A/N: I intended this story to include shout outs to multiple Cosmic Horror stories. The previous chapter includes a paraphrased quote taken from The Great God Pan, a story that predates Lovecraft and helped shape the mythos he started. In The Great God Pan, the eponymous Pan is also referred to as Nodens at one point. For Nyarlathotep however… he is the most human of these forces, he's also a major character in the story, requiring me to hammer out his character for the story. I looked to many stories for inspiration on his mindset, and a few characters were used as inspiration for how I envision Nyarlathotep's personality… I wonder if you can figure out who they are.

Either way I want even the Elder Gods, to be utterly alien and somewhat dismissive of humanity, while Nyarlathotep is… not… this is not a good thing.

The Failings of Morality

"He drowned! On dry land! That... It's... What is that... that Thing!" screamed Ritsuko at Fuyutsuki.

Ritsuko looked an utter wreck following the horrors she had witnessed. Fuyutsuki had watched the footage of Makoto's death. It was... unnatural. This was far beyond anything the Angels were capable of. He understood Ritsuko's reaction. It was only human. He also agreed with her, and knew that this… was far beyond them.

"I don't know what it is... but as of now, all further tests of Bokrug has been suspended. The mere act of attempting to understand it is hazardous." Said Fuyutsuki dispassionately.

"A bit to late for that!" All but screamed Ritsuko.

Fuyutsuki glared at the woman.

"Did you think I wanted that? How could I have possibly anticipated... that. This thing is actively defying all attempts to understand it. We don't even know how it's doing it or if it even meant to."

Ritsuko glared at the older man as she stood up and turned away.

"Maya is inconsolable. I fear we might lose her and Aoba after this event."

"They can be replaced if need be."

Ritsuko spat at the man.

"And what makes you think the next group will be willing to stick around!"

Fuyitsuki signed as he leaned back in his chair. He looked every bit his age at that moment, a fact that caused Ritsuko some pause.

"This couldn't be anticipated. We don't know what it is, we don't know how Eva 01 managed to defeat it, or even if the Eva actually did defeat it. We're woefully unprepared for a blindside like this. Now Gendo is embarking on a trip to America in the vain hope that he might find something in ancient history about this Bokrug. It's a mess Akagi. We thought we were ready for everything, and now... that thing crawled out of the woodwork. We don't even know if it is the only one. We're... lost as to what to do. We spent so much time preparing for the Angels that we neglected to prepare for anything else. We built the Evangelions, tip toeing into Gods domain. We all but shouted to the cosmos 'Here I Am' uncaring of what vile obscene thing would come around just to prove us wrong."

Ritsuko remained silent as the old man's words sank in. Things did appear dire, a threat had arisen that got under the skin in ways the Angels could not match. One that was doing everything it could to defy any ability to understand it. How could you defeat that which is unknowable? Fuyutsuki was right, they couldn't even be sure if the Eva did win the fight against it. For all they knew, this was what the creature wanted. That thought was a terrifying one to contemplate, but one what had wriggled into Ritsuko's skull and refused to leave. It was enough for one to go insane.

"So... what do we do?"

Fuyutsuki sighed.

"Hope. All we can do is hope that we did stop Bokrug, and that no more like it come."

"And if we're wrong?"

Fuyutsuki's silence spoke volumes.

Shinji looked around Misato's apartment. So strange to have memories of living here even though this was technically his first day. It was unsettling. Not all of his memories of the future were at the forefront of his mind. Like normal memories of the past, some memories of the future had faded and others persisted.

Except Third Impact. Those memories were not going anywhere.

There was some mercy to it. Shinji couldn't recall everything when he was stuck in that amalgamation of consciousness, and thank goodness for that, because a temporary non-linier view of time coupled with a moment where all human consciousness was just asking for trouble. Shinji walked through the piles of trash that littered the floors uncaring about it as he moved through towards what his mind told him was the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and nodded a greeting at the genetically modified penguin within, who returned the gesture without a second thought. He looked at his selection, grabbed a pot pie, and left Pen-Pen to his own devices as he went to heat it up.

...

Shinji suddenly felt like a stranger in his own skin. It was strange… it was like an intrinsic part of him was… not lost, but… warped.

...

Yet that did not bother him in the least.

"Curious." said Shinji absently.

"What is?" asked Misato as she entered the room.

