Nyarlathotep, also known as The Veiled One, is a unique and terrifying figure among the Great Old Ones. While most of these ancient entities are utterly indifferent to the affairs of mortals, Nyarlathotep stands apart. Unlike his brethren, who are often oblivious to the existence of their own cults and followers, Nyarlathotep takes an active interest in human affairs—for reasons known only to him. Some sages believe he acts as the soul or voice of the Great Old Ones, a dark emissary who walks among mortals, spreading their influence in ways that other Great Old Ones do not care to. In his myriad forms, but particularly as The Veiled One, Nyarlathotep sows chaos, madness, and despair, bringing ruin to the realms of men while masquerading as an ally to those who seek his favor.
Nyarlathotep on the Island of Moog:
Nyarlathotep’s influence on the Island of Moog is most notably felt through the actions of the Cult of the Bloody Tongue, a dark and malevolent organization dedicated to his worship. The cult has established its headquarters at the Mountain of the Black Wind, a foreboding and corrupted peak in the northern part of the island. From this stronghold, the cult carries out Nyarlathotep’s will, spreading moral decay and destruction across the island and beyond.
The Cult of the Bloody Tongue is responsible for cultivating and harvesting the Black Lotus, a rare and dangerous flower that serves as the key ingredient in the production of Black Milk, a potent narcotic that has already begun to corrupt the city-state of Al-Strahal. The cult’s operations on Moog involve clear-cutting vast swaths of the island’s jungle, transforming the once-thriving wilderness into uniform fields of Black Lotus crops. This practice not only ravages the natural beauty of Moog but also helps fuel the spread of Nyarlathotep’s influence beyond the island’s shores.
Though Nyarlathotep often acts through his cultists, his personal involvement is ever-present. He bestows unholy power and knowledge upon those who serve him, leading them deeper into madness and moral corruption. His followers, driven by ambition or desperation, are granted dark gifts that allow them to work Nyarlathotep’s will, spreading chaos and suffering wherever they go. For those who embrace his favor, the price is always steep—eternal servitude to a being who delights in tormenting the very souls he claims to empower.
Nyarlathotep’s indirect influence on Moog is also felt through the subtle corruption of the island’s ecosystem, politics, and society. The goods the cultists import from Al-Strahal, tainted by Black Milk and other dark influences, are flooding the markets of Seregon. This addictive narcotic is quickly finding its way into the hands of the city’s elites, leading to a slow but insidious moral decay. The spread of Black Milk is Nyarlathotep’s way of rotting societies from within, as those who fall under its sway become ever more dependent on the twisted gifts it offers—only to find their minds and souls eroded by the madness it brings.
Nyarlathotep Beyond Moog:
Nyarlathotep’s influence extends far beyond the island of Moog, reaching distant lands like Al-Strahal, where the elite ruling class has become enthralled by the Black Milk trade. Through this drug, Nyarlathotep spreads despair and madness, corrupting those in positions of power and undermining the very foundations of society. As his influence grows, so too does the chaos he thrives upon, driving entire realms toward self-destruction while Nyarlathotep watches with amusement.
In his guise as The Veiled One, Nyarlathotep often appears to mortals in forms that are deceptively familiar, offering knowledge, power, and forbidden secrets to those who seek them. His gifts, however, always come with a price. While he may grant unholy strength to his followers or dark insights to those who crave forbidden knowledge, these gifts inevitably lead to moral decay, madness, and self-destruction. Nyarlathotep does not care for loyalty—he uses his followers as tools to sow chaos, discarding them when they no longer serve his purposes.
For Nyarlathotep, the goal is not conquest or destruction in a direct sense, but rather the unraveling of order and the spread of madness through every layer of civilization. He takes pleasure in the suffering of mortals, especially when it is self-inflicted, manipulating them into bringing about their own downfall.
Cunning Plans and Corruption:
Nyarlathotep’s cunning nature makes him a far more dangerous entity than many of the other Great Old Ones. While beings like Cthulhu or Yog-Sothoth are content with their vast cosmic existence, indifferent to mortal affairs, Nyarlathotep deliberately engineers chaos. His followers often have no idea that they are being manipulated, thinking they are pursuing their own goals while Nyarlathotep pulls the strings behind the scenes. He is patient, working through layers of influence and deception, allowing the chaos to spread naturally until entire realms are on the brink of collapse.
Though Nyarlathotep could easily destroy the Red Ziggurat of Ilvothar—a sacred site of Elysian purity—he chooses instead to corrupt rather than destroy. His goal is to subvert the forces of good by planting seeds of chaos within their midst. By operating from his stronghold at the Mountain of the Black Wind, Nyarlathotep waits for the right moment to strike.