In the 1920s and '30s, Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos not only launched a new genre of horror, but also introduced some of the most iconic aliens in all of science fiction.
While it's fairly common to find Cthulhu-shaped plushies at Walmart, you'll be hard-pressed to find any of the other creatures that make up his vast pantheon in such cute plush form.
The myths have had a huge influence on both science fiction and horror writers, inspiring the likes of Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Ridley Scott's film «"Stranger"» and many of Guillermo Del Toro's captivating creature designs.
А tabletop RPG Call of Cthulhu — one of the most popular role-playing games on the market today, it ranks 3rd -e place in the US market and even eclipses the popularity of Dungeons and Dragons in Japan .
This incredible tabletop experience follows human players as investigators who stumble upon nefarious plots orchestrated by evil cults determined to raise Cthulhu and his brethren from their ancient resting places.
But what if you were one of these hapless investigators in real life? What if you encountered the godlike beings and aliens from Lovecraft's mythos in real life? Which ones would you survive, and which ones would likely turn you into a raving maniac or a pile of gelatinous goo?
«"They were pinkish things about five feet long; with crustacean bodies bearing huge pairs of dorsal fins or membranous wings and several sets of jointed limbs, and with a sort of tangled ellipsoid covered with many very short antennae where the head would normally be..."»
— H. P. Lovecraft, The Whisperer in the Dark
For an unlucky investigator to stumble upon one of numerous secret bases Mi-Go — a risky venture. The Mi-Go are an interstellar species whose main base is located on a planet in our solar system they call Yuggoth, where they mine rare metals. We know this world as Pluto.
But they also have many bases on Earth.
While the Mi-Go does not possess the reality-warping abilities of many of the Lovecraftian entities listed on this list, they shiny scientists.
Although these strange aliens creatures Although they appear insect-like in appearance, their characteristics are more consistent with certain fungi found on Earth. Although the Mi-Go are an interstellar species, they travel through space not in ships, but on their enormous wings.
The Mi-Go are known to conduct depraved experiments on humans. In many cases, this involves removing the unfortunate individual's brain and placing it in a metal tube-shaped device. This device can be connected to various peripherals, allowing the subject to speak, see, and hear their surroundings.
The explorer will be lucky if he escapes these impatient alien surgeons with his body and brain intact.
Elders in "« At the Mountains of Madness» — another example of an interstellar species that traveled to Earth using their own membranous wings. Their appearance is somewhat plant-like. Their bodies are rigid, barrel-shaped structures with spoke-like appendages extending from them.
Millions of years Ancients They ruled our planet, founding great cities on every major continent and in the unknown depths of the ocean. Like the Mi-Go, the Elder Beings were brilliant scientists who may have accidentally created life on Earth and were responsible for developing the terrifying shoggoths they used to build their vast empire.
Throughout its mysterious, stretching for centuries civilizations they waged wars against the Star Spawn of Cthulhu, the Flying Polyps and the very Shoggoths who helped build their vast empire, who rebelled against their creators.
However, over time, the Ancients slowly deteriorated, losing their ability to travel through space and eventually becoming almost completely extinct. They left behind vast ruins, the largest of which rest in a mysterious, reality-defying mountain range in Antarctica.
While it's unlikely a detective will ever stumble upon an Elder Being in these vast ruins, there are rumors of survivors living in the ocean. These survivors retain a scientific mindset and are curious about dissecting the living and the dead, especially humans.
Such a collision would most likely be fatal, but at least there is a chance of survival.
«"A nightmarish, plastic column of fetid black rainbow oozed forward… A formless cluster of protoplasmic bubbles, faintly self-luminous, with myriads of temporary eyes forming and disappearing like pustules of greenish light, all along the tunnel-filling front that bore towards us…"»
– H. P. Lovecraft, «"On the Mountain of Madness.".
Shoggoths —massive, shape-shifting protoplasmic monstrosities that can reach 15 feet in diameter. If an explorer were unfortunate enough to encounter one, they might describe its attack form as something akin to a locomotive. And, most likely, that would be the last thing they ever see.
