Project Nemesis is a fan driven website for games that use the One-Roll Engine (like Nemesis, Wild Talents, Reign and Monsters) or Chaosium's Basic Roleplay System (BRP) (like Call of Cthulhu) and the Delta Green setting.
The patent application was originally filed by a Mr Hammond J. Pike and
comprises over one hundred pages of dense description of a device which
essentially functions as a perpetual motion machine. The description is
littered with obscure references to dubious physical theorems
concerning the extraction of energy from the “gaps between universes”
and contains page after page of impenetrable formulae and equations.
The patent describes a device of approximately the shape and size of a
one metre cube filled with an extremely complicated array of valves,
cogs, levers, axles, gears, and other components which lead ultimately
to an external wheel on the side of the device. Once started, the
patent alleges, the wheel continues forever and may provide power of up
to 50 horse power. The patent also makes brief mention of some possible
side effects of an extended stay in the vicinity of the device
including headaches, nausea and possibly delusions.
The patent application spent an unusually long time pending before
the Patent Office. The first patent office examiner to examine the
application fell ill shortly after issuing a notice to refuse the
application. The case was then passed to a second examiner who examined
the application from scratch but who then took early retirement and was
subsequently institutionalised suffering from acute paranoia. Following
a lengthy delay, the case was passed to the senior and well respected
examiner Dr James Wellington who concluded the examination by summoning
Mr Pike to a hearing at the Patent Office. Mr Pike duly attended the
hearing and took the opportunity to bring with him a prototype of the
device which he demonstrated to Dr Wellington. Wellington granted the
patent although sadly his exemplary career was brought to an early
close shortly afterwards when he went missing (presumed drowned) on a
ferry crossing the English Channel.
Sanity: 1d4/2d4
Time taken to read: 20 hours to scan the text. 30 weeks to
comprehend fully the patent (i.e. to a level where the device can be
made) requiring successful rolls against Mech Repair and Physics.
Cthulhu Mythos: +3
Spells: None
A copy of the Patent Office file relating to the case may also be
inspected and this explains the examination process outlined above,
including the minutes of the Patent Office hearing.
Sanity: 1/1d4
Time taken to read: 10 hours.
Cthulhu Mythos: 0
Spells: None