The Vale is the valley behind Basgiath War College and is where the dragons call home.[1]
Geography[]
The Vale is home to the dragons’ sacred hatching grounds, providing a magical shield that protects Navarre, though it falls short of covering the southwestern coastline of Tyrrendor, leaving areas like Aretia exposed.[2][3][4] The Vale is separated from the citadel and flight field by the cliff that holds the Gauntlet and a gorge at its entrance.[5][6]
Off the river trail, a snowcapped ridgeline leads behind the flight field and up into the Vale.[7] The area contains caves where adolescent dragons enter the dreamless sleep.[2][8]
History[]
Prior to the Great War the green Uaineloidsig line, lived within the Vale. After the Great War broke out, somehow dragons and humans agreed to work with one another, leading an unnamed green dragon to bond with a human, becoming a member of First Six. The dragons within the mountain range helped in placing a wardstone at the edge of the Valley, and subsequently powerful wards would come from it. Because of the wards, General Daramor would eventually lose the war. Because of the First Six, the dragons decided to unify alongside the humans, members from the Uaineloidsig line would offer up their valley as a hatching ground for the other dragon lines.
Discussion of bonding humans would happen and eventually Basgiath War College would be set up. Because they didn't much like war, the Irid's wouldn't agree to bond humans and left, leaving Andarna behind, hoping that the young dragon would tell them when the other dragons had stopped waring.
Because the Vale was used as a hatching ground, and was used to raise dragons, humans were banned from the Vale, since the elder dragons didn't want anyone to have access to the young dragons. [9][10] Knowledge of feathertails, hatchlings and how dragons aged was banned from being shared with riders.
At some point, the Right of Benefaction was set up for dragons, which would allow for dragons to bond with humans. Feathertails weren't outright banned from getting their Right of Benefaction, it was heavily discouraged. Other events would quickly be set up with the dragons in how to now deal with humans, such as Threshing and Presentation. The field for Threshing would be set up in a portion of the Vale southwest of and beneath the citadel.[11][12][13] The bowl-shaped forested valley features greenery stretching endlessly southward, with clusters of squat trees among colorful wildflower slopes.[14][15]The valley’s entrance is at the narrowest part of the flight field, where a seasonal waterfall marks its end. There is a dirt path that leads through the center of the valley.[16] The valley has a leaf-covered forest floor and a canopy of enormous trees. To the north lies a clearing with a meadow of shin-high grass, large enough to accommodate ten dragons, encircled by towering trees.[14]
Events[]
Presentation[]
Every year on September 27th, dragons who had gained their Right of Benefaction, would gather to see the current years prospective riders. Presentation was set up so that they could see if any of the riders interested them before they bonded the rider's at Threshing. Dragons would tell the humans beforehand if they were going to Presentation. The prospective riders would have to keep seven feet away from one another, since dragons would burn a group of people to get at one.
Threshing[]
Threshing is held annually on October 1, no matter which day of the week it fell on. It would still happen even if it happened on a Tuesday or a Saturday. It was considered one of the most dangerous days at Basgiath. Students would be allowed to kill one another without consequence and dragons would be allowed to kill any of the humans who displeased them.
Battle at Basgiath[]
During the Battle of Basgiath, dark wielders were able to pinpoint positions of Navarre's forces within Basgiath and the Vale due to lures planted by Jack Barlowe around the college and up the path leading to the Vale.[17]
Gallery[]
TBA
Trivia[]
- In Iron Flame, Brennan Sorrengail mentions that the energy within the hatching grounds at Basgiath could sustain the venin for decades.[2]
Citations[]
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Iron Flame, Chapter 2
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 9
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 20
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 8
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 10
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 59
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 11
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 19
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 13
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 1
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 4
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 8
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Fourth Wing, Chapter 13
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 11
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 12
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 60