HUDSON & BRAND: THE THIRTEEN

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 Written by
Tyler Omichinski

Art by
Jon Gibbons

Book Design by
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Lady High Muckety-muck of Stygian Fox

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THE THIRTEEN
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THE SOCIETY OF THIRTEEN

Congolese civ
on the Severa
been placed in
The original members of the order gained their immortality Upon coming

THE SOCIETY OF from a creature that fell to the earth, seemingly mortally
wounded. In more recent centuries, theologians born or co-
care of the bo

THIRTEEN opted into the tiny cult dedicated to the Society of Thirteen
have described it as an angel, complete with wings growing
One of the challenges for a Keeper is to populate the world from its back, that had fallen from heaven, but to the thirteen
with compelling characters that fit the narrative he is men and women that found the creature, it was a god, a thing
creating for his players and their investigators to explore. beyond their understanding. Yet in keeping with their cultural
This is hampered in campaigns set in the modern age where practices, this did not stop them from drinking the creature’s
communication is becoming all-pervasive and easier than blood, believing that it would give them some form of
ever, which means that the Mythos and any specific encounter godhood—or at least some of the creature’s power. In taking a
with it is increasingly difficult to remain undiscovered. It portion of the creature into themselves they gained a form of
also makes it difficult to justify why there are no NPCs who immortality. They learned that neither age nor disease would
are not aware of the Mythos. In the milieu of Hudson and take its toll upon them, but for all their agelessness, they were
Brand—and thus the late Victorian age—there is one body not invulnerable—violence and mishaps could still end their
that is aware of the Mythos, and has been for millennia. This lives.
is the Society of Thirteen. This secretive order of immortals
has been around since the late Stone Age, manipulating the In the millennia since that first encounter, the original
direction of the societies and civilisations that have risen and thirteen and the Society they created have held the ‘Angel’
fallen over the last twelve thousand years. captive. They continue to make regular pilgrimages to its
prison, originally in the Lake District near where it fell, more
recently under an estate a few hours travel outside London,

4
 Society of Thirteen Timeline
Date Events Number Location of Angel
Still Alive
~10,000 BCE The Fall – A group of late Stone Age tribal peoples finds 13 Near modern
the Angel weakened. Following cultural beliefs of blood Lake District
being a ‘sacred fluid’ or ‘life force’, and believing the
creature to be a god or other spirit, members of the
tribe drink the blood of the creature, resulting in the
original thirteen gaining immortality.
~9,970 BCE The First Lifetime – Within the first ‘lifetime’ of the 11 Near modern
thirteen, two are killed in intertribal conflicts. The Lake District
remaining members of the thirteen jealously guard
the Angel and instruct the rest of their tribe to build
a temple-prison for it. They trap it and as they outlive
generation after generation, they take on divine status.

THE THIRTEEN
~9,500 BCE The Cult of Gods – The thirteen, now eleven, but still 11 Near modern
calling themselves the Thirteen, establish themselves Lake District
at the centre of a quasi-religious cult. They co-opt the
animist beliefs and the oral traditions of the tribespeople
around them, establishing themselves in positions of
power. Much of their divine status comes from their
perceived wisdom and ability to make effective legal
judgments, this due to their increased knowledge,
experience in reading others, the occasional use of
sleight of hand, and of course, their agelessness.
~9,300 BCE Dubhthach, The Betrayer – One of the Thirteen’s 11 Near modern
researches in ‘magic’ brings him into contact with the Lake District
Mythos and his continued fascination leads him to
believe that the Thirteen should create positions of
absolute power and rule over mankind rather than guide
them as near gods. This places him at odds with the
Thirteen and he splits from them, leading a larger tribe
while continuing to experiment and push his study of
magic, the Mythos, hyper-geometry, and other esoterica,
further. The split is not totally hostile and throughout this
period, the Thirteen still come together from time to time
to drink from the Angel, though the others are unclear
whether the Betrayer needs to do this or is choosing to
do so to attempt to rebuild rapport.
~9,100 BCE The Second Sundering – Another of the remaining 11 Near modern
Thirteen splits from the group. Casheirda, known as Lake District
the Seer, wants to pursue knowledge of the Mythos, not
for personal gain, but to counter the Betrayer and his
knowledge. Much like the Betrayer, she takes control
of another tribe which will provide her with protection
while she conducts her research. Although there is
raiding and skirmishing between the three immortal-
led tribes, it does not break into outright conflict.
The Betrayer is denied access to the Angel and soon
discovers that he longer needs to drink its blood. Instead
of informing the others, he asserts that he has found
another source of immortality. Though a lie, it terrified
the other immortals are terrified and further set them
against him. In the interests of keeping the relationships
between the factions of the Thirteen cordial and to
prevent her from siding with the Betrayer, Casheirda is
still permitted access to the Angel.

5
 in order drink more of its blood and thus maintain
S U M M A RY O F T H E S O C I E T Y O F T H I R T E E N their immortality. What they do not know is that
this is actually unnecessary since they only needed
to drink of its blood once, but this need explains
why the members of the Society of Thirteen are so
reticent to leave the British Isles, especially for any
extended period of time. They do know from the
activities of one their number who betrayed them
that perhaps missing a month does not threaten
their continued immortality, but their conservative
outlook and fear of losing it means that they have
not tried going without feeding upon the Angel
longer than two months.

Although the thirteen had an advantage over their

fellow men, their early days, living in a world still
trying to find a way to survive each passing winter,
were difficult. Their beginnings were primitive, but
as societies grew and developed around them, the
thirteen were able to learn and spend more and
more time engaging in research and developing
skills. Over generations, the group found ways to
move amongst the dominant powers of each era,
ensuring their safety and existing not unlike a
symbiotic creature—benefiting the ruling classes
with their experience and wisdom, while also
gaining access to resources and new knowledge for
themselves. During the Roman era, the thirteen
took on the trappings of a mystery cult, which
more or less maintained itself until the eighteenth
century when it evolved into a secret society,
the Society of Thirteen. This was in reference
and homage to their fallen comrades and their
founding numbers, but it also hides their true
numbers and plays on the English sentiment of Casheirda looking for dead sailors
thirteen being an unlucky number. in Northumbria
By the Victorian Era, it has established ties with
the great social and gentleman’s clubs of the day,
and through them social and political ties across the British coping with a difficult and subsistenceexistence, in more
Empire. The Society continues to exist and operate in secret, recent centuries they have had to cope with learning and
its existence rumoured rather than known, the Society often then relearning new informationand knowledge as it is first
ruthless in its efforts to excise all knowledge of both its acquired and then inevitably later disproven. As a result, each
existence and its influence down the centuries. When it is of the Thirteen haslearned and unlearned multiple codes of
spoken of, it is in hushed whispers lest someone connected to knowledge and conduct over multiple lifetimes, but there
the Society learn of interest in it. are inevitablybiases and attitudes that have survived for
thousands of years. Some are borne of resilient memories and
Beginning on page 123 is a rough timeline of the Society impressionsthat date back to each of their earliest years, but
of Thirteen and the influence it has had on the history of others are inevitably going to be present in each of theThirteen,
mankind over the last twelve thousand years. The chronology learned and shared with each other as a means of coping and
also details those members of the Society of Thirteen who adjusting with the changes through theages. This is in addition
are still alive in the Victorian Era. (Although the thirteen to individual peculiarities, for some of the Thirteen of have
have been known by many names throughout their existence, not adapted as well as othersto the current, modern age. Those
throughout this section it will be referred to as the Society of who have found they cannot cope with the hurly, burly of the
Thirteen or, more simply, the Society.) Victorian Age tend to stay within the walls of the Society of
Thirteen’s estate.

