Realm of Shadow
"A place where light dies, and fear thrives."
-Ravena Page
The Realm of Shadow is one of the most hostile places contained in The Worldsphere to the sighted. The oppressive gloom can literally suffocate the unprepared, and its denizens have a murderous reaction to direct observation. Woe unto any who dare bring light to the accursed place. Illuminating The Hidden horrors, and twisted landscape for any length of time is certain to draw her ire. A quick death is a blessing for the fortunate explorers, and horrific encounters with living nightmares followed by agonizing torment for those less so. The sounds of these wandering terrors reach the ear occasionally on what wind there is, relieving the sense of utter isolation in the worst possible ways.
The very realm itself It is a one of hidden dangers, and terrible secrets. The landscape shifts unpredictably to her whim. The only constant is the twisted shadows of the other mirror realms. Here the barrier between them is thin, and through it she whispers her dark desires to any who might listen. It is no small wonder that more of the sighted aren’t terrified of the utter dark that makes up this place.
For those who would toss aside all warnings for morbid curiosity, and venture into this realm with the right level of preparation, they may yet live to experience the graves of Zoar. Hidden within the gloaming dark lies the literal shadows of empires, living and dead.
Geography
Only the divine know just how vast Zoar’s Shadow is, and its perpetual shroud of darkness makes it unlikely to be verified by the living. Surviving records detail a shifting, desolate expanse of rugged terrain, characterized by impossibly shear and discontinuous mountains, deep chasms, and winding valleys cloaked in eternal night. Pools of roiling shadows feed inky rivers that meander through the land, ready to sweep away those who attempt to cross it with its deceptive rapidity.
Amazingly, there is plenty of strange and twisted vegetation in secluded pockets where the black rock gives way to soil. These areas contain some of the only native sources of luminescence to most mortals. Navigating through the dense foliage and thorny vines one can find surreal blooms of color. They are well hidden, cloaked by both the thick vegetation and a cloud of poisonous pollen. Weary travellers that can withstand the latter, and slip through the former will find respite, as long as they take care not to disturb the larger plant-life.
Notable Landmarks and Locations
Despite the ever-changing realm, there are documented locations that have a strange geographical relation to each other. Travel far enough in a particular direction, and you may find one or more of these:The Twilight Citadel
A massive fortress that rises from the darkened landscape like a sentinel of shadow. It is the seat of power for The Hidden, and rumored to be their prison. It is the only feature that is always visible, its bone-white structure a constant silhouette against the sky.The Bright Scar
A vertical glowing scar that rises at least 100ft above the plain in which it can be found. Faint marks can be found at the edge of its harsh light, where walls may have stood. The phenomena is the only remains of a long forgotten incursion into The Hidden's domain by agents of The Radiant.The Umbral Peaks
Surrounded by vast chasms, these mountains rise high into the blackened sky, their jagged peaks veiled in constant change storms. The slopes of these titans end abruptly in many places, leading to additional chasms that hide many a creature waiting to pull prey into their depths.Localized Phenomena
Silent Fog
Nearly impossible to distinguish between the usual shadowstuff and incorporeal creatures, this fog drifts in huge plumes over the landscape. Any creature within it will find itself unable to hear or utter sound. The silence is absolute, and can be maddening.Dead Magic
There are stretches of the desolate landscape so featureless, that even magic doesn't function. Neither prayer nor spell can be formed within the area. They are devoid of many of the deadlier creatures of the realm, but they do cross their expanses, and running into them here is sure to spell certain death.Shadow Storms
An odd form of Chaos storm, these roiling walls of shadow leave drastic changes to anything they flow across. It is these that contribute most to the ever-shifting landscape of the realm, and likely what produces the most horrifying creatures.Author's Note
"If I have somehow not swayed you from journeying to this place, then at least heed this final warning:
Be sure that you return with your own shadow." - Ravena Page
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