We’re back and we’re taking part in some self-reflection. It would just be a bit easier if our reflections didn’t keep changing. Maybe it’s inevitable once you get to a certain age. Your hairline starts receding, your face gets jowly, you develop gill slits on your neck… It’s enough to make you want to throw yourself in the ocean.

Main Topic: The Shadow Over Innsmouth part 5

This is the fifth part of our multi-episode exploration of HP Lovecraft’s classic weird tale, “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”. Last time, we followed Robert Olmstead’s increasingly frantic departure from the town of Innsmouth.

This episode, we reach the end of the story. Olmstead now has time to process what he has seen and learnt. Of course, in true Lovecraftian fashion, that just makes things worse. Or does it? Strap yourself in for an extended debate about just what that ending means.

We’ll be back next time to wrap up our analysis of the story and to pick the bones for some gaming meat.

Links

Things we mention in this episode include:

• HP Lovecraft’s family
• Pectoral jewellery
• Nameless Horrors
• “The Outsider” by HP Lovecraft
• Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys
• Tales Out of Innsmouth edited by Robert M Price
• Transhumanism
• Cthulhu (2007)
• “Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family” by HP Lovecraft
• “The Call of Cthulhu” by HP Lovecraft
• At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft
• “The Shadow Out of Time” by HP Lovecraft
• Coughlinism
• The Silver Shirts
• Ku Klux Klan
• CL Moore
• Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Thank you to our good friends at the HP Lovecraft Historical Society for their kindly allowing us to play out with “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fishmen”. You can find the song and many other upliftingly blasphemous wonders on their festive album, A Very Scary Solstice.

News

Christmas Story Reading on the Good Friends Discord

Once again, Mike Perceval-Maxwell of Mr Spike’s Bedtime Stories is organising a Christmas ghost story reading on the Good Friends Discord server. You may have heard our earlier performances of “A Christmas Carol”, “The Canterville Ghost” and “The Viy”. This year, we are reading “Told After Supper” by Jerome K Jerome.

Please join us if you can for the live readings at 22:30 GMT on the 18th, 19th and 20th of December. If you can’t make those, however, don’t worry! We also plan to record each reading and release them as special episodes on the Good Friends podcast feed.

Paul at Grogmeet

Paul attended Grogmeet 2023, where he played Paranoia, Vaesen and Dragonbane, and ran a new Call of Cthulhu scenario called “A Dark Age”. Thanks to Dirk and Blythy of The Grognard Files for organising the convention.

Panels From the Illusion Horror Con 2023

Matt and Scott appeared on a number of panels at the latest Illusion Horror Con. These were all recorded and are now available on YouTube. Check out the links below.

Designing Compelling Villains

Horror Podcasting

Exploring the Subgenres of Horror RPGs

The Blasphemous Tome Issue 11

You have until the end of December 2023 to secure your copy of the latest issue of The Blasphemous Tome. Patreon backers at the $5 level or higher will receive a print copy, signed by our own gnarled hands. This issue features “Blackshade”, a brand new Call of Cthulhu scenario written by Scott Dorward.

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We’re back and we’re playing hide-and-seek. No, hang on. That’s when everyone hides and one person goes looking for them. This is the other way around. There’s a name for that game, isn’t there? Oh, yes! Sardines. That would explain the smell…

Main Topic: The Shadow Over Innsmouth part 4

This is the fourth part of our multi-episode exploration of HP Lovecraft’s classic weird tale, “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”. Last time, we had a long, drunken chat with Zadok Allen, down by the docks. Now, we’re almost ready to catch the last bus out of town.

This time, we reach the action-packed part of the story. Lovecraft isn’t known for his action scenes, but the chase sequence in “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” stands out in this respect. We break down Robert Olmstead’s attempt to flee Innsmouth and its inhabitants, finding plenty of gaming inspiration along the way.

Links

Things we mention in this episode include:

• The New Annotated HP Lovecraft, edited by Leslie Klinger
• Franklyn Expedition
• Shaun of the Dead (2004)
• Covered bridges
• “Tam O’ Shanter” by Robert Burns
• Quatermass and the Pit (1967)
• Saraband
• Malleus Monstrorum

News

Paul at Dragonmeet

Paul will be at Dragonmeet 2023, on Saturday the 2nd of December. While he’s not sure about seminars or other events yet, you will be able to find him on the Chaosium stall. Do drop by and say hi.

Matt and Scott at Illusion Horror Con

Meanwhile, both Matt and Scott will be attending the Illusion Horror Con. This is an online convention devoted to horror RPGs. While the main focus is Kult, there will be all sorts of games going on over the weekend. Scott and Matt will also be appearing on a number of panels. Check the convention website for times and details

Paul Doing Push-Ups for Charity

Paul is raising money for Cancer Research UK by doing 100 push-ups every day throughout November. Please see his fundraising page for full details and give generously!

