Roleplay Forums > Canelux > Throat of the Moon > The Void > The Void [Area Description]
CodeNat
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Developer

Character Info
Name: Natsumi
Age: Appears early 20s
Alignment: CN
Race: Eldritch Horror
Gender: Female
Class: Combat Medic
Silver: 10907


Last profile edit: 1/2/2022
Dialogue: "speech" ~telepathy~ 'mental/silent/unintelligible'
CodeNat
Deity
Developer

Character Info
Name: Natsumi
Age: Appears early 20s
Alignment: CN
Race: Eldritch Horror
Gender: Female
Class: Combat Medic
Silver: 10907
The Void in General

The Final Frontier, The Great Emptiness, The Point of No Return: many are the names that describe The Void, a realm steeped in myth and legend. It lies beyond what most would call Revaliir, and plays host to monstrous creatures far beyond the comprehension of the masses. This place, where darkness reigns supreme and the only rule is survival of the fittest, is the realm of nightmares, and yet, also, the realm of treasures unimaginable.

The official entrance to the Void is in the deepest, darkest parts of the Valley of Vada, although there are plenty of reports that mages have gained access through other means and other entrances scattered throughout the lands. Reports of what lies beyond these entrances, however, are universal: the lands of Revaliir fade into an alien, honeycomb-like labyrinth of cold, dark stone. This stone hides many treasures and but it is also so vast that it is easy to lose oneself in the darkness. The stone is also split into several sections depending on where one is in its clutches.

Structured Void

Otherwise known as "The Veil," the structured Void is the most immediate area that can be found after passing through any entrance to the Void proper. It feels most like a massive cavern with naturally occurring tunnels, very much reminiscent of the Umbral Depths; and, as the name suggests, this is where the land is most structured. You will always have a place to step, and you will never come across a bottomless pit. Unlike the more familiar Depths, however, The Veil holds swathes of ores and gems. Diamonds are as common as rocks in this place and they regenerate over time. One could easily undermine the whole Revaliir economy if they had ready access to it, especially given the presence of Midnight Titanium. But that's just it: the prospect is a giant "if." The Structured Void is home to many carnivorous beasts that are sensitive to sound and like to swarm their prey. It is difficult to mine in such a place when you cannot make a sound, and so most give it a wide berth.

Semi-Structured Void

If one is lucky enough or knows their way around the tunnels, they can pass through the Structured Void and into the outside border of The Veil known as the Semi-Structured Void. The honey-comb-like labyrinths from before partially fade away out here, and the land begins to look more like the floating islands of Vendam, Naebeleor, Maisha Maua and Karith. Larger beasties lurk in this place, allowed to roam thanks to the less-cramped standing room; but they are less frequent and more prone to hibernation than their smaller ilk. Alas, the presence of Midnight Titanium and the riches of the earth are fewer in number out here as well. Something else replaces them, however: the presence of fortresses.

Long ago, people actually attempted to colonize the Void. Fortresses still exist from their efforts: long abandoned, floating castles that hold riches from their time. Some of these are still populated, but those are few and far between. Even fewer are the fortress towns that are actually welcoming; and, to make matters worse, here is the section of the Void where traditional magic as well as god powers wane.  The Voice's influence grows thin in this place, and disappears completely at its fringes. It is therefore no coincidence that many fortresses were built at those borders by mages who learned to use magic unrelated to the trees.

Unstructured Void
Past a certain point in the Semi-Structured Void, land disappears completely. You need specially designed ships to navigate this area, and, even then, it is most unwise to try. The Unstructured Void is the domain of creatures grotesque, dangerous and enormous; but even they could wander forever in this place never to find another soul again. There is no set amount of space for this abyss, for the Void is infinite. You are more likely to die of starvation or dehydration by attempting to wander the Unstructured, and yet, if you are dumb enough to make it out this far, there is a massive city at the edge closest to Revaliir: a city called Calamity's Edge.

