Veil of Valkur

The Veil of Valkur is a somber and foreboding expanse shrouded in perpetual mist, located at the northernmost edges of the Forlorn Flames of Fyrashan. Once the site of a cataclysmic battle between the Tribes of Khaos, led by the infamous Warrior-King Valkur, and the united armies of the Unknown and the Y’azi Empire, this cursed land is now a grim monument to the bloodshed and destruction that unfolded there. The thick red mist that blankets the land is said to entrap the souls of thousands of fallen warriors, preventing them from passing into the afterlife.

History

The battle that created the Veil of Valkur is one of the most storied in ancient history. Known as the "Storm of Reaping," it was waged between the surging hordes of Khaos, led by Valkur, and the alliance of the Fyrashan people and the Y'azi Dragonborn. These two peoples, rarely seen as allies, joined forces to repel the unrelenting advance of Valkur's bloodthirsty legions.

As the battle raged, Valkur's forces brought untold destruction to the land, with Frost Giant and daemonic Khaos spawn cutting swathes of devastation through the allied lines. The Y'azi Empire's Unknown unleashed torrents of fire and lightning upon the invaders, while the Fyrashan Spirit Seers summoned the ancestral spirits of their people to fight alongside them. The air was filled with the clash of steel, the cries of the dying, and the roars of divine Lung Dragons Fujin and Raijin.

On the hundredth day, with both sides on the brink of annihilation, Fujin and Raijin intervened directly. The twin draconic gods unleashed their divine wrath, severing the veil between worlds to banish Valkur to the Plane of Khaos. This decisive act caused chaos to break out within the Khaos ranks, as Valkur's absence left his armies leaderless and vulnerable. With the routed invaders overwhelmed by the united forces of the Fyrashan and Y'azi, the battle finally ended (see: Fist of the First Warrior-King).

Curse of the Veil

The victory was not without its costs. The land itself was irrevocably scarred by the immense destruction and divine intervention. The once-vibrant battlefield became desolate, and the blood of the fallen soaked the soil. As a final act of spite, Valkur's lingering malice and the energies unleashed during the battle created a red mist that blanketed the land, preventing the spirits of the fallen from finding peace.

It is believed that Fujin and Raijin themselves created the mist as a protective barrier, trapping the vengeful spirits of Valkur's Khaos warriors and ensuring they could not terrorize the living. However, this also ensnared the spirits of the allied dead, creating a haunting and eternal battlefield where the restless dead slaughter each other for all eternity.

Legends of the Veil

The Fyrashan Spirit Seers revere the Veil of Valkur as sacred ground, often performing rituals to guide trapped spirits toward the Plane of Helion. They believe the spirits' struggles and sacrifices are a testament to their people's resilience. Yet, the Veil remains a dangerous and forbidden place for most, as the mist harbors vengeful wraiths and echoes of the battle.

The Y'azi Empire, too, holds the Veil in reverence, viewing it as a stark reminder of their alliance with the Fyrashan and the devastating power of the Khaos Pantheon. Tales of the Veil serve as a cautionary tale, urging vigilance against the return of the Tides of Khaos.