These Great Old Ones, Castro continued, were not composed altogether of flesh and blood. They had shape—for did not this star-fashioned image prove it?—but that shape was not made of matter. When the stars were right, They could plunge from world to world through the sky; but when the stars were wrong, They could not live. But although They no longer lived, They would never really die. They all lay in stone houses in Their great city of R’lyeh, preserved by the spells of mighty Cthulhu for a glorious resurrection when the stars and the earth might once more be ready for Them. But at that time some force from outside must serve to liberate Their bodies. The spells that preserved Them intact likewise prevented Them from making an initial move, and They could only lie awake in the dark and think whilst uncounted millions of years rolled by. They knew all that was occurring in the universe, for Their mode of speech was transmitted thought. Even now They talked in Their tombs. When, after infinities of chaos, the first men came, the Great Old Ones spoke to the sensitive among them by molding their dreams; for only thus could Their language reach the fleshly minds of mammals.

Excerpt: Weird Tales/Volume 11/Issue 2/The Call of Cthulhu

By HPL

Gideon appeared in another closet like room, similar to the one he had just vacated. The markings were inextinguishable to him, it could be the same room. He opened the door and stepped out into an unfamiliar area, a place of opulent beauty, rather than the headmasters more practical office. Well this is definitely not the same room, he thought. He was in a large room full of luxurious seating. The chairs and benches were padded, lined with decorative ruffles, along with other materials added for fine detail. While there were many colors throughout the room, shades of blue dominated the landscape. There wasn’t anyone to be seen. He was alone. Where am I, or better yet, where is everyone else? There were banners hanging on the walls, dark blue banners with white trim. This must be the Guild House of the Delvers then? Where is everyone? He walked around the room, looking at a level of luxury he’d never imagined existed until today. Then he saw her, or more accurately a painting. Rosalind Dunwich “The Malevolent Bard”. She was much younger in the painting, but it was definitely her. You don’t forget the face of someone that blasts you through a wall.

A door opened to his back and a cacophony of voices rushed into the room. Gideon spun to face the noise. The double doors entering the hall were open. There was a small mob of students entering into the room. In the center of the mob was Riley, Maximus, and Hank. The older students were talking excitedly about the trials earlier, finally having access to someone that participated. The three boys saw Gideon standing there alone in the grand hall and living quarters. “Gideon!” they said in unison.

“Riley, Hank, and Maximus. You all got selected by the same guild? That is amazing.” He looked at Maximus, “I heard you got eaten? That’s something you don’t experience everyday. So what was that like.” Several members of the Delvers slapped Maximus on the shoulders or back. The playful laughing and ribbing warmed Gideon’s heart. He and his friends had found a home at the academy together.

Riley walked up from behind Maximus and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I told you, you’d never live that one down. It’s a fact, you might have been better off dying right there.” Riley joked.

Hank had been quiet up until that point. He interjected into the conversation, defending his friend. “Don’t give him such a hard time, he has been through a lot. First the whole Allary thing and now he was rejected by a giant frog. There are some harsh critics out there, but up until that moment, I would’ve swore that thing would eat anyone.”

At this gentle ribbing, Primrose came to mind, she wasn’t here. I thought for sure she would be one of the Delvers. I hope they didn’t do anything drastic. With what happened during the entrance trial, surely wouldn’t get her kicked out. His thoughts raced from one bad scenario to another.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

An upperclassmen approached Gideon, breaking him from his inner turmoil. He held out his hand, Gideon took it and shook. The boy had short hair of a vibrant red that was well kept and trimmed. His smile was contagious. The upperclassmen exuded charisma. “Silas Osmond.” He said. “My Delving group will be mentoring the two first year groups. I hear you needed to visit the headmasters office already, that’s got to be a record. You represented the house well I assume?”

One of the upperclassmen yelled from the back, “He’s Dagon’s pet already!” Another voice followed this with, ”Way to take one for the team.”

The boy glared at the disruptive students in the back. “Enough of that,” Silas said. “We’re glad to have you aboard. Although we lost the points that you had earned prior to the auction. Rumor has it you were going to The Ronin. Dagon stepped in and made a last minute change. He traded the the pick of their choice from the Delvers to the Ronin, but also allowed them to keep the merit points you had earned. I bet old Hemlock was irate.”

The first thing that crossed his mind when he heard this was Primrose. Oh no! I got Primrose traded to the Ronin. They took her when they were forced into a trade. Gideon took a breath to steady himself. Gideon looked to Silas, “Great, just what I need. A professor angry with me before we have the first class.”

Silas stepped back,” Excuse me for a moment Gideon.” He cleared his throat, “Everyone could you please find a seat. We have a few things to go over, then we’ll make introductions and get our first years settled in. First years, please sit here in the front.”

The new Delvers all took seats around the community hall. Gideon found a chair with the rest of the first years and waited for Silas to continue. It was in that moment that Gideon remembered six. There were to be six first years. Who were the other two. He looked around the room and didn’t recognize anyone. I should have paid closer attention at the carriages before the trial. I guess they’ll tell us and I’ll meet the other two along with everyone else. At least Blake isn’t here.

The doors to the House of the Delvers open again, four more students came through the double doors two by two. A darker skinned girl with a long braid running down her back continued forward, a tiny girl at her side. The other girl was ghost white with hair of flame. She was so small that Gideon almost mistook her for a child. “Elli, nice of you to join us.” Silas said.

“I had to powder my nose,” she said with obvious sarcasm. We had a few things to take care of. And a little surprise.” She gave him a little wink.

Behind them came Gage. She had cleaned up a bit since Gideon had seen her last. She really is pretty. Funny how I didn’t notice when I was dying. After all the excitement, Gideon had forgotten she was part of this house. She was really nice, Oh… His brain shut off for a brief moment. There she walked, Primrose was at Gage’s side, a smile on her face. She saw him the same time he saw her. “Gideon!” She ran across the room and hugged him. Which became a little awkward, because he hadn’t gotten up. She was now almost sitting in his lap while the rest of the room watched. “Oh sorry,” she said as she climbed out of his lap. “I guess I got a little excited. I was just surprised. I heard rumors you were going to The Ronin.” Gideon saw Maximus’s face across the room. He doesn’t look very happy with me right now.

At that moment, the doors swung open a third time and another figure entered the room. She spoke to everyone as she strode with a purpose. “He was on his way to living a boring life as a solo adventurer and guard, but I put a stop to that.” Rosalind Dunwich, The Malevolent Bard, Head of the Delvers House had come to the first years’ welcoming. Gideon’s body began to hurt in response to the short memory he had of her. The brief seconds he saw her during the entrance trial didn’t do justice to her presence. The painting of the younger woman looked magnificent, but it presented her as a child. The woman that took stage at the front of the room dominated everyone in sight. I want to be like her. I want that power, that presence, that confidence. I want to know I am the best in the room and everyone is safe because of me. He knew he was a long way from that moment. He sat back in his chair to hear what this woman had to say.

“Silas, I apologize for the intrusion. I wouldn’t typically interfere with these ceremonies, I know how important tradition is, so I’ll keep it brief. I’d like to address the rumors before they get out of control. Yes, it was our first selection that was taken from us and given to The Ronin as compensation for Gideon. This is a fact. The circumstances concerning this situation will not be discussed.” She said flatly, leaving no room for argument. “The other rumor that I’d like to address is Primrose and her expulsion from the Academy.”