The characters are on a mission to distribute seeds and dried fruit through the Belthara Circle. As they traverse the perilous Ukra'Dor trail, the party passes through the section between the Odo-Kraal Narrows and the Gargoyle camp.

Or

Followers of the Jade Shadow trek through the pass into or out of the Vale. As they traverse the perilous Ukra'Dor trail, the party passes through the section between the Odo-Kraal Narrows and the Gargoyle camp.

The Watcher

Introduction: The Call of the Cave

The party is traversing the perilous Ukra Dor trail, surrounded by the oppressive Odo Kraal Narrows, when they begin to notice something amiss. The path, once familiar, seems to play tricks on their perception: a landmark stone on the left now appears on the right; moss on the trees grows in erratic spirals. As they move forward, time becomes elastic—steps that should have taken minutes seem to take hours, and trails left behind reappear ahead, as if pursued by their own footprints.

When they finally reach the point where the skeleton known as Azrun watches over the trail, the world around them becomes dreamlike. The sound of the wind and the mountains fades, replaced by an oppressive silence. The air trembles around the skeleton, and twigs thrown from it hang suspended for a moment, floating in an altered density, before falling. The group tries to adjust their route, but the trail doubles back on itself, forcing them to return repeatedly to the same place: in front of Azrun.

Suddenly, the air becomes heavy and huge rocks slide down, closing the canyon in front and behind, mixed with a living mist that rises together like impassable walls; everything blurs except the fixed presence of Azrun. Behind them, the mountain breaks into a jagged crevice revealed by a corridor of mist. The group feels the judgment of unseen eyes, their claustrophobia growing, until the only possible route is the passage that Ukra'Dor herself imposes on them.

With a trembling whisper acknowledging the verdict of the living place, they are left to face the dark call that reverberates from within the cave — no return, no alternative, only the inevitable confrontation with the secrets that await them beyond the darkness. One of the group members, pale and trembling, whispers:

"Ukra'Dor has decided. To move forward, we must confront what lies within."

With no choice, the group enters the newly revealed cave.

Part 1: The Dreamlike Environment

The cave is a place where reality seems to dissolve. The damp stone walls pulse gently, as if breathing. The torchlight is gradually swallowed by the darkness, creating shadows that dance and contort like human figures in agony. The mist moves with subtle intelligence, enveloping each member of the group and whispering indistinct words—sometimes promises, sometimes threats.

Challenges:

1. Personal Illusions

Each character witnesses visions of loved ones or their greatest fears, projected by the mist. It takes wisdom to resist the illusions. Failure can lead to hysterical outbursts or even isolation from the group.

2. The Living Silence

The further they advance, the more deafening the silence becomes. As if their energy is slowly being drained, the group needs the physical stamina to resist the psychological pressure, which causes debilitating headaches and makes communication difficult.

Part 2: Echoes of the Failed

Deeper into the cavern, the party finds inscriptions on the walls, written in an ancient language. They tell the story of Azrun, a Stargazer who defied Ukra Dor by attempting to steal the power of Belthara’s circle for himself. As punishment, he was transformed into an undead guardian, condemned to watch over the passage forever. His curse is to fuel the time loop of the trail, ensuring that no one escapes without facing judgment.

As the party deciphers the inscriptions, they hear whispers growing around them. The mist slowly condenses into shapes, creating humanoid silhouettes that slowly approach. The travelers realize that they are surrounded by spectral echoes—the tormented spirits of past Stargazers who failed their missions.

Challenge:

1. The Spectral Echoes

Each echo attacks the party with physical and mental attacks. They drain life energy and create disturbing visions. Fight, succumb, or escape is the only choice.

Part 3: From Fog, He Speaks

In the heart of the cavern, the party finds a pulsating altar, made of bones and covered in glowing runes. It pulses, emitting a reddish light that synchronizes with the characters' heartbeats. Atop the altar is a small crystal - floating, it begins to resonate as the party approaches.

Suddenly, the spirit appears, shrouded in mist and dense necromantic energy. Its voice echoes through the cavern, deep and relentless:

"Insolent ones! How dare you enter my domain? Free me or face eternal judgment!"

Part 4 - Ending

4.1 Ending 1 – The Eternal Vigil (Combat and Moral Choice)

The characters face Azrun, but preserve the altar.

 Faced with the threat of Azrun's specter, the group chooses to fight. The ancient Holder fights like a living shadow: summoning fragments of his pain, creating illusions. After an exhausting battle, the group defeats the entity or seals it temporarily.

