The Great Rift
A corrupted wasteland where the Sunbane reigns and Lord Foul's influence is absolute.
The Wasteland is a desolate, corrupted region of The Land, shaped by the Sunbane and the influence of Lord Foul. It is a place of decay and danger, where the natural order has been twisted and the very ground bears the scars of ancient conflicts.
Quick Facts
- Region
- The Wasteland
- Nature
- Desolate, corrupted landscape shaped by the Sunbane
- Danger level
- Extreme (Sunbane and Lord Foul's influence)
- Association
- Lord Foul's Bane; The Sunbane
- Accessibility
- Extremely hazardous, requiring protection from the Sunbane
Lore & Background
The Wasteland is the domain of the Sunbane, a curse that warps the land and its inhabitants. It is a place of constant peril, where the Sunbane's cycles bring plagues, deserts, and other horrors. While not a single chasm, the entire region is a testament to Lord Foul's corruption, with Mount Thunder (Foul's Creche) serving as his stronghold at its edge.
Reader's Guide
The geography of the Great Rift is jagged and treacherous, characterized by steep basalt cliffs and unstable footing. Natural light rarely penetrates its depths, leaving travelers reliant on magical illumination which often flickers or dies near the edges. Ecologically, the area surrounding the chasm is barren. Plant life withers instantly upon contact with the ambient magic, creating a ring of dead earth that marks its influence. No animals venture close enough to risk the chaotic energies radiating from below. Magically, the Rift acts as a conduit for the Unmaking. Plot-wise, it often serves as an impassable barrier or a point where characters must confront their own doubts and fears. It signifies the limit of human endurance against supernatural corruption.
More in The Land & Geography
Elsewhere in The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
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