Summary of the While the Thirteen are basically human, and thus capable of
serving in a Keeper’s campaign in the role of enemies, allies,
Society of Thirteen or merely other forces at play in the universe, they are people
out of time. Thematically, what this means that the Society of
The Society of Thirteen presents a tricky roleplaying challenge. Thirteen can be used to reinforce the pace of technological
The members are at once thousands of years old,replete with in the modern era of the late Victorian Age. Within the last
knowledge and education beyond what any normal human fifty years before Hudson and Brand, there have been major
could ever hope to achieve, but also stilllimited by the very breakthroughs in innumerable scientific and engineering
fact that they are human. While they have spent millennia disciplines and in effect, the Thirteen have seen more change

6
 Society of Thirteen Timeline
continued
Date Events Number Location of Angel
Still Alive
~ 8,700 BCE Mythology – After centuries of development, the 11 Moved south into
mythology surrounding the Thirteen begins to resemble northern Wales where
the earliest versions of Celtic mythology. The myths of a new temple-prison
various faery creatures and other mystical elements is built to better
grew out of the conflicts between the tribes and their protect the Angel from
demonising of each other. attack.
~ 8,500 BCE Warfare – The raiding and skirmishing escalates into 10 Modern Wales
tribal warfare as the Betrayer’s people make greater use
of magic and Mythos knowledge to defeat their enemies.
To the mortals, this is functionally a war of the gods. The
earliest myths of troglodytes and other evil beings date

THE THIRTEEN
from this era. The Seer stays out of the conflict, but the
Betrayer, driven insane by his knowledge, presses his
advantage and kills another of the original immortals.
The first death of one of the Thirteen in a thousand years
is such an emotional shock that it brings an immediate
stop to the conflict.
~ 8,000 BCE Peace – In the wake of the death of an immortal at their 10 Modern Yorkshire
own hands, the surviving Thirteen agree to a peace
treaty. The Angel is moved to modern Yorkshire to be
more central, while the Betrayer takes up residence
in Doggerland and the Seer moves north into modern
Scotland. The Betrayer is again allowed access to the
Angel, but his visits are infrequent.
~ 7,700 BCE Breaking Ties – The Betrayer ceases attending the 10 Modern Yorkshire
monthly ritual drinking of the Angel’s blood and cuts off
all communication with the Thirteen.
~ 6,500 BCE The Seer Returns – In danger of losing her grasp on 10 Modern Yorkshire
reality, Casheirda, the Seer, seeks refuge with the
Thirteen. With her return, the Thirteen gain Casheirda’s
knowledge of the Mythos and decide to use it against
the Betrayer. They fear that his claim to possess a
second Angel is true and that he will allow others to
drink of it and so create an army of immortals who can
stand against the Thirteen. At the Thirteen’s urging,
Casheirda invokes a devastating ritual that sunders, then
submerges Doggerland. In the ensuing tumult, both the
Betrayer and the people of his tribe are scattered to the
shores around the newly flooded North Sea.
~ 6,300 BCE Migration – With the sundering of Doggerland, the 9 Modern Yorkshire
Betrayer attempts to migrate himself and his tribe back
into Britain, but he is unable to marshal his scattered
forces before he is confronted by the Thirteen and
finally killed.
~ 4,500 BCE Development – Both agriculture and organised religion 9 Modern Wales
spreads across the British Isles. The Thirteen forms
strong ties with Druidism and takes control of its
doctrine to ensure both their deific or spiritual status
and their security. Their existence becomes a secret
known only to Druidism’s inner circles.

7
 that is both radical and worldwide in the last few decades
THE SOCIETY OF THIRTEEN AND SANITY than they have in the centuries, even millennia, before the late
Victorian Age.
Patience
Their other defining feature is an inhuman patience. Each of
The key to portraying the Society of Thirteen is thus to make the immortals has survived for countless lifetimes, returning
its inner circle both human and inhuman. This does not to drink from the Angel again and again, and this is where
mean that they should necessarily be portrayed as a threat. the tension of their inhumanity versus their humanity arises.
The sole motivation for the Society of Thirteen is keep both While they are clearly of the human template, it is unclear
its existence, that of its members, and their immortality, whether they should still be referred to as being human. They
a secret. It will only act against those that take an active are immortal and do not age. Their abilities reflect thousands
interest in the Society and it is only when this occurs and of years of training and they have not experienced any neural
said interested parties cannot be dissuaded from continuing degradation despite their long lives. Their willingness to
their enquiries, that the Society of Thirteen becomes a threat. examine plans that could take hundreds, if not thousands, of
At all other times, the Society of Thirteen should be treated years to reach their culmination makes them utterly unlike
as being anything other than a threat, at worst occupying other investigators. They are also able, if not always willing,
a space between the majority of mankind—including the to spend more time on a task than normal humans can
investigators—and the human cults devoted to aspects of the comprehend.
Mythos and the Mythos itself.
As a result, they are willing to retreat from any given battle,
to regroup and focus on the war rather than the battle.
They are also willing to pull back from any confrontation
FEAR to ensure their own survival, even at the cost of the lives of
countless others. From such a position they can organise
One of the driving forces that lies deep within each of the resistance and counter plans that slowly evolve and develop.
immortals is a constant sense of fear that waxes and wanes Nearly everything can be rebuilt and the Society of Thirteen
as the years pass. At best, it manifests as slight anxiety, at is painfully familiar with this reality. This patience and this
worst, it becomes sheer terror, triggering a flight or fight willingness to withdraw from any confrontation is key to how
response. There are two sources of their fear. The first is the the Society of Thirteen conducts operations in its ongoing war
rest of humanity. Despite being functionally immortal, the against manifestations of the Mythos. This struggle against
members of the Society of Thirteen fear exposure to the world the Mythos is one part driven by their own self-preservation
at large—if their true nature was ever to be discovered, they and one part from their belief that they are still members of
would likely be killed, or worse. At its most extreme, several humanity.
of the immortals have been diagnosed as suffering from
prosophobia, terrified of the changing world around them and As a result, they view this as a never-ending struggle in
finding it nearly impossible to leave their sanctuaries. the interests of humanity, ensuring that they will willingly
lose a battle if it means that they can stay in the war. What
Thus, they avoid taking actions or stances on contentious they have failed to realise, is that the very source of their
issues that would bring unnecessary attention on them and immortality, the ‘Angel’, is very much a part of the Mythos.
rather than engaging directly with modern society, they work If one could catch a glimpse of its true nature through the
through the organisations they have built around themselves corner of an eye, they would see a reptilian humanoid without
to act as both agents and protection. When it becomes wings, with wide maniacally gleeful eyes, and a smile much
necessary to interact with modern society, they adopt certain too wide for its face. The Betrayer saw this and ran away
roles—such as scientists, members of high society, and from the group and spent years cowering in fear. What the
advisors—and adapt these roles and their appearance as the real nature of this creature is, or why it is using magicks to
years pass. disguise itself, or even why it hasn’t broken free, is unknown.

The second source of their fear is the Mythos. The immortals In order to continue to operate across generations, while
have some inkling, perhaps more than most, of the true avoiding discovery by the rest of humanity, they have
nature of both magic and the Mythos, forcing them to structured their conspiracy to ensure that they are not
take the long view as they recognise threats that the rest of discovered. The organization is built around being able to
humanity remains blissfully unaware of. Their fear of the pursue this larger goal, ensuring that some form of resistance
Mythos comes from seeing the destructive capacity and the continues to exist against the darkness and the Mythos.
inability of human minds to comprehend the realities of their
existence.

Nevertheless, as individuals, they have already faced down The Society of

Mythos monstrosities, fought in bloody battles, and seen
horrors beyond the sentiments of Victorian England. Such
Thirteen and Sanity
encounters have naturally contributed to their ongoing sense Over the millennia of their existence, the immortals of the
of fear, but it has also made them fairly resilient to terror in Society of Thirteen have encountered manifestations of the
the moment. Each of them will still be shocked and react Mythos again and again. Although in the long term, such
in an all too human manner if directly confronted by a confrontations have been infrequent, the Society of Thirteen
manifestation of the Mythos, but they are likely to better cope has come to realise that retaining its members’ humanity and
with such a confrontation than the most stalwart of men. sanity is vital to surviving such encounters. In response to this
danger, the Society has developed a series of best practices
to ensure the continued mental wellbeing of its members.

