The Whispering Dark
"Whispering Dark" in Laeth Dora, the Tongue of the Night Elves. The Coaraeaduor is a vastly unexplored system of caverns and caves running deeper than the The Great Deeps of Duordemar that the Night Elves ruled. But the Night Elves, in all their time in the depths, never dared to traverse the overwhelming darkness beyond their own.
But others have. At least a hundred over the centuries. But only three among all those souls ever came back. But what they had to say of those dark depths, is ever and truly the stuff of nightmares.
But others have. At least a hundred over the centuries. But only three among all those souls ever came back. But what they had to say of those dark depths, is ever and truly the stuff of nightmares.
Geography
If darkness truly had a physical presence. It would be the Coaraeaduor. The explorers that dared the hungering darkness have rarely returned. Those that have, paint a terrible picture.
They say with words bursting with madness, that it is a place of absence. To follow the stone walls with a lamp in one hand and the other running along the rock face, is to have an infinite darkness cornering you against the stone. It is said to be a place that devours any light that enters it. That one could bring the sun with them from the day time sky. And that sun would be devoured like the hare is devoured by the wolf.
The few descriptions of the underground terrain. Say it is an alien place. Where stones float in the air, yet no Manafonts can be seen within. And the stone that remains part of the cavern, winds and twists in disturbing ways. And that running water can sometimes be heard. Yet no stream can be seen.
At the farthest perimeter, the few that have returned speak of cave entrances the size of sewer grates. Situated on jutting rock tubes that extend from the cavern walls. And of how inhuman, and unholy things skulk, slither, and screach within.
They say with words bursting with madness, that it is a place of absence. To follow the stone walls with a lamp in one hand and the other running along the rock face, is to have an infinite darkness cornering you against the stone. It is said to be a place that devours any light that enters it. That one could bring the sun with them from the day time sky. And that sun would be devoured like the hare is devoured by the wolf.
The few descriptions of the underground terrain. Say it is an alien place. Where stones float in the air, yet no Manafonts can be seen within. And the stone that remains part of the cavern, winds and twists in disturbing ways. And that running water can sometimes be heard. Yet no stream can be seen.
At the farthest perimeter, the few that have returned speak of cave entrances the size of sewer grates. Situated on jutting rock tubes that extend from the cavern walls. And of how inhuman, and unholy things skulk, slither, and screach within.
Ecosystem
No plantlife exists in the Coaraeaduor. Not even the typical subterranean flora that other similar locations have.
In point of fact: Plant life brought down into the Coaraeaduor seems to die within its time there. As though the place itself hungered and only life in all its forms could sate it.
In point of fact: Plant life brought down into the Coaraeaduor seems to die within its time there. As though the place itself hungered and only life in all its forms could sate it.
Localized Phenomena
The few that have returned to speak of the depths have told of floating stones, water droplets that fall upwards, and how the air itself feels as though it cannot help but stand still.
Every account tells of an impossible place. A place of Alien influence. Where the natural world itself flees in terror of. And what little of the natural world wanders or falls into the Coaraeaduors confines, seems to either react unnaturally. Or simply stand still. As though all the elements and qualities of the earth were assaulted with terror.
Terror driven by unknowable powers.
Every account tells of an impossible place. A place of Alien influence. Where the natural world itself flees in terror of. And what little of the natural world wanders or falls into the Coaraeaduors confines, seems to either react unnaturally. Or simply stand still. As though all the elements and qualities of the earth were assaulted with terror.
Terror driven by unknowable powers.
History
The Coaraeaduor was first uncovered by the Night Elves of The Second Aeon. When they fled underground to pursue their own Atheist Culture after The Last Schism of the Elves. The terrible battle that divided the Elves as One People, and drove them to become four.
While the Night Elves laid claim to The Great Deeps of Duordemar as their sovereign territory. When their scouts stumbled upon the caves leading to the Coaraeaduor, they couldn't bear to enter. Even to the deeply faithless Night Elves, the unknowable struck their hearts with fear and dread when confronted at last by it. But their cold-hearted kings would force many to traverse the darkness. Chastizing them for their unfounded fears.
