MENTAL HEALTH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mindfulness and Meditation 47
FOREWORD
Physical Exercise 47
A cosmic horror D20 TTRPG 3
Impact on Daily Life 48
1988 - 1996 5
Mending Bonds 48
HOW TO PLAY
Sleeplessness and Exhaustion 49
About the oa 7
Drugs and Sedatives 49
Playing as an Operative 7
COMBAT
Creating an operative 8
Actions & Bonus actions 51
INSANITY
Attack Rolls 51
Insanity 11
Damage Rolls 52
Occult 12
Damage and Healing 53
Bonds & Flaws 13
Death Saves 53
YOUR CAREER
Healing 53
Career Choice 15
Conditions 53
Skills 15
Equipment 54
Growth 16
Weapons 54
GAME MECHANICS
Armor 55
Initiative 17
Items 55
Attacks 17
Extreme violence & sanity 57
Damage 17
OCCULT & ARCANE
Weapons 17
Unnatural & Magic 59
Dodge and Armor Class 18
SLICE OF LIFE
Critical Hits and Fumbles 18
Importance of Downtime 63
Wounds and Ailments 18
Nurturing Relationships 64
When to roll the dice 18
Therapy 64
Roll a skill or an ability score? 18
Social Support 64
Opposed rolls 19
How to Replenish Sanity 65
Pursuit 20
Professional Life 65
MYTHOS
The Bleed 66
Enemies and Creatures 21
Spending Money 68
Human Enemies 21
Illicit Cash 69
OFFICE OF ANOMALIES
Selling Personal Possessions 69
Off the books 23
GETTING AROUND
How They Work 24
Getting Around 71
THE OPERATIVE
Far from Home 72
recruitment 27
Coping with Homesickness 73
The Vow of Silence 28
LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Operative File 28
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 75
ROLL THE DICE
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
The dice are foes and allies 39
Explosives (ATF) 75
Skillbased gameplay 39
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 75
Saving throws 42
United States Marshals Service (USMS) 75
Coin toss for Luck 42
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 75
Time Flies By 43
Local and State Law Enforcement Agencies 76
Appointments and Responsibilities 43
2 AFTERWORD
 FOREWORD
What is Abyssal Whispers?
A COSMIC HORROR D20 TTRPG throughout the game.

Abyssal Whispers is a tabletop role-playing

The cosmic horrors that the characters will
game that incorporates elements of 5e and
encounter in Abyssal Whispers are not simply
cosmic horror themes. The game utilizes a
monsters to be defeated. They are vast,
D20 system, but modified to highlight the
incomprehensible beings from beyond the
vulnerability of characters when facing
veil of reality. Their motives and goals are
unspeakable terrors.
beyond human understanding, and their very
existence is a threat to humanity. The game
The game is set in the real world during the
is not about defeating these cosmic horrors,
advent of the digital revolution, specifically
but surviving them. The goal is not to
the late 1980s to the mid-1990s.
triumph over these beings, but to find a way
to endure their presence and prevent them
The mechanics and gameplay of Abyssal
from destroying everything that the
Whispers follow a similar structure to 5e.
characters hold dear.

WHAT IS COSMIC HORROR?

Throughout the game, the characters will
Cosmic horror is a subgenre of horror that encounter maddening revelations and mind-
focuses on the fear of the unknown and the bending horrors. Their sanity will be tested,
vast, incomprehensible forces that exist and their grip on reality will be constantly
beyond human understanding. In cosmic challenged.
horror, the universe is not a benevolent
place that cares about humanity. Instead, it is
indifferent, hostile, and terrifyingly vast. The
horror comes from the realization that our
place in the universe is insignificant, and that
there are forces beyond our understanding
that could destroy us without a second
thought.

The mechanics of the game are specifically

designed to highlight the themes of cosmic
horror. Characters are vulnerable, and facing
unspeakable terrors will be a constant

3
4
1988 - 1996
Foreword
During the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, the
world was undergoing significant political
In popular culture, the late 1980s to mid-
1990s saw the rise of alternative music,
including grunge and hip-hop. Television

Subtitle
and technological changes. The Cold War
shows like The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and
Friends became cultural touchstones, while
had ended, leading to the dissolution of the
movies like Pulp Fiction and Jurassic Park
Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
broke new ground in filmmaking.
The world was becoming more connected
with the rise of personal computers and the
The setting for Abyssal Whispers can take
internet, although widespread adoption was
place anywhere in the world, but the
still a few years away.
headquarters of the Office of Anomalies is
In the United States, President Ronald
located in New York City. Interestingly, the
Reagan was replaced by President George
East Coast of the United States seems to be
H.W. Bush in 1989, who would oversee the
a hotspot for paranormal occurrences, which
Persian Gulf War in 1991. The 1992
is why the OA has a strong presence in the
Presidential election saw Bill Clinton defeat
region.
incumbent George H.W. Bush, marking a
significant shift in American politics.
Technologically, the late 1980s to mid-
1990s saw the rise of personal computers,
with the release of the first Macintosh
computer in 1984 and the first Windows
operating system in 1985. The internet was
still in its infancy, with the first website going
live in 1991 and the first web browser
released in 1993.
 QUICKSTART RULES

If you're eager to jump right into the action, Abyssal Whispers has Quickstart
Rules that condenses all the basic knowledge needed to start playing the game into
the first 20 pages of the manual. This includes an overview of the game mechanics,
the different skills and abilities available to characters, and the basics of combat
and spellcasting.

The Quickstart Rules provide a great way to introduce new players to the game,
or to get a taste of what Abyssal Whispers has to offer before diving deeper into
the world and its lore. Once you've mastered the basics, you can then delve into the
later chapters of the manual to learn more about Operatives, the Office of
Anomalies, the creatures and enemies you'll face, and much more.

6
 HOW TO PLAY
An Operative of the OA
ABOUT THE OA PLAYING AS AN OPERATIVE
The Office of Anomalies (OA) is a top- Players step into the shoes of Operatives,
secret organization that operates outside members of a top-secret organization
the law. Members of the OA are recruited operating outside of the law. The name of
from all walks of life, but they all share one this organization is known only to its
thing in common: a desire to protect members, and secrecy is paramount to the
humanity from the unspeakable horrors that success of their mission. The players must
threaten our world. keep their work hidden from friends, family,
and colleagues, using lies and deception to
Some join the OA because of a personal protect those they care about. Even their
experience with the occult or supernatural. names and personal lives are kept hidden
They may have witnessed something that from their fellow Operatives, who know
defied explanation and felt a calling to them only by their cover identities.
investigate further. Others join because of a
sense of duty or responsibility. They believe DELAY THE INEVITABLE
that it is their responsibility to protect
As an Operative, your job is to push back
humanity from the unknown, and that the
against the darkness that threatens to
OA is the best organization to do so.
consume the world. You know that you
cannot defeat these cosmic horrors, but you
Whatever their reasons for joining,
can delay the inevitable. You can buy
members of the OA are united in their
humanity another day.
commitment to the mission. They know that
they are risking their lives and their sanity
The mood of Abyssal Whispers is
every time they embark on a mission, but
everything. This is a horror game, and players
they do so willingly, knowing that the fate of
should approach it as such. Describe your
the world rests on their shoulders.
Operative’s actions vividly, and immerse
yourself in the world of cosmic horror.
The work of the OA is not for the faint of
heart. Members must be able to keep secrets
and operate outside the law. They must be
willing to take risks and make sacrifices in
order to protect humanity from the
unknown.

7
 CREATING AN OPERATIVE Each ability score is used to determine a
character's bonuses for specific tasks and actions
Every player in Abyssal Whispers will need
in the game. For example, a character with a high
an Operative File to keep track of their
Strength score would have an easier time
character's abilities and stats. The Operative
breaking down a door, while a character with a
File is a document that contains all the
high Dexterity score would be more likely to
necessary information about your Operative,
dodge an attack.
including their name, career, company,
nationality, sex, age, education, and abilities.
STANDARD ARRAY
When creating your Operative, think of If you prefer to use the standard ability
realistic scenarios that would lead them to join score array, you can assign the following
the Office of Anomalies. Did they stumble values to your ability scores:
across something they weren't supposed to
see? Were they recruited because of their 17, 14, 12, 11, 10, 8
unique skills or knowledge? Whatever the
reason, your character should have a backstory POINT BUY SYSTEM
that explains why they're willing to risk their
If you prefer to use a point buy system, you
lives to fight against the incomprehensible
will have 31 points to distribute among your
horrors that threaten our world.
ability scores. The cost of each ability score is
as follows:
ABILITY SCORES
Abyssal Whispers utilizes the same ability 8: 0 points
scores as 5e: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, 9: 1 point
Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Each ability 10: 2 points
score should be recorded on your Operative File, 11: 3 points
along with its value. The ability scores should be 12: 4 points
between 8 and 18, with 10 being the average. 13: 5 points
14: 7 points
• Strength: Measures physical power and 15: 9 points
ability to force things open or shut. 16: 12 points
• Dexterity: Measures agility, reflexes, and 17: 15 points
balance. 18: 19 points
• Constitution: Measures physical health,
stamina, and endurance.
• Intelligence: Measures mental acuity,
memory, and analytical ability.
• Wisdom: Measures perception and intuition.
• Charisma: Measures force of personality,
persuasiveness, and leadership ability.

8
MODIFIERS WILLPOWER POINTS (WP)
To determine bonuses or penalties for Willpower Points represent a character's
actions that require an ability check, the ability ability to understand and wield the occult. At
score is used to calculate a modifier. The certain points in the adventure, characters
modifier is added to or subtracted from a d20 may use Willpower Points to cast spells,
roll to determine the final result of the action. which could potentially affect their Sanity.
The following table shows the modifiers for The character's maximum WP is
each ability score: determined by their Intelligence score.
A character’s maximum WP is their
ABILITY SCORE MODIFIER Intelligence modifier multiplied by 3.
Willpower can be restored by having a
8-9 -1
good night’s sleep (1d6 per rest).
10 - 11 0
SANITY POINTS (SAN)
12 - 13 +1
Sanity Points represent a character's
14 - 15 +2
mental well-being and ability to maintain
16 - 17 +3 their grip on reality. When a character is
exposed to cosmic horrors or other
18 - 19 +4
traumatic events, they lose SAN. If a
20 - 21 +5 character's SAN drops to 0, they become
permanently insane and are unable to
22 - 23 +6
continue.
24 - 25 +7 A character's maximum SAN is
determined by their Wisdom score. To
26 - 27 +8
calculate a character's maximum SAN
multiply their Wisdom score by 5.
28 - 29 +9

30 +10
M?
WANT IT RANDO
HEALTH POINTS (HP)
ore with 4d6.
Health Points represent a character's physical Roll each ability sc
the 3 highest rolls,
health and ability to withstand physical trauma. Add the results of
west die.
then remove the lo
When a character takes damage, they lose HP.
.
If a character's HP drops to 0, they become
t 6 tim es an d w rite down each result
Repea of choice.
unconscious or die, depending on the
pp ly th e 6 va lues to the ability scores
circumstances. A character’s HP is calculated by A
adding up STR and CON then halve the result.

9
 "THE OLDEST AND STRONGEST EMOTION OF MANKIND IS FEAR, AND THE
OLDEST AND STRONGEST KIND OF FEAR IS FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN."
-H.P. LOVECRAFT

10
 INSANITY
Foreword
The mind snaps like a twig
Subtitle
INSANITY of SAN lost depends on the severity of the
event or horror that triggered the check, and
Operatives are exposed to the horrors of
is determined by the Whisperer.
the cosmic entities they face, their sanity will
be tested. When a character loses 5 or more
Sanity checks represent the mental toll
SAN points at once, they are struck by
that the game's themes and events can take
madness, and a new phobia or disorder
on a character. As characters lose SAN, they
takes root in their mind. These conditions
become more susceptible to insanity.
can still be cured through therapy or other
means. The phobia or disorder should be
Here are some events that may impact a
related to the horror that caused the SAN
character's Sanity Points (SAN):
loss, and the effects of the phobia or disorder
should be role-played by the player.
• Witnessing or experiencing physical
violence or brutality
When a character loses 10 or more SAN in
• Encountering cosmic horrors or other
a day, they experience a "Snap." A bout of
unspeakable entities
madness will take over, and whatever
• Discovering dark and disturbing secrets
happens then is up to the Whisperer.
about the world and its history
• Witnessing the death or mutilation of a
As characters continue to lose SAN, their
friend or loved one
grip on reality will become increasingly
• Being subjected to mind-altering drugs or
tenuous. After 3 “Snaps” the effects of
other substances
insanity will be permanent and can range
• Being trapped in a confined space or in
from minor phobias and disorders to full-
extreme isolation
blown mental breakdowns.
• Experiencing extreme fear or terror for
an extended period of time
SANITY CHECKS
• Being exposed to extreme temperatures
Sanity checks are used to determine how a or other harsh environmental conditions
character reacts to traumatic events or
exposure to cosmic horrors. When a
character is called upon to make a sanity
check, they must roll a d100. If the result is
lower than their current SAN, they fail the
check and may lose SAN points. The amount

11
 REGAINING SANITY scrolls or tomes. When a player successfully uses
their Occult skill in the game, they can make a
Therapy
request to the Whisperer to raise the skill.
One way to regain SAN is by seeking therapy.
Characters can visit a therapist or mental health
The Whisperer will then determine the
professional to talk about their experiences and
difficulty of the request and the amount of
work through their trauma. This can involve
experience or knowledge necessary to raise the
talking about their fears and anxieties, learning
Occult skill. The player may need to find and
coping mechanisms, and developing healthy
study ancient texts or artifacts, or they may need
habits.
to undergo a special ritual or training.

The amount of SAN that can be regained

Players who have high Occult scores will be
through therapy is up to the Whisperer.
able to cast spells and perform rituals that can
Depending on the severity of the character's
have a significant impact on the game. However,
trauma, therapy may not be enough to fully
they must be careful not to lose their grip on
restore their SAN, but it can still provide
reality in the process. The more a character
some relief.
delves into the Occult, the more their sanity will
be tested, and the more likely they are to
Overcoming Unnatural Threats
succumb to madness.
Another way for characters to regain SAN is by
overcoming the unnatural threats that caused
them to lose it in the first place. By confronting
and defeating the source of their fear or stress,
characters can regain a sense of control and
agency, which can help to restore their sanity.

