Call of Cthulhu 7e - Nakuko - The Weeping Child

RS
ME
R
GA
FO
T
UL
AD
NAKUKO
FOX
COUNTRY
JAPAN IN THE 1990s

CHESTER & WALES, UK
NAKUKO
FOX
COUNTRY
4
CREDITS
Written by
GLYNN OWEN BARRASS

Edited by
CHITIN PROCTOR
Layout, Art Curation, & Cartography
STEPHANIE MCALEA, SIMON

BRAKE, GEORGE COTRONIS,
AND
GLYNN OWEN BARRASS

Supplementary Pre-generated Characters by
KEITH MAGEAU
With thanks to
MATT SHORT
Stygian Fox are
Stephanie McAlea
Chitin Proctor Call of Cthulhu and the Chaosium logo are trademarks of Chaosium
Badger McInnes Inc. and are used under license. For more information please visit
Simon Brake Chaosium’s website www.chaosium.com
Fallon Parker
Stephen Turner
www.stygianfox.com
Fox Country Book Four
CONTENTS
6
PROLOGUE
7
Keeper’s Information
8
Player’s Plan of the Essexia
10
Scene One: The Spook Club
11
Scene Two: The Grieving Parents
16
Scene Three: Dark Visions
22
Scene Four: The Spook Club Returns
24
Scene Five: Confrontations
26
Appendix: The Players In This Tragedy
28
Appendix: Those Who Challenge Oni
5
Nakuko
Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition
PROLOGUE
It’s a sit down between a girl, her parents and er leans over to touch her hand. Then, everyone
two teenaged friends. Eating in the Japanese realized Eiko’s pain-wracked, purple face is due to
style, they sit on bended knees around a low din- something serious. Her strained lips part as what
ner table. The daughter Eiko shuffles uncomfort- blocks her throat disgorges to the table, chewed
ably, her bare legs itchy against the Tatami mats slivers of fish followed by a thick stream of shiny
while her friends, Mizue and Keiko, speak quietly black hair. Her mother screams, as does Mizue,
and giggle, unused to Eiko’s family’s stern formal- her father dropping his soup bowl and pushing
ity. Her father eats quickly, guzzling his Miso soup himself away from the horror. Eiko gasps, her piti-
down in quick draughts, wanting to be away from ful noises almost inaudible beneath her mother’s
the girls and in Whis study. Her mother takes del- hysterics as she pulls at the hair in an attempt
icate bites of her broiled fish and smiled at Eiko. to clear her throat and breathe. Eiko’s father
Eiko returns the smile, goes to swallow a mouthful clambers over to help her remove the hair but as
of fish, and then freezes as she discovers some- he reaches out, Eiko shudders and falls, face down
thing blocking her throat. The act of swallowing, into the obscene black pillow. She twitches once,
and breathing for that matter, become a sudden and moves no more.
impossibility and she coughs loudly. Her father

sends her a look of disapproval while her moth-
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Call of Cthulhu
KEEPER INFORMATION
Eiko Tanaka was the unfortunate victim of a THE NARRATIVE
‘Yūrei’. Her terrible, untimely death was due
to her proximity to the man she worked for, Jin The set up is as such: one of the witnesses to
Asaki, and a murder he committed that now has a Eiko death, Mizue Ariyoshi, confides in Kim
sinister life of its own in the form of a ‘Yūrei’. It Minami, a newspaper reporter whom she and
is already claiming more victims, and as is often her friends met when Kim was writing an article
the case in Asian horror, just a passing acquain- on students for her newspaper. The dead girl’s
tance, or even a chance encounter with someone brother, Koji, has accompanied Mizue to this first
connected to a curse is enough for that innocent’s meeting. Shinta Arai, Kim’s assistant and camera-
ugly demise. man also attends, as does Ken Ariyoshi, Mizue’s
overprotective brother. These are the player
In Japanese legend, it is said that when a person characters.
dies whilst bearing a strong enough anger, a
‘Yūrei’ is born from their will. This ‘Yūrei’ can EMULATING THE JAPANESE STEREO-
gather in the place the person died or frequent- TYPE FOR PURPOSES OF THEATRE
ed, or even follow the focus of that ‘Yūrei’
through their lives. The ‘Yūrei’ can manifest itself The full nuances of Japanese etiquette and cul-
in many ways, such as attaching itself to a person tural differences to the West are too numerous to
entering the place the creator died or attacking place here. The Japanese use the ¥en for curren-
someone the focus is close to. It often chooses cy, and for gaming convenience 100 Yen equals 1
innocents as its victims, not caring whether they Dollar. For roleplaying scenes, if the keeper and
have any connection to the original source of the investigators wish, a bow is used upon greeting,
‘Yūrei’. The ‘Yūrei’ brings horrendous, painful saying goodbye, and also when thanking someone.
death to those it chooses. The deeper the bow the more respect is being
shown (be careful not to knock heads!). Also,
This scenario is set in the late 1990’s, in the city when investigators are speaking to each other
of Makinohara, in Southern Japan. or to NPCs, use the person’s surname and use
a suffix to match the Japanese honorifics when
Makinohara is a Japanese city in western Shizuo- speaking.
ka Prefecture. It is bordered by Suruga Bay on the
Pacific Ocean to the east, and rises gradually to San – the most commonplace honorific, used as a
the Makinohara Plateau in the west. Katsumata title of respect between equals.
River also stands to the west. The local economy
is dedicated to the production of green tea, a Sama – a more respectful honorific than ‘san,’
small amount of fishing, and the manufacturing used when addressing those of a higher rank than
of Suzuki automobile components. Makinohara oneself.
University is located near the center of the city.
Chan – this honorific expresses that the user
7
Nakuko
finds the recipient sweet or endearing. Young girls the consequences of a society that values respect
use it a lot. and honour is a certain level of accountability for
all strata of society. A worker who has failed in his
Sensei – this honorific is used to refer to or ad- duties is expected to accept responsibility and admit
dress teachers and other authority figures. his feelings, sometimes in tears, and ask for forgive-
ness. These tears are not ‘fake’ per-se but are seen
For example: Mizue Ariyoshi may address Kim as as a necessary act of contrition. The biggest “sor-
Minami-sama, as she is of much higher station than ry” you can display. In terms of meeting others in a
herself, but she would refer to her friend Eiko as business setting, as Investigators are likely to enjoy,
Tanaka-san. She would refer to Hiro Mizuno merely is the attentiveness to details. Some swap business
as ‘Sensei,’ in respect for his career. cards and ask a question based on information on
it. “Is this your business address?” It shows you
are paying attention and therefore respect. Some
RESPECT AND HONOUR – these traits may might recount a good anecdote to you concerning an
initially be stifling to non-Japanese but it is an incident you were involved in “Did that event have a
attempt to provide order to the populace. One of satisfactory conclusion?”
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Call of Cthulhu
Emotions – It is a myth in the West to assume

