SOURCE: "The Gods of Bal-Sagoth" by Robert E. Howard (Weird Tales, October 1931)
"The Black Stone" by Robert E. Howard (Weird Tales, November 1931)
"Dagon Manor" by Robert E. Howard and C. J. Henderson (Different World, May-June 1985)

DESCRIPTION:"...Then as the great black shape turned cold flaming eyes on them Turlogh saw it was a living creature. It stood, man-like, upon two tree-like legs, but its outline and face were not of a man, beast or devil. This, Turlogh felt, was the horror that even Gothan had hesitated to loose upon his foes..." ("The Gods of Bal-Sagoth" by Robert E. Howard)

NOTES: Gol-Goroth has several forms. In "The Gods of Bal-Sagoth" he is humanoid. In "The Black Stone" he is more squidgy-like and resembling a toad and in "Dagon Manor" he is tentacular. Only the burning red eyes remain the same. Since he is the master of the Black Stone then he would be worshipped by the Worms of the Earth. Gol-Goroth is not impervious to weapons. Turlogh O'Brien kills him with a sword. Once dead he dissolves into a puddle of slime. He may be able to reform after some time.

HISTORY: Gol-Goroth is considered one of the Great Old Ones of the Cthulhu Mythos. This is largely due to 'The Black Stone". When C. J. Henderson wrote the third story about Gol-Goroth from a Howard fragment in 1985, he cleared up the different appearances by giving Gol-Gorth the power to assume the form of the greatest fear of those who see him. Read an interview with C. J. Henderson here.

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From the Conan the Barbarian comic version that borrowed the plot then turned him into a giant bat thing.

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