Valley of Sighs in the Steel Realms

Steel Realms
Located on Ustermaya .
The Valley of Sighs is the place where the Blood of Saemon crossed over into this world. The barriers between worlds and realities are thinnest here of anywhere in the realms. The area is legendarily evil and inimical, not considered safe for anything. Millions of restless spirits, dreams of gods, pieces of dead avatars, and memories of horror and violence roll over the blasted landscape. Blood leaks form the ground. Clouds of flies and balls of maggots explode all over the landscape. The death rattle final breath of millions of the dying still echo and reverberate in the winds – most in an archaic or original form of Dundarian. Screams of pain, battle sounds, prayers of the living to forgotten deities from “the olde Seat of Grey Birds”, and the gibbering of the mad fill the air. Lightning arcs through the air randomly, as does blasts of all manner of elemental magic.

Meditation of any kind is not possible here, the feeling of suffering and misery is too great.

There are the bones of dragons, demigods, avatars, and all manner of creatures that draw treasure seekers. Fallen heroes – wizards, priests, and warriors – are churned into the soil and pasted on the rocks. Many restless spirit possess knowledge considered lost of forbidden. Many fell with powerful items, items of value, and defending their noble leaders and their treasure. The horror of trying to find anything worthwhile in the mess is daunting and dissuading once one gets a look and smell of the area. Nothing living ever lasts long. Madness consumes many that come here. Even the undead are violated and torn asunder if they try and move through the area. That said, there can be found many a broken Cauldron of Blood on the edge of the valley as some witch, warlock, magus or priest sought a shortcut to power (knowledge, skills, spells, and powers for the dead) and paid the ultimate price, adding their own ghost to wander its edges forever.

It was the carnage on the Godsrage Plain (also the source of the largest and continuing God Storm and still spawning Creatures of Chaos) in The Valley of Sighs that eventually forced the creation of the Godspeak Accord.

Vulcanism Nearby

Vulcanism Ref: Volcanism on Helca

Dominating the southeast is Mt. Doom, where the Unholy Trio first set foot on Helca. A massive, slumbering volcano with activity that is barely measurable but constant. South of it sits the remains of Black Wound – a volcano that last erupted in the Epoch of Celestials, blasting its dome and one side high, and tearing a massive gash eastward for miles. It rumbles constantly, and lava slowly oozes down when the caldera fills, in a south path where there is least resistance from the built up hills of the Black Wound.

i20™ Valley Details

  • Perytons
  • slithering trackers everywhere
  • Random monsters = dreams of gods, dragons, and great spirits

iCore iCore™ Valley Details

About/Chronicle

Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability. If nothing is indicated, assume Common Knowledge.

Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty

Most Recent History

Commonly Understood Origins

Commonly Understood Development

General knowledge…

  • Key Places
  • Key Entities
  • Key Concepts

Obscure Knowledge / Near-Impossible Difficulty

Note: Secret Knowledge is information not available in any known references; It is not necessarily Forbidden Knowledge.

The first Soul Tree of the faerie kin still lives in the Valley of Sighs – blighted and burned but has refused all attempts to extinguish its life force.

Valley of Sighs Materials

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic