Valley of the Yellow Serpent is a remote gorge between the Doors of Cilicia (present-day Turkey), full of ancient bones and caves where creatures or souls supposedly sleep. It is also called the “Pass of Bones” for the many remains of creatures and dragons.
Description
- Terrain: a 50 km twisting maze of peaks, impassable on foot, with stairs that look made for titans; reddish sandstone.
- The Tranquil Tower, a keep of dark basalt, and caves with claw marks and traces of something heavy dragged.
- Enormous black feathers and scattered scales on the ground.
Connections
- The name links it to the entity or region of the yellow of the King in Yellow. Divinatory visions describe “the entrails of the yellow serpent” with protective veils.
- It is a region of dragons, with a cemetery of beasts and dragons. Theodora’s black dragon stayed there in mourning.
- It is where Olaus, corrupted, manipulated Philippe into lethargy, and the setting of the combat against the psychopomp dragon. It is a gate between the world of the living and the judgment of souls.
It is not the Caves of Ephesus, Philippe’s original destination.