The Fade
"The Fade" is the name given to a mysterious fog that lines the woods east and south of Aarden. It pours continuously from The Breach, a tear in reality, joining the world Aarden is located on with The Ether, a space between spaces connecting all universes.
The fog itself is both toxic and corrosive. Inhaling it for any prolonged amount of time will very likely result in death, and it stings and burns the skin when touched. Those who've been touched by the Fade for extended periods and survived often walk away with Fadescars, a fractal burn pattern reminiscent of those who've been struck by lightning. Fadescars can have additional and lasting effects on the human body, ranging from mundane health issues to the strange and bizarre - like hair or eyes permanently changing to unnatural colours. Fadescars are increasingly common around the capital city of Sutherfane, where the hardy raiders and pirates often brave the seaborn fog around Mournweld in search of treasure, looters, or foreign ships.
The Fade itself is kept at bay by a well-maintained system of devices called Collectors lining the border between the Empire and the eastern forest. These Fade Collectors resemble lanterns, with a slowly turning purple light held within. A combination of artifice and holy magic from the Church of the Creator, the Fade Collectors absorb the fog as it continually expands pushing westward. As they fill, they're replaced and brought to Nostor's Keep, where they can be cleansed before returning into circulation. The Fade Collection system has failed in the past, resulting in the destruction of the city of Kernsby in 1193AR. This led to the construction of an additional Collector cleansing outpost in Kernsby Field, named for the lost village.