Hangsal
| Hangsal | |
|---|---|
| The Great Hole, The Hell Well | |
 A section of Illusion Forest at the bottom of the First Ring | |
| Location | Mount Noibun, Chetroy Island, Thang, Imlan Republic |
| Depth | Unknown; conservative estimate: 30,000 feet (9,100 metres), greatest estimate: 100,000 feet (30,000 metres) |
| Difficulty |
Relatively easy (First Ring) Moderate (Second Ring) Difficult (Third Ring) Extremely difficult (Fourth Ring) Dangerous (Fifth Ring) Lethal (Sixth Ring and beyond) |
| Hazards | Numerous |
| Access |
First and Second Ring (public access) Third Ring and below (restricted access; permit or license required) |
| Visitors | Yes |
Hangsal is a large, deep sinkhole found on Chetroy Island, the southernmost island of the Imlan Archipelago. Chetroy Island itself is a tied-island connected to Bedieng Island by a 2.3 kilometer (1.4 mi) tombolo which juts into Qodon Bay. Hangsal, which is located in the center of Mount Noibun, is the island's primary geographic feature and the world's deepest and largest known chasm. The sinkhole is approximately 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) wide in diameter at the surface and extends beneath the surface as deep as least 30,000 feet below sea level. Hangsal has been described as one of the world's greatest natural wonders and one of the last unexplored frontiers. The geological origins, formation, and history of Hangsal remain poorly understood and are subject to intense speculation and research among the international scientific community. The town of Vontron sits at the rim of Hangsal and is the primary hub for tourists, explorers, and researchers. The Institute for Underworld Studies is headquartered at the northside of Vontron alongside the headquarters for the Chetroy Island Expeditionary Corps. The uniqueness and otherworldly nature of Hangsal has earned it a reputation as a hotspot for intense magic.
Hangsal has been divided officially into seven "rings" with an unofficial eighth ring demarcating the deepest, unexplored sections of Hangsal. Large sections of Hangsal throughout its rings remain unexplored and uncharted. Within Hangsal are a number of distinct biomes with unique and exotic biology, geology, and climates at each and within each ring. In addition, Hangsal is home to several anthropological ruins, including the ruins of the ancient Imriu civilization. The discovery of numerous artifacts, some imbued with magical or supernatural qualities, have led to the development of an entire excavation and treasure hunting industry. Within Hangsal itself is one of the world's most extensive cave systems. A number of underwater openings and geothermal vents have been discovered through underwater dives, which likely lead into the core of Hangsal itself. The maximum depth of Hangsal remains unknown although researchers have speculated that the true depth of the sinkhole ranges between 30,000 feet to 100,000 feet below sea level. The deepest confirmed point reached by humans in Changsal is at 22,000 feet below sea level at Desolation Point. Unconfirmed reports have indicated that humans have descended further below this point although such claims are dubious as the conditions around Desolation Point make it inhospitable and dangerous for the majority of human life. Current understanding holds that it is humanly impossible to travel to and return from the region of Hangsal below the Seventh Ring alive.
The Hangsal Sanctuary Park, which was jointly established by the Government of the Imlan Republic and the Institute for Underworld Studies, includes the entirety of Hangsal immediately below the city limits of Vontron although the publicly accessible part of the park terminates at the boundary between the Second and Third Rings. Travel to the Third Ring and deeper requires a visitor's permit or exploration license as the conditions and environment at these levels are treacherous and potentially fatal to human life. While virtually all of the First Ring and most of the Second Ring has been thoroughly explored by humans, the lower rings are poorly documented. Search and rescue missions below the Second Ring are rarely conducted due to extreme difficulty and infeasibility of such undertaking. Travel below the Fourth Ring is reserved for only the most advanced and skilled explorers who require years of training and acclimatization due to the particularly hostile conditions at such levels. Travel below the Sixth Ring is virtually impossible without protective gear, careful planning, and sufficient supplies due to multiple factors including extreme heat, poisonous gas, and exotic wildlife. The particular challenges and difficulties which confront travelers traversing below the Fifth Ring has earned these sections of Hangsal the moniker of the "Suicidal Canal". Ascent from the deepest sections of Hangsal also presents its own danger. Rapid ascent may be fatal at the lowest sections due to decompression sickness. Numerous base camps and trailheads exist along established routes in Hangsal to aid travelers traversing between the rings.