Discovery: The runes in the cave also reveal that the altar keeps the time cycle stable, containing breaches through which extra-temporal horrors try to infiltrate the world.

 Final Decision: The group decides not to destroy the altar — saving the Vale, but condemning Azrun to perpetual vigil.

 Final Scene: As they leave the cave, everything behind them disappears like mist. Azrun's skeleton returns to his stone throne, dry-eyed and alert. The path opens. The silence remains. And so does the curse.

 4.2 Ending 2 – The New Pact (Alliance and Ruin)

The group listens to Azrun and destroys the altar, joining him.

Azrun does not resist — he speaks. He offers an alliance and with that they will rewrite the ancient pacts of the gods together. The group, shaken by the revelations, desires for power or revolution, accepts.

Consequence: The altar is destroyed. A tear opens in time. The Vale screams. Creatures invade the present; fossil beasts gain flesh again. Azrun disappears between the cracks, leaving promises of revenge and liberation at the right time.

Final Scene: As they leave the cave, the sky over the Vale is split. Unknown stars shine. The ground trembles. But the players have in their hands an ancient ally who walks among the shadows.

4.3 Ending 3 – The Cycle That Does Not Exist (?)

The group touches the altar... and the world blinks.

In an instant, the absolute silence is replaced by familiar sounds: the cold wind of the Valley, the distant song of birds. The characters wake up in their travel bivouac, amidst the vegetation of the surrounding Valley, as if they had only dozed off. The memory of the cave, of Azrun, of the altar — everything fades like a poorly stitched dream..., but something is wrong.

Another member of the group is there talking to them as if nothing had happened. But there is something in his gaze — as if he does not really recognize them, or as if he is reciting rehearsed lines. He announces that they are “two days from the Gorge of Odo Kraal”.

The name makes everyone's bones tremble.

The group tries to question him, but the words escape like smoke. Around them, the trees seem... out of place. The shadows creep with small delays. And the moss, once again, grows in spirals. When they look back, they see old footprints, already sunk in the mud.

Final Scene:

One of the players, while washing his face in a stream, notices a scar on his arm—one that wasn’t there the day before. Another finds an amber fragment at the bottom of his backpack with runes identical to those from the cave he “never” visited. In the distance, at the edge of the mist, the figure of Azrun seems to peer through the trees...

The Bearers’ Journey

The journey of the Vale Bearers along the trail known as Ukra Dor Pass is one of the most challenging moments of their existence. Almost 100 miles long, the path is not only geographical, but psychic, spiritual and symbolic.

1. Farewell to the Vale

Their crystal cores are recharged in the hot springs and before departing, the Bearers receive a blessing from the Horticulturalists. Their natural weapons are once again awakened.

2. The Ascent of Ukra Dor Pass

The Vale quickly narrows giving way to a trail that winds through a steep passageway crossing natural stone bridges and ancient tunnels. Biting winds carry vivid memories of the Silent Mists: mists that erase memories.

3. The Narrows of Odo-Kraal

A narrow canyon with its floor covered in colonies of multicolored fungi that exude spores that are invisible to the naked eye, but that can infiltrate the lungs and cause hallucinations, suffocation, or temporary memory loss. More than a threat, these fungi act as vibratory filters that react to the intentions of those who pass by, altering the content of the spores according to the intention of their thoughts. Vale Bearers, by attuning their crystals to the rhythms of the Sap, emit pulses of energy that harmonize the colonies, opening safe paths and protecting their minds from the illusory fog.

The Gaze of Azrun - Sitting between the stone teeth that separate Odo-Kraal from the Gargoyles, a complete, hooded skeleton stares at the trail. No one knows his real name — but they call him Azrun, the Never-Blinking. His skull is turned toward the path, as if watching who enters and who leaves. They say his eyes are still there, dry and intact, beneath their bare sockets. No Holder dares touch him—and all pretend not to see him.

4. The Gargoyles

Hanging statues that are living parts of the mountain come to life at night. If they are not greeted with ancient verses, they dive from the heights of the mountains to devour travelers.

5. Edge of the Red Trees

Near the entrance or exit of the pass, the vegetation changes: resinous trees with reddish leaves that whisper in forgotten languages. The ground becomes spongy and pulsating. A mistake here is punished with temporal distortions: one wrong step can drain the soul's energies in seconds.

6. The Belt of the Pillars of Sanity

Before entering the deep forest, a barrier of 33 rustic stone pillars surrounds the main entrance to Ukra Dor. Each pillar vibrates with a specific type of psychic torment — fear, doubt, longing, guilt, lust, ancient hunger, etc.

