Lovecraft Mythos
Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 12:14 pm
Here are some notes that I found on incorporating elements from the Lovecraft Mythos into a Palladium (specifically Rifts) game. Everything I reference is public domain. Hopefully someone will find it of use.
• Elder Script: A language that was ancient before the birth of dragon-kind. Once was the universal language of greater being (gods, demons, spirits of light, etc), and was originally the native language of the Old Ones. Today only a handful of being in the entire megaverse can speak and read it. It was also the official language of the Sorcerer Kings, who discovered it in the ruins that lead to their eventual fall into darkness, and was outlawed for all others under the threat of death.
• Hieratic Script (Egyptian cursive): Originally used only by Egyptian priest (hieratic being Greek for priest or priestly), and was usually done with a reed brush on papyrus paper. Several examples survived until the 20th century, though they were extremely rare.
• Great Old Ones: These ancient, sleeping beings were obviously the inspiration for Palladium’s own Old Ones. Most of the cosmic beings from Lovecraft, and others, could easily be considered Lesser Old Ones, like those described in several Palladium products.
• Outer Gods: These beings could be Lesser Old Ones, actual gods, or active Alien Intelligences. They each vary greatly in appearance, description, power level (ranging from Godling to Lord of the Deep power level), origin, and level of activity.
• Elder Gods: A group of gods that oppose both the Outer Gods and the Great Old Ones. In Palladium this could be a single pantheon that has made it their mission to oppose the Old Ones and all Alien Intelligences, or a coalition of some of the most powerful gods from various pantheons who actively work to keep the Old Ones imprisoned. In fact a group such as this is hinted to exist in several Palladium books, most notably in Pantheons of the Megaverse.
• On the Sending Out of the Soul: Work the “ancient” pamphlet (by Rifts Earth standards) into the belongings of an NPC or into a room the PCs are searching. It describes a mystical process of astral projection, and gives enough clues for a spellcaster to learn the level four spell of the same name.
• Book of Eibon: An English translations fragment would make great and dangerous loot, as many parties in North America (and perhaps beyond) would be interested in acquiring it. The book itself contains an unknown amount of arcane knowledge, the True Names and weakness of several demon lords, along with detailed accounts of the wizard’s (Eibon) exploration of several places of legend.
• Celaeno Fragments: Describes an ancient, massive library located on an alien planet (Celaeno) that the author and his companions used as a safe house of sorts when hiding from their enemies. The library was said to contain secrets stolen from the Great Old Ones and Elder Gods themselves. It includes some translation of some of the books the author read while in the library, though they were done from memory. The author submitted a fifty page transcript to the East Coast University he was employ at in 1915.
• Cthaat Aquadingen: Translated to mean Things of the Water, it was supposedly written in 400 AD, though a Latin version was written between the 11th and 12th century, along with an English translation that appeared sometime in the 14th century. It details many of the great horrors trapped within or living in the Earth’s oceans. It might prove to have valuable information of the Deep One that would greatly aid the New Navy.
• Cultes des Goules or Cults of Ghouls: A book of black magic written in 1702, and most likely details necromantic rituals and spells. Originally published in French, it was denounced by the church and most copies destroyed. One copy was known to be kept within the secret arcane library of a Providence church. Existing copies would most likely be in French or Latin.
• Eltdown Shards: Pottery fragments originally discovered in the town of Eltdown England in 1882. They are believed to be from Earth’s Triassic period, and are covered by strange symbols that proved to be untranslatable to both scholars and arcanist; though a few have claimed to have accomplished the feat. The most reputable claim was by Gordon Whitney, which ended up being almost identical to ancient texts known as the Pnakotic Manuscripts.
• G’harne Fragments: This is a set of obsidian stone that records the history of the pre-human city of G’harne. This lost city was located in what would become the Sahara Desert in Africa. The two researchers credited with their translation both died mysterious deaths within a short time of each other. They would make excellent True Atlantean historical items, and an entire series could be run with a True Atlantean group attempting to recover them as cultural treasures.
• Necronomicon: Most people reading this have heard of this book, which may be the most famous of the made up grimoire in the Lovecraft stories. The adventure ideas and used for this evil book don’t really need to be expanded upon, but it is safe to assume that any number of evil beings would do almost anything to get their hands on the original or an accurate copy.
• Parchments of Pnom: This manuscript would be considered an oddity by most adventures and collectors. It is a detailed account of the lineage of a pantheon of almost unknown gods. While not exactly useful to most adventurers, it might have some valuable information for Summoners and Shifters.
