General Concept of the Evil Eye:
In almost all cultures there is the common concept of the
'Evil Eye'. A curse, cast consciously or unconsciously upon others by simply gazing maliciously at the target. The effects vary slightly from region to region, but most common are bad luck for humans, animals and objects alike. From slight inconveniences like broken cars, valuables breaking apart due to envious gazes, development of well behaved children into delinquents by curses of other parents, to death within a day or bursting into flames, everything was once somewhere attributed to be the result of someone giving the victim the 'Evil Eye'.
Curiously many of those cultures started depicting that eye on talismans and other places with a light blue eye.
But where did that belief originate from? What is the reason that universally such a concept exists across the globe?
Well the answer, like always, lies deep in the past.
All old cultures looked at the stars for guidance in the dark or their life. They observed the rise and fall of stars over the horizon, the passing of asterisms over the months, how the sky behaves over time and that it repeats like music, painting stories across the universe. The sky was a place to marvel at, the beauty was attributed to gods, their creation, their being, their home, their life, all were divine or served them.
But across all regions of the earth, they noticed one star, one alone that was not like the others.
They felt a presence, that was not right, that did not evoke marvel, respect or joy, but somehow…fear, dread and unease.
The star was different than the rest, it was not the one that was watched…the star watched them.
Over time the young humanity noticed this star was blinking like a real eye. In a cycle of around 69 hours the eye in the sky would close and open. For some cultures this had major impacts on their life. Especially in the region of the Mediterrenean, the Middle East and Ancient Egypt the Shining Blue Eye in the Sky held power over the days only second to the sun and moon itself. The
closing of the eye
dimming of the star
was a good sign for the ancient Egyptians, which can be seen in the cycle of 'lucky days' every 2.85 days, which represents it's frequency (See Cairo Calendar). In the middle East the court astronomers had to notify about the state of the star, so commanders avoided entering a major battle, when the star was weak. A shining eye would mean, that it is raging and hungering for battle, therefore ensuring for a successful fight, that star has to watch. Same was thought in Egypt, which was conflated with the Wadjet, a goddess, that would transform into a vicious beast when shining bright, threatening humanity. On those days Luck would decrease for all dwelling beneath it's shine.
The old Greeks would even go so far and associate that forboding star in the sky with the Eye of the Medusa, the perfect and most dangerous representation of the concept of the 'Evil Eye'.
That star is known under several aliases, but today we know it as
Algol, the Demon Star.
Algol, the Demon Star in the HPL-verse:
The Demon Star was mentioned by HPL in his work
"Beyond of the Wall of Sleep" and tells the story of a young researcher treating a 40yo deranged man, we would nowadays call a 'hillbilly'. Despite his isolated upbringing without much contact to outside and culture, he often woke up and started shouting about what he has seen in his dreams, before snapping out of it and forgetting what he screamed. In his language he described vistas of vast oceans of stars and other fantastical landscapes, that can not be explained for someone growing up without fairlytales or the like. After a while the young researcher used a way to communicate with his brain and discovered that the man was a vessel for a being of pure light. The unnamed being inside that man described that he was bound to this body for decades, but when he is free, he will wage war against his Nemesis. A mocking and laughing demon in the night sky, an entity even we humans feel in the distance. The one we know as
Algol, the Demon Star. The being explained that he wanted to enact vengeance for aeons, but was not successful. But this time he will enact it and conquer the oppressor. Before the vessel died he told him to watch them in the sky near the dreaded star.
The story ends with the following account:
“On February 22, 1901, a marvelous new star was discovered by Dr. Anderson, of Edinburgh, not very far from Algol. No star had been visible at that point before. Within twenty-four hours the stranger had become so bright that it outshone Capella. In a week or two it had visibly faded, and in the course of a few months it was hardly discernible with the naked eye.”
Algol in my Nasuverse Interpretation:
Like the short description of Algol suggests, Algol is a warmonger that looks down on his opponents and all life in existence. He mocked and laughed at a being of pure light, that has enough power to outshine the sixth brightest star in our sky and still beat it in a short amount of time.
Across time Algol received several names. The name he is currently known as derives from ra's al-ghul, the Arabic word for
'Head of the Ghoul'. In the same region he was also named "Ri'B al Ohill" for
"Demon's Head". Other names would be 'Rōsh ha Sāṭān' for
'Satan's Head' in Hebrew and "Caput Larvae" for
'Spectre's Head' in Latin.
Interestingly, the Chinese, the people with the deepest and most detailed knowledge about the stars never really feared Algol like the other realms. Like they knew something the others did not. Algol was merely a star in the Mausoleum, a region in the Stomach Mansion of the 28 heavenly constellations. Not far from Algol is a star called "Tseih She",
'The Piled-up Corpses', representing what is supposed to be kept in a Mausoleum.
