Credits

Written by
SARAH NEWTON
Produced by
JOHN HOULIHAN
Graphic Design
MICHAL E. CROSS
Layout
RICHARD L. GALE
Cartography
JOSE ‘GIGIO’ ESTERAS
SARAH NEWTON
Art
DIM MARTIN

Achtung! Cthulhu Line Management

JOHN HOULIHAN
Publisher
CHRIS BIRCH
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MODIPHIUS ENTERTAINMENT LTD.
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 CHAPTER 1

Introduction
Istanbul is unreal, a wedding cake of spires and minarets against a Mediterranean blue sky,
fluttering like a mirage over the turquoise seas of the Bosphorus.

WHAT IS Code of Honour is about secrets and cyclicality—an ancient

ACHTUNG! CTHULHU? war of the ghouls (and the Turks) against the serpent people
(and the ancient Byzantines) for control of the city of Istan-
Achtung! Cthulhu is a setting for Lovecraftian roleplaying bul. The scenario has a very different atmosphere to previous
during World War Two, which allows players to investigate, Achtung! Cthulhu scenarios—the investigators are caught
explore, and discover the truth behind the malign influence up not in the conflict of the war, but rather in a cloak and
of the Mythos on the Nazi war machine as war engulfs the dagger struggle of spies and secrets in a neutral country where
globe during 1939-1945. In this world of brave Allied heroes the war is being fought with smiles and secret assassinations.
and two-fisted adventure, players take on the roles of Allied
or indeed Axis servicemen and women, secret agents, or
members of the Resistance; all standing firm against the What’s In This Book?
twisted might of the Black Sun and its Mythos allies which Code of Honour is a complete mini-campaign for Achtung!
hold most of Europe under their sway. Cthulhu, comprising several episodes and an ancient con-
spiracy, as well as being a sourcebook for the city of Istanbul
Code of Honour is intended for use with the Call of Cthulhu, during World War Two. The sections which follow encompass:
Sixth Edition roleplaying game by Chaosium Inc. and you • Chapter 1: Introduction (this chapter). An introduction
will also need both Achtung! Cthulhu: the Investigator’s to the city and the events of the adventure.
Guide to the Secret War and Achtung! Cthulhu: the • Chapter 2: The City of Istanbul. Detailed background
Keeper’s Guide to the Secret War to play. Pre-generated information on the people, life, and key locations of
investigators can be found at the end of the adventure Istanbul in 1942—the “city of spies”.
(pp.79-82) or, alternatively, players can use their existing • Chapter 3: Factions and Characters. An overview of
characters or create new ones using the Call of Cthulhu the political, intelligence, and occult factions at large in
rules and the guidelines found in Achtung! Cthulhu: the wartime Istanbul.
Investigator’s Guide to the Secret War. • Chapter 4: Secrets and Spies. Descriptions of the “trade-
craft” of espionage and how to manage the many secrets
which are the spy’s stock-in-trade.

OVERVIEW • Chapter 5: Plot Episodes. The three key episodes and

their constituent scenes covering the plot of Code of
Code of Honour takes place in Istanbul, the Queen of Cities, Honour, including guides for using the information pre-
the Sublime Porte, over a roughly six-month period from sented in previous chapters.
the winter of 1941 to the summer of 1942. It culminates in • Chapter 6: Pre-generated Characters. Here you’ll find a
a grand masked ball, which takes place in late spring / early selection of pre-generated Achtung! Cthulhu heroes to
summer (the 29th May). start your adventure in the city of spies.
 of Information. Wartime Istanbul is a wide-open environment
for investigators, so any character with a link to the uncanny
Pronouncing and Writing events of the Secret War can have a reason for being here.
Turkish
In Code of Honour, we’ve tried to strike a balance between
accuracy and playability when it comes to writing Turkish THE REAL DEAL
words and giving guidance to how to pronounce them. As usual, the investigators are just uncovering the tip of
Rather than using the Turkish alphabet, which has a few the iceberg of the dark Mythos secrets which lie beneath
different letters from the alphabet used for writing English, Istanbul. What follows is an explanation of what lies behind
we’ve used English letters throughout for ease of reading. and beneath the events of this adventure, specifically for the
Bear in mind that reading the words out loud won’t sound Keeper. Investigators may uncover some or all of this infor-
properly Turkish this way—if you’re interested in accuracy, mation during play.
there are lots of great online guides to pronouncing this In the distant past, before even the rise of Rome, the
fascinating and ancient language. ancient settlement which would one day be named Byz-
We have kept a couple of Turkish spelling conventions. antium was founded on the top of an entrance to the vast
The first of these is that any “c” in Turkish is pronounced subterranean world which legend called Valusia, inhabited
like the English “j” (so that caddesi, meaning “avenue” or by the lesser independent race known as serpent people.
“boulevard”, is pronounced “jad-desi”); the second is that For centuries, a powerful Valusian serpent woman named
“j” is pronounced “zh”, like the sound the “s” makes in the the Empress in Purple bred with the kings of Byzantium
word “pleasure”. Also be aware that the letter “g”, particu- in a dreadful “wedding ritual”—and even, after the Roman
larly when it comes before an “l”, is pronounced a little like Emperor Constantine made it his capital of Constantino-
the letter “y” or the sound the “gh” makes in “throughout”. ple, its emperors—to provide the city’s rulers. Appearing
only once in an emperor’s life to consummate this loathsome
congress, she was nevertheless worshipped by Byzantium’s
people in a Valusian mystery cult called “the Mother
• Chapter 7: Operational Briefing. Covert mission instruc- of Wisdom”.
tions and background material from Section M to help
brief players before the adventure begins.
The Empress in Purple possessed
arcane knowledge, and could summon
THE MISSION vast inhuman powers.
The investigators are brought to Istanbul in short order if they
aren’t here already. An Allied intelligence asset and ex-pat
American socialite, Lily Warner, has been found dead under The Empress in Purple possessed arcane knowledge,
bizarre circumstances, bearing a message addressed person- and could summon vast inhuman powers. However, her
ally to one of the investigators, an old acquaintance, saying attentions were for her subterranean realm. Nevertheless,
that the Imperial regalia of ancient Byzantium—the old name through the sorcerous rituals of the Valusian mystery cult
of Istanbul before the Ottoman conquest—has been found. and its influence over the rulers of Byzantium, her power
The case reeks of the weird events for which the investigators protected the city for centuries. At some point in its history,
have become known in clandestine circles, and they’ve been
instructed to meet in the neutral city, a den of spies.
These events, and those which may follow, are dealt with
in Episode One: The Tomb of the Marble Emperor (p.60).
America at War!
Who Are the Investigators? The United States of America entered the war at the end
The investigators in Code of Honour may be the same char- of 1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour
acters who played through Three Kings and Heroes of the Sea, on the 7th of December. In the opening months of
or they may be created specifically for this adventure. We’ve 1942 it’s still early days, with recruitment, training, and
provided updated pre-generated characters on pp.79-82. wartime production on the home front ramping up, but
Investigators may belong to, or be loosely affiliated with, the intelligence efforts are intensifying quickly.
intelligence services, particularly the British SOE (Special
Operations Executive) and the US Office of the Coordinator
the mystery cult was subsumed into Byzantium’s church as There were forces among the Ottomans who knew the
a sect known as the Varangian Order, and its body of ded- terrible fate the world had just been spared. These were
icated protectors as the Valusian Guard and ultimately the holy men and women, but also more uncanny forces: the
Varangian Guard, as it became staffed by hardened warriors corpse-eating ghouls which had arrived with the conquerors
from Europe’s barbarian north. from the desert lands to the south. Sealing the Gates of Mick-
In the fifteenth century, Constantine Palaeologus, who legard beneath the cathedral, these forces mounted a watch to
would be the last emperor of the city now known as Con- ensure Aciel, the Black Sun, could never be summoned again.
stantinople, was desperate for it not to fall to the Ottomans.
He commanded the Varangian Order to perform an ancient
ritual, known as Azel’s Bell, to summon a power to protect
the city from its foe.
It is likely that neither Constantine nor the Varangian Allied Intelligence
Order understood what they were doing. The Ritual of Azel’s
Bell opened a portal to allow “the Sun of the Night” to enter
in Early 1942
into the world—a being known to the Sumerians as Aciel. Since Heroes of the Sea, the British Secret Intelligence
Depicted as a serpent-headed giant and possibly an avatar of Service has continued to advance in competence and
Nyarlathotep or an Outer God, this ‘black sun’ threatened sophistication, establishing the Special Operations
destruction not merely for the city but for subterranean Valu- Executive (SOE) to (in Churchill’s words) “set Europe
sia itself. It was only through the intervention of the Empress ablaze”, combining the activities of the former Section
in Purple that the Black Sun was satiated—at the price of D and Section M to conduct espionage, sabotage, and
the downfall of the ancient Imperial line. reconnaissance in Occupied Europe.
Everyone knows that Constantinople fell to the Otto- The United States, since entering the war only
man Sultan Mehmet II, “the Conqueror”, on the 29th of months ago, are bringing to bear their Office of the
May, 1453. Few know the truth of the uncanny light which Coordinator of Information under William “Wild Bill”
rose from the ground to illuminate the ancient cathedral of Donovan, and the American intelligence situation is
the Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia, that night, nor the wild changing rapidly. It’s an opportunity for competent
legends of the devil loose in the doomed city’s streets. The individuals—including the investigators!—to carve out
Varangian Order retreated to the “Gates of Micklegard” roles and territories for themselves.
beneath the cathedral, through which the Empress retreated,
closing them on her hybrid offspring forever.
 These Servants of Mehmet still exist, in secret, and their statue—the Marble Emperor—and now sleeps beneath the
code of honour and pact with the ghouls keeps the city— city, to one day awaken to free his city and reclaim his throne.
and the upper world—safe, and the Gates of Micklegard lost, After the city’s fall, Constantinople’s population
forgotten, and closed. changed, and inhabitants of other conquered towns and
Ottomans from the sultan’s heartlands came to inhabit
its ancient streets. In the centuries since, the ghouls and
The Heir to Secrets the Servants of Mehmet have protected the city’s secret;
Constantine Palaeologus, the last emperor of Byzantium, was and yet, unknown even to them, the Varangian Order
believed killed in the city’s fall, although his body was never has survived, loyal to the Empress in Purple, keeping the
found, and the location of his tomb and his Imperial rega- memory of the Marble Emperor alive and waiting to restore
lia never discovered. Legends say that he was turned into a the ancient powers. The Order has waited for five hundred

A Timeline for Istanbul

658 BC: Byzas founds the city of Byzantium following the 1914: Turkey enters the Great War on the side of Germany.
advice of the Oracle of Delphi. 1918: Turkey signs an armistice, under whose terms the
1st century AD: Byzantium gradually comes under the allies occupy Istanbul for 5 years.
authority of the Roman Empire. 1922: The Sultanate is abolished.
330: Constantine the Great moves the capital of the 1923: The Allies leave Istanbul. A Turkish Republic is
Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium, which he renames declared, and the capital is moved to Ankara. Mustafa
Constantinople. Kemal Pasha (Ataturk) becomes President..
395: The Roman Empire is divided, and Constantinople 1924: Abolition of the Caliphate.
becomes capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. 1925: The European hat is adopted in place of the fez.
655: Constantinople is besieged by the Arabs for the The international calendar and time system is adopted.
first time. 1928: Latin alphabet and numerical system replaces
1204-61: Constantinople falls to the Crusaders, who the Arabic.
establish a short-lived “Latin Empire” before being expelled. 1932: Language reform removes Arabic words.
1299: The Ottoman Empire is established in Anatolia. 1934: The metric system and family names (surnames)
1357: The Ottomans extend into Europe, beginning to are introduced.
surround Constantinople. 1935: Sunday becomes a day of rest, instead of Friday.
1361: The Ottomans make Adrianople, now called Edirne, 1938: Mustapha Kemal Pasha dies. Ismet Inonu of the
their capital, effectively cutting off Constantinople from the People’s Party (the only political party) becomes President;
rest of Europe. Saracolu becomes his foreign minister.
1453: Byzantium, the city of Constantinople, falls to Sultan 1939-1941: While war rages in Europe, Turkey remains
Mehmet II and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman capital is neutral. Istanbul becomes a hotbed of espionage, with
moved there the following year. representatives of over 17 intelligence agencies—Allied,
1710: Turkey declares war on Russia, and Russian Axis, and otherwise.
Ambassador Tolstoy is imprisoned at the Castle of the 7th December 1941: The Japanese attack Pearl Harbour.
Seven Towers (p.28). The USA rapidly enters the war on the side of the Allies.
1854: The Crimean War. Turkey declares war on Russia, A few weeks ago: The Ahnenerbe discover the ancient
and is aided by Great Britain, France, and Italy. Florence temple in the Punic dig in North Africa (p.54).
Nightingale organises a group of women nurses in the A week or so ago: Ahnenerbe archaeologist Professor Ion
Uskudar hospital (p.27). Golescu discovers the legendary lost tomb of the Marble
1898: The Sultan concedes a constitution for the Emperor in Istanbul (p.60-61).
Turkish state. The past week: The Varangian Order finds out about the
1909: Sultan Abdulhamid II is deposed, succeeded by Ahnenerbe discovery, attacks the dig, and steals the Akakia,
Mahmud V. part of the ancient Byzantine regalia. Lily Warner, an Allied
1912: Turkey fights the Balkan War against Bulgaria, intelligence asset, is killed, but leaves a message for one of
Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia, and loses the territories the investigators.
west of Edirne. Now (early 1942): The investigators assemble in Istanbul.
 years for the rediscovery of the ancient key which can open
the Gates of Micklegard.
What the Investigators
Recent Events Might Find
In recent weeks, a Nazi Ahnenerbe expedition to the moun- Code of Honour has the potential to be a complex
tain of Jebel Chambi in North Africa (code-named “CASE adventure; Istanbul is awash with secrets, intrigue,
ELEPHANT BLACK” and sometimes referred to as “the conspiracies, and dodgy dealings, and players may
Punic Dig”—see p.54) has discovered ruins of a pre-Phoe- initially find themselves floundering, with no clear way
nician snake cult and references to an ancient subterranean to sift through the information. The episodes beginning
realm of “serpent people” beneath the Mediterranean Sea. on p.46 provide guidance for Keepers to structure inves-
The secret masters of the Ahnenerbe, the Black Sun, already tigator activities in the city, and also to gradually make
obsessed with the search for an entrance to a fabled hollow secrets and Mythos information discoverable to the
earth, have ordered the Ahnenerbe to begin a thorough investigators and their foes, but essentially the following
investigation. key items of information are up for grabs:
The attention of the Black Sun has been drawn to a
fresco in the Jebel Chambi ruins, depicting a serpent demon • The investigators may discover what the Nazis are
named “Aciel” climbing from the abyss bearing a “sun of initially looking for—the stolen regalia—and uncover
darkness” with which it laid waste to its enemies. The fresco the tentative link Professor Golescu (p.37) and
appears to have been maintained well into the historical the Ahnenerbe are making with the discoveries at the
era—coinciding with the period of the Roman settlement of Punic dig.
Cillium at the foot of Mount Jebel Chambi, which survived • As the adventure progresses, they may uncover the
up to the 7th century as a Byzantine city. secret Mythos history of Istanbul—what lies beneath
the city, and what is at stake.
• They may realise the Nazis want to ally with the
Varangian Order, and the serpent people behind
The tomb contained not only a body, them; and they may stop them.
but also what appears to be the Imperial • They may discover the existence of the ancient
regalia, including the baton-like Servants of Mehmet, and their shadowy collabora-
Akakia, with its serpentine symbolism, tors, the ghouls; they may even ally with them.
and writings referencing “St Azel’s Bell” • They may find out about the ritual of St Azel’s Bell,
and the demon Aciel it’s said to summon; and about
and the “Gates of Micklegard”.
the Ahnenerbe’s discovery of the same information.
• They may find out about the “Punic Device” found at
the Punic dig, and what the Ahnenerbe think it may
At the same time, a secret Ahnenerbe dig in Istanbul be used for—and why they become so interested the
has uncovered what may be the lost tomb of Constantine Ritual of St Azel’s Bell if they find out about it.
Palaeologus, the “Marble Emperor”. The tomb contained • Finally, the investigators may find out about Jebel
not only a body, but also what appears to be the Imperial Chambi, CASE ELEPHANT BLACK, and get an early
regalia, including the baton-like Akakia (“ah-kah-keeya”), insight into the plan of Himmler and the Black Sun—
with its serpentine symbolism, and writings referencing “St the Nazi search for an occult superweapon which will
Azel’s Bell” and the “Gates of Micklegard”. Ahnenerbe win the war. Optionally this can be a direct link to
archaeologist Professor Ion Golescu of the Istanbul dig has Zero Point 1943: The Kasserine Conspiracy.
put two and two together, and now believes there may be a
link between the tomb and the Punic dig in North Africa.
Golescu isn’t sure what it all means yet, but his mind is drift-
ing towards hidden entrances to the hollow earth and the
powerful occult rituals of a prehistoric snake cult in the Med- Lily Warner (codename: ARDENT), has inadvertently
iterranean basin, remains of which may still exist beneath alerted the clandestine forces of the ancient Varangian
Istanbul. Believing (correctly) that the discovery may be Order. Only days ago, Varangian agents broke into the lost
vital to the nefarious projects of the Black Sun, he is trying tomb and stole the Akakia from the Ahnenerbe, killing an
to find out more, with a view to facilitating his own entry Ahnenerbe operative and agent ARDENT in the process.
into the organisation—and his subsequent rise... Electrified by the rediscovery of the ancient key to the Gates
The Ahnenerbe have kept their discoveries secret. of Micklegard, the Varangian Order is awakening from slum-
In Istanbul, however, the failed mission of an Allied spy, ber, and ancient forces are once again on the move...
 CHAPTER 2

The City of Istanbul

It’s hard to believe that elsewhere in Europe people are tearing one another limb from limb
in their thousands. Here we dine obscenely, enemies eyeing each other with ice-sharp politeness
over champagne and cigars in jazz bars and the finest restaurants.

Istanbul! The Queen of Cities, the Sublime Porte, old The ancient hero Byzas, on the instruction of the Oracle at
Constantinople, ancient Byzantium, the seat of the Roman Delphi, is said to have founded a settlement here 700 years
Empire in the East for a thousand years after the fall of Rome. before the birth of Christ. Darius and the Persians crossed
City of secrets, of sultans, capital of the Ottoman Empire for here to attack the Greeks, and the Greeks took it back again
five hundred years! Its very name conjures up images of the later. It was besieged by Philip of Macedon, owned by Alex-
exotic orient—of harems, sultans, and Turkish delights. ander the Great, and attacked by the Gauls, all before it ever
In World War Two the fledgling Republic of Turkey became part of the Empire of Rome.
maintains a cautious neutrality, quietly favouring the Allies
but careful to do nothing that would prompt Hitler, already
on their doorstep just a hundred miles north, from invading.
With its old wooden buildings and over two millennia of The ancient hero Byzas, on the instruction
history, the city of Istanbul would suffer like no other from of the Oracle at Delphi, is said
a single night of Blitzkrieg, and so it conducts a meticulous to have founded a settlement here
diplomacy, providing a strange neutral ground where enemies 700 years before the birth of Christ.
who would otherwise be pounding one another with mur-
derous artillery share cocktails while their agents attempt to
steal advantage in this lethal secret war.
This chapter provides historical, cultural, and geo- In 324 AD the Roman emperor Constantine the Great
graphical background for wartime adventures in the city of saw the great advantage of Byzantium’s strategic position,
Istanbul. and took the city for his own, moving the capital of the
Empire here from Rome. Renamed “New Rome”, it later
gained his name also, becoming known as Constantinople—

A BRIEF HISTORY Constantine’s city.

When Rome fell, the Empire survived in the East, with
Istanbul is old. There was a settlement here over two-and- its capital at Constantinople. For a thousand years more it
a-half thousand years ago. It’s one of the most strategic thrived, rising to great pinnacles of achievement. It resisted
locations in the world; a narrow strait, barely a mile wide, the rise of Islam, survived the Crusades, until, weakened
and less in places, joining the Black Sea to the Mediterra- from decadence, corruption, and centuries of abandonment
nean, and the only places for a thousand miles or more in by its erstwhile Christian fellows in western Europe, it was
either direction where Europe meets Asia. No wonder it has overcome by the great Ottoman Sultan, Mehmet II, called
often been a centre for so many major historical events. “the Conqueror”. The shockwaves when the Second Rome
In legend, Jason and his Argonauts sailed through the fell to the Ottomans were felt all around the known world;
strait of clashing rocks here, in search of the Golden Fleece. but it was too late.
 Mehmet II was a visionary, and took the fallen Byzan- equipped to resist the Nazi war machine which rampaged
tium for his own capital. He kept the name Constantinople, through Europe only a year later. As nation after nation
but otherwise the city changed utterly, becoming the capital became embroiled in the war, Turkey maintained its neu-
of an oriental, Turkish empire. Mehmet preserved its ancient trality. Ships of all nations still continued to pass through
Roman and Greek buildings, some of the oldest and most the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus
beautiful structures in the world, and added his own. For between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and Turkey
five centuries Constantinople was the heart of the Ottoman denied none of them passage. And, gradually, every nation
empire, with its court eunuchs, its harems, its seraglios, jan- realised the city of Istanbul had become a magnet for intrigue
nisaries, and mosques. It became an exotic destination for and espionage. Secrets were bought, sold, and stolen; no one
the wealthy travellers of the European world. could afford not to play its increasingly lethal games.
The First World War was a disaster for the Ottoman
Empire. Istanbul was occupied by the Allies, and the war
was followed by civil war and revolution, which established
Gradually, every nation realised
a modern, secular, Western-looking republic in the state of
the city of Istanbul had become a magnet
Turkey. At its head stood the statesman Mustapha Kemal,
called Ataturk, the “Father of the Turks”. Under his aegis for intrigue and espionage.
Turkey cast off its conservative past, ridding itself of veils for
women, fezzes and other oriental apparel, and introducing
universal suffrage, education, modern Western technology, Today, Istanbul is a city of spies. Rumours run riot that
thinking, and social structures. With a break from the past Turkey is about to join the Allies, or the Axis, or is about
in mind, he moved Turkey’s capital from Istanbul to Ankara; to be invaded, destroyed, or bombed. And yet it remains—
yet Istanbul remained as the Sublime Porte, rich with cul- jumpy, on edge—a place where spies drink champagne
ture, history, and seductive exoticism. and dine on the finest cuisine, while checking for poison,
Ataturk died in 1938, to widespread public grief. He left and daggers in the night, while mere miles away, the fires of
behind him a modern, secular state—but one that was not war burn over Europe.
Getting to Istanbul THE CITY
Before the war, the most famous way of getting to Istanbul Wartime Istanbul has a population of about 900,000, con-
was via the legendary Orient Express, running from Paris centrated on a peninsula at the eastern end of the Sea of
(or London, including a Channel crossing) through the Marmara which separates the Black Sea from the Mediter-
heart of Europe. Lavish, opulent, and romantic, its services ranean (see map). The peninsula is often known as “Fatih”,
were suspended in 1939 with the outbreak of war. Turkey although strictly speaking that’s just one of its districts;
shares European borders with Bulgaria and Greece, but since it’s the “old city”, the heart of Ottoman Istanbul, and has
Bulgaria entered the war on the side of the Axis in 1941, a reputation for piety and religiousness. Built on seven hills,
and Greece fell to Germany in the same year, getting it’s where all the great architectural wonders of the city
to Istanbul overland from Europe has been perilous for are clustered.
Allied personnel, to say the least, with rigorous checks at A second part of Istanbul lies eastwards, just over the
borders and trains packed with informers. Instead, it’s pos- famous narrow strait of water called the Golden Horn. Com-
sible to travel north overland from the Middle East, via prising two main districts, once known as Galata and Pera,
Beirut by rail using the Taurus Express, the guards of whose now Karakoy and Beyoglu, it’s “European Istanbul”, where
sleeper wagons are notorious informants and couriers for Genoese and Venetian traders settled in the Middle Ages, and
intelligence organisations—often more than one! Keep a remained even after the Ottoman conquest. It’s where all the
close eye on your belongings—especially your passport and fashionable restaurants, cafes, and hotels are located, as well
travel papers! as the consulates (which were embassies when Istanbul was
Most people travelling to wartime Istanbul arrive by still Turkey’s capital). In short, it feels much more European,
sea, or more rarely by air to the Yesilkoy airfield, 4 miles and is mostly where the spies hang out.
(7 km) southwest of the city on the European side. Istan- The third part of Istanbul lies on the Asian side of the
bul is very much a maritime city; its geography means it Bosphorus, and comprises the districts of Uskudar, Haydar-
looks outwards towards the sea. Ships of any nation making pasha, and Kadikoy. Haydarpasha railway station is a major
their way to its waters may dock at its shores, as long as landmark and destination, and many rich families own beau-
they’re not on any military expedition that might threaten tiful traditional seaside villas known as yali along the water,
Turkey’s neutrality. but otherwise it has a more “suburban” or even countryside
feel than the other parts of the city.
 As might be surmised, Istanbul is a city connected by Currency
water. The Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara, and the The Turkish currency is the lira, divided into 100 kurus
Bosphorus are as central to its existence as any of its land (ku-rush), abbreviated “l” and “kr” respectively. There are
districts, and are crossed by countless boats, ships, and ferries. just over 5 lira to the British pound sterling; 1 lira is worth
Regular services connect all the major seaside areas of the just under 80 US cents. Lira banknotes come in denomina-
city, and many palaces, great houses, and public buildings tions of 2.5, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 lira.
have ornate “gates” which open from their gardens directly Living costs are high: there’s a lot of inflation and
onto the sea, where boats may draw up. The city is built on profiteering, and prices have more than doubled since the
many hills, often quite steep, all overlooking the water, and beginning of the war, and can be astronomical. Rationing has
for centuries buildings have been constructed in such a way been introduced on basic products, and the already low aver-
as to take advantage of the seaward views. It’s a beautiful, age wage (about 640 Turkish lira per year) has dropped in
almost timeless city, with a skyline dominated by ancient value by about 40%. There’s a strong temptation to change
churches, palaces, castles, and the spires of mosques. your dollars or sterling on the black market.
If the investigators need to buy anything in Istanbul,
figure that prices are at least 3x normal. On a successful
Climate Bargain roll, investigators can get away with paying only
Istanbul lies on the same latitude as Naples and New York. double normal price. See p.32 for acquiring more clandes-
Summers are warm and humid with relatively little rain, and tine items of gear.
winters are cold and wet, with relatively little snow (perhaps
10-12 days in total). Summer average temperatures are about
30°C, with record maximums of 45°C, and winter averages
are about 10°C, with record minimums of about -15°C.
April-May and September-October are exceptionally fine.
Cover
The winter of 1941-42 has been the coldest for years,
and the country is buried in deep snow. In January it snows Individuals of many nationalities are present in wartime
heavily every day for a week; public transport services col- Istanbul, and investigators may be here for various
lapse, and food rations are reduced. Even the newspapers give reasons, some of which may even be true. However, it’s
people guidance on how to queue European-style for food. not a militarised city, and foreign soldiers per se aren’t
welcome; any investigator will need to have a cover
occupation which is acceptable to the Turkish authorities.
Daily Life People whose sole occupation is espionage often
Istanbul is a city which straddles Europe and Asia. It’s where have papers identifying themselves as officials of consular
two great civilisations connect and intermingle. People on passport offices, businessmen and salesmen in many of
the streets wear European fashions, and there are European the essential import and export enterprises in the city (oil,
brand labels, French restaurants and jazz cafes in Beyoglu; cloth, paper), and so on. Istanbul university is a popular
European and American cars; and visitors speaking all haven for foreign academics; a great many were invited
manner of European languages. Many buildings are built in in the 1930s, and investigators with high academic skills
an ornate European style, often called “Ottoman”. and at least reasonable contacts or social skills should
At the same time, the city is Oriental. The muezzin call have no trouble finding at least a temporar y teaching or
the faithful to prayer at the city’s many mosques throughout lecturing position. Investigators of independent means
the day, and the narrow streets, particularly on the penin- may enjoy the high life; Istanbul is one of the few places
sula in Fatih, are filled with bearers carrying loads of spices, in Europe where cosmopolitan socialites still congregate,
cloths, food, and provisions, through which shining trams, and being a playboy (or girl) makes for a great cover.
Western cars, buses, and the shared taxis known as dolmus Finally, investigators may even be just tourists—although
slowly creep. Men in traditional Ottoman clothing—perhaps in wartime this is one of the few activities pretty much
without the old-fashioned fez, these days, but nevertheless in guaranteed to attract a lot of police (and other) attention,
contrast to Western apparel—sit in coffee shops off narrow as most right-thinking tourists left a couple of years ago,
winding streets drinking thick Turkish coffee, or drinking fearing attack and invasion.
black tea from glasses, or smoking shisha. Radios blare tradi- By default, investigators in Istanbul on secret intelli-
tional Turkish music, competing with the cries of hawkers of gence service missions (see p.46) will be given diplo-
grilled meats and seafood for trade. matic, business, or academic cover, depending on
It’s a bewildering, often intoxicating clash—a cosmopol- their skills. See the pre-generated characters on p.79
itan melting pot, made all the stranger by the sight of the for examples.
latest Western fashions and the occasional formal military
uniform of erstwhile enemies on the streets.
Westernisation Accommodation
Turkey has become increasingly westernised since the Great Where the investigators live during their stay in Istanbul
War. The European hat was adopted in 1925 in place of depends very much on their cover stories. Beyoglu has many
the fez; women wear Western clothing and enjoy increas- modern apartment blocks; the most modern have “buzzer”
ing social freedom and mobility. The Latin alphabet and entry systems, otherwise they’ll be built around a courtyard
number system was introduced to replace the Arabic in and have a traditional Turkish kapici concierge who’s usu-
1928, and the language itself was reformed to a more Turkish ally very nosy and likely in someone’s pay as an informant
base in 1932. Turkey also uses the international time and (perhaps even yours!).
calendar system, and Sunday rather than Friday is now a day Businessmen and richer individuals may stay in some very
of rest. classy hotels; the Pera Palace (p.24) is popular among the
One of the strangely lopsided things foreigners may Allies, while the Park Hotel (p.24) is de rigueur for the Axis.
notice when socialising in Istanbul is the relative scarcity Seriously wealthy individuals or those with great con-
of Turkish wives at official functions and socialites’ parties. nections may have access to one of the traditional Ottoman
There’s no legal reason why, and things are changing, but waterfront villas known as yalis. These are sumptuous affairs,
many Turkish men still tend to leave their wives at home some more modern, some more classic, complete with
when attending gatherings, and find the presence of foreign motor launches, gardens, terraces, servants, and some very
women at such functions to be a novel surprise. classy parties.
Academics may have rooms near the University in Fatih
(p.26), or east of the city if they work at Robert College
Clothing (p.25).
The inhabitants of Istanbul wear a wide variety of clothing, Finally, more adventurous characters may rent rooms
generally “Western” in appearance. In Fatih (p.18) you may or apartments in the old city—in Yedikule, Aksaray, or
find religious conservatives in more traditional dress, but even Sultanahmet for a little more money. They’ll be some-
other than that the days of fezzes, turbans, and veils are long what isolated from the diplomatic community, but much
over; the European hat has been standard for almost 20 years, closer to the Turkish one, which has its own advantages
and Ataturk’s “new women” no longer cover their heads, and and drawbacks.
many dress in the best European fashions.
The investigators won’t be wearing military uniform,
but rather clothing appropriate to their cover or station.
They’ll have up to three sets of clothing—casual, work, and
The European hat has been standard for
formal—depending on their status. Most intelligence agents almost 20 years, and Ataturk’s “new women”
have “middle class” cover identities providing maximum no longer cover their heads, and many
flexibility; official functions in the luxury hotels of Beyo- dress in the best European fashions.
glu frequently require black tie and evening dress. Think
James Bond, or the decadent high society world of The Great
Gatsby, and you won’t be far wrong.
Getting About
For all its exoticism, Istanbul is a pretty modern city—it’s
criss-crossed by a network of tramlines, and serviced by buses
and taxis, including the state-managed shared taxi service
known as dolmus. There are taxi ranks at all the main areas—
Taksim Square, Karakoy, Eminonu, and so on.
Languages Many of the narrower or steeper streets, such as Yuksek
Kaldirim (the Street of the Step, p.29) or the warrens of the
The lingua franca in Istanbul is very often French; even old city, are best explored on foot, jostling for place with the
the banknotes had dual language Turkish and French hamals (stevedores) who carry goods in huge shoulder packs
inscriptions up to just a few years ago. English is also all over the city.
frequently heard, as is German, and there are sizable There are two bridges crossing the Golden Horn between
Greek and Armenian communities, as well as the whole the old city and the European quarter: the Pont Gazi or Atat-
gamut of Balkan languages and those of the diplomatic urk Bridge, and the Galata Bridge. Otherwise crossing the
community. It’s rare, though, for foreigners to speak more water requires boats, either the many scheduled ferry services
than a smattering of Turkish—so much so that it’s a great which run between the destinations marked on the city map
way to find employment for linguist investigators. (pp.14-15), or the myriad small caiques, which were once like
Istanbul’s gondolas; today they’re rowboats, often with out-
board motors, and can take you wherever you want, for a fee.
 Istanbul is served by two train lines: one from Europe, parties are happening. The Vatan newspaper is currently
terminating at Sirkeci Station in Eminonu; and one from treading carefully, as it was recently closed down (hopefully
Asia, terminating at Haydarpasha Station on the Asian side. temporarily…) for printing Charlie Chaplin parodying Hitler—
They’re not really practical methods of travel within the city, the authorities thought it was probably not a good idea to
but are notable landmarks and points of arrival and departure. poke fun at a genocidal heavily-armed megalomaniac poised
More clandestine forms of transport are available. In par- to descend with a vastly superior military force only a few
ticular, countless fishing boats and cargo ships ply the Sea hours away...
of Marmara and the Bosphorus. While the police and the
Emniyet Turkish secret service keep a close eye on their com-
ings and goings, it’s possible to smuggle people and things in Radio Stations
and out from as far afield as Italy, Greece, the Middle East, You can hear Turkish radio blaring out everywhere—particu-
and Romania and destinations in the Black Sea. larly in the bazaars and alleyways of the old city, with its
Foreigners travelling around in Istanbul are required by tinny din of non-stop traditional music.
law to carry tezkeres, internal passports listing their travel and
personal history. Failing to produce papers when required by
the authorities can result in serious trouble with the police Food and Drink
and secret services; deportation and prison sentences are Food and drink in wartime Istanbul are fabulous. In com-
standard, and some illegals have even been shot. In such parison to the rationing and often dreary fare on offer in
cases, it’s best not to be caught at all. other European cities, Istanbul seems little affected by the
deprivations of war; you can get the finest French cuisine at
Beyoglu’s exclusive hotels and restaurants, as well as mezes
Newspapers (the “Turkish tapas”) at eateries everywhere, from restaurants
Istanbul, indeed Turkey as a whole, has a free press … in to coffee shops, down to streetside grills and the borek (pastry
theory. In reality, especially now during wartime, there are and pie) stalls and vendors carrying their food through the
restrictions on what can be printed. The Hurriyet newspaper city streets night and day. Seasonal game is abundant: quail
has famous society columns, great places to pick up on gossip, and partridge in autumn, woodcock and hare in winter, and
rumour, scandal, and to find out where the latest and greatest pheasant. Seafood is exquisite, with fine Bosphorus fish,
 lobsters, prawns, crayfish, and scallops—although oysters foreign powers. Some of the staff are rumoured to be on the
can sometimes be iffy, so caution is advised! payroll of other powers, so it’s best to be careful what you say.
Alcohol is freely available for those who want it. Euro-
pean wines are at a premium, and there are some fairly nasty AKSARAY
simulacra from the Middle East (including a spectacularly Part of the district of Fatih (p.26), the Aksaray neighbour-
awful Egyptian Bordeaux). Hotel bars and night clubs are hood was founded by Mehmet II, “the Conqueror”, after the
famous for their cocktails—check out Ellie’s Bar (p.18) for conquest of the city.
her ferocious dry Martinis, but be careful who you talk to!
ATATURK BOULEVARD
One of the great projects of the famed French architect Henri

