Venture into the intriguing and unsettling world of 1920s Boston with "The Haunting," an ideal entry point into Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu. This core scenario, a staple of CoC since its beginning, tasks investigators with delving into the mysterious happenings within an apparently haunted house in Boston.

"The Haunting" can be found in the free Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition Quick-Start Rules, available on Chaosium's website. For those seeking a deeper immersion, enhanced handouts for "The Haunting" are available via Cultist Armoury on DriveThruRPG.

This page serves as a guide to "The Haunting" for new Keepers. We recommend familiarizing yourself with the page before the game and referencing its contents as necessary during gameplay. Your suggestions and feedback are highly valued; please feel free to share them with us.

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The Haunting

Welcome to the realm of H.P. Lovecraft, a world where the boundaries of reality blur and ancient, alien horrors lurk just beyond the veil of our understanding. This is the world of the Cthulhu Mythos, a complex tapestry of interlocking tales that explore the chilling concept of cosmic horror.

In Lovecraft's universe, humanity is inconsequential, a mere flicker in the cold, uncaring cosmos. Gods and monstrous entities of unfathomable power, like Cthulhu himself, exist in this realm, indifferent or actively hostile to human life. These ancient beings were here long before us and will be here long after we're gone, indifferent to our petty concerns.

Lovecraft's world often revolves around forbidden knowledge, the kind that can unravel one's sanity. The universe is not only stranger than we imagine but also more malevolent, filled with realities that the human mind is not equipped to comprehend.

Call of Cthulhu: A Journey into the Abyss

In Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu (or other games based on the Cthulhu Mythos), you're not a valiant hero destined to vanquish evil and claim bountiful treasures. Instead, you're an ordinary individual daring to delve into the fringes of the known and the unknown, where madness waits with open arms. Much like the unforgiving world of Game of Thrones, this game is gritty and merciless. Glory is fleeting, and death or insanity can strike at any moment.

In this game, survival itself is a hard-won prize. Keeping your sanity intact while the world around you spirals into the abyss is a victory. You and your fellow players must navigate a minefield of eldritch horrors, forbidden knowledge, and creeping dread.

The Art of Investigation

Call of Cthulhu is, at its core, an investigative game. More than combating the horrors, the game focuses on uncovering them. As a player, you're a detective of the weird, collecting clues, deciphering ancient tomes, and piecing together connections in an attempt to grasp the unfathomable. Each revelation is a step deeper into the heart of darkness, and every fact uncovered may strain your sanity.

Uncovering the truth is a race against time and madness, a dangerous game where knowing too much can be just as lethal as knowing too little. It is the journey into the unknown, the process of uncovering the grim reality beneath the veneer of the ordinary world that forms the essence of Call of Cthulhu's dread-filled gameplay.

Welcome to the world of Lovecraftian horror. Prepare to question everything you know as you embark on this haunting journey. Remember, in the world of the Cthulhu Mythos, the greatest victory is simply surviving with your mind intact.

For players unfamiliar with Call of Cthulhu, a stylized PDF version of the above text is available here. You can print it or share it digitally with your players, providing them with a succinct overview of the game's setting.

Set in the 1920s, "The Haunting" centers on the Corbitt House, an antiquated and supposedly haunted house located on Sheafe Street in Boston. The player characters are hired by Mr. Knott, the owner who is having difficulties renting or selling the property due to its ominous past. The players, in their roles as investigators, are tasked with exploring the house and uncovering the source of the disturbances.

The adventure commences with players delving into the history of the house and its previous inhabitants. They can unearth clues to the mystery in locations such as the Boston Globe offices, the Central Library, the Halls of Records, and the Central Police Station. Their investigation reveals that the house was once occupied by a man named Walter Corbitt.

As the players dig deeper, they can learn more about Walter Corbitt, his ties to a local cult known as the "Chapel of Contemplation", and a series of gruesome deaths and bizarre events within the house.

When the players decide to venture inside the house, depending on how the scenario unfolds, they may encounter a variety of supernatural phenomena – a floating dagger, a flying bed, and even a trans-dimensional entity known as a Dimensional Shambler. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they will discover a hidden room in the basement. In this secret underground chamber, they come face-to-face with Walter Corbitt's mysteriously preserved body, sustained by dark magic.

The climax of the scenario plays out in the confrontation with Corbitt. If the characters manage to destroy Corbitt, they will have banished the haunting, restoring tranquility to the previously troubled house.