Christmas Card and Tome

If you are a Patreon backer of the podcast, at the $3 or above, please check your mailing address. We are almost ready to send out this year’s Christmas cards. Backers at the $5 level or higher will also receive a print copy of issue 11 of The Blasphemous Tome. This issue features “Blackshade”, a brand new Call of Cthulhu scenario by our own Scott Dorward.

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We’re back and we’re enjoying a nice whiskey. OK, maybe we shouldn’t drink a whole quart of the stuff, but you’d do the same if you lived in Innsmouth. The alcohol fumes go some way towards masking the stench of rotting fish, especially if you’re drinking down by the dock. It can be quite relaxing as long as you learn to ignore the dirty looks coming from the surf. Apologies if all this booze ends up giving us a West Country accent. We’ll try not to go full Wurzels this time.

Main Topic: The Shadow Over Innsmouth part 3

This is the third part of our multi-episode exploration of HP Lovecraft’s classic weird tale, “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”. Last time, we jumped on Joe Sargent’s bus, made the journey to Innsmouth, and bought some cheese crackers.

Now, in chapter 3 of the story, we finally meet Zadok Allen for one hell of an episode of Drunk History. Sure, this chapter is mostly exposition, but it’s written in such strong dialect that you’ll hardly notice.

Links

Things we mention in this episode include:

• Privateering
• The War of 1812
• “The Dunwich Horror” by HP Lovecraft
• The Mythos as religion
• “The Call of Cthulhu” by HP Lovecraft
• “Dagon” by HP Lovecraft
• “Out of the Aeons” by HP Lovecraft
• “The Temple” by HP Lovecraft
• Theosophy
• Atlantis
• Mu

• Dagon (2001)
• Philosopher’s Stone
• Swastika
• “Witches’ Hollow” by August Derleth
• Elder sign
• Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin
• The New Annotated HP Lovecraft, edited by Leslie Klinger
• Mythos Deities: Dagon
• “The Thing on the Doorstep” by HP Lovecraft

News

Matt and Paul at The Innsmouth Literary Festival

Paul and Matt attended the Innsmouth Literary Festival back at the end of September, and they share some of the highlights in this episode. These included film screenings from Chris Lackey and Greig Johnson, and a live performance by Lovecraftian metal band Arkham Witch.

Paul Joins Chaosium

Paul has moved from being a freelancer to taking up a staff position at Chaosium, where he is now an Associate editor, mostly working on Call of Cthulhu.

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We’re back and we’re on a bus journey. Sure, this is a bone-rattler, but that’s like combining a gym visit and a massage, right? It certainly seems to have done the other passengers good. Have you seen how long their arms are? And it must do wonders for the feet as well. We can’t even imagine where they buy their shoes. The only question is whether the jolting is also responsible for those odd creases in their necks. It must be. There can’t be any other reasonable explanation.

Main Topic: The Shadow Over Innsmouth part 2

This is the second part of our multi-episode exploration of HP Lovecraft’s classic weird tale, “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”. Last time, we explored the origins of the story and then joined Robert Olmstead for a quick tour of Newburyport.

Now, moving into chapter 2 of the story, we catch Joe Sargent’s bus from Newburyport, travel across the bleak seaside landscape, and then enjoy the faded grandeur of Innsmouth’s buildings. Come for the salt marshes, stay for the extended discussion of roof architecture!

Links

Things we mention in this episode include:

• At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft
• Flotsam and Jetsam on How We Roll
• Salt marsh
• Kingsport
• “The Strange High House in the Mist” by HP Lovecraft
• In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
• Widow’s walk
• Car Wars
• A guide to roof types
• Necronomicon Providence

• Monument Circle, Indianapolis
• Gen Con
• Prohibition
• “The Thing on the Doorstep” by HP Lovecraft
• “The Dreams in the Witch-House” by HP Lovecraft
• The House of Eliot
• British Government removing street signs during wartime
• Dad’s Army
• Arithmetic and geometric progressions

• “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Something About Cats and Other Pieces by HP Lovecraft
• The New Annotated HP Lovecraft edited by Leslie Klinger
• Aphantasia
• HPLHS Complete Fiction of HP Lovecraft audiobook
• “The Dunwich Horror” by HP Lovecraft
• Disappointments rooms
• “Pickman’s Model” by HP Lovecraft

News

Paul at Grogmeet

Paul will be attending Grogmeet 2023 at Fanboy 3 in Manchester, between the 10th and 12th of November.