• Pnakotic Manuscripts: Not much is known about what is contained within this Manuscript, only that it was named for the primordial metropolis it was kept in and was written by the Great Race of Yith. This might make an excellent prop for GMs in the Phase World setting, especially those running the Forge War. The Great Race of Yith could easily be expanded upon to have some connection to the Dominators, the First, and others.
• Ponape Scripture: Discovered in 1734 in the Caroline Islands, this book was already considered ancient at that time. It contains details on the lost city of Mu, the arch-wizard Zanthu, the high priesthood of a deity called Ythogtha, as well as referencing a deity called Dagon. A version of the book was published in 1907 by a prominent East coast university, while the original version was preserved in a private library located in Salem, Massachusetts.
• Las Reglas de Ruina: This book literally translates into “the Laws of Ruin”, and was written by a Spanish friar in the 16th century. It was translated many times, and might be a common occult book in both North America and Europe. It details relationships (some intimately) between several Lesser Old Ones, and foretells of a messiah of destruction who will set the Old Ones free from their imprisonment.
• Revelations of Glaaki: This book was written by an Old One cult who wrote down fragments of their master’s dreams. These writings could be difficult to read, as even glimpses of an Old One’s dreams would most likely drive a mortal insane especially if done repeatedly. Glaaki could easily be changed to one of the Old Ones, or he could be a Lesser Old One who has previously been undetailed.
• Tarsioid Psalms: This collection of writings that dated back to the Cenozoic Era. They describe the evil entity that spawned the Old Ones. If true it would add a whole new aspect to the Old Ones, and the Chaos War that ended in their imprisonment. Could the Forces of Light been aided or even inspired by a parent the Old Ones themselves had betrayed and imprisoned?
• The Testament of Carnamagos: This book details one of the Old Ones. Only two copies were known to ever exist on Earth, one of which was destroyed by the Spanish Inquisition. The remaining copy is bound in shagreen and fastened with clasps of human bone. It would be extremely valuable to Old One cultist.
• Unaussprechlichen Kulten: Translates from German into English as Unspeakable Cults or Unpronounceable Cults. Was written by Friedrich von Junzt several centuries before the coming of the Rifts. It gives detailed accounts of multiple cults and secret societies dedicated to the Old Ones and other dark beings.
• Zanthu Tablets: 12 tablets made from indestructible black jade, and engraved by the wizard Zanthu. They were written in the lost language of Mu. The tablets give a partial description of the lost city, detail the decline of one Old One cult and the rise of another. It also details Zanthu’s failed attempt of freeing one of the Old Ones, which resulted in Mu’s destruction.
• Elder Script: A language that was ancient before the birth of dragon-kind. Once was the universal language of greater being (gods, demons, spirits of light, etc), and was originally the native language of the Old Ones. Today only a handful of being in the entire megaverse can speak and read it. It was also the official language of the Sorcerer Kings, who discovered it in the ruins that lead to their eventual fall into darkness, and was outlawed for all others under the threat of death.
• Hieratic Script (Egyptian cursive): Originally used only by Egyptian priest (hieratic being Greek for priest or priestly), and was usually done with a reed brush on papyrus paper. Several examples survived until the 20th century, though they were extremely rare.
• Great Old Ones: These ancient, sleeping beings were obviously the inspiration for Palladium’s own Old Ones. Most of the cosmic beings from Lovecraft, and others, could easily be considered Lesser Old Ones, like those described in several Palladium products.
• Outer Gods: These beings could be Lesser Old Ones, actual gods, or active Alien Intelligences. They each vary greatly in appearance, description, power level (ranging from Godling to Lord of the Deep power level), origin, and level of activity.
• Elder Gods: A group of gods that oppose both the Outer Gods and the Great Old Ones. In Palladium this could be a single pantheon that has made it their mission to oppose the Old Ones and all Alien Intelligences, or a coalition of some of the most powerful gods from various pantheons who actively work to keep the Old Ones imprisoned. In fact a group such as this is hinted to exist in several Palladium books, most notably in Pantheons of the Megaverse.
• On the Sending Out of the Soul: Work the “ancient” pamphlet (by Rifts Earth standards) into the belongings of an NPC or into a room the PCs are searching. It describes a mystical process of astral projection, and gives enough clues for a spellcaster to learn the level four spell of the same name.
• Book of Eibon: An English translations fragment would make great and dangerous loot, as many parties in North America (and perhaps beyond) would be interested in acquiring it. The book itself contains an unknown amount of arcane knowledge, the True Names and weakness of several demon lords, along with detailed accounts of the wizard’s (Eibon) exploration of several places of legend.
• Celaeno Fragments: Describes an ancient, massive library located on an alien planet (Celaeno) that the author and his companions used as a safe house of sorts when hiding from their enemies. The library was said to contain secrets stolen from the Great Old Ones and Elder Gods themselves. It includes some translation of some of the books the author read while in the library, though they were done from memory. The author submitted a fifty page transcript to the East Coast University he was employ at in 1915.
