Crowlight Cartography

The Sanctum of the Fervanites

A place of worship, a peaceful sanctum in the heart of a volcanic wasteland. It may be one of the only quiet places you’ll see amongst the ash and fire at the base of the Flamegrave Mountain. You may ask where this place came from, who built it and why? Well that is the story I have today. The story of this sanctuary and the ardent paladins that keep it safe.

The Story of Flamegrave

While the Flamegrave Mountains have not always been occupied by those that could describe it. The region has always been a place of war. The very elements themselves caught in an endless battle for supremacy. The flames burning away the rock, the earth holding back the storm, the metal within the ground draining all energy from the land and leaving none for the withering plants to absorb. That has always been the way of Flamegrave. Conflict in all its forms finds a place within these ashen wastes. But somewhere like this, cursed beyond belief, inspires curiosity. The foolish and the brave who sought to uncover the truth of Flamegrave are the reason we know anything about it. And it is the tragedy of Sigraf zv Fervani that led to creation of this sanctum.

A zealous religious group known best for its paladins were the first to truly seek answers to Flamegrave. The Fervanite Order came from the lands surrounding the mountain range. They were the guardians of their people against the many elemental monstrosities that wandered too far from the craggy hills that mark the border. After a horrific attack that the Order was barely able to hold off, an event that saw the burning of countless villages, homes, families, the Arch-Templar was tired of being a defender. Sigraf zv Fervani was a descendent of the first family within the Fervanite Order, a legend among his people and a figure the order would follow without question. It is that last part that he came to regret so deeply.

With a vow of vengeance against the monsters of Flamegrave, Sigraf ordered the scribes to scour the Fervanites’ ancient libraries. He was desperate to uncover anything they could use to silence the mountain once and for all. After months of research, pouring over every form of information no matter if it was fact or fiction. Sigraf at long last had his answer. The Flamegrave Mountains were so named as they were the resting place of an immensely powerful elemental. A primordial being from the dawn of the first day, a monster of eldritch fire buried deep within the mountains by civilisations lost to time. The Incarnate of Cinders was the source of Flamegrave’s fire.

And so, it is that source that Sigraf zv Fervani and his most trusted followers vowed to destroy.

They marched through the wasteland of Flamegrave for many days and nights, slaying every creature that dared to stand in their way. The closer they got to their target, the more that Flamegrave seemed to fight against them. The fire grew fiercer, the earth became soft under foot and the monsters became ever more viscous. Many of those that followed Sigraf were slain long before reaching the central mountains and yet Sigraf pressed on without a pause in his step. He would slain the Incarnate of Cinders, for everything it has done and everything it has destroyed. No matter the cost, he would have his vengeance.

But those were the words of the foolish and brave Arch-Templar Sigraf zv Fervani. The truth of what would happen was unknowable to anyone on that journey of vengeance. In the end, they fought their way to the true resting place of the Incarnate of Cinders. They awoke a sleeping giant with twisted horns of obsidian, skin made of burning ash and a body clutching its form like an unborn child. It rose to defend itself, striking with long, twisted limbs faster than the paladins could react. Their blades did nothing to its hide, and their mastery of fire magic was nothing in the face of this monster. The longer they fought, the more of their own they lost until it was only Sigraf who stood in the way of the Incarnate of Cinders.

But it did not try to kill Sigraf. Instead, it began to speak in many ancient languages, watching the Arch-Templar to see which he understood. Once it finally spoke words that Sigraf could hear. A wide crack formed along its face, flames bursting out of a crooked smile. But its words were cold, malicious and smug, not the words of a simple monster but of something far beyond that.

“Those who brought me to this land sought vengeance on their people. Those who sealed me away sought vengeance on who I am. And you… the one to unseal me. You sought vengeance of what I have done. I thank you, warrior. Your vengeance has let me live once again.”

As a last ditch effort, anything to save his people from the mistake he had unleashed. Sigraf channelled the magics of his people. The Fervanite Order was gifted in its use of flame, wielding it as easily as one could move their arm. Fire was their domain, and flame had been their faith for so long and here was the final test for the Arch-Templar. Sigraf with all the strength left within his body drew the eldritch fire from the heart of the Incarnate. He drew that power into himself with the goal of destroying it. Without that energy, the Incarnate of Cinders could never harm another being again. It was the only way he could see to keep his vow as a defender. The monster screeched an unholy sound as the fire was torn from its very being. Sigraf could only smile as the light fade from his eyes. A joyful expression on his face as watched the creature fall back into its slumber… all before his mind went blank and all stood quiet.

But that was not the end of Sigraf zv Fervani or the paladins he had led to their deaths. His last action had disrupted the magics of Flamegrave while also intrinsically tying the paladins into it. They awoke as creatures of pure ash and rock. Similar in appearance to their Order’s armour but hollow within. Their minds were mostly gone, and all they could remember were the oaths they swore to their people. The Fervanite Order were defenders. Those who suffered endlessly to ensure that all those they care for can live happily. It was these oaths that now guided the Fervanite Order. They began building many fortresses, sanctums and outposts all across the wasteland. They would stand as defenders of these lands forever more, dedicated to keeping it from growing out of control. These sanctums are not ancient ruins of a long lost people. They are the homes of the new Fervanite Order and the safest places among the Flamegrave Mountains. In respect to their fallen comrades, those of the Fervanite Order who stayed behind abandoned the name, choosing to instead serve as “The Cinders of Fervani”.

The Fervanite Order knows of its past failure and the danger their people would have been in due to their actions. When Sigraf zu Fervani reconnected with his people. He gave them a new oath to hold in their hearts.

“Vengeance will never again spark the fires of this mountain. Any who seek it will be slain in the defense of all that remains”

That is the last story to come from the Flamegrave Mountains and the reason why such a hellish wasteland of war and fire has peaceful sanctuaries scattered about.

Another Story

This is actually a remake of one of the first maps I ever made. The story you’ve just read is even based on the same story I made it for originally. It was when I was just starting out in TTRPGs, making my own home-brewed adventures, monsters, characters and obviously, maps. It’s a nice reminder to see how far I have come in my map making skills. I’ll give a comparison below this paragraph, so you can see as well.

Next up?

The next map I’ll be showcasing is one i called,

“The First Trial of the Sea Queen”

Hopefully in the next week but it will be good whenever it does arrive. Quality is what I’m good at. Timetabling, not so much.

If you enjoy what you’ve read here, considered subscribing to the blog to get weekly updates delivered straight to you. If you want to see more, directly support my work or even commission some of your own, head over to my Kofi. If you’re in the mood for home and or office décor, check out my Redbubble store where many of my designs can be found.

But if you do enjoy this work, like and share it to anyone that might want to see it. That’s the best way you can support me and without support, it’s pretty hard to take flight.

If you’ve read this far, thank you so very much
– Jakko