However, this is easier said than done. The

cosmic horrors in Abyssal Whispers are not easily
defeated, and the characters will face many
challenges along the way. It will take courage,
determination, and sacrifice to overcome these
threats and regain some of the lost SAN.

OCCULT
Occult is a skill that represents a character's
ability to understand and wield the arcane forces
of the universe. The Occult skill is linked to the
Intelligence ability score.
In order to raise their Occult skill, players must
have specific experiences or find sanity testing

12
BONDS
Bonds are connections that the characters
have to the world around them, and are
intended to provide a motivation for them to
keep fighting against the cosmic horrors that
threaten to destroy everything they hold dear.
Each bond has a value equal to the character's
Charisma score, and represents a person, place,
or thing that the character cares about deeply.

Each player thinks of 3 bonds for their

character.

When a character experiences a loss of sanity,

they have the option to attempt to reduce it by
projecting it onto a crucial personal relationship,
damaging a Bond. This action requires spending
1D4 WP. If the character still has at least 1 WP
remaining, they can reduce the SAN loss by the
amount of WP spent (to a minimum of zero) and
reduce a Bond's score by the same amount.

FLAWS
Players will also need to choose two flaws for
their Operative. Flaws are negative aspects of
a character's personality, history, or abilities
that can impact their performance during
gameplay. Flaws can range from physical
disabilities to character flaws such as greed or a
short temper. The Whisperer may call upon a
player's flaws to add difficulty to a situation or
to create a challenge for the player to overcome.
For example, if a character has a fear of the
dark, they may have difficulty navigating through
a darkened room during a mission. If a character
has a substance abuse problem, they may be
more susceptible to addiction or be unable to
resist the temptation of drugs or alcohol during a
mission.

13
14
 YOUR CAREER
What a way to make a living
CAREER CHOICE
Every Operative spends most of their time
working a “real” job. Nearly any profession
can be found in the OA’s ranks. Each career
choice provides proficiency in 5 different
skills, allowing players to specialize in certain
areas of expertise. Proficiency means the
relevant ability score modifier is doubled on
that specific skill.
SKILLS
Abyssal Whispers utilizes a set of skills that are
used to determine a character's proficiency in
various tasks and actions. There are 18 different
skills, each linked to one of the six ability scores.
The skills and their associated ability scores are
as follows:
• Acrobatics (Dexterity): Used for feats of
agility and balance, such as jumping,
tumbling, and balancing on narrow
surfaces.
• Athletics (Strength): Used for feats of
physical strength and endurance, such as
climbing, swimming, and running.
• Computers (Intelligence): Used for
working with computers and other digital
devices, such as programming, and data
analysis.
• Craftsmanship (Intelligence): Used for
creating or repairing physical objects,
such as carpentry, metalworking, and
electronics repair.
• Deception (Charisma): Used for lying,
cheating, and manipulating others, such
as bluffing, forging documents, and
disguising oneself.
• History (Intelligence): Used for recalling
and interpreting historical events and
facts, such as researching historical
records, identifying artifacts, and
understanding cultural customs.
• Insight (Wisdom): Used for
understanding the motives and feelings
of others, such as reading body language,
detecting lies, and predicting behavior.
• Intimidation (Charisma): Used for
instilling fear and exerting one's will on
others, such as threatening, bullying, and
interrogating.
• Investigation (Intelligence): Used for
searching for clues and analyzing
information, such as examining crime
scenes, researching leads, and identifying
patterns.
• Medicine (Wisdom): Used for treating
injuries and illnesses, such as diagnosing
conditions, administering first aid, and
performing surgery.
• Forgery (Wisdom): Forgery is a way to
fake official writing, forging contracts
and documents.
• Perception (Wisdom): Used for
detecting and noticing things, such as
searching for hidden objects, spotting
traps, and listening for sounds.
• Persuasion (Charisma): Used for
15
 convincing others to see one's point of
view, such as negotiating, charming, and
seducing.
• Piloting (Dexterity): Used for operating
vehicles and aircraft, such as driving,
flying, and sailing.
• Science (Intelligence): Used for
understanding and applying scientific
principles, such as chemistry, biology,
and physics.
• Sleight of Hand (Dexterity): Used for
performing manual tricks and feats of
agility, such as pickpocketing,
lockpicking, and escaping bonds.
• Survival (Wisdom): Used for surviving in
harsh environments, such as foraging
and finding shelter or a hiding place.
• Occult: Used for understanding and
wielding the arcane forces of the
universe, such as casting spells,
performing rituals, and identifying occult
artifacts.
Here are 6 examples of careers and their
associated proficiencies in skills:
• Computer Programmer: Proficiency in
Computers, Science, Forgery,
Investigation, and Occult
• Private Investigator: Proficiency in
Investigation, Deception, Small Guns,
Persuasion, and Perception
• Journalist: Proficiency in History,
Persuasion, Deception, Investigation, and
Perception
• Musician: Proficiency in Craftsmanship,
Deception, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand,
and Perception
• Investment Banker: Proficiency in
Persuasion, Deception, Investigation,
16
Science, and Forgery
• Detective: Proficiency in Investigation,
Insight, Perception, Small Guns, and
Survival
EDUCATION AND LANGUAGES
A character's education can also affect their
ability to speak different languages. If a
character's education includes language study,
they may be able to speak one or more
additional languages.
If a character has an Intelligence score of 13
or higher, they may choose to learn an
additional language. The language chosen
should be appropriate to the character's
backstory and experience, and should be
approved by the Whisperer.
GROWTH
There is no traditional leveling system.
Operatives do not magically gain more Health
Points as in other tabletop role-playing games,
but they may gain higher values in their skills as
they gain experience and knowledge.
To level up a skill, the player must first use it
at least five times. After the fifth use, the
player may request a skill-up. To do so, the
player rolls against their character's skill value
and needs to beat it. For example, if a character
has an Investigation score of 3 (3+10 = 13), then
the player must roll a d20 with a result higher
than 13 to add another +1 to this skill.
When a player is proficient, the modifier is
doubled. For example, if the Investigation
score is +6 (6+10 = 16), then the player must
beat 16 to add another +1.
Skill-ups can only be requested during
downtime or between missions, and the
Whisperer has the final say on whether or not a
skill-up is granted.
 GAME MECHANICS
Combat and More
COMBAT AND WEAPONS
Combat follows the same basic structure as
other tabletop role-playing games. Characters
take turns performing actions, such as attacking,
using spells, or moving, until one side emerges
victorious or the combat is resolved in some
other way.
There are 3 types of possible proficiencies:
• Small Guns (Add DEX modifier to attack rolls
and damage rolls)
• Big Guns (Add STR modifier to attack rolls
and DEX modifier to damage rolls)
• Hand to hand (From knives and fists to
improvised weapons, add STR modifier to
attack and damage rolls, or the DEX modifier
for throwing or other ranged rolls)
INITIATIVE
Initiative is used to determine the order in
which characters take their turns in combat. At
the beginning of each combat encounter, each
character rolls a d20 and adds their Dexterity
modifier to the roll. The character with the
highest result goes first, followed by the
character with the second-highest result, and so
on.
ATTACKS
Attacks in are resolved using a combination of
the character's weapon proficiency, ability score
modifier, and the roll of a d20. To make an attack,
the player rolls a d20 and adds their proficiency
bonus and the appropriate ability score modifier.
If the result is equal to or greater than the
target's Armor Class (AC), the attack hits and
damage is dealt.
DAMAGE
Damage is determined by the weapon being
used. Each weapon has a damage rating, which is
added to the character's ability score modifier to
determine the total amount of damage dealt.
WEAPONS
Abyssal Whispers features a variety of
weapons that characters can use in combat.
Each weapon has its own unique stats, damage
rating, and proficiency requirements. Some
weapons may require proficiency in a specific
skill, such as Firearms or Melee Weapons.
Here are a few examples of weapons that
characters may use in combat:
• Pistol: A small, handheld firearm that deals
moderate damage at short range. Requires
proficiency in Guns (damage 1d8 to 1d10).
• Rifle: A long-range firearm that deals high
damage. Requires proficiency in Big Guns
(1d8 to 2d12).
• Knife: A small, bladed weapon that deals low
damage but can be used in close combat.
Requires proficiency in Melee Weapons (1d4
(unarmed) to 1d8).
17
 DODGE AND ARMOR CLASS character who has suffered a gunshot wound
may need to be taken to a hospital and undergo
Dodge provides characters with protection
surgery in order to recover. Alternatively, a
against attacks. When a character is attacked in
character who has contracted a deadly disease
combat, they can use their action to dodge.
may require a high medicine check in order to
When a character dodges, they gain advantage
find a cure.
on all Dexterity saving throws made against
attacks that they can see until the beginning of
If an Operative takes a critical hit or loses 5
their next turn. Additionally, any attack rolls
or more Health Points at once, they will
made against the character have disadvantage if
suffer a Wound. This represents serious
the attacker is visible to the character and within
physical injury or trauma that can have lasting
30 feet. Dodging is a useful way for characters to
consequences. The effects of the Wound will
avoid damage in combat and stay alive in the
depend on the nature of the injury and the
face of the cosmic horrors they will encounter.
severity of the damage.
A character’s Armor Class (AC) equals
A character can suffer an ailment by failing
their Constitution. Characters could find and
a Constitution saving throw against poison,
wear equipment that may give extra Armor
lack of sleep, or an unsanitary environment.
Class.
The severity of the ailment and the duration
of recovery is determined by the Whisperer.
CRITICAL HITS AND FUMBLES
In some cases, medical attention may be
A natural 20 on an attack roll is considered a required to fully recover from the ailment.
critical hit, and a natural 1 is considered a critical
fumble. A critical hit deals double damage, while WHEN TO ROLL THE DICE
a critical fumble results in the character dropping
Abyssal Whispers utilizes a dice-based
their weapon or otherwise fumbling their action.
system to determine the outcome of actions
and events in the game. Whenever a
WOUNDS AND AILMENTS
character attempts to do something that is
Taking damage can have serious not guaranteed to succeed, the player will
consequences for a character. It is not a simple need to make a roll to see if their character is
matter to regain Health Points (HP) through rest successful. The result of the roll will be
or healing spells. If a character is seriously compared to a difficulty class, or DC, which
wounded or falls ill, they may require medical represents the level of challenge the
attention in order to recover. character is facing.
The difficulty and duration of recovery is
determined by the Whisperer. Depending on the ROLL A SKILL OR AN ABILITY SCORE?
severity of the wounds or ailments, a hospital
When making a roll, the player will need to
visit or high medicine check may be necessary to
decide which ability score or skill to use. The
begin the healing process. For example, a
appropriate ability score or skill will depend

18
on the specific task or action the character
is attempting to perform. For example, if a
character is trying to pick a lock, the player
would use their Dexterity score or their
proficiency in Sleight of Hand, depending on
whether or not the character has that
proficiency.

OPPOSED ROLLS
In some cases, a character's success may
be opposed by another character or
creature. In these situations, both
characters will make a roll and
compare the results. The character
with the higher result will be
successful, while the
character with the lower
result will fail.
 PURSUIT
Pursuit is a mechanic that represents a
chase or pursuit of one character by another.
When a pursuit is initiated, the characters
will make opposed rolls to determine who is
faster. The faster character will gain a lead on
the slower character, and the players will
then make additional rolls to determine the
outcome of the pursuit.
SPELLS
Characters may be able to cast spells if
they possess the necessary occult scroll or
tome and the needed spell components or
focus. The use of spells is intended to be rare
and dangerous, and should only be
attempted by characters who are well-
versed in the occult.
Casting a spell costs Willpower Points
(WP) and may also result in the loss of
Sanity Points (SAN), depending on the spell
being cast and the circumstances
surrounding the casting. If the spell is
successful, the player may choose to expend
additional WP to increase the spell's
potency.
damage to the target. The spell's damage
increases with the amount of WP (1d6 per
WP) expended to cast it. Characters need
to make a Wisdom saving throw or suffer
permanent loss of 1 SAN per WP spent.
• Summoning: This spell allows the caster
to summon a creature or entity from
another realm. The creature will be under
the caster's control, but may become
hostile if mistreated or abused. The
caster always suffers a loss of 5 SAN.
• Mind Control: This spell allows the caster
to take control of another creature's
mind, forcing them to do the caster's
bidding. The target must make a Wisdom
saving throw or become permanently
enslaved to the caster's will. Cost 1 WP
and 1 SAN.
• Soul Drain: This spell drains the target's
life force, causing them to suffer damage
and the loss of WP. The spell's damage
and WP drain increase with the amount
of WP expended to cast it.

Here are a few examples of spells that

characters may be able to cast:

• Vile Curse: This spell inflicts a curse upon

the target, causing them to suffer a
penalty to their attack rolls and ability
checks. The target must make a Wisdom
saving throw or suffer a permanent loss
of 1 SAN.
• Eldritch Wave: This spell unleashes a
blast of otherworldly energy that deals

20
 MYTHOS
Encounters
ENEMIES AND CREATURES
Characters will face a variety of enemies
and creatures as they delve deeper into the
mysteries of the cosmic horrors that
threaten the world. These enemies and
creatures are represented by statblocks,
which provide information about their
abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
The statblocks are similar to those found in
other tabletop role-playing games, such as
D&D 5e. Each statblock includes information
about the creature's Health Points (HP),
Armor Class (AC), attack and damage values,
and other relevant statistics.
However, remember that Operatives do
not gain more HP as they level up. Instead,
the focus is on the character's skills and
abilities, rather than their raw combat
power. This means that combat encounters
will be challenging and deadly, and players
will need to rely on their wits and
cunning to survive.
HUMAN ENEMIES
Human adversaries are represented by
non-player characters (NPCs). These
characters are created similarly to player
characters with a few differences. NPCs have
average ability scores of 10, except for
special or powerful characters who may have
higher scores, particularly in the Occult skill.
Typically, NPCs are enemies or obstacles
that players must overcome to complete
their mission or achieve their objectives.
They may be members of a cult, rival
operatives, or other individuals who oppose
the players.
Normal humans generally have around 10
HP as a rule of thumb. And an AC of about
10-12.
22
 OFFICE OF ANOMALIES
Paranormal Investigations
OFF THE BOOKS military personnel who work covertly. Its
operatives are chosen for their expertise in a
The Office of Anomalies (OA) is a
variety of fields, including science,
clandestine organization that operates off
technology, and the occult.
the books, dedicated to investigating and
containing paranormal occurrences deemed
The OA's base is located in an undisclosed
a threat to national security.
location in New York City, safeguarded by
advanced security and technology. It is
Its origins are shrouded in secrecy, but it is
rumored that the OA has access to
believed to have been founded in the
technology and resources far beyond what is
aftermath of World War II, during the Cold
available to the general public..
War.

