"The Star-Seed" is a short story by American author James Ambuehl. It takes place against the backdrop of his Braving, Minnesota mythos setting.
Synopsis[]
A Royceton University professor with an interest in the occult investigates an abandoned mansion in the woodlands near his hometown with an evil reputation. There he comes across a decaying library of dark knowledge, and a basement-dwelling plant-creature which he narrowly escapes.
Learning what he can from the books he took, and consulting others in Royceton's Rare Book room, he deduces this being to be Ei'lor, a Great Old One. Utilising the protection of the Elder Sign and an incantation to summon Yaggdytha, he is successful in ridding the planet of the being, but later comes to the realisation that it was not Ei'lor itself, but merely one of its invasive Star-Seeds.
Publication History[]
Originally written for the Chaosium collection Made in Goatswood, for which it was rejected, "The Star-Seed" was later published in Cthulhu Codex #7 in May 1996. Ambuehl later rewrote the story to incorporate it into his Braving, Minnesota milieu, although this version appears to have only been published online.
Trivia[]
- A book which the narrator references, Tales of Braving and it’s Insidious Environs, is stated as being written by one James Ambrel, a clear nod to the author's own name.