FOUR HOURS TO RENO

Written By Graeme Patrick

Maps By Graeme Patrick

Edited by Todd Gardiner

Call of Cthulhu is a Registered Trademarks of Chaosium Inc. For more information

please visit Chaosium’s website: www.chaosium.com

Four Hours to Reno ©2020 Graeme Patrick

CONTENTS
Introduction............................................................................ 3
Background ............................................................................. 3
Involving the Investigators............................................... 3
Dramatis Personae ............................................................... 4
Roleplaying Hooks: .............................................................. 6
Timelines.................................................................................. 6
The Dining Carriage ............................................................. 8
Examining the Dining Car ................................................. 8
Interviewing Li Wei ............................................................. 8
The Crime Scene.................................................................... 8
The Bedroom .......................................................................... 9
The Balcony............................................................................. 9
Tracking down the suspects ............................................ 9
The Parlour Carriage ........................................................... 9
Hensley Gang break out!................................................. 10
Adjust for time .................................................................... 11
Aftermath .............................................................................. 11
The Postal Car & The Tablet.......................................... 12
Interacting with the Olmec tablet ............................... 12
Chase to the private carriage from the postal car 13
Conclusions .......................................................................... 13
Appendix 1: Trains in the old West ............................ 15
Appendix 2: The Tablet ................................................... 16
NPCs and Mythos ............................................................... 17
The Hensley Gang: ............................................................. 17
Shantak, Winged Elephantine Mounts ...................... 17
Spells ....................................................................................... 17
Crawling One. Agatha C. Noels. .................................... 17
Spells ....................................................................................... 18

2

INTRODUCTION
The invention of the steam train opened the West up to a new
form of travel, which was faster, safer, and more comfortable
than the conventional wagons of the early 1800s. When it
would take a gruelling six months to travel from the East into
the West on foot and horse, trains cut down the crossing of vast
stretches of barren wilderness to mere days.
Within Four Hours to Reno, several strangers will be
confined together on a train to Reno from Salt Lake city in
1867, and their conflicting motives collide into a cascade of
events that leave the rail magnate, Knox Q. Isham,
unceremoniously liquefied on his fine imported Persian carpet.
After being asked to lock away a valuable artefact in his
private safe as a favour to one of the passengers, Isham
becomes a target for a furious Crawling One, Agatha C. Noels.
Agatha is out to retrieve what it thinks is rightfully its own
but is beaten to the punch by an opportune thief. The Crawling
One now stalks the train looking for its coveted tablet which
holds the key to unlocking the secrets of an ancient cult of
Mother Hydra.
This scenario is for four to six players and designed to put
the Investigators on a timer which will end the session in four
hours. The Keeper should bear this in mind, however there are
suggestions in some events that will help manage the time
more effectively should the Keeper need to adjust for the
groups play style.
The crux of the story will revolve about the investigation of
Isham's death and discovery of the murderer’s identity. The
Keeper’s knowledge of the suspects is critical to throw doubt on
their motives and character, and playing into the Investigators’
suspicions and insights.
Little did Manning know, the leader of the grave robbers sat
across from him, seething as he grandstands. Agatha knows
Manning and his story all too well; it was her cultists he had
trapped to die inside the tomb as they were recovering the
tablet from a dig in La Venta. Being a Crawling One, a wizard
composed of worms and maggots, Agatha slipped through the
cracks and left her underlings to die. She has been
chasing Manning ever since and has finally caught up with
him.
Later that night, Agatha broke into Isham’s private carriage
only to find him still awake at his writing desk. Angered, she
cast Liquid Death on the poor man and within five panicked
steps he was reduced to ichor, however, Agatha found someone
had beaten her to the tablet and the safe lay empty.
Hours before, a man by the name of Seldon Springs was told
the story of Manning and the tablet by Samantha Bose as she
returned to her seat from the card game to feed her dog
Petal. Seeing the opportunity of a quick lucrative job, Seldon
took to the roofs of the train and broke in to the private
carriage before Agatha, cracked the safe, and took the tablet
while the card game went on.
Agatha frustrated from having to wear the mask of a human
is losing its composure as it now desperately hunts for the
tablet, growing more furious as the train approaches Reno.
INVOLVING THE
INVESTIGATORS
Returning to Reno, as they take in the Hensley gang to be tried
for cattle rustling and murder, the Investigators play as a
deputised posse of civilians lead by US Marshal Eldridge

BACKGROUND Nash, They are on the same train as Agatha by sheer

chance. They will be confronted by the train conductor covered
Nevada 1867, the train that the Investigators find themselves in the putrid liquid of Knox Q. Isham, and with hysterical pleas
on, is travelling from Salt Lake City to the newly opened station will be asked to investigate Isham's death.
in Reno. During a game of cards, late on the last night of the
journey, Mr Isham drunkenly let slip that he was asked to lock
away an invaluable jade Olmec tablet in his private safe
by the Anthropologist Lars Manning.
Manning, who was also playing at the table, was goaded by
Isham into telling the tale of the accursed tablet. With great
theatre Manning told his tale of how he saved it from the
clutches of grave robbers at a dig site in Mexico around a year
ago. He heroically boasted about how he and his friends
rescued the artefact from thieves, managing to outsmart them,
sealing them all within the royal crypt with the aid of this
brilliant new invention, dynamite!

3

DRAMATIS PERSONAE
ELDRIDGE NASH, 60, A VETERAN U.S.
MARSHAL PAST HIS PRIME
Eldridge Nash cut his teeth in the Old West before these
railroads ever thought of crossing it. He has brought in
hundreds of outlaws to face trial and not one has gotten the
better of him. He is slow and methodical predicting their
moves, but time has taken its toll and now his shooting arm
keeps wavering and he isn’t sure which fuzzy shape to shoot at
anymore. He should have retired years ago but found life
sitting still to be another kind of hell.
Description:
Eldridge Nash is a large barrel-chested man that age seems
unable to slow down. He is ruddy faced with whisky bloomed
cheeks and a soft fuzz of white hair. Usually well turned out.
Nash wears a black suit and an old 10 gallon hat, which might
have started life being white but is now dulled to a muted tan.
Having being shot in the arm during the capture of the Hensley
gang, he sports it in a sling which he constantly fidgets with in
annoyance.
Traits:
Highly Strung, wounded, willing to make the hard choice.
Roleplaying Hooks:
• He will do his job and see these bastards hang for
killing Samson, his old nag. Nothing else matters.
• The pain from his injury will cause him to cut off
sentences, and suck air in sharply. Wont let anyone
touch it, its too painful.
Keepers Note: The wounded friend that turns into
a monster is an old trope, the wound will play on
that meta fear in the players. Use it well.
• If the wound is assessed with a First Aid roll. They
will find the arm is gangrenous and will have to come
off when they reach Reno.
The investigation is just annoyance. To that end
•
anything that gets into his business causes him
anxiety and pressure to uphold his office. He is a hair
trigger away from a heart attack.
• Nash has poor eyesight and sees everyone as fuzzy
coloured blobs.
• Once Samson his horse got shot, he decided to go out
in a blaze of glory and attacked the Hensley hideout
head on. He lived, and that pissed him off even more.
JIM HENSLEY, AGE 35, OUTLAW GANG
LEADER.
Hensley is a business man first and foremost, it just so happens
breaking the law is very profitable and the risk are worth the
rewards, in his eyes. His practical and cold attitude is hidden
behind a rogues grin. He built his fame rustling cattle and
stealing horses from hardworking panners in the mountains
4
then selling them back to them. It was only when a price was
put on his head that he expanded his operation to a larger scale
and the cause for violence became a price of doing business. It
was when one rustling job that left several dead happened that
he made the decision to leave until things cooled down,
however then the Marshals got involved.
Description:
Hooded eyes, a heavy set jaw, and wild red hair. He sports a
worn brown bowler hat, ranchers clothes and looks every bit
the cowboy with a red plaid shirt and heavy denims; all the
better to steal cows.
Traits:
Hard to anger, a perfect gentleman, ruthless killer.
Roleplaying Hooks:
• Well mannered
• He will deal with the Investigators fairly and with no
hard feelings. He understands what they are, but will
exploit any and all weaknesses they have.
• He will overstep the line into violence in the blink of an
eye, if it is to his benefit.
• Jim can read Nash like a book, during the shoot out he
shot his horse in a hope of enraging him into making a
mistake. It almost worked too, but he only managed to
wound the old marshal as he charged into the hideout.
LI WEI, 43, BUTLER TO KNOX Q.
ISHAM.
Li is the perfect employee on the surface; catering for every
whim of Knox Q. Isham, going above and beyond to predict his
needs even before he himself knew he wanted it. However
under the surface Li Wei is a bitter and tired man who lost it all
only to watch from the side of his ex partner as his ideas are
put into motion and expanded across America.
Description:
A deathly thin Chinese man who towers over most, watching
the world with tired sunken eyes, his thin brown hair has all
but given up. Li moves with grace, despite his size. He wears a
simple red striped bed shirt and shawled in a blanket.
Traits:
Professional mask of calm, bitter, unsympathetic
Roleplaying Hooks:
• Tired, and with a horrible headache, he has little time
for questions, as he tries to reconcile what he saw.
Struggling to remember, he will seem confused.
• Sighs all the time. Being a long time employee to a man
he felt was his inferior has soured his opinion and all
questions are stupid questions to Li.
• Li is an innovator and very creative, but a he is dreamer
and terrible with money.

