At first blush, this is an unremarkable example of a late 19th century parabaik or "folding book" from Burma. It is essentially one long sheet of black paper, folded seventeen times accordian-style and slipped between plain, laminated paper covers for protection. Unfolding the long paper sheet reveals the white soapstone writings and illustrations. 

Care is required when handling the book, as the old folded paper is quite fragile, and the soapstone "chalk" is easily smeared. The writings are in the traditional Burmese script. The illustrations include an astrological diagram and a depiction of a robed man kneeling before a disturbing beast; something like a coiled dragon with a tusked maw, numerous eyes, and the arms of a praying mantis.

Parabaiks often deal with ritual, magical or religious subjects. This particular book, however, is nothing less than the key to immortality, describing as it does the ritual requirements of the "Extend" spell. If cast, this spell will summon forth the awful entity depicted in the illustration. The beast is, of course, far more gruesome than that crude depiction could suggest. The caster may then proceed to bargain for eternal agelessness. An Idea roll and appropriate research materials are needed in order to decipher the book's astrological chart and work out the auspicious time for the summoning.

Besides the key to immortality, the small tome contains scant mentions regarding the plateau of Sung and its abominable priesthood. The book's lurid subject matter is thinly and discordantly couched within a pseudo-Buddhist parable regarding a monk named Ashin Indaka.

The little book could be the subject of intrigue or the possession of an immortal cultist, but it might just as easily be sitting innocently in the library of a collector who has never been able to read it or on a shelf in some antiques shop in Shanghai.


Stats: Burmese script, 2d4 weeks, 1/1d3 SAN, +2 Cthulhu Mythos, Spells: Extend