First Appearance: Haïta the Shepherd (1893)

Hastur is an ancient deity of cosmic horror, often associated with the stars. He first appeared in Ambrose Bierce's short story "Haïta the Shepherd" as a benign god of shepherds, but later Robert W. Chambers used the name to represent a more sinister force. Hastur is said to dwell in a hidden city called Carcosa, and his followers are known as the Yellow Sign. He is also associated with the madness-inducing drug known as the Black Goat of the Woods. Hastur has inspired many works of fiction, including H.P. Lovecraft's "The Whisperer in Darkness" and "The King in Yellow." He has also been featured in games such as Call of Cthulhu and The Dunwich Horror.