Old One
Encyclopedia
Old One may be a term used to refer to a god
or other deity
. Old Ones may also be a term used to refer to beings who co-existed with early humans according to many religions. These terms may also be found in fantasy
and horror fiction
.
, the famous 20th-century physicist, famously said:
This quotation is widely condensed into the short sentence I cannot believe that God plays dice, or God does not play dice (with the Universe).
In the weird fiction
of H. P. Lovecraft
, the term "Old Ones" is employed in different contexts. Lovecraft's first mention of the Old Ones appears in his most famous story, “The Call of Cthulhu
” (1926), where he uses the term in reference to Cthulhu
's spawn. Inspector John Legrasse of the New Orleans police department raids a cult meeting, capturing several of the members:
Lovecraft also mentioned the Old Ones in "The Dunwich Horror
" (1929), naming them as mysterious entities associated with the Outer God Yog-Sothoth
. In "The Shadow Over Innsmouth
" (1936), the Old Ones had the power to keep the Deep One
s in check. In Lovecraft's revision story "The Mound" (1940), "Old Ones" referred to the denizens of K'n-yan
.
In Lovecraft's novella
At the Mountains of Madness
(1936), "Old Ones" was another name for a fictional
alien species, the Elder Thing
s, which were described in vivid detail in the story. These aliens built cities around the world in ancient times but were eventually relegated to Antarctica. At the end of their reign, they were all but destroyed by the shoggoth
s, a slave race of their own creation.
’s reinterpretations transformed the beings of Lovecraft's fictional mythology. Perhaps most importantly he introduced a good-versus-evil dichotomy between the Elder Gods and the Great Old Ones. More recently, however, scholars have come to accept that Derleth’s most fundamental innovation was the assignment of these beings to a single mythological pantheon as part of the overarching Cthulhu Mythos
. One of the categories of this pantheon – the “Great Old Ones” or “Old Ones” – has become a standard in our thinking about Lovecraft’s fiction.
(1965–1977), a series of novels by the British author Susan Cooper
, the Old Ones are agents of the Light, born as men and women, whose task is to prevent the Powers of the Dark from taking control of the world. They are immortal but are not gods and most do not appear different than late middle aged humans.
Their abilities include time-travel, shape-shifting, and ability to speak and understand various languages without having learned them. Most of their powers are designed to allow them to fulfill their goal of combat against the forces of the Dark and are activated upon reading the Book of Grammarye. Their full abilities are never detailed and they are often the protagonists in the series and serve as a balancing force to the Lords of the Dark who have similar powers.
series (1982–present) written by Stephen King
, the Old Ones (also sometimes called Great Old Ones) were a highly advanced civilization, called the Imperium, that ruled All-World
many centuries, or possibly millennia, ago. They were obsessed with technological development and saw their inventions as a solution to everything; replacing the immortal, magical essence of creation with mortal machinery. The Imperium borrowed the magic of the Dark Tower, using its rooms into the worlds to travel to horrible times in history and revel in the destruction and death. Posters advertising gladiatorial battles and events such as the assassination of Abraham Lincoln or the September 11 attacks appear throughout the main building that served as a transportation hub. In their hubris, they thought they could rule the time-space continuum, but in order to do this, they had to rebuild the Dark Tower. When they arrived in End-World, where the Tower resides, they attempted to knock the Tower down. No sooner had they hit the wall of the Tower when great cracks appeared in the earth, allowing a thick mist infested with monsters
to escape from the Outer Dark. These mists spread all over Mid-World and the Old Ones blamed each other for this and soon war started. In one final battle, the ancient people managed to destroy themselves, leaving Mid-world a radioactive wasteland. Technological relics of the Old Ones' era can still be found scattered throughout the world.
Considering how many of the Great Old Ones' interests, machinery, buildings and cities (such as Lud, which is a worn-down version of New York or the field of oil derricks and tanks Roland finds in Mejis when he is young) resemble today's society, the Great Old ones are most probably the name for a civilization directly descending from today's (worldwide) civilizations. It is highly suggested that the Old Ones were in fact human, but were the working or higher class that controlled All-World, and that the name Old Ones was only contrived after centuries of absence.
series of novels (2000–present) by Jim Butcher
, the Old Ones are demons or dark gods who ruled the world before mankind. They were apparently banished from our reality. The Seventh Law of Magic prohibits the summoning of both the Old Ones and their foot soldiers the Walkers, or Outsiders.
