The subterranean labyrinth known to the citizens of Tetbury as The Shitter was founded on 26 September 589. Constructed during a lost epoch of Coia's history, it boasts architectural marvels rivaling the spires above, including vaulted cathedral-like ceilings and perfectly graded aqueducts. The mysterious Luminescent Guides, unmoored orbs of soft amber light, have persisted within its depths for centuries.
Despite its grandeur, the crass moniker "The Shitter" belied its strategic importance to Tetbury. For decades, it served as a vital sanctuary for the desperate and a clandestine smuggling route for the city's criminal underworld. Legend holds that Lord Mangdaor Roth, the current ruler, cemented his power by striking a pact with a primordial entity dwelling in the deepest cisterns. This dark bargain granted the entity dominion over the city's waste in exchange for Tetbury's magical warding.
The dynamic within the sewers shifted violently on 01 May 1248, when the Dragonbone Vanguard was hired to cleanse the infestation. They were tasked by Tetbury's Lord to eradicate planar energy mutated aberrations that plagued the labyrinth. The Vanguard thwarted a Spectator's mind magic, felled various Gricks, including a formidable Alpha, and ultimately cornered a powerful Spirit Naga.
This decisive victory eradicated the monstrous threat, solidifying the Dragonbone Vanguard's reputation as capable heroes. However, their actions left a power vacuum in the previously chaotic depths of The Shitter. The surface world believed the sewers were purged, but this cleansing opened the way for a new, insidious corruption.
Following the culling of the monstrous infestation, The Shitter was swiftly repurposed by the corrupt state. Connective tunnels were established, linking directly to the dungeons of The Basilica of the Golden Veil. This allowed The Lord's Shield to transport political prisoners unseen, bypassing surface scrutiny entirely.
Currently, The Lord's Shield heavily patrols near-surface access points, maintaining tight control. While the monstrous infestation was recently culled, the ancient entity Roth bargained with remains dormant but stirring beneath the city. It is now fed by the necrotic runoff of Velsharoon's growing cult, turning the waterways into a festering vein of corruption.
Current Status: The Shitter is now militarized and corrupting. Its depths are rife with new necromantic rot, fueled by the Cult of Velsharoon, even as The Lord's Shield maintains a watchful presence at its access points.