8
 Society of Thirteen Timeline
continued

Date Events Number Location of Angel

Still Alive
~ 55 BCE– Roman Occupation – The Thirteen are driven 9 Modern Wessex
410 CE ideologically away from researching the Mythos by
the Seer’s increasingly fragile grasp on reality and
geographically north by the arrival of the Romans.
Although initially wary of the invaders, the secrecy
surrounding their existence enables them to avoid
the Roman eradication of Druidism and to form trade
links across the empire. As they form ties with the
occupying forces, they study Greek and Roman science
and transform the old Druidism into a mystery cult that

THE THIRTEEN
accepts both men and women.
~ 400–452 The Saxon Invasions & Withdrawal of Rome – As well as 9 Modern London
CE a front for the Thirteen, the mystery cult has become an
ad hoc bank or favour-based service for its members
among the nobility and mercantile classes. With the
withdrawal of Rome such services are no longer required
and the remaining immortals fade into the background,
relinquishing any overt positions of power.
~ 871–899 The Heptarchy & Ælfrēd the Great – The Viking invasion 9 Briefly in Exeter
CE presents the Thirteen with one of the greatest threats to before being returned
their existence, as the Vikings are unwilling to integrate to London
others into their culture. Thus the Thirteen sides with,
and assists, Ælfrēd the Great, earning the king the
nickname, ‘elf counsel’, because of the superstitions that
continued to surround them and their cult. Nevertheless,
the Viking intransigence increases the Thirteen’s fear
of change and the threats that such change represents.
Once the Vikings are defeated, the Thirteen retreat to
London with the Angel, where they build a new refuge
and entrench themselves in guilds, commerce, and the
city itself.
~ 1,066 CE Norman Invasion – The Thirteen avoided major conflicts 9 London
and positioned themselves as agents, messengers,
diplomats, and advisors to both sides.
1485–1558 Tudor Period – As the Renaissance progresses, the 9 London
Thirteen consolidate their positions of influence and
those of their agents as artists, courtiers, lawyers, and
merchants. Their power and status grows with that of the
country.
1558–1642 Elizabethan & Stuart Eras – The Thirteen strengthen 9 Moved to a noble’s
their influence deep within the increasingly important country house on the
parliament. With the publication of the Rosicrucian outskirts of London.
manifestos, the Thirteen decide to resurrect the mystery The noble is one of
cult founded in Roman times and thus lay the foundations the Thirteen handing
for a secret society that continues into the Victorian era. the house to himself
It is never more than a society of gentlemen and very posing as his heir
few ever learn of anything supernatural or bizarre about again and again.
its leaders.

9
 PLAYING THE SOCIET Y AS AN ORG ANIZATION

The Whiteacre Estate or ‘Nuccásargos’, or ‘Safe/Protected Nook/Corner/Place’, is the

Thirteen’s London Mansion. Its true name was also the name of their first temple in
Cumbria. The word itself is Brythonnic (the P-Celtic ancestor to Welsh, Breton, and
Cornish) in the Cumbrian dialect. Cumbrian is now thought to be extinct by scholars but
is still spoken by the Thirteen at rituals

These tend to fall within two types—the preventative and the Should a member of the Society find himself under duress
reactive. extreme enough to cause excessive Sanity loss—such as
coming face to face with a major Mythos entity or alien
The Society of Thirteen’s primary preventative means of species—the Keeper should feel free to have him revert to the
keeping the unwholesome effects of the Mythos at bay is to behaviour of a bygone era. Mental stress like this is likely to
direct others to investigate it. Such investigations are directed result in oddities like an individual forgetting how guns work
through the organisations that the immortals have set up (being a relatively new invention to them) or speaking in a
around themselves, limiting their exposure to the Mythos and language that is no longer used.
keeping separate operations quarantined from each other.
This is not to say that they remain unaware of the findings of
any one investigation, but merely that they benefit from the
fact that having the esoteric described to yourself will never Playing the
be as horrific as encountering it first-hand. Any information
or artefacts received as a result of these investigations is thus Society as an
first studied and examined by experts outside of the Society
of Thirteen’s inner circle. Such knowledge and such artefacts
Organisation
are invariably dangerous and typically quarantined away The Keeper is tasked with not just roleplaying each member
from other parties. Any tome or artefact that is deemed too of the Society of Thirteen as an individual, he also needs to
dangerous is carefully stored away or destroyed. roleplay the Society of Thirteen as an organisation. Although
each immortal will act and react according to individual
The Society of Thirteen’s primary reactive method of coping behaviours and tendencies, they are fully aware that they
with the Mythos is an ad hoc understanding of mental health. cannot survive without each other and so will willingly work
Though its members’ vocabulary does not reflect it, their together—and are used to working together—to deal with
understanding is above and beyond anything else available issues and threats.
in the nineteenth century. This includes the need for self-
care, their wealth and positions in society enabling them to One of the key limitations of the Society of Thirteen is its
undertake a variety of pursuits to alleviate strained minds, conservative, secretive nature. This limits its access to greater
including long hikes in the wilderness, reading, writing, society, to manpower, and its influence. The extreme reticence
listening to music, and so on. By the time frame of Hudson of its members to leave England, much less the rest of the
and Brand’s investigations, all but one of the Society of British Isles, for any lengthy period of time, further limits the
Thirteen has established himself in society with at least one Society’s influence.
identity. Each of these identities is flexible enough to allow
them to undertake lengthy periods of time to recover from It also affects how they react as a group. Despite thousands
emotional or mental shocks. upon thousands of years of change and progress, the

10
 Society of Thirteen Timeline
continued

Date Events Number Location of Angel

Still Alive
1622 The Burning – Suspicious townsfolk accuse one of the 8 Outskirts of London
Thirteen of witchcraft. Despite the efforts of the other
Thirteen and their connections, the combination of James
I’s recent concerns and the publication of Daemonologie
prevent their intercession and she is found guilty and
burned at the stake.
1642–1651 The English Civil War – The Thirteen decline to become 8 Outskirts of London
involved in the conflicts of the period, between King and
Parliament and between Protestantism and Catholicism.
Instead, they maintain agents within each faction and

THE THIRTEEN
work to strengthen the secret society around them and
so maintain their power and security.
1706–1707 Acts of Union – Following the Glorious Revolution, the 8 Outskirts of London
Thirteen successfully campaign for the union of England
and Scotland to ensure peace and safety at home,
while pushing the British government to extend its
influence around the world and thus ensure the country’s
prosperity and security abroad. It will take a century to
realise, but the Pax Britannica will be the result.
1794 The Beheading – In the wake of the French Revolution, 7 Outskirts of London
two of the Thirteen, Loegaire and Aodh, become
fascinated by the radical new form of government
proposed by the French. Unfortunately, Aodh is not as
socially adept as Loegaire and when both are swept up
in the Terror, Aodh is accused of being an English spy
and sent to the guillotine while Loegaire persuades his
captors to set him free. Shocked by Aodh’s death and the
threat of revolution in England, the Thirteen campaign
for the British government to declare war against France.
1803–1815 Napoleonic Wars – Although he is eventually defeated, 7 Outskirts of London
Napoleon’s success in Europe and the sheer widespread
destruction of his wars, increase the Thirteen’s desire for
security and protection against threats from abroad. They
influence’s Britain’s position at the Congress of Vienna
and fund mercantile ventures around the world to ensure
the success of the Pax Britannica.
183 – ‘now’ The Victorian Era – With the success of Pax Britannica, 7 Outskirts of London
the Thirteen begin to hold hopes of an international
peace for all humanity brought about by a single
unifying power, but cannot identify a viable means of
achieving it. Unable to act, their discussions on what
to do next are increasingly circular and faced by
drastic technological and social change, the Thirteen
are beginning to feel like Lewis Carroll’s Red Queen,
perpetually running just to stay in place.