LOCATIONS Prost, Ataturk Boulevard links the Golden Horn with the Sea
of Marmara, a 50m-wide roadway 3km long. At the moment
Istanbul is a vast city, with a profound history and a pleth- it’s a building site, with open sections and areas under con-
ora of architectural wonders which makes it one of the most struction, where ancient shambles have been demolished and
beautiful cities in the world. Any attempt to describe it can cleared to make way for the new modern thoroughfare. When
only scratch the surface, and there are many great resources, it’s finished and planted with trees it should look magnificent;
both printed and online, to satisfy whatever degree of depth at the moment it feels a bit like No Man’s Land.
a Keeper needs. What follows is a short overview of the city
and its main landmarks and locations, with an emphasis on ATATURK BRIDGE
those which will make for interesting or exciting locations in One of the two bridges across the Golden Horn, and also
play. All locations are referenced on the Istanbul city map on known as “Pont Gazi” or simply “the New Bridge”, it was
pp.14-15; note that not all locations on the map are described. constructed between 1936 and 1940. It’s a pontoon bascule
bridge (a floating drawbridge) and is raised (and therefore
ABDULLAH’S RESTAURANT impassable) between 5.30am and 6.30am every day.
86 Istiklal Avenue, Beyoglu
A fine late 19th century restaurant serving sumptuous Istan- AYAZ PASHA
bul cuisine, Abdullah’s is often thick with spies and sellers of A wide curved avenue lined with shady plane trees in Beyo-
information—some of it true, some of it false or planted by glu, leading up from the Dolmabahce Palace to Taksim
 Square. The Park Hotel and German Consulate are located no longer exists. The gate and its neighbourhood are now
here, and numerous apartment buildings line the avenue and named after migrants who settled here from Belgrade in the
its side streets. 16th century. The area is whispered to be riddled with under-
ground burial chambers.
BANKALAR CADDESI Keeper’s Note: The cemeteries here are likely haunted
Istanbul’s principal banking quarter is reminiscent of Wall by Wali Dede’s children (see p.44).
Street or the City of London. The Turkish Central Bank is
located here, as are many other banks, including European BESIKTAS
ones; others can be found along Istiklal Avenue. A district of Istanbul to the north of Beyoglu, gradually
becoming part of urban Istanbul. Legend says there was once
BARBAROS MAUSOLEUM a church here with a stone from the stable where Jesus was
Barbarossa Pasha was the admiral who secured Ottoman born as its relic. It’s a fairly affluent and pleasant part of the
dominance in the Mediterranean Sea in the 16th century. city, and includes the Dolmabahce Palace and the Barbaros
His mausoleum is a tower-like structure built in 1541 at the Mausoleum.
site where his fleet used to assemble, and which is now the
Besiktas ferry’s embarkation point. BEYAZIT MOSQUE
Located in a cluster of trees on the east side of Beyazit Place,
BASILICA CISTERN this mosque was built in the early 1500s on the orders of
Also known the Yerebetan Saray, this underground water Sultan Beyazit II, the son of Mehmet II the Conqueror,
cistern has a modest hut for an entrance which masks the whose tomb lies in its gardens, together with that of his little
hugely impressive subterranean interior, a vast chamber 453ft daughter. In layout it’s reminiscent of Hagia Sophia. Pigeons
(138m) by 212ft (65m) in size—an area of over 100,000 flock in its courtyard, as well as peddlers selling perfumes and
square feet (almost 10,000 square metres)—containing 336 rosaries beneath old cypress trees. There’s also an imaret free
marble columns each 30ft (9m) high. It’s filled with water to kitchen and a medrese school, the latter of which has recently
several feet (a couple of metres) in depth, although it could been allocated to the Museum of the Revolution and the
obviously hold much more. It used to feed the gardens of the Municipal Library.
imperial palaces, and received water from the aqueducts of
Valens (p.27) and Hadrian. BEYAZIT PLACE
Nowadays it’s generally closed to the public; officially you Beyazit Place is an open square on top of one of the old city’s
can only get access in the afternoons of Mondays, Wednes- seven hills, at 203ft (60m). It’s the old site of the Forum of
days, Fridays, and Saturdays. That shouldn’t stop resourceful Theodosius (also known as the Forum Tauri—the “forum of
investigators, though. the bull”) built by Constantine the Great. Officially named
Keeper’s Note: Sometimes there’s a boat moored at “Freedom Place”, it’s known as Beyazit Place because of the
the bottom of the entrance stairway, against the cistern’s Beyazit Mosque next to it. It stands directly in front of the
southern. People can also be seen sneaking in and out on Serasker Gate, the main entrance to Istanbul’s university.
rare occasions, usually in the dead of night. There’s a hidden
entrance to the secret headquarters of the Varangian Order BEYOGLU
(p.66) in the northern wall of the cistern, and also a connec- A district of Istanbul, traditionally known as Pera, from
tion to the lost catacombs beneath Hagia Sophia (p.74). See “Peyre”, the Genoese town in this area in the Middle Ages.
p.75 for more about furtive goings-on in the Basilica Cistern. Beyoglu stands on the hills to the northeast of the Golden
Horn, reaching some 335ft (100m) high, and is the “Euro-
pean” part of Istanbul, with a sizable foreign community, a
People can also be seen sneaking richer class of inhabitants, and modern shops and hotels and
many consulates—and of course spies.
in and out on rare occasions, usually
in the dead of night.
BINBIRDIREK—THE CISTERN OF 1001 COLUMNS
Sometimes called the Cistern of Philoxenus, this vast under-
ground cistern measures 210ft (64m) by 184ft (56m) and
BEBEK comprises 224 columns. It’s been empty since Byzantine days
A wealthy waterfront suburb to the north of Besiktas. It’s the and is currently disused (and fairly full of refuse). It’s usually
location of the all-male Robert College, an American school. locked, although the key can be obtained from the porter at
the nearby Municipality building (although, again, none of
BELGRAD GATE that should stop an intrepid investigator).
A breach in the otherwise fairly well-preserved Theodo- Keeper’s Note: Binbirdirek is ghoul-haunted, and one of
sian Walls, the framework of the former Xylokerkos gate the entry points to their tunnels beneath the city.
BLACHERNAE PALACE
Probably most easily approached by boat, the rather steep German book-seller on the corner with the old tree doesn’t
hill on which this palace is built originally lay outside the just sell books…
Theodosian Walls. It was completed in the early 6th cen-
tury, and eventually enlarged and incorporated into the BOSPHORUS
city enclosure. In the 12th century it became the imperial The narrow strait, some 20 miles (32km) long and running
residence, containing a great palace with fine churches and roughly north-south, which separates Europe from Asia
extensive gardens, and courtyards whose porticos were famed and which links the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara (and
for their beauty. When the Crusaders conquered the city in thereby the Mediterranean). Istanbul lies at the southern
1204 they were dazzled by its opulence. end of the strait, which at this point is alive with ferries,
When the city fell to the Ottomans in 1453, Blachernae’s freighters, fishing boats, and endless traffic. At its widest (at
proximity to the city’s defences was fatal, and it was pillaged the northern end) the Bosphorus is roughly 2 miles (3km)
and burned down. Today it’s a ruin; no serious excavation has across, narrowing to only 750 yards (700m) about half way.
ever been done here, and rumour speaks of untold treasures At Istanbul it’s about 1¾ miles (2.8km).
in its depths. The northern and eastern boundaries are still
visible, where strong walls still outline the palace’s grounds, BOUKOLEON PALACE RUINS
but elsewhere fragments of walls, arches, and columns are The ancient headquarters of the Varangian Guard, the
all that remain. Boukoleon Palace has been ruined for centuries. A large por-
tion was removed in 1873 to make way for the railway line
BLUE MOSQUE to Sirkeci.
Also known as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, this huge mosque Keeper’s Note: There’s probably no physical connection
with its six minarets rivals Hagia Sophia in the skyline of to the Varangian Order lair, although the Varangian Club
the old city, and is considered one of the most beautiful in (p.27) is nearby.
Istanbul. Built in the early 17th century on the site of the old
Palace of Hagia Sophia. CAGALOGLU
A neighbourhood on the southern edge of Eminonu to the
BOOK MARKET east of Fatih in Istanbul’s old city and the centre of its pub-
There’s a secondhand book market in the narrow passage, lishing industry; all the main newspapers and periodicals
shaded by plane trees, near the Beyazit Mosque, with vari- have offices here. It’s also renowned for its famous Turkish
ous barrows specialising in books in different languages. The bath, the Cagaloglu Hammam.
CHRIST’S POSTERN COMEDY THEATRE
One of the towers in the Theodosian Walls between the Mesrutiyet Avenue, Tepebasi, Beyoglu
Mole and the Golden Gate. It’s named for the exceedingly A popular yet somewhat high-brow European-style theatre
ancient “Chi-Rho” inscription on its walls. popular with the intelligentsia, affluent classes, and foreign
community. A stone’s throw from the British consulate, it has
CIHANGIR an indoor theatre for use in winter and an outdoor summer
A neighbourhood of Beyoglu where it slopes down towards theatre. An excellent place for clandestine encounters.
the Bosphorus, often giving spectacular views. There are
numerous modern apartment blocks here, built since the CONTINENTAL HOTEL
1920s, often used as company flats. Wartime fuel rationing 153 Mesrutiyet Avenue, Tepebasi, Beyoglu
has meant that their otherwise luxurious central heating runs Almost across from the British consulate and the Comedy
tepid even in winter. Theatre, Shai (Zionist intelligence) agents are known to
work out of here.
CISTERN OF AETIUS
An open cistern near the Edirne Gate known as the “Sunken DIVANYOLU CEMETERY
Garden” in Turkish. It dates to the early 5th century, although Most cemeteries are outside the walls of old Byzantium, but
it’s dry and used by children playing—although they’re always this is within, next to the revered tomb of Sultan Mahmud
sure to leave before dark. The old folk tell of the “grand old II (not the same as Mehmet II “the Conqueror”). There
man of the night” who comes here on the nights of the full
moon. It’s supposed to be bad luck to see his shadow.
Keeper’s Note: There are wells and cellars in the area
that link to the ghoul tunnels beneath the city.

CISTERN OF ASPAR Consulates

Already dry during the Byzantine era and known as the “Dry
Garden”, it remains so today. There are indications it was As Ankara is now the capital of the Turkish republic, many
once covered. There was once a passage for water leading in of Istanbul’s former embassies now serve as consulates.
the direction of Hagia Sophia; it was bricked up a century Most of them are in the Beyoglu district. They provide
ago; some of the old people still remember the disappear- perfect cover for investigators, and many intelligence and
ances which preceded it. secret service agents operate out of seemingly innocuous
offices handling passports, visa applications, and other
CISTERN OF MOCIUS run-of-the-mill consulate business.
On the highest point of the seventh hill of Istanbul and The key consulates in Istanbul are as follows:
named after the church of St Mocius near its southwest- British Consulate, 26 Mesrutiyet Avenue, Beyoglu.
ern corner, it’s 575ft (175m) by 475ft (145m), and 15-30ft A large and impressive building set back from Mesrutiyet
(5-10m) deep. It’s used as a market garden, though the priest Avenue in its own gardens. It’s just round the back
can show you an ancient entrance to the water conduits of Istiklal Avenue, not far from the PTT Offices. Sir
beneath in his crypt. Hugh Montgomery Knatchbull-Hugessen, the British
Ambassador, spends most of his time on the ambassa-
COLUMN OF ARCADIUS dorial yacht when he’s not in the embassy in Ankara, but
A massive masonry base of red granite now marks where visits here when there’s a particularly select social event in
the triumphal column of Arcadius once stood. Erected in the city. The SOE and other organs of the British establish-
421AD, it fell in the 16th or 18th century after being dam- ments have many of their representatives here, under the
aged by an earthquake. There’s a tomb inside the base said to guise of various official cover identities.
lead beneath the city; some people say the Marble Emperor French Consulate, 22 Istiklal Avenue, Beyoglu.
is buried there. German Consulate, Ayaz Pasha, Beyoglu. An imposing
European-style building not far from Taksim Square. It
COLUMN OF CONSTANTINE stands right next to the Park Hotel, which for all intents and
Located at the top of one of the old city’s seven hills, 173ft purposes might as well be its bar and accommodation...
(53m) above sea level, and also called the Burnt Column, Italian Consulate, 15 Tomtom Sokak, Beyoglu.
this has marked the heart of the city from its very foun- Japanese Consulate, Ayaz Pasha, Beyoglu.
dation, and the ancient site of the Forum of Constantine. USSR Consulate, 443 Istiklal Avenue, Beyoglu.
It no longer bears the statue of Constantine on top, and United States Consulate, Mesrutiyet Avenue, Beyoglu.
stands roughly 115ft (35m) tall, bound with iron bands and
blackened by fire.
 are also cemeteries next to the Fatih and Suleymaniye has a military command structure, and an extensive net-
mosques; special permission was required to be buried in work of spies and informers. It operates throughout the
these places. Turkish security establishment, with possible offices in the
local Directorate of Police in Sirkeci, and also in other mil-
DOLMABAHCE PALACE itary facilities.
This impressive, massive, and extremely ornate renais-
sance-style palace was built in 1853 as the residence of the
Ottoman Sultans, and is as lavish inside as it is out.
The need to not provoke foreign powers
Best viewed from the water, the landward side is surrounded into hostile action makes Emniyet
by high walls. It’s now often used for state occasions, and agents simultaneously terrifying
national and international festivals, and as a residence for and extremely polite.
the President when visiting. Ataturk passed away here four
years ago. It’s considered part of Besiktas.

EDIRNE GATE FATIH

The highest point of the old city, at 252ft (77m), and his- The second of the two peninsular districts of Istanbul, lying
torically the weakest point in the Theodosian Walls, it was to the west of Eminonu, Fatih is quite cosmopolitan, though
by this gate that Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror made it still has a conservative and even pious image in many peo-
his triumphal entry into the city in 1453. Outside the gate ple’s eyes, largely because of the religious residents of the
stretches the most extensive cemetery in Istanbul. The Carsamba quarter situated around the Fatih “Conqueror”
neighbourhood around the gate has a significant Greek Mosque, where conservative Islamic clothing is often seen.
Orthodox population. Fatih is reasonably well-off, and a warren of narrow streets
of wooden buildings. Fatih includes neighbourhoods such as
ELLIE’S BAR Aksaray, Suleymaniye, and Yedikule.
Mis Street, off Istaklal Avenue, Beyoglu
Famed for its ferocious dry Martinis, Ellie’s Bar is a firm FATIH MOSQUE COMPLEX
favourite among British military personnel. Ellie is a buxom Also known as the Mehmet Fatih mosque, the Fatih mosque
blonde, and thought to be Romanian; she speaks almost (the name means “the Conqueror’s Mosque”) is a complex
perfect English, and appears to hate the Germans with a of buildings centred on a spectacular mosque, standing on
passion. In reality she’s in the pay of the Abwehr, and always top of one of the old city’s seven hills, at 206ft (63m). It’s
tries to get British officers drunk so she can pump them for where the greatly revered Sultan Mehmet II, the conqueror of
information. Byzantium, is buried. The complex includes eight medrese
schools, a hospice, a caravanserai inn, a domed library
EMINONU dating to the early 18th century, and a cemetery including
One of the two districts of Istanbul’s peninsula “old city”, the Tomb of Sultan Mehmet II, “the Conqueror” (p.26).
lying directly to the south of the Galata bridge. It’s crowded Keeper’s Note: The secret headquarters of the Servants
with cars and people by day, clustering around the piers and of Mehmet (p.41) are located in one of the disused medrese
making their way through the crowded streets, although schools of the Fatih complex (closed since 1924), and their
the past few years have seen a lot of regeneration and wid- ghoul allies (known as Wali Dede’s children—see p.44) have
ening of roads. There’s the constant smell of frying fish hidden entrances to their undercity tunnels here.
from the waterfront, and the cries of their vendors and the
ubiquitous gulls. Eminonu includes the quarters of Beyazit FLOWER PASSAGE
and Sultanahmet. An elegant belle époque shopping arcade on Istiklal Avenue.
There are many European-style restaurants here, and it’s a
EMNIYET HQ favoured spot for clandestine rendezvous—and for spying on
The National Security Service (the Milli Emniyet Hizmeti, the rendezvous of others.
misleadingly abbreviated as “MAH” and generally known
amongst foreign intelligence agents as the Emniyet) is FLOWER PAVILION
the Turkish intelligence agency, responsible for monitor- The Flower Pavilion is a sumptuous yali on the Asian side
ing all foreign intelligence activity on Turkish soil and of Istanbul just outside Uskudar, belonging to Nastasya
foiling external plots. It’s very good at its job, but some- Fillipovna Mitroglou, the widow who runs the Mitroglou
what hampered by the need to not provoke foreign powers Shipping company (p.39). Many wild parties filled with
into hostile action—which makes Emniyet agents simul- gossip, intrigue, and sometimes scandal happen here, and
taneously terrifying and extremely polite. The Emniyet it’s a jewel of the social calendar.
GALATA BRIDGE also frequented by prostitutes in the alleys on its seaward
One of the two bridges across the Golden Horn, like the side, and is always busy with sailors from the quays.
Ataturk Bridge this is also a floating drawbridge, some 1500ft
(450m) long, raised (and therefore closed to traffic) between GALATA TOWER
5.30am and 6.30am daily. Built in 1913, and the main way of This major landmark on Galata Hill, visible from all over
getting from Karakoy and Beyoglu to the old city, it’s notable the city, is a mediaeval stone tower built by the Genoese
in that it has two levels: the upper level, which bears the in the 14th century. Standing some 220ft (67m) tall, it was
bridge traffic; and a lower level, which is an arcade of restau- originally a watchtower, although it was used as a prison by
rants, cafes, and other eating places. All along the bridge are the Sultans. The view from the top is magnificent, and the
jetties and embarkation points for boats and ferries. tower is open every day, for a small consideration.

GALATA HILL GALATASARAY COLLEGE

The first hill you meet when crossing the Galata Bridge from A Turkish boys’ school where the lessons are mostly in
the old city to Beyoglu, this is the location of the Galata French. Established in the 15th century, it’s the oldest Turk-
Tower, the Tunel underground railway, Yuksek Kaldirim ish high school in the world. Its curriculum is structured on
(“the Street of the Step”), and many other landmarks. It’s the European model, with twelve years of education by a staff
 which includes many European teachers. Its central location the “newer” district of Beyoglu and the neighbourhood
in Beyoglu and reputation makes teaching here a practical of Karakoy.
cover identity for investigators. It’s about 4½ miles (7km) long, and about 620 yards
(550m) across at its widest, and criss-crossed with ferries,
GOLDEN GATE boats, and caiques almost continually. It’s a splendid harbour,
Originally a triumphal arch, built about 380 AD outside accessible to the biggest vessels, although it requires regular
the walls of Constantine, and later incorporated into the dredging. It’s crossed by two bridges—the Ataturk Bridge and
Theodosian Walls, its outlines are still clearly visible. An the Galata Bridge—both of which are bascule bridges raising
ancient legend says Constantine Palaeologus, last emperor at dawn to allow the ingress and egress of ships.
of Byzantium, was buried here, though his tomb has never
been found. GRAND BAZAAR
The Golden Gate can be entered on foot from outside The grand bazaar is very old, and one of the great symbols
the Theodosian Walls, but its chambers properly belong to of Istanbul’s exotic orientalism. It was rebuilt most recently
the Castle of Yedikule—see p.28 for more detail. in 1898, after suffering fire and earthquake damage, and is
Keeper’s Note: The ancient legend about the Marble an assembly of covered streets, like a roofed town in its own
Emperor is true—see p.60. right, filled with shops and stalls of all descriptions. In its
warrenous passages you can find almost anything, including
antiques from all across the ancient world, many of which
Constantine Palaeologus, last emperor of have gone on to grace the world’s finest museums—although
there are many fakes, too. It’s a great place to seek advice on
Byzantium, was buried here, though his
ancient legends and artefacts, to traffic in stolen or “procured”
tomb has never been found. goods, and to meet out of sight, amidst its constant crowds.
There are hidden hans (traditional Turkish inns) here, hemi-
spherical domes, grated gates, and tiny high windows allowing
GOLDEN HORN shafts of dusty light to filter into the shrouded interior.
Called Halich in Turkish, the Golden Horn is the deep and Wali Hasan Ali Yilmaz, mystic leader of the Servants
narrow gulf which separates the old city of Istanbul from of Mehmet (p.41), sometimes works here incognito in a
 Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia, called Ayasofya in Turkish, enjoys an almost Unusually for Istanbul, there are no known tunnels
mythical reputation as perhaps the most famous place in beneath Hagia Sophia—although there are many legends
Istanbul. Originally the “Church of the Divine Wisdom” of hidden dungeons, catacombs, and crypts. Some say a
(Hagia Sophia means just that) built in the year 325 by the vast plague grave lies beneath the edifice, forbidden by the
Roman emperor Constantine the Great himself on one of sultans from ever being opened lest the Black Death return to
the city’s seven hills, the current building dates back to the the city; others say the Devil lies imprisoned beneath. More
year 537, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied scholarly theories hold that Hagia Sophia may have been built
public buildings in the world. It was a church until the fall of on top of a pre-Christian temple to Isis; or that there are vast
the city in 1453, and then a mosque until 1931. Since then water cisterns beneath.
it’s been a Museum of Byzantine Art, although many locals Keeper’s Note: There are indeed tunnels beneath Hagia
are superstitious and fearful about this change. Sophia, including those connecting to the Basilican Cistern
Its interior is staggeringly beautiful, as might be expected used by the Varangian Order (p.66). There’s also the Hidden
from a building with such a spectacular history. Sheathed Stair, an ancient trapdoor in the floor, which is practically
with marble, porphyry, and gold mosaics, its outside with impossible to find or open from above (it’s remained undis-
red stucco, it’s surrounded by the tombs of sultans, and covered for five hundred years for good reason—see “The
shrouded in myth and legend. Chase Through Night-time Istanbul” (p.73).
 shop selling antiquarian Middle Eastern books. Come here consulates, cinemas, theatres, night clubs, and high quality
for jewels and furs, carpets and ancient weapons, knick- restaurants—and of course it’s thick with spies.
knacks, anything the raucous cries of its sellers can persuade
you to buy. KADIKOY
The map (p.20) shows the “streets” of the bazaar, all cov- A district of Istanbul lying on the Asian side on the shores
ered. Most streets specialise in one thing, or similar things; of the Sea of Marmara. This is the ancient Chalcedon, and
at the bazaar’s heart is the bedesten, which hosts an array of a beautiful summer resort.
armourers and sellers of old porcelains and bronze.
KADIRGA
GRAND HOTEL DE LONDRES The name of a quarter and a square in the old city, it was
139 Mesrutiyet Avenue, Tepebashi, Beyoglu once also the oldest harbour of Istanbul.
Also known as the Hotel Londra, this is one of the most
famous and popular hotels in Pera. Less conspicuous than KARAKOY
other Beyoglu hotels, it’s popular with artists and writers Also known as “Galata”, this is a neighbourhood of Beyoglu,
(Hemingway stayed here in 1922), and has a great bar, handy with busy streets, banks, and shipping agencies, as well as
for the British consulate. As might be expected, it’s riddled various quays and a pier. It’s the shipping centre of Istanbul.
with spies and informers.
LANGA
HAYDARPASHA This was once the port of Eleutheros, the largest port on the
This neighbourhood of the Kadikoy district lies on the Asian Sea of Marmara. The port has long since silted up to form
side of Istanbul, and is the terminus of the railway system to this quarter and its fields.
Asia. It contains a British Cemetery with war and civilian
dead from as far back as the Crimean War, the Haydarpasha LEANDER’S TOWER
Military School and Barracks, and the Military Hospital. A beautiful tower and landmark located towards the Asian
shore of the Sea of Bosphorus, directly east of the Golden
HAYDARPASHA STATION Horn. Also known as the Maiden’s Tower, it’s the subject of
This huge 19th century stone-built railway station is a many legends, including one of an emperor who secreted his
major landmark, especially when approached by the many daughter away here to protect her from snakes.
ferries which link it with the European side. Trains from
here head into Asia Minor, including the famous Taurus LIBRAIRIE PANDORE
Express (p.8). Not a library, but the bookshop of Mustafa Basimevi (p.38),
located on Yuksek Kaldirim, the “Street of the Step” (see
HIPPODROME below). A specialist in rare and antiquarian books, there
This huge oval open area was once where the chariot and are volumes here which can be researched for exoteric, eso-
other races and the fights and games of the Romans were teric, and Mythos knowledge, including a copy of the Codex
held in the Byzantine era, and is today a large park and part Porphyrius (p.23) and possibly others at the Keeper’s discre-
of the gardens of the Blue Mosque. It dates back to the first tion. As the events of Code of Honour unfold, the bookshop
years of the 3rd century. Today it contains many monuments, comes increasingly under surveillance, and calling here is
including the Serpentine Column (p.25) and the obelisks of dangerous (see p.58).
Theodosius and Constantine Porphyrogenitus. Excavations
this century have begun to reveal significant remains of the
seating and podiums of the former structure. A specialist in rare books, there are
One of the notable points about the Hippodrome is how
volumes here which can be researched for
much its ground level has risen since the Byzantine era,
due to the accumulation of debris. The current ground level
exoteric, esoteric, and Mythos knowledge.
is some 15ft (4.5m) above the Byzantine level, which is why,
for example, the Serpentine Column appears to stand
in a “well”. LIBRARIES OF ISTANBUL
As might be expected, Istanbul has many libraries, some of
ISTIKLAL AVENUE which are very ancient indeed. Investigators may use them
The “Avenue of Independence” is the heart of “European” for research, and some may hold rare occult and even Mythos
Istanbul, and an elegant modern thoroughfare of Europe- tomes. They’re often also a great place for secret rendezvous,
an-style buildings. With a central tramline running all the although like most places in Istanbul you need to be dis-
way from Taksim Square to Tunel Square, and frequently creet to avoid observers and informers. Some libraries require
crowded with cars, it’s the location of many embassies, special permissions to enter—you can’t just walk in.
 Mythos Texts of Istanbul

There are several Mythos texts referenced in Code of Spells: Contact Ghoul. Secrets: esoteric knowledge of the
Honour. In addition to lore and possible spells, these texts Catacombs of Istanbul; Mythos knowledge of Beneath Hagia
may also provide information on Istanbul’s secrets (see Sophia (p.54), the Servants of Mehmet (p.56).
Chapter 4: Secrets and Spies, p.46). Which secrets are
discussed can be uncovered simply by skimming each book; SACRED WISDOM OF THE LIGHT WITHIN—in
gaining the knowledge requires at least another 2D6 hours Byzantine Greek, c. 15th century, author Nikephoros
per secret, and a successful language roll. Astrologos the Elder. Illuminated manuscript, folio. Copies
of this text can be found in the Library of the Jesuits of
CODEX PORPHYRIUS—in Byzantine Greek, c. 16th Ayaz Pasha (p.24), and in the Valusian Library (p.67). It’s
century, author unknown. Quarto, vellum cover, printed filled with esoteric Orthodox mysticism, and describes the
(Venice) 1521. Copies of this text can be found in the journey of St Azel through the Gates of Micklegard to the
Librairie Pandore (p.22), Library of Ahmet III (below), the “world within”, after the holy prayer to open them was
Valusian Library (p.67), and the library of the Cloister of the revealed to him by the Great Mother. A Church Slavonic re-
Servants of Mehmet (p.68). An occult text deriving from cension of this text also exists in the library of the Ukrainian
Byzantine occult teachings and sorcery, it directly mentions SSR in Kiev. Sanity loss 1D2/1D6; Cthulhu Mythos +2
by name a powerful book of ancient forbidden lore called Percentiles; Occult +5 percentiles; average 4 weeks to
the Valusian Codex (see below). Sanity loss 1/1D3; Cthulhu study and comprehend. Spells: Dream Vision, Find Gate,
Mythos +1 percentile; Occult +5 percentiles; average 2 Wandering Soul. Secrets: esoteric knowledge of the Akakia
weeks to study and comprehend. Spells: None. Secrets: (p.54), the Gates of Micklegard (p.55), the Marble Emperor
exoteric knowledge of the Akakia (p.54), the Marble Emperor (p.55), the Ritual of St Azel’s Bell (p.56).
(p.55), the Ritual of the Empress in Purple (p.56), the Tomb
of Constantine Palaeologus (p.57). VALUSIAN CODEX—in early Byzantine Greek, c. 8th
century, author unknown. Bound handwritten manuscript,
COMMENTARIES ON THE SHADOW DIVAN OF unconventionally illuminated, 16” x 16” on vellum with
AVNI (AVNI DIVANI GIZLI KITAP)—in Turkish, c. tooled green leather covers. A copy can be found in the
16th century, author unknown. In quarto, vellum-bound Valusian Library (p.67). A very secret book possessed by
with gold tooling, printed on paper, hand-inked. “Avni” the Varangian Order, referenced in the Codex Porphyrius
means “helper”, and was the pen name of Mehmed II for (above). It contains the full text of the Ritual of the Empress
his poetry. The Sultan wrote one known divan or poetry in Purple (p.56) and the Ritual of the Wedding Feast (p.56).
collection, but these Commentaries refer to a “lost divan” Sanity loss 1D4/2D4; Cthulhu Mythos +6 percentiles;
filled with astonishing and esoteric lore. The Commentaries average 12 weeks to study and comprehend. Spells: Candle
are the “instruction manual” of the Servants of Mehmet Communication, Chant of Thoth, Cloud Vision, Hands of
(p.68); a copy of the Edirne recension of the book can be Colubra, Mental Suggestion, Summon / Bind Child of Yig.
found in the Library of Fatih (p.24), and in the Teaching Secrets: Mythos knowledge of the Akakia (p.55), Beneath
Room of the Cloister of the Servants of Mehmet (p.68). Hagia Sophia (p.54), the Gates of Micklegard (p.55), the
Sanity loss 1/1D4; Cthulhu Mythos +4 percentiles; Occult Handmaidens (p.55), the Marble Emperor (p.55), the Ritual
+2 percentiles; average 6 weeks to study and comprehend. of St Azel’s Bell (p.56).

