Deep Whisperers

The Deep Whisperers are a forbidden cult that worships the Deepborn Leviathans, mysterious and ancient entities believed to exist deep beneath the oceans, within the Abyss. These leviathans are not mere creatures of flesh and blood but are thought to be eldritch, sentient beings whose purpose is unfathomable to mortal minds. They are associated with the Frozen Maw, an ancient rift in the earth, and are said to have a vast and alien intellect that transcends time and space. The Deep Whisperers believe that these Leviathans are sleeping gods, and their influence permeates the darkest reaches of the world.

The cult believes that the Leviathans are not beasts to be hunted, but ancient watchers of the deep, whose presence is felt through whispers in the deep, strange currents that pull at the unwary, and an overwhelming sense of dread. The cult’s followers seek to commune with the Leviathans, believing them to be the key to untold secrets and forbidden knowledge hidden in the depths of the world.

The Deep Whisperers are a mysterious and dangerous religious cult, bent on gaining the favor of the Deepborn Leviathans, ancient and eldritch beings that dwell beneath the ice and the oceans. Through sacrificial rituals, forbidden ceremonies, and communion with the abyss, the cult seeks to awaken the Leviathans and unlock the secrets of the deep. With their unearthly worship and dangerous practices, the Deep Whisperers remain a terrifying force in the northern Wildlands, feared by many for their connection to the unfathomable depths.

Mythology & Lore

Worship of the Deepborn Leviathans, ancient entities of eldritch power

Legends and Folklore

1. The Harbingers of Ice
   One of the most widespread legends surrounding the Deepborn Leviathans is that they are the cause of the eternal cold of the Frozen Maw. The cult believes that the Leviathans’ presence alone is what keeps the land trapped in an eternal winter, and that their awakening would bring about the end of the ice age, perhaps flooding the world with a new, unknown sea. Some scholars believe that the Leviathans’ slumber beneath the ice is a form of punishment, and their awakening would undo the current world’s order.
2. Eaters of the Dead
   Sailors and explorers who venture too close to the Maw speak in hushed tones of the Eaters of the Dead, claiming that the Leviathans consume not only the bodies of those who drown in the Maw, but their souls, erasing their existence entirely. The Deep Whisperers believe that these souls are then absorbed into the cosmic consciousness of the Leviathans, becoming part of their eternal dream. The cult regards this as a sacred cycle, and those who are sacrificed are believed to join the Leviathans in their slumber.
3. The Sleeping Kings
   The Deep Whisperers view the Leviathans as sleeping gods—ancient and powerful beings whose awakening would herald the end of the old world and the rise of a new age of darkness. They believe the Frozen Maw is not just a physical rift but a gateway to the realms of the Leviathans, a place of transition where the worlds of the living and the dead converge.

Tenets of Faith

1. Primordial Beings of the Abyss
   The Deep Whisperers hold that the Deepborn Leviathans are older than the world itself, possibly the first beings to ever exist. They are thought to dwell in the Abyss, where they sleep for eternities, waiting for the right conditions to awaken and reshape the world in their image. The cult believes that these leviathans are the guardians of forgotten truths, custodians of ancient knowledge and cosmic secrets that can only be unlocked by those who earn their favor.
2. The Call of the Abyss
   The cult teaches that the Leviathans communicate with mortals through whispers, beckoning the weak-minded and curious into the depths. It is believed that those who hear the resonant hum from the abyss are the chosen, attuned to the Leviathans’ will. These calls are often described as a deep, vibrating hum, which causes overwhelming feelings of insignificance and despair, pulling listeners into the darkness. The cult encourages its members to immerse themselves in these deep, meditative states to better understand the Leviathans’ will.
3. The Sleep of the Leviathans
   According to the Deep Whisperers, the Leviathans are in a deep, eternal sleep, awaiting the perfect moment to rise and bring about chaos and rebirth. The cultists believe that only when the balance of the world has shifted and the correct conditions are met will the Leviathans awaken. Until then, they remain slumbering, their power growing in the depths, awaiting the fulfillment of ancient prophecies.

Worship

Ritual sacrifice, drowned offerings, seeking the favor of the Leviathans

Rituals and Practices

1. Sacrificial Drownings
   The Deep Whisperers believe that the best way to earn the favor of the Leviathans is through sacrificial drownings, offering life-force to the abyss in exchange for knowledge or protection. These sacrifices are often individuals who are deemed to be weak-minded or spiritually attuned to the Leviathans’ call. The cult conducts these rituals by submerging the chosen sacrifice in the depths of the Frozen Maw or other deep, dark bodies of water. As the person sinks into the abyss, it is believed their soul is consumed by the Leviathans, becoming part of the cosmic dream of the ancient creatures.
2. Rite of the Deep Call
   The Rite of the Deep Call is a secretive and dangerous ritual practiced by the cult’s most devoted members. During this ceremony, the participants enter a deep trance while submerged in dark, cold water to commune with the Leviathans. The ritual is believed to allow the practitioner to hear the call of the Leviathans, gaining visions of the deep realms and uncovering hidden truths. These visions are often cryptic, and many members return from these rituals changed, sometimes driven mad by the enormity of what they have seen.
3. The Song of the Abyss
   Some of the most powerful members of the Deep Whisperers claim to have heard the Song of the Abyss, an ancient, unearthly melody sung by the Leviathans in the depths. This song is said to be a source of immense power, capable of altering reality for those who can unlock its meaning. The cultists believe that hearing this song is the ultimate divine blessing, and only those most attuned to the Leviathans’ will are able to experience it fully.

Political Influence & Intrigue

Secretive, isolated, feared by many, with cultists believed to communicate with the Leviathans

The Deep Whisperers are a feared cult, their activities regarded with both awe and terror. Most of their rituals are secretive, conducted in isolated locations far from the prying eyes of society. Their sacrificial drownings and esoteric practices are often seen as heretical or disturbing, and those who become too involved in their worship often end up lost to the depths, either consumed by madness or claimed by the Leviathans themselves.

Despite their terrifying practices, the Deep Whisperers hold great influence over some northern tribes, who see the Leviathans as deities capable of controlling the forces of nature. There are also those who believe that the cult holds knowledge of lost magic, and that their connection to the Leviathans could be the key to unlocking ancient powers hidden beneath the ice and snow.

Type

Religious, Cult

Location

The Frozen Maw

Related Traditions

• Rite of the Deep Call