Great Ones

He prayed long and earnestly to the hidden gods of dream that brood capricious above the clouds on unknown Kadath, in the cold waste where no man treads. But the gods made no answer, and showed no relenting, nor did they give any favouring sign.

— H. P. Lovecraft

Under due auspices of the alien Outer Gods, these preternatural entities loosely govern Earth’s Dreamlands. How the Great Ones obtained such sponsors and what benefit the Outer Gods derive from the relationship remains unknown.

With one exception (see Fig. 34), Great Ones resemble humans of a distinct racial type. Each has long narrow eyes, long-lobed ears, thin noses, and pointed chins—visages interestingly similar to Easter Island statues (Isinwyll, 1975). A Great One can walk through the air as easily as over the ground, and can enter other planes of existence. Some Great Ones appear to be versions of familiar Earthly deities, such as were in the Roman pantheon.

Habitat : any earthly environment.

Répartition géographique : the traditional home of the Great Ones is Kadath, associated with the Plateau of Leng. Kadath may or may not be actually located on the Plateau.

Comparative height chart

Life and Habits : Great Ones often visit human areas, even cross-breeding with us—the people of Inganok contain Great One blood (Carter, 1939). Despite their great powers, one may trap or overwhelm a Great One by using skill, wit, and hyperdimensional science, but the attempt is dangerous, and not only because Great Ones are powerful: success risks intervention by the Outer Gods, with extreme consequences for the human.

Distinguishing Great 0nes :

Several of the best-known Great Ones follow:

• Karakul, often portrayed encircled by flames, can start fires at will and is lord of entities known as the Minions of Karakul (q.v.).

• Lobon, whose spear is his personal emblem.

• Nath-Horthath, the god of Celephais, appears as a black-skinned human with blond hair and pupilless silver eyes, always accompanied by at least one lion.

• Tamash is a silver-skinned god with coal-black hair and beard, clad in cloth-of-gold, He is a master of illusion and can create apparitions and hallucinations with precision.

• Zo-Kalar is regarded as god of birth and death.

Hagarg Ryonis Great Ones ordinarily have human form. Not Hagarg Ryonis—a statuette captures her grotesque bestiality. Made of black horny plates and with six glowing eyes spaced irregularly over her body, she is about the size of a horse. Teeth and claws are of black glass, and her claws drip a slimy liquid: this Great One enjoys ambushing prey.