11
 immortals are at heart, tribesmen. While they will defer to in the case of the investigators?), they will all damage their
R E S O U R C E S a n d T H E W H I T E AC R E E S TAT E each other’s expertise when called upon, when it comes to reputations at the very least. Such events will be accompanied
crisis, they will defer to—and take orders from—the soldiers by notes of sympathy via the front organisation, offering
within their number who are present in any given situation. help and an end to their troubles on the condition that their
Should the situation arise, they work together as a unit until enquiries cease.
such times as the issue or threat is resolved. Only when the
threat or situation abates and they have time, will they have While similar methods will be used with investigators who
arguments within the group. They will not allow outsiders to are Lower Class, the front is far more likely to task some
know of their internal conflicts. thugs who owe the front a favour or two, with scaring off the
investigators—or if necessary roughing them up. This will
Should they stumble into the Society of Thirteen’s sphere of only take place in the rougher areas of any investigator’s home
influence, enquiries will be made about the investigators. city. Should any Middle or High Class investigators venture
These will be conducted via a front organisation, though into such areas, the thugs will also attempt to scare them off,
in the process, one the Immortals might take enough of an but the thugs will not follow such investigators out of the
interest to meet them himself (though never as ‘themselves’). neighbourhood.
The Society of Thirteen’s primary aim through the front
will be to dissuade investigators from delving further into Only when pushed to the point of desperation will the Society
the outré and the supernatural to prevent society at large of Thirteen go as far as hiring someone to assassinate the
learning of the Mythos. Research or other exposure to the investigators. In such cases, former soldiers or big game
supernatural, in the Society of Thirteen’s collective view, hunters are typically hired, but anarchists capable of planting
presents a potential point of exposure for the organisation. bombs have also been hired. Subsequent stories invariably
That said, the Society of Thirteen is open to persuasion, describe the targets as being anarchist sympathisers or
typically in the form of demonstrations of proof that the otherwise conspiring against the crown.
investigators want to stop the forces and entities of the
Mythos. Once it becomes clear that the front organisation and When it comes to the Mythos and magic, the Society of
the investigators have shared interests in stopping a particular Thirteen is all but incapable of wielding it effectively. This is
Mythos related threat, the front organisation will become a due to years of limiting members’ exposure to the Mythos
willing ally in the investigators’ efforts to thwart the Mythos. and to having implemented an effective ‘shield of ignorance’
that limits direct exposure. Although the Society may employ
Should the Society of Thirteen ally with the investigators, it a small number of scholars pursuing researches into the
will be open and forthright with its assistance—or at least the Mythos, realistically, only one or two of them might be
front organisation will be. Investigators of the appropriate capable of some form of magic or have access to more than
social class will be invited or sponsored to join social clubs, the one artefact.
meetings, and other groups that would be socially and
politically advantageous to them. As much as these gifts are Faced with their imminent destruction, the remaining
intended to help the investigators and their investigations, immortals will attempt to release Casheirda as a weapon.
they are also intended to allay suspicions that the investigators Given her lack of sanity, there is any number of ways that this
might have about any person or persons that might be behind attempt can play out. While she serves as a distraction, the
the front organisation. The Society of Thirteen will also immortals will attempt to escape, taking the Angel with them.
use the social connections forged with the investigators to There are some plans in place for this, including multiple
monitor their activities. carriages and a specially designed coffin to transport the
Angel.

Resources tate
In the last thousand years, the seven surviving members The Whiteacre Es
of the Society of Thirteen have amassed great holdings and Located some ten miles west of London and easily reached
massive wealth, such that together, they are as wealthy as the by horseback or carriage in a matter of hours—or less by
Crown. Should a threat or problem warrant it, the seven can train—from Westminster or 33 Golden Square, the Whiteacre
apply a great deal of financial clout to it. Where the Society of Estate is the current home and headquarters of the Society
Thirteen is relatively limited is in the manpower it can bring of Thirteen. In addition, the property is regularly used for
to bear on any given problem. meetings or to entertain those few who fit into their inner
circle. The estate is held in trust by the Society, a legal fiction
While capable of hiring individuals to serve their aims, to help keep the actual members of the inner circle secret.
including scientific experts, corrupt policemen and judges,
politicians, and more, it can become a particular problem During the late nineteenth century, only Breshai and
should the Society of Thirteen want to protect itself and its Casheirda live at the property permanently, with Artagan
members’ privacy. If investigators continue snooping into its spending significant time there. The rest of the Society keeps
affairs and prove unwilling to work with a front organisation, separate households of their own, only coming to Whiteacre
the front will be directed to act in two ways depending upon for important meetings or to feed on the Angel.
the social class of the investigators. If the investigators are
High or Middle Class, financial, political, and social pressure By the time frame of Hudson and Brand’s investigations,
will be brought to bear on them. Rumours will be spread the estate has recently undergone extensive renovation, its
about them, investments and businesses will fail, witnesses more public areas and facilities being brought up to date
going missing or turning up, accusations of criminal activities in line with the technology and fashion of the era. Despite
will be made against them, and so on. While the rumours this, an astute observer will notice the estate still contains
and accusations are unlikely to be true (although who knows anachronistic features that have not yet been updated, such as

12
 The Angel
the decorative style of the ballroom being almost fifty years
old and many of the walls displaying arms and armour, much
of it rare and hundreds of years old, but still maintained in Kept hanging upside down in a vault beneath the Whiteacre
working order. Similarly, what little artwork there is on the Estate, the Angel is not just the creature from whose blood the
walls is also quite old. original members of the Society attained immortality, but also
one of the sources of the grail myths that pervade the history
Beyond the main house, the estate’s facilities include servants’ of the isles. They have held the creature captive for millennia,
quarters—all furnished to a high standard for the day, stables feeding from it on a regular basis to maintain their immortality.
and carriage houses, a blacksmiths and workshops. There are It has become the focal point of their lives and they will do all
several laboratories where the Society conducts its more secret that they can to protect both it and their access to it.
research projects, while an extensive herb garden supports
both the estate’s kitchen and the Society’s medicinal needs. In appearance, the creature appears almost identical to the
The lands and buildings beyond the estate are either owned by common conception of an angel within the Christian body of
the Society or its allies, serving to isolate the estate as does its myths. This is an incongruence that the Society of Thirteen has
rural location. worked hard to attempt to explain or reconcile, even working
with John Dee during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, though
The staff are the closest thing to a cult that the Society of without drawing any firm conclusion.
Thirteen controls. Each member of staff has either been raised
from birth at Whiteacre Estate or at an estate owned by one Once a month, the Society of Thirteen meets at Whiteacre
of the inner circle. They worship the Society of Thirteen and Estate to undergo the ritual of feeding from the Angel. The
understand that its members are immortal, though do not ritual involves cutting the Angel’s throat and filling a goblet

THE THIRTEEN
fully understand how or why. For their service, the staff are with the blood which flows from the wound. Once full, the
well paid, well treated, and often well educated. Many of the goblet is then passed around the Thirteen, with each of them
young men on the staff are expected to enlist in the army and drinking in turn. This continues until the goblet is empty. In
gain wider experience and training that can be later dedicated ancient times, the ritual was more brutal, but it has evolved
to the protection of the estate and the Society of Thirteen. over time to something much more sedate. At these meetings,
Though all of the staff will rise to positions of authority on they often hold a large feast, during which they go over any
the estate, they all hold responsible positions and know that business that might pertain to all of them. This includes the
they can look forward to a comfortable retirement. future direction of the Society of Thirteen, the progress of any
ongoing projects or studies, and even ways of dealing with any
threats that may arise. Their decision-making process is

13
 not governed by any set of rules or guidelines, but is more like of the Angel’s blood. With the ritual completed, they retire for
that of a large family. This may simply mean that one member the evening. Many leave the Whiteacre Estate the following
of the Thirteen may not support the endeavours of another, but morning..
at times, it might mean that they act at cross-purposes to each
other or in extreme situations, actually attempt to undermine Note: Each of the thirteen will have his own aliases,
the goals of another. Once their extensive discussions have connections, and roles for moving about in British society.
reached a consensus, whether that is a decision as to a course The names provided are the closest thing to their birth names,
of action or an agreement to continue the discussions at a later Anglicised after generations of being immersed in an evolving
time, they will usually draw the feast to a close. Then they will language and culture.
head into the vault in the basement for the ritualized drinking
T H E T H I R T E E N • A R TAG A N