HARLON BOSE, AGE 45, RESTAURANT
OWNER AND GAMBLER
Harlon is a businessman through and through, and his
excessive risk taking tends to pay off overall. He plays hard and
works hard, leaving little time to tend to family and friends.
Seeing new opportunity in the West to set up a new restaurant,
he took a deal which will see his wealth skyrocket, with any
luck, as he caters to the growing population of Reno.
Description:
A giant of man from Barbados with a boxers nose and a
constant six o’clock shadow. He has a hard quality to his
intense stare that some find intimidating, which stands
juxtaposed to his warm laugh and easy way, always
punctuating his sentences with a soft chuckle.
Traits:
Verbose, talks with his hands, risk taker.
Roleplaying Hooks:
• Harlon hates Isham for flirting with his wife, their
marriage is on its last legs and enjoyed winning against
him during the card game.He will relish in the memory
at every opportunity.
• He can’t stand Petal, his wife’s dog. It growls at him
when he goes near his wife, as it is over protective. He
has no time for it at all.
• He loves conversation and will drag anyone into one,
talking at length. Always looking for business
opportunities, he is likely to ask about what people do
and take business cards.
SAMANTHA BOSE, AGE 41, BORED
LADY OF LEISURE
The Boses are heading out West for investment in a new
restaurant, Samantha has left behind her Florida upbringing, a
lively family, and many friends to go with her husband on this
new venture. She insists on being called Sam, lives in the
moment, and will take any opportunity to make friends and
talk to anyone that will listen (and even those that don’t). Sam
is constantly trying to help those less fortunate than herself and
will go out of her way to help anyone she thinks needs it.
Sympathising and understanding as Sam is, she often oversteps
herself and can become a hindrance rather than the help she
wishes to give.
Description:
With a smile always carved into an all too round face,
Samantha greets the world hoping to make a good impression.
She is a buxom lady with mixed heritage, shown by her tight
curly hair and unblemished golden skin. She dons the latest
New York fashions, despite the jacket-bodices with elaborate
drapery being ill-suited for travel. She carries her dog Petal
under one arm like a handbag, doting on it like a child. Petal is
an angel when it has Sam to itself.
Traits:
5
charitable, easily bored, oblivious of others feelings
Roleplaying Hooks:
• Samantha has a chihuahua called Petal, which is very
poorly trained, Samantha will fawn over it and blame
any problems on Petal’s victim, whether it pees, humps,
or bites.
• Enjoys the small trappings of life; afternoon coffee,
walks in the park, the slower pace of life.
• Overly friendly and is unable to read people or social
situations which can rub people the wrong way.
LARS MANNING, AGE 45, A FAMED
ANTHROPOLOGIST.
Lars Manning is a Boston University Alumni who has made his
name studying the anthropology of the South American natives
Manning is a self serving braggart, but he has brushed up
against the Mythos several times and has earned his reputation
through daring missions deep in Mexicos jungles. Now he is a
leading expert on the Olmec culture, robbing many of their
tombs to garner the attention of the press and universities.
Description:
Lars is a short man with black greased-back hair, that
pronounces his widows peak. He is a confident man with a
constant smirk and a pencil thin moustache. Lars dresses in a
grey pin-stripe suit and white shirt, sporting silver cufflinks.
Traits:
Egotistical, braggart, unable to remember names of lesser
mortals.
Roleplaying Hooks:
• He will become angry and annoyed if it is revealed that
the tablet is missing and will start making demands and
back seat investigating.
• Manning will be overtly annoying and has a habit of
upsetting people and overstepping the mark as he
blunders about.
• Manning is a showman and a storyteller, he will take
great delight in anyone asking questions and assume
they are fans of his exhibitions; he’ll even hand out
signed photos.
Keepers Notes: Have him look at the crime scene and find any
clues missed, then if confronted about being in the carriage, have
him mock the Investigators and snidely show them what they
missed.
SELDON SPRINGS, AGE 31, SNAKE OIL
SALESMAN AND CAT BURGLAR
Seldon is a con-artist who takes what he likes and be damned
with the consequences! He is well versed and silver-tongued;
he takes each person’s measure before they have even
introduced themselves.
Description:
An average man with slicked-back blonde hair, and a wolfish
grin. Dressed smartly in simple fabrics, Seldon never shows
wealth other than a simple silver cross. He carries himself as a
man of principles and God, with the right to be where ever he is
standing. He is always accompanied by his overly large doctors
bag which opens to reveal a vast range of potions, medicines,
folding papers, and placebos.
Traits:
Seldon will sell you sunlight if you let him, a chameleon of
personalities, cold hearted
Roleplaying Hooks:
• His usual marks are those with the look of desperation
about them, selling them cure all tonics that will likely
kill them as much as help them. He is a vapid
opportunist behind a wall of charm and will take
advantage of any weakness.
• Seldon has listened to the tablet and is scared of what
he heard. He should be jumpy and unwilling to touch
the tablet directly. If forced to interact with it he will
use gloves.
AGATHA C NOELS, AGE 38, A
WRITHING WORM COLLECTIVE
DISGUISED AS A LADY OF WEALTH
The Crawling One has worn many faces over the decades. This
one it found in Florida; It consumed her likeness and her life.
The face it wears is that of a slim hard faced woman with
alabaster skin and a short stature; she is well dressed in a
summer frock and wears her blonde hair up in an intricately
weaved bun.
Description:
The flesh mask that the Crawling One now wears is a
handsome woman in her late 30s. She is slender and long
fingered, with hawkish features that pick out her piercing blue
eyes. She wears her hair up and under a pinned hat that
matches her choice of dress.
The Crawling One that writhes behind the mask is a legion of
insects and worms that churn against one another connecting
the thoughts and will of the long dead wizard. As they mingle,
they constantly breed, replacing any that die off.
Traits:
Thin veneer of polite civility, terrified of dynamite, flinches at
unexpected loud noises, sees itself as a god among ants.
Roleplaying Hooks:
• Distressed and guarded, with a short temper should
they pry. Comes across as a hoity elitist until pushed to
its limits. Smart to a fault, will pick its moment to strike
and understand when to retreat, but God help the
person that ticks it off.
• Ideally it will not pay any attention to questions, given
to it, answering in a monosyllabic fashion.
6
• Having lived through it first encounter with Manning, it
has followed his trail to New York and now on to Reno.
The Crawling One is still recovering from having
dynamite tossed at its feet and almost killed along with
its cultists, but it grows stronger with every day and
soon, it won’t have to hide.
TIMELINES
Past Events
• Manning interrupts the looting of the royal tomb by
Agatha’s cultists, He and his companions steal their
artifact and seal most of the cultists in the tomb using
dynamite. Only Manning managed to get out in time,
with the loot
• Being a Crawling One, Agatha, who wore a different
face then, seeped out of the rubble and followed
Manning, looking to regain its prize. It has tracked him
all the way back to New York.
• Agatha tracks Manning throughout the east coast and
finally onto Salt Lake City, where he held an exhibition
on his trip to Mexico looking for new patrons,
Afterwards he was invited to lecture in California; he
packed up and boarded the train to Reno.
• Agatha managed to catch the same train, and searched
for the tablet. Not finding it, and with no cultists to do
the work, It chose to shadow Manning and ended up in
the same dining cart as he played poker with the rail
magnate Isham.
• At Salt Lake City, Marshal Nash and his posse (the
Investigators) apprehended the inner circle of the
notorious Hensley gang in a shoot-out that left many
dead. With the gang in custody, they board the same
train to Reno and take over the first passenger car.
• Manning gets nervous about the gang being on board
and asks Isham to secure the tablet.
• Four hours out from Reno, the conductor stumbles into
the carriage to plead for help.
Events on the Train
Time is critical and a physical clock on the table might be used
to increase the tension as the investigators only have four
hours to play (or slightly less, depending on how your
convention is organized). In this time they will have to solve
the murder, find Agatha, and then dispatch her, else she will
escape with her coveted tablet.
Where the scenario looks like a sandbox adventure on the
surface, with the investigators being able to wander the train at
will, it is designed to lead them through events as they unfold;
from one end of the train to the other, and then back again,
using the provided map of the trains. As there is very little way
to avoid a situation on a train they should be fated to encounter
 each in turn much like a more guided scenario. But, the Keeper
should be aware of all the scenario’s beats before attempting to
run it as to make full use of events should the investigators
become wayward.
Events of the night leading up to the murder
and theft
• Conversation in the drawing room brings together a
group for a game of cards.
• They talk and play into the night. Isham dismisses the
butler and tells him to take his bed as he will be up all
night and wont have him disturbed when he uses the
study.
• Isham goads Manning into talking about the tablet and
his exploits in Mexico.
• Samantha in conversation with Seldon Springs, tells
him about the tablet and Manning's exploits
• Going across the roof and into the private carriage,
Seldon finds the butler Li Wei and thinks it is Isham,
using chloroform to make sure he doesn’t wake.
• Seldon forces the safe with hammer and chisel, takes
the tablet, travellers checks, and money. Leaves via the
roof.
• Isham heads back into study and drinks more while
writing letters of business.
• Agatha waits until early morning and surges under the
crack in the door, reforming to find Isham still awake,
he throws his bottle at its head, wounding it and it flies
into a rage, casting Liquid Death on him. Then Agatha
stalks into the bedroom to find the safe already open
and startles the groggy butler; it casts mind
manipulation on him, tells him to forget and leaves him
as a patsy.
• Agatha goes back to its own cabin, then starts the hunt
for the thief the next day.
• The Li wakes, coming out of his insanity from seeing
Agatha, going into the sitting area to find Isham. His
screaming alerts the guard as he sees what’s left of his
employer.
• Conductor finds the butler, checks the bedroom, then
heads for the Marshal.
SETTING THE SCENE:
ON DUTY
The scenario opens with Marshal Nash and his deputized posse
(the Investigators) playing cards in the front sleeping car,
watching over the Hensley gang. The eight members of the
inner circle, including the infamous Jim Hensley are cuffed to
their seats and offer the odd jibe in the Marshal’s direction, but
are mostly peaceful, for now.
7
Keeper’s Note: The players could be on watch, and talk openly
with the gang members or part of the card game in the cabin.
As their game progresses, the conductor Chase Ladun,
barges into the carriage covered in a foul smelling-viscous
liquid that drips off him. He seems terrified and in frantic
hushed whispers tells the marshal and posse that there has
been a murder.
They are the only lawmen on the train and the conductor
doesn’t know what to do. They will have to help solve the crime
themselves, however the Marshal won’t let Hensley out of his
sight, he has a personal grievance against the man for shooting
his horse. The short tempered and highly strung Marshal will
instruct the deputized civilians to investigate the scene and
take witness statements, then bring to him what they think is
the correct course of action for him to make the call.
Strictly speaking the Marshal knows he is only allowed to act
within his given remit, as are his deputized posse, which is to
bring in the Hensley gang. With this in mind the Marshal will
inform the Investigators to keep a lid on it, make sure not to
spook the killer, and to ask around quietly and politely. If they
suspect anyone, that person will be detained when stepping off
the train and handed over to the town sheriff at Reno, problem
solved.
It is 9:47 a.m. according to the conductor’s pocket watch.
The train is due in Reno at 1:48 p.m. Four hours from now.
EVENTS
CHOOSING TO STAY WITH THE
MARSHAL
Some players might want to stay and help the Marshal guard
the Hensley gang. If they do, then allow them to chat and get to
know them. Show them to be people, but ruthless ones. There
is good opportunity for roleplaying and improvisation here.
While the others are investigating, here we can see how the
outlaws manage to get free, and now the player is going to be
involved in that escape.
Have Break’em Betty want to use the restroom, she will have
to be uncuffed from the seat and taken to the ladies, by the
investigator. Ben will start ripping off the bar on his seat that
holds his cuff, causing a distraction, and Betty will attempt to
knock out the investigator. Ben will beat the Marshal once free.
The Marshal isn’t able to hit him using his left hand and has
poor eye sight.
The investigator will be interrogated about what’s going on,
and how to get off the train. Both the player and Nash are now
hostages, until the other investigators notice and attempt a
rescue they will have to try and convince the gang to let them
go, and watch the gang go about taking over the engine and the
crew.

