Unknown Kadath
Unknown Kadath is a city in the Dreamlands where mortals can enter upon dreaming intense or lucid dreams, or upon death depending if they have a strong connection. Kadath is now partially destroyed after being abandoned by the gods of mortals who left the city after the Great Old Ones started to infiltrate the Dreamlands.
History
The city of Unknown Kadath was built many many decades ago based on the dreams of early civilisations, and early man was the last to affect it's architecture and governance with their gods once occupying it. Unfortunately time works differently in the Dreamlands and no date exactly is certain as to when this was built, modified and then abandoned. At some point, the Great Old Ones took an interest in it and Nyarlathotep entered the city. Causing untold damage to the populace, the gods and mortal dreamers fled causing the city to fall into ruin. In the process monsters and evil humans & humanoids began to infest it, worshipping Nyarlathotep as a 'god king' of sorts. They plundered it's treasures and magical artefacts, leaving more still undiscovered or held by the 'god-king', who uses it to tempt & trap mortals who try to retrieve such things.
Much of it is overgrown and ruined though a few buildings are capable of still being used. These follow ancient civilisations such as the Greek & Roman architecture, and some Asian influences. At some point the Book of Eibon was collated here and is the only place to contain a full copy of it. During this period it also appeared in dreams of creatures in the Material Planes and has led to the creation of portals throughout the worlds of dreamers. Over the millennia, stories of great wealth & knowledge have been built up as being discovered there, and of a pharaonic black god, one that will strike fear & awe into any who meet him.
Points of interest
At the edge of a lake that the ruins sits beside, is an ancient abandoned temple. It is here that many seekers of knowledge & treasure seekers look for. Hidden below is rumoured to be an entrance to a vault that lies beneath the lake. It is told that a guardian in the lake and one at it's door protect a vast hoard of magical books & precious religious artefacts handled by gods, demigods, celestials and devils & demons from throughout the known Planes. Not all can be wielded and even less removed due to the power of the heaven & hells are too much for mortals to handle.... but there are stories too of an item or two, or a part of one can be examined, tapped of it's power, or copied and took to the Material Plane.
Near this location is a crumbling palace long ago abandoned by the gods who lived there. Now partly overgrown and filled with the prized followers of Nyarthalotep, it is inhabited once more. It is said that he now stalks the halls there, and sits at the head of a corrupt court that still accepts visitors. Some who have encountered it has left with knowledge far more powerful than any should have. At the same time it has proven to be extremely dangerous too, for any knowledge gained has led to terrifying outcomes far more dangerous than any realised at first.
A set of stone circles sits on the opposite side of the lake and when a lucid or exceptionally strong dreamer, or meditator concentrates can use this to open a portal. If they do it in the Material Plane they can come through here with one other person in spirit form, or they can use it to leave.
Geography
Sitting on a verdant plain beside a lake, the city is partly overgrown with lush grasses, flowers, shrubs and bushes. Gently rolling hills are close by with mountains in the distance. Rocky outcrops just out in places around the city especially near points of interest.
Climate
The region seems almost always lit by a summer sun but in and around the city seems cooler than one would expect, and a strange undercurrent of constantly being watched.
"I travelled there once in my dreams. A veneer of beauty in nature taking over again sits there. Buildings not seen anywhere outside of antiquity fills many a space there. Everywhere the sounds of insects and the smell of blooming flowers fill the air. The sun itself, as high as the high summer sun almost always hangs in the sky.
Though that in many ways is a façade. The city is crumbling oh so slowly, and is always cooler than what you think, with a slight nip in the air. Slight disgusting odours linger too just underneath the blossoms scent. Dung, decay, rot, and worse. All can be caught when the wind blows a certain way. And the noises too. Things stirring in old buildings, and in the lake. Usually quiet but then a cacophony when life stirs there. Wails, screams, strange drumbeats & stranger pipes.
The city of Unknown Kadath is not empty you see. It hides a terrible secret. A god-king lives there, a black pharaonic king that issued dangerous information that leads to damnation or insanity sits at the head of a monstrous court of creatures twisted by nightmares. All of them willing to turn us mortals into forms best left unknown. And to make it worse is the hidden ways below that are sealed from use by all but the old gods that used to walk & play there.
I do not wish to visit there again. No, it near killed me once and I cannot take any more. My mind is far too damaged already. Go on your way and leave me in peace now."
Rudolph Carter, Anglo-Saxon layman at Winchester Seminary, soon to be deceased.
Founding Date
Unknown
Type
City
Location under
Owner/Ruler
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