LIBRARY OF AHMET III LIBRARY OF AYA SOFYA

Built in 1719 in the third court of the Topkapi Palace, this Also known as the Library of Mahmut I, this library is
elegant little pavilion contains remarkable works from the located in the south gallery of Hagia Sophia itself (see p.21).
booty of Constantinople, the Bibliotheca Corvinia of Mat- Founded by Sultan Mehmet Fatih and renewed by Mahmut I
thias Corvinus, 15th century King of Hungary (the largest in the 18th century, it contains 5000 works, part of the
library in Europe after the Vatican...), books captured from library of Mahmut II and of Haci Sadettin Efendi. It contains
other conquered towns, and purchases made in the coun- a great number of history books dating from the Byzantine
try. There’s a copy of the Codex Porphyrius (see above) here. and Ottoman periods.
Entrance is usually by appointment only; like the rest of the
palace, it’s well-guarded.
LIBRARY OF FATIH MOLE
Located in the Fatih Mosque Complex (p.18) and estab- The Mole is the point where the Theodosian Walls meet
lished by Mehmet the Conqueror, this library was mostly the Sea Walls. It extends out into the water of the Sea of
destroyed in the earthquake of 1765 then restored in 1774. Marmara.
Previously no non-Muslim was allowed entrance. It contains
part of the library of Mahmut II and of other significant per-
sonages, including the Edirne recension of the Commentaries The pianist in the bar plays “Boo, Boo,
on the Shadow Divan of Avni (p.23).
Baby, I’m a Spy”, a popular song, whenever
LIBRARY OF THE JESUITS anyone remotely shifty enters.
This is a private and rich library, accessible to scholars on
appointment. It lies within the complex of the church of
St Benedict’s in Kadakoy, which also contains a seminary, PARK HOTEL
orphanage, and hospital. It contains a copy of the Sacred Ayaz Pasha, Beyoglu
Wisdom of the Light Within (p.23). A drab stucco building set back from Ayaz Pasha Boulevard,
directly adjacent to the German consulate. If you want to
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY watch or contact Axis agents, you need to hang out here.
A recent library at Istanbul University, with a good collec- There’s a lavish art deco dining room, and the pianist in
tion of books on history, archaeology, science, and several the bar (which everyone calls “The Snake Pit”) plays “Boo,
private collections. Boo, Baby, I’m a Spy”, a popular song, whenever anyone
remotely shifty enters. Mehmet the barman knows every-
MARBLE TOWER one and everything—but he’s careful about who he talks to.
This ruined tower lies on the water’s edge at the end of Everyone comes here sooner or later.
the Theodosian Walls. It’s named for its decorative marble
façade, and was once an imperial pavilion, and later a prison. PERA PALACE HOTEL
100 Mesrutiyet Avenue, Tepebashi, Beyoglu
MEVLANA GATE A solid 19th century edifice with magnificent views over
A well-preserved gate noted for its many inscriptions, for- the Golden Horn, this is a popular hotel among the Allies.
merly known as the Polyandriou or Gate of Rhegion. It was built by the Orient Express so their passengers would
 have somewhere to stay, and Agatha Christie wrote Murder SERPENTINE COLUMN
on the Orient Express here. It’s close to both the British and With one of the longest written histories of any artefact
US consulates, whose staff frequent its Orient Bar. In March from ancient Greece, the Serpentine Column is almost 2500
last year (1941), a suitcase bomb planted by pro-Nazi sym- years old, and originally comes from Delphi. It now stands
pathisers destroyed the hotel’s grand entrance, and it’s been in a fenced, sunken, circular enclosure in the Hippodrome.
struggling ever since. Cast in the bronze taken by Themistocles and Pausanias in
their victories in 497BC over the Persians, it originally had
PORT OF ELEUTHEROS twenty-five coils, standing 8m high and topped with three
Once the largest port on the Sea of Marmara, this has long serpents’ heads. The heads were broken off in the 18th cen-
since silted up to form the fields of Langa. tury; a fragment is preserved in the Museum of Antiquities.
Keeper’s Note: Astute investigators may make connec-
THE PTT OFFICE tions between the Serpentine Column and the Empress in
The post, telegraph, and telephone office is a key commu- Purple (p.56). They should be encouraged to do so.
nications hub for anyone wanting to talk with the outside
world. It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Serpentine Column originally had
ROBERT COLLEGE
twenty-five coils, standing 8m high and
An all-male American college in Bebek, north of Besiktas,
and reputedly a hotbed of spies. It receives a whole new topped with three serpents’ heads.
group of teachers in early 1942, who immediately begin
appearing at parties all over town.
SILIVRI GATE
SARAY POINT Formerly known as the Pege Gate due to the presence of a
Tree-covered and containing the beautiful Topkapi Palace, nearby spring, this was where the general of Michael Pal-
Saray Point and its lighthouse are famous landmarks visible aeologos entered the city in 1261 to put an end to the brief
from all over the city. Latin regime.

SEA OF MARMARA SIRKECI STATION

This large body of water lies between the straits of the Bos- Istanbul’s main train station, built in 1890 by the Oriental
phorus and the Dardanelles, connecting the Black Sea with Railway as the eastern terminus of the Orient Express, which
the Mediterranean. The sea and both straits are an inter- last stopped here in 1939, and has since been interrupted by
national shipping lane, but are closed to the warships of all the war. Trains from Romania and Bulgaria still stop here,
belligerent nations. amidst rumours of spies and skulduggery.

SEA WALLS SPICE BAZAAR

Walls at one time protected the entire circumference of Also known as the Egyptian Market, this 17th century build-
the old city, both from land and sea. While the Theodo- ing has recently been modernised, and is more hygienic than
sian Walls remain almost in their entirety, albeit ruined in it used to be. It sells foodstuffs and even cloth and furniture
many places, large sections of the ancient sea walls have as well as an oriental pharmacopeia with produce from the
been demolished to make way for warehouses and quays, whole of Arabia and the Indies. There’s a famous restaurant
particularly along the Golden Horn. In Byzantine times the upstairs—the Lokantasi—which serves gourmet French and
sea walls ran hard against the water’s edge, but silting since Turkish cuisine.
that time has left many of them with stretches of beach,
now used for fishing and transport and even buildings in SULEIMANIYE MOSQUE
places. Significant stretches of sea wall are marked on the An enormous and indeed grandiose mosque which gives its
map (see pp.14-15). name to the whole neighbourhood, and perhaps the finest
Ottoman building in Istanbul, dating from the 16th century.
SELIMIYE BARRACKS
These huge barracks of the Turkish army were used as a mil- SULTANAHMET
itary hospital for British casualties during the Crimean War. A quarter of Istanbul’s old city, situated on top of one of its
Florence Nightingale did her groundbreaking work here. seven hills, at 114ft (35m).

SERASKER GATE TAKSIM SQUARE

Located on Beyazit Square, this is the main entrance to Former site of the Taksim Barracks, demolished recently
Istanbul University. in 1940 to make way for the new Taksim Park, this is the
 location of the 1928 Monument to the Republic, a great arch currently fairly popular among the Axis, but not as much as
showing the victory of Mustafa Kemal Pasha (later known as the Park Hotel.
Ataturk—father of the Turks) at the Afyon-Karahisar Front
in 1922 on one side, and him proclaiming the Republic in TOMB OF SULTAN MEHMET II “THE CONQUEROR”
1923 on the other. Taksim Square is a major hub in Beyoglu, In the cemetery of the Fatih Mosque Complex, to the east
and the area is crammed with bars, cafes, clubs, and other of the mosque, this is the resting place of the Sultan who
joints, extremely popular with the foreign community. conquered Byzantium. It’s held in great reverence, especially
by the Servants of Mehmet (p.41).
TEUTONIA CLUB
65 Galip Dede Avenue, Beyoglu TOPKAPI GATE
Built in 1847 as a club for Germans and rebuilt in 1897, A gate in the Theodosian Walls, formerly known as the
today this is a centre for pro-Nazi activity and agitation. Gate of St Romanus. Its name means “Cannon Gate”, after
the massive Cannon of Orban which blasted this gate when
THEODOSIAN WALLS Mehmet II pitched his tent here during the siege in 1453.
These massive Byzantine defences, in various states of ruin Stone cannon balls from the cannon still hang inside the
and disrepair, are nevertheless one of the most impressive gate. It’s nowhere near the Topkapi Palace (below).
landmarks of Istanbul. They run just under 6 kilometres,
from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara, punctuated TOPKAPI PALACE
by 9 main gates and 96 towers, and for the most part com- The beautiful Topkapi Palace lies in the green park on
prise a formidable double wall—a main inner wall, 12m high the very eastern promontory of the old city, visible from
and 5-6m thick, and a lower outer wall 8-9m high and 2m all over Istanbul. It was built by Mehmet II just after the con-
thick, with a 20m wide moat some 20m beyond the outer quest of the city on the site of the old acropolis, and added
wall. They are decorated in places with Byzantine mosaics, to by subsequent sultans to form the complex visible
the ruins dotted with enormous stork nests. today. It’s called the “old palace”, or saray in Turkish. It
was surrounded by walls until 1871, when many of the sea
TOKATLIYAN HOTEL walls were demolished to make way for the railway and
162 Istiklal Avenue, Beyoglu Sirkeci station.
A famous hotel built in 1897 and favoured by Ataturk, it’s With its many examples of architecture and art the
palace houses several important museums and the Library
of Ahmed III (p.23). Its treasury and harem quarters
have been open to the public since 1923. Its grounds include
the Gulhane (rose-house) Park, the largest public park in
Taksim Casino Istanbul. It is not located near the Topkapi Gate (above).

Also just known as “Taksim’s”, this modern Bauhaus- TROIKA RESTAURANT

inspired building dates from 1939, and was built on the A Russian restaurant in a side street near the Pera Palace
site of a former wood-built casino. It’s very chic, and the Hotel, run by three blonde White Russian women who set-
true spy centre of Istanbul, a cross between a restaurant, tled here in the 1920s. Rumour has it they were friends of
nightclub, cabaret, and casino. Its clientele come from all Ataturk’s.
the Axis and Allied powers, mostly involved in espionage.
It’s run by a charming White Russian who takes bribes TUNEL SQUARE
from anyone and tries to place rival spies at adjacent tables, Tunel Square is the top station for the short underground
and nothing is as it seems. The waitresses are rumoured funicular railway which runs 650 yards (600m) from the
to be former Czarist duchesses; its resident belly-dancer, bottom of Galata Hill, linking Karakoy with Beyoglu.
stunning with white skin and black hair, is from Bradford; Wooden carriages run between the two stations. It’s the
the German Abwehr uses the casino to surreptitiously pass second oldest urban subterranean railway line in the world,
money to its agents; and information merchants, working after the London Underground.
for all sides and none, sell information true, false, and mis-
leading, to whoever wants to buy. It has a great restaurant, UNIVERSITY
famous bar, and regular stage and floor shows and musical Istanbul University is a modern educational establishment
performances, where refugee stars from Europe perform. with approximately 90% male and 10% female students,
Hilde, a German waitress in the bar, specialises in making situated north of Beyazit Square and south of the Suleima-
British and American patrons more “talkative”. niye Mosque in the Fatih district. Entered via the Serasker
Gate (p.25), there are several faculties, and a large,
well-stocked library (p.24). Many foreign lecturers and
 professors work here, and it’s a great cover identity for intel- of great stone arches some 27 metres high. It was about 1000
ligence agents, or an occupation for non-intelligence-related metres long; currently about 920 metres remains. Ataturk
investigators. Professor Ahmet Turan, the mystic (p.30), Boulevard passes directly beneath.
works here.
VARANGIAN CLUB
USKUDAR Located in the streets of Sultanahmet close to the ruins of
A district of Istanbul, also known as “Scutari”, lying on the the Boukoleon Palace (p.16), this traditional Ottoman house
Asian side of the Bosphorus, and crowded with wooden is now used as a club house for the Varangian Club, a pri-
houses of a poorer class than those over the water. The hill vate and very discreet club of sophisticates and intellectuals
of Camlica, at 870ft (265m), is the highest point of Istanbul. devoted to Byzantine Culture and the “Megali Idea” (p.57).
There’s a very large cemetery here. Its chairman and protector is Omer Uzuner (p.43), a Turk-
ish official in local government administration who is the
VALENS AQUEDUCT patron of numerous museums and cultural establishments—
Situated in the quarter of Fatih, this huge monolithic stone although his involvement is not widely known. The club is
aqueduct was built by the Byzantines in the 4th century. also the public face of the Varangian Order—and Uzuner’s
Disused for the past fifty years, it links the old city’s third role in that is not known at all (see p.42). It’s structured
and fourth hills, running between Istanbul university and around the internal central courtyard exposed to the sky
the Fatih mosque. A major landmark, it comprises two rows of the traditional Ottoman house, but the rooms off the
courtyard and the upstairs mezzanine have been repurposed 7. Chamber: Currently used by Sybilla Theraponou, the
to suit the club’s needs. Priestess (p.42).
There’s a definite Byzantine feel to the inside of the club, 8. Chamber: Currently used by Eirene, one of the Hand-
despite it being originally an Ottoman building. There are maidens (p.35).
coiling snakes painted in frescoes and carved on the sides of 9. Chamber: Currently used by Thekla, one of the Hand-
the downstairs courtyard fountain, and colours and designs maidens (p.35).
more Greek and less Turkish. It’s inhabited by several per- 10. Library: Originally another chamber, this now holds
manent members of the club, who are also active in the many bookcases, two reading chairs and several reading
Varangian Order, including the Priestess (p.42) and two of cushions, a divan against the wall, and a writing desk.
the Handmaidens (p.35). On an Anthropology, Archaeology, Difficult Library Use rolls may throw up Mythos-related
or Occult roll, the snake imagery here recalls both Hecate mentions of the “Gates of Micklegard” (p.55), but the
and the Midgard Serpent. real stuff is in the Varangian Order’s HQ (p.66).
There’s a hidden door in room 4 on the lower floor which 11. Water Closet.
opens onto a downwards staircase, connected with tunnels
leading some 550 yards (500m) to the Basilican Cistern YEDIKULE CASTLE (THE CASTLE OF THE
(p.13). SEVEN TOWERS)
Most of the rooms are traditionally Ottoman, with Also known as the Castle of Seven Towers, Yedikule Castle
little visible furniture, fine carpets on the floors, cushioned is administered by the Museum of Antiquities: you can’t just
“divan” seating platforms running around the walls of the wander in, although it’s open to the public most afternoons.
rooms, and wall cupboards holding bed rolls, pillows, low The castle itself is an Ottoman enclosure built against the
tables for dining, and so on. Rooms are heated by braziers. Theodosian Walls; four of its towers are Byzantine, three
are Turkish. It was constructed by Sultan Mehmet II “the
Key to the Varangian Club Conqueror” to house state treasures, but eventually became
1. Sofa (Internal Courtyard): This is open to the sky, with
a beautifully ornate blue and white tiled floor, elegant
furniture, a tiled raised fish pond
and fountain, and many plants.
It’s the main place for socialising
in the club when the weather
permits, and is also used for
meetings with external guests.
2. Kitchen: The food preparation
area, with an open fireplace and
running water. Although food
may be traditionally cooked in
rooms, in practise a lot of it is
centralised here these days.
3. Store: This is locked, although
all club members know where to
find the key. As well as wine and
other victuals, there are also sev-
eral rifles and pistols here, as well
as a number of oil lanterns (used
for going underground).
4. Gathering Room: Used for club
member socialising when the
weather isn’t favourable, and also
for gathering when people are
about to head below ground.
5. Parlour: Used for meetings with
outside guests when the weather
isn’t favourable, this can also be
used as a guest sleeping chamber.
It’s as far as most people ever get.
6. Mezzanine: Upstairs.
a grim state prison where both Turks and foreigners were six months, and rumours that there may be an excavation,
imprisoned and executed. The walls are covered with inscrip- but that is all. Recent police activity over the past week
tions from former inmates, going back centuries. has piqued everyone’s curiosity, but their activities remain
a mystery.
Key to Yedikule Castle
1. East Tower: There are inscriptions here in many lan- YEDIKULE GATE
guages, incised by the captains of vessels and other A functioning gate in good condition, there is a Byzantine
personages. eagle carved on the walls just inside. Turkish, Armenian, and
2. North Tower Greek hospitals stand on the outer side of the walls.
3. South Tower
4. Tower of Ahmet III YENIKAPI
5. North Pylon A neighbourhood of Istanbul’s old city; its Laleli Avenue is
6. South Pylon: Once the prison of Sultan Osman II. The noted for its stretch of small hotels and cheap textile dealers.
side-chambers include the Execution Chamber, which
contains a hole in the ground called the Bloody Well, YESILKOY AIRPORT
which eventually links to the sea and down which decap- Istanbul’s airport lies some 4½ miles (7km) to the southwest
itated heads were flung. This is the site of the Ahnenerbe of the city, beyond the Yedikule Gate. It’s possible the inves-
dig and the entrance to the lost tomb of the Marble tigators may arrive at this point (p.8).
Emperor (p.60).
7. Little Gate YUKSEK KALDIRIM STREET (STREET OF THE STEP)
8. Golden Gate: See p.20. Better known among the foreign community as the Street
of the Step, this famous thoroughfare is essentially a
Keeper’s Note: As yet, practically no one knows about very long and steep stairway linking Karakoy and Beyo-
the discovery of the tomb of the Marble Emperor. There has glu. Renowned for its bookshops, it’s the location of the
been some coming and going by “foreigners” over the past Librairie Pandore (p.22).

I don’t care if it is a castle, I said no swords! Our orders

were to get in and out without alerting Fritz!
- Nathan Chance
 CHAPTER 3

Factions and Characters

Golescu was at my side like a ghost.
“Splendid to see you at last, Doctor Daniels,” he said, wielding my cover name with a sardonic smirk.
“So good of you Americans to make it over this side of the pond at last.”
He wore his tux like a sneer. Even dressed-up, a Nazi is still a Nazi.

PROFESSOR AHMET
Istanbul during World War 2 has a population of over
900,000. Of course, not all of them are involved in the TURAN, THE MYSTIC
spying game, but enough of them are to make it possible for Ahmet Turan is a Turkish professor of the History of Turkish,
the investigators to encounter all kinds of people working Ottoman, and Byzantine Art at the University of Istanbul.
for all kinds of agendas during their adventures. This chapter He’s also very much inclined towards the mystical side of
provides brief guides to the major factions and significant Islam, and is often sought out by students of Sufism and
figures at large in the city, including sample character stat other interested parties for his insights and opinions. First
blocks where appropriate. impressions can be somewhat underwhelming, as Professor
In each instance, characters and factions have entries Turan is both modest and unassuming; however, he knows an
indicating typically where they may be encountered and awful lot about the religious and mystical history of Istanbul,
what they may be doing (in terms of the locations in and can be a mine of information for the investigators.
Chapter 2: The City of Istanbul, the five “rumour market”
locations in Chapter 4: Secrets and Spies, or the episodes in TYPICAL HAUNT
Chapter 5: Plot Episodes), and also the clues which inves- Academic environments and public places. His day job is in
tigators may gain by encountering and talking with them. In the university; he has rooms in a traditional Ottoman house
many cases these clues refer directly to the secrets described owned by the university in Sultanahmet. In his free time he
in Chapter 4. can often me found wandering just about any of Istanbul’s
cultural centres, gazing around with unaffected wonder.

TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Praying, reading, teaching, pondering upon imponderables.
Dossier Profiles His readings have occasionally exposed him to the periphery
of the Mythos, which at this stage have strengthened his
In the stat blocks which follow, we’ve included a special faith, and his belief in the need to oppose “the unrighteous”.
entry known as a dossier profile. This represents what
Istanbul’s broader intelligence community knows about CLUES TO BE GAINED
the character: whether he’s a general surveillance target, • Esoteric knowledge of pretty much any legend, religious
a spy, an agent with an interest in the occult, or an agent topic, or appropriate secret (Keeper’s discretion).
involved in the Mythos. Investigators in Istanbul also • Exoteric knowledge of: the Akakia (p.54); the Marble
have dossier profiles of their own. See p.48 for more on Emperor (p.55); the Varangian Order (p.42).
dossier profiles. • He knows about Professor Ion Golescu (p.37) and the dig
underway at Yedikule Castle (p.61).
PROF. AHMET TURAN, AGE 57, “THE MYSTIC”
Dossier Profile: Target 65%, Spy 15%, Occult 15%,
Mythos 05%.
STR 12 DEX 10 INT 18 CON 10
SIZ 13 APP 15 POW 13 EDU 21
SAN 60 Hit Points: 12
Damage Bonus: +1D4.
Skills: Cthulhu Mythos 03%, Folklore 91%, History 90%,
History of Art (Turkish, Ottoman, and Byzantine) 94%,
Institutional Lore 66%, Library Use 67%, Listen 58%,
Occult 49%, Persuade 60%, Psychology 60%, Teach 75%,
Theology (Islam) 66%.
Language Skills: Turkish (Own) 90%, Arabic 85%,
Byzantine Greek 45%, French 70%.
Weapons: Fist 50%, damage 1D3+1D4, atts 1.
Appearance: Tall, handsome, sallow cheeked and a little
stooped, with a gentle yet exceedingly bright expression.
He’s modest and self-effacing, and dresses in Western
clothing for work, although he may relax in more
traditional Turkish clothing (p.10) in his own time.

AMERICAN AGENTS
The American intelligence services may still be in their
infancy, but that’s not to say American intelligence agents
are. The consular staff definitely want to keep agents of the
Office of the Coordinator of Information at arm’s length,
though, regarding them as loose cannons. As a result, US
intelligence efforts in Istanbul in early 1942 are mostly a
matter of star individuals working from the ground up while
paper-pushing officials and higher ups get in their way. STR 13 DEX 07 INT 14 CON 10
SIZ 14 APP 14 POW 09 EDU 16
TYPICAL HAUNT SAN 45 Hit Points: 12
Pro-Allies locations, pro-Axis locations, public places, and
society events. Damage Bonus: +1D4.
Skills: Accounting 33%, Bargain 35%, Cryptography 41%,
TYPICAL ACTIVITY Disguise 25%, Dodge 55%, Drive 45%, Espionage 65%,
Determine activities using the rumour market (p.49); Amer- Fast Talk 26%, Hide 41%, Institutional Lore 37%, Library
ican agents often have cover identities as consular officials, Use 31%, Listen 60%, Photography 42%, Psychology 57%,
commercial salesmen, company reps, or “professional wives” Sneak 37%, Spot Hidden 48%.
of any of these.
Language Skills: English (own) 80%, French 26%,
CLUES TO BE GAINED German 22%, Turkish 16%.
• Relatively low-level intelligence information, with no Weapons: Fists 55%, damage 1D3+1D4, atts 1.
real occult or Mythos content; Espionage rolls for dossier
M1911 (Handgun) 66%, damage 1D10+2, atts 1, base range
profiles (p.48) are Difficult.
15 yards.
• Knowledge of Allied intelligence operatives.
Appearance: Excitable, quick with a smile, and freely calls
BRADLEY SORENSEN, AGE 25, “THE TOBACCO everyone “sir” and “ma’am”. His suit is probably a bit too
DEALER” good for a salesman’s, and his accent a bit too educated—
Dossier Profile: Target 50%, Spy 50%, Occult 00%, but who picks up on that?
Mythos 00%.
 BETTY CARTER, AGE 43, “THE SECRETARY”
Dossier Profile: Target 60%, Spy 35%, Occult 5%,
Lily Warner Mythos 00%.
STR 08 DEX 13 INT 18 CON 11
Lily Warner was an American heiress living in Istanbul,
SIZ 09 APP 15 POW 16 EDU 15
and a friend of Nastasya Filippovna Mitroglou (p.39).
A thirty year old peroxide blonde, she was famed for her SAN 65 Hit Points: 10
wild socialising and garrulousness, and her stunning Damage Bonus: None.
looks. What was less known was that she was an asset
Skills: Accounting 62%, Credit Rating 50%, Cryptography
working for American intelligence, codename: ARDENT.
Her mysterious death in the Marble Tower by the ancient 65%, Drive 39%, Espionage 90%, Fast Talk 68%, First Aid
city walls has Istanbul’s high society buzzing! See p.60 51%, Institutional Lore 80%, Law 42%, Library Use 81%,
for more. Listen 61%, Persuade 74%, Photo Interpretation 49%,
Psychology 71%, Radio Operator 36%, Scrounge 54%,
Spot Hidden 60%, Telephony 45%.
Language Skills: English (own) 75%, French 48%,
German 27%, Turkish 39%.
BETTY CARTER, THE Weapons: Webley Service Revolver (Handgun) 60%, damage
SECRETARY 1D10, atts 2, base range 15 yards.

Betty Carter is the US intelligence effort’s secret weapon Appearance: Dark-haired with a pale complexion and very
in Istanbul. A mid-level administrator in the US consulate, red lips, Betty was a stunner when she was younger and
she’s been in Istanbul for over ten years in the same position. is generally held to be a “fine woman” even today. She’s
She knows everyone who’s anyone—not just in the foreign never married, although there are rumours of a “great lost
community, but in the Turkish community too. She has a love”; in fact she’s exceedingly discreet about her personal
reputation for not putting up with any nonsense, but she life, and has been in a long-term relationship with a
also has a love for Istanbul and a respect for its people which Turkish teacher called Ayla—with whom she also shares a
means that she can often achieve things which are otherwise house—since her first year in Istanbul.
impossible for foreigners.

TYPICAL HAUNT
Betty crops up in the most extraordinary places, mostly Betty crops up in the most extraordinary
pro-Allies locations and society events, usually meeting places, mostly pro-Allies locations and
“a friend” in an open and jovial way. She works in the US society events, usually meeting “a friend”
consulate (p.17), but is frequently out on errands, deliv- in an open and jovial way.
ering messages and picking up reports, and always seems
to be having lunch with somebody. She particularly likes
the Flower Passage on Istiklal Avenue (p.18) for meals,
and relaxes with cocktails in the Grand Hotel de Londres
(p.22)—although she’ll go anywhere. BRITISH AGENTS
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) has a solid pres-
TYPICAL ACTIVITY ence in Istanbul associated with the British consulate’s
Delivering messages, running errands, picking up reports, passport and visa office, liaising with other sections of the
drinking cocktails, having lunch or dinner, meeting a friend, Secret Intelligence Service, commanded by Lieutenant
going to society parties. Colonel Harold Gibson. A great deal of their activity is
focussed on activity in the new Axis countries (occupied
CLUES TO BE GAINED or otherwise) in the Balkans, particularly around sabotaging
• Although she doesn’t know anything about the Mythos railways, industry, and the Romanian oil fields.
secrets of Istanbul, she pretty much knows everyone They’re experts at chartering fishing boats and mounting
of importance in the city, and has an encyclopaedic night-time raids into enemy territory—all the while avoiding
memory for events, faces and histories. Turkish attention.
• Exoteric knowledge of all the secrets in Chapter 4:
Secrets and Spies except for the Punic Device (p.55). TYPICAL HAUNT
She doesn’t necessarily believe it all—but she’s heard or Pro-Allied locations, pro-Axis locations, public places, and
read about it somewhere. society events.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Consulting extensive networks of informers, often by stealth THE EMNIYET
at extremely odd hours; relaxing in the Orient Bar at the The Turkish National Security Service or Milli Emniyet Hiz-
Pera Palace Hotel (p.24), or “working” the Snake Pit at the meti (generally called the Emniyet or MAH) operates out
Park Hotel (p.24). of their Istanbul HQ (p.18), their job: to foil the activities
of foreign spies on Turkish soil. They stake out, shadow,
CLUES TO BE GAINED and politely interrogate foreign intelligence operatives and
• Good quality intelligence information. military attaches, and keep dossiers on every alien, and
• Detailed knowledge of Allied intelligence efforts. register reporters and printers. As informants they recruit
• Decent knowledge of Axis intelligence efforts. concierges, hotel doormen, post office officials, street sellers,
taxi drivers, bartenders...
DENIS BARKER, AGE 41, “THE BACKGAMMON
PLAYER” TYPICAL HAUNT
Dossier Profile: Target 75%, Spy 25%, Occult 00%, Pretty much anywhere other spies are active.
Mythos 00%.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
STR 10 DEX 12 INT 16 CON 11
Trying to keep a lid on everything. Following orders; spying on
SIZ 14 APP 11 POW 16 EDU 15
spies. Cleaning up. Careless investigators may easily come to
SAN 71 Hit Points: 13
their attention if they aren’t cautious. They take an especially
Damage Bonus: None. dim view of gunplay, and deniable assets of foreign intelligence
Skills: Backgammon 80%, Cryptography 51%, Drive 45%, services have faced the death penalty for murder if caught.
Espionage 75%, Fast Talk 59%, Institutional Lore 60%,
Listen 56%, Locksmith 46%, Persuade 67%, Psychology CLUES TO BE GAINED
• Excellent knowledge of the activities and identities of
68%, Scrounge 58%.
most foreign intelligence agents in Istanbul; Espionage
Language Skills: English (own) 75%, French 40%, rolls for dossier profiles (p.48) are Easy.
German 22%, Turkish 40%. • Upper echelon Emniyet agents have esoteric knowledge
Weapons: Webley Service Revolver (Handgun) 58%, damage of the Servants of Mehmet (p.56), the Tomb of Constan-
1D10, atts 2, base range 15 yards. tine Palaeologus (p.57), the Varangian Order (p.57), and
the Handmaidens (p.55).
Appearance: Middle-aged and balding, with a perennially • Lower echelon Emniyet agents are kept in the dark, but
damp comb-over of lank dark hair, Denis is slightly could be following orders; shadowing them could lead the
overweight and looks every inch the civil servant. He PCs to upper echelon clues.
plays an average game of tennis in the inter-embassy
tournaments, but his avowed passion is a game of OSMAN KAVUR, AGE 34, “THE SECRET
backgammon in one of Istanbul’s many parks, where he POLICEMAN”
takes on all comers (and often leaves with more information Dossier Profile: Target 20%, Spy 75%, Occult 05%,
than he came with...). At parties he always looks a bit Mythos 00%.
crumpled in dinner dress, but makes up for it by hanging out
with the tennis crowd and mixing killer cocktails. STR 12 DEX 08 INT 17 CON 14
SIZ 09 APP 12 POW 14 EDU 13
SAN 57 Hit Points: 12
Damage Bonus: None.

Section M in Istanbul Skills: Bargain 35%, Dodge 32%, Drive 61%,

Espionage 75%, Fast Talk 70%, Hide 45%, Jump 40%,
At this stage in the war, Section M is sprea Institutional Lore 60%, Law 55%, Listen 49%, Persuade
d pretty thin,
and is usually to be found where the actio 66%, Psychology 57%, Sneak 49%, Spot Hidden 64%,
n is. The
bizarre death of Lily Warner (see p.60)
is the trigger Track 30%.
which draws Section M’s attention to
Istanbul, in the Language Skills: Turkish (own) 65%, English 25%, French
person of the investigators themselves.
They have access 50%, German 30%.
to contacts within SOE, but otherwise
they’re the Section
M people on the ground in this developin Weapons: Fist 70%, damage 1D3, atts 1.
g situation.
MAB Modèle D (Handgun) 75%, damage 1D8, atts 3, base
range 15 yards
 CLUES TO BE GAINED
• Good quality intelligence information.
The Ahnenerbe in • Detailed knowledge of Abwehr and Sicherheitsdienst
intelligence efforts.
Istanbul • Decent knowledge of Ahnenerbe activities.
The Ahnenerbe are active at numerous sites in and • Suspicions as to the existence of the Black Sun.
around Istanbul, although completely unofficially, and are • Decent knowledge of Allied intelligence efforts.
effectively a front for the deepening interest of the Black • Exoteric knowledge of the Akakia (p.54), CASE ELE-
Sun in the city. They have contacts in the Department of PHANT BLACK (p.54), the Punic Device (p.55), the
Archaeology of Istanbul University, and also throughout Ritual of the Empress in Purple (p.56), the Ritual of St
the Turkish academic, theological, and occult / mystical Azel’s Bell (p.56).
communities. They’re usually well-educated, and • Esoteric knowledge of the Marble Emperor (p.55),
superficially interested and engaging—an attitude which • Ahnenerbe agents may have esoteric knowledge of
quickly turns into burning-eyed obsessiveness when they CASE ELEPHANT BLACK (p.54), the Punic Device
pick up a promising trail. (p.57), the Servants of Mehmet (p.56), the Tomb of
Constantine Palaeologus (p.57), and the Varangian
Order (p.57). During Episode Two: The Varangian
Order (p.57), they also gain esoteric knowledge of the
Ritual of the Empress in Purple (p.56) and the Ritual of
Appearance: A non-descript man with a well-groomed St Azel’s Bell (p.56).
moustache and short dark hair, usually in a jacket and tie
and a trench coat and trilby if weather permits. His face is
instantly forgettable, but when he needs to his watery blue
Average looking, if somewhat cadaverous,
eyes can suddenly turn an icy steel grey.
he affects a dry, laconic manner.

