Abyss Diving

Whether Brave or Idiotic, the Abyss Holds Prizes for all who Enter...

Abyss Diving is the core mechanic/activity of Thalassia's Edge! The Abyss is deep- seemingly never ending, and is said to hold treasures beyond one's wildest dreams. It's been there since the dawn of the nerokata's colony, an ever-present entity that's as comforting as it is mysterious to nerokata. All nerokata feel a sense of comfort towards The Abyss, with many believing that the species originates from The Abyss itself. 

However, The Abyss is not without its risks. Creatures grander than imagination lurk in the depths and call them home- and many of these creatures would love to take a bite out of a careless nerokata. Abyss Diving is a risk and reward mechanic.

This means that your nerokata can be injured in this activity. Please take note of this!

But if you're looking for some adventure, character development, Sand Crystals or items, Abyss Diving can offer those and more! In this guide, we'll go over how to go Abyss Diving.

Risks and Rewards of Abyss Diving

When Abyss Diving, your nerokata can find the following: 

• Nerokata Eggs, allowing you to create new MYOs!

• Abyss Fragments, allowing you to transfer characters to Thalassia's Edge!

• Upgrade Items.

• Sand Crystals.

• Abyss Diving-centered items.

• Collectibles, that can be sold for Sand Crystals.

• New flora and fauna discoveries.

• (The opportunity to apply) Pan's Curse.

• You can, optionally, opt to hunt for a specific item. Common, uncommon, and rare items have different success rates.

• Additionally, for your first Abyss Diving of each month, you can hunt for a Nerokata Egg OR an Abyss Fragment and be guaranteed to find one!

However, when Abyss Diving, your character can become wounded or even get lost in The Abyss. Here's what that entails:

• Wounded nerokata will still return to the Edge safely, but the Abyss has taken its toll. 

• Due to this, wounded nerokata have a MUCH higher chance of getting lost on repeat trips.

• Wounded nerokata, additionally, are more careful in The Abyss, and have a greater chance of bringing back rarer items. This also apply to hunted items!

• Nerokata who get lost in the abyss and will need to be rescued. While lost, they are barred from partaking in other activities. 

• Alternatively, you can choose to have them come back on their own, which will bring them back immediately. This will result in them losing half their found items, rolled randomly. 

Nerokata can only get lost when they're healthy if they dive alone. Wounded nerokata can always get lost, regardless of party size.

If you choose to let them come back on their own without rescuing them, one of the following WILL happen to your nerokata:

• Mandatory application of larger-scale scarring. 

• At least partial Blindness.

• At least partially Damaged Ears.

• Limb loss.

• Loss of learned magic. (Adult-only)

• Temporary infertility. (Adult-only)

How to Abyss Dive

Interested in exploring the depths? Abyss Diving is pretty straightforward to partake in! The requirements are as follows: 

Drawn Entries:
At minimum, a fullbody with a simple background depicting your nerokata exploring The Abyss. They can be exploring the outside edge of it, or be in The Abyss itself. How you want to depict The Abyss is up to you- read up on its lore page for inspiration! Up to three nerokata can dive at once in a party!

Written Entries:
At minimum, a 600-word story of your nerokata exploring The Abyss. They can be exploring the outside edge of it, or be in The Abyss itself. How you want to depict The Abyss is up to you- read up on its lore page for inspiration! Up to three nerokata can dive at once in a party!

Rescue Missions:
When rescuing a nerokata, you can use any nerokata who is not lost themselves. Nerokata on Abyss Diving cooldown can still go on Rescue Missions! Rescue Missions will not retrieve any items, and otherwise follow the rules on Drawn and Written entries. Both the rescued and the rescuer should be depicted. Rescue missions have no deadlines. Just note you cannot use that character in other activities until they're rescued!

Character Requirements:
Both adult AND baby nerokata can go Abyss Diving. However, it's important to note that each nerokata can only go Abyss Diving once a week, their cooldown starting from when their last Dive was rolled. You can, as well, use other users' nerokata with their permission! 

Collab Dives:
Collab Dives are classified as Abyss Dives that include the characters of two or more users. When doing a Collab Dive, it's important to note who owns which nerokata. Those other users have to give consent to their characters being used, usually in the form of emoji reacting to the Dive submission in question. Collab Dives, as well, can have loot split automatically between party members if desired! Only one user has to submit the Collab Dive.

Once your entry is finished, you'll want to fill out the form in the #abyss-diving channel of our Discord using the form found there. A mod will roll your Dive shortly!

Healing The Wounded

If your nerokata gets wounded, it's easy enough to get them healed back up! You simply need to do one of the following:

If drawn:
A flat fullbody of the wounded nerokata being healed by another, dressing their injuries, sleeping it off, etc. Something to show their recovery process. 

If written:
A 400 word story of the wounded nerokata being healed by another, dressing their injuries, sleeping it off, etc. Something to show their recovery process. 

Alternatively, nerokata can also heal on their own after two weeks from their rolled wounded date. So if you're busy, don't worry! They'll be okay! You'll still need to fill out the rest of the form in the pinned messages in #Abyss-Diving, however- mods will not be keeping track of that and doing auto-heals for you!

Status Effects

Healthy:
A perfectly normal and healthy nerokata. They are not in any danger, and roll normally in all activities and events. This is the default status that all nerokata hatch at!

Wounded:
A nerokata that's lightly wounded or damaged. Small to medium bruises, cuts, maybe something is dislocated. These nerokata are more likely to get Lost, and are susceptible to their injuries worsening to the lacerated stage. Chances vary on party size.

Lacerated:
A nerokata who's mildly bloodied and hurt. Larger injuries, multiple open wounds, broken limbs, etc. These nerokata are more likely to get Lost, and are susceptible to their injuries worsening to the maimed stage. Chances vary on party size.

Maimed:
A nerokata on death's door. They're severely wounded, delerious from blood loss, and have trouble concentrating and communicating with others. These nerokara are more likely to get Lost, and if they roll another Wounded status stack, will succumb and die of their injuries. Chances vary on party size.

Lost:
A nerokata currently lost in the abyss. They are completely unable to partake in any group activities or events until they return to Thalassia's Edge, as highlighted above.

Diseased:
A nerokata afflicted with an in-game illness. Nerokata at Stage 2 for ANY disease will always roll as Wounded by default, but are still considered "healthy" until wounded (aka, they will not advance straight into the Lacerated status.)

Injury Upgrade Debuffs:
Nerokata that are even half blind, afflicted with Damaged Ears, or are missing limb(s) will also roll as Wounded by default and follow the same rules as the Diseased status. Multiple Injuries do NOT stack, and a nerokata that's blind and deaf will roll identically to one that's only missing a limb. 

These statuses are tracked on the Masterlist!

Extras, Questions, and Clarifications

My nerokata got an Injury "Upgrade" from getting lost! Is this permanent?!
Yes- Injury Upgrades from getting lost ARE PERMANENT. This is not to scare you, or to dissuade you from going Abyss Diving, but the dangers The Abyss hosts cannot be understated. Nerokata are simply not meant to be down there for so long, and there are creatures living there that would love to make a snack of them. This is, also, why the two week period exists, as you can also get others to help you with your Rescue. You can also use a Sea Nav to bring them back immediately without making an art or writing piece.
The only exception to this are Major Scars, which can be removed as per the rules of that upgrade.

Are there negative side effects to getting wounded?
No! When a nerokata rolls Wounded, think of it as a status effect. It's purely for mechanics!

Other questions/answers will be added here as they're recieved!