Cthulhu Wars Strategy Wiki
Advertisement

The Library at Celaeno Map {CW-M5} is a map released with Onslaught Two. Its main mechanic is the Library Tomes, a set of neutral Spellbooks which are protected by the Custodian and Librarian, which are threats to all factions. A version for 6-8 players {CW-M9} was also released, and was included as part of the 6-8 Player Map Packs {CW-M10, CW-M14}.


Components[]

Maps[]

Maps
Map Component Notes

Library at Celaeno Map Availability: Library at Celaeno Map {CW-M5} (x1)
Library at Celaeno Map
(6–8 Players)
Availability: 6-8 Player Library at Celaeno Map {CW-M9} (x1), 6-8 Player Map Pack {CW-M10} (x1), 6-8 Player Map Pack {CW-M14} (x1)

Tomes[]

Spellbooks
Library TomeLibrary Tome (Barrier of Naach-Tith) Barrier of Naach-Tith (Ongoing): No other player may declare Battle against you unless he or she releases a Captured Cultist back to its owner's Pool, discards an Elder Sign, or discards a Silence Token.
Library TomeLibrary Tome (Guardian under the Lake) Guardian under the Lake (Action: Cost 1): Choose an Archway Area and a Faction there. Move all units of that Faction in that Area to any other Archway Area. Flip this card face-down. You may flip it face-up again (and reuse it) by releasing a Captured Cultist back to its owner's Pool, discarding an Elder Sign, or discarding a Silence Token. It also flips in the next Doom Phase.
Library TomeLibrary Tome (Larvae of the Outer Gods) Larvae of the Outer Gods (Action: Cost 1): Gain 1 Elder Sign if any active Faction has more Power than you. Flip this card face-down. You may flip it face-up again (and reuse it) by releasing a Captured Cultist back to its owner's Pool, discarding an Elder Sign, or discarding a Silence Token. It also flips in the next Doom Phase.
Library TomeFile:Library Tome (Yr and the Nhhngr).png Yr and the Nhhngr (Action: Cost 1): If any enemy Faction has more Doom than you, choose one: EITHER place one Monster at your Controlled Gate for no additional cost OR gain 2 Power. Flip this card face-down. You may flip it face-up again (and reuse it) by releasing a Captured Cultist back to its owner's Pool, discarding an Elder Sign, or discarding a Silence Token. It also flips in the next Doom Phase.

Units[]

Others
Image Unit Quantity Cost Combat Spellbooks
Custodian File:Custodian (Painted).png
Custodian 1 N/A N/A
Availability: Library at Celaeno Map {CW-M5} (x1), Custodian of Celaeno Blister Pack {RPG-M2-N7} (x1)
Through millennia, he fed on the leavings of the Great Old Ones. Over time, this diet gave the Custodian strength and magic power that rivals those he serves.
Librarian File:Librarian (Painted).png
Librarian 1 N/A N/A
Availability: Library at Celaeno Map {CW-M5} (x1)

Other components[]

Other components
Image Component Quantity Notes
Agony Die
Agony Die 1
Availability: Library at Celaeno Map {CW-M5} (x1)
Silence Token
Silence Token 8
Availability: Library at Celaeno Map {CW-M5} (x8)
Library Hint Card
Library Hint Card 4
Availability: Library at Celaeno Map {CW-M5} (x4)

Strategy[]

Set Up[]

Place the Lower Floor and Upper Floor Maps near each other, but not connecting. Unlike the Earth Map, the Dreamlands' Surface and Underworld Maps are not connected geographically, and do not have wraparound. Place each Library Tome in the Special Collection rooms on the Upper Floor, which contain corresponding square slots. Place the Librarian and Custodian near the board.

  • If the Opener of the Way faction is in play, they may not set up in a Special Collection room, but may set up in an Area with a Stairwell or Archway Glyph.
  • If the Ancients faction is in play, they may not set up in a Special Collection room, but may set up in an Area with a Stairwell or Archway Glyph.

