Luces, cámara, horror | LA LLAMADA DE CTHULHU en JAPÓN

Summary

The video features a short, pulp-style Call of Cthulhu one-shot played while the group is in Japan. The adventure is set in Los Angeles in 1978, on the chaotic set of The Revenge of the Samurai Tiger, a supposedly ambitious Hollywood production.

Storyline

Private detective Christopher Caperton is hired to investigate the disappearance of actor Howard, the husband of rising actress Heather Hendrix. Several crew members have vanished as well.

Christopher, Heather, and wealthy adventurer Ronald R. Robinson investigate the studio. They learn that Howard was last seen leaving the makeup room in costume. A makeup artist also reports strange noises above the set and a mysterious, gelatinous residue.

The production’s Japanese adviser and Ronald’s collection point toward an authentic samurai suit of armor. Ronald had bought it cheaply in Japan, unaware of a warning connected to the name Kurobane, or “black wings.”

During a ritual scene, the armor glows, a monstrous winged creature appears, and the set becomes a scene of carnage. The group realizes that the disappearances are tied to the armor and its supernatural power.

Christopher reads the ritual text, opening a rift that pulls him away. Ronald is attacked by the creatures, while Heather crashes the car and escapes the studio.

Months later, Heather appears on television promoting The Revenge of the Samurai Tiger 2. A gift from the production company—a black helmet—suggests the curse may not be over.

Gameplay Highlights and Tips

• Percentile skill checks: Success generally means rolling at or below a character’s skill value.
• Luck: Players can spend Luck to make up the difference on a failed roll.
• Pushing a roll: Players can attempt a failed roll again, but face worse consequences if the second attempt also fails.
• Sanity checks: Confronting the unnatural can affect characters, including causing temporary madness.
• Dangerous combat: The winged monsters can inflict severe damage, quickly turning the players’ choices into matters of survival.

The group describes the session as more pulp adventure than slow-burn investigative horror. One practical lesson from the story: treat apparently authentic occult objects and rituals with caution.

Gamers and Sources

• Clotet — Keeper/Game Master
• Isma — Christopher Caperton
• Panda — Ronald R. Robinson
• Maria — Heather Hendrix

Sources and sponsors acknowledged: Studio H, Asmodee, and Gamegenic. The video is from Infrecuentes.