"Fat Jack", the alcoholic DC-2 pilot played by Bob in our Achtung! Cthulhu campaign, was given a strange little loose leaf notebook by a Catholic priest in the Philippines.
El Libro del Lamang-Lupa is a folio of handwritten notes and illustrations believed to have been compiled by a late 16th/early 17th Century Jesuit priest in Luzon. The core narrative was clearly written down by the priest in archaic Tagalog, with many explanations, textual commentaries, and jottings in Spanish in the marginalia.
The text purports to be the "confession" of an earth-dwelling dwarf-like creature caught while trying to escape the clutches of the priest. With all but its head and neck buried in the damp earth, the dwarf's discourse describes several indigenous monsters found in the archipelago, including the manananggal, the mambabarang, kapre, and duwende. There are illustrations of these creatures as well. This is followed by a detailed description of numerous native plants and their virtues.
The final narrative section is in Spanish, and describes "El Otro Archipiélago", a chain of islands that certain Dreamers reach using charms, prayers, and medicinal plants. This other island chain includes several large and wondrous cities, rustic marvels, and novel means of transportation including skyships, wasp-like flying creatures, and sea-cows. Perhaps the priest, who refers to himself in Spanish as "The Confessor", was a himself a Dreamer...
The book also has spells or charms; these are in Tagalog.
Understanding the Spanish text requires a success with a raise. Understanding the Tagalog test requires one additional success with a raise.
Understanding the Spanish text requires a success with a raise. Understanding the Tagalog test requires one additional success with a raise.