Despite that, across the globe Algol was associated with bad luck, war, violence and death, especially decapitation symbolized by Medusa's eye being the asterism laid above him and other similar visuals.
Of course humanity would try to seek ways and methods to avoid the gaze from the sky that would bring bad luck. The most spread across the globe and best known method to protect against it was the (ironically named) 'Evil Eye' itself. The famous blue eye painted on talismans was meant to deflect the curse from the star or to avert it's gaze, like humans do when looking at foreign eyes. It is said that that the color was blue, because blue color was easy to come by, but of course history won't record the ancient origin of the shining blue star that brings calamity upon the world. Or perhaps over time Alaya prevented it, so the demon in the sky wont get too much acknowledgement? Knowingly wearing a depiction of a greater being to gain some kind of protection is in of itself worship of a god, or not?
Even when the ancient interpretation of the 'blinking eye' was slowly forgotten, in the Middle Ages the star's significance was not. Algol was listed in the
'15 Behenian Fixed Stars', stars used for medieval Astrology Witchcraft in the European and Arabic sphere. It was said that they grant special power and have influence over other planets when they are close to them.
Here too, Algol was denoted as an unlucky star if not the unluckiest star, tainting those around him and bringing misfortune. All 15 were associated with a gemstone and a plant. Algol was associated with the greatest gem of them all, the diamond and black hellebore as his designated plant. The Hellebore is a toxic family of plants and Algol is the only star together with Procryon (who is also considered an unlucky star, but much less than Algol) to have a dangerous plant attributed to it.
So his presence was always somewhat felt as threatening to humanity, but has he ever acted in the human sphere of influence? Is he just an observer? Has he the same motivation to interact with humanity like most other Outer Gods?
Yes and No.
While he has no motivation to claim Earth and humanity, he still enjoys watching us mortals struggle. Our ways, our wars, our bloodshed, it all is entertaining for a galactic conqueror with for one: nothing left to prove and for another: no one left to conquer. Most worthy opponents he is aware of are either sealed or not able to fight anymore. Watching those other Outer Gods turn this small insignificant planet into a field of war is the only motivation he has to not destroy the known universe to keep him entertained somewhat. Compare it to us mortals watching the NPC in a civilization game do their best to survive, we have the power to kill them, their legacy, their future, their whole world anytime, but we dont, because we enjoy them.
Or so he would like to describe it. In truth Algol is a scarred entity. Fighting for long strange Aeons against other things out there in realms that exceed our understanding of 'our universe' and remaining victorious came at a cost. Even he, mighty as he is or was, has suffered wounds and is severely weakened. While most Outer Gods are sealed away, Algol never was, but his weakened state he is in now is almost identical. That is what the Chinese somehow knew. Algol is no threat to humanity, nor the universe anymore. They considered him dying and when the 28 mansions were conceptualized in the sky, they build a tomb, a Mausoleum, for him and the bodies of his victims being close to him. Over time the truth degraded and Algol became just one of the stars in the asterism instead of something to be at least respected by in form of stellar paintings.
Algol is a shadow of what he once was. A wounded conqueror, hiding his wounds and laughing at those he once could have destroyed within a blink of an eye. Lucky for that God of Cosmic Wars that the universe now seems eerily silent, almost safe. Even a thing like Algol can dream and he hoped to reclaim the glory he once held. But nothing is left to be done, his rivals sealed or silent. That is when he turned his gaze unto the Earth, an insignificant planet in the vast black cosmic ocean sprinkled with dots of light. How could something so small with worthless things be saturated with powers that he remembers as other Outer Gods?
For millenia he watched this planet that broke the silence of space while licking his barely healing wounds. His mere gaze influenced the conceptual shell around the Earth. Humanity noticed it as well and somehow knew that it was that distant thing in the sky that was responsible for it.
Algol saw human history unfold. From the day he started observing he saw the evolution of humanity, saw how they had their primitive quarrels and wars, how they lived and died in vain. But sometimes there were individuals, that caught even his attention. There was this man, with so much potential for…entertainment in him, despite being scarred like him. Algol saw someone that had the proper respect for a being of his standing and the lust for carnage. But that promising man, nothing more than an insect compared to the Demon Star, was about to throw it all away and so Algol made contact.
Background of Timur:
That male was Foreigner and their first contact was in the early years of Timur's career as a conqueror. During battle he was wounded and he fled into nearby ruins. Timur lamented his fate and expected to die like a dog. His wounds hurt more than the injury from many years ago, that left him lame and with only 8 fingers. There he was, waiting for death between the rubble of something that once was strong. It was then, that the demon spoke to him and drew his attention to an ant, struggling to climb rubble with his food. Due to wind and weight of the load the ant fell over and over, but always got up to try again. On the 70th try the ant finally succeeded and walked away with it's precious treasure.
"Is a mere ant more tenacious than you?"
