The Crater of Ascension

The Crater of Ascension is a tremendously vast region of the planet where the Architect finally unleashed his cosmic power and became a true god. Nearly a continent in size, the area itself was still a depopulated reserve of land that had been deliberately left mostly uninhabited by the Empire’s citizens. Instead, the land was being cultivated and processed by several massive machines and mechanical servitors. It was the heart of the Empire’s home world resource production, and it was here that the end began.

Geography

1,000 years since Ascension Day, the world nearly forgot what this region once was, its history overshadowed by the astounding wonder it had become. The ground was shattered, and molten earth surged and roiled, a glimpse of the primordial state the world once had, and leagues of craggy mountains formed. Jagged glass formations reach miles into the sky, forming gigantic concentric rings around Ground Zero. The glass is alive with magical and divine energy, and a new ecosystem of spiritual and magical creatures formed within the halls of the majestic terrain.
It is stunningly beautiful from afar, and emits multicolored light at all hours, yet it remains a forbidding place. The energy of such magic is so dense and concentrated that only the powerful or the stupid venture into it unprepared, and if the radiation doesn’t kill you, the denizens will. The monsters that call the place home are, simply put, the most catastrophic in this world. It’s somewhat of a blessing that these creatures need the sustenance the Crater uniquely provides, as such things couldn’t survive for long outside of this habitat.
Despite the dangers, the place is considered a holy land by the Church of the Architect, and brave companies have already established small, yet undeniably affluent and protective mining ventures. The crystals they produce serve as both fuel and even currency, and the means of processing such materials remains a closely guarded secret.

Fauna & Flora

The crystalline mountains form gemlike valleys that dig into molten earth and the warped remains of the machines that once occupied the region. At ground level, the heat and humidity have nurtured the growth of flora that is both exotic and deadly, with many species carrying toxins that could easily kill people or animals. The air stinks of sulfur and other intense, acrid stenches that cause irritation to exposed skin. Many of the creatures that live here have thick, tough hides that adapted to the caustic air and can withstand the pools of acidic chemicals that form as a result of leaking machine parts and naturally forming compounds.
A few hundred feet above ground level places explorers upon the slopes of the glasslike mountains. Here, the air is breathable, and weather patterns reflect arid mountainsides, yet there danger is even more evident. From this elevation, the near constant electrical storms that roil overhead usually don’t reach potential grounding targets, although occasional lightning strikes still boom through the valleys. Many agile climbing creatures nest and hunt here, monolithic crystalline constructs come alive as they consume energy straight from geysers that gush raw cosmic power, and radiation cascades in irregular intervals over the valley walls.
Proper protective equipment, protection spells, and knowledge of good hiding places is key to surviving this layer, and the reward for diligence is potential access to the geysers and precious geodes of energized crystals that miners and delvers risk their lives to obtain.
Finally, the peaks are perhaps the most dangerous layer of them all. Not only are they difficult to climb because of the smooth glass surfaces, they are constantly experiencing inclement weather, from snowfalls to acidic rainstorms, and the ever-present electrical storms send arcs of energy leaping from one razor-sharp peak to the next in mere instants.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, life can also be found here, mostly in the form of elementals that thrive in such dangerous locations. They fly, crawl and slide along the peaks, waiting for another dose of radiation or electrical current as the storms roll by. Capturing these creatures has proven exceedingly difficult, but a successful catch can typically provide much more energy than crystals alone, although they typically expire quickly in captivity.

Natural Resources

Primarily visited for mining Crystal Shards (currency and energy source), it's also a prime location for all manner of research. For the Faithful, it's a holy land that only the most devout dare to venture, and serves as the epitome of pilgrimage.

Alternative Name(s)

Wonderland, The Hellhole (named by less savory types), The Crockpot

Type

Crater / Crater Lake / Caldera

Location under

The Crater of Ascension

Included Locations

• The Crater of Ascension