Nyarlathotep

Nyarlathotep
(Haunter in the Dark)

(Deity)

Alignment

Chaotic evil

Areas of Concern

Conspiracies
Conquest
Darkness
Long-term plans

Edicts

Create darkness, encourage authorities to bring the apocalypse

Anathema

None

Domains (1E)

Chaos, Darkness, Evil, Knowledge, Magic

Domains (2E)

Darkness, knowledge, nightmares, trickery

Favored Weapon

Kukri

Symbol

Circle with wing-shaped arms

Sacred Animal

Bat

Sacred Colors

Black, gray

Source: In Search of Sanity, pg(s). 70 (1E)
Divine Mysteries Web Supplement, pg(s). 318–319 (2E)

Alignment details sourced from In Search of Sanity and Bestiary 3 for Pathfinder Second Edition 122. In In Search of Sanity, the Haunter of the Dark's sacred colors are black and gold, and its areas of concern are conspiracies, dangerous secrets, forbidden magic.

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Nyarlathotep
(The Veiled Voice)
(The Black Pharaoh)

(Deity)

Areas of Concern

Dangerous secrets
Long-term plans
Reckless innovation

Edicts

Innovate destructive alchemy or magic, instigate conflict between your enemies, share dangerous secrets

Domains (1E)

Chaos, Evil, Knowledge, Magic, Trickery

Sanctification (2E)

None

Domains (2E)

Ambition, fate, knowledge, magic
Alternate: Destruction, glyph

Favored Weapon

Bo staff

Symbol

A pair of runed lips pursed in a whisper

Sacred Animal

Panther

Sacred Colors

Black, purple

Source: In Search of Sanity, pg(s). 70 (1E)
Divine Mysteries Web Supplement, pg(s). 318–319 (2E)

On In Search of Sanity 70, the Black Pharaoh's religious symbol is an inverted ankh, its sacred colors are black and red, and its areas of concern are conspiracies, dangerous secrets, and forbidden magic.

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More information about this subject might be available on StarfinderWiki.

Nyarlathotep is one of the Outer Gods of the Dark Tapestry who takes on thousands of forms, each having its own cult, religious symbol, and favoured weapon.¹ Unlike the other Outer Gods, Nyarlathotep seems to enjoy manipulating mortals and driving them to madness. It is believed that he has prepared for the apocalyptic return of Great Old Ones on countless planets.²

Appearance

The god's most notorious forms on Golarion are:

The Veiled Voice³ or Black Pharaoh, a humanoid form¹²
The Crawling Chaos, another humanoid form⁴
The Faceless Sphinx, a faceless elephantine sphinx⁵³
The Haunter of the Dark, a bat-like entity with a tri-lobed burning eye¹²

Realm

Nyarlathotep is the guardian and alleged caretaker of the strange gods of the Dreamlands, who dwell in Kadath, the impossible castle at the northern tip of the Plateau of Leng. Rumour also has it that he serves as the door ward to Azathoth. Few dare approach Kadath, and fewer return after meeting Nyarlathotep.⁶

The Church

Worshippers of Nyarlathotep believe he is the Outer God who ties together the worship of the Great Old Ones. They also believe he will open the doors to the uncaring light of the stars. Common worshippers are assassins, poisoners, and demagogues to bring about the deaths of kings and reformers, moving the world towards chaos.⁷

On Golarion

Nyarlathotep is particularly interested in Osirion, where his influence is clearly visible. The Black Pharaoh is linked to many witch cults and has appeared to many pharaohs, including (allegedly) the incumbent Khemet III.²⁸ The Crawling Chaos also played a key role in the downfall of Ancient Osirion.⁹

It is also believed that either the Black Pharaoh²⁸ or the Crawling Chaos was responsible for the Armies of Exploration that ultimately led to Taldor's decline,³ and that one of his guises also contributed to the invention of firearms by the dwarves of Dongun Hold.²⁸

In his Faceless Sphinx mask, Nyarlathotep was worshipped in Thassilon¹⁰ and Osirion,³ where he had a vague influence.¹⁰ The Faceless Sphinx's cult was said to be infiltrating the drow¹¹ houses of Zirnakaynin,¹² where his worshippers were said to have been hidden among their kin who still worshipped the demon lords. It has also sought to convert the leaders of Sothis in order to hasten the return of the Outer Gods.⁸

References

Original source: H. P. Lovecraft, "Nyarlathotep", 1920;James Jacobs. “The Elder Mythos” in In Search of Sanity, 70. Paizo Inc., 2016.

