The Encounter

The following is the account of Edward J. Ploch, 32 year old Research Assistant at Miskatonic University. Working under Professor Tyler M. Freeborn, Head of the Anthropology Department at Miskatonic University. He selected Mr. Ploch shortly after receiving his Master’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology to assist him in various research projects. Specifically, those that focused on the religious practices of ancient cultures. This was Mr. Ploch’s focus during his time at University.

Mr. Ploch one day, while researching Shamanistic rituals and astral projection, comes across a mysterious margin entry in one of the research journals. It describes a book called, “On the Sending out of the Soul” written by a group known as “The Esoteric Collective”. The entry implies that they have mastered the practice of astral projection. Edward, having tried various rituals that are supposed to have done this, with limited success beyond the heightened sense of self awareness. The book promises that the user will be able to travel to any known destination regardless if the user has been there themselves. Simply, if it actually exists the ritualist may travel there.

Something about this intrigues Edward to follow these clues, Professor Howard Derleth, the author of the research journal titled “Fallacy and Subjectivity in Occult: Illustrating Encoded Poetics” seemed very determined to root out the hearsay and myth of genuine occult practices. Stating that the biggest reason for so much fallacy was in part a campaign of each faith to prop up their god or gods as supreme. As cultures came into contact with each other, it was paramount to establish themselves as the greater society. His interest in “The Esoteric Collective” was to determine if they had indeed discovered the means of legitimate astral projection and whether or not that could be used to visit places outside our own Earth. But equally from which culture or cultures they derived their methods.

As he begins researching “The Esoteric Collective”, he begins to discover just how little there really is outside this work by Professor Derleth. He hopes to track down this elusive group by finding the professor himself. Doing so leads him to the outskirts of (Town name), to an abandoned house where he begins to feel the weight of defeat. Barely has he begun and he is lost again. But there he finds the book he has been searching for “On the Sending out of the Soul” and a journal that appears to be written in many hands.

In it are the accounts of those that have used the ritual and what they experienced. Some accounts described visiting very earthly places, the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids of Giza, one account even describes a visit to the home of an admired love interest.

Other accounts describe strange alien like places that dont appear on known maps or even astrological charts as some people describe literally flying through space and describing stars and constellations. Though the latter is dismissed as having some form of hallucination from incorrect execution of the method.

Edward is ecstatic at this find and begins the process of collecting the needed items and people.

Due to the taboo nature of these things, and the necessity of illegal substances, Edward and his small group take their project to a secret location (the home of the late professor) and begin the ritual. Edward has decided that for his first trip he will try somewhere easy and picks his own home, which is roughly 30 miles away. He instructs his friend to place a random object on his kitchen table. This is to prove that Edward did indeed travel through the astral realm. His friend has in his pocket a small envelope with what he has placed on table written on a piece of paper.

He and his colleagues begin the ritual, Edward becomes aware that his body feels unnatural and his vision starts to become hazy. Opaque like looking through frosted glass. He stands up and asks everyone to stop what they are doing, the experiment has failed. But no one responds and continues their observations.

He looks around and sees that his body is still on the floor in a state of unconsciousness. Realizing that the ritual has worked he begins to focus his thoughts on his home as instructed by the book. In a moment he experiences the feeling of hurtling through space. The world becomes a blur as he travels at the speed of thought and finds himself suddenly standing in his living room. He attempts to interact with objects in his home only to discover that he cannot. His hand passing through as though they no longer exist together. Quickly he makes his way into the kitchen and finds the object on the table. A strange figure made of marble, depicting the Hydra of Greek mythology. It makes sense to Edward as his friend is a collector of mythological lore and artifacts. There is an errieness to this piece, as though, like himself, the object is out of place with reality.

