The Deep Shadow
Beneath The Skeld lies an ancient underground complex known as the Deep Shadow - a place where coming-of-age trials take place and the dead find their eternal rest. These tunnels predate the current settlement and hold secrets that even the clan elders fear to speak of openly.
Overview
The Deep Shadow serves multiple purposes for the people of The Skeld: sacred burial ground, trial site for young adults, and repository of clan memories. The complex extends deep into the bedrock beneath the behemoth shell, with some passages reaching depths that have never been fully explored.
Key Areas
The Whispering Gate
The main entrance to the Deep Shadow, marked by ancient stone carvings that seem to shift in torchlight. Young clan members must pass through this gate alone to begin their trials, while the whispers of ancestors guide or mislead them.
Hall of Echoes
A vast chamber where the voices of the dead can be heard by those with the gift. Clan shamans come here to commune with ancestors and seek guidance for important decisions. The acoustics are unnatural - some say divine.
The Bone Garden
The primary burial chamber where clan members are laid to rest. Bones are arranged in intricate patterns that tell the stories of the deceased. The garden grows despite being underground, fed by an unknown source of life.
Trial Chambers
A series of connected rooms where young adults face tests of courage, wisdom, and clan loyalty. Each chamber presents different challenges, and not all who enter emerge unchanged - or at all.
Coming of Age Trials
Every young adult in The Skeld must face the Deep Shadow to prove their worth and choose their path in life. The trials are different for each person, as the ancient magic of the place responds to individual fears and desires.
The Three Tests
- Test of Courage: Face your deepest fear made manifest
- Test of Wisdom: Solve riddles posed by ancestral spirits
- Test of Loyalty: Choose between personal desire and clan duty
Dangers
The Deep Shadow is not merely a ceremonial site - it harbors real dangers that have claimed lives over the centuries:
- Restless Spirits: Not all dead find peace in the bone garden
- Ancient Guardians: Constructs left by the original builders
- Memory Traps: Magical snares that steal memories and identity
- The Hungry Dark: Shadows that devour light and life
Mysteries
Despite centuries of use, the Deep Shadow holds secrets that remain unsolved:
- Who built the original complex and why?
- What lies in the deepest, unexplored levels?
- Why do some trial-takers emerge with new abilities?
- What is the source of the unnatural plant growth?
Sacred Laws
Entry to the Deep Shadow is strictly regulated by clan law. Only those undergoing trials, clan shamans, and burial parties may enter. Violating these laws is punishable by exile or death, as the ancestors themselves are said to curse oath-breakers.
For Game Masters
The Deep Shadow serves as an excellent location for character development, supernatural encounters, and uncovering clan secrets. The trials can be customized for each character's background and goals, while the deeper levels offer opportunities for dungeon exploration.