Despite its covert nature, the OA is not

Initially, the OA was a joint project
without its detractors. Some have accused
between the US and UK governments,
the organization of overstepping its
designed to investigate and contain
boundaries and engaging in immoral
anomalous phenomena. However, over
practices in its pursuit of paranormal
time, the organization grew more
phenomena. Nevertheless, the OA is
independent and covert, distancing itself
steadfast in its mission to protect the nation
from government oversight and becoming a
from the unknown and the inexplicable.
self-contained entity.

While the OA's methods may be

To this day, the OA remains a secretive
controversial, its results are undeniable.
organization, with its existence known only
Through its efforts, numerous paranormal
to a select few. Most government authorities
events have been contained or
are unaware of its existence, and those
neutralized, preventing incalculable
who are often turn a blind eye
damage and destruction.
to its operations due to the
sensitive nature of its work.

The OA is staffed by a
combination of civilians and
government agents,
including former CIA, FBI, and

23
 FINDING RECRUITS Many FBI and CIA agents also lead a double
life within the OA, using their positions within
The OA recruits operatives from a variety of
the government to influence policy and ensure
backgrounds and professions, seeking
the OA's continued existence. This gives the
individuals who have already come into
organization a powerful ally within the
contact with the unnatural. This can include
government, but also puts it at risk of
scientists, law enforcement officers, military
exposure and retaliation from those who
personnel, and members of other
oppose its activities.
organizations. The OA actively seeks out
The OA's influence is also bolstered by its
individuals who have had firsthand experience
ability to work with other clandestine
with paranormal phenomena, such as those
organizations and government agencies. By
who have survived encounters with creatures
forming strategic partnerships and alliances,
or entities from beyond our reality.
the OA is able to leverage the resources and
These potential operatives are carefully
expertise of other groups to achieve its
vetted and evaluated to ensure that they have
objectives without drawing unwanted
the necessary skills and sanity to serve as
attention.
effective agents of the OA. Once recruited,
operatives undergo extensive psychiatric
HOW THEY WORK
testing to make sure they are ready to face
whatever is out there. An organization dedicated to investigating
and containing paranormal occurrences
FUNDING deemed a threat to national security. If the OA
suspects that a happening has something to
The OA's funding is a closely guarded secret,
do with the occult or supernatural, they will
but it is believed to come from a combination
send in a team of specialized Operatives to
of private donors and hidden government
investigate the matter. These Operatives have
sources. The organization's ability to operate
expertise in a variety of fields, including
outside of traditional government channels
science, technology, and the occult.
allows it to access funding and resources that
Once the Operatives arrive on the scene,
would otherwise be unavailable.
they will carefully investigate the area and
remove all traces of occult and dangerous
INFLUENCE
remains. Their ultimate goal is to protect the
The OA's influence within governments is public from running into these cosmic dangers.
carefully managed to avoid detection. The At times, Operatives are required to perform
organization operates off the books, with no tasks that must remain hidden from the public
official ties to any government agency or eye. These tasks may include removing bodies,
department. This allows the OA to operate erasing occult symbols, investigating crime
with a high degree of autonomy, making use of scenes, and tampering with evidence to ensure
its extensive resources to investigate and that no information is leaked.
contain paranormal threats as it sees fit.

24
CASES INVESTIGATED BY THE OA
KURT GÖDEL'S CASE
Kurt Gödel was a brilliant mathematician
and logician who was admitted to a
psychiatric sanitarium after experiencing
paranoid delusions. The OA was assigned to
his case after he claimed to have seen and
experienced forces beyond
understanding. The OA discovered that
Gödel had stumbled upon ancient texts that
contained knowledge of forbidden rituals
and entities that exist beyond our reality. The
OA worked to contain the knowledge and
prevent it from spreading.
Satanic cult. The victims were all children,
and their bodies were found with strange
symbols etched into their flesh. The OA
investigated but was never able to close the
case. They removed all traces of occult
activity. A rare case on the westcoast.
NYC APARTMENT MYSTERY
our
In 1994 a supernatural disturbance was
reported in a high-rise apartment block in
New York City. A copy of “The King in
Yellow” infected the residents. One of the
most unexpectedly dangerous operations of
the OA.

THE EYES OF THE DRAGON DISTURBED GRAVE

In 1986, a series of bizarre and seemingly
unrelated murders occurred in the small
town of Ludlow, Maine. The victims were
found with strange symbols etched into their
flesh, and their eyes had been cut out. The
OA was called in to investigate and
discovered that the murders were part of an
occult ritual. The OA worked to stop the cult
and prevented any leaks.
In 1980, a group of teenagers discovered
an old grave in a small town in Pennsylvania.
They disturbed the grave and took some of
the bones as souvenirs. Shortly thereafter,
strange things began to happen to the
teenagers and their families. The OA was
called in to investigate

THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE

In 1985, a commercial airliner disappeared
without a trace. The OA was called in to
investigate and discovered that the plane
had been caught in a rift. The OA worked to
close the rift, but none of the Operatives
ever made it back.

THE BLOOD OF THE INNOCENT

In 1990, a series of murders occurred in Los
Angeles that appeared to be linked to a

25
26
 THE
RECRUITMENT
The OA actively seeks out individuals who
have had firsthand experience with
paranormal phenomena, such as those who
have survived unnatural encounters. These
potential operatives are carefully vetted and
evaluated by a team of specialists to ensure
that they have the necessary skills, knowledge,
and stability to serve as effective agents of the
OA.

Once recruited, operatives undergo

extensive psychiatric testing to make sure
they are ready to face whatever is out there.
The OA values individuals who have a strong
sense of duty and patriotism, as well as a
deep commitment to the cause of
protecting the nation from the unknown
and the inexplicable.

The OA's methods for finding and

recruiting operatives are highly secretive
and strictly controlled by the organization's
leadership. The OA has a vast network of
informants and agents who are trained to
identify potential recruits and bring them to
the attention of the organization.

These agents may use various methods to

contact potential operatives, including
covert communication channels and face-
to-face meetings in secure locations. Once
a potential operative has been identified,

27
 the OA will conduct a thorough background
check and an assessment of their skills and
abilities.
If the operative is deemed suitable for the
organization, they will be approached and
given an offer to join the OA. The offer is usually
made in person, and includes a detailed
explanation of the OA's mission, as well as the
responsibilities and risks involved in being an
operative.
If the operative accepts the offer, they will
undergo training in various fields, including
science, technology, and the occult. They will
also be given access to the OA's network of
contacts and informants.
The OA's operatives are expected to
maintain the highest level of secrecy and
confidentiality.
THE VOW OF SILENCE
To ensure that its operatives remain
committed to the cause and do not
compromise the organization's activities, the
OA requires all its members to take a Vow of
Silence. This vow is a solemn oath to never
reveal any information about the OA's
activities, operations, or personnel to anyone
outside of the organization, including family
and friends.
The Vow of Silence is a lifelong commitment,
and it requires operatives to be vigilant in all
aspects of their lives. They must never reveal
their affiliation with the OA, even in casual
conversation, and they must take great care to
ensure that their personal lives do not seep into
28
their work with the organization.
Conversely, operatives must also be careful
to avoid letting their work with the OA affect
their personal lives. They must maintain a
healthy work-life balance and ensure that their
commitment to the organization does not
compromise their relationships with loved
ones.
The Vow of Silence is a critical component of
the OA's operations, as it ensures that the
organization's activities remain shrouded in
secrecy. The consequences of breaking the
vow are severe, and can include expulsion from
the organization, loss of clearance, and even
legal repercussions.
Operatives who take the Vow of Silence
must understand the gravity of their
commitment, and must be prepared to sacrifice
their bonds to ensure that this work can
continue in secret.
THE OPERATIVE FILE
The Operative File is the equivalent of a
character sheet in other tabletop role-playing
games. It contains all of the information
necessary to play the character, including
ability scores, skills, bonds, flaws, and
equipment.
Starting on page 7 of this rulebook, players
can find the condensed steps on creating an
Operative, which includes choosing a career,
selecting bonds and flaws, and determining
ability scores and proficiencies. On the
following pages the book goes into more detail
of what all fields of the Operative File entail.
STEP 1. PERSONAL DATA
Name, Nationality, Age, Gender and
Education.
STEP 2. ALLOCATE ABILITY SCORES
• Strength (STR): Measures physical power,
athletic ability, and fighting prowess.
• Dexterity (DEX): Measures agility, reflexes,
and balance.
• Constitution (CON): Measures endurance,
resilience, and overall health.
• Intelligence (INT): Measures mental acuity,
memory, and problem-solving ability.
• Wisdom (WIS): Measures perception, intuition,
and insight.
• Charisma (CHA): Measures persuasion,
personal magnetism, and ability to lead.
See the instructions on Point Buy,
Standard Array and random rolls starting
page 7.
STEP 3. HEALTH POINTS, WILLPOWER,
AND SANITY
Health Points (HP): A character's HP is equal
to their Constitution score. Health Points
represent the physical health of a character.
When a character takes damage, they lose HP.
If a character's HP drops to 0, they become
unconscious or die, depending on the
circumstances.
Wounds and Ailments: As characters take
damage during gameplay, they may become
wounded or afflicted with various ailments.
Wounds and ailments can have a variety of
effects on a character, such as reducing their
combat effectiveness or impairing their ability
to move. They can also cause ongoing damage
or affect a character's ability to regain HP or
SAN. Wounds are inflicted if the Operative
receives 5 or more damage at once. Ailments
are diseases or sickness through poison after
failing a CON saving throw. Both wounds and
ailments require professional care, be it in a
hospital or elsewhere.
Willpower Points (WP): A character’s
maximum WP is their Intelligence modifier
multiplied by 3. Willpower Points represent a
character's ability to understand and wield the
occult. At certain points in the adventure,
characters may use Willpower Points to cast
spells, which could potentially affect their
Sanity. The character's maximum WP is
determined by their Intelligence score.
Willpower can be restored by having a good
night’s sleep (1d6 per rest).
Sanity Points (SAN): To calculate a
character's maximum SAN multiply their
Wisdom score by 5. Sanity Points represent a
character's mental well-being and ability to
maintain their grip on reality. When a character
is exposed to cosmic horrors or other traumatic
events, they lose SAN. If a character's SAN
drops to 0, they become permanently insane
and are unable to continue.
Mental Disorders: As characters are exposed
to the horrors of the cosmic entities they face,
their sanity will be tested. When a character
loses 5 or more SAN points at once, they are
struck by madness, and a new phobia or
disorder takes root in their mind. The phobia
or disorder should be related to the horror that
caused the SAN loss, and the effects of the
phobia or disorder should be role-played by the
player. When a character loses 10 or more SAN
in a day, they experience a "Snap." A bout of
madness will take over, and whatever happens
then is up to the Wisperer. As characters
29
 continue to lose SAN, their grip on reality will
become increasingly tenuous. After 3 “Snaps”
STEP 5. FILL IN ALL SKILL VALUES
the effects of insanity will be permanent and
can range from minor phobias and disorders to Each skill is used to determine a character's
full-blown mental breakdowns. competence in a specific area, and is modified
by the relevant ability score. The skill value is
STEP 4. CAREER AND PROFICIENCIES + doubled when an Operative is proficient in a
CHOOSE A COVERT ID particular skill. Whenever a skill is used 3 times,
a character may request a skill-up. A skill-up
Career: The career of an Operative provides
means an additional permanent +1 to the skill
context for their skills and abilities. When
value. Skill-ups can only be performed during
creating a character, players should think about
downtime and special trainings. A skill can
what type of career would lead someone to
never get higher than +10.
join the Office of Anomalies. For example, a
character could be a former military operative,
Acrobatics (Dexterity): Used for feats of
a scientist, or a detective. The career should tie
agility and balance, such as jumping, tumbling,
into the character's backstory and motivations,
and balancing on narrow surfaces.
and should provide a reason for why the
Athletics (Strength): Used for feats of
character has the skills and abilities that they
physical strength and endurance, such as
do.
climbing, swimming, and running.
Covert ID: The Covert ID is a false identity
Computers (Intelligence): Used for working
that the character uses when working for the
with computers and other digital devices, such
Office of Anomalies. It is designed to protect
as programming, and data analysis.
the character's real identity and provide them
Craft (Wisdom): Craft is a skill used for
with a cover story in case they are caught. The
understanding, creating or repairing physical
Covert ID should be carefully crafted to fit with
objects. Forging contracts and documents.
the character's backstory and career, and
Craftsmanship (Intelligence): Used for
should be believable enough to stand up to
creating or repairing physical objects, such as
scrutiny.
carpentry, metalworking, and electronics
Proficiencies: Proficiencies are the skills and
repair.
abilities that a character has developed over
Deception (Charisma): Used for lying,
the course of their life and career. Players
cheating, and manipulating others, such as
should choose proficiencies that fit with their
bluffing, forging documents, and disguising
character's backstory and career, and should
oneself.
think about how those proficiencies can be
History (Intelligence): Used for recalling and
used in the context of the game. For example,
interpreting historical events and facts, such as
a character with a background as a historian
researching historical records, identifying
will have proficiency in the History skill, which
artifacts, and understanding cultural customs.
could be useful for identifying old artifacts.
Insight (Wisdom): Used for understanding
the motives and feelings of others, such as

