Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia

by Daniel Harms

  See Geph Transcriptions; Ptetholites; Walmsley, Gordon. (“The Caller of the Black”, Lumley (O); “The Return of the Deep Ones”, Lumley; “Rising with Surtsey”, Lumley; “The Sorcerer’s Dream”, Lumley; The Transition of Titus Crow, Lumley.)

  BROTHERHOOD OF THE BEAST

  Organization founded in the twelfth century by a Chinese sage and a Romanian noble, so that the prophecy of Nophru-Ka, an Egyptian priest of the XIV Dynasty, might be fulfilled. The Brotherhood’s founders led the followers of Nophru-Ka from their exile in G’harne and brought them to Europe to intermarry. As this assimilation of Egyptian blood into the European population progressed, the Brotherhood kept detailed genealogical records of these matings. They hoped that one day a child would be born who would fulfill the high priest’s prophecy and aid Nyarlathotep in returning to Earth.

  Over the centuries, the Brotherhood has gained a great deal of power and has greatly expanded its membership as it continues to strive toward its goals. It has failed in several of its schemes, however, such as an attempt to found a country in Eastern Europe in the territory of the Teutonic Knights. More recently, the Brotherhood, having realized that the time of the Old Ones’ return is approaching, has begun preparations for a great globe-spanning operation calculated to destroy much of human civilization.

  See Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh. (“The Brotherhood of the Beast”, Herber (O).)

  BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLACK PHARAOH

  Cult devoted to the return of the Black Pharaoh avatar of Nyarlathotep. The group’s leadership has remained primarily Egyptian, but in recent years its branches have been attracting members from all backgrounds and nationalities. This group has known affiliations with the Cult of the Bloody Tongue, the Starry Wisdom church, and the Brotherhood of the Beast. One sub-cult of this group, the Children of the Sphinx, is dedicated to the production of animal-headed composite mummies.

  See Nyarlathotep (Black Bull). (Cairo Guidebook, Anderson; Masks of Nyarlathotep, DiTillio and Willis (O).)

  BROTHERS OF CHAUGNAR FAUGN

  Creatures that look like smaller versions of Chaugnar Faugn. When the Miri Nigri took Chaugnar to the East, the Brothers remained beneath the Pyrenees, to Chaugnar’s great displeasure. They have been known to come forth from the mountains and wreak havoc when Chaugnar Faugn himself is active. When Chaugnar awakens and devours the world, his brothers will be awakened to join him and be devoured by their master.

  See Chaugnar Faugn. (The Horror from the Hills, Long (O).)

  BROTHERS OF THE YELLOW SIGN (also CULT OF THE YELLOW SIGN)

  Cult of Hastur in his form of the King in Yellow. There are conflicting accounts of its origins; some say it began among the serpent people of Valusia, but it seems more likely that it started in the underground land of K’n-yan. Whatever the source, it now enjoys a small following among humans.

  The Brothers identify each other through hand signs or by rings or pendants with a yellow stone. Occasionally they congregate to destroy mi-go outposts and to worship Hastur and Shub-Niggurath. One of their secondary goals is the suppression of archaeology in the Gobi Desert, where they hold their most sacred rites. It has been suggested that the Cult of the Yellow Sign founded every religion ever created to strengthen the Great Old Ones, but this sounds unlikely.

  See Hastur; Yellow Sign. (Keeper’s Compendium, Herber; “The Whisperer in Darkness”, Lovecraft (O); The Illuminatus! Trilogy, Shea and Wilson.)

  BROWN JENKIN

  Rat-like being with tiny paws like hands and a human face. According to Essex County court records, Keziah Mason claimed Brown Jenkin was her familiar. Though the witch herself has been dead for three centuries, reports from as far away as England, but centering in Mason’s home city of Arkham, have spoken of reports of her familiar’s ghost. Bones found when Arkham’s Witch-House was demolished in 1931 confirm at least that the creature existed.

  See Mason, Keziah; rat-things. (“The Dreams in the Witch-House”, Lovecraft (O); Prey, Masterton; “Small Ghost”, Minnis.)

  BUGG-SHASH

  Great Old One who takes the form of an inky blackness covered with many eyes and mouths which make a chittering sound. Sorcerers have known Bugg-Shash since Atlantean times and called it into this dimension.

