Tsathoggua - The Toad God in the Deep Recesses of N'Kai

Among the Great Old Ones, only Cthulhu and perhaps Hastur, have larger and more widespread cults than Tsathoggua. The hideous master of the subterranean recesses and deep caverns is known by several names, obtained throughout the ages, by different people that served him with blind obedience. It is called Sadogui in the Amazonian forests, Saint Crapaud in Gaul and Medieval France, Zhothaqquah in China and Sadogua by the tribes of North Africa. But it is through the name Tsathoggua that he is best known.

The kmer genealogist Pnom, possibly one of the greatest authorities on Tsathoggua, maintains that he is the offspring of two obscure entities called Ghisguth and Zstylzhemghi, inhabitants of another remote reality who were drawn to the World of Yuggoth (which in the future would become one of the bases of the Mi-Go). Little is known about Tsathoggua's offspring, but there are rumors that he is the only remaining member of his kind. The still infant creature would have found refuge in the deep caves of Yuggoth where it has developed over a millennia.

Once reaching maturity, Tsathoggua developed consciousness of his cosmic abilities and was able to undertake a journey from Yuggoth to Saturn (or possibly one of the Moons of this solar planet). In this new home, Tsathoggua established a shelter in which he completed the second stage of his growth, which take another several millennia.

During this period the entity spent most of its time hibernating in meditation, expanding its mind to probe the ends of the Galaxy. In this period the creature became aware of the main cosmic entities: the existence of Azathoth and its Court at the center of the Universe, the role of the Outer Gods, the function of each and of course, the existence of the other Great Ancients who share with it the same heritage. At this time, the creature have learned enough about manipulation of reality by mystical formulations - what hermetic human traditions classify under the generic name of "magic."

It is unknown when or how, but at a certain moment of his permanence on Saturn, Tsathoggua embarked on a new journey to the third planet in the solar system, the Earth, which then possessed almost innocuous life forms. According to the Manuscripts of Hsan, some extinct inhabitants of a dark planet at the border of our solar system would have been in charge of transporting Tsathoggua to Earth. The same document cites that this civilization performed this service in exchange for mystical instruction on the part of the creature. This may be the first mention of Tsathoggua as a preceptor of mystical knowledge, a function he has apparently performed repeatedly since then.

Once on Earth, Tsathoggua settled in Yuth, a ruined city originally owned by the same alien creatures with whom he bargained his transfer. The period at Yuth, however was brief, and soon it settled in the N'Kai Caves (also called the Black Gulf of N'Kai). For ages he has remained in hibernation, allowing his psychic emanations to remain active, while his numbed body rested in his deep sepulcher, awakening only in brief periods. In one of these awakened periods, Tsathoggua discovered the existence of living beings complex, the Voormis who believed he is a Deity. Inhabiting the depths of Mount Voormithadreth, Tsathoggua became a legendary entity, feared by the human peoples who succeeded the Voormis and founded the proud Kingdom of Hyperborea.

Before humans, however, Tsathoggua was the Main God of the Serpent People, a race of reptilian humanoids who built a vast empire on the surface. In Black Basalt Towers he was praised and received sacrifices, sharing his knowledge, used to set the bases for the Empire of Valusia. The serpent's people civilization fell into decadence and were coerced by the humans who push them into the land. By this time the reptiles had already deteriorated to the point of abandoning Tsathoggua, adopting Yig, the father of the Serpents, as their chief deity.

The humans discovered the Cult of Tsathoggua and formed around it a new religion considered heretic by the kings of Commorium, Hyperborea City State. When hyperboreans also faced its destruction, survivors who settled in colonies around the world carried with them the knowledge about Tsathoggua. One of the main descendants of Hyperboreans settled in Averoigne, present-day France. Founded by the might sorcerer Klarkash-Ton, it was responsible for preserving the god-toad cult.

The druids of Averoigne revered the God speaking through an oracle, the representative of Tsathoggua in periods of hibernation. This cult became widespread and spread throughout Central Europe, confusing itself with the primitive pagan religions that also gained space. Their leaders clashed with the Romans who expanded their empire and narrowly did not exterminate them. Forced to ocult their rituals, the followers of Tsathoggua had to hide until the Roman Empire fell into decay. During the medieval age, the cult of Tsathoggua established in France resurfaced. Acting secretly in rural enclaves, the Cult formed a solid structure even during the persecutions of sorcerers undertaken by the Catholic Church.

The other colonies that scattered the continents also preserved the cult of Tsathoggua that settled years later in America, Africa and Asia, albeit with less success. The native tribes of Narrangasett and Wompanoags of the east coast of the United States worshiped Tsathoggua. So did the Tuareg nomads who lived in the Sahara and indigenous tribes of the Amazon Basin in Brazil. Tsathoggua's last bastion was established in China, but it lost ground to other deities, notably Chaugnar Faugn, Cthulhu, and Atlach-Nacha, who pushed cultists to Southeast Asia, with a few cells settling into present-day Korea and Thailand.

Tsathoggua's blatant lack of interest in keeping his cults active and the long periods of hibernation undoubtedly represented a significant decrease in the number of followers. In the twentieth century, its cultists fought not to disappear completely, with only the Averoigne sect remaining cohesive and organized. But in the 21st century, Tsathoggua experienced a sudden rebirth, surviving in clandestine sanctuaries in big cities, gaining power with orgies and sacrifices. His followers are interested in neopaganism and ritual magic that fits well with some precepts of worship.

Some say that Tsathoggua awakens in times of instability and war, taking advantage of human afflictions. Others believe he cares little for the devotion of his mortal servants, sharing with them mere crumbs of his arcane knowledge. Those who attend the rituals directed to Him tend to degenerate over time, gaining bestial characteristics by the noxious proximity of the Toad God. It is not strange that some cultists have a distinctly batrachic appearance, with a swollen stomach, short necks, bulging eyes, extremely wide mouths, and little (or no) facial or body hair. Some cultists have a very smooth skin, cool to the touch and wet.

The wild beasts are especially subservient to Tsathoggua. There is a legend that stray cats tend to watch over the outskirts of His temples at Averoigne, a practice that may have originated belief in familiars, animals loyal to sorcerers. Wolfs, bears and wild boars are servants frequently used by the Druids of Tsathoggua. Carcasses animated by witchcraft are also used by cultists, especially when it is necessary to defend the temples and preserve such places from the presence of invaders.

In addition to animals and undead, the Toad God is served by an amorphous race known only as the Formless Spawn of Tsathoggua. It's unknown how this relationship, between the God and these strange beings formed. Everything indicates that they are the most faithful keepers devoted to the God. The Pnom Scrolls suggest that this life forms may have some connection with the beings who built Yuth, although some other sources attest that these creatures are native of N'Kai.

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