GERMAN AGENTS GOTTFRIED MEIER, AGE 33, “THE AHNENERBE

German agents in Istanbul fall very neatly into two camps: CONTACT”, SD AGENT
the Abwehr, the more conventional German intelligence Dossier Profile: Target 30%, Spy 45%, Occult 20%,
agency; and the Nazi-controlled Sicherheitsdienst and its var- Mythos 05%.
ious less-than-savoury affiliates. There’s absolutely no love
STR 10 DEX 16 INT 17 CON 09
lost between the two, and they often actively obstruct one
SIZ 11 APP 10 POW 12 EDU 15
another’s activities, and sometimes even end up on opposing
SAN 35 Hit Points: 10
sides. In general the Abwehr steers clear of anything smack-
ing of the occult, or the stranger activities of the Secret War; Damage Bonus: None.
while the Sicherheitsdienst actively cooperates with the Ahne-
Skills: Conceal 60%, Cryptography 56%, Cthulhu Mythos
nerbe to investigate any such events.
04%, Demolitions 49%, Dodge 41%, Espionage 80%, Fast
Talk 59%, First Aid 46%, Hide 48%, Institutional Lore
TYPICAL HAUNT
62%, Library Use 50%, Listen 65%, Occult 26%, Persuade
Pro-Allied locations, pro-Axis locations, public places, and
72%, Radio Operator 44%, Sabotage 35%, Sneak 53%,
society events.
Spot Hidden 66%.

TYPICAL ACTIVITY Language Skills: German (own) 75%, English 29%, French
Consulting with extensive networks of contacts, agents and 45%, Turkish 27%.
informers throughout the city, including within the academic
Weapons: Walther P38 (Handgun) 55%, damage 1D10,
and theological establishments, all the while avoiding the
atts 2, base range 15 yards.
Emniyet. Liaising with undercover Ahnenerbe agents, usu-
ally in academic positions. Communicating with visiting Description: Works for the Sicherheitsdienst as liaison with
representatives of the Black Sun, under conditions of greatest the clandestine Ahnenerbe agents at large in Istanbul.
secrecy. Spying on the Allies, and running counterespionage Average looking, if somewhat cadaverous, he affects a dry,
activities against their agents. Relaxing at the Snake Pit in laconic manner but in reality is becoming increasingly
the Park Hotel (p.24), or out “fishing” at the Pera Palace disturbed by what he’s begun to find out, both about the
Hotel’s Orient Bar (p.24), Abdullah’s (p.12), Ellie’s (p.18), current situation in Istanbul, and also the secret handlers
the Grand Hotel de Londres (p.22), and elsewhere. behind the Ahnenerbe—the Black Sun.
THE HANDMAIDENS Weapons: Bite* 75%, damage 1D8+1+1D4+POT 16
venom, atts 1.
The Handmaidens are a group of strangely sensuous women
Poison Dagger 55%, damage 1D4+1+1D4+POT 16 venom,
who are occasionally seen on the Istanbul social scene.
atts 1.
Almost uncannily beautiful, they have almond eyes, thin
lips, and sleek straight black hair flowing down to the smalls Spells: Bite of Colubra*.
of their backs. They’re rumoured to be spies in the employ of Appearance: Voluptuous and sensuous, with almost
the Emniyet, or some other Turkish agency, or even assassins. snakelike features and sinuous movements, they epitomise
In reality they’re affiliated with the Varangian Club—and the Middle Eastern femme fatale, although their provenance
the Varangian Order, being under the command of Sybilla appears to be more Byzantine than Ottoman. They’re
Theraponou, the Varangian Priestess (p.42). lethal if they need to be, and use their seductive wiles to
put potential victims off their guard.
TYPICAL HAUNT
Society events, the Varangian Club (p.27), the Varangian *Their Bite of Colubra spell works similarly to Hands of
Order (p.42), anywhere in the company of Sybilla Theraponou. Colubra (Call of Cthulhu Sixth Edition p.237), except that
it gives the Handmaidens snake fangs and a poison bite.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Gathering information (usually by seduction and / or vio-
lence); assassinating or kidnapping people for the Varangian
Order or Priestess.

CLUES TO BE GAINED
• Extensive knowledge of Istanbul secret and occult
societies.
• Mythos knowledge of Aciel (p.53), the Akakia (p.54),
Beneath Hagia Sophia (p.54), the Catacombs of Istan-
bul (p.55), the Gates of Micklegard (p.55), the Marble
Emperor (p.55), the Ritual of the Empress in Purple
(p.56), the Ritual of St Azel’s Bell (p.56), the Ritual
of the Wedding Feast (p.56), the Servants of Mehmet
(p.56), the Varangian Order (p.57).

With almost snakelike features and

sinuous movements, they epitomise the
Middle Eastern femme fatale.

EIRENE, THEKLA, THERAPONA, AGE 20s,

“THE HANDMAIDENS”, STRANGE SERPENTINE
HUMANS
Dossier Profile: Target 20%, Spy 50%, Occult 20%,
Mythos 10%.
STR 14 DEX 14 INT 13 CON 16
SIZ 11 APP 18 POW 15 EDU 10
Hit Points: 14
Damage Bonus: +1D4.
Skills: Climb 80%, Cthulhu Mythos 25%, Dodge 41%,
Drive 55%, Fast Talk 65%, Hide 39%, Listen 52%, Occult
48%, Persuade 70%, See in the Dark 70%, Sense Heat 52%,
Sneak 46%, Spot Hidden 60%, Swim 62%, Track 68%.
Language Skills: Byzantine Greek (own) 50%, English
20%, French 38%, German 25%, Turkish 50%.
HEIKE-CARLOTTA comes to improving relations with the Turks. She’s at the
masked ball in Episode Three: The Varangian Ball (p.72).
KAMMLER, THE GERMAN
AMBASSADOR’S AIDE CLUES TO BE GAINED
• She knows about the Yedikule Castle dig, and that the
Heiki-Carlotta Kammler works for Franz von Papen, the Ahnenerbe have found “some crown jewels”.
German ambassador at the centre of the assassination attempt • She also knows that there was an attack on the dig, and a
crisis of early 1942 (see below). She’s an urbane German dip- piece of the regalia was stolen—not a crown or anything
lomat, down to earth and practically minded, who thinks the valuable, but something called an “Akakia”. An archae-
“other half” of the German intelligence community, including ologist and an Allied spy were both killed.
Professor Ion Golescu (p.37) and the Ahnenerbe, is insane. • She knows about Professor Ion Golescu (p.37), where he
She believes she’s the German equivalent of the Americans’ stays, both his hotel room in the Park Hotel and also his
Betty Carter, but she isn’t in the same league.. secret rooms in Yedikule near where he works at Yedikule
Castle. She doesn’t like him.
TYPICAL HAUNT • She knows that the regalia are now in Golescu’s keeping.
Frau Kammler works at the German consulate (p.17),
although she may be found relaxing in the Park Hotel (p.24) HEIKE-CARLOTTA KAMMLER, AGE 36,
or any of the fashionable cafes in Beyoglu. She attends some “THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR’S AIDE”
social events, but isn’t particularly adventurous. Dossier Profile: Target 70%, Spy 30%, Occult 00%,
Mythos 00%.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
STR 13 DEX 10 INT 16 CON 15
Pushing papers at the embassy, processing reports, deliver-
SIZ 13 APP 09 POW 12 EDU 15
ing messages. Occasionally socialising, particularly when it
SAN 60 Hit Points: 14

The Assassination Attempt on Franz Von Papen

On the 24th of February, 1942, an event occurs which makes Within two days the Emniyet makes a breakthrough, iden-
the lives of anyone involved in intelligence activity that much tifying a 25-year old Yugoslav student named Omer Tokat as
more difficult, risky, and downright dangerous. That morning, the perpetrator. A member of the Yugoslav Communist party,
an attempt is made on the life of Franz Von Papen, the he had enrolled in Istanbul University in October 1940. The
German Ambassador to Turkey, in the capital of Ankara. police surround the Soviet consulate in Istanbul, demanding
A portable bomb explodes prematurely, killing the bomber; several suspects be surrendered for questioning; some are
the ambassador and his wife are lightly injured. discovered trying to flee the country.
For a time, the event sends shockwaves through the The Russian press launches an offensive, accusing Turkey
diplomatic community. Despite the fact that millions are dying of yielding to “fascist pressure”. The US and British believe
in the war in Europe, somehow the assassination is deemed a that Turkey shouldn’t proceed with the investigation against
breach of etiquette. No one knows who is behind the attack— their erstwhile ally, and try to gently pressure the Turkish
but there’s no shortage of suspects. The Germans blame the authorities to back off.
Allies, and particularly the Russians; the ambassador thinks it’s The trial begins in 1942, and the two Turkish defendants
the British. Moscow hints the Gestapo were behind the attack, confess they were acting on Soviet orders to try and force
and TASS (the Soviet press agency) publishes “evidence” Turkey’s entry into the war against the Germans. On April
that papers found in the remains of the bomber tie him to the 18th Turkey’s foreign minister declares Turkey is willing to risk
German Embassy. war with Russia. The Russians deny everything. On June 17th,
The Emniyet steps up operations against all dubious the courts find all four defendants guilty, sentencing them to
activity in Istanbul and across Turkey, and intelligence work terms between 10 and 20 years. The scandal surrounding the
suddenly assumes a far more urgent character and—if case drags on in the press for many months thereafter.
discovered—is punished with far greater severity. And yet the The assassination crisis is constantly simmering in the
Turkish authorities must be careful—accusing any state runs background during the events of Code of Honour. The Keeper
the risk of plunging Turkey into war. may wish to use it to make the investigators’ lives that bit
more difficult.
 Damage Bonus: +1D4. often stays “somewhere else”. Anyone successfully searching
Professor Golescu’s Park Hotel rooms, or tailing him when
Skills: Accounting 35%, Credit Rating 42%, Cryptography
he leaves (p.49), may find the way to the Ahnenerbe dig
41%, Espionage 40%, Fast Talk 27%, History 32%,
(p.60), or the room he secretly maintains at a cheap hotel
Institutional Lore 56%, Law 26%, Library Use 41%, Listen
in Yedikule, where he is currently stashing the remaining
40%, Psychology 39%, Spot Hidden 34%, Telephony 35%.
imperial regalia from the dig (minus the Akakia, of course—
Language Skills: German (own) 75%, English 29%, see p.60), as well as the Glass From Leng.
French 36%, Turkish 19%.
Weapons: Walther PP (Handgun) 25%, damage 1D8, atts 3, TYPICAL ACTIVITY
base range 10 yards. These are Golescu’s activities by episode and scene (see p.58).
They parallel those of the investigators, as he gradually works
Appearance: A strong-looking woman with flax- out what’s going on at roughly the same time they do.
yellow hair and a solid build, the epitome of “German • Trying to retrieve the Akakia (p.54).
motherhood”—except that she’s married very firmly to her • Trying to find out about the Varangian Order (p.42),
career. She’s generally unarmed, although she can check Servants of Mehmet (p.41).
out a Walther in an emergency. • Trying to find out about the investigators.
• Trying to find out about the Ritual of the Empress in
Purple (p.70), probably in Episode Two: The Varangian
Order (p.64).
Golescu now believes the Punic Device
• Trying to inform Himmler, in Episode Two: The Varan-
and the Akakia may have something to do gian Order or Episode Three: The Varangian Ball (p.72).
with a powerful ancient weapon. • Trying to become the Marble Emperor in Episode Three:
The Varangian Ball.

ION GOLESCU, CLUES TO BE GAINED

• His underlying coldness about Lily Warner’s death
THE NAZI OCCULT (p.60). “A great loss.” An Easy Psychology roll reveals

ARCHAEOLOGIST he’s hiding something.

• Exoteric knowledge of the Servants of Mehmet (p.56),
A Romanian Nazi occultist and Ahnenerbe archaeologist, • Esoteric knowledge of Aciel (p.53), the Akakia (p.54),
associated with the Black Sun group from Heroes of the Sea. CASE ELEPHANT BLACK (p.54), the Gates of Mick-
The Traumstaffel led him to the Tomb of Constantine Palae- legard (p.55), the Punic Device (p.55), the Ritual of the
ologus, and at the beginning of Code of Honour he’s starting Empress in Purple (p.56), the Ritual of St Azel’s Bell
to piece together what’s going on. He recently created a Glass (p.56), the Varangian Order (p.57), the Tomb of Con-
From Leng from a ritual he found in a volume in one of the stantine Palaeologus (p.57).
private collections at the Romanian Academy Library, hoping • Mythos knowledge of the Marble Emperor (p.55).
it would lead him to the secrets of the Marble Emperor.
When he used it in the tomb of the Marble Emperor, what PROFESSOR ION GOLESCU, AGE 42,
he saw terrified him, and he has not used it since. “THE AHNENERBE ARCHAEOLOGIST”
Golescu now believes the Punic Device (p.55) and the Dossier Profile: Target 10%, Spy 40%, Occult 35%,
Akakia (p.54) may have something to do with a powerful Mythos 15%.
ancient weapon. He’ll pretty much believe anything he finds
STR 12 DEX 08 INT 18 CON 13
out—even including Mythos secrets—and be willing to try
SIZ 11 APP 07 POW 12 EDU 21
and exploit it. He’ll readily offer himself as a candidate for
SAN 23 Hit Points: 12
Marble Emperor (p.55). He knows he and the Ahnenerbe
are playing with fire but, since his discovery of the existence Damage Bonus: None.
of the Black Sun, his greatest ambition is to fully join its Skills: Anthropology 57%, Archaeology 92%, Conceal
ranks and embrace its forbidden lore. If he finds out about 38%, Cryptography 41%, Cthulhu Mythos 08%, Dodge
the Ritual of St Azel’s Bell (p.56), he knows the Black Sun 26%, Espionage 30%, Fast Talk 36%, Hide 31%, History
will want knowledge of it, either to use it or to threaten its 49%, Institutional Lore 50%, Library Use 64%, Occult
use. He’ll do anything to get that knowledge. 62%, Persuade 44%, Psychology 47%, Sneak 26%, Spot
Hidden 58%.
TYPICAL HAUNT
He can often be found in the restaurant or “Snake Pit” bar at Language Skills: Romanian (own) 90%, English 40%,
the Park Hotel (p.24), where he also has rooms, although he French 70%, German 90%.
Weapons: Luger P08 7.65mm (Handgun) 25%, damage
1D8, atts 3, base range 15 yards.
JAPANESE AGENTS
Since the attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941—a
Spells: Dread Curse of Azathoth, Glass From Leng. matter of mere weeks or months ago—relations between
Appearance: Professor Golescu chain-smokes constantly, Japanese and Allied officials in Istanbul have been extremely
and his finger tips and teeth are discoloured, and his breath frosty. This hasn’t stopped the Japanese from participating
foul. His skin looks drawn, his yellow hair thinning, yet in the “rumour market” (p.49), however, and the agents of
his eyes burn with a fiery insistence. He wears a pale cream the European department of their Kempeitai military intelli-
summer suit even in Istanbul’s winter, usually swaddled in a gence service—if somewhat noticeable—maintain networks
greatcoat that reeks of tobacco. throughout the city, cooperating with other Axis agents.

TYPICAL HAUNT
Pro-Allied locations, pro-Axis locations, public places, and
society events.

MUSTAFA BASIMEVI, THE BOOKSELLER

Mustafa runs the “Librairie Pandore”(p.22) on the Street MUSTAFA BASIMEVI, AGE 53, “THE BOOKSELLER”
of the Step (Yuksek Kaldirim Street—p.29), a bookshop
Dossier Profile: Target 10%, Spy 15%, Occult 70%,
specialising in occult and esoteric writings. He knows or can
Mythos 05%.
figure out what the Akakia is (p.54), or help the investigators
to do so. He’s terrified about being killed by the Varangian STR 11 DEX 08 INT 17 CON 08
Order (p.60), the Emniyet (p.33), or the Servants of Mehmet SIZ 15 APP 08 POW 15 EDU 16
(p.44), and won’t be too cooperative by default; in fact, SAN 50 or below Hit Points: 12
whenever the investigators meet Mustafa, the Keeper should Damage Bonus: +1D4.
have him make a SAN roll. He can be influenced, or the
investigators can break into his library to find out more. Skills: Bargain 82%, Credit Rating 37%, Cryptography
27%, Cthulhu Mythos 07%, Espionage 11%, Fast Talk 52%,
Typical Haunt History 57%, Library Use 45%, Occult 62%, Persuade 49%,
His bookshop, the Librairie Pandore (p.22). He can occa- Spot Hidden 44%.
sionally be found out and about, possibly meeting someone
about buying or selling books. Language Skills: Turkish (own) 80%, Byzantine Greek
31%, English 24%, French 56%, German 33%, Latin 27%,
Typical Activity Modern Greek 37%.
Researching, buying or selling books.
Weapons: MAS Modèle Revolver (Handgun) 38%,
Clues to be Gained damage 1D10, atts 2, base range 15 yards.
• Exoteric knowledge of Aciel (p.53), the Tomb of
Constantine Palaeologus (p.57). Spells: Contact Ghoul, Ritual of the Empress in Purple,
• Esoteric knowledge of the Akakia (p.54), the Gates of Summon / Bind Dimensional Shambler, Warding.
Micklegard (p.55), the Marble Emperor (p.55), the Appearance: Overweight and something of a hypochondriac,
Ritual of the Empress in Purple (p.56), the Ritual of Mustafa Basimevi isn’t having a good war, what with the spies,
St Azel’s Bell (p.56), the Servants of Mehmet (p.56), secret services, threats, searches, and constant questions from
the Varangian Order (p.57). people he doesn’t know. He wears a mix of traditional Turkish
dress and modern clothes, but rarely leaves his shop except to

f co ur se it ’s qu it e possible he’s on meet with people selling collections. He reads voraciously on

O
ord of what
the occult, and is profoundly superstitious. He knows several
no one’s side. If w rituals off by heart, and is capable of several spells—although
everyone will
he knows gets out, successfully casting them would probably surprise him as
m!
be trying to kill hi
much as anyone else. He’s full of tales, legends, and myths,
and knows something strange is developing in Istanbul. As the
- Denis Barker adventure progresses, he’ll make better deductions about what
that something is, and become more terrified for his safety.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Liaising with other Axis intelligence services; carousing;
attending social events; collecting information from contact
networks.

CLUES TO BE GAINED
• A good knowledge of Axis intelligence agents and
activity.
• A relatively low knowledge of Allied intelligence
agents and activity; Espionage rolls for dossier profiles
are Difficult.
• Useful contacts throughout the Istanbul diplomatic and
foreign community.

OSAMU MITSUI, AGE 37, “THE PLAYBOY

COLONEL”
Dossier Profile: Target 75%, Spy 25%, Occult 00%,
Mythos 00%.
STR 12 DEX 13 INT 15 CON 12
SIZ 09 APP 17 POW 10 EDU 16
SAN 35 Hit Points: 11
Damage Bonus: None.
Skills: Art 35%, Cryptography 43%, Demolitions 35%,
Espionage 32%, Haiku 41%, History 50%, Institutional
Lore 39%, Martial Arts 60%, Persuade 49%, Sabotage
51%, Tea Ceremony 31%.
Language Skills: Japanese (own) 80%, English 29%,
French 37%, German 42%, Turkish 11%.
Weapons: Ceremonial Sword 71%, damage 1D8+1, atts 1,
HP 20.
Nambu Type 14 (Handgun) 45%, damage 1D8, atts 3,
base range 15 yards.
Fist 65%, damage 1D3, atts 1.
Grapple 40%, damage special, atts 1.
Kick 58%, damage 1D6, atts 1.
Appearance: Colonel Mitsui owes his military rank
as much to his family name as to his own merits. He’s NASTASYA FILIPPOVNA
extremely conservative with other Japanese, yet treats his
life in Istanbul with an almost childish irresponsibility, MITROGLOU, THE WHITE
dancing, drinking, and carousing at the Park Hotel
“Snake Pit” (p.24) and other social events throughout
RUSSIAN HEIRESS
A decadent socialite of Sapphic tendencies and with a
the year. He’s military attaché at the Japanese consulate
liking for hashish, Nastasya Filippovna (or “Natasha” to
(p.17), and to be honest most people don’t credit him
her friends) is the widow of the Istanbul owner of Mitroglou
with the intelligence to be a spy. He is, though—although
Shipping, who died just before the war began. She was in the
he’s not that effective, mostly because he’s too busy
Sultan’s harem when she was a child—and found a protector
enjoying himself. If he had to focus he could be formidable.
after the Republic was declared. Rumours link her as a great
He’s currently trying to think of some way to sabotage
confidante of Ataturk’s. Now in her late thirties, she lives
Allied efforts.
in a beautiful yali called “the Flower Pavilion” over on the
Asian side (p.18), and throws parties which are the talk of
the town—and where all kinds of intrigue happen.
TYPICAL HAUNT
The Flower Pavilion, her yali in Uskudar (p.18); pro-Allies RUSSIAN AGENTS
locations, pro-Axis locations, society events. The Russian agents in Istanbul all work for the NKVD—the
People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs—Stalin’s terrifying
TYPICAL ACTIVITY secret police. They’re forbidden from openly associating with
Observing everyone and collecting gossip, and inviting inter- anyone else, under pain of “being recalled to Moscow”.
esting-looking investigators to one of her parties. “Darling, Many Russians have an ancient belief that ever since the
you must come—everyone will be there.” fall of Constantinople, Moscow has been the “Third Rome”.
They believe that one day Russia will free Constantinople
CLUES TO BE GAINED from the Turks, and restore it as the heart of an Orthodox
• Was a friend of the dead Lily Warner (p.32), whom she Christian Empire. Officially the Soviet view of this is that
knows was “hush-hush”—“But then again everyone is, it’s a benighted and worthless superstition—but it’s a belief
aren’t they, darling?” that runs very deep.
• Knows that Lily had been keeping an eye on Ion
Golescu, and that she’d found something. “She was get- TYPICAL HAUNT
ting close. She was exquisitely excited.” Pro-Allies locations, pro-Axis locations, public places. They
• Exoteric knowledge of the Tomb of Constantine Palae- may be present at society events, usually in pairs and very
ologus (p.57). nervous about talking to Capitalists and other imperialist
• Esoteric knowledge of the Handmaidens (p.55), the lackeys and lickspittles.
Marble Emperor (p.55).
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Keeping an eye on one another for disloyalty or unapproved
Breathtakingly beautiful, with tiny hands behaviour; trying to cadge a few extra privileges, backhand-
ers, or treats; watching the Germans and the Allies like
and a pearlescent skin that tells the
hawks; and contacting their network of informers.
world she’s never done a scrap of
manual work in her life. CLUES TO BE GAINED
• Fair knowledge of Allies and Axis agents and their
activities.
NASTASYA FILIPPOVNA, AGE 39, “THE WHITE • Exoteric knowledge of the Akakia (p.54), the Marble
RUSSIAN HEIRESS” Emperor (p.55), the Ritual of the Empress in Purple
Dossier Profile: Target 50%, Spy 40%, Occult 10%, (p.56), the Tomb of Constantine Palaeologus (p.57), the
Mythos 00%. Varangian Order (p.57).
STR 09 DEX 14 INT 18 CON 13
IGOR KULAKOV, AGE 38, “THE BRUISER”
SIZ 08 APP 18 POW 13 EDU 14
Dossier Profile: Target 30%, Spy 65%, Occult 05%,
SAN 55 Hit Points: 11
Mythos 00%.
Damage Bonus: None.
STR 17 DEX 10 INT 12 CON 16
Skills: Art 45%, Bargain 52%, Credit Rating 92%, SIZ 16 APP 07 POW 11 EDU 12
Espionage 22%, Fast Talk 34%, History 32%, Listen 70%, SAN 45 Hit Points: 16
Occult 31%, Persuade 80%, Psychology 42%, Spot Damage Bonus: +1D6.
Hidden 38%.
Skills: Bargain 57%, Close Combat 60%, Conceal 61%,
Language Skills: Russian (own) 80%, English 22%, French Cryptography 50%, Demolitions 52%, Disguise 33%,
70%, German 17%, Modern Greek 33%, Turkish 26%. Dodge 40%, Drive 49%, Espionage 66%, Fast Talk 64%,
Weapons: Walther PPK (Handgun) 34%, damage 1D8, Hide 48%, Jury Rig 43%, Persuade 70%, Psychology 54%,
atts 3, base range 10 yards. Radio Operator 61%, Sabotage 70%, Scrounge 82%,
Sneak 62%, Spot Hidden 37%.
Appearance: Breathtakingly beautiful, with tiny hands
Language Skills: Russian (own) 60%, English 20%,
and a pearlescent skin that tells the world she’s never
French 31%, German 42%, Turkish 19%.
done a scrap of manual work in her life. She dresses in
the very latest Parisian fashions, and seems to be able to Weapons: Fist 70%, damage 1D3+1D6, atts 1.
get special deliveries even during the war. She has a bevy Head 60%, damage 1D4+1D6, atts 1.
of admirers of all nations, and strings them all along with
Walther P38 (Handgun) 57%, damage 1D10, atts 3, base
exquisite delicacy.
range 10 yards.
 Description: A thick, heavyset thug with a beetling brow STR 11 DEX 13 INT 18 CON 16
and a shaved head bizarrely potato-like in appearance. He SIZ 12 APP 14 POW 18 EDU 16
has two suits, and wears them on alternate days, and seems SAN 52 Hit Points: 14
always hungry. If given half the chance he’ll drink vodka until
Damage Bonus: None.
his eyes become slits and he passes out; but he’s an excellent
enforcer and manager of his contacts network, and his Skills: Art 41%, Astronomy 63%, Cthulhu Mythos 32%,
controllers keep him on. Dodge 60%, Hide 59%, History 70%, Institutional Lore
70%, Library Use 70%, Listen 57%, Occult 70%, Persuade
58%, Psychology 60%, Sneak 62%, Theology (Islam) 91%,
THE SERVANTS OF Throw 70%.

MEHMET Language Skills: Turkish (own) 92%, Arabic 70%,

French 42%, Modern Greek 35%.
The Servants of Mehmet are a very ancient and very secret
Turkish occult society, dedicated to preventing the arcane Weapons: Stiletto 75%, damage 1D4+2, atts 1, HP 15.
forces of the Varangian Order and the Empress in Purple Spells: Augur, Bless Blade, Bring Haboob, Cast Out Devil,
from ever again gaining ascendance in Istanbul. They have Contact Ghoul, Dust of Suleiman, Heal, Warding.
significant Mythos knowledge, and include Sufi mystics,
scholars, and some quite deadly warriors with abilities possi- Appearance: An elderly man, but hale and hearty, in
bly linked to the Hashishin. traditional Islamic dress. He always looks unshaven, but
The leader of the Servants is Wali Hasan Ali Yilmaz, his eyes are bright, merry, and burn with a fiery passion.
an elderly mystic resident in one of the medrese schools Talking to him is like talking to an old friend—one who
behind the Tomb of Sultan Mehmet in the Fatih mosque knows you thoroughly. He’s always sipping mint tea.
complex (p.18). He also occasionally spends time on an
antiquarian Ottoman and Middle Eastern book shop in the ABDULLAH, AGE 25, “THE ASSASSIN”
Grand Bazaar (p.20). Dossier Profile: Target 55%, Spy 30%, Occult 10%,
Mythos 05%.
TYPICAL HAUNT
STR 14 DEX 18 INT 12 CON 17
The Fatih Mosque Complex (p.18) or bookshop in the
SIZ 11 APP 10 POW 15 EDU 15
Grand Bazaar (p.20), or other religious establishments or
SAN 67 Hit Points: 14
coffee shops in the old city. At night, cemeteries.
Damage Bonus: +1D4.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY Skills: Climb 54%, Cthulhu Mythos 05%, Disguise 32%,
Teaching, praying, researching, and occasionally furtively Dodge 69%, Hide 72%, Jump 85%, Listen 62%, Occult
contacting “Wali Dede’s children”—the ghouls (p.44). The 42%, Sneak 47%, Spot Hidden 55%, Theology (Islam)
Servants also keep an eye on pro-Allies and pro-Axis loca- 37%, Throw 55%, Track 42%.
tions. As the adventure progresses, they’ll be increasingly
trying to keep tabs on all the factions involved, including the Language Skills: Turkish (own) 75%, Arabic 35%,
investigators, and to hunt down the Varangian Order (p.42). French 32%.
Weapons: Sacred Iron Yataghan* (Knife) 70%, damage
CLUES TO BE GAINED 1D6+1+1D4+POT12 poison, atts 1, HP 15.
• The Servants know about Wali Dede’s children (p.44),
and how to contact them safely. Fist 81%, damage 1D3+1D4, atts 1.
• Esoteric knowledge of Aciel (p.53), Garrotte 62%, damage strangle, atts 1.
• Mythos knowledge of the Akakia (p.54), Beneath Hagia
Kick 73%, damage 1D6+1D4, atts.
Sophia (p.54), the Catacombs of Istanbul (p.55), the
Gates of Micklegard (p.55), the Handmaidens (p.55), Ornate Flintlock Pistol (Handgun) 60%, damage 1D6+1,
the Marble Emperor (p.55), the Ritual of the Empress atts ¼, base range 10 yards.
in Purple (p.56), the Ritual of St Azel’s Bell (p.56), the
Throwing Knife (Throw) 55%, 1D4+1, atts 1, as Throw Rule.
Tomb of Constantine Palaeologus (p.57), the Varangian
Order (p.57). *Has been blessed by a Bless Blade spell, and can damage
entities which can’t be harmed by ordinary weapons.
WALI HASAN ALI YILMAZ, AGE 67, “THE GRAND
Appearance: Youthful-looking yet with hard eyes,
MASTER”
Abdullah is extremely agile, and almost looks like he’s
Dossier Profile: Target 30%, Spy 10%, Occult 45%,
flying through the air when he leaps. No one knows his
Mythos 15%.
full name, or even if he has one. He’s one of the Aspirants
at the medrese in the Fatih Mosque Complex (see Episode TYPICAL HAUNT
Two, Scene 4: The Cloister of the Servants of Mehmet, In the headquarters of the Varangian Order; occasionally
p.68), and dedicated to Wali Hasan. He’d give his life for officiating at the altar before the Gates of Micklegard (p.75).
the cause without a second thought. Very occasionally she can be found in the Varangian Club
(p.66).

TYPICAL ACTIVITY
SYBILLA THERAPONOU, Preparing for the return of the Marble Emperor (p.55)
THE VARANGIAN and the Rituals of the Wedding Feast and the Empress in

PRIESTESS Purple (p.74).

Actually a member of the Varangian Order (p.42), but not CLUES TO BE GAINED
at all a public figure, Sybilla Theraponou is a serpent woman Sybilla is hardly amenable to interview, but as might be
hybrid, and extremely long-lived. Amongst those who know expected her knowledge is profound. She has Mythos knowl-
of her (very few, but perhaps including the older inhabitants edge of all the secrets in Chapter 4: Secrets and Spies.
of her immediate neighbourhood), there are rumours that How to get that information out of her is another matter.
she’s been alive for centuries.
SYBILLA THERAPONOU, AGE ANCIENT,
“THE VARANGIAN PRIESTESS”
Dossier Profile: Target 00%, Spy 00%, Occult 50%,
Mythos 50%.
STR 06 DEX 10 INT 18+ CON 13
SIZ 08 APP 06 POW 22 EDU 18
Hit Points: 11
Damage Bonus: -1D4.
Skills: Conceal 40%, Cthulhu Mythos 40%, Disguise 62%,
Dodge 46%, Fast Talk 72%, Hide 77%, History 90%,
Listen 74%, Occult 60%, Persuade 60%, Psychology 79%,
See in the Dark 67%, Sense Heat 50%, Sneak 65%, Spot
Hidden 82%, Theology (Orthodox Christianity) 90%.
Language Skills: Byzantine Greek (own), English 30%,
French 55%, German 36%, Modern Greek 70%,
Turkish 60%.
Weapons: Knife 60%, damage 1D4+2-1D4, atts 1.
Spells: Candle Communication, Chant of Thoth, Cloud of
Memory, Flesh Ward, Food of Life, Hands of Colubra,
Ritual of the Empress in Purple, Ritual of the Wedding
Feast, Wither Limb.
Appearance: Sybilla has the appearance of an impossible
old woman—wrinkled beyond measure, with skin like
old leather, and no teeth. Her rheumy eyes sparkle with a
preternatural energy, however, and her tongue darts out to
moisten her dried and shrivelled lips. She wears ancient
clothes that were once rich and gorgeous Byzantine silks.

