Mara´s defile

Mara´s defile is a large defile in the ground that can be found in the Argen steppes. It runs nearly 200 kilometres and splits nearly the entire Argen steppes in two.    The steppe itself is nothing special; it's the defile that is what interests most of the scholars and priests. The natural rock in the area is all regular sandstone, with a fine, light brown colour, but the stone that makes up the sides of Mara´s defile is a black, marble-like rock. Likewise, the rock on the sides all seems to carry signs of having been cleaved in two, with the markings on each side of the defile lining up. The defile itself is also strangely void of life; no plants or animals can be found living on the sides or at the bottom of the defile.   There are two legends about Mara´s defile and why it is like it is. The oldest version goes that the local god for the underworld rose through the ground and forced the two sides apart. This story is generally believed by the locals who live on the steppes. The other legend originates from the time when the Crienia arrived in the area and saw the defile. It's said that the priests who followed the expedition had a vision one night that showed the goddess Mara use her weapon Spear of Serenitium to cleave the steppe in two. Following the vision, the defile was named in honour of the goddess.   Merchants who travel the land have said that after the vision, some nights, one can see a small moving light at the bottom of the defile.