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

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 James Jacobs. “Cults of the Dark Tapestry” in Wake of the Watcher, 66. Paizo Inc., 2011
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 James Jacobs. “The Elder Mythos” in In Search of Sanity, 70. Paizo Inc., 2016
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Misha Bushyager, et al. “Outer Gods and Great Old Ones” in Divine Mysteries, 224. Paizo Inc., 2024
↑ Misha Bushyager, et al. “Outer Gods and Great Old Ones” in Divine Mysteries, 223. Paizo Inc., 2024
↑ Richard Pett. “Into the Nightmare Rift” in Into the Nightmare Rift, 42. Paizo Inc., 2012
↑ Greg A. Vaughan. “Leng: The Terror Beyond Dreams” in Into the Nightmare Rift, 68. Paizo Inc., 2012
↑ Colin McComb. “Minor Deities” in Faiths of Corruption, 20. Paizo Inc., 2011
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 Scott D. Young. “Cults of the Darklands” in Lord of the Black Sands, 68. Paizo Inc., 2020
↑ Misha Bushyager, et al. “Outer Gods and Great Old Ones” in Divine Mysteries, 224. Paizo Inc., 2024 ; it is unclear whether the Black Pharaoh is still the name of one of Nyarlathotep's guises since the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. See Meta:Nyarlathotep.
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 Richard Pett. “Into the Nightmare Rift” in Into the Nightmare Rift, 41. Paizo Inc., 2012
↑ Paizo retroactively removed drow from the Pathfinder campaign setting as part of the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. A canon replacement for drow in this context might not exist. See Meta:Drow.
↑ Paizo retroactively removed drow from the Pathfinder campaign setting, and in the process also retroactively changed the city of Zirnakaynin into a haunted ruin about which very little is known. A canon replacement for places, people, and events related to Zirnakaynin might not exist. See Meta:Zirnakaynin.

External links

Nyarlathotep (real-world fictional character) on Wikipedia

[wake-of-the-watcher-66-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 James Jacobs. “Cults of the Dark Tapestry” in Wake of the Watcher, 66. Paizo Inc., 2011

[in-search-of-sanity-70-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 James Jacobs. “The Elder Mythos” in In Search of Sanity, 70. Paizo Inc., 2016

[divine-mysteries-224-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Misha Bushyager, et al. “Outer Gods and Great Old Ones” in Divine Mysteries, 224. Paizo Inc., 2024

[divine-mysteries-223-4] Misha Bushyager, et al. “Outer Gods and Great Old Ones” in Divine Mysteries, 223. Paizo Inc., 2024

[into-the-nightmare-rift-42-5] Richard Pett. “Into the Nightmare Rift” in Into the Nightmare Rift, 42. Paizo Inc., 2012

[into-the-nightmare-rift-68-6] Greg A. Vaughan. “Leng: The Terror Beyond Dreams” in Into the Nightmare Rift, 68. Paizo Inc., 2012

[faiths-of-corruption-20-7] Colin McComb. “Minor Deities” in Faiths of Corruption, 20. Paizo Inc., 2011

[lord-of-the-black-sands-68-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 Scott D. Young. “Cults of the Darklands” in Lord of the Black Sands, 68. Paizo Inc., 2020

[9] Misha Bushyager, et al. “Outer Gods and Great Old Ones” in Divine Mysteries, 224. Paizo Inc., 2024 ; it is unclear whether the Black Pharaoh is still the name of one of Nyarlathotep's guises since the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. See Meta:Nyarlathotep.

[into-the-nightmare-rift-41-10] 10.0 ^10.1 Richard Pett. “Into the Nightmare Rift” in Into the Nightmare Rift, 41. Paizo Inc., 2012

[11] Paizo retroactively removed drow from the Pathfinder campaign setting as part of the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. A canon replacement for drow in this context might not exist. See Meta:Drow.

[12] Paizo retroactively removed drow from the Pathfinder campaign setting, and in the process also retroactively changed the city of Zirnakaynin into a haunted ruin about which very little is known. A canon replacement for places, people, and events related to Zirnakaynin might not exist. See Meta:Zirnakaynin.

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