Great Old One

Great Old Ones

(Deity)

Realm

Dark Tapestry

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Worshipers

The Old Cults, The Night Heralds, Neothelids, Seugathi, Cloakers

Follower Alignments (1E)

Varies

Domains (1E)

Chaos, Knowledge, Madness, Rune, Void

Subdomains (1E)

Dark Tapestry, Insanity, Language, Memory, Nightmare, Stars

Favored Weapon

Varies, but daggers are common

Images of Great Old Ones

Source: Wake of the Watcher, pg(s). 63

Ⅱ

Great Old Ones

(Creature)

Type

Aberration
(Great Old One)

CR

Varies

Images of Great Old Ones

Source: Bestiary 4, pg(s). 135

Ⅰ

The gods of the Dark Tapestry, known as the Elder Mythos, can be divided into two categories, in so far as such chaos might be categorized: the Outer Gods and the Great Old Ones, sometimes termed just Old Ones. The Outer Gods are equivalent to true deities, whereas the Great Old Ones are less powerful, more akin to demigods, like the archdevils and demon lords.

The Great Old Ones respect the Outer Gods and may be seen as heralds or high priests of their greater kind. Great Old Ones are far less mobile than the Outer Gods. Indeed, many Great Old Ones are imprisoned, unable to move until some catastrophe occurs that unbinds them. At this point of release, some prophecies predict the ending of worlds and the ascension of the Great Old Ones to the realms of the Outer Gods. For mortals, the differences between cults of gods of either category is practically meaningless.

Great Old Ones are poorly understood beings who are said to dwell in the darkness between the stars, a place known as the Dark Tapestry or the Dominion of the Black. What is known is that they are truly ancient, and probably pre-date not only the world of Golarion but also its more human-like gods. They are thought to be of a vast, alien intelligence that mortals investigate at their own peril. Those who follow them and draw magical power from their worship are almost always insane, believing that these ancient beings will one day return to unmake the world.

Great Old Ones, despite some of their limited ability to travel, may influence the wider universe via dreams and mind control, and this influence may stretch well beyond their prisons to other worlds.

The total number of Great Old Ones is unknown, but they are known to include Hastur, Xhamen-Dor, Mhar, Bokrug, and Cthulhu.

Relations

It is unknown whether the Great Old Ones are related to Rovagug, or whether they might be his rival.

Church of the Great Old Ones

Followers of the Great Old Ones and the Outer Gods collect in small cults of the insane known as Old Cults.

References

Rules and information on The Inner Sea World Guide p. 235 are superseded by those in Wake of the Watcher.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.