that the Japanese are less emotional than other
cultures. Nothing could be further from the truth.
They are very good at following social mores and,
as such, rarely break them by having a meltdown
in public. It does happen however, and sometimes,
because of society’s expected standards, it can be
quite expressive and destructive when it happens.
MISBEHAVIOUR – there are many attitudes

and behaviours which Japanese find distasteful.
Taking things without asking or petty thievery
to the point that finding a wallet on the ground
will gain very unhappy looks if it is not handed in
to the police. People being taken advantage of,
especially the elderly, will provoke anger.
One surprising aspect of this is that foreigners

are half-expected to be rude and ignorant and so
can get away with certain things because they’re
expected to not know better. American tourists
are seen sometimes as little more than barbarians
who can shout and curse because that is what is
expected of them. In fact, if a Japanese investiga-
tor is ever in a bind, his “Gaijin” friend can cause
a ruckus and gain sympathy for his local friend as
the locals think “Poor man, having to chapperone
these barbarians!”
Coming Soon
These are, of course, very rough stereotypes. We
all know that all people across the world are
nuanced individuals but, from a non-Japanese
playing perspective, stereotypes help set a certain
mood as long as they are not jingoistic or bigot-
ed. Of course, Japanese players can forego these
stereotypes and even reverse them if they choose LYNCH SMITH-ADAIR RIOS HERBER ROSS
to play non-Japanese characters. SKORKOWSKY MCINNES PROCTOR BOLDT MCALEA
This is a filtered down guide to Japanese cultural

etiquette, a more detailed guide can be found in
Chaosium’s Secrets of Japan supplement.
9
Nakuko
SCENE ONE: THE SPOOK CLUB

A Meeting In A Cafe Leads To Further Mysteries
friend Keiko, and didn’t see boys. Also she worked

cleaning for a nice old man, Mr Asaki for a while.
This is all she has to say on the mat-

ter, but will offer to show the investigators Eiko’s
room if they wish. If asked, she has the address
for Mr Asaki, which she will give the investigators.
MANABU TANAKA
If asked what he can tell them about his daugh-

ter’s death, Manabu also believes that something
evil happened in the house and he can still feel
it sometimes. He prays to his ancestors for an ex-
planation but nothing is forthcoming. Asked what
The investigators have arranged to meet at a café as such will be spoken of quietly and with discretion in
called The Bakery, not far from the grounds of Makino- order to not cause a scene or be publically shamed:
hara University. Once they’re seated, a waiter comes

round and ask what they would like. The café sells pas- Mizue tells her companions that she was present during
tries, cakes, sandwiches and specialty coffees etc. This Eiko Tanaka’s recent death. Her and her family were
is a good opportunity for the players to practice some sat celebrating the fact the girls had passed their mid-
Japanese phrases and manners for the sake of immer- terms and she saw the whole thing. She is worried now
sion. There are plenty of resources on the internet to because since it happened she has not heard from her
help with this. other friend who was present, Keiko. Maybe she is in
mourning, or maybe… they need to go check this out.
NOTE: The player acting out Mizue’s role should para-

phrase the following information, but first the keeper At this point in the scenario, the investigators have the
should share the scene at the beginning of the adven- address for Eiko’s parents, and also Keiko’s telephone
ture with him/her, as they were the original witness, number. If tried, there is no reply from Keiko’s number.
and have them include extras as they wish within rea- They can either go to the parents first or check out
son. As you can imagine this was a traumatic event and Keiko’s home at the start of Scene 3.
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Call of Cthulhu
SCENE TWO: THE GRIEVING PARENTS

Grief Meets Formality
The Tanaka family live on a street in the southern NOTE: have the investigators perform a Hard Difficulty
suburbs of Makinohara. After knocking a short, POW roll. A success means they sense something un-
pale, sad-faced woman answers the door dressed in toward and sinister in the room, something they can’t
a black kimono, greets Mizue and her son and lets quite put their finger on.
them in. Past the front door stands a small, sparse

foyer leading to the main room. Here investigators Here is the information that can be gained from the
will be asked to remove their shoes. A sharp fea- Tanakas:
tured, worried man wearing a black suit sits at the

