Lurking Eyes

Elder Leviathan; Patron of Seekers and Collectors

There are those who simply need to know. Who simply must look inside, despite all warnings to the contrary. Perhaps they are driven by curiosity, perhaps by a need to feel powerful through knowledge, perhaps through a desire to collect, or maybe plain lack of impulse control. Whether it's a lifelong obsession or a one very important choice, those who find themselves drawn subconsciously to the Lurking Eyes all share a need to see, to find, to know, or to collect. It is unclear what exactly differentiates these people from scholars, explorers, and ordinary hoarders; it could be luck. It could also be that some invisible boundary has been crossed for these people: that, if even for a moment, they would do anything to indulge that need. But that is only a theory. And certainly, it tends to be oddballs and eccentrics, explorers and knowledge-keepers outside the mainstream, that most find themselves connected to this Elder Leviathan.
When one attracts the Eye's attention, there is a subtle connection that pulls the dreaming mind into Astral Plane. There, in the otherworldly void-sea, they find themselves in a sunken, timeless, endless labyrinth of things, ideas, relics, and memories. In the dim grey twilight of the Astral sea, there is no clear indication of up or down - only forward. The maze drinks the dreamer in, pulling them forwards by their own irresistible need to see what is at the end. The impulse to move forward grows, but so does a sense that the dreamer is being watched. Eventually the dreamer, now aware that they are not in control of their own mind or body (just a specimen in a maze, actions dictated by forces unimaginable) reaches the Center. The walls fall away, the dim light concentrates on the dreamer like a spotlight. Myriad eyes glint in the darkness. Now that the dreamer has tasted the horror and the strangeness of their patron, it is time to make a deal: will they take power, to build the knowledge and hoard of the Mazekeeper?
That is what the Lurking Eyes is, fundamentally: a hoarder of knowledge and specimens, always watching. It nests in Halcyon's Pyramids, a huge underwater maze of treasure, that it has built up with its own treasure hoard and secret library. Its warlocks serve it as spies, collectors, scribes, and librarians. Some don't even fully understand their role - they think they won power for nothing, unaware that their minds are constantly streaming data to the Eyes. Others have a more professional and courteous relationship with their patron. Some even serve the Eyes in their sanctum as full-time associates - these warlocks in particular are well-cared for in their isolation, with as much love and care as any leviathan has demonstrated to a humanoid.
Generally speaking, the Lurking Eyes are considered to be the least malevolent Elder Leviathan, as they generally prefer documentation and collection over destruction. That said, the Eyes are known to sometimes add people to their collection and their nest does have an archive of eccentric or unusual people in magical stasis. This "collection" is only added to rarely, and tends to either be people of great knowledge, artistic ability, unusual perspective, or unusual personality - almost always people who won't be "noticed" missing by broader society. Sometimes it is even semi-consensual, as people who face social persecution have accepted "collection" in the hope that one day they might eventually be released into a more accepting world. Thus far, though, the Eyes have yet to let any of their collection go. Despite this kidnapping-and-freezing behavior, the Eyes are more often seen as benevolent by experts on Leviathans - a force for preserving things and preventing destruction. Its warlocks are more likely to save people, books, and art from wars and natural disasters, and some of its servants are even lauded as heroes. The most notable of these is Cosmic Lord Brambleshanks, who has become a warlock patron in his own right.
While the Eyes and Tideweaver are similar in how they value Knowledge, they differ in several regards. Where Tideweaver sees Intelligence as strength, the Eyes see Knowledge as strength - where Tideweaver wants to be remembered by its servant's deeds, the Eyes are perfectly happy being unnoticed by mortals.
The Lurking Eyes and its subordinate leviathans rule the equatorial seas between Suneka(location:492ab4f9-fa36-47d1-934e-e5b88549cf0b) and @[Nafena.

Species

Leviathans