In this post there is a lot of spoilers. I do not know how to hide the spoilers so asking the moderators to assist.
Eventually after finding a "Ummmmm" something in the nexus I was able to proceed to the town. (Just look around, the way forward is in the caves).
This is where the whole game went from "WOW!" to an absolute grinding halt. Not just because I do not like "new base structures", but because this whole town is just a mess. The town changes.... yes, what you have access to now is not available in maybe 3 or 4 minutes since the buildings change.
Must add something here. Went to the docks, did the islands quest (think was about 7 or 8 of them), but man that final was hectic. Not the final person but all the enemies before you get to kill her. The enemies is about 6 sets of 5. Now the 5 is the important part. You hit them and they fall (not die) for about 5 times. So, everyone you hit down wakes up again for 5 times. The final battle was fairly simple, but I killed her with Ember who I kept one side just casting spells. The rest of my "group" or "party" was all dead beforehand.
Anyway the "abyss" town. To me this is a game killer. Load times are extreme, areas are small, movement from one part to another is limited and you need to find places (not shown on the map) to meet up with people. So you are pretty much stuck in a revolving puzzle looking for people and places with no end in sight. just before I switched off tonight, I was able to roast chicken and potatoes with vegies and a salad (timing) in the time I was able to speak to 3 people and do 4 different areas in the game. that is just an example of load times opposed to actual game play.
I loved the game till this point. Now I am not so sure anymore. I will push a bit more but already considering other games.
If you get to the abyss town. Look for building steps and anything that will take you "up". Eventually you will reach the "head honcho" who will ask you to meet at different locations. Pretty much where the game got killed for me since only 1 location is known and the rest "till now" (even with opening the maps all over, are still unknown, amongst the puzzles, moving buildings, moving roads changing environments), I still have not met the 2nd objective (meeting place) and was unable to open anything new on the maps. (3 hours for a cooked meal using a normal oven) and 0 progress.