series of novels (beginning with 1973's Interview With the Vampire) by Anne Rice
, Characters Akasha and Enkil (who appear in 2 books in the series, The Vampire Lestat
and The Queen of The Damned
, which were combined to create Queen of the Damned, a major motion picture starring late R&B singer Aaliyah in the title role) are referred to both as, 'Those Who Must Be Kept' and also as, 'The Old Ones'. Within this series, the term 'Old Ones' is also used to describe the other more obscure, centuries-old vampires who have lived for many hundreds of years. Their powers are much stronger, and their blood is considered to be more potent and powerful than the younger, more recently 'made' vampires.
supplement Wrath of the Immortals (1992), the Old Ones are hinted as super-powerful beings, more powerful than even the highest level immortals themselves. The Old Ones are thought to live in the Vortex Dimension and are in charge of almost everything in the multiverse.
created by Kevin Siembieda
and published by Palladium Books
, the Old Ones
comprise a race of Alien Intelligence
s that are considered to be among the most ancient and powerful beings in the universe. Their presence and influence figure prominently in the Palladium Fantasy setting
, but they also receive occasional mention in other role-playing game
s published by Palladium. Described as "the masters, if not the very source of magic
" who appear as "hideous, oozing slimes and gelatinous mounds of flesh and tentacles," they are each the embodiment of a particular aspect of evil
and subsist upon the respective brands of suffering they inflict. After being overthrown and defeated through the combined efforts of various races under their rule, the Old Ones were placed into an enchanted slumber and hidden away in hopes that they will neither escape nor be reawakened.
s fantasy and science fiction settings there is reference to the Old Ones; these are implied to be the same creatures though they have been presented in slightly different ways.
of Warhammer 40,000
, the Old Ones traveled through space manipulating minor species on several planets and growing them into tools for their battle against the C'tan. The Slann were probably their servants. The Old Ones could be the Eldar due to a reference in Ghostmaker.
setting and the Slann are the rulers of the Lizardmen. Before the Lizardmen Army book was released, the race now known as the Old Ones were called the Slann (primary referenced in the High Elf rulebook); after the book was released, they were renamed the Old Ones allowing the name Slann to be assigned to the Mage-Priests of the Lizardmen. No current allusions are made as to the physical appearance of the Old Ones, although it is assumed they were bipedal - as was the race that served them (the Slann, who in turn presided over the Saurus and Skinks. The Saurus being the warriors, the Skinks being in charge of work requiring more finesse; pottery, scribing etc.). Some materials (Drachenfels) referred to them as the "toad men" from the stars. The Old Ones were the ones who set up the warp gates at either pole of the planet and shifted it into a more favorable orbit before encouraging the development of the native species. In older versions of the material, the Old Ones where known as the Old Slaan and were ancestors of said race, who at that time where far more humanoid (a race of psychic frog-men).
, a race of beings known as "the first ones" appear during the course of the show. In the show's lore, these powerful entities were the first civilizations to develop in the galaxy.
established by the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
, the "Old Ones" are the powerful pure-breed demon
s that once dominated earth before humankind appeared and during its first years. In the first-season episode "The Harvest", Rupert Giles
tells Buffy
:
This description closely matches the Old Ones of the Cthulhu Mythos
as interpreted by August Derleth
.
", where they are primarily called The "Leviathan
s". They were among the first of Gods creations but were locked in Purgatory as they were powerful enough to destroy all Creation. When Purgatory was breached and the angel Castiel absorbed all the souls inside, the Leviathans entered him too, steadily destroying his body and physically trying to rip their way out of him. Judging by Castiel's drastically altered and maniacal mental state as they take control of him, they are similar to the Great Old Ones of H.P Lovecraft, as they appear insane and incredibly vicious.
, the titan Kronos
is referred to as the "Old One".
, the great demon who brought despair and summoned demons into the kingdom of Boletaria was referred to as the old one. Taking the form of a massive hovering creature composed of wood, rock, and soil.
series, the Archdemons are said to be "Old Gods" who were buried underground by the Maker, where they became corrupted by the Darkspawn.
campaign setting
of Dungeons & Dragons
, the Old Ones are an extinct race of extremely powerful, cruel, reptilian humanoids who had enslaved the "warm blooded" races in ages past. The story of Neverwinter Nights
(2002) revolves around their queen's attempt to resurrect the race – also called the "Creator Race
" – and reestablish its dominance on Faerûn
.
