CTHULHU

DEEP GREEN
AN INSIDIOUS GAME OF

CONSPIRACY HORROR

By Justin Ford
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WELCOME TO
THE CONSPIRACY
WHAT IS CTHULHU DEEP GREEN?

In Cthulhu Deep Green, players take on the role of shadowy

agents of The Conspiracy as they fight to maintain the veil
of secrecy standing between the public and the horrors that
reside just beyond human comprehension.

WHY PLAY?

CDG’s mechanics are designed to focus on the story

over individual successes and failures; Agents of The
Conspiracy always fail forward.

CDG focuses character building and personal horror

with At Home scenes and other mechanics that add an
element of work/life balance to every Operation.

CDG is supremely adaptable to your favorite scenario.

WHAT DO WE NEED?

To play you’ll need the following:

One Handler (The player who facilitates the game).
Two to five Agents (The other players).

Six sided dice of at least two different colors.

Pencils and index cards for everyone at the table.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Horst Wurst of The Gauntlet for inspiring
and encouraging this project.

Thanks to Graham Walmsley, Kathryn Jenkins, and

Helen Gould of Cthulhu Dark 2nd Ed.

To my friends whose faces grace these pages.

To Brie Beau Sheldon for their development of the

Script Change tool.

To my love, Al Lukehart, for their endless support and

encouragement.

And thanks to Jesse Ross for their own intriguing hack

of Cthulhu Dark, Trophy.
Table of Contents
ROLLING THE DICE 05

CONFRONTATION 11

HARM & INJURY 13

STRESS & INSIGHT 14

AFTER THE OPERATION 19

OPTIONAL RULES AND ADDITIONS 23

RECRUITING AGENTS 25

THE HANDLER 29

THE THREAT 35

SAFETY & TONE 39

THE SAFEBOX 40

COMING SOON 48
ROLLING THE DICE
THE BASICS
CDG’s resolution mechanics are simple: Whenever an
Agent does something that risks their life or their
emotional stability, the Handler will call for a dice roll.

The Agent in question may roll a Human Die if the action

is humanly possible. Usually this is a freebie.

They may roll one Occupation Die if the action falls under
their personal field of expertise.

Finally, an Agent may roll a DARK DIE if they would risk

their physical or emotional well-being to succeed OR if
the player would add an element of the horrific to an
otherwise mundane task. This die should be visually
distinct from the other two.
Perhaps a Black die to represent the night sky.
Or maybe a Red die to embody the blood in their veins.
If the DARK DIE rolls highest AND it is higher than the
Agent's current Stress value,
Stress is raised by one.
If the action would expose the Agent to Mythos
Knowledge also compare their Insight value to the DARK
DIE, potentially raising it by one as above.
DIE RESULTS

If the highest die is …

1-3 The Agent barely succeeds, but maybe not in the

way they intended. The Handler determines how.

4 The Agent succeeds competently.

They describe how.

5 The Agent succeeds and may get an advantage.

The Handler decides what it is.

6 The Agent succeeds brilliantly and gets

something extra. Maybe more than they
bargained for. The Handler may confront them
with a difficult truth.
STRESS & INSIGHT CHECKS
Even if completing an action in and of itself would be
trivial The Handler may call on an Agent to roll a single
DARK DIE as a test of their Stress or Insight.

Most often these tests will be invoked when an Agent

willingly exposes themselves to supernatural forces,
disturbing imagery, or moral quandaries. Agents failing this
roll internalize harmful information or become disturbed
by the grizzly details.

Example:

Agent Cross has an Insight of 1 and a Stress of 4.

If they roll a 3 to make sense of a disturbing passage
from The Necronomicon and the DARK DIE is highest,
their Insight increases to 2 but their Stress remains at 4.
If they had rolled a 4 or higher, both Stress and Insight
would have increased.
FAILING

By design none of the standard die results include

objective failure. As a matter of intent, the dangers of a
standard Operation fall not in a failed mission but in
the drama of a narrow victory.

However, should any Player think the story would be

made more interesting by the potential for failure they
may describe a worse outcome for the action at hand
and take up a Failure Die to oppose a roll. If this die
comes up higher than the active Agent’s highest die,
that action fails.

Rolling a failure die is a meta-narrative action; it needn’t

be played out in the fiction to proceed. For this reason
it shouldn’t be used to thwart the gathering of plot
sensitive information, though one Agent might add a
complication to anther's success.

