North Wind Gate
From the south the North Wind Gate is approached through the verdant Riven valley but from the north it is only accessible via an exposed staircase that climbs from the boulder field. The gate was once a bustling meeting place with a temple complex and a harvesting chamber but with The Dwarven Kingdom's withdrawal from the northern reaches it has been abandoned and long since fallen into disrepair.
Purpose / Function
Located on a major route from The Dwarven Kingdom to the mighty rivers of The Thousand Lakes the North Wind Gate served as a meeting place and a market uniting the Dwarves that lived on either side. The building also housed a collecting chamber where the winds of Magic could be concentrated and harvested. When the architect was desiging the wall that would cross the gap they consulted alchemists on how best to channel the winds that barrel down the barren valley and they came up with the scoop. The engineers and alchemists had high hopes for the design but it failed to take into account the shifting nature of the wind as it swept in from the north and collided with the glacier that had carved out the valley. The magic collector was slow to fill up and could barely meet the demands of the temple let alone the surrounding villages.
Architecture
The enourmous scoop set into the building is visible for miles around but from the southern side where the Riven Valley gently rises to the steps of the temple the architecture is more tradiotional with sculpted pillars and the generous rooms that many associate with the market halls of their villages. It is often said that dwarves are unable to look at an unmarked rock for long without scratching at it and the temple is no exception. Over its thousand year life span every surface has been turned into a piece of art with runic storys scrolling across the walls and etched reliefs of myths and legends.
Defenses
Those approaching from outside the dwarven kingdom must climb an exposed staircase while those above look down from deep windows and balconies but any coming from the south are welcomed as honoured guests.
RUINED STRUCTURE
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