Abyssals

A race of water-dwelling creatures, living in the Moonwake and Moonfall seas.

Appearance

Among all Higher Beings, Abyssals have the most varied shapes and sizes. Some are as small as 50cm while others can reach multiple meters. Body shapes are even more varied than that. While there are a few that look fairly humanoid plus some additional fins, many are barely recognizable as living beings. Some are simply large blobs with various appendages, mostly stuck to the ocean floor, while others are floating bundles of tentacles, while even others are spider- and scorpion-like.

As they reproduce through eggs, that are often simply laid in public places and fertilized by anyone passing by, most don't have detectable family resemblances between parents and children or even between siblings. It is very often not even clear what exact family relationships even exist between any group of individuals.

Ryxos' Curse

The sea floor is barely reached by any moon light and there are very few sources of light in these depths. Thus Abyssals have a natural urge towards the surface, drawn by faint rays of light reaching down. But since they also have bodies that are adapted for the massive pressures of the sea floor, it is hard for them to handle the very low pressures of the surface.

The closer one gets to the surface, the more stress is put on their bodies and particularly their brains. With each meter they ascend in the water, their bodies deform more and more, leaving them unrecognizable from their original forms when they were on the bottom. This in itself comes with major physical and mental pain and sometimes even injuries, but is ultimately survivable in most cases.

But due to Ryxos' influence, the influence these pressure differences cause in their brains are majorly increased. The further an abyssal presses towards the surface, the more their perception is warped and the less reliable their brains become. The specific effects are very individual, but many report visual and auditory hallucinations, paranoia and increased aggressiveness compared to their regular disposition. As such, unless the proper precautions are taken and they are correctly prepared, it is often possible for a Abyssals to ascend to the surface without much rational control over their actions. Without intervention this then often leads to horrific massacres where one abyssal can cause large damage to wherever they appear until they are, often violently, stopped in their tracks.

There are many stories about Abyssalss appearing on the shores of coastal towns and wiping out most of the population and even destroying many structures. Similarly, seafarers have many stories about krakens and other terrifying creatures appearing and laying waste to entire ships or fleets.

Cultures

Abyssals are the most populous race in Moonspire, being spread throughout the seas, there are many varied cultures among them. Most are organized in some small cities with one larger city governing surrounding smaller ones. The biggest of these are Driftmaris and Voidmere, located in Moonwake and Moonfall, respectively.

Other than various deepsea creatures, Abyssals do not have much contact with the outside world. No other higher beings can visit their cities, nor can Abyssals easily come to the surface. One of the few places where Abyssals are close enough to the surface to interact with other people is Miralune, close to the coast of Moonwake. Outside of times of the full moon, when their curse is the strongest, they can easily reach the coast or invite other higher beings into their cities, although there are still often cases of Abyssals rampaging when they do leave the sea.

To a lightly lesser extent, Abyssals living in Erebryn also have some easier way to reach the surface, as the city is almost directly connected to Miralune through the Mawtide Currents, an ocean current flowing through both of those cities and ending at the coast of Moonwake. These currents go through large parts of Moonwake and are also often used by ships. This led to a famous trade route known as the Mawtide Road along these currents.

Religions

Abyssals are just as varied in their religions as in their cultures. While most of them worship both Lunara and Kalia, their creators, many also worship some or all of the lesser gods, often including Noctara, who they believe is good friends with Lunara.