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"The Mound" by H. P. Lovecraft / A HorrorBabble Production

HorrorBabble・150 minutes read

Ancient civilizations predate recorded history in the West, challenging the notion of newness, with an Oklahoma mound entwined in eerie ghost tales leading to unsettling discoveries and a mysterious manuscript revealing dark subterranean secrets. The narrator's exploration of the mysterious mound uncovers hidden histories, leading to perilous discoveries and connections to an unearthly realm, unraveling a complex world of cosmic horrors and ancient secrets lurking beneath the surface.

Insights

  • The West's ancient history predates recorded history, challenging the notion of newness once associated with the region.
  • Oklahoma's Binga village housed a mysterious mound haunted by spectral Indian figures, sparking tales of remorseful murderers and ghostly apparitions.
  • The mound's exploration led to disappearances, madness, and unsettling experiences, deterring further investigations until renewed interest in the early 1910s.
  • The discovery of a mysterious manuscript in Spanish detailing a subterranean world, Xen Yan, from 1545, unveils ancient secrets and cosmic horrors.
  • The manuscript connects to legends of Cthulhu, Yig, and Tulu, describing a realm with immortal beings, advanced technology, and telepathic communication.
  • Zamacona's journey into the subterranean world reveals a city of immortals, advanced beings, and a society on the brink of disintegration, driven by novelty and escape from physical life.
  • The protagonist's excavation of the mound uncovers hidden passages, malevolent forces, and transparent entities, echoing the eerie details of Zamakona's manuscript and the mound's haunted history.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of the mysterious mound in Oklahoma?

    The mysterious mound in Oklahoma, located in the village of Binga, Caddo County, holds a dark history filled with ghostly sightings and unsettling occurrences. The mound was haunted by two Indian figures, an old man during the day and a woman with a blue flame torch at night. Visitors reported strange experiences, with some feeling restrained by an invisible force and others disappearing or returning mentally disturbed. The mound's secrets led to madness, disappearances, and even suicides, instilling fear and panic in the village. Despite warnings and tragic events, curiosity and exploration persisted, revealing a hidden history and potential connections to a subterranean world.

  • Who were the Old Ones and what role did they play in the mysterious mound's history?

    The Old Ones were ancient beings worshipped by the people associated with the mysterious mound in Oklahoma. These beings were said to have come from the stars and built cities of gold, now inhabited by monstrous creatures and reanimated corpses. The Old Ones were known to worship Yig, the serpent deity, and Tulu, the octopus-headed entity, through human sacrifices and telepathic communication. Their presence and influence in the region added to the eerie and dangerous reputation of the mound, with legends and tales warning against their malevolent powers.

  • What was the significance of the manuscript found in the cylinder at the mysterious mound?

    The manuscript found in the cylinder at the mysterious mound dated back to 1545 and detailed the subterranean world of Xen Yan. It was attributed to Panfilo de Zamacona and contained incredible revelations about an underground realm, sparking curiosity and determination in the narrator to uncover more. The manuscript hinted at a connection between the unearthly secrets described in the ancient text and the mysteries surrounding the mound, setting the stage for further revelations and perilous discoveries. This discovery strengthened the resolve of the narrator to delve deeper into the hidden history of the mound and the secrets it held.

  • What were the consequences of exploring the hidden realms beneath the mysterious mound?

    Exploring the hidden realms beneath the mysterious mound led to encounters with malevolent forces, transparent shapes, and eerie phenomena reminiscent of the mound's haunted history. The protagonist faced challenges distinguishing between the material and spiritual realms, encountering modern objects in ancient passages and witnessing inhuman entities pushing and plucking at him. The exploration culminated in terrifying experiences, including encounters with mechanically advancing dead things and transparent beings, leading to a harrowing escape from the crypt. The consequences of delving into the hidden realms were marked by fear, horror, and a realization of unspeakable terrors lurking beneath the surface.

  • What was the ultimate fate of Zamacona and his experiences in the hidden city of Seth?