Edward decides that the experiment is a success and tries to focus his mind back to his body. The scene becomes hazy again, and an ominous feeling washes over him. As though he is being observed by some unknown being. He is again hurtled through space, the world a blur. When his vision clears he finds himself gliding over a vast sea. But this ocean appears to writhe and ungulate like a living organism. Its color is a dull gray and what Edward thought to be debris are actually faces and floating heads. Like pox marks on a sickly flesh. Some he can recognize as human, others are terrifying alien like creatures. Anatomy that can only be described as bug or fish like in appearance. He descends and the heads all take notice, still alive it would appear. They all begin to cry in anguish and pain, even the unknown creatures make sounds that seem to be animals in pain. Screeching, buzzing, screaming. Edward is horrified at this site and tries to leave, but his mind cant focus enough to return to his body. The gray sea begins to roll back and rise. Edward flies away. The sea rolls into a wave, a tidal wave even as the size becomes immense. It stretches as far as the visible horizon. The wave chases Edward and begins to believe that he will be consumed by the monstrous wave. He tries to focus his thoughts intensely in a last ditch effort to escape, and as his vision once again becomes blurred he peers behind and for a moment thinks he sees one of his friends in the wave.

The scene becomes black and Edward can feel his body once more. It feels heavy and cumbersome just to move his arms. He opens his eyes and the brazier is still lit. the room heavy with smoke from the burnt offerings. Quickly he stands, his vision is swimming as the room seems to tilt unnaturally. When his senses return he sees the aftermath of his encounter. All his friends, except for the friend that left the statue in his house, are dead. Their heads cleanly cut away and blood pools over the whole room. He notices then that he too is covered in blood from where it drained from their bodies and pooled around him.

The book is missing, as well as his research journal of Professor Derleth. Left on a nearby table is the envelope his friend was to hold on to, blood stained and open.

Inside is a folded piece of paper that has the following written down. “The Hydra has seen you, the Hydra has spared you as she does for all who grant her travel.The Collective knows you now. We will be watching.”

Edward now realizes that he has been working with the Collective the entire time. He panics and rushes from the room. Wondering how he will explain what has happened, going to the police will only implicate himself and his former friend as the criminals.

He drives home, the statue is still on the table. The sounds of police sirens can be heard coming from outside his home.

The book is going to repurpose many stories written in the Lovecraft Mythos, using The Esoteric Collective as the primary force behind the terrible events.

++++++++++++++++++

It was Edward Ploch’s fourth year at Miskatonic University, located in the picturesque town of Arkham Massachusetts. He had graduated from the University with a Master’s in Cultural Anthropology and had accepted a position as Research Assistant to Professor Tyler M. Freeborn, Head of the Anthropology Department at Miskatonic University.

Edward had a particular interest in religious practices, and how those practices shaped or were shaped by the societies that built them. This led to an interest in what most people would call “occult studies” as many of these societies and civilizations were long dead or so far changed from where they had begun that they might as well be dead.

This night, Edward found himself deep in the books about Astral Projection and Shamanistic Rituals. Being so pervasive throughout the cultures of the world, it seemed reasonable to him that this was not simply a shared delusion across cultures that would not encounter each other for hundreds of years, but held somewhere a sliver of some truth. Something inspired all these cultures to believe that it was possible. Many of his friends in the psychology department would say to him that the cultures were vast and varied but the human mind was always the same. That all these examples were more evidence to their point than to his, that ancient and antediluvian man carried the same spark of imagination regardless of their location.

But to Edward this didn't answer his question. So many examples of nearly identical writings and rituals told him that something else was there. And even if his friends were correct, discovering the foundation of primeval thought was enough to keep him searching.

So there he was pouring through books and journals furiously taking notes, both written and recorded as he had a habit of speaking his thoughts and forgetting to write them all down.

“...the etheric "double" serves as a medium between the astral and physical realms. In his system the ether, also called prana, is the "vital force" that empowers the physical forms to change. From his descriptions it can be inferred that, to him, when one views the physical during an out-of-body...” As he was quoting another philosopher on the subject Edward began to get the distinct impression he was being watched. The hackles on his neck began to rise, and he quickly spun his head about the room. Edward was often here alone, or rather researching alone with the odd student or two also losing sleep to the pursuit of knowledge. But tonight he was most certainly alone when he arrived. Assuming fatigue he returned his attention to his studies and noticed another journal that he did not recall before.

