WORLD
COSMIC HORROR BASED ON THE CTHULHU MYTHOS
Entities beyond human comprehension are seeping into reality. The Great Old Ones and their kin are indifferent to humanity. Their mere existence pollutes reality.
The Registry is a secret organization that investigates, records, and seals these threats. You are a new archivist in this organization, operating out of Arkham, Massachusetts.
The essence of horror is not attack, but understanding. The closer you get to the clues, the closer you get to truths the human mind cannot bear.
HOW TO PLAY
GAME FLOW
Headquarters
→
Case Briefing
→
Reader Assignment
→
Field Investigation
→
Return to HQ
→
Report
You (the archivist) give instructions to the Reader in the field via communication from HQ. You do not die. If the Reader dies or their sanity collapses, only that Reader is permanently eliminated.
Field investigations consist of 8-12 turns. The Doom level increases each turn, and the investigation ends when the victory condition is met by gathering clues or when Doom reaches its maximum.
During the HQ phase, you converse with NPC archivists, build relationships, and prepare for the next case.
To start a case, type /opencase.
READER
READER SYSTEM
A Reader is automatically generated for each case. Their stats are distributed with 1 aptitude, an average of 2 proficient, and 1 weak stat, along with 1 trait and 2 inventory items.
STATS
Investigation Discover clues, decipher documents, detect traps
Combat Engage in physical combat, respond to threats
Survival Evade, stealth, escape, adapt to environment
Mysticism Perform rituals, deal with phenomena
TRAITS — All have both advantages and drawbacks
Insomnia Advantageous in Investigation during Sanity Break · Halved Sanity recovery
Combat Veteran Advantageous in first combat · Additional Sanity damage when encountering supernatural entities
Scholarly +1 to document clues · Halved Health recovery
Desensitized Reduces Sanity damage by 1 stage · Mysticism reduced by 1 grade
Quick Feet Advantageous in first evasion · Combat reduced by 1 grade
Tough Build Ignores 1 instance of Health damage · Investigation reduced by 1 grade
Local Knowledge Advantageous in first investigation of a location · Starts with +1 Doom
INVENTORY — 2 items provided, 3 basic slots
Pistol Advantageous in 1 combat
Sedative Recovers 1 stage of Sanity
Notebook Advantageous in 1 investigation
Amulet Advantageous in 1 mysticism
First Aid Kit Recovers 1 stage of Health
Flashlight Ignores visibility penalties
Rope Allows access to inaccessible areas
Key Unlocks locked areas
SURVIVAL TIPS
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health has 3 stages (Healthy → Injured → Critical). Taking additional damage while Critical results in death.
Sanity has 5 stages (Clear → Agitated → Fractured → Corrupted → Broken). The deeper the stage, the less reliable the communication becomes.
Doom automatically increases by 1 each turn. Starting from turn 5, it increases further upon failure.
If the Reader's weak stat overlaps with the core requirements of the case, Doom increases more rapidly.
Reports come in three types: Complete Report upon survival, Lost Report upon death, and Tainted Report upon madness.
Some information in Tainted Reports is false. Which items are false is not indicated.
Including unlocked knowledge in the next Reader briefing provides advantages in related checks.
The higher the NPC relationship, the deeper information and support you can receive, and higher grade cases are unlocked.
NPC LIBRARIANS
REGISTRY ARCHIVISTS
Ethan Cole
Former Pro Gamer
Joined The Registry in pursuit of traces of his missing brother. Skilled in pattern analysis and data interpretation.
Sarah Webb
War Photographer
Currently tracking entities that only appear on film after witnessing them. Responsible for field reconnaissance and visual evidence analysis.
Dr. Julian Grey
Archaeologist
Deciphering prophecies unearthed from an unknown civilization. Responsible for analyzing ancient documents and artifacts.
Vincent Marsh
Former Gangster
His entire organization was wiped out in one night, and he was the sole survivor. Provides underworld information and physical security.
Cpt. Helen Cross
Military Intelligence Officer
Dispatched under the guise of national security. Provides classified information and tactical support, but operates under the tension of dual allegiance.
Dr. Miles Harlow
Comparative Linguist
Claims to have discovered grammatical structures in the vocalizations of entities. Analyzes ritual decipherment and entity vocalization patterns.
Vera Sinclair
Cult Escapee
Raised in a cult from childhood, she escaped upon reaching adulthood. The sole expert on ritual structures and cult behavior patterns.
Cyril Thorne
Former Stage Actor
Stopped performing after witnessing a presence beyond the audience seats during a play. Responsible for anomaly detection and psychological analysis.
ARKHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
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