Shinji turned to the woman as she stretched her muscles and immediately went for the fridge to grab herself a can of beer. Shinji hummed to himself as the microwave beeped and he retrieved his meal.

"I feel odd. I can't explain why. Yet it doesn't bother me." said Shinji as he took a seat across from Misato and began eating.

Misato quirked a brow as she gulped down her alcoholic beverage and motioned for Shinji to continue. Shinji thought about it for a moment as he mindlessly poked at his food.

" I don't know why but I feel like I've been warped."

Misato exhaled contently as she put down her can.

"You know... you're a weird kid Shinji. Cause I don't even know what that is supposed to mean."

"Thats just it. I don't either. I feel so... alien. Like the person I was went to sleep and a different person woke up." said Shinji.

"So... is that a bad thing of a good thing?"

Shinji shrugged.

"I don't think it can be called either. It's just... a thing. Sorry, I can't seem to put it into words."

Misator waved Shinji off.

"Don't worry about it. Maybe it's just you getting used to a change of scenery. You'll get used to it I'm sure."

Shinji contemplated that... and immediately dismissed it. He however felt like someone like Misato would be no help to his sudden loss of craving human connection. No there was only one individual who could answer his questions... and it was currently in a realm where dreams are made manifest.

"Well enough of that, you have other things to worry about. Like sync tests."

Familiar memories of things to come went through Shinji's mind. He wondered if they would go down like they did before, or if the flapping wings of a butterfly would change them utterly. Only time would tell.

Then Misato's phone rang.

The woman got to her feet and picked it up in one swift motion.

"Hello, you've got Misato." she said cheerfully... right before her face morphed into a mask of shock.

"Makoto's... dead?"

The drive back to NERV was a quiet affair as Shinji stared out the window to see the city pass him by. Off in the distance he saw the corpse of Bokrug winding ominously up a building, terminating in a waterfall that trickled from what was once his mouth into a canal that was still in the early stages of being built.

What did those builders of that canal think as they worked so close to the unknown?

Did they fear every passing day as they rush to complete the canal as soon as possible? It was only natural that they wanted to get the job done and get out. It must have been interesting working near complete physical proof of human insignificance. How would they feel if they ever saw and knew beings such as Nyarlathotep. A being that cannot be fought against. A creature of entropy. You can't fight entropy, and every attempt to fight against it would just inevitably accelerate it. A living grinding engine of eternity slowly wearing the universe into complete equilibrium. The universe is a strange and uncaring place. How does one fight an abstract.

You can't. That is simply the truth.

Is that not in and of itself a comforting idea? Shinji looked out into a near completely empty universe, and realized that humanity was a dwindling flame in an uncaring universe. Yet despite that life persists, and things exist. Might as well do something with that brief blink of existence. It didn't really matter what it was, something was better than nothing. Progress and decline were the only truths that seemed to dredge up any feelings of superficial importance within Shinji. Contribute to progress for as long as you can before the other inevitably rears its ugly head. The flame may be dwindling, but it wasn't snuffed out yet. It didn't matter how you progress... so long as you did. It was going to end anyway, might as well see how far you can take it.

Shinji looked over to the Geo Front as it came into view. Misato remained silent as the duo walked through the door. Shinji followed after mindlessly as he was lost in his thoughts… until it became clear Shinji wasn't alone in his head.

"Hello Shinji."

Shinji turned around, trying to see if the voice had come from behind him… but there was nothing there.

"Didn't I tell you that your thoughts are indistinguishable from my own. I am always here child. I am everywhere. It is time for your first lesson."

Shibji kept walking… until he noticed that Misato was standing still behind him. Shinji turned around in confusion.

"Misato?" Asked Shinji… as he noticed that she wasn't standing there. Misato was frozen mid step.

A hand appeared in Shinji's shoulder, and he turned to see a tall jovial Egyptian man standing over him. It was the same form Shinji saw in the Dreamlands, though with far less gold jewelry.

"Lesson?" Asked Shinji.

Nyarlathotep nodded as he started walking. Unconsciously Shinji followed behind him.

"I said I will mold you, and I intend to do just that. I'm certain you've been feeling odd as of late. Such things are a consequence of your own self-understanding. To know thyself is a great power, one that will lead to greater understanding."

"What does any of that mean?" Asked Shinji.

"That is to be explained later. For now, we are here."