The Thirteen
Name Alias Role Roleplaying Notes Home
Artagan Arthur Forsyth, Leader Conservative, wise, Whiteacre Estate
The General, measured, slow to forgive
Cynwrig The Hero, Muscle Boisterous, well meaning, London, near
Charles Smith quick to anger, quick to Westminster
forgive
Loegaire The Herder, Spymaster Manipulative, clever, shifts to London, near Elephant &
Anne St. what is need in the situation Castle
Cyr, Andrew
Channon
Arianrhod The Silver Spymaster/ Matronly, balanced, caring Small estate north of
Wheel, Auntie gossip monger London.
Ariana, Ariana
Scott
Lleulau Gyffer The Builder, Scientist Analytic, uncaring, logical, Medicinal leech farm
Liam Hertsford near Bath
Breshai The Sword, Muscle Brusque, calculating Whiteacre Estate
Briana Gilchrist
Casheirda The Seer, Seer/Mystic Insane, speaks in metaphor, Whiteacre Estate
Cassandra, moments of clarity
Morgana

Deceased Members ofThe Thirteen

Name Alias Role Death
Aodh Firekeeper Traditionally kept the fire, Guillotined in
then hearth. Eventually Revolutionary France
became responsible for
dealing with internal
threats
Naoise Keeper of the story Collected stories and Burned at the stake in
managed the oral tales of 1622, believed to be a
the group witch
Dubhthach The Betrayer Traitor, previously Elder Sinking of Doggerland
and war with the Thirteen
Eacharn Lord of horse Keeper of horses In conflict against
Dubhthach
Brandubh Raven Eye Hunter Misadventure with
neighbouring tribe
Eochaidh Horse warrior Scout Misadventure with wild
animal

14
Artagan, the General
If the Society of Thirteen has a leader, it is Artagan who fills
this role. As tribal leader, he led the initial contact with the
Angel, and he has held this position of power for millennia,
but in the last few centuries, perhaps echoing the changes in
society at large, the Society has moved with the times and
become more democratic in its decision-making processes
and in deciding who takes the lead in different projects.
Nevertheless, in times of strife, the rest of the Society look
to Artagan to resume the mantle of leadership as he did in
ages past.

When the Society partook in more extensive work to shape

their images publicly through mythology, he was often
portrayed as the Dagda or other kings from within mythology.

Tall and muscular for his time, by the Victorian Era, he is

of only average height for a gentleman. While he has easily
adapted to the clothing styles of the period, he is most

THE THIRTEEN
comfortable in the outfits that a gentleman would wear while
in the country. His most distinguishing feature, however,
limits him both in his appearances and his capacity to play
a significant role in society. In the days shortly after being
granted immortality, a hunting accident with a wolf left him
with horrific scars across the left side of his face, neck, and
shoulder. These scars have made him easy to identify, forcing
him to emerge into society generally less often than many of
the others. Artagan/Arthfael/Arthur

During the 1880s, Artagan is operating under the pseudonym

of Arthur Forsyth a landed gentleman who has made a name

Encounters with Famous People

for himself as a writer of military histories. Despite having a
first-hand knowledge of military history and tactics, Artagan
is keen to ensure that Arthur Forsyth is viewed as an excitable Over the course of his correspondences, Artagan has come
amateur in the field with no actual military experience. His into contact with key figures from one age to the next, many
quiet life as a country gentleman supports this as does his of whom he has to come to view as kindred spirits. In time he
extensive correspondence with numerous writers and figures has come to recognise something in various men and women
from around the world. around the world, though due to gender norms, during the
Victorian Era it would be primarily men. His current fixation
If encountered and asked about it, Arthur Forsyth will explain is largely upon so-called ‘men of action’ and when he does
his scars as being the result of a hunting accident in Africa. make an appearance, it is often to meet such men at the
He will obviously be reluctant to talk about either the scars or various social clubs he maintains a membership at.
the accident, though more because he hopes to avoid the fact
that he has never been to Africa being discovered, rather than He is in contact with diplomat Cecil Arthur Spring Rice
the terrible memory of the accident. through Loegaire, though he seldom makes use of the
connection. This connection, however, did lead to him—as
STR 65 CON 60 SIZ 60 INT 80 POW 55 Arthur Forsyth—meeting Theodore Roosevelt shortly after
DEX 50 APP 35 EDU 100 SAN 40 HP 12 his wedding in London in 1886. This began a correspondence
Damage bonus: +1D4 between the two men, Artagan counselling Roosevelt to
Build: 1 return to his early writings about military matters rather than
Move: 8 entering public life.
ATTACKS
Fighting (Brawl) 80% (40/16), damage 1D3 + db As Arthur Forsyth, he is also a fellow of the Royal Society
for his works on military history, military engineering, and
Fighting (Sword) 90% (45/18), damage 1D8+1 + db engineering. He regularly attends meetings of the Royal
Dodge 60% (30/12) Society, though as a relatively subdued member.
Skills: Cthulhu Mythos 20%, First Aid 80%, History 90%, Lan-
guage (Breton) 70%, Language (Cornish) 60%, Language
(English) 80%, Language (Latin) 85%, Language (Norse) Roleplaying and Reactions
80%, Language )P-Celtic) 100%, Language (Welsh) 90%, Oc- Artagan is gruff and calculating, though amiable enough.
cult 90%, Persuade 70%, Psychology 90%, Ride 60%, Science Over time, he has become wary of the potential for war, he is
(Engineering) 50%, Spot Hidden 70%. a fan of Clausewitz’s writing, though never met the man. He
views war as an extension of politics by other means and he is
more than willing to pursue military actions when necessary.

15
 Despite this, he attempts to pursue peaceful actions towards know that crime is an inevitable outgrowth of society and it
other interest groups. He is quiet much of the time, though is better to maintain connections with it rather than ignore
his voice will raise and become commanding should he it. These connections provide the Society with the infrequent
become incensed or in times of danger. esoteric book or object, information from the many eyes and
ears that can be bought throughout London, and a ready
Ultimately, his is a military mind that has adapted to the supply of thugs for hire.
changing attitudes of the time. His respect and willingness
to advocate for guerrilla warfare is anachronistic, so it is In the past, he has seen more of Europe than almost any
seldom shared in polite society. This is due to his recognition other member of the Society and is the most likely to miss
that asymmetric forms of fighting have, historically, had an individual rituals to drink from the Angel. The myths
advantage in terms of harrying supply lines and the like, of Hercules and others of the mainland are also often
and he has not succumbed to the collective ignorance that erroneously attributed to him. It is not uncommon for him
repeatedly befalls militaries. Considering this, he is willing to make his way down into France or beyond, especially
to recommend or order terrorist style attacks should they be as technology has made such travel a more reasonable
necessary and help achieve his end goal. undertaking. To date he has travelled as far as modern
Germany, Italy, and Poland in his travels.
CYNWRIG • LOEGAIRE

Despite having led the Society of Thirteen for millennia,

Artagan has come to appreciate that he and his fellow STR 80 CON 80 SIZ 90 INT 55 POW 30
immortals have survived because they are a group and not DEX 60 APP 70 EDU 100 SAN 25 HP 17
just because of his leadership. He may not always approve Damage bonus: +1D6
of their sometimes-fractious behaviour and differences Build: 2
of opinion, but knows that many of their best ideas and Move: 7
strategies have been born of their often heated discussions. ATTACKS
Fighting (Brawl) 90% (45/18), damage 1D3 + db
Cynwrig, the Hero Fighting (Club) 90% (45/18), 1D8 + db
Dodge 80% (40/16)
If Artagan is the king and general, Cynwrig has been the hero Skills: Charm 75%, Cthulhu Mythos 05%, Climb 90%, First
of a great many tales over the course of history. Numerous Aid 70%, History 50%, Intimidate 80%, Language (Breton)
legends of various strongmen and heroes are based upon him, 70%, Language (Cornish) 60%, Language (English) 80%,
including several Celtic legends about Lugh. These stories Language (French) 60%, Language (German) 20%, Language
have been purposefully embellished by the Society over its (Italian) 15%, Language (Norse) 80%, Language (P-Celtic)
various iterations, creating a mythology that has long since 100%, Language (Welsh) 90%, Listen 80%, Navigate 80%,
stopped being based upon reality. Cynwrig has played other Occult 50%, Sneak 70%.
heroes too, as necessary for different mythologies.

