The timeline of the Rite of the Sunken God
Date: February 28th, 1927
Duration: 6 hours (night)
Phenomenon: A rare planetary parade — Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter align in a straight line, pointing directly toward R'lyeh beneath the Pacific Ocean.
Time Window: Approximately 11:00 PM – 5:00 AM
TimeEventWeeks priorSigils carved throughout the ship in hidden locationsWeeks priorThe Idol smuggled aboard and lowered into The Void BeneathDays priorBoiler Room 5 sabotaged — ship cannot move under own powerDays priorCultists take positions throughout the shipFeb 27, eveningFinal preparations; key cultists briefed
TimePhaseEvents11:00 PMRite BeginsChanting starts in The Void Beneath. First sigils activate. First killings begin.11:30 PMBlood TidePassengers report strange whispers. First shared nightmares. Lights flicker occasionally.12:00 AMMidnightChanting audible through elevator shafts. Sigils glow faintly when viewed in darkness. Killing accelerates.1:00 AMRising DreadSky begins to darken unnaturally. Electrostatic charge builds. Sea becomes choppy, then calms.2:00 AMThe Becalmed SeaOcean is mirror-still. No waves. No sound. Sky is wrong — stars dim. Chanting echoes through the whole ship.3:00 AMThe HorrorMass hysteria. Passengers see Cyclopean architecture in dreams and waking visions. "Cthulhu" and "R'lyeh" heard constantly.4:00 AMThe Alignment BeginsPlanets visibly aligned in the sky. Green glow visible through hull plates near The Void Beneath. Idol blazing with power.4:30 AMPoint of No ReturnIf the Rite is not stopped by now, it may be too late. Ship's power failing. Reality thin.5:00 AMClimaxFull alignment. The Idol reaches peak charge. R'lyeh begins to stir.5:15 AMRisingIf successful, the ocean boils. R'lyeh surfaces. Cthulhu awakens.5:15 AMFailureIf interrupted, backlash. Idol cracks. Cultists die. Ship damaged. World spared — for now.
DeadlineWhat Must Be DoneBy 2:00 AMDiscover The Void Beneath and understand the ritualBy 3:00 AMFind a way to stop the chant or destroy the IdolBy 4:00 AMExecute the plan — cultists are on high alertBy 4:30 AMLast chance to intervene before the point of no return
What phase is it when the investigators arrive?
This depends on when the game begins. Possible starting points:
Early: Investigators board in Honolulu before departure. They have days to uncover the plot.
Midway: Ship is already at sea. Strange events are occurring. They have hours.
Late: Ship is at Point Nemo. The Rite has begun. They have minutes.
The Planetary Parade:
Mercury — closest to the horizon, barely visible
Venus — bright, unmistakable
Mars — red, ominous
Jupiter — massive, dominating the alignment
All four form a nearly straight line pointing down toward the point on the horizon where R'lyeh lies beneath the waves.
The Moon:
Waning crescent — provides minimal light
The night is dark, the stars are wrong
Use the timeline to create urgency
Investigators should feel the pressure mounting
Environmental effects escalate as the night progresses
The chanting should be a constant presence — heard but not understood
The final hour (4:00–5:00 AM) should be chaotic and desperate
Multiple paths to success — don't lock investigators into one solution
The clock is ticking. The planets are aligning. And beneath the ship, something ancient stirs in its sleep.