Necronomicon
Ye Book of the Laws of the Dead
As recorded by Abdul Al-Hazred, the Mad Arab
Translated from the Latin of Olaus Wormius
-by-
Dr. John Dee
The Year of Our Lord
One Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty Two
THIS is the
testimony of all that I have seen, and all that I have learned, in those years
that I have possessed the Three Seals of THE BLACK CITY. I have seen One
Thousand-and-One moons, and surely this is enough for the span of a man's life,
though it is said the Prophets lived much longer. I am weak, and ill, and bear
a great tiredness and exhaustion, and a sigh hangs in my breast like a dark
lantern. I am old.
This is the book of the laws and practices of the sleeping dead, written by
myself, Abd Al-Hazred - the great sorcerer and poet. With the secrets in this
book I have spoken with dark spirits, who have furnished me with many riches,
both in the form of money and knowledge, I have even learned the unlearnable
knowledge of the divine ones, such is the power of what I learned. I have also
learned of the Old Spirits, who lived before man, and still live dreaming, and
they are very terrible. It was a face of one of these very spirits that
initiated me into this powerful magic.
The wolves
carry my name in their
And if I do not finish this task, take what is here and discover the rest, for
time is short and mankind does not know nor understand the evil that awaits it,
from every side, from every Gate, from every broken barrier, from every
mindless acolyte at the alters of madness.
For this is the Book of the Dead, the Book of the Black Earth, that I have writ
down at the peril of my life, exactly as I received it, on the planes of the Empty
Space, the cruel celestial spirits from beyond the Wanderers of the Wastes.
Let all who read this book be warned thereby that the habitation of men are
seen and surveyed by that Ancient Race of gods and demons from a time before
time, and that they seek revenge for that forgotten battle that took place
somewhere in the Cosmos and rent the Worlds in the days before the creation of
Man, when the Elder Gods walked the Spaces, the race of AZATHOTH, and of NYARLATHOTEP
our MASTER, the Lord of Magicians.
Know, then, that I have trod all the Zones of the Gods, and also the places of
the Old Ones, and have descended unto the foul places of Death and Eternal
Thirst, which may be reached through the Gate of GANZIR, which was built in the
EMPTY SPACE, in the days before
Know, too, that I have spoken with all manner of spirit and daemon, whose names
are no longer known in the societies of Man, or were never known. And the seals
of some of these are writ herein; yet others I must take with me when I leave ye. AZATHOTH have mercy on my soul!
I have seen the Unknown Lands, that no map has ever
charted. I have lived in the deserts and the wastelands, and spoken with demons
and the souls of slaughtered men, and of women who have dies in childbirth,
victims of the she-fiend LAMMASHTA.
I have traveled beneath the Seas, in search of the
I have traveled among the stars, and trembled before the Gods. I have, at last,
found the formulae by which I passed the Gate ARZIR, and passed into the
forbidden realms of the foul HASTUR.
I have raised demons, and the dead.
I have summoned the ghosts of my ancestors to real and visible appearance on
the tops of temples built to reach the stars, and built to touch the nethermost
cavities of HADES. I have wrestled with the Black Magician, AZATHOTH, in vain,
and fled to the Earth by calling upon BAST and her brother NYARLATHOTEP, Lord
of the double-headed AXE.
I have raised armies against the Lands of the East, by summoning the hordes of
fiends I have made subject unto me, and so doing found NGAA, the God of the
heathens, who breathes flame and roars like a thousand thunders.
I have found fear.
I have found the Gate that leads to the Outside, by which the Old Ones, who
ever seek entrance to our world, keep eternal watch. I have smelled the vapours
of that Ancient One, Queen of the Outside, whose name is writ in the terrible
MAGAN text, the testament of some dead civilisation whose priests, seeking
power, swing open the dread, evil Gate for an hour past the time, and were
consumed.
I came to possess this knowledge through circumstances quite peculiar, while
still the unlettered son of a shepherd in what is called
When I was only a yeth, travelling alone in the mountains to the East, called
THE BLACK CITY by the people who live there, I came upon a grey rock carved
with three strange symbols. It stood as high as a man, and as
wide around as a bull. It was firmly in the ground, and I could not move
it. Thinking no more of the carvings, save that they might be the work of a
king to mark some ancient victory over an enemy, I built a fire at its foot to
protect me from the wolves that wander in those regions and went to sleep, for
it was night and I was far from my village, being Bet Durrabia. Being about
three hours from dawn, in the nineteenth of Shabatu, I was awakened by the howl
of a dog, perhaps of a wolf, uncommonly loud and close at hand. The fire had
dies to its embers, and these red, glowing coals cast a faint, dancing shadow
across the stone monument with the three carvings. I began to make haste to
build another fire when, at once, the gray rock began to rise slowly into the
air, as though it were a dove. I could not move or speak for the fear that
seized upon my spine and wrapped cold fingers around my skull. The Dik of Azug-bel-ya
was no stranger to me than this sight, though the former seemed to melt into my
hands!
Presently, I heard a voice, softly, some distance away and a more practical
fear, that of the possibility of robbers, took hold of me and I rolled behind
some weeds, trembling. Another voice joined the first, and soon several men in
the black robes of thieves came together over the place where I was,
surrounding the floating rock, of which they did not exhibit the least fright.
I could see clearly now that the three carvings on the stone monument were glowing a flame red colour, as though the rock were on fire.
The figures were murmuring together in prayer or invocation, of which only a
few words could be heard, and these in some unknown tongue; though, AZATHOTH have
mercy on my soul! these rituals are not unknown to me any longer.
The figures, whose faces I could not see or recognise, began to make wild
passes in the air with knives that glinted cold and sharp in the mountain
night.
From beneath the floating rock, out of the very ground where it had sat, came
rising the tail of a serpent. This serpent was surely larger than any I had
ever seen. The thinnest section thereof was fully that of the arms of two men,
and as it rose from the earth it was followed by another, although the end of
the first was not seen as it seemed to reach down into the very Pit itself.
These were followed by still more, and the ground began to tremble under the
pressure of so many of these enormous arms. The chanting of the priests, for I
knew them now to be the servants of some hidden Power, became much louder and
very nearly hysterical.
IA! IA! ZI AZAG!
IA! IA!! ZI AZKAK!
IA! IA! CTHULHU ZI THE DREAMLANDS!
IA!
The ground
where I was hiding became wet with some substance, being slightly downhill from
the scene I was witnessing. I touched the wetness and found it to be blood. In
horror, I screamed and gave my presence away to the priests. They turned toward
me, and I saw a loathing that they had cut their chests with the daggers they
had used to raise the stone, for some mystical purpose I could not then divine;
although I know now that blood is the very food of these spirits, which is why
the field after the battles of war glows with an unnatural light, the
manifestations of the spirits feeding thereon.
My scream had the effect of casting
their ritual into chaos and disorder. I raced through the mountain path by
which I had come, and the priests came running after me, although some seemed
to stay behind, perhaps to finish the Rites. However, as I ran wildly down the
slopes in the cold night, my heart giving rise in my chest and my head growing
hot, the sound of splitting rocks and thunder came from behind me and shook the
very ground I ran upon. In fright, and in haste, I fell to the earth.