THE VARANGIAN ORDER

The Varangian Order come from all walks of life—academia,
government, mystic, military—but usually from a limited
number of highly-placed Greek and Greek-Turkish families
in Istanbul. Some are members of the Varangian Club; others
 are deep under cover, in positions of power and influence.
All of them have Mythos knowledge, and are willing to
protect their identities and what they know by any means THE TURKISH
possible—that’s the only way they’ve survived the past five
hundred years. They’re intensely pro-Byzantine, and support
POLICE
the Megali Idea—the “Great Idea” (p.57). They have secret
The Turkish police are nowhere near as subtle as the
Byzantine names which they use with one another, and offi-
Emniyet, and generally very unfriendly and suspicious.
cial Turkish ones for use in the outside world.
They have a tendency to charge in and ask questions later,
curbed only by their strict orders to specifically not do that
TYPICAL HAUNT
for fear of starting a war. Heaven forbid if they feel sure of
Although they have outside lives, they’re really only encoun-
themselves, though.
tered in the headquarters of the Varangian Order (p.66). In
Episode Three: The Varangian Ball some may be found at Typical Haunt
the masked ball, and all will attend the rituals beneath Hagia Any public place. If they’re anywhere else, they usually
Sophia (p.54). mean business.
Typical Activity
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Keeping an eye on everyone; talking to informers; intimidat-
Meeting in their headquarters to decide how to find a candi-
ing locals; raiding a place and arresting anyone suspicious.
date for Marble Emperor. In Episode Three: The Varangian
Order, attending the masked ball, and then the rituals Clues to be Gained
beneath Hagia Sophia. • The Turkish police are a great source of red herrings, not
because they have incorrect information, but because
CLUES TO BE GAINED their business has little to do with the matter of the
Everyone in the Varangian Order is prepared to die rather adventure.
than betray the order’s existence to the outside world. That • Poor knowledge of the Istanbul intelligence scene
said, they have Mythos knowledge of all the secrets in Chap- (Espionage rolls for dossier profiles are Difficult).
ter 4: Secrets and Spies, except for CASE ELEPHANT • Exoteric knowledge of the Handmaidens (p.55).
BLACK and the Punic Device.
INSPECTOR OMER TERZI, AGE 34, “THE COP”
Dossier Profile: Target 90%, Spy 10%, Occult 00%,
Everyone in the Varangian Order is Mythos 00%.

prepared to die rather than betray the STR 14 DEX 14 INT 11 CON 15
order’s existence to the outside world. SIZ 12 APP 13 POW 10 EDU 14
SAN 45 Hit Points: 14
Damage Bonus: +1D4.
ANDRONIKOS EUGENIKOS, AKA “OMER Skills: Cryptography 24%, Dodge 52%, Drive 46%,
UZUNER”, AGE 51, “THE PUPPET MASTER” Espionage 20%, Fast Talk 36%, First Aid 49%, Hide 60%,
Dossier Profile: Target 100%, Spy 00%, Occult 00%, Institutional Lore 45%, Law 52%, Library Use 48%,
Mythos 00%. Listen 45%, Locksmith 38%, Occult 05%, Persuade 63%,
STR 12 DEX 09 INT 17 CON 12 Psychology 57%, Sneak 46%, Spot Hidden 51%, Track 29%.
SIZ 12 APP 14 POW 18 EDU 19 Language Skills: Turkish (own) 70%, English 25%,
SAN 31 Hit Points: 13 French 38%, German 28%.
Damage Bonus: +1D4. Weapons: Webley .38 Service Revolver (Handgun) 60%,
damage 1D10, atts 2, base range 15 yards.
Skills: Art History 70%, Credit Rating 83%, Cryptography
30%, Cthulhu Mythos 19%, Dodge 34%, Drive 46%, Fist 65%, damage 1D3+1D6, atts 1.
Espionage 40%, Fast Talk 72%, History 56%, Institutional Grapple 53%, damage special.
Lore 95%, Law 81%, Library Use 64%, Listen 61%, Occult
65%, Persuade 80%, Psychology 66%, Spot Hidden 46%, Description: A typical plainclothes policeman wearing
Theology (Orthodox Christianity) 39%. what plainclothes policeman all around the world seem to
wear. He smokes constantly, swears like a trooper, and is
Language Skills: Modern Greek (own) 90%, Turkish very free with his fists. He has a weakness for the ladies,
(own) 95%, Byzantine Greek 80%, English 27%, French and for being bought expensive drinks, especially scotch.
60%, German 35%.
Weapons: Walther PP (Handgun) 42%, damage 1D8, atts 3, Ottoman conquest, many more came with the Sultan from
base range 10 yards. their ancient realms in the Middle East, and have cooperated
with the Servants of Mehmet (p.41) ever since to thwart
Spells: Candle Communication, Chant of Thoth, Cloud
the Varangian Order and keep the Gates of Micklegard
Memory, Hands of Colubra, Mental Suggestion.
closed—the key to their dominance over Istanbul’s secret
Description: Eugenikos, as his alter ego Omer Uzuner, is an subterranean world.
elite official in the upper echelons of Istanbul’s municipal The ghouls of Istanbul are led by Wali Dede, “Grand-
government, and highly placed to ensure no undue attention father”, an ancient and powerful individual who claims to
is ever paid to rumours about the Order. He’s sophisticated, remember when Constantine first brought the One God to
urbane, and handsome, affecting European dress and the city.
manners, although he rarely attends public functions,
preferring a life of secrecy and seclusion. Politically well- TYPICAL HAUNT
placed investigators may recognise him from the halls Any of Istanbul’s many cemeteries, both inside and outside
of power. its walls. Also the cisterns, including those now dry and
above ground, which are favourite haunts on dark nights.
Finally they know all the city’s ancient tunnels and cata-

WALI DEDE’S combs, keeping a watch on the Gates of Micklegard (p.55).

They can sometimes be seen silhouetted against Istanbul’s
CHILDREN magical skyline by starlight.

There have always been ghouls beneath Istanbul. To those TYPICAL ACTIVITY
aware of the deep secrets beneath the world, this will come Communicating with the Servants of Mehmet (p.41) about
as no surprise. For centuries they were hunted and oppressed the hunt for the Akakia (p.54), and later the true HQ of the
by the agents of the Empress in Purple (p.2) but, after the Varangian Order (when the Varangian Club turns out to be a
 red herring—see p.66). Later, attacking anyone suspected of NIKEPHOROS, “THE STARGAZER” RUMINATING
being in the Varangian Order, or having the Akakia. GHOUL / SERVITOR GHOUL
Dossier Profile: Target 00%, Spy 00%, Occult 00%,
CLUES TO BE GAINED Mythos 100%.
• Profound knowledge about the history and secret places
STR 19 DEX 08 INT 15 CON 14
of Istanbul.
SIZ 10 POW 09
• Esoteric knowledge of the Varangian Order (p.57).
Hit Points: 12
• Mythos knowledge of Aciel (p.53), the Akakia (p.54),
Beneath Hagia Sophia (p.54), the Gates of Micklegard Damage Bonus: +1D4.
(p.55), the Ritual of the Empress in Purple (p.56), the Skills: Astronomy 60%, Burrow 76%, Climb 88%, Hide
Ritual of St Azel’s Bell (p.56), the Servants of Mehmet 63%, Jump 81%, Listen 73%, Scent Decay 69%, Sneak
(p.56), the Tomb of Constantine Palaeologus (p.57). 87%, Spot Hidden 52%.
• If the investigators are able to somehow gain the cooper-
ation of the ghouls, they can lead them through the city’s Language Skills: Gibbering Arabic 42%, Gibbering Greek
tunnels to any cistern or other similar area undetected. 65%, Meeping Turkish 57%.
They know about the tunnels beneath Hagia Sophia, but Weapons: Bite 33%, damage 1D6+1D4+worry, atts 1.
won’t reveal them to anyone, unless requested to by the
Servants of Mehmet (p.56). Claws 45%, damage 1D6+1D4, atts 1.
Spells: Alter Weather, Create Mist of Releh.
Armour: Firearms and projectiles do half damage.
His eyes sparkle with brilliance,
however, and he seems to enjoy Sanity Loss: 0/1D6.

talking with everyone, if only to Appearance: A loyal servitor of Grandfather, and a ghoul
meep knowingly at their naivety. the investigators are likely to meet. His skin is elaborately
scarified with astrological symbols and the outlines of
zodiacal symbols. He has deep mystical opinions, and loves
to stare at the stars.
WALI DEDE, “GRANDFATHER”, ANCIENT GHOUL
Dossier Profile: Target 00%, Spy 00%, Occult 00%,
Mythos 100%.
STR 13 DEX 07 INT 18 CON 14
SIZ 14 POW 17 Other Factions in
Hit Points: 14
Istanbul
Damage Bonus: +1D4.
The above factions are by no means the only forces oper-
Skills: Burrow 88%, Climb 97%, Hide 80%, Jump 91%, ating in the city. There are smugglers and fishermen from
Listen 83%, Scent Decay 92%, Sneak 95%, Spot all over who’ve settled in the Bosphorus for the lucrative
Hidden 71%. yet dangerous work, spies from the Free French and the
Language Skills: Gibbering Arabic 70%, Meeping French Jewish Agency, and even the Papal Legate, Monsignor
37%, Gibbering German 29%, Meeping Turkish 80%. Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, a vigorous anti-fascist who
plays a dangerous game of dining with the Germans
Weapons: Bite 58%, damage 1D6+1D4+worry, atts 1.
while using his office to smuggle Jewish refugees out
Claws 65%, damage 1D6+1D4, atts 1. of Europe. His assistant, Monsignor Rici, is a most
Spells: Blight / Bless Crop, Bring Haboob, Cloud Memory, unattractive little man, and operates a secret wireless for
Contact Nodens, Dust of Suleiman, Enthrall Victim, Heal, Italian military intelligence.
Raise Night Fog.
Armour: Firearms and projectiles do half damage.
Sanity Loss: 0/1D6.
Appearance: Wali Dede is an ancient ghoul, his skin
em be r t hi s: t he an cient sultans
Rem heir arsenal
used everything in t Everything.
loathsome with wattles and rugose excrescences. His eyes
sparkle with brilliance, however, and he seems to enjoy
talking with everyone, if only to meep knowingly at their
naivety. to take this city.
- Nathan Chance
 CHAPTER 4

Secrets and Spies

“I’m involved in a dangerous game,
Every other day I change my name,
The face is different but the body’s the same,
Boo, boo, baby, I’m a spy!”
- Popular song in wartime Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the great spy cities of World War Two. BRITISH
There are more people involved in the business of espio-
nage and skulduggery per head of population than any other
INTELLIGENCE IN
city in the world. It’s a city filled with mistrust, where ene- ISTANBUL
mies rub shoulders and politely ignore one another when British intelligence in Istanbul is run out of at least two
they aren’t trying to discover each other’s secrets. Only 40 locations. MI6’s Istanbul station is located in a building in
miles away the Nazis occupy Bulgaria, eyeing Istanbul as the block opposite the British consulate (p.17) round the
their potential gateway to the Middle East, while the Allies back of Istiklal Avenue, and is run by Harold Gibson, former
are everywhere in the city, staking their claim as a poten- head of MI6’s Czech station, who has been here since the
tial beachhead in the other direction back into Occupied 1920s. The Special Operations Executive, run by Gardyne
Europe. The Turks are caught in the middle, desperately de Chastelain, former head of sabotage ops in Romania, has
trying to avoid any action which might lead to a sudden and offices off Ayaz Pasha in a beautiful 18th century house with
unprovoked attack, tolerating unbelievable levels of espio- a spacious garden, overlooking the gardens of the German
nage as long as it doesn’t infringe on their sovereignty and consulate. Both make extensive use of the Whittals and the
the spies don’t get caught. Lefontaines, well-connected old British Istanbul families
who have connections everywhere going back years.

It’s a city filled with mistrust,

where enemies rub shoulders and politely OTHER INTELLIGENCE
ignore one another when they aren’t trying SERVICES
to discover each other’s secrets. While there’s currently no station of the American OSS
in Istanbul, American agents are run from the US con-
sulate (p.17). Agents of the Free French are generally
Seventeen different intelligence agencies operate in underground, as are Shai (Zionist intelligence, rumoured
Istanbul, a sleazy world of agents, double agents, drug-run- to have a presence at the Grand Hotel de Londres, p.22).
ners, arms smugglers, blackmailers, deserters, refugees, Agents of Czech military intelligence live in boarding
gangsters, hookers, black-marketeers, pimps, forgers, and houses along Istiklal Avenue and work in the same build-
spivs. It’s an incestuous community, where everyone keeps ing that houses British intelligence, and occasionally meet
an eye on everyone else, and the big names are known to all. with the SOE. Investigators who took part in the events of
The head of MI6 is on nodding terms with the head of the Three Kings may even find some old acquaintances among
Abwehr, and the NKVD head smiles coldly at them both. their number.
TRADECRAFT dossier profile (p.48) to see what area of activity the tail is
The art of spying is known among the intelligence com- interested in.
munity as “tradecraft”, and includes a wide variety of For example: Nathan Chance is being tailed by a shady
techniques for observing others while avoiding observation, character. His dossier profile says he has Target 50%, Spy 25%,
gathering information and communicating it, and leading Occult 15%, Mythos 5%, which means he still has a remarkably
an inconspicuous double life. Here are some guidelines for low profile considering his past activities. The Keeper rolls a 65%
investigators using tradecraft in play. on Chance’s dossier, noting that the spy observing him has identi-
fied Chance as a fellow spy.

Being Followed and Shaking

Off Pursuit Gathering Information
As a foreigner newly arrived in Istanbul, whenever an investi- To gather information, the investigators may interrogate
gator leaves his accommodation, he must make an Espionage informants, or spy on people or locations directly themselves.
or Sneak roll to avoid being spied upon. If he’s disguising Both activities are focussed on revealing information about
himself as a local, he may make an Easy Disguise roll instead. a person or event; the difference is that for pumping inform-
On a failure, he gains a tail (which he may make a further ants, the informant tells the investigator about the person or
Espionage or Spot Hidden roll to notice). On a fumble, his event, whereas spying directly means the investigator inter-
activities end up on the rumour market (see below) within acts with or observes the event or person himself.
an hour; on a normal failure, it takes eight hours or more. On • First, the player should choose the location or target his
a success, the investigator may conduct his business unob- investigator is trying to surveil. Is he trying to answer
served; on a special success, he notices who was trying to a specific question (“Where is the location of the
observe him, and may misdirect them if desired. Ahnenerbe dig?”), or is he carrying out a more general
surveillance to see if he spots anything (“What is Profes-
WHO’S ON YOUR TAIL? sor Golescu up to?”).
An investigator could be tailed by a “general tail” or a “plot • The investigator makes an Espionage roll, or rolls an
tail”, ie an observer related to the episodes and scenes he’s appropriate interpersonal skill (Fast Talk, Persuade) if
currently involved in. The Keeper can roll the investigator’s grilling someone for information.
 »» If the investigator is grilling someone, then the When an investigator fails in a tradecraft exploit, they
Keeper should roll the investigator’s dossier profile must increase their profile for the activity they failed in by
(see below) to see just who the target thinks the +5% (on a simple failure) and +10% (on a fumble). They
investigator is. If the target thinks the investigator must reduce another profile to compensate; Target first, then
is someone he shouldn’t be talking to (for example, Spy, Occult, and Mythos last.
a spy if talking about military matters, or an occult A dossier profile indicates how people “in the know”
investigator if talking about the rumours about the view the character. An investigator with a dossier profile
Handmaidens), then the skill roll is automatically of Target 0%, Spy 75%, Occult 25%, Mythos 0% is known
Difficult. Note that an investigator making a suc- throughout the community as an intelligent agent with an
cessful Disguise roll can present themselves with interest in the occult. For everyone other than Mythos spe-
whatever dossier profile they want. cialists, combine the Occult and Mythos profiles together.
»» If the target is themselves an expert in keeping things
close to his chest (such as a spy, ambassador, member
of the Servants of Mehmet, etc), then the roll is also
Difficult. Everyone keeps files on everyone else
»» If the target is a known pushover (a corrupt infor- in Istanbul, and the Emniyet
mation dealer, a lowly clerk, someone who’s been (the Turkish secret police)
thoroughly threatened or bribed), or wants to impart keep files on them, too.
the information, the roll is Easy.
»» Otherwise the roll is Standard.
• On a success, the investigator gains either a rumour (p.53)
or witnesses a surveillance event (pp.49-51) from the When the Keeper isn’t sure how much an NPC knows
appropriate Surveillance Location table (see pp.49-51), or about a character, he can roll the NPC’s Espionage or other
gains partial information (p.52) about a specific issue: the appropriate skill, and if successful make a roll on the inves-
Keeper should see the Secrets section (p.53) or the faction tigator’s profile. The result is what the NPC thinks the
in question in Chapter 3: Factions and Characters. investigator is. On a failure, the NPC just thinks the inves-
• On a special success, the investigator gains both par- tigator is an ordinary person. Note that normally the Keeper
tial information and a rumour or surveillance event, or shouldn’t allow investigators to make this kind of roll; they
complete information (p.53) about a specific issue. Add should rely on their own skills and powers of investigation.
+25% to the roll for the surveillance event.
• On a failure, the investigator is observed, and must For example: Nathan Chance has recently arrived in Istanbul and
increase his appropriate dossier profile by +5% (see is sipping a devilishly dry Martini at the Snakepit Bar, watching
p.48). Roll for the surveillance event, but it does not various Axis figures coming and going. A female German agent
happen; instead the participants become aware of the appears next to him and engages him in conversation. Does she
investigator. know who he is?
• On a fumble, the investigator blows it badly, and is in Chance isn’t in disguise, so the Keeper simply rolls the agent’s
danger. He must increase his appropriate dossier profile 55% Espionage skill. It’s a success! The Keeper rolls again against
by +10% (see below). Roll for the surveillance event, Chance’s dossier profile (Target 50%, Spy 25%, Occult 15%,
which does not happen, and also roll on the Danger Mythos 5%) and gets an 80, meaning the agent has identified
Table (p.53), to see how the would-be participants Chance as an occult specialist. “So... Professor Chance. I see
respond. you escaped Frau Wassermeister at Dunkirk. What brings your
team to Istanbul?”

Dossier Profiles Every NPC also has a dossier profile, which helps the
Everyone keeps files on everyone else in Istanbul, and the Keeper determine their overall range of interests and activ-
Emniyet (the Turkish secret police) keep files on them, too. ity. Roll percentile dice on the dossier profile to randomly
Whenever an investigator uses his or her tradecraft, they run determine the nature of an activity the NPC is engaged in,
the risk of coming to the attention of other spies. for example.
This is measured by the dossier profile. Every agent (in Some NPC dossier profiles may change from episode to
fact, every person) active in the city has a score in four pro- episode. It’s also possible that different agencies may have
files: Target, Spy, Occult, and Mythos. These scores always different dossier profiles on any given character, based on
total 100%. A character with no real profile in the intelli- what they know. It’s up to the Keeper whether they want
gence community begins with a Target score of 100%, and 0% that degree of detail; for this adventure, we assume each
in the other three profiles. This means that anyone observing investigator has just a single dossier profile representing
them thinks they’re just an ordinary person—a “mark”. “what is known” about them.
THE RUMOUR MARKET At this stage, the investigators don’t know any of the
detail; they may observe a suspicious-looking European
Information is the lifeblood of wartime Istanbul. Some of it’s approach an oriental-looking man or woman and begin
even true. If an investigator spends any time at all in public talking in hushed tones. It’s up to the investigator to make
places anywhere in the city, they may witness dubious events appropriate rolls to recognise the individuals and eavesdrop
and shady encounters between the many factions jostling on their conversation.
for power. Correctly interpreting these events and encoun- Obviously not all information will pertain to the adven-
ters may provide an advantage in the ongoing struggle—and ture at hand. However, that doesn’t make it useless; canny
even in the wider war. investigators can use such information as leverage, or to
Events in Istanbul aren’t “just” about the war. As the trade for more relevant information.
episodes and scenes detailed in Chapter 5: Plot Episodes
proceed, investigators may observe things which relate PUBLIC PLACES
directly to the hidden conspiracy unfolding around them. Public places include the Grand Bazaar (p.20), Hagia Sophia
Often, as well as playing through the episodes and scenes (p.20), and the numerous mosques, streets, alleyways, and
provided, investigators improvising and simply heading out shops throughout the city. These are usually busy during the
to gather information may make unexpected breakthroughs. day, and deserted by night.
This section details the events and encounters which
observant investigators may witness. Note that these events
aren’t meant to replace events mandated by the scenes in
Chapter 5: Plot Episodes, but rather to enable the Keeper
to handle moments when the investigators are engaged in SURVEILLANCE LOCATIONS TABLE 1:
more general information gathering. Less subtle investigators PUBLIC PLACES
may become the subjects of new events in their own right...
D% Event
SURVEILLANCE EVENTS 01-20 The [GENERAL FACTION] approaches the
Surveilling a target or location may allow an investigator to [GENERAL FACTION] to exchange valuable
witness a surveillance event. There are five broad categories information on [GENERAL TOPIC].
of location an investigator may practice their tradecraft in: 21-30 The [GENERAL FACTION] is spying on the
public places, academic environments, society events, and [GENERAL FACTION].
pro-Ally and pro-Axis locations (hotel bars are a typical 31-35 The [GENERAL FACTION] is up to no good.
example). The five tables below list ten possible types of
36-45 The [GENERAL FACTION] accosts the
event which a character may observe or hear about. These investigators. What do they know?
event types are presented in a “mad lib” format with gaps the
46-50 The [GENERAL FACTION] attempts to rob
Keeper can fill out using appropriate sub-tables. A typical one of the investigators. What does the
surveillance event looks like this: investigator have worth stealing?
51-55 The [GENERAL FACTION] attacks the
“A [GENERAL FACTION] approaches a [GENERAL FACTION] investigators! What have they stumbled
to exchange valuable information on [GENERAL TOPIC].” upon?
56-70 The investigators overhear or witness
This indicates that the Keeper should roll on two sub-ta- a [GENERAL FACTION] talking about
bles: General Faction, and General Topic, to identify the common knowledge of a [PLOT SECRET].
people and topics in question. If the investigators are already 71-80 A representative of the [PLOT FACTION] is
tailing a specific faction, then the first faction mentioned going about some obviously shady business
in the mad-lib is that faction, unless the investigators related to the current episode or scene.
They haven’t spotted the investigators.
are tailing a general faction and the event calls for a plot
faction, in which case the Keeper should roll for the plot 81-90 A representative of the [PLOT FACTION]
faction separately. is going about their shady business,
when they spot the investigators. Can the
The results on these tables may also differ depending on investigators extricate themselves? Have
the investigators’ location (public, pro-Axis, etc). For exam- they been recognised?
ple, the Keeper may roll on the tables when the investigators 91-00 The investigators stumble upon a key
are sitting in the Snakepit Bar at the Park Hotel (a notorious background event to the current scene or
pro-Axis location) and get the following result: episode. They must avoid detection to allow
it to proceed.
“A Romanian (Balkan) agent approaches a Japanese agent to
exchange valuable information on troop movements.”
ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENTS
Broadly speaking this means parts of Istanbul university, but
also includes libraries, any of the medrese mosque schools, SURVEILLANCE LOCATIONS TABLE 3:
bookshops, the studies and residences of mystics, priests, SOCIETY EVENTS
or professors, museums, and so on.
D% Event
01-25 The [GENERAL FACTION] approaches the
[GENERAL FACTION] to exchange valuable
SURVEILLANCE LOCATIONS TABLE 2: information on [GENERAL TOPIC].
ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENTS 26-40 The investigators spot the [GENERAL
FACTION] in a compromising situation which
can be used for blackmail.
D% Event
41-50 The [GENERAL FACTION] conspire to put one
01-10 The [GENERAL FACTION] approaches the
or more of the investigators in a compromising
[GENERAL FACTION] to exchange valuable
situation which could be used for blackmail.
information on [GENERAL TOPIC].
51-60 The absolute head of the [GENERAL
11-20 The [GENERAL FACTION] are receiving
FACTION] in Istanbul is at the event. Do the
information about [GENERAL TOPIC] from a
investigators even recognise him?
member of the academic environment.
61-70 The [GENERAL FACTION] makes an attempt
21-30 The [GENERAL FACTION] are passing
on the life of the [GENERAL FACTION]. Alert
information about [GENERAL TOPIC] to a
investigators may have just enough time to
member of the academic environment.
react.
31-40 The [GENERAL FACTION] are interrogating
71-80 The investigators barge in on two plot factions
the member of the academic environment
interacting regarding the [PLOT SECRET]. They
about [GENERAL TOPIC].
must take immediate action to mitigate their
41-50 The [GENERAL FACTION] are recruiting response.
the member of the academic environment
81-90 The investigators overhear the [PLOT
voluntarily.
FACTION] discussing their best level of
51-60 The [GENERAL FACTION] are recruiting the knowledge about a [PLOT SECRET]. They must
member of the academic environment using take measures not to be caught.
blackmail.
91-00 The investigators witness the [PLOT
61-70 The investigators overhear or witness a [PLOT FACTION] engaged in a major background
FACTION] talking about a [PLOT SECRET]. event to the current episode or scene.
The level of knowledge will equal what they
know.
71-80 The investigators observe a representative
of the [PLOT FACTION] at this location,
removing, replacing, or copying a plot-related SOCIETY EVENTS
object. They haven’t spotted the investigators.
Istanbul’s big society events are lavish yet pretty exclusive
81-90 The investigators stumble into a meeting affairs, organised by the big families, consulates, and major
between two plot factions and must take
socialites (perhaps the investigators have enough Credit
immediate action to avoid detection. The
factions may be mutually friendly or hostile. Rating to throw their own?). There’s usually something hap-
pening every weekend, and more often when the weather
91-00 The investigators observe a member of the
academic environment involved in a crucial is good. The investigators can’t just barge in, though—they
background event to the current episode. need an invitation. That may require charm, influence, or
outright bluster if they intend gatecrashing.

PRO-ALLIES LOCATIONS
These include consulates, friendly bars such as the Orient
Bar in the Pera Palace, the Grand Hotel de Londres, and
so on.
Don’t look now –
PRO-AXIS LOCATIONS
We’ve picked up a tail. These include consulates, the Snake Pit bar at the Park
Hotel, Ellie’s Bar, Abdullah’s Restaurant, and so on.
– Sergeant Ron “Ferret” Farnsworth
 SURVEILLANCE LOCATIONS TABLE 4:
PRO-ALLIES LOCATIONS
5:
SURVEILLANCE LOCATIONS TABLE
D% Event PRO-AXIS LOCATIONS
01-20 The [GENERAL FACTION] approaches the
[GENERAL FACTION] to exchange valuable D% Event
the
information on [GENERAL TOPIC]. 01-25 The [GENERAL FACTION] approaches
FACT ION ] to exch ange valua ble
21-30 An Allied schmoozer makes an outrageously [GENERAL
public pass at the investigator with the highest information on [GENERAL TOPIC].
APP. Use tradecraft to avoid damage to your strikes up “Boo,
26-35 The pianist or other musician
dossier profile as all eyes are turned on you. Boo, Baby, I’m a Spy” when the [GENERAL
31-40 An Axis faction attempts to grill the investigators FACTION] ente rs.
for information about [GENERAL TOPIC]. tigators. Do they
36-45 An Axis faction spots the inves
41-50 A [GENERAL FACTION] tries to recruit the recognise them ?
investigators regarding [GENERAL TOPIC]. ersation with the
46-55 An Axis faction strikes up a conv
51-60 The Emniyet (p.33) spots the investigators investigators. Can they bluff their way through it?
.
They must use tradecraft to avoid damage to investigators.
56-60 The Emniyet (p.33) spots the
their dossier profile. They must use tradecraft to avoid damage to their
61-70 A [GENERAL FACTION] is meeting a [PLOT doss ier profi le.
FACTION] to find out more about a [PLOT [GENERAL
61-70 The investigators observe the
SECRET]. FACTION ] spyin g on an Axis faction regarding
71-80 The investigators observe a [PLOT FACTION] a [GENERAL TOPIC].
plot faction
waiting to pass on information about a 71-80 The investigators observe an Axis T
[PLOT SECRET] to an Allied faction. Can the meeting a [PLOT FACTION] about a [PLO
investigators disguise themselves and intercept SECRET].
the information? What are the consequences? plot faction
81-90 The investigators observe an Axis
81-90 Apparently the Germans are frantically lookin waiting to pass on infor mati on abou t a [PLOT
g
’t arrived
for something—and a Romanian professor called SECRET] to a [PLOT FACTION] who hasn
Golescu is involved. ise them selve s and inter cept
yet. Can they disgu
91-00 The investigators observe an Allied faction the information?
faction
involved in a key background event to the current 91-00 The investigators observe an Axis
episode. invo lved in a key back grou nd even t to the current
episode.

SUB-TABLE 1: GENERAL FACTIONS

Academic Pro-Allies Location Pro-Axis Location
Society Events
D% Public Locations Environments
American Agents American Agents
Prof Ahmet Turan American Agents
01-10 American Agents British Agents
Betty Carter Betty Carter
11-20 Betty Carter American Agents
British Agents Emniyet
British Agents British Agents
21-30 British Agents German Agents
German Agents Emniyet Emniyet (Abwehr)
31-40 Emniyet (Abwehr)
German Agents Heiki-Carlotta
German Agents
German Agents Ion Golescu (Abwehr) Kammler
41-50 (Abwehr)
(Abwehr)
Heiki-Carlotta Japanese Agents Ion Golescu
Heike-Carlotta Japanese Agents
51-60 Kammler
Kammler Nastasya Filippovna Japanese Agents
Russian Agents Ion Golescu Mitroglou
61-70 Ion Golescu
Nastasya Filippovna
Japanese Agents Russian Agents Mitroglou
71-80 Japanese Agents Betty Carter
Nastasya Filippovna Betty Carter Russian Agents
81-90 Russian Agents Emniyet Mitroglou
German Agents
Heike-Carlotta Nastasya Filippovna British Agents (Abwehr)
91-00 Turkish Police Kammler Mitroglou
 SUB-TABLE 2: PLOT FACTIONS
Academic Society Events Pro-Allies Location Pro-Axis Location
D% Public Locations Environments
Betty Carter Prof Ahmet Turan Betty Carter Betty Carter The Emniyet
01-10
German Agents
11-20 The Emniyet The Emniyet The Emniyet The Emniyet (SD, Ahnenerbe)

German Agents German Agents German Agents German Agents The Handmaidens
21-30 (SD, Ahnenerbe) (SD, Ahnenerbe) (SD, Ahnenerbe)
(SD, Ahnenerbe)
Wali Dede’s Wali Dede’s Heike-Carlotta
31-40 The Handmaidens The Handmaidens Kammler
Children* Children*
Heike-Carlotta Nastasya Filippovna Ion Golescu
41-50 The Handmaidens The Handmaidens Kammler Mitroglou
Heike-Carlotta Nastasya Filippovna
51-60 Ion Golescu Ion Golescu Ion Golescu Mitroglou
Kammler
Nastasya Filippovna Nastasya Filippovna Heike-Carlotta
61-70 Ion Golescu Mustafa Basmevi Mitroglou Mitroglou Kammler
The Servants of Nastasya Filippovna
71-80 Mustafa Basmevi The Handmaidens Betty Carter Mitroglou
Mehmet
Nastasya Filippovna The Handmaidens The Handmaidens
81-90 Turkish Police Prof. Ahmet Turan Mitroglou
Emniyet Ion Golescu Omer Uzuner** Servants of Mehmet Ion Golescu
91-00
*At night only, otherwise re-roll. **See “The Varangian Order”, p.42.

PICS
SUB-TABLE 3: GENERAL TO In the event of a faction NPC talking about a plot secret,
roll on the table below or select one of the “Clues to be
D% Plot Secret Gained” given in their description in Chapter 3: Factions
01-05 Addresses of Agents and Characters. See “Secrets” (p.53) for descriptions.
ries
06-10 Addresses of Dignita
11-15 Agent Dossiers
SUB-TABLE 4: PLOT SECRETS
16-20 Event Dossiers
21-25 Identities of Agents D% Plot Secret
Agents
26-30 Identities of Double- 01-05 Aciel
31-35 Meeting Reports 06-15 The Akakia
36-40 Movements of Money 16-20 Beneath Hagia Sophia
41-45 Movements of Troops 21-25 CASE ELEPHANT BLACK
46-50 Personnel Dossiers 26-35 The Catacombs of Istanbul
tos
51-55 Reconnaissance Pho 35-40 The Gates of Micklegard
56-60 Secret Treaties 41-45 The Handmaidens
Europe
61-65 Smuggling People Into 46-55 The Marble Emperor
t of Europe
66-70 Smuggling People Ou 56-60 The Punic Device
s)
71-75 Transport (Explosive 61-70 The Ritual of the Empress in Purple
s)
76-80 Transport (Foodstuff 71-75 The Ritual of St Azel’s Bell
81-85 Transport (Fuel) 76-80 The Ritual of the Wedding Feast
)
86-90 Transport (Weapons 81-85 The Servants of Mehmet
91-95 Travel by Dignita ries
86-95 The Tomb of Constantine Palaeologus
96-00 Upcoming Attacks 96-00 The Varangian Order
DANGER TABLE
Sometimes surveillance goes terribly wrong. Someone gets SECRETS
the wrong idea, perhaps feels in danger of their life, and guns Almost everyone knows a secret. The problem is knowing
come out and people start shooting. When that happens, roll whether that secret is true, and, if it is, how true it is. Secrets
on the table below. often lie hidden inside other secrets, until the nightmarish
truth at the centre of it all is revealed.
As Keeper, you’re often going to have to make judgement
calls as to how much of a specific secret a given NPC will
DANGER TABLE know. Spies are very knowledgeable—but even they aren’t
likely to have detailed Mythos knowledge. Some of them
D% Plot Secret may know the occult significance of some things, but most
likely they’ll just have more prosaic, yet still secret, informa-
01-25 There’s been a case of mistaken identity.
The faction suddenly attacks! tion. As a result, we’re going to define four different types of
“knowledge” about a secret:
26-50 The faction shouts accusations at the
investigators, who suddenly find themselves
surrounded by a violent mob. • Common Knowledge: What an educated person will

51-65 The faction shouts accusations at the know about the secret (it may require a Knowledge roll—
investigators. Nearby police attempt to arrest ignorant people won’t even know this). In many cases
one or more of the investigators. this will be “nothing at all”.
66-80 The faction does something immediately or • Exoteric Knowledge: This is what an informed spy will
later which leads the Emniyet to conclude the know about a subject. It may require an Espionage roll to
investigators are a threat to national security. determine they actually know it.
81-90 The faction arranges an assassination attempt • Esoteric Knowledge: This is what an occultist will know
on the investigators later that day. about a subject. Spies may know some of this, but often
91-00 The faction attempts to kill the investigators, they’re just not that interested. It may require an Occult
regardless of personal danger. roll.
• Mythos Knowledge: This is the terrifying truth behind
the secret—what it all actually means. It may require a
Cthulhu Mythos roll.

