The Needle

Like many of our order, I first saw the Needle from a distance, after cresting a hill on my sixty-third day of travel. The spire glinted in the midday sun, calling out to me. It would be four days more before I stood at its feet, and truly understood its majesty.

— Lady Tyrea, Knight of the Needle

The Needle is the seat of power for the Church of the Messenger. It is the home of the High Priest and site of the first recorded miracle of the modern age. A destination of pilgrimage for hundres of Messengers every year and a staging ground for the Order of the Needle, with a position in Central Anvimar there is rarely a dull moment nearby.

History

Jarlerus of Vashdanna was already a powerful wizard in the closing days of the Ursian Empire. He was influential across the continent, well regarded for his keen mind and valuable insight. When the empire fell he vanished and was at first assumed a victim of its demise.
A generation later, the village locals of Vashdanna were still reeling from the fall of civilization when the surrounding woods began to sicken and die. Healthy game could not be found, trees withered and bent, even the ground rotted away. Like a spreading disease, this rot crept upon the town. Building foundations failed. Then the children all sickened and died.
Some tried to flee. From those who remained a group assembled to delve into the woods and find the souce of the rot. Feeling they had nothing else to lose, they set forth in search on answers.
As they pushed through the woods the rot increased. What animals they encountered were diseased, maddened, missing patches of hair and skin, then at last mutated abominations. The fauna also suffered, with fungal overgrowths and creeper vines making the way especially deadly.
At length they came before a large tower, it's buttresses striking the ground like spikes. Black and sharp it rose above them, bursting from the sick forest. Light shone from many of its windows. They approached hesitantly and knocked at the main door.
Inside a heavy latch lifted. The door opened and before them stood Jarlerus. His flesh seemed drawn, his eyes sunken but keen. He invited the villagers inside. He killed them all that evening as they dined then raised their corpses as his zombie guards. Jarlerus had transformed. Jarlerus the Corrupted now ruled the Vashenwoods from his secret tower.
Slowly word spread of the lich and his cursed woods. For over a hundred years he ruled the area, conducting his experiments and ravaging the land. Until the priestess Clodagh arrived, drawing upon the powers gifted to her by Waymein and banishing the lich to his final reward. Thus the followers of Waymein declared this the first miracle since the gods had retreated from the world and took possession of the tower.

Rebuilding

Changes were made to the tower in Waymein's honour. It was purged of the experiments the lich had left behind. Several additions were built around the base for teaching, living, workshops, and other necessities. Eventually a large outer ring was added, enclosing a sizeable courtyard for both meditation and livestock. Overall it grew to be a more organic, less angular design, filled with raven motifs.
Laboratories have been turned into rooms of study and instruction. Dungeons were remodeled into living quarters for acolytes. The main audience chamber became a grand temple to Waymein, the Soul Guide.
As they rebuilt the forest healed, regrew, and flourish. The priests restored the natural flow of life and death to the area. Eventually people returned to Vashdanna and the base of the tower, now renamed the Needle, became a community in its own right.
The Needle is now a place of worship and training for the Church of the Messenger. Members will pilgrimage from all over Anvimar to see the site of the first miracle. The High Priest is quartered in one of the secure upper chambers and is known to lead worships and give adresses from time to time.

Type

Cathedral / Great temple

Owning Organization

Church of the Messenger