The Hollow Reflection is a mysterious rift tear to the The Netherveil, veiled as a silver-glass mirror embedded in the cold stone heart of the northernmost peak on The Immortal Isle. Discovered by King Athelstan Valarion during the early years of his exile, it remains one of the greatest mysteries—and curses—tethered to the Valar bloodline.
Location & Appearance
Hidden deep within the Vaults of Valarion (beneath the Spire of Valarion), the Hollow Reflection resides in a sealed antechamber carved from obsidian stone and sealed by runes of warding. It floats vertically and appears like a standing mirror made of thin glass, glowing faintly with an unnatural argent hue.To the eye, it appears to be perfectly still—a pane of liquid silver that reflects only in grayscale, revealing not the world as it is, but as it festers in the Netherveil. The mirror gives no warmth. It hums faintly, a whisper on the edge of hearing, and the air around it is unnaturally cold.
Discovery & Significance
Athelstan Valarion, first King of the Valar, discovered the Hollow Reflection during a solitary climb of the Isle's northernmost peak during the Third Age, while seeking solitude and communion with the divine in hopes of understanding and lifting the curse bestowed on his people by the Night Mother Nyx.Instead, he found the mirror, half-buried in volcanic obsidian, whispering to him in a tongue he could not recall yet understood. He claimed it was the “gaze of the world’s other half”—a threshold between the Prime Plane and its echoed shadow. It was this discovery that eventually led him to choose the peak as the foundation of what would become the Spire of Valarion.
The Hollow Reflection has long been suspected to be the source of the gloom that blankets the Immortal Isle—the everpresent grey fog, melancholic rains, and pallid hues of the land. Many believe that the Rift thinned the veil between worlds and saturated the landscape with the cold influence of Netherveil.
Shadowbound Affliction
For reasons unknown but suspected to stem from Nyx’s curse, no Valar has ever successfully passed through the Hollow Reflection. It is believed that Nyx herself warded it, fearing retribution from her own creations should they gain access to her realm.The mirror acts as a true reflection, not of one’s flesh, but of one’s soul's shadow. Those who stare too long are said to see themselves twisted, hear voices from the other side, or even speak with their own echoes—dark reflections born of sorrow, wrath, or regret.
Extended contact often leads to hallucinations, paranoia, insomnia, or madness. Queen Euloria Valarion, beloved wife of King Cyrus Valarion, was driven mad after prolonged observation of the Hollow Reflection. She claimed to see Nyx herself, whispering to her from beyond the veil. Eventually, Euloria threw herself from the Spire, her final charcoal sketches incomprehensible renderings of Nyx’s formless visage.
Purpose & Ritualism
Though the Hollow Reflection has never been successfully crossed by a Valar, some believe it serves a ritual purpose, or that its activation requires divine intervention. The presence of the rift within the mountain is often tied to Valarion rituals, particularly those dealing with the study of death, undeath, and the unseen forces that govern both.It has been dubbed “The Hollow Eye” by some within the court, who believe it is both a blessing and a punishment—a reminder from Nyx that her grip upon the Valar remains unbroken, even in death.
Quotes & Superstitions
- “She sees through the Hollow. Not with eyes...”
- “No candle burns in its chamber. None dare light one.”
- “I saw myself in the glass... but it wasn’t me.”