's universe of Starcraft
, the Xel'Naga are beings who are said to have been responsible for the creation of all of the sentient beings in the universe and nurturing their civilizations. These included the Terrans (Humans); however, only the Zerg and Protoss had ever come into contact with the Xel'Naga. The Xel'Naga are beings of supposedly unsurpassed wisdom and power, though it has been noted that the Zerg became uncontrollable for them and decimated their fleets.
, there are beings known as the Old Gods, malevolent entities that ruled the world of Azeroth in ancient times. The Old Gods were defeated by the Titans and buried deep underground. They still live, and their influence occasionally spills out onto the surface. Some of the Old Gods' names are mentioned and are very similar to those of Lovecraftian beings, such as C'Thun (Cthulhu) and Yogg-Saron (Yog-Sothoth).
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
or other deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
. Old Ones may also be a term used to refer to beings who co-existed with early humans according to many religions. These terms may also be found in fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
.
Referring to God
Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, the famous 20th-century physicist, famously said:
- Quantum mechanics is certainly imposing. But an inner voice tells me it is not yet the real thing. The theory says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the Old One. I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice.
This quotation is widely condensed into the short sentence I cannot believe that God plays dice, or God does not play dice (with the Universe).
Referring to Beings
A great many older religions may believe that Old Ones are the beings that existed at the creation of the universe and everything in it, possibly considered to be minor gods or deities or of co-existing with gods. It is an uncommon term for a creator being but not completely unheard of, though it should be noted that Old One would be the English term for a number of words in other languages.H. P. Lovecraft
In the weird fiction
Weird fiction
Weird fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction written in the late 19th and early 20th century. It can be said to encompass the ghost story and other tales of the macabre. Weird fiction is distinguished from horror and fantasy in that it predates the niche marketing of genre fiction...
of H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, the term "Old Ones" is employed in different contexts. Lovecraft's first mention of the Old Ones appears in his most famous story, “The Call of Cthulhu
The Call of Cthulhu
The Call of Cthulhu is a short story by American writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written in the summer of 1926, it was first published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales, in February 1928.-Inspiration:...
” (1926), where he uses the term in reference to Cthulhu
Cthulhu
Cthulhu is a fictional character that first appeared in the short story "The Call of Cthulhu", published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1928. The character was created by writer H. P...
's spawn. Inspector John Legrasse of the New Orleans police department raids a cult meeting, capturing several of the members:
They worshipped, so they said, the Great Old Ones who lived ages before there were any men, and who came to the young world out of the sky. Those Old Ones were gone now, inside the earth and under the sea; but their dead bodies had told their secrets in dreams to the first men, who formed a cult which had never died.
Lovecraft also mentioned the Old Ones in "The Dunwich Horror
The Dunwich Horror
"The Dunwich Horror" is a short story by H. P. Lovecraft. Written in 1928, it was first published in the April 1929 issue of Weird Tales . It takes place in Dunwich, a fictional town in Massachusetts...
" (1929), naming them as mysterious entities associated with the Outer God Yog-Sothoth
Yog-Sothoth
Yog-Sothoth is a cosmic entity of the fictional Cthulhu Mythos and the Dream Cycle of H. P. Lovecraft. Yog-Sothoth's name was first mentioned in his novella The Case of Charles Dexter Ward...
. In "The Shadow Over Innsmouth
The Shadow Over Innsmouth
The Shadow Over Innsmouth is a novella by H. P. Lovecraft. Written in November-December 1931, the story was first published in April 1936; this was the only fiction of Lovecraft's published during his lifetime that did not appear in a periodical....
" (1936), the Old Ones had the power to keep the Deep One
Deep One
The Deep Ones are creatures in the Cthulhu Mythos of H. P. Lovecraft. The beings first appeared in Lovecraft's novella "The Shadow Over Innsmouth"...
s in check. In Lovecraft's revision story "The Mound" (1940), "Old Ones" referred to the denizens of K'n-yan
K'n-yan
K'n-yan is a fictional, subterranean land in the Cthulhu Mythos. The underground realm was first described in detail in H. P. Lovecraft's revision of Zealia Bishop's "The Mound" , in which it is discovered by the 16th century Spanish Conquistador Zamacona...
.
In Lovecraft's novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
At the Mountains of Madness
At the Mountains of Madness
At the Mountains of Madness is a novella by horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, written in February/March 1931 and rejected that year by Weird Tales editor Farnsworth Wright on the grounds of its length. It was originally serialized in the February, March and April 1936 issues of Astounding Stories...