In the 1920s, Boston was a bustling urban landscape, the echoes of its colonial past intertwined with the burgeoning boom of modernization. Victorian remnants were gradually yielding to the onslaught of Art Deco, the city's architecture a stark testament to the transition between epochs.

However, beneath the glittering facade of this Roaring Twenties metropolis lurked a disquieting underbelly. The decade was a paradoxical blend of burgeoning prosperity and lingering unease, with rapid technological and societal advancements casting long, uncertain shadows over the city's cobbled streets and brick row houses.

The Prohibition era, a turbulent epoch that spanned the decade, imposed an unsettling backdrop, hinting at clandestine speakeasies, underworld figures, and law enforcement skirting the edge of legality. Even as jazz rhythms permeated the air and flappers brought vibrant color to the social scene, an atmosphere of tension simmered beneath the surface. In dimly lit alleyways, silent figures moved with nefarious intent, while in the dark corners of crowded dance halls, anxious glances were often cast over-embellished shoulders.

Simultaneously, the city was enveloped by a pervasive sense of the uncanny. While scholars at esteemed institutions like Harvard and MIT pushed the boundaries of scientific understanding, unexplained phenomena seemed to linger just outside the pool of electric light, in the spaces between the known and the unknown. Old superstitions were not easily dismissed, and tales of ghostly apparitions and strange occurrences were passed around in hushed whispers, adding a spectral resonance to the city's already uneasy pulse.

Boston in the 1920s was a city caught between eras, its residents dancing on the edge of the future while the past clung like an inescapable shadow. It was a time of thrilling possibilities and disconcerting uncertainties, the familiar and the strange intertwined in a complex and deeply eerie waltz.

1920s Map of Boston Northside - Courtesy of the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library

Locations

As you step inside the cavernous domain of The Boston Globe, the overwhelming scent of ink, paper, and dampness greets you, a persistent reminder of the truth being forged within these walls. The hum of churning presses vibrates underfoot, a restless rhythm echoed in the hustle of harried reporters, their typewriters clattering a discordant symphony. Dim, sallow lighting casts long, predatory shadows, each angle a story waiting to be unraveled. The very air in the room seems heavy, burdened with the secrets of the city, the whispered tales of power, corruption, and humanity woven into every ink-stained page.

NPCs: Arty Wilmot (unhelpful clerk) and Ruth Blake (records keeper - pre-1878 Globe files destroyed by fire).

Clues/Information: Handout 2

The grandeur of the Boston Central Library is a deceptive cloak of respectability. Step into its hallowed halls and you'll be greeted by the all-encompassing scent of aged parchment, ink, and the musky residue of centuries. It's a quiet sanctuary for the scholars and seekers of truth, yet there’s a chilling undertone that cuts through the serenity, each book a silent custodian of secrets too terrible to bear. Soft whispers echo off the marble walls and wood-paneled floors, creating an oddly symphonic reverberation that muddles the sense of time and place. The library's labyrinthine shelves, cast in the pale, spectral glow of overhead lights, breathe an uncanny life of their own.

NPCs: Cletus Philips (librarian)

Clues/Information: Handouts 3- 6

A monument to bureaucracy and civic duty, Boston's City Hall and its Hall of Records project an aura of daunting solemnity. The air within is heavy with the dry scent of parchment, the musty ink of countless ledgers and the waxen aroma of sealed missives. The echo of clerks' footsteps against the marble floor mingles with the soft rustling of paper and the quiet murmurs of hushed conversations, the sound a haunting specter of the city's past and present. The dim light from the ornate chandeliers dapples the rows upon rows of record shelves, creating pockets of shadows that dance upon the dust-laden air. An oppressive silence dominates, thick with anticipation and an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

NPCs: Hogarth Philips (Hall of Records Clerk)

Clues/Information: Handout 7

The heart of Boston's law and order, the Central Police Station, throbs with an unsettling energy. There’s a pungent cocktail of stale coffee, oil-soaked wood, and the acrid undercurrent of gunpowder that hangs in the air, a constant companion. A chorus of muffled voices, ringing telephones, and the occasional scrape of metal against metal from the cellblock fill the building. The atmosphere hums with a tension that's palpable, a suspenseful melody underscored by the constant drum of duty and impending danger. The structure, imposing and unyielding, houses a myriad of stories, each one a tale of human frailty and strength. Its very walls breathe an unsettling sense of dread and respect, a dark sanctuary for the city's protectors and sinners alike.

