Elder Ones And Old Things

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Finally, many thanks to my patient production team for helping turn my somewhat bizarre imaginings into reality!
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[@AaronLitz]

Also there's how Lovecraft emphasized that they were _men_ like us, just men from another world.

[@SandyofCthulhu]

one of his least racist statements.

[@Wobbothe3rd]

Mr. Peterson is a national treasure.

[@raevick]

I had oral surgery this week and your videos have been one of the few things that relieve my pain. Thank you so much for these videos and your other work!

[@chriscotgrove9674]

Get well soon!

[@MrWarlord396]

While war machines for non-humanoid aliens have been done before, I think this is the first time I've seen a suit of powered battle armor designed for them (particularly one that's not just acting as a robot or exoskeleton to make it move and act like a human). That's very cool

[@SandyofCthulhu]

Kent Hamilton deserves full credit. (I just said, "It should have a five-sided armor.")

[@troyagarcia7709]

I never thought about the Crinoid method of flight for a Elder Thing, but it makes so much sense to me know that I've seen a Crinoid. That is so interesting to think about, thank you for this new knowledge

[@SandyofCthulhu]

You are most welcome. Full disclosure - I originally got the idea from a guy I was speaking with back in the 90s. Sadly can't remember who he was.

[@PrzybyszzMatplanety]

Elder Things - because even Mythos monsters need some mad scientists.

[@kingcr1mz0n71]

@6:10 love the Barlowe's guide depiction. That book actually had me read a TON of the books that art was based off of.

[@diverguy3556]

As a kid, my first contact with Lovecraft was via the Call of cthulhu RPG manual, 3rd Edition. I was obsessed with the monster section and loved the pictures of that accompanied the monster stats. Those pictures became the definative representations of Lovecraftian horrors in my mind, and as good as the pictures and models Sandy shows of various beasties they just don't measure up to pictures I saw as a kid, which fired my imagination so much. It always makes me smile that I can see such enthusiastic and imaginative videos by the guy who's work simultaneously blew my mind and terrified me at such a formative period in my life.

[@mazzysmainframe]

That's my story, too! I still have the book, worn after almost three decades in my possession and I love it to this day!

[@engineerforthefuture8593]

Love the scarf!!

[@SandyofCthulhu]

Thanks! It's my "Orcs Must Die" scarf, a gift from Robot Entertainment.

[@chrisseymour2848]

That Crinoid looked so eerie. In one of Robert E Howards Conan the barbarian stories he rescues a lady from some flying thing coming out of the night sky, now ill imagine that crinoid when I read the story again.

[@SandyofCthulhu]

those swimming crinoids really creepy me out.

[@singletona082]

It almost sounds like we could attempt to communicate with the Elder Things. It'd be almost like a goldfish swimming in a weird pattenr to get our attention and probably if any thought at all given would be regarded as curious, but they are at least comprehencible albeit far more in advance of our own species.

[@SandyofCthulhu]

They can also whistle and pipe to us. Maybe we could use bagpipes or flutes to talk back.

[@singletona082]

@@SandyofCthulhu I just like that even though they see us more as at best a cute little ant farm? There is an element of comprehencibility to them. Even though coexistance isn't possible and their level of complexity without invoking exotic Outsideness is mind crushing.

[@shoopoop21]

Being able to hear Sandy talk about stuff he likes is such a treat. He is a beloved icon with a great speaking skill, and insight. Thank you for maintaining this channel.

[@PenumbranWolf]

Thanks Sandy. I didn't know that Basket Starfish existed and now I do. Great.

[@SandyofCthulhu]

sorry about that.

[@bigsarge2085]

Fascinating!

[@beckoning-chasm]

I love how plausible you make all this. "Don't worry, kids, it's all just imagination. Go to sleep." Sandy: "Stay awake a while longer, kids, and listen to this--"

[@waterbears9874]

The elder things have always been my favorite Lovecraft creature

[@Crylar44]

I do love hearing random Lovecraft concepts and creatures explained, thank you for this vid. Also, awesome rendition of the Old Once :o

[@GrimDarkHalfOff]

I got really worried for a second I misunderstood the Elder Sign

[@marcovandermerwe3026]

Definitely one of my favourite Lovecraftian creatures.

[@augustochuko]

This was so fun to listen to. Love your editing and visual aids!

[@noone6812]

How have I not stumbled on your channel before.... subbed.

[@marktenney5812]

I'm running a campaign where the Mythos is partially public knowledge, and people refer to them as "the annunaki". I feel like it fits really well.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Any "anti-Nephilim" groups?

[@SandyofCthulhu]

works for me.

[@general0mega]

Around 7:40 we postulate the weight to be a couple tons. Luis Merlo weighs them to "~200kg / 240 lb" [sic] which seemed pretty low to me given the robustness of the creature. Thanks for helping to clarify. Since Mountains I've had great respect for this species as a culture and for their role in history.