30
reading body language, detecting lies, and STEP 6. BONDS & FLAWS
predicting behavior.
Bonds: Each bond has a value equal to the
Intimidation (Charisma): Used for instilling
character's Charisma score, and represents a
fear and exerting one's will on others, such as
person, place, or thing that the character
threatening, bullying, and interrogating.
cares about deeply. Bonds are connections
Investigation (Intelligence): Used for
that the characters have to the world around
searching for clues and analyzing information,
them, and are intended to provide a
such as examining crime scenes, researching
motivation for them to keep fighting against
leads, and identifying patterns.
the cosmic horrors that threaten to destroy
Medicine (Wisdom): Used for treating
everything they hold dear. Players should
injuries and illnesses, such as diagnosing
think carefully when choosing their
conditions, administering first aid, and
character's bonds. These bonds should be
performing surgery.
related to their character's backstory and
Occult (Intelligence): Used for
should provide a motivation for them to
understanding and wielding the arcane forces
keep fighting against the horrors they will
of the universe, such as casting spells,
encounter throughout the game. Players
performing rituals, and identifying occult
should also be prepared to role-play their
artifacts.
bonds during gameplay. When a character
Perception (Wisdom): Used for detecting
experiences a loss of sanity, they have the
and noticing things, such as searching for
option to attempt to reduce it by projecting
hidden objects, spotting traps, and listening for
it onto a crucial personal relationship,
sounds.
damaging a Bond. This action requires
Persuasion (Charisma): Used for convincing
spending 1d4 WP. If the character still has at
others to see one's point of view, such as
least 1 WP remaining, they can reduce the
negotiating, charming, and seducing.
SAN loss by the amount of WP spent (to a
Piloting (Dexterity): Used for operating
minimum of zero) and reduce a Bond's score
vehicles and aircraft, such as driving, flying, and
by the same amount.
sailing.
Flaws: In addition to their bonds, players
Science (Intelligence): Used for
will also need to choose two flaws for their
understanding and applying scientific
Operative. Flaws are negative aspects of a
principles, such as chemistry, biology, and
character's personality, history, or abilities
physics.
that can impact their performance during
Sleight of Hand (Dexterity): Used for
gameplay. Flaws can range from physical
performing manual tricks and feats of agility,
disabilities to character flaws such as greed
such as pickpocketing, lockpicking.
or a short temper. The Whisperer may call
Survival (Wisdom): Used for surviving in
upon a player's flaws to add difficulty
harsh environments, such as foraging and
(disadvantage to a roll) to a situation or to
finding shelter or a hiding place.
create a challenge for the player to
overcome. Players should choose flaws that

31
 fit with their character's backstory and
personality, and be prepared to role-play
their flaws during gameplay. Flaws add
depth and nuance to a character's
personality, and can make gameplay more
challenging and rewarding.
STEP 7. BACKSTORY
Backstory is an important component of
character creation. Players should think
about realistic scenarios that would lead
their character to join the Office of
Anomalies. This could include experiences
with the occult or supernatural, a sense of
duty or responsibility to protect humanity, or
a personal desire to investigate the
unknown. It is important to create a
backstory that explains why the character is
willing to risk their life and sanity to fight
against the cosmic horrors that threaten the
world.
STEP 8. PERSONAL DETAILS OR A
SKETCH
Personal Details or a Sketch: A physical
description of the character, including their
height, weight, hair color, eye color, and any
distinguishing features such as scars or
tattoos. The sketch would provide a visual
representation of the character's
appearance, allowing the player and other
members of the gaming group to more easily
visualize the character during gameplay. The
sketch could be a simple pencil drawing or a
more detailed digital rendering, depending
on the preferences of the player. Including
personal details or a sketch can add depth
and personality to the character.
32
STEP 9. HOME, FAMILY & CONTACTS
These are components of a character's Bonds,
which represent connections that the
character has to the world around them.
Home: This represents where the
character comes from and their ties to a
particular place. It could be a physical
location, such as a hometown or ancestral
home, or it could be a more abstract
concept, such as a sense of belonging or
identity. The character might have family or
friends in their home, or they might simply
have fond memories of the place. Whatever
the case, the character's Home is something
that they care about deeply and would go to
great lengths to protect.
Family: This represents the character's ties
to their blood relatives or chosen family. It
could be a spouse, children, parents, or
siblings, or it could be a group of close
friends who have become like family. The
character's Family is a source of emotional
support and motivation, and they would do
anything to protect their loved ones from
harm.
Contacts: This represents the character's
network of acquaintances, colleagues, and
allies. These are people who the character
knows and trusts, and who can provide them
with information, resources, or assistance in
their missions. Contacts might include fellow
operatives in the Office of Anomalies,
criminal informants, or experts in various
fields. The character's Contacts are a
valuable resource, and they will need to
maintain these relationships in order to
succeed in their missions.
STEP 10. AGREEMENT ON
RECRUITMENT (WRITTEN VOW)
Written Vow of Silence: The Operative
vows secrecy. This section serves as a
reminder.
STEP 11. SPECIAL TRAINING
Special Training refers to additional skills or
abilities that a character can acquire beyond
their starting abilities. The following are some
examples of Special Training:
Martial Arts: Characters who receive
Martial Arts training gain a bonus to their
unarmed attacks and can use special moves
in combat.
Weapon Training: Characters who receive
Weapon Training gain proficiency with a
specific type of weapon, such as a knife or a
shotgun.
Medical Training: Characters who receive
Medical Training gain the ability to diagnose
and treat injuries and illnesses.
Language Training: Characters who
receive Language Training gain proficiency in
a new language, allowing them to
communicate with people who speak that
language.
Survival Training: Characters who receive
Survival Training gain the ability to survive in
harsh environments, such as deserts or
jungles.
Hacking Training: Characters who receive
Hacking Training gain the ability to hack into
computer systems and networks.
Investigation Training: Characters who
receive Investigation Training gain
proficiency in investigating crimes or other
mysteries.
Interrogation Training: Characters who
receive Interrogation Training gain the ability
to extract information from people through
questioning and interrogation.
Disguise Training: Characters who receive
Disguise Training gain proficiency in
disguising themselves and can blend into
their surroundings more easily.
Leadership Training: Characters who
receive Leadership Training gain the ability to
lead and inspire others.
Negotiation Training: Characters who
receive Negotiation Training gain proficiency
in negotiating with others and can persuade
them to see their point of view.
Special Training can be acquired during
gameplay, depending on the rules set by the
Whisperer. Some Special Training may
require a certain amount of skill or other
prerequisites before they can be acquired.
Special Training can make a character more
versatile and capable, and can also open up
new possibilities for gameplay and
storytelling.
STEP 12. PERSONAL NOTES &
DETAILS
Personal Notes & Details of all the stuff
Operatives may encounter during their
missions.
STEP 13. OCCULT SCROLLS & TOMES
Occult Scrolls & Tomes are items that can
be acquired through gameplay and are used
to increase a character's Occult skill. The
Occult skill represents a character's ability to
understand and wield the arcane forces of
the universe.
33
 Occult Scrolls & Tomes are rare and
difficult to obtain, but they can be a valuable
resource for characters who want to delve
deeper into the Occult. When a player
successfully uses their Occult skill several
times in the game, they can make a request
to the Whisperer to raise the skill.
To use an Occult Scroll or Tome, the
character must first spend a significant
amount of time studying it. This can involve
reading through ancient texts, deciphering
arcane symbols, or undergoing a special
ritual. Once the character has successfully
studied the Scroll or Tome, they can make a
request to the Whisperer to raise their Occult
skill.
The will then determine the difficulty of
the request to raise the Occult skill.
Players who have high Occult scores will
be able to cast spells and perform rituals that
can have a significant impact on the game.
However, they must be careful not to lose
their grip on reality in the process. The more
a character delves into the Occult, the more
their sanity will be tested, and the more likely
they are to succumb to madness.
STEP 14. PERSONAL POSSESSIONS
Personal possessions are an important
aspect of an Operative's character in Abyssal
Whispers. These possessions offer a glimpse
into the character's personal life and backstory,
while also providing a tool for the Whisperer to
create engaging and immersive role-playing
scenarios.
For example a piece of jewelry or gift from a
34
loved one. This could be a wedding ring, a
locket with a picture of a spouse or child, or a
bracelet from a close friend. These items can
serve as a reminder of the character's
connections to the outside world, and can be
used to create emotional tension or drama in
the game.
Another type of personal possession that is
often used in Abyssal Whispers is memorabilia
that doesn't give away the Operative's true
identity. This might include a ticket stub from a
concert or sporting event, a postcard from a
favorite vacation spot, or a trinket from a past
adventure or a pack of bubble gum. These items
can serve as clues to the character's personality
and interests, without revealing too much
about their true identity or mission.
Personal possessions can be used in a variety
of ways during gameplay. They can be used as a
way to establish rapport with other characters,
or as a bargaining chip in negotiations. They can
also be used as a way to trigger memories or
flashbacks, or as a way to create tension and
drama in the game.
The Description section of the Operative
File is where players can add additional
details about their character's physical
appearance, personality, or other notable
features. A brief description of why the
character has a high skill in a particular area,
such as "bookworm" for a character with a
high Intelligence and History skill. The
Description section can add depth and
nuance to the character.
 4
1

5 3

35
 7

8 9

10 11

13

12

14

36
37
 "I HAVE SEEN THE DARK UNIVERSE YAWNING, WHERE THE BLACK PLANETS
ROLL WITHOUT AIM, WHERE THEY ROLL IN THEIR HORROR UNHEEDED,
WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OR LUSTRE OR NAME."
-H.P. LOVECRAFT

38
 ROLL THE DICE
Details on how to play
THE DICE ARE FOES AND ALLIES
Three main reasons to roll the dice in
Abyssal Whispers is a game of secrets,
Abyssal Whispers are:
deception, and danger. It is a world built on
lies, with unspeakable horrors lurking just
1. The task at hand is difficult, even for
beneath the surface. We are a droplet in an
experts.
ocean of stars and once you glimpse the truth,
2. The situation is unpredictable and out of
you can never go back.
control, with randomness playing a major
role.
Welcome to the OA. We are the front line in
3. There are significant consequences for
the war against the things that go bump in the
failure, with the possibility of severe
night. Our fight is a lonely one, but it is a fight
fallout determined by the Whisperer.
worth having.
Rolling the dice in Abyssal Whispers should
The dice are our allies and our foes, standing
be reserved for situations where failure has
in for the indifferent universe we navigate. It all
consequences and where the outcome is
matters little in the face of the unknown. But
uncertain. The Whisperer should use their
we fight on. Join us, and fight for one more
discretion to determine when and how often
day. For your country, your friends, your life.
to call for rolls, in order to maintain tension
and keep the players engaged.
SKILLBASED GAMEPLAY
Abyssal Whispers focuses on skills. The EXAMPLE: Scientist Jane is attempting to
player decides what their Operative attempts analyze a sample of an unknown substance
to do, and the Whisperer (Game Master) in her laboratory. The sample is highly
determines which skill to use. In a typical unstable and could potentially explode if not
mission, Operatives use many different skills. handled correctly. The Whisperer says that
this requires a roll because the outcome is
The most important rule is that the uncertain and failure could have severe
Whisperer determines if, when, and what consequences. Jane's player must roll a
you roll. The Whisperer has a difficulty class Science test to determine if she can safely
(DC) in mind when they ask you to roll the analyze the substance.
dice. When you beat that DC, the skill check
succeeds. However, the Whisperer decides
what happens based on the roll.

