Where Is Unknown Kadath?

Unknown Kadath lies in a cold waste at the far northern edge of the Dreamlands, beyond the Plateau of Leng, and it does not appear on any chart that belongs to the waking world. The Archive files it UNLOCATABLE. On the Field Survey's separate Dreamlands chart it sits at the top edge, half off the map, because that is where the witness's own account leaves it.

Why it cannot be pinned

The Dreamlands are not reached by travelling to them. They are entered in sleep, and the account of Randolph Carter's journey says as much: no waking surveyor has been there, and no two dreamers agree on how far apart the places are. The Archive treats this as a difference in route and not as a reason to doubt the destination. It keeps the Dreamlands on a chart of their own, so that a conjectured position is never mistaken for a surveyed one.

The route Carter took

Carter entered through the Enchanted Wood and passed through Ulthar. His route ran by way of Dylath-Leen and a black galley to the far side of the Moon, through the Vale of Pnath and the Gugs' buried city, and the last stage was flown on the night-gaunts. The cats of Ulthar, the ghouls and Richard Pickman all served him on the way.

What he found

The Great Ones were not at home. The Archive's reading of the account is that they had already left Kadath for the sunset city that Carter had come to ask them about, and that the city was assembled from his own childhood memories. Nyarlathotep was waiting instead. No return journey has been separately verified.

For the chart, open Kadath on the interactive map and switch to the Dreamlands view.