Andennspire

The canvas sails of the small ship fluttered as the night wind began to die down, sitting still for a moment until another gust picked up, a subtle green aurora dancing across the sky. The wooden planks and rigging groaned and creaked as the cog began to move once more, the slowly flowing water of the Liger river lapping against its oaken hull. The river left the dark hills and entered the marshes of the aber, the brine-filled air permeating the cool night. Sodden marshland stretched out from the curving river, dark and featureless as it vanished into the shrouds of the night. Countless stars, shimmering in their own rivers of silvery light across the endless void. Towering above the night-shrouded landscape, dwarfing the small craft was the monolithic statue of Elouan the Lightkeeper, the red glow from his lantern emanating a sphere of light, shimmering off his polished marble features, the white stone glistening. He stood in grim solemnity, leaning against his great staff, his lantern held aloft to unerringly light the path forward for the Faithful. The Fairy-winds continued to dance across the ship, the subtle magical light shifting and fading as the cog reached the base of the lonely watchman.

Purpose / Function

The great statue of Andennspire stands at the edge of the Briere marshlands in the Aber Liger, to the West of the city of Naoned. The monumental sculpture marks the historic border of a powerful Bleed that overtook the marshlands during the Formorian occupation of Breizh. Its lantern, held high aloft, serves as a beacon marking the navigable mouth of the great Liger river and a landmark for sailors sailing up the Silvercoast to Naoned. It also marks the boundary between the Viscounty of Naoned and the Barony of Gwenrann along the River.
Beyond its practical purpose as a navigational aid, the massive figure also serves as a powerful reminder of the power of the Southern Church, even in the heavily Fae region. In essence, the statue is a Kalvar, an arkane bulwark against the magik of Faerie. However, despite the statue's presence, the Bleed continues to ebb and flow like a tide in the surrounding region, and Feth Fiada pools around the area, only pierced by the alchemical light of the great lantern.

Alterations

Since its creation, the statue has changed little, but a small town and church complex has sprung up around the area.

Architecture

A small chapel was carved into the base of the statue, a crypt housing various relics from regional saints. A twisting staircase leads up from the chapel to the great lantern, a burst of solar energy trapped within. The statue holds dozens of rooms, hidden or otherwise, within it massive form.
The statue, carved from light grey marble, is human in form, a cloaked and hooded figure leaning on a priest's staff and holding a lantern aloft, pointing out to see along the Liger river. The lantern is visible in all directions, but shines brightest from the front, meant to symbolize the Church's path as the only path forward.
-------------------- The Pilgrim's Docks The statue overlooks the Pilgrim's Docks, which are used to unload barrels of salt from Whitemarsh and stacks of dried peat from Blackmire, as well as religious visitors and tourists to the monument. A small collection of brick buildings, housing a counting house, a public house and some warehouses line the quay, while the street leading towards the statue and a second street parallel to the docks are filled with houses and small buildings. A chapel to the Labourer sits at the end of the street near the entrance to the statue complex

Defenses

The Andennspire complex boasts a commanding view of the river and surrounding landscape, making it a surprisingly tactical point in a martial campaign. Windships can be tethered to it for a makeshift windspire.
A short stone wall, about 2.5 meters high, rings the hillock, providing a rudimentary defensive point. In major engagements in the area, it has quickly fallen, but it has held against disorganized attacks by bandits or hostile fauna in the past. The Black Order maintains an outpost in the Pilgrim's Docks to maintain peace in the area.

History

Following the Formoriian Occupation of Letha (612-642 SI) and the campaign by Dug Alan "Al Louarn" II of Naoned, the Southern Church grew concerned over the unexpected spread of Bleed during the period, with large regions of the Briere Wetlands and the mouth of the Liger River overtaken by the rapid forestation Hengoad. The new status quo threatened the Liger with the reality warping bleed, Fae influence and the return of Druidic practices to an area long considered "stabilized", and further threatening the Church backed strongholds in Anjev.
The Archperfect of Tours, backed by the Dug of Anjev and taking advantage of the political chaos following the death of Duke Drogon I (662), began the ambitious project of building the statue as a political symbol of Church strength, constructing a massive monument to Elouan the Lightbringer.
Despite Church propaganda on the subject, the construction was largely completed by Kriores and Fomorian labourers, in addition to a wide array of Similherez and Brassmen, undercutting the narrative of a "Bediz triumph over magic". There are rumors, even, that otherworldly forces were dealt with to ensure the construction of the monument. Construction stalled and started throughout the years as Naoned's fortunes rose and fell, completing shortly before the death of Dug Alan III .

Founding Date

862

Alternative Names

Andenngoulen; The Lighted Way/Path

Type

Statue

Parent Location

Naoned

Owning Organization

The Southern Church