Cynwrig is a near giant of a man, even for the age he was

born within. He is handsome, tall, muscular, and wide. His
hair is naturally a bright blond to the point that it is almost
white, but he regularly dyes it to change his appearance.

In the 1880s, Cynwrig is operating under the pseudonym

of Charles Smith, a landlord in his mid-thirties who owns
numerous properties throughout London and up and down
the country, primarily renting to the Lower Classes. This
serves as the front for his primary activities, running criminal
enterprises on behalf of the Society of Thirteen. He also owns
several dolly shops (unlicensed pawn shops), such as those
on Dudley Street, near Seven Dials, at which he has standing
orders for the staff to pay well for any old books or artefacts
that come into their possession from those families who have
come on hard times. This operation casts a wide net and
enables the Society of Thirteen gather up any books on the
occult or otherwise related to the Mythos, and bring them
to the Whiteacre Estate for further study. Should anything
particularly unusual come into the possession of a dolly shop,
Cynwrig or a trusted associate will answer any summons to
identify and agree a price for the book or artefact.

His operations also include several silversmiths and

goldsmiths—both legitimate and illegal, who melt down the
coins and jewellery brought in by thieves for re-forging and
selling on. This allows the Society to launder its money from
one generation to the next. In comparison to other criminal
organisations, those run by Cynwrig are not particularly
profitable. This is because the Society is realistic enough to Cynwrig/Charles

16
Encounters with Famous People
high society. Though she has only met members of the Royal
family in passing—which has included rebuffing the Prince of
Cynwrig has been an admirer of Otto von Bismarck from afar, Wales’ advances on at least two occasions—Miss St. Cyr has
but due to his position in society, has been unable to meet connections enough and is persuasive enough that were she to
him. This is but another of the factors of his position that whisper key words into the right ears, such words would find
continues to grate on him. Though he is welcome in some their way to royalty.
corners of high society, he is still largely unable to wipe the
whiff of crime from himself, which means that he has largely Andrew Channon is Loegaire’s primary male pseudonym,
been unable to meet with many of the individuals that he a merchant who runs an import/export business on both
would like. sides of the English Channel and maintains a small handful
of trading vessels. Through this identity, Loegaire is forming

Roleplaying and Reactions

financial links between London and the continent, in the
process ingratiating himself into the financial and mercantile
Cynwrig is having a difficult time playing the role of criminal classes of London, Paris, and Antwerp. His current operations
boss. Though a man comfortable with violence, he much were capitalised by the sale of shares in the East India
prefers to be viewed as an object of praise rather than a Company, but Loegaire has long been a student of economic
criminal thug. He fits in with high society exceptionally forces and theory.
well, though is also capable of getting on with the criminal
elements that he associates with. No matter the personality, Loegaire is a shameless gossip,
prone to trading on information. Prior to becoming an
Outgoing, gregarious, and ever fond of the spotlight, Cynwrig immortal, he was of limited use to the tribe, an irony that he

THE THIRTEEN
is more than happy to entertain almost anyone interesting that delights in as he adapts to new eras and times.
crosses his path. Although charming, he is not adept at lying,
instead relying upon the Society’s connections and his ability
to intimidate others to keep his operations safe. A drink is
seldom far from his hands and he is regularly in a mild state
of intoxication, though it is unknown to those outside of the
Thirteen whether this is psychosomatic or whether poisons
are still able to affect them.

Despite his friendly demeanour, he is also quick to anger

and worse. Once he reaches his breaking point, Cynwrig will
erupt into a mountain of violence and rage. Much like the
myths of the berserker from ages long past, when he descends
into blood fury and madness, he is nearly incapable of being
reasoned with.

Loegaire,
the Herder
Loegaire is a social chameleon, having proved the most
adept of the surviving members of the Society of Thirteen
at adapting from one era to the next, from one society and
its social mores to the next. Born a man, he has utilised his
androgynous looks to adopt both male and female identities
over the years. This, combined with having an otherwise
unremarkable set of looks and superb acting skills, has
ensured that Loegaire has been able to move more effectively
through the many societies the immortals have lived
alongside. Thus, Loegaire has served as the eyes and ears for
the Society and often as its de facto spymaster. In controlling
the information that reaches other members of the Society,
they can often be manipulated to his own ends.

In the 1880s, Loegaire is operating under two primary

pseudonyms. These are in addition to any number of small
and temporary identities that he can adopt at any time.
These minor identities are not as strongly established nor
do they have the same number of contacts that the primary Loegaire/Andrew
identities do. No matter what the identity, Loegaire has pale
blue eyes and brown hair, though these features can easily be
manipulated using wigs, dyes, slightly coloured lenses, and so
on. Anne St. Cyr is Loegaire’s primary female pseudonym, a
wealthy and well-to-do spinster firmly established in British

17
 STR 50 CON 40 SIZ 60 INT 90 POW 40 surviving members of the Society of Thirteen, she is second
DEX 70 APP 50 EDU 100 SAN 35 HP 10 only to Loegaire in her ability to gather information, rumours,
Damage bonus: none. and other resources. Where Loegaire is capable of gathering
Build: 0 from a variety of different sources, Arianrhod chooses instead
Move: 8 to carefully cultivate a small group of individuals who are
ATTACKS better connected and who hold more important positions.
Known as Auntie Ariana to many, she is of that difficult to
Fighting (Brawl) 30% (15/6), damage 1D3 + db
place class of individuals that exist in high society without
Fighting (Garrotte) 90% (45/18), damage 1D6 + db having any obvious reason for doing so. To these individuals
A R I A N R H O D • L L E U L AU G Y F F E R

Fighting (Knife) 75% (37/15), damage 1D4 + db she becomes a matron figure, someone whom they can turn
to for advice and wisdom. After all, Auntie Ariana does have
Dodge 60% (30/12) the wisdom of ages to draw from.
Skills: Charm 75%, Cthulhu Mythos 10%, Disguise 90%, Lan-
guages (As needed) 90%, Law 80%, Medicine 60%, Occult
90%, Persuade 90%, Pharmacy 60%, Psychology 90%, Sneak
90%, Spot Hidden 90%.

Encounters with Famous People

Via the various identities that are active at any time, Loegaire
maintains innumerable contacts, including members of
various secret societies, social societies, and more. As a social
butterfly, Loegaire has reason to know just about anyone—or
at least know someone who does.

In the previous century, Loegaire found a kindred spirit in

the Chevalier d’Éon (1728-1810), becoming friends following
the end of the Seven Years War. They maintained an ongoing
correspondence and a friendship until the French diplomat’s
death. Currently, as Andrew Channon, Loegaire is in
correspondence with Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Roleplaying and Reactions

Loegaire has, in many ways, two characters that he plays.
In the 1880s, these are Anne and Andrew. All his other
personalities tend to be variations on these two archetypes.
In both, he is an incorrigible rumourmonger and flirt, to the
extent that one can during the current era.

If the Society of Thirteen see the need to make direct contact

with the investigators, Loegaire will be sent to make the first
contact. This will be under an assumed identity, perhaps Arianrhod/Ariana
Andrew or Anne, though he may keep those in reserve. He
will be overly outgoing and seek to send them to any number
of places that may or may not be helpful in their efforts
against the Mythos. Though she was thin and wiry when the original tribesmen
first found the creature that granted them their immortality,
in the millennia since, her life has become drastically easier,

Arianrhod, the more sedate, and she has grown rounder. Rather than fighting
this transition, she has worked to manipulate it and otherwise
Silver Wheel use it to reinforce the perception that she is a doughty and
matronly sort, ready with the wisdom of learned experience,
but short on raw intelligence and cunning. She constantly
Arianrhod was already matronly before becoming immortal, manipulates the perceptions that others have of her to ensure
functionally freezing her as the oldest member of the group that she is treated only the way that she wants to be.
for eternity. She plays into this trope, taking advantage of the
perceptions that many place towards those who are older. This effort extends even into the inner circle of the Society
She utilises this to serve as a balancing force and mediator of Thirteen, but it is not quite as effective. After all, the
for the rest of the Society. When conflicts arise between immortals have had thousands of years to become familiar
the immortals, it is Arianhod that the others call upon to with her cunning.
moderate any disagreement.

