Highlands
| Highlands | |
|---|---|
| |
| Category | Locations |
| Type | Overland |
| Boss | Talon of Pyre Night's Maw |
| Lost Zone entrance |
Codex Halls Undercroft Repository of Knowledge The Pit The Bloodworks |
| Connected zone |
Skylight Aurelian The Deep |
The Kragan Highlands[1] is a large mountainous region within Westreach. The town of Skylight rests on the northern end of the Highlands, while the ruins of the Aurelian monastery remain scattered throughout. Below the earth, members of the Shrike Syndicate occupy the Godsblood mines of The Deep. Various wildlife roam the fields and caves throughout the Highlands, while Geartooth Goblins set up encampments in the outer reaches.
Nestled within the Westreach—a region claimed by both the Avar Imperium and the Maze—The Highlands knew strife long before the Gloomfall shattered the rest of Evenor's lands. In fact it was the Empire which first fortified Skylight and established the Codex Monasteries, whose ruins now litter the region's mountainside. Rich in the arcanic fuel godsblood and emboldened by the prosperous city of Skylight, the area was once renowned for its Trade Road—a gleaming promise of the prosperity to come. A promise broken by the Fall. Cut off from the rest of the Evenor by the Gloom, the Highlands now subsists as a warren of craters and Gloom Tears alike. What fortune still persists is scalped by the Shrikes, and few wayfarers venturing the region live to see their destination, imperiled by gloomtouched beasts. Only Skylight remains. Our last, dwindling light before the coming end.
Map[edit]
Enemies[edit]
Notable NPCs[edit]
Events[edit]
Gloom Tear
Main article: Gloom Tear
Certain locations will have a small Gloom tear beginning to form. Approaching the tear and cutting it with the Gloom Dagger will cause it to widen, spawning Gloom reinforcements.
Sphere of Influence
Main article: Sphere of Influence
Upon crashing into the ground, the meteor will emit a large sphere of Gloom, Gloomtouching nearby wildlife and causing them to defend the meteor. The sphere is easily visible from a distance, which can help locate crashed meteors.
Summoning Rites
Main article: Summoning Rites
Within Outer Aurelian, a trio of Embered Shuuls use their magic to summon a Primeval Duskhunter, a Primeval Shurrk, or a Primeval Wurm. Their magic renders them and the primeval creature invulnerable to damage until all three Shuuls have been distracted. During the ritual, Goblin Scavengers, Goblin Hunters, and Goblin Hackers will defend the ritual from invaders.
Gluttonous Wurm
Main article: Gluttonous Wurm
The event takes place in the Umbral Tunnels, which can be reached from the Signal Fire near the Codex Halls breach. Inside the caverns is a clearing with one side covered in Gloom. Placing certain types of bait will summon 
Night's Maw; a massive wurm Boss corrupted by the Gloom.
Landmarks[edit]
Lower Skylight
Once Lower Skylight was a welcoming haven for travelers, merchants, and tourists from across the Westreach. The Seekers abandoned it following the Fall, and the ruins have become a haven for wild beasts, Shrike brigands, and others unwilling to live in peace with the people of the upper city. There are valuable resources to be found there, but danger lurks around every corner.
The Barricades
While the Seekers lack the resources to secure Lower Skylight, it's vital for them to maintain control of the area around the Great Lift. Warden Hass and the Watchers have fought Shrikes, goblins, and strange creatures that have crawled from the Gloom, but to date no threat has reached the upper city.
The Pit
Before the Gloomfall, Bal Mol was a thriving godsblood mine—though even then, the frequency of dangerous accidents led to the nickname "The Pit." Following the Fall, the Pit was seized by the Shrike Syndicate. Now the mine has been swallowed by the Gloom and is shunned even by the Shrikes.
Heartwood Tower
Heartwood Tower is a bitter reminder of the impact of the Fall. Though it was only briefly exposed to the Gloom before the Beacon was restored, the structure of the tower was weakened and the young Lord Heartwood was transformed into a feral beast. No Heartwood survived. Other survivors took shelter in the ruin, only to be slaughtered in an assault that destroyed the lower hall; it's still a mystery as to whether this was the work of Shrike bandits or the Geartooth goblins.
The Dolorous Bell
Thirty six years ago, the totemist Hezhala Brimtooth came from the Golden Aerie bearing this bell. The trees twisted at her bidding to bear its weight, and she told the people of the Highlands that the bell would ring of its own accord when the Highlands faced its greatest threat. The Dolorous Bell has remained here ever since, and never yet rung on its own, not even when the Gloom swept across the land. So either Hezhala's magic is not what legends say... or there's an even greater threat still to come.
