Ker Nethalas’ Traders

In the dangerous depths of Ker Nethalas, the appearance of a Trader is perhaps one of the most unnerving enigmas that explorers will find. Although not the only creatures willing to trade with those lost in the depths of the necropolis (webdwellers are often agreeable enough), these beings, sparsely scattered across the necropolis, resist simple categorisation. Though their appearance is wildly varied - hunched and small, or towering and emaciated - one aspect of them is disturbingly uniform: their faces are invariably hidden beneath quantities of thick, wrinkled bandaging.

The origins of the Traders are shrouded in much rumor and dread. Many suspect them to be former citizens of the Vaelorian Ascendancy, corrupted and preserved by the necromancy which permeates Ker Nethalas. Others speak of them as “recruited” from the number of those brave enough to dare the necropolis, their memories slowly consumed by corruption as they fall victim to that awful influence, forever trapped in its subterranean maze. Whatever their origins, their presence poses a haunting query: what drives them to deal in trade in spite of such barrenness? And furthermore: what do they do with the fruits of their trade?

The Traders' motives are indeed as mysterious as their identities. They sell bizarre merchandise - artifacts picked up in the ruins, odd alchemical materials, and occasionally, gruesomely well-preserved body parts. They are speculated to seek to trade for goods that they cannot find for themselves, or perhaps serve in the interest of some unknown force in Ker Nethalas, acting as agents in a secret economy of the dead. It has been long suspected that after all this time, some remnant of the ancient Vaelorian civilization still persists, found deeper even than the most frequented upper levels of Ker Nethalas. It would be extremely useful for such a civilization to have agents willing to trade with the surface world.

Whatever their motives, a meeting with a Trader is always a disquieting experience, a stark reminder of the pervasive and unnatural forces in the Midnight Throne. They are always non-aggressive and are often the difference between survival and death, so those exploring Ker Nethalas rarely hesitate to trade with them, despite the aura of uneasiness that these creatures seem to have. It is unknown if anyone has attempted to follow them after encountering a Trader, but if that were possible, it would certainly help dispel a lot of the questions surrounding these beings.