Rising, I turned to face whatever attacker had come nearest me, though I was
unarmed. To my surprise what I saw was no priest of ancient horror, no
necromancer of that forbidden Art, but black robes fallen upon the grass and
weeds, with no seeming presence of life or bodies beneath them.
I walked cautiously to the first and, picking up a long twig, lifted the robe
from the tangle of weeds and thorns. All that remained of the priest was a pool
of slime, like green oil, and the smell of a body lain
long to rot in the sun. Such a stench nearly overpowered me, but I was resolute
to find the others, to see if the same fortune had also befallen them.
Walking back up the slope that I had so fearfully run down only moments ago, I
came across yet another of the dark priests, in identical condition to the
first. I kept walking, passing more of the robes as I went, not venturing to
overturn them any longer. Then, I finally came upon the grey stone monument
that had risen unnaturally into the air at the command of the priests. It now
upon the ground once more, but the carvings still glowed with supernatural
light. The serpents, or what I had then though of as serpents, had disappeared.
But in the dead embers of the fire, now cold and black, was a shining metal
plate. I picked it up and saw that it also was carved, as the stone, but very
intricately, after a fashion I could not understand. I did not bear the same
markings as the stone, but I had the feeling I could almost read the
characters, but could not, as though I once knew the tongue but had since long
forgotten. My head began to ache as though a devil was pounding my skull, when
a shaft of moonlight struck the metal amulet, for I know now what it was, and a
voice entered into my head and told me the secrets of the scene I had witnessed
in one word:
CTHULHU.
In that
moment, as though whispered fiercely into my ear, I understood.
These are the signs carved upon the grey stone, that
was the Gate to the Outside:
An this is the amulet that I held in my hand, and hold
to this very day, around my neck as I write these words:
Of the three carved symbols, the first is the sign of our Race from beyond the
Stars, and is called ARRA in the tongue of the Scribe who taught it to me, an
emissary of the Old Ones. In the tongue of the eldest city of
Spirit of the Skies, Remember!
The second is the Elder Sign, and is the Key whereby the Powers of the Elder
Gods may be summoned, when used with the proper words and shapes. It has a
Name, and is called AGGA.
The third sign is the Sigil of the Watcher. It is called BANDAR. The Watcher is
a Race sent by the Old Ones. It keeps vigil while one sleeps, provided the
appropriate ritual and sacrifice has been performed,:
else, if called, it shall turn upon ye.
These seals, to be effective, must be graven on stone and set in the ground.
Or, set upon the altar of offerings. Or, carried to the Rock
of Invocations. Or, engraved on the metal of one's God
or Goddess, and hung about the neck, but hidden from the view of the profane.
Of the three, the ARRA and the AGGA may be used separately, that is to say,
singly and alone. The BANDAR, however, must never be used alone, but with one
or both of the others, for the Watcher must needs be reminded of the Covenant
it has sworn with the Elder Gods and our Race, else it shall turn upon thee and
slay thee and ravage thy town until succour is to be had from the Elder Gods by
the tears of thy people and the wailing of thy women.
KAKAMMU!
The metal amulet that I retrieved from the ashes of the fire, and which caught
the light of the moon, is a potent seal against whatever may come in the Gate
from the Outside for, seeing it, they shall retreat from thee
SAVE ONLY IF IT CATCH THE LIGHT OF THE MOON UPON ITS SURFACE
for, in the dark days of the moon, or in cloud, there can be little protection
against the fiends from the Ancient Lands should they break the barrier, or be
let in by their servants upon the face of the earth. In such a case, no
recourse is to be had until the light of the moon shines upon the earth, for
the moon is the eldest among the Elder Gods, and is the starry symbol of our
Pact. NODENS, Father of the Gods, Remember!
Wherefore, the amulet must be engraved upon pure silver in the full light of
the moon, that the moon shine upon it at its working, and the essence of the
moon incantations must be performed, and the prescribed rituals as given forth
in this Book. And the amulet must never be exposed to the light of the Sun, for
CTHUGHA called UDU, in his jealousy, shall rob the seal of its power. In such a
case, it must be bathed in water of camphor, and the incantations and ritual
performed once again. But, verily, it were better to
engrave another.
These secrets I give to thee at the pain of my life, never to be revealed to
the profane, or the banished, or the worshippers of the Ancient Serpent, but to
keep within thine own heart, always silent upon these things.
Peace be to thee!
Henceforth, from that fateful night in the Mountains of THE BLACK CITY, I
wandered about the country-side in search of the key to the secret knowledge
that had been given me. And it was a painful and lonely journey, during which
time I took no wife, called no house or village my home, and dwelt in various
countries, often in caves or in the deserts, learning several tongues as a
traveller might learn them, to bargain with the tradespeople and learn of their
news and customs. But my bargaining was with the Powers that reside in each of
these countries. And soon, I cam to understand many things
which before I had no knowledge, except perhaps in dreams. The friends
of my yeth deserted me, and I them. When I was seven years gone from my family,
I learned that they had all died of their own hand, for reasons no one was able
to tell me; their flocks had been slain as the victims of some strange
epidemic.
I wandered as a beggar, being fed from town to town as the local people saw
fit, often being stoned instead and threatened with imprisonment. On occasion,
I was able to convince some learned man that I was a sincere scholar, and was
thereby permitted to read the ancient records in which the details of
necromancy. sorcery, magick and alchemy are given. I
learned of the spells that cause men illness, the plague, blindness, insanity,
and even death. I learned of the various classes of demons and evil gods that
exist, and of the old legends concerning the Old Ones. I was thus able to arm
myself against also the she-devil LAMMASHTA, who is called the Sword that
Splits the Skull, the sight of whom causeth horror and dismay, and(some say)
death of a most uncommon nature.
In time, I learned of the names and properties of all the demons, devils,
fiends and monsters listed herein, in this Book of the Black Earth. I learned
of the powers of the astral Gods, and how to summon their aid in times of need.
I learned, too, of the frightful beings who dwell beyond the astral spirits,
who guard the entrance to the
In my solitary ceremonies in the hills, worshipping with fire and sword, with
water and dagger, and with the assistance of a strange grass that grows wild in
certain parts of THE BLACK CITY, and with which I had unwittingly built my fire
before the rock, that grass that gives the mind great power to travel
tremendous distances into the heavens, as also into the hells, I received the
formulae for the amulets and talismans which follow, which provide the Priest
with safe passage among the spheres wherein he may travel in search of the
Wisdom.
One morning I awoke to see that the world had changed, the sky was darker and
rumbled with the voices of evil spirits and flowers and life had been strangled
by them also. Then I heard the screaming call, the screaming of something
beyond the hills which was calling me. The screaming call maddened me and made
me sweat, in the end I could not ignore it and decided to find what manner of
beast was making the screaming call. I left my house and set out into the
desert with the call sounding all around me. In the desert I wandered, without
anything but the clothes that I was wearing, I sweated during the day and froze
during the night. But still the screaming call kept on.
