Valak Mountain

Valak Mountain is an area in Xenoblade Chronicles located on the right arm of the Bionis.
==Geography==
Valak Mountain is situated on the Bionis' right arm. Due to being perpetually shaded by the rest of the Bionis' body, the region is very cold and snowy. Little vegetation can be seen growing on Valak, but many varieties of wildlife can be seen populating the snowy mountain range. Much of the snow is from the same water cycle that formed Eryth Sea as a floating rainwater basin, freezing due to the low temperature and precipitating out as snow. Due to the low incidence of plant life, as well as the naturally jagged features of the Bionis' arms, the region's geography is dominated by snowfields, glaciers, cliffs and mountains. At night, the various crystals scattered across Valak glow a dim yellow, and cast beams of light into the air.
The most notable landmark on the mountain is Ose Tower, a tall crystalline tower built by the High Entia to house the Monado. Other High Entia ruins can also be found on the lower areas of the mountain, while ruins from the Giants can be found on the highest summit. In contrast to the frigid terrain, a geyser can be found on the lower level, near the entrance to a lava-filled cavern.
After the Mechonis reawakens, the path leading from the Bionis' Wrist to Sword Valley is permanently blocked by a rockslide.
==Story==
Fourteen years ago, a group of Homs set off on an expedition to Valak Mountain to find the Monado. They arrived at a Sealed Tower, where the Monado was kept. Dickson would later arrive, finding that the entire team, with the exception of a young Shulk, had mysteriously died. Dickson would then take Shulk and the Monado back to .
The party travels through Valak Mountain on their way to Sword Valley in search of Metal Face and Face Nemesis. Along the way, they stay the night at Ose Tower. Alvis tells the party that the Monado was originally kept here, and explains to Shulk the nature of their visions.
Face Nemesis meets them as they reach the base of the mountain, attempting to tell them something important, but instead of listening, Shulk tries to get Fiora to remember her true identity. The reunion is interrupted when Metal Face attacks, pinning down Face Nemesis under his claws and holding a blade to Fiora's throat, demanding the Monado or else he'll kill her. Reluctantly, Shulk agrees, setting the Monado down.
Metal Face then disengages from his Face unit, revealing himself to be Mumkhar. Dunban, shocked, demands to know why he betrayed the Homs and attacked Colony 9; in response, Mumkhar rants about his hatred of Dunban, his desire to be a hero, and his craving of the Monado. He orders everyone to hold still, demonstrating that he can remotely control Metal Face even when outside of it, so he still has Fiora's life in his hands. He moves to take the Monado, but before he can claim it, Melia blindsides him with an ether attack, knocking him away and causing Metal Face to lose its grip on Fiora, allowing Shulk to take the Monado back and attack.
The fight is soon ended by the arrival of Yaldabaoth, who takes both Face units away, ordering Shulk to come to Galahad Fortress if he wants to see Fiora again.
Later, during the confrontation with Egil at Mechonis Core, Egil pilots the Mechonis to attack the Bionis, swinging its sword at Valak Mountain. Several Homs soldiers, retreating from the battle at Sword Valley, are seen attempting to flee the area as the massive sword strikes, creating a shockwave that knocks everyone away. The fates of the soldiers are unknown, but Egil taunts the party about the potentially hundreds or even thousands of lives that might have been lost with every attack.
==Lore==
* At the end of the quest Ancient High Entia Mystery, Talia and Melia discuss the history of the High Entia in the Valak Mountain region. In particular, it is stated that worship of the High Entia war god began here, with the first statue of said god being created at La Luz Church.
** Additionally, Talia speculates that there might have once been a larger High Entia settlement here, but that it was abandoned back during the era when the Bionis was active; its movements may have caused a climate shift that left Valak Mountain too cold for the High Entia to survive in long-term, with only a few of their buildings surviving to the modern day.
==Locations==
===Upper Level===
* Agul Mountain Range
* Apis Lair
* Bagnar Snowfield
* Bionis' Right Elbow
* Chilkin Lair
* 
* Nagul Waterfall
* Serik Waterfall
* Url Crevasse
* Valak Peak
===Lower Level===
* Antol Den
* Great Glacier
* 
* Jakt Geyser
* Sealed Tower
==Landmarks==
===Upper Level===
* Hollow Bone
* Mechonis Wound
* Zokhed Pass
===Lower Level===
* Bionis' Wrist
* Harict Chapel
* La Luz Church
* Lava Cave
* Nofol Tower
* 
==Secret Areas==
* Befalgar Pedestal
* Three Sage Summit
==NPCs==
* Dakuku
* KurralthPost-Mechonis Core or during Adventurers in Peril.
* YuraPost-Mechonis Core.
* Zain
===Notes===
==Shops==
* Nopon Camp Shop
* Zokhed Pass Shop
==Enemies==
==Collectables==
==Heart-to-Hearts==
* A Snowy Hot Spring
* First Sight of Snow
* In Ose Tower
==Quests==
==In other languages==
==Gallery==
XCDE area menu image Valak Mountain.png|Menu image in 
Valak Mountain DE 1.jpg|Area preview of Valak Mountain in Definitive Edition
Valak Mountain DE 2.jpg|Area preview of Valak Mountain in Definitive Edition
Valak Mountain DE 3.jpg|Area preview of Valak Mountain in Definitive Edition
Valak Mountain DE 4.jpg|Area preview of Valak Mountain in Definitive Edition
Valak Mountain DE (night) 1.jpg|Area preview of Valak Mountain in Definitive Edition, at night
Valak Mountain DE (night) 2.jpg|Area preview of Valak Mountain in Definitive Edition, at night
Valak Mountain DE (night) 3.jpg|Area preview of Valak Mountain in Definitive Edition, at night
Category:Areas (XC1)Category:Valak Mountain
it:Monte Valak