“Fallacy and Subjectivity in Occult: Illustrating Encoded Poetics by Professor Howard Derleth”

**

There he was, in his home. Mere moments had passed since he awoke on the floor of Professor Derleth’s basement. The ritual had worked...it really worked! “This is astounding!” he said…”Did I actually say anything?” He thought that his words sounded more like a very loud inner monologue. Perhaps that made sense since he didn't have a physical body right now. He quickly walked over to his front door and tried to look into the hallway mirror.

No reflection. Again, of course he had nothing to reflect. No body. He would have to ask his friends when he returned if he said anything while he was there on that floor. Even now, when he felt that he was consciously thinking to himself that the difference was hard to discern.

Nevermind. Back to the task at hand. He walked into the kitchen to find what Anthony had left on the table. What trinket had been left for his discovery. A marble statue of a Hydra, from Greek mythology. Rather small at just half a foot, the detail was remarkable. Anthony had always been a great lover of ancient mythology and particularly of the Hydra for the last year.

Being the only thing on the table, Edward concluded that this must be the thing left for him.

It felt odd, being in his home like this. Like he was intruding on his own privacy. He felt like a spy in his own life. He suddenly had the uncomfortable thought to wonder how many people have done this to others, for that purpose?

No matter, at this point it was time to go back to his body. The experiment was obviously done, and while not yet able to cheer for victory, he was confident that this had worked.

Edward calmed his mind and closed his eyes, or rather his third eye as the book explained, and concentrated back on his body. He could feel the world around him moving as it had once before. Quietly, blindingly quick and dizzying. Despite his vision being obscured he could feel these sensations quite accutely. Like shutting your eyes on a roller coaster.

A cold blast struck him like a punch to the gut, and his eyes opened wide. He could see almost nothing, not that he was blinded, but it appeared that nothing was what surrounded him. A limitless stretch of gray sky, cloudless but obscured. Below him was a writhing sea of gray sludge. Lapping and churning upon itself. The sound was sickening, if he ever wondered what a wet sack of guts sounded like being tossed around a wash bin...this was it.

As he surveyed the scene below, he noticed what appeared to be odd pock marks all over the gray mass. Small black dots across this disgusting landscape, like medical photos of diseased and necrotic skin.

His curiosity overcame his sense of disgust and he glided himself down towards this terrifying visage.

He nearly vomited.

Upon this hulking mass of oozing flesh were, hundreds, thousands...countless heads sticking up from the surface. Many of which he could see were people, there twisted faces writhing in agony, sorrow and despair. Many more were beyond his ability to come to grips with what they actually were. Their alien, misshapen, contorted faces were all some combination of insect and/or fish like creatures. Ocelli eyes like a fly, but mandibles like a crab and skin slicked like a fish.

He cried out in terror, and this proved to be an awful reaction. For this sea of gore and horror had now taken full notice of him. All the heads, human and alien, looked directly towards him and began to cry out. Crying for help, crying to kill them, crying in some way that he couldnt understand. Both because the cacophony of anguish was deafening, and the alien creatures spoke in alien languages he couldn’t understand. But he could understand that they were suffering, they wanted the same things the others did. They wanted to die too, and they wanted him to do it.

As he began to drift up away from this noise, he could that sound of sloshing and gurgling as the sea moved. It seemed to recede...somewhere...though where was beyond his sight or knowledge. And suddenly grew into a colossal wave, rising above him and casting shadow over him. The sight was for a brief moment awe inspiring, before the wave began to move towards him. Instantly, Edward began the mental exercises to return to his body but found that they would not work. Either his concentration was too weak from this encounter or some other force had blocked his ability. Certainly whatever force brought him to this place.

He did the only thing he could do at this moment...run away.

He propelled his body away from the wave as part of it came crashing down upon him. His lucid dreaming exercises were paying for themselves now, he could at least fly from this thing for as long as his mind would allow. He couldn't become physically tired, but the mental strain was basically the same in this place.

He frantically looked to either side of him, hoping to find some edge of this tsunami of flesh but to no such luck. It seemed to stretch for as far as he could see, a horizon that he could not tell where it ended. He flew up, trying to crest the top, but as fast as he rose so to did this mountain of dying ofal. The whole sea seemed to rise with him, as though he was merely holding still.