In the 1880s, Arianhod is operating under the pseudonym of

Ariana Houlton, a matronly, middle-aged spinster. Of the

18
STR 30 CON 90 SIZ 70 INT 90 POW 80
DEX 40 APP 45 EDU 100 SAN 65 HP 16
Damage bonus: none.
Build: 0
Move: 5
ATTACKS
Fighting (Brawl) 40% (20/8), damage 1D3 + db
Fighting (Knife) 50% (25/10), damage 1D4 + db
Dodge 50% (25/10)
Skills: Cthulhu Mythos 20%, Languages (as needed) 80%, Library
Use 80%, Persuade 95%, Psychoanalysis 75%, Psychology
95%, Spot Hidden 40%.

Encounters with Famous People

Arianrhod has served as matron and or mentor to a number
of influential figures, including John Charles Montagu
Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch and 9th Duke of
Queensberry, a member of the Scottish Parliament and the

THE THIRTEEN
largest landowner in Scotland. Years of having herself in the
right position to influence the youth of various notables have
given her access to the nobility of Europe to rival that of
the British Royal family, let alone any other member of the
Society of Thirteen.

Roleplaying and Reactions Lleulau

/Liam
A cunning woman hiding behind a veneer of genial
affability, she should appear to be unerringly supportive
of the intentions of the investigators no matter what they
are. She will be kind and smiling, up to and including the
moment that the knife is sunk into her target’s back.
business has been very profitable, but in the last century or so,
Arianrhod’s unerring aim is always to maintain a balance, it has suffered due to over farming the leeches and a medical
believing that extremes are often dangerous and more harm profession that no longer sees the use of leeches as anything
than they are worth. Not once has she ever given her support other than barbaric.
to any revolution, instead pushing for slow rather than
radical change.. The isolated location of his home and the unpleasant nature
of his business has afforded Lleulau Gyffer years and years to
spend conducting research and experiments. Though the use

Lleulau Gyffer, of medical leeches once fascinated him, he has since moved
on to numerous other topics, flitting about between them in
the Builder an easily distracted manner.

As Liam, he is a small, bespectacled man with horrendous

Of the surviving members of the Society of Thirteen, Lleulau manners for the age. Were it not for his demonstrable
Gyffer is the least concerned with the politics and events of expertise and knowledge, people would have given up dealing
the wider world. As civilisation grew and developed around with his rudeness long ago. As a consequence, nearly all of his
the immortals, he became less and less involved with the communication is done through correspondence and he will,
Society’s larger goals. Instead, he began to research more and whenever possible, avoid meeting in person.
more into the worlds of science and development that arose.
The Society regularly assigns him the task of researching new
If any one of the Society of Thirteen is a scholar or academic, topics and causes, either because there is a project that needs
it is Lleulau Gyffer. He resents getting involved in society completion or because the Society wants to be kept informed
politics and will avoid conflict at all costs. This does not mean of current trends and ideas. Such research tasks often result
that he will avoid his obligations to the others, being more in Lleulau Gyffer having to deliver lectures and lessons on
than happy to undertake research or other work if it supports the basics of some new technology or theory to the other
the interests or plans of the Society. immortals because they have not had the time or the capacity
to understand it as he has.
In the 1880s, Lleulau Gyffer is operating under the
pseudonym of Liam Hertsford, owner of a series of medicinal
leech farms near Bath. His workers are sent out into the
marshes near Bath to be repeatedly bit by leeches, which are
then harvested and sold for medical uses. Historically, the

19
 STR 50 CON 65 SIZ 35 INT 100 POW 40
DEX 40 APP 60 EDU 100 SAN 35 HP 10 Breshai, the Sword
Damage bonus: none.
Build: 0 An intimidating woman with a perpetually stern face, Breshai is
Move: 9 tall and muscular. Of the surviving immortals, she is the most
talented at single combat. Even before attaining immortality,
ATTACKS
she was one of the most talented fighters of her era, but since
Fighting (Brawl) 30% (15/6), damage 1D3 + db then, she has had generations to hone and develop her combat
Fighting (Knife) 30% (15/6), damage 1D4 + db skills, as well as extending her interests into a variety of other
Dodge 50% (10/4) art forms as well.
Skills: Astronomy 90%, Chemistry 90%, Cthulhu Mythos 30%,
Over the centuries Breshai has written and acquired
Forensics 90%, Language (Breton) 70%, Language (English)
innumerable treatises on art, dance, and combat, along with
80%, Language (Latin) 80%, Language (P-Celtic) 100%,
a large collection of paintings and sculptures. Not only does
Language (Welsh) 90%, Law 80%, Medicine 80%, Natural
she collect art—as well as arms and armour—from around the
History 70%, Occult 90%, Pharmacy 90%, Physics 70%,
B R E S H A I • C A S H E I R DA

world, Breshai is a skilled artist and dancer herself. None of

Science (Biology) 90%, Science (Botany) 80%.
her art has ever been seen by the public. Instead she keeps it
on display at the Whiteacre Estate or in any one of her various

Encounters with Famous People

safehouses and storehouses lest it be allowed to slip into the
historical record. A further reason for her avoiding public
Lleulau Gyffer has maintained a lengthy set of recognition is the number of scars across her arms and face—
correspondences with the scientific giants of each age, all from cuts and scrapes acquired in combat—which would
including an ongoing, though surprisingly polite, argument make her a quite the sight in nearly any era and which would
with Pierre Coubertin about the value of physical education be unlikely to go uncommented upon. Nevertheless, stumbling
in shaping minds and improving the world. Currently he is in upon one of her stashes of artwork would be a notable
correspondence with Alfred Russel Wallace, Hugo Zapałowicz, historical find, demonstrating years upon years of work across
Robert Traill Omond, Henry Tibbats Stainton, among others. different eras and styles that would be impossible for a single
individual to create.
Through Liam Hertsford, Lleulau Gyffer might become a
link to the Society of Thirteen for any scientifically minded In the 1880s, Breshai is operating under the pseudonym of
investigators, perhaps before a campaign begins or one that Brianna Gilchrist, which she uses only when she must be out
is forged during a campaign. Either way, Liam Hertsford in society. Otherwise, Breshai spends the majority of her time
will avoid all physical contact, but maintain an ongoing at the Whiteacre Estate. For most, this would be an incredibly
correspondence with the investigator as long the investigator’s difficult state of affairs, but she does not want to be exposed
scientific endeavours are of interest to him.

Roleplaying and Reactions

Lleulau Gyffer is a shy and soft-spoken individual, reticent to
discuss or give an opinion about matters that do not interest
him. He comes alive though when discussing any form of
scientific discovery or research. In many ways, it could be
argued that swathes of his identity and personality have
been left behind in his ongoing commitment to research and
discovery. Otherwise, he does not stand on the manners of
the age and ignores the various rules of propriety that rule the
Victorian Age. He treats everyone who is not a member of the
Thirteen as below him and unworthy of his time unless they
demonstrate the capacity to keep up with him intellectually.

Prone to dreams and flights of the imagination, Lleulau

Gyffer is prone to drifting off into reveries or engaging in
one tangent after another on a complex scientific issue. Due
to the amount of time he has had to devote to his personal
experiments, his scientific theories and ideas are beyond
those of the day, though not significantly as he tends to jump
between topics rather focus on the one.