NPCs: Kim Debroun (Police Station Clerk)

Clues/Information: Handout 8

Nestled in the belly of Boston's North End, the historic lanes of Copps Hill and Sheafe Street cradle a spectral past. The narrow, cobbled streets are shrouded in mist that creeps along the ground, and every echo of footfall seems to carry a ghostly resonance. The buildings, old as they are, loom over the streets, their gnarled brickwork and decrepit wooden shutters whispering tales of bygone days. An amalgamation of scents, from the musty dampness of the waterfront to the rich aroma of freshly baked bread, permeates the air. Beneath it all, there's an undercurrent of unease that lurks in the shadows, an eerie quiet that prevails despite the distant, muffled sound of the city.

NPCs: Mr. Dooley (street seller)

Clues/Information: Macario family moved in years ago. Father had an accident, went mad, spoke of a haunting form. Recently, Mrs. Macario also went mad, now at Roxbury Sanitarium. Kids with relatives in Baltimore.

Tucked away in a crooked backstreet off Sheafe Street, the spectral skeleton of the Chapel of Contemplation haunts the urban canvas. Its decaying structure, weather-beaten and marred by the hand of time and human tragedy, looms disquietingly over the rare passerby. The melancholic relics murmur stories of its perverse history, the atmosphere heavy with a stifling silence that recalls the perverted rites once held within. Moss-coated stones sport the ashen scars of bygone blazes, their bold relief sketching a grim tribute to a sacrilege committed. The vicinity throbs with an oppressive calm, resounding with the ghostly remnants of devout petitions replaced by a haunting stillness.

NPCs: None

Clues/Information: Handout 9, The Liber Ivonis, moldering church records.

Liber Ivonis: The tome, also known as "The Book of Eibon", is a legendary tome steeped in dark mysticism. Attributed to the ancient sorcerer Eibon of Mhu-Thulan, its pages chronicle forbidden rituals, cosmic horrors, and arcane spells. Among its harrowing contents is a spell for the emanation of Yoth, a ritual demanding the blood of a child. Drawing from Eibon's encounters with otherworldly entities and his thirst for knowledge, the text delves into the profound mysteries of the cosmos. Revered and feared by occultists, possession of this book often leads to madness and catastrophe, as its revelations challenge human comprehension.

The Roxbury Sanitarium stands as an imposing figure in the cold moonlight. A hulking edifice of brooding brick and wrought iron, it looms in stark isolation, distanced from the merriment and life of Boston proper. As you approach, the faint scent of despair taints the air, a bitter-sweet reminder of lost minds and fragmented souls. The Sanitarium breathes an ominous stillness, punctuated by the occasional, distant cry of an unseen resident, a hollow echo of mental torment. The walls reverberate with a palpable sense of despair and an uncanny sensation clings to your skin, a silent plea from the haunted depths of Roxbury's forgotten populace.

NPCs: Vittorio and Gabriela Marcario (former tenants).

Clues/Information: “By his own weapon is the devil worsted!”

Handouts

Introduction - Mr. Knott commissions the players to investigate his supposedly haunted house in Central Boston. The keeper can read the text to the players, roleplay a conversation between the players and Mr. Knott, or give the players a telegram/letter containing the details.

The handouts are located at the end of the scenario in the free Quick-Start rules. For a more immersive and realistic experience for your players, consider purchasing our custom-made handouts on DTRPG.

Unpublished 1918 Boston Globe Article - In 1880, a French immigrant family moved into the house. Tragic accidents killed the parents and injured their three children, prompting them to leave. The house stayed vacant until 1909, when another family moved in and fell ill. By 1914, the eldest son, driven to madness, took his life with a kitchen knife. The grieving family left. In 1918, the Macarios family rented the house but quickly left after falling ill.

Police Report - A covert raid on the Chapel of Contemplation was prompted by allegations of its members being involved in local child disappearances. The raid led to 20 fatalities, including three police officers and seventeen cultists. Autopsy reports were ambiguously brief. Of the 54 arrested church members, only eight were held. Documents hint at unauthorized intervention by a notable official. This major incident remained unreported. Pastor Michael Thomas received a 40-year sentence for five counts of second-degree murder but fled in 1917.

The Old Corbitt Place

Nestled in an unassuming nook of Sheafe Street, the Corbitt House slumbers in an aura of desolate solitude.

As you approach the residence, the weight of its history presses down on you. The house stands tall yet forlorn, its once majestic façade marred by time and neglect. Two stories high, the house is a relic of the past, a Victorian-era structure that seems out of place amid the more modern buildings of the neighborhood.