(1936), "Old Ones" was another name for a fictional
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
alien species, the Elder Thing
Elder Thing
The Elder Things are fictional extraterrestrials in the Cthulhu Mythos. The beings first appeared, although not named in H. P. Lovecraft's short story "The Dreams in the Witch-House"...
s, which were described in vivid detail in the story. These aliens built cities around the world in ancient times but were eventually relegated to Antarctica. At the end of their reign, they were all but destroyed by the shoggoth
Shoggoth
A shoggoth is a fictional monster in the Cthulhu Mythos. The being was mentioned in passing in sonnet XX of H.P...
s, a slave race of their own creation.
August Derleth
August DerlethAugust Derleth
August William Derleth was an American writer and anthologist. Though best remembered as the first publisher of the writings of H. P...
’s reinterpretations transformed the beings of Lovecraft's fictional mythology. Perhaps most importantly he introduced a good-versus-evil dichotomy between the Elder Gods and the Great Old Ones. More recently, however, scholars have come to accept that Derleth’s most fundamental innovation was the assignment of these beings to a single mythological pantheon as part of the overarching Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
. One of the categories of this pantheon – the “Great Old Ones” or “Old Ones” – has become a standard in our thinking about Lovecraft’s fiction.
The Dark Is Rising series
In The Dark Is RisingThe Dark is Rising Sequence
The Dark Is Rising is the name of a five-book series of children's contemporary fantasy novels by Susan Cooper, published in 1965–1977, which depicts the struggle between the forces of good, called The Light, and the forces of evil, known as The Dark...
(1965–1977), a series of novels by the British author Susan Cooper
Susan Cooper
Susan Mary Cooper is an English author best known for The Dark Is Rising, an award-winning five-volume saga set in and around England and Wales. The books incorporate traditional British mythology, such as Arthurian and other Welsh elements with original material ; these books were adapted into a...
, the Old Ones are agents of the Light, born as men and women, whose task is to prevent the Powers of the Dark from taking control of the world. They are immortal but are not gods and most do not appear different than late middle aged humans.
Their abilities include time-travel, shape-shifting, and ability to speak and understand various languages without having learned them. Most of their powers are designed to allow them to fulfill their goal of combat against the forces of the Dark and are activated upon reading the Book of Grammarye. Their full abilities are never detailed and they are often the protagonists in the series and serve as a balancing force to the Lords of the Dark who have similar powers.
The Dark Tower series
In The Dark TowerThe Dark Tower (series)
The Dark Tower is a series of books written by American author Stephen King, which incorporates themes from multiple genres, including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. It describes a "Gunslinger" and his quest toward a tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical. King...
series (1982–present) written by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, the Old Ones (also sometimes called Great Old Ones) were a highly advanced civilization, called the Imperium, that ruled All-World
All-World
All-World is a fictional location in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels. All-World is the world known to contain the "Keystone Tower" in the Dark Tower series. It is the only world that contains the Dark Tower in its physical form; all others contain a representative of the Tower, such...
many centuries, or possibly millennia, ago. They were obsessed with technological development and saw their inventions as a solution to everything; replacing the immortal, magical essence of creation with mortal machinery. The Imperium borrowed the magic of the Dark Tower, using its rooms into the worlds to travel to horrible times in history and revel in the destruction and death. Posters advertising gladiatorial battles and events such as the assassination of Abraham Lincoln or the September 11 attacks appear throughout the main building that served as a transportation hub. In their hubris, they thought they could rule the time-space continuum, but in order to do this, they had to rebuild the Dark Tower. When they arrived in End-World, where the Tower resides, they attempted to knock the Tower down. No sooner had they hit the wall of the Tower when great cracks appeared in the earth, allowing a thick mist infested with monsters
The Mist
The Mist is a horror novella by the American author Stephen King, in which the small town of Bridgton, Maine is suddenly enveloped in an unnatural mist that conceals otherworldly monsters. It was first published as the first and longest story of the 1980 horror anthology Dark Forces. A slightly...
to escape from the Outer Dark. These mists spread all over Mid-World and the Old Ones blamed each other for this and soon war started. In one final battle, the ancient people managed to destroy themselves, leaving Mid-world a radioactive wasteland. Technological relics of the Old Ones' era can still be found scattered throughout the world.
Considering how many of the Great Old Ones' interests, machinery, buildings and cities (such as Lud, which is a worn-down version of New York or the field of oil derricks and tanks Roland finds in Mejis when he is young) resemble today's society, the Great Old ones are most probably the name for a civilization directly descending from today's (worldwide) civilizations. It is highly suggested that the Old Ones were in fact human, but were the working or higher class that controlled All-World, and that the name Old Ones was only contrived after centuries of absence.