    Zamacona's experiences in the hidden city of Seth were marked by disillusionment with the decadent society, dangerous encounters, and a growing sense of hostility towards him. Despite attempts to escape and draft a manuscript detailing his adventures, Zamacona faced capture and the prospect of becoming a gate sentry, a fate he had hoped to avoid. His mastery of dematerialization and spectral forms aimed to achieve invisibility and preserve his manuscript, showcasing his determination to escape the confines of Seth. The ultimate fate of Zamacona remained uncertain, with his experiences in the hidden city reflecting a society on the brink of disintegration and decay.

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Summary

00:00

Ancient mysteries of Oklahoma's haunted mound

  • The West was once considered new, but recent archaeological discoveries have revealed ancient civilizations predating recorded history.
  • European explorers often grasp the deep ancientness of the West better than Americans, with rumors of even older primitive societies.
  • In 1928, an incident in Oklahoma involving ghost tales led to unsettling discoveries, challenging the notion of newness in the region.
  • The region was known for ghostly sightings around ancient mounds, with one notable account involving spectral cavalry battles in the sky.
  • The village of Binga in Caddo County, Oklahoma, was home to a mysterious mound haunted by two Indian figures, an old man by day and a woman with a blue flame torch by night.
  • The villagers accepted the ghosts as a natural part of life, with some theories suggesting the man was a remorseful murderer and others viewing both figures as ghosts.
  • Visitors to the mound reported strange experiences, with some feeling an invisible force restraining them and others disappearing or returning mentally disturbed.
  • A young man named Heaton vanished after attempting to uncover the mound's secrets, returning with tales of ancient horrors and madness before dying in an epileptic fit.
  • Following Heaton's ordeal, more cases of madness and disappearance occurred, deterring further exploration until the early 1910s when interest resurged.
  • By 1915, the fear surrounding the mound had diminished, leading to more daring expeditions, including one by amateur archaeologists from the East.

18:07

Mysterious mound brings terror and tragedy.

  • A searching party, including Clyde Compton, found nothing amiss at the mound after villagers disappeared.
  • Old Captain Lorton, a pioneer, ascended the mound on May 11, 1916, using spy glasses observed by villagers.
  • Captain Lorton disappeared suddenly while hacking shrubbery, reappearing younger with jet-black hair and cut feet.
  • The being babbled about incomprehensible things, mentioning George Lawton repeatedly, resembling hallucinations of a past incident.
  • Old Grey Eagle, a Wichita chieftain, warned against the mound's dangers, mentioning the Mold Ones and Yig.
  • Joe Norton and Rance Wheeler, ignoring advice, went to the mound, never to return, leading to panic and fear in the village.
  • The mound remained unvisited until youths back from WWI began exploring it, leading to an epidemic of visits.
  • Two brothers, the Clay boys, decided to dig up the buried square and gold, disappearing, with only Ed Clay returning, scarred and changed.
  • Ed Clay, scarred and traumatized, warned against the mound's horrors, eventually committing suicide with a mysterious hieroglyph scar on his forehead.
  • The mound remained avoided for years, with only the tribesmen and old-timers recalling the cosmic menace and unholy vistas associated with it.

35:19

Mysterious mound reveals ancient underground secrets

  • A mysterious figure with shining metal trappings and a unique weapon is observed pacing atop a mound, appearing civilized rather than savage.
  • Old Grey Eagle, a 150-year-old Indian chief, warns against digging on the mound, citing evil spirits and bad medicine associated with the region.
  • Grey Eagle gifts a metal disk talisman to the narrator, passed down through generations, believed to offer protection against malevolent forces.
  • The narrator, equipped with tools like a machete, electric torches, and a revolver, sets out alone to explore the mound despite warnings from the villagers.
  • Upon reaching the mound, the narrator finds it artificial, with a strange atmosphere and no sign of the pacing figure previously observed.
  • While clearing underbrush on the mound, the narrator notices odd behavior of the talisman, leading to the discovery of a cylindrical object covered in hieroglyphs.
  • The cylinder, made of the same unknown metal as the talisman, contains a manuscript in Spanish detailing the subterranean world of Xen Yan, dating back to 1545.
  • The manuscript, attributed to Panfilo de Zamacona, reveals incredible revelations about an underground realm, sparking the narrator's curiosity and determination to uncover more.
  • The discovery of the manuscript strengthens the narrator's resolve to delve deeper into the mysteries of the mound, hinting at a connection to the unearthly secrets described in the ancient text.
  • The narrator's exploration of the mound uncovers a hidden history and a potential link to a subterranean world, setting the stage for further revelations and perilous discoveries.

