Miskatonic Alums and Dropouts

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Comment by Eric Caleb Friedman on November 16, 2011 at 2:15pm

The Introduction to my pamphlet accompanying the 2nd Edition of the H. P. Lovecraft Tarot:

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Disclaimer, & a Note from the Wilmarth Foundation...

"WARNING: In buying these cards, we pray that you have made a conscious decision. Therefore, Daryl Hutchinson and Mythos Books bear no responsibility for any madness induced by, or associated with, prolonged reflection on these images. If it was not a conscious choice, it was too late anyway..."

"A NOTE FROM THE WILMARTH FOUNDATION: In deeming these cards "Safe" for mass distribution, we subjected them to a number of trials. The best of our "Sympathetics" probed them using a number of techniques. As yet, no permanent harm has been apparent.

As to their true origin, our scholars have divided opinions. The now famous image in clay produced out of the dreams of Henry A. Wilcox is accepted without question as a result of the Projections out of R'lyeh during a period of certain specific astronomical events. As for the work of Mr. Hutchinson, consisting of quite a multiplicity of images, we cannot draw this same conclusion. Thus, if it is merely the work of a single unwell spirit, there should be no real danger inherent in them.

But our times, being what they are, with many different cults springing up all over the world to invoke the Old Ones, who can truly say what degraded Intelligences have been brought into our continuum, trying to find expression by whatever means available? It is proven and undeniable that the sensitive artist and poet have always been their easiest prey as an unwitting vehicle. Such is the dominant concern on behalf of the Foundation in reference to the publication of these cards.

Of course, the real question is: just what are these cards? Their relationship to the increasingly popular Tarot is obvious, but so are their apparent divergence from what is generally accepted as the "standard" structure of the Tarot. On one hand, they do have the traditional division into one "Major" Suit of Primal Powers, with four "lesser" suits portraying other important Forces, but which are subordinate to those of the "Major Arcana". There are also clear correspondences between the Major Arcana here to those of the traditional deck, but without regard to any currently accepted sequence (our frail sense of order being precisely what the Old Ones contradict by their very nature - or unnature). For example, Cthulhu is named in many places as the High Priest or Hierophant of the Old Ones, who, "when the stars are right', will renew their Rites on Earth. Also, Nyarlathotep is their Magus & Messenger, revealing to "worthy" (if such a word is appropriate) individuals the Signs and Invocations which will Open the Gates. And who can question that "Cthulhu Awakens" is nought but the Judgement Day according to the Old Ones?

Yet the question remains; what are these cards? Are they merely the product of another unstable artist's perverse imagination? Are they a glimpse of the prototypical Tarot taught to humanity before the Flood by what the Books of Genesis & Enoch call the Nephilim (but which are still remembered by other names)? Or are they a MESSAGE? This last possibility is what we at the Foundation both fear and hope. If they are indeed a Message from the buried Depths of Time & Space, a Warning (or dire Promise) from out of the weird angles of inhuman physics, how do we break their code? We at the Wilmarth Foundation believe that it can be "safely" assumed that those who serve the Old Ones will not profit much by the publication of this deck of odd cards. But, if through distribution, the "Code" can be broken by one or more who would help us in our struggle, it must be done. what with the "Millennial" fever sweeping the planet, we fear that all may well be lost already; that the coming "Apocalypse" will not at all be what most are anticipating. The hand of Nyarlathotep is touching the hearts of millions, and there are just a handful of those who know, with little power to do much more than watch.

So we present to you a possible revelation for decipherment (but yet it may well be another phantasm to merely occupy our time). What is lost?

--Eric Friedman; Department of Semitic Languages,
Miskatonic University: Arkham, Mass."

Comment by Jaylee A. Faulkes on October 13, 2011 at 5:18pm

A popular book blogger and I are hosting a Steampunk Haiku contest on her blog! Entrants keep the copyrights, the winner will get a handmade pin from me, and other goodies from Rikki!
Please come and enter, the judging is done by the readers, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

http://www.rikkidonovan.com/index.php/steampunk-challenge-2/steampu...

Comment by George 'Dubael' Woodruff U.E. on December 4, 2010 at 3:07pm

I must have missed the start of the Contest. I had hoped to contribute but hopefully this will become an ongoing event and I can contribute next time. Regardless I look forward to reading the stories.

Comment by Jaylee A. Faulkes on December 4, 2010 at 9:43am

The contest is over! Go here to read some FANTASTIC Steampunk short stories, and vote for your top three! Winners will be winning some great prizes, please support them!
http://www.rikkidonovan.com/index.php/steampunk-challenge-2/steampu...

Comment by Veronique Chevalier on July 19, 2010 at 10:18pm

Well, since everyone is getting so brass taxi herein, allow moi to toot my own Lovecraftian horn. Behold my parody of Blue Oyster Cult's "Godzilla": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDGQPHIJ9O4

Comment by Stacey Merrill on July 19, 2010 at 7:46pm

Just opened a package from my favorite M.U. source - Bits leftover from the 1935 Australian Expedition and other goodies:

http://propnomicon.blogspot.com/2009/06/miskatonic-university-austr...

Comment by Liam Lord Ulthar derKatzen on July 12, 2010 at 6:18pm

I'm not sure if I have mentioned, there is a fine (imho) band out there with a decidedly Lovecraftian bent going by the name Darkest of the Hillside Thickets...

I'm quite partial to the songs Going down to Dunwich, Shoggoths Away, and Once We Were Free...

Comment by Dr. Horatio VonDarkfaulker on July 11, 2010 at 2:41pm

Yes, I understand him to be quite the folk-song enthusiast.


It seems even the Deep Ones have a soft side…

Comment by Bill Dunbar on July 11, 2010 at 9:31am

The Elder God himself has occasionally been portrayed as a musician:
http://www.ozones.com/postbros/cthulu.html

Comment by Dr. Horatio VonDarkfaulker on July 10, 2010 at 9:25pm

We are talking about Iron Maiden lyrics, right?

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die."

Then there's: "Give us a shout out or you shall be sacrificed in short order, just you friggin' wait!; ALL HAIL CTHULHU! " -Cthulhu

(I can't believe he said that...-what an elder-god drama queen-)

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