Carter's Guide to the Cults of Los Angeles

Organizational char devised by Magdalena Carter in 1930, depicting the various cults and figures of the occult scene.

AZATHOTH

Ruler and possible creator of the Outer Gods. Not widely worshiped.

The Mad Dervish

Originally a supernaturally talented individual who appeared in Chicago days before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The original Dervish later appeared in 1906 and attempted to warn the city of San Francisco of the impending quake. Several individuals have used the name in the 20th century. They have all been musicians, usually players of wind instruments, and musical performance is an integral part of their magic. All have declared their servitude and attachment to Azatoth, though the early Dervish also declared his affinity for the Greek god Pan, suggesting a dual affiliation with Shub-Niggurath.

HASTUR

The Unspeakable One, He Who Shall Not Be Named. Said to dwell near the star Aldebaran, his worshipers are usually malevolent and quite dangerous. Hastur cults operate in utmost secrecy and are known to assassinate other rival magicians.

King in Yellow

Avatar of Hastur who is commonly thought to be a god himself. The King and his notorious sigil are particularly associated with visual artists. Cults devoted to the Yellow King were common in the early 20th century.

Cult of the Faceless One

Cult started in New Mexico prior to the 20th century. Thought to have included Xavier Hellstromme among its associates. Members were arrested near Taos in 1901 after the murder-sacrifice of several Pueblo women. Fourteen people were convicted of the murders, seven of whom were executed by hanging.

Byakhee

Winged creature often thought to be demonic in origin but that actually hails from another plane of existence. Every sorcerer dedicated to the Nameless One has anywhere from 2-7 summonable byakhee under their command. Byakhee also accompany the summoning of the Yellow King.

NYARLATHOTEP

Outer God who acts as messenger to the other gods. He is said to have a thousand different forms, many of which appear throughout folklore and occult history.

El Negro

Avatar of Nyarlathotep active throughout North America. He is the keeper of the Book of Azatoth and may teach the sorcerer the secrets of the universe. The Cult of El Negro is the most prominent of his cults and still exists in larger cities.

Cult of the Faceless God

Magical organization founded in 1919 and disbanded in 1932. They were responsible for a number of murders in the late 1920s. The group attempted to summon their god in 1929 and most of the order was devoured by Hunting Horrors.

QUACHIL UTTAUS

Xavier Hellestromme

Sorcerer active in Los Angeles during the 1920s and 1930s.

Guild of the Necromancers

Organization founded in 1923 to further the studies of the necromatic arts and provide a unifying organization for practicing necromancers, who are often ostracized even among fellow sorcerers.

SHUB-NIGGURATH

Temple of Choronzon

Also known as the Brotherhood of Choronzon, or simply the Brotherhood. Founded in 1923 as a private club for magicians interested in sex magic. One of the only magical orders in Los Angeles to survive the upheavals during the 1930s, the Brotherhood and its membership are now dedicated to the utmost secrecy.

YIG

Father of serpents. Appears as a giant serpent or large man with serpent's head.

Quetzalcoatl

Ancient avatar of Yig revered by Mesoamerican sorcerers-kings.

Cult of the Plumed Serpent

Modern day remnant of Aztec religion.

La Couleuvre Noire

Organization whose teachings are a syncretizing of Vodun, Thelema, and Aztec teachings.

YOG-SOTOTH

Outer God coterminus with space and time but trapped between and without the planes. May be allied to the ultimate animating essence of existence. According to cultists, “Yog-Sothoth knows the gate, Yog-Sothoth is the gate, and Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate.”

Ramsey Parsons

Follower of Yog-Sothoth and thought to be a founding member of the Brotherhood of Choronzon.