IT CAME FROM SCAPA FLOW 

Mystery Preparation Sheet 

 
Concept 

History: On 21st June 1919, fi y-three ships of the German High Fleet, having waited several months for word of an armistice agreement, were 
scuttled in Scapa Flow, Orkney. Nine German sailors were killed in the process, the final casualties of World War One. Amongst them, the 
Captain of the battleship Markgraf, one Walter Schumann. 47 sailors from this ship had previously been imprisoned as part of the Kiel Mutiny in 
November 1918, an event that led directly to the German revolution and the departure of Kaiser Wilhelm II into exile.  
 
In 1924, with the price of scrap metal much higher than at the end of the war, scrap metal dealer Ernest Cox was engaged to recover as much of 
the fleet as he could. By May 1926 a dozen ships had been raised and towed to breaker’s yards, with one destroyer retained to act as a floating 
workshop. The work was far from easy however, as the weather in the area was frequently stormy, and as a general strike loomed across the 
country the salvage team were running short of fuel. Ever ingenious, Cox ordered the coal bunkers of the battlecruiser Seydlitz opened to use the 
coal to fuel the boilers of his own machinery. 
 
Fiction: Cpt. Schumann was fanatically loyal to the Kaiser, and despised the negotiators as well as the sailors who had disobeyed and 
shamed him to form a revolutionary council aboard ship. The Naval Order of 24th October 1918 was everything he had hoped for - a 
glorious sortie into the Channel to engage the Royal Navy and subvert attempts towards peace. It was not to be, following a series of 
mutinies the order was cancelled and Schumann found himself at anchor in Scapa Flow - effectively a prisoner. The plan to scuttle 
the fleet was one he saw as a noble sacrifice. Unlike many of his fellow officers he conspired to have his most loyal sailors weld 
themselves inside the ship so that there could be no chance of the British reaching the valves necessary to avert the sinking. He 
himself took to the bridge, and went down with his ship. Now, his spirit hungers for vengeance against the Royal Navy vessels and 
the base that serves them.   

Hook - 1st May 1926 

There have been human settlements in these islands since neolithic times, and the area remained under the rule of Norse Jarls until 
as recently as the 15th century. The immediate area is one of the world’s greatest natural harbours (despite the terrible weather), but 
the permanent Royal Navy base is only about 20 years old at this point. The surrounding waters were heavily fortified during the 
Great War, and it was here that the German High Fleet surrendered 7 years ago - scuttling many of its ships in the process.   
 
Two salvage workers (David Baker, George Winter) recovering scrap metal from sunken ships have gone missing underwater in 
recent weeks along with their equipment (diving suits, welding torches, toolkits etc). There are also reports of other items going 
missing or being moved on the naval base, and a strange pattern of telegraph line interruptions. 
 
As the operatives make their way North to Orkney, the newspapers are full of speculation about an imminent General Strike - the 
first in British history.  

Countdown 

A third salvage worker (diver Keith Davis) disappears from a dock, this time with a witness (pump operator Robert 
DAY  Waldron). The air lines and safety cables of Keith’s suit have been cut using tools stolen from the base workshops.  

The salvage crew working on the pontoon dock to recover coal from the bunkers of the newly-raised SMS Seydlitz 
SHADOWS  is attacked by the very cranes, excavators, tools etc that they are working with. These possessed machines attempt 
to capture workers and then disappear into the water.  

Possessed divers and machinery break into the armoury on the base by smashing down the door and ripping out 
DUSK  floodlights/electrical cable. They steal experimental limpet mines (Project X30) and abduct guards - which they 
drown to create new servants.   

Using the mines (and with information gathered from tapping telegraph cables) Schumann’s servants ambush a 
SUNSET  supply ship (HMS Resource) full of shells and transfer them to the wreck of the Markgraf, which then proceeds to 
rise to the surface.  

Schumann turns the newly-supplied guns of the Markgraf on the naval base, killing numerous sailors and 
NIGHTFALL  destroying the fuel tanks, barracks and mess. The enormous oil fire keeps him from landing minions (see 
weaknesses).  

The Royal Air Force and Navy are called in to strike at the fleet as more ships begin to rise from the depths. Their 
MIDNIGHT  defence against air attack is limited, and eventually a squadron of Hawker Horsley torpedo bombers is able to sink 
the Markgraf - though it withstands far more hits than should be physically possible.  

