The Rift is a huge chasm that stretches practically from the
Great Ocean to the
Grey Sea. It was formed during a magical catastrophe in the year 837 which took the life of Aderlard, Archmage
of Cambria, Ceonwulf of Hawkesly, Lord of the Northern Plains Province and his family and at least one third of the population on that province.
Since that day the in 837 The Rift has spewed out great mists which have at times been toxic and at times have given rise to weird magical effects.
This mists at times can unnervingly travel against the direction of the prevailing wind as if they had a mind of their own. They are, however, not the
only perils to come out of The Rift for strange magical beasts, aberrations and demons have crawled out of the chasm leading sages to speculate
that in its depths lie one or more portals to other unnatural realms. In response to the formation of The Rift the
Kingdom of Cambria abandoned all lands to its north and created
The Wall a defensive structure on the southern side that runs from coast to coast.
Noone has ever travelled to the bottom of The Rift which is so deep that it lies in perpetual gloom. Early in his reign
King Burdred financed three expeditions to explore The Rift but the first two were lost and
only a few bedragggled survivors returned from the third expedition. What they discovered is known only to a few of the King's
inner circle.