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he shadow-laden streets of Eldritch, a city perpetually wrapped in a shroud of mist and mystery, you’re the hard-boiled gumshoes taking on a case that plunges them into the heart of darkness. This city’s caught in a perpetual dance between neon-lit streets and foreboding alleyways, concealing secrets that stir unease even in the most seasoned detectives.
The adventure begins when a cryptic message, scrawled on a torn piece of paper, reaches your desk. Whispers from the alley speak of otherworldly occurrences—supernatural forces lurking beneath the surface of the city’s criminal underbelly. As the agents to chase down leads, you uncover a web of arcane conspiracies, hidden cults, and super natural horrors threatening to spill into the streets.
You’ll need to navigate the twisted back alleys of Eldritch, interrogating shady informants, decode cryptic symbols, and confront the eerie denizens that dwell in the city’s darkest corners. Along the way, you’ll encounter femme fatales with a penchant for the occult, corrupt officials entwined with dark forces, and enigmatic figures who seem to exist on the periphery of reality.
As you piece together the puzzle, you’ll face moral dilemmas, unearth long-buried sins, and confront your own dark pasts. “Whispers from the Alley” is a neo-noir journey that blends hard-boiled detective drama with Lovecraftian horror, challenging the party to unravel the threads of the supernatural that weave through Eldritch’s mean streets. Will you emerge from the shadows with the truth, or become entangled in a web of cosmic horrors that defy comprehension? The answers lie in the alleys, where the whispers grow louder with each step into the unknown.
Highlights from Whispers from the Alley
- Quick and Easy rules for Sanity & Phobias
- 14 Player Feats
- 4 New Monsters
- 1 Monster Template that can be added to new or existing NPC’s
- 7 Optional yet immersive player handouts
- 1 Stupid rule system for the satirical in-game game, “Crypts and Kobolds” by Jerry Jaryncs
Andrew Hind (verified owner) –
Whispers from the Alley is an immersive neo-noir meets Lovecraftian horror adventure from Epic Table Games for Everyday Heroes. It has the plot twists, rich characters, and in-depth investigations of a Phillip Marlowe or Sam Spade story – if those two hard-boiled gumshoes had punched out magic wielding cultists or faced mind-rending horrors.
The setting is noir stories is a character unto itself, and it’s no different here. The player characters are gumshoes earning their living in the shadowy streets of Eldritch, a city perpetually wrapped in a shroud of mist. Superficially it appears like any city from a classic noir film but dig deeper and you find something else. Venture beyond the neon-lit streets into darkened alleys and you’ll find terrifying monsters, hidden cultists, and dark mysteries. It’s a setting you’ll likely want to return to. Its also a city of fantasy, inhabited by races like tieflings, elves, and dwarves.
The adventure begins when the PCs, investigators of the Bureau of Cosmic Horror Inquiry & Paranormal Investigations (CHIP Investigations), receive a cryptic message. As they subsequently follow leads, they gradually uncover a web of arcane conspiracies that, left unchecked, might bring the city to its knees. Each clue uncovered will bring characters one step closer to unravelling the mystery but at the risk of also unraveling their own minds (Whispers from the Alley includes an excellent sanity subsystem). Along the way they will uncover all the trademarks of a noir story – femme fatales, corrupt officials, sleezy crime lords.
Some mysteries languish at times – if PCs fail to uncover just the right clue the story slows, and players grow frustrated. That’s never a concern here. Even those who might normally be drawn to mystery adventures should enjoy Whispers of the Alley as the scenes – and inevitable action sequences – are compelling enough to grab the imagination.
The adventure a framework of sorts – almost a mini-campaign in its scope – which allows groups to follow leads and investigate the web of deceit in whatever order they wish. That’s ideal for any mystery adventure. However, it does mean that GMs need to do more work than normal to bring the adventure completely to life. In this case that should a joy, however, because as dark as Eldritch might be it’s also a vibrant and exciting setting. Numerous side missions are outlined to help GMs fill in the gaps.
Beyond the adventure itself, Whispers from the Alley includes a host of support materials: more than a dozen new feats, four hideous new cosmic horror, and monster template that can be added to PCS.
Production value is extremely high. Editing and layout are both top notch, there are numerous excellent illustrations (AI, just for clarity), and like any good Lovecraftian adventure there are handouts to enhance the immersion.
Whispers from the Alley is an excellent addition to one’s Everyday Heroes library. An edge-of-your-seat mystery that makes you feel like you just have to know the answer to the riddle at all costs, it is cinematic and action-packed, with a noirish atmosphere and an escalating sense of dread. The setting, though brief, hints at something larger that begs to be uncovered further in the future
Whispers from the Alley is an adventure that Marlowe would raise a glass to in a cigarette-smoke shrouded bar.