low table in the main room, the husband Manabu. YUMEKA TANAKA
The main room is decorated in a modern Japanese
style, with the floor covered in wood but emulating Yumeka begins by saying that the doctors involved in
tatami mats with motifs and regular doors have her daughter’s death said that she choked, but all the
been expertly crafted to look like Tategu ‘sliding witnesses saw the horrible thing that came from her,
doors,’ to the north and east of the room. To the the dirty black hair that disappeared when she died.
room’s west stands an alcove with a shrine dedicat- Yumeka believes that something horrible touched her
ed to Eiko. Incense burns here, and there are many daughter; a curse sent her way from hell. If asked if
photos of Eiko surrounded by white chrysanthe- she knows how Eiko could have been cursed or if any-
mums. A low table centers the room surrounded by one had a ‘Yūrei’ against her she replies that no, her
cushions, this being the spot where Eiko died. daughter was a good girl, spent lots of time with her
best
YUMEKA TANAKA
11
Nakuko
MANABU TANAKA
happened on the night of her death, he replies that she shaped like a huge furry bat hangs from the back of the
coughed and coughed but he could do nothing to save door. The only item of interest in the room, found with
her. Some demon hair spilled from her mouth, half-fill- a successful Spot Hidden roll, is a sketch half-hidden
ing the room but when the emergency services came it behind one of the posters.
disappeared in a flash. Manabu adds that just recently
she worked part-time, cleaning for one of the clients in HANDOUT 1: SKETCH
his law firm. If asked, Manabu provides the address for
his client, Mr Asaki. NOTE: This is a hand-sketched, charcoal drawing of a
small child like-being dressed in rags. Its head is bald
EIKO’S ROOM and misshapen and lines of dark tears stain its face.
Its overly long arms end in hands bearing dozens of
A small room lies beyond the door to the east of the twisted fingers. The bottom right of the sketch bears
main room, the short corridor leading to a door on ei- the signature: Yuji Miho. If asked about the sketch,
ther side. It is dark here, the only illumination coming the Tanakas are clueless, but allow the investigators
from the main room. The Tanaka’s escort the investiga- to remove it. Unless Koji asks for it neither entertains
tors on and pause beside the first door to the right. A the examination or taking of Eiko’s cellphone, but an
light switch is located to the right of the door that illu- investigator could steal it with a successful Sleight of
minates a small, square room with a bunk bed near the Hand or Stealth roll at Regular Difficulty. A fail results
south wall and a desk near the east. The bed is freshly in the investigators being ushered form the house, with
made, with underneath and all around it row upon row Manabu possibly even detaining them and calling the
of cuddly toys. The desk is clear apart from a Makino- police.
hara University mug filled with pens, a small vanity
mirror with a crack through it, and Eiko’s cellphone.
The desk drawers are empty if checked. The walls are
covered in posters of pop stars, and a shoulder bag
12
Call of Cthulhu
The First Class Dining Saloon
EIKO’S CELLPHONE to Jin, the elder son of the Asakis (see THE TERRIBLE
OLD MAN).
If taken, the cellphone holds a few things of interest

for the investigators, these being the phone numbers So what do the investigators do now? They should have
for Keiko, Yuji Miho, and one called: (Work) Asaki. at least one lead to pursue, maybe more, and of course
As before, Keiko’s phone just rings without being there’s Keiko to check on. The leads are listed under
answered, but Yuji answers his (see THE BOHEMIAN. three headings, it being up to the investigators which
Calling the Asaki number puts the investigators through one they pursue first.
13
Nakuko
THE TANAKA HOME
Designed in a modern-day style but along traditional Japa-

nese lines, the Tanaka home is pristene, bright, but austere.
1. Entrance
2. Foyer
3. The Main Living Room
4. Where Eiko died 8
5. Kitchen
6. Store Room
7. Toilet
8. Eiko’s Room
9. Bathroom
10. Spare Bedroom
11
(Koji’s old room)
11. The Master
Bedroom
12. Utility Room
13. Cloak Room
9
14. Eiko’s Shrine
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Call of Cthulhu
10
7
12
6
1
13
14
4
15
Nakuko
SCENE THREE: DARK VISIONS

A Mirror Crack’d
THE LOST GIRL room the smell suddenly grows stronger, although the
source is not apparent. The room is a complete mess.
Keiko Sawai’s address can be found in the phone book Shelves stuffed beyond capacity line the west wall; a
- she is the only one listed. Sawai’s residence is on tatty leather couch stands against the south wall and a
the third floor of an apartment block near Makinoha- computer desk piled with papers and empty soda cans
ra University. Her apartment is number 3C. The first is located against the east. Books and papers litter the
thing the investigators notice is that her door, unlike floor. Two doorways adjoin this room, both flanking the
the others, has a letterbox stuffed with junk mail. desk on the east wall. A sheet of clear plastic covers
Repeated knocking will garner no reply, and neither the doorway to the left, the one to the right, a woolen
will calling her phone. However, if an investigator tries sheet. A search of the room reveals nothing of interest
to phone her from outside her apartment, have them until they reach the desk. Her telephone can be found
make a Listen roll and upon a success they discern a here under a pile of papers, and a thorough search of
low trilling sound within. If the investigators leave and the desk provides the following
return later there is still no answer. Interviewing her

neighbors informs the investigators that they haven’t HANDOUT 2: An Email Printout
seen that: ‘pretty young student’ in days. They really
only have a few options here, the first being to pick
the lock using the Locksmith or Mechanical Repair From Hiro ([email protected])
skill. If the investigators choose to break down the
door it has a STR rating of 80. Breaking down the door To: [email protected]
will certainly alert the neighbors and the police will
soon arrive at the building to arrest them unless they Dear Miss Sawai,
have a damned good reason for trying to get into the
apartment. Another option would be to go and find I am sorry I missed you at my office. My usual
the Apartment Manager, and use a Regular Difficulty working hours are 8:30 till 3.00 and I am
level Communication skill to convince him that they away for lunch 12:00 till 1:00.
are a relative of Sawai’s and they are concerned over
her well being. He will then unlock the door for them ===== Hiro Mizuno
without trouble.
SAWAI’S APARTMENT The door to the right leads to a bedroom littered with
clothes. The mirror on the dressing table is cracked,
The moment the investigators step through the door but there is nothing of further interest here. Checking
they realize something is wrong, for a sinister odor the other doorway is a different matter altogether. Be-
permeates the apartment; a rotten, unidentifiable yond the sheet of plastic is a small kitchen, the work-
stink. A short corridor lies beyond, ending at a door tops littered with decaying food. This in turn leads to
to its right leading to Sawai’s living area. Inside this a short corridor that ends at a sliding door.
16
Call of Cthulhu
Closet Pantry
Bathroom
Living
Kitchen Sawai
Room
Hallway
Desk
Bedroom
Sawai's Apartment 3C
embellish this in whatever way they want to fright-
NOTE: Have the investigators perform a Hard difficulty en the players into thinking the Nakuko is coming for
POW, a success means they get a sudden shiver, a them.
recognition that something is wrong here on a psychic

level. The keeper should also have the female inves- Beyond the door lies something terrible, a stink of rot
tigators perform a Luck roll, and make a note of the sourced to the corpse curled up on the tiny bath-
highest failure. This poor individual is now the Naku- room’s floor. Here lies Sawai, dressed only in her bra
ko’s intended victim, but it won’t stop there. and soiled panties, still frozen in her death throes and
clutching her throat, the twisted expression on her
THE HAUNTED face so horrible that investigators must make a SAN

