The Ravenspire

Situated atop the highest peak in the Kyonrach Mountains, the Psychon Peak, lies a great temple built from the blackstone of the Agis Cliffs, dedicated to the Raven Queen, Matron of Ravens and goddess of death.
Initially built in an attempt to appease the goddess and gain protection from the spirits that pass through the thin boundary between the planes over the mountain, this cathedral is visited on a yearly basis by those who remain grateful to the Raven Queen for the protection of their cities and settlements, and is frequently visited by the most devout of her followers, and her champions due to its remote and perilous location. The temple is known as the Ravenspire due to the imagery of ravens both present in the temple, and associated with the goddess herself, and the seven spires which adorn the temple, abiding to Axordia's Rule of Seven and allowing the divine magic of the Raven Queen to be more efficiently channelled.

Purpose / Function

The temple was initially constructed by early settlers of the Kyonrach Mountains, who lived in fear of the unearthly howling and unexpected attacks of the spirits that slipped through the thin planar boundary present above the Psychon Peak and roamed the mountains in search of some form of closure, be that vengeance or salvation. The only thing those early settlers could think to do was to construct a temple to the Raven Queen, goddess of death, in order to give sacrifices and offerings to her in exchange for some form of protection from these ceaseless spirits. And so the Ravenspire was constructed.

Design

The temple consists of a single large circular room, on three layers. Upon entering the room, an explorer would find themselves stood on a stone floor, an outer ring separated from the inner portion by an intricate twisting metal barrier, connecting to a series of pillars holding up the framework for the domed roof. Going down any of the six sets of stairs to the lower portion of the room, they would be met with cold grass, a dark green, covered with a blanket of deep purple and black flowers, flowers found only at the highest reaches of Axordia. In this centre of this ghostly garden lies a stone platform, atop it a silverwood altar, a black and grey cloth draped over it, a single black feather atop it. Looking up, they would see an exceptional feat of artistry and mechanics, a glass dome designed to open via an intricate mechanism, opening the altar and garden to the sky.

Entries

There are six entries to the Ravenspire temple, positioned equidistant from each other on the outer wall. Each entrance is guarded by a blackstone raven with silver eyes, enchanted to come to life and defend the temple if it is threatened by a hostile force.

Sensory & Appearance

The temple is incredibly cold, partly due to the high altitude it is built at, but also due to an unearthly chill that permeates the air; the chill of death. The temple itself is clean, the air isn't stale, but thin and fresh, leaving those within breathless.

Architecture

This temple is widely renowned as an impressive feat of architecture. Despite being built upon rough terrain, the temple is a strong construction, circular in shape, boasting seven towering spires, the tallest of which sitting atop a stained glass dome. Built from blackstone, an incredibly strong stone mined from the Agis Cliffs on the northern coast of Ket'rani, the temple was built with the intention for it to be long-lasting, as well as an elaborate and majestic offering to the Matron of Ravens. A domed glass roof sports a mechanism allowing it to open, revealing the night sky, and the walls are gilded with silver statues and patterns. Each of the Ravenspire's six entrances is guarded by two large blackstone ravens with silver eyes,

Defenses

Stationed at each entrance and throughout the grounds of the temple are a series of enchanted statues, carved to look like ravens, which will come to life and attack anyone who attempts to take items from the temple without leaving something in return as well as an offering, or those who attempt to damage or attack the temple.

History

Built hundreds of years ago by the early settlers in the Kyonrach mountains, this cathedral was constructed in order to honour and appease the Raven Queen, goddess of death, and attempt to gain protection from the ghosts and dead souls that haunted the Psychon Peak, one of the areas of Axordia closest to the boundary between planes, a gateway that often allowed departed spirits to slip through, leaving the area haunted, and riddled with danger. As settlers began to build homes in the mountains, they found themselves under attack from these spirits, which searched for some form of end, be that through salvation or violent vengeance. In a desperate bid to maintain the fragile beginnings of the settlements they would build, these early settlers decided to construct a temple in order to make a plea to the Raven Queen for protection. Gathering their best craftsmen, they constructed the Ravenspire, a feat of architecture and engineering. Upon making the sacrifice and their plea to the goddess, the silverwood altar began to glow a bright white, with a tower of light shooting into the sky through the seventh spire of the temple atop the domed roof, leaving it hollow. The light spread in a large sphere from the peak of that tower, expanding across the surrounding mountains in a breath, and in the next retracting, and settling around the Psychon Peak.  Saying their thanks to the goddess, the settlers left the temple, and were astonished to see that the area surrounding the temple was full with spirits, more than they had ever seen in one place. Looking up, they watched with growing elation that, while spirits were flying up towards the sky, they found themselves repelled by the barrier. The settlers announced their thanks for the Raven Queen's protection, and quickly left the area, the light of the barrier slowly fading, but the chill of the Matron's magic still running through them as they passed through the barrier.  These settlers agreed that they should present the Matron with a sacrifice each year on the Festival of the Dead, when the barrier between the spirit's plane was thinnest, and should give a substantial offering every ten years in order to continue the protection they had been blessed with. As such, many living in cities such as Achthrastin in the mountains worship the Raven Queen, knowing that she is responsible for the protection of their ancestors and the change for their city to be founded.

Type

Cathedral / Great temple

Parent Location

Kyonrach Mountains

Environmental Effects

It is incredibly cold due to the altitude, and the air is thin.