Steve Hatherley
It is a rather peculiar disease, liquefying flesh into a thick red jelly, leaving only bones and skin untouched. Bodily functions continue unimpaired until the end. It is so rare that it does not yet have a name, let alone a cure.
Victims are often completely unaware that they carry the disease. Realisation sinks in only when cut: instead of blood, jelly wells out of the wound. Their skin does not heal, and if left unbandaged shrinks and wrinkles as the victim's liquefied flesh oozes out.
1 The disease is caused by a Lloigor. The Lloigor, Clerghh, is able to possess human victims in the course of its evil design. It is so successful at possession, that it has not had to materialise into its reptilian form for many years now.
The unfortunate human is unaware of the possession, which lasts for a maximum of six months. After that the disease, a by-product of the process, causes the human body to fail irretrievably. Clerghh moves on.
2 A vampire is afoot, feeding on predigested human flesh. It has two forms; the first a tall and handsome human, the other a multi-legged maggot-thing with a stabbing proboscis.
The vampire-thing needs to inject its prey with digestive juices some months before feeding. It makes two visits, injecting juices at first and then returning once its victim is ripe.
3 The victims are always men. A cult dedicated to Nyarlathotep offers girls in frenzied ceremonies. Those he rejects are torn apart by the cult, those he fancies (and Nyarlathotep has taste) he proposes to. If a girl accepts, she becomes his bride and resides in the Daemon Sultan's court for the rest of eternity.
Those that refuse are set free and cursed. Every man they encounter for anything longer than a moment will die, afflicted with a terrible disease. At midnight on the night of each full moon Nyarlathotep returns to ask for for her hand. If she accepts, the Outer God takes her to Azathoth's court for the wedding and matrimonial bliss. If she declines, more men are consigned to a grisly fate.
Eventually Nyarlathotep becomes bored with his bride, and it is time to choose another.
Copyright (c) 1992 Steve Hatherley.
Steve Hatherley is the creator of Tales of Terror, and has written for both Chaosium and Pagan Publishing. He also has a number of other websites, including www.great-murder-mystery-games.com and www.mylowerbackpain.com.
Steve lives in Yorkshire, England.
Click here to see Steve's other Tales of Terror.