A couple articles ago I featured one of my favorite Cthulhu Mythos monsters, the Daughters of Atlach-Nacha, giant spider creatures that can turn humans into more of their kind. In the Malleus Monstrorum, the Call of Cthulhu writing team develops the deity that’s revered by these spider creatures. She deserves a little spotlight herself, being a powerful deity that is overshadowed by Cthulhu and Shub-Niggurath.
Atlach-Nacha, the spider god is also known as the Great Spinner and the Weaver. While most human worshipers consider her the goddess of all spiders, she is in truth an interdimensional being. She just looks like a spider when viewed by humans.
The Weaver spends her time maintaining a giant web which is said to bind multiple dimensions together. Some tomes, containing lore man was not meant to know, reveals deep in the earth portions of the Weaver’s web can be reached. People can travel across the web, using it like a bridge over a bottomless pit, in order to reach other dimensions.
Because the web is an inter-dimensional construct size isn’t a consideration. That cobweb in your attic or tool shed could very well be part of Atlach-Nacha’s interdimensional web. Destroying it could spell doom for whole dimensions. Whether these basement webs can be used to travel between dimensions is uncertain, however it can be used by Daughters of Atlach-Nacha to enter our dimension.
It isn’t a positive thing having multiple dimensions bound by Atlach-Nacha’s web. Theories say that when Atlach-Nacha completes her web, the world will end.
There aren’t organized Atlach-Nacha cults. She’s worshiped by lone sorcerers who turn to her to receive gifts in the form of magical power. Humans are needed by the goddess. She sends her daughters into the world to send those who will listen on missions for the Weaver.
We’re dealing with an alien goddess here. Humans cannot begin to comprehend the motives of Atlach-Nacha. The tasks humans are sent on could seem weird or harmless, but they may have great inter-dimensional consequences.
What does worshiping Atlach-Nacha get you? First, you can become spider like. Think Spider Man, being able to climb walls and sling webs. Then, another gift is to become mutated to resemble a spider. Instead of arms and legs, you get spider appendages. Finally, you’re given the ability to give birth to broods of spiders. Creepy, huh?
The physical form of Atlach-Nacha contains a 12-point chitin armor on its carapace, capable of stopping most of the damage from a shotgun. Its furry underside has eight points of armor, making it well-protected against most attacks. A called shot is required to hit the underside.
Atlach-Nacha can cast a web that is virtually inescapable. Using a knife or other cutting implement increases the chances of escape, but the odds aren’t good. Like spiders, the Weaver can drain the fluids from a target. When the host’s Strength attribute is reduced to zero, the target dies.
Also, Atlach-Nacha is well-defended.
Another power of Atlach-Nacha is the ability to create spiders that can latch onto a person and then seize control of their actions. Their actions and speech are controlled by the spider. Only by killing the spider parasitge can the host regain control of himself.
While not a major deity in the Cthulhu Mythos, Atlach-Nacha deserves taking a look at and utilizing in tales of dread.
