There is much in the world that appears ugly or even terrifying at first glance. Looks can be deceiving. A gentle heart often beats behind the mask of a frightening façade. That’s why the Outsiders so often disguise themselves when they choose to walk our world.

And that’s why, for the most part, visitors from the trans-dimensional realms have remained largely undetected by the Hive Humans of Eridu. Countless Strangers visit this place from distant worlds. Some choose to visit Eridu to satisfy their curiosity or simply take a holiday. Quite a few are sent to undergo strict re-education programmes to pay for their crimes. And one or two hostile Outsiders are engaged in espionage activity or disinformation campaigns. However, on the whole, most of the Outsiders have benign, if not friendly, intentions.

Bagalawal Balal first visited Eridu when he was a boy. He fell in love with the place. He loved the deep, rolling oceans, the vast green forests, the ice-capped mountains, and the terrifying wastelands. He studied the Human-Hive, absorbing their fascinating cultures, cataloguing their intricately designed rules, and mastering their languages.

And the more he studied Hive-Humans, the more he fell in love with them too. That is, to say, he fell in love with one hive-human in particular.

*Matches with the token: - Leeshak Vent