MOVING THROUGH THE CARRIAGES
Moving through the train at any point, but especially when
making their way to the crime scene is a place of great wealth
of for shadowing and interacting with the suspects even before
they know who they are. Below are some examples of what
could occur;
• Waking someone up
• Knocking over food or drink
• Interacting with Mrs Bose’s dog Petal
Standing on a foot
•
• Being thrown into someone as the train rounds a bend
• Over hearing a piece of conversation that seems
throwaway, until they learn more
• Having to pass-by someone going the other way
• Someone pestering the conductor for frivolous
reasons or petty complaints
Keepers Note: These seemingly random interactions can set
the tone for their next more serious meeting, acting rudely or
being dismissive of someone’s status may provide the
investigators with a tougher time.
While being led to the back of the train past the other
passengers, the conductor will also witter on about how he
found the body of Knox Q Isham, the rail magnate who had
hitched his private carriage up to the train at the last minute in
Salt Lake.
Hearing screams from Isham's private carriage a porter
fetched the conductor who opened the door. On doing so they
found the butler on the ground, screaming. Looking about the
room the conductor slipped and fell into a foul liquid all over
the carpet; It was Isham, and all that was left of the magnate
was a few half dissolved bones.
The butler, Li is sitting in shock with the porter in the dining
car waiting for the conductor to return. He knew nothing of the
death until he woke. It also seems Isham’s private safe was
open too.
THE DINING CARRIAGE
Mr Isham’s butler sits in the carriage just ahead of the crime
scene, off color and shaking. Have the conductor point him out
and whisper conspiratorially that his memory seems a bit hazy.
There are other diners here eating breakfast, this morning’s
special is Lobster Eggs Benedict, however some seem
concerned or excited by the large group moving with purpose
through the train. A passenger might even stop them to enquire
as to what is going on.
Examining the Dining Car
There isn’t much to be found here, but the investigators will
find a lot of flies here bothering anyone that is trying to eat. If
they look at Agatha’s seat they will find a few maggots in the
crease of the upholstery with a Spot Hidden roll.
8
INTERVIEWING LI WEI
If the investigators interview Li Wei, he will be cagey and
unsure about his memories and will start to second guess
himself. The Investigators will have to deduce what is true and
what is fiction. Li will try to help the best he can but will only
cast doubt on others with rumours. A Psychology roll will
determine this. Below is a list of information he can give up.
Facts and Clues:
• Li was allowed to retire for the night at 10pm, and told
to take the main room as Isham would be up all night.
• Knows there were five people playing cards, remembers
two by name; Harlon and Samantha Bose. He will give
descriptions of the others; Agatha Noels and Lars
Manning
• He used to be business partners with Isham but sold his
share to pay gambling debts, Isham gave him a job as
his butler.
Woke at 7am with the stench in the air, and a throbbing
•
headache. Saw Isham and screamed until the
conductor came in.
THE CRIME SCENE
Read out the following on opening the door.
The stench of the putrid liquid is overwhelming as the
carriage door is swung open unveiling the conductor’s grim
discovery. With shutters drawn over the windows the inside is
still dark, with only the dim orange glow of a few electrical
lamps giving any illumination.
In the centre of the opulent carriage of oiled walnut and
gaudy gold filigree, a large pooling ichor dries slowly into the
carpet in front of a rosewood writing table and a knocked
over matching chair. Large bloated flies gorge on the feast
and lazily explore the viscous mess, adding their droning to
the ever present click-clak of the train.
The Investigators must pass CON roll or they will feel queasy
and vomit, adding to the mess.
The front of the carriage is a sitting area and study. A pull
down bed is opened above one of the seating areas, this is
where the butler would sleep. The rest of the room is composed
of seating and the writing desk. Beyond that there is a hallway
leading to a bedroom suite, private bathroom, storage, and
ends ends with a door that opens onto a balcony.
Examining the Liquid
The body is almost completely dissolved into a thick viscous
liquid that congeals into the carpet. It is pooling out from in-
front of a writing desk. Some bones can be seen in the mess
along with a pile of clothes, among them a fine business suit
jacket. It is crawling with flies that constantly harass the
Investigators. Isham has been the victim of the spell Liquid
Death and this is all that remains of him.
 If the Investigators inspect the pockets of the jacket they will
find evidence of last night’s poker game; a pair of aces, one dog
eared, a notebook with a tally of money that exchanged hands
showing the players (Samatha Bose, Harlon Bose, Agatha
C. Noels, and Lars Manning), along with one torn out page.
They will also find a gold pocket watch.
To confirm this is Knox Quincy Isham; a Spot Hidden roll
on the pool of ichor will find a gold wedding ring, with the
Initials K.Q.I. on the inner band.
Looking Around the Study Area
Footprints have been tracked through the carriage by someone
standing in the ichor. A Tracking roll will reveal two sizes of
footprints. First is the butler’s tracks, size 12s, leading through
the carriage from the crime scene to the dining cart where he is
sitting.
The second set of tracks from the conductor, size 10s, lead
into the mess, through into the bedroom, then the rest room,
and then back out running down the length of the train as he
ran to fetch the Marshal.
On a hard Tracking roll, they will also find a third set of
prints, made by Seldon Springs, that are grime and dust from
the roof tops. These are also size 10s that lead from the balcony
door into the bedroom and out the same door, back up to the
roof.
There is a broken bottle of tequila on the floor, near the
carriage door leading to the dining car. It lies smashed along
with a dead worm. The bottle was thrown at Agatha by Isham
as the mass of its worms and maggots push their way under the
door and reformed inside. The dead worm is from Agatha, and
unless a player knows already, only an extreme Intelligence
roll will reveal that only mezcal has worms in the bottle, not
tequila.
A Natural World check on the worm finds it is a common
maggot, not the usual red worm found in mezcal.
The Bedroom
The bedroom is a small but opulent palace of a room. Cabinets
and beds turned and carved from the finest black walnut have
been crammed into the space with little room to walk by. The
room is in disarray, the bed has been slept in and is soaked
with sweat. A safe lies open, and its contents thrown about.
Searching the room will find;
• A worn brass button (Seldon Springs lost this during
his safe breaking),
• A odd smelling handkerchief; this is chloroform that
was used by Seldon Springs to make sure breaking
into the safe wouldn’t wake the person sleeping in the
bed, Li. If an Investigator sniffs it, make a CON roll
on failing they will swoon for a moment. A Luck roll
will prevent knocking their head on the safe 1D3
damage if they fail.
Examine the Safe
The safe door is lying open and its contents spilt out on the
floor. The safe has been forced open with a hammer and chisel.
The lock is broken and is clear to see.
9
The contents inside includes ledgers of accounting.
Accounting roll to find out what is missing from the safe;
$2000 in travellers checks, $300 in cash.
Last Will and Testimony of K.Q. Isham; a Law roll or a hard
Intelligence roll will reveal the butler Li Wei as the sole
beneficiary of the whole railway company and is “listed as a
partner”.
The Balcony
The last door on the carriage leads outside to a balcony area to
take in the vista of the country.
A Spot Hidden roll on the door will see the lock has been
picked; the scraping of tools about the keyhole.
On the balcony, footprints and scuffed paint marks can be
found here leading up on to the door with a Spot Hidden
Roll. A Climb roll is required to get up onto the roof and the
footprints are clear to see up there leading down the carriages.
If they wish to follow them they will require a DEX roll to keep
their footing, and if they should fall a STR roll to hold on and
pull themselves back on. Going along on their stomachs is roll
free but slow, noisy, and will bring attention to them.
The footprints lead to doors between the first passenger car
and the postal carriage.
INTERVIEWS
Armed with a list of suspects from the poker game, the
Investigators should start to move through the train
interviewing the people that overheard Manning’s story. They
can find this list from the notebook on the remains, or Li Wei’s
accounts of that night, although Li’s account will lack some
names offering only descriptions of people he didn’t know.
Tracking down the suspects
With the exception of the Butler, Li Wei, who is in the dining
cart immediately before Isham’s private car, the Investigators
will need to track them down. However, they are presented in
the next sections in order that they are found moving up the
train. This is the default order they are interviewed in.
THE PARLOUR CARRIAGE
The Parlour car’s air is thick with smoke, and the bitter taste of
tobacco hangs at the investigators throats. The large swivelling
leather armchairs are mostly unoccupied, with only a few
passengers in deep low conversations that are punctuated with
barking laughter. Others sit alone watching the bleak terrain
rush by.
Keepers Notes: Both Harlon Bose and Lars Manning are
found here and any examinations of the carriage will turn up
nothing of interest.

