Khuzir

Category	Depressions
Continent	Karterus
Region	Dhark Bolg, Ma'Ohari
Map	Aerruxa Anutoth

In the Lith-Crillion Era, this deep depression was a place of slumber for three ancient dragons, the Reds of Kilth. Around 600 LE, miners from Felak breached their chambers, rousing them from their centuries-long hibernation. The dragons struggled to exact their revenge, as the tunnels and passages of the "stunties" were too small to accommodate their immense size. They resorted to seeking out those who could navigate the same confines as the miners. During the Kilth Deeps War, the people of Felak began referring to this depression as Khuzir, after a treacherous general who had served Danzar-Khâl in the Creation War.

In the Red Scourge, the last of these three dragons, Urkra'gom, perished in the bowels of Khuzir. Varelay lost three thousand soldiers in the assault on this dragon's formidable stronghold Onaimus Kreh. When Urkra'gom was slain by demons wielding corrupted arrows and blades, he exploded in a brilliant conflagration, vaporizing hundreds of soldiers. This explosive demise was intentional on Urkra'gom's part, for he knew full well that the liberated dwarves and their impending demonic overlords were showing no mercy in this war. Urkra'gom's strategy involved consuming scores of globules of magical lava, so that when he met his end, they would detonate simultaneously and bring about total annihilation of the invaders.

The surge of arcane power unleashed from the incinerated wyrm sundered armor, wrenched weapons from grips, and sent those on the periphery careening down the mountainside.

After the dust settled, scouts observed that Onaimus Kreh remained intact, though it had once been situated within a mountain, it now hovered in a cloud of perpetual cinders and smoke. This veil was sufficient to deter any from approaching the location, as something sinister and malevolent lurked within. It swiftly dispatched anything less formidable than a hezrou. The area became a forbidden realm, with mischievous quasits posting signs warning "You are chaotic if you venture past this point." Only a handful dared to brave the region and lived to recount the harrowing tales of Urkra'gom's specter.

Anstix, hezrou demon of Varelay - "The Dragon Spirit of Onaimus Kreh"

Khuzir remains haunted by the Spirit of Urkra'gom. Many have believed they have slain him, only to confront the spirit dragon the following day, fully regenerated. Upon entering Onaimus Kreh, Urkra'gom's spirit relinquishes its pursuit. The whirling cloud of smoke and embers within the conical depression is decidedly abnormal. Though the affected regions can be temporarily dispelled, the phenomena resurface after some time, much like the dragon itself.