Old Gods

**The Old Gods** are eldritch entities which once ruled Azeroth. There are believed to have once been four who existed on Azeroth, though two were sealed away and one was destroyed. The whereabouts of the fourth Old God is unknown and lost to time.

## Cosmology

The universe is comprised of multiple opposing forces: Light and Shadow (Void), Life and Death, Order and Disorder. Where these many dimensions and forces meet is a chaotic plane known as the Twisting Nether. The Twisting Nether is theorized to be the birthplace of reality itself, and has spawned many things that should not otherwise exist, particularly the demons.

The Old Gods are believed to also hail from the Twisting Nether. They are beings of pure Void, the antithesis of the Light. A key tenant of the Void is "unlimited possibilities".

## History

Little is known about the time in which the Old Gods ruled Azeroth. It is associated with the phrase "The Black Empire", which existed "long before all". During their rule, the Old Gods enslaved the Elemental Lord of Fire, Ragnaros.

When and how the Old Gods were overthrown is unknown. One of the Old Gods is believed to have been destroyed entirely. Another is thought to have been sealed somewhere in the North. The third was sealed under the deserts of Tanaris (now home to the Farraki), during the War of the Shifting Sands. The fourth was lost and its location is a mystery to this day.

## Visions and Discoveries

### Mother Norn'sa

Mother Norn'sa warned the GayteKeepërs of an "eldritch entity" that lies under the waves. She described this being and its minions as "older than time", indicating that it must be a force of either pure Light or Shadow (Void). Norn'sa warned that the being was a harbinger of the end. Her driftwood seance showed the image of an eye and a deep voice was heard by all that said "WATCHING".

### Kul Tiran Sailor

In the Captain's Quarters of a North Watch ship, the Gaytekeepërs came upon the possessions of a Kul Tiran sailor who was driven mad after discovering a gold necklace with a small pendent in the shape of an eye. His Libram to the Light was desecrated (ostensibly by his own hand). Scratched into the front cover of the Libram were the words "The Hour of Twilight is at Hand", while the back cover has the words: "In darkness, there are infinite paths". The "hour of twilight" is a phrase Alyrin remembers refers to the end of the universe.

In the sailor's diary, he has sketched images of:

* An octopus-shaped silhouette with a variety of sharp spines covering its immense body and tentacles.
* An immense Ziggurat and hellish landscape dotted with obelisks and structures overlooked by a giant octopus-like creature with a giant eye above its head.
* An immense ancient city with a sealed gate.

The sailor's diary chronicles his discovery of the eye pendant, and the ensuing dark dreams and visions. He describes being plagued by whispers of "watching" and "infinite possibilites". A visit to the Night Elven tree of Teldrassil yielded a nightmare in which the tree's reflection in the still water grew unnatural spike-like growths on the trunk that glowed a crimson red. Dark energy poured out from its branches and gave the tree an ominous aura. Monsters and abominations of flesh, tentacles, eyes, and teeth crawled from the holes and crevices littering its surface. A familiar voice rang out: "New Beginning". The sailor soon begins to talk of the need to go to the desert to "break him out" from "behind that accursed wall". He prays "may the shadow of C'thun guide me" and writes "C'thun how I long witness your awesome might".

### Party Visions

The Gaytekeepë found themselves plagued by visions similar to those of the sailor's while exploring Darkspear. The first dream began with each party member finding themselves alone, swimming in a black void. They knew they could not stop; if they stop, they will die. They could see the silhouettes of dead humanoids floating all around, hundreds of bodies. A deep voice says "Let go". The voice comes from a small fish which circles their heads. "We have not forgotten, we have not forgiven. I have tasted every one of your powers; you are nothing. I AM A GOD."

The second dream was much like the first. When Ga'an declares the creature false, it responds, "I am the original, I was here before your gods. I will be here after. The Black Empire is very real, long before all were the Old Gods". The creature also states that "Buried deep beneath the earth is a power. The chains will break soon and I will destroy each and every one of you. The vortex is your doom".

When Isilee requests the aid of the Loa Shadra against the Old Gods, Shadra states that the loa are bound to their plane and can only assist indirectly. For a creature to physically cross the boundary is an enormous feat of power.

## References

1. ↑ Session 36, Alyrin shares her knowledge of the Old Gods
2. ↑ Session 47, Adelaide explains the cosmology of the universe
3. ↑ Session 47, the Gaytekeepërs are plagued with nightmares of the Old Gods
4. ↑ Session 43, the party encounters worshipers of Ragnaros
5. ↑ Session 35, Mother Norn'sa's visions
6. ↑ Session 39, the party loot the defeated North Watch ship
7. ↑ Session 40, the gang unpacks a whole bunch
8. ↑ Session 45, the party experiences their first Old God nightmare
9. ↑ Session 47, the dream reoccurs
10. ↑ Session 50, Isilee speaks to Shadra