i have more or less made my own Cthulhu fill world for pathfinder. but because an human and miss stuff. just wanted to here if you all had any ideas about some thing like this or any experience.
just ask if you need more details about what i done.
i have more or less made my own Cthulhu fill world for pathfinder. but because an human and miss stuff. just wanted to here if you all had any ideas about some thing like this or any experience.
just ask if you need more details about what i done.
I'd like to see more details of what you have done, plus as a reminder all the players will die or go insane, so that'll be tons of fun lol
I understand that this does not follow the true mythos, but this is my interpretations for game purposes.
In the beginning, Cthuhlu was the first being. He created all other beings to serve him. After eons of slavery, the sentient humanoids (elves, humans, etc…) found hope in stories of great heroes. These stories gave birth to Gods of every variety. The near infinite army of Gods defeated Cthuhlu, trapping him beneath the Earth’s crust; banishing all those faithful to the horror with him (Drow, Duergar, etc…). For the next several hundred years, life on the surface past with only fleeting and rare knowledge of the events that occurred. Now, in an attempt to free himself, Cthulu pushes an army of underfolk and aberrations to the surface to destroy the faiths and bring about his reign once more.
The art of adventuring has formed its own economic world on the surface as people go in search of powerful objects, dark secrets, and glory (and don’t forget mysteries unknown…).
I themed this all kind of “steampunk”. Light on technology but still with guns and stuff.
SN: Thanks to my wife for the spell check...
For the next several hundred years, life on the surface past with only fleeting and rare knowledge of the events that occurred.
Um, you mean several thousand right? Because if it's several hundred then said events would be within the lifetime of Elves, Gnomes, possibly Dwarves, and any number of fantasy species.
It might be hard to say knowledge of certain past events is "fleeting and rare" if half your population was an eyewitness.
right right my bad .......damn elves and their cancer
all those faithful to the horror with him (Drow, Duergar, etc…).
Dunno about having humanoids as his servants, i like the idea of aberrations serving him and humanoids as more of his un witting cultists/pawns
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In the beginning, Cthuhlu was the first being. He created all other beings to serve him.
Eeek. Lost me right off the bat. As a huge Lovecraft fan and amateur Lovecraft scholar, one of the reasons that I refer to it as the Mythos or the Lovecraft Mythos is that I dislike the over-emphasis that many people put on Cthulhu. Cthulhu is basically the equivalent of a demi-god within the Mythos.
Of course, if you prefer your Cthulhu-centric version, run with it. But I'll have less to contribute.
In the beginning, Cthuhlu was the first being. He created all other beings to serve him.Eeek. Lost me right off the bat. As a huge Lovecraft fan and amateur Lovecraft scholar, one of the reasons that I refer to it as the Mythos or the Lovecraft Mythos is that I dislike the over-emphasis that many people put on Cthulhu. Cthulhu is basically the equivalent of a demi-god within the Mythos.
Of course, if you prefer your Cthulhu-centric version, run with it. But I'll have less to contribute.
Yes but the main reason that people put on Cthulhu is that A. his story is the most popular one out of the entire series. and B. IIRC he is the only one of the Great Old Ones, or Elder Gods or whichever group he's a part of to be on Earth at the moment.
Though I could be wrong I'm a Lovecraft fan, but I'm not an amatuer Lovecraft scholar and it's been a while since i sat down and read the stories, so if I'm mistaken I'll bow to someone else's greater knowledge
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IIRC he is the only one of the Great Old Ones, or Elder Gods or whichever group he's a part of to be on Earth at the moment.
There are literally dozens of Great Old Ones on Earth. For serious, a man can't swing a dead cat without hitting some eldritch alien space-rapist that sleeps the sleep of aeons because the stars are not right. Off the top of my head, you've got Cthulhu, Tsathoggua, Yig, Byatis, Rhan-Tegoth, Cyaegha, Nyogtha, Ghatanatoa, Eihort, Glaaki, Shudde M'ell, Chaugnar Faugn, Cynothoglys, Ithaqua, Y'Golonac, and Atlach-Nacha.
