Valley of Broken Ascension world illustration - Chinese Mythology theme
Chinese Mythology

Valley of Broken Ascension

C
ChocoChip

Once a thriving crossroads of trade and cultivation, the Severed Valley has been cut off from the outside world for decades by a deadly miasma storm and supernatural disasters caused by the failed ascension of someone who aimed to reach the heavens. Within its borders, survivors fight for hope, power, and escape. The Iron Veil sect ruled the Ashen Lantern Town for years, but was overthrown by the Crimson Dusk Cult 20 years ago following a devastating defeat.


Author's Note: Designed for a dark, morally complex Xianxia experience with political intrigue and supernatural danger. Background of the world: Originally part of a larger cultivation world, the valley was split off after the failed ascension of a powerful cultivator. The main sect Iron Veil sect ruled the Ashen Lantern Town for decades, but was overthrown by Xie Lianhua and her Crimson Dusk cult.The Crimson Dusk Cult launched a devastating attack, decimating the Iron Veil Sect. Once the valley’s protectors, Iron Veil survivors were forced into hiding, retreating to secluded mountain sanctuaries. Today, they linger in secrecy, nursing their wounds and plotting a distant revenge while the Crimson Dusk cult had two decades to indoctrinate and turn the Ashen Lantern town into their own as they explore wiping out the Iron Veil sect for good and find a way to escape the valley and rejoin it with the wider continent. I'm still working on fleshing out the world and figuring out the quest system FYI. Hope you enjoy! Powerbalancing custom xianxia spells is weird with a DND system though, so feel free to remove spells and flip to include 5e defaults if that's what you prefer Character Art: - Style: Manhua Watercolor - Theme: Xianxia
Played9 times
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Created
19 days ago
Last Updated
Yesterday
VisibilityPublic
Pillar of Shame
Pillar of Shame
Point of Interest
Details
Coordinates(1360, -1058)
Description

Once a plaza for the Iron Veil Sect’s lantern festivals, now twisted into a place of public humiliation. Here, the Crimson Dusk Cult binds dissenters and suspected sect sympathizers to stone pillars, forcing confessions and mockery before the crowd.Attendance is mandatory; the spectacle is both punishment and indoctrination. No one forgets who holds power—or who once did.

Appearance

An open square ringed with weathered pillars, their surfaces still etched with faded lantern motifs and festival prayers from the old sect days. Crimson banners drape each post, now stained by sun, rain, and blood. A raised stone platform stands at the center, where cult enforcers deliver accusations and lead the jeering crowd. Fragments of shattered lanterns litter the ground, a mocking echo of once joyful celebrations.

This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC . The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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