"The Haunting of Uthnor"

by Laurence J. Cornford

originally published The Book of Eibon, Chaosium, 2002

Eibon and a former pupil, Cyron, go to investigate a procession of ghosts appearing in Uthnor.  While watching a spectral vision, the inhabitants of the village are driven mad and burn down the village, killing one another.

Cyron and Eibon determine there is a link between the spectral manifestations and an orbiting comet, which is in fact a chunk of Azathoth.  

To find answers, they design a glass that sees through time.  They see the past of Hyperborea, then its fall, its replacement by the modern age, then the fall of our civilization, and many more, all the way out to far-future Zothique, and finally, the end of the world.  All of this connected with the comet.

Eibon and Cyron realize there is nothing they can do to prevent these things.

An evocative bit of Smith-iana.  Still nothing special.

"The Offspring of the Tomb"

by Laurence J. Cornford
originally published The Book of Eibon, Chaosium, 2001

Journeying in search of materials for magic, Eibon encounters an old friend, Yhok-Omi.  It seems Yhok-Omi is in dire straits, being hunted by his own son, Gadamon, now a ghoulish creature.  Though Eibon and Y-O try to ward off the beastie, Gadamon eventually gets his prey.

Another amusing Smith pastiche.

"Utressor"

by Laurence J. Cornford
originally published The Book of Eibon, Chaosium, 2001

Eibon and Zaljis pass into another world called Utressor, where they experience many strange things before concluding that Utressor may be nothing more than the dream of a madman.

Another entertaining Smith-ian pastiche, but nothing more.

"The Demon of the Ring"

by Laurence J. Cornford

originally published The Book of Eibon, Chaosium, 2001

While traveling, Eibon hears of an abandoned temple haunted by a demon, once summoned to protect the sacred ground but now overzealously keeping away all comers.  Eibon tricks the demon and binds it into a ring.

This is another Smith pastiche, but is particularly clever and enjoyable.  I liked this one!

"The Alkahest"

by Laurence J. Cornford
originally published The Book of Eibon, Chaosium, 2001

Verhadis is the most powerful sorceror in Hyperborea.  But he's also a right prick.  He even manages to summon and bind a Hound of Tindalos, which he can send against his rivals, thus ensuring he remains top dog.

Five other wizards decide to gang up on him.  And succeed.  This leaves an alchemist named Enoycla the big kahuna.  The remaining four, now in possession of the jewel housing the bound Hound, try to use it against him.  But Enoycla's alkahest experiment succeeds in driving the Hound off, and the jewel is buried in a bottomless pit.

Another amusing Smith pastiche.

"The Sphinx of Abornis"

by Laurence J. Cornford

originally published The Book of Eibon, Chaosium, 2001

In the city of Abornis, the wizard Hormagor is always playing second fiddle to Zon Mezzamalech.  This pisses him off.

He dreams of an entity which instructs him to create a sphinx, by hand, with is face, and he will become the top dog.  So he goes at it.

After days of hard work, Hormagor comes to realize this entity is evil.  He attempts to destroy the still-faceless sphinx, but fails.  He is found dead, with his own face mutilated, but his image carved into the face of the sphinx.

 Another minor but amusing Smith pastiche.

"The Face From Below"

by Laurence J. Cornford

originally published The Book of Eibon, Chaosium, 2001

The magician Pnom agrees to visit the region of Asphogoth, which has been plagued by horrors.  It seems a giant invisible monster is tearing things up.  Pnom is able to see the monster, and kill it.

A man named Vash-Tsoth turns up.  It seems he's looking for his brother, who has vanished.  Pnom tries to conjure the spirit of the region to answer where the bro went.  He then learns that Vash-Tsoth's brother was the monster in question, and that Vash-Tsoth, too, is a monster.  Like a big pussy, he flees.

An amusing sketch in the Smith mode.