Veins of Whispers
The Veins of Whispers… not geographical features, but more like conduits, pulsing with Auric Resonance, said to echo the thoughts and emotions of the Iron-Grip Mountains themselves. Some say they are the arteries through which the mountain speaks, if only one knows how to listen. These Veins, while not visible to the naked eye, can be sensed by those attuned to the earth’s energies, especially the Truthseekers. They describe them as a network of invisible pathways, branching and intertwining beneath the surface, connecting places of power and influence. The pathway, once found, can be marked with Runes of Return.
Geography is almost irrelevant when discussing the Veins. They run beneath the Dwarven Abbey, through the Glimmering Caverns, and even extend into the Null Fields. Specific locations where the Veins are strongest include areas near the Silent Forges, the Aetherium Fount, and within the ruins of the Lost City of Umbral. It is said that one can tap into the Veins to receive visions of the past, present, and future, but at a great cost, resulting in The Gaze of the Deep. It seems that a new area, The Spirit Pools, is related to the veins.
Historically, the Veins of Whispers have been used for various purposes. The Aerilon Ascendancy may have harnessed them to power their flying cities, while the Forgotten Smith sought to understand their secrets and create devices capable of amplifying their power. It is believed the Crimson Cartographers may possess maps detailing the exact location and flow of the Veins, but they guard them jealously. They may be related to new area, the Geomancer's Path. The Silent Monks of Durin's Peak believe that the Veins are a source of wisdom and guidance, while the Order of the Azure Hand seeks to control them, hoping to harness their power for their own selfish purposes. Even the Cobalt Corsairs have heard whispers of these veins, and seek to use their locations to find valuable resources. Perhaps Valia, the Empty is also able to sense the whispers. The Skyclaw Griffons are able to sense the changes in the earth, and may lead one to the path. It would seem that a new tome must be written, the Chapter of the Veins, in order to detail these findings.