HARLON BOSE INTERVIEW
Harlon is found in the drawing room car enjoying the view.
Spending some time away from his wife and her insufferable
chihuahua, Petal. He is an animated man with a lot of opinions
on many things and will talk the investigators in circles as he
sits chewing tobacco and spitting into a cup.
If told about the crimes he will be open and serious about the
night’s events. A Psychology roll will tell the Investigators he is
being frank and honest and will do anything to help out.
Facts and Clues:
• Seen going back to the private car around 3am, he was
going to apologize but he got no answer, and returned
to his seat.
• Was angered by Isham and his wife flirting
• Cleaned up at the card game. Left goading Isham after
big win ($300).
• Wanted to try to provide dining for Isham’s train lines,
but anger got the best of him and he ruined his chance,
costing him hundreds of thousands.
• If asked about the other card players he will point out
Manning in the same car.
LARS MANNING INTERVIEW
Further down the car Lars is sitting alone reading a newspaper
and smoking a pipe. Manning is keeping himself to himself, but
if talked to he will indulge the Investigators. He will likely think
they know of his work and are fans of his, famed as he is in the
academia circles.
Keepers Note: Manning is a very obnoxious man. Have him
hand them an autographed photo if they don’t dispel him of the
notion.
Facts and Clues:
• Asked Isham to secure the tablet as he disliked the
Hensley gang being on board.
• Despite being the owner of the tablet, he has never
touched it with bare hands, it is too valuable to him. He
will pull out white gloves if he is to handle it.
• Was last to leave the dining car, staying to drink with
Isham and discuss him being patron to a new
expedition back to Mexico to find more artifacts. Stayed
until 1am.
• Told the story of how he interrupted grave robbers and
took the artifact off them, and the loss of his
companions.
HENSLEY GANG BREAK OUT!
While the investigators are walking down into the second
passenger car to talk with Samantha Bose and Agatha read out
the following:
10
Gunshots ring out and shouting can be heard from the front of
the train, panicked passengers rush past, pushing past trying
to get away from the shots. At the end of the car familiar
figures appear: the Hensley gang.
Waiting until the Marshal is dozing off, Simple Ben breaks the
railing he is cuffed to and overwhelms the injured Marshal,
subduing him. Then they send half of the gang, two on either
side of the tender, to surprise the crew in the engine. Only to
find that this is a bad place to stop the train.
They have the Marshal hostage engine under their control.
All but one of the game have returned to the train to where the
Marshal is being held to figure out their next course of action.
The warning shots and commotion that alerted the
investigators happened when a passenger headed to the
lavatory came across the gang holding the Marshal at gunpoint!
The only saving grace is the gang have access to few
weapons: the Marshal’s pistol, his rifle, and a shotgun taken
from the engine crew. They will rush back to the second
passenger car after the commotion to grab more hostages if
they can before the passengers bolt for the back of the train.
The gang will then fall back toward the engine slowly as they
are pushed back by the inevitable response of the Investigators.
Change the numbers and locations as needed, based upon
the players you have and what would be most fun. At a
minimum one gang member should be in the Engine,
threatening the disarmed crew with a shovel, while the others
have taken up positions around the front of the first sleeper
car, where they broke free only a few minutes ago. Or perhaps
in the baggage car, if that works for you.
Despite there being eight of them, they are under armed and
have little place to go. The Investigators should be able to
overpower them, the main concern is not killing the Marshal.
To hit Hensley, who is using him as a human shield, will
require any Firearms roll with 1 penalty die.
Keepers Note: If required: The Hensley gang is held together
by Jim Hensley, he’ll have to pass an Intimidate roll to keep
the gang fighting each time a member goes down. Once more
than 3 are down, he’ll suffer a penalty roll on further attempts
to keep them fighting.
Once recapture seems certain, the Hensleys will start
jumping from the train. If they survive the jump they can
escape. If any of the investigators jump off they will need to
make a Jump roll or take 1d6 damage. None of the Hensley
gang will run or fight after jumping off, having hurt themselves
and can be easily recaptured. Have the train slow and stop by
order of the Marshal, if he lives. Otherwise, the conductor will
give the order so the Investigators can board again.
The timing of the “jail break” was unfortunate for the
Hensley gang, since stopping the train here would have left
them in the middle of nowhere. Ten more minutes and they
could have forced the crew to stop the train outside of Truckee.
But their improvised plan was interrupted by a passenger who
wouldn’t wait for the lavatory to be freed in the second sleeping
car.
Adjust for time
The Hensley’s bid for freedom is part of the scene that can be
used to manipulate the length of the scenario depending on the
groups pace and play style, as some will involved themselves in
roleplaying where others might rush through content. How
many of the gang survives the initial rushing of the Marshal is
up to you, depending on how many players there are and how
much time they have left.
Flushing out the thief
Once the passengers start pushing their way to the back of the
train out of harm’s way, the Investigator that found the button
at the crime scene has a chance to spot Seldon Springs, whose
coat sports matching buttons. They can choose to follow him
and interrogate him instead of help with the shootout. If they
choose to fight first they will have to find him again. He will try
hiding in the toilet; have an angry passenger shouting through
the door about how he’s been in there a long time if they get
stuck again
Aftermath
The passenger carriages will slowly return to normal as people
retake their seats, some unfortunates will need tending to for
wounds and the train staff will bandage them up the best they
can with any investigators lending a hand with medicine or
first aid. Any bodies will start being dragged into the first
passenger car where the gang were originally held. And guns
can be reloaded with ammo that the posse brought with them
and kept at the front of the sleeper car.
INTERVIEWING AGATHA C. NOELS
After the Hensleys have been subdued and the aftermath of
stacking the bodies, treating wounds, and the Investigators are
gathering themselves, Agatha will appear, it will want past it
all to the postal car but wont chance it with so many watching;
biding her time after dealing with Lars Manning during the
shoot out.
Facts and Clues:
• Will ignore the wounded and show no concern for any
of the dead.
Agatha will answer everything in a monosyllabic
• Using the Hensley break out as a distraction, Agatha will break
fashion.
• Agatha will go to its private cabin to escape the
Investigators if they push it, feigning distress.
INTERVIEWING SAMANTHA BOSE
Samantha will rush to help anyone she can in the aftermath of
the fight. She doesn’t know much in the way of first aid but she
will try all the same and do as the train staff ask. Helping
bandage and clean wounds, Samantha is not paying attention
to Petal her dog which will run amok in the car, stealing
medical supplies, licking at bloody splatter, and generally
getting in the way.
11
Facts and Clues:
• Leaves the card game at 11pm to feed Petal, doesn’t go
back
• Repeats the story about the tablet to Seldon Springs,
who sits behind her.
• Flirted with Isham
INTERVIEWING SELDON SPRINGS
Seldon will be found hiding in the toilets and refusing to come
out after the Hensley gangs break for freedom. He can be
coaxed out with any Social roll or forcefully removed with a
Str roll.
Seldon Springs will try to be sympathetic to the Investigators
and see to their needs, even trying to sell his wares to them.
Changing the subject at every turn, there is a nervousness
about the man that can be detected with a successful
Psychology roll. A hard Psychology Roll will tell he is lying
with each and every word.
A Spot Hidden roll will notice the missing button if it was
missed before. And the paint marks on his shoes from climbing
to the roof that will match the paint of Isham’s car.
Facts and Clues:
• Mention of the tablet will make him go pale as he
remembers handling it; the priest whispering to him
the madness of Hydra. He didn’t understand it, but it
made him uneasy.
• Even if the Investigators pin the break in on him he
will still deny taking the tablet, going with the story
that he saw the dead magnate and left before he even
went near the safe.
Keepers note: He can be caught in a lie here, as he never saw
the body. If they ask him to describe the room and the body
when he entered. He will admit to the break in only if
intimidated or he runs out of excuses.
FINDING MANNING
into Manning's cabin. The Crawling One will be caught by
Manning looking through his belongings. Manning having
walked in, confronts Agatha, he will provoke an attack. It casts
liquid death on him, mocking him by telling him how he will
die in detail then leaving him standing there.
Now having read Manning’s studies on the tablet, which
shows ancient text It now knows how to find the tablet with
magic.
The conductor will find Manning in his cabin while checking
the passengers after the shoot out and tells the Investigators
there is something wrong. Manning will be standing stock still
(see Liquid Death for the particulars of the spell). The
Investigators will need to convince him to talk, with a
successful Social (any) roll.
 When he talks he will not know to do it slowly and softly and
will start to liquefy in-front of the investigators, slowly falling
into a slurry of putrid liquid as he tell them who did it.
Witnessing the spell’s effect costs 1D4/1D8 SAN.
They will need a Listen roll to learn it was Agatha as
Manning screams in gargled pain. Other than that all they will
know is it was a woman, narrowing the field to two suspects;
Samantha Bose and Agatha.
Searching Manning's Cabin
There are a lot of flies in the private cabin that descend on what
was Manning after his death and a Spot Hidden roll will find
more maggots.
Other than this, Manning’s papers lie out to be examined.
Looking through his research and notes
Examining the research into the tablet will also reveal, with a
hard INT roll, a ritual of binding. See Appendix 2 for more
details on the tablet.
THE POSTAL CAR & THE TABLET
The tablet and stolen cash from Isham’s safe have been
packaged up by Seldon Springs, addressed to his hotel in Reno,
and left in the post to be delivered to himself. Deciding it would
be smarter not to have evidence of the theft on him, and
holding it gave him an uneasy feeling.
The postal staff will be present in the car and he will guard
against any searches unless the Investigators can convince him
there has been a crime and even then it will have to be found in
the piles of packages. A hard Social roll (any) will allow the
search with him helping, otherwise he will refuse to help.
The Investigators can narrow the search, looking for it in the
sacks marked for Reno and of course will require a Spot
Hidden to find unless Seldon is made to tell them exactly
where he put it. Alternatively they can rip open every package,
this will take time but will ultimately find the tablet, regardless
of rolls.
Interacting with the Olmec tablet
Any Investigator holding the tablet barehanded will feel the
numbing cold of the tablet. It will whisper madness to them as
they look at it and read the petrogylphs etched into its surface.
This will cause SAN loss of 1/1d6. If the investigators listen to
the tablet, requiring a listen check to hear it clearly, they will
slowly start to understand the madness. The priests’ babbling
fill their mind. Vivid truths of the Olmec cult come into their
minds eye as they raise horrors from the ocean. Mother
Hydra’s gifts to her followers are multitude of horrors and gifts,
twisting them into malformed hybrids.
12
Read out the following if this happens: You see a storm
ravaged sea thrown into the bleak sky along with long drawn
gasping screams. A monstrous fishlike entity breaches the
waves.Its huge jaws held wide and proterozoic frilled gills
shimmer in the cutting gale. The creature strides ashore
amongst the sacrifices, blood soaked sand churns with the
incoming tide, turning it red as it monstrous beast answers
the call of the priesthood. Its body of pitch and sorrow casts a
shadow that blemishes the very earth. The priesthood twist
and deform mimicking the twisted form of their god, babbling
in madness as they are reborn.
SAN loss for seeing Hydra 1/1d4
The investigator will now understand how dangerous the tablet
is as it holds the wisdom passed on from Hydra to the cult, a
terrifying prospect.
Agatha Enters
Agatha will approach the group and use the spell Dominate to
have the Investigator holding it to turn it over without
question, an opposed POW roll will be required for this to
succeed. If it fails Agatha’s last straw will break and read out
the following.
Surging forward the woman grabs at the Investigator,
breaking like a wave and enveloping them in a throng of
maggots, worms, and insects. The mass invades their ears,
mouth as it moves over them and pries the tablet from the
Investigator. The horror moves off its victim reforming to
resemble a humanoid in shape only, it breaks into a sprint
down the length of the train.
The victim will be left covered in insects and cause a SAN roll
1D3/2D6 for seeing the Crawling One’s true form.
ESCAPE PLAN
Agatha will run when it gets hold of the tablet and will make for
Isham’s private carriages at the end of the train. Here it will
attempt to barricade itself inside, then call for her Shantak; an
ancient and gargantuan creature, exception even for its
monstrous race. It was bound to her long ago, so this is no
more than a mental call, not a spell casting. But it will take a
few minutes to respond to the call so holding off the
investigators is important and Agatha will let loose with an
arsenal of spells and weapons if the Crawling One feels
threatened. Bear in mind Agatha’s MP are low (10 MP) from
using Liquid Death so much during the last few hours. So
Agatha’s options are limited.

