Parhelion Altar

A fortress of divine zealots rises from a verdant oasis in the Menechtarun, a pillar of light rising high into the heavens. Beneath it, radiant prayers hide a disturbing and alien truth. The Star Pilgrims are an order of cultists who worship the daelkyr Vriinmata*. They believe that the Lord of Madness is an angel of the heavens - a pure being of light sent to deliver mercy to the world. To that end, they work to convert others to their cause, spreading its corrupting influence.

Parhelion Altar is one of their largest outposts. The monastery-fort is where they come to train and commune with the emissaries of their god, undertaking ‘heavenly’ rites in its depths. Outwardly, the Pilgrims are an eccentric group of zealots with an unusual mastery of light and radiant flame, and visitors will find a warm welcome to their desert compound. However, beneath the surface, the cult burns lives to ashes in pursuit of their goal - the freedom of the daelkyr bound beneath their feet. Fortress Structure The Altar itself forms an outer ring, with a sparkling oasis in the center.

An island at the heart of the crystal waters acts as a ritual site to channel the desert heat and sun, focused into a beam of light that shines high into the atmosphere. This renders the Altar visible for tens of miles around, drawing those in need of refuge. In other words, new recruits and fresh material. The outer fortress itself is home to armories, prayer rooms filled with incense smoke, communal dining areas and other ascetic necessities. Members of the Star Pilgrims commune with the Everstar here, work to shape their flesh into everburning light, and train in martial combat.