Worms of the Earth (race)

For the short story by Robert E. Howard, see Worms of the Earth.

Information

Detail from "Garden of Earthly Delight", H. Bosch

The worms of the earth, also called the Children of the Night, are a race of almost-human beings created by Robert E. Howard. It is said that they came to the British Isles at a very early time. They were followed by the Picts and later the Celts, who fought the "worms" and drove them out. By the time of Bran Mak Morn (somewhere between 100 and 300 C.E.), the "worms" were horribly degenerate things that lived underground.

Howard's stories make it clear that the "worms" are descended from humans and had once been human, before degenerating into bestial, reptilian-looking things. However, the role-playing game Cthulhu Dark Ages re-interprets the worms of the earth as being descendants of the Serpent Men that worshipped Tsathoggua and were cursed by Yig to slowly degenerate into beasts.

Powers

In the time of Bran Mak Morn they appeared to be individually weak but wielded powerful magic as a group. They lived in the west of the British Isles near what they call the Dagon-Moor. There they kept a Black Stone as an idol. Those who steal the idol can force the worms to do their bidding, though the user should beware.

The "worms" can tunnel through rock pulling entire fortresses down into the earth. They also seem able to enter rooms without being seen. Those taken by the "worms" will be hard pressed to stay sane. The "worms" may also keep more human looking people above their caves as spies, sending adventurers to them or away as needed.

Quotes

• "One segment of the mass detached itself for an instant and Bran cried out in fierce revulsion, though he caught only a fleeting glimpse of the thing, had only a brief impression of a broad, strangely flattened head, pendulous writhing lips that bared curved pointing fangs, and a hideously misshapen dwarfish body that seemed mottled -- all set off by those unwinking reptilian eyes. Gods! -- the myths had prepared him for horror in human aspect, horror induced by bestial visage and stunted deformity -- but this was the horror of nightmare and the night." - Robert E. Howard, "Worms of the Earth"
• "For these creatures were very old, and they represented an outworn age.... These Children of the Night seemed not human to us, with their deformed, dwarfish bodies, yellow skin, and hideous faces. Aye -- they were reptiles -- vermin!" - Robert E. Howard, "Children of the Night"

Appearances

• Cthulhu Dark Ages
• Robert E. Howard - "Worms of the Earth"
• Robert E. Howard - "Children of the Night"