39
 EXAMPLES OF PLAY
Each player has a unique Covert ID to help
maintain their anonymity.
Here are several examples of roleplay
situations.
ROLEPLAYING INVESTIGATIONS
: You arrive in the small town of Millfield,
population 3,000. The sun is setting and the
streets are empty. You've been tasked with
investigating a series of disappearances that
have occurred over the past few weeks. What
do you do?
Player 1 (Codename: Raven): I want to start
by checking out the local police station.
Maybe they have some information about the
disappearances.
: Okay, you make your way to the police
station. It's a small, one-story building with a
few police cars parked out front. The front
door is locked, but there's a window you can
look through. Inside, you see a few officers
sitting at desks and talking to each other.
What do you do?
Player 2 (Codename: Falcon): I want to see
if there are any other entrances to the
building, like a back door or a window we can
climb through.
: Make an Investigation check.
Falcon: Okay, I rolled a 19.
: You notice a window on the side of the
building that's open a crack. It looks like it
might be big enough for someone to slip
through.
Player 3 (Codename: Sparrow): I want to
use my Persuasion skill to distract the officers
while Raven and Falcon sneak into the
building.
: Okay, make a Persuasion check.
40
Sparrow: I rolled a 16.
: You approach the front door and engage
the officers in conversation. You start asking
them about the disappearances, and they
seem eager to talk. While you're distracting
them, Raven and Falcon slip in through the
window.
Raven: I want to look for any files or
documents related to the disappearances.
: Make an Investigation check.
Raven: I rolled a 22.
: You find a file labeled "Missing Persons"
that contains information about the
disappearances. It looks like several people
have gone missing in the past few weeks, all
of them from the same area of town.
Falcon: I want to see if there are any
patterns or connections between the missing
persons.
: Make an Investigation check.
Falcon: I rolled a 17.
: You notice that all of the missing persons
are young women between the ages of 18
and 25. They all disappeared during the night,
and they all lived in the same area of town. It
looks like there might be a serial kidnapper at
work here.
Sparrow: I want to ask the officers if they
know anything about the missing women.
: Okay, make a Persuasion check.
Sparrow: I rolled a 12.
: The officers seem hesitant to talk about
the missing women. They tell you that they're
doing everything they can to find them, but
they don't have any leads. It looks like they're
hiding something.
ROLEPLAYING BONDS
 : You are in the middle of a covert
operation, investigating a cult that is
suspected of performing human sacrifices.
You're supposed to meet with an informant
tonight, but you're running late. As you're
driving to the meeting place, your phone
rings. It's your spouse.
Player: *answering the phone* Hey,
what's up?
Spouse: Hi, I was just calling to see if
everything's okay. You missed work today
and I'm worried.
Player: Oh, yeah, I'm sorry about that. I
had some stuff I needed to take care of.
Spouse: Is everything okay? Are you sick or
something?
Player: No, no, I'm fine. Just a little
stressed out with work stuff, you know how
it is.
Spouse: Okay, well, I just wanted to check
in. Don't forget we have dinner plans
tonight.
Player: Oh, right, right. I'll be there.
: Make a Deception check.
Player: *rolls the dice* 18.
: Your spouse seems to buy your lie, but
you can tell they're still a little suspicious.
You'll need to be careful not to slip up or
reveal anything that could compromise the
mission.
Player: *hangs up the phone* Damn it, this
is getting complicated. I need to focus and
get this mission done.
: Okay, you arrive at the meeting place. The
informant is waiting for you in a dark alley,
looking nervous.
ROLEPLAYING INSANITY
The Operatives have been investigating a
cult that is suspected of performing human
sacrifices. During a raid on the cult's
headquarters, one of the Operatives, played
by Sarah, witnesses a gruesome ritual. The
sight of blood and violence triggers a bout of
insanity, causing Sarah's character to lose
her grip on reality.
: Sarah, your character is overcome by a
violent wave of insanity. You feel as though
you're losing control of your mind, and
you're consumed by fear and paranoia.
Sarah: Okay, what do I do?
: You can choose to either try and fight the
insanity or give in to it. If you choose to fight
it, you'll need to make a Wisdom saving
throw. If you succeed, you can regain control
of your character and continue playing. If you
fail, your character will continue to suffer
from bouts of insanity until you can find a
way to cure it.
Sarah: I'll try and fight it. *rolls the dice*
14.
: You manage to hold onto your sanity, but
you're left shaken and disoriented. As a
result of the bout of insanity, you've
developed a temporary case of alcoholism.
You'll need to make a Constitution saving
throw at the beginning of each mission or
risk being too drunk to effectively carry out
your duties.
Sarah: Okay, I'll keep that in mind.
41
 SAVING THROWS
As demonstrated in the examples of play
on the previous pages, characters may need
to make saving throws to avoid or mitigate
the effects of certain hazards, such as traps,
poisons, or supernatural powers. The type of
saving throw required will depend on the
nature of the hazard and the situation.
There are six different types of saving
throws in Abyssal Whispers:
Strength saving throws are used to resist
physical force or overcome obstacles, such
as pushing open a heavy door or resisting the
effects of a powerful wind.
Dexterity saving throws are used to avoid
or reduce damage from traps, spells, or
other hazards that rely on speed and agility,
such as dodging a falling rock or evading a
fireball.
Constitution saving throws are used to
resist or recover from poisons, diseases, or
other hazards that affect the body, such as
withstanding exposure to extreme
temperatures or recovering from
exhaustion.
Intelligence saving throws are used to
resist the effects of psychic attacks, illusions,
or other hazards that target the mind, such
as resisting the effects of a mind control spell
or seeing through a powerful illusion.
Wisdom saving throws are used to resist
the effects of supernatural powers, such as
resisting the effects of a charm spell or
avoiding being frightened by a terrifying
creature.
Charisma saving throws are used to resist
the effects of social manipulation or
42
supernatural powers that rely on force of
personality, such as resisting the effects of a
vampire's charm or avoiding being
intimidated by a powerful demon.
When a character is required to make a
saving throw, the player rolls a d20 and adds
their relevant ability score modifier and any
relevant proficiency bonus. If the result is
equal to or greater than the hazard's
difficulty class (DC), the character succeeds
and avoids or mitigates the effects of the
hazard.
COIN TOSS FOR LUCK
there may be situations where a character
wants to attempt something with a 50%
chance of success. For example, a character
may ask if they can find something useful in a
garage to block the door, and the Whisperer
may ask for a "coin toss" to determine if
they're lucky enough to find something
useful.
To perform a coin toss, the player should
flip a coin or use a random number generator
with a 50-50 chance of success. If the result is
successful, the character finds what they
were looking for. If the result is unsuccessful,
the character is out of luck.
Coin tosses should be used sparingly, and
only when the outcome is not critical to the
success of the mission or the character's
survival. The Whisperer should use their
discretion to determine when and how to
use coin tosses, in order to maintain tension
and keep the players engaged.
TIME FLIES BY
Time is a crucial factor in completing
missions. The Whisperer determines how
long it takes to perform a test, and the
amount of time it takes can vary depending
on the task at hand.
Turns
Tasks that can be completed in a few
combat turns or up to sixty seconds are
resolved in turns. This includes combat,
some skill tests, and most stat tests.
Minutes
Tasks that can be completed in a few
minutes are typically resolved outside of
combat. Many skill tests fall into this
category.
Hours
Tasks that take hours to complete can be
attempted two to four times per day, though
attempting four tasks per day requires the
Agent to go without rest. Some examples of
tasks that take hours include extended skill
tests requiring multiple rolls.
Days
Tasks that take a day or more to complete
are typically extended skill tests that require
multiple rolls.
Long-Term
Efforts that take place outside of normal
gameplay, such as research and training, fall
into the long-term category. These tasks can
take a week, a month, or even years to
complete, and the amount of time it takes is
ultimately up to the Whisperer.
It's important for players to keep track of
time and plan accordingly, as the clock is
always ticking. By understanding how long
tasks will take to complete, players can make
informed decisions and work more efficiently
to complete their missions.
APPOINTMENTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
Operatives may have appointments and
responsibilities that they need to manage
while on missions. These can include work
obligations, family commitments, and
personal relationships.
To manage appointments and
responsibilities, characters should
communicate with their team and plan their
missions accordingly. They may need to
schedule appointments around their
missions or take time off from work to focus
on their duties as an Operative.
Characters need to balance their personal
and professional lives, as neglecting one can
have consequences for the other. The
Whisperer may incorporate appointments
and responsibilities into missions, creating
additional challenges and obstacles.
43
 "SANITY IS A NARROW ROAD, AND THE UNIVERSE IS EVER AT THE EDGE OF
MADNESS. IT IS ONLY THROUGH THE STRENGTH OF OUR WILL THAT WE CLING
TO THE CRUMBLING PRECIPICE OF REASON."
-THOMAS LIGOTTI

44
 MENTAL HEALTH
Sanity and the will to continue
Sanity and Willpower are core aspects of
Abyssal Whispers. The game is built on the
idea that the human mind is fragile, and that
exposure to cosmic horrors can cause
irreparable damage. As Operatives, players
must navigate a world where the line
between reality and nightmare is constantly
blurred, relying on their mental fortitude to
survive.
Sanity represents a character's mental
stability and ability to process the horrors
they encounter. When a character is exposed
to something traumatic or disturbing, they
must make a Sanity check to avoid being
overwhelmed by fear or madness. If they fail
the check, they may suffer from a temporary
or permanent mental disorder, such as
hallucinations, paranoia, or dissociation.
To do a SAN check, players roll a d100. The
result of the roll needs to be lower than their
current SAN or they fail the check. The
amount of Sanity lost this way is up to the
Whisperer.
Without the threat of losing their minds,
players would be less invested in the outcome
of their missions and less afraid of the
dangers they face.
Willpower is another core aspect of Abyssal
Whispers. It represents a character's mental
resilience and determination, allowing them
to keep going despite exhaustion, resist
persuasion, and resist the effects of terror
and mental disorders.
Willpower is important because it allows
players to make strategic decisions about
how to use their limited resources. Operatives
who run low on Willpower are at risk of
suffering an emotional breakdown, making
them less effective in combat and other tasks.
Players must carefully manage their
Willpower, balancing their need for rest and
recuperation with their duty to the
organization.
Together, Sanity and Willpower create a
sense of tension and uncertainty in Abyssal
Whispers. Players never know when they will
be exposed to something traumatic or when
they will be pushed to their limits. This creates
a sense of immersion and realism that is
essential to the game's success.
In order to survive in the world of Abyssal
Whispers, players must be prepared to
confront their own fears and weaknesses.
They must be willing to take risks and make
sacrifices, knowing that the price of failure
could be their own sanity or willpower. By
embracing the game's core aspects of Sanity
and Willpower, players can immerse
themselves in a world of terror and intrigue,
where the only thing standing between them
and the abyss is their own strength of will.
45
46
 Investigating and containing paranormal
phenomena can take a toll on an Operative's
mental health, leading to anxiety,
depression, and other mental health issues.
To ensure that Operatives remain healthy
and effective, the Office of Anomalies
provides a range of services to support their
mental well-being.
THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Operatives have access to confidential
therapy and counseling services through the
OA's network of mental health
professionals. These services are provided
free of charge and are designed to help
Operatives cope with the stresses and
traumas of their work. The OA understands
that seeking help for mental health issues
can be stigmatized, and encourages
Operatives to take advantage of these
resources without fear of reprisal.
SUPPORT GROUPS
The OA also facilitates support groups for
Operatives who have experienced similar
traumas. These groups provide an
opportunity for Operatives to connect with
one another and share their experiences in a
safe and supportive environment. Support
groups are led by trained professionals and
are designed to promote healing and
resilience.
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION
The OA recognizes the benefits of
mindfulness and meditation in promoting
mental health and well-being. Operatives are
encouraged to practice mindfulness and
meditation as part of their daily routine, and
the organization provides resources and
training to support these practices.
PHYSICAL EXERCISE
Physical exercise is an important
component of maintaining mental health
and well-being. The OA encourages
Operatives to engage in regular physical
activity, whether it be through team sports,
individual workouts, or outdoor activities.
The organization provides access to fitness
facilities and trainers to support Operatives
in their physical fitness goals.
TIME OFF AND REST
Finally, the OA recognizes the importance
of taking time off and getting adequate rest
to maintain mental health and well-being.
Operatives are encouraged to take regular
breaks and vacations to recharge and
decompress. The OA also provides flexible
work arrangements to accommodate the
needs of Operatives who may be
experiencing mental health issues.
By providing these resources and support
services, the OA demonstrates its
commitment to the mental health and well-
being of its Operatives. The organization
understands that its work is challenging and
traumatic, and is dedicated to ensuring that
Operatives remain healthy and effective in
carrying out their mission.
47
 IMPACT ON DAILY LIFE
Being an Operative for the Office of Anomalies
can have a significant impact on an individual's
daily life. The stress and trauma of investigating
and containing paranormal phenomena can take
a toll on an Operative's mental health, leading to
anxiety, depression, and other mental health
issues. While the OA provides resources and
support services to help Operatives cope with
these challenges, the constant lies and secrecy
required of Operatives can still have a significant
impact on their personal lives.
Operatives must be prepared to sacrifice time
with their families and loved ones, as well as
their careers and personal interests, in order to
fulfill their duties to the OA.
The Vow of Silence requires Operatives to
keep their affiliation with the organization a
secret from everyone, including family and
friends. This can lead to strained
relationships and a sense of isolation from
those closest to them.
In addition, the high-stress nature of the
work can lead to burnout and a sense of
hopelessness, as Operatives may feel that
they are fighting an unwinnable battle
against the unknown and the inexplicable.
This can lead to feelings of despair and a lack
of purpose in their personal lives, as they
struggle to balance their commitment to the
OA with their own needs and desires.
Bonds represent the relationships and
connections that characters have with the
world around them, to humanity, including
family, friends, and colleagues. This means
48
that the character's relationship with that
Bond is strained or damaged in some way,
reflecting the character's own mental state.
When a character loses Sanity points, they
have the option to project the loss onto a Bond.
To do this, the player must choose which Bond
they want to affect and how many of the lost
Sanity points they want to transfer to the Bond. A
Bond is considered broken when it’s value
reaches 0, and the character loses all benefits
associated with that Bond.
Projecting Sanity loss onto a Bond can have
significant consequences for the character's
relationships and overall well-being. While
sacrificing a Bond may sometimes be necessary
to protect the character's sanity or advance the
mission of the Office of Anomalies, players should
be cautious when doing so.
MENDING BONDS
There are ways to mend the bonds that have
been damaged. When an Operative decides to
spend more time with a Bond, they may return a
point to it. This represents the character's efforts
to repair and strengthen the relationship.
To mend a Bond, the player must choose
which Bond they want to focus on and how
much time they want to spend with it. This can
be done during downtime between missions, or
during a mission if circumstances allow. The
player and the Game Master should work
together to determine the appropriate amount
of time needed to mend the Bond, based on the
severity of the damage and the character's
relationship with the Bond.
 Once the character has spent the required temporary relief, they can also have significant
time with the Bond, the player may return a risks and consequences.
point to it. This represents the character's efforts
to repair and strengthen the relationship, and can Illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, are not
have significant benefits for the character's only dangerous and addictive, but can also
mental health and well-being. compromise an Operative's ability to perform
their duties effectively.
SLEEPLESSNESS AND EXHAUSTION
Prescription sedatives, such as
Working for the Office of Anomalies (OA) can
benzodiazepines, may be prescribed to help
be incredibly stressful and demanding, with long
Operatives manage symptoms of anxiety or
hours and unpredictable schedules. This can lead
sleeplessness. However, these medications are
to sleeplessness and exhaustion, which can have
highly addictive and should only be used under
significant consequences for an Operative's
the supervision of a trained medical professional.
mental and physical health.
Operatives who are prescribed sedatives should
take care to use them only as directed and to
Operatives who are experiencing
report any side effects or concerns to their
sleeplessness or exhaustion may find it difficult to
healthcare provider.
concentrate or make decisions, and may be more
prone to accidents or mistakes. They may also
In addition to the risks of addiction and
experience irritability, mood swings, and other
dependence, the use of drugs and sedatives can
mental health issues.
also compromise an Operative's judgement and
decision-making abilities. This can have serious
Being exhausted means that the
consequences in the field, putting themselves
character has disadvantage on all ability
and others at risk.
checks, attack rolls, and saving throws that
use Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, or
Operatives who are struggling with stress,
Charisma, as well as disadvantage on
trauma, or mental health issues are encouraged
Wisdom (Perception) checks.
to seek help from the OA's mental health services
or support groups. These resources can provide
In addition, a character who is exhausted must
Operatives with the tools and support they need
halve their movement speed and has
to cope with the challenges of their work and
disadvantage on ability checks that involve
maintain their physical and mental well-being.
moving, such as Athletics checks to climb or
jump.

DRUGS AND SEDATIVES

In some cases, Operatives may turn to drugs or
sedatives to cope with the stress and trauma of
their work. While these substances may provide

49
50
 COMBAT
Fight for your life
INITIATIVE the environment.
Hide: Attempt to conceal yourself from
Combat in Abyssal Whispers is turn-based,
view, giving you an advantage on attack rolls
with each combatant taking turns to act. At
and Dexterity saving throws until the
the beginning of combat, each character
beginning of your next turn.
rolls for initiative to determine the order of
Use an Object: Utilize an item in your
actions. Initiative is determined by rolling a
environment to gain an advantage in combat
d20 and adding the character's Dexterity
or exploration.
modifier.