Chase
Once the chase has been established (using the Call of Cthulhu
7th Edition Chase Rules pg. 130), use the chase map that shows
hazards or barriers. These are described below:
Chase to the private carriage from the postal car
Dead bodies from the shoot-out clutter the floor; a Dex roll is
required to navigate them quickly
• Passengers panic as Agatha passes, creating chaos as
they try to flee. A Str roll is required to barge through,
or an intimidate roll to make the passengers cower
and get out the way
• The brakeman and another staff member decouple the
cars in fear after Agatha goes past, the investigators
will need to Jump with advantage as the two cars
start to drift apart.
• Passenger in the parlour are panicked by Agatha and
Harlon Bose starts to shoot at it and anyone else that
moves. Investigators will have to shoot him or
persuade him to stop.
• Dining Car is serving afternoon brunch Dex rolls to
avoid staff and the trolleys blocking the aisle.
• Locked door, needs a group Str roll against 200 to
push inside. Agatha will enter by surging under the
door leaving it intact.
Roof tops
Should an Investigator take to the roof they are able to bypass
most of the chaos inside, but it isn’t without risks. The PCs can
climb up at any point between cars.
Climbing up requires a Climb roll.
• Buffeting Winds make standing on the roofs and
requires DEX roll to keep their footing, and if they
should fall a STR roll to hold on and pull themselves
back on.
• The decoupled cars, will require the Investigators to
jump across, Jump with bonus die.
• Luck roll to cross the parlour car roof as Harlon
shoots off randomly to see if anyone is hit.
• The dining car is easily crossed, however a Spot
Hidden will reveal the incoming Shantak early, as a
“large shape against the blinding sun”
• From the roof the Investigators have access to the
broken balcony door, allowing easy access to the
private car.
Keepers Note: Should anyone fall off the should make a
Jump roll or take 1d6 damage, the parlour, dining, and private
car will slow down after being decoupled and they can board
again by running after the slowing train.
13
Arrival of the Shantak
When the Shantak arrives it will cast an ominous shadow on
the way in blotting out the sun for a few seconds as it spreads
its mighty wings and dives toward the carriage, intending to
haul it into the sky. It should only take a few laboured beats of
its massive wings to break it free of its coupling to the train.
If interrupted by being shot at the Shantak will circle back
and try again. On the second pass, it succeeds in grabbing the
car and taking to the air unless driven off by at least 6 damage,
after accounting for its 9 points of armor. Have the Shantak
attack in anger if it fails its second attempt just landing on the
roof and starting in on the Investigators, giving them their
bombastic finale. Supported by the Crawling One it is going to
be one tough fight!
If the investigators are inside the carriage when the Shantak
arrives they will be lifted into the air with the car and the
Crawling One. They will have to break its dominance over the
Shantak or cause a major wound to the Shantak for the carriage
to drop into the desert below, a stunt that might see them dead
anyway. It is up to you, the Keeper, to decide the fate of them if
they fall, A Luck roll maybe the best option, if it is a grave
height, with bonus die for any creative fast thinking, or they
will die on impact.
CONCLUSIONS
End of the Line
With most of the train decoupled the Investigators are most
likely going to be stranded in the hills outside of the city and
will have to walk to Reno, or await rescue.
Should for any reason the whole train arrive with the
Shantak still on the roof, the throng of people in the station will
panic, run, and shoot randomly at the train in general. Luck
rolls will be required (if the investigator is in the same car) not
to be taken down by the hail of bullets that is unloaded on the
train car the Shantak is on. It will take to the air with the car
and leave or die on the say of the Keeper for the desired climax
of the scenario.
Killing The Crawling One
If the Crawling One dies, the Shantak should fly off and not
bother the train anymore leaving the investigators to collect
themselves in the aftermath. On entering Reno the
investigators will have to answer for the damage and any
deaths. Many rumours will leap up around the events casting
them in a bad light.
The Tablet
Should Lars Manning survive having not moved, he will
demand the tablet back as his rightful property. Destroying it
will have Manning fly into a rage and demand payment from
the investigators for his loss of property and earnings. However
if they hand it back then Manning will pay them well, $90 each
for their brave retrieval of his property.
 Should they keep the tablet and listen to it, the priests within
will quickly drive the investigator to madness and they will
make a trip to the Olmec site in Mexico to try and restart the
cult of Hydra.
If the Crawling One escapes with the tablet the investigators
fail the scenario and are targeted by a new cult when Agatha
rebuilds its strength to eliminate anyone that knows of the
Crawling One.
Hensley gang escape
If the Hensley gang escape by jumping off, the Investigators
and Nash will have failed and will be sent out to the desert to
find them once more, perhaps leading into a whole new
adventure.

