The descending spires.

The descending spires are among the oldest things to be found on Asteryia. To date only 3 exist, they are on the largest continents of Asteryia. They are the only known ways to descend into Understeryia, the continent that is a massive dungeon that lays under the surface of Asteryia. No one truly knows when they were made though most historians agree the already existed in the Era Of Goblin Kingdoms. They are unable to discern how they were constructed and why they were placed so close to each other on each continents coasts. The black stone structures stand tall at an impressive 3,000 feet and are 500 feet across. The inside of each is hollow and has a gentle graded ramp spiraling down to the earth and into Understeryia. The walls of the spires are only a few feet thick but are able to hold up the weight of the spire and ensure attacks of almost any power level. The spires are so important that each continent made susursusure to build a fortress around them to not only protect them but to also protect the continent from the spires as well.
As they are gateways to a continent that is a massive dungeon the fortresses help keep the monsters in there and unable to escape. They also act as a way to keep other nations from using the sprites as ways to send armies to other continents quickly. Since the spires themselves are indestructible defenses like magma poured down in last ditch cases have been used before.

Purpose / Function

The spires purpose is to allow access to the dungeon commonly referred to as Understeryia. They are the only know way to access Understeryia.

Entries

Each Spire has two archways, one at the top and bottom of each Spire. The archways are 100 feet wide and 100 feet high at its highest point. The archways open up to a landing and then a way up or down the Spires depending on which one you go in.

Sensory & Appearance

The inside of the Spires are lit only by lights made by each of the races that they placed inside to illuminate the darkened interior. When inside the Spires the smell of the ocean quickly disappears as air flows up from Understeryia. The Spires tend to be colder inside as the nature of the stone used to build it not only is indestructible it also insulates the interior from the heat of the sun. Sound also bounces off the walls of the spire easily making it echo alot.

Alterations

While no alterations have been done to the spires themselves the land around them have been altered dramatically. Around each is a fortress whose walls are a hundred yards from the spires each direction and the ground between them flattened to allow no one to enter or leave unseen. Outside of the fortresses are large cities that thrive off the trade and demands of those exploring the lower levels of Understeer.

Architecture

The spires are 3000 feet tall, 500 feet wide column of a black stone of unknown origins. For all their almost perfectly symmetrical cylindrical shape the face of them are still like natural rocks. Each spire end in a slightly differing point that arches toward the middle point of the three spires.

History

The spires were first discovered by the Goblin Kingdoms during the era of the same name. After the Goblin race fell to it's current standing as pests and the other races took their place they were rediscovered. When they were the races went on several campaigns to secure them from the monsters that had freely used the spires to leave Understeryia. When they were secured and the fortresses built the races started to explore and harvest resources from Understeryia.

Alternative Names

Black Towers, Three Sisters, The Great Stairs

Type

Portal