The Book of Dagon

"'The safe hold a heavily bound manuscript... the front is embossed with the words 'Book of Dagon'.'""(Jack Walters)"

Overview :
The Book of Dagon, written by Obed Marsh around 1846-1878, is an important manuscript of the Mythos and the Esoteric Order of Dagon. It was written in order to allow for the translation and understanding of the infamous Tablets of Dagon.

The book contains a great deal of information about the Deep Ones, their leader and some of their history - but nothing about their origins. It also contains horrible depictions of their religious practices, and even some spells. Despite it's uses, the book is in fact incomplete and only by using the Tablets and the Book is one able to grasp the full context of both.

Completing the translation of the Tablets became the late obsession of Robert Marsh, who by the end of the game directs most of the resources of the Order to complete that goal despite the fact the whole Order is under attack. He very nearly succeeds in that goal after Jack's capture in Y'ha-nthlei, during which his brother Sebastian gets his hands o the Book, previously found by Jack in the shop of Thomas Waite. Jack kills Robert and regains possesion of the Book, using it to grasp the context of the Tablets at the very end of the game.

Contents :
The following text is taken from Jack Walters' journal:

"Book of Dagon:

''This book is hand-written, and heavily bound. It's cover is embossed with the title 'The Book of Dagon.' It seems to be a religious work, translated from a series of ancient tablets.''

It tells of an entity called Dagon - apparently some kind of sea-god - and his consort Hydra.

''They are the greatest of an underwater race called the Deep Ones, who worship them with sacrifices and other rites. The descriptions of the sacrifices are particularly shocking, and there are details of magical spells and other strange rituals.''

''If this incredible manuscript is to be believed, their history stretches back beyond the remotest human origins, into unthinkably remote antiquity. ''

''A few individuals are so incredibly old that they have seen continents rise and fall, for they do not die of old age as humans do. Father Dagon and Mother Hydra are such individuals, and are greatly revered for their age and size.''

Their greatest awe, however, is reserved for a dark god named Great Cthulhu, who is said to sleep and dream in the underwater city of R'lyeh.

''The book seems incomplete. The last chapters tail off, as though the translation has not been finished."''

Role in the game :
Following the death of his daughter Ramona, Thomas Waite gives Jack the key to the back door of his store, asking him to get what it contains out of Insmouth. He does this just in time before he gets arrested by Innsmouth's police. Walters then enteres the store to find Ruth Billingham trying in vain to open the safe. He manages to convince her to meet with him and Brian (who is Ruth's boyfriend) outside of town, after which she leaves. The detective then successfully openes the safe, after having discovered in Thomas' diary that its combination was Ramona's birth date.

Later in the game the Book is used to understand the glyphs needed to break the barriers inside the Masonic Hall of Insmouth, which are blocking the way into the Temple of Dagon below the building. The Book again comes to use in the city of Y'ha-nthlei when it is used to open magical portals and open doors.

Links to the Mythos :
This book, as well as informations about the Deep Ones, also gives a summary of the worshipping acts the Kanakies carried on their island, which Obed witnessed first-hand when he came here.

Interestingly, this book seems to suggest that Dagon and Hydra are not Great Old Ones, but rather very ancient and overgrown Deep Ones. However, this is a frequent debate and the Mythos don't give a clear answer as to what the two sea-deities truly are. It also mentions Cthulhu and the city of R'lyeh.