Cosmic Horrors

## Ecology

### Lifespan

The higher tiered in the hierarchy the longer lived, as those around the top are effectively immortal, some can enter periods of death-like slumber to hibernate for decades, centuries or even millennia.

### Intelligence

Inconceivable and inhumanly alien when compared to that of a humanoid or otherwise rational being

### Diet

Varies could be sanity, flesh, and/or energy

### Prey

All living things that are not Cosmic Horrors

### Predators

In the sense that they attack and kill them* Protas
* Witchers(?)( for some of the weaker beings such as the Vodyanoy and the Fire Vampires )

## General information

### Locations

Formerly all over, currently the Exaverse and Yottaverse

## Physical Characteristics

### Hair color

Various

In one version of the fanon, The **Cosmic Horrors** also known as **The Eldritch** or **the Ones beyond the Void** are a collective of often monstrous races and beings which opposed the Protas approximate 1,000,000,000 years before the Resurrection for domination of all creation. Unlike their enemies the Cosmic Horrors were numerous though the majority was much weaker than the upper echelons of the collective.

The majority of the collective was banished to the fringes of the Yottaverse with some weaker beings existing in the Petaverse. While some of the weaker and less noticeable slipped past the Protas Cosmic Blockade but at the cost of massively weakening them as is the case of Dagon, who was so weakened, he entered a long death-like sleep to recover, his servants the Vodyanoy continuing to serve him even in his weakened state.

## Physiology

Differs between different individuals as well as from different viewpoints. Though weaker beings may not be as frightening and as such have a clear form such as the species of the Vodyanoy.

## Racial Timeline

### Back in time immemorial (15,000,000,000 BR to 300,000,000 BR)

The first **Cosmic Horrors** originally came into existence as shadows of the Protas specifically the Outer God Zsch-Kar as the shadow of The Source and the Outer Goddess Yibhumbresh as the shadow for Asherah.

## Abilities

* **Eldritch Physiology**: **Cosmic Horrors** are eldritch abominations, beings whose very existence defies the rules of nature and/or existence and is defined by its disregard for the natural laws of the universe as we understand them. They wield godlike powers and are, for the most part, not bound by the laws of the universe. Their true form cannot be grasped by mortal beings and may be interpreted differently by different individuals/species, with others creating a collective delusion of their form. These interpretations can range from the unusual to the awe-inspiring, to the mind-shatteringly terrifying. It is rare, but not unheard of, for the presence of such a being to benefit the universe it currently inhabits.
	+ **Alien Mind**: The inner workings of a **Cosmic Horror's** mind differ greatly from what could be considered "normal" or "sane" by the standards of most living things.
	+ **Contagious Influence**: **Cosmic Horrors** can taint those around them with a physio-psychoactive influence that can twist and warp their very appearance and mindset to whatever the individual desires.
	+ **Eldritch Magic**: **Cosmic Horrors** can utilize Eldritch Magic, a variation of magic that is usually derived from some sort of Eldritch being, source, or location. This magic is notable for its unique coloring found between all users a purplish-pink closely resembling magenta in color.
	+ **Fanaticism Inducement**: **Cosmic Horrors** can induce fanaticism, the belief in something with uncritical zeal, or obsessive enthusiasm.
	+ **Incomprehensible Form**: **Cosmic Horrors** possess true forms that others cannot grasp with their mind.

## Weaknesses

### The Elder Sign

It is a symbol that is used to protect against the Great Old Ones/Outer Gods, who seem to subconsciously fear it. It can be used to repel Cosmic Horrors and keep them out/in an area.

### Star Stones

These pieces of D'Hargah's fractured body give off the light of Metatron in the presence of Cosmic Horrors, though most of D'Hargah's body was destroyed Ritarin noticed bits of the body that were not affected by the heat of the stars they were placed in so he brought them back to the World of the Protas and after some research, these grey stones were fashioned into rudimentary star-shaped necklaces that bear the Elder Sign so that they could protect mortals from Cosmic Horrors, while **Ritarin** took a majority for his Paladins a few were left to the other Protas and made their way to the other races.

