Grove of the Last Breaths

Amongst the wide variety of funerary rituals that exist across the breadth of Greymantle, there is one place where many intersect. One of the very few neutral places in the marsh that is protected but not contested is a location where individuals of many different cultures travel to carry out their sacred funerary rites because of the unique feature that exists there.
This feature understandably has many different names, but nearly all of them have to do with breath in some way, with the official name as it is recorded in Lockhinge City is the Infernal, 'Eghiskeerolah', and its Common translation, 'Grove of the Last Breaths.' =
The grove itself is a serene and well-managed stand of willow and birch, with the earth being open and well-packed from the frequent traffic and the trees being unusually tall and strong. With how many offerings, cremated ashes, and bodies are left in the area, it's no wonder that the plantlife is robust.
The most important feature of the grove however is the cave for which it is named. The prominent mouth of the cave opens under an overhang in the limestone ridge that the grove rests up against. Numerous ever-changing chimes and bells dangle from his overhang, creating a constant chorus of music as a strange breeze emanates from the cave. The airflow isn't constant--instead a hushed but audible cadence, like an inhale and exhale
A concrete reason for this breath has never been concluded, but many mythical ones exist. Popular explanations range from the cave containing an opening to the afterlife, the breathing being the sound of souls entering and existing, to the cave itself being a living creature or god. Among the more intellectual theories is the thought that the cave must open out into or connect to some underground chamber that is affected by the movement of waves and tides, and that is what pulls the air in and out.
No one has successfully explored the cave enough to come up with solid answers. Aside from the fact that entering the cave is a heretical taboo in many cultures, and considered a criminal act by those who safeguard the area, the cave is also partially flooded and filled with noxious gases, like many of the cave systems in Greymantle. Additionally, those few explorers who had been resistant to such hazards, ran into other confusing difficulties that turned their attempts into failures.
Those visiting the grove will likely find others visiting or performing their own funeral rites, so it is suggested that the actual funeral rites be performed further out in the swamp, with only part of the ceremony, such as the giving of wishes and offerings, be carried out at the actual mouth of the cave. It is also likely that the smell of death and evidence of decaying or otherwise interred corpses will be encountered in the wide area around the cave. While most only bring ashes, or bring the body to the cave for only a temporary visit before final interment back in their home territories, there are other less common methods. mummification preparation, covered platform burials, tree trunk interments, hanging coffins, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_coffins https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bog/america.html https://itotd.com/articles/6809/new-orleans-cemeteries/