The LeMonte Object

The curious case of Don LeMonte has baffled scientists for decades. Brogan Paul Johnson was lucky enough to gain access to the case archives, including the mysterious LeMonte Object itself.

After a minor surgery to remove the inclusion they discovered a small object that was just under three inches in length and that appeared to contain some sort of mercury type liquid. The liquid seemed to "bubble" when in close proximity to Mr. LeMonte. Immediately after the surgery LeMonte thanked the doctors and told them he could no more hear the voice of Simon from behind his eyes. Within a few weeks LeMonte was deemed Cured and released to the public to live a normal life. The LeMonte object is still unexplained and sits in the institutes possession for medical and scientific study. Although it remains within an incorruptible sealed container the LeMonte object is continually deteriorating at a rapid rate, more quickly than they can try and understand it. The case of Don LeMonte is still unsolved today.

Gnome Trail Ration

Wats6831 returns with another collection of edible props for his tabletop fantasy game. This time he tackles gnomes, serving up a variety of trail foods:

This ration was really fun to make but seriously disgusting. The blood sausage tasted like bloody spicy guts. The smelt were surprisingly good, but kinda underwhelming in flavor. Bread was awesome, like a shortbread cookie but soft and savory. Quail eggs were...questionable...we found them on the floor at a sketchy asian market. Not my thing seriously. This was by far the most fun ration but the least edible. I think we'll just remake the elven one again. There really aren't any words for how foul that blood sausage was. Even the cheese was gross, hot spicy and a nasty aftertaste.

I'm not as enamored of this iteration as I was of his earlier efforts.  Part of the problem is the lack of a readily identifiable gnomish cultural identity.  To good or bad effect, Tolkien provided the template for races like dwarves, elves, and orcs.  When I hear "gnome" I think of lawn ornaments.

You'll find the Reddit discussion of this trail meal over here.  It includes links to all the previous racial rations.

Tibetan Dragon Tooth

This tooth from a Tibetan Mountain Drake comes to us from artist Dayne Hodson.  The presentation is very well done.

Update:  Read the comment from Markus for some interesting information about actual reptile teeth.

Shelter from the Storm

I had hoped that the politicization of everything would end last November, but, sadly, such is not the case.  For reasons I frankly don't understand a large percentage of the population feels a deep and abiding need to not only share their political opinions, but endlesssly, mercilessly, beat you over the head with them.  That's why I've pretty much given up on any kind of social media.

On the bright side, that's not an issue here.  I don't waste your time with my goofy political beliefs, and never will.  It's a violation of basic politeness.  This post from 2011 lays out the reasons why. 

I was recently approached by a reader to donate a few items to one of those "Art for Insert Cause Here" type events.* When I politely declined, since it was for a political cause I don't happen to support, I found myself being subjected to one of the most hateful, vituperative emails I've ever had the displeasure to read. What made it even more painful is that it was from someone I've corresponded with on a pretty regular basis in connection with propmaking and Lovecraft scholarship.

Things like that are why I never, ever bring up the subject of politics here.

I understand people are passionate about issues they care about. I'm very politically active and regularly contribute to causes and candidates I support. If you're so inclined you could probably dig up my history of donations, although I try to keep them all below the $200 Federal reporting threshold for privacy reasons. I love discussing politics, and there are a few regular readers with diametrically opposing views to mine that I've exchanged polite emails with on various subjects.

That said, I also think those kind of discussions don't have to be interjected into every single facet of life. There are a few websites I used to frequent on a daily basis that are now unreadable because they've become infested with true-believers. There is no shortage of sites devoted entirely to political discussion, but for reasons that escape me the most die-hard tribalists feel the need to not only slurp up the kool aid themselves, but relentlessly press anyone passing by to take a deep drink from the punchbowl.

There's an old tradition that gentlefolk refrain from discussing politics and religion in polite company. I think that's a pretty good rule to live by.**

*As an aside, what self-respecting political cause would want to have anything to do with my work? As entertaining as I, and by extension you, might find these things they're not exactly mainstream. Half rotted parasitic worms? Mummified body parts? Murderous cult fetishes? Sweet fancy Moses, I'm an attack ad just waiting to happen.

** At least until the end times. That's when I'll merrily try to convert you all to my cultish minions. If I'm lucky I'll be able to enjoy some some truly epic drunken debauchery featuring gallons of absinthe and dozens of scantily-clad goth chicks before the Dark Lord devours my soul. Oh, and I want to work an opium den in there somewhere. Come to think of it, I really just want to live like a pulp-era villain when the end of days rolls around. A sentimental traditionalist, that's me.

The Tome of Gondor

Alex Libris returns to our pages with this beautiful tome bearing the White Tree of Gondor from "The Lord of the Rings". It features 700 pages and a hand-bound leather cover.

"Achtung! Cthulhu" Cosplay

I've featured a few Lovecraftian cosplays over the years, but I think this is the first one directly based on a tabletop RPG.  Bolvasmidr was inspired to recreate the female investigator featured on the cover of the "Achtung! Cthulhu" investigators guide for a Mythos escape room event. 

Ebony Daggers

These beautiful recreations of Skyrim's ebony dagger come to us from Arsynal Props.  The master was carved from wood and then detailed with modeling paste.