At the heart of Cyphrus lies a pocket of Mizahar shrouded in a blanket of death. The Pools of Vayt are a largely avoided blemish on the otherwise beautiful grassland landscape. For nearly a mile in either direction the noxious gas that is expelled by the active tar pits works to expel visitors better than any rumor or warning. Extended exposure to the fumes is advised against by the Drykas, who originally found the pools years ago, for it has been known to make people and animals alike violently ill.
The most noticeable feature of the tar pits are the massive skeletons and carcasses half submerged in both the active and long dried pools. Elephants and rhinoceros mainly, but also horses, deer, glassbeaks, and many other animals unfortunate to stray too close.
More sinister though is how these pits are able to continuously consume so many victims. During times of rain water builds up on the surface of the pools, masking both the scent and appearance of the tar. It gives the illusion of dirty ponds, and as animals wander close in the hopes of a drink this is when they are taken. They either drown in the tar itself or die of starvation and thirst as the days drag on when they cannot free their bodies.
It is said that when the pits were first discovered a pair of Drykas children wandered too close and were lost forever into the black liquid. From then on the horse clan has forbidden any youngsters into the area. The children were fooled by the same illusion. Thinking they might play at the water's edge, they lost their balance and were never to be found. The Drykas say that after a heavy rain you can see the spirits of the children moving across the pools. With their bodies not properly returned to the earth it is said that their souls cannot escape the tar just as their bones will stay forever deep in the blackness.
Despite the handful of dangers surrounding the area it provides two very valuable resources. The obvious one being tar, and the second ivory. The few dry tar holes hold no real danger, only benefits. The tusks and horns of the skeletons of elephants and rhino are often harvested then sold, traded, and/or crafted. It's a first come first serve basis, but not surprisingly the Drykas are often the first to collect. Both because of the speed of their Striders and knowledge of the whole of Cyphrus. Bones are collected as well, but not in as much frequency as the ivory. It is rumored that the bones here, for an unknown reason, make more potent glyphing and especially malediction material than others and are often used for such.
Not many will risk the challenge of collecting tar from the active pools for fear of falling in as the children did all those years ago. A small shrine was built close by the pools; written on it is both a warning and the legend shrouding the area.
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by Calavera on October 21st, 2012, 11:51 pm 