Lightless Hollow

Access to Lightless Hollow is gained by triggering a hidden portal located in the North Sewer in the Lower Umbric Plains

Connecting Planes

Lower Umbric Plains

Chasm of Souls

Ossuary of Dread

Evernight Plateau

Threshold Caves

Plane History

Down Below - A Treatise on a Hidden Realm

by Coraal

Any writing or conversation in regards to the Lightless Hollow, or on those beings who are native to this realm, must first and foremost begin with the understanding that information available on these subjects will be in the form of first-hand accounts as provided by those who dwell within the Lightless Hollow itself, and thus accepted with a measure of skepticism, or through experimentation and observation on the part of the presenter. As of the time of this composition, no attempt to directly gain access to the Lightless Hollow has met with success. While it is the nature of many dreamers residing in the City of Lyraclesia to explore the hidden and unknown, such objectives are limited in their scope by a number of factors and obstacles that have yet to be fully accounted for and thus overcome. What is recommended however, and with the most pressing of urgency to this point, is the request that any such dreamer who desires to embark upon such understanding do so respectfully and with the full acceptance that these same experiments can and will have ramifications that will not be readily and immediately apparent.

It is assumed that beneath the feet of the dreamers within the City of Lyraclesia, deep down and within the very bones of the dreaming City itself, lay the place known to dreamers currently only as the Lightless Hollow. Information regarding this hidden realm has been provided freely by the denizens who inhabit this locale in their sporadic visits to Lyraclesia and by all accounts; the Lightless Hollow is very aptly named. Picture if you will a place of near complete and utter darkness, more so even than some areas where the higher orders of mares have been known to frequent, and more silent than that of a tomb. A cold and barren place where no ambient energy, focal or otherwise, exists. The truth of the matter remains a mystery, but all indications point to the fact that the Lightless Hollow is all that remains of a once bright and shining City that was destroyed and left to decay in a location far removed from City which destroyed it.

There is no way to be in any way certain of just when the City to become the Lightless Hollow met with disaster, and it is highly probably that an exact time frame will forever remain lost. While it is certain that dreamers began to discover or return to the City of Lyraclesia put a short two years ago at the time of this writing; it is very possible that the calamity to befall the Lightless Hollow took place an undisclosed but likely great while before this. Two years is scant enough time for any population to begin to attempt genuine and lasting recovery after such a disaster, and attempts to begin even small scale salvage after such a loss would be a very time consumptive endeavor at best. When contemplating the logistical difficulties of such efforts, one must fall back on acceptable and realistic time frames before attempting to proceed.

As mentioned, any history of the Lightless Hollow will be fragmentary at best, with the only sources of information in regards to the past of this lost City provided in the tales and recounting of those who call the Lightless Hollow home and therefore to be met with a level of skepticism until more accurate and detailed facts, based on direct confirmation, can be ascertained. From the accounts provided by both the Lowborn and Highborn who have visited Lyraclesia in recent times; it is said that the City that would become the Lightless Hollow was at one time a wondrous place to rival Lyraclesia in it's full glory and splendor. It was a realm of vast and shining plains that met deep forests full of mystery all of which surrounded grand palaces and monuments which stood basking aglow in the radiant light of the Sable Moon. The same Sable Moon that now blesses the gift of light and warmth upon Lyraclesia. The City was a place that held a rich history, where dreaming denizens could rightly claim pride in their accomplishments and the knowledge they had attained through their efforts and striving. A City that seemed to call, just as all Dreaming Cities appear to do, like-minded beings to enjoy the majesty of a new and expanded reality.

From what has been provided by the denizens of the Lightless Hollow through first-hand accounts is that, at some point in the distant past, large fragments of an unknown nature began to appear in the skies above the City that would eventually become the Lightless Hollow. These fragments were mysterious and created justifiable concern among st the citizens of the City as more and larger fragments began to arrive. Soon thereafter the fragments, now filling the skies in large numbers, became attracted to one another through forces unknown and started to merge together in a series of titanic collisions. What began as a concerned curiosity on the part of the population soon devolved into full scale panic as the size and coverage of these fragments began to increase; creating ever larger shadows across the plains and forests while also obscuring the light of the Sable Moon above.

As the process of collision and merging continued unabated, increasingly darkening greater portions of the sky as the fragments merged into ever larger pieces, the temperature below began to plummet as more of the warmth and light of the Sable Moon was obscured. The citizens now began to flee to the palaces and to anywhere shelter was readily available as the light continued to diminish and the cold became increasingly bitter. The oceans of soft grass once covering the shining plains began to wither and die; the deep forests slowly becoming like skeletal hands before the wind swept dry and broken branches from the trunks of once majestic trees. Huddled in fear within what remained of the City, the dreamers waited for the end. As the last light vanished from the skies, and the remaining energy of their home began to dwindle and die, the City was rent asunder by massive ground quakes as the sky became an endless expanse of stone. The homes of the dreamers, all of their monuments and the physical testaments to their achievements, even the mighty palaces themselves were reduced to rubble and swept from the face of the doomed City. And in a final twist of cruel fate, a wave of utter desolation swept the landscape; consuming the very last of the energy that remained within the former City. After its passage was left nothing but darkness and silence. The Lightless Hollow had formed.