Rumours of Events The entries below describe the major secrets of Code of
You can’t be everywhere, all the time. Much of Istanbul’s Honour, which investigators may unearth during play. Inves-
rumour market is second-hand, thriving off the trading of tigators are thrown back on their own knowledge, anything
hearsay and events witnessed by the city’s legions of inform- they can find in Istanbul’s libraries (p.22), or people they
ers and freelance spies. You don’t have to hang out in the can grill or spy on for information. Chapter 3: Factions
Park Hotel every night; instead, you can check in with your and Characters (p.30) provides suggestions for who might
network of (hopefully) reliable informers to see if they’ve know what; feel free to improvise and come up with your
heard anything. In such cases, roll to gather information as own ways of getting this information into the investigators’
usual, and then roll for a surveillance event, but as you’re hands. Any reasonably well thought-out plan to learn these
grilling an informer this event is in fact reported as a rumour. secrets should have a good chance of success. Remember:
your job is to keep things moving, not frustrate the players.

How Much Surveillance?

You can make FOUR attempts to gather information each
Much of Istanbul’s rumour market is
day: one in the morning, one over lunch, one in the after-
second-hand, thriving off the trading of
noon, and one in the evening, over dinner or drinks. Only
mornings and afternoons may be used for gathering infor- hearsay and events witnessed.
mation from informants; for lunch and dinner, you have to
hoof it yourself.
Remember that too much surveillance can make you ACIEL
very noticeable—especially if you fail. It’s best to keep a low Common Knowledge: None at all.
profile (see “Dossier Profiles” above), or become very expert Exoteric Knowledge: Aciel is an angelic servant according
at disguise. to Jewish mystical lore, charged with overseeing hell. A serv-
ant of the angel Raphael, he’s referred to in Agrippa and in
the Testament of Solomon.
 Esoteric Knowledge: Aciel is the name of a powerful Baby- Mythos Knowledge: The Akakia is an artefact of the serpent
lonian god, also called the Sun of the Night. The Jews called people, said to be sacred to the “Opener of the Way”, and
him King of Gehenna, or Hell. “Vril energy” is said to derive probably part of an ancient Nyarlathotep cult.
from the Sun of the Night, which is located in the centre of
the Earth. The Aryans are the biological descendants of the BENEATH HAGIA SOPHIA
Sun of the Night. Common Knowledge: There are no tunnels beneath Hagia
Mythos Knowledge: Aciel is one of the masks of Nyarlatho- Sophia. It’s unique in all Istanbul.
tep, although some claim he is an Outer God. Exoteric Knowledge: There are tunnels there, part of the
ancient catacombs. The priest who was performing the lit-
AKAKIA urgy on the morning of the 29th May 1453, when the city
Common Knowledge: The Akakia sounds like an ancient fell to the Turks, sleeps beneath Hagia Sophia behind a
Byzantine artefact. All that material has been lost for hun- locked and hidden golden door that even the Sultan could
dreds of years—it was probably stolen centuries ago. not open. One day he’ll awaken to complete the rite.
Exoteric Knowledge: The Akakia is part of the Imperial Esoteric Knowledge: Beneath Hagia Sophia lies an ancient
regalia of ancient Byzantium, lost for five hundred years. temple to Isis. The head of the Varangian Order will emerge
It was shaped like a legate’s baton, a symbol of rule. The from the tunnels to complete a great ritual there.
regalia also comprised an orb and sceptre, a labarum (a mili- Mythos Knowledge: There’s an ancient entrance beneath
tary standard in the shape of a chi-rho symbol, representing Hagia Sophia to a hidden subterranean realm—possibly
Christ), and possibly a crown. Red-Litten Yoth, or the ancient Serpent People realm
Esoteric Knowledge: The Akakia was said to represent of Valusia.
the Byzantine emperor’s pledge to the Holy Mother to pro-
tect the city with his life. It symbolises mortality. It gave CASE ELEPHANT BLACK
whoever wielded it great powers, and contained a sacred Common Knowledge: The name sounds like the name of a
dust used in secret rituals. Some writings suggest it was cov- German military operation.
ered in snakelike decoration reminiscent of the Serpentine Exoteric Knowledge: Only Germans have exoteric knowl-
Column (p.25). edge of this. Germans without the absolute highest clearance
 (such as Frau Kammler) know only that it’s the name of an THE HANDMAIDENS
Ahnenerbe expedition to a Neolithic / megalithic site in Common Knowledge: There are some seriously sexy women
North Africa, nicknamed “the Punic Dig”. Those with the at the posh hotels where the spies hang out...
highest clearance (senior Ahnenerbe, including Professor Exoteric Knowledge: They’re clearly working for some fac-
Golescu) know that it’s located at Mount Jebel Chambi in tion or other. Maybe Turkish intelligence?
Tunisia, not far from the ancient Roman town of Cillium. Esoteric Knowledge: They’re the occult servants of the cult
Esoteric Knowledge: The site appears to have been a temple of the Holy Mother, and often work for the Varangian Club.
to a snake-demon called “Aciel” by the Sumerians. Another They believe themselves to be “children of the Mother”.
name is “the Night of the Sun”, or “the Black Sun”, which Mythos Knowledge: They’re serpent people hybrids, work-
illuminates a world inside the world. The temple frescoes ing for the Varangian Order and the cult of the Empress
contain references to the “Gates of Aciel”, which has in Purple.
Himmler’s occult division extremely interested. There are
whispers of the Hollow Earth and super-weapon research.
Professor Golescu and the Istanbul Ahnenerbe are especially The temple frescoes contain references to
interested as nearby Cillium was a Byzantine city until the the “Gates of Aciel”, which has Himmler’s
7th century AD. They’ve been trying to find any references
occult division extremely interested.
in the city’s archives.
Mythos Knowledge: The “temple” at Jebel Chambi appears
to be a serpent people device, part of their ancient civilisa-
tion which existed beneath the Mediterranean. The “Gates of THE MARBLE EMPEROR
Aciel” may be a portal, summoning device, or even a weapon. Common Knowledge: The Marble Emperor is the name of
the last emperor of Byzantium. He was changed to marble
THE CATACOMBS OF ISTANBUL or something.
Common Knowledge: Istanbul is riddled with catacombs, Exoteric Knowledge: Legend says that the Empress of the
cisterns, and tunnels. Great City sat on her throne in the Great Church, and
Exoteric Knowledge: There are often strange goings on in mournfully told the Emperor that the city’s sins had doomed
the tunnels—they’re the meeting place of spies, and worse. it to fall to the Turks. She took away the Emperor’s crown
Esoteric Knowledge: There’s a hidden snake temple some- and sceptre, and hid them, until such time as God should
where beneath the city, linked with Hecate and the ancient permit another to come and receive them. Without his
Varangian Order. The “Gates of Micklegard” are said to be crown and sceptre, the Emperor soon perished, and was
part of the temple, leading to a subterranean world. They’re buried in a hidden tomb of marble.
guarded by the Servants of Mehmet, who have sworn to keep Esoteric Knowledge: Constantine Palaeologus never had
them closed. a crown, so it’s strange that legend talks about it so much.
Mythos Knowledge: Istanbul is built on top of the ancient Also, secret legends say the Marble Emperor’s head was cut
serpent people realm of Valusia. There may be an entrance off and encased in gold, and placed under the altar of Hagia
to Red-litten Yoth. Sophia—although his body was believed to lie elsewhere. He
was also unmarried when he died—so it’s unknown who the
THE GATES OF MICKLEGARD “Empress” of the city is supposed to be.
Common Knowledge: None at all. Mythos Knowledge: The Empress is also called the Empress
Exoteric Knowledge: Mickelgard is the ancient Varangian in Purple. She may have been the Marble Emperor’s concu-
(Viking) name for Constantinople. The “gates of Mickle- bine—or even his mother. The tales point to her dwelling
gard” are the gates of the ancient city itself. beneath the city—even beneath Hagia Sophia, although
Esoteric Knowledge: The Gates of Micklegard are referred there are no known tunnels beneath. She may be linked to
to in the Sacred Wisdom of the Light Within and the Valusian the Cult of the Mother, and may even have been the city’s
Codex (p.23), and in the 1603 Laibach recension (pub. Jacob true spiritual ruler.
Prona) of De Vermiis Mysteriis, and are said to lead to a great
underground kingdom beneath the city where the Marble THE PUNIC DEVICE
Emperor and the Empress in Purple lie sleeping. They’ve Common Knowledge: This is probably an artefact dating
been closed for at least 500 years—they must be an entrance from the Punic (or Carthaginian) civilisation. It may not
to the hollow earth! even exist—the only evidence for it is on frescoes found on
Mythos Knowledge: These are actual gates beneath Istan- an archaeological dig.
bul, which give access to a subterranean realm known as the Exoteric Knowledge: The frescoes are from an early, perhaps
Pillars of Marmoros or the Porphiry Spire, part of the lost even pre-Phoenician, cult, and represent a henge-like “door”
serpent people kingdom of Valusia beneath the Mediterra- or “gate” to the Underworld.
nean, and maybe even Red-litten Yoth. Esoteric Knowledge: The device is a bell-shaped physical
 portal, with a henge-like framework, created to summon the mentioned in the Sacred Wisdom of the Light Within and the
demon/god Aciel, the ancient pre-Phoenician / Sumerian Valusian Codex (p.23). It’s used to open the “Gates of Mick-
“Sun of the Night” or “Black Sun”. The Sacred Wisdom of legard” and let you enter the “hollow earth”. St Azel’s own
the Light Within and the Valusian Codex (p.23) both describe journey is described in the Sacred Wisdom of the Light Within,
a “Ritual of St Azel’s Bell” which may refer to this device— after the ritual was revealed to him by the “Great Mother”.
though the connection between the pre-Phoenician frescoes This in turn may be a corruption of an ancient ritual to com-
and Byzantium is unknown. mune or summon an ancient spirit, god, or demon, such as
Mythos Knowledge: Aciel is often used as one of the many Azazel or Aciel.
names of Nyarlathotep, or perhaps an unknown Outer Mythos Knowledge: The ritual was created to power the
God. The Punic Device therefore appears to describe a way gate described in the Punic Device frescoes, opening a portal
to build a summoning gate, probably to be used together to allow Aciel into the world. Aciel may refer to Nyarla-
with the otherwise unknown Ritual of St Azel’s Bell. This thotep, or an Outer God. Existing texts suggest the ritual is
could be a weird serpent people device: Valusia was the known to the Empress in Purple.
Mediterranean basin; it could even describe a K’n-Yani
device. This would explain how mention of an ancient
pre-Phoenician artefact could find its way into mediaeval
The “Marble Emperor” would gain the
Byzantine writings.
support and the esoteric knowledge of
THE RITUAL OF THE EMPRESS IN PURPLE the cult (including access to rituals
Common Knowledge: None at all. and paraphernalia believed to be
Exoteric Knowledge: A ritual practised by the Byzantine highly powerful), and his child would
court. It’s unknown who the Empress in Purple actually automatically be a cult initiate.
was, although it may have originally referred to one of the
empresses of the Porphyrogenitus dynasty. It all sounds a bit
Masonic, maybe the sort of thing that the Varangian Club
might know about. Could it still be going on? The Turks take THE RITUAL OF THE WEDDING FEAST
this kind of thing pretty seriously—it could be a very useful Common Knowledge: There seems to be some kind of
alliance if we could get one of our people in there... Ladies’ Prize at the upcoming Varangian Ball—isn’t that
Esoteric Knowledge: An occult “marriage” of a Byzantine nice?
emperor with the head of a demonic snake cult (possibly Exoteric Knowledge: There’s some kind of strange sex ritual
Hecate, possibly Aciel). The emperor, known as the “Marble or deflowering going on. Look after the ladies!
Emperor”, would gain the support and the esoteric knowl- Esoteric Knowledge: The Varangian Order is looking
edge of the cult (including access to rituals and paraphernalia to kidnap a woman for some kind of ritual—maybe even
believed to be highly powerful), and his child would auto- sacrifice!
matically be a cult initiate. Does the cult still exist? Is that Mythos Knowledge: The Varangian Order is looking to
what the legendary Varangian Order is? If so, who is the kidnap a woman for her to be devoured by the serpent
Empress in Purple, and what does the order know? woman, so she can take human form for the Ritual of the
Mythos Knowledge: A magical ritual by which a serpent Empress in Purple!
woman named the Empress in Purple, having devoured
a human woman and taken on her form, had intercourse THE SERVANTS OF MEHMET
with a human man (named as the “Marble Emperor” in Common Knowledge: There are lots of Mehmets. Is this
the ritual) to give birth to a future emperor of Byzantium. some kind of faction in the old Ottoman court?
It’s unknown exactly why the serpent people would want Exoteric Knowledge: The Servants of Mehmet were a fac-
to do this. Does the cult still exist? Are the serpent people tion of bodyguards fanatically devoted to the Sultan Mehmet
involved in Istanbul? II, the Conqueror, and his successors.
Esoteric Knowledge: There are legends that the Servants of
THE RITUAL OF ST AZEL’S BELL Mehmet still exist. What agenda they serve is unknown—
Common Knowledge: There are lots of saints in the presumably to protect Turkey and perhaps even restore
Church—St Azel is doubtless one of them, though what he the Ottoman Throne, or prevent any future Byzantine
or she stands for is anyone’s guess. There are lots of bells, too. restoration.
Exoteric Knowledge: “Azel” is probably a corruption of an Mythos Knowledge: The Servants of Mehmet have con-
earlier name, possibly referring to a spirit, god, demon, or siderable Mythos knowledge, and they appear to be at least
other cult, such as Azael, Azazel, Azrael, or Aciel. This kind on neutral if not friendly terms with the ghouls beneath
of thing happens a lot. Istanbul. That would make them the enemies of the Empress
Esoteric Knowledge: The Ritual of St Azel’s Bell is in Purple.
THE TOMB OF CONSTANTINE PALAEOLOGUS Mythos Knowledge: The secrets of whatever Constantine
Common Knowledge: There are many legends about Palaeologus knew may have been buried with him in his
the fabled lost tomb of Constantine Palaeologus, the last tomb, hidden for centuries by the Servants of Mehmet in
Emperor of Byzantium, who died when the city fell to the league with the ghouls. The Ahnenerbe may have used the
Sultan. The tomb has never been found, but it’s said to be Traumstaffel to discover the Tomb’s location.
filled with treasure. Many people think it doesn’t exist.
Exoteric Knowledge: Legend calls Constantine Palaeologus THE VARANGIAN ORDER
“the Marble Emperor”, and says he’s sleeping in his lost tomb Common Knowledge: The Varangian Guard was the Viking
with his priceless regalia, and will one day return to restore guard of old Byzantium. Its members were bodyguards of the
the city. This is known as the Megali Idea, or Great Idea, in Emperor.
Greek legend. One legend says the Tomb lies in a subterra- Exoteric Knowledge: The Varangian Guard finally ended in
nean cave near the Golden Gate, which the Turks walled 1453, when the city fell. The name is also used to sometimes
up immediately after the fall of the city; the Turks have refer to the Boukoleon Palace (p.16), the lost headquarters
always been superstitious about tampering with the gate, of the Guard.
fearing a “great alteration” in the city’s fortunes. Another Esoteric Knowledge: “Varangian” is sometimes used inter-
legend says the tomb lies near the Gate of St Romanos; changeably with “Valusian”, which doesn’t just refer to the
another still that the Emperor is sleeping in a coffin in or Guard. It may have been a Viking holding in Byzantine
beneath Hagia Sophia. lands, or even an independent kingdom of fair-haired people
Esoteric Knowledge: The Ahnenerbe have been seeking that once existed in this region. It’s a very old name. It’s
ancient artefacts across the world, looking for occult “super- possible the order still exists, in secret.
weapons”. The lost regalia of Byzantium are said to have Mythos Knowledge: Varangian is a corruption of “Valusian”.
great occult power. It’s possible the Servants of Mehmet The order works for the serpent people. They’re keepers of
knew where they were hidden and the location of the Tomb. the Ritual of the Empress in Purple.
If so, the Ahnenerbe must have outsmarted them somehow.
But how?
 CHAPTER 5

Plot Episodes
I eyed him through the bottom of my whisky glass,
wondering if he knew I’d been sniffing around the dig. That’s always the thing -
no one knows who knows what, or even if what they know is real.
or a bluff that will leave you in a blind alley with your throat cut.

The following episodes and scenes are provided as a frame- Black Sun, the Ahnenerbe’s secret handlers, in the Father-
work to enable the Keeper to play through the plot of land), tipping off every spy in Istanbul that something big
Code of Honour, as described in Chapter 1: Introduction is happening.
and below. They represent the events that will happen
unless the investigators take action to thwart them. They THE VARANGIAN ORDER SPRINGS INTO ACTION
are presented in the order they are most likely to occur. As soon as they hear about this discovery, the secret
The Keeper should feel free to ignore this and run scenes Varangian Order attacks and kills the archaeologist from
in the order that makes most sense for their game; investi- Golescu’s team who has the regalia, and steals the artefact
gators have a notorious habit of jumping the gun, running known as the Akakia (p.54). They leave the rest of the rega-
back to fill in gaps, and generally trashing the Keeper’s best lia untouched.
laid plans.
Some of the scenes below are marked as “mandatory”.
Without them, key parts of the plot may not make sense, or A Nazi archaeological team under
may never occur. The Keeper should endeavour to include Professor Ion Golescu has recently found
all mandatory scenes. Optional scenes add more flesh to the
the lost tomb and imperial regalia of
bones, and more opportunity for the investigators to work
out what’s going on. Even then, Istanbul is an ancient city Constantine Palaeologus.
filled with mysteries, reluctant to give up its secrets…

EPISODE ONE:

EPISODE PLOT THE TOMB OF THE MARBLE EMPEROR

In this episode, the investigators and other factions try to
SUMMARY find out what is happening. One or more factions discover
that only one item of the regalia was stolen.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE LOST TOMB OF The Varangian Order concocts a daring plan to use the
CONSTANTINE PALAEOLOGUS stolen Akakia in an ancient ritual—the Ritual of the Empress
A Nazi archaeological team under Professor Ion Golescu in Purple—to summon the legendary Empress in Purple (a
(p.37) has recently found the lost tomb and imperial rega- serpent woman) through the Gates of Micklegard beneath
lia of Constantine Palaeologus, the legendary “Marble Hagia Sophia, closed for five hundred years. The Empress
Emperor” and last ruler of Byzantium, said to lie sleeping will devour a female human and take her form, and then
beneath the Earth to one day rise again. The discovery has have intercourse with a human male and bear a hybrid child,
sent the Ahnenerbe and the Germans into a frenzy of secret who will be “heir to Micklegard” and an agent of the “Great
communication (including encrypted messages back to the Idea” of restoring the ancient city to its Byzantine greatness.
 At the same time, a secretive Turkish order known as The Ahnenerbe realise the Varangians are looking for
the Servants of Mehmet, sworn to protect the city from the candidates for a “consort” for the Ritual of the Empress in
ancient threat of the Empress in Purple, becomes alarmed Purple—a consort who will inherit great power—and contact
when they see signs that the Varangian Order still exists, their Black Sun leaders for instructions.
and may have stolen the Akakia, a powerful ritual artefact. Both the Varangian Order and the Servants of Mehmet
Together with the ghouls, their ancient allies, they try to are killing anyone trying to track them down. The Ahne-
track down the Order and retrieve the Akakia—but with- nerbe are trying to find the headquarters of the Varangian
out success. They attack and ransack the Varangian Club. Order. They break into the Varangian Club.
There’s talk of “assassins” (including ghouls...) kidnapping Under Black Sun orders, the Ahnenerbe (probably in the
notable spies and scholars with occult links, as the Serv- person of Professor Ion Golescu) woos the Varangian Order
ants of Mehmet and the ghouls look for evidence of the to become “Marble Emperor” and gain the metaphorical key
Varangian Order, its secret headquarters, and the Akakia. which will unlock the secrets of the Punic Device and the
“entrance to the hollow earth” beneath Istanbul.
EPISODE TWO: The Servants of Mehmet find the Varangian Order head-
THE VARANGIAN ORDER quarters and come into conflict with them. The Varangians
The Varangian Order intends to conduct the Ritual of the are probably too powerful to overcome—or at least overcom-
Empress in Purple on the 29th May, the sacred day for the ing them won’t thwart the Empress in Purple, as the solstice
ritual and the day the ancient Byzantine capital fell. In this “Wedding” can still happen as long as some Varangians (such
episode, they begin their search for the candidate who will as the priestess or handmaidens) survive and the Akakia
take the role of Marble Emperor in the ritual. remains in their hands. Even if not, the Ahnenerbe Nazis
The factions in Istanbul begin to suspect that secret may obtain the Akakia and the Ritual of the Empress in
negotiations are occurring which they aren’t party to. Many Purple and go ahead with the ritual anyway.
fear Turkey is about to ally itself and enter the war. Professor
Ion Golescu of the Ahnenerbe suspects an occult explana- EPISODE THREE:
tion instead; the investigators may agree with him. THE MASKED BALL
The Ahnenerbe capture members of the Servants of The Varangian Club announces a Masked Ball on the 29th
Mehmet and interrogate them. They discover the Serv- of May. Everyone—the intelligence agencies as well as their
ants believe the Akakia is part of an ancient “Ritual of the occult counterparts—believes that this is where a “deal” is
Empress in Purple”, and that a “Varangian Order” (believed going to be struck—that it’s some kind of beauty pageant,
extinct in 1453) has stolen it. with the winner getting to enter into a deal with Turkey, the
 As explained in “The Mission” (p.2), Lily Warner, a wealthy
American heiress and well-known Istanbul socialite, and also
Timescale an Allied intelligence asset (codename: ARDENT) and a
friend of one of the investigators, has been found, murdered,
While there’s no rigid timescale to the events of Code in the waste land by the Marble Tower in Istanbul’s Yedikule
of Honour, the scenes which follow are assumed to take neighbourhood (p.28). The only clue—a message apparently
place between late 1941 and the 29th of May 1942. written in her diary as she died: “Tell Chance the regalia has
Pointers to timing and season have been included as been found”.
suggestions, but the Keeper should feel free to override Nathan Chance and his team of Section M agents (or
these with those from his own campaign. whoever the investigators are—the Keeper should change
Lily Warner’s message accordingly) have been called to
Istanbul to investigate.

reward being... well, it depends on what you believe. Either KEEPER’S INFORMATION
a potential alliance, or something decidedly more sinister. As an Allied spy investigating possible Ahnenerbe intel-
The ball is thick with intrigue, politics, and skulduggery. ligence networks in Istanbul, Lily Warner had suspected
Neither the Turks nor the Varangians will tolerate open war- Professor Ion Golescu and the Ahnenerbe had been onto
fare, so proceedings are very cloak and dagger. No faction something. She followed them to Yedikule Castle (p.28),
wants to “scare off the Turks”. where she stumbled upon their discovery of the tomb of
An important and attractive female figure is kidnapped Constantine Palaeologus. Appreciating the significance of
from the ball (to be devoured by the serpent woman to the artefacts the tomb was purported to contain, she tried to
become the Empress in Purple). tell her superiors but, before she could leave, she was stabbed
The Varangians select their consort—probably Professor with a poison dagger by one of the Handmaidens (p.35),
Golescu, or another Ahnenerbe representative put forward an agent of the Varangian Order, who had followed her
by the Black Sun. They take him secretly beneath Hagia from the Snakepit Bar. She fled to the Marble Tower (p.28),
Sophia, where the Gates of Micklegard are open (a weird where the poison overcame her. Meanwhile the Hand-
glow lighting up the whole cathedral, climbing up from its maiden killed the Ahnenerbe guard in the tomb and stole
base—something that hasn’t happened since 1453), and the the Akakia (p.54).
Empress in Purple lies ready to consummate the relationship Lily had just enough time to scribble the message in her
in full view of the handmaidens and other Varangians. diary before dying. She left no information about where the
Once the “wedding” has been consummated, Golescu is regalia had been found, or who had found it.
feted as the new Marble Emperor by the Varangian Order,
who provide secrets and support further the Black Sun’s
broader goals. The Nazis gain a huge boost to understanding She tried to tell her superiors but, before
how the Punic Device is supposed to function, as well as
she could leave, she was stabbed with a
access to the Ritual of St Azel’s Bell--unless, of course, the
investigators can stop them! poison dagger by one of the Handmaidens.

