A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement The Mask of the Black Sun

The Mask of the Black Sun by Alexander Nachaj 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 an adventure for the 1920s.

The supplement is available as a 12 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. One page is the front cover and half the Credits.

The opening paragraphs explain that this is a standalone module set in the 1920 in the fictional city of Salem Falls in Canada. The scenario is intended, by the sounds of it, to introduce new players and Keepers to the game, and is also intended to be completed in a single 2-4 hour session.

Setting and Background explains that the city is experiencing a burst of prosperity, but this hasn’t affected the detective agency known as the Taggart Agency. Taggart is advertising for new clients, has hired the investigators and has a case for them to look into, a missing artefact.

Keeper’s Information explains that the titular Mask of the Black Sun has been stolen from the widow of a rich industrialist. Taggart’s former partner will discover that this case was originally intended for him, and is likely to do something about it. There are notes on the prep needed before play.

Start: Salem Falls has the investigators meeting with Taggart, the client and following up on leads.

Entering the Manzer House is the culmination following this.

Conclusion wraps things up.

The Drake Factor: Drake’s Men has stats for the men Taggart’s former partner will send.

Appendix has all the handouts collected onto a single page for easier printing, though given the background, this is not as easy as it could be.

The Mask of the Black Sun in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though short, has enough different sections that these would have been useful. The text maintains a two-column format and some minor errors were noticed. There are no illustrations bar the cover. Presentation is adequate.

The scenario is pretty straightforward though still potentially dangerous. There are a number of sources of information, and unless the investigators make a mess of things, everyone should be willing to share information with them, meaning they can easily track down the thieves, though dealing with them will still be tricky. The end of the adventure has something that feels like it’s a potential future thread, but no mention of this is made as to a potential further adventure, not even a hook. The Mask of the Black Sun is a decent little adventure and it can be found by clicking here.