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The Idol of Foam

A gift from the god of sailors...

The Idol of Foam is a statue depicting a massive wave crashing against a cliff. The statue is carved from obsidian and has an unnatural transparency. Originally carved by a sculptor living in the Philippines, the statue's existence has been debated heavily by scholars in The Web. It is studied due to its strange power, and the legends of that power.   According to legend, the statue possessed strange transformative qualities. Should anyone gaze upon the statue and see a strange form in its semi-transparent wave, they have been chosen by an entity whose will flows from the idol. Being chosen means one will soon be reformed in the entity's image. The process is said to be excruciating, assuming you survive.     While there are many who have sought out the idol, there is no group who wants it more than The Order of The Black Sea. The order is one of the 12 Cults, and their increase in power over the last few decades has led to an unsettling realization...
"You were'nt there. This was something else. I've never seen anything like it. It wasn't natural... the eyes. It was the eyes that gave it away. Those were not the eyes of a beast. Those were the eyes of a man begging to be put out of his misery."
— Beatrice of The Black Betties
 

Urban Legends

The transformative qualities vary from story to story. Some say they encountered creatures still humanoid in appearance, but most are transformed into beasts that eliminate all human likeness. This has spawned a series of urban legends that surround the idol and the creatures it created. In recent years, The Troubleshooters routinely answer calls that seem to stem from the Idol's power.   These creatures are impossible. It's as if they are designed specifically to fit outside of our world's evolutionary timeline. To say they are designed is not beyond the realm of possibility. Whatever allows this transformation seems to construct these forms for very specific purposes. The only similarity between these legends is how each creature possess features often found in sea life. They are almost always blue or gray skinned, and the skin usually has a slimey or blubbery appearence.   The Ocean Centaur possesses 6 arms, two tendrils sprouting from its back, and massive bodies that sprint on four legs. The Black Star strides on 8 segmented legs connected by membranous tissue, allowing them to glide in the air and under water. When laying flat on the ground, it looks not unlike a sea star, if it were not for the human eye and mouth located at the center of the body.

history

According to what little records The Order of the Black Sea were willing to provide, The Alexandrian University pieced together a rough history of the idol. It begins with the sculptor in the Philippines, who was likely a prominent member of the earliest version of the cult.   The cult refused to expand from the island where it began for many years. Even the order admits it does not fully understand why or how the Cult expanded, but it found its way to Australia, Italy, and even as far as Hawaii. At this point all information on the idol disappears.   The idol appeared lost to time. It was either stolen, hidden, or both. This is likely the work of a rival cult, or possibly a group of independent good Samaritans who sought to rob the order of its power. All is not well, however. What many don't realize is the idol has already been reclaimed.

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Cover image: by Julia Kadel

Comments

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Jul 4, 2020 20:48

When looking for this thing, wear sunglasses, just in case. It probably won't transform you, but who wants to risk it?   So... did the Idol have a part in sinking Venice, or was that just a coincidence?

Jul 4, 2020 21:09 by R. Dylon Elder

Not really. that's just bad city placement. Beautiful place though, while it lasts. Actually yes, using glasses could obscure the image enough. I'll go ahead and reveal that it only works on theninitiated. The legend makes it out like it could happen to anyone. Noooo the monsters do retain some of their humanity and autonomy. Gotta have allies in those monsters.

Jul 5, 2020 02:13 by Grace Gittel Lewis

Nice! The black star is especially wonderful creature design here.

Jul 5, 2020 11:44 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Well this is terrifyingly creepy and disturbing. I love it. Gives me Cthulu vibes. :D

Emy x
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Jul 8, 2020 20:36 by Jacob Billings

Interesting. I presume that there are more legends about how one finds the idol and maybe even a location in the sea where the idol is said to be found most often? Or maybe some other myths? Very interesting and well written article, as always.

Jul 8, 2020 20:57 by R. Dylon Elder

Eh somewhat. Before it was found sure. Everyone felt it was on one island or another. Lol now that its found, people are more concerned with its creations.   Thanks so much!

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