Hollow Earth Expedition:

Legacy of the Terra Arcanum

Credits Plot Synopsis

Written by: Mike Demchak After a colleague of the Foundation for Research
Creative Director: Jeff Combos and Enlightenment is assassinated on a busy Marseilles
street, the investigators must track down who did it and
Lead Developer: Sechin Tower
why. The search leads to Venice and a disturbing discov-
Lead Editor: Gary Thompson ery: a long-buried Atlantean artifact containing secrets
Editor: Sechin Tower that may threaten the entire world!
Art Director: Sechin Tower
Archetypes
Graphics and Layout: Ginormous Industries, LLC.
Characters delving into this mystery are assumed to
Interior Art: Yoann Boissonnet be agents of the Foundation for Research and Enlighten-
Playtesters: David Altz, Kelly Bancroft, Kara Bradley, ment (see Secrets of the Surface World, p. 70-71) or friends
Diogenes Carrera, Steven Craghead, Roland “Randy” of the soon-to-be-late historian Malcolm Cross. Charac-
Ernst-Meyer, Gabriel Garcia, Corey Hadley, Will ters outside these circles could be contacted and hired for
Horner, Joseph Jimenez, Carlos Merino, Nicolas the investigation by the Foundation. Whether selecting
Ommati, Bruce Paulson, Keith J. Scherer pregenerated characters or creating your own, the Arche-
types listed below are recommended for this scenario:
Acknowledgement: A big thanks to Mike Demchak,
who nailed this scenario in record time. Nobody gets this
Occultist: Malcolm Cross and the Foundation have
game more than you. Also to Gary Thompson—what
an active interest in occult matters. They often require
would we do without you? Keith Scherer: thank you for
expert guidance when they stumble into something Man
being our fearless test pilot. And, finally, to Jeff Freakin’
Was Not Meant to Know.
Combos, without whom we never would have discovered
Academic: The Foundation employs many historians
the Hollow Earth.
and archeologists in its work. Membership won’t enhance
one’s academic reputation, but it can involve some fasci-
nating mysteries.
©2011 Exile Game Studio, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the
Adventurer: There’s always a need for someone who
publisher is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and for blank character sheets, which
may be reproduced for personal use only. Exile Game Studio, Mysteries of the Hollow Earth, Secrets of
can keep these brainy types from stepping into quicksand
the Surface World, Hollow Earth Expedition, Ubiquity Roleplaying System and logos are trademarks of
Exile Game Studio, LLC. All rights reserved. All characters, names, places, and distinctive likenesses
or falling off the nearest cliff.
thereof are trademarks of Exile Game Studio, LLC. All characters, names, places, and text herein are
copyrighted by Exile Game Studio, LLC. Scientist: A skeptical scientist lends the Foundation
The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark some much-needed credibility—assuming they can find a
or copyright concerned. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations,
places, or events is purely coincidental. This book contains mature content. Reader discretion is advised. researcher willing to be associated with them.
1
 Motivations
This adventure’s major
themes and Motivations
include:
Duty: Malcolm Cross is
a comrade and a friend, and
you’re honor-bound to come
to his rescue.
Truth: The secrets Cross
uncovered must be brought
to light so that the Foundation can learn from them for
the good of all mankind.
Justice: Cross may have run afoul of a vast conspiracy
that seeks something he had for sinister ends.
More Experienced Characters
This is a moderately advanced scenario, and the
player characters are recommended to be 15 to 30
Experience points above the starting level. Addition-
ally, groups without significant skill in Athletics and
Academics will struggle in later scenes. Gamemasters
may want to award a point or two in that Skill to char-
acters without them.
For starting characters or those who lack the needed
skills, the Gamemaster should reduce the difficulty of
many of the challenges by 1 and replace the ancient
sarcosuchus in the final scene with a standard sar-
cosuchus (see Mysteries of the Hollow Earth, p. 160).
Additionally, Father Petrillo (see the “A Prayerful
Repose” scene) can help with Academics (History or
Linguistics), as needed.
The Hook
An existing group might get involved in this adven-
ture in several ways: they might be employees of the
Foundation, friends (or rivals) of Cross, or government
operatives tipped off by a contact that he has some-
thing of interest to the Nazis. A friend, rival, or Foun-
dation employee will know Cross specializes in track-
ing down rare occult manuscripts that may be valuable
or dangerous.
2
The Telegram
For friends of Cross or employees of the Founda-
tion, the hook is a cryptic telegram sent by Cross:
FOUND LCX STOP ALL WE HOPED AND MORE
STOP NEED HELP STOP MEET INCON MARS 1400
GMT ON 24TH END
The telegram uses standard Foundation code; non-
members can decipher it with a Linguistics (Difficulty
3) roll. “INCON” is the Intercontinental Hotel; “MARS”
is Marseilles; and “LCX” stands for the Lyon Codex, a
medieval manuscript assumed by most experts to be
an elaborate myth.
An Unfortunate Accident
The Intercontinental is a 4-star hotel with all the
usual amenities, including a fine bar just off the expan-
sive lobby. There, the snooty desk clerk will reluctantly
confirm that “Monsieur Cross” has yet to check in.
A Perception roll (Difficulty 2) will spot that a short,
slightly seedy-looking man sitting in the lobby has been
reading the same page of yesterday’s newspaper for
the last 15 minutes. This is Pierre Fornier, a freelance
informant currently keeping tabs on Mr. Cross for the
Nazis. He has few morals but even less courage, and, if
confronted forcefully, will readily rat out his employers.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t know why the Nazis want
Cross watched—but he knows they’ll pay a premium for
any documents or other interesting items he might “find.”
Just before 3 PM, characters in the lobby hear
squealing brakes and sudden cries. A Perception (Dif-
ficulty 3) roll will catch a glimpse through the win-
dow of a horrible sight—a large delivery truck running
down Malcolm Cross!
Cross, blood bubbling from his mouth, is already dead
by the time the characters reach him. There is nothing
in his hands, and his suit coat is open, as if someone has
gone through his pockets. Witnesses in the crowd say that
the poor sod stumbled into the street, as if pushed from
behind. They also say that a handsomely-dressed man in a
dark suit and Homburg hat was at the victim’s side imme-
diately; he stated that he was a doctor, swiftly declared
Cross dead, and went up the street, away from the hotel,
to get help. A Diplomacy or Investigation (Interview) Skill
roll (Difficulty 3) finds a witness who noticed that the doc-
tor left with a leather valise he wasn’t originally carrying.

