Shroudvale is the desolate former domain of the essence shapers in central Valrindor, centered on Maraveth, the old capital of the Malverand Empire. A massive wall separates it from the surrounding human nations.
Its sparse forests, empty fields and brittle trees were drained dry by centuries of essence use. The ground is cracked and water is scarce. The barren landscape reflects the loss of life in the land rather than a continuing spread of corruption.
History
The Shapers
As darkness closed on the remnants of Malverand, Malcairn and Zharrek researched ways to survive it with Zal’therak's help. They embedded microscopic fragments of essence cores in human bodies. The transformation gave them great power and dependence on recharging, but it did not make them immune to the darkness.
After Zal’therak withdrew from the project, Zharrek trapped him in a shard and used his essence to transform the remaining citizens. Those who refused left for other nations. Shroudvale grew in the place of Malverand, populated by shapers whose children inherited their altered bodies.
War and Confinement
Zharrek expanded beyond Shroudvale's borders. Skarnheim, Thundermarch, Shaoying, Linsothar and other human nations united to defeat his forces in the Great Shaper War. They feared the ruined land and built the wall instead of entering it to kill the survivors. The remaining shapers lived behind it, competing for power from dwindling essence towers.
The shapers broke out and devastated Shaoying and Linsothar on their way toward Thundermarch. Their invasion ended in defeat near Rimvold.
Shroudvale is the desolate former domain of the essence shapers in central Valrindor, centered on Maraveth, the old capital of the Malverand Empire. A massive wall separates it from the surrounding human nations.
Its sparse forests, empty fields and brittle trees were drained dry by centuries of essence use. The ground is cracked and water is scarce. The barren landscape reflects the loss of life in the land rather than a continuing spread of corruption.
History
The Shapers
As darkness closed on the remnants of Malverand, Malcairn and Zharrek researched ways to survive it with Zal’therak's help. They embedded microscopic fragments of essence cores in human bodies. The transformation gave them great power and dependence on recharging, but it did not make them immune to the darkness.
After Zal’therak withdrew from the project, Zharrek trapped him in a shard and used his essence to transform the remaining citizens. Those who refused left for other nations. Shroudvale grew in the place of Malverand, populated by shapers whose children inherited their altered bodies.
War and Confinement
Zharrek expanded beyond Shroudvale's borders. Skarnheim, Thundermarch, Shaoying, Linsothar and other human nations united to defeat his forces in the Great Shaper War. They feared the ruined land and built the wall instead of entering it to kill the survivors. The remaining shapers lived behind it, competing for power from dwindling essence towers.
The shapers broke out and devastated Shaoying and Linsothar on their way toward Thundermarch. Their invasion ended in defeat near Rimvold.
Garrik's Siege
Garrik marched on Maraveth after the shapers' defeat. Eremion opposed his forces around the ruined capital. Their battle shattered walls, flattened hills and opened fissures in the ground.
Garrik established a settlement outside the city, where earth and water mages built walls, buildings, reservoirs and a road. He intended to reclaim and rebuild Maraveth.
Shroudvale is the desolate former domain of the essence shapers in central Valrindor, centered on Maraveth, the old capital of the Malverand Empire. A massive wall separates it from the surrounding human nations.
Its sparse forests, empty fields and brittle trees were drained dry by centuries of essence use. The ground is cracked and water is scarce. The barren landscape reflects the loss of life in the land rather than a continuing spread of corruption.
History
Maraveth's Destruction
Jin Leiyun and Aelius destroyed Maraveth while fighting Raphael, leaving the land scarred by absolute zero and the heat of a star. No animals survived in the city, and its lakes and rivers disappeared. People in the surrounding lands began calling the ruins Shroudvale. A large black tower rose among the remnants, and mages raised crude walls from the dry earth.
The Shapers
As darkness closed on the remnants of Malverand, Malcairn and Zharrek researched ways to survive it with Zal’therak's help. They embedded microscopic fragments of essence cores in human bodies. The transformation gave them great power and dependence on recharging, but it did not make them immune to the darkness.
