Who Are The Main Characters In Ithaqua?

Ithaqua is this fascinating figure from the Cthulhu mythos, and honestly, it's wild how much depth there is to explore. The main 'characters' aren't your typical protagonists—it's more about the entities and the humans who stumble into their terrifying world. Ithaqua himself is this towering, wind-walking entity, often depicted as a monstrous giant with icy features. He's like the Wendigo myth cranked up to cosmic horror levels. Then there are the cultists who worship him, usually desperate or insane folks drawn to his promise of survival in the harshest conditions. Stories like 'The Wendigo' by Algernon Blackwood (though not directly part of the Mythos) and August Derleth's additions really flesh out the vibe around Ithaqua.

What I love is how the human characters in these tales are rarely 'heroes'—they're victims or doomed investigators. Like in 'The Thing in the Woods' by Derleth, where a guy uncovers the cult and pays the price. It's less about traditional character arcs and more about the sheer dread of encountering something so beyond human understanding. I always get chills reading about how Ithaqua's presence warps the environment and the minds of those near him. The lack of 'main characters' in a conventional sense actually makes the horror hit harder—it feels like no one is safe.

Ithaqua's stories are a masterclass in atmospheric horror, and the 'characters' are more like conduits for terror. The entity himself is this primal force—think blizzards given form, with a hunger for human flesh. Human figures in these tales, like the doomed protagonists of 'The Thing That Walked on the Wind,' are there to witness the unimaginable. There's no heroics, just survival attempts that usually fail. Even the cultists, who might seem like 'villains,' are just as doomed by their obsession. The lack of a true main character makes every encounter with Ithaqua feel like stumbling into a storm you can't escape.

If you're digging into Ithaqua's lore, it's less about a fixed cast and more about the recurring themes and victims. Ithaqua is this relentless force of nature, often linked to freezing winds and cannibalistic urges—kinda like a cosmic-scale Wendigo. The humans in his stories are usually explorers, trappers, or unlucky villagers who cross his path. In 'The Snow-Thing' by Derleth, there's a pair of siblings who encounter him, and their fate is... well, let's just say it's not pretty. The horror comes from the inevitability of it all; Ithaqua doesn't have a 'personality' in the way we think of characters, but his influence is everywhere.

What's cool is how different authors play with the idea. Some stories focus on the cults that spring up around him, like in 'The Lurker at the Threshold,' where humans try to harness his power (bad idea). Others, like 'Beyond the Threshold,' pit investigators against him, but they're more like pawns in a game they can't win. Ithaqua's 'cast' is really just a rotating door of doomed souls, which honestly makes the mythos feel even more oppressive and vast.