The Corruption of the Wildblood

Overview: #

The Corruption of the Wildblood marks the tragic fall of Zyraxis, the once-revered guardian of nature, into madness and chaos. This event plunged vast swathes of Valora’s wilderness into an untamed and dangerous state, corrupting the natural order and leading to the birth of the Eternal Hunt. It is a cornerstone event in Valora’s mythology, symbolizing the loss of balance between civilization and the wild.

Date: #

Early in the Age of Divergence

Participants: #

• Zyraxis – The Wildblood
• Faelanwood family – Druids who once followed Zyraxis
• Crimsonclaw family – Attempted to contain Zyraxis’s madness

Cause: #

Zyraxis was once a protector of Valora’s wilds, but his pride in the natural world turned into an obsession. He became disillusioned with the increasing spread of civilization, believing that the taming of the land was a betrayal of its true essence. His emotions festered, and dark energies began to consume him, transforming him from a protector into a destructive force.

Story: #

Zyraxis, who once roamed Valora’s forests and mountains as the protector of nature, slowly became corrupted by the dark energies he sought to control. His initial goal was to defend the land from encroaching human settlements, but his methods became increasingly violent and unhinged. The Faelanwood family, his most loyal followers, noticed their deity’s gradual decline into madness but could do nothing to stop it.

As Zyraxis’s power grew more chaotic, the Crimsonclaw family intervened, seeing the threat his unchecked influence posed to the balance of power. A great battle ensued in the deep wilds, where Zyraxis unleashed the first of many “Eternal Hunts,” sending wild creatures to terrorize Valora’s towns and villages. In the end, the Wildblood could not be tamed, and his followers were scattered or corrupted, joining the Eternal Hunt.

Outcome: #

• The forests and wildlands became perilous places, filled with aggressive, untamed beasts under Zyraxis’s influence.
• The Faelanwood family withdrew into isolation, nursing the wounds of their lost protector, while the Crimsonclaw family established fortifications to contain the Wildblood’s influence.
• Zyraxis’s legend spread, and his fall became a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked pride and power. His followers continue to exist, bound to the eternal, savage hunt.