Temple of the North Wind
Asketi's power as Mistress of Barren Fields is evident in Vela'tohr Woods, stemming from the massive stone Temple of the North Wind perched so high upon Asketi's Mount that it rests above the clouds in a permanent winter.
The temple has been hollowed out of the mountain's summit ages ago, wrought with meticulous Dwarven craftmanship. There are labyrinthine catacombs far beneath the temple. It is governed by High Priestess Denizelva.
Clerics can use the Revelation spell to see spectral portals that access the High Priestess's quarters and the Vela'Tohr Feltery.
Passageway
[Temple of the North Wind, Dark Sanctuary]
Gargantuan pillars of hewn stone support a vast roof high overhead. Bluish light emanates from glowing crystals set in iron sconces affixed to the mighty columns. Polished smooth as glass, the glossy floor of silver-veined black marble reflects the glow back in pools and arcs that slither across the stone like living things. You also see a faint spectral shimmer leading into one of the pillars.
Obvious exits: northeast, northwest.
Glowing faintly, the shimmer is an amorphous conglomeration of spiritual essence that appears large enough to swallow you whole.
>go shimmer
[Temple of the North Wind, Passageway]
Darkness here so intense that it is suffocating, relieved only by tiny clusters of glowing bluish crystals clustered along the route. A swirling iridescent cloud partially juts from a granite wall, its colors bright but producing little light. You also see a dark tunnel.
Obvious exits: none.
>go tunnel
[A Twisting Tunnel]
Fitful flickers of blue light here and there only intensify the darkness of the subterranean passage, providing barely enough illumination to see a scant arm's length ahead.
Obvious paths: none.
You enter the dark tunnel mouth and begin your journey.
Frost-covered granite makes for treacherous footing as the tunnel snakes downward in a slow spiral.
The tunnel twists and turns, weaving a circuitous path down through black granite walls.
Frost slowly disappears from the tunnel walls and the air warms perceptibly.
The trek seems endless as the tunnel gradually levels out and the granite gives way to packed dirt.
At last, you reach the end of the tunnel.
[Pilgrimage Trail, The Vela'Tohr Feltery]
This cellar is packed almost to the bursting point with various supplies. Smoked goat and boar hang from the rafters. Crocks of honey and wheels of goat cheese fill the shelves. A path winds between barrels of cornmeal and kegs of salt, ending before a dark tunnel. Necessities like blankets and simple tools, as well as wicker bins filled with potatoes and dried beans, are stacked near the tunnel. Dusty crates provide access to a swirling iridescent cloud in the ceiling.
Obvious exits: none.
High Priestess's Quarters
[Temple of the North Wind, Dark Sanctuary]
Gargantuan pillars of hewn stone support a vast roof high overhead. Bluish light emanates from glowing crystals set in iron sconces affixed to the mighty columns. Polished smooth as glass, the glossy floor of silver-veined black marble reflects the glow back in pools and arcs that slither across the stone like living things. You also see a faint spectral shimmer leading into one of the pillars.
Obvious exits: northeast, northwest.
Glowing faintly, the shimmer is an amorphous conglomeration of spiritual essence that appears large enough to swallow you whole.
>go shimmer
[Temple of the North Wind, High Priestess' Sanctum]
Walls of black marble streaked with ice-blue enclose the circular chamber. A heavy armchair upholstered in midnight-blue velvet sits behind an intricately carved ebony desk. Blue silk tassels and fine blue fringe adorn the dark velvet draperies covering most of walls. Heightening the dramatic darkness of the room by way of contrast, a swirling iridescent cloud hovers against one wall like a mist-filled door.
Obvious exits: none.
You tap an intricately carved ebony desk.
You see nothing unusual.
You tap a swirling iridescent cloud.
You see nothing unusual.
Friezes
Counterclockwise from the entrance:
- Carved in poses of wanton abandon, scantily clad maidens vie for the attention of a well-muscled youth playing a bodhran. Two rogues duel over one of the wenches, but the rest of the men are focused on a woman wearing an elaborate skirt, a wicked smile and not much else. Corpses from past fights litter the floor of the hall. A woman strangled with her own veils reaches longingly towards the drummer, even in death. Etched beneath the scene are the words, "Terror and Pain: Unsatiated Appetites."
- Engaged in acts of wanton destruction, bas-relief carvings show a swarm of gremlins wreaking havoc on an unsuspecting populace. Ink is spilled over an enchanter's research notes, a weaver's work is unraveled on the loom, explosive powders are thrown into a forge's fire, a shield breaks in arms practice, and a frayed saddle strap gives way, dumping a rider in the path of a charging boar. Etched beneath the scene are the words, "Terror and Pain: Petty Cruelties and Broken Gear."
- Each frieze portrays people powerless in the face of nature's fury. Sharks feed on men swept overboard as stormy seas swamp a ship. Families flee a village in the path of lava pouring from a volcano. Searchers hunt through the ruins of a town destroyed by a wind storm, digging out bodies. Skeletally thin figures scavenge for food in a field killed by drought. A viper coils around a wasted woman dying from plague. Etched beneath the images are the words, "Terror and Pain: Destructive Rage."
- Encamped by the thousands, orcs lay siege to a walled town. A coyote peers from an alley, gleefully observing the populace crowded in the town square. The poorly armed townsmen gaze towards the gates with expressions of dismay and fear on their faces. The women herd children up the stairs into a temple, their features etched in lines of bitter resignation. Engraved beneath the scene are the words, "Terror and Pain: the Death of Hope."
- A deeply carved web spans the stone wall, its tangled threads framing numerous scenes of betrayal. In one, a man in healer's robes pours poison into a patient's wineglass. Another shows a trader furtively emptying a rival's contract case. A third depicts a herald carrying a truce flag shot down by an archer. More images of scheming and disloyalty fill the web as a large spider adds another thread. Etched beneath the scene are the words, "Terror and Pain: Plots and Paranoia."
- Carved with minute attention to detail, ravaged bodies lie strewn across a battlefield like broken dolls. In the foreground, a centaur pins one wounded warrior to the ground, a massive hoof planted on the man's chest. Kneeling beside the fighter, a faceless figure presses the tip of a serrated scythe below the man's eye. Several thin lines trace his cheek and jaw, proving this is not the first cut the soldier has suffered. Etched beneath the scene are the words, "Terror and Pain: Torturers at Work."
- Separated by a carved border of goshawks, the frieze is composed of three panels. The left panel illustrates a footpad bent over a murder victim, rifling through the body's pockets and oblivious of an approaching guard. The middle depicts the pair conferring as the ruffian offers the guard a small purse. The right panel shows the guard walking away, purse in hand, as the thug bends over the body once more. Etched beneath the scene are the words, "Terror and Pain: Justice Fails."
- Surrounded by a flock of shrikes depicted in mid-flight, a three-eyed woman gazes west towards the sun's final resting place with a sneer twisting her beautiful features. Standing beside her, a sharp-featured man with a weasel perched on his shoulder holds a round object out for her consideration. Etched beneath the scene are the words, "Terror and Pain: the Dragon's Conception."