Illdike Chasm
Ever since we left I've not been able to shake the feeling that a part of the chasm left with me.
Location
The Illdike Chasm is gigantic underwater hole which is located at the northernmost end of Orcerta just a few kilometers away from the shore. The nearest big city is Valkia, a mountain city inhabited mainly by Fjenima and Isima. But there are also supposed to be smaller settlements of reclusive inhabitants, which are said to be follower of Kauhu, near the chasm. The Illdike chasm cannot be reached without a boat trip, but a footpath leads to its shore. Said footpath, despite constant snowfall, is always visible and walkable. This is used by many locals as a ghost story, because nobody has ever seen who created this path or who keeps it accessible.General information
With a diameter of over 1200 meter and an estimated depth of over 30km it is the greatest chasm of Orcerta. No further information is given of how the chasm originated or why it is seemingly empty, only myth satiate the hunger of people who want to know more.Peculiarities
The Illdike Chasm is surrounded by fierce winds which grow stronger at the end of the Hie, when the Saeva migrate to it. It also has the strongest currents of Orcerta. Until now only a hand full of ships managed to enter and leave the chasm. Other, not so lucky, ships litter the ground of the sea around the Illdike chasm and stand as a warning for any new adventuring crew which think they should adventure into the Illdike chasm.You ask why I'd travel through such nasty places, eh? I shouldn't expect a landlubber like you to know the worth of those crystals!
Captain of the "Strong Waves"
These adventurers bring stories back, about how no current seem to flow and no wind blows while drifitng over the chasm and how only a low, growl-like noise, with no apperent origin other than the deep, dark chasm itself can be heard there. But stories of people who came back from the chasm are not to be trusted, for many if not all people come back with a fear nobody seems to be able to describe. A fear of the chasm, a fear of what's living inside.
Fauna
A general aversion to the chasm has been observed in animals. You wont find any in the water or air near the Illdike chasm. Animals on ships in the vicinity of the chasm often show a very anxious behavior. Occasionally, some are said to have even killed themselves by jumping off the ship or killing themselves in various ways available to them. The only animal that can be found near and in the chasm itself is the Saeva. But here too, one is not sure what exactly draws these animals to the chasm. Only the myths, in which it is written that the Saeva are children of Kauhu, can offer a possible explaination.
Myth
The Origin of the Illdike Chasm
In the ancient past of the earth, when even the elders did not exist, there were two beings, the Alpha, father of the elders, and Kauhu, the only being who could match his power. Both giants clashed again and again and neither wanted to submit to each other. However, this did not pass people by without a trace. Many died as a result of the fighting and its side effects such as earthquakes. Where they used to live all over Orcerta, they now retreated to the interior of the country, where the giants rarely fought. On the day of the last fight, both opponents were severely weakened. They fought in the north of Orcertas and with their last strength the Alpha banished Kauhu into the depths of the ocean. Knowing that he would not live much longer this seemed to be the best way to protect the people He created. Kauhu, who was severely injured by this attack, is now spending his time at the bottom of Illdike chasm, waiting to regain his strength...
-Origin Myth
The Black Saxum
After more than a millennium, something moved in the Illdike chasm. Indescribable creatures emerged from its depths. Seemingly untouched by the currents and winds, they began to shred and eat each other and all living things that approached them. These were Kauhu's children and out of hatred and destruction they gather strength to help Kauhu regain his power. A strange crystal was also found at this time. This crystal was black like the Illdike chasm itself and exuded an aura of terror. The powers of these crystals exceeded anything ever seen before; but this came at the cost of being detrimental to the psyche of all beings who ever came near them. The wearers of the crystal itself changed. Not physically, but mentally. As if they were following orders, they began to rob, murder, and dumped all corpses and riches in rivers, lakes, wells or the Illdike chasm itself.Today only horror stories are told about the black saxum. Nobody knows if it really existed and yet rumors are circulating that a cultist group called "Atrava" is supposed to be in possession of this crystal.
