Type: Geological and mysterious phenomenon
Location: Just outside the capital of the Republic, near Veyndral
Diameter: About 200 meters
Depth: Unknown, seemingly bottomless
First documented appearance: Around 1000 years ago, during the era of the Great Wars
Description
The Abyss is a perfectly circular crater, a mysterious wound in the earth that defies explanation.
Appearance: The walls are steep and initially passable, but the rock becomes increasingly resistant as one descends.
Behavior: Objects thrown into the Abyss — ropes, torches, stones — never reach the bottom and often seem swallowed by the darkness.
Sound: A deep, irregular echo rises from the bottom, described as a muffled heartbeat. Some claim to hear whispers or screams, but none of these testimonies have been verified.
Origins and Historical Context
According to ancient documents, the Abyss appeared about 1000 years ago, in the midst of the Great Wars that devastated the continent.
Destruction of archives: The powers of the time destroyed all records, so very little direct information remains about its appearance.
End of the wars: Its sudden appearance near the main city immediately halted hostilities. The population was terrified and interpreted the phenomenon in different ways:
Some believed it was the end of the world.
Others thought it was a divine punishment for the wars.
Some scholars and superstitious people believe it is linked to an ancient demon, sealed or awakened by the violence of the past.
Exploration Attempts
In the years following its appearance and up to today, numerous expeditions have been organized:
Methods: Extremely long rope descents, torches, and measuring instruments.
Results: Everything was swallowed by darkness; the actual depth was never determined.
Excavations: The first meters of staircases were possible, but beyond 300 meters, the rock mysteriously hardened, making further work almost impossible.
Accidents: Many explorers lost their lives; some fell, others never returned, and their bodies were never recovered.
Mysteries and Theories
Some claim the Abyss has an almost “living” presence: whispers, heartbeats, or breathing are perceived from the bottom.
Advanced theories: an anomalous natural phenomenon, a relic of a lost civilization, or a connection to supernatural/demonic entities.
The silence and immutability of the crater fuel superstitions and fears among the Republic’s population.
Influence on the Republic
Politics and Strategy: The Council of Five and the advisers are constantly aware of the Abyss, considering it a potential risk to the capital.
Popular culture: The Abyss symbolizes mystery and human fragility in the face of incomprehensible events, inspiring stories, legends, and superstitions.
Surveillance: The area is fenced off and guarded by a few soldiers; scholars and adventurers continue to be drawn to the dark allure of the crater.