Comic strip in “The Dragon” magazine, commenting on the mid-80s explosion of pocket-sized board and roleplaying games, ended with “Here’s one called ‘Escape from Cthulhu.’” “How do you play it?” “First you read this incantation” [Reads it] “Then what?” “Then you escape.” [A tentacled face begins to loom]
From “The Dunwich Horror” (1928): 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 gate. Yog-Sothoth is the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate. Past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth. He knows where the Old Ones broke through of old, and where They shall break through again. He knows where They have trod earth’s fields, and where They still tread them, and why no one can behold Them as They tread. By Their smell can men sometimes know Them near, but of Their semblance can no man know, saving only in the features of those They have begotten on mankind; and of those are there many sorts, differing in likeness from man’s truest eidolon to that shape without sight or substance which is Them. *They walk unseen and foul in lonely places where the Words have been spoken and the Rites howled through at their Seasons. The wind gibbers with Their voices, and the earth mutters with Their consciousness. They bend the forest and crush the city, yet may not forest or city behold the hand that smites. Kadath in the cold waste hath known Them, and what man knows Kadath? The ice desert of the South and the sunken isles of Ocean hold stones whereon Their seal is engraven, but who hath seen the deep frozen city or the sealed tower long garlanded with seaweed and barnacles? Great Cthulhu is Their cousin, yet can he spy Them only dimly. Iä! Shub-Niggurath! As a foulness shall ye know Them. Their hand is at your throats, yet ye see Them not; and Their habitation is even one with your guarded threshold. Yog-Sothoth is the key to the gate, whereby the spheres meet. Man rules now where They ruled once; They shall soon rule where man rules now…
It is my contention that the Cats are our guardians. These 2 will get into trouble when the other cats find out. Unless they 2 are “eaten” one and all then leaving just a foul stench of them behind to corrupt the area. For it is by their smell can ye know them, their places around the Earth and other worlds of infinity. Summoning any of their kind, even a small one like that can have dire consequences. Like taking out their soul and being put into a dog’s body. The Cats of Ulthar are more than even terrestrial cats are.
Pharmakeus Ubik over 6 years ago
They shouldn’t have summoned it in the first place.
Ida No over 6 years ago
Equinox: “Next time, let’s try with one of the not as Old Ones.”
Doctor Toon over 6 years ago
Have you tried burning a little sage?
Brass Orchid Premium Member over 6 years ago
Fortunately, nobody else can see them, so it shouldn’t affect property values.
Veni Vidi Vici over 6 years ago
Trippin on the ’nip?
Happy, happy, happy!!! Premium Member over 6 years ago
It’s gonna take a seriously big cork to plug that hole.
scyphi26 over 6 years ago
Look, cats, just because you CAN do a thing, does not mean you SHOULD do that thing…
gcarlson over 6 years ago
Comic strip in “The Dragon” magazine, commenting on the mid-80s explosion of pocket-sized board and roleplaying games, ended with “Here’s one called ‘Escape from Cthulhu.’” “How do you play it?” “First you read this incantation” [Reads it] “Then what?” “Then you escape.” [A tentacled face begins to loom]
ajakimber425 over 6 years ago
Okay, kitties! Another fine mess you gotten us into now!
patlaborvi over 6 years ago
Someone’s been reading H. P. Lovecraft, or maybe playing one of the Arkham Horror games.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 6 years ago
From “The Dunwich Horror” (1928): 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 gate. Yog-Sothoth is the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate. Past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth. He knows where the Old Ones broke through of old, and where They shall break through again. He knows where They have trod earth’s fields, and where They still tread them, and why no one can behold Them as They tread. By Their smell can men sometimes know Them near, but of Their semblance can no man know, saving only in the features of those They have begotten on mankind; and of those are there many sorts, differing in likeness from man’s truest eidolon to that shape without sight or substance which is Them. *They walk unseen and foul in lonely places where the Words have been spoken and the Rites howled through at their Seasons. The wind gibbers with Their voices, and the earth mutters with Their consciousness. They bend the forest and crush the city, yet may not forest or city behold the hand that smites. Kadath in the cold waste hath known Them, and what man knows Kadath? The ice desert of the South and the sunken isles of Ocean hold stones whereon Their seal is engraven, but who hath seen the deep frozen city or the sealed tower long garlanded with seaweed and barnacles? Great Cthulhu is Their cousin, yet can he spy Them only dimly. Iä! Shub-Niggurath! As a foulness shall ye know Them. Their hand is at your throats, yet ye see Them not; and Their habitation is even one with your guarded threshold. Yog-Sothoth is the key to the gate, whereby the spheres meet. Man rules now where They ruled once; They shall soon rule where man rules now…
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 6 years ago
It is my contention that the Cats are our guardians. These 2 will get into trouble when the other cats find out. Unless they 2 are “eaten” one and all then leaving just a foul stench of them behind to corrupt the area. For it is by their smell can ye know them, their places around the Earth and other worlds of infinity. Summoning any of their kind, even a small one like that can have dire consequences. Like taking out their soul and being put into a dog’s body. The Cats of Ulthar are more than even terrestrial cats are.
Gary Fabian over 6 years ago
I believe after the cats consumed 68 pounds of catnip (don’t know why they don’t show it), they are the only ones that can see the ancient ones.
pschearer Premium Member over 6 years ago
Imagine my surprise to find Night-Gaunt here. Quel choc!