Great Ones
The Great Ones are the "weak gods of earth" that reign in the Dreamlands. They are protected by Nyarlathotep.
Great Ones Name Description References
Hagarg Ryonis,
The Lier-in-Wait Usually appears as a huge, reptilian monster. DL, WH
Karakal An elf-like humanoid. DL, WH
Lobon Appears as ivy-crowned youth bearing a spear. DC, DL, WH
Nath-Horthath Chief god of Celephaïs. CE, DL, DQ, KA
Oukranos River god DQ
Tamash Appears as a short, silver-skinned, ebon-haired, and bearded man. DC, DL, MG, WH
Zo-Kalar God of birth and death. DC, WH
See also
Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos in popular culture
References
Robert Bloch, "Heritage of Horror", p. 8.
Robert M. Price, "H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos", Crypt of Cthulhu #35, p. 5.
Daniel Harms, "A Brief History of the Cthulhu Mythos", p. viii.
This entity is introduced in RPG scenario "Devourers In The Mist", featuring in "Stunning Eldritch Tales: Trail of Cthulhu Adventures"
Regarded as Great Old One in Daniel Harms's Encyclopaedia Cthulhiana, p. 4
This entity is introduced as a Great Old One in Call of Cthulhu roleplay game scenario "Twilight Memories" (2005), by Clint Krause.
Scott D. Aniolowski, "Mysterious Manuscripts" in The Unspeakable Oath #3, John Tynes (ed.), Seattle, WA: Pagan Publishing, August 1991. Periodical (role-playing game material). Baoht Z'uqqa-Mogg first appeared in this gaming supplement.
It does not feature in Chaosium's Malleus Monstrorum.
When Brian Lumley read David Sutton's short story "Demoniacal", he wrote a sequel entitled "The Kiss of Bugg-Shash". Lumley expanded Sutton's tale and gave his unnamed entity its name—Bugg-Shash—which effectively tied Sutton's creation to the mythos. (Robert M. Price, "Introduction", The New Lovecraft Circle, pp. xx–xxi). The name "Bugg-Shash", however, appeared earlier in Lumley's short story "Rising with Surtsey" (Daniel Harms, "Bugg-Shash", Encyclopedia Cthulhiana, p. 41).
This is the title the Aztec goddess Coatlicue was usually worshiped, also mentioned in Ann K. Schwader's "Fiesta For Our Lady" (2012).
This entity recalls the Coinchenn, cetacean sea monster of Celtic Mythology.
Coinchenn features in Abraham Martinez's "Coinchenn" featuring in Lovecraftian comics Strange Aeons, issue#1. Webcomic version of this episode is available at
http://reymonstruo.elwebcomic.com/coinchennpag00/ Crom Cruach is mentioned several times in Brian McNaughton's horror stories "Downward to Darkness" and "Worse Things Waiting" (2000) along with the Great Old Ones Hastur and Shub-Niggurath.
See Name, nature and functions.
As in James Ambuehl's short poem "Dythalla", featured in Etchings & Odysseys, issue #7 (October 1985). Available online at
http://www.oocities.org/area51/rampart/4059/jamb03.html This entity is introduced in roleplay game scenario "The Lord of the Jungle", featuring in Call of Cthulhu RPG supplement "Shadow Over Filmland".
He is first mentioned in Dawid Lewis' short novel "Etepsed Egnis" and cited again in Cthulhu Cultus #11, in the novel A Core Unto Itself.
Polynesian cult title featuring in "Destroying Paradise, Hawaiian Style", roleplay game scenario of "Atomic Age Cthulhu".
Daniel Harms, Encyclopaedia Cthulhiana, p.113.
This entity is introduced in the role-play game Call of Cthulhu. The name is fictional, H. P. Lovecraft has not described it in the original story "The Temple".
As ravenous Kaalut in J.B. Lee's "Genuine Article" (1998).
Kag'Naru of the Air and Rh'Thulla of the Wind are mentioned in the comic book Challengers of the Unknown #83 (which also added "the Eternal" to M'Nagalah's name).
