Asura's Wall
Dividing the Highlands of eastern Marai and the Skylands, Asura’s Wall is a bizarre mountain range that defies all conventional knowledge of orogeny. It is a narrow but strikingly tall chain, rising from a vast, sunken valley of fens and steppes known as Fu-no-Mikazuki or the "Void Crescent". These valleys are as dangerous as the harrowingly steep mountains above, with only the weakest Veil strength separating Waking Reality from the Near Umbra, resulting in a density of hauntings, roving yōkai and other spiritual phenomena described only in the direst of the old myths.
Marain Clanlands at the base of Asura's Wall include those of the Morō, the Shan and the Matsunagayama, with the latter taking up some sixty percent of the central length. As a result, the rangers & ninja of all three have strong reputations as warrior-exorcists and akumakonzetsu ("demon hunters"). Protecting the continent from incursions by the Void Crescent's ghostly denizens is considered the responsibility of all clans however: the harsh-spoken Matsunagayama in particular are often seen browbeating their Heartlander and Lowlander cousins into holding their weight in this regard. They frequently visit the labour camps of other clans, demanding anyone whose hand has seen a sword be turned over to "Wall duty". The other clans appreciate this little, but acknowledge the Dire Boars are preferable to hungry ghosts and rapacious yōkai.Crossing
Physically climbing the mountains is thought to be nearly impossible due both to the sheer cliffs as well as the dangerous, sometimes monstrous wildlife: if there are ideal routes over the range they are long forgotten. Stories of brave heroes crossing Asura's Wall this way are popular in the telling but doubted by scholars and Highland rangers.
There are subterranean paths beneath the Wall & Crescent, but only a few ancient, cthonic spirits know the safe paths through this maze. The arakh and enari of the Skylands remember better the language of these beings, but their numbers dwindle with warring and poor harvests (a fact they hide, as best they can, to keep the Maraian fearful and defensive). The human elders of the Naru tribes also remember the paths, but hold no loyalty to the Commonwealth and do not wish the knowledge abused by the corrupt and power-hungry Heartlanders.
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