The Valley of Ymir is a mystic, cloud-shrouded expanse nestled within the frozen reaches near the path to Anauroch. Revered by both Cloud Giant and Storm Giant as sacred ground, it is said to be the final resting place of Ymir, an Elementari of Storms and progenitor of their kind. The valley is perpetually enveloped in dense, shifting clouds and stormy gales, making it an awe-inspiring yet treacherous place for mortals to tread.
Ymir, The Mother of Storms
Ymir was more than a mere entity; she was a living force of nature, the embodiment of the tempest. Her form was woven from rolling thunderheads and raging lightning, and her voice spoke through the roar of storms. She traversed the world during the First and Second Ages, sundering the skies and altering the weather with a majesty and power beyond mortal comprehension.
Ymir is regarded as the progenitor of both Storm Giants and Cloud Giants, her essence forming the blueprint of their existence. Storm Giants embody her tempestuous might, while Cloud Giants channel her ethereal and enigmatic grace.
Shattering of The Storm Mother
During The Aeonic Struggle, Ymir fought alongside her kin, the Elementari, against the Unknown. Her power, though immense, could not withstand the arcane mastery of Mystera, the goddess of magic and the Weave. In a climactic battle, Mystera unraveled Ymir’s being, shattering her essence across the Prime Plane. Each fragment of Ymir's power was scattered, forming storms that rage eternally, and cloud-wrapped sanctuaries for her descendants.
Though Ymir's corporeal form was destroyed, her presence lingers. The Valley of Ymir is the most significant of these remnants, her essence thick in the air and the storms that endlessly churn above. Some believe her shattered essence shaped the very magic of storms, embedding her will in the Weave itself.
Veil of The Valley
The Valley of Ymir is a daunting landscape, filled with jagged peaks cloaked in perpetual storm clouds. Thunder echoes through the valley like a heartbeat, and lightning illuminates the mist with fleeting brilliance. Those who enter uninvited must contend with fierce winds, disorienting fog, and the unyielding vigilance of the Cloud Giants.
Before her destruction, Ymir used the last of her being to shroud the northern reaches of Anauroch in an eternal fog, creating a natural barrier that deters intruders from reaching the Cloud Giants' sanctuaries. The Valley of Ymir, at the heart of this fog, is both a physical and spiritual anchor for her descendants.
The valley is not only a sanctuary but a proving ground for the giants. Storm Giants seeking to channel Ymir’s fury often perform rites within the valley, calling upon her lingering power. It is said that if Ymir deems them worthy, her voice thunders approval, granting them a fraction of her primordial might.
Her enduring spirit is whispered to still reside within the valley, watching over her kin. Adventurers and scholars who attempt to venture into the valley often report dreams of a towering figure shrouded in mist, her eyes glowing like twin storms. Whether this is Ymir's consciousness or simply the valley's power manifesting is unknown.
Legacy
The Valley of Ymir is a place of great significance to the giants, and its sanctity is fiercely protected. Those who trespass without the permission of the giants risk their wrath. Many tales tell of adventurers who sought the valley’s secrets, only to meet their end in violent storms or at the hands of enraged Storm Giants. However, for those who earn the giants' favor, the valley offers unparalleled insight into the ancient mysteries of the Elementari and their kin.