This article originally appeared in The Unspeakable Oath #5, 1992
by Steve Hatherley
[Editor's Note: This scenario was originally published in The Unspeakable Oath, Issue #5, in 1992.] Art by andi jones
Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes the clock has already been stopped. The Lambton Worm is one such case.
The Lambton Worm is suitable as a quiet introduction to the Cthulhu Mythos for inexperienced Call of Cthulhu players. Alternatively, experienced investigators might welcome a gentler episode during a campaign all too full of malevolent horror.
There are no cries of help or other definite hooks to draw investigators to The Lambton Worm. This situation isn't going anywhere -- they can tackle it at their leisure. Ways in which investigators might be drawn in are included in the scenario.
Historical Note: This scenario is set in Fictive Burton Green, in County Durham in the north of England. The Legend of the Lambton Worm is genuine, but has been modified and an alternate ending added.
The handouts are dated with a 1920s setting in mind, but there is nothing to prevent The Lambton Worm from entering play during a Cthulhu by Gaslight campaign. The only change is that Worm Hill will not be owned by the National Trust; it will still be owned by the Stantons.
While the National Trust has many fascinating buildings under its protection, it does not (as far as I am aware) have any which lead directly into the brain of a major alien race.
Worm Papers #1: The Legend of the Worm
The Legend of the Lambton Worm is unusual as it . . .This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: September 17, 1999
Copyright © 1999 by Steve Jackson Games. All rights reserved. Pyramid subscribers are permitted to read this article online, or download it and print out a single hardcopy for personal use. Copying this text to any other online system or BBS, or making more than one hardcopy, is strictly prohibited. So please don't. And if you encounter copies of this article elsewhere on the web, please report it to webmaster@sjgames.com.
