Shadowvein Pools

A mortal mage emerges in the Near Umbra, via a shadowvein pool.

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Shadowvein Pools are mysterious, archaic pools of fresh water that resemble recreational swimming pools, built in the ancient New Rozsan style. They are all small in surface area (most commonly 4x4 metre squares or 4x12 metre ovals) but are extremely deep, in fact no physical bottom has ever been recorded: no matter the time or brightness of day, the depths of these pools are always hidden beneath thick shadow.

The purpose of the pools, however, is clear enough: they are direct, permanent portals into the Duskscape. In other words, they are locations where the Veil between Waking Materia and its Umbral sibling has been stripped away. One need only swim deep enough into one to eventually emerge from its Duskscape opposite.

The passages work both ways, and as such the areas around the shadowvein pools are inevitably haunted. These hauntings have ensured the structures remain relatively untouched in recent millennia: only a few immortals and particularly learned mortals still know their function, and even then all but the most powerful Material Blades and Staves prefer to stay away. As is typical for a low Veil strength, there is a surreal, dreamlike ambience to the surroundings as well.

Known Portals

Such portals are extremely rare in Materia's Third Age: the methods to manipulate the Veil's strength are only now being rediscovered, let alone the ability to make these alterations permanent. Remaining pools are found along the Voidward reaches of the Broken Empire and the far eastern islets of Valamon, the two locations where original Rozsan infrastructure remains.

Lake Rusal, west of Karja, Oztroja

Muskrat Island, west of Iru, Oztroja

Between Caer Avocet and Ajorasborough, Æthermark

Gormengast

Cape Koumei, Voideast of Piratesmoot, Valamon

Hundredfjord, between Ilesund and Silent Sound, Valamon

History

There is no mention of the shadowvein pools in any surviving First Age literature, meaning their nature must be deduced.
The pools are remarkably well-preserved, albeit often covered with detritus and the collapsed remains of other, nearby ruins. Nonetheless they are considered to be contemporaneous with the surrounding ruins and therefore magically preserved in some capacity. The water itself remains fresh, is seemingly immune to eutrophication and maintains a chilly temperature no matter the season.
It is thought the pools probably belonged to New Rozsa's ruling Lichlords, or perhaps to certain trade barons that did business with demonic societies opposite the Veil. Certainly, these would have been the private, personal "highways" into the Umbral Provinces for the elitemost members of Rozsan society. Nearby ruins include impressive residential mansions, staff quarters, walls and guard towers, suggesting these elites would stay at these sites for extended periods of time.

In the Duskscape

On the Duskscsape side, too, the pools are surrounded by ancient ruins, these ones generally of a combination of demonic and Waking make, further suggesting some type of partnership between New Rozsa's ruling Temporal Vanguard and at least one demonic society. Like their Material counterparts, any walls and buildings seem long abandoned, though certain types of ghost and fae seem drawn to the sites.