Ravenheart
location"They entered the beautiful halls of the Jade Court harboring venomous desires in their black hearts, and hiding rapacious snarls behind their admiring smiles. The mistress of the palace herself presented them with a cup of the sweetest nectar. No matter how much of the sweet nectar they drank, the cup remained full. The more of it they consumed, the more of it they desired.
Soon, there was nothing but bestial need left, and nothing but bitterness remained."
– Chapter 923, Memory description of the Bitter Cusp[1]
Description
Ravenheart, a Great Citadel westward of Godgrave and a little south of the Hollow Mountains, is a magnificent palace stood upon the slope of a snowy mountain chain and perched atop the very edge of a bottomless chasm. Though the palace was – according to the legends – once cut from white jade, it has long since turned entirely black as a result from weathering the onslaught of nearby ash-spewing volcanoes. Making it appear as if made from obsidian glass, and helping it contrast sharply against the snowy peaks that surround it.[2]
Within the black walls of Ravenheart, stone gardens stood with countless statues as well as intricate reliefs, great pools of icy water and even various hot springs. The Jade Palace itself, meanwhile, was vast – perhaps not as large as Bastion yet still large enough to be like an enormous labyrinth consisting of countless halls, corridors, chambers, stairwells[3], enchanted doorways and passages both hidden and or plainly visible. All of it illuminated by sorcerous lights[4]and stretches deep underground until they, eventually, open up to a vast system of ice caves. The walls, meanwhile, appear to have no seams – as if the entire place was cast, or grown, rather than build – and, interestingly enough, the walls inside the Jade Palace are still pristine white, whilst seemingly having been made to accommodate various creatures of all different sizes.[3]
"Well, there is a lot to explore. A lot of beautiful things to see, as well as things that inspire awe. I haven't had the time to see most of the Jade Palace myself, yet, but sometimes I stop to look around and think... great beings once walked these halls. Gods and demons once rested in this garden, just like I am resting here now. Isn't it amazing?"
– Chapter 2303, Kai to Sunny.[3]
In front of the palace, a titanic stone bridge of insurmountable proportions spans the vast chasm between the mountain and the volcano standing opposite of it – connecting two separate branches of the aforementioned mountain chain like a road build for giants. Its black pillars are decorated with intricate engravings.[2]
On the slope of the volcano opposite of the palace, a settlement with a thick and tall wall was build[5] using the same black stone that is common in the area – causing it to look like a mixture of ash, white snow and black stone.[2]
Though, after the Throne War had come to its conclusion and thanks to Saint Bliss and her machinations, a splash of color was added in the form of a variety of crimson flora. And, due to Ravenheart expanding greatly, the titanic bridge could no longer provide enough space to accommodate the Awakened population. Causing them to start hanging enormous platforms from the sides of the bridge – creating terraces with their own buildings, streets, parks and gardens. The latter being encased in glass to prevent the fragile flora from the withering cold.[6]
Geography
Ravenheart is nestled between snowy mountains and ash-spewing volcanoes, hence the climate is both terribly cold and awfully harsh. The Citadel, and the nearby settlement, often are shrouded in ash- and snowstorms because of this as well. The climate is so cold actually, that mundane people can only live on the slopes of the volcano opposite to the palace, where geothermal heat protects them from the cold.[2] Which is why this district is called the Mundane District.[7]
The bridge, meanwhile, could only be inhabited by Awakened individuals capable of resisting said cold – hence this is called the Awakened District – whilst the frozen palace itself is usually only inhabited by the owner of the Citadel and those that answer to them.[7]
The presence of volcanoes in the area has had a significant effect on the surroundings. The lowlands, for example, were generously fertilized by volcanic ash whilst their presence, at the same time, also enables the existence of geothermal heat and energy, hot springs and precious minerals of all kinds.[2]
Ravenheart can be found just a little to the left from the center of the map given below.
Components
Ravenheart's main component revolves around terraforming the direct environment surrounding it. An ability that has proven instrumental in stopping the cold of the Frozen Wastelands west of Ravenheart from enveloping and advancing past it. The Component, for example, can also be used to fertilize the soil or heat the surroundings.
Of course, since Ravenheart is a Great Citadel, its component can only be properly wielded by a Supreme, rather than a Saint.[8]
Ravenheart also seems to possess an ability to aid it's owner in direct combat, as Kai hinted at during his confrontation with the enthralled Song Sisters.[9]
Inhabitants
Ravenheart was originally build by Ariel, the Daemon of Dread, who had made it for a beautiful monster whom he had made into a queen[10] – The Jade Queen – who then presided over the Jade Court in the ancient past.[11]
"This blade is a whisper of Ariel, the Demon of Dread, who turned a beautiful monster into a queen and gave her a sinister gift of forbidden knowledge."
– Chapter 869, Memory Description of the Sin of Solace[10]
Furthermore, Ravenheart, the Jade Palace, is and has been the headquarters for the Song Clan and its notable members such as Ki, Seishan and the remaining Song Sisters as well as its retainers.