As The Handler, use this mechanic sparingly.

TRYING AGAIN

If an Agent isn’t happy with the result of their roll they

may take up a single DARK DIE, along with any other
dice already invoked, and try again. Agents may do this
as many times as they desire, but they risk Insight
and/or Stress each time.
COOPERATION & COMPETITION

To Cooperate: everyone acting in cooperation rolls

their dice and takes the highest die as the result.

To Compete: everyone who is competing rolls their

dice. The highest die wins.

On a tie: anyone may reroll so long as they include

their DARK DIE. If a tie occurs again, the Agent with
the highest Insight score wins. If the situation is still
unresolved anyone may choose to call for a reroll
risking Strain or Insight with each attempt.

Example:

Agent Cross is attempting to enter a secured facility

disguised as a delivery person. The Handler calls for
a roll and Agent Cross receives a 3 on their single
Human die. The Handler warns them that, if they
don’t get a good success here, they’re likely to be
stopped and questioned by armed guards.

Cross doesn’t like this, so they take up the DARK DIE

and roll again. This time they get a five on both their
Human Die and the DARK DIE , ensuring that they
won’t be questioned.

Because their Stress is 4 and their Dark Die was

highest, their Stress track advances to 5.
CONFRONTATION
COMBAT
The life of an Agent is dangerous but unlike
investigators in other games they can, on occasion, solve
problems with violence.
If an Agent attempts an action that risks life or limb
their Handler will treat them to a terrifying vision of
their inevitable injury or demise. If the Agent rejects this
version of events, they may choose to Rewind and take
a more measured course of action. Their safety is never
guaranteed, however: On a 1 to 3 the Harm might
come to pass anyway.

If an Agent chooses to proceed with their reckless

action they roll the dice, accept the consequences, and
mark Harm as dictated by the Handler.
EFFORTLESS ENCOUNTERS

Now and then The Handler may decide that an Agent

is at no risk of Harm from a confrontation based on
superior firepower, training, or other factors.
Dispatching a captured cultist probably won’t result in
injury or even require a roll to accomplish, but the
morality of killing a helpless person in cold blood may
necessitate a Stress check.

Example:

Agent Cross is on the run from members of a rival

faction. They’ve holed up in an old work shed but a
forward scout is nearing their position. As they
ready their gun, the handler describes a prolonged
shootout ending in their demise.

Cross’ player decides they’d rather escape than go

down fighting. As time Rewinds, we see Cross
holstering their gun.

CROSS: “I look for another way out!”

HANDLER: “Take up the dice. Let’s see if you can

escape without alerting the Opposition.”
HARM & INJURY

If an Agent agrees to the terms of a roll that

necessitates Harm they write a brief description of
their injury, debility, or impending demise in the
appropriate field.

If they would take Harm in an occupied space advance

it to the next tier.

Tier 1 Harm: Simple or mundane weapons wielded or

operated by an enemy agent or cultist.
A superficial wound inflicted by a supernatural
creature. Results in an Injury.

Tier 2 Harm: The claws and fangs of a deep one.

Firearms operated by the opposition. A beatdown by a
mob of unarmed cultists. Results in an Debility.

Tier 3 Harm: High powered weaponry wielded by

skilled opposition. A fall from a cliff-face.
Supernatural forces for which there are no defense. The
vacuum of space. Results in a Mortal Wound.
Without immediate resuscitation, you will die.

Violence exacts a high price in the world of CDG and

Agents with violent tendencies may find their time with
The Conspiracy cut short.
STRESS & INSIGHT
DISORDERS

When an Agent’s Stress score reaches 6 they gain a

stress-related Disorder based on the experience that
pushed them over the edge. Agents may accumulate
three disorders in total before Burning out at which
point they are forced to retire from their work with The
Conspiracy.

Use contextual cues to identify a Disorder's trigger or

coping mechanism in play. After choosing a Disorder,
the Stress track is reset to 0.

When an Agent would be confronted with their

Disorder in fiction they are encouraged to roleplay to
their new motivation, perception, or trait.

Agents struggling with a disorder may choose one of

four reactions:

Fight the object of their horror or disgust.

Flee from their darkest fears or deepest insecurities.

Submit to the Disorder that consumes them.

