STORY HOOKS

When bringing Darkdepth into play, the GM may use the following points to enrich the story by introducing artifacts, villains, discoveries, and rewards.

Saprobes' Village

From outside, Darkdepth looks like the ruins of an ancient village, plunged in a murky hollow in the undergrowth. Some buildings are still visible in the dim light, their walls covered in mold and roofs swelling from spores and mucilage.

• Far from the surface. Reaching Darkdepth isn’t easy: one must wade through the dense mud of the forest to a maze of underground caves, or follow the roots of centuries-old trees until light fades and air becomes suffocating. (Intrigue Questions: Who or what is going to guide the PCs to the village? What are their intentions?)
• The saprobes. The villagers are silent creatures who communicate using subtle movements and often remain immobile, as if they’re listening. They are vaguely humanoid in shape, but their decaying fungal bodies are all different. Many wear jewels created by stringing together the most disparate items; bone, wood, glass and ceramic are the most common, but some saprobes add metal pins and earrings to their gill caps. (Intrigue Questions: Which of the PCs recognizes a familiar symbol or item? Why does this disturb them?)
• Leto. Tall and thin, Leto distinguishes himself from the other saprobes with his interest in humans. He collects and preserves a great number of books and notes, going so far as to learn the basics of some languages and dialects. The PCs’ arrival excites and worries him at the same time: he’s willing to explain the nature and origin of saprobes, but he wants to know more about the surface world in exchange. He also asks the group not to reveal the location of Darkdepth to nearby villages, because he “learned from his books that humanity isn’t patient or sympathetic”. (Intrigue Questions: What is the saprobe's role? Why do they appear when someone’s life is in danger? What answers are hidden among Leto’s dusty tomes? What happened to the original inhabitants of Darkdepth?)
• Bargain Alley. The long hollow of a fallen tree has become a gathering place for saprobes, who come here to trade items of every sort – those found upon the corpses brought to Darkdepth. Some are really ancient, others extremely new. Saprobes don’t use money and are outraged if someone asks to buy some of the jewelry they adorn themselves with. (Intrigue Questions: Why is that? What kind of link do they have with the items they choose to wear?)