## Known Cosmic Horrors

* The Outer Gods
	+ See Outer Gods
* Old Ones
	+ See Old Ones
* Great Ones
	+ See Great Ones
* Servitor Races
	+ Lesser Servitor Races
		- Vodyanoy: Children of Dagon also called Deep Ones, Vodyans or Ysgards
* Independent Races
	+ Greater Independent Races
		- Vampires, for the sake of proper categorization, modern-day vampire species come from Protas purified Cosmic Horror cells so technically Vampires are a type of Cosmic Horror.
			* The Children of D'Hoomaumis, The Vampiric Witch of the Finder
				+ High Vampires
			* The Children of Nagnos, The Seducer
				+ Gharasham Tribe: Bruxae, and Alps
				+ Tdet Tribe: TBA
				+ Ammurun Tribe: Manananggal, and Strix Nocturna
			* The Children of Nag-Sarg, The Vampiric Humanoid Begetter of the Mayhem
				+ Gharasham Tribe: Mula, Katakan, Nosferat and Strigoi
				+ Tdet Tribe: Highgate
				+ Ammurun Tribe: Vukodlak, Vrykolakas, and Moroi
	+ Lesser Independent Races
		- Dopplers, Children of Rhyeb
		- Ghouls, affected by feeding off of Misathy-Dotha, The Horde
		- Hags, tainted by Cosmic Horrors magic
		- Strigoi, Children of Nag-Sarg, The Vampiric Humanoid Begetter of the Mayhem
		- The Children of Zarkash-Yomqu, The Pattern Inside The Night
			* Gharasham Tribe: Garkain, Fleder, Ekimma and Plumard
			* Tdet Tribe: TBA
			* Ammurun Tribe: Vampyrode

## Artifacts of a Bygone Era

Although the Cosmic Horrors haven't been around in force in the material plane for eons some artifacts of their time still persist into the modern era and may appear from time to time, in the hands of would-be Cosmic Horror Cultists, Goetia Practitioners, and Necromancers.

### Key of the Eternal Gates

The Keys of the Eternal Gates are powerful sorcerous artifacts that can also act as arcane foci, they are always a size that can fit in the palm of a human hand and are usually worn as necklaces. They were created by Iukhuztotl, The Gate of the Cosmic Horrors during the Protas-Cosmic Horror War as a trans-dimensional backup plan in case of the capture of the Cosmic Horrors. There are five in total. Each was bound to a singular Great Old One and can summon that Great Old One through a portal using a ritual found in the Necronomicon. The Keys if gathered and used together can imprison the Old Ones or release them from their dimensional prisons. Each of them is located in a different time, space, and dimension, with one being on The World.

* Nathrosh, The Unspeakable's key is found in TBA.
* Nth-ar, The Death Walker's key is found on TBA
* Stlanitherath, The Pestilent Discord's key is found on TBA.
* Um'Hrdaph'Na, The Master Sin's key is found in The World.
* Xicllaniparan, The Abysmal Tundra of the Moper's key is found in Tir ná Lia through which the Wild Hunt gained access to the para-elemental element of Ice.

### Necronomicon

Originally a single book, others were later written some safer to handle, others continuations of the first's eldritch and forbidden content. Its original author is unknown but theories are they were of the Cosmic Horrors or several of the beings more than likely.

## Trivia

* These beings are obviously inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's Cosmic Horrors, very few are directly taken from the collective works and most of them are thought up by content contributors.
* Inspiration for the Cosmic Horrors also comes from the entities featured in the podcast Old Gods of Appalachia.
* The Vodyanoy, their description, and Dagon very much resemble H.P Lovecraft's Dagon mythos, so I decided to list Vodyanoy as Cosmic Horrors instead of Relicts.
* **Cthugha, the Living Flame** as well as his minions, the **Fire Vampires** appeared in a session of the Witcher TTRPG run by user: Adalwulf of Aedirn.

## Notes

* The race known as the **Cosmic Horrors** are a not confirmed race of beings in the Witcher IP, while beings like Dagon and the Vodyanoy exist, express existence of them as this race is not specified as such, **Cosmic Horrors** are treated by the canon as a purely fanon creation as there is no official proof of their existence in the Witcher works outside the fanon community.
* The existence of the **Cosmic Horrors** are a personal iteration for the fanon by Adalwulf of Aedirn, as such their existence in the fanon is not 'definitive' and is subject to the decision of inclusion in others head canons.
* **Cosmic Horrors** are free to use in stories and articles, all I ask is that you honor the lore present and if you make one add their name and a link to this page.