Breshai/Briana

20
to the rest of society. Instead, Breshai uses it as an opportunity
to continue honing both her skills and her work. This includes Casheirda, the Seer
weapons ancient and modern. Indeed, of all the immortals,
Breshai has most readily adopted the weapons of the day. Serving as the source of a great many myths about Cassandra,
Morgana, and a great many other mythical magic users,
Except when she must—either because she has to leave the Casheirda has wielded and worked with the magics of the
estate or guests are expected at the estate—Breshai wears Mythos for thousands of years. Though this makes her
breeches and other clothing that is considered solely masculine one of the most powerful beings on the planet, she is also
for the era. The servants are of course, used to this and her incurably insane. Constant exposure to the true nature
unladylike behaviour, but visitors are likely to be shocked by of the universe along with the mind-warping stress of
her brazenness and possibly scandalous dress sense. When encountering things that should not be, means that she has
she must leave the estate or deal with visitors, Breshai always long been an inconsistent asset for the Society.
dresses in morning dress, complete with gloves and veil. This
ensures that much of her face and her hands are kept out of Nevertheless, Casheirda has fought her way back to a
sight of polite society and prying eyes. semblance of sanity, though not enough to partake in
society at large. She spends most of her time at Whiteacre
If any of the immortals are likely to be called on to assassinate Estate, though occasionally she will find her way out into
an enemy of the Society of Thirteen, it would be Breshai, society. When out and about, Casheirda acts exceedingly
though it would require extremely drastic circumstances for odd, as her view of history and the world is one that is
her to do so. An undertaking of this type would be extremely inherently out of sorts with how most sane individuals
rare and there have been only one or two incidences of this would view or understand the world.

THE THIRTEEN
kind in the past. Should the investigators ever set their sights
on purging the immortals from this world, the trio of Cynwrig, STR 30 CON 50 SIZ 45 INT 100 POW 150
Breshai, and Casheirda should provide a potent confrontation. DEX 40 APP 70 EDU 100 SAN 0 HP 9
Damage bonus: -1
STR 70 CON 60 SIZ 55 INT 100 POW 50 Build: -1
DEX 80 APP 35 EDU 100 SAN 45 HP 11 Move: 7
Damage bonus: +1D4 Magic Points: 30
Build: 1
ATTACKS
Move: 9
Fighting (Brawl) 20% (10/4), damage 1D3 + db
ATTACKS
Dodge 20% (10/5)
Fighting (Brawl) 95% (20/10), damage 1D3 + db
Skills: Cthulhu Mythos 80%, Language (Breton) 30%, Language
Fighting (Sword) 99% (49/19), damage 1D8 + db (English) 40%, Language (P-Celtic) 100%, Language (Welsh)
Fighting (Spear) 99% (49/19), damage 1D8 +1 + db Occult 100%, Psychology 80%.
Spells: Apportion Ka, Bless Blade, Chant of Thoth, Cause/Cure
Fighting (Knife) 99% (49/19), damage 1D4 + db Blindness, Cloud Memory, Create Barrier, Death Spell, Dom-
Firearms (Flintlock Pistol) 80% (40/16), damage 1D6 + 1 inate, Dust of Suleiman, Evil Eye, Mind Blast, Melt Flesh,
Shrivelling.
Firearms (.455 Webley WG Revolver) 80% (40/16), damage
1D10 + 2
Dodge 95% (47/19) Roleplaying and Reactions
Skills: Art and Craft (Dance) 90%, Art and Craft (Painting) 90%, None.
Climb 75%, Cthulhu Mythos 40%, First Aid 75%, Jump 75%,

Encounters with Famous People

Language (Breton) 50%, Language (English) 80%, Language
(Italian) 40%, Language (Latin) 60%, Language (P-Celtic)
100%, Language (Welsh) 90%, Stealth 75%, Spot Hidden When roleplaying Casheirda, it should be remembered
80%, Throw 80% that she is a Cassandra and never be met under happy
circumstances. She is an obviously unsettled individual,

Encounters with Famous People

prone to odd displays and observations, due in part to seeing
time and the universe differently than other humans. From
None. time to time, she will make observations that are thoroughly
impossible or will lapse into speaking in metaphors and other

Roleplaying and Reactions

peculiarities.

Breshai is circumspect, quiet, and prefers to make her goals Depending on how the Keeper interprets her, Casheirda could
known through actions than through words. She respects be manipulating the Society of Thirteen and its members or
other combatants, and anyone who is dedicated to their craft, she could be cared for by them as a well-intentioned mystic
but will not do something so foolish as to agree to specified fighting with madness. Despite her insanity, she has fought
codes of conduct or honour. In combat, she will seek to take her way out from under the complete influence of any of
down her opponent as quickly as possible. the Old Ones, though how long such a state of affairs can
last is anyone’s guess. She has been unable to fully convince
As capable a combatant as Breshai is, she is not a leader. the others of the danger that is posed by these forces. Each
Though more than capable of operating on her own, when in glimpse of the true terror of the Elder Gods has driven them
a group she will defer to anyone clearly in command, content to terror, leaving them unable to even comprehend what
to serve as the ‘good soldier’. Casheirda has experienced.

21
 experiments. Legends of the loup garou, of the giants and
gremlins, and various aspects of the fae serve as human attempts
to contextualise the horrors that came out of his kingdom.

Through his work and experiments, he continued to push at

the boundaries of what humanity was meant to know and
understand. His continued efforts were beginning to destabilize
the world around him, and it was only a matter of time before
some dark god might ensure that the stars were right before their
time was to properly come to pass.

In building the cult around him and his dark experiments,

Dubhthach created problems that lasted far longer than it took
for the Society of Thirteen to defeat him. From this they learned
a valuable lesson—that growth of knowledge in the Mythos is
inherently dangerous, even if not pursued by an immortal. They
have, as a result, served as a countervailing and balancing force
within the British Isles, taking out cults that might form and act
contrary to their interests.

In case of death
D U B H T H AC H

Should a member of the Society of Thirteen be killed, they

will either go to war or will withdraw. This decision is based
solely upon the cause of death—if it was at the hands of the
investigators, either accidentally or on purpose, the remaining
immortals will strike back. If the cause of death was due to
Casheirda some supernatural force or the Mythos, then the surviving
immortals will only strike back if they believe that they can
defeat the cause or because they must. If the cause of death
represents a greater threat that cannot be defeated or can be
defeated at a later date, then the surviving immortals will
Dubhthach, retreat, look to their survival first, and then plan how they will
the Betrayer strike back.

Each of the Society of Thirteen recalls every one of their fellow That said, if the Society of Thirteen learns of an existential threat
immortals that has fallen over the course of their history, and that puts all of humanity—or even just the British Empire—at
the lessons that each death has taught them. None have taught risk, its members will do whatever they can to stop it.
them more important lessons than Dubhthach, the Betrayer. He
is the one who turned against them during their darkest hour,
becoming their primary antagonist and foe and causing the
greatest conflict that they were ever involved in.
Dealing with the
Investigators in
Long before recorded history, the conflict rose out of differing
visions as to how the immortals should progress and what they
the Long-term
should become. The majority were conservative in outlook,
believing that their existence would be threatened were they Over long periods of time, it is likely that they will come to a
to consort with the small tribes cavorting with the various form of peace with investigators. They will have reason to either
dark powers. Dubhthach sought to take advantage of their ally or act against investigators depending on the specifics of
immortality to treat with these tribes, to learn from them and the challenge at hand. Some investigators might be interested in
then command that knowledge to ascend into being higher joining their group, but immortality should always be kept just
beings, in the process seeking to deal with the various creatures out of reach. If they somehow learn about it this, the Thirteen
and beings that explored the edges of human comprehension. will use it as a carrot to keep stringing investigators along.

At first, it seemed as though Dubhthach had made the wiser Despite this unwillingness to allow any investigators into their
choice. He apprenticed himself to the shamans of these tribes, inner circle, they will ally with them when it is in their interest.
undertook a great number of experiments, and his power grew Existential threats that would put all of humanity or the British
greatly, both in terms of arcane knowledge and political power, Isles at risk will likely bring their interests in line with the
the latter gained from the tribes he recruited to his vision. investigators.
In these dark times he made deals with things from before
human history, including the Deep Ones in their great cities off The best investigators can hope for with the Thirteen is to be
Doggerland and several entities within the Dreamlands. either peaceful allies, or to be members of the larger cult. They
could become trusted servants of the Thirteen, or de facto
Many of the myths and legends about dark creatures of Europe equals through an alliance of convenience.
and what became the British Isles are derived from Dubhthach’s

22