The Outsider

I. Vix'ni-Aldru

In the blackest depths of space
In the voids unknown to man,
Science strove to take its place,
The experiments began.

The mystery, a black hole -
To scan its depths their hope.
Vix'ni-Aldru, aeons-old,
On this they trained their 'scope.

II. T'halu

They saw it here in the glass,
Looming in immensity.
That which brought their doom, alas,
A dead and nameless city.

But no - not quite dead - not yet,
For beyond its great walls there,
Beneath it spires of jet
Crawled horrors born of nightmare!

III. The Voorlak

Shapeless, yet not without form
Those inhabitants did be.
Lizard-like, yet like a worm,
Forms born of insanity.

Before an eldritch altar
The nightmare dwellers did kneel.
Their chanting did not falter
As they turned a monstrous wheel.

IV. Haiogh-Yai

The wheel, it seemed, was a lock;
The unknown chanting a key.
And though they took no such stock
In things, more they had to see.

They gazed above the city -
Madness they were on the verge -
Then gibbering fools to pity -
As from the door IT did emerge!

Copyright 1997 James Ambuehl

First Appearance: Eldritch Tales #24 Winter 1990
First Online Appearance: Mythos Online #1

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