The Gaze of the Deep

The Gaze of the Deep is not a physical entity, not a creature or a place, but an omnipresent awareness, a feeling of being watched from the unseen depths of the Iron-Grip Mountains. It is a pervasive dread experienced by those who delve too far into the earth, a sense that something ancient and powerful is observing their every move. It is not malevolent, necessarily, but utterly indifferent to the fate of mortals, like the crushing pressure of the rock itself.

Those afflicted by the Gaze often report similar sensations: a prickling on the back of their necks, a feeling of claustrophobia even in the widest caverns, a growing certainty that they are not alone. It is sometimes referred to as "The Whisperer in Stone" by superstitious miners. The feeling will often manifest as audible whispers, leading to areas marked with Runes of Return. Prolonged exposure can lead to paranoia and madness, as the mind struggles to make sense of the unseen observer. Are you sure it wasn't the spirits from The Lost Shrine of Reflections?

The Silent Monks of Durin's Peak believe that the Gaze is a manifestation of the earth's consciousness, a primal awareness that predates the dwarves and all other sentient life. They say that the Gaze is not malicious, but simply incapable of understanding the concerns of surface dwellers, like trying to explain mathematics to a Skyclaw Griffons. The Crimson Cartographers claim that the intensity of the Gaze varies depending on the geological composition of the surrounding rock, and they also note the use of new Runes of Lumina to keep it at bay. It is said to be most powerful near sites of ancient power, such as the Silent Forges or the Lost City of Umbral. The Dwarven Abbey keeps record of these events in Elder Borin's Chronicles, noting that the feeling often manifests when encroaching on the Chitinous Swarm’s territory, or the lair of an Umbral Behemoth. The Forgotten Smith may have even created devices to shield against the Gaze, which may be hidden in the Vault of Whispers. Perhaps the Sunstone of Aethelgard can even provide protection, but even the Cobalt Corsairs have reported the feeling on their travels, making it seem inescapable. Those searching for Terra Vitae report this sensation as well. It seems that The Weaver may also be the originator of the Gaze. Perhaps it is detailed in a new Chapter of Veils.