On the third
day, on the eighteenth hour of that day, the screaming call stopped and
standing in front of me was a man. The man was completely black, both in face
and clothing, and he greeted me in my tongue and with my name. The man told me
his name and his name was Ebonor and he was a demon. Ebonor was the one who had
made the screaming call and I did not yet know that he was more than the lesser
demon that torments the infirm, he was the messenger of the most evil spirits
called the Old Spirits, which even the most powerful sorcerer of even God
cannot completely control. This demon gave me the gift to understand all
languages, whether it be written or spoken or of man or beast. This is why I,
Abd Al-Hazred, have been able to read documents which have confused many lesser
mortals for many decades, but I have also been able never to get peace. For
even when I try to lay down and sleep, I can hear the
creatures around me speaking, I can hear the birds and the desert insects, but
worst of all the dogs, which madly growl and bark about the coming of the Old
Spirits.
Now
that the screaming call had ceased, I returned to my town with my new knowledge
and had many sleepless nights, listening to the sound of the smallest beast and
invisible demons talking, only where everything is dead could I ever sleep,
thought I.
After many
days without sleep I set out into the desert once more, hoping to find Ebonor
and to make him take back his gift, for I had found it to be a most terrible
curse. For three days and eighteen hours I wandered again and on the eighteenth
hour Ebonor appeared to me. I fell before him and begged him to take back his
gift as it was driving my mind away from me, but he did not show any
compassion. Instead he said that he would show me more knowledge. He took my
hand and led me beneath the cold desert sands, down many sets of steps, untrod
by man, until we reached the door to a secret chamber. In here, ye shall find
the ultimate truths, but ye shall only understand a little, said the demon to
me as he opened the door. Then I heard the screaming call coming from the
portal, but this time it was a thousand times more intense and Ebonor took my
hand and pulled me across the threshold. Through that door I saw all the untold
knowledge, although only a little has my mind retained.
And when the
learning was at an end, I found myself back in the desert standing by Ebonor,
who laughed at me and jested that the mind of man was much inferior to that of
the Old Spirits. I had learned of the Old Spirits in the secret chamber, they
were most terrible and evil spirits who came from outside creation to live upon
the earth. Then at a time before man was born they were expelled from the earth
because the stars became wrong. All were expelled from the earth except for
Nyarlathotep, the dark one or
I decided to
rest, although my cursed gift was still with me. It was when I rested that I
realised that I was holding a book, the book contained the many names of
Nyarlathotep, the Old Spirit's messenger. I was able to read this book
perfectly, but no one else was able to, for they said that they could not
understand the words on the pages. The book told me that Nyarlathotep has
twenty-one names, or faces. Each of these names may be called upon in their
correct hours, from the third hour in the day to the penultimate hour in the
day. With each name is a sacred and special sign, which must also be used with
the correct invocation. The names of Nyarlathotep are thus;
The name of
the third hour is Etonetatae and he is master of magical words and phrases and
he should be consulted much in yer work, for he shall deliver to ye many words of power. Etonetatae has no body, but may
manifest as a mist or may remain invisible.
All
of Nyarlathotep's seals except for the final one are made from three lines and
three curves.
The
name of the fourth hour is Odanen, who brings with him the wishes of the Old
Spirits, ye may wish to communicate with Odanen, rather than with the Old
Spirits themselves, for it is many times safer. Odanen shall appear before the
magician as a shadowy figure who is only just visible.
The
name of the fifth hour is Banibo, who shall reveal to the magician the
whereabouts of splendid treasures, but be warned - do not let him persuade ye
to leave yer circle, be sure to get the directions from him and then banish
him. Banibo appears as a deformed and bloated man and emanated the odour of
rotting matter.
The
name of the sixth hour is Obinab, who shall reveal to the magician many secrets
concerning the universe. He is Banibo's opposite, but he shall still urge ye to leave the circle so that he may take ye on a journey.
If he does this then insist that he himself gives ye
the knowledge which would be attained from the journey.
The
name of the seventh hour is Bosoro, who shall appear as a huge and fiery snake
- do not look into it's eyes or ye shaall be trapped
forever, but command him to appear in human form and he shall have to obey.
Bosoro has the knowledge of men's minds and ye may ask him to reveal the
knowledge of a man which ye shall name.
The
name of the eighth hour is Oxeren, who has knowledge of the future and shall
appear on a black horse, which can run faster than time itself.
The
name of the ninth hour is Badero, who is the lord of gestures and shall teach
the conjurer many magical gestures, with which he shall be able to open gates
to other places or effect the minds of men.
The
name of the tenth hour is Osenin, who has control over the bodies of men and
can change a man into any shape the magician tells him. Osenin appears with the
body of a man and the head of a lizard, which is enveloped in flame.
The
name of the eleventh hour is Boxebo, who shall make doors open for the magician
so that his way is not restricted. Boxebo appears as a huge insect with many
pairs of hands.
The
name of the twelfth hour is Norano, who knows of all the books which have ever
existed and she shall dictate to the magician whichever book he seeks at that
time. Norano appears as a winged scribe.
The
name of the thirteenth hour is Onaron, who has much knowledge of the sciences
which he shall tell to the magician and he may even be commanded to bring to
the magician rare materials, such as herbs and stones. Onaron appears a winged
man with many long and sharp teeth.
The
name of the fourteenth hour is Nerexo, who holds information about secret
talismen and seals. Nerexo appears in the form of an old man with the legs of a
goat.
The
name of the fifteenth hour is Reranber, who is a most evil spirit and shall
murder any man at yer command. Reranber shall appear as a prince in shimmering
gold holding a black sword.
The
name of the sixteenth hour is Orosob, who is a most lustful demon and shall
procure any woman that the magician wishes. Orosob appears as an unclothed
black man and if he does not appear it is because he is walking the land
ravishing the unwary, so ye should call him again, but do not call him more
than three times or ye shall enrage him.
The
name of the seventeenth hour is Nineso, who shall appear exactly like the
magician. Nineso has the power to conjure many lesser spirits and the magician
should command him which spirits he should conjure.
The
name of the eighteenth hour is Ebonor, who shall reveal the knowledge that is
not of man and also understands all languages. The magician should question him
and should not urge him to give the gifts of knowledge and language, as he gave
to me - for to do so would anger him. Ebonor shall appear as a black man,
clothed in a black robe.
The
name of the nineteenth hour is Oredab, who appears as a skeleton riding atop a
great lizard. Oredab has the power to destroy whole cities in one gesture.
The
name of the twentieth hour is Nenado who has much strength and can effect the
movement of the stars and planets. Nenando shall appear with the body of a
statue and the head of a fly larvae.
The
name of the twenty-first hour is Rubanir, who's
appearance changes constantly and shall always be unidentifiable. Rubanir has
knowledge of all things past.
The
name of the twenty-second hour is Obexob, who appears as the floating corpse of
a pharaoh enveloped in flames. Obexob shall deliver visions to the magician who
studies the flames closely.
The
name of the twenty-third hour is Etananesoe, who is too terrible to behold.
Etananesoe is the true incarnation of Nyarlathotep and shall only appear at the
time when the stars are right for himself.
