Order of the Obsidian Web
Purpose
The Order of the Obsidian Web serves as an enigmatic and vital arm of the Elder God Yog-Sothoth's design. Tasked with guarding the web pathways to the Dreamlands, these driders—known as the Webborn of Atlach-Nacha (Driders of Atlach-Nacha)—ensure that these cosmic connections remain undisturbed. The nine pathways are housed within ziggurats scattered across Phoor, each acting as a crucial node in Atlach-Nacha’s infinite web. Their guardianship preserves the balance of these portals, preventing misuse or destruction that could unravel the delicate cosmic harmony between worlds.
While their ultimate loyalty lies with Yog-Sothoth and Atlach-Nacha, the Order’s role is neither inherently destructive nor malicious. They strive to fulfill their purpose with unwavering vigilance and solemn dedication.
Behavior and Philosophy
Guardianship Without Hostility
The Order is not openly hostile to travelers who approach their ziggurats. They prioritize identifying intent and assessing the potential risk to the web’s integrity. Those deemed respectful or neutral may pass unharmed or even receive cryptic guidance. However, those who seek to misuse the pathways or disrupt the web face swift and merciless intervention.
Selection of the Webborn
The Webborn are not drow cursed into drider forms but are instead chosen from mortal cultists of Atlach-Nacha on Phoor. The criteria for selection often favor individuals from the lowest classes of society: those whose basic needs remain unmet, who live on the fringes of major cities, and who have little or no family or hope to tether them to their mortal lives. These individuals are offered transformation and purpose in exchange for eternal service.
This selection serves both a practical and symbolic purpose:
- Practicality: Cultists originating in Phoor cannot be banished through magic like dismissal or similar spells, making them ideal guardians on the material plane.
- Symbolism: By elevating society’s outcasts, the Order embodies the strands of fate binding even the lowliest mortals to the grand design of the web.
Structure and Leadership
Hierarchical Unity
The Order lacks conventional hierarchy, as its members act more like strands of a unified web than ranks in a mortal organization. Each drider operates independently but can instantly coordinate when the ziggurat is threatened, as though following the silent guidance of Atlach-Nacha’s threads.
The Weaver-Council
Each ziggurat is overseen by a Weaver-Council, a group of three driders who interpret Atlach-Nacha’s will and make decisions for their location. They are not commanders but conduits, guiding the Order with wisdom gleaned from their connection to the web.
The Voice of the Web
On rare occasions, the Voice of the Web, an avatar of Atlach-Nacha, communicates directly with the Order, issuing commands that override all other priorities. Such occurrences are infrequent and often herald cosmic shifts in Phoor or the Dreamlands.
Beliefs and Doctrine
The Cosmic Web:
The Webborn see the web as the connective tissue of existence, a bridge between worlds that binds all reality. They view their duty to guard the ziggurats not as a burden but as sacred work in service of the infinite design.Harmony Through Vigilance:
The Order’s philosophy emphasizes balance. They understand the pathways to the Dreamlands are not meant to be sealed or freely accessible but carefully preserved for those deemed worthy by Yog-Sothoth or Atlach-Nacha.Ascension Through Purpose:
Transformation into a drider is seen as a blessing, not a curse. The Webborn believe their immortality allows them to transcend the suffering and chaos of mortal existence, becoming one with the eternal strands of the web.
Interactions with Outsiders
Travelers and Scholars:
The Order evaluates intruders carefully, using questioning and observation to discern intent. Those seeking knowledge or peaceful passage may be allowed to proceed, though rarely without a cryptic warning or riddle to guide their steps.Threats and Defilers:
Any who attempt to sever or misuse the pathways are met with swift retribution. The Webborn employ a combination of their physical prowess, web-based traps, and innate knowledge of the ziggurat’s defenses to subdue or destroy invaders.Cultists and Allies:
The Order welcomes members of the Dradenkruis Cult or other Yog-Sothoth-aligned groups, provided their actions align with the web’s preservation. Disputes with such allies are rare but dealt with internally to avoid weakening the overall cosmic design.
Key Locations
Ziggurats of the Web
Each ziggurat, such as the White Ziggurat of Atlach-Nacha, houses a web pathway serving as a nexus of cosmic energy, its design and construction alien yet perfectly symmetrical. Though overgrown or crumbling on the surface, the interiors are immaculate, kept pristine by the Webborn. These locations are sacred and heavily protected, with layers of magical wards and web-based traps.
The Spinning Nexus
Deep within each ziggurat lies the Spinning Nexus, a glowing spiral of threads connecting to the Dreamlands. The nexus radiates power and often pulses with faint whispers of Atlach-Nacha’s will, which the Webborn interpret to guide their actions.
Motivations and Challenges
Preservation of the Pathways:
Above all, the Order is dedicated to ensuring the web pathways function as intended. This sometimes puts them in conflict with adventurers, rogue cultists, or rival cosmic entities.Service to Atlach-Nacha and Yog-Sothoth:
The Order’s loyalty to its patrons is absolute, though interpreting their will is not always straightforward. Disagreements on how to fulfill their duties can create internal tension.Conflict with Mortals:
While the Webborn are not inherently hostile, their alien perspective and intimidating presence often lead to misunderstandings or outright conflict with those who stumble upon the ziggurats.
The Order of the Obsidian Web operates as both protectors and agents of cosmic balance, their role essential yet unsettling. Their presence in Phoor serves as a reminder of the vast, unknowable forces shaping the multiverse and the delicate threads holding it all together.