The Umbral Anvil

The Umbral Anvil… a name whispered with dread among the Deep-Delvers and with a morbid fascination by the Shadow-Goblins. It is not merely a forge, but a perversion of one, a place where darkness is shaped, and hope is extinguished. Unlike the Silent Forges, which hum with the earth's Auric Resonance, the Umbral Anvil crackles with a malevolent energy, a chaotic blend of Runes of Null and whispered curses. It is said that the anvil was constructed by the Forgotten Smith during his descent into despair, after The Great Sundering. Unlike the blessed Celestial Smiths, this being chose a different path.

Location is variable, as some texts show it in the Umbral Divide, while other texts place it within the Null Fields.

It is written that it’s where he forged the weapons and tools used to create the Chitinous Swarm. Some whispered tales say that he was attempting to contain the swarm, rather than create it, detailing it in the lost Chapter of Decay. But those weapons were warped and twisted by his own grief, becoming instruments of destruction. It may have originally been a Resonance Loom, now corrupted by the forces of the void.

The Anvil may be guarded by Umbral Behemoth or even protected by Stone Sentinels who were corrupted by the energy it produces. It might also be related to a new location, the Abyss of Umbra. The Truthseekers may want to find it, although their fate would be sealed. It cannot be touched without Resonance Gloves, and even those gloves would be corrupted.

The Silent Monks of Durin's Peak speak of it with revulsion, claiming it is a stain upon the earth, a source of corruption that threatens to hasten The Great Unmaking. The Order of the Azure Hand seeks to destroy it, believing that its destruction will sever the connection between the physical world and the void. Archivist Theron is obsessed with finding it, and may record his discoveries in a new Chapter of Artifice. Some tales indicate it can be located by utilizing the Geomancer's Path. Perhaps it can be reached by utilizing the Warped Gates, though even the Cobalt Corsairs fear its touch. They also say that the only way to destroy the anvil, is to drop it into the Emptiness Forge. The Sunstone of Aethelgard dims in its presence, a testament to its inherent darkness.