This entity features in A. Merritt's Dwellers in the Mirage (1932), a fantasy novel which involves many of H. P. Lovecraft's leitmotivs.
According to Kenneth Grant this would be an extraterrestrial intelligence with the occultist Aleister Crowley came in contact in 1919 (Grant's The Magical Revival, p. 84).
Scott D. Aniolowski, Malleus Monstrorum, p. 171.
James Ambuehl, The Star-Seed (2004).
M'Nagalah first appeared in the comic book Swamp Thing #8 (1974) in a story by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson (Daniel Harms, "M'nagalah", Encyclopedia Cthulhiana, p. 196). The being has since shown up in stories in Challengers of the Unknown, The Trenchcoat Brigade, and The All-New Atom. His siblings, Rh’Thulla of the Wind and Kag’Naru of the Air, debuted in Challengers of the Unknown #83 (which also added "the Eternal" to M'Nagalah's name).
Title introduced in DC Comics series Crisis on Infinite Earths.
M'Nagalah also features as villain in DC Comics series Crisis on Infinite Earths.
see Mordiggian
Mormo is informally introduced in H. P. Lovecraft's "Horror at Red Hook". Kenneth Hite's "Trail of Cthulhu" RPG material lists her as a Great Old One and relates her to the Moon-beasts.
This Great Old One has been created for Call of Cthulhu French role-play game website Tentacles.net.
Same title used for Nyogtha
This Great Old One has been created for Call of Cthulhu French role-play game website Tentacles.net. URL at
http://www.tentacules.net/toc/toc/tocyclo_fiche.php?type=crea&id=402 Daniel Harms, Encyclopaedia Cthulhiana, p. 203.
Less likely, since Clark Ashton Smith has provided an utterly different genealogy. See Tsathoggua.
As in short poem Nyaghoggua of Robert Lowndes (1941).
This entity has been mentioned in R. H. Barlow and H. P. Lovecraft's "The Hoard of Wizard-Beast" (1933).
As in Crispin Burnham's People of the Monolith: Stone of Death.
Lin Carter, "Shaggai", The Book of Eibon, p. 206.
Lin Carter, "Shaggai", The Book of Eibon, 207.
Daniel Harms, "Pharol", p. 238, The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana. Daniel Harms believes that Pharol was invented by C. L. Moore, Henry Kuttner's wife, since the being appears in many of her stories.
Crispin Burnham "People of the Monolith: Stone of Death" (1997).
As in Ravana page.
Kag'Naru of the Air and Rh'Thulla of the Wind are mentioned in the comic book Challengers of the Unknown #83 (which also added "the Eternal" to M'Nagalah's name).
This entity is supposed to coincide with the legendary Scottish war goddess Scáthach featuring in Ulster Cycle.
This entity is introduced as a Great Old One in Call of Cthulhu roleplay game scenario "Utatti Asfet".
"Selected Letters vol. 4", 633rd letter, April 2, 1933
This entity is introduced as a Great Old One in Call of Cthulhu roleplay game scenario "Once Men" (2008), by Michael Labossiere.
This entity is introduced as a Great Old One in Call of Cthulhu roleplay game scenario "Cthulhu Britannica: Avalon - The County of Somerset" (2010), by Paul Wade-Williams.
This entity is part of Call of Cthulhu RPG French edition.
Or lost Sthanee as in Lowndes' "Nyaghoggua" (1941).
Sthanee is mentioned in Robert Lowndes' short poem "Nyaghoggua" (1941), but its physical appearance was depicted in Lowndes' comics panels of "When Sthanee Wakes" (pp. 32-33) featuring in Scienti-Comics issue#2, originally published in sci-fi magazine Spaceways, July 1940. Scans of the original comics are publicly viewable at
http://fanac.org/fanzines/ScientiComics/ScientiComics2-05.html This entity is introduced in German Pegasus Press roleplay game magazine Cthulhu. Berlin. Im Herzen der großen Stadt. Rollenspiel in der Welt des H. P. Lovecraft, in Jan Christoph Steines' scenario "Jahrhundertsommer" (i.e. "The Millennium Summer").
