The Abyss

The Abyss is the defining feature of the Nacreous Coast, much as many might wish otherwise. It has left an indelible mark: on history, culture, and the landscape itself. The years of slaughter before the Abyss was sealed have had a very palpable effect on the region and its people, and there is always a lurking fear - what if the seal were to break? Nobody knows how to get rid of the Abyss permanently, and attempts are generally discouraged. Let sleeping dogs lie.
It is considered incredibly unlucky to go near the island of Melos, let alone the Abyss itself. The fact that there are people who are willing to go out there to gather its resources says a lot - either about the pay or their circumstances. Such people are generally not considered in a very positive light in the community. Some even believe that they carry the Poison of the Abyss with them, as though they were one of the Abyssal Beasts. This would be impossible without the worker also falling ill with the Poison themselves, of course. The effect that the Abyss has on psychics only increases the negative views of the place.
Some do consider the Abyss a useful resource, however. Primarily the Magdalen Empire, who use the Abyss-Touched resources recovered from Melos and the Abyss itself to produce the ink which forms their extensive tattoos, the most visual hallmark of their culture. This is not a well known fact, or the general malaise towards the population of the Magdalen Empire would probably be far higher.
In Redwind, the closest settlement to the Abyss, it is common to make a gesture of protection against evil in the direction of the Abyss to ward off bad luck or ill omens. The use of phrases such as ‘there’s a red wind blowing in the west’ also show the effects of living so close to such a place.

Geography

The Abyss is located in a cove on the western side of Melos. It doesn’t quite lie at the centre, but closer to the beach to the south-east, rather than the cliffs to the north. 
The Abyss, while dormant, is almost deceptively boring. It appears as something resembling a bare island of black rock, though once a person draws close they can see that it is made entirely of Black Ice. It is believed that this Black Ice is formed where the Abyssal energies seep through the seal placed upon the location. Over time this has seeped out to poison the rest of Melos as well, although thankfully the only time it extends beyond the island is the rare occasion when the Red Winds blow. 
There are several surviving first-hand records describing the interior of the Abyss, all located within the archives of the Regnum Caelorum. The most coherent sections describe an almost cavelike interior, overgrown with strange luminescent plants that retract from touch, as well as shy creatures that mostly evaded observation, as well as a great number of the terrible beasts that terrorised the Nacreous Coast. The caves turned out to be a twisting maze that was impossible to navigate, and most of the individuals who ventured out that day didn’t return alive. Since the Abyss was sealed shortly afterwards, there are no other recorded explorations from which to draw information.

Ecosystem

In its dormant state, the Abyss sits, a placid lump, in the midst of the milling sea. Sometimes a piece of Black Ice will break away from the top, but more water always refreezes in its place while the broken piece eventually dissipates into the much greater power of the ocean. There is nothing of life within it, at least which can be seen.
While active, the water for miles around the Abyss would freeze to a thickness of several metres, allowing one to walk all the way from Chiara to the mouth of the Abyss. The land-bound Beasts would use this method to reach their prey, always returning before dawn. Their prey was, almost without exception, human.

Ecosystem Cycles

The change in the length of days was the primary reason for any kind of seasonal variation. The Black Ice formed regardless of temperature once the sun had dropped below the western sky, moving outwards from the central point of the Abyss, and would then break up as the light touched it, except the areas which were in direct contact with the Abyss. 
Therefore, in summer when the days were shorter the ice would have less time to form, and would travel a lesser distance, as well as the length of raids on the closer habitations lasting less time. In winter, the opposite was true, and the area of permanently frozen Ice was thought to have a wider diameter. Otherwise, no other differences were observed between seasons.

Localized Phenomena

Other than the phenomena of the Black Ice or the general leakage of Abyssal energies into the nearby environment, there is an unusual phenomenon that can affect psychics who move too close to the Abyss. They often enter an almost trancelike state, and attempt to move towards the Abyss. Some are disciplined enough to break themselves from this trance, and others can train themselves to resist it, but they report that the compulsion doesn’t disappear until a significant distance has been placed between them and the Abyss. It is not advised for psychics to approach the island of Melos.