Function of the Pillars: They attack the minds of intruders, disrupting their perception of reality. Very few are able to cross them without going mad. However, the Bearers are immune thanks to their symbiosis with the Vale: their crystals vibrate in counter-rhythm with the pillars, creating a bubble of lucidity that neutralizes mental attacks.

7. The Teleportation Circle of Belthara

After days of walking and trials, the Bearers reach a clearing where time seems to slow down. In the center, five monoliths make up the Circle of Belthara, activated by a joint chant. Only Bearers can use it — it connects the Vale to several locations agreed upon with the Conclave. It is through this portal that they set out to distribute the gifts of the Vale to people in need and return to reenergize their bodies.

8. Ukra Dor's Moving Forest

Within the forest that borders the lands of Brukon, trees move when unobserved. Paths change location. Creatures follow the Bearers, testing their limits.

For those who do not wish to download the pdf, I leave the same file here on the forum.

The Fertile Valley

1 Overview

The Fertile Valley rises like an emerald ribbon in the center of the icy continent of Ezrute—measuring about a hundred miles from east to west and just over two hundred from north to south. In its southern part, it borders the Skorra glacier, which exhales powerful, cutting southerly winds that could split granite; but as they descend from the mountains and touch the valley, they encounter hot vapors that rise from geothermal fissures and dissipate into humid mist. Combined with powerful ancient magics, this collision creates an almost tropical microclimate: steaming lakes and geysers sublimate, spewing columns of boiling gas in varying mineral hues.

On milder nights, the sky can be seen cut through by curtains of mana—translucent, iridescent veils, reminiscent of oil on water, that form a kind of dome over the entire region. When these colorful sheets brush against the tops of the tallest trees, entire forests light up in an ephemeral glow; seeds awaken in minutes, flowers with colors of all hues bloom and fruits ripen. In this place that oscillates between the material plane and a higher stratum, and on the edges of this anomaly, forests of indescribable beauty and unique exoticism coexist with various creatures that live in every corner of the region.

The original inhabitants are called Supernal Horticulturists. Tall, with pale, semi-transparent skin, interspersed with green filaments that pulse slowly and rhythmically. Every day, they wield hoes of meteoric bronze and sing songs that accelerate photosynthesis. Beneath their magical greenhouses, vineyards and orchards yield two, sometimes three harvests a year. But abundance comes at a cost: addictions to narcotic powder extracted from lilies cause atrophying wear and tear on the mind and body when this source of supreme power and communion is overused. For every abundant harvest, there is always a demigod staggering in the wings, his skin cracked like dry bark.

Between the hungry continent and the verdant abundance move the Bearers of the Valley, also called the Mutes of Mist. Outside the valley, they never arrive in ordinary wagons: they appear with the mists of dawn, driving sleds of woven roots that glide over the snow without leaving a furrow. Cloaks of fur dyed in mineral waters hide their faces; hanging from their chests, talismans of golden moss are the symbol of the accepted commitment. Rumor has it that each bearer carries on his chest a fragment of heated geode - whoever approaches hears the stony tick-tock of a mineral heart.

In their exchanges with the various peoples outside the valley, they ignore the gold. They ask for rotten manuscripts, meteorite fragments, personal diaries, or silver chalices capable of holding back the first autumn mist. On nights of the full moon, they accept lives like “seeds of promise”: broken blacksmiths, exhausted courtesans, scholars without peace.These pilgrims follow the forest of Ukra’Dor—the only access to the valley—and never again touch the city walls.

They say that with each passing generation, their sleighs arrive less frequently. The northern Mordac, the plains of Skolt and Brukon, Dunor, and Skorra itself begin to speculate on the chill of scarcity. While the geysers still roar and curtains of mana paint the sky, the valley remains an oasis of benevolence suspended between worlds. But in the frozen halls of the nobility of Ezrute the same question echoes: when the last sleigh ride ends at dawn, what frozen ghost will feed the continent with such delicacies?

2 History & Origin

The story of the colonization of the Fertile Valley by refugees from the south is a fragment of memory buried under layers of silence, ruins and legends. Before the Jade Comet tore through Ezrut’s skin, there was a kingdom to the south—an empire that no current language can name with precision. They call it, in the prayers of the ancient Horticulturists, Is-Nara, the Kingdom of the Last Summer. A place where the sun lasted longer than it should, where vineyards climbed hills and rivers sang songs of fertility. Here, magic and agriculture had fused to such an extent that crops grew to the rhythm of music and harvests appeared with an enchanted rain.

No one knows exactly how, but Is-Nara fell.

