I am a complete sucker for faux “artifacts” that evoke mysterious pasts and forgotten history. Assemblages in particular just thrill me: Dodgy-looking parchment, strangely misshapen specimens in jars, and tools which hint at some eldritch purpose…these are a few of my favorite things.

Here are some spiffy ones that I’ve run across recently that I’d love to add to my (largely imaginary) collection.

The Dragon’s Path by JasonMcKittrick – This is a collection of documents which follow the search for Vlad the Impaler’s lost treasure. There’s a neat backstory and some really good-looking “old” letters and drawings.

Necromancer’s Briefcase and Portable Demon Oracle by FraterOrion – Both are chock-full of tools, equipment, and unidentifiable organic bits for use in summoning eldritch forces.

Steampunk Vampyre Slaying Kit by saqaxiwan – Destroying the spawn of the undead…with science! I just love the swoopy no-nonsense look of the gun, and how neat and shiny all of the equipment is. This is clearly the property of a gentleman who hunts nosferatu as a hobby.

Field Research Kit by Julian DiMarco – A Lovecraft-inspired kit for reanimating dead things. I like the nicely-organized look of the case, and the “logical” idea of practicing on a small skeleton before moving on to more dangerous reanimations.

Menes the Vampyr Pharaoh by Alex CF – Alex CF is a master of the assemblage, and his entire site is worth perusing. This “alternate history” box which details the reign of a mysterious vampiric pharaoh is wonderfully evocative.

After looking at all of these, I think I’m going to have to make another Vampire Slayer’s Kit. Time to start haunting eBay for Latin prayer books….

(Hat tip to Propnomicon for the Dragon’s Path and Necromancer’s Briefcase links)