The paint on the wooden sidings has faded and peeled off in large chunks, revealing the weathered wood beneath. Windows, some boarded up, others with cracked panes, seem to stare blankly back at you, as if hiding dark secrets within. The front porch creaks under your weight, and you notice the aged wood has warped and buckled in places, making it treacherous to navigate.

The garden, or what once might have been a garden, is now overrun with weeds. The grass, tall and unkempt, rustle as the wind passes through it. A few withered trees stand sentinel, their bare branches scratching at the grey skies overhead. The cast-iron fence that surrounds the property is rusty and bent in places, the gate hanging off one hinge, groaning mournfully when pushed.

Inside, the air is thick with dust and the smell of mildew. Wallpaper, once vibrant and ornate, is now yellowed and peeling off the walls. The wooden floorboards, though sturdy, creak with every step, and the ambient noises of the house settling make it feel as if the building itself is alive.

NPCs: Walter Corbitt, Rat Pack, and if (very) unlucky, a Dimensional Shambler.

Clues/Information: The Corbitt Diaries, The Floating Knife, curled papers.

Room 1, A Storage Room: Shadowy corners filled with haphazardly stacked boxes, each one looking more decrepit than the last. Old bicycles lie discarded, their wheels corroded by rust. A sense of dread emanates from the boarded cupboard on the right, almost as if the wood is holding back unspeakable secrets. Behind it, whispers of "The Corbitt Diaries" beckon those brave enough to pry it open.
Room 2, Second Storage Room: Broken furniture lies scattered, like the remnants of a forgotten life. Their splintered wood and torn upholstery give off an air of desolation. The pieces look as if they're waiting, yearning for the warmth of a wood stove's flame.
Room 3, The Mud Room: Faded overcoats hang limply alongside worn galoshes, remnants of past storms weathered. The side door feels like a barricade, sealed with three heavy bolts and two rusted locks. It's as if something, or someone, was desperately trying to keep the world out—or perhaps something in.
Room 4, Living Room: Though it once might've been welcoming, the room now feels oppressive. Amidst the usual furnishings, countless crosses and religious artifacts cast eerie shadows. The sheer number of them suggests a desperate attempt at protection or perhaps a plea for salvation.
Room 5, Dining Room: A haunting silence fills the room. Three places are eerily set, untouched and awaiting guests that will never come. The remnants of rice soup in a tureen have turned putrid, a testament to decay and neglect.
Room 6, Kitchen: A once-bustling heart of the home, now tainted by neglect. Amid the sparse foodstuffs, evidence of rodent infestation is unmistakable. Yet, amidst the decay, some provisions remain, sealed away and untouched by time.

Room 1, Main Bedroom: The room feels heavy, as if the air is thick with sorrow. Personal relics of Vittorio and Gabriela lie scattered, surrounded by crosses and unlit candles. The rosary and breviary on the bedside table hint at whispered prayers uttered in the still of the night.
Room 2, Children's Bedroom: A disturbing contrast of innocence and decay. Faded pictures of aircraft and cowboys adorn the walls, but the toys lie abandoned, covered in a fine layer of dust. An unsettling silence replaces the once joyful giggles.
Room 3, Spare Bedroom: The room exudes an ominous aura. Despite looking like any other bedroom, the sense that Corbitt once dwelled here is palpable. A Large bed stands in one corner.
Room 4, Bathroom: A room of decay and stagnation. The brackish water in the bathtub seems to have a life of its own, fed endlessly by a faucet that refuses to be silenced. Forgotten towels and belongings paint a somber picture of a family's abrupt departure.

Room 1, Storage: The descent into darkness is palpable. The rickety stairs groan in protest, and the electric bulb remains stubbornly unlit. The walls, lined with boards, feel like they're closing in, trapping all who dare enter.
Room 2, An Empty Storage Bin: The door to the coal chute is sealed, as if trying to keep the darkness of the world at bay. The air is thick, making each breath feel like a struggle.
Room 3, Corbitt's Hidden Lair: Nestled between two walls, this narrow crawl space feels like a suffocating tomb. The stench of decay is overpowering, a testament to the rats that have claimed this claustrophobic enclave as their own. Their beady eyes gleam from the shadows, watching and waiting.
Room 4, Corbitt's Hiding Place: The heart of darkness. The grotesque figure in the room's center is a sight of pure horror, his very presence a violation of nature. The sickly-sweet stench of decay fills the room, and the table in the corner holds papers that might unravel mysteries greater than man.

