Beninside Cthulhu Idol

Thai artist Beninside brings us their Cthulhu idol, featuring a paint job from Paneaw Colour.  It's always nice to see a take incorporating the multiple eyes of Lovecraft's original sketch.

 

 

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Paper Props

Over on Reddit, SkipperShinema has posted a great selection of paper props from the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle video game.  You can tell how much the developers loved Indy by the sheer amount of faux ephemera they created for the project.

 

 

Grimoire of the Eye

Mille Cuirs brings us the Grimoire of the Eye, a handcrafted leather tome featuring custom embossments and an inset glass eye in the cover.

 

 

Shaman's Head Dress

Brutal Workshop brings us this incredible shaman's head dress.  The way they create layer after layer of texture really sets their work apart.

 

 

Cthulhu Fhtagn! Landron Edition.

Landron Artifacts returns to our pages with this very nice Cthulhu idol.  The stone texture is really well done. 

 

Making a Glowing Skull Lantern

Skill Tree has a detailed tutorial on crafting a glowing skull lantern.  The materials are easy to acquire and it doesn't require any wiring at all.  A couple of hours work and you'll have a great prop for your gaming room or LARP event.

 

 

Before and After

Over on Reddit, the Muff1nKing posted a look at the clue board he created for his run of the Call of Cthulhu scenario "Tatters of the King".  The first photo is from the second session of the campaign, while the second comes from the tenth.  It features some great props and handouts, but it should go without saying the images contain significant spoilers.  

Clueboards are a fantastic tool for both Keepers and their players.  They allow everyone to keep track of their progress, and are an ideal way for players to get into the groove again at the start of a new session.  They're also a good reminder for the Keeper of a journaling campaign what handouts he'll need multiple copies of for the players. 

 

D&D Themed Gaming Room

This is the very best kind of gamer pr0n.  Andrew Havlicek brings us this look at "The Storm's Respite", his recently completed Dungeons and Dragons gaming room. It's pretty darn impressive.

 

Casper

Spooky Jack returns to our pages with "Casper", a wonderfully aged fetal skull specimen. 

 

 

Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Props

I absolutely love discovering obscure props created by passionate fans.  This thread over on the Replica Prop Forum is a prime example.  Like all right-thinking people, Lukeiswho is a huge fan of the Granada Television Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett.  Over the years he's created an impressive collection of props based on those used in the show, recreating them in excruciating detail.  You really need to click through to appreciate the level of dedication on display.  

 

Mummified Fairy

This outstanding mummified fairy sculpt comes to us from artist Hector Lim Choon Hoong.

 

 

Yeray Llinares Cthulhu Idol

The talented Yeray Llinares returns to our pages with this excellent Cthulhu idol.   

Update:  An anonymous commenter has accused Mr. Llinares of plagiarizing the work of fellow Mythos artist Yoneyama Keisuke.  As evidence, they provided a link to his Cthulhu sculpt posted on Instagram back in 2018.  I've posted the best side-by-side comparison I can manage below.  Just click through on the link to see the comparison in higher resolution.   I've made Mr. Llinares aware of the accusation on his own Instagram post.

 

Update II:  Mr. Llinares contacted me directly and explained he created the sculpt years ago using a reference photo from Pinterest.  He's pulled the original post and followed up with an acknowledgement he was inspired by Mr. Keisuke's work. 

 

 

Great Cthulhu

Philadelphia artist Jason Leach brings us this nicely done Cthulhu plaque. 

 

Spates Catalog of Nameless Horrors

"T. Watson Spates published an annual periodical, starting in early 1901. It was billed as a compendium of nameless horrors and sensationalized the occult. Spates often chose the most fantastic lore he could find. It found popularity with both students of the occult and those who simply loved reading fiction. It was said to be a favorite of Harry Houdini and H.P. Lovecraft. The periodicals were collected into a compilation titled "Spates Catalog". Spates ended the periodical in 1935 and retired a wealthy man."

That description of "Spates Catalog of Nameless Horrors" comes from the Ghostbuster's Wiki.  The book itself was only mentioned in passing in the original movie, but had significantly more backstory added in the IDW Ghostbusters comics.  Now the legendary Mignoli Props has produced a reproduction version, and it's pretty incredible.  The prop runs to 350 pages and is filled with dozens of articles, mixing real-world history, haunted locations, supernatural events, and quite a few easter eggs based on other media properties.  Ghostbusters News has a nice, in-depth look that will make it an instant buy for many.

Troll Witch

"The Troll Witch was inspired by the fantastic Brian Froud’s front cover illustration from the book ‘Trolls’ by Brian and Wendy Froud. We created her with the blessing and guidance of the Froud’s and she stands as a homage to Brian’s work.  Photo taken in Brian & Wendy’s garden, where the Troll Witch feels very much at home."

I don't think I've ever seen a better recreation of Froud's aesthetic than this figure from Elfenwild.  He was a huge influence on those of us that grew up back in the 70s and 80s.  To this day his design work for the Dark Crystal defines my mental image of what magic circles should look like.

 

Great Cthulhu

I adore this wonderful crocheted Cthulhu from The Yarning Portal.  What makes it particularly notable is that H.P. Lovecraft himself was an avid knitter.  In "A Means to Freedom: The Letters of H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard" there's a long series of letters describing their mutual love of yarn creations.  Sadly, the crocheted versions of Conan and Cthulhu they mention have never been found.

 

Great Cthulhu

This fantastic Cthulhu bust comes to us from Duncan Shadow.  Click through to the full size image and you can get a real appreciation for the phenomenal texture work. 