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 IT CAME FROM SCAPA FLOW 
Mystery Preparation Sheet 

Notes, Custom Moves, Etc. 

1. Aside from water and enemy action, what every captain fears is fire and smoke. In the case of Cpt. Schumann a detailed 
research of his past (such as by asking for info via one of the “ask a friend/employer” type moves) will reveal that during his 
first command he lost several men a er a boiler fire. As such he is only vulnerable to fire/smoke fueled by coal or oil.  
2. The magnetic limpet mines are slightly too advanced to be present in 1926, this is explained by them being an experimental 
weapon located in the most secure part of the base. If any of the hunters have weapons in their loadout which are also not 
historically accurate (e.g. assault rifles) then they can be explained as being part of the same program. 
3. The Chaplain is a good candidate to know more about the supernatural than anyone else on the base. There could also be a 
veteran salvage worker who has “seen things” on previous jobs.  
4. The general pattern for recovering the sunken ships has been to send down divers to weld up any holes (this is what the two 
missing men were doing) then pump the wreck full of air so that it floats to the surface. The pontoon dock is then 
maneuvered underneath it to allow for more work - the wrecks are either broken up in situ or more usually made more 
airtight and towed by tugboat to a breaker’s yard further down the coast. One German destroyer has been refloated as a 
temporary workshop and diving platform.  
5. The base’s archives (which the Commander’s secretary is nominally responsible for) are in good order and can provide 
information about the German fleet/crew internment as well as the details of the scuttling.  
   

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 IT CAME FROM SCAPA FLOW 
Mystery Preparation Sheet 
 
Monsters & Minions 

NAME  Captain Walter Schumann  NAME  Possessed Diver 

TYPE  Monster   Executioner. Ghost.  TYPE  Minion  Thief 

MOTIVATION  To destroy the Royal Navy of Great Britain  MOTIVATION  To obtain information and objects for the 
captain 

POWERS  Appear on or near any German high fleet  POWERS  Squeeze through confined spaces (limited only 
vessel instantly  by helmet)  
 

WEAKNESSES  Banished forever by:  WEAKNESSES  Fire/smoke from burning oil 

Surrender of the base commander  Magic 
Destruction of the bridge of the Markgraf  Holy water 
Laying to rest earthly remains (sealed inside)  Reminders of who the once were (personal 
  possessions from salvage camp, appeals by 
Harmed/driven off by:  former colleagues etc) 
Fire/smoke from burning oil or coal 
Magic 
Holy water 

ATTACKS  Debris Telekinesis: 2 to 4-harm close  ATTACKS  2 of the following: 

  Wrench: 3-harm hand 
Welding torch: 3-harm fire hand 
Choking grab: 2-harm restraining 

ARMOUR  0  ARMOUR  1 (Thick Leather Diving Suit and Brass Helmet) 

HARM CAP.  ☐☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐ HARM CAP.  ☐☐☐☐☐ ☐☐

NAME  Poltergeist mass of cables and hoses  NAME  Animated crane/hydraulic excavator  

TYPE  Minion  Brute  TYPE  Minion  Right Hand/Guardian 

MOTIVATION  To intimidate and attack  MOTIVATION  To back up the captain and attack as 
tools/muscle 

POWERS  Add more cables/hose/rope/chain to the mass  POWERS  Almost impossible to stop moving  

WEAKNESSES  Cutting or slashing weapons  WEAKNESSES  Legs or tracks.  

Cabin containing remains of operator 

ATTACKS  Hose Grapple: 0-harm close restraining  ATTACKS  Either: 

  Excavator bucket: 4-harm slow close 
Cable Strangle: 2-harm hand  Winch cable: 2-harm restraining close 

ARMOUR  0  ARMOUR  0 

HARM CAP.  ☐☐☐☐ HARM CAP.  ☐☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐☐

 
   

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Bystanders 

NAME  Ernest Cox  NAME  Obermatrose Reinhard Scheer 

TYPE  Innocent  Yorkshire Entrepreneur.   TYPE  Witness  Ghostly German Communist.  

