Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia

by Daniel Harms

  In the early 19th century, a necromantic cult existed among the people of Temphill. According to legend, the worshipers convened in huge caverns beneath the graveyard on the hill, where they disinterred and reanimated the dead for the purpose of mating with them and having children with supernatural powers. The cult collapsed after a while, but it is still rumored that most of Temphill’s population still visits the church on the hill on Halloween and Christmas Eve.

  See Goatswood. (“The Church in High Street” (O), Campbell; “The Horror from the Bridge”, Campbell; “The Curate of Temphill”, Cannon and Price.)

  TEMPLE OF THE TOAD

  Fane located somewhere in the jungles of Honduras. A Native American civilization that had decayed centuries before the Spaniards arrived built the Temple as the focus of a gate to Tsathoggua’s dimension. Within the Temple’s crumbled columns rests a throne, upon which sits the mummified remains of the temple’s former high priest. A necklace bearing a gem carved into the shape of his god still encircles the mummy’s neck. According to von Junzt’s Unaussprechlichen Kulten, this gem is the key to the temple’s treasure.

  Only three explorers have ever visited the Temple of the Toad: Juan Gonzales, a Spanish explorer who visited the temple in 1793; Friedrich von Junzt, author of Unaussprechlichen Kulten; and Tussmann, an archaeologist of some note. Tussmann brought something back with him from his trip to the temple, but he died shortly thereafter, and no trace of any such items was found. A secretive cult now protects the Temple from outsiders – including the faithful of Tsathoggua.

  (“The Thing on the Roof”, Howard (O); Cthulhu Live: Lost Souls, Salmon et. al.)

  TERRIBLE OLD MAN

  Individual, known to a few as Captain Richard Holt, who lived on Water Street in Kingsport.

  Holt’s family had lived in Kingsport for generations. In his youth, he traveled to the Far East, where he had learned much of the mystical traditions of that region, and to Hungary, where he visited the Black Stone. The locals whispered about the curious carvings in his yard and the bottles with lead pendulums inside with which he held conversations at night. He paid for his purchases at the local shops with gold and silver coins, yet he had no trouble with thieves after one attempted break-in. Few visit him in his house, as he dislikes visitors.

  By modern times, Holt has vanished. His house remains intact, and many still fear the statuettes that remain on his lawn.

  (“The Strange High House in the Mist”, Lovecraft; “The Terrible Old Man”, Lovecraft (O); “The Fungal Stain”, Pugmire; “A Phantom of Beguilement”, Pugmire; Kingsport, Ross et. al.)

  THE TESTAMENT OF CARNAMAGOS

  Book by a Cimmerian oracle named Carnamagos, said to have bartered away his soul for knowledge. (Others attribute it to the Hyperboreans, claiming that the first copy was in the Tsath-yo language). The first recorded copy was discovered in a Graeco-Bactrian tomb in the year 935, along with a copy of the Book of Eibon. A monk translated the book into Greek and penned two copies in the blood of a half-demon monstrosity. The fate of the original is unknown, and the Inquisition is thought to have destroyed one of the two copies during the thirteen century.

  A person who owns the Testament should beware the curious temporal effects that accompany its reading. As a person reads the book, they and their surroundings age at a highly accelerated rate. Although this is not necessarily fatal, it can be dangerous and very unpleasant. In addition, those who have desired death should also avoid reading the invocation of Quachil Uttaus, for this being sometimes comes unbidden to such people.

  The Testament contains many records of events in both the past and future. It deals in some detail with Quachil Uttaus, gives information about the evil star Yamil Zacra, and contains an incantation to disintegrate a dead body. One section purports to describe Alexander the Great’s solution to the Gordian knot, but this might be a later addition to the text.

  See Quachil Uttaus. (History and Chronology of the Book of Eibon, Carter; “The Condemned”, Herber; “The Gordian Knot”, Price; “The Mythos Collector”, Sammons; “The Infernal Star” (fragment), Smith; “The Treader of the Dust”, Smith; “Xeethra”, Smith (O).)

