The Serrakhan Scar is a colossal chasm of sandstone cliffs that slices across the The Sands of Serrakhan, a vast dune sea in the southernmost reaches of The Sun Realm. Stretching for miles, this natural wonder is steeped in myth and history, its formation tied to The Aeonic Struggle and the legends of a heroic Mythar named Serrakhan, who ascended to become an Archangel of Unknown, the god of life. The scar is not only a testament to the tumultuous events of the First Age but also serves as a haven for those living on the fringes of society, such as raiders, bandits, and the nomadic Kroot, who use its rocky enclaves for refuge.
Geography and Features
The Serrakhan Scar is characterized by its sheer sandstone cliffs, which plunge hundreds of feet into the earth. The walls of the chasm are marked with striations of red, gold, and ochre, a visual chronicle of millennia of erosion and geological upheaval. The floor of the scar is a winding labyrinth of rocky outcroppings, narrow canyons, and hidden caves, providing natural shelter and strategic hiding places.
Surrounding the scar are the Sands of Serrakhan, a seemingly endless expanse of shifting dunes. This harsh desert landscape is dotted with oases and ancient ruins, remnants of the Mytharil Empire’s influence during the First Age.
The chasm’s rugged terrain has become a refuge for outlaws and those escaping the Serrakhan Sultanate's control. Its caves and crevices are home to small communities of Kroot, nomads, and mercenaries, who have adapted to the harsh environment and use the scar as a base for their operations.
History and Origins
The scar’s name originates from Serrakhan, a Mythar who sacrificed himself to save the Sun Realm during the Aeonic Struggle, an era of divine and elemental conflict in the First Age. According to legend, Serrakhan faced a colossal Elementari of sand, a primordial being threatening to engulf the entire realm in an endless tide of sand and earth. Serrakhan called upon the divine light of Helios, channeling his own life force to shatter the Elementari’s form.
As the Elementari was destroyed, its fragmented essence gave rise to the Sands of Serrakhan, and the resulting impact tore the land apart, forming the massive chasm that bears Serrakhan’s name. Following his sacrifice, Serrakhan is said to have ascended to the Unknown as an Archangel of Helios, embodying the sun’s warmth and life-giving essence.
The story of Serrakhan has been passed down through nomadic tribes of the desert for centuries. He is regarded as a divine hero, a symbol of selflessness and the power of light to conquer chaos. Many of these tribes claim to have received visions from Helion, reaffirming their connection to Serrakhan’s legacy. The Solir (Sun Elves), believed to have been created by the Solar Drake in Serrakhan’s image, also revere him as a foundational figure in their culture and history.
A Shadowed Legacy
During the Fourth Age, Malekith, the self-proclaimed Sultan of the Sun Realm, united the disparate nomadic tribes of the desert under his rule, forming the Serrakhan Sultanate. In a calculated display of irony and dominance, Malekith claimed to be a divine incarnation of Serrakhan, using the hero’s name to legitimize his conquest.
Malekith, who was once the fallen Valekith, harbored deep grudges against both Serrakhan and Emperor Ezekiel, leader of the Mytharil Empire, for their defiance in the First Age. To mock the Mythar’s legacy, Malekith erected grand statues across the desert depicting Serrakhan in the guise of Ezekiel—a deliberate affront to both figures’ memory.
The scar is also considered a sacred site to scholars and clerics of the Mytharil legacy. Many believe it to hold remnants of Helion’s divine essence, and several expeditions have sought artifacts or relics tied to the First Age within its depths.
Regional Influence
The Serrakhan Scar’s treacherous terrain has made it a haven for outlaws. Bandits and raiders use its natural fortifications to launch attacks on caravans traversing the Sands of Serrakhan, retreating to its depths to evade capture.
The Kroot, a nomadic people of the desert, view the scar as both a sanctuary and a sacred place. They perform rituals to honor Serrakhan’s sacrifice, often leaving offerings at makeshift shrines along the chasm’s edges.
Adventurers are drawn to the Serrakhan Scar by tales of hidden treasures and powerful relics. However, the chasm’s labyrinthine caves and the fierce creatures that dwell within—such as sand serpents and scarhide basilisks—ensure that few return to tell the tale.
Mystery and Mystique
It is said that during the solstices, a beam of golden light pierces the scar at dawn, illuminating ancient carvings believed to contain Serrakhan’s final words. Many nomads gather to witness this phenomenon, considering it a divine blessing.
Some believe that fragments of the sand Elementari’s essence still lie buried deep within the scar, waiting to be unearthed. This essence is rumored to hold immense destructive power.
Hidden deep within the scar are crumbling statues erected by Malekith. These monuments, though intended as propaganda, have become twisted symbols of his tyrannical reign, weathered by time and coated in sand.
Legacy
The Serrakhan Scar remains a testament to the Sun Realm’s ancient history, a place where myth and reality converge in the shifting sands of time. It is a land of contrasts: a sacred site to the faithful, a haven for the lawless, and a source of endless fascination for scholars and adventurers. Whether as a reminder of Serrakhan’s heroic sacrifice or as a haunting relic of Malekith’s tyranny, the scar stands as an enduring symbol of the Sun Realm’s turbulent past and its indomitable spirit.