Suppress their disorder by rolling a DARK DIE.

Disorders can be mitigated through the use of At

Home activities. If an Agent would Go To Therapy to
treat a Disorder, they cross it out. It returns in force the
next time their Stress track is filled (in addition to the
new Disorder).
BURNING OUT

Upon gaining a third disorder Agents suffer a Burn

Out: they must choose one of the four reactions as a
response to The Conspiracy itself. Will they Fight
against their fellow agents or will they Submit
completely to its control?

Regardless of their choice, the Agent leaves play.

EMBRACING THE HORROR

When an Agent’s Insight score reaches 6 their mind is

opened to The Mythos. This is their moment and all
eyes will turn to them. As The Handler work with that
Agent’s player to make their exit from reality a
spectacular one.

Afterwards that player may retire their Agent or they

may continue play as a convert of The Mythos until the
end of the current session.
COMMON DISORDERS
Addiction: You participate in a self destructive
habit or behavior in order to function. Identify
your addiction.

Amnesia: You suffer selective loss of memory if

your trigger comes into play. Identify a trigger.
Anxiety: A trigger leaves you unable to
process information resulting in nervousness,
avoidance, or panic. Identify a trigger.

Compulsion: You have a strong urge that is

difficult to ignore. Identify your compulsion.

Depression: You are prone to bouts of

depression that leave you despondent. How do
you cope?

Dissociation: A trigger causes you to mentally

tune out of or retreat from the present. Identify
a trigger.
Insomnia: Rest is difficult for you. You may be
haunted by terrible nightmares or prone to
sleeping fits. How do you cope?

Obsession: You are preoccupied with a

singular idea or concept that distracts you from
your obligations and responsibilities. Identify
your obsession.

Paranoia: You develop a deep and all-

consuming suspicion related to a trigger. It may
be based in some version of the truth but its
symptoms are completely irrational. Identify a
trigger.
A NOTE ON MENTAL ILLNESS

Disorders as portrayed here are not to be conflated

with the very real phenomena of chronic mental
illness. In the parlance of this game, Disorders are
severe emotional reactions to stressful experiences
and an unhealthy working environment. Given
space, time, and therapy they may pass.

Those coping with real life chronic illnesses spend a

lifetime learning to live with their unique issues.
Despite being villainized in popular media, the
mentally ill are no more likely to resort to violence or
participate in criminal activity than you or I.

No mechanical consequences are necessary to

simulate the conditions of chronic illness.

As the author of this game I’d also urge you to

refrain from using words like “crazy” or “insane”
when referring to the actions of Agents suffering
from disorders or, frankly, anyone. Real mental illness
is often invisible. You never know who you might be
hurting by using these words thoughtlessly.
AFTER THE
OPERATION
ACTIVATING AT HOME SCENES

Exposure to The Mythos is an insidious thing. It’s not

unusual for Agents to suffer from painful memories of a
mission gone wrong. Traumas suffered on the battlefield
may seep into an Agent’s place of employment, sabotage
their relationships, or result in financial ruin.
To mitigate this, and to promote campaign play, Agents
have access to At Home scenes: short vignettes that
allow players to gird themselves against future horrors.

Agents may receive At Home Scenes in one of two

ways.
Once, after a mission.
Anytime they would mark an Anchor.

Example:

Agent Everest has had a bad day. After a hard night’s

work fighting parasites from another time, she
returns home to her studio apartment and engages
in some self care.
Everest’s player sets the scene and rolls a d6,
reducing their agent’s strain by the result, Everest
spends the night watching serials, eating popcorn,
and forgetting all about the horrible things she’s had
to do to protect the public.
AT HOME SCENES

Care for Someone: You take time to

appreciate someone or something you
love that anchors you firmly to the
mundane. Un-mark an Anchor you’ve
crossed out or craft a new one.

Engage in Self Care: You engage in

stress relieving activity by spending time
with an Anchor, retreating to the
wilderness, or otherwise re-centering
yourself. Roll a d6 and reduce your Stress
by that amount.

Go to Therapy: You receive help in

overcoming a Disorder. Temporarily cross it
out. It won’t influence you until you receive
another Disorder or a harrowing event
brings it to the surface. If you choose to tell
the truth about the illegal or supernatural
events you’ve witnessed The Handler may
advance the Exposure track if it’s in play. Is
your trust in them misplaced?