  Bugg-Shash may be called up quite easily, though it is important that the “Pentacle of Power” should imprison him when summoned. The would-be summoner should also be quick in telling Bugg-Shash where it may find a victim, or Bugg-Shash may take the caster instead. Bugg-Shash can only exist in darkness, but bringing the Great Old One into the light will not banish it permanently. Bugg-Shash must remain in this dimension until it has found and feasted upon a victim, after which it will return to its home. It may also have power over the dead, so those dealing with it should be especially cautious.

  Bugg-Shash is known to be one of the servants of Yog-Sothoth. Though often included among the Great Old Ones, some say that it is in fact only one of the parasites that feed off such beings. It is considered especially close in nature to Yibb-Tstll, and both are often classified as the “Drowners”, a term of uncertain meaning.

  [As far as I can tell, Lumley had mentioned Bugg-Shash in “Rising” before he read Sutton’s “Demoniacal”. Though Sutton’s story did not mention Bugg-Shash, Lumley wrote “Kiss” as a sequel which attached the name “Bugg-Shash” to Sutton’s monster.]

  See Cthaat Aquadingen; Mad Berkley’s Book; Necronomicon (appendices); Notes on the Cthaat Aquadingen; Sathlattae. (Elysia, Lumley; “The Kiss of Bugg-Shash”, Lumley; “Rising with Surtsey”, Lumley (O); The Transition of Titus Crow, Lumley; “Demoniacal”, Sutton.)

  BUGG-SHOGGOG

  Mysterious word at the lips of Wilbur Whateley upon his death. Interpretations include that it was part of an invocation to Yog-Sothoth, a generic term for an offspring of Yog-Sothoth, the title of Whateley’s brother, or Wilbur’s own name in Yian-Ho when the earth was cleared off. A seal of Bug-Shaggog, Grim Sentinel of Ild-Ryn, is employed in the Book of Eibon to ward off those unworthy of its rites.

  (“The Dunwich Horror”, Lovecraft (O); R’lyehian as a Toy Language, Marsh; “The Grey Rite of Azathoth”, Pulver; “Acute Spiritual Fear”, Price; Necronomicon, Tyson.)

  BUOPOTHS

  Shy creatures of the Dreamlands that leave their forests to drink from the river Oukranos. Buopoths appear to be small elephants with brightly-colored hide and ridges on their backs, but in truth they are more closely related to the Rhinogradentia, or snouters. They are especially fond of the root of the tofflebol bush.

  (“The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath”, Lovecraft (O); S. Petersen’s Field Guide to Creatures of the Dreamlands, Petersen et. al.)

  BYAGOONA

  Being called “the Faceless One” to whom a “Secret Parable” is attributed. Byagoona was born to a creature named “Lu-Kthu” in the “Great Vortex”. Byagoona’s “Secret Parable” supposedly refers to his arrival on Earth at the time of the lost civilization of Altuas. At that time, Byagoona was known as the Lord of the Dead who would bring the dead to life and then feed upon their essences. He was said to bestow a great boon — those who created a statue of him from their own hands would be remembered forever. In later times, Byagoona became known as Nyarlathotep.

  See Nyarlathotep. (“The Bane of Byagoona”, Ambuehl; “The Faceless God”, Bloch; “The Grinning Ghoul”, Bloch (O); “The Sphinx of Abormis”, Cornford.)

  BYAKHEE

  Creatures resembling bats, birds, moles, and rotting corpses, but not quite like any of them. Byakhee were once intelligent inhabitants of a city drawn into Carcosa, an experience which drove their species mad. Some say they made a deal with Hastur to support them in a conflict that led to their home world’s destruction. The byakhee now dwell in Carcosa and interstellar space, though they have been known to frequent Yuggoth and other worlds.

  Byakhee serve the Great Old One Hastur, and are often involved in his rituals. They are also used as mounts that may carry a rider between the stars, pro
vided that they have drunk space-mead. By activating an organ in its abdomen called a hune, the byakhee creates a state that allows it to span interstellar distances so quickly that it may seem to be teleportation to the unknowing spectator.

  To summon a byakhee, the wizard waits until a night when Aldebaran is above the horizon. Then they blow a special whistle and chant the following words:

  Iä! Iä! Hastur! Hastur cf’ayak ‘vulgtmm, vulgtmm, vulgtmm! Ai! Ai! Hastur!