BONUS ACTIONS:
ACTIONS & BONUS ACTIONS
Push: Shove an opponent up to 5 feet
On their turn, a character can take a
away from you.
number of actions as determined by their
Hold: Hold an opponent in place,
character sheet and the situation at hand.
preventing them from moving or taking
Actions can include attacking, casting spells,
actions (contested STR checks).
moving, using items, and interacting with the
Yell: Shout a warning or give orders to
environment.
allies in the heat of battle.
Take Cover: Halve the damage of the next
ACTIONS IN COMBAT:
incoming ranged attack.
Attack: Attempt to strike an opponent Dodge: Attempt to evade an attack (DEX
with a weapon or unarmed. check)
Cast a Spell: Use your knowledge of the
occult to cast a spell and affect the outcome ATTACK ROLLS
of the battle.
When a character attacks an opponent,
Dash: Move quickly to reposition yourself
the player rolls a d20 and adds the
in the battlefield.
appropriate modifiers for the attack. The
Disengage: Move away from an opponent
target's Armor Class (AC) is then compared
without risking an attack of opportunity.
to the result of the attack roll. If the result is
Help: Assist an ally in their actions,
equal to or greater than the target's AC, the
granting them advantage.
attack hits and damage is dealt. If the result
Ready: Prepare to take a specific action
is lower than the target's AC, the attack
when triggered by a certain condition.
misses.
Search: Look for clues or hidden objects in

51
 DAMAGE ROLLS
When an attack hits, the player rolls the
appropriate damage dice for the weapon or
spell being used and adds any relevant
modifiers. The total damage is then
subtracted from the target's hit points.
CRITICAL HITS
If a player rolls a natural 20 on an attack
roll, the attack is considered a critical hit. The
player then rolls damage twice and adds any
relevant modifiers to determine the total
damage dealt. This can be a significant
advantage in combat, as critical hits can
often take out opponents in a single blow.
CRITICAL FAILURES
If a player rolls a natural 1 on an attack roll,
the attack is considered a critical failure. The
player then rolls on a critical failure table to
determine the consequences of the failed
attack. These consequences can range from
the weapon breaking to the player injuring
themselves.
1. Your weapon breaks and is unusable for the
rest of combat.
2. You accidentally injure yourself, taking 1d4
damage.
3. You drop one of your items or pieces of
equipment.
4. You are stunned until the end of your next
turn.
5. You drop your weapon or item.
6. You lose your balance and fall prone.
7. You overextend yourself and are open to
attack. Your opponent gains advantage on
their next attack roll against you.
52
8. You hit an ally within 5 feet of your target
instead.
9. Your weapon recoils and hits you, dealing half
the damage you would have dealt to your
target.
10. You become fatigued and have disadvantage
on your next attack roll.
11. You embarrass yourself, losing 1d4 Charisma
for the rest of the scene.
12. You become distracted and have disadvantage
on your next attack roll.
13. Your ranged weapon misfires and is unusable
for the rest of combat.
14. You become overzealous and leave yourself
open to attack. Your opponent gains
advantage on their next attack roll against you.
15. Your weapon gets stuck in an object or surface
and requires an action to free it.
16. You become disoriented and have
disadvantage on your next attack roll.
17. You distract an ally within 5 feet of your target,
causing them to have disadvantage on their
next attack roll.
18. Your weapon is deflected by your target's
armor or shield, dealing half the damage you
would have dealt to your target.
19. You overcompensate and leave yourself open
to attack. Your opponent gains advantage on
their next attack roll against you.
20. The Game Master chooses an appropriate
consequence based on the situation.
DAMAGE AND HEALING
Characters in Abyssal Whispers have a set
number of hit points (HP) that represent their
health and resilience in combat. When a character
takes damage, the damage is subtracted from
their hit points. When a character's hit points
reach 0, they are unconscious and dying.
DEATH SAVES interact socially with the creature.
• Deafened: A deafened creature can't hear and
When a character is unconscious and
automatically fails any ability check that
dying, they must make death saves to
requires hearing.
determine if they survive or die. A death save
• Exhaustion: A character who is exhausted has
is a d20 roll with the following results:
disadvantage on all ability checks, attack rolls,
and saving throws that use Strength,
1-9: Failure
Dexterity, Constitution, or Charisma, as well
10-19: Success
as disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception)
20: Critical success
checks. In addition, a character who is
exhausted must halve their movement speed
If a character fails three death saves, they
and has disadvantage on ability checks that
die. If they succeed three death saves, they
involve moving, such as Athletics checks to
stabilize and are no longer dying.
climb or jump.
• Frightened: A frightened creature has
HEALING
disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls
Characters can be healed through spells, while the source of its fear is within line of
items (like bandages, medicine), or rest. sight. The creature can't willingly move closer
Healing restores hit points and can bring a to the source of its fear.
character back from unconsciousness. • Grappled: A grappled creature's speed
becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any
CONDITIONS bonus to its speed. The condition ends if the
grappler is incapacitated.
Combat in Abyssal Whispers can also result
• Incapacitated: An incapacitated creature
in characters suffering from a variety of
can't take actions or reactions.
conditions, such as Poisoned or Stunned.
• Invisible: An invisible creature is impossible to
These conditions can have a significant
see without the aid of magic or a special
impact on a character's effectiveness in
sense. Attack rolls against the creature have
combat and should be taken into account
disadvantage, and the creature's attack rolls
when planning strategies and actions.
have advantage.
• Paralyzed: A paralyzed creature is
• Blinded: A blinded creature can't see and
incapacitated and can't move or speak. Attack
automatically fails any ability check that
rolls against the creature have advantage, and
requires sight. Attack rolls against the
any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit
creature have advantage, and the creature's
if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.
attack rolls have disadvantage.
• Petrified: A petrified creature is transformed,
• Charmed: A charmed creature can't attack
along with any nonmagical object it is wearing
the charmer or target the charmer with
or carrying, into a solid inanimate substance
harmful abilities or magical effects. The
(usually stone). Its weight increases by a
charmer has advantage on any ability check to
factor of ten, and it ceases aging.

53
 • Poisoned or Diseased: A poisoned or diseased WEAPONS
creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and
Weapons are divided into categories, such
ability checks.
as Melee or Ranged. Each weapon has its
• Prone: A prone creature's only movement
own damage dice and modifiers, as well as
option is to crawl, unless it stands up and
special features and abilities.
thereby ends the condition. The creature has
disadvantage on attack rolls. An attack roll
Melee Weapons Damage Dice
against the creature has advantage if the
Unarmed 1d4
attacker is within 5 feet of the creature,
Brass Knuckles 1d6
otherwise the attack roll has disadvantage.
Baseball Bat 1d8
• Restrained: A restrained creature's speed
Crowbar 1d8
becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any
Combat Knife 1d8
bonus to its speed. Attack rolls against the
Machete 2d6
creature have advantage, and the creature's
Katana 1d10
attack rolls have disadvantage. The creature
Chainsaw 3d6
has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws.
• Stunned: A stunned creature is incapacitated
Ranged Weapons Damage Dice
and can't move, and it can speak only
Colt 1911 1d8
falteringly. Attack rolls against the creature
Beretta M9 1d10
have advantage.
Desert Eagle 2d6
• Unconscious: An unconscious creature is
Remington 870 2d8
incapacitated, can't move or speak, and is
Mossberg 500 2d6
unaware of its surroundings. The creature
AK-47 2d8
drops whatever it's holding and falls prone.
M16A2 2d10
Attack rolls against the creature have
Sniper Rifle 3d10
advantage, and any attack that hits the
creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within
5 feet of the creature.
ARMOR
EQUIPMENT Armor provides characters with protection
against attacks and damage. Each type of
Characters can make use of a variety of
armor has its own Armor Class (AC) and
equipment and weapons to aid them in
modifiers, which can vary depending on the
combat. The effectiveness of these items will
situation and the opponent being faced.
vary depending on the situation and the
opponent being faced.
Armor AC
Leather Vest 1
Denim Jacket 2
Kevlar Vest 3
Tactical Shirt 3

54
ITEMS
In the context of combat, there are many
items that can be creatively repurposed as
improvised tools. If the player clearly states
the desired effect or outcome, the Whisperer
has the power to decide what is possible and
establish any limitations or constraints for
these actions. This allows for flexibility and
adaptability in using items in unique and
unexpected ways during combat
encounters.

55
 EXAMPLE OF COMBAT
Grapple Break Roll:
The operatives, Agent Smith and Agent
The cultist rolls a 16 + 1 (Strength modifier) = 17.
Jones, have tracked a suspected cultist to an
Agent Jones rolls a 8 + 2 (Strength modifier) = 10.
apartment building in the heart of the city. As
The cultist breaks free from the grapple and
they approach the door to the apartment,
backs away from the operatives.
they hear chanting and strange noises
coming from within. They draw their
Round 2
weapons and prepare for a potentially
Agent Smith takes her turn. She moves closer to
dangerous encounter.
the cultist and attempts to attack again.
Initiative
Attack Roll:
Agent Smith rolls a 15 for initiative, and Agent
Agent Smith rolls a 12 + 3 (Dexterity modifier) = 15.
Jones rolls a 10. The cultist, who was not expecting
visitors, rolls a 7.
Damage Roll:
Agent Smith rolls a 4 + 2 (pistol damage) = 6.
Round 1
The cultist takes 6 points of damage and stumbles
Agent Smith goes first. She kicks down the door
back, barely standing.
to the apartment and enters, her weapon at the
Agent Jones takes his turn. He attempts to
ready. She spots the cultist in the corner of the living
grapple the cultist again.
room, surrounded by candles and strange symbols.
She takes aim and fires her pistol.
Grapple Roll:
Agent Jones rolls a 18 + 2 (Strength modifier) = 20.
Attack Roll:
The cultist rolls a 5 + 1 (Strength modifier) = 6.
Agent Smith rolls a 18 + 3 (Dexterity modifier) = 21.
Agent Jones successfully grapples the cultist,
holding him in place.
Damage Roll:
The cultist takes his turn. He struggles to break
Agent Smith rolls a 6 + 2 (pistol damage) = 8.
free from the grapple, but fails.
The cultist takes 8 points of damage and staggers
back, blood pouring from the wound.
Grapple Break Roll:
Agent Jones takes his turn. He moves into the
The cultist rolls a 5 + 1 (Strength modifier) = 6.
living room and attempts to grapple the cultist.
Agent Jones rolls a 12 + 2 (Strength modifier) = 14.
The cultist remains grappled.
Grapple Roll:
Agent Jones rolls a 12 + 2 (Strength modifier) = 14.
Round 3
The cultist rolls a 9 + 1 (Strength modifier) = 10.
Agent Smith takes her turn. She moves closer to
Agent Jones successfully grapples the cultist,
the cultist and attempts to attack again. “I’m going
holding him in place.
to pistolwhip him to knock him out.”
The cultist takes his turn. He attempts to break
free from the grapple.

56
 Attack Roll:
Agent Smith rolls a 18 + 1 (Strength modifier) = 19.
Damage Roll:
Agent Smith rolls a 1 (Melee damage) = 1.
The cultist takes 1 point of damage and collapses
to the ground, unconscious.
The operatives quickly secure the cultist and call
for backup to transport him to the OA's secure
facility for interrogation.
The consequences of extreme violence
can be significant, both for the character and
for the mission of the Office of Anomalies. If
an Operative loses too much Sanity or
becomes too unstable, they may be removed
from active duty or even expelled from the
organization. In addition, acts of extreme
violence can have lasting consequences for
the character's relationships with other
Operatives and with the world around them.

End of Combat Players need to consider the

The operatives emerge from the apartment consequences of their actions and to think
building, shaken but relieved that they were able to carefully before resorting to extreme
successfully contain the threat. violence. While violence may sometimes be
necessary to protect innocent lives or
EXTREME VIOLENCE & SANITY accomplish the mission of the OA, it should
never be taken lightly or without careful
Combat can be intense and challenging,
consideration of the potential impact on the
and Operatives are human beings with a
character's mental health and well-being.
moral compass. While they may be called
upon to use violence in the course of their
investigations, extreme violence and
brutality are not in their nature. If an
Operative finds themselves in a situation
where extreme violence is necessary,
especially if it involves innocent or seemingly
innocent individuals, it can have a significant
impact on their mental health and well-
being.

If an Operative engages in extreme

violence, such as killing or torture, the
player must roll a Sanity check to determine
the impact on the character's mental state. If
the character fails the Sanity check, they lose
Sanity points as determined by the Game
Master.

