Codex Assemble Nehal Lore¶
Within the pages that follow, I will describe the allocation, properties, and significance of the barbarian artifacts known as dream tears.
Be forewarned; the various barbarian holy sites housing the amphoras for the crystals are either fiercely protected or have been abandoned entirely to indigenous fauna. The acquisition of crystal tears is often fairly dangerous, at best.
History & Properties
According to Nehal lore, the tears are formed from memories, experiences, and dreams. They form within mysterious amphoras that initially appear empty, but when one reaches within, the crystals will solidify around within the drawer's palm. Apparantly, the amphoras are linked to the individual reaching within; crystal tears can only be attained again after the moons have phased, again according to the Nehal. The shortest period of time that I have personally noticed between allocation and the refilling of the amphoras is a period of three days.
Crystal tears are generally identified by their unique appearance and unusual properties. They are generally identified as a small translucent crystal containing a symbol of signicicance within; while unconfirmed by the Nehal, one can easily assume that the symbol viewed within is connected to the culture and assumptions of the viewer.
Independant of their value as jewelry, dream tears impart knowledge through memories and past experiences to the individual cracking them open. Generally, upon shattering a dream tear, a rush of knowledge, sensations, and experience is thrust upon the individual. This will generally cause the user to stare into space, transfixed, and unable to respond in any fashion. Time has a tendency to stand still during the experience, with the entirety of another life beginning and extinguishing within the span of a few seconds. The memories are, for the most part, not entirely unpleasent and are generally beneficial.
Another variety of crystal tears, referred to by the Nehal as 'nightmare tears', are similar but markedly different. While dream tears are generally warm to the touch, nightmare tears are colder than ice. Any symbol contained within is masked by a dusky crimson fog that clouds the entire crystal. The memories contained within nightmare tears are wrought with intense pain and suffering; the death experienced at the culmination of the experience is neither pleasent nor comforting. The experience will generally leave the user with the sensation of having been tortured, with the physical and metal exaustation that follows, yet leaves no mark behind.
Intriguing enough, crystal tears cannot be involuntarily broken or cracked. The individual must willfully crack open the crystal, an action that often takes little physical effort.
The Eastern Tower
Directly east from the Rock Valley pallisade is an ancient, crumbling tower that holds two tear amphoras within an upper alcove and at the summit. The tower is considered a holy site by the barbarian tribes and once hosted a peace mission between the sister of the chief of the Nehal, Tyrlindax, and a client of Calastor Triarchus.
The upper hallways are in dissrepair and haven't been properly maintained in centuries; traversing across the floors is not only arduous, but dangerous, as well. The tower is also inhabitated by viscious nest turtles; overly aggressive creatures that foster a symbiotic relationship with insects referred to as shield bees. The shield bees often reside within overdeveloped structures within the nest turtle's shell and emerge to defend their host should it be attacked.
The Burial Grounds
Northeast from the gates of Rock Valley, well hidden amongst the foothills and nearby moiuntain ranges, are the Aziri burial caverns. The Aziri consider the defilement of their burial grounds a great offense; they often patrol the woodlands surrounding the entrance to dissuade trespassers.
The entire complex is underground and riddled with steam vents and boiling mud pits. A single tear amphora is held within one of the upper chambers and two more are adjacent to a sarcophagus held within a lower burial chamber.
The burial grounds are often littered with various carrion eaters; insectoid stalkers with poisonous stingers and slugs with acidic blood are of primary concern. The lower level is filled with obsidian scarabs; apparantly, they have an affinity for the immense heat that radiates from the underground vents.
The Resting Place
Southeast of the pallisade adjacent to Rock Valley is a series of caves referred to as 'The Resting Place' by the Lokeen and Nehal tribes. The entrance is infested with vermin, but leads to an inner doorway. The door has a unique locking mechanism; in order to gain entry, one must correctly align a series of constellations depicted upon a series of tiles.
The inner corridors are infested with leech spiders that have a tendency to drop from the ceiling and begin draining their victims. A single amphora can be found on the upper level, along the western side of the complex. The lower level is entered via two seperate corridors with seperate themes; night and day. By ascertaining the present time of day and following the appropriate order of the symbols, one can easily facilitate passage through the second level. The lower level is a series of smaller rooms with colored arches; the color of the arches correspond to the symbols depicted upon the ceilings within either of the corridors. Passing an archway without ascertaining the appropriate order is an unpleasent experience and shouldn't be attempted as passage from room to room is dangerous enough when faced with the guardians.
The guardians are a study in the arcane and the bizzare. They form from the rubble littering the inner corridors and appear as massive humanoids sculpted from solid rock. While nearly invulnerable, they are more susceptible to bashing strikes from a blunt weapon.
Beyond the corridors is a far larger complex housing three tear amphoras. The inner complex is, in actuality, a massive subterranean cavern. At the edge of a cliff is housed a woman encased entirely in amber; she is dressed in a red silken robe and wears a gold circlet atop her crown. According to barbarian lore, the woman is the wife of Szegwulf, the first great chieftain of the Blackroot Tribes.