Chitinous Swarm: The K'tharr Ascendancy

The Chitinous Swarm, or the "K'tharr Ascendancy" as it's ominously known in some forgotten texts, is more than just a collection of insects; it's a sentient, ever-growing entity, a collective consciousness spread across countless chitinous bodies. Each member of the swarm is a drone, devoid of individual thought, driven solely by the will of the K'tharr – a hidden, central intelligence residing within the Chitinous Hive. This hive, located somewhere deep beneath the Iron-Grip Mountains, serves as the heart of the swarm, constantly churning out new drones and coordinating their movements. The swarm is drawn to sources of Auric Resonance, consuming and corrupting it, twisting the land into a blighted, unrecognizable landscape. The Silent Monks of Durin's Peak perceive the K'tharr as an ancient, malevolent spirit, a force of entropy seeking to unravel the fabric of reality. They believe it is a precursor to The Great Unmaking. The Forgotten Smith may be the only one to have ever encountered the K'tharr directly, but his knowledge is fragmented and unreliable. Some whispers say the Lost City of Umbral attempted to control the swarm, leading to their downfall. The Crimson Cartographers document the swarm's expansion, mapping the blighted zones and attempting to predict its future movements, noting a new Chapter of Decay. Elder Borin's Chronicles hints at the swarm’s origin, describing them as “children of the deep earth,” awakened by dwarven greed. The Shadow-Goblins avoid the swarm, perhaps sensing a rival power. The Order of the Azure Hand believes the K'tharr is a manifestation of chaotic energy and seeks to banish it from this plane of existence. Perhaps the Sunstone of Aethelgard is the key. The Gnomish Tinkers hope to find a way to weaponize the K'tharr’s chitin, creating armor that is impervious to damage, creating the Chitin Weave. It is unknown what the Cobalt Corsairs can do against such a terrestrial threat. It is rumored that the Vault of Whispers contains the location of the Chitinous Hive. The Skyclaw Griffons have begun to act erratically because of the Swarm.