The Diremites Taxonomy: Vilekin (Diremite) Description: Creatures with a strict social hierarchy not unlike an ant, diremites live in nomadic colonies that devour all the food in an area and then move on. There were representatives of the lowest rank of the hierarchy in the Deepcroft this time, mitelings, a caste that focuses on performing labor for the colony. There were also members of the middling rank of the diremite species, simply called diremites, who are the soldiers that act as guards to the colony. Finally there were banemites, egg-laying females that typically lead diremite colonies. Demon Pawn Taxonomy: Voidsent (Demon) Description: Commonly referred to as ‘reapers of souls’ by the … [Read more...]
The Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard) – A Tragedy in Motion
Excerpt from ‘The history of the Black Shroud, from Amdapor to Gridania’ by Archon Niniri Niri. The events that struck the Deepcroft a short period after the Lambs of Dalamud were slaughtered in its tunnels began in a small rural village in the foothills of Alabathia's Spine and ended in the ancient ruins of Gelmorra beneath the Shroud, provoking a potential disaster of regional proportions. The Deepcroft Proper The central room of the Deepcroft is a colossal vaulted chamber. The walls are populated by antechambers not current accessible by the main room, and which likely contain the remains of Gelmorra’s aristocracy and royalty. Indeed, reports on the Deepcroft discuss the emblazonment of the subterranean city’s crest. This crest … [Read more...]
The Padjal – Children of the Twelveswood
Tome Request - William Tome Retrieved - 'The history of the Black Shroud, from Amdapor to Gridania’' by Archon Niniri Niri One cannot truly discuss the modern Black Shroud or its inhabitants without mention of the rulers of Gridania - the eternally mysterious padjal. In effect a subspecies of the midlander hyurs, the eternally-young individuals are created by the blessing of the elementals and certain bloodlines seem to be especially commonly blessed with padjal births, typically becoming nobility by virtue of this. Padjal have been a prominent feature of Eorzea during the Sixth and Seventh Astral Era. The History of the Padjal - The origin of the Padjal is found in the subterranean city of Gelmorra, a mixed Hyuran-Elezen society … [Read more...]
The Bestiary of Tam-Tara Deepcroft
The Retainers Taxonomy: Ashkin (Damned) Description: It seems that the retainers of both the Inik and Mena dynasties were raised as undead by something, judging by the testimony of the Gridanians that cleansed the grounds after the Lambs of Dalamud were destroyed. The undead were an issue in the Deepcroft long before the arrival of the cult, and so it may be that they were raised simply by the environment around them, so steeped in the accumulated aether of the dead as the Deepcroft is. It is also plausible, albeit much less palatable, that the ancient houses of Gelmorra raised their servants as undead to serve as guardians from beyond the grave. This would explain why they were armed and armored when interred, although this … [Read more...]
The Tam-Tara Deepcroft – A Tomb of Kings
Excerpt from ‘The history of the Black Shroud, from Amdapor to Gridania’ by Archon Niniri Niri. The histories of Eorzea tell us that Gelmorra was born out of the terror of magic produced by the Sixth Umbral Calamity. In the wake of the colossal floods that characterized the Calamity the survivors turned on the arts of magic that had caused the disaster, putting both knowledge and practitioners to the flame. The elementals of the Twelveswood were enraged by the excess of Amdapor and its contemporaries, and the Hyur and Elezen of the Black Shroud, unable to commune with the elementals after abandoning magic, were driven underground, where they would later join hands and found the underground city of Gelmorra. Over the course of centuries … [Read more...]
