Not all of Jahur’s (19.31) gems are hauled from the depths of the Tantalus Mountains (21.27). The city’s rarest stones are far more dangerous to extract. Fearless divers may wrench Abyss Diamonds from the backs of crabs that dwell exclusively in a black sinkhole several miles offshore. Abyss Diamonds are cloudier and more flaw-prone than true diamonds, but their dust is nonetheless a key component in summoning many powerful outsiders.
Recently, the city has seen an influx of Abyss Diamonds thanks to a local entrepreneur. Kwalish the Thrice-Drowned, an artificer who went deaf and half-mad during his career beneath the ocean, built a bizarre lobster-like apparatus to extract the diamonds. After an encounter with a water weird left him too feeble to operate the apparatus himself, he turned it over to his proteges. His proteges call themselves the Sons of Dagon. Anyone hoping to use the apparatus must become initiated into their band. The initiation trials always end with solemn vows to the gods of the deep and immersion in a bath of crabs for six days and six nights.
Those who refuse to swear anything to strange sea gods or use a madman’s invention to plunge into sunless waters can purchase small quantities of Abyss Diamond dust from Isane the Beauty. This, too, is problematic because she is a Viceroy’s concubine. By ancient law, any man speaking to her must be executed or castrated.
Connection
- Isane the Beauty maintains a library of lizardman books that are snakes (41.24) in her garden (19.31.07) which the sons of Dagon have consulted.
Hooks
- What drove Kwalish mad?
- How serious are the Sons of Dagon about the gods of the deep?
- Tell me about these gods of the deep. Are they all sinister and unfathomable, or are some actually worshiped by decent folk?
- How does Isane the Beauty get her supply of Abyss Diamond dust?