57
58
 OCCULT & ARCANE
Powers of the Mythos
The Mythos is a term used to describe the
fictional universe created by H.P. Lovecraft
and other writers in the early 20th century.
This universe consists of a pantheon of
malevolent deities, ancient and powerful
artifacts, and a host of otherworldly beings
and entities. The Mythos is characterized by
its themes of cosmic horror, existential
dread, and the insignificance of humanity in
the face of the vast and incomprehensible
universe.
The OA's investigations often lead
Operatives into contact with artifacts and
entities that are reminiscent of the Mythos,
and the organization's research into the
occult and supernatural often draws on the
themes and concepts of Lovecraftian horror.
UNNATURAL & MAGIC
While the use of magic is not common in
the world of Abyssal Whispers, it is not
unheard of. Some Operatives may possess
knowledge of the occult and practice rituals
or spells to aid them in their investigations.
However, the use of magic is often
unpredictable and dangerous, and the OA
discourages Operatives from relying on it as
a primary means of investigation or
protection.
OCCULT LITERATURE
In the course of their investigations,
Operatives for the Office of Anomalies (OA)
may encounter a variety of occult texts and
literature. These works can provide valuable
insights into the nature of the phenomena
under investigation, as well as the history
and lore surrounding the occult and
supernatural.
Reading occult literature can also raise an
Operative's Occult skill, allowing them to
better understand and analyze the
phenomena they encounter. The Occult skill
represents an Operative's knowledge and
understanding of the occult and
supernatural, as well as their ability to
perform occult rituals and cast spells.
When an Operative reads an occult text or
book, the player may make an Occult skill
check to determine the character's
understanding of the material. The Game
Master should set a difficulty level based on
the complexity and rarity of the text. If the
check is successful, the character gains a
temporary bonus to their Occult skill for a set
period of time, reflecting the knowledge
gained from the text.
However, reading occult literature can
also have negative consequences. Some
texts may contain dangerous or forbidden
knowledge, or may be cursed or possessed
by malevolent entities. The act of reading
such texts can lead to a loss of Sanity or
other negative effects, and Operatives
59
 should exercise caution and discretion when
dealing with occult literature.
In addition, the OA strictly prohibits the
possession or distribution of certain types of
occult literature, such as grimoires or other
texts associated with black magic or
demonology. Possessing or distributing such
texts can result in severe consequences,
including expulsion from the organization
and most often the Operative who holds
onto the occult literature will become the
next mission.
TOMES & SCROLLS
Tomes & Scrolls are magical items that can
be found throughout the world. These items
contain powerful spells and rituals. Scrolls
can only be used once, while tomes are
reusable.
Tomes & Scrolls are divided into categories
based on their rarity and power. Common
Tomes & Scrolls contain basic spells and
rituals, while rare Tomes & Scrolls contain
more powerful and complex magic.
RITUALS
Rituals are a type of magic that require
time, preparation, and special components
to perform. Unlike spells, which can be cast
quickly and efficiently, rituals require careful
planning and execution.
Performing a ritual can have a variety of
effects, from summoning a creature to
creating a protective ward. Each ritual has its
own set of requirements, including the
components needed, the time required to
60
perform the ritual, and any necessary skill
checks.
GAMEPLAY
In gameplay, Operatives can acquire
Tomes & Scrolls by completing missions,
exploring the world, or trading with other
characters. Tomes & Scrolls can be used to
learn new spells and rituals, which can then
be used in combat or investigation.
To perform a ritual, the player must first
acquire the necessary components and
prepare the area for the ritual. The player
then selects the ritual from their inventory
and begins the process. During the ritual, the
player may need to make skill checks or use
items to complete the ritual successfully.
Once the ritual is complete, the player
gains the effects of the ritual, such as
summoning a creature or creating a
protective ward. However, the use of Tomes
& Scrolls and rituals can have negative
consequences, such as a loss of Sanity or the
attention of malevolent entities.
Players must carefully balance the risks
and rewards of using Tomes & Scrolls and
rituals, and should work with their Game
Master to determine the appropriate use of
these powerful magical items. Some
examples:
Eldritch Wave: 1st-level, Tome, Ranged
spell attack, 1d10 force damage, no DC.
Mending Flesh: 1st-level, Scroll, Heals a
creature within range for 1d8 + spellcasting
modifier hit points, no DC.
 Unveil the Unseen: 2nd-level, Ritual,
Reveals hidden or invisible creatures or
objects within range, no damage or DC.
Enthrallment: 2nd-level, Scroll, Forces a
creature within range to make a Wisdom
saving throw, becoming charmed on a failed
save. A charmed creature is incapacitated
and has a speed of 0, DC not specified.
Consuming Flames: 3rd-level, Tome,
Creates a wall of fire within range, dealing
3d6 fire damage to creatures within 10 feet
of the wall, no DC.
Shield of the Void: 3rd-level, Ritual,
Creates a magical shield around the caster,
granting them a +5 bonus to AC for 1 round,
no damage or DC.
Read the Minds of the Insane: 4th-level,
Ritual, Allows the caster to read the
thoughts of a creature within range,
potentially revealing hidden information, no
damage or DC.
Shroud of Shadow: 4th-level, Tome,
Creates a magical shroud of darkness around
the caster, granting them advantage on
Stealth checks for 1 round, no damage or DC.
Paralyze the Will: 5th-level, Scroll, Forces a
creature within range to make a Wisdom
saving throw, becoming paralyzed on a failed
save, DC not specified.
Magic of the Ancients: 5th-level, Tome,
Creates a magical aura around the caster,
granting them resistance to all damage types
for 1 round, no damage or DC.
Blink Between Worlds: 6th-level, Ritual,
Teleports the caster up to 30 feet in any
direction, no damage or DC.
Nullify the Arcane: 6th-level, Scroll,
Disrupts a spell or magical effect within
range, no damage or DC.
Flames of the Abyss: 7th-level, Tome,
Creates a fiery explosion within range,
dealing 5d6 fire damage to all creatures
within 20 feet of the explosion, no DC.
Flight of the Unearthly: 7th-level, Scroll,
Allows the caster to fly at a speed of 60 feet
for 1 round, no damage or DC.
Thunderous Roar: 8th-level, Tome, Creates
a deafening roar within range, dealing 4d8
thunder damage to all creatures within 30
feet of the caster, no DC.
Disrupt the Cosmic: 8th-level, Ritual,
Disrupts a cosmic or otherworldly entity or
effect within range, no damage or DC.
Wall of the Void: 9th-level, Scroll, Creates
a magical wall of darkness within range,
blocking line of sight and movement, no
damage or DC.
Portal to the Beyond: 9th-level, Tome,
Creates a portal to another plane of
existence within range, no damage or DC
specified.
Hail of the Eldritch: 10th-level, Ritual, Calls
forth a hail of magical energy within range,
dealing 6d6 force damage to all creatures
within a 30-foot radius, no DC.
Enslave the Otherworldly: 10th-level,
Tome, Forces a cosmic or otherworldly entity
within range to make a Charisma saving
throw, becoming charmed on a failed save,
DC not specified.
61
62
 SLICE OF LIFE
Nurture your Bonds
While investigations and combat are a key part of
the life of an Operative, they are still human beings
with needs and desires beyond the mission.
Taking time for downtime, relaxation, and
self-care is essential for maintaining mental and
physical health, as well as for nurturing the
bonds and relationships between Operatives.
IMPORTANCE OF DOWNTIME
Downtime is a critical component of the life of an
Operative. It provides an opportunity to rest and
recharge after a mission, to reflect on recent
events,
and to prepare for the next mission. Downtime can
take many different forms, depending on the
preferences and needs of the Operative. Some may
prefer to spend their downtime engaged in physical
activities, such as exercise or sports, while others
may prefer more sedentary pursuits, such as
reading or watching movies.
Regardless of the specific activities involved,
downtime is essential for maintaining mental and
physical health. It allows Operatives to decompress
and de-stress after a mission, reducing the risk of
burnout and other negative consequences of
prolonged stress and anxiety.
 NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS
The relationships between Operatives are a key
component of the success of the Office of
Anomalies. These relationships are built on trust,
respect, and a shared sense of purpose, and are
essential for the effective coordination and
execution of missions.
Outside of missions, Operatives should take
time to nurture these relationships through social
activities and shared experiences. This can include
activities such as going out to dinner, attending
cultural events, or simply spending time together
in a relaxed and informal setting.
By taking the time to build and maintain strong
relationships with other Operatives, individuals
can establish a support network that is essential
for success in the field. These relationships can
provide emotional support, practical advice, and a
sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
REAL-LIFE RESPONSIBILITIES
While the life of an Operative can be exciting
and fulfilling, it's important to remember that
they also have real-life responsibilities outside of
their work for the Office of Anomalies. This can
include family obligations, financial concerns, or
other personal responsibilities.
It's essential for Operatives to find a healthy
balance between their work for the OA and their
personal lives. This may involve setting
boundaries around work hours and
commitments, delegating responsibilities to
others, or seeking support and assistance from
colleagues or family members.
By maintaining a healthy balance between
work and personal responsibilities, Operatives
64
can reduce the risk of burnout and other negative
consequences of prolonged stress and anxiety.
This can also help to maintain strong relationships
with family and friends outside of the OA,
providing a sense of stability and connection that
is essential for mental and emotional well-being.
SLEEP AND SELF-CARE
Finally, it's essential for Operatives to prioritize
sleep and self-care as part of their daily routine.
Getting enough sleep is critical for maintaining
mental and physical health, as well as for ensuring
optimal performance in the field.
Self-care can take many different forms,
depending on the needs and preferences of the
individual. This may include activities such as
meditation, yoga, or other forms of relaxation and
stress reduction.
By prioritizing sleep and self-care, Operatives
can ensure that they are able to perform at their
best both in the field and in their personal lives.
This can also help to reduce the risk of burnout
and other negative consequences of prolonged
stress and anxiety, ensuring that Operatives are
able to maintain their focus and effectiveness
over the long term.
THERAPY
Operatives can also seek out therapy to help
them cope with the stress and trauma of their
work. This can include individual therapy, group
therapy, or other forms of counseling.
SOCIAL SUPPORT
Maintaining strong relationships with family,
friends, and other Operatives can also help to
replenish lost Sanity points. Engaging in social
activities and spending time with loved ones can
provide emotional support and a sense of
connection and belonging.
MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS
Meditation and mindfulness practices can also
be effective in replenishing lost Sanity points.
These practices can help Operatives to manage
stress and anxiety, and promote mental and
emotional well-being.
HOW TO REPLENISH SANITY
Rest and relaxation activities, such as sleeping,
meditating, or spending time in nature, will earn
the player 1d4 Sanity points.
Therapy or counseling sessions will earn the
player 2d6 Sanity points.
Engaging in hobbies or creative pursuits, such
as painting or writing, will earn the player 1d6
Sanity points.
Performing acts of kindness or helping others
will earn the player 1d8 Sanity points.
If the player engages in multiple activities
during the same downtime period, they can
receive the benefits of each activity rolled
separately.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Working as an Operative for the Office of
Anomalies (OA) can be a demanding and
challenging profession. The nature of their
investigations often requires Operatives to leave
their jobs behind at short notice, to misuse agency
funds, and to return to work injured or shaken
from encounters with the unknown and the
inexplicable.
In some cases, an Operative's actions may have
negative consequences for their professional life
outside of the OA. If an Operative has pushed their
luck too far, their job may be on the line. It may
require a Charisma test to get back into their
supervisor's good graces, to avoid suspension or
disciplinary action.
If an Operative is fired from their job, it can
have an impact on their mental health and
well-being. They may feel helpless and lost,
and may struggle to maintain their Bonds with
colleagues and loved ones.
To simulate the impact of getting fired, the
player must make a Charisma check for each
Bond (including OA Bonds) or lose 1D4 points
from it. The check is with disadvantage if the
Bond is a colleague from the Operative's job.
Getting fired from one's day job doesn't have
much impact on being an Operative for the OA.
The mission is everything, and Operatives are still
expected to join the next operation regardless of
their professional status.
However, the loss of a job can have financial and
practical consequences for an Operative. They
may have less access to official resources, and may
need to find alternative means of support and
income.
Players must carefully balance their
professional and personal lives, and be prepared
to face the consequences of their actions both in
and outside of their work for the OA.
65
 THE BLEED As Jamie's mental state continued to
deteriorate, their relationships with their
The OA’s missions can bleed into the real
colleagues and loved ones began to suffer.
lives of the players. This phenomenon,
They became increasingly isolated and
known as "the bleed," occurs when the
withdrawn, and began to have difficulty
events and emotions of the operations begin
connecting with others on a meaningful level.
to impact the thoughts, feelings, and actions
Their work at the OA also began to suffer, as
of the players outside of the OA’s activities.
they found themselves unable to focus or make
progress on their investigations.
The events and consequences of the
Operative's investigations can impact their
Finally, Jamie reached out to their therapist
personal relationships, work life, and mental
for help. Through therapy and self-care, they
health, while their personal struggles and
were able to regain a sense of control and
experiences can impact their effectiveness in
stability in their life, and begin to separate the
the field.
events of the mission from their personal
experiences.
As the game progresses, the line between
the horrific world of the OA and the private
As Operatives encounter the unknown and
lives of the players can become blurred, and
the inexplicable, their Sanity may begin to
the emotional and psychological weight of
wane, leading to a range of negative
the investigations can begin to take a toll on
consequences including nightmares, strange
the Operatives themselves.
visions, hallucinations, and more. To simulate
the impact of waning Sanity, the Whisperer
EXAMPLE OF PLAY
may introduce elements of horror and
Jamie is playing as an Operative in Abyssal psychological distress into the game, including:
Whispers. In the latest mission, their team
encountered a powerful and malevolent entity • Nightmares and disturbing dreams
that left Jamie feeling shaken and vulnerable. • Hallucinations and delusions
As they debriefed with their team, Jamie • Paranoia and anxiety
realized that they were having difficulty
separating their emotions from the events of As the Operative's Sanity continues to
the mission. deteriorate, the Whisperer may introduce more
extreme and disturbing elements into the
Over the next few days, Jamie found game, such as encounters with malevolent
themselves struggling with nightmares and entities or glimpses of cosmic horror.
strange visions, as well as a sense of unease
and paranoia. They began to feel as though the
entity was following them, watching them
from the shadows and waiting for an
opportunity to strike.

66
67
 SPENDING MONEY Executive Class: Operatives in this class
have access to substantial financial resources
As Operatives for the Office of Anomalies,
and transportation options, and may be able
it's essential to maintain a low profile and
to afford luxury accommodations and
avoid drawing attention to oneself. This
activities. They may also have access to
includes keeping one's expenses hidden
powerful contacts and networks that can aid
from family, friends, and other contacts
them in their investigations.
outside of the OA.
Professional Class: Operatives in this class
have access to moderate financial resources
To facilitate this, the OA provides
and transportation options, and may be able
Operatives with a variety of resources and
to afford comfortable accommodations and
services that can help to conceal their
activities. They may also have access to
spending and maintain their cover. These
valuable skills and knowledge that can aid
resources may include anonymous bank
them in their investigations.
accounts, encrypted communication
Working Class: Operatives in this class
channels, and secure storage facilities.
have limited financial resources and
transportation options, and may need to rely
Operatives are encouraged to use these
on public transportation and more basic
resources and services to keep their
accommodations and activities. However,
expenses hidden and avoid raising
they may have valuable connections and
suspicions. This may involve carefully
knowledge within their community that can
managing their finances and avoiding
aid them in their investigations.
conspicuous purchases or activities that
Underclass: Operatives in this class have
could draw unwanted attention.
limited financial resources and
transportation options, and may need to rely
Depending on the Operative's career in
on creative solutions and unconventional
their daily lives, they may have access to
methods to accomplish their goals.
different amounts of money and resources.
However, they may have valuable street
For example, an Operative who works as a
smarts and survival skills that can aid them in
high-powered executive may have access to
their investigations.
substantial financial resources and
transportation options, while an Operative
Regardless of their class, Operatives must
who works as a freelance writer may have
carefully balance their expenses and
more limited resources and options.
resources to maintain their cover and avoid
drawing attention to themselves. This may
To reflect these differences, Abyssal
involve making difficult choices and
Whispers divides Operatives into classes
sacrifices, and relying on their skills and
based on their daily career and income level.
ingenuity to accomplish their objectives.
These classes include:

In addition, Operatives must be prepared

68
to deal with potential investigations or Selling personal possessions should be used
inquiries from authorities or other outside cautiously, and only in situations where the
parties regarding their spending and Operative has exhausted all other options for
activities. This may involve developing cover funding or covering their expenses. In some
stories and alibis, or using other methods to cases, the OA may be able to provide financial
deflect suspicion and avoid detection. support or resources to help the Operative
accomplish their objectives without resorting to
ILLICIT CASH selling personal possessions.
There may be situations where an
However, in situations where the Operative
Operative needs to make a purchase that
must make difficult choices and sacrifices in
cannot be easily explained or accounted for.
order to accomplish their mission, selling
In these situations, the Operative may need
personal possessions can be a necessary and
to rely on illicit cash to make the purchase.
effective strategy for achieving their goals.
Illicit cash can take many forms, including
stolen funds, embezzled money, or
disposable debit cards provided by the OA.
These funds can be used to make purchases
that would otherwise raise suspicion or draw
unwanted attention.