Of course, if you prefer your Cthulhu-centric version, run with it. But I'll have less to contribute.
no by all means give me all you got i use Cthulhu because of lack of info.
i am fan of lovecraft but his work is dame hard to read some times and i have only now stared reading it so i am using what i got (witch at points is to know i dont know is not much)
Dunno about having humanoids as his servants, i like the idea of aberrations serving him and humanoids as more of his un witting cultists/pawns
and that what they more or less are to him they just see them selfs as the faithfuls. less unwilling more doped
There are literally dozens of Great Old Ones on Earth. For serious, a man can't swing a dead cat without hitting some eldritch alien space-rapist that sleeps the sleep of aeons because the stars are not right. Off the top of my head, you've got Cthulhu, Tsathoggua, Yig, Byatis, Rhan-Tegoth, Cyaegha, Nyogtha, Ghatanatoa, Eihort, Glaaki, Shudde M'ell, Chaugnar Faugn, Cynothoglys, Ithaqua, Y'Golonac, and Atlach-Nacha.IIRC he is the only one of the Great Old Ones, or Elder Gods or whichever group he's a part of to be on Earth at the moment.
I don't count Elder Dieties that aren't creations of Lovecraft, hell I don't count any stories not written by Lovecraft.
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Going just off of Lovecraft's own works, and not counting mere references that he doesn't expand on himself:
Off the top of my head, the following are based on or have a substantial presence on Earth: Cthulhu, Tsathoggua, Rhan-Tegoth, and Ghatanothoa (and I'm sure there are others that just aren't springing to my mind at the moment). Going down to a lower level of power, Earth is also home to the Great Race of Yith (in the distant past, the distant future, and displaced minds throughout history), the Flying Polyps, the Elder Things, Shoggoths, Deep Ones, and several Mi-Go outposts.
I'd also like to point out that the Spawn of Cthulhu, while often treated as vastly less powerful than Cthulhu, are never really explicitly stated by Lovecraft to be so. In fact, one alternate theory is that the monstrosity released in the third act of the story "Call of Cthulhu" is not Cthulhu himself, but merely one of his Spawn. Bob-thulhu, if you will, just happened to be snoozing closest to the door when R'lyeh rose briefly, so he stretched, had a light snack, and then settled back into his snooze.
On the power scale of the truly vast; Yog-Sothoth and Shub-Niggurath occasionally take some mild interest in matters on Earth. And Nyarlathotep seems to take a special interest in Earth. On the less blatantly malevolent side, Nodens also takes the occasional rare interest in Earthly matters.
(I am counting his "collaborations/primary revisions", as they really are more a case of ghost-writing than collaboration or revision.)
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Cleaving closer to Lovecraft, a more appropriate "creator" would be the collection of beings often refered to as the Outer Gods. Azathoth, Yog-Sothoth, Shub-Niggurath, and Nyarlathotep are really the only ones that Lovecraft mentioned by name.
Azathoth is the blind idiot god at the center of the Universe. He seems to be the most powerful being in all the Mythos. He is often seen as the embodiment of chaos, destruction, and nuclear power.
Yog-Sothoth exists in all times and places, yet is somehow often locked out of direct interaction with the mundane world. Whether this is just indifference or inability, it's hard to say. He is often seen as the embodiment of time and space. He's also a favorite of Mythos sorcerers.
Shub-Niggurath is really only referenced, never having much detail attributed. She seems to be the embodiment of fecundity/fertility.
Nyarlathotep is perhaps one of the only Mythos entities who can really qualify as "evil". He is said to act as the messenger of Azathoth's will, although he shows as much contempt for his master as he shows for all other things. Definitely the most active of the Outer Gods, he seems to take a special interest in Earth and hastening the downfall of humanity.
Best way for the universe to be created would be Azathoth accidentally creates it (along with the other Outer Gods). Yog-Sothoth, in the moment of creation, becomes entangled thoughout all time and space; Shub-Niggurath imbues it with life and makes propagation of that life an imperative, and Nyarlathotep begins to work towards destroying it all. Azathoth, being a blind idiot god, isn't even aware that a universe or other beings were created.
Going just off of Lovecraft's own works, and not counting mere references that he doesn't expand on himself:
Off the top of my head, the following are based on or have a substantial presence on Earth: Cthulhu, Tsathoggua, Rhan-Tegoth, and Ghatanothoa (and I'm sure there are others that just aren't springing to my mind at the moment). Going down to a lower level of power, Earth is also home to the Great Race of Yith (in the distant past, the distant future, and displaced minds throughout history), the Flying Polyps, the Elder Things, Shoggoths, Deep Ones, and several Mi-Go outposts.