Wiki Article and Notes

Essay on the levels of the Void by Grand Mage Mora:
https://revaliir.net/wiki/lore/global_almanac/void/
Calamity's Edge: https://revaliir.net/wiki/lore/global_almanac/void/calamitys-edge/
Bestiary: https://revaliir.net/wiki/lore/global_almanac/void/void-bestiary/

Traditional Magic Note: Traditional magic for the Void as it pertains to loss is up to interpretation. Your character's magic may or may not be hindered by being in it. The important bit is that the tree's influence wanes in the Semi-Structured and Unstructured levels, so if from a story perspective your character draws strength from the tree they're going to suffer weakness in the Void that gets worse the further out they travel in it.


Last profile edit: 1/2/2022
Dialogue: "speech" ~telepathy~ 'mental/silent/unintelligible'
CodeNat
Deity
Developer

Character Info
Name: Natsumi
Age: Appears early 20s
Alignment: CN
Race: Eldritch Horror
Gender: Female
Class: Combat Medic
Silver: 10907
The Midnight Mines

Despite the Void's grave reputation, there have been numerous attempts to plunder it of its wealth. Normal flora and fauna do not grow in this place, but rare minerals and gems are everywhere. Diamonds are common in the Void. In fact, they are so common that, if not for the daunting presence of Void Residents, the diamond market of Revaliir would crash overnight. Everything from gold to opal can be found here, even though these gems should not be present in a place like this nor should they exist in such humongous veins. This is all thanks to the sole, native metal that the Void actually has: Midnight Titanium.

Colloquially referred to as Void Metal, Midnight Titanium caused a boom when it was first discovered. It was the only metal in all of Revallir that could spontaneously mimic any other material desired and it also regenerated over time. Void Metal was an alchemist's wet dream and led to the ill-fated Void Rush Century. Mining crews of all races made expeditions into that shadow realm, carving out swathes of the black rock and creating new, artificial tunnels. Their goal was to gain a foothold in that place so they could launch expeditions and corner the market on Midnight Titanium before anyone else. None ever succeeded.

The remnants of the Void Rush Century still remain at the mouth of the Valley of Vada entrance. Several tunnels that are clearly manmade decorate that area of the Void along with various pieces leftover from old mining equipment. Usually, the only things that remain of these tools are the metallic portions, because the wood and bone have been gnawed away by the voracious Stalkers. There are, of course, also statues: ancient markers built as mine claims by one ill-fated expedition after another. Some people nowadays even say they can still encounter phantoms around these haunting colossi: echoes of the past from when expeditions went awry. Documents brought back by brave or insane mages confirm these phenomena as the horrifying truth.

Still, for the hardiest of adventurers who can brave these ancient mines and survive long enough to get their payload back, there's plenty of wealth to be had; at least so long as people can figure out how to mine while still obeying the one rule of this place: don't make a sound. Because, if you do, the Stalkers will hear you, and their tide will be relentless.


Last profile edit: 1/2/2022
Dialogue: "speech" ~telepathy~ 'mental/silent/unintelligible'
CodeNat
Deity
Developer

Character Info
Name: Natsumi
Age: Appears early 20s
Alignment: CN
Race: Eldritch Horror
Gender: Female
Class: Combat Medic
Silver: 10907
Calamity's Edge


The city on the edge of calamity: a shining flagship into the unknown. Calamity's Edge, the structure on the very edge of Revaliir's native Void, used to be a badge of pride for the people of the world. It was a joint effort between mages and gods: a grand experiment meant to tame the untameable. Once a humongous city with unique architecture all its own, it held buildings unlike any seen in Revaliir before: massive metallic structures with vents the envy of Karith's creators. There was no natural earth here, no flora when they started. And yet still greenhouses were constructed with imported soil to feed the populace. The technology and magic were unlike anything seen before; and so Calamity's Edge was called the City of Tomorrow, the next great achievement and a launch pad into the next frontier.

Yet like so many before, the people of Calamity's Edge grew overconfident in their abilities. Their power source, and the pride of their city, was a world tree sapling. It was part of an "island creation" strategy in which the creators sought to continuously produce saplings and form a series of stations into the Void to extend their magical power. They didn't realize that they were only putting out bait for the larger creatures to find them. Or perhaps they simply thought themselves powerful enough to repel anything.

