Larva of the Outer Gods

Larve des Autres Dieux

That hellish bird plunged onward through shoals of shapeless lurkers and caperers in darkness, and vacuous herds of drifting entities that pawed and groped and groped and pawed, the nameless larvae of the Outer Gods, that are like them blind and without mind, and possessed of singular hungers and thirsts.

— H. P. Lovecraft

A Larva of the Outer Gods may take any of an infinite number of weird shapes and conformations. Many are shape-changers. Any Larva is immortal and nearly impossible to destroy (Barzai, 1572). Although a Larva does not need to eat to survive, it always reacts hungrily or curiously to the passage of travelers. Every voyager is alarmed by these great and ominous forms but, so long as one keeps moving, Larvae rarely become dangerous.

Habitat : Outer Space.

Distribution : Likely the entire universe.

Life and Habits : at the center of the universe, the Outer Gods writhe and dance eternally around Azathoth, the Demon Sultan. Periodically a blast of consciousness from an Outer God provokes a Larva into existence. Once created, it is ignored and left to wander into the universe (Dannseys & Marsh, 1972). Most Larvae drift forever through planetary/ interstellar/intergalactic space, scattered without end, unaffected by heat, cold, light, darkness, or gravity.

Comparative height chart

Occasionally, however, for unknown reasons and in an unknown way, a Larva is stimulated into a gradual transformation: over decades or perhaps centuries (Isinwyll, 1987), the movement of the thing becomes purposeful and an orbit can be detected. Once so-moving, its appearance normally “thickens” indefinably. At the end of an often-lengthy journey, the Larva leaves outer space to reside on a planet, a dark star, or other interstellar object. As millennia pass, the new resident gains in strength and power to become a full-fledged Outer God, after which it may begin the eons-long trip to Azathoth’s throne.

The great majority of Larvae remain forever in the original larval state. Many more make only a partial journey—transforming into Outer Gods, but then becoming permanent and unwelcome habitants of the worlds to which they came, never leaving to join the mindless spasms of Azathoth. Great Old Ones are no longer believed to be nascent Outer Gods, and should not be confused with Larvae.

Distinguishing Larva of the Outer Gods :

• The infinity of larval shapes makes useful distinction impossible. Rely upon their habitat (outer space) and behavior to identify them.

Comparative Growth Figure 38a shows a first-stage Larva, at drift in the universe: its length is about 15 feet (5m). Figure 38b depicts the second-stage of the Larva, now planet-bound: it is now about 131 feet (40m) across, and nearly that tall.