Many initiates struggle to conceive of the Abyss, so alien is its nature to human experience. Few manifestations of the cosmos offer even a glimpse into the arcane mysteries of this elusive entity. The Abyss, a primordial and insatiable force, seeks to devour Creation, yet mystical guardians, woven into the fabric of the stars, slow its relentless advance. However, the Abyss is fluid, circumventing cosmic laws only to turn them against themselves.
One of its most subtle manifestations is the Obscure City, mentioned both by Aleister Crowley . According to Noctulius, the Obscure City is "the Jewel of the Abyss", its stronghold in this world. If the Infernal Planes are an intersection between the Void and Existence, the Obscure City is the junction where these forces clash and merge. It is a fortress of black, decrepit towers, constantly crumbling into ashes, a labyrinth in perpetual transformation where no passage remains stable. It is the threshold between two dimensions, the crossroads of entities emerging from the Abyss in search of a path into Creation.
In his writings, Crowley speaks of the "towers" built by adepts he calls "the Black Brothers" of the Abyss. There, souls drawn to the Abyss yet fearing to relinquish their illusion of identity find temporary refuge. I hypothesize that this may also be the case for certain vampires originating from the earthly plane.