The Outer Darkness and Hell

[Nyarlathotep]

Are these two separate dimensions? The same?

Is Hell reserved for "ye rampaging Devils" and the Outer Darkness for "Ye Cthulhuesque Horrors"?

And how might one go visiting them? I remember vaguely that the Tree of the Stars grows on a lonely planetoid in the Outer Darkness and the Tree of Summoning is rooted in Hell itself.

 

[kintire]

REH never gives us any real insight into his cosmology. There are references to Hell, and to the Outer Dark. Hell at least seems to be a physical place (where a physical plant can have roots) and the Outer Dark seems vaguer, so I guess they are different places. Its only a guess though.

 

[thulsa]

the Outer Dark seems vaguer

I've always envisioned the "Outer Dark" as simply the dark gulfs of outer space, where Chthulhoid monsters/demons lurk.

- thulsa

 

[argo]

IMC the "Outer Dark" refers to the vast, black gulfs of outer space, though with pulpy planetary-romance conotations. The various wierd planets found out there (such as Yag) would be "worlds beyond the Outer Dark" though in actual practice many refer to the entire thing, space and planets, as the "Outer Dark".

Meanwhile Hell is a generic term to refer to the nebulous subterranean world beneath our own earth. The "Nighted Pits of Hell" are all the forgotten little crevices and crannies where horrible things ply their trade safely hidden from humanity and the light of day. These things may be forgotten remains of an ancient race or a transplanted horor from the outer dark but they like to lurk in dark lairs that are vaster and more horrible than most men have dared to imagine.

"Demons and Devils" may come from either source though they more frequently come from Hell as those beings who enjoy screwing around with humanity also prefer to stay close to their toys.

Hope that helps.

 

[emirikol]

TO pick through what REH had been exposed to at the time, would have been traditional mythology mixed with christan ideas.

Did he ever use the terms Abyss or Hades?

Bodies being lowered into the ground always symbolized their 'descent into the gray wastes' or descent into hell (not the Revelations christian hell though..but that dark place of nothingness).

Lucky for us, he wasn't too hung up on it.

jh

 

[Malcadon]

the Outer Dark seems vaguer

I've always envisioned the "Outer Dark" as simply the dark gulfs of outer space, where Chthulhoid monsters/demons lurk.

- thulsa

NO! Thats a LIE! Its shrouded in darkness because they do not want anyone to know that it IS a realm of ranbow-colored sky with gumdrops plants, lollypops trees, and ruled over by the Sugarplum-Fairy (cthulhu's true form! ). I will not go into further detales, for this is the true MaDnEsS of CtHuLhU!!! :?

Just Kiding! Thulsa is right about it. Just brew some space-mead and take a trip around the cosmos on a Mi-Go (tip well, is a long trip :wink.

 

[Mongoose Gar]

I like to link REH's stuff into Cthulhu, so I'd say Outer Darkness=Outer Space and Hell=other dimensions of spacetime.