I'd also like to point out that the Spawn of Cthulhu, while often treated as vastly less powerful than Cthulhu, are never really explicitly stated by Lovecraft to be so. In fact, one alternate theory is that the monstrosity released in the third act of the story "Call of Cthulhu" is not Cthulhu himself, but merely one of his Spawn. Bob-thulhu, if you will, just happened to be snoozing closest to the door when R'lyeh rose briefly, so he stretched, had a light snack, and then settled back into his snooze.
On the power scale of the truly vast; Yog-Sothoth and Shub-Niggurath occasionally take some mild interest in matters on Earth. And Nyarlathotep seems to take a special interest in Earth. On the less blatantly malevolent side, Nodens also takes the occasional rare interest in Earthly matters.
(I am counting his "collaborations/primary revisions", as they really are more a case of ghost-writing than collaboration or revision.)
Okay, I'm amending my argument to the fact that out of all the names Cthulhu is the most fun to say, therefore he's the popular.
CTHULHU CTHULHU CTHULHU!!!! See? Fun to say.
Okay, I'm amending my argument to the fact that out of all the names Cthulhu is the most fun to say, therefore he's the popular.
CTHULHU CTHULHU CTHULHU!!!! See? Fun to say.
Lies: Nyarlathotep, i mean look at those sounds, they're everywhere <3
also: Shub-Niggurath isn't quite as spiffy, but still satisfying.Cthulhu just looks like a sea monster compared to all the others (excluding ones that are speficially said to look like Cthulhu)
He who must not be named has a name that is pretty fun to say. Go ahead, you know you want to.
Edit: Dammit! You were so lucky!
wow ......ok i have more reading to do ....
but any way
as far as big bad guys go ...
i like the spawn "bob-thulthu" that to me adds a lvl of hopelessness i like.
how if i should have Yog-Sothoth, Nyarlathotep and Shub-Niggurath would this elder gods not like the the huge mass creation of minor gods giving power to the masses. what are their them how would they fit in to a game.
the Flying Polyps, the Elder Things, Shoggoths, Deep Ones, and Mi-Go are they worth putting in my game or is that going over my head
and one last thing is i make "bob-thuthu" a Tarrasque with a tentacles leading a army of tsochar using wizard "Eager suits" and Aboleth and their piles of slaves to the surface where do that put all the other guys
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I don't count Elder Dieties that aren't creations of Lovecraft, hell I don't count any stories not written by Lovecraft.
Hm. ONLY Lovecraft creations?
That does narrow it down to only Cthulhu, Yig, and Rhan-Tegoth on the Great Old One side of things. It also only sees us with Azathoth, Nyarlathotep, Yog-Sothoth, and Shub-Niggurath on the Outer Gods front; only ONE of those four ever actually featuring directly in any completed stories.
I guess it leaves the field wide open for interpretation, and keeps it from becoming a Mythos Hoedown.
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Off the top of my head, the following are based on or have a substantial presence on Earth: Cthulhu, Tsathoggua, Rhan-Tegoth, and Ghatanothoa (and I'm sure there are others that just aren't springing to my mind at the moment).
Whoops. Did forget Ghatanothoa. But Tsathoggua is a Clark Ashton Smith creation, so we can't use him by SwnyNerdgasm's criteria.
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Whoops. Did forget Ghatanothoa. But Tsathoggua is a Clark Ashton Smith creation, so we can't use him by SwnyNerdgasm's criteria.
Yeah, Smith created Tsathoggua, but I seem to remember quite a bit about him being in "The Mound". So while Lovecraft didn't create him, he did write a decent bit about him (more than Shub-Niggurath, at least).
It seems to me the original poster is shooting for a "Lovecraft" feel and theme not necessarily a direct copy and past here.
You could do a very Lovecraft-eque campaine without a single Lovecraft reference.
Some suggestions I would make...
Dont use Drow, Duergar, etc.. as minions of Cthulhu. They are to common, everyone knows them as enemies. Everyone is used to fighting them. Take a few stats of some creatures and then paste a very Lovecraft-sque face on it. Have these "new minions" be things the Players have not encountered in other campains.
