Cthulhu by Gaslight Part 1 | Friends of the Pod

The Glass Cannon Podcast's 'Friends of the Pod' episode launches Part 1 of 'Cthulhu by Gaslight,' a chilling Victorian-era Call of Cthulhu adventure set in 1890s London. Host Troy O'Brien sets the stage with rich atmospheric details, immersing listeners in a world of coal-dusted alleys, rigid class structures, and creeping dread. The player characters—Stan Whitlock, a former prizefighter and dustman; Polly Tonbridge, a spirited dust sifter; Burindra Bosu, a stoic Indian mechanic with maritime roots; and Brydie Mohan, a gruff Irish rag-and-bone woman with folklore ties—begin their journey at Lange’s Dust Yard, where a horse’s sudden frenzy and a mysterious kicking sack ignite a nightmare. The revelation of a clawed, ash-covered hand and the emergence of a supernatural entity made of refuse trigger a harrowing sanity check, with multiple players suffering mental damage. The horror escalates into combat, and though the creature is temporarily subdued, it possesses Humbert Lange, forcing the group to pursue him through the fog-laden streets. As night falls, the party investigates Lange’s office and uncovers cryptic clues pointing to a cursed object delivered from 19 Clayle Avenue, leading them to resolve to investigate the source of the corruption. In the final act, the group prepares for their perilous journey—swapping stained gear for cleaner attire, arming themselves with hidden knives, wrenches, and Stan’s mysterious 'nox' substance—bracing for the unknown in a city where reality itself feels fragile. The episode closes on a haunting note, underscored by dramatic music and anticipation for the next chapter.