The Seven Cryptical Scroll of Hsan

Classical Chinese, written by Hsan the Greater, c. 2nd century. A single, large classical Chinese scroll organized into seven books, handwritten and kept in a fitted scroll case bearing the Elder Sign.

This particular copy of the Seven Cryptical Books is much more ancient and perfect than the usual copies. Disagreement still exists as to whether the book was written by Hsan the Greater, or was in fact brought from Leng at the time of the Yellow Emperor before being translated. Amongst other topics, the Books discuss Nyarlathotep’s many incarnations and the Dreamlands, as well as containing fragments from other Mythos tomes.

• Sanity Loss: 1D8

• Cthulhu Mythos: +3/+8 percentiles

• Mythos Rating: 33

• Study: 40 weeks

• Spells: Call Down Spirit (Summon/Bind Byakhee), Contact Ghoul, Contact Hound of Tindalos, Contact Mi-Go, Contact Nyarlathotep, Door to Kadath (Gate to Kadath), Elder Sign, Eye of Light and Darkness*, Find Gate, and Restore Life (Resurrection).

The Black Rites of Luveh-Keraphf

Egyptian hieroglyphs, by Luveh-Keraphf, c. Thirteenth Dynasty Egypt (1786-1633 BCE). Ten fragile papyrus scrolls, handwritten.

Almost every inch of each scroll is covered with tiny, crabbed Egyptian hieroglyphs. The first scroll in the sequence identifies its author as Luveh-Keraphf, High Priest of the cat goddess, Bast. The first few scrolls then discuss the worship of Bast in great detail, including means for summoning Bast and her feline kindred. Later scrolls outline the worship of other Egyptian deities. Particular mention is made of “the Terrible Lord of the Riverbanks,” the crocodile-headed Sebek. His riverside temples are described, along with the rituals for sacrifices made in his name. Cautionary chapters, devoted to the darker members of the Egyptian pantheon, are also included.

• Sanity Loss: 2D6

• Cthulhu Mythos: +3/+8 percentiles

• Mythos Rating: 33

• Study: 41 weeks

• Spells: Contact The Goddess of Cats (Contact Bast*), Bind Cat*, Bring Forth the Faceless Master of the Sands (Call the Black Sphinx), Call the Black Pharaoh (Contact Nyarlathotep, Black Pharaoh form), Summon the Carrion- Feasters of the Desert (Contact Ghoul), Call Forth the Terrible Lord of the Riverbanks (Contact Sebek*), Summon and Abjure the Children of the Riverbanks (Bind Animal: Crocodile*)

Song of the Djinn (Oghniat Min al Jinn)

Arabic, by Ghalib al-Sabbah, c. 797. Sextodecimo, bound in goatskin with bronze clasp, sulfurous smell.

Heretical work alleged to be the transcript of a series of discussions held by the author with a “djinn,” a being of “scorching fire,” which related all manner of esoteric and forbidden lore. While most of the knowledge contained appears to be fanciful, a few kernels of Mythos knowledge are hidden in the text.

• Sanity Loss: 1D4

• Cthulhu Mythos: +1/+3 percentiles

• Mythos Rating: 12

• Study: 12 weeks

• Spells: Enchantment of the Living Flame*

Africa’s Dark Sects

English, by Nigel Blackwell, 1920. Sextodecimo, blue pasteboard covers with marbled endpapers and blue-stained page edges.

Written by explorer Nigel Blackwell during his travels across Africa, the book is an odd mix of travelogue and exposé of the ritual practices of a variety of African cults. Although the notes of his travels were obviously turned into a book, no publisher is listed on the title page, and Blackwell is impossible to track down. Some believe the book may have been written under a pseudonym, but there are no candidates as to the real author if that is the case. Only 13 copies are known to exist—the authorities managed to burn the rest.

• Sanity Loss: 1D10
• Cthulhu Mythos: +2/+4 percentiles
• Mythos Rating: 30
• Study: 6 weeks
• Spells: Create Ciimba*

Sélections de Livre D’Ivon

French commentary on Latin original by Gaspar du Nord, c.13th century. Octavo, handwritten manuscript, bound in decaying blue calfskin.

Supposedly copied by du Nord from an earlier Greek manuscript. Only 13 specimens, partial or complete, are now known to exist. Although the original manuscript on which du Nord based his work may have come to the Averoigne region directly from Atlantis, it has been conjectured that, purely by chance, it made its way to France via ancient Egypt.

• Sanity Loss: 2D4
• Cthulhu Mythos: +4/+8 percentiles
• Mythos Rating: 36
• Study: 36 weeks
• Spells: Call/Dismiss the Blind Lord of Chaos (Azathoth), Contact Formless Spawn of Zhothaqquah (Formless Spawn), Contact Deity/The Lord of the Waters (Nodens), Contact Deity/Zhothaqquah (Tsathoggua), Create Barrier of Naach-Tith, Gate, Fog of Misdirection (Create Mist of R’lyeh), Eibon’s Wheel of Mist**

Amongst the Stones

English, by Justin Geoffrey, 1918. Handwritten, containing poems later found in People of the Monolith (pub. 1926), bound in the skin of a hunting horror.

Although several of the verses contained within this slim volume are identical to those which appear in Geoffrey’s later published work, some are earlier versions which see heavy revision prior to their official publication by Erebus Press, Monmouth, Illinois. Others are unique to this manuscript.

• Sanity Loss: 1D3
• Cthulhu Mythos: +1/+2 percentiles
• Mythos Rating: 9
• Study: 1 week
• Spells: none

The Pnakotic Manuscripts

English, author and translator unknown, 15th century.Quarto, embossed red leather binding of a later date than the contained manuscript.

Five bound manuscript versions (partial copies of a greater work, now lost) of this book are catalogued in Europe and America, at least one of which resides at Miskatonic University; another is rumored to be held by the New York Public Library. The precursor volume, the Pnakotica, was written in classical Greek, and contained stories of Hyperborea, Atlantis, and Jupiter. That book may trace its origins to the pre-human crinoids who seeded life on Earth.

• Sanity Loss: 1D8
• Cthulhu Mythos: +3/+7 percentiles
• Mythos Rating: 30
• Study: 45 weeks
• Spells: Contact Winged One (Elder Thing), Contact Mind of the Observer (Yithian)

Life as a God

English, by MontgomeryCrompton, c.1810. Duodecimo, handwritten, bound in human skin.

The only copy of a diary by English artist Crompton, who came to Egypt in 1805 and became a minor priest of the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh. Crompton was insane by the time he wrote this diary, meaning that much of it is incoherent.

• Sanity Loss: 1D6
• Cthulhu Mythos: +2/+4 percentiles
• Mythos Rating: 18
• Study: 10 weeks
• Spells: none