The Assassins’ Plan
Two thugs position themselves behind Cross as he
waits to cross the street. At a signal from Paoli, they grab
the historian and hurl him into the path of the deliv-
ery truck. After the hit, Paoli rushes in, takes the valise
under the guise of a doctor trying to save the man’s life.
He then calmly walks to the intersection, turns left, and
exchanges the valise with Terra Arcanum agents in a
parked car for a similar valise with his money. Paoli
continues on his way as the agents drive off. Simple...
Fast-acting characters may make a Perception roll
(Difficulty 4) for a glimpse of the “doctor”—Santu
Paoli—disappearing into the crowd. Those attempting
to follow Paoli will be blocked by a pair of thugs—the
same two thugs that pushed Cross into the street.
Santu Paoli, an average-looking, middle-aged man
with icy, black eyes, is a cold-blooded professional hit
man. He neither knows nor cares why Cross had to die
or who ordered the hit—to him, it’s just another job.
Santu Paoli
Follower 2
Archetype: Criminal Motivation: Duty
Style: 1 Health: 5
Primary Attributes
Body: 2 Charisma: 2
Dexterity: 3 Intelligence: 3
Strength: 2 Willpower: 3
Secondary Attributes
Size: 0 Initiative: 6
Move: 5 Defense: 5
Perception: 6 Stun: 2
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Athletics 2 2 4 (2)
Brawl 2 2 4 (2)
Firearms 3 3 6 (3)
Larceny 3 2 5 (2+)
Linguistics 3 1 4 (2)
Stealth 3 3 6 (3)
Streetwise 2 2 4 (2)
Talents
Rapid Shot 1 (May make two ranged attacks at same target, each
with a -2 Penalty)
Resources
Status 1 (Organized crime: +2 Social Bonus)
Flaw
Criminal (+1 Style when hurt by his negative reputation)
Weapons Rating Attack Average Notes
Punch 0 N 4 N (2) N
MAB Model C 2L 8L (4) L French equivalent
of S&W .32
Automatic
Languages
Corsican, French, Spanish
Thug
Follower 1
Primary Attributes: Body 2, Dexterity 2, Strength 2,
Charisma 2, Intelligence 2, Willpower 2
Secondary Attributes: Size 0, Move 4, Perception 4,
Initiative 4, Defense 4, Stun 2, Health 4
Skills: Brawl 4, Firearms 4, Intimidation 4, Larceny 3,
Linguistics 3, Streetwise 4
Resources: Status 1 (Organized crime: +2 Social
Bonus)
Flaw: Impulsive (+1 Style whenever his impatience
gets him in trouble)
Weapons: MAB Model C 6 L, Punch 4 N
Special: Replace Intimidation with Drive for the
thug driving the delivery truck
Strategy: The thugs in the truck just want to get away.
They plan to ditch the truck on the docks and disappear
in the nearby fish market. The two in the crowd will
delay anyone attempting to follow the Paoli. Paoli, mean-
while, will calmly walk away with the valise. He plans to
exchange it with the agents waiting in a car around the
corner for the gang’s payment, then disappear.
If the characters are very quick about dispatching or
avoiding the thugs, they may catch a glimpse of Paoli
around the corner walking along a line of parked cars
towards a small bakery with a leather valise in hand. But
if they capture him, they find the valise isn’t Cross’!
A Curious Collection
The characters have a dead body on their hands (and
possibly one or more local thugs killed or captured) and a
host of questions. The local gendarmerie (French police) will
be happy to take the thugs off their hands, but will be openly
skeptical of any talk of conspiracy. A search of Cross’ body
will find papers showing he came to Marseilles from Venice
by way of Rome. Interrogating the thugs is a dead end—
they worked for Paoli, who never knew the client. The Terra
Arcanum agents’ car had no plates, and investigating Cross’
travel arrangements will also be a dead end.
An hour or so after the “accident,” any characters in the
hotel lobby or just outside will spot a porter with a steamer
trunk labeled “M. A. C.” (Malcolm Cross’ initials) on his
overburdened cart. The porter won’t turn the trunk over
to just anyone, but he’s willing to negotiate—players may
roll Diplomacy, Intimidation, or Con Skill (versus the por-
ter’s Willpower of 2). If Pierre Fornier (the spy hired by the
Nazis to watch the lobby) is still free to act, he will attempt
to acquire the trunk for himself; if he succeeds, the charac-
3
ters will have to bargain with him for it (assume Pierre has
Skills and Attributes of 2, with Skill Aptitude: Con).
The inside of Cross’ trunk seems to contain noth-
ing more than a change of clothes. An Investigation
(Search) roll (Difficulty 3) will reveal a shallow secret
compartment in the bottom. Inside are a series of clues:
• Cross’ Journal: A pocket notebook with a few pag-
es of cryptic notes on the Lyon Codex and something
called the “Animus Crystal” (see sidebar)
• Pocket Watch: A gold Swiss pocket watch,
inscribed “Albert G. Cross.” It doesn’t keep time and
seems a bit light; pulling it apart reveals that the clock-
work mechanism has been removed to make room for a
folded scrap of paper marked “1134 San Polo”
• Candle: A long taper-type votive candle, unused.
A Perception roll (Difficulty 3) will spot the impression
of an ornate seal with a Christian motif in the base
• Business Card: A very elegant business card writ-
ten in Italian: “Pietro Graffaro, Ricercatore Maggiore
dell’Araldica, Consulta Araldica, Biblioteca Nazionale Mar-
ciana” (“Pietro Graffaro, Senior Heraldry Researcher,
Consulta Araldica, National Library of St. Mark’s”)
Characters with Academics (Occult) have likely
heard of the legendary Lyon Codex and may have
heard of the more obscure “Animus Crystal” mentioned
4
in Cross’ journal (see below). The next step should be
obvious: if the characters want answers to Cross’ death,
they’ll need to go to Venice.
Knowing About the Lyon Codex
(Reflexive action)
Roll:
• Academics (History, Academics, or Archeology)
• +2 Bonus for Investigation (Research) rating of 4+
0 to 2 Successes: Never heard of it.
3 Successes: A mythical lost manuscript that prob-
ably never existed, filled with the outrageous ravings of a
12th-century madman.
4+ Successes: An obscure and long-lost medieval
manuscript containing tales of forgotten lands and
ancient artifacts, scribed by monks in a Lyon monas-
tery from the fevered ramblings of a lost traveler who
claimed to have visited Atlantis itself.
Knowledge: Animus Crystal
(Reflexive action)
Roll:
• Academics (Occult or Archeology)
• +2 Bonus for Investigation (Research) rating of 4+
 • +2 Bonus for Sorcery or Alchemy rating of 4+
0 to 3 Successes: Never heard of it.
4 to 5 Successes: Mythical crystal said to hold all the
knowledge of the ancients. Preposterous.
6+ Successes: Ancient Atlantean artifact said to
contain recorded knowledge and memories. Holding or
wearing the crystal is believed to allow access to a wealth
of information on Atlantean science, history, culture,
and even sorcery. The value of an intact Animus Crystal
is incalculable.
Cross’ Journal
Like most researchers, Cross kept a journal (and like
many in the Foundation, he wrote in code); unlike most,
he was horrible at taking notes. He only used the first
few pages of his new journal, and the notes he left from
his hurried examination of the Codex were cryptic.
Animus C rystal — whe re??
Spirit of knowledge live s wit hin?
eat h
House of Solario (scrawled ben
a ske tch of a family cre st)
,
House — Me rchant s, Historians
Mathe mat icians, Antiquarians
is????
Family lege nd — Sons of At lant
VE NIC E!!!!
' — symbol
' Last of the line holds the key
of aut hori ty?
Le t knowledge be your guide
ed
Safe ty lies whe re War is Balanc
by Love
ht-
Siniste r Alphabe t — Le ft- Rig
Le ft — E asy as Pie ?
A Proper Welcome
The quickest way to Venice from Marseilles is by
train. If the characters hurry, they can catch an express to
Lausanne connecting with the Simplon-Orient Express
bound for Venice. If they miss that train, it’ll take at
least a day to arrange for another. If the players decide
to travel by other means, the Gamemaster may move the
events in this scene to the terminal building, dock, or
other customs checkpoint as appropriate.
The trip itself is without incident, allowing the
characters to enjoy the scenery, interact with fellow
passengers, or catch up on
their knitting. But when they
arrive in Venice, they receive
an unpleasant surprise: a
group of Italian police wait-
ing for them at the station
with a man who knows alto-
gether too much about the
group’s investigation.
The man is Dr. Klaus
Eisenmuller, a noted German archeologist the characters
may have encountered before. He is an unassuming man
with elegant taste, clad in a well-cut silk business suit with
a snap-brim fedora, gold cufflinks, ivory-handled cane,
and fine alligator shoes. Eisenmuller is a long-time mem-
ber of the Thule Society but a reluctant Nazi. He appreci-
ates the resources they provide but has enormous disdain
for them personally. He has published a number of well-
received papers on Greek, Roman, and Hittite history,
but is not known as a “field man.” His papers are notable
for seeking rational explanations for ancient myths.
While he believes the Atlanteans were real, Eisen-
muller places little credence in the fantastic claims made
for their powers. The Thule Society has learned of the
Animus Crystal and knows it is somewhere in Venice.
Eisenmuller’s goal is to find it quietly without interference
from meddlers like the Foundation. To that end, he has
the assistance of the Italian police to keep would-be rivals
out of his hair.
Klaus Eisenmuller, Archeologist
Mentor 2
Archetype: Adventurer Motivation: Truth
Style: 3 Health: 6
Primary Attributes
Body: 3 Charisma: 3
Dexterity: 3 Intelligence: 4
Strength: 2 Willpower: 3
Secondary Attributes
Size: 0 Initiative: 7
Move: 5 Defense: 6
Perception: 7 Stun: 3
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Archeology 4 4 8 (4)
Athletics 2 2 4 (2)
Bureaucracy 4 1 5 (2+)
Diplomacy 3 3 6 (3)
Firearms 3 2 5 (2+)
Investigation 4 3 7 (3+)
Linguistics 4 3 7 (3+)
Melee 2 2 4 (2)
5
Talents
Inspire 1 (give +2 Bonus to all allies within 10 feet as attack action)
Resources
Rank 2 (Thule Society Member: +4 Social Bonus, free Resource)
Flaw
Condescending (+1 Style when Eisenmuller proves his own
superiority)
Weapons Rating Attack Average Notes
Cane 2 N 6 N (3) N
Walther PP Pistol 2 L 7 L (3+) L Malcolm Cross.” He will truthfully deny having anything
Languages
German, Italian, Latin, Greek, Akkadian
The Carabinieri are Italy’s national police and civil-
ian security arm. They are fond of strong-arm tactics
and will not hesitate to use violence if needed (especially
with meddling foreigners). They are not particularly great
soldiers, but they know Venice’s labyrinthine streets and
waterways intimately.
Carabiniere (x2 per character)
Follower 1
Archetype: Lawman
Motivation: Duty
Primary Attributes: Body 2, Dexterity 2, Strength 2,
Charisma 2, Intelligence 2, Willpower 2
Secondary Attributes: Size 0, Move 4, Perception 4,
Initiative 4, Defense 4, Stun 2, Health 4
Skills: Athletics 4, Brawl 4, Firearms 4,
Intimidation 4, Streetwise 6
Special: Replace Intimidation with Pilot (Ships) for
carabinieri in pursuit boats.
Talents: Skill Aptitude (+2 Bonus to Streetwise)
Flaw: Intolerant
Weapons: Punch 4 N, Beretta M1934 Pistol 7 L,
Beretta M1918 SMG* 6 L
*The M1918 SMG has a 25-rd clip and can be fitted
with a bayonet.
Strategy: Handle matters quietly if possible. If
things go wrong, Eisenmuller will use his Inspire
Talent to help the carabinieri do the fighting for him.
Show restraint in public; neither he nor the carabinieri
have any desire to injure bystanders.
The Welcoming Committee
Photos of the characters in hand, the carabinieri are
staked out inside the station. Most are on the passenger
platform, but two patrol on the other side of the train.
Characters keeping a lookout may roll Perception (Diffi-
culty 2) to notice the carabinieri, giving the group one turn
to react per Success on the roll. The carabinieri will request
the characters accompany them to a back office to meet “a
6
person of importance.” Should the characters resist or run,
the carabinieri will attempt to take them by force.
If the characters go to the office—willingly or other-
wise—they find Dr. Eisenmuller awaiting them. He greets
them cordially by name, asks about their trip, and then
calmly explains that his team and their hosts (the Italian
government) are well aware of the “unfortunate matter of
to with Cross’ death, but will ask about the Codex (which
he doesn’t have… yet). Then he’ll hand them off to the
carabinieri with instructions to put the meddling fools on
the next train out of town. The characters will be relieved
of any obvious weapons or special gear, and then escorted
to a locked storeroom just off the main station floor to be
kept under guard until the next train to Albania arrives.
If the players are tempted to resist the arrest, remind them
that they are greatly outnumbered and in a public train
station. If they choose to fight their way out, you may skip
to the next scene after a suitable firefight. If they’d rather
wait and plan, proceed with this scene.
(Read aloud...)
The old station’s iron girders tower above you in
silent majesty. Sunlight streams in through hundreds
of plate-glass windows as echoes of the voices of
thousands of travelers murmur about you. Dust from
construction of the new station sparkles in the sun-
light. Rickety scaffolding four stories tall clings to
marble walls; heavy canvas tarps and flimsy wooden
partitions screen off entire sections for renovation;
buckets and cans of building materials are scattered
everywhere. Workmen move through the crowds in
no apparent hurry—the incessant din of their ham-
mers and saws are a constant discordant undertone.
Finally, you are escorted to a boarded-up alcove just
off the main floor, a dusty and ill-used temporary
storeroom with a pair of rickety-looking worktables
and a pile of construction scrap.
“You will wait here until your train arrives,” the
chief carabiniere orders as he locks the stout oak
door behind you. Despite the door’s thickness, you
can faintly hear him issuing orders.
If any of the Characters speak Italian or succeed on a
Linguistics roll (Difficulty 3), they understand that the
chief just ordered an underling to take the impounded
possessions of the characters to the dock to await trans-
port to headquarters on the mainland.
The Escape
Allow the players to devise their own means of escape
from the storage room. They might force the door with
a Strength roll (Difficulty 4), pick the lock with Larceny
(Difficulty 3), or climb up and out the window (located
15 feet up) with Athletics (Difficulty 4). Clever charac-
ters will use the chaos of the renovation to their advan-
tage, sneaking through the construction, crawling under
trains, blending in with other passengers, or trapping
their pursuers under falling debris. This could be a game
of cat-and-mouse or a running battle (or maybe both).
Their options are to leave the station by boat or by
foot over the Ponte degli Scalzi (one of only three bridg-
es over the Grand Canal). A checkpoint at the bridge
with carabinieri inspecting all papers closely will make
it difficult for characters to escape via that route, and
characters will likely want to retrieve their impounded
gear from the boat dock. There they will find a variety of
boats ranging from vaporetti (water buses) to work boats
(mototopo) to gondolas and rowboats.
The characters will spy their gear stacked in the back
of an idling police boat. Two carabinieri face each other
on the dock next to the boat, argue over whose job it
is to actually ferry the equipment back to police head-
quarters. They are so engrossed in their argument that
the characters can easily get the jump on them. Players
might also devise methods to distract or con them away
from their post, but more carabinieri patrol the area and
the characters don’t have much time. Should they wish
to make a hasty escape, the police boat into which their
gear is loaded looks to be the fastest vehicle at the docks.
Through the Canals
If the characters attempt to escape by boat, they will
be seen and pursued by the police. Initially, the carabinieri
will pursue with three boats. If the escape is going too
well, feel free to have a couple more join the chase. If the
characters can lengthen their lead by 250 feet, they will
escape into the circuitous waterways of Venice.
Boat Handling
(Extended, Opposed action; 1 round)
Roll:
• Pilot (Ships)
• Modified by Handling, Speed
Critical Failure: The boat sideswipes another boat
or obstacle, causing Structure damage (1 point for every
Success the roll failed by) and forcing Dexterity rolls
(Difficulty 2) to avoid falling overboard!
7
 Failure: Each success below the opponents’ roll sub-
tracts 25 feet distance between the characters and their
pursuers.
10 Successes Required: Each success in excess of the
opponents’ roll adds 25 feet distance between the char-
acters and their pursuers. 10 accumulated successes (250
feet distance) are required to escape.
Special: If the carabinieri catch up (by reducing the
characters’ accumulated lead to 0), they might try ramming,
boarding, or simply shooting the characters. Remember to
apply appropriate penalties for ranged weapons.
Chase Complications
Every turn, the Gamemaster may impose compli-
cation to the characters’ escape. Suggested events
include:
• Narrow Canal – Many side canals are narrow
and twisty, with many more low bridges than the
Grand Canal (-2 Handling Penalty)
• Getting Lost – Characters without the True Direc-
tion Talent must make Navigation rolls (Difficulty 3)
when in the side canals to avoid being trapped and
losing 50 feet from their lead
• Submerged Pilings – Roll Perception (Difficulty 2
plus Speed Penalties) to avoid an underwater obsta-
cle. If failed, the pilot loses a success from his total
to escape, the boat loses 2 Structure points, and all
aboard must make Acrobatics (Balance) rolls (Diffi-
culty 2)
• Gondola – A long gondola or mototopo is turn-
ing around in front of the characters—characters must
go around (-2 Penalty on Handling) or just ram on
through (1 Structure point damage)
• Traffic – Large boats like vaporetti may be
obstacles to dodge, but also screen the characters
from their pursuers. Impose a -2 Handling Penalty,
but allow a Stealth roll (vs. the carabinieri’s Percep-
tion) to escape
• Colonnades – Many old merchant houses (fond-
aco) have docks set back behind rows of columns.
Maneuvering is tricky (-2 Handling Penalty) but the
columns provide +2 Defense Bonus against gunfire
Once the group has eluded the pursuing carabinieri,
they may attempt to slip away into the city.
Avoiding the Manhunt
(Standard action, 4 hours)
Roll:
• Streetwise
• -2 Penalty if character does not speak Italian
• -2 Penalty for each additional person on the run
8
• +2 Bonus for Con, Stealth, or Performance (Acting)
of Rating 4+
0 to 3 Successes: The carabinieri spot them and give
chase!
4 Successes: The character finds a place to hide out
for a time (reroll the next day).
5+ Successes: The character obtains false identity
papers, disguises, etc. that allow him to evade capture
for several days.
But They’re Going the Wrong Way!
Investigating the business card from Cross’ valise
leads to the scene “A Family Affair,” the insignia on the
votive candle leads to “A Prayerful Repose,” and the
address inside the pocket watch leads to “A Walk in
the Park.” These may be played in any order, so long as
the group doesn’t proceed to the scene “A Dangerous
Descent” without the Solario family signet ring and/or
Father Petrillo.
A Family Affair
The business card leads to the offices of Pietro Graffa-
ro on the third floor of the National Library of St. Mark’s.
The carabinieri guarding the entrance can be avoided with
Stealth, Con, or Streetwise rolls (Difficulty 3). Visitors
will be met in the outer office by Graffaro’s deferent sec-
retary Fazio, who ushers them in to see the aging scholar.
Graffaro’s inner office is expansive and elegant, with pol-
ished cherry paneling; rows of bookshelves filled with old
volumes; Baroque furniture that looks almost new; and
tall, narrow windows overlooking the Piazza San Marco.
Graffaro is a small, elderly man with a full mane of
silvery hair and wide horn-rimmed glasses that give his
face a toad-like appearance. A senior researcher for the
Consulta Araldica, the college of Italian heraldry, the his-
torian could happily chat for hours about Venice’s past.
Sadly, he gets fewer and fewer chances to do so as inter-
est in history dies away under Mussolini.
Graffaro will be happy to answer any questions the
characters put to him. The Gamemaster should share the
following with the characters as long as they behave with
some diplomacy and tact:
• Malcolm Cross – Cross visited two weeks ago to
inquire about a family crest (the one in his notes). He
was “quite excited” when the historian identified it as that
of the Solario family. Cross seemed “pleasant but very
intense” about his research but didn’t explain his interest
• The Solario Family – The Solarios were one of Venice’s
most powerful and ruthless merchant families for over
seven centuries. They were noted collectors of ancient art,
responsible for bringing many great works to Venice. But
there were darker rumors as well—talk of involvement
in blackmail, assassination, and even demonic pacts. A
massive vault containing much of their wealth was said
to exist somewhere in the city. Some whispered that dark
rituals were held there as well to secure the family’s power
• Terra Arcanum – The Arcanum was an association
of antiquarians with a dark reputation mentioned in
several obscure medieval and Renaissance manuscripts.
Graffaro knows of no direct connection to the Solarios,
but suggests the family may have been patrons
During the interview, suspicious characters may
make a Perception roll (Difficulty 4) to spot a very small
pair of wires high on one wall. The wires run from a
small microphone hidden behind a painting near Graf-
faro’s desk through a hole in the wall to the outer office;
on the other end, Fazio is listening intently to every
word with a big, bulky set of headphones. Graffaro is
oblivious to the bug, but will recall that Fazio arranged
for some workmen to come in the week before to fix the
lights. If Fazio hears that his bug has been discovered he
will attempt to slip away, but clever players can sneak up
on him with a Stealth roll (Difficulty 3).
Fazio Romano is actually a Terra Arcanum agent (if
needed, use the Terra Arcanum agent stats in Hollow
Earth Expedition, p. 196-197) spying on Graffaro. Young,
polite, efficient, and self-effacing, he is so quiet that most
tend to forget he’s there—the perfect spy. He tipped the
Arcanum off about Cross’ research; they installed the
listening device soon after. Fazio’s goal is information;
if discovered he will run rather than fight. Fazio knows
the library well and has a +2 Bonus on attempts to elude
capture while inside; he’ll also call out for help from any
carabinieri he sees. If the characters capture him, they may
question him with an Intimidation (Interrogation) roll
(Difficulty 3). Fazio’s presence should alert the group that
they have more than the Nazis to worry about!
A Prayerful
Repose
Identifying the sym-
bol on the votive candle can
be accomplished by poking
through books in the library
(Investigation (Research);
Difficulty 3) or perhaps talk-
ing to a local priest (Investiga-
tion (Interview); Difficulty 3). The seal is that of St. Mark’s
Basilica, the largest cathedral in Venice and a popular tour-
ist destination with hourly tours. Carabinieri patrol it and
the plaza outside, but they can be avoided with a Stealth or
Con roll (Difficulty 3).
While the characters are visiting, they may make a
Perception roll (Difficulty 3) to spot an old friend: Dr.
Eisenmuller and a small group of tough-looking men
(one per character) in identical trench coats. After a heat-
ed discussion, Dr. Eisenmuller and his associates follow a
priest to a solid oaken door marked “vietato l’ingresso” (no
admittance), forcing him to open it with a set of ancient
black iron keys. The Nazis then take his keys, shove him
ruthlessly aside, and charge down the stairs. The door
slowly swings shut with a heavy thud behind them.
Father Petrillo
If the characters choose to help the priest (who is
slumped on the floor with a dislocated shoulder—Medi-
cine (Difficulty 2) to reset)—they’ll discover him to be
a thin, white-haired man. He is elderly but still hale and
hearty, and introduces himself as Father Petrillo. Father
Petrillo will tell the group that Eisenmuller is looking
for Bishop Alberto Solario’s crypt but they did not say
why. “It doesn’t matter,” he mutters with a pained smile.
“The Nazi demon-spawn are looking in the wrong part
of the catacombs.” Petrillo will be quick to volunteer his
assistance in finding the crypt. If the characters hurry,
they might get there first!

