Elder Sign

Cost: 10 POW
Casting time: 1 hour

Its decoration…was, rather, in the rough shape of a star, in the center of which there appeared to be a caricature of a single giant eye; but it was not an eye, rather a broken lozenge in shape with certain lines suggestive of flames or perhaps a solitary pillar of flame.

—August Derleth and H.P. Lovecraft, The Lurker at the Threshold.

The spell activates an Elder Sign. Each active Elder Sign takes a sacrifice of 10 POW to create, but costs no Sanity points. An Elder Sign may be formed into a leaden seal, carved in rock, forged in steel, etc. When made active beside an opening or Gate, it makes that path unusable to minions of the Great Old Ones and Mythos Gods, as well as to those greater beings themselves. Without the spell, the symbol itself means nothing and has no effect.

The writings of certain scribes apart, the Elder Sign is worthless in personal defense if the monster or minion can evade the Sign. Those wearing an Elder Sign around the neck, for instance, might gain protection for a few square inches of flesh where the Sign rests against the skin; however, the rest of the wearer’s body would be completely vulnerable.

Alternative names: The Elder Seal, The Omen Branch, The Five Points of Wisdom.