The Abyss
A massive hole in the ground that extends further then twenty miles below the surface, the Abyss is the biggest mystery of Sarusan. It has different environments separated into many layers. A strange invisible force field obscures all attempts to observe down it, both magical and technological. This field causes strange reactions to living creatures when they try to ascend the Abyss, the effects intensifying the deeper down one goes. This phenomenon is known as the Curse of the Abyss.
The Curse of the Abyss
Ascending through the 1st layer causes light dizziness and nausea. Ascending through the 2nd layer causes heavy nausea, headaches, and numbness of the limbs. Ascending through the 3rd layer causes intense vertigo, and visual and auditory hallucinations. Ascending through the 4th layer causes intense pain and dizziness, as well as both internal and external bleeding. Ascending through the 5th layer causes complete sensory deprivation, confusion, and self harming behavior. Ascending through the 6th layer causes either death, or the lose of being. Creatures who lose their being melt into a strange pile of tormented flesh and lose the capacity for reason. Vary rarely, ascending causes the creature to instead gain the "Blessing of the Abyss" gaining strange new bodies but retaining a sense of reason and the ability to see the forcefield. Ascending through the 7th layer only brings certain deathGeography
The Abyss is split up into 7 known layers.
1st Layer: Edge of the Abyss; Depth 0 - 4,440 feet down. (1< mile) This layer is the most harmless and unchanged from the environment above.
2nd Layer: Forest of Temptation; Depth 4,441 - 8,500 feet down (1.6 miles) Resembling a forest made of giant lillypads, the creatures here are far more deadly.
3rd Layer: Great Fault; Depth 8,500 - 22,965 feet down (4.4 miles) This layer is a massive vertical shaft home to large aerial predators.
4th Layer: Goblet of Giants; Depth 22,966 - 39,370 feet down (7.5 miles) This forest is full of Flat-Creepers that are full of hot water, creating a constant stream of hot fog. The constant growing vegetation makes reliable maps of this level hard to come by
5th Layer: Sea of Corpses; Depth 39,371 - 42,650 feet down (8.1 miles) A vast frozen wasteland on top of a massive sea.
6th Layer: Capital of the Unreturned; Depth 42,651 - 50,853 feet down (9.6 miles) This massive ruined city made of strange crystals contains many beasts unknown to the surface world. It also has many geo-thermal vents that exhume poisonous gases.
7th Layer: The Final Maelstrom; 50,853 - ????? feet down (estimated 12.5 miles)
Fauna & Flora
1st Layer
Hammerbeak: These avian creatures span their nests down to the 4th layer. These large birds beaks are fused with their skulls, which they use to bash enemies and break hard objects. They are quite fond of shiny things, and while not dangerous while alone, they tend to travel in flocks. These flocks are capable of harming even much stronger creatures when the swarm them all at once. Male hammerbeaks often solve disputes by bashing beaks against each other until one breaks. Silkfang: This large insect has traits of both a praying mantis and a spider. Its major aspect is its sticky threads that protrude from its back. These threads connect to a a large dome, and are spread out in a 10 meter diameter. This gives the Silkfang an advantage on anything in that area, as anything that comes in contact with the threads alerts it to its presence and often sticks to it. They can also shoot a powerful paralyzing poison that they use to catch prey. This makes them extremely deadly inside their territory, however they are incapable of leaving the territory, so they can be easily avoided by experienced explorers.2nd Layer
Amagiri: This small moss grows on the trees in the 2nd layer, and always grow pointing to the north of the Abyss. Explorers use them as a sort of compass while traveling. An old saying goes "If you get lost, just follow the Amagiri." Corpse-Weeper: These massive birds are carnivorous and dangerous. Having two eyes on either side, they also sport a third eye in the center of their head, giving them exceptional vision. They are capable of mimicking sounds, and are intelligent enough to learn cries for help, mimicking these sounds to lure prey into their hunting grounds where they can be easily snatched up. Inbyo: These baboon like creature inhabit bottomost parts of the 2nd layer, and are greatly territorial of their inverted trees. While not too dangerous on their own, they travel in large packs. They will continuously hurl any available objects at trespassers and the biggest threat in attempting to scale the Inverted Forest comes from trying to descend while avoiding their projectiles and falling to your doom. Ottobas: These large creatures dwell in the lakes of the innermost reaches of the 2nd layer. Similar to hippopotamus, they are more adapted to living in the dark. Like hippopotamus, they are not active carnivores, but are extremely territorial and dangerous when provoked. Unfortunately they tend to dwell in the areas most suitable for harvesting water, so explorers must act carefully to restock. Rohana: These small insect skim the surfaces of ponds in the 2nd layer. They emit a purple glow from their body, similar to fireflies, and only nest in water that is relatively clean. This helps mark which pools are safe to drink from for explorers.3rd Layer
