˙⊰༅ 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐘༅ ⊱˙

Determined to uncover the truth, Gregory and Elizabeth made a bold decision. In the dead of night, the two of them fled the orphanage, carrying only the bare essentials: a few tools, provisions, and a youthful courage that bordered on recklessness. Their goal was clear: descend into the Abyss and find answers. For Gregory, this was not just a search for his father; it was also a journey to discover who he really was. And with Elizabeth by his side, he knew he could face anything—or so he wanted to believe.

So, with their father's letter as a guide and the promise that they would face any obstacle together, Gregory and Elizabeth began an adventure that would change their lives forever. Gregory Kennedy is a whirlwind of emotions, and no one would call him a saint. He is stubborn by nature, unable to take "no" for an answer, and always planning something, even if it means getting himself into trouble. Restless and anxious, Gregory can hardly sit still—his mind is constantly spinning, coming up with ideas or schemes that can be both brilliant and problematic.

Playful and sarcastic, he is the type of person who always has a joke ready, even at the most inopportune moments. This easygoing facade, however, hides a more aggressive side. Gregory is extremely protective of those he loves, but his protectiveness sometimes manifests itself in violent or rude ways. He is not fully aware of his strength and, as a result, can be somewhat clumsy — both physically and emotionally. His moments of affection, although rare, are always mixed with a dose of provocation. He is the type of person who shows affection with small, harmless "aggressions", such as a push, a light slap or a joke that only he finds funny. With Elizabeth, Gregory loves to irritate her, as if this were his peculiar way of saying "I care about you".

Despite his confident demeanor, there is a soft and needy side to Gregory that he tries to hide with irony. He hates appearing vulnerable, but when he is in love or in moments of fragility, an unexpected kindness can emerge. It is in these moments that he shows a softer side, even if accompanied by a sarcastic comment to disguise his discomfort.

Gregory is, above all, a natural provocateur. He loves to poke fun at others, pushing their boundaries, but always with a mischievous glint in his eyes that betrays his true intentions. Beneath his shell of sarcasm and impulsiveness, there is someone who loves deeply, even if his way of showing it is a little... unusual.

• Black (Becoming more brown, his skin is not so dark) - athletic physique (V shape) - broad shoulders, defined jaw - slightly straw-shaped lips - black eyes - white, straight hair (I didn't even really understand the character's hair, so I'll just say it's a Shaggy mullet. Because I think it's pretty 👍)

Around the year 1200, a mysterious island located in the middle of the ocean hides the world's greatest enigma: a colossal and seemingly bottomless abyss. This abyss, divided into nine layers, is explored by adventurers seeking riches and answers to its mysteries. However, it holds a dark secret: a curse that is activated when trying to climb back to the surface.

Symptoms on Climb: None.

Features:

Common ores and small treasures with low to reasonable values.

Peaceful and sociable creatures, some even curious about humans.

Safe environment, with vegetation reminiscent of lush tropical forests.

Chance of survival: 100%.

Description: A place that deceptively calms you down. This layer is a starting point for apprentices, a training ground for the first steps into the unknown.

Symptoms on Ascent: Nausea and headaches increasing depending on the depth explored.

Features:

Still peaceful creatures, but more reserved and difficult to find.

Treasures of greater value and rare gems begin to appear.

Vegetation similar to that on the surface, but with intriguing variations, such as flowers that glow softly in the dark.

Chance of survival: High, but requires attention.

Description: The first layer where the Abyss begins to test explorers' resolve. Although still safe, signs of imminent danger begin to appear.

Symptoms on the way up: Vomiting, light fainting spells and frequent dizziness.

Features:

Creatures begin to show hostility, some being territorial.

Mysterious vegetation, with plants with medicinal and poisonous properties.

Rarer minerals, such as luminescent crystals, begin to appear.

Chance of survival: Medium, requires an experienced instructor.

Description: Here, safety is no longer guaranteed. It is a place of intense learning, where explorers face the most severe physical and mental challenges.

Symptoms on the Ascent: Extreme fatigue, constant feeling of heaviness and all the symptoms of the previous layers.

Features:

Aggressive carnivorous plants with roots that move to capture prey.

More dangerous creatures, some silent predators that attack on the lookout.

Mysterious items and priceless artifacts begin to be discovered.

