Battlefield
South of a fork in the Glass Vein is a piece of flattened land covered with trenches, bones, and rusty weapons. Known simply as "The Battlefield", it is the location of countless conflicts between Estodia and Vrasia during their numerous wars.
Nothing grows on the Battlefield besides tough, tangled grass. Animals avoid it. It is considered to be cursed ground.
Geography
The Battlefield spreads over both sides of the river. The ground is made treacherous by pitfalls and trenches. The remains of weapons from numerous eras litter the ground. Crumbled stone walls and watchtowers stand wearily amongst shards of wood, stone, metal, and bone.
Localized Phenomena
The Battlefield is widely believed to be haunted. It is said that spending the night on the grounds will bring horrible night terrors and bad luck. The part of the river that runs through the Battlefield is always colder than the rest of the river. Screams, sobs, and the sounds of clashing weapons can be heard echoing from the site with no discernible source.
Even standing on the grounds during broad daylight causes palpable anxiety. Birds don't sing near the Battlefield. Even Avrodian griffins get uneasy, often outright refusing to walk onto the Battlefield without coercion.
History
Nobody knows when the first battle was fought on the Battlefield. There are many possible options, but the Vrasia and Estodia have been fighting for so long that both of their histories are severely tainted by bias.
The Battlefield was likely chosen because of its location and geography. It is one of the only large pieces of land on the peninsula that is not covered by trees, and the river is shallow enough to wade through. The wide open area and shallow waters allow large armies to cross the border. Knowing this, opposing forces are likely to post numerous defenses here, leading to invaders and defenders clashing over and over. Every time a new army conquered to the Battlefield, another would swiftly rush to reclaim it.
Over time, the scars of repeated battles began to show. Forts were built on top of the ruins of old ones. Trenches dug decades ago were reused. Eventually, the Battlefield was more than just a strategic location. It became a symbol of the constant violence between sister countries.
The cursed grounds remain at a standstill to this day, claimed by neither country. As it approaches a century since the last battle held here, some are beginning to wonder if the Battlefield might finally be able to rest.
I would definitely not want to fight another battle on somewhere like that. Doomed before you start, I think. The description gave me shivers.
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Each new army sees themselves as the ones that will finally conquer the Battlefield once and for all! Every other army before them might have been destroyed at a later date but this time... this time it's different. ;)