Receive Treatment: You are treated at a

hospital or some other place of healing.
Reduce all Harm to zero. What do you tell
the doctor? Agents activating this scene in
the field will need to justify their sudden
recovery.

Stay on the Case: You investigate some

aspect of your operation in order to
illuminate unanswered questions or
pursue your own ends. Ask a question and
take up dice appropriate to the situation.
CONTINUING THE GAME
Cthulhu Deep Green is not a game we play to win. Agents
of The Conspiracy should strive to pursue their
motivations, perform their duty, and do their damnedest to
survive, but as players we know that these small victories
won’t save the world or banish The Mythos to obscurity.

Every mission will test an Agent to their limits. Choosing

to retire an Agent whose resources are tapped out makes
mechanical sense, but it denies everyone else at the table
an exciting exit or horrifying revelation.
When it would be interesting, revel in the drama of your
Agent’s pain, cry for the loss of their loved ones, and don’t
hesitate to engage in acts of self destruction if it might
make for a more dramatic ending to their story.

CREATING A CAMPAIGN
While most operations work well as one-shot scenarios,
Cthulhu Deep Green truly shines as a short ‘season’ of three
to six sessions.
These stories needn’t be direct continuations of one another.
Instead consider the format of an episodic television show
in which each story is largely disconnected from the last.

To tie things together, play up the mystery of The

Organization, introduce ongoing issues At Home, and build
upon each mission’s successes and failures with news
commentary or pre-session recaps.
In a finale the table should attempt to wrap up the A-plot or
bring back a familiar enemy for a much deserved reckoning.
As the Handler, this is the time to throw your players a bone
as The Conspiracy’s dirty laundry is aired out to dry.
SPECIALTY SKILLS

Occasionally Agents may wish to claim

proficiency for actions not covered by their
profession. Consider allowing them to claim one
option from the following list as their “Special
Skill” in the course of a session. Feel free to add
your own skills to this list but remember that
each Agent may only claim one.

Climbing

Demolitions

First Aid

Hot-Wiring

Lock-Picking

Martial Arts

Operate Heavy Machinery

Pilot Boat

Pilot Aircraft

Ride
Scuba

And More ...

OPTIONAL RULES
AND ADDITIONS
COVER & EXPOSURE
Inevitably Agents will procure assets from questionable
sources or go loud when discretion is called for. At a
Handler’s option they may create an Exposure Track for
their cell. This track starts anywhere from zero to three
depending on the sensitivity of the operation at hand.
Each time an Agent is caught crossing a line or breaking
cover advance the track by one. If Agents try to actively
cover their tracks let them make a standard roll.

If the Exposure Track reaches six the operation is

compromised and aspects of the mission creep into their
civilian lives. Show them how At Home.
0 Exposure: Complete Containment.
3 Exposure: Loose Ends.
5 Exposure: Work Follows Us Home.

6 Exposure: The Threat is Exposed.

An exposure clock can be

represented with a six segment
circle like this one. As it ticks down
consider how the conspiracy might
step in to cover an agents’ tracks or
trim loose ends.
EXAMPLE PROFESSIONS

Agents come from a variety of backgrounds.

Before choosing your Occupation, consider how
your area of expertise might prove useful to The
Conspiracy. If you’re unsure of what to choose,
consider an option from the list, below.

CIVILIAN PROFESSIONS:
Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Author,
Blogger, Biologist, Criminal, Computer
Scientist, Engineer, Firefighter, Hacker,
Historian, Journalist, Lawyer, Mercenary,
Physician, Physicist, Pilot, Professor, Police
Officer, Private Investigator, Reporter, Tour
Guide, Security Guard.

GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONS: Auditor,

Clerk, Criminal Investigator, Director,
Lawyer, Pilot, Intelligence, Hostage Rescue,
Project Manager, Officer, Technologist,
Scientist, Soldier, Special Operative.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: CDC, CIA,

DoD, DEA, EPA, FBI, USAF, Army, DOS,
USMC, USN, USMS, SOCOM.
RECRUITING
AGENTS
STEP BY STEP
Recruiting new Agents is easy:

1st: Choose a Name, Alias, and Occupation.

Your occupation should be general rather than specific;

Likely a government agent or a military officer. Your
Handler should provide guidance on what professions
might be appropriate to the operation though they may
work with what they can muster.