After Zal’therak withdrew from the project, Zharrek trapped him in a shard and used his essence to transform the remaining citizens. Those who refused left for other nations. Shroudvale grew in the place of Malverand, populated by shapers whose children inherited their altered bodies.
War and Confinement
Zharrek expanded beyond Shroudvale's borders. Skarnheim, Thundermarch, Shaoying, Linsothar and other human nations united to defeat his forces in the Great Shaper War. They feared the ruined land and built the wall instead of entering it to kill the survivors. The remaining shapers lived behind it, competing for power from dwindling essence towers.
The shapers broke out and devastated Shaoying and Linsothar on their way toward Thundermarch. Their invasion ended in defeat near Rimvold.
Garrik's Siege
The few shapers still in Maraveth abandoned it before Garrik and Eremion's armies arrived. Eremion built a settlement outside the northern walls, while Garrik's forces occupied the other side. Their battle shattered walls, flattened hills and opened fissures in the ground.
Garrik established his own settlement, where earth and water mages built walls, buildings, reservoirs and a road. He intended to reclaim and rebuild Maraveth. Thalena defeated Eremion, but their clash left craters, broken walls and devastated terrain around the capital. Garrik then advanced north toward the wall separating Shroudvale from Blackcrag. Grass began returning around his settlement's river and artificial lake, while the surrounding land remained barren.
Shroudvale is the desolate former domain of the essence shapers in central Valrindor, centered on Maraveth, the old capital of the Malverand Empire. A massive wall separates it from the surrounding human nations.
Its sparse forests, empty fields and brittle trees were drained dry by centuries of essence use. The ground is cracked and water is scarce. The barren landscape reflects the loss of life in the land rather than a continuing spread of corruption.
History
Maraveth's Destruction
Jin Leiyun and Aelius destroyed Maraveth while fighting Raphael, leaving the land scarred by absolute zero and the heat of a star. No animals survived in the city, and its lakes and rivers disappeared. People in the surrounding lands began calling the ruins Shroudvale. A large black tower rose among the remnants, and mages raised crude walls from the dry earth.
The Shapers
As darkness closed on the remnants of Malverand, Malcairn and Zharrek researched ways to survive it with Zal’therak's help. They embedded microscopic fragments of essence cores in human bodies. The transformation gave them great power and dependence on recharging, but it did not make them immune to the darkness.
After Zal’therak withdrew from the project, Zharrek trapped him in a shard and used his essence to transform the remaining citizens. Those who refused left for other nations. Shroudvale grew in the place of Malverand, populated by shapers whose children inherited their altered bodies.
War and Confinement
Zharrek expanded beyond Shroudvale's borders. Skarnheim, Thundermarch, Shaoying, Linsothar and other human nations united to defeat his forces in the Great Shaper War. Eliona and Azarion fought against Zharrek before the wall was built. The human nations feared the ruined land and built the wall instead of entering it to kill the survivors. The remaining shapers lived behind it, competing for power from dwindling essence towers.
The shapers broke out and devastated Shaoying and Linsothar on their way toward Thundermarch. Their invasion ended in defeat near Rimvold.
Garrik's Siege
The few shapers still in Maraveth abandoned it before Garrik and Eremion's armies arrived. Eremion built a settlement outside the northern walls, while Garrik's forces occupied the other side. Their battle shattered walls, flattened hills and opened fissures in the ground.
Garrik established his own settlement, where earth and water mages built walls, buildings, reservoirs and a road. He intended to reclaim and rebuild Maraveth. Thalena defeated Eremion, but their clash left craters, broken walls and devastated terrain around the capital. Garrik then advanced north toward the wall separating Shroudvale from Blackcrag. Grass began returning around his settlement's river and artificial lake, while the surrounding land remained barren.
Thalena's Account
In Thalena's Shores of Eternity, she accelerated through Shroudvale by repeatedly collapsing gravity ahead of her. Shockwaves from her flight shattered much of the terrain beneath her route.