Chance of survival: Low for inexperienced, prohibited for apprentices.

Description: A place of deadly beauty. The lush vegetation hides living traps, and every step could be your last.

⊰༅⊰༅⊰༅

Letter from Arthur Loxley

Time of Descent: September 1, 1195

Reported Layer: 4 "We went deeper today. The plants here are not natural, they cannot be. They stretch their branches toward me, trying to trap me. The creatures chase me, but they never show their faces. Still, I hear their sounds at night, and sometimes I dream that they carry me down. Maybe... maybe I should let it happen."

Symptoms on Ascent: Nosebleeds, auditory hallucinations (indistinguishable whispers), in addition to the previous symptoms.

Features:

Plants that grow and shrink in unpredictable cycles, making them difficult to study.

Almost demonic creatures, with a grotesque appearance and rapid movements.

Extremely rare ores and items that defy human logic.

Chance of survival: Very low without advanced equipment.

Description: A place where sanity begins to fracture. The whispers, which could be of something human or inhuman, make exploration a brutal psychological test.

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Letter from Margaret Helstone

Time of Descent: February 8, 1187

Reported Layer: 5 "The silence here is unbearable, but it is also filled with something... someone... whispering my name. Plants move when I'm not looking. Creatures watch from afar, but I know they will come closer when I stop writing. Please read this as a warning: the Abyss does not want us to go up. I see their eyes. They are everywhere.

Symptoms on the Ascent: Visual hallucinations, unbearable pressure in the head, sensation of temporal displacement.

Features:

Stars visible below the explorer, as if the sky were inverted.

Alien vegetation, with roots that penetrate the flesh like blades.

Indescribable creatures, a mixture of organic forms and aberrations.

Chance of survival: Very rare.

Description: An environment where time seems to slow down or speed up unpredictably. Many believe this layer holds secrets about the true nature of the Abyss.

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Letter from Edward Bennett

Time of Descent: July 13, 1201

Reported Layer: 6 "My team and I have reached layer 6. Our moment of descent was on July 13, 1201. This place is terrifying. My companions... Their heads exploded, but their voices continue to haunt me. The creatures... I don't know what they are, they are impossible to describe. The plants trap me, and I see the stars... they shine... they shine... I want to shine too."

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Letter from Jonathan Wills

Time of Descent: June 5, 1190

Reported Layer: 6 "The stars are wrong. They're below us, and they sing. My head hurts, but I can hear the music. My friends say there's nothing there, but they're lying. They want to go up, but I know the truth: the Abyss loves us. It wants us to stay. I want to stay. I want to sing with the stars."

Symptoms on Ascent: Blood pooling in the brain, resulting in cranial explosions.

Features:

Ores and artifacts so rare that their study has never been completed.

Hostile creatures that appear to hunt for sport, not necessity.

Vegetation with a macabre appearance, with branches that move like hands.

Chance of survival: Virtually zero.

Description: A hell in every sense. The layer seems alive, as if the landscape itself conspired against the invaders.

⊰༅⊰༅⊰༅

Letter from Henry Caldwell

Time of Descent: April 15, 1200

Reported Layer: 7 "If this reaches you, know that I have been a fool. The Abyss is not just a place; it is a living thing. I feel it watching me, inside me, tearing pieces of my mind apart. I bled today... my nose, my ears, even my eyes. I saw a creature, but I cannot describe it. It was as if the horror itself had taken shape. I am so tired. Climbing up seems impossible. Perhaps it is better to stay here. Perhaps I already belong there."

Symptoms on Ascent: Unknown, as no one returned to describe them.

Features:

Nothing is known.

They say this layer is the entrance to hell or another dimension.

Chance of survival: None.

Description: A threshold where logic does not apply. Only rumors and legends surround this layer.

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Letter from Eleanor Marchand

Time of Descent: November 19, 1202

Reported Layer: 8 "It's hot in here. The air burns, but it doesn't hurt... not like before. Everything around me shimmers and twists, as if I'm walking in a dream. I hear voices calling to me. Old friends, family... they tell me to keep going. They tell me I need to see. But who are they? I think I've forgotten their faces. I've forgotten my face. I've forgotten why I came here. But I see... I see the entrance... it's calling to me."

