Overview
The Malverand vault is a fortified underground chamber beneath Maraveth Ascendant Consulate in Maraveth. Michael proposes it as a secure storehouse for dangerous artifacts, and Arcanis designs it to block communication from the realm beyond and shield guardian discussions from the beings inside the god cores. The same chamber later becomes Eira's stasis refuge for Order of Thalion Zenith members and severed shard-bearing hands until 5369 AX.
Structure
The vault lies far below the black tower in ruined Maraveth. Powerful mages struggle to sense it, and searchers reach it by digging down to a collapsed corridor, an elevator shaft, and a massive enchanted metal door. Inside is a vast domed chamber of steel, dark stone, crystal, and glass, lit by essence lights and reinforced with strong enchantments.
Stored Artifacts
The vault stores god cores, Malverand hearts, second-generation cores, strange weapons, shield generators, essence-engine prototypes, and glass casings. Michael later reviews the inventory; usable cores remain among failed or ineffective prototypes. Raphael retains access after Malverand fractures and removes second-generation shards for himself and Eremion.
History
In the Malverand era, the guardians use the vault to hide artifacts and knowledge about the god-core beings' origins. Barachiel brings Michael and Arcanis there after the failsafe project is complete, then creates Isandriel in the vault by binding him to Tal'Massar.
Long after Malverand's fall, the vault's artifacts, cores, and hidden occupants make it a strategic prize beneath Maraveth. Garrik's coalition, Eremion's forces, and Raphael-aligned agents all try to keep the vault from rivals because its contents could shift control of ruined Maraveth.
After the Order destroys Malverand records and hides the empire from public memory, Eira opens the vault with instructions carried in her Malverand heart. Using Arcanis's machinery, temporal magic, essence cores, and glass cases, she places Order members in temporal stasis, including herself, Thalion Zenith, Kaelion, Jin Leiyun, Abraxas, Kren, and Vianna. She also preserves severed shard-bearing hands for gods such as Tianlei, Xoh’Tenol, and Hrzai. Ozaith remains awake enough to wake her periodically and monitor the stasis machinery.
In 5369 AX, Brynor and Lysander reach the vault beneath the black tower as Eira begins waking the sleepers. They restore the separated shard-bearing hands, carry the weakened survivors to Garrik's council building, and leave the remaining weapons and artifacts for later recovery.
Secrets and Mysteries
The vault preserves Malverand's hidden god-core history: the guardians know the god-core beings were artificial gods created through Arcanis's god-core project.