Scott Livestreaming at Symphony Entertainment

Scott will be joining our good friends Bridgett Jeffries and Graham Walmsley over at Symphony Entertainment for a short livestream on the 1st of November. The stream will begin at 3 PM EDT/7PM GMT and run for around one hour.

Two New Arcs on Ain’t Slayed Nobody

Scott has also appeared in two new arcs over at Ain’t Slayed Nobody. “Eclipse of the Heart”, written and run by Rina Haenze, is now out in its entirety. This bloody romp through an ’80s high school prom features Camille Brouard, Kathryn Edmonds, cuppycup, and Scott.

Cuppycup and Scott also appear in “The Waking Children”, alongside Bridgett Jeffries and Nic Rosenberg. This is a mini-arc written and run by Malevolent creator Harlan Guthrie, which will be released weekly on the ASN feed, starting from the 24th of October.

Eldritch Stories

Paul reads Porch Pirate, a story by Mike Mason on Mason and Fricker’s Eldritch Stories. Also, Mike and Paul chat about various topics in Eldritch Extras – wherein Paul reads aloud from a blasphemous tome! Look out for a new story from Paul on Thursday.

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We’re back and we’re sightseeing. Like most penurious writers, we’re doing so on a tight budget. Wasting money on expensive train tickets means that we won’t be able to afford the good cheese crackers for lunch. Happily, the ticket clerk is happy to offer cheaper alternatives. Sure, he’s also offering dire warnings about travelling via Innsmouth, but that just makes it sound all the more exciting. Anyway, this can’t be the worst replacement bus service we’ve ever taken.

Main Topic: The Shadow Over Innsmouth part 1

This is the first instalment of a multi-episode exploration of HP Lovecraft’s classic weird tale, “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”. It is a dive so deep it goes all the way down to Y’ha-nthlei.

While “The Call of Cthulhu” gets all the name recognition, it’s fair to say that “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” is Lovecraft’s most influential story. It has spawned countless sequels, adaptations and imitations over the 90+ years since its first publication, and these show no sign of slowing down. More importantly for our purposes, Innsmouth and its ichthyic, batrachian residents are at the centre of a staggering number of Call of Cthulhu scenarios.

This time, however, we start off by looking into the origins and influences behind this tale, then pick through the first chapter of the story, looking for gaming inspiration.

Links

Things we mention in this episode include:

• “The Call of Cthulhu” by HP Lovecraft
• “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” by HP Lovecraft
• “The Dunwich Horror” by HP Lovecraft
• Dark Adventure Radio Theatre Presents “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”
• The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft Audiobook by the HP Lovecraft Historical
• HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast on “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”
• “Celephaïs” by HP Lovecraft
• “Fungi From Yuggoth” by HP Lovecraft
• Scan of Lovecraft’s plot notes for “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”
• Weird Tales
• At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft
• “Herbert West – Reanimator” by HP Lovecraft
• The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by HP Lovecraft
• “The Colour Out of Space” by HP Lovecraft
• “Pickman’s Model” by HP Lovecraft
• Frank Utpatel
• The New Annotated HP Lovecraft edited by Leslie Klinger
• The Outsider and Others by HP Lovecraft

• The Innsmouth Cycle: The Taint of the Deep Ones, edited by Robert M Price
• “The Harbour Master” from In Search of the Unknown by Robert W Chambers
• The King in Yellow by Robert W Chambers
• “The Dreams in the Witch-House” by HP Lovecraft
• “Fishhead” by Irvin S Cobb
• An HP Lovecraft Encyclopedia by ST Joshi and David E. Schultz
• “Ancient Sorceries” by Algernon Blackwood
• “In the Abyss” by HG Wells
• Paranoia
• “The War on [insert noun]”
• Concentration camps
• Japanese internment camps
• Something About Cats and Other Pieces by HP Lovecraft
• Robert Olmstead’s family tree
• The Nameless Dark by TE Grau
• Spaceship Zero

News

Apocalypse Grizzlies

Scott recently joined the Apocalypse Players over at Grizzly Peaks Radio for a special series of crossover episodes, playing “Secret of Castronegro” from The Cthulhu Companion. Expect shenanigans!

More Eldritch Stories

Paul and Mike Mason have put out another batch of Eldritch Stories. You can find them anywhere you might find podcasts, or over at eldritchstories.com.

Scott on Tear Them Apart

Scott recently joined Paul Yellovich and Evan Dorkin for a livestream of the Tear Them Apart podcast, discussing all manner of horror films and how they relate to RPGs. You can watch the video below.

Paul on Innsmouth Book Club

Paul recently appeared on Episode 72 of the Innsmouth Book Club podcast, where he was joined by Mark Griffin from 30 Minutes+ With HPL.

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