The Arcane Scar

The Arcane Scar is one of the most feared and mysterious regions in all of Aeyirah, located in the southern half of the main continent. Once a thriving, fertile part of the Arcane Dominion, it now stands as a cursed wasteland—a twisted reminder of the hubris that led to the Second Cataclysm. The magical devastation wrought by the Cataclysm not only tore apart the land but also fundamentally altered the laws of reality within the Scar.

Geography and Environment:

The Arcane Scar covers hundreds of miles, extending from the shattered ruins of the former capital city, Elysira, outward into the once-fertile plains and verdant forests that now lay barren. It is a chaotic landscape of magical anomalies, where the boundaries between life and death, time and space, and even magic itself, are blurred.
The Crater of Elysira: At the very center of the Scar lies the crater that was once Elysira, the heart of the Arcane Dominion. The land here is scarred by arcane fire and raw magical energy, with crackling ley lines that twist in and out of the ground like jagged, broken veins. Strange, hovering shards of what was once the city can be seen suspended in midair, frozen in the moment of their destruction. In this crater, the laws of physics themselves are unstable—gravity shifts unpredictably, and time seems to loop and distort, trapping adventurers in endless cycles of their own actions.
Magical Storms: Throughout the Arcane Scar, wild and unpredictable magical storms ravage the landscape. Known as etherstorms, these phenomena are capable of warping reality, mutating living beings, and even transporting objects across vast distances. Etherstorms can appear without warning, turning the ground to molten glass or freezing time in localized pockets.
Ley Line Fractures: The ley lines that once powered the Arcane Dominion’s arcane superweapon now lay shattered, ruptured by the catastrophic failure of the Grand Ritual. These fractures are visible across the landscape as glowing fissures of raw energy that pulse with chaotic magic. Where these ley lines meet, wild magical surges erupt, often creating dangerous anomalies such as rift gates—tears in the fabric of reality that open to other dimensions, or even time itself.
The Wasteland Beyond: Beyond the crater and the heart of the Scar, the land is a barren, windswept desert where no vegetation grows. What once was a landscape of rivers and forests is now dust and ash. Rivers turned to shimmering quicksilver flow sluggishly across the land, corrupted by arcane energy. The air itself is thick with residual magic, giving the atmosphere a faint, otherworldly glow, especially at night when the stars themselves seem to bend and flicker.

Inhabitants of the Arcane Scar:

Though most of the Arcane Dominion’s population perished in the Cataclysm, the Scar is not entirely devoid of life. However, what exists within its borders is either warped by magic or entirely alien.
The Arcane Wraiths: Perhaps the most infamous of the Scar’s inhabitants are the Arcane Wraiths, the twisted remnants of the Dominion’s powerful mages who were caught in the explosion. These spectral beings are bound to the magic of the Scar, flickering between planes of existence. They are neither dead nor fully alive, trapped in eternal agony, and they lash out at any who dare trespass. These wraiths are known for their ability to drain magic from living beings, feeding on the life force of mages and magical creatures.
Eldritch Beasts: The magical corruption of the Scar has also given rise to horrific creatures. These eldritch beasts are warped forms of once-normal animals or completely new life forms birthed from the magical chaos. Some are predatory, like the Voidstalkers, creatures that appear and vanish in the blink of an eye, hunting with silent, predatory precision. Others are massive, lumbering horrors like the Chimeric Colossi, twisted amalgamations of stone, flesh, and magical energy, roaming aimlessly across the wasteland.
The Forsaken: Few humanoid beings live within the Arcane Scar, but some desperate souls, known as the Forsaken, have made it their home. These are former adventurers, outcasts, or arcane scholars who have been corrupted by the Scar’s magic. Some were driven mad by the etherstorms, while others became physically altered—skin taking on a crystalline hue, or their very thoughts influenced by the chaotic ley lines. The Forsaken form loose bands of scavengers, eking out an existence by harvesting what little remains of their former world, often preying on one another for resources.
Arcane Aberrations: Strange, animated magical constructs also roam the Scar. Known as Arcane Aberrations, these beings were once part of the Dominion’s vast magical infrastructure—automatons, golems, or defense systems that have gone rogue since the Cataclysm. Some have retained fragments of their original programming, guarding long-abandoned ruins or attacking any intruders they encounter.

Key Locations:

The Shattered Obelisk: Located at the very edge of the Crater of Elysira, this massive, broken obelisk once served as the focal point of the Arcane Dominion’s magical network. It now pulses with unstable energy, and scholars believe it may hold the key to understanding the full extent of the Cataclysm. Some say that within its fractured core lies a fragment of the spell that caused the disaster, though any who approach too closely are driven mad by the waves of chaotic magic.
The Veil of Broken Time: Near the western edge of the Scar, a region known as the Veil of Broken Time distorts the flow of reality. Those who enter find themselves experiencing time in a non-linear fashion—sometimes aging years in seconds, or reliving the same moment endlessly. It is rumored that remnants of the Arcane Dominion’s armies, caught in a time loop, still patrol the area, forever locked in battle with invisible enemies.
The Aetherium Vaults: Deep beneath the surface of the Arcane Scar, the Aetherium Vaults are believed to hold what remains of the Arcane Dominion’s magical research. Hidden in vast underground chambers, these vaults are heavily warded, with traps designed to keep intruders at bay. Many adventurers seek the vaults, hoping to find lost knowledge or relics of power, though none have returned to confirm their existence.

Mystical Phenomena:

Mana Geysers: The Arcane Scar is home to rare Mana Geysers, eruptions of raw magical energy that shoot from the ground without warning. These geysers can briefly supercharge any magical abilities but come at a steep cost—prolonged exposure can lead to mana poisoning, where a mage’s connection to magic becomes unstable and destructive.
The Song of the Void: In the deepest parts of the Arcane Scar, travelers report hearing a haunting melody that echoes through the air. Known as the Song of the Void, this phenomenon has no known source, but those who hear it for too long become entranced and are drawn toward the heart of the Scar, never to return. Some believe it is the voice of the Arcane Wraiths, calling the living to join them in their eternal torment.

Significance in Aeyirah:

The Arcane Scar is not just a physical scar on the land but a psychological one on the people of Aeyirah. It stands as a monument to the dangers of unchecked magical ambition and the folly of the Arcane Dominion. Many nations have since declared the Scar off-limits, and only the bravest (or most foolhardy) adventurers dare to explore its depths.
Despite the danger, the Arcane Scar remains a tempting mystery. Scholars and treasure hunters alike believe that hidden within its boundaries are lost secrets of arcane power, relics of the Arcane Dominion, and perhaps the key to understanding and controlling the Ephemeral Wells. However, any who enter must contend with the unpredictable magic, deadly creatures, and twisted remnants of a once-great civilization—if they hope to survive the horrors of the Scar.

A view of the Arcane Scar

Alternative Name(s)

The Burn

Type

Region