But when the scouts did not return. The uncaring kings began to wonder if there was something to their irrational fear. And so, the Dark Kings of the Night Elves commanded thick and mighty doors to be built at the entrances of these depths. Impenetrable and indestructible. Even to Dragons Fire. Once the construction was completed, the Dark Kings commanded that the doors be sealed tight forever more. None were permitted to attempt an opening of those doors. Even on pain of death when in need of an escape.
After the Night Elves fall. The Vampyre Men of The Third Aeon appropriated the Night Elves Underground Kingdoms. Finding the sealed doors. But they too could sense the unnatural nature of the Darkness that lurked behind them. But they dared to open those wicked doors. And even their own scouts. Vampyres though they were. They too, entered the whispering dark. Never to return. This time however, the doors remained open. Permitting others to dare that Craven Darkness.
Explorers from many corners of the Known World all came to try their hand at traversing the depths in the The Fourth Aeon. Boasting that they would conquor the darkness. But of the scores of Humans that dared, only three returned. But they were robbed of all peace within. Their minds were broken and bereft of reason and logic. One lost the ability to read. Another to speak. And the last, he refused to speak a word for fifteen years after daring that darkness. Only to escape his room at an assylum one night to disappear. Though not without the odd witnesses. All of whom said that he made his way for Duordemar. Where archaeologists reported a madman screaming incoherently as he rushed the Craven Doors. And was lost forever.
A terrible thing lies in that place. A darkness that cares not for names, for tales, or for logic. It hungers for life of any kind. Drinking it deep and leaving nothing for others. Not even a corpse to bury.
Woe falls upon them that dare the Depths of Coaraeaduor. No treasure sits within that black nothingness. Only the timeless silence. And the madness in the Sightless Deep.
While the Night Elves laid claim to The Great Deeps of Duordemar as their sovereign territory. When their scouts stumbled upon the caves leading to the Coaraeaduor, they couldn't bear to enter. Even to the deeply faithless Night Elves, the unknowable struck their hearts with fear and dread when confronted at last by it. But their cold-hearted kings would force many to traverse the darkness. Chastizing them for their unfounded fears.
But when the scouts did not return. The uncaring kings began to wonder if there was something to their irrational fear. And so, the Dark Kings of the Night Elves commanded thick and mighty doors to be built at the entrances of these depths. Impenetrable and indestructible. Even to Dragons Fire. Once the construction was completed, the Dark Kings commanded that the doors be sealed tight forever more. None were permitted to attempt an opening of those doors. Even on pain of death when in need of an escape.
After the Night Elves fall. The Vampyre Men of The Third Aeon appropriated the Night Elves Underground Kingdoms. Finding the sealed doors. But they too could sense the unnatural nature of the Darkness that lurked behind them. But they dared to open those wicked doors. And even their own scouts. Vampyres though they were. They too, entered the whispering dark. Never to return. This time however, the doors remained open. Permitting others to dare that Craven Darkness.
Explorers from many corners of the Known World all came to try their hand at traversing the depths in the The Fourth Aeon. Boasting that they would conquor the darkness. But of the scores of Humans that dared, only three returned. But they were robbed of all peace within. Their minds were broken and bereft of reason and logic. One lost the ability to read. Another to speak. And the last, he refused to speak a word for fifteen years after daring that darkness. Only to escape his room at an assylum one night to disappear. Though not without the odd witnesses. All of whom said that he made his way for Duordemar. Where archaeologists reported a madman screaming incoherently as he rushed the Craven Doors. And was lost forever.
A terrible thing lies in that place. A darkness that cares not for names, for tales, or for logic. It hungers for life of any kind. Drinking it deep and leaving nothing for others. Not even a corpse to bury.
Woe falls upon them that dare the Depths of Coaraeaduor. No treasure sits within that black nothingness. Only the timeless silence. And the madness in the Sightless Deep.
Entry for WorldEmber 2020
In response to the prompt Describe a geographic location beneath the surface - what can you find lurking there?
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