Nyarlathotep assume muitas formas diferentes, tanto nas histórias de Lovecraft quanto nas histórias de "Cthulhu Mythos" de outros autores, veja a tabela aqui . Não tenho certeza se ele poderia ser dito a ilusões para "enlaçar", embora no poema em prosa original de Lovecraft Nyarlathotep onde o personagem apareceu pela primeira vez, todos parecem estranhamente atraídos para exibições públicas que ele daria, que pareciam envolver imagens hipnóticas misteriosas, como visto na seção abaixo:
I remember when Nyarlathotep came to my city—the great, the old, the terrible city of unnumbered crimes. My friend had told me of him, and of the impelling fascination and allurement of his revelations, and I burned with eagerness to explore his uttermost mysteries. My friend said they were horrible and impressive beyond my most fevered imaginings; that what was thrown on a screen in the darkened room prophesied things none but Nyarlathotep dared prophesy, and that in the sputter of his sparks there was taken from men that which had never been taken before yet which shewed only in the eyes. And I heard it hinted abroad that those who knew Nyarlathotep looked on sights which others saw not.
It was in the hot autumn that I went through the night with the restless crowds to see Nyarlathotep; through the stifling night and up the endless stairs into the choking room. And shadowed on a screen, I saw hooded forms amidst ruins, and yellow evil faces peering from behind fallen monuments. And I saw the world battling against blackness; against the waves of destruction from ultimate space; whirling, churning; struggling around the dimming, cooling sun.