[@SandyofCthulhu]

I just figured it out by saying their body was a ovoid barrel 6 feet long and three feet across, then adding 100 lbs or so for the head and legs. Also I assumed they had the density of water because they can swim. I'm going to assume that Luis Merlo was examining a young or dessicated one.

[@general0mega]

​@@SandyofCthulhu Makes sense. However Merlo got his samples, we can reasonably assume he didn't have the option to exchange them for damage during shipment. By the way I really love that book and I hope more like it surface in the future. Thanks again for all you do!

[@professormoore4876]

One of my favorite Lovecraft creations, and not coincidently all but two of my favorite Lovecraft stories involve Elder Ones. I like that they are never meant to be malevolent or destroyers, just explorers and scientists whose "technology" ended up being their downfall (at least on Earth). Great stuff!

[@SandyofCthulhu]

yes. But of course they are "non-malevolent" entities who wouldn't shed a tear if they decided to exterminate us.

[@loonelytoon6523]

Among all the videos talking about Lovecraftian creatures, yours are simply the best! Most of these creatures' common knowledge is what you have pieced together for Call of Cthulhu, and seeing you almost skip the basic stuff to concentrate on the more scientific speculations underlaying what you made into these monsters' most known features is pure gold!

[@SandyofCthulhu]

thank you so much.

[@robrau8795]

I'm glad you covered the flight of the Elder Things! It has always annoyed me when people draw them with 2 wings---that just seems so wrong considering the strong five pointed symmetry that those creatures have.

[@Carlos_de_friend]

I always thought they were always called the elder things, thanks for the information, that lovecraft never gave them an offical name.

[@Elkantar_Rostorgh231]

I always had ideas of making mythos beings playable in a campaign and seeing you're designing that for a future game in regards to the Elder Things is pretty nice.

[@skeletorment]

I can relate. People refer to me as an elder one all the time due to my seniority,

[@SandyofCthulhu]

My church literally designated me as an elder years ago.

[@LaBibliotecaEterna]

Thanks for bringing a little more clarity into this subject as it has become a little more complicated, especially when reading translations .

[@dubuyajay9964]

As for how the Elder Things "flew" in space "Barlowe's Guide To Extraterrestrials" suggested they used Solar Winds on their wings instead. As for how the wings looked, didn't Lovecraft make drawings of the Elder Things, like his famous Cthulhu Statue drawing (which oddly enough had three eyes in each orbital socket area and a head that looked more octopoid than cuttlefish. Unlike the description in the story)?

[@rodClark717]

In "Mountains" Lovecraft said they were odd but they were men. We have people who spend their entire lives studying ants, we coulda been homies 😔

[@SandyofCthulhu]

They study us. We study ants. The difference in brain power between the student and object is similar, I guess.

[@rodClark717]

@Sandy of Cthulhu point taken, maybe it's like Perry Farrell said "we'll make great pets!" 😆

[@peppemea6977]

this video is very useful to me right now, I'm gonna preparing for the "beyond the mountains of madness" campaign!

[@SandyofCthulhu]

sweet. Be sure to insert a battle armor elder thing.

[@moolate127]

I'd like to see a video where you explain how vampires, werewolves, wraiths and lake monsters fit into the lore. I know they're mostly in CoC just as a classic monster but wasn't there a vampire who gets eaten by Byatis in a story? Correct me if I'm remembering wrong.

[@SandyofCthulhu]

Byatis is from Robert Bloch, not Lovecraft, but Lovecraft did use vampires & werewolves in one of his poems.

[@moolate127]

@@SandyofCthulhu Let me just say, huge fan! It's always interested me as to where the vampires fit into the grand scheme of things, and I'd love to hear your take. I'd also love to hear your thoughts on Rhan-Tegoth (and thank you for blessing us with the best and only Rhan mini)

[@burpostockings]

I like the ending, "they would destroy, but without malice or hatred" I put a young shoggoth in one of my games, and it tore up 2 people of the party and countless NPCs. The behaviour I gave the horrific thing, was that of a toddler chasing butterflies. Lol seems even creepier that way

[@ricksmith7490]

Love the content great video

[@stomach-turningthrush9432]

Clank！That's about all, peace out.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Mr. Sandy, as I am sure you know, Mountains was a sequel to a Poe story about a explorer finding human life while en route to the Antarctic (thus the murals of pet "humanoids" in the story). However, Verne wrote his own sequel before Lovecraft. Did Lovecraft ever reference this sequel in his story? Did you ever reference this in your famous adventure Campaign? If not, do you have any ideas how to integrate this into the adventure? Did Lovecraft even know about Verne's story? Sorry for the huge block of questions.

[@bioclassic2330]

The Elder Things are a good addition to the Cthulhu Mythos, and I hope to see them expanded on later on, like how was their society? Their language? Maybe how they actually didn't immediately get obliterated by the Great Old Ones and Star Spawn.

[@forestjohnson7474]

Sandy of Cthulu, how you ever looked into the lore of werewolf the apcolypse, the triat, a group of 3 Supreme creatures are the only things that I think are more powerful than the Cthuluians. Without some convoluted story. They are the Wyld" embodiment of creation", the Weaver" the embodiment of preservation", and the Wyrm" embodiment of entropy".