  After this is done, the byakhee will fly down from space to the caster. Usually an Elder Sign is also required.

  [Call of Cthulhu has taken its description of the byakhee from the creatures in Lovecraft’s “The Festival,” but it is uncertain whether Lovecraft and Derleth’s creations are one and the same.]

  See Hastur; Legends of the Olden Runes; space-mead. (“The Book of the Gates”, Carter; “The House on Curwen Street”, Derleth (O); “The Watcher from the Sky”, Derleth; Delta Green: Countdown, Detwiller et. al.; Secrets of Japan, Dziesinski; S. Petersen’s Field Guide to Cthulhu Monsters, Petersen et. al.; Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia, Ward with Kuntz.)

  BYATIS

  Great Old One known as “serpent-bearded Byatis” and “the Berkeley Toad.” As its titles imply, it appears much like a multi-colored, one-eyed, shimmering toad with a proboscis, crab-like pincers, and a row of tentacles below its mouth. Byatis is capable of hypnotizing those it chooses to prey upon, and with each victim devoured by Byatis, the Great Old One grows larger.

  According to Prinn’s De Vermis Mysteriis, obeisances made to Byatis’ image, which the deep ones brought to earth, called up the Great Old One. The serpent-men of Valusia and the people of the lost continent of Mu worshiped Byatis later on. His cult was strongest in Britain, where the people worshiped him as a fertility god, merging his cult with that of the Greek monster Medusa whom traders had brought to them. Many years later, Roman legionnaires occupying Britain’s Severn River Valley discovered Byatis behind a stone door in an ancient camp. Horrified by what they saw, they imprisoned it with a five-pointed star before continuing on their way.

  From time to time, Byatis broke free of its prison to stalk and feast upon its victims, creating the legend of the “Berkeley Toad,” a monster whose activities were centered on that town. During the 18th century, the wizard Sir Gilbert Morley purchased the Norman castle where Byatis had been chained. In return for sacrifices, Byatis allowed him to communicate with the other Great Old Ones. One day, after Morley had closed the prison of Byatis, he vanished and was never seen again.

  Some sources label Byatis as the son of Yig. It has been said that the Greek worshiped Byatis under the name “Hypnos”, though the two beings have seemed quite different in appearance and motivations when encountered.

  See Atlantis; Camside; De Vermis Mysteriis; deep ones; Notes on Witchcraft…; Revelations of Glaaki; serpent-people. (“The Shambler from the Stars”, Bloch (O); “The Room in the Castle”, Campbell; “Zoth-Ommog”, Carter; “Unseen”, Love; “The Beard of Byatis”, Price.)

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  CABALA OF SABOTH

  Book of divine (?) lore that may have appeared around 100 BC. A Greek translation of the Cabala was made in 1686, and one copy in Yiddish has also been found. The book contains much angel lore, and the title suggests that it may cover many esoteric topics of Jewish mysticism.

  (“The Mannikin”, Bloch; “The Secret in the Tomb”, Bloch (O); Keeper’s Compendium, Herber; “Beneath the Tombstone”, Price.)

  CABOT MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY

  Institution in Boston’s Beacon Hill district that specializes in ancient artifacts not classified as art. The date the Cabot Museum was founded is unknown, but the famous architect Charles Bulfinch helped to design the western wing dedicated to mummies in 1819.

  Until 1932, the museum was famous among scholars for its collections, though few of the public knew of its existence. In the spring of that year, however, a visiting member of the press noticed a mummy found on a Pacific island, and soon the museum was awash with visitors. Events came to a head on December 1st, when two intruders died while trying to steal the mummy. Within the following year, many of the staff died mysteriously, and the museum went into a decline which was only halted in 1940, when Miskatonic University took over the collection.

  See Chandraputra, Swami; Chateau des Faussesflammes. (“Out of the Aeons”, Lovecraft (O); Ex Libris Miskatonici, Stanley.)

  CAMILLA

  Character from The King in Yellow.

  See King in Yellow. (“The Repairer of Reputations”, Chambers (O); “Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?”, Ross.)

