CREATURES LOST TO SCIENCE

Transcription

1 CREATURES LOST TO SCIENCE In forbidden forest glens, deep highland lakes, and lost jungle swamps, they live their secret lives, hidden from human eyes. There have been hundreds of sightings, but still society denies their existence. The proof exists, yet science shuns all who would reveal it. Are they remnants of our distant ancestors, survivors of a lost age, or something completely unknown? These are the mysterious creatures of Cryptozoology: the study of unknown terrestrial lifeforms. We know them as Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Chupacabras. All these and more are revealed herein, including all the information needed to integrate cryptozoological phenomena into your Conspiracy X campaign. Cryptozoology also details two new organizations from which player characters can be recruited: The Royal Cryptozoological Society and the mysterious Titanidae. New advantages and disadvantages, and new Pulling Strings for these organizations are provided as well. $18.00 US ISBN X EDN00026 All Artwork 1997 Eden Studios, Inc. Conspiracy X, Cryptozoology, specific game terms, icons and personalities are Copyright 1997 Eden Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

2 Cryptozoology For E. Quinn, his memory will live forever. Cryptozoology 1

3 Writers (In Order of Contribution) Concepts, Writing and Game Development CREDITS Richard Dakan Jack Emmert, M. Alexander Jurkat, Bernard C. Trombley Editoral Staff Editorial Director M. Alexander Jurkat Associate Editor Elizabeth Morss, John Choy Production Staff Art Direction George Vasilakos Cover Art and Design George Vasilakos Layout Design and Graphics George Vasilakos Interior Illustrations Jason Alexander Behnke, Fran Hogan, HJ McKinney, Michael Osadciw, Paul Phillips, Cary Polkovitz, Christopher Shy, George Vasilakos C O N S P I R A C Y X Original Concept by Rick Ernst, Shirley Madewell, Chris Pallace Conspiracy X, specific game terms, icons and personalities are Copyright 1997 Eden Studios, Inc. All Rights reserved. Printed in USA (that s what we want you to think). Produced and published by Eden Studios, Inc. c/o Dept. X 15 Ledgewood Drive Albany, New York No part of this book can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except for for review purposes. Any similarity to characters, situations, institutions, corporations, etc. (without satirical intent) are strictly coincidental. It s all a big conspiracy anyway. Comments and questions can be directed via the Internet at or us directly at Eden Prod@aol.com or drop us a letter with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Thanks. Stock EDN00026 ISBN X 2 Cryptozoology

4 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Chapter One: Origin of Species 5 Summary 6 How to use Cryptozoology 6 Acknowledgements 7 Cryptozoology Timeline 8 Chapter Two: The Seekers 11 Introduction 11 RSC 12 Hermes Query: RCS 17 Chapter Four: Genus & Species 85 Introduction 85 Hairy Hominids 85 Titanidae Magick 86 Pilosi 87 The Almas 91 Bigfoot 91 Sasquatch 92 Faeries 92 RCS Characters 19 Yeti 94 New Psych Profiles: RCS 20 Chupacabras 95 Hermes Query: Titanidae 21 Jersey Devil 96 Titanidae Characters 32 The Loch Ness Monster 97 New Psych Profiles: Titanidae 35 Mokele-Mbembe 101 Chapter Three: The Sightings 35 The Sirrush 102 The Almas 36 Sea Serpents 103 Bigfoot 39 Ogopogo 106 Chupacabras 45 Phantom Cats 108 Faeries 48 Jaguar Knights 109 Jersey Devil 52 Mothman 111 The Loch Ness Monster 57 Appendix 114 Mokele-Mbembe 61 Incarnate Powers 114 Mothman 65 New Traits 114 Ogopogo 68 New Rituals 115 Phantom Cat 71 New Combat Manuvers 116 Sea Serpent 74 Savagery Rules 116 The Sirrush 77 Barbarism Rules 117 The Yeti 80 Bestiary 117 Index 125 CONTENTS Cryptozoology 3

5 O r i g i n o f S p e c i e s 4 Cryptozoology

6 O r i g i n o f S p e c i e s Cryptozoology C H A P T E R O r i g i n o f S p e c i e s Cryptozoology marks a slight departure in the line of Conspiracy X sourcebooks. This book presents a whole range of adventure possibilities which do not necessarily revolve around aliens or the supernatural. Rather than starting with actual history and detailing the plots and powers behind the events, this sourcebook is based on actual scientific endeavors and provides options for expanding your Conspiracy X campaign in that area. Cryptozoology is a real science, although is does not get much respect in the hallowed halls of academia. Cryptozoologists concern themselves with the study of previously unknown and unclassified species. Additionally, cryptozoology studies known species located in inappropriate or unexpected locations, and seeks to identify possible new sub-species. While the purported existence, and the attempted at scientific study of creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster have made cryptozoology famous, such fantastic reports have also been used by detractors to cast aspersions on cryptozoology's scientific validity. Tabloid creatures, although definitely a part of genuine cryptozoological study, are not the whole of the science. Cryptozoologists study hundreds of different animals all over the world, from panthers in Great Britain to the legendary giant octopus. These are real men and women working on real scientific problems. Of course, dry scientific research will hardly hold together a roleplaying campaign. This volume takes the science of cryptozoology and spices it up a bit for Conspiracy X. You will read descriptions of over fifteen different creatures that are famous in the annals of cryptozoology. Real stories unearthed by scientists and researchers have been shamelessly mixed with the lore and background of the Conspiracy X world. You will learn some of the truth from this book, but it will always be difficult to separate truth from myth. That s the exciting part of cryptozoology -- not knowing. Researching a cryptozoological phenomenon is like unraveling a mystery and this book details over a dozen such mysteries. Even after extensive investigation, the players may not learn the whole story. Indeed, no absolute answers are given to these mysteries. Instead, several possible solutions are presented, leaving it to the Game Master to decide what is fact in their game world, and how much the players will ever find out. O N E CRYPTOZOOLOGY Cryptozoology 5