Shrine of Seeklander
Contents
Regional Description
The Shrine of Seeklander is a temple fortress in the north western mountains of Dwilight. it is built around a hill dominating a mountain pass. There are three great gates in the outer walls, leading to the three neighboring provinces.
The Shrine has been a holy site since ancient times. Once venerated by the native mountain tribes, it was taken by the Torrenists for their temple and still later by the Astroists for theirs. Temple built upon temple. But at the heart of it all is the shrine, starting from the hill top, a roughly cut stone stair winds down deep into the heart of the hill ending in a vast cavern holding a circular pool of water that never fails. The cavern walls are scattered with stencils, human hands outlined against a background of red paint. Though faded, they are stark and evocative, signatures from the distant past. Just visible on darkened grayish rock are other seemingly abstract patterns of red and white lines that on closer inspection resolve into fantastical creatures that tell a tale for the wise.
Many cults and faiths abide , drawn like iron to a lodestone by the hope of redemption. Pilgrims arrive constantly visiting the holy places and making the traditional circuit of faith seven times around the inner walls. The locals make a good living supplying the needs of these pilgrims. The shrine is a mighty temple fortress guarding the lowlands below from invasion through the mountain pass. A holy shield for mankind.
Climate
The climate is a lower alpine climate, a result of the location; right on the outskirts of Dwilight's highest mountain ridge. As a traveler you are to expect snow in the higher region area's in the winter and in the early spring. In the summer it can be very warm to even hot for one's feelings. At this height the sun burns the skin more easily so caution is advised. Furthermore it is advised to travel lightly towards the citadel, the thin air makes you short of breath and thus any heavy supplies and equipment are carried upwards by locals who have adjusted themselves on living on great heights.
Native Plants
The lower area's of the region aren't of any interest to the monks living in this region.
What actually does gain their attention are the numerous of weeds and flowers growing on the mountain rocks. Local healers use the weeds to cure a varioty of wounds and deceases.
Formosana or Tor's Flower This interesting flower grows on the sunny side of the mountain ridges and this Orchid has a special meaning for the people of Seeklander. The flower resembles the 'bringer of light' and is often in one breath named as the flower of the Holy Tor himself.
It is a commoner belief that where these flowers grow a divine spirit has set foot. Picking this flower goes hand-in-hand with excellent care, since the flowers are fragile and sometimes hard to reach. The flower is only picked by the monks living in the citadel of the Shrine. Before, while and after the Formosana is picked, there are certain rituals performed by the monks to please the gods for taking such a holy flower from the mountain.
One could imagine that some rituals are extremely difficult to perform while hanging on a rope with nothing more than 3,000 feet of air beneath you.
While there are interesting flowers, plants and weeds growing across the region, there isn't one single flower as interesting as the next one.
Matrona or Key to Heaven It is a small, pale flower, not of any interest to man's eye at first. But a close dedicated study of the Seeklander monks revealed that this is truly the most interesting flower they've ever seen.
When the juice from the plant is extracted it can be used as an above average healing potion. It's powers are not limited to curing the flew, but it also cures infected wounds, all known deceases and it speeds up the healing process when used with other poitions.
Every once in a while new interesting features of this flower pop-up. Like that it appears to stimulate the mind making it easier and more effective to meditate.
But this is still under heavy discussing by the monks, some belief that this effect isn't caused by the flower, but that it comes from the water that they drink, which flows directly out of the mountains. While others think the meditative aspect of the flower is the main reason why Tor has let it grow on the rocks of the Shrine of Seeklander in the first place.
Rose Althea or Eternity Rose It was originally brought into the region from Sirion by Duke Kihalin for his garden but the duke soon ordered the flower to be planted all over the region, especially around the main shrine in the center of the fortress because of similarities in appearances between the bloodstars and the flower.
Individual flowers are short-lived, lasting only a day. However, numerous flower buds are produced on the shrub's new growth,which provides prolific flowering over a long summer blooming period. The numerous flowers symbolize the expanding faith and its continued existance. The flower is used in ceremonies of Sanguis Astroism in special holidays, eatten by young children as a treat, and as wedding bouquets in weddings.
Economy
The driving force of the Seeklander economy is it's destination as a place of Pilgrimage. Many businesses flourish to support this trade. Also important is its location on a north-south trade route. Traders gather here to trade iron and gold coming from the mountains, food and commodities from around Gaston, and valuable herbs and other rare plants native to the Shrine. Flowers are used to decorate the famous Shrine while bars of iron are used to forge weapons for soldiers to guard the region from monster hordes.
Notable Sites
The Tower of Discernment
This is the great central citadel within the inner walls, topped by a tall tower which gives unparalleled views of the fortress and it's surrounds. The citadel also holds the Shrine & Temple and also the old Ducal Palace built in the times when there were still Dukes ruling from Seeklander.