-Kauhu's Myth
Spiritual meaning
For the Atrava, a religious cult that worships God, the Illdike Chasm is the centerpiece of their religion. The rituals of the Atrava could only be observed from a great distance and at great risk. Some of those who wanted to watch them never returned but through the imprisonment of an Atrava follower a ritual could be discovered, the Shtunggli Gnaiih, shortly afterwards the prisoner died in his cell for unknown reasons.Shtunggli Gnaiih
On the darkest night of the dead month, when the sky shows no more than the abyss beneath it.
vulgtlagln Kauhu
Gather along the coast. Gather up.
vulgtlagln Kauhu
When his children rise from the Abyss.
vulgtlagln Kauhu
Sacrifice your blood and you will know.
Sacrifice your flesh and you will hear.
Sacrifice your soul and you will see.
Sacrifice those who do not serve your cause and you will be.
vulgtlagln Kauhu
- Prisoner when asked about the Atrava rituals
Although cryptic, this description shows that the Atrava do not shy away from sacrificing other people, nor from sacrificing their own. However, this is not enough as proof, especially not now that the person is dead. And so the horror stories circle further through the lands and the inhabitants of Orcerta and above all the inhabitants of Valkia avoid the seemingly cursed chasm.
Witness Reports
Despite my many years as a psychologist, this was also a new experience for me. For the first time my patient was a seafarer who is said to have sailed over the Illdike chasm. Rarely are such people seen after their adventure, as they often commit suicide shortly afterwards or disappear under other inexplicable incidents. At first he only seemed sorrowful, but that changed rapidly.
Conversation - Session 1
So your family brought you to me because, after your journey, you behave differently than usual. What do you think has changed?
I can't put it into words, but ever since we left I've not been able to shake the feeling that a part of the chasm left with me.
Such a statement was nothing special for a person with a trauma, yet I could not confront him directly with it, as it could otherwise cause considerable psychological damage, But maybe I have to do it. For this reason the next consulting hours were not very eventful, but he seemed to get more and more into his madness.
Conversation - Session 7
You keep talking about the illdike chasm, but now you are out of it, what exactly are you still afraid of?
Doctor, you don't understand! The abyss is in me! I see him when I close my eyes. I hear Him! Right now! I hear him!
His delusion seemed to worsen and I could think of no other solution but to look into his mind myself. in protest on his part, but with the permission of his family, I prepared for the next meeting. Such a session often involves a rat's tail of bureaucracy, as there must be another trained person present at these sessions to minimise risks. So I asked my Hex-talented colleague Cherry to help me at the next session.
Conversation - Session 13
Please lie on the couch and relax.
No! Please No! Don't do this! Stare into the abyss and the abyss stares back! He will find you! You will hear his maddening growl!
Cherry, please sedate the Patient
I saw in his mind something I had never seen in anyone before; nothing. It seemed he was unable to think of anything other than the abyss. Only darkness and the sound of almost maddening, growling, drums filled his thoughts. I need to see what the next session brings in order to be certain.
Conversation - Session 21
Do you remember what you did just before entering the Illdike chasm?
The captain shouted we should turn back, but we couldn't... we didn't want to.
And when your ship drifted on the chasm? What exactly were you doing there?
I knocked them all off. All of them! It's what he wanted. It wasn't me. Not alone. He wanted it.
Who exactly is he?
Death! Darkness! He's everywhere, he is eternal. Death, death to all of us! We don't matter, we're but dust in his eyes.
Shortly afterwards he collapsed into a stuttering pile of misery. This was the last time I saw him, at least I suppose so. A few days after his next appointment, which he missed, I was informed that he had committed suicide. I just don't know what to make of that bloody knife in my drawer. Vulgtlagln Kauhu
vulgtlagln Kauhu.
Throd.
Goka ngha gnaiih, fhalma gofnn.
hai ch ebumna ch ftaghu geb.
nnnchtenff wyar shogg hlirgh.
-Worshipper
Type
Abyss
Wow! In-depth and eerie idea. I love it