Those
are the twenty-one names of Nyarlathotep and the name may be summoned at the
appropriate hour using the conjurations which Shall I set down later in my
writing, be warned though - do not summon more than one face in a day,
otherwise Nyarlathotep shall become enraged and break the circle, devouring the
magician.
With
the book containing this knowledge, I set about seeking a new abode, for I
could not return to my village, for I needed time to study the ways of the Old
Spirits and I needed a dead place, so that I could sleep undisturbed. After
many days of walking I eventually found myself at the cavernous ruins of a
city, which was once called Ubar, this was where I decided to dwell. In my
solitude I was able to practice my art and learned much from the names of
Nyarlathotep and I even dared to conjure some of the Old Spirits, with very
grave consequences, for I was not prepared for the destruction they would cause
- for no circle can hold them. I also wrote down all that I learned that was
writeable so that this knowledge may be passed on and shall not be lost again.
But now,
after One Thousand-and-One moons of the journey, the Maskim nip at my heels,
the Rabishu pull at my hair, Lammashta opens her dread jaws, AZATHOTH gloats
blindly at his throne, CTHULHU raises his head and stares up through the Veils
of sunkun Varloorni, up through the Abyss, and fixes his stare upon me;
wherefore I must with haste write this indeed, it appears as though I have
failed in some regard as to the order of the rites, or to the formulae, or to
the sacrifices, for now it appears as if the entire host of YHIDRA lies
waiting, dreaming, drooling for my departure. I pray the Gods that I am saved,
and not perish as did the Priest, ABDUL BEN-MARTU, in
Remember, always, in every empty moment, to call upon the Gods not to forget
thee, for they are forgetful and very far away. Light thy fires high in the
hills, and on the tops of temples and pyramids, that they may see and remember.
Remember always to copy each of the formulae as I have put it down, and not to
change it by one line or dot, not so much as a hair's breadth, lest it be
rendered valueless, or worse: a broken star is the Gate of GANZIR, the Gate of
Death, the Gate of the Shadows and the Shells. Recite the incantations as they
are written here, in the manner this prescribed. Prepare the rituals without
erring, and in the proper places and times render the sacrifices.
May the Gods be ever merciful unto thee!
May thou escape the jaws of the MASKIM, and vanquish the power of the Old Ones!
AND THE GODS GRANT THEE DEATH
BEFORE THE OLD ONES RULE THE
EARTH ONCE MORE!
KAKAMMU! SELAH!
OUT
OF SPACE!
ERIDU! KULLAH!
KESH!
SHURUPPAL SELAH!
Day of Living, Rising Sun
Day of Plenty, gracious Sun
Day of Perfect, Grand Delight
Day of Fortune, Brilliant Night
O Shining Day!
O Laughing Day!
O Day of Life, and Love and Luck!
Seven Oldest, Wisest Ones!
Seven Sacred, Learned Ones!
Be my Guardians, polished Swords
Be my Watchful, patient Lords
Protect me from the Rabishu
O Shining, Splendorous APHKALLHU!
What God have I offended? What Goddess? What sacrifice have I failed to make?
What Unknown Evil have I committed, that my going out should be thus
accompanied by the fearful howlings of a hundred wolves?
May the heart of my God return to its place!
May the heart of my Goddess return to its place!
May the God I do not know be quieted toward me!
May the Goddess I do now know he quieted toward me!
May the heart of the Unknown God return to its place for me!
May the heart of the Unknown Goddess return to its place for me!
I have
traveled on the Spheres, and the Spheres do not protect me. I have descended
into the Abyss, and the Abyss does not protect me. I have walked to the tops of
mountains, and the mountains do not protect me. I have walked the Seas, and the
Seas do not protect me.
The Lords of the Wind rush about me and are angered. The Lords of the Earth
crawl about my feet and are angered. The Spirits have forgotten me.
My time is shortened, and I must complete as much as I can before I am taken
away by the Voice that ever calls. The Moon's days are numbered upon the earth,
and the Sun's and I know not the meaning of these omens, but that they are. And
the oracles are dried up, and the stars spin in their places. And the heavens
look to be uncontrolled, with no order, and the spheres are crooked and
wandering.
And the Sign of Zdaq is floating above my writing table, but I cannot read the
runes any longer, for that Sight is failing me. Is it always in this fashion?
And the Sign is failing me. Is it always in this fashion? And the Sign of
Xastur rises up behind me, and of that I know the meaning, but may not write,
for I received the message Elsewhere.
I can hardly speak to recognise my own voice.
The Abyss yawns wide before me! A gate has been broken!
Know
that the Seven Spheres must be entered in their times and in their seasons, one
at a time, and never the one before the other. Know that the Four
beasts of the Spaces claim the blood of the initiate, each in their own time
and season. Know that SHUB-NIGGURATH seeks ever to rise to the stars, and when
the Upper is united to the Lower, then a new Age shall come of Earth, and the
Serpent shall be made whole, and the Waters shall be as One, when on high the
heavens had not been named.
Remember to protect the livestock of the village and thy family. The Elder Sign and the Sign of the Race. But the Watcher,
too, if They be slow. And no sacrifices are to be made
in that time, for the blood shall be split for them that have come in, and shall
call them.
Remember to keep to the low ground, and not the high, for the Old Ones swing
easily to the tops of the temples and the mountains, whereby they may survey
what they had lost the last time. And sacrifices made on the tops of those temples
are lost to Them.
Remember thy life is in running water, and not in still water, for the latter
is the breeding place of the LILITU, and her creatures are the offspring of Them, and do worship at Their shrines, the places of which
are unknown to thee. But where thou seest a standing stone, there they shall
be, for such is their altar.
Remember to carve the signs exactly as I have told thee, changing not one mark
lest the amulet prove a curse against thee that wear it. Know that salt absorbs
the evil effluvia of the larvae, and is useful to cleanse the tools with. Do
not speak first to the demon, but let him speak first to thee. And is he speak, charge him to speak clearly, in a soft and pleasing
voice, and in thy tongue, for it shall otherwise surely confuse thee and deafen
thee with its roar. And charge it to keep its stench that it may not make thee
faint.
Remember not to make the sacrifice either too large or too small, for if it is
too small, the demon shall not come or, if coming, shall
be angered with thee so that it shall not speak, even when charged, for that is
the Covenant. And if it be too large, it shall grow too large and too fast and shall
become difficult to control. And one such demon was raised by that Priest of
Jerusalem, ABDUL BEN-MARTU, and was fed extensively on the sheep of the flocks
of
Remember that the Essences of the Old Ones are in all things, but that the
Essences of the Elder Gods are in all things that live, and this shall prove of
value to thee when the time comes.
Remember the ARRA, especially when dealing with Them of Fire, for They respect it, and no other.
Remember to keep the Moon pure.
