🎭 The Empire of Masks – A Victorian Pulp Chronicle
Call of Cthulhu, Pulp Cthulhu | Campaign
About the adventure
The year is 1890. The British Empire spans the globe – but under the polished marble of its museums and behind the curtains of its salons, an ancient force stirs. Whispers of lost gods echo through opium dens, Bedlam cells, and colonial outposts. The Masks are watching. A forbidden manuscript resurfaces. An expedition disappears in Peru. A séance in London ends in screams. Something is awakening – something with many faces. You are disgraced scholars, exiled visionaries, secret agents and occultists. You were not meant to find each other. And yet, the Masks have chosen you. This is Lovecraftian horror meets Gothic drama and Pulp adventure.
Deep narrative exploration & immersive settings Victorian-era themes, occult mysteries, investigative drama Character-driven arcs and longform story development Collaborative storytelling and emotional roleplay Gothic pulp horror and mythic storytelling with structure and surprise
5.0
(27)
2 years on StartPlaying
198 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Sets the Mood
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Game Master Reviews (27)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Storytelling
Sets the Mood
Briahlen
New review
Played 4 sessions
Duncan is a very creative & fun person to play with. I immediately felt welcome in the game. He is really good at setting the scene.
Gozer
New review
Played 6 sessions
Enjoyed a nice trip into Victorian era world for darkness. Duncan is an excellent storyteller and and immersive approach that was enjoyable! Also some excellent character and scenery art as well.
Andre Havan
New review
Played 5 sessions
Very professional and yet still keeps a nice relaxed game environment. keeps a good firm hand on the game wheel and yet is receptive and open to feedback and player agency. His Visual Aids and sound are spot on.
Dragon Master
New review
The DM clearly has a strong background in storytelling and a passion for the game, which shines through in their creative setups and enthusiasm at the table. Their energy and commitment to making sure everyone has fun are truly appreciated.
Brett Kemnitz
New review
Played 4 sessions
This is my first venture in Call of Cthulu and Dunchan has made it an awesome experience. After the first session I am already made this my favorite rpg slightly above DnD. He has made this a total immersion and I am in love with Call of Cthulu now. Highly recommend this DM for any adventure.
Gregorsky
Played 11 sessions
Dunchan is a great StoryTeller who sets an awesome mood and runs an intriguing plot with immersive scenes in the Vampire Dark Ages campaign I'm currently a player in. He's really good at picking up details and quirks in the player characters and making those part of the story. Aswell as presenting intriguing NPCs to interact with and well written correnspondence and riddles. I have enjoyed the game sessions a lot!
Additional details
How to prepare
No prior experience with Call of Cthulhu or Pulp Cthulhu required Open to newcomers and veterans alike Good microphone, quiet space Weekly commitment preferred (occasional absences OK with notice) Respectful communication, mature storytelling environment (18+) Discord (for coordination, handouts, and in-game text prompts) Foundry VTT (free to use via browser) Google Drive access (for shared lore & documents) Optional: headphones, personal background music
What I provide
Professional, immersive storytelling rooted in Mythveil Chronicles Fully prepared Foundry experience: dynamic maps, token art, journals, visuals Atmospheric tools: music, handouts, curated visual scenes (Sora AI, AI Art) Deep narrative threads, rich worldbuilding, interlinked backstories Collaborative safety tools & open communication
Gameplay details
Welcome to a world where reason falters, and empires bleed through time. System: Pulp Cthulhu (7E, Chaosium) Setting: The Victorian World (ca. 1890), across London, Cairo, Kenya, Shanghai, Peru, and Australia Tone: Occult, investigative, mythic, dramatic, cinematic Genre: Gothic Pulp Horror Playstyle: Character-driven, story-rich, mystery-based with bursts of action and psychological tension Tools: Foundry VTT (fully set up), Discord, Optional background soundscapes (Syrinscape, curated playlists) This campaign explores mature themes, including: Occult horror, cosmic dread, madness, colonial settings, and psychological tension We use: Lines & Veils, X-Card, Open Door Policy, Session Zero calibration Consent is fundamental. Adjustments can be made at any time. This is a respectful and inclusive table.
Content warnings
• Blood
• Violence
Safety tools used
• Breaks
• Lines and Veils
• Session 0
• Stars and Wishes
• X, N, and O Cards
How will character creation work
System: Pulp Cthulhu (7E) – enhanced PCs with Talents, increased survivability, more cinematic tone Session Zero provided for setup, party ties & safety calibration Character options include: Exorcist from the Scottish Highlands Former patient of Bedlam with psychic visions British Museum linguist in disgrace Caribbean occultist on the run Gentleman-spy in service of Her Majesty Stage magician with a cursed lineage Archetype starter pack (“Echoes of Empire”) available Custom character tokens, portraits and background visuals included
Players can expect
Combat / Tactics
Medium
Roleplay
Medium
Puzzles
Low
Experience level
Intermediate
Platforms used
• Discord
• Foundry VTT
$25.00
/ Session
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Details
Weekly / Saturday - 6:00 PM UTC
2-3 Hour Duration
0 / 6 Seats Filled
Requirements
Experience required: Intermediate
Age: 18+