Lovecraftian Setting

Lovecraft Series Canon Setting The story takes place in what is largely the canon/mythos established by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, with subtle differences.

Temporal and Physical Setting The series is set in the early-to-mid-1920’s, around 1922 to 1925 or so. Physically the story takes place on the east coast. A few parts take place in “Lovecraft Country”, the fictional New England locations described in Lovecraft’s works. For the most part however, the series takes place in the tidewater region of Virginia, the Mississippi delta bayous of Louisiana, and the Everglades and other swamps of Florida; more broadly, the story is set in the strip of freshwater and marine wetlands running along the southeast coast.

Influences Beyond the works of H.P. Lovecraft and other cosmic/weird horror authors, this series is influenced by various related forms of fiction, often pulp fiction. Specifically, the series draws themes and elements from hardboiled detective fiction, noir fiction, and crime fiction set around the 1920s. The series takes place more in the southeast, compared to the northeast focus in Lovecraft’s own works. Therefore, Southern Gothic themes and imagery are appropriate and encouraged.

Imagery In accordance with the temporal setting, Art Deco imagery and “Speakeasy Style” should be common.

Themes Fear of the Strange and Unknown One cannot have a Lovecraftian work of cosmic horror without giving a major emphasis to the fear caused by encountering beings or forces of such bizarre and alien nature. Such encounters cause characters and viewers to question the importance of mankind in the grand scheme of things, to see the cosmos as a vast and alien place in which we are irrelevant. Unlike the works of Lovecraft however, this series sometimes takes a more positive view of cosmic revelations. If mankind is truly alone in a vast and hostile cosmos, then is it not all the more important that we embrace out fellow humans? Characters who encounter mythos elements may recover and become more open and social as a result.

Prejudice Lovecraft’s emphasis on fear of alien things was likely rooted in his own fears and extreme prejudices. Accordingly, and since this is a pre-Civil Rights setting, racial prejudice is a major factor in many stories. Classism might also come in to play, as characters will likely come from many different social backgrounds. Furthermore, if the fear of cosmic horror comes from having our most basic assumptions about reality challenged, then perhaps those exposed to cosmic horror will begin to question their own negative assumptions such as racism, sexism, classism, or xenophobia. An encounter with hostile alien life forms may serve to hammer in just how much the similarities between individual humans can be more important than their differences.

Corruption and Secrets The police turn out to be crooked, accepting bribes from the bootleggers; the government is no better. The high-ranking members of society who pushed for prohibition constantly violate it at private parties. The criminal mob is secretly run by a cult of the old ones, comprised mainly of inhuman hybrids. This is a series is which assumptions idealism and faith are repeatedly broken down, first by mundane cirruption and deceit, then by the revelation of fantastic cosmic horrors. Hypocrisy The leaders of the KKK are more concerned with making money off of new recruits than actually keeping down blacks. The politician who drove heavily to get prohibition passed drinks regularly in secret, having pushed for the amendment only as an excuse to deny and draw attention away from women’s suffrage. The elites who see themselves as the highest examples of proper society are least likely to actually help society when it is threatened.

Greed Greed proves to be a recurring theme as well in this story. Many of the humans who ally themselves with cosmic forces do so at least initially out of greed.

Factions The Badges The enforcers of the law, including police, the FBI, and the military. Purpose and Goals

The purpose of these groups is law enforcement, and in theory that should also be their goal. However, corruption is relatively common, usually driven by the desire for wealth and power. Members Anyone who can get into law enforcement. In this era the vast majority of members are white, and pretty much all are men.

The Mob Various criminal organizations, mostly profiting off of bootlegging and running speakeasies. Purpose and Goals To obtain money, without regards for the legality of the methods by which it is obtained. Members The mob draws mainly from the lower and middle classes, with a few individuals in higher ranks whose families can claim upper-class status. Though the roots of many mobs lay in immigrants, and thus members often come from old immigrant families, the popularity of bootlegging can make just about anyone a potential participant.

Academics The professors and researchers of Miskatonic University and other academic institutions. Purpose and Goals The pursuit of knowledge. Members Techers, explorers, scientists, researchers, design engineers, and other men of education. In this era the presence of women in higher education is almost unheard of. Resources and Abilities The resources of academics depends on their personal wealth, the wealth of their institution, and what resources the institution is willing to provide a particular individual. The vast majority of academics have no supernatural abilities whatsoever, and would scoff at claims of such. However, a few who have experienced the mythos might know a few tricks.

The Cult of Cthulhu The most widespread cult of any great old one. The cult of Cthulhu includes the Esoteric Order of Dagon, various “savage” cults, and the Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight (HOST). Purpose and Goals In theory the Cult of Cthulhu seeks to reawaken and free their “deity”. However, it is possible that the deep ones are manipulating the cult for their own benefit (see below), and/or that some cultists seek power with no actual interest in ending the world.