Hell's Gate
The is the road and pass located just north west of the Shrine, and forms part of the defenses of the stronghold. This narrow pass it studded with obstacles and traps and forms an excellent killing ground for the archers and artillery on the walls. Hordes of monsters and undead creatures invade the Shrine through this pass, but few make it as far as the walls and those few are destroyed scaling those heights.
Kihalin's folly
A watchtower built on a promontory overlooking Hell's Gate, it was named after Duke Kihalin Lapallanch who built it to give advance warning of hordes attacking up the pass. Soldier's hate serving there, because although you get an excellent view of the pass you can get cut off and surrounded there.
All Gods
This is the narrow alleys, markets and businesses protected by the outer walls. The mass of citizenry and trades exist here.
Religious Significance
There are many stories of the origination of the Shrine of Seeklander, and several religious that hold the Shrine in high regard. The more prominent of them are related below.
Prehistory
Ancient histories of the mountainous northwest of Dwilight are rare and fractured. Many stories can be heard whispered amongst the peasantry of many ancient religions having used the Shrine of Seeklander over the centuries. None of the stories, however, claim to know of the origin of the Shrine, or even the origin of its name. Perhaps one day some ancient records will be found that hold the secrets of the Shrine of Seeklander.
Torenism
The religion of Torenism viewed the northern mountain ranges of Dwilight as holy ground - the site of the revelation of Tor's will to the Messiah Luna Dawnstar came to the west at the Mountain of Betrayal, and later many Torenist events of significance occurred there. Because of this, in the early days of the faith, the High King Fisc Arylon ordered a grand shrine built in the shadow of the mountains. A giant steppe pyramid was constructed over the Shrine there to serve as a temple and highly visible destination point for Torenists traveling to the Shrine on pilgrimage - or more properly those who were seeking Tor. This was reputably the genesis of the name "Seeklander", as the land set aside for those seeking Tor's grace. The pyramid no longer exists. Its stones were used to build the temple of Sanguis Astroism on the same site of the Shrine.
There is something known to Torenists as The Seeklander Creed - this is an ecumenical Torenist statement of faith used by the laity of the church to declare their belief system to themselves, and to others. It is recited during each Toren Mass Celebration, as well as all formal rites of passage for the religion. The creed was drafted by the church leaders in the first days of Torenism, at an ecumenical council that was held at the newly constructed shrine in the region known as Seeklander - thus did that area lend its name to the creed.
Torenists consider the shrine housed at Seeklander to be among the most holy sites on the continent, perhaps ranking behind only the Mountain of Betrayal and the holy city of Valkyrja.
Militant Sanguis Astroism - After the conquest of Everguard by Astrum
When Astrum took control of the fortress, most of Torenists were either converted into SA or driven out. SA purged and cleansed the fortress of what it considered the Torenist heresy. A SA temple was built over where the Torenist temple once stood. Many Astroists consider the shrine as a great shield which defenses the rest of the SA regions from monsters of the western mountains. Under Duke Kihalin, a mighty wall with three great gates was built to symbolize the three bloodstars of the faith.
Tolerant Sanguis Astroism - Under Westgard
Later Sanguis Astroism as practiced under the realm of Westgard was a more tolerant religion and permitted other faiths to flourish. In this permissive environment, the pilgrims of many faiths visit the Shrine.
Lords who have ruled the Shrine
- 2008-11-12 Everguard - Fisc Arylon
- 2008-11-21 rogue -
- 2009-05-22 Astrum -
- 2009-05-31 rogue -
- 2009-06-10 Astrum - Martin
- 2011-07-17 Astrum - Kihalin Lapallanch
- 2012-08-?? Astrum - Karibash ka Habb
- 2014-03-14 rogue -
- 2016-04-25 Westgard -
- 2016-09-19 rogue -
- 2016-12-06 Westgard -
- 2017-03-13 rogue -
- 2017-04-13 Westgard -
- 2017-19-07 rogue -
- 2017-11-10 Westgard -
- 2017-11-29 rogue -
- 2017-12-11 Westgard -
- 2021-12-05 rogue -
- 2022-12-21 Westgard - Vincenzo Falconi
- 2023-02-07 Westgard - Meginhard Brennaborg
- 2023-04-29 Westgard - As part of her betrothal to the High King, Asceline Pemrose is granted the All Gods district.
Knights who have served the Shrine
- Dame Khari Kye
- Sir Gambit Dragomir
- Sir Orrick Lucan Astorias
- Dame Asceline Pemrose
Guilds - Known to have had a Guild House in the Shrine
- Astrum Knight Academy - The first guild house of the Astrum Knight Academy opened in Shrine of Seeklander.
- The Order of the Emerald Shield - A guild of Adventurers and Knights dedicated to the defence of humanity in Western Dwilight