The Dresden Files
In The Dresden FilesThe Dresden Files
The Dresden Files is a series of contemporary fantasy/mystery novels written by Jim Butcher.He provides a first person narrative of each story from the point of view of the main character, private investigator and wizard Harry Dresden, as he recounts investigations into supernatural disturbances in...
series of novels (2000–present) by Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher is a New York Times Best Selling author most known for his contemporary fantasy book series The Dresden Files. He also wrote the Codex Alera series. Butcher grew up as the only son of his parents, and has two older sisters. He currently lives in Independence with his wife, Shannon K...
, the Old Ones are demons or dark gods who ruled the world before mankind. They were apparently banished from our reality. The Seventh Law of Magic prohibits the summoning of both the Old Ones and their foot soldiers the Walkers, or Outsiders.
The Vampire Chronicles
In The Vampire ChroniclesThe Vampire Chronicles
The Vampire Chronicles is a series of novels by Anne Rice that revolves around the fictional character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman turned into a vampire in the 18th century....
series of novels (beginning with 1973's Interview With the Vampire) by Anne Rice
Anne Rice
Anne Rice is a best-selling Southern American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history...
, Characters Akasha and Enkil (who appear in 2 books in the series, The Vampire Lestat
The Vampire Lestat
The Vampire Lestat is a novel by Anne Rice, and the second in her Vampire Chronicles, following Interview with the Vampire. Many events in the two books appear to contradict each other...
and The Queen of The Damned
The Queen of the Damned
The Queen of the Damned is the third novel of Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series. It follows Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat...
, which were combined to create Queen of the Damned, a major motion picture starring late R&B singer Aaliyah in the title role) are referred to both as, 'Those Who Must Be Kept' and also as, 'The Old Ones'. Within this series, the term 'Old Ones' is also used to describe the other more obscure, centuries-old vampires who have lived for many hundreds of years. Their powers are much stronger, and their blood is considered to be more potent and powerful than the younger, more recently 'made' vampires.
Dungeons & Dragons
In the Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
supplement Wrath of the Immortals (1992), the Old Ones are hinted as super-powerful beings, more powerful than even the highest level immortals themselves. The Old Ones are thought to live in the Vortex Dimension and are in charge of almost everything in the multiverse.
Palladium Fantasy
In the Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing GamePalladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game
The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game is a game produced by Palladium Books. It is set in a unique world, called the Palladium World , with the primary setting being some 10,000 years after a great war between the elves and their dwarven allies...
created by Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda is an American artist, writer, designer, and publisher of role-playing games, and the co-founder and president of Palladium Books....
and published by Palladium Books
Palladium Books
Palladium Books is a publisher of role-playing games perhaps best known for its popular, expansive Rifts series . Palladium was founded April 1981 in Detroit, Michigan by current president and lead game designer Kevin Siembieda, and is presently based in Westland, Michigan...
, the Old Ones
Old Ones (Palladium Books)
The Old Ones are a fictional race of Alien Intelligences within the megaversal setting of Palladium Books' game module PFRPG...
comprise a race of Alien Intelligence
Alien Intelligence
In the various game settings of Palladium Books, Alien Intelligences are fictional, vastly powerful beings of unknown origin that are stated to be a combination of equal parts spirit, magical energy, and physical flesh...
s that are considered to be among the most ancient and powerful beings in the universe. Their presence and influence figure prominently in the Palladium Fantasy setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, but they also receive occasional mention in other role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s published by Palladium. Described as "the masters, if not the very source of magic
Magic (fantasy)
Magic in fiction is the endowing of fictional characters or objects with magical powers.Such magic often serves as a plot device, the source of magical artifacts and their quests...
" who appear as "hideous, oozing slimes and gelatinous mounds of flesh and tentacles," they are each the embodiment of a particular aspect of evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
and subsist upon the respective brands of suffering they inflict. After being overthrown and defeated through the combined efforts of various races under their rule, the Old Ones were placed into an enchanted slumber and hidden away in hopes that they will neither escape nor be reawakened.
Warhammer
Within Games WorkshopGames Workshop
Games Workshop Group plc is a British game production and retailing company. Games Workshop has published the tabletop wargames Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000...
s fantasy and science fiction settings there is reference to the Old Ones; these are implied to be the same creatures though they have been presented in slightly different ways.