SELLING PERSONAL POSSESSIONS

In some cases, an Operative may need to sell
personal possessions in order to fund a mission
or cover their expenses. This can be a difficult
decision, as the possessions may be meaningful
or sentimental to the Operative, and selling
them may damage a Bond with a loved one or
friend.

When an Operative chooses to sell a

personal possession, the Operative should
roll 1d4 to determine the amount of damage
to the affected Bond. The higher the roll, the
greater the emotional impact of the loss on
the Operative and their relationship with the
Bond.

69
70
 GETTING AROUND
From Subway to Airplane
GETTING AROUND provide greater flexibility and control over
travel arrangements, as well as greater
As Operatives for the Office of Anomalies,
speed and efficiency.
it's essential to be able to move quickly and
efficiently throughout the city and beyond.
However, using a personal vehicle can also
This may involve using a variety of
be expensive, particularly if the Operative
transportation options, depending on the
needs to pay for parking or tolls. In addition,
situation and the resources available.
it can draw unwanted attention and may be
Also depending on the background of the
less discrete than other transportation
player character. A character with a poor
options.
background may not have a car. Or doesn’t
even know how to drive.
PROFESSIONAL VEHICLES
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION For high-level missions or when speed and
discretion are essential, Operatives may have
One of the most common methods of
access to professional vehicles provided by
transportation for Operatives is public
the OA. These may include unmarked cars,
transportation. This may include buses,
vans, or other vehicles that are equipped
trains, and subways, as well as taxis and
with advanced technology and surveillance
rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.
equipment.

Using public transportation can be a cost-

Using a professional vehicle can be an
effective and efficient way to get around,
effective way to move quickly and discreetly,
particularly for Operatives who have limited
particularly in situations where time is of the
financial resources or who need to maintain
essence. However, it can also be costly and
a low profile. However, it can also be time-
may draw unwanted attention if not used
consuming and may not always be reliable,
carefully.
particularly during peak travel times or in
areas with limited service.
COST OF TRANSPORTATION
PERSONAL VEHICLES The cost of transportation for Operatives
varies depending on their financial class. The
Operatives who have access to a personal
following are some examples of
vehicle may choose to use it for
transportation options and their cost, based
transportation during missions. This can
on the Operative's class:

71

Executive Class: Operatives in this class have
access to a range of transportation options,
including private jets, high-end rental cars, and
luxury accommodations. However, these
options come at a premium cost, with private
jet flights costing upwards of $20,000 for a one-
way trip, and luxury rental cars costing $500 or
more per day.
Professional Class: Operatives in this class
have access to a range of transportation
options, including commercial flights, rental
cars, and public transportation. However, the
cost of these options can still be significant,
with commercial flights costing $500 or more
for a one-way ticket, and rental cars costing $50
or more per day.
Working Class: Operatives in this class have
limited financial resources, and must rely on
public transportation and other low-cost
options to get around. This may include buses,
subways, and trains, which typically cost less
than $5 per trip.
Underclass: Operatives in this class have the
most limited financial resources, and may need
to rely on creative solutions and unconventional
methods to get around. This may include
hitchhiking, walking, or using a bicycle or
scooter, which typically cost little or no money.
FAR FROM HOME
Being an Operative for the Office of
Anomalies often means being away from home
for extended periods of time. This can be
especially challenging for Operatives with close
Bonds to family, friends, and loved ones outside
of the OA.
During the late 80s and mid 90s, the
72
challenges of being far from home were even
greater. Communication technology was less
advanced, making it difficult to stay in touch
with loved ones on a regular basis. Additionally,
travel was often slower and more expensive,
making trips home less frequent and more
difficult to coordinate.
As an Operative, it's important to be aware of
the impact that being far from home can have
on your mental and emotional health, as well as
on your relationships with Bonds outside of the
OA. It's important to take steps to maintain
these relationships, even when you're far away.
COMMUNICATION
One of the most important ways to maintain
Bonds while far from home is through regular
communication. This may involve writing
letters, making phone calls, or sending emails or
messages through other forms of
communication technology.
During the late 80s and mid 90s,
communication technology was less advanced
than it is today, making it more difficult to stay
in touch with loved ones on a regular basis.
Phone calls were expensive, and internet access
was limited, meaning that many Operatives
relied on letters and postcards to stay in touch
with their loved ones.
Despite these challenges, it's important to
make an effort to communicate with loved ones
as frequently as possible. Even a short phone
call or email can help to maintain a sense
of connection and support.
MAINTAINING BONDS
Maintaining Bonds while far from home
requires effort and dedication. This may
involve making sacrifices, such as missing
important events or celebrations, in order to
fulfill your duties as an Operative.
It's important to communicate your
commitment to your Bonds, and to make an
effort to stay involved in their lives as much as
possible. This may involve sending gifts or
cards for special occasions, or making an
effort to stay informed about their lives and
interests.
COPING WITH HOMESICKNESS
Being far from home can be difficult, and it's
common for Operatives to experience feelings
of homesickness and loneliness. It's important
to acknowledge these feelings and to take
steps to cope with them in a healthy and
productive way.
ROLEPLAYING FAR FROM HOME
When roleplaying an Operative who is far
from home, it's important to consider the
impact that this distance may have on your
character's mental and emotional health, as
well as on their relationships with Bonds
outside of the OA.
You may wish to emphasize your
character's longing for home, their struggle to
maintain their Bonds, and their efforts to cope
with feelings of homesickness and loneliness.
You may also wish to explore the impact that
being far from home has on your character's
behavior and decision-making, and how it
influences their interactions with other
characters.

This may involve engaging in self-care

activities, such as exercise, meditation, or
reading, or seeking support from colleagues
and friends within the OA. It may also involve
finding ways to connect with your home
culture, such as seeking out familiar foods or
traditions.

73
74
 LAW ENFORCEMENT
Government Agencies
It's essential to be aware of the various DRUG ENFORCEMENT
law enforcement agencies that may be ADMINISTRATION (DEA)
monitoring your activities and investigating
The DEA is responsible for enforcing
your organization. These agencies may
federal drug laws and regulations, and is a
include local, state, and federal law
major player in the fight against drug
enforcement agencies, as well as intelligence
trafficking and abuse. The agency has
agencies and other government
significant resources and capabilities,
organizations.
including advanced technology and
surveillance equipment, and can be a
FEDERAL BUREAU OF
significant threat to the OA and its
INVESTIGATION (FBI)
Operatives in cases involving drug-related
The FBI is the primary federal law crimes.
enforcement agency in the United States,
responsible for investigating a wide range of UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE
crimes, including terrorism, organized crime, (USMS)
cybercrime, and public corruption. The FBI
The USMS is responsible for providing
has significant resources and capabilities,
security and protection for federal courts
including advanced technology and
and judges, as well as for apprehending
surveillance equipment, and can be a
fugitives and enforcing court orders and
formidable adversary for the OA and its
judgments. The agency has significant
Operatives.
resources and capabilities, including a
nationwide network of Deputy Marshals and
BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO,
advanced surveillance equipment.
FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES (ATF)
The ATF is responsible for enforcing CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
federal laws related to firearms, explosives, (CIA)
and alcohol and tobacco products. The
The CIA is responsible for collecting and
agency has a significant presence in the
analyzing intelligence information related to
United States, and can be a major threat to
national security and foreign policy issues.
the OA and its Operatives, particularly in
The agency has significant resources and
cases involving the use of firearms or
capabilities, including advanced technology
explosives.
and surveillance equipment, and can be a

75
 significant threat to the OA and its HOW TO LOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT'S
Operatives, particularly in cases involving TAIL
international espionage or terrorism.
If an Operative believes that they are being
monitored or investigated by law
LOCAL AND STATE LAW
enforcement, there are a variety of
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
strategies that they can use to evade
In addition to federal law enforcement detection and avoid arrest. These may
agencies, Operatives for the OA must also be include:
aware of the various local and state law
enforcement agencies that may be • Changing their routine and location
monitoring their activities and investigating frequently
their organization. These agencies may • Using false identities and aliases
include local police departments, state police • Avoiding suspicious behavior or activities
agencies, and other specialized law • Using encrypted communication
enforcement units. channels
• Engaging in counter-surveillance and
HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN GET other evasive tactics
ON YOUR TAIL
In addition to these strategies, Operatives
Law enforcement agencies may become
may also need to rely on the resources and
aware of the OA and its activities through a
support of the OA to avoid detection and
variety of means, including:
evade law enforcement. This may involve
using safe houses, encrypted
• Informants and whistleblowers
communication channels, and other
• Surveillance and wiretapping
resources to maintain their cover and stay
• Tips and complaints from the public
one step ahead of law enforcement.
• Tips and complaints from other law
enforcement agencies
Evading law enforcement is a risky and
• Investigation of related crimes or
potentially dangerous strategy, and should
incidents
only be undertaken as a last resort. In many
cases, it may be more effective to cooperate
Once law enforcement agencies become
with law enforcement or to negotiate a deal
aware of the OA and its activities, they may
that minimizes the risk of arrest or
begin to monitor the organization's
prosecution.
members and investigate their activities. This
may involve surveillance, wiretapping, and
other forms of intelligence gathering, as well
as undercover operations and sting
operations.

76
77
78
 Afterword
A word of gratitude
Thank you for taking the time to read
Abyssal Whispers. We hope that you've
enjoyed exploring the mysteries and
horrors of the unknown, and that you've
found the experience to be both
challenging and rewarding.
Thank you again for your support and
your interest in our work. We wish you all
the best as you continue to explore the
unknown and the inexplicable.
Yours in terror,

We appreciate your support and your Kenneth,

interest in our work. Writing this book has Author of Abyssal Whispers
been a labor of love, and we're grateful to A creation of Vindicta RPGs
have had the opportunity to share our
passion for horror and noir fiction with
you. "That is not dead which can eternal lie,
and with strange aeons even death may die."
We hope that you've been able to - HP Lovecraft
immerse yourself in the world of Abyssal
Whispers and that you've found the
experience to be both thrilling and
terrifying. We believe that horror can be a
powerful tool for exploring the human
condition, and we hope that our book has
inspired you to think deeply about the
mysteries and terrors that lie beyond our
understanding.

As HP Lovecraft once wrote, "The oldest

and strongest emotion of mankind is fear,
and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is
fear of the unknown." We hope that our
book has helped you to confront and
embrace that fear, and that you've come
away from the experience with a renewed
appreciation for the power of horror.

79
 Abyssal Whispers
Operative File
1. FIRST NAME, LAST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL 5. CAREER (RANK/POSITION IF APPLICABLE)
PERSONAL DATA

2. NATIONALITY 6. COVERT ID

3. AGE 4. GENDER 7. EDUCATION

VALUE DESCRIPTION VALUE MOD. DESCRIPTION

Acrobatics (Dexterity) STRENGTH (STR)
STRENGTH (STR) STRENGTH (STR)

Athletics (Strength) CONSTITUTION (CON)

Computers (Intelligence) DEXTERITY (DEX)

Craftsmanship (Intelligence) INTELLIGENCE (INT)

Deception (Charisma) WISDOM (WIS)

Forgery (Wisdom) BODY & MIND CHARISMA (CHA)

History (Intelligence)
STRENGTH (STR)
OPERATIONS SKILL SET

MAX CURRENT CONDITIONS

Insight (Wisdom) HIT POINTS (HP)
STRENGTH (STR)

Intimidation (Charisma) WILLPOWER (WP)

Investigation (Intelligence) SANITY (SAN)

Medicine (Wisdom) MENTAL DISORDERS WOUNDS & AILMENTS

Perception (Wisdom)

Persuasion (Charisma)
STRENGTH (STR)
SNAPS

Piloting (Dexterity) BOND

STRENGTH (STR)

Science (Intelligence) BOND

BONDS & FLAWS

Sleight of Hand (Dexterity) BOND

Survival (Wisdom) FLAW

Occult FLAW

Hand to hand & Ranged Weapon

STRENGTH
(STR or (STR)
DEX)
COMBAT SKILLS

GEAR & AMMO

Small guns (DEX) Weapon

80Big guns (STR & DEX) Weapon Armor Class

 PERSONAL NOTES & DETAILS AGREEMENT ON RECRUITMENT PERSONAL DETAILS / SKETCH BACKSTORY

PERSONAL POSSESSIONS OCCULT SCROLLS & TOMES SPECIAL TRAINING HOME / FAMILY / CONTACTS
Operative File
Abyssal Whispers

81
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15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the
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System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003,
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Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan,
Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, based on original material by
E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Abyssal Whispers 2023 by Kenneth Proven (Vindicta
RPGs). Published by Kenneth Proven. This work is licensed
under the Open Game License, Version 1.0a.
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opengamingfoundation.org/license/].
Artwork, visuals and design created by Kenneth Proven.
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