The Tomb of Kings

Deep in the heart of the ancient dead volcano, Hor Damaroth, sits the tombs of the Athalene Kings of old. There a small underground town was built upon huge trunks of Heartstone, entirely for the purposes of building sarcophagi, training priests and guarding the place against the servants of darkness. It is said that Omrin Tanderis, first king of Athalar, bade the tombs be made and he buried therein that his spirit and those of his sons could contain the darkness that once ruled Athalar. The Tomb became something of a museum for future kings and for a while it was tradition for a new king to survey the tombs of those who passed before him. In this way he could learn from their victories and vices, and rule Athalar as he should. This was until Amron the Pagan, last Varagone king, chose to build himself a mausoleum in Athandar. Now the Tomb of Kings is all but forgotten, a shadow of its former self wherein the shadow grows unseen.

Purpose / Function

The Tomb of Kings was built for the purpose of housing the dead kings so that their spirits could contend with the shadow therein.

Alterations

Throughout its history of housing the six Tanderis and eight Varagone kings, with their queens and retinues and advisors, the Tomb of Kings has grown. At first, the priests who served the funerals and the craftsmen who built the casks and the sculpted the statues, etc., all came from other parts of Athalar, but in time, space was added such that the Tomb became a veritable underground town, housing the craftsmen and priests. In addition, fortifications were built wherewith the tombs could be guarded against thieves and grave robbers and the like.

Architecture

The Tomb of Kings consists of three main levels. The bottom layer is the actual tombs. As mentioned above, the tombs have been created such that they serve as something of a museum for future kings, where the treasures, possessions and writings of past kings and their advisers are preserved, which a new king is apt to study if he wishes to follow in their footsteps. The second level consists of the public funerary chapel. This is a massive open space supported with huge Heartstone columns. During funerals, curtains are put up and rods of silence placed in the outer areas of the chapel room, such that royal and noble families can meet and speak in privacy. The third level consists of the town of priests, craftsmen and guardsmen who work the tombs. It also includes a small funeral chapel wherein the family of the dead king could mourn his passing in private before the regular ceremonies. A powerful lift is set in the center of the tombs that can carry the heavy stone sarcophagi up and down from the town where they are carved, to the funerary chapel, to the tomb itself. Finally every conceivable entrance to the tombs is defended by various fortifications. Heartstone is a major factor in how this massive underground complex is able to stand. Huge Heartstone columns rise up from the depths to support the floors and the rocky ceiling above it all.

History

The Tomb of Kings was initially conceived by Omrin, and designed in part by his High Councilor Alumbra the Wise. Since that time most kings budgeted money and material to its construction and growth. This was until Amron Hylambor, called Amron the Pagan, chose not to maintain the tradition and instead commissioned a massive mausoleum in his name. With Amron's treachery, the Tomb of Kings was eventually abandoned.

RUINED STRUCTURE
1502

Type

Tomb

Parent Location

Athalar, Isles of