Vulcan's Forge

"Vulcan's Forge" is a Lovecraftian short story by British author William Meikle.
==Synopsis==
In 79 AD, at the height of the Roman Empire, a seismic upheaval unearths a chamber full of strange artefacts. As a local scholar and his team of construction workers explore the interior, more and more catacombs are brought to light. The arrival of a prominent general coincides with the discovery of a black, tar-like entity which appears to be in hibernation, and the soldier demands its weaponisation for the glory of the Empire.
As the exploration progresses, the group learn that the mountain was once the last refuge of an unknown species who fought a war against the black tar, and as their fortress was overrun, they activated their ultimate weapon: the volcano. Now that the black tar has begun to once more awaken, the Romans find themselves with no other option than to repeat this process, in the process dooming Pompeii and its inhabitants…
==Characters==
*Septimus, a learned man assigned to the exploration of the chambers.
*Galvinius, the senior builder on the team.
*General Flavius Meranus, an old soldier.
==Behind the Mythos==
Despite containing no direct references to the works of H. P. Lovecraft or the greater Cthulhu Mythos, Meikle's inclusion of "Vulcan's Forge" in his collection Into the Black: Tales of Lovecraftian Terror indicates his belief that it follows in the spirit of such pieces. Additionally, the black tar is reminiscent of the Shoggoths created by Lovecraft, and the description given of one of the preserved corpses appears identical to that of a Mi-Go.
==Publication History==
"Vulcan's Forge" was first published in the historical fiction anthology Tales of Cthulhu Invictus by Golden Goblin Press in 2015. It was also included in the collection of Meikle's own works Into the Black: Tales of Lovecraftian Terror in 2019.
Category:William Meikle works
Category:Mythos-Inspired Works