Horror on the Orient Express (Pulp Cthulhu Noir)

Creating your character

Character creation is not paperwork. It’s where this starts. --- You don’t build stats. You build a person who made it through the war— and is still carrying it. --- You are not fragile. And you are not untouchable. Pulp Cthulhu gives you the edge— stronger, tougher, harder to kill— but it doesn’t make you safe. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} --- Session 0 is where we build that. Together. No rush. No system knowledge needed. We shape: • who you were • what you survived • what it cost you --- 1950s Europe. The war didn’t end. It just changed shape. --- You might be: • a soldier who came back wrong • a detective who asks the wrong questions • a journalist chasing something that won’t stay buried • a doctor who has seen too much • someone trying to start over—and failing --- Your background matters. Your past matters. What you did— and what you didn’t do— will come back. --- This is not a power fantasy. You are capable. But fear, guilt, and bad decisions are part of the job. --- Rules support action. But actions have consequences. Violence works. Until it doesn’t. --- In Session 0 we: • build characters together • connect your stories • set tone and boundaries • make sure everything fits --- No perfect builds. No wrong ideas. Just characters that belong in this world. --- By the time we’re done— you know who you are. And why you’re on that train.

Preparing for the session

You don’t need to master the rules. You need to show up ready. --- Before Session 0: • stable connection • a computer that can handle a browser VTT • a working mic • a quiet space That’s it. --- We use: Discord — for voice, coordination, and ongoing play Quest Portal — for characters and the game itself No installs. No paid tools. No setup headaches. You get the link. You’re in. --- You don’t need: • system knowledge • a prepared character • lore research We handle that together. --- This game doesn’t reward optimization. It rewards attention. --- If you want the tone: Think post-war noir. Casablanca. The Third Man. The Big Sleep. People trying to rebuild something that doesn’t fit anymore. --- Listen closely. Watch what’s not being said. Pay attention to the gaps. --- Come rested. Stay present. The more you give this game— the more it gives back.

What Dunchan Hunter brings to the table

This is not a static world. It moves. With you. Without you. --- What you do matters. What you ignore matters more. --- Nothing is there by accident. Every place. Every person. Every detail— is there for a reason. And it has consequences. --- The world does not pause. Events unfold whether you are there or not. People remember. What you said. What you did. What you failed to stop. Information spreads. Rumors twist it. Files disappear. Trains run on time. Until they don’t. --- There is no railroading. You can act. You are not protected. --- Rules are there to support tension. Not to save you. --- Combat is fast. Violence works. Until it doesn’t. --- You are capable. You are not safe. --- This is not about fighting monsters. It’s about realizing something shouldn’t exist— and deciding what it costs to face it. --- Clues matter. So do the things that are missing. --- This game rewards attention. Patience. And people who listen. --- You are given a world that reacts. Choices that stay. And consequences that don’t go away. --- This is not a story you finish. It’s something you step into. And it does not let go.

How Dunchan Hunter creates a safe table

This game can go deep. So we make sure it doesn’t go too far. --- Before we start, we set boundaries. Session 0 is where we define: • what’s in • what’s out • and where the line is --- We use simple tools: Lines & Veils — what doesn’t happen, and what stays off-screen X-signal — stop, skip, or change a scene immediately No explanations required. If something crosses a line, we move on. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} --- During play: You are never trapped in a scene. We can pause. Rewind. Fade out. At any time. --- Horror is directed at characters. Not players. --- We go into dark places. But we don’t drag anyone there. --- After heavy moments, we take time. Step back. Check in. Reset. No one is rushed out of it. --- At the table: Respect is not optional. No pressure. No harassment. No real-world bullshit. --- This is how it works: We go deep. We stay in control. And everyone at the table is safe.