Two weeks ago Mr Andrew O’Vel died of a heart-attack. He was buried soon after in his town’s churchyard. Twelve days later Mr O’Vel’s relatives issued orders for the body to be exhumed and transported to their private cemetery. However, during transit an accident caused Mr O’Vel’s coffin to break open. To the driver’s horror the corpse was missing its head!
The resulting investigation reveals that Mr O’Vel’s grave was not the only one to have been desecrated. A total of thirty-seven decapitated bodies have been uncovered, all having been buried during the last two years. The undertaker claims that the bodies were intact when they were placed within their caskets, and this is confirmed by the parish minister.
Police believe that the heads were severed after their burial, but can offer no motive for the brutal and inhumane acts.
Possibilities
1 For the last two years the churchyard has regularly received unwelcome nocturnal visitors. On each occasion the four intruders - equipped with spades, knives and chains - have unearthed a coffin, dragged it free of its resting place and cleft the head free of the unresisting corpse.
Those responsible believe that their work will eventually benefit mankind. They are scientists who - having mastered the reanimation of the body (with the help of the notes of Dr Herbert West) - now seek to reanimate the brain. Their foul experiments are conducted in a small laboratory located in the basement of their accommodation.
2 From an early age no-one understood James Miller, but this was only natural since he didn’t understand himself. At the age of seven he was placed into a rehabilitation institution. He remained there for twenty-two years, taking no interest in the world around him.
Then, three years ago, he received his first visitor – a tall, lean, black-skinned man. The two talked for many hours and the stranger finally left upon the insistence of the asylum’s senior director, but not before promising James that he would return.
James in the meantime, began to show an unprecedented change in his attitude. The following week at exactly the same time, the black man again visited. This continued for many months during which time James’ condition showed obvious signs of improvement. Finally he was considered fit to rejoin society and discharged. The evening before James was due to leave, the Black man visited one final time. The staff were surprised that he only stayed for five minutes; just long enough, he claimed, to offer a “parting gift”.
The following day James went to live in a small town and examined his gift - a fine parchment scroll. The scroll contained instructions for a ritual which allows the caster to “transcend his mortal form”. In order for the spell to be successful the caster must have ingested a total of forty human brains.
Over the last two years, James has dug up thirty-seven corpses, removed the head and - in the comfort of his own home - digested the brain. He only needs to consume three more brains before the metamorphosis occurs. If he succeeds a Hunting Horror bursts from the now-useless human shell; only then will James Miller become a true servant of Nyarlathotep.
3 The police are mistaken; the bodies had already been beheaded prior to their burial. Reverend Matthew Thompson is responsible. Almost two years ago he received a visit from a group of Mi-Go who requested his aid to help obtain dead human brain-tissue for experimental surgery. He refused.
The Mi-Go retaliated by connecting him to a machine that planted false experiences into his mind - experiences that he believed had really occurred. Consequently, the reverend now remembers receiving a divine visitation telling him to aid the Mi-Go. The Mi-Go have retained their control by implanting the experience of further visitations whenever his resolve weakened.
The reverend was unnerved by the recent discovery, and subsequent investigation, of the decollated corpses. He pleaded with the Mi-Go to cease their relentless demands, at least until the current investigation was closed. They refused. The reverend is now suspicious and has begun to doubt the nature of his “visitations”. The Mi-Go are aware that they can no longer rely on him and the next beheaded corpse may be wearing a clergyman’s habit.
© Hadley Connor
The resulting investigation reveals that Mr O’Vel’s grave was not the only one to have been desecrated. A total of thirty-seven decapitated bodies have been uncovered, all having been buried during the last two years. The undertaker claims that the bodies were intact when they were placed within their caskets, and this is confirmed by the parish minister.
Police believe that the heads were severed after their burial, but can offer no motive for the brutal and inhumane acts.
Possibilities
1 For the last two years the churchyard has regularly received unwelcome nocturnal visitors. On each occasion the four intruders - equipped with spades, knives and chains - have unearthed a coffin, dragged it free of its resting place and cleft the head free of the unresisting corpse.
Those responsible believe that their work will eventually benefit mankind. They are scientists who - having mastered the reanimation of the body (with the help of the notes of Dr Herbert West) - now seek to reanimate the brain. Their foul experiments are conducted in a small laboratory located in the basement of their accommodation.
2 From an early age no-one understood James Miller, but this was only natural since he didn’t understand himself. At the age of seven he was placed into a rehabilitation institution. He remained there for twenty-two years, taking no interest in the world around him.
Then, three years ago, he received his first visitor – a tall, lean, black-skinned man. The two talked for many hours and the stranger finally left upon the insistence of the asylum’s senior director, but not before promising James that he would return.
James in the meantime, began to show an unprecedented change in his attitude. The following week at exactly the same time, the black man again visited. This continued for many months during which time James’ condition showed obvious signs of improvement. Finally he was considered fit to rejoin society and discharged. The evening before James was due to leave, the Black man visited one final time. The staff were surprised that he only stayed for five minutes; just long enough, he claimed, to offer a “parting gift”.
The following day James went to live in a small town and examined his gift - a fine parchment scroll. The scroll contained instructions for a ritual which allows the caster to “transcend his mortal form”. In order for the spell to be successful the caster must have ingested a total of forty human brains.
Over the last two years, James has dug up thirty-seven corpses, removed the head and - in the comfort of his own home - digested the brain. He only needs to consume three more brains before the metamorphosis occurs. If he succeeds a Hunting Horror bursts from the now-useless human shell; only then will James Miller become a true servant of Nyarlathotep.
3 The police are mistaken; the bodies had already been beheaded prior to their burial. Reverend Matthew Thompson is responsible. Almost two years ago he received a visit from a group of Mi-Go who requested his aid to help obtain dead human brain-tissue for experimental surgery. He refused.
The Mi-Go retaliated by connecting him to a machine that planted false experiences into his mind - experiences that he believed had really occurred. Consequently, the reverend now remembers receiving a divine visitation telling him to aid the Mi-Go. The Mi-Go have retained their control by implanting the experience of further visitations whenever his resolve weakened.
The reverend was unnerved by the recent discovery, and subsequent investigation, of the decollated corpses. He pleaded with the Mi-Go to cease their relentless demands, at least until the current investigation was closed. They refused. The reverend is now suspicious and has begun to doubt the nature of his “visitations”. The Mi-Go are aware that they can no longer rely on him and the next beheaded corpse may be wearing a clergyman’s habit.
© Hadley Connor
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