The Pits of Hathsin

Lore & Background

The creation of the Kandra is not linked to the Pits of Hathsin. Centuries ago, the Lord Ruler utilized the power of the Well of Ascension at the Conventical of Seran to transform humans into the shapeshifting servants known as Kandra. The Pits of Hathsin were instead a prison and atium mining site, where skaa were forced to extract atium geodes. During the events of the Second Era, investigators from the High House of Wax visited the Kandra Homeland (the Conventical of Seran), not the Pits of Hathsin. The Pits themselves were destroyed during the events of The Hero of Ages and are not a repository for Kandra biological history or secret knowledge. The Kandra's Blessings and True Bodies are kept at the Homeland, not the Pits.

In Their Own Story

Dust motes danced in the shaft of light piercing the darkness of the cavernous hall. Wax stepped forward, his boots echoing on stone worn smooth by centuries of silence. The air here tasted of old magic and stagnant water, a heavy reminder that this place had been sealed away since the time of ash and tyranny. A Kandra stood waiting in the shadows, its form shifting subtly between human guise and something more fluid beneath the skin. You seek what was lost, it said, voice echoing without breath. It gestured to the rows of stasis pods lining the walls, glowing faintly with a soft blue light that pulsed like a heartbeat. We remember, Wax replied, hand near his coin. But we want to know why you were made. The Kandra did not flinch. In the Pits of Hathsin, memory was currency, and truth was the most dangerous thing to spend.

Reader's Guide

The administration of the Pits falls under the control of the Kandra elders who oversee the facility's ancient secrets. While not a political state, it operates as a sovereign enclave where the Kandra manage their own history and biological templates. Leadership is hierarchical, dictated by age and connection to the original creation event rather than elected office. Their primary goal involves preserving the truth of their origins while navigating relations with Scadrian governments in Era 2. They seek to prevent outsiders from misusing the technology found within the depths that originally birthed them. This creates tension with human investigators and historians who wish to study the site for its historical significance regarding the Lord Ruler's reign. Over time, the Pits evolved from a creation site into a sanctuary. During the Final Empire, they were hidden; in Era 2, they became a bargaining chip. The organization balances secrecy with the need to interact with modern Scadrians who are uncovering the past. This evolution reflects the Kandra's struggle to find identity beyond their servitude to ancient powers.

Did You Know?

• The Pits of Hathsin were destroyed by Vin during the events of The Hero of Ages.
• The Kandra were created at the Conventical of Seran, not the Pits of Hathsin.
• Wax and Wayne visited the Kandra Homeland (the Conventical of Seran), not the Pits of Hathsin.
• The Pits of Hathsin were a prison for skaa forced to mine atium, not a Kandra facility.