Your Name and Alias can be whatever you want. Feel

free to detail your age, distinguishing characteristics, and
pronouns.

2nd: Choose an Anchor.

An Anchor is something that ties you to reality. Most
likely this will be a family member or a close relationship
but a support group or an object representing an
intimate memory might qualify, too. This is something
your Agent cares deeply about so tie them down
securely. Anchors may be marked to flashback and
activate an At Home scene at any time.

3rd: Complete your sheet.

Draw an Insight and Stress track (0/6) and reserve a space
to document any Harm or Disorders incurred in play.
EXAMPLE CHARACTER SHEET

Everything you need to play this game can fit on a

standard note card like this one. I also suggest using
name tags or writing your character’s Alias and
pronouns on a second card folded in half, like a
tent. This will be useful to other players when they
refer to you in character.
STANDEES & NAMETAGS

Consider folding an index card in half to create a

standee. This will help the other players to refer to
you in-character. Also include your Agent’s
pronouns to avoid any confusion over your
characters gender identity.

Agen
tH allow
(She/H
er)
CIA Ag
ent
THE HANDLER
DEFINING THE HANDLER
The Handler is a term used to refer to both a player
role in the game and an in-fiction leader of a cell of
Agents.

As a player, The Handler presents the fiction of the

game and reacts to The Agents’ decisions. They also
make judgment calls regarding the rules of the game.
Their job is to make The Agents’ lives interesting and
confront them with the cruel undying terrors of the
cosmos.

As a character, The Handler organizes the team and

keeps them on track. They may be in direct contact, (via
burner phone), or they may simply relay a set of
objectives before going dark. In either case, know that
The Conspiracy’s primary goal is to contain evidence of
the supernatural.

JUDGMENT CALLS
Frequently in an operation The Agents will do things
that, whether they know it or not, present a risk to
themselves or other members of the team. When this
happens it’s The Handler’s job to determine the roll
required and adjudicate the result. Be fair to the rules
but don’t pull your punches.
THE RULES

1. Aliases only: Your legal name, and

those of your cell, are classified.

2. Respect Your Superiors: You may

name your cell whatever you want but A-
Cell, B-Cell, C-Cell, and X-Cell are reserved

3. Discretion in All Things: Unless

otherwise instructed, secrecy is mandatory.
It will be easier to cover up an incident if
there are no bread crumbs to sweep away.

4. Limit Exposure: To yourself and the

public. Trust us, you don’t want all the
answers.

5. There Are No Witnesses: Only those

who know and those who don’t. If you
judge an illuminated individual to be
useful, recruit them. If not, refer to section
11i of your manual for containment
procedures.

6. Stay in Contact: A silent Agent is a

rogue Agent and a rogue agent risks
exposure.

Stick to this script. Order is our only advantage.

- Management
STARTING THE OPERATION

Once The Handler has presented the scenario to the

players it’s time to get into character.

Start with a short scene At Home as The Agents

receive their call to action.

Then jump quickly to the briefing where your cell

gathers to receive their instructions. This is a good time
to go over what resources will be available to them, any
special requirements from The Conspiracy, and to re-
establish past relationships between The Handler and
The Agents.

From here, Agents have free reign. Let them follow the
leads in whatever order they wish.

COLLABORATING WITH YOUR TEAM

Agents rarely stick to the script so don’t write one.

Evocative and horrific descriptions of people, places,
and things are a must but forcing the team down a
linear path isn’t good horror, it’s torture-porn.

There are a lot of tricks one can employ to make sure

your most exciting elements get their time on screen
but the most effective and direct method will always be
to hold an open conversation. If they chose to add a
DARK DIE to an otherwise innocuous roll, ask the
player how their actions might become complicated by
Stress or new Insight. Let them surprise you with self-
destructive creativity.
CALLING FOR ROLLS
The most significant mechanical decision a Handler can
make is when to call for flat Insight and Stress rolls.
Sometimes this decision is obvious: if a player catches
sight of a Great Old One or studies The King in Yellow
they better be ready to roll a DARK DIE. No human
experience or occupational expertise are likely to apply.
But a shrewd Handler might also have an Agent roll for
Stress when they witness shocking violence or tremble in
fear. Let their reactions to the fiction, both as a character
and as a player, act as a guide.

