The Cthulhu Mythos during the Hyborian Age?

[Nyarlathotep]

Now here's an interesting question for those who like to consider the connections between the works of HPL, CAS, and REH (and a good kind nod to Vincent for keeping the door open for such ruminations in the RPG):

What is the state of affairs of the creatures that we commonly associate under the heading of the Cthulhu Mythos?

I would like to posit a conjecture - that at this time the vast majority of Great Cthulhu and kin are in their "dead but dreaming" states of existence. The Hyborian Age is a "Mythos Dark Ages" - an era of unparalled decline for all the pre-human races of the earth.

Let us take their perspective for a second: Up until the rise of the Original Hyperborea, birthplace of an extremely Tall White Species of Human which spawned the first great Human sorceror Eibon and that may in fact be ancestors of the Giant Kings of later eras, the various Mythos races had built incredible civilizations and were in a constant state of struggle.

Cthulhu and his Star Spawn and Deep Ones fought the Elder Things in Antarctica, with the Mi-Go fighting off both sides trying to claim a piece of territory. And somehow, this state of affairs comes to an end with the whole scene crashing down on all of them. Cthulhu's dread city sinks beneath the waves, the Elder Things degenerate and lose control of their Shoggoth Servants, the Mi-Go are repelled on all sides.

Enter Yig - whose children fill the power vaccum and create Valusia and the other Serpent Kingdoms. And we of course know what happens to their civilization.

So it seems the Earth is in a "Mythos lull" - too many of the Great Old Ones suffered during their eons old wars to pose a threat - the Stars are definately Not Right in the Hyborian Age (unless an enterprising sorceror wants to lend them a hand :twisted: )

We know the Serpent People are slowly degenerating, probably the most advanced of the Mythos Races at this current juncture since Yig's siblings' servants were all exhausted from the Mythos War.

But...who else is still up and about? Opinions?

 

[kintire]

I have always considered Set to be a Mask of Nyarlathotep. he fits the profile excellently. I view the Hyborian Age as one of the high points of the Crawling Chaos' activity: teaching Black magic to men in a number of guises, spreading chaos and despair through his various tools, and generally schemeing to bring on the cataclysm that will shatter man's puny attempts at civilisation. I suspect most of the other GOOs are lying low and letting him get on with it.

 

[The King]

Nyarlathotep, there is a member on this forum called Raven Blackwell who did a great post on this issue and provided much gaming material. You can find it easily with some search.

 

[Majestic7]

I think Set would easily be Yig, Father of Serpents - I think Yig is an interesting Great Old One, since he isn't outright evil, just inhuman. I guess Crawling Chaos would work too.

If you wish to turn Hyborian deities in to beings from Cthulhu Mythos, Yog is obviously Yog-Sothoth (Lord of the Empty Abodes) and Azoth, the Dreaming One Azathoth or perhaps Cthulhu. Various gods of fertility and nature could be just different guises of Shub-Niggurath. Pantheon of Jhebbal Sag would an especially good choice for such things. Tsathoggua is already mentioned in Hyboria.

Ithaqa would be surely active and present in Hyboria, as ice claims so much of the northern areas. Ymir seems a bit far-fetched to use for him, but I guess Hyperborean death cults could really follow the Walker in the Waste. After all, the White Hand could be taken as his symbol. My personal favorite among the Cthulhu Mythos, Hastur (in a Delta Green style) would surely have countless disguises among the various societies of men. The King in Yellow might have cult with that very name in the east - it is said fell sorcerers worship something like that in Khitai. Hastur comes in so many forms, that practically any cult could be worshipping his avatar without realizing it.

I can't find much space for Cthulhu within Hyboria, however. I guess coastal Picts might have some Innsmouth-style interbreeding going on, as well as southern savages. Degenerated pirates might worship the beings of the deep in return for bountiful plunder - but there are few existing gods in Hyboria, that would seem like disguises of Cthulhu. It is possible that the Deep Ones are so numerous during Hyborian age that the cult has not yet started to actively recruit humans.

Of the creatures of Cthulhu Mythos, Mi-Go, ghouls and Deep Ones are surely present in Hyboria. I've simply turned the Hyborian ghouls in to more Lovecraftian creatures in my campaign.

In my games, I rationalize the continual existence of humankind in face of cosmic horros by their continual infighting. The god-like beings often ruins each others plans, instead of working together to destroy humanity. Humans are just insignificant playthings for them. Thus, if I would, for example, pit the player group against the cult of Cthulhu, they would eventually attract the attention of some other mythos group, such as followers of Hastur, who would actually begin to help them in their efforts. Realizing that they are fighting something terrible for something equally horrible would fit fine to the desperate hopelessness of Cthulhu Mythos.

 

[kintire]

I think Set would easily be Yig, Father of Serpents - I think Yig is an interesting Great Old One, since he isn't outright evil, just inhuman. I guess Crawling Chaos would work too.

I considered Yig, but the problem is that Set does seem to be outright evil, not just inhuman.

If you wish to turn Hyborian deities in to beings from Cthulhu Mythos, Yog is obviously Yog-Sothoth (Lord of the Empty Abodes)

Now here I would consider Yig. "the Empty Abodes" are the deserts, and snakes are a noted desert creature. Yog-Sothoth does not seem to be especially associated with the sort of very physical themes Yog seems to follow (gluttonous hunger and such)

and Azoth, the Dreaming One Azathoth or perhaps Cthulhu

Pastiche, of course, but I think the description fits Cthulhu better.