With the understanding in regards to the method by which the Lightless Hollow was created the next prudent step is to move on to the nature of the Lightless Hollow itself. While many facets of information surrounding much of the lost City is currently unavailable; enough factual information has been attained through direct communication with the residents of the Lightless Hollow itself, and as the result of experimentation and exploration conducted to gain a better understanding of this most mysterious of realms. Bear in mind that, as with all locations that exist within the boundaries of the dreaming reality, nothing is outside the realm of possibility.

To begin we must accept that no dreamers, save perhaps the Master Silk Nuvas alone, exist that hold even the remotest bit of knowledge surrounding the process by which a dreaming City is created. While many theories have been put forth throughout the various renditions of the Dreaming Cities; none to date have been confirmed as fact in spite of numerous experimental attempts. Further, and in a similar light, no information is currently present that would lead to any secure understanding of the process by which fragmentary remains of former Cities could be drawn together to merge and form another City to replace them. At the time of this writing, we are left once more with only the barest of hypothetical speculations and the persistence of mythological references at best. None of which could be considered fully reliable as fact.

What has been determined however is that the process by which the City of Lyraclesia was reconciled, and the Lightless Hollow destroyed, had an immediate impact that facilitated an indelible transformative process which shifted the fundamental nature of the Lightless Hollow itself. The absence of both light and warmth through encapsulation would have their own affects on both the local ecology and residents of this mysterious realm, but these were by no means the least of those effects and merely the most obvious. The truth of the matter is that the forced leeching of energy from the Lightless Hollow had a far greater impact than what any resident, Highborn or Lowborn alike, would have been able to predict and would work to fully shape the actions taken by these people to address both the survival of their people and the possible restoration of their City.

Of paramount discovery at the time of this writing is that physical matter within the Lightless Hollow is stable, if in a state of neutral energetic property. What this means is that the physical substance of the Hollow itself does not carry either a positive or negative DreamSoul charge within it. This is a marked difference for the material structure of the City of Lyraclesia as, in this City, the vast majority of matter holds a positive Dreamsoul charge. This, in turn, gives rise to the ambient level of persistent energy within Lyraclesia itself. By contrast areas of the City, such as the location known as Dark Awakening, are composed of material that resembles physical matter but holds a negative DreamSoul charge. In areas such as this, ambient focal and DreamSoul energies are “absorbed” by the material and have the capacity to cause both damage and a draining effect on positive DreamSoul in which it comes into contact.

One of the primary circumstances rising from a state of neutral Dreamsoul within the physical matter of the Lightless Hollow is the inability for a present energetic field to exist. In the absence of either positive or negative Dreamsoul charge within the core foundation of the City; focal energies can neither be regenerated, as is experienced in Lyraclesia, or drained, as is the case within Dark Awakening. As such, the Lightless Hollow simply “is”; neither moving with the energies associated with creationism, growth, or expansion, nor is it in a process of decay and entropy. To exist within such a place would undoubtedly have a terrible effect upon the avatar of any dreamer present over long periods of time and this, then, would also begin to affect the mental state of those beings whose existence is now defined by such a state.

The Lightless Hollow is, very much so, a place of deep shadows and gloom. The only sources of available illumination are those that were created by the residents out of what little remained of the former City and likely an investiture of permanent internal energy that is, currently, lost and unable to be restored or regenerated. With the absence of a primary source of illumination, one can also speculate that this works to maintain the neutral state of energy within the lost City. In many ways, illumination from great sources, such as the Sable Moon, provide a measure of energy upon the surface of those locations which benefit from the presence of such a source of energy. As has been determined in the City of Lyraclesia; many generators and power sources draw their energy from “the environment around them” to produce the goods and energies dreamers are accustomed to receiving. This energy would be supplemented, quite powerfully so, by the light given off by the Sable Moon. As the only major source of illumination within the dreaming reality the residents of Lyraclesia have come to know; it is the belief of this writer that the City would exist within a far reduced energetic state than it does currently were the Sable Moon to be absent.

How any beings managed to survive the cataclysm and afterwards continue to operate in any possible fashion that allowed for potential success of repair or restoration is a testament to the sheer will and determination of the residents of the Lightless Hollow itself. And to continue to be a vital and energetic people in light of their dire circumstances is nothing short of awe inspiring. And it is from this same wellspring of strength and will that the survivors within the Lightless Hollow have managed to not only survive, but begin to thrive and effect the necessary changes and repairs to bring their City once more into a semblance of normalcy and prosperity.