52:52

"Manuscript Unveils Cosmic Horrors and Riches"

  • The text delves into the discovery of a mysterious manuscript from 1545, detailing Francisco Vazquez de Coronado's northward march.
  • The protagonist finds the manuscript in a strange cylinder and decides to translate it, uncovering eerie designs and references to a creature named Tulu.
  • The manuscript connects to legends of Cthulhu, a cosmic horror entity, and describes a secondary motif resembling Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan.
  • The protagonist notes the unique magnetic properties of the cylinder, which only attract metals similar to the disc around their neck.
  • The translated manuscript recounts Zamacona's journey with Coronado in search of the fabled cities of Cibola and Quivira, detailing their encounters and explorations.
  • Zamacona learns from an Indian named Charging Buffalo about hidden stone doorways leading to a netherworld with terrifying carvings and rumored riches.
  • Charging Buffalo describes the ancient beings known as the Old Ones, who came from the stars and built cities of gold, now inhabited by monstrous creatures and reanimated corpses.
  • The Old Ones worship Yig, the serpent deity, and Tulu, the octopus-headed entity, through human sacrifices and telepathic communication.
  • Zamacona decides to venture to the cryptic doorway with Charging Buffalo, intrigued by the promise of untold riches and adventure beyond the mysterious passages.
  • The protagonist's journey into the unknown, guided by the Indian's tales, sets the stage for a perilous exploration of the hidden realms and ancient secrets lurking beneath the surface.

01:09:52

"Zamacona's Journey into the Unknown Realm"

  • Zamacona, on October 7th, 1541, left the Spanish camp near the Grasshouse village at midnight to embark on a journey southward.
  • He was equipped with resinous torches and provisions by Charging Buffalo, who refused to join him in the venture ahead.
  • Zamacona entered a small sandstone doorway in a deep gorge, encountering grotesque carvings and a level tunnel of cyclopean masonry.
  • The tunnel led him through steep descents, caves, and uncertain directions, encountering loathsome carvings and occasional natural rock formations.
  • After three days of travel, Zamacona reached the tunnel's last phase with rough-hewn steps and monstrous carvings illuminated by a bluish light.
  • Emerging from the tunnel, he found himself in an unknown world with a bleak rocky hillside and a vast, mist-shrouded plane below.
  • Charging Buffalo turned back due to fear of unknown creatures, but Zamacona pressed on, feeling a sense of glory in exploring this uncharted realm.
  • He observed a bluish coruscating sky and a dry, temperate climate in this new world, with hideous sculptures and a stone doorway similar to the one he entered.
  • Zamacona cached supplies at the tunnel's mouth and descended towards the distant plane, encountering abnormal footprints and signs of an ancient road.
  • He discovered a mysterious dark metal coin or medal, alien to him, and continued his journey towards towns and a river visible in the distance.

01:27:24

"Zamacona's Encounter with Alien Civilization"

  • Zamacona, driven by curiosity and greed for gold, observed glittering towns and structures in a misty blue light, with no signs of life.
  • He noticed the towns and buildings were not infinite but bounded by low hills in the distance, with a river and roadway leading through a gap.
  • Zamacona reached a river on a black basalt bridge, with clear water containing strange large fishes, and a paved roadway overgrown with weeds.
  • He discovered an alien-looking temple protected by evergreen trees, with hideous sculptures and a massive idol made entirely of solid gold.
  • The idol, made of an unknown exotic metal, had magnetic properties that attracted a strange disc Zamacona found earlier on the road.
  • The metal was the supreme ceremonial metal of the hidden people, brought from the stars by Great Tulu, and used as a monetary standard.
  • Zamacona, hearing approaching thunderous footfalls of large animals, closed the golden door of the temple to protect himself.
  • The animals, circling the temple, caused Zamacona deep terror, but eventually left, allowing him to rest inside the temple.
  • Zamacona was awakened by human-like knocking on the door, leading to a meeting with about 20 Indians from a great city beyond the hills.
  • The Indians communicated through unvocal radiations of thought, revealing their ability to converse mentally and their ancient spoken language, which Zamacona struggled to understand.

