Let the Bodies Hit the Floor

I consider myself a relatively easy GM. Character death is something I reserve during truly epic encounters, or when suffering a rather ignomious failure. I knew early on that this goes against the general theme of Call of Cthulhu, but the investigators thus far have either been incredibly lucky, or they clearly outmatched their opposition.

At least until this past month.

With an expanded roster and varied schedules, my goal for year 1924 of the campaign was to simply find some unity between the personalities and build up their occult, Cthulhu Mythos, and other skills so they have a fighting chance once we start a real (published) campaign.

Methinks the regular season opened a bit early this year.

We've had 18 sessions thus far, with Actual Play of The Pennywell Hangmen taking up two additonal entries due to space, so we'll have 20 entries covering this time when I get around to it.  My reign of terror started with good intentions, just to keep the Investigators honest:

#1 The Haunting - Political Aide Adam Mosher - killed by the big baddie in the house.
#11 Murder in the Footlights -  PI JP Carson blows up a room full of dynamite.

Yes, a little light for CoC, but outside of fighting the Klan (Preacher and the Cross) and the army (Pennywell) most have been small, insular affairs with mythos related creatures.

Now let's look at the past four sessions, the last three in the past two weeks. (Since everyone says it, SPOILERS to you waiting for the write-ups.)

#17 The Dreamer - Everyone's favorite Turkish librarian barely survives encounter, but it deported in a set-up.
#18 - Lonely House in the Woods - Smitty! - stabbed in the back with a machete by an investigator possessed by a demonic Indian spirit.
#19 - The Half-Moon - The Japanese Hobo - captured when trying to sneak around the estate of a 300-year old Warlock of New Yorks estate in Queens. Fate unknown, but we can assume death is a better option.
#19 - The Half-Moon - Mike Dalcin - an unfortunate incident with a Molotov cocktail and a fumbled Throw roll. Culinary intellectuals in NYC weep for his loss.
#20 - Secrets of Knossos - Mr Piccollo, the Canadian Syrup Salesmen, died by attempting to replicate Assassin's Creed while in a small village on the Isle of Crete. There's a reason why the next version isn't going to be Assassin's Creed: Hoser.
#20 - Frank Dresden - stil recovering from this one, but although I detest the saying, I will describe his actions that he died like a boss. It was heroic, it was selfless, it was badass, and with the stars coming together, it may be completely in vain. If the group has any chance against the oncoming storm of doom, we're going to need a few more Frank Dresdens and a little less Hobo Justice (tm).