The Terra Arcanum According to Fazio

As a junior Terra Arcanum agent, Fazio knows little
of the organization. His only contact was through a
mail-drop (a dead end). To him, the Arcanum is the
true heir to the legacy of Atlantis. It is their duty to pro-
tect that heritage from the unworthy masses until such
time that humanity is responsible enough for such
dangerous knowledge. Given the risks to the world if
those secrets fall into the wrong hands, any action—
including murder—is justified. That the Secret Masters
might themselves use that knowledge for their own
ends has not occurred to him.

9
 Father Petrillo
Although the characters cannot know it yet,
Father Petrillo is one of the major NPCs involved in
the events unfolding within Venice. He can be a tre-
mendous help in their efforts to foil the Nazi efforts,
but he has an agenda of his own.

At first he will present himself as a semi-retired

priest, but when pressed will grudgingly admit to being
a member of the Ordo Spectare (see Secrets of the Sur-
face World, p. 60). He has been tracking Eisenmuller’s
activities, fearing the archeologist is close to finding the
lost Solario family vaults. According to him, the Church
fears that dangerous occult artifacts may yet lie in a lost
storehouse that must not fall into the Nazis’ hands. He’ll
offer the characters help if they’re serious about stop-
ping Eisenmuller. Whatever happens, he’ll stay close to
the group—they’re vital to his plans.

