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The Whales Graveyard.
Hidden among the icebergs of the far north, protected by wind, frost, and surrounded by deadly maelstroms and vortexes, lies the wide and nearly bottomless Leviathan's Pool. The only way to safely reach it is by swimming through the icy depths deep below the arctic water, and emerging into the pool through a wide underwater cavern. Overland, reaching the pool is next to impossible, though rumor has it, a handful of intrepid adventurers throughout history have come upon the natural wonder by accident, during their explorations of the lands of Eternal Winter. A warning to those that wish to find the Peace Pool comes from an old Ojjiwa saying, the Ojjiwa being an ancient isolated tribe of seal hunters, who dwell on giant ice flows just south of the lands of Eternal Winter.
If ye seek the Peace Pool, it will become your lifes quest, and if ye find it, know that your quest and life is at an end. You will not live to see the New Moon after witnessing its beauty.
The pool, still and oily, is where whales come to die. They wallow in the gentle swells, free from all danger, until Mother Ocean sends for them. At the edge of the pool sits Ocean Mother, a lady of the whitest and purest marble, on a white marble throne, embedded in ice. Around the foot of her throne swim thousands and thousands of tiny luminescent, almost ghost-like creatures, of shapes and colors that men cannot even begin to imagine. These are the souls of all the whales that have returned to her.
When the whales are ready, they gently approach Ocean Mother. She rises from her throne and whispers to them, while touching their foreheads. She then proceeds to cry tears of pearls, the whales close their eyes for the last time, and descend slowly into the depths of the Whale Bone Forest, all care and worry gone. She then returns to her throne, as her pearly tears accompany the whales on their final journey. It is said in Ojjiwa legend that someday, when the last whale enters the Leviathan Pool, Ocean Mother will rise from her throne for the last time, and send all of the maelstroms and vortexes of the Northern Seas to destroy the worlds of men!
Right Whales, Humpbacks, Blues, Belugas and Narwhals are the most commonly sighted whales swimming north to find the Leviathan Pool, Ocean Mother, and their salvation, according to the Ojjiwa, who consider the Pool sacred and taboo. Interestingly enough, some of the more rambunctious species such as Sperm Whales, are said to have their own Leviathan Pool somewhere in the Southern Seas, according to the legends of the Ojjiwa.
It is these tales of Ocean Mother's endless pearly tears, which unfortunately keep treasure seekers, adventurers, and explorers looking for the Leviathan Pool, as well as the legends of the great Whale Bone Forest at the bottom of the sea, where bizarre creatures, never before seen by man, are said to dwell, swimming silently among the giant rib-cages of the whales remains. The Ojjiwa will go to extreme lengths to keep those who draw close, away from the Leviathan Pool, if it as all within their meager power.
Plothooks:
The PCs hear Ojjiwa legends and attempt to find the pool *mournful sigh*, or they can stop some other less than wholesome group from finding it. The PCs hear of a well-known whaling ship, whose crew has decided to find this "Ultimate Prize". Will the PCs join the venture in order to thwart it?
Those with abilities that allow underwater exploration can visit the haunting, silent, otherworldly Whale Bone Forest. Who knows what they can find in this benthic realm?
This can also serve simply as a legend the PCs overhear, or of course as a life-long crusade for a Capn' Ahab type NPC.
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Also in
Codex hubs that gather this piece with similar work.
- Ivory Men Roack
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Links to this article 4
- 30 Legendary Antidotes/Cures valadaar linked by valadaar
- Ivory Men Roack linked by Roack
- The Characon Scrasamax linked by Scrasamax
- The Whalebone Forest Scrasamax linked by Scrasamax
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For once you did a short post, and yet, it's as beautiful as anything else you've done.
Short should never be a problem. A submissions should be as long as it needs to be. That can be 4 lines, that can be 400. As long as the writing gets the point across and answers what you need to know about the subjects, it is long enough.
Remember, long does not ensure perfection or completeness, but it might improve your odds.
damn log-in issues!
Oh by the way. This is not be confused with 'The Piss Pool', the yellowish muck which Hhasgyaj-Adok, the Troglodyte King wallows in every morning. :D
This is really good and worth reading.
I like it. Well executed. Fascinating subject matter. Lots of hooks. A touch of myth. Two Paws, high 8!
It really makes me want to play Blue Planet or work on that Echo the Dolphin RPG setting that I played with for a while.
Wow...
I love it Muro. It has elements of sublime grace, exploitation, and majesty. Now I'm going to have to go and find that Ecco the Dolphin game now. Dammit.
It is a great legend to hear on the evening by the fire... and possibly much more.
Good work!
I love the mystical atmosphere, and the legends surrounding it. Very atmospheric.
4/5.
Once again Mur, after reading the first submission of yours I have read nothing but impressive stuff.
I wanted to vote 4.5 on this as I am trimming back my 5/5 votes... but I honestly could not bring myself to do it. While I may never use this entire idea, the concept of it being just a rumor that passes at a tavern around a few drinks and a warming fire, or a sailor on a still watered ship... impressive my friend.
Keep it up.
All I can say has been said before, and better, than I ever could.
Brings up some great images in my head. A great post with many gaming purposes.
I would love to hear about the dream that inspired this. Let's hope Muro has more dreams like this everyone!
Lovely. Very unusual.
Well damn, this is good!
A much more somber and thoughtful piece then I was expecting, and certainly memorable. I'm not sure it's a place most typical greedy/ goal driven PC's would be satisfied with finally finding. (given there's no treasure or other tangible rewards to be gained from the place and no great "villain" to overcome.)
Nonetheless, for those looking for a memorable legend, and a equally memorable location, they would be hard pressed to find one more so.
A bit more detail about the rumor of "You will not live to see the New Moon after witnessing its beauty." might be a worthy enhancement. I can feel there is potential for a surprising climax here with the PC's being attacked by whales, or some type of water elemental near the beginning of the new moon, seeking to return them to the watery grave as well.
a nice and original piece of scenery
Lovely imagery on this one. I want to know more about the sperm whale's Leviathan Pool. Why only the 'rambunctious' ones? Do they have their own Ocean Mother, or some other deity?