EPISODE ONE: SETTING THE SCENE

THE TOMB OF THE Use this scene to establish the environment the investigators
are operating in; who they are, what their cover identities
MARBLE EMPEROR are, where they are staying and how they meet every day.
Take the opportunity to stress the high levels of espionage
Scene 1: A Message for in Istanbul—and the need to take precautions to avoid
Chance (Mandatory Scene) acquiring one or more spies on their tail (p.47). Although
THE HOOK a wartime adventure, Istanbul is a city at peace—a tense,
Istanbul is the city of spies, always a hotbed of wartime fraught, and intrigue-filled peace, but peace nevertheless.
espionage. However, recently, the level of activity has been
extraordinary even for Istanbul, and the Allies believe some- INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS
thing major is going down—but they don’t know what. The • Initial Info Gathering: The investigators are starting
Allies suspect secret negotiations between the Turks and— from a position of relative ignorance. Use this oppor-
who, exactly? And why? tunity to familiarise everyone with the “Secrets” and
Against this background, a sudden murder and a mys- “Gathering Information” rules (p.49), using “the Tomb
terious message takes events on an unexpected turn. of Constantine Palaeologus” as your example (p.57). Let
 the investigators make knowledge rolls (Archaeology, investigations may lead them almost anywhere, but per-
Art, History) to see what they already know about the haps most likely to Professor Ion Golescu (p.37) or the
tomb; and then discuss how they can find out more: Ahnenerbe Dig (see Scene 2, below), or further to the
• Forensics: Asking about the murder is quite informa- Handmaidens (p.35), or the Marble Emperor and the
tive, although the Turkish police (p.43) will need careful “Megali Idea” (p.57).
“handling”. There’s been no autopsy, but if the investi-
gators can persuade the authorities to allow a medical
examination, it becomes clear that Lily Warner was
Scene 2: The Ahnenerbe Dig
killed by a poisoned blade—highly unusual even for (Optional Scene)
exotic Istanbul! Furthermore, analysis of the poison (a THE HOOK
Chemistry roll with access to a laboratory) will reveal the The investigators may figure out that the tomb of Constan-
poison is of a completely unknown nature! tine Palaeologus has been found by the German Ahnenerbe,
• The Libraries: This is the traditional route, and Istan- in a secret dig in Yedikule Castle in southwestern Istanbul
bul is filled with libraries (p.22). The investigators can (p.61). Professor Turan (p.30) might reveal this information,
make Library Use rolls to find out common and exoteric or perhaps even Heike-Carlotta Kammler (p.36); otherwise
information about the tomb, and possibly even esoteric the investigators will need to tail the Ahnenerbe, such as
information if they choose their library carefully. To gain Professior Golescu (p.37), or raid the professor’s rooms in the
Mythos information about the tomb, they’ll need access Park Hotel (p.24) or Yedikule (p.28) and find a clue to the
to texts such as those described on p.23. location. This optional scene describes what happens if the
• Gathering Information: This is where the true action investigators decide to pay the dig a visit.
of Code of Honour lies—in espionage, interrogation,
spying, and pumping your contacts for information. KEEPER’S INFORMATION
It’s likely the investigators will gravitate towards aca- The Ahnenerbe dig is located by the legendary Golden Gate
demic types—perhaps Professor Ahmet Turan at in Yedikule Castle, and specifically in the Bloody Well in
Istanbul University (p.30); or, alternatively, Lily Warner’s the Execution Chamber, a side-chamber of the South Pylon
acquaintances, such as Natasha Mitroglou (p.39). Their (location 6 on the castle map on p.28).
 2. The Excavated Entrance: This is the start of the dig
proper; the side of the Bloody Well has been dug out
with shovels and pickaxes, revealing a rough tunnel
which heads east for a metre or so before becoming a
smooth-hewn passageway.
3. The First Trap: There was a primitive deadfall trap here,
hastily built when the tomb was constructed. The Ahne-
nerbe have left it covered with a gravel-strewn tarpaulin
weighted at the corners with rocks. It’s a pretty unso-
phisticated trap, but highly effective if you don’t detect
it—it’s a 10ft (3m) drop causing 1D6 damage.
4. The Second Trap: No one would expect two traps in
quick succession, right? Well, that’s what the Ahnenerbe
are hoping. There’s a tripwire just after the pit trap, tied
to a hand grenade lodged in the wall. Tripping it will
cause an explosion doing 4D6 damage in a 12ft (4m)
KEY TO THE DIG radius, plus 1D6 additional damage due to falling stone
1. The Bloody Well: The well is a dark pit in the centre of in the tunnel back to the well. Characters getting thrown
the floor of a small, stone-walled chamber in the South back out of the western tunnel may fall into the well.
Pylon known as the Execution Chamber. It’s guarded by 5. The Tomb: Considering that this is the fabled tomb of
a single Ahnenerbe goon, who’ll be ready for the inves- the legendary last emperor of Byzantium, it’s a bit of a
tigators if they don’t take steps to be stealthy. See below let-down. It was hastily hewn in the days following the
for his stats. The Bloody Well drops 40ft (15m) into fall of the city, and there was little time for ceremony
darkness (4D6 damage), and at the bottom links directly or ornamentation; there’s a simple stone coffin on top
to the sea. In Ottoman times severed heads were thrown of a stone-built bier, hastily carved with inscriptions in
down here. A wooden ladder has been recently lashed Greek which read “Beloved of the Empress in Purple” and
to pitons in the eastern wall of the well, leading down “Sacrificed for the Holy Mother and Her Eternal City”.
to location 2. A Difficult History roll can reveal that the Emperor
was not married when he died (see also “The Marble
FRITZ LINDAU, AGE 26, “AHNENERBE GOON” Emperor” on p.55).
STR 15 DEX 12 INT 09 CON 16
SIZ 15 APP 08 POW 12 EDU 07 Most significantly, the tomb is empty. There is no body,
SAN 45 Hit Points: 16 no regalia, no remains at all. It’s as though the place has been
swept clean. Where is everything? (In fact the regalia and
Damage Bonus: +1D4.
remains are stashed in a cheap hotel in Yedikule—see p.37.)
Skills: Close Combat 60%, Demolitions 36%, Espionage
40%, Fieldcraft 65%, Hide 40%, Listen 47%, Sneak 42%,
Spot Hidden 51%.
Scene 3: The Game’s Afoot
(Optional Scene)
Language Skills: German (own) 35%, French 15%.
THE HOOK
Weapons: Luger P08 9mm (Handgun) 70%, damage 1D10, The investigators have worked out that the tomb of Con-
atts 2, base range 15 yards. stantine Palaeologus has been found, but that its contents,
Fist 75%, damage 1D3+1D4, atts 1. including some or all of the ancient Byzantine regalia, have
been stolen—and someone with access to unusual methods
Description: Fritz is a heavy-set shaven-headed goon—not is willing to kill to keep the whole thing quiet. But what has
one of the Ahnenerbe’s brightest, but a capable enforcer. been stolen, and by whom? And who knows what?
He’s not suicidal, either, although he’s understandably
trigger happy after his colleague was stabbed and poisoned. KEEPER’S INFORMATION
His job is to keep intruders from the dig if possible, but The investigators aren’t the only ones puzzled and alarmed
if driven off he’s supposed to try and identify who the by recent events. Professor Ion Golescu and the Ahnenerbe
intruders are then report back to Professor Golescu or other (p.34) are trying to work out who has stolen the Akakia,
Ahnenerbe operatives. If he can’t identify intruders, he’ll and why, and—behind the scenes—the Servants of Mehmet
challenge them verbally; if he knows they’re foreign spies are starting to become alarmed. Who would have the occult
and thinks he can get away with it, he’ll shoot. He won’t knowledge to just steal specifically the Akakia? Professor
shoot Emniyet or Turkish police, though. Golescu in particular is intrigued.
INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS
This scene is one of further investigation, tradecraft, and Depending on the astuteness of their tradecraft, the
information gathering, possibly now looking for the missing investigators may hear about this attack within hours
contents of the tomb of Constantine Palaeologus. If they of it happening, or sometime the next day. Either way,
haven’t done already, the investigators may visit the Park the Turkish police (p.43) will have the Varangian Club
Hotel and the Snakepit (p.24), and surveil and even meet (p.27) cordoned off, and by the next day the Emniyet will
with Professor Golescu or other Ahnenerbe representatives. also be on site (p.33). Any investigative attempts will be
They may also visit libraries or interview scholars such as Easy before the Emniyet arrive, as evidence is fresh, people
Professor Turan (p.30) or Mustafa the bookseller (p.38) to are panicky and talkative, and the police not in charge of
research secrets such as the Marble Emperor (p.55), the Holy the situation.
Mother, the Empress in Purple (p.56), the Byzantine regalia A Know roll by any investigator will reveal that the
(see “The Akakia” on p.55), and so on. Varangian Guard was the name of the ancient personal bod-
By the end of the scene, the investigators may have yguard of the Byzantine Emperors, drawn from Scandinavian
worked out that the Germans are also looking for at least and Anglo-Saxon warriors (“Varangian” refers to “Vikings”).
part of the imperial regalia—and that no one knows who A History roll, or interviewing anyone knowledgeable,
stole it. They may also be aware there are other factions reveals that the headquarters of the old Varangian Guard,
interested in the theft—scholars from the medrese mosque the ruined Boukoleon Palace (p.16), is a stone’s throw from
schools (actually the Servants of Mehmet—see p.41), and the Varangian Club.
other dealers in antiquities, and perhaps even members of If the investigators arrive the same day, several Club
the establishment (secretly members of the Varangian Club members will be present, including a couple of Handmaid-
and Order—see p.27, 42). ens (p.55) and Andronikos Eugenikos (p.43). The police
won’t allow the investigators to see them; they’ll need to
bribe, persuade, or intimidate the police, or even use stealth.
The Servants of Mehmet have heard None of the club members will be forthcoming, even though
they’ve clearly been roughed up, and a Psychology roll will
that the Akakia has been found,
indicate they’re hiding something. Investigators familiar
and have panicked. with diplomatic circles (perhaps an Idea roll and an appro-
priate background, or an appropriate Institutional Lore roll)
recognise Eugenikos as a minister in the Turkish political
establishment—he usually goes by the name Omer Uzuner.
Scene 4: The Attack on the Interviewing witnesses in the neighbourhood is more
Varangian Club productive. Several locals saw shady figures in dark robes and
THE HOOK face masks ransacking the Club before fleeing empty-handed
The whole of Istanbul is electrified. There’s been an attack, when the police arrived.
on a little known and low-key private members club called
“The Varangian Club”, in the Sultanahmet neighbourhood
of the old city, not far from Hagia Sophia! Rumours are flying
that it was a burglary gone wrong—but there’s also talk of
other attacks across Istanbul, and even kidnappings of pos- Background Events: The
sible spies, informers, and even scholars. What’s going on?
Varangian Order’s Plan
KEEPER’S INFORMATION KEEPER ONLY
If the investigators have met an Istanbul scholar (such as Now that the Varangian Order have recovered the Akakia
Professor Turan—p.30), it might be exciting to have that after centuries of searching, they intend to conduct the
scholar kidnapped at this point. Don’t have Mustafa the Ritual of the Empress in Purple on May 29th, the anniver-
bookseller kidnapped if you can help it—but he should be sary of the fall of the city and a ritually crucial date.
fearful it might be him next. They know how to use the Akakia in the Ritual of
The Servants of Mehmet (p.41) have heard that the the Empress in Purple (p.70). In the ritual, the Empress
Akakia has been found, and have panicked. Suspecting that in Purple will come up through the Gates of Micklegard,
the Varangian Order never died out, they’ve attacked the closed for five hundred years, devour a female human
Varangian Club looking for the regalia, and have even kid- and take her form, before having intercourse with a
napped others in the city to interrogate them. In particular human male and bearing a hybrid child, who will be the
they’re looking for evidence of the Varangian Order, and a new Marble Emperor and the “heir to Micklegard”.
possible hidden headquarters (see Episode Two, Scene 3:
The Varangian Order Headquarters).
 The investigators may wish to search the Varangian Scene 1: Secret
Club; this will be difficult the day of the attack, unless the
investigators are on good terms with the police. The follow-
Negotiations
ing day, the Emniyet will be watching, but otherwise the club THE HOOK
is empty and can be searched at leisure (see p.27). After the attack on the Varangian Club, the secret world
of Istanbul is electrified, and everyone is trying to work out
HASHISHIN! what is going on, and what’s at stake. There are all kinds of
If the investigators involve themselves with the attack on outlandish theories, but no one is inclined to dismiss the
the Varangian Club, they’ll come to the attentions of the importance of this singularly disturbing event.
Servants of Mehmet, who are at this stage trying to cover up
the whole affair—lethally! KEEPER’S INFORMATION
The first attack will be from a single Servant of Mehmet With the Akakia in their possession, the Varangian Order
(p.41), likely against a single investigator in his or her is now trying to find a consort for the Empress in Purple,
accommodation that night. The Servant’s goal will be to put for their ritual on the coming 29th May. At the same time,
the frighteners on the investigators, but above all to escape they’re keeping a low profile, defending against attacks from
incognito; they’ll kill if they can, but not at the price of get- the Servants of Mehmet, their ancient and implacable foes.
ting caught. Everyone suspects secret negotiations—negotiations
If the investigators don’t take the hint, the second attack they’re not party to—and that Turkey is about to ally itself
will come the following night, from a single ghoul (probably and enter the war. People are getting paranoid and jumpy—
Nikephoros the Stargazer—see p.45), again against a single wondering if they should invade before someone else does.
investigator if possible. This time Nikephoros will try to kill Although it’s not immediately obvious, the Germans
one of the investigators, and will try again (against the same are split into two factions—one that believes there’s some
or a different investigator) every night thereafter until killed occult significance to the current events (led by Professor
or driven off—or until somehow the investigators are able to Golescu and the Ahnenerbe, increasingly with Black Sun
gain the trust of the Servants. backing), and one that doesn’t (Heike-Carlotta Kammler
By the end of the scene, the investigators should be and the Abwehr faction).
aware of a secretive Varangian Club (and may even have
picked up hints about the shadowy Varangian Order behind INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS
it), and the Servants of Mehmet—maybe in league with The investigators should play through some tradecraft
the ghouls!—who seem to be searching for the Akakia, and actions, contacting informers, staking out choice locations,
think the Varangians have it. spying on key individuals. As they do so, they should pick up
on the strain and near-panic of all the factions.
It feels like Istanbul is about to blow. Maybe the Turks
are about to ally with a power and enter the war, and any
It feels like Istanbul is about to blow.
other power will be willing to get very violent—even to
Maybe the Turks are about to ally with attack Turkey—to prevent this happening. Events may be
a power and enter the war. about to get very bloody.

THE MEETING WITH ANDRONIKOS EUGENIKOS

At some point, one or more of the investigators should be
EPISODE TWO: discreetly approached by a Turkish official—possibly from

THE VARANGIAN ORDER the police, the Emniyet, or the government—named Omer
Uzuner. In fact, he’s none other than Andronikos Eugen-
This is potentially the longest episode, and the most variable ikos from the Varangian Club, whom the investigators may
in terms of action. The investigators have begun to realise an recognise from Episode One, Scene 4: The Attack on the
ancient struggle has once again broken out in Istanbul—one Varangian Club.
which may be linked to ghouls, ancient rituals, and an occult This is a delicate moment, so play it carefully. Eugenikos
prophecy. In this episode, they struggle to find out just whose has come to test the waters with the investigators, to see
side they should be on, and what’s at stake. The tension is whether any of them or their superiors might make good
ratcheted up as they realise they’re not the only ones inter- candidates for Marble Emperor in the Ritual of the Empress
ested—some nightmarish game is being played, and the prize in Purple (p.70). He’ll volunteer no details at all; indeed, to a
begins to seem unimaginable. layperson the conversation is nothing more than a polite talk
After playing through the mandatory scenes, the inves- about the state of the war, touching upon Istanbul’s past glo-
tigators should appreciate the great secret behind the events ries, and the “Megali Idea” or “Great Idea” that one day the
of the masked ball in Episode Three: The Varangian Ball. city might rise again as the capital of a restored Byzantium
 (p.57). However, a Psychology roll will reveal that there’s a Those of a more occult bent are becoming aware of the
very important subtext to the conversation, and an Occult Varangian Order and the Servants of Mehmet, and are trying
roll will reveal that Eugenikos appears to be offering an to track them down—possibly even tailing the investigators
occult ritual bargain which will give the investigators—and to do so. A lot of the “usual” skulduggery is turning lethal.
their governments—great advantage in the war. On a suc-
cessful Cthulhu Mythos roll, the investigator understands KEEPER’S INFORMATION
Eugenikos is referring to an ancient power dwelling beneath During this episode, feel free to have otherwise routine scenes
Istanbul itself—but one that is not the ghouls. turn into a sudden bloodbath. Don’t overdo it, but stress that
The Keeper should be careful at this point not to give everyone is on a knife edge, and very quick to panic.
too much away. Eugenikos is trying to gauge whether the Historically-minded Keepers can bring in the actual his-
investigators might be allies and contain a suitable candidate torical event of the attempted assassination of the German
to become Marble Emperor, but he won’t say as much; in any Ambassador, von Papen, in Ankara in February 1942 (p.36).
case, the final decision won’t be made until the night of the Is it linked to current events somehow? In any case, it only
Masked Ball (see Episode 3). adds to the tension. Everyone’s on the look out for even sui-
By the end of this scene, the investigators should be cide bombers now.
aware that some high-stakes negotiations are going on
behind the scenes, and that all of the intelligence services INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS
in the city seem about to blow. They may believe that these Bring home just how lethal things have become on the
negotiations have some occult and even Mythos significance. streets. Have one or two surveillance events or other scenes
turn nasty. Here are some ideas:
• In a routine surveillance event, the other side suddenly
Scene 2: A Trail of Bodies pulls out guns and starts shooting.
(Optional Scene) • The investigators or their targets are suddenly attacked
THE HOOK by the Varangian Order or the Servants of Mehmet.
This scene can be run more than once. In the strained • On a routine journey through the old city to meet
atmosphere since the attack on the Varangian Club, both informers or contacts, the investigators happen on the
the Varangian Order and the Servants of Mehmet are killing aftermath of a bloodbath—locals have been fighting with
anyone trying to track them down. None of the intelligence guns and knives, and no one knows why.
services in Istanbul know precisely what’s going on, but are By the end of this scene, the investigators should believe
trying to find out. Things are getting bloody. that the intelligence services in Istanbul are on the verge of
The factions are getting paranoid, each thinking the open war; or, perhaps, some unknown forces are trying to
others are close to making a secret deal with the Turks. spread terror.
Scene 3: The Varangian Handmaidens or Andronikos Eugenikos after the attack on
Order Headquarters the Varangian Club, or stake out the entrance to the Basil-
ican Cistern. Or they may simply follow one of the other
(Optional Scene) factions (such as Golescu’s Ahnenerbe, or even the Servants
THE HOOK of Mehmet).
The investigators discover the hidden headquarters of the Note that it’s not necessary to find the HQ. Even if
Varangian Order, in the catacombs beneath the old city of the investigators do, they may well find the Varangians are
Istanbul. simply too powerful to overcome. Even if they do overcome
them at their headquarters, doing so won’t derail their plot
KEEPER’S INFORMATION to conduct the Ritual of the Empress in Purple—it’s likely
There are several ways the investigators can discover this that not all the Order’s members are in the headquarters, and
hidden HQ. They may simply stumble upon it by follow- the Wedding ritual can still happen as long as some Varangi-
ing the tunnel from the Varangian Club to the Basicilican ans (such as the Priestess or Handmaidens) survive and the
Cistern (p.27). Alternatively, they may tail one of the Akakia remains in their hands.
 If the investigators somehow muster enough luck, banners on the walls, and many relics of Mythos signif-
cunning, or firepower to disable the Varangian Order com- icance, including:
pletely, you have two options: either to declare the threat to »» a rack of metallic phials of an unknown nature
Istanbul defeated, in which case simply see the Epilogue on containing the same POT18 poison that killed Lily
p.78. Or, to let the Akakia and the knowledge of the Ritual Warner;
of the Empress in Purple end up in Ahnenerbe hands, and go »» several 1ft diameter globes of a mica-like substance
ahead with the ritual anyway. In this last case, you wouldn’t containing a gaseous form of Domination serum
need to run the masked ball at all. (range 10ft radius if shattered) which looks like a
The Varangian Order Headquarters is located behind glitter suspension;
a secret door in the northernmost corner of the Basilican »» and some intricately coiled brooches or netsuke made
Cistern (p.66) beneath Istanbul’s old city. It’s remained of a kind of eggshell.
hidden for five hundred years, even from the ghouls; it’s not 4. The Valusian Library: A true treasure trove for biblio-
at all easy to find. philes, ornate in stone and wood-panelling, with at least
5000 volumes dating up to a thousand years or more.
KEY TO THE HEADQUARTERS Most are Byzantine. There are copies of the Codex Por-
1. The Secret Door: This is almost impossible to phyrius, the Sacred Wisdom of the Light Within, and the
find unless you’re following someone who knows it’s Valusian Codex here (see p.23).
there—figure you can only find it on a critical Spot 5. The Hall of Wisdom: This is the meeting and dining
Hidden roll, and then only if you’re looking in exactly hall of the Order, with a grand table seating up to forty
the right place and suspect something’s hidden there. people. These days the Order is lucky to seat a dozen.
It looks just like the rest of the wall, and pivots open 6. Kitchen: There are always stores here. Nothing really
on a counterweight only if a certain stone is pressed fresh, but the Order could hole up for a month or more if
just so. required. Water can be drawn from the Basilican Cistern
2. The Rotunda: The headquarters is protected from flood- pretty much indefinitely.
ing from below—this round chamber is featureless apart 7. Ablutions: Water for washing and bathing is drawn
from a staircase against the wall, leading upwards. If the from the Basilican Cistern; waste water drains through
Varangian Order are even remotely feeling beset (ie, any a Byzantine cloaca which eventually links to the Sea
time after the start of Episode 2), there’ll be one of their of Marmara.
members on guard here. 8. Cells: The lesser members of the Order can reside here.
Each cell has room for eight beds; right now only two
YORGO, AGE 35, “VARANGIAN GUARD” cells are in liveable state, and each contains four beds.
STR 14 DEX 14 INT 11 CON 13 The other cells are storage.
SIZ 12 APP 08 POW 08 EDU 07 9. The Highmost Chambers: These are grandiose
SAN 25 Hit Points: 13 chambers for the Tribune and High Priestess of the
Order—currently Andronikos Eugenikos (p.43) and
Damage Bonus: +1D4.
Sybilla Theraponou (p.42). If the Keeper hasn’t decided
Skills: Cthulhu Mythos 02%, Dodge 40%, Hide 50%, it should be elsewhere, the Akakia (p.54) will be kept
Occult 16%, Sneak 50%, Spot Hidden 60%, Track 45%. here, in an ornately carved ebony box lined with purple
Language Skills: Turkish (own) 35%, French 17%. velvet—itself a valuable Byzantine treasure.
10. Chapel: This is clearly not a Christian chapel, but it has
Weapons: ERMA SMG (Submachine gun) 60%, damage obvious Byzantine elements. It more closely resembles
1D10, atts 2/burst, base range 30 yards. something from ancient Greece—perhaps a temple to
MAB Modèle S (Handgun) 55%, damage 1D8, atts 3, base Hecate. There are obvious snake symbols everywhere;
range 15 yards. the altar is in the form of carven stone gates, which the
investigators may assume are the Gates of Micklegard.
Fist 55%, damage 1D8+1D4, atts 1. The altar is flanked by columns very similar to the famous
Description: Yorgo’s job is to shoot at intruders and raise Serpentine Column in the Hippodrome above (p.25).
the alarm, running up the staircase to the passageway to 11. The Approach to the Gates of Micklegard: The altar
location (3), which is much easier to defend. gates aren’t actually the Gates of Micklegard—but they
guard the secret approach to them, a hidden door which
3. The Camera Esoterica: The hidden entrance hall to the can only be found on a special Difficult Spot Hidden roll,
ancient headquarters of the legendary Varangian Order, or a normal Spot Hidden roll if you watch someone else
this is ornate, candlelit, a true mediaeval secret society in use it first. Behind them lies an ancient and long-disused
modern-day Istanbul. Its walls are carved and hung with tunnel to the catacombs beneath Hagia Sophia—
occult sigils and symbols, there are weapons, staves, and see Episode Three, Scene 4: The Gates of Micklegard.
 in the complex which shows any signs of use (although even
that use is very low-key). It isn’t easy to enter, however.
Defending the Order
KEY TO THE MEDRESE
The headquarters of the Varangian Order have never been 1. The Entrance: This door is closed and locked from the
breached. All of its members are willing to die to protect inside. Knocking loudly will get the view panel opened
its secret—the ancient gates beneath Hagia Sophia. by one of the Servants, who will tell any visitors to leave.
However, they won’t do this if dying would jeopardise 2. The Reception: Visitors are greeted here; there’s a place
the possible success of the Ritual of the Empress in for shoes, and divans around the walls.
Purple—instead they’ll try and flee through the chapel to 3. The Teaching Room: The ancient heart of the old
the catacombs and regroup. medrese, the main room on the ground floor is still
Everyone in the headquarters will muster in the used for teaching; at its centre is a table with a beautiful
Camera Esoterica to defend the Order, taking advantage copy of the Edirne recension of the Commentaries on the
of the chokepoint of the stairs from the Rotunda to Shadow Divan of Avni, the “instruction manual” of the
hold off any invaders. If Eugenikos and Theraponou the Servants of Mehmet (there’s a second copy in the Library
Priestess are here, they’ll take part in the defence whole- of Fatih—see p.24). The upstairs room is used by Wali
heartedly, using the Domination globes to disable any Hasan Ali Yilmaz, the order’s grand master; he’ll be here
attackers until their cause looks doomed, at which point if he isn’t teaching below, or at the antiquarian book
they’ll flee through the chapel. The remaining defenders shop in the Grand Bazaar (p.20), or out in the city. In
will gladly give their lives to give them time to flee. the basement there’s a tunnel which leads into the city’s
Possible defenders at the Order include: seven catacombs—from where Wali Dede’s children (p.44)
cultists (a mixture of male and female—use the stats sometimes emerge.
in location 2); any surviving Handmaidens (up to 3); 4. The Library: Fairly small, yet with rare texts, including
Andronikos Eugenikos; and Sybilla Theraponou. a manuscript of the Codex Porphyrius (p.23).
5. The Masters’ Rooms: The four masters of the order
reside in the corner cells of the Cloister. They have skill
levels 20-50% higher than the Aspirants; key skills are
INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS at least 90%.
As well as discovering the headquarters of the Order, the 6. The Aspirants’ Rooms: The six students of the order
investigators may find definite links here between the Order reside in individual cells around the Cloister. Abdullah
and the serpent people—whether they make the connection (p.41) is one such student.
overtly or not. Additionally, the texts in the Valusian Library 7. The Treasury: The precious belongings of the Servants of
are extremely valuable—see p.67. Mehmet are stored here. It’s quite astounding—antiques,

Scene 4: The Cloister of

the Servants of Mehmet
(Optional Scene) The Servants Protect
Themselves
THE HOOK
The investigators discover the secret headquarters of the The Servants of Mehmet have not survived 500 years in
ancient order of the Servants of Mehmet. secret without good reason. They’re extremely low-key,
and protect themselves with lethal effectiveness. They
KEEPER’S INFORMATION will deny entrance to strangers, unless it becomes clear
Known only to a few, one of the disused medrese religious the strangers know who they are, in which case they will
schools in the Fatih mosque complex (p.18), closed since allow them entry deeper into the Cloister, where they will
1924, is still secretly in use, by the ancient and noble order silence them—permanently.
of the Servants of Mehmet—sworn protectors of the city Under normal circumstances the Cloister will be at
and the land (p.41). Locals will describe the servants as “der- half-strength: two masters, and three aspirants, and
vishes”, or Sufi mystics. Much reduced in number, there are possible Wali Hasan. If events are snowballing, however,
today eleven of them: the Grand Master, Wali Hasan Ali and there’s good reason for the Servants to be on high
Yilmaz (p.41), four “masters”, and six “students”, passing on alert, they may be at full strength, and ready to take on
their ancient and deadly skills. all comers!
The medrese is quite easy to find, as long as you know
what you’re looking for—it’s the only one of the eight medrese
 jewels, sculptures, hangings, all of which should defi- an intruder could climb over the domed roof of one of
nitely be in a museum somewhere. There are also many these cells to break into the cloister, but they’d have to
antique flintlock pistols and rifles, and traditional yata- be stealthy to remain undetected. Treat this as a combi-
ghan and stiletto Turkish knives. nation roll of Climb and Sneak, Difficult during the day.
8. The Colonnade: A covered walkway surrounds the
courtyard providing access to all the cells. INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS
9. The Courtyard: This is principally a garden. A large Approaching the Servants of Mehmet is extremely danger-
open area is also used for martial arts training. ous—none of them are inclined to parley, and instead they’re
10. Empty Cells: All the cells in the Cloister were originally more than happy to silence the investigators permanently
designed for double occupancy, allowing for 38 students to keep their secret. Nevertheless, visiting the Cloister can
and masters. Almost all are empty these days. In theory, reveal to the investigators the existence of this ancient
 order dedicated to preserving the status quo and preventing Apprehending and questioning one of the Servants of
the Varangians and the serpent people from ever regaining Mehmet may reveal the Akakia’s role in the Ritual of the
ascendancy over Istanbul. They’re likely to have trouble Empress in Purple, and that the Servants believe an ancient
getting out with their lives, though—or their sanity, if they “Varangian Order” has stolen it to use in this ritual.
discover the tunnels of Wali Dede’s children beneath. Alternatively, another faction may have captured one
Dedicated investigators may uncover the esoteric texts of the Servants of Mehmet, and the investigators may hear
in the Teaching Room or Library. The Commentaries on the about it in the rumour market.
Shadow Divan of Avni in particular make the Servants’ mis- Investigating the Ritual may lead the investigators to the
sion clear, and explain the threat posed by the Varangian legends of the snake temple beneath Hagia Sophia (p.54),
Order. If nothing else, having this ancient conflict made and the tales of the Gates of Micklegard (p.55). At this
clear could be useful confirmation. point, they may begin to glimpse the overall picture.
Finally, capable (or lucky) investigators may conceiv- By the end of this scene (whenever in Episode Two it
ably be able to convince the Servants of their friendship is), the investigators should have a good idea of what’s at
and cooperation. This is a very long shot, but closer to stake; that the Varangian Order is trying to find a candi-
the Masked Ball the Servants will be desperate for infor- date to have ritual sex with an ancient snake cultist to birth
mation, and may see an alliance with the investigators as a a new holy leader to restore the ancient city, in return for
necessary evil. “great power”, and that the Servants of Mehmet are trying
to stop them. Any time after this point is a good time to run
Scene 7: Invitations to the Ball.
The investigators aren’t the only ones
trying to uncover this information — pretty Scene 6: Seizing the
much every faction in Istanbul wants to
Akakia (Optional Scene)
know the secret bargain being struck.
THE HOOK
The investigators conspire to steal back the Akakia, the
missing item from the lost regalia of ancient Byzantium.

Scene 5: The Ritual of the KEEPER’S INFORMATION

Empress in Purple The Akakia is a vital part of the Ritual of the Empress in
THE HOOK Purple—the Gates of Micklegard (p.55) can’t be opened with-
In this scene, the investigators finally find out about the out it. If the investigators understand this, it can effectively
Ritual of the Empress in Purple (p.70). mark an early end to the adventure—see Epilogue (p.78).
If any other faction knows the investigators have acquired
KEEPER’S INFORMATION the Akakia, they’ll be the target of dogged (and lethal)
Somewhere during Episode 2 the investigators should begin attempts to steal it. They may decide to give it to the Serv-
to piece together just what the ritual of the Empress in ants of Mehmet, who will secrete it away, again effectively
Purple is: the ritualistic coupling of a man with a serpent ending the adventure, or they may decide to somehow use
woman in human form, with the aim of producing a hybrid it themselves to conduct the Ritual of the Empress in Purple
offspring to restore serpent people influence over the city (see Episode Three, Scene 4: The Gates of Micklegard).
of Istanbul. Great occult rewards await whichever power is
chosen as the candidate for this ritual—a ritual which the INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS
investigators will (probably!) conclude must be stopped! The investigators will need to find out who has the Akakia.
As such, there’s no specific single location for this scene; It’s most likely the Varangian Order, who will be keeping it
it could come about in a number of ways, either gradually, or in their headquarters (p.66); but Professor Golescu and the
all at once. Also, the investigators aren’t the only ones trying Ahnenerbe (p.34) or even the Servants of Mehmet (p.41)
to uncover this information—pretty much every faction in might have got it from them. Breaking into any of these
Istanbul wants to know the secret bargain being struck. places will be a challenge (Professor Golescu’s Yedikule hotel
rooms are obviously the easiest).
INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS Seizing the Akakia from whoever possesses it is almost
The investigators find themselves in a rumour market (p.49) definitely a combat scene. If properly planned and using
more full of disinformation than ever. effective distractions, a stealth-based burglary scene may
If they know that the Akakia is the item of regalia that also work. Getting the Akakia to safety and successfully
has been stolen, they may research it in libraries, occult spiriting it away (perhaps even from the city) will likely
bookshops, and so on, and consequently find hints about involve multiple violent encounters as other factions try to
the Empress in Purple. seize it back.
 Note also you don’t have to keep to the precise timeline
Scene 7: Invitations to here; the 29th May is the date of the fall of Constantino-
the Ball ple in 1453, and it’s therefore an auspicious day for the
THE HOOK Ritual of the Empress in Purple. But don’t be afraid to
At some point after the investigators have begun to appre- reschedule to better fit the timing of your game; it won’t
ciate the nature of the Varangian Order and their conflict disrupt events.
with the Servants of Mehmet, and in any case no later than
a week before Friday, 29th May, the restored Varangian Club INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS
issues invites for a “Masked Ball”, to be held at the start Between receiving their invites and the night of the ball
of Pentecost weekend in the Taksim Casino—the notorious itself, investigators may join the frenzy of espionage as the
watering hole for intelligence agents in Istanbul! There are rumour market works overtime trying to find out what
to be celebrations of the generous gifts provided for the res- the purpose of the ball is. They may spy on the Varangian
toration of the Varangian Club after the attack earlier in the Club—perhaps now might be the right time to stumble upon
year (the investigators did contribute to that, right?), and the Varangian Order headquarters—or any of the other key
there’ll be a special Ladies’ Prize as the highlight of the ball. invitees to find out how they’re reacting.
All of the great and the good of Istanbul’s foreign commu- In the run up to the ball, there are lots of things going on
nity are invited—in all likelihood including one or more of that might be relevant:
the investigators. • Some of the Handmaidens (p.35) are seen visiting Hagia
Sophia.
KEEPER’S INFORMATION • There are meetings almost constantly at the Varangian
Let the investigators’ imaginations run riot about this ball. Club—but many of them seem to be very quiet (in fact,
Why the Taksim Casino? Has someone already done a deal the members are assembling in the Varangian Order
with the Turks? With the Varangians? Everyone is secretly headquarters, leaving the club house (p.66) empty apart
assuming that this is where a “deal” is going to be struck— from one guard).
that it’s some kind of political “beauty pageant”, with the The Servants of Mehmet and even Wali Dede’s chil-
winner getting to enter into a deal with Turkey—or perhaps dren have been seen in Beyoglu, on the other side of the
someone else. The reward being... well, that depends on Golden Horn, probably observing comings and goings at the
what you believe. Taksim Casino.
EPISODE THREE: KEEPER’S INFORMATION

THE VARANGIAN BALL The ball is like Istanbul in microcosm, all condensed into a
single place on a single night. The Taksim Casino (p.26 and
This is the climax of Code of Honour and, unlike the previous below) has been entirely turned over to the ball (although
episodes, all the action happens on one night—Friday the there are some swish and high-stakes games being run, of
29th May, 1942. While the diplomats party, the fate of Istan- course!). Run the ball like any tradecraft encounter—there
bul—and perhaps the world—is being decided far beneath... are spies everywhere, all watching each other, informants
to be pumped for information, and surveillance events
to watch.
Scene 1: The Masked Ball Let the investigators take advantage of the unique situa-
THE HOOK tion as much as they like—let them find things out, observe
The Varangian Ball is sumptuous, easily worthy of its place people, draw conclusions. When you feel they’ve done
in Istanbul’s social calendar in the early summer of 1942. enough, move straight on to Scene 2: The Ladies’ Prize.
It’s a masked ball, with a loose theme of Istanbul’s Byzan- The game’s afoot!
tine and Ottoman heritage. The trees are in bloom, the
days and nights are warm, the war seems a thousand miles INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS
away—except for all the damn spies... Anyone in the Taksim The investigators may now know that the Varangian Club (or
Casino ballroom tonight knows that something deadly is the Varangian Order, even if still unknown to them by name)
going on behind the champagne, chandeliers, and smiles. is looking to make a deal with a “chosen one”, with political,
But what? economic, and possibly occult power as a reward. Let them
 observe people and events during the ball to identify which of the Ladies’ Prize out to the front of the Taksim Casino, to
individuals are representing the Varangians (Andronikos be whisked away in a horse-drawn carriage for a ride through
Eugenikos, in his role as Omer Uzuner, is attending, as are one night-time Istanbul. The investigators will either have to
or more Handmaidens), and which of the other factions may split up to attempt to follow both, or choose one.
be trying to talk to them. Certainly Professor Golescu will
be here, as will representatives of most of the other factions.
At some point the Varangians will select their candi-
date—a chosen one who will actually become the “consort” The Handmaidens are escorting
of the Empress in Purple (p.46). This may even be one of the consort away from the ball, quietly,
the investigators, if they’ve been offering themselves. It’s a without people noticing.
surveillance event to notice the moment (p.49); if the inves-
tigators are chosen, then at least one faction will make a
secret attempt on their lives to thwart the choice. As soon
as the choice happens, the Ladies’ Prize will be announced. Scene 3: The Chase Through
Night-time Istanbul
Scene 2: The Ladies’ Prize (Optional Scene)
THE HOOK THE HOOK
At the same time as the Varangian Order select their consort Omer Uzuner, secretly Andronikos Eugenikos, has headed
behind the scenes, the Varangian Club takes to the stage to off with the winner of the Ladies’ Prize in a horse-drawn
announce it’s time to award the Ladies’ Prize, touted as an carriage through the night-time streets of Istanbul—just at
acknowledgement of the contributions of the “fairer sex” to the moment the Handmaidens have left the ball with their
Istanbul’s cultural life. This is quite a novelty in Turkey’s newly-selected “chosen one”. What’s going on?
social life, perhaps all the more unusual in that there are In this scene, the investigators decide to tail either the
relatively few Turkish women present at the ball. carriage, or the Handmaiden’s car, or both.

KEEPER’S INFORMATION KEEPER’S INFORMATION

Both the consort and the winner of the Ladies’ Prize are Both the Handmaidens and Eugenikos are heading to the
instrumental in the Varangian Order’s plans. The winner of same place: the secret catacombs beneath Hagia Sophia.
the Ladies’ Prize is to be sacrificed in the Ritual of the Wed- In the meantime, Sybilla Theraponou, high priestess of the
ding Feast; and the consort is to take part in the Ritual of the Varangian Order, has opened a secret door from the cata-
Empress in Purple, to become the new Marble Emperor, the combs into the floor of the nave of Hagia Sophia itself, and is
Empress in Purple’s representative in Istanbul. awaiting their arrival. Hagia Sophia is closed to the public—
The investigators will be involved in these events, either but Eugenikos and the Handmaidens have the keys.
to thwart them, take advantage of them, or—in the worst This scene comprises either a single vehicle chase, or two
case—to helplessly watch them unfold. chases run side by side.