Rubedo Reborn

Following a recent history lesson about the Lightless, and the origins of This city, several dreamers have been spending time in the Lightless Hollow. Familiarizing themselves with it, and trying to get to know the history and feel for those that once dwelled there. Sadara and Mengyao being two of the notables. They had noted a couple of times lately, that there seemed to be ghosts.

On the evening of Saturday, The ghost made itself known by Marking Sadara when she had sat in his throne in the Coffin Hall. Rubedo Morvant, Highborn of the Lightless Survivors, marked Sadara with a hand print on her arm and told her that if his Soul Essence was not found and returned immediately... he would suck her energy away to fuel his rebirth. Somehow, during this, Ra'as apparently became cursed as well.

Sadara and Mengyao sought help from a group of dreamers in the library. Aileron, Advisor to House Calenture, attempted (With Sadara's blessing) to sever the connection between Rubedo and Sadara... but Sadara was pulled back to the Lightless Hollow, bound to Rubedo's throne, and had her avatar stripped from her. The group followed, and Aileron attempted to offer himself in Sadara's place, but was confined to the throne alongside her, also sans avatar. The throne itself began siphoning dreamsoul from everyone who came near, making retrieval of the bound Sadara and Aileron, problematic for the group.

Arnaya, Lance Ruler of House Calenture, retrieved Rubedo's Soul Essence. Poppygirl (ruler of Order of the Sable Moon) and Jevik Bane (Free Spirit, GK Teacher) readied their Gatesmashers... and when Arnaya returned with the essence, smashing it against the ground, they struck to try and destroy the Soul Essence. The Soul Essence however, vanished the moment it hit the ground and their blades hit the stone floor. Almost immediately, Rubedo's ghostly form began to solidify as the Soul Essence appeared on his throne. At the same time, Sadara and Aileron were released, their coherence returning. Many of the assembled dreamers barraged the Ghostly form, the throne, and the Soul Essence with their flames, attempting to destroy pretty much any of the 3 in order to prevent Rubedo's rebirth.. without success. The flames simply danced along the stone of the throne, limning it in fire.

As a last resort, Arnaya attempted to impale Rubedo before he fully solidified. Driving her spear through his chest towards his soul essence and releasing a built up harmonic burst, also to no effect. Attempts to carve the Soul Essence from his avatar while it was still freshly rejuvenated were also futile, with the strikes literally causing no damage or marks on Rubedo. Aileron eventually pulled Arnaya off of Rubedo, and Rubedo extended his hand... just sitting there... for some time, with only minimal interactions.

During that time, Coraal revealed that the Lowborn had been closer bound to the Highborn, and weaker in their own, than most had previously thought. With Zar'tenya's dreamstriking of the Highborn, causing the destruction of their linked Lowborn as well. Rubedo was able to summon one surviving Lowborn... the female lowborn, Nohbudee.

Rubedo made several comments about how the others (other Highborn) should have listened to him and let him wipe out the city overhead to rebirth their own, and how the dreamers had sent Zar'tenya (using less than complimentary terms to describe her) to finish them off and how the cities dreamers had failed or should have been more thorough.

Luther Doth arrived for a brief time, and after a couple of minutes, turned over Lilith Morvants Soul Essence to Sadara to do with as she chose... stating that it was nearly completely drained anyway. Aileron, Jevik Bane, Poppygirl, and Arnaya took up guard positions around Sadara, while Rubedo openly declared that he had no interest in her soul Essence during this time. Cuero however, invis'd and attacked Sadara. Sadara gave the soul essence to Arnaya, who removed it to the safe keeping of House Calenture. Cuero collapsed Sadara shortly afterwards, but did not continue hostilities. He later said that he was pushed to attack Sadara by telepathic whispers.

Luther left right after handing over the Soul Essence, and Coraal swore his service to the Lightless realm. Meanwhile, the Shadow Consortium has stated that they will be respecting the Lightless as a sovereign realm.

Will Rubedo follow through on his intentions to drain the city? How will Coraal's service impact and influence the politics surrounding the Lightless and Rubedo? Does Nohbudee also basically rebel against the Highborn's rule, or is she a loyal follower of Rubedo's?

~ Arnaya, Soulmistress

Lowborn Reborn:

A common question that has arisen lately, is "Who are these "Lowborn" I keep hearing about?". While the people to definitively speak with on the topic are Coraal; Elmer; Mengyao; and Tamarisk, here is a brief primer on the basics of the Lowborn.

Several years ago, a small city rested in the exact location that ours does now. One dream, something (event specifics are still unknown to this writer) happened, and several fragments of two other cities crashed into the smaller one, bonding to it and drawing an immediate surge of power from it to sustain themselves. What triggered this Clash is currently unknown, but what is known.. is that the initial draw of energy didn't just affect gens, sanctuaries, portals, and the like... but the actual dreamers of the city themselves. Leeching the vital essence of their minds, presumably restoring the connections to those cities, to the dreamers who once dwelt in them.

