S.Petersen's Field Guide to Lovecraftian Horrors

Page 14

Azathoth

A

Azathoth

The unknown, being likewise the unpredictable, became for our primitive forefathers a terrible and omnipotent source of boons and calamities visited upon mankind for cryptic and wholly extraterrestrial reasons, and thus clearly belonging to spheres of existence whereof we know nothing and wherein we have no part. — H. P. Lovecraft A seething nuclear chaos, Azathoth has existed since the beginning of time. Some theoreticians disturbingly suggest that Azathoth precipitated our universe. This entity is both blind and mindless, though of immense or perhaps infinite power.

Habitat : beyond normal space-time, at the center of the universe.

Advanced students of hyper-dimensional geometry or hard metaphysics occasionally bring Azathoth to Earth. Usually the being manifests as an everchanging rhythmic mass, twisting to the thin piping of tentacled Servitor attendants.

Life and Habits : on its throne, Azathoth writhes unceasingly to the thin, monotonous piping of a demon-flute, as other colossal entities slowly dance round, twisting and contorting unspeakably. Presumably their continuing deformations have cosmic significance.

Azathoth’s presence is hazardous; always attempt to dispel the entity, for an unchecked manifestation destabilizes and grows geometrically, and can devastate large areas. Manifestations of Azathoth have reached diameters of several hundred yards to several miles across. In all known cases the entity was still growing when dispelled (Billington, 1945). One prominent line of scientific thought (Moriarty, 1872; Dannseys, 1983) argues that the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was formed when Azathoth shattered the planet previously in that orbit. Given such cataclysmic potential, we emphatically recommend avoiding contact with this being.

Growth Rate picts Azathoth after This illustration below de of growth (after tes approximately two minu growth). of ges sta ve ssi cce seven su

Fig. 1—Initial growth stages.

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Distribution : Azathoth is restricted to the center of the universe, or to where it is summoned.

Distinguishing Azathoth: •

A Flying Polyp continually moves; Azathoth stays at one spot.

A Formless Spawn is smaller and always black in color.

A Servitor of the Outer Gods is much smaller and often wields a flute; normally at least one Servitor accompanies Azathoth.

A Shoggoth is unaccompanied by music or by lesser beings.

Shub-Niggurath exudes an extremely foul odor and possesses distinguishable mouths, while Azathoth has no identifiable body parts.


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Bibliography

8min
pages 128-131

Zoog

2min
pages 124-125

Nightgaunt

2min
pages 118-119

Moon Beast

2min
pages 116-117

Voonith

2min
pages 120-121

Wamp

2min
pages 122-123

Minion of Karakal

2min
pages 114-115

Magah Bird

2min
pages 110-111

Men of Leng

2min
pages 112-113

Leng Spider

2min
pages 108-109

Gug

2min
pages 100-101

Larva of the Outer Gods

2min
pages 106-107

Lamp-eft

2min
pages 104-105

Haemophore

2min
pages 102-103

Great Ones

2min
pages 98-99

Gnor

2min
pages 96-97

Fireworm of Parg

2min
pages 94-95

Cloudbeast

2min
pages 92-93

Butterfly Dragon

2min
pages 88-89

Buopoth

2min
pages 86-87

Cat from Saturn

2min
pages 90-91

Blupe

2min
pages 82-83

Being of Ib

2min
pages 80-81

Bokrug

2min
pages 84-85

Atlach-Nacha

2min
pages 76-77

Basilisk

2min
pages 78-79

Abhoth

2min
pages 74-75

Foreword on Creatures of the Dreamlands

3min
pages 70-71

Star Vampire

2min
pages 62-63

Tsathoggua

2min
pages 64-65

Yog-Sothoth

2min
pages 66-67

Star Spawn of Cthulhu

2min
pages 60-61

Shub-Niggurath

2min
pages 58-59

Shoggoth

2min
pages 56-57

Shantak

2min
pages 54-55

Servitor of the Outer Gods

2min
pages 52-53

Ithaqua

2min
pages 46-47

Nyarlathotep

2min
pages 48-49

Serpent People

2min
pages 50-51

Hound of Tindalos

2min
pages 42-43

Hunting Horror

2min
pages 44-45

Great Race of Yith

2min
pages 40-41

Flying Polyp

2min
pages 30-31

Formless Spawn

2min
pages 32-33

Ghast

2min
pages 36-37

Fungi from Yuggoth

2min
pages 34-35

Ghoul

2min
pages 38-39

Elder Thing

2min
pages 28-29

Dimensional Shambler

2min
pages 26-27

Foreword

1min
pages 7-8

Byakhee

2min
pages 16-17

Chthonian

2min
pages 18-19

Dhole

2min
pages 24-25

Azathoth

2min
pages 14-15

Deep One

2min
pages 22-23

Dark Young

2min
pages 20-21

Introduction

2min
page 11
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