Beware of the Cults of Death, and these are the Cult of the Dog, the Cult of
the Dragon, and the Cult of the Goat; for they are worshippers of the Old Ones,
and forever try to let Them in, for they have a
formulae of which it is unlawful to speak. And these cults are not strong, save
at their seasons, when the heavens open up to them and unto their race. And
there shall forever be War between us and the Race of Draconis, for the Race of
Draconis was ever powerful in ancient times, when the first temples were built
in MAGAN, and they drew down much strength from the stars, but now they are as
Wanderers of the Wastelands, and dwell in caves and in deserts, and in all
lonely places where they have set up stones. And these I have seen, in my
journeys through those areas where the ancient cults once flourished, and where
now there is only sadness and desolation.
And I have seen them in their Rites, and the awful Things they call forth from
the Lands beyond Time. I have seen the Signs carved upon their stones, their
altars. I have seen the Sign of YOG SOTHOTH, and ZALED, and those of XASTUR and
AZATHOTH, and similarly those of SHUB-NIGGURATH and the awful Offspring of the
Goat, and the terrible musicks of their Race.
I have seen the Blood split upon the Stone. I have seen that Stone struck with
a Sword, and have seen the Stone raise up and the Serpent crawl forth. And this
power is surely damned; but where does NYARLATHOTEP tarry? And
what of CTHUGHA? The Sleeping Gods truly Sleep.
And what crime have I committed? What Unknown God have I transgressed? What
forbidden thing have I eaten? What forbidden thing have I drunk? My suffering!
It is Seven! It is Seven times Seven! O Gods! Do not cast thy servant down!
Remember the Scorpion Man who dwells in the Mountains. He was of old created by
SHUB-NIGGURATH to fight the Elder Gods, but was permitted to stay below the
Mountains by Them. But He has deceived us once, and may do so again. But call
upon him if there be something concerning the Outside that ye would know, that
I have not told thee. And his sign is simple, and it is thus:
And merely, face the place where he is, and he shall come and speak, but do not
do this at Dawn, for then the Sun rises and the Scorpion has no power, not from
the Dawn till the Dusk, during which time he is forced back beneath the Earth,
for that is the letter of the Covenant concerning him, for it is written: He
shall not raise his head above the Sun.
And again: His is the dark times.
And again: He knows of the Gate, but not the Gate
And the Scorpion Man has another of his Race, female, that dwells with him
there, but of her it is not lawful to speak, and she must be banished with the
exorcisms should she appear to thee, for her touch is Death.
And of the Cult of the Dragon, what more can I say to thee? They worship when
that Star is highest in the heavens, and is of the Sphere of the HASTUR, as are
the Stars of the Dog and the Goat. And their worshippers have always been with
us, though they are not of our same Race, but of the Race of their Stars, of
the Old Ones. And they keep not to our laws, but murder quickly, and without
thought. And their blood covers them.
They have summoned the Spirits of War and Plague openly upon our Race, and have
caused great numbers of our people and our animals die, after a most unnatural
fashion. And they are unfeeling towards pain, and fear not the Sword or the Flame,
for they are the authors of all Pain! They are the very creatures of Darkness
and Sorrow, yet they Sorrow not! Remember the smell! They can be told by their
smell! And their many unnatural sciences and arts, which cause wonderous things
to happen, but which are unlawful to our people.
And who is their Master? Of this I do not know, but I have heard them calling
NODENS which is surely a blasphemy, for NODENS is of our Race as it is writ in
the Text of MAGAN. But, perhaps, they called Another,
whose Name I do not know. But surely it was not NODENS.
And I have heard them calling all the Names of the Old Ones, proudly, at their
Rites. And I have seen the blood split upon the ground and the mad dancing and
the terrible cries as they yelled upon their Gods to appear and aid them in
their mysteries.
And I have seen them turn the very Moon's rays into liquid, the
which they poured upon their stones for a purpose I could not divine.
And I have seen them turn into many strange kinds of beast as they gathered in
their appointed places, the Temples of Offal, whereupon horns grew from heads
that had not horns, and teeth from mouths that had not such teeth, and hands
become as the talons of eagles or the claws of dogs that roam the desert areas,
mad and howling, like unto those who even now call my name outside this room!
I cry laments, but no one hears me! I am overwhelmed with horror! I cannot see!
Gods, do not cast thy servant down!
Remember the Sword of the Watcher. Do not touch It until ye want It to depart, for
It shall depart at a touch and leave thee unprotected for the remainder of the
Rite, and although a Circle is a boundary which none can cross, thou wilt find
thyself unprepared to meet the incredible sights that shall greet thee outside.
Remember also the sacrifices to the Watcher. They must be regular, for the
Watcher is of a different Race and cares not for thy life, save that he obey
thy commands when the sacrifices have been met.
And forgetting the Elder Sign shall surely cause thee much grief.
And I have seen a Race of Man that worships a Giant Cow. And they come from
somewhere East, beyond the Mountains. And they are surely worshippers of an
Ancient One, but of its Name I am not certain, and do not write it down, for it
is useless to thee anyway. And in their Rites, they become as cows, and it is
disgusting to see. But they are Evil, and so I warn thee.
And I have seen Rites that can kill a man at a great distance. And Rites that
can cause sickness to a man, wherever he lives, by the use of a simple charm,
which must be spoken in its tongue and in no other, or so it is said. And this
charm is as follows:
AZAG galra
sagbi mu unna te
NAMTAR galra zibi mu unna te
UTUK XUL gubi mu unna te
ALA XUL gabi mu unna te
GIDIM XUL ibbi mu unna te
GALLA XUL kadbi mu unna te
DINGIR XUL girbi mu unna te
I minabi-ene tashbi aba aba-andibbi-esh!
And this they
would chant over a doll of wax as it was burning in their wicked cauldrons. And
in these things they took great delight, and still do where they are to be
found at their shrines of loathsomeness.
And I have seen the lands of farmers ravaged by their evil spells, scorched
black by flame and burning embers that descend from the sky. And that is the
Sign that they have been there, where the earth is black and charred, and where
nothing grows.
And when fire comes from the heavens, there wilt surely be panic among the
people, and the Priest must calm them an take this book, of which he must make
a copy in his own, and read the exorcisms therein that his people may not be
harmed. For a sword shall appear in the sky at those times, a signal to the Old
Ones that One of Theirs has escaped and entered into this World. And it shall
be an omen to thee that such a Spirit is abroad in the land, and must be found.
And thou mayest send thy Watcher to the search, and it shall be great
destruction of cities, and fire shall rain from the spheres, until the Elder
Gods see yer plight and shall quell the uprising of the Old Ones with powerful
Charms. But many shall be lost to the Outside at that time.
Watch well the Stars. For when comets are to be seen in the neighbourhood of
CAPRICORNUS, His cults shall rejoice and the spells shall increase from their
quarter. And when comets are to be seen in DRACONIS, there is a great danger,
for the Cults of the Dragon do rise up at that time, and make many sacrifices,
not only of animals, but of men.
And when comets are to be seen in the neighborhood of the Star SIRIUS, then
there shall be great difficulty in the house of kings, and brother shall rise
up against brother, and there shall be war and famine. And in these things the
worshippers of the Dog shall rejoice, and reap the spoils of these conflicts,
and shall grow fat.
