Centuries ago, the continent was whole, and civilizations lived across both the valleys and the peaks. However, an ancient faction of rogue mages and dark bards attempted to compose the Forbidden Verse—a song designed to control the gods themselves.
The Backlash: The magic ruptured, creating a horrific magical backfire known as The Great Dissonance.
The Rising Mist: The cataclysm birthed a permanent, toxic sea of heavy, white cloud-mist that flooded the lowlands. This mist swallowed the low-lying forests, ancient cities, and non-flying civilizations, forcing the survivors to flee upward to the freezing mountain peaks. [1]
The Taboo: The ruling Sirin immediately declared the lowlands cursed and forbidden. To look downward into the mist is considered an ill omen; to travel beneath it is treason punishable by being cast from the cliffs without wings.