Gharmatha¶
"Did you think I wouldn't find out that you had failed to slaughter the remaining vessels? … or are you simply too stupid to carry out simple instructions? I cannot suffer this incompetence." — judgment of Gharmatha's court, spoken by her Maw-Priest (S329)
Gharmatha the Gut-Queen is the first of the Great Gorgers, the lieutenants of the demonlord Vulgurak in the Gorgery, and the mother of his broods. She rules the Churning Pits and her own temple, keeps her demonkin under three hard rules, and is "planning to supplant Vulgurak". The player demons of the Demonlands Mini Campaign began as the lowest links of her chain of command.
Also spelled Ghormatha and Gormatha.
Nature¶
She is a demon of the Maw and of Rot, a "swollen Ogre demon matron with dozens of egg sacs." Her role is "Spawning, Pestilence, Demonspawn horde leader": she "controls all devourling broods", and her Churning Pits hold banelings and an insect hive of giant wasps. Her temple, the Temple of Ghormatha, stands in the Demonlands apart from the city.
Rule¶
"Gharmatha has only 3 rules." The Maw-Sanctum Rule makes every temple, den, feeding ground, hatchery or enclosed building of her demonkin neutral ground, where none may attack another. The Vessel-Spoils Rule requires that "any new vessel larger than a human must be presented to Gharmatha within 10 days, who may decide to claim it as a prize." The third is Obedience: "breaking any rule of Gharmatha's or defying a direct command will result in your deposit into the Great Gore Vats." She regards the newest of her servants as "weak and expendable" and spends them on expendable tasks. A servant who fails is culled, losing a fifth of its essence, and while it grovels the Maw-Sanctum Rule may be relaxed so that its own minions can consume it and take its place. Of a failure spared the vats, her court says: "There will be no reward, no gifts … but do not mistake me: This is generosity."
Ambitions¶
The Order of Valyr's Wardens report that "Gharmatha is planning to supplant Vulgurak" and count her success the best outcome for the Order, since a civil war "would weaken Vulgurak the most, or even replace him with a much weaker version." She "wants to LEVERAGE Drazannak for Essence", and information about Drazannak or Daennelgin would raise any servant in her favour. Her enemies in turn study her: the Order has battle plans for "a pre-emptive strike" on her temple, with maps of its layout and sentries, and a rival demonlord, unnamed, is "providing information to the Valyr on Yssathra and the Temple." A greater demon "under Ghormatha" is among the dozen of Vulgurak's demons the Order holds captive.
Serru'gorn¶
Serru'gorn, the Maw-Fire Tyrant, stands directly below Gharmatha: an ogre demon of the Maw and the Infernal with a lesser share of the Barbed, known for his "Tripartite Jaw." The Wardens' go-betweens carry the claim that "Serru'gorn is a spy for Vulgurak and will lead Gharmatha into a trap", and that "eliminating Serru'gorn and exposing his betrayal would please Gharmatha".
Gap
The claim against Serru'gorn comes from the Order, which feeds selected information to the demons to split Vulgurak's faction. No source says whether it is true.
Yssathra¶
Yssathra, Maw-Priest of Gharmatha, a Maw ogre, serves under Serru'gorn and is the voice of Gharmatha's court to the demons below her. It is to Yssathra that a failed servant is summoned "IMMEDIATELY", and Yssathra who pronounces the culling and invites the culprit's minions to prove their worth. The NPC sheets say Yssathra "was an original friend of" someone, and the line breaks off there.
Gap
No source gives Gharmatha's history, how she rose to be first of the Gorgers, or what Yssathra was an original friend of.