This entity is introduced in Abraham Merritt's fantasy novel "The Moon Pool" (1918) and its sequel "The Conquest of the Moon Pool" (1919) (then collected in 1948 as a whole story on Fantastic Novels magazine, divided in multiple issues), sometimes cited as an influence on The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft, which may in turn have itself influenced Merritt's later story Dwellers in the Mirage. See The Moon Pool.
Though not officially related as Great Old One, this entity is introduced by Robert E. Howard as "demon-god", very similar to Lovecraft's Great Old Ones.
This entity features in Gareth Hanrahan Warpcon XII Call of Cthulhu supplement "Verboten: Operation Faust"
This entity is introduced as a Great Old One in Call of Cthulhu roleplay game scenario "Utatti Asfet".
This entity is introduced as a in French Call of Cthulhu roleplay game scenario "Le Maître des Souffrances" (1986).
English translation of French title Le Maître des Souffrances.
This entity is introduced as Great Old One in John Gary Pettit's roleplaying game material "Ravenstone Sanitarium" (2008).
Like Thog, Xotli appears not officially related as Great Old One, though introduced in a Conan the Barbarian's story of L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter as "demon-god of Elder Night" with significant similarities with Lovecraft's Great Old Ones, besides canonical "Cthulhu Mythos" cult title.
This Great Old One is introduced in French "Call of Cthulhu" roleplay game scenario "Une Ombre Couleur Sépia" (2006) by Benjamin Schwarz.
Not to be confused with Zoth-Ommog.
According to Culhwch ac Olwen.
This entity is supposed to coincide with the vicious giant Ysbaddaden featuring in Welsh tale Culhwch ac Olwen.
Lin Carter, Descent to the Abyss.
Not Zothaqquah nor Tsathoggua.
Joseph S. Pulver, "Nightmare's Disciple"
Daniel Harms, The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana, "Azathoth", pp. 16; "Nyarlathotep", pp. 218; "Shub-Niggurath", pp. 275; "Tulzscha", pp. 304; Yog-Sothoth, p. 346.
This entity is introduced in "Eyes Between the Worlds", roleplay game scenario featuring in Kevin T. McKinnon and Dylan K. Sharpe's Call of Cthulhu RPG monograph "Tales of Dread and Wonder #1"
This entity is a creation of TOC website (
http://www.tentacules.net) and officially employed in Call of Cthulhu RPG supplement "Cthulhu Rising"
This entity is part of Call of Cthulhu RPG French edition.
Translated from French Le Interieur, referring to her location in the depths of Earth's mantle
This entity is part of Call of Cthulhu RPG French edition.
This entity is introduced in "Full de Drames", a French "Call of Cthulhu"-type role-play game scenario available at
http://www.tentacules.net/toc/toc_/scen/full_de.pdf.zip This entity is introduced in "Le Regard Dans L’Abime", a French "Call of Cthulhu"-type role-play game scenario available at
http://www.tentacules.net/toc/toc_/scen/cb_leregard.pdf.zip English translation of Olkoth, le Dieu des Arcs Célestes featuring in French "Call of Cthulhu" roleplay game scenario.
This entity is introduced in French Tentacules.net's "Call of Cthulhu" scenario available at
http://www.tentacules.net/index.php?id=5046 See James Ambuehl & E.P. Berglund's "Whiteout" (2006).
Scott D. Aniolowski's Malleus Monstrorum, p. 131.
Daniel Harms's Encyclopaedia Cthulhiana, p. 324.
Scott D. Aniolowski's Malleus Monstrorum, p. 241.
Walter C. DeBill, Jr.'s "What Lurks Among the Dunes" (2006), Black Sutra, p. 39.
This entity has been introduced without name in August Derleth's "The Lair of the Star-Spawn" (1932). The name Orryx is given in Call of Cthulhu RPG suppelement "The Creature Companion"
Daniel Harms, Encyclopaedia Cthulhiana, p. 291.
James Ambuehl, The Star-Seed
