The Dimensional Shamblers are a race of monsters from a different dimension that first appeared in H.P. Lovecraft's story "The Horror in the Museum". They might also be the same as the eponymous entities described in Clark Ashton Smith's story "The Hunters from Beyond"; the publication of which predates Lovecraft's tale by a year.
Overview[]
Little is known about these beings who seem capable of walking between the planes and worlds of the cosmos, never spending much time at any location. It is unknown whether they are a distinct interdimensional species or constructs created in the deep passages of time to serve a higher power, but are now free to roam where they will. Rumours suggests that these entities occasionally serve the Outer Gods and Great Old Ones, yet their individual motivations and purpose remain a mystery.
Description[]
These "hunters from beyond" appear as short crouching creatures with tight grey mummy like skin. Its head is semi ape like and semi canine, and has crooked stained fangs. Its eyes are recessed in deep eye holes and appear as yellow slits. It has long arms with huge claws. Though it has the appearance of being material the Dimensional Shamblers originate from a different dimension, making it immaterial in our world, making it unable to touch or be touched.
Origins[]
The Shamblers come from a lower dimension described as "a long, gray, oozing plain, beneath skies where the fumes of Hell were writhing like a million ghostly and distorted dragons." In this dimension thousands if not more Dimensional Shamblers live. Humans sucked into this dimension sink into the gray ooze to have their minds and souls eaten by the Shamblers.
Powers[]
The Shamblers can be called to our dimension with certain spells or pure will power, the Shamblers being keen on hunting victims. When they have chosen a victim they will attempt to suck them into their own dimension calling as many of their cohorts as needed. While they do seem to grab at the victim they actually use a form of hypnosis that can be broken by a strong willed person. Its possible that a larger amount of the Shamblers can be more powerful. When they try to suck a victim in it will seem as if the place around the Shambler disappears behind it and their own dimension will become visible.
The Shamblers can also move and appear at will in our own dimension without apparent effort. When moving around they will seem to jump between places.
Gallery[]
- Main article: Dimensional Shambler/Gallery
Behind the Mythos[]
In "The Horror in the Museum" (1933), the Dimensional Shambler is described as black in coloration and resembling something half-ape, half-insect. These traits differ it from the creatures described in Clark Ashton Smith's "The Hunters from Beyond" (1932), which are pale-grey and look more canine-like in appearance; although they've also been compared to apes. It is possible, however, that the difference in coloration at least might be due to the fact that the Shambler in "The Horror in the Museum" was long-dead; being merely a preserved hide. Then again, the fact that the "Hunters from Beyond" cannot interact with the material world properly could lead one to question whether a deceased specimen would even become tangible enough to be preserved in the first place.