INVESTIGATOR ACTIONS INVESTIGATOR ACTIVITIES

The Ladies’ Prize is awarded to an influential female figure in To follow either the carriage or the car, the investigators
Istanbul’s foreign community. Depending on how the investi- will need to commandeer a vehicle. How they do this will
gators have played the adventure, it may be one of them, or determine whether or not they end up being followed by the
some other individual. If no better candidate presents herself, Turkish police—or even the Emniyet.
the Varangian Club will select Natasha Mitroglou. Use the Vehicle Chases rules to determine the out-
The investigators may use tradecraft in advance— comes—see p.284, Call of Cthulhu Sixth Edition.
or simply persuade key individuals—to find out what the Eugenikos’s carriage has 4 horses, with a max speed of 2,
“prize” actually is before the award is announced. It’s a 30 HP, a handling of -1, a 1X accel/decal, and uses Eugen-
“wonderful romantic tour through night-time Istanbul by ikos’s Drive 46% skill (see p.43). The Handmaiden’s car
horse-drawn carriage”. has a max speed of 5, 25HP, a handling of 4, a 2X accel/
Tradecraft can also be used to see how the Varangians decel, and a 55% Drive skill. Unless they have their own or
are carefully timing their selection of the consort in Scene 1 another vehicle, it’s likely the investigators will end up with
with the announcement of the Ladies’ Prize winner. something like a dolmus, a typical Istanbul shared taxi, with
By the end of the scene, it should be clear that two a max speed of 4, 25 HP, a handling of 4, and 2X accel/decel.
things are happening simultaneously: the Handmaidens are The starting distance between the two vehicles in either
escorting the consort away from the ball, quietly, without chase is range 1, plus 1 per round of play the investigators
people noticing; and Omer Uzuner is escorting the winner spend trying to obtain a vehicle.
 It’s about 2 miles (3km) from the Taksim Casino to Hagia and capture seems likely, Eugenikos will use his authority
Sophia. Remember that the investigators probably won’t to paint the investigators as reckless madmen in front of
know the destination of the vehicle they’re pursuing—but the Turkish police or Emniyet. Do they have any proof of
as the chase proceeds, that will become more obvious. We’re their accusations?
going to divide each pursuit into 5 chase rounds of about a The Varangians will do whatever they can to get to
minute each, as shown below. Hagia Sophia for the rituals. If they do, and the investiga-
Run the chase as normal. The investigators should decide tors are on their trail, proceed to Scene 4: The Wedding
whether they want to catch up with the vehicle ahead, or Feast or Scene 5: The Marriage of the Empress in Purple,
simply tail it to its destination; if the latter, they need to as appropriate.
decide whether they want to try and remain stealthy, in
which case they must make a combination roll of Drive
and Sneak; if they exceed the maximum safe speed while
Scene 4: The Wedding Feast
attempting to drive stealthily, all rolls become Difficult. (Optional Scene)
THE HOOK
The winner of the Ladies’ Prize at the Varangian Ball realises
Eugenikos will use his authority to paint her reward is to be sacrificed in a nightmarish ritual in an
ancient temple below Hagia Sophia. Can the investigators
the investigators as reckless madmen in
save her?
front of the Turkish police or Emniyet.
KEEPER’S INFORMATION
This scene only happens if the investigators arrive in time,
Note that Andronikos Eugenikos may decide to try either by pursuing Eugenikos’s carriage directly, or pur-
attacking his pursuers, either using firearms or spells such suing the Handmaidens and not losing any time. If they
as Mental Suggestion; likewise the Handmaidens may use are delayed for any reason, this scene is assumed to have
firearms. Investigators attacking either have a very good happened, and the investigators should move directly to
chance of hitting the consort or the winner of the Ladies’ Scene 5: The Marriage of the Empress in Purple.
Prize; assume this happens if the attacker fails his attack roll In this scene, Andronikos Eugenikos delivers the Ladies’
by 10% or less, or on a fumble. Prize to the “wedding chamber” in the catacombs beneath
If the investigators succeed in stopping either of the vehi- Hagia Sophia. There, Sybilla Theraponou, High Priestess of
cles, both Eugenikos and the Handmaidens will attempt to the Empress in Purple, uses the Akakia to open a long-hid-
complete the journey on foot, particularly if they’ve made it den portal in the bedrock of the cavern wall, revealing
over the Golden Horn. They’ll happily use violence to keep purple-lit tunnels to a secret world of serpent people
the investigators at bay in this case. If that’s not possible, beneath—the Gates of Micklegard!

THE CHASE FROM TAKSIM CASINO

for night.
Round 1 (carriage): Taksim Casino down Istiklal Avenue. Maximum safe speed is 4. -10% modifier
speed is 3.
Round 1 (car): Taksim Casino down the backstreets to the Dolmabahce Palace. Maximum safe
for night, -10% for long, downhill grade, additional -10% for high speed turns if you’re above speed 3.
-10% modifier
speed is 2.
Round 2 (carriage): Down Galata Hill to Karakoy. Narrow, twisting turning streets. Maximum safe
-10% for long, downhill grade, additional -10% for high speed turns if you’re above speed 2.
-10% modifier for night,
in Karakoy.
Round 2 (car): Along the Tophane waterfront avenues to Karakoy. Mostly a clear open run, narrowing
for night, additional -10% for high speed turns if you’re above speed 4.
Maximum safe speed is 4. -10% modifier
people even at night.
Round 3 (both): Across the Galata Bridge. A pontoon bridge, quiet but still with some traffic and
night, -10% for traffic, additional -10% if you’re above speed 3.
Maximum safe speed is 3. -10% modifier for
safe speed is 2.
Round 4 (both): Uphill through the warrens of Eminonu. Narrow, twisting streets. Maximum
additional -10% for high speed turns if you’re above speed 2.
-10% modifier for night, -10% for long, uphill grade,
safe speed is 1.
Round 5 (both): Pulling into Hagia Sophia. Tight turns, obstacles, vegetation, gravel paths. Maximum
-10% for night, -10% for gravel road, additional -10% for high speed turns if you’re above speed 1.
 The Ritual of the
Wedding Feast
Key to the Snake Cult Temple This ancient ritual involves impassioned
chanting in
1. The Hidden Stair: This is the stone stair hidden in the Hellenic Greek and the use of the Akak
ia from the
floor of Hagia Sophia. Byzantine Imperial regalia. It costs 4 mag
ic points, and
2. The Apse: A vast domed circular chamber, reminiscent 1D6+1 Sanity points are lost during the
course of the
of Hagia Sophia above, but carved and painted with ritual, plus any additional Sanity points
due to witnessing
exotic and disturbing serpentine themes, which still the feast or the Empress in Purple.
retain much of their vibrancy today. The essential magic of the ritual is to open
the Gates
3. The Podium: A pulpit from which the Snake Priestess of Micklegard and summon the Purple
Empress. The
(such as Sybilla Theraponou) can harangue a congrega- ritual continues throughout the Feast,
however, ending
tion. She will conduct the Ritual of the Wedding Feast as the Purple Empress is transformed,
permitting the
from here. Consume Likeness spell to be complete
d in a matter of
4. The Dais: A raised dais inlaid with exotic serpentine minutes rather than days. It will only fail
if interrupted
mosaics. The rear wall is partly cavernous until the dome before the Empress is summoned.
above.
5. The Altar: This is a large marble altar. The Handmaid-
ens will pin the Ladies’ Prize here when the Serpent
Woman emerges from the Gates. beyond, from which the Purple Empress, flanked by two
6. The Gates of Micklegard: These are spectacular stone dimetrodons, will emerge!
and alabaster portals, fully 20ft (6m) tall and each 10ft 7. The Nave: This vast hall is impressive and intimidating,
(3m) wide. When the Akakia is placed against them long and echoing. It’s flanked all the way down its sides
during the Ritual of the Wedding Feast, they will swing by statues of former Marble Emperors.
noiselessly inwards, and an uncanny purplish glow 8. The Cistern: An oval cistern used by the Varangian
will illuminate a cavernous tunnel leading downwards Order for ablutions before and during rituals.
 Once the Gates are open, the hellish purple glow seems
to creep everywhere, up the staircase and into Hagia Sophia
above, visible even on the walls outside as an uncanny
phosphorescence. A History or Occult roll reveals that some-
thing similar was reported on the night the city fell—May
29th, 1453.
Assuming the ritual continues, the Empress in Purple
will arrive 1D6 rounds later if the ritual is cast on the 29th
of May. On any other date, the Empress in Purple arrives
within 2D6 hours.
The Empress in Purple is a serpent woman (0/1D6 SAN
roll). She arrives flanked by two dimetrodons—early dino-
saurs—which themselves are a 0/1D6 SAN roll to see (so
that’s three SAN rolls—one for the opening of the Gates,
one for the serpent woman, and one for the dimetrodons!).
Stat blocks can be found below.
Once the Empress in Purple arrives, she will immedi-
ately fall upon the Ladies’ Prize to devour her. Her part of
the devouring takes 1D6 rounds; what’s left is thrown to the
dimetrodons. Watching the devouring is a 0/1D6 SAN roll.
After the devouring, the Empress will transform into the
exact likeness of the Ladies’ Prize—although one with an
intense, domineering, and almost inhuman gaze. Watching
the transformation is a 0/1D3 SAN roll. Once the transfor-
mation is complete, it’s effectively permanent, at least until
the magical effect is dismissed.

After the devouring, the Empress

will transform into the exact likeness
of the Ladies’ Prize — although one
9. The Southwest Gallery: Behind the row of statues is a with an intense, domineering,
vaulted galley with stone pews, used in former days when and almost inhuman gaze.
there were many more worshippers.
10. The Northeast Galley: Similar to the Southwest Gallery.
11. The First Emperor: This is an incredibly ancient statue, The investigators may try to interfere with any of these
depicting a humanoid figure in robes with a face replaced proceedings. They’ll have to fight through the cultists to
by long, terrifying tentacles. begin with, then Eugenikos, the High Priestess, and the
12. The Passageway: This leads to the chapel in the dimetrodons. Additionally, at some point the Handmaidens
Varangian Order headquarters (location 10 on p.66). and the consort will arrive for the Ritual of the Empress in
Purple, and will readily join the fray against the investiga-
INVESTIGATOR ACTIVITIES tors. If they somehow defeat all of these foes (did they ever
The investigators may follow Eugenikos and the Ladies’ manage to ally themselves with the Servants of Mehmet, or
Prize beneath Hagia Sophia, either stealthily or as part of even Wali Dede’s Children?), only then will they be able
a running gun battle. Once beneath, Eugenikos will be to get to the Empress and Purple and the Ladies’ Prize—by
reinforced by Sybilla Theraponou, the High Priestess, and which time it may be far too late.
any of the seven cultists from the Varangian Order still If they are unable to defeat the Empress in Purple at this
surviving (p.67). point, proceed to Scene 5: The Marriage of the Empress
If there’s a running battle, the cultists will engage the in Purple.
investigators while Eugenikos and Theraponou undertake
the ritual. Theraponou herself will cast the first part of the THE EMPRESS IN PURPLE, SERPENT WOMAN
ritual to open the Gates of Micklegard; this only takes 1 STR 14 DEX 16 INT 22 CON 16
round, and opens the Gates, revealing the hellish cavernous SIZ 11 POW 18
glow beyond. Witnessing this is a 0/1D3 SAN roll. Hit Points: 14
 Damage Bonus: +1D4.
Skills: Cthulhu Mythos 80%, Conceal 60%, Dodge 80%,
Hide 90%, Occult 60%, Sneak 95%. The Ritual of the
Language Skills: Valusian (own) 90%, Byzantine Greek Empress in Purple
90%, 18th Century French 35%, Ottoman Turkish 40%.
Once the Ritual of the Wedding Feast is complete,
Weapons: Bite 95%, damage 1D8+1D4+POT16 poison, the High Priestess begins the Ritual of the Empress in
atts 1. Purple, aided by the Handmaidens (p.77), who enter
Spells: Consume Likeness, Create Barrier of Naach-Tith, an orgiastic frenzy. The ritual costs 18MP, and costs 1
Deflect Harm, Dominate, Enthrall Victim, Food of Life, Sanity Point.
Healing, Implant Fear, Mindblast, Power Drain, Ritual of This ritual is sex magic, pure and simple. As well as
St Azel’s Bell, Shrivelling, Summon / Bind Child of Yig, making the consort preternaturally concupiscent, it per-
Vanish, Wrack. mits the unholy congress of human and serpent woman
which will lead to the birth of a hybrid child, the sinuous
Armour: 1 point.
and charismatic successor to the Marble Emperor…
Sanity Loss: 0/1D6.
Appearance: A strong, tough, and evil-looking serpent
woman, wearing diaphanous violet veils and scaled purple
leather harnesses decorated with maddening whorls and attack with claws and bite each round, and also with a tail
lurid gems. lash against any target near its hindquarters.

TWO DIMETRODONS
STR 28 DEX 10 CON 18 Scene 5: The Marriage of
SIZ 28 POW 11
Hit Points: 23
the Empress in Purple
THE HOOK
Damage Bonus: +2D6.
The Empress in Purple has returned to Byzantium! Now
Skills: Move Unexpectedly Quickly 60%, Scent Prey 70%. she aims to “wed” the Varangian consort and appoint him
Weapons: Bite 65%, damage 1D10+2D6, atts 1. Marble Emperor—and in turn give birth to a new dynasty of
Claw 80%, damage 1D8+2D6, atts 1. Marble Emperors. Can the investigators stop her? Or do they
even intend to take part?
Tail Lash 90%, damage 2D6+2D6, atts 1.
Armour: 6 points. KEEPER’S INFORMATION
Sanity Loss: 0/1D3. This scene may be simply a continuation of Scene 4: The
Wedding Feast. Alternatively, it may be the first time the
Appearance: 15 ft (5m) long, with a huge dorsal fin or investigators come face to face with the assembled might of
crest, massive jaws, lethal claws, and a lashing tail. It the Varangian Order.
weighs approximately 550lbs (250kg). A dimetrodon may At its core, this is a “sex scene”. The Empress in Purple,
having taken the form of the devoured Ladies’ Prize, is
impregnated by the Varangian consort there and then on
the altar before the Gates of Micklegard, bathed in the lurid
purple glow from the subterranean Valusian realm, and
What if the flanked by dinosaurs!
Investigators Agree? If the investigators haven’t already, they should try and
It’s possible that the investigators might have considered disrupt this!
themselves possible candidates for the role of Marble
Emperor, and may have cooperated with the Varangian INVESTIGATOR ACTIVITIES
Order up to this point. Now, however, the true cost If an investigator is the consort, he must decide what to
of the bargain with the Order starts to become clear. do! If he’s witnessed the Wedding Feast (Scene 4, above),
Any investigators siding with the Varangian Order who he knows who he’s expected to bed: the dreaded act is a
witness the Ritual of the Wedding Feast face a +1 SAN 1/1D6+1 SAN roll. Otherwise it’s a 0/1D2 SAN roll—it’s
loss for every SAN roll they must make (so, a 0/1D6 SAN unlikely the investigator has had sex under quite these cir-
roll becomes a 1/1D6+1 SAN roll). cumstances before.
If the investigators are opposing the Varangians (prob-
ably the most likely situation), they may be continuing the
 In the worst case, the Varangian Order succeeded. The
Empress in Purple has returned, and has taken the form of
How Can the a feted socialite in Istanbul’s foreign community—possibly
Investigators Win? Nastasya Filippovna Mitroglou, heiress to the Mitroglou
Shipping Company with a vast fortune. She has consum-
To be honest, if the investigators are in a pitched battle mated her relationship with a significant personage—possibly
with an entire snake cult, a serpent woman, and two even Professor Golescu of the Ahnenerbe (and indeed the
dinosaurs in the catacombs of Hagia Sophia, they’ve Black Sun)—who will now receive her wholehearted occult,
probably already lost. Even if they survive, the SAN loss economic, and political support, in return for secretly push-
may leave them gibbering wrecks. ing for the restoration of the “Megali Idea” (p.57) and the
Succeeding in thwarting the Varangian Order’s plans pre-eminence of secret serpent people power under the aegis
requires organisation—perhaps intercepting the cult of the Varangian Order. The Empress in Purple will fall
before the Empress in Purple can arrive, or not being pregnant, with a sinuous, seductive male child who will be
present when the rituals happen, but attacking the groomed for political power from birth...
Marble Emperor and the Empress in Purple after they’ve In all likelihood, the result will fall somewhere between
transformed. Even then, there’s the little matter of the these two poles. The key issues are whether a candidate
dinosaurs which now live below the city... from the Axis becomes Marble Emperor, and whether he
survives. If he does, the Black Sun will have a major advan-
tage in their occult research and technological advantages
in the rest of the war, gaining access to serpent people
struggle directly from Scene 4. Otherwise they must pene- knowledge and devices they can’t even begin to understand.
trate into the catacombs, via the staircase in Scene 4, either Most importantly, they gain access to the Ritual of St Azel’s
by stealth or in a running gun battle with the Handmaidens. Bell, and now need only to make a Punic Device—see
Once again, any surviving members of the Varangian Scenario 4 of the Zero Point campaign, The Kasserine Con-
Order, and the dimetrodons, will array themselves to protect spiracy, for more.
the Empress in Purple and her carnal plans. The deed itself
will take 1D8+2 rounds; if the investigators haven’t broken
through and disrupted things by then, the “wedding” will have Sanity Awards
been consummated, and the Varangian plans well under way. For the most part, sanity penalties have been dealt with
If the investigators have somehow mustered enough fire- above. Investigator successes are rewarded as follows:
power to pose a serious threat to the Purple Empress, she and
the Marble Emperor and whoever of the Varangians are able Choose one of the following:
will attempt to flee, ideally into the catacombs beneath the • The Ladies Prize is not slain, and the Gates to
city (where they may come into conflict with the ghouls, if Micklegard are never opened: +2D6 SAN.
the investigators have secured the cooperation of the Serv- • The Ladies Prize is not slain: +1D6+1 SAN.
ants of Mehmet—p.41). If allowed, they will vanish into
obscurity beneath the city—see the Epilogue, below. Then, apply any of the following:
• The Varangian Order remains secret: +1D3+1 SAN.
• The Servants of Mehmet remain secret: +1D3+1 SAN.
If the investigators have somehow mustered • An Allied Agent is the Marble Emperor: +1 SAN.
• The Ritual of the Purple Empress was thwarted:
enough firepower to pose a serious threat
+1D3+1 SAN.
to the Purple Empress, she and the Marble
• There is no Marble Emperor: +1D3 SAN.
Emperor and whoever of the Varangians are • An Axis Agent is the Marble Emperor: -1D10 SAN.
able will attempt to flee.

What Do We Know Now?

EPILOGUE After Code of Honour, the investigators know that the Black
Sun are trying to recreate an ancient ritual once performed
So, how did the investigators do? by an ancient Phoenician or Sumerian cult. Its purpose
In the best case, they thwarted all the Varangian Order’s appears to be to gain enormous power, perhaps acting as
plans. The Ladies’ Prize was never slain, and the Gates to a superweapon; or to gain powerful inhuman allies; or to
Micklegard never opened. The secret of the Varangian summon a demon; or, depending on how much of the serpent
Order and event the Servants of Mehmet may remain just folk tech the investigators have been exposed to, to open
that—secret. some kind of portal or gate.
 CHAPTER 6

Pre-generated Characters
Killer and Ferret were at a table playing backgammon, their weapons inconspicuous beneath their
double-breasted jackets. My face betrayed a flicker of recognition as Sedley entered,
stunning in a vibrant crimson evening gown. Golescu followed my gaze, his face
breaking into an obscene smile of rotten teeth stained by tobacco.
“Ah... our mysterious new arrival. Beautiful, is she not? My people tell me she was brought here by Chance...”

The pre-generated characters below have been provided recent months (see p.9). Military and espionage equipment,
with weapons and sometimes an additional special item of if desired, may be available from the SOE offices in Cihangir
gear. General equipment hasn’t been mentioned; assume that (p.17), via the British Consulate, or from the US Consu-
they’ll have any reasonable item to enable them to use their late, but will require combination rolls of Credit Rating and
skills. More esoteric equipment can be obtained in Istan- Persuade, which may be Difficult in the case of risky, rare, or
bul, although for unusual items prices have skyrocketed in dangerous items.

Margareta Novakova Sedley

Background: Margareta is a 25-year old special agent with Damage Bonus: -1D4.
Section M. Moderately attractive, she’s inclined to dress like
Skills: Anthropology 41%, Art 36%, Bargain 39%, Chemistry
a secretary, which gives her a useful invisibility in offices
32%, Comptography 22%, Cryptography 46%, Disguise 45%,
everywhere. She’s half-Czech (on her mother’s side), and quite
Espionage 42%, Fast Talk 60%, First Aid 57%, Forensics 30%,
patriotic, although these days she’s apt to describe herself as
Hide 29%, History 43%, Institutional Lore (diplomatic circles)
being “on the side of humanity”. She’s had lots of intelligence
42%, Law 45%, Library Use 72%, Listen 61%, Parachute 42%,
training since 1939, but the British soldiers still call her “Miss”.
Persuade 46%, Photography 40%, Psychology 56%, Radio
Appearance: Petite, with dark hair and pale skin, she exudes Operator 34%, Sneak 39%, Spot Hidden 67%, Telephony 30%.
an air of self-confidence that suggests she can take care of
Language Skills: Czech (own) 80%, English (own) 80%,
herself. Her arms betray a wiry toughness which suggests
French 35%, German 30%, Turkish 20%.
there’s more to her than meets the eye. She carries a Minox
Riga Sub-miniature Camera in a perfume case in her handbag Weapons: Browning Mk I 9mm Automatic Pistol (Handgun)
(Achtung! Cthulhu Investigator’s Guide p.121). 58%, damage 1D10, atts 2, base range 15 yards.

Suggested Cover: Secretary at the British Consulate (p.17). Thompson (Submachine Gun) 44%, damage 1D10+2, atts 1 or
burst, base range 30 yards.
MARGARETA NOVAKOVA SEDLEY, AGE 25, “THE SPY”
Bonus: Gone Native (Investigator’s Guide p.65).
STR 08 DEX 12 INT 17 CON 14
SIZ 08 APP 13 POW 14 EDU 16
SAN 52 Hit Points: 11
 Nathan Chance
Background: In 1942, Allied intelligence efforts are in he’s begun to uncover ever since the horrendous events of
a barely-controlled whirl of activity. Since the Americans Operation WOTAN (as recounted in Heroes of the Sea).
joined the war a month or two ago, no one’s quite sure Chance can still clean up to look good in a tux, but he’s
who’s supporting who, whether briefings have been properly equally likely to sleep in it afterwards…
communicated, and whether the right people know what
Suggested Cover: Professor at the University or a private
they need to know. The British Secret Intelligence Service
school or college.
has been struggling to find a counterpart Stateside—and,
for Chance, Section M is finding itself increasingly forced to NATHAN CHANCE, AGE 29, “THE PROFESSOR”
improvise and fall back on its own networks and procedures
in a very fluid situation. STR 08 DEX 13 INT 16 CON 09
SIZ 11 APP 11 POW 16 EDU 18
If only it was that easy! Since the events of Heroes of the SAN 47 Hit Points: 10
Sea, Chance has been devoting every spare hour to his deep-
ening interest in what can only be called magic—the bizarre Damage Bonus: None.
powers he saw wielded in Operation WOTAN. After poring Skills: Anthropology 67%, Archaeology 57%, Command
over ancient tomes checked out of shuttered libraries and 24%, Cryptography 40%, Cthulhu Mythos 18%, Dodge
private collections in what’s probably an abuse of Section M 61%, Drive 28%, Espionage 55%, Fast Talk 50%, Geology
privileges, he’s even managed to memorise some uncanny 25%, Hide 29%, History 55%, Institutional Lore 35%,
texts which appear to be spells—and what they imply has Library Use 81%, Listen 35%, Natural History 33%,
unnerved him even more. Occult 55%, Parachute 42%, Persuade 48%, Psychoanalysis
He’s been getting quite a reputation. Which is why, when 30%, Psychology 49%, Sneak 48%, Spot Hidden 56%,
Lily Warner’s final message about the discovery of mystical Tactics 29%.
regalia from lost Byzantium came to his attention, Chance Language Skills: English (own) 90%, French 31%,
became only too eager to see what’s afoot—and what German 38%, Turkish 11%.
strange powers he can co-opt in his nightmarish secret war…
Weapons: Browning M1911A1 Pistol (Handgun) 57%,
Appearance: These days Chance looks haunted—very damage 1D10+2, atts 1, base range 15 yards.
tired, drawn, and preoccupied, some of which is his a result
Thompson (Submachine Gun) 43%, damage 1D10+2, atts 1
of his deepening addiction to “sleeping pills”. He still has
or burst, base range 30 yards.
that scholarly air, but it looks like he just forgot to abandon
his preppy look and it got increasingly ragged. He tries to Spells: Cloud Memory, Gray Binding, Unmask Demon.
be the good listener he’s always been, but that works best
Bonus: Mind Over Matter (Investigator’s Guide p.66).
when the person he’s talking to isn’t rambling about things
which aren’t relevant to the mission, dammit—or the secrets

centuries.
There’s a secret here that’s been buried for
ld on fire.
What happens here could set the whole wor
- Nathan Chance
 Colour Sergeant Jack “Killer” Killarney

Background: “Killer” Killarney is a 35-year old British COLOUR SERGEANT JACK “KILLER” KILLARNEY,
army colour sergeant assigned to Section M. Born in AGE 35, THE COMMANDO KILLER
Londonderry, his enthusiasm for violence stems from his
STR 17 DEX 12 INT 09 CON 16
early life in the 1920s and the Irish civil war; his hand-to-
SIZ 13 APP 13 POW 10 EDU 07
hand combat skills are second to none, especially after the
SAN 40 Hit Points: 15
commando training he has received since the events of
Heroes of the Sea. The training has strangely left him less Damage Bonus: +1D4.
of a soldier than he was, and more of a special agent, Skills: Close Combat 64%, Command 31%, Conceal 47%,
a change which leaves Jack a bit nostalgic for his army life, Cryptography 29%, Demolitions 39%, Disguise 29%,
although he considers it his duty to prepare himself as Dodge 55%, Drive 52%, Espionage 30%, Fieldcraft 61%,
best he can for the terrifying and uncanny secret war he First Aid 67%, Folklore 33%, Hide 39%, Martial Arts 72%,
now finds himself fighting. Military Doctrine 31%, Parachute 48%, Perform
Jack is still best enemies with Ferret Farnsworth, although (tin whistle) 58%, Radio Operator 38%, Silent Kill 75%,
if the truth be told he’s come to rely on him more than Sneak 48%, Tactics 29%.
ever: these days, he finds himself increasingly flying off Language Skills: English (own) 48%, French 10%,
the handle when provoked, and Ferret’s the best antidote German 10%, Turkish 07%.
for calming him back down.
Weapons: Browning M1911A1 Pistol (Handgun) 58%,
Appearance: Jack’s a big lad, over 6 feet (almost 2 metres) damage 1D10+2, atts 1, base range 15 yards.
tall, although he’s more wiry than he was after recent
training. His blond hair looks a lot whiter than it used too, P14 Sniper Rifle (Bolt-action Rifle) 67%, damage 2D6+2,
and his grey streak seems to have faded. Sometimes these atts 1/2, base range 110 yards*.
days he wears a haggard and hungry expression, like a Thompson (Submachine Gun) 63%, damage 1D10+2,
lone wolf about to pounce. He’s brought along a couple of atts 1 or burst, base range 30 yards.
tyrebusters (Achtung! Cthulhu Investigator’s Guide p.122).
Fist 67%, damage 1D3**+1D4, atts 1.
Suggested Cover: Driver at the British consulate,
university, or a hotel. Grapple 46%, damage special, atts 1.
Head Butt 30%, damage 1D4**+1D4, atts 1.
Kick 44%, damage 1D6**+1D4, atts 1.
Knife 38%, damage 1D4**+2+1D4, atts 1.
*3x Sight doubles base range to 220 yards, quadrupled to
440 yards if using precision aim.
** Martial Arts 72% doubles base damage.
Bonus: Silent Kill (Investigator’s Guide p.83).

If you do it right, knife work needn’t be messy.

The main thing is to be silent –
get in there and out like a ghost.

– Colour Sergeant Jack “Killer” Killarney

 Sergeant Ron “Ferret” Farnsworth
Background: Even Section M needs someone who can SERGEANT RON “FERRET” FARNSWORTH, AGE 26,
whistle up essential supplies out of thin air—and Ferret THE FIXER
Farnsworth is still that someone. He’s a wiry-looking
cockney who’s much tougher than he looks. These days STR 12 DEX 12 INT 13 CON 17
he lays on the “cheery chappy” act a bit thick for laughs, SIZ 9 APP 14 POW 16 EDU 8
and can tone it down when required—or when he SAN 55 Hit Points: 13
thinks no one is looking, when his expression becomes Damage Bonus: None.
almost haunted.
Skills: Close Combat 35%, Command 29%, Conceal 51%,
Ferret’s always been a born scrounger, but these days Cryptography 34%, Demolitions 42%, Disguise 38%, Drive
he’s apt to be a bit of a hoarder, pockets filled with 65%, Electrical Repair 53%, Espionage 38%, Fieldcraft
“useful” items he finds along the way. He often finds he’s 48%, First Aid 61%, Forgery 28%, Hide 45%, Jury Rig 69%,
“snaffled” items quite without thinking, and often under Listen 37%, Mechanical Repair 67%, Military Doctrine
the most light-fingered of circumstances, which has got 15%, Parachute 43%, Radio Operator 30%, Scrounge 66%,
him into hot water with his superiors more than once. Sneak 49%, Spot Hidden 59%.
He’s currently got an M1 pocket incendiar y secreted
somewhere about his person (Achtung Cthulhu Language Skills: English (own) 48%, French 09%,
Investigator’s Guide p.121). German 27%, Turkish 06%.

Ron recently underwent commando training with Jack Weapons: Webley No 1 Mk VI Service Revolver
Killarney. Since then, he’s found Jack leaning on him for (Handgun) 59%, damage 1D10+2, atts 1, base range
emotional support, and to be honest he’s found that an 15 yards.
anchor. He’d probably go off the rails without him. Thompson (Submachine Gun) 52%, damage 1D10+2,
Appearance: Ferret’s quite handsome, especially when atts 1 or burst, base range 30 yards.
he drops the chirpy cockney routine, and has a greater Knife 45%, damage 1D4+2, atts 1.
presence since commando training. He’s less inclined to
Bonus: Scrounger (Investigator’s Guide p.75).
clam up, too, although he still most definitely does not
have the gift of the gab. Whenever he spots something
“scroungable”, though, he tends to look shifty, and his
fingers start twitching.
Suggested Cover: Mechanic at the British consulate.

Blimey, this place is like Aladdin’s cave,

and no mistake! Any chance we can
take these crates with us?

- Sergeant Ron “Ferret” Farnsworth

 CHAPTER 7

Operational Briefing
Now look, everyone, Istanbul isn’t a war zone.
I want a zero body count on this mission - is that clear?
- Major Archibald Strang, Section M handler

HEADQUARTERS SECTION M
AGENT EYES ONLY

Situation Report

/1942/SCM2.A

Foreign Office Briefing:

Since the start of the war the situation in Istanbul has been precarious. The
Turkish government has maintained a policy of strict neutrality and enforcement
of its laws within its territory, whilst turning a blind eye to intelligence and
diplomatic activities pursued covertly by foreign powers. Their overriding concern
is to provide no power (in particular no Axis power) with a pretext for aggressive
action. This has worked to our advantage, and we have been able to establish networks
which have led to valuable products. However, we anticipate other powers have
done the same, and so the situation is one of classic bluff and double-bluff, and
verifying intelligence has been problematic.

Overt intelligence agents operating in Istanbul are poorly tolerated by Turkish

law enforcement. The British consulate (address provided) can assist with cover
identities where required, although resources are scarce and contact must be low-
key. City authorities have taken a dim view of open conflict between agents and
assets, and have been heavy-handed. Our policy is one of denial where a containment
is not possible, and regretfully agents have been lost.

1
2
/1942/SCM2.A

We advise extreme caution when undertaking operations in Istanbul. Trust no one,

and expect surveillance everywhere. Intelligence gathered should be treated as
suspect and at best adulterated.

Section M Analysis:

Until now Istanbul has not been an arena for activities of interest to Section M.
The recent termination of US intelligence asset Lily Warner (codename: ARDENT) and
her communique addressed directly to your team suggests this may no longer be the
case. Her mission in Istanbul was to investigate Ahnenerbe information networks in
the educational and diplomatic community; her message suggests she had discovered
an archaeological dig with Ahnenerbe involvement, which had discovered cultural
artefacts of a politically sensitive nature (namely the lost regalia of the last
Emperor of Byzantium), and of sufficient importance to the Ahnenerbe to have
necessitated her termination.

This is an unorthodox situation with no clear objective. Nevertheless, given

the direct nature of agent ARDENT’s appeal and the delicate situation in Istanbul,
London station considers Section M involvement and investigation to be warranted.
Matters cannot be allowed to slip out of control.

It is noted that this is also an ideal opportunity to develop further cooperation

with SOE, as well as our American counterparts and new Allies. Authorisation is
therefore given to Section M to investigate agent ARDENT’s death and the events
surrounding the discovery of the Byzantine regalia.

the price we
If this is true, Turkey entering the war may be
pay for this not falling into Nazi hands.
- Major Archibald Strang, Section M handler