Amakagame: These large purple creatures are little more then massive stomachs. Attaching themselves to holes in the bottom layers, they excrete a smell of the Neritantan's favorite fruits into the upper layers in order to attract them. When they step onto the attached area, it opens up like a venus flytrap, dumping the prey into its acidic insides. However, their skin is quite thin, even a small amount of slashing damage is enough to puncher it, causing it to dump out its insides and expire. Crimsion Spitjaw: These massive red snake creatures have large hoodflaps on the sides of their bodies that they can extend to fly on the updrafts of the Abyss. They are some of the most dangerous creatures, as they attack any humanoid on sight. They often swallow things whole, so they often have many rare items or minerals inside their gut. Madokajack: These large reptiles have insectoid pincers and pterodactyl like wings which they use to constantly glide through the 3rd layer. They are highly dangerous, but also quite unsanitary. They often sport nasty disease and their layers often filled with refuse from old meals Neritantan: These gerbil like rodents are capable of puffing themselves up into a large ball. They often serve as the main source of food for predators in the abyss. They often stick to groups and puff together to form a large barrier to protect themselves from said predators.4th Layer
Amaranthine-Deceptor: These parasitic insects inhabit the 4th, 5th, and 6th layers. Their bodies resemble Eternal Fortune flowers while they lie dormant, causing them to be able to effectively hide in large patches of them. They will then swarm those who get close and attempt to plant their larva inside the hosts. The larva grow and expand rapidly, consuming the host from the inside out. Eternal Fortunes: Also called the "Flower of Resilience", these white flowers can grow in any soil. They are found spread throughout the Abyss, but large fields of them exist in the 4th and 6th layers. Flat Creepers: These massive plants grant the 4th layer its name as the "Goblet of Giants". These large stems hold up a large concave pad that fill with steaming water, causing them to look like large goblets. Giant Hammerbeak: These Hammerbeaks act similarly to the ones in the upper layers, however they grow much larger, roughly around the size of a human child. Kazura Squid: These squid-like creatures lay their eggs in the lower levels of the 3rd layer, and fall down into the Flat Creepers when they hatch. It is unknown how the squids manage to get their eggs up to the 3rd level. Orb Piercer: This creature resembles a massive porcupine, but has a red face that resembles a mask with multiple holes. While it is a herbivore, they are highly territorial and have fearsome temperaments. They have long sharp needles covering their entire body. These needles are laced with a extremely potent poison, and anyone poisoned is swiftly weakened and dies unless the poisoned area is amputated. Shroombear: These small rodents have symbiotic mushrooms growing on their backs. These mushrooms suck small amounts of nutrients out of the Shroombear and store a portion of it over time. When the Shoormbear grows weak from disease or age, the mushroom returns nutrients to it to reinvigorate it. The mushrooms can be harvested and used to treat wounds, however the process of removing them from a host afterwords is extremely painful. Yellow-shining Grass: This grass grows on the bottom side of the flat creepers and can be used for cooking and medicine.5th Layer
Hamashirama: These strange looking fish inhabit the water in the 5th layer. Their internal organs are all stored in the head of the fish, and it can expel a paralytic mucus from its mouth. Stingerhead: These massive scorpion creatures are the apex predator of the 5th layer. They have seven stingers, and each stinger contains a corrosive poison that melts flesh and bone. Getting hit by one usually ends in instant death. While not particularly fast, they do seem to be more intelligent, often hunting in groups and utilizing flanking maneuvers.6th Layer
Emperorshell: These beasts never leave their strange eggshells, and continue to grow in them. The shells harden like rock and become a natural set of armor. They apparently have a massive lifespan and never stop growing, so accounts of massive ones have been made. Fuzosheppu: This creature appears to be some combination of a crustacean and an massive ooze. It is apparently light enough to fly on the strange force field. Each fuzosheppu is actually a hive of smaller males making up the ooze bits, while the crustacean head is actually the queen of the hive. Mizoujack: These creatures resemble large two-legged frogs and live near geothermal vents. They are closer to herd animals and are not particularly dangerous. Mockwater: This ooze has all the appearance of regular water, however when drunken it will infect the digestive system of the host. The infection will cause the host to have intense diarrhea, and its body will slowly melt and harden into a lead-like substance. The eggs in the host extremeness will slowly break down the corpse of the host into a new puddle of mockwater. Ryuusazai: Resembling a giraffe with scales and a beak, these creatures scales are laced with poison and they can spit venom great distances. Like most creatures, they are territorial, but are less aggressive then most and can be avoided if not provoked. Males will often get into ferocious fights with each other.7th Layer
Nothing is known about what lies on the 7th layer. Scattered throughout the Abyss are skeletons of humans who all lie with their hands clasp as if in prayer. These skeletons are known as Praying Skeletons and it is considered bad luck to disturb them.Natural Resources
The Abyss is home to all sorts of natural resources, from exotic animals and plants, to rare minerals. There are also many ancient treasures buried in the strange remains, and strange items known as Relics that often have powerful magical properties. This makes the Abyss a hotspot for explorers or merchants hoping to strike it rich, however both the hazardous geography and the Curse of the Abyss makes transporting goods very difficult.
Comments