Alta is a reclusive, feared witch living on the fringes of society, shunned because of her disturbing half-human, half-reptilian nature—she is the offspring of a human woman and one of the ancient, monstrous Worms. Isolated and rejected, she longs for human connection, particularly the affection denied to her due to her appearance.

When Bran Mak Morn seeks a way to contact the Worms, Alta becomes the crucial intermediary. She agrees to help him, but only in exchange for a deeply personal price: one night of intimacy, reflecting her desperate desire to experience human closeness. Though repulsed, Bran accepts, recognizing she is his only path forward.

In return, Alta reveals the location of the Black Stone, a sacred artifact of the Worms, setting the entire chain of events into motion. Her role is pivotal—without her knowledge and guidance, Bran could not have manipulated the Worms to achieve his goal.

*Worms of the Earth (1932)

*Twice in Worms of the Earth Howard mentions the "black gods" of R'lyeh, a fictional city created by his friend and correspondent H. P. Lovecraft. Also mentioned is a water monster Dagon, which is a historical Philistine god mentioned in a fictional context in several stories by Lovecraft.

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worms_of_the_Earth Wikipedia]
*[https://archive.org/details/Weird_Tales_v20n05_1932-11_sas Internet Archive]

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