Air Elementals

1. Sylphs

A class of beings who are associated with the Air element in European occult works. See: Sylphs.

2. Air Beings, of the Great Old Ones (3)

In Derleth stories, the Air beings are a subgroup of the Great Old Ones (3) [also known as evil ones (1)] that are associated with the Air element. They are said to be primal lurkers beyond time.[3] This group includes Hastur the Unspeakable, Lloigor, Zhar, and Ithaqua, also called the Lords of Air.[7] Hastur's followers, the Byakhee, are also associated with Air.[2]

The northern Indian spirit called the Wendigo may be the same as Ithaqua[1], or the two of them may be cousins.[6]

The following distinctions exist among the Air beings:

Hastur may be superior to the other Air beings, having subdued them to his will.[4]
Ithaqua is especially associated with icy, snowy air.[4][8]
Hastur and Lloigor are especially associated with outer space. Hastur is of interplanetary spaces, and Lloigor is the Star Treader.[6]
Lloigor and Ithaqua both sometimes seize humans. Ithaqua takes them on long journeys before finally dropping them from the sky. Ithaqua transports his victims along with their clothing[4][8], and even allows them to collect momentos on their journeys[1]. On the other hand, Lloigor draws the body from the earth piecemeal, and leaves the victim's empty clothes behind, as if the body were drawn or sucked out of them.[5]

The Air beings oppose other evil ones that are associated with the Water element. However, both groups hate and fear the benevolent Elder Gods (1).[3]

Algernon Blackwood wrote several strange stories about Air elementals, and was mentioned in Allison Wentworth's ravings after the latter was released by Ithaqua.[8] One such story by Blackwood is "The Wendigo."

1. [AWD Beyond2]
2. [AWD Curwen]
3. [AWD Hastur]
4. [AWD Ithaqua]
5. [AWD Sandwin]
6. [AWD Seal (online text)]
7. [AWD Sky]
8. [AWD Wind (online text)]

See also: Elementals.

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