The Red Offering

"The Red Offering", originally published as just "The Offering", is a Cthulhu Mythos short story by Lin Carter. It was first published in 1982 in the magazine Crypt of Cthulhu, and forms part of the Xothic Legend Cycle.
==Synopsis==
The story purports to be part of the translation of the Zanthu Tablets, as published by Prof. Copeland in 1916.
In ancient Mu, the hierophant Zanthu recounts how from an early age he wished to become high-priest of Ythogtha, a god he believed spoke to him in dreams, in which he heard the same phrase repeated over an over: "you must make the Red Offering". However, the cult of Ythogtha has dwindled for centuries due to persecution from the more powerful cult of Ghatanothoa, so although the position of high-priest was vacant, there was no viable authority to cement Zanthu's claim to it. To rectify this, Zanthu plans to obtain the talisman known as the Black Seal of the wizard Iraan, with which he would be enabled to summon Ythogtha and establish his position indisputably.
Zanthu travels to the southern parts of Mu, and is accompanied by his younger brother Kuth, who Zanthu resents for having won the attentions of a young woman named Yeena, who Zanthu himself was in love with. In a temple of Shub-Niggurath, Zanthu consults the Ygoth Records, written by a disciple of Iraan, which reveal that the Black Seal was brought to Earth by the Outer Ones from Yuggoth, and is now buried in Iraan's own tomb in the Land of Yish. With this information, Zanthu, Kuth, and their Gyaa-Hua servants find the tomb of the mummified wizard, still holding the Black Seal. As soon as they touch the talisman, however, the mummy opens its eyes and grabs Kuth by the throat, strangling him. Given the choice between saving his brother or seizing the opportunity to take the talisman, Zanthu chooses the latter. Kuth dies and the mummy crumbles to dust. As he buries his brother and returns to his homeland, Zanthu realizes that he has made the Red Offering, and not only would have the power he craved, but also Yeena.
==Publication History==
*Crypt of Cthulhu Lammas 1982 (1982)
*The Xothic Legend Cycle: The Complete Mythos Fiction of Lin Carter (1997)
*Die Xothic-Legenden (2004, German language translation)
Category:Expanded Mythos Works
Category:Lin Carter works