Lake Rathetear

Located in a somewhat mountainous region between the Southern Plains of Karana and the Rathe Mountains, Rathetear is a large, picturesque lake set against a backdrop of high mountains and breathtaking cliffs.

Legends state that this lake was formed from the tears of the Rathe, as, one by one, they were executed by Murdunk and his ogre army in the primal world where they had been imprisoned. The earthen gods would later reform on their home plane after Murdunk's death, which, ironically, occurred in the very waters that arose from his murderous action. It is said that the ogre was felled upon the lake during an epic battle waged to determine the ultimate fate of Zek's mortal children.

A group of gnolls has set up base in the ruins of Murdunk's army outpost near the entrance to southern Karana. It is said that at nightfall, numerous undead creatures rise from the earth and surround these ruins.

On one of the islands in the lake there is a large tower with a glowing, incandescent flame atop it, burning eternally toward the heavens. Towards the western edge of the lake, adventurers can gain access to the famed, mysterious Arena.

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In this book, we see the Rallosian Army's advance through the eyes of Ilkalla, a Qeynosian Guard at an outpost on Lake Rathetear.

For as long as she could, Ilkalla watched Gerren's progress up the steep cliffs bordering Lake Rathetear. Even when she could no longer pick him out among the shadows cast by the jagged rocks, she fancied she could see him making his way cautiously along. Finally, she crept into the hut she and Gerren had shared beside their outpost and slept. The Rallosian Army would launch its barges across the Lake and she would need her strength to meet them.

The sun was high overhead when Ilkalla awoke. Her dreams were troubled by the thrumming of the ogres' victory drums which had started up again while she slept. "Why couldn't they use a victory flute instead?" she grumbled, latching on to the least of the concerns this day would bring. She had been able to cross the Lake on a coracle twice in one night, but she had been pulling only herself. She was not sure how long the massive, heavy Rallosians barges would take to make the same crossing.

There were very few humans around Lake Rathetear. Ilkalla was the only one present at the strategy meeting, where the aviak and centaur leaders stood before parchment maps, marking off the approaches across the Lake and the defensive positions available. The wide arrows indicating the ways the Rallosian Army could attack were wide swathes of red ochre compared to the tiny ash grey lines for defense. To Ilkalla, the ochre marks looked like dried blood.

The best course of action is to stop them before they cross," said Khaza, an aviak general. "The aqua goblins will join with the ogres, not with us. We have fought them too long for them to suddenly consider us their allies," responded Errod of the centaurs. "Perhaps we could put our defense in two zones, rather than hoping to defend across the entire shore," said Ilkalla. She pointed to the most likely site where the Rallosian barges would land. "Aviaks in front over the water and the rest of us on the shore."

With some aviaks in the flanks to keep the Rallosians from spreading our front lines too thin," agreed Khaza. "We might not survive for long against the entire Rallosian Army, but we can pick them off and lessen their numbers." The aviak and centaur leaders sent word to their gathered forces. Ilkalla (a "non-flier" as the aviaks called them) would join a centaur unit held in a third tier reserve.