The Hatching Rocks
Steve Hatherley"Spherical quartz formations formed when molten rock is cast from a volcanic eruption into water and cools before deforming. Found near Mt. Etna. 1871, J. Castle."
Thus reads the note next to three 10 inch diameter spheres.
The museum is small and its geology department smaller. Nobody has properly identified the stones; they gather dust, ignored and unremarkable.
The stones are Cthonian eggs. Professor Castle found them near Mount Etna and brought them to the museum. His theory on their origin is entirely inaccurate, and he did not examine them in more detail before his untimely death in 1872.
Possibilities
1 The Cthonians followed Castle back to the museum after the theft of their eggs. Before they arrived he put the 'rocks' on display. His heart failed when they tried to telepathically interrogate him and so never found the eggs.
2
The eggs have been stolen from the museum. As the tiny
Cthonians slowly matured their telepathic abilities grew, and were
sensed by adults. Human agents stole the eggs and took them through to
the Dreamlands.
The Waking Worlds are becoming too dangerous and the Cthonians are infiltrating the land beyond the wall of sleep. The plan is in its infancy; so far only a handful of eggs have been taken through.
3 Before an adult (or human agent) can reach the museum, the eggs hatch. The babies first kill birds and rodents but grow rapidly, demanding larger prey. The initial act of vandalism is not high on the police priority list, but they take more interest when the killingsbegin. It is only time before an adult appears to reclaim the young.
Copyright (c) 1990 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.