation, and Stoker’s Dracula is another example of an otherworldly invasion. One of the most famous examples are the creations of Sax Rohmer, specifically his Fu Manchu novels, which have ancient cults and magic from China – along with other parts of the world – causing mayhem on London streets.

In most instances of this type of literature, the mystery begins with the discovery of a crime or other disturbing incident, which features some otherworldly element. Fu Manchu kills a victim by means of the “Flower of Silence” a perfumed bloom which shuts down the victim’s ability to speak; at another time, he eliminates his foe with the “Zayat Kiss”, a poisonous bite from a large species of centipede that leaves a welt resembling smeared lipstick. Trailing the cause of these mysterious assassinations, the dogged Nayland-Smith almost falls prey to these hideous weapons himself, but fortunately learns the antidotes. The path of his investigation leads to opium dens and other seedy, albeit colourful, backwaters, until he learns the truth.

Another pulpy instance of a ‘foreign invasion’ is the adventure serial “The Shadow”, originally a radio play, later a comics series and a movie. In this iteration, the strange magic comes from the hero of the show: his ability to cloud men’s minds – a trick learnt in the Himalayas - allows for all kinds of strange and otherworldly effects around which the various plots are constructed. In the Russell Mulcahy film, Alec Baldwin’s Shadow is pitted against a peer in mental trickery, and must prove his psychic superiority against the various illusions of his nemesis.

In the real world, this notion of ‘foreign equals strange’ has ever been used to great effect. Victorian stage magicians often dressed as Chinese performers in order to project an air of mystery and magical potentiality for their audiences. This had some extra advantages: a magician who was not good at patter could pretend to have a limited English vocabulary; other magicians could exploit the anonymity that such an onstage persona lent them after hours. Those needing a great example of this trope need look no further than the Tom Baker Doctor Who story, “The Talons of Weng Chiang”.

Bringing such story elements to Call of Cthulhu narratives is simplicity itself. Perhaps a petty criminal has found a Mythos spell and has learnt how to use it (without, of course, realising the cumulatively negative side effects)? Good examples might be “Curse of Darkness”, “Consume Likeness”, or “Cloud Memory”. How do the Investigators discover the crimes being committed? Did the criminal steal the text containing the spell from one of their own number? How do they go about ending the spree?

Alternatively, what if there is a group of low-level Mythos beings loose in the city? The Tcho-tcho have a range of traditional idiosyncrasies that reveal their presence – haircuts, tattoos, filed teeth – and their modus operandi when in metropolitan areas gives them a range of specific targets. As much as Dracula left clues from which his erstwhile hunters were able to identify him, so too does a small band of Tcho-tchos.

In the novels by Guy Boothby, it is the pursuit of strange artefacts that drive the villains to pit their skills against the protagonists. In Strange Company sees Dr. Nikola striving to obtain a mystic seal which, once possessed, identifies the holder as a person of great status within a larger secretive community (possibly based in China). An attempt to claim a similar Mythos object – the Shining Trapezohedron, or the “Sixty-Stone”, say – could form an exciting story arc for the Keeper’s players.

This is one of those times when a single, relatively innocuous Mythos element – or even one devoid of Mythos connexions – can surface and, on its own, provide a full pulp adventure scenario which Investigators can embrace. A little bit can go a long way.

*****

Below are statistics and information concerning two of Fu Manchu’s most colourful weapons. Feel free to terrorise your players with these little gems!

Centipede, Giant Burmese (Scolopendra zayatii)

“It was an insect, full six inches long, and of a vivid venomous red colour! It had something of the appearance of a great ant, with its long, quivering antennae and its febrile, horrible vitality; but it was proportionately longer of body and smaller of head, and had numerous rapidly moving legs. In short, it was a giant centipede, apparently of the scolopendra group, but of a form quite new to me.”

-Sax Rohmer, The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu (1913)

Like other types of giant centipede, the Giant Burmese Centipede is aggressive and dwells in the damp undergrowth of dense rainforests. It is readily identified by its vivid red colouring and larger antennae. Like Scolopendra gigantea (its South American cousin), it is capable of reaching lengths of up to a foot long.

S. zayatii is much more venomous than its South American counterpart, stemming largely from its more aggressive nature. It has larger forcipules and tends to hold on tenaciously to anything it bites: those bitten must pit their CON against a POT 10 poison on the Resistance Table. The bite of S. zayatii leaves a vicious red weal on the victim, rather resembling the impression of a lipstick kiss, and is referred to as the “Zayat Kiss”. The Giant Burmese Centipede is attracted to the perfumes of certain pale green orchids which predominate in its nesting areas; individuals will home in on this perfume from great distances. Certain unscrupulous tribespeople have been known to cultivate both the orchids and the centipedes in tandem, in order to assassinate unwanted enemies. Washing with a dilute solution of ammonia will completely remove the traces of the perfume.

Like other giant centipedes, a successful hit upon S. zayatii will always kill it.

‘The Flower of Silence’ (Jatropha curcas, var.)

“...On the bed a man lay writhing...His eyes seemed starting from their sockets as he lay upon his back uttering inarticulate sounds and plucking with skinny fingers at his lips...He continued to babble, rolling his eyes from side to side hideously...and now, with his index finger, pointed to his mouth.

‘He has lost the power of speech!’ whispered Smith.”

-Sax Rohmer, The Si Fan Mysteries (1917)

Attempts to propagate the Black Lotus outside the area of the Plateau of Leng have generally met with no success outside of Tcho-tcho circles. However, the attempts have given rise to a variety of unlooked-for successes. The Flower of Silence is a hybrid generated from attempts to graft the ‘Lotus onto the poisonous ‘Physic Nut’, or tubatuba bush, of the Philippines which grows in arid soil and can reach up to 5 metres (15 feet) in height.

The Flower is peloric and has three stamens, two of which function as normal sexual organs; the third hardens into a hollow thorn, hidden within the petals and which constantly drips with the sap of the plant. This liquid is highly toxic (POT 18) and can be administered intravenously if the Flower is roughly handled. The sap can also be fatal if it comes into contact with the skin, by bruising the petals or stems of the Flower. The toxin is destroyed if it comes into contact with a sufficiently hot liquid.

The sap or oil of the hybrid plant contains a powerful neurotoxin that paralyses its victims in short order. Initial signs of poisoning include a slow failure of motor control and an inability to speak; within minutes this process spreads to include basic motor functions, such as breathing and heartbeat, and the victim soon succumbs. Within some Buddhist locales where use of the Flower is prevalent, it is believed that saying the words ‘Sâkya Mûni’ (another name for the Buddha) will negate the effects of the Flower; in actual fact, these words – or any form of tongue-twister - are simply a test to see if the subject is poisoned or not. There is no known antidote for this toxin...mentioned in the texts at least!