The new edition of Call of Cthulhu has alternative names for many of its spells, which is a huge improvement, but many of them are still lame sounding. It’s not a bad idea to come up with new names, both to obfuscate the exact meaning and nature of the spell, and to situate it better within the setting and mythos.
As a basic rule of thumb, going to mythology and finding something appropriate to invoke works well, as does delving into a thesaurus, or etymological dictionary to find obscure or outdated terminology you can put to use.
Greek, Egyptian, Hindu and Middle Eastern mythology is particularly appropriate, given the references, sources and themes that Lovecraft was working from. Old English grimoires and supposed witches’ tomes are also useful tools, and Latin is always a useful tool of last resort. Failing that, just make it up (like Lovecraft did) using the form of ancient languages, much at Nyarlathotep follows – vaguely – Egyptian style.
Apportion Ka (Tenu Ka, Egptian, meaning to divide or separate the soul).
Bless Blade (Alipriya Asi, Sanskrit, Red lotus blade).
Body Shaping (Ar Aat, Egyptian).
Breath of the Deep (Mists of Dagon).
Brew Space Mead (Mjólka af Heidrun, Norse ‘Milk of Heidren’).
Cause Blindness (Greek, I Perifrónisi tis Íras, ‘Scorn of Hera’).
Cure Blindness (Greek, Chéri tou Cheírona, ‘Hand of Chiron).
Cloud Memory (Waters of Lethe).
Enchant – Alternative terms: Bewitch, Charm, Hex, Curse, Spellbind, Ensorcell, Cunning, Annoint, Consecrate, and use a thesaurus to offer alternative terms for the sub-spells. EG: Ye Cunning Opuscule of Ye Laughing Sangesuge.
Hook
A compilation of my existing pulp stories in one volume, with the added bonus of an extra story ‘One Man McCann’ – a war story of British pluck and heroism against the evils of Nazi wonder weapons, all on the eve of D-Day!
Postmortem Studios 