Post by Magman on Dec 17, 2010 20:35:32 GMT -6
City Of Broken Idols What Was
Olman myth talks of a terrible earthquake, of a time when the fangs of Zotzilaha opened and lit the skies on fire. A time when the god’s wrath cast down their ancestors from the lofty peaks. After that faithful day, the Olman Empire was no more. All that remained were ruins of a once great- city and a scattering of tribes destined to endure disease, famine, and monstrous predators. The Olman people proudly point to the fact that they have survived, despite the trials there gods have placed before them. Their ancestors must have angered them greatly indeed and as a result, the Olmans of the Seven Villages regard the ancient ruins, particularly the central plateau of the isle, as taboo. It is unwise to tread upon ground cursed by the gods.
The truth of what brought down the ancient Olman Empire is much different. In the weeks before the fall, their civilization was at the height of its glory. Its people had settled a wild frontier, survived a terrible war against the aboleths of the alien city of Golismorga, and constructed an incredible city atop the central plateau. This was Thanaclan the “Land of the Pearl.” Yet after the aboleth war, the people of Thanaclan grew complacent, even decadent. When a new threat arose from the flooded tunnels below their isle, they were ill prepared to defend themselves.
As the Olman finished construction of a great temple to honor their gods, the koprus of the island’s depths took action. Their prayers to the prince of Demons were answered with a vile plot. For four decades, the koprus toiled in their subterranean lairs, cultivating and nurturing the largest black pearl the world had ever seen. Birthed from a fiendish giant oyster and poisoned with malign magic and liquid madness harvested from the ruined aboleth city, the koprus placed this first shadow pearl where the Olmans of Thanaclan would find it.
Before long the irresistible beauty of the shadow pearl was ensconced within the great temple, and its fell influence began to surface. The religious leaders of Thanaclan grew wrathful and cruel, and powerful storms began to lash the island. At the height of a great typhoon, one of Thanaclans leaders woke from his fugue and realized what evil had come to Thanaclan. He came to the chamber of the Great One, where the shadow pearl was kept on display, and smashed it to fragments to break its curse forever. Yet this act only sealed the empire’s doom. As the pearl cracked, it unleashed the first and greatest savage tide. Not only did the tide transform many of Thanaclans citizens, it also tore holes in reality between the isle and the abyss. Legions of fiendish dinosaurs, demons, and worse assaulted the empire. The land itself rebelled. Earthquakes shook the isle, volcanoes exploded, and under the streets of Thanaclan burst massive geysers that brought scalding death. Many perished in that first night, and in a matter of months the kingdom of Thanaclan had all but vanished from the world. Replaced by a prehistoric land destined to become the Isle of Dread.
For the next thousand years the koprus were content with their conquest, yet a few years ago their demonic patron came to their leaders in a vision. He required more shadow pearls for an even greater cause, and the koprus would need to craft dozens, if not hundreds, to realize it. Demogorgon went so far as to send an aspect of his blasphemous visage, a monster crafted partially in the koprus image yet mostly in his own, to become their leader. Khala the Two Headed. The creation of a shadow pearl begins with his vile touch, after which it is sent below to Golismorga to absorb the madness of the Elder Evils before finally being delivered to the pirates of the Crimson Fleet for distribution throughout the world.
Olman myth talks of a terrible earthquake, of a time when the fangs of Zotzilaha opened and lit the skies on fire. A time when the god’s wrath cast down their ancestors from the lofty peaks. After that faithful day, the Olman Empire was no more. All that remained were ruins of a once great- city and a scattering of tribes destined to endure disease, famine, and monstrous predators. The Olman people proudly point to the fact that they have survived, despite the trials there gods have placed before them. Their ancestors must have angered them greatly indeed and as a result, the Olmans of the Seven Villages regard the ancient ruins, particularly the central plateau of the isle, as taboo. It is unwise to tread upon ground cursed by the gods.
The truth of what brought down the ancient Olman Empire is much different. In the weeks before the fall, their civilization was at the height of its glory. Its people had settled a wild frontier, survived a terrible war against the aboleths of the alien city of Golismorga, and constructed an incredible city atop the central plateau. This was Thanaclan the “Land of the Pearl.” Yet after the aboleth war, the people of Thanaclan grew complacent, even decadent. When a new threat arose from the flooded tunnels below their isle, they were ill prepared to defend themselves.
As the Olman finished construction of a great temple to honor their gods, the koprus of the island’s depths took action. Their prayers to the prince of Demons were answered with a vile plot. For four decades, the koprus toiled in their subterranean lairs, cultivating and nurturing the largest black pearl the world had ever seen. Birthed from a fiendish giant oyster and poisoned with malign magic and liquid madness harvested from the ruined aboleth city, the koprus placed this first shadow pearl where the Olmans of Thanaclan would find it.
Before long the irresistible beauty of the shadow pearl was ensconced within the great temple, and its fell influence began to surface. The religious leaders of Thanaclan grew wrathful and cruel, and powerful storms began to lash the island. At the height of a great typhoon, one of Thanaclans leaders woke from his fugue and realized what evil had come to Thanaclan. He came to the chamber of the Great One, where the shadow pearl was kept on display, and smashed it to fragments to break its curse forever. Yet this act only sealed the empire’s doom. As the pearl cracked, it unleashed the first and greatest savage tide. Not only did the tide transform many of Thanaclans citizens, it also tore holes in reality between the isle and the abyss. Legions of fiendish dinosaurs, demons, and worse assaulted the empire. The land itself rebelled. Earthquakes shook the isle, volcanoes exploded, and under the streets of Thanaclan burst massive geysers that brought scalding death. Many perished in that first night, and in a matter of months the kingdom of Thanaclan had all but vanished from the world. Replaced by a prehistoric land destined to become the Isle of Dread.
For the next thousand years the koprus were content with their conquest, yet a few years ago their demonic patron came to their leaders in a vision. He required more shadow pearls for an even greater cause, and the koprus would need to craft dozens, if not hundreds, to realize it. Demogorgon went so far as to send an aspect of his blasphemous visage, a monster crafted partially in the koprus image yet mostly in his own, to become their leader. Khala the Two Headed. The creation of a shadow pearl begins with his vile touch, after which it is sent below to Golismorga to absorb the madness of the Elder Evils before finally being delivered to the pirates of the Crimson Fleet for distribution throughout the world.