 

Curse of Strahd Props

Wolfspirit4W brings us this collection of physical props and ephemera for their run of the "Curse of Strahd" campaign for Dungeons and Dragons.  There are few things more effective than running a high-touch version of an already epic adventure series.  If you're planning something similar, the one suggestion I would make is producing enough copies of every paper prop that each player can have their own.  That allows them to do a running journal of the adventure with tons of inserts, akin to the grail diary from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  That would be an amazing keepsake.

 

 

Nyarlathotep

This fantastic digital sculpt of Nyarlathotep comes to us from artist Alex Carratala.  Click through for a full gallery and 360 degree view.  It was directly inspired by Nyarlathotep's sonnet in Lovecraft's "The Fungi from Yuggoth". 

 

 

Infected Fae

This delightfully icky fungally infected fairy specimen comes to us from the talented Umbrateca.  The powdery, threadlike hyphae are a fantastic detail.

 

 

Polynesian Cthulhu Idol

The Monkey Rodeo returns to our pages after a long absence with this Polynesian-themed Cthulhu idol.  I love the sculpt, but it really needs a wash to bring out the details like the inscription along the base.

 

 

Yoneyama Cthulhu Idol

"c.godzilla" has posted some great pictures of this outstanding Cthulhu idol, originally sculpted by the talented Keisuke Yoneyama.

 

 

And My Axe!

This impressive barbarian warlord axe comes to us from Artdarme Workshop.  It's wild to me that LARP safe weapons like this are par for the course these days. 

 

1920s Prop Money

I knew Prop Movie Money was the go-to site for fake United States currency, but I assumed it was all modern bills.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered they also have a complete selection of cash from the 1920s.  Just the thing for classic-era Mythos and pulp gaming.  At $24.99 for 100 bills it's probably cheaper to buy from them than print your own.

While it's not a huge issue, I don't think their bills are accurately sized.  Up until 1929, the Treasury, National Banks, and Federal Reserve issued "large format" notes measuring 7.37 inches by 3.12 inches.  After that, they used our modern measurements of 6.14 by 2.61 inches. 

I was also surprised to see Prop Movie Money had $2 bills in their 1920s collection.  Turns out they were a thing in 1917 and 1918 before returning for a run in 1928.  After that they wouldn't return until 1953. 

 

 

Phyrexian Mask

Grumbly Art brings us this creeptastic mask inspired by the Phyrexians from Magic: The Gathering.

 

 

Cthulhu Architect Handout Generator

I want to give a ringing endorsement of the Cthulhu Architect Handout site.  It's one of the most practical, high-quality, and user-friendly tools available for game masters looking to up their game.  Best of all, it's absolutely free.

Over 250 templates are available, the vast majority tailored to classic-era scenarios.  The site allows you to generate authentic-looking 1920s documents in minutes, including standbys like telegrams, newspaper clippings, police reports, and handwritten notes.  The interface is easy to use and allows you to customize every bit of text with a variety of typography and layout choices.  You can even add "bloodstains" or coffee rings for that extra touch of wear.  When you're done customizing your document they're easy to export for printing or digital use. 

 

The focus is on period paperwork, but you'll also find a variety of modern templates.  That includes contemporary drivers licenses, computer screens, and CCTV overlays.  Just the thing if you're running a modern-era Mythos game like Delta Green.

 

While the site offers a wealth of functionality for free, the premium "Cultist" option provides more storage space, early access to new templates, and direct export to FoundryVTT.  It's clear that this site was built by someone who loves the hobby. The interface is clean, the updates are frequent, and it's the perfect tool for game masters running a high-touch, handout heavy game.

 

Hand of Glory

The Hand of Glory is a foul bit of black magic that allows thieves to open all doors and travel undetected.  It was first documented in the Petit Albert in the 18th century.

"Take the right or left hand of a felon who is hanging from a gibbet beside a highway; wrap it in part of a funeral pall and so wrapped squeeze it well. Then put it into an earthenware vessel with zimat, nitre, salt and long peppers, the whole well powdered. Leave it in this vessel for a fortnight, then take it out and expose it to full sunlight during the dog-days until it becomes quite dry. If the sun is not strong enough put it in an oven with fern and vervain. Next make a kind of candle from the fat of a gibbeted felon, virgin wax, sesame, and ponie, and use the Hand of Glory as a candlestick to hold this candle when lighted, and then those in every place into which you go with this baneful instrument shall remain motionless."

This particular specimen was acquired by Dan Baines, who is no stranger to these pages. 

 

Dracula Pendant

This nicely done "Dracula Pendant" comes to us from Russian artist Valeriya Belova.  Wonderful craftsmanship.  Click through for a gallery of shots, including a well produced video.

 

 

Vintage Ocean Liner Passage Paperwork

The Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives hosts a fantastic collection of vintage ephemera, much of it aimed at geneological research.  It includes an extensive repository of classic-era ocean liner travel documents that would make ideal handouts for Call of Cthulhu and pulp games in the 1930s.  A passage contract receipt is just about the perfect "show, don't tell" clue for figuring out where someone came from or was planning to travel to.

 

 

Tiki Cthulhu

I normally loathe the whole "tiki Cthulhu" thing, but this... this I like.  The stylized Cthulhu idol comes to us from Tikiheadz, who specializes in carving tiki idols from concrete.  I like how it blends the forms of actual, historic tikis and the traditional Cthulhu depiction.  Most polynesian Mythos takes lean far too much into the kitschy Trader Vic's aesthetic, and I say that as someone who loves the cheesiness of 50s era "South Seas" theming. 

 

Dhingion Niginair Font

Looking for an interesting font for your arcane tome or spell scroll?  Check out Dhingion Niginair from Pieter Rottiers.  He's a prolific worldbuilder and conlang artist who has produced a number of languages and scripts for his fantasy world of Dardaniell.  If you're really into full immersion, click through on the link to download the font and take advantage of phonetic pronunciations provided to build a complete document.