roll for 1/1D6 Sanity loss.
The keeper should inform the players that from now

on, things start getting spooky for them. When alone NOTE: Sawai is the Nakuko’s latest victim. No one was
in a room, they feel a presence behind them, but when present to witness the hair pouring from her throat
they turn there is no one around (0/1D2 SAN). Also, if and she died alone and in agony. The Nakuko, turning
they catch sight of their reflection in a mirror they may its attention to the investigators group, now begins to
gain a quick glimpse of a small shape that quickly dis- harass them.
appears (0/1D4 SAN). Or the mirror may spontaneously

crack for no reason (0/1 SAN). The feeling is even Whatever the investigators do here, as they are re-
more intense for the player the Nakuko has chosen as turning to the living area the telephone starts to ring.
its victim. At one point the keeper should have them It goes to the answering machine before they reach it,
look in a mirror, witness the small shape, and have it and after the beep, a crackling sound follows, followed
shatter before them (1/1D6 SAN). The keeper should by, a pained, female voice saying:
17
Nakuko
“Nakuko… why is he killing me? Oh god, it hurts.” Mizue, and will smile at her and address her in the
A scream follows, so horrifying the investigators must conversation whenever possible.
perform a SAN roll for 0/1D2 Sanity loss. Trying to

replay the message finds none recorded. Yuji leads the group into a lounge area holding three
voluminous ratty looking couches facing each other
There is nothing else to do here but leave, possibly around a chipped wooden table. The walls are lined
after contacting the police. That is entirely up to the with Yuji’s paintings. Numerous cats lounge around
investigators, though if they broke in they will have the room. A few hiss and run from the investigators on
some explaining to do. An anonymous call to the au- their approach, others rub around their legs amorously.
thorities might be best for everyone here. All avoid the investigator that the Nakuko has cho-
sen, and glare at her and growl when she is near. The
THE BOHEMIAN north wall has a large bay window leading to the rear
garden. Before the window is Yuji’s easel and his latest
The investigators may want to seek the artist that project, concealed behind a dustsheet.
drew the sketch in Eiko’s room. If they didn’t get his

number from Eiko’s cellphone, there are three Yuji Yuji offers the investigators a seat and asks if they
Miho’s in the phone book, so finding him won’t be dif- want coffee. If they say yes they will have a quick
ficult. After two wrong numbers, asking the third voice chance to examine the paintings while he’s gone. The
whether they are the Yuji Miho that knew Eiko Tanaka majority of Yuji’s paintings are of landscapes, strange
the voice on the end of the line replies that she was alien ones with brightly colored scenes containing
a good friend of his and what is this all about? Being forests of tentacles and geometric shapes floating in
direct and to the point here is the best way to com- skies brimming with alien constellations. If examining
municate with the man, so asking about the picture the painting under the dustsheet the investigators find
he drew for her, or if he can tell them anything which a portrait of a topless, smiling Eiko Tanaka, her hair
may help solve the mystery of her death, leads to Yuji discreetly covering her breasts.
inviting them to his home. Yuji lives and works on a

street facing Suruga Bay. Day or night, he answers the Once everyone is settled the investigators can ques-
door after about three minutes tion him about Eiko. If they gained the interview using
a subterfuge it won’t be hard to turn the conversation
If the investigators phoned ahead there won’t be any towards Eiko.
problem speaking to Yuji. If this visit is unannounced

however either an honest explanation or a successful If asked how he met Eiko, he replies that he was cut-
Regular Difficulty level Communication roll will be ting through the campus one day, as he sometimes
required for entry. Regardless of what they say after teaches there, and saw her sat alone. He was looking
he opened the door, Yuji, upon seeing the group says, for a study to illustrate and approached her and asked
“Guys you look like characters from a horror movie, if she’d model for him. They became friends after that.
all harried and full pain.” He instantly has eyes for Asked about the time leading up to Eiko’s death, Yuji
grows visibly upset and says that she seemed okay, just
18
Call of Cthulhu
Alien Landscape by Yuji Miho
full of life. He can’t believe she choked to death at NOTE: on a successful Japanese language roll an inves-
the dinner table. If asked about the sketch he drew for tigator can translate the letters to: Naku (cry) and Ko
her he replies that she was having nightmares about it (child), which equals Nakuko, the characters read as
and told him during one of their sessions. He asked her na-ku-ko. They won’t be able to make anything else
to describe it and drew it up, hoping it would exorcise from them however.
the nightmare. Yuji next pulls a small notepad from his
sweatpants and fingers through it before showing the So where next? Having finished speaking with Yuji the
investigators a page bearing two Japanese kanji, tell- investigators will have the lead to go visit the folklore
ing them Eiko said the symbols were appearing in her professor, as well as a copy of the Japanese letters
nightmares. She talked about asking a folklore profes- Eiko saw in her nightmares. They can also get the lead
sor at the university about them. on the professor from Keiko Sawai’s apartment. And of
course, there’s the terrible old man…
HANDOUT 3: EIKO’S VISION
THE TERRIBLE OLD MAN
NOTE: this is two letters of the Japanese alphabet on
a small piece of paper, written with a black marker The Asakis live in the suburbs west of Makinohara,
pen. near the Katsumata River. The Asakis address is listed
泣く子
19
Nakuko
Eiko by Yuji Miho
If contacted by phone, the son Jin Asaki answers and if

Eiko is mentioned he says he is too busy to talk and
hangs up abruptly. A few minutes later Jin makes
a return call where he says he is very sorry for his
rudeness. He will agree to speak to the investigators at
his home if they give him an hour. If the investigators
arrive unannounced, Jin, a small, harried looking man
answers the door. Either a successful Hard Difficulty
level Communication skill roll, or the production of
Kim Minami’s credentials as a reporter, gains them an
interview.
Beyond the front door stands an entrance hall with a

staircase against the west wall with a chair lift at-
tached. There is a door to the right of the staircase
against the north wall and two against the east wall.
A large mirror hangs on the wall between the easterly
doors. Jin apologizes, saying he has just finished feed-
ing his mother, and leads them to the second door on
the east wall. This leads to a dining room centered by
a large rectangular table. There are seven chairs at the
table, and Jin asks the investigators to be seated.
A conversation with Jin won’t prove very fruitful. Yes

