The Font

On a tall and craggy hilltop surrounded by forest, about 250 miles west of Mellara, a massive stone spur rises towards the sky. From its broken tip, roughly fifty feet above the earth, spills a massive amount of water. The water splits in two as most of it follows a natural channel along the south side of the rock, but about one tenth of the water spills down the north side. At the base of the channel, the water gathers into a large plunge pool flanked by cottonwood trees. From there, a river of considerable size- the river Melis- flows slowly but surely southwards. On the north side of the stone, the water forms a deep but narrow creek that runs swiftly northwards. It is the headwaters of the Etturan river. This imposing stone, and the great volume of water flowing forth from it, is known as the Font. It is forbidden to come close to it. The canal carries boats from the Melis to the Etturan marks the eastern boundary of the region, while the edge of an ancient oak forest marks the western border. But despite this proclamation, many people have- or at least claim to have- sneaked into the region to obtain a vial of water. It is said that the water of the Font is blessed. It is said that it is an antidote against poison, but only for those already pure of heart. It is said that bronze dragons who drank of it turned gold and overthrew the Rose Queendom. It is said that when a human drinks it, they will become wise and maybe blind, but their children will be born as witches. It is said that a single drop of it can put out any fire.  It is said that wizards use vials of it to cast spells. Very many things are said about the font. Perhaps some of them are true. But perhaps the strangest story of all is that there is a tunnel or cave hidden behind the southern falls. Supposedly, it leads to the land of the gods, but nobody who has ever ventured behind the curtain has ever returned. Perhaps they died; perhaps they simply do not want to go back.

History

The Font had been an important cultural and religious landmark for the Sarnuran peoples who lived in the area since time immemorial. Sarnuran myth held that the spring, known to them as the Heartstone, was the center of the world. They believed that all of the world's water and all of its life came from the Heartstone. As a sacred place, the Sarnurans did not settle the area but left it as a neutral space for religious ceremonies and pilgrimages. It remained forested while the surrounding area was converted to farmland.
When the Mela arrived in Sarnora, they respected the Sarnuran customs and did not settle the area. However, they frequently sailed up the Melis river and portaged at the spring to the Etturan river. The Font became a prominent part of Mela culture as the most significant landmark encountered in Sarnora.
At first, the Sarnuran peoples maintained their religion and veneration of the Heartstone against the spread of Karity. However, about 350 years FD, a Karitan cleric turned the waters of the spring violet. This demonstration was responsible for the conversions of vast numbers of Sarnurans to Karity. As the Sarnuran religion disappeared, the Mela name, "the Font", became the accepted name as the term "Heartstone" faded from use. Some communities, including the Mela, maintained a more quasi-religious veneration of the Font. However, farms of nearby communities began to encroach on the Heartstone. In 563 years FD, the duchy of Sarrin-Mellara built the canal between the two rivers not only to ease portage, but also to protect the spring from encroachment. They designated land between the canal and the oak forest to the west as sacred, and declared even so much as standing on its ground illegal.

Type

Natural Wonder

Owning Organization

Sarrin