Niz'wola

Deep underneath the damp rocks and crevasses of the Tyndarite Escarpment is a series of caves and natural chambers of stone. Within these dark, labyrinthine depths live the Duskwidows, a people of Arachnitha who have not merely adapted to the darkness but thrive in it. Here, they have founded Niz'wola, their burrow-home.

Name & Founding

Niz'wola, insofar as it is possible to translate the Arachnithan tongue with any real accuracy, roughly translates to "Dimming", though some of the Duskwidows themselves claim that it would be more precise to claim that it is actually "Dying of the Light".

The Arachnitha first stumbled upon the cave systems underneath the Mistclad Cordillera practically by accident, as they fled from the ominous Resonant that float about the mountain range. Once they settled into the caves, word spread of the new-found burrow-home quickly and more Arachnitha flocked to the caves, until Niz'wola had become one of the biggest burrow-homes underneath the crust of Nascindor, trumped in size and population only by Lod'shwa, the burrow-home of the Dunecrawlers.

Society & Culture

As reclusive as the Duskwidows are, that does not mean they are without culture or kinship. In the dark, where sight is a largely useless sense, Niz'wolans have developed a custom that involves touching pedipalps and vocalizing in a manner unique to each individual. A Duskwidow can remember up to thousands of different individuals based on the feel of their exoskeleton or by the pitch and trill of their skittering.

Similarly, entertainment and the arts have shifted towards aural and tactile sensations in the darkness of Niz'wola. The Duskwidows are perhaps the most musically gifted of the Arachnitha and they have devised a kind of bow instrument incorporating their webbing and the spines of their limbs which is said to produce a hauntingly beautiful sound when played by a skilled artist.

Another form of art that is popular are three dimensional web-sculptures that one has to explore via touch alone, slowly piecing together the intended subject.

The Gossamer Dispatch plays a larger role in Niz'wola than it does in the other burrow-homes due to the Duskwidows relying on the network of webbing to communicate within the burrow-home as well as outside. It is no surprise, then, that the Clutchguard of Niz'wola consists mostly of Tunnel Runners.

The Duskwidows are excellent ambush predators, which lends them natural skill at clandestine operations. The deadliest assassins and stealthiest forward scouts across the burrow-homes are almost invariably Duskwidows.

Niz'wolians

The people of Niz'wola are perhaps more difficult to approach than most, largely due to their reluctance to leave their umbral home under the mountains. They appear nervous around others, especially non-arachnitha, and do not initiate social contact unless it is practically forced upon them.

It may take several weeks worth of approaching a Duskwidow individual for them to even greet you, but once they do, that's a foot in the door for further interaction which will, with enough care and nurture, blossom into friendship.

Should one get close to a Duskwidow, there's much joy to be found in interacting with these wonderful people. They respect personal boundaries and are otherwise considerate of others, making them excellent, and often lifelong, friends. What better way to keep the darkness at bay than befriending those who dwell in it?

I'd tell you to bring a torch, but the locals might take offense to that.

– A mountaineer directing a traveler towards Niz'wola

Alternative Name(s)

Dimming, Dying of the Light

Type

Underground / Vault

Population

14,547

Inhabitant Demonym

Niz'wolian

Location under

Tyndarite Escarpment

by Midjourney

_{Some of the many entrances into Niz'wola. Beyond these portals the light of day vanishes entirely.}

by Midjourney

_{A Duskwidow woman emerging from the darkness of Niz'wola}