The Maw-Torghast
A towering dark spire rose from the abyss, reaching into the sky.
Countless elemental phenomena converged here. Images beneath the spire reflected different worlds. Though their styles and forms varied wildly, they shared one trait: death and desolation covered them all.
Helya, daughter of Odyn, had visited Soulrender before. Every time she came, she found that the planes of reality touched by the Maw were slowly increasing.
The Jailer had grown stronger again.
Helya waved away the mist beneath Torghast. Rivers flowing with vibrant energy defied the laws of physics entirely, streaming toward the top of the tower.
Outside, Helya could see Torghast's pinnacle suspended in the dark sky. Inside, however, no matter how many floors she climbed, she never caught sight of the top.
This flowing energy was called anima, an energy extracted from the souls of the dead. The Jailer used it to strengthen himself and extend the Maw's influence over the planes of reality, hoping to obtain more souls from the worlds of the living.
"Open the door." Helya reached Torghast's entrance and spoke to the Dark Mage guarding the Maw's gate.
The crimson eyes beneath the Dark Mage's hood flashed with eerie blue light, and arcane energy appeared across the black iron lintel.
Many kinds of energy could be found throughout the Maw. The Jailer's lackeys came from every corner of the universe.
Helya stepped through the tower's doors and used a prearranged anchor point to reach a spacious hall.
Someone else was waiting in the hall, a lord whose appearance resembled an elf's.
Helya had met him twice. Through conversations with some of the Maw's mages, she had learned that this powerful lord was Sire Denathrius, ruler of Revendreth, a major power in the Shadowlands.
Denathrius was fanatically loyal to the Jailer. He