This question ignited something in Foreigner and his will to prevail came back even stronger. He recovered quickly and then heard
"You stood up again like that insect. But what makes you better than a mere ant?"
"I am superior. Because that was the last failure in my life."
Foreigner then went on and wrote his story in the minds of the people of his time and for future generations - and his ink was the blood of all in his way. He conquered Persia, he defeated the mighty Golden Horde, destroyed Delhi with ease, invaded Armenia and Georgia and sacked cities in Syria like Aleppo and Damascus. In Ankara he defeated the Anatolian Ruler Beyezid after a year-long period of insulting each other, leading to the sultans capture and death and the subsequent twelve year civil war between the Ottomans.
After every success the voice from above came back and continued to mock the unbeaten conqueror. But while other men would have been driven mad by it, Foreigner wasn't a normal man. It encouraged him to become more successful and more cruel to show this intangible being that he, Timur, is more than just an ant.
Historians saw glimpses of that, but misinterpreted it as the desire "to amaze the world" and leave an impression, rather than "amaze that demon". This is further supported by him neglecting every conquered area after leaving outside his native Iran, because he saw himself as a 'plundering conqueror' than a 'ruler'.
In most of the conquered cities, Foreigner's obsession with beheading became obvious. The towers of decapitated heads in Ishafan and Delhi, the mass bedeading in the Ottoman city of Smyrna; his order in Bagdhah to all soldiers to present him with at least two heads, which led to the mass decapitation of several thousand residents, then captured prisoners of earlier campaigns and when they all ran out, soldiers feared Foreigner so much, they resorted to beheading their own wifes. His appearance meant only carnage.
After all that he returned to Samarkand and stayed there for nine months, celebrating his victories and what has become of his glorious home through the use of the educated and artistic he left alive. In Samarkand Foreigner learned more about Chinese Astrology through his grandson. Algol, listening as well was at first amused at the petty attempts to map his kingdom, but noticed the interpretation they had of himself. Their disrespect towards the Cosmic Conqueror enraged him and blinded he finally made a mistake.
See, usually the Counter Force would react to Outer Gods actively trying to act in the world of Men, be it sending gods of the Arctic Cold to counteract the threat or merely killing the vessel trying to create music that brings Chaos beyond comprehension. But Algol was never 'active'. He never revealed himself for what he is, he never ordered Foreigner around or expected him to do something specific to entertain him. Algol was merely an observer, occasionally whispering to someone significant in the world. The Counter Force did not take notice or saw no need for action. Until that time.
Algol finally gave one order after learning about the Chinese.
"Punish."
Foreigner, fearless and cruel as he was, who has seen the most gruesome death vistas, walking through streets of people pleading for their life while they were being cemented into walls alive, strolling through mountains of heads staring at him and seeing people burn alive while his men laughed at them, even he
was struck with utter fear when he heard that single word.
"You dare give me ord---"
"Punish."
After he heard those words an unimaginable pain struck his head. Like thousand burning arrows hitting his eyes, a feeling as if his life is sucked out of his body, no towards his eyes. He was blind, yet he did see. A black ocean of stars spread around him and he swam in their stellar carcasses. On top of those piled up celestial corpses throned a demon and when Foreigner locked eyes with the being residing above the tower of cosmic death he heard the familiar voice again.
"Punish. I will watch."
But this time…he heard it from within himself.
To keep the sense of he is, he argued with himself how that was not an order from something he feared, but an idea he had for years. He had to invade China. It is only logical. Years prior a political relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Timurid Empire was established, but recently they dared to address Foreigner as a subject; and his great ancestor tried to conquer the Chinese. He shall end what he started.
It is the beginning of his end. From mere observer to active participant. That change of tone from Algol alerted the Counter Force.
Foreigner preferred to start wars in spring, but uncharacteristic for him he began his campaign already in Winter.
In the cold December days he became sick and succumbed to illness from the unusual constant barrage of blizzards. The sturdy and big old man, who overshadowed even youngsters with his vitality fell victim to a common cold. Of course the Counter Force had their hands in it, but a part of Foreigner's death was Algol itself. The 'gift' Foreigner received sucked him dry to sustain it, which left even an unnaturally strong man in his sixties weaker than usual. Never a proper mage, the burden on his body was too big and could not resist the cold like he and his people are used to.
In Timurs last days he divided his empire amongst his surviving children and grandchildren and decided on the words he wants to leave behind in his tomb. And those words were
"When I Rise From the Dead, The World Shall Tremble”
and
“Whosoever Disturbs My Tomb Will Unleash an Invader More Terrible than I".
Like a hillbilly that could only use his limited vocabulary to explain the fantastical things he saw in his sleep, the Conqueror, who never heard of the Holy Grail and Summoning of Spirits from the past, used those words to warn the world.
Just read them as
"When I
am summoned
Rise From the Dead
... Will Unleash an
More Terrible than I"
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Originally Posted by DelRey
