The Barrowveld

Like much of south Duuintriya, the Barrowveld is a rocky, mostly barren expanse with no trees and little to no shrubbery. It is predominantly flat, with a single, stepped hill toward the centre of its area measuring five miles across and four miles north to south. A riverbed borders the south edge of the Barrowveld, but it is frequently little more than a trickle and holds no notable plants or wildlife.

The most notable features of the Barrowveld are the numerous barrows that dot the landscape; some appearing relatively intact, while others have collapse with age and external interference. These barrows are the burial sites of Duuintriya's long-dead kings, dating back well into the Age of Darkness, when Duuintriya was first established.

Ghostly hauntings are common at the Barrowveld, though the spirits are not believed to be those of the Kings themselves. Instead, they are thought to be the Souls of graverobbers that fell afoul of the monstrous creatures that "protect" the 'Veld.

The Barrowveld was once known as the Vale of Lost Kings, a burial ground for Duuintriya's Royalty. It was constructed upon Hallowed Ground and was, for almost a millenia, a well-guarded place held sacred by the inhabitants of the country. However, the Barrowveld fell into disuse and was abandoned as the monster activity in south Duuintriya increased, causing the Hallowed Wards to wane. With monsters now patrolling the old Vale, the Royal Family of Duuintriya moved their palace further northward, and constructed a new burial vale which is still in use today.

The Barrowveld slowly became an empty, lifeless space; where it had once been a jewel in the desolate landscape, it became little more than a remnant of a time now lost. Over the years, the beautiful decorations and rare plants of the barrows were stolen or destroyed, and it became a mist-filled place filled with the mournful cries of lost ghosts. Monsters prowled the barrows, waiting to feast on any unfortunate graverobber they happened to encounter, and few now tread upon the worn paths that still lead their winding way through the graves of dead kings.