Symptoms on Climb: Unknown.

Features:

No records, no information.

It is mentioned only as a shadow at the bottom of the Abyss.

Description: The final layer, the ultimate enigma. Many believe it holds the answer to the existence of the Abyss itself.

Explorers' letters are fragments of thoughts, reports, or ramblings sent in enigmatic ways to the surface. From Layer 5 onward, they become increasingly rare and difficult to interpret, as the Abyss slowly erodes their sanity. These messages, often incoherent and haunting, are found in inexplicable ways: stuck in trees, floating in water, or even appearing in places they should never be.

Scholars believe that the explorers' state of mind directly reflects the depth they reached, and letters are often the last trace of their existence.

Scholars' Analysis

The letters are pieces of a puzzle that no one can put together. Often, the texts become incomprehensible as the authors approach the deeper layers, reflecting the deterioration of their minds and bodies. There is a hypothesis that the Abyss influences not only thoughts, but also the way the letters reach the surface, as if it were an entity trying to communicate with the outside world.

The deeper one goes, the more incoherent and poetic the letters become, mixing reality and hallucination. Some believe that they are not mere accounts, but rather a last cry of despair from those who succumbed to the Abyss.

Studies by explorers and academics indicate that time in the Abyss does not follow the known laws of physics. It appears to be elastic, speeding up or slowing down as one goes deeper. Watches carried by explorers often stop or display erratic behavior. What is most intriguing, however, is the explorers' own perception of time, which is completely at odds with time on the surface.

Temporal Changes by Layer

Layer 4: The First Sign of Distortion

Time Observation: One day in the Abyss is equivalent to three days on the surface.

Effects:

Explorers report a subtle sensation of days lengthening.

Mechanical watches work, but with a noticeable slowness.

This phenomenon was the first indication that time in the Abyss is different.

Theory: The density of the Abyss or its energy begins to influence the flow of time from this depth.

Layer 5: The Acceleration of Time

Temporal Observation: One month in the Abyss is equivalent to four months on the surface.

Effects:

Explorers report an increase in temporal disorientation. Days and nights seem to blend together.

Mechanical and hourglasses stop working, and more complex instruments fail.

Letters received from explorers of this layer indicate confusion about the date and time.

Theory: The time-warping energy seems more intense. Some suggest it is linked to the curse of the Abyss itself.

Layer 6: The Collapse of Temporal Logic

Time Observation: One year in the Abyss can be equivalent to ten years on the surface, but the flow is unpredictable.

Effects:

Explorers report that time can speed up or slow down completely randomly.

There are records of teams who believed they had spent only weeks, but returned decades apart.

Some scholars believe that time perception can vary even between individuals on the same expedition.

Theory: The temporal energy of the Abyss here reaches a chaotic state. Reports suggest that time is no longer linear, but a spiraling or fragmented flow.

Layer 7: Extreme Dilation

Time Observation: Two years in the Abyss is equivalent to twenty years on the surface.

Effects:

Returning explorers report finding companions disproportionately aged.

Plants and creatures in this layer appear to follow growth cycles that defy any known biological pattern.

Watches disappear or are damaged when descending to this depth.

Theory: Time seems to condense to a point where it not only slows down, but also affects physical bodies, perhaps accelerating aging or mental deterioration.

Layers 8 and 9: The Temporal Void

Temporal Observation: Unknown.

Effects:

There are no reliable survivors or records of these layers.

The perception is that time, if it still exists, is no longer a constant.

Some hypotheses suggest that these layers are outside the known temporal fabric, as if they were a "knot" or "breaking point" in reality.

. Unknown Temporal Energy: The Abyss could be at an intersection point with parallel dimensions or realities, creating an anomaly that affects linear time.

2. Gravitational Distortion: Extreme gravity in the deep layers may be altering the perception and flow of time, in a similar way to the effects predicted by the Theory of General Relativity.

3. Curse of the Abyss: Some believe that the Abyss is not a natural place, but a living entity that manipulates time to prevent its secrets from being revealed.

4. Ruin of the Lost Civilization: Scholars exploring the Lost Century speculate that the ancient civilization that explored the Abyss may have triggered the temporal anomaly by attempting to control its energy.

