UTL S2E13: Two Boones and a Doodle Bug

On this episode of Under the Library:

Cully thought of Richard like a father and sobs, inconsolable, as he processes his death. Jo tries to comfort him with optimism and also a passage from her book, which brings him some calm and peace. They head back into the house, avoiding the worst of the carnage.

Rutherford, searching the body, finds something sewn into the breast of Richard's jacket. It seems to be a small camera, probably with just one exposure, and Rutherford suspects the picture might hold a clue.

Franny is still examining the filaments, and it's clear the sample in the jar is degrading faster than the filaments still connected to the body. Franny takes another sample, this one attached to a chunk of flesh.

During the recent drama at the house, Boone has been in the Straits, disposing of the chicken-mobile. He then hitchhikes to Santa Fe with medical equipment salesman Fred Durskin, and takes a train from Santa Fe, headed towards Albuquerque. In the middle of the route he jumps off the train and sets off through the country to his family home.

He asks his brother Duke to help him fix up the old family car, so he can give it to Bello in return for the one he torched. Duke isn't mobile, so Boone helps him sneak out of his window and uses a wagon to move him to the barn. Duke is a talented mechanic and in just a few hours has the car running again.

Boone is triggered by his history and being back home, and he promises Duke he'll return in a few weeks for the Pie Festival. The engine starts loudly and wakes their mother, and Boone hops in and speeds away, leaving Duke to push himself back to the house in the wagon. Boone's guilt feels overwhelming.

Finally, back at the house, Rutherford finds Cully and asks him to locate the darkroom. Cully says he'll only help if they will find the people who killed Richard. Jo supports him, and Rutherford agrees to this goal, but it's unclear whether everyone is really on the same page.

Franny joines them, hearing a mention of clues, and says "I have a clue right here" as she holds the filament jar aloft.

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Under the Library, an actual-play Call of Cthulhu podcast, where cosmic horror is steeped in mystery and slathered with self-deprecating humor. Our main storyline, a sandbox created by our Keeper (Michael), is set in (a fictions) 1942 Los Alamos NM and follows the misadventures of Boone (Chris), Jo (Emily), Culligan (Scott), Bello (Rick), Rutherford (Wayne), and Franny (Artur). We focus on narrative, improv, and character building. We may stick our heads in front of a train because that’s what our character would do, and when we look under the bed even the Keeper may not know what we’ll find. We’re crafting a story, creating flawed characters, suspenseful events, and fulfilling revelations. Call of Cthulhu is a horror TTRPG; characters die horribly graphic deaths. It’s for mature audiences, but played by immature people.

Background art on YouTube courtesy of the brilliant artist Andrii Shafetov.

https://www.artstation.com/andriishafetov & AzDimension Virtual Technology from their game The Last Dead End available on Steam.