Hekara's Abyss

Hekara's Abyss. Beneath the stately Guardians, beneath the raging Kordi Rini, lies the lair of Lajaka, the Ice Dragon of Lassa.
It is not a large area; the Abyss refers to the deepest part of the river canyon, the two mountains on each side, and a few slopes up and downstream (well, and the dragon's lair, which can confuse readers, but we'll only discuss the area above-ground). Despite its size, it is one of the most important spots in the country of Rakan.

~Genophyte Pendarrin of the Iovan Palace School

Hekara's Abyss

by Genophyte Pendarrin

All artwork by Shade Melodique
unless otherwise stated
featured image: biletskiy, Envato

History

Hekara's Abyss (or just Abyss, if you're in Rakan) has had a myriad of names through the ages; Death’s Gate, Shemdiari’s Menace, Amiseri’s Footprint, the Tenth Abyss, the Scar, and more. They all have one thing in common; they express the dangers found in there, dangers that protect a dragon's lair.
As far back as written histories go, Lajaka has resided in the area. It is a treacherous place, which makes it a fitting home for a dragon. Adventurers, wielders, warriors and untold others have attempted to enter the lair and find the Vendari, Lajaka's artifact. Once an individual discovers the diamond-topped silver wand, they complete a final trial to win the dragon's affection. Winning, however, is not easy, and it seems Lajaka is interested in keeping it that way.
Despite the hazards, the Abyss has always attracted tourists and pilgrims who wished to visit the shrines and temples scattered around the Guardians. These stopover places grew into towns that provided shelter and supplies. None, however, are inside the Abyss for one good reason; there is a magick-prohibition spell that prevents anyone from wielding a spell.

Looking south, with Majari on the left,
Kiune on the right

Many bridges cross the Kordi, from rickety wooden contraptions to stout stone monoliths that have survived thousands of years.
The most famous one is the Stonework, a stone bridge on the Dikalari that was once the official greeting place of royalty visiting Lajaka's lair. Worn sculptures of Lajaka line the way, and mosaics of the beast fill the bottom.

The Landscape

The Abyss is the deepest part of the Kordi Rini canyon, found between the Guardians and their neighboring mountains. The Guardians are mounts on either side of the river, now named for Kiune and Majari, two Jonna Empire siojhetioxh who dueled to the death on their slopes.
Kiune, the eastern mount, is shorter, with a gentler slope (myth claims it was the taller guardian, until Majari destroyed its peak). Majari, to the west, is a steeper mount with a sheer cliff facing the river (myth claims Kiune blew the side to small chunks in a last effort to defeat Majari). Both have rugged terrain prone to rockslides, and even when following a trail, reaching a peak is exhausting on foot. Blue-needled jer i na evergreens with a scattering of deciduous, red-barked jatariki trees grow from the bases and half-way up the mountains, interspersed with marshy meadows that have tall grass, mountain flowers, and insects that glow at night. Evergreen squirrels and many small birds make their home in the branches, while three species of deer, two goats, and shaggy bovines called noxyen roam the slopes. Chikar, a wildcat, hunts everything from rodents to the deer to humans, but leaves the noxyen be.
The alpine regions have grasses, dirt-hugging flowers, and a low-lying shrub called dokodo, which means windshrunk. Tanota, an orange alpine deer, feeds here, preyed upon by the snow-white canine avewen. As these two animals represent Flame martial arts ranks (orange and white Flame are the second and fifth tiers), curious people hire guides and visit the high meadows, hoping to catch a glimpse of them. Neither are fond of the company, leading to injurious encounters between them and the visitors.
The river is fast and rocks jut from its bed. Small alpine fish and larger bottom suckers swim its waters. Several old roads progress up from the embankments, most abandoned after landslides blocked the passage.

Winds

In Rakan myth, there are five winds. These winds were created when two sylfaodolon stopped by a river to yell at each other. They continued until they turned to stone, becoming the Guardians, and their last breaths became the winds; the east, north, west, and south winds, and a fifth, mischievous wind, which blows in from nowhere, deposits grand luck or disasterous chaos, and disappears as quickly as it arrived.
The Abyss is known for its harsh southern wind, blowing from the tops of the peaks, and for the fifth wind, which causes avalanches, rockslides, and meltwater floods, and brings the deep Frozen Air freezes.
As fierce as the winds are, combined with other weather conditions, traversing the Abyss is hazardous, especially during the colder seasons. Tourists and pilgrims, intent on proving their worth to their cold-leaning sylfaodolon, get in trouble when they neglect to properly prepare for the freezing temperatures, the heavy snows, and the icy rocks.
Communities surrounding the Abyss pay rescue teams to save these poor souls, and all recommend travelers hire a professional guide who will ensure their safety--up to a point.