Legends speak of an ancient sin—a ritual that attempted to imprison a deity of abundance; another legend, of a broken pact with the natural cycles themselves. Whatever happened, it was catastrophic. The soil dried up overnight and the flowers turned to ash at the touch of the merciless wind. The Mana of the earth became poison, and time, a dull knife. The ice tried to claim for itself what had once been its own and there were no walls or landmarks left, only harsh memories in the bones of the survivors.

These survivors were the last priests of this agricultural cycle — but also the forgotten, heretics and bastards of a fallen nobility. Trying to recover the glory of a past that would never return, they remained in their ruined kingdom for many, many years in the deepest misery, fighting against their own curse. But by an inexplicable call, a kind of shared dream: everyone saw a green light cutting through the sky in the middle of winter and hitting the center of the continent — the tremors were devastating and finished destroying what little was left of this decadent kingdom. Messianism took hold of them and so they left the south—crossing glaciers and mountains like shadows of the past—with their miserable bodies and a feverish certainty in search of the sign of a promised land.

When they reached the impact region, they found the earth alive, pulsating, as if it were waiting for them. The crater still lay smoking, but branches with translucent leaves sprouted around it, and golden insects flew aimlessly, like divine sparks. The air was dense and the soil extremely fertile.

It was there that they made their Second Pact. The first had been broken with arrogance; this one would be sealed with humility and benevolent, selfless work. The ancient inhabitants of Is-Nara then invoked the entities that inhabited the depths of the earth—forgotten gods who fed on cycles, not prayers—and offered them what they still had: work, memory, and the promise to share.

The gods accepted. But the price was the Harvest Vow: all the abundance generated in the Vale was to be shared with the people who still struggled to colonize Ezrute. The newcomers thus became Supernal Horticulturists, not by choice, but by spiritual imposition. Over time, they gradually accepted elves who had lost their way in the densest forests of the mind, homeless dwarves, meditative orcs who fled the endless tribal wars, and humans without a direction in their lives – these came to be the Holders of the Vale.

And over the centuries this melting pot of races and memories formed the new people who now inhabit the Fertile Vale. Not as a kingdom, but as an organism, a rhizomatic culture that spreads through living roots, connected not by government but by communion.

But the pact is aging. The Vale feels the weight of the centuries. The Holders do not return as often to the cities, and the gods, some say, have returned to whisper in the soil. What has been given may one day be called for—and no one knows exactly what is coming.

3 Climate & Ecosystem

Farming in the Fertile Valley is an ancient art, an intuitive science rooted in the cycles of magic and botany. Here, the act of cultivating transcends the simple management of the land: it is a dialogue between the farmer and the spirit of the soil, between sap and mana communicating in a unique way. Plant transpiration, for example, is regulated by reverse moisture enchantments, where leaves move in rhythmic patterns to keep moisture suspended in the air—creating nourishing mists that float over the fields like veils.

The greenhouses, called Kaherien, are organic structures fashioned from enchanted vines and voice-responsive mosses. They open or retract according to the lunar seasons and the verbal commands of those who cultivate them. Each greenhouse has a heat core powered by silica-manna stones, which exude steady heat, allowing the cultivation of citrus fruits, deep roots and various tubers, even under the threat of the unforgiving climate that surrounds this place.

The Horticulturists have developed techniques of photosynthetic pulsation: when they sing in unison, their tones release powerful energies that promote immediate sprouting. Some ancient trees, called Matrices, are so integrated into the ecosystem that they regulate the microclimate around them — cooling regions that receive excessive heat or condensing vapor into light rain on thirsty beds.

Pollinating insects, many of which are semi-translucent, have been partially domesticated. There are butterflies whose dance regulates fruit set, and beehives that store honey with traces of arcane energy — used both as a sweetener and as an alchemical catalyst. There are even oracular fungi, grown on shady stumps, that whisper climate changes.

Finally, the soil is turned not with a plow, but with rituals of natural magnetic flows that invert the layers of humus. Nothing is wasted: every fallen leaf is returned to the cycle, every drop of sap is collected, and every plant death is ritualized.

4 Social Structure and Customs

4.1 The Supernal Horticulturists—Guardians of Abundance

The Supernal Horticulturists are no longer fully mortal, nor entirely vegetal. Over generations of immersion in the flows of raw mana that spring from the Star Fragment, their forms have merged with the soil, and their souls have taken root in subtle planes. Today, they walk like sentient trees: their bodies are composed of flexible bark and living veins of amber; their joints sprout luminescent moss; their heads, in place of hair, shelter thin leaves that change color with the cycle of mana and nests of small birds and rodents.