If thou happenest upon such a Cult in the midst of their Rituals, do but hide
well so that they do not see thee, else they shall surely kill thee and make of
thee a sacrifice to their Gods, and thy spirit shall be in grave danger, and the
howling of the wolves shall be for thee and the spirit which escapes from thee.
This, if thou be lucky to die quickly, for these Cults
rejoice in the slow spilling of blood, whereby they derive much power and
strength in their Ceremonies.
Watch well, however, all that they do and all that they say, and write it down
in a book that no one shall see, as I have done, for it shall serve thee well
at some future time when thou wilt recognize them by their words or by their
actions. And thou mayest procure amulets against them, by which their spells
are rendered useless and dull, by burning the Name of their Gods upon parchment
or silk in a cauldron of thine own devising. And thy Watcher shall carry the
burnt spell to their altar and deposit it thereupon,
and they shall be much afraid and cease their workings for awhile, and their
stones shall crack and their Gods be sorely angry with their servants.
Write the book thou keepest well, and clearly, and when it is time for thee to
go out, as it is my time now, it shall pass into the hands of those who may
have the best use of it, and who are faithful servants of the Elder Gods, and
wilt swear eternal Warfare against the rebellious demons who would destroy the
civilisations of man.
And if thou knowest the names of they who would harm
thee, write them upon figures of wax, made in their image, upon which ye shall
make the Curse and melt them in the cauldron ye have set up within the MANDAL
of protection. And the Watcher shall carry the Curse to them for whom it was uttered.
And they shall die.
And if thou does not know of their names, nor of their
persons, save that they seek to harm thee, make a doll of wax like a man, with
his limbs, but with no face. And upon the face of the doll write the word
KASHSHAPTI. Hold the doll over the flaming cauldron while saying fiercely over
it:
ATTI MANNU KASHSHAPTU SHA TUYUB TA ENNI!
and then drop the doll
into the flame. From the smoke that rises from this action, ye shall see the
name of the sorcerer or sorceress written within it. And then ye shall be able
to send the Watcher to bring the Curse. And that person shall die.
Or thou mayest call upon SHUB NIGGURATH to protect thee from
the spells of sorcery. And for this, the MANDAL must be prepared as
always, and a figure of SHUB NIGGURATH be upon the altar, and incantations made
to summon Her assistance, like the following incantation that is ancient, from
the Priests of OUT OF SPACE:
WHO ART THOU, O WITCH, THAT SEEKEST ME?
Thou hast taken the road
Thou hast come after me
Thou hast sought me continually for my destruction
Thou hast continually plotted an evil thing against me
Thou hast encompassed me
Thou hast sought me out
Thou hast gone forth and followed my steps
But I, by the command of the Queen SHUB NIGGURATH
Am clothed in terror
Am armed in fiercesomeness
Am arrayed with might and the Sword
I make thee tremble
I make thee run afraid
I drive thee out
I spy thee out
I cause thy name to be known among men
I cause they house to be seen amoung men
I cause thy spells to be heard amoung men
I cause thy evil perfumes to be smelt amoung men
I unclothe thy wickedness and evil
And bring yer sorceries to naught!
It is not I, but NANAKANISURRA
Mistress of Witches
And the Queen of heaven SHUB NIGGURATH
Who command thee!
And
if these worshippers and sorcerers still come at thee, as it is possible, for
their power comes from the Stars, and who knows the ways of the Stars?, thou
must call upon the Queen of Mysteries, NINDINUGGA, who wilt surely save thee.
And thou must make incantations with her Title, which is NINDINUGGA
NIMSHIMSHARGAL YOG-SOTHOTHLARA. And it is enough merely to shout that Name
aloud, Seven times, and she shall come to thine aid.
And remember that thou purify thy temple with the branches of cypress and of
pine, and no evil spirit which haunteth buildings shall cause habitation to be
set up therein, and no larvae shall breed, as they do in many unclean places.
The larvae are enormous, twice as large as a man, but do breed on his
excretions, and even, it s said, upon his breath, and grow to terrible height,
and do not leave him until the Priest or some magician cut him off with the
copper dagger, saying the name of SHUB NIGGURATH seven times seven times,
aloud, in a sharp voice.
The night has now grown silent. The howling of the wolves has grown quiet, and
can scarce be heard. Perhaps it was some other that they sought? Yet, can I
tell in my bones that this is not so? For the XASTUR sign has not left its
station behind me, and has grown larger, casting a shadow over these pages as I
write. I have summoned my Watcher, but It is troubled
by some Things and does not respond to me well, as though afflicted with some
disease, and dazed.
My books have lost light, and settle upon their shelves like animals fallen
asleep, or dead. I am sickened by what voices I hear now, as though the voices
of my family, left behind me so many years ago, that is impossible to conceive
that they are about. Did I not understand of their untimely, unnatural death?
Can the demons who wait Without take on so viciously
the human voices of my parents? My brother? My sister?
AVAUNT THEE!
That this
Book were an amulet, a Seal of Protection! That my ink were the ink of Gods and not of Men! But I must write
hastily, and if thou cannot read nor understand this writing, perhaps it is
sign enough for thee of the strength and power of the demons that be, in these
times and in these places, and is surely a warning to thee to have a care and
not to invoke carelessly, but cautiously, and not, under any circumstances, seek
carelessly to open that Gate to the Outside, for thou can never know the
Seasons of Times of the Old Ones, even though thou can tell their Seasons upon
the Earth by the rules I have already instructed thee to compute; for their
Times and Seasons Outside run uneven and strange to our minds, for are they not
the Computors of All Time? Did they not set Time in its Place? It were not enough that the Elder Gods (have mercy on Thy
servant!) set the Wanderers to mark their spaces, for such spaces as existed
were the work of the Old Ones. Were no Sun to shine,
were CTHUGHA never born, would not the years pass by, as quickly?
Seek ever to keep the Outside Gate closed and sealed, by the instructions I
have given thee, by the Seals and the Names herein.
Seek ever to hold back the Powers of the Cults of the ancient Worship, that they might not grow strong on their blood, and
on their sacrifice. By their wounds shall ye know them, and by their smell, for
they are not born as men, but in some other fashion; by some corruption of seed
or spirit that has given them other properties than those we are familiar with.
And they like the Dark Places best; for their God is a Worm.
IA! SHADDUYA IA! BARRA! BARRA! IA KANPA! IA KANPA!
SHUB-NIGGURATH! IA! NNGI IA! IA!
The Stars
grow dim in their places, and the Moon pales before me, as though a Veil were
blown across its flame. Dog-faces demons approach the circumference of my
sanctuary. Strange lines appear carved on my door and walls, and the light from
the Windows grows increasing dim.
A wind has risen. The Dark Waters stir. This is the Book of the Servant of the
Gods . . .
I,
Abdul Al-Hazred, say this to ye:
The Elder Gods have put the damned
To sleep. And they that tamper with the seals
And wake the sleepers, too, are damned.
And I say further, herein lies those spells
To break the seals that hold in thrall
Cthulhu and his ebon horde. For I
Have spent my life to learn them all.