A common saying in the communities surrounding the Abyss is, "If the dangers don't get you, the winds will."
All hold two solemn ceremonies a year dedicated to the winds; one during the hottest day of the year (usually during Hot Sands) and one during the coldest (during Frozen Air). Locals pray, then selected youth to deliver offerings to wind-blessed altars that surround, but do not encroach upon, the Abyss.

When I thought dragons were myth, it was obvious why Lajaka did not save the dragonpriests from the Binretau and Sel Mandhiove zealots--he did not exist. But now that my daughter is a dragon companion, I'm revisiting history with a new eye--and new questions.
Why did the Five Dragons let the dragonpriests fall? It makes no sense, to watch as the caretakers of the lairs were eliminated. Dragons are notorious for holding sylfaodolon in low regard, but perhaps that contempt hides the fact that, even as powerful as they are with magick, they cannot rival a deity.

Shrines and Ruins

Altars, shrines and ruins attract most tourists and pilgrims. The Guardians have always had shrines to various sylfaodolon, the most prominent being the two dedicated to the deities who turned into the mountains, and the altars to Jhodi. He has always been a special woodland divine for the aki n'di ori tribes, so it's no surprise that several places dedicated to him are found in the Abyss.
The most visited, however, are the two altars on top of the peaks dedicated to Kiune and Majari. Their myth fascinates tourists and despite the thin, cold air and steep, treacherous climb, thousands visit each year. Guide companies hold celebrations during the warmer months, where their charges donate large amounts of money to the altars for blessings of luck (which, considering how they died, is an odd request).
Ruined temples are numerous, and all are dedicated to Lajaka, though a sylfaone or two were once worshipped in conjunction with him. Prior to 3220 AGI, the dragonpriests cared for these temples. They maintained the lands and guarded the artifacts, relics, and offerings housed within the walls.
But 1900 years ago, two religious orders, at the behest of their sylfaodolon, invaded all five dragon lairs and destroyed the dragonpriests. Afterwards, the temples (and the lairs, according to my daughter) fell into ruin. Despite this, eager tourists and pilgrims still wished to see the famous sites. Enterprising individuals formed guide companies, cleaned up the dilapidated buildings, then led tours that visited several over the course of an eight-day. Enthusiasts find these tours as enchanting today as they did in the past.

Healing Pools

Both Kiune and Majari have pools and lakes of natural, heated spring water laden with healing magick. Ice-leaning healers were considered potent in tribal culture, and the lair had a plethora of them. Some believe these healers altered the natural flow of water to enter the Abyss, soak up healing magick from a source deep within, and then fill an exterior depression where the ill and injured could bathe.
Whatever the origin, the pools and lakes have healing properties. Locals visit the lower pools when they have winter illnesses, and healers will take seriously ill patients to Ice Lake, a large body of water on the southern slope of Majari where legend says Lajaka defeated the sfincks Ogan, then bathed in its waters to cure his wounds.

Healers make trips to the Heated Pools, a collection of five hot springs on Kiune, to collect the sediments left behind after the water evaporates. These sediments enhance the healing properties of potions, brews and tonics while providing pain-reduction.

The Lair

The popularity of tourism to the Abyss can be summed up in one way: people hope to see a dragon. Whether they believed Lajaka a myth or not, there was always the small chance of seeing the silhouette of a humongous flying creature against the bright full moon.
While the lair rests beneath the Abyss, the entrance caves leading to it are above ground. According to dragonpriest writings, there are 150 ways inside, with twenty-five of them considered official priestly entries. The priests may have shared how many hidden ways there were, but they did not tell anyone their locations. Part of the initial trial to reach the Vendari was to find a well-hidden entrance, and those loyal to Lajaka vowed to keep it that way.
This is, ultimately, what prevented Kiune and Majari from finding the dragonstone; they couldn't find an entrance. That led to their infamous duel, which destroyed parts of the Guardians, which, in turn, led to a unique hazard in the Abyss; the inability to use magick.

No Magick

Within the Abyss, mystery artists can't wield a spell. Legend says Kiune and Majari's destructive fight upset Lajaka to the point, he wielded a spell to prohibit all magick in the Abyss unless he authorized the use.
We know from mystery scholars that the dragonpriests could wield due to a link with the magick lattice that originates in the lair and lays just beneath the surface throughout the Abyss and the surrounding mountains. That is all we know; the dragonpriests did not divulge information about their link, and mystery artists who touched the lattice experienced severe magick burn or did not survive the experience. While scholars think the lace-like lines power the spell, few are willing to attempt to delve deeper into the connection.
This prohibition still affects the area. This causes problems when visitors need rescuing. Wielders can't form kick-portal to whisk stranded people from an inhospitable cliff, nor can they use offensive or defensive magicks to drive away wildlife. Healers can't heal, so if a tourist or pilgrim becomes seriously sick or injured, they have to travel outside the Abyss for care.

[/container]