  THALARION

  City with high grey walls, enormous spires, and a carved stone gate called Akariel. Thalarion is the City of a Thousand Wonders, but all who dwell inside are either madmen or demons. The city’s founder was a King Thal, whose armies were unstoppable due to the magic he found at Thalarion’s site, but who came to a grisly end nonetheless. The eidolon Lathi, who some describe as a woman with the lower body of a termite and others as being even more horrible, rules the city. The bones of those who have gazed upon Lathi lie unburied on the streets of Thalarion. Nonetheless, seekers after the truth often camp outside its walls, hoping for a glimpse of its beauty.

  See Great Trees, Sansu. (“Thalarion: City of a Thousand Wonders”, Bock; “The White Ship”, Lovecraft (O); Hero of Dreams, Lumley.)

  THALE

  1) Character in the play The King in Yellow; 2) According to Hali, the second king to blazon the Yellow Sign upon his cloak.

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

  THASAIDON (possibly also TISAIDA and THAZAIDON)

  God who represents the principle of evil. He was worshiped in Mu, though his worship will reach its height in Zothique. Taking the form of a mace-wielding warrior in full armor, he attempts to seduce mortals to his cause. The power and prestige of his victims does not matter to Thasaidon, but all of them will regret their decision in the end.

  An incantation called the “Skull of Thasaidon” causes all that view a spectral demonic visage to stare uncontrollably at it.

  Thasaidon might be another form of Nyarlathotep; though no explicit link exists, their portfolios and modus operandi seem similar.

  (“Star-Spawn of Hyperborea”, Fultz; “The Dark Eidolon”, Smith; “The Infernal Star”, Smith; “The Tomb-Spawn”, Smith (O); “Xeethra”, Smith.)

  THAT IS NOT DEAD WHICH CAN ETERNAL LIE, AND WITH STRANGE AEONS EVEN DEATH MAY DIE

  Couplet that appears in the Necronomicon of Abdul Alhazred, but that some scholars attribute to Klarkash-Ton. Many take it to refer to the Nameless City, but others have suggested a double meaning with reference to the Great Old Ones.

  See Alhazred, Abdul; Great Old Ones; Necronomicon (appendix). (“The Call of Cthulhu”, Lovecraft; “The Nameless City”, Lovecraft (O); “The Sussex Manuscript”, Pelton.)

  THAT WHICH RELENTLESSLY WAITS OUTSIDE

  See Yomagn’tho.

  THAUMATURGICAL PRODIGIES IN THE NEW-ENGLISH CANAAN (also PRODIGIES IN THE NEW ENGLAND CANAAN or THAUMATURGICAL PRODIGIES IN THE NEW ENGLAND CANAAN)

  Book by Reverend Ward Phillips of the Second Church in Arkham, Massachusetts. Two editions were published: the first in 1794, and a second expurgated publication in Boston in 1801.

  Several years after the second edition was printed, Reverend Phillips became involved in a dispute with Alijah Billington, who lived just outside Arkham. This feud seemed to center upon accusations made in Prodigies against Alijah’s ancestor Richard Billington. Shortly thereafter the Reverend tried to buy up all the copies of his book and burn them.

  This book deals with the strange happenings and supposed wizards of New England, but with especial focus upon the Arkham and Salem areas. One chapter deals with the myths of the Abenaki Native Americans. What separates this from other works such as Cotton Mather’s Wonders of the Invisible World is that Phillips’ tales have an air of authenticity the other volumes lack.

  [Lovecraft was actually the creator of Thaumaturgical Prodigies, though it never showed up in his work. Derleth found his notes and used them, changing the date of publication from 1697 to 1801. As far as I can tell, the substitution of “New England” for “New-English” comes from Sandy Petersen.]

  See Billington, Alijah; Phillips, Ward. (“The Winfield Heritance”
, Carter; “The Lurker at the Threshold”, Derleth and Lovecraft (O); “Das entsetzlich einsam gelegene Haus im Wald”, Heller; Keeper’s Compendium, Herber; “The Auction”, McCall; Call of Cthulhu Rulebook, 5th ed., Petersen and Willis.)

  THEEM’HDRA

  Continent that existed before the age of dinosaurs. In its time, it was home to many powerful wizards, including Mylakhrion, Exior K’mool, and Teh Atht. Tarra Khash was one of its most famous heroes.