This caused nearly the entire population to essentially be dreamstruck on the spot. Those few that survived, were headed by a group of 4 powerful dreamers of the city that came to be known as the "Highborn". Ascheron, Athenodora, Lilith Morvant, Rubedo Morvant. Each of those 4 bonded certain weaker citizens of the city... essentially pulling them back from the edge of Oblivion. These weaker dreamers subsist largely on vital energy granted to them by the Highborn... those who served more generous Highborn patrons, were generally clearer of thought and speech... which those that served more restrictive Highborn, often (like Merp) displayed a great deal of difficulty comprehending advanced or complicated topics, and expressing themselves in more than the most fundamental ways.

The entire remnant of their city, was sealed beneath layers of the merging, Larger cities. Trapping those of the Lightless (What they came to call the remains of the Highborn/Low Born city) within the dead realm until they were able to finally dig their way out and discover what it was that had trapped them.

The Highborn, in particular, Lilith and Rubedo Morvant, blamed the Clash that destroyed their city, on the dreamers that they found populating the world above their own. Viewing it as a deliberate act on the part of those dreamers, destroying the Highborn's city and population in order to save their own. And so, were immediately hostile towards the dreamers of the city. Taking energy from weakened strongholds, etc. Ascheron, took a more mercenary and mannered approach. Seeming to reason that, since these new dreamers were here... they might as well work with them to try and get what the Lightless needed. While Athenodora took a cautiously hopeful approach. Openly speaking with various dreamers and sharing their story, trying to move past the grief and loss to build a better future for what remained of their people.

In response to various Highborn (Mostly Rubedo and Lilith Morvant's) actions, the assassin known as Zar'tenya took it upon herself to remove this threat to the city of Underlight, and assassinated the highborn. Without the Highborn to sustain those bonded to them... most of the lowborn too, vanished as they exhausted their energies and were claimed by oblivion.

With the rebirth of Rubedo Morvant, some of those lowborn at least that were once bonded to him, have been revived. Most notably: Merp and NoBuhdee (though Nobuhdee seems to have managed to survive the loss of her bonded Highborn patron, theories as to how she was able to accomplish this are still forthcoming). Rubedo Morvant at least, still remains convinced that the Clash of cities was deliberate act by the dreamers of the city above. Though the circumstances and precise outcomes do point to the possibility of a deliberate guiding hand, who's hand exactly and for what reasons... remain unknown to anyone I have spoke to about this topic.

What new information will come out about the Lightless and its residents? And perhaps more importantly... how will the dynamics of their interaction with the city change without the moderating influences of Athenodora and Ascheron?

~ Arnaya, Soulmistress

Journey to the Lightless

A few months ago, the Lowborn Argul visited Frey, Magnum, and I at the Emergence Academy. I offered him a trade of three dreamer essences for him to show us the Lightless Hollow. He altered a tunnel in the wall to accept us. We first arrived in The Lowborne Pens. He showed us around – each Lowborn had their own cubicle pen with the items they had collected from our City.

Afterward, he took us to The Coffin Hall, where he explained that the Highborn sometimes use to talk to the “Dark Bringers” aka dreamers of our City. The room had four thrones in a layout of a semicircle – which he instructed us not to sit on. Argul reminded us that to use our energy sparingly, because natural regeneration is not possible in the Hollow.

The next room he showed us was the Narthex of Sacrament. Argul’s demeanor immediately shifted to terror, as he shied away from the center of the room. I questioned him on what the room was for and he replied with “It’s where they do things.” When pressed on who “they” were and what they did, he explained that he wasn’t allowed to say names. He wasn’t sure what they did, but he knew it was bad and it hurts him. He said it wasn’t a safe room for the Lowborn, and it was good that “they” weren’t there now. “They” didn’t go high in the Lightless often.

We offered him assistance and he directed us to seek out the “BEST lud”; apparently he knows all the things and doesn’t ever take Argul there. As I understand it, he was referencing Lord Ascheron.

He told us that it wasn’t good to stay there, then took us to The Inky Black. It was a dark hall of tunnels that led to various planes throughout our City. I made a list of each plane, in case this information proves to be useful: Chasm of Souls, Ossuary of Dread, Evernight Plateau, Threshold Caves, and Lower Umbric Plains.

He said they weren’t all of the tunnels, but they were the ones near the surface. He also said they were only used to get to our City, not for us to get to theirs. We would need to move through rock to get to the Lightless.

References

https://forums.underlight.com/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=3324&p=20718&hilit=history#p20718

https://forums.underlight.com/viewtopic.php?p=17692#p17692

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