Eiko worked for him, helping with his mother and
father, whom he explains are both infirm. He is very
saddened by her death. Asked questions about Eiko
and he will explain that she came to his house, helped
out, and left again, and he knows nothing strange or
untoward about her death. This is the truth. Just as
Jin is telling the investigators they have to leave, a
loud panicked scream issues from somewhere in the
house, and Jin’s jaw drops before he hurries from the
door. Investigators worth their salt will follow Jin as
in the phone book, but when dialed, the number is dis-
the screaming continues, and upon entering the hall he
connected. The other way the investigators can get the
is seen rushing into the next door along. Another final
address is during the interview with Yumeka Tanaka; a
scream issues from the room and pursuing investigators
working phone number can be found in Eiko Tanaka’s
witness the following:
cellphone (see THE GRIEVING PARENTS).
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Call of Cthulhu
An elderly woman, Jin’s mother, lies twisting upon a At this, the woman falls unconscious and a stressed Jin
futon mattress on the floor, tangled in her sheets. Her tells the investigators they must leave while he deals
white dressing gown is stained and she drools from with his mother. Fujio will follow Jin as he ushers the
a toothless mouth. Jin rushes towards her, untangles investigators out, mumbling and swearing.
her from her sheets and places her in a sitting posi-
tion. She continues to twist and shake as Jin placates
her. If any investigator goes to help he will be visibly
relieved. An investigator making a successful Psychol-
ogy roll will diagnose that Jin’s mother is a state of
advanced dementia.
The room’s east wall window is shuttered but provides

dull illumination. A large television on a cabinet stands
against the north wall. The west wall holds an antique
Samurai sword in a glass-covered frame.
Have an investigator make a Listen roll. Success hears

a crunch under their foot. Looking down finds a small
circular mirror on the floor. It is cracked with a few
shards of glass broken out of it. Stepping on one of
these made the crunch, but a Spot Hidden roll could
also see the broken glass.
Just as Jin is calming down his mother, a noise issues

from behind the open door, and a formerly concealed
wheelchair bound man wheels himself out. This is
Fujio, Jin’s father, a wizened, bald man dressed in a
faded brown tracksuit. He wears no shoes and the nails
on his twisted feet are long and yellow. He looks at the
investigators with contempt, telling them to get out.
Jin releases his mother, stands up and bows meekly to
his father and explains they are here about the dead
girl. Fujio turns purple and is about to shout when the
elderly woman moans and looks at the investigator who
received the highest failure on their Luck roll, the one
targeted by the Nakuko. She points shakily at them and
says,
“He has you, Nakuko has you! You pay for another’s Mr Asaki
sins like the girl did! He looks at you, but won’t look
at himself!”
21
Nakuko
SCENE FOUR: THE SPOOK CLUB RETURNS

Uncovering A Very Personal History of Shame
Another lead the investigators have is the Folklorist ence he has to this is in Minkan Denshō, a rare book
Hiro Mizuno. He can be found at Makinohara University, on Japanese Folklore by Yamamuro Tanaka. It tells of
near the center of the city. He is the only Folklorist a woman who was drowned, murdered by a robber. As
there, and if contacted by telephone will agree to she died a vision came to her of a small, crying being,
meet the investigators as long as they explain it is to who said that if she gave it her immortal soul it would
do with Eiko or Keiko. He is located in the university’s give her revenge upon the man by killing all the women
History Quadrangle, and gives them half an hour of his in his life. The Nakuko killed the man’s wife and two of
time between working with his undergraduates. his daughters. It only stopped when he openly con-
fessed his crime. Should the investigators ask if Eiko
THE PROFESSOR or Keiko could have been victims of the Nakuko, the
professor replies that it is all just myth, folktales and
Professor Mizuno’s office is large and lined with wall- stories and people trying to attach meaning to mean-
to-wall shelves filled with books. Professor Mizuno is ingless deaths, and if a supernatural explanation can
found sat behind a desk, which is piled with books and be attached, the superstitious do so.
papers. He is a tall, thin man, with medium length

black hair and a goatee beard. There are only two Now the professor informs the investigators he has
seats spare in the office, so some investigators will university business to attend to and asks them to
have to stand. leave. He will want rid of them quickly if the investi-
gators hinted that they believe in the existence of the
Once the investigators are settled, the professor be- Nakuko, for he has no belief in the supernatural and
gins by mentioning Eiko’s death, saying what a terrible now view them as cranks.
thing it was. She came to him due to some strange

dreams she’d been having. The Kanji she mentioned RESEARCH INTERLUDE
was quite obscure so he was more than willing to help
her with the information she desired, except she never The investigators have a few research leads to go on,
returned. The day after Eiko died one of her friends should they wish, for by now they should have guessed
came to see him and left a note saying she was having that the ‘Yūrei’ and the deaths are connected to
strange dreams also. She hasn’t returned his emails. someone in both Eiko and Keiko’s lives. Doing an online
What Eiko wanted to know was the meaning behind two search of any of the characters involved provides
symbols she was seeing in a dream, which translate nothing useful apart from the following. The first can
to Nakuko, or Weeping Child. The only proper refer- be found after around an hour of searching using the
Computer Use skill.
22
Call of Cthulhu
NOTE: This is a newspaper article containing a news

clipping and still photo of a group of Japanese men
guarded by US military police held on a Japanese histo-
ry website.
THE MAKINOHARA NEWS ARCHIVES
A Library Use roll and few hours’ newspaper search at

the Makinohara Municipal Library will uncover the fol-
lowing information in regard to Jin Asaki:
HANDOUT 5: A Tragic Loss
NOTE: This is a web page article
THE MAKINOHARA GLOBE;

online edition; Article 2/07
A tragic accident occurred yesterday morning when a

49-year-old woman, Kahori Asaki, slipped and fell in
the water while taking a stroll along Katsumata River
where she drowned. Police have appealed for witnesses
but none were forthcoming and this has been classified
as a tragic accident. Her husband, Jin Asaki, has stated
to authorities that his wife never learned to swim. She
is survived by a sister and two brothers.
HANDOUT 4: WAR CRIMES
23
Nakuko
SCENE FIVE: CONFRONTATIONS

