The Amber Temple was a large stone temple, built directly into the stone of Mount Ghakis. It was a large complex of catacombs, shrines, and other rooms, but most notably, contained the evil spirits of several dark powers or demons.
Description
The Amber Temple exterior was fashion out of stone, and was built straight into the mountain itself. However, on the interior, the stone work was carved from obsidian, a black and shiny mineral. Most of the doors, shrines, and other aspects of the temple were built from this obsidian. However, the doors to the tombs themselves, were enshrined in an amber colored materiel. This amber eventually gave the temple it's name.
Within the temple, lived the
Lich,
Exethanter. An ancient being, Exethanter watched over the temple, leading those who wished, towards it's dark secrets. The temple was also home to several waves of Flameskulls, the leftover remains of an ancient wizard order.
History
Founding and Downfall
At some point during the
Age of Fire, likely during the active days of the
War of Fire, the Amber Temple was created and founded. It was founded by a order of wizards, likely allied with
The Alliance. The main purpose of the temple, was to capture and house several particularly powerful demons, as many arose from
The Underblaze during this time period. The wizards were mostly successful in their goal, capturing as many as twelve demons during the prime operation of this temple.
However, the power granted by the captured vestiges proved too much, and the demons began to corrupt the wizards, turning them against each other. Soon, the entirety of the order was driven mad, and many were killed. Those that survived fled the temple, as the other succumbed to the demonic power within. The Arch-Mage, Exethanter, remained within the temple, giving himself to the dark powers, and over the years, learned the secrets to Lichdom, a gift he readily accepted. To protect the temple, Exethanter enchanted the remains of his former brethren, transforming them into Flameskulls, doomed to watch over the temple for eternity.
Strahd Von Zarovich; Kelemvor's Arrival
Later, after the temple had been lost to the darkness, it was visited by an angry and hateful mortal; Strahd Von Zarovich. Strahd sought power to impress the one he loved, and sought the gift of immortality. Exethanter showed him the ways of the temple, and Strahd eventually accepted a dark gift, that of the demon Vampyr. He was granted immortality, but at a cost he was not made aware of. Strahd was tricked by the demon, and was soon doomed to an eternal life as a Higher Vampire.
At some point before the
Age of Renewal, the temple fell under the interest of
Kelemvor, one of the mysterious
Eres. Kelemvor seemingly allied with the demons within, granting them further power within his Plane of Dread, of which the Amber Temple and all of Barovia now laid.
Arrival of Shamruuc; Recent History
During the three week span in which the
Saviours of Barovia fought against Strahd, the Amber Temple was visited by those very adventurers, including
Shamruuc, a
Warlock of Kelemvor, among them. While inside, this party of adventurers clashed with the temple's defenses, and eventually met Exethanter, who had seemingly lost his mind in the long years between visitors. The party restored Exethanter's memory, and the Lich willingly gave them full access to the Amber Temple.
Of these adventurers, Shamruuc seemed most interested in the power these demons could grant him, and against the judgement of his companions, accepted several vestiges of power. Doing so tied Shamruuc's soul permanently to Barovia and the Plane of Dread in which it laid. Now trapped within Barovia, Shamruuc returned to the Amber Temple after the defeat of Strahd, eager to study under Exethanter. Eventually, Shamruuc would uncover the path to Lichdom, becoming another imposing figure in servitude of Kelemvor.
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