Beyond the Mountains of Madness

Dyer spoke at great length of the hideous display of mutilations and dissections discovered around Lake’s camp and in the hanger: The crowning abnormality, of course, was the condition of the bodies - men and dogs alike. They had all been in some terrible kind of conflict and were torn and mangled in fiendish and altogether inexplicable ways. Some were incised and subtracted from in the most curious, cold-blooded, and inhuman fashion. As by a careful butcher. Evidence of curious alien fumbling and experimentation around the planes and all other mechanical devices both at the camp and at the boring. The ONLY possible conclusion: Out of the 14-specimen drug into camp, 8 ‘old ones’ were hibernating. But awaken to see their kind laid upon the table and dissected. Retaliation, retribution, or just scientific interest on their part considering they probably hibernated for eons and thus were unfamiliar with this time and inhabitants. With their great strength they strangled the dogs and...

1 Dec : Acacia had Professor Moore by the short-hairs, “This IS an international site. I thought we could use their help and supplies.” Some might call it an awkward standoff leaving Moore to politely accept the German  Barsmeier-Falken Expedition ’s surprise arrival. He accepted the invite of Dr. Meyer and Dr. Uhr to join them in conference. With Miss Lexington, of course. Leaving the trio to ponder their situation. “I’m sure Moore will give us our marching orders. Till then, we should be polite but observant.” Which was Oskar’s intent when he helped unload one of the Junker planes. Wilbur observant and not missing the slip-of-the-tongue “exploit versus explore” comment. And the southern-gentleman Robert taking note of those members who looked to be scientists. Which left a lot of ‘workers’ tasked with unloading the planes. 7am : As predicted, Moore called upon the trio, “Come, please sit with us and let me introduce Dr. Meyer and Dr. Uhr. We have worked out an alternate work cy...

29 Nov : “Dr. Cope!” Oskar and Wilbur were elated to see Robert step off the last plane along with the rest of the Lexington team. “Man, do we have a lot to fill you in on. But first, I think we could use your Paleontology skills to examine our specimen find. Lake’s radio broadcast and Dyer’s notes don’t do it justice. Steel yourself for what you are about to see.” After suiting up to enter the examination tent per Dr. Orendorf’s biohazard concerns, the southern scientist readied himself. [Sanity-extreme, Biology-extreme] His cigar continued a steady trail of rising smoke, “Beyond fascinating. Too advanced for the timeframe of the Comanchian or Archaean stratum in which it was discovered. At least a thousand-million years old.” Dr. Cope continued his analysis, “These tentacles end in rows of teeth. Reminds me of an octopus and the hook-shaped teeth on the suckers along its tentacles. These tentacles are stronger than a man’s arm. And look at its 5-lobed brain…highly intelligent. How ...

Jeff/Dr. Robert Cope was absent 28 Nov : Oskar tried to shake the image of Lake’s specimen, but it was forever seared into his retina and brain. “I remember Lake’s radio broadcasts during his 1931 expedition, but his words don’t do justice to that…that…thing! I was expecting more of a prehistoric penguin. I still think spores, or a biohazard was released when Lake dissected the thing. Maybe that’s why Danforth and Gedney went crazy. We best take precautions; setup a 2 nd containment tent for its examination.” Wilbur on the other hand was puzzled, “That was an elaborate 5-pointed star cairn and shaft to intern the thing. It must have required a tripod rig to lower those heavy bodies. And why would Dyer affix that 5-pointed star soapstone cap? As if paying homage.” Moore was even more determined as he assigned tasks, “Wilbur, you and Sykes scout the area for the cemetery where Dyer buried Lake’s party. Their drill-site is supposedly a quarter-mile southwest; so, start about a hundred ...