Secrets Will Out
It shouldn’t be difficult for the investigators to work as wads of thick black hair pour from their mouth (See
out that the problem is sourced at the Asaki household. NAKUKO ATTACKS). By now Jin will have entered the
Beyond that however, the solution to the problem isn’t room, and the investigators have limited time to save
so simple… their companion.
WHICH ASAKI IS THE BAD ASAKI? ASAKI JUNIOR
If contacted by telephone, Jin refuses to speak to the As soon as the investigators confront Jin, if they are
investigators, hangs up, and this time he won’t make not in the room where his parents are located, Ryoko
a return call. They’ll be forced to go to his house, will begin to moan which sends Jin in there. Hence
and although he answers the door, Jin tells them in this scene occurs in this room whoever the investiga-
no uncertain terms that he is too busy to speak to the tors accused first. From the moment the investigators
investigators. Only an Extreme Difficulty level Commu- enter the room with Jin, they have 5 rounds before the
nication roll and a mention of his dead wife gain the Nakuko attacks the investigator it has been following,
investigators entry, or entering by force. Cowed by any attacking as above. An accusation against Jin of his
violence towards him, there is only a 20% chance Jin wife’s murder makes him visibly upset, but he de-
will turn around and threaten to call the police. nies it. A successful Regular Difficulty Psychology roll
proves he is lying. Use of Communication skills don’t
ASAKI SENIOR work here, in fact, the only way to make Jin confess is
physical violence and a loss of Hit Points, then Jin will
If investigators go after Fujio, they find him in the confess out loud that he murdered his wife, and the
same room as before, watching television while his Nakuko will finally appear in person(s). Fujio will do
wife slumbers on the futon. Challenging him about nothing to hinder the investigators attacking his son; in
his War Crimes provokes a barrage of insults. As the fact he will egg them on! In gaming terms for the at-
investigators challenged the wrong man, no threats or tempt at a confession, the keeper should give a round
skill rolls will get the elder Asaki to confess to his War for everyone’s skill roll attempt, and a round for every
Crimes, and two things happen in quick succession. attempt at violence. Also, the keeper should knock off
Ryoko awakes from her slumber and issues a low keen- a round if the players spend too long discussing what
ing moan, and then, the television turns to static. The to do next. Remember, after 5 rounds the Nakuko will
light illuminating the room flickers and it doesn’t take attack one of the investigators and only a confession
a POW roll to sense the dark atmosphere enveloping from Jin will stop their death (although the Nakuko’s
the room. Now whichever investigator has been the fo- appearance will bring about more problems). Once
cus of the Nakuko suddenly finds their throat blocked, the choking attack commences, consult the rules for
and in no time at all, they start to cough and convulse ASPHYXIATION AND DROWNING (KR p.124)
24
Call of Cthulhu
THE NAKUKO No other attacks hurt the haunt. In fact, it can’t even
be touched by anyone except the person it is choking.
The moment Jin confesses to killing his wife, all the Should the investigators wish to fight their way out of
lights in the house go out. In fact, anything electrical this climax, all three (possibly four) forms of the Naku-
such as flashlights, cell phones etc stop functioning. ko must be destroyed.
Accompanying the darkness, the sound of splashing

water fills the room, a mirror on the wall shatters, Fujio will do nothing but back off in terror at the sight
and the Nakuko materializes within the room, its skin of the Nakuko, and Jin’s mother falls unconscious, the
glowing an unearthly blue. only woman in his life the Nakuko didn’t choose to
attack dying later in her sleep. At this point, Jin is the
NOTE: the Nakuko is accompanied by two duplicates only victim the Nakuko desires - the death of anyone
(See Nakuko Attacks and Special Effects), but if an in- else is not necessary for its revenge.
vestigator has just died, this number will be increased

to three. CONCLUSION
The Nakuko attacks Jin with the intention of throttling Physically defeating the Nakuko causes it to vanish, but
him to death. Jin won’t fight back, and if the Nakuko the angry spirit is not dead. Unless Jin dies or con-
is allowed to take its revenge it disappears moments fesses his crime to authorities, the Nakuko will return
after Jin dies. If the investigators attack the Nakuko or 1D6+2 days later and it will pick up its haunting tor-
attempt to hinder it in any way it attacks the inves- ments right where it left off.
tigator in question and throttles them unconscious to

reach Jin. Pitting ones STR against Nakuko’s can be
used for an escape attempt.
If the investigators have worked out that mirrors can

thwart the Nakuko, they will come in very handy here.
If not, keepers may give the investigators a Hard level
difficulty INT roll to think of it. Mirrors are an anathe-
ma to the Nakuko, so much so that shards from one can
be used to slice the vengeful specter with 25% chance
to hit, doing 1D4 damage. If an investigator stabs
“with all their might” they can add their STR bonus,
if any, but then the delicate glass weapon breaks and
does 1 Hit Point of damage to the wielder.
Another way to use mirrors against the Nakuko is to

make it see its own reflection. Each investigator has
a 25 + their DEX score % chance to do this in combat,
with each success causing the Nakuko to shriek in pain
and take 1D8 damage.
The Vengeful Spirit Arrives
25
Nakuko
APPENDIX: THE PLAYERS IN THIS TRAGEDY

NPCs and Adversaries
CHARACTERS JIN ASAKI has streaks of white in his black hair and
large bags under his eyes. A heavy smoker, the areas
YUJI MIHO is a tall, gangly looking but not unhandsome around his lips are wrinkled. He is small and meek
man. He has long black center-parted hair, a scruffy looking. A former chemist he is now a full time carer
beard and bright blue eyes. When at home he wears for his parents, and almost exclusively wears worn
a faded blue hoody and black baggy sweatpants with clothes and an apron. Jin has lived a life domineered
no shoes, his clothing smeared in paint. A graduate by his father, and when he married, his wife added to
of Makinohara University, he has a Master’s Degree in that domination. He is the source of the trouble with
Art Theory, and is accomplished at his chosen career. the Nakuko, for two years ago he drowned his wife in
Before she died, he was actually starting to fall in love the river near their home, tripping her up and holding
with Eiko, but hides his devastation well. her head under until she drowned. Her hatred as she
expired invoked the Nakuko’s attention.
YUJI MIHO – Age 27, Bohemian Artist