Although they were created by the Ancient Beasts as brainless tools , The Shoggoths evolved steadily over time until they finally rebelled against their creators and destroyed their once great civilization.
Looking at the Necronomicon, researchers might take solace in the claims of its late, mad author, Abdul Alhazred, that such creatures do not exist on Earth. But they would be fools, for hidden in unknown fissures of the Earth and great ruins, some Shoggoths still live.
Surviving an encounter with a Shoggoth is possible, if only because their size and habit of attacking and destroying everything in their path make them easy to spot.
«"They all lie in their stone houses in their great city of R'lyeh, preserved by the spells of mighty Cthulhu for a glorious resurrection when the stars and the earth are ready again..."»
— H. P. Lovecraft, Call of Cthulhu
Starry offspring takes on the form of Cthulhu himself. These creatures are often described with cephalopod-like features, as well as two glowing eyes and a set of large wings. In feverish visions depicted by artists under the influence of Cthulhu's mind-warping presence, these creatures have also been described as possessing humanoid bodies, but this is not always the case.
Although they are not as big as Cthulhu , many texts suggest they belong to the same species. Given this, any human foolish enough to encounter a Star Spawn could be subject to similar feats of strength and magic.
«I see it—coming here—the hellish wind—the titanic spot—the black wings—Yog Sothoth, save me—the three-petaled burning eye…»
— H. P. Lovecraft, Phantom of Darkness
Poor Robert Blake made a disturbing discovery upon entering an abandoned Gothic cathedral in Providence, Rhode Island. Gazing into a mysterious box containing an otherworldly black gemstone, he saw terrifying visions of alien worlds and sunken cities. And, unfortunately for him, this unintentional act also unleashed a being often considered one of the most ancient forms of Nyarlothotep.
When an investigator peers into the Shining Trapezohedron, they experience visions, but at the cost of releasing the Dark Spectre, a dangerous entity that establishes a psychic bond with whoever opens the box. The afflicted investigator will begin to see visions of the entity's actions.
For Robert Blake, this strange connection with the smoke-shrouded creature with large, shapeless wings meant he had a front-row seat to its escape from its cathedral prison in the midst of a violent thunderstorm.
In the chaos, the creature made its way to Blake's apartment.
He was later found dead, his face a picture of utter horror.
The only distinguishable feature of the Ghost Darkness, It appears to be one crimson eye with three petals.
An encounter with this creature can be deadly, especially if the investigator has established a psychic connection with it, but the creature has a weakness. The Dark Phantom avoids light sources at all costs.
So, you know, carry a flashlight and hope for the best.
«"A monster with vaguely anthropoid outlines, but with a head similar to an octopus, a mass of tentacles on the face, a scaly, rubber-like body, huge claws on the hind and front legs, and long narrow wings at the back.".
— H. P. Lovecraft, Call of Cthulhu
According to the records kept by the Ancient Beings, inscribed on the great frescoes in the ruins of their Antarctic city, Great Cthulhu came from a place known as Xoth with his Star Spawn 350 million years ago. It was then that he forged the terrible city of R'lyeh and many other places whose names have been lost to time.
At some point, something caused the dead city of R'lyeh to sink into the ocean, entombing the Great Priest of the Old Ones and others of his race in the Pacific Ocean, where he lies dead and dreams, waiting for the stars to align once more so that he and his Star Spawn could rise again to rule the Earth.
Artists who had idols made in the image of this creature described Cthulhu in various ways. Rumor has it that these artists suffer from powerful hellish visions when under the influence of Great Cthulhu. While Great Cthulhu may not be the most powerful member of the Old Gods, there can be no doubt that unfortunate explorers who find themselves face to face with the High Priest himself..., for sure will be doomed even if they survive the collision.
«"He stands on a balcony. He has no face, and is twice the height of a man. He wears pointed slippers under his tattered, fantastically colored robe, and a silk ribbon seems to fall from the pointed tip of his hood… Sometimes he appears to have wings; at other times, a halo.".
