8.5. Icta’zhish - The Caretaker of the Rift

Whether recognized as a friend or foe, countless tales have spoken about the terror beneath. Yet, few know her real name, and fewer have unraveled the tragedy of her being.

In primordial times, long before the Rift shadowed every corner of the underworld, Icta’zhish was merely a critter’s eye, harmless and without consciousness. When it died—poisoned by a flower from the Rift—an unknown force sparked life into the eye, and she began to wander and evolve at a thundering pace. She devoured everything in her way, alive or not, and when a young girl fell within her grasp, Icta’zhish gained consciousness.

The girl who wanted to protect her people from the howling chasm carried over her will to Icta’zhish. Rebirthed from a vile eye into the Caretaker of the Rift, Icta’zhish gained a new outlook on life and roamed to calm those who would otherwise ruin the world.

Eventually, Icta’zhish fell from her throne, as all legends must.

She was bound to a mysterious crystal by the same unknown force, unable to fulfill her own and the girl’s desire.

As millennials passed, Icta’zhish patiently awaited in anticipation that a mighty hero would one day finish what she had started.