• Cthaat Aquadingen: Translated to mean Things of the Water, it was supposedly written in 400 AD, though a Latin version was written between the 11th and 12th century, along with an English translation that appeared sometime in the 14th century. It details many of the great horrors trapped within or living in the Earth’s oceans. It might prove to have valuable information of the Deep One that would greatly aid the New Navy.
• Cultes des Goules or Cults of Ghouls: A book of black magic written in 1702, and most likely details necromantic rituals and spells. Originally published in French, it was denounced by the church and most copies destroyed. One copy was known to be kept within the secret arcane library of a Providence church. Existing copies would most likely be in French or Latin.
• Eltdown Shards: Pottery fragments originally discovered in the town of Eltdown England in 1882. They are believed to be from Earth’s Triassic period, and are covered by strange symbols that proved to be untranslatable to both scholars and arcanist; though a few have claimed to have accomplished the feat. The most reputable claim was by Gordon Whitney, which ended up being almost identical to ancient texts known as the Pnakotic Manuscripts.
• G’harne Fragments: This is a set of obsidian stone that records the history of the pre-human city of G’harne. This lost city was located in what would become the Sahara Desert in Africa. The two researchers credited with their translation both died mysterious deaths within a short time of each other. They would make excellent True Atlantean historical items, and an entire series could be run with a True Atlantean group attempting to recover them as cultural treasures.
• Necronomicon: Most people reading this have heard of this book, which may be the most famous of the made up grimoire in the Lovecraft stories. The adventure ideas and used for this evil book don’t really need to be expanded upon, but it is safe to assume that any number of evil beings would do almost anything to get their hands on the original or an accurate copy.
• Parchments of Pnom: This manuscript would be considered an oddity by most adventures and collectors. It is a detailed account of the lineage of a pantheon of almost unknown gods. While not exactly useful to most adventurers, it might have some valuable information for Summoners and Shifters.
• Pnakotic Manuscripts: Not much is known about what is contained within this Manuscript, only that it was named for the primordial metropolis it was kept in and was written by the Great Race of Yith. This might make an excellent prop for GMs in the Phase World setting, especially those running the Forge War. The Great Race of Yith could easily be expanded upon to have some connection to the Dominators, the First, and others.
• Ponape Scripture: Discovered in 1734 in the Caroline Islands, this book was already considered ancient at that time. It contains details on the lost city of Mu, the arch-wizard Zanthu, the high priesthood of a deity called Ythogtha, as well as referencing a deity called Dagon. A version of the book was published in 1907 by a prominent East coast university, while the original version was preserved in a private library located in Salem, Massachusetts.
• Las Reglas de Ruina: This book literally translates into “the Laws of Ruin”, and was written by a Spanish friar in the 16th century. It was translated many times, and might be a common occult book in both North America and Europe. It details relationships (some intimately) between several Lesser Old Ones, and foretells of a messiah of destruction who will set the Old Ones free from their imprisonment.
• Revelations of Glaaki: This book was written by an Old One cult who wrote down fragments of their master’s dreams. These writings could be difficult to read, as even glimpses of an Old One’s dreams would most likely drive a mortal insane especially if done repeatedly. Glaaki could easily be changed to one of the Old Ones, or he could be a Lesser Old One who has previously been undetailed.
• Tarsioid Psalms: This collection of writings that dated back to the Cenozoic Era. They describe the evil entity that spawned the Old Ones. If true it would add a whole new aspect to the Old Ones, and the Chaos War that ended in their imprisonment. Could the Forces of Light been aided or even inspired by a parent the Old Ones themselves had betrayed and imprisoned?
• The Testament of Carnamagos: This book details one of the Old Ones. Only two copies were known to ever exist on Earth, one of which was destroyed by the Spanish Inquisition. The remaining copy is bound in shagreen and fastened with clasps of human bone. It would be extremely valuable to Old One cultist.
• Unaussprechlichen Kulten: Translates from German into English as Unspeakable Cults or Unpronounceable Cults. Was written by Friedrich von Junzt several centuries before the coming of the Rifts. It gives detailed accounts of multiple cults and secret societies dedicated to the Old Ones and other dark beings.
• Zanthu Tablets: 12 tablets made from indestructible black jade, and engraved by the wizard Zanthu. They were written in the lost language of Mu. The tablets give a partial description of the lost city, detail the decline of one Old One cult and the rise of another. It also details Zanthu’s failed attempt of freeing one of the Old Ones, which resulted in Mu’s destruction.