Their veins carry sap mixed with blood, and their beating hearts resonate in time with the rhythms of the earth. When they communicate with each other, it is usually through floral pheromones, root vibrations, or chants that make the leaves around them tremble. Some remain partially rooted, their roots reaching deep underground, becoming literally one with the fields they tend. Each planting is a song, each pruning a pact. They use tendril-like fingers to shape the soil, breathe heat to activate subterranean gems, and trace living runes with branches that sprout from their own arms. Their eyes are as opaque as seeds—and in them burn the reflection of memories that belong not to just one life, but to entire cycles of harvests.

4.2 Valebearers—Conductors of the Share

Valleybearers are chosen not by strength, but by inner resonance. Many of them were once marginalized—incurably wounded, orphaned by the ice, bodies scarred by disease or war. The Vale hears them. And so they join the caravan of Valebearers and are taken to the edge of Ukra’Dor for an initiatory crossing. There, amid illusions, beasts and time distortions, they face the living forest. Only those the forest accepts survive.

Those who endure are led to the Sap Core, where they are united with fragments of the primordial meteor. The ritual fuses crystal and flesh, impregnating them with luminescent circuits under their skin, prismatic eyes and a visceral connection with the magical pulse of the soil. Their forms adapt: ​​weapons grow from their arms, roots shield their hearts, and their presence repels corrupted entities.

As Diplomats, they represent the Conclave of the Vale before the various peoples and distribute agricultural gifts according to the cycles of the original pact. As Protectors, they patrol sacred routes, facing aberrations and beasts hungry for the power of the Vale. They are wanderers, spiritually linked to the Horticulturists, and return between missions to reenergize their crystalline cores in the hot springs. Seen as bridges and martyrs, they live between two worlds: one that flourishes and the other that withers.

4.3 Social Mutualism — The Balance between Static and Movement

The coexistence between Horticulturists and Carriers is sustained by an ethic of radical mutualism, a concept that unites spiritual reciprocity and respect. Neither caste survives without the other: The Horticulturists provide sustenance, but cannot leave the Vale without falling ill; the Carriers depend on the magical sap and ritual rest to maintain their stable fusion. Daily life is marked by symbolic actions: when receiving food, the Bearers leave offerings of carved stone in the fields; upon their return, they share rare items, stories, and insights gathered from across the borders, teaching the Horticulturists about the ways of the outside world. Exchange parties, such as the Fruorrem, celebrate this symbiosis with baths in nourishing mist and chanting in chorus, connecting the two classes into a single social organism.

This structure is fluid and respectful, but not without tension. Some younger Bearers question the balance, wanting to abandon the rites or break the pact. Yet even the rebellious Jade Shadow recognize the delicate fabric of dependency and legacy that binds the two groups together.

5 Politics and Factions

5.1 The Conclave of Roots — Core of Internal Politics

The Fertile Vale is governed by an organic and symbiotic political system, centered on the Conclave of Roots, a living entity composed of three Elder Supernal Horticulturalists deeply rooted — literally and spiritually — in the magical soil of the Vale. They embody the living memory of the Vale and are treated as its thinking extension.

The Conclave does not issue direct orders. It transmits intentions through vibrations in the deep roots and symbolic signals at harvest times, which the other Horticulturalists interpret. Decisions are slow but lasting.

5.2 The Wandering Council — Voice of the Bearers

Although the Bearers of the Vale are not part of the Conclave, their importance has led to the formation of a Wandering Council, a shifting circle of veteran Bearers who meet between missions to relay their observations and warnings to the Conclave. This informal body serves as a bridge between the movement and the grassroots, giving voice to the realities of the outside world without directly interfering in the rituals of the Horticulturists.

However, tension is growing. Younger members—especially those from troubled backgrounds—are beginning to question their place in the structure. They feel like instruments of an order that they venerate but do not fully understand. Voices are emerging calling for reforms: more participation, more autonomy, less ritual.

5.3 Sparks of Dissent — The Jade Shadow

The Jade Shadow is the embryo of a rupture. Formed by young Carriers, agricultural apprentices, and even stragglers of the Horticulturalists, this clandestine faction believes that the Seed Pact is broken—that the Vale is sacrificing its own flourishing in the name of a self-imposed mission to sustain the “embryonic peoples” outside its borders.

The Jade Shadow proposes a new cycle: breaking with the division and closing the roots. They advocate the unrestricted use of mana for internal reconstruction and total autonomy of the Carriers, even outside the ritual cycle of the hot springs. Some experiment with unstable fusions with corrupted crystals. Others study forbidden spells mined beyond the borders of Ukra Dor.

