If you seek allies
for desperate deeds, set out for ShrangGa, the misty jewel of the Reclaimers.
From the void dock with the massive hive called the Needle Spines, shrine city
of the holy vermin. It's sloping tunnels are filled with scuttling scolependrites,
feeding and scheming in the dark.
Travel east from the
Needle Spines along the ancient high road. Follow the worn stone path just
above the swirling miasma, taking care not to breathe in the spores when they
rise and shroud the road like rainbow mist. Travel past the temples of Ego,
where the will of Orn issues forth. Travel past the catalytic pits, where the
power of Orn churns deep underground. Travel past the hidden villages, where
masked and robed humans hide from the corrosive mind of Orn.
Past all that the
road finally climbs down to a dismal and rain soak village known as the Lash.
This is the edge of the eye of Not Orn, a lawless swamp basin where Orn does
not reach. Lash is a benighted place. The constant rains keep the spores away
but also keep the villagers inside their insect carapace hovels. The iridescent
sheen of chitin is universally marred by creeping brown slime. At the foot of
the village where the slope of buildings meets the water is the rotting dark,
where silent fishermen trudge through the downpours. Talk to the one eyed woman
named Grather, or the 3 meter tall mute enigma know to the locals as Lom. They
know the path through the swamp. Be quiet on the ride, for the eye of Orn is
stalked by ravenous insects.
You will know you are close when the waters turn from brown and green to
clear sanguine red. Out of the swamp mute sentinels of stone rise, statues worn
down through the ages into abstract figures. This is the shrine of Red Waters,
and soon you will meet Gilthain who is not Orn, the high priest of this strange
temple. His pale fungal flesh weeps red ichor. He greets all visitors by name
and offers them his hospitality.
The Temple is a
jumble of stone rising out of the marsh, its ancient purpose lost to rain and
water. Now the interiors are furnished with soft wood and paper walls and plush
pillows. To swim in the water is to have your weaknesses melted away by subtle
acids, to lose your imperfections to a hungry mire. Naked, mute and dirty
humans serve in the temple, making food and tending to the massive hookahs.
Everywhere is the smiling face of Gilthain, keeping peace and hospitably. Do
not challenge him, or his true bulk will rise from the swamp.
There are many
guests at the temple, many outcasts and pirates all enjoying the rough
pleasures of this deep and overlooked land. Gilthain is well informed about
many things he could not know, and during private dinners of roasted insect and
alien fruits he will let you into his confidence. He offers opportunity, and
the chance to from convenient fellowships among those who do not trust easy. Many thefts, murders
and dark conspiracies in the wider galaxy had there origin, here on the edge of
civilization. The nights here are filled with hunting calls, rain and smoke,
cruel laughter and crueler schemes.
Editor's note
Hoy boy, another
account from our mystery contributor. I'd stop publishing them but last time I
tried they kept leaving bigger and bigger dead animals on our door stop. At
least we don't have to pay them.
A couple of notes;
As always our spooky friend is vague about the very concrete dangers. The
"spores" of ShrangGa are an information exchange medium used by the
Orn to facilitate their gestalt mind. When breathed in by non Orn it causes
disjointed hallucinations. Long term exposure leads to a condition known as
Orn-craze, or more informally, the craze. It is characterized by a general
mental decline and a suggestive state. Those afflicted by the Orn craze are
compelled to follow the orders of the Orn and other fungal beings. Presumably
this is what's up with the naked human servants. So yeah, wear a breathing mask
when you're on the surface.
Now a brief word on
the giant insects they mention off handily. Surprisingly, they're right to be
vague. I could find no respectable monograph on the fauna of Erstvale.
Presumably there's a vermin engine somewhere on the planet but the church
doesn't advertise it, which makes sense after the recent Neo Floozy invasions
of Reclaimer worlds. Still, it’s a bit strange. I can find older pamphlets on
the various Vermin engines, but nothing about one on ShrangGa. Something to
look into, I guess.
Lastly, and I wish
this could go without saying, but if you follow the advice of some creep who
doesn't show up on security cams, the Galactic Gazetteer can't be held liable
for anything that happens to you. Seriously, this person is a major weirdo and
we don't know where they get this stuff, so just don't. Please don't test our
legal department, we don't feed it very often