JIN ASAKI, Age 55, Son with a Secret
STR 30 CON 50 SIZ 80 INT 85 POW 55
DEX 75 APP 75 EDU 80 HP 13 BUILD 0 STR 65 CON 50 SIZ 55 INT 65 POW 40
SAN 55 DEX 40 APP 50 EDU 87 HP 11 BUILD 0
SAN 35
MOV 7
MOV 8
Damage Bonus: none
Damage Bonus: none
Weapons: Brawl 25%, damage: varies
Skills: Art & Crafts: Art History 70%; Art & Crafts:
Photography 55%; Charm 60%; Computer Use 55%; Art Skills: First Aid 80%; Hide 70%; Listen 80%; Medicine
& Crafts: Fine Art 80%; Library Use 50%; Persuade 60%; 70%; Science: Chemistry 60%; Science: Pharmacy 60%;
Speak Japanese 80% Sneak 70%; Speak Japanese 87%
26
Call of Cthulhu
NAKUKO – The Weeping Child TION AND DROWNING rules (KR p.124), until dead. The
only possible way to rescue a victim from this attack is
An entity of old wives tales and Japanese folklore, the to force the Nakuko to materialize.
Nakuko does not reside on our plane of existence

but rather breaches this world when a woman dies a MATERIALIZE/DUPLICATE SELF: Upon the
horrible death by murder. The Nakuko then appears in subject of the grudge’s confession, the Nakuko appears
a vision before the dying victim and offers revenge in on our physical plane and sets out to kill them. Its
exchange for their immortal soul. This bargain gives appearance is always accompanied by a shorting out
the Nakuko a foothold in our realm and from that point of nearby electrical devices and the sound of rushing
on, it takes lives almost indiscriminately, stalking those water. When its has already killed victims connected
close to its prey. It only stops killing when its target to its grudge, the Nakuko will have duplicated itself,
openly confesses to his/her crime, and then materi- once per victim, all copies of the Nakuko focusing on
alizes to kill the target. It suffers a strong aversion to the subject of the grudge, although each can act inde-
its own reflection, and if shown itself in a mirror it pendently.
freezes in place, remaining frozen while the mirror is

still pointed, unless it makes a POW x 1 roll, allowed NAKUKO – The Weeping Child,
once per round. The Nakuko resembles a child dressed Greater Servitor
in rags but with bright blue glowing skin. It has a mis-
shapen, bald, elongated head with large opaque eyes STR 80 DEX 90 INT 150 CON 300
with lines of black tears staining its face and chest. Its
long arms end in hands filled with dozens of twisted, POW 200 SIZ 30 HP 33 BUILD 0
squirming fingers. It is completely silent in its move-
ments and actions. MOVE 10
HAUNT VICTIM: This attack is performed on a Damage Bonus: None

psychic level. Once the Nakuko has chosen its victim
(usually from their proximity to either the person Weapons: Brawl: Grapple 75%, damage SPECIAL;
cursed or proximity to the place another victim was followed by Strangulation
killed), it haunts the victim with nightmares and sin-

ister feelings of being watched etc. Those around the Armor: none, but only vulnerable to mirrors.
victim will suffer the same, this lasting until the victim
is killed. Spells: none
‘Yūrei’ HAIR: When the Nakuko tires of toying Sanity Loss: 1/1D10 Sanity Points to see the Naku-
with and frightening its victim, it kills them in this ko.
way. It forms thick wads of black, phantom hair in the

victims’ throat, choking them as per the ASPHYXIA-
27
Nakuko
APPENDIX: THOSE WHO CHALLENGE ONI

Sample Characters to Challenge the Darkness
PLAYER CHARACTERS
KIM MINAMI
Tall, slim with long black hair, Kim Minami is an attrac-
tive woman with a pale, doll like completion. Usually
dressed in a suit, she takes great pride in her appear-
ance, and won’t avoid checking herself out in the
nearest mirror. A reporter for the Makinohara Globe,
she can turn on the charm at a moment’s notice to get
what she wants. She is the kind of woman who turns
men’s heads, but has a keen intelligence attached to
her beautiful face and fine figure. Keen and analytical,
Kim isn’t easily frightened, likes to find a logical solu-
tion to everything, but isn’t afraid to bend the rules if
required.
KIM MINAMI – Age 25, Plucky Reporter
DEX 70 APP 80 EDU 88 HP 13 BUILD 0

EQUIPMENT & NOTES
LUCK 65 CREDIT RATING 30 MOV 8
SAN 45
Damage Bonus: none
Skills: Art & Craft: Photography 70%; Charm 80%;

Computer Use 60%; Fast Talk 65%; Persuade 75%; Psy-
chology 65%; Speak Japanese 88%; Spot Hidden 75%
Quote: “I guarantee this is off the record.”
28
Call of Cthulhu
MIZUE ARIYOSHI
A happy go lucky student studying Anthropology at
Makinohara University, Mizue is small, cute, and likes
to talk, A LOT. She has short black hair in bunches,
and likes to wear dungaree shorts, pastel hoodies,
and hi-top trainers. What many would term a ‘nosey
parker,’ she always has an opinion concerning some-
one else’s situation. Still, despite her shortcomings,
Mizue is a bright and inquisitive girl. She has a strong
crush on her dead friend’s older brother Koji, and has
harbored it for years.
MIZUE ARIYOSHI – Age 19 and Cute
SAN 75
Damage Bonus: none
Skills: Anthropology 70%; Charm 60%; Computer Use

65%; Fast Talk 65%; Library Use 85%; Sneak 70%; Speak
Japanese 75%
Quote: “I’ll keep it to myself – pinky swears!”
EQUIPMENT & NOTES
29
Nakuko
SHINTA ARAI SAN 50

