The Bat’yan is scarred by a curse of unknown origin. In the middle of the rainforest stands a forbidden place where light cannot escape, and the whispers of demons entice anyone to move closer. Miles of the rainforest have been totally swallowed by this darkness, which the Arnerians call the Blackwild. It’s one of the few places in the Beast World where demons can touch the material world. Willful creatures who enter it are invaded by passengers with the desire and power to destroy anything that exists
A barrier erected by the paladins of Dramphine prevents the Blackwild from advancing to devour any more of the Beast World. However, its mile- deep rim is warped by dark magic that claws out of the black. This border region is known as the Ring of False Blessings. Fruits grow enormous and juicy in the Ring, and birds of unreal colors fly between turquoise trees, singing an enticing song in a young woman’s voice. The Ring of False Blessings is beautiful, but in a bizarre, unsettling way. Nothing inside it can leave, but it can try to convince someone to enter.
The Dramphinian paladins hold this law absolute and at the expense of every other: entering the Blackwild is forbidden. Willfully venturing into the Blackwild or Ring of False Blessings is punishable by death. Memories of the terror wrought by demons who rode along on beasts who wandered in compel them not to take chances. Even discussing entering the Blackwild is punished with detainment and weeks of questioning by the order. It is the duty they hold higher than any other.