Members The “bestial” Cult of Cthulhu can be found anywhere, but is by far most common among sailors, dockworkers, and fishermen. Most members are drawn from the lower classes, especially from members of non-European ethnic groups searching for escape from the oppression of Western civilization. The Esoteric Order of Dagon draws more from the middle classes, mostly those who already have deep one blood in their veins. The Order of the Silver Twilight draws members primarily from the upper classes, but occasionally from middle-class or even lower-class individuals who become regularly involved with Order property. Recruitment The bestial cult mostly draws in the desperate and lonely, preferably those who are already sensitive to the psychic influence of Cthulhu. New members are confronted with rituals and artifacts that further increase the effects of Cthulhu on them, accelerating their mental degradation. The Esoteric Order of Dagon is mostly passed down through already established Innsmouth families. On rare occasions however, new members are recruited by being persuaded to make various sacrifices to the deep ones in exchange fro gold, nautical success, or other benefits. HOLD advertises as a standard fraternal/hermetic order, offering spiritual fulfillment and worldly influence. Leadership The leaders of bestial cults tend to be individuals who have remained relatively functional. Some have been exposed to the psychic call of Cthulhu for a long time, keeping their minds intact but becoming obsessed with or even addicted to the

Great Old One’s influence. Others however are less interested in actually raising Cthulhu, simply manipulating less aware cultists for their own worldly benefit. The esoteric order of Dagon is ultimately led by the Deep Ones, via the church elders. The deep ones in turn are led by the elder of their species, particularly father Dagon and mother Hydra. HOLD is led by its inner circle, with leadership distributed through a complex hierarchy.

The Cult of Shub-Niggurath The matriarchal cult of the Black Goat, the Magna Mater. They are actually relatively harmless, when left alone. This is ultimately a fertility religion, but it can take on very threatening aspects in some incarnations. Purpose and Goals Individual cultists may have all sorts of goals, but the cult of Shub-Niggurath as a whole simply exist to continue revering its deity. They are most active (and dangerous) when defending sacred sites threatened by the encroachment of civilization, or (more rarely) taking back a site that has been lost. Members The cult is comprised largely of women, being matriarchal by nature. Indeed, the cult of Shub-Niggurath often recruits its members from women who feel downtrodden by society; mostly these are women who have given up on political activism, but there are some ties between the cult and the women’s suffrage movement. These ties are rare though, mainly because the vast majority of the cultists come from rural backgrounds.

The Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign This bizarre and enigmatic group is devoted to the King in Yellow, finding him in decadence and macabre art. In the United States they are most active in French Cajun areas of Louisiana, and to some extent in New York City. The Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign takes on a number of different forms. The two most prevalent branches of the cult are often referred to as the “Indulgents” and the “Royalists”. There are also many individual cells not affiliated with either of the aforementioned branches. The indulgents are most common incarnation of the Brotherhood, found especially in New Orleans, financing art shows and wild parties for the elite of society. The Royalists are most common around New York state, particularly New York city, but may also be found in any regions of the south where white supremacist groups are common.

Purpose and Goals The actual long-term goals of the Brotherhood are unclear, perhaps unknown even to its own members. The Royalists seem to be working towards the restoration of “The Imperial Dynasty of America”, but how they mean to accomplish this varies. Most hold some variety of proto0Nazi beliefs about white superiority and the Aryan race; many, for example, believe that whites are descended from settlers from Carcosa, and thus superior and distinct from other races. The indulgents are focused mainly on spreading the influence of Hastur by encouraging decadence among the wealthy and madness among artists. They are found in the classiest of speakeasies, and at the swankiest of parties; they thrive on the upper class decadence of the era, as described in “The Great Gatsby”. Artistically they are associated with particularly macabre artists of surrealism, are noveau, and art deco. Independent cells are often more religiously inclined, seeking new recruits or the recovery of certain icons. Some simply wish to share the inspiration the King in Yellow has provided them, giving it to the public through disturbing works of art. One common goal among the Brotherhood is to oppose the Mi-Go, though the reasons for this is unknown. Members Members of the Brotherhood, especially the indulgents, are drawn mainly from artists from any social class, or upper-class dilettantes and dandies. The Royalists accept members from a greater variety of social backgrounds, but the vast majority of Royalist cells only accept “white” members. Among independent cells, the only common requirement is to have read the play The King in Yellow.

Recruitment The Brotherhood recruits potential members by first seeking to gain some influence over them, then persuading them to read The King in Yellow. If the potential member shows a favorable reaction to the play then they are introduced to the cult; otherwise they are abandoned, used as unknowing pawns, or simply killed.

Leaders The indulgent portion of the Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign appears to lack an organized leadership structure; some individuals simply come to wield more influence. The Royalists have a more hierarchal structure, but it is unknown who or

what lies at the top. Independent cells tend to be led by a single charismatic member.

Resources and Abilities The main resources of the cult are the material goods offered by the high social status of many members, and talent for manipulating the minds of others. It is usually rare for members of the Brotherhood to display overt supernatural powers, and those abilities that they do wield tend to be subtle and surreal. One notable exception is the tendency of members to rise from the dead if killed prematurely; individuals who return in this manner often develop more potent abilities, mainly associated with decay and corrosion.