Obscurus
Obscurus is the name of a plane created by the goddess, Umos. This plane, accessible only from the Deephollow, is so named for being totally dark. The plane itself rejects light, and those who shed light within Obscurus, be it from torches, spells, or other means, will find themselves burned by it, as if they were an undead standing within Astix' light. The landscape of Obscurus is monochromatic, even with light shed upon it, and no color can be discerned regardless of what magic is used. There are many pockets within Obscurus that are too dark even for the gaze of a Vesperkin's eyes to penetrate. Obscurus can be accessed by finding a Hollowpool, which resembles a pool of water that is pure black and reflects no light. Upon jumping in, one feels a disorienting sensation as they are flipped, as if Obscurus was on the other side of the cavern floor they had just been standing on.
Within this inky darkness, it is said that many have heard the voices of their lost comrades, or loved ones, calling out to them, pleading for help. But this is a trick employed by the Hollowfiend, a cat-like creature that probes the minds of nearby creatures and mimics the voices of those the victim cares about. These Hollowfiends have claimed the lives of many an adventurer seeking to explore the realm and to take on Umos' Gauntlets.
Umos has created innumerable challenges throughout Obscurus that take a variety of forms, but mostly in the form of dungeons. Each promises some great reward, but the peril within is equal to the reward promised. She created these challenges, or Gauntlets, to test the skills of Aellorans, in particular her children, the Vesperkin. The Vesperkin seem to have an odd fascination with Obscurus and its challenges, a fascination that is not shared by the other races of the world, who find the realm horrifying. Many Gauntlets make use of heat in their puzzles due to the Vesperkin's ability to perceive heat signatures.
No two visits to Obscurus will be the same, as Umos likes to change the Gauntlets periodically to keep her children on their toes. There are also rumors of altars that may be found within the deepest, most treacherous reaches of Obscurus which Umos' faithful may pray upon to receive a boon.
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