Thruuzag the Shellbreaker
Overview
Thruuzag the Shellbreaker is a monstrous crab-like demon lord who rules from the Brine-Claw Depths, a drowned and chitin-strewn trench in the Abyssal sea. His grotesque form is said to be a fusion of demonic wrath and deep-sea terror: massive armored claws, barbed legs like spears, and a face hidden behind layered barnacle plates, always dripping seawater and ichor.
Worshipped by deepwater cults, berserker monks, and mad coastal prophets, Thruuzag embodies the idea that all strength must be tested — and all shells must eventually crack. He is a god of pit fighting, territorial violence, and apocalyptic tidal revenge.
The Devil’s Tango Incident
Despite his dominion over the Abyss, Thruuzag fathered an offspring into the material world — a powerful demonic hybrid known as Little Maul. The child was sent to Castlemere as both herald and challenger, meant to conquer the infamous underground fighting pit The Devil’s Tango, located beneath the Drunken Monk tavern.
But fate did not favor the Shellbreaker that night.
Toedd the Great Lion, a mortal champion known for his sheer tenacity and raw power, entered the ring against Little Maul in a bare-knuckle match that lasted eleven brutal rounds. With a final headbutt and elbow combination, Toedd broke the demon child’s neck and left him dead in the pit. Silence fell. Then chaos. The pit was sealed for seven nights.
Wrath Unleashed
The death of Little Maul sparked a rising tide of demonic wrath. Saltwater flooded the lower streets of Castlemere. Crabs crawled from fireplaces and wells. Cultists of Thruuzag began etching his name into the hulls of ships — blood mixed with brine.
In a forbidden coastal rite, Thruuzag cracked open a trench in the Brine-Claw Depths and swore a blood vendetta against Toedd the Great Lion. He is said to have uttered these words through every shell on every shore:
“He broke the claw that bore my name. I will drown his roar in a tide of flesh and fury.”
Manifestation
Thruuzag manifests as a towering, crab-like demon—his body plated in abyssal armor, claws larger than warhorses, and a belly covered in cracked shells from fallen challengers. His eyes are lamp-like orbs glowing beneath salt-crusted sockets, and his voice sounds like waves breaking on bone.
He often speaks through crustaceans, sea foam, or the mutterings of drowned sailors.
Cult and Worship
Thruuzag’s cults are violent and secretive. Known as the Shellbound, they operate along coastlines and sewer systems, ritually cracking shells and bones in his honor. Some fighters offer him blood before entering battle, hoping to earn his blessing — and others, his attention.
Signs of Thruuzag’s influence include:
- Sudden crab infestations in non-coastal areas
- Salt rings in drinking water
- Dreams of suffocation, claws, or bottomless tides
Trivia
- The phrase “Break the shell, wake the god” is whispered by Thruuzag cultists during fights.
- In the Bronzefall Slums, a cracked red crab is painted on alley walls near pit fighting venues — a mark of Thruuzag’s growing influence.
- A myth claims that Thruuzag cannot be killed — only boiled in divine fire, and even then, his shell will remain.