The Cinder
General
The Cinder is the region to the north of the Shadow-Over Valley, and the source of the phenomena that gives the valley its name. The area is completely inhospitable, with jets of steam, smoke and ash continuously pouring out of the ground all across the region. The further north one goes, the worse the condition of the land itself; cracks turn to crevasses, and in many areas, the foundation of the earth seems to have collapsed, dropping the ground into deep, broken ravines that are completely impassable. No one from the valley knows for certain what lies north of the Cinder, but stories are told about the lost city of Nyork and the treasures that must be contained there.
The cause of the fires to the north is not known, and the Cinder has burned for as long as anyone can remember. The immense pillars of smoke from all across the area travel high into the sky and merge together in a singular wall that catches winds high in the sky and frequently blows it to the south and east, which has a tendency to block out the sun and leave the entire valley in shadow for hours or days at a time. When seasonal storms called "nor'easters" hit in late fall to early spring seasons, powerful winds blow the wall of soot and ash southeast. These winds bring heavy rain and snow which is polluted by the smoke from the Cinder. This results in the black rains that temporarily darken the entire land, which gives the valley a feeling of being in shadow still, even when the sky clears. As ugly as the aftermath of the black rains is, these regular deposits seem to revitalize the area, and promote healthy plant growth later in the season.