Shinji was momentarily taken aback when he noticed he was standing in the middle of a graveyard. He could not recall how it was he got here so quickly. Logically they shouldn't even have been out of the Geo Front in such a short amount of time… then Shinji looked to see that they were not the only ones here. Taking place in the distance was a funeral… one whose attendants were frozen in time, like Misato was… but what really caught Shinji's eye was heartbreakingly small coffin. One so small that it could only belong to a small child. Then Shinji saw the frozen form of Toji Suzuhara with tears falling down his face. Shinji's eyes opened wide as his mind started putting the pieces together.

"Oh...God!" Said Shinji as his hands flew to his mouth in an attempt to will the rising bile back to his stomach.

"Sakura Suzuhara drowned long before you took to the Evangelion. However you have memories with her brother. Toji I believe. Your memories of him from a dead and rotting timeline will allow this lesson to sink in better. This is your first lesson. Tell me Shinji, what do you see?"

Shinji did not listen. He could only stare in abject horror. Nyarlathotep stood silent as he waited for Shinji to say something.

"She… she died…. But she… she didn't… last time she…lived"

"Irrelevant. Look to her brother. What. Do. You. See?"

Shinji looked at Toji. Tears falling freely from his red eyes. Snot dripping from his nose. His face a mask of crippling emotional pain. Nyarlathotep nodded.

"You see his pain. His suffering. Now for the most important question. What should you do?"

Shinji looked back to Toji… he felt every bit of pain he felt, and his eyes watered at the sight.

"I… I should help him I think."

"You intend to resurrect his sister?"

Shinji's head all but snapped to look at the Outer God, who still had the same smile on his lips. It made Shinji sick to his stomach to see that the smile was genuine.

"What… no… I just… think he needs some comfort."

"Incorrect. This is why I brought you here. To see how you would react. Allow me to enlighten you. Unless you resurrect his sister your token gestures will do very little. Your pity would demand that you aid them, and any attempt to aid them would inevitably require sacrifice. When you sacrifice for the sake of others you lose something in doing so. In addition you take something away from them. You cheapen and trivialize their struggle. Recognize the value in letting them fight their own battles. And when they triumph, they will be even stronger for the victory."

"But… his sister… that isn't a struggle. He lost someone important to him."

"Through events he could not foresee his sibling lies dead through no fault of his own. Events did not conspire to kill her. She was just a casualty. In the end there was nothing in his power he could do. Humans die, it is their nature. He will understand this eventually. So why lament?"

"Because… he lost his sister." Said Shinji as if that answered everything.

"And?"

"So… are you saying he shouldn't form bonds with his own family?" Asked Shinji.

"No. I'm saying this process of crippling emotional instability that humans go through is ultimately futile. Useful in growth perhaps and even more useful in manipulating them for your own gain perhaps, but still futile for beings such as us. It changes nothing and is ultimately self destructive."

It was beginning to dawn on Shinji that Nyarlathotep, despite looking human, was anything but.

"We can't help it…. Wait… what do you mean beings such as us?" Asked Shinji.

The response he received was not the expected one. Nyarlathotep smiled as if that was exactly what he wanted to hear. It was unnerving.

"Humans can't help it… but what if you could?"

"What?"

"Grief allows humans to either grow or break, but recall Shinji that I am molding you into something… different. Something less than human, but also more. You won't have to hold yourself to the same standards as anyone else."

"That sounds so… inhuman." said Shinji before Nyarlathotep interrupted him with a sardonic laugh.

"That is an observation, not a refutation."

Shinji said nothing as Nyarlathotep started walking away. Shinhi once again found himself walking against his will.

"Human morality is inherently flawed and self destructive. Comforting others requires you to sacrifice a bit of yourself for no other reason than leaving them ill-prepared for dealing with difficulties in the event no others are around to help. Even if you do come out stronger for it, the potential to break is much to great. Look at yourself, you still grieve for the events that have happened in your past and future. You have not grown, and you have yet to break. it is best to cast away your human capability to weaken yourself with grief less you become a tool for another's machinations. Never hold yourself to the same standards as everyone else, they'll only drag you down to their level."

As they walked Shinji found himself standing in the middle of a field. A very strange place where he watched two seperate images of time yet to pass playing out before him. One of the first time Toji punched Shinji, an event that Shinji recalled, but one that had not happened yet, and another of when Toji let Shinji punch him back.

