4d12 Supernatural Mystery Clues or Occult Sacrifice Components

"To perform the occult is to perform predation upon mankind; for indeed, in no sense can the byzantine art that worships the gods of the creatures before man be of benefit to a race, that could only flourish by the virtue of its disappearance. It is an act that, by nature, declares hostility to humanity's survival interest. Because the predator is an agent of destruction, he leaves a trail of detritus; of carrion. I am a vulture that eats lions."

- Bartholom Rotlinger, Witch Hunter General of the Patronite Order

"Humanity is and has always been the only resource of our kind. The slaves that built the great pyramids and mined the stones now bleed on the factories and the office desks instead. Any resource our planet has to offer is harvested at an exchange rate of human time and life. Any structure we build, any matter or thought we organise, we pay for with humanity. It is the only thing the Art desires of us, because it is the only thing we have to offer."

- Sotiria Dimopoulos, the Ziggurat's Grand Observess

These tables are two things, depending on how you look at them. If you're a seasoned noire detective who has never seen a case quite like this one before, then they're a table of clues that you can use to figure out what the hell they're talking about behind the smoky meeting room's closed doors. If you're a sharp-minded character who's willing to lift the veil and look beyond into the abyss, then they're tables of materials and prerequisites for your next expedition into the deeper truths.

There are four tables here. One contains indirect matters. They only get you so far in your investigation. They're things you need, not for the ritual itself, but for business surrounding it. When you're a detective you discover or learn of them. When you're a cultist you have to obtain or enact them. The second contains direct matters. They are clear as day, and their implications terrifying. These are the heart of the matter. Your ritual won't work without them. The third contains books and documentation. Getting a hold of these may tie seemingly unrelated things together. They contain the lore, instructions and invocations you will need. The fourth contains people. To question. To tail. To rescue. To fight. To avoid. To control. To enlighten. To sacrifice.

Indirect Matters

1	Something completely irrelevant. You’re clearly on the wrong track.
2	A visit to a show. Theatre. Dance. Opera. It has a meaning. A message?
3	An unnerving painting. Landscape, or portrait.
4	Diving gear, climbing equipment, other specific utility gear.
5	A break-in, but nothing stolen. Or so it seems.
6	Evidence/method of travel. Train tickets. Ferry bill. A new location.
7	Very specific plant/insects. Usually an ingredient for something.
8	Museum theft: from seemingly unimportant item to key feature of collection.
9	A grave dug up. (Parts of) skeleton missing.
10	Sudden activity at a long-abandoned site. Perhaps looting of a secret stash. Perhaps disposal of something.
11	Large order of a very particular good.
12	Consistent late night work. Light behind windows.

Direct Matters

1	Large number of human sacrifices.
2	Hideous machine with a sickening purpose.
3	Monster(s) with a body. (Animal-men, undead, eldritch abominations, …)
4	Monster(s) without a body (reflections, shadows, man-eating colours,…)
5	Terrifying true identity. Perhaps yours.
6	Antediluvian sanctum unlocked, something horrific inside.
7	Obvious possession by an Old God, will/must attend the ritual. Never you.
8	Debauched event. Gluttonous feast, sadistic games, orgy. Possibly a combination.
9	Small-scale human sacrifice by very specific, very painful torture.
10	Resurrection of dead figure(s) of importance, will/must attend the ritual. Not human anymore.
11	Kidnapping and sacrifice of person of high importance.
12	Opening of gateway to another dimension, planet, … Ancient terrors inside.

Books and Documents

1	Clay or stone tablet, hieroglyph pictograms.
2	Bundle of newspaper clippings, all about specific date, event or area.
3	Worn paperback scribbled full of hand-written annotations.
4	Map of a particular area. Possibly with notes.
5	Parchment scroll in old language variant.
6	File folder with many pages in narrow typeset.
7	Picture book. Some pictures missing. Likely the most important ones. With some luck you can track them down.
8	Rich hardcover book, marbled inside, no publisher. Likely unique.
9	Diary. Full of banalities at first glance. Contains messages in code.
10	Never-published research paper. Likely no more than one of the authors still alive.
11	Plain, aged hardcover. Obscure publisher. Detailed illustrations.
12	Tape or film recording. Disturbing but revelatory content.

People

1	Museum curator, librarian or archivist. Very historically aware. Takes a long time to forget anything.
2	Locals. Fishermen, labourers, factory workers. Not talkative, but observant.Wary of strangers.
3	Harlot or cabaret dancer. Addicted to something. Bleak sense of reality. Good liar.
4	Journalist or pressman. Hears many rumours. Coffee fiend. Always up to date.
5	Cartographer, archaeologist, explorer or colonialist. Well-travelled, but arrogant.
6	Bartender. Good listener, tumultuous past. Has an eye for people and newcomers. Always old.
7	Washed-up private detective. Hungry for a case. Smokes and drinks. Cynical morality.
8	Local lord or lady. Aristocratic and reserved. Many secrets. Remembers the old days, not always fondly.
9	Academic. Extensive knowledge about specific topic. Dry sense of humour. Tends to overlook practicality.
10	Mobster. Very loyal, if you respect the unwritten rules. Proud and vengeful.
11	Author. Shut-in, strange. Looks haunted. Owns a cat with a bizarre name.
12	High society member. Vain but influential. Never short on money, always short on dignity.

(All above art by Daryl Toh. Happy Narblesnard from the Santicore, Marquis!)