Fauna & Flora

There is very little literature recording the flora of the Abyss. From the few available accounts, it mostly seems to have been pale and luminescent, making for a strong contrast with the Abyss itself. It also seemed able to move and react to touch. For the most part, it simply retracted itself back from touch, like some varieties of sea creature, but there was at least one case of an Alesian who died of a painful sting obtained when one of the plants seemingly took a swipe at him. There were also some reports of similar, though smaller, flora growing sparsely on Melos before the Abyss was sealed, but there is no sign of it there now.
The only creatures known to definitely inhabit the Abyss were the Abyssal Beasts. These notorious creatures were both vicious and intelligent. They hunted humans exclusively, often in packs, though they didn’t eat their prey once killed. There were both animal- and bird-like forms of Beast, although the Bird-Beasts were thankfully considered far more stupid. An attack from a Beast would often be fatal even after an escape, as if the skin was pierced Abyssal Poison could enter the bloodstream. It was found that Brightflame is the most effective method of disposing of these creatures - although that can be said of anything living. 
One oddity is that Beasts were often confused by the presence of Alesians. It is thought that an Alesian who was Abyss-Touched to a sufficient degree - or if a Beast had particularly poor perception - would resemble another Beast to its senses, and so it would be confused by signs of fear or aggression.

Natural Resources

There is a regular trade in natural materials infected with an Abyssal Taint - or, more politely, Abyss-Touched. They are used by mages who tap into the power of the Abyss for their spells, by the Magdalans to create the ink which adorns their skin, and by anyone wishing to study the Abyss from a safer distance. 
From the Abyss itself, the only material which can currently be retrieved is Black Ice, the most dangerous - and valuable - of the natural resources on Melos. The price reflects the difficulty and danger inherent in obtaining and transporting the material. First, it is dangerous for most humans to go close enough to the Abyss to collect the Ice, as the energy seeping from within can easily Poison them. Even Alesians aren’t immune to the effect. It is believed that the molten Ice can soak into the skin, and from there Poison the bloodstream. 
Once the Ice is collected, it must be stored in a place untouched by sunlight, although heat is not an issue, otherwise it will melt. This doesn’t inherently remove its power, but water doesn’t seem to hold Abyssal energies well on its own, which leads the molten Ice to swiftly lose its potency.

History

The Abyss opened more than 900 years ago. Nobody knows why it opened. Nobody knows who opened it - if indeed it was the creation of a person and not an as-yet-unseen natural phenomenon. What is known is that the island of Melos, which was inhabited at the time, was instantly wiped clean of life as we understand it. 
After this, the Abyss began its nightly cycle of freezing the ocean into Black Ice, and from its maw leapt giant, misformed creatures. It is possible that they are what is left of the life that inhabited Melos, since they show some resemblance to natural creatures, but they display a malevolence towards humankind which isn’t seen in any animal. They hunted up and down the Nacreous Coast, and many settlements simply were not prepared for the attack and were slaughtered. 
This continued for many years, until the Council of Nine formed and began their explorations into the nature of the Abyss. After one disastrous exploration attempt, during which one Council member and a great many Alesians lost their lives, the Abyss was deemed too dangerous to allow its continued existence, and so it was sealed. 
Since then, the Abyss has been completely inert, although still dangerous. The city of Redwind on Phos was constructed to keep watch over the Abyss, to provide warning should the seal ever fail.

Tourism

There are those who make the trip to see the Abyss for no reason other than a daredevil attitude and curiosity. They usually either submit to being kept off the island itself, or accidentally Poison themselves in one of the myriad ways available. Any who actually attempt to touch the Abyss itself - or rather the Ice covering it - almost never escape unscathed.

Type

Abyss

Location under

Melos