Go with existing monsters that are truely alien. Beholders are good, but change them up a bit, maybe swap out those eye stalk powers for a few powers a bit more mind-warping. How about a Gibbering Mouther, rattling off the names of ancient horrors to drive your players insane.
Paranoia, ememies that can possess or shapeshift. The players will never know who they can trust. Make it hard for them to trust anyone. Make them doubt even people written into their character backgrounds. Make them doubt the other players.
"Did the rogue really fail to pick that lock or was he just saying that to keep us out of that room?"
How was Cthulhu bound? What about if across the land there is a series of temple, fortresses, keeps, castles, towers, etc.. that each was fashion 1000s of years ago as part of a HUGE binding circle that traps the great old one. These sites need to be found and destroyed or neutralized so that he may be freed. The modern world may have forgotten that these sites are special and for what reason. Maybe their are secret societys that have formed to guard specific ones that have atleast a small bit of the truth on a few rare pages of books they have found. They guard these sites knowing the bind something bad but may not know what it is.
true this is more that i was going for but how do i build that untrust
the man bad things my pc have fought so far are the dark-folk(they have been stealing supplies to breed more tsochar then host them in there bodies as well as the bodies of slaves) they are being lead by a tsochar pertest to cthulhu who need to eat magic energies from magic items to become fertile then rape some one highly magical hopefully the group alchemist(muhahahahaha) but the pc dont know all of that just that dark-folk stole the alchemist's stuff and they went in to a dark hole to get it. they have used unreal team work
cthulhu's bounds i was going to use the vaults things from "into the darklands" this one being held together by the faith in the gods when the people stop having faith in the gods they lose there power and cthulhu gets free and that what the under-folk and more so the aberrations are working toward kill/taking over/in slaving the faiths
cthulhu's bounds i was going to use the vaults things from "into the darklands" this one being held together by the faith in the gods when the people stop having faith in the gods they lose there power and cthulhu gets free and that what the under-folk and more so the aberrations are working toward kill/taking over/in slaving the faiths
Destroying faith is an incredibly hard thing to do. Hope is hard to crush. Doing it on a global scale would be nigh impossible. Perhaps, instead of hinging upon the loss of faith in the gods, the cultists plan instead to "awaken" the innocent masses to the truth of their cosmic insignificance by amplifying the very power that drew them to worship mighty Cthulhu - his Call.
If you read the Call of Cthulhu you'd remember that his psychic calling drove numerous people to commit suicide or to go mad when heard by the more sensitive type of people in the world - artists, dreamers and psychics. Perhaps the tsochar may seek to enhance this call through some great plan or design, so that when all those peoples of the surface hear the calling of the great old one and understand the truth of how insignificant they and their gods are, that this causes massive riots, murders, wars and the collapse of civilization, weakening the various holy (and unholy) sites that act as loci for a massive binding seal that keeps the great lord in his death-like state.
Just a thought.
mmmmmmmmmm thats really good ...............
i will now shamelessly steal that from you
and again thank you for your input
mmmmmmmmmm thats really good ...............
i will now shamelessly steal that from youand again thank you for your input
It's not stealing if it is given freely. :)
And you're welcome. Anytime you have a question in regards to the Mythos, just holler.
i got one should i worry about the other elder gods and such or is it not worth the reading to add to my game?
i got one should i worry about the other elder gods and such or is it not worth the reading to add to my game?
It really depends upon what you want for your game, but personally, I suggest reading all the Lovecraft you can, if for no other reason than inspiration.
Mostly, it's your game and up to you whether you want any of the other great old ones to even exist on your world. :)
lovecraft .......so hard to read ......but so dame good .......but not before bed time......
lovecraft .......so hard to read ......but so dame good .......but not before bed time......
Are you kidding? That's the best time to read Lovecraft, especially his Dream Cycle stuff like the Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath. And I have found his Dreamlands creatures and locations to be easier to translate to a fantasy game than other creations of his.
ho god i read the one about the guy in the cave (i cant remember what the tilde was called) only nightmare of my since i was 12, i got up sweating and the story it self was not that bad.
lol ya that what i thought but did not want to be wrong.......
so edit*i read "the cave" before bed.....