that's not the only Lovecraft vibe I got: The Marching dead? Just read Herbert West- Reanimator and that's all I was reminded of when I read the journal about the heart stone.

Oghma Infinium (or Black Books) = Necronomicon

Not Inausprechan Culten? (sp?)

Apocrypha may be the coolest thing in the DLC.

Apocrypha IS the coolest thing in this DLC! And Mora!

And now I want to read Lovecraft of which I have yet to. Any suggestions on where I should start?

I would definitely start with The Call of Cthulhu. After that....The Dunwich Horror, The Shadow out of Time, The Picture in The House, The Rats in The Walls, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, The Haunter of The Dark. All gripping stories. Starting with Call of Cthulhu should get you hooked. Though I admit they're a challenging read at times due to the dialect employed by Lovecraft, but once you start, you can't stop.

It isn't just HM's design, the whole DLC is smitten with Lovecraft.

As someone else mentioned, Hermaeus Mora itself resembles http://www.3x6.net/vhoorl/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/yog-sothoth2.jpg (who was also the inspiration for the Dr Strange villain Shuma-Gorath, mentioned earlier in the thread). That's only the beginning...

You got the terrifying Lurkers who are based on http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/blueorb/imgs/b/b/bbab5abd.jpg (also referenced in an Oblivion sidequest); the Seekers, who have more than a little http://1dut.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/cthulhu-conseptual-and-digital-art-1dut.com-10.jpg about them; and even the Black Books of forbidden knowledge, as well as the pathwork bound Oghma Infinium from Skyrim, are both nods to Lovecraft's http://www.strangehistory.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/necronomicon.jpg (referenced again in the excellent Evil Dead series).

Even the plot itself has shades of Lovecraft: Cultists and mind controlled minions building and worshipping strange Gods, Fate, Forbidden Knowledge, the return of an ancient Evil... the list goes on.

http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/fiction/ a great resource for Cthulu Mythos stuff.

Well, I did not like Sallow Regent. So dark I could not see anything except with a torch which would have been somewhat OK except I have to be ready to fight enemies, plus I am taking constant damage. So basically exploration was out. Just run as fast as you can from safe point to safe point while battling enemies. I sure hope Bethesda didn't put much effort into art work, easter eggs, or hidden loot, because almost nobody is going to have a chance to get them because of all the damage you are taking.

I think the entire Herma-Mora quest-line is the best yet. There are parts of Apochrypha that are lethal to level 81 characters.

Well, I did not like Sallow Regent. So dark I could not see anything except with a torch which would have been somewhat OK except I have to be ready to fight enemies, plus I am taking constant damage. So basically exploration was out. Just run as fast as you can from safe point to safe point while battling enemies. I sure hope Bethesda didn't put much effort into art work, easter eggs, or hidden loot, because almost nobody is going to have a chance to get them because of all the damage you are taking.

I cast Candle light and was free from damage. I heard sizzling as soon as it ran out and my health started to drop until I recast it. I never tried a torch.

I didn't realize non-native light would negate the effect. I thought it was just those hovering lights that would work. I guess I should try again and give the place a close look.

I posted this in another thread. Love me a bit of Lovecraft.