"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, Supernatural Horror in Literature
An investigator scrambles down a crumbling hillside, terrified that the Serpent People on her trail will hear the cries of her fallen pack mule. An archaeologist sneezes, farts, and belches his way back to his tent, dropping handfuls of half eaten exotic berries. A group of starved and thirsty explorers pass around a small cup of gray water with a single bite of rabbit meat floating in it.
In the world of Call of Cthulhu, where vast expanses of wilderness remain unexplored, the limits of the investigators are often tested when undertaking the simplest expedition. This can mean dealing with some of the most basic daily needs including food, water, and shelter, as well as dealing with illness, venomous creatures and wild beasts.
The question then becomes, how can a Keeper make survival exciting without the necessity of adding an ambush or mythos creature attack? While these random events can be fun if used sparingly, the players can become jaded to these contrived encounters if they’re used every time their characters travel. By making the very acts of passing through a forest, setting up camp, building a shelter, making a fire, gathering food, and finding water a challenge, the Keeper can transform even the simplest journey into a grand adventure.
This book provides details regarding rations, finding potable water, starting fires, building a shelter, foraging for food, hunting, and caring for pack animals. Additionally, the book covers a variety of unique threats, from hypothermia to venomous insects, as well as natural solutions, such as herbal remedies, pest repellents, and securing a campsite.
Also included in this book is a new occupation, new equipment, and 200 random events that can be added to almost any scenario to make things more interesting!
- from the publisher's blurb