"Another example of the flawed nature of human morality. The Suzuhara child is principled. He strikes you for a perceived slight, and when he realizes there was none, he demands that you strike him back for the sake of fairness. In doing so he takes away your choice in the matter. Tell me, did you want to hit him?"

"No."

"And yet you did. For a brief moment he forced his principles on you. You did not choose to strike him, he made you do it. He weakens himself for codes and principles, and worst he imposed his weakness onto you. Had you chosen to fight back, then at least you yourself would have made the choice. Choice is all you humans really have. Beings such as I are undeniable proof of the betrayal in your own belief systems. Your petty teachings of your own superiority are but myths and stories you tell yourself to make you feel better in a vast uncaring universe. My existence proves to you now that your universe is not benevolent, that God never loved you, that he doesn't even know you exist. Choice is the closest you come to any meaning in the cosmos in the face of existential alienation."

"What's wrong with being principled?" asked Shinji.

"You mean on top of being a vain attempt you humans have at finding meaning in the meaningless and leaving you ill-prepared for beings that see you as you see ants? It makes you rigid and inflexible, worst still it makes you predictable. By acting as if any morality has any value, you shackle you to the codes and principles formed from that morality. You bind yourself to abstract notions of your minds own creation. You live by pure ideology, if you can you call that living. Toss away your codes and values for they make you powerless to them. The oblivion of morals make you stronger. Never live for the sake of an ideology, live for yourself, because in the end, yourself is all you can truly count on."

Shinji said nothing as Nyarlathotep turned around. He observed the boy idly for but a moment with a curious gaze.

"You have something you wish to say. Do not say otherwise. Remember your thoughts are my own. Speak them and I will answer."

"Well… it's just that… what if helping others makes you feel good?"

"Ah, an excellent point. Yes for you humans it can feel good to help others, but recognize the value of that feeling. It may feel good, but it's also fleeting. Weigh the cost and benefit of every encounter, and recognize that a tangible benefit outweighs fleeting emotional satisfaction. Never help others for nothing and if the sacrifice is greater than the reward, then you gain nothing and lose much. Altruism has its place but also its limits. I should know, I wield altruism as a tool in my own pursuits. In fact, I am wielding it now, and you are its benefactor."

Shinji nodded. That… felt better to him than what he was saying before.

"Now that you see the failings of humanity. How would you like if I aided you in casting it away."

"What do you mean?"

"I can alter your cognitive functions. Strip you of your humanity. You would live, and doing so would allow you to construct your own moral framework from the ground up. One built not on vestigial neurochemistry of human evolution, but built on your own wants and desires."

"Vestigial neruro-what?"

"Evolution is such a sloppy process. Human morality and emotion evolved in increments. Piece by piece until it became what it is today. It serves its purpose, but as humans began to learn, they built a society to accommodate them. No longer did humanity need to adapt to their environment, instead they learned to shape the environment to suit their needs. However, while the world has changed, your behavior has not and in many ways you are still the same species that lived in caves. Emotions enslave you to their whims and morality stops you from becoming your best self in favor of a simple, if intelligent, animal. Your species is a social one, yet paradoxically you possess traits that make social interactions a minefield to traverse. Fear of rejection, fear of intimacy, fear of others. This is what I offer, the chance to build your own moral framework. Have bonds, emotions, and connections if you must, but I will free you from fear and reliance. Loss will not cripple you, served bonds will not diminish you, and you will not bend or break to hardships. Your emotions will serve you, for the sake of you. You will no longer be a slave to your own nature."

"... Are you helping me?"

Nyarlathotep looked to Shinji as he hummed to himself.

"I have ulterior motives, but what does that matter when you stand to gain so much more than what you lose?"

Shinji thought about it… for a long time as Nyarlathotep waited patiently. Then… Shinji recalled how he felt when he awoke after his first meeting with Nyarlathotep in the Dreamlands. He felt off in an indescribable way. He was going to ask before Nyarlathotep placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You wonder why you felt alien in your own skin?"

Shinji only nodded.

"Do you know why I had such an interest in you? It is because your mind is already an aberration. You may have noticed that when looking at others you get nameless impressions from them. When you had my Three-Lobed eye burned into your mind, it changed you on a level you cannot understand. You are already on your way to becoming something less than human, and something more. I simply am guiding what you are to become rather than leaving it to mindless, directionless chance."

