Ulunor's Cliff

Ulunor's Cliff is a location in The Gates. It is a cliff overlooking a steep drop into the same pink-beige clouds that fill the sky and can be found at the souther end of the Spirit World beneath Windy Harbor. The Cliff is specifically located just beyond The Mountains, and it was documented by The Writer towards the end of their Field Guide, particularly Vorkault 19-22, 259: Ulunor's Cliff. In this entry, The Writer referred to the cliff as "The Edge of The World". Beyond the cliff is an Orb which may or may not be Ulunor, however, The Writer referred to this Orb as "The World" upon first seeing it. The orb was drawn by the writer as being a circle, divided in half, with half of the orb being violent and the other half being peaceful. Ilven, when questioned about Ulunor by Frode, described the deity as being "Light, warmth, guidance and growth" while also being "the shadows, darkness, things that give life details" and "all the ten and anything that remains".

This cliff is the likely location of "The Edge of the World" as referenced by the Chittering Spirit as a place that must be lept from as the final step in restoring The Circle. When it was mentioned by this Spirit, the shadows on the ground displayed a circle that was half covered in spikes and half smooth with additional shadows simulating rays of light.

Geography

Ulunor's Cliff is a tundra and part of the Northlands. It is separated from the rest of the biome by a wall of Mountains which are apparently capable of movement. Reaching the Cliff is almost impossible unless one either waits for the Mountains to part or risks climbing through the incredibly harsh environment of the Mountains.

According to The Writer, the area also contains many environmental effects that may be caused by the proximity to the strange Orb. Spirit Grass, which can be found throughout The Gates, grows in this area as well. There are many Wisps floating about and a strange feeling that the stars will "swallow you whole" is ever-present. The Writer also described walking as feeling as though the ground was walking beneath him, and that each step was only possible because the ground's feet happened to meet his own. He also worried that at night it would "open up its maw".

Localized Phenomena

The presence of stars is unusual as most of The Gates is perpetually covered in pink-beige clouds. These clouds are beneath the cliff but they are not visible in the sky. It is possible that The Gates is both above and below itself, that the Pink Clouds are part of its base and looking up you see yourself. That may be what the Writer meant with his unusual words. Though, that is all just conjecture.

History

Ulunor's Cliff was the location for at least three historical events.

Unknown Year

Tens, possibly hundreds, of millenia ago, the L’huine built their Radiant City, Osv’žiar’e, and arrived in the Spirit World as an answer to Ulunor's Cry. They arrived in a tundra not unlike their own with a nearby cliff, clouds beneath, and an orb floating nearby. The Psychic, who had heard Ulunor's Cry initially, still heard this weeping. Though the Orb, which the Psychic knew to be Ulunor, was confused by the claims. The Psychic and other leaders of the L'huine ventured out into the Spirit World to find connections to their respective Smrtohnya, build Gates leading to different layers of this realm, and place three massive glass bells to stabilize their connection to the world. The book that Kaswink found regarding Me'kiah'brem'or suggested that the Radiant City existed both in its original location in the far north of Taranel and on the edge of this cliff, yet expeditions into the north have yet to find the city (allegedly), and future events that took place on this cliff did not remark on the City's existence. It is not entirely clear what happened to Osv’žiar’e, but it is possible that it was split into the 10 different Gates rather than simultaneously existing in each along with its original locations. Defeating Božena caused her magic -which was apparently keeping the Gate active- to fade, and Me'kiah'brem'or crumbled/faded from existence as a result of this. Perhaps it has returned to where it came from...or perhaps it is gone forever.

It was revealed in a vision regarding Tympi and Ilven, that Vsevolodrik was taken from Ulunor/Ar'en'el by one of these L'huine: The Oni. This must have happened sometime between the untold tens or hundreds of thousands of years ago and sometime after Tympi had awakened to her connection to The Light. It isn't clear where this person was abducted, but the fact that Ar'en'el was able to see their mask with three horns suggests it may have been on this Cliff. Though there may be innumerable other places it could've occurred as well.

Between 7100 and 3000 BCE

Based on Tympi's Journal and visions experienced by the Spiritual Travelers, Tympi arrived in the Spirit World as a mostly ordinary caterpillar. Overtime she noticed a strange connection to the Light found witthin this land, especially the light emitted by the Mothlight Tree. Her connection not only allowed the Light to change her, but she changed the world around her by channeling its energy. She created new life forms and learned everything she could. At some point she would travel north, compelled by the light to find its source. She would eventually find Ulunor's Cliff and the massive sphere itself. There was no city nearby, as previously mentioned, but her and her sister communicated with the strange orb and learned of Ar'en'el and how she misses her lost love. Tympi was given a piece of Ar'en'el at this time, and it is presumed that it is currently housed within her lantern. With this piece of Light, she was instructed to find Vsevolodrik and shine Ar'en'el's light on him so that he can be saved.

259 CE

Sometime in the year 259 (50 years before the start of the campaign), The Writer found his way to Ulunor's Cliff. He traveled from the south along a winding path that led him to many unusual locations, but he finally arrived at what he called "The Edge of the World". He remarked on how looking at the orb felt like looking at himself, the entire world, and that it was incredibly disorienting. He was offered a journal to record his thoughts in with promises that it would save his sister, Anise. This occurred on Vorkault 32, 259: End. The Writer, Basil, was found at the Spiritual Travelers' Home Base 50 years later with little memories of his own life, but he had managed to collect a rather encyclopedic knowledge of the Spirit World as long as he had his journals nearby. He still writes of and spends time remembering Anise, though who she was to him was lost until the Spiritual Travelers reminded him.