Petrillo is actually a Terra Arcanum master play-

ing a very deep game. He wants to use the charac-
ters to defeat Eisenmuller so that he can gain access
to the vault himself, but he fears the characters will
be suspicious if the answers come too easily. If the
players ask the right questions, share the informa-
tion below:
• Malcolm Cross – Petrillo will claim not to have
heard of the man, which is false—he ordered Cross’
death
• The Solario Family – Petrillo knows more of
their history than Graffaro and will reveal that they
were commonly believed to be in some sort of secret
society. The last of the line were three brothers:
Domenico, Cristiano, and Alberto. Cristiano perished
in Bavaria in 1568, killed by local bandits. Domenico,
the eldest, died in the Plague that swept Venice in
1575. His body burned to ash by a mysterious fire that
destroyed the family palace, said by some to be the
result of an occult ritual gone awry. Alberto aban-
doned the family for the Church, becoming a bishop
before dying in his sleep in 1589. His corpse was laid
to rest in the crypts under St. Mark’s
• Terra Arcanum – The Arcanum were an ancient
order who believed that they were the descendants
of Atlantis and true heirs of the Atlanteans’ dark
secrets. Petrillo falsely claims they died out during
the Renaissance
• The Animus Crystal – Petrillo will be genuinely
surprised if someone brings this up (he thought Cross’
death had kept this secret). He says the Animus Crys-
tal holds powerful knowledge of Atlantean sorcery
that could make one an expert sorcerer, which is not
entirely correct
• 1134 San Polo – Petrillo does not know the
address but is certain he could find it

10
Father Rodolfo Petrillo, Catholic (Read aloud...)
Priest (and Terra Arcanum Agent) An earthy, moldy scent of rot and corruption
Mentor 3 pervades the unlit, dank, tight tunnels under the
Basilica. Water drips from the ceiling, seeps from the
Archetype: Occultist Motivation: Mystery walls, and pools on the rough stone floors through-
out the maze. Rats scurry to and fro, avoiding your
Style: 3 Health: 7
light; the rustling of their claws echoes through the
Primary Attributes
corridors. Narrow niches line the walls; each holds
Body: 3 Charisma: 4
the corpse of a priest laid to rest centuries ago. Their
Dexterity: 3 Intelligence: 5
Strength: 2 Willpower: 4
names are carefully inscribed above their final rest-
Secondary Attributes ing places. Higher church officials, such as bishops,
Size: 0 Initiative: 8 have larger alcoves with full stone coffins decorated
Move: 5 Defense: 6 with ornate relief carvings.
Perception: 9 Stun: 3
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Academics 5 4 9 (4+) Follow the Nazis
(Occult) (Reflexive action)
Athletics 2 2 4 (2)
Brawl 2 2 4 (2)
Roll:
Con 4 2 6 (3)
• Stealth (Shadowing)
Diplomacy 4 3 7 (3+)
Investigation 5 3 8 (4)
• -2 Penalty if using a light source
Linguistics 5 3 8 (4) • +2 Bonus for using no light—but roll Athletics (-2
Melee 2 2 4 (2) Penalty; Difficulty 2) to avoid stumbling over or into
Performance 4 2 6 (3) something as you follow
Stealth 3 2 5 (2+) 0 to 1 Success: You follow the Nazis, but they notice
Talents you shadowing them!
Atlantean Blood 1 (Longevity) 2 to 3 Successes: You lose the Nazis; use Investiga-
Atlantean Language (Basic Fluency) tion (Search) to find them again.
Resources 4+ Successes: You follow the Nazis undetected.
Rank 2 (Terra Arcanum Senior Agent: +4 Social Bonus, free
Resource)
The Nazi Strategy
Artifact 1 (Domenico Solario’s signet ring, “Trientis”; see Appendix)
Eisenmuller is accompanied by one Nazi soldier per
Flaw
character. They aren’t anticipating trouble, so are only
Paranoia (+1 Style when paranoia gets the better of him)
Obsession (+1 Style when his pursuit of Solario family secrets
carrying pistols. If they notice that they’re being fol-
endangers his life)
lowed, they’ll set up an ambush in the catacombs. If
Weapons Rating Attack Average Notes confronted by heavy firepower, they’ll retreat and call
Punch 0 N 4 N (2) N in the carabinieri.
Knife 1L 5L (2+) L Hidden in
Petrillo’s robes Nazi Soldiers
Languages Follower 1
German, Italian, Latin, Greek, Atlantean, English, French, Russian, Primary Attributes: Body 2, Dexterity 2, Strength 2,
Hindi Charisma 2, Intelligence 2, Willpower 2
Secondary Attributes: Size 0, Move 4, Perception 4,
Into the Catacombs Initiative 4, Defense 4, Stun 2, Health 4
Whether or not the characters stop to meet Father Petril- Skills: Athletics 4, Brawl 4, Drive 4, Firearms 4,
lo, they will likely wish to pursue Eisenmuller and his cro- Intimidation 4
nies into the catacombs beneath St. Mark’s Basilica. Talents: Autofire
Flaw: Intolerant
Weapons: Luger 7 L, Punch 4 N

Characters following Eisenmuller will quickly real-

ize that he doesn’t know where the Solario crypt is; if the
characters know where to look, they may be able to find