The wave grew closer and with each crash it seemed to rise up again almost as quickly. This...thing was obviously alive and wanted to consume him. To add him to its awful collection.

He flew for what seemed forever, the landscape never changing. No clue to where he was, or where he was going. Minutes, hours, years...they all felt the same here.

He couldn't hold this course forever, the problem being that obviously his pursuer could...at least it seemed so.

Edward knew that he needed to desperately leave, and again tried to concentrate on his destination. As he did, a strange groaning came from behind him, as though the thing had grown tired of this chase either from physical exhaustion or annoyance. He turned his head to look behind him and saw the tide retreating.

Relief washed over Edward in the form of what might have been described as exhaustion. The sudden stopping of a marathon run, but he did not end his flight. Instead focusing his thoughts once more on his body.

Just as he vision once again began to blur, the indication that his travels would soon end. A terrible and guttural sound came from below. From just beneath him, the sea shot up around him. Nearly blacking out whatever form of light was illuminating this place.

He screamed as he tried to rise out of this pit, hoping to either make the jump or escape this monster.

As he nearly finished the exercise, he swore that he could see his friend Diane in the mass. Her face screaming for him as his vision finally ended.

He awoke back in his body, it felt unnatural and heavy. His eyelids felt like steel weights and that his limbs were being held down by an unnatural gravity. The smell of the brazier began to creep into his nose and the acrid aroma was powerful enough to jolt him upright. Though he became dizzy and nauseous for a moment.

Forcing himself to his feet, and reaching for his glasses. He was not ready for what was apparently waiting his return.

Each and every one of his colleagues dead. The heads were removed from their bodies. Blood covered the entire floor and around the ritual circle and seemed to stop at its edges.

This time he did vomit.

Clearing his mouth, he looked around once more. Something was wrong...not just his friends being dead and decapitated. But...where were their heads? Where had their heads gone? Why were their heads gone? What made any of this happen at all?!

His mind to began to race with panic and fear, nothing about this made sense. The book said that this was a safe method. No risks, no chance of danger.

Nothing about that grotesque rotted dying sea. Nothing about people dying!

Had something gone wrong? Well obviously, he thought.

He then noticed something else very wrong with the scene. There were 6 bodies but 7 people were there to observe the ritual. Who was missing?

Given that no one agreed to Anthony’s suggestion of matching robes, everyone wore their own clothes. It quicky became clear that Anthony was the missing body.

“Good God!” Edward thought, “What kind of horror is Anthony going through if he survived this slaughter? How did he survive? Kidnapped? Drug off to be killed somewhere else? But why?”

He began to move for the door when he saw an envelope on a table nearby. On it was Edward’s name written in Anthony’s hand.

“The note!” He said, “He must have placed it on the table just before beginning the ritual.”

Edward walked over to the table and opened the letter. Inside it was written;

“Edward, congratulations on your success. The ritual works! The Hydra has seen you, the Hydra has spared you as she does for all who grant her passage.The Collective knows you now. We will be watching.”

Edward began to feel the panic rise in his chest. Anthony had been with the Collective the whole time. Had arranged this entire experiment with him. And now he realized who was responsible for the death of his friends.

Anger and sorrow rose up in his gut, fighting for dominance as he wanted to scream and sob.

What was he to do now? Go to the Police? “Hi officer, my friends and I performed an ancient ritual that allowed me to teleport my mind into my house and then to an ocean of decayed flesh and disembodied heads. Then when I got back everyone but the two of us were dead!”

It was exactly as insane as it sounded and at best he would be locked away in the psychiatric facility for the rest of life. If they believed him.

He needed to get home, get out of these blood stained clothes and figure out what to do. It wouldn't be long before everyone involved would be missed. They were all fairly known to the University in some capacity.

On his way home he couldn't help to think back about that sea...that awful ocean of death and pain. What was that place? What did Anthony mean by The Hydra has seen you? Has let you let live? Obviously he knew what would happen. But the lack of explanation gave him just as much anxiety as this entire event.