  See Broken Columns of Geph; Exior K’mool; Gleeth; Khrissa; Legends of the Olden Runes; Mnomquah; Mylakhrion; Sathlattae; Tarra Khash; Teh Atht; Yibb-Tstll. (“The House of Cthulhu”, Lumley (O); “Name and Number”, Lumley.)

  THEMYSTOS’ ISLAND

  Island in the Miskatonic River in Arkham, closest to the Garrison Street Bridge. It is deserted, featuring only tall grass and rows of monoliths of unknown origin. The place has a dark reputation, often being associated with legends of Keziah Mason and tales of a stone altar where the devil held his sabbats. In more recent times, it has seen the activities of various cults. Its name is known only to a few, who claim Themystos is a worm-like being seen on the island on occasion.

  (“The Colour out of Space”, Lovecraft (O); “The Dreams in the Witch-House”, Lovecraft; Other Nations, Marsh and Marsh.)

  THERON MARKS SOCIETY

  Society founded in Arkham by a mysterious man named Theron Marks in 1920. The Society was a part-time group dedicated to destroying evidence of the Mythos. Despite its high rate of mortality and insanity, the Society survived well into the 1930s.

  (“Theron Marks Manual”, Stalin (O).)

  THING IN THE YELLOW MASK

  See Nyarlathotep (Thing in the Yellow Mask).

  THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE

  See Nyogtha.

  THOG AND THOK

  Twin moons of the planet Yuggoth. Thog has been described as a dark world, but Thok’s appearance is unknown.

  [In his poetry, Lovecraft used Thok as a variant spelling of Throk. Lupoff took the word and used it in his own fiction as a moon of Yuggoth.]

  See Ghooric Zone. (“The Color from Beyond”, Cabos; “The Pigeon-Flyers”, Lovecraft (O — Thog); “To a Dreamer”, Lovecraft (O — Thok); “Discovery of the Ghooric Zone”, Lupoff.)

  THOK, PEAKS OF (also THROK)

  Mountains in the underworld of Earth’s Dreamlands. These mountains are made of granite and are completely devoid of life. Few dreamers who see them return to tell the tale.

  [Though Throk is more commonly used, “Thok” is the name given in Lovecraft’s poetry and the corrected versions of his stories.]

  See Thog and Thok. (“The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath”, Lovecraft; “To a Dreamer”, Lovecraft (O).)

  THOTH, BOOK OF

  See Book of Thoth.

  THOTH-AMON (also THOTH-AMMON)

  Stygian high priest of Set and sorcerer of great power who was feared throughout the Hyborian lands during Conan’s time.

  Thoth began his career as a street thief in the capital of Stygia. Slaying his friend Amon who had been granted a post at the temple of the god Ibis, Thoth quickly worked his way up through the ranks, slaughtering both priests and nobles until he could bring the country to the worship of Set. King Ctesiphon gave him great honor and elevated him to the highest post in the land. Though not fully accepted by his peers, Thoth-Amon nonetheless managed to hold on to power ruthlessly through his magic and his mastery of the Serpent-Ring of Set.

  Only a few tales of Thoth-Amon have come down to us. It is rumored that at one point in his career Thoth-Amon lost the Ring of Set and became the slave of a northern outlaw. At another time, he came close to ruling the kingdom of Zingara, but Conan himself stopped him. For all of his power and reputation, nothing else is known of his feats, or even of his death.

  In modern times, scholars remember Thoth-Amon as the reputed author of the Book (or Scrolls) of Thoth and the Scrolls of Set.

  See Book of Thoth; Cobra Crown; Serpent Ring of Set. (“The Snakefarm”, Ambuehl; Conan: Book of Thoth, Busiek and Wein; Conan the Buccaneer, Carter and de Camp; “The Hour of the Dragon”, Howard; “The Phoenix on the Sword”, Howard (O); “The Ring of Set”, Tierney.)

  THOUSAND YOUNG

  Offspring of Shub-Niggurath. Some consider these to be the same as the dark young, though other encounters describe everything from small goat-like familiars to ebon giants.

  (“Tommy’s Goat”, Cartwright; “The Epiphany of Dissolution”, Davey; “The Whisperer in Darkness”, Lovecraft (O); Call of Cthulhu, Petersen and Willis.)

