The Abyss

I looked upon the Abyss, and shuddered. It was as if I was looking into a pit so deep, so blackened and choked by darkness, that it must engulf the entirety of the world.

— Unknown occultist

At its very core, the Abyss is the mirror of existence. What exists in the other planes, exists in some twisted form below.

An Obsidian Sea

Everything is mirrored and twisted in the Abyss, from the cosmos, eldritch beings, and gods, to the stones, dirt, and lesser creatures living beneath them. Seldom are these beings easily recognizable as mirrors— they are often more akin to grim mockeries. Consider a smooth grey stone, for example. Its mirror is a gnarled and corrugated thing marked by a blueish hue, rather than a smooth grey stone. The landscape of the Abyss is similarly warped and altered, appearing wholly unfamiliar to one who resides in another plane.
When something is changed in another plane, the change is reflected in the Abyss. Be it a new home built, an earthquake that changes the landscape, or the death of a being— an equal and mirrored change will show in the Abyss. The opposite cannot happen, however— if something changes in the Abyss, it will not alter the other planes.
The Abyss is connected to the material plane through shadows and darkness— which is why those who spend far too long in the dark often succumb to tchaotikloux.

A Dark Mirror

Sapient beings have sapient mirrors— even humans. Mirror humans are known as kla'nar, shadowy figures who float from their hips, dragging and bloodying their feet as they do so. Sapient mirrors of lesser beings— such as humans— are mere puppets, who move as their counterpart moves, without a choice.
They are often either bitter or reserved as a result— living in hatred or acceptance of their circumstances. When more powerful beings intervene— or particular occult rituals are performed— mirrors may be severed from their other selves, and can act freely. Free mirrors may live solitary lives, or form new societies that are entirely unique to the Abyss. It is not uncommon for spiteful mirrors to pursue their counterparts to enact revenge— one with a free mirror may hear them whisper in the dark, and would be wise to avoid complete darkness.
Mirrors of greater beings are independent, and go about their own lives as they see fit. Some, even, attempt to merge with their counterparts, becoming an entity more powerful than they were as separate beings.

Crossing Over

It is more difficult for mirrors to perceive other planes than it is for their counterparts. This often requires certain rituals, insight, and power. The number of those who perceive another plane are few, and even fewer for the lesser beings among them. It is much easier, however, for mirror entities to cross over at the behest of other beings— though due to the strange nature of the Abyss, those who summon mirrors will often become afflicted with curses.
Those from other planes will be able to perceive the Abyss without much effort— requiring merely insight to do so. Those attempting to perceive the Ascent will concurrently perceive the Abyss, as the two share a similar structure— each containing myriad existential levels. Those who wish to more easily perceive the Abyss may simply stare into the dark for an extended period of time.

Curses

Curses are unique to the Abyss, though what they truly are is unknown to even the most learned occultists. Some believe they are mirrors of disease— others say they mirror some common being from the Ascent, while some say they are mirrors of weather phenomena. Regardless of what they are— they are often a byproduct of particular eldritch magics. Curses afflict whatever entity brought them into their plane, and can have a wide variety of negative effects. The deeper one reaches into the Abyss, the worse the accompanying curse will be.

Exceptions

Particularly powerful beings do not possess mirror selves— such as Ul'jvot, whose being already encompasses all of existence.

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