01:45:09

"Kenyan: Immortal beings with advanced abilities"

  • The people of Kenyan are ancient, believed to have come from a distant part of space with conditions similar to Earth, led by the octopus-headed being Tulu.
  • Over time, most of the outer world sank beneath the ocean due to space devils' wrath, leading to a disconnect between Kenyan and the outer world.
  • Visitors to Kenyan were once welcomed but eventually ceased, with the people forgetting about the outer world, except for distorted memories and myths.
  • In Kenyan, old age and death have been conquered, allowing individuals to remain immortal unless they choose otherwise, with births only occurring for experimental purposes.
  • The people of Kenyan can regulate the balance between matter and abstract energy, enabling them to dematerialize and re-materialize themselves or objects through willpower.
  • The city of Sath in Kenyan is inhabited by a superior race that has enslaved others, leading to a concentration of the population in one place and the abandonment of old mechanical devices.
  • Daily life in Sath is organized around physical fundamentals, new sensations, and various activities like games, religious exercises, and philosophical discussions.
  • Property in Kenyan includes land, slaves, animals, and shares in city enterprises, with poverty unknown and labor limited to administrative duties.
  • Art and intellect in Sath have reached high levels but are considered listless and decadent, with dominance of machinery affecting aesthetics and expression.
  • Religion plays a significant role in Kenyan, focusing on aesthetic and emotional exaltation rather than belief in the supernatural, with temples dedicated to Tulu and Yig, and a revival of veneration for the sacred metal of Tulu.

02:02:57

Zamacona's Journey into the Earth

  • The Spaniard, Zamacona, cooperates with visitors from the outer world, providing them with valuable information about the surface world, a rarity since the times of Atlantis and Lemuria.
  • Zamacona's education and brilliance make him a prized source of knowledge for the visitors, who are eager to learn about the world beyond their region.
  • The visitors are concerned about outsiders discovering the passages to Canaan, fearing the influx of adventurers seeking rumored gold and silver.
  • Zamacona's journey into the earth raises questions about his safety and secrecy, especially when he fails to meet a promised rendezvous, causing alarm among the visitors.
  • A lengthy conversation between Zamacona and the visitors takes place outside a temple, consuming almost a whole day, during which Zamacona eats from his provisions and the visitors bring extra beasts for transportation.
  • Zamacona is unnerved by the sight of hybrid entities called Yothans, described as terrifying creatures with human-like features, black fur, and a rudimentary horn.
  • The Yothans are explained to be a slave class in Canaan, descended from a race found in the ruins of Yoth, a world beneath Canaan, where synthetic life creation was practiced.
  • Zamacona bravely mounts one of the Yothans for transportation, finding the ride surprisingly comfortable and easy, despite the repulsiveness of the creatures.
  • The procession stops at abandoned cities and temples along the way, showcasing the architectural marvels of Canaan, with the largest city, Gra, displaying intricate gold structures.
  • The travelers encounter a temple housing a black toad idol named Satagura, linked to a fabled elder world called Nakai, which was explored by the men of Canaan, leading to the dissolution of the Satagura cult and the sealing of the abyss leading to Nakai.

02:19:01

"Zamakona's Escape from Vast City Seth"

  • The city of Seth is described as a vast metropolis with clustered spires and pinnacles, shimmering in blue light, resembling a mountain with towers reaching the sky.
  • Zamakona observes the fields being tilled by men and repulsive half-human quadrupeds, with some beings identified as slaves controlled by hypnotic impressions.
  • The slave class includes reanimated dead organisms called Yumbai, powered by atomic energy and thought commands, with varying degrees of mutilation for entertainment purposes.
  • The city of Seth is vast, with newer dwellings preferred over ancient towers, emitting a monotonous roar of activity and hosting various temples with active worshipers.
  • Zamakona is introduced to a council of executives who offer him historical knowledge in exchange for staying in Seth permanently, with a daily program of activities and access to libraries and spectacles.
  • Zamakona is assigned a house or apartment, transportation, and ten living slaves for his needs, along with instruction on using mechanical devices and writing tools.
  • Zamakona is absorbed into the life of Seth for four years, exploring the city, deserted machine cities, and the red-lit world of Yoth, witnessing marvels and human metamorphoses.
  • Zamakona grows disillusioned with the people of Seth, seeing them as dangerous and heading towards disintegration due to their frenzy for novelty and escape from physical life.
  • Zamakona attempts to escape but faces discouragement, leading him to draft a manuscript of his adventures in hopes of reaching the outer world, using Tulum metal cylinders for preservation.
  • Zamakona faces growing hostility in Seth, fearing for his future as a source of data and maintaining a facade of vast knowledge to protect himself, while also exploring the ultimate abyss of Nakai beneath Yoth.

