At the peak of the cresting cliffs of the City of Shadows, where once the sun's divine radiance shone upon all, now stands the Umbral Gateway—a one-way passage into The Shadowfell from which none have ever returned. Once called Avatar’s Tower, this magnificent beacon of light was the home of the Sun Avatars, reflecting the will of Helios and standing as a testament to their divine protection over the Solir people.
A Beacon Cast in Darkness
When Itela, the Golden City, was sundered by Malekith's betrayal, the tower became the first victim of his treachery. As Avatar Lumina's divine flame was ripped from her, the tower’s once golden glow turned to an eclipsing black vortex, swirling in eternal mourning. The pristine marble walls collapsed into charred ruin, and from its depths, a rift was torn open—one that led only into darkness.
Now, the Umbral Gateway is a tear in reality, a one-way passage into the Shadowfell where the souls of the lost and the damned vanish into eternal night. No living being who steps beyond its threshold has ever returned. The very air around the gateway is chilled with whispers—memories of those who have stepped through, only to be consumed by the abyss.
Nevarath, Gatekeeper of the Shadowfell
Guarding the portal stands Nevarath, the Eternal Sentinel, an ancient shadowbound entity who once served as a protector of the Avatars before being warped by the darkness. His form is wreathed in umbral mist, his voice both sorrowful and unyielding, and his duty is absolute—to ensure that those who step forward do so willingly, knowing there is no return.
Before allowing passage, Nevarath demands a toll:
“A soul cannot walk in shadow without first leaving its light behind.”
Each traveler must sacrifice what is dearest to them, a relic of their past life, a final severance from the mortal world. Some see this as cruel, a mockery of free will, but in reality, it is Nevarath’s last mercy—a somber way to prepare those who enter for the oblivion that awaits them.
Some believe that Nevarath himself was once a noble Solir, a warrior who stood against Malekith in the Sundering of Itela, only to be cursed to serve the very gate he swore to protect. Others whisper that he chooses to stand guard—not to keep souls in, but to keep something far worse from stepping out.
The Shadow's Toll
The Umbral Gateway is not merely a portal to another realm—it is a testament to the fall of Itela, a doorway into the unknown where the light of the sun has no dominion. It is said that when the final prophecy is fulfilled, when a new Avatar of the Sun rises to reclaim Lumina’s lost radiance, the gateway will either be sealed forever… or fully unleashed upon the world.