Location of Xuhua Lake in the south of the Isthmus of Lustria.
Xuhua Lake is a mass of water located to the southwest of the Lizardmen temple-city of Pahuax on the Isthmus of Lustria, very close to the shores of the Far Sea.[1a][3b]
It is said to have risen over an ancient temple-city that was drowned by the gods for the obscene wealth of its populace. While Human armies work out how to retrieve the treasures beneath the placid waters, they are vulnerable.[1b]
During the Great Catastrophe when the power of Chaos first entered the Known World, Xuhua Lake was the place where the Slann mage-priest Huinitenuchli narrowly defeated the Slaaneshi Daemon Prince Slaa'Ulaan.[2a][3a]
Treasures of Lake Xuhua[]
"See the ragged fellow there? Take my advice, when he comes promising riches, don’t listen. Hartley von Raley, that is, and he’s mad as a drunken goblin. Used to be a wizard, part of The Company for the Exploitation of Lake Xuhua. He’s all that’s left now, and he’s still luring folks out to that forsaken place. All that time there, trying to break the curse, left him a bit doolally. Still, he gets his coin from somewhere."
- —Unknown, giving a warning about Magister Hartley Von Raley, and the Xuhua Lake [4a]
Those who approach Lake Xuhua report the night sky shimmering in its waters, so many are the treasures it holds. However, should the observer be able to tear their eyes away from the gold decorating the long-sunken buildings, they will see something far less pleasant. Corpses hang beneath the surface. Bloated and unravelling, they stretch hands towards a sky they will never again reach.[4a]
Lake Xuhua is cursed. Anyone who dives into the lake is trapped. All they can do is hammer helplessly against the surface as their lungs burn, knowing it won't be long before they must take that last, fatal gasp. Some believe it was once a temple-city. They say the Lizardmen there grew greedy and gathered Lustria's gold and jewels to themselves, declaring their home more glorious than the gods' own palaces. In response, the gods drowned them, placing a curse on the water so none could ever threaten to rival their glory again.[4a]
The truth of such stories is doubtful. Lizardmen do not value wealth the same as other cultures of the Known World, and it is more likely a warning dreamt up by Skeggi's folk. Despite this, and despite the deadly magic placed upon the lake, Old World explorers still seek out Lake Xuhua, trekking many miles, sure in the knowledge they will be the ones to finally claim the treasure. [4a]