Finally entering the cavern, after diving over a hundred feet into the depths of the waters off the Shusharia Coast, I could now remove my diving gear and take a deep breath of air. Before us was the entrance to the temple we had discovered during a previous dive, ruins of a place of worship dedicated to an ancient abyssal deity, and excited by the prospect of uncovering hidden artifacts, my team and I ventured in.
I quickly signaled to the other members of my team to leave their diving gear near the entrance for our return. Once done, we entered the temple and arrived in a large square room. In the center stood a massive statue depicting a humanoid figure with an octopus head. As I approached, I could see that the pedestal of the statue was covered in unknown runes. Turning around to ask one of my teammates to come and see, I received a blow to the head and lost consciousness...
I slowly wake up, my mind still foggy from the blow. Looking around where I am, I realize that I am no longer in the room with the giant statue. The place where I am is dimly lit by candles, defining the room and revealing a large stone altar. Upon closer inspection, the altar is engraved with runes in the same language as the statue. Excited at the thought of having discovered something fantastic, I continue to inspect the room. I quickly realize that something is amiss. Where are my teammates, where exactly am I, who struck me? Several questions rush through my mind, but no answers emerge. I also notice that the floor seems to be stained with blood…
Suddenly, I feel as if I'm being watched, as if someone is spying on me, but I am alone in the room. Double-checking the room to be sure, the altar has vanished, and all around me are the corpses of my comrades. The floor is traced with multiple runes, arranged in several circles. Shocked by the sight, I realize, due to my background as a cultist, that the runes and bodies are arranged for an invocation ritual. Closing my eyes to help me think about the identity of the entity being summoned, I find myself at a loss for an answer. Opening my eyes, the bodies and runes have disappeared, leaving me once again in a dark room. Confused, I rub my temples, wondering if I'm losing my mind. It wouldn't be the first time it happens, after all, I come from the Shusharia Coast, a territory where the abyss and madness reign. There, it's considered normal for such events to occur, so I don't worry too much.
Spotting a corridor, I decide to take it, the whole area barely lit. As I continue to move forward, I sense a dark and sinister presence lurking in the depths of the temple. The shadows on the walls of the corridor shift and twist, taking on nightmarish forms, while unsettling whispers reach my ears, stifling my sanity and making me doubt my own reality. I wander, lost in mind, for hours or days, finding it difficult to distinguish the flow of time. The flickering candlelight illuminates the walls, and the murals suddenly come to life before my eyes, depicting scenes of horror and violence. Bloody sacrificial rituals, half-human, half-sea demonic creatures, and visions of death and destruction haunt me. My mind wavers between fear and madness, unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.
The cries of my lost teammates echo through the corridor, but I never find their source, only an icy void.
Continuing to walk, I still feel observed, pursued by an inhuman presence. The hallucinations become increasingly real, pushing me to the brink of insanity. Convinced that I will be trapped in this cursed temple, doomed to wander for eternity, I finally manage to find an exit. A large arch containing an immeasurable void... With nothing to lose, I cross it.