History of the Grotto of Burning Waters

ℌ𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔶 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔊𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔱𝔬 𝔬𝔣 𝔅𝔲𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔚𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰
The Bermuda Triangle was a massive place and one would think at the heart of this legendary folklore, would be where the Great Grotto would be. In fact, this isn’t true, and one of the leads is that more people go looking at the center of the triangle than where the Grotto is physically located. Instead, it’s located rather close to some civilized society, as humans would call it. This sizable island, nestled in the heart of The Bahamas along the trench, remains hidden in current times, located on no map and missed by the seafaring people of the other islands. It just might explain the lack of ferry access between them.

The secrecy of Burning Waters Island remains.

For most Rokea, they know how the atoll was formed. Following drastic and tragic events, Rokea from all over Gaia’s Seas and Oceans, came together to discuss the events leading to the dying of their Grottoes. Rumors had spread, starting first with the death of their pups, the Caern Plague reaching deep into their connections to Sea, Gaia’s Daughter. Then came the first culling of the weakest Grottoes. Without an enemy to fight, Rokea from Grottoes across the world would move to the next, in hopes to prevent the fall of each one they would visit soon after.

When the Dark Brigade started to move on land, so too did Qyrl’s minions from the darkest depths of the deepest trenches in the oceans. What hadn’t fallen, was destroyed, and many Rokea, lost to know what to do, would move to the next, then again, and again…. Until the Leviathans called all the Rokea to one Grotto, Burning Waters. While others began to wink out of existence, this Grotto held strength as one of the oldest and biggest Grottoes the Rokea ever had. It was here that a difficult choice would be made.

At the cost of hundreds across the world, this would be the one that the Leviathans chose to prevent from collapse and their last stand. Not to let the deaths of Rokea who fell in protecting their sacred places, as they knew without them, the Rokea would be ended, the ultimate goal of their enemies. Protests came from many Apex’s from ones who had either lost their own, or were told their Grotto would be sacrificed for one.

The Tainted Consumption, a known camp of Rokea who sek out darker knowledge and ties to the monsters of the deep, held in control of this Grotto, and it may have been due to their secrets and bragans, that allowed the Grotto to stand as long as it did against the onslaught of the Plague and enemies seeking its destruction. Concerns were finally put aside, and the Fury of the Sea, Betweeners, Tainted Consumption, and the Campless banded together to make their final stand.

At least when a decision is finally made, the Rokea move swiftly, acting out the commands and orders of their Leviathans. Pacts and deals were made with spirits of the Sea and UnSea, bringing spirits from all over the world, within the Umbra and their Realms. With their failing numbers, the Rokea knew they needed to make up as much as they could. Each empowered spirit, they bound themselves to the Grotto Totem: Atlantic Goliath Grouper, or Itajara, as some have called him. These pacts strengthened all the spirits, to do the tasks that were asked of them and so it began.

As the enemies moved towards the Grotto, with ever growing confidence, Rokea and Spirit alike, swam together, as one and began to move the sea floor upwards around the Grotto. Thrusting earth and water alike towards Oversea just as the darkness descended on them, cutting off their direct access to the Heart of the Grotto. Using the newly formed island like a barrier, it forced the encroaching army into one point, where Rokea would wear down their enemy.

Small specks of land began to form as the earth moved, shunting creatures never before seen from the depths, into the sky, only to be impaled on the weaponry of Rokea who used such tools. The sprawling caverns created, weaved and spun their ways around the center of the Grotto, enclosing the Holy Site with a labyrinth that prevented even a single enemy from ever reaching the heart.

It could have lasted a lifetime, but the battle wore down, after nearly an hour. The Rokea suffered less losses than expected, against the onslaught. Their fallen comrades sacrificed themselves for the greater Survival of the Breed, to ensure a future where there may not have been. For the first time, these Rokea have been named and laid to eternal rest, rather than forgotten as those who didn’t survive for lesser reasons.

When they were finally able to account for everything, a single agreement was made. The island of Burning Waters must remain a secret to any outside the Breed. As the last Great Grotto in the world, Burning Waters is the last thread that holds the Rokea together, and to this world, lest they be forgotten and nothing more than spirits of the Legendary Realm.

Ivory Carved Death, the Devourer Dimwater, Rokea In the Shallows