Either way, stories tell of the tree becoming corrupted by something foreign and subsequently destroying the town overnight. Calamity's Edge is now nothing more than a ruin, filled to the brim with abandoned towers and remnants from a bygone era. And yet there are still those foolish enough to visit, to document what remains.

Approach to Calamity’s Edge

The first thing to note about the mythical city is that there are several access points scattered throughout the closer levels of the Void. The one most documented by the authority on this place - Mad Mora - is in fact in the Midnight Mines, and it leads directly into a massive foundry on the city's borders. Inside that tall ceiling space, metallic bowls the size of galleons run along huge tracks; and they are paired with magically enhanced carts for hauling ore. These behemoths all bear the sign of Baltil craftsmanship from the era of the Great Smith, but it is clear they have not been used for many centuries.

There are other portals scattered throughout the confines of the city and all of them are of similar design: gnarled twigs of metal forming the boundaries that enclose colorful pools of mana and a gem of grisial to form their apex. It is not just any grisial either, but highly refined grisial. These crystals are the purest known samples in all of Revaliir, and they shine brightly in an otherwise dreary landscape.

City Makeup

Calamity’s Edge is a massive landscape filled with buildings tightly clustered together. There are no small houses here: only towers. And each section of the city is cordoned off by walls of iridescent metal that are surprisingly easy on the eyes.

As for key locations, first, there’s the foundry, but then there’s also the manufacturing district around said foundry. This massive district is where all of the city’s goods and building materials were made. There are arrays of enchanted sewing needles long since devoid of magic, colossal forges the size of small mountains, and anvils and molds fit for a god. With enough manpower, you could have built anything in this place, but it has long since fallen into disrepair.

Outside of the manufacturing district is the smaller marketing district. Here stores are so tightly packed together that there is nary an area without some type of old advert or advertisement vying for attention. The marketing district is a significant chunk of the city, but, unlike in its glory days, it eerily silent in the present. Most of the non-perishable goods remain, but it's as if everyone just up and left without a moment’s notice, leaving behind all their precious goods to escape from some sort of calamity.

There are more districts beyond it, but, unfortunately, most of those are residential, political and academic: places where people would have gathered. They can no longer be called by their old names, however, for whatever used to be there has been twisted into nightmarish landscapes. They can now only be referred to as nests.

The Nests

Whatever assaulted Calamity’s Edge during its prime turned the vast majority of its population centers into nests for various broods of abominations. Many of these look human in some form, which begs the question of whether the original inhabitants were killed or assimilated. They “sleep” in every nook and cranny of the districts outside marketing and manufacturing, and come out at regular intervals to hunt actual Void creatures. The Nests, as they collectively called now, are dangerous.

Unfortunately, they’re also where the city's most valuable pieces can be found. The people of Calamity’s Edge horded items of various usefulness; and the nobles, especially, held onto prizes that were custom made, never to be put up in the open market. Woe to any poor, greedy fool who tries to go after them, though, for they may find themselves joining the ranks of the twisted residents rather than striking it rich.

The Eye

If one is unlucky enough to trek beyond those horrific nests, there is yet more danger to be found in Calamity’s Edge; and also a grave price to be paid for one's curiosity. The tree that was originally the city's source of power still exists, but it has become a twisted abomination of its former self. A giant eye sits upon that fleshy trunk, pulsating, writhing along with the roots that look more like intestines than wood. This monstrosity can speak, but the words of Mad Mora warn to never listen to it. The only official expedition to make it this far into the Calamity went mad from the experience alone. Every member lost their life, save for the leader who returned to Revaliir twisted in ways reminiscent of The Eye he had beheld.

Tread lightly, adventurer, for the only thing you will find at the center of this city is madness and despair.


Last profile edit: 1/2/2022
Dialogue: "speech" ~telepathy~ 'mental/silent/unintelligible'

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