EQUIPPING YOUR TEAM

While some missions necessitate the allocation of
significant resources, most of the time Agents will be left
with whatever they’ve thought to bring along.

When funds are tight, consider directing the cell to their

nearest Safe Box: classified storage spaces employed by
The Conspiracy to store sensitive material.

A table of Safe Box contents can be found on page 40.

Give each a personality and populate it with objects meant
to entertain, inform, and empower the team.

CLEANUP DETAIL
For compromised missions a cleanup crew, designated X-
Cell, is on call 24/7. This special team is made up of the
most grizzled agents The Conspiracy can muster.

While it might be tempting to employ cleanup crews, know

that relying on one is likely to result in a demotion or worse.
ENDING THE OPERATION

Most operations won’t have a clear-cut victory

condition. The Handler can point them in the right
direction with urgent texts or phone calls, but should
otherwise let Agents find their own solutions.
Ultimately the presence or absence of fallout will
determine their success.

At Home ask pointed questions that leave players

hungry for answers. They’ll have to wait until next
session to receive their reply.
THE THREAT
DEFINING THE THREAT

Every operation centers around a threat to the public,

The Conspiracy, or to The Agents themselves. Its up to
The Handler to bring the horror of that threat to life.

While the threat shouldn’t be the only factor working

against The Agents, it’s important to understand their
strengths, motivations, and weaknesses.

A formidable threat needn’t be solvable to be

interesting or engaging to the players. In fact it needn’t
be a tangible thing at all. Sometimes the best outcome an
Agent can hope for is realizing that they can’t win.

Ask Yourself ...

What does the Threat want?

What is at risk?

What will happen if the Agents fail?

Once you have an answer for each of these questions

you can start narrowing down the specifics. Make sure
that other people play a role in the plot, too, whether
they be innocent bystanders or Agents of The
Opposition.
EXAMPLE THREATS

An artifact that infects everyone who

touches it with the urge to recover its
missing pieces.

A viral cancer that slowly turns its victims

into a copy of its progenitor.

A serial killer whose consciousness is

transferred from victim to victim.

An abandoned building with the power

to show its occupants a terrifying alternate
dimension.

A werewolf set loose in modern day

Chicago.

A Mythos creature whose rampage

through Mt. Rainier National Park has
made its way onto the local news.

An enemy agency whose interference in

the team’s latest case has set them on
edge.

A local gang whose drug deals are

unwittingly sending users minds into the
distant future.
A mole within The Conspiracy whose
revelations threaten to set off a national
incident and to reveal an Agent’s identity.

A cross-country flight that won’t end

until The Agents discover the terrible secret
at the center of it all.
TOPICS TO AVOID
As tough as it can be to conjure up a compelling threat
to The Agents, it’s equally important to know what to
avoid.
The first and most important elements to avoid are tired
tropes and stereotypes. You’d be surprised at how many
conspiracy theories boil down to run-of-the-mill racism
and xenophobia. These can be discarded out of hand.
Secondly, avoid threats that might trigger your players’
unique sensitivities. The following chapter has advice on
how to start this conversation gracefully.

Finally, avoid threats that take complete control of The

Agents away from the players. Removal of agency is a
hallmark of the horror genre, but in a roleplaying game
it must be executed with care and with consent. Players
who are suddenly told that their Agent thinks or does
something without any kind of warning or buy in are
likely to react with annoyance or even disgust. Take care.

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

1. Classic Movie Monsters (Give it a twist)

2. Nihilistic Modernism (Give it a physical form)
3. Creepy-Pasta (Tie it to The Mythos)

4. The News (It’s OK, this is a horror game)

5. Conspiracy Fiction (The X-files, Dark, etc.)
6. Real Life Conspiracy Theories (All true!)
USING THE SCRIPT CHANGE TOOL
Choose a rating for your game and discuss the
potential content.

Also write the following symbols on index cards

and place them where everyone can see. Anyone
at the table may hold up a corresponding card.
After invoking a script change, say “resume” or tap
the appropriate card to continue normal play.

f REWIND to return to an earlier point in the

story and adjust your approach. Utilized
mechanically in combat or to revise the
established course of events.

e FAST FORWARD to skip over troubling

material such as sexual content or graphic
violence. The events happen but we draw a
veil over the scene.

k PAUSE to catch your breath, process game

content, or take a bio break.

g FRAME BY FRAME is invoked when a

player wants to slow down play or proceed
with caution. Use this liberally when you
need time to consider whether or not to
employ another tool.

h INSTANT REPLAY allows players to pause

the action in order to review what has just
happened. Use this to bring clarity to
confounding events.

d RESUME to continue normal play.