02:36:07

Zamacona's Escape from Decadent Kanye

  • Kanye, a decadent society, was characterized by religious cults inclined to deny exploration of Yoth.
  • Kanye's resident, Zamacona, experimented with dematerialization and projection to access hidden realms.
  • Zamacona's dreams, involving projection, perturbed the leaders of Yig and Tulu worship.
  • Zamacona's research revealed Kanye's past dignity, kindness, and nobility, contrasting with its current decay.
  • Kanye's society faced moral and intellectual disintegration, transitioning to fanaticism and superstition.
  • Zamacona, aided by Tala Yab, planned an escape from Kanye using a forgotten passage to the outer world.
  • Zamacona prepared to leave Kanye with gold ingots, intending to establish power in his world.
  • Zamacona, Tala Yab, and laden beasts embarked on a perilous journey through underground tunnels.
  • The escape was thwarted by Kanye's authorities, leading to Zamacona's capture and Tala Yab's tragic fate.
  • Zamacona faced the prospect of becoming a gate sentry, a fate he had hoped to avoid by remaining peacefully in Kanye.

02:52:59

Zamakona's Dematerialization: A Mysterious Manuscript Unveiled

  • Zamakona's mastery of dematerialization grew through years of study and practical experiments, aiming to achieve complete invisibility and carry away his manuscript in a metal cylinder.
  • He believed that once he attained full spectral form, he could escape with the manuscript, even if it required additional effort to maintain his spectral state constantly.
  • Zamakona, a man of old Spain, prayed to saints and counted beads before embarking on his ultimate resolution to escape using dematerialization.
  • The narrator, after reading Zamakona's manuscript, questioned its authenticity, wondering if it was a hoax or a chronicle of madness, given its detailed explanations of mysterious phenomena.
  • The villagers and the narrator believed the manuscript to be a clever fraud left by a previous explorer, providing a plausible explanation for the mound's mysteries.
  • Despite skepticism, the narrator decided to excavate the mound alone, facing mounting horror and recalling the manuscript's eerie details.
  • The narrator's tools were stolen, leading him to suspect a village-wide joke, but he continued excavating with a machete and trench knife.
  • As he dug deeper, the earth began to sink, revealing a large cavity beneath and a flight of stone steps, leading to a hidden underground passage.
  • Descending into the passage, the narrator encountered carvings resembling those on the metal cylinder, facing malevolent forces and transparent shapes reminiscent of the mound's sentinel.
  • Discovering a modern electric torch belonging to a missing college instructor from 13 years ago, the narrator questioned the reality of dematerialization and the passage of time, descending further into the crypt described in Zamakona's manuscript.

03:09:35

Encountering Haunting Entities in Ancient Crypt

  • Directly across the great vault, a second arched opening led to a narrow passage with two huge niches holding familiar, monstrous images.
  • The passage was cluttered with modern objects, challenging the distinction between material and spiritual realms, amidst increasing adverse winds and malevolent forces.
  • Speculations arose from a manuscript mentioning a garrison from 1545, with a talisman holding entities at bay, while the protagonist encountered his missing pick and shovel in the crypt.
  • The protagonist witnessed transparent, inhuman entities pushing and plucking at him, culminating in the appearance of a mechanically advancing dead thing in the passage.
  • Fleeing in terror, the protagonist regained consciousness outside the crypt, where villagers found him three hours after his disappearance, avoiding the haunted mound thereafter.
  • The protagonist, haunted by the horrors witnessed, hinted at the unspeakable terrors encountered in the crypt, reminiscent of a previous victim's tragic fate, revealing the fate of a white, headless, branded being used for amphitheater entertainment.
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