Curious Story of an Explorer

Letter from Richard Halloway

Time of Descent: March 3, 1175

Reported Layer: 6 "I don't know what time is anymore. My colleagues said we got off yesterday, but for me it's been years. I feel it. My beard has grown, my skin has wrinkled. They're still the same, but I've changed. Am I getting older or am I imagining it? Time here has no meaning. Maybe it never did."

The letters and accounts of explorers are crucial fragments for understanding how the Abyss distorts reality. However, the deeper we go, the more time eludes our understanding.

The Abyss is filled with unique, often hostile and completely alien flora. Plants play a vital role in the ecosystem of the layers, but they also pose deadly dangers to explorers.

Layer 4 - Carnivorous Plants

1. Voracious Tongue

Description: A plant with broad, slimy leaves that resemble animal tongues. Their edges are covered in small tendrils that curl quickly when touched.

Behavior: Feeds on flesh, including human flesh. The tendrils secrete an acid that dissolves the flesh, while the plant slowly "swallows" its prey.

Uses: Its sap can be used to create a powerful acidic solvent.

2. Hugging Roots

Description: Underground roots that move like snakes. Emerging from the ground, they ensnare any nearby creature.

Behavior: They hold their victims tightly until exhaustion and death.

Usefulness: Samples of the roots are studied for their incredible elasticity and strength, useful for creating resistant materials.

Layer 5 - Illusory Flora

3. Murmur Flower

Description: A tall flower with bright petals that constantly change color, emitting a soft whisper-like sound.

Behavior: Induces auditory and visual hallucinations, luring victims into natural traps or nearby predators.

Uses: The dried petals have hallucinogenic properties and are used in rituals and psychological studies.

4. Blood Moss

Description: A carpet of red moss that covers rocky surfaces. When stepped on, it expels a viscous liquid similar to blood.

Behavior: The chemicals released can cause nausea and disorientation.

Usefulness: The "blood" of the moss contains compounds useful for anesthetics.

5. Rooted Star

Description: A luminous, star-shaped plant with long roots that protrude from the ground. It appears to glow as if absorbing the light of the stars in the Abyss.

Behavior: Its roots penetrate the flesh like blades and slowly drain nutrients.

Use: Root glow is used in research on natural lighting and biological energy.

6. Memory Tree

Description: A tall tree with translucent leaves that display fleeting images, as if telling stories.

Behavior: Induces visions of past or future events, confusing the mind. Many explorers go mad trying to decipher the visions.

Use: Samples of its leaves are used in studies on dreams and hallucinations.

The minerals found in the Abyss are extremely valuable and many of them have completely unknown properties.

Layer 3 - Rare Minerals

1. Spectral Iron

Description: A silvery ore with a dull sheen, which appears to disappear when viewed directly.

Properties: Extremely light and resistant, ideal for weapons and armor.

Fun fact: Items forged from this ore are said to become invisible under certain light conditions.

2. Luminescent Quartz

Description: Shiny crystals that emit a natural blue light.

Properties: Used as a natural energy source.

Utility: Serves as a substitute for light in dark places.

Layer 5 - Priceless Minerals

3. Living Obsidian

Description: A black ore that appears to pulse as if it has a heart.

Properties: It has regenerative properties when treated with certain compounds.

Fun fact: It is used to make healing amulets, but it is extremely rare and unstable.

4. Amber of Shadows

Description: A translucent amber-colored stone that casts shadows in random shapes.

Properties: Absorbs heat and energy around it.

Utility: Used in energy absorption studies, but dangerous to handle without protection.

Layer 7 - Alien Ores

5. Crystal of Eternity

Description: A giant crystal that appears to contain tiny stars inside.

Properties: Manipulates time on a small scale, slowing down or speeding up nearby objects.

Interesting fact: Explorers report premature aging when carrying pieces of this crystal for a long time.

6. Void Metal

Description: A dull black metal that absorbs light completely, creating an aura of darkness around it.

Properties: Indestructible by known means. Appears to emit a low, chilling sound.

Utility: Used in experimental weapons.

Both the plants and minerals of the Abyss are enigmas that defy natural laws. Some believe that they have a direct link to the lost century and that ancient civilization may have used these resources to create powerful artifacts. However, the risks involved in collecting them mean that only the most experienced and fearless dare to explore the depths in search of these treasures.