Codex Halls
This is a section of the vast fortress monastery of Aurelian, which once sprawled across the Highlands. It was the stronghold of the Order of the Silver Codex, a powerful sect within the Avar church. Aurelian was attacked by a powerful force of soldiers and collapsed into the Gloom; this was decades before the Gloomfall, and the nature of the attackers and the cause of the collapse remains a mystery. The Codex Halls were the outermost circle of Aurelian, open to initiates and visitors alike.
Crossroads Foundry
Before the Gloomfall the Crossroads Foundry was an important industrial community, refining ores from the Bloodworks and trading with merchants on the road to Skylight. The Crossroads was devastated by the Fall and the creatures that arose in its wake, but over the last few months a dedicated group of survivors have been working to reclaim the foundry.
Sandhaven Beach
Throughout the history of the highlands, smugglers of all stripes have found Sandhaven a useful port. Following the Fall, the Shrikes sought to continue this practice. But the Gloom has driven fell creatures from the deep waters, and even the Shrikes have abandoned the beaches.
Dalan Bridge
Once Dalan Bridge carried a steady stream of travelers and merchants along the old Avar road to the Westreach and the lands beyond. The bridge collapsed in the Fall, consumed from within by the Gloom. Even if it still stood, no one knows if anything is left of the world beyond the Highlands.
Aurelia's Tears
Aurelia came to the Highlands hundreds of years ago. She tried to convert the local people to the Avar faith, but they had little interest in hearing the word of the Architects. Legend says that she wept for their ignorance, and as she did, water flowed down from the mountains and the land wept with her.
The Tarnstones
These stones were raised by the Woodwen, an ancient people who fled into the Frostmarch when the Avar laid claim the Highlands. Whatever power they once held has long since faded away.
The Undercroft
There was a time when Aurelian was a symbol of Imperial power. The Codex monks weren't just scribes; they traveled the world investigating the mysteries of the Architects. Aboveground, Aurelian was a fortress. This breach leads to what lay below—a maze of arcane workshops and scriptorums known as the Undercroft.
Ironstone Keep
A proud Imperial fortress, Ironstone Keep withstood countless assaults from the Maze during the Thousand Day War. It was a bastion of Avar power for centuries, but it took less than an hour of exposure to the raw Gloom to leave it a haunted ruin. Since the Gloomfall Ironstone has become a haven for the Geartooth goblins, but there may yet be valuable supplies hidden within its walls.
Charred Rise
The scorch marks here don't match any natural patterns, and there is a scent in the air beyond smoke and soot. Elemental energies have been conjured here; someone is experimenting with dangerous and unnatural flames.
Repository of Knowledge
This breach leads to the deepest vaults that ran below Aurelian. We know little about the research that was done here, but we know that the vault was drawn into the Gloom long before the Fall. Whatever powers linger within, they're surely dangerous and unstable.
Remnants of Aurelian
Aurelian was destroyed decades ago. The monks were slain or driven away, and the lowest levels collapsed into the Gloom. The ruins that remained were abandoned and shunned, and nature has slowly been reclaiming the land.
Sundered Bulwark
While it was damaged during the Thousand Day War, it was the Gloom that left this bulwark a ruin. On the day of the Fall, the Gloom swept across the Highlands. By the time the Beacon's light was restored, the soldiers that held the bulwark were gone.
Stone King's Tomb
The Westreach was once home to a loose alliance of clans—the Woodwen, the Stonegren, the Riverden, and more. The last lord of the Stonegren is buried in this tomb. While the customs and history of the Stonegren have long been forgotten, the modern people say that the Stone King guards the world from below; adventurous Reachers used to leave offerings at his tomb when they needed luck.
Seeker's Camp
The Highlands are a dangerous place for anyone, especially a young researcher. It could be sheer luck that Seeker Avala has survived out here... or she could be more capable than she appears.
Umbral Tunnels
The Gloom is hungry, always pressing against the protection offered by the Beacon's light. The Gloom is a palpable presence in these tunnels, a numbing tingle against the skin. It is slowly reshaping the walls and transforming the creatures that live in this place. It may only be a matter of time until it collapses into a breach.
Mottled Hovel
The smells of rot and dried blood hang heavy in the air. The scattered bones feel deliberate; this is an artist signing their work. Something deadly dwells in this place—a creature that feels no need to hide its presence.