Tweeds  Rating uniform. 
Early-40s  Early-20s 

MOTIVATION  To ensure the safety of his workers  MOTIVATION  Reveal information about the Markgraf/mutiny 

NOTES  Can help the operatives if they want to dive on  NOTES  Found aboard the wreck of Seydlitz or in the 
a wreck. Especially if they are seen to help his  salvage camp storage area (from when he was a 
team.   POW) 

NAME  Commodore John Walker  NAME  Robert Waldron 

TYPE  Official  Upper class  TYPE  Victim  Air pump operator/diver 

Elaborate uniform  Overalls 
About 60  Mid-50s 

MOTIVATION  Suspicious of the operatives and the salvagers  MOTIVATION  Determined to search for his friend 

NOTES  Will admit the the s (has assigned Hutton to  NOTES  Feels guilty - strong team bond 
investigate). Believes the salvagers to be 
careless risk-takers.  

NAME  Chief Petty Officer Thomas Hutton  NAME  Hilary Brown 

TYPE  Busybody  Middle management  TYPE  Gossip  Nurse 

Officer’s uniform  Uniform 
About 30 

MOTIVATION  To investigate the s/uncover Soviet spies  MOTIVATION  To pass on rumours 

NOTES  Virulently anti-bolshevik, concerned about  NOTES  Helpful, and can provide medical care, but will 
outsiders and their methods of obtaining  question/chat intently and pass on everything 
information.    she knows without critical analysis.  

NAME  Comms Officer Christopher Skeet  NAME  James McKeen (Workshop manager) 

TYPE  Detective   Early 30s, glasses  TYPE  Skeptic  Late 40s, toolbelt 

MOTIVATION  To work out what is going on (rationally)  MOTIVATION  To shoot down talk of spies and poltergeists 

NOTES  Has researched the telegraph line and ruled  NOTES  He’s worked a lot of places - stuff always goes 
out natural damage/interruption. But also is  missing. People are just forgetful and don’t 
aware that spies are incredibly unlikely here.  want to admit it.  
 
NAME  Officer Connel Chapman (commander’s  NAME  Chaplain Ernest Granger 
secretary) 

TYPE  Witness  50s, neat and tidy, glasses  TYPE  Helper  Curly hair, kind eyes 

MOTIVATION  To assist anyone with official access  MOTIVATION  To offer spiritual aid/counsel 

NOTES  Takes orders from the commander, so can  NOTES  If confronted by the supernatural he will assist 
either be ordered to help or may be persuaded  - even if he thinks it’s just a placebo he knows 
by the hunters/fake passes etc  how superstitious sailors are.  
 
 

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 IT CAME FROM SCAPA FLOW 
Mystery Preparation Sheet 

Locations 

NAME  Bridge of The Markgraf  NAME  Wreck of The Markgraf 

TYPE  Fortress    TYPE  Maze   

MOTIVATION  A defensible command post  MOTIVATION  To deny entry to outsiders 

NOTES  Cpt. Schumann ordered the doors welded shut  NOTES  The wreck lies on its side and much of the 
and the windows covered with bolted-down  superstructure has collapsed. The guns have 
plates. A few were loosened when the wreck  fallen from their mountings and the funnel and 
hit the sea floor.   mast are both crushed.  

NAME  Wreck of the HMS Resource  NAME  Commander’s Office 

TYPE  Hellgate    TYPE  Hub   

MOTIVATION  To supply Cpt. Schumann via monstrous  MOTIVATION  To offer clues to how/when people went missing 
servants 

NOTES  Only exists as a location if successfully sunk,  NOTES  The commander or his secretary can offer 
otherwise they are using one of the remaining  directions to most of the base and detail the 
unraised destroyers as a staging post.  events so far.  

NAME  Naval Base Mess Hall  NAME  Pontoon Dock/Wreck of the SMS Seydlitz 

TYPE  Crossroads    TYPE  Den   

MOTIVATION  To provide a place for people to be/meet  MOTIVATION  To offer Schumann resources 

NOTES  Officers and sailor sections divided by a thin  NOTES  Cranes and excavators (see monsters). 
wall  Work crews are patching up the wreck and 
recovering coal (short supply due to strike) 

NAME  Salvage Work Camp  NAME  Base Armoury 

TYPE  Crossroads    TYPE  Den   

MOTIVATION  Support the salvage effort, force navy and  MOTIVATION  To offer Schumann resources 
salvage personnel to interact with each other 

NOTES  Lots of ex-military gear, tools and workshops  NOTES  Highly secure with many locks and three guards 
Mostly tents/temporary structures (former  Thick concrete block walls 
POW camp)  Subdivided inside - including experimental 
weapons storage 
 
 
 
 
 

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