The Outer Gods are various cosmically significant entities that are featured in the Cthulhu Mythos. They are to be distinguished from the Great Old Ones, although the distinction isn't universally acknowledged.
Generally speaking, they are located beyond the confines of Earth and the solar system, exerting their influence from deep space. However, there are some Outer Gods who have taken up residence on Earth.
According to some accounts they dwell in the outer voids (HPL: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath) outside of thought and existence (HPL: "Hypnos") in a "graveside" beyond Time. (HPL: "Nyarlathotep") This Last Void transcending matter and universes is accessed by the Ultimate Gate, itself beyond time and space. (HPL: "Through the Gates of the Silver Key")
They bear a striking similarity to the Out of Universe, Christian Gnostic concept of the "Demiurge", a malignant creator being acting in an unconscious and corrupted parody of the "Divine Will". It is sometimes referred to as "Yaldabaoth", a name which would not seem out of place in the Mythos, and may have influenced the name of Yog-Sothoth.
List of Outer Gods
The Lovecraft Circle Mythos
- Abhoth (CIRCLE: "The Seven Geases" [Clark Ashton Smith])
- Azathoth (HPL: "The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath")
- Cxaxukluth (CIRCLE: "Parchments of Pnom" [Clark Ashton Smith], "The Unresponding Gods" Richard L. Tierney)
- Daoloth (CIRCLE: "The Render of Veils" [Ramsey Campbell])
- Darkness (HPL: Selected Letters of H. P. Lovecraft II)
- D'endrrah (CIRCLE: "Shambleau: A Northwest Smith Adventure C. L. Moore, EXP: "La Terza Bocca di D'endrrah" [Pierre Zaplotny])
- Ghroth (CIRCLE: "The Tugging" [Ramsey Campbell])
- The Nameless Mist/Magnum Innominandum (HPL: Selected Letters 2.303, 4.617, "The Whisperer in Darkness", CIRCLE: "The Horror from the Hills", "The Shambler from the Stars", "The Shadow From the Stars")
- Noth-Yidik (HPL: "The Horror in the Museum", EXP: "The Madness Out Of Time" [Lin Carter])
- Nyarlathotep (HPL: "Nyarlathotep")
- Lilith (HPL: "The Horror at Red Hook")
- Shub-Niggurath (HPL: "The Last Test")
- Tru'nembra (HPL: "The Music of Eric Zahn", CIRCLE: "The Maze of Maal Dweb" [Clark Ashton Smith], EXP: Malleus Mostrorum)
- Tulzscha (HPL: "The Festival", EXP: Malleus Mostrorum (RPG))
- Ubbo-Sathla (CIRCLE: "Ubbo-Sathla" [Clark Ashton Smith])
- Xexanoth (CIRCLE: "The Chain of Aforgomon" [Clark Ashton Smith])
- Ycnàgnnisssz (CIRCLE: "Selected Letters of Clark Ashton Smith" [Clark Ashton Smith], EXP: "The Epistles of Eibon" [Robert M. Price; Laurence J. Cornford], "Ycnagnnisssz" [Richard L. Tierney])
- Yhoundeh (CIRCLE: "The Door to Saturn" [Clark Ashton Smith])
- Yog-Sothoth (HPL: "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward", CIRCLE: "Through the Gates of the Silver Key")
The Expanded and Adjacent Mythos
- Aiueb Gnshal (EXP: The Eyes Between the Worlds RPG Module [Kevin T. McKinnon & Dylan K. Sharpe])
- Aletheia (EXP: "La Fine dell'Oscurità")
- Azhorra-Tha (EXP: "Fragmented Sanity")
- Azoth/Azotharoth (ADJ: Marvel Graphic Novel: Conan the Barbarian: The Horn of Azoth [Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas)
- The Blackness from the Stars (EXP: "The King of Chicago" RPG Module [Gary Sumpter])
- The Cloud-Thing (EXP: "The King of Chicago" RPG Module [Gary Sumpter])
- C'thalpa (EXP: "Paris, Rêve ou Réalité" RPG Module [Dominique Balczesak et al.])
- Gi-Hoveg (EXP: "The Advent of Uvhash" [James Ambuehl])
- Haiogh-Yai (EXP: "The Outsider" [James Ambuehl])
- Huitloxopetl (EXP: "Huitloxopetl" [Meade Frierson III])
- Ialdagorth (EXP: "Servants of the Coils" [Kevin Eric Sheridan])
- Kaajh'Kaalbh (EXP: "Full de Drames" [Jeff Beney])
- Kaalut (EXP: "Genuine Article" [J.B. Lees])
- Lu-Kthu (EXP: "Correlated Contents" [James Ambuehl])
- Mh'ithrha (EXP: "Wild Hunt" [Bruce Ballon])
- Mlandoth
- Mril Thorion
- Mother of Pus (EXP: "Behold the Mother" [Richard Watts])
- Nhimbaloth (EXP: "In Search of Sanity")
- Ngyr-Korath (EXP: "Ngyr-Korath", "He Who Comes at the Noontime", "How Nohoch Koos Met the Xtaaby" [Walter C. DeBill, Jr.], H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu - The Festival #2 [Roy Thomas; R.J.M. Lofficier; Brian Bendis; David Mack; Marcus Rollie])
- Nyctelios (EXP: "Le Regard Dans L'Abime" [Patrick Bosquet])
- Olkoth (EXP: "La Voix du Christ" RPG Module [Danto, Tentacules.net])
- Ramasekva
- Shabbith-Ka (EXP: "What Goes Around, Just Comes Around" [Jeff Moeller])
- Star Mother (EXP: "Dead in Water" [Kevin A. Ross])
- Suc'Naath (EXP: "Die Goldenen Hände Suc'naaths" [Peter Schott])
- Uvhash (EXP: "The Advent of Uvhash", "The Star-Seed"[James Ambuehl])
- Xa'ligha (EXP: "Correlated Contents", "Whiteout" [James Ambuehl])
- Yibb-Tstll (EXP: "The Sister City", "Cement Surroundings", "The Horror at Oakdeene", "The Caller of the Black", "Rising with Surtsey" [Brian Lumley], "Ulthar and Beyond" [Keith Herber], "Desert Dreams" [Donald R. Burleson])
- Yidhra (EXP: "The Thing in the Library" [Crispin Burnham & E. P. Berglund], "Where Yidhra Walks", "What Lurks Among the Dunes", "Predator"[Walter C. DeBill, Jr.], Malleus Monstrorum)
- Yomagn'tho (EXP: "The Thing in the Library" [Crispin Burnham & E. P. Berglund], "The Drive", "The Feaster from the Stars" [E.P. Berglund], Strange Songs [Cabal 13])
Marvel Comics
In Marvel Comics, the Outer Gods are confused with the Great Old Ones often enough with to be categorized the same.
Only two gods have been confirmed as Outer Gods: Yog-Sothoth and Azotharoth.[1]
Cthulhu Mythos Outer Gods mentioned in the Marvel Universe but not confirmed as Outer Gods includes Azathoth (hypothesized to be Azotharoth),[2][3] Nyarlathotep (an Other God instead), Shub-Niggurath (confirmed to be either a Great Old One or Lesser Old One),[1] Lilith (used in her mythological incarnation instead, though involved in eldritch horror stories), the Magnum Innominandum, and Ubbo-Sathla (unclassified so far).
Gallery
.jpg "Larva of the Outer Gods (Internet).jpg (296 KB)")
.jpg "Servitor of the Outer Gods (Editions Sans-Detour).jpg (89 KB)")
References