From publisher blurb:
“standing with his searchlight in the Roman ruin, [he] translated aloud the most shocking ritual I have ever known ... of the diet of the antediluvian cult which the priests of Cybele found and mingled with their own.”
Cthulhu Eternal is a multi-era, setting agnostic ruleset which aims to support inventive game designers who have original ideas for Lovecraftian roleplaying games or scenarios. It draws upon the long line of D100 games of Cthulhu-themed investigation, offering a beautifully streamlined and elegant set of mechanics to support a diverse range of gaming styles.
Different eras of human history each have their own flavor and character – due in part to the technology available, and in part due to social conventions of the day. Recognizing this, Cthulhu Eternal exists as a family of inter-related rules engines – each based on the same mechanics but tailored to the needs of a specific era.
This version of Cthulhu Eternal is specially designed to support Lovecraftian games set in Europe, North Africa and the Levant during the Classical Era (approximately 500BCE to 500CE). Empires rise and fall, religions ascend and crumble, early democratic governments vie against each other, and centuries old tyrannies. To many in this place and time the supernatural was everywhere. Gods and goddesses occupied real places in the world, mystery cults worshipped gods and goddesses with secret rites, and rituals formed a large part of public life
It’s also a region frequently name-checked in the Cthulhu Mythos. Many of the ancient, mind-shattering horrors trace their roots to the lands the people of the Classical Era call home, even if the terrors are much, much older.
The potential for Classical Era Lovecraftian scenarios are numerous. Beyond simple monster hunts, scenarios could be built around exposing a mystery cult that worships a never-before-seen aspect of Cybele. Entire scenarios could be spun around the dramas of politics between the various political families and the gods they’d pray to in order to get ahead. Organized crime groups may find themselves in a turf battle with a new group, one that seems to use rats to spy.
The Cthulhu Eternal Classical Era SRD aims to support a broad spectrum of different types of Lovecraftian game set during this period. Whether you want a gritty and historical tone or something more sword-and-sandals inspired, these rules give you the building blocks to tailor a memorable and evocative Classical Era tale of dread. Whether it's a tense murder mystery amid the complicated political schemings of the Roman forum, or an action packed chase to stop Yog-Sothoth manifesting above the Siege of Troy, these rules have everything you need.