This article originally appeared in Pyramid #28

Call of Computer: A Paranoia Adventure with a Cthulhu Mythos Background

by Joshua Marquart

GM Background

In 1925, Old Reckoning, those with special sight slept with horrible dreams. Some went insane, others followed their dreams. The cause of these dreams is dead, waiting under water, dreaming. Its name is Cthulhu, and it has slept in the island R'lyeh since before Man. In 1925, R'lyeh rose and sank in the Pacific waves. These 368 years later, R'lyeh rises again.

Last monthcycle, Bud-Y-BOY-2, a Computer Phreak, was shoved into the concrete by a passing group of High Programmer Kath-U-LHU-6's bodyguards. Bud-Y began to think of how to get back at Kath-U-LHU-6 for having such uppity guards. Something better than Fizz-Wizz in his showerhead. And he found it.

Doze-NOW!, an experimental Sleepy-Tyme drug replacement, was deemed unsafe by CHZ R&D. Following "The Computer's Official Toxic Disposal" methods, R&D deposited the Doze-NOW! into the food vats of sector CHZ. The drug, when consumed in combination with the other hazardous wastes, caused many of the already psychically inclined populace of CHZ to become extra sensitive. Many woke screaming from horrible dreams because Cthulhu invaded their sleep and guided them. Bud-Y intercepted a warning E-Mail to Kath-U-LHU-6 to evacuate CHZ sector. Since Kath-U didn't receive this message, he and his entourage fell victim to the drug's nightmare effects.

Cthulhu contacted Kath-U-LHU-6 through dreams, and coaxed Kath-U-LHU-6 to recreate . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.




Article publication date: March 27, 1998


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