  CAMSIDE

  Village located between Severnford and Berkeley in the Severn River Valley. Byatis, or the Berkeley Toad, often prowled near this town during its brief freedom. Beneath a house in this town is an entrance to Eihort’s labyrinth.

  See Legendry and Customs of the Severn Valley. (“The Church in High Street”, Campbell (O); “The Room in the Castle”, Campbell.)

  CARCOSA

  Alien city in the Hyades on the shore of the Lake of Hali (though others have placed it in the Gobi Desert or near the Lake of Galilee). Carcosa is a metropolis of tall, black buildings, mysterious events, and inexplicable sounds and sights. The architecture varies widely in style, and a traveler’s surroundings often change when his or her attention is elsewhere. Across the lake from the city is the palace of Yhtill, where the coming of the King is re-enacted for all eternity. Overhead are the planet’s two moons, as well as Aldebaran and the Hyades.

  Carcosa has connections to our world, though these are often tenuous. Portals, sometimes in the form of works of art, can conduct a person into Carcosa. In addition, a city found to be degraded enough may be incorporated into Carcosa wholesale, after an evaluation of its worthiness by the Pallid Mask.

  Very few have visited Carcosa and returned to tell the tale. It is here that the play The King in Yellow takes place. It has been said that Carcosa was the original home of humanity.

  [Bierce’s original description of Carcosa as a city completely in ruins is not borne out in the work of subsequent authors.]

  See byakhee; Celaeno Fragments; Hali; Hastur; King in Yellow; Naotalba; Pallid Mask; Revelations of Hali; Uoht; Yellow Codex; Yellow Sign; Yhtill. (“An Inhabitant of Carcosa”, Bierce (O); “The Yellow Sign”, Chambers; Delta Green: Countdown, Detwiller et. al; “Tatterdemalion”, Love, Ross, and Watts; “Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?” Ross; The Illuminatus! Trilogy, Shea and R. Wilson; House of the Toad, Tierney.)

  CARTER, (DOCTOR?) RANDOLPH (1873–1928?)

  Boston author and mystic. Carter’s family was of an old and distinguished line. His ancestor Geoffrey Carter, a Crusader, was imprisoned for eleven years at Alamut, and an Edmund Carter was nearly hung during the Salem witch-trials. Beginning at the age of ten, Randolph himself began to show a gift for prophesying the future that never left him.

  In his early years, Randolph Carter became known as one of the Dreamlands’ greatest travelers. The people of that land still tell the tale of his journey to Kadath in the Cold Waste to ask for the sunset city of his dreams, possibly the greatest task undertaken by any dreamer. As Carter grew older, however, his dream-voyages became less and less frequent, until at the age of thirty they ceased entirely. It was at this time that Carter began a search for personal meaning that would last the rest of his life.

  During World War I, Carter served in the French Foreign Legion. It was here that he made the acquaintance of Etienne-Laurent de Marigny, a fellow dreamer with whom he travelled into the crypts below the town of Bayonne and forged a friendship that would last for years. He returned home after being nearly killed near the town of Belloy-en-Santerre.

  After his discharge, Carter returned to the United States. Shortly thereafter, he became the pupil of Harley Warren, a scholar who had delved deeply into the occult. One night, Warren vanished after Carter accompanied him to a cemetery in Florida. The police questione
d Carter, who gave them a strange account of what had happened, but he was released due to lack of evidence.

  Randolph Carter was a writer of great ability, though he was not well known during his lifetime. His book A War Come Near, published in 1919, detailed his wartime experiences, and his horror story “The Attic Window”, printed in the magazine Whispers in 1922, was so disturbing that many newsstands kept the issue off their shelves. (Shortly after writing it, Carter and a friend were found near Meadow Hill with strange injuries that they never explained.) Carter is best known, though, for his fantasy novels. His earlier ones, written during his years of dreaming, met with little success. The later, more sophisticated ones garnered him some attention, but by the time of his disappearance, Carter had burnt all of his manuscripts, having found his career as an author unsatisfying.

  On October 7, 1928, Randolph Carter vanished in the ruins of his family’s ancestral mansion outside Arkham. Searchers discovered his car and a handkerchief that might have belonged to him, but no other trace of Randolph Carter was ever found. A few of his friends asserted that Carter had gone back to the land of dreams to become the king of Ilek-Vad, but this speculation was not taken seriously.