During Song Jiwon's reign less than a hundred Awakened had made the Jade Palace their home. Later, when Ki Song had propelled the formerly minor Clan to great heights, the Jade Palace had tens of thousands of Awakened warriors anchored to its gateway – with many Masters and Saints living under its roof.[3]
Rain and her family lived in Ravenheart too – though not in the Jade Palace itself – as well as Kai.[12]
Kai conquered Ravenheart during the Throne War and ultimately made it both his home and base of operations when he became the Steward of the West in the wake of the rise of the Human Domain. Kicking out the former occupants in doing so – with the exception of Revel who, due to her skillset and Flaw, stayed in the caverns below the palace.[13]The remaining Song Sisters made other Citadels their home.[3]
During Kai's stay there were hundreds of thousands of Awakened anchored at the Jade Palace. Many of them were Kai's direct subordinates, Nightsingers, whilst the rest of his staff was composed of local Awakened, government agents, emissaries of the Immortal Flame clan and assistants send over by the daughters of Ki Song. Of course, a few Shadow Clan members were among them, as well.[3]
Ravenheart and its surrounding lands have long since been cleared of the truly dangerous Nightmare Creatures. However, many abominations still roam the snowy peaks. A example of such a creature is a Stone Worm.[2] Other creatures of note would be Ki Song's pilgrims – who can be encountered throughout the territory[14]– and the Chalice Knights,[15] who were the subject of the quote at the top of the page.
"Chalice Knights… Chalice Knights… wait, don't tell me. Were these the poor bastards who drank Jade Queen's nectar? Soon, there was nothing but bestial need left… huh, they might be. What fools! Even my little sister knows not to drink everything given to her by shady characters…"
– Chapter 1715, Sunny[16]
Points of Interest
Ravenheart has various points of interest. The Dream Gate, for example, is placed opposite to the palace, behind the mundane district and on the slope of the volcano where it grants passage from the waking world to the Dream Realm.[7]
Since Ravenheart is a Great Citadel, there, of course, is also a Gateway which grants Awakened the ability to go back to the waking world if need be. In Ravenheart's case the Gateway is located inside the palace.[7]The gate(s) would be another point of interest, these grant access to and from the Mundane District and also are the place where people are checked for potential Skinwalker vessels.[5]
A more eerie point of interest would be the Toy Room. A room that, as its name suggests, is filled with toys and is hidden in a remote corridor of the Jade Palace. Some of the toys were magical, some were not – some were made by Ariel himself.[4] Two prominent examples of magical toys would be the Doll house, a miniature version of the Jade Palace with a sinister secret, and the Death Game board[17]. Both of which have resided in the Toy Room for a very long time.
"They're just toys, though. Some of them are a little magical, but that's that – what's the worst that can happen?"
– Chapter 2307, Seishan.[4]
The volcano opposite to the palace is not an ordinary volcano either, not even by Dream Realm standards, for there are structures carved into the main vent and into the walls of the magma chamber – indicating that it had been inhabited, once. The 'city' inside the volcano seemed to have possessed a form of defensive fortifications as well. One aimed not at those coming down the main vent, but instead, aimed at those coming from below – from the molten depths of the earth.[11]
History
In ancient times, Ariel, the Daemon of Dread, built the palace for the Jade Queen; who ended up holding court there for an unspoken amount of years.[11]
Song Jiwon conquered Ravenheart and founded the Song clan.[2]
The creature living in the volcano emerged and attacked Ravenheart, prompting Song Jiwon to fight it in order to protect the palace and those anchored to it. Those she was trying to protect, however, did not aid her in battle – leaving her to die.[18]
Ki Song, who had made her way from Rivergate to Ravenheart with the help of Orum, reclaimed the Jade Palace in what ended up being a ruthless slaughter of about 30 Awakened – killing all she had deemed a traitor.[19]
Kai, with the help of Morgan, conquers Ravenheart during the climax of the Throne War.[20][21]
The enthralled Song Sisters reclaim Ravenheart in Asterion's name.[22]
"All of you are complicit. All of you are her murderers. And yet you have the audacity to claim that this is your Citadel. That I am too weak to rule it. You… you cowards are calling me weak?"
– Chapter 1941, Ki Song[19]
Trivia
The mountain chain Ravenheart calls its home is a chain that branched out from the Hollow Mountains.[2]
Ravenheart originally had a different and more obscure name in the Runic language of the Nightmare Spell. However, its inhabitants, and the rest of the world, gradually started naming it after its original founder's True Name, Song Jiwon – Ravenheart, Ki Song's late mother.[2]
The Jade Palace has three throne rooms with thrones suited for humans. But, while one was obviously meant for people, the other one was enormous – as if meant for creatures of much larger size. The third throne room was made by Ki Song.[13]
The walls of the Jade Palace possess a mystical quality, for both Sunny's Shadow Sense and his Spatial ability as well as Kai's enhanced vision were inhibited and outright blocked respectively due to their nature. [3]
References(22)
- [1]Chapter 923, "Secret of the Estuary", Vol. 5
- [2]Chapter 1624, "Crazy Girl", Vol. 8
- [3]Chapter 2303, "Jade Palace", Vol. 10
- [4]Chapter 2307, "Toy Room", Vol. 10
- [5]Chapter 1631, "Hidden Menace", Vol. 8
- [6]Chapter 2270, "Food For the People", Vol. 10
- [7]Chapter 1630, "Ravenheart", Vol. 8
- [8]Chapter 2301, "Blessed Land", Vol. 10