1835: Walter Corbitt acquires the property at Copps Hill Terrace.
1852: Neighbors fail in a lawsuit to evict Corbitt over his unsettling habits.
1866: Corbitt dies, his will demanding he be buried in his home's basement. Neighbors contest Corbitt's bizarre burial instructions; the lawsuit's outcome remains unknown.
1878: A devastating fire obliterates all Boston Globe records.
1880: A French immigrant family moves in, facing violent incidents leading to the death of both parents and severe injury to their three children.
1909: Another family falls ill shortly after moving into the house.
1912: The Chapel of Contemplation is closed after a lawsuit.
1914: Tragedy strikes the resident family again; a suicide prompts their departure.
1917: Rev. Michael Thomas breaks out of jail, fleeing the state.
1918: The Macarios move in, with Vittorio soon institutionalized in Roxbury Sanitarium.
1 month ago: Gabriela Macario is also institutionalized in Roxbury Sanitarium.
Now: Mr. Steven Knott enlists a team of investigators to probe the house's mysteries.

Encounters

Walter Corbitt

Corbitt is a sorcerer undergoing a transformation into an inhuman form, unaffected by conventional harm as long as his protective spell holds, with bullets and blows merely chipping off his hardened, unhealing flesh. If this armor is breached, he can be damaged and will disintegrate into dust at zero health points. His floating dagger is also his weakness; if investigators seize and stab him with it, he instantly turns to ashes, bypassing the protective spell.

Dimensional Shambler

Dimensional Shamblers are mysterious entities known for their ability to traverse different planes and worlds of the universe, speculated to occasionally serve the Great Old Ones. These beings possess trans-dimensional travel capabilities, able to disappear and reappear at will, taking objects or other beings along. They can also use their fore-claws to attack or grab an opponent, potentially disappearing with them into another dimension.

Rat Pack

Individual rats may not pose a significant threat, but a pack of about ten rats can be overwhelming. They use their numbers to their advantage, and tend to swarm over and assail their targets, inflicting damage through bites and scratches.

The Floating Knife

The dagger, belonging to Corbitt, is an antique with a decorated hilt and a blade encrusted with an unusually thick layer of rust, which is in fact dried blood from past victims. It can levitate into the air and launch itself at an adversary. Corbitt uses this dagger as his main weapon, especially if his basement tomb is threatened.

The Bed

Corbitt will attempt to entice investigators into examining the window in the spare bedroom upstairs, after which he will induce the bed to levitate and hurl itself toward them. Should the investigator fail to dodge the airborne bed, they will be propelled through the window, plummeting to the ground below.

Set the Mood: Dim the lights, play ambient soundtracks or period-appropriate music softly in the background. Use the soundboard included on this page for some scenario-specific sounds and music.

Use Detailed Descriptions: Be sure to describe scenes in vivid detail to engage the players' imagination. Talk about the smells, sounds, and eerie feelings that their characters experience.

Build Tension Slowly: Don't throw all the horror at your players at once. Start with subtle hints of the supernatural, and gradually increase the horror and danger as the investigation progresses.

Emphasize the Unknown: Lovecraftian horror is largely about confronting the unknown. Keep players in the dark and let their imaginations do the work.

Limit Resources: Make sure players feel vulnerable by limiting their resources, like ammunition, light sources, and potential backup. Try to create a feeling of them being isolated and alone.

Immerse in Roleplay: Encourage players to stay in character and to react to situations as their characters would. This can lead to more emotional investment and greater fear.

Use Shocking Imagery: Lovecraftian horrors are often indescribable and violate natural laws. Don't shy away from disturbing descriptions.

Make Them Doubt: Sow seeds of doubt in the investigators' minds. Is what they're seeing real, or are they losing their minds?

You can use the below effects to make the house exploration scary for players. However, keep in mind Corbitt's agenda: primarily, to frighten the investigators into never returning, or, failing that, to draw them into the upstairs spare bedroom for an attack. Corbitt's ultimate goal is to prevent them from discovering his basement tomb.

Odd Noises: The house creaks and groans unnaturally. Strange whispers, footsteps, and thuds come from empty rooms.

Chilling Cold Spots: The players find certain areas of the house inexplicably colder than others. These could be particularly concentrated around the stairs leading to the basement and the basement itself. The wall separating the basement from Corbitt's tomb may be icy cold to the touch

Flickering Lights and Electrical Disturbances: Lights flicker or turn off and on randomly. The radio in the living room might turn on by itself, playing eerie static or strange music.