Archaeological records have suggested that the Imlan Archipelago was inhabited by humans as early as 12,000 years ago. The ancient inhabitants of the Imlan Archipelago likely settled Chetroy Island and Hangsal itself about 10,000 years ago. The indigenous Imriu people are the descendants of the ancient Imlanese and evidence suggests that an ancient civilization inhabited the depths of Hangsal itself. Imriu mythology suggests that there is a sprawling metropolis known as Daiqu Tayyoi ("Bottom of the World") at the very bottom of Hangsal, which serves as a gateway to Amfu, the underworld in Imriu religious traditions.
Geography
Hangsal is situated at the center of Chetroy Island. The island is 6 miles wide in diameter at its widest point and is shaped like a crescent. The western end of Hangsal is connected to the mainland of the much larger Bedieng Island by a 2.3 km-long tombolo known as Thang's Thread. Thang's Thread and Chetroy Island forms the northwestern boundary of Qodon Bay. A railroad track, operated by the Chetroy Express, runs through Thang's Thread and connects the town of Vontron to the closest mainland town of Haichon on the Thang Peninsula. Chetroy Island and Bedieng Island are the southernmost islands of the Imlan Archipelago which are located in the Eastern Wughai Ocean. The seafloor surrounding Chetroy Island is relatively shallow, with the exception of several trenches widely believed to lead to deeper sections of Hangsal, as the seafloor only reaches as deep as 3,000 feet within a 20-mile radius of the island.
Chetroy Island and the southern half of the Imlan Archipelago are part of the Imlan Republic, which is a constituent republic of the Wughai Confederacy. Administratively, Chetroy Island and the Thang Peninsula are part of the Imlanese state of Thang. However, all regions of Hangsal immediately below the Third Ring is under special jurisdiction and administered separately from the government of Thang by the Institute for Underworld Studies.
Geology
The geological origins and development of Hangsal remain a mysterious curiosity within the known world. Early models have hypothesized that Hangsal is a large caldera of an extinct volcano that was part of an ancient volcano chain that formed the islands of the Imlan Archipelago. Within Hangsal, the surrounding walls have dozens of distinct strata of varying geological composition including sedimentary rock, volcanic rock, metamorphic rock, and igneous rock. Beginning with the Fourth Ring, there are strata and formations composed of exotic substances not found anywhere else in the known world, including the extremely rare Hangsalite rock.
Rim
The rim is the outermost layer of Hangsal and is the highest section of Mount Noibun. It is occasionally called the "Zeroth Ring" or regarded as an extension of the First Ring. The geography and geology of the rim is identical to the one found on the rest of Chetroy Island surrounding Hangsal and Mount Noibun. It is forested by large vegetation growth and features steep escarpments which make it difficult to navigate without the use of human paved trails which lead into the city of Vontron, which sits between the Rim and the First Ring. On the western rim which faces Thang's Thread, there is a tunnel (known as Hung's Maw) which bores through the rim, providing leveled, easy access into Vontron. The majority of visitors enter Hangsal through this entrance.
Manmade structures and platforms have been constructed which protrude over the open-air pit of Hangsal. This is most evident through the pillar structures of the Central District, whose architectural supports are built downwards towards the geographic features of the First Ring. The height of the Rim is generally defined as 0–20 meters from the highest sections of the Rim. A transition zone between the Rim and the First Ring can be seen through gradual changes in coloration of the strata lining the cylindrical walls (from lighter brown to darker brown).
First Ring
The First Ring has a similar biome and geology to the Rim, but its walls are noticeably patchier and darker in coloration. The depth of the First Ring is approximately 2,500 feet below the Rim and receives a similar amount of natural sunlight as the Rim. Various species of common birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects inhabit this section of the Ring, making it the most familiar and recognizable part below the Rim. The descent through the First Ring may be done through either mechanical or natural means. Mechanical lifts and elevators from the Rim level to the First Ring are common, allowing travelers to move to and from the First Ring with relative ease. There are natural slopes that encircle downwards the First Ring, with widely traveled footpaths being marked and fenced to provide safe travel.
The First Ring is generally considered to be relatively safe although it is ill-advised for inexperienced hikers, young children, the elderly, or pregnant to attempt to complete the entire First Ring without assistance, supervision, or aid. It is also potentially dangerous to travel through the First Ring after sunset due to large mammals, including the Hangsal wolf, which has been known to attack humans if threatened.