The Sword of the Reaches
Avar historians say that this imposing monument was carved by human hands, that this stone sword marks the tomb of a pre-empire Riverden champion. But the local legends say that the tomb was built around the stone sword, that the blade is the weapon of an ancient titan who holds the power of the land itself. These tales say that one day the Reaches will rise up and reclaim their blade, striking down all who have wronged them.
The Bloodworks
Before the Fall, the Bloodworks were a thriving network of mines that kept a steady stream of iron and godsblood flowing to the Crossroads foundry. The Shrike Syndicate seized the mine in the first days after the Gloomfall, and then it collapsed into the Gloom. Its current status is a mystery—but Skylight needs the Blood.
Lore[edit]
“Your zeal is noted, Initiate. And we have much more research to recover...”
This page is Speculative!
The following article/section is conjecture. Content is subject to change/removal as the game progresses. Please do not use this page for critical in-game information.
The Great Lift[edit]
The Great Lift was designed by the scrapers and watchers of Venge at the edge of Skylight, the last city that overlooks the vast and wild expanse of the Highlands. Although its origins remain somewhat unclear, we know that it was constructed with the agreement of Wolf, the commander over Skylight, and with the supervision of Venge and the Engineer who currently resides in Skylight. By using it from the edge of Skylight, players have direct access to the Highlands.
The Lower Skylight[edit]
The Highlands begin in Lower Skylight, accessible by The Great Lift, where a fierce war over resources is taking place between the people of Skylight and the Shrikes, bandits and criminals of the area. The war has been going on for a long time, shortly after the invasion of the world by the Gloom.
Lower Skylight is watched over and led by Warden Hass, who strives to maintain a semblance of order within the walls of the last city. Her soldiers, called "Watchers", are in perpetual surveillance on the still standing walls of the outpost as the lower quarter is infested with rats and bandits, it would be imprudent to leave the entrance to Skylight unguarded. There are important characters among the Watchers, such as Watcher Isti and Watcher Hagran.
Although Lower Skylight is in eternal conflict with the bandits, the ruined city is still active, so much so that the local tavern accepts any clients. Lower Skylight has a Signal Fire where the player can take refuge and teleport if necessary. It's a safe place for players and the starting point for the adventure of Wayfinders such as yourself.
The Pit[edit]
The place is overrun by Thunder Eyes (sharpshooters) and Enforcers. It's advisable to prepare carefully before venturing there as there are a few barrels of toxic poison that can prove dangerous, even deadly to careless players. This area is an excellent place to farm Green Specters.
There's also an Echo Matrix, a spot to retrieve health vials, and a campfire where players can take refuge. At first glance, the Pit appears to be an inhospitable place where coal and poison reside. It seems to be an abandoned oil factory overrun by miscreants.
The Codex Hall[edit]
Previously, the Codex Halls were the home of many Aurelian scholars and monks who studied the Architects, beings responsible for the creation of the Beacons and the world itself. Even before the invasion of the Gloom, the Codex Hall was in ruins, full of history and mystery.
Today, ravaged by time and infested with goblins, the ruins of Codex Hall are a warm place. Archers and warriors can be found everywhere in the zone, even though they are low-level, they can still be a common problem for new players. The place also hides a few treasures - fragments of memory, a campfire to take refuge and healing potions.
The Crossroads Foundry[edit]
The Crossroad Foundry is of paramount importance for commerce and the commercial routes of the Highlands. In fact, the protectors of the foundry, known as "The Scrappers and Venge Watch," are responsible for transforming all metal objects and vehicle wrecks into scrap metal that will be used mainly for Skylight's protection.
The foundry is currently located on the eastern side of the map, perched on a cliff overlooking Codex Hall. The supervisor of the foundry is Brother Magan with his second, Venge Watch Fuller. Currently in conflict with the "Gear Teeth" goblins, it is difficult for the watch to establish a safe commercial route between Aurelian and Skylight since the attacks are incessant and challenging for Venge's caravans.
The Bloodworks[edit]
The zone gets its name from its bloody history. In fact, the bloody galleries were once a plentiful source of Godsblood, a resource essential for creating weapons and vehicles of all kinds. Nowadays, it is dominated and owned by the Shrike Syndicate. However, before the Gloomfall, the monks of the Silver Codex emptied the mine of its precious minerals for their own unknown reasons.
The Undercroft and the Ironstone Keep[edit]
The haunted nature of this place still fascinates the scrapers of Venge and the researchers of Skylight. It was once famous for being the home of the greatest scholars of the Order of the Silver Codex, a disciplined group of people who lived solely for the doctrines of the Architects and had a good relationship with the Empire. Today, the Undercroft is an isolated place overrun by the Remnants, echoes of the people who once lived there.