SANITY REWARDS
• Killing Agatha, and the Shantak 1D10 for each kill.
• Retrieving or destroying the Tablet. +1D6
• Agatha getting away -1D10
• Agatha taking the Tablet. -1D6

14
APPENDIX 1: TRAINS IN THE OLD WEST
Four hours to Reno takes place aboard a sleeper train on the
transcontinental lines from Salt Lake City to Reno, which takes
the train over some beautiful but bleak landscape of the great
basin of Nevada; the Sierra Mountains snow peaks looming
ever present in the West through the heat haze of the blistering
sands. To cross this place on foot would see any unprepared
dead with in a day or two.
There are several carriages coupled to the train and a map can
be found at appendix 3. The following is provided to allow the
Keeper to provide a more authentic experience and understand
of the basics of travelling on a 1860s sleeper train.
The types of carriages are as follows:
Keepers Note: Uncoupling cars is not an easy task and
requires knowledge of trains to do. Any investigators or
Hensley gang members that attempt it will require an Operate
Heavy Machinery roll to achieve it.
4-4-0 American Steam Engine & Tender: 4-4-0 is the
wheel arrangement of the locomotive, this being the most
common in use and known as the American type. It dominated
the steam age of trains across the world with its highly efficient
configuration of four leading wheels on two axles, and a lack of
trail wheels. The tender is the car that holds the coal used by
the engine. There is a very narrow walkway with handholds
going around either side of the tender, and a ladder up into the
bin of coal.
Postal Carriage: Postal cars were the most efficient way to
move bulk mail and packages across the continent. The postal
car was essentially a moving post office with clerks sorting mail
into sack cloth bins held on metal frames. The train would pick
up mail from snagging devices known as mail cranes at
stations, even if they didn’t stop. The clerks in return would
throw or kick the return mail on to the platforms.
Pullman Palace Sleeper Cars: The Pullman’s elaborate
coaches were fitted with folding beds, curtains to give privacy,
carpeted floors, and upholstered seats. It revolutionised
travelling by sleeper train. Each car also had one small state
room cabin for first class travellers. In this ornate sleeping car,
no one is allowed to wear their boots in bed, and each were said
to be equipped with hundreds of sheets and pillowcases, forty
blankets, and various towels. The Pullman Porter enforced the
company polices such as no wearing boots in bed.
A Pullman Palace Parlour Car: Where the first class
passengers can sit, smoke and read or enjoy polite conversation
while others slept. This car also housed two private rooms, and
was well heated and had its own lavatories.
A Pullman Palace Dining Car: A dining car that is open to
all passengers to use and enjoy the available meals from the
attached galley. Meals include: Breaded veal cutlets and freshly
15
hunted buffalo, sliced tomatoes and bean special, and smoked
haddock for breakfasts.
The Private Carriage: Pullmans luxury private carriages
were world famous. They consisted of a study or sitting area,
sometimes this would be a private dining space. At the rear of
the car would be a bedroom area and a private lavatory. Staff
had pull down beds in the study area to retire to after the
owner was asleep.
Crew
The crew aren’t a main part of the story but are listed here to
give an overview how the train is crewed within the era.
Engineer: Jack Beals controls the speed of the train,
direction, and blows the whistle. His job entails being familiar
with the tracks and knowing the speed required at certain
points. Along with the other crew, he will be on the look out for
dangers ahead. He works in the cabin of the engine during the
whole route.
Fireman: Miller Spencer monitors the amount of fuel and
water the engine is using. Shovelling coal into the firebox to
keep a constant pressure to the pistons. He will watch the
gauges closely and provides more pressure when required by
the engineer to climb hills. It is his job to help watch for
dangers, and he too stays in the cabin during the whole route.
Conductor: Chase Ladun is in charge of everyone and
everything on the train. He collects tickets, sees to passengers
needs, and monitors the engine and train cars, making sure it
all is operating correctly. He works with the engine crew to run
break checks.
Brakeman: Monroe McManus remains on-board during
the journey and assist the conductor with passengers and other
crew, he maintains and monitor the cars and engine. While in
station the Brakemen set and release the hand brake on the
train cars and assist with boarding passengers and concessions.
Porters & Host : Esta Jennings, Finch Shones, &
Whitney Whitsett are on-board to assist passengers, answer
questions, and sell concessions. Sometimes they also give a
narration during the train ride about the areas they pass
through. They will help with boarding.
Chef: Verda Fige Cooks the meals for the dining car and
serves refreshments when required.
Postal Clerk: Earl Murphy is on board to sort out incoming
mail and deliver outgoing mail to the stations along the line.
Keepers Note: there should also be around 40 other
passengers on the train to sew chaos and add depth into the
environment. Not shown on map: ladders up to the roof of
each car down track from the tender car, near the letters “A”,
“B”, “C”, etc.