The conflict is still maturing, but it will be inevitable: in veiled chants and furtive encounters on the trails of mist, the Vale trembles between tradition and transformation.

5.4 The Dryads — Guardians of the Lower Rifts

The origins of the Dryads in the Vale are shrouded in mystery. Some say they appeared before the Horticulturists themselves, awakened by the first vapors of the Star Fragment. Others claim they migrated from distant places, guided by underground heat currents. The fact is that they did not ask for shelter — they simply appeared.

Since then, they have inhabited the hot and humid subsoil of the Lower Rifts, where their almost ethereal female forms and resin eyes appear and disappear in the mist. They do not speak, do not sleep, and do not eat. With their slow, spiraling movements, they regulate the flow of mana and calm thermal surges that threaten the underground irrigation tunnels and the open-air crevices.

They do not participate in the politics of the Vale, but are revered by Horticulturists and Carriers. The former leave amber offerings; the latter seek their blessing before dangerous crossings. Both castes recognize them as primordial beings, perhaps even prior to the Valley itself.

5.5 Foreign Policy — The Domain of Sharing

The Vale’s foreign policy is shaped by the sacred mission of the Bearers: to bring the gifts of the soil to distant peoples. These contacts are regulated by living pacts, carved into the very bodies of the Bearers, who become walking treaties—diplomats, senders, and protectors of a mission that transcends commerce or power.

The Vale maintains no armed borders, nor does it exact tribute. But its gift is conditional: it demands spiritual reciprocity. Some peoples send artifacts, chants, or seasonal offerings. Others merely silence. And, over time, profiteers emerge, feigning friendship in order to obtain the magical fruits.

Though the Horticulturists do not leave the Vale, their roots sense the imbalances beyond. When the cycles of return are broken, or when a Bearer fails to return, the Conclave adjusts the flows of sharing. This is perceived by outsiders as a natural sanction—but some outsiders are beginning to see the Vale as a center of power disguised as benevolence.

With the Jade Shadow working behind the scenes and a world starving for mana, the Vale’s foreign policy is approaching a silent storm.

6 Religion & Magic

6.1 Magic as the Pulse of the Earth

In the Fertile Valley, magic is not learned, but lived. It springs from the soil, permeates the air, infiltrates the flesh and circulates with the sap. Its origin is the Star Fragment, a nucleus of raw mana that fell from the heavens in ancient times and is now hidden in the heart of the Valley. This fragment emanates a constant flow of vital energy that shapes biology, alters consciousness and anchors the rites that govern this society.

The Supernal Horticulturists channel it through ritual chants that awaken dormant seeds, symbols traced with living roots that reprogram the earth, thermal breathing that activates subterranean crystals, compounds of sap that heal, enchant or provoke visions.

The Bearers, on the other hand, manifest a crystalline magic, obtained by fusion with fragments of the meteor. This form is more aggressive and defensive: weapons sprout from the body, roots shield vital organs, and its naturally repellent presence to corrupted entities acts as a living barrier between the Vale and the outside world.

6.2 Religion as Cultivation of Harmony

There are no named gods in the Valley. Religion here is pantheistic, ritualistic, and deeply integrated with the natural cycle. The Supernal Horticulturists themselves are seen as living priests who carry out the will of the land and are guarantors of the Seed Pact, the sacred code that demands balance between growth, sharing, and preservation.

Every planting is a liturgical act. Each agricultural cycle corresponds to a sacred act that aligns the will of the soil with that of the inhabitants. Rituals include:

• Sowing ceremonies in which chants unite with tools;

• Nourishing mist baths, which purify body and spirit;

• Seasonal festivals such as Fruorrem, in which Horticulturists and Carriers celebrate their symbiosis.

The Carriers, in turn, are seen as mystical pilgrims, agents of the spiritual expansion of the Valley. By distributing sacred food to the covenanted peoples, they spread the faith of collective growth, and are treated as silent missionaries.

6.3 Schism and Imbalance

The religion, though harmonious on the surface, is already showing cracks. The Jade Shadow faction questions the centrality of the Seed Pact and rejects the idea that the flourishing of others must come before one’s own. They consider excessive sharing an immobilizing dogma, an obstacle to the full power of the Vale.

Some of their members experiment with dissident rituals: fusions with corrupted crystals, lunar cults, and rites of uprooting, in which they sever their symbolic ties to natural cycles. They do not reject mana—but they want to free it from ancient rites, severing the link between magic and ritual submission.