11
the right crypt first. With Father Petrillo’s directions,
they stand a good chance of getting to the crypt before
Eisenmuller:
Finding Bishop Alberto’s Crypt
(Standard action, 30 minutes per roll)
Roll:
• Survival (Navigation)
• +2 Bonus if characters have help from Father Petrillo
• +2 Bonus for Investigation Rating 4+
• -4 Penalty for trying to find the right tomb without
light
0 Successes: You become hopelessly lost—worse, you
stumble into the Nazis.
1 to 3 Successes: You do not yet find the crypt.
4+ Successes: You find the crypt!
Subtract the number of rolls the group takes to find
the crypt from 10—this is the time (in turns) that they
have before Eisenmuller and his team catch up. Only an
engraved Solario family crest marks Alberto’s crypt; it’s
behind a rusty, black iron gate that can be opened with a
Larceny roll (Difficulty 2) or Strength test (Difficulty 4).
The lid to the stone tomb is very heavy, requiring a hard
Strength roll to shift (Difficulty 4; up to 2 people can help
via Teamwork). Inside is the bishop’s desiccated corpse,
clad in full ceremonial vestments. On his right hand is a
ring bearing the Solario family crest—his family signet
ring! This is the “Secondus” ring (see Appendix).
The ring is the “key” in Cross’ notes. If the characters
find it before Eisenmuller shows up, they can slip away
quietly. Petrillo’s guidance provides a +2 Bonus on Stealth
and Navigation rolls to escape the catacombs. Failure will
result in a gun battle with the Nazis and their carabin-
ieri allies (who show up shortly after the shooting starts).
Fortunately, the maze provides a number of escape routes.
What If Things Go Wrong?
If Eisenmuller gets the ring first, they’ll catch up to
him again later in the scene “Il Più Difettoso non Muore
Mai.” If they kill Eisenmuller, the Thule Society sends
Captain Ernst Kruger to take over in time for the finale.
Use Eisenmuller’s stats, but add 1 to Body, Strength,
and Willpower; 1 Skill point to Athletics, Brawl, Fire-
arms, Intimidation, and Melee; and add an extra Rank
in the Society.
12
A Walk in the Park
When the characters attempt to track down the
address they found inside Cross’ pocket watch, they will
discover that finding a specific address in Venice isn’t
easy—the houses are numbered by sestieri (district), not
street, and often not in any discernible order. It’ll take
half a day to find the building. An Investigation roll
(Difficulty 3) will trace it to a fish market, a large, open
warehouse far too modern to be the right building. A
discussion with “Grandmama,” the elderly and charm-
ing owner will reveal that half the parish burned down a
couple of centuries ago—as a result, the buildings were
all renumbered! “Grandmama” doesn’t know where the
original 1134 San Polo is, but she suggests it’s probably
two or three blocks over.
While conversing with Grandmama, allow the char-
acters to make Perception rolls (Difficulty 3) to notice a
pair of carabinieri saunter a bit too casually into the fish
market. Those with an extra Success will notice another
pair entering from a side entrance a turn later. Someone
in the market has tipped the carabinieri off; it will only
be a few turns before the whole area is crawling with
them. The characters have five turns to defeat or escape
the carabinieri patrol; a market crowded with people and
crates of fresh fish should provide them with plenty of
opportunities for cleverness.
The Carabinieri Strategy
An informant tipped them off that the wanted for-
eigners might be here. Their goal is to try to find the
characters and, if possible, arrest them. If they can’t,
they’ll try to pin their quarry in the market until rein-
forcements arrive.
Assuming the characters escape, it will take a second
Investigation roll (Difficulty 3) and two more hours of
walking Venice’s maze of streets to finally locate the
original 1134 San Polo.
 (Read aloud...)
Finally you find a block of houses old enough to be
likely candidates—with whitewashed stone walls two
or three stories tall, with tiled roofs that glow orange
in the fading light; they are well-kept but clearly older
than their neighbors. Shiny new brass plates display
the new house numbers. But on one, a three-story
structure that appears to be a dress shop, you can just
see the bottom half of a number chiseled in the cor-
nerstone that might be 1134. There’s an engraving in
the stone lintel over the doorway; it’s worn down and
painted over, but it could be the Solario family crest.
Paging Father Petrillo
The following scenes assume that the charac-
ters have allied with Father Petrillo. If not, they will
encounter him in the next scene, in which case he has
either followed them or is waiting at 1134 San Polo.
He will invite himself along, pointing out that, given
the rumors about the Solarios, they may need the help
of a priest. If that doesn’t work, he’ll turn up as Eisen-
muller’s prisoner in the scene “A Duel of Souls.”
The dress shop fills the first floor, the sewing and
fitting rooms are on the second, and the dressmakers (a
trio of spinster sisters) live on the third floor. Getting
in for a look around requires either talking one’s way in
with a Con or Diplomacy roll (Difficulty 3) or breaking
in with Larceny (Difficulty 2). Failing either will result
in the suspicious owners shouting for the carabinieri. A
search of the ground floor will reveal a curious anomaly:
a 6-foot-by-6-foot section of the back room is walled off.
A close inspection of the plastered-over walls requires
an Investigation roll (Difficulty 4), and will find an odd
texture to the plaster behind a rack of frilly lace. A rub-
bing of the wall or use of a magnifying lens will identify
the familiar outline of the Solario family crest.
The characters will have to remove the plaster to access
the secret panel. Doing this quickly takes 5 to 10 min-
utes but will be noisy; removing it quietly will be tough
(Stealth; Difficulty 3) and slow (30 minutes). Behind the
plaster is a stone wall with Romanesque paintings of a
decidedly adult nature, tragically stained by water and
soot, surrounding a prominent relief sculpture of the
Solario family crest. There is no lock to pick; breaking
in will be hard (Larceny; Difficulty 4). Firmly pressing
a Solario signet ring into a small indent in the lower half
of the crest results in a series of clunks followed by a low
grinding rumble as the stone panel slowly slides aside to
reveal the secret room beyond.
(Read aloud...)
The stone panel slowly grinds open, revealing a
secret chamber, 4 feet square, with a heavy bronze
hatch set in the floor. A thin ring of yellowed wax
runs along the bottom edge of the hatch, still intact
after centuries. The air is musty and stale; a thick
coat of dust and mold coats the walls and floor.
Beneath the mold an inscription in Latin on the oppo-
site wall is still visible, which Petrillo will translate
if the characters can’t: “Only those worthy of Atlantis
will earn their inheritance here.” The words sound
like a challenge—or a test!
Dangerous Descent
The hatch is the entrance to secret passages that once
underlay the Solario family palace and led to the fabled
lost chapterhouse of the Terra Arcanum. The complex
lies well below the bottom of Venice’s lagoon; water
pressure has compressed the air in the tunnels and cav-
erns, making breathing uncomfortable. Moreover, it is
pitch black in the tunnels—those without light are likely
doomed. Before the characters can descend they must
first open the sealed hatch.
Opening the Upper Hatch
(Standard action, 1 round)
Roll:
• Choose one: Athletics (Lifting) or Strength
• +2 Bonus if working with another person
• +2 Bonus for a crowbar or similar device
0 Successes: Ow! I pulled a muscle!! (Take 1 N
damage).
1 to 3 Successes: The hatch ignores your puny efforts.
4+ Successes: The hatch grudgingly gives way—
there is a low “pop” and a sudden rush of stale air as it
opens.
A shaft extends 30 feet below the hatch (which per-
ceptive characters will note is well under the bottom of
Venice’s 20-foot-deep lagoon) with notches cut in the
13
wall to serve as a ladder. Another bronze hatch lies at the
bottom of the shaft.
One turn after the upper hatch is opened, water
sprays in from a dozen small ports, filling the shaft at
a rate of 6 inches per turn. To make matters worse, the
lower hatch is even more difficult to open than the one
above.
Opening the Lower Hatch
(Standard action, 1 round)
Roll:
• Choose one: Athletics (Lifting) or Strength
• +2 Bonus if working with another person
• -2 Penalty for every three turns that water fills the
shaft
• After six turns, those lifting will have to hold their
breath (-1 Penalty).
0 Successes: Ow! I pulled a muscle!! (Take 1 N
damage).
1 to 4 Successes: The hatch ignores your puny efforts.
5+ Successes: The hatch grudgingly gives way—and
the water in the shaft rushes out in a torrent! All within
make an Athletics roll (Difficulty 2); those who fail are
sucked down into the chamber below (2 N damage).
(Read aloud...)
The shaft opens into a small stone chamber that is
dark, damp, and smells of mold and rot. A thin, slimy
moss coats the unadorned walls. Water seeps from
the ceiling, pooling around the gutters at the base of
the walls. As the water from the shaft drains away,
the air pressure increases rapidly enough to give you
a headache.
A large, square entryway reveals a wide stone
staircase leading down another 15 feet to a pool of
cold, murky water. A Latin inscription over the entry-
way marks the second test: “Trust your heritage to
guide you.” Under the water, four 5-foot wide chan-
nels run in different directions. With a bit of light you
can just make out a symbol carved in the stone above
each passage:
• a winged lion (the ancient symbol of Venice)
• an eye carved in Egyptian style inside a triangle
(the Eye of Horus – aka the “All-Seeing Eye”)
• an ornate cross
• the Solario family crest
The channels are the entrance to an extensive
underwater maze. The walls are smooth stone, broken
at intervals by massive wooden pilings (now fossilized)
14
and the occasional skeletons of those who failed to
escape the trap’s watery grasp. If the right channel is
chosen, a character will find pockets of stale air trapped
in the ceiling of the channels. Choose the wrong
channel and it dead-ends after 50 feet, possibly leading
to death by drowning.
Picking the Right Channel
(Standard action)
Roll:
• Choose one: Academics (Occult), Academics
(History), Investigation (Enigmas)
• -2 Penalty for Investigation (Enigmas)
• +2 Bonus for possession of Cross’ journal, Father
Petrillo’s advice, or a similar source of information
0 Successes: How should I know?
1 to 2 Successes: The Venetian lion and the cross are
both obviously wrong.
3+ Successes: The Eye of Horus is an ancient sym-
bol of protection, good health and mathematical knowl-
edge—a more likely symbol for a secret society than the
Solario family crest.
The characters must now swim through the submerged
passage. Fortunately, the passage was carved to hold
pockets of air at intervals just close enough to prevent
suffocation. Four Athletics (Swimming) or Body rolls
(Difficulty 3) are required to make it through. Charac-
ters failing the roll suffer 1 N for each success they were
short.
The Fire of Knowledge
The characters exit the channel via another pool in
a stone chamber. As with the previous chamber, the air
is stale, humid, and highly pressurized. Steps lead down
to an arched hallway made of cut stone. The hallway
is about 10 feet with a 15 foot ceiling and is curiously
dry. The inscription above the entrance translates: “The
fire of Knowledge will destroy those unworthy of their
inheritance.”
Candidates for Terra Arcanum membership were sup-
posed to traverse this trap by stepping on the appropriate
tiles. Even if the characters can read Atlantean, the word
or phrase the candidate used as a guide is long-forgotten.
To top it off, half the symbols are obscured by mold, blobs
of burning pitch, and charred remnants of failed candi-
dates, and can’t be readily interpreted. Try as they might,
the characters will not be able to solve this puzzle.
At this point the characters would be wise to make
a Perception roll:
Examining the Hallway
(Standard action, 1 minute)
Roll:
• Perception (Sight)
• -2 Penalty for weak light sources (flashlights or smaller)
• +2 Bonus if the fire trap is set off (see below)
0 to 1 Success: Hey look, a big dry hallway! Let’s go
already!!
2 Successes: Seems odd that this hallway is dry.
There’s soot on the walls, but no torches. There are some
odd lumps on the floor here and there; they look charred
or burnt.
3 Successes: The stones of the floor are cut in odd,
random-looking shapes. Unusual glyphs (any players
that read Atlantean will recognize them as such) are
inscribed on the tiles. Those charred lumps obscure
some of them.
4 Successes: Some sort of stone rings or handles are
anchored in the ceiling. They start near the top of the
stairs and are at 3-foot intervals.
5+ Successes: You can just make out the end of the
hall—about 60 feet down. Looks like there’s another
chamber down there.
Any pressure over a pound on the wrong stone will
trigger the trap, filling the hall with jets of liquid fire!
The first activation is slow: glops of smelly black goo
spit from hidden ports in the wall, followed by showers
of sparks which ignite the oily mix a turn later. But after
the sludge has cleared from the ports, the trap works
much better.
Surviving the Fire Jets
(Reflexive action)
Roll:
• Active Defense
• +6 Bonus the first time the trap is activated
• +2 Bonus if hanging from the rings in the ceiling
(see below)
• Taking precautions like soaking oneself in water
reduces the first point of damage taken from Lethal to
Nonlethal and reduces continuing damage by 1
0 Successes: Take 3 L Caustic damage from the
flaming oily mix. It lights the character’s clothes on fire,
continuing to burn until extinguished.
1 to 3 Successes: Take 1 L Caustic damage; this also
ignites the character’s clothing.
4+ Successes: Take no damage from the fire jets!
Each activation of the jets lasts one turn. The first
activation scatters blobs of smoldering pitch everywhere,
obscuring many of the tiles but lighting the hallway
nicely. The real danger is the fire itself—every activa-
tion of the trap uses up the tunnel’s limited oxygen and
produces a haze of smoke that grows thicker after each
burst of flame:
Surviving the Suffocating Smoke
(Reflexive action)
Roll:
• Passive Defense
• -2 Penalty for every previous activation of the fire jets
• Substitute Focus (Meditation) if character is trying
to slow breathing
• +2 Bonus if not performing physical activity
0 Successes: Take 1 N damage due to suffocation.
This cannot be healed or recovered until you reach a
source of fresh air.
1+ Successes: You take no suffocation damage this
turn.
The handholds in the ceiling offer another way
through. A sufficiently acrobatic character might swing
from ring to ring to the other side, keeping well above
the treacherous floor. Getting to the first ring will be an
Athletics (Jumping) roll (Difficulty 4; +2 Bonus if given
a boost). After that, it looks easy: it is only an Athletics or
Acrobatics (Tumbling) roll (Difficulty 1) to swing from
handle to handle all the way across … until the third ring
pulls out of the ceiling just as the character grabs it.
There are four loose handholds in the ceiling. Get-
ting past a loose ring requires an Athletics or Acrobatics
roll (Difficulty 3); failure means the character slips and
falls to the floor, taking falling damage and setting off
the fire jets. Traversing all the rings without falling will
bring the character to the other end of the hallway.
Can’t... Breathe...
The entire group may end up unconscious from
lack of oxygen if they struggle too long with this trap.
In that case, go directly to “Il Più Difettoso non Muore
Mai,” with the characters awakening as Eisenmuller’s
prisoners, having been rescued when his men smelled
smoke and investigated. A couple shots of oxygen to
clear the lungs and they’ll be ready for interrogation.
The Balance of Justice
At the end of the hall is an ancient bronze balance on
a stone pedestal. Two wires extend from the arms into
the wall on either side. In front of each pan is a set of
12 clay weights, each marked with an astrological sym-
bol. The weights are of identical size, but each weighs
15
a different amount. Placing the proper weights on the
scale will deactivate the fire jets (with a slow groaning
and clunking of a hidden mechanism behind the walls).
Using the wrong weights (or pulling or cutting the
wires) will turn the jets on full force.
Cross’ journal holds the key for deactivating the fire
jets: “Safety lies where War is Balanced by Love.”
Solving the Balance Puzzle
(Standard action, 5 minutes)
Roll:
• Choose one: Academics (Occult) or Investiga-
tion (Enigmas)
• +2 Bonus if Cross’ journal or similar references are
available
• +2 Bonus if Father Petrillo is consulted for help
0 Successes: Looks like some sort of old balance.
Hey, I wonder what these do!
1 Success: The symbols are the ancient Roman signs
of the zodiac. There’s a full set of 12 for each arm of the
balance.
2 to 3 Successes: Aries (the Ram) and Scorpio (the
Scorpion) are ruled by Mars—the Roman God of War.
Taurus (the Bull) and Libra (the Scales) are ruled by
Venus—the Roman Goddess of Love. That narrows
things down a bit.
4+ Successes: Aries is a fire element, and Libra rep-
resents Balance ruled by Love.
It doesn’t matter which weight is on which pan of
the balance, so long as the Aries weight is on one and
the Libra weight is on the other. The scales will tilt
towards the heavier Aries weight—and then, with much
clunking and groaning of behind the walls, the jets shut
down. They will remain dormant so long as the weights
remain in place. A turn later, a section of the floor begins
to slide aside, revealing a staircase leading 15 feet down
to yet another room.
16
(Read aloud...)
The room at the bottom of the stairs is 15 feet
square; although the stone walls are bare, the floor
is littered with splintered bones and remnants of
clothes and other items crushed beyond all recogni-
tion. A thin haze of smoke from the fire jets hangs
in the stale air. A large iron portcullis is suspended
above the entry. In the center of the opposite wall is
an enormous bronze door, 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide,
ornately decorated with representations of various
fantastical creatures and scenes in a medieval style.
In the center of the door is a massive dial, two feet in
diameter, marked with the Eye of Horus. On the rim
are 29 symbols, many similar to those on the tiles
in the fire-jet corridor. An inscription in Latin above
the dial translates as: “Only the constant of Divine
Geometry permits entry herein.”
This challenge is simple enough: dial in the right
combination and the door will open. But the dial will
not move until the portcullis is pulled down, locking
closed until the door is opened. The dial is also stiff
with age and corrosion, requiring a Strength roll to turn
(Difficulty 3). Not to mention the riddle. And the com-
pletely unfamiliar symbols. But at least the characters
have Cross’ cryptic clue: “‘With a sinister hand’ – Left-
Right-Left – Easy as Pie!!” To further complicate mat-
ters, moving the dial in either direction causes the two
side walls to lurch inward by a foot each. The characters
will only have seven turns of the dial to get it right before
they’re crushed.
Solving the Door Combination
(Standard action, 5 minutes)
Roll:
• Choose one: Investigation (Enigmas), Larceny
(Lockpicking), Linguistics (Deciphering)
• -2 Penalty if using Larceny or Linguistics
• +2 Bonus if Science (Mathematics) or Academics
(History or Occult) are Rating 4+
• +2 Bonus if Father Petrillo is consulted for help
0 to 2 Successes: Beats the heck out of me, doc. Spin
the dial and see what happens!
3 Successes: The original Phoenician alphabet had
29 letters – each represented a day of the lunar month.
Maybe the symbols are letters?
4 Successes: Many ancient and medieval philoso-
phers considered the circle the “perfect” or “divine” geo-
metric shape.
5 Successes: That symbol looks like a backwards K;
that would be the 11th letter of the Phoenician alphabet.
If this alphabet is related to Phoenician, maybe the letter
order was the same.
6+ Successes: If Cross was right, the combination is
the value of pi. Selecting the letters representing 3, 14,
and 16 for 3.1416 should work.
Once the characters solve the puzzle, the door can be
opened. Then their troubles really begin!
(Read aloud...)
A series of loud clanks reverberates through the
room as a hidden mechanism engages. The walls
slowly creep back into position, groaning and rum-
bling as they grind across the floor. The portcullis
releases with a simple click, then the door unlocks
with a final tremendous clang!
It takes all your effort to push the massive door
open, slowly revealing a dark cavern beyond. Dark,
that is, until a set of powerful carbon-arc spotlights
sputter to life with an eye-searing glare—followed
by the click-clacking of dozens of submachine gun
bolts. An all-too-familiar Teutonic voice greets you
with condescending arrogance. “How nice of you to
join us. Perhaps you will see reason and surrender
before we slaughter your pathetic expedition?”
A Duel of Souls
If the characters do the intelligent thing and surren-
der, reward them with a Style point each. If they have
Cross’ journal, they can barter that for a promise to be
released unharmed. Otherwise, Eisenmuller will order
“Plan B”: four soldiers toss hand grenades into the room
while four more try to push the door closed on the char-
acters. “We’ll open it when the screaming stops,” he’ll
remark calmly.
If the characters elect to run, Eisenmuller will let
them; his men will simply shut the door, resetting that
trap. After all, they’ll have plenty of warning if the char-
acters come that way again!
Characters who elect to resist should be reminded
that they are taking a -4 Penalty for the next few turns
thanks to blindness from the arc lamps, that they have
nowhere to hide, and that they face an overwhelming
number of Nazis with automatic weapons who have the
advantage of total surprise and will get the first shot.
Eisenmuller is not bluffing and will accept nothing but
surrender. Given the challenges they’ve just survived,
the group may not be in a condition to resist.
Use Eisenmuller’s stats
from the scene “A Proper Wel-
come.” There are four soldiers
per character, plus another
half-dozen technicians. If that
isn’t enough to convince the
characters to think twice, then
show no mercy!
Nazi Soldiers
Follower 1
Primary Attributes: Body 2, Dexterity 2, Strength 2,
Charisma 2, Intelligence 2, Willpower 2
Secondary Attributes: Size 0, Move 4, Perception 4,
Initiative 4, Defense 4, Stun 2, Health 4
Skills: Athletics 4, Brawl 4, Drive 4, Firearms 4,
Intimidation 4
Talents: Autofire
Flaw: Intolerant
Weapons: MP38 SMG 8 L, Stielhandgranate 4 (8 L
Area effect), Punch 4 N
If the characters surrender, Eisenmuller will order them
searched, tied to a pair of marble statues at the entrance
to the vault, and left under the watchful eyes of a pair of
soldiers. Anyone wearing a Solario signet ring will have
it confiscated by Eisenmuller, who will examine it brief-
ly, smile, and drop it in a jacket pocket for later study. If
asked reasonably politely, he’ll be happy to explain that
with the advantages of Nazi science his men found the
vaults three days prior. Otherwise he will ignore them;
he has far more important things to do than gloat.
Those who aren’t actively trying to escape have plenty of
time to observe the following:
(Read aloud...)
A central rotunda nearly the size of a football
field towers above a 30-foot-high, shallow dome.
The dome’s massive stone arches have partially col-
lapsed, flooding half the rotunda with a pile of rub-
ble over 20 feet high in some spots; much of what
remains is blackened with soot and mold. Glimpses
of once-beautiful Romanesque mosaics and carvings
on the walls and ceiling are visible in the harsh glare
of the carbon-arc spotlights. The ravages of dripping
water, mold and clumps of “soda-straw” stalactites
have damaged much of the art beyond repair. Much
of the floor is likewise obscured; though an unusu-
al glassy, emerald-green stone shows through the
stains and muck here and there. The air is still pres-
surized and dank, but easier to breathe; exhaust fans
17
(Cont...)
set up by the Nazis hum away, pulling air through
large soda-lime canisters to reduce CO2. A quiet
chug-chug-chug softly echoes through the cavern
from a nearby diesel generator.
A half-dozen smaller vaults (20 feet wide with
15-foot arched ceilings) radiate out from the rotun-
da. One leads to the great bronze door you entered
through. Another serves as the Nazis’ base camp,
with a bunk area, crates of supplies, cylinders of
oxygen, drums of diesel fuel, a good-sized genera-
tor… and a minisub surfaced in a pool of water. Large
marble statues flank each smaller vault—some of
men in robes, others of fantastic man-sized beasts
standing upright.
An obelisk towers over the rotunda—its black oxi-
dized surface covered with more strange symbols.
The Nazis have cleared away the debris at its base
to reveal cryptic writings carved in the white marble
beneath. Eisenmuller is here, moving between the
obelisk, the symbols, and a book (the Lyon Codex!)
on a nearby table; he pays particular attention to an
18
(Cont...)
Eye of Horus that dominates one face of the obelisk.
Several soldiers toil nearby with shovels and brush-
es. Others busy themselves taking photographs or
fussing over equipment. An air of anticipation seems
to run through all of them; apparently they think
they’re close to a major discovery!
The characters will be out of the way until they devise an
escape plan. Small, useful implements like penknives and
similar items will have been missed by the hurried search,
offering the characters a chance to eventually escape.
Escaping Their Bindings
(Extended action, 15 minutes per roll)
Roll:
• Choose one: Acrobatics (Contortion) or Strength
• Base Difficulty = 2
• -2 Penalty for Acrobatics without the Escape Artist
Talent
• -2 Penalty for lack of cutting edge (penknife, nail
file, etc.)
 • Bonus equal to the Damage rating of cutting imple-
ment used for escape
Failure: You inadvertently draw the attention of the
guards! Make a Performance, Con, or Stealth roll (Dif-
ficulty 3) to prevent them from discovering your efforts
to escape.
5 Successes Required: You free yourself of your
bonds!
Even as the characters escape their bonds, Eisenmuller
solves the final puzzle! He approaches the Eye of Horus
as he slips a signet ring—Cristiano Solario’s “Primus” ring
(see Appendix)—on his finger. The face of the ring fits
an aperture in the Eye; with a twist to the left and a firm
push, the whole Eye sinks into the obelisk.
loses the ability to possess another, remaining trapped in
the host body forever.
Eisenmuller will be completely surprised by the pos-
session attack, spending 2 Style points in a futile attempt
to resist. The Animus Crystal will burn with an eerie blue
glow as the possession occurs. Characters able to perceive
the supernatural will actually see Ereshkigal’s spirit flow
into Eisenmuller. Anyone else may be able to determine
there’s something wrong with him with an Empathy roll
(Difficulty 3). Once Ereshkigal gains control, the glow
fades as the sorcerer lets out an exultant cry at his new-
found freedom. Now his conquest of the Surface World
can begin!