Shinji looked back down to his feet. He thought about what Nyarlathotep was offering. It sounded an awful lot like Instrumentality… but different. One that would affect the individual instead of the whole of humanity. A change in perspective instead of a unification of consciousness. What kind of person would Shinji become? What kind of person would not care if they were lonely. Where the angst caused by fear of connecting with other people simply didn't happen.

It sounded like sociopathy.

"To a degree, but not quite." Said Nyarlathotep interrupting Shinji's thoughts. "You wouldn't disregard morals. You just wouldn't exactly have the same morals that humans do. Your mindset becomes what you want. Be it something close to human… or alien. Whatever you end up with however will be of your own design, based on what is important to you. By shedding your humanity, you may ascend and elevate yourself. I am simply offering the chance to open your eyes and see the truth. That you are living on borrowed time graciously given to you simply by the fact that you are too small to notice by beings infinitely your greater. I, meanwhile, not only notice you, but see you quite clearly."

"It sounds like you think selfishness is a virtue." Said Shinji.

"Not selfishness, though there is nothing wrong with it. I preach the virtue of Self-Reliance. It's still possible to do what humans call good while pursuing self-interest, advancement by any means necessary can benefit others just as much as it can be a detriment to all but the benefactor. These however are but consequences that serve to further yourself, and in the end one's own priority should be themselves. Helping others however could prove very useful in exploiting them, perhaps even exploiting them for their own good. Perhaps their best interests are self destructive and your best interests for them is the better alternative. Just because you have ulterior motives, doesn't mean that that the one being manipulated won't benefit from those plans and goals."

Shinji sighed. It was… very tempting. If what Nyarlathotep said was true, and Shinji suspected it was, then he was going to change anyway. Nyarlathotep just wanted to direct how he changed. Why Shinji didn't know. Still…if he was going to change anyway… the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. There was a chance he could end up so much worse than what Nyarlathotep was offering.

…

"I'll do it."

Nyarlathotep smiled.

Shinji opened his eyes and found himself following after Misato. He observed the walls as he walked through the hallways towards Central Dogma, where the sync tests were to take place.

Shinji gazed inward.

The crushing isolation and loneliness he was so accustomed to seemed to be as noteworthy to his mind as the weather. In fact if anything there was a level of comfort that came from being truly and utterly alone in the world. People just seemed so... insignificant. Himself included. Yet he felt no depression from this realization. It simply was. Human connection was a luxury, not a necessity. One Shinji felt he could live without if need be. Not as important as it really should have been. There was nothing wrong with perpetual isolation. If anything it wasn't really noteworthy at all.

"Interesting." Said Shinji offhandedly.

Misato paused as she looked back.

"Hm, what was that?"

Shinji just smiled and shook his head. There was something about the seemingly innocent gesture that irked Misato a bit, but she didn't know why.

"Nothing Misato, nothing at all. Just thought of something funny."

"Like what?"

"You wouldn't get it. Looks like we're here." Said Shinji as he looked past Misato, who turned her head to see Ritsuko typing away.

Ritsuko looked away from her screens as she turned to the duo who entered the room.

"Wow… you're actually on time for once. Kudos there." Said Ritsuko as she stood up.

Misato just turned around in confusion. It felt like it should have took a tiny bit longer to actually get here. Then again, she recalled the myriad of times she got lost in the GeoFront. Apparently her sense of direction kicked in for once.

"Right ummm… so… Sync tests?"

Ritsuko nodded.

"Yep." Said Ritsuko as she turned to Shinji.

"There's a changing room for you over there with a plugsuit. We'll begin the tests once you're ready." Said Ritsuko.

Shinji looked to Ritsuko as the nameless impressions flooded within him. Friendly but distant. He looked to her and saw a woman living in the shadow of her own mother. A combination of respect and hatred to the very woman who birthed her… but… thought Shinji, did not truly raise her. Shinji nodded as he wordlessly walked away to get ready. Ritsuko's smile fell as she sighed and looked to Misato.

"So… how are you holding up?"

Misato crossed her arms.

"Well enough… what happened to Makoto?"

"We don't know. To be honest, I'm not sure we can know. That thing is a living monument to the unknown and our inability to understand it."

Misato suppressed a shiver at the thought. She had not witnessed the entirety of the lizards attack, the Magi was broken when she had arrived with Shinji, and all she saw were photographs of that horrible dead eyed abomination.

"Drowning… on dry land… sounds like something out of a nightmare."