Warhammer 40,000
In the fictional universeFictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
of Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
, the Old Ones traveled through space manipulating minor species on several planets and growing them into tools for their battle against the C'tan. The Slann were probably their servants. The Old Ones could be the Eldar due to a reference in Ghostmaker.
Warhammer Fantasy
Though less prevalent, the Old Ones also appeared in the background material for the Warhammer FantasyWarhammer Fantasy (setting)
Warhammer Fantasy is a fantasy setting, created by Games Workshop, which is used by many of the company's games. Some of the best-known games set in this world are: the table top wargame Warhammer Fantasy Battle, the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay pen-and-paper role-playing game, and the MMORPG...
setting and the Slann are the rulers of the Lizardmen. Before the Lizardmen Army book was released, the race now known as the Old Ones were called the Slann (primary referenced in the High Elf rulebook); after the book was released, they were renamed the Old Ones allowing the name Slann to be assigned to the Mage-Priests of the Lizardmen. No current allusions are made as to the physical appearance of the Old Ones, although it is assumed they were bipedal - as was the race that served them (the Slann, who in turn presided over the Saurus and Skinks. The Saurus being the warriors, the Skinks being in charge of work requiring more finesse; pottery, scribing etc.). Some materials (Drachenfels) referred to them as the "toad men" from the stars. The Old Ones were the ones who set up the warp gates at either pole of the planet and shifted it into a more favorable orbit before encouraging the development of the native species. In older versions of the material, the Old Ones where known as the Old Slaan and were ancestors of said race, who at that time where far more humanoid (a race of psychic frog-men).
Babylon 5
In the television series Babylon 5Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, a race of beings known as "the first ones" appear during the course of the show. In the show's lore, these powerful entities were the first civilizations to develop in the galaxy.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
In the fictional BuffyverseBuffyverse
The Buffyverse, also known as the Whedonverse or Slayerverse , is the shared fictional universe in which the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are set. This term, originally coined by fans of the TV series, has since been used in the titles of published works, and adopted by Joss...
established by the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
, the "Old Ones" are the powerful pure-breed demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
s that once dominated earth before humankind appeared and during its first years. In the first-season episode "The Harvest", Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character is portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head. He serves as Buffy Summers' mentor and surrogate father figure...
tells Buffy
Buffy
Buffy may refer to:*Buffy the Vampire Slayer , various media on the TV series.*The Buffy EP, 1999 EP by Velvet Chain*Buffy coat, a component of blood...
:
This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their...their Hell. But in time, they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for, for man. All that remains of the Old Ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures...
This description closely matches the Old Ones of the Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
as interpreted by August Derleth
August Derleth
August William Derleth was an American writer and anthologist. Though best remembered as the first publisher of the writings of H. P...
.
Supernatural
The Old Ones are referenced in Season 7 of "SupernaturalSupernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
", where they are primarily called The "Leviathan
Leviathan
Leviathan , is a sea monster referred to in the Bible. In Demonology, Leviathan is one of the seven princes of Hell and its gatekeeper . The word has become synonymous with any large sea monster or creature...
s". They were among the first of Gods creations but were locked in Purgatory as they were powerful enough to destroy all Creation. When Purgatory was breached and the angel Castiel absorbed all the souls inside, the Leviathans entered him too, steadily destroying his body and physically trying to rip their way out of him. Judging by Castiel's drastically altered and maniacal mental state as they take control of him, they are similar to the Great Old Ones of H.P Lovecraft, as they appear insane and incredibly vicious.
Age of Mythology
In the campaign of the real time strategy video game Age of MythologyAge of Mythology
Age of Mythology , is a mythology-based, real-time strategy computer game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios...
, the titan Kronos
Kronos
Kronos can refer to:*Cronus, a Titan, the father of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter, Hera, and Chiron.In business*Kronos Foods, the world's largest manufacturer of gyrosIn computing...
is referred to as the "Old One".
Demon's Souls
In Demon's SoulsDemon's Souls
is an action role-playing game video game developed primarily by From Software exclusively for the PlayStation 3. It was released in Japan on February 5, 2009 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment...
, the great demon who brought despair and summoned demons into the kingdom of Boletaria was referred to as the old one. Taking the form of a massive hovering creature composed of wood, rock, and soil.
