The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

These are the best and the creepiest, some creations of the Old Gent, some by Campbell, Derleth, Smith, andothers, chosen for fame, nastiness, shear power, and actual influence. For instance, Cyaegha is semi-Ligottian (stabbing old Anima Mundi in the back) and very powerful, but trapped under a mountain and appears in only one story, whereas Azathoth has unlimited power and a large fanbase. Choose wisely ;). And don't anger the Brotherhood. Things could be dire... "Your hand? Ha!" -Sect of the Idiot

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

Just thought I'd add a couple of specifically Ligottian GOOs/Outer Gods: Cynothoglys and Nethescurial (though the latter is, to me, merely another name for HPL's Azathoth--and I just HAD to vote for the big grandaddy of them all, whose sheer power and mindlessness outweighs even that keen, malignant mask called Nyarlathotep).

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

Azathoth reigns supreme, of course. How could it be otherwise?

In a reality NOT polluted by insipid Derlethian human-friendly "Elder Gods", Azathoth is the Lord of All...just as Doc L says above, even the Crawling Chaos, contemptuous though he may be of his Master, must inevetibly bow before the Primal Demiourgos. What's that line from the Old Gent's sonnet AZATHOTH?-- "(Azathoth's)...whims whose random chance combining/gives each Cosmos it's eternal law...". Pretty close anyway, and that really sums it up.

Nethescurial, of course, is very much like unto Azathoth, only even more pervasive and inimical seeming...

Heck, my signature tagline is an assessment of an Azathothian existence!

Hail the Sphere Conjoined,
Aether

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

I personally voted Daoloth, the most unappreciated Other God, for its unintentional deadliness and obscurity.

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

Silent-

I'm actually a great fan of Daoloth. THE RENDER OF THE VEILS is probably my fave R Campbell story, and Daoloth is an interesting being. However, It just doesn't carry the same inconcievable and inexorable mind-numbing horror to me that the Big A does.

Mind you, if Daoloth was nearby, I'd prefer he was contained by the Pentacle of the Planes, and I'd NOT be petitioning my personal Veils to be Rent...I like my tactile hallucinations just fine, thanks.

Crying Seven-fold to Legba,
-Aether

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

In my mind, I think Nyarlathotep is by far the most human (or inhuman, in some ways), Yog-Sothoth is the most powerful (in the "I am the Gate, I am the Key" way), Azathoth has the most influnce (plus, he could easily rival Yog-Sothoth in rankings. . .if he were conscious), Cyaegha is the most inimical to humanity and everything else (he is the progeny of the Tsalal itself), Hastur is probably the most easily summoned (badmouth him and he's a thought away) and most likely to eventually snuff Cthulhu (although, like HPL's version of Nodens, his motives are questionable; some consider him one of the most benevolent, actually trying to help humanity. . .to an extent), Cthulhu the most popular, Tsathoggua the laziest, Y'Golanac the nastiest, Yidhra the most adaptable, Daoloth the hardest to concieve of, and a few minor beings (Shathak, Mordiggian, Idh-Yaa, Mlandoth, Tulzscha, Zvilpogghua, Sfatlicllp, Yccagnissz, Zsystulzhemgni, Xexanoth) too often overlooked. Personally, I like Abhoth, Atlach-Nacha, and Tsathoggua a great deal. Yes, I am a proud Clark Ashton Smith fan ;).

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

Atlach-Nachaphobia, eh?

I love Klarkash-Ton, too. You obviously have a categorical knowledge of the Mythos & related fiction.

Inasfar as Hastur is concerned, I've found that many of the stories in the Carcosan cycle to be very reminiscent to the Ligotti theme. That decayed, old-world, artistic feel is prevelant in the many stories of TL's as well as THE KING IN YELLOW.

Sadly, I've never located the story containing Cyaegha (Darkness, My Name Is....great title!) but am familiar with that being thru various Chaosium publications. I'll agree with you that Cyaegha seems extraordinaly unpleasant, even among Inimicae.

As for Y'golanac....He and most of Ramsey Campell's creations make me want to shower after I re-read COLD PRINT.

Addressing The Audient Void,
-Aether

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

I voted for Cthulhu, simply because he, she or it seems most likely to bring about an apocalypse upon Earth when the stars are right again - which they surely must be any day now.

Please look out for my own very modest additions to the Cthulhu mythos in my forthcoming collection, Rule Dementia! The elder deities are in a story called 'The Waiting'. Well, you don't have to look out for them, of course, they'll get you anyway, whether you do or don't.

I was asked to write the story for a Lovecraft tribute anthology that never appeared. The names of the deities are Yxthahl and Qioxtl. Thinking about it, the roles they play cosmically are not unlike those of Yog-Sothoth and Nyarlathotep respectively, but they manifest in different ways.

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

I've noticed something about this: No one ever actually describes Shathak or Idh-Yaa.

Re: The Most Formidable Mythos Deity
 

Obscure....hmm....how 'bout Aphoom Zhah?