- James Blish, «More Light»
Hastur The Nameless One has three primary forms. Its home is believed to be near the star Alderbaran, where it dwells underwater. Some believe a kinship exists between Hastur and Great Cthulhu; others believe the beings are one in essence, divided into two knowing halves. In any case, Hastur has far more freedom than Great Cthulhu, and he may have plans to destroy the cosmic order the Old Ones have maintained since Azathoth accidentally created our universe.
The King in Yellow Perhaps the most famous and dangerous manifestation of all, he possesses "free will" with the exception of Hastur and his two other avatars. Ruling over a kingdom known as Carcosa, whose skies are dominated by twin black suns, the King in Yellow spreads his influence through an infectious cult. Their primary means of recruitment is to provide potential members with a small token with profound psychic properties.
Rumor has it that this strange marker, known as Yellow Sign , has a corrupting influence on mortals. Those who have seen the Yellow Sign are considered "chosen" by the cult of Hastur and are rumored to have fallen under influence The King in Yellow .
Particularly weak-willed researchers who discover they possess such a seal may go mad within a month, even if they do not directly serve the King in Yellow.
Nyarlathotep , also known as the "Crawling Chaos," is sometimes considered the most powerful being in myth. But unlike other beings, Nyarlathotep possesses a thousand different forms, each maintaining its own will, but all guided by a single will, which is Nyarlathotep .
Nyarlathotep seems to prefer appearing to humans, often taking forms appropriate to their culture. His avatars promise wealth or fulfillment. the most secret desires hapless detective . But these promises always lead to Nyarlothotep's ultimate goal—to sow chaos and bring back the Great Old Ones.
Ultimately, an encounter with Nyarlathotep in any of his forms spells doom, if not the very end of humanity as we know it. Nyarlathotep may not kill the detective outright, but he will make him wish for death.
«"He thought of the ancient legends of the Absolute Chaos, in the center of which the blind idiot god Azathoth, Lord of All That Is, stretched out, surrounded by a crowd of jumping, mindless and amorphous dancers and lulled by the thin monotonous sound of a demonic flute held in nameless paws.".
— H. P. Lovecraft, Phantom of Darkness
Azathoth He exists at the center of the universe and appears different to anyone who sees his ancient, star-sized body. He is the most powerful being in myth, but he lacks the knowledge to consciously harness this power.
Many believe he has been there since time immemorial. He dreams of creating our universe, and if he ever awakens from his eternal slumber, the dream that is our reality will collapse.
To prevent this, the blind idiot god is constantly lulled to sleep by amorphous creatures known as the Servants of the Outer Gods, whose tentacles beat upon ancient flutes that lull the mindless force. space nature.
In the unlikely event that a detective were to see Azathoth's form and somehow survive, he would surely remain a crazed madman for the rest of his days.
Sometimes described as consisting of spheres or "holes" in the fabric of space-time, Yog Sothoth's true size is unknown, and while the deity may not possess the all-encompassing power of Azathoth, it is said to be capable of instantaneous understanding and knowledge of anything.
Yog Sothoth dwells between the barriers between dimensions, manipulating the laws of reality and even possessing the power to break them.
While Azathoth can create and destroy entire universes, Yog Sothoth cannot manipulate matter on such a large scale. However, the being's omnipotence seems to suggest that, in some sense, it possesses almost equal power to Azathoth. Some speculate that while Azathoth dreams of creating our universe, Yog Sothoth is the connecting tissue that exists between dimensions.
Yog Sothoth often referred to as the "Key and Gate" and is rumored to have given birth to many entities that can be found in the terrifying Necronomicon , including Hastur. But the creature seems to have a keen interest in taking on biological form, having done so in one particularly horrific instance in a rural town called Dunwich between 1913 and 1928. Most often, these offspring take on the features of their host, and their terrifying, amorphous forms with closed mouths are usually invisible to the naked eye.
The reason for this fascination with creating semi-mortal offspring is unknown, but some believe it is the key to Yog Sothoth breaking the shackles imposed on him by the Old Ones, ushering in a new era in which humanity will cast aside its morality and the Old Gods will return to our universe.
Thus, Yog Sothoth may well be the most dangerous creature in all myths.