APPENDIX 2: THE TABLET
The Olmec were the first of the Mesoamerican civilisations and
flourished around 1200 BCE to 400 BCE. They were an ancient
mysterious culture that ruled over fast areas of today’s Mexico
and influenced both the Mayan and Aztec empires. The Olmecs
decline is a mystery and they left behind many sites that have
been of great interest to archaeology leaving behind many
strange objects like colossal carved heads. One such site at Lat
Venta hold an extremely well preserved ceremonial site, and it
is here where Agatha had recovered the the Olmec Tablet
named in other sources as Naa U-Kix-Chan or house of U-Kix-
Chan. U-Kix-Chan was a great king of the Olmec who's legends
were mentioned even in the Mayan accounts of history
centuries later.
The tablet is made from a striking green jade, that seems to
ripple as it is move in sunlight. It weighs about 10 kg (22 lb)
and measures 36 cm × 21 cm × 8 cm (14” x 8.25” x 3” thick). An
attempt to conceal it with Sleight of Hand or other skills would
need a hard success, or be made with a penalty die in a
contested skill challenge.
For an example of what the physical object looks like, you
might consider this real world artefact as a starting point in
your descriptions, although this item is not made of jade, it’s
made of fired clay and of slightly different dimensions:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascajal_Block
The surface of our tablet depicts an ancient deity, along with
many pictograph symbols of the Olmec language. It holds the
spirits of his priests each sacrificed on U-Kix-Chan’s death and
bound within the jade to serve as advisor's in the underworld
which is depicted in their culture by a fish monster god. The
jade tablet is cold to the touch and grows intense with a
numbing cold as the holder listens. The voices are hard to make
out at first but the babbling of the maddened priests can be
heard if you listen closely. Their words hold many secrets,
curses, and truths to terrible to know.
Agatha wants the tablet to learn the secrets held by the
priests looking to strengthen her power with their own.
Holding the tablet will let a person listen to the whispers of
madness, if they listen they can glean some of the priests
knowledge, along with their madness. Opening their mind to
the existential horrors of the cosmos, Agatha believes the
priests were that of a cult worshipping Mother Hydra. Agatha
seeks knowledge of R’lyeh and its treasures from the tablet.
16
Smashing the Tablet
Box/ Smashing the jade tablet will cause it shatter into green
ice which will melt away to salt water, leaving the gagging taste
of rotten fish in the mouth if tried. A screaming torrent of the
priest’s spirits are released into the world on shattering, they
will ravage whomever is nearest trying to find a way to hold on
to the waking world before dissipating to find their way to the
underworld. Requiring an opposed POW roll again 100 to stop
at least one of the priests invading their minds. If this happens
a flood of memories will awaken in their minds, as the priest
visions of the past rend their way into theirs. It will drive them
mad. SAN 1d6/1d10.
Listening the Tablet
Listening to the tablet will glean 10% Cthulhu Mythos points at
a direct cost of 2d6 SAN. Trying to glean more will cause more
secrets to leak into the holders head and a Pow roll is required
to contain control as the babbling priests tell those that listen.
If they pass they can learn Wither and gain another 10 Cthulhu
Mythos points at the cost of 1d6 SAN. A spontaneous Cthulhu
Mythos roll will cast the spell. Any more time with the tablet
will result in hearing the story of how Hydra rose from the
ocean to consume the Olmec culture, and cost 1D20 SAN.
The Reading the Tablet
On its surface the tablet is the ritual to bind souls to it written
in Olemc petroglyph. This has some requirements to cast
including an animal sacrifice (To decipher the script the
investigators will need to find Manning’s research in his private
cabin).
This was used to trap the priests preserving their knowledge
for eternity. This presents a non combat way to beat Agatha,
setting up the ritual and drawing its spirit. If it goes wrong it
will however consume the caster.
The investigator will have to set up the rite, which includes
the sacrifice of an animal, animals aboard include: Lobsters in
the dining car, and Petal, Samatha Bose’s chihuahua,
The ritual will take twenty minutes to prepare and a POW
roll when the blood of the animal is spilt onto the tablet. A
extreme success will target the correct person, a hard success
will pull any two people that recently touched the tablet, a
normal success will claim all in the area that touched it. And a
failure will pull the ritualist into the tablet instead or fumble
will pull anyone within 100 yards into the tablet.
NPCS AND MYTHOS
The Hensley Gang:
The Hanlsey gang have been terrorising much of the Sierra Nevada area for decades and finally drew the attention of the US Marshals.
After a shoot out they fled to Mexico. U.S. Marshal.

Jim One Victoria Break Jack Old Man Laughing Simple

Hensley Tooth “Heartless” Em’ Turpin Sam Bear Ben
Alvin McCrae Betty
STR 55 45 45 65 55 55 70 90
CON 60 50 50 60 55 60 60 80
SIZ 60 55 45 70 60 55 55 85
DEX 80 55 55 30 50 30 55 45
INT 60 45 55 35 40 60 55 30
APP 55 45 60 45 70 30 45 45
POW 55 45 55 55 40 60 30 45
EDU 70 45 45 30 45 30 45 20
SAN 45 45 50 45 30 55 30 45
HP 12 10 9 13 11 11 11 16
DB 0 0 0 +1d4 0 0 +1d4 +1d6
Build 0 0 0 +1 0 0 +1 +2
Move 8 8 8 7 7 8 8 8
MP 10 9 11 11 8 12 6 6

Attacks per round: 1

Brawl 55% (27/11), damage 1D3+DB or [weapon] 1DX+DB
Firearm R/S 40% [Shotgun] 4D6/2D6/1D6
Firearm HG 45% [44. Colt Dragoon ] 1D10+2
Crawling One. Agatha C. Noels.
A Crawling One is composed of thousands of worms and
Dodge: 25%(12/5)
maggots, The collective mass of wriggling creatures
Skills: Spot Hidden 40%, Stealth 35%
possesses the mind of a dead sorcerer, long devoured by
Jim Hensley - Intimidate: 65%
the maggoty horde. The Ingested “will” of the wizard
effectively drives the mass to work collectively to perform
Shantak, Winged Elephantine Mounts deeds and actions.
Shantak brood in cavernous holes and their wings are
STR 45 CON 70 SIZ 65 DEX 35 INT 65
encrusted in rime and nitre. They are always described as
APP — POW 100 EDU — SAN — HP 13
noisome and loathly, and are often used as steeds by they
DB: 1d4 Build: 1 Move: 8 MP: 20
servants of the outer Gods.
Attacks per round: 1
STR 170 CON 65 SIZ 250 DEX 50 INT 15
APP — POW 50 EDU — SAN — HP 31
Fighting attacks: Use human weapons, but prefer using
DB: +4D6 Build: 5 Move: 6/18 fly MP: 10
spells.
Fighting 35% (17/7, damage 1D3+DB
Attacks per round: 1 strike with limbs or bite
Dodge 20% (10/4)

Fighting attacks: Use a bite attack to grab hold of their prey Armor: Normal weapons do minimal damage, Bullets
Fighting 45% (22/19, damage 1D6+DB cause a single point of damage except shotguns which do
Bite and hold [Manvr] damage 2D6+2+ held for 1D6 damage minimum damage for that type of firearm.
per round. Skills: Stealth 60%
Dodge 25% (12/5) Sanity loss: 1d3/2D6 Sanity points to see Crawling One
Spells: Liquefy and Dominate (and others not used in this
Armor: 9 - point hide. scenario, including Summon and Bind Shantak).
Sanity loss: 0/1D6 Sanity points to see Shantak.

17
SPELLS DOMINATE
• Cost: 1 magic point; 1 Sanity point
• Casting time: instantaneous
LIQUID DEATH
• Cost: 10 magic points; 6 Sanity points
• Casting time: 3 rounds Bends the will of the target to that of the caster. For the spell to
take effect the caster must succeed in an opposed POW roll
The spell is directed at one target, who must be visible to the with the target. If successful, the target obeys the commands of
the caster without exception until the next round concludes.
caster. The caster must win an opposed POW roll with the
target: if successful, the target has 1D4 rounds to cease The spell can affect only one individual at a time and has a
movement, otherwise the integrity of their flesh and bones maximum range of 10 yards. Obviously the command or
commands must be intelligible to the target; the spell may be
collapses and they melt into a puddle of congealed liquid flesh,
broken if a command contradicts the target’s basic nature
causing instant death. If the target does not move, remaining
motionless, they can remain in a solid state, but significant (such as instructing a human to fly).
movement will cause them to liquefy—this state of affairs calls Dominate can be cast and recast as many times as the caster
finds possible, allowing a target to be controlled without
for a Sanity roll for each 10 minutes while in this state (1D3 loss
interruption for several minutes. Each casting of the spell adds
is they succeed in a Sanity roll, but if failed the horror becomes
too much and they give into the Liquid Death and die. to the duration.
Those already insane should attempt a POW roll every 10
minutes or they too dissolve. It is possible to speak while under
the effects of the spell, so long as words are spoken slowly,
softly, and carefully. The spell can be reversed, with the same
costs. The other way to combat the effect is to cool the victim to
below the freezing point of water, after which time they can
operate normally; however, if ever their temperature rises, they
begin to melt away. A successful Cthulhu Mythos roll may
provide insight into this bizarre remedy.
Witnessing the spell’s effect on a human costs 1D4/1D8
Sanity points.

