Men of Leng

Homme de Leng

Around the feeble fires dark forms were dancing, and Carter was curious as to what matter of beings they might be; for no healthy folk have ever been to Leng, and the place is known only by its fires and stone huts as seen from afar. Very slowly and awkwardly did those forms leap, and with an insane twisting and bending not good to behold; so that Carter did not wonder at the monstrous evil imputed to them by vague legend, or the fear in which all dreamland holds their abhorrent frozen plateau.

— H. P. Lovecraft

This humanoid species is equipped with horns, hooves, and a dwarfish tail. Swaths of matted body fur occur in patches. The mouth is wide and toothy.

The Man of Leng’s origin and evolution are obscure. Researchers agree that resemblances to Homo sapiens are the result of convergence. In a groundbreaking dissection of a Lengite hand, Meed (1986) demonstrated musculature significantly different from that of primates.

Since prehistoric times the species has dwelt in Leng, an arid and frigid plateau. A Lengite city, Sarkomand, was ruins a million years before the first human crept out of the jungle. That civilization decayed, or fell in conflicts with races such as the Serpent People.

Long after their fall, the Men of Leng were invaded and subdued by the Moon-Beasts. They permitted their new subjects to continue to rule Leng, taking Lengite slaves as tribute: fat ones became food;

Comparative height chart

thin ones became laborers. The most human-like slaves are still used as go-betweens with humans (Fallworth, 1939).

Habitat : originating in cold stony wastes, they thrive best there (the Dreamlands Moon is perfect for them). But the species can prosper in more pleasant climes.

Distribution : the Plateau of Leng and the Dreamlands Moon, transported to the latter by the Moon-Beasts. Representatives of the species may have been conveyed elsewhere as well.

Life and Habits : the two sexes live much like humans, with the addition of certain monstrous customs. They dwell in little stone villages, keep herds of loathsome cattle, grow fields of unhealthy crops, and gleefully engage in gruesome festivals. The enthusiastically horrific treatment they reserve for human captives and visitors makes difficult their systematic study.

Distinguishing Men of Leng :

• Beings of Ib have frog-like skins and bodies, and are hairless.

• Gugs are much larger, with less humanappearing faces.

• Serpent People have snake-like heads and long tails.

Possession Most Moon-Beasts mark their Lengite slaves with patterns of raised welts and scars, showing to whom the slaves belong. In commentaries, the Moon-Beasts extoll not so much propertarian rights as the discipline imparted to slaves by the intense and extended sensations of scarification.

Fig. 41—Nibbosht clan marking, Tsiolkovski correspondence region M