It was late when he got home, and he quickly made his way inside. He went straight into the kitchen, where the statue remained. Except now he could touch it. He picked up the object and began to examine it. If Anthony had gone through this much trouble to set up the event, surely this piece was no accidental pick. Turning over the statue he saw a strange symbol etched into the bottom.

A septagonal star, with an unusual glyph in the center. In between each of the arms of the star were odd symbols and glyphs that Edward could not wholly understand. Some he had seen while looking through the journal of Professor Derleth, others were unknown.

Just as Edward was beginning to calm himself, deep thought would do that to him, he heard coming outside the sounds of police sirens. Setting down the statue he went to the window and through his thin curtains could see the blazing and flashing lights of multiple police cars outside his home. The sounds of men and women scrambling orders and slamming car doors confused him for a moment.

“What are they doing here?” Edward began to wonder...but had little time before reality crashed into him.

His front door suddenly pounded so hard that Edward nearly screamed.

“This is the police! Edward Ploch! Come out with your hands up! You have 10 seconds to comply or we will force our way in! 10..9...8...7”

Edward ran for the back door through the kitchen, he couldn't see anyone through the window and so he burst out the door, just as a pair of police officers were rounding the corner. At the same time his front door began to buckle from the beatings of the officers attempting to enter.

“Halt! You’re under arrest!” One of them shouted, as they drew a line on Edward with their pistols.

Edward had no intention of following their order, he ran. Quickly scaling the fence with the help of his days in the athletics club of the university. The officers were not far behind and he could hear them shouting through their radios to the waiting officers outside.

He had leapt into the yard of Mrs Ravis, a retired professor of Art History, and nearly stumbled into her pool. The fence and hedgerow behind him started to shake as the officers began to climb. He remembered that she was out of town to visit her husband in Scotland, who was on some archaeological site.

“Sorry Mrs Ravis,” he thought to himself as he ran for her door and flung a small deck chair through the glass door. THe house was fairly small, the Ravis’ preferred this as they both spent little time here, but both being tenured professors had the privilege of a home on the campus. The advantage being that Edward quickly made his way to the front door and flung it open. But as he was going to continue he had a thought come to him. So he ran into the den, thinking that if they find the front door open they will assume he left the home. Barely hidden by the wall around the doorway, he heard the police scramble into the house and discover the front door.

“Search the block! We weren’t that far behind him!” An older gruff voice barked and Edward heard the officers run through the door.

His heart bellowed in his ears so loudly he was afraid that alone would give him away. He heard someone walking up the stairs and starting to search the rooms. He was sure he was going to be caught now.

“Of course they left someone to check the house!” he thought. He could hear them coming down the stairs, each step slow and careful. Only the boots softly thudding against the hardwood gave them away. Edward reached for a bust on the bookshelf and readied himself when the officer entered.

As the officer’s pistol began to peek past the wall where Edward hid, the officer’s radio crackled, “All officers! Suspect sighted by Officer Stinson at the corner of Maple and Oak. Backup requested!” The officer paused for the call and hurriedly left. Maple and Oak was only 2 blocks away and unfortunately was probably some insomniac student trying to clear their head.

Edward then realized he had been holding his breath for quite some time and let out a labored gasp. He needed to find a way out and fast.

He started looking through the desk in the room and quickly discovered a set of car keys.

“Accused murderer and actual car thief all in one night!” He thought angrily to himself, but he took them and quietly made his way to the garage. There he found Mr. Ravis’ Jaguar, he couldn't recall what specific model or anything, but he knew that this would be the final nail in the coffin for his relationship with The Ravis family.

He opened the garage door by hand, hoping this would make less noise and started the car. Quickly driving off in the opposite direction of where the officers had seen the soon to be unfortunate recipient of some very agitated police officers.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I hope you have enjoyed this entry of my journey into the Lovecraftian Mythos. If you have not yet read, On the Sending out of the Soul, I enocurage you to do so as these are connected pieces.

If you like what you've read, please leave a like and help me grow as an independent author by leaving a tip!

Join the collective and we shall drown the world in madness!

Ah'hri ya llll ahog lloigshogg hup soth