(Read aloud...) What if a Character Opens the Obelisk?

A low humming reverberates through the cham-
ber as the edges of the obelisk begin to glow a bril-
liant green. The sides descend into the floor, flooding
the chamber with a soft gold-green glow. At its heart
are the desiccated remains of a man clad in remnants
of Renaissance finery. On a silver chain around his
neck sits a massive, uncut, blue-green crystal the
size of one’s fist. The Animus Crystal is revealed!
Clever (or lucky) characters might beat Eisenmuller
to the punch and open the obelisk themselves. If so,
Ereshkigal will possess the hapless character instead!
Spend Style or exert as needed for Ereshkigal to suc-
ceed, but be ready to allow the character an attempt
to regain control later. Whether the possessed char-
acter remains controlled by the player or temporarily
becomes an NPC is up to the Gamemaster, but a cooper-
ative player may deserve Style points for their troubles.

A look of triumph on his face, Eisenmuller reaches

at once for the crystal. Then the madness begins as the
mind imprisoned in the Animus Crystal makes its bid for
Il Più Difettoso Non Muore
freedom, attempting to possess the doomed archeologist! Mai (The Worst Never Dies)
The characters may not notice Ereshkigal’s possession
of Eisenmuller if they are caught up in their own escape,
The Animus Crystal but his men will realize something is wrong. Ereshkigal
The Animus Crystal is actually a “Soul Shard”— will attempt to command them, but won’t be able to
a piece of the shattered Soul Crystal that housed the
deceive the soldiers for long without total control of the
mind of Ereshkigal, an ancient and powerful Atlantean
archeologist.
sorcerer. This shard contains only a splinter of his wis-
dom, power, and personality; the entity within is now
quite, quite, mad. If other Soul Shards of Ereshkigal
still exist, they are long lost, but each could contain
a slightly different but equally insane and dangerous
version of Ereshkigal.