SAFETY & TONE
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
In addition to their other duties, a Handler has an
important role in setting the tone and mood of the game.
This doesn’t just mean playing thematic music or adjusting
the lighting, it also involves making important decisions
about player safety.
How well do I know the people at this table?
What kind of safety tools will we use in our game?

Is the content of this scenario respectful to all gender

identities, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds?

What sort of content warnings might be necessary for

this session?
Do I trust everyone at the table to respect the
guidelines we set down together?
If you have trouble answering any of these questions, take
it as a sign that this may not be the right material, the right
time, or the right table for your game.

THE SCRIPT CHANGE TOOL

The Script Change is a powerful and thematic safety tool

you can use in your game to maintain player agency and
accommodate for your everyone’s unique sensitivities.
With this in mind, consider the Script Change tool as
integral to the game as the rolling of dice.
THE SAFEBOX
Safeboxes are secure locations maintained by the
Conspiracy. They may serve as points of contact for
Agents and Handlers, armories for dangerous
operations, or disposal sites for Mythos artifacts.
The following tables exist to seed your game with
interesting props, intriguing lore, and even a little levity.

ROLL 3d6 TO DETERMINE ...

… its location.

1. A 24/7 storage facility just outside of town.

2. An underground basement warehouse.

3. A cramped tool shed in the middle of

nowhere.

4. A 200 sq. ft. "apodment" in a renovated high-rise.

5. The backroom of a seedy pawnshop.

6. A private garage owned by a Friendly.

… how it’s secured.

1. A rusty chain and a padlock, (without a key).

2. An electronic keypad, (the code is 37152).

3. A passphrase, (spoken into a hidden speaker).

4. A hide-a-key, (hidden in a planter).

5. A code-word, (flashed into the security

camera).

6. A special knock, ( no one’s to be inside).

… what’s in plain sight.

1. Several suitcases and rolls of foam liner.

2. Ten gallon barrels of concentrated HCL Acid.

3. A Ducati Urban Enduro motorcycle.

4. A small flat of Suntory whisky, aged 12 years.

5. One corner of this room is furnished in the

style of a cozy living room, love-seat and all.

6. An umbrella stand bristling with small caliber

rifles and one ancient pump-action shotgun. A
tin can filled to the brim with loose ammunition
rests nearby.
ROLL 6d6 TO DETERMINE ITS CONTENTS

Scattered about the workbench.

11. A beat-up black leather wallet containing

$1,000 in small, worn bills.

12. A homemade spyglass. It looks crude but

works great. Collapsible down to a 3 inch length.

13. A basic police-frequency radio scanner.

14. A laser listening device capable of picking up

conversations approximately a mile away.

15. Three .40 pistols, along with six clips of

ammunition. The serial numbers have been filed
away,

16. A ten gigabyte memory card titled “Patterns

in the System.”

The files document odd everyday occurrences

but one folder stands out: an audio waveform
of a sharp clacking noise like the rapping of
two stones. The sound sticks in the listener's
mind. From now until the file is destroyed
they will recognize it everywhere they go.
Adorning the walls.
21. Clippings from the “missed connections”
section of a local weekly interspersed with
mentions of a “slim, dark, and dower”
individual.

22. A geological survey of a 5 square mile region

labeled, “Tanis.” GPS coordinates put it
somewhere in the Olympic Peninsula of
Washington state, though it’s not listed on any
other maps.

23. A photo series depicting a couple and their

children. The entire family resembles one-
another to an unsettling degree. Examining the
dates reveals the pictures were taken decades
apart.

24. A poster for the paranormal investigation

show, “Hidden Worlds.” The poster has been
defaced with sharpie and numerous puncture
marks.

25. A neatly organized collection of fortune

cookie fortunes mounted with pins to a bulletin
board.

26. A commemorative katana mounted above a

plaque reading, “Sakura-Con 2012.” Beside it is a
picture of a woman dressed as a rather salacious
crossplay of Jin from the anime series Samurai
Champloo. The blade is well balanced stainless
steel sharpened lovingly to a razor edge.
In a series of green lockers.