Inexplicable Shadows and Figures: Players see shapes and figures in their peripheral vision, but when they turn to look, nothing is there.

Time Distortion: Time seems to stretch and warp in the house. Clocks stop or speed up, and the investigators could lose hours of time without notice.

Creepy Animal Behavior: Local animals avoid the house or behave strangely around it.

Unpleasant Smells: Foul odors appear out of nowhere (rotting meat, sulfur, or the scent of decay). These smells could become stronger as the players move toward the basement or the upstairs bedroom.

Reflection Oddities: Mirrors in the house might not accurately reflect reality. For a brief moment, investigators might see themselves aged, injured, or even dead.

Gruesome Tableaux: Rooms suddenly appear as they might have in the midst of a horrific event from the past - blood splatters on the walls, furniture violently overturned, or phantom corpses that disappear upon a second glance.

Visions of Brutality: Mirrors, windows, or other reflective surfaces occasionally show brutal scenes from the house's past - violent arguments, murderous rampages, or tragic accidents happening to the French family or the Macarios.

Inhuman Growls: At times, particularly tense moments are punctuated by the growls and snarls of some unseen beast lurking in the shadows (if you want to include the Dimensional Shambler).

Where can I locate The Haunting scenario?
The Haunting is included in the Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition Quick-Start Rules, accessible here.

What is the expected playtime for The Haunting?
The duration can fluctuate depending on the group's role-playing experience and engagement. Typically, it spans 3-6 hours. Proficient groups may solve it in 2 hours, while others might require upwards of 8 hours.

How many players is The Haunting designed for?
The scenario doesn't specify a number, but we find it best suited for a group of 3-4. It's playable with just 1 or 2 participants, but groups of 5 or more may dilute the suspenseful atmosphere, so it's not recommended.

Is The Haunting a suitable scenario for newcomers?
Absolutely! This scenario has been the definitive introductory adventure since CoC's inception. However, its open-ended nature might necessitate some guidance from the Keeper for first-time players.

How can I encourage my players to investigate rather than rush to the house?
Players from other systems like D&D may instinctively charge headfirst into danger. Explain that CoC is an investigative game, as detailed in our "Journey into the Uncanny: Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos" article. A useful plot device could involve having Mr. Knott recount a tale of a previous investigation team's disastrous foray into the house, suggesting a need for a more thorough approach.

How can I persuade my players to venture into the house?
Sometimes, players may hesitate to visit the house (kudos on the effective scare tactics!). Here, reaffirm the game's investigative focus and remind them of their mission. If necessary, introduce the Dimensional Shambler or cultists to push hesitant players into action.

What if my players keep fleeing the house?
If the players recurrently vacate the house, you can add a magical lock on the door or cause the basement stairs to crumble, impeding their exit and adding to the suspense.

Where can I find handouts for The Haunting?
Official handouts are provided in the Quick-Start rules. Additionally, a plethora of fan-made handouts are available, including ours, which you can find on DTRPG.

What kind of characters are suitable for The Haunting scenario?
A variety of character types can navigate this scenario successfully. While it is beneficial to have investigators with a good mix of investigative and practical skills, it's not necessary to optimize characters for combat as the main focus of CoC is investigative role-play. The quick-start rules include premade characters made for the scenario.

What happens if a player character goes insane during the scenario?
Insanity is a common theme in CoC games. If an investigator loses their sanity, the Keeper will have to determine the short and long-term effects. These could range from a temporary nervous breakdown to the development of a long-lasting phobia or even permanent insanity.

How can I manage player death during the scenario?
Unlike some RPGs, death can be a real possibility in CoC. If a character dies, they could create a new character, possibly a relative, friend, or associate of the deceased character, who is drawn into the unfolding mystery.

What resources should I prepare for The Haunting scenario?
Before running the scenario, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the storyline, key locations, characters, and mechanics of the game. Having the handouts ready and available is also useful.

How much should I guide the players during the scenario?
The amount of guidance you provide as a Keeper can depend on your group. Less experienced players may need more overt guidance while more experienced players might relish the opportunity to explore and discover on their own.

What if my players are stuck and can't progress in the story?
If your players get stuck, consider introducing a new clue, NPC, or event to help guide them back on track. This could be an additional letter, a helpful librarian, or a threatening event that refocuses their attention (have Mr. Knott contact the investigators and giving them a hint on how to progress).