Dr Erasmus Hume
Overview
Dr. Erasmus Hume is the High Conductor of the London Choir of the Aeternum Canticle and the public face of the Orphean Society. Outwardly, he is a respected theorist in harmonic mathematics and sacred music, celebrated in elite musical circles. In truth, he is a fanatical cultist who orchestrates human sacrifices to perfect the Fourth Movement of the Grand Canticle, convinced that by achieving perfect harmony he will “ascend into resonance” and merge with Yog-Sothoth itself.
Hume believes absolutely that art must transcend the mortal, and he does not flinch at bloodshed—it is merely the price the score demands.
Description
Hume is tall and angular, with snow-white hair swept back from a high brow. Sharp cheekbones and a penetrating gaze dominate his features. He dresses with impeccable precision in dark frock coats, always fitted. His fingers are permanently stained with ink from obsessive composition, and they are never still—always moving as though orchestrating invisible music in the air. His eyes are fixed, calculating, and pierce through social pleasantry.
Personality & Traits
- Cold and articulate: Speaks in measured tones with musical metaphors woven throughout
- Visionary fanatic: Genuinely believes the Canticle is a path to transcendence
- Sensitive to dissonance: Cannot tolerate crying, laughter, or interruption during composition; becomes dangerously unstable if his work is disrupted
- Principled in cruelty: Regrets the necessity of bloodshed but insists “the score demands it”
- Meticulous: Every detail of the ritual must be perfect; deviations from harmonic alignment trouble him deeply
Combat Stats (CoC 7e)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| STR | 55 |
| CON | 60 |
| SIZ | 55 |
| DEX | 50 |
| INT | 85 |
| POW | 80 |
| APP | 35 |
| EDU | 90 |
| SAN | 28 |
| HP | 11 |
| MP | 16 |
| Luck | 40 |
| DB | 0 |
Skills
| Skill | Rating |
|---|---|
| Occult | 85% |
| Cthulhu Mythos | 42% |
| Art (Composition) | 90% |
| Library Use | 75% |
| History | 70% |
| Psychology | 60% |
| Spot Hidden | 40% |
| Fighting (Brawl) | 40% |
| Firearms (Dueling Pistol) | 45% |
| Dodge | 25% |
| Charm | 55% |
Equipment
- Ivory-handled dueling pistol (1d10+2)
- Ritual dagger (can be enchanted for spells)
- Thick leather-bound Canticle folio with harmonic notations
- Tuning fork collection (various pitches)
- Personal journal of harmonic orrery designs
Spells & Mythos Powers
Hume is a skilled sorcerer focused on sonic and destructive magic:
| Spell | MP Cost | Resistance | Effect | SAN Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shriveling | 5 | POW vs POW | 1d10+1 damage; black veins manifest briefly | 1 |
| Spectral Razor | 3 | None | 1d8 damage, ignores armor, range 30 ft | 0 |
| Hands of Power | 4 | DEX vs DEX | 2d6 concussive damage; target pushed 1d3 yards | 1 |
| Invoke Harmonic Disruption | 6 | CON vs CON | 1d6 internal damage in 10 ft radius; ears bleed | 1d2 |
| Death Song Fragment | 8 | POW vs POW | 1d10 HP damage + 1d4 SAN loss; organs resonate destructively | 1d4 |
| Dread Chorus | 8 | CON vs POW | Sonic pulse stuns all within 30 ft; lose 1 action round to nausea | 1d2 |
| Eldritch Ward | 6 | — | Protective sigil; triggers when threshold crossed (1d6 damage) | 0 |
| Dominate | 5 | POW vs POW | Target follows single verbal command for 1 round per 2 MP spent | 0 |
Roleplaying Hooks
- Speaks in elaborate musical metaphors; references Enlightenment philosophers and ancient harmonic theory
- Will invite talented investigators to “sit in” on a Society lecture or rehearsal, testing them subtly for “resonant potential”
- Expresses genuine regret about necessary bloodshed, but refuses to compromise the score
- If cornered, attempts persuasion before resorting to auditory magic or violence
- His greatest vulnerability is interruption during ritual; his composure cracks visibly if his careful preparations are disrupted
Campaign History
- Chapter 1 (June 1814): Hume led the Orphean Society as High Conductor, orchestrating the capture of Imogen_Bellamy and Nathaniel_Rooke, and preparing the Stonehenge ritual (Segment I of the Grand Canticle). On the night of June 12, he conducted the ritual at Stonehenge. The investigators had ridden ahead to Salisbury, recruited local farmers from a pub, and launched a two-pronged assault on the stone circle. Hume used razor spells against the PCs and his cultists fought back, but as the assault cut off the ritualists one by one, the summoning collapsed. Hume was killed during the disruption.
Relationship to Campaign
Hume is the primary antagonist of Chapter 1. His capture of Rooke and Bellamy, combined with his imminent ritual at Stonehenge on June 12th, drives the entire investigation.
His fate after Chapter 1 depends on player agency, but his survival or death has consequences for later Vienna chapter revelations.
Appearances
Relationships
- Serves Lady Octavia Danforth — Hume is the supreme authority; Danforth serves as deputy but secretly plots to usurp him
- Imprisoned by Imogen Bellamy — Bellamy is held in the Catacoustic Chamber; Hume orchestrates her conditioning
- Imprisoned by Nathaniel Rooke — Rooke is a captive; Hume has ordered him transported to Kensington for final ritual preparation
- Located at Orphean Society Building — Hume's primary base of operations at 43 Grosvenor Street