The Soulswake Wastes

Charged with the energy of the Lifeless.

Overview

The Soulswake Wastes, also referred to as the Soulswake, the Wastes, or the Deadlands, is a desert wasteland located beyond The Gaping Maw, and stretches across a vast expanse in the northernmost region of the continent. It is a place of mystery— frightening, yet tantalizing.

Geography and Environment

The wasteland is a treacherous expanse serving as a death trap for those seeking The Door at the End of the World. This lead to the expression, "Those that seek the Door often find it in the way they wished not to."
But as one gets closer to the Door, the landscape changes from desolate wilderness into a land of eerie beauty. The terrain here is a mixture of dry, cracked earth and swirling mists that seem to have a life of their own. Sparse vegetation and twisted, gnarled trees dot the landscape, and the sky above is often obscured by a perpetual, ghostly fog. It is unclear if these are symptoms of Ancient Morvrom's presence, or if the dead are simply that much closer to the world of life and the land reflects that.

Mythology and Lore

The Wastes are steeped in folklore, with tales of wandering spirits and lost souls filling the culture of the Vol'Kar, and those that dare wander so far north. It is said that the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest here, making it a place of both fear and fascination.
Many Wayfinders have traveled into the Soulswake, hoping to find an answer to the question of life, but none have returned with an answer— if they return at all.

Inhabitants

The most notable inhabitant of the Wastes is Morvrom, an Ancient who captures the souls of the recently departed for experimentation. Besides Morvrom, however, the Vol'Kar make the land their home. The people of the Wastes rarely come into contact with the Ancient that makes it his home, as they fear his magic and his frightening appearance, giving him the title: "Death's Whisperer".
The Vol'Kar travel the desert, finding joy in their tough lives and avoiding the Door despite its large role in their culture. If one were to visit with the Vol'Kar, they would hear the stories of the Wastes, and be warned of the lingering spirits that wander it.

The Leviathan Gate

At the heart of the Wastes lies the rumored gateway to the afterlife, the Door at the End of the World. This is the portal that souls on Teralt pass through after death, unless they are captured by Morvrom, first. This gateway is a focal point of the Ancient's activities, and is central to many legends.

Unexplained Phenomena

Scholars have found difficulty defining the strange and otherworldly phenomena that occur in the Soulswake, such as ghostly apparitions, unexplained lights, and eerie sounds. These phenomena, as well as odd weather conditions, have the area categorized within the annals of history as a cursed place, abandoned— or perhaps forgotten— by the gods.

Alternative Name(s)

The Soulswake, The Wastes, The Deadlands

Type

Desert

Inhabiting Species

• Sunscale Vipers