The Black Court
The Black Court is a colossal, fortress-like structure that rises ominously from the center of the Tribunal Plains, its jagged spires piercing the blood-red sky. Made from polished obsidian and brimstone, the fortress reflects no light, casting an aura of dread upon all who approach. The immense gates, carved with ancient infernal runes, stand as the only entrance into the court. Inside, the halls are cavernous, filled with the oppressive sound of chains, whispers of the damned, and the steady toll of a massive bell that signals the end of a judgment. At the heart of the Black Court is the Judgment Hall, a vast chamber where the Keepers of Fate conduct their grim task. The hall is dominated by an enormous circular platform surrounded by endless rows of stone pews, where lesser demons and creatures of Draethor watch the proceedings in morbid fascination. At the center of the platform, a swirling portal of dark energy allows the Keepers to peer into the past deeds of each soul, revealing their sins and crimes in vivid detail. The Keepers of Fate sit upon towering thrones of black iron, their forms shrouded in dark, flowing robes, their faces concealed beneath hooded cowls. Their voices resonate with the weight of eternity, cold and devoid of mercy. They speak in an ancient language of condemnation, their judgments echoing across the plains. Each Keeper wields a massive, rune-inscribed gavel, which they slam to pronounce the final verdict, sending a thunderous sound reverberating through the halls.
The Keepers of Fate
The Keepers of Fate are the eternal judges of Draethor, ancient and terrifying beings that serve the realm’s ruler. They are impartial, bound to the laws of the infernal realm, and possess a deep, innate ability to see into the very core of a soul. Each Keeper has a unique form, though they are rarely glimpsed beneath their hoods. Their true forms are said to be too horrific for mortal eyes to comprehend. Some speak of serpentine figures, others of shadow-clad monstrosities with many eyes, yet no one agrees entirely on their appearances.
There are three primary Keepers:
- Kharvok, the Unforgiving – Kharvok is the strictest of the Keepers, known for punishing even the smallest of transgressions with brutal severity. He shows no leniency, believing that every crime, no matter how insignificant, must be punished. His judgments often send souls to the harshest realms like Pyroclasm or the Screaming Peaks.
- Ishathar, the Weigher of Sins – Ishathar is more calculating and exact. She meticulously weighs each sin, balancing the punishment to match the nature and intent behind the soul’s misdeeds. Souls sent by Ishathar often end up in more fitting layers like the Veilthorn Marsh, depending on the balance of their sins.
- Mavrok, the Silent Watcher – The most mysterious of the Keepers, Mavrok rarely speaks, instead observing souls for extended periods, studying their essence before delivering a verdict. His punishments are cryptic, and those he judges are often sent to unexpected layers, such as the Abyssal Sea or Umbrawood, where the suffering is more psychological than physical.
Once a soul is judged, the Keepers use their gavels to open dark portals to the appropriate region. The soul is forcibly drawn through the portal, disappearing into the black void to face their eternal torment. Those who are sent to the Abyssal Chasm are flung directly into the endless pit without ceremony, their fates sealed in a place from which nothing escapes.
The Waiting Souls
In the vast plains surrounding the Black Court, souls are forced to wait their turn for judgment. This wait can last days, years, or even centuries, as time itself bends within Draethor. During this period, the souls are haunted by their past deeds, reliving their sins and torments as demons and lesser fiends stalk the outskirts, feeding on the fear and despair that radiate from the waiting masses. This period of anticipation only adds to the agony of knowing their eventual fate is inevitable.
