Ghouls – A Dipterous Reflavoring

art by Tayna Rezunenko

 

“Ghouls are usually described as doglike or canine in appearance, a description that has as much to do with their pack behavior and habit of digging as it does their specific skull shape.
… 

To change up ghoul imagery, try other graveyard scavengers. Ghouls in your campaign might also resemble or at least evoke:
… 

Flies (bristles on arms, segmented eyes, green-blue sheen on flesh)”

 

 — Kenneth Hite et al., “Hideous Creatures – A Bestiary of the Cthulhu Mythos”

I decided to take Mr. Hite’s advice to heart, and write a retheme for one of my favorite monsters in Delta Green. The book lists several other aesthetic options, but I had the most ideas for flies and they were the most different from your 'stereotypical ghoul.' I also took the opportunity to elaborate on and rewrite some existing mechanics I felt were too vague or just didn’t like.

The Glaakeen, an Old Threat for Delta Green

untitled 'doodle' by Asta Daily

In the Handler's Guide, in Glaaki's part of the Great Old Ones chapter, we learn about the Glaakeen (or Servants of Glaaki as they're called in CoC). Most of them hang around Glaaki and presumably do his bidding, but they also show up in Glaaki cults, most famously under the leadership of the Fate's Belial/Robert Hubert in Holy War in Eyes Only. In fan content, they're well suited for the dual role of 'muscle' and 'ascended elders,' a bit like how Deep Ones act in some Cthulhu cults. We're given 'stats' for them in one of Glaaki's abilities in the Handler's Guide, but it is incomplete if you want to actually use them.