  THRAN

  City of the Dreamlands on the Oukranos river. It is known best for its golden spires, alabaster walls, and marble wharves. To enter, a dreamer must tell the red-robed guard at the gate three dreams beyond belief.

  See Oukranos. (“The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath”, Lovecraft; “The Silver Key”, Lovecraft (O).)

  THROK, PEAKS OF

  See Peaks of Thok.

  THUGGON

  Seemingly uninhabited world where the insects from Shaggai dwelt for a short time. Their slaves steadily disappeared, however, and when they searched for them, the shan found a black tower within a marsh, with the mutilated bodies of their servants nearby. The shan did not remain on Thuggon long thereafter.

  See shan. (“The Insects from Shaggai”, Campbell (O).)

  THUUM’HA (or THUNN-HA)

  Amphibian creatures that came from outer space to build the cities of Ib and Lh-Yib. They were mostly human in shape, but had flabby lips, bulging eyes, and a slimy hide, and they could not speak. These qualities did not endear them to the men of Sarnath, who finally destroyed them. Some Thuum’ha may still survive in Ib’s sister city Lh-Yib.

  [Lovecraft first described these beings, and Lumley created the term for them.]

  See Bokrug; Ib; Lh-yib; Mnomquah. (“Something in the Moonlight”, Carter; “The Doom that Came to Sarnath”, Lovecraft (O); Beneath the Moors, Lumley.)

  THURSTON, FRANCIS WAYLAND

  Boston anthropologist and grandnephew of George Angell. Thurston followed up on Angell’s work on the Cthulhu cult in hopes of enhancing his professional reputation. He died soon afterward near the docks of Providence, though some maintain that he will live until the return of the Old Ones.

  See Angell, George; Johansen Narrative. (Keeper’s Compendium, Herber; “The Blasphemous Enlightenment of Prof. Francis Wayland Thurston of Boston, Providence, and the Human Race”, Ligotti; “The Call of Cthulhu”, Lovecraft (O).)

  THYOPH

  Planet that, according to the G’harne Fragments, a “Nuclear Chaos” (most likely a seed of Azathoth) broke apart to create the asteroid belt.

  (Spawn of Azathoth, Herber; “In the Vaults Beneath”, Lumley (O).)

  TIANIA

  Woman born of a Muvian scientist and a woman of Thenopia who bore the blood of the Elder Gods. Her parents came to Elysia when Mu was destroyed, and left Tiania there under the care of Kthanid. She later married Titus Crow when he arrived in Elysia.

  (The Transition of Titus Crow, Lumley (O).)

  TIKKOUN ELIXIR

  Another name for holy water. This substance is said to be proof against the Great Old One Nyogtha. It provides limited protection from the cthonians and possibly other earth elementals.

  [“Tikkun” is actually a word in Jewish mysticism that refers to magical processes designed to restore the shattered and imperfect Creation to its proper form. It is likely that Kuttner found it spelled as “Tikkoun” in Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine.]

  See Cthonians; Nyogtha. (“The Salem Horror”, Kuttner (O); The Burrowers Beneath, Lumley.)

  TILLINGHAST RESONATOR (also THE ULTRAVIOLET)

  Invention of Crawford Tillinghast, a scientist from Providence, Rhode Island. According to Tillinghast, the Resonator activated vestigial sense organs in the human mind, opening them to visions of higher dimensions and their inhabitants. In 1920, Tillinghast invited his friend Franklin Rathke to a demonstration of the Resonator in his house on Benevole
nt Street. When completed, Tillinghast was dead of apoplexy, and a bullet from Rathke’s gun brought the experiment to a halt. The police questioned Rathke but released him when no link between him and Tillinghast’s death could be found.

  Rathke took up Tillinghast’s experiments, sometimes advertising in order to obtain backing for his venture. This was unsuccessful, and Rathke vanished in 1943 from his Boston apartment. The U. S. Navy had picked up on his technology, and attempted to use it to make a ship, the USS Eldridge, invisible. The test was only performed once, due to the odd and terrifying results of this experiment. Rumor has it that the Nazis attempted to use similar technology, but were unable to control it. In more recent years, miniaturized versions of the Tillinghast resonator, designed to show an individual beings from other realms, might have been perfected for certain government agencies.