Kim’s assistant and cameraman, Shinta is tall, with
shaved hair and would look handsome except he is a Damage Bonus: +1D4
little too thin and hardly even appears clean-shaven.
He wears old jeans and trainers and a checkered shirt Weapons: Brawl 25%, damage: varies
beneath a well-worn leather aviator jacket. Unknown
to Kim, Shinta is head over heels in love with her. He Skills: Art & Crafts: Operate Video Camera 75%;
is a quiet, unimaginative man who analyzes a situa- Electronics 50% Electrical Repair 60%; Listen 75%; Lock-
tion slowly before coming to any decision. Shinta is smith 50%; Mechanical Repair 70%; Sleight of Hand 60%;
just waiting for a chance to prove himself to Kim, and Speak Japanese 88%; Spot Hidden 65%
would even put his life at risk to aid her. He drives a
‘Makinohara Globe’ van. Quote: “Let’s all just calm down and try think this
through properly.”
SHINTA ARAI – Age 30,
Lovelorn Cameraman
DEX 50 APP 65 EDU 88 HP 12 BUILD +1
EQUIPMENT & NOTES
30
Call of Cthulhu
KEN ARIYOSHI
Mizue’s brother, Ken is a short, unattractive, often
scowling man. He has a bad complexion, short, greasy
hear and dresses casually, usually in Chino’s and a
Polo Shirt. A computer expert, he works as a freelance
web designer and shares an apartment with his sister.
Although he finds Mizue annoying, he is extremely pro-
tective of her, especially when it comes to men. This
is because their parents died in a car crash a few years
previously, and he has taken responsibility for his baby
sister.
KEN ARIYOSHI, Age 23,

Possessive Brother
SAN 45
Damage Bonus: none
Weapons: Brawl: Martial Arts 65%, damage: 1D3
Skills: Computer Use 60%; Electronics 60%; Psychol-

ogy 65%; Science: Physics 40%; Sleight of Hand 40%;
Sneak 70%; Speak Japanese 86%
Quote: “Stop staring at my sister’s butt!”
EQUIPMENT & NOTES
31
Nakuko
KOJI TANAKA LUCK 75 CREDIT RATING 30 MOV 7

The brother of Eiko, he is tall with long, dyed lilac hair
and a winning smile. He dresses in baggy cargo pants, SAN 55
a trendy t-shirt, trainers and an oversized white Parka.
He is the absolute antithesis of Ken, and Ken dislikes Damage Bonus: + 1D4
him due to the huge crush his sister has on him. His
grief over the loss of Eiko only makes him more love- Weapons: Brawl: Martial Arts 75%, damage: 1D3 +
able to Mizue. He will search for what’s behind Eiko’s 1D4
death no matter what it takes. Not really getting along
with his parents, he lives near the university campus Tanto (dagger) 50%, damage 1D4 + db
where he studies his Master’s in Philosophy.
Skills: Computer Use 60%; Jump 55%; Intimidate 60%;

KOJI TANAKA, age 26, Library Use 55%; Persuade 45%; Philosophize 80%; Psy-
Grieving Family Member and Mizue’s chology 35%; Speak Japanese 80%
Love Interest
Quote: “Three things cannot be long hidden: the
STR 60 CON 70 SIZ 80 INT 65 POW 55 sun, the moon, and the truth.”
DEX 65 APP 85 EDU 80 HP 15 BUILD +1
EQUIPMENT & NOTES
終わり
32
Call of Cthulhu
ENJOY OUR VERY OWN TAKE ON CALL OF CTHULHU

VIA OUR PAGE ON DRIVETHRURPG.COM
33
Nakuko
NAKUKO
It’s a sit down between a girl, her par-
ents and two teenaged friends. Eating
in the Japanese style, they sit on bend-
ed knees around a low dinner table. The
daughter Eiko shuffles uncomfortably,
her bare legs itchy against the Tatami
mats. Moments later, Eiko will be dead,
killed by a malevalent entity intent on
revenge.
Can the Investigators face this threat

head on and prevent more deaths in
1990s Japan?
FOX
COUNTRY
JAPAN IN THE 1990s

Call of Cthulhu 7e - Nakuko - The Weeping Child

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RS

JAPAN IN THE 1990s

GLYNN OWEN BARRASS

Layout, Art Curation, & Cartography

STEPHANIE MCALEA, SIMON

GLYNN OWEN BARRASS

Stygian Fox are

impossibility and she coughs loudly. Her father

Emotions – It is a myth in the West to assume

MISBEHAVIOUR – there are many attitudes

One surprising aspect of this is that foreigners

This is a filtered down guide to Japanese cultural

SCENE ONE: THE SPOOK CLUB

friend Keiko, and didn’t see boys. Also she worked

This is all she has to say on the mat-

If asked what he can tell them about his daugh-

hara University. Once they’re seated, a waiter comes

NOTE: The player acting out Mizue’s role should para-

SCENE TWO: THE GRIEVING PARENTS

them in. Past the front door stands a small, sparse

tured, worried man wearing a black suit sits at the

The First Class Dining Saloon

If taken, the cellphone holds a few things of interest

THE TANAKA HOME

Designed in a modern-day style but along traditional Japa-

SCENE THREE: DARK VISIONS

return later there is still no answer. Interviewing her

embellish this in whatever way they want to fright-

POW, a success means they get a sudden shiver, a them.

recognition that something is wrong here on a psychic

THE HAUNTED face so horrible that investigators must make a SAN

The keeper should inform the players that from now

appears (0/1D4 SAN). Or the mirror may spontaneously

A scream follows, so horrifying the investigators must conversation whenever possible.

perform a SAN roll for 0/1D2 Sanity loss. Trying to

drew the sketch in Eiko’s room. If they didn’t get his

inviting them to his home. Yuji lives and works on a

If the investigators phoned ahead there won’t be any towards Eiko.

problem speaking to Yuji. If this visit is unannounced

Alien Landscape by Yuji Miho

Eiko by Yuji Miho

If contacted by phone, the son Jin Asaki answers and if

Beyond the front door stands an entrance hall with a

A conversation with Jin won’t prove very fruitful. Yes

The room’s east wall window is shuttered but provides

Have an investigator make a Listen roll. Success hears

Just as Jin is calming down his mother, a noise issues

SCENE FOUR: THE SPOOK CLUB RETURNS

papers. He is a tall, thin man, with medium length

thing it was. She came to him due to some strange

NOTE: This is a newspaper article containing a news

THE MAKINOHARA NEWS ARCHIVES

A Library Use roll and few hours’ newspaper search at

HANDOUT 5: A Tragic Loss

NOTE: This is a web page article

THE MAKINOHARA GLOBE;

A tragic accident occurred yesterday morning when a

HANDOUT 4: WAR CRIMES

SCENE FIVE: CONFRONTATIONS

so simple… their companion.

WHICH ASAKI IS THE BAD ASAKI? ASAKI JUNIOR

such as flashlights, cell phones etc stop functioning. ko must be destroyed.

Accompanying the darkness, the sound of splashing

vestigator has just died, this number will be increased