The Mouth of Litanu

Near the Islands of Lotan, tiny rocky islets south of Cnuic Ghlainne, a monstrous whirlpool is said to surface and disappear without warning. It comes and goes with no apparent pattern, no warning that it is due, and no care for who it ensnares in its currents. Many sailors believe the whirlpool to be the mouth of a hideous sea monster, Litanu, opening and closing as she seeks to feed. They say that she is trapped beneath the Islands of Lotan; a punishment from the Gods for attempting to overthrow them. Others say she is a former lover of Lernan-Bashmu, cast aside after her unfounded jealousy almost destroyed innocent lives, and chained to prevent her from bringing havoc to A’arde’s lands. Regardless, all sailors agree on this: steer clear of the Islands of Lotan. Be not tempted by the promise of treasure on those rocky shores. The mouth of Litanu is all that awaits you there; a hunger unending; a rage unstoppable. A calamity without warning. Steer clear of the Islands of Lotan, sailor; lest ye meet your doom in the Mouth of Litanu.

Sailors' Verse; Traditional; Multiple Origins

Origins of the Myth

The myth of the Mouth of Litanu dates back to the Age of Dragons (2nd Age of A'arde), when the dragons were considered one of the most influential groups within A'arde. While the specifics of the original myth have been lost to time, given the havoc of the Ages of Chaos and Darkness, the myth itself persists as a sailors' warning tale. Regardless of whether the myth itself speaks truth, "The Mouth of Litanu" has become the most widely accepted name for the whirlpool that exists near the Islands of Lotan.

Truths of the Myth

The whirlpool described by the tales are a real event, and they seem to emanate from a rocky crevasse on the sea bed on the eastern sided of the Islands of Lotan. However, attempts to investigate this crevasse have been met with little more than a swift death as the whirlpool seemingly arrives in response to the presences of the investigation teams. "The Mouth of Litanu" became the most widely accepted name for this phenomena, despite the truth of what causes it remaining unknown.
The islands have changed shape over the millenia, with many believing that before the Age of Chaos the Islands were in fact a single landmass that surrounded the crevasse in an O-shape, and the inner pool accessible by small rivers running through the island. The destruction of the majority of the eastern parts of this supposed ring are what have unleased the whirlpool upon the seas. Where it was previously contained by the wall of rock, the whirlpool now reaches out into the sea itself. Explorations of the area by Water Ginnaya, Sea Elves and Tritons have shown evidence of former landmasses encircling the area, but getting too close to these formations often triggers other strange phenomena within the area, such as inky blackness permeating the area or the sudden arrival of hostile water serpents.

Impact of the Myth

Treasure hunters regularly speak of the Islands of Lotan as somewhere they would love to attempt to visit. These treasure hunters believe that relics from the Age of Dragons, as well as treasure and loot hidden by later pirates during the Age of Arcana, could well be hidden on the islands or scattered on the sea floor. However, the Mouth of Litanu whirlpools are highly dangerous and as sailors are wary of going near the islands, few ever attempt the journey.
Cults celebrating the entity Litanu have sprung up, with many of them residing permanently at sea or inhabiting nearby islands. Many of these Cultists turn to piracy in an attempt to drive sailors into the Mouth of Litanu; some kind of ritual attempt to please her. It is thought that the Cults are seeking to release Litanu from her prison, though as nobody can get close enough to the crevasse to investigate if she is really inside, most feel that these are simply lofty dreams.

The Use of the Myth in Everyday Life

The myth is generally used as a warning against sailing too close to the Islands of Lotan, which would be considered extremely dangerous to sail around even without the threat of a massive monster swallowing ships whole. It is a tale that is passed from sailor to sailor, and is of particular interest to navigators who must learn to recognise the points of interest that signal the approach to Lotan.