Memory's Pathway
Where the dead may eternal lie.
You're born, you live, and then you die. Too often, those who pass away are forgotten - lost in life's maelstrom. But here, the dead eternally shine across the pathway to the heavens.The Gildón capital city of Fyrneistur can be found nestled into the mountain ranges of Iskaldhal, far enough to the north that snow claims the surrounding land in a near-eternal blanket. Whilst the majority of the city is underground, some buildings are tall enough to breach the mountain's surface and have thus been termed the Candles. Of these, only one stretches even higher - well past the mountain's peak. It is Torag's Beacon, notable for being constructed from the strongest and most durable of stone that the Gildón people can find. Its architecture might not be fantastical or worthy of note were it not for the glimmering spiral of metals and gemstones that surround it, arching up into the heavens. This spiral is known as Memory's Pathway, and stands as a Gildón monument to the dead. It is said to lead souls directly to the halls of Pharasma in imitation of her own Spire, so that they might be judged, and to then ferry them to Torag for their eternal rest. In practice, it more stands as a solemn method of memorialising every dead citizen, and as a representation of the lasting strength of dwarven engineering.
Purpose / Function
History
"And so He reached down and separated Flesh from Stone to usher His flock to the Heavenly Forge in which He dwells, bestowing upon the righteous the Duty of protecting their Kin along the way. So it was that His guardians and champions lived forever in Memory, as did all of Dwarvenkind. So it shall always be, unto the Age of Champions decrees that the Pathway be used in Reverse..."
I love this article and your theme is cool. It makes so much sense for the dwarves to ingrain the stone and gemstones into religious/symbolic affairs. Besides wanting a list of gemstones & caste levels, which doesn't need to be included, this is a great article on its own. Torag's Beacon want abit more description. Is it a spiral staircase with gemstones & metals thats got an outer layer which isn't decorated? Are people allowed to visit the Beacon? Can they go to the top? What is at the top?
Outer layer being the tower's walls