The Vault of Elemental Power

Purpose / Function

The Lwendiasa Library is famed for its vast knowledge, but its deepest secrets lie beneath its foundation. The Vault of Elemental Power was designed to house rare manuscripts, enchanted relics, and forbidden knowledge pertaining to the primal forces of nature.

Design

The vault is an underground chamber, hidden deep within the labyrinthine catacombs beneath the library. Unlike the grand halls above, this space is built for secrecy and containment.

Shape: A circular room divided into four elemental quadrants, each aligned to a different force of nature.

Materials: The chamber’s walls are constructed from a rare obsidian-like stone that absorbs magickal energy, preventing unintended surges.

Ceiling: A domed roof, inscribed with ancient runes that shimmer faintly in shifting colors.

At the center of the vault, a raised stone pedestal serves as both a focal point and a conduit for elemental energy. Some believe it holds a yet-undiscovered artifact.

Entries

Accessible only through a hidden passage within the deepest halls of the Lwendiasa Library. The entrance is concealed behind an enchanted stone archway that only reveals itself under the light of a full moon or to those who bear an elemental sigil.

Sensory & Appearance

Sight: The vault glows softly, its illumination shifting as if mirroring the balance of the elements.

Smell: The air carries traces of each element—smoky embers, damp earth, salty ocean breeze, and the crisp scent of a storm.

Touch: The stone is cool to the touch but pulses subtly with energy, reacting to the presence of magick.

Sound: A constant low hum, sometimes interrupted by faint echoes—some claim these are whispers of long-departed scholars.

Denizens

Guarded by an elemental warden—an ethereal being composed of shifting elements (fire, water, earth, and air) that tests intruders with trials corresponding to their respective elements. The warden speaks in an ancient tongue and recognizes only those deemed worthy.

Those who fail the trials are said to vanish without a trace.

Contents & Furnishings

This chamber is home to a collection of powerful artifacts and ancient texts that detail the manipulation of fire, water, air, and earth magick. Some of the most notable items include:

• The Emberheart Amulet: A gemstone that holds an undying flame, rumored to grant its wearer immunity to fire.
• The Aquastone Chalice: A goblet that, when filled, transforms any liquid into pure, enchanted water.
• The Terra Gauntlet: A heavy, rune-etched bracer that allows the user to shape stone and soil with mere thought.
• The Skyshard Fan: A delicate but powerful relic capable of summoning storms and fierce winds.

Each of these relics is encased in an arcane field, making them untouchable except to those who pass the trials of the vault.

Valuables

The greatest treasure of the vault is said to be an unknown fifth relic, one that embodies the perfect balance of all elements. Its existence is theorized but unconfirmed, and some believe it only reveals itself to the true Keeper of the Elements. Should such an artifact be found, it could reshape the balance of magick in the world forever. Hazards & Traps Given the vault’s purpose, numerous protections exist to deter intruders and safeguard the knowledge within:

• Elemental Wards: Attempting to remove an artifact without permission may result in unpredictable elemental surges—firestorms, tremors, drowning illusions, or suffocating airlessness.
• Sentinel Statues: Silent, motionless stone constructs line the walls, only animating if an unworthy presence is detected.
• Illusion Fields: Some false paths and doors lead to endless loops, disorienting and trapping intruders.

Hazards & Traps

Given the vault’s purpose, numerous protections exist to deter intruders and safeguard the knowledge within:

• Elemental Wards: Attempting to remove an artifact without permission may result in unpredictable elemental surges—firestorms, tremors, drowning illusions, or suffocating airlessness.
• Sentinel Statues: Silent, motionless stone constructs line the walls, only animating if an unworthy presence is detected.
• Illusion Fields: Some false paths and doors lead to endless loops, disorienting and trapping intruders.

Special Properties

Elemental Alignment: The vault shifts in response to the balance of the four elements, growing unstable if one force dominates.

Knowledge Lock: Many of the ancient texts are sealed with arcane glyphs, requiring a scholar to prove their understanding before they can be read.

Self-Regenerating Structure: The vault repairs itself over time, sealing cracks or damage caused by magickal disturbances.

Alterations

Over the centuries, modifications were made to enhance security. These include:

• The addition of an energy barrier to prevent reckless experimentation.
• A rune-powered failsafe, allowing trusted scholars to seal the vault in emergencies.
• New wards tied to the library’s main defenses, ensuring the vault remains hidden.

Rumors persist that some of the original protections have weakened, hinting that the vault itself may be reacting to an approaching event.

Architecture

The vault’s architecture is both functional and symbolic. The circular design represents the cyclical nature of the elements, while the ornate carvings along the walls depict early elemental scholars and their struggles to understand nature’s forces. Many scholars believe that the vault was not built, but uncovered—a relic of an older civilization that wielded elemental power with unmatched skill.

History

The Vault of Elemental Power was first discovered deep beneath Lwendiasa Library by a team of researchers in 1075 AE. At first, it was believed to be a simple storage chamber, but as scholars delved deeper, they uncovered texts and artifacts that predated recorded history.

Over centuries, the vault became a protected archive, known only to the most trusted members of those who are permanent residents. However, as interest in elemental magick waned, the vault fell into obscurity, with even many high-ranking scholars unaware of its existence.

Now, whispers of unrest within the vault have begun circulating, leading some to believe that the secrets within are stirring once more.

Table of Contents

Discovery Date

15 Aurora 1075 AE

Type

Room, Secret, Chamber

Parent Location

Lwendiasa Library

Environmental Effects

Environmental Effects

The Vault of Elemental Power is suffused with an ancient, almost sentient energy. The temperature, air quality, and even gravity seem to shift depending on the dominant element in the room.

Fire: The air crackles with static, faint embers float in the shadows, and warmth radiates from unseen sources.

Water: The vault is damp, with the scent of fresh rain. Echoes of dripping water can be heard, though no visible source exists.

Earth: The walls feel solid and grounding, laced with veins of shimmering minerals. A deep hum resonates through the stone.

Air: A continuous breeze stirs parchment and robes alike, carrying the whisper of forgotten voices.

The vault reacts to those who enter, subtly altering the environment based on their elemental affinity or intent.

Owning Organization

Cubria Empire