Kharum-Zhal: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:05, 13 April 2025

Kharum-Zhal

Type	Ruined Deep Road Town
Location	Murazkar Range, Deep Road (80 miles from Kar-Thal)
Realm	Terasil
Significance	Collapsed Deep Road settlement; site of unexplained structural catastrophe

Kharum-Zhal is a sealed and abandoned settlement located along the Deep Road between Kar-Thal and Telenkar Hold, approximately 80 miles from the eastern terminus. Once a functioning rest and trade station, it was lost to an unexplained tunnel collapse.

Geography

The ruin lies in a wide-cut chamber carved into red-veined basalt strata, with collapsed arches and fractured pylons leading into destabilized corridors. The surrounding tunnelwork is warped, partially fused, and in places appears melted. Access is blocked by reinforced seal-plates and a locked barrier gate.

History

Originally founded by the Duranthi as a mining town, Kharum-Zhal grew into the largest waystation between Kar-Thal and Telenkar Hold during the early Deep Road expansions. Its sudden collapse devastated the settlement. No official recovery efforts were ever undertaken.

Cultural Significance

Among Deep Road travelers, Kharum-Zhal remains a cautionary tale, but some believe the site holds unresolved histories or forces that should be confronted.

Threats and Dangers

The region surrounding Kharum-Zhal is considered unstable.

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 {{Ruins in the Murazkar Range Sections
-|Introduction=Kharum-Zhal is a sealed and abandoned settlement located along the Deep Road between [[Kar-Thal]] and [[Telenkar Hold]], approximately 80 miles from the eastern terminus. Once a functioning rest and trade station, it was lost to an unexplained collapse and now remains a restricted zone under active surveillance by Deepwatch Stonewardens.
+|Introduction=Kharum-Zhal is a sealed and abandoned settlement located along the Deep Road between [[Kar-Thal]] and [[Telenkar Hold]], approximately 80 miles from the eastern terminus. Once a functioning rest and trade station, it was lost to an unexplained tunnel collapse.
-|Geography=The ruin lies in a wide-cut chamber carved into red-veined basalt strata, with collapsed arches and fractured pylons leading into destabilized corridors. The surrounding tunnelwork is warped, partially fused, and in places appears melted. Structural remnants occasionally emit low vibration or disorienting sound pulses. Access is blocked by reinforced seal-plates and a locked barrier gate.
+|Geography=The ruin lies in a wide-cut chamber carved into red-veined basalt strata, with collapsed arches and fractured pylons leading into destabilized corridors. The surrounding tunnelwork is warped, partially fused, and in places appears melted. Access is blocked by reinforced seal-plates and a locked barrier gate.
-|History=Originally founded by the [[Duranthi]] as a mining and forging town, Kharum-Zhal grew into the largest waystation between Kar-Thal and Telenkar Hold during the early Deep Road expansions. Its sudden collapse—known in surviving records as the Zhal Collapse—devastated the settlement. No official recovery efforts were ever undertaken.
+|History=Originally founded by the [[Duranthi]] as a mining town, Kharum-Zhal grew into the largest waystation between Kar-Thal and Telenkar Hold during the early Deep Road expansions. Its sudden collapse devastated the settlement. No official recovery efforts were ever undertaken.
-|Known Features=Though sealed, several locations within the ruin are documented through maps and surviving witness accounts:
+|Cultural Significance=Among Deep Road travelers, Kharum-Zhal remains a cautionary tale, but some believe the site holds unresolved histories or forces that should be confronted.
+|Threats and Dangers=The region surrounding Kharum-Zhal is considered unstable.
-* The Forgeworks – Once the industrial center of Kharum-Zhal, now fused and inaccessible.
-* The Central Spiral – A primary stairwell chamber associated with unknown structural disruptions.
-* Archive Hollow – A sealed vault rumored to contain records, ledgers, and early Deep Road documents.
-* Zhal's Gate – The outermost entrance, now permanently sealed with heavy stone.
-|Cultural Significance=Among Deep Road travelers, Kharum-Zhal remains a cautionary tale. Its name is rarely spoken aloud near active routes, and passing its sealed gate is met with quiet reflection. Deep-trained caravans often pause without comment before continuing past. Some fringe groups believe the site holds unresolved histories or forces that should be confronted—but no formal plans have been sanctioned.
-|Threats and Dangers=The region surrounding Kharum-Zhal is considered unstable. Known risks include spatial disorientation, memory lapses, echo anomalies, and structural collapse. Unauthorized access is prohibited, and Deepwatch patrols monitor for signs of activity. Occasional tremors and unexplained atmospheric disturbances have been recorded in the area.
 }}