Rory looked around and sighed, apparently resigned to telling Malcom about the entire incident. "I'm not quite sure how to put this but... Well, I think that it's dangerous. It... Seemed to possess one of the students when they picked it up, they were speaking Egyptian and seemed to be attempting a spell. I was barely able to get the book of them. A couple of others have been seen things, a snake and generally weird stuff has been going on." Rory went on to describe the apparition. "As you know a lot more about ancient cultures than me, I thought that you might want to have a look at it."

Susan watched with anticipation, and the audience could tell that she was generally interested because of her own incident with the book, over and above her normal nosiness and nerdiness.

"I daresay, someone must have smuggled this book in rather then it magically appearing here. There are just too many wards and protections in place for that. As to the book itself yes I have heard of it. A number of archeologists from long ago expeditions into Egypt found signs of an era where the black pharaoh ruled. I believe folklore here in America around the times of the witch burnings in Salem also made mention of the black man."

He looks to the others, "I am not referring to any ethnicity. The black man from what I have read and been able to peace together from contacts with others is more of a mythological figure then a physical being."

"You say someone spoke a spell from this book ? Was it completed ?"


Jeremy looks very concerned as Malcom talks and his body tenses.

Rory shook his head, from the look on his face, he could feel the tension in the air. "I don't think so. What would it do?"

Still obviously annoyed by her embarrassing experience with the book, Susan tried to be flippant about it.
" Who would get a book like that around here?  Did 'Bed, Bath and Beyond Sanity' have a clearance sale?"
She also had a very amused and annoyed look on her face as Malcolm talked about "the black man and the trouble he caused", but nodded,  both relieved and also a bit amused when they were reassured that the evil man's color was metaphorical rather than having to do with melanin.

Malcom looked over, "Well I do sense enough of the spell took place but not fully enough to open a portal. See here these symbols they stand for Yogsothoth the doorway and the door. Once again the methaphorical godlike being that controls time and space. The spell would have brought something in and if my guess is right it was no less then an attempt to bring the black man to our world."

Malcom shook his head, "Too powerful for any mage to control, at least any ones I know of. Who ever stopped the spell good job."

Susan looked over at Rory,  smiling gratefully.   Then she glanced at Malcom,  speaking with wry amusement with a raised eyebrow.
" I'm glad disaster was averted and whatnot,  but perhaps we can stop calling this evil wizard 'the black man'?   I'm not one for going overboard with political correctness for its own sake, but that name is starting to bug me.  I can't help but think that our counter measures should involve a confederate flag or something. "

Rory rubbed the back of his neck. "We got lucky then. So how do we seal the spell for good? I'm guessing that it isn't going to be straight forwards."

"Oh, the book can be warded. I would say that this is probably the safest place for such a book save that someone wanted it here. Also most lay people would have no ability with spells, and not the potential to activate a spell."

Susan nodded.
"So we should move it to a private location, under lock and key?  And perhaps we can research this 'evil pharaoh' weirdo that someone wants to summon from Neverland. "

"Yes young lady, you have the right of it.  I can think of no one better then Jeremy to look after this book. He is knowledgeable enough in the ways and signs to keep it from being a problem and I could help him with that. Doing research on the Pharaoh would probably be good. Since you want a different name young lady you could call him

Rory interrupted Malcom, finishing the man' sentence. "Nyarlathotep." Then felt compelled to add more. "That's his name isn't it?"

Malcom looks to Rory a bit surprised, "Why yes, yes it is. Rory have you read through this book ?"

Rory seemed a bit defensive, as if he knew that he had done something careless and felt the need to justify himself. "I found the book earlier today. I could tell that it was unusual so I tried to decipher it before I realised that it was dangerous. To be honest, I didn't really understand what was written. But at least, I seem to be able to touch it without going into a trance."

Malcom nodded, "Well you never cease to surprise me. If you can handle the book I definitely say it is safer in Jeremy's care since you can be called upon should he need you."


Professor Terence looked to Rory with a we will talk later look.

Susan raised her eyebrows in amused surprise at Rory's apparent immunity to the book, she was impressed and a little jealous, to be honest, but she smiled, glad he was okay.
"Okay.  I'll go research this Bubbahotep guy and see what I can find."

Rory seemed concerned by the situation but chose not to say anything. "Thank you Mr Denvers. I really appreciate your help with all this..." There was a short pause. "Should the need arise, how would we destroy the book or break the spell on it."

"That may be impossible." Malcom said, "Many of the most ancient books of such nature might look ready to fall apart but there is a reason they have survived the test of time. I will look more into things and see what could have happened with a partial recitation of the spell. I believe something may have come through. You said something about snakes ?"

Susan shrugged, not easily deterred.
"There might be some histories from other cultures that might have survived, only thought of as fairy tales.  That might help us."

"Thank you, Mr Denvers." Rory went on to describe the snakes. "Only one snake was spotted but the description was corroborated by several eye witnesses. It was there before the recitation. Semi ephemeral beings that seemed able to interact with the real world. "

Rory turned to Susan. "His name was Nyarlathotep, we could look him up together if you want?"

Susan chuckled and grinned wryly at Rory.
"Don't worry, Rory, I know his name.  I just refuse to take him seriously if I don't have to."

"I am not sure how much even the internet has on him, but that is always a possibility for the two of you and should be safer then reading ancient books that summon things from beyond."

" Okay,  I'll see what I can find from my sources, even in round about ways."

Rory agreed. "We'll be careful."

Good place to end scene