Ever noticed how many of the scenarios and modules for Call of Cthulhu on the Miskatonic Repository don’t have a lot of reviews or comments about them? Miskatonic Reviews is a series where we review one or more modules or resources put out there by the community to help you get a better idea what to pick up your next game session (and to get some exposure on community content and its creators)
- Module: Finger Biter
- Author: Michael LaBossiere
- Other creations: Plenty of free ones and other modules going back almost a decade.
- The module in a nutshell: A close acquaintance asks the investigators to investigate a mystery in a remote, rural village. Plenty of people appear to be recently missing a finger on one of their hands, pointing to some local ruins where strange events (including madness and greed) unfolded some time ago.
- Verdict: The module promises to be short and nasty, and it largely meets both (though I was hoping for even nastier, but what can you do). Overall, it’s like something out of an X-Files episode with a creepy and memorable monster (or rather, monsters) of the week, albeit one with a particular fetish for fingers.
Lovely and Horrible
This well-written and arguably humourous (in the darkest way possible) scenario should set folks up for a night of fun.
There’s some wonderfully twisted imagery in the background and lore that sets the scene of our cursed little village in the countryside – including a strange man going around picking up women, drugging them, and delivering them to the ruins to have their fingers bitten off.
Monster(s) of the Week
Short, exciting little scenarios around interesting creatures always pique my interest and this one really delivers.
The finger eaters in question are described as nasty things, a mix between a person and a rat, who scamper out of their hiding places to tear off the fingers of trespassers.
As for their origins, there’s some nice backstory about greed and a family curse to flavour the scenario.
More Horror
Apart from the obvious horror around weird monsters looking to bite off a finger of yours, depending on how things play out, I suspect seeing a whole horde of them charge from the shadows ravenously (as the module puts it “dash out and try to take their fingers”) towards the investigators would get some people to lose it at the table.
Also, small rural villages and ruins are always creepy, so there’s that too.
Short, Sweet Setup with potential for Shenanigans
The act of dealing with the finger biters should lead to some fairly creative solutions and situations between the investigators and the monsters.
Fighting back panic, charging into the insanity of the situation, and deciding whether to follow the finger eating bastards back into their dark grotto should all make for a good time and some tense decision making.
Added Twist
The finger eaters aren’t the only monster in the scenario. They also have a ghoulish servant, a man who’s gone completely insane and pledged himself to the little monsters that the investigators will also have to deal with.
If the players let their guard down, he’s described as the type of foe who will try to kill them all in their sleep but not necessarily run from a direct confrontation either. Should make for a creepy dude all around.
Inspired by a Short Story
While reading the module, I kept having the feeling that I had seen a story with a monster like this somewhere before. The author mentioned he was inspired by a short story from a while back called The Little Finger on the Left Hand.
I guess it’s possible that I must have read it previously and forgotten, because reading the story was also oddly familiar (but I can’t imagine where or when I would have). Either way, the story is freely available and a good companion piece for the module.
Overall
A great little scenario. It could easily be slotted into an existing campaign or make for a fun one-off scenario with some friends (suitable for both beginner and more experienced players).
You can pick it up over at the Miskatonic Repository.
