The Call of Cthulhu

by H.P. Lovecraft

ring of fire.

But these were not the Great Old Ones. No man had ever seen the Old Ones. The carven idol was great Cthulhu, but none might say whether or not the others were precisely like him.

Only two of the prisoners were found sane enough to be hanged, and the rest were committed to various institutions.

those first men formed the cult around small idols which the Great Ones shewed them; idols brought in dim aeras from dark stars. That cult would never die till the stars came right again, and the secret priests would take great Cthulhu from His tomb to revive His subjects

would not be surprised to learn of secret methods and poison needles as ruthless and as anciently known as the cryptic rites and beliefs.