The crystal grants Ereshkigal the ability to possess

another sentient being via the Possession Talent (see
Appendix). The duration of the possession is unlimited so
long as the Crystal remains intact and within sight of the
victim. If the host is willing, the attempt automatically
succeeds. Ereshkigal also gains access to his host’s memo-
ries, Skills, and Talents. If his soul is forced out or the
host body killed, it retreats to the Crystal until it can find
a new host. Should the Crystal be destroyed, Ereshkigal
19

Ereshkigal the Mad
Ereshkigal was once a powerful Atlantean sor-
cerer who made an ill-fated bid for control of the Hol-
low Earth. Defeated, his body was destroyed by his
foes; but he was crafty enough to link his spirit to the
Animus Crystal, allowing his soul to survive within.
Millennia later, members of the Terra Arcanum recov-
ered the Crystal in the Hindu Kush mountains. With
the signet rings and other measures to protect them-
selves, the Arcanum masters were able to commu-
nicate with Ereshkigal’s soul without falling prey to
possession. Their ability to tap his memories proved
to be a vital source of mystical knowledge for the
society. Eventually, lust for power overrode caution
when Domenico Solario invited Ereshkigal to possess
him in return for full access to the sorcerer’s other-
worldly powers. The resulting battle with the rest of
the chapterhouse eventually killed Domenico, dev-
astated the Arcanum’s European membership, and
caused the fire that destroyed his palace. Defeated yet
again, Ereshkigal retreated to the Crystal to sullenly
await his next chance at freedom.
Ereshkigal, Mad Atlantean Sorcerer
Mentor 4
Archetype: Occultist Motivation: Power
Style: 4 Health: (8)**
Primary Attributes
Body: 0* (4) Charisma: 4
Dexterity: 0* (4) Intelligence: 4
Strength: 0* (4) Willpower: 4
Secondary Attributes
Size: 0 Initiative: (8)**
Move: (8)** Defense: (8)**
Perception: 8 Stun: (4)**
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Academics 4 5 9 (4+)
(Occult)
Athletics 0* 2 2 (1)
Con 4 2 6 (3)
Diplomacy 4 2 6 (3)
Focus 4 2 6 (3)
Intimidation 4 2 6 (3)
Investigation 4 2 6 (3)
Linguistics 4 3 9 (4+)
Melee 0* 4 4 (2)
Sorcery 4 6 12 (6)
20
Talents
Magical Aptitude (allows use of Atlantean sorcery)
Atlantean Language 1 (fluent in proper Atlantean)
Atlantean Power Words 1 (may issue single-word commands that
must be obeyed)
Skill Aptitude (+2 Linguistics rating)
Skill Aptitude (+2 Sorcery rating)
Sorcery Rituals (see Appendix for details)
Sense Magic (Rank 1)
Sorcerous Defense (Rank 2)
Sorcerous Damage (Rank 3)
Shield of Will (Rank 4)
Sorcerous Blast (Rank 5)
Soul Link (Rank 6)
Resources
Artifact 3 (Animus Crystal; preserves one’s soul and grants
Possession Talent)
Flaw
Megalomaniacal (Severe: +2 Style when Ereshkigal’s plans
move forward)
Out of His Time (+1 Style when befuddled by Surface World
culture and technology)
Weapons Rating Attack Average Notes
Punch 0 N 0 N (0) N
Sorcerous Blast Special 12 L ( 6) L Range 25’
Languages
Atlantean, Ancient Phoenician, Ancient Egyptian, several Hollow
Earth languages
*Ereshkigal is incorporeal unless in possession of another
character. While incorporeal, his Body, Dexterity, and Strength
Attributes are zero and he cannot be harmed by physical damage
**Ereshkigal’s Charisma (for Strength), Intelligence (for
Dexterity), and Willpower (for Body) are substituted for his
Physical Attributes in calculating Secondary Attributes while
incorporeal
This should turn into a wild scene as the characters,
the Nazis, and Ereshkigal battle each other. Ereshkigal
can be beaten in several ways: by destroying his host,
smashing the Animus Crystal, or imprisoning him in
the obelisk again. Ereshkigal will use Power Words to
turn some soldiers into fanatical defenders; clever char-
acters might use Diplomacy to sway others to their side
(after all, Eisenmuller is clearly not himself anymore).
As they battle it out, Father Petrillo will quietly slip
away to watch the action. When it looks like the char-
acters are gaining the upper hand, he will softly chant a
ritual offer to be Ereshkigal’s vessel. The mad sorcerer
will not hesitate to jump to a willing host, allowing Eisen-
muller to die in his stead! Characters with the ability to
perceive supernatural energies (such as wearing a Solario
signet ring or possessing appropriate Talents) may get a
Perception roll (Difficulty 3) to notice the body switch.

Hear Me, Ereshkigal!
Ereshkigal gains the following benefits from pos-
session of a willing host:
• +1 to the host’s Physical Attributes
• Full access to the host’s Talents, Skills, and
memories. If both have the same Skill, use the higher
rating +2 to reflect the shared knowledge
• Nullification of the Out of His Time Flaw
• Allows the host to perform a physical action (at no
Penalty) while the sorcerer performs a mental action
(such as a Sorcery Ritual or Atlantean Power Word)
(Read aloud...)
A wave of crackling, gold-green energy ripples
across the entire rotunda floor, dissolving the emer-
ald “stone” beneath. A few strips of white marble
remain along the outside walls and around the obe-
lisk; everywhere else the floor is simply gone, plung-
ing all above into the icy waters beneath. The vast
rubble pile from the collapsed ceiling suddenly shifts
and drops into the pool, flooding the rotunda and the
side chambers with a waist-high wall of water!
Anyone who avoided falling by clinging to the out-
skirts of the vault will need a Strength roll (Difficulty
3) to avoid being swept off their feet by the surge; if on
the rubble pile, they must make an Acrobatics (Balance)
roll (Difficulty 3) to avoid being caught in the slide and
trapped underwater. Those failing either roll will take 1
N damage for every Success they were short.
In its wake, the surge leaves the rotunda and the
vaults flooded with foot-deep water, the level inching
steadily upward as more water pours in from below. As
if that weren’t enough, the denizen held in stasis under
the water for centuries awakens—a cranky and hungry
ancient sarcosuchus: a gigantic, prehistoric crocodile!
The creature will be sluggish at first (-2 Initiative and
Move) but after a short glimpse of the chaos will happily
start feeding on Nazis—and the odd character as well!
(Read aloud...)
The rotunda turns dark and gloomy as the light
from the obelisk begins to fade. The sounds of splash-
ing water, tumbling rocks, and cries for help echo
off the stone walls as people begin to get their bear-
ings and strike out for the walkways at the rotunda’s
outer wall. An arrow-like series of ripples spreads
across the surface towards a Nazi soldier doggedly
swimming for the rotunda’s edge. He turns as the
ripples die away—then vanishes with a strangled cry!
The water churns for a moment, then stops; the
soldier’s cloth cap floats to the surface. A moment
later a pair of fist-sized, cold, yellow eyes encased in
hard leather scales, rise out of the water nearby and
turn their attention your way...
Ancient Sarcosuchus
Follower 4
Archetype: Animal Motivation: Survival
Style: 0 Health: 19
Primary Attributes
Body: 10 Charisma: 0
Dexterity: 4 Intelligence: 1
Strength: 10 Willpower: 5
Secondary Attributes
Size: 4 Initiative: 5
Move: 14 (7)* Defense: 10 (12)**
Perception: 8 Stun: 10
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Brawl 10 2 14 (7)
Stealth 4 4 6*** (3)
Survival 1 4 7 (3+)
Talents
Alertness 1 (+2 Perception rating)
Skill Aptitude (+2 Brawl rating)
Skill Aptitude (+2 Stealth rating)
Skill Aptitude (+2 Survival rating)
Resources
None
Flaw
Bestial (Character cannot communicate or use tools)
Weapons Rating Size Attack Average
Bite 4 L -4 14 L (7) L
Tail 4 N -4 14 N (7) N
* Sarcosuchus uses the full Move rating when swimming
and half Move on land
** Sarcosuchus has a thick bony hide that provides a +2
Passive Defense bonus
*** Sarcosuchus suffers a -4 Size Penalty on Stealth rolls
unless underwater or camouflaged
21
 Meanwhile, Ereshkigal is looking for a way out—but
not without his Animus Crystal. He’ll order a convenient
Nazi (or a handy character) to fetch it for him, giving the
group one more chance to take him down. Once he has
the Crystal (or after seeing it destroyed) he’ll head for one
of the freshly-opened side vaults to retrieve an artifact he
can use to escape, or to open a hidden portal. But while
they’re dealing with that, things get even worse!
(Read aloud...)
A low, discordant hum builds with the rising
water, getting louder and harsher as the glow radiat-
ing from the open obelisk flickers and fades, driving
tiny agitated ripples in the water that grow larger
and more violent. Cracks zig and zag across the wall
as stones begin falling from the ceiling. It won’t be
long before the roof comes crashing down on every-
one, destroying the vault forever!
22
Treat the falling rock as an Area attack doing 2
Nonlethal damage; everyone in the caverns or rotunda
is vulnerable and may use only Active Defense to avoid
this damage. Repeat as necessary to get the characters
running for the exit. The Nazi minisub is still moored
in the side cavern and can be used for an escape. But it
won’t be easy with the rotunda and the Piazza del Rodini
above (and a few neighboring buildings) collapsing into
the sinkhole. The sarcosuchus (if still alive) will be look-
ing for a way out, too, and he’ll be right on their heels!
Piloting the Minisub to Safety
(Extended action, 1 minute per roll)
Roll:
• Pilot (Submarines)
• Base Difficulty = 4
• +2 Bonus if a second character serves as copilot
• +2 Bonus if any other crewmen have Craft (Mechanic)
or Pilot (Submarines) Rating 4+
 Critical Failure: The minisub is trapped by the col-
lapse! All within take 3 N damage; the minisub takes 4
Structure points of damage and is now taking on water.
A Pilot roll (Difficulty 4) will be needed to free it.
Failure: The minisub is damaged by collapsing rubble
or a collision with a piling. All within take 1 N damage
from the rough ride. For each Success less than 4 on the
Piloting roll, the minisub loses 1 Structure point.
5 Successes Required: You escape the caverns, finding
a vertical shaft leading up to the lagoon!
Epilogue: Anybody Alive Back There?
The characters will reach the surface of the lagoon a
couple of miles from Venice. The lights of the city spar-
kle gaily across the water—save for a huge gap where
the Piazza del Rodini once lay, now swallowed by the
sinkhole created when the rotunda collapsed. The Ital-
ian authorities will act quickly to ensure any evidence of
the desperate battle beneath the city is well concealed.
As far as the world will ever know, the sinkhole was
just an unfortunate natural disaster. The Foundation for
Research and Enlightenment will have been alerted as
to the severity of the situation, and be near at hand to
13:2 37:2 10:2 6:10 12:5
assist the characters (whether or not they are members),
helping to smuggle them out of the city if necessary. The
leaders of the Foundation will also be eager to learn what
the characters have discovered about the Terra Arcanum
and the Animus Crystal.
All sorts of outcomes are possible depending on
the characters’ actions. If the characters didn’t kill it,
there is now a sarcosuchus roaming Venice. Ereshkigal
may have escaped and would already be planning fur-
ther mayhem. A mission from the Foundation to hunt
down the rest of the fragments of Ereshkigal’s Animus
Crystal (to either destroy them or attempt to heal his
shattered mind) could occupy an entire campaign. The
characters likely came away with one or more signet
rings, a fancy new (albeit hard-used) Nazi minisub,
and perhaps even the fabled Lyon Codex with what-
ever secrets it still holds.
The characters have also earned the full attention of
the Terra Arcanum, who will likely take increased interest
in their activities. This may not be a good thing…
23
 Appendix:
Sorcery, Vehicles, and Artifacts
Ereshkigal’s Rituals
and Talents
The Atlantean Priestly caste practiced sorcery for
thousands of years. The tradition followed by Ereshki-
gal stresses techniques for bending energy to one’s will,
making it a favorite for warfare.
Sense Magic
Rank 1
This ritual duplicates the effects of the Psychic Sen-
sitivity Talent (Hollow Earth Expedition, p. 68), save that
the sorcerer uses Perception instead of Empathy to sense
magical and supernatural energies. The effects of the
ritual last for one scene.
Sorcerous Defense
Rank 2
This ritual allows the sorcerer to substitute his Sor-
cery rating for his Defense rating versus Sorcery and other
supernatural attacks. The effects of this ritual last for the
duration of one scene or the remainder of combat.
Sorcerous Damage
Rank 3
A sorcerer may use his Sorcery rating when making
Brawl, Melee, or Archery attacks. The effects of this
ritual last for duration of one scene or the remainder
of combat.
24
Shield of Will
Rank 4
This ritual allows the sorcerer to substitute his Sorcery
rating for his Defense rating versus any physical attack. The
shield does not work against supernatural-based attacks or
psychic assaults, but does apply to mundane energy damage
(such as fire or lightning attacks). The effects of this ritual
last for duration of one scene or the remainder of combat.
Sorcerous Blast
Rank 5
This ritual allows the sorcerer to create a burst of
magical energy to attack her opponents. The energy does
Lethal damage, has an Attack rating equal to her Sor-
cery rating, and a range of 25’. The sorcerer may choose to
direct the energy at multiple targets with the same Pen-
alties as an Autofire attack (but without the +3 Autofire
Bonus). The effects of the ritual last for only one attack.
Soul Link
Rank 6
A sorcerer can use this ritual to link his soul with
another object; so long as the object remains intact he may
not be permanently killed. Although any object might
serve, a specially-prepared artifact, such as a Soul Crystal,
grants a +2 Bonus. The sorcerer knows the location of his
soul link at all times; someone with the ability to sense
supernatural energies may be able to detect the link. If the
sorcerer is killed, his soul retreats instantly to the linked
object. Some versions of this ritual allow the sorcerer to
return to his body if it has been restored to health. Others
allow the sorcerer to attempt to possess the next sentient
that handles the soul object (see Possession Talent).
Possession (Talent)
Prerequisites: Mind Control Talent
Your character can possess another person’s body,
riding within it, seeing through its eyes, and controlling
its speech and action. The victim remains aware of what
is happening but essentially becomes a prisoner in his
own body.
Benefit: Your character may possess any person
(human or beastman) by spending one full turn in phys-
ical contact with the subject. If the subject is unwilling,
he must be physically restrained during this process. Roll
Willpower × 2 with a difficulty equal to the unwilling
subject’s Willpower. If successful, your character’s body
drops into a coma-like state while your consciousness
controls the target body for one turn per extra success
on your Possession roll. If you roll more successes than
double your target’s Willpower rating, your character can
possess his victim for the duration of combat or until the
end of the scene. While possessing another character, your
character retains his Intelligence and Willpower Attributes,
any social or mental Flaws, all Skills, and all Talents except
those which must be taken at character creation. This pos-
session remains in effect at most a number of hours equal
to your character’s Willpower score.
If you attempt to force a subject to perform an action
that runs counter to his Motivation, your victim may
make an opposed Willpower roll to regain control. If the
subject wins, you immediately relinquish control over the
body and awaken in your own. You may possess a new
subject while in the body of another, but once posses-
sion of a subject is completed, you may not possess that
subject again for a number of days equal to that subject’s
Willpower. If your body is killed while you are in pos-
session of another, your character will die when the pos-
session comes to an end unless he can possess another
body before then.
Normal: Your telepathic character can read minds
but not possess them.
Advanced: You may take this Talent three times. At
the second level, the maximum duration of the possession