7 Points of Interest

1 Ukra Dor – The vast forest north of the valley serves as a living barrier against the rest of Ezrute. Its paths move. Impassable without guidance, it bends space and time, distorts memories, and devours intentions.

2 Sap Core - The place where the new Valebearers are united with fragments of the primordial meteor.

3 Cliff of the Last Chant - A ceremonial place where the important dead are buried. The dark rocks emit deep sounds in the wind. The farewell chants echo for days.

4 Hearth of Sap - The epicentre of the Star Fragment impact. A large crater of liquid jade surrounded by luminescent trees and living vapors. Its edges emit whispers to those who dream nearby.

5 Vaern Terraces - Agricultural terraces on the eastern slopes, built around veins of natural heat. Regions where the lunar cycles determine which seeds will germinate. At night, the fields glow with biophotonic light.

6 Ice Library of Kaen - A tower of enchanted ice, carved from a glacier that pulses with ancient memories. Its towers house living crystals and organic manuscripts that whisper visions upon touch. The structure responds to readers’ presence with chants and illusions. Fragments of a Star Grimoire given to the Horticulturists by the Gods rest in a secret chamber, and each consultation demands offerings of memory—as if the castle were demanding wisdom in exchange for one’s soul.

7 Murlai Mirror - A lake of still waters that reflects not only the moon, but the arcane flows of the Vale. During certain cycles, its surface reveals crop patterns, weather omens, or hidden paths. Horticulturists use it as an agricultural oracle.

8 Kzun Tubes - A vast complex of endless geothermal tunnels and caverns located to the west of the Vale. They not only contain steam and magical condensate from deep within, but also serve as thermal lungs for the Vale's subterranean ecosystem. Filled with crystals, the walls of the Tubes reverberate with subtle heat and a greenish glow, exuding a warm mist that carries traces of dense mana.

From these main chambers, a complex network of natural tunnels and channels, hand-dug by generations of Holders, extends in multiple directions. These tunnels are called Kzun Veins, and they function as thermal conduits and hidden irrigation channels. The moist heat that courses through them keeps the Vale's soil fertile even in the most arid or shaded regions, slowly melting the surface permafrost and feeding the reservoirs of enchanted water beneath the Horticulturists' fields.

Revered as a gift from the living underworld, the Kzun Vats are also a place of deep worship, where offerings are cast into the sacred vapor to maintain the thermal balance of the Vale. It is said that if the vapors cease, the fields will fall asleep and the pact will be broken.

Lower Rifts - Cracks in the ground where mana collects chaotically. The earth here burns like a fever, corrupting flora and mind. Dryads keep constant vigil to prevent outbreaks of imbalance.

8 Story Ideas

The Withering - A silent magical decay spreading through the roots of a remote valley region. Crops are sickening, the soil “forgets” how to nourish itself, and even ritualistic chants fail. The origin is uncertain—it could be a natural imbalance, sabotage, or the end of the divine pact.

The Jade Shadow - Young dissidents who wish to break the Seed Agreement. Although seen as heretics, some act as liberators, others as eco-terrorists, infiltrating the nurseries and sabotaging them to “speed up renewal.”

Invaders - Frozen tribes and beasts from the Great Kristol Glacier have begun arriving from the south, drawn by the valley’s warm energy. Their incursions are increasingly bold, and seem guided by something—or someone—who thirsts for the Star Fragment.

Echo of the Broken Runes - The geode runes that maintain the magical boundaries of the valley have begun to emit erratic signals. Some have faded, others have shattered. The microclimate is in danger of collapsing.

Hunt for the Lost Shard - A fragment of the original comet has been stolen from the Kzun Vaults. The trail leads beyond the forest of Ukra’Dor.

The Seed of the End - A spontaneously sprouted plant is absorbing mana at an alarming rate. Some believe it is the embodiment of the next era. Others believe it must be destroyed.

The Last Holder - A Holder of the Vale has been captured by a foreign nation. His recovery is urgent, as he holds vivid memories of the Conclave of Roots.

The Climate Reversal - Predictions indicate that the thermal flow may reverse. If this occurs, the valley will freeze over within a few cycles. Someone is accelerating the process.

9 Dangers and Monsters

1. Mudwraith - A living pool of corrupted mana that forms in regions where the ground has been defiled by the Jade Shadow. It creeps silently like a slime, and its slime tentacles wrap around the legs of its victims before they realize it. Those who are swallowed do not die immediately: the creature slowly digests their life essence, feeding on dreams and memories.