18
 Angel Coffield
30 30 27
60 12 60 12 55 11
Farmer (Deputised)
27 25 27
38 M 55 11 50 10 55 11
Reno
27 25
Pacerville 55 11 50 10 9
11 55
¡ ¡
11

¡
¡

27
English 55 11

20
40 8
20
40 8
20 30
Farmer 40 8 60 12

32
65 13
30
60 12
4 20
9 1 40 8
27
55 11
27
55 11
15 22
30 6 45 9

Shotgun 60 30 12 4d6/2d6/1d6 10/20/50+ 1 or 2 2 100

none
0
15
30 6
 A disarmingly vacant looking A dreamer, but willing to
face, with a large handlebar. His skin is a bright red due to get his hands dirty to achieve
his fair skin, and he wears a large hat to ward off the sun. them dreams. Spits through a
gap in his front teeth constantly.
Etch out a living, any way you Lost his little finger on his left
can. hand, crushed by oxen, then removed by surgery.

Wife and children (Maria, Jax,

River)

Old papa's shotgun.

Angel was the last
survivor of an attack that
left 4 others in the dirt
and being the only one
left breathing he was
asked questions about
the attack. He didn't see
much and the only ones
he could think of doing
the deed was Hansley's
gang.
$5
Problem is he never saw
$4.5
the attackers, but hell
225
he'll go along with it for
the money and act as an
eye witness, Farmering is
hard dangerous work
and being a Deputy like a Old papa's shotgun.
Chewing tobacco
paid vacation.
pocket knife
Hat
 Dirk Stalon
30 20 30
60 12 40 8 60 12
Cowboy
35 30 22
36 M 70 14 60 12 45 9
Serria Foothills
35 25
Fallon 70 14 50 10 7
14 45
¡
¡
9
¡
¡

37
75 15
22 32
45 9 65 13

20 30
40 8 60 12
15
Musician 30 6

30
60 12
17
35 7
15
30 6

25 20
50 10 40 8

20
40 8

65 32 13
Whip (entangle) 65 32 13 1d3+1/2 DB 10 1 100
+1d4
.31 Colt 40 20 8 1d8 10 1(3) 5 99
+1
 The large man of african
descent, he wears simple robust clothing
suitable for working with horses, and the rough
tumbles of breaking them in.
Love and caring will overcome
the evils in the world. Music can bring folks
together.
Caring, reluctant to cause
harm, tries to settle down
confrontations.
A dent on the forehead, kicked
by a mule during a birthing.

Mother Muriel

breakneck ridge ranch.

5
Dirk took up his family
30
trade of horse
750
whispering. He
reluctantly he ceased
the chance for revenge
on the Hansley gang,
who stole from his Beaten up banjo
Worn chaps
family on many
Well used whip.
occasions. Loosing his
favourite stud Bow.
 Doisa Mall
20 25 30
40 8 50 10 60 12
Lawyer
17 27 32
35 F 35 7 55 11 65 13
Yuma
22 35
Santa Fe 45 9 70 14 8
8 65
¡ ¡
13

¡ ¡

17 35
35 7 Spainish 70 14
27
55 11
20
40 8

22 27
45 9 55 11

30
60 12

17
35 7
27
55 11
22
45 9
12
25 5
25 30
English 50 10 60 12

Siletto Kinfe 1d4+db

none
44. Derringer 1d10+2 3 1 3 99
0
12
25 5
 Doisa is a petite spanish Sharp witted, charming
woman in her mid 30s, she wears practical
dresses that are comforable for travel.

Read the room and take it from

there.

Eldridge Nash

Lawbooks.

5
Doisa Mall is the right when you need someone
35
hand woman of Marshal to dig through the paper
875
Nash, where is found work for the lawmen she
himself in need of is your woman, and if
someone that can help Nash is in a spot Doisa
him with all that paper isn't shy about pitching
work those judges are in on a gunfight too. Just Lawbooks
Ledgers
asking for these days. don't ask her to drink,
Stiletto Knife
She travels with Nash shes a mean drunk.
Derringer
and the two work as a
well oiled machine,
 Dorr "Badger" Westover
30 22 30
60 12 45 9 60 12
Mountain Man (deputised)
32 25 25
49 M 65 13 50 10 50 10
No fixed lodgings
30 22
Yuma 60 12 45 9 7
12 50
¡ ¡
10

¡ ¡

22
English 45 9
22 22
45 9 45 9

17
35 7
22
45 9
27 30
55 11 60 12

30
60 12

7 22
15 3 45 9
10
20 4
27
55 11
11
23 4

15
30 6

45 22 9
Worn Boot Knife 45 22 9 1d4 + db 1
none
Winchester Carbine 55 27 11 2d6+1 50 1 7 98
0
11
23 4
 Dressed in traditional Curmudgeon, generous.
buckskins, he's disheveled figure with a bushy
salt and peppered beard and a fox fur hat.

Everyone needs a good knife His back is covered in scars

Things were better in my day. where he got attacked by a deer, He tells
everyone it was a bear.

Nash Eldridge, Doisa Mall

Wilderness.

Once hunted
down a ghoul in the mines of the Serria
Mountains

Dorr is Marshal Nash's oldest

5
friend. Back in the good ol'
10
days of the west when these
250
blasted trains didn't exist
Dorr's tracking skills were more
valuable than they are now,
but he's loyal and dispute his Worn Boot knife
appearance is a gentleman, Furs and buckskin clothing
and a learned in his words but
is more than willing to play the
dumb savage.
 Gretchen Gordan
27 30 27
55 11 60 12 55 11
Rancher (Deputised)
27 25 27
28 F 55 11 50 10 55 11
Reno outskirts
30 20
Sliver Springs Nevada 60 12 40 8 8
11 55
¡ ¡
11

¡
¡

20 27
English 40 8 55 11
12 17 12
25 5 35 7 25 5

20 25
40 8 50 10

20
40 8

25
50 10

22 25
45 9 50 10
15
30 6
20 15
40 8 Spanish 31 6

35 17 7
Colt Peacemaker 40 20 8 1d10+2 15 1(3) 6 99
none
0
15
30 6
 Weathered skin, premature Blunt, unwavering
crows feet, and a cold gaze hide her youth.
Weal dressed, in practical custom taliored
clothes subtly shows her wealth
Truth and honest ways are
best, anything else is the devils way.

Sam (dead), Hensley

(despises)

Dry Creek Ranch in

nevada

Picture of dead brother

Sam.

Ms Gordan refused not to go with the

25
Marshal to bring in her brothers killers,
150
The Hensley Gang. One of them shot 12500
and killed him when he tried to stop
them taking the cattle from their farm
back west. Determined and bloody
minded Gretchens plain way of talking Well made custom clothes.
and blunt attitude can rankle some Silver Money clip
but she gets the job done, and when Ivory grip, initialed pistol
she sets her mind to it, God help the
Statson Hat
anyone standing in the way.
Rope
 Leroy Hardin
25 37 27
50 10 75 15 55 11
Gunfighter (Deputised)
25 32 35
32 M 50 10 65 13 70 14
Drifter
12 26
Providence 25 5 52 10 9
7 70
¡ ¡
14

26 20
English 52 10 40 8

37 30
75 15 60 12
20 30
40 8 60 12

17
35 7
20
40 8
10
20 4

30
60 12
28
57 11

32
65 13

.45 Smith & Wesson Schofield 75 37 15 1d10+2 15 1(3) 6 99

-1
-1
28
57 11
 Brown Flowing hair with a Bad temper, has a soft
chiseled jaw. Extremely skinny with clothes spot for those in need and
that look slightly too big for him (He is simple folk (farmer, ranchers),
extremely sick and trying to hide it) Boastful
Devout Quaker. Gunshot wound in his Right leg,
left shoulder, above his navel (he has a small
bladder and has to piss constantly)

Tim Ragle - His teacher and father figure. Died of pnemonia

"Fast Draw" Mary McGraw - His last gunfight that happened when a former lover (who was also a

gunfighter) pulled a gun on him during a argument. He instinctively shot her.

Providence cemetery.
Where is Pa and ex lover Mary is buried

A tin picture of Mary he

keeps in the inside of his hat.
Cross under his shirt

5
Leroy is a man of mystery,
40
explaining nothing about
500 Horse(whisky) Ranch in
himself past he is a gun for
Providence (co owned by his brother)
hire. However he has had a
trouble past, with losses
that have scared him
deeply. The Death of his Whiskey (Horse), Saddlebag, playing
love Mary whom he shot cards, cigarette papers, tobacco,
during an arguement
blanket, Rope, Rations, box of .45
rounds.
instinctively as she shot him
weighing on him the most.