Vehicles and Artifacts

Typical Venetian Watercraft
Boats Size Def
Barcheta 2 4
Diesona 4 4
Gondola 2 4
Mototopo 4 4
Riva Runabout 2 6
Vaporetto 4 6
Water Taxi 4 6
Strc Spd Han Crew Pass Cost Notes
8 Str × 2 -2 2 14 Oared transport boat
12 Str × 3 0 11 0 Oared pleasure boat
6 Str × 2 0 1 4 A tourist favorite
10 20 0 1 6 Typical work boat
8 40 +2 1 3 Typical Italian police boat
16 20 -2 2 30 Venetian water bus
10 30 0 1 5 Typical taxi

is a number of days equal to your Willpower Attribute. At
the third level, the maximum duration of the possession
is a number of weeks equal to your Willpower Attribute.
Barcheta: A variant of the gondola used as a trans-
port boat and ferry. Typical transport versions are used
to move bricks, construction materials, or passengers
across the Grand Canal.
Diesona: A pleasure boat carrying 10 oarsmen,
popular with local rowing clubs. As with virtually all
Venetian oared craft, the oarsmen stand while rowing.
Gondola: The stereotypical flat-bottomed, oared
pleasure boat, popular with tourists.
Mototopo: Typical motorized workboats used for
fishing and general cargo hauling. Unlike most Vene-
tian boats, many mototopo are capable of limited cruising
on the ocean.
Riva Runabout: Typical of the fast speedboats
favored by the Italian police and some private citizens.
Vaporetto: The Venetian water bus, busily ferry-
ing groups of passengers around the city. Most have an
open deck with bench seating, a rope or wood railing,
and a flat cloth or wood top for shade and some protec-
tion from light rain.
Water Taxi: Typical motorized small ferry. The
pilot is in an open cockpit, whereas the passengers sit in
an elegant and comfortable enclosed cabin.
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Solario Family Signet
Rings
Artifact 1
These are heavy silver rings engraved in a Byzantine
style, decorated with Atlantean script. Each is embossed
with the seal of the Venetian Solario family, once lead-
ing members of the Terra Arcanum. Inside each ring
is embossed a different Latin word—“Primus” (First),
“Secondus” (Second), and “Trientis” (Third)—indicat-
ing rank inside the chapterhouse. Records on when and
how the artifacts were originally created have long since
been lost, although the Arcanum believes some sort of
alchemical process was involved.
Their more mundane function was to serve as keys
to locks protecting the most important secrets of the
chapterhouse. But they were also endowed with useful
supernatural abilities: the rings bolster the Willpower
of the wearer, helping protect him or her against attacks
aimed at the mind or spirit; they also give the wearer
the ability to see and disrupt supernatural creatures and
effects otherwise invisible to the naked eye.
These rings also had serious flaws, however. First,
they proved to be addictive; the longer one was worn
the harder it became to remove it. Given the other-
worldly visions granted by the rings, long-term wearers
often struggled to separate reality from magic-induced
hallucination. Second, the rings preserved the psychic
imprint of the most powerful personality that wore it—
which often forced their mental flaws on bearers with
weaker minds.
The Solario rings were believed lost with the last
of the Solario line in Renaissance times. However, it
is possible that the Terra Arcanum may have created
other objects with similar functions—in Venice or other
chapterhouses. Such items could be very useful to inves-
tigators of paranormal phenomena.
Vehicle Size Def Strc Spd Han
Blasfisch 2 6 8 10/5 0
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Enchantments: Increased Attribute: Willpower
+1 (+2 Enchantments), Talent: Psychic Sensitivity (+2
Enchantments), Improved Damage Type: Damage
Spirits (+2 Enchantments), Attribute Substitution:
Willpower for Strength (+2 Enchantments)
Drawbacks: Flaw: Addictive (-2 Enchantments),
Flaw: Delusions (-2 Enchantments), Flaw: Psychic
Imprint (-2 Enchantments)
Psychic Imprint Flaws – Each ring has a unique
mental or social Flaw imprinted by the strongest per-
sonality to wear it. These Flaws are:
“Primus” – Dominant (+1 Style when your need to
dominate brings strife)
“Secondus” – Paranoia (+1 Style when your fears
come true or drive others away)
“Trientis” – Depressed (+1 Style when your sadness
inhibits your actions or relations)
Blasfisch – German Mini-
sub
Artifact 2
The Blasfisch is the second of a series of highly-
classified experimental minisubs. Wide and deep for its
size, the sub has a squat, dumpy appearance reminiscent
of its namesake, the puffer fish. A short conning tower
topped with a clear perspex bubble provides the pilot
with exceptional visibility, greatly aiding its maneuver-
ability in close quarters. The copilot and torpedoman sit
below and in front with their own window; the copilot
controls power and ballast and the torpedoman handles
defense. Either can control the clumsy manipulator arm
fitted to the sub for exploration purposes (treat as an
Improvised Weapon with a 0 L damage rating). Power-
ful floodlights allow some visibility in even the murki-
est waters, and its cutting-edge motor is virtually silent.
Diving depth is rated at only 100 feet, although test
dives up to 135 feet have been made. Two mini-torpedoes
have been fitted to outboard sponsons for emergencies.
Enhancements: Skill: Stealth +4 vs. sonar (+2
Enhancements), Extra Limb (+2 Enhancements),
Underwater Life Support (+2 Enhancements)
Limitations: Reduced Speed (-2 Enhancements)
Mini-torpedo (×2): Damage 10 L; range 500 ft;
rate of fire ½
Crew Pass Notes
2 6 Second speed is electric only