2. Barkwhisper - These creatures perfectly mimic ancient trees, with fibrous bark that hides mouths full of thorns and eyes buried under moss. At night, they whisper forgotten names and promises, luring the unwary closer. When they attack, their branches strike the bones, and their moans are echoes of ancient corrupted prayers.

3. Fog of Echoes - This spectral fog prowls the shores of Ukra’Dor and manifests itself after tragic events. It takes the form of loved ones or venerated figures, guiding victims to temporal rifts or plant traps. Those who follow it rarely return, and if they do, they carry with them inner voices that never stop. Some claim that the mist is the living memory of souls that the Vale has rejected.

4. Manaworm - A colossus of opaque scales, moving slowly beneath the ground. When it emerges, it devastates entire fields, sucking the vital mana like a magical leech. It is sensitive to the vibration of the Horticulturists' chants, which it obsessively pursues.

5. Broken Forge-Seraph - An ancient automaton built to protect the energy chambers of Kzun Tubes. Now broken and maddened, it wanders the region releasing blasts of heat and chanting words in a dead language. Its presence attracts lightning. Many say that its heart is a fragment of the Star Fragment, pulsing like a war drum. 6. Madfruit Tree - A beautiful and colorful tree with branches that sway even when there is no wind. Its fruits change color every hour, giving off a sweet and hypnotic scent. Those who eat them are consumed by bouts of euphoria. Some villages report mass outbreaks after finding one of these solitary trees growing on the edge of their fields.

7. Cindersnout - A canine beast enveloped in icy blue flames that do not burn flesh, but consume magical energy. They attack in packs, silent as mist, and leave behind only dried corpses of mana. They are hunted with extreme care. It is said that they were born from the remains of a sacrificed Horticulturist.

8. Hatchsplitter - A grotesque insect with powerful jaws and a carapace covered in plant spines. It buries eggs in fresh corpses, which hatch and release larvae. These larvae create new "nest bodies", becoming mobile and unpredictable threats. When Hatchsplitters descend upon a caravan, silence is almost always the only thing left.

9. Amberback Guardian - A natural guardian formed from the fusion of amber crystal and living trunks, usually immobile until it senses mana distortions. Its arms are spears made of hardened resin, and its skin glows with arcane inscriptions. It protects sacred trails and resting places of the Horticulturists, recognizing true Bearers by resonance. It is ruthless with intruders.

10. Vineclaws - Living vines with rudimentary consciousness, moving nimbly and slithering through low branches. They have claws that inject a paralyzing toxin, which they use to slowly envelop their prey and drain them until only their skin remains. Created from ancient, forgotten spells, they are considered a mistake that the forest refuses to right.

11. Runebeast - A Valebearer corrupted by unstable mana or desecrated pacts. Their bodies still bear the mark of rituals, but now emit destructive waves of raw magic, and their crystallized limbs have become chaotic weapons. They wander aimlessly, attacking any living being, as if subconsciously seeking to erase their own existence from the natural cycle.

12. Sporemorph - An intelligent fungus that infects living beings and transforms them into normal-looking hosts. Those infected retain memories, but serve the will of the collective mycelium. Only Horticulturalists sense their presence by the changes in the scent of their souls. At night, Sporemorphs gather in fungal circles to sing in dead languages, nourishing their mother colony.

13. Obsidian Stag - A majestic stag with black crystal antlers, capable of reflecting magic and cutting through armor. Rarely seen, it is believed to be an omen—its appearance can herald great change or tragedy. Those who have attempted to hunt it have often disappeared.

14. Rootborn Nomad - Humanoid plant creatures born of broken rituals or unbalanced pacts. Wandering without home or purpose, they attack anything that exudes magical stability. They are often mistaken for Stargazers, which has led to tragedy. Many live tormented by their lack of identity, emitting groans that resonate like pleas for release.

15. Profane Carving - Statues or carvings left by the Jade Shadow at the borders of the Vale. Those who pass by them feel compelled to kneel and make pacts. Even the strongest Stargazers must resist the urge to touch the runes. When activated, they release ancient specters that feed on hope and faith, leaving their victims emotionally sterile.

I wanted to give the map a bit more depth, so I decided to use most of the icons in the Symbols Trees SHEET and calmly and like a monk, drawing layer by layer from the top to the bottom.

So... after a little over 13,619 icons used on the map, 25,080 characters written - all of this during a bout of low back pain - I finally believe I have finished the area in a decent way.

I don't plan on mapping this place any further for now, as soon as Master @Monsen can put it on the waiting list for the Atlas.

Please forgive me in advance for any errors or mistakes with the translation - via Google.

Thank you very much.

(@Shessar )