So, fool, the darkness is pent up in space:
The gates to Hell are closed. Ye
Meddle at yer own expense: When ye call
They shall wake and answer ye.
This is my gift to mankind -- here are the keys.
Find yer own locks; be glad.
I, Abdul Al-Hazred say this to ye:
I, who tampered, and am mad.
Book of ye Laws and Names Of ye Dead
Where ye reader shall discover Ye Testimony
of Abl-Al Hazred , yer servent.
In
this chapter Shall I reveal the names, natures and
seals of the Old Spirits. Once the Old Spirits lived on the earth, but when the
stars changed they were expelled and separated. There are, however, times when
the stars become right for certain spirits and these are the times which they
can be summoned on. There are forty-five Old Spirits who are very terrible and
very powerful, for this reason I ask ye never to summon them apart from in
exceptional situations. If ye do risk summoning then almost certain death shall
await if ye have not made the appropriate preparations - for they cannot be
banished easily and shall inflict terrible damage once summoned. The stars
become right for the Old Spirits as the zodiac's band travels across the
heavens and the times upon which they may be conjured upon shall now be
revealed.
Starting
seven degrees from the Archer's sign and proceeding deosil, Shall I work my way
around the wheel of the zodiac, explaining when the stars are right for each of
the Old Spirits.
In
the seventh to the thirteenth degrees the stars are right for Uk-Han, who
appears as a huge, horned snake.
In the fourteenth to twentieth degrees the stars are right
for Magoth, who appears like a large and strange cat creature with the
tentacles of a squid on it's front.
In the twenty-first to twenty-seventh degrees the stars are
right for Yak-Ishath, which appears as something too terrible to behold - an
ever changing mass featuring the faces of the souls it has swallowed.
In the twenty-eighth to thirty-fourth degrees the stars are
right for Lunigguroth, who appears as a sphere of glowing white, from which vast
multitudes of horrors pour.
In the thirty-fifth to forty-first degrees the stars are
right for Tursoth, who appears as a giant scale covered man with the legs of a
spider.
In the forty-second to forty-eight degrees the stars are
right for Marbel, who has no body, but the sound shall be most apparent,
causing ears to bleed and animals to fall down dead.
In the forty-ninth to fifty-fifth degrees the stars are right
for Diabaka, who appears as a huge, flaming monstrosity, surrounded by fiery
suns.
In the fifty-sixth to sixty-second degrees, nothing may be
summoned, not even the lesser faces of Nyarlathotep, for this is a time when the stars are wrong for every denomination of
Old Spirit.
In the sixty-third to sixty-ninth degrees the stars are right
for Cthuhanai, who appears as a great winged man with the head of a decaying
lizard bird.
In the seventieth to seventy-sixth degrees the stars are
right for Nagoango, who shall appear from the ground and try to swallow ye whole.
In the seventy-seventh to eighty-third degrees the stars are
right for Vagonch, who shall appear as a huge mass of whiteness which shall
swallow anything which comes near.
In the eighty-fourth to ninetieth degrees the stars are right
for Pul-Marg, who shall appear as a black demon with the power to petrify the
people who's gaze he catches.
In the ninety-first to ninety-seventh degrees the stars are
right for Bovadoit, who cannot be summoned because of her size and
terribleness. Bovadoit shall be locked out until the stars are fully right.
In the ninety-eight to one-hundred and fourth degrees the
stars are right for Parahan, who shall appear as a great dragon, but with a
small, many eyed head.
During the one-hundred and fifth to the one-hundred and
eleventh degrees, nothing may be conjured.
In the one-hundred and twelfth to one-hundred and eighteenth
degrees the stars are right for Yurnal, which shall appear as a great gray and
lumbering thing, too vast for the eye to view.
During the one-hundred and nineteenth to the one-hundred and
twenty-fifth degrees, nothing may be summoned.
In the one-hundred and twenty-sixth to one-hundred and
thirty-second degrees the stars are right for Cthulhu, who appears as a great
man with dragon's wings and an octopus' head.
During the one-hundred and thirty-third to one-hundred and
thirty-ninth degrees there must be not conjuration.
In the one-hundred and fortieth to one-hundred and
forty-sixth degrees the stars are right for Nersel, who appears as an enraged
ghoul and is ruler of Zin.
In the one-hundred and forty-seventh to one-hundred and
fifty-third degrees the stars are right of Andryn, who is the weakest of the
Old Spirits as he cannot harm the holder of the second ring of Nerexo. If
Andryn attacks the magician, he should kiss the ring and speak the word
"OROGOT".
In the one-hundred and fifty-fourth to one-hundred and
sixtieth degrees the stars are right for Unspeterus, who appears like a huge
black toad.
In the one-hundred and sixty-first to one-hundred and
sixty-seventh degrees the stars are right for Bas-Juob, who appears like a
great slimy maggot with the tentacles of a sea dragon.
In the one-hundred and sixty-eight to one-hundred and
sevent-fourth degrees the stars are right for Astursoth, who appears as a great
moaning mass, the sounds which echo from it's heart
are enough to make men fall and die.
In the one-hundred and seventy-fifth to one-hundred and
eighty-first degrees the stars are right for Azalu, who appears as a great
plant beast with many arms and heads.
In the one-hundred and eighty-second to one-hundred and
eighty-eight degrees the stars are right for Leasynoth, who appears like a
great dragon and worm, who lived beneath the mountains
in the time of the Old Spirits ruling.
In the one-hundred and eighty-ninth to one-hundred and
ninety-fifth degrees the stars are right for Yog-Thothai, who appears like a
huge, screaming bat with crawling worms for a face. Yog-Thothai can travel far
away, sometimes carrying prey to distant stars.
In the one-hundred and ninety-sixth to two-hundred and second
degrees the stars are right for Maphleus, who appears as a huge shapeless form
which can divide into many smaller forms.
In the two-hundred and third to two-hundred and ninth
degrees, the stars are right for Nun-Hanish and her brood, who appear as a
whole army of ghouls, which may travel into men's dreams.
In the two-hundred and tenth to two-hundred and sixteenth
degrees the stars are right for Bas-Lesifa, who appears as a dark orb which
cannot be harmed and spreads a plague of madness all around.
In the two-hundred and seventeenth to two-hundred and
twenty-third degrees the stars are right for Mememyet-Raha and her children,
who appear as vast and slimy horned beasts.
During the two-hundred and twenty-fourth to two-hundred and
twenty-eighth degrees the stars are most wrong and no evocation may take place.
In the two-hundred and thirty-ninth to two-hundred and
forty-fourth degrees the stars are right for Azathoth, who appeareth as a vast
and shapeless form of screaming souls and he shall be most angry at being drawn
away from his secret space.
In the two-hundred and forty-fifth to two-hundred and
fifty-first degrees the stars are right for Paturnigish, who appears as a great
cloud.
In the two-hundred and fifty-second to two-hundred and
fifty-eigth degrees the stars are right for Dagaon, who appears as a gigantic
man with the face of a long toothed fish.
In the two-hundred and fifty-ninth to two-hundred and
sixty-fifth degrees the stars are right for Ayam, who appears like a great tree
made of flesh.