Realizing that they are fighting something terrible for something equally horrible would fit fine to the desperate hopelessness of Cthulhu Mythos.

Its a fine plot twist for a scenario, but I'd be wary about a full campaign. Conan isn't this bleak, and whatever the later RPG material may say, I'm not convinced Lovecraft is either.

 

[rgrove0172]

Ive read qite a bit of HPL over the years and would love to bring a bit of the cthulu feel into my game. Can anyone recommend a Cthulu supplement, d20 perhaps?

 

[Axerules]

Ive read qite a bit of HPL over the years and would love to bring a bit of the cthulu feel into my game. Can anyone recommend a Cthulu supplement, d20 perhaps?

You don't need to spend your hard-earned money. The King said it, Raven Blackwell, in the huge "Conan and Cthulhu" thread, did a great effort: she stated for Conan D20 a lot of creatures from the myth, wrote down spells... She compiled her work in what she called "The Crimson Tome", and made it available to other members of this forum for free. Send her a PM. BTW, Raven, if you're reading this, thanks again !

 

[Auggie]

At least we don't have to worry about insanity rolls... or do we? :shock:

 

[Aholibamah]

I think we do. There are depictions of people being driven wild or mad with terror at least temporarily in REH stories for instance.

Also there are strange places like the ruins that Conan encounters with Belit where the ape creatures are that seem themselves to cast some kind of evil spell on those who go there.

There would also be those odd alien beings that are called demons but in fact are from 'somewhere else' or another time altogether, often worshipped as local godlings. The critters in "Red Nails" and "Hawks over Shem" qualify if you think about it.

 

[Kyorou]

Thaug seemed pretty Lovecraftian to me. The creature from Vale of the Lost Women is another monster a la HPL.

But eventually, steel and muscles can overcome anything.

 

[Raven Blackwell]

Hi giys- back from teh Underworld again. 8)

I think Set would easily be Yig, Father of Serpents - I think Yig is an interesting Great Old One, since he isn't outright evil, just inhuman. I guess Crawling Chaos would work too.

I allows Yig instead to be a servitor or face of Set, perhaps like Ishanti may be. Also, a worshipper of dark gods myself I don't see Set as inherantly evil- jus not terribly happy with these upstart monkey that displaced his chosen people, the serpent men from being the dominant species. The Stygians may revere Set,, but considering with what ease he betrays them and devours them himself I say that he gives his human worshippers power and knowledge that they might destroy themselves...

If you wish to turn Hyborian deities in to beings from Cthulhu Mythos, Yog is obviously Yog-Sothoth (Lord of the Empty Abodes) and Azoth, the Dreaming One Azathoth or perhaps Cthulhu. Various gods of fertility and nature could be just different guises of Shub-Niggurath. Pantheon of Jhebbal Sag would an especially good choice for such things. Tsathoggua is already mentioned in Hyboria.

<snip>

You don't need to 'turn' Hyborian gods into Mythos beings. They can exist in conjunction with them as the younger weaker gods of the Dreamrealms exist within the 'official' Mythos.

I can't find much space for Cthulhu within Hyboria, however. I guess coastal Picts might have some Innsmouth-style interbreeding going on, as well as southern savages. Degenerated pirates might worship the beings of the deep in return for bountiful plunder - but there are few existing gods in Hyboria, that would seem like disguises of Cthulhu. It is possible that the Deep Ones are so numerous during Hyborian age that the cult has not yet started to actively recruit humans.

Of the creatures of Cthulhu Mythos, Mi-Go, ghouls and Deep Ones are surely present in Hyboria. I've simply turned the Hyborian ghouls in to more Lovecraftian creatures in my campaign.

See my entries on these creatures in the "Conan and Cthulhu" thread or "The Crimson Tome" for my thoughts on the matter....

In my games, I rationalize the continual existence of humankind in face of cosmic horros by their continual infighting. The god-like beings often ruins each others plans, instead of working together to destroy humanity. Humans are just insignificant playthings for them. Thus, if I would, for example, pit the player group against the cult of Cthulhu, they would eventually attract the attention of some other mythos group, such as followers of Hastur, who would actually begin to help them in their efforts. Realizing that they are fighting something terrible for something equally horrible would fit fine to the desperate hopelessness of Cthulhu Mythos.

That fits.

 

[Raven Blackwell]

Ive read qite a bit of HPL over the years and would love to bring a bit of the cthulu feel into my game. Can anyone recommend a Cthulu supplement, d20 perhaps?

You don't need to spend your har-earned money. The King said it, Raven Blackwell, in the huge "Conan and Cthulhu thread, did a great effort: she stated for Conan D20 a lot of creatures from the myth, wrote down spells... She compiled her work in what she called "The Crimson Tome", and made it available to other members of this forum for free. Send her a PM. BTW, Raven, if you're reading this, thanks again !

You're welcome. 8)

 

[Raven Blackwell]

Thaug seemed pretty Lovecraftian to me. The creature from Vale of the Lost Women is another monster a la HPL.

It's a nightgaunt- a creature specifically created by Lovecraft from the spirits that haunted his dreams as a child. Oddly enough, they led him to visions that would infulence a great deal of his work.

But eventually, steel and muscles can overcome anything.

Steel rusts, muscles rot- but Power endures. 8)

 

[Raven Blackwell]

At least we don't have to worry about insanity rolls... or do we? :shock:

Substitute Terror of the Unknown for these rolls. On a botch, make a test against insanity as if the character had failed a Corruption test as per the rules in the base rules for Sorcery.