Stairwells and Archways[]

Stairwell Glyph

Stairwell Glyph

There are six Stairwell Glyphs on each map, marked "A", "B", "C", "D", "E", and "F". An Area with one of these Glyphs is considered adjacent for all purposes to the Area on the other board with an identical Glyph.

Archway Glyph

ArchwayGlyph

There are multiple Archway Glyphs on each map. An Area with one of these Glyphs is considered adjacent for all purposes to any other Area with an Archway Glyph, with the exception of Pains or Retreats.

Stairwells and Archways are the primary means of traveling from one map to the other, but Movement-type abilities like Avatar, Seek and Destroy, Submerge, and Horror Steed allow free movement between both boards.

Library Tomes[]

At the end of the first Doom Phase, place a Gate in each of the four Special Collection rooms, unless a Gate is already present.

Library Tomes act as neutral Spellbooks. When you Control a Gate in an Area with a Tome, take possession of that Area's Library Tome. It may be used as a standard Spellbook. If you lose Control of the Tome's Gate, the Tome is considered Overdue but remains in your possession. Library Tomes may only be returned to the Map by Satisfying the Librarian's Agony. They cannot be otherwise voluntarily relinquished, and the player cannot be forced to return them if they choose to lose Doom or Units instead. When a Tome is relinquished and returned to its slot, it is immediately acquired by the Faction currently Controlling its respective Gate, if any.

Silence Tokens[]

At the start of each Doom Phase, all players take 1 Silence Token. At the start of the Gather Power Phase, all players must discard all Silence Tokens. A player can never have more than a single Silence Token at a time.

  • If the Bubastis faction is in play, it takes 2 Silence Tokens at the start of each Doom Phase, and can have up to two Silence Tokens at a time.

As an Action with Cost 0 and no designated Area, a player may spend a Silence Token for various effects:

The Custodian[]

The Custodian is a non-player Unit which has no Unit type and may not be targeted by Battle, Spellbooks, or Abilities.

When the Custodian is Activated, it may be placed/Moved into any Area or remain in its current Area. The Activating player then rolls the Agony die, adding +1 to its die result for this roll only if the Custodian remained in the same Area, then assigns the Agony result between the Factions present in the Custodian's Area. Those Factions can satisfy one Agony for each of their Units in the Area of their choice that they Move to the Oubliette, and must satisfy as much of the Custodian's Agony as possible.

No player may perform the Control Gate Action in the Custodian's Area. However, if a Gate is already Controlled when the Custodian is Moved into its Area, that Gate may remain Controlled.

The Librarian[]

The Librarian is a non-player Unit which has no Unit type and may not be targeted by Battle, Spellbooks, or Abilities.

The Librarian may only Activated if at least one enemy Faction has an Overdue Library Tome. When the Librarian is Activated, it may be placed/Moved into any Area or remain in its current Area. The Activating player then rolls the Agony die, adding +1 to its die result for this roll only if the Librarian remained in the same Area, then assigns the Agony result between the Factions present in the Librarian's Area. Those Factions can satisfy one Agony for each of their Units in the Area of their choice that they Eliminate, for each point of Doom they choose to lose, or for each Overdue Tome they return to its slot, and must satisfy as much of the Librarian's Agony as possible.

No player may perform the Control Gate Action in the Librarian's Area. However, if a Gate is already Controlled when the Librarian is Moved into its Area, that Gate may remain Controlled.

Other notes[]

  • All areas with "Sea" or "(sea)" in their names are considered ocean Areas, and no others.
  • The Library of Celaeno Map is not recommended for 2-Player games.
  • The Cultist released to cancel the effects of Barrier of Naach Tith does not need to be from the faction that controls the Tome. If you cannot satisfy the requirements of the Tome, you cannot Battle that Faction.

Story[]

"On the fourth planet of Celaeno in the Pleiades stands the grim Great Library. Its cavernous reaches hold secrets stolen from the Outer Gods, protected by grim guardians. Humans have sometimes visited – less often returned."
—H. P. Lovecraft
Advertisement