Hyperborean cycle

The Hyperborean cycle is a series of short stories by Clark Ashton Smith that take place in the fictional land of Hyperborea (present-day Greenland). The cycle is included in the Cthulhu mythos because various elements in Smith's work are borrowed by other mythos authors, H.P. Lovecraft in particular.

The Hyperborean cycle represents a unique branch of the Cthulhu mythos in that it mixes cosmic horror with an Iron age-style setting. Adding to the peril is the rapidly approaching ice age, which threatens to wipe out all life on the Hyperborean continent. Azathoth is the supreme deity of the cycle, followed by Cxaxukluth, Azathoth's spawn. A host of other deities, many of whom are related to Azathoth, play important roles in the cycle; foremost is the toad-god Tsathoggua, who dwells in Mount Voormithadreth. Many of these beings would later appear in the works of other mythos authors such as Lin Carter and Robert M. Price.

Hyperborea

Hyperborea is a legendary continent in the Arctic. Before it was overwhelmed by the advancing ice sheets of the Pleistocene age, Hyperborea was warm and fertile, with lush jungles inhabited by the last remnants of the dinosaurs. A race of yeti-like bipeds known as the Voormi once populated Hyperborea, but were wiped out by the pre-human settlers that migrated here from the south. These pre-humans built the first capital of Hyperborea at Commoriom. Later, they moved to Uzuldaroum when prophesies foretold of Commoriom's doom.

Gods of Hyperborea

Tsathoggua

Main article: Tsathoggua

The early settlers of Hyperborea at first worshipped the toad-god Tsathoggua, the patron deity of the Voormi. Later, they turned to more conventional deities – primarily, Yhoundeh, the elk-goddess.

Yhoundeh

Yhoundeh (the elk-goddess) is the name of the deity worshipped in the waning days of Hyperborea. A ban was soon placed on Tsathoggua's cult, enforced by Yhoundeh's inquisitors. As the Hyperborean civilization drew to a close, Yhoundeh's priests fell out of favor and the populace returned to the worship of Tsathoggua.

Strangely enough, the Parchments of Pnom suggests that Yhoundeh is married to Nyarlathotep, avatar of the Outer Gods.

Cities of Hyperborea

Commoriom

Commoriom was the first seat of power in Hyperborea, established by the pre-human migrants from the south. In its heydey, Commoriom was a grand city, built of marble and granite and marked by a skyline of altitudinous spires.

Legend has it that the populace fled Commoriom when the White Sybil of Polarion foretold of its destruction. However, Athammaus, headsman of Commoriom, disputes this claim and attributes the abandonment to the increasingly loathsome depredations of the horrid outlaw Knygathin Zhaum.

Uzuldaroum

Uzuldaroum became the capital of Hyperborea after the populace left Commoriom. The city lies a day's journey from the former capital. It was the last population center in Hyperborea before glaciers overtook the continent.

Geographical locations in Hyperborea

Eiglophian mountains

The Eiglophian mountains are a terrifying range of ebon peaks, said to be "glassy-walled", and are believed to be honeycombed with hidden tunnels. The Eiglophian mountains cross the middle of the Hyperborean continent, with one range stretching to the south and another to the east.

Mount Voormithadreth

Mount Voormithadreth is a four-coned extinct volcano and is the tallest peak in the Eiglophian mountains. It is the dwelling place of various horrors, including the toad-god Tsathoggua and the spider-god Atlach-Nacha (his colossal web is here, too).

Important denizens of Hyperborea

The Voormi

Citizens

Athammaus

Athammaus was the headsman of Commoriom before its fall. He was also one of the last to leave the city when the population fled to Uzuldaroum. Afterwards, he recorded a chilling testament of Commoriom's final days.

Athammaus was descended from a long line of headsman. A consummate professional, Athammaus always took great pride in his skill and never shirked his official duty. His career came to an abrupt end when he faced the task of executing the outlaw Knygathin Zhaum. (Moreover, it is likely that Athammaus became an unwitting pawn in Knygathin Zhaum's sinister designs.)

Eibon

Eibon was a sorcerer and priest of Zhothaqquah (Tsathoggua). He holds renown as the writer of the Book of Eibon, a tome that, among other things, chronicles Eibon's life, and includes his magical formulae and rites of Zhothaqquah. He lived in a five-story, five-sided tower made of black gneiss that stood beside the sea on Mhu Thulan. Eibon disappeared shortly after Yhoundeh's premier inquisitor, Morghi, came to his black tower with a writ for his arrest.

When the inquisition came knocking, Eibon fled to Cykranosh (the planet Saturn) through a magic panel given to him by Zhothaqquah. Eibon was never again seen on Earth after that. (When Morghi vanished close on the heels of Eibon, many believed that he was in league with the sorcerer all along and so is largely responsible for the decline in the worship of Yhoundeh.)

Satampra Zeiros

Satampra Zeiros was the master thief of Uzuldaroum. His exploits are legendary. He lost his right hand during a failed venture to loot the deserted city of Commoriom (though his companion Tirouv Ompallios suffered a worse fate).