[@Ditchhead]

I think they're cute. I want to give one a big smooch.

[@samiamrg7]

I wonder if the the Old Things have some technology or power which protects them from being taken over by the Yith.

[@purepwnage007]

hey sandy why don't you don interviews with "bored with nelly" anymore? I remmeber i made a complaint about the series a while back but this is the internet and i'm a moron, those interviews about your old work were amazing and super insightful. please consider some more :)

[@SandyofCthulhu]

Ha! I just did one about 10 days ago, so no doubt Nellie will be putting it up at some point.

[@briankito1655]

I sure am excited for that Hyperspace... still! Anyway, can you say what game the Elder Thing model is going to appear in? It looks fantastic!

[@SandyofCthulhu]

If you're talking about the Battle Armor Elder Thing, it's actually from Dinosaur 1944! It's one of the bosses from the past.

[@dylanthomas385]

Talk about them in the game

[@VMUDream]

peace out!

[@K4mpfs3mm3l]

there's battletech boxes in the background yet you never talk about it. i can't take it anymore!

[@SandyofCthulhu]

Well I don't play battletech very much. Just happens to be alphabetized there.

[@Polaf3456]

Dudes got a bunch of tabletop books behind him, better listen to him.

[@ORLY911]

Elder Things seem to represent a point of sea life evolving to the intelligence of humanity (like how speculative biology suggests octopi, eventually, could do this too) and even becoming space faring, but being a purely mortal species with no cosmic power they are just as vulnerable to greater threats and mind searing hazards as humanity. They are a bit humbling, as even the characters from at the mountains of madness had pity for Elder Things torn apart by their shoggoths, showing us just how more dangerous other beings are in the mythos, when rhino size starfish people are getting wrecked. Their seeming bad luck and vulnerability makes them oddly relatable despite their otherworldly design.

[@dubuyajay9964]

But they aren't even native to this planet. They came from outer space.

[@PrzybyszzMatplanety]

From one point of view, yes - we may pity them. From another - they fought wars with Mi-Go, Star Spawn, Flying Polyps and not only survived. They won some of them. Eldr Things aren't beings to be trifled with.

[@ORLY911]

@@dubuyajay9964 I know, i didn't mean they originated from the earths seas, just the theme of appearing like earth deep sea life but as an intelligent race.

[@ORLY911]

@@PrzybyszzMatplanety True, i could definitely see them having an edge of the migo and could outsmart starspawn, but maybe some trouble with the Polyps. There any fiction that goes more in depth over inter alien conflict with these races? Other than the brief mentions in the original HPL books.

[@SandyofCthulhu]

Lovecraft says they are part plant, but not sure if this is true or just speculation.

[@maksimsmelchak7433]

At 4:05, you mentioned ethian (Yithian) mines and possession of a human species, please tell us more.

[@mikemalley1909]

What was that mini at the start? I like that.

[@NodDisciple1]

05:33 Any idea what the story behind that illuminated manuscript is? Since they were supposed to have been killed off by the Shoggoths during the Ice Age? Is this some of the ones that might have survived under the sea? Or visitors from Outer Space due to the orbs in the sky?

[@DetectivePoofPoof]

If they have kept us as pets once then maybe there is a chance they could potentially have a similar response to us as we do to small and cute animals. Therefore a potential invasion might involve more "domestication" than outright extermination. Which I choose to believe is the case In my own personal cannon.

[@dubuyajay9964]

When will Hyperspace come out? Will it be compatible with GURPS Cthulhupunk, Cthulutech, Eldritch Skies, and/or Call of Cthulhu? What dice System will it use? D20? D100/%? D6?

[@SandyofCthulhu]

If you're asking about the Hyperspace Roleplaying Game it will be most similar to the 7th edition Call of Cthulhu, but not identical. It should be easy to cross characters and creatures over between the two systems. Uses 1d100 for checks and challenges. Character generation and advancement are quite different. The advancement is actually based on what I did for Planet Apocalypse.

[@maksimsmelchak7433]

👍🏻😎👽🤖

[@spritelessGirl]

What am I looking at at 7:46 ? Maybe if I understand I will be less scared.

[@dubuyajay9964]

02:16. But I thought all life "native" to Earth came from the Shoggoths according to the same story. 05:26. Where you get that wonderful pic?

[@SandyofCthulhu]

02:16 - probably did - but the shoggoths were built by Old Ones so they get credit too. 05:26 - i no longer remember or I would have given credit.

[@charlesdexterward7781]

I hope your game will give Elder Things the dignity of iPads or something instead of restricting their artistic achievements to hieroglyphic murals.

[@SandyofCthulhu]

I'm sure they had all sorts of ways to record stuff. But just as 100% of our electronic media will be dust in 1000 years, so was theirs.

[@thomaswaithe6833]

Would upvote, but it's at 666.

[@dubuyajay9964]

First...to watch this video. :P. Edit:. Or comment on it anyway. X-S