Walter Pennyman
Overview
Walter Pennyman is a 52-year-old stablemaster and the Orphean Society’s primary coordinator of prisoner transport and body disposal. Formerly an anatomy assistant and failed veterinary surgeon, expelled from King’s College for unorthodox experimentation, he found employment with the cult because of his “hands-on” talents.
Obsessed with the relationship between sound and tissue resonance, he believes pain harmonics are sacred. He is cruel, ritualistic, and utterly committed to Hume’s vision. He oversees all prisoner movement and ensures “safe, silent departure” of cult processions to Stonehenge.
Description
Wiry and intense, with long grey hair tied back and a lined face marked by years of hard work. His blue eyes are penetrating and cold. He wears a high-collared coat even in summer, and a thick butcher’s apron when working. His fingers are stained from work with chemicals and blood.
Personality & Traits
- Cruel and sadistic; finds pleasure in inflicting pain
- Obsessive about surgical precision and ritual
- Pragmatic and efficient; treats disposal as professional task
- Maintains facade of brusque professionalism with outsiders
- Harbors deep resentment toward aristocratic systems that rejected him
Combat Stats (CoC 7e)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| STR | 60 |
| CON | 55 |
| SIZ | 55 |
| DEX | 60 |
| INT | 65 |
| POW | 50 |
| APP | 40 |
| EDU | 70 |
| SAN | 40 |
| HP | 11 |
| MP | 10 |
| Luck | 40 |
| DB | 0 |
Skills
| Skill | Rating |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Repair | 65% |
| Fighting (Knife) | 50% |
| Dodge | 40% |
| Intimidate | 60% |
| Psychology | 50% |
| Stealth | 30% |
| Medicine | 55% |
| Occult | 40% |
Equipment
- Hook-bladed surgical knife (1d6+1 + DB)
- Heavy club (1d6 + DB)
- Ring of keys
- Surgical instruments and tools
- Preparation chemicals and poisons
Spells & Mythos Powers
- Knowledge of basic Occult lore (35%)
- Access to cult healing/harming potions
- Understanding of sonic resonance theory
Roleplaying Hooks
- Will not hesitate to use violence against intruders
- Protective of his operational security; may attempt to kill rather than capture
- Views prisoners as materials or instruments; shows no remorse for suffering
- Responds to authority (Hume’s); may defer to cult hierarchy
- If cornered, becomes dangerously unpredictable
Key Information He Possesses
If captured or interrogated:
- Prisoner locations and schedules
- Transport routes to Stonehenge
- Details about the June 12th ritual timing
- Names and descriptions of other cult members
- Information about disposal methods and previous victims
Investigation Value
Pennyman provides:
- Confirmation of ongoing prisoner detention at Kensington Stables
- Logistical intelligence about cult operations and transport
- Moral motivation for rescue: evidence of systematic cruelty
- Combat challenge for action-oriented investigators
Relationship to Campaign
Pennyman is a secondary antagonist who:
- Guards imprisoned Rooke, Bellamy, and other captives
- Provides logistical opposition to rescue attempts
- Represents the cult’s willingness to use violence and cruelty
- Can be captured or eliminated, creating operational disruption for the Society
His death or incapacitation disrupts the June 12th ritual timeline, potentially giving investigators more preparation time.
Appearances
Relationships
- Employed by Dr Erasmus Hume — Directly under Hume's authority; carries out dark operational tasks
- Owns Kensington Coach Stables — Proprietor and manager of the stables
- Imprisoned by Nathaniel Rooke — Holds Rooke in transport crate at the stables pending transfer to Stonehenge