Historia Aetherium Writhing Masses

Overview

Withering Masses are Etheric constructs that appear as a mass of tentacles. Notably, they can be encountered while NOT etheric on the Tainted Shoreline. They also manifest in the Slags Lab, the Abandoned Buildings, and the Metroplex U computer lab, among others. Their tendrils can be made into an ointment with healing properties.

The royal orb has a scene which might be the original creation of the writhing masses. It seems to indicate that they are related to the Fish People somehow:

+ Royal Orb

You stare into the orb and see darkness in its depths, slowly washed away by two great lights. One is quite clearly the moon, the other a distant explosion.

The strange, inky scene shows a woman standing on a rocky beach. It could be a thousand places, but reminds you most of the beach near the Slags, without the toxic sludge clinging to everything.

She spreads her arms as though to embrace the brilliant light racing towards her. Tentacles rip mercilessly from her skin… first dozens, then hundreds.

Eventually the light fades and you can hear a mournful song, like those of the sea people. It's… different somehow, unpracticed.