The Cyaethl Affair

Relative peace across the southern Basin was disturbed when cries for help were heard from several villages, but quickly cut off, leaving only a sinister silence. An investigative team from Gaudiguch included Alary, Seraku and Persayis, but they could find no trace of the missing villagers from Dairuchi. Haezon and a group from Glomdoring were similarly baffled by the disappearances in Southgard, while in Angkrag, Master Nasir n’Rotri managed to survive an attack. It was this that led to Silvanus and Gryff’s discovery: a crazed Grand Illithoid Cenobite was marauding throughout the village, ranting about having partially lost control to some foreign entity and its overwhelming need to consume. The Cenobite was too far gone to provide any useful information, and was quickly put down. Similar events played out in Dairuchi, but in Southgard the Cenobite proved more formidable. Possessed of some greater power, it withstood the combined attacks of those present until the unexpected arrival of the Silver Dynodeon. With no explanation apart from screeching “PARAMETRE BREACH”, it incinerated the Grand Illithoid Cenobite and quickly departed, encouraging everyone to “return to standard state”.

In the wake of these confusing events, Cthoglogg, the Avatar of the Hidden Empress, disavowed any responsibility and called an emergency council to determine how the illithoid should respond. Present were Eithatha, Mistress of Poisons; Overmind Tkegthul, Reigning Cenobite of Ixthiaxa; High Priest Yishughom; as well as Leolamins, Aiyana, Aislynn, and other representatives from the southern organisations. Several theories were put forward and dismissed, and tempers flared, but eventually it was decided that the events signified some new and dangerous type of kepheran attack. Against the advice ot Eithatha, Cthoglogg summoned a mysterious new Overseer, Yishign, and told her to implement ‘her proposal’. In this way the council was concluded, with those who had defended the villages still none the wiser regarding the the power that had gripped the Cenobites or, indeed, what scheme now being enacted against the kephera in response.

Later in the month, however, Overseer Yishign was forced to request help from the southern organisations in clearing an infestation of spidions, and thus reveal her venture: a cave-fisher breeding program. Deep within the Undervault, the Cyaethl Colony now serves as a new illithoid outpost engaged in weaponisation research, and has already been significantly aided by Xenthos and a contingent from Glomdoring. Yet many questions remain: are the kephera truly to blame for the renegade Cenobites? Why did the Silver Dynodeon intervene? And does Yishign have a hidden, darker purpose for the Cyaethl Colony?