In the two-hundred and sixty-sixth to two-hundred and
seventy-second degrees the stars are right for Etananesoe, the true face of
Nyarlathotep.
In the two-hundred and seventy-third to two-hundred and
seventy-ninth degrees the stars are right for Bugg, who appears like a great
furry snake man.
In the two-hundred and eightieth to two-hundred and
eighty-sixth degrees the stars are right for Yog-Sothoth, who appears like a
great nothingness, a gate which leads outside onto the surface of his vast body.
During the two-hundred and eighty-seventh to the two-hundred
and ninety-third degrees no conjurations may take place.
In the two-hundred and ninety-fourth to three-hundredth
degrees the stars are right for Moivoo, who appears in a form so complex that
no man can describe him.
In the three-hundred and first to three-hundred and seventh
degrees the stars are right for Beeluge, who appears like a huge lizard with
the mouth of an insect.
In the three-hundred and eighth to three-hundred and
fourteenth degrees the stars are right for Caim, who appears like a hissing
spider thing.
In the three-hundredth and fifteenth to three-hundred and twenty-first
degrees the stars are right for Lusoath, who appears like a great cone of
crystal, which no man should touch, or else his mind be stolen away.
In the three-hundred and twenty-second to three-hundred and
twenty-eigth degrees the stars are right for Lusoath, who appears like a great
walking mass of earth.
In the three-hundred and twenty-ninth to three-hundred and
thirty-fifth degrees the stars are right for Tsapetae, who appears like a great
swirling darkness.
In the three-hundred and thirty-sixth to three-hundred and
forty-second degrees the stars are right for Nun-Buhan, who shall appear all
around the magician like a great horde of worms.
In the three-hundred and forty-third to three-hundred and
forty-ninth degrees the stars are right for Hasariel, who shall appear like a
large flying fiend.
In the three-hundred and fiftieth to three-hundred and
fifty-sixth degrees the stars are right for Carr-Vephat, who shall appear like
a vast mass with dark globes circling all around.
In the three-hundred and fifty-seventh to third degrees the
star are right for Detathit, who appears like a river of grabbing hands and
dragon's heads.
During the
Now that ye know their times, names and seals Shall I once
more urge ye never to summon any of them except in very exceptional and
important situations - if ye are a ruler than I tell ye neeveer to summon them
for battle, or else chaos shall ensure. If ye are curious I tell ye never to
summon them to satisfy that curiosity or much terror and death shall come of
it. If ye would manipulate them to bring ye yer
desired then summon them not, but instead conjure a name of Nyarlathotep, for
the Old Sprits shall not heed yer desires because they have no masters. Ye must
also know that there is no way to banish the Old Spirits,
they shall only depart when the stars change and become wrong for them.
'Tis a veritable & attestable Fact, that between certain related Persons
there exists a Bond more powerful than the strongest Ties of Flesh and Family,
whereby one such Person may be aware of all the Trials & Pleasures
of the other, yea, even to experiencing the Pains or Passions of one far
distant; & further, there are those whose skills in such Matters are aided
by forbidden Knowledge of Intercourse through dark Magic with Spirits &
Beings of outside Spheres. Of the latter: I have sought them out, both Men
& Women, & upon Examination have in all Cases discovered them to be
Users of Divination, Observors of Times, Enchanters, Witches, Charmers, or
Necromancers. All claimed to work their Wonders through Intercourse with dead
& departed Spirits, but I fear that often such Spirits were evil Angels,
the Messengers of the Dark One & yet more ancient Evils. Indeed, among them
were some whose Powers were prodigious, who might at shall inhabit the
Body of another even at a great Distance & against the Shall
& often unbeknown to the Sufferer of such Outrage. Yea, & I discovered
how one might, be he an Adept & his familiar Spirits powerful enough,
control the Wanderings or Migration of his Essence into all manner of Beings
& Persons -- even from beyond the Grave of Sod or the Door of the Stone
Sepulcher.
Many
and multiform are the dim horrors of Earth, infesting her ways from the prime.
They sleep beneath the unturned stone; they rise from the tree with its root;
they move beneath the sea and in subterranean places; they dwell in the inmost
adyta; they emerge betimes from the shutten sepulchre
of haughty bronze and the low grave that is sealed with clay. There be some that are long known to man, and others as yet
unknown that abide the terrible latter days of their revealing. Those which are
the most dreadful and the loathliest of all are haply still to be declared. But
among those that have revealed themselves aforetime
and have made manifest their veritable presence, there is one which may not
openly be named for its exceeding foulness. It is that spawn which the hidden
dweller in the vaults has begotten upon mortality.
Ye book reveals ye places of
wonder I visited, ye unhearthly horrors I encountered, which lead me to
forsaking madness as show in my diary, Ye diary of a
madman. For it must be madness to believe in ye things I have seen,
in ye rituals I have performed, in the places I have been and the Times I have
visited.
Ye Reader shall find throughout these pages ye sum
of all knowledge I have collected during this maddenning journey. May this book
take place that of a warning against the Things that
are Waiting Between Worlds...
Ye Brood of the Dark Stars shall be revealed to the
reader. Here are tales of ancient history, stories known only by a few, for
they caused unprepared Readers to seek their peace within uncanny madness.
There
are Ways in which the Mind of a man is like unto an Eye, in that it can be used
as a Lens to focus the Powers that exist in the Spaces between the Worlds.
Indeed, the Mind of any Man can be used, when severed from the confining ties
of the Flesh and put into a state of Trance, as a Weapon of great Power. To the
sorcerer who brings such a Mind under his Control, nothing is impossible, for
he shall be able to see into the farthest Lands of the World by means of that
Mind's Eye, and shall be able to inflict upon his Enemies a Vengeance of such
Type as shall leave no slightest Mark, but shall cause them to expire with Fear
and great Terrors.
Peaceful is the ignorant man whose vision of Earth
is bounded by hills and the seas behind. Such a man lives on a small island of
ignorance, unaware of the oceans of maddening absurdities surrounding this
small world.
It must not be thought that the powers capable of greatest
wickedness appear to us in the form of repellent familiars, and other, closely
related demons. They do not. Small, visible demons are merely the effluvia
which those vast forms of destructiveness have left in Their wake -- skin
scrapings and even more tenuous shreds of evil that attach themselves to the
living like leeches from some great slain leviathan of the deep that has
wreaked havoc on a hundred coastal cities before plunging to its death with a
thousand hurled harpoons quivering in its flesh. For the mightiest powers there
can be no death and the hurled harpoons inflict, at most, surface injuries
which heal quickly. I have said before and Shall I say
again until my tardily earned wisdom is accepted by my brethren as fact--in
confronting that which has always been and always shall be a master of
magic can know only self-reproach and despair if he mistakes a temporary
victory for one that he can never hope permanently to win.
Nor is it to be thought, that man is either the oldest or the last of earth's masters, or that the common bulk of life and substance walks alone. The Old Ones were, the Old Ones are, and the Old Ones shall be. Not in the spaces we know, but between them, They walk serene and primal, undimensioned and to us unseen. Yog-Sothoth knows the