For Whom The Bells Toll No More by Borja Morrow is a role playing game supplement published by Chaosium Inc. through the Miskatonic Repository Community Content Programme for use with Call of Cthulhu, the horror role playing game based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. This is a 1920s scenario.
The supplement is available as a 24 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. One page is the front cover and one the front matter and Contents.
The Overview explains that it’s Spain in 1924 and the country has just entered a military dictatorship after declining international influence. The town of San Maria de la Montaña is a small place with an old monastery with a dark past. Renovations uncovered a previously unknown basement and an unholy presence and the Vatican has sent the characters to investigate.
History of the Monastery covers its history from its origins as a Roman temple to Dolor, through its time as a mosque and then a Catholic monastery, to the present day, including various dark events.
The Investigators explains that the characters have been hired or tasked with the investigation and what languages are necessary to succeed.
The Torment is a sentient creature inhabiting the monastery.
Structure of the Scenario explains how the adventure is laid out.
Dramatis Personae has the various important NPCs, one of whom is long dead and whose actions caused the creation of the Torment.
Locations covers the monastery and a few other important places.
The Culture of Silence looks at how terrible acts are kept hidden.
Ending the Scenario is how it can conclude.
Character and Creature Stat Blocks have stats for the NPCs and Torment.
Handouts covers four pages and has maps for the monastery and area as well as other handouts.
Premade Characters explains the four characters and that these are intended for use with the Vatican hook.
The last eight pages are character sheets for four pregenerated characters.
For Whom The Bells Toll No More in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough with enough sections that these would have been useful. The Contents cover the various sections. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a two-column format and various errors were noticed. Bar the maps, there are no illustrations. Presentation is adequate.
This is not a linear scenario but a primarily investigative one where the characters will need to dig through the monastery’s past to discover what is going on in the present. It also, somewhat oddly, functions as a discussion on Spain and its changing position; perhaps interesting but in many ways not that relevant to the adventure. It is possible that the adventure could be moved to another time and place, although changes would need to be made for the Americas, due to a lack of Roman deities being worshipped there two millennia ago. For Whom The Bells Toll No More can be found by clicking here.
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