R'lyeh Text

The tome R'lyeh Text is statted out in the Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition Rulebook, and originates in Lin Carter's Xothic Legend Cycle (fiction).

Description

“By all the depths of Y’ha-nthlei and the dwellers thereof, for the One Over All; By the Sign of Kish and all who obey it, for its Author; By the Door to Yhe and all who use it, who have gone before and who shall come after, for Him To Whom It Leadeth; By Him Who Is To Come . . . Ph’nglui mglw nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah nagl fhtagn!” — invocation to Dagon, 300 B.C.

The R'lyeh Text is known by reputation only. Written around 13,000 B.C. by an unknown author, the original clay tablets are variously rumored to exist or to have been destroyed. More probable are the rumors of various copies found on scrolls from about 300 B.C., hidden in remote areas along the China coast. English and German translations are thought to have been secretly made and smuggled out of the country.

The text deals extensively with the deep ones, Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, the Spawn of Cthulhu, Cthulhu's alleged sons Zoth-Ommog and Ghatanothoa, as well as Great Cthulhu himself. It also tells of the sinking of Mu and R'lyeh, and hints of a time when the latter will again rise from the deep. Cyaegha, "the Thing that Waits in Darkness", is also briefly discussed.

Containing information on, amongst others, the Great Old Ones Zoth-Ommog and Cyäegha, the R'lyeh Text was written by author or authors unknown. It was translated into English by a scholar named Jacob Maitland, who was so disturbed by what he learned from it that he destroyed both the original and the translation. It is unknown whether copies remain extant in other scholarly institutions.

The Original Tablets

The original clay tablets, if they still exist, are the most complete version.

• author: Unknown
• language: R'lyehian
• date: (uknownn, probably the Thurian Age?)
• number of known copies (if rare): (unknown, presumably rare, if not unique)
• last known location of surviving copies (if rare): (unknown)
• study: 54+ weeks
• sanity loss: moderate-heavy
• mythos lore: moderate-heavy
• occult lore: ?
• spells:  ?

Chinese Copies

Later Chinese versions are invariably less complete.

• author: Unknown
• language: Chinese
• date: 300 CE
• number of known copies (if rare): (unknown, presumably rare)
• last known location of surviving copies (if rare): A copy is known to have been held by the Sanbourne Institute of Pacific Antiquities.
• study: 54 weeks
• sanity loss: moderate
• mythos lore: moderate
• occult lore: ?
• spells:
  • Call Cyaegha
  • Contact Deity/Cthulhu
  • Contact Deep One
  • Contact Father Dagon
  • Contact Mother Hydra
  • Curse of the Stone
  • Grasp of Cthulhu
  • Wave of Oblivion

The Liyuhh

There exists an extremely rare German translation or "adaptation and analysis" known as the Liyuhh which contains additional information on Cyaegha.

• author: Unknown
• language: German
• date: (unknown)
• number of known copies (if rare): (unknown, presumably rare, if not unique)
• last known location of surviving copies (if rare): (unknown)
• study: ? weeks
• sanity loss: moderate
• mythos lore: moderate
• occult lore: ?
• spells:  ?

Associated Mythos Elements

• Xothan race, including:
  • Chaat
  • Ythogtha and Zoth-Ommog
  • Gloon

Appearances

• fiction: Lin Carter's Xothic Legend Cycle (fiction)
• sourcebook: Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition Rulebook
• sourcebook: Masks of Nyarlathotep Companion, China (describes 'The R'lyeh Text Commentary').