Nordramu Citadel

**Nordramu Citadel** is a miles-high series of spires rising above a single metallic island on the planet Xeobrencus.

## Background

Little is known about this structure, though it does seem that the citadel predates the ranthra falling into the Great Dream. Most of its chambers appear empty, but several do contain some machines of unknown purpose or origin. Aside from those inhabited by the Diluvian, the internal floor plan will shift and around according to random chance, though it could also be influenced by the subconscious dreams of the ranthra.

Entering the structure is relatively simple, with an arch 300 ft. wide and tall that's always open except during storm surges. The arch will provide access to a much larger, central foyer space on the main spire's ground level. Further onward lay hundreds of winding stairs and doors that lead to all sorts of places within the citadel. Some of the interior doors may be open, but others are most likely sealed.

### The Diluvian

Prior to any further exploration beyond the central space, explorers will most likely comes across the Diluvian. The Diluvian is a ranthra that hasn't devolved and which inhabits the halls of the citadel. It may resemble a regular ranthra, but it also wears clothing and carries a device of ancient vintage. Anyone that enters the structure will either be met by the Diluvian or one of its automaton servants, who take the form of a levitating sphere, directing them to the Diluvian that lies in a nearby chamber.

The Diluvian is a wise guardian of the planet, a psychic transference engineer, and even a museum curator all in one. When all the other ranthra entered into the Great Dream, it was the Diluvian who chose to remain behind. Because of this, however, the Diluvian is usually lonely and will spend most of its time lost in its own memories. It always enjoys the conversations of visitors, so long as they don't pose a threat to any ranthra or even turn out to be silacthonite prospectors. In return, it will happily provide whatever answers it can offer, though it might also ask for a favor in return.

At times, the Diluvian will transmit its consciousness to other worlds via the citadel's psychic transference engines in order to explore, ask for help on a particular issue, or simply just escape from the planet for a bit.

The Diluvian is well aware of the Turnevur Enclave but doesn't consider them to be "true" ranthra, rather a mutation of their species. It still hasn't decided what it should do about them, but if their number grows, it might have to eliminate them.

### Psychic Transference Engines

Massive devices located within the basement of the citadel shudder and rumble about, all the while sending out psychic static that any sensitive creatures within a few miles can pick up. Among their other capacities, the engines can allow the minds of creatures on distant worlds to trade bodies with various lifeforms on Xeobrencus, though usually ulagras. The Diluvian actually holds the ability to tune the engines to cast itself or any others into the bodies of different creatures on other worlds without the need for a Xeobrencus stone, though it will take at least several days of tuning to initiate the process. The engines once existed as a single node within a vastly larger network that had enabled communications not only between very distant worlds, but even galaxies or transdimensional locales.

According to the Diluvian, the engines were originally created by the ranthra species at the height of their civilization, but not simply for communicatiosn purposes. The ranthra actually wished to mentally migrate to a higher stae of being and become one with the universe itself, like omniscient gods. But when that didn't seem at all possible, they changed course and, instead, chose to devolve themselves instead of facing a dead-end future lacking in any further evolution.

The engines are currently powered by a grid of cables that spiral out across the planet's surface, collecting energy from the silacthonite deposits. One could argue that the world itself fuels them.

## References

1. ↑ Cook, Monte, et al. “Xeobrencus.” Into the Night, Monte Cook Games, LLP, 2018, pp. 93-94. Numenera. ISBN 978-1-939979-40-7
2. ↑ Cook, Monte, et al. “Xeobrencus.” Into the Night, Monte Cook Games, LLP, 2018, pp. 94. Numenera. ISBN 978-1-939979-40-7
3. ↑ Cook, Monte, et al. “Xeobrencus.” Into the Night, Monte Cook Games, LLP, 2018, pp. 94. Numenera. ISBN 978-1-939979-40-7