Batukh Hungers!

A sinister modern-day larp about a cult and blood sacrifice for 12 players and 1 GM.

It is time for the Dark Harvest. The most devoted followers of Batukh the Hungering God have gathered to conduct the holy rites and ensure their deity is appeased for another year. But times are hard for this dark cult – membership is falling, willing sacrifices are ever harder to come by, and internal plotting and divisions could spell the end.

One thing is certain – if Batukh is not satisfied, the current age of humanity will end in blood and flame. Can the cult put aside their differences to appease their dark god, or will a greater darkness fall upon the land?

This is a chamber / parlour larp about cults, magic and sacrifice. Characters are pre-written with interlinking backgrounds, relationships and goals.

The tone is intended to be reasonably dark and serious, although with moments of dark humour. Gameplay is pretty much entirely interpersonal drama. Characters will have goals to try and achieve by talking to the other players. There are no game mechanics other than a countdown to when the sacrifice must be completed.

The game is designed to run in a three-hour period, including time for the pre-game workshop and debrief.

It has been run before all over the world, including the UK, US, Europe, and even as far as New Zealand!

Content Warnings:

This game contains some dark themes including murder, torture, violence and various types of criminal activity. There is no sexual violence or criminality of any kind, but there is a marriage that may have been compelled by magical means. Some characters have references in their backgrounds to domestic violence and depression/suicide, but it is possible to opt out of these themes on the casting form.

Be aware that human sacrifice is a major theme in the game, and unlike everything else, it cannot be avoided. If this topic will cause you problems, this may not be a suitable game for you.

What's in the Game Files

• All twelve character sheets (each about 3 pages long) as separate files, so that you can send them individually to players.
• Full GM Instructions
• Player and Setting Information
• Cast list, name badges, and a link to create a copy of the casting survey.

Character List

All twelve characters are members of the cult, and known only by their secret code names. All can be of any gender identity - the player can choose for their character.

All have secrets, and some may not be exactly what they claim to be.

The Lion

The current leader of the cult, supposedly granted a second favour by Batukh for taking on the responsibility. The Lion will need to perform the ritual of sacrifice when the time comes. The Lion is known for recently inventing a viable method of nuclear fusion.

The Coyote

A long-term cult member who has enjoyed recent success with a rock band called the Frostwalkers, and is eager and obliging. The Coyote is married to the Snake, but supposedly, the marriage is on the rocks.

The Eagle

A rather terrifying person – the Eagle is the head of a Mafia crime family, and has seen a lot of success recently after a notable rival was arrested.

The Gorilla

A cult member who is regularly on the TV and radio advocating for environmental causes. The Gorilla thinks the cult should focus its efforts on reducing global warming.

The Hawk

A relatively recent addition to the cult who has made no secret of their love of sci-fi and fantasy.

The Rhinoceros

A person who has enjoyed a lot of political success. The Rhinoceros is a US senator and has been tipped as a running mate in the next presidential election.

The Scorpion

A highly successful cult member who is now the CEO of a major Wall Street bank.

The Shark

A cult member who is originally from the Middle East. The Shark’s home country has recently seen a rapid transition from authoritarianism to democracy.

The Snake

A famous Hollywood film star who has enjoyed massive success and even won an Oscar. The Snake is married to the Coyote.

The Spider

A self-made billionaire with countless private jets and luxury yachts. The Spider has recently announced plans to spend billions on travelling to the moon.

The Wolf

A relatively recent addition to the cult. The Wolf is known for their love of animals. The Wolf was also married to the previous cult leader, the Bison, who went mysteriously missing last year.

The Bison

The Bison was the previous leader of the cult until they suddenly went missing. They were married to the Wolf. After their disappearance, the Lion became the leader.