Dragon Age
In the Dragon AgeDragon Age
Dragon Age: Origins is a single-player role-playing video game developed by BioWare's Edmonton studio and published by Electronic Arts. It is the first game in the Dragon Age franchise...
series, the Archdemons are said to be "Old Gods" who were buried underground by the Maker, where they became corrupted by the Darkspawn.
Neverwinter Nights
In the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, the Old Ones are an extinct race of extremely powerful, cruel, reptilian humanoids who had enslaved the "warm blooded" races in ages past. The story of Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights , produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames , is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game that is based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules. It was originally to be published by Interplay Entertainment, but the publisher's financial...
(2002) revolves around their queen's attempt to resurrect the race – also called the "Creator Race
Creator Races
In the fictional Forgotten Realms setting, the intelligent species are classified into groups known as "races", which, in this context, generally refers to an intelligent species, such as humanity, elves or goblins...
" – and reestablish its dominance on Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
.
Mass Effect
- In the video game Mass EffectMass EffectMass Effect is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows by Demiurge Studios. The Xbox 360 version was released worldwide in November 2007 published by Microsoft Game Studios...
, the massive, intelligent plant-like being called the Thorian refers to itself as the "Old Growth". - In Mass Effect 2Mass Effect 2Mass Effect 2 is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on January 26, 2010 and for PlayStation 3 on January 18, 2011...
, the geth called Legion refers to the Reapers as the "Old Machines", and claims that the geth who have attacked organics believe the Reapers to be gods.
Starcraft
In Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher founded on February 8, 1991 under the name Silicon & Synapse by three graduates of UCLA, Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham and Frank Pearce and currently owned by French company Activision Blizzard...
's universe of Starcraft
StarCraft (series)
StarCraft is a military science fiction media franchise created by Chris Metzen and James Phinney, and owned by Blizzard Entertainment. The series centers on a galactic struggle for dominance between three species—the adaptable and mobile Terrans, the insectoid Zerg, and the enigmatic Protoss—in a...
, the Xel'Naga are beings who are said to have been responsible for the creation of all of the sentient beings in the universe and nurturing their civilizations. These included the Terrans (Humans); however, only the Zerg and Protoss had ever come into contact with the Xel'Naga. The Xel'Naga are beings of supposedly unsurpassed wisdom and power, though it has been noted that the Zerg became uncontrollable for them and decimated their fleets.
Warcraft
In World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
, there are beings known as the Old Gods, malevolent entities that ruled the world of Azeroth in ancient times. The Old Gods were defeated by the Titans and buried deep underground. They still live, and their influence occasionally spills out onto the surface. Some of the Old Gods' names are mentioned and are very similar to those of Lovecraftian beings, such as C'Thun (Cthulhu) and Yogg-Saron (Yog-Sothoth).
Other appearances
- In Darren ShanDarren ShanDarren O'Shaughnessy , who commonly writes under the pen name Darren Shan, is an Irish author. Darren Shan is also the main character in Shan's The Saga of Darren Shan young-adult fiction series. He also wrote The Demonata series as well as the stand-alone books, Koyasan and The Thin Executioner...
's bestselling series The DemonataThe DemonataThe Demonata is a series of books by best selling author Darren Shan. It deals with the world of demons . The series is told by three different protagonists: Grubbs Grady, Kernel Fleck, and Bec MacConn, the latter of which is the first female protagonist in a Darren Shan book...
(2005–2010). They are first mentioned in the fourth book of the series, Bec, as beings of light living in a cave under the sea. The Demonata fear but hate them. They left Earth 1,600 years ago when their time came to an end and ascended to the Heavens.
- There is a filk entitled The Old Ones by Zander Nyrond that was inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos and the 1962 Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
pop song "The Young OnesThe Young Ones (song)"The Young Ones" is a single by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. The song, written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett, is the title song to the 1961 film The Young Ones and its soundtrack album...
".
- A theocratic group of MartianMartianAs an adjective, the term martian is used to describe anything pertaining to the planet Mars.However, a Martian is more usually a hypothetical or fictional native inhabitant of the planet Mars. Historically, life on Mars has often been hypothesized, although there is currently no solid evidence of...
s mentioned by the main character in Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. HeinleinRobert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
's Stranger in a Strange LandStranger in a Strange LandStranger in a Strange Land is a 1961 science fiction novel by American author Robert A. Heinlein. It tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human who comes to Earth in early adulthood after being born on the planet Mars and raised by Martians. The novel explores his interaction with—and...
(1961) are called the Old Ones.
