The Thunder Rift
History of the Thunder RiftDeep within the caldera of the long-dormant Lasse'Amon supervolcano lies Thunder Rift—a land locked in mystery and isolation, shielded by the volcano’s towering stone walls. Southeast of the Rift lies the Vale, sprawling along the southern edge of the volcanic region. While the Vale thrives as a hub of adventure and peril, Thunder Rift exists as a hidden realm, forgotten by most of the world. Its people, save for an extraordinarily rare few, believe they are the last living beings in existence, convinced that the gods destroyed the rest of the world in ages long past. The Unified Kingdom Under the Fae GoddessLong before the Shattering, the Thunder Rift and the Vale were united under the reign of the Fae Goddess of Death. Her kingdom spanned the volcanic region, with the Vale hosting her court in the magnificent Obsidian Citadel and the Rift serving as her sacred hunting grounds. The goddess wielded immense power, shaping the land through ley lines that teemed with elemental magic. She created two races—the Goblins and the Xvarts—to serve her. These beings embodied chaos and order, mirroring the goddess's own duality. Although her creations warred endlessly, they remained bound to her will for centuries. As her influence waned, however, the fae races grew mortal, and her kingdom began to collapse. Without her guiding hand, the once-unified land fell into chaos. The Rise of Alaxus: Betrayal and DivisionThe unity of the Rift and Vale was violently broken during the rise of Alaxus, the Minotaur Mage. Driven by ambition, he sought to claim the goddess’s lingering magic. Alaxus established his kingdom of Vordan in the Vale and exploited the ley lines beneath the Rift to fuel his sorcery. His actions triggered catastrophic upheavals:
These events culminated in the Shattering, leaving Thunder Rift hidden and forgotten, while the Vale remained connected to the outside world. Thunder Rift's Isolation and the Hidden TunnelFollowing the Shattering, Thunder Rift became a land frozen in time, its inhabitants unaware of the Vale or any other realms beyond the volcanic walls. Believing themselves to be the last survivors of a divine apocalypse, the people of Thunder Rift live with a deep sense of isolation. Only two or three individuals know that there are lands beyond the Rift, though they keep this knowledge secret, fearing the destabilizing truth it might bring. Beneath Endreach Citadel, situated on the eastern edge of Thunder Rift, lies the only physical connection to the outside world, a hidden, ancient tunnel. This 100-mile passage runs southeast beneath the volcanic stone walls, leading to the Caverns of the Red Dragon’s Lair in the Vale. Once a vital artery during the goddess’s reign, the tunnel is now plagued with dangers:
Few know of the tunnel's existence, and even fewer dare to traverse its treacherous path. Those who do find themselves at the mercy of its many perils and the wrath of the dragon who guards its exit.  Modern Thunder Rift and the ValeThunder Rift remains a realm apart, its people convinced they are the last remnants of existence. Within its jagged landscapes, Goblins, Xvarts, Humans, and Elves have formed their own societies, adapting to their hidden environment. Haunted ruins and arcane disturbances tell of the region’s dark history, though few dare to explore the fragmented lore. The Vale, meanwhile, thrives as a hub of exploration. Adventurers from neighboring kingdoms flock to its borders, drawn by the promise of treasure and danger. The Caverns of the Red Dragon’s Lair, located at the tunnel’s southern exit, are a place of deadly intrigue, offering opportunities to uncover relics from the goddess’s reign. Though divided by stone and shadow, Thunder Rift and the Vale remain bound by their shared history and the mysterious tunnel beneath Endreach Citadel, a testament to a time when the lands were united under the Fae Goddess's dark dominion and in this hidden realm, echoes of Alaxus's ambition and the fae goddess's power resonate still, marking the Thunder Rift as a place where the past is never truly forgotten and the future remains a mystery waiting to be uncovered.
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