“Teach Me Happiness” – CoC6/7 One-on-One Scenario

Editorial Review

“Teach Me Happiness” positions itself in the increasingly sophisticated niche of psychological horror TRPGs, where the ruleset (Call of Cthulhu) becomes a vehicle for intimate character drama rather than dungeon crawling. This is distinct from the current trend of Lovecraftian adaptations that lean into cosmic dread as spectacle; instead, this scenario weaponizes the sanity mechanics to explore relational trauma and codependency.

The distinctive hook here is structural: the mandatory intimate relationship between investigator and Keeper Player Character transforms what could be a standard investigation into something approaching a two-person chamber play. The emotional architecture demands vulnerability—the investigator must be materially invested in the KPC’s wellbeing, and the KPC’s twisted happiness (explicitly framed as coming at the investigator’s expense) creates natural dramatic tension. The moderate sanity loss isn’t window dressing but thematic; unraveling what “happiness” means becomes the actual horror. The liberal reinterpretation of Lovecraftian mythos suggests the scenario trusts players to handle existential themes without rigid canon enforcement, opening space for personal narrative over lore minutiae.

Production value shows care: voice acting across 4-8 hours, custom backgrounds, and polished presentation signal this isn’t a hastily assembled module. The free Pixiv release adds accessibility credibility, suggesting confidence in the work’s content over gatekeeping.

This scenario appeals specifically to players comfortable with slow-burn psychological horror and character-focused roleplay over mechanical challenge—those who view sanity loss as an emotional journey rather than a resource pool to manage. The one-on-one format demands mature, communicative participants willing to explore uncomfortable intimacy.

A rare TRPG scenario that treats psychological manipulation as the primary mechanic rather than flavor text.