The Well of Tears
Overview
The Well of Tears is an underground lake infused with magic located at the heart of The Kadigir, the Yzmir Bastion. It houses The Megalith, a titanic floating relic from the Confluence, and serves as both a Tumult singularity requiring constant monitoring and the sacred site where new Initiates undergo their initiation.
Access
To reach the Well of Tears from The Magisterium, visitors must:
- Follow the converging watercourses to a sinkhole where all waters pour out
- Descend along the gorge via a steep circular staircase with narrow and slippery steps
- Pass under roaring waterfalls
- See an iridescent surface shimmering in the mist rising from the depths
- Cross through an undulating veil to access the natural cavity below
The Underground Lake
The cave floor is covered with an underground lake featuring:
- Clear waters pulsating with magic
- An iridescent, shimmering surface
- Mist rising from the depths
- Waters infused with mystical energy
The Megalith
Above the underground lake floats The Megalith—a titanic structure with violet reflections, vibrating with power and seemingly suspended between worlds. This mass of Aether is suspected to be a relic of the Confluence, trapped between the two dimensions.
Significance as Tumult Singularity
The Well of Tears represents one of two persistent Tumult singularities within The Kadigir that must be constantly monitored by the Yzmir. While The Megalith may be dormant, there is nothing to say it couldn’t awaken one day and jeopardize the capital.
Yzmir Theory
The Yzmir predict that if the barrier between worlds managed to close in this place where The Megalith is trapped, then the still-open breaches elsewhere can be sealed. This could be a way to silence The Tumult, although many occult theorists believe that stability will only truly occur when the two dimensions have fully merged.
Initiation Site
The rare chosen ones who attain the position of Yzmir mage are allowed access to the Well of Tears as the culmination of their selection process. Here, future mages:
- Take a small hammer and chisel
- Carve out a Megalith Fragment from the floating relic
- Have it set into a jewel to keep on them at all times
This Fragment acts as a catalyst for their magical power, allowing them to manifest imagination with greater efficiency through The Naali.
Protective Role
Someone had to protect and contain this potentially dangerous phenomenon for the safety of the population of the First City. The Yzmir fulfill this role, keeping the existence of such threats secret to prevent panic among the people of Asgartha.
Symbolic Meaning
The name “Well of Tears” evokes both the water that pours into it from all directions and perhaps the weight of knowledge the Yzmir carry—understanding the hidden dangers that threaten humanity while keeping this burden secret.