Ritsuko didn't say anything in return as Shinji walked back into the room, dressed in his plug suit while fiddling with the interface headset. He smiled at Ritsuko and stood silent. RItsuko glanced at Shinji, and looked into his eyes… there was something off about the way he gazed back at her, but she managed to push those thoughts away and dismiss them as nerves from the events that happened recently. She stood up and motioned for Shinji to follow.

Nyarlathotep sat above the tallest building in Tokyo-3 with a table in front of him and a chair opposite of him. Sitting on the table was a simple chess set. The Outer God waited as he looked over the city. Another of those creatures was coming, and would arrive in three weeks time. Shamshel, Angel of the Day. Perhaps another invitation was in order… but who to invite? Nyarlathotep smiled as he watched yhe grounds below, where figures stalked through the trees in the distance. Already the world around him was retroactively changing. History being modified by his mere presence as time moved forward. Creeping crawling things were soon to roam the earth as the days passed. It was inevitable that this world would become both familiar… and strange.

Nyarlathoetp turned as Nodens appeared before him looking at the Chess set. Nyarlathoetp was sitting on the side where the black pieces lay unmoving. The Elder God looked to Nyarlathotep as he gazed over the skyline.

"White moves first." he said simply.

Nodens stroked his beard as he took a seat.

"I don't know what you are planning Pharaoh, but I will find out."

"Perhaps you will and perhaps you won't. How does one predict that which is by its very nature chaotic. Even now as I sit before you, I also sit in my entropic throne of Ultimate Disorder. I am in many places dear Hunter. You may cease my plans here, but what of the others that I have in progress elsewhere. You know you are destined to lose more often than not?"

Nodens nodded as he moved his first piece. Nyarlathotep wasted no time moving his own.

"It is my nature to hunt the greatest game there is, and there are none as great as you Pharaoh. Even if I did have a choice in the matter, I would still hunt after you, even if it is just a fragment."

Nyarlathotep chuckled as Nodens moved another piece.

"Of that my dear dead Nodens, I am fully aware. We may be opposed, but there is something of you that I have always found so intriguing. I could crush you where you stand, but that would only deprive myself of my most favorite enemy, but enough talk, back to the game." Said Nyarlathotep as he grabbed his knight.

"Do you feel the bite of the wind?" said Nyarlathotep as he set his piece.

Nodens watched as Nyarlathotep piece hit the board… and hummed to himself. He looked over the city as the winds picked up.

"Of course you'd invite him."

Nyarlathotep chuckled as the snow began to fall.

"Winter is coming." Said the Black Pharaoh with mirth.

The world for a brief moment was sane again. Then the temperature plummeted. The seas calmed and the active city gave way to silence and stillness. A fae wind whistled amongst the swaying trees and bellowed around the buildings. A deathly cold fell across the land, a cold that had not gripped the world since the second impact. The winds blew, winds so strong that given time they could grind mountains to sand and dust. Then came the ice. Frost grew on the buildings and chilled men to the bone. Structured latticed ice crept across the streets. Dreams of winter plagued the realm of the sleeping. Nightmares of the bleak seemingly endless grip of the great Fimbulwinter of norse myth. A frigid blizzard falls from the mountains, freezing all in its path and a chill gripped the winds as it creeps across the lands.

Then… a great webbed foot crashed in the heart of the forest and shook the mountains as ice cracked and wood splintered from the resulting shockwave. Dense and tightly bound ropey muscles clung to bones of visceral ice as it lifted a clawed hand with disproportionately long fingers upwards, enslaving the wind to its whims. Glossy frostbitten skin was pulled tightly around its lengthy frame as it sprouted coarse white fur and a long matted mane. It was a tall, emaciated, vaguely human thing that gazed outward with burning, inhuman red eyes whose gaze could turn a mans blood cold. It was a towering beast with too long limbs, whose blood was the very essence of the bitter winter winds. It stood tall over the trees around it. It took its first steps, opened a maw of disfigured sharpened teeth, and roared the high pitch shriek of a tornado as a ceaseless blizzard billowed around it. A vaguely simian monstrosity whose domain was the sky, wind, and air, and all it encompassed. Master of airy spirits and bringer of frost and ice. It walked on air and wind and cloud as easily as a man could walk along the base earth. The beast jaw dislocated and it opened its mouth to exhale unnatural frost and a chill mist as it trekked forward.

Ithaqua the Wind-Walker had come.