The Ironstone Keep is a haunted place where warriors, who fought in pre-Gloomfall wars between the Avar Imperium and the Maze, still roam. The place speaks for itself, with its dilapidated state and the scars of past battles and conflicts.
The place still preserves numerous vestiges of its history, led by the Monks of the Silver Codex. There are also effigies depicting the Codex agents and an imposing tower that once derived its glory from the pride of the Architects themselves.
The Outer Aurelian[edit]
Aurelian is an Imperial outpost that was made up of equal parts library, temple, and arcane workshop. It existed a few decades before the Gloomfall, and once housed the greatest scholars and researchers in the world. Even today, the outer route is used by a multitude of trade caravans heading towards the Crossroads Foundry to sell goods that will be used by the scrapers and workers of Venge in Skylight.
The place is a massive ruin of a monastery overrun by highly advanced goblins who practice occult arts and rituals to summon ancient echoes of monsters like the original Shurks, the first of its kind.
The ruined place reveals a massive bell that seems to have belonged to an immense bell tower, perhaps in honor of the Architects. Even though today the place has reclaimed its natural balance over time, one cannot ignore the invasive goblin influence and the influence of the Silver Codex of the past.
The Repository of Knowledge[edit]
The Repository of Knowledge, located in the deep south of the Highlands, is part of the monastery that spanned across the Highlands. Home to the Order of the Silver Codex, an order of monks and scholars that studied and researched the Architects.
The ruins present in the zone refer to a massive bell tower and a majestic planetarium, perhaps in direct reference to the falling stars mentioned by Brother Megan who currently oversees the foundry. The bell tower, formerly known as the Tower, is closely linked to the Gloom now, as it is believed the leader of the Silver Codex, resided in the Repository, and was responsible for the Fall of the monastery. The Repository of Knowledge is now infested with echoes of former members of the order who are still dangerous to players.
The archives possess and hold the darkest secrets of the dark age and may contain crucial information about the origin of the sudden disappearance of the Architects, as well as the origin of the Gloom.
The Giant Bell[edit]
The giant Bell is directly related to the Monastery of the Silver Codex, the direct cause of the invasion of the Gloom and the murder of the Gods of the Skylight world. It was the former residence of the members of the Codex and the Monks of the Archives of Aurelian.
The Colossal Blade of the Silver Codex[edit]
The Monumental Archonte Sword located near the low quarter of Skylight seems to be an ancient residence for deceased members of the Codex, probably those who have marked history. The sword, however, is the direct symbol of the Codex legionnaires equipped by the Archonte Commander. It is also the sword of choice, embedded in Aurelian tombs, statues, and vestiges, which suggests that it is a collection of several tombs, possibly an ancient Hall of Heroes.
The Grave adorned[edit]
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The Grave adorned with a shield, a lion, a snake, and two owls is very mysterious. Based on my own hypothesis, the owl represents wisdom, the lion represents courage, and the snake represents Cunning, which are all the qualities of The First, the former leader of the Silver Codex. Perhaps the place expresses the final resting place of the corrupted soul of the former leader of the Silver Codex. The Silver Codex seems to have had three sub-orders that formed a complete order.
- The Lion: represents the Archontes like the Commander, as he represents courage.
- The Owl : represents wisdom, probably the influence of the Silver Hand.
- The Snakes : were supposed to represent the monks and agents of the Codex who were the first responsible for the invasion of the Gloom, an animal perfect for such a ruse.
The Magic Lantern[edit]
The Lantern emanates a blue light like that used by Falling Stars; the monsters that approach it are imbued with a glow and a glossy carapace, as well as an unwavering aggression. Located near the Sword, it suggests that the Codex may have installed it there to confine the monsters inside the cave where it resides to keep undesirables away.
The Tomb of the Knight[edit]
located sadly near Outer Aurelian, seems to belong to someone important. However, it is isolated in the basement of the Monastery, and it is probably the "Gathered Hand," the leader of the Silver Hand, a group that was responsible for Codex emissary missions. The presence of the monastery bell not far from the tomb, located under the catacombs of the monastery itself, is a major clue to this hypothesis, as it is adorned with the symbols of the Planétarium. Another interesting fact is that in the "Silver Hand" dungeon, the same bell and symbol of the Silver Hand order, namely the owl, which represented the side of wisdom, can be found.
References[edit]
 Social Hub
|
Skylight |
|---|---|
 Overland
|
Highlands • Frostmarch • The Crucible |
 Lost Zone
|
Aurelian • The Deep • Reaver Woods • The Void |