| “ | …a tall, lean man of dead black coloration but without the slightest sign of negroid features: wholly devoid of either hair or beard, and wearing as his only garment a shapeless robe of some heavy black fabric. His feet were indistinguishable because of the table and bench, but he must have been shod, since there was a clicking whenever he changed position. The man did not speak, and bore no trace of expression on his small, regular features. He merely pointed to a book of prodigious size which lay open on the table. | „ | |
| ~ HPL , The Dreams in the Witch-House |
The Black Man is an avatar of Nyarlathotep who coerces people into signing the black Book of Azathoth. Has a prominent role in The Dreams in the Witch House.
Appearance[]
The Black Man is usually portrayed as a dark-skinned bald man dressed in a robe. When traveling in the fourth dimension he looks like a large wisp. He leaves half-circle-shaped prints behind him, suggesting that he has hoofed feet. he can also appear as a pale-skinned man with very dark hair and dressed in a suit and top hat. The protagonist of the story The Peabody Heritage describes him as a "monstrous black man, not a black man, but a man of blackness such that he was literally darker than night, but with blazing eyes, as if they were made of fire".
The Book of Azathoth[]
The main mission of the Black Man is to recruit acolytes by having them sign the Book of Azathoth with their blood. Those who do this swear eternal allegiance to Azathoth and Nyarlathotep, then being obligated to serve them until the end of days.
To earn acolytes, this Nyarlathotep avatar enlists the help of the witch Keziah Mason and Brown Jenkin, Keziah's right hand man.
Another way of attracting more but less faithful acolytes used by the Black Man is to gather large masses of people captivating them with shows and modern gadgets and then brainwash them by showing them miracles and resorting to demagoguery.
The Great Horned One[]
In Ramsey Campbell's story The Faces at Pine Dunes, a character known as "The Great Horned One" is featured. He is also associated with covens and witches and seems to be linked in some way to the Black Man. However, this similarity could be a simple coincidence, as there is no clarification on this point. It is possible, however, that he is related to another of Nyarlathotep's avatars, The Horned Man.