Putrid Depths
"I've heard that many cultures believe there is a afterlife of horror and torment for the wicked. Little did they know that already exists. The difference is, the wicked don't find themselves here, its the brave and foolish." - Abandoned Journal
Abyss for the Dying
Underneath Stelwen sits a massive, continent-wide network of caves and caverns littered with modern and ancient dead. Animals on the cusp of death are called to the abyss so that their death can fuel new life. The shared grave of billions will always welcome those awaiting the end.The Beckoning Depths
The nature of the Putrid Depths is a mysterious phenomenon that has only solely been found in Stelwen. The cave network spans the entire continent and has many entrances on the surface, the largest of which is the Graven Trail in western Utek. The most common sight of the depths is the decaying carcasses of animals that perished within the caves. It is commonly believed that these animals either voluntarily choose to die within the depths or are called into the deep dark by something within. The strangeness of the Putrid Depths only increases when one begins examining the fossilized bones scattered across the caverns. While a thorough excavation of these fossils has yet to be done, explorers have found the bones of unknown species believed to have been alive during the Primeval Era. Among these fossils are the bones of ancient titans, colossal creatures that lived during the Primeval Era. Many explorers come to the Putrid Depths to harvest the Titan Bone, as it is commonly used in various Peculiarly, some have found fossils of what are believed to have been sea-dwelling creatures unusually far inland. Stranger still is the sheer density of the fossils uncovered in the depths. Many of the dug-up bones are grouped in masses speculated to contain thousands, if not more, of individual animals that have all died together. Some have theorized that the massive amount of fossils may indicate a mass extinction event had taken place in Stelwen. What could've caused the mass death of so many animals at once remains unknown. Another facet of the speculated mass extinction event in Stelwen is the continent's fertility. The soil in Stelwen is teeming with nutrients that have allowed plant life to grow in abundance. This phenomenon is continent-wide in the same way the Putrid Depths are, leading some to believe that the immense number of dead animals packed into the earth is the cause of it. If one were to expand upon this idea further, it might indicate that the Putrid Depths is a part of a natural cycle of death and rebirth. Old and dying animals are drawn to the depths so that their bodies may supply the soil with new nutrients so that it may bloom into new life. Further research is required on the topic.Ecology of the Depths
Some animals found above ground live within the Putrid Depths. The most fitting example is the Lich Spider, a deadly species of giant spiders who can use magic, including the powers of necromancy, to protect their nests. A sub-species of the infamous Arrynna known as the Ivory Arrynna has been spotted hunting the scavengers of the depths on many occasions, though the Ebony Arrynna has also been encountered as well. The death-laden caverns of the Putrid Depths are home to many cave-dwelling creatures never seen above ground. The most well-known resident of the depths is the Kurronjor, a large lizard that feeds off the recently deceased corpses. These lizards roam in groups averaging four to seven individuals and have been reported to be incredibly aggressive towards other animals. Another commonly seen animal is Garranks, or Corpse Stench Wetas as they are commonly referred to as, as a species of Weta around the length of a human's arm. Like most animals in the Putrid Depths, they feed off the rotting corpses of animals who've made the caverns their final resting place. Other animals have been discovered living within the Putrid Depths, but little is known about them. An example is the Serrankr, a blind reptile that feeds on rotting corpses and other denizens of the depths. Some explorers claim to have seen an unidentified species of a giant spider that lays its webs in the pitch-black depths to catch wandering prey like the Burronjor. Another unidentified creature spotted within the depths was a strangely passive insectoid creature that covered itself in rotting flesh, seemingly as a method to either camouflage itself to possibly as an intimidation tool. With no sunlight ever reaching these dark depths, it is no surprise that no plant life can be found. In its place are many strange mushrooms and other fungi that flourish in the death-filled caverns. The most commonly found mushroom is called Corpse Plume, which many alchemists are willing to pay highly for samples. A less common but no less significant fungus found in the Putrid Depths is Marrowspawn, a glowing fungus found on bones that digs into bones to feed on the marrow inside and acts as the only natural light source within the depths.The Lord of the Putrid Depths
Something stirs within the deepest reaches of the Putrid Depths. Something that for the longest time with just a rumor, a myth spread by uninformed fools and illegal cults. They spoke of tales of a lord of the depths, an avatar of death itself that resides in a palace of bones. They told tales of its deathly spawn that roam the depths, carrying out their master's will. The Tevan Tay would eventually investigate these claims, if only to quell the hysteria such tales caused among the populace. What they found flipped everything they knew about the depths on its head. A Tevan Tay hunter would eventually encounter a creature unlike anything they, or the guild, had ever seen. Crawling out from the depths was a black, quadrupedal dragon with robust wing arms, with four-fingered hands adorned with sharp claws. Its wings were was wide and sat on the like a cloak. The creature massacred all who fell within its gaze, burning them alive with a storm of Soul Fire. The Tevan Tay lost many hunters trying to slay the beast, but eventually, it fell. With its slaying, the Tevan Tay would realize that the tales were true, that the lord of the Putrid Depths, was real. They would call this supposed lord Aranmorta, and its rampaging spawn Shanmortas. The exact nature of this dragon and its lesser spawn has been a mystery that has dwelled in the back of many hunter's mind. Aranmorta and its spawn pose a threat that could wipe out every living thing in Stelwen and even beyond if left unchecked. Tracking and netralizing any Shanmortas that may emerge from the depths is a top priority for the Tevan Tay, a task reserved for only the most skilled hunters. A containment that they hope will one day lead to its source.
Alternative Name(s)
Corpse Strewn Abyss, Subtaro's Domain
Type
Cave System
Included Locations
Inhabiting Species
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