31. Three heavy down winter jackets with fleece

liners. The pockets are filled with hand and foot
warmer packets.

32. Thirty feet of silk rope and a blood-stained

garrote made from the same fabric.

33. Uniforms and props suitable for imitating a

road-construction crew including cones, orange
hard hats, and reflective vests.

34. A complete set of locksmiths tools. Locals

will recognize the “Master of Unlocking”
branding.

35. A large duffel bag containing a hundred

MREs and three lifestraw filters as well as a
hand-drawn map of the nearest mountain range.

36. Every inch of this locker is packed to the

brim with postcards from Hope, Washington.
You seem to recall passing through, once, but
you can’t recall the details.

If an agent asks anyone else about the village

of Hope they remember these details as well,
no matter how unlikely.
In the mini-fridge.

41. Three cans of Miracle Whip in a paper bag.

Each expired in June of 1995 but Agents
inspecting a can will find a coiled fuse carefully
tucked into the red plastic cap.

Each contains a stick of volatile TNT-Dynamite

sealed in wax-coated cardboard.

42. A plastic container stocked with syringes,

rubber hose, heroin, crystal meth, and enough
powdered cocaine to kill an elephant.

43. Several bottles of Oxycontin, an extremely

addictive painkiller.

44. Six frozen microwavable TV dinners:

Chicken curry with vegetables and samosa.

45. Several doses of mescaline individually sorted

in a plastic tupperware container.

46. Someone’s middle finger, freezer burnt and

left on ice. It seems its owner didn’t come back
for it. Careful examination turns up bite marks.

Thawing the finger will result in sporadic

twitching. If left unattended it eventually
inches it’s way out of sight.
In an attache.

51. A 4k Ultra HD Waterproof Action Camera.

There are a few heavily corrupted files on the
1TB memory card but it is in otherwise excellent
condition.

52. A long range bolt-action sniper rifle. Many of

the parts would have been outdated by 1942.
someone has lovingly replaced them with custom
pieces crafted with modern tools and materials.

53. A cheap-model specimen microscope with an

electronic viewer. Magnifies up to 40x. Suitable
for analyzing macroscopic samples up close.

54. A velvet-lined box containing a rod of black

cherry wood adorned with metal rings.
A crumpled note packaged with this artifact
reads, “For emergencies only.”

Anyone placing this artifact between their

teeth will briefly be possessed by a warrior
spirit known in forgotten texts as The Rider of
Men.

55. A flare gun and six flares of various colors.

56. An expensive and specialized surveillance

drone equipped with night vision and infrared.
Sealed away in boxes.

61. A medical defibrillator and

battery pack.

62. A set of high quality kitchen

knives straight from the
manufacturer. Also included are
several deer-leather sheaths
seemingly purchased from a novelty
gift shop.

63. Three slim kevlar vests, sized

SM, M & XL.

64. A VHS cassette, label

illegible. Each time it is watched
agents are treated to a new
schlock horror film re-imagining
the events of their last
operation.

If researched, the agents discover that these films

do indeed exist, though even the most diehard
horror fanatic won’t have any recollection of ever
seeing one.

65. A three-ring binder containing

excerpts from occult manuscripts
and essays. As a whole they create
a sort of encyclopedia of the
supernatural categorized into
three sections: Occult Beings,
Rituals, and History.

66. A remote controlled toy pick-

up truck with a baseball sized
lump of C4 in the back.
COMING SOON
Food of the Gods

Follow in the footsteps of agent

Soiree, a missing operative hot
on the heels of a cannibal chef
in S-Cell’s premier operation.

Revel in the Dark

Head to Australia on a dangerous

cave diving expedition as a team
of scientists runs headlong into
the arms of an ancient evil.

The Linear Men

Take on the horrors that haunt a

city as S-Cell falls deeper and
deeper into the land of dreams.
Can our agents follow the clues
to their singular conclusion or
will they be forever lost in
nightmare?
 Name: Justin Ford @MothLands

Alias: Dissonance [Link]

Justin (he/him) is a microscopist, writer, and tabletop

game designer living in the Pacific Northwest.
To contact him for collaboration or to submit your
photo for use in future operations, send an email to
pageofmoths@[Link].
If you enjoy Cthulhu Deep Green, please leave a
review of the game on my storefront. It means the
world.
Be safe out there.
-JF