- In Marvel ComicsMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, Cthulhu-esque Old Ones appear as extradimensional demons who once ruled the Earth tens of thousands of years ago. They serve largely as a backstory, the only one of note being the Doctor StrangeDoctor StrangeDoctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
enemy Shuma-GorathShuma-GorathShuma-Gorath is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard, best known for his later interpretations as a demonic enemy of Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics publications. He is also well known for being an unconventional playable character in the Marvel Super Heroes and Marvel vs. Capcom video...
.
- The Old Ones are the main villains in Anthony HorowitzAnthony HorowitzAnthony Craig Horowitz is an English novelist and screenwriter. He has written many children's novels, including The Power of Five, Alex Rider and The Diamond Brothers series and has written over fifty books. He has also written extensively for television, adapting many of Agatha Christie's...
's book series The Power of FiveThe Power of FiveThe Power of Five is a series of fantasy and suspense novels, written by British author Anthony Horowitz. Four installments have been published to date but another one is to be released...
(2005–2008). They take many forms, but mostly preternatural demonic animals, half-human, half-beast demons, a swarm of flies able to take human form, and numerous shapeshifting demons. In this series, the Old Ones ruled Earth ten thousand years ago, and suppressed numerous human rebellions before being banished into another dimension in outer space by the Gatekeepers, who are later reincarnated into modern teenagers when the Old Ones' prison is unlocking. The Old Ones break through their prison and it is up to the Five to stop them.
- Old Ones appear in Madeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'Engle was an American writer best known for her young-adult fiction, particularly the Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time...
's series of science fantasy books about the Murry family, notably in A Swiftly Tilting PlanetA Swiftly Tilting PlanetA Swiftly Tilting Planet is a 1978 science fiction novel by Madeleine L'Engle, part of the Time Quartet. In it, Charles Wallace Murry, an advanced and perceptive child in A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door, has grown into adolescence...
(1978). These Old Ones are similar to the ones in Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising series: humans born with unusual mystical powers and dedicated to a never-ending struggle against the powers of darkness and evil. In both series, the Old Ones are associated with an Old Music.
- John CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born...
's 1995 film In the Mouth of MadnessIn the Mouth of MadnessIn the Mouth of Madness is a 1995 American horror film directed by John Carpenter and written by Michael De Luca, who was at the time of the film's release in charge of New Line Cinema...
.
- In the 2000 novel Shadow Scourge, part of the OutlandersOutlandersOutlanders is a long-running series of science-fiction novels created by Mark Ellis and published by Gold Eagle, an imprint of Harlequin Enterprises.- Plot :...
series by Mark EllisMark EllisMark Ellis is the name of:* Mark Ellis , Canadian actor* Mark Ellis , Major League Baseball player* Mark Ellis , English footballer who played for Bradford City...
, the villain, Ocajinik, is suspected of being an Old One.
- In the 1995 novel EarthfallEarthfallEarthfall is the fourth book of the Homecoming Saga by Orson Scott Card. The Homecoming saga is a fictionalization of the first few hundred years recorded in the Book of Mormon.-Plot summary:...
, part of the Homecoming SagaHomecoming SagaThe Homecoming Saga is a science fiction series by Orson Scott Card. The series is patterned on the Book of Mormon. Some of the names also come from the Book of Mormon....
by Orson Scott CardOrson Scott CardOrson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
, humans are referred to as "the Old Ones" by the two sentient, indigenous species of the Earth.
- In the 2003 short story "A Study In EmeraldA Study in Emerald"A Study in Emerald" is a short story written by British fantasy and graphic novel author Neil Gaiman. The story is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche transferred to the Cthulhu Mythos universe of horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. It won the 2004 Hugo Award for Best Short Story. The title is a reference to...
" by Neil GaimanNeil GaimanNeil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, the old ones are great inhuman monsters that have taken control of earth's governments. For instance, the queen of England is described as being "[she] is called Victoria because she had beaten us in battle seven hundred years before, and she was called Gloriana, because she was glorious, and she was called the Queen, because the human mouth was not shaped to say her true name. she was huge, huger than i imagined possible, and she squatted in the shadows, staring at us without moving." [Fragile Things, pg.11]
- "Old One" is a psychedelic doom band from Morehead, KentuckyMorehead, KentuckyAs of the census of 2010, there were 6,845 people, households, and families residing in the city. The population density was 726.2 people per square mile